Skip to main content

Full text of "The Naval chronicle : containing a general and biographical history of the royal navy of the United kingdom with a variety of original papers on nautical subjects"

See other formats 


\\ 


-+--*  •• 

~ 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


• 


HAYA 


V  A 


; 

-%, 

^  ...                         L 

-;  

T^"^ 

">Vi'fltT3UHSteT  Alalbf-y  to  i:ir 
. 
Sir    fVp'O  Fwp  I'loroif^k    K.J5, 

f 

^ 

r 

THE 


Chronicle, 


FOR   1809: 

CONTAINING  A 

GENERAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 

OF 

THE  ROYAL  NAVY 

OF   THE 


WITH  A  VARIETY  OF  ORIGINAL  PAPERS  ON 
NAUTICAL  SUBJECTS. 


UNDER  THE  GUIDANCE  OF  SEVERAL 

LITERARY  AND  PROFESSIONAL  MEN. 


VOL.  XXI. 

(FROM  JANUARY  TO 


AS  YOU  VALUE  THE  GLOnY  AND  SAFETY  OF  BRITAIN,  SUPPORT  THE  SPANIARD* 
WHILST  THliBE  REMAINS   A  PATRIOT  STANDARD  TO  BALLY  BOUND. 


LONDON: 

PRINTED  AND  PUBLISHED  BY  AND  FOR  JOYCE  GOLD,  SHOE-LANE; 

And  sold  by  Messrs.  Longman,  Hurst,  Rees,  and  Orme,  Messrs.  Wilkie  and  Robinson,  Messrs. 
Sherwood,  Neeley,  and  Jones,  and  Mr.  Walker,  Paternoster -row ;  Mr.  White,  Flref-street ; 
Messrs.  Vernor,  Hood,  and  Sharpe,  Poultry  ;  Mr.  Asperne,  and  Messrs.  Richardson,  Corn- 
hill;  Messrs.  Black,  Parry,  and  Kingsbury,  Leadenhall-strtet ;  Messrs,  Crosby  and  Co. 
Stationers'-hall-court ;  Messrs.  Scatchard  and  Letterman,  and  Mr.  Law,  Auemuna-tuiie ; 
Mr.  Lindsell,  /f 'impole-street ;  Mr.  Andrews,  Charing-cross;  Mr.  Booth,  Duke-street,  Pert* 
land-place;  Mr.  Mottley,  Portsmouthi  Messrs.  Congdon,  HoxUni],  and  Platt,  Dock;  Messrs, 
Haydon,  Rees,  and  Curtis,  Smith,  Rogers,  and  Nettle-ton,  Plymouth.;  Mr.'  Godwin,  Bath  ; 
Messrs.  Norton  and  Son,  Bristol;  Mr.  Robinson,  Liverpool;  Messrs.  Manners  and  Miller, 
Mr.  Creech,  and  Mr.  Constable,  Edinburgh;  Mr.  Archer,  Dublin;  Mr.  Tumbull  and  Mr- 
Lumsden,  Glasgow;  and  the  principal  Booksellers  in  the  dufcrtnt  Seaport  T«wn 
the  United  Kingdom. 


. 


' 


P  JR  E  F  A  €  E 

TO  THE  TWENTY-FIRST  VOLUME. 


"  Magna  est  veritas." 

vv  E  sliall  endeavour  to  make  the  NAVAL 
"  CHRONICLE  an  useful  and  interesting  library  of 
"  itself  to  seamen,  and  an  acceptable  work  to  every 
"  one  who  partakes  of  the  glory  acquired  by  our  own 
"  countrymen  on  their  own  element,  or  experiences 
"  the  security  derived  from  their  valour. 

"  Our  leading  principle  will  be  to  adhere  strictly 
"  unto  truth  ;  to  render  justice  unto  naval  merit,  pre- 
"  sent  and  departed,  both  when  it  has  met  with  suc- 
"  cess,  and  also,  (which  is  of  the  greatest  importance) 
"  when  it  has  unsuccessfully  struggled  with  unfavour- 
"  able  events.  We  shall  not  palliate  enormities, 
"  should  any  such  present  themselves  to  our  view  in 
"  the  course  of  our  labours;  nor  shall  we  permit  pre- 
"  judice,  unnoticed,  to  overwhelm  misfortune  when 
"  tin  aggravated  by  misconduct." 

This  is  the  engagement  we  contracted  with  the 
public  in  the  introduction  of  our  first  Volume,  on 
New  Year's  Day,  1799  ;  and  after  mo  re  than  ten  years 
have  revolved,  we  confidently  appeal  to  the  suffrages 
of  our  professional,  as  well  as  of  our  literary  patrons, 
whether  we  have  redeemed  our  pledge  ;  and  whether 
we  have  not  contributed  abundantly,  as  well  as  usefully, 
towards  the  naval  annals  of  our  country  during  that 

•     i  Jo 

period. 

Conscious  of  the  rectitude  of  our  intentions,  and 
(we  will  venture  to  add)  of  our  merit  in  their  execu- 
tion, we  shall  detain  the  reader  by  only  one  more 
general  remark. 


Vl  PREFACE. 

The  committee,  appointed  by  the  Royal  Society  to 
direct  the  publication  of  the  Philosophical  Transac- 
tions, never  omit  annually  to  repeat  the  declaration, 
that  it  is  an  established  rule  of  the  Society  never  to 
give  their  opinion,  as  a  body,  upon  any  subject  that 
comes  before  thein.  And  therefore  the  thanks  fre- 
quently given  to  the  authors  of  such  papers  as  are 
read  at  tkeir  accustomed  meetings,  or  to  the  persons 
exhibiting  projects,  inventions,  or  curiosities  to  the 
Society,  are  to  be  considered  in  no  other  light  than 
as  a  civility  due  for  those  communications,  without  the 
Society  pretending  to  answer  for  the  certainty  of  the 
facts,  or  propriety  of  the  reasonings  contained  in  their 
'publication;  which  must  rest  on  the  credit  or  judg- 
ment of  their  respective  authors. 

We  beg  leave  in  our  humbler  sphere  to  make  appli- 
cation of  the  preceding  notice,  mutatis  mutandis,  to 
the  NAVAL  CHRONICLE  ;  as  our  apology  for  freedom 
of  discussion,  with  reference  either  to  persons  or 
things,  and  as  our  justification  for  the  apparent  con- 
tradictions by  which  the  pages  of  our  work  are  occa- 
sionally checquered  ;  by  the  insertion  of  lucubrations 
in  some  instances  trivial,  of  arguments  not  always 
tenable,  or  of  criticism  not  always  just.  At  least 
controversy  is  maintained,  and  that  is  generally  no 
less  effectual  to  establish  truth,  than  the  collision  of 
flint  and  steel  is  to  produce  light.  Our  object  is  the 
advancement  of  knowledge  on  practical  subjects ;  and 
the  dissemination  of  authentic  information.  In  re- 
cording facts  relative  to  the  dead  or  the  living,  we 
seek  not  to  violate  the  sanctity  of  the  tomb,  nor  to 
wound  the  individual  feelings  of  our  contemporaries. 
TRUTH,  we  must  again  repeat,  is  the  object  to  which 
our  compass  points;  and  while  the  NAVAL  CHRO- 
NICLE will  ever  vindicate  the  liberty  of  the  English 
press,  against  any  living  authority  or  influence,  it  shall 
never  incur  tha  reproach  of  shewing  an  example  of 
its  license. 

In  the  succeeding  sheets,  many  subjects  of  consider- 
able importance  to  the  British  navy  have  been  occa- 
sionally discussed,  and  with  much  ability,  by  our  Cor- 
respondents. The  letter  by  our  friend  A.  F.  Y.  is 


PREFACE.  Vli 

admirably  written,  and  like  bis  otber  communications 
reflects  great  credit  on  this  Correspondent.    We  trust 
he  will  long  continue  to   honour   the   pages   of  the 
CHRONICLE.     His  remarks  have   in  a  considerable 
degree  served  *  to  elucidate  the  true  and  national  na- 
ture of  discipline  in  the  various  gradations  of  rank  in 
our  service.     An  ample  field  of  untrodden  interest  is 
still  open  to  this  Correspondent.     Our  worthy  friend 
E.  G.  F.  in   the  next  place,   claims  our  thanks  and 
apologies,  (page  35.)     We  never  intended  what  we 
presumed  to  say,  in  the  literal  sense  he  has  taken  it. 
His  bark  is  neither  old  nor  crazy,  or  at  least  if  old,  it 
seems  like  the  Old  Billy  at  Spithead,  whose  timbers, 
of  nearly  the  standing  of  a  century,  are  still  sound. 
We  only  meant  to  direct  the  attention  of  this  Cor- 
respondent entirely  to  naval  subjects  ;    and  in  con- 
sidering the  Parliamentary  Duties  of  Naval  Officers, 
we  wished  him  to  confine  himself  to  such  remarks  as 
were  alone    connected  with  naval  men ;    and  much 
anecdote  and  interesting  observation  will  be  found  by 
him  in  that  line.     If  this  Correspondent  would  allow 
us  to  suggest  an  improvement  in  his  plan,  it  would 
be  by  recommending  him,  to  take  any  leading  or 
important  naval  speech  in  either  House  of  Parliament, 
and  to  form  his  letters  by  commenting  on  some  of  the 
most  important  features  in  the  speech.    He  would  thus 
render  a  most  essential  service  to  the  CHRONICLE, 
since,  owing  to  the  press  of  other  articles,  we  are  often 
obliged  to  compress  or  neglect  the  naval  debates. 

Our  new,  and  valuable  Correspondent,  Raleigh, 
is  eminently  entitled  to  our  thanks,  for  his  excellent 
account  of  Naval  Transactions  on  the  Coast  of  Por- 
tugal, (page  377). 

Our  thanks  are  also  due  to  an  anonymous  Corres- 
pondent, who  rendered  our  pages  essential  service, 
by  his  description  of  Captain  JBolton's  Jury  Mast, 
(page  399-)  Nauticus,  at  page  401,  communicated 
more  correct  information  than  had  before  appeared 
respecting  South  America.  The  well  written  letter  of 
F.  F.  F.  (page  408)  on  catamarans,  fire  devils,  &c. 

*  Sec  page  201. 


PREFACE. 

will  be  perused  with  much  pleasure  by  naval  men. 
Captain  Rickets's  valuable  communications  are  inserted 
at  pages  38,  211,  398;  and  Sir  Joseph  Senhouse's 
important  communication  respecting  his  discovery  of 
a  species  of  timber  to  which  the  salt  worm  will  hot 
adhere,  is  given  at  page  113.  There  are  likewise 
many  other  Correspondents,  whose  assistance  we  are 
unable  to  notice  as  it  deserves. 

We  feel  particularly  indebted  to  the  friends  of  those 
Officers,  (whose  Memoirs  are  inserted  in  this  Volume) 
for  their  kind  assistance  in  furnishing  us  with  mate- 
rials for  drawing  up  the  same. 

The  naval  part  of  an  eventful  period  is,  in  some 
measure,  comprised  within  the  present  Volume  of  our 
CHROMCLE.  The  efforts  of  our  tars  have  accom- 
plished some  great,  glorious,  and  important  objects  ; 
and,  though  no  second  victory  of  Trafalgar  has 
crowned  their  dauntless  spirit  of  enterprise,  they  may 
boast,  that  they  have  given  the  enemy  ample  cause  to 
remember  their  prowess,  in  the  earlier  parts  of  1 809- 

Our  squadron  in  the  West  Indies  has  particularly 
distinguished  itself,  by  the  capture  of  Martinique, 
(page  323)  and  of  the  Saints  (page  50Q).  The  Wrest 
Indies  have  also  been  the  scene  of  several  brilliant 
actions,  on  a  smaller  scale.* 

The  embarkation  of  the  British  troops  at  Corunna 
(page  79)  ;  the  reduction  of  Cayenne,  (page  337)  ; 
the  taking  of  Vigo  (page  333)  ;  and,  though  last,  not 
least,  the  destruction  of  the  French  Fleet,  in  Basque 
Roads  (page  344) ;  are  all  services,  of  a  nature,wcll  cal- 
culated to  support,  and  elevate,  the  character  of  the 
British  Navy. 

Of  the  single  actions  recorded  in  this  Volume,  none 
ranks  superior  to  that  between  the  Amethyst  and  the 
Niemen  (page  343)  ;  in  which  the  gallant  Captain 
Seymour,  who,  but  a  few  months  before,  had  signa- 
lised himself  by  the  capture  of  the  Thetis,  again  proved 
himself  superior  to  the  most  determined  efforts  of  the 
enemy. 

Communications,  &c.  intended  for  insertion  in  the  NAVAL  CHRONIGLC, 
are  rcq  listed  to  he  sent  to  Mr.  GOLD,  103,  Shoe-lane,  London. 

*  See  the  account  of  the  capture  of  the  Topaze,  (page  318)  and 
of  le  d'llautpoult,  (page  436.) 


The  above  engraving,  by  Xffibit,  is  from  a  drawing  by  Pocock.  It  is  an  accurate  reprt* 
scntation  of  The  Bow  of  the  fforge,  a  Danish  ship,  of  74  guns.  Fora  more  particular  dtscrip- 
lion  we  refer  to  one  of  the  Anecdotes. 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  PUBLIC  SERVICES 

OF 

CAPTAIN   HUGH  DOWNMAN, 

OF    THE    ROYAt    NAVY. 


"  Thesf  are  thy  triumphs,  Britain  !    Thine  alone, 

Great  guardian  of  the  altar  and  the  throne, 

To  speak  in  thunder  to  the  world  around, 

And  grasp  the  trident  of  the  deep  profound." AKO\. 

CAPTAIN  HUGH  DOWNMAN,  a  brief  memoir  of  whose 
public  services  is  here  submitted  to  the  reader,  is  descended 
from  a  respectable  family  in  Devonshire,  of  which  his  father  was  a 
younger  branch.  His  great-grandfather  was  a  man  of  considerable 
property  in  that  county  ;  and  he  is  related  to  Dr.  Dowmnan,  of 
Exeter,  to  Colonel  Downr.ian,  of  the  artillery,  and  to  Mr.  Down- 
man,  the  artist.  To  the  two  last  mentioned  gentlemen  he  bears  the 
relationship  of  first  cousin,  and  of  second  to  the  first. 

He  was  born  near  Plymouth,  about  the  year  1765  :  and,  in 
October  1776.  at  the  early  agu  of  eleven,  he  entered  into  the 
navy,  under  the  auspices  of  Captain  Michael  Graham,  in  the 
Hcl.  XXI.  » 


ft  MEMOIR   Of   THE    PUBLIC    SERVICES    of 

Thetis  frigate.  IIo\v  long  he  remained  in  that  ship,  or  on  wlist 
station  he  was  employed  in  her,  we  are  uninformed. 

In  August,  1778,  he  joined  (he  Arethusa,  Captain  Marshal ; 
in  which,  in  the  month  of  March  following,  lie  had  the  misfortune 
to  be  cast  away,  on  the  coast  of  France.  The  Arethusa  was  lost 
upon  the  rocks,  near  Ushant,  while  in  pursuit  of  an  enemy  ;  but 
the  crew  were  all  saved,  and  experienced  the  most  humane  treat- 
ment from  the  French. 

Mr.  Downman  remained  a  prisoner  in  France  till  the  month  of 
January,  1780,  when  he  was  exchanged.  On  his  return  to 
England,  he  embarked  with  his  former  captain,  Marshal,  in  the 
Emerald,  and  continued  with  him  till  May,  1782  ;  when,  on 
Commodore  Hotham's  hoisting  his  broad  pendant  On  board  the 
Edgar,  of  74  guns,  he  removed  into  that  ship.  He  was  conse- 
quently present  at  the  memorable  relief  of  Gibraltar,  in  which 
Cotfmiodcrc  Hotham  commanded  the  van  squadron.* 

In  the  Edgar,  Mr.  Downraan  continued  till  the  peace  of  1783, 
•when  that  ship  was  paid  off. — He  next  served  three  years  with 
Admiral  Montagu,  in  the  Queen  ;  and  afterwards  with  Lord 
Hood  in  the  Triumph  and  Barficur. 

In  the  mouth  of  February,  1789$  shortly  after  Commodore 
Cornwallis  had  bee;i  appointed  comrnander-in-chief  in  the  East 
Indies,  Mr.  Downman  sailed  with  that  officer,  in  the  Crown, 
The  nature  of  the  service  in  which  he  was  employed,  on  the  India 
station,  will  be  seen  in  our  biographical  memoir  of  the  commander- 
in-chief,  t  It  was  not  such  as  afforded  the  young  seaman  any  par- 
ticular opportunity  of  distinguishing  himself.  There  is  no  doubt, 
however,  that  he  conducted  himself  with  the  strictest  propriety, 
and  attention  to  the  duties  of  his  profession ;  as,  on  the  5th  of 
March,  1790,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  in  the 
Perseverance. 

He  returned  to  England  in  the  Crown,  in  May,  1792,  and,  for 
some  months,  was  on  half  pay.  In  January,  1793,  he  was 
appointed  fourth  lieutenant  of  the  Alcide,  Captain  Linzee,  and! 
went  to  the  Mediterranean.  In  this  ship  he  was  engaged  in  somg 
yery  smart  service.  Captain  Linzee,  soon  after  his  arrival  in  the 

*  Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  IX.  page  350, 
4  Ibid.  Vol.  VII.  page  17. 


HUGH 


.  fyJ.Gold.2e3, 


CAPTAIN   HUGH   DOWNMAN.          ,  3 

Mediterranean,  was  made  a  commodore  ;  and,  at  the  pressing 
solicitation  of  General  Paoli  to  Lord  Hood,  for  assistance,  he  was 
despatched  to  Corsica,  with  the  following  squadron  :— 

Ships.  Guns.  Commanders. 

.,  -,  .  ("Commodore  Robert  Linzee. 

Alcide 7M  , 

(.Captain  J.  Wooclley. 

Couragcux  .....  74  J.  Mathews. 

Ardent . .  64  • —  R.  M.  Sutton. 

Lowestoffe   ,  , 3<2 W.  Wolseley. 

Nemesis  ... ,  28 Lord  A.  Beauclerc. 

On  the  2!ri  of  September,  the  squadron  entered  the  gulf  of  St. 
Fiorenzo  •  iud  on  the  30th,  before  day-break,  the  ships  brought 
up  in  their  stations,  and  opened  a  heavy  cannonade  on  the  redoubt 
of  Fniuelli,  which  continued  without  intermission  till  nearly  eight 
o'clock.  At  that  time,  no  visible  impression  had  been  made  on  the 
enemy's  works;  and  the  ships  (particularly  the  Ardent)  were  so 
much  damaged,  by  a  heavy  raking  fire  from  the  town  of  Fiorenzo, 
whence  Commodore  Linzee  had  been  given  to  understand  he  was 
out  of  the  range  of  shot,  that  he  found  himseif  obliged  to  retire. 
In  this  action,  the  Alcide  had  nine  of  her  men  wounded  j  and  the 
squadron  altogether  sustained  a  loss  of  16  killed,  and  39  wounded. 

One  cause  of  the  failure  of  this  attack  was  the  want  of  co- 
operation on  the  part  of  the  Corsicans,  who  had  promised  to  stornx 
the  posts  on  the  land  side. 

From  Corsica,  Commodore  Linzee  sailed  to  Tunis,  with  the 
intention  of  seizing  le  Duquesne,  a  French  ship  of  74  guns,  and 
some  gun-boats,  which  were  lying  there;  but  on  his  arrival,  ha 
found  that  the  Bey  would  not  permit  the  neutrality  of  his  port  to 
be  violated,  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  without  accomplishing 
his  object. 

On  the  llth  of  April,  1794,  Commodore  Linzee  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  rear-admiral  of  the  white  squadron  ;  and  when,  in 
consequence  of  his  promotion,  he  hoisted  his  flag  in  the  Windsor 
Castle,  Mr.  Downman  went  with  him  into  that  ship,  as  second 
lieutenant. 

In  the  month  of  October  following,  he  was  reraored  into  the 
Victory,  Lord  Hood's  flag-ship,  and  returned  to  England  with  his 
lordship,  in  December. 

Jli  the  ensuing  spring,  Lord  Hood,  aa  we  have  stated  in  our 


4  MEMOIR    OF   THE    PUBLIC    SERVICES    OP 

memoir  of  that  distinguished  officer,*  had  prepared  to  resume  his 
command  in  the  Mediterranean,  \vithare-enforcement,  when,  most 
unexpectedly,  on  the  2d  of  May,  he  was  ordered  to  strike  his  flag. 
The  Victory,  however,  in  which  Lieutenant  Downman  remained, 
immediately  proceeded  to  the  Mediterranean,  as  a  private  ship. 
Soon  after  her  arrival  on  that  station,  .she  received  the  flag  of  Sir 
John  Jervis,  who  had  sailed  from  England  in  a  frigate,  to  super- 
sede  Admiral  Hotham,+  as  commander-in-chief. 

Lieutenant  Downman  retained  his  appointment,  in  the  Victory, 
and  had  the  satisfaction  of  participating  in  the  glorious  battle  of 
the  14th  of  February,  1797.  j 

On  the  removal  of  Sir  John  Jervis  into  the  Ville  de  Paris,  Mr. 
Downman  accompanied  him,  as  first  lieutenant ;  and,  on  the  4th 
of  June  following,  he  was  made  commander  in  the  Speedy  sloop. 

All  the  time  that  he  commanded  that  ship,  he  was  stationed  off 
Oporto,  to  protect  the  tradj  ;  and  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  taking 
and  destroying  a  number  of  small  privateers,  and,  in  one  instance, 
of  beating  off  an  enemy  of  superior  force.  This  was  on  the  3d 
of  February,  1798.  While  cruising  off  Vigo,  the  Speedy  fell  in 
with  a  French  brig  privateer,  which  Captain  Downman  afterwards 
learned  was  le  Papillon,  pierced  for  18  guns,  and  mounting  14, 
ten  and  twelve-pounders,  with  a  complement  of  160  men.  A 
Tery  sharp  action  ensued,  in  which  the  Speedy  had  five  of  her  crew 
killed,  and  five  badly  wounded.  Amongst  the  former  were 
Lieutenant  Dutton,  and  Mr.  Johnstone,  the  boatswain.  The 
Frenchman  at  length  succeeded  in  crippling  the  Speedy,  and  then 
effected  his  escape,  by  superiority  of  sailing.  At  the  commence- 
ment of  the  combat,  ^Captain  Downman  had  a  prize  in  company, 
•which  the  privateer  took,  but  he  afterwards  recaptured  her. 

The  credit  which  he  acquired  on  this  and  on  other  occasions 
•was  such,  that  he  received  the  thanks  of  the  factory  at  Oporto, 
accompanied  by  a  piece  of  plate,  as  an  acknowledgment  of  his 
services.  The  following  letter,  with  its  subjoined  enclosure,  was 
transmitted  to  him,  by  Mr.  Whitehead,  the  British  Consul : — 

*  Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  II.  p.  45. 
t  Ibid.  Vol.  IV.  p.  32. 

+  For  the  particulars  of  this  memorable  action,  the  reader  is  referred  t* 
the  IVtli  volume  of  the  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  page  35,  et  »ej. 


CAPTAIN  HUGH  DOWNMAJJ.  5 

«  *rn,  "  Porto,  5th  Jtfay,  1798. 

"  I  send  with  pleasure  a  resolution  of  the  Factory,  taken  this  day  at 
their  meeting.  I  am,  Sir> 

"  Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 
H.Dozcnman,Esq.  "  J.  WHITEHEAD." 

"  RESOLVED,  "  Meeting,  Porto,  5th  May,  1798. 

*'  That  our  thanks  be  given  to  Captain  Hugh  Downnaan,  of  his  majesty's 
f.1iip  Speedy,  for  the  protection  of  our  trade,  and  particularly  for  his  late 
gallant  action,  in  engaging  and  beating  off  a  privateer  of  the  enemy  of 
superior  force  ;  and,  as  a  token  of  our  gratitude,  we  beg  his  acceptance  of 
a  piece  of  plate,  of  the  value  of  fifty  pounds. 

"  Mr.  Consul  is  requested  to  send  a  copy  of  this  resolution  to  Mr.  Secre- 
tary Nepean, 

"  J.  WHITEHEAD,  Consul." 

'*  Stafford,  Swanns,  Kjiowsley,  and  Stafford. 

Bearsley  and  Webb. 

Quarles,  Harris,  and  Co. 

Perry,  Frend,  Nassau,  and  Thomson. 

Proc.  of  Samuel  Abbott, 

William  Nassau. 
Thompson,  Croft,  and  Co. 
Campion,  Offley,  Ilesketh,  and  Co. 
Pennel,  Smith,  and  Co. 
Babington,  Tedswell,  and  Co. 
Warre  and  Co. 
Stephenson,  Searle,  and  Son. 
George  Wye  find  Son. 
Newman,  Land,  and  Hunt, 
Charles  Page. 
Thomas  Snow  and  Co. 
Lambert,  Kingston,  and  Co. 
Proc.  of  H.  Burmester,  Nash,  and  Co. 

James  Butler." 

For  his  services  in  the  Speedy,  Captain  Downman  was  also  made 
post  in  the  Santa  Dorotea  frigate,  on  the  1st  of  September,  1798  ; 
in  which  ship  he  continued  to  be  actively  employed,  in  the  Medi- 
terranean, and  on  the  coast  of  Portugal,  till  the  peace  of  1801, 
when  he  went,  as  Sir  James  Sauniarez'  captain^  into  the  Cassar. 

Amongst  the  captures  which  he  made,  while  commanding  the 
Santa  Dorotea,  may  be  mentioned  the  following  : — On  the  28<h 
of  November,  1798,  in  company  with  the  Strombolo,  Perseus,  and 
J3ull  Dog,  he  took  the  Spanish  corvette,  San  Leon,  of  16  guns, 


$  MEMOIR    OF   THE    PUBLIC   SERVICES    O* 

and  88  men  ;*  on  the  IHh  of  January,  1800,  by  the  exertions  of 
the  ship's  boats,  he  cut  out  a  brig,  laden  with  wheat,  from  under 
the  batteries  of  Bordiguera  ;  and,  on  the  llth  of  the  succeeding 
month,  he  cut  out  the  Santa  Anna,  armed  ship,  mounting  ten  guns, 
from  under  the  batteries  of  Hospitallier.  Several  other  ships,  we 
"helieve,  were  taken  by  him  in  a  similar  manner  ;  but  his  services, 
respecting  the  two  which  we  have  last  mentioned,  were  acknow- 
ledged by  the  following  very  handsome  letter,  from  his  Commander- 
in-chief,  Lord  Keith : — 

«  SIR>  "  Audacious,  Leghorn  Roads,  3d  April,  1800. 

"  I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  29th  January  last,  acquainting  me 
with  your  having,  on  tlie  llth,  cut  out  a  brig  loaded  with  wheat,  from 
under  the  batteries  of  Bordiguera  ;  and  also  that  of  27th  February,  to  Cap- 
tain Louis,  of  the  Minotaur  (which  has  been  by  him  transmitted  to  me) 
acquainting  him  of  your  having,  on  the  night  of  the  llth  of  that  month,  cut 
out,  from  under  the  batteries  of  Hospitallier,  the  armed  ship,  Santa  Anna, 
of  ten  guns. — I  am  much  pleased  with  your  success  on  these  occasions,  and 
with  the  good  conduct  of  Lieutenant  Aubridge,  and  your  boats'  crews  ;  and 
am  sorry  for  the  loss  which  was  sustained  in  the  execution  of  these  ser- 
vices. I  am,  sir, 

"  Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 
«  Captain  Vownman,  "  KEITH." 

Sanla  Dorotea" 

In  the  spring  of  1800,  subsequently  to  the  loss  of  the  Queen 
Charlotte,  by  fire,+  Lord  Keith  proceeded  with  part  of  his  fleet 
off  Genoa.  Captain  Downman  accompanied  his  lordship  on  this 
occasion,  and  assisted  in  the  blockade  of  Genoa,  which  was  then 
besieged  by  the  Austrian  general,  Melas,  till  the  beginning  of  June  ; 
•when,  reduced  by  famine,  the  French  army  evacuated  that  city,  andi 
the  whole  of  the  Genoese  territory.  £ 


*  Vide  NAVAT.  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  I.  p.  337. 

t  Ibid.  Vol.  X.  p.  22. 

+  Whilst  the  blockade  of  Genoa  was  kept  up,  the  city  and  Mole  were 
frequently  bombarded  by  the  British  flotilla.  In  one  of  these  assaults, 
Captain  Philip  Beaver,  of  tin;  Aurora,  in  a  most  spirited  and  gallant  man- 
ner, under  a  smart  fire  of  cannon  and  musketry  from  the  Mole  and  the 
enemy's  armed  vessels,  attacked,  boarded,  carried,  and  brought  off  their 
largest  galley,  la  Prima,  of  50  onrs,  and  f<;57  men,  armed,  mounted  with. 
two  brass  3b'-pounders,  and  30  brass  swivels  in  her  hold.  In  pcrfonnioj 
rhis  service,  only  four  men  \v«re  wounded. 


CAPTAIN    HOail   DOWNMAIO.  7 

During  a  part  of  this  time,  however,  Captain  Downman  was 
employed  on  what  might  be  considered  a  detached  service  ;  as,  in 
company  with  the  Neapolitan  brig,  Strombolo,  Captain  Settimo, 
and  the  Chamelion,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Jackson,  ho  was 
entrusted  with  the  blockade  of  the  important  fortress  of  Savona, 
which,  having  been  reduced  by  famine,  surrendered  on  the  16th  of 
May.*  On  this  occasion,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  letter 
from  Lord  Keith,  Captain  Downir.an,  as  the  senior  officer,  signed 
the  articles  of  capitulation  : — 

«  SIR,  "  Minotaur,  off  Genoa,  16th  May,  1300. 

"  The  fortress  of  Savons  having  surrendered  to  the  allied  forces,  and  the 
articles  of  capitulation  having  been  seen,  and  approved  of  by  me,  I  have  to 
desire  that  you  sign  the  same,  on  ray  authority,  as  the  commanding  ollicer 
of  his  majesty's  ships  in  Vado  Bay,  Major-general  Compte  de  Sc.  Julian 
kaving  first  signed,  us  an  ofiicer  of  superior  rank  to  you. 

"  I  am,  sir, 

"  Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 
"  Captain  Dcvcnjium^  "  KEITH.*1 

or 

"  The  Senior  Officer  cfhis  Majesty's  Shipt 
and  Vessels  in  Vado  B«y.''t 

Notwithstanding  the  exertions  of  the  British  and  Austrian  forces, 
the  French  were  destined  to  b^  successful  ;  and,  in  the  month  of 
October  following,  in  consequence  of  the  loss  of  the  fatal  battle  of 
£larengo,  Leghorn  and  the  whole  of  Tuscany  again  fell  under 
their  dominion.  After  the  surrender  of  Genoa  to  the  French* 
Captain  Downman  was  sent  to  destroy  the  fortifications  at  Port 
Aspeccio ;  a  service  which  he  executed  in  the  most  satisfactor/ 
manner.  He  also  preserved  the  valuable  gallery  of  Florence  from 
falling  into  the  hands  of  the  euemy,  by  receiving  it  on  board  the 
Santa  Dorotea,  and  conveying  it  in  safety  to  Palermo.  Hott  well 
he  executed  this  mission,  will  best  be  seen  by  the  following  grateful 
and  highly-flattering  testimonials : — 

*  Savona,  situated  2<2  miles  west-south-west  from  Genoa,  was,  next  cu 
tlue  capital,  the  best  belonging  to  the  republic.  Besiries  its  regular  fortifi- 
cations, it  was  defended  by  a  citadel,  standing  on  a  high  rock ;  and  the  har- 
bour had  been  partly  choked  up,  to  hinder  the  approach  of  large  ship*. 

t  Vado  Bay  is  situated  three  miles  to  the  south 


S  MEMOIR    OF   THE    PUBLIC   SERVICES    OP 

(TRANSLATIONS.) 

«'  Palermo,  November  18,  1800. 

"  I  beg  of  you,  Captain  Downman,  to  accept  one  hundred  zecchins,  to 
distribute  among  your  seamen,  as  a  trifling  acknowledgment  of  the  trouble 
which  my  equipage  occasioned  them. 

"  In  regard  to  yourself,  it  has  already  been  my  care  to  take  advantage  of 
an  extraordinary  courier  sent  by  the  imperial  ambassador  to  Vienna,  to 
inform  my  sovereign  of  the  important  service  you  have  rendered  to  him  and 
to  Tuscany,  by  placing  the  most  valuable  possessions  of  his  royal  gallery  in 
safety ;  and  I  feel  assured  that  his  royal  highness  will  publicly  testify  hie 
thanks. 

"  On  my  own  account,  I  owe  you  much  more.  You  have  preserved 
reliques  which  have  formed,  and  will  continue  to  form,  much  of  my  happi- 
ness, and  you  also  entertained  me  while  on  board  with  unexampled  polite- 
ness and  urbanity.  For  the  present,  be  assured  of  my  lively  and  sincere 
acknowledgments.  In  more  happy  times,  I  may  recompense  the  obligation 
at  Florence,  where,  in  appreciating  the  works  of  art  which  you  have  pre- 
served, you  will  be  sensible  of  the  importance  of  your  services,  and  the 
weight  of  my  obligations. 

"  In  this  hope  I  remain,  with  perfect  esteem,  respect,  and  gratitude, 
"  Your  friend  and  servant, 

«  TOMMASO  PUCCINI." 

"Vienna,  March  3,  ISO  I. 

"  The  assiduous  attention  with  which  Captain  Downman,  of  the  English 
frigate,  Santa  Dorotea,  has  conveyed  from  Leghorn  to  Palermo,  various 
valuable  effects  belonging  to  his  royal  highness  the  Grand  Duke  of  Tus- 
cany, my  sovereign,  which  were  accompanied  by  Signor  Tommaso  Puccini, 
has  been  stated  to  his  royal  highness. 

"  His  royal  highness,  understanding  that  orders  to  this  effect  were  given 
by  Admiral  Lord  Keith,  desires  me  to  request  you  will  convey  to  the  same 
his  royal  thanks. 

"  It  will  also  be  gratifying  to  his  royal  highness,  if  you  will  condescend 
to  forward  to  Captain  Downman  a  diamond  ring,  which  will  be  conveyed 
to  jrou  by  Signor  Brigadier  Giovanno  del  Bava,  as  a  testimony  of  the  high 
sense  which  his  royal  highness  has  of  the  delicate  attention  with  which 
Captain  Downman  executed  this  commission. 

"  It  remains  that  I  should  assure  your  excellency,  that  my  royal  master 
i\  persuaded  that  your  official  ..orders  have  not  a  little  contributed  to  influ- 
ence Admiral  Lord  Keith,  to  take  especial  care  for  the  safe  conveyance  of 
the  above-mentioned  effects.  His  royal  highness  has  therefore  deigned, 
in  his  commands  dated  6th  February,  to  signify  to  me  those  acknowledg- 
ments of  obligation  which  I  have  the  honour  of  declaring  to  you. 

"  Mr.  JTyndham:'  «  G.  RAIXOLDI* 


CAPlAIN    HUGH    DOWN  SI  AN*.  9 

"MOST  ILLUSTRIOUS  SIGNOR,  "  Trieste, March  20,  1801. 

"  I  have  received  the  honour  of  your  note,  accompanied  by  a  diamond 
ting,  which  his  royal  highness  the  Grand  Duke  of  Tuscany  condescends  to 
present  to  Captain  Downman,  of  his  Britannic  Majesty's  frigate,  Santa 
Dorotea,  for  the  care  with  which  he  conveyed  various  effects  belonging  to 
his  royal  highness  from  Leghorn  to  Palermo  ;  and  I  feel  myself  happy  in. 
being  deputed  to  testify  to  my  brave  and  worthy  friend  so  honourable  a  tes- 
timony of  his  royal  highness  s  approbation. 

"  I  shall  not  fail  to  send  it  to  him,  with  a  copy  of  your  Excellency's 
letter,  by  the  first  courier  that  sets  out  for  London,  being  very  uncertain 
where  the  Santa  Dorotea  may  be  met  with  at  sea. 

"  I  shall  do  myself  the  honour  of  writing  to  Admiral  Lord  Keit!  > 
announcing  to  him  those  professions  of  acknowledgment  from  the  Grand 
Duke,  which  cannot  fail  to  be  highly  gratifying  to  him,  and  to  impress  him 
with  sentiments  of  respect  and  gratitude. 

"  Respecting  what  his  royal  highness  has  desired  you  to  signify  to  me 
concerning  the  official  orders  that  may  have  contributed  to  the  safety  of  the 
effects  in  question,  I  beg  of  you  to  assure  his  royal  highness  of  my  hearty 
acknowledgments,  and  to  testify  to  him,  that  I  cannot  experience  a  greater 
satisfaction,  than  when  my  time  and  my  actions  are  employed  in  his  ser- 
vice ;  having  a  respectful  attachment  to,  and  high  veneration  for  his  royal 
highness,  and  the  royal  family. 

"Accept  my  thanks  for  the  gracious  and  polite  manner  in  which  you 
have  executed  the  commands  of  your  royal  master,  and  I  request  you  to 
believe,  that  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c.  &c.  &c. 

"  Sigwr  G.  Rainoldi."  "  W.  WYNDHAM." 

At  the  same  time  that  Captain  Downman  took  the  Florence 
gallery  on  board  his  ship,  he  also  received  the  present  king  and 
queen  of  Sardinia,  and  suite,  and  landed  them  at  Naples.  For  his 
very  sedulous  and  obliging  attentions  during  the  passage,  her 
majesty  presented  him  with  a  handsome  diamond  ring;  and  the 
king,  then  Duke  of  Savoy,  wrote  to  him  the  following  letter^ 
gratefully  expressive  of  his  obligations  :  — 

(TRANSLATION.) 
"SIR, 

"  I  cannot  sufficiently  express  the  extent  of  my  gratitude,  and  that  of  my 
wife,  for  the  extraordinary  care  and  trouble  which  you  have  so  willingly 
taken,  during  our  passage  from  Leghorn  to  Naples.  It  is  to  your  solicitude; 
in  shortening,  as  much  as  possible,  the  sufferings  which  the  bad  weather 
might  have  occasioned  to  a  woman,  in  the  ninth  month  of  her  pregnancy, 
that  my  wifV  is  indebted,  for  not  having  eventually  suffered  from  those 
shocks,  which  might  perhaps  have  occasioned  an  irreparable  loss  to  our 
family,  had  she  been  exposed  to  them  twenty-four  hours  longer.  Our  gra- 

.  er&ron.  (Hot*  XXI.  c 


10      MEMOIR.    OF    THE    PUBLIC    SERVICES    OF    CAPT.    DOW.VMAN. 

tittidc  will  consequently  be  proportionate  to  the  obligation  which  you  have 
conferred  upon  us-;  and  it  will  always  be  with  pleasure  that  we  shal. 
remember  our  acquaintance  with  an  officer  of  merit  and  capacity,  in  all 
respects  like  yourself. 

"  I  flatter  myself  that  you  will  be  convinced  of  the  sincerity  of  tliese  sen- 
timents; as  well  as  of  the  constant  interest  which  I  shall  take,  in  every 
tiling  that  may  concern  you  ;  and  that  I  shall  esteem  myself  happy  in  being 
able  to  distinguish  you  upon  every  occasion. 

"  It  is  with  these  sentiments  that  I  am,  sir, 

"  VICTOR  EMANUEL  DE  SAVOIE." 

At  the  peace,  as  has  been  already  stated,  Captain  Downman, 
after  his  return  from  the  Mediterranean,  went  into  the  Caesar,  as- 
Sir  James  Saumarez'  captain.  He  remained  in  that  ship  till 
August,  1802,  when  he  was  paid  off,  and  was  not  employed  againr 
till  January,  1804.  He  was  then  appointed  to  the  Diomede,  the 
flag-ship  of  his  former  admiral,  Sir  James  Saumarez,  in  which  he 
served  fourteen  months  on  the  Guernsey- station,  lie  was  after- 
wards employed  on  the  North  Sea  station,  in  the  same  ship,  till 
the  sailing  of  Sir  Home  Popham's  expedition  against  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  at  the  latter  end  of  the  year  1805  *  Captain  Down. 
man  joined  the  expedition,  we  believe,  at  Madeira  ;  and,  Sir  Home 
Popham  having  hoisted  his  broad  pendant,  as  commodore,  in  the 
Diadem,  he  sailed  with  him  in  that  ship,  as  his  captaim  He  was- 
consequently  at  the  capture  of  the  Cape,  and  was  sent  home'Vith 
the  despatches,  announcing  that  event,  in  the  Espoir.  Having 
executed  that  mission,  he  sailed  fur  South  America,  and1  resumed 
the  command  of  his  old  ship,  the  Diomede,  in  the  River  Plate. 
After  the  capture  of  Monte  Yidea,  he  returned  to  England,  and 
was  paid  off,  in  June,  1807. 

We  have  only  to  add,  that,  in  the  month  of  August  or  Septem- 
ber following,  he  was  appointed  to  the  Assistance  prison-ship,  at 
.Portsmouth,  and  has  since  been  removed  into  the  Vreugeance  at 
the  same  port,  where  he  at  present  remains. 

The  subjoined  is  a  fac-simile  of  Captain  Downman's  hand 
writing. 


*  Vile  NAVAL  CURONI-CL r,  Vol.  XVf.  page  372. 


11 

NAVAL  ANECDOTES, 
•COMMERCIAL  HINTS,  RECOLLECTIONS, 


NANTES    IN    GURBITE    VA3TO. 


THE    LATE    CAPTAIN    HAUDIXGE. 

THE  notices  we  have  received  in  honour  to  the  memory  of  the 
lata  Captain  Hardingc  are  so  numerous,  and  so  well  authen- 
ticated, that  our  difficulty  is  where  to  choose  ;  but  we  can  ven- 
ture to  assert,  that  nothing  has  transpired  since  the  country  was 
deprired  of  that  hero,  more  to  his  honour,  and  more  brilliant  in 
itself,  than  a  letter  which  has  just  been  received  from  a  correspon- 
dent at  Bombay.  It  is.  we  apprehend  (and  forms  one  glory  of  the 
incident),  a  circumstance  of  the  first  impression,  that  a  gentleman, 
holding  the  supreme  judicial  office  in  a  district  of  such  opulence  and 
weight  in  our  settlements,  has  taken  so  high-spirited  a  part  in  a 
public  appeal  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  community,  for  the  purpose 
of  suggesting  honours  to  a  naval  hero's  memory  and  fame. 

But  the  mode  of  the  appeal  improves  even  upon  its  principle^ 
'for  it  will  be  found,  by  the  severest  critics  of  taste  and  of  eloquence, 
that  more  spirit,  grace,  and  effect  were  never  compressed  into 
such  brevity  of  expression,  or  touched  with  such  interesting  sim- 
.plicity. 

We  congratulate  Bombay  on  its  possession  of  such  powers,  and 
such  feelings,  upon  a  judicial  seat  of  criminal  justice. 

(COPY,) 
«   To  the  EtUtor  tf  the.  Bombay  Courier. 

"  SIR,  "  Bombay,  March  SI,  1808. 

"  Yielding  to  the  first  impulse  of  those  feelings  which  the  heroic  death 
>>f  Captain  HAUDIXGE  has  impressed  upon  me,  I  take  the  liberty  of  pro- 
posing to  the  British  inhabitants  of  this  presidency,  a  subscription  for  his 
monument  in  the  church  of  Bombay. 

"  A  generous  and  grateful  nation  will  doubtless  place  his  monument  by 
the  side  of  that  of  Nelson,  But  tlte  memorials  of  heroic  valour  cannot  be 
too  multiplied. 

"Captain  HARDIXGE  fell  for  Britain;  but  more  especially  he  fell  for 
British  India. 

"  I  should  feel  myself  ashamed  of  presuming  to  suggest  reasons  for  such 
fi  measure.  They  will  abundantly  occur,  to  the  honour  of  their  country. 

(Signed)  «  JAMES  MACKINTOSH' 

Upwards  of  two  thousand  pounds  sterling  had  been  raised  whea 
the  last  advices  were  scut, 


12  NIVAL    ANECDOTES, 

u  From  the  Bombay  Courier,  of  April  23,  1808. 

"  We  yesterday  witnessed,  but  with  mixed  feelings  of  regret  and  pride, 
the  animating  and  gratifying  spectacle  of  la  Piedmontaise  entering  the  har- 
bour, under  tlie  charge  of  the  St.  Fiorenzo. 

"  She  came  in  under  jury  masts,  and  was  towed  in  by  the  boats  of  the 
tnen-of-war  from  the  mouth  of  the  harbour  to  her  mooring  ground.  The 
flags  of  all  the  vessels  in  the  harbour  were  hoisted  half-mast  high,  and 
minute  guns  corresponding  to  the  age  of  the  excellent,  brave,  and  lamented. 
Captain  Hardinge,  were  fired  from  the  flag-ship,  the  Powerful.'' 


"  Extract  from  a  Letter  of  a  Merchant  at  Colombo,  to  a  natal  Captain 
just  returned  from  the  East. 

"  Colombo,  March  25,  1808. 

"  The  great  sensation  here  is  the  late  action  between  the  San  Fiorenzo 
and  Piedmontaise,  which  is  allowed  on  all  hands  to  have  been  the  hardest 
fought  that  was  ever  known. 

"  I  yesterday  visited  the  two  ships,  and  was  really  confounded  at  their 
shattered  condition.  The  San  Fiorenzo  was  damaged  most  in  her  hull,  and 
I  counted  on  her  larboard  side  alone  eleven  great  shot-holes,  between  wind 
and  water,  which  they  were  busily  patching  up  with  sheet  lead. 

"  The  Piedmontaise  had  every  mast  shot  away  ten  feet  above  the  deck, 
and  all  three  of  them  cut  at  near  the  same  height. 

"  But  it  was  dreadful  to  see  the  effect  of  the  grape  shot  on  both  shins—- 
the whole  of  their  sides,  from  stem  to  stern,  stuck  thick  over  with  them; 
£iul  in  contemplating  them,  one  is  amazed  how  any  one  exposed  to  so 
destructive  a  fire  could  have  remained  alive," 


WHIMSICAL     ECCENTRICITIES     OF    THE    LATE    CAPTAIN    MONTAGUF. 

PrjTlHE  Hon.  Captain  William  Montague,  familiarly  called  Mad 
-^-  Montague,  was  distinguished  by  an  eccentricity  of  conduct, 
of  which  the  following  instances  arc  highly  amusing  : — 

In  coming  up  the  Channel,  during  the  time  that  he  commanded 
the  Bristol,  about  the  year  }746  or  1747,  he  fell  in  with  a  very 
numerous'  fleet  of  outward-bound  Dutch  merchantmen.  He  fired 
at  several  in  order  to  compel  them  to  bring  to,  q,  measure  autho- 
rised by  custom  and  his  general  instructions.  The  Dutch,  aided 
by  a  fair  wind,  hoped  by  its  assistance  to  escape  the  disagreeable 
delay  of  being  searched  or  overhauled,  and  held  on  their  way: 
Captain  Montague  pursued,  but,  on  overtaking  them,  took  no  other 
satisfaction  than  that  of  mapning  and  sending  out  his  two  cutters 
Sviih  a  carpenter's  mate  in  each,  ordering  them  to  cut  off  tweiva 


COMMERCIAL   HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  13 

of  the  ugliest  heads  they  could  find  in  the  whole  fleet,  from  among 
those  with  which,  as  it  is  well  known,  those  people  are  accustomed 
to  ornament  the  extremity  of  their  rudders.  When  these  were 
brought  on  board,  he  caused  them  to  be  disposed  on  brackets  round 
his  cabin,  contrasting  them  in  the  most  ludicrous  manner  his  vein 
of  humour  could  invent,  and  writing  under  them  the  names  of  the 
twelve  Caesars. 

Another  anecdote  is,  that  being  once  at  Lisbon,  and  having  got 
into  a  night  affray  with  the  people  on  shore,  he  received  in  the 
scuffle  what  is  usually  termed  a  black  eye.  On  the  succeeding  day, 
previously  to  his  going  on  shore,  he  compelled  each  of  his  boat's 
crew  to  black  with  cork  one  of  their  eyes,  so  as  to  resemble  a 
natural  injury ;  the  starboard  rowers  the  right  eye,  the  larboard 
rowers  the  left,  and  the  cockswain  both  :  the  whimsical  effect  may 
be  easily  conceived. 

When  under  the  orders  of  Sir  Edward  Hawke,  in  1755,  he  soli- 
cited permission  to  repair  to  town.  The  admiral,  aware  of  the  im- 
propriety of  such  a  request,  and  at  the  same  time  wishing  to  palliate 
reftis.il  by  imposing,  on  his  permission,  a  condition  he  conceived 
impossible  to  be  undertaken,  even  by  a  man  of  Mr.  Montague's 
harmless,  though  extravagant  turn  ef  mind,  jestingly  said,  *'  The 
complexion  of  affairs  was  so  serious,  that  he  could  not  grant  him 
leave  to  go  farther  from  his  ship  than  where  his  barge  could  carry 
him."  Mr.  Montague,  not  to  be  foiled  or  abashed,  is  said  to  have 
immediately  repaired  to  Portsmouth,  where  he  gave  orders  for  the 
construction  of  a  carriage  on  a  truck,  to  be  drawn  with  horses,  on 
which  he  meant  to  row  his  barge  ;  and  having  previously  stored  it 
with  provisions  and  necessaries  requisite  for  three  days,  to  proceed 
to  London.  Having  lashed  it  to  the  carriage,  the  crew  was 
instructed  to  imitate  the  action  of  rowing  with  the  same  solemnity 
as  if  they  had  been  actually  coming  into  the  harbour  from  Spit- 
head.  Sir  Edward,  as  it  is  said,  received  intelligence  of  his  inten- 
tion soon  after  the  boat  and  its  contents  were  landed,  and  imme- 
diately sent  him  permission  to  proceed  to  London  in  whatever 
jnanner  he  thought  proper. 

LORD    CHARLES    FITZGERALD. 

(From  (he  Naval  Aialantis,  Part  2 ;  by  Nauticus  Junior, published  in  1789J 

THIS  gallant  young  nobleman  is  descended  from  the  great  Earl 
ef  Jvildare,  in  the  kingdom  of  Ireland,  and  is  next  brother  to  the 
present  Duke  of  Leinster.  His  lordship  made  a  very  conspicuous 


f4  KAYAt,    ANECDOTE*, 

figure  daring  the  late  war,  in  the  several  ranks  of  lieutenant,  mas- 
ter and  commander,  and  post  captain,  in  the  royal  navy.  Captain 
Marshall  had  the  satisfaction  to  receive  Lord  Charles  as  junior 
Jieutcnant  on  board  the  Arethusa  frigate,  which  ship  had  the 
honour  to  strike  the  first,  blow  last  war,  in  an  engagement  with  the 
Belle  Poule  French  frigate,  now  in  the  British  service;  during; 
which  action,  his  lordship  displayed  all  the  native  bravery  of  his 
illustrious  ancestors,  but  was  unfortunately  wounded.  We  next 
find  his  lordship  employed  as  commander  of  his  majesty's  cutter 
ihe  Tapageur,  which  had  been  recently  captured  from  the  enemy. 
This  vessel  gave  Lord  Charles  the  rank  of  master  and  commander, 
and  she  was  sent  to  the  West  Indies  with  despatches  for  Lord 
Rodney,  but  had  the  misfortune  to  strike  upon  the  rocks  in  the 
careenage  at  St.  Lucia,  where  she  was  lost;  but  happily  his  lord- 
ship and  the  crew  were  saved.  Not  long  after  this  accident  he 
•was  made  post  into  the  Sphynx,  of  24  guns,  which  was  for  some 
lime  an  attendant  frigate  on  the  Leeward  Island  squadron.  Rear, 
admiral  Parker  being  ordered  home,  hoisted  his  flag  in  the  Med- 
vay,  which,  with  the  Centurion  and  Sphynx,  convoyed  to  England 
a  very  valuable  fleet  of  merchant  ships.  The  same  fatality  which 
happened  to  his  lordship  on  the  rocks  of  St.  Lucia,  had  nearly 
befallen  him  on  those  of  Scilly,  from  which  he  had  a  miraculous 
escape.  Such  was  the  ardour  of  this  distinguished  youth,  that  he 
scarcely  allowed  himself  time  to  visit  his  noble  family  and  numerous 
friends,  before  he  obtained  the  command  of  the  Sybil  frigate,  and 
immediately  returned  to  the  great  theatre  of  war  in  the  West 
Indies,  where  he  rendered  himself  active  at  the  capture  of  Saint 
Eustatius,  particularly  in  chasing  the  Dutch  admiral  and  the  ships 
•which  were  endeavouring  to  escape,  and  which,  by  the  exertions 
of  his  lordship  under  the  captains,  Reynolds  (now  Lord  Ducie) 
and  Harvey,  were  added  to  the  number  of  prizes  taken  in  the  road 
of  Statia.  The  various  gallant  actions  of  Lord  Charles  Fitzgerald 
arc  too  eminently  on  record  to  need  any  further  praise  ;  but  there 
is  one  in  particular,  which  reflects  so  much  honour  on  his  lord- 
ship's bravery  and  humanity,  that  it  would  be  injustice  to  withhold 
the  knowledge  of  it  from  the  public.  It  unfortunately  happened, 
that  a  sailor  fell  from  the  main  yard  into  the  sea,  when  the 
ship  was  absolutely  going  through  the  water  at  a  great  rate  ;  his 
lordship  observing  the  circumstance,  pulled  off  his  coat,  imme- 
diately jumped  overboard,  and  heroically  saved  the  man's  life,  at 
the  extreme  hazard  of  his  own  ;  thereby  illustrating  in  its  fullest 
force,  the  motto  of  the  Leinster  family,  "  (Joom  a-boo,"  which 
signifies  "  Help  in  distress." 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    UECOLLECTIOXS,    &C.  15 

It  is  needless  to  say  more,  than  that  Lord  Fitzgerald  is  a 
nobleman  of  the  most  social  virtues,  and  an  officer  of  the  most 
distinguished  merit. 

THE   LATE    LOHIT  ROBERT    MANN  CHS. 

(From  the  same.) 

IN  forming  this  heroic  nobleman,  nature  combined  every  mentaf 
grace  with  the  most  captivating  elegance  of  person.  Laurels 
gathered  round  his  ripening  years  so  thick,  that  h'eaven  itserf  was 
envious  of  his  worth,  and  snatched  him  in  early  youth  from  the 
height  of  this  world's  fame,  to  place  him  on  that  immortal  pinnacle 
of  glory,  where  godlike  heroes  only  are  enthroned. 

Lord  Robert  "  inherited  all  his  father's  virtues."  He  was  the- 
second  son  of  the  late  Marquis  of  Granby,  and  only  brother  to  the- 
late  Duke  of  Rutland.  As  soon  as  he  was  capable  of  judging 
vhich  line  to  pursue  in  the  career  of  military  fame,  he  made  choice 
of  the  navy  ;  and  so  great  was  hi§  lordship's  attachment  to  that 
profession,  that  instead  of  engagiag  in  those  fashionable  scenes  of 
pleasure  for  which  he  was  so  eminently  formed  by  his  birth,  years 
and  accomplishments,  he  devoted  all  his  time  to  nautical  study  and 
practical  seamanship,  in  which  he  excelled  most  of  his  youthful 
to  rape  Li  tors. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  late  war,  this  lamented  hero  served- 
as  a  volunteer  in  the  Victory,  with  Admiral  Keppel ;  and  although 
the  success  of  that  fleet  did  not  equal  the  sanguine  expectations  of 
the  nation,  Lord  Robert  nevertheless  displayed  during  that  period 
those  promising  seeds  of  growing  ardour  which  so  rapidly  shot  up 
into  maturity. 

His  lordship-'s  further  progress  to  the  rank  of  post  captain,  and 
afterwards,  was  marked  with  a  thirst  of  fame  and  disregard  of 
life,  which  certainly  accelerated  the  period  of  his  days,  and  laid 
him  so  early  in  the  bed  of  honour  ;  for  during  the  action  on  the 
glorious  12th  of  April,  in  the  West  Indies  (on  which  occasion  his 
lordship  received  his  death  wound,  when  commanding  the  Resolu- 
tion, of  74  gaus)  such  was  his  extraordinary  regard  for  the 
•wounded  seamen  of  his  ship's  company,  who  all  adored  their 
gallant  captain,  that  he  would  not  suffer  his  own  wounds  to  be 
dressed  until  theirs  had  been  under  the  surgeon's  hands  ;  by  which 
amiable  attention  (having  then  lost  a  leg  and  an  arm)  the  British 
navy  eventually  sustained  an  irreparable  loss;  he  lived,  however, 
to  Hear  the  shouts  of  victory,  and  then,  like  the  immortal 
declared  he  should  die  con  teat, 


IS  NAVAL    ANECDOTIC 

Some  slender  hopes  were  entertained  by  tlie  naval  physician  and 
surgeons  of  saving  his  life,  provided  he  could  be  conveyed  soon  to 
England;  for  which  purpose  his  lordship  was  removed,  "with 
trembling  care,"  by  his  weeping  crew,  on  board  the  Andromache' 
frigate,  commanded  by  his  amiable  and  gallant  friend,  Captain 
Byton,  who  was  ordered  home  with  the  account  of  the  defeat  of 
the  French  fleet. 

Captain  Byron's  assiduous  and  humane  attention  to  his  noble 
friend,  gave  his  lordship  occasionally  such  spirits,  that  he  would 
humorously  say,  if  his  relations  did  not  provide  for  him  when 
arrived  in  England,  he  should  make  a  capital  figure  as  a  beggar  in 
the  streets  of  London,  with  a  wooden  leg  and  crutches,  &c. 
However,  in  one  fatal  moment  on  his  passage,  his  heroic  soul  took 
its  flight  into  eternity,  with  that  serenity  and  resignation,  whicli 
the  afflicted  Byron  declared,  made  such  a  death  truly  enviable. 

Thus  Great  Britain  lost,  in  the  bloom  of  youth,  arid  fulness  of 
glory,  one  of  her  brightest  ornaments,  -whose  actions  alone  are 
sufficient  to  perpetuate  his  memory  ;  a  grateful  nation  has  never- 
theless thought  fit  to  strengthen  the  remembrance  of  his  virtues  by 
a  magnificent  monument,  which  is  now  erecting  in  Westminster 
Abbey,  in  honour  of  his  lordship,  and  the  Captains  Bayne  and- 
Blair,  who  fell  in  the  same  action. 

Let  the  young  patricians  who  thirst  for  fame,  go  imitate  the 
godlike  Manners ! — "  Pour  y  parvenir."* 

GALLANT    ACTION    IN    THE    WEST    INDIES'. 

THE  Cornwallis  packet,  Anthony,  recently  arrived  from  the 
West  Indies,  on  her  outward-bound  voyage,  sustained  a  most 
gallant  action  with  a  large  French  schooner  privateer.  On  the 
24th  of  September,  in  lat.  13  deg.  41  min.  long.  56  deg.  13  min. 
Barbadoes  distant  about  200  miles,  the  schooner  fell  in  with  the 
packet  at  daylight,  and  immediately  gave  chase.  Captain  Anthony, 
finding  the  schooner  came  up  fast,  and  being  all  prepared  for 
action,  shortened  sail,  and  fired  a  shot  at  the  schooner,  which  was 
returned  by  a  broadside.  The  action  then  commenced,  and  was 
continued  for  two  hours  and  a  quarter  with  great  fury,  when  the 
schooner,  having  had  enough  of  it,  sheered  off,  leaving  the  packet 
a  complete  wreck,  with  her  main-mast  cut  through  by  a  double- 
headed  shot,  and  almost  all  the  shrouds  on  that  and  the  fore-mast 

*  The  motto  of  the  Rutland  family. 


COMMERCIAL   HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,  &C.  17 

carried  away,  her  braces,  and  nearly  all  the  running  rigging  and 
sails,  cut  to  pieces,  with  two  men  killed,  and  the  mate  and  a 
passenger  \vounded. — Captain  Anthony  would  have  pursued  the 
privateer,  if  he  had  not  been  so  much  cut  up  in  his  rigging.  The 
packet  arrived  at  Barbadoes  next  day,  and  repaired  her  damages. 
A  handsome  subscription  was  collected  by  the  merchants  at  Bar- 
badoes, and  presented  to  the  gallant  crew  of  the  Cornwallis,  whose 
bravery  merits  every  reward  they  can  have. — On  the  packet's 
arrival  at  Dominica,  two  captains  of  vessels  who  had  just  arrived 
there  from  Martinique,  informed  Captain  Anthony,  that  the  pri- 
vateer which  he  had  engaged  was  called  la  Duquesne,  of  1 1  guns, 
and  one  long  18-pounder  on  a  traverse.  She  arrived  at  Marti- 
nique in  a  very  shattered  state ;  and  acknowledged  her  loss  to  be 
14  killed  and  30  wounded. 

CAPTAIN    ANTHONY. 

A  FEW  merchants  of  Barbadoes  have  transmitted  631.  for  a  silver 
cup,  to  be  presented  to  Captain  Anthony,  of  the  Cornwallis 
packet,  as  a  testimony  of  their  high  sense  of  his  very  gallant  con- 
duct in  the  defence  of  his  ship,  when  attacked  to  windward  of  that 
island  by  a  French  schooner  privateer,  of  very  superior  force,  on 
the  24th  September  last.  We  hope  the  committee  of  the  West 
India  merchants  will  follow  the  example,  and  vote  a  handsome  sum 
to  Captain  Anthony  and  his  gallant  crew. 

THE    LATE    ADMIRAL    MACBRIDE. 

THE  following  characteristic  sketch  of  this  gallant  officer,  whilst 
he  was  a  captain,  appeared  in  the  Westminster  Magazine  for 
March  1779,  shortly  after  the  memorable  trial  of  Admiral  Keppel, 
by  a  court  martial  :  *— 

"  Captain  Macbride  is  a  most  liberal,  brave,  and  spirited 
officer,  accounted  so  from  proof,  and  not  from  conjecture,  and 
whose  conduct  on  the  late  occasion  did  him  singular  honour.  The 
regard  and  the  reverence  he  professed  for  the  injured  admiral,  was 
such  as  made  him  the  friend  of  every  good  man.  He  saw  through 
the  cabal  that  was  formed  against  him,  and  he  spoke  of  it  with 
that  warmth  of  indignation  which  such  conduct  was  likely  to  arouse 
in  the  bosom  of  a  brave  honest  nian.  He  considered  the  attempt 

*  Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  VII.  page  304  and  &$9- 
.  Bol.  XXI.  j> 


18  NAVAL    ANECDOTES, 

on  the  honour  of  Admiral  Keppel  as  a  blow  levelled  ultimately,  .at 
the  sacred  character  of  the  British  navy  in  general  ;  and  he  jus.tly 
considered  it  so,  reflecting  on  the  hand  from  whence  it  came,  and 
remembering  the  many  attempts  of  a  similar  nature  that  the  same 
board  had,uiade  before.  The  unprecedented  attack  they  had  made 
on  the  honour  of  the  navy,  -when  they  strove  to  put  the  navy 
board  before  the  royal  captains  in  the  precession  at  the  naval  re- 
view ;  the  resistance  they  had  made  to  the  increase  of  the  half.pay 
of  captains  and  lieutenants  ;  and  a  thousand  other  instances, 
equally  strong,  pressing  upon  his  mind,  convinced  him  it  was 
another  secret  blow  darted  at  the  whole  navy,  and  he  resisted  it 
with  a  spirit  becoming  the  dignity  of  a  British  seaman."* 

GALLANTRY    OF     THE     CREW   OF    AN    ENGLISH    MERCHANT    SHIP    I!t 
THE    TEAR    16'96. 

I.v  the  year  1696  an  English  merchant  ship,  of  ten  guns,  belong- 
ing to-  London,  arrived  in  the  river  Thames  from  FayalJ1,  and 
entered  at  .the  Custom-house,  being  laden  with  wines  ;  she  was 
manned  when  she  went  out  with  fifteen  men  and  two  boys,  but 
three  of  them  ran  away  at  Fayall. 

In  her  voyage  home,  about  three  leagues  from  the  Lizard,  she 
met  ami  fought  a  French  privateer  belonging  to  St.  Maloes,  of  six 
guns,  four  partercroes,  and  sixty-four  men.  The  first  broadside 
she  made  at  the  Caper  split  one  of  his  guns,  killed  the  gunner, 
and  wounded  nine  others.  Then  the  French  bore  up  close,  and 
boarded  the  English  ship  with  thirty  men,  of  which  number  was 
the  lieutenant  and  the  owner's  son.  However,  the  English,  though 
they  consisted  but  of  twelve  men 'and'  two  boys,  maintained  a  fight 
of  two  hours  with  them,  by  which'  they  had  killed  twenty-four  of 
the  enemy  that  were  put  on  board  them,  and  made  the  other  six 
prisoners,  among  which  was  the  lieutenant  and  the  owner's  son. 
And  they  had  killed  six  more  on  board,  and  wounded  twenty, 
eight,  so  that  of  all  the  French  crew  there  were  but  six  that  were 
not  killed  or  wounded.  Upon  which  the  privateer  was  satisfied 
with  the  conflict,  and  begun  to  sheer  off,  leaving  the  merchant  ship, 
iu  peace  to  pursue  her  voyage. 

When  the  French  lieutenant  saw  his  captain  bearing  away,  he. 
called  to  him  to  take  him  oft';  he,  shaking  his  head,  replied  he  had. 

*  A  jxjrtrait  and  biographical  memoir  of  Admiral  Macbride  are  given  in. 
fhe  XlXth  volume  of  the  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  page  265  ;  and,  at  jjage  473. 
•;';!;•_'  same  volume,  arc  some  additional  particulars  relating  to  him,. 


COMMERCIAL   HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  19 

enough  of  it,  and  did  not  dare  to  attempt  it.  Then  the  Frenck 
lieutenant  prayed  the  English  commander  to  give  him  one  broad- 
side, for  if  you  do,  said  he,  the  dog  will  strike;  but  the  English  cap- 
tain did  not  look  upon  it  to  be  his  business  to  follow  him,  but  ra- 
ther to  bring  in  his  ship  safe,  and  so  he  steered  his  course  straight 
home.  The  French  lieutenant  was  so  enraged  at  last  against  his 
officer,  that  he  desired  he  might  have  a  musquetoon  to  make  one 
shot  at  the  cowardly  dog,  as  he  called  him. 

During  all  this  heroic  and  brave  action  the  English  had  not  one 
rnan  killed;  the  captain  was  wounded  in  the  right  hand,  but  he 
took  up  his  sword  in  his  left,  and  fought  very  boldly.  The  super- 
cargo man  had  three  shots  through  his  hat,  and  a  hand  granado 
fell  upon  his  shoulder,  but  as  it  fell  down,  he  clapped  his  hand  upon 
the  fuse  before  it  burst,  without  any  other  hurt  than  burning  his 
liand  a  little ;  another  of  the  crew  had  both  his  hands  shot  off,  and 
one  was  shot  in  the  belly. 

Extracted  from  an  old  book  in  possession  of  your  occasional 
correspondent,  ROBUll. 

PROVIDENTIAL    PRESERVATION    Oi1    A    SEAMAN. 

THE  following  miraculous  preservation  of  a  seaman  (says  Mr. 
Clarke,  in  his  Naufragia)  occurred  whilst  his  majesty's  ship  the 
Jupiter,  Commodore  J.  W.  Payne,  was  waiting  off  Cuxhaven  for 
the  Princess  Caroline  of  Brunswick.  Being  myself  on  b'oard,  I 
can  vouch  for  its  accuracy  :— 

•C£  On  the  9th  of  March,  1795,  .the  severe  weather  we  had 
endured  became  more  moderate  ;  and  during  the  day,  a  poor  sea- 
man was  taken  from  off  a  piece  of  ice  that  had  floated  out  to  sea 
by  one  of  the  Blackness  pilot  boats.  Being  "brought  on  shore  at 
Cuxhaven,  he  gave  the  following  account  of  his  sufferings. — lie 
had  belonged  to  a  Hambro  trader,  laden  with  groceries,  bound 
from  London  to  the  above  place.  During  the  passage,  his  vessel 
was  lost  .(January  28th)  amidst  the  ice,  on  a  sand  bank,  off  Cux- 
haven. The  master,  with  a  boy,  and  this  sailor,  got  upon  the 
sand,  at  that  time  covered  with  ice;  ajid  preserved  life  with  some 
wine  and  biscuit,  which  they  had  saved  from  the  wreck.  At  the 
end  of  eleven  days,  the  master  and  boy  died.  The  survivor,  with, 
an  unshaken  resolution  and  reliance  on  Divine  Providence,  would 
not  allow  himself  to  despond.  Every  night  he  reposed  upon  one  of 
the  dead  bodies  of  his  shipmates,  and  put  the  other  corpse  over 
IKta :  the  intense  raid  kept  them  from  being  offensive.  4a  this 


20  WAVAfc    ANECDOTES, 

forlorn  and  melancholy  state  he  slept ;  and  declared,  that  he  con- 
stantly received  great  consolation  from  dreams,  which  invariably 
promised  his  deliverance. 

The  wine  and  biscuit  being  at  length  consumed,  he  discovered 
§onie  cockles  on  a  part  of  the  sand  not  covered  with  ice,  upon 
•which  he  existed  until  the  month  of  March  ;  when  Providence  sent 
lino.  thS  following  relief.  In  the  morning,  when  he  awoke,  to  his 
utter  dismay  he  found  the  mass  of  ice  on  which  he  had  so  long 
sojourned  was  separated  from  the  rest,  and  drifting  out  to  sea. 
Jlis  anguish  cannot  be  described.  When  lo  !  the  very  means  by 
•which  he  appeared  hurried  on  to  destruction  evenfually  caused  1m 
deliverance.  He  was  thus  carried  within  sight  of  the  Blackness 
fUhing  boats,  who  immediately  hastened  to  his  succour. 

On  his  iirst  landing  at  Cuxhaven,  the  warmth  of  the  house  in 
which  he  was  received  created  an  agony  of  pain,  and  it  was  some 
time  before  the  above  facts  could  be  detailed.  Nor  did  his  narra- 
tive gain  credit  from  many,  before  he  had  produced  the  bills  of 
lading,  and  had  reminded  them  of  a  vessel  answering  the  description 
he  gave  of  his  own,  which  they  knew  had  been  wrecked. 

ACCOUNT  OF  THE  NEWFOUNDLAND  FISHERY. 

As  the  nature  of  the  Newfoundland  Cod  Fishery,  which  employs 
many  thousands  of  people  from  England  and  Ireland,  and  is  of 
vast  importance  to  the  nation,  is  not  generally  understood,  the 
following  short  account  of  it  may  be  found  acceptable  :  — 

After  crossing  the  Atlantic  with  every  requisite  necessary  to  pro- 
ceed  on  the  fishing  voyage  (leaving  England  about  the  beginning 
of  March),  the  ships  generally  come  to  single  anchor,  on  what 
are  termed  "  the  Banks  of  Newfoundland,"  in  the  month  of 
April,  which  are  in  length  from  150  to  200  miles ;  in  breadth, 
they  may  be  considered  narrow.  There  arc  two  fishing  banks,  the 
outer,  and  the  inner;  the  outer  bank  is  about  150  miles  or  more 
off  the  land;  the  inner  is  from  80  to  100  miles  off  the  shore. 
They  seldom  fish  on  the  outer  bank,  from  the  great  depth  of 
water,  being  from  90  to  100  fathoms  deep,  unless  it  is  when  they 
cannot  find  any  fish  on  the  inner  bank.  They  generally  cast 
anchor,  and  fish,  in  about  45  and  50  fathoms  of  water,  with  two, 
and  some  with  three  lv>oks  to  each  line,  and  dreadful  work  it 
is,  at  so  early  a  period  of  the  year,  from  the  severity  of  the 
climate,  the  great  fogs  natural  to  that  part  of  the  world,  and  the 
yjteose  coldness  of  the  water,  they  being  obliged  to  haul  the  fish, 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,     &C.  21 

from  such  a  depth  as  40  and  50  fathoms. — There  are  pounds  or 
enclosures  made  on  the  deck,  for  each  fisherman  to  throw  in  what 
he  catches;  the  best  places  for  fishing  aresupposed  to  be  the  larboard 
how  and  the  larboard  quarter:  at  the  latter  place  the  mate   fishes, 
and  the  boatswain  on  the  bow.     A   little  stage  is   erected   in  the 
midships  of  the  vessel,   on  the  starboard   side,   at  which  sit  in  a 
barrel  the  headder  and   splitter^  men  who  are  engaged  for  that 
very  purpose,  and   who  do  not  fish  ;   the  headder  cuts  open  the 
fish,  tears  up  its  entrails,   and  forcing  the  fish  against  the  edg(3  of 
the  stage,   breaks  off  its  head,   and  drives  the  fish  over  to  the 
splitter  opposite  him,  who  immediately, '  with  his  sharp  splitting 
knife,  lays  it  dexterously  open,  and  cuts  up  the  sound  bone  from 
the  back  of  the  fish,  when  he  lets  it  slip  off  from  the  stage  on  a 
shoot,  which  conveys  them  down  into  the  hold  of  the  vessel,  where 
there  is  a  man  stationed  ready  to  receive  them,  who  is  termed  the 
saltcr ;  he  immediately  lays    them  spread  out  regularly  in  rows, 
and  throws  strong  bay  and  St.  Ubes  salt  on  them,  in  which  they 
generally  lie  about  a  month,  or  until  the  vessel  has  a  good  cargo  of 
them.     The  liver  is  separated  from  the  fish  on  the  platform,  and 
falls  through  the  stage  into  large  casks,   to  make  oil  from.     The 
head,   garbage,   and  sound   bones   fall   beneath  the    platform  or 
stage,   and  are  kept  on  the  deck  until  they  become  a  burden  by 
their  weight,  in  causing  the  vessel  to  heel  much  on  her  side,  and 
when  there  is  a  great  sea  running,  they  make  the  vessel  ride  at  her 
anchor  very  disagreeably.     It  is  usual,  when  they  throw  this  offal 
overboard,  to  weigh  anchor,  and  run  two  or  three  miles  from  it ; 
for  if  they  throw  it  overboard  where  they  fish,  the  fish  will  follow 
what  is  thrown  overboard,  prey   upon  it,  and  neglect  the  bait 
which  the  fishermen  use  to  decoy  the  fish  to  the  hook.      When  the 
vessel  has  got  a  sufficiency,   she  comes  into  her  port  to  get  rid  of 
her  burden.     The  fish  are  thrown  into  what  is  called  a  ram's-honi 
(a  square  wooden  thing,  perforated  with  holes,  to  admit  the  water 
to   pass),  when  the  fish   are  tumbled   about   and    well    washed, 
afterwards  thrown  up  on  a  stage  or  wharf,  and  laid  out  again  by 
men  employee!  in  the  fishery  on  the  shore.     After  the  fish  has  lain 
some  little  time  on  the  stage,   it  is  taken  on  hand-barrows,   and 
carried  on   the  flakes,    places   erected  about  nine  feet  above  the 
ground,  so  as  to  admit  a  current  of  air  to  pass  under,  and  covered 
over  with  fir-boughs  and  other  branches   of  trees,   on  which  it  is 
placed  to  dry,  day  after  day,  until  it  becomes  sufficiently  cured  and 
solid,   so  as  to   keep  for  a  considerable  period  of  time.     Every 
night,  during  its  process;  it  is  brought  into  round  piles,  covered 


22  NAVAL    ANECDOTIC 

over  with  birch-rinds,  -with  weights  on  it,  to  keep  the  wet  and 
damp  out.  It  is  curious  to  see  how  extremely  busy  the  people 
are  when  it  is  likely  to  rain,  or  on  a  shower  coming  on,  to  gather 
Tip  the  fish,  as  the  rain  materially  injures  it.  The  vessels  generally 
stay  but  three  days  in  the  harbour,  before  they  go  out  again  on  the 
tanks  to  prosecute  their  voyage.  They  make  about  four,  some 
fivej  trips  for  cargoes  during  the  season,  which  usually  closes  about 
the  latter  end  of  September.  The  equinoctial  gales  frequently  put 
a  stop  to  it,  by  causing  the  loss  of  cables  and  anchors,  and  other- 
wise disabling  the  vessels ;  as  the  sea  runs  in  those  gales  tremen- 
dously high,  and  many  vessels  have  been  known  to  founder  at  their 
anchors  at  this  closing  season  of  the  year. 

The  poor  fellows,  in  some  vessels,  fish  from  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning  till  eight  at  night,  and  then  keep  watch  regularly  after- 
wards;  so  that  when  fish  are  plentiful,  they  are  almost  worn  out; 
for  those  who  keep  watch,  whilst  the  other  party  sleep  the  little 
time  they  have  to  go  below,  fish  during  the  night. 

In  other  vessels,  where  the  captain  is  a  humane  man,  he  will  let 
the  fishermen  have  their  proper  rest  by  night,  and  fish  by  day,  ex- 
cepting a  small  watch  that  must  be  kept  up,  to  see  whether  the 
vessel  drives,  by  the  anchor  giving  way. 

On  Sunday  (a  day  which  ought  to  be  devoted  to  pious  exercises 
and  religion),  the  men  are  employed  in  regulating  and  fixing  their 
fishing  tackle  during  the  morning,  and  in  the  afternoon  go  to  their 
cabins,  or  else  catch  squids,  a  squalid  kind  of  fish,  which,  during 
the  latter  part  of  the  fishing  voyage,  is  used  to  bait  the  cod  lines 
•with. 

The  diet  which  these  hardy  men  have,  is  nearly  the  same  every 
clay  (during  the  time  they  arc  on  the  fishery),  namely,  what  is 
called  chozctlet'y  for  breakfast,  dinner,  and  supper.  This  is  made 
in  the  following  manner  :  a  fish,  just  caught,  is  hung  up,  and  the 
fins  stripped  off';  it  is  then  skinned,  cut  up  in  large  pieces,  and  put 
into  a  kettle,  under  which  is  laid  some  rashers  of  salt  pork  or  beef, 
and  some  broken  pieces  oi"  biscuit;  then  the  whole  is  just  covered 
with  water,  and  boiled  about  ten  minutes,  with  some  dry  herbs,  if 
they  have  any,  and  a  little  thickening.  This  mess  is  palatable,  and 
extremely  nutritious ;  and  the  men  employed  in  the  fishery  get  very 
fat  upon  it. 

Sundays  they  are  allowed  some  beef  and  pudding,  but  the  beef 
is  generally  Irish,  excessively  salt,  and,  when  boiled,  dry  and 
hard,  having  scarcely  any  fat  to  it.  In  some  vessels  they  aru 
allowed  this  on  Thursdays. 


COMMERCIAL  HINTS,  RECOLLECTIONS,  &c.  *%$ 

There  is  what  is  called  the  shore  fishery ;  which  is  carried  on  by 
large  open  boats,  called  shallops,  which  go  out  and  return  nearly 
every  day,  and  fish  very  near  the  shores :  the  fish  which  these  boafs 
take  are  small  in  size,  well  cured,  and  are,  in  general,  flic  best. 
Though  the  bank  fish  are  much  the  largest,  they  are  not  so  muck 
esteemed  as  those  which  are  caught  close  to  the  shores. 

Those  vessels  which  go  to  the  land  early  iu  the  year,  have  to 
make  their  way  through  islands  of  ice,  and  sometimes  are  in  great 
danger,  through  the  great  beds  of  ice  which  float  along  that  iron- 
bound  shore  to  the  southward. 

The  island,  on  approaching  it,  has  a  rough  appearance,  rugged 
and  mountainous  ;  at  the  same  time  covered  with  thick  wood,  and 
scarcely  a  field  to  be  seen  all  along  the  shore. 

DIFFERENCE    BETWEEN    FRENCH    ANI>   ENGLISH    GUNPOWDER. 

IN  the  summer  of  1808,  a  comparison  was  made  at  Bombay,  of 
the  qualify  of  British  and  French  powder,  used  in  the  late  gallant 
•Action  of  his  majesty's  ship  San  FLorenzo.  with  the  French  frigate  la 
Piedmontaise  ;  and  we  are  happy  to  exhibit  a  decisive  proof  of  the 
superiority  of  the  former,  so  essential  an  ingredient  in  British, 
thunder.  From  a  7-inch  brass  mortar,  with  three  ounces  of  pow- 
der, a  GOlb.  brass  ball  was  projected,  at  an  angle  of  45  deg.  and 
an  average  of  three  trials  gave  595  feet  to  the  San  Fiorenzo,  and 
516  feet  to  la  Piedmontaise,  making  a  difference  in  favour  of  the 
British  powder,  of  79  feet.  After  such  an  experiment,  it  must 
appear  singular  that  the  French  should  be  so  partial  to  a  long 
<but. 

SEVERE    ACTION'    BETWEEN    HIS  MAJESTY'S   SHIP    TEUPSICHOJIE    AND. 
A    TRENCH    TRIG  ATE,    IN    THE    INDIAN    SEAS. 

(From  the  CEYLON"  GAZETTE.^) 

e*  CAPTAIN  MONTAGUE  left  Point  de  Galle  on  the  llth  of 
March,  for  Madras,  and  on  the  16th  fell  in  with  a  French  frigate, 
which  from  her  appearance,  having  14  ports  on  a  side,  was  sup- 
posed to  be  the  Canonier,  and,  by  disguising,  the  Terpsichore  was 
fortunate  enough  to  bring  the  enemy  to  action  at  seven  P.M.  when, 
after  lying  six-and-fifty  minutes  close  alongside,  and  at  the  very 
moment  that  Captain  Montague  imagined  his  exertions  had  been, 
crowned  by  the  most  complete  success,  the  enemy's  fire  having  for 
the  last  20  minutes  considerably  slackened^  and  at  times  wholly 


24  NAVAL    ANECDOTES, 

ceased,  he  experienced  the  mortification  of  seeing  her  make  sail, 
lie  endeavoured  immediately  to  follow,  but  found  that  the  enemy's 
fire,  which  had  been  principally  directed  at  the  masts  and  rigging, 
had  nearly  reduced  the  Terpsichore  to  a  perfect  wreck;  her  fore 
and  main-stays,  top-mast-stays,  and  many  of  her  lower  and  top- 
mast-shrouds, her  braces,  bowlines,   tacks,   and  sheets,  without  a 
single  exception,  were  each  cut  in  several  places  ;  the  leach-rope 
of  the  main  and- main-top-sail  cut,  and  the  sails  split  across,  besides 
many  others  for  a  time  rendered  useless.     The  enemy,  perceiving 
the  ungovernable  state  of  his  majesty's  ship,  bore  across  her  bows, 
the  wind  blowing  fresh  from  N.E.     The  Terpsichore  immediately 
wore,   and  endeavoured  to  close)   which  was  carefully  avoided. 
At  nine  she  had  every  thing  set  in   chase,   the  enemy  continuing 
under  all  sail  before  the  wind,  and  keeping  up  an  occasional  fire 
from  her  stern  chasers,  till  out  of  gun-shot,  which  she  effected  by 
10  P.M.     The  next  morning,   finding  she  had  not  gained  much 
on  them,  Captain  Montague  continued  after  her,  in  hopes  some 
fortunate  event  might  again  enable  him   to  get  alongside,  but  she 
kept  running  with  a  fresh  wind  to  the  southward.     On  approach- 
ing the  line,  they  experienced   light  winds  and  partial  squalls, 
which  sometimes   brought  the  Terpsichore  nearly  within  gun-shot 
before  the  enemy  derived  the  smallest  advantage,  but  when  she  did, 
she  left  them  immediately.     On  the  20th,   during  a  heavy  squall, 
they  got  close  to  jier  ;  she  commenced  a  fire  from  her  stern  chasers, 
and  cut  away  her  boats,  and  from  several  of  her  ports   floating 
past,  Captain  Montague  was  led  to  imagine  she  must  have  thrown 
some  of  her  guns  overboard.     The  light  winds  again  commencing, 
she  ran  ahead  considerably  during  the  night  of  the  20th,   which 
was  dark  and  squally,  and  was  entirely  lost  sight  of.     At  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  21st,  they  discovered  a  sail  ahead, 
which  was  supposed  to  be  the  chase,  but  on  firing  the  first  gun  she 
hove  to,  and  on  boarding  proved  to  be  the  brig  Cadry,  prize  to  la 
Picdmontaise,  which  was  taken  possession  of,  and  sent  to  Madras. 
At  daylight,   being  unable  to  perceive  any  thing  of  the  enemy, 
Captain  Montague  hauled  to  the  eastward. 

"  Captain  Montague  speaks  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  verj 
able  assistance  he  had  met  with  from  every  officer  under  his  com- 
mand ;  and  of  the  spirited  and  persevering  conduct  of  the  whole  of 
the  ship's  company.  Their  loss,  we  are  sorry  to  say,  has  been 
very  considerable ;  Lieutenant  C.  Tanes  and  '20  men  killed,  and 
22  men  wounded,  two  of  whom  are  since  dead. — The  Terpsichore 
has  returned  to  Point  d»  Ga!Ie." 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,     RECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  25 

Another  account  adds,  that  during  the  action  a  gun  burst  on 
board  the  Terpsichore,  by  which  20  of  her  crew  were  killed  and 
wounded. 

THE   ISLAND    OF    CAPRI. 

SOME  of  the  nesvspapers  have  affected  to  disguise  the  importance 
of  the  late  successful  attack  of  the  enemy  on  the  island  of  Capri, 
in  the  gulf  of  Naples.  One  of  them  actually  made  the  follow  ing 
fcomment  on  the  French  account : — '•  A  pompous  description  is 
given  in  the  French  papers  of  the  capture  of  the  inland  of  Capri, 
a  station  we  never  before  heard  of,"  &c.  Now,  any  school-boy, 
who  has  ever  read  Tacitus  or  Suetonius,  has  heard  of  Capra?  ;  its 
more  modern  history  is  to  be  found  in  Swinburne  and  Brydone  ; 
and  as  a  test  of  its  actual  importance,  we  shall  only  observe,  that 
Buonaparte  and  his  generals  do  not  waste  their  means,  in  useless 
enterprises  ;  and  what  furnishes  matter  for  exultation  at  Paris,  may 
be  pretty  generally  deplored  in  London.  We  shall  annex  to  these 
remarks  a  summary  sketch  of  the  circumstances  leading  to  and 
attending  our  occupation  of  the  island  in  question,  selected  from 
original  correspondence  : — 

On  the  9th  of  May,  1806,  a  small  squadron,"  utu!er  the  com- 
mand of  Rear-admiral  Sir  Sidney  Smith,  left  Gaeta  (then  besieged 
by  the  French),  and  cruised  for  a  day  off  the  gulf  of  Naples.  On 
the  llth,  the  rear-admiral  sent  a  summons  to  the  French  com- 
mandant of  Capri  to  surrender  the  island,  offering,  in  case  it  was 
given  up  before  midnight,  that  the  garrison  should  not  be  made 
prisoners  of  Avar.  This  was  answered  in  the  negative.  The 
marines  of  the  squadron  were  immediately  landed,  to  the  number 
of  250,  supported  by  his  majesty's  ship  Eagle,  of  74  guns,  Captain 
Rowley,  clearing  the  beach  by  repeated  broadsides  of  grape  and 
rannistcr  shot.  After  a  contest,  which  lasted  from  8  P.M.  till 
half-past  1 1,  in  which  we  lost  one  seaman  and  one  marine,  and  the 
French  about  ten  men,  besides  their  commandant  (who  was  killed 
hand  to  hand  by  Captain  Stanntis,  of  the  Athenienne's  marines), 
the  surviving  commander  claimed  the  condition  contained  in  the 
admiral's  summons,  and  surrendered  a  few  minutes  before  twelve 
o'clock.  The  enemy's  force  was  found  to  consist  of  about  200 
men.  Sir  Sidney  Smith  placed  a  temporary  garrison  of  about  100 
marines  and  sailors  in  the  island,  and  remained  there  till  the  18th, 
in  order  to  augment  the  means  of  defence  ;  during  which  time,  our 
officer*  made  several  excursions  on  shqrc,  aod  the  following  i*  tho 
result  of  their  observations  : — 

£?atj.  Cfcrou,  QoLXXI.  E 


2C  N.1V.YJ.     ANU.DOTtS, 

Capri  is  a  desirable  place  of  rendezvous  for  a  fbct,  during  fhe~ 
occupation  of  the  Neapolitan  territory  by  an  enemy,  there  being 
an  excellent  watt-ring  place.  It  is  also  tlie  only  place  of  shelter 
for  gun-boats, /6-///tm?,  speronarocs,  and  other  coasting  craft,  all 
the  way  from  Gaeta.  The  approaches  to  it  are  very  difficult,  and 
defensible  by  a  very  few  men  :  but  the  terror  struck  into  the 
enemy  by  the  Eagle's  broadside  at  first,  the  circumstance  of  night, 
and  the  death  of  the  commandant,  gave  us  possession  of  what  (by 
daylight)  five  times  the  number  .of  the  besiegers  could  not  have 
effected.  In  short,  it  was  well  that  the  French  surrendered  as 
they  did,  for  their  position  was  almost  inaccessible.  The  island 
produces  wine  of  a  good  quality,  and  oil  ;  there  are  some  curious 
remains  of  antiquity  upon  it  :  and  several  palaces  are  still  extant, 
•whither  Tiberius  used  to  retire  to  indulge  in  his  debaucheries. 
Coins  and  medals  of  the  Roman  emperors  are  frequently  picked 
up.  Quails  are  so  abundant  in  the  season,  as  not  only  to  afford 
amusement  to  the  sportsman,  but  an  important  addition  to  the  sub. 
sistence  of  the  islanders,  who  are  a  hardy  race  of  mariners  and 
fishermen.  There  is  a  Carthusian  monastery,  whose  prcsen  tinha- 
bitants  were  found  by  our  travellers  to  be  generally  composed  of 
liberal,  enlightened,  as  well  as  devout  characters.  Some  antique 
alabaster  vases  of  exquisite  beauty  are  in  possession  of  these 
monks. 

AMPHITRITE   ISLAM)    AND    SI1OAL3. 

THE  following  extract  from  the  log-book  of  the  brig  Voador 
marks  the  situation  of  a  dangerous  shoal  which,  not  being  laid 
down  with  certainty  in  any  chart,  may  furnish  an  acceptable  piecp 
of  information  to  those  wrho  have  occasion  to  navigate  the  China 
seas :  — 

"  The  brig  Voador  left  Macao  roads  the  13th  of  July,  1807r 
and  on  the  '20th  of  July  was  in  lat.  17  deg.  4  min.  N.  long,  by 
chronometer,  112  deg.  00  min.  E.  Accot.  Ill  dcg.  41  min.  ran 
15  miles  S.  by  W.  7  S.W.  by  S.  when  the  Amphitrite  island  bore 
east  about  eight  miles.  From  hence  she  ran  38  miles  about  S.S.E. 
and  saw  breakers  from  the  deck,  bearing  S.E.  to  S.S.W.  hauled  to 
the  northward,  and  stood  JNT.  £•  E.  about  3G  miles,  when  the 
Amphitrite  island  bore  E.  15  miles'.  During  that  time  no  bottom 
was  attained  at  70  fathoms  ;  there  was  a  heavy  swell  from  the 
eastward.  The  Amphitrite  island  has  only  one  tree  on  it,  which 
looks  like  a  ship  at  anchor,  and  is  seen  before  the  land  is  made. 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  27 

There  appear  to  be  five  low  islands,  three  of  which  are  covered 
with  herbage;  the  two  smallest  are  barren  sand,  which  is  of  a  dark 
red  on  the  beach.  The  largest  island  is  about  three  miles  long  ; 
they  be.ir  of  each  other  N.  by  E.  and  S.  by  YV.  and  are  divided  by 
small  channels  of  half  or  three  quarters  of  a  mile  in  width." 

DESCRIPTION    OF    THE    HEAD    OF    THE    DANISH    SHIP    NORGE.* 

THE  bow  of  this  ship  is  finished  round  to  the  stem,  without  a. 
square  forecastle,  the  deck  of  which  is  carried  over  the  bows,  to 
the  scrowl  at  the  top  of  the  knee  of  the  head,  and  forms  a  platform 
over  it.  The  rails  of  the  head  have  little  spread,  and  allow  the 
bow  gun  on  the  main  deck  to  be  used  in  chase. 

The  bowsprit,  being  some  feet  higher  than  usual,  slips  on  the 
main  instead  of  the  lower  deck,  and  has  not  so  much  stove  as  is 
usual. — The  sheild  displays  the  arms  of  Norway.  The  whole  head 
appears  particularly  light  and  handsome,  and  the  high  bow,  fur 
strength  and  pitching  in  a  deep  sea,  whether  at  anchor  or  under 
way,  is  certainly  preferable  to  the  square  forecastle ;  but  it  is 
attended  by  considerable  inconvenience  to  the  ship's  company. 
This,  however,  may  be  easily  removed,  by  letting  the  people  go 
over  the  bows,  as  is  the  practice  in  our  East  Indiamen  ;  which 
would  be  attended  by  the  advantage  of  keeping  dry  the  sick  bay, 
and  main  deck  in  general,  and  of  preventing  the  perpetual  con- 
course of  people  from  passing  through  the  galleys,  which  all  na\al 
onlcers  know  to  be  a  very  great  nuisance. 

DESTRUCTION    OF    THE    SHIP    ALBIOX,    BY    FIRE. 

THE  Albion,  Captain  James  Robertson,  was  burnt  at  Whampoa, 
in  China,  in  December,  1807,  under  the  following  circumstances : 
« — On  the  morning  of  the  4th,  the  Hon.  Company's  treasure  left 
Canton,  and  Captain  Robertson  proceeded  down  the  river  with  a 
quantity  of  money  belonging  to  the  owners,  but  did  not  reach  the 
ship  until  about  half-past  six  in  the  evening.  Going  over  the 
gangway,  he  observed  (o  the  officer,  who  at  this  time  was  employed 
in  receiving  the  Hon.  Company's  treasure,  and  had  then  upwards 
of  one  million  and  a  half  of  dollars  on  board,  that  (here  was  a  strong 
smell  of  fire.  He  went  below  to  discern  if  possible  \\hence  it  pro- 
ceeded ;  and,  observing  the  people  at  work  in  the  main  hatch  ,vay, 
he  inquired  whether  or  not  they  perceived,  any  smell  of  fire  :  to 

*  Vide  page  1,  the  vignette  head-piece  cf  the  volume. 


28 

•which  they  replied  in  the  negative.  Captain  R.  then  went  to  the 
fore  hatchway,  uncovered  it,  and  removed  the  hatches,  when  the 
flame  burst  forth  with  great  fury,  so  high  as  the  main  stay.  He 
ordered  the  hatches  to  be  put  on  again,  and  used  every  endeavour 
to  smother  the  flames,  but  without  effect.  At  three  A.M.  of  tho 
5th,  the  ebb  tide  having  made,  she  went  over  on  her  broadside: 
the  decks  by  this  time  were  so  much  heated,  as  to  oblige  the  peo- 
ple to  quit  her.  At  four  in  the  afternoon  she  was  completely 
burnt  to  the  water's  edge.  Such  was  the  fury  of  the  flames,  that 
the  treasure  between  decks  was  run  into  masses  of  from  two  to  ten 
thousand  dollars  weight.  Suspicion  of  misconduct,  or  careless- 
ness, fell  on  the  people  on  board,  and  it  was  said,  that  a  scacunny 
had  dropped  a  candle  in  the  fore-hold,  and  concealed  the  accident 
through  fear  ;  but  as  there  was  no  desertion  among  the  people, 
this  was  not  believed.  A  later  account  states  authentically,  that 
the  loss  of  the  Albion  was  not  occasioned  through  carelessness,  as 
had  been  conjectured,  but  in  consequence  of  some  paper  umbrellas^ 
received  on  board  as  cargo,  packed  up  not  thoroughly  rfry,  which 
had  caught  fire  in  the  hold.  Similar  accidents  have  occurred 
through  the  same  means^ 


CORRESPON  DENCE. 


PRESENT  MANAGEMENT  AND  DISCIPLINE  OF  THE  NAVY, 

LtTTER   X. 
SIR, 

FROM  the  sentiments  expressed  in  my  foregoing  letters,  I  trust 
that  it  will  appear  that  I  ain  a  zealous  friend  not  only  to 
necessary  discipline,  but  to  genuine  and  rational  liberty,  and  that 
my  great  aim  has  been  to  inculcate  the  advantages  which  will  arise 
from  giving  full  effect  to  the  latter  without  infringing  upon  the 
former.  If  then  I  shall  ever  appear  to  use  any  argument,  or 
maintain  an  opinion  which  seems  to  militate  against  either  of  these 
separately,  I  roust  request  my  readers  not  to  attribute  it  to  any 
derilection  of  opinion  or  principle,  but  to  the  unavoidable  imper- 
fection of  all  human  establishments. 

That  the  house  of  a  British  subject  is  his  castle,  has  ever  sinco 
the  glorious  days  of  Magna  Charta,  and  the  more  glorious  epoch 
•when  the  revolution  had  nearly  reduced  it  into  solid  practice,  been 
a  Briton's  boast.  How  devoutly,  Mr.  Editor,  is  it  to  be  wished. 


eORRF.SPONDE.VCE.  29 

•that  the  reality  of  this  boast  had  never  been  infringed  upon,  and 
still  more  seriously  threatened  ;  that  our  taxes  could  be  levied 
without  the  humiliating  disgrace  of  having  onr  windows  counted 
by  circumambulating  surveyors,  and  our  cellars  w::tched  by 
intruding  excisemen!  \Vhen.  shall  we  see  a  patriot  statesman 
arise,  who  while  his  duty  obliges  him  to  enforce  the  levy  of 
millions,  his  feelings  as  a  Briton  will  rouse  his  energies  to  tho 
adoption  of  a  plan  winch  will  apply  to  our  purses  without  wound. 
ing  our  minds,  and  ukimately  degrading  our  characters,  by  a  gra- 
dual submission  to  intrusions  which  the  spirit  of  freedom  revolts 
at.  This  is  the  object  so  devoutly  to  be  wished  for.  We  will  load 
our  guns  with  our  gold  and  silver  rather  than  suflbr  a  tyrant  or  a 
conqueror  to  soil  the  British  shores  ;  but  let  us  entreat  those  who 
direct  the  ample  means  and  generous  hearts  in  the  sister  island,  to 
guard  as  much  as  possible  against  any  system,  which,  while  ic  re- 
duces the  one,  may  degenerate  the  other. 

Another  digression,  Mr.  Editor;  butyou  know  that  liberty  and 
old  England  is  our  motto,  and  that  "  England  expects  every  man 
to  do  his  duty  ;"  we  mast  therefore  not  only  act,  but  on  all  occa- 
sions, think,  speak)  and  -xrite  with  the  freedom  such  a  motto  and 
such  a  sentiment  imposes  on  our  character. 

I  was  writing  on  the  subject  of  every  Briton's  liouse  being  his 
castle,  when  I  was  led  into  the  foregoing  digression.  I  was  about 
fo  regret  that  this  principle  cannot  be  carried  into  practice  in  the 
Anterior  of  a  shin  of  war,  to  such  a  degree  as  British  feelings  lead 
us  to  wish.  J  am  led  into  reflection  on  this  feeling  by  observing 
a  great  mistake,  some  (otherwise)  excellent  officers  have  fallen, 
into.  When  retired  into  their  berth,  their  cabin,  or  even  ward- 
room, it  has  been  conceived  that  the  same  unbounded  liberty  of 
speech  may  take  place,  as  if  they  were  in  their  houses  on  shore. 
It  may  be  desirable  (hat  we  could  contrive  bulkheads  or  screens, 
which  were  as  impervious  to  sound,  as  they  are  to  light,  or  that  the 
servants  to  officers,  and  the  sentjnels  near  their  cabins  and  mess 
places  could  be  selected  from  the  unfortunate  deaf  persons  in  his 
majesty's  dominions.  But  these  valuablfc  ideas  cannot  be  realised. 
Space  will  not  admit  of  mm-transmittiug  bulkheads,  and  my  worthy- 
friends  of  the  cockpit  or  wardroom  love  full  well  to  be  heard  by 
their  attendants,  whether  they  .«///£•  cut  to  have  their  hammocks 
Lung  up,  or  a  fresh  bottle  drawn  oil'  from  the  trusty  supporters  of 
the  wardroom  store.  I  must  therefore  give  up  my  beautiful  sys- 
tem, and  earnestly  advise  all  the  parties  concerned,  to  reflect  upon 
vhe  vast  mischief  that  may  ensue;  and  indeed  that  has  ensued,  from 


30  CORRESPONDENCE. 

officers  speaking  with  disrespect  of  their  superiors,  or  grumbling 
at  their  destinations  before  the  servants  and  sentinels.  A  good 
officer  will  here  submit  to  the  most  difficult  of  all  disciplines,  that 
of  the  tongue.  If  at  table,  an  officer  finds  fault  with  the  order  or 
regulations  of  his  captain,  while  perhaps  a  midshipman  is  at  table 
•with  him,  and  half  a  score  marines  and  boys  attending  round  it  ; 
lie  from  that  moment  ought  not  to  think  it  a  fault,  if  the  gentlemen 
of  the  cockpit  make  equally  free  with  his  conduct  in  the  station  he 
may  fill,  nor  feel  surprise,  though  he  may  shame,  if  he  hears  that 
the  messes  between  decks  have  retailed  what  has  been  reported  from 
ihe  wardroom,  or  officers'  berths.  No  rank  is  privileged  while  on 
service  to  shew  anger,  contempt,  or  discontent  at  the  conduct  of 
its  superiors;  and  the  officer  who  would  severely  reprobate  the 
seaman  who  was  to  utter  a  disrespectful  word  of,  or  to  him,  has  no 
more  right  than  the  seaman  to  speak  in  a  disrespectful  way  of  his 
superiors  in  rank.  Yet  I  fear  that  the  contrary  conduct  is  too 
common,  and  what  would  have  been  styled  mutiny  in  seamen  and 
marines,  has  often  been  the  conversation  of  the  wardroom  and 
quarter-deck,  and  conceived  <o  bo  only  a  proper  freedom  of 
speech.  I  am  afraid  this  unoilicer-like,  this  unpatriotic  conduct, 
was  very  common  towards  the  end  of  the  last  war,  when  the  sin- 
gular position  of  our  enemy  prevented  the  ships  from  being  paid  off 
as  soon  as  the  hopes  of  the  officers  and  crews  led  them  to  expect. 
In  general,  much  more  excuse  may  be  made  for  the  seaman  or 
marine,  than  for  the  officer,  independant  of  the  sentiment  which 
education  and  expectations  may  be  expected  to  produce.  All  as 
men  claim  an  equal  allowance  to  be  made  for  the  feeling  which 
prompts  the  desire  for  an  early  return  to  their  families ;  but  the 
former  have  the  additional  plea  of  interest,  as  it  is  of  consequence 
to  be  early  in  their  offers  to  get  good  situations  and  wages  in  the 
merchant  service,  while  the  latter  will  be  reduced  to  half  pay. 
But  I  trust  we  shall  never  hear  again  of  officers  being  humbugged 
and  kidnapped^  and  all  those  childish  and  disgraceful  winnings 
which  were  too  vile  at  the  time  before  alluded  to,  but  that  all  will 
act  up  to  the  true  spirit  of  the  twenty-first  article  of  war. 

I  could  give  some  good  advice  to  captains  on  the  same  subject, 
though  they  may  say  I  am  now  coming  close  to  my  own  feelings. 
I  will,  however,  venture  (perhaps  in  self-defence)  to  recommend, 
that  if  iu  a  visit  to  the  flag-ship,  or  by  any  other  means,  they 
should  make  any  curious  sexual  discoveries,  they  should  not  imme- 
diately on  their  return  to  their  ships  proclaim  in  public  that  the 
admiral  is  an  old  woman;  or  if  they  arc  ornithologists;  they  need 


CORRESPONDENT!:.  31 

not  Inform  the  officers  that  he  is  an  old  goose.  We  have  certainly 
instances  of  several  gallant  females  serving  on  board  ship,  and  if 
any  of  them  arrive  at  their  flag,  most  likely  indeed  they  will  be 
old  women;  but  in  general  their  sex  has  been  discovered  early,  and 
their  promotion  stopped  :  should,  however,  the  sex  be  discovered, 
after  arriving  at  the  rank  of  admiral,  the  same  should  be  qnictlr 
made  known,  agreeably  to  the  article  of  war  above  mentioned,  iu 
order  that  a  masculine  successor  may  be  appointed,  and  the  old 
lady  suffered  to  retire  in  peace. 

I  remain,  sir?  yours,  &c. 

A.  F.  Y. 

1EMARKS  ON  THE  PARLIAMENTARY  DUTIES  OF 
NAVAL  OFFICERS. 

LETTER  VIII. 

SIR, 

"TTJEFORE  I  enter  on  the  intended  subject  of  my  letter,  I 
-1*-^  think  it  necessary  to  make  some  reply  to  your  note  on  part 
of  the  postscript  of  my  last.  J  can  most  truly  assert,  that  no  on& 
is  more  positively  averse  "  from  unnecessarily  wounding  the  feel- 
ings of  indi-ciduah  "  than  I  am,  and  I  join  with  you  in  opinion  on 
that  subject  with  all  my  heart.  But  with  all  due  deference,  Mr, 
Editor,  I  cannot  at  all  think,  that  a  man  entrusted  with  a  high 
command,  during  which  matters  of  weighty  national  import  have 
occurred,  and  concerning  which  the  national  feelings  have  been 
warmly  agitated,  is  to  be  suffered  to  remain  in  calm  repose  for  fear 
of  wounding  the  feelings  of  the  individual.  I  will  not  meddle 
with  his  private  concerns,  but  if  I  am  to  be  silent  about  those 
which  clearly  belong  to  the  public,  the  liberty  of  the  press  and  the 
li-berty  of  the  people  arc  both  annihilated,  and  the  feelings  of 
millions  of  individuals  arc  Koundcd.  The  part  of  your  note 
printed  in  italics  appears  to  coincide  with  part  of  the  answer  read 
by  Lord  Hawkesbury  to  the  address  of  the  city  of  London  (see 
page  354,  line  eight  from  bottom)  :  in  me,  the  demand  for  inquiry 
is  said  to  "  pronounce  judgment,"  and  you  are  "  anxious  that 
sentence  should  not  be  passed  previously  to  inquiry."  Certainly,, 
judgment  cannot  be  given,  nor  sentence  passed  previous  to  trial 
(I  have  no  good  opinion  of  the  use  of  inauiry))  but  there  mn.st  bs 
accusation,  or  complaint,  or  rumour,  in  order  to  lead  to  a  trial  j 
and  the  opinions  of  the  accusers  or  complainerSj  however  strong 
against  the  supposed  delinquent,  can  by  n a  means  be  called  passing 


Jfc  CORRESPONDENCE.* 

ir;. .,,„,,  Thc  letters  I  have  seen  are  certainly  not  before  tits' 
public,  therefore  it  may  uot  have  fallen  in  your  way  t6  have  seen 
the  complaints  and  accusations  which  have  met  ray  eye,  and  for 
this  reason,  though  not  for  those.  I  have  above  noticed,  you  arc 
quite  right  in  omitting  the  sentence  I  had  quoted,  and  indeed  it  so 
far  deviated  from  the  sort  of  opinions  which  I  think  all  periodical 
papers  should  be  open  to,  that  it  ought  only  to  come  into  notice 
•under  a  real  signature  ;  I  therefore  request  you  to  accept  my 
thanks  for  your  judicious  amendment  of  my  letter.  Should  th:> 
last  sentence  of  your  note  be  verified  on  the  present  occasion,  what 
c;m  we  wish  for  more  ?  But  is  not  the  expectation  rather 
Utopian  ?  Perhaps  we  may  have  to  remark  concerning  it,  where 
we  know  the  issue  of  the  never-to-be-forgotten  Board  of  Inquiry 
on  the  Cintra  generals  !— May  you  and  I,  Sir,  live  in  that  ctfuntry 
where  "  justice  will  take  its  coarse,  innocence  will  triumph,  and 
guilt  or  imbecility  will  be  punished  or  disgraced  ;"  or  rather  let  me 
pray  that  such  may  be  the  character  of  the  country  we  live  in. 

Before  this  letter  meets  the  eyes  of  your  readers,  Parliament 
will  have  met,  and  a  variety  of  information  may  have  enlightened 
the  public  on  matters  on  which  we  are  now  groping  in  the  dark  ; 
I  shall  therefore  confine  my  present  advice  to  my  brother  sailors  in 
either  house,  to  such  concerns  as  are  not  likely  to  be  changed 
either  by  the  royal  speech  or  the  debates  on  it. 

I  do  not  exactly  know  when  it  began  to  be  the  fashion  to  speak 
of  millions  of  money  as  mere  trifles  with  respect  to  the  nation  ;  iti 
the  days,  and  from  the  mouth  of  Air.  Pitt,  this  language  was  very 
rife,  and  certainly  ilowed  from  him  with  becoming  grace,  from  the 
consistency  between  his  words  and  actions.  Millions  were  then 
certaiuly  lavished,  as  if  they  were  nothing  to  a  nation.  There  may 
be  objects  worth  attaining,  at  the  expeuce  of  many  millions,  but 
unfortunately,  even  under  the  au-pices  of  that  eminent  man,  we 
were  constantly  lavishing  the  millions  without  attaining  the  object ; 
need  we  then  wonder  that  his  successors  have  only  succeeded  in 
that  which  he  found  easy,  and  failed  in  that  which  even  he  could 
not  accomplish.  Now,  Sir,  as  we  have  been  worked  up  to  almost 
our  last  shift  to  raise  foreign  armies  for  Napoleon  to  scatter  like 
dust  before  a  whirlwind,  to  send  our  own  gallant  soldiers  to  the 
new  world  under  incompetent  generals^  to  send  others  under  a 
choice  commander  to  the  North,  under  such  circumstances  as  to 
be  sent  back  again,  and  a  thousand  other  items  known  to  all  the 
world,  I  want  to  resort  to  a  very  old  maxim,  "  to  take  care  of 
thf  pence.)  and  the  pounds  will  take  care  of  themselves."  When 


CORRESPONDENCE.  33 

the  Parliament  assembles,  I  have  not  the  least  doubt  but  that  the 
mutiny  bill,  and  all  matters  relative  to  the  revenue,  will  be  passed 
in  due  order,  and  f  am  prepared  to  be  very  thankful  for  all  the 
other  national  benefits  which  may  result  from  the  session.  Mean, 
•while,  1  submit  the  following  hints  to  my  naval  friends,  who  will 
share  in  the  honour  which  may  result.  I  frequently  hear  great 
exultation  Jn  the  state  of  the  nation,  because  we  now  raise  near 
sixty  millions  annually,  and  but  few  years  have  elapsed  since 
twenty  millions  were  conceived  too  great  a  burden  to  bear  increase  ; 
yet  we  see  palaces  rising,  and  improvements  advance  as  rapidly  as 
ever.  A  melancholy  tri'th,  Air.  Editor.  It  is  not  the  rich,  the 
noble,  the  princes  of  the  land,  on  whom  the  weight  of  the  heavy 
burden  is  laid,  but  on  those  who  never  see  the  inside  of  palaces, 
and  who  know  nothing  of  those  decorations  and  improvements 
which  so  captivate  the  eyes  and  delude  the  senses  of  the  admirers 
of  the  times.  They  have  their  merit,  Mr.  Editor,  but  this  is  not 
the  view  in  which  we  should  expect  to  find  their  real  advantages. 

I  now  descend  to  my  humble  recommendations.  It  is  a  fact,  that 
in  many  parts  of  the  kingdom,  the  poor  go  without  their  wonted 
meal  of  meat  or  fish,  in  consequence  of  the  heavy  tax  on  salt.  The 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  will  say,  and  perhaps  truly,  as  matters 
are  managed,  that  so  far  from  taking  off  a  tax,  he  will  have  to  add. 
Be  it  so,  if  requisite  ;  but  I  want  to  propose,  that  as  all  sinecure 
places  are  given  to  the  great  and  powerful,  many  of  them  no  doubt 
paid  from  that  very  tax  which  reduces  hundreds  of  their  fellow 
men  to  the  same  mess  with  their  pigs,  that  all  such  places  should, 
be  entirely  abolished,  and  the  duty  on  salt  lowered  by  their  amount. 
I  can  hardly  think  the  justice  of  this  measure  can  be  called  in 
question,  though  it  may  be  Utopian.  The  heavy  duties  on  malt 
have  also  entirely  deprived  many  thousands  of  labourers  in  the 
country,  of  the  power  of  procuring  beer.  As  the  Chancellor  of 
the  Exchequer  cannot  take  off  the  tax  on  malt,  let  the  experiment 
be  tried  how  much  it  might  be  reduced  by  abolishing  that  mean  and 
selfish  privilege  ot  franking  letters,  and  lessening  the  malt  duty  by 
the  amount.  If  there  was  at  all  a  proper  feeling  in  the  right  place, 
I  think  this  petty  remnant  of  vails  and  perquisites  could  not  be 
retained  a  single  moment ;  and  whence  could  the  proposal  come 
with  more  propriety,  than  from  the  well  known  liberality  of  sen. 
ti"  ent  of  a  Briti-h  sailor.  He  will  net  think  a  moment  of  the 
paltry  pecuniary  advantage,  and  even  forego  with  pleasure  the 
more  agreeable  part  of  the  privilege,  that  of  franking  letters  far  tL.* 

,  801,  XXI.  j 


34  CORRESPONDENCE. 

ladies  and  his  officers.  As  times  go,  there  is  a  glaring  absurdity  in 
the  rich  and  noble  having  their  letters  free  of  expence,  when  the 
middle  and  lower  classes  can  scarcely  afford  to  hear  occasionally  of 
their  absent  friends.  Peers  have  a  sufficiently  high  privilege  in 
their  hereditary  seats  in  the  upper  house,  and  when  it  is  surmised 
that  seats  in  another  place  may  be  procured  for  money,  or  paid 
for  by  balls,  buildings,  chandeliers,  newspapers,  rates  and  taxes, 
&c.  &c.  there  can  be  no  possible  reason  why  such  a  sneaking  per- 
quisite as  franking  should  be  retained.  It  is  understood  also,  that 
the  correspondence  respecting  borough  matters  is  now  carried  on 
through  the  medium  of  the  middle  men^  and  that  the  members  and 
the  nominal  constituents  have  nothing  to  say  to  each  other. 

I  remain,  Sir,  yours,  &c. 

E.  G.  F. 


LETTER  IX. 

sin/ 

S  the  writers  of  long  books  look  anxiously  for  the  rising  of 
the  reviewers  above  the  political  horizon,  so  do  the  writers  of 
long  letters  in  your  Chronicle  look  earnestly  for  the  periodical 
appearance  of  your  prefaces,  that  they  may  see  in  what  way  their 
labours  have  been  taken,  and  be  enabled  to  apportion  their  future 
exertions  according  to  the  quantum  of  the  plus  or  minus  of  appro- 
bation they  may  there  meet  with.  A  great  book,  we  have  been 
told,  is  a  great  evil,  and  I  perceive  that  a  letter,  which  occupies 
five  or  six  pages,  is  accounted  somewhat  of  an  intrusion ;  although 
if  the  number  of  pages  were  the  greatest  or  only  fault,  it  would  be 
easy  to  divide  the  bulky  concern  into  parts,  and  publish  them  at 
different  times.  But  that  I  may  not  again  encroach  on  those  pages, 
which  may  be  fillet!  by  superior  ability,  or  more  useful  inforrna. 
tion,  I  proceed  to  that  part  of  your  late  preface  which  relates  to 
n;y  letters. 

It  was  in  sober  and  well  intentioncd  earnestness  that  I  formed 
the  resolution  of  offering  my  thoughts  on  the  duties  of  members  of 
Parliament  to  my  brother  sailors,  through  the  medium  of  your 
work.  In  my  first  letters  are  truly  detailed  the  subjects  of  the 
conversations  and  opinions  M'hich  first  suggested  the  propriety  of 
so  doing.  Under  the  blessing  of  heaven,  the  high  state  of  opulence 
and  power  to  which  our  little  island  has  risen,  has  been  owing  to 
the  singular  and  admirable  character  of  our  constitution  of  govern- 
ment ;  and  the  pre-eminently  happy  part  of  it  is  the  way  in  which 
the  popular  portion  of  it  is  blended  with  the  monarchical  and 


CORRESPONDENCE*  35 

aristocratical.  I  conceive,  that  if  this  popular  portion  loses  its 
due  weight,  and  becomes  subservient  to  the  other  branches,  that 
•we  should  be  under  the  very  worst  species  of  government  which  a 
nation  could  be  afflicted  with.  Now,  Sir,  if  it  be  true  that  we 
approach  towards,  or  are  in  danger  of  approaching  an  event  to  be 
so  earnestly  deprecated  ;  if  from  certain  combinations,  and  from 
the  executive  power  being  the  fount  of  honour  and  profit  both  to 
the  lords  spiritual  and  temporal,  the  ministers  for  the  time  being 
have  an  undue  and  powerful  influence  in  one  house  ;  and  if  owing 
to  the  system  of  boroughs  as  now  managed,  that  house  has  an 
undue  and  very  powerful  influence  in  the  other,  and  the  ministers 
in  power  a  still  greater  ;  why  then,  Sir,  I  conceive  that  ihe  vessel 
of  the  state  may  be  said  to  be  in  jeopardy,  and  that  it  becomes  the 
doty  of  every  honest  sailor  (o  save  her  from  shipwreck. 

I  am  of  opinion,  Mr.  Editor,  that  our  heroes,  whether  military 
or  naval,  do  not  sufficiently  consider  the  mixed  nature  of  our  con- 
stitution ;  but  in  consequence  of  their  early  acquaintance  with  the 
absolute  nature  of  a  military  code,  look  almost  wholly  to  the 
executive  part  with  which  they  are  principally  connected.  Under 
these  impressions,  I  have  endeavoured  to  point  out  the  corruption 
•which  disgraces  and  endangers  us,  and  to  shew  the  consequence  of 
those  national  feelings  being  attended  to,  which  will  make  every 
Briton  a  hero,  and  his  house  a  castle,  and  to  express  my  convic- 
tion, that  it  has  been  owing  to  the  absence  of  these  feelings,  that 
Europe  has  offered  so  trifling  a  resistance  to  the  arms  of  the 
tyrant. 

In  my  chase  after  this  very  important  prize,  and  in  my  endca- 
Yours  to  -.'ollect  proper  arguments  and  illustrations  to  prove  the 
legality  of  the  capture,  I  am  not  aware  of  having  i/mred  from  the 
proper  course,  though  perhaps  I  might  have  sometimes  carried 
more  canvass,  and  got  fresher  way  through  the  water.  But  my 
bark  is  getting  old  and  crazy,  and  the  upper  works  much  out  of 
repair  ;  it  is  necessary  to  prop  the  ship,  and  set  up  additional 
backstays,  even  while  making  a  voyage  in  the  trade  winds;  I  must 
therefore,  by  the  assistance  of  your  excellent  correspondent,  Tim 
Weatherside,  to  carry  a  press  of  sail,  make  short  board,  and 
endeavour  to  make  prizes  of  all  the  anecdotes,  whether  of  gallant 
actions  or  borough  politics,  which  he  can  grapple  with,  and 
knows  so  well  how  to  deposit  in  the  safe  harbour  of  your 
Chronicle. 

I  have  already  thanked  you  for  your  impartiality  in  admitting 
opinions  which  militate  so  strongly  agaiust  your  own}  but  ij  is  to 


36  CORRESPONDENCE* 

be  considered,  that  discussion  is  the  clear  way  to  truth,  and  &<t 
such  should  always  he  admitted  into  periodical  publications.  I 
have  also  admitted  great  merits  in  the  two  noble  lords  to  whoiA 
you  attribute  such  superior  attainments,  and  consider  as  the  great 
palladium  of  our  service,  but  in  truth,  Sir,  I  do  assure  you,  that 
my  former  and  unshaken  opinion  is  confirmed  by  very  many  of 
those  to  whom  I  think  I  may  justly  apply  the  titles  of  the  "  first 
characters  in  the  service  and  the  state." 

Before  I  conclude,  I  must  express  my  thanks  to  you  for  your 
Very  judicious  choice  of  a  dedication,  and  for  your  animating  and 
excellent  address  on  the  subject  of  the  Spanish  patriots.  Against 
such  a  powerful  enemy  it  must  be  expected  to  prove  a  work  of 
years  to  gain  the  very  important  object  in  view.  My  great  dread 
is,  that  the  Junta  have  been  ill  advised  in  making  the  rallying 
•words  "  our  beloved  Ferdinand"  instead  of  "  our  beloved 
country."  It  is  not  conceivable  to  me  that  Ferdinand  can  be 
beloved  after  his  weak  submission,  and  unmanly  abdication.  If  a 
cortes  had  been  assembled,  and  a  limited  monarchy  declared  to  be 
the  determined  result,  after  the  enemy  had  been  chased  from  the 
country,  I  firmly  believe  Buonaparte  would  never  have  entered 
Madrid.  We  shall  soon  hear  the  opinions  of  the  Parliamentary 
leaders  on  this  important  subject,  and  also  on  the  result  of  the 
memorable  board  of  inquiry.  The  (hanks  of  the  country  are 
justly  due  to  Lord  Moira  for  his  explanatory  dissent.  Before  th« 
division  in  opinion  was  known,  it  appeared  to  have  passed 
unanimously,  that  Sir  A.  W.  was  right  in  his  gallant  deter- 
mination to  pursue  the  beaten  foe ;  and  that  Sir  H.  B.  was  as 
correct  in  ordering  him  to  desist ;  and  that  Sir  II.  D.  was  also  not 
in  an  error  in  granting  a  convention,  which  Junot  thinks  was  te 
him  an  important  victory. 

I  remain,  Sir,  yours,  &c. 

E.  G.  F. 

Admiral  Trident.,  to  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Mulgrate.  First  Lord 
•     of  the  Admiralty^  $c. 

MY    LORD, 

fjIlrlE  days,  the  best  days  of  old  Trident,  have  long  been  num. 
J*-    bered  with  the  past;  but  his  youth  is  revived  (thanks  be  to 
him  who  hath  lengthened  those  days),  his  youth  is  revived,  in  the 
vigour  and  valorous  achievements  of  his  sons. 

I  have  served.  Lord  Mulgrave,  when  the  brave  were  more 
3 


CORRESPONDENCE*  27 

Honoured.  I  have  served  in  the  fleets  of  our  Hawke  and  Boscawen. 
I  have  fought  when  the  British  flag  has  been  nobly  triumphant, 
and  I  hare  seen  it  as  basely  depressed,  but  never  (let  a  father 
exult),  never  till  these  times,  have  I  heard  of  such  triumphs,  as 
the  glorious,  the  unalloyed  triumphs  of  my  sons. 

My  Lord,  the  old  and  gracious  proclamation  of  his  majesty 
(God  bless  him!)  joined  with  honour,  had  ever  been  our  polar  star. 
By  that  we  learned,  in  youth,  that  -when  the  hard  earned  rank 
arrived,  the  harvest  ot"  our  lives  would  come — a  late,  but  pledged 
reward  for  all  our  blood  ind  toils.  "Why,  then,  let  a  veteran  ask, 
why  was  that  ancient  sacred  compact  broken?*  Have  my  sons 
not  done  their  parts  ?  Have  they  who  should  lead  your  fleets 
been  found  astern  ?  Turn,  my  lord,  turn,  I  pray,  and  traverse 
every  ocean,  or  turn  and  see  these  wounds,  these  shattered  limbs, 
these  venerable  locks,  then,  let  our  sovereign  harshly  say  again, 
"  Old  man,  thy  services  have  been  too  well  rewarded."  Too 
well  rewarded  !  Ah,  my  king,  what  then  have  others  been  ! 

My  Lord,  you  are  a  soldier,  and,  if  my  sons  have  heard  aright, 
a  man,  too,  of  exemplary  honour.  Deal  then  but  with  us  as  a  man. 
of  honour  ought.  My  sons,  you  know,  are  poorly  paid ;  they 
have  no  perquisites  but  what  their  blood  must  buy — they  feed  no 
crews — they  clothe  no  men  :  if,  then,  reform  be  needful,  do  unto 
them  as  a  soldier  would  be  done  unto, — do  that,  and  we  are 
content. 

My  Lord,  we  see  you  fill  a  high  official  station  ;  and,  if  the 
world  may  be  believed,  y6u  rank  among  our  most  enlightened 
statesmen.  Deal  then  but  with  my  family  as  a  statesman  would—- 
we ask  no  more. 

When  placemen  or  pensioners  should  be  discharged  from  service, 
what,  may  we  ask,  what  do  our  most  enlightened  statesmen  grant 
them  ?  What.  but/«/r,  \)\\tjnst,  and  liberal  remuneration  ? 

If  sinecure?,  if  long  established  fees  must  be  suppressed,  what, 
let  us  sailors  ask,  what  would  be  our  oldest  statesman's  answer  ? 
Would  your  voice  not  be,  my  Lord,  for  fair,  for  just,  for  ample 
remuneration  ? 

If,  then,  Lord  Mulgrave,  the  country  that  we  live  in,  and  that 
we  love  to  defend,  may  not  be  relieved  in  the  hour  of  distress,  by 
discharging  from  its  service  a  band  of  tawdry  and  unprofitable 
supernumeraries ;  if,  when  the  poor  old  ship  is  labouring  under  a 


By  a  late  regulation,   one-tliird  of  the  admirals'  and  captains'  prize 
ej  has  been  taken  from  then,  and  given  to  the  seamen. 


38 

pressure  of  sail,  neither  tack,  nor  sheet,  nor  haulyards,  can  eref 
be  started  to  case  her ;  if  none  of  these  things  can  be  done  without 
granting  remuneration,  liberal,  ample  remuneration  to  all  who  are 
rated  ;  why,  then,  I  ask  (excuse  an  old  man's  warmth),  I  ask,  iit 
the  name  of  that  God,  whose  orders  are  justice,  by  what  plea,  by 
what  right  you  take,  without  compensation,  from  the  arms  of  my 
gallant  boys  their  dearest  earnings  ?  Is  it,  say  you,  from  generosity 
to  your  tars,  to  their  humbler  brethren  ?  Your  tars  (God  prosper 
them)  they  are  dear  to  these  aged  arms,  but  beware,  my  Lord,  of 
such  generosity ;  no  property  is  safe  within  its  reach. 

Generosity,  true  generosity,  is  the  companion  of  courage  and 
greatness ;  it  grows  up  with  the  sailor,  and  is  dear  to  his  soul. 
There  is  but  one  generosity  that  my  sons  understand.  Need  I 
deSne  it  ?  It  is  not,  believe  me,  that  generosity  which  rewards 
them  at  the  expcnce  of  a  brother  !  Introduce  not,  I  beseech  you, 
among  us  the  passions  that  may  be  baneful  to  your  prosperity  and 
our  peace. 

If  indeed,  you  would  reward,  where  reward  is  so  abundantly 
due,  take  an  old  man's  advice — look  to  the  Droits — the  Droits  of 
Admiralty,  won  by  their  toils.  Ah,  Lord  Mulgrave,  why,  why- 
were  not  those  Droits  of  Admiralty  so  meritoriously  employed  ? 

TRIDENT,  Admiral,  &c. 


HEW    NIPl'EH. 

MR-   EDtTOHj  Folkstone,  January  15,.  1809. 

IT  has  been  objected  to  the  new  nipper,  which  I  had  the  honour 
of  submitting  to  the  officers  of  the  navy  in  your  last  volume,*' 
that  whatever  might  be  ils  efficacy  when  used,  the  real  utility  would 
be  of  little  account,  as  the  additional  purchase,  it  supposes,  is  but 
tarely  resorted  to.  I  might,  perhaps,  be  justified  by  quoting 
against  such  an  observation,  the  emphatic  language  of  a  very 
distinguished  officer  on  a  similar  occasion  :  "  If  we  cannot  have 
all  we  want,  let  us  have  all  we  can  get."  But  I  rather  choose  to 
answer  this  objection  by  observing,  that  if  the  additional  purchase 
has  hitherto  been  but  rarely  resorted  to,  it  may  probably  be  owing 
to  an  apprehension  of  having  to  encounter  those  very  difficulties 
which  it  is  the  sole  object  of  this  expedient  to  obviate.  It  has  also 


?ee  page 


COKKESPOSDEXCE.  39 

been  remarked,  by  those  whose  judgment  is  entitled  to  much  con. 
sideration,   that  the  manner   of  passing  the  under,    or   common 
nipper,   and   the  salvage,  is  by  no  means  the  best  that  could  be 
devised.     To  these  remarks,   Sir,   it  may  be  sufficient  to  reply, 
that,  as  a  sailor,   I   am  too  well  acquainted  with  the  advantages 
of  practice,  to  suppose  that  the  result  of  any  closet  speculations 
can  be  perfect  ;  that  while  first  making  the  nipper  public,  I  pro- 
fessedly relied  on  the  "  liberal  aid"  of  the  profession,  and  that,  hi 
so  doing,  little  to  me  could  remain  in  view,   but  the  hope  of  that 
gratification  which  arises  from  the  idea  of  having  suggested  a  bene- 
ficial improvement.     If,  therefore,  by  a  more  skilful  application, 
the  nipper    proposed    can  be   rendered    still   more    beneficial,   it 
unavoidably  follows,  that  the  measure  of  my  gratification  must  be 
still  more  increased.     Fully  convinced  as  I  am  that  great  advan- 
tages may  be  obtained  by  extending  the  uses  of  the  above  nipper  to 
more  general  purposes,  there  should  be  no  hesitation  on  my  part, 
in  recommending  that,  in  every  case  where  the  greasiness  of  the 
cable  presents  a  considerable  obstacle,   immediate  recourse  be  had 
to  its  aid.     But  in  order  to  make  myself  completely  understood  on 
this  subject,  I  must  refer  your  readers  to  the  accompanying  sketch 
of  the  method  recommended  (founded,  it  must  be  confessed,  on  very 
inadequate  trials),  by  attending  to  which,  there  appears  reason  to 
hope,  that  with  only  one  piece  of  rope,   and  two  of  the  nippers 
alluded  to,  an  anchor  in  many  difficult  situations  may  with  safety- 
be  weighed. 

At  A,  in  the  sketch  below,  may  be  seen  the  representation  of  a 
double  tailed  nipper  ;  the  operation  of  which  (however  well 
known)  I  hope  to  be  excused  for  explaining. 

The  double  tailed,  nipper,  when  supplying  the  place  of  those 
commonly  used,  is  first  to  have  the  tails  of  the  after  end  secured  to 
the  messenger ;  the  single  part  is  then  to  be  passed,  as  many  times 
as  may  be  practicable,  round  both  the  cable  and  messenger,  and 
the  remaining  tails  to  be  secured  to  the  cable  before  it,  which  being 
done,  it  is  distinctly  evident,  that  so  long  as  the  ends  are  pulled  in. 
opposite  directions,  both  the  cable  and  messenger  will  be  bound 
together  by  the  single  part  that  surrounds  them,  and  that  so  long 
as  the  tails  retain  their  hold,  the  power  of  the  nipper  will  be  in. 
creasing,  in  proportion  to  the  increase  of  compression. 

But  it  is  equally  obvious,  that  the  value  of  a  nipper  so  applied, 
entirely  depends  on  the  security  of  the  tails,  and  this  security  ig, 
ja  some  cases,  exceedingly  difficult  to  accomplish.  Several  foreign 
Cations  have  had  recourse  to  a  mouse,  at  certain  intervals,  on  the 


messenger,  whilst  others  object  to  such  a  remedy,  but  all  agree, 
that  some  practicable  substitute  for  a  mouse  would  be  of  infinite 
utility  on  the  cable.  Such  a  substitute,  or  temporary  mouse,  may, 
it  appears  to  me,  be  easily  obtained,  for  it  seems  extremely  clear, 
on  reflection,  that  if  the  new  nipper  may  be  made  to  hold  when 
used  with  a  purchase,  it  may  be  uiade  to  hold  nearly  as  well,  by 
applying  the  tails  in  the  room  of  a  salvage  ;  at  least,  it  may  be 
made  sufficiently  stationary  to  answer  the  purpose. 

I  have  before,  Sir,  had  to  lament,  that  local  circumstances  for-  * 
bid  my  making  any  trial  on  a  scale  sufficiently  large  ;  but  from 
•what  has  been  seen,  it  is  necessary  to  say,  that  particular  care 
should  at  all  times  be  taken,  while  passing  the  tails,  that  the  first 
turns  round  the  zcocd  may  not  produce  the  effect  of  removing  it 
sideways,  so  as  to  prevent  its  bearing  on  the  crosses  beneath  ; 
which,  it  is  thought,  may  be  guarded  against,  by  taking  at  Jirst^ 
a  complete  turn  round  either  the  nearest  cable  or  messenger,  as 
may  be  seen  in  the  sketch,  at  13. 

I  shall  now  conclude  with  observing,  what  the  first  trial  will 
sufficiently  evince,  that  whether  the  salvage  or  the  tails  be  used  as 
a  binder  to  the  nipper,  it  is  equally  necessary,  that  all  the  turns 
should  be  taught,  and  applied  as  nearly  as  possible  to  the  pins  at 
tail. 


MR.    EDITOR, 

lE  preservation  of  seamen  from  the  scurvy,  and  even  th« 
cure  of  that  disease,  so  far  as  it  has  yet  been  investigated, 
being  best  effected  by  fresh  succulent  vegetables,  you  will  oblige 
me  by  the  insertion  of  the  enclosed  letter  from  Mr.  Charles 
Edmund,  surgeon  of  his  majesty's  ship  Russell,  as  shewing,  in  a 


CORRESPONDENCE,  41 

dear  and  distinct  manner,  the  practicability  of  employing  the 
Kew  Nopal,  as  it  is  called  here,  for  that  valuable  purpose,  to 
•which  it  appears  peculiarly  adapted,  by  being  so  far  an  air  plant 
as  to  preserve  life,  and  the  capacity  of  vegetation,  for  months 
after  an  entire  removal  from  the  earth  or  watering  gardens. 

J.  ANDERSON.— 1  SOS. 

"  His  Majesty's  Ship  Russell,  Madras  Roads, 
"SIR,  March.  3,  1808. 

"  The  plant,  by  the  name  of  Kew  Nopal,  which  you  were  so 
polite  as  to  furnish  me  with  to  try  its  effects  in  scurry,  that  was  so 
general  among  the  crew  of  his  majesty's  ship  Russell,  after  a 
cruise  of  three  months,  entirely  confined  to  sea  diet,  I  have  the 
pleasure  to  say,  proved  so  agreeable  to  those  who  had  it  given 
them  in  its  raw  state,  that  they  compared  it  to  sorrell,  and  I  have 
no  doubt  but  it  would  have  proved  highly  useful  could  it  have  been, 
continued;  but  owing  to  a  diarrhoea,  which  generally  occurs  on 
the  first  use  of  every  kind  of  fresh  diet,  I  was  obliged  to  desist 
from  giving  the  nopal  or  any  other  succulent  vegetable,  and  to 
pay  attention  to  the  state  of  the  bowels  by  opiates,  and  occasionally 
by  a  little  creta  or  some  absorbent  to  correct  the  acidity  in  the 
stomach.  As  I  considered  the  whole  of  the  crew  as  being  more 
or  less  affected  with  the  scurvy,  and  the  necessity  of  their  having 
regetables  with  their  boiled  fresh  meat,  I  made  use  of  the  nopal  in 
a  manner  more  admissible,  which  was,  to  put  a  proportion  every 
day  in  the  coppers  with  their  soup  ;  this  I  think  is  a  preferable 
mode,  it  being  less  likely  to  affect  the  bowels  than  in  a  raw  state. 
Having  been  so  little  able  to  speak  of  its  benefit:,  from  our  not 
having  quitted  the  coast,  I  can  only  say,  that  from  a  knowledge 
of  the.  utility  of  vegetables  in  scurvy,  I  will  endeavour  to  obviate 
any  effects  on  the  bowels  by  opiates,  and  hope  by  the  next  time  I 
have  the  pleasure  of  writing  to  you  on  the  subject,  to  be  able  to 
speak  of  the  benefit  obtained,  as  it  is  so  easily  taken  care  of  by 
keeping  it  in  the  air.  Therefore  request  you  will  furnish  me  with 
a,  further  supply,  as  we  have  nothing  that  will  keep  so  long  in  a 
fresh  succulent  state. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

«  CHARLES  EDMUND, 

"  Surgeon  of  his  majesty's  ship  R.ussell.'" 

.  Eol.  XXI.  «  - 


42  CORRESPONDENCE. 

Society  of  Arts j  fyc.  Adelphi,  London* 

SIR,  January  23,  1809; 

JY  direction  of  the  Society  instituted  for  the  Encouragement 
'  of  Arts,  Manufactures,  and  Commerce,  I  return  their  thanks 
to  you  for  your  obliging  present  to  them  of  the  XXth  Volume  of 
your  publication,  entitled  the  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  which  has 
been  ordered  to  be  carefully  preserved  in  their  library,  along  with 
the  preceding  volumes  with  which  you  have  favoured  them. 

I  cannot  help  thinking  it  a  part  of  my  duty  to  notice  to  you  the 
general  approbation  with  which  these  volumes  have  been  received, 
and  the  pleasure  with  which  they  have  been  perused  by  the  mem- 
bers  of  this  society.  I  assure  you,  it  is  my  sincere  wish  that  the 
work  may  meet  with  that  patronage  and  encouragement  from  the 
public  which  it  appears  to  me  to  be  so  well  entitled  to,  and  I  have 
no  doubt  but  that  it  will  excite  an  emulation  amongst  our  gallant 
sailors  to  follow  the  noble  examples  you  have  recorded. 

As  a  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  a  youth  whom  I  knew, 
I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  sending  you  the  following  anecdote, 
which  you  may  take  such  notice  of  as  you  may  think  proper: — 

About  the  year  1779,  a  privateer,  called  the  Amazon,  was  fitted 
'out  upon  a  cruise  from  the  port  of  Liverpool :  two  youths,  about 
17  years  of  age,  apprentices  to  Mr.  Benjamin  Hallworth,  acallen. 
derman,  at  Manchester,  eloped  from  their  master,  and  entered  on 
Aboard  the  privateer,  who,  during  her  cruise,  fell  in  with  a  vessel  of 
considerable  force,  and  engaged  her. 

Early  in  the  engagement  one  of  the  youths  above  mentioned  had 
his  leg  and  part  of  the  thigh  shot  off  by  a  cannon  ball,  and  fell  by 
the  side  of  his  companion.  The  mind  of  the  wounded  youth 
appeared  to  be  regardless  of  his  situation,  and  only  intent  upon 
the  event  of  the  action.  He  called  out  to  his  companion,  whose 
name  was  William,  "  Hrill,  hozo  go  zee  on,  shall  zee  beat  them?" 
an  answer  was  returned  by  his  friend,  that  he  hoped  so.  The 
question  was  repeated  several  times,  but  in  weaker  tones  of  voice, 
whilst  the  blood  flowed  from  him  in  a  torrent ;  the  probability  of 
success  was  announced  in  similar  answers.  At  last,  raising  hi? 
head  a  little,  he  with  a  very  feeble  voice  again  requested  to  know 
what  success.  His  companion  called  out,  «  The  enemy  havs 
struck.1'  A  sudden  gleam  of  joy  seemed  to  diffuse  itself  over  the 
countenance  of  the  dying  youth,  who,  stretching  himself  out, 
gallantly  exclaimed,  "  Then  I  die  contented^  and  expired  with- 
out A  groan. 


MARINE    SCENERY.  43 

These  circumstances  were  related  to  me  by  the  companion  who 
•was  present  during  the  whole  transaction,  and  who  afterwards 
returned  to  his  master's  service  in  Manchester. 

I  remain,  with  much  esteem,   sir, 
Your  obedient  servant, 

CHARLES  TAYLOR,  M.D. 

Secretary  to  the  Society  of  Arts,  &c. 
To  Mr.  Joyce  Gold. 

MR.    EDITOR, 

THE  geographers  in  every  part  of  Europe,  in  their  charts, 
have  laid  down  Cape  Frio,  on  the  coast  of  Brazil,  as  being 
in  the  latitude  22  deg.  34  min.  This  error  ought  to  be  rectified  : 
several  vessels  bound  to  Rio  de  Janeiro  having  been  in  consequence 
of  it,  embayed  ;  and  every  one  knows,  that  it  is  necessary  to  make 
Cape  Frio,  before  he  can  get  to  Rio  de  Janeiro.  This  error  has 
been  rectified  in  Arrowsmith's  map  of  the  coast  of  Brazil,  which 
will  be  shortly  published.  This  geographer  makes  the  exact 
latitude  23  deg.  2  min.  and  S.  longitude  49  deg.  59  min. 

TIM.  WEATHERSIDE, 


MARINE  SCENERY. 


THE    NORTH    CAPE. 
(From  Acerbi's  Travels,) 

9  1  illE  North  Cape  is  an  enormous  rock,  which,  projecting  far 
-1»-  into  the  ocean,  and  being  exposed  to  all  the  fury  of  the 
•waves  and  the  outrage  of  tempests,  crumbles  every  year  more  and 
more  into  ruins.  Here  every  thing  is  solitary,  every  thing  is 
sterile,  every  thing  sad  and  despondent.  The  shadowy  forest  no 
longer  adorns  the  brow  of  the  mountain ;  the  singing  of  birds, 
which  enlivened  even  the  woods  of  Lapland,  is  no  longer  heard  in 
this  scene  of  desolation  ;  the  ruggedness  of  the  dark  grey  rock  is 
not  covered  by  a  single  shrub  ;  the  only  music  is  the  hoarse  mur- 
muring of  the  waves,  ever  and  anon  renewing  their  assaults  on  tho 
huge  masses  that  oppose  them.  The  northern  sun,  creeping,  at 
midnight,  at  the  distance,  of  live  diameters  along  the  horizon,  and, 
the  immeasurable  ocean  in  apparent  contact  with  the  skies,  form 
the  grand  outlines  in  the  sublime  picture  presented  to  the  astonished 


44  PLATE  CCLXXV. 

spectator.  The  incessant  cares  and  pursuits  of  anxious  mortals 
are  recollected  as  a  dream  ;  the  various  forms  aud  energies  of 
animated  nature  are  forgotten  ;  the  earth  is  contemplated  only  in, 
its  elements,  and  as  constituting  a  part  of  the  solar  system. 


PLATE  CCLXXV. 

Description  of  Incc  Castle^  situated  on  the  borders  of  Cornzcall) 
adjoining  to  Devonshire. 

AS  a  marine  villa,  the  view  of  Ince  Castle  may  well  be  entitled 
to  a  place  in  the  NAVAL  CHUONICLE;  the  truly  romantic? 
peninsula  on  which  it  stands  is  a  long  promontory,  -which  con- 
tains upwards  ef  one  hundred  acres,  and  is  connected  with  the 
continent  only  by  t\vo  fields ;  it  possesses  all  the  advantages  of  an 
inland  as  well  as  a  marine  situation.;  for  though  nearly  encom- 
passed by  the  sea,  it  has  beautiful  woods  and  plantations,  that 
thrive  in  great  luxuriance,  through  which  arc  cut  rides  and  walks, 
in  some  parts  impervious  to  the  sun. 

It  is  distant  from  Plymouth  Dock  only  four  miles  by  water, 
and  when  you  open  the  St.  Germain's  water  at  Hamoaze  (whence 
this  view  is  taken)  Ince  Castle  breaks  upon  you  as  a  stately  man. 
gion,  situated  on  the  top  of  a  Nole  (seemingly  an  island  rising  out 
of  the  sea),  with  a  boundary  of  rock  of  some  height,  resembling  a' 
}iigh  wall,  on  the  edge  of  which,  one  half  in  view  to  the  left,  at 
the  proper  season,  .appears  to  have  a  fringe  of  go'id  and  silver, 
from  the  blossoms  of  the  various  shrubs  on  its  verge,  while  the 
other  half  presents  to  the  eye  the  plantation  and  wood,  through 
•which  a  carriage  road  from  the  lower  landing  place  carries  you, 
round  an  extensive  lawn  by  an  easy  zig-zag  assent  to  the  house. 
Two  large  boat-houses  are  also  seen  on  the  left  side,  from  each  of 
which  a  jetfy  runs  into  the  sea  for  the  convenience  of  landing. 

The  stable^  and  coach-houses,  upon  a  large  scale,  are  at  a  pro- 
per  distance  from  the  house,  but  completely  planted  ont  j  and  at  a 
further  distance  is  the  farm-yard,  with  barns,  &c.  likewise  screened 
by  trees.  The  house  is  gothic,  with  four  towers,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  built  by  K  UK-grew,  the  favourite  of  Chailes  II.  on  the 
site  of  an  old  castle  ;  indeed,  from  the  vestiges  and  remains  of  old 
walls  which  are  seen  at  low  water,  it  bears  the  appearance  of 
having  been  an  ancient  military  station  ;  and  as  Ince  in  the  Saxon, 
denoted  an  island,  Ince  Castle  might  in  those  times  have  been  3, 
stronghold;  but  what  makes  this  more  probable  is,  the  labou;- 


1PLATE  CCLXXY.  45 

which  seems  to  have  been  bestowed  upon  it,  by  cutting  away  rock* 
and  forming  the  land  to  its  present  beautiful  slopes,  which  work 
Appears  more  considerable  than  could  be  undertaken  by  an  indi- 
yidual ;  in  some  respects  it  answers  to  Fenelon's  description  of 
Calypso's  island,  in  Telemachus,  having  most  picturesque  romantic 
scenery,  and  many  delightful  retreats,  in  the  recesses  of  the  rocks 
which  surround  it. 

The  road  from  the  house,  as  far  as  the  extent  of  the  grounds, 
towards  the  turnpike,  is  along  a  ridge,  from  which  the  land 
regularly  falls  on  each  side  till  it  comes  to  the  rocks  which  form 
the  bounds  all  round,  and  at  the  edge  are  seen  hollies  and  thorns, 
which,  as  well  as  the  myrtle,  here  grow  to  an  uncommon  size  ; 
also  the  American  thorn  are  in  abundance,  of  the  size  of  small 
timber;  nor  can  it  be  accounted  for,  how  this  continued  verdure 
could  remain  so  near  the  sea,  but  from  its  being  at  a  distance  sur- 
younded  by  such  high  hills  as  keep  oft"  all  harsh  winds.  To  the 
s.ame  cause,  ?nd  the  constant  flux  and  reflux  of  the  tide,  may  like- 
wise  be  attributed  the  great  hcalthfulness  of  the  situation  ;  for  so 
mild  is  the  winter  on  this  little  spot,  that  snow  never  lies  on  the 
ground  ;  so  that,  to  its  picturesque  beauties,  may  be  added  a  cli- 
mate peculiar  to  itself,  both  for  mildness  in  winter,  and  for  cool- 
ness ju  summer  ;  from  which  it  has  been  found  remarkably  favour, 
able  to  persons  whose  lungs  hare  been  affected. 

Its  distance  from  Saltash  on  the  land  side,  by  a  good  roada  ft 
four  miles ;  but  here,  immediately  you  leave  the  grounds,  you 
have  to  ascend  the  hill,  which  on  that  side  forms  its  shelter  from 
the  south-west  winds;  the  beautiful  and  varied  scenery  of  sea,  of 
ships,  of  hills,  and  of  woods,  which  meet  the  eye  from  the  summit, 
is  truly  grand. 

The  estate  has  been  in  the  possession  of  proprietors,  who  not 
pnly  possessed  the  means,  but  who  have  shewn  great  taste  in  the 
improvement  of  its  natural  beauties  (for  every  part  indicates  that 
no  labour  or  expense  has  been  spared,  either  for  convenience  or 
decoration),  by  many  works  of  art,  of  which  the,  drains  under  the 
.house,  cut  out  of  the  solid  rock,,  are  not  the  least  remarkable  j 
and  the  great  drain,  which  the  fall  of  the  land  carries  in  some 
parts  twenty  feet  under  the  surface,  though  cut  through  the  solid 
rock  with  an  arch,  is  so  wide  and  lofty,  that  a  cart  may  pass 
along;  but  this  possibly  in  ancient  times  was  a  way  from  the  old 
castle,  of  which  the  present  ad  vantage  may  have  been  taken  by  the 
architect. 

Inclusive  of  three  enormous  welh;  suuk  deep  in  the  rock3  anijl 


4<f  PLATE   CCtXXV. 

which  afford  a  never-failing  supply  of  the  finest  water,  every  fieltf 
likewise  has  its  spring  equally  good,  which  is  remarkable,  so  sur- 
rounded as  it  is  by  the  sea :  this  renders  the  land  most  fertile. 
A  further  convenience  in  former  times  was,  that  every  field  had  a 
quay  for  the  landing  of  manure  from  barges,  but  of  these,  only 
three  now  remain :  however,  at  this  time,  the  greatest  d;-uft  by 
cart  does  not  exceed  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  which  is  a  circumstance 
lew  farms  can  boast. 

This  little  paradise  was  long  the  residence  of  the  family  of  the 
JVeals,  from  whom  it  descended  to  the  Neals  of  Tollerton,  in  Not, 
tinghamshirc,  but  finding  it  so  far  distant  from  their  constant 
residence,  they  seldom  went  to  it;  and. being  of  later  years  only 
inhabited  by  servants,  both  house  and  land  had  greatly  gone  to 
decay,  which  induced  them  to  part  with  it  about  four  years  back, 
when  it  was  purchased  by  Edward  Smith,  Esq.  the  present  pro- 
prietor, who  with  infinite  labour  and  expence,  has  put  the  house 
into  substantial  repair,  and  has  brought  the  land  into  good  con- 
dition ;  the  whole  being  now  laid  down  in  pasture.  It  before 
possessed  a  very  fine  open  bath,  but  he  has  added  a  close  bath, 
with  a  bathing-house,  which  in  that  respect  renders  it  very 
complete. 

The  surrounding  waters  abound  in  fish,  of  which  the  estate 
possesses  the  right  of  fishing,  and  the  oysters  of  Ince  ar^  famous  in 
those  parts  ;  there  are  likewise  abundance  of  cockles,  muscles, 
&c.  on  the  shores  ;  and  in  the  rocky  clifts  are  to  be  found  great 
numbers  of  rabbits,  which  afford  very  fine  sport. 

It  is  a  curious  circumstance,  that  such  a  house,  with  such  land, 
having  three  orchards,  and  abounding  with  every  other  conve- 
nience, should  never  have  had  a  walled  garden  ;  but  such  is  the 
fact,  though  one  of  the  fields  produces  the  only  good  earth  for 
bricks  near  Plymouth,  the  excellence  of  which  is  shewn  by  the 
bricks  of  which  the  house  is  constructed  ;  and  though  the  estate 
has  likewssc  the  advantage  of  a  very  fine  stone  quarry  for  building 
purposes.  Thus  the  garden  (ia  the  midst  of  which  is  a  good  vine- 
house)  has  its  fruit  only  growing  on  espaliers,  though  the  trees  are 
all  of  the  most  choice  kinds.  In  the  midst  of  the  hanging  wood 
is  a  fine  level  bowling  green,  with  an  elegant  alcove,  which  com- 
mands the  whole,  but  in  which,  when  you  arc  seated,  there  is  not 
an  object  in  view  which  can  impress  upon  the  mind  the  idea  of 
being  near  the  water. 

The  prospects  from  the  house,  whether  looking  towards  the  land 
cr  the  sea3  are  beautiful  beyond  description,  and  in  (he  latter  are 


CHRONOLOGICAL   SKETCH    OF   NATAL    EVENTS.  47 

the  men  of  war  lying  at  Hamoaze,  with  a  continued  movement 
of  vessels  and  boats  up  and  down  the  St.  Germain's  Water  for  near 
objects,  as  also  those  up  and  down  the  Tamar  at  a  distance. 

Thus  the  inhabitants  of  this  little  peninsula  may  be  said  to  have 
in  their  option,  either  a  most  delightful  retreat  from  the  world, 
with  a  fund  of  rural  amusements,  or  the  advantages  of  society  to 
any  extent  they  may  wish  :  indeed,  they  may  enjoy  both  at  the 
fame  time. 


CHRONOLOGICAL  SKETCH 

OF    THE 

MOST  REMARKABLE  NAVAL  EVENTS 

OF  THE  YEAR   1308. 


G 


JANUARY. 

LEXERAL  MOORE,  with  part  of  the  troops  under  his  com- 
mand, arrived  at  Portsmouth  from  Sicily  (30th  ult.) 
2.  Accounts  arrived  of  the  loss  of  the  Anson  frigate,  Captain  Lydiard, 
on  the  Bar  Sand,  near  Hebtone,  on  the  28th  nit. 

4.  French  papers  were  received,  containing  a  copy  of  the  French  decree, 
dated  17th  December,  declaring  neutral  vessels,  which  might  submit  to  be 
visited  by  English  vessel.*,  under  the  Orders  in  Council  of  November  11,  ta 
be  denationalized,  and  not  entitled  to  the  protection  of  their  government. 

6.  A  copy  of  Sir  Sidney  Smith's   declaration  arrived,  dated  the  22d  of 
November,  off  Lisbon,  declaring  Lisbon  and  the  Tagus  to  be  in  a  state  of 
blockade,  in  consequence  of  their  being  in  possession  of  the  French. 

20.  Intelligence  was  received  of  the  island  of  Madeira  having  surren- 
dered to  the  British  sea  and  land  forces  on  the  24th  ult.  in  trust  for  tbc 
royal  family  of  Portugal. 

21.  Parliament  met,  pursuant  to  his  majesty's  proclamation. 

23.  Intelligence  arrived  of  the  embargo  having  been  laid  on  all  American 
Vessels  in  their  own  harbours,  in  consequence  of  the  president's  message  to 
Congress  of  the  7th  ulr. 

^5.  The  Prince  Regent  of  Portugal  landed  at  Bahia,  where  be  remained 
a  short  time,  and  afterwards  proceeded  for  Rio  Janeiro. 

FEBRUARY. 

7.  Advices  were  received  that  the  Danish  islands  of  St.  Thomas  and  St. 
John  had  surrendered  to   the  British  on  the  22d  of  December,  and  Santa 
Cruz  on  the  28th. 

8.  A  treaty  of  alliance  and  subsidy  was  concluded  between  Great  Britain 
And  Sweden. 


49  CHttoBrotOalcAL  SKETCH  OF  NAVAL  EVEHTSV 

15.  Admiral  Duckworth  arrived  at  Martinique,  in  search  of  the  Roche* 
fort  squadron. 

15.  The  King  of  Prussia,  in  a  proclamation,  renounced  all  connection, 
commercial  and  political)  with  England,  in  compliance  with  the  27th  article 
of  the  treaty  of  Tilsit. 

MARCH. 

8.  The  Piedmontaise  French  ship  of  war  was  captured  hy  the  St, 
Tiorenzo,  Captain  Hardinge,  in  the  Indian  seas.  Captain  Hardinge  killed. 

16.  Frederick  Vlth  proclaimed  King  of  Denmark,,  his  father  Christian 
Having  died  on  the  13th. 

19.  Charles  IV.  abdicated   the  crown  of  Spain  in  favour  of  his  son,  Fer- 
dinand VII.  at  the  request  of  the  hereditary  nobility. 
30.  The  island  of  Dcseada  taken  hy  the  French. 

APRIL. 

I.  By  an  ukase 'of  the  Emperor  of  Russia,  of  this  date,  all  foreign 
manufactured  goods  are  prohibited  from  being  imported  into  the  Russian 
dominions  ;  and  Russian  ships,  coming  from  England,  loaded,  to  be  pre- 
vented from  landing  their  cargoes. 

10.  The  Rochefort  squadron,  after  eluding  the  vigilance  of  the  British 
cruisers,  entered  Toulon. 

12.  General  Oakes  sailed  for  Malta,  to  take  the  chief  command  sf  that 
island. 

16.  Captain  Shipley,  of  the  Nymplje  frigate,  was  killed  in  an  unsuccessful 
attempt  to  cut  out  an  enemy's  vessel  from  the  mouth  of  the  Tagus. 

18.  Sir  John  Duckworth  arrived  with  his  squadron,  after  an  unsuccessful 
cruise  in  search  of  the  Rochefort  squadron,  in  the  West  Indies,  &c. 

22.  Mr.  Rose  arrived  from  his  mission  to  America. 
28.  Lord  Gardner  surrendered  the  command  of  the  Channel  fleet  to 
Lord  Gambier. 

MAY. 

1.  The  Prince  Regent  of  Portugal,  at  Rio  Janeiro,  declared  war  against 
France,  in  consequence  of  the  French  troops  having  invaded  Portugal, &c. 

2.  An  embargo  laid  on  all  American  ships  lying  in  the  harbours  of 
France. 

3.  The  town  and  harbour  of  Sweabourg  surrendered  to  the  Russians. 
6.  Junot  laid  an  embargo  on  all  the  ships  in  the  harbours  of  Portugal. 
-— .  A  fleet,  destined  for  the  Brazils,  sailed  under  convoy  from  Ports- 
mouth. 

10.  The  expedition  under  Sir  John  Moore  sailed  from  Yarmouth,  under 
convoy  of  Admiral  Keats. 

17.  General  Moore,  with  his  troops,  arrived  at  Gottenburgh. 

19.  The  Guelderland  Dutch  frigate,  of  36  guns,  was  captured  off  Ireland 
by  his  majesty's  ship  Virginie,  Captain  Brace. 

24.  The  Duchy  of  Tuscany,  with  all  the  sea  port  towns  on  the  Mediter- 
ranean; were  united  to  France,  by  a  decree  of  the  French  senate,  upon  ths 


CHRONOLOGICAL   SKETCH   OF  NAVAL   EVENTS.  49 

ground  that  such  a  measure  would  tend  to  exclude  the  English  from  the 
'continent. 

S5.  Captain  Bettesworth,  of  the  Tartar  frigate,  was  unfortunately  killed 
in  endeavouring  to  cut  oue  of  the  enemy's  East  induuuen  from  off  Bergen. 

JUNE. 

10.  The  Spanish  forts  opened  their  fire  on  the  French  squadron  uuder 
Admiral  Rosilly,  in  the  harbour  of  Cadiz. 

14.  Admiral  Rosilly  surrendered  his  squadron  to  General  Morla. 

17.  Government  ordered  309,000  dollars  to  be  shipped  from  die  Bank, 
for  the  use  of  the  Spanish  provinces  which  had  revolted  against  France. 

22.  The  court  of  common  council  of  the  city  of  Londou  addressed  his 
majesty,  thanking  him  for  the  assistance  he  had  afforded  to  Spain. 

29.  General  Moore  arrived  from  Sweden,  with  the  army  under  his 
command. 

— .  Intelligence  arrived  of  the  destruction  of  four  Dutch  ships  of  war, 
in  the  East  Indies,  "by  Sir  Edward  Pellew,  in  Griesse  harbour,  in  the  island 
«f  Java. 

JULY. 

4.  The  Parliament  was  this  day  prorogued  by  commission. 

— .  The  British  government  issued  a  proclamation  of  peace  with  all  the 
provinces  of  Spain. 

5.  The  Turkish  ship  of  war  Badere  Zaffer,  of  52  guns,  and  500  men,  was 
captured  in  the  Adriatic  by  the  Sea  Horse  frigate,  Captain  Stewart,  after  a 
severe  action. 

12.  The  expedition  under  General  Sir  Arthur  Wellesley  sailed  from 
Cork. 

If.  The  governor  of  Cuba  refused  to  acknowledge  the  sovereignty  of 
Joseph  Buonaparte,  and  proclaimed  peace  \vith  Great  Britain. 

23.  Lord  Strangford,  the  British  ambassador,  arrived  at  the  court  of 

Brazil. 

•  -•  •     ^ 

31.  The  expedition  under  Sir  Harry  Burrard  sailed  from  St.  Helen's. 

AUGUST. 

19.  The  brigade  of  British  troops  under  General  A nstruther  landed  ia 
ortugal,  and  joined  Sir  Arthur  Wellesley. 

2$.  General  Sir  Hew  Dalrymple  landed  in  Portugal,  and  rook  the  chief 
command  of  the  British  army.  Shortly  afterwards,  tiie  French  general  of 
division,  Kellerman,  arrived  at  the  British  camp,  with  proposals  frotnr 
General  Junot,  for  concluding  a  convent!  .11  for  the  evacuation  of  Portugal 
by  the  French  army,  and,  after  some  consultation,  a«  armistice  was  con- 
cluded between  the  two  armies. 

25.  Sir  Samuel  Hood,  with  two  British  ships  of  the  line,  assisted  by  a 
Swedish  squadron,  attacked  and  defeated  a  Russian  fleet  of  superior  force. 
The  Sewold,  a  ship  of  the  line,  was  destroyed,  and  the  remainder  escaped 
iiiio  port. 

f?:on.  SoI.XXI.  ti 


50  CHRONOLOGICAL'  SKETCH  OF  NATAL  EVENTS, 

27.  Island  of  Mariegalante  retaken  from  the  French. 

SO.  After  repeated  discussions,  a  convention  was  concluded  at  Cintra, 
between  Admiral  Sir  Cliarles  Cotton  and  Admiral  Siniavin,  whereby  the 
Russian  fleet,  of  nine  sail  of  the  line  and  one  frigate,  which  were  lying  in 
the  Tagus,  were  delivered  ap  to  the  British,  to  be  by  them  kept  as  a  deposit 
till  six  months  after  peace,  and  the  Russian  officers  and  seamen  were  to  be 
sent  home  in  British  ships. 

SEPTEMBER. 

6.  Buonaparte  issued  a  decree,  prohibiting  the  importation  of  colonial 
produce  into  any  part  of  his  dominions  till  further  orders. 

15.  The  French  army  finally  evacuated  Portugal,  in  pursuance  of  the 
convention  of  Cintra. 

16.  The  Marquis  de  la  Romana  itnd  suite  landed  at  Yarmouth  from  the 
Baltic. 

30.  The  Marquis  de  la  Romana's  army  were  safely  landed  at  Corunns, 
from  the  British  transports. 

OCTOBER. 

4.  Sir  Arthur  Wellesley  arrived  at  Plymouth  from  Portugal. 

5.  The  island  of  Capri,  with  a  small  British  garrison,  surrendered  to  a 
body  of  French  troops  sent  from  Naples. 

9.  Expedition  under  Sir  David  Baird,  consisting  of  13,000  troops,  sailed 
from  Falmouth. 

13.  The  expedition  under  Sir  David  Baird  arrived  at  Corunna. 

10.  Sir  Hew  Dalryrrtple  arrived  at  Portsmouth  from  Portugal,  whence  he 
was  recalled  by  government. 

NOVEMBER, 

10i  Ills  majesty's  ship  Amethyst,  of  36  guns,  Captain  Seymour,  fell  m 
with  the  Thetis,  French  ship,  of  44  guns,  which  she  captured,  after  one  of 
the  most  sanguinary  engagements  ever  known. 

DECEMBER. 

10.  At  a  meeting  of  the  merchants,  &c.  of  the  City  of  London,  held  this 
day,  to  consider  of  the  propriety  of  opening  a  subscription  for  furnishing 
clothing  and  other  necessaries  for  the  use  of  the  Spanish  patriots,  15,0001. 
were  immediately  subscribed. 

15.  The  British  government  published  a  declaration,  stating,  that  the 
late  overtures  from  France,  for  a  peace,  were  inadmissible,  and  only 
intended  to  excite  distrust  in  our  allies. 

30.  Accounts  received  of  a  junction,  formed  at  Benevcnto,  between  the 
armies  under  Sir  John  Moore  and  Sir  David  Eaird. 


51 

PHILOSOPHICAL  PAPERS. 


NAUSCOPY; 

OR, 

THE    ART    OF    DISCOVERING    SHIPS    AT    A    GREAT    DISTANCE 
FROM    LAND. 

NAUSCOPY"  is  the  art  of  discovering  the  approach  of  ships, 
on  the  neighbourhood  of  lands,  at  a  considerable  distance. 

This  knowledge  is  not  derived  either  from  the  undulation  of 
waves,  or  from  the  subtilty  of  sight ;  but  merely  from  observation 
of  the  horizon,  which  discovers  signs  indicating  the  proximity  of 
large  objects.  On  the  approximation  of  a  ship  towards  the  land, 
or  towards  another  ship,  there  appears  in  the  atmosphere  a  meteor 
of  a  particular  nature,  which,  with  a  little  attention,  is  visible  to 
any  person. 

M.  Bottineau  (a  native  of  the  island  of  Bourbon)  laid  this  dis- 
covery before  M.  de  Castries,  in  1784.  The  minister  sent  him 
back  to  the  island  to  continue  his  observations  there,  under  the 
inspection  and  superintendance  of  the  government. 

M.  Bottineau  engaged,  that  not  a  single  ship  should  arrive  at  the 
island  without  his  having  sent  information  of  it  several  days  before. 

An  exact  register  of  his  communications  was  kept  in  the  secre- 
tary's office.  All  his  reports  were  compared  with  the  ships'  books 
as  soon  as  they  arrived,  to  see  whether  the  variations  ot  weather, 
calms  which  retarded  them,  kc.  <fcc.  were  such  as  agreed  with  his 
reports. 

It  must  be  observed,  that  when  his  reports  were  made,  the 
watchmen,  stationed  on  the  mountains,  could  never  perceive  any 
appearance  of  ships  ;  for  M.  Bottineau  announced  their  approach 
when  they  were  more  than  a  hundred  leagues  distant. 

From  the  authenticated  journal  of  his  reports,  which  has  been, 
published,  it  appears  that  he  was  wonderfully  accurate.  AVithin 
eight  months,  and  in  sixty-two  reports,  he  announced  the  arrival 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  ships  of  different  descriptions. 

Of  the  fact  there  can  be  no  reasonable  doubt,  because  every 
method  Avas  adopted  to  prevent  deception,  and  his  informations 
were  not  only  registered,  as  soon  as  they  were  made,  it»  the 
government  office,  but  were  also  publicly  known  over  the  whole 
island.  The  officers  of  government,  moreover,  were  far  from 


52  THILOSOFHICAr-    PAPERS, 

being  partial  to  M.  Bottineau  ;  on  the  contrary,  they  were  dis- 
pleased with  him  for  obstinately  refusing  to  sell  them  his  secret, 
•which  they  wanted  to  purchase  at  a  high  price,  so  that  he  could 
expect  no  favour  from  their  representations.  Truth,  however, 
obliged  them  to  give  abundant  testimony  to  the  reality  of  his 
extraordinary  talent,  in  their  letter  to  the  French  minister,  which 
is  published  in  a  "  Memoire  sur  In  Nauscopte,  par  M.  Boltineau" 
The  following  are  two  of  the  reports  extracted  from  thii 
memoir : — • 

"  On  the  20th  of  August,  1784,  I  discovered  some  vessels  at  the  distance 
of  four  days  sail  from  the  island.  On  the  following  day,  the  number  mul- 
tiplied considerably  to  my  sight.  This  induced  me  to  send  information  of 
many  vessels;  but  though  they  were  only  at  four  days  distance,  I  never- 
theless stated  in  my  report,  that  no  settled  time  could  be  fixed  on  for  their 
arrival,  as  they  were  detained  by  a  calm.  On  the  25th  the  ,calm  was  so 
complete,  as  to  make  me  thinly  for  a  few  hours,  that  the  fleet  had  disap- 
peared, and  gone  to  some  other  place.  I  soon  after  perceived  again  the 
presence  of  the  fleet,  by  the  revived  signs.  It  was  still  in  the  same  state  of 
inaction,  of  which  I  sent  information.  From  the  20th  of  August  to  the  10th 
of  September,  1  did  not  cease  to  announce,  in  my  reports,  the  continuation 
of  the  calm.  On  tlie  13th  I  sent  word  that  the  fleet  was  no  longer  becalmed, 
and  that  it  would  arrive  at  the  island  within  forty-eight  hours.  Accordingly, 
to  the  surprise  of  the  whole  island,  M.  de  Regular's  fleet  arrived  at  Port 
Louisa  on  the  loth.  The  general  astonishment  was  greatly  increased,  when 
it  was  known  that  this  fleet  had  been  becalmed  since  the  20th  of  August, 
near  Rodriguez  islands,  which  was  precisely  the  distance  that  I  had  pointed 
out  in  my  reports." 

"  I  soon  had  another  opportunity  of  shewing  the  certainty  of  my  observa- 
tions. A  few  days  before  the  arrival  of  M.  de  Regmer's  fleet,  I  announced 
the  appearance  of  another  fleet,  which  became  perceptible  to  me.  This 
created  a  great  deal  of  uneasiness,  because  as  no  other  French  fleet  was 
expected,  that  which  I  discovered  might  be  English  ships.  1  was  ordered 
to  repeat  my  observations  with  accuracy.  I  clearly  perceived  the  passage 
of  several  ships,  and  declared  they  were  not  bound  for  our  island,  but  were 
taking  another  course.  In  consequence  of  this  information,  the  Naiade 
frigate  and  the  Due  de  Chartres  cutter  were  suddenly  despatched  to 
M.  de  Suffrein.  The  cutter  actually  saw  and  avoided  the  English  fleet,  in 
the  ninth  degree,  but  unfortunately  did  not  find  M.  de  Suffrein  in  the  bay  of 
Trincomalee.  The  report  of  the  cutter  efieciualty  convinced  the  incred^- 
lous  of  the  reality  of  my  discovery.'* 

The  last  circumstance,  of  despatching  the  frigate  and  cutter, 
plainly  shews  the  confidence  which  the  French  officers  must  have 
put  in  the  information  of  M.  Bottineau,     It  shews  also  that  he- 
deserved  their  confidence, 


JHILOSOPHICAL   PAPERS.  53 

Ccnyeclures  respecting  the  Phenomenon  on  rshich  the  preceding 
Observations  zzere  fuunded. 

The  wafers  of  the  ocean  form  an  immense  gulf,  in  which  sub- 
stances of  all  kinds  are  swallowed  up. 

The  innumerable  multitude  of  animals,  fish,  birds,  Tegetable 
and  mineral  productions,  which  decay,  and  are  decomposed  in  that 
vast  basin,  produce  a  fermentation  abounding  in  spirits,  salts,  oil, 
sulphur,  &c.  &c.  The  existence  of  these  is  sufficiently  apparent 
by  the  disagreeable  smell  and  flavour  of  sea  water,  which  can  only 
bo  rendered  drinkable  by  distillation,  and  by  the  evaporation  of 
those  heterogeneous  particles  which  infect  it. 

The  spirits,  intimately  united  to  the  sea  -waters,  continue  umlis- 
turbed  as  long  as  those  waters  remain  in  a  state  of  tranquillity; 
or,  at  least,  they  experience  only  an  internal  agitation,  which  is 
slightly  manifested  externally. 

But  when  the  waters  of  the  sea  are  set  into  motion  by  storms, 
or  by  the  introduction  of  an  active  mass  which  rides  upon  their 
surface,  with  violence  and  rapidity,  the  volatile  vapours  contained 
in  the  bosom  of  the  sea  escape,  and  rise  up  a  fine  mist,  which  forms 
an  atmosphere  round  the  vessel. 

This  atmosphere  advances  with  the  vessel,  and  is  increased  every 
moment  by  fresh  emanations  rising  from  the  bottom  of  the  water. 

These  emanations  appear  like  so  many  small  clouds,  which, 
joining  each  other,  form  a  kind  of  sheet  projecting  forward,  one 
extremity  of  which  touches  the  ship,  whilst  the  other  advauces  in 
fhe  sea,  to  a  considerable  distance. 

But  this  train  of  vapours  is  not  visible  to  the  sight;  it  escapes 
observation  by  the  transparency  of  its  particles,  and  is  confounded 
with  other  fluids  which  compose  the  atmosphere, 

But  as  soon  as  the  vessel  arrives  within  a  circumference  where 
it  meets  with  other  homogeneous  vapours,  such  as  those  which 
escape  from  land,  this  sheet,  which  till  that  time  had  been  so  lim- 
pid and  subtile,  is  suddenly  seen  to  acquire  consistence  and  colour, 
by  the  mixture  of  the  two  opposite  columns. 

This  change  begins  at  the  prolonged  extremities,  which  by  their 
contact  are  united,  and  acquire  a  colour  and  strength  ;  afterwards, 
in  proportion  to  the  progression  of  the  vessel,  the  metamorphosis 
increases  and  reaches  the  centre:  at  last  the  phenomenon  becomes 
the  more  manifest,  and  the  ship  makes  its  appearancp. — MONTH. 
MAG. 


The  heart's  remote  recesses  to  explore, 
Andtouch'd  its  springs,  when  prose  avail'd  no  more. 

FALCONER. 


ODE  FOR  THE  NEW  YEAR,  1809. 

BY    HENRY    JAM1S    PYE,    ESQ.    P.  L. 

PULL  orb'd  in  equinoxial  skies, 
When  the  pale  m'oon  malignant  rides, 
And  bids  the  howling  tempests  rise, 

And  swells  the  ocean's  briny  tides, 
Dreadful  against  the  sounding  shore 
The  winds  and  waves  tumultuous  roar, 
The  torrent-braving  mound  in  vain 
The  stormy  inroad  would  restrain, 
The  surges  with  resistless  sway 
Force  o'er  the  labour'd  mole  their  way, 
Scorn  every  weak  resource  of  human  toil, 
O'erwhelm  the  peopled  town,  and  waste  the  cultur'd  soil, 

But  when,  by  native  fences  barr'd 

From  billowy  rage,  the  happier  land, 

And  rocky  cliffs  for  ever  stand 
To  the  wide-water'd  coast  a  guard, 
Such  as  on  Vecta's  southern  steep 
Look  down  defiance  on  the  raging  deep, 
Such  as  on  Dover's  breezy  down 
On  Gallia's  hostile  borders  frown, 
Tho'  billows  urging  billows  roar 
And  idly  beat  against  the  shore, 
While  from  the  heights  sublime  the  swain 
Mocks  the  vain  efforts  of  the  foaming  main, 
Till  nature  bids  the  deluged  surge  subside, 
Hush'd  is  the  tempest's  voice,  and  refluent  rolls  the  tide. 

So  o'er  Europa's  ravag'd  plain 

We  saw  the  torrent  wile  of  war 
Resistless  spread  its  iron  reign, 

And  scatter  ruin  wide  and  far; 


NAVAL  POETRY. 

- 

Th'  embattled  wall,  the  warlike 

Vainly  the  Tyrant's  course  withstand  : 

Before  the  impious  sons  of  Gaul 

The  legions  fly,  the  bulwarks  fall; 

Yet  Britain's  floating  castles  sweep 

Invasion  from  her  subject  deep. 

Yet  by  her  rocks  secure  from  harm. 

Securer  by  her  patriot  arm, 

Iberia  turns  the  battle's  tide, 

Resists  th'  injurious  Tyrant's  pride. 

While,  freely  floating  ia  the  ambient  sky, 

Sacred  to  freedom's  cause,  their  mingled  ensigns  fly. 


APOSTROPHE  TO  THE  RIVER  NITII, 

BY    JOIIX    MA.VXE. 

HAIL,  gentle  stream !  for  ever  dear 
Thy  rudest  murmurs  to  mine  ear! 
Torn  from  thy  banks,  tho'  far  I  rove. 
The  slave  of  poverty  and  love, 
Ne'er  shall  thy  bard,  where'er  he  be, 
"Without  a  sigh  remember  thee ! 
For  there  my  infant  years  began, 
And  there  my  happiest  minutes  ran; 
And  there,  to  love  and  friendship  true, 
The  blossoms  of  affection  grew  ! 

Blythe  on  thy  banks,  thou  sweetest  stream 

That  ever  nurs'd  a  poet's  dream  I 

Oft  have  I,  in  forbidden  time, 

(If  youth  could  sanctify  a  crime) 

With  hazel-rod,  and  frandful  fly, 

Ensnar'd  thy  unsuspecting  fry  ; 

Jn  pairs  have  dragg'd  them  from  their  den, 

Till,  chas'd  by  lurking  fishermen, 

Away  I've  flown,  as  fleet  as  wind, 

My  lagging  followers  far  behind  I 

Aud,  when  the  vain  pursuit  was  o'er, 

Returu'd  successful  as  before  ! 


56  NA.VAL  POETRYi 

Prologue  to  the  Tragedy  of  DOUGLAS,  and  Farce  of  the 
PADLOCK,  performed  by  the  Young  Gentlemen  of  Mn  Ma- 
jesty's Ship  Albion,  in  February,  1808. 


welcome  all — It  is  my  lot  to-day, 
-ML  To  be  sent  forth  as  prologue  to  the  play, 
Such  as  it  is,  we  hope  you'll  kindly  bear  it, 

Considering  we've  had  trouble  to  prepare  it ; 

And  that  we'll  grieve  to  find  those  cares  were  vain. 

If  our  endeavours  fail  to  entertain, — 
The  good  intention  must  all  blame  remove, 

If  onr  poor  efforts  should  abortive  prove.— 
Then  for  our  theatre — but  let  that  alone, 

Its  inconvenience  is  already  known  ; 

And  for  the  scenery,  yon  (sad  obligation) 

Must  paint  it,  partly,  in  imagination  ; 

This  for  the  stage  and  play  :    but  now  eadi  play'r^ 

With  trembling  hope  bids  me  put  up  his  pray'r  ; 

We  seek  not,  sirs,  they  cry,  theatric  fame 

(Some  other  way  each  fain  would  raise  hi?  name), 

Yet  eager  wish  to  bear  our  parts  with  spirit, 

And  that  wish  constitutes  our  greatest  ineritj 

For,  wanting  skill,  we  have  not  the  assurance 

To  look  for  more  than  just — your  bare  endurance. 

But  most  our  females  your  indulgence  claim, 

If  they  should  fail,  'tis  nature  you  must  blame j 

She,  from  the  tone  of  their  organization, 

Will  sufier  but  a  cold  representation  ; 

Hoping  to  please,  they  willingly  come  forth, 

Well  knowing  failure  cannot  taint  their  worth j 

For,  in  their  bosoms  still,  a  sacred  flame 

Burns  emulative  of  a  Nelson's  fame. 

Under  each  plaid,*  we  trust,  you'll  find  a  heart 

That  fain  would  act  a  more  important  part — 

[Going  off}  returns  again  stiddenfy* 

But  stop, — a  word  or  two  before  I  go ; 

Here,  where  each  breast  with  loyalty  doth  glow, 

Sounds  dear  to  all  shall  thro'  our  theatre  ring  : 

Music  !  strike  up  aloud — "  God  save  the  King!" 

[Muticplayt  "  God  save  the  King." 

•*  An  allusion,  to  the  Highland  dress  worn  in  Douglas. 


NAVAL   POETRY.  57 

Prologue  to   OTHELLO,  and  the   CITIZEX,  performed  by  the 
Young   Gentlemen   of   his   Majesty's   Ship   Albion,    Murch9 

1808. 


EFORE  the  tragic  muse  begins  her  course, 

By  way  of  Prologue  I'm  sent  out  perforce, 
To  make  some  few  apologies,  and  say 
Something  t'  excuse  our  mangling  Shakspeare's  play  : 
Th'  excuse  for  choosing  it  I  fain  would  smother, 
But  truth  will  out — why,  we  could  find  no  other: 
Believe  me,  we  should  heartily  rejoice, 
Had  circumstance  permitted  fitter  choice ; 
But  such  as  'tis,  we  hope  you'll  kindly  bear, — 
Nay,  be  contented  with  our  homely  fare : 
So  shall  we  deem  some  leisure  hours  well  spent, 
If  our  endeavours  answer  our  intent. 
We  strive  to  please — not  to  draw  plaudits  forth, 
Success  or  failure  cannot  change  our  worth  : 
We  may  succeed,  but  yet  by  fears  oppress'd, 
Expect  your  bare  endurance  at  the  best; 
And,  dreading  failure,  to  prevent  our  shame, 
We  own  our  weakness,  and  indulgence  claim: 
If,  as  we  fear,  our  strength  should  prove  too  small,; 
Let  interposing  pity  break  our  fall. 
If  we  succeed,  there's  but  one  wish  behind, — 
The  fervent  wish  of  each  true  British  mind  : 
From  war's  alarms  may  Britain  soon  be  free, 
Her  commerce  flourish,  and  her  name  still  be, 
*  The  world-envied  sovereign  of  the  sea.' 
But,  when  the  sword  is  drawn  in  her  dear  cause, 
Still  may  th'  event  prove  tragic  to  her  foes  : 
Her  sons,  in  this  deep  drama,  all  unite; 
And  may  the  Albions  yet  throw  in  their  mite. 
Firm  and  undaunted,  then,  each  swelling  heart 
Will  eager  strive  to  take  a  foremost  part : 
Deem  themselves  blest  in  meeting  wat'ry  graves, 
Proclaiming  to  the  world  that — Britain  rules  the.  zsaves. 

£"  Rule  Britannia"  piayed  in  full  chorus\ 
Bombay )  June  16,  1808,  Z* 

£9aO.  C&rom  fflok  XXT.  -4 


I. 


51  NATAL  POETRY. 

MARMION. 

WE  request  permission  to  make  a  few  more  extracts  from 
Mr.  W.  Scott's  beautiful  poem  of  Marmion.     Such  of  our 
readers  as  have  watched  the  waving,  in  endlcsss  variety,  of  the 
colours  on  the  ensign-staff',  will  admire  the  following  passage:  — 

tf  It  George's  banner,  broad  and  gay, 
Now  faded,  as  the  fading  ray 

Less  bright,  and  less,  was  flung; 
The  evening  gale  had  scarce  the  pow'r 
To  wave  it  on  the  Doajon  tower, 

So  heavily  it  hung." 

NELSON. 

lc  Lo,  here  his  grave, 
Who  victor  died  on  gadite  wave; 
To  him,  as  to  the  burning  levin, 
Short,  bright,  resistless  course  was  given  ; 
Where'er  his  country's  foes  were  found, 
Was  heard  the  fated  thunder's  sound ; 
'Till  burst  the  bolt  on  yonder  shore, 
Iloll'd,  blaz'd,  destroy'd — and  was  no  more." 


The  following  allusions  to  marine  scenery  occur  in  the  admir- 
able description  of  the  battle  of  Flodden  Field. 

XXVII. 

11  And  in  the  smoke  the  pennons  flew, 
As  in  the  storm  the  white  sea-mew  : 
Then  marked  they  dashing  broad  and  far, 
The  broken  billows  of  the  war, 
And  plumed  crests  of  chieftains  brave, 
Floating  like  foam  upon  the  wave. 


XXVIII. 

Cl  Advanc'd — fjrc'd  back — now  low,  now 

These  pennons  sunk  and  rose; 
A.S  bends  the  bark's  mast  in  the  gale, 
When  rent  are  rigging,  shrouds,  and  sail? 
Jit  warcr'd  'in//  the  foes, 


NATAL  POETRY. 
XXXV. 

a  Then  skilful  Surrey's  sage  commands 
Led  back  from  strife  his  shatler'd  bands  ; 

And  from  the  charge  they  drew, 
As  mountain  waves,  from  wasted  lands, 

Sweep  back  to  ocean  blue." 


In  the  introduction  to  the  second  canto,  the  genius  of  the  poet 
rises  superior  to  all  that  criticism  has  ventured  to  pronounce  in  bis 
description  of  the  mountain  lake  Lock-skene,  the  character  ef 
whose  scenery,  he  informs  us,  is  uncommonly  savage. 

u  And  when  that  mountain  sound  I  heard, 
Which  bids  us  be  for  storm  prepar'd, 
The  distant  rustling  of  his  wings, 
As  up  by  force  the  tempest  brings, 
'Twere  sweet,  ere  yet  his  terrors  rave, 
To  sit  upon  the  wizard's  grave — 
Thence  view  the  lake,  with  sullen  roar, 
Heave  her  broad  billows  to  the  shore; 
And  mark  the  wild  swans  mount  the  gal?, 
Spread  wide  through  mist  their  snowy  sail, 
And  ever  stoop  again,  to  lave 
Their  bosoms  on  the  surging  wave- 
Yet  him,  whose  heart  is  ill  at  ease, 
Such  peaceful  solitudes  displease: 
He  loves  to  drown  his  bosom's  jar 
Amid  the  elemental  war: 

Like  that  which  frowns  round  dark  Lock-skene, 

There  eagles  scream  from  isle  to  shore, 

Down  all  the  rocks  the  torrents  roar  ; 

O'er  the  black  waves  incessant  driven, 

Dark  mists  infect  the  summer  heaven  ; 

Through  the  rude  barrier*  of  the  lake 

Away  its  hurrying  waters  break, 

Faster  and  whiter  dash  and  curl,. 

'Till  down  yon  dark  abyss  they  hurl : 

Rises  the  fog-smoke  white  as  snow, 

Thunders  the  viewless  stream  below. "-*™ 


60 


NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1808-9. 

(December — January. ) 
RETROSPECTIVE  AND  MISCELLANEOUS. 

FROM  the  great  interest  and  importanceof  the  subject  to  the  country 
at  large,  we  have  been  induced  to  give  the  military  as  well  as  the 
naval  details  of  the  Gazette,  relating  to  the  disastrous,  though  glorious, 
battle  of  Corunna,  on  the  1 6th  of  January. 

It  will  be  seen,  that  Sir  John  Moore,  the  gallant  comrnancler-in-chief 
of  the  British  army,  with  several  other  distinguished  officers,  fell  in  the 
sanguinary  conflict ;  and,  according  to  report,  we  had  previously  lost  not 
fewer  than  7, 000  men,  in  the  course  of  our  retreat  to  Lugo,  and  thence 
to  Corunna. 

Much  as  we  deplore  the  loss,  the  great  and  heavy  loss,  which  we  have 
sustained,  we  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing,  that  not  the  slightest 
blame  attaches  to  any  of  the  officers  or  men  concerned.  The  retreat 
of  Sir  John  Moore  is  justly  considered  as  one  of  the  most  masterly  upon 
record. 

The  peninsular  form  of  Spain  presenls  an  excellent  opportunity  for 
carrying  on  the  war, -agreeably  to  a  plan  which  the  late  Lord  Nelson  so 
often  and  anxiously  pressed  on  the  attention  of  government:  which  was, 
to  embark  the  army  when  hard  pressed  by  a  superior  enemy,  and  land 
them  on  some  other  part  of  the  coast,  where  it  could  act  with  a  greater 
prospect  of  success;  and  to  continue  repeating  this  plan  of  attack,  as  a 
sure  means  of  harassing  and  separating  the  great  armies  which  the  French 
can  bring  into  the  field. 

A  plan  of  this  nature  it  was,  in  all  probability,  Sir  John  Moore's 
intention  to  pursue  ;  but,  in  consequence  of  the  great  loss  and  fatigues 
of  the  army,  it  has  been  found  expedient  for  it  to  return  to  England. 
"Whether,  when  recruited,  it  will  be  again  sent  out,  is  doubtful. 

In  the  royal  speech,  at  J.he  opening  of  Parliament,  it  was  intimated, 
that  the  most  vigorous  assistance  would  continue  to  be  afforded  to  Spain, 
as  long  as  that  country  should  continue  true  to  itself;  and,  as  recently 
as  the  26th  of  January,  since  the  distressing  news  of  the  battle  of 
Corunna  arrived,  Lord  Mulgrave  has,  in  the  most  decisive  manner, 
repeated  that  declaration. 

Jf  it  be  true,  however,  that  the  British  officers  have  brought  back  the 
army  upon  their  own  responsibility,  and  contrary  to  the  expectation  of 
m  nisters,  it  seems  to  intimate  that  the  affairs  of  Spain  are  in  a  very 
hopeless  state  ;  and  we  trust  that,  before  another  man  shall  be  sent  from 
o.ur  shores,  the  most  satisfactory  information  will  be  received  of  the 
will,  as  well  as  of  the  power,  ot  the  Spaniards  to  co-operate,  with  the 
utmost  cordiality,  in  resisting,  and  endeavouring  to  exterminate,  the 
usurper. 

The  Jast  accounts  from  the  Spanish  coast  were  brought  by  a  ship 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    PUT.SENT    YEAR,    1808—1809.      61 

which  -was  off  Conmna  on  the  IRlh  of  January  ;  at  which  time,  it  is  said, 
the  whole  town  wa*  in  flames.  It  is  conjectured,  that  the  Spaniards  had 
resisted  the  entrance  of  the  French  ;  and  that,  from  motives  of  revenge, 
the  sanguinary  invaders  had  set  fire  to  the  place. 

A  French  officer  of  high  rank,  supposed  to  be  either  Souk  or  Junot, 
is  said  to  have  fallen  in  thehattle  of  Corunna. 

We  lament  to  state,  that  we  have  sustained  considerable  injury  from 
the  elements  as  well  as  from  the  sword  ;  some  of  our  transports 
returning  from  Spain  with  troops,  having  been  entirely  lost,  and  others 
greatly  damaged. 

His  majesty's  brig  Primrose,  of  18  guns,  commandedby  Captain  ?>Icfn, 
was  wrecked  on  the  Manacle  Rocks,  in  a  heavy  gale,  on  the  night  of 
Jan.  22,  and  the  ^hole  of  (he  otTkers  and  crew,  with  the  exception  of  ^ 
lad,  perished.  The  Primrose  was  esteemed  one  of  the  handsomest 
vessel*  of  her  class  in  his  mr.jcsly's  service :  she  was  fitted  out  at  Ply- 
mouth at  the  same  time  with  the  Carnation,  which  was  lately  captured 
in  the  West  Indies. 

Ptymottfli,  Jan.  23. 

Arrived  this  morning  the  Earfleur,  of  100  guns,  Rear-admiral  Hoods 
Tonnnnt,  of  80  guns,  Rear-admiral  de  Courcy  ;  Victory,  of  100  guns  ; 
Implacable,  Resolution,  Xorge,  Elizabeth,  and  Zealous,  of  74  guns  each  ; 
Amazon,  Unicorn,  and  Endymion  frigates;  Mediator  sf ore-ship  ;  and 
Parthian  sloop  of  war,  from  Corunna ;  whence  they  sailed  on  Wednesday 
last,  with  about  400  sail  of  transports  under  convoy  :  nearly  100  of  the 
latter  have  arrived  here  in  the  course  of  the  day,  with  troops  ;  the 
remainder  are  in  channel,  under  convoy  of  four  sail  of  the  line,  and  the 
greater  part  will  probably  put  in  here.  The  troops  are  greatly  in  want 
of  necessaries.  When  the  fleet  left  Corunna,  on  Wednesday  last,  a  heavy 
cannonade  was  heard,  which  was  supposed  to  be  the  bombardment  of 
Corunna  by  the  French,  who,  it  is  slated,  had  succeeded  in  scttiifg  the 
town  on  fire;  but  it  is  stated,  that  the  Spaniards  still  held  out,  though  it 
was  understood  that  30,000  men  had  reinforced  Soult  and  Junot's  army, 
after  the  British  had  re-embarked.  The  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  of 
the  Brilish  troops  since  they  left  England,  are  estimated  at  between 
seven  and  eight  thousand.  —  Arrived  the  Scorpion  and  Raleigh  sloops  of 
war,  on  a  cruise. — Sailed  the  Medusa,  of  50  guns,  for  Spain ;  and  Plover 
sloop  of  war,  to  the  westward. — Arrived  the  French  lugger  privateer  la 
Clarisse,  pierced  for  16  guns  with  60  men,  from  St.  Maloes,  captured  bv 
the  Indefatigable  frigale ;  also  the  French  schooner  General  Junot, 
laden  with  flour  and  other  provisions,  captured  by  the  Raleigh  sloop  of 
war.  Arrived  the  Sally,  Captain  Cooke,  from  Newfoundland,  laden 
with  fish,  last  from  Corunna,  whence  she  sailed,  on  Wednesday  last, 
with  the  transports  which  are  arrived  here;  the  master  of  this  vessel 
slates,  that  the  French  troops  were  bearing  down  upon  Corunna  in  ail 
directions,  and  that  the  inhabitants  had  nearly  all  ficd  from  the  town. 
Sir  David  Baird  is  stated  to  be  iu  a  very  dangerous  stale. 


62  XAVAT,  HISTORY  or  THE  rnrsENt  YEAH,  180S— 1S09. 

The  following  particulars  respecting  the  capture  of  his  majesty's 
schooner  Rook,  v.'erc  communicated  in  a  letter  from  the  master,  who 
succeeded  Lieutenant  Lawrence  in  the  command  of  the  ship,  a -id  from  the 
mouth  of  the  only  survivor  of  the  unfortunate  crew  who  lias  hitherto 
reached  England,  and  who  himself  was  shot  through  the  wrist  aiid 
shoulder,  beside*  some  wounds  with  a  cutlass  ; 

"  The  Hook,  Lieutenant  James  Lawrence,  sailed  from  Plymouth, 
nnder  tiie  orders  of  Admiral  Young,  on  the  24th  of  June,  1803,  with 
despatches  for  the  West  Indies.  After  a  fine  passage,  she  arrived  at 
Jamaica,  from  whence,  after  having  waited  a  few  da) 3  to  refit,  and  take 
in  specie,  she  sailed  for  England,  August  13th.  For  two  days  they 
•were  followed  by  a  'French  schooner  (which  is  pretty  generally  the  case 
•when  a  ship  has  anj  money  on  board,  and  of  which  intelligence  is  soon 
»;uncd  at  some  of  the  French  islands),  but  whom  they  beat  off.  On  the 
SSth  of  August,  at  day-light,  they  fell  in  with  two  French  schooners, 
and  immediately  cleared  for  action:  on  the  largest  vessel  coming  along- 
side with  English  colours,  and  not  answering  when  hailed,  but  immedi- 
ately hoisting  French  colours?  Lieutenant  Lawrence  shot  the  French 
captain,  when  a  most  desperate  action  commenced;  after  an  hour's  hard 
fighting,  Lieutenant  Lawrence  received  his  last  wound  by  a  musket-ball, 
and  the  Koo'.i  was  immediately  carried  by  boarding,  the  French  officers 
repeatedly  calling  to  the  men  to  give  no  quarter. 

4t  Mr.  Stewart,  the  master,  received  seven  most  desperate  wounds 
Tfith  a  cutlass,  of  which  he  afterwards  recovered,  but  1  am  sorry  to  atKl 
is  since  dead  of  the  yellow  fever.  Mr.  Donnelly,  the  clerk,  was  also 
dangerously  wounded  in  the  groin,  but  is  now  recovered.  Mr.  George 
Heed,  an  Officer  in  (he  royal  artillery,  who  has  served  his  country  on  the 
b!a,nd  of  Jaipaica  for  twenty  years,  and  who  was  related  by  marriage  to 
Lieutenant  Lawrence,  was  induced  to  embark  on  board  the  Rook,  with 
a  very  considerable  property,  in  hopes  to  re-visit  his  native  country,  but 
T;VS  inhumaiHy  killed  by  the  enemy  when  boarding;  and  so  eager  were 
they  to  get  possession  of  a  valuable  ring  which  he  happened  to  ha-  e  on 
his  tinker,  that  they  nearly  cut  his  hand  off  to  attain  it.  The  survivors 
•were  stripped  naked,  put  in  their  boat,  and  turned  adrift;  but  by  the 
exertions  of  four  who  were  not  wounded,  they  reached  land,  and  were 
most  hospitably  received  by  the  natives.  The  Rook  was  so  much 
damaged,  that  the  enemy  could  not  get  her  into  port,  aud  therefore  set 
lire,  to  her. 


"  Ilehlon,  Jan.  22,  1S09. 

"  It  is  with  extreme  regret  I  inform  you  of  the  sorrowful  tidings  of 
the  loss  of  the  Despatch  transport  and  the  Primrose  sloop  of  war,  the 
former  from  Cori:;ma,  and  the  latter  outward-bound.  The  Despatch  had 
oa  baard  a  detachment  of  the  lib.  Light  Dragoons,  amounting  in  ali 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1808 — 1809.      63 

with  the  crew,  to  100  people.  Out  of  this  number,  only  seven  have 
been  saved  from  a  watery  grave.  These  brave  fellows,  1  am  told,  ar« 
the  same  who  distinguished  themselves  so  eminently  under  Lord  Pagel. 
The  officers  lost  on  this  unhappy  occasion  are,  Major  Cavendish,  Caot. 
Duncanfield,  and  Lieutenant  Waldegrave. 

*'  The  loss  of  the  Primrose,  of  18  guns,  is  not  less  to  be  regretted 
than  that  of  the  Despatch.  She  was  driven  by  the  tempestuous  weather 
upon  the  Manacle  Rocks,  about  a  mile  from  the  spot  where  the  trans- 
port foundered.  On  this  occasion  every  soul  on  board  perished,  except  a 
little  boy.  Both  these  melancholy  events  happened  this  morning  at 
about  six  o'clock.  The  Despatch  transport  belonged  to  Shields.'' 

The  Primrose,  Captain  James  Mein,  sailed  from  Portsmouth  a  few 
days  ago,  with  a  fleet  of  transports,  consisting  of  about  £0  sail,  (he  des- 
tination of  which  we  have  not  yet  heard  of.  They  had  troops  and  storei 
on  board. 

The  Active  armeil  cutter  lately  captured  a  small  French  lugger, 
mounting  one  gun,  and  manned  with  IS^men,  having  on  board  several 
packets  of  French  papers,  to  be  distributed  about  the  coast.  The  cap- 
ture of  this  vessel  explains  a  circumstance  which  certainly  appeared  sin- 
gular— by  what  means  casks  with  newspapers  were  made  to  float  so  di- 
rectly from  Boulogne  ?<_•  the  Kentish  coast.  It  now  appears,  that  the 
French  send  over  vessels  in  the  evening,  to  throw  the  casks  containing 
the  papers  within  reach  of  the  current  that  sets  into  the  coast  at  certaia 
periods  of  the  tide. 

"  His  majesty's  brigs  Reindeer  and  Pert,  arrived  in  Port  Royal,  brings 
us  the  tidings  of  the  capture  of  Samana,  that  famous  rendezvous  for  a 
horde  of  privateers,  by  his  majesty's  frigates  Franchise,  Aurora,  and 
Da?dalus,  and  Reindeer  and  Pert  brigs.  On  the  lOlli  inst.  these  ves<ei» 
anchored  off  the  town,  when  the  alarm  was  soon  spread  -,  and  at  the 
sight  of  such  a  superior  force,  the  principal  part  of  the  inhabitants, 
consisting  of  upwards  of- POO  men,  women,  and  children,  sought  refuge 
on  board  the  PExchange  privateer  of  14  guns  and  100  men,  and  another 
privateer  lying  in  the  harbour,  expecting  they  would  be  able  to  effect 
their  escape  to  St.  Domingo,  with  the  assistance  of  their  sweeps.  The 
men  of  war,  perceiving  their  intention,  immediately  despatched  four 
boats,  well  manned,  in  pursuit  of  them,  which  soon  came  up  with,  and 
captured  them  In  the  mean  time  several  other  boats  proceeded  to 
storm  the  fort,  which  was  accomplished  after  a  slight  resistance.  \Ve 
regret,  however,  to  add>  that  Captain  Dyer,  of  the  Aurora,  was  dan- 
gerously vfounded  in  the  head  by  a  musket-ball,  while  landing  the 
party.  Four  vessels,  lying  in  the  harbour,  ladett  with  coffee,  &c.  al«o 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  captors.  A  vessel  was  shortly  after  despatched 
lo  Porto  Rico  with  the  intelligence,  and  requesting  a  sufficient  number 
of  troops  to  be  sent  from  thence  to  garrison  ihe  place. 

The  following  is  an  extract  of  a  letter  received  at  Portsmouth  from 


01       NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE  .PRESENT    YEAH,    1808—1809. 

Mr.  Thomas  Mason,  late  clerk  of  his  majesty's  ship  Crescent,  relative 
to  the  melancholy  loss  of  that  ship.  We  give  it  publicity  for  the  satis- 
faction of  the  friends  of  the  survivors,  and  to  terminate  the  dreadful 
state  of  jjusper.83  in  which  many  must  be  on  the  occasion. 

"  On  the  5th  hist.  (Dec.)  we  struck  on  the  coast  of  Jutland,  near 
Bobsuout,  and  were  completely  wrecked,  with  the  loss  of  22®  people. 
The  survivors,  60  in  number,  were  saved;  the  major  part  on  a  raft, 
the  remainder  in  the  jolly-boat.  Our  situation  was  truly  dreadful,  even 
•worse  than  at  the  old  ship's  (Anson)  loss.  We  have  been  removed 
from  Robsnout  to  this  place  (Aalborg),  in  waggons,  about  32  miles. 
We  have  as  yet  been  treated  very  well — expect  soon  to  be  released. 

List  of  Survivors. 

Neilson  Williamson,  master. 

John  Weaver,  first  lieutenant  of  marines. 

Francis  Houg-hton,  midshipman,!  ,  .      c,  • 

Thomas  Mas&on,  clerk,  )late  of  his  ™U«tj'» 

J.  R.  Lavender,  midshipman. 

John  Munro,  ditto. 

llathew  Walker,  boatswain. 


Complement    272  men 


1  passenger 
C  women 
1  child 


Lost    212  men 


1  passenger 
6  women 
1  child 


280  Total.  220  Souls  lost. 

The  letters  from  America  are  full  of  complaints  against  the  piracy 
and  cruelty  committed  upon  American  subjects  and  property  by  the 
"  French  villains,"  as  they  are  termed,  who  infest  the  ocean.  A  cata- 
logue of  captures  is  inserted  in  the  American  papers,  which  sufficiently 
justifies  the  clamours  of  the  people  against  the  government  for  not 
avenging  the  indignities  hourly  committed  upon  their  trade.  The  in- 
stances alluded  to  are,  where  American  vessels,  having  received  per- 
mission from  the  president  to  sail  from  their  respective  ports,  have 
been  captured  by  French  privateers,  their  cargoes  confiscated,  and  their. 
crews  put  in  prison  in  France. 

The  following  letters  brought  from  France  by  the  Union  American 
ship,  and  written  by  two  American  captains,  will  serve  to  shew  the 
treatment  now  experienced  by  the  trade  and  subjects  of  the  United 
State*  from  the  enemy  : 

.  Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Nicholas   Owings,  of  the  dniericay 
Brig  President,  J.rom  the  Canary  Islands,  dated 


"St.  rullery,  Nov.  28,  1808. 

"  It  is  with  the  greatest  regret  I  inform  you  of  my  being  captured, 
on  the  17th  instant,  close  under  the  Isle  of  Wight,  and  seat  in  to  tin* 
place.  I  have  ever  since  been,  under  a  guard  i&  aa  inu,  aud  am  not 


NAVAL    illsTOltY    OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,  1S08 — 1809.      65 

allowed  to  go  out  of  my  room  without  some  person  to  guard  me,  a 
thing  which  lias  never  before  been  known  to  have  been  done  in  France. 
I  impute  it  to  there  not  being  any  neutral  vessels  brought  in  here." 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  Captain  of  the  Mary. 

"  Boulogne  Castle,  1st  Dec.  1808. 

I  have  the  misfortune  to  acquaint  you,  that  the  brig  Mary,  of  Phi- 
ladelphia, under  my  command,  was  captured  on  the  19th  ult.  by  tlie 
French  lugger  privateer  Grand  Napoleon,  of  this  port,  and  carried  in 
here.  The  Mary  Avas  captured  between  the  port  and  the  English  shore. 
The  cargo,  consisting  of  192  tons  of  sweet  oil,  has  already  been  dis- 
charged; and  lam,  as  well  as  my  crew,  kept  as  yet  in  prison,  though! 
have  reason  to  suppose  we  shall  soon  he  released.  1  have  riot  been  able 
to  ascertain  the  motives  of  this  government  for  capturing  American 
property,  and  detaining  the  subjects  of  the  United  States  as  prisoners; 
out  time  and  patience  will  unfold  them,  and  afford  us  redress." 

The  influence  of  the  French  minister  at  the  court  of  St.  Petersburg!* 
was  lately  strongly  manifested  in  the  case  of  an  English  gentleman,  of 
the  name  of  Elphinstone,  a  captain  in  the  Russian  navy.  Mr.  Elphin- 
atone,  who  is  related  to  several  persons  of  consideration  in  this  country, 
commanded  the  Russian  frigate  Venus,  and  on  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war  with  England,  returned  with  Admiral  Greig,  Captain  Bailey,  and 
others,  who  relinquished  their  commands  in  the  Tagus,  to  St.  Peters- 
burgh.  It  was  some  time  since  reported  to  the  French  minister,  Cauliu- 
<ourt,  that  Captain  Elphinstone  had  spoken  in  terms  of  reproof  of 
Buonaparte's  conduct  and  politics;  some  fictitious  charges  were  im- 
mediately preferred  against  him,  and  he  was  sentenced,  by  a  court-mar- 
tial composed  of  Caulincourt's  creatures,  to  he  shot.  The  Emperor 
Alexander,  however,  alarmed  at  so  gross  a  violation  of  justice^  yet  at 
the  same  time  dreading  to  offend  the  imperial  representative,  commuted 
the  punishment  to  banishment  into  Siberia. 

Formerly  2,000  ships  used  annually  to  arrive  at  and  leave  Dantzic 
port ;  but  during  last  year  there  were  hut  two  arrivals. 

The  effects  of  the  gales  of  Tuesday  night  the  24th  of  January,  have 
been  severely  felt  among  our  shipping  on  the  coast.  Two  very  valuable 
outward  bound  East  Indiamcn  have  been  totally  lost  on  the  Goodwin 
Sands,  besides  other  vessels;  of  which  we  believe  the  following  particu- 
lars will  be  found  to  be  accurate.  On  the  evening  mentioned,  great 
apprehensions  were  entertained  for  the  fate  of  the  Indiamen  proceeding 
through  the  Downs;  but  nothing  was  known  of  their  situation  till  the 
following  morning,  when  a  most  distressing  scene  presented  itself  to  the 
spectators  from  Deal.  Three  large  ships  were  seen  on  the  Goodwin 
Sands,  with  only  their  foremast  standing,  hoisting  signals  of  distress, 
and  the  sea  was  dashing  over  them  mountains  high.  The  crews  were  all 
collected  on  the  poops,  waiting  for  that  relief  which  the  Deal  boatmen 

f3at).  STIjron.  SJo!»  XXI.  K 


66      NAVAL   1II5TORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    YLAR,    1808 — 1809, 

seemed  anxious  to  afford  them.  These  men,  by  their  indefatigable 
exertions,  and  at  the  imminent  hazard  of  their  lives,  reached  the  wrecks 
of  the  Indiamen,  and  took  out  ot  the  Admiral  Gardner  the  whole  of 
her  crew. 

The  boatmen  from  Ramsgate  and  Broad-stairs  joined  those  from  Deal, 
and  removed  into  their  boats  the  people  from  the  Britannia,  previous  to 
which  this  last  ship  had  lost  of  her  crew  thrc  lascars  and  twenty-four 
seamen,  and  one  died  in  one  of  the  Deal  boats  from  fatigue. 

Of  the  crew  of  the  Admiral  Gardner,  it  is  feared  that  four  have  been 
lost ;  for  in  the  night  one  of  the  seamen  having  been  washed  overboard, 
the  third  mate  and  three  seamen  volunteered  their  services  to  endeavour 
to  pick  him  up  in  the  ship's-boat,  which  was  never  after  heard  of. 

Other  accounts  estimate  the  Joss  of  the  Britannia  at  only  seven  men. 

We  regret  to  state,  that  the  boatmen  were  not  in  time  to  save  a  single 
man  belonging  to  the  third  ship  (a  large  brig),  and  all  the  hands 
on  board  perished.  There  were  proper  pilots  on  board  the  Indiamen, 
but  the  violence  of  the  weather  baffled  all  their  skill. 

The  Admiral  Gardner  was  the  first  vessel  driven  upon  the  sands;  and 
as  soon  as  the  pilot  of  the  Britannia  found  that  that  ship  shoaled 
her  water,  he  let  go  one  anchor,  and  after  that  two  more,  but  such  \vas 
the  violence  of  the  gale,  that  she  was  driven  on  the  sand  with  three 
anchors  a-head. 

Yice-sdmiral  Campbell,  at  day-light,  sent  two  gun-brigs,  a  lugger, 
and  a  cutter,  to  anchor  as  near  as  possible,  in  order  to  render  the. 
sufferers  every  assistance  in  their  power.  If  the  weather  abated  soon, 
it  was  expected  that  part  of  the  cargoes  might  be  saved. — The  loss  has 
been  estimated  at  200,0001. 

After  the  gale  the  Cuffnells,  we  understand,  returned  to  her  station 
dismasted. 


31mp*rial  parliament, 

HOUSE  OF  LORDS. 

THURSDAY,  JANBART  19. 

THE  session  of  Parliament  was  opened  this  day  by  commission  ;  the 
Commissioners  were,  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,   the   Lord 
Chancellor,  the  Earl  of  Camdcn  (president  of  the  council),  and  the  Duke 
of  Montrose  (master  of  the  horse). 

The  usual  forms  having  been  gone  through,  the  Lord  Chancellor  "read 
the  following  speech  : 

"  My  Lords  and  Gentlemen, 

"  We  have  it  in  command  from  his  majesty  to  state  to  you,  that  hi» 
majesty  has  ^called  you  together,  in  perfect  confidence  that  you  are 
prepared  cordially  to  support  his  majesty  in  the  prosecution  of  a  war 
which  there  is  no  hope  of  terminating  safely  and  honourably,  except 
through  vigorous  and  persevering  exertion. 


NAVAL    I  ISTORY    OF    THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1808—1809.      67 

•"  We  are  to  acquaint  you,  that  his  majesty  has  directed  to  be  laid 
before  you  copies  of  the  proposals  lor  opening  a  negotiation,  which 
were  transmitted  to  his  majesty  from  Erfurth,  and  of  the  correspondence 
which  thereupon  took  place  with  the  governments  of  Russia  and  of 
France;  together  with  the  declaration  issued  by  his  majesty's  command 
on  the  termination  of  that  correspondence. 

"  His  majesty  is  persuaded,  that  you  will  participate  in  the  feelings 
which  were  expressed  by  his  majesty,  when  it  was  required  that  his 
majesty  should  consent  to  commence  the  negotiation  by  abandoning  the 
cause  of  Spain,  which  he  had  so  recently  and  solemnly  espoused. 

"  We  are  commanded  to  inform  you,  that  his  majesty  continues  to 
receive  from  the  Spanish  government  the  strongest  assurances  of  their 
determined  perseverance  in  the  cause  of  the  legitimate  monarchy,  and 
of  the  national  independence  of  Spain;  and  to  assure  you,  that  so  long 
as  the  people  of  Spain  shall  remain  true  to  themselves,  his  majesty  will 
continue  to  them  his  most  strenuous  assistance  and  support. 

"  His  majesty  has  renewed  to  the  Spanish  nation,  in  the  moment  of 
its  difficulties  and  reverses,  the  engagements  which  he  voluntarily  con- 
traded  at  the  outset  of  its  struggle  against  the  usurpation  and  tyranny 
of  France;  and  we  are  commanded  lo  acquaint  you,  that  these  en- 
gagements have  been  reduced  into  the  form  of  a  treaty  of  alliance ; 
which  treaty,  so  soon  as  the  ratification  shall  have  been  exchanged,  his 
majesty  will  cause  to  be  laid  before  you. 

"  His  majesty  commands  us  to  state  to  you,  that  while  his  majesty 
contemplated  with  the  liveliest  satisfaction,  the  achievements  of  his 
forces  in  the  commencement  of  the  campaign  in  Portugal,  and  the 
deliverance  of  the  kingdom  of  his  ally  from  the  presence  and  oppressions 
of  the  French  army,  his  majesty  most  deeply  regretted  the  termination 
of  that  campaign  by  an  armistice  and  convention,  of  some  of  the 
articles  of  which  his  majesty  has  felt  himself  obliged  formally  to  de- 
clare his  disapprobation. 

"  We  are  to  express  to  you  his  majesty's  reliance  on  your  disposition 
to  enable  hi-  majesty  to  continue  the  aid  afforded  by  his  majesty  to 
the  King  of  Sweden,  That  monarch  derives  a  peculiar  claim  to  his 
majesty's  support,  iu  the  present  exigency  of  his  affairs,  from  having 
concurred  with  his  majesty  in  the  propriety  of  rejecting  any  proposal 
for  negociation  to  which  the  government  of  Spain  was  not  to  be  admitted 
as  a  party. 

"  Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Commons, 

i:  We  are  commanded  by  his  majesty  to  inform  you,  that  he  has 
directed  the  estimates  of  the  current  year  to  be  laid  before  you.  His  ma- 
jesly  relics  upon  your  zeal  and  affection  to  make  such  further  provision 
of  supply  as  ths  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war  may  render  necessary; 
aiul  he  trusts  lliat  you  may  be  enabled  to  find  the  means  of  providing 
such  s.ipply  without  any  great  or  immediate  increase  of  the  existing 
Burthens  upon  his  people, 


68       NAVAL    HISTORY    Of    HIE    PiirSENHT    YEAR,     1808— 180G. 

"  His  majesty  feels  assured,  that  it  will  be  highly  satisfactory  for  you 
to  learn,  that  notwithstanding  the  measures  resorted  to  hy  the  enemj 
fur  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  commerce  and  resources  of  this  king-: 
dom,  the  public  revenue  has  continued  in  a  course  of  progressive  im-: 
•provement. 

'?  My  Lords  and  Gentlemen, 

"  We  are  directed  to  inform  you,  that  the  measure  adopted  by  Par- 
liament in  the  last  session  for  establishing  a  local  militia,  has  been 
already  attended  with  the  happiest  success,  aud  promises  to  be  extensively 
and  permanently  beneficial  to  the  country. 

"  We  have  received  his  majesty's  commands  most  especially  to  re^ 
commend  to  you,  that,  duly  weighing  the  immense  interests  which  are 
at  stake  in  the  war  nov?  carrying  on,  you  should  proceed  with  as 
little  delay  as  possible,  to  consider  of  the  most  effectal  measures  for 
the  augmentation  of  the  regular  army,  in  order  that  his  majesty  may 
be  the  better  enabled,  withou  impairing  the  means  of  defence  at  home, 
to  avail  himself  of  the  military  power  of  his  dominions  in  the  great 
contest  in  which  he  is  engaged  5  and  to  conduct  that  contest,  under  the 
blessing  of  divine  Providence,  to  a  conclusion  compatible  with  the 
honour  of  his  majesty's  crown,  and  with  the  interests  of  his  allies, 
of  Europe,  and  of  the  world." 

The  Earl  of  Bridgcwater  moved  an  address  of  thanks  to  his  majesty; 
which  was  seconded  by  Lord  Sheffield;  after  which  Earl  St.  Vincent 
observed,  that  he  could  not  suffer  the^question  to  be  put  on  the  address, 
without  claiming  their  lordships'  attention  for  a  few  moments.  Though 
he  could  not  concur  in  every  part  of  it,  yet  it  was  not  his  intention  to 
propose  any  amendment.  His  principal  motive  for  rising  was,  to  express 
his  unqualified  disapprobation  of  the  whole  of  the  conduct  of  ministers; 
of  every  thing  they  had  done  with  respect  to  Spain,  of  every  thing  they 
had  done  with  respect  to  Portugal,  of  almost  every  thing  they  had  done 
since  they  cavne  into  power,  and  particularly  for  the  last  six  months.  The 
noble  lord  who  seconded  the  address  had  talked  of  the  vigour  and  efficacy 
of  their  measures.  Vigour  and  efficacy  indeed!  when  their  whole  con- 
duct was  marked  by  vacillation  and  incompetence.  If  such  men,  so 
notoriously  incapable,  were  not  immediately  removed,  the  country  was 
undone.  There  was  one  part,  however,  of  the  address  and  of  the  speech 
in  which  he  cordially  agreed — that  which  condemned  the  armistice  and 
convention.  It  was  the  greatest  disgrace  that  had  befallen  the  British 
arms,  the  greatest  stain  that  had  been  affixed  to  the  honour  of  the  coun- 
try since  the  Revolution.  He  was  not  at  present  disposed  to  enter  into 
an  examination  of  the  manner  in  which  the  naval  part  of  that  expedition 
had  been  conducted  :  opportunity  would  arise  for  discussing  the  extra- 
ordinary arrangement  that  had  been  made  respecting  the  fleet  in  the 
Tagus.  He  would  not  withhold  from  ministers  whatever  praise  might  be 
due  to  them.  He  would  give  them  credit  for  providing  plenty  of  trans- 
ports 5  but  what  was  the  merit  of  these  exertiyiis  ?  Any  one  who  offered 


NATAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   PUESENT    YEAR,    1808 — 1809.      69 

fc  little  more  than  the  common  market  price  might  hire  as  many  as  he 
pleased  ;  but  ministers  not  only  offered  that  market  price,  but  a  great 
deal  more  than  they  should  have  done.  And  how  were  these  employed  ? 
Why,  in  conveying  Junot  and  his  runaway  ruffians,  with  their  plunder 
and  exactions,  all  the  plate  and  precious  stones,  and  rare  exhibitions  of 
art,  the  fruits  of  their  robberies  of  churches,  palaces,  and  private  houses, 
to  France.  It  was  with  shame  and  sorrow  that  he  saw  men  of  the  high- 
est rank  in  the  British  army  and  navy  superintending  the  embarkation 
of  this  enormous  fund  of  rapine  and  confiscation,  and  conducting  it,  and 
the  devils  who  had  thus  acquired  a  property  in  it,  to  those  parts  of 
France  nearest  to  Spain,  who  were  thus  enabled  to  enler  that  country 
sooner  than  the  brave  fellows  to  whom  they  surrendered,  and  were  now 
actually  engaged  in  chasing  Sir  John  Moore  from  the  peninsula  !  If 
they  jneant  really  to  assist  the  Spaniards,  why  did  not  ministers  send 
troops  iu  the  first  instance  to  the  north  of  Spain  ?  Why  did  they  send  one 
part  of  them  to  Lisbon,  and  another  to  Corunna,  from  which  points  no 
junction  could  be  effected,  without  being  exposed  to  toilsome  marches, 
and  such  privations  as  could  hardly  be  conceived  by  persons  not 
acquainted  with  those  countries?  It  seemed  to  him  as  if  they  were 
totally  ignorant  of  the  geography  of  the  country  they  appeared  soenger 
and  zealous  to  defend.  He  had,  indeed,  heard  of  a  "  heaven-boru" 
minister,  who,  at  the,  first  cabinet  council  he  attended,  asked,  whether 
Port  Mahpn  was  an  island,  or  on  the  continent.  This,  to  be  sure,  was 
bad  enough  ;  but  it  did  not  betray  half  the  ignorance  that  the  conduct 
of  ministers  did  in  every  measure  relating  to  Spain  and  Portugal,  He 
would  say  to  his  majesty,  that  if  these  men  were  not  removed,  the 
kingdom  was  lost.  There  was  no  part  of  the  conduct  of  ministers  liable 
to  greater  censure  than  that  which  related  to  the  command  of  the  army. 
He  would  be  the  last  man  in  the  kingdom  who  would  wish  to  detract 
from  the  professional  character  of  the  officers  employed ;  but  on  so 
momentous  an  occasion,  he  wished  to  see  some  of  the  princes  of  the 
blood,  wlio  had  been  trained  to  arms  from  their  youth,  and  many  of 
whom  had  seen  a  great  deal  of  arduous  and  dangerous  service  :  he 
alluded  particularly  to  one  (the  Duke  of  Kent)  who  would  have  fallen 
the  victim  of  his  zeal  in  the  West  Indies,  had  he  not  been  forcibly  sent 
Lome  from  that  pernicious  climate  by  himself  and  Sir  Charles  Grey, 
These  were  the  proper  men  to  command  the  British  army  on  thij  occasion. 
If  it  was  not  thought  proper  to  employ  these  illustrious  persons,  there 
were  others  to  whom  the  country  and  the  army  looked  up.  There  was 
one  (the  Earl  ofMoira,  we  believe)  who,  from  his  early  career  ofglorv, 
from  his  princely  munificence,  and  from  the  unbounded  confidence  which 
the  army  would  place  in  him,  whether  they  were  ordered  to  advance  or 
r*'troat,  who  was  peculiarly  qualified  for  a  command  of  this  description 
-—a  man  who  possibly  might  prove  a  second  Earl  of  Peterborough — 
a  man,  in  short,  who  would  have  acted  from  himself,  and  who  would 
have  acted  vigorously  and  successfully.  The  noble  earl  next  adverted  to 
the  court  of  inquiry,  which  he  considered  as  an  expedient  rather  tp  cover 


70      NAVAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   PllESEXr   YEAR,    1808 — 1809. 

some  blot  in  their  own  conduct,  than  to  do  justice  to  the  officers  whd 
were  the  ostensible  objects  of  its  proceedings,  or  to  satisfy  the  country. 
The  case  of  the  senior  officer  on  that  occasion  was  particularly  hard :  he 
•was  to  be  responsible  for  every  thing,  and  yet  he  was  to  do  nothing  with- 
out consulting  the  third  in  command.  He  was  fettered  by  his  instruc- 
tions ;  he  was,  in  fact,  to  have  no  will,  no  discretion  of  his  own. 
This  odious  restraint  did  not,  to  be  sure,  appear  on  the  face  of  his 
instructions ;  but  it  was  conveyed  in  a  manner  equally  binding  upon  him, 
in  the  suspicious  form  of  a  private  letter,  a  letter  of  counsel  and  recom- 
mendation— a  detestable  mode  of  proceeding,  to  which  he  never  had,  or 
would  have  recourse.  An  attempt  had  been  made  to  justify  the 
convention  of  Cintra,  by  stating,  that  the  French  could  have  crossed  the 
Tagus,  and  got  into  Spain  in  defiance  of  any  exertions  of  the  army 
by  which  they  were  beaten.  The  French  cross  the  Tagus  I  If  they  did, 
he  would  he  bold  to  say,  that  every  man  of  them  must  have  passed 
under  the  yoke.  They  would  have  to  fight  their  way  through  as  brave 
a  population  as  any  in  Europe.  The  Portuguese  were  not  inferior  in 
bravery  to  the  Spaniards,  and  there  were  no  men  more  gallant  than  the 
Fatter.  He  spoke  of  the  Portuguese  peasantry,  for  he  would  admit  that 
there  were  no  people  in  the  world  upon  whom  less  reliance  for  a  vigorous 
resistance  could  be  placed  than  on  the  inhabitants  of  Lisbon.  He  begged 
pardon  for  having  taken  up  so  much  of  their  lordships'  time;  but  he 
could  not  refrain  from  expressing  his  decided  disapprobation  of  the 
conduct  of  ministers.  If  the  House  would  do  their  duty,  they  would  go 
in  that  dignified  manner  that  became  them  to  the  foot  of  the  throne, 
and  implore  his  majesty  to  remove  from  his  councils  those  men  whose 
measures  would  bring  inevitable  ruin  on  the  country.  In  earnestly 
recommending  this,  he  was  not  swayed  by  personal  considerations,  la 
a  few  hours  he  would  enter  into  his  seventy-fifth  year,  sixty-one  of  which 
he  had  been  in  his.  majesty's  service.  At  this  time  of  life,  and  under  the 
existing  and  increasing  embarrassments  of  the  country,  he  could  not  be 
inspected  of  being  very  anxious  to  return  to  office.  He  should  trespass 
no  longer  upon  their  lordships'  patience.  He  thanked  God  for  having 
given  him  strength  to  communicate  his  sentiments  on  the  very  critical 
situation  of  the  country ;  and  thanked  the  House  for  the  indulgence  it 
had  shewn  h;m.  He  would  offer  no  amendment,  but  content  himself 
with  expressing  his  dissent  from  the  address. 

Lord  Crcnvillc  joined  in  censuring  the  conduct  of  ministers  with 
respect  to  Spain.  He  never  conceived  that  there  was  such  a  prospect 
as  justified  the  sending  an  army  into  that  country.  We  might  have 
furnished  the  Spaniards  with  arms,  ammunition,  &"c.  and  if  they  had 
evinced  a  capability  of  resisting  Buonaparte  with  effect,  we  might  have 
followed  up  their  efforts.  His  lordship  deprecated  the  unprecedented 
manner  in  which  the  Russian  fleet  had  been  obtained,  at  Lisbon.  It 
should,  in  conformity  to  our  old  system,  have  been  either  captured, 
burnt,  sunk,  or  destroyed.  His  lordship  also  censured  the  orders  ia 
Council,  as  having  been  the  cause  of  the  American  embargo. 


NAVAL   HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESE.VT    YEAR,    1808 — 1809.      71 

Several  other  members  delivered  their  sentiments ;  and  the  Earl  of 
Liverpool  having  entered  into  a  general  defence  of  ministers,  the  address 
was  agreed  to  nem.  dis. 


HOUSE  OF  COMMONS. 

THCRSDAY,  JAN.  19. 

The  usual  forms  at  the  commencement  of  a  session  having  been  gone 
through,  Mr.  Robinson  moved  an  address  of  thanksfor  the  royal  speech  ; 
which  was  seconded  by  Mr.  S.  Lushington;  and,  after  a  debate  of  con- 
siderable length,  it  was  agreed  to,  without  a  division  or  an  amendment, 


on 

Copied  verbatim  from  the  LONDON  GAZETTE; 

ADMIRALTT-OFFICE,  DECEMBER  13,   1808. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Vice-admiral  Rowley,  Commander-in-chief  of  Ms 
Majesty's  Ships  and  Vessels  at  Jamaica,  to  the  lion.  W.  W.  Pole,  ^dated 
at  Port  Royal,  the  1*4  h  October,  1808. 

I  enclose  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Captain  Lillicrap,  giving  an  account 
of  the  capture  of  a  small  French  privateer  belonging  to  Guadaloupe,  by 
his  majesty's  sloop  the  Despatch. 

His  Majesty's  Sloop  Despatch,  Port  Royal, 
SIB,  October  13,  1808. 

1  have  the  satisfaction  to  inform  you,  I  captured,  on  the  night  of  the 
tid  instant,  off  Nevis,  the  small  French  schooner  privateer  Uorade, 
belonging  to  Guadaloupe,  mounting  one  brass  gun,  with  small  arms,  ami 
twenty  men. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &ct 

J.  LILLICRAP, 
Vice-admiral  Iioidfyt  t$c. 

DECEMBER  31. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Hole,  of  his  Majesty" s  Sloop  the  Egeria,  to 
Vice-admiral  Douglas,  Commander-in-chief  at  Yarmouth,  and  transmitted 
ky  the  latter  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole. 

His  Majesty's  Sloop  Ezcria,  Yarmouth 
SIR  Roads,  Dec.  27,  1808. 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  that,  on  the  21st  instant,  the  Scaw 
bearing  S.  by  E.  twelve  leagues,  I  fell  in  with  and,  after  a  chase  of  two 
hours,  captured  the  Danish  schooner  privateer  Ncesois,  of  ten  guns,  Gier» 
mund  Holm,  master,  with  a  complement  of  thirty-six  men,  hut  had  on  board 
only  twenty-six;  out  from  Fridricksvern  one  day,  without  taking  any 
thing. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

L£WIS  HOLE. 


72      NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    PKESfiNT   YEAR,    1808—1809. 

Eztract  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Dundus,  of  his  Majesty's  Ship  Na'md,  W 
Captain  Btresford,  of  the  Theseus,  dated  <>ff  the  'Entrance  of  the  Loire,  the 
Mth  Instant,  and  transmitted  by  the  latter  to  the  Hon.  W'.  W.  Pole. 
I  beg  leave  to  acquaint  you,  for  the  information  of  the  commander-in- 
ch ief  that  last  evening  at  eight,  the  Naiad  and  Narcissus  being  close  in  with- 
Noinnountier,  we  discovered  and  soon  captured  the  French  privateer  brig 
Fanny,  of  sixteen  guns  and  eighty  paen, commanded  by  C'barle*  llamon,  am- 
only  a  few  liours  from  Nantz,  and  consequently  had  made  no  capture.    She 
was  intended  to  cruise  off  the  coast  of  Ireland ;  and  at  Midnight  we  captured 
the  French  sloop  Superb,  letter  of  marque,  of  four  guns  and  twenty  men, 
with  a  cargo  of  sundries  for  Martinique.     Mr.  Ilamon  lately  commanded 
tlie  Venus  privateer,  that  did  great  injury  to  our  trade. 

JANUARY  3,  1809. 

Vice-admiral  Lord  CoUingwbocLhas,  with  his  letter  of  the  95th  of  October 
last,  transmitted  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole  a  letter  from  Captain  Pearse,  of 
his  majesty's  sloop  the  Halcyon,  giving  an  account  of  the  capture  of  the 
whole  of  a  convoy  belonging  to  the  enemy  under  the  town  of  Diamante,  on 
the  8th  of  September,  by  the  above  sloop,  the  Wea/le,  (Captain  Prescott), 
and  a  Neapolitan  galley,  with  a  detachment  of  the  British  army  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenant-colonel  Bryce. 

Lord  Collingwood  commends  the  zeal  and  dexterity  of  Captains  Pearse  and 
Prescott,  as  also  the  ability  with  which  the  co-operation  of  the  army  was 
conducted  on  the  above  enterprise,  which  was  achieved  without  any  lo*s 
on  our  part. 

N.B.  The  particulars  of  the  above  affair  are  contained  in  the  letter  and 
enplosure  from  Lieutenant-general  Sir  John  Stuart,  inserted  iu  the  gazette 
of  the  13th  ultimo. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Thomas  Ilarcey,  of  his  Majesty's  Ship  the 
Standard,  dated  off  Corfu,  26th  June,  1808,  to  Vice-admiral  Lord  Colling' 
wood,  Commander-in-chief  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  transmitted  by  the 
latter  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole. 

MY    LORI), 

At  day-light  this  morning  T  fell  in  with  la  Volpe,  Italian  gun-boat, 
commanded  by  Ensign  de  Vaisseau  Micheli  Mangin,  carrying  an  iron  four- 
pounder,  with  twenty  men  well  armed.  The  la  Legcra,  French  despatch 
boat,  with  a  well  armed  crew  of  fourteen  men,  was  with  la  Volpc.  At  nine, 
the  wind  failing,  I  sent  the  pinnace  with  Lieutenant  Richard  Cull,  and 
the  eight-oared  cutter  with  Captain  Nicholis  of  the  royal  marines  (both 
volunteers)  in  chase.  After  two  hours'  rowing,  the  weather  very  hot,  they 
approached  la  Volpe,  who  commenced  a  fire  of  musketry  on  them,  which 
was  returned  with  the  swivda,  and,  when  near,  with  muskets.  On  the  boats 
approaching  each  quarter  to  board,  the  gun-boat  pulled  short  round,  and 
fired  at  the  cutter  both  round  and  grape;  the  bo^ts  dashed  at  him,  when 
lie  struck,  and  was  taken  possession  of  by  Captain  Nicholls;  Lieutenant 
Cull  immediately  pushed  on  in  chase  of  la  Lcgera.  Some  time  previous  to- 
this  I  had  despatched  the  yawi,  with  Lieutenant  John  Alexander,  to  be 
ready  to  cut  her  off;  which  affording  him  the  opportunity  of  obliging  hrr  to 
run  on  shore  about  four  miles  northward  of  Cape  St.  Mary,  the  crew 
formed  on  the  rocks  above  her,  and  endeavoured  to  prevent  the  yawl's  . 
approach  ;  hut  she  was  taken  possession  of  by  Lieutenant  Alexander,  who 
was  immediately  after  joined  by  Lieutenant  Cull  and  Captain  Nicholls  ; 
they  towed  her  out  under  a  fire  of  musketry  from  the  shore,  which  was 
returned  by  our  marines  in  the  boats  with  great  spirit ;  one  of  the  Fre»ch» 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1808  —  1809.      73 

inen  was  seen  killed.  A  French  ensign  de  vaisseau  was  passenger  in 
4a  T,egera.  I  was  much  gratified  on  the  return  of  the  boats  in  learning  we 
had  not  suffered. 

Tii  this  little  atfair,  the  gallantry  and  good  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men 
concerned  gave  me  very  great  satisfaction  :  both  Captain  Nichollsand  Lieu- 
tenant Cull  speak  in  high  terms  of  the  assistance  they  received  from  Messrs. 
Hahies  and  Parker,  master's  mates  of  the  Standard: 

Monsieur  Monier,  ensign  de  vaisseau,  on  the  staff  of  General  Dougelet 
•f  Corfu,  was  taken  in  la  Volpi.  1  burnt  bdth  vessels. 

I  remain,  &c. 

THOMAS  HARVEY. 

Th-s  Right  Hon.  Lord  CoUingKOod,  dfc. 

JANUARY  7. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  lire- admiral  Lord  CoUingwood,  Commander-in-chief 
of  his  Majesty's  Ships  and  Vessels  in  the  Mediterranean,  to  the  Hon.  ftr. 
fr.  Pole,  dated  on  board  the  Ocean,  cff  Toulon,  the  19th  of  October,  1803. 

SIR, 

T  enclose  a  letter  which  I  have  just  received  from  the  Right  Hon.  Lord 
Cochrane,  captain  of  the  Imperteuse,  stating  the  services  which  he  has 
been  employed  in  on  the  coast  of  Langnedoc. 

Nothing  can  exceed  the  activity  and  ieal  with  which  his  lordship  pursues 
the  enemy.  The  success  which  attends  his  enterprises  clearly  indicates 
with  what  skill  and  ability  they  are  conducted;  besides  keeping  the  coast  in 
constant  alarm,  causing  a  total  suspension  of  the  trade,  and  harassing  a 
body  of  troops  employed  in  opposing  him,  he  has,  probably,  prevented  those 
troops,  which  were  intended  for  Figueras,  from  advancing  into  Spain,  by 
giving  them  employment  in  the  defence  of  their  own  coasts. 

On  the  coast  towards  Genoa  the  enemy  has  been  equally  annoyed  by  the 
Kent  and  Wizard.  Those  ships  have  had  that  station  some  time  to  prevent 
the  French  ship  sailing  from  Genoa,  and  have  almost  entirely  stopped  the 
only  trade  the  enemy  had,  which  is  in  very  small  vessels ;  during  their 
cruise  there  they  have  taken  and  destroyed  twenty-three  of  those  coasters. 
I  enclose  the  letter  of  Captain  Rogers,  giving  an  account  of  the  attack-made 
ut  Noli,  and  the  capture  of  the  vessels  in  the  road. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

COLLINGWOOD. 

Iinperieuse,  G  ulf  of  Lyons, 

MY  LORD,  28<A   Sdpt.    1808. 

V>'ith  varying  opposition,  but  with  unvaried  success,  the  re'>vly  construct- 
ed Semaphoric  telagraphs,  which  are  of  the  utmost  consequence  to  the 
safety  of  the  numerous  convoys  that  pass  along  the  coast  of  France, 
at  Bourdique,  la  Pinede,  St.  Magnirc,  I  rontignan,  Canet  and  Foy,  have 
been  blown  up  and  completely  demolished,  together  with  their  telegraph- 
•urteen  barracks  of  the  gens-d'arms,  or  Donanes,  one  batter)', 
and  the  strong  tower  upon  the  lake  of  Frontignan. 

'Mr.  Mapleton,  first  lieutenant,  had  command  of  those  expeditions;  lieu- 
renant  Johnson  had  charge  of  the  field- pieces,  and  Lieutenant  Hore  of  the 
royal  marines.  To  them  and  to  Mr.  Gilbert,  assistant-surgeon;  Mr. 
Burr.ey,  gunner,  Messrs.  Stewart  and  Stovin,  midshipmen,  is  due  whatever 
credit  may  arise  from  such  mischief,  and  for  having  with  ?o  small  a  force 
drawn  about  two  thousand  troops  from  the  important:  fortress  of  Figueras in 
Spain,  to  the  defence  of  their  owa  coast. 

/9stJ.  etynm.  2101,  XXI.  t, 


74      NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    TRIDENT    YLAB,    1805  —  1809, 

The  conduct  of  Lieutenants  Mapleton,  Johnson,  and  Hore  deserves  mf 
best  praise,  as  well  as  that  of  the  other  officers,  royal  marines,  and  seamen. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

COCHRANE. 
The  Right  lion.  Lord  ColKngreood,  $c. 

tmperieusc  —  None   killed  ;    none    wounded  ;    one    singed    blowing  up    a 

battery. 
French  —  One  commanding  ofliser  of    troops  killed;    how  many  other* 

uukuown. 


His  Majesty's  Ship  Kent,  off' 
STRr  2J  August,  1808. 

1  beg  leave  to  acquaint  you,  that  yesterday,  niniving  along  the  coast  from 
Genoa  towards  Cape  del  Melle,  we  discovered  a  convoy  of  ten  sail  oi 
coasters  deeply  laden,  under  the  protection  of  a  gun-bout,  at  an  anchor 
close  to  the  beach  abreast  of  the  town  of  Noli  ;  and  as  there  appeared  a 
fair  prospect  of  bringing  them  out  by  a  prompt  attack,  before  the  enemy 
had  time  to  collect  his  force,  I  instantly  determined  to  send  in  the  boats  of 
the  Kent  and  Wizard  ;  and  as  there  was  but  little  wind,  I  directed  Captain 
Ferris,  of  the  Wizard,  to  tow  in  and  cover  the  boats,  which  immediately  put 
off,  and,  by  great  exertion,  soon  towed  her  close  to  the  vessels,  when 
it  was  found  impossible  to  bring  them  out  without  landing,  most 
of  them  being  fastened  to  the  shore  by  ropes  from  their  keels  and3 
mast-heads,  the  boats  therefore  pulled  to  the  beach  with  great  resolution,. 
exposed  to  the  fire  of  two  guns  in  the  bow  of  the  gun-boat,  two-field  pieces 
placed  in  a  grove  which  ffitnked  the  beach,  a  heavy  gun  in  front  of  the  town, 
and  a  continued  fire  of  musketry  from  the  bouse*:  but  these  were  no  check 
to  the  ardour  and  intrepidity  of  British  seamen  and  marines,  who  leaped1 
from  the  boats,  and  rushed  upon  the  enemy  with  a  fearless  zeal  that  was 
not  to  be  resisted.  The  gun  in  front  of  the  town  was  soon  taken  and  spiked" 
by  Lieutenant  Chasman,  second  of  the  Kent,  who  commanded  the  seamen, 
and  Lieutenant  Hanlon  the  royal  marines;  and  the  enemy,  who  had  drawn 
up  a  considerable  force  of  regular  troops  in  the  grove  to  defend  the  two  field- 
pieces,  was  dislodged  by  Captain  Rea,  who  commanded  the  royal  marines, 
and  Lieutenant  Grant  of  that  corps,  who  took  possession  of  the  field-pieces. 
and  brought  them  off.  In  the  mean  time,  Lieutenants  Lindsay  and  Moresby 
of  the  Kent,  and  Lieutenant  B:s?ett  of  the  Wizard,  who  had  equally  distin- 
guished themselves  in  driving  the  enemy  from  the  beach,  were  actively 
employed  in  taking  possession  of  the  gun-boat,  and  freeing  the  vessels  fron; 
their  fasts  to  the  shore;  and  I  had  soon  the  satisfaction  to  sec  our  people 
embark,  and  the  whole  oi  the  vessels  coming  out  under  the  protecting  tire 
of  the  Wizard,  which,  by  the  judicious  conduct  of  Captain  Ferris,  con- 
tributed very  essentially  to  keep  the  enemy  in  check,  both  in  the  advance 
and  retreat  of  the  boats. 

I  should  have  pleasure  in  noticing  the  midshipmen  and  other*  who  were 
conspicuous  in  this  little  enterprise,  but  I  fear  that  I  have  already  given  a. 
longer  detail  than  it  may  be  thought  worthy  of,  and  shall  therefore  only  beg; 
leave  to  add,  that  one  seaman  killed,  and  one  badly  wounded,  (since  dead) 
both  of  the  Kent,  is  all  the  loss  we  sustained.  The  enemy  left  many  dead 
on  the  ground. 

The  gun-boat  was  a  national  vessel,  called  la  Vigilanter  commanded  by 
an  enseigne  de  vaisseau,  with  a  complement  of  forty-five  men. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  ccc 

THOMAS  RO' 

f  Esq.  Vice-admiral  of  the  Whit  9,  Ac. 


JTAVAL  HISTORY   OP   Tire   PRESENT    YEAR,    ItJOS  —  1809.       75 

Silted, 

James  Skinner,  captain  of  forerop. 

Wounded. 

William  Palmer,  able  seaman,  since  dead. 

P.S.  Since  writing  the  above,  the  boats  of  the  Kent  and  Wiisard  have 
brought  out  without  mischief,  from  under  the  guns  of  a  fort  near  Leghorn, 
where  they  had  taken  shelter,  three  laden  vessels,  and  burnt  a  fourth,  which 
was  aground  and  could  not  be  got  off. 

Copy  afa  Letter  from  Rear-admiral  the  Honourable.  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane, 
JL  B.  Commander  in-chiff  of  his  Majesty's  Ships  and  Vessels  at  the 
Leeward  Inlands,  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole,  dated  on  board  the  Neptune, 
vff  Point  Salines,  Martinique,  Xovcxiber  10,  1B08. 

SIR, 

I  have  great  satisfaction  in  enclosing,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords 
.Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Captain  Pigot,  of 
his  majesty's  ship  Circe,  acquainting  me  with  the  capture  of  the  French  cor- 
vette Palineur;  the  last  of  the  two  which  were  so  gallantly  beaten  by  his 
majesty's  sloop  Goree,  commanded  by  Captain  Spear,  the  other  having  becu 
brought  in  by  tlie  Poinpee  some  time  siu.ce. 

I  am,  &G. 

ALEX.  COCIIRAXr. 

Tfis  Mf>^.stji/s  Ship  Circe,  off"  Fort  Royal, 
SIR,  Martinique,  October  31,  1U08. 

I  have  the  pleasure  of  acquwnting  you,  that  at  day-light  I  observed  a  hrjg 
uadcr  jury-masts  coming  before,  the  wind,  and  on  my  making  sail,  hauled 
close  round  the  Diamond  rock.  It  being  nearly  calm,  she  was  enabled, 
with  her  sweeps  antl  a  boat,  to  get  under  the  protection  of  a  battery  on 
Point  Solomon  before  we  came  up  with  her:  when,  after  an  action  often 
or  fifteen  minutes,  she  struck  her  colours. 

She  proves  to  be  the  Palineur,  commanded  by  Monsieur  Fourniers,  a. 
French  national  bri^,  of  fourteen  twenty-four  pounder  carronades,  and  two 
pix-pounder  guns,  had  but  sevcnty-nuie  men  on  board,  most  of  whom  were 
woops  of  the  8'2d  regiment.  I  have  to  regret  the  loss  of  one  man  killed  and 
one  wounded  ;  tlie  enemy,  seven  killed  and  eight  wounded.  The  battery 
was  so  much  above  us,  that  few,  if  any,  shots  were  fired  at  it, 

I  am,  &c. 

II.  PIGOT,  Captain, 
fo  Rear-tttlitiirul  the  Hon.  Sir  Aksandcf 
Cochrane,  K.B.  fyf. 

Copy  of  another  Letter  from  Rcnr-admintl  the  lion.  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane, 
K.B.  to  ike  lion.  W.  IT.  Pole,  dalal  Bdltistf,  to  Windward  if  Point 
Suli'ics,  Martinique,  November  i>, 


SIR, 

The  enclosed  copy  of  a  letter  from  Captain  Cockburn,  of  his  majesty's 
•Jiip  Pompee,  will  acquaint  you,  for  tlie  information  of  the  Lords  CommisM 
sioners  of  the  Admiralty,  with  the  capture  of  the  Pylades,  a  French  brig 
Corvette  of  sixteen  guns. 

I  am,  &C. 

ALEX,  COCHRANE, 


76     NAVAL  H-isiony  or  THE  PHESEST  YEAR,  1Q08 — 1SQ9, 

His  Majesty^  Ship  Pmnpec,  Barbadoes, 
SIK,  'October  22,  1808. 

I  have  great  pleasure  in  informing  you,  that  his  majesty's  ship  under  my 
command,  on  her  passage  litre,  on  the  20th  October,  fell  in  with,  and  after 
a  long  chase  of  eighteen  hours  came  up  with  untl  captured  le  Fylade,  a 
Trench  forij;  corvette,  mounting  fourteen  twenty-four-pounder  carronades 
and  two  long  nine-pounders,  commanded  by  Monsieur  Cocherel,  lieutenant 
de  vuisseau,  and  having  on  board  one  hundred  and  nine  men. 

She  was  eight  days  from  Martinique,  but  had  not  made  any  capture.  She 
is  only  three  years  old,  in  perfect  good  state,  and  in  every  respect  fit  for  His 
majesty's  service.  I  am  also  assured  by  her  officers,  she  is  the  fastest  sail- 
ing vessel  the  French  had  in  these  seas. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

E.  COCK  BURN*,  Captain. 
To  Sir  A.  Cochrane,  K.B.  'Rear-admiral  of  the  Red,  $c. 

Copy  of  another  Letter  from  R  far-admiral  the  Hon.  Sir  Alexander  Cnchranc, 
'   K.  B.  fyc.  to  the  Hon.  fV.  W.  Pale,  dated  on  board  {he  Northumberland, 
to  Windward  of  Point  Salines,  Martinique,  the  %d  of  November,  1803. 

SIR, 

I  enclose  the  copy  of  a  letter  from  the  master  of  his  majesty's  late  brig 
Maria,  giving  an  account  of  her  capture,  by  a  large  French  corvette  ship,  ot 
twenty-two  heavy  guns. 

The  Maria  was  a  small  brig,  of  twelve  twelve-pounder  carronades,  and 
two  long  fours,  and  sixty-five  men.  The  oilicers  and  crew,  however,  fought 
her  well,  and  did  not  strike  until  she  was  near  sinking.  When  the  enemy 
took  possession  they  were  obliged  to  run  her  on  shore  and  destroy  her. 

I  regret  the  loss  of  her  commander,  Lieutenant  Bennett,  who  was  an 
officer  of  long  standing,  and  of  great  merit;  Mr.  O'Donndl,  midshipman, 
was  also  killed,  and  four  seamen,  and  nine  others  are  wounded. 

I  am,  &c.  ALEX.  COCHRAXE. 

SIR,  Roseau,  Dominica,  Oct.  18,  1803. 

I  have  taken  the  earliest  opportunity  of  acquainting  yon  of  the  loss  of  his 
majesty's  brig  Maria,  Lieutenant  Bennett,  late  commander. 

Wishing  to  join  you  as  soon  as  possible1,  I  made  application  for  a  cartel, 
which  was  granted  for  four  officers  and  myself,  bv  General  Emeu? 
Dominica,  where  we  arrived  this  morning,  on  the  29th  September,  Point 
Antigua  Grand  Tierre  bearing  S.W.  At  6  A.M.  saw  a  sail  br-aring  S.E.  by 
S,  Made  all  sail  to  cut  her  of}'  the  land.  When  we  came  within  a  mile  of 
the  chase,  she  seemed  to  hard  more  tor  the  land.  Lieutenant  Bennett  sup- 
posed her  to  be  a  French  letter  of  man|nc.  When  we  came  within  aun- 
£hot,  shewed  our  ensiiiu  and  pendant,  still  keeping  within  her  and  the  Land. 
A  flaw  from  the  land  took  us  aback ;  and  fell  dead  calm,  which  exposed  us 
to  her  broadside.  .She  then  hoisted  her  French  ensign  and  pendant,  up 
ports  and  raked  us  fore  and  afc.  Lieutenant  Bennett  used  every  exertion 
in  ordering  sweeps  to  be  got  out,  which  was  instantly  done  ;  but  we 
received  her  second  broadside  in  the  like  manner.  We  kept  up  a  constant 
fire  when  our  broadside  would  bear;  it  still  continued  calm  ;  finding  it  im- 
possible to  save  his  majesty's  brig  by  attempting  to  run,  and  from  the  state 
of  our  masts,  and  yards,  and  rigging,  then  making  much  water. from  shot 
received  in  our  hull,  still  kept  up  the  action.  Our  ensign  haulyards  being 
shot  away,  the  French  captain  asked,  "  Had  we  struck  r"  was  answered  in 
the  negative  by  Lieutenant  Bennett,  who  was  shortly  after  killed  by  three 
grape  shot  he  received  in  his  body.  I  still  ordered  the  (ire  to  be  kept  up, 
until  I  found  his  majesty's  brig  iu  a  sinking  condition  ;  struck. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YE  All,  1808 — 1809.   77 

Whether  from  the  confusion  of  the  enemy,  or  from  the  situation  she  wrsi 
then  in,  they,  shortly  after  taking  possession  of  his  majesty's  brig,  ran  her 
on  shore,  and  left  her  an  entire  wreck. 

She  is  the  French  national  vessel  le  Sards,  mounting  twenty-two  guns, 
and  one  swivel. 

On  her  main-deck,  sixteen  thirty-two  pound  carronades,  and  four  Jong 
twelve  pounder  HU-.IS.  On  her  quarter  deck,  two  nine-pounders* 

I  am  sorry  to  add  the  loss  on  board  his  majesty's  brig,  Maria,  was  James 
Bennett,  lieutenant,  commander;  Robert  O'Donnell,  midshipman  ;  and 
four  seamen,  killed;  and  nine  wounded,  now  in  Point  a  Petre  hospital,  iu 
a  fair  way  of  recovery.  It  would  have  given  pleasure  both  to  officers  and 
seamen  to  have  captured  her.  From  her  superiority  in  force  \vas  compelled 
to  strike. 

I  have,  cx'c. 

JOSEPH  DYASON,  master; 

To  the  ll'^n.  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane,  K.B.  4'C. 

JANUARY    14. 

C(y"  of  a  Letter  from  Rear-admiral  the  Hon.  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane,  K.B. 
Commander- tn^chif^f  <>f  his  JUtnetty't  Ships  and  Firsst/s  at  t/ie  Leeuard 
1st:  H -it.  H  .  If'".  Pole,  dated  on  board  the  Belleiele,  at  Barbu- 

docs,  Octubtr  21,  Io08. 

sin, 

I  enclose,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admi- 
ralty, the  copy  of  a  letter  from  Captain  Sanders,  of  his  majesty's  sioop 
Bcilette,  giving  an  account  of  his  capturing  a  large  schooner  privatetr  of 
seven  guns  and  seventy  men. 

}  am,  &c. 

ALEX.  CQCflRAXE. 

IJh  3/ty'ctf/s  Sloop  Bellette,  at  Sea. 

«B,  23d  August,  1808. 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  that  Ins  majesty's  sloop  Bellette,  under 
•my  command,  has  raptured,  alter  a  chase  of  four  hours,  the  French 
schooner  privateer  Coufiance,  mounting  seven  guns,  (pierced  for  sixteen) 
with  a  complement  of  seventy  men  ;  three  days  from  Cayenne. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be.  &c. 

GEO.  SANDERS. 
Hon.  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane,  K.B.  Commander  in-fhitf. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  f:om  Rear-admiral  Sir  I?.  G.  Keats,  K.B.  addressed  to 
Vice-admiral  Sir  Junns  Suiin/urez,  Ba>t.  and  K.B.  and  transmitted  to  the 
Hon.  If.  IF.  Pole,  dated' on  board  his  AJujtsty's  Ship  the  Superb,  off 
Coftenburg. 

I  have  the  honour  hercw'th  to  transmit  a  letter  which  has  been  addressed 
to  Captain  Sir  Archibald  Uickson,  of  the  Orion,  by  Captain  Morris,  of  the 
>Iai;uer,  reporting  to  him  the  capture,  off  the  island  of  Bornhohn,  of 
the  Danish  cutter  privateer  Paulina,  mounting  ten  guiiSj  and  with  a  corps 
of  fort) -two  "men. 

His  3Tajestys  Shop  Magnet,  off"  Bornholm, 
SIR,  December  5,  1808. 

I  have  to  inform  you  that,  cruising  in  obedience  to  your  orders,  I  discover- 
ed at  aoou  a  cuucr  under  BornhoJin,  and,  by  disguising  his  majesty's  bng 


78      NAVAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESENT   YEAR,    1808—1805. 

under  my  command,  succeeded  in  drawing  her  off  the  land,  when  I  chased 
and  came  up  with  her  at  dusk,  the  north  end  of  Bornhohn  bearing  S.  S.  E. 
two  miles. 

She  is  called  the  Paulina,  a  Danish  privateer,  mounting  ten  guns  (four 
and  eight  pouuders).  and  manned  with  forty. two  men  ;  from  Copenhagen 
twelve  days,  and  had  not  made  any  capture ;  her  guns,  except  three,  were 
thrown  overboard  during  the  chase. 

I  have  the  honour  to  he,  &c. 

GEORGE  MORRIS. 
To  Sir  A.  C.  Dickson,  Bart.  Captain  of 
his  Majesty's  Ship  Orion. 

Copt/ of  a  Letter  from  Charles  Gill,  Esq.  Commander  of  his  Majesty's  Sloop 
Onyx,  to  the  Hon.  W.  W,  Pole,  dated  Hull  Roads,  January  10,  1309. 

SIR, 

I  beg  leave  to  inform  you,  for  the  information  of  my  Lords  Commission- 
ers of  the  Admiralty,  that  on  the  morning  of  the  first  instant,  at  day-light, 
when  in  lat.  53  deg.  30  min,  long.  3  deg.  we  discovered  a  strange  brig  on  the 
lee  bow,  standing  to  the  southward,  on  which  we  made  the  private  signal. 
She  immediately  shewed  Dutch  colours,  and  hoved  to,  as  if  prepared  for 
battle.  We  kept  our  wind  until  eight  o'clock,  when,  being  perfectly  ready, 
we  bore  down  and  brought  her  to  close  action.  The  enemy  attempted 
several  times  to  rake  us,  but,  from  our  superior  sailing,  we  were  enabled  to 
foil  every  attempt.  At  half  past  ten  she  struck  her  colours,  being  much  cut 
up  in  her  sails  and  rigging,  and  having  most  of  her  guns  disabled  by  the 
superior  fire  kept  up  by  the  Oynx,  which,  considering  the  very  heavy  sea, 
displayed  a  cool  and  steady  conduct,  by  far  beyond  any  thing  I  could  expect 
from  so  young  a  ship's  company,  and  merits  my  warmest  commendations. 
She  proved  to  be  the  Dutch  national  brig  Manly,  formerly  British,  and  cap- 
tured by  the  Dutch  in  the  river  Ems.  She  mounts  twelve  eightecn-pounder 
carronades,  and  four  long  brass  six-pounders,  with  a  complement  of  ninety- 
four  men ;  commanded  by  Captain-lieutenant  J.  W.  Heneyman  of  the 
Dutch  navy. 

I  am  happy  to  say  our  loss  is  much  more  trifling  than  might  be  expected: 
from  so  long  and  close  a  conflict,  which  can  only  be  accounted  for  by  the 
very  heavy  sea  running  the  whole  of  the  time,  having  only  three  wounded, 
and  the  enemy  five  killed  and  six  wounded. 

I  feel  more  pleasure  in  announcing  her  capture,  as  she  sailed  from  the 
Texel,  in  company  with  another  brig,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  annoying  and 
intercepting  our  trade  with  Heligoland.  She  has  made  one  small  capture 
from  Embden,  laden  with  oats,  supposed  to  be  for  England. 

I  beg  leave  to  recommend  to  their  lordships'  notice  my  first  lieutenant, 
Mr.  E.  W.  Garretr,  who  is  an  old  and  very  deserving  otticer,  and  to  whose 
advice  and  assistance  I  feel  much  indebted ;  also  Mr.  W.  Trewren,  the 
second  lieutenant,  who  is  a  deserving  good  officer,  and  to  whose  zeal  and 
activity  the  service  is  much  indebted.  I  cannot  pass  over  in  silence  the 
assistance  I  received  from  Mr.  G.  D.  Louis,  acting  master,  whose  exertions 
in  manoeuvring  the  brig,  so  as  to  completely  foil  the  enemy's  schemes  to 
rake,  evinced  a  great  display  of  professional  skill,  aitcl  who>e  conduct  tna 
•whole  of  the  time  was  highly  meritorious,  as  well  as  that  of  Mr.  Z.  Webb. 
the  Purser,  who  volunteered  his-  services  in  the  direction  of  the  small 
ar:n  men  aud  marines. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

CHARLES  GILL 


NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1S08— 1809.   7$ 

A  List  of  Killed  and  Wounded  on  board  liis  Majesty's  Sloop  Onvx,  and  the 
Dutch  jiational  B/ig  Manly,  during  (he  Action  of  the  lit  January, 
1809. 

Oni/Xj  10  guns  and  76  men. 

None  killed;  Thomas  Smith,  seaman,  badly  wounded;  James  Harlow, 
(1)  slightly  wounded;  James  Langworth,  hoy,  badly  wounded,  since  dead. 

,  Manly,  16  suns  and  94  men. 

Five  killed  and  six  wounded. 

CHARLES  GILL,  Captain. 

JANUARY    21. 

Rear-admiral  d'Auvergne,  Prince  of  Bouillon,  has  transmitted  to  the 
Hon.  W.  W.  Pole  a  letter  from  Captain  Pringie,  of  his  majesty's  sloop 
bparrowhawk,  dated  oft  Cherbourg  the  12th  instant,  giving  an  account 
of  his  having,  that  day,  captured  the  French  privateer  cutter  1'Esperance, 
of  fourteen  guns  and  fifty  four  men. 

Captain  O'Comrbr,  commander  of  his  majesty's  sloop  the  Ned  Elwin, 
has  transmitted  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole  a  copy  of  a  letter  addressed  by 
him  to  Vice-admiral  Sir  James  Saumarez,  giving  an  account  of  his 
having,  on  the  17th  of  December,  captured  the  General  Kapp,  Preach 
privateer  brig,  of  eight  guns  and  forty-one  men,  which  had  left  Dantzic 
Ihe  evening  before. 


LONDON  GAZETTE  EXTRAORDINARY. 

DOWNING-BTRCET,    JAN.    24,    1809. 

The  Hoa.  Captain  Hope  arrived  late  last  night  with  a  despatch  from 
Lieutenant-general  Sir  David  Baird  to  Lord  Viscount  Castlereagh,  one  of 
his  majesty's  principal  secretaries  of  state,  of  which  the  following  is  a 
copy: 

His  Majesty' s  Sliip  Ville  de  Paris, 
MY  LORD,  at  Sea,  Jan.  18. 

By  the  much  lamented  death  of  Lieutenant-general  Sir  John  Moore, 
who  fell  in  action  with  the  enemy  oa  the  16th  instant,  it  has  become  my 
duty  to  acquaint  your  lordship,  that  the  French  army  attacked  the 
British  troops  in  the  position  they  occupied  in  front  of  Corunna, 
at  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day.  A  severe  wound 
which  compelled  me  to  quit  the  field  a  short  time  previous  to  the  fall 
of  Sir  John  Moore,  obliges  me  to  refer  your  lordship  for  the  particulars 
of  the  action,  which  was  long  and  obstinately  contested,  to  the  enclosed 
report  of  Lieutenant-general  Hope,  who  succeeded  to  the  command  of 
the  army,  and  to  whose  ability  and  exertions,  in  direction  of  the  ardent 
zeal  and  unconquerable  valour  of  his  majesty's  troops,  is  to  be  attributed, 
under  Providence,  the  success  of  the  day,  which  terminated  in  the  com- 
plete and  entire  repulse  and  defeat  of  the  enemy  at  every  point  of 
attack.  The  Honourable  Captain  Gordon,  my  aide-de-camp,  will  have 
the  honour  of  delivering  this  despatch,  and  will  be  able  to  give  your 
lordship  any  further  information  which  may  be  required. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

D.  BAIRD,  Lieut,  Gen. 
Right  ff&n.  Lord  rtscount  Castlereagh* 


8$    NAVAL  HISTORY  os1  THE  PRESENT  YEAUJ  1808 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Audacious,  ojf 

»i R  Corunna,  Jan.  18. 

I 

In  compliance  with  the  desire  contained  in  your  communication  of 
jesterday,  1  avail  myself  of  the  first  moment  1  have  been  able  to  cvm- 
rnand,  to  detail  to  you  the  occurrences  of  the  action  which  took  place- 
in  front  of  Corunna  on  the  16th  instant.  It  will  be  in  your  recollection, 
that  about  one  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  the  enemy,  v  ho  had  in  the 
morning  received  reinforcements,  and  who  had  placed  sonic  guns  in  front 
of  the  right  and  left  of  his  line,  was  observed  to  be  moving  troops 
towards  his  left  flank,  and  forming  various  columns  of  attack  at  that 
extremity  of  the  strong  and  commanding  position  which  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  13th  he  had  taken  in  our  immediate  front.  This  indication 
of  his  intention  was  immediately  succeeded  by  the  rapid  and  determined 
attack  which  he  made  upon  your  division  which  occupied  the  right  of  our 
position.  The  events  which  occurred  during  that  period  of  the  action 
you  are  fully  acquainted  with.  The  first  effort  of  the  enemy  was  met 
by  the  commander  of  the  forces,  and  by  yourself,  at  the  head  of  the  42d 
regiment,  and  the  brigade  under  Major-general  Lord  William  Bentinck. 
The  village  on  your  right  became  an  object  of  obstinate  contest.  I 
lament  to  say,  that  soon  after  the  severe  wound  which  deprived  the 
army  of  your  services,  Lieutenant-general  Sir  John  Moore,  who  had  just 
directed  the  most  able  disposition,  fell  by  a  cannon-shot.  The  troops, 
though  not  unacquainted  with  the  irreparable  loss  they  had  sustained, 
•were  not  dismayed,  but  by  the  most  determined  bravery  not  only  repelled 
every  attempt  of  the  enemy  to  gain  ground,  but  actually  forced  him  to 
retire,  although  he  had  brought  up  fresh  troops  in  support  of  those 
originally  engaged. 

The  enemy  finding  himself  foiled  in  every  attempt  to  force  the  right  of  the 
position,  endeavoured  by  numbers  to  turn  it.  A  judicious  and  well-timed 
movement  which  was  made  by  Major-general  Paget  with  the  reserve,  which 
corps  had  moved  out  of  its  cantonments  to  support  the  right  of  the  army, 
t>y  a  vigorous  attack,  defeated  this  intention.  The  major-general  having 
pushed  forward  the  95th  (rifle  corps)  and  1st  battalion  52d  regiments,  drove 
the  enemy  before  him,  and  in  his  rapid  and  judicious  advance,  threatened 
the  left  of  the  enemy's  position.  This  circumstance,  with  the  position  of 
Lieutenant-general  Fraser's  division  (calculated  to  give  still  further  security 
to  the  right  of  the  line)  induced  the  enemy  to  relax  his  efforts  in  that 
quarter.  They  were  however  more  forcibly  directed  towards  the  centre, 
where  they  were  again  successfully  resisted  by  the  brigade  under  Major  ge- 
neral Manningham,  forming  the  left  of  your  division,  and  a  part  of  that 
tinder  Major-general  Leigh,  forming  the  right  of  the  division  under 
my  orders.  Upon  the  left,  the  enemy  at  first  contented  himself  with 
an  attack  upon  our  piquets,  which,  however,  in  general  maintained  their 

f  round.  Finding,  however,  his  efforts  unavailing  on  the  right  and  centre, 
e  seemed  determined  to  render  the  attack  upon  the  left  more  serious,  and 
Lad  succeeded  in  obtaining  possession  of  the  village  through  which  the 
great  road  to  Madrid  passes,  and  which  was  situated  in  front  of  that  part 
of  the  line.  From  this  pose,  however,  he  was  soon  expelled,  with  consider- 
able loss,  by  a  gallant  attack  of  some  companies  of  the  2d  battalion 
14th  regiment,  under  Lieutenant- colonel  Nicholls;  before  five  in  the  even- 
ing, we  had  not  only  successfully  repelled  every  attack  made  upon  the  posi- 
tion, but  had  gained  ground  in  almost  all  points,  and  occupied  a  more 
forward  line  than  at  the  commencement  of  the  action,  whilst  the  enemy 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1803 1809.       Si 

confined  his  operations  to  a  cannonnde,  and  the  fire  of  his  Ii;;ht  troops, 
with  a  view  to  draw  off  his  Other  corps.  At  six  the  firing  entirely  coasod. 
1  'he  different  brigades  were  re-assembled  nn  the  ground  ilicy  occupied  in 
the  morning,  and  the  piquets  and  advanced  posts  resumed  their  original 
stations.  Notwithstanding  the  decided  and  marked  superiority  which  at 
this  moment  the  gallantry  of  the  troops  had  given  them  over  an  enemy,  who, 
from  his  numbers,  and  the  commahdiug  advantages  of  his  position,  no 
doubt  expected  nn  easy  victory,  1  did  not,  on  reviewing  all  circumstances, 
conceive  that  I  should  be  warranted  in  departing  from  what  I  knew  w:is 
the  fixed  and  previous  determination  of  the  late  commander  of  the  forces 
to  withdraw  the  army  on  the  evening  of  the  16th,  for  the  purpose  of  embark- 
ation, the  previous  arrangements  for  which  had  already  been  made  by  his 
order,  and  were  in  fact  far  advanced  at  the  commencement  of  the  action. 
The  troops  quitted  their  position  about  ten  at  night,  with  a  degtee  of  order 
that  did  them  credit.  The  whole  of  the  artillery  that  remained  un- 
embarked  having  been  withdrawn,  the  troops  followed  in  the  order 
prescribed,  arid  marched  to  their  respective  points  of  embarkation  in  the 
town  and  neighborhood  of  Corunna.  The  piquets  remained  at  their  posts 
until  five  on  the  morning  of  the  l?th,  when  they  were  also  withdrawn  with 
similar  orders,  and  without  the  enemy  having  discovered  the  movement. 

By  the  unremitted  exertions  of  Captains  the  Honourable  H.  Curzon, 
Gosselin,  Boys,  Rainier,  Serret,  Hawkins,  Dighy,  Garden,  and  Mackenzie, 
of  the  royal  navy,  who  in  pursuance  of  the  orders  of  Rear-admiral  da 
Courcey,  were  entrusted  with  the  service  of  embarking  the  army;  and  in 
consequence  of  the  arrangements  made  by  Commissioner  Bowen,  Captains 
Bowen  and  Shepherd,  and  the  other  agents  for  transports,  the  whole  of  the 
army  was  embarked  with  an  expedition  that  has  seldom  been  equalled. 
With  the  exception  of  the  brigades  under  Major-generals  Hill  and 
Beresford,  which  were  destined  to  remain  on  shore,  until  the  movements  of 
the  enemy  should  become  manifest,  the  whole  was  afloat  before  day-light. 
The  brigade  of  Major-general  Beresford,  which  was  alternately  to  form  our 
rear-guard,  occupied  the  land  front  of  the  town  of  Corunna;  and  that 
under  Major-general  Hill  was  stationed  in  reserve  on  the  promontory 
in  rear  of  the  town.  The  enemy  pushed  his  light  troops  toward  the  town 
soon  after  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  17th,  and  shortly  after 
occupied  the  heights  of  St.  Lucia,  which  command  the  harbour.  B'ut  not- 
withstanding this  circumstance,  and  the  manifold  defects  of  the  place, 
there  being  no  apprehension  that  the  rear-guard  could  be  forced;  and  the 
disposition  of  the  Spaniards  appearing  to  be  good,  the  embarkation  of 
Major-general  Hill's  brigade  was  commenced  and  completed  by  three  in  the 
afterooon.  Major-general  Beresford,  with  that  zeal  and  ability  which  is  so 
well  known  to  yourself  and  the  whole  army,  having  fully  explained,  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  Spanish  governor,  the  nature  o  o  .r  ruovempijt,  and  having 
made  every  previous  arrangement,  withdrew  his  corps  from  the  land  front  of 
the  town,  soon  after  dark,  and  was,  with  all  the  wounded  that  had  not  been 
previously  moved,  embarked  before  one  this  morning.  Circumstances 
forbid  us  to  indulge  the  hope,  that  the  victory  with  which  it  lias  pleased 
Providence  to  crown  the  efforts  of  the  army,  can  be  attended  with  un*  very 
brilliant  consequences  to  Great  Britain.  It  is  clouded  by  the  loss  of  one  of 
her  best  soldiers.  It  has  been  achieved  at  the  termination  of  a  long  and 
harassing  service.  The  superior  numbers  and  advantageous  position  of  ther 
enemy,  not  less  than  the  actual  situation  of  this  army,  did  not  admit  of  any 
advantage  being  reaped  from  success.  It  must  be,  however,  to  you,  to  the 
army,  and  to  our  country,  the  sweetest  reSection  that  the  imtre  of 

.  2JoI.  XXI.  u 


82       NAT A-Ii    HISTOHY    Of   TEHE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1808 — 1809;, 

the  British  arms  has  been  maintained,  amidst  many  disadvantageous  circum- 
stances. The  army  which  had  entered  Spain,  amidst  the  fairest  prospects, 
had  no  sooner  completed  its  junction,  than,  owing  to  the  multiplied 
disasters  that  dispersed  the  native  armies  round  us,  it  was  left  to  its 
own  resources.  The  advance  of  the  Britibh  corps  from  the  Ducro  afforded 
the  hest  hope  that  the  south  of  Spain  might  be  relieved,  but  this  generous 
effort  to  save  the  unfortunate  people,  also  afrbrcled  the  enemy  the  oppor- 
tunity of  directing;  every  effort  of  his  numerous  troops,  and  concentrating 
all  his  principal  resources  for  the  destruction  of  the  only  regular  force  in  the 
north  of  Spain.  You  are  well  aware  with  what  diligence  this  system 
has  been  pursued.  These  circumstances  produced  the  necessity  of  rapid 
and  harassing  marches,  which  had  diminished  the  numbers,  exhausted  the 
strength;  and  impaired  the  equipment  of  the  army.  Notwithstanding 
all  these  disadvantages,  and  those  more  immediately  attached  to  a  definitive 
position,  which  the  imperious  necessity  of  covering  the  harbour  of  Corunna, 
for  a  time,  had  rendered  indispensable  to  assume,  the  native  and  undaunted 
valour  of  British  troops  was  never  more  conspicuous,  and  must  have 
exceeded  even  what  your  own  experience  of  that  invaluable  quality,  so 
inherent  in  them,  may  have  taught  you  to  expect.  When  every  one  that 
had  an  opportunity,  seemed  to  vie  in  improving  it,  it  is  difficult  for  me,  in. 
making  this  report,  to  select  particular  instances  for  your  approbation.  The 
corps  chiefly  engaged  were  the  brigades  under  Major-generals  Lord  William 
Bentinck,  and  Manniugham  and  Leigh;  and  the  brigade  of  guards  under 
Major-general  Warde. 

To  these  officers,  and  the  troops  under  their  immediate  orders,  the 
greatest  praise  is  due.  Major-general  Hill  aud  Colonel  Catlin  Craufurd, 
•with  their  brigades  on  the  left  of  the  position,  ably  supported  their  advanced 
posts.  The  brunt  of  the  action  fell  upon  the  4th,  42d,  50th,  and  81st  regi- 
ments, with  parts  of  the  brigade  of  guards,  and  the  26th  regiment.  From 
Lieutenant-colonel  Murray,  quarter-master-general,  and  the  officers  of  the 
general-staff,  I  received  the  most  marked  assistance.  I  had  reason  to  regret, 
that  the  illness  of  Brigadier-general  Clinton,,  adjutant-general,  deprived  me 
of  his  aid.  I  was  indebted  to  Brigadier-general  Slade  during  the  action, 
for  a  zealous  offer  of  his  personal  services,  although  the  cavalry  were 
embarked.  The  greatest  part  of  the  fleet  having  gone  to  sea  yesterday 
evening^  the  whole  being  under  weigh,  and  the  corps  in  the  embarkation 
necessarily  much  mixed  pn  board,  it  is  impossible  at  present  to  lay  before 
you  a  return  of  our  casualties.  I  hope  the  loss  in  numbers  is  not  so  con- 
siderable as  might  have  been  expected.  If  I  was  obliged  to  form  an. 
estimate,  I  should  say,  that  I  believe  it  did  not  exceed  in  killed  iiuci 
wounded  from  seven  to  eight  hundred  ;  that  of  the  enemy  must  remain  un- 
known,, but  many  circumstances  induce  me  to  rate  it  at  nearly  double  the 
above  number.  We  have  some  prisoners,  bat  I  have  not  been  able  to 
obtain  an  account  of  the  number  ;  it  is  not,  however,  considerable.  Several 
officers  of  rank  have  fallen  or  been  wounded,  among  whom  i  am  only  at 
present  enabled  to  state  the  names  of  Lieutenant  colonel  Napier,  92d  regi- 
ment, Majors  Napier  and  Stanhope,  58th  regiment,  killed;  Lieutenant, 
colonel  Winch,  4th  regiment,  Lieutenant-colonel  Maxwell,  26th  regiment, 
Lieutenant-colonel  Fane,  59th  regiment,  Lieutenant-colonel  Griffith,  guards, 
Majors  Miller  and  Williams,  81st  regiment,  wounded.  To  you,  who  are 
well  acquainted  with  the  excellent  qualities  of  Lieutenant-general  Sir  John. 
Moore,  I  need  not  expatiate  on  the  loss  the  army  and  his  country  have 
sustained  by  his  death.  His  fall  has  deprived  me  of  a  valuable  friend,  to 
whom  long  experience  of  his  worth  had  sincerely  attached  me.  But 
it  is  chiefly  on  public  grounds  that  I  lament  the  blow.  It  will  be  the  conver* 


NATAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,     1808 — 1809.       85 

sation  of  every  one  who  loved  or  respected  his  manly  character,  that,  after 
conducting  the  army  through  an  arduous  retreat  with  consummate  firmness, 
-he  has  terminated  a  career  of  distinguished  honour  by  a  death  that  has  given 
the  enemy  additional  reason  to  respect  the  name  of  a  British  soldier.  Like 
•the  immortal  Wolfe,  he  is  snatched  from  his  country  at  an  early  period  of 
a  life  spent  in  her  service ;  like  Wolfe,  his  last  moments  were  gilded  by  the 
prospect  of  success,  and  cheered  by  the  acclamation  of  victory  ;  like  Wolfe 
also,  his  memory  will  for  ever  remain  sacred  in  that  country  which  he  sin- 
cerely loved,  and  which  he  had  so  faithfully  served.  It  remains  for  me  only 
•to  express  my  hope,  that  you  will  speedily  he  restored  to  the  service  of 
your  country,  and  to  lament  the  unfortunate  circumstance  that  removed  you 
from  your  station  in  the  field,  and  threw  the  momentary  command  into  far 
less  able  hands.  I  have  the  honour  to  be.  &c. 

To  Lieut.  Gen.  Sir  D.  Baird.  JOHN  HOPE,  Lieut  Geu. 


SUPPLEMENT  TO  THE  LONDON  GAZETTE  EXTRAORDINARY. 

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE,  JAN;    24,    1609. 

•Copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  Hon.  Michael  de  Courcy,  Rear-admiral  of  the 
IV hi  e,  to  the  Hon.  W.  JV.  Pole,  dated  on  board  his  Majesty's  Ship  the 
Tvnnant,  at  Corunna,  the  nth  and  IQlh,  instant. 

•SIR,  January  17,  1809. 

Having  it  in  design  to  detach  the  Cossack  to  England  as  soon  asxher 
•boats  shall  cease  to  be  essential  to  the  embarkation  of  the  troops,  I  seize  a 
moment  to  acquaint  you,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords  Commissieners  of 
the  Admiralty,  that  the  ships  of  war,  as  per  margin,*  and  transports,  under 
the  orders  of  llear-admiral  Sir  Samuel  Hood  and  Commissioner  Bowen, 
arrived  at  this  anchorage  from  Vigo  on  the  14th*and  15th  instant,  the  Alfred 
and  Hiudostan,  with  some  transports,  were  left  at  Vigo  to  receive  a  brigade 
of  3,500  men,  that  had  taken  chat  route  under  the  Generals  Alten  and 
Crawford. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Corunna  the  enemy  have  pressed  upon  the  British 
in  great  force.  The  embarkation  of  the  sick,  the  cavalry,  and  the  stores 
went  on.  The  night  of  the  16th  was  appointed  for  the  general  embarkation 
of  the  infantry;  and,  mean  time,  the  enemy  prepared  for  attack.  At  three, 
P.M.  an  action  commenced;  the  enemy,  which  had  been  ported  on  a  lofty 
hill,  endeavouring  to  force  the  British  on  another  hill  of  inferior  height,  and 
nearer  the  town.  The  enemy  were  driven  back  with  great  slaughter  ;  but 
very  sorry  am  I  to  add,  that  the  British,  though  triumphant,  have  suffered 
severe  losses.  I  am  unable  to  communicate  further  particulars,  than  that 
Sir  John  Moore  received  a  mortal  wound  of  whicli  he  died  at  night; 
that  Sir  David  Baird  lost  an  arm ;  that  several  officers  and  many  men  have 
been  killed  and  wounded;  and  that  the  ships  of  war  have  received  all  such 
of  the  latter  as  they  could  accommodate  the  remainder  being  sent  to 
transports. 

The  weather  is  now  tempestuous,  and  the  difficulties  of  embarkation  are 
<:reat.  All  except  the  rear  guard  are  embarked,  consisting  perhaps  at  the 
present  moment  of  2,000  men.  The  enemy  having  brought  cannon  to  a  hill 

*  Vilifi  de  Paris,  Victory,  Barfleur,  Zealous,  Implacable,  Elizabeth, 
,Xorge,  PUwrageaet,  Resolution,  Audacious,  Endymion,  Mediator. 


84       NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1808 1809. 

overhanging  the  beach,  have  forced  a  majority  of  the  transports  to  cut  or 
s'ip.  Embarkation  being  no  longer  practicable  at  tlie  town,  the  boats  have 
been  ordered  to  a  sandy  beach  near  the  light-house,  and  it  is  hoped  that  the 
greater  part,  if  not  all,  will  still  be  embarked,  the  ships  of  war  having  drop- 
ped out  to  facilitate  embarkation. 

Jan.  18.  The  embarkation  of  the  troops  having  occupied  the  greater 
part  of  last  night,  it  has  not  been  in  my  power  to  detach  the  Cossack  before 
this  day :  and  it  is  with  satisfaction  I  am  able  to  add,  that,  in  consequence 
of  the  good  order  maintained  by  the  troops,  and  the  unwearied  exertions  of 
Commissioner  Boven,  the  captains,  and  other  officers  of  the  navy, 
the  agents,  as  well  as  the  boats'  crews,  many  of  whom  were  for  two 
days  without  food,  and  without  repose,  the  army  have  been  embarked  to  the 
last  man,  and  the  ships  are  now  in  the  offing,  preparatory  to  steering 
for  England.  The  great  body  of  the  transports  having  lost  their  anchors, 
ran  to  sea  without  the  troops  they  were  ordered  to  receive,  in  consequence 
of  which  there  are  some  thousands  on  board  the  ships  of  war.  Several 
transports,  through  mismanagement,  ran  on  shore.  The  seamen  appeared 
to  have  abandoned  them,  two  being  brought  out  by  the  boats'  crews  of  the 
men  of  war,  two  were  burnt,  and  five  were  bilged.  I  cannot  conclude  this 
hasty  statement  without  expressing  my  great  obligations  to  Rear-admiral  Sir 
Samuel  Hood,  whose  eye  was  every  where,  and  whose  exertions  were 
Unremitted. 

I  have  the  hono\ir  to  be,  &c. 

M.  DE  COURCY. 

Hazy  weather  rendering  the  Cossack  obscure,  I  detach  the  Gleaner  wklj 
this  despatch. 


Courts;  partial. 


A  COURT  MARTIAL  was  held  on  Wednesday,  the  10th  inst.  on  board 
the  Salvador  del  Mundo,  Admiral  Young,  in  Hamoaze,  to  try  Captain 
Baker,  his  officers  and  ship's  company,  for  the  loss  of  the  Jupiter,  of  SO 
guns,  under  his  command,  in  Vigo  Bay.  Captain  Baker  read  a  narrative  of 
the  circumstances  of  the  case,  and  alter  a  full  investigation  as  to  the  cause 
of  the  loss  of  the  Jupiter,  the  court  adjudged  him  to  be  admonished  to  act 
•with  more  precaution  for  the  future,  Captain  Baker  not  having  endeavoured 
to  get  a  pilot,  or  bring  the  ship  to  an  anchor.  Captain  Baker  was  admo- 
nished accordingly. 

A  court  martial  was  also  held  on  John  Brown,  a  seaman  of  the  Raven, 
Captain  Grant,  who  was  tried  on  a  charge  of  murder,  by  kicking  R.  Nelson 
so  violently  in  the  belly,  when  "  skylarking,"  that  he  died  in  consequence  of 
the  blow.'  After  hearing  the  evidence  for  the  prosecution,  and  the  prisoner 
m  his  defence,  the  court  acquitted  him  of  the  murder,  but  sentenced  him  to 
200  lashes  round  the  fleet,  as  an  admonition  against  "  skylarking." 


anU 


The  king  has  been  pleased  to  appoint  the  Right  Hon.  Cuthbert  Lord  Col- 
Jingwood,  vice-admiral  of  the  red,  to  be  major-general  of  his  majesty's  royui 
marine  Orces,  in  the  room  of  Admiral  Lord  Gardner,  deceased. 


NAVAL    HISTORY   OF  THE   PRESENT   YEAR,    1803 — 1809.        85 

The  king  1ms  been  pleased,  by  warrant,  under  his  royal  signet  and  simi 
rnanuel,  to  give  and  grant  unto  Henry  Clement  Thompson,  Esq.  a  comman- 
der in  the  royal  navy,  his  royal  license  and  permission,  that  he  may,  in  com- 
pliance with  the  desire  of  his  majesty,  Gustavus  Adolphus  Iv.  Kin-:  of 
Sweden,  accept  and  wear  the  insignia  of  a  knight  of  the  royal  Swedish 
military  order  of  the  Sword,  conferred  upon  him  by  that  sovereign,  as  a  tes- 
timony of  his  royal  approbation  of  the  services  of  the  said  II.  C.  Thompson, 
in  the  engagement  with  the  Russian  flotilla  in  the  Gulf  of  Finland,  on  the 
26th  of  August  last. 

His  royal  highness  the  Prince  of  the  Brazils  has  conferred  on  Captain 
James  Walker,  of  his  majesty's  ship  Bedford,  and  on  Captain  Thomas 
Western,  of  his  majesty's  ship  London,  the  dignity  of  knights  of  the  order 
of  Fidelity,  of  which  order  he  has  also  appointed  the  gallant  Rear-admiral 
Sir  Sydney  Smith  to  be  commander. 

Rear-admiral  Hon.  Allan  Gardner  lias  succeeded  to  the  title  of  Lord 
Gardner,  by  the  death  of  his  father,  late  an  admiral  of  the  blue  squadron  of 
his  majesty's  fleet. 

Captain  Browell,  of  the  royal  hospital  at  Greenwich,  is  appointed  to  suc- 
ceed the  late  Captain  Bouchier,  as  lieutenant-governor  of  that  iastitution. 

Captain  Jahleel  Brenton,  son  of  the  late  Admiral  Brcnton,  is  appointed 
to  command  his  majesty's  ship  Fame ;  Captain  Richard  Thomas  to  the 
Spartan,  vice  Brenton ;  Captain  William  Roberts  to  the  Castor;  Captain 
John  Bastard  to  the  St.  Fiorenzo  ;  Captain  Graham  Eden  Hamond,  son  of 
Sir  Andrew  Hamond,  late  comptroller  of  his  majesty's  navy,  to  the  Victo- 
rious ;  Captain  Frederick  Watkins  to  the  Majestic ;  Captain  George 
Trollope,  brother  of  Captain  Sir  Henry  Trollope,  Bart,  from  the  Electra  to 
the  Zebra  bomb;  Captain  Donald  M'Lead  to  the  Isis,  rice  Langhorne  ; 
and  Captain  Buckland  Sterling  Bluett  to  the  Magnet. 

Captain  Keith  Maxwell  has  been  appointed  to  the  Nymphen,  of  36  guns, 
at  Chatham.  This  frigate  was  captured  from  the  Danes,  and  is  one  of  the 
finest  of  her  class  in  the  service.  We  feel  much  satisfaction  in  announcing 
the  appointment  of  this  gallant  officer.  Our  readers  will  recollect,  that 
Captain  Keith  Maxwell,  when  a  lieutenant  in  the  Beaulieu  frigate,  led  the 
party  (nominally  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Losack)  that  cut  the  French 
national  ship  la  Chevrette  out  of  Camaret  B.iy,  in  July  1801 ;  for  which 
Earl  .St.  Vincent  sent  him  a  commission,  as  master  and  commander,  accom- 
panied by  a  very  handsome  complimentary  letter.* 

Lieutenants  appointed. 

Lieutenant  John  Russel  to  the  Leviathan  ;  Timothy  Scriven  to  the  Ves- 
tal ;  Edward  Brazier  to  the  Plover  ;  George  Troke  to  the  Dolphin  ;  James 
Basbford  to  the  Princess  Carolina  ;  Richard  Charles  Phillips  to  the  Com- 
batant; James  Neville  to  the  Eclipse;  John  Thomas  Jeans  to  the  Night- 
ingale ;  Edward  Reading  to  the  Drake;  Aaron  Fozer  to  the  Victorious; 
James  Nayce  to  the  Dannemark  ;  David'  Patterson  to  the  Cornelia; 
Robert  Brues  to  the  Tigress  cutter  ;  James  Brown  ('2)  to  the  Mornnouth  ; 
Michael  Matthews  to  the  Cornelia;  Joseph  Ramsay  to  the  Brilliant; 
Charles  J*-lL-rys  to  the  Opossum  ;  Thomas  Wm.  Caihc  to  the  Princess* 


*  Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  VI.  pages  61,   73,  aud  74;  Vol.  VII. 
pa^e  210  and  319  ;  ani  Vol.  XX.  pages  92  and  93. 


S6    NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1808  —  1809. 

Carolina  ;  W.  S.  Fuller  to  the  Blake  ;  Samuel  Jehn  Hall  to  the  Agincourt  ; 
Thomas  Jaff  to  the  Minstrel;  Philip  Stimpson  to  the  Rattler;  Itobert 
Wariehope  to  the  Blake  ;  William  Norman  to  the  Sirius  ;  William  Smith 
(5)  to  the  Castor;  Richard  Burton  to  the  Tickler  cutter  ;  and  Marmaduke 
Smith  to  the  Royalist  sloop. 

List  of  midshipmen  passed  for  lieutenants  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  the 
month:  —  Joseph   Eastwood,   J.  G.  Harrington,  Richard  Piercy,  Thomas 
j  William  Poore,  John  Hatton,  and  Daniel  Daley. 


Surgeons  and  assistants  appointed. 

Mr.  Gladstone,  one  of  the  assistant-surgeons  of  the  Royal  Hospital  at 
Greenwich,  is  appointed  by  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty  to  be  surgeon  of 
the  royal  division  of  marines  at  Woolwich,  vice  Anderson,  deceased. 

Mr.  Thomas  Hooper  is  appointed  to  be  surgeon  of  his  majesty's  sloop 
Saracen;  John  Neill  to  the  Blonde;  John  Julius  Inger  from  the  Phipps  to 
the  Cygnet;  Thomas  Cochrane  to  the  Forrester;  Charles  Lin  con  to  the 
Glomen  ;  Gregory  Odell  to  the  C«esar  ;  Joseph  White  to  the  Drake  ;  • 
Richard  Thompson  to  the  Vilk  de  Paris;  George  Pructor  to  t^e  Orestes 
sloop  ;  Edward  Hopley  to  the  Nymphen  ;  Henry  Ewing  to  the  Resistance  ; 
Robert  Marks  to  be  surgeon  of  the  Lark  ;  and  A.  B.  Grenville  to  proceed 
to  the  East  Indies,  to  be  at  the  disposal  of  the  commam!er-in-cluef. 

The  following  arc  promoted  to  the  rank  of  surgeons,  to  proceed  to  the 
Jamaica  and  Leeward  Island  stations  :  —  John  Marpole,  John  Heawood, 
T.  P.  Davis,  John  Wm.  Latham,  Win.  M'Kinley,  James  Dobie,  John  Paw- 
son,  George  Lyon  Guild,  and  James  Young. 

Mr.  Gladstone,  surgeon  of  the  division  of  marines  at  Woolwich,  is 
Rppointed  to  be  surgeon  of  the  Royal  Naval  Asylum  in  Greenwich  Park. 

Assistants  appointed. 

Thomas  Stewart,  te  be  assistant-surgeon  of  the  Amethyst;  John  Dun- 
thorn  to  be  hospital  mate  of  the  Royal  Hospital  at  Plymouth  ;  J.  R.  Arm- 
strong to  be  hospital  mate  of  the  naval  hospital  at  Jamaica;  J.  E.  Gray  to 
be  assistant-surgeon  of  the  Acute  gun-brig  ;  John  Johns  to  the  Fervent 
gun-brig  ;  J.Godard  to  the  Blazer  gun-brig;  P.  Ramsay  to  the  Dannemark  ; 
Wm.  Porteous  (2)  to  the  Alphea  ;  Wm.  Hector  to  die  Castor;  M.  Camth 
to  the  Victorious  ;  John  Baiston  to  the  Iphegenia  ;  Charles  Miller  to  the 
Eagle  ;  Wm.  Duncan  to  the  St.  Albans  ;  Robert  Bateman  to  the  Standard  ; 
Wm.  M'Masters  to  the  Argonaut,  hospital  ship;  Robert  Brown  to  the 
Defence;  C.  W.  Vandeuberg  to  the  Majestic;  and  Thomas  Lodt-n  to  the 
Safeguard. 


BIRTHS. 

On  the  10th  of  January,  in   Bentinck-street,  the  Hon.  Mrs.  Gourtenay 
Boyle,  lady  of  the  Hon.  Captain  Boyle,  commander  of  his  majesty's  ship 
William. 


On  the  8th  of  January,  the  lady  of  Captain  Walter  Bathurst,  of  the  royal 
navy,  of  a  son, 

On  the  4th  of  January,  the  lady  of  Captain  Butt,  of  the  royal  navy,  of  a 
still-horn  child. 

In  Great  Mary-la-bonne  street,  on  the  19th  of  January,  the  lady  of  Major 
M'Cleverty,  of  the  royal  marines,  of  a  son. 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1808 — 1809.          87 

On  the  17th  of  January,  in  Bentinck-street,  the  lady  of  Captain  M.  II. 
Scott,  of  the  royal  navy,  of  a  daughter. 

On  the  10th  of  January,  at  Liverpool,  Mrs.  Sydney  Horton,  wife  of  Cap- 
tain S.  Horton,  of  the  royal  navy,  of  a  daughter. 


MARRIAGES. 

Captain  Hollingworth,  of  the  royal  navy,  son  of  Wm.  Hollingworth,  Esq; 
late  of  the  Admiralty,  to  Miss  Jackson,  daughter  of  John  Jackson,  Esq. 
master  attendant  at  his  majesty's  dock-yard  at  Plymouth. 

William  Larke,  Esq.  governor  of  the  naval  hospital  at  Yarmouth,  to  the 
widow  of  ths  late  John  Worship,  Esq.  of  Runham,  Norfolk. 

On  the  13th  January,  at  Mary-la-bonne  Church,  Capt.  P.  Malcolm,  of  the 
royal  navy,  to  Miss  Elphinstone,  eldest  daughter  of  the  Honourable  William 
Fullarton  Elphinstone. 


DEATHS. 

Lately,  at  Ipswich,  Rear-admirnl  Uvedale. 

At  Portsmouth,  Lieutenant-colonel  Archbold,  of  the  royal  marines. 

On  Monday,  the  12th  of  December,  at  Osborne's  hotel,  Lieutenant  Wm. 
Skelton,  of  the  royal  navy,  aged  27  ;  he  was  third  son  of  the  late  Arnoldus 
Jones  Skelton,  Esq.  of  Papcastle,  in  the  county  of  Cumberland,  and  first 
cousin  to  the  present  Marquis  Cornvtallis. 

In  the  month  of  May  last,  as  Mr.  Drury,  first  lieutenant  of  his  majesty's 
ship  Modeste,  was  proceeding  from  Diamond  harbour  to  the  Precidency 
(Madras),  the  boat  which  he  was  iu,  from  a  sudden  gust  of  wind,  suddenly 
upset,  when  he  perished  with  several  others. 

Lately,  Mrs.  Cranstoun,  widow  of  the  late  Captain  Cranstoun,  of  the 
royal  navy. 

Lately,  was  drowned,  on  the  coast  of  Jutland,  together  with  the  greatest 
part  of  his  crew,  Captain  Temple,  of  his  majesty's  ship  Crescent. 

On  the  30th  December,  at  his  apartments  in  the  royal  hospital  at  Green- 
wich, Captain  Bouchier,  lieutenant-governor  of  that  institution.  It  has 
been  stated  in  several  of  the  papers,  that  Captain  Bouchier  died  in  conse- 
quence of  a  wound  which  he  received  35  years  ago,  and  which  had  never 
been  perfectly  cured.  This  statement  is  incorrect.  After  the  glorious 
action  in  the  West  Indies  in  1782,  Captain  Bouchier  was  appointed  to  the 
Hector,  of  64  guns,  one  of  the  French  prizes,  and  ordered  t«  bnng  her 
home.  The  Hector  had  suffered  much  in  the  action,  and  still  more  in  the 
dreadful  storm  which  happened  soon  after,  in  which  the  Ville  de  Paris,  the 
Centaur,  and  several  other  vessels  were  lost,  when  she  was  attacked  during 
the  night,  on  her  passage  home,  by  two  large  French  frigates.  Although 
his  ship  was  nearly  a  wreck,  Captain  Bouchier  defended  her  with  the 
greatest  bravery,  and  succeeded  in  beating  off  the  frigates  ;  but  the  Hector 
suffered  so  much,  that  she  sunk  the  next  day,  and  the  whole  crew  must  have 
perished,  if  a  Danish  merchantman  had  not  fortunately  hove  in  sight,  on 
board  of  which  they  were  saved.  It  was  in  tUis  gallant  action  that  Captain 
Bouchier  received  the  wound  which  disqualified  him  for  active  service. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  at  Bath,  Admiral  Lord  Gardner,  in  the  66th  year 
cf  his  age.  He  was  uaiversally  allowed  to  be  a  most  able  and  judicious 


88          NAVAL     HISTORY    OF    THE    PltESE'NT    YEAR,    1808  —  1809, 

commander:  he  was  born  at  Uttoxeter,  in  Staffordshire;  his  father  was  a 
Jieutenant-colonel  in  the  llth  regiment  of  Dragoon  Guards,  and  a  native 
of  Coieraine,  in  the  north  of  Ireland.  He  was  afterwards  in  ten  glorious 
actions,  in  all  of  which  he  displayed  such  courage,  skill,  and  magnanimity,- 
as  were  rewarded  ultimately  by  his  sovereign,  with  the  appointment  of 
admiral  of  the  blue,  major-general  of  marines,  created  a  baron  of  the 
united  kingdom,  and  had  the  honour  of  receiving  from  the  hand  of  his 
majesty  a  gold  chain,  in  approbation  of  his  conduct  on  the  20th  of  May 
and  1st  of  June,  1794.  He  married  in  the  year  1?69,  Miss  Hyde,  of 
Jamaica,  and  has  left  by  her  ladyship,  who  survives  him,  a  very  numerous- 
family,  including  two  sons  in  the  navy.* 

On  the  18th  of  December,  at  Cattesfteld,  near  Fareham,  Hants,  Rear- 
admiral  Edward  O'Brien. 
/ 

On  the  19th  of  January,  at  his  house  in  Marlborotigh  Building?,  Bath, 
after  a  life  of  honour,  ardent  zeal  in  his  country's  good,  Christian  virtue  and 
private  benevolence,  General  Edward  Smith,  colonel  of  the  43d  regiment 
of  foot,  and  governor  of  Fort  Charles,  Jamaica.  The  general  was  uncle  to 
the  gallant  Admiral  Sir  Sydney  Smith,  and  among  the  few  surviving  officers 
who  were  present  when  the  immortal  Wolfe  fell. 

Lately,  at  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  Lieutenant  Crawford,  of  the  royal 
navy.  He  was  a  long  time  last  war  governor  of  the  naval  hospital  at 
Gibraltar. 

On  the  20th  of  January,  the  infant  daughter  of  Captain  H.  M.  Scott,  of 
the  royal  navy. 

At  Titchfield,  county  of  Hants,  Rear-admiral  Jonathan  Faulknor. 

On  the  17th  instant,  in  Frith-street,  Soho,  Dr.  John  Anderson,  surgeon 
of  the  royal  division  of  marines  at  Woolwich. 

The  following  distressing  statement  is  copied  from  The  Plymouth  Teh- 
graph  of  January  21 : — 

"  On  Sunday  last  arrived  the  Frankfort  transport,  Captain  John  Thread- 
geld,  from  Quebec,  with  invalids  from  the  different  regiments  at  that  place, 
after  a  most  tedious  passage  of  ten  weeks.  She  brought  home  the  widow 
and  children  of  the  late  Captain  Thomas  Windsor,  of  the  10th,  or  Royal 
Veteran  Battalion,  who  died  at  Quebec  in  May  last,  and  left  Mrs.  Windsor 
and  four  fine  children,  to  lament  the  loss  of  the  best  of  husbands,  and  most 
tender  and  indulgent  father.  But,  oh,  the  dreadful  story  is  to  come  ! — 
After  their  encountering  storms  and  tempestuous  weather,  for  so  many 
weeks,  on  Wednesday,  the  llth  instant,  being  about  six  leagues  from  the 
land,  and  a  fine  day,  the  eldpst  daughter,  a  most  beautiful  and  amiable 
young  ladv,  about  10  years  of  age,  sat  herself  down  on  the  starboard  quar- 
ter, and  leaning  against  a  rail  to  read,  the  rail  not  being  well  fastened,  sud- 
denly gave  way,  and  she  fell  overboard ;  there  being  at  the  same  lime  a 
great  swell,  and  the  boats  full  of  soldiers'  beds,  baggage,  &c.  could  not  be 
got  out  in  time  to  save  the  unfortunate  young  lady,  though  she  floated  on 
the  merciless  waves  for  15  minutes,  waving  her  hands  with  the  most  dread- 
ful shrieks,  and  she  went  down  just  as  the  boat  got  near  her. — The  most 
distracted  mother  was  prevented  from  throwing  herself  overboard,  by  the 
great  exertions  of  Lieutenant  Jones,  and  the  other  officers  and  gentlemen 
on  board. 


*  For  a  portrait  and  biographical  memoir  of  Admiral  Lord  Gardner,  vide 
NAVAL  CuuoMCi.E,  Vol.  \  111. 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  PUBLIC  SERVICES 

OF 

CAPTAIN  MICHAEL   SEYMOUR, 

OF   THE    KOYAL    NAVY. 


"  Vile  latent  virtus  :  quid  enim  tubmersa  tenebris 
Proderit  obscuro  ?"  CLAUD,  iv.  CONS.  HON. 

Virtue  conceal'd  is  but  of  little  worth: 
For  wbat  of  good,  in  dark  obscurity. 
Can  it  produce  ? 

A  T  a  time  when  the  undaunted  firmness  and  bravery  of  anation 
-*~  "*-  become  essential  securities  against  the  insults,  barbarities, 
and  tyranny  of  a  power  that  seeks  for  universal  dominion,  to 
record  the  particular  acts  of  prowess  performed  by  our  gallant 
countrymen,  is  a  duty  so  fit,  just,  and  necessary,  that  no  question 
can  arise  as  to  its  propriety,  whether  it  be  considered  as  a  grateful 
acknowledgment  to  bravery,  or  as  holding  out  an  example  of 
emulation.  To  this  mark  of  distinction  Captain  Michael  Seymour, 
the  gallant  captor  of  the  Thetis,  is  highly  entitled  ;  and  it  is  with 
particular  pleasure  that  we  seize  on  the  opportunity  afforded  us  of 
presenting  the  public  with  a  shqrt,  but  we  believe,  accurate  sketch 
of  that  officer's  services. 

For  his  birth,  Captain  Seymour  is  indebted  to  the  sister  island, 
now  happily  forming  a  component  part  of  the  British  empire. 
He  was  born  on  the  8th  of  November,  1768,  at  the  Glebe  House, 
at  Palace,  in  the  county  of  Limerick  ;  and  if  the  descent  from  vir- 
tuous and  honourable  parents  be  gratifying,  he  is  in  that  respect 
indeed  eminently  fortunate.  At  thy  time  of  his  birth,  the  Rev. 
John  Seymour  was  rector  of  Palace — a  man  of  exemplary  piety,  of 
a  most  amiable  and  benevolent  disposition,  and  endowed  with  con- 
siderable learning.  lie  A\as  beloved,  esteemed,  and  venerated  by 
his  neighbours — by  tliat  society,  of  which  he  might  justly  be  re<» 
garded  the  centre. 

.  Sol.  XXI.  K 


PO  MEMOIR   OF   THE    1'UIJLIC   SERVICES    OV 

For  his  talents,  and  many  amiable  qualities,  he  was  voluntarily 
selected  by  Dr.  Cox,  the  then  Archbishop  of  Cashel,  as  one  of  his 
domestic  chaplains.  Dr.  Cox,  who  was  as  zealous  to  reward,  as 
he  was  capable  of  appreciating  superior  merit,  soon  afterwards 
offered  him  a  valuable  living ;  but,  as  a  tribute  to  departed  virtue, 
it  deserves  to  be  told,  that  he  refused  to  accept  the  offer  until  the 
senior  chaplains  should  be  provided  for.  Preferment,  however, 
•was  at  length  bestowed ;  and  Mr.  Seymour  died,  in  the  month  of 
July,  1795,  rector  of  Abington,  which  he  held  with  the  chan- 
cellorship of  Emjy.— It  would  be  well  that  all  would  aspire  to  the 
propriety  of  his  life. 

Captain  Seymour's  mother,  who  is  still  living,  was  the  youngest 
of  two  daughters  of  William  Hobart,  Esq.  of  High  Mount,  in  the 
county  of  Cork.  She  had  five  children  ;  the  first  of  whom  was 
William  Hobart  Seymour,  an  officer  of  the  60th  regiment,  vyhe 
died  in  the  West  Indies,  in  the  year  1797  ;  having,  two  yaais 
before,  made  an  extraordinary  escape  from  the  French  prison-ship 
at  Point  a  Petre,  in  Guadaloupe,  by  swimming  from  her  in  the 
evening,  in  company  with  the  master  of  a  Bermudan  vessel. 
Having  reached  the  beach,  and  finding  a  canoe,  they  pushed  ofl', 
and  on  the  following  day,  at  noon,  were  taken  up  by  the  Bellona 
man  of  war,  off  the  Saints  Isles.  — The  second  child  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Seymour  was  Michael,  the  subject  of  this  memoir  ;  the  third, 
the  RCT.  John  Seymour,  a  most  exemplary  man,  now  rector  of 
Ulloa,  in  the  county  of  Tipperary,  in  the  diocese  of  Cashel ;  the 
fourth  was  Frances,  who  died  in  1F05  ;  and  the  fifth,  Richard, 
who  was  killed  in  March,  1806,  at  the  close  of  the  action  between 
the  Amazon  frigate,  Captain  Parker  (of  which  he.  was  the  first 
lieutenant)  and  the  Belle  Poule,  French  frigate.  He  was  a  brave 
and  an  excellent  officer.  The  testimonies  of  those  who  knew  him 
best  are  loud  in  his  praise. 

We  have  no  earlier  account  of  the  subject  of  our  memoir  than 
the  commencement  of  his  professional  career,  which  took  place  in, 
November,  1780.  lie  had  just  then  completed  his  twelfth  year, 
and  entered  the  service  under  the  auspices  of  his  gallant  and  kind 
friend  the  Hon.  Captain  James  Luttrcll,  who  then  was  in  the 
command  of  the  Merlin  sloop  of  war.  On  his  quitting  this  sloop, 
he  successively  served  with  the  same  officer  in  the  Portland}, 


CAPTAIN    MICHAEL   SEYMOUR.  $1 

Mediator,  and  Ganges,  being  all  the  ships  Captain  laittrell  ever 
commanded.* 

In  the  winter  of  1782,  whilst  serving  in  the  Mediator,  of  44 
guns,  he  participated  in  a  very  warm  action  between  that  ship  and 
fire  French  armed  ships,  mounting,  in  the  whole,  136  guns. 

As  this  was  the  first  engagement  o£  consequence  which  Mr.  Sey- 
mour witnessed,  and  as  its  coriduct  and  result  reflected  great  credit 
on  the  commander,  officers,  and  crew  of  the  Mediator,  the  follow- 
ing short  account  of  it  will  not,  it  is  presumed,  bfe  regarded  as 
tiniriteresting. 

It  was  on  the  12th  of  December,  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ling,  while  cruising  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  that  the  Mediator,  dis- 
covering five  sail  of  large  vessels  to  leeward,  bore  up  and  gare 
rhase.  On  her  approach,  they  shortened  sail;  and,  standing  un- 
der top-sails,  formed  into  the  following  line-of-battle  ahead  : — 

Ships.                  Guns.  Men.         Commanders. 

Eugene 36  133  M.  Le  Baudin. 

American  (brig) 14  70 

Menagere  (urmbe  en  Jiute~)  34  212  M.  de  Toligne. 

Alexandra 24  102  M.Gregory. 

Dauphin  Royal    28  1 20 

Total. 136  637 

Captain  Lutlrell,  not  intimidated  by  the  formidable  appearance 
of  the  enemy,  stood  resolutely  on  till  ten  o'clock,  when,  as  he 
passed  along  their  line,  they  opened  their  fire,  which  was  returned 
from  the  Mediator  with  so  much  steadiness  and  effect,  that,  in 
half  an  hour,  their  line  was  broken.  The  three  largest  of  the 
ships  wore,  under  an  easy  sail,  and  continued  to  engage  the 
Mediator  with  much  briskness,  till  eleven,  when,  by  a  skilful 
manoeuvre,  and  superior  fire,  Captain  Luttrell  cut  off  PAlexandre, 
and  compelled  her  to  strike.  Witnessing  her  fate,  and  fearing 
that  it  might  be  their  own,  her  companions  instantly  went  off 
before  the  wind,  under  a  crowd  of  sail.  At  half-past  twelve, 
having  secured  his  prize,  Captain  Luttrell  renewed  the  chase,  and 
the  enemy  separated.  At  five  in  the  evening,  he  got  within  gun-. 

*  The  Hon.  Captain  Luttrell  attained  post  rank  on  the  23d  of  February, 
1781;  and,  in  the  year  1789,  the  country  was  unfortunately  deprived  of 
kis  service?,  by  a  consumption,  which  carried  him  ofij  in  the  oriole  of  life. 


31  MEMOIR   OF   THE   PUBLIC   SERVICES   OF 

shot  of  Ie  Menagere,  and  commenced  a  smart  running  fight,  which 
continued  till  nine ;  when,  on  his  ranging  up  close  alongside  of 
her,  she  hauled  down  her  colours.  Thus  two  sail  out  of  the  fire 
were  captured.  On  the  following  morning,  at  day-break,  the 
brig  and  le  Dauphin  Royal  were  seen  in  the  offing ;  but,  being 
close  in  with  the  Spanish  coast,  and  having  340  prisoners  onboard, 
with  only  190  of  his  own  men  to  guard  them,  Captain  Luttrell 
thought  it  most  prudent  to  steer  for  England  with  his  prizes. 

In  this  action,  I'Alexandre  had  six  men  killed  and  nine  wounded; 
and  le  Mcnagere  had  four  killed  and  eight  wounded  ;  but,  in  con- 
sequence  of  the  enemy  having  directed  their  fire  chiefly  at  the  masts 
and  rigging  of  the  Mediator,  not  a  man  on  board  that  ship  was 
hurt. 

On  the  second  night  after  the  engagement,  Captain  Luttrell  was 
alarmed  by  a  violent  explosion,  and  cry  of  fire  ;  which,  on  inquiry, 
he  found  to  have  been  occasioned  by  one  of  the  lower-deck  guns 
having  been  fired  off  by  Captain  Gregory,  the  commander  of 
PAlexandre,  who  had  laid  a  plot  with  the  prisoners  to  rise  and  take 
the  Mediator.  The  firing  of  the  gun  was  the  signal  which  had 
been  agreed  upon  by  the  conspirators  to  execute  their  design ;  but, 
by  the  most  prompt  and  indefatigable  exertions  of  the  officers,  who 
instantly  placed  additional  sentinels  over  the  hatchways,  and 
secured  them  by  capstan  bars,  the  accomplishment  of  this  des- 
perate scheme  was  prevented  without  bloodshed.  The  intentions 
of  Captain  Gregory  having  been  fully  proved,  Captain  Luttrell 
considered  him  to  be  no  longer  entitled  to  his  parole  ;  and,  with 
some  of  his  accomplices,  he  was  confined  in  irons  during  the 
remainder  of  the  passage  to  England. 

Under  such  an  officer  as  Captain  Luttrell,  professional  principles 
the  most  satisfactory  were  likely  to  be  imbibed  ;  and  that  the  early 
impression  of  an  action  so  bravely  determined  on,  and,  so  skilfully 
conducted,  was  not  to  be  lost  on  the  mind  of  our  young  midship- 
man, subsequent  events  have  proved. 

From  the  time  that  he  left  the  Ganges,  in  1783,  till  the  conclu- 
sion of  the  late  war,  he  was  almost  constantly  employed  in  the 
Europa,  Antelope,  Janus,  Ariol,  Pogase,  Magnificent,  and  Marl- 
borough.  In  the  month  of  November,  1790,  he  received  his  pro- 
motion, as  lieutenant,  in  the  Magnificent ;  and  in  Lord  Howe's 
memorable  action  of  the  first  of  June,  1794,  we  find  Mr.  Seymour 


CAPTAIN  MICHAEL   SEYMOUR.  93 

junior  lieutenant  on  board  the  Marlborough,  commanded  by  the 
Hon.  Captain  (now  Admiral)  Berkeley.*  In  this  action  he  was 
so  severely  wounded,  that  he  suffered  the  loss  of  his  left  arm.  We 
believe  his  sufferings  were  marked  with  particular  severity. 

The  next  step  our  reader  may  expect  us  to  trace  will,  no  doubt, 
be  his  immediate  promotion  ;  but  here  a  blank  intervenes,  atul 
Mr.  Seymour's  applications  were  disregarded,  with  ll  official  tran- 
quility,"  until  Earl  Spencer's  administration,  when  that  distin- 
guished nobleman  promoted  him  to  the  rank  of  master  and  com- 
mander, and  in  a  few  months  added  his  further  testimony  of  ap- 
probation, by  appointing  him  to  the  Spitfire  sloop  of  war.  In 
this  sloop  Captain  Seymour  continued  four  years ;  but  during  this 
period  of  active  service  we  have  no  extraordinary  tatcs  of  wonder 
to  relate,  nor  no  violent  praise  to  bestow.  We  wish,  however,  to 
observe,  that  though  no  particular  opportunity  occurred  for  daring 
enterprise  or  gallant  heroism,  yet  every  cruise  afforded  ample  tes- 
timony, both  summer  and  winter,  amidst  calms  and  storms,  that 
the  Spitfire  was  in  active  duty. 

It  may  be  remarked,  as  the  best  proof  of  constant  exertion,  that 
•whatever  Captain  Seymour  may  have  happily  added  to  his  fortune, 
has  not  been  by  the  casual  accident  of  one  rich  prize,  but  by  the 
accumulation  of  numerous  small  ones ;  for  whatever  would  tend 
to  harass  the  enemy,  even  from  the  smallest  capture  to  that  of  a 
proud  frigate,  each  in  its  turn  has  been  seized  on  with  the  ardour 
of  a  zealous  and  brave  officer. 

At  the  end  of  four  years,  and  not  till  then,  Captain  Sey- 
mour solicited  further  promotion.  Lord  Spencer  still  pre- 
sided at  the  Admiralty,  and  with  the  same  propriety  and 
romptness  of  attention  which  (happily  for  the  navy)  uniformly 
marked  his  lordship's  conduct  during  his  administration,  Captain 
Seymour's  application  was  directly  attended  to,  by  his  promotion 
to  the  rank  of  post  captain.  It  is  delightful  to  record  facts  of 
this  description,  and  we  hope  every  year  will  multiply  them  ;  for 
what  can  support  our  gallant  countrymen,  who  patiently  submit 
to  every  privation,  in  the  execution  of  their  anxious  and  laborious 
duties,  but  the  expectation  of  reward  for  their  faithful  services  ? 

Soon  after  this  time  the  contest  of  war  ceased,  and  Captain  Sey- 
mour remained  unemployed  ;  but  immediately  on  the  renewal  of 

*  Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.'Xtt.  p-jre  1.00.* 


94  MEMOlft   O*   THE   PUBLIC   SERVICED  OF 

hostilities,  he  again  offered  his  services.  Some  time,  indeed,  elapscS 
before  he  received  employment  of  any  kind,  and  when  it  did  come, 
it  was  that  of  acting  captain  ;  in  which  capacity  he  patiently  served 
in  six  successive  ships — Budging,  we  suppose,  that  the  discipline  of* 
obedience  should  subdue  all  other  feelings  of  the  mind,  and  that 
the  best  reproof  to  commands,  if  (by  accident)  improperly  direct, 
ed,  was  the  patient  observance  of  them.  At  length,  however,  in 
1806,  on  Lord  Bar  ham's  taking  charge  of  the  naval  administra- 
tion, Captain  Seymour  was  appointed  by  his  lordship  to  that  frigate 
<>f  which  he  has  proved  himself  so  worthy. 

This  brings  us  to  the  period  of  the  action  of  the  Amethyst  with 
the  French  frigate  la  Thetis. 

The  Amethyst  had  been  cruising  off  I/Orient  fourteen  weeks  : 
during  this  time  violent  gales  of  wind  had  prevailed,  and  cons e-' 
quently  added  to  the  perils  of  a  coast  at  all  times,  we  believe,  suf- 
ficiently dangerous. 

On  the  night  of  the  10th  of  November,  1808,  we  find  the  Ame- 
thyst, however,  iti  the  watchful  perseverance  of  her  duty,  standing1 
so  close  in  to  the  north-west  point  of  Groa,  that  it  became  impossible 
for  an  enemy  to  escape  ;  the  proof  of  which  has  been  fully  exem- 
plified, by  the  ineffectual  endeavours  of  the  Frerich  frigate.  The 
night  was  unusually  dark,  not  a  star  to  be  seen,  and  every  thingf 
indeed  favoured  the  attempt.  About  seven  the  flash  and  report  of 
cannon  were  distinctly  seen  and  heard  from  a  battery  on  the 
French  coast,  in  a  direction  contiguous  to  the  alarm  atid  signal' 
post.  The  conjecture  of  the  moment  supposed  rt  in  consequence 
of  the  near  approach  of  the  Amethyst ;  but  it  was  in  reality  directed! 
against  their  own  frigate,  of  the  sailing  of1  which  they  were  igno- 
rant. About  half-past  seven  a  sail  was  descried  just  ahead  :  it  was 
supposed  a  small  armed  vessel,  or  something  still  more  contempti- 
ble, and  the  deception  of  night  favoured  the  supposition.  A  mus- 
ket was  ordered  to  be  fired :  no  notice  was  taken  :  she  grew 
larger.  The  Amethyst  still  continued  under  an  easy  press  of 
sail.  A  gun  was  now  fired,  and  the  crackling  noise  of  this  shot 
was  heard  as  it  passed  through  the  cabin  windows.  This  by  the 
enemy  was  instantly  returned,  and  the  veil  of  darkness  which  had 
hitherto  obscured  her  was  now  removed,  by  the  lights  flying  in. 
every  part  of  her ;  every  inch  of  canvass  was  set ;  her  boat  cut 
from  her  stern,  and  a  ship  of  war  appeared  anxious  for  escape. 


«APTAIN    MICHAEL   SEYMOUR.  £5 

Chough  capable  of  resistance.  The  Amethyst  immediately  spread 
more  canvass,  but  allowed  her  to  gain  a  little,  lest  her  apprehen- 
sions might  induce  her  to  run  on  that  shore  which  was  then  so  near 
.them.  About  nine,  however,  those  apprehensions  were  at  an  end, 
and  the  Amethyst  closed  fast.  Her  adversary,  now  finding  all  hopes 
of  escape  at  an  end,  made  her  best  dispositions  to  receive  the 
Amethyst,  and  before  tea  o'clock  the  action  commenced,  which 
continued,  with  very  little  intermission,  until  about  twenty  minutes 
after  twelve.  The  French  ship  fell  on  board  the  Amethyst  a 
little  after  ten.  She  extricated  herself  from  that  situation  ;  but, 
at  a  quarter  past  eleven,  she  intentionally  laid  the  Amethyst  on 
board;  and  from  that  time,  until  the  moment  of  her  surrender, 
•which  was  about  an  hour,  the  contending  ships  were  locked 
together,  the  fluke  of  the  Amethyst's  best  bower  anchor  having 
entered  the  foremost  main-deck  port  of  la  Thetis.  After  great 
slaughter,  la,  Thetis  was  boarded  and  taken  possession  of,  and 
some  prisoners  were  received  from  her,  before  the  ships  were  dis- 
engaged. The  Triumph,  commanded  by  Sir  Thomas  Hardy, 
shortly  afterwards  came  up  ;  and,  subsequently,  the  Shannon, 
which  took  la  Thetis  in  tow. 

In  this  long  and  sharply  contested  action,  the  rigging  of  the 
Amethyst  was  much  cut;  and  19  of  her  crew  were  killed,  and  51 
•wounded.  The  loss  of  the  Thetis,  however,  was  still  more  shock- 
ing  to  humanity  ;  as,  exclusively  of  her  captain,  she  had  172  men 
killed,  and  102  wounded  ;  amongst  "whom  were  all  her  officers, 
excepting  three.* 

When  the  great  disparity  of  force  between  the  Amethyst  and 
Thetis  is  considered,  the  conquest  achieved  is  marked  by  particular 
brilliancy.  The  Amethyst  mounted  only  36  guns,  the  Thetis  44  ; 
consequently,  from  her  larger  size,  her  metal  was  of  superior 
weight;  her  crew,  consisting  of  360 men,  besides  106  soldiers,  had 
served  for  years  together;  added  to  this,  Mons.  Pinsun,  entrusted 
with  the  command  of  la  Thetis,  was  a  man  of  approved  courage, 
much  beloved  by  his  men,  and  deserving  in  every  respect  the  com- 
mendation of  an  excellent  officer.  Indeed,  there  are  but  few 
instances  on  record,  in  which  a  French  ship  is  known  to  have  sup- 

*  The  number  of  wounded  on  board  la  Thetis,  according  to  Captain  Sey- 
mour's ofticial  letter,  at  page  418  of  the  preceding  volume,  was  132;  but 
it  has  since  been  ascertained,  that  the  number  was  172,  as  here  stated. 


96      MEMOIR   Of   THE   PUBLIC   SERVICES    OF   CAPT.   M.  SEYMOUR. 

ported  so  long,  so  spirited,  and  so  determined  a  conflict.  But  the 
contest  was  never  for  a  moment  doubtful — all  were  animated  with 
the  glorious  spirit  that  leads  to  victory,  and  the  guns  were  served 
with  the  same  zeal  and  alacrity  the  last  hour  6f  the  fight  as  in  the 
first.  Such  is  the  simple  detail  of  this  distinguished  action,  which 
for  gallantry,  skill,  and  bravery  has  never  been  exceeded ;  which 
whilst  it  holds  up  anew  the  character  of  our  country,  must  elicit 
praise  from  every  tongue,  and  gratitude  from  every  heart. 

High  and  distinguished  as  Captain  Seymour's  public  character 
appears,  in  private  it  is  also  marked  with  every  virtue  that  makes 
it  estimable. 

His  majesty  has  been  graciously  pleased  to  signify  his  approba- 
tion, by  presenting  him  with  the  gold  medal. 

The  mayor,  aldermen,  sheriffs,  and  common  council  of  the  city  of 
Limerick  voted  him  the  freedom  of  that  city,  in  a  heart  of  oak  box, 
lined  and  ornamented  with  gold  ;  *  and  he  has  also  received  the  free- 
dom of  the  city  of  Cork,  in  a  silver  box,  "  for  his  very  great  gallan- 
try and  ability  in  the  capture  of  the  Thetis." 

The  committee  of  the  Patriotic  Fund,  at  Lloyd's,  voted  him  the 
sum  of  one  hundred  guineas,  for  the  purchase  of  a  piece  of  plate, 
commemorative  of  the  event. 

HERALDIC   PARTICULARS. 

During  the  time  that  Captain  Seymour  commanded  the  Spitfire, 
he  married  Jane,  the  third  daughter  of  the  late  brave  and  much 
respected  Captain  James  Hawker,  of  the  royal  navy  ;  by  which  lady 
he  has  a  family  of  seven  children ;  five  sons,  and  two  daughters. 

ARMS.— Argent  two  wings  conjoined  in  lure,  tips  downwards,  gujes. 

CREST. — On  a  wreath  of  the  colours  two  torches  in  saltire,  thereon  an 
eagle,  with  wings  elevated,  looking  towards  the  sun,  a.11  proper. 

MOTTO.— Foy  pour  Devoir. 

The  following  is   a  fac-simile  of    Captain    Seymours 
writing. 


Vide  the  Retrospect,  in  a  subsequent 


97 


NAVAL  ANECDOTES, 
COMMERCIAL  HINTS,  RECOLLECTIONS,  &r. 


NANTES    IV    GUROITK    VASTO, 


ADMIRAL    BLAKE. 

Extracts  from  GiJpius  Ohscrcrttions  on  the  Western  Parts  of  England,) 

^J,alHERE  was  very  little  in  Bridgewater,   -which  was  our  next 
•    stage,   worth  a  traveller's  attention.     Its  great  boast  is  the 
celebrated  Blake,   one  of  Cromwell's   admirals,  who  was  born  in 
this  town,  and  represented  it  in  several  parliaments. 

The  name  of  Blake  can  hardly  occur  to  an  Englishman  without 
suggesting  respect.  If  ever  any  man  was  a  lover  of  his  country^ 
without  being  actuated  by  party,  or  by  any  other  sinister  motive, 
it  was  Blake.  Whether,  in  a  divided  commonwealth,  one  side  or 
the  other  should  be  cordially  chosen  by  every  citizen,  is  a  nice 
question.  Some  of  the  ancient  moralists  have  held  the  affirmative. 
But  a  man  may  see  such  errors  on  both  sides,  as  may  render  a 
choice  difficult.  This  seems  to  have  been  Blake's  case.  The  glory 
of  his  country,  therefore,  was  the  only  part  he  espoused.  He 
fought  indeed  under  Cromwell  ;  but  it  was  merely,  he  would  say, 
to  aggrandize  old  England  :  he  often  disliked  the  Protector's 
politics.  With  the  death  of  Charles  he  was  particularly  displeased, 
and  was  heard  to  mutter,  that  to  have  saved  the  king's  life,  he 
would  freely  have  ventured  his  own.  But  still  he  fought  on  ;  took 
an  immense  treasure  from  the  Portuguese,  beat  the  Dutch  in  two 
or  three  desperate  engagements,  burnt  the  Dey  of  Tunis's  fleet, 
awed  the  piratical  states  ;  and  above  all,  destroyed  the  Spanish 
plate-fleet  in  the  harbour  of  Saata  Cruz,  which  was  thought  a 
piece  of  the  most  gallant  seamanship  that  ever  was  performed. 
Something  in  the  mean  time  havpened  at  home  which  he  did  not 
like,  particularly  Cromwell's  treatment  of  the  Parliament  ;  but  he 
still  fought  on  :  and  would  say  to  his  captains,  It  is  not  for  us  to 
mind  state  matters,  but  to  keep  foreigners  from  fooling  us. 
What  is  singular  in  this  commander  is,  that  all  his  knowledge  in 
maritime  affairs  was  acquired  after  he  was  fifty  years  of  age.  He 
bad  the  theory  of  his  profession,  as  it  were,  by  intuition  ;  and 
crowded  as  many  gallant  actions  into  nine  or  te-a  years,  as  might 
fcave  immortalized  as  many  commanders.  One  personal  singularity 


2&c.  Cljron.  (HcUXXI. 


58  WAV  At.    ANECDOTES, 

is  recorded,  which  gives  us  a  sort  of  portrait  of  him.  When  hif 
choler  was  raised,  and  he  was  bent  on  some  desperate  undertaking, 
it  was  his  custom  to  twirl  his  whiskers  with  his  fore-finger.  When- 
ever that  sign  appeared,  those  about  him  well  knew  something 
dreadful  was  in  agitation. 

REMARK  .A  BIT?     ENGAGEMENT     BETWEEN    1IIS    MAJESTY'S    StOOf 
KITE,    AND    A    DANIsH    FLOTILLA. 

THE  following  particulars  have  been  furnished  by  an  officer  l>e«. 
longing  to  the  Kite  : — 

**  On  the  3d  of  September,  1808,  being  at  anchor  off  the  island 
of  Spro,  near  Nyborg,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  moon 
shining  bright,  observed  we  were  enclosed  in  a  half  circle  of  Danish 
gun-boats,  to  the  number  of  22  or  24.  The  Minx  gun-brig  being  in 
t ompany,  cut  her  cable  and  made  sail,  as  the  only  means  of  saving 
herself  j  we  being  nearer  to  Nyborg,  from  whence  they  came, 
sustained  nearly  their  whole  attack  ;  almost  at  the  instant  in  which 
•we  first  perceived  them,  they  opened  a  tremendous  fire  of  round 
and  grape  shot  from  their  whole  line  of  three  divisions.  Of  onr 
crew,  nearly  one  half  were  absent  (some  in  prizes,  the  rest  lately 
taken  prisoners  in  the  boats),  those  on  board  the  least  to  be  de- 
pended upon  ;  we,  however,  manned  the  guns,  and  kept  up  a  fire 
for  some  time,  but  finding  it  impossible  to  withstand  a  force  at 
least  seven  times  that  of  our  own  (for  three  of  them  are  equal 
to  a  sloop  of  war  in  a  calm,  which  it  then  was),  wecut  our  cable  ; 
the  ship  lay  now  unmanageable  for  want  of  wind,  whilst  the  enemy, 
who  were  by  this  time  within  musket  range,  struck  us  every  time 
they  fired.  At  this  moment  our  friend,  Mr.  Thomas,  the  purser, 
and  my  servant,  \vcre  killed,  the  ship  became  leaky,  the  rigging 
much  cut,  and  several  of  the  sails  falling  do\vn  upon  deck.  Our 
situation  became  now  the  most  critical  that  ever  was  experienced, 
when  a  light  breeze  most  providentially  sprung  up,  but  a  gun-boat 
belonging  to  ourselves,  out  of  which  we  had  succeeded  in  getting 
our  people,  and  cut  away,  got  unfortunately  uudcr  our  bows,  and 
prevented  the  ship  from  getting  before  the  wind  ;  the  round  shott 
the  splinters,  and  the  iangrage,  were  flying  in  every  direction  ;  the 
U-aks  increased,  the  enemy  within  hail  in  several  places  ;  tin;  masts- 
and  square  sails,  however,  were  still  standing.  The  first  lieutenant, 
the  only  one  on  board,  as  a  last  resource,  jumped  with  a  few  brave 
fellows  into  this  gun-boat,  and  happily  succeeded  in  pushing  her 
,  which  immediately  enabled  as  to  get  before  the  wind  ;  the 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,     RECOLLECTIONS.    &C.  99 

enemy's  fire  now  became  more  excessive,  in  consequence  of  our 
having  to  take  the  people  from  the  guns  to  trim  sails ;  the  breeze, 
however,  freshened,  our  lads  strain  manned  their  guns,  and  the 
smoke  being  tolerably  cleared  away,  enabled  them  to  take  better 
aim  :  one  of  the  enemy's  boats,  with  about  70  men.  was  soon  after 
this  sunk  by  our  quarter-deck  guns,  and  the  enemy,  thinking  we 
Jiad  sent  men  in  our  gun-boat,  which  now  dropped  astern,  directed 
part  of  their  fire  to  her  so  effectually,  that  she  sunk  ;  this  desertion 
was  of  much  use  to  us,  and  -with  the  fine  little  breeze  we  now 
enjoyed  we  drew  considerably  away  from  them;  they  followed  for 
some  distance,  still  tiring,  but  now  our  crew  having  only  to  attend 
to  the  guns,  our  lire  became  much  more  brisk,  and  considerably 
galled  the  enemy.  At  half-past  11,  making  just  an  hour  and  a 
half,  they  burnt  a  blue  light,  the  signal  of  retreat,  and  we  were 
unable  to  follow.  We  steered  for  an  English  64-guu  ship,  which 
vas  within  about  12  miles  of  us,  and  anchored  near  to  her.  At 
daylight  we  found  the  ship  a  perfect  wreck,  two  killed,  as  before 
mentioned,  and  13  wounded,  being  one  out  of  every  three  of  all  oa 
board.  Six  large  shots  through  the  tottering  main-mast,  fire  through 
the  fore-top-sail  alone,  and  in  the  hull  too  many  to  be  conve- 
niently numbered  ;  tha  main  boom  shot  through,  and  lying  across 
the  deck,  and  much  water  in  the  hold.  During  the  whole  of  this 
affair  we  had  IS  Danish  prisoners  on  board  since  the  .Nyborg  action, 
which  required  some  of  our  hands,  together  with  the  sick  people}- 
to  prevent  them  from  rising,  and  assisting  their  countrymen. " 

RUSSIAN     OFFICIAL     ACCOUNT    OF    THF    LATE    NAVAL    ACTION    IN 
THE    HALTIC. 

O.v  the  9th  of  August,  Admiral  Xauckhoff  set  sail  from  Hangudd 
with  his  squadron,  composed  of  nine  sail  of  the  line  and  nine 
frigates,  for  Jungfrusund,  for  the  purpose  of  reconnoitring  the 
enemy's  position,  and  to  form  his  plan  of  operations.  He  found 
the  enemy's  fleet  at  anchor  in  Jungfrusund,  among  the  cliffs,  con- 
sisting of  18  sail,  partly  line-of-ba(tle  ships,  and  partly  frigates. 
Admiral  Nauckhoif  was  cruising  off  Jungfrusund  until  the  13th, 
when  his  headmost  shin  made  the  signal  that  the  enemy's  ift>et  was 
weighing  anchor.  Admiral  Nauckhoff  immediately  detached  a 
corvette  to  observe  the  enemy's  movements,  formed  his  fleet  in 
order  of  battle,  and  beat  about  to  the  eastward,  in  order  not  to 
be  cut  olF  from  his  port,  being  determined  to  give  battle. 

The  same  day  the  enemy's  fleet  was -observed  from  the  masthead 
working  up  towards  oar  squadron,  in  company  with  two  English 


K)0  NAVAL    ANECDOTES, 

sail  of  the  line.  Admiral  Nauckhoff  resolved  to  attack  the  enemy 
the  following  day,  and  beat  about  the  whole  night,  in  order  not  to 
lose  the  wind.  At  break  of  day,  being  oft'  Baltic  Port,  he  dis- 
covered to  leeward  the  enemy's  fleet,  composed  of  13  sail  of  the 
line  and  five  large  frigates  ;  among  the  former  were  two  English 
ships,  one  of  which  was  a  three-decker,  and  bore  the  admiral's 
pendant,  and  the  other  was  a  two-decker  of  the  largest  size ;  and 
among  the  Swedish  ships  was  also  a  three-decker.  The  enemy's 
van,  headed  by  the  two  English  sail  of  the  line,  neared  our  rear,  and 
at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  two  English  ships  attacked  suc- 
cessively the  stcrnmost  ship  of  our  line,  the  Sewolad,  which  had 
somewhat  fallen  to  leeward.  When  Admiral  Nauckhoff  saw  the 
manoeuvres  of  the  enemy,  he  bore  down  on  him  with  the  whole  of. 
his  squadron.  The  English,  fearful  to  be  cut  off  from  their  line, 
tacked,  and  were  followed  by  the  Swedes.  Captain  Rudnew, 
commander  of  the  Sewolad,  with  the  utmost  gallantry,  beat  off 
twice  the  enemy's  attack,  but  suffered  considerably  in  his  tackle 
and  rigging.  The  main-top-mast  and  yard  were  shattered  by  the 
enemy's  lire,  the  fore-top-gallant-mast  was  split,  and  the  Sewolad 
was  no  longer  able  to  maintain  her  place  in  the  line,  of  which 
Captain  Rudnew  informed  the  commander-in-chief  by  signal. 
Admiral  Nauckhoff,  who  witnessed  the  above  facts,  permitted  him, 
to  run  into  Baltic  Port,  and  a  frigate  convoyed  him  thither.  By 
this  means  our  line,  before  a  general  engagement  could  be  com- 
menced, had  lost  one  ship,  and  another,  the  Severnja  Swesda 
(North  Star),  received  on  a  sudden  so  much  damage  in  her  fore- 
top-mast,  that  she  would  not  carry  her  fore-top-sail,  and  was  con- 
sequently also  disabled  duly  to  maintain  her  place  in  the  line. 

By  this  circumstance  the  enemy  gained  a  great  superiority  of 
strength,  and  Admiral  Nauckhoff  found  it  accordingly  expedient 
to  stand  with  his  squadron  for  Baltic  Port.  The  enemy  stood,  in 
consequence  thereof,  on  the  same  coui'ie,  keeping  their  wind;  and 
the  English  ships  displayed  all  their  skill  to  cut  off  our  damaged 
ship  Sewolad,  which  was  no  longer  able  to  keep  up  with  our  line. 
In  order  to  frustrate  this  plan  of  the  enemy,  Admiral  Xauckhoff 
made  signal  for  the  rear  to  cover  the  said  ship,  and  afford  her  all 
possible  assistance  j  but  owing  to  her  having  fallen  considerably  to 
leeward,  she  was  not  able,  In  spite  of  the  utmost  exertions  made  by 
her  own  commander,  as  well  as  by  the  captains  of  the  other  ships, 
to  round  the  north  point  of  Baltic  Port,  and  enter  that  hirbour  in 
company  with  the  rest  of  our  ships,  but  necessitated  to  drop  anchor 
on  the  north  side  of  this  island.,  close  in,  with  the  shore. 


COMMERCIAL   HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  101 

In  the  mean  time  the  commander-in-chief  entered  the  above  port, 
brought  up  in  line-of-battle,  and  made  all  necessary  arrangement 
to  repulse  the  enemy,  who,  however,  made  no  attack,  but  stood 
out  to  sea  with  his  whole  fleet. 

Admiral  Nauckhoffimmediately  ordered  those  experienced  officers 
Captain- Lieutenants  Miniskoy  and  Fuludjew,  to  put  off  with  all 
the  row-boats  of  the  squadron,  to  the  assistance  of  the  Sewolad, 
and  to  endeavour  t0  bring  her  back  to  the  fleet.  These  two 
gallant  officers  used  their  best  efforts  for  that  purpose,  bat  the  two 
English  ships  of  the  line  coming  up,  successively  attacked  the 
Sewolad,  and  dispersed  the  row-boats,  which  Captain-Lieutenant 
Miniskoy,  however,  succeeded  to  rally,  and  rejoined  with  them  the 
squadron. 

Captain  Rudnew,  undismayed  by  their  retreat,  continued  to  make 
the  most  vigorous  resistance,  constantly  and  closely  engaged  with 
one  of  the  two  English  ships,  vr'-uich  suffered  severely,  and  the 
slaughter  was  groat  on  both  sides  ;  nor  would  the  conflict  have 
been  ended,  but  with  the  total  destruction  of  the  combatants,  had 
not  the  other  English  ship  also  come  up  with  the  Sewolad  and  given 
his  broadside,  by  which  she  was  completely  disabled  from  con- 
tinuing the  contest  any  longer.  It  was  but  then  that  the  English 
were  able  to  render  themselves  master  of  the  Sewolad,  or  rather 
her  wreck,  covered  with  dead  bodies  ;  56  of  her  crew  saved  them- 
selves by  swimming,  and  the  rest  were  taken  prisoners  by  the 
English.  Rear-admiral  Hood  has  sent  back  37  of  them,  who  were 
•wounded,  and  state,  that  the  loss  on  board  the  two  English  ships 
has  also  been  very  great. 

GALLANTRY  AXI>    DEATH    OF    CAPTAIN    COOMBE,    ^T    GUADALOUPI, 
IN    NOVEMBER,    1808. 

•  CAPTAIN  COOMBE,  of  the  Heureux,  had  received  information, 
on  which  he  could  depend,  that  there  Jay  in  the  harbour  of  Bay 
Mahaut  (Gaudaloupe)  seven  vessels  of  different  descriptions,  some 
loaded  and  ready  for  sea,  and  others  loading  ;  he  also  received  an 
account  of  the  strength  and  situation  of  the  batteries ;  he  had  a 
pilot  to  carry  the  boats  in,  and  a  guide  to  conduct  the  storming 
parties.  The  attack  took  place  on  the  morning  of  the  29th  of 
^November,  as  follows  : — Captain  Cuombe  in  his  barge,  and  19  men, 
to  board  the  shipping  ;  Lieutenant  Lawrence  inthe 
men,  to  storm  a  battery  of  two  24-pounders  ;  and  !Mr.  Daly,  the 
purser,  in  the  pinnace,  and  22  men,  to  storm  a  lattery  of  one  24- 


102  NAVAL    AMCDOTES, 

pounder,  within  the  town  ;  the  signal  of  cither  party  having  sue* 
ceeded  was  three  cheers ;  the  boats,  after  rowing  six  miles,  lay  on 
their  oars  until  the  moon  went  down.  At  four  o'clock  A.M.  they 
dashed  on,  and  after  a  few  minutes  of  desperate  fighting,  the  wel- 
come signal  of  success  was  given  by  all  three  parties  cheering  at 
the  same  moment.  Captain  Coombe  carried  a  schooner  of  two 
guns  mounted,  and  39  seamen  and  soldiers  on  board.  Lieutenant 
Laurence  having  spiked  the  guns  on  the  batteries  with  Mr.  Daly, 
proceeded  to  board  the  remaining  vessels,  in  which  they  succeeded  ; 
the  enemy  lined  the  shore  with  musketry,  got  three  field-pieces  to 
bear,  and  kept  up  a  very  sharp  fire  on  a  brig  and  a  schooner, 
which  was  returned  by  the  marines  and  the  guns  on  board  them  ; 
while  carrying  them  out,  they  both  unfortunately  grounded,  and 
thus  became  fixed  objects  for  the  enemy's  fire,  which  was  further 
increased  by  a  24-pounder.  Finding  it  impossible  to  get  the 
ressels  off,  the  running  riggingveut  to  pieces,  the  standing  rigging 
much  wounded,  and  it  being  daylight,  orders  were  given  to  aban- 
don, and  soon  after  Captain  Coombe  was  struck  with  a  24-pound 
round  shot  in  iiis  left  side,  and  fell  dead.  The  boats  got  out  of 
the  reach  of  the  fire  of  the  enemy  about  six  o'cock  A.M.  The  ac- 
tion continued  about  an  hour  and  three  quarters.  The  loss  of  the 
British  was  trifling,  except  that  of  Captain  Coombe  killed,  and 
Lieutenant  Lawrence  wounded  by  a  musket  ball  in  the  arm  ;  the 
enemy's  loss  was  great  in  the  attack  of  the  batteries  and  on  board- 
ing— there  were  about  forty  killed  ;  the  number  drowned  must 
have  been  very  great,  as  must  have  been  their  loss  on  shore  ;  there 
was  a  Serjeant's  party  on  board  the  vessels,  besides  the  crews. 

PEATH    OF    LIEUTENANT    G.  A.  SPEARING,    IN    AN    UNSUCCESSFUL 
ATTACK    ON    THE    ISLAND    OF   ST.    MARTIN. 

ST.  Martin's  Island  having  long  been  considered  as  a  shelter  for 
the  numerous  French  privateers  which  infest  the  West  Indies,  and 
obstruct  the  trade  of  the  country,  it  became  a  desirable  object  to 
rxtirpate  them.  Accordingly,  at  the  commencement  of  July,  his 
majesty's  schooners,  Subtle,  Balahou,  and  Elizabeth,  with  the 
Wanderer  sloop  of  war,  made  an  atterrfpt  to  carry  the  island  by  a 
coup  de  main.  Owing,  however,  to  some  false  information 
respecting  the  enemy's  strength,  the  effort  failed.  About  130  sea- 
men  and  marines,  headed  by  Lieutenant  Spearing,  of  the  Subtle, 
landed,  and  soon  obtained  possession  of  the  lower  fort,  of  six  guns, 
which  were  instantly  spiked.  Their  loss  so  far  was  trifling  ;  bat 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  10S 

on  ascending  the  rocky  heights,  covered  -with  the  prickly  pear, 
the  superiority  of  the  enemy  was  severely  felt:  as  a  number  of 
brave  fellows  fell,  among  whom  was  Lieutenant  Spearing,  who  was 
shot  through  the  chest  within  ten  yards  of  the  upper  fort,  and 
almost  instantly  expired.  His  fall  occasioned  much  consternation 
among  his  companions,  who  reluctantly  retreated  to  their  boats, 
but  were  obliged  to  surrender.  Captain  Crofton,  of  the  Wanderer, 
finding  the  fire  from  the  fort  so  tremendous  and  incessant,  sent  a 
flag  of  truce  on  shore,  which  was  accepted,  and  the  whole  of  the 
prisoners  who  could  be  removed  with  safety  were  given  up. 

Thus  fell,  in  the  prime  of  life,  in  a  most  daring  and  gallant 
attempt,  a  promising  active  officer,  whose  long  services  in  his  pro- 
fes^.ion  entitled  him  to  the  notice  of  his  country  ;  in  whose  cause 
he  had  received  11  wounds,  particularly  at  the  battle  of  Copenha- 
gen, and  in  the  West  Indies.  He  closed  a  career  of  glory,  ani- 
mating his  men  by  his  example,  on  the  batteries  of  St.  Martin's. 

Nothing  can  better  erince  the  admiration  which  even  his  enemies 
entertained  of  his  conduct  on  this  occasion,  than  the  tribute  which 
they  conferred  on  his  remains  :  he  was  interred  with  all  the  honours 
of  war;  the  French  commandant  himself  attending,  and  also  per- 
mitting part  of  the  gallant  crew  of  the  Subtle  to  pay  their  last  sad 
duty  to  their  beloved  commander. 

It  afterwards  appeared,  that  the  enemy  had  received  informatioa 
of  the  intended  attack,  and  were  prepared  accordingly  ;  upwards 
of  900  troops  being  in  the  fort,  while  the  storming  party  consisted 
only  of  ^35  men.  Out  of  43  sent  from  the  Subtle,  seven  were 
killed  and  seventeen  wounded. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  order  which  was  issued  on  this 
melancholy  occasion,  by  Captain  Crofton,  of  his  majesty's  ship 
Wanderer  : — 

"  To  the  Commanding  Officers  of  hit  M-jesty's  Schooners  Subtle  and 

HullaLou. 

<l  You  all  well  know  the  melancholy  though  glorious  death  of  Lieutenant 
G.  A.  Spearing,  late  commander  of  his  majesty's  schooner  Subtic,  who  fell 
fighting  for  his  king  and  country  ;  his  corpse  this  evening  is  to  receive  the 
honours  of  war,  conferred  by  Ins  enemies,  admirers  of  his  gallantry  and 
courage  :  you  will  join,  on  a  signal  from  ice  'wh-jn  the  fort  shall  have  fired 
a  shotted  gun),  to  fiie  minute  guns.'J 

"  DatedtthJult/:offSi.  Martins," 


104  KAVAtr  ANECDOTES, 

JEWISH    FORTITUDE. 

ABOUT  the  year  1796,   two  or  three  Jews  came  over  front 
Poland,  for  the  purpose  of  trade,   of  which  second-hand  clothing 
formed  a  considerable  part.     After  having  made  their  purchase, 
they  shipped  it  on  board  a  Prussian  vessel,   bound  from  London 
to   Dantzic,    and  accompanied  it   for   their  better  security.     At 
the  distance  of  thirty  or  forty  leagues  from  the  English  coast,  in 
a  dark  night,   the  vessel  was  ran  on  board  by  a  large  ship,  the 
shock  of  which  was  so  violent,   that  the  terrified  captain  and  crew 
sought  their  safety  by  leaping  on  boa,rdthe  larger  vessel,  expecting 
their  own  to  go  down,  leaving  the  Jews  the  only  persons  on  board. 
The  latter,  recovering  in  some  degree  from  the  consternation  into 
which  they  wore  thrown  on  discovering  themselves  abandoned  by 
the  crew,  totally  ignorant  of  navigation,  and  exposed  to  the  mercy 
of  the  winds  and  waves,  still  had  the  satisfaction  of  finding  that  the 
ship  was  tight.     A  consultation  was  thereupon  held,  in  which  the 
most  experienced   of   them   suggested,   that  he  had  observed  the 
point  of  the  compass,   and  their  course,   on  leaving  the  coast  of 
Yarmouth,  that  if  they  could  by  any  means  put  the  ship  about,  and 
endeavour  to  retrace  their  course,  that  they  should  inevitably  fall 
in  again  with  the  English  coast.     In  this  they  succeeded  ;  and,  by 
the  help  of  pilots,   were  brought  in  safety  into  the  port  of  Yar- 
mouth.    There    they  were,   to  their  great  surprise,   met  by  the 
original  captain  and  ciew,  who  gladly  came  on  board,  and  resumed 
the  direction  of  the  vessel.     These  circumstances  produced  a  con- 
siderable  charge   on   the   cargo,    in  which  many    persons    were 
interested,  and  of  which  the  Jews  must  have  borne  a  considerable 
share.     They,  however,  thought  it  hard  to  suffer  in  this  way,  after 
having  been  the  means  of  preserving  both  ship  and  cargo,   to  the 
advantage  of  all  concerned.      But  the  captain   was  deaf  to  all 
accommodation,    and   refused  them   any  remuneration  for   their 
tronble  and   risk.     The  Well-known   characters  of  Messrs.  Ben- 
jamin  and  Abraham    Goldsraid,     induced    the  Jews  to   lay  this 
peculiar  case  before  them  :    and  as  it  appeared  to  these  gentlemen 
that  there  were  sufficient  grounds  to  claim  a  salvage  of  the  ship  and 
cargo,    they   resolved  to   defend  and  support  the  cause  of  their 
stranger  brethren.     A  long  and  expensive  process  in  the  Admiralty 
Court  was,   however,   prevented  ;  and,   by  the  mediation  of  some 
mercantile  friends  with  Messrs.  Goldsmid,  it  was  agreed,  that  the 
sum  of  3001.  should  be  allowed  to  these  poor  men,  which  they  re- 
ceived with  thankfulness,  and  their  generous  friends  experienced 
that  pleasure,  which  must  ever  be  felt  by  those  whose  benevolent 
fxcrtious  are  attended  by  equal  success. 


COMMERCIAL    MINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,   &C.  105 

NEW  VOLCANO    AT    THE    AZORES. 

THE  subjoined  interesting  letter  upon  this  subject,  dated  Faya), 
June  25,  1808,  was  addressed  by  John  B.  Dabney,  Esq.  Consul 
of  the  United  States  of  America,  to  one  of  his  friends  .it  Sr. 
Michael's : — 

"    DEAR    SIR, 

<c  A  phenomenon  has  occurred  here  not  unusual  in  former  flgcw,, 
but  of  which  there  has  been  no  example  of  late  years;  it  was  well 
calculated  to  inspire  terror,  and  has  been  attended  with  the  destruc- 
tion of  lives  and  property.  On  Sunday,  the  1st  of  Ma)',  at  one 
P.M.  walking  in  the  balcony  of  my  house,  at  St.  Anthonio,  I  heard 
noises  like  the  report  of  heavy  cannon  at  a  distance,  and  concluded 
there  was  some  sea  engagement  in  the  vicinity  of  the  island.  But 
soon  after,  casting  my  eyes  towards  the  island  of  St.  George,  ten 
leagues  distant,  I  perceived  a  dense  column  of  smoke  rising  to  an 
immense  height  ;  it  was  soon  judged  that  a  volcano  had  burst  out 
about  the  centre  of  that  island,  and  this  was  rendered  certain  when 
night  came  on,  the  fire  exhibiting  an  awful  appearance. 

"  Being  desirous  of  viewing  this  wonderful  exertion  of  nature, 
I  embarked  on  the  3d  of  May,  accompanied  by  the  British  consul, 
and  ten  other  gentlemen,  for  St.  George's  ;  we  ran  over  in  five 
hours,  and  arrived  at  Vellas,  the  principal  town,  at  eleven  A.M* 
We  found  the,  poor  inhabitants  perfectly  panic-struck,  and  wholly 
givrn  up  to  religious  ceremonies  and  devotion.  We  learned  that 
the  fire  of  the  1st  of  May  had  broken  out  in  a  ditch,  in  the  midst 
of  fertile  pastures,  three  leagues  S.E.  of  Vellas,  and  had  immediately 
formed  a  crater,  in  size  about  24  acres.  In  two  days  it  had  thrown 
out  cinders  or  small  pumice  stones,  that  a  strong  iS'.E.  wind  had 
propelled  southerly  :  and  which,  independent  of  the  mass  accu- 
mulated round  the  crater,  had  covered  the  earth  from  one  foot  to 
four  in  depth,  half  a  league  in  width,  and  three  leagues  in  length; 
then  passing  the  channel  five  leagues,  had  done  some  injury  to  the 
east  point  of  Pico.  The  fire  of  this  large  crater  had  nearly  sub- 
sided, but  in  the  evening  preceding  our  arrival,  another  small  crater 
had  opened,  one  league  north  of  the  large  one,  and  only  two 
leagues  from  Vellas. 

"  After  taking  some  refreshment,  we  visited  the  second  crater; 
the  sulphureous  smoke  of  which,  driven  southerly,  rendered  it 
impracticable  to  attempt  approaching  the  large  one.  When  we 
came  within  a  mile  of  the  crater,  we  found  the  earth  rent  in  every 

J®ato,»  Spron,  21  pi.  XXI.  p 


106  NAVAL    ANECDOTES, 

direction,  and,  as  we  approached  nearer,  some  of  the  chasms  were 
six  feet  wide  ;  by  leaping  over  some. of  these  chasms,  and  making 
windings  to  avoid  the  larger  ones,  we  at  length  arrived  within  two 
hundred  yards  of  the  spot;  and  saw  it,  in  the  middle  of  a  pasture, 
distinctly,  at  intervals,  when  the  thick  smoke  which  swept  the 
earth  lighted  up  a  little.  The  mouth  of  it  was  only  about  fifty 
yards  in  circumference;  the  fire  seemed  struggling  for  vent ;  the 
force  with  which  a  pale  blue  flame  issued  forth,  resembled  a  pow, 
erful  steam  engine,  multiplied  a  hundred  fold  ;  the  noise  was 
deafening  ;  the  earth  where  we  stood  had  a  tremulous  motion  ;  the. 
whole  island  seemed  convulsed,  horrid  bel'owings  were  occasion-? 
ally  heard  from  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  and  earthquakes  were 
frequent. 

ii  Alter  remaining  here  about  ten  minutes  we  returned  to  town; 
the  inhabitants  had  mostly  quitted  thtir  houses,  and  remained  in 
the  open  air  or  under  tents.  We  passed  the.  night  at  Vellas,  and 
the  next  morning  went  by  water  to  Ursulina,  a  small  sea-port 
town,  two  leagues  s«uth  of  Vellas,  and  viewed  that  part  of  the 
country  covered  with  the  cinders  before  mentioned,  and  which  has 
turned  the  most  valuable  vineyards  in  the  island  into  a  frightful 
desert.  On  the  same  day  (the  4th  of  May),  we  returned  to  Fayal, 
and  on  the  5th  and  succeeding  days,  from  12  to  15,  small  volca- 
noes broke  out  in  the  fields  Ave  had  traversed  on  the  3d,  from  the 
chasms  before  described,  and  threw  out  a  quantity  of  lava,  which 
travelled  on  slowly  towards  Vellas. 

"  The  fire  of  those  small  craters  subsided,  and  the  lava  ceased 
running  about  the  llth  of  May  ;  on  which  day  the  large  volcano, 
that  had  lain  dormant  for  nine  days,  burst  forth  again  like  a  roar- 
ing lion,  with  horrid  belchings,  distinctly  heard  at  twelve  leagues 
distance,  throwing  up  prodigious  large  stones,  and  an  immense 
quantity  of  lava,  illuminating  at  night  the  whole  island.  This  con- 
tinued with  tremendous  force,  until  the  5th  of  June,  exhibiting  the 
awful  yet  magnificent  spectacle  of  a  perfect  river  on  fire  (distinctly 
seen  from  Fayal)  running  into  the  sea.  On  that  day  (the  5th)  we 
experienced  that  its  force  began  to  fail,  and,  in  a  few  days  after,  it 
ceased  entirely.  The  distance  of  the  crater  from  the  sea  is  about 
four  miles,  and  its  elevation  about  3,500  feet. 

"  The  lava  inundated  and  swept  away  the  town  of  Ursulina, 
and  country-houses  and  cottages  adjacent,  as  well  as  the  farm- 
houses, throughout  its  course.  It,  as  usual,  gave  timely  notice  of 
its  approach,  and  most  of  the  inhabitants  tied  ;  some  few,  however, 
remained  in  the  vicinity  of  it  too  long,  endeavouring  to  save  their 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,     &C.  107 

furniture  and  effects,  and  were  scalded  by  flashes  of  steam,  which, 
without  injuring  their  clothes,  took  oft'  not  only  their  skin  but 
their  flesh.  About  sixty  persons  were  thus  miserably  scalded, 
some  of  whom  died  on  the  spot,  or  in  a  few  days  after.  Numbers 
of  cattle  shared  the  same  fate.  The  judge  and  principal  inhabitants 
left  the  island  very  early.  The  consternation  and  anxiety  were  for 
some  days  so  great  among  the  people,  that  even  their  domestic 
concerns  were  abandoned,  and,  amidst  plenty,  they  were  in  danger 
of  starving.  Supplies  of  ready-baked  bread  were  sent  from  hence 
to  their  relief,  and  large  boats  were  sent  to  bring  away  the  inha- 
bitants who  had  lost  their  dwellings.  In  short,  the  island,  hereto- 
fore rich  in  cattle,  corn,  and  wine,  is  nearly  ruined,  and  a  scene  of 
greater  desolation  and  distress  has  seldom  been,  witnessed  in  any 
country." 

CANNIBALS    OF    NEW    ZEALAND. 

A  SHORT  time  since,  the  Venus,  a  vessel  which  had  been  seized 
and  carried  off  by  some  convicts  at  Port  Dalrymple  to  New  Zea- 
land, was  there  taken  by  the  natives,  who  killed  and  ate  all  the 
people.  The  vessel  itself  they  drew  on  shore,  and  burnt  it  for  the 
sake  of  the  iron.  This  information  was  communicated  to  the  Mer- 
cury (TL  vessel  that  touched  at  New  Zealand,  and  was  in  danger  of 
being  taken)  by  one  Druse,  a  man  who  deserted  from  the  Lady  Nel- 
son about  two  years  ago,  and  who  is  now  become  a  chief,  tattooed 
from  head  to  foot,  and  has  a  number  of  natives  under  his  command. 

LORD    NELSON    ANO    THE    HAMBURGH    WINE-MERCHANT. 

"  A  CIRCUMSTANCE  of  great  singularity,"  says  one  of  Lord 
Nelson's  biographers,  "  occurred  when  his  lordship  was  at  Ham- 
burgh,  relative  to  a  wine-merchant.  This  gentleman,  who  was 
more  than  70  years  of  age,  and  of  a  very  respectable  appearance, 
had  requested  to  speak  with  Lady  Hamilton.  Her  ladyship 
accordingly  admitted  him  to  a  private  audience,  when  he  informed 
her,  through  the  medium  of  a  Mr.  Oliver,  who  interpreted  for  both 
parties,  that  he  had  some  excellent  old  Rhenish  wine  of  the  vintage 
of  1625,  and  which  had  been  in  his  own  possession  more  than  fifty 
years.  This,  he  said,  had  been  preserved  for  some  very  extraor- 
dinary occasions ;  and  one  had  now  arrived,  far  beyond  any  he 
could  ever  have  expected.  In  short,  he  flattered  himself,  that  by 
the  kind  recommendation  of  her  ladyship,  the  great  and  glorious 
Lord  Nelson  might  be  prevailed  on  to  accept  six  dozen  bottles  of 


108  NAVAL    ANECDOTES,   &c. 

this  incomparable  wine,  part  of  which,  he  observed,  would  then 
have  the  honour  to  flow  with  the  heart's  blood  of  that  immortal 
hero  ;  a  reflection  which  could  not  fail  to  render  himself  the  most 
fortunate  man  in  existence,  during  the  remainder  of  his  days.  His 
lordship,  being  informed  of  these  curious  particulars,  immediately 
came  into  the  apartment,  and  took  the  old  gentleman  kindly  by 
the  hand,  but  politely  declined  his  present.  He  was,  however, 
finally  persuaded  to  accept  of  six  bottles,  on  condition  that  the 
worthy  wine-merchant  should  dine  with  him  next  day.  This 
being  readily  agreed  to,  a  dozen  bottles  were  sent ;  and  his  lordship, 
jocosely  remarking,  that  he  yet  hoped  to  have  half  a  dozen  more 
great  victories,  protested  he  would  keep  six  bottles  of  his  Ham- 
burgh friend's  wine,  purposely  to  drink  a  bottle  after  each.  This 
his  lordship  did  not  fail  to  remember,  on  coming  home  after  the 
battle  of  Copenhagen,  when  he  '  devoutly  drank  the  donor.''  It 
is  said,  that  this  wine-merchant,  soon  after  Lord  Nelson  had  first 
taken  him  by  the  hand,  happening  to  meet  with  an  old  triend,  who 
was  about  to  salute  him  in  a  similar  way,  immediately  declined  the 
intended  kindness,  and  said  he  could  not  suffer  any  person  to  touch 
the  hand  which  had  been  so  highly  honoured  by  receiving  that  of 
Lord  Nelson.  Certain  it  is,  that  this  man  felt  so  overcome  by 
excessive  sensibility,  that  he  literally  shed  tears  of  joy  during  the 
time  he  was  in  our  hero's  presence.'' 

ANNIVERSARY    OF    THE    AMERICAN    EMBARGO    ACT. 

NOTWITHSTANDING  all  the  demonstrations  of  hostility  and  of 
inveterate  hatred  which  appear  in  America  against  Great  Britain, 
the  popular  discontent  at  the  embargo,  and  the  other  measures  so 
hastily  adopted,  cannot  be  concealed.  At  Gloucester,  a  singular 
instance  of  dissatisfaction  at  the  conduct  of  government  and  Con- 
gress was  evinced  in  the  latter  end  of  December,  in  the  following 
•way,  as  described  in  the  American  papers  : — "  Monday,  the  26th 
of  December,  being  the  anniversary  of  the  embargo  laid  on  the 
shipping  of  this  port,  was  ushered  in  by  the  tolling  of  the  bell  at 
sun-rise,  which  continued  for  half  an  hour.  At  eleven  o'clock 
A.M.  a  procession  of  marines,  about  250  in  number,  formed  on 
one  of  the  principal  wharfs :  a  ship,  rigge|i  in  all  the  emblems  of 
distress,  occupied  the  centre,  with  the  motto,  "  Commerce 
destroyed,"  on  her  bows,  and  on  her  stern,  "  Effects  of  the 
Embargo ."  She  was  navigated  by  a  master,  boatswain,  &c.  her 
colours  -were  displayed  at  half-mast,  as  were  those  of  the  shipping 


CORRESPONDENCE.  109 

in  the  harbour.  The  procession  moved  through  the  principal 
streets  in  the  town,  during  which  time  the  bell  tolled,  minute  guns 
of  distress  were  discharged,  the  sky  zsas  enveloped  in  clouds  ^  a 
drum  muffled  in  black  crape  was  beat  to  a  solemn  dirge;  the 
movement  of  the  procession  was  slow  and  silent,  melancholy  was 
depicted  on  all  countenances,  and  nothing  broke  the  awful  silence 
but  the  sound  of  cannon,  the  tolling  of  bells,  the  mournful  drum, 
or  boatswain's  whistle:  indeed  every  emblem  significant  of  distress, 
such  as  heaving  the  lead,  tolling  the  ship's  bell,  the  boatswain's 
call,  and  master's  orders,  were  executed  in  a  manner  so  appro- 
priate, that  it  seemed  to  be  rather  the  reality  than  the  picture.  At 
sun-set  the  bell  tolled  for  half  an  hour,  a  cannon  was  discharged, 
and  the  colours  hauled  down.  No  disorder,  discord,  or  murmur 
was  heard  during  the  day." 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

PRESENT  MANAGEMENT  AND  DISCIPLINE  OF  THE  NAVY. 

LETTEE  XI. 
SIR, 

nriHERE  has  existed  a  great  difference  of  opinion  in  the  minds 
-&-  of  officers  respecting  popularity ;  and  upon  this  subject  f 
have  sometimes  differed  from  very  valuable  and  respectable  men ; 
but  although  their  holding  a  different  opinion  makes  me  naturally 
diffident  of  my  own,  yet  both  my  feelings  and  reason,  unite  in  pre- 
venting my  being  convinced  that  they  are  right  in  theirs. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  in  this  place  to  remark,  that  by  different 
characters  the  same  objects  may  apparently  be  attained  by  very 
different  means,  and  I  am  not  about  to  recommend  attempts  at 
exact  imitations  of  systems  or  manners  even  of  the  highest  charac- 
ters. Whatever  is  done  in  the  natural  character  of  a  man,  will  be 
the  best  done,  provided  the  judgment  is  clear,  and  the  intentions 
are  upright.  Great  examples  are  to  be  kept  in  view  for  the 
attainment  of  great  ends,  and  by  the  same  general  tneans^  but  no 
attempt  should  be  made  to  copy  the  little  details  of  characters  and 
discipline,  otherwise,  the  unfortunate  copiers  will  too  often  find 
themselves  like  "  the  bear  in  the  boat,"  or  "  the  ass  that  thought 
proper  to  imitate  the  lap-dog."  Let  every  officer  who  reads  the 
account  of  the  victories  of  Nelson,  and  hears  that  while  all  th» 


110  COKUESPOXDEJTCr. 

avenues  which  led  toward  strict  discipline  were  guarded  against 
relaxation,  he  had  so  won  the  confidence  and  affection  of  those 
under  him,  that,  like  his  immortal  predecessor 

••   •          "  Wolf,  where'er  he  foughtr 

Put:  so  much  of  his  heart  into  his  act, 

That  his  example  had  a  magnet's  force, 

And  all  were  swift  to  follow,  whom  all  lov'd. 

These  SUDS  are  set — Oh  rise  some  other  such  !" COWPER. 

Let  him,  I  say,  sedulously  einolate  the  same  great  results  by  the 
«ame  noble  means  ;  but  this  he  must  do  in  his  own  natural  man- 
ner :  he  may  attain  to  the  glory,  and  rival  the  virtues  of  Nelson, 
•without  any  imitation  of  minute  particulars.  It  is,  however,  to 
be  lamented,  that  those  who  require  example  most  to  lead  them 
right,  are  in  general  only  capable  of  copying  the  trifling  detail  of 
service,  but  cannot  take  in  the  finished  whole.  Weak  minds  are 
also  timid,  and  dread  to  be  candid  and  open,  for  fear  of  exposure  ; 
therefore,  if  they  have  before  them  an  example  of  the  tyranny  of 
such  a  man  as  was  nicknamed  Frederick  the  Great)  or  of  an 
Amurath  immured  in  his  seraglio,  they  can  assume  the  martinet 
severity  of  the  former,  as  a  cloak  for  their  ignorance,  and  conceive, 
that  by  imitating  the  gloomy  seclusion  of  the  latter,  they  may 
as  well  as  the  vanity,  attain  the  value  of  a  jewel.— Precious 
jewels  ! 

But  I  fear  it  is  too  true,  Mr.  Editor,  that  the  characters  whose 
excellence  makes  them  most  worthy  of  imitation,  are  either  set 
too  far  out  of  the  reach  of  the  powers  of  such  as  are  not  self-depen- 
dent; or  that  genuine  worth  can  only  be  truly  estimated  by  those 
•who  already  possess  an  adequate  portion  ;  whilst  the  harshness  of 
tyranny,  or  the  gloom  of  a  despot,  may  be  easily  assumed  by  any 
person  possessed  of  power,  let  his  abilities  be  ever  so  mean  and 
pitiful.  I  therefore  advise  all  those  who  find  themselves  placed 
(where  most  of  us  arc)  in  that  class  of  men  who  are  certain  to  see 
around  them  persons  of  dazzling  and  superior  abilities,  to  adopt 
any  attempts  at  imitation  with  caution ;  striving  only  as  before 
recommended  at  the  great  general  result  of  gallant  and  honourable 
conduct;  but  in  the  detail,  to  abide  by  their  own  inherent  charac- 
ter and  disposition  ;  by  following  the  honest  bent  of  which,  and 
guarding  against  the  weakest  parts,  they  will  in  the  mest  natural, 
and  therefore  in  the  very  best  manner,  pursue  a  steady  course  of 
conduct,  and  arrive  at  a  happy  termination  of  their  service. 
Whilst  it  is  most  difficult  to  attain  excellence  by  imitation,  it  is. 


CORRESPONDENCE.  ill 

however,  unfortunately,  but  too  easy  to  copy  the  faults  of  those 
around  us.  The  failings  of  men  in  high  situations  are  very  easily 
copied  by  those  possessed  of  a  similar  degree  of  power,  though  it 
should  ever  be  remembered,  that  the  error  adopted  by  the  imitator, 
is  not  only  more  unpardonable  than  in  the  original,  wbere  it  has 
its  rise  in  natural  weakness  or  depravity,  but  usually  causes  more 
abundant  mischief,  from  the  deep  contempt,  as  well  as  detestation, 
in  which  such  a  wretch  is  held  by  those  unfortunately  under  him. 
But  power,  that  dangerous  possession  even  in  the  hands  of  the 
moderate  and  wise,  is  so  apt  to  dazzle  the  eyes  and  mislead  the 
judgment,  that  whenever  we  see  it  carried  to  a  great  height  with 
impunity,  it  is  then  that  the  servile  herd  of  imitators  begin  to 
bestir  themselves.  That  the  malicious  or  half-witted  should  act 
thus  we  are  not  to  be  surprised,  but  I  have  seen  men,  whose 
natural  characters  wore  mild,  and  their  geueral  understandings 
above  par,  adopt  all  the  tyrannical  measures  of  a  man  in  every 
respect  their  inferior  but  in  rank  ;  and,  from  the  absurd  fear  of 
lessening  the  imaginary  dignity  of  high  birth  or  temporary  power, 
sink  their  real  and  truly  estimable  dignity  of  character  to  a  low 
ebb  indeed  !  Let  us,  therefore,  Mr.  Editor,  each  man  a  carry  on 
fhe  war"  in  his  own  way,  while  we  adhere  to  the  great  end  of  the 
public  welfare,  and  seek  to  attain  true  glory  by  the  pure  means  of 
genuine  honour. 

I  will  now  return  to  the  subject  proposed  in  the  beginning  of 
my  letter,  from  which  I  have  deviated  farther  than  I  had  intended. 
1  am  so  far  fond  of  popularity,  that  T  could  not  for  a  moment  feel 
easy  if  I  thought  any  man  under  my  command  cou'd  with  justice 
accuse  me  of  having  acted  injuriously  or  unkindly  towards  him, 
nor  would  I  be  content  with  mere  negative  satisfaction.  I  would 
have  my  mind  convinced,  that  every  man  under  my  command 
depended  upon  me,  not  cn'v  for  the  strictest  justice,  but  the  most 
active  benevolence  of  kindacss  on  all  occasions  within  my  power; 
all  this  appears  to  me  to  be  the  duty  of  every  commander,  and  the 
natural  bias  of  every  good  mind.  In  this  conviction  on  the  part 
of  the  officers  and  crew  depends  the  true  popularity  of  the  com. 
mander  ;  and  who  would  not  wish  to  possess  it  ?  Yet  I  have  heard 
some  valuable  officers  assert,  that  they  had  no  wish  to  be  beloved 
by  their  ship's  companies  ;  and  I  am  not  sure  whether  I  have  not 
heard  more  than  one  proceed  still  further,  and  assert  that  a  good 
officer  cannot  be  popular  or  beloved  by  those  about  him  ;  and  that 
discipline  wholly  consists  of  that  rigid  mechanical  system,  which 
Frederick  of  Prussia  and  his  school  would  approve.  That  cha- 


112  CORRESPONDENCE. 

Tacter  which  can  "be  attained  by  a  lax  discipline,  or  an  indulgence 
of  vice  and  indolence,  does  not  merit  the  name  of  popularity,  but 
is  a  sort  of  affection  whence  respect  and  esteem  must  be  wholly 
wanting;  and  I  conclude  that  it  must  be  only  this  spurious  sort  of 
popularity  which  is  deprecated  by  the  officers  I  have  alluded  to, 
and  that  they  will  all  join  with  me  in  the  admiration  of  the 
genuine.  The  opinion  I  have  heard,  however,  has  not  been  con- 
fined to  the  lower  classes,  but  embraced  the  uhole,  maintaining 
that  the  affections  of  neither  men  nor  officers  were  of  any  avail ; 
<l  J  zstll  do.  my  own  duty,  they  shall  do  theirs."  This  is  right :  but 
there  is  so  much  difference  within  the  narrow  precincts  of  a  ship, 
whether  it  be  the  determination  of  every  officer  and  man  that  he 
Kill  do  his  duty,  or  it  is  only  the  determination  of  the  commander 
that  they  shall,  o.r  that  they  tc/#  because  they  rcill,  and  not  merely 
because  they  must,  that  I  wonder  there  should  exist  a  difference  of 
opinion, 

A  ship's  company  should  look  up  for  paternal  care  and  strict 
justice  to  their  commander.  In  order  to  do  all  the  good  which  his 
situation  admits  of  he  should  not  appear  too  frequently  in  the 
common  transaction  of  duty,  but  as  much  as  possible  reserve  him- 
self for  particular  occasions,  when,  as  I  have  known  a  very  judi- 
cious officer  observe,  "  his  voico  should  be  heard  like  thunder," 
not  indeed  from  the  degree  of  noise,  but  with  the  same  attentive 
awe  which,  should  cause  his  orders  to  be  obeyed  as  quick  as 
lightning. 

Upon  this  subject  my  pen  is  not  easily  restrained  from  stating 
many  eminent  examples,  where  the  most  strict  discipline,  united 
with  the  most  watchful  and  benevolent  care  of  all  under  their  com- 
mand, have  raised  them  most  justly  to  the  utmost  height  of  genuine 
popularity  ;  where  every  requisite  exertion  on  trying  occasions 
was  made  with  tenfold  more  vigour  and  success  than  in  the  best 
regulated  of  those  ships  where  the  most  minute  precision  of  order 
took  place,  without  the  prevailing  sentiment  of  acting  from  prin- 
ciple; that  noble  sentiment,  which  serves  as  a  general  mind  to  the 
whole  crew,  and  renders  a  ship  under  such  circumstances,  as  much 
superior  to  the  other,  as  man,  the  noblest  jsork  of  God,  is  to  an 
automaton,  the  most  ingenious  work  of  man. 

I  remain,  sir,  yours,  &c. 

A.  F.  Y. 


CORRESPONDENCE.  113 

MR.   EDITOR,  IVIiilehaven,  February  9,  1809. 

I  HAVE  long  been  of  opinion,  that  those  who  have  had  the 
good  fortune  to  invent  or  discover  any  thing  that  they  may 
imagine  will,  by  the  disclosure,  prove  beneficial  to  mankind,  are 
very  blameable  if  they  conceal  it  within  their  own  breasts,  instead 
of  making  it  public. 

Actuated  by  this  idea,  I  took  the  liberty,  in  November  last,  to 
transmit  to  you  my  thoughts  upon  light-houses,  which  you  have 
been  so  obliging  as  to  insert  in  the  NAVAL  CHRONICLE.* 

I  now  beg  leave  to  inform  you  of  a  discovery  I'made,  many  years 
ago,  of  a  species  of  timber,  which,  I  trust,  from  the  experiments 
I  tried,  will  bid  defiance  to  the  pernicious  effects  of  the  salt  water 
worm,  and  prove  an  object  of  great  importance  in  the  art  of  ship 
building.  , 

Having  formerly  spent  a  few  years,  very  pleasantly,  in  the  hos- 
pitable region  of  the  British  West  Indies,  amongst  other  pursuits, 
I  made  some  inquiries  into  the  various  kinds  of  wood  with  which 
that  country  abounds,  and  procured  samples  of  many  that  might  be 
converted  into  very  beautiful  furniture,  &c. 

When  I  had  nearly  finished  my  collection,  a  friend,  who  was 
informed  of  my  design,  told  me,  he  apprehended  he  had  procured  a 
sort  of  timber  more  extraordinary  than  any  I  had  met  with.  I 
replied,  that  might  perhaps  be  the  case,  and  requested  he  would 
be  so  good  as  to  acquaint  me  with  the  properties  it  possessed. 
Upon  which  he  informed  me,  that  he  had  used  it  in  making  boxes 
and  drawers,  and  he  found  that  neither  ants,  cockroaches,  nor  scor- 
pions, &c.  would  approach,  or  when  thrown  in,  would  remain 
within  them ;  nay,  he  supposed  that  there  was  something  in  its 
nature  so  obnoxious  to  these  insects,  that  even  by  putting  some  of 
its  shavings  or  saw-dust  into  boxes,  &c.  constructed  of  any  other 
sort  of  timber,  they  would  carefully  avoid  them. 

It  immediately  occurred  to  me,  that  if  none  of  these  vermin, 
living  in  air,  would  approach  it,  there  was  some  probability  that 
the  salt  water  worm  also  would  not  touch  it.  I  therefore  resolved 
on  making  the  experiment,  requesting  he  would  favour  me  with 
some  of  it,  and  he  very  obligingly  sent  me  a  small  piece  of  a  plank, 
eight  inches  long,  four  wide,  and  half  an  inch  thick. 

This  piece  was  fastened,  on  the  first  day  of  December,  1778,  to 
the  mooring  chain  of  the  Custom-house  boat,  within  the  Mole 

*  See  Vol.  XX.  page  381. 
.  <Bol.  XXI.  « 


114 

Head,  at  Bridge  Town,  in  Barbadoes,  in  salt  water,  where  the  sra 
•worms  are  very  numerous  and  destructive  ;  and  having  continued 
under  water  for  near  6  months,  I  had  it  taken  up  again,  on  May 
the  29th,  1779.  Upon  examination,  I  found  it  had  not  been  in 
the  smallest  degree  injured  by  the  worms ;  neither  was  there  any 
grass,  barnacles,  or  other  shells,  adhering  to  it ;  notwithstanding 
there  were  several  barnacles  sticking  to  the  iron  chain  which  held 
the  Custom-house  boat. 

Although  I  might  reasonably  suppose  the  above  trial  might  be 
considered  sufficiently  satisfactory,  nevertheless,  having  in  my 
possession  another  piece  of  the  same  kind  of  wood,  of  a  larger 
size,  I  got  it  nailed  to  the  bottom  of  the  Philip  and  Mary,  John 
Bell,  master,  in  the  harbour  of  Mary-port.  This  brig  went  to 
Barbadoes,  and  returned  back  to  the  above  mentioned  harbour,  by 
the  way  of  London,  where  she  discharged  a  cargo  of  sugar,  &c» 
being  afloat  all  that  time. 

When  the  tide  of  ebb  had  left  this  vessel  dry,  the  piece  was  taken 
off  and  brought  to  me,  and,  upon  inspection,  I  perceived  it  had 
not,  as  in  the  former  trial,  received  the  least  injury  from  the  sea 
-worms ;  though  the  brig's  bottetn  was  much  eaten  by  them ;  nor 
were  there  any  shells  or  grass  adhering  to  it.  The  only  alteration 
I  found  in  both  of  my  experiments,  appeared  on  the  outside  of 
them,  which  was  turned  of  a  greenish  colour. 

This  wood  is  called  serrawabolla,  and  grows  at  Demerara,  in 
South  America  ;  but  as  I  never  was  in  that  colony  (now  in  the 
possession  of  Great  Britain),  I  am  unable  either  to  compose  or 
obtain  the  natural  history  of  that  tree;  but  from  what  I  have  been 
informed  concerning  it,  I  understand  it  grows  to  a  large  size,  is 
easily  worked,  and  I  presume  will  answer  excellently  well  for 
sheathing  of  ships. 

The  specimens  I  procured  are  of  a  yellowish  colour,  and  have 
an  agreeable  smell,  somewhat  resembling  the  fragrance  of  Marechal 
powder.  If  I  am  not  misinformed,  there  are  two  sorts  of  this  tim- 
ter  in  that  plantation,  which  are  known  by  the  same  name. 

1  am,  sir, 
Your  obedient  humble  servant, 


/ 

P.S-.  I  forgot  to  mention  to  you,  in  my  letter  concerning  light- 
houses, or  pharoses.,  that  in  case  the  apertures  of  the  lights  are  not 


CORRESPONDENCE.  115 

sufficiently  distinguishable  in  the  day-time,  I  would  recommend 
some  boards  to  be  fixed  occasionally  on  the  outside  of  them,  and 
painted  either  white  or  black,  so  as  to  make  the  greatest  contrast 
with  the  colour  of  the  building,  by  which  means  an  observer  will 
the  more  readily  take  the  angle,  when  he  is  desirous  of  knowing 
•what  distance  he  is  from  it. 


MR.   EDITOR,  Chatham,  January  16,  1809. 

IEVERAL  false  reports  being  in  circulation  respecting  a  late 
visit  of  the  crew  of  the  Standard  to  London,  and  their  appli- 
cation to  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty,  1  send  you  the  following 
account,  the  correctness  of  which  you  may  depend  on  : — 

The  Standard  and  Thunderer  arrived  here  together  from  the 
Mediterranean  ;  the  Thunderer's  crew  were  paid  off,  and  had  liberty 
for  fourteen  days  ;  the  Standard's  crew,  conceiving  they  had  a  right 
to  the  same  indulgence,  both  ships  having  been  on  the  same  station, 
petitioned  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty  to  that  effect,  and  their  ap- 
plication was  granted.  Thinking  their  commander  was  tardy  in 
complying  with  the  order  of  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty,  when 
called  upon,  on  Wednesday  se'nnighr,  to  wash  decks  and  scrub  the 
ship,  they  refused,  and  went  aft  in  a  body  to  the  quarter-deck  ; 
they  requested  to  know  why  their  leave  was  kept  back,  and 
entreated  it  should  be  immediately  granted.  The  first  lieutenant 
told  them  it  was  the  captain's  wish  (who  was  absent  on  leave)  that 
only  a  watch  should  have  liberty  at  once,  and  on  their  return,  the 
other  watch  should  have  the  same  indulgence.  They  replied  in 
one  voice,  "  No,  all  or  none.'1  On  Thursday,  the  whole  of  the 
crew  were  granted  fourteen  days'  liberty,  but  were  not  paid  off. 
On  their  getting  on  shore  they  formed  into  a  body,  and  marched 
for  London,  with  a  drum  and  fife,  and  union  jack  flying— many 
of  the  poor  fellows  without  a  farthing  in  their  pockets.  On  their 
arrival  at  the  Admiralty,  they  sent  their  petty  officers  forward, 
with  a  petition,  stating  the  hardship  of  being  allowed  liberty  with- 
ont  receiving  a  part  of  their  pay.  They  were  told  it  was  unusual 
to  grant  liberty,  except  when  the  ship  was  paid  off,  but  from  the 
good  character  their  captain  had  given  them,  it  was  granted  to 
them,  and  they  must  return  immediately  to  Chatham  ;  that  orders 
should  be  sent  that  night  for  payment  to  be  made  to  them  next 
morning,  and  entreated  they  would  conduct  themselves  peaceably 
and  quietly ;  that  they  would  be  accommodated  for  that  day  ou 


116  CORRESPONDENCE. 

board  the  receiving  ship  off  the  Tower,  and  be  supplied  Afith  pro- 
visions;  and  that  also  the  Gravesend  boats  should  be  engaged  to 
take  them  down  by  that  night's  tide.  They  complied  in  the  most 
orderly  manner,  and  arrived  at  Chatham  on  Saturday  morning ; 
but  the  ship's  books  not  being  made  up,  they  were  informed  they 
could  not  be  paid  until  Monday  last.  They  appeared  satisfied, 
and  said  they  wished  for  no  more  indulgence  than  the  Thunderer's 
crew  had  received.  Their  conduct  has  been  perfectly  peaceable 
throughout. 


PAINE'S  SYSTEM  OF  NATIONAL  DEFENCE. 

MR.    EDITOR, 

TTF  the  name  of  Paine  should  not  operate  as  a  repellent,  some 
"^  useful  ideas  may  be  derived  from  a  perusal  of  the  following 
recent  production  of  that  writer.  He  does  not  appear  fully  to 
comprehend  the  subject  in  all  its  points ;  but  several  of  his 
remarks  are  deserving  of  notice;  and  the  information  which  he 
gives,  relative  to  the  expenses  of  ship-building  in  America,  will,  I 
doubt  not,  prove  acceptable  to -many  of  your  readers. 

I  am,  &c.  .      H.  L. 

"  Natural  defence,  by  men,  is  common  to  all  nations ;  but 
artificial  defence,  as  an  auxiliary  to  human  strength,  must  be 
adapted  to  the  local  conditions  and  circumstances  of  a  country. 

"  What  may  be  suitable  to  one  country,  or  in  one  state  of  cir- 
cumstances, may  not  be  so  in  another. 

li  The  United  States  have  a  long  line  of  coast,  of  more  than  two 
thousand  miles,  every  part  of  which  requires  defence,  because 
every  part  is  approachable  by  water. 

"  The  right  principle  for  the  United  States  to  go  upon,  as  a 
defence  for  the  coast,  is  that  of  combining  the  greatest  practical 
power  with  the  least  possible  bulk,  that  the  whole  quantity  of 
power  may  be  better  distributed  through  the  several  parts  of  such 
an  extensive  coast. 

"  The  power  of  a  ship  of  war  is  altogether  in  the  number  and 
size  of  the  guns  she  carries,  for  the  ship  of  itself  has  no  power. 

'•  Ships  cannot  struggle  with  each  other  like  animals;  and  be- 
sides this,  as  half  her  guns  are  on  one  side  of  the  ship,  and  half  on 
the  other ;  and  as  she  can  use  only  the  guns  on  one  side  at  a  time, 
her  real  power  \a  only  equal  to  half  her  number  of  guns.  A 


CORUESPONDENCE,  117 

seventy-four  can  use  only  thirty-seven  guns.  She  must  tack  about 
to  bring  the  other  half  into  action,  and  Avhile  she  is  doing  this  she 
is  defenceless  and  exposed. 

"  As  this  is  the  case  with  ships  of  war,  a  question  naturally 
arises  therefrom,  which  is,  whether  seventy-four  guns,  or  any  othcf 
number,  cannot  be  more  effectually  employed,  and  that  with  much, 
less  expense,  than  by  putting  them  all  into  one  ship  of  such  au 
enormous  bulk,  that  it  cannot  approach  a  shore  either  to  defend 
it  or  attack  it ;  and  though  the  ship  can  change  its  place,  the 
whole  number  of  guns  can  be  only  at  one  place  at  a  time,  and  only 
half  that  number  can  be  used  at  a  time. 

u  This  is  a  true  statement  of  the  case  between  ships  of  war  and 
gun-boats,  for  the  defence  of  a  coast,  and  of  towns  situated  near  a 
coast. 

"  But  the  case  often  is,  that  men  are  led.  away  by  the  greatness 
of  an  idea,  and  not  by  the  justness  of  it !  This  is  always  the  case 
with  those  who  are  advocates  for  natives  and  large  ships. 

*'  A  gun-boat,  carrying  as  heavy  metal  as  a  ship  of  100  guns 
can  carry,  is  a  one  gun  ship  of  the  line  ;  and  seventy-i'our  of  them, 
which  would  cost  much  less  than  a  74  gun-ship  would  cost,  would 
be  able  to  blow  a  74  gun-ship  out  of  theAvater.  They  have  in  the 
use  of  their  guns  double  the  power  of  the  ship,  that  is,  they  have 
the  use  of  their  whole  number  of  seventy-four  to  thirty-seven. 

"  Having  thus  stated  the  general  outlines  of  the  subject,  I  come 
to  particulars. 

"  That  I  might  have  correct  data  to  go  upon  with  respect  t» 
ships  and  gun-boats,  I  wrote  to  the  head  of  one  of  the  departments 
at  Washington  for  information  on  the  subject. 

"  The  following  is  the  answer  I  received  : — 

"  Calculating  the  cost  of  a  74  or  100  gun-ship,  from  the  actual  cost  of 
the  ship  United  States,  of  44  guns,  built  at  Philadelphia,  between  the  years 
1795  aiid  1798,  which  amounted  to  300,000  dollars,  it  may  be  presumed, 
that  a  74  gun-ship  would  cost  500,000  dollars,  and  a  100  gun-ship  700,000 
dollars.  • 

"Gun-boats,  calculated  merely  for  the  defence  of  harbours  and  rivers, 
will,  on  an  average,  cost  about  4,000  dollars  each,  when  fit  to  receive  the 
crew  and  provisions.5' 

"  On  the  data  here  given  I  proceed  to  state  comparative  calcu- 
lations respecting  ships  and  gun-boats. 

"  The  ship  United  States  cost  300,000  dollars,  gun-boats  cost 
4,000  dollars  each,  consequently  the  300,000  dollars  expended  on 
the  ship,  for  the  purpose  of  getting  the  use  of  -44  guns,  aud  those 


118  CORRESFOND-ENCX. 

most  heavy  metal,  would  have  built  seventy-five  gun-boats,  each 
carrying  a  cannon  of  the  same  weight  of  metal  that  a  ship  of  100 
guns  can  carry. 

"  The  difference  therefore  is,  that  the  gun-boats  give  the  use  of 
thirty-one  guns,  heavy  metal,  more  than  can  be  obtained  by  the 
ship,  and  the  expense  in  both  cases  equal. 

**  A  74  gun-ship  costs  500,000  dollars.  The  same  money 
•would  build  125  gun-boats.  The  gain  by  gun-boats  is  the  use  of 
forty-one  more  guns  than  can  be  obtained  by  expending  the  money 
on  a  ship  of  74  guns. 

"  The  cost  of  an  100  gun-ship  is  700,000  dollars.  This  money 
would  build  175  gun-boats;  the  gain  therefore  by  the  boats  is  the 
use  of  seventy-five  guns  more  than  by  the  ship. 

"  Though  I  had  a  general  impression,  ever  since  I  had  the 
knowledge  of  gun-boats,  that  any  given  sum  would  go  farther  in 
building"  gun-boats  than  in  building  ships  of  war,  and  that  gun- 
boats were  preferable  to  ships  for  home  defence;  I  did  not  suppose 
the  difference  was  so  great  as  the  calculations  above  given  prove 
them  to  be,  for  it  is  almost  double  in  favour  of  gun-boats.  It  is 
as  175  to  100.  The  cause  of  this  difference  is  easily  explained. 
The  fact  is,  that  all  that  part  of  the  expense  in  building  a  ship  from 
the  deck  upward,  including  masts,  yards,  sails,  and  rigging,  is 
saved  by  building  gun-boats,  which  are  moved  by  oars,  or  a 
light  sail  occasionally. 

<c  The  difference  also  in  point  of  repairs,  between  ships  of  war 
and  gun-boats,  is  not  only  great,  but  it  is  greater  in  proportion 
than  in  their  first  cost.  The  repair  of  ships  of  war  is  annually 
from  one-fourteenth  to  one-tenth  of  their  first  cost.  The  annual 
expense  of  repairs  of  a  ship  that  cost  300,000  dollars,  will  be  above 
21,000  dollars  ;  the  greatest  part  of  this  expense  is  in  her  sails  and 
rigging,  which  gun-boats  are  free  from. 

"  The  difference  also  in  point  of  duration  is  great. 

"  Gun-boats,  when  not  in  use,  can  b«  put  under  shelter,  and 
preserved  from  the  weather,  but  ships  cannot ;  or  boats  can  be 
sunk  in  the  water  or  mud.  This  is  the  way  the  nuts  of  cider  mills 
for  grinding  apples  are  preserved.  Were  they  to  be  exposed  to 
the  dry  and  hot  air,  after  coining  wet  from  the  mill,  they  would 
crack  and  split,  and  be  good  for  nothing.  But  timber  under  water 
wil!  continue  sound  several  hundred  years,  provided  there  be  no 
worms. 

"  Another  advantage  in  favour  of  gun-boats,  is  the  expedition 
•with  which  a  great  number  of  them  can  be  built  at  once.  A  hun- 


CORRESPONDENCE.  119 

ilred  may  be  built  as  soon  as  one,  if  there  be  hands  enough  to  set 
about  them  separately.  They  do  not  require  preparations  for 
building  them  that  ships  require,  nor  deep  water  to  launch  them 
in.  They  can  be  built  on  the  shore  of  shallow  waters  ;  or  they 
might  be  framed  in  the  woods  or  forests,  and  the  parts  brought 
separately  down  and  put  together  on  the  shore.  But  ships  tak« 
up  a  long  time  in  building. 

*e  The  ship  United  States  took  up  two  whole  years,  1798  and 
1797,  and  part  of  the  years  1795  and  1798,  and  all  this  for  the 
purpose  of  getting  the  use  of  44  guns,  and  those  not  heavy  metal. 

61  This  foolish  aflair  was  not  in  the  days  of  the  present  admi- 
nistration. 

<c  Ships  and  gun-boats  are  for  different  services.  Ships  are  for 
distant  expeditions  ;  gun-boats  for  home  defence.  The  one  for 
the  ocean,  the  other  for  the  shore. 

"  Gun-boats,  being  moved  by  oars,  cannot  be  deprived  of  motion 
by  calms,  for  the  calmer  the  weather  the  better  for  the  boat.  But 
a  hostile  ship  becalmed  in  any  of  our  waters  can  be  taken  by  gun. 
boats  moved  by  oars,  let  the  rate  of  the  ship  be  what  it  may.  A 
IQO-gim  man-of-xar  becalmed  is  like  a  giant  in  a  dead  palsy ; 
ei-ery  little  fellow  can  kick  him. 

"  The  United  States  ought  to  have  500  gun-boats  stationed  in 
different  parts  of  the  coast,  each  carrying  a  thirty-two  or  thirty- 
*ix  pounder.  Hostile  ships  would  not  then  venture  to  lie  within 
our  Abaters,  were  it  only  for  the  certainty  of  being  sometimes  be- 
calme  d.  They  would  then  become  prize,  and  the  insulting  bullies 
on  the  ocean  become  prisoners  in  our  own  waters. 

"  II  \ving  thus  stated  the  comparative  powers  and  expense  of 
<hips  of  war  and  gun-boats,  I  come  to  speak  of  fortifications. 
"  For  tifications  may  be  comprehended  under  two  general  head3. 
"First.  Fortified  towns ;  that  is,  towns  enclosed  within  a  for- 
iified  poly  »on,  of  which  there  are  many  on  the  continent  of  Europe, 
but  not  an}'  in  England. 

"  Second.  Y.  Simple  forts  and  batteries.  These  are  not  formed  on 
the  regular  p  tinciples  of  fortification  ;  that  is,  they  are  not  formed 
for  the  purpos «  of  standing  a  sk'ge  as  a  fortified  polygon,  is.  They 
are  for  the  pur  pose  of  obstructing  or  annoying  the  progress  of  an 
enemy  by  land  vr  water. 

"  Batteries  ai  e  formidable  in  defending  narrow  passes  by  land, 
such  as  the  passage  of  a  bridge,  or  of  a  road  cut  through  a  rough 
and  craggy  mount,  vn,  that  cannot  be  passed  any  where  else.  But 
they  are  not  formit.  'abler  in  defending  water-passes,  because  a  ship, 


120  ,  .  CORRESPONDENCE,' 

with  a  brisk  wind  and  tide,  running  at  the  rate  of  ten  miles  an 
hour,  will  be  out  of  the  reach  of  the  fire  of  the  battery  in  fifteen 
or  twenty  minutes  ;  and  being  a  swift  moving  object  all  the  time, 
it  would  be  a  mere  chance  that  any  shot  struck  her. 

"  When  the  object  of  a  ship  is  that  of  passing  a  battery,  for  the 
purpose  of  attaining  or  attacking  some  other  object,  it  is  not  cus- 
tomary for  the  ship  to  fire  at  the  battery,  lest  it  should  disturb  her 
course.  Three  or  four  men  are  kept  on  deck  to  attend  the  helm, 
and  the  rest,  having  nothing  to  do,  go  below. 

"  Duckworth,  in  passing  the  Dardanelles  up  to  Constantinople, 
did  not  fire  at  the  batteries. 

f(  When  batteries,  for  the  defence  of  water-passes,  can  be 
erected  without  any  great  expense,  and  the  men  not  exposed  to 
capture,  it  may  be  very  proper  to  have  them.  They  may  keep  off 
small  piratical  vessels,  but  they  are  not  to  be  trusted  to  for 
defence. 

li  Fortifications  give,  in  general,  a  delusive  idea  of  protection  : 
all  our  principal  losses  in  the  revolutionary  war  were  occasioned  by 
trusting  to  fortifications. 

"  Fort  Washington,  with  a  garrison  of  2,500  men,  was  taken 
in  less  than  four  hours,  and  the  men  prisoners  of  war.  The  same 
fate  had  befallen  Fort  Lee,  on  the  opposite  shore,  if  General  Lee 
had  not  moved  hastily  off,  and  gained  Hackimsack  bridge.  General 
Lincoln  fortified  Charleston,  in  South  Carolina,  and  himself  and 
his  army  were  made  prisoners  of  war. 

"  General  Washington  began  fortifying  New  York,  in  177&» 
General  Howe  passed  up  the  east  river,  landed  his  army  at  Frog's 
Point,  about  twenty  miles  above  the  city,  and  marched  down  upon 
it ;  and  had  not  General  Washington  stole  silently  and  suddenly 
off  on  the  north  river  side  of  York  island,  himself  and  Ms  army 
had  also  been  prisoners. 

"  Trust  not  to  fortifications,  otherwise  than  as  batteries,  that 
can  be  abandoned  at  discretion. 

"  The  case,  however,  is,  that  battteries,  as  a  water  defence 
against  the  passage  of  ships,  cannot  do  much.  Were  any  given 
number  of  guns  to  be  put  in  a  battery  for  that  purpose,  and  aa 
equal  number  of  the  same  weight  of  metal  put  in  gun-boats  for  the, 
«anie  purpose,  those  in  the  bo'ats  would  be  more  effectual  than  those- 
in  the  battery. 

"  The  reason  of  this  is  obvious.  A  battery  i$  stationary.  Its, 
fire  is  limited  to  about  two  miles,  and  there  its  power  ceases.  But 
every  guu-bo^t  moved  by.  oars  is  a  moveable  fortification,  that  caa 


CORRESPONDENCE.  121 

follow  up  its  fire,  and  change  its  place  and  its  position  as  circum- 
stances may  require  ;  arid  besides  this,  gun-boats  in  calms  are  the 
sovereigns  of  ships. 

u  As  the  matter  interests  the  public,  and  most  probably  will 
come  before  Congress  at  its  next  meeting,  if  the  printers  in  any  of 
the  States,  after  publishing  it  in  their  newspapers,  have  a  mind  to 
publish  it  in  a  pamphlet  form,  together  with  my  former  piece  on 
gun-boats,  tlu:y  have  my  consent  frtely. 

"  I  neither  take  copy-right  nor  pnjit  from  any  thing  I 
publish. 

"  THOMAS  PAINE." 

MR.    ED  I  tO  R, 

E  following  relation  of  a  surprising  circumstance  was  handed 
to  me  by  one  of  the  officers  of  his  majesty's  ship  Daedalus, 
on  board  of  which  ship  it  happened,  whilst  laying  at  Samana,  St. 
Domingo  :•— 

"  Several  sharks  were  seen  swimming  about  the  ship  early  on 
the  forenoon  of  the  20th  of  November,  1808,  waiting  their  prey. 
A  hook  and  bait  were  put  overboard,  which  one  of  them  imme- 
diately seized  with  voraciousness.  Its  attempts  to  escape  were  frus- 
trated by  a  rope  being  passed  over  its  fins,  with  which  it  was 
hoisted  on  board,  by  no  less  a  number  of  men  than  twenty  :  in  its 
maw  was  found  a  calf  that  had  been  hove  overboard  a  few  hours 
previously  to  its  being  caught :  its  length  from  the  snout  to  the  ex- 
tremity of  the  tail  was  ten  feet,  and  the  circumference  of  the  body 
proportionate:  the  jaws,  when  extended,  passed  over  the  body  of 
the  stoutest  man  in  the  ship.  Three  others  were  successively 
caught,  of  equal  size  with  the  first;  in  the  last  of  which  was  found 
sixty-two  young  ones,  a  turkey,  and  a  live  hawk's-bill  turtle) 
measuring  two  feet  six  inches  in  length,  and  one  foot  nine  inches 
in  breadth  :  it  swam  about  immediately  after  its  release,  in  a  tub 
of  water,  apparently  not  the  least  injured  by  its  singular  con- 
finement." 

An  instance  of  so  extraordinary  a  nature  deserves  to  be  re- 
corded ;  and  it  may  be  said  without  deviating  from  the  truth,  that 
with  one  hook,  sixty-three  sharks  were  caught  at  one  time,  and 

all  alive. 

A  CORRESPONDENT. 

Jamaica,  1st  January,  1809. 

ol,  XXL  R 


122  CORRESPONDENCE. 

LETTER  X. 
SIR,  February  4,  1809. 

I  HAD  no  intention  of  again  troubling  you  with  any  remarks 
which  might  allude  to  measures  proper  to  be  pursued  in  Par- 
liament, but  some  passing  occurrences  appear  so  strikingly  deserv- 
ing of  parliamentary  discussion,  that  after  my  former  observations, 
I  could  not  consistently  let  them  pass  unnoticed.  I  trust  the  first 
matter  I  mean  to  submit  to  your  consideration,  may  prove  to  be  a 
false  report ;  but  when  such  a  report  is  in  circulation,  it  is  of 
sufficient  magnitude  to  merit  inquiry,  and  of  sufficient  consequence 
to  require  either  refutation  or  examination. 

I  am  informed  that  the  captains  of  the  navy  at  the  sea-ports 
have  lately  thought  proper  to  petition,  in  a  proper  and  respectful 
manner,  for  an  increase  of  pay,  on  the  plea  of  the  high  prices  of 
all  the  necessaries  of  life,  and  the  recent  diminution  of  their  pro- 
portion of  prize-money.  Now,  Sir,  it  matters  not  whether  the 
petition  be  well  timed,  or  whether  the  prayer  of  it  should  b« 
granted  or  denied  ;  as  surely  there  exists  an  undoubted  right  in  the 
subjects  of  these  kingdoms  to  petition,  whenever  they  judge  it  ex- 
pedient, and  it  is  only  a  disrespectful  or  unconstitutional  manner 
of  wording  or  presenting  it,  which  could  merit  either  rebuke  or 
punishment ;  nor  will  any  one  man  in  his  sound  senses  atlirm,  that 
the  petitioners  are  a  body  of  men  whom  either  justice  or  policy 
•would  treat  with  harshness  or  contempt.  As  the  good  citizens  of 
London  met  with  a  severe  rebuke  on  a  late  occasion,  so  on  the 
present  it  is  said  that  a  more  arbitrary  mark  of  displeasure  has 
taken  place;  no  less  than  the  dismissal  of  the  late  admirable  and 
worthy  commander-in-chief  at  Portsmouth  from  his  command,  for 
merely  having  forwarded  this  petition  to  the  Admiralty,  or  perhaps 
to  the  General  who  commands  at  that  Board.  Are  such  things  so, 
and  this  the  land  of  constitutional  freedom  ? 

I  now  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  the  letter  in  your  17th  volume, 
•without  signature — See  page  46,  line  12,  et  seq.  and  let  us  ob- 
serve the  encouragement  the  navy  receives  from  the  government. 
In  Gobbet's  Weekly  Register  of  January  21,  amongst  other  mat- 
ter well  worth  the  consideration  of  the  naval  legislator  (for  it  is 
time  for  us  to  speak  for  ourselves),  is  the  following  sentence  : — 
"  The  island  of  St.  Croix  it  is  well  known  was  taken  about  a  year 
ago,  by  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane  and  General  Bowyer,  who 
jointly,  according  to  the  usual  custom  in  such  cases,  made  appoint- 
ments  of  harbour  masters  and  naval  officers.  They  bestowed  the 
four  offices  upon  three  persons,  in'  the  following  manner :— Cap- 


CORRESPONDENCE.  123 

tain  T.  Cochrane,  of  the  navy,  son  to  the  admiral,  was  appointed 
harbour-master  of  the  two  ports  ;  Captain  Pickmere,  of  the  navy, 
was  made  naval  officer  of  the  port  of  Fredericksted  ;  and  Brigadier- 
general  Ramsay  naval  officer  of  the  port  of  Christiansted  :  all  these 
appointments  were  set  aside  by  Lord  Castlereagh,  and  the  four 
ojjices  united  in  the  person  of  his  uncle^  Lord  G.  Seymour," 
&c.  &c.  There  is  much  more  in  the  same  number,  of  great  naval 
interest ;  and  perhaps  you  may  think  it  right  to  add  another  ex- 
tract  or  two  of  what  is  merely  to  that  effect. 

If  a  branch  of  the  noble  family  of  Seymour  is  to  have  public  sup- 
port, i  should  think  it  would  at  least  spurn  with  indignation  the 
act  of  taking  it  from  the  brave  soldiers  and  seamen  who  had  borne 
the  dangers  of  the  battle  and  the  climate;  and  1  trust,  that  when 
this  affair  comes  into  discussion  before  Parliament,  no  seltish  mo- 
tives will  prevent  every  member  connected  with  it  from  support- 
ing the  cause  of  justice  and  right,  against  oppression,  partiality, 
aud  wrong. 

I  perceive  also  that  the  government  of  New  South  Wales  is 
transferred  to  the  army  from  the  navy,  although  a  volume  of  sound 
reasons  might  be  produced  to  shew  the  appointment  should  take 
place  from  the  latter. 

1  trust  that  some  able  advocate  will  appear  to  defend  the  cause 
of  the  naval  service,  which  I  must  consider  as  ill  used  and  oppressed 
in  various  instances  ;  and  that  the  tried  loyalty  and  patriotic  exer- 
tions of  the  great  bulwark  of  Britain,  will  receive  from  a  grateful 
country  a  due  attention  to  its  proper  interests. 

i  remain,  Sir,  yours,  &c. 

E.  G,  F. 

N.B.  I  fear  you  will  be  fired  of  my  correspondence,  but  in  the 
light  the  subjects  mentioned  above  struck  me,  1  thought  they  could 
not  too  soon  be  oft'ered  to  public  notice  in  your  work,  in  the 
course  of  which  I  have  ever  had  reason  to  believe  you  the  seaman's 
friend* 

MR.    EDITOR, 

f  II  ^HE  discipline  of  our  navy  is  now  in  so  perfect  a  state,  that  it 
-*-  rarely  indeed  happens  that  examples  of  severity  are  necessary 
to  maintain  it.  Before  this  desirable  end  was  accomplished,  the  case 
must  have  been  otherwise,  as  it  was  indispensable  to  let  the  coward 
feel  more  than  disgrace  and  contempt,  when  it  seemed  probable  or 
possible  his  conduct  might  prove  infectious  among  a  brave  crew  ; 
but  when  a  commander  or  his  officers  exhibited  symptoms  of  fear, 


124  CORRESPONDENCE. 

every  consideration  demanded  instant  punishment—Tit  has  been 
promptly  and  rigidly  inflicted,  and  we  are  now  enjoying  the  happy 
consequences  of  the  stern  patriotic  virtue  of  our  ancestors — for 
instance  :  a  court  martial  was  held  on  board  his  majesty's  yacht, 
September  16,  1670,  "  called  the  Bezan,  in  the  river  of  Thames, 
near  Tower  Wharf,  for  the  trial  of  Captain  John  Pierce,  com- 
mander of  his  majesty's  ship  the  Saphire,  unfortunately  lost  the 
31st  of  March  last,  upon  the  coast  of  Sicily,  and  of  his  lieutenant, 
Andrew  Logan;  when,  upon  diligent  examination  and  inquisition, 
it  was  fully  and  clearly  evidenced,  by  the  testimony  of  twelve  cre- 
dible witnesses  upon  oath,  that  the  said  ship  was  basely  and  shame- 
fully lost  through  the  default  and  cowardice  of  the  said  captain 
and  lieutenant,  who  upon  the  approach  of  four  sail,  supposed  to 
be  Turks  men  of  war,  being  possessed  of  a  panic  fear,  ordered  the 
ship  to  run  from  them,  refusing  to  let  go  the  anchor,  till  the  ship 
was  struck,  contrary  to  the  sense,  not  only  of  the  master  and  pur- 
ser, who  persuaded  them  to  fight,  the  ship  being  in  a  fit  posture, 
but  of  the  whole  company,  who  declared  their  readiness  and  desire 
of  it  by  their  cheerful  acclamations.  Upon  these  and  other 
evidences,  the  said  captain  and  lieutenant  were,  by  a  general  and 
unanimous  consent,  adjudged  and  sentenced  to  be  shot  to  duath,  on 
Monday  the  26th  instant,  on  board  any  of  his  majesty's  ships  or 
vessels  of  war,  according  as  the  president  of  that  court,  Sir 
Jeremiah  Smith,  should  direct." 

Such  was  {he  disgraceful  termination  of  the  naval  career  of 
Messrs.  Pierce  and  Logan,  whose  conduct  affords  a  disgusting  con- 
trast with  that  of  the  brave  Clark  and  his  hardy  crew,  fit  associates 
for  those  of  the  Saphire,  an  account  of  which  follows.  The  author 
of  this  narrative  dates  his  information  from  Cadiz,  and  adds  : — 
«  Here  is  now  riding  in  this  bay  the  Holmes  frigate,  Captain  Henry 
Clark,  commander,  lately  come  in  from  the  coast  of  Barbary,  before 
Sallec,  where  having  been  cruising,  on  the  5th  instant,  about 
twelve  of  the  clock,  he  discovered  two  sail  coming  along  by  the 
shore  from  the  southward,  with  the  wind  at  north-west ;  one  of 
them,  a  man  of  war,  kept  the  offing,  and  weathered  the  Holmes 
about  musket-shot,  whereupon  the  captain  tacked  upon  the  broad- 
side of  her,  and  kept  there  for  the  space  of  an  hour  ;  firing  many 
broadsides  upon  her ;  it  afterwards  proving  little  wind,  arid  that 
shifting  to  the  southward  of  the  west,  the  Sallee  man  got  large 
from  him,  and  afterwards  forced  it  to  Sallee  over  the  bar  very 
much  shattered  ;  the  captain  then  bore  up  for  the  other  vessel, 
which  was  under  the  shore,  supposed  to  be  a  prize,  which  imme- 


CORRESPONDENCE.  125 

diately  run  on  shore,  and  there  struck,  and  that  night  overset,  and 
staved  to  pieces. 

"  The  14th  instant,  about  six  in  the  morning,  he  discovered  three 
sail  coming  in  from  sea,  having  but  little  wind  from  south,  standing 
in,  in  hopes  to  weather  him ;  between  seven  and  eight  they  met 
together,  within  musket-shot,  or  less,  at  which  time  it  proved  a 
dead  culm,  two  of  these  proved  to  be  the  admiral  and  vice-admiral 
of  Sallee,  having  each  of  them  about  eight  guns,  and  as  many 
pederos,  and  very  full  of  men :  before  eight  of  the  clock  in  the 
forenoon,  they  begun  to  engage,  and  continued  in  fight  until  six  in 
the  afternoon,  in  all  which  time  the  captain  could  not  (with  all  the 
arts  he  could  use)  get  aboard  either  of  them  ;  between  five  and  six 
in  the  afternoon,  the  vice-admiral  being  very  much  shattered  ami 
torn,  ran  on  shore  with  the  third  ship,  supposed  to  be  a  prize, 
when  they  both  immediately  struck,  the  vice-admiral  oversetting  ; 
the  admiral  came  to  an  anchor  just  without  the  creek  of  the  shore, 
whom  the  captain  presently  ?)eat  from  his  anchor,  after  which  he 
ran  to  the  southward,  just  without  the  creek,  whither,  it  being  now 
night,  the  captain  thought  not  fit  to  follow,  being  also  desirous  to 
see  the  other  wholly  destroyed.  The  next  day  the  admiral  was 
seen  riding  within  a  ledge  of  rocks,  about  six  leagues  to  the 
southward  of  Sallee  ;  but  then  the  captain,  finding  his  ammunition 
spent  to  three  rounds  of  powder,  and  his  ship  somewhat  disordered 
by  the  former  service,  thought  it  more  convenient  to  return  for  this 
port ;  in  this  fight  he  had  but  two  men  killed  outright,  and  ten 
hurt,  of  which  three  are  supposed  to  be  in  danger." 

Yours,  &c.  ROBUR. 


Letter  from  Captain  GEOUSE  BYNG,  of  the  Belliqueux,  to  Sir 
EDWARD  PELLEW,  Bart,  relating  the  Result  of  an  Attack  on  a 
Malay  Prors. 

Belliqueux,  Macassar  Straits, 
SIR,  29M  August,  1807. 

I  HAVE  a  most  painful  task  in  informing  you,  that  in  conse- 
quence of  boarding  a  Malay  prow  in  the  Straits  of  Macassar, 
I  have  the  mortification  to  have  killed,  Mr.  Turner,  doing  duty  as 
acting  lieutenant,  and  six  men,  the  particulars  of  which  are  as 
follows : — 

On  the  26th  of  August,   in  the  forenoon,  discovered  three 
Malay  prows  to  windward;  gave  chase,  and  brought  them  to  about 


128  CORRESPONDENCE. 

five  P.M.  and  had  them  all  within  pistol  shot ;  as  the  day  was  fast 
closing,  and  the  night  dark,  to  prevent  any  unnecessary  delay,  I 
ordered  out  three J)oats,  armed,  and  a  lieutenant  in  each,  to  examine 
them,  and  if  they  had  reason  to  believe  they  had  Dutch  property 
or  papers,  to  return  and  acquaint  me,  giving  the  officers  every 
caution  to  guard  against  the  treachery  of  the  Malays. 

The  rear  one,  boarded  by  Mr.  Turner,  he  had  dismissed,  and 
she  made  sail.  Mr.  Turner  having  a  servant  of  mine  that  could 
speak  the  Malay  language,  on  his  return  back  he  called  on  board 
the  one  boarded  by  my  fourth  lieutenant,  Passmore,  to  aid  him  in 
his  inquiries. 

My  third  lieutenant,  Carew,  who  boarded  the  other,  returned 
on  board,  saying  he  had  found  Dutch  colours,  which  looking  sus- 
picious, I  directed  him  to  go  back  immediately  (night  closing  fast) 
and  anchor  the  vessel,  and  send  the  boat  to  direct  the  same  to  the 
other,  and  1  came  to  an  anchor  myself;  I  had  just  sent  him  away 
•when  I  discovered  a  confusion  in  the  prow  Lieutenant  Passmore 
•was  on  board,  and  our  people  jumping  overboard.  I  had  my 
launch  and  pinnace  got  out  with  an  expedition  that  did  credit  to 
my  crew,  and  sent  my  first  lieutenant,  Fellows,  and  second 
lieutenant,  Stanton,  in  them,  well  armed  and  manned  with  marines, 
and  with  orders  to  attack,  and  if  possible,  carry  her.  Though  at 
this  time  she  was  under  my  guns,  yet  1  saw  one  of  my  boats  along- 
side, and  being  totally  ignorant  of  the  situation  of  my  people,  I  did 
not  like  to  fire  into  her,  and  by  the  time  the  pinnace  and  launch 
had  got  near  her,  it  was  near  dark  ;  but  1  saw  my  boats  were  close 
to  her,  and  a  smart  fire  kept  up  on  both  sides.  It  began  to  blow 
fresh,  and  she  had  got  sail  on  her,  though  the  boats  got  hold 
more  than  once,  from  the  velocity  of  her  way.  The  boats  returned 
about  eleven  o'clock,  with  one  man  killed  and  three  wounded,  not 
having  succeeded. 

In  the  mean  time,  I  sent  the  barge  with  a  reinforcement  to 
Lieutenant  Carew,  and  to  prevent  a  similar  business  or  escape, 
brought  her  alongside  ;  I  found  she  had  below  upwards  of  thirty 
men,  all  armed,  and  six  brass  pieces  mounted.  In  getting  the  war- 
like implements  out  of  her,  intending  to  dismiss  her  afterwards 
•with  her  crew,  much  sea  running,  she  bilged,  and  filled  before  it 
was  fully  accomplished. 

Lieutenant  Passmore's  statement  is  as  follows  : — Seeing  the 
Malays  attempt  to  throw  a  box  or  two  overboard,  which  he  pre- 
rented,  and  was  in  the  act  of  opening  one,  when  thirty  or  forty 
Malays,  armed,  rushed  up  from  below,  and  attacked  them  most 


PHILOSOPHICAL    PAPER.  127 

furiously,  killed  Mr.  Turner  and  four  men,  and  drove  the  rest 
overboard.  The  jolly  boat  alongside,  with  two  men  in,  they 
immediately  threw  heavy  weights,  &c.  into  her,  knocked  the  men 
down,  and  swamped  the  boat  before  they  had  power  to  get  clear. 

From  every  investigation  I  have  been  enabled  to  make,  I  have 
reason  to  believe  the  above  is  a  true  statement,  and  that  not  the 
least  offence  on  the  part  of  my  officers  and  men  was  given,  and 
that  they  were  absolutely  three  piratical  vessels.  The  cargo  of  the 
one  sunk  being  chiefly  matts  and  rattan  cane. 

Though  the  vessel  was  not  carried  by  the  pinnace  and  launch,  I 
am  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  gallant  conduct  and  endeavours  of 
the  officers  and  men  in  them. 

The  daring  way  the  Malays  faced  our  fire,  and  threw  their 
spears,  is  spoken  of  with  admiration  as  to  their  bravery,  by  the 
officers  in  the  boats,  and  though  numbers  were  killed,  fell  over- 
board, and  passed  our  boats,  yet  their  places  were  directly  supplied. 
They  appeared  to  have  upwards 'of  seventy  men  on  board  the 
said  prow. 

Mr.  Turner  had  served  five  years  under  my  command  ;  a  more 
steady  and  worthy  officer  could  not  exist,  and  I  shall  ever  respect 
his  memory  and  regret  his  loss. 

The  28th  I  stood  in  for  Borneo,  and  landed  the  Malay  pri- 
soners. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

GEORGE  BYNG. , 

To  his  Excellency  Sir  Edward  Pellcx,  Bart, 
rear-admiral  of' the  red,  fyc. 


PHILOSOPHICAL  PAPER. 

SEA    SERPENT.* 

f  IplHE  following  subject  being  altogether  uncommon,  and  the 
-**-  existence  of  the  creature  described  having  been  considered  as 
problematical  by  most,  and  even  derided  by  many,  we  are  induced 
to  insert  such  accounts  of  it,  as  may  dissipate  all  further  doubt. 
We  are  happy  to  find  that  it  has  been  inquired  into  by  scientific 
men,  whose  names  authenticate  the  report : — 

"  At  a  late  meeting  of  the  Wernerian  Natural  History  Society, 

*  This  curious  and  interesting  paper  is   copied   from   the  LITERARY 
PANORAMA, 


128  PHILOSOPHICAL  PAriR, 

Mr.  P.  Neill  read  an  account  of  a  great  sea  snake,  lately  cast 
ashore  in  Orkney,  This  curious  animal,  it  appears,  was  stranded 
in  Rothsolm  Bay,  in  the  island  of  Stronsa.  Malcolm  Laing,  Esq. 
M.P.  being  in  Orkney  at  the  time,  communicated  the  circumstance 
to  his  brother.  Gilbert  Laing,  Esq.  advocate,  at  Edinburgh,  on 
whose  property  the  animal  had  been  cast.  Through  this  authentic 
channel,  Mr.  Neill  received  his  information.  The  body  measured 
fifty-five  feet  in  length,  and  the  circumference  of  the  thickest  part 
might  be  equal  to  the  girth  of  an  Orkney  poney.  The  head  was 
not  larger  than  that  of  a  seal,  and  \vas  furnished  with  two  blow 
holes.  From  the  back  a  number  of  filaments  (resembling  in  tex- 
ture the  fishing  tackle  known  by  the  name  of  silkworm  gut)  hung 
down  like  a  mane.  On  each  side  of  the  body  were  three  large 
fins,  shaped  like  paws,  and  jointed.  The  body  was  unluckily 
knocked  to  pieces  by  a  tempest;  but  the  fragments  have  been 
collected  by  Mr.  Laing,  and  are  to  be  transmitted  to  the  museum 
at  Edinburgh.  Mr.  Neill  concluded  with  remarking,  that  no 
doubt  could  be  entertained  that  this  was  the  kind  of  animal  de- 
scribed by  Ramus,  Egede,  and  Pontoppidan,  but  which  scientific 
and  systematic  naturalists  had  hitherto  rejected  as  spurious  and 
ideal." 

We  confidently  hope,  that  the  particulars  of  this  event  will 
appear  at  full,  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Wernerian  Society, 
when  published.  In  the  mean  time,  we  add  another  letter  that  ha* 
appeared  in  print,  which,  though  written  in  a  style  and  manner 
hardly  proper  to  a  naturalist,  yet  contains  some  additional  points 
of  information.. 

The  following  account  is  communicated  by  an  intelligent 
naturalist  resident  at  Edinburgh,  to  a  gentleman  at  Norwich  : — 

"  The  Serpens  Marinus  Magnus^  of  Pontoppidan,  has  hitherto 
been  considered  as  a  fabulous  monster,  and  denied  '  a  local  habita- 
tion and  a  name '  by  all  scientific  and  systematic  naturalists,  who 
have  affected  to  pity  the  credulity  of  the  good  bishop  of  Bergen. 
One  of  these  monsters,  however  (indignant,  may  I  not  say,  at  the 
scepticism  of  the  disciples  of  the  Linnean  school  ?)  has,  effectually 
to  prove  its  existence,  been  heroic  enough  to  wreck  himself  on 
the  Orkney  islands.  He  came  ashore  at  Rothsolm,  or  Rougom 
Bay,  in  Stronsa,  near  to  Shearers.  It  was  55  feet  long ;  but  the 
tail  seemed  to  have  been  broken  by  dashing  among  the  rocks  :  so 
it  was  calculated  to  have  been  60  feet  in  the  whole.  Where 


PHILOSOPHICAL    PAPER.  129 

thickest,  it  might  equal  the  girth  of  an  Orkney  horso,  which,  you. 
know,  is  a  starved  English  poney.  The  head  was  not  larger  than 
a  seal's,  and  had  two  spiracles  or  blow  holes.  From  the  back 
hung  down  numerous  filaments,  eighteen  inches  long  (the  inane 
described  by  Pontoppidan).  These  filaments  bear  the  most  per- 
fect resemblance  to  the  silkworm  gut,  or  India  sea-grass  used  in 
fronting.  The  monster  had  three  pair  of  fins,  or  rather  paws  ;  the 
first  pair  5~  feet  long,  with  a  joint  at  the  distance  of  four  feet 
from  the  body.  Alas !  a  tempest  beat  the  carcass  to  pieces  before 
men  and  ropes  could  be  collected  ;  and  only  a  fragment  (about  five 
ieet)  of  the  back  bone,  and  a  whole  paw,  are  presarved.  M. 
Laing,  Esq.  M.  P.  has  got  these,  and  is  to  send  them  to  our 
University  Museum." 

These  accounts  are  completely  in  conformity  to  what  had  been 
already  communicated  by  writers  on  natural  history  :  and  they 
happily  vindicate  the  veracity  of  such  writers,  who,  because  they 
have  related  instances  of  rare  occurrence,  have  been  treated  as 
incapable  of  just  discernment,  if  not  as  immoral ;  for  such  is  the 
nature  of  the  accusation  of  attempting  to  impose  on  their  readers 
fiction  instead  of  truth. 

What  has  been  published  on  this  subject,  is  supported  by  the 
following  testimony  : — 

Egede  (a  very  reputable  author)  says,  that  "  on  the  6th  day  of 
July,  17 34,  a  large  and  frightful  sea  monster  raised  itself  so  high 
out  of  the  water,  that  its  head  reached  above  the  main-top-mast  of 
the  ship  ;  that  it  had  a  long  sharp  snout,  broad  paws,  and  spouted 
water  like  a  whale;  that  the  body  seemed  to  be  covered  with 
scales ;  the  skin  was  uneven  and  wrinkled,  and  the  lower  part  was 
formed  like  a  snake.  The  bpdy  of  this  monster  is  said  to  be  as 
thick  as  a  hogshead ;  his  skin  is  variegated  like  a  tortoise-shell ; 
and  his  excrement,  which  floats  on  the  surface  of  the  water,  is 
corrosive,  and  blisters  the  hands  of  the  seamen  if  they  handle  it." 

In  175G,  one  of  them  was  shot  by  a  master  of  a  ship;  its  head 
resembling  that  of  the  horse  ;  the  mouth  was  large  and  black,  as 
were  the  eyes ;  a  white  mane  hanging  from  its  neck,  it  floated  on 
the  surface  of  the  water,  and  held  its  head  at  least  two  feet  out  of 
the  sea ;  between  the  head  and  neck  were  seven  or  eight  folds, 
which  were  very  thick  ;  and  the  length  of  this  snake  was  more  than 
i  hundred  yards,  some  say  fathoms.  Thoy  have  a  remarkable 

ffiafc.  ertton.  (Hoi.  XXI.  s 


130  fniLosormcA!  PAPER; 


aversion  to  the  smell  of  castor  ;  for  which  reason,  ship,  boat,  and 
bark-masters  provide  themselves  with  quantities  of  that  drug,  to 
prevent  being  overset,  the  serpent's  olfactory  nerves  being 
remarkably  exquisite.  The  particulars  related  of  this  animal  would 
be  incredible,  were  they  not  attested  upon  oath. 

Every  particular  here  mentioned  may  be  corroborated  by  the 
sea-serpent  stranded  in  Rothsolm  Bay  :  the  blow  holes,  out  of 
which  it  certainly  could  have  "spouted  water  like  a  whale;" 
the  "long  sharp  snout"  and  the  "broad  paws;"  which  prove- 
to  be  jointed  ;  and  this  is  as  remarkable  a  particular  as  any  that  is 
mentioned.  As  naturalists,  we  are  doubtful  as  to  the  propriety  of 
classing  this  creature  among  serpents  :  although  we  know  that  th» 
collecting  link  between  the  lizard  and  the  serpent  tribes,  has  pro- 
jecting  members,  which  some  call  feet.  The  Seps,  and  the  Chalcide^ 
which  are  found  in  Italy,  are  clear  instances  of  this  conformation  : 
these  are  sometimes  two  or  three  feet  in  length,  and  have  four  short 
Jeer. 

The  Slang  Hagedis,  or  serpent  described  by  Vosmaer  (Amster- 
dam, 1774)  from  a  living  specimen  in  the  Prince  of  Orange's 
cabinet  at  the  Hague  ;  with  the  worm  Hagedis,  from  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope  (in  the  same  plate),  may  also  be  referred  to.  The 
first  has  four  projecting  long  scales  rather  than  feet  ;  the  second 
has  four  feet,  but  apparently  of  feeble  powers.  Of  biped  rep- 
tiles, Count  de  la  Cepede  gives  two  specimens,  of  very  small 
dimensions,  found  in  South  America.  The  whole  of  the  lizard 
tribe  have  four  feet,  but  this  mighty  inhabitant  of  the  waters,  has,- 
it  appears,  six  feet,  or  fins  j  but  rather  feet,  if  the  terms  be  correct, 
<{  shaped  like  paws,  and  jointed;"  the  joint  "being  four  feet 
distant  from  the  body."  This  singularity  seems  to  imply  tke 
power  of  crawling  along  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  climbing  up  rocks, 
and  holding  strongly  by  such  protuberant  masses  as  it  has  occasion 
to  pass.  We  shall  be  glad  to  find  that  some  delineation  of  it  from 
the  real  subject  has  been  preserved. 

The  Laccrta  Syren,  of  Linnaeus,  found  by  Dr.  Garden  in  Caro* 
Jina,  should  not  be  forgotten  on  this  occasion. 

This  sea-serpent  does  not  seem  to  be  a  creature  prepared  for 
carnage  and  devastation  ;  and  whether  it  may  possess  venom  of 
any  kind,  probably  was  not  examined  by  those  who  discovered  it. 
We  rather  think  it  to  be  slow,  languid,  aud  quiet:  like  the  whale, 


MARINE  SCENERY.  431 

which  it  resembles  in  its  power  of  ejecting  water  through  its 
'blow-holes. 

It  remains  that  we'hint  at  the  inquiry  whether  this  specimen,  of 
the  length  of  60  feet,  had  attained  the  full  size  of  its  species.  We 
rather  incline  to  think  it  was  but  a  small  one  :  seeing  that  every 
other  particular  of  those  who  formerly  described  this  creature  has 
been  justified,  we  see  no  reason  for  impeaching  their  correctness, 
in  the  estimation  they  made  of  its  dimensions.  We  observe,  too, 
that  a  body  the  thickness  of  a  hogshead,  is  but  in  proportion  for 
one  for  a  hundred  yards  in  length,  to  a  body  the  thickness  of  a 
poney  for  one  of  sixty  feet. 

We  rtay  also  add,  that  in  the  regions  of  which  it  is  native,  pos- 
sibly it  meets  with  but  few  enemies  capable  of  shortening  its  life : 
and  MC  have  every  reason  for  believing  Pliny,  who  describes 
whales  of  120  feet  and  upwards  in  length,  as  being  formerly  extant 
in  the  North  Seas,  although  we  now  find  the  same  description  of 
fish  seldom  attain  the  length  of  60  feet.  The  cause  is  the  interested 
necessity  of  man,  which  does  not  allow  them  to  attain  their  full 
growth,  but  destroys  them  before  their  time.  The  skeleton  of  a 
whale  was  some  time  ago  found  on  the  western  coast  of  North 
America,  that  was  105  feet  in  length.  This  contributes  to  vindi- 
cate Pliny  :  and  even  the  correctness  of  his  account  of  the  pro- 
digious  serpent  slain  by  Regulus,  is  strongly  vouched  for  by  such 
discoveries. 

We  say  nothing  on  the  support  this  yields  to  the  accounts  of 
other  immense  inhabitants  of  the  waters:  the  inference  cannot 
escape  the  reader.  Accident  may  throw  a  Kraken  on  our  coast. 
As  to  the  spots  on  the  body  of  this  serpent,  we  know  that  the 
skin  of  each  species  of  serpent  is  distinguished  by  a  peculiar  pat- 
tern ;  some  of  which  are  extremely  handsome. 


MARINE  SCENERY. 

GILPIiN's    WESTERN    COUNTIES. 

THE  exhibition  we  just  nad  of  the  fogs  leaving  the  Welch  coast 
was  a  pleasing  one,  but  Avhere  there  is  a  coincidence  of  grand 
objects  under  such  circumstances  the  exhibition  is  often  sublime. 
One  of  the  grandest  I  remember  to  have. met  with,  was  presented 
at  the  sieg^  of  Gibraltar.* 

*  See  Drinkwater's  Journal. 


132  MARINE   SCENKIIY. 

It  was  near  daybreak  on  the  12th  of  April,  1781,  when  a 
message  was  brought  from  the  signal-house  at  the  summit  of  the 
rock,  that  the  long-expected  fleet,  under  Admiral  Darby,  was  in 
sight.  Innumerable  masts  were  just  discerned  from  that  lofty 
situation  ;  but  could  not  be  seen  from  the  lower  parts  of  the 
castle,  being  obscured  by  a  thick  fog,  which  had  set  in  from  the 
west,  and  totally  over>prcad  the  opening  of  the  straits.  In  this 
uncertainty  the  garrison  remained  for  some  time  ;  while  the  fleet, 
invested  in  obscurity,  moved  slowly  towards  the  castle.  In  the 
mean  time,  the  sun  becoming  powerful,  the  fog  rose  like  the  cur. 
tain  of  a  vast  theatre,  and  discovered  at  once  the  whole  fleet,  full 
and  distinct  before  the  eye.  The  convoy,  consisting  of  near  three 
hundred  vessels,  were  in  a  compact  body,  led  on  by  twenty-eight 
sail  of  the  line,  and  a  number  of  tenders  and  other  smaller  vessels, 
A  gentle  wind  just  filled  their  sails,  and  brought  them  forward  with 
a  slow  and  solemn  motion.  Had  all  this  grand  exhibition  been 
presented  gradually,  the  sublimity  of  it  would  have  been  injured 
by  the  acquaintance  the  eye  would  have  made  with  it,  during  its 
approach  ;  but  the  appearance  of  it  in  all  its  greatness  at  once, 
before  the  eye  had  examined  the  detail,  had  a  wonderful  effect. 

To  this  account  of  a  grand  effect  from  the  clearing  away  of  a 
foe,  I  shall  subjoin  another,  which,  though  of  the  horrid  kind,  is 
grand  and  sublime  in  the  highest  degree.  It  is  taken  from  Captain 
jNIeares's  voyage  from  China  to  the  northern  latitudes  of  America. 
That  navigator  having  gained  the  inhospitable  coast  he  >vas  in  pur- 
suit of,  was  sailing  among  unknown  bays  and  gulfs,  when  he  was 
suddenly  immersed  i;i  HO  thick  a  fog,  that  the  seamen  could  not 
even  discern  an  object  from  one  end  of  the  ship  to  the  other. 
Ni^ht  too  came  on,  which  rendered  every  thing  still  more  dismal. 
While  the  unhappy  crew  were  ruminating  on  the  variety  of  dis- 
tresses that  surrounded  them,  about  midnight  they  were  alarmed, 
•with  the  sound  of  waves  bursting  and  dashing  amongst  rocks, 
•within  a  little  distance  of  the  head  of  the  ship.  Instantly  turning 
the  helm,  they  tacked  about.  But  they  had  sailed  only  a  short  way 
in  this  new  direction,  when  they  were  terrified  with  the  same  dread, 
ful  sound  a  second  time.  They  altered  their  course  again:  but 
the  same  tremendous  noise  again  recurred.  At  length  day  cams 
on  ;  but  the  fog  continuing  as  intense*  as  before,  they  could  see 
uolV:ir~.  All  they  knew  was,  that  they  were  surrounded  by  rocks 
on  every  side  ;  but  how  to  escape  they  had  no  idea.  Once,  during 
a  momentary  interruption  of  the  fog,  they  got  a  glimpse  of  the 
summit  of  an  immense  cliff,  covered  with  snow,  towering  over  the 


PL  ATE    CCLXXYII.  J33 

rnast,  but  the  fog  instantly  shut  it  in.  A  more  dreadful  situation 
cannot  easily  be  conceived.  They  had  steered  in  every  direction, 
but  always  found  they  were  land-locked,  and  though  they  were 
continually  close  to  the  shore,  on  sounding  they  could  find  no 
bottom.  Their  anchors,  therefore,  \vere  of  no  use.  Four  days 
they  continued  in  this  dreadful  suspense,  tacking  from  side  to  side  : 
on  the  fifth  the  fog  cleared  away,  and  they  had  a  view  at  once  of 
the  terrors  that  surrouuded  them.  They  had  by  some  strange 
accident,  found  their  way  into  a  bay,  environed  on  all  sides  with 
precipices  of  immense  height,  covered  with  snow,  and  falling  down 
to  the  water,  in  lofty  rocks,  which  were  every  where  perpendicular, 
except  in  some  parts  where  the  constant  beating  of  the  surge  had 
hollowed  them  into  caverns.  The  sound  they  heard  was  from  the 
waters  swelling  and  rushing  into  these  caverns,  which  absorbing 
them,  drove  them  out  again  with  great  fury  against  the  rocks  at 
their  mouths,  dashing  them  into  foam  with  a  tremendous  sound. 
Captain  Meares  now  perceived  the  passage,  through  which  he  had 
Jjeen  driven  into  this  scene  ol  horrors,  and  made  his  escape. 


PLATE   CCLXXVIJ. 

THE  annexed  view  of  Ilfracombe,  taken  from  the  vcstward, 
is  from  a  drawing  by  Mr.  Pocock,  engraved  by  Rickards. 

Ilfracombe,  or  Ilfordcombe,  is  a  seaport  and  market  town  in 
Devonshire,  48  miles  north-west  by  north  from  Exeter,  and  1S1 
west  by  south  from  London.  It  consists  chiefly  of  one  irregular 
street,  from  the  church  to  the  sea-side,  upwards  of  a  mile  long, 
and  is  a  neat,  well-built,  populous,  and  thriving  place. 

The  harbour  is  very  commodiously  situated ;  so  that  ships  can 
run  in  there,  when  it  would  be  dangerous  to  go>  to  Bideford  or 
Barnstaple ;  consequently,  several  of  the  traders  of  the  latter  town 
do  a  great  deal  of  their  port  business  at  Ilfracombe.  The  vessel* 
belonging  to  this  place  are  chiefly  employed  as  coasters,  in  carrying- 
ore,  corn,  £c.  from  Cornwall  and  Devonshire  to  Bristol,  and  in 
fishing. 

For  the  security  of  the  harbour,  and  the  protection  of  shipping, 
A  pier  was  long  since  built,  and  a  light-house  erected;  but  tho*sc 
accommodations  were  made  solely  at  the  expence  of  the  owner  of 
the  soil  ;  and,  some  disputes  arising  about  the  customary  duties  to 
be  paid  to  the  lord  of  the  manor,  it  was  found  necessary  to  apply 
to  the  legislature  for  settling  those  duties.  An  act  of  Parliament 


131  CORRECT    RELAT10X   OF  SHIPWRECKS. 

was  accordingly  obtained,  in  the  year  1781,  making  them  payable 
to  the  lord  of  the  manor,  and  providing  that  all  the  money  raised 
by  them,  or  recovered  by  forfeitures  under  the  act,  shall  be  laid 
out  in  repairing  and  supporting  the  pier,  light-house,  warp,  warp, 
house,  boats,  and  harbour  j  so  that  an  ample  fund  has  been 
established  for  keeping  them  in  excellent  condition.  The  pier 
forms  a  quay  upwards  of  800  feet  in  length. — Outside  the  pier  are 
several  coves  admirably  adapted  for  bathing,  for  which  purpose 
convenient  machines  are  kept. 

There  are  packets  ftom  Ilfracombe  to  Bristol,  Swansea,  Milford 
Haven,  &c. 

On  a  high  point  near  the  bay,  Sir  Bourchicr  Wray,  the  lord  of 
the  manor,  some  time  ago  built  a  summer  house,  which  commands 
a  beautiful  and  extensive  prospect  of  the  ocean. 

Ilfracombe  church,  which  is  a  large  plain  structure,  contains  a 
monument  to  the  memory  of  Captain  Thomas  Bowen,  who  was 
killed  in  the  unsuccessful  attack  upon  Teneriffe,  where  he  acted 
with  Lord  Nelson.  This  monument  was  erected  at  the  expense  of 
the  nation. 

On  the  22d  of  February,  1797,  three  French  frigates -appeared 
off  Ilfracombe,  scuttled  several  merchantmen,  and  attempted  to 
destroy  the  shipping  in  the  harbour.  They  also  landed  1,400 
troops,  and  soon  after  set  sail,  leaving  the  men  to  be  taken 
prisoners. 


CORRECT  RELATION  OF  SHIPWRECKS. 
No.  XXXIII.     . 

Again  the  dismal  prospect  opens  round, 

The  wreck,  the  shore,  the  dying,  and  die  dr«wn'd. 

FALCONER. 

SUFFERINGS    OF    THE    CREW    OF    A    PORTUGUESE    SLOOP,     WRECKED 
NEAR    TUB    CALAMIAN    ISLANDS,    IN    THE    YEAR    1688. 


EMELLI  CARRERI,  a  Neapolitan,  was  one  of  the  most 
enlightened  navigators  that  have  sailed  round  the  globe. 
Having  arrived  at  Canton,  in  the  month  of  January,  1696,  he  was 
under  the  necessity  of  passing  several  weeks  in  that  city,  and  even 
returning  a  second  time  in  March  the  same  year.  He  also  visited 
Macao,  and  after  seeing  every  thing  worthy  of  notice  in  that  town, 
he  crossed  over  to  the  Green  Island,  at  that  time  belonging  to  the 


CORRECT  RELATION  OF  SHIPWRECKS.  135 

college  of  Jesuits.  It  is  situated  at  a  small  distance  from  Macao, 
and  is  only  a  mile  in  circumference.  Though  nothing  more  than 
a.  sterile  rock,  the  Jesuits  had  erected  there  a  delightful  pleasure- 
house.  They  had  likewise  succeeded  in  rearing  plantains,  bananas, 
and  several  other  fruit-trees,  which  surround  the  edifice.  Among 
other  Jesuits  who  resided  there  was  one  equally  esteemed  for  his 
piety  and  the  charms  of  his  conversation.  In  the  different  inter- 
views which  Carreri  had  with  him,  he  was  highly  gratified  by 
receiving  from  his  mouth  the  confirmation  of  a$  extraordinary 
event,  of  which  he  had  before  heard,  but  without  being  able  to 
ascertain  the  degree  of  credit  that  was  due  to  it. 

In  1688,  a  Portuguese  sloop,  bound  from  the  coast  of  Corotnan- 
del  to  the  Philippines,  anchored  in  safety  in  the  port  of  •Cavite, 
and  sailed  again  soon  afterwards,  laden  with  the  commodities  of 
the  country.  The  vessel  had  on  board  about  sixty  persons,  Moors, 
Gentoos,  and  Portuguese,  among  whom  was  the  Jesuit  missionary 
found  by  Ccrreri  on  the  Green  Island.  The  captain  and  pilot 
were  not  sufficiently  vigilant  while  navigating  the  sea  of  the 
Philippines,  which  is  extremely  dangerous,  from  the  multitude  of 
rocks  :  the  sloop  struck  on  a  sand-bank  near  the  Calamian  islands, 
and  instantly  went  to  pieces.  The  Moors  and  Gentoos,  of  whom 
the  greatest  part  of  the  crew  was  composed,  immediately  seized  the 
long-boat,  with  a  view  to  get  on  shore  on  a  neighbouring  island, 
but  a  violent  gale  arising  during  their  passage,  the  boat  foundered, 
and  every  person  was  entombed  in  a  watery  grave.  The  others, 
who  had  the  good  fortune  to  keep  their  station  upon  the  sand, 
took  advantage  of  a  quantity  of  planks  floating  near  them  to  reach 
successively  the  nearest  island,  distant  two  miles  from  the  spot 
where  they  were  wrecked.  After  a  minute  search,  they  found  it 
was  destitute  of  water.  The  success  of  their  first  attempt  induced 
them  to  endeavour  to  pass  over  to  another  island,  at  the  distance 
of  about  three  leagues.  They  arrived  there  in  safety  by  tha 
method  they  had  before  employed.  This  island,  however,  was  like 
the  former,  very  small,  low,  and  without  wood  or  water.  For 
four  (lays  they  were  obliged  to  drink  the  blood  of  tortoises  to  allay 
their  thirst.  Necessity  at  length  supplied  them  with  invention  ; 
they  employed  their  planks  to  make-  trenches  level  with  the  surface 
of  the  water.  That  which  remained  in  them,  lost  in  a  few  days 
part  of  its  saltness.  The  (aste  was  at  first  disgusting;  but  finding 
that  it  was  not  pernicious,  tht-y  soon  overcame  the  dislike  they  at 
first  took  to  drink  it.  Providence,  in  conducting  to  this  island 
the  sraajl  number  of  persons  who  had  escaped  from  the  wreck,  had 


136  COIlilKCT    UKtATION*    OP   SHir-WttECKS. 

supplied  them  on  this  barren  spot  with  resources  against  t7i6 
cravings  of  hunger  and  thirst:  the  latter,  in  the  manner  we  hare 
already  seen,  and  the  former  in  the  extraordinary  abundance  of  tur- 
tles, it  being  then  the  season  of  laying.  They  flocked  every  night 
from  the  sea  to  deposit  their  eggs  in  the  sand.  The  mariners 
matched  them,  and  as  soon  as  they  were  at  a  little  distance  from 
the  water,  they  threw  them  on  their  backs  ;  from  the  facility  of 
killing  them,  they  procured  such  a  number  as  to  supply  them  with 
foftd  during  six  months. 

Provisions  began  to  run  short,  and  they  had  scarcely  sufficient 
for  a  few  days,  when  they  saw  a  large  species  of  sea-bird,  called 
boobies,  arrive  on  the  island.  They  came  regularly  every  year  to 
these  islands,  to  build  their  nests  and  lay  their  eggs.  The  eggs 
and  the  young  were  a  twofold  resource  to  the  unfortunate  Por- 
tuguese, who  likewise  killed  many  of  the  parent  birds.  They  used 
pieces  of  the  planks  to  kill  them,  and  they  laid  up  a  store  sufficient 
for  half  a  year.  Thus  the  turiles  and  the  boobies  .furnished  them 
regularly  with  provisions  for  the  two  parts  of  the  year,  without 
any  other  preparation  than  drying  their  flesh  in  the  sun.  They 
likewise  ate  it  fresh,  stewed  in  vessels  made  of  a  kind  of  earth. 
These  they  had  succeeded  in  moulding  after  many  attempts,  but 
they  could  not  use  them  more  than  once,  either  from  the  want  of 
a  furnace,  or  because  the  earth  they  employed  was  not  sufficiently 
argillaceous. 

Sickness,  and  the  hardships  of  tfceir  situation,  had  reduced  the 
number  of  these  unfortunate  exiles  to  eighteen.  Their  clothes 
were  worn  out  in  time,  when  they  contrived  to  sew  together  the 
skins  of  the  birds  they  killed,  with  needles,  which  one  of  them 
chanced  to  have  about  him  when  the  vessel  was  east  away.  A  few 
small  scattered  palm-trees,  at  a  small  distance  from  the  coast,  fur- 
nished them  with  a  kind  of  thread  for  the  purpose.  Upon  the 
approach  of  winter,  they  retired  to  skreen  themselves  from  the 
cold,  into  subterraneous  grottos  which  they  had  scooped  out  with 
their  hands.  They  were  situated  on  a  gentle  ascent  facing  the 
south. 

Several  years  elapsed  without  any  change  in  the  situation  of  these 
unhappy  men.  They  sometimes  perceived  vessels  in  full  sail  very 
near  their  island.  In  vain  they  claimed  relief  by  their  cries ;  in  vain 
they  waved  skins  in  the  air,  and  made  fires  on  the  elevations. 
Doubtless  the  fear  of  the  sands  and  shallows  deterred  the  pilots  : 
all  passed  without  bringing  to.  By  the  quantity  of  planks  and 
other  fragments  thrown  upon  the  sand,  during  this  long  interval, 


CORRECT    RELATION    OF   SHIPWRECKS.  137 

they  even  conjectured  that  shipwrecks  were  frequent  in  these  seas, 
and  that  they  alone  were  not  condemned  to  misfortune. 

The  annual  return  of  the  turtles  and  birds,  which  furnished  them 
with  a  certain  subsistence,  caused  them  to  endure  their  melancholy 
fate  with  courage  for  six  years.  At  the  beginning  of  the  seventh, 
their  hopes  were  still  kept  alive  by  the  arrival  of  the  turtles,  which 
appeared  in  the  same  abundance  as  ever ;  but  in  the  second  season 
they  were  cruelly  disappointed.  The  boobies,  undoubtedly  terri- 
fied by  the  incessant  persecution  on  this  spot  for  several  years, 
returned  in  such  small  numbers,  that  the  shipwrecked  troop  was 
soon  seized  with  the  utmost  consternation.  At  the  same  time  two 
of  them,  sinking  beneath  the  wright  of  the  evils  that  overwhelmed 
them,  and  the  dreary  prospects  of  the  future,  ended  their  days  in 
the  land  of  exile.  The  others,  being  reduced  in  number  to  sixteen, 
grew  so  meagre  that  they  appeared  like  spectres  rather  than  men. 
In  the  agitation  of  their  minds  some  resigned  themselves  to  despair, 
"while  others  still  retained  in  their  bosoms  a  spark  of  hope. 

By  degrees,  however,  all  recovered  their  tranquility,  and  having 
assembled,  they,  after  some  debate,  resolved,  as  the  last  expedient* 
to  quit  the  island,  with  the  chance  of  landing  a  second  time  ou 
some  uninhabited  coast.  They  instantly  fell  to  work,  and,  with, 
the  planks  and  fragments  of  vessels  thrown  upon  the  shore  by  the 
sea,  they  in  a  few  days  constructed  a  kind  of  vessel,  or  rather  a 
box.  This  they  caulked  with  a  mixture  of  feathers,  sand,  and 
turtle  fat:  the  rigging  was  composed  of  the  nerves  of  turtles 
doubled  several  times,  and  the  sails  of  boobies'  skins,  sewed 
together.  Though  the  construction  was  rude,  yet  the  bark  made 
no  water,  and  yielded  to  the  impulse  either  of  wind  or  of  oars. 
They  took  on  board  with  them  the  small  quantity  of  provisions 
that  remained. 

^Vith  these  slender  resource?  they  set  sail,  on  a  fine  day,  im- 
ploring the  assistance  of  Heaven.  An  uncertain  navigation  of 
eight  days,  under  the  guidance  of  the  winds  and  waves  alone, 
brought  them  to  the  island  of  Hayman,  off  the  south  coast  of 
China.  After  landing  on  a  shore  which  they  perceived  to  be 
inhabited,  their  first  care  was  to  pour  forth  the  grateful  effusions 
of  their  hearts  to  Divine  Providence  ;  after  which  they  proceeded 
up  the  country.  The  first  natives  who  descried  them  were  terriiied, 
and  tied  with  precipitation.  However,  some  of  the  Portuguese, 
who  understood  the  Chinese  language,  increasing  their  pace,  those 
of  the  inhabitants  who  were  least  alarmed,  qbserved  that  the 

er&ion,  ftci.XXI.  X 


138  IMPROVEMEXTS   IX   NAVAL   ARCHITECTURE. 

strangers  were  without  arms,  and  waited  for  them.  A  brief  recital  of 
their  misfortunes  drew  tears  from  their  eyes,  they  immediately 
offered  them  provisions,  and  shewed  them  a  spring  of  fresh  water. 
After  th'.y  had  satisfied  the  pressing  necessities  of  thirst,  they  were 
conducted  to  the  mandarin  of  the  island,  who  with  eager  solicitude 
provided  lodgings,  and  supplied  them  with  every  thing  their  situa- 
tion required.  He  afterwards  procured  them  the  means  of  return, 
ing  to  their  families.  The  Portuguese,  who  were  not  far  from. 
Macao,  arrived  there  in  a  few  days.  One  of  them,  who  was  sup- 
posed by  his  wife  to  be  dead,  was  surprised  to  find  her  married 
again.  Their  mutual  friends  prevailed  upon  him  to  forgive  a  levity 
which  seven  years  absence  rendered  very  excusable. 

The  missionary,  who  confirmed  the  truth  of  this  event,  had  been 
sent  to  the  Green  Island  to  recover  from  the  hardships  he  had 
endured,  and  though  he  had  resided  there  above  a  year,  his  health 
and  strength  had  scarcely  begun  to  be  re-established. 


IMPROVEMENTS   IN  NAVAL   ARCHITECTURE. 

THE  following  remarks  on  an  article  which  appeared  in  our 
NAVAL  CHRONICLE  for  November  last,  having  appeared  in 
a  contemporary  work*  of  great  literary  and  scientific  merit,  we  are 
induced,  for  the  further  elucidation  of  the  subject,  and  the  gratifi- 
cation of  our  naval  readers,  to  insert  them. 

An  Examination  of  tlie  Notion  entertained  by  Seamen,  that  the  Weakness 
or  Looseness  of  a  Vessel's  Frame  makes  her  sail  foster.  By  Captain  Malcolm 
Coican."  •  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  No.  120. 

Captain  Cowan  observes,  that  the  generality  of  seamen  have  an 
idea  that  the  strength  of  ships  is  an  impediment  to  their  sailing, 
which  makes  them  give  too  ready  an  assent  to  any  objection  that 
may  be  made  to  the  improvements  in  naval  architecture,  which 
have  been  contrived  for  strengthening  ships,  and  consequently 
adding  to  their  safety ;  not  considering  how  many  are  interested 
in  the  continuation  of  ancient  errors  and  absurdities,  and  enriched 
by  the  existing  abuses  in  the  construction  and  equipment  of  ships. 
This  is  a  subject  in  which  seamen  are  more  particularly  interested, 
from  being  liable  to  be  the  greatest  sufferers  by  any  mistake  relative 
to  it,  and  which  therefore  demands  their  peculiar  attention. 

*  Athenaeum  for  February,  1809« 


IMPROVEMENTS   I Jf   NAVAL    ARCHITECTURE.  139 

Captain  Cowan  supposes  the  notion  to  be  erroneous,  that  the 
part  of  ships  immersed  in  the  water  can  twist  or  bend  in  any  way 
to  effect  their  sailing,  as  they  are  too  firmly  bound  by  the  decks 
and  knees,  to  admit  of  any  sufficient  motion  in  this  way  for  this 
effect ;  he  however  admits  the  possibility  of  this  twisting  and  bend- 
ing, in  order  to  investigate  the  consequences  of  it  on  the  sailing, 
and  to  shew  that  they  would  be  nearly  the  reverse  of  what  is  com- 
monly supposed. 

If  a  vessel  should  bend  upwards  or  downwards,  she  would  make 
more  resistance  to  the  water,  by  opposing  a  greater  surface  to  it 
transversely ;  a  hollow  or  concave  keel  is  well  known  to  be  one 
of  the  greatest  impediments  to  a  vessel's  sailing  :  and  if  the  vessel, 
on  the  contrary,  is  sunk  lower  in  the  middle,  it  is  evident  the 
transverse  section  of  her  immersed  part  must  be  proportionably 
increased  in  depth,  along  with  her  resistance  to  forward  motion, 
which  depends  on  it. 

If  the  bend  or  fwist  should  be  sideways,  the  transverse  section 
would  be  increased  in  breadth,  and  the  resistance  become  propor- 
tionably greater  ;  besides  this,  it  would  make  a  resistance  diagonally 
to  the  proper  course,  which  would  operate  to  make  the  vessel  steer 
in  the  direction  of  the  bend  at  the  head.  These  reasons  Captain 
Cowan  justly  supposes  are  conclusive,  but  they  are  rendered  more 
apparent  by  drawings,  which  he  has  made  of  ships  twisted  as  sea- 
men suppose  they  may  be  :  a  single  inspection  of  the  roughest 
sketch  of  this  kind  is  sufficient  to  demonstrate  the  absurdity  of  the 
idea  (to  any  but  the  obstinately  ignorant),  that  such  twisting  can 
be  an  advantage. 

Captain  Cowan  attributes  the  effect  which  takes  place  on  the 
sailing  of  vessels  by  cutting  through  the  gunnels  (which  is  prac- 
tised sometimes  in  small  privateers),  entirely  to  the  loosening  of 
the  upper  tzorks,  and  thereby  giving  more  play  to  the  masts  and 
sails.  It  often  happens,  that  by  slacking  the  rigging,  a  vessel's 
sailing  is  improved ;  and  it  is  usual  in  cutters  to  slack  the  runners 
and  tackles  (which  support  the  mast)  when  in  chase,  in  order  to 
give  the  mast  as  much  play  or  motion  as  possible;  in  large,  and 
particularly  in  lofty  ships,  the  rolling  motion  causes  the  sides  to 
bend  over  somewhat  from  their  natural  position,  and  this  causes 
a  material  alteration  in  the  position  of  the  masts  and  sails,  besides 
giving  them  more  play,  as  the  length  of  the  masts  multiplies  the 
alteration  of  place  at  the  sails,  in  proportion  to  their  distance  from 
the  centre  of  motion. 

By  cutting  through  a  vessel's  gunnels,  the  upper  works  may  be 


140  IMPROVKMEtfTS    IN   JJATAL    ARCHITECTURE. 

made  very  loose  ;  but  as  the  deck  must  keep  every  part  beneath  it 
under  water  from  bending  or  twisting  so  as  to  affect  the  sailing, 
it  must  be  entirely  from  the  effect  which  the  looseness  of  the 
upper  works  has  on  the  masts  and  sails,  that  any  alteration  in. 
sailing  can  arise. 

Captain  Cowan  observes,  in  concluding,  that  ships  sometimes  sail 
faster  when  new  and  firm,  than  when  they  get  old  and  weak ;  that 
the  best  sailing  trim  of  a  vessel  must  depend  entirely  on  the  draught 
of  water,  the  stowage  of  the  hold,  and  the  position  and  trim  of  the 
masts,  sails,  and  rigging,  as  no  improvement  in  the  sailing  of  a  ship 
can  be  produced  by  her  bending  or  twisting  beneath  the  surface 
of  the  water,  however  weak  or  loose  she  may  be. 

It  is  easy  to  demonstrate  that  when  any  part  of  the  frame  of  a 
ship  loosens,  so  as  to  be  capable  of  motion  on  the  neighbouring 
parts,  from  that  moment  the  vessel  begins  to  decay;  and  it  is  all  a 
matter  of  chance  whether  her  destruction  should  be  gradual,  by  a 
progressive  loosening  and  wearing  of  the  whole  frame,  or  whether 
the  partial  motion  of  a  single  timber  may  not  start  a  plank,  and 
send  her  and  her  crew,  and  cargo,  at  once  to  the  bottom.  Captain 
Cowan  has  therefore  done  a  singular  service  to  seamen  in  pointing 
out  their  errors  on  this  subject,  by  shewing,  that  it  is  the  part  of 
the  vessel  above  water  which  affects  the  sailing  by  its  action  on  the 
masts  and  yards,  and  not  the  alteration  of  the  shape  of  the  im- 
mersed part,  as  was  falsely  imagined. 

The  effect  which  the  giving  play  or  motion  to  the  masts  has  on 
the  sailing,  we  are  convinced,  arises  entirely  from  the  greater 
spring  or  elasticity  which  they  are  then  capable  of  exercising.  It 
has  been  long  since  proved,  that  the  springs  added  to  wheel 
carriages  enable  a  given  force  to  produce  a  greater  effect  in  moving 
them  forward,  and  prevent  impediments  on  the  road  from  diminish, 
ing  their  velocity  of  motion  in  a  very  great  degree,  if  not  entirely. 
The  waves  on  the  sea  may  be  considered  as  forming  obstructions 
to  the  velocity  of  a  ship,  in  a  similar  manner  to  that  which  obsta- 
cles on  a  road  do  to  the  motion  of  a  carriage;  and  it  may  easily  be 
conceived,  that  the  introduction  of  the  principle  of  the  spring, 
in  making  the  motion  of  the  ship  more  uniform,  must  be  equally 
beneficial. 

But  surely  the  dangerous  expedient  of  damaging  the  vessel,  by 
the  process  of  loosening  it,  as  it  is  called,  cannot  be  absolutely 
necessary  to  give  this  spring  ;  or  granting  that  it  aids  somewhat  in 
this  way;  yet  certainly  many  better  methods  can  be  devised,  and 


IMPROVEMENTS    IN   NAVAL    ARCHITECTURE.  141 

certainly  none  worse,  and  it  is  evidently  a  disgrace  to  the  ingenuity 
of  seameR,  not  to  be  able  to  contrive  a  better  expedient  than  tha 
very  barbarous  one  which  they  have  adopted.  Springs  have  been 
added  to  the  blocks  for  the  sheets  and  halyards,  in  several  American, 
vessels,  according  to  the  contrivance  of  Mr.  Hopkinson,  and  have 
been  found  of  great  utility :  there  can  be  no  donht  but  that  the 
slings  of  the  yards  might  be  also  attached  to  springs,  and  tha.t  the 
effect  would  not  only  be  beneficial  to  the  sailing  of  the  ship,  but 
also  in  preventing  the  sails  from  being  rent  by  sudden  squalls. 
The  wind  varies  likewise,  from  the  intensity  of  its  action  on  the 
sail  for  momentary  intervals  at  other  times,  as  well  as  in  squalls ; 
and  the  action  of  the  ship  in  pitching  and  rolling  tends  also  to 
make  the  operation  of  the  w  ind  on  the  sail  very  variable,  increasing 
it  as  the  mast  rolls  towards  the  wind,  and  diminishing  it  as  it  rolls 
from  it.  Springs  at  the  slings  and  at  the  halyard  blocks  would 
equalize  this  action  of  the  wind  more  effectually  than  cutting  the 
gunnels,  or  loosening  the  rig-ing,  so  as  to  endanger  the  masts 
being  brought  by  the  board.  All  unprejudiced  persons  will  at 
least  grant  that  this,  and  every  other  safe  expedient,  should  be 
tried  for  the  purpose,  before  the  very  dangerous  methods  above- 
mentioned  should  be  attempted. 

It  has  been  proved  by  experimental  philosophers,  that  a  pyra- 
midical  or  conoidal  body  of  wood,  forced  into  the  water,  will 
react  in  the  same  manner  as  a  spring ;  this  principle  may  be  also 
adopted  to  give  the  action  of  a  spring  to  the  masts,  without  injuring 
the  ship,  for  its  hull  may  be  so  shaped,  that,  both  in  rolling  and 
pitching,  the  resistance  may  gradually  increase,  as  it  inclines  from, 
the  veriical  position,  and  that  the  reaction  may  be  in  the  same  pro- 
portion :  the  wedge  shape  which  many  ships  have  vertically  at  the 
head  and  stern,  is  well  calculated  for  this  purpose,  and  if  the  sides 
were  made  so  as  to  project  as  they  rose,  instead  of  inclining  in. 
wards,  or  tumbling  home,  as  it  is  called,  the  vessel  would  have 
the  best  form  for  this  purpose,  and  one  which  would  be  very  good 
in  other  respects  also.  Much  depends  upon  ballasting  the  ship,  in 
making  the  operation  of  its  immersed  part  have  the  operation  of  a 
spring  on  the  masts :  for  if  the  ballast  is  too  low,  this  effect  would 
be  injured  by  its  rendering,  as  it  were,  the  spring  too  stiff;  and  if, 
on  the  contrary,  the  centre  of  gravity  is  placed  too  high,  the  spring 
will  be  too  weak,  besides  risking  the  upsetting  of  the  ship. 

As  a  proof  that  the  stiffness  of  the  framing  of  a  ship  can  in  no 
wise  affect  the  sailing,  we  have  to  state  the  example  of  the  ship 
Economy,  described  in  a  former  number,  which  is  so  stiffened  by 


142  IMPROVEMENTS   IN    NATAL   ARCHITECTURE. 

her  internal  framing,  that  she  can  neither  twist  nor  bend  in  any 
direction ;  and  yet  she  has  sailed  in  all  her  voyages  much  better 
than  most  merchant  vessels  on  a  wood  sheathing,  and  has  fre- 
quently outsailed  coppered  ships. 

The  interest  which.  Captain  Cowan  remarks-,  many  take  in  the 
continuation  of  ancient  errors  in  the  construction  and  equipment  of 
ships,  is  a  melancholy  consideration,  when  the  fate  of  the  nation 
depends  so  much  on  its  naval  superiority  :  especially  as  some,  who 
favour  those  errors,  unfortunately  have  the  power,  from  their  sta- 
tions, to  continue  them ;  which  power  they  now  exert,  not  only 
in  discouraging  and  rejecting  proposed  improvements,  bat  even  hi 
persecuting  those  who  bring  them  forward. 

We  have  before  stated,  in  the  account  of  the  ship  Economy,  an 
instance  of  the  system  that  influences  those  at  the  head  of  the  naval 
department,  in  the  rejection  of  improvements ;  we  are  sorry  that 
the  instance  of  persecution  on  a  similar  account,  which  we  have  to 
state,  should  be  that  of  Captain  Cowan  himself.  The  captain 
respectfully  remonstrated  to  the  navy  board,  for  the  impediments 
and  delays  (and  the  various  other  modes  of  rendering  an  improve- 
ment of  no  avail,  which  cannot  be  openly  rejected)  which  have 
been  used,  in  preventing  the  introduction  in  ships  of  war  of  his 
patent  method  of  reefing  sails,*  and  other  improvements  respecting 
them,  to  the  extent  they  deserved,  notwithstanding  their  being  ap- 
proved of  universally  by  all  the  naval  captains  who  have  tried 
them  fairly;  and  for  this  just  remonstrance,  the  captain  has  been 
officially  censured  by  the  Board  of  Admiralty.  It  would  open  toe* 
large  a  discussion  at  present,  to  enter  on  the  subject  of  the  legal 
powers  of  this  board  ;  but  certainly  it  most  materially  behoves  all 
naval  officers  to  do  so,  and  to  have  it  decided,  whether  they  can 
justly  receive  a  censure^  or  other  punishment,  from  any  body  sub- 
ordinate to  the  legislature,  zstthout  a  court-martial,  or  ttny  legal 
trial  whatsoever,  to  investigate  whether  such  censure  would  be 
deserved,  or  would  merely  be  the  result  of  arbitrary,  and  perhaps 
assumed  power. 

The  fate  of  Captain  Cartier  should  open  the  eyes  of  naval  offi- 
cers to  what  they  have  to  trust.  Is  it  possible  that  they  are  unac- 
quainted with  ii?  The  public  at  large,  we  hope,  will  soon  be 
informed  of  this  disgraceful  business,  and  those  who  were  the 
authors  of  the  injustice  he  has  experienced  meet  that  abhorrence 
they  deserve. 

We  trust  our  readers  will  excuse  the  length  of  this  note,  on 

*  Vide  NAVAL  CIIROXICLE,  Vol.  XV.  p.  333;  Vol.  XVIII.  p.  389;  and 
Vol.  XX.  p.  373. 


IMPROVEMENTS   IN    NATAL   ARCHITECTURE.  143 

account  of  the  national  importance  of  the  subject.  If,  in  its  own 
nature,  improvement  in  all  arts,  particularly  in  those  which  con. 
tribute  to  the  defence  of  the  state,  is  not  thought  of  sufficiently 
obvious  use  and  importance  to  demand  attention,  we  have  to  urge 
in  its  favour  a  proof  of  the  most  tremendous  kind:  let  the  enemies 
to  improvement  seriously  consider  to  what  the  French  chiefly  owe 
their  rapid  conquests  on  the  continent;  every  improvement  in  the 
art  of  war,  and  in  every  other  art  which  can  assist  it,  has  -been 
encouraged,  rewarded,  and  put  in  practice  by  them;  and  those  who 
obstinately  rejected  improvement,  and  discouraged  and  persecuted 
its  advocates,  and  adhered  pertinaciously  to  old  systems,  have  uni- 
formly fallen  before  their  arms  with  a  most  disgraceful  facility. 
Fas  est  et  ab  hoste  doceri. 

As  yet  the  seas  are  our  own,  but  if  the  same  system  which  has 
ruined  the  continent,  is  pursued  in  our  naval  departments,  and  if 
all  improvement  be  obstinately  rejected  there,  while  our  inveterate 
enemies  eagerly  and  diligently  encourage  it  in  their  service,  no 
gift  of  prophecy  is  required  to  foretell  what  must  in  time  be  the 
event.  No  idea  can  be  more  false,  than  that  the  construction  and 
management  of  ships  are  brought  to  the  full  perfection  of  which 
they  are  capable.  We  laugh  at  the  Chinese,  for  holding  this 
opinion  with  regard  to  their  junks:  but  in  us  it  is  much  more 
ridiculous,  for  a  wise  policy  prevents  foreign  commerce  to  that 
nation,  to  whom  it  is  worth  nothing,  or  worse,  though  to  us  it  is 
every  thing.  Art  ij  so  far  from  being  exhausted  on  this  subject, 
that  it  is  no  exaggeration  to  say,  that  it  is  yet  completely  withia. 
its  limits  to  diminish  the  dangers  of  the  sea  to  navigators,  fully  one 
half  of  what  they  are  at  present.  And  in  no  country  in  the 
world  could  men  be  found  more  capable  of  making  improvements 
in  those  arts,  than  in  this;  but  as  yet  they  meet  only  with  dis- 
couragement, loss,  and  censure. 

"  Let  those  that  stand  take  heed  lest  they  fall :"  the  system 
which  has  been  so  successful  at  land  to  our  enemies  may  prove 
equally  so  to  them  at  sea,  when  their  rulers  have  leisure  to  bend 
their  energies  to  nautical  improvement,  if  this  is  not  counteracted 
by  equal  vigilance,  activity,  and  attention  to  improvement  in  our 
naval  service.  If  this  country  is  to  escape  the  general  wreck,  as 
we  trust  it  will,  it  must  arise  from  our  learning  wisdom  from  th.0 
fate  of  other  nations,  and  carefully  avoiding  their  errors;  and  we 
should  ever  hold  in  remembrance,  that  the  kingdoms  of  Europe 
have  fallen  by  adhering  blindly  to  old  systems,  and  rejecting  the 
aid  of  art;  while  the  French  have  risen  to  their  present  pre-em,U 
nence,  by  encouraging  and  rewarding  every  art  and  science  which 
can  assist  their  arms. 


144 

Abstract  of  u  Voyage  for  the  Discovery  of  a  north-west  Passage 
into  the  South  Sea,  performed  in  the  Years  1631  and  1632,  by 
Captain  THOMAS  JAMES. 

[Continued  from  Vol.  XI.  page  38?.] 

rjflHE  18th,  wind  and  weather  being  more  favourable,  stood  in 

• 
-J*-    again  south.    Came  into  eight,  seven,  and  six  fathom,  and 

then  stood  off  again,  it  growing  foggy. 

The  19th,  being  clear  weather,  stood  in  again.  In  the  evening, 
the  wind  came  up  at  W.  and  then  we  stood  E.  S.  E.  into  ten  and 
eight,  and  afterwards  S.  E.  as  our  depth  did  guide  us  by  our  lead, 
and  the  colour  of  the  water,  into  seven  and  six  fathoms. 

The  20th,  at  six  in  the  morning,  says  Captain  James,  we  saw 
the  land,  it  being  a  very  low  flat  land.  We  stood  into  five  fathoms, 
to  make  it  the  batter,  and  so  stood  along  it.  At  noon  M'e  were  in 
lat.  57.  00.  We  named  it  the  New  Principality  of  South  Wales, 
and  drank  a  health  in  the  best  liquor  we  had  to  Prince  Charles,  his 
highness,  whom  God  preserve  !  We  stood  along  it,  and  came  to  a 
point  where  it  tends  to  the  southward,  near  to  which  point  there 
are  two  small  islands.  In  the  evening  it  was  calm,  and  we  came  to 
an  anchor;  the  tide  set  as  aforesaid  :  there  we  rid  all  that  night 
and  the  next  day,  by  reason  the  wind  was  contrary.  There  was  a 
chopping  short  sea.  and  the  ship  did  labour  at  it  exceedingly, 
leaping  in  sprit-sail-yard,  forecastle  and  all ;  for  as  yet  we  had  not 
trimmed  her  well  to  ride.  About  nine  at  night  it  was  very  dark, 
and  it  did  blow  hard.  We  did  perceive  by  the  lead  that  the  ship 
did  drive  ;  wherefore,  bringing  the  cable  to  capstan,  to  heave  in 
our  cable  (for  we  did  think  we  had  lost  our  anchor),  the  anchor 
hitched  again,  and  upon  the  chopping  of  a  sea,  threw  the  men 
from  the  capstan.  A  small  rope  in  the  dark  had  gotten  foul  about 
the  cable,  and  about  the  master's  leg  too,  but,  with  the  help  of 
G?cd,  he  did  cleaj  himself,  though  not  without  sore  bruising.  The 
two  mates  were  hurt,  the  one  in  the  head,  the  other  in  the  arm. 
One  of  our  lustiest  men  was  stricken  on  the  breast  with  a  bar, 
that  he  lay  sprawling  for  life;  another  had  his  head  betwixt  the 
cable,  and  hardly  escaped.  The  rest  were  flung  where  they  Avere 
sore  bruised;  but  our  gunner  (an  honest  and  a  diligent  man)  had 
his  leg  taken  between  the  cable  and  the  capstan,  which  wrung  off 
his  foot,  and  tore  all  the  flesh  off  his  leg,  and  crushed  the  bone  to 
pieces,  and  sorely  withal  bruised  all  his  whole  body;  in  which 
miserable  manner  he  remained  crying  till  we  had  recovered  our* 


ABSTRACT    OF    A   VOYAGE   OF   DISCOVERY.  145 

Delves,  our  memory)  and  strength,  to  clear  him.  Whilst  \ve  were 
putting  him  and  the  rest  down  to  the  chirurgeon,  the  ship  drove 
into  shoal  water,  which  put- us  all  in  tear,  we  being  so  sorely 
weakened  by  this  blow,  which  had  hurt  eight  of  our  men.  It 
pleased  God  that  the  anchor  held  again,  and  she  rid  it  out  all  night. 
iJy  midnight  the  chirurgeon  had  taken  off  the  gunner's  leg  at  the 
gartering  place,  and  dressed  the  others  that  wore  hurt  and  bruised  j 
after  which  we  comforted  each  other  as  well  as  we  could. 

The  22d,  weighed  and  stood  off  into  deeper  water.  In  the  after- 
noon, the  wind  being  favourable,  stood  in  and  along  shore. 

The  26th,  sprung  up  a  fine  gale  at  W.  but  very  thick  weather. 
At  noon,  it  cleared,  and  we  could  see  that  we  were  embayed  in  a 
little  bay,  the  land  being  almost  round  about  us. 

We  stood  out  of  it,  and  so  along  it,  in  sight,  says  the  journalist, 
till  the  27th  in  the  morning,  when  we  came  to  higher  land  than 
any  we  had  yet  seen  since  we  came  from  Nottingham  Island.  We 
stood  in  to  it,  and  came  to  an  anchor  in  five  fathoms.  I  sent  off  the 
boat,  well  manned  and  armed,  with  orders  in  writing  what  they 
were  to  do,  and  a  charge  to  return  again  before  sunset.  The  even- 
ing came,  and  no  news  of  our  boat ;  we  shot  and  made  false  fires, 
but  had  no  answer,  which  did  much  perplex  us,  doubting  that 
there  had  been  some  disaster  befallen  her,  through  carelessness; 
and  in  her  we  should  lose  all.  We  aboard,  at  present,  were  not 
able  to  weigh  our  anchor,  nor  sail  the  ship.  At  last  we  saw  a  fire 
upon  the  shore,  which  made  us  the  more  doubtful,  because  they 
did  not  answer  our  shot,  nor  false  fires,  with  the  like.  We  thought 
withal  that  it  had  been  the  savages,  who  did  now  triumph  in  their 
conquest.  At  length  they  came,  all  and  well;  and  excused  them- 
selves in  that,  upon  their  coming  ashore,  it  did  ebb  so  suddenly, 
that  a  bank  of  sand  was  so  presently  dry  without  them,  as  they 
could  not  come  away,  till  that  was  covered  again  ;  and  with  that 
they  pacilied  me.  They  reported  that  there  was  great  store  of 
drift-wood  on  the  shore,  and  a  good  quantity  growing  on  the 
land.  That  they  saw  the  tracks  of  deer  and  bears,  good  store  of 
fowl  (of  which  they  had  killed  gome),  but  no  sign  of  people  :  that 
they  passed  over  two  little  rivers,  and  came  to  a  third,  which  they 
could  not  pass  :  that  it  did  flow  near  three  fathoms  sometimes,  as 
appeared  by  the  shore:  that  it  was  low  water  at  four  o'clock  : 
that  the  flood  came  from  the  N.  W.  and  that  it  flowed  half  tida, 
which  both'  they  and  we  had  perceived  by  the  ship.  At  low  water 
we  had  but  three  fathoms  where  we  did  ride.  The  wind  began  to 

£2a».  £f>ron,  OJol,  XXL  u 


146  ABSTRACT  or  A  VOYAGE  o?  DISCOTTERY. 

blow  hard  at  E.  whereupon  we  weighed  and  stood  to  the  north* 
ward,  till  midnight,  then  in  again  ;  and,  in  the  morning,  we  saw 
the  land,  and  then  it  began  to  blow  hard,  and  as*  we  stood  off,  it 
increased  to  a  very  storm,  so  that  at  length  we  could  not  maintain 
a  pair  of  courses,  but  tried  under  our  main  course  all  day  and  all 
night;  some  time  turning  her  head  to  the  landward,  some  time  to 
the  offing. 

The  29th,  in  the  morning,  we  made  account  we  had  driven 
back  again  some  16  or  18  leagues;  and,  in  the  morning  (as  it 
cleared),  we  saw  a  ship  to  leeward  of  us  some  three  or  four 
leagues;  so  we  made  sail,  and  bore  up  with  her.  She  was  then  at 
anchor  in  13  fathoms  water.  It  was  his  majesty's  ship,  and  Cap- 
tain Fox  commanded  in  her. 

I  saluted  him  according  to  the  manner  of  the  sea,  and  received 
the  like  of  him.  So  I  stood  in  to  sec  the  land,  and  thought  to  tack 
about,  and  keep  weather  of  him,  and  send  my  boat  on  board  of 
him  ;  but  the  wind  shifted,  so  that,  for  some  time,  I  could  not. 
In  the  evening,,  I  came  to  weather  of  him,  and  sent  my  boat  on 
board  of  him,  who  presently  weighed,  and  stood  off  with  me  till 
midnight,  and  then  we  stood  in  again. 

In  the  morning,  Captain  Fox  and  his  friends  came  on  board  me, 
where  I  entertained  them  fn  the  best  manner  I  conld,  and  \vith 
such  fresh  meat  as  I  had  gotten  from  the  shore.  I  told  him  how  I 
had  named  the  land  (he  Principality  of  South  Hales.  I  shewed 
him  how  far  I  had  been  to  the  eastward,  where  I  had  landed ;  and, 
in  brkf,  I  made  known  to  him  all  the  dangers  of  this  coast,  as  far 
as  I  had  been.  He  told  me  how  he  himself  had  been  in  Port  Nelson, 
and  had  made  but  a  cursory  discovery  hitherto  ;  and  that  he  had 
not  been  a-land,  nor  had  not  many  times  seen  the  land.  In  the 
evening,  after  I  had  given  his  men  some  necessaries,  with  tobacco 
*nd  other  things  which  they  wanted,  he  departed  on  board  his  ship, 
and,  the  next  morning,  stood  away  S.  S.  W.  since  which  time  I 
never  saw  him.  The  wind  something  favouring  me,  I  stood  in  for 
the  shore,  and  so  proceeded  along  it  in  sight. 

The  month  of  August  ended  with  snow  and  hail. 

The  1st  of  September,  the  surgeon  gave  the  information  that 
divers  of  the  men  were  tainted  with  sickness. 

The  2d,  we  found  the  land  to  trend  S.  S.  E.  and  S.  so  that  we 
knew  we  were  at  a  cape  land,  and  named  it  Cape  Henrietta  Muriny 
by  her  majesty's  name,  who  had  before  named  our  ship.  At  noon, 
we  were  in  lat.  55.  05.  and  that  is  the  height  of  the  cape. 

The  4th?  in  the  evening,  there  came  a  great  rolling  Sea  out  of 


ABSTRACT    OT    A    YOYAGF.    OF    PJSCOVLRV.  147 

the  N.  iV.  E.  and  by  eight  o'clock  it  blew  very  hard  at  S.  E.  We 
shipped  many  seas,  hut  one  most  dangerous,  which  raked  us  fore 
and  aft.  The  ship  laboured  terribly. 

The  5th,  in  the  morning,  the  wind  shifted  to  S.  W.  but  conti- 
nued as  high  as  ever,  in  the  afternoon,  it  shifted  again  to  the  N.  W. 
At  eight  in  .the  evening  the  storm  broke  up. 

The  fith,  the  wind  was  at  S.  W.  so  that  we  could  do  no  good  to 
the  westward  ;  therefore  employed  the  time  in  trimming  the  ship. 

The  7th,  in  the  morning,  the  wind  came  up  at  S.  E.  and  we 
stood  away  S.  W.  under  all  the  sail  we  could  make.  In  this  course, 
we  sav,  an  Hand,  came  close  about  it,  and  had  twenty  fathoms 
vatrr.  Tins  island  stands  in  lat.  54.  10.  In  the  afternoon,  stood 
away  S.  W.  and,  in  the  evening,  had  the  shoaling  of  the  western 
fchoi  o  in  ten,  eight,  and  seven  fathom  ;  but  it  was  so  thick  that  we 
conld  not  sec  the  land.  It  is  about  14  leagues  between  this  island 
and  the  m  'in. 

The  IGth,  made  the  land,  finding  it  an  island  of  about  eight  or 
nine  leagues  long,  in  lat.  53.  5.  about  fifteen  leagues  from  the 
western  shore.  The  part  of  it  that  we  coasted  trends  W.  N.  W. 
Nar  ied  it  3/y  Lord  IVeston's  Island.  Stood  still  away  to  the  east- 
ward. In  the  afternoon  descried  land  to  the  eastward  of  us,  which 
made  like  three  hills  or  hammocks.  Sailed  towards  them.  At 
length  also  saw  land  to  the  southward  of  us.  Luffed  up,  and  now 
made  for  that,  by  course  as  we  had  set  it  in  the  thick  dark  fog. 
Came  among  sueh  low  "broken  grounds,  breaches,  and  rocks,  that 
we  knew  not  which  way  to  turn.  The  night  proved  calm  and  fair, 
and  we  rid  quietly. 

The  llth,  in  the  morning,  the  captain  went  ashore  in  the  boat, 
but  found  the  island  "  utterly  barren  of  all  goodness."  There  was 
neither  scurvy-grass,  sorrel,  or  any  herb  to  refresh  the  sick  peo- 
ple. The  captain  returned  on  board,  and  sent  many  of  the  sick 
men  to  another  part  of  the  island,  but  they  were  equally  unsuc- 
cessful. At  noon  in  lat.  52.  45.  In  the  evening  weighed,  and  stood 
to  the  westward,  coming  to  an  anchor  under  another  island,  in 
20  fathoms. 

The  12th,  in  the  morning,  says  the  journalist,  it  began  to  blow 
hard  at  S.  E.  which  was  partly  off  the  shore,  and  the  ship  began 
to  drive,  it  being  soft  ground.  We  heaved  in  our  anchor  there- 
upon, and  came  to  sail  under  two  courses.  Whilst  the  most  were 
busy  in  heaving  out  of  topsails,  some  that  should  have  had  special 
care  of  the  ship,  saw  her  ashore  upon  the  rocks,  out  of  mere  care- 
in  looking  cut  and  about;  or  heaving  of  the  lead  after 


148  ABSTRACT    OF    A    VOYAGE    OF   DISCOTEKY. 

they  had  seen  the  land  all  night  long,  and  might  even  then  liif« 
seen  it,  if  they  had  not  been  blinded  with  self  conceit,  and  been 
enviously  opposite  in  opinions.  The  first  blow  struck  me  out  of  a 
deep  sleep  ;  and  I,  running  out  of  my  cabin,  thought  no  other  at 
first  but  I  had  been  wakened  (when  1  saw  our  danger)  to  provide 
myself  for  another  world. 

After  I  had  controuled  a  little  passion  in  myself,  and  had  check- 
ed some  bad  counsel  that  was  given  me,  to  revenge  myself  upon 
those  that  had  committed  this  error,  I  ordered  what  should  be 
done  to  get  off  these  rocks  and  stones.  First,  we  hauled  all  our 
sails  a-back-stays;  but  that  did  no  good,  but  made  her  beat  the 
harder :  whereupon  we  struck  all  our  sails  a-main,  and  furled  them 
up  close,  tearing  down  our  stern,  to  bring  the  cable  through  the 
cabin  to  the  capstan,  and  so  laid  out  an  anchor  to  heave  her  astern. 
I  made  all  the  -rater  in  the  hold  to  be  staved,  and  set  some  to  the 
pumps  to  pump  it  out,  and  did  intend  to  do  the  same  with  our 
Leer.  Others  I  put  to  throw  out  all  our  boats,  which  was  soon 
arid  speedily  done.  We  coiled  out  our  cables  into  the  long  boat; 
all  this  while  the  ship  beating  so  fearfully  that  we  saw  some  of  the 
sheathing  swim  by  us.  Then  stood  we,  as  many  as  we  could  tathe 
capstan,  and  heaved  with  such  a  good  will,  that  the  cable  brake, 
and  we  lost  our  anchor.  Out,  with  all  speed,  therefore,  we  put 
another.  We  could  not  now  perceive  whether  she  did  leak  or  no ; 
and  that  by  reason  we  were  employed  in  pumping  out  the  water, 
which  we  had  bulged  in  the  hold  ;  though  we  much  doubted  that 
she  had  received  her  death's  wound;  wherefore,  we  put  into  the 
boat  the  carpenter's  tools,  a  barrel  of  bread,  a  barrel  of  powder, 
six  muskets^  with  some  match,  and  a  tinder-box,  fish-hooks  and 
lines,  pitch  and  oakum ;  and,  to  be  brief,  whatever  could  be 
thought  on  in  such  an  extremity.  All  this  we  sent  ashore,  to  pro- 
long a  miserable  life  for  a  few  days.  We  were  five  hours  thus  beat- 
ing,  in  which  time  she  struck  100  blows,  insomuch  that  we  thought 
every  stroke  had  been  the  last  that  it  was  possible  she  pould  have 
endured.  The  water  we  could  not  perceive,  in  all  this  time,  to  flow- 
any  thing  at  all ;  at  length  it  pleased  God  she  beat  over  all  the 
rocks,  though  yet  we  kne\v  not  whether  she  were  staunch.  Where- 
upon to  pumping  we  gp,  on  all  hands,  till  we  made  the  pumps  suck, 
and  then  we  saw  how  much  water  she  did  make  in  a  glass.  We 
found  her  to  be  very  leaky;  but  we  went  to  prayer,  and  gave  God 
thanks  it  was  m>  worse;  and  so  fitted  all  things  again,  and  got 
further  off,  and  came  to  an  anchor.  In  the  evening,  it  began  tc« 
blow  very  hard  af  W.  S.  W.  which  Jf  it  had  done  while  w.e  were  on 


ABSTRACT    OF    A   VOYAGE    OF    DISCOTEUY.  149 

the  rocks,  we  hart  lost  our  ship  without  any  redemption.  With 
much  ado  v.  weighed  our  anchor,  and  let  her  drive  to  the  cast- 
ward  amongst  the  broken  grounds  and  rocks,  the  boat  going  be- 
fore sounding.  At  length  we  came  amongst  breaches,  and  the  boat 
made  signs  to  us  thai  there  was  no  going  farther.  Amongst  the 
rocks,  therefore,  we  again  came  to  an  anchor,  where  we  did  ride 
all  night,  and  where  our  men,  who  were  tired  out  with  extreme 

O          7  W 

labour,  were  indifferently  well  refreshed.  Here  I  first  noted  that 
when  the  wind  was  at  S.  it  flowed  very  little  or  no  water  at  all, 
so  that  we  could  not  bring  our  ship  a-ground  to  look  to  her,  for 
we  did  pump  almost  continually. 

The  13th.  at  noon,  we  weighed  and  stood  to  the  westward  ;  but 
in  that  course  it  was  all  broken  grounds,  shoals  and  sunken  rocks, 
so  that  we  wondered  with  ourselves  how  we  came  in  amongst  them 
in  a  thick  fog.  Then  we  shaped  our  course  to  the  northward,  and 
after  some  consultation  with  my  associates,  I  resolved  to  get  about 
this  land,  and  so  to  go  dow.i  into  the  bottom  of  Hudson's  Bay, 
and  see  if  I  could  discover  a  way  in  the  river  of  Canada,  and,  if  I 
failed  -of  that,  then  to  winter  on  the  main  land,  where  there  is 
more  comfort  to  be  expected,  than  among  rocks  or  islands.  We 
stood  along  the  shore,  insight  of  many  breaches:  when  it  was 
night  we  stood  under  our  fore-sail,  the  lead  still  going.  At  last, 
the  water  shoaled  upon  us  to  ten  fathoms,  and  it  began  to  blow 
hard.  \Ve  tacked  about,  and  it  did  deepen  to  12  or  14  fathoms, 
but  by  and  by  it  shoaled  again  to  8  fathoms.  Then  we  tacked  about 
again,  and  suddenly  it  shoaled  to  6  and  5  fathoms,  so  we  struck 
our  sail  a-main,  and  chopt  to  an  anchor,  resolving  to  ride  it  out 
for  life  and  death.  We  rid  all  night  a  great  stress,  so  that  our  bits 
did  rise,  and  we  thought  that  they  would  have  been  torn  to  pieces. 

At  break  of  day,  the  14th,  we  were  joyful  men;  and,  when  we 
could  look  about,  we  descried  an  island  some  two  leagues  o(T,  at 
W.  by  N.  and  this  was  the  shoal  that  lay  about  it.  Here  did  run  a 
detracted,  but  yet  a  very  quick  tide,  of  which  we  taking  the  op- 
portunity, got  up  our  anchor,  and  stood  N.  W.  to  clear  ourselves 
of  this  shoal.  In  the  afternoon,  the  wind  came  up  at  N.  E.  and  we 
stood  along  the  eastern  shore  in  sight  of  a  multitude  of  breaches.  In 
the  afternoon,  it  began  to  blow  a  storm  not  sail-worthy,  and  the 
«ea  went  very  high,  and  was  all  in  a  breach.  Our  shallop  whieh  we 
did  now  tow  at  stern,  being  moored  with  two  hawsers,  was  sunk, 
and  did  spin  by  her  mooring  Avith  her  keel  up,  twenty  times  in  an 
hour.  This  made  our  ship  to  hull  very  broad,  so  that  the  sea  did  con- 
tinually over-rake  us.  yet  we  endured  it,  and  thought  to  recover 


!50  ABSTRACT    OF    A    VOYAGE    OF    DISCOTERY. 

her.  All  the  night  the  storm  continued  with  violence,  and  with  some 
rain  in  the  morning,  it  then  being  very  thick  weather.  The  water 
shoaled  apace,  with  such  an  overgrown  sea  withal,  that  her  sail 
was  not  to  be  endured  ;  and  what  was  as  ill  there  was  no  trusting 
to  an  anchor.  Now,  therefore,  began  we  to  prepare  ourselves  how 
to  make  a  good  end  of  a  miserable  life.  About  noon,  as  it  cleared 
up,  we  saw  two  islands  under  our  lee,  "whereupon  M-e  bare  up  to 
<hem,  and,  seeing  an  opening  betwixt  them,  we  endeavoured  to  get 
into  it  before  night ;  therefore,  come  life,  come  death,  we  must 
run  this  hazard.  We  found  it  to  be  a  good  sound,  where  we  rid  all 
night  safely,  and  recovered  our  strengths  a.'.ain,  which  were  much 
impaired  with  continual  labour.  But  before  we  could  get  into  this 
good  place,  our  shallop  broke  away  (being  moored  with  two 
hawsers),  and  we  lost  her  to  our  great  grief.  Thus  now  had  we 
but  the  ship's  boat,  and  she  was  all  torn  and  bruised  too.  This 
island  was  the  same  that  we  had  formerly  coasted  the  western  side 
of,  and  named  my  Lord  Weston's  island.  Here  we  remained  till 
the  19th,  in  which  time  it  did  nothing  but  snow  and  blow  ex- 
tremely, insomuch  that  we  durst  not  put  our  boat  overboard. 

The  19th,  the  wind  shifted  N.N.E.  and  we  weighed  and  stood 
to  the  southward ;  but  by  noon  the  wind  came  up  at  S.  and  so  we 
came  to  an  anchor  under  another  island,  on  which  J  went  ashore, 
and  named  it  the  Earl  of  Bristol's  Island.  The  carpenter  wrought 
hard  in  repairing  our  boat;  whilst  I  wandered  up  and  down  on 
this  desert  island.  I  could  not  perceive  that  ever  there  had  been 
any  savages  on  it ;  and  in  brief,  we  could  neither  find  fish,  fowl, 
nor  herb  upon  it,  so  that  I  returned  comfortless  on  board  again. 
The  tides  rise  high  about  some  six  feet,  now  that  the  wind  is  nor- 
therly. The  flood  comes  from  the  north,  and  it  doth  flow  half 
tide.  The  full  sea  this  day  was  at  one  o'clock.  Here  seeing  the 
wipds  continue  so  northerly,  that  we  could  not  get  about  to  get 
iatQr  Hudson's  Bay,  we  considered  again  what  was  best  to  do  to 
look  out  for  a  watering  place.  Some  advised  me  to  go  for  Port 
Nelson,  because  we  were  certain  there  was  a  cove,  where  we 
might  bring  in  our  ship.  I  liked  not  that  counsel ;  for  that  it  is 
a  most  perilous  place,  and  that  it  might  be  so  long  ere  we  could 
get  thither,  that  we  might  be  debarred  by  the  ice :  moreover, 
seeing  it  was  so  cold  here,  as  that  every  night  our  rigging  did 
freeze,  and  that  sometimes  in  the  morning  we  did  shovel  away  the 
snow  half  a  foot  deep  off  our  decks,  and  in  that  latitude  too;  I 
thought  it  far  worse  in  the  other  place.  I  resolved  thereupon  to 
stand  again  to  the  southward,  there  to  look  for  some  little  creel; 
ox  cove  for  our  ship. 


ABSTRACT   OF   A  YOYAGE   OF   DISCOVERY.  151 

The  21st  the  wind  came  up  at  N.  and  we  weighed,  although  it 
was  a  very  thick  fog,  and  stood  away  S.W.  to  clear  ourselves  of 
the  shoals  that  were  on  the  point  of  this  island,  which  is  in  lat. 
53°  10. '  When  we  cleared,  we  steered  away  S. 

The  22d,  in  (he  morning,  proceeds  Captain  James,  when  we 
could  look  about  us,  we  saw  an  island  under  our  lee,  some 
leagues  off,  all  being  shoals  and  breaches  betwixt  us  and  it.  At 
noon  (with  the  help  of  the  windward  tide,)  we  attempted  to  heave 
up  our  anchor,  although  the  sea  still  went  very  lofty.  Joinifyn- 
all  our  strengths  therefore  with  our  best  skill,  God  be  thanked*! 
we  got  it  up;  but  before  we  could  set  our  sails,  we  were  driven 
into  nine  fathom.  Endeavouring  thereupon  to  double  a  point,  to 
get  under  the  lee  of  this  island,  the  water  shoaled,  to  seven,  six, 
and  five  fathom,  but  when  we  were  about,  it  did  deepen  again,  and 
we  came  to  an  anchor  in  a  very  good  place ;  and  it  was  very  good 
for  us  that  we  did,  for  the  wind  increased  to  a  very  great  storm. 
Here  we  rid  well  all  the  night,  took  good  rest,  and  recovered  our 
spent  strengths  again.  The  last  night,  and  this  morning,  it  did 
snow  and  hail,  and  was  very  cold  :  nevertheless,  I  took  the  boat, 
and  went  ashore,  to  look  for  some  creek  or  cove,  to  hove  in  our 
ship,  for  she  was  very  leaky,  and  the  company  become  sickly  and 
weak,  with  much  pumping  and  extreme  labour.  This  island, 
when  we  came  to  the  shore,  was  nothing  but  ledges  of  rocks 
and  banks  of  sand,  and  there  went  a  very  great  surf  on  them. 
Nevertheless,  I  made  them  row  throughout  it,  and  ashore  I  got 
with  two  more,  and  made  them  row  off  without  the  breaches,  and 
there  to  come  to  an  anchor,  and  there  to  stay  for  me;  I  made 
what  speed  I  couM  to  the  top  of  a  hill,  to  discover  about,  but  could 
not  see  what  we  looked  for.  Thus,  because  it  began  to  blow  hard, 
I  made  haste  towards  the  boat  again,  I  found  that  it  had  ebbed  so 
low,  that  the  boat  could  not  by  any  means  come  near  the  shore  for 
me;  so  that  we  were  fain  to  wade  through  the  surf  and  breaches 
to  her;  in  which  some  took  such  a  cold,  that  they  did  complain 
of  it  to  their  dying  day.  But  now  it  began  to  blow  hard,  so  that 
we  could  not  get  but  little  to  windward  toward  onr  ship,  for  the 
wind  was  shifted  since  we  went  ashore  ;  and  return  to  the  shore  we 
could  not,  by  reason  of  the  surf.  Well,  we  row  for  life  ;  they  in 
the  ship  let  out  a  buoy  by  a  long  warp,  and  by  God's  assistance 
we  got  to  it,  and  so  haled  up  to  the  ship,  where  we  were  well 
welcomed,  and  we  all  rejoiced  together.  This  was  a  precaution 
to  us,  to  be  careful  how  we  sent  off  the  ooat,  for  that  it  was  win- 
ter weather  already.  I  named  this  island  Sir  Thomas  Roe's 


152  NAVAL  POETRY. 

Island.  It  is  full  of  small  wood,  but  in  other  benefits  not  very 
rich,  and  stands  in  hit.  'S~l  dcg.  10  min.  At  noon,  we  weighed, 
seeing  an  island  that  bore  S.S.E.  of  us,  for  some  leagues  off, 
which  was  the  highest  land  we  had  yet  seen  in  this  bay ;  but  as  we 
came  near  it,  it  suddenly  shoaled  to  six,  five,  and  four  fathoms, 
•wherefore  we  struck  our  sails  amain,  and  chopt  to  an  anchor ;  but 
it  was  very  foul  ground,  and  when  the  ship  was  winded  up,  we 
had  but  three  fathom  at  her  stern.  As  it  cleared,  we  could  see 
the  breaches  all  along  under  our  lee  ;  not  holding  it  safe  therefor* 
to  stay  long  here,  we  settled  every  thing  in  order,  for  the  ship  to 
fall  the  right  way.  We  had  up  our  anchor,  got  into  deep  water, 
and  stood  over  again  for  Sir  Thomas  Roe's  Island,  which  by  night 
we  brought  in.  the  wind  of  us,  some  two  leagues  off,  which  did  well 
shelter  us,  the  tides  run  very  quick  here  amongst  these  shoals; 
and  their  times  of  running  ebb  or  flood  be  very  uncertain.  Their 
currents  are  likewise  so  distracted,  that  in  the  night  there  is  no 
sailing  by  the  compass ;  wherefore  we  were  fain  to  seek  every 
night  some  new  place  of  security  to  come  to  an  anchor. 
|_To  be  continued.] 


"IT 
L 


$afcal 

The  heart's  remote  recesses  to  explore, 

Aud  touch  U;»  springs,  when  probe  avail'd  no  more. 

FALCONER. 


MU.   EDITOR^,  Dover,  14th  February,  1809. 

AM  induced,  by  mention  made,  in  the  Obituary  of  the  NAVA& 
CHRONICLE  (page  SS),  of  the  late  General  Edward  Smith,  to 
communicate  some  information  concerning  another  naval  member 
of  that  same  family  (namely,  the  general's  father,  an  intrepid  sailor 
like  lus  grandson,  Sir  Sidney  Smith).  And  in  the  first  place  I  beg 
leave  to  refer  you  to  the  following  article  in  the  London  Magazine 
for  1743:— 

Extract  of  a  Let  Icr  from  Antigua,  1st  April. 

"  By  tetters  from  Captain  John  Osborue,  of  'Lieutenant-general  Dalzell's 
rcjimcnt,  dattd  on  board  the  Burford,  at  Curacoa,  to  our  Governor-general 
Miiihews,  we  have  the  following  account  :•—  That  on  the  19th  February 
about  1  P.2\I.  Commodore  Knowlcs>'s  squadron  attacked  the  forts  ac  la 
Guuira,  on  the  C.irracca  coast  ;  hut  that  a  great  swell  prevented  their  going 
nearer  than  half  a  mile  of  the  forts.  About  five  the  Burford,  having  re- 


NAVAL   POETRY.  153 

ceiveil  nineteen  shot  iu  her  hull,  one  in  her  bowsprit,  one  in  her  main-yard, 
and  one  in  her  rudder,  mostly  42-pounders,  and  her  commander,  Captain 
F.  Lushington,  being  struck  on  the  thigh  with  a  cannon  ball,  she  was  forced 
to  slip  her  cable  ;  which  the  commodore  observing,  made  a  signal  for  the 
Norwich  to  slip  also  and  assist  her,  which  that  ship  accordingly  did;  and 
they  both  went  for  Curacoa,  where  Captain  Lushington  was  landed,  and 
died  in  about  half  an  hour  afterwards.  The  Norwich  is  very  much  damaged, 
has  several  of  her  men  killed  and  wounded  ;  among  the  latter  is  Captain 
Gregory.  The  Assistance,  Captain  Smith  Callace,  and  the  Eltham,  Captain 
Edward  Smith,  arrived  at  Curacoa,  both  very  much  damaged  :  the  latter 
had  no  less  than  70  of  her  crew  killed  and  wounded ;  and  among  the  wounded 
is  Captain  Smith  himself." 

The  preceding  is  the  brief  chronicle  of  the  catastrophe  to  which 
the  following  lines,  by  the  late  Thomas  Delamain,  Esq.  relate  :  and 
perhaps,  as  commemorating  the  fall  of  a  distinguished  naval 
(officer,  -whose  military  virtues  have  been  inherited  by  his  lion- 
hearted*  grandson,  you  may  deem  them  deserving  of  being  rescued 
from  the  usual  oblivion  that  awaits  fugitive  effusions,  by  granting 
thcjn  an  asylum  amongst  the  naval  poetry  of  your  instructive  and 
interesting  work.  Yours,  £c. 

A  FREEMAN  OF  DOVER. 

To  Mrs.  EMZABETH  SMITH,  zzith  an  Epitaph  on  her  Husband, 
Captain  EDWARD  SMITH,  of  Dover,  v:ho  died  at  Antigua,  June 
the  2.1st)  1743,  Commander  of  his  Majesty's  Ship  the  Bur- 
ford,  CJ'C. 

E  A  Til !  What  is  death  ?  A  nothing  which  we  make 
A  something,  and  a  shade  for  substance  take  : 


Why  at  thy  image  feels  the  soul  such  awe, 

For  who  yet  death  beyond  its  image  saw  ? 

In  vain  the  straining  foresight  tires  the  mind. 

We  fail  to  tell  the  secret  when  we  find. 

Is  it  the  palid  visage,  mourner's  suit, 

The  m'let  eye,  or  friend  in  sorrow  mute. 

The  winding  sheet,  the  widow's  nightly  lamp, 

The  grave,  the  skull — are  these  the  heart's  sick  damp  ? 

No— for  they  move  not,  Smith. — Say,  what  is  life? 

Converse  with  men,  a  country,  friend,  a  wife  : 

Then  death's  no  more  than  quitting  life  with  men. 

To  end  our  business  or  be  born  again. 

The  homage  at  the  passport  gate  we  lay  : 

As  the  soul  journeys  to  eternity, 

in  augmentation  of  his 


*  Sir  Sidney  Smith's  motto,  granted  by  the  king,  in  au 
family  arms  atter  the  defence  of  Acre,  is  "  CO-.U.T  de,  Lion, 


.  fl&ton.  (Hoi.  XXI. 


154  NAVAL   POETRY. 

That  length  of  waste*,  where  joyless  ghosts  unblcst 
Wander,  still  restless  for  some  place  of  rest; 
Or  fleet  o'er  moonlight  seas,  in  flames,  now  run, 
Now  plunge  for  ease  in  frost,  now  freeze,  now  burn. 
That  scene,  where  spirits  of  the  virtuous  stray, 
Through  worlds  of  bliss,  gilt  with  perpetual  day, 
la  various  joys  employed.     Some  sacred  praise, 
Some  nature's  -view  to  heavenly  raptures  raise; 
Or,  friends  toman,  the  virtuous  make  their  care, 
And  are,  perhaps,  our  guardian-angels  here. 
Whence  then  the  grief,  but  absence  that's  unkind, 
Our  friend  goes  first,  and  leaves  his  friend  behind. 
Thus  to  myself  I  thought,  when  you  assign'd, 
O  SMITH,  a  task,  my  sorrow  had  declin'd  ; 
But  that  I  judg'd,  when  strangers  drop  a  tear, 
A  friend  should  not  refuse  a  larger  share ; 
Yet  to  th'  indebted  work  I  see  no  end, 
So  many  virtues  prompt  me  to  commend, 
la  the  bright  crowd  what  fifst  what  last  to  choose. 
So  large  the  subject,  so  urwkill'd  the  muse. 

Sometimes  affected  with  poetic  zeal, 
All  nature  speaks  a  sorrow  at  the  tale, 
The  weeping  pleiads  in  dark  splendour  rise, 
And  sit  in  tears  the  mourners  of  the  skies  : 
Big  heavy  clouds  hang  o'er  the  blacken'ddecp, 
And  ravens  croak  above  th'  impending  steep. 
Shrill  notes  the  lakes,  hoarse  groans  the  caverns  send, 
And  frighted  nymphs  their  mountain  cedars  rend. 
Now  in  the  midst  of  ocean  move  along, 
Neptune,  and  all  his  gods  in  funeral  song : 
Sea- weeds  with  coral  M'ave  around  'em  hung, 
With  ill-tun'd  strains  their  harps  to  sorrow  strung  $ 
The  shell  that  held  the  god  is  changed  to  jet, 
His  horses  black,  their  manes  the  chariot  wet. 
Thetis,  with  all  her  maids,  in  mourning  veils. 
Follows  behind  :  then  last  Britannia  sails; 
And,  weeping,  reads  the  monumental  stone. 
The  Tritons'  horns  are  wrcath'd  of  blackest  shell, 
The  tortoise  scale,  which  scarce  thro' grief  they  swell; 
The  sad  procession  thro'  the  deep  moves  slow. 
To  music's  sympathy  in  sounds  of  woe; 


NAVAL   POETRY.  155 

The  passing  waves  haste  to  each  distant  shore, 
And  catch  the  dying  note  that  SMITH'S  no  morej 
Whilst  Dover's  sea  nymphs  in  their  chalky  cave, 
Sigh  plaintive  to  the  tale  of  ev'ry  wave. 
Another  time,   when  I  his  life  pursue, 
And  brave,  wise,  active,  loyal,  him  review, 
My  country's  loss  I  mourn,  and  think  to  paint 
In  lines  more  bold  the  hero  and  the  saint ; 
The  battle's  fought,  the  vent'rous  prize  is  won, 
The  danger's  past,   and  age  unblemish'd  run. 
But  M  hilst  to  deeds  abroad  I  wish  to  roam, 
The  tend'rest  subject  keeps  me  still  at  home; 
You  and  his  mourning  children  to  me  rise, 
Like  blasted  poplars  in  the  black  disguise; 
And  fain  my  care  would  that  high  office  reach, 
To  temper  virtue,  and  each  sorrow  teach 
The  pious  duty  to  his  laurclPd  urn  ; 
Not  less  to  know  your  grief,  but  less  to  mourn  ; 
Tho'  in  all  else  you  best  advice  could  lend, 
Yet  I  presume  one  pardon  of  a  friend, 
For  sorrow  shews  thy  sense  in  faitest  light, 
As  stars  shine  brightest  through  the  darkest  night. 

"  If  the  quick  soul  still  lives,  'twas  that  yon  lov'd  : 
Death's  then  but  absence,  or  but  sight  remov'd. 
Jleav'ii  well  has  taught  yon  absence  age  to  bear, 
And  soon  life's  minutes  run  you'll  meet  him  there. 
With  mildness  Heaven  its  strict  commissions  deals 
Pains  by  degrees,  and  as  it  wounds  it  heals  ; 
Tho'  oft'  the  virtuous  grave  they  seldom  fall, 
And  tho'  it  largely  takes,  it  takes  not  all. 
So  for  a  while,  tho'  Ileav'n  deprives  you  of  him, 
It  leaves  his  children  you,  and  gives  you  them. 
Your  worldly  care,  for  him  you  must  regard, 
"With  Ileav'n,  perhaps,  meant  there  your  last  reward. 
()  may  his  sons,  true  copies  of  his  face, 
llecall  the  father  in  each  manly  grace  ; 
Jn  every  virtue  with  his  honour  vie, 
And  live  as  well,  to  learn  as  well  <o  die. 
And  may  thy  daughter's  mind,  which  like  a  ray, 
Shot  from  the  pmpling  c;i-t.   gives  signs  of  day; 
Strengthen  in  sense,  as  she  in.  form  grows  bright. 
Till  all  the  virgin  shiucs  in  virtue's  light: 


156  NAVAL   HISTORY    OF  THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

Whilst  the  plcas'd  mother  sorrow's  care  beguiles, 
And,  in  her  daughter,  on  her  image  smiles  : 
Yet,  not  to  shun  the  debt  fame  's  bound  to  pay, 
This  epitaph  we'll  o'er  his  ashes  lay. 


THE  EPITAPH. 

On  a  Slab,  in  St.  John's  Cliurch~yardt  Antigua, 

Britons  !  whoe'er,  through  various  seas  and  toil, 
Strays  from  your  happy  to  this  fatal  soil, 
Slacken  your  sails,  and  pay  a  fuu'ral  tear 
In  duty  to  a  true-born  Briton  here : 
Here  rests  the  soldier  in  eternal  peace, 
Here  from  the  ills  of  life  a  saint 's  at  ease. 
Sedate  in  tumults,  in  the  tempest  calm, 
Health  to  the  valiant,  to  the  wounded  balm; 
Amidst  the  battle,  at  the  council  brave, 
Gay  to  the  virtuous,  to  the  vicious  grave; 
A  patriot  husband,  father,  brother,  friend, 
"Who  even  scandal  did  like  praise  commend : 
To  death  well  known,  yet  sole  to  heav'n  resign'd 
He  fell  alone  by  heav'n — but  heav'n  was  kind. 

Note.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Smith,  to  whom  the  preceding  lines  were  addressed, 
was  daughter  of  Captain  John  Douglas,  royal  navy,  of  his  majesty's  ship 
Content,  in  King  William's  reign.  lie  was  a  twin,  and  22d  child  of  Lord 
John  Douglas,  survived  all  his  brothers  and  sisters,  and  yet  died  at  the  early 
age  of  34,  at  St.  Helena,  in  1701. 

Captain  Smith,  the  hero  of  the  tale,  was  appointed  post-captain  of  the 
Eltham  frigate,  16th  November,  1739,  and  died  of  wounds  at  Antigua,  ^Ist 
June,  1743,  in  the  command  of  his  majesty's  ship  Burford. 


NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESEN7T  YEAR,  1809. 

(January — February. ) 
RETROSPECTIVE  AND  MISCELLANEOUS. 

ESCAPE  OF  THE  BREST  FLEET. 

(From  MOTTLEY'S  "  Telegraph,"  Portsmouth,  Saturday,  Feb.  25,  1809.) 
npUHS  morning  arrived  the  Kacoon  sloop  of  war,  Captain  Welsh,  Mitli 
intelligenfcc  of  the  Escape  of  the  French  Fleet  at  Brest. — 
The  Kncoon  was  on  her  passage  to  Cadiz,  when,  on  Thursday  noon 
ast,  off  Ushant,  she  fell  in  with  the  Lyra  sloop  of  war,  Captain  Beivaus, 


NAVAL   HISTOUY    OF   THE  PRESENT   YEAR,    1809.  \b7 

tvhich  sliip  had  been  just  despatched  to  Plymouth,  by  the  reconnoitring 
frigate  stationed  off  Brest,  -with  intelligence,  that  all  the  ships  of  war 
ihat  were  ready  for  sea  in  Brest  had  escaped  out,  either  on  Monday  night 
last,  or  early  on  Tuesday  morning.  They  had  not  been  seen  by  any  of 
the  ships  on  that  station — the  course  they  steered  is  not  known,  nor  \s 
their  destination — the  wind  was  northerly.  Captain  Welsh  conceiving  it 
to  be  of  essential  importance  that  early  information  should  be  commn- 
nicated  to  the  Admiralty  of  the  circumstance,  made  every  possible  haste 
to  this  port :  on  his  arrival  here,  it  was  immediately  communicated  la 
London  by  telegraph. 

It  is  supposed  that,  as  Lord  Gambler,  who  sailed  from  Torbay 
on  Tuesday  afternoon,  was  not  in  his  station  on  Thursday,  his  lordship 
had  received  the  information,  and  had  gone  in  pursuit.  The  opinion  as 
to  their  destination  is  divided  between  Cadiz  and  Martinique.  It  is 
apprehended  that  they  will  be  joined  by  the  six  sail  of  the  line,  two  of 
Afhich  are  three  deckers)  which  the  French  took  possession  of  at  Ferrol. 
The  following  ships  sailed  from  Torbay  with  Lord  Gambier,  viz.— 
Caledonia,  110,  Admiral  Lord  Gambier,  Captain  Sir  II.  Burrard  Xcale 
(captain  of  the  fleet),  Captain  Bedford  ;  Royal  George,  100,  Vice- 
admiral  Sir  John  Thomas  Duckworth,  Captain  Dunn  ;  St.  George,  98, 
It  ear-admiral  fcliab  Harvey,  Captain  Hillyar;  Dreadnaiight,  98,  Rear- 
admiral  Sotheby,  Captain  Salt ;  Temerairc,  9S,  Sir  C,  Hamilton; 
Achille,  74,  Sir  Rkhard  Kiug ;  Impetueux,  74,  Captain  Lawfordi 
Christian  Vllth,  Captain  J.  Hancock,  acting  ;  Warspite,  "4,  Hon. 
Captain  Black  wood. — The  Hero,  74,  Captain  Newman,  looked  into 
Torbay  on  Wednesday,  and  then  proceeded  for  the  station  <>rt'  Ushant, 
to  join  his  lordship. — The  Brest  fieet  is  believed  to  consist  often  sail  of 
the  line  and  several  frigates. 

The  Barfleur,  9S,  Captain  Linzee ;  Zealous,  74,  Captain  Boys;  and 
the  Elizabeth,  74,  Hon.  Captain  Curzon,  sailed  from  Plymouth  ou 
Jlonday,  to  cruise  off  Ferrol. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  common  council  of  the  city  of  Limerick,  "held 
the  13th  day  of  February,  1S09,  the  following  resolution  was  unani- 
mously agreed  to: — 

"  That  the  freedom  of  the  city  be  presented  to  Captain  Michael  Sey- 
mour, of  his  majesty's  ship  Amethyst,  in  a  heart  of  oak  box,  orua- 
mcnted  with  gold,  accompanied  with  the  following  address: 

*'  SIR, 

"  Tho  freedom  of  this  ancient  and  loyal  city  hns  been  "Unanimously 
voted  by  us,  the  mayor,  aldermen,  sheriffs,  and  common  council,  to  be 
presented  to  you  in  a  heart  of  oak  box,  ornamented  with  gold,  a*> 
emblematic  of  the  glorious  profession  YOU  fill,  with  so  much  honour  io 
yourself  and  advantage  to  your  country. 

"  The  engagement  between  his  majesty's  ship  Atnethyst,  under  your 
command,  and  the  French  ship  TJielis,  in  which  you  triumphed  over  a 


158  NAVAL   HISTORY   OF  THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

very  superior  force,  rnnks  amongst  the  most  brilliant  exploits  that  haTC 
raised  our  navy  to  such  unrivalled  fame. 

"  To  the  satisfaetion  we  feel  in  offering1  this  -ivdl-earned  tribute  i* 
added  the  pride  of  knowing,  that  it  is  to,  our  fellow-citizen  it  is  paid. 

(Signed')  "  JOHN  CRIPS,  Mayor. 

"  EDWARD  PARKER,  Town-clerk." 


The  principal  event  in  the  naval  history  of  the  preceding  mor>th.  ha* 
been  the  rejection  by  the  Board  of  Admiralty,  of  the  ca:>t;iv.v.s*  petition 
for  an  increase  of  pay,  which  was  sent  in  through  Admiral  Montagu, 
Every  article  of  life  has  certainly  of  late  years  experienced  a  mojt  i:\tr.ior- 
dinary  rise;  and,  according  tq  a  statement  which  we  i>ave  see»,  the  ihare 
of  prize  money  that  a  captain  now  receives,  when  compared  with  niiar  he 
had  a  right  to  in  1793,  at  the  beginning  of  the  French  war.  has  betn  re- 
duced, bv  subsequent  regulations,  nearly  one  half.  Admiral  Montagu  has 
been  succeeded  at  Portsmouth  by  Sir  It.  Curtis.  Previous  to  the  former 
oilicer's  leaving  that  port,  where  he  has  been  so  generally  respected,  be 
hail,  it  is  said,  proposed  to  Government,  to  fit  out  all  tiic  Danish  ships  of 
war  as  transports;  offering  to  restore  them  to  their  original  state,  after 
they  had  thus  been  employed,  at  a  trifling  expcnce. 

In  South  America,  its  independence  has  been  proclaimed  tinder  General 
Uniers,  as  their  chief,  which  will  probably  give  a  new  turn  to  the  present 
eventful  war.  A  treaty  has,  it  is  said,  been  signed  between  this  country 
and  tl>e  king  of  Spain,  which  was  lately  mentioned  by  Mr.  Canning  in  the 
house.  The  prospect  of  peace  with  France  seems,  if  possible,  nu>;-»  .istant 
than  ever.  As  Lord  Grosvemn-  said,  in  his  speech  on  the  state  <>t  the 
nation,  February  7,  "  This  nation  has  now  suffered  for  seventeen  years, 
with  the  intermission  of  only  a  few  months,  the  calamities  of  war.  The 
question  was  not  whether  peace  with  France,  as  France  now  is,  would  be  a 
benefit.  For  himself,  he  entertained  no  hope  of  peace  :is  Ions;  us  the  hos- 
tile mind  existed  in  the  ruler  of  that  country.  What  advantage  had  been 
derived  from  the  last  peace?  Was  it  not  a  peace  of  distress,  of  suspicion, 
of  expcncc?  Was  there  any  thing  dosira-Me  in  a  peace  o:  llmt  description  J 
No:  we  must  make  up  our  minds  to  a  long  and  arduous  struggle.  In  any 
peace  that  we  should  make  with  France,  constituted  as  she  at  present  is, 
all  her  energy  would  be  directed  in  the  interval  to  prepare  the  means  of 
new  hostility,  to  sap  the  foundation  of  our  commerce,  and  to  diminish  our 
revenues  and  our  maritime  preponderance,  both  of  which  were  the  result 
of  that  commerce.  The  system  of  France  was  regular  and  undcviating. 
The  vast  power  she  has  arquired  within  these  few  years  was  as  much  owing 
to  her  political  dexterity  as  the  victories  she  has  obtained.  The  way  for 
her  triumphs  was  prepared  by  the  total  overthrow  of  the  moral  and  political 
feelings  of  the  countries  whose  subjugation  she  meditated.  See  what  in- 
fluence Buonaparte  has  acquired  over  the  Emperor  of  Russia — how  he  has 
induced  him  to  view  with  complacency  acts  from  which  a  liberal  mind 
would  have  shrunk  back  with  horror — how  he  has  induced  him  to  sign  tl  e 
letter  which  w.is  lately  laid  on  tfje  table  !  The  calamities  of  Europe  are 


NATAL    HISTORY    OF    THE   JPUF.SENT    YEAR,    1809.  159 

ascribed  in  that  letter  to  the  stagnation  of  maritime  commerce.  Is  it  to  the 
stagnation  of  maritime  commerce  that  the  overthrow  or"  the  German  Empire 
the  incorporation  of  Italy,  the  subjugation  of  Switzerland,  the  ovi  rthrow  of 
the  independence  of  Holland,  the  war  between  Sweden  and  Iln«sia,  the 
distracted  state  of  the  Ottoman  Empire,  and  the  atrocious  attack  upou  Spain, 
are  to  be  attributed?  Is  it  to  these,  or  to  the  insatiable  ambition  of  evcrv 
government  which  has  been  in  France  bince  the  commencement  of  the 
revolution." 


It  is  reported,  that  a  traitorous  commerce,  to  a  considerable  extent, 
lias  lately  been  carried  on  by  British  speculators,  in  British  ships,  with 
the  enemy's  settlements  in  the  West  Indies.  Several  vessels  have  been 
sent  to  Antigua,  and  other  of  our  islands,  attempting  to  enter  Giia.- 
daloupe  and  Martinique. 

An  officer  of  rank,  in  a  letter  of  a  late  date,  writes  as  follows  :  — 
"  We  are  all  ardent  in  our  desire  to  distinguish  ourselves  in  the  oppor- 
tunity before  us  of  reducing  Martinique  ;  and  so  excellent  in  all  respects 
are  Ihe  arrangements,  and  the  appointments  for  theattack,  that  we  have 
no  reasonable  ground  to  doabt  success,  save  only  from  the  treasonable 
supplies  afforded  to  the  enemy.  Provisions  of  every  kind,  warlike 
stores,  &.C.  are  thrown  into  the  out  barges,  for  which  such  high  con- 
sideration is  made,  as  to  induce  the  owners  of  such  vessels  even  to  throw 
themselves  into  the  ivay  of  being  taken  by  the  French,  rather  than  fall 
into  the  hands  of  our  cruizers.  This  evil  is  said  to  arise  in  a  great  mea- 
sure from  there  being  no  fund  applicable  to  reward  informers ;  and  after 
the  condemnation  of  a  prize,  the  amount  of  its  sale  goes  directly  to  the 
captors,  whilst  the  party  who  has  led  to  the  discovery  is  left  to  the  risks 
and  odium  attached  to  the  information  he  has  given.  Is  it  not  desirable 
that  ministers  should  consider  this  matter  ?  and  is  it  not  probable  that 
Parliament  would  adopt  some  measure  to  create  a  fund  from  which  a 
proportionable  reward  might  be  afforded  to  persons  giving  such  informa- 
tion ?  la  the  American  war,  much  treasonable  speculation  was  carried 
on,  but  I  understand  was  at  last  suppressed  by  measures  resorted  to; 
what  they  were,  as  I  am  just  arrived,  1  have  not  been  able  to  learn,  fur- 
ther than  that  the  most  liberal  considerations  were  made  to  procure 
information." 

We  are  sorry  to  learn,  that,  since  the  above  was  written,  the  expedi- 
tioa  against  Martinique  has  been  abandoned,  in  consequence  of  the  sup- 
plies and  reinforcements  which  the  French  have  found  the  means  of 
throwing  in. 

The  public  revenue,  notwithstanding  we  are  shut  out  from  almost 
the  whole  of  the  continent  of  Europe,  and  entirely  from  the  United 
States,  has  increased  to  a  degree  never  expected,  even  by  those  per- 
son* who  were  most  sanguine  in  their  hope  of  the  extent  of  our  national 
resources. 


1GO  NAVAr,   HISTORY  OF   THET  PRESENT   YKAR,    18017. 

The  surplus  of  ways  and  means  this  year  (beyond  the  £ 

esti  mate) ,  for  three  quarters,  ending  the  Mb  January, 

•was 2,747,531    16  »<? 

Surplus   on   the   lotteries,    which    was   estimated    at 

300,0001.  for  «0,000  tickets  (40,000  tickets  having 

exceeded  that  estimate)  w  ill  be  about  ..........        1 65,000    ft    0 


£  2,912,551    16   10 

So  that  the  surplus  for  the  whole  year  may  be  taken  at  least  for  four 
millions;  besides  which  one  million  and  a  half  raised  last  year  for  the 
Kast  India  Company  will  not  be  wanted  this  year ;  making  in  the  whole 
a  reduction  of  five  millions  and  a  half  from  the  sum  of  nineteen  millions 
raised  in  various  ways  last  year. 

The  Amiable,  Captain  Hon.  G.  Stewart,  lias  taken  and  sent  into  Yar- 
mouth Roads,  the  French  corvette  Joste,  of  22  guns  and  200  men,  with  z 
cargo  of  about  ^00  barrels  of  flour.  This  vessel  had  also  on  board 
a.  chest  of  dollars  for  paying  the  troops  at  Martinique.  This  the  French 
crew  broke  open  on  being  captured,  and  partly  emptied  of  its  contents.- 
She  sailed  from  Dunkirk  on  the  3d,  in  company  with  a  brig,  which 
went  north-about.  The  Joste  was  captured  the  day  following  her 
departure. 

Provisions,  to  the  amount  of  upwards  of  one  million  five  hundred, 
thousand  pounds,  were  exported  from  YVaterford  in  the  course  of  last 
year. 

So  great  a  want  of  the  necessaries  of  life  is  said  to  prevail  in  the  island 
of  Corfu,  that  it  is  much  to  be  feared  that  the  garrison  and  inhabitants 
will  see  themselves  forced  to  surrender. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  a  coroner's  inquest  was  held  at  the  house  of 
Mr.  Dykes,  the  Five  Bells,  at  New-cross,  Deptford,on  the  body  of  Lieu- 
tenant John  Johnson,  of  the  navy,  who  was  found  about  seven  o'clock 
on  the  morning  of  the  preceding  Saturday  in  a  ditch  near  Mr.  Hard- 
castle's  mansion-house,  most  inhumanly  murdered. 

Mr.  Blanchard,  surgeon,  at  1'cckham,  set  out  the  state  of  the  deceased 
when  he  saw  him.  His  throat  was  cut  from  ear  to  ear,  and  his  head 
nearly  severed  from  his  body.  lie  had  nine  wounds  about  his  face,  and 
in  particular  the  lower  part :  at  the  back  of  his  head  were  several  con- 
tusions and  cuts,  and  his  left  thumb  was  nearly  cut  off.  There 
could  be  no  doubt  that  the  wounds  he  received  were  the  cause  of  his 
death. 

Several  witnesses  were  examined  concerning  persons  who  were  seen 
near  the  spot  on  the  morning  of  the  murder,  but  nothing  material  arose 
from  their  testimony.  II  appears,  that  the  deceased  was  a  lieutenant  in 
the  navy,  about  forty-five  years  old,  and  belonging  to  the  ship  Eydercen, 
Captain  Pengelly,  now  lying  at  the  Nore.  It  is  supposed  that  he  had 
about  live  or  six  pounds  in  his  pocket  j  he  was  a  man  of  great  persona.! 
courage,  and  most  probably  made  great  resistance  when  attacked, 

A  verdict  of  Wilful  Murder  against  persons  unknown,  was  returned, 


KAVAL    HtSTORY   OF  THE   PRESENT    TEAR,    1S09.  161 

In  the  thanks  given  by  the  House  of  Commons  to  the  officers  that  had  so 
much  distinguished  themselves  in  Spain,  the  SPEAKER  thus  addressed  Sir 
Samud  Hood. 

"  Sir  Samuel  Hood — The  various  and  brilliant  services  you  have  ren« 
dered  to  your  country,  in  the  long  and  splendid  career  of  glory  that  has  so 
eminently  distingtiished  your  name,  have  several  times  obtained  for  you  the 
cordial  thanks  of  this  house.  Your  late  eminent  services  at  Corunna,  in  the 
prompt  and  effectual  assistance  rendered  by  you  for  the  complete  embark- 
ation of  his  majesty's  troops,  have  been  considered  by  this  House  fully  to  en- 
title you  to  a  repetition  of  their  thanks,  as  a  just  tribute  of  their  applause. 
I  now,  therefore,  in  the  name  of  the  commons,  &c.  thank  you  for  your  emi- 
nent services  on  that  occasion." 

Sir  S.  Hoot). — "  I  bee;  leave  to  return  my  sincere  thanks  for  the  honour 
how  done  me  by  the  House  of  Commons,  and  it  affords  me  the  highest  satis- 
faction if,  in  doing  that  which  was  only  my  duty  to  my  sovereign  and  my 
country,  I  h^.ve  obtained  the  approbation  of  this  House.  I  hope  the  House 
vvill  give  me  credit  rbr  a  due  sense  of  its  favour,  and  that  you,  sir,  will  ac- 
cept rriy  thanks  fdr  the  handsome  manner  in  wliich  you  have  communicated 
to  me  the  thanks  of  the  House." 

Among  the  emigrants  of  distinction  who  left  Cornnna  on  the  embarkation 
of  the  British  army,  was  the  Duke  de  Vera  Aguas.  This  title  alone  does  not 
Suggest  those  feelings  of  sympathy  and  respect  which  will  be  excited  by  the 
information  that  this  illustrious  nobleman  is  the  lineal  descendant  of,  per- 
haps, the  greatest  man  Spain  ever  produced,  Christopher  Columbus.  The 
duke  met  with  an  asylum  on  board  Admiral  de  Courcy's  ship,  the  Tonnant. 

On  the  10th  of  February,  a  boat,  with  a  crew  of  22  persons,  belonging 
to  the  Barfleur,  Captain  Linzee,  was  upset  in  a  heavy  sea,  when  attempt- 
ing to  cross  the  bridge  of  rocks  between  Mount  Edgecumbe  and  St.  Nicho- 
las's Island,  by  which  17  persons  were  unfortunately  drowned,  among  whom 
was  Mr.  Foot,  a  lieutenant  of  marines,  and  Mr.  le  Mesurier,  a  master's 
mate.  It  appears  that  the  boat  was  proceeding  from  Cawsand-bay  to  the 
Salvador  del  Mundo,  in  Hamoaze,  svith  two  prisoners,  John  Sennet,  sea- 
man, and  William  Jones,  carpenter's  mate  of  the  Barfieur,  who  were  to  take 
their  trial  the  next  morning  on  a  charge  of  having  rttutinously  expressed  their 
desire  to  have  a  new  captain.  Jones  was  among  the  drowned,  as  were  also 
many  of  the  witnesses ;  but  Bennet  was  one  of  the  five  that  were  saved. 
Before  the  court  was  formed,  the  surviving  prisoner  had  the  option  of  post- 
poning his  trial,  but,  though  exhausted  from  lying  in  the  water,  he  request- 
ed to  be  tried  immediately.  A  long  investigation  took  place,  when  the  court 
adjudged  that  the  charge  was  not  proved,  and  the  prisoner  was  acquitted. 
Many  of  the  officers  of  the  ship  came  forward,  and  gave  the  prisoner  an  ex- 
cellent churacter.  It  appeared  in  evidence  that,  in  consequence  of  a  letter 
having  been  sent  to  the  Admiralty  against  the  captain,  he  turned  the  hands 
up,  to  inquire  what  complaint  they  hud  against  him.  The  general  answer 
was—"  A  new  captain."  That  the  prisoner,  having  sailed  with  Captain  Lin, 
zee  for  some  time,  was  particularly  asked  his  complaint,  when  he  said,  in  a 

ol«  XXI,  Y 


162  NAVAL   HISTOTIY   OF  THE   PRESENT   YEAR,    1809. 

respectful  way,  he  had  been  wrongfully  punished ;  and  went  the  length  of 
observing  he  did1  not  wish  to  sail  with  the  captain  again.  The  prisoner  read 
a  written  defence,  which  seemed  to  make  a  due  impression  on  the  c«iurt.  It 
is  remarkable  that  the  paper  was  in  his  pocket  during  the  time  he  was  in 
the  water.  We  trust  the  unnecessary  sacrifice  of  so  many  valuable  lives  wiU 
not  be  suffered  to  pass  unnoticed ;  this  passage  is  so  notoriously  dangerous, 
in  bad  weather,  that  we  hope  steps  will  ere  long  be  taken  to  prevent  the 
fatal  accidents  that  so  frequently  occur. 

The  body  of  the  unfortunate  Lieut.  Foot  was  picked  up  on  the  13th,  and 
on  the  16th,  an  inquest  was  held  on  it,  when  the  jury  returned  a  verdict— 
Accidentally  drowned. 

Some  experiments  were  lately  repeated  upon  Mr.  Lamb's  patent 
machine  for  rendering  sea-water  fresh,  in  the  presence  of  a  number  of 
gentlemen,  at  Mr.  Rutherford's  manufactory,  East  Smithfield,  and  gave 
great  satisfaction.  The  machine,  which  is  designed  for  the  island  of 
Antigua,  produced  pure  fresh  writer  from  the  water  of  the  ocean,  at 
the  rate  of  from  fifty  to  sixty  gallons  per  hour.  Great  ingenuity  is  disco- 
vered in  the  manner  of  obtaining  fresh  water ;  and  the  improvements  which 
Mr.  Lamb  has  introduced  in  the  manufactory  of  fire  hearths,  with  condens- 
ing apparatus  attached  to  them,  promise  to  be  of  great  utility  in  his  majes- 
ty's navy,  and  merchantmen  in  general. 


lletfers?  on 

Copied  verbatim  from  the  LONDON  GAZETTE. 

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE,   JANUARY    28,    1809. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Vice-admiral  Rorcley,  Commander-in-chief  of  his 
Majesty's  Ships  and  Vessels  at  Jamaica,  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole,  dated  at 
Port  Royal,  the  2%d  of  November,  1808. 

SIR, 

T  HAVE  the  honour  to  transmit,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords  Com- 
missioners  of  the  Admiralty,  a  copy  of  a  letter  which  I  nave  received 
from  Captain  Cumby,  oftiis  majesty's  ship  Polyphemus,  reporting  the  cap- 
ture, by  Lieutenant  Joseph  Daly,  in  that  ship's  barge,  of  the  French 
national  schooner  Colibry,  of  three  guns,  commanded  by  a  lieutenant  de 
vaisseau,  and  having  a  complement  of  sixtv- three  men. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

B.  8.  ROWLEY- 

Polt/phemns,  off  the  City  of  St.  Domingo* 
SIR,  14th  November,  1808. 

Having  detached  the  boats  of  his  majesty's  ship  under  my  command  at 
half-past  eight  o'clock  this  morning,  in  chase  of  a  schooner  that  -.va- 
attempting  to  enter  the  harbour,  I  had  the  satisfaction,  at  twenty  minutes 
bast  nine,  to  see  her  boarded  and  carried  in  the  most  handsome  manner  by 
Lieutenant  Joseph  Daly,  in  the  barge,  under  as  brisk  a  lire  of  grape  and 
musketry  us  the  impetuosity  with  which  our  boatb  advanced  would  allow  the. 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

enemy  to  keep  up.  She  proves  to  be  the  French  national  schooner  Colibry, 
of  three  carriage  guns,  commanded  by  Mons.  Deyrisse,  lieutenant  de 
vaisaeau,  with  a  complement  of  sixty-three  men;  reputed  the  fastest  sailing 
vessel  attached  to  this  colony,  and,  I  trust,  may  be  found  well  calcui  ;ted 
for  his  majesty's  service. 

In  the  execution  of  this  service  I  have  to  regret  the  loss  of  one  marine 
(Samuel  Crompton)  killed  in  the  barge;  and  on  the  part  ef  the  enemy,  one 
killed  and  the  severely  wounded. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

W.  PRYCE  CUMBY,  Captain. 
JB.  S.  Rowley,  Esq.  Vice-admiral  of 
the  White,  #c. 

Copy  of  another  Letter  from  Vice-admiral  Rowley  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole, 

dated  at  Port  Royal,  the  3d  December,  1808. 
SIR, 

The  enclosed  copy  of  a  letter  which  I  have  received  from  Captain  Dash- 
wood,  of  his  majesty's  ship  Franchise,  will  acquaint  the  Lords  Commissioners 
of  the  Admiralty  with  the  capture  of  the  French  privateers  Ouerrier  and 
Exchange,  and  some  other  vessels,  in  the  harbour  of  Samana,  by  the  ships 
named  in  the  margin;*  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  their  lordships  will  be 
pleased  with  the  promptitude  and  decision  by  which  the  enemy  have  been 
dispossessed  of  almost  the  la.st  port  of  refuge  for  their  privateers  in  those 
seas.  I  have  tlie  honour  to  be,  Ike. 

B.  S.  ROWLEY. 

His  JUajesty't  Ship  Franchise,  Port  Royal, 
SIR,  December  1,  1»()8. 

His  majesty's  ships  named  in  the  margin*  having  accidentally  met  on  the 
10th  ultimo,  and  conceiving  the  taking  of  the  town  and  port  of  Samana 
would  facilitate  the  operations  of  the  Spanish  patriots  blockading  the  city  of 
St.  Domingo,  I  the  nest  morning  entered  and  took  possession  of  the  har- 
bour without  any  opposition,  together  with  the  vessels,  agreeably  to  the  list 
which  I  have  the  honour  of  enclosing. 

I  have  very  sincere  pleasure  in  reporting,  that,  in  addition  to  the 
assistance  rendered  our  allies,  I  have  every  reason  to  suppose  the  com- 
merce of  his  majesty's  subjects  will  now  pass  unmolested,  as  Samana  was 
the  last  refuge  for  the  host  of  privateers  which  have  so  long  infested  the 
various  passages  to  windward  of  bt.  Domingo ;  particularly  so,  as  the  enemy 
were  in  the  act  of  erecting  batteries  for  their  permanent  establishment, 
which,  had  they  been  completed,  would,  from  -iheir  position,  have  soon 
rendered  the  place  tenable  against  almost  any  force  which  might  attack  it. 

I  have  allowed  the  French  inhabitants  to  remain  on  their  plantations,  and 
assured  them  that  their  persons  and  property  will  be  respected  by  the  Spa- 
niards, for  \\hich  purpose  1  have  entered  into  an  agreement  with  Don  Diego 
de  Lira,  a  Spanish  ofjjcer,  and  authorised  him  to  hoist  Spanish  colours,  and 
to  keep  the  place,  in  trust,  until  your  further  pleasure  is  known. 

I  have  supplied  them  with  euch  arms  and  ammunition  as  were  taken  in 
the  privateers  ;  and  Don  Diego  deems  himself  competent  to  repel  any 
force  which  the  common  enemy  might  be  enabled  to  bring  against  him. 

I  have,  &c. 
Vice-admiral  Ron-ley,  $f.  C.  DASHVv'OOD,  Captain. 


*  Franchise,  Aurora,  Dsedalus,  Rein  Deer,  Pert. 


$64  WAVAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

List  of  Vessels  captured  by  a  Squadron  of  his  Majesty's  Ships  and  Vessels  at 
Samana,  between  10th  and  17th  November,  1808. 

French  schooner  privateer  Exchange?  Louis  Teljn,  master,  of  100  tons, 
five  guns,  and  110  men. 

French  schooner  privateer  Guerner,  Dominique,  master,  of  90  tons,  five 
guns,  and  104  men. 

French  schooner  Diane,  of  160  tons,  laden  with  fish,  ptc. 

French  brig,  name  unknown,  of  160  tons,  laden  with  fish,  &rc. 

French  sloop  Brutus,  of  50  tons  and  five  men,  laden  with  coffee,  &c. 

The  following  Vessels  were  recaptured  at  the.  Mouth  of  the  Bay  by  the.  Rein 
Deer  and  Pert,  on  the  Morning  if  the  Ifttk  November,  when  running  for 
the  Harbour. 

English  ship  Jeannet,  R.  Bradshaw,  master,  of  10  guns  and  185  tons^ 
bound  from  London  to  the  Havanna,  with  bale  goods,  &c. 

Spanish  ship  St.  Erasmo,  A.  Gerona,  master,  of  350  tons,  from  Malaga 
to  the  Havanua,  with  wine,  bale  goods,  &c. 

C.  DASHWOOD, 
Captain  and  senior  Officer. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Vice-admiral  Campbell,  Commander-in-chief  of  his 
Majesty's  Ships  and  Vessels  in  Hie  Downs,  to  the  Hon.  W-  \V.  1'olt,  dated, 
on  board  the  Princess  of  Orange,  January  27,  1809. 

SIR, 

Enclosed  I  transmit,  for  their  lordships'  information,  a  letter  I  have  re- 
ceived through  Commodore  Owen  from  Captain  Ncwcombe,  of  the  Beagle, 
stating  his  having  captured  le  Vengcur  French  privateer,  of  16  guns  and 
48  men,  being  the  second  this  active  of  lice  r  lias  captured  within  a  very  short 
period. 

On 'examining  her  log,  If;  appears  this  privateer  has  made  no  captures,  and 
that  she  has  been  repeatedly  chased  ;  ftbieh  will  shew  that  our  cruisers  are 
constantly  on  the  alert  when  at  sea. 

I  have  the  honour  to  he,  &c. 

G.  CAMPBELL. 

SIR,  His  Majesty1*  Ship  Beagle,  at  Sea,  January  24,  1R09. 

I  beg  leave  to  state,  that  last  night,  his  majesty's  ship  under  my  com- 
mand chased  two  of  the  enemy's  privateers,  South  Foreland  bearing  about 
N.N.E.  five  leagues,  the  one,  named  le  Vengeur,  of  16  amis,  and  43  men, 
was  captured;  but  such  was  the  temerity  of  her  commander  (Captain 
Bourgnie),  who  was  wounded,  with  another  of  his  crew,  that  he  did  not 
yield  until  the  Beagle  ran  him  on  board  ;  the  other  vessel,  the  Grand 
Napoleon,  I  am  sorry  to  observe,  made  her  escape;  they  were  both  from 
Boulogne,  and  had  not  made  any  captures. 

I  have  the  honour  to  he,  &c. 

To  Commodore  Owen,  4r.  F.  MEWCOMBE. 

Admiral  Lord  Gambicr,  commander- in-chief  of  a  squadron  of  his 
majesty's  .*hips  and  vessels  employed  in  the  Channel,  Soundings,  cvc.  has 
transmitted  to  the  lion.  William  Wcllesley  Pole  a  letter  his  lordship  had 
received  from  Captain  Ilodd,  of  his  majesty's  ship  Indefatigable,  giving  an 
account  of  tlie  capture,  on  the  14th  instant,  of  la  Claris-e  French  lugger 
privateer,  pierced  for  fourteen  guns,  only  three  mounted,  and  forty-eisrht 
men  on  board.  She  sailed  from  St.  Maloes  the  uight  preceding  her  cap- 
ture, and  had  not  made  any  prize. 


KAVAJL   HI5TOB.Y    OF   THE   PRESENT   YEAR,    1809.  165 

JANUARY  31. 

fxtract  of  a  Letter  from  Vice-admiral  Lord  Collingroood,  Commander-in~ 

chief  of  his  Majesty3 s  Ships  and  Vessels  in  the  Mediterranean,  to  the  Hon. 

W.  W.  Pole,  dated  on  lourd  tke  Ocean,  oft*  Tvulon,  the  1st  of'  I)fce/K~ 

ber,  1808. 

The  Excellent,  having  been  relieved  on  the  service  at  Rosas  by  tl» 
Fame,  joined  me  on  the  2<ith,  and  Captain  West  gave  me  a  relation  of 
icvents  that  have  lately  occurred  there,  in  his  letter  dated  the  21st  ultimo, 
which  I  enclose,  together  with  a  list  of  killed  and  wounded  seamen  and 
marines  of  that  ship  and  the  Meteor  bomb,  employed  on  the  same  service. 

But  for  the  presence  of  his  majesty's  ships  in  that  bay,  and  the  powerful 
assistance  which  Captain  West,  with  the  companies  of  those  ships,  afforded 
the  Spaniards,  both  on  shore  and  by  the  fire  from  them,  there  is  every  reason 
to  believe  the  citadel  of  Ro^as  and  castle  of  the  Trinity  would  both  have 
fallen;  they  were  ill  provided  with  every  thing  necessary  to  a  siege;  the 
•works  of  the  citadel  in  bad  repair,  and  the  garrison  not  sufficiently  numerous 
for  the  duties  of  its  defence. 

Captain  West's  ability,  and  the  valour  and  perseverance  of  his  officers 
and  men,  removed  as  many  of  those  defects  as  it  was  possible,  and  gave  such 
severe  checks  to  the  enemy  as  made  it  necessary  they  should  proceed  by 
rules  of  art  against  a  place  that  with  their  great  force  they  intended  to  take 
by  a  cou}>-dc~T)udn,  which  has  given  ample  time  for  the  Spanish  government 
to  reinforce  the  garrison,  and  replenish  the  stores,  &c.  of  this  important 
post. 

The  French  have  on  this  occasion  practised  those  arts  which  Frenchmen 
are  very  expert  in.  A  person  was  employed,  it  seems,  to  intercept  the 
letters  written  by  Colonel  O'Daly,  the  commandant  of  the  garrison  of  Roj-tts, 
to  the  Supreme  Junta  of  Giroiui ;  and  they  were  two  or  three  weeks  with- 
out having  any  kno%vledge  of  what  was  passing: — at  the  same  time  their 
emissaries  gave  out  that  the  English  had  taken  possession  of  the  fortress, 
and  suspended  the  Spanish  otlicer  from  the  duties  of  his  office.  The  Junta 
wrote  to  Captain  West,  informing  him  of  part  of  those  reports,  and  begging 
he  woujd  inform  them  of  the  circumstances  which  had  caused  this  change. 
It  was  afterwards  discovered  to  be  an  artitice  of  the  enemy  to  prevent  rein- 
forcements coming 

In  another  instance  the  French  have  shewn  much  art,  by  abandoning  their 
-.usual  system  of  terror,  deflation,  and  plunder;  and  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  FtguernsandBosas  have  lately  treated  the  Spanish  inhabitants  with  more 
kindness  to  their  persons,  and  forbearance  of  their  property,  endeavouring 
to  attach  them  by  a  feigned  moderation. 

The  Spaniards  are  very  sensible  and  very  grateful  for  the  support  given 
to  them  by  the  English  ;  the  animating  example  of  Captain  West,  his  skill, 
and  the  gallantry  of  his  officers  and  men,  is  deserving  of  every  praise;  in 
the  sortie  he  made  at  the  head  of  his  seamen  and  marines,  when  they 
attacked  the  enemy's  advanced  post,  and  rescued  the  miquelets,  their  con- 
duct and  their  couraire  were  admirable;  several  men  were  wounded,  and 
Captain  West's  horse  wa*  shot  under  him,  before  they  were  obliged  to  re- 
tire, to  prevent  being  cut  oft'  by  the  cavalry,  which  was  advancing  for  that 
purpose.  Captain  Collins,  of  the  Meteor,  conducted  the  bombardment 
with  great  ability,  and  was  indefatigable  in  the  annoyance  he  gave  the  enemy 
by  it.  Lieutenant  Howe,  of  the  royal  marines,  belonging  to  the  Excellent, 
commanded  a  detachment  of  that  corps,  which  was  thrown  into  the  castle 
of  Trinity  for  its  defence ;  and  in  two  assaults  made  by  the  enemy  with  large 
bodies  of  troops,  this  officer,  and  the  marines  under  his  command,  were 
highly  distinguished  for  the  gallantry  which  they  displayed,  and  the  resources 
they  found,  where  almost  every  thing  was  wanting. 

The  enemy  suffered  a  very  considerable  loss  of  men.  in  tliese  assaults; 


166  NAVAt   HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESENT   YEAR,    1809. 

but  unless  measures  have  been  taken  to  raise  the  siege,  I  am  apprehensive 
this  very  important  post  will  be  reduced. 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Excellent,  Rosas  Bay, 
MY  LORD,  November  21,  1808. 

I  have  anxiously  waited  an  opportunity  to  inform  your  lordship  of  the 
investment  of  this  port  by  the  enemy,  with  a  force  computed  at  live  or  six 
thousand  men. 

On  the  evening  of  the  6th  instant,  the  enemy  was  first  observed  in  motion 
between  Figueras  and  Castillern,  and,  on  the  following  morning,  was  in 
complete  possession  of  the  heights  that  encompass  this  bay.  On  the  same 
day  at  noon,  a  small  body  of  the  enemy  entered  the  town  of  Rosas,  which, 
in  an  instant,  was  cleared  of  its  inhabitants,  who  either  fled  to  their  boats  or 
the  citadel  for  protection  ;  but  a  well  directed  fire  from  the  Excellent  and 
Meteor  bomb,  both  within  point-blank  shot  of  the  town,  obliged  the  enemy 
precipitately  to  retire.  On  the  first  appearance  of  the  enemy,  Colonel 
O'Daly,  governor  of  this  fortress,  made  application  to  me  for  assistance, 
when  I  immediately  reinforced  his  garrison  witli  the  marines  of  the 
Excellent  (with  the  exception  of  an  officer  and  twenty-five  men,  who  had 
been  previously  detached  to  Fort  Trinite"),  and  an  officer  and  fifty  seamen. 
On  the  7th,  the  enemy  took  possession  of  several  houses  and  ruins  in  the 
rear  of  the  town  as  an  advanced  post,  from  which  he  1-as  been  repeatedly 
dislodged  by  the  citadel  and  the  guns  and  shells  of  his  majesty's  ships  in  the 
bay.  On  the  8th  at  noon,  observing  a  body  of  miqnelets  hard  pressed  by 
the  enemy  from  their  advanced  posts,  I  was  induced  to  make  a  sortie  from 
the  citadel  with  the  seamen  and  marines,  and  the  officers  commanding 
them,  but  the  very  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  who  endeavoured  to  sur- 
round us,  obliged  us  to  retire,  but  not  till  my  officers  and  men  bad  dis- 
played a  spirit  and  courage  which  gave  me  the  most  lively  satisfaction.  I 
am  sorry  I  am  obliged  by  this  little  affair  to  send  your  lordship  a  return  of 
wounded  men. 

Late  on  the  evening  of  the  9th  I  received  from  the  governor  the  unplea- 
sant advice,  that  a  large  breach  was  made  in  -the  rampart  of  the  citadel  by 
a  part  of  the  bulwark  falling  down,  sufficiently  capacious  to  admit  twenty- 
five  men  ahreait.  I  proffered  to  the  governor  every  assistance  that  the 
urgency  of  the  moment  required,  and  directed  Captain  Collins  to  imme- 
diately weigh  and  place  the  Meteor  as  near  the  shoal  as  possible,  to  ilauk 
the  breach  in  the  event  of  an  attack  I  sent  at  the  same  time  two  boats  to 
enfilade  the  beach  with  the  cannonades ;  fortunately  the  latciics-  of  the  hour 
precluded  the  enemy  gaining  information  of  the  event.  The  following 
morning  1  sent  an  ofiicer  and  a  party  of  seamen  to  assist  in  repairing  the 
breach,  directing  the  senmen  and  marines  in  the  citadel  to  be  employed  on 
the  same  service.  I3y  every  exertion  the  rampart  was  placed  in  a  state  of 
security  for  the  night,  the  defence  of  which  was  entrusted  to  an  officer  and 
forty  seamen,  whom  f  sent  on  shore  for  that  purpose.  On  the  3d  flay  I 
was  happy  to  see  the  repair  completed,  and  the  work  as  defensible  as  it  was 
previous  to  the  disaster. 

On  the  morning  of  the  15th  instant,  at  eight  o'clock,  the  enemy  made  a 
most  resolute  assault  on  tlie  Fort  Trinite  with  about  two  hundred  men,  ami 
a  reserve  of  about  two  thousand  to  support  diem.  The  etiemy  was  bravely 
repulsed;  but  in  a  moment  again  advanced  in  greater  force,  when  two  of 
the  outt.r  gates  were  broke  open  ;  but  by  a  most  galling  and  steady  lire  of 
musketry  and  hand-grenades  from  the  fort,  the  enemy  was  a  second  time 
obliged  to  retire  with  great  loss,  leaving  their  leader,  a  chief  of  brigade,  and 
many  others,  dead  under  its  walls,  and  the  second  in  command  carried  ot? 
desperately  wounded.  Expecting  a  third  assault  would  be  made,  I  threw 
i.u  a  reinforcement  of  thirty  marines,  with  a  captain  and  subaltern,  by  means 


NAVAL   HTSTOIIY  OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,  1809.  167 

•fa  rope  ladder,  which  was  effected  without  loss,  and  with  one  man  but 
slightly  wounded,  during  an  incessant  fire  of  musketry. 

I  cannot  speak  in  terms  of  sufficient  praise  of  the  officers  and  men  in 
their  glorious  defence  of  Fort  Trinite',  on  \Vhich  occasion  five  marines  were 
tvounded,  and  one  Spaniard  ;  but  I  have  the  satisfaction  to  enclose  to  your 
lordship  a  letter  I  have  received  from  the  Spanish  officer  commanding  its' 
garrison,  which  does  him  great  honour. 

No  further  attempt  was  made  on  this  fort  till  the  20th  instant,  when  the 
enemy  opened  a  battery  of  three  heavy  guns  from  a  height  commanding  it  ; 
but  as  yet  has  made  no  impression  on  its  \valls.  The  Lucifer  bomb  had 
been  throwing  her  shells  the  two  preceding  days  to  prevent  the  enemy 
making  a  lodgment  on  this  height;  but  was  compelled  to  retire,  after  being 
struck  three  times  by  the  battery.  During  the  previous  night  the  enemy 
threw  up  an  extensive  intrenchment  three  hundred  yards  from  the  citadel, 
and  at  daybreak  opened  a  fire  upon  the  ships  in  the  bay  from  three  large 
mortars,  which  obliged  us  to  retire  out  of  their  reach:  the  bomb  vessels, 
from  having  a  longer  range  of  shells  than  the  enemy,  were  enabled  to  throw 
them  with  effect. 

Fort  Trinite,  from  its  insulated  situation  and  strength,  I  am  of  opinion, 
may  stand  a  long  siege.  But  I  am  not  so  sanguine  with  respect  to  the 
citadel,  whose  garrison  is  very  inadequate  to  its  defence,  and  having,  as  I 
conceive,  a  vulnerable  point.  I  waited  on  the  governor  on  Sunday  last,  to 
take  my  leave,  when  he  informed  me,  that  he  was  in  expectation  of  a  rein- 
forcement; but  I  am  apprehensive  the  blockade  of  the  enemy  in  Barcelona 
will  prove  an  obstacle  to  his  expected  success. 

I  beg  leave  to  conclude  this  despatch  to  your  lordship,  by  expressing  how 
highly  satisfied  I  have  been  with  the  conduct  of  the  officers  and  company 
of  the  ship  I  have  the  honour  to  command,  as  likewise  of  those  of  the 
Meteor  and  Lucifer  bombs,  commanded  by  Captains  Collins  and  Hall, 
whose  great  exertions,  during  the  arduous  and  most  fatiguing  service  they 
have  imperiously  been  called  upon  to  perform,  reflect  the  greatest  credit 
upon  them.  I  have,  &c. 

JOHN  WEST. 

Right  Hon.  Vice-admiral  Lord  Collingwood,  fyc. 

List  of  Men  belonging  to  his  Majesty's  Ship  the  Excellent,  who  inert 
wounded  in  Action  with  the  Enemy  between  the  8th  and  I6tk  days  of  No- 
vember. 1808,  in  Rosas  Bay. 

Robert  Palmer,  seaman  ;  John  Sands,  ditto ;  Francis  D.  Coke,  ditto,  dan- 
gerously ;  James  Lambe,  marine ;  Deliffe  Closhin,  ditto,  badly ;  John 
Jtl'Xeal,  seaman,  slightly  ;  W.  Brown,  Serjeant  of  marines,  slightly ;  Ed- 
ward Magennis,  seaman  ;  James  Roberts,  marine ;  Peter  Hyson,  ditto  ; 
James  Martin,  seaman,  slightly;  John  Burrows,  ditto,  badly ;  John  Smith, 
marine  ;  John  Brady,  ditto,  dangerously;  William  Wilson,  ditto,  died  16th 
November,  1808 ;  Joseph  Hanwood,  ditto,  slightly  ;  John  Richardson, 
ditto,  slightly ;  John  M'Clarty,  seaman,  slightly ;  Dennis  Garrett,  ditto, 
ladly.— Total,  19. 

List  ofJlfen  wounded  in  his  Majesty's  Ship  Meteor,  while  engaging  the  Enemy 
in  the  Bay  of  Rosas,  between  the  7th  and  20tk  days  of  November,  1808. 

David  Kerr,  gunner  of  the  royal  marine  artillery,  lost  both  arms  ;  George 
Gale,  ditto,  slightly ;  Jos.  Ilaynes,  ditto,  slightly ;  Thomas  Johnson,  seaman, 
a  fracture  ;  Bastian  Rausatto,  ditto,  slightly;  George  Ransden,  quarter- 
jnaster.— Total,  6. 


168          FAVAZ.  HISTORY   OP  THE  ^RESZNT   YEAR,    I8C&* 

Extract    of  another  Letfer  from  Vice-admiral  Lord  Collinzwood,  to  the 
Hon^W*  W.  Pok,  dated  on  board  the  Ocean,  December  14,  1808. 

My  letter  of  the  1st  instant  would  inform  you  of  the  enemy  having  laid 
ttege  to  the  -.astle  of  Rosas,  and  of  the  measures  taken  by  the  British  ships 
in  that  bay  in  ai-1  of  the  Spaniards  fur  its  defence.  The  Scout  joined  the 
squadron  off  Toulon  on  the  7th,  and  by  her  I  received  further  accounts 
from  Captain  Bennett,  of  the  Fame,  of  the  progress  the  enemy  wns  making 
against  that  important  fortress.  Captain  Lord  Cochrane  has  maintained 
himself  in  the  possession  of  Trinity  Castle  with  great  ability  and  heroism; 
altho!":'i  the  fort  is  laid  open  by  the  breach  in  its  works,  he  lias  sustained 
and  repelled  several  assaults,  having  firmed  a  sort  of  rampart  within  the 
breach,  with  Ins  ship's  hammock  cloths,  awnings,  &c.  filled  with  sand  and 
rubbish.  The  2eal  and  energy,  with  which  he  has  maintained  that  fortress, 
excites  the  highest  admiration.  His  resources  for  every  exigency  have  no 
«nd.  The  Spanish  governor  of  this  castle  is  wounded,  and  on  board  the 
Meteor. 

FEBRUARY   4. 

Copy  of  a  letter  from.  Rear-admiral  the  IJon.  Sir  Alexander  Cocfiranc,  K.  R 
Commander-in-chief  of  his  Majesty'*  Ships  and  Vessels  at  the  Leeward 
Islands,  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole,  dated  on  board  the  Neptunet  at  Barba* 
does,  19th  December,  1808. 

SIR, 

I  enclose,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admi- 
ralty, the  copy  of  a  letter  which  I  have  received  from  Captain  Collier,  of* 
his  majesty's  ship  Circe,  the  senior  officer  of  the  blockading  squadron  sta- 
tioned from  the  Diamond  to  the  Pearl  Rocks,  Martinique,  giving  an  account 
of  the  destruction  of  the  French  corvette  le  Cygne,  whi;:h  had  sailed  from 
Cherbourg  on  the  12th  November,  with  the  Papillon,  another  corvette,  and 
la  Verrus,  la  Junon,  and  TAmphitrite  frigates. 

In  performing  this  service  1  ara  sorry  to  send  the  enclosed  report  of  the 
loss  which  has  been  sustained  by  the  several  vessels  engaged,  owing  to  the 
corvette  having  been  supported  by  the  batteries,  field  pieces,  and  musketry 
from  the  shore,  in  her  attempt  to  reach  St.  Pierre's ;  but  the  object  is  fully 
accomplished,  as  she  is  bilged  in  such  a  situation  as  to  render  it  impossible 
to  recover  the  vessel,  or  the  flour  with  which  she  was  loaded.  One  of  the 
schooners  in  company  with  her  was  burnti  and  the  other  drove  on  shore  and 
destroyed ;  each  of  them  also  having  been  loaded  with  flour  and  pro- 
visions. 

Captain  Collier  deserves  great  praise  for  his  perseverance  in  overcoming 
the  obstacles  which  the  enemy  presented  by  the  numerous  batteries  which 
lined  the  shore  in  that  part  of  the  coast ;  and  he  speaks  in  the  highest  terms 
of  Captain  Brenton,  of  the  Amaranthe,  as  well  as  of  the  gallantry  and  good 
conduct  of  Lieutenant  Wright,  and  a  party  of  the  Royal  York  Rangers,  whe 
ttere  serving  as  marines. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

ALEX.  COCIIRANE. 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Circe,  off" St.  Pierre's,  Martinique, 
sin,  December  14,  1808. 

On  Monday,  at  eleven  A.M.  his  majesty's  brig  Morne  Fortune^  informed 
me  by  signal  that  an  enemy's  brig  and  two  schooners  were  at  anchor  off 
the  Pearl.  I  immediately  recalled  the  look-out  vessels  named  as  per  mar- 


NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1809.     169 

gin,*  and  made  all  sail  towards  the  enemy.  On  our  ncaring  St.  Pierre's,  I 
perceived  a  Inrge  French  schooner  towing  along  shore,  under  cover  of  a 
number  of  troops.  The  schooner  finding  it  impossible  to  get  between  St. 
Pierre's  and  the  Circe,  the  Stork  closing  fast,  they  run  her  on  shore  under 
u  buttery  of  four  guns,  flanked  by  two  smaller  ones,  and  the  beach  lined 
with  troops.  The  signal  was  then  inude  to  close  with  t;,e  enemy,  and 
engage  in  succession,  the  Circe  leading,  followed  bv  the  Stork  and  Morne 
Fortunee  ;  being  within  pistol-shot  the  small  batteries  were  soon  silenced, 
and  the  troops  driven  from  the  beach.  Seeing  the  brig  and  schooner  un- 
loading, I  directed  the  M<  rne  I  ortunee  to  watch  the  schooner  in  shore,  and 
to  >;ive  ?i'nilar  orders  to.  the  Epervier  on  her  coming  up.  We  then  made 
•svd  towards  the  brig  and  the  other  schooner,  which  were  lying  well  to  wind- 
ward close  to  the  beach,  under  cover  of  four  batteries,  and  an  immense 
number  of  troops  and  field  p;ece~,  which  they  had  brought  down  on  the 
beach  to  protect  her.  Having  placed  the  barge  and  two  cutters  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenant  Crook,  Mr.  Collman,  purser,  Mr.  Smith,  master, 
and  Mr.  Thomas,  carpenter,  who  handsomely  rolunteered  with  sixty-eight 
men  to  bring  the  brig  out,  I  then  made  sail  with  the  Stork  and  Express  to- 
wards her,  and  directed  the  bi^ats  to  lie  off  until  the  brig's  tire  slackened. 
It  getting  late,  the  vessels  lying  close  in  with  the  rocks,  and  having  no  pilot 
on  board,  T  stood  in,  and  was  handsomely  seconded  by  Captain  le  Geyc  of" 
the  Stork.  The  ships  did  not  commence  action  until  our  men  were  wounded 
from  the  beach  with  musketry.  We  then  bore  up  under  a  heavy  fire  of  great 
guns  and  small  arms.  Having  passed  the  batteries  and  the  brig,  the  Circe's 
boats,  not  waiting  for  the  Stork's  to  come  up,  boarded  in  the  most  gallant 
manner;  and  it  is  with  extreme  concern  I  have  to  add,  that  their  gallantry 
(fid  not  meet  with  its  reward  ;  they  wrre  beat  back  with  dreadful  slaughter; 
one  boat  taken  and  one  sunk,  the  other  entirely  disabled.  Our  loss  in  the 
boats  are  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  fifty-six.  By  tins  time  it  was  dark; 
I  stood  off  until  day-light,  determining  to  persevere  and  destroy  the  brig, 
if  possible.  In  the  evening  I  was  joined  by  the  Amarauthe,  who  watched  the 
brig  during  the  night. 

At  eight  A.M.  we  perceived  she  had  weighed;  Captain  Brenton,  in  the 
most  handsome  manner,  volunteering  to  bring  heir  out,  she  was  then  towing 
and  sweeping  close  in  shore  towards  St.  Pierre's ;  the  boats  of  the  Circe  and 
Stork,  and  men  trotn  the  Express  were  sent  to  tow  the  Amaranthe  up,  who 
xvas  at  this  time  sweeping  and  using  every  exertion  to  close  with  the  enemy. 
At  ten,  the  French  brig  grounded  near  several  batteries,  to  the  northward 
of  St.  Pierre's;  the  Amara'.uhe  tacked  and  worked  in  under  a  heavy  fire 
from  the  batteries  and  brig,  from  which  she  suffered  considerably,  having 
one  killed  and  five  wounded,  followed  by  the  Circe,  the  rest  of  the  squadron 
engaging  the  batteries  to  leeward.  From  the  Amaranthe's  well  directed  fire, 
she  soon  obliged  them  to  quit  tiie  brig.  Lieutenant  Hay,  of  the  Amaranthe, 
on  tiiis  service  distinguished  himself  very  much,  and  speaks  of  the  gallantry 
of  Messrs.  Biooke  and  Rigmaidcn  of  the  same  sloop,  in  vfry  handsome 
terms,  who,  with  the  boats  of  the  Circe,  Amaranthe,  and  Stork,  bourderl 
her  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  batteries  and  troops  on  shore.  Lieutenant 
Hay,  finding  her  bilged,  and  impossible  to  get  her  off,  effectually  destroyed 
her  in  the  evening.  Captain  Brenton  again  volunteered  to  destroy  the 
schooner  then  on  shore;  I  ordered  Lieutenant  George  Robinson,  second  of 
the  Amaranthe,  but  acting  first  of  the  Circe,  with  inv  order,  on  this  occa- 
sion, to  follow  the  directions  of  Captain  Brenton.  At  nine  o'clock  I  bad 
the  pleasure  to  see  her  on  fire,  and  burnt  to  the  water's  edge.  1  am  sorry  to 
sdd  that,  on  this  service,  Jilr.  Jones,  master  of  the  Amnranihc,  was  \vouin!. 
ed.;  and  one  seiimau  killed,  and  three  wounded,  belonging  to  the  F-Npres*. 

*  Stork,  Epcrvier,  and  Express 

,  <S"Uon.  vjlcl,  XXI.  z 


170  HAYAL    HISTORY   OF  THE   PRESENT   YEAR,    1809. 

The  captains,  officers,  and  crews  of  the  squadron  you  did  me  the  honouf 
to  place  under  my  command  behaved  with  that  coolness  and  intrepidity 
inherent  in  British  seamen,  particularly  the  Amaranthe,  whose  gallant  con- 
duct was  noticed  by  the  whole  squadron.  From  the  troops  of  the  Royal 
York  Rangers,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Wright,  doing  duty  as 
marines,  I  received  every  assistance.  Lieutenant  Crook,  who  commanded 
the  boats,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  is  severely  wounded  in  four  places;  the  loss  of 
this  gallant  young  man's  services  are  severely  felt  on  board  the  Circe.  I  am 
likewise  sorry  to  add,  that  Mr.  Colemau,  purser,  is  among  the  number  that 
is  dangerously  wounded;  his  conduct  on  this,  and  other  occasions,  deserves 
my  warmest  approbation. 

On  boarding,  we  discovered  the  brig  destroyed  was  la  Cygnc,  of  eighteen 
guns,  and  one  hundred  and  forty  men,  with  flour,  guns,  and  cartridge  paper, 
for  the  relief  of  Martinique.  The  two  schooners  had  likewise  flour,  and  were 
armed;  I  have  not  yet  learnt  their  force  or  names;  I  am  happy  to  say  that 
the  one  left  off  the  Pearl  is  on  shore  bilged. 

In  the  performance  of  this  service,  our  loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  I  am 
sorry  to  say,  has  been  very  great ;  but  I  have  the  consolation  to  think  that 
it  was  in  the  execution  of  an  indispensable  duty;  and  the  grand  object  of 
cutting  off  the  supplies  of  the  enemy,  will,  I  trust,  justify  the  means  which 
I  have  adopted,  if  not  afford  a  small  consolation  to  the  relatives  of  those 
who  fell.  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

F.  A.  COLLIER. 
Rear-admiral  Sir  A.  Cochrane,  $c. 

A  List  of  killed  and  wounded  on  board  the  Squadron  under  the  command  of 
Francis  A.  Collier,  Esq.   in  Action  with  the  Enemy  off"  Martinique,  the 
12th  and  I3ih  Days  of  December,  1808. 
Circe — 9  killed,  2 1  wounded,  26  missing. — 56. 
Amaranthe — 1  killed,  6  wounded.— 7. 
Stork — 1  killed,  1  wounded. — 2. 
Express — 1  killed,'  3  wounded. — 4. 
Eficniier— None  killed  or  wounded. 
Morne  Fortunte — None  killed  or  wounded. 
Total — 12  killed,  31  wounded,  26  missing. — 69. 

F.  A.  COLLIER,  Captain. 

Copy  of  another  Letter  from  Rear-admiral  the.  Hon.  Sir  Alex.  Cochrane, 
K.  B.  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole,  dated  on  board  the  Neptune,  at  Earbadoes, 
the  Zlst  of  December,  1808. 

S1K, 

I  enclose,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admi- 
ralty, the  copy  of  a  letter  from  Captain  Sanders,  of  his  majesty's  sloop 
Bellette,  acquainting  me  with  the  capture  of  a  French  letter  of  marque, 
laden  with  provisions,  from  Bourdeaux. 

I  also  enclose  Captain  Spear's  letter,  of  the  Goree,  which  I  had  not  before 
received,  giving  an  account  of  the  capture  of  a  French  letter  of  marque 
bound  to  Bourdeaux  from  Martinique. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

ALEX.  COCHRANE. 

His  Majesty's  Sloop  Bellette,  at  Sea, 

8IR>  'December,  5,   1808. 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  that  his  majesty's  sloop  Bellette,  under 
fhy  command,  has  captured  the  French  brig  letter  of  marque  Revanche,  of 
six  tuns,  12-pounders,  pierced  for  eighteen,  with  a  complement  of  forty- 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  171 

four  men,  laden  with  provisions,  from  Bourdeaux,  bound  to  Guadaloupe, 
She  has  been  a  very  successful  privateer  all  this  war,  and  was  intended  for 
a  cruiser  in  those  seas.  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

GEO.  SANDERS. 

To  the  Hon.  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane,  K.  B. 
I&ar-admiral  of  the  Red,  i$-c. 

fits  Majesty^s  Sloop  Goree,  Barbadoes, 

SIR,  30th  November,  1808. 

I  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  yon,  on  the  24th  instant,  thirty  leagues 
west  of  Guadaloupe,  I  captured,  in  his  majesty's  sloop  under  my  command, 
the  Admiral  Villaret,  a  French  ship  letter  of  marque,  mounting  eight  guns 
(four  of  which  she  threw  overboard  in  the  chase),  and  a  complement  of 
thirty-two  men ,  from  Martinique  bound  to  Bourdeaux,  laden  with  sugar, 
coffee,  and  cotton.  I  am,  &c. 

JOSEPH  SPEAR. 
Rear-admirat  Sir  Alex.  Cochrane,  K.  B,  fyc. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Admiral  Lord  Gambler,  Commander-iri'chief  of  his 
Majesty s  Ships  and  Vessels  in  the  Channel,  Soundings,  fyc.  to  the  Hon. 
W. ,W.  Pole.,  dated  on  board  the  Caledonia,  in  Torbay,  the  30th  of  last 

Month. 

SIR, 

I  enclose  herewith,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of 
the  Admiralty,  a  letter  I  have  this  day  received  from  Captain  Broke,  dated 
llifi  27th  instant,  acquainting  me  with  the  capture  of  the  French  cutter  pri- 
vateer Poramereuil.  of  fourteen  guns,  and  sixty  men,  by  his  majesty's  ship 
Shannon,  under  his  command. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

GAMBIER. 
i 

H is  Majesty's  Ship  Shannon,  off" Isle  Bas, 
MY  LORD,  17th  January,  1809. 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  the  Shannon  captured  this  day,  after  a 
long  chase  to  leeward,  the  French  cutter  Pommereuil,  of  fourteen  guns, 
and  sixty  men,  commanded  by  Felix  1  Allemande;  fourteen  days  out  from 
Havre  de  Grace,  and  had  only  captured  a  transport  with  troops,  which  she 
released. 

I  have  sent  the  prize  to  Plymouth.  She  is  a  fine  new  vessel,  coppered, 
and  well  found.  J  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

P.  B.  V.  BROKE. 
To  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Gambier, 
Cowmanderrin-chiej',  $c. 

FEBRUARY   11. 

Copy  <?/*«  Letter  addressed  by  Lord  George  Stuart,  Captain  of  his  Majesty's 
Ship  l'Aimable,to  the  senior  Officer  oj'.his  Majesty's  Ships  ami  Vessels  off 
the  Texel,  dated  the  7th  inst.  and  transmitted  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole,  by 
Rear-admiral  Sir  Edmund  Naglc. 

SIR, 

i  beg  leave  to  acquaint  you,  on  the  2d  inst.  while  standing  to  the  south- 
ward  to  regain  my  station,  his  majesty's  ship  under  my  command  being 
driven  by  the  late  tempestuous  weather  from  off  the  Texelon  the  Welbank, 
I  perceived,  at  eleven  A.M.  a  strange  sail  on  the  weather  quarter,  standing 
w»  the  northward  and  eastward ;  concluding  from  this  that  she  was  an  enemy, 


172  NAVAL   HISTORY    OP   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

I  immediately  wore  round  and  made' all  sail,  and  after  a  chase  of  twenty- 
eight  hours,  at  four  P.  M.  on  the  3d  instant,  (Aberdeen  bearing  north  'I'i 
deg.  W.  distance  30  leagues.)  came  alongside  of  her,  and  having  exchanged 
broadsides,  continued  a  running  fig'it,  and  in  a  few  minutes  she  struck. 
She  proved  to  be  1'Iris,  French  national  24-2un  ship,  commanded  by  Mon- 
sieur Minuet,  capitainc  de  frigate,  but  capable  of  carrying  32  trun*,  had 
only  24  when  taken,  twenty-two  24-pounder  cannonades,  and  two  long 
twelves,  a  complement  of  140  men.  She  is  only  ten  months  old,  copper 
fastened,  and  I  think  in  every  respect  qualified  for  his  majesty's  service. 
She  sailed  from  Dunkirk  on  the  29th.  ultimo,  bound  to  Martinique,  with  640 
casks  of  Hour  on  board,  besides  being  victualled  and  stored  with  every 
specie-  for  four  months.  I  am  happy  to  say,  only  two  men  were  slightly 
wounded  ;  the  enemy  lost  two  killed  and  eight  wounded.  I  am  concerned 
to  add,  we  suffered  materially  in  our  masts  and  rigging  ;  the  mainmast  shot 
in  the  head,  main-yard  shot  away  in  the  slings,  the  m  zen-mast  head  and 
xnizen-topmast  shot  away,  also  the  try-sail-mast  and  the  rigging  aud  sails 
greatly  cut  up. 

I  have,  £c.  G.  STUART. 

•  List  of  wounded. 

Anthony  Nelson,  seaman ;  Jacques  Magra,  marine. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Cup  fain  Schomberg,  of  Ins  Majesty  Ship  Loire,  to 
the  Hon.  William  FV dies  ley  Pole,  dated  at  Sea,  the  6th  instant. 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  that  yesterday  at  noon,  in  latitude  39 
deg.  24  rain,  and  lontritude  11  cleg.  41  min.  W.  his  majesty's  ship  under  my 
command  hud  the  good  fortune  to  fall  in  with  a  French  national  ship  of 
war,  in  the  act  of  taking  a  ship  and  a  brig.  On  the  Loire's  approach  she 
bore  up  and  made  all  sail,  deserting  her  prizes,  and  Uaving  the  brig  des- 
titute of  men.  Every  exertion  was  made  in  this  ship  to  come  up  with  the 
enemy ;  and  much  was  necessary,  I  assure  you,  from  the  weather  being 
thick  and  squally. 

At  eight  at  night  we  got  alongside  of  her,  and  brought  her  to  close 
action.  She  was  defended  for  about  twenty  minutes,  when  she  struck  to 
his  majesty's  ship.  She  proved  to  be  le  Hebe  French  national  ship  of  war, 
frigate-built,  mounting  eighteen  24- pounders,  carronades,  and  two  long 
twelves,  with  a  complement  of  lo'O  men  ;  commanded  by  Monsieur  le 
Bretonneuiore,  lieutenant  de  vaisseau.  She  had  been  out  thirty-eight  days 
from  Bourdeau.x,  with  600  barrels  of  flour,  bound  to  St.  Domingo.  She 
has  taken  the  English  vessels  as  per  mar-rin.  * 

Le  Hebe  is  a  very  fine  vessel,  about  450  tons,  quite  new,  and  appears  to 
me  a  ship  that  may  be  serviceable  to  his  majesty.  I  am  most  happy  to 
say  not  a  man  was  hurt  in  the  Loire. 

FEBRUARY    14. 

Copy  of a  Letter  from  Thomas  James  Ma/ing,  Esq.  Captain  of  his  fifajestyts 
Ship  Undaunted,  to  the  Honourable  W.  W.  Pole,  dated  on  board  that  Ship 
at  Spithead,  the  13th  instant. 

sin, 
You  will  please  to  inform  their  lordships,  that  the  Undaunted  captured 

the  San  Josephe yesterday  forenoon,  after  a  hard  run  of  fotir  hours.    She 

*  Brig  Enterprise,  from  Liverpool;  brig  Lord  Mulgrave,  bound  to  Vi«o; 
irig  Bacchus,  bound  to  Gibraltar. 


KAVAL  HISTORY    OP   THE   PRESENT   YEAH,    1809.  173 

Is  a  fine  copper  bottomed  privateer,  out  four  days  from  St.  Maloes,  stored 
for  two  mouths,  •  icrccd  for  18  guns,  (but  mounting  only  14,)  and  a  com- 
plement oi  iiiiu  iy-bix  men.  The  San  Josephe  is  nearly  new,  is  reckoned 
the  fastest  sailer  out  of  St.  Muloes,  and  is  a  desirable  vessel  for  his  majesty's 
service.  We  met  with  her  at  dawn  of  day  too  near  us  to  e^ape. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

T.  J.  MALING. 

FEBRUARY  21. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  front  Captain  Netccombe,  of  his  Majesty's  Sloop  JBeugfe, 
addressed  to  Commodore  Orcen.  and  transmitted  by  Vice- admiral,  Camiibcll, 
Coutmaitdcr-in-fhief  of  his  Majesty's  Ships  and  Vessels  in  the  Dozens,  to 
the  Honourable  W.  W.  Pole,  dated  the  IQth  instant. 

SIR, 

I  beg  leave  to  acquaint  you,  that  early  this  morninp,  (Boulogne  bearing 
about  S.S.E.  six  leagues,)  his  majesty's  sloop  under  my  command  captured 
a  French  privateer,  named  la  Fortune,  of  14  guns  and  68  men,  and  com- 
manded by  Captain  Tucker.  She  was  from  Calais,  two  days  on  her  cruise, 
and  had  not  made  any  capture. 

From  their  -usual  intrepidity,  they  did  not  surrender  until  the  Beagle  ran 
her  alongside,  notwithstanding  it  blew  strong  with  a  heavy  sea.  One  of 
their  crew  was  mortally  wounded.  • 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

•To  Commodore  Owen,  4  c.  FRAS.  NEWCOMBE, 


Promstton0  anU  appointments* 

Admiral  Sir  Roger  Curtis  is  appointed  commander-in-chief  at  Portsmouth, 
vice  Admiral  Montague . 

Captain  the  Honourable  Henry  Dawson  is  appointed  by  Rear-admiral  Sir 
Edward  Pel  lew,  commander-in-chief  on  the  India  station,  to  act  as  governor 
of  the  naval  hospital  at  Madras. 

Captain  William  Browcll,  of  the  royal  hospital  at  Greenwich,  is  appoint- 
ed to  be  lieutenant-governor  of  that  institution,  and  a  director  of  the  hospi 
tal  and  cliest  of  Greenwich,  rice  Captain  Boachier  deceased. 

Captain  William  Edge  is  appointed  to  the  royal  hospital  at  Greenwich, 
vi<~e  Captain  Browcll  appointed  lieutenant-governor  of  that  institution. 

His  majesty  the  King  of  Sweden  has  been  pleased,  for  the  gallant  conduct 
displayed  by  Captain  \V.  H.  Wibley,  of  the  Centaur,  in  the  late  action  with 
the  Russian  fleet,  off'  Rogerwjck,  in  the  Baltic,  to  confer  on  him  the  honour 
of  one  of  the  knights  companions  of  the  most  honourable  military  order  of 
the  S«  ord. 

His  majesty  the  King  of  Sweden  has  also  been  pleased  to  confer  on  Cap- 
tain T.  B.  Martin,  the  honour  of  the  Swedish  order  of  the  Sword. 

Captain  Joseph  Hanwcil  is  appointed  to  be  commissioner  of  the  navy  for 
the  payment  of  seamen's  wages,  at  the  port  of  Sheerness,  vice  Mansfield. 
Captain  Garrett,  of  [he  royal  navy,  brother-in-law  of  Sir  T.  B.  Thompson, 
Bart,  comptroller  of  the  r?ayy,  is  appointed  to  preside  over  the  victualling 
department  at  Deptfprd,  rice  Mr.  Cooper. 

Captain  Frederick  CottereJl  is  appointed  to  the  Nyaden,  late  Danish  fri- 
gate of  38  guns;  Captain  John  Gourly  to  the  San  Juan  prison  ship ;  Cap- 
fain  Francis  Augustus  Collier  to  the  Circe;  Captain  Lucius  Curtis,  eldest 


174      NATAL  HISTORY  Of  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1809. 

son  of  Admiral  Sir  Roger  Curtis,  to  the  Magicienne;  Captain  Dilkes,  of 
the  Hazard  sloop,  to  the  Neptune,  Admiral  Cochrane's  flag  ship;  Captain 
Fahie,  of. the  Ethalion  frigate,  to  the  Belleisle;  Captain  Thomas  Cochrane, 
of  the  Jason,  to  the  Etlialion;  Captain  William  Maude,  of  the  Ulysses,  to 
the  Jason ;  Captain  Edward  Woolcombe,  of  the  Belleisle,  to  the  Ulysses; 
Captain  Wood,  of  the  Latona,  to  the  Captain ;  Captain  Pigot,  of  the  Circe, 
to  the  Latona;  Captain  Patterson,  of  the  Hawke,  to  the  Star;  Captain 
Bouchier,  of  the  Demerary,  to  the  Hawke;  Captain  Pinto,  of  the  Dart,  to 
the  Achates  sloop;  Captain  Cameron,  of  the  Achates,  to  the  Hazard;  Cap- 
tain Selby,  to  the  Owen  Gletidower,  a  new  frigate  of  36  guns;  Captain 
Davis  to  (he  Tyrian ;  Captain  Boyce  to  the  Bienfaisant  prison-ship;  Cap- 
tain George  Moubray,  to  the  Rhodian;  Captain  Cunningham  to  the  Ber- 
muda sloop;  Captain  John  Parish  to  the  Onyx,  vice  Gill  promoted;  Captain 
John  M.  Hauchett  to  the  Raven. 

Lieutenant  Dowers,  son  of  the  governor  of  Deal  hospital,  is  appointed 
to  command  the  Demerary;  Captain  Steuart,  of  the  Port  d'Espagne,  to 
the  Snap  ;  and  Lieutenant  Kennedy  of  the  Pompee,  to  command  the  Port 
d'Espagne. 

Captain  Charles  Gill,  for  his  gallant  action  in  the  Onyx  with  the  Manly 
Dutch  national  brig  of  war,  is  posted. 

Captain  the  Hon.  Warwick  Lake  is  appointed,  by  Admiral  Rowley,  td 
act  in  the  Intrepid. 

Captain  Wells,  of  his  majesty's  ship  Captain,  is  appointed  commissioner 
of  the  navy,  at  Jamaica. 

Mr.  Cooper,  late  agent  victualler  at  Deptford,  is  appointed  by  the  Ad- 
miralty to  be  storekeeper  of  the  dock-yard  at  Chatham. 

Lieutenants  appointed. 

Lieutenant  John  Longchamp  is  appointed  to  the  Cordelia;  Henry  Rowe 
to  the  Primrose:  Henry  Pryce  to  the  Nymphen;  Hon.  Wm.  Sommerville  to 
ditto;  W.  T.  Chamberline  to  the  Defence;  Edward  Stevenson  to  the  Clio; 
George  Tnpman  to  the  Magicienne;  James  Meara  to  ditto;  Robert  Wau- 
chope  to  ditto;  George  Spence  to  the  Blake;  Archibald  Hamilton  to  the 
Repulse;  John  James  Maxwell  to  the  Rose;  John  Smith  (9)  to  the  Dread- 
nought ;  George  Franklyn  to  the  Victorious;  James  Walker  to  the  Gibral- 
tar; Richard  Williams  (2)  to  ditto;  Robert  Thomas  to  the  Childers; 
Charles  Phillips  to  the  Princess  of  Orange  ;  Robert  Smith  (?)  to  the  Mon- 
mouth;  William  Harris  Smith  to  the  Merope  ;  Edward  Collier  to  the 
Thames:  Robert  Foster  to  the  Owen  Glendower;  Thomas  L.  Peake  to  do. 
Frederick  William  Botirgoyne,  son  of  the  late  celebrated  general,  to  com. 
mand  the  Defende  gun^brig ;  John  Worth  to  the  Roebuck  ;  Thomas  Mit- 
chell (2)  to  the  Zebra  ;  Charles  Day  to  the  Norge  ;  John  M'Kirdy  to  the 
Alcmene  ;  Gilbert  Broomhead  to  the  Dolphin  ;  Samuel  Hoare  to  the  Cajsar ; 
Robert  Forder  to  the  Dannemark ;  Evan  M'Kenzie  to  the  St.  Albans;  John 
Rude  to  the  Standard ;  Edward  Medley  to  ditto ;  Lewis  Davis  to  the  Op- 
possum;  James  Stone  (3)  to  the  Vanguard;  George  Johnstone  to  the  Ey- 
deren;  Joseph  Eastwood  to  the  Pluto;  Alexander  Ingram  to  the  Mon- 
tnouth;  Charles  Delancey  to  the  Zealous;  Alexander  Young  to  the  Dic- 
tator ;  James  Meara  to  the  Alexandria,  commission  for  the  Magicienne 
cancelled;  George  Read  to  the  Sybille;  Thomas  Lcvell  to  the  Little  Belt; 
James  Wilcox  to  the  Hero;  Hon.  A.  de  Courcy  to  the  Raven;  Richard 
Phillips  to  the  Vanguard ;  Peter  Crawford  to  the  Fury  bomb ;  Wm.  James 
Scott  to  the  Triumph  ;  George  Heacock  to  the  Chanticleer  ;  Philip  Duma- 
resque  to  the  Eclipse;  William  Carter  to  command  the  Mackarcl  schooner; 


HISTORY  OP  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1800.       175 

Robert  Folliot  to  the  Barfleur ;  Mr.  M'Milian,  midshipman  of  his  majesty's 
ship  Neptune,  is  appointed  to  be  a  lieutenant  of  the  Pompee ;  Messrs. 
Odger  and  Speck,  midshipmen  of  the  Neptune,  to  be  lieutenants  of  the 
Belleisle. 

List  of  midshipmen  passed  for  lieutenants  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  the 
month : — William  Robins,  Augustus  Cannon,  Joseph  Treglohan,  John 
Willison,  Henry  Shiffher,  David  Price,  P.  H.  Trant,  B.  11.  Borough,  John 
Dade,  Samuel  Hodgson. 

Surgeons  appointed. 

Dr.  Bell,  late  surgeon  of  his  majesty's  ship  Edgar,  is  appointed  to  be  sur- 
geon of  the  royal  marines,  at  Woolwich,  vice  Gladstone  appointed  to  the 
royal  asylum  at  Greenwich  park. 

Mr.  Bryan  M'Laughlin,  surgeon,  is  appointed  by  the  Lords  of  the  Admi- 
ralty to  be  an  assistant  surgeon  of  the  royal  hospital  at  Greenwich,  vice 
Gladstone  appointed  to  the  marines  at  Woolwich. 

Mr.  Thomas  Hooper  is  appeinted  to  be  surgeon  of  his  majesty's  sloop 
Zenobia;  Mr.  John  Neill  to  the  Victorious ;  John  Julius  Inger  to  the  Cyg- 
net; Themas  Cochrane  to  the  Forrester;  Charles  Linton  to  the  Glomen ; 
Gregory  Odell  to  the  Caesar;  Joseph  White  to  the  Drake;  Richard  Thomp- 
son to  the  Ville  de  Paris;  George  Proctor  to  the  Orestes;  Edward  Hopley 
to- the  Nymphen;  Henry  Ewing  to  the  Resistance;  Robert  Marks  to  thtf 
Lark;  John  Stckoe  to  the  Magicienne;  John  Morgan  to  the  Hibernia; 
George  Proctor  to  the  Bustard;  Robert  Mulberry  to  the  Ville  de  Paris  ;  vice 
Thompson;  Henry  Parkin  to  the  Caledonia;  Duncan  Campbell  to  the  Ir.i- 
petueux;  George  Wardiaw  to  the  Weasel;  William  Norman  to  the  Owen 
Glendower;  Thomas  Dickson  to  the  Nyaden ;  George  Pearson  to  the  Sar- 
pen,  Henry  William  Bull  to  the  Tyrian. 

Assistants  appointed. 

Mr.  Thomas  Stewart  is  appointed  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Amethyst;  Mr. 
John  Dunthorn  to  be  an  hospital  mate  at  the  royal  hospital  at  Plymouth; 
S.  R.  Armstrong  to  be  hospital  mate  of  the  naval  hospital  at  Jamaica;  J.  E. 
Gray  to  be  assistant  of  the  Acute  gun-brig;  John  Johns  to  the  Fervent  <iun- 
brig;  J.  Godard  to  the  Blazer;  P.  Ramsay  to  the  Dannemark ;  William 
Porteous  to  the  Alphea  cutter  ;  William  Hector  to  the  Castor ;  Montgomery 
Camth  to  the  Victorious;  John  Baiston  to  the  Iphigenia;  Charles  Miller  to 
the  Eagle;  William  Duncan  to  the  St.  Albans;  Robert  Bateman  to  the  Star- 
dard;  William  M'Masters  to  the  Argonaut  hospital  ship;  Robert  Brown  to 
the  Defence;  C.  W.  Vandenburg  to  the  Majestic;  Thomas  Soden  to  the. 
Safeguard  gun-brig ;  C.  "Woolley  to  the  Dannemark;  Robert  Muir  to  the 
East  Indies  on  promotion ;  William  Leslie  to  the  Amazon  :  George  M'Clure 
to  the  Hibernia;  George  Roe  fromtthe  Redbreast  to  the  Salvador  del  Mun- 
do;  Alexander  Rae  to  the  Bombay;  Daniel  Godbchere  to  the  Royal  Wil- 
liam; William  Miller  to  the  Earnest  gun-brig, 


BIRTHS. 

Of  a  daughter,  at  the  apartments  of  her  father,  Lieutenant  Spearing  of 
the  royal  hospital  at  Greenwich,  Mrs.  Ann  Tooley,  widow  of  the  late  Lieut. 
Richard  Tooley,  of  the  royal  navy. 

On  the  4th  of  February,  in  Upper  Bedford-place,  the  wife  of  Captai^ 
Jonathan  Birch,  of  the  Hon.  East  India  Company's  service,  of  a  son. 


176  NAVAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   PlltSBNT    YEAR,    1809* 

On  the  9th  instant,  at  her  apartments  in  the  royal  hospital  at  Greenwich, 
Mrs.  Frederick  Bedford,  wife  of  Lieut.  Bedford,  of  that  institution,  of  a 
son. 


MARRIAGES. 

lately,  Mr.  Alexander  M'Coy,  purser  of  his  majesty's  ship  Brazen,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Catherine  Aylward,  of  Portsmouth. 

On  the  26th  of  January,  at  Kingstoo.,  near  Portsmouth,  Lieutenant  Tho- 
jnas  Button,  of  the  royal  navy,  to  M:ss  Priscilla  Edgcumbe,  of  Tavistock- 
jjlace,  Russel-square. 


DEATHS. 

Lately,  in  Pulteney-strcct,  Ball),  Mrs.  Peyton,  wife  of  Rear-admiral 
Peyton. 

At  Mount  Tamar,  the  lady  of  Captain  White,  of  the  royal  navy,  and  4th 
daughter  of  Commissioner  Fanshaw,  of  his  majesty's  dock  yard,  Plymouth. 

Lately,  in  the  West  Indies,  of  the  yellow  fever,  Mr.  S.  W.  Salmon,  pur- 
ser in  the  royal  navy,  aged  19  years,  onh7  son  of  Mr.  8.  Salmon,  of  Portsea, 
Hants. — He  was  made  a  purser,  and  appointed  to  a  ship  on  the  9th  of  No- 
vember, 1808,  and  died  the  Hth  of  the  same  month,  much  lamented  by  his 
friends  and  acquaintance. 

Lately,  at  Mil  ford  Haven,  Lieutenant  Walter  Jewell,  of  the  royal  navy. 

On  the  5th  of  February,  at  Edinburgh,  much  rcgrerted,  James  Ross  Far- 
quarhson,  Esq.  of  TnvercauM.  captain  in  the  royal  nuw,  and  second  son  of 
tiie  late  Vice-admiral  Sir  John  Lockhart  Ross,  of  Balnagoun,  Bart. 

On  the  23d  of  January,  at  Huntingdon,  Captain  Thomas  Stephenson,  of 
the  royal  navy,  aged  34. 

Lately  was  drowned,  in  coming  from  Spain,  on  the  Manacle  Rocks,  the 
Hon.  Lieutenant  Watdcgravc,  son  of  Admiral  Lord  lladstock. 

At  nearly  the  same  time,  Captain  James  Mein,  of  !>is  majesty's  late  sloop 
die  Primrose,  was  lost  on  the  said  rocks,  together  with  the  greater  part  of 
the  crew  of  the  said  sloop. 

Lately,  in  the  West  Indies,  Mr.  J.  Stodart,  surgeon  of  his  majesty's  ship 
Resistance. 

Lately  was  killed,  in  a  most  gallant  attack  on  some  cf  the  enemy's  vessels 
at  Martinique,  Captaia  Co'jmbe,  of  bis  majesty's  ship  lleureux,  and  nephew 
of  C.  Coombe,  Esq.  of  tl.c  Admiralty-office. 

On  the  7th  of  February,  was  barbarously  murdered,  after  a  desperate 
resistance,  on  the  Greenwich  road,  near  the  Five  Ik-.iis  public-house,  Lieut,  f 
John  Johnstone,  of  his  majesty's  sloop  Eyderen,  Captain  Charles  Pengelly. 

At  his  house,  in  Troy  Town,  Rochester,  the  lady  of  Captain  A.  Anderson, 
of  the  royal  marines. 

In  the  royal  hospital  at  Haslar,  Mr.  Gill,  surgeon  of  the  Royals. 

On  the  16th  November,  on  his  passage  from  Jamaica,  Mr.  John  Hall, 
surgeon  in  the  royal  navy. 

In  November  List,  at  the  naval  hospital  at  Baibadoes,  Mr.  Samuel  Price, 
surgeon  of  his  majesty's  sloop  Achates. 


THE    LATE   Sill    HUGH    CLOBERUY    CHRISTIAN,    K.B.  185 

the  columns  reached  with  success  their  directed  stations,  but  the  centre 
columns,  having  met  with  some  unexpected  difficulty,  did  not  elioct  their 
junction. 

"  The  Madras,  Bcaulieu,  Pelican,  and  Victorieuse  were  to  support  this 
attack ;  the  Beaulieu  had  three  seamen  slightly  wounded,  and  the  head  of 
her  foremast  injured.  The  attack  on  shore  not  having  been  successful,  the 
Madras  and  Beaulieu  have  returned  to  Marigot  des  Rousseaux,  to  co- 
operate with  Major-general  Morshead." 

Sir  Hugh  Christian  closes  his  letter  with  the  following  compli- 
mentary tribute  to  the  officers  serving  under  him  :* — 

"  It  would  be  unjust  to  the  merit  of  Captain  M'Doual,  of  the  Ganges, 
nnd  the  officers  acting  under  him  at  Bay  Longueville,  were  I  to  omit  report- 
ing their  just  claim-  to  my  commendation  ;  Captain  Rvves,  of  the  Bull  Do?, 
and  Captain  Meares,  of  the  transport  department,  commanded  the  division 
of  boats  at  Longueville  bay.  Captains  Evans,  of  the  Fury,  Dobree,  of  the 
Woolwich,  and  Captain  Hill  and  Lieutenant  Skipsey,  of  the  transport 
service,  commanded  the  several  divisions  of  flat  boats  at  the  Choc  and 
Ance  la  Rare  landing,  and  I  had  good  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  their 
assiduity  and  proper  exertions. 

"  The  natural  strength  of  this  country  is  such,  that  time  and  great 
exertion  will  be  necessary  for  its  reduction.  There  exists  the  most  perfect 
desire  on  the  part  of  the  officers  and  seamen  of  the  squadron  to  share  (he 
fatigue  and  hazard  with  the  army  ;  and  I  trust  that  this  desire  may  be  kept 
awake  to  essential  advantage." 

Notwithstanding  the  difficulties  which  the  assailants  had  to  en- 
counter, the  blockade  and  siege  of  Morne  Fortune  was  carried  on 
with  such  vigour  and  success,  that,  on  the  24th  of  May,  the  enemy 
desired  a  suspension  of  arms.  On  the  following  morning,  a  capi- 
tulation for  the  whole  island  ensued  ;  and  on  the  26th,  his  majes- 
ty's troops  took  possession  of.  Morne  Fortune  :  the  garrison  of 
which,  at  that  time,  amounted  to  2,000  men.  Captain  Lane,  of 
the  Astrea,  was  sent  to  England  with  the  following  despatches 
from  Sir  II.  C.  Christian,  announcing  the  event : — 

"  Thunderer,  Choc  Bay,  St.  Lucia, 
"  SIR,  June  1,  1796. 

tf  I  ana  to  communicate  to  you,  for  the  information  of  my  Lords  Com- 
missioners of  the  Admiralty,  that  the  island  of  St.  Lucia  and  its  dependen- 

*  Another  letter  from  Sir  Hugh  C.  Christian,  of.  the  same  date  (May  4), 
encloses  Captain  Parr's  account  of  the  surrender  of  the  Dutch  settlement 
of  Dcmerara,  and  its  dependencies,  to  his  majesty's  farces,  under  Majur- 
general  Whyte,  and  Captain  Parr,  en  the  '_'2d  of  April.— The  colony  of 
Berbice  surrendered  to  the  same  officers  on  the  2d  of  May. 

tfJ.nto,  CJjrom  dol.  XXI.  B  B 


186  MfeMOIU    OF   THE   PUBLIC    SERVICES    OF 

cics  surrendered  by  capitulation  on  the  25th  of  May,  and  that  the  Morn* 
•was  taken  possession  of  by  his  majesty's  troops  on  the  26th,  at  noon. 

"  In  the  progress  of  the  siege  great  difficulties  were  to  be  surmounted, 
and  much  service  of  fatigue  undertaken.  The  more  effectually  to  assist  the 
operations  of  the  army,  I  directed  eight  hundred  seamen  to  land,  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Lane,  of  the  Astrea,  and  Captain  Ryves,  of  the  Bull 
Dog:  the  merit  of  their  services  will  be  better  reported  by  the  commander-- 
in-chief  of  his  majesty's  troops ;  but  I  feel  it  an  indispensable  duty  to 
acquaint  their  lordships,  that  the  conduct  of  the  officers  and  seamen 
equalled  my  most  sanguine  expectations,  and  that  it  has  been  in  every 
instance  highly  meritorious. 

"  Captain  Lane,  of  the  Astrea,  is  charged  with  my  despatches ;  that 
officer,  having  served  at  St.  Lucia  from  the  moment  of  my  arrival,  will  be 
enabled  to  afford  their  lordships  correct  information  of  the  naval  occur- 
rences connected  with  the  siege. 

"  The  state  of  the  Astrea,  by  Captain  Lane's  report  to  me,  is  such,  that 
her  proceeding  to  England  became  a  necessary  measure. 

"  Captain  Ryves,  of  the  Bull  Dog,  will  proceed  immediately  to  join  his 
ship;  but  I  should  be  unjust  to  the  merits  of  his  exertion,  were  I  to  omit 
recommending  him  to  their  lordships'  notice  and  protection. 

"  I  stated  to  their  lordships,  in  my  letter  of  the  4th  instant,  the  services 
of  Captain  Searle,  of  the  Pelican,  on  the  first  landing ;  since  that  period  he 
has  with  unremitting  diligence  and  ability  effectually  blocked  the  ports  of 
the  Carenage. 

"  The  Madras,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Dilkes,  had  been,  in  the 
first  arrangements,  detached  to  land,  and  co-operate  with  a  division  of 
troops  on  the  left  wing  of  the  army,  anchored  for  that  purpose  at  Marrigot 
des  Rosseaux,  where  his  exertion  and  assiduity  have  been  highly  com- 
mendable :  he  look  possession  of  a  point  at  the  southern  entrance  of  the 
grand  Cul  de  Sac,  with  great  labour  and  perseverance,  placed  upon  the  pin- 
nacle of  the  hill  two  eighteen-pounders  and  two  carronades,  from  which  he 
considerably  annoyed  the  batteries  of  Sisseron  and  Agille.  The  general 
wishing  to  establish  batteries  on  the  southern  side  of  the  grand  Cul  de  Sac, 
Captain  Wolley,  of  the  Arethusa,  was  detached  to  join  Captain  Dilkes,  and 
directed  to  land  a  proportion  of  seamen  to  assist  this  service,  which  was 
very  speedily  and  cheerfully  executed.  More  exertion  1ms  not  been 
evinced,  and  1  believe  there  never  lias  occurred  an  instance  of  more  cordial 
co-operation,  than  has  subsisted  between  the  army  and  navy  during  this 
siege.  Great  have  been  the  services  of  fatigue,  considering  the  nature  of 
the  country  and  the  situation  of  tiie  Morne,  and  very  rapidly  have  thej 
Jjeen  brought  to  effect  the  reduction  of  the  island. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  enemy's  attack  on  the  24th  instant,  with  a  view- 
to  re-possess  themselves  of  the  advanced  post  from  the  Morne,  it  became 
necessary  to  detach  the  14th  regiment  to  the  support  of  the  troops  employed 
at  that  post,  in  consequence  of  which  320  marines  were  landed  to  take  thfc 
iud  occupied  by  the  14th.  The  conduct  of  the  marines  upon  this,  a« 
.upon  all  other  occasion,*,  was  most  perfectly  correct. 


THE    LATE    SIR    HUGH    CLOBERRY    CHRISTIAN,    K.B.  187 

"  The  general's  opinion  of  the  conduct  of  the  seamen  and  marines  will 
he  best  understood  }>y  the  sentiments  expressed  in  his  public  orders,  an  ex- 
tract of  which  is  herewith  transmitted. 

"  I  transmit  a  list  of  the  small  vessels  found  at  this  anchorage  ; 
"  And  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir, 

"  Your  most  obedient  bumbie  servant, 
"  Evan  Ncpean,  Esq.  "  HUGH  C.  CHRISTIAN." 

"  Ilcud  Quarters,  St.  Lu.ia,  May  27,  1796, 
"  EXTRACT  OF  GENEKAL  ORDERS. 

"  During  the  services  which  '.are  been  carried  on  in  the  island  of  St. 
Lucia,  all  the  courage  anrl  every  exertion  of  the  army  would  have  proved 
ineffectual,  if  Rear- ad  mi  nil  Sir  H.  C.  Christian,  and  the  royal  navy,  had 
not  stepped  forward  witli  the  alacrity  "-h.ch  ^uj  been  so  couspicuous  in  for- 
warding the  most  arduous  part  of  the  public  service  :  to  the  r  skill  and  un- 
remitting labour  is  in  a  great  measure  owing  t.ie  success  which  has  attended 
his  majesty's  arms.  It  will  atfor.l  the  commander-iu-chief  the  greatest 
satisfaction  to  be  able  to  lay  before  his  majesty  the  eminent  services  waich 
have,  on  this  occasion,  been  performed  by  the  royal  navy,  and  Admiral  Sir 
Hugh  Cloberry  Christian  will  confer  a  particular  obligation  on  Lieutenant- 
general  Sir  Ralph  Abercromby,  and  the  army  at  large,  if  he  will  be  so 
obliging  as  to  communicate  to  the  royal  navy,  and  in  particular  to  Captains 
Lane,  Ryves,  and  Stephenson,  and  the  other  «fficers  who  acted  on  shore, 
and  to  the  corps  of  marines,  the  great  obligation  which  they  consider  them* 
selves  under  to  them. 

"  T.  BUSBY,  Assistant-Adj.  Gen." 

Sir  Ralph  Abercromby,  in  his  despatch  of  the  31st  of  May, 
announcing  the  surrender  of  St.  Lucia,  also  says  :— *• 

"  Rear-admiral  Sir  Hugh  Christian,  and  the  royal  navy,  have  never  ceased 
to  shew  the  utmost  alacrity  in  forwarding  the  public  service.  To  their  skill 
and  unremitting  labour  the  success  which  has  attended  his  majesty's  arms 
i?  in  a  great  measure  due.  By  their  efforts  alone  the  artillery  was  advauced 
to  the  batteries,  and  every  co-operation,  which  could  possibly  be  expected 
or  desired,  has  been  afforded  in  the  fullest  mauqer." 

The  shipping  alluded  to  by  Admiral  Christian,  in  his  official 
letter,  consisted  of  a  ship,  three  brigs,  five  schooners,  and  a 
shallop,  which  were  taken  in  the  Carenage.  A  great  quantity  of 
ordnance,  ammunition,  and  military  stores,  was  found  in  the 
several  batteries. 

After  the  reduction  of  the  island  of  St.  Lucia,  Sir  Hugh 
Christian  detached  the  following  little  squadron  of  frigates,  under 
tae  command  of  Captain  Wollcy,  to  co-operate  with  Sir  Ralph 


183  MEM01H    OF    THE    PUBLIC    SERVICES    OF 

Abercromby,  in  quelling  the  insurrections,  which  raged  with  gvcat 
virulence  in  the  islands  of  St.  Vincent  and  Grenada  : — 

Ships.  Guns.  Commanders. 

Aretlmsn  ........   38     Captain  Thomas  Wolley. 

Hebe   ^8     M.  H.  Scott. 

Mermaid 32     < 11.  W.  Otway. 

pelican  (brig)   ....    16     • •  T.  C.  Searle. 

Beaver 16     • S.  G.  Warucr. 

The  insurgents  were  chiefly  Charibs,  and  people  of  colour; 
and  after  an  obstinate  resistance,  they  laid  down  their  arms,  and 
surrendered  by  capitulation.  On  this  service,  two  seamen  be- 
longing to  the  Arethusa,  who  were  acting  with  the  troops  on 
shore,  were  killed  ;  and  at  Grenada,  seven  seamen  r/ere  killed, 
and  five  wounded,  on  board  the  Mermaid,  by  the  bursting  of  one 
of  her  main-deck  guns. 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  June,  Rear-admiral  Hervey  arrived  at 
Martinique,  in  the  Prince  of  Wales ;  and  in  the  month  of  October 
following,  having  resigned  the  command  of  the  fleet  to  that 
officer,  Sir  Hugh  returned  to  England  in  the  Beaulieu  frigate. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  17S7,  he  was  made  rear-admiral  of 
the  white  ;  and  in  the  course  of  the  year,  he  sailed  to  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  as  second  in  command  on  that  station,  in  the  Vir- 
ginie,  of  44  guns.  In  the  following  year,  he  succeeded  Admiral 
Pringle,  as  Commander-in-chief  at  tho  Cape  ;  but  he  enjoyed  that 
post  only  a  very  short  time,  as  he  died,  rather  suddenly  we 
believe,  in  November,  1798.  His  services,  though  not  generally 
of  the  most  brilliant  description,  had  been  arduous  and  useful; 
and  by  his  death,  the  country  lost  an  attentive,  able,  and  excellent 
officer.  His  remains  were  interred  at  the  Cape. 

Sir  Hugh  Christian's  lady,  whose  bealth  was  in  so  critical  a,state 
when  the  admiral  left  England,  that  she  despaired  of  ever  seeing 
him  again,  survived  him  about  two  months;  but  died,  at  the  Isle 
of  Wight,  before  the  intelligence  had  arrived  of  the  death  of  her 
husband. 


HERA-LD1C     PARTICULARS. 

Hugh  Christian,  the  admiral's  grandfather,  was  born  in  1679, 
and  dLd  about  the  year  1740,  having  married  Letitia  Awsitcr,  the 


THE    LATE   SIR   HUGH    CLOBERUY    CHRISTIAN,    K.B.  189 

only  child  of  Anthony  Brucer,  of  Hock  Norton,  in  the  county  of 
Oxford,  Esq.  by  Mary  his  wife,  daughter  of  Thomas  Awsiter,  of 
Southall,  in  the  county  of  Middlesex,  Esq.  and  by  her  (who  after 
his  decease  married  Thomas  Mascall,  but  had  no  issue  by  him)  had 
issue  Hugh  and  Anne,  who  both  died  young,  and  Thomas,  the 
father  of  the  admiral.  This  Thomas  was  born  at  Liverpool,  about 
the  year  1716,  and  died  in  1751,  having  raarriftl  Anne,  the  daugh- 
ter ot  O\voii  Hughes,  of  Bangor,  Esq.  by  whom  (who  after  his 
death  married,  secondly,  Mr.  Penny,  of  Oxfordshire,  and  died 
•without  issue  by  him.  in  February,  1785)  he  had  issue  an  only 
child,  viz.  the  late  Sir  Hugh  Cloberry  Christian,  K.B.  the  subject 
of  the  preceding  memoir,  who  married  Anne,  the  only  daughter  of 
Barnabas  Leigh,  of  Thorley,  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  Esq,  on  the 
6th  of  March,  1775.  She  died  at  West  Hill,  in  that  island,  on  the 
22d  of  January,  1799,  and  was  buried  at  Northwood,  in  the  same 
island,  leaving  issue  as  follows: — 1st,  Anne,  born  on  the  C21st  of 
November,  1775,  married  in  1799  to  Major-general  Frederick 
Baron  Hompesch,  and  died  in  December,  1807,  leaving  issue  ; 
2d,  Mary,  born  on  the  21st  of  August,  1781,  married,  in  1803, 
Count  William  Byland,  a  colonel  in  the  army,  and  was  living  in 
1807,  with  issue  ;  3d,  Hood  Hanway  Christian,  eldest  son,  born 
on  the  23d  of  July,  1784,  now  a  captain  in  the  royal  navy,  iu 
•which  he  obtained  post  rank  on  the  30th  of  January,  1806; 
4th,  Hugh  George,  second  son,  born  on  the  23d  of  November, 
1787,  now  in  the  East  India  Company's  civil  service,  on  the  Bengal 
establishment ;  5th,  Johanna,  born  in  1794,  and  living  in  1807. 

ARMS.— Azure  a  cheveron,  humetty  between  three  covered  cups 
or,  on  a  canton  argent,  an  anchor  erect,  with  part  of  the  cable 
round  the  stock  proper. 

CREST. — Out  of  a  naval  coronet,  or,  an  unicorn's  head,  argent, 
collared  gules. 

The  above  arms  and  crest,  granted  by  patent  under  the  hands 
of  Garter  and  Clarenceux  Kings  of  Arms,  dated  5th  March,  1796. 

SUPPORTERS.— On  each  side  an  unicorn,  argent,  collared  gules, 
pendent,  therefrom  a  shield,  azure,  charged  with  a  covered 
cup,  or. 

Granted  by  patent  under  the  hand  and  seal  of  Garter  principal 
King  of  Arms,  7th  March,  1796. 

MOTTO. — foluisscj  sat,  est. 


150 

NAVAL  ANECDOTES, 
COMMERCIAL  HINTS,  RECOLLECTIONS, 


NANTES    IW    GURSITE    VASTO. 


CAPTAIN    THOMAS    PUINGLE.*' 

T  has  been  frequently  remarked,  that  the  dispositions  of  our 
fellow-snbjects  born  in  the  tropical  countries,  are  in  a  greak 
degree  similar  to  the  genial  warmth  of  those  climates.  This  remark 
is  very  strongly  exemplified  in  the  character  of  Captain  Pringle, 
who  is  a  native  of  the  Antilles,  and  possesses  all  the  fire  and  bene- 
volence of  heart  so  peculiar  to  the  West  Indies. 

The  events  of  this  worthy  officer's  life  have  been  always  marked 
•with  most  consummate  zeal,  bravery,  and  propriety.  To  a  sound 
judgment,  he  joins  a  well  informed  mind,  and  a  disposition  alive  to 
every  friendly  virtue.  Having  received  the  principal  parts  of  his 
nautical  instructions  from  his  distinguished  patron,  Admiral  Bar- 
rington,  it  cannot  be  supposed  that  he  is  in  any  respect  unfinished 
as  a  naval  character. 

Captain  Pringle,  during  a  part  of  the  late  war,  commanded  the 
armed  vessels  employed  against  the  rebels  on  the  vast  lake  of 
Champlain,  Ontario,  &c.  in  North  America;  upon  which  service 
his  exertions  were  uncommonly  great ;  nor  were  his  zeal  and  bra- 
very less  conspicuous,  when  captain  of  the  Ariadne  frigate,  on  the 
Leeward  Island  station. 

This  gallant  officer  returned  to  England  after  his  various  ser- 
vices on  the  other  side  the  Atlantic,  and  was  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  his  majesty's  ship  Daedalus,  and  was  again  ordered  to  the 
coasts  of  America,  being  stationed  for  some  time  to  cruise  off 
Quebec,  Newfoundland,  and  the  adjacent  seas. 

Captain  Pringle's  conduct  throughout  the  whole  of  the  war 
illustrated  his  character  in  the  highest  degree,  and  will  prove  a 
lasting  testimony  of  his  exalted  Afrorth. 

CAI-TAIX    ROBEKT    FANSHAW,    M.P. 

Is  one  of  the  ablest  officers  the  British  fleet  can  boast ;  cool, 
collected,  brave,  and  active  ;  ever  ready  for  service  when  called 
upon,  and  rigidly  attentive  to  the  most  trivial,  as  well  as  the  more 
important  duties  of  his  station.  It  may  with  truth  be  observed  of 
him,  that  his  ship  is  like  his  mansion— the  ship's  company  his 

*  This  and  the  following  articles  are  from  The  NAVAL  ATALAXTIS,  pub-» 
lished  in  1789, 


NAVAL    ANECDOTES,    &C.  191 

family  :  the  former  in  a  constant  state  of  regularity  and  neatness, 
the  latter  governed  by  a  rigid,  but  a  just  hand.  A  scrupulous  ob- 
server of  the  relative  duties  he  owes  his  country,  as  a  citizen  and 
a  soldier,  Captain  Fanshaw  exacts  a  like  conduct  on  the  part  of  all 
with  whom  he  may  have  any  concern,  whether  civil  or  military. 

The  conduct  of  this  gallant  officer  throughout  the  whole  of  the 
late  war  is  spoken  of  in  terms  of  infinite  praise.  On  the  coast  of 
America  he  was  ever  most  active  and  diligent.  In  the  West  In- 
dies,  his  conduct  as  commander  of  his  majesty's  ship  Monmouth, 
in  the  engagement  between  the  fleets  of  Admiral  Byron  and  Comte 
d'Estaing  was  truly  gallant,  nor  was  it  less  so  in  the  Egmont, 
which  he  afterwards  commanded." 

When  Sir  George  (now  Lord)  Rodney  was  about  to  sail  from 
Plymouth,  with  a  squadron  for  the  West  Indies  ;  the  commander 
of  the  Namur,  of  90  guns,  having  desired  to  be  superseded,  Cap. 
tain  Fanshaw,  v,  no  then  lived  at  that  port  with  his  family,  and 
was  out  of  employ,  being  sent  to  at  the  dead  of  night  to  fill  up  the 
Tacancy,  he  immediately  arose,  and  having  arranged  his  family 
affairs,  embarked  on  board  the  Namur  without  delay,  and  proved 
one  of  Admiral  Rodney's  most  distinguished  supporters  on  tbe 
glorious  12th  of  April. 

At  the  late  election  for  Plymouth,  the  freemen  of  that  borough 
(of  which  Captain  Fanshaw  is  one),  unanimously  made  choice  of 
this  brave  veteran  to  serve  as  one  of  their  representatives  in  Par- 
liament. 

CAPTAIN    SAMUEL    MARSHALL 

Is  the  officer  who  struck  the  first  blow  last  war  as  commander 
of  tlve  Arethusa  frigate,  which  engaged  the  Most  Christian  King's 
ship  la  Belle  Poule,  and  thereby  brought  on  a  commencement  of 
general  hostilities  between  Great  Britain  and  France. 

Captain  Marshall  is  deservedly  esteemed  a  very  excellent  officer, 
and  an  experienced  seaman.  He  served  throughout  the  war  with 
great  credit  and  reputation  ;  first  in  the  Aretbusa,  which  was  sta- 
tioned as  a  Channel  cruiser,  and  afterwards  in  another  frigate  on 
the  West  India  station. 

On  his  return  from  the  West  Indies,  he  retired  from  service,  it 
is  said  on  account  of  his  health  being  impaired,  and  was  not 
employed  again  till  some  time  after  the  establishment  of  peace  had 
taken  place.  He  was  then  appointed  to  the  command  of  hi* 
majesty's  ship  le  Pegase,  a  guard-ship  at  Portsmouth. 

A  vacancy  for  a  commissioner  of  the  Victualling  Office  having 
j  and  it  b«iog  a  rule  that  one  of  them  should  be  aa  expe» 


NATAL    ANECDOTES, 

rienced  captain  in  the  navy,  this  officer  gave  up  the  command  of 
the  Pegasc,  and  succeeded  to  the  vacancy  at  the  Victualling  Board, 
•where  his  abilities  and  integrity  must  render  him  every  May 
qualified  to  fill  the  office  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  advantage 
of  his  country. 

THE    CONSTANT    WARWICK. 

MR.  PEPYS  says,  that  "  the  Constant  Warwick  was  the  first 
frigate  built  in  England.  She  was  built  in  1649,  by  Mr.  Peter 
Pett,  for  a  privateer  for  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  and  was  sold  by 
to  the  States.  Mr.  Pett  took  his  model  of  a  frigate  from  a  French 
frigate  which  he  had  seen  in  the  Thames,  as  his  son,  Sir  Phineas 
Pett,  acknowledged  to  me."  His  being  styled  the  inventor  of 
frigates,  in  the  inscription  on  his  monument,  in  St.  Nicholas 
Church,  Dept ford,  is  therefore  not  strictly  true.  Fuller,  in  his 
Worthies  of  England,  gives  a  similar  account  of  the  origin  of 
frigates  in  our  navy.  Surely  then,  the  name  of  the  Constant 
Warwick  should,  on  this  account,  be  preserved  in  our  navy.  To 
fhe  above  anecdote  it  may  be  added,  that  the  old  Hermione 
frigate  was  taken  from  the  French  in  1757,  by  Captain  Moore,  of 
the  Unicorn.  The  Modeste  and  Terneraire  were  taken  by  Admiral 
Uoscawen's  fleet  in  1759.  (See  the  description  of  them,  Gent. 
Mag.  vol.  29,  page  4 3 9.) 

DESCRIPTION    OF    SIR     WILLIAM     CLARSES'    IMPROVED    LIFE-BOAT. 

SIR  W.  CLARGES,  Bart,  has  constructed  a  life-boat  on  an 
improved  principle,  the  leading  features  of  which  are,  that  she  will 
not  upset,  sink,  or  be  water-logged;  that  she  affords  cabin  room, 
and  is  like  a  man-of-war's  launch,  well  built  for  rowing,  the  oars 
not  on  a  curve,  but  nearly  in  a  right  line,  and  low  to  the  water, 
of  which  she  draws  little.  The  description  of  this  boat  is  as 
follows  : — her  length  is  thirty  feet,  her  breadth  ten,  her  depth  three 
feet,  six  inches.  The  space  between  her  timbers  is  fitted  up  with 
pine  wood  :  this  is  done  with  a  view  to  prevent  the  water  lodging 
there ;  the  pine  wood  is  well  caulked  and  paid ;  she  is  buoyed  up 
by  eight  metal  cases,  four  on  each  side:  these  are  water  tight,  and 
independent  of  each  other.  They  will  serve  to  buoy  up  six  tons, 
but  all  the  buoyant  parts  of  the  boat,  taken  collectively,  will  buoy 
up  ten  tons.  The  cases  are  securely  decked  over,  and  boarded  at 
the  sides  with  pine ;  there  is  a  scuttle  to  cacli  case,  to  put  goods 
in  ;  the  edges  are  lined  with  baize ;  and  over  each  scuttle  in  the 
case,  is  one  of  wood  of  a  larger  size,  the  margin  of  which  is  lined 


X 

COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  193 

m  the  same  manner  to  exclude  the  water  :  between  the  cases  are 
Norwegian  balks,  bolted  to  the  bottom,  fastened  to  each  other  by 
iron  clamps,  and  decked  over.  The  depth  of  her  keel  is  nine 
inches  below  the  garboard  streak,  the  dead  rising  is  four  inches; 
her  heel  is  narrow  at  the  under  part,  and  wide  above,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  giving  the  timber  a  good  bed,  which  will  support  the 
boats,  in  case  a  necessity  should  arise  to  encounter  sand-banks. 
In  sailing  oVer  a. bar,  or  in  places  where  the  water  is  shallow, 
the  rndder  will,  with  ease,  draw  up  even  with  the  keel,  and  when, 
in  deep  water,  it  will  let  down  easily,  and  with  equal  facility,  a  foot 
below  it;  in  consequence  of  which  advantage  the  boat  is  found  to 
steiT  remarkably  well.  The  forecastle  of  the  boat  forms  a  cabin  ten 
feet  wide,  six  feet  long,  and  four  feet  deep,  into  which  women, 
children,  and  disabled  persons  may  be  put ;  it  is  amply  supplied 
with  air,  by  means  of  two  copper  ventilators  :  it  is  furnished  be- 
sides with  two  grapnels,  very  proper  to  be  thrown  out  on  board  a 
wreck,  to  ride  by ;  the  grapnel  ropes  will  assist  the  sufferers  to 
remove  and  escape  from  the  wreck  to  the  boat.  She  is  likewise 
equipped  with  masts  and  sails,  and  is  as  manageable  with  them  as 
any  boat  of  her  dimensions  can  possibly  be  :  in  a  tempest,  how- 
ever, she  must  be  dismasted,  and  rowed  by  fourteen  men,  with  oars 
sixteen  feet  long,  double  banked ;  the  men  are  all  fastened  to  the 
thwarts  by  ropes,  and  cannot  be  washed  fiom  their  seats,  [a  his 
observations  on  this  boat,  Sir  William  says,  "  Having  stated  the 
leading  features  of  my  boat,  I  need  not  dwell  on  a  few  secondary 
points,  which,  however,  it  would  be  improper  not  to  mention  : 
these  are  her  being  provided  with  small  ropes,  or  lines,  fastened  to 
hooks  on  the  gunwale,  and  each  having  a  piece  of  cork  painted  red 
at  the  extremity ;  intended  not  only  for  persons  who  fall  over- 
board, or  swim  from  a  wreck,  to  see  and  catch  hold  of,  but  to 
tow  those  for  whom  there  may  not  be  room  in  the  boat;  and  her 
having  a  very  powerful  rudder.  The  copper  cases,  though  afford- 
ing  additional  Security  to  those  who  choose  to  be  at  the  expense, 
arc  no  more  a  necessary  point  of  my  plan,  than  coppering  her 
bottom.  The  wood-work  alone,  if  well  executed  and  properly 
attended  to,  may  be  kept  quite  air-tight.  If  the  assistance  of 
cork  were  to  be  called  in,  it  appears  to  me  that  it  might  be  better 
applied  than  in  other  boats,  by  filling  the  cases  with  cork  jackets, 
to  take  to  a  crowded  wreck  ;  in  going  off  to  which  the  cases  would 
not  be  wanted  for  any  other  purpose,  and  the  jackets  would  not 
be  an  incumbrance.  Every  one  must  be  aware  of  the  iniportau.ee 

.  fflol.  XXI.  c  c 


164  NATAL    ANECDOTES, 

of  flie  side  cabins  or  cases,  for  stowing  valuable  goods,  from  a 
richly  laden  vessel.  A  boat  of  this  kind,  but  somewhat  smaller 
dimensions,  would  be  exceedingly  useful  to  ships  on  voyages  of 
discovery  ;  and  indeed  to  any  large  vessels,  as  it  would  not  only 
answer  for  wooding  and  watering,  but  is  peculiarly  adapted  for 
excursions  up  rivers  or  small  inlets  of  the  sea,  or  exploring  clusters 
of  islands.  As  a  pleasure  boat  she  answers  extremely  well;  and 
•with  respect  to  her  safety,  I  can  say  that  I  have  sailed  in  her  from 
Brighton,  round  the  Cornish  coast  to  Conway  in  North  Wales, 
without  any  accident,  though  we  experienced  some  very  dreadful 
•\veather  on  the  voyage." 

ANECDOTE   OF   THE    tATE    ADMIRAL    CALMADY. 

IN  the  war  raging  at  the  accession  of  his  present  majesty,  two 
gallant  sea-bred  sons  of  a  Captain  Everett,  in  the  royal  navy,  got 
commands.  One  of  them,  Michael,  was  killed  onboard  the  Ruby, 
in  the  American  war,  many  years  after  ;  the  other,  Charles,  in  his 
early  years  of  post  captain,  had  the  Solebay,  a  small  frigate  ;  and, 
cruising  near  Weymouth,  fell  in  with  two  very  heavy  French  pri- 
vateers ;  he  engaged  both,  winged  one,  and  immediately  closing 
with  the  second,  took  her,  and  then  at  his  leisure  picked  up  the 
first.  This  was  much  admired  at  the  time. 

Charles,  from  a  lad,  had  a  fiery  red  nose,  but  was  always  ready 
to  cry  out  "  scaldings"  with  his  messmates,  whether  the  kettle  of 
boiling  water  was  in  sight,  or  his  own  fierce  phiz.  He  married  an 
heiress  in  mid-life,  and  took,  her  name  of  Calmady. 

After  acquiring  the  rank  of  admiral,  he  was  one  day  at  a  public 
dinner  of  the  Hampshire  Hunt;  and  whilst  the  bottle  was  circu- 
lating, up  came  a  waiter  to  say  "  a  poor  sailor  below  wished  to 
speak  with  Admiral  Calmady."  The  admiral  was  not  allowed  to 
leave  the  room,  and  the  chairman  requested  of  him  that  the  man. 
should  come  up.  Acccordingly,  old  Jack,  very  much  in  dishabille, 
made  his  appearance  ;  and  the  chairman  ordered  him  to  find  out 
the  admiral,  if  they  had  ever  sailed  together  :  now  all  the  gen- 
tlemen were  in  the  same  uniform  of  the  hunt.  Jack  moved  round 
to  Calmady's  ehair :  "Sailed  together — he  knows  all  that,  but 
Charles  Everett  was  his  name  then,  God  bless  him."  The  admiral 
looked  at  him,  without  recollection  of  his  face  :  "  No  tricks  upon 
travellers;  I  remember  nothing  about  you." — "  But,  admiral,  you 
han't  forgot  poor  Johnson,  the  marine  :  J  was  in  the  after-guard, 
close  to  him,  on  board  the  Solebay." — "  Well,  what  of  Johnson, 
the  marine?" — "  Why,  admiral,  don't  you  recollect  when  the 
Frenchmen  were  peppering  at  us,  that  Johnson,  the  marine,  burst 


COMMERCIAL  HINTS,    RECoiLECtioxs,  &c.  195 

out  a  laughing,  and  rapt  out  an  oath,  hov  narrowly  they  had 
missed  a  certain  person's  d — d  red  note!'' 

Here  the  whole  company  enjoyed  (he  story ;  and  Calmady 
laughed  with  the  rest.  "  Well,  what  then,  old  boy  ?  " — "  Why, 
you  turned  about  as  sharp  as  fire,  and  promised  poor  Johnson  a 
d — d  good  do/en  as  soon  as  the  action  was  over." 

The  admiral  asked  no  more  questions,  gave  his  old  shipmate 
half-a-crown,  and  all  the  gentlemen  did  the  same.  Jack  went 
down  to  get  a  skinful  of  good  liquor,  and  to  laugh  again  amongst 
the  party-coloured  lads  in  livery  about  Admiral  Calrnady's  red 
nose. 

LORD    COCHRAXE. 

THE  Spanish  Gerona  Gazette,  when  inserting  a  letter  from  Lord 
Cochraue,  January  1,  1809,  subjoins  the  following  liberal  testi- 
mony to  his  noble  conduct : — 

"  This  gallant  Englishman  has  been  entitled  to  the  admiration, 
and  gratitude  of  this  country,  from  the  first  moment  of  its  political 
resurrection.  His  generosity  in  co-operating  with  our  earliest 
efforts,  the  encouragement  we  received  from  the  interest  he  took 
•with  the  commanders  of  the  Balearic  islands,  to  induce  them  to 
succour  us  with  troops  and  ammunition,  can  never  be  erased  from, 
our  recollection.  The  extraordinary  services  which  we  owe  to  his 
indefatigable  activity,  particularly  this  city  and  the  adjacent  coast, 
in  protecting  us  from  the  attempts  of  the  enemy,  are  too  well 
known  to  be  repeated  here.  It  is  a  sufficient  eulogium  upon  his 
character  to  mention,  that  in  the  defence  of  the  castle  of  Trinidad, 
when  the  Spanish  flag,  hoisted  on  the  wall,  fell  into  the  ditch, 
under  a  most  dreadful  fire  from  the  enemy,  his  lordship  was  the 
only  person,  who,  regardless  of  the  shower  of  balls  flying  about 
him,  descended  into  the  ditch,  returned  Avith  the  flag,  and  happily 
succeeded  in  placing  it  where  it  was." 

NEW   DOCKS    AT    PURFLEET. 

Ox  the  28th  of  February,  a  member  moved  for  leave  in  the 
House  of  Commons  to  bring  in  bills  to  confirm  an  agreement 
between  government  and  Samuel  Whitbread,  Esq.  for  certain  lands 
purchased  of  him  at  Purfleet,  and  also  to  make  compensation  for 
certain  other  lands  and  hereditaments,  purchased  in  the  same  place 
for  the  purpose  of  having  docks  there,  which  leave  was  given. 
We  believe  that  this  important  establishment  of  a  new  naval  depot, 
Originated  with  Mr.  Whidbcy,  the  master  attendant  at  Sheerness, 
during  the  administration  of  Earl  St.  Vincent.  We  hope  soon  to 
give  a  farther  account. 


196 


NAVAL   ANECDOTES, 


SHIPS  EXPECTED  TO  BE  LAUNCHED  IN  THE  COURSE 
OF  THE  YEAR  1809. 


-s 

DIMENSIONS. 

N        ES. 

G,.n». 

Where  building. 

When  expected 
to  be 

Length 

Length 
of  keel 

| 

§ 

launched. 

gun- 

for  ton- 

s 

Depth. 

§ 

deck. 

nage. 

K 

h 

Ft.    In. 

Ft.   In. 

Ft.  In! 

Ft.  In. 

Q  •  .*n  Charlotte 

100 

Peptford  Yard. 

October. 

yo    o 

156     5 

52    4 

22   10 

OO-T) 

Hoyne 

93 

Portsmouth  Yard. 

s'ov#mber. 

186     0 

U«3     1 

51     3 

22    0 

213S 

\;.1X  - 

74 

BlaekvpU. 

April. 

17ti     0 

145     1 

47     6 

21     0 

1741 

Vnnada 

7* 
7t 

Turncbapel,  Devon. 
Blaetaradl. 

December. 
December. 

176     0 
176    0 

US      1 
145     1 

47    6 
47     C 

21     0 
21     0 

1741 
1741 

Cressey     - 

74 

C  t'rinihurv,  (near  Chat-l 
!,am.)               i 

December. 

176     0 

145     1 

47     6 

21     0 

mi 

GUI;,'  urgh 

74 

fKotherhiilu,    (Mr.      \ 
«•        Brent's  Yard.)        j 

December. 

170    0 

145     1 

47    6 

21     0 

1741 

Hannibal  - 

74 

f  Bucklershard,     (near  •) 
1       Southampton.)        J 

December. 

175    0 

144     1J 

47     6 

29     6 

1730 

Poictiers    - 

74 

Kiver  Medway. 

December. 

176    0 

145     1 

47    6 

21     0 

1741 

Royal  Oak 

74 

fDeptftjrd,    (Mr.  Dedo 
man's.)              J 

Laun.  4  March. 

175     2 

144     1 

47  11 

20     6 

175! 

Rodney     - 

74 

(  Deptford,    fBarnard    •> 

I           and  Co.)             j 

November. 

176     0 

145     1 

47     6 

21     0 

1741 

St.  Domingo     - 

74 

WoolwicbYard. 

Laim.  3d  March 

180     0 

147     8 

48     1 

20  10 

1819 

S'engeur    - 

74 

Harwich. 

December 

176    0 

145     1 

47     6 

21     0 

1741 

Curacoa     - 

36 

(  Noitham,  (near  South-" 
t            ampton.) 

September 

145    0 

121     9i 

38    2 

13     3 

944 

Hotspur     - 

36 

i  Warsash,  (near  South-  • 
I            anipton.)             J 

December. 

145     0 

121     9i 

38     2 

13     3 

944 

Orpheus     - 

36 

Deptfont  Yard. 

Mav. 

145     0 

121     9i 

3S     4 

13     3 

944 

Pyramus    - 

.'36 

Portsmouth  Yard. 

October. 

145     0 

115  11] 

38     2 

11    11 

89!) 

Saldanha  - 

36 

Soutli  Shields. 

June. 

145     0 

121     9J 

38     2 

13     3 

944 

Theban 

30 

i  Warsash,  (near  South-  •> 
<•            anipton.) 

July. 

145     0 

121     94 

38     S 

13     3 

944 

Nereus  -    - 

32 

South  Shields. 

March. 

144     1 

121     8 

37     8 

12     5 

918 

Perseus 

22 

Kingmore,  Devon. 

July. 

118     0 

98     7 

31     6 

10     3 

520 

(SLOOPS.) 

Partridge  - 

22 

Dartmouth. 

April. 

108     4 

31  10 

29    7 

9    0 

423 

Jalouse 

2« 

Plymouth  Yard. 

May. 

108     4 

yo  10 

29    7 

9    0 

423 

(BRIGS.) 

Beaver 

22 

Ipswich. 

Laun.  1  6th  Feb 

89    7 

73     1 

27     7 

11     1 

236 

Crane 

22 

t  Frinsbury,  (near  Chat-  ^ 
<.              ham.)                 j 

August. 

100    0 

77    Si 

30    6 

1?    9 

3S2 

Arachne     - 

82 

Sandwich. 

March. 

100    21 

77    9 

30    7 

13     !) 

386 

Charybdis 

22 

fHythe,    (near   South--) 
I            ampton.) 

July. 

100    0 

7  /          •     i 

30     6 

12     9 

382 

Castilian  - 

22 

Sandwich. 

May. 

100    0 

77     3} 

30    6 

12     9 

382 

Echo 
Hecate 

22 
22 

Krinsbury. 
Diver  Medway. 

September. 
Aueust. 

100    0 
100    0 

77     3} 

77     3! 

30     6 
30     fi 

19     9 
12     9 

382 

IVraian 

22 

Cowes,  Isle  o'i'  Wight. 

May. 

100    0 

77     3i 

30     6 

12     9 

SS2 

KiPeman   - 

C2 

Medwav. 

August. 

100     0 

77     .15 

SO     6 

12     9 

382 

Soilllit; 

22 

Frinsbury. 

September. 

100    0 

77     3i 

30     6 

12     9 

S82 

ScvlU. 
Tliracian    - 

22 

aa 

Topsham. 
l-'rinsbury. 

June. 
July. 

100    0 
100     0 

77    3} 
77     Si 

30     (i 

r.o    (i 

12     9 

12    9 

3S2 

Xrplivr      -        • 

24 

Portsmouth  Yard. 

June. 

f)2    0 

7*     Si 

25     6 

K'     ft 

°  >  1 

Trinculo    - 

22 

Burslcdon. 

June. 

100    0 

77     31 

30    6 

12    9 

S*2 

COMMERCIAL   HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  IQ7 

THE  FOLLOWING  IS  TIIF.  ANSWER  THAT  WAS  RETURNED  BY  THE 
BOARD  TO  THE  REJECTED  PETITION  OF  THE  CAPTAINS  IN  TIJE 
BOYAL  NAVY. 

SIR,  Admiralty  Office,  January  6,  1809. 

I  AM  commanded  by  my  Lords  Commis?ioncrs  of  the  Admiralty 
to  signify  their  direction  to  you,  to  acquaint  the  captains  and  com- 
manders who  signed  the  memorials  which  you  transmitted  to  me 
on  the  22d  of  last  month,  that  their  lordships,  upon  a  full  exami- 
nation of  the  contents  of  the  said  memorials,  consider  the  prayer 
therein  contained  to  be  wholly  inadmissible.  The  pay  of  the  cap. 
tains  and  commanders  of  his  majesty's  fleet,  in  common  with  the 
pay  of  all  ranks  of  officers  in  his  majesty's  navy,  and  of  the  petty- 
officers  and  seamen,  was  increased,  by  the  king-^s  order  in  council 
of  the  23d  of  April,  1806,  in  such  proportions  as  were  considered 
to  be  just,  after  the  most  mature  deliberation ;  and  nothing  has 
occurred  within  the  very  short  period  that  has  since  elapsed,  to 
induce  their  lordships  to  think  it  expedient  to  recommend  a  farther 
increase  of  pay  to  the  captains  and  commanders  of  his  majesty's 
ships.  I  have  their  lordships'  further  commands  to  acquaint  you, 
that  they  regret  that  an  application  of  this  nature  should  have 
been  preferred  so  recently,  after  his  majesty  had  extended  his 
gracious  bounty  to  all  ranks  in  the  navy,  and  that  you  should 
have  been  the  channel  through  which  a  memorial,  so  ill-timed  and 
inadmissible,  has  been  transmitted.  I  am,  £c. 

W.  W.  POLE. 

THE    FOLLOWING    IS    THE    REPLY    OF    THE    CAPTAINS    TO    THE 
SECRETARY. 

SIR,  January  10,  1809. 

THE  undersigned  captains  and  commanders  of  his  majesty's 
navy,  who  signed  a  memorial  for  the  increase  of  their  pay  and 
emoluments,  on  the  22d  ult.  having  laid  before  them  the  senti- 
ments of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty  thereon,  con- 
veyed through  you,  beg  leave,  with  proper  respect  to  their  lord- 
ships, both  personally  and  from  their  office,  to  express  their  grief 
and  surprize,  that  their  memorial,  couched  as  it  ivas  in  respoct- 
ful  language,  as  well  as  the  matter  of  it  undeniable,  should  be 
considered  wholly  inadmissible ;  and  farther,  that  it  should  be 
stated  to  have  been  preferred  so  recently  after  the  extension  of  his 
majesty's  gracious  bounty  to  all  ranks  of  his  navy,  insinuating 
thereby  that  it  was  indecorous.  They  think  it  right  respectfully 


198  NAVAL    ANECDOTES, 

to  observe,  that  the  "  inadraissibility  "  of  the  memorial  is,  and 
can  only  be,  in  the  breast  of  their  lordships  ;  and  that  the  gra- 
cious bounty  of  his  majesty  was  in  fact  putting  into  one  hand  what 
was^taken  out  of  the  other  by  the  Income  Tax,  and  that  a  charge 
of  five  per  cent,  was  made  on  their  prize-money  paid  into  Green- 
wich, and  ultimately  a  third  of  it  taken  away  altogether,  without 
their  rank  being  consulted,  except  in  a  very  slight  degree,  s'.nce 
such  bounty  Avas  extended  to  them. 

The  extraordinary  rise  in  every  article,  from  that  of  the  first 
necessity  to  those  that  may  be  dispensed  with,  it  is  scarcely 
necessary  to  advert  to  ;  their  lordships  and  yourself  feeling  such 
pressure  on  their  incomes,  in  common  with  the  rest  of  his  majesty's 
subjects. 

The  undersigned,  however,  wish  to  impress  upon  their  lordships, 
and  request  with  your  usual  ability  you  will  do  it,  that  they  have 
been  operated  upon  by  no  other  motive  than  a  wish  to  make  known, 
in  a  proper  and  respectful  manner,  the  extent  of  their  pecuniary 
situation.  We  are,  &c. 

In  Volume  XV  of  our  CHRONICLE,  page  195,  is  a  letter  from 
c  A  Poor  Post  Captain,'  relating  to  the  pay  of  officers  of  that 
rank. 

BUAZILS. 

THE  following  letter  affordi  us  the  hope  that  the  sovereign  of 
the  Brazils,  should  he  be  driven  to  assume  this  as  his  only  efficient 
title,  will,  in  that  character,  shew  himself  a  vigorous  and  formidable 
adversary  to  his  persecutor  in  Europe  : — 

"  Extract  of  a  leticr,  dated  Slatzrock,  December  31,  1808. 

cc  By  the  Dolphin  schooner,  from  Surinam,  we  have  the  impor- 
tant and  pleasing  intelligence  of  a  Portuguese  expedition  from  the 
Brazils  against  Cayenne  having  actually  arrived  in  that  latitude. 
A  Portuguese  gun-boat  wbich  had  dropped  to  leeward  has  put 
into  Surinam,  and  communicated  the  information.  It  was  first 
supposed  that  this  expedition  might  be  partly  British,  under  Sir 
Sidney  Smith  ;  but  it  is  stated  to  be  wholly  Portuguese,  and  to 
consist  of  seven  thousand  men.  The  above  boat  has  seventy 
Indians  on  board,  and  three  or  four  cannon,  one  of  which  is  a 
24-pounder.  Several  attempts  were  made  to  beat  her  up,  that  she 
might  join  in  the  glory  of  her  companions,  but  in  vain.  The  plan 
is  said  to  be,  to  land  a  chosen  body  of  Indians  (good  marksmen) 
to  windward  of  Cayennej  to  penetrate  through  the  bushes,  while 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


the  grand  attack  is  made  by  the  gun-boats,  &c.  on  the  batteries. 
Victor  Hughes  is  said  to  hare  a  garrison  of  five  hundred  men  ;  but 
his  ordnance  is  in  a  bad  state,  many  of  the  cannon  being  dis- 
mounted. The  Portuguese  were  very  confident  of  success,  and 
we  hope  to  have  the  pleasure  of  stating  it  in  our  next." 

I 

SAN    DOMINGO.* 

A  74,  of  great  beauty,  was  launched  at  Deptford,  on  the  3d 
of  March  ;  she  was  first  laid  down  in  1806.  The  wood  is  said  to 
have  been  obtained  from  Germany.  We  are  unable  to  discover 
why  such  a  name  was  given  her,  which  sounds  more  like  that  of  a 
West  Indiaman.  Sir  Home  Popham  is  appointed  to  command  her. 
Nothing  is  so  little  attended  to,  as  giving  appropriate  names,  and 
such  as  have  long  been  distinguished  in  naval  history,  to  our  ships. 
The  name  of  an  individual  should  never  be  adopted,  unless  when 
his  heroism  and  naval  service  had  been  unprecedented. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

PRESENT  MANAGEMENT  AND  DISCIPLINE  OF  THE  NAVY. 

LETTER  XII. 
SIR, 

I  fear  that  the  patience  both  of  yourself  and  your  readers  will 
begin  to  fail  at  my  lengthened  correspondence,  and  that  you 
wish  me  above  all  other  qualifications,  the  power  of  compressing  my 
thoughts  and  opinions  within  more  limited  bounds.  I  rely,  how- 
ever, on  the  importance  of  the  matters  I  have  been  discussing,  as 
the  only  excuse  for  my  intrusion,  being  fully  aware  how  inadequate 
my  manner  of  performing  the  task  I  have  volunteered,  is  to  the 
consequence  of  its  being  well  performed.  In  my  last  letter  T  con. 
sidcred  the  difference  of  opinion  which  exists  respecting  popularity^ 
and  I  intend  at  present  to  offer  a  few  observations  with  regard  to 
follorzerS)  a  subject  which  has  also  found  many  warm  advocates  as 
well  as  opponents,  and  which  I  must  allow  from  experience  admits 
almost  beyond  all  others,  "  much  to  be  said  on  both  sides."  Yet 
that  there  should  be  any  drawback  upon  a  system  so  attractive  as 
that  of  being  surrounded  by  old  and  faithful  adherents,  is  much  to 

•*  For  her  dimension5,  &<:.  see  page  l?c>. 


200  CORRESPONDENCE 

be  lamented,  and  it  appears  so  unreasonable  that  any  such  should 
exist,  that  I  cannot  help  thinking  some  better  management  might 
be  adopted,  by  means  of  which  the  evils  of  the  system  might  be 
obviated,  and  its  benefits  enlarged. 

One  rule  should  be  invariable,  that  in  cases  of  petty  officers  and 
seamen  being  permitted  to  remove  from  one  ship  to  another  with 
their  captain,  both  parties  should  have  their  option  ;  and  when  the 
captain  has  selected  his  allowed  number,  the  question  should  be 
openly  put,  whether  the  men  he  has  chosen  are  perfectly  willing 
or  desirous  of  the  proposed  change.  A  captain  should  be  always 
indulged  in  his  choice  of  a  first  lieutenant  and  master,  whenever  it 
is  possible,  as  it  is  of  great  importance  that  full  confidence  should 
be  placed  in  these  officers.  Young  gentlemen  under  the  care  of  a 
captain  can  hardly  ever  be  refused  to  be  removed  with  him. 

I  conclude,  that  there  are  few  captains  so  unconnected,  as  not 
to  be  able,  in  the  event  of  a  war  breaking  out,  to  raise  many  men 
on  the  terms  of  their  being  allowed  to  sail  under  his  command  as 
long  as  the  service  could  possibly  admit  of  it,  and  of  course  of 
being  removed  with  him  from  one  ship  to  another.  I  should  think 
that  this  measure  would  save  a  considerable  expense  in  rendezvous 
and  the  impress  service,  and  certainly  be  more  congenial  to  British 
feelings,  than  the  present  mode,  by  which  men  are  considered  to 
enter  for  the  service  at  large,  and  not  for  the  ship  or  captain  of 
their  choice,  and  in  consequence  very  many  volunteers  are  kept 
back  from  the  navy.  It  damps  that  ardour  of  attachment,  which, 
stimulates  to  a  proper  pride  of  action,  and  deadens  the  genuine 
fire  of  emulation,  which  is  of  such  essential  moment.  In  the  pre- 
sent mode  we  are  reduced  to  the  disgrace  of  having  our  between- 
decks  too  often  filled  up  by  the  off-scourings  of  jails,  and  the  re- 
fuse of  the  parishes.  1  am  aware,  that  after  the  gallant,  the  heroic 
exploits  which  have  been  performed,  and  are  performing,  by  our 
gallant  tars  under  the  present  system,  it  may  seem  a  presumption, 
if  not  a  folly,  to  attempt  even  a  proposal  of  innovation  ;  and  that 
•we  should  rest  satisfied  with  whatever  mode  it  may  be  which  pro- 
duces men,  who,  under  the  guidance  of  their  officers,  perform  such 
noble  acts  of  valour  and  bold  daring.  But  Britons,'  raised  in  any 
other  way,  would  undoubtedly  be  fully  equal  to  whatever  is  now 
done,  and  if  to  an  equal  degree  of  bodily  exertion  and  energy  of  cou- 
rage, we  could  add  to  the  moral  worth  of  our  crews,  and  in  a  great 
measure  put  an  end  to  the  prevalence  of  desertion,  a  crime  so  mor- 
tifying to  the  officer,  and  so  expensive  to  the  country,  very  essen- 
tial benefit  would  ensue.  A  small  number  of  chosen  men  wouM 


CORRESPONDENCE.  201 

answer  the  purpose  of  a  larger,  in  which  many  weak  and  worthless 
are  included,  and  the  great  article  of  health  would  be  considerably 
improved.  After  a  considerable  degree  of  attention  with  which  I 
have  considered  this  important  subject,  I  should  be  desirous,  in 
addition  to  the  mode  of  volunteers  before  mentioned,  to  try  to  man. 
our  fleets  as  much  as  possible  according  to  the  admirable  plan  of 
limited  service  proposed  by  Mr.  Windham  for  the  army.  In- 
creased pay,  and  other  advantages,  at  the  expiration  of  every  seven 
years  of  actual  service,  with  the  cheering  certainty  of  a  competence 
in  old  age  for  all  those  "  who  weather  the  storm,"  would,  I  should 
conceive,  very  soon  make  that  ever  hateful,  however  now  unfor- 
tunately necessary  tyranny  of  the  impress,  only  like  a  tale  that  is 
told,  and  the  next  generation  would  hardly  credit  its  having  beea 
really  in  existence. 

A  plan  qf  this  immense  importance,  however,  requires  very 
mature  deliberation,  and  at  present  I  only  offer  the  above  sugges- 
tion, in  the  hopes  that  some  one  of  your  readers,  of  more  ability 
than  myself,  would  endeavour  to  improve  it  into  a  practicable  shape. 
Should  I  be  disappointed  in  my  expectations,  I  shall  probv.bly  ven- 
ture at  an  attempt  to  reduce  my  present  crude  ideas  into  some  pro- 
posal  for  a  pla,n  of  such  very  high  importance  to  this  country. 

The  article  followers,  Mr.  Editor,  stands  the  last  in  the  memo- 
randum of  the  subjects  I  had  allotted  myself,  when  I  first  deter- 
mined to  offer  any  thing  like  a  series  of  observations  on  the  state 
and  discipline  of  the  navy,  and  your  indulgence  has  encouraged  me 
till  I  perceive  my  communications  amount  to  a  a  round  dozen  ;" 
and  if  the  infliction  of  the  punishment  of  reading  twelve  pretty 
long  letters,  proves  of  any  benefit  to  yourself  and  your  subscribers, 
I  shall  feel  great  and_ lively  satisfaction.  They  have  been  written 
with  the  most  sincere  good  intentions,  and  not  without  some  hope 
that  they  might  draw  serious  and  attentive  consideration  to  many 
points  of  service,  which  are  too  often  passed  over  as  matters  of 
course;  and  as  affairs  of  daily  recurrence,  are  not  thought  worthy 
of  daily  examination.  But  this  shouM  not  be  the  case,  for  the 
very  important  duties  both  of  command  and  obedience,  require  no 
small  portion  of  accurate  consideration  and  constant  care,  that  they 
may  be  performed  upon  a  proper  principle,  in  order  that  they  may 
lead  to  the  most  useful  result. 

Should  my  expectations  and  hopes  be  well  founded,  that  my 
remarks  have  in  any  degree  served  to  elucidate  the  true  and 
rational  nature  of  discipline  in  the  various  gradations  of  rank  in 

\ 

/9a&,  ££1811.  (Hoi.  XXL  D  » 


202  CORRESPONDENCE. 

our  service  ;  that  they  may  benefit  my  readers  by  my  recommen- 
dation of  a  general  feeling  of  benevolence  to  all  our  fellow  crea- 
tures, how  low  soever  some  of  their  stations  may  be ;  and  that  my 
expressed  trust  that  the  crews  of  the  ships  of  the  British  navy  are 
improving  in  moral  worth,  and  above  all,  in  Christian  excellence, 
may  be  confirmed,  then  will  the  most  heartfelt  gratifications  result 
to  your  Correspondent, 

A.  F.  Y. 

ERRATA. — Present  Vol.  page  29,  line  14,  for  island  read  islands;  line 
three  from  bottom,  for  store  read  stove ;  page  30,  line  nine  from  bottom, 
for  vile  read  rife  ;  page  31,  line  eight  from  bottom,  for  me  read  one  ;  page 
S4,  bottom  line,  leave  out,  of  it;  page  35,  line  ten  from  the  bottom,  for 
prop  re&dfrap ;  line  eight  from  bottom,  for  by  read  beg;  same  page,  line 
seven  from  bottom,  for  board  read  boards. 


THE   BREST    FLEET. 
MR.    EDITOR, 

Brest  fleet  has  left  its  port,  and  although  now  blockaded 
by  ours  of  the  Channel,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Rochefort, 
may,  before  the  expiration  of  another  month,  be  again  at  liberty 
on  the  ocean.  Towards  which  point  then  is  it  destined  to  steer  ? 
To  Ferrol,  to  Cadiz,  to  Ceuta,  to  the  Balearic  isles,  to  Marti- 
nique, or  to  Spanish  America  ?  All  these  have  been  conjectured 
and  named,  and  despatches,  it  is  said,  indicating  their  approach  to 
the  Antilles.,  have  lately  been  intercepted. 

To  such  despatches,  whether  fabricated  for  the  purpose  or  not, 
the  critical  situation  of  several  islands  appear  to  give  weight ;  but 
if  we  properly  keep  in  mincl  the  uniform  conduct  of  Buonaparte, 
at  momentous  periods  like  this,  if  we  recollect  his  utter  contempt 
for  distant  possessions,  whenever  their  wants  have  clashed  with  the 
interest  of  his  battles  for  empire ;  if  we  reckon  up  the  months 
that  have  been  lost,  while  his  fleets  have  continued  in  inactivity, 
and  now  compare  the  aspect  of  Europe,  with  the  actual  appear- 
ance of  a  fleet  on  the  seas,  we  shall,  in  spite  of  these  despatches, 
and  of  various  movements  by  his  squadron,  be  unavoidably  led  to 
conclude,  that  the  object  kept  in  view  by  the  Brest  fleet,  is  no 
way,  unless  for  the  purposes  of  deception,  connected  with  any 
remote  expedition.  Among  the  conjectures  that  lean  to  the  Con- 
tinent, Ferrol,  from  its  proximity,  from  the  naval  force  it  con- 
tains, and  from  the  interest  created  by  recent  events,  is  precisely 
the  conjecture,  of  all  others,  that  possesses  a  claim  to  priority  of 


CORRESPONDENCE.  203 

attention.  At  Ferrol,  it  is  understood,  there  is  now  lying  a  naval 
force,  which  to  every  maritime  power  trn-vl  appear  a  desirable  ac- 
quisition. But  is  it,  I  would  ask,  before  MO  proceed,  is  :t  at  the 
same  ti-ne  understood,  that  those  ship*  are  at  present  in  a  condition 
for  sai':n,i  r  is  it  even  believed,  that  a  single  Spanish  sailor  can  be 
brought  forward  for  the  purpci •?.  of  equipping  them?  Or  if  sailors 
could  \",-i  procured,  is  it  not  probable  that  several  weeks  mu-  n- 
tervt-ne,  befou;  f!ie  enemy  could  possibly  be  benefited  by  AT 
actual  co-operation  ?  And  in  that  case,  considering  the  activity  of 
ou;  Hcvts,  and  that  favourable  weather  is  rapidly  advancing,  would 
they  not,  in  all  human  probability,  be  successfully  blockaded? 

Tin-  troops  of  r  ranee  we  are  told,  are  in  tranquil  possession  of 
the  port  where  the  shipping  are  lying.  Where  then  is  the  necessity 
of  risking  a  fleet  to  secure  them  ?  Or  if  their  co-operation  be 
wanted,  where  are  the  seamen  to  navigate  them ;  for,  if  even  the 
Spaniards  are  to  be  bribed  into  traitors,  is  the  "  ra/y  Cor&ican" 
so  shallow  a  dupe  as  to  trust  them?  Now,  taking  the  opposite 
side  to  that  which  has  been  premised,  let  us  suppose,  with  many 
politicians,  that  Buonaparte  is  on  the  eve  of  withdrawing  his  troops 
into  Germany,  how  then  will  the  entrance  of  his  fleet  into  Ferrol 
at  such  a  time  be  consistent  with  policy  ?  Can  Cadiz  be  forgotten, 
can  he  hope,  on  the  retreat  of  his  troops,  for  any  better  result 
than  capture  by  the  English,  or  unconditional  surrender  to  the 
Spaniards.  The  improbability  of  Cadiz,  Ceuta,  the  Balearic  isles, 
or  any  port  in  the  Spanish  peninsula,  being  its  principal  destina- 
tion, may  be  argued  in  nearly  a  similar  manner ;  for,  unless  trea- 
chery has  bet n  most  triumphantly  at  work,  there  does  not  appear 
any  adequate  object  on  this  side  of  Toulon.  But  with  whatever 
justice  this  reasoning  may  apply  to  the  islands  and  ports  in  the 
lower  Mediterranean,  the  jut  bl  the  arguments  becomes  essentially 
different,  as  we  advance  towards  the  kingdom  of  Naples  ;  for  it  is 
in  such  countries  as  the  kingdom  of  IN' a  pies,  that  usurpers  may 
calculate.  There,  calculations  may  safely  be  relied  on  ;  for 
there,  man  is  truly  degenerate.  It  may  safely  be  said,  that, 
except,  in  the  mountains  of  Calabria,  nothing  remains  of  the 
masters  of  the  world  but  the  vices  which  subdued  them.  The  whole 
of  the  territory  of  Naples,  it  is  sufficiently  known,  has  long  since 
been  bowed  down  to  the  sway  of  the  Buonapartes,  while  the 
beautiful  island  of  Sicily,  so  nearly  united,  and  so  closely  con- 
nected by  individual  and  political  relations,  has  hitherto  bidden 
successful  defiance  to  the  decrees  and  machinations  of  the  enemy. 
This  island^  so  endeared  by  classic  and  scientific  recollections,  has 


204  COURESPONDENCE, 

in  all  ages  been  an  object  of  contention  among  the  powers  of  the 
Mediterranean,  «m<l  in  France,  so  long  ago  as  immediately  after 
the  assault  of  Alexandria,  it  became  a  subject  of  notorious  regret, 
thai  the  invasion ,  of  Egypt,  and  Malta,  should  have  been  pre- 
ferred by  the  directory,  to  those  of  Sicily  and  Greece.  And 
indeed,  if*we  consider  the  prodigious  advantage  of  its  geographical 
position,  the  extent  of  its  surface  (9,400  square  miles),  the  num- 
ber and  excellence  of  its  ports,  created  as  it  were  to  control  at 
once  the  seas  of  the  Adriatic  and  Levant ;  that  astonishing  fertility 
of  soil,  that  constituted  it  so  long  the  granary  of  Rome;  the  value 
of  its  additional  exports,  its  sugar,  silk,  cotton,  oil,  salt,  sulphur, 
amber,  and  precious  stones,  with  all  the  rich  variety  of  its  wines  ; 
if  we  properly  estimate  these,  together  with  the  articles  consumed 
by  the  natives,  and  take  also  into  just  consideration,  the  osten- 
tatious pledge  of  that  decree,  which  was  said  to  hurl  Ferdinand 
from  his  throne,  the  late  insurrection  in  Calabria,  the  battle  of 
Maida,  with  the  numerous  troops  which  the  residence  of  the 
sovereign  at  Palermo,  and  the  presence  of  a  British  army,  make 
absolutely  necessary  for  the  security  of  Naples,  we  shall, 
I  think,  hardly  be  able  to  express  our  surprise,  that  some 
great  and  extraordinary  efforts  have  not  long  before  this  been 
made  at  invasion.  But  if  to  those  reflections,  we  add  the  incon- 
trovertible fact,  that  vast  preparations  for  such  a  purpose,  at 
different  parts  of  the  coast,  have  been  daily  accumulating;  that  a 
nezzi  and  martial  king,  or,  as  the  French  call  him,  the  brilliant 
Murat,  at  this  moment  professes  to  head  an  army  assembled  for 
the  enterprise;  that  the  capture  of  Capri  is  held  out  as  a  specimen  ; 
and  to  crown  all,  that  nothing  but  the  fear  of  our  naval  superiority 
has  hitherto  deterred  the  fleet  at  Toulon  from  covering  the  opera- 
tion ;  we  shall,  most  assuredly,  I  say,  in  spite  of  our  Ferrol  and 
western  predilection,  be  forcibly  led  to  decide,  that  the  sailing  of 
the  Brest  fleet  is  principally  or  solely  directed  to  the  subjugation 
of  Sicily.  Now  let  us  see  in  what  respect,  and  in  what  degree,^- 
the  prosecution  of  this  invasion  interferes  with  the  great  and  imme- 
diate energies  of  the  enemy.  In  every  former  continental  war  it 
has  been  his  uniform  policy,  disregarding  all  remote  considera- 
tions, to  bring  together  from  every  part  an  overwhelming  supe- 
riority, wherever  the  decisive  battle  was  likely  to  be  fought  with 
the  enemy.  In  pursuit  of  this  object,  Naples  has  been  twice 
altogether,  or  nearly  abandoned,  and  the  sea  coast  of  France  and 
Holland  left  almost  defenceless.  But  let  it  be  recollected,  that  on 
the  latter  coast3  unless  some  great  preparation  were  exposed  to  4 


CORRESPONDENCE.  205 

CQ8p-de-main  from  the  English,  there  was  in  reality  little  or 
nothing  to  be  apprehended,  and  such  places  as  Boulogne,  it  may 
be  presumed,  were  adequately  defended  ;  for  what  but  insanity 
could  carry  an  army  for  the  mere  purpose  of  devastation,  and 
what  would  be  the  immediate  effect  of  such  depredations  ?  What, 
but  furious  irritation  against  the  burners  of  their  dwellings,  and  an 
enthusiastic  resort  to  those  very  measures  of  local  defence,  which 
even  the  power  of  Buonaparte  is  cautious  of  commanding  ?  With 
respect  to  the  former  abandonment  of  Naples,  the  ground  on 
•which  it  was  ordered,  was  essentially  different  from  that  which  the 
question  rests  on  at  present.  At  first,  that  country  was  amused 
with  the  name  of  an  independant  republic,  and  republics,  it  was 
presumed,  should  readily  arm  themselves  for  their  defence;  since 
then,  the  crown  has  been  placed  on  the  head  of  a  Frenchman,  and 
on  this  consideration,  a  small  proportion  of  troops,  even  in  the 
greatest  emergency,  were  left  by  the  enemy  for  its  defence.  But 
the  insurrection  of  the  Calabrians,  and  the  battle  of  Maida,  have 
shown  their  insufficiency.  A  large  army  has  been  subsequently 
cantoned  there,  and  as  long  as  there  is  the  slightest  pretence  for 
calling  Ferdinand  their  King,  a  considerable  military  force  will  be 
required  to  overawe  them.  The  events  in  Spain,  among  a  people 
similarly  situated,  must  have  added  considerably  to  the  distrust ; 
and  unless  the  Emperor  of  France,  who  aims  at  the  force  and  the 
character  of  a  destiny  among  nations,  is  willing  to  see  his  predic- 
tions and  decrees  stripped  of  all  their  illusions,  he  must  not,  at  this 
critical  conjuncture,  venture  upon  withdrawing  the  army  from 
Italy,  or  not  till  he  has  successfully  availed  himself  of  the  means  he 
possesses  for  invasion. 

It  is  now  of  importance  to  consider  what  will  be  the  consequence 
of  his  attempt  at  invasion.  Let  us  take  for  granted  that  his  means 
are  already  prepared,  and  that  he  only  waits  the  protection  of  a 
naval  force  to  insure  him  a  landing.  Let  us  suppose,  that  the  fleet 
at  Rochefort  has  escaped  during  the  approaching  gales — that  ours 
has  pursued  them  towards  Cadiz,  or  the  West  Indies ;  while  they, 
choosing  their  course,  have  entered  the  Straits,  and  steered  either 
direct  for  Naples,  or  to  form  a  junction  with  the  fleet  that  is  ex- 
pecting them  at  Toulon.  If  our  ships  are  blockading  Toulon,  the 
Frenchmen,  aware  of  the  fact,  will  proceed  without  opposition  to 
cover  the  invasion  ;  if,  on  the  contrary,  they  arc  assembled  for  the 
protection  of  the  island,  the  French  fleet  will  proceed  to  the 
junction,  and  afterwards  have  nothing  to  fear,  from  their  num. 
bers.  Now  supposing  them  lauded  superior  in  numbers  to  the 


206  COURESPONDENCK. 

English  they  will  have  to  encounter,  if  they  obtain  possession  of 
Messina,  and  the  land  that  is  nearest  to  Calabria,  a  port  of  safety 
will  be  found  for  (heir  ships,  while  an  uninterrupted  intercourse 
•with  Naples  from  the  possession  of  both  shores,  will  be  constantly 
maintained ;  here  then,  even  during  the  struggle,  they  will  bo 
gainers  ;  for  it  is  evident,  that  the  same  army  that  may  be  equal  to 
coping  with  an  enemy  in  Sicily,  might  be  glaringly  insufficient  to 
protect,  an  extensive  range  of  coast  from  their  desultory  warfare: 
and  if,  as  they  confidently  expect,  they  should  succeed  in  the  con- 
flict, less  troops  may  be  found  necessary  to  garrison  it,  and  a  great 
army,  comparatively,' set  at  liberty,  by  cutting  up  at  the  roots,  iu 
Palermo,  the  source  of  insurrection  ir.  Calabria.  It  is  extremely, 
natural,  for  persons  unacquainted  with  the  government,  and  the 
flagitious  oppressions  of  the  feudal  Barons  in  Sicily,  to  suppose, 
that  some  assis.'ance  might  be  expected  by  our  armies  from  the 
population  which  surrounds  them.  It  is  very  natural  to  conclude, 
-that  the  inhabitants  o!  an  island,  thrice  chosen  as  an  asylum  by 
fugitive  royalty,  must  be  eminently  conspicuous,  if  riot  for  the 
milder  virtues,  at  least  for  their  bravery,  or  if  not  for  their  bra- 
very, for  a  virtue  s'.ill  dearer  to  kings,  unquenchable  loyalty  ; 
but  alas!  how  miserably  erroneous  are  ail  such  conclusions  !  This 
fugitive,  but  happy  monarch — happy,  because  his  gratifications  are 
inciependant  of  royalty  ;  *  this  persecuted  Ferdinand,  who,  one 
•would  imagine,  was  adored  by  the  subjects  he  flew  to,  has  twice 
been  received  by  them,  as  a  man  whose  necessities  had  forced  him 
to  their  dwellings,  as  one,  who  when  his  circumstances  will  no 
longer  admit  of  extortion  by  viceroys,  returns  to  his  domains 
escorted  by  foreigners,  to  play  the  part  of  a  viceroy,  and  plunder 
them  himself.  Such  is  the  tone  of  feeling  which  prevails  among  this 
suffering  population  :  such  are  the  feelings  which  have  prepared 
1,300.000  souls  to  look  on  Avith  indifference,  or  to  hail  with  joy, 
the  army  of  invaders  ;  while  an  army  of  foreigners,  rioting  in  lux- 
uries in  the  midst  of  their  privations ;  boasting  of  their  freedom 
while  sanctioning  oppression,  shame  by  comparison,  and  insult  by 

*  Ferdinand,  King  of  ilie  Two  Sicilies,  is  extraordinarily  fond  of  fishing 
and  shooting,  and  it  is  said,  that  on  the  approach  of  the  French  army  to 
Naples,  when,  while  all  was  tumult  in  the  city,  he  and  his  court  sought  re- 
fuge in  the  ship  of' Lord  Nelson  ;  the  gallant  admiral,  who  felt  deeply  for 
his  misfortunes,  had  prepared  to  escort  him  with  an  air  indicative  of  his 
feelings  ;  but  what  must  have  been  the  astonishment  of  our  immortal  hero, 
when  the  fugitive  monarch,  hurrying  into  the  cabin,  eagerly  demanded,  »f 
any  of  the  fish' he  was  so  fond  of  had  been  provided jor  his  suppsr! 


CORRESPONDENCE.  207 

comment,  their  silent  apathy,  and  speaking  miseries.  Let  the  men 
who  expect  energy  from  such  a  people,  in  the  defence  of  royalty, 
look  to  the  gilded  swarm  of  Iocu»ts,  which  in  the  name  of  nobility, 
eat  up  every  green  herb  reared  by  their  industry ;  Irt  them  look 
to  the  chit-Is  of  the  Baronies,  who  tax  at  their  own  pleasure,  the 
very  necessaries  of  life  produced  by  the  toil  of  the  peasant  and  his 
family  ;  a  race  of  tyrants,  who  are  even  tenacious  of  the  rights^ 
by  which  they  can  condemn  hundreds  of  families  to  starvation, 
while  every  other  district  in  the  island  is  rebelling  in  abundance. 
Let  them  go  higher,  to  the  general  government;  let  them  see  the 
accused  who  never  knows  the  accus.  r ;  let  them  follow  that 
accused  into  the  dreary  dungeon,  where  his  protestations  of  inno- 
cence, and  his  prayers  for  a  trial,  are  never  heard  but  by  his 
Maker  ;  or  let  them,  relieved  from  these  horrible  doings, 
follow  with  gladdened  heart  the  joyous  steps  of  the  emaciated 
wretch,  whose  friends  have  bribed  for  his  trial;  let  them  see  the 
horrid  conversion  of  smiling  hope  to  dreadful  agony,  as  .they 
behold  this  climax  of  infamy — Sicilian  justice^  founded  on  Sicilian 
TORTUKE;  then,  let  them  say — Will  Sicily  be  defended  ?  Equally 
erroneous  is  the  expectation  that  some  defence  will  be  made  by  the 
army,  and  those  nobility  who  fatten  by  the  oppressions. *  The  prin- 
cipal nobility  have  estates  in  the  territory  of  Naples,  but  they  are 
an  effeminate  generation  ;  their  fears  and  their  property  alike  impel 
them  to  wish  evil  to  the  men  whose  presence  perpetuates  the 
disunion.  As  to  the  army,  it  is  notorious,  that  wheu  the  King  of 
Naples  made  the  greatest  exertions  for  his  safety,  the  greater  part 
of  the  commissions  for  officers  were~bought  by  the  French  minister, 
and  given  to  men  avowedly  attached  to  their  cause.  Of  the  pri, 
vateSj  I  shall  conclude  Avith  an  anecdote,  worth  a  thousand  argu- 
ments, to  prove  howr  little  the  pride  or  honour  of  a  soldier  is  che- 
rished among  them.  During  the  time  a  British  ship  of  war  was 
lying  at  I\lessina,  nothing  was  more  common  than  for  half  disguised 
soldiers  to  come  and  ofl'er  themselves  for  sailors;  so  much  so,  that 
guards  were  placed  for  the  purpose  of  preventing  desertion,  and  it 
actually  happened,  that  one,  fully  accoutred,  having  entered  a 
boat,  refused  to  go  back  to  his  post,  though  a  corporal's  guard 
came  in  much  form  to  claim  him ;  in  the  course  of  the  exclama- 
tions and  interrogatories  put  ny  the  corporal,  it  appeared  that  the 
poor  wreio.i  had  bsen  enticed  by  the  promise  of  eight  dollars, 
which  he  had  heard  some  of  the  seamen  say  would  be  given  fee 
volunteers.  iVo  sooner  was  this  sum  mentioned,  than  the  coun- 
tenance of.  the  corporal  and  the  \vhole  guard  underwent  an  install- 


208  CORRESPONDENCE. 

taneous  change.  Eight  dollars,  he  exclaimed,  and  prize  money  (o 
boot !  Holy  virgin  !  comrades,  what  can  we  better  do  ?  And  it 
is  an  absolute  fact,  that  the  partly  instantly  piled  their  arms,  and 
it  was  only  by  shoving  the  boat  away  from  the  wharf,  that  the 
-officer  was  able  to  reach  his  ship  without  this  extraordinary 
cargo. 

F.  F.  F. 
^».^.^ 

MR.    EDITOR, 

IT  is  now  three  years  since  Parliament  voted  that  90,0001.  should 
be  placed  in  the  hands  of  certain  commissioners,  for  the  pur. 
pose  of  purchasing  a  mansion  and  estate  to  be  annexed  to  the  title 
of  Earl  Nelson.  In  common  with  the  rest  of  my  countryman,  I 
have  long  felt  anxious  to  hear  that  the  sum  thus  voted  has  been 
applied  to  the  end  proposed.  But  as  nothing  has  transpired  upon 
the  subject,  I  can  no  longer  resist  the  temptation  which  1  feel  to 
inquire,  through  the  medium  of  your  work,  what  steps  have  been 
taken  by  the  commissioners,  and  whjBther  they  are,  or  have  been, 
in.  treaty  for  any  property  in  consequence  of  the  powers  which 
they  received  from  Parliament  in  1806  ?  You,  Mr.  Editor,  may 
perhaps  possess  some  information  upon  this  point.  If  such  be  the 
case,  I  must  beg  you  to  communicate  it  to  the  public.  Every 
Englishman,  I  firmly  believe,  most  heartily  rejoiced  at  the  grant 
made  by  Parliament,  and  many  would  have  been  still  better  pleased, 
had  even  a  larger  sum  been  voted ;  but  all  are  surprised  at  the 
delay  which  has  taken  place,  and  are  anxious  to  see  the  heir  of 
their  beloved  hero  the  possessor  of  a  mansion,  presented  to  him  by 
the  British  nation,  instead  of  being  the  secluded  inhabitant  of  a 
Prebcndal  dwelling  at  Canterbury. 

I  am,  <tc. 

TRAFALGARIENSIS. 

*•**  We  have  not  the  means  of  giving  a  perfectly  satisfactory 
answer  to  our  Correspondent,  "  TUAFALGARIENSIS."  Itis  known, 
however,  that  numerous  advertisements  have,  from  time  to  ti>ne, 
appeared,  calling  upon  the  possessors  of  such  estates  as  might  be 
thought  fit  for  the  purpose  (if  disposed  to  part  with  them)  to  send 
in  their  terms  to  the  commissioners  ;  but  not  one  is  supposed  to 
have  been  yet  offered,  corresponding  with  the  munificent  intention 
of  Parliament.  In  the  mean  time,  Earl  Nelson  is  understood 
regularly  to  receive  the  interest  of  the  money  voted  by  Parliament, 
which,  if  our  memory  deceive  us  not,  was  100,0001.  instead  of 
80,000.— Ez>. 


CORRESPONDENCE.  209 


XI. 
MR.    EDITOR,  March  3,  1809. 

HAVING  in  a  former  letter  stated  to  you  the  opinions  I  had 
seen  and  heard  respecting  the  conduct  of  our  late  naval  com. 
rnander-in-chief  in  Portugal,  I  should  be  wanting  in  justice  if  I  did 
not  acknowledge,  that  in  the  course  of  the  late  debate  in  Par- 
liament, there  appeared  some  exculpations  which  were  not  before 
in  the  possession  of  the  public.  It  appears  that  he  was  not  the 
original  inventor  of  the  abominable  naval  convention,  but  only 
retains  the  demerit  of  having  applied  it  to  practice,  when  the  vic- 
tory of  VimeirU)  and  other  circumstances,  had  totally  changed  the 
relative  situations  of  the  parties.  This  appears  to  me  a  very  great 
and  important  error  in  judgment.  Now  it  is  not  long  since,  Air. 
Editor,  that  Sir  Robert  Calder  beat  an  enemy  superior  in  force  to 
the  fleet  under  his  command,  and  captured  two  sail  of  the  line. 
The  hopes  and  expectations  of  the  nation,  however,  raised  as  they 
had  been  to  a  high  pitch  from  the  recollection  of  former  splendid 
naval  victories,  were  disappointed  ;  a  LEGAL  trial  quickly  ens  iu-d, 
and  the  victorious  admiral  was  severely  reprimanded  for  an  error 
in  judgment^  in  not  having  made  a  proper  use  of  his  victory  :  and 
although  I  am  of  opinion  that  a  different  conduct  was  due  to 
an  old,  faithful,  and  meritorious  officer,  he  has  not  since  had  an 
opportunity  afforded  him  of  correcting  the  error  that  he  was  cen- 
sured for  committing.  Now  the  admiral  in  his  defence  jiavo  some 
very  cogent  reasons,  which  might  well  have  influenced  hi'.i  in  the 
conduct  he  pursued;*  but  what  could  have  influenced  Sir  H. 
Burrard  to  refuse  to  follow  up  the  victory  gained  by  Sir  A.  Wei. 
lesley,  even  when  urged  to  do  so  by  the  victorious  general,  whose 
valour  and  abilities  he  had  witnessed  ?  In  a  late  debate  in  the 
lower  house  of  Parliament,  it  was  said  (according  to  the  newspa- 
pers) by  one  of  his  majesty's  present  ministers,  that  there  was  no 
specific  charge  against  either  of  the  generals,  and  that  the  opinion 
that  had  been  asked  of  certain  officers  ought  to  satisfy  the  nation. 
These  said  ministers  may  have  some  reasons  not  to  bring  forward 
a  charge,  but  after  a  diligent  perusal  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
board  of  inquiry,  I  feel,  and  the  country  sorely  feels,  that  there 
lies  a  very  heavy  and  serious  charge  against  Sir  Harry,  in  not 
following  up  the  victory,  and  in  consequence  being  the  great,  if 

*  The  more  frequently  I  peruse  die  trial  of  this  meritorious  officer,  the 
less  am  I  enabled  to  discover  how  the  sentence  given  could  have  been  pro- 
duced from  the  evidence  which  appears  in  the  minutes.  Surely  Sir  R.  C.  has 
had  hard  measure  dealt  to  him.  —  Vide  NA.V.  CHRON.  Vol.  XVII,  p.  99,  et  seg, 

.  (Hoi.  XXI.  E  E 


210  CORRESPONDENCE. 

not  sole  cause,  of  the  subsequent  conventions,  of  our  ships  bearing 
their  disgraceful  burdens  to  the  ports  of  France,  and  of  Junot 
being  so  soon  at  the  head  of  a  division  of  the  French  troops  in 
Spain.  Where  does  a  shadow  of  blame  attach  to  Sir  R.  Calder, 
without  the  heaviest  clouds  of  error  hanging  over  Sir  H.  Burrard  ? 
The  latter  had  no  long  coast  to  guard,  no  enemy  in  his  rear,  no 
dread  of  his  movements  allowing  the  enemy  to  land  in  Ireland ! 
He  had  no  orders  but  what  propelled  him  onwards  ;  the  plain  road 
to  glory  and  national  advantage  was  clearly  before  him,  and  he  did 
not  pursue  it.  Sir  R.  Calder  demanded  a  trial ;  Sir  II.  Burrard 
appears  content  with  the  opinion  of  certain  officers,  that  he  was 
right  not  to  follow  up  a  victory,  contrary  to  the  remonstrance  of 
the  general  who  had  gained  it !  ! !  Surely  here  is  at  least  an  error 
in  judgment.  The  convention  of  Cintra,  even  in  the  speech  from 
the  throne,  is  admitted  at  least  to  bear  the  same  stamp,  bat  we 
have  no  trials  on  these  important  military  cases !  The  opinion  of 
some  generals,  some  of  whose  names  were  now  for  the  first  time 
known  to  the  public,  was  indeed  requested,  and  a  long  and  very 
odd  opinion  they  have  given,  in  my  comprehension.  Whence  this' 
difference  ?  Why  is  a  naval  officer  only  to  be  brought  to  legal 
trial,  and  the  ten  million  times  more  important  errors  of  the 
military,  made  a  mere  matter  of  opinion  ?  Are  we  to  argue  from 
hence  that  the  navy  is  indeed  our  true  constitutional  defence,  and 
the  navy  of  the  nation,  while  the  army  belongs  to  the  executive 
alone  ?  Do  not  the  premises  warrant  the  conclusion,  that  such  aa 
erroneous  opinion  must  somewhere  exist  ? 

I  felt  very  sincere  satisfaction  in  the  thanks  of  the  two  houses 
of  Parliament  to  our  brave  armies ;  they  merit  all  the  eulogium, 
and  all  the  more  substantial  reward,  which  an  admiring  and  grateful 
country  can  bestow  ;  for  did  they  not  by  their  own  innate  valour, 
their  genuine  British  spirit,  gallantly  enlighten  us  by  two  brilliant 
rays  of  exultation,  emanating  from  amidst  the  darkest  gloom  of 
misfortune  and  mismanagement  that  ever  lowered  over  our  national 
concerns  ?  They  have  presented  us  with  two  short  but  gratifying 
pauses  of  intermission  to  our  harrassed  feelings,,  which  would 
otherwise  have  been  too  shame  and  sorrow  struck  to  have  been 
endured.  Give  then  to  our  gallant  soldiers  all  their  merited  praise 
(they  need  no  more)  ;  but  let  not  the  glare  of  their  victories  so  daz- 
ele  and  bewilderthe  minds  of  our  legislators,  as  to  induce  them  to  give 
the  credit  of  them  to  ministers,  whose  want  of  judgment  would 
have  doomed  any  other  armies  to  certain  and  entire  destruction. 

In  the  late  memorable  debate  respecting  the  convention,  where? 
AS  far  as  my  understanding  could  penetrate,  the  argument  lay  all 


CORRESPONDENCE.  211 

on  one  side,  and  the  majority  of  votes  on  the  other,  the  question 
appears  to  be  set  at  rest.  But  that  appearance  is  delusive.  The 
effect  of  the  disgust  at  that  measure,  which  filled  the  public  mind, 
has  not  been  the  less  for  not  having  been  vented  in  addresses  or 
remonstrances ;  as  it  was  sufficiently  evident  that  addresses  from, 
every  county  and  corporate  body  would  instantly  have  been  laid 
before  the  throne,  had  they  not  been  suppressed  by  the  strong 
power  of  ministerial  influence,  and  checked  by  the  two  prevalent 
courtiership  of  the  times.  The  difference  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  address  of  thanks  or  praise  had  been  a  short  time  before 
sanctioned  and  urged,  is  sufficiently  remarkable.  I  therefore  con- 
clude, that  the  practice  of  addressing  the  throne  is  at  an  end,  as 
when  people  are  not  permitted  the  use  of  the  language  of  reasonable 
disapprobation,  they  will  surely  be  very  chary  of  their  praise, 
even  if  a  tolerable  occasion  should,  "  by  some  kind  stroke  of 
smiling  chance,"  occur.  But  pray,  Mr.  Editor,  although  the 
people  in  general  were  not  permitted  openly  to  complain  of  the 
convention,  or  to  remonstrate  on  the  reply  read  by  Lord  Liver- 
pool  to  the  city  of  London,*  yet  while  the  sentiment  that  there 
was  cause  to  complain  was  so  prevalent,  by  what  policy  did  the 
ministry  refrain  from  consoling  us  with  the  information,  that  his 
majesty  by  no  means  approved  of  that  convention  ?  The  news 
M-ould  have  had  a  soothing  effect,  and  softened  down  a  good  deal 
of  that  asperity  of  feeling,  which  the  prevalence  of  a  contrary  opi- 
nion had  produced. 

It  has  been  curious  to  observe  how  many  men,  who  were  loud 
in  their  censure  of  the  measures  above  stated,  out  of  doors •,  have 
within  the  walls  of  St.  Stephen's  "  kept  silence  even  from  good 
words  while  the  ministers  were  in  sight."  When  we  consider  the 
bad  policy  just  before  mentioned,  and  the  mischief  they  have  done 
to  the  cause  of  their  client  in  the  unhappy  matter  now  in  suspence, 
I  cannot  help  exclaiming,  from  such  ministers  or  advocates  good 
fortune  deliver  your  correspondent,  E.  G.  f , 

^•v^f.^ 

MR.   EDITOR,  Folk&tone,  -February  15,  1809. 

CURING  the  time  that  I  commanded  a  brig  in  the  late  war, 
<J  we  so  often,  while  weighing  the  anchor  in  boisterous  weather, 
experienced  a  want  of  power  from  the  precarious  hold  which  the 
feet  of  the  seamen  had  on  the  deck,  that  I  cannot  help  thinking 

*  It  has  been  remarked,  that  this  reply  is  remarkably  like  one  given 
to  the  Parliament  of  Paris  in  1787. 


COnRESPONDENCE. 


a  considerable  advantage  would  be  obtained  in  small  vessels,  hy 
adopting  the  expedient  which  I  am  now  about  to  propose.  At  the 
heads  of  piers,  and  at  the  capstans  in  many  places  on  shore,  may 
be  seen  strong  battens  nailed  to  the  platforms  on  which  they  s.tand, 
against  which  battens  the  people  employed  at  the  bars  place  the 
soles  of  their  feet,  and  thereby  acquire  a  certain  addition  of  power. 
Now,  if  these  battens  are  of  great  use  on  rough  boards,  and  on 
immoveable  horizontal  planes,  how  much  more  valuable  must  they 
prove  on  the  surface  of  polished  and  ascending  planks,  such  as 
from  the  motion  of  a  ship,  in  spito  of  sand,  the  deck  sq  often  be- 
comes ?  This  advantage,  I  am  told  by  an  officer  of  much  experi- 
ence (Lieutenant  Platt)  has,  on  board  some  merchantmen,  been 
realised,  as  far  as  it  relates  to  the  hoisting  in  of  cargoes  ;  but  as  in 
such  instances  the  battens  arc  permanent,  and  consequently  intrude 
on  the  walk  of  the  deck,  they  cannot  be  brought  here  as  examples 
to  prove  the  advantages  of  them  afloat.  What  I  would  now 
suggest  is,  that  battens,  of  a  similar  description,  might  be  made  to 
ship  and  unship  at  pleasure,  like  the  capstan. bars  ;  and  it  appears 
to  me  that  this  might  very  easily  be  done  ;  for,  either  b,y  cutting 
mortices  in  the  rise  on  which  the  capstan  stands,  and  in  the  planks 
at  the  sides,  or  by  nailing  pieces  of  wood  to  form  artificial  ones 
(so  that  they  might  be  made  to  slip  up  and  down),  a  certain  num- 
ber would  be  readily  provided,  and  the  ingenuity  of  (he  carpenter 
would  supply  the  rest.  I  am  so  well  convinced  of  the  easy  prac- 
ticability, and  great  utility,  of  this  simple  expedient,  that  i  hope 
some  of  the  officers  of  our  gun. brigs  will  undertake  to  give  it  a 
trial ;  and  should  they  be  able  to  anchor  off  Folkstone,  I  should 
feel  particularly  happy  in  hearing  their  report. 


B 


Plan  of  the  capstan,  and  part 
of  the  shifting  battens  fitted  in 
mortices : — 

A.  Rise  on  which  the  capstan 

stands. 

B.  Gunwa'e  with  mortices.1 

C.  Ditts  abaft  the  mast. 

D.  Battens  on  the  deck. 
e.    Mortices. 


A 


CORKi;srONTpENCE.  213 

MR.    EDITOR, 

S  your  biographical  memoirs  arc  professedly  intended  to 
rescue  modest  merit  from  oblivion,  I  make  no  apology  for 
observing,  that,  in  the  opinion  of  naval  men,  acquainted  with  the 
circumstances  attending  Captain  Downman's  action  off  Oporto, 
the  public  prints  have  never  yet  done  sufficient,  or  even  bare  jus- 
tice to  its  deserts.  I  remember  it  was  said  at  the  time,  that  after 
all  the  shot  of  the  Speedy  had  been  fired  awav,  Captain  D.  had 
recourse  to  the  water-casks,  the  hoops  of  which  were  converted 
into  shot  for  the  occasion.  J  do  not  mean  to  vouch  for  the  authen- 
ticity of  this  report ;  but  at  all  events  it  deserves  to  be  known  as  a 
curious  resource  in  distress;  and,  whether  true  or  false,  serves  to 
mark  the  distinguished  perseverance  with  which  that  action  was 
fought.  It  is  something  extraordinary,  that  the  same  little  Speedy 
should,  In  the  course  of  the  same  war,  have  been  engaged  in  three 
most  unequal  and  brilliant  contests  ;  for  that  off  Oporto  is 
indubitably  one  ;  the  second  was  fought  by  Captain  Jahleel  Bren- 
ton,  when  he  defeated  the  gun-boats  from  Algesiras,  and  elicited 
the  admiration  of  all  Gibraltar ;  the  third  and  last — a  most  excellent 
climax — had  Lord  Cochrane  for  ifs  hero,  when  he  combated  and 
overcame  his  gigantic  antagonist,  El  Gamo.  I  am  led  to  this  latter 
recital,  not  more  perhaps  from  the  pleasure  which  we  feel  in  re- 
counting gallant  actions,  than  from  that  sort  of  indefinable  interest, 
which  a  sailor  always  takes  in  the  services  of  the  vessel  vyhich 
first  bore  him  upon  the  ocean. — The  Speedy  mounted  14  four- 
pounders. 

\V.  R. 

MIX.    r.DJTOR, 

IT  is  said  that  Captain  Bolton,  who  commands  the  Fisgard, 
has  invented  some  valuable  substitute  for  a  lower  mast,  which 
may  be  resorted  to  under  every  disadvantage  of  weather.  As  the 
great  utility  of  such  an  invention  depends  on  its  publicity,  I  hope 
some  officer  will  favour  us  with  a  description  of  it  in  the  NAVAL 
CHRONICLE. 

Ax  OFFICER  IN  TIIE  ROYAL  NAVY. 


PLATE  CCLXX1X. 

THE  town  of  Valetta,  or  Cltta  Nuora,   the   capital  of  the 
island  of  Malta,   derives  its  name  from  the  Grand  Master, 
Frederick  John  de   Valetta,   by  whom  it  was  built  in  the  year 


514  PLATE    CCLXXIX. 

1566.  It  stands  upon  a  hill,  in  the  form  of  a  neck  of  land,  ex. 
tending  itself  into  the  sea.  Its  wall,  on  which  several  batteries  are 
planted,  is  of  large  square  stones,  dug  out  of  the  rock. 

On  the  point,  towards  the  sea,  stands  the  Castle  of  St.  Elmo,  a 
fortress  which  commands  the  two  harbours  of  Valetta.  One  of 
these,  called  Marsa  Mascictto^  lies  at  the  entrance  from  the  sea  to 
the  right  of  the  town,  and  incloses  a  small  island,  on  which  stand 
a  fort  and  a  lazaretto. 

The  other  harbour,  on  the  left  side,  is  simply  called  Marsa, 
or  the  Great  Harbour;  as  it  is  the  largest,  safest,  and  most  com* 
modious,  in  the  island.  Its  entrance,  of  which  the  annexed  plate 
presents  a  view,  besides  the  Castle  of  St.  Elmo,  is  guarded  by  Fort 
Ricasole,  standing  on  the  Punta  del  Orsa,  to  the  left.  The  town 
of  VaJetta  lies  on  its  right ;  and  on  its  left,  the  towns,  il  Borgo,, 
or  Vittoriosa,  and  Senglea. 

The  town  of  Valetta  contains  a  handsome  palace,  the  residence 
of  the  Grand  Master,  before  which  is  a  spacious  area  for  exer. 
cises.  The  principal  church  is  dedicated  to  St.  John  the  Baptist. 
Formerly  the  Jesuits  had  a  college  at  Valetta  ;  and  there  are  still 
several  convents,  a  large  hospital,  aud  a  building  in  which  Turkish 
slaves  are  kept. 

A  gentleman,  who  has  lately  returned  to  England,  after  a 
three  years  residence  at  Malta?  has  furnished  the  following  re- 
marks : — 

"  It  is  no  less  curious  th,an  amusing,  to  view  the  diversities  of 
dress  and  appearance  among  the  motley  crowd  which  business  daily 
assembles  on  the  Marina,  or  shore  of  the  harbour  of  Valetta. 
Besides  the  English  soldiers,  sailors,  and  merchants  (many  of 
whom  have  their  warehouses  placed  there),  one  sees  Barbaresque 
traders  wrapped  in  their  long  shawls,  and  adorned  with  waistcoats 
of  most  splendid  embroidery,  with  vehite  or  green  turbans,  black 
bushy  beards,  yellow  gipsy-like  countenances,  and  dark  sparkling 
eyes.  They  generally  sit  down  with  pipes,  a  yard  long,  in  their 
mouths,  or  walk  up  and  down  very  leisurely,  while  they  negotiate 
matters  of  business.  Their  settled  gravity  is  contrasted  with  the 
noise  of  the  Maltese  boatmen  and  porters,  who  are  a  lively  set  of 
people,  having  much  more  of  the  Italian  than  of  the  African  cha- 
racter, although  some  of  them  evidently  appear  to  be  of  the  latter 
origin.  These  men  wear  the  peculiar  dress  of  the  lower  classes  of 
Maltese,  a  bcrrctta^  or  cap,  red  or  black,  a  checked  shirt,  com- 
monly tucked  up  to  the  elbows,  a  coarse  cotton  waistcoat  and 


H.ATE   CCLTXIX.  215 

trowscrs,  generally  ornamented  with  a  set  of  globular  silver  but- 
tons,  a  girdle  of  various  colours  bound  round  the  loins  ;  their  feet 
are  either  bare  or  protected  by  a  rude  kind  of  sandals;  and  to 
protect  them  from  rough  weather,  they  wear  in  the  colder  season. 
a  grego,  or  thick  shaggy  great  coat,  with  a  hood,  which  gives 
them  a  very  wild  and  barbarous  appearance.  There  are  also 
about  the  harbour  some  few  Maltese,  of  a  superior  class,  such  as 
the  port  captains,  the  officers  of  the  Sancta,  and  others,  who  imi- 
tate the  English  ;  but  it  is  easy  to  distinguish  them,  not  only  by 
their  dingy  countenances,  but  by  their  broad  cocked  hats,  large 
silver  buckles,  and  other  articles  of  dress,  by  no  means  of  the 
newest  London  mode.  Before  the  present  war  with  Turkey,  the 
Greeks,  whose  ships  frequented  this  port,  added  greatly  to  the 
diversity  of  the  scene.  They  were  a  race  of  men  exceedingly 
distinguishable  from  the  others;  tall,  and  commanding  in  mien, 
•with  long  mustachios  and  bushy  hair  :  on  the  crown  of  the  head 
they  wore  a  small  skull-cap,  with  a  black  silk  tassel ;  often  a 
flower  stuck  behind  the  ear  ;  and  always  a  rosary  depending  from 
the  neck ;  with  loose  jackets  and  broad  trowsers,  the  leg  being 
bare  from  the  knee  downwards.  At  a  still  earlier  period,  one 
might  have  seen  here  the  natives  of  every  nation  trading  in  the 
Mediterranean  ;  Russians,  Swedes,  Danes,  Americans,  Spaniards, 
Italians,  Dalmatians,  Ragusans.  These  indeed  bore  in  their  dress 
and  personal  appearance  no  very  striking  characteristics  ;  but  the 
various  forms  of  their  shipping,  and  colours  of  their  pendants, 
gave  an  additional  liveliness  and  picturesque  effect  to  the  harbour. 
The  events  of  the  war  have  unfortunately  banished  most  of  the 
foreign  flags ;  but  have  by  no  means  limitted,  in  an  equal  degree, 
the  trade  which  they  used  to  carry  on  at  Malta.  Circuitous  modes 
of  conveyance  are  now  found  out ;  and  though  no  doubt  the 
tyrannical  edicts  of  the  oppressor  of  Europe  have  loaded  commerce 
with  numberless  difficulties  and  impediments,  yet  unless  he  should 
attain  an  absolutely  unlimitted  controul  over  every  part  of  the 
Continent,  and  should  continually  direct  the  most  severe  and  vigi- 
lant attention  to  this  single  object,  means  would  undoubtedly  be 
discovered  to  carry  on  a  contraband  trade,  for  which  the  situation 
of  Malta  is  so  peculiarly  favourable." 


216 

BLACK  SEA. 

DY  A  MEMBER  OF  THE  LEVANT  COMPANY. 


"  NaateSj  dales,  and  facts."'' 

Cobbett's  worts. — Passim. 

EDICATED  as  the  NAVAL  CHRONICLE  is  to  the  propagation 
of  maritime  knowledge  in  all  its  branches,  little  apology  cart 
be  requisite  to  bespeak  a  place  on  its  pages  for  the  state  papers  to 
which  this  article  serves  for  preface ;  inasmuch  as  they  relate  to 
the  increase  of  British  navigation,  and  contain  a  body  of  informa- 
tion by  no  means  immaterial,  particularly  at  the  present  con- 
juncture. 

At  length  an  end  has  been  put  to  the  reluctant  hostilities  pro- 
duced partly  by  hostile  influence,  and  partly  by  mismanagement, 
between  England  and  Turkey.  Having  now  to  begin  over  again 
in  that  empire,  after  the  interruption  of  an  amicable  intercourse  of 
two  centuries,  it  is  to  be  hop.'d  we  shall  retrieve  past  errors. 
Political  misfortune  is  but  another  name  for  misconduct.  With 
the  terms  of  the  treaty  of  peace  concluded  on  the  5th  of  January, 
we  are  not  likely  to  be  made  acquainted  until  after  the  ratification. 
But  there  is  one  point  which  we  may  take  for  granted  cannot  have 
been  neglected  in  framing  the  instructions  for  the  negotiation,  and 
to  which  the  attention  of  our  merchants,  ship-owners,  and  mariners, 
cannot  be  too  early  directed,  namely,  the  freedom  of  the  Black 
Sea,  as  established  in  favour  of  this  country  in  1799.  Those 
waters  have  been  strangely  overlooked  by  statesmen  in  our  days, 
as  a  sort  of  blank  upon  the  map.  In  fact,  the  Genoese  and  the 
Venetian  republics  seem  to  have  been  the  only  powers  of  modern 
Europe  thoroughly  aware  of  the  importance  of  access  to  the  very 
heart  of  the  continent,  afforded  by  that  inlet ;  although  the  policy 
of  the  Romans,  on  that  head,  is  discoverable,  in  the  war  against 
Mithridatcs.  The  principal  treaty  extant  between  the  Crown  of 
England  and  the  Ottoman  Sultans,  does  indeed  shew  some  vestiges 
of  our  having  had  footing  there  in  the  days  of  Queen  Elizabeth, 
or  James  I.  but  when  we  ceased  to  frequent  the  Black  Sea  is  not 
ascertained.  All  the  information  upon  record  seems  to  be  made 


BLACK   SEA.  217 

use  of  in  the  first  of  the  three  documents  annexed  ;  which  is  the 
memorial  whereby  Mr.  Smith,  his  majesty's  minister  plenipoten- 
tiary at  the  Porte,  solicited  a  fresh  recognition,  tantamount  to  a 
new  creation,  of  the  right  of  access,  in  favour  of  the  British  flag, 
already  alluded  to.  This  was  speedily  obtained,  as  appears  by  the 
second  document,  which  declares  the  assent  of  the  late  Sultan 
Selim  thereto.  By  one  of  those  eccentric  movements,  which  cha- 
racterise English  diplomacy,  that  minister  was  superseded  a  few 
weeks  afterwards  by  the  Earl  of  Elgin,  who  was  invested  with  the 
rank  of  ambassador  extraordinary.  But  it  was  not  until  after  the 
noble  Earl  had  been  replaced  by  Mr.  Straton,  in  the  character  of 
ckarge-d* affaires,  that  the  third  and  last  document  of  the  series 
was  published  in  the  London  Gazette  of  14th  September,  1802. 
Concerning  which  dilatory  notice  of  a  grant,  so  replete  with 
interest  to  the  commercial  Avorld  at  large,  and  to  the  Levant  Com- 
pany in  particular,  that  acute  and  spirited  writer,  Mr.  Cobbctt, 
makes  the  following  comment  in  his  Political  Register  for  that 
year,  Vol.  II.  page  348. 

"  To  the  treaty  (of  peace)  between  France  and  the  PertCj  we  now  add 
a  note  from  the  Reis-Effeudi,  addressed  to  our  minister  at  that  court,  dated 
29th  July  last,  by  which  we  also  are  permitted  to  navigate  and  trade  in  the 
Black  Sea,  a  privilege  obtained  by  France  in  the  treaty  above  mentioned. 
That  we,  who  have  been  the  saviours  of  Turkey,  should  obtain  from  her 
favours,  equal  to  those  obtained  by  a  power  which,  in  the  mi. 1st  of  profuuud 
peace,  invaded  her  territory,  and  endeavoured  to  subvert  ner  government, 
is  certainly  no  very  great  proof  of  the  vigilance,  the  skill,  or  the  conse- 
quence, of  our  diplomatic  persons  in  that  country:  but  what  shall  be  said 
of  Lord  Elgin,  when  it  is  known  that,  had  it  not  been  for  his  reflect,  what 
has  nozo  been  granted  to  put  us  upon  a  level  with  the  French,  we  should 
have  been  in  full  enjoyment  of  more  than  two  years  ago  ?  Jt  was  the  sub- 
ject of  an  application  from  our  ambassador  in  1799,  and  the  grant  was 
communicated,  in  nearly  the  same  manner  that  it  is  now,  on  the  30th  of 
October  of  that  year.  All  that  was  wanted  was  to  settle  the  mode  of 
execution,  the  Custom-house  rates,  £c.  &c.  This  Lord  E.  never  did> 
the  right  remained  unenjoyed  ;  and  we  have  now  had  to  beg  it  as  a  new 
favour,  which,  by  hazard,  we  have  obtained. ' 

To  what  extent  the  enjoyment  of  our  privilege,  thus  renovated, 
was  carried  during  the  subsequent  embassy  of  Air.  Drummond,  is 
not  precisely  known  :  at  last,  however,  a  total  interruption  of 
this  beneficial  pursuit,  in  its  still  infant  state,  was  one  of  the  la- 

/9atJ,  «T$ron»  ffiol*  XXI.  r  i?  • 


218  6LACK    SEA. 

niontablc  consequences,  amongst  others,  of  Mr.  Arbutlinofsi 
unaccountable  Hegira  from  Constantinople  in  1807,  (on  board 
the  Endymion  frigate). 

Although  it  may  not  be  habitually  within  the  province  of  the 
NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  to  trace  political  effects  to  their  causes,  yet 
this  slight  retrospect  has  already  introduced  such  a  catalogue  of 
names,  as  it  is  impossible  to  take  leave  of  without  a  word  of 
regret  that  the  pernicious  influence  of  what  is  by  common  consent, 
called  interest  (although  a  more  appropriate  epithet  might  be 
employed),  should  be  found  to  extend  its  discouraging  effects  to 
the  filling  important  foreign  missions  with  novices  ;  while  ministers, 
regularly  brought  up  in  the  diplomatic  school,  are  laid  upon  the 
shelf  like  yellow  admirals.  With  the  two  exceptions  of  the  gen- 
tlemen first  named,  Mr.  Smith,  and  of  Mr.  Stratou,  both  of  whom 
compleated  their  servitude  in  the  subaltern  ranks  of  the  foreign 
line  (the  former  as  secretary,  under  Mr.  Liston,  when  ambassador 
at  Constantinople  in  1793,  and  the  latter  under  Sir  R.  M.  Keith, 
at  Vienna,  in  1788,)  the  other  representatives  of  his  majesty  at 
•ihe  Porte,  during  the  interval  under  review,  cannot  be  considered 
as  qualified  either  by  professional  education,  by  official  experience, 
or  by  local  residence,  to  manage  our  concerns  in  the  Levant. 
Even  down  to  the  very  last  appointment,  to  a  special  mission  thi- 
ther, destined  to  treat  with  a  country  convulsed  by  internal  coin- 
motions,  can  it  be  said  that  personal  knowledge  of  the  Orientals 
was  in  the  slightest  degree  attended  to  ?  It  is  not  the  aim  of  this 
allusion  ad  hontincm,  to  detract  from  the  possible  merit  of  the 
candidate,  nor  to  withhold  approbation  from  the  useful  employ- 
ment of  his  abilities:  although  something  might  be  said  upon  the 
palpable  combination  of  the  Turkish  negotiation  with  the  change 
of  system,  in  one,  at  least,  of  the  imperial  courts  :  otherwise  the 
preservation  of  amity,  with  a  power  so  critically  situated  in  its 
interior,  as  well  as  iu  i!s  exterior  relations,  as  the  Ottoman 
Porte,  would  be  precarious  indeed.  But  the  general  respecta- 
bility of  the  choice,  any  more  than  the  success  attending  the 
experiment,  cannot  militate  against  the  fact  that,  with  the  third 
report  of  the  finance- committee  laying  on  the  table  of  the  House  of 
Commons,  in  the  appendix  to  which  (No.  63,  dated  15th  March, 
are  registered  the  names  of  five  ex-diplomatists,  who  had 


BLACK    SEA.  219 

served  in  that  quarter,  and  arc  pensioned  off  to  the  amount  of 
8,9501.  annually  :  with  the  contingent  pension  list  thus  charged, 
Mr.  Adair  was  sent  to  set  foot  in  Turkey  for  the  first  time  in  his 
life. 

To  conclude.  After  re-organising  our  old  establishments  on  this 
side  of  the  Bosphorus,  we  shall,  iu  all  probability,  have  to  form 
new  ones  in  the  Euxine  regions.  \Ve  have  .the  successful  ex- 
ample of  our  natural  rivals  before  our  eye-,  as  to  the  advan- 
tages derivable  from  preliminary  information,  whether  statis- 
tical, geographical,  or  hydrographical,  in  the  intercourse  with 
foreign  countries.  Every  intelligent  traveller  knows  how  inde- 
fatigable the  French  are  in  the  acquisition,  and  how  methodical  in 
the  application,  of  all  those  branches  of  local  knowledge  to  the  pur- 
poses of  war  or  peace.  This  department  of  study  is  too  much  left 
to  chance  amongst  us.  In  proportion  to  our  population,  we 
possess  a  greater  number  of  well  informed  individuals  than  any 
other  country,  perhaps,  except  parts  of  Germany.  But  our  pro. 
gressive  knowledge  of  the  globe  is  not  digested  into  convenient 
and  authentic  form.  Our  marine  charts,  some  local  surveys  attached 
to  expensive  publications  excepted,  are  in  general  so  defective  as 
to  disgrace  a  naval  nation.  One  map-maker  copies  the  antiquated 
blunders  of  another :  and  thus  is  error  perpetuated  by  each  suc- 
•eeding  publication ;  in  which  the  map-seller  is  more  attentive  to 
the  workman-like  appearance  of  the  article,  than  to  the  scientific 
merit  of  the  performance.  The  revival  of  Levantine  navigation 
offers  a  desirable  opportunity  for  rectifying  the  hydrography  of 
the  Black  Sea.  If  the  readers  and  correspondents  of  the  NAVAL 
CHRONICLE  would  take  the  trouble  of  communicating,  through 
the  same  medium,  such  details  as  they  may  have  collected,  a 
tolerable  stock  of  materials  might  soon  ba  formed.  To  which 
shall  be  added  the  occasional  contribution  of 

MERCATOR, 

Join's  Coffee- House,  9lh  March,  1809. 


Memorial  to  the  Sublime  Ottoman  Porte. 

His   Britannic   Majesty's    minister  plenipotentiary  has  already 

taken  occasion  to  apprise  the  Sublime  Ottoman  Porte  of  a  petition 

;>g  been  presented  to  his  majesty's  government  on  the  part  cf 


220  BLACK    SLA. 

an  anticnt  corporation  (not  unknown  to  the  illustrious  Ottoman 
ministry)  cntituled  by  Royal  charter,  "  the  Company  of  Merchants 
of  England  trading  into  the  Levant  Seas."  The  prayer  of  -which 
petition  is  to  obtain  from  the  Sublime  Porte  the  same  advantages  as 
are  enjoyed  within  the  Ottoman  empire,  by  other  more  favoured 
nations,  meaning  thereby,  in  express  terms,  the  privilege  suc- 
cessively recognised  in  favour  of  the  Russians  and  Germans, 
relative  to  the  navigation  of  the  Black  Sea.  In  addition  to  the 
earliest  communication  of  the  fact,  the  English  minister  thought 
it  expedient  to  avail  himself  of  the  friendly  intercourse  arising  out 
of  the  mutual  dutios  of  alliance,  in  order  to  prepare  the  Ottoman 
ministers  of  state  tor  the  more  formal  agitation  of  the  question,  by 
previous  confidential  explanation  of  the  opinion  entertained  by 
his  superiors  upon  its  merits.  He  is  glad  of  this  public  opportu. 
nity  to  acknowledge)  the  favourable  reception  of  those  preliminary 
overtures,  which  it  is  now  become  his  duty  to  authenticate,  as 
•well  as  to  substantiate  his  verbal  arguments,  by  the  present  detailed 
exposition. 

Prior  to  the  treaty  of  defensive  alliance  concluded  on  the  5th 
of  January,  17&9,  the  political  relations  of  the  two  empires  rested 
on  the  basis  of  "  THE  SACKED  CAPITULATIONS  AND  ARTICLES  OF  THE 
PEACE,"  as  th  y  have  been  digested  in  the  times  of  several  ambassa- 
dors :  *  and  as  they  have  been  revised  and  amplified  in  1661-2  by  the 
Earl  of  Wiu chelsea, T  ambassador  extraerdinary  from  King  Charles 
II.  And  also  as  they  have  been  since  augmented  and  renewed  at 
Adrianople  in  1086,  A.H.  1675,  A.O.  by  Sir  John  Finch,  Knt. 
ambassador  in  ordinary  from  his  said  Majesty  to  the  Emperor 
Sultan  Mahommed  Khaan. 

This  treaty  contains  several  articles  which  apply  with  peculiar 
force  to  the  present  case,  viz.  1.  4.  7.  18.  22.  27.  36.  and  38.+  to 
•which  the  under- igned  begs  leave  respectfully  to  refer. 

The  text  of  articles  1.  4.  and  7.  sets  forth  in  general,  but  in  most 
comprehensive  terms,  that  "  the  English  subjects  and  dependants 
may,  with  their  merchandise  and  faculties,  freely  pass  and  repass 
into  all  parts  of  the  Ottoman  dominions;  and  that  their  ships 

*  Amongst  whom  are  named  Sir  Thomas  Roe,  Knt.  Sir  Sackvill  Crow, 
Bart,  and  Sir  Thomas  Bendish. 

f  Stiled  in  the  text  Sir  Heneage  Finch,  Knt.  Earl  of  Winchelsea,  Viscount 
Maidston,  Baron  Fit/herbert.  of  Eastwell,  Lord  of  the  Royal  Manor  of 
Wye,  Lieutenant  of  the  county  of  Kent,  and  city  of  Canterbury. 

£  See  Appendix. 


BLACK    SEA.  221 

may  come  and  harbour  in  any  of  the  ports  or  scales*  of  the  same." 
Article  22.  recapitulating  the  preceding  permission  to  "  na-igate 
and  abide,  buy  and  sell  all  leg  A!  merchandise,"  enumerates  prohi- 
bited commodities.  Article  18.  sufficiently  secures  to  the  English 
<i  all  privileges  granted  to  other  nations  :  "  but  (o  make  the  point 
more  clear,  it  is  corroborated  by  the  prospective  language  of 
article  27.  which  declares  that  the  u  privileges  granted  by  divers 
imperial  decrees,  whether  before  or  after  the  date  of  these  capitu- 
lations, shall  always  be  understood  and  interpreted  in  favour  of 
the  English  nation."  Article  36.  distinctly  defines  the  general 
permission  of  ingress  and  egress  to  enable  "  the  English  merchants, 
and  all  under  their  banner,  to  go  by  the  way  of  the  7b/jai**+  into 
Moscovia  ;  and  also  to  and  from  Persia ;  and  to  traffic,  by  land  or 
by  sea.,  through  all  those  confines."  Finally,  as  if  it  were  decreed 
that  not  a  shadow  of  doubt  should  remain  respecting  the  extent  of 
of  our  navigation,  article  38  contains  the  following  remarkable 
maritime  provision,  viz.  '•  If  English  ships,  bound  to  Consian- 
tinople,  shall  be  forced  by  stress  of  weather  into  Coffa.^  or  to  such 
like  port,  they  are  not  to  be  compelled  to  break  bulk  arbitrarily," 
&:•.  &c.  The  local  description  given  by  this  and  the  preceding 
article  can  need  no  comment. 

This  is  our  case,  as  far  as  it  rests  on  historical  testimony  ;  w  Inch 
incontrovertibly  proves  that,  in  point  of  fact,  the  English  have 
once  enjoyed  a  right,  recognised  by  an  authentic  instrument, 
afterwards  reduced  by  the  vicissitudes  of  human  affairs  to  a  dormant 
state;  but  never  extinguished:  nicer  disuse,  occasioned  by  the 
varying  circumstances  of  succeeding  times,  is  surely  very  different 
from  renunciation  or  forfeiture. 

But  supposing  that  the  implied  riant  to  equality  of  favour  was 
not  so  explicitly  admitted  as  it  is  by  article  18  ;  supposing  farther, 
that  the  fact  of  the  waters  of  the  Ivrimca  had  not  been  so  specifically 
established  as  it  is  by  article  38  ;  nay,  that  England  could  produce 
no  title  at  all  in  support  of  this  claim,  there  are  other  arguments  to 
influence  the  decision  of  the  question  in  our  favour,  derived  from 

*  Scale.  Term  employed  in  the  levant  factories  from  Scald  in  the 
lingua  Franca  dialect,  or  from  the  Turkish  word  Iskeli,  signifying  literally  a 
ladder  or  stairs,  and  figuratively  a  commercial  quay. 

t  7Wi'<:'j>>or  Don,  a  river  of  llu-shi  falling  ir.to  the  sea  of  Azof,  or  Pa'us- 
Mczo'is:  accessible  only  from  the  Black  Sea  by  the  straight  of  Tuman  or 
Yimi-Kalch,  formerly  tlie  Cimmerian  Bospliorus. 

+  Ctffit,  Knffu,  Kfffcfi,  alias  Tlicodosia,  a  port  in  the  Black  .Sea,  on  the 
S.E.  coast  of  Kriinea,  formerly  il;c  Tunnc 


BLACK    J-EA. 

the  liberal  system  of  (lie  Subliir.  [  \me  jtsclf  in  Us  foreign  relation^ 
from  the  fitness  of  things,  and  connected  wuh  the  interests  of  this 
empire. 

In  the  daily  transactions  between  the  chancery  of  state  and  the 
clifferentEjropeauiegations,hovr  often  do  pretensions  come  under  dis. 
cussion  which  arc  unsupported  by  conventions  ad  hoc.  Theinvariable 
practice  is  to  refer  all  such  doubtful  cases  to  the  tcot  of  antient  usage, 
which  is  almost  always  considered  as  equivalent ;  and  lapse  of  lime  so 
far  rendering  precedent  obsolete,  generally  stamps  it  with  additional 
value  in  the  eyes  of  the  Porte.  In  proof  of  which  may  be  cited  the 
conduct  of  the  Ilsii^-EJfendi  towards  the  English  embassy  in  1795, 
•when  certain  reforms  were  projected  in  the  custom-house  tariff^ 
by  which  the  duties  on  foreign  merchandise  were  collected,  ad  va- 
lorem^ in  order  to  bring  the  chargeable  valuation  nearer  to  the 
current  prices  of  the  day.  The  two  Imperial  courts  not  acceding 
to  the  proposed  change,  on  the  ground  of  their  commercial  tariff's 
forming  an  integral  part  of  the  text  of  their  respective  treaties  of 
peace,  the  Sublime  Porte  desisted  from  the  measure  with  respect 
to  them  :  and,  although  we  could  not  make  the  same  plea  (inasmuch 
as  our  tariff  stood  upon  the  ground  of  a  simple  contract  between 
the  customer  of  Constantinople  and  the  English  factory,  with  the 
exception  of  very  few  articles  enumerated  in  the  capitulations), 
yet,  for  the  sole  reason  above-mentioned,  Rashid  Eiiemli,  then 
in  office,  voluntarily  and  formally  exempted  Mr.  Listen  from  any 
farther  discussion  of  the  subject.  A  memorable  instance  of  that 
exemplary  good  faith  manifested  by  the  Ottoman  government  in 
the  observance  of  treaties,  and  particularly  shewing  its  equitable 
construction  of  their  meaning  relative  to  the  English. 

Since  the  time  when  the  Black  Sea  formed,  as  it  were,  a  lake 
encircled  by  the  Turkish  territory,  circumstances,  unnecessary  to 
retrace  here,  have  transferred  a  part  of  the  Kuxine  coasts  to 
Russia:  and  collateral  causes  have  rendered  the  house  of  Austria  a 
participator  in  -the  same  privilege  of  access  to  the  Black  Sea,  al- 
though not  possessing,  like  the  former  power,  any  territorial  pro. 
perty  in  its  shores.  However  natural  it  might  be  for  any  power 
which  was  sole  possessor  of  the  key  of  those  inland  waters  to  con- 
reive  iis  duty  as  guardian  of  the  commerce  and  navigation  of  i's 
subjects  best  fulfilled  by  a  rigid  exclusion  of  strangers;  yet, 
the  ice  once  broken,  by  the  admission  of  a  single  foreign  flag,  the 
argument  s  for  the  original  system  of  monopoly,  not  only  cease  <o 
be  tenable,  but  actually  change  their  bearing  in  favour  of  ano<h  , 
order  of  things,  whereby  the  .excessive  benefit  of  the  first  grantee 


BLACK    SEA.  223 

shall  be  shared  and  subdivided  with  one  or  more  competitors, 
leaving  the  particular  shades  of  their  rival ity  out  of  the  question. 
So  far  from  the  Turkish  coasting  trade  being  interfered  with  by 
the  direct  voyages  of  foreign  vessels,  it  is  rather  to  be  expected 
that  the  seamanship  of  the  Ottoman  mariners  would  be  improved 
by  the  example  of  a  naval  nation  like  the  English,  and  the  ship, 
builders  be  advanced  in  their  art  by  the  inspection  of  more  perfect 
models.  The.  government  can  always  keep  the  concourse  of  foreign, 
shipping  within  due  bounds  by  navigation  laws  ;  while  the  trea- 
sury cannot  but  feel  the  beneficial  effects  of  the  transit  by  Con- 
stantinople. The  commodities  furnished  by  the  trade  with  Eng- 
land are  of  admitted  utility  to  all  classes  of  this  nation,  and  of 
prime  necessity  to  some.  By  enabling  the  English  navigator  to 
penetrate  the  deep  gulfs  of  the  Black  Sea,  and  thus  rendering  the 
remotest  districts  accessible  to  the  English  merchant,  instead  of  the 
present  languid  routine  of  a  single  factory  superintending  two  or 
throe  annual  cargoes  assorted  according  to  the  Ihnitted  consumption 
of  the  metropolis,  with  the  refuse  of  which  the  provincial  traders 
are  scantily  furnished  at  second  and  third  hand,  we  shall  see  whole 
fleets  laden  with  the  richest  productions  of  the  old  and  new  world. 
British  capital  and  credit  would  attract  flourishing  establishments  in 
the  solitary  harbours  of  Anatolia;  from  whence  the  adjacent  citi-s 
would  receive  less  indirect  supplies  ;  and  where  the  land  owners 
would  find  a  more  ready  exchange  for  their  produce.  Sinope  ami 
Trebizoud  would  again  emuhiu  the  prosperity  and  poj  uLuion  of 
Aleppo  and  Smyrna.  The  Abuses*  Laies,  and  other  turbulent 
hordes  who  inhabit  the  mountainous  fastnesses,  by  mixing  more 
frequently  with  their  fellow-subjects  at  those  marts,  could  not  fail 
to  learn  their  real  interest  to  be.  inseparable  from  the  performance 
of  their  duty. 

After  this  solution  of  the  problem,  in  one  sense,  there  are  still 
some  other  substantial  reasons,  to  evnect  the  Ottoman  ministry 
will  consent  to  an  arrangement,  tending  to  consolidate  more  and 
more,  the  c.oisii.-ctioii  it  has  pleased  the  Supreme  Providence  to 
ordain  between  the  two  empires:  but  the  most  elevated  ground  of 
hope  is  found  in  the  magnanimous  sentiments  of  his  Imperial 
Majesty.  That  monarch  will  MI  rely  not  suffer  the  ancient  and 
unalterable  friend,  the  zealou»  and  devoted  ally  of  his  empire,  to 
sustain  a  disadvantageous  comparison  with  any  other  power,  ia 
point  of  the  enjoyment  oi'  immunities  within  his  dominions  ;  on 
the  contrary,  the  English  Minister  .ndulgcs  himself  in  the  Haltering 
persuasion,  that  even  v.y.s  this  tjuestio:  ".ew  ecu- 


221  BLACK    SEA. 

cession  in  favour  of  his  countrymen,  provided  their  desires  were 
not  unreasonable  in  themselves,  nor  incompatible  with  the  essen- 
tial interests  of  the  Ottoman  empire  :  it  would  encounter  no 
difficulty  on  the  part  of -the  Emperor;  whereas,  what  is  solicited, 
is  the  revival  of  the  dead  letter  of  a  venerable  compact;  the 
favourable  interpretation  of  an  ancient  grant,  become  equivocal  by 
change  of  circumstances ;  the  restoration  of  a  privilege,  become 
questionable,  solely  for  Avant  of  exercise.  It  is  suggested,  to 
seize  the  present  auspicious  moment,  for  assimilating  that 
banner  which  is  the  victorious  antagonist  of  the  enemies  of 
the  Ottoman  name,  the  violators  of  its  territory,  to  the  flags 
of  its  neighbours  and  friends,  not  less  the  friends  of  England. 
Can  Russia,  for  instance,  take  umbrage  at  any  arrangement  that 
•would  open  its  southern  ports  to  those  who  are  the  harbingers 
of  abundance  and  wealth,  to  the  northern  provinces  of  that 
empire  ? 

Nor  are  certain  moral  effects  inseparable  from  such  a  cause  as 
the  arrangement  in  question,  to  be  overlooked  by  governments,  in 
the  cultivation  of  political  relations  ;  for  although  diplomatic 
contracts  may  organize  the  body,  yet  national  feeling  must 
animate  the  soul  of  alliance.  It  is  impossible,  but  that  such  an 
unequivocal  proof  of  the  interest  taken  by  the  Emperor,  in  the 
•welfare  of  the  King's  subjects,  must  make  the  most  lively  and 
lasting  impression  on  his  majesty's  mind  ;  and  must  augment,  if 
possible,  the  just  confidence  he  already  entertains  in  the  person  and 
government  of  his  august  ally.  The  people  of  England,  distin- 
guished as  they  are  by  active  industry  and  speculative  habits,  will 
fully  appreciate  a  concession  at  once  so  valuable  and  so  seasonable. 
Public  opinion  will  derive  therefrom  that  additional  intensity  and 
permanent  direction,  in  favour  of  the  connection  between  the  two 
countries,  no  less  desirable  to  ensure  its  durability,  than  requisite 
mutually  to  realise  all  its  immediate  benefits.  To  appropriate  the 
enterprising  energies  of  a  warlike  people,  is  no  unfair  equivalent 
for  mercantile  encouragement:  the  cordial  voice  of  an  independent 
nation  is  no  unworthy  return  for  an  act  of  grace.  British  gratitude  . 
will  pay  this  tribute  to  Sultan  Selim. 

Here  closes  the  case  which  the  English  minister,  in  obedience  to 
his  instructions,  has  the  honour  to  submit  to  the  consideration  of 
the  illustrious  ministry.  In  the  first  place,  he  has  endeavoured  to 
bring  the  existence  of  the  privilege  within  the  scope  of  historical 
evidence,  as  a  claim  of  unextinguished  right.  Secondly,  he  has 
discussed  the  question  upon  the  ground  of  political  expediency.  And 


BLACK   SEA.  225 

lastly,  solicits  the  imperial  assent  as  a  national  boon.  The  re- 
liance that  he  places  in  the  justice  and  -wisdom  of  the  Sublime 
Porte;  and,  above  all,  in 'the  generosity  of  the  Emperor,  hardly 
permits  him  to  harbour  a  doubt  adverse  to  the  issue  of  a  nego- 
ciation,  which,  if  committed  to  feeble  hands,  is  founded  on  such 
a  solid  basis. 

It  now  becomes  the  duty  of  the  undersigned  to  state,  in  the 
name  of  his  court,  the  distinct  object  of  this  memorial :  namely, 
the  promulgation  of  an  imperial  Fermaan  (edict),  enacting  the 
re-establishment  of  the  English  navigation  in  the  Black  Sea,  on  the 
footing  it  appears,  by  the  sacred  capitulations,  to  have  been  in 
the  reign  of  Sultan  Mahommed  Khaan,  the  most  puissant  Emperor 
of  the  Ottomans,  and  of  Queen  Elizabeth  of  glorious  memory, 
or  of  her  immediate  royal  successors.  It  is  more  particularly 
wished  to  move  the  Sublime  Porte  to  decree  the  same,  according  to 
the  tenor  of  its  treaty  with  Russia,  dated  at  Constantinople,  10th 
June,  1783,  of  the  Christian  aera ;  confirmed  by  the  treaty  of 
peace  concluded  at  Yassy*  on  the  9th  January,  1792,  from 
article  17  to  article  35  inclusive;  subject,  nevertheless,  to  such 
provisions  as  existing  circumstances  may  render  expedient.  To 
•which  end  the  proper  officers  on  both  sides  shall  be  instructed  to 
take  arrangements  in  concert,  consulting  the  regulations  for  the 
passage  of  the  Sound  into  the  Baltic  Sea,  or  such  other  acts  de 
transita  as  obtain  authority  in  the  public  or  maritime  law  of 
Europe. 

Individually,  there  remains  one  other  duty  for  the  undersigned 
to"  fulfil ;  and  that  is,  to  offer  his  most  respectful  thanks  to  the 
illustrious  Ottoman  ministry,  for  the  courteous  attention  always 
paid  to  his  representations,  in  transacting  the  business  of  the 
station  he  has  the  honour  to  hold,  and  especially  on  the  present 
affair  ;  as  well  as  for  the  ready  access  allowed  him  on  all  occasions. 
Also  to  renew  the  assurances  of  that  conscientious  discharge  of 
duty  towards  the  court  where  he  is  sent  to  reside,  of  which  he 
trusts  the  labours  of  his  ministry,  in  critical  times,  have  furnished 
too  frequent  and  ample  testimony  for  those  assurances  not  to  be 
accepted  as  sincere  by  the  Sublime  Porte. 

(Signed)  I.  S.  SMITH. 

Heli'grad)  near  Constantinople, 
1st  September,   1799. 

*  Yassv,  or  lassi,  the  capital  of  Moldivia,  a  frontier  province  of  Turkey, 
the  governor  or  Vdivoda  of  which  is  always  selected  from  the  Greek oobility. 

JRJato,  Gfrom  Ool*  XXI.  G  e 


225  BLACK    SE*. 

APPENDIX  TO  MEMORIAL. 

Extract  from  the  Treaty,  entitled  Hie  Capitulations  or  Articles  of  tke- 
Peace. 

ARTICLE  1. 

Fifst,  That  the  said  nation  and  the  English  merchants,  and  any  other 
nation  or  merchants  which  are  or  shall  come  under  the  English  banner  and 
protection,  with  their  ships  small  and  great,  merchandise,  faculties,  and  aH 
other  their  goods,  may  always  pass  safe  in  our  seas,  and  freely  and  in  all 
security  may  come  and  go  into  any  part  of  the  imperial  limits  of  our 
dominions  in  such  sort,  that  neither  any  of  the  nation,  their  goods'  and 
faculties,  shall  receive  any  hindrance  or  molestation  from  any  person  what- 
ever. 

ARTICLE  4. 

All  English  ships  or  vessels,  small  or  great,  shall  and  may  at  any  time 
safely  and  securely  come  and  harbour  in  any  of  the  scales  and  ports  of  our 
dominions,  and  likewise  may  from  thence  depart  at  their  pleasure,  without 
detention  or  hindrance  of  any  man. 

ARTICLE  7. 

The  English  merchants,  interpreters,  brokers,  and  all  other  subjects 
of  that  nation,  whether  by  sea  or  land,  may  freely  and  safely  come  and  go 
in  all  the  ports  of  our  dominions  ;  or,  returning;  into  their  own  country,  al!  our 
bezlcrbegs,  ministers.,  governors,  and  other  officers,  captains  by  sea  of  ship*, 
and  others  whomsoever  our  slaves  and  subjects,  we  command  that  none  of 
them  do  or  shall  lay  hands  upon  their  persons,  or  faculties,  or  upon  any 
pretence  shall  do  them  any  hindrance  or  injury. 

ARTICLE  18. 

All  those  particular  privileges  and  capitulations,  which  in  former  times 
have  been  granted  to  the  French,  Venetians,  or  any  other  Christian  nation, 
whose  king  is  in  peace  and  friendship  with  the  Porte,  in  like  manner,  the 
same  were  granted,  and  given  to  the  said  English  nation ;  to  the  end,  that 
in  time  to  come,  the  tenor  of  this  our  imperial  capitulation  may  be  always 
observed  by  all  men ;  and  that  none  may,  in  any  manner,  upon  any  pretence, 
presume  to  contradict,  or  violate  it. 

ARTICLE  22. 

The  English  nation,  and  all  those  that  come  under  their  banner,  their 
vessels,  small  or  great,  shall  and  may  navigate,  traffic,  buy,  sell,  and  abide 
in  all  parts  of  our  dominions,  arid,  excepting  arms,  gunpowder,  and  other 
such  prohibited  commodities,  they  may  load,  and  carry  away  in  their  ship*, 
whatsoever  of  our  merchandize,  at  their  own  pleasure,  without  the 
impeachment  or  trouble  of  any  man  ;  and  their  ships  and  vessels  may  come 
safely  and  securely  to  anchor  at  all  times  and  traffic  at  all  limes  in  any  part 
of  our  dominions,  and  with  their  money  buy  victuals,  and  all  other  things, 
without  any  contradiction  or  hindrance  of  any  maix 


BLACK   SFA.  227 

ARTICLE  2". 

.AH  these  privileges,  and  ot!>cr  liberties  granted  to  the  English  nation, 
and  those  who  come  under  their  protection,  by  divers  imperial  commands, 
whether  Jbeforc  or  after  the  date  of  tiiese  imperial  capitulations,  shall  be 
ahvays  obeyed  and  observed,  and  shall  always  be  understood  and  interpreted 
in  favour  of  t!ie  English  nation,  according  to  the  tenor  and  true  contents 
thereof. 

ARTICLE  3G. 

The  English  merchants,  and  all  under  their  banner,  shall  and  may  safelv, 
throughout  o-.ir  dominion,  tra<ie,  buy,  sell,  (except  only  commodities  pro- 
hibited) all  sorts  of  merchandise  ;  likewise  either  by  land  or  sea,  they  maj 
go  and  traffic,  or  by  the  way  of  the  river  Timais,  in  Moscavia,  or  by  Russia, 
and  from  thence  may  bring  their  merchandise  into  our  empire;  also  to  and 
from  Persia  they  may  <io  and  trade,  and  through  all  that  part  newly  by  us 
conquered,  and  throusli  those  confines,  without  the  impediment  or  molesta- 
tion of  any  of  our  ministers  :  and  they  shall  pay  the  custom  or  other  duties 
of  that  country,  and  nothing  more. 

ARTICLE  38.   - 

The  English  ships  which  shall  come  to  this  our  city  of  Constantinople,  if 
by  fortune  of  seas,  or  ill  weather,  they  shall  be  forced  to  Coffii,  or  to  such 
like  port,  as  long  as  the  English  will  not  unlade  or  sell  their  own  merchan- 
dise and  "  goods,  no  man  shall  enforce  nor  give  them  any  trouble  or  an- 
noyance :  but  in  all  places  of  danger  the  Caddtcs,  or  other  of  our  ministers, 
shall  alwavs  protect  and  defend  the  said  English  ships,  men,  and  goods; 
that  no  damage  may  come  unto  them :  and  with  their  money  may  buy 
victuals  and  other  necessaries:  and  desiring  also  with  their  money  to  hire 
carts  or  vessels,  which  before  were  not  hired  by  any  other,  to  transport  their 
goods  from  place  to  place  ;  no  man  shall  do  them  any  hindrance  or  trouble 
whatsoever.'' 

0 

TRANSLATION 

Of  the  Original  Grunt  of  the  Freedom  of  the  Black  Sea,  as  ddhered 
to  I.  S.  SMITH,  Esq.  and  recorded  in  the  Public  Register  of' the  Ciiancery, 
of  the  British  Factory  at  Constantinople. 

The  friendship  and  good  intelligence  which  subsist  sines  the  most  remote 
times,  between  the  Sublime  Porte,  of  solid  glory,  and  the  court  of  England, 
being  now  crowned  by  an  alliance  founded  on  principles  of  the  most  invi- 
olable sincerity  and  cordiality;  and  these  new  bands  thus  strengthened 
between  the  two  courts  having  hitherto  produced  a  series  of  reciprocal  ad- 
vantages, it  is  not  presumptuous  to  suppose,  that  their  salutary  fruits  will 
be  reaped  stiii  more  abundantly  in  time  to  come.  New,  after  mature 
reflection  on  the  representations  that  the  English  minister  plenipotentiary 
residing,  at  the  Sublime  Porte,  our  very  esteemed  friend,  has  made  relative 
to  the  privilege  of  navigation  in  tiip  Black  Ser^  for  the  merchant  vessels  cf 


228  BLACK   SEA. 

liis  nation;  representations  that  he  lias  reiterated,  both  in  writing  and  ver- 
bally, in  conformity  to  his  instructions,  and  with  a  just  confidence  in  the 
lively  attachment  of  the  Porte  towards  his  court:  therefore,  to  give  a  new 
proof  of  these  sentiments,  as  well  as  of  the  hopes  entertained  by  the  Sublime 
Porte,  of  seeing  henceforward  a  multiplicity  of  new  fruits  spring  from  the 
connection  that  has  been  renewed  between  the  two  courts,  the  assent 
granted  to  the  before-named  minister's  solicitations  is  hereby  sanctioned  as 
a  sovereign  concession  and  gratuitous  act  on  the  part  of  his  Imperial  Ma- 
jesty ;  and  to  take  full  and  entire  effect  as  soon  as  farther  amicable  con- 
ferences shall  have  taken  place  with  the  minister  our  friend,  for  the  purpose 
of  determining  the  burthen  of  the  English  vessels,  the  mode  of  transit  by 
the  canal  of  Constantinople,  and  such  other  regulations  and  conventions  as 
appertain  to  the  object;  and  which  shall  be  as  exactly  maintained  and 
observed  with  regard  to  the  English  navigation,  as  towards  any  other  the 
most  favoured  nation.  A"d  in  order  that  the  minister,  our  friend,  do 
inform  his  court  of  this  valuable  grant,  the  present  rescript  has  been  drawn 
up,  and  is  delivered  to  him, 

Constantinople,  I  Jemazi'ul-Evrell,  A.  H.  1214. 
30  October,  A.D.  1799. 


TRANSLATION. 

Official  Note  delivered  by  the  REIS  EFFENDI  to  ALEXANDER  STRATON,  Esq. 
at  a  Conference  in  his  Excellency's  House  on  the  Canal,  the  '29t/i 
July,  1802, 

It  behoves  the  character  of  true  friendship,  all  sincere  regard  to  promote 
with  cheerfulness,  all  such  affairs  and  objects  as  may  be  reciprocally  useful, 
and  may  have  a  rank  among  the  salutary  fruits  of  those  steady  bonds  of 
alliance  and  perfect  good  harmony,  which  happily  subsists  between  the  Sub- 
lime Porte  and  the  court  of  Great  Britain  ;  and  as  permission  has  heretofore 
been  granted  for  the  English  merchants  ships  to  navigate  in  the  Black  Sea 
for  the  purposes  of  trade,  the  same  having  been  a  voluntary  trait  of  his 
•Imperial  Majesty's  own  gracious  heart,  as  more  amply  appears  by  an  offi- 
cial note  presented  to  our  friend,  the  English  minister,  residing  at  the  Sub- 
lime Porte,  dated  1  Jemazi-ul-Akhirt  1214,*  this  present  Takrir\  is 
issued ;  the  imperial  court  hereby  engaging,  that  the  same  treatment  shall 
be  observed  towards  the  English  merchant  ships  coming  to  that  sea,  as  is 
offered  to  ships  of  powers  most  favoured  by  the  Sublime  Porte,  oil  the 
score  of  that  navigation. 

23  R6bi-ul-Ewcl,  1217. 
23  July,  1802. 


*  00th  October,  1799.  }  Official  note. 


229 

MARINE  SCENERY. 

THE    FEUOE  ISLANDS. 
(Translated  from  the  Danish.) 

STfTlHE  Feroe  Islands  are  situated  in  the  North  Sea,  between  the 
Jl_  latitude  of  61  deg.  15  min.  and  62  deg.  21  min.  In  regard 
to  longitude,  the  town  of  Thorsharn  lies  19  deg.  15  rain.  15  sec. 
west  from  Copenhagen,  and  9  deg.  47  min.  45  sec,  east  from 
Tencriffe.  They  are  eighty-four  miles  distant  from  the  coast  of 
Norway  on  the  eastern  side,  and  forty-five  miles  from  the  Shet- 
land isles  towards  the  south-west. 

These  islands  are  in  number  twenty-two,  seventeen  of  which  are 
inhabited.  They  occupy,  in  a  direction  from  north  to  south, 
fifteen  miles;  extend  in  breadth,  from  cast  to  west,  ten  miles; 
and  contain  altogether  nearly  twenty-three  and  a  half  square  miles- 
They  consist  of  a  group  of  steep  rocks  or  hills,  rising  from  the  sea, 
chiefly  of  a  conical  form,  and  placed  for  the  most  part  close  to 
each  other,  some  of  which  proceed  with  an  even  declivity  to  the 
shore ;  but  the  greater  part  of  these  declivities  have  two,  three,  or 
more  sloping  terraces,  formed  by  projecting  rocks,  and  covered 
with  a  thin  stratum  of  earth,  which  produces  grass.  Close  to  the 
sea,  however,  the  land  in  general  consists  of  perpendicular  rocks, 
from  two  to  three  hundred  fathoms  in  height.  The  highest  of  all 
the  hills  in  these  islands,  and  that  first  seen  by  navigators,  particu- 
larly from  the  west,  is  Skaelling,  which  lies  in  the  southern  part  ef 
Nordstromoc.  Its  perpendicular  height  is  400  Danish  fathoms,  or 
2,240  English  feet;  and  though  it  is  the  steepest  of  all  these  hills, 
jt  is  possible  to  ascend  to  the  top  of  it.  When  viewed  from  the 
bottom,  it  appears  to  terminate  in  a  long  sharp  point ;  but  when 
you  have  climbed  up  to  its  summit,  you  find  a  pretty  level  plain 
covered  with  moss,  about  three  hundred  ells  in  length,  and  a  hun- 
dred in  breadth.  When  the  weather  is  clear,  the  whole  of  the 
Ferae  islands  may  be  scfcn  from  it. 

The  hills  lie  so  close  to  each  other,  that  the  termination  of  the 
bottom  of  one  is  the  commencement  of  the  bottom  of  another, 
being  separated  merely  by  a  brook  or  rivulet.  There  are  no 
vallies  of  any  extent  between  them  :  in  the  higher  ground  between 
their  summits  a  few  dales,  covered  with  wretched  grass,  are  some- 
times seen  ;  but  these  arc  not  letel,  being  interrupted  sometime* 


230  M.VKTNE    fcCENEHY. 

by  collections  of  large  loo.se  stones,  which  have  the  appearance  of 
being  thrown  together  by  a  volcanic  eruption.  On  some  heights 
there  are  found  considerable  tracts  covered  with  rubbish,  which 
seems  to  be  effloresced  matter  thrown  down  from  the  rocks  ;  and 
these  tracts  produce  no  grass,  for  the  finer  mould,  fit  for  the  pur- 
poses of  vegetation,  which  might  be  collected  in  them,  is  swept 
away  by  the  violence  of  the  winds,  or  washed  down  by  the  rain 
and  snow-water.  Some  moist  places,  less  exposed  to  the  impetuo- 
sity of  the  winds,  a!Tord  a  scanty  nourishment  to  the  Ka'nigia 
islundica,  and  the  drisr  spots  produce  the  Saxijraga  oppositifoiia, 
and  the  Stalicc  Armeria.  But  such  is  the  smoothness  and  steep- 
ness of  many  parts  of  these  hills,  that  no  earth  can  remain  on  them  ; 
and,  in  general,  the  stratum  of  earth  by  which  the  rocks  of  the 
Fcroe  islands  are  covered  is  so  thin,  that  it  is  sometimes  no  more 
than  a  quarter  of  an  ell  in  depth  ;  and  in  the  vall.es,  where  the 
land  is  arable,  it  never  exceeds  two  ells. 

The  form  of  the  hills  is  different,  according  to  their  situation, 
•whether  more  to  the  north  or  to  the  south.  Those  in  Sudcroe 
exhibit,  in  general,  an  evener  surface;  but  those  in  Stromoe  and 
Ostcroc  have  on  their  side  several  sloping  terraces  and  hillocks, 
lying  close  to  each  other.  These  hillocks  present  nearly  the  same 
appearance;  so  that  when  viewed  at  some  distance,  particularly 
from  another  hill  or  eminence,  they  resemble  a  camp  consisting  of 
pitched  tents  ;  and  when  these  hillocks  are  covered  with  snow, 
which  is  often  the  case  when  there  is  no  snow  in  the  lower  regions, 
this  resemblance  is  still  more  striking  ;  but  the  case  with  Norderoc 
is  entirely  diifercnt ;  the  hills  are  steeper,  and  of  a  more  conical 
form ;  and  they  have  rough  ridges  on  their  summits,  beset  with 
projecting  paps  and  asperities. 

The  rocks  in  general  consist  of  trap,  almost  every  where  hit;  r- 
mixed  with  feld-spar,  some  glimmer,  and  small  grains  of  zeolite. 
The  ridges  of  the  hills  sometimes  exhibit  cle'ts  or  fissures,  which 
the  inhabitants  call  skaurc ;  and  very  often  these  fissures  may  be 
traced,  in  a  strait  line,  through  other  islands,  notwithstanding  the 
interposition  of  the  sea. 

No  certain  traces  of  any  crater  or  signs  of  volcanic  eruption  are 
here  to  be  found ;  nor  did  I  ever  observe  any  pumice-stone  or 
lava  in  these  islands,  unless  basaltes  can  be  considered  as  belonging 
to  that  kind  of  production. 

Besides  the  large  collections  of  stones  already  mentioned,  which 
'arc  occasionally  found  in  the  hills,  there  are  seen  sometimes  in  thw 
Tallies  single  stones,  three,  four,  or  five  ells  in  diameter,  but  lii 


MARINE   SCEVEirY.  531 

places  where  it  is  Impossible  they  could  have  fallen  down  from  the 
hills.  Such  stones  are  found  also  here  and  there  at  a  considerable 
height  in  the  hills,  where  there  is  no  other  eminence  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood from  which  they  might  have  rolled  down.  On  the  side 
of  many  of  the  hills,  and  particularly  on  the  lower  projecting  de- 
clivities, there  are  often  found  great  heaps  of  stones,  among  which 
there  are  some  large  ones  ;  but  it  may  be  plainly  perceived  that 
these  have  been  thrown  down  from  (he  higher  projections,  in  the 
fissures  of  which  the  rain-water  lodges,  and  when  it  freezes  in  win- 
tor  it  splits  the  rock  by  its  expansion,  and  on  a  thaw  taking  place 
these  fragments  tumble  down,  and  by  their  fall  destroy  the  grass 
plats  below.  But  the  stones  thrown  down  in  this  manner  arc 
tlifierent  from  those  before  mentioned  ;  for  the  latter  have  two 
sides,  which  stand  at  a  right  angle,  or,  at  least,  they  have  one  or 
more  flat  surfaces  ;  whereas  the  former  are  in  general  round. 

In  some  of  the  hills  there  are  strata  of  basaltic  columns,  standing 
in  a  perpendicular  position  ;  in  other  places  they  have  an  oblique 
direction.  At  Fredeboe,  in  Suderoe,  is  a  series  of  these  columns, 
the  bottoms  of  which  are  concealed  ;  but  their  summits  are  all 
visible.  It  extends  to  a  considerable  height  in  the  side  of  the  hill 
proceeding  north  to  north-west,  but  sinks  down  towards  the  shore 
in  a  south  or  south-east  direction  ;  and  at  the  bottom  of  the  hill 
these  columns  stretch  out  several  fathoms  into  the  sea,  always 
sinking  lower,  till  they  at  length  disappear  beneath  the  water. 

In  several  parts  of  those  islands  may  be  seen  lofty  columns, 
bearing  large  arches,  which  support  huge  masses  of  rock;  and 
under  these  arches  there  are  large  apertures  0r  cavities,  six,  eight, 
or  more  ells  in  length  and  breadth,  the  bottoms  of  which  are 
covered  by  the  sea.  There  are  also  in  some  places  narrower 
cavities,  but  these  extend  to  a  greater  distance  within  the  hills, 
and  produce  a  very  loud  echo  when  a  person  calls  out  before  the 
mouth  of  them.  Some  of  these  cavities,  which  serve  as  places  of 
retreat  for  the  seals,  are  of  such  length,  that  one  can  proceed  for- 
wards in  them  with  a  boat  from  thirty  to  a  hundred  fathoms. 
Others  extend  quite  through  the  hill,  so  as  to  be  open  at  both 
ends;  and  some  of  them  stretch  across  a  whole  island. 

In  some  siyall  creeks  at  the  bottom  of  the  steep  lulls,  or  which 
form  indentations  in  them,  there  are  frequently  seen  tall  rugged 
rocks,  of  a  pyramidal  form,  some  of  them  like  towers,  and  at  *uch 
a  distance  from  the  parent  rock,  that  a  boat  can  row  betwcca 
them.  These  rocks,  to  which  the  inhabitants  gave  the  name  of 
are  of  various  heights,  for  some  of  them  rise  scarcely  to 


MARINE   SCENERY. 

the  fourth  part  or  half  the  height  of  the  parent  rock,  while  other* 
rise  to  the  same  height.  But  these  rocks  are  not  confined  merely 
to  the  creeks  ;  some  of  them  are  found  at  the  projecting  extremities 
of  the  islands ;  others  stand  close  to  the.  sides  of  the  hills,  at  the  dis- 
tance of  a  few  fathoms  from  the  land  :  and  some  so  close,  that  the 
water  can  scarcely  find  passage  between  them  ;  but  it  is  cvidenfly 
seen  that  they  have  once  formed  a  part  of  the  coast  from  which 
tluy  have  by  some  means  or  other  been  torn. 

At  the  bottom  of  the  rocks  there  are  sometimes  seen  immense 
columns,  between  some  of  which  and  the  rock  there  is  a  vacant 
space  towards  the  foot  of  them,  while  the  tops,  bent  towards  the 
rock,  are  united  with  it,  as  if  they  had  been  raised  on  purpose  to 
support  it,  and  prevent  it  from  falling  into  the  sea.  Others  of 
them  arc  connected  with  the  hill  at  the  bottom,  and  have  their  tops 
entirely  free  and  disengaged  from  it. 

The  Fcroe  islands  contain  a  great  many  streams  and  rivulets, 
but  none  of  considerable  size.  At  most  seasons  of  the  year  they 
arc  all  fordable,  and  may  be  crossed  with  safety,  except  at  the 
time  of  heavy  rains,  when  they  receive  such  an  addition  of  water1 
that  they  become  impassable.  Some  of  them  produce  trout,  which 
are  caught  after  rain,  by  angling  for  them  with  a  rod  and  line. 
Sometimes  the  inhabitants  kill  them  by  striking  them  with  a  stick, 
or  take  them  by  groping  with  their  hands  in  the  holes  under  the 
banks.  This  kind  of  fishing,  however,  is  of  very  little  importance. 
There  are  some  fresh-\vater  lak^s  also  between  the  hills,  where 
trout  are  canght,  but  seldom  in  any  considerable  quantity.  The 
largest  lake,  and  that  most  abundant  in  fish,  as  far  as  I  could  learn, 
is  iu  Vaagoc,  to  the  north  of  Midwaag  ;  it  is  about  two  miles  in 
circumference.  Leinum,  and  some  smaller  pieces  of  water  in. 
Nordstromoe,  contain  a  few  fish  ;  and  in  the  latter  is  found  a  spe- 
cies of  trout,  which  are  red  on  the  belly ;  on  that  account  they  are 
called  red-bellies.  Some  rivulets  and  small  lakes  afford  likewise 
a  few  eels,  but  they  seldom  attain  to  a  large  size.  These  are  the 
only  kinds  of  fresh  water  fish  in  these  islands  with  which  I  am 
acquainted. 

As  the  hills  are  for  the  most  part  steep,  the  streams  pour  down 
their  sides  with  great  impetuosity,  and  some  of  them  form  small 
water-falls,  which  are  very  convenient  to  the  inhabitants,  parti- 
cularly  when  they  are  in  the  neighbourhood  of  villages,  as  they 
afford  them  the  means  of  erecting  water-mills. 

Some  of  these  falls  appear  only  after  a  heavy  rain,  and  precipitate 
themselves  ftora  the  bare  rocks,  m  places  where,  at  other 


MARINE   SCENERY.  231 

tbsre  is  no  appearance  of  them.  If  a  strong  wind  happens  at  the 
same  period  to  blow  towards  the  rock,  the  water  is  dispersed,  and 
falls  down  in  the  form  of  small  rain  ;  but  if  the  wind  increases  to 
a  hurricane,  none  of  the  water  falls  down  ;  the  whole  being  forced 
tip  into  the  atmosphere,  it  assumes  the  appearance  of  a  thick  mist 
or  smoke,  in  which  a  rainbow  of  the  most  vivid  colours  is  some- 
times observed.  The  most  remarkable  water-fall  which  I  ever  had 
an  opportunity  of  seeing  in  these  islands  is  Fosaa,  between  Qualvig 
and  Haldervig,  in  Nordstromoe.  It  consists  properly  of  two 
falls,  one  above  the  other,  each  of  which,  judging  by  the  eye,  for 
I  did  not  measure  them,  is  from  twelve  to  sixteen  fathoms  in  height; 
and  the  higher  one  projects  so  far  from  the  rock,  that  a  person  can 
walk  between  it  and  the  rock  without  being  wet.  An  inhabitant 
of  Qualvig  assured  me,  that  he  had  stood  and  seen  trouts  work 
themselves  up  this  impetuous  fall ;  a  circumstance  which,  if  true, 
appears  to  be  very  remarkable.  The  water  of  the  rivulets  here  is 
in  general  pure,  wholesome,  and  well  tasted,  or  rather  has  no  taste 
at  all.  But  there  are  two  exceptions ;  that  is,  when  the  water 
becomes  turbid  after  a  few  hours  rain,  or  when  a  small  stream  runs 
through  ground  that  is  muddy,  or  abundant  in  cupreous  particles  ; 
for  in  these  cases  the  water  becomes  noxious  and  ill  tasted.  Some 
times  these  small  streams  run  into  the  larger  rivulets  which  sup- 
ply the  inhabitants  with  water ;  but  the  quantity  of  corrupted 
water  they  contain  is  too  small,  when  mixed  with  that  of  the  larger 
rivulet,  to  produce  any  bad  effect. 

These  islands  abound  also  in  springs,  some  of  which  rise  from 
deep  cavities  in  the  fields,  or  burst  out  at  the  bottoms  of  the  hills, 
and,  making  their  way  through  the  fissures  in  the  rocks,  flow 
incessantly,  even  during  the  driest  weather.  They  are  of  two 
kinds,  cold  and  warm  ;  but  the  greater  part  of  them  belong  to  the 
former  class.  They  produce  excellent  water,  which  in  some  places 
is  said  to  be  endowed  with  the  property  of  strengthening  the  sto- 
mach and  checking  diarrhoea. 

The  most  remarkable  of  the  warm  springs  is  Vermakielde,  fn 
Osteroe,  which  spouts  out  from  a  bank  of  earth  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  sea.  It  is  said  to  be  so  warm  in  winter,  that  if  a  lira- 
pet  (patella  testudinalis)  be  put  into  it,  the  animal  will  be  sepa- 
rated froKi  its  shell.  In  the  mouth  of  Noveaiber,  at  which  time  I 
*aw  it,  I  found  it  to  be  almost  milk  warm  ;  the  bottom  of  it  is 
covered  with  that  species  of  moss  called  Fontintdis  antipyretica. 
In  former  times  people  were  accustomed  to  assemble  here  at  Mid« 

/2it>.  C&ton.  QoU  XXI.  H  H 


334  SATAL   STATE   PAPERS. 

summer,  partly  to  amuse  themselves  with  singing,  dancing,  and 
various  sports,  and  partly  to  use  the  water  as  a  remedy  for  different 
disorders.  It  is  still  frequented  by  a  few,  but  the  confidence  in  it# 
healing  qualities  is  much  lessened. 


NAVAL  STATE  PAPERS. 

Papers  presenfed  to  the  House  of  Commons,  relative  to  the 
Rustiajt  Fleet  in  the  Tagus,  and  to  the  Contention  concluded 
teith  the  Russian  Admiral. — Ordered  to  be  printed  on  the  Qth 
if  February )  1809. 

HO.  1  is  the  following  extract  of  an  order,  from  the  Admiralty 
to  Sir  Charles   Cotton,    dated  on  the   9th  of  December, 

1807  :— 

"  Whereas  since  thr  orders  given  to  Rear-admiral  Sir  Sydney  Smith,  in- 
formation has  been  received  of  the  entrance  of  a  Russian  squadron,  consist- 
ing of  seven  sail  of  the  line  and  two  frigates,  into  the  river  Tagus,  and  orders 
have  been  issued  for  seizing  and  sending  into  port  all  Russian  ships  of  war 
and  merchant  ships  ;  and  whereas  it  has  in  consequence  become  necessary, 
that  the  officer  commanding  his  majesty's  ships  off  the  Tagus  should  be  fur- 
nished with  further  instructions  : — We  do  hereby  require  and  direct  you,  if 
the  Portuguese  government  should  recur  to  its  original  intention  of  pro-, 
reeding  to  the  Bra/ils,  but  should  represent  to  you  that  the  Russian  squadron 
interposes  an  obstacle  to  their  departure,  to  demand  possession  of  the  prin- 
cipal forts  upon  the  Tagus^  as  you  may  deem  necessary  for  the  safe  passage 
of  the  squadron  under  your  orders  ;  and  having  obtained  it,  to  proceed  up 
the  river  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  the  Russian  squadron,  and  conveying 
the  Portuguese  fleet  out  of  the  Tagus. 

"  And  where/is,  in  consequence  of  the  recent  conduct  of  the  court  of 
Russia,  in  renouncing  ail  intercqurse  with  his  Majesty,  the  capture  of  the 
Russian  squadron  in  the  Tagus  has  become  an  object  of  the  greatest  im- 
portance, and  Major-general  Spencer,  with  a  corps  of  seven  thousand  men, 
who  is  destined  for  Sicily,  is  directed  to  proceed  with  you  off  Lisbon  on  his 
way  thither,  to  co-operate  with  you  for  the  attainment  of  that  object,  and 
to  put  himself  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-general  Sir  John  Mooref 
who  may  be  expected  on  that  station  with  a  similar  force  from  Sicily,  and 
with  whom  Rear-admiral  Sir  William  Sydney  Smith  was  by  our  secretary's 
letter  of  the  7th  ultimo,  directed  to  co-operate;  we  herewith  transmit  to 
you  a  copy  of  the  instructions  which  have  been  given  to  the  Lieutenar/r- 
ccncral  by  Lord  Hawkcsbury,  one  of  his  Majesty's  principal  secretaries  of 
state,  and  do  hereby  require  and  direct  you  to  co-operate  with  the 
Lieutenant-general,  or  in  his  absence,  with  Major-general  Spencer,  for  th* 
purpose  of  effecting  the  capture  of  die  Russian  squadron  above-mentioned. 


NAVAL   STATE   PAPERS.  235 

**  In  the  event  of  its  not  being  judged  prudent  or  practicable  to  make  aix 
attack  on  the  ships  in  the  Ta^us,  or  in  the  event  of  the  failure  of  such 
attack,  you  are  to  continue  with  tiie  fleet  off  that  river,  for  the  purpose  of 
maintaining  and  enforcing  a  strict  blockade  thereof,  so  as  to  prevent  the 
entrance  of  any  supplies  whatever,  even  of  provisions. 

"  Siiould  the  Portuguese  government,  in  consequence  of  the  strictness  of 
the  blockade,  surrender  to  th-j  fleet  under  your  com  nand  the  Portuguese 
and  Russian  squadrons*,  you  are  in  timt  case  (hut  in  no  other)  to  relax  th* 
blockade  of  the  Tagus,  so  far  as  relates  to  the  supply  of  provisions  to  the 
inhabitants,  and  in  that  case  only." 

No.  2  consists  of  instructions  to  Sir  Charles  Cotton,  for  pro* 
curing  the  surrender  of  the  Russian  fleet. — A  letter  from  Mr.  Can- 
ping  to  Lord  Castlereagh,  dated  December  28,  1807,  says  : — 

"  It  also  appears  from  Lord  Strangford's  information,  that  the  Russian 
fleet  in  the  Ta»us  must  shortly  be  reduced  by  the  continuance  of  the  block- 
ade, to  a  state  of  the  utmost  distress  ;  and  as,  iu  such  a  state,  it  maybe  not 
impossible  that  a  proposal  for  the  surrender  of  that  fleet,  upon  honourable 
conditions,  might  be  listened  to  by  the  Russian  admiral,  it  might  be  desirable 
that  instructions  should  be  sent  to  the  commander  of  his  Majesty's  fleet,  to 
convey  to  the  Russian  admiral  a  proposal  for  the  surrender  of  the  fleet  to 
his  Majesty,  offering  as  a  condition,  that  the  officers  and  men  shall  not  b« 
considered  as  prisoners  of  war,  but  shall  be  conveyed  to  Russia  by  thf 
earliest  opportunity,  at  the  expense  of  Great  Britain." 

No.  3  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Sir  C.  Cotton  to  Mr.  Pole, 
dated  January  25,  1808,  enclosing  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  him  to 
Vice-admiral  ^eniavin,  and  stating  the  difficulties  under  which  lie 
laboured,  wiih  regard  to  communication  with  that  admiral 

No.  4,  a  letter  from  Sir  C.  Cotton  to  Mr.  Pole,  dated  Hibernia, 
off  the  Tagus,  February  8,  1808,  mentions  the  arrival  of  two 
Russian,  and  one  French,  officers,  in  a  tlag  of  truce.  From  one 
of  the  former  having  found  means  to  separate  them,  he  understood 
the  Russians  to  be  extremely  dissatisfied  witri  their  situation,  sub- 
ject as  they  were  to  the  immediate  controul  of  the  French,  who 
had  possession  of  all  the  old  batteries  on  the  banks  of  the  Tagus, 
and  were  daily  erecting  new  ones.  "  The  Russian  ships,"  saya 
Sir  Charles,  "  are  said  to  be  full  of  provisions  of  every  descrip- 
tion, completed  to  ten  months  ;  all  the  Irish  provision*,  &c.  that 
were  in  store  previous  to  the  entry  of  a  French  army,  having,  in 
preference  to  its  falling  a  prey  to  them,  been  sent  to  the  Russian 
squadron. — The  port  of  St.  Ubes  and  coast  to  the  southward,  is, 
I  understand,  to  be  immediately  occupied  by  French  troops,  in, 
ijrder  to  prevent  a  possibility  of  any  supplies  being  seat  tOj  o? 


23(5  JJAVAL   STATE   PAPER. 

communication  whatever  held  with,  the  squadron  under  fliy 
command." 

No.  5  is  a  letter  from  Sir  C.  Cotton  to  Mr.  Pole,  dated  Marcb 
29,  1808,  stating  that  Mr.  Setarro,  (formerly  contractor,  or  agent 
for  supplying  the  British  army  and  navy  with  provisions,  but  now 
commissary  to  the  French  army)  had  come  on  board  the  Hibernia, 
to  request  permission  for  the  importation  of  flour,  for  the  relief  of 
the  suffering  inhabitants  of  Lisbon.  To  this  request  Sir  Charles 
gave  a  decided  negative.  Mr.  Setarro  also  requested  permission 
for  about  fifteen  merchant  vessels,  which  were  lying  in  the  Tagus, 
to  proceed  to  the  Brazils.  Sir  Charles  replied,  that  all  persons  of 
respectability  attached  to  their  Prince  would  meet  with  no  obstacle 
to  their  intention  of  proceeding,  but  that  they  must  first  pass  under 
an  examination. 

No.  6.  Sir  Charles  Cotton,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Pole,  dated 
April  1,  intimates  a  probability  that  the  Russian  squadron  will 
come  out,  in  consequence  of  their  disagreeing  with  the  French. 

Nos.  7  and  8,  relate  to  the  following  order  from  the  Admi- 
ralty to  Sir  Charles  Cotton,  for  the  provisional  relaxation  of  th,e 
blockade  of  the  Tagus  :— 

"  Whereas  the  Right  Honourable  Lord  Castlereagh,  one  of  his  Majesty's 
principal  secretaries  of  state,  hath  by  his  letter  of  this  day's  date  signified 
to  us  the  King's  pleasure,  that  in  consequence  of  the  application  made  to 
you  by  Mr.  Setarro.  as  represented  in  your  letter  of  the  29th  of  last  month, 
for  allowing  the  entrance  into  the  Tagus  of  vessels  laden  with  flour  for  the 
use  of  the  inh  bitants  of  Portugal,  we  should  give  you  instructions  for  your 
further  proceedings;  we  do  in  pursuance  of  his  Majesty's  pleasure  signified 
to  us  as  aforesaid,  hereby  require  and  direct  you  immediately  to  open  a 
communication  by  a  flag  of  truce  with  the  existing  government  at  Lisbcyi, 
and  to  conform  to  the  following  instructions. 

As  it  does  not  appear  by  your  letter  above-mentioned,  by  what  authority 
Mr.  Setarro  was  commissioned  to  solicit  you  tp  permit  the  importation  of 
flour  for  the  support  of  the  native  inhabitants  of  Portugal,  nor  whether  he 
professed  to  speak  on  the  part  jointly  of  the  French  commander  and  of  the 
Portuguese  government,  it  is,  in  either  case  material,  that  the  proposals 
which  you  are  herein  directed  to  make  should  if  possible  be  transmitted  at 
the  same  time  to  the  Portuguese  commander,  (Don  Gomes  Frero)  to  the 
Civil  government  of  Lisbon,  and  to  Vice-admiral  Seniavin  ;  and  lastly 
(should  Mr.  Setarro  have  come  to  you  on  the  part  of  General  Junot)  to  the 
French  commander  also. 

"  In  the  communications  above  mentioned,  you  are  expressly  to  declare, 
that  the  blockade  of  the  ports  of  Portugal  lias  not  been  established  with  any 
view  of  inflicting  the  calamity  of  famine  on  the  natives  of  Portugal,  but  on 
the  contrary,  that  you  deeply  lament  their  sufferings,  as  the  inevitable  cooi« 


KAVAL  STATE  PAPERS.  237 

«equence  of  a  necessary  operation  of  war ;  that  Lisbon,  having  become  in 
the  bands  of  the  enemy  a  port  of  equipment  tor  the  invasion  of  his  Majesty's 
dominions,  the  rigid  enforcement  of  a  strict  blockade  has  followed  as  an 
indispensible  measure  of  self  defence,  a  measure  which  can  neither  be  with- 
drawn or  relaxed  whilst  the  port  of  Lisbon  shall  retain  that  character . 
that  the  relief  of  the  suffering  inhabitants  of  Portugal  rests,  therefore,  en- 
tirely with  those  who  exercise  the  powers  of  government  at  Lisbon ;  that 
the  interest  and  compassion  with  which  his  Majesty  considers  these  sutler- 
ings,  have  induced  him  to  authorize  you  to  offer  the  most  liberal  terms  of 
maritime  capitulation,  by  which  the  pressure  of  blockade  may  be  removed, 
and  the  people  be  entirely  relieved  from  distress  ;  but,  that  in  the  event  of 
the  rejection  of  the  terms  proposed,  you  are  at  the  same  time  commanded 
to  render  the  blockade  still  more  rigorous. 

"  You  are  then  to  proceed  to  state,  that  in  consideration  of  the  urgency 
of  distress  which  has  been  represented,  you  are  authorized  to  open  at  once, 
the  full  extent  of  liberal  terms  which  you  are  prepared  to  grant,  as  the  con- 
dition of  raising  the  strict  blockade  of  the  ports  of  Portugal. 

"  You  are  to  accompany  the  foregoing  declaration  with  the  drafts  of 
article?  of  convention  in  due  form,  and  to  the  following  effect  :— 
-  "  1st.  The  ships  of  war  of  the  Emperor  of  Russia,  now  in  the  Tagus, 
shall  be  delivered  immediately  to  you,  to  be  held  as  a  deposit  by  his 
Majesty,  and  to  be  restored  to  his  Imperial  Majesty  within  six  months  after 
thtf  conclusion  of  a  peace  between  his  Majesty  and  the  King  of  Sweden* 
together  witli  any  other  powers,  being  the  allies  of  his  Majesty  at  the  time, 
and  the  Emperor  of  Russia. 

"  2dly.  Vice-admiral  Seniavin,  with  the  officers,  sailors,  and  marines 
Vnder  his  command,  to  return  .to  Russia  without  any  condition  or  stipula- 
tion respecting  their  future  services. 

"  3diy.  The  Portuguese  ships  of  war  and  merchant  vessels  to  be 
delivered  over  to  you,  with  all  their  stores,  sails,  and  equipment,  subject  only 
to  such  arrangements  respecting  such  ships  of  war  and  merchant  vessels,  as 
shall  be  subsequently  agreed  upon  and  concluded  on  the  part  of  his 
Majesty,  and  on  that  of  his  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  Regent  of 
Portugal. 

"  4thly.  All  merchant  vessels  belonging  to  the  enemy,  now  in  the 
Tagus,  shall  be  taken  in  deposit  to  be  restored  to  the  powers  to  which  they 
ihall  respectively  belong  on  the  conclusion  of  peace. 

"  Sthly.  All  neutral  vessels  actually  in  the  Tagus,  to  be  required  to  saif 
cut  in  ballast,  or  with  such  cargoes,  destined  for  Great  Britain  or  the  Bra- 
zils, as  shall  be  specified  in  a  schedule  to  be  annexed  to  the  convention,  the 
cargoes  of  such  neutral  ships  to  be  verified  by  examination  either  under 
your  direction,  or  in  some  British  port  to  which  the  vessel  shall  be  sent  for 
that  fiirpose. 

"  6thly.  On  the  part  of  his  Majesty,  you  shall  suffer  the  free  entry  of 
provisions,  not  being  enemy's  property,  into  the  several  ports  of  Portugal, 
jtnd  shall  relax  the  strict  military  blockade  of  such  ports. 

f?  The  foregoing  draft  or  a  convention  contains  the  full  extent  of  the 


<23S  KAVAL   STATE    PAPER*. 

terms  which  you  are  hen  by  authorized  to  offer  on  the  part  of  his  Majesty . 
but  as  it  may  possibly  happen  that  the  Russian  Admiral  may  not  consider 
himself  at  liberty  to  negotiate  for  the  surrender  of  ti.e  ships  under  his  coiu- 
mand,  although  the  Portuguese  inhabitants  may  prevail  with  the  French 
Commander  to  allow  of  the  surrender  of  any  other  enemy's  ships,  and  of 
the  Portuguese  ships,  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  a  supply  which  may 
avert  the  dreadful  calamity  of  famine  ;  you  are  hereby  further  required  and 
directed  (in  the  event  of  every  condition  of  the  terms  proposed  by  you  being 
admitted,  with  the  exception  of  the  suiTt-mler  of  ihe  llussian  tleei)  in  that 
case  to  conclude  a  convention  xvith  that  exception,  and  to  permit  the  intro- 
duction of  provisions  into  the  ports  of  Portugal. 

"  But  as  this  arrangement  would  render  it  necessary  still  to  maintain  a 
large  force  off  the  Rock  of  Lisbon  to  watch  the  Russian  squadron,  to  the 
manifest  detriment'of  other  important  services,  you  are  on  no  account  to 
open  this  arrangement  as  a  proposal  on  your  part,  but  are  only  hereby 
authorized  to  agree  to  it  ys  a  suggestion  from  the  enemy,  in  tiie  event  of  the 
failure  of  the  more  general  surrender  of  the  maritime  means  collected  ia 
the  Tagus.  Given,  &c.  16th  April,  IbOS. 

«  MULGRAVE, 
"  R,  BICKERTON, 
«  W.  J.  HOPE.1' 

u  Sir  Charles  Cotton,  Bar!.  Vice-admiral 
of  the  Red,  Sfc.  off  the  Tugus. 

"  By  command  of  their  Lordships, 

"  VV.  W.  POLE." 

No.  9  acknowledges  the  receipt  of  the  above  order,  by  Sir 
C.  Cotton. 

No.  10  encloses  to  Mr.  Pole,  the  copy  of  a  proclamation  whicli 
Sir  C.  Cotton  had  issued  to  the  Portuguese,  on  the  28th  of  April, 
pointing  out  the  means  by  which  they  might  obtain,  a  relief  from 
blockade. 

No.  11  is  a  letter  from  Sir  C.  Cotton  to  Mr.  Pole,  dated  May 
18,  stating  the  events  which  had  been  occasioned  by  the  above 
mentioned  proclamation.  The  following  is  an  extract :-— 

"  I  request  you  will  please  to  acquaint  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the 
Admiralty,  that  in  consequence  of  the  proclamation  issued  by  me,  copy 
of  which  I  had  the  honour  to  transmit  to  you  on  the  28th  ult.  Mr.  Setarro 
this  day  came  on  board  the  Ilibernia^  and  declared  that  he  was  sent  express, 
by  General  Junot,  to  say,  that  one  of  my  proclamations  had  reached  him 
on  Thursday  the  12th  inst.  which  had  immediately  been  transmitted  tc» 
Bayonne,  and  orders  thereupon  requested  from  the  Emperor  of  the  French, 
whose  answer  might  be  shortly  expected  ;  that  in  the  mean  time,  if  I  had, 
any  thing  to  propose,  as  stated  in  the  proclamation,  respecting  a  maritime 
capitulation,  it  might  accelerate  the  business  by  communicatinj;  the  same  tq 
feyii  (Mr.  Setarro.) 


NAVAL   STATE   PAPERS.  233 

•'  To  which  I  replied,  that  General  Junot  must  be  aware  that  all  com- 
munications of  the  nature  solicited,  between  respective  comrnanders-in- 
chief',  usually  pass  through  officers  of  rank ;  and  b.e  having  thought  proper  to 
prohibit  the  entry  of  flags  of  truce,  threatening  to  destroy  one,  and  when 
employer!  upon  purposes  of  humanity  regarding  his  own  wounded  country- 
men, prevented  my  sending  a  flag  of  truce  ;  but  if  his  assurance  in  writing 
was  conveyed  to  me  by  an  officer  of  rank,  that  a  flag  of  truce  should  meet 
due  respect  in  the  Tagus,  an  officer  should  be  sent  to  communicate  the 
terms  for  a  maritime  capitulation,  by  which  the  blockade  of  the  .ports  of 
Portugal  may  be  immediately  raised,  and  a  free  entry  of  provisions  per- 
mitted; terms  the  most  liberal,  influenced  solely  by  the  lively  interest  and 
great  compassion  his  Britannic  Majesty  felt  for  the  sufferings  of  an  unfor- 
tunate people,  whose  present  misery  and  probable  increase  of  calamity  from 
approaching  scarcity,  Mr.  Sctarro  took  infinite  pains  to  depict. 

"  With  respect  to  Vice-admiral  Senia'vin,  and  the  Russian  squadron, 
Mr.  Setarro  said  the  following  questions  had  been  agitated:—'  What  would 
be  the  conduct  of  the  Russian  Admiral  if  the  French  met  with  a  disaster  in 
Spain,  and  were  opposed  in  Portugal  ?' — To  which  the  generally  ascribed 
reply  is,  '  That  Russia,  not  being  at  war  with  Spain  or  Portugal,  the  flceV 
could  not  act  in  any  manner  hostile  to  either  of  those  countries.' 

"  '  What  would  be  the  conduct  of  the  Russian  Admiral  should  the 
British  fleet  enter  the  Tagus  ?' — To  which  the  reply  ascribed  in  like  manner 
is,  '  Unless  a  very  commanding  and  superior  force  rendered  such  a  mea- 
sure improper — light  them.'  " 

No.  12  is  a  lottcr  from  Sir  C.  Cotton  to  Mr.  Pole,  dated  June 
12,  recommending  that  .5  or  6,000  British  troops  should  be  landed) 
to  occupy  the  forts  on  the  Tagus  (as,  from  intelligence  received, 
the  French  had  not  above  4,000  men  at  Lisbon),  to  enable  the 
fleet  to  enter  and  take  possession  of  the  maritime  means  in  the 
Tagus. 

No.  13.  Sir  C.  Cotton  states  his  having  requested  5  or  6,000 
men  from  Sir  Hew  Dalrymple,  for  the  purpose  above  mentioned. 

No.  14.  A  letter  from  Sir  C.  Cotton  to  Mr.  Pole,  encloses  the 
convention  entered  into  with  Vice-admiral  Seniavin  relating  to  the 
Russian  fleet. — Vide  NAVAL  CHUOMCLE,  Vol.  XX.  page  245. 

No.  15  is  the  following  letter  from  Sir  C.  Cotton  to  Mr.  Pole, 
with  additional  proposals  made  by  the  Russian  admiral : — 

««  sin,  "  Hibernia,in  the  Tagis,  1th  September,  1808. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  herewith,  for  the  information  of  the 
Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  copy  of  the  translation  of  two 
additional  proposals,  made  by  the  Russian  Vice-admiral  Seniavin,  since  my 
letter  to  you  of  the  -1th  instant,  which  being  of  so  unimportant  a  nature, 
in  order  to  gratify  the  Vice-admiral,  I  havf  acceeded  to  without  hesitation. 

"I  beg  leave  further  tu  observe  to  their  Lordships,  iu.  additiuif  w  mj 


240  NAVAL  STATE   PAPERS.  % 

before-mentioned  letter,  that  upon  the  whole,  the  Russian  squadron  having 
entered  the  Tagus  previous  to  the  departure  of  the  Prince  Regent  of  Por- 
tugal ;  having  committed  no  act  of  hostility  against  Portugal,  or  joined  the 
French  in  opposing  us,  as  they  were  repeatedly  requested  to  do;  and 
having  their  Lordships'  instructions  for  ray  conduct  towards  them  upon  a 
former  occasion  (the  supposed  famine  in  Portugal)  I  feel  satisfied  their 
Lordship*  will  approve  of  the  favourable  terms  that  have  been  granted. 
"  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir, 

*'  Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

"  C.  COTTON." 
"  Hon.  W.  WeUesky  Pole,  $c." 

"  P.S.  No  account  or  charge  has  been  taken  of  the  stores  on  board  the 
Russian  ships,  it  being  understood,  that  the  fame  will  be  delivered  up  to 
the  proper  officers  on  their  arrival  at  Spithcad." 


"  The  colours  of  his  Imperial  Majesty  on  board  the  flag-ship,  or  on  board 
any  of  the  others,  are  not  to  be  struck  until  tho  admiral  quits  the  ship,  or 
until  the  respective  captains  do  the  same. 

"  At  the  conclusion  of  a  peace,  the  ships  and  the  frigate  will  be  restored 
to  his  Majesty  the  Emperor  of  all  the  Russias  in  the  same  state  in  which 
they  arc  actually  delivered  up. 

*'  Of  the  nine  ships  the  Yaroslarf  and  Rafael  *  will  remain  in  the  Tagus^ 
and  their  crews  be  distributed  amongst  the  other  seven  ships  that  proceed 
to  England. 

"  The  above  two  articles  will  be  regarded  as  forming  part  of  the  conven- 
tion concluded  and  signed  3d  September,  1808. 

"  Given  and  concluded  on  board  the  ship  Twerdoy  in  the  Tagus,  and  OR 
board  the  Hibernia  at  the  mouth  of  the  said  river,  4th  September,  1808. 

"  DE  SENIAVIN, 
"  C.  COTTON." 
"  By  command  of  the  Admiral, 

«  J.  SASS, 
"  Assesseur  de  College. 

"  By  command  of  the  Admiral, 

u  JAMES  KENNEDY, 
"  Secretary.** 

No,  H6  announces  the  sailing  of  Admiral  Tyler  from  the 
Tagus,  with  the  Russian  squadron. 

No.  17  is  the  following  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Admi- 
ralty to  Sir  C.  Cotton  : — 

"  sin,  "  Admiralty-Office,  17th.  September,  18,08. 

"  I  am  commanded  by  my  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty  to  ac- 
Icnovs ledge  the  receipt  of  your  despatches  of  the  3d  and  4th  instant,  togethef 

*  These  iliips  uot  sea-ivorUy. 


* 

NAVAL   STATE   PAPER.  241 

vrith  the  articles  of  agreement  concluded  between  you  and  the  Russian 
Admiral  Seniavin. 

"  Their  Lordships,  comparing  those  articles  with  the  articles  of  an 
armistice  and  basis  of  convention,  signed  at  the  head  quarters  of  the  British 
army  on  the  22d  August,  and  transmitted  to  you  for  your  concurrence,  have 
commanded  me  to  express  their  fullest  approbation  of  your  having  rejected 
the  stipulation  of  the  neutrality  of  the  Tagus  fur  the  Russian  fleet:  their 
Lordships  observe  with  regret,  in  the  convention  which  you  have  concluded 
with  the  Russian  admiral,  the  adoption  of  a  new  principle  of  maritime  sur- 
render, by  the  qualified  detention  and  eventual  restoration  of  the  ships  of 
war  of  the  enemy.  Their  Lordships,  however,  taking  into  their  considera- 
tion all  the  circumstances  of  the  moment  at  which  these  conditions  were 
adopted,  and  that  you  may  have  acted  under  a  misapprehension  of  the  na- 
ture of  their  temporary  instructions  of  the  16th  April  last,  which  were  issued 
solely  with  an  anxious  desire  to  relieve  the  people  of  Lisbon  from  the 
pressure  of  famine,  are  not  prepared  to  mark  the  transaction  with  their 
disapprobation,  trusting  that  the  measure  will  not  be  drawn  into  a  prece- 
dent on  any  future  occasion. 

"  I  am  directed  by  their  Lordships,  to  express  their  entire  approbation 
of  the  zeal,  vigilance,  and  discretion,  manifested  by  you  during  your  com- 
mand off  the  coast  of  Portugal,  as  well  in  the  judicious  measures  with  which 
you  have  met  the  political  events  that  have  arisen  in  that  kingdom,  as  in 
the  maintenance  of  the  diflicult  blockade  of  the  Tagus. 

"  I  am,  Sir,  &c. 

"  Admiral  Sir  Charles  Cotton:'  "  W.  W.  POLE." 

No.  18  is  the  following  order  from  the  Admiralty,  to  Rear, 
admiral  Tyler,  respecting  the  additional  articles  agreed  to  by  Sir 
C.  Cotton  with  the  Russian  admiral. 

"  Whereas  Admiral  Sir  Charles  Cotton,  bart.  hath  transmitted  to  us, 
with  his  letter  of  the  7th  instant,  two  articles  whichjVke-admiral  Seniaviu, 
late  commanding  the  Russian  squadron  in  the  Tagus,  had  proposed  to  him 
subsequent  to  the  convention  concluded  between  them  on  the  3d  instant, 
for  the  surrender  of  the  said  squadron  in  deposit  to  his  Majesty,  and  at  the 
same  time  acquainted  us,  that  he  had,  for  the  reasons  therein  mentioned, 
agreed  thereto.  And  whereas  the  Right  Hun.  Lord  Viscount  Castlereagh, 
one  of  his  Majesty's  principal  secretaries  of  state,  by  his  letter  to  us  of  this 
day's  date,  luuh  by  the  King's  command  acquainted  us,  that  the  two  arti- 
cles which  have  thus  arisen  subsequent  to  the  conclusion,  signature,  and 
exchange  of  the  original  convention,  cannot  be  admitted  as  forming  a  part 
of  that  instrument,  inasmuch  as  the  said  articles  do  not  bear  the  character 
of  explanatory  articles,  but  on  the  contrary,  are  in  form  and  substance  of 
the  nature  of  a  distinct  snti  supplementary  convention,  a  measure  which  the 
parties  contracting  were  not  at  liberty  to  negociate  and  conclude,  after  the 
exchange  of  a  perfect  instrument  and  its  transmission  to  the  Government, 
by  which  the  provisions  of  the  said  convention  were  to  be  carried  into 

.  «J$ion.  (Hoi.  XXI.  1 1 


212  KAf  At    KJETRT, 

effect,  and  that  bis  Majesty  cannot  allow  the  flag  of  an  hosttle  power  to  be 
displayed  in  the  ports  and  harbours  of  his  dominions ;  we  do  therefore 
hereby  require,  and  direct  you  to  cat»e  the  flag  of  his  Imperial  Majesty  to- 
be  removed  from  the  mast-heads,  and  flag-staves  of  the  said  ships  as  soon  a* 
they  shall  have  come  to  an  anchor,  but  not  to  order  any  other  colours  to  be 
displayed  on  board  them;  and  you  are  to  acquaint  their  respective  com- 
manders, that  they  are  at  liberty  to  land,  and  remain  on  shore  until  the 
period  of  their  return  to  Russia,  and  you  are  to  take  such  measures,  as  iu 
your  judgment  may  be  best  calculated  to  secure  the  stores  on  board  the  said 
ships  from-  injury,  embezzlement,  or  loss  of  any  kind  whatever.  Given, 
&c.  30th  September  1808. 

•*  MULGRAVE, 
"  R.  WARD, 

«  W.  DOMETT. 
"  Charles  Tyler,  Esqr  Rear-atfiniral 
of  the  Blue,  &-c,  at  sea." 

"•  By  command  of  their  k>?dshrps> 
"  W.W.  POLE," 

No.  19  is  a  letter  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Admiralty,  of 
the  same  date  as  above,  and  announcing  its  purport,  to  Sir 
C.  Cotton. 

No.  20  announces  the  arrival  of  the  Russian  squadron  at 
pithead. 

No.  21  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Sir  C.  Cotton  to  Mr.  Pole, 
inclosing  reports  of  survey  on  two  Russian  ships  represented  imser. 
viceable,  and  stating  his  intention  to  get  them  repaired,  to  enable 
them  to  proceed  to  England  in  the  next  spring. 


The  heart's  remote  recesses  to  explore, 

And  touch  its  springs,  when  prose  avail'd  BO  more. 

FAI.COSEE. 

A   SHIPWRECK. 

(From  Poems  ly  RICHARD  WESTALL,  Esq.  Rjl*} 

I. 

AWAY  with  sloth  !  for  I  would  climb 
With  cautious  steps,  the  rock  sublime, 
What,  thouch  the  snow  hath  all  the  night 
Been  falling  fast,  and  cover'd  light 
With  a  pale  mantle,  hill  and  plain, 
the  ploughshare  of  the  swain  : 


NATAL  P02TRT. 

I  know  the  path  that  leads  on  high, 
Where  the  bold  Pilot's  signals  fly  ; 
While  vent'rous,  they  with  daring  hand 
Launch  their  Hght  vessels  from  the  land, 
And  change  the  distant  ship's  distress 
To  safety,  and  to  happiness. 
'Tis  in  its  wint'ry  garb,  the  most 
I  love  upon  our  rocky  coast 
To  stand,  and  from  the  mountains  height 
Muse  on  the  vast,  the  solemn  sight. 

If. 

Deep  at  my  feet,  with  sullen  roar, 
The  dark  waves  roll  upon  the  shore  ; 
And  far  beyond  the  stretching  eye 
The  broad  the  boundless  waters  lie, 
Meeting  with  mighty  line  the  bellied  sky. 
Here  thou,  my  country — thou,  my  pride, 
The  God  of  battles  on  thy  side, 
Insulting  Europe  hath  defied 
Full  oft;  and  fill'd  with  dare  alarm, 
Europe  hath  fled  thy  lifted  arm ; 
Each  struggle  shall  but  fix  thy  reign, 
Sole  empress  of  the  circling  main  ; 
Till  fell  ambition's  rage  shall  cease, 
And  the  wide  wprld  repose  jn  peace. 

III. 

When  first  I  gain'd  the  mouatain's  brow, 
One  only  vessel  rode  below  ; 
I  saw  her  anchor  rais'd,  and  heard, 
Or  seem'd  to  hear,  the  vows  preferr'd 
By  those,  whom  iat'rest,  anxious  care, 
Or  love  more  anxious,  gather'd  near. 
The  sailor,  long  in  battle  tried, 
Call'd  by  his  country,  left  his  bride  : 
"  Farewell,  my  love  !  (he  seem'd  to  say) 
We'll  meet  again  some  happier  day : 
Farewell  !  farewell !  "—The  op'ning  sails5 
Bending  caught  the  rising  gales. 
But  ot't,  as  gentler  roll'd  the  swell, 
Methought  I  heard,  farewell !  farewell  ? 
Slow  from  the  shore,  with  heavy  heart,, 
I  saw  the  kindred  group  depart, 


244  NAVAL  FOETRY. 

One  fairest  form,  with  head  reclin'd, 
Lingering  fond,  was  still  behind, 
And  trembled  at  the  passing  wind  : 
She  trembled  then,  when  all  was  calm, 
And  love  alone  could  feel  alarm. 

IV. 

Now  from  the  north,  with  vengeful  force, 
The  wild  winds  drive  their  destin'd  course  j 
The  vex'd  sea  lifts  its  monstrous  form, 
And  raging,  meets  the  raging  storm  ; 
The  welUtrimm'd  ship,   that  rode  butlate, 
(Proud  of  her  strength)  in  gallant  state, 
That  buoyant  on  the  treach'rous  seas, 
Spread  wide  her  sails  and  caught  the  breeze  ; 
Now,  with  those  sails  defaced  and  torn, 
By  adverse  winds  like  light'ning  borne  ; 
Full  on  yon  rock  (a  sullen  throne 
"Where  desolation  sits  alone) 
Unheeding  feels  the  steersman's  hand, 
Who  shudd'ring  at  the  dreadful  land, 
Strains  every  nerve ;  the  hardy  crew, 
By  danger  prcss'd,  again  renew 
Their  utmost  effort,  and  again 
Urge  her  torn  head  to  meet  the  main. 

V. 

The  effort  fails,  like  corn  unmown, 
Swept  by  the  rage  of  autumn,  down, 
'Down  come  her  masts !   with  horrid  shock 
The  liquid  mountains  'gainst  the  rock 
Crash  her  vast  hulk!  her  bulging  side 
Drinks  deep  the  dark  unpitying  tide.     • 
More  loud  the  wild  chaotic  rdar, 
Sweeps  o'er  the  main  and  rends  the  shore; 
She  parts,  she  sinks !  the  troubled  air 
Rings  with  the  scream  of  deep  dispair  ! 
Fierce,  and  more  fierce  the  billows  rise, 
Spout  tlu'ir  white  foam  amid  the  skies, 
And  hide  the  ruin  from  my  eyes. 

VI. 

Ah  !  wherefore  turn'd  my  search  below  ? 
There  once  again  the  form  I  know. 


NAVAL  POETRY.  245 


The  lovely  form  with  head  reclin'd, 
Who  liog'ring  fond  was  ?till  i  ehind, 
And  trembled  at  the  passim'  wind; 
She  trembled  then,  when  all  was  calm, 
And  only  love  could  feel  alarm. 
What  doth  she  now  ?  nor  groans,  nor  sighs  ! 
She  faints,  she  falls  !  she  dies,  she  dies ! 
O'er  their  lost  child  an  aged  pair, 
Low  bending,  tear  their  rev'rend  hair, 
While  pale,  around,  their  kindred  train 
Pour  wide  an  agonizing  strain. 
The  mingled  horrors  fill  my  heart, 
And  n:v  biood  chills  in  ev'ry  part. 
Swift  down  the  fatal  steep  I  haste, 
And  trembling  quit  the  wat'ry  waste; 
And  press  with  fault'ring  steps  the  plain, 
And  mourning,  reach  my  home  again. 

VII. 

There,  tho'  the  crackling  faggots  sound, 

There,  tho'  the  merry  flask  goes  round; 

There,  tho'  the  sparkling  sallies  flit, 

New  from  the  ready  tongue  of  wit  ; 

Awhile  to  cheer  me  tries  the  jest 

In  vain,  and  vainly  smiles  the  feast ; 

My  thoughts  o'er  ev'ry  joy  prevail, 

And  vain  appears  each  soothing  tale : 

Till  anxious  friendship,  by  degrees, 

Pours  o'er  my  soul  a  kind  of  ease; 

Won  by  her  voice,  I  strive  to  join 

The  mirth,  and  lose  my  cares  in  wine. 

But  when  the  dying  embers  fade, 

And  I  upon  my  couch  am  laid, 

Memory  then  asserts  her  sway  ; 

And  all  the  misery  of  the  day 

I  feel  with  added  force  again 

Whirl  round  my  dream  distemper'd  brain; 

Nor  those  alone  which  late  I  knew, 

But  other  horrors  cross  my  view  ; 

E'en  now,  methinks,  the  south  wind  blows, 

E'en  now,  perhaps,  the  melted  snows, 

From  the  hoar  mountain's  rugged  side. 

Spread  impetuous  ruiu  wide: 


NAVAL    POETRY. 

I  hear  pale  terror's  thrilling  cry, 
I  feel  the  groan  of  agony  ! 
On  yonder  bank  the  mourner  stand- 
With  fixed  eyes  and  clasped  hands, 
The  wild  waves  rolling  at  her  feet, 
Roll  o'er  her  lately  blest  retreat, 
Roll  o'er  the  husband  of  her  soul, 
O'er  her  lost  children,  dreadful  roll. 

IX. 

No  more  ray  fever'd  spirit  bears— 
Fast  flowing  fall  the  healing  tears  ; 
And  as  they  fall,  my  thoughts  revolve  ; 
The  visions  fly  !  the  dreams  dissolve  ! 
List'ning  J  stand  —  the  stream  remains 
Fast  bound  in  winter's  icy  chains  ; 
Bright  shine  the  stars,  and  .shining  show 
The  plains  all  wrapt  in  crisped  snow  ; 
The  new  moon  sinks  beneath  yon  hill, 
Hush'd  are  the  winds,  and  all  is  still. 

X. 

And  be  thou  hush'd,  my  troubled  soul  ! 
Lo  !  the  calm  scene,  with  soft  controul, 
Steals  o'er  my  frame,  all  languid  grown, 
And  weighs  my  weary  eye-lids  down  : 
No  more  I  muse  on  human  coil, 
On  short-Iiv'd  joys,  or  lasting  toilj 
My  alter'd  spirit,  void  of  fear, 
Rises  above  its  mortal  sphere, 
And  wing'd  with  strength,  but  newly  given, 
Looks  upwards  and  aspires  to  Heav'n. 


MR.  EDITOR, 

A  S  an  addition  to  your  memoir  of  the  late  Admiral  Barring- 
~^*-  ton,*  it  may,  perhaps,  gratify  many  of  your  readcri  to  be 
informed,  that  his  remains  were  interred  in  the  family  vault,  at 
Shrivenham,  in  the  county  of  Berks  ;  and  that  a  monument  to  his 
memory  has  since  been  erected  in  Shrivenham  church,  bearing  the 
following  inscription,  the  poetical  part  of  which  is  from  the  pen 
of  the  well-known  Miss  Hannah  More. 

I  am,  &c.  H. 

*  Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  IV.  page  169. 


NAVAL   iTlSTORY   OF   THE   PRESENT    YKAR,  1809.  247 


Sacred  to  the  Memory  of  the  Honourable  SAMUEL 

Admiral  of  the  White,  and  General  of  Marines.    Born  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1730;  died  August  16,   1800. 

Here  rests  the  hero,  who,  in  glory's  page, 
Wrote  his  fair  deeds  for  more  than  half  an  age. 
Here  rests  the  patriot,  who,  for  England's  good, 
Each  toil  encounter'd,  and  each  clime  withstood. 
Here  rests  the  Christian  ;  his  the  loftier  theme 
To  seize  the  conquest,  yet  renounce  the  fame. 
He,  when  his  arm  St.  Lucia's  trophies  boastsa 
Ascribes  the  glory  to  the  Lord  of  hosts; 
And,  when  the  harder  task  remain'd  behind, 
The  passive  courage,  and  the  will  resign'd  ; 
Patient  the  veteran  victor  yields  his  breath, 
Secure  in  Him  who  conquer'd  sin  and  death. 


NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1809. 

(February  —  March.  ) 
RETROSPECTIVE  AND  MISCELLANEOUS. 


great  object  on  which  the  House  of  Commons  have  been  so  long 
-    engaged,  on  the  motion  of  Mr.  Wardle,  has  so  entirely  taken  up  the 
attention   of  the  public,  that  little  else  has  been  thought  of  during  these 
important  proceedings.     His   Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  York  has  re- 
signed, and  Sir  David  Dundas  U  appointed  his  successoi. 

We  still  direct  our  attention  towards  Spain  with  considerable  interest 
and  hope.  Saragossa,  notwithstanding  all  the  lies  which  the  French  pub- 
liah  under  the  title  of  bulletins,  was  defended  in  a  most  noble  and  gallant 
ruanuer  by  the  Spanish  hero  Palafox,  who  is  thought  to  have  been  poisoned 
or  murdered  by  the  French  tyrant.  In  a  private  letter,  which  he  addressed 
to  one  of  the  Spaniards  of  rank  in  this  country,  and  which  has  not  been 
published,  was  the  following  beautiful  passage  .—Saragossa  has  been  lom- 
barded  seren  days  and  seven  nights;  two  thirds  of  the  city  is  now  in  ashes. 
But  whilst  there  remains  a  single  house,  standing,  so  long  shall  Saragossa 
atund  against  the  French.  Palafox  began  the  siege  with  about  200  regular 
troops  ;  and  the  amount  of  the  money  in  the  public  treasury  was  little  more 
than  251.  English.  An  excellent  account  of  tlie  various  Spanish  state 
papers  which  have  been  issued  by  the  different  Juntas,  and  of  the  opinions 
that  have  been  given  by  different  writers  in  our  own  country,  respecting 
the  Spanish  patriots,  forms  the  first  article  in  the  new  QUARTERLY  RE- 
VIEW that  lias  been  published. 

A  complete  revolution  has  been  very  suddenly  effected  in  Sweden.     The 


248  NATAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1800, 

king  has  been  deposed,  and  is  in  close  confinement;  and  the  reins  of  go- 
vernment have  been  assumed  by  his  uncle,  the  Duke  of  Sudermania.  The 
particulars  of  these  events  have  riot  yet  reached  us ;  but  we  understand 
that  the  king  was  attacked  in  his  palace,  and  that  he  wounded  several  of 
his  assailants  before  he  was  secured. 

The  following  letter  contains  some  of  the  latest  information  respecting 
the  court  of  Rio  de  Janeiro.  There  are  some  parts  which  do  not  entirely 
agree  with  what  we  had  heard  respecting  Sir  S.  Smith.  The  Diana  frigate 
conveyed  Admiral  De  Courcy  from  Plymouth  to  the  Brazils,  to  succeed  Sir 
Sydney.  We  regret  that  the  intelligence  is  so  slight  concerning  the  affairs 
of  South  America,  which  are  every  day  rising  in  importance. — 

"  Rio  dc  Janeiro,  Dec.  18. 

"  The  affairs  of  the  Spanish  colonies  have  produced  very  serious  mis- 
understandings at  the  palace.  The  princess  was  desirous  to  go  in  the 
Spanish  frigate  to  Monte  Video,  in  order,  it  is  supposed,  to  promote  some 
plan  of  obtaining  possession  of  the  settlements  on  the  north  of  the  river. 
The  prince  applied  to  Sir  Sydney  Smith  for  his  advice  on  the  projected 
journey  of  the  princess,  who  of  course  resisted  strongly  giving  support  to 
any  thing  which  might  alarm  the  Spaniards.  The  prince  followed  his  ad- 
vice, and  the  princess  and  Sir  Sydney  have  been  very  cool.  Sir  Sydney 
ordered  the  squadron  to  prepare  for  sea,  but  the  voyage  was  delayed  from 
day  to  day,  and  they  are  now,  I  believe,  on  better  terms.  Sir  Sydney  was 
at  court  yesterday  (being  the  queen's  birth-day)  for  the  first  time  since 
the  dispute,  and  was  presented  with  a  grand  cross  of  the  Order  of  the 
Tower,  and  the  sword  of  a  new  created  order.  Lord  Strangford  had  the 
same;  and  thecaptains  of  the  squadron  were  presented  with  commanderies 
of  the  order;  and  all  the  first  lieutenants  of  the  fleet  were  made  knights  of 
the  order. 

"  Accounts  from  the  River  Plata  are  very  uncertain.  Two  vessels  have 
lately  been  allowed  to  land  their  cargoes,  and  deposit  them,  with  liberty  to 
dispose  of  one  third  thereof  to  pay  for  rrpairs,&c.  This  is  the  state  of  affairs 
at  Monte  Video;  and  at  Buenos  Ayres  things  are  much  worse,  for  Liniers 
is  taking  every  step  to  render  Ellis,  the  governor  of  Monte  Video,  un- 
popular. We  are  anxious  to  hear  what  steps  the  new  governor  will  take 
on  his  arrival." 

The  last  accounts  from  Portugal,  dated  the  20th  of  February,  stale, 
that  Sir  Robert  Wilson,  with  a  division,  consisting  of  Portuguese,  and  some 
Spanish  cavalry,  had  taken  considerable  property,  in  money,  provisions,  and 
horses,  collected  by  the  French  at  Zamora.  Portugal  itself,  up  to  the 
20th,  had  no  accounts  of  French  movements  towards  that  country. 

Private  letters  from  Holland  report,  that  according  to  a  secret  article 
of  the  recent  treaty  between  Great  Britain  and  Turkey,  the  Porte  is  to  join 
with  Austria  in  the  war  against  France,  and  Great  Britain  is  to  furnish  the 
Turkish  government  with  arms  and  ammunition  at  Malta  or  the  Morea. 
This  intelligence,  it  is  said,  comes  from  Malta. 

It  is  stated  in  the  foreign  papers,  that  the  treaty  with  Mr.  Adair  was 
signed  on  the  part  of  the  Turkish  government  by  Ilakki  Pacha.  Such  may 
have  beep  the  fact;  but,  at  the  time  of  Mr,  Adair's  arrival  ia  the  Parda- 


fl.SVAt,    HISTORY    OP   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  249 

s,  Hakki  war,  in  disgrace,  having  been  banished  by  Bairactar  to  the 
to  the  Isle  of  Leinnos,  to  make  room  for  Selim  Schambli  Ratib,  who  was 
entrusted  by  the  Vizier  with  the  command  of  the  castles  of  the  Dardanelles 
and  from  whom  Mr.  Adair  received  much  attention  and  facility  in  the. 
business  of  his  mission. 

The  Vienna  Gazette  contains  the  following  article,  under  the  head  of 
Turkey:— 

"  Ou  the  5th  of  January  peace  was  concluded  between  England  and  the 
Sublime  Porte,  by  the  English  Minister  Mr.  Adair,  and  Hakki  Eilendi; 
in  consequence  of  which  all  the  ports  in  the  Turkish  empire  are  open  to 
the  English  ships.  This  important  intelligence  was  immediately  trans- 
mitted to  the  principal  commercial  towns  in  Eurupe,  Asia,  and  Africa; 
and  a  great  change  may  be  expected  in  the  trade  of  the  great  towns  of  the 
Levant,  and  the  price  of  most  commodities." 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  2-1-th  of  February,  the  enemy's  squadron, 
which  had  escaped  from  Brest,  consisting  of  eight  sail  of  the  line,  ap- 
peared off  Rochefort,  in  a  widely  extended  semi-circle.  Their  first  object, 
there  is  no  doubt,  was  to  capture  the  squadron  of  three  sail  of  the  line 
under  Captain  Beresfordj  which  had  been  at  anchor  in  Basque  Jloads. 
But  Captain  Bercsford  had  fortunately  learnt  the  precedirg  day,  that  the 
French  admiral  had  struck  his  flag,  and  gone  to  L'Orient  to  bring  out  the 
squadron  Jying  there,  in  order  to  join  in  the  attack  upon  the  British  Squa- 
dron off  Rochefort.  In  consequence  of  this  information,  Captain  Beres- 
ford  got  under  weigh,  and  stood  off,  and  very  soon  after  he  observed  the 
entrance  into  the  bay  of  the  .French  squadron.  Here  the  enemy  was  joined 
by  three  sail  of  the  line  lying  in  Rochefort,  which,  exclusively  of  smaller 
vessels,  make  his  force  consist  of  eleven  sail  of  the  line. 

Towards  the  latter  end  of  February,  the  Medusa  frigate  having  sailed 
from  Falmouth,  in  company  with  his  Majesty's  &h:ps  Resistance  and  Are- 
thusa,  to  cruise  off  Brest;  the  Arethusa  stood  into  that  harbour  to  recon- 
noitre, and  found  that  the  French  squadron  had  sailed :  she  immediately 
proceeded  in  quest  of  the  Channel  fleet,  but  could  not  meet  with  them. 
The  French  fleet  consisted  of  ten  sail  of  the  line;  the  English  seven,  five 
of  which  are  three  deckers.  The  Medusa  having  fallen  in  with  the  Lyra 
gun-brig,  Lieutenant  Bevians,  immediately  despatched  her  home  with  the 
intelligence.  A  messenger  was  immediately  sent  off  to  town,  and  a 
telegraphic  communication  made  to  the  Admiralty. 

The  Brest  fleet  had  or.  the  26'th  been  joined  by  three  large  ships  from 
Rochefort;  when  joined  by  the  whole  of  the  squadron  there,  it  would  con- 
sist of  14  sail  of  the  ':ne  (two  of  which  are  three-deckers)  two  50-gim 
ships,  10  frigates,  and  several  small  vessels. 

An  official  report  baa  been  made  concerning  the  escape  of  the  Brest 
squadron ;  and  the  enemy  triumphs  in  the  succeps  which  attended  the 
artifice  by  which  "  Captain  Tronde'has  been  able  to  run  out  with  his 
division  to  fulfil  the  mission  which  the  emperor  had  entrusted  to  him." 
This  is  the  division  met  by  the  Surveillante,  and  which  it  has  been  guessed 
is  destined  to  attempt  effecting  a  counter-revolution  in  South  "America. 
The  frigates  which  were  chased  under  the  batteries  in  the  roads  of  Sables, 

2iol,  XXI.  '  K  * 


250  NAVAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   PRESENT   YEAR,    1809. 

we  are   told,  drove   away  four  ships ;  but   their  being  themselves  drive* 
aground  is  wisely  concealed. 

Lord  Gambier,  in  the  Caledonia,  took  the  command  of  the  blockading 
squadron  off  Rochefort,  on  8th  of  March. 

Should  the  squadron  from  L'Orient  have  proceeded  to  the  West  Indies, 
they  will  probably  fall  in  with  Sir  John  Duckworth's  squadron,  which  there 
is  no  doubt  has  proceeded  in  that  direction  in  search  of  the  Brest  fleet. 

The  escape  of  the  fleet  which  had  been  so  long  weather-bound  at  Oporto, 
and  which  crossed  the  Bar  on  the  23d  ult.  is  a  matter  of  consolation,  con- 
sidering the  menaced  condition  of  that  country.  The  property  on  board  is 
estimated  at  the  value  of  400,0001.  and  hisurances  have  been  done  at 
Lloyd's  to  that  amount.  There  are  from  eight  to  ten  thousand  pipes  of 
wine  in  the  fleet. 

At  Constantinople  an  occurrence  has  taken  place,  which  may  throw  some 
light  upon  the  situation  of  Austria.  The  Austrian  Internuwcio,  Baron  Von 
Sturmer,  had,  on  occasion  of  the  marriage  of  one  of  his  kinsmen,  given  a 
dinner,  and  invited  to  it  the  secretary  of  the  English  legation.  The  French 
charge  d'affaires,  M.  Latour-Mauburg,  who  was  also  invited,  wrote  to  M.  Von 
Sturmer  that  he  could  not  be  present  at  any  entertainment  while  an  enemy 
of  France  was  of  the  party.  M.  Von  Stunner  not  answering  this  letter,  M. 
Latour-Mauburg  communicated  the  circumstance  to  the  diplomatic  agents, 
and  invited  them  to  break  off  all  intercourse  with  M.  Von  Sturmer;  whicii 
all  the  agents  who  were  at  Constantinople  have  carried  into  effect. 

The  Dutch  papers,  as  well  as  the  private  letters  from  Holland,  state  the 
capture  of  his  Majesty's  frigate  Proserpine,  in  the  Mediterranean,  by  two 
French  frigates,  la  Penelope  and  la  Pauline:  she  was  carried  into  Toulon. 
From  the  French  official  accounts,  it  appears-  that  the  Proserpine  had  been 
very  audacious,  frequently  standing  so  close  to  the  shore  as  to  look  into  the 
port. of  Toulon.  This  provoked  the  French  admiral,  who  sent  out  against  her 
the  two  abovementioned  frigates.  Once  she  escaped  by  flight,  but  on  a  second 
occasion  her  pursuers  came  up  with  her  about  half  past  four  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  An  engagement  ensued,  whieh  was  fought  close  alongside  for 
three  quarters  of  an  hour;  at  length  the  Proserpine  struck  to  her  two 
opponents.  The  enemy  states  the  Proserpine  to  have  had  11  men  killed, 
arid  15  wounded,  and  that  both  the  French  frigates  came  out  of  the  action 
without  the  loss  of  a  man  killed  or  wounded. 

Private  accounts  from  Holland  state,  that  the  crews  of  two  Danish  ships 
of  the  line  lyiug  at  Flushing  had  refused  to  obey  the  orders  of  the  French 
government.  They  were  ordered  to  sail  for  Brest,  but  the  captains  de- 
clined compliance  till  they  received  instructions  f;;nn  their  government; 
upon  which  they  were  arrested.  The  crews  having  likewise  declared  their 
resolution  to  refuse  obedience,  a  representation  of  the  affair  was  at  lenjth 
sent  to  the  Danish  government. 

The  Hon.  John  Hope  has  resigned  his  appointment  as  one  of  the  Lords  of 
the  Admiralty,  and  has  set  off  for  Scotland.  Captain  Moorsom  has  suc- 
'ceeded  him. 

The  Emperor  Alexander  has  recently  issued  an  Ukase,  ordering  that  ail 


NAVAL   HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,     1809.  251 

commerce  with  Finland  shall  he  carried  on  agreeably  to  the  laws  already  in 
existence  as  to  the  other  dominions  of  his  empire. 

The  Topaze  French  frigate,  of  40  guns  and  360  men,  from  Brest,  was 
captured  on  the  22d  of  January  at  anchor  at  Point  Noire,  Guadaloupe,  by 
the  Cleopatra  frigate  and  Hazard  sloop  of  war,  after  an  action  of  45 
minutes.  The  Topaze  had  10  men  killed  and  19  wounded;  the  Cleopatra 
two  killed  and  one  wounded. 

The  French  brigs  Napoleon  and  Josephine,  from  Bayonne  to  Martinique, 
with  wines,  flour,  &c.  were  captured  in  January  off  Martinique  by  the  Wol- 
verine and  Dominica  sloops  of  war,  and  carried  into  Barbadoes. 

Sir  James  Saumarez  is  to  have  the  chief  command  of  a  large  fleet,  which 
is  to  be  sent  to  the  Baltic,  and  Sir  Samuel  Hood  is  to  accompany  him. 
They  will  hoist  their  flags  on  board  the  Victory  and  Centaur.  The  fol- 
lowing litre  of  battle  ships  are  to  compose  part  of  the  fleet  :— 

Vanguard .   74  guns,    Captain  Glynn. 

Minotaur 74- • Thompson. 

Standard 64 Harvey. 

Ardent 64  — —     Vashon. 

Dictator  ..........   64 Pierson. 

Ruby    64 Hall. 

Africa 64 Barrett. 

Besides  several  frigates  and  bomb-vessels. 

The  reports  of  an  early  adjustment  of  the  differences  which  snbsist  be- 
tween Kussia  and  England,  had  induced  a  considerable  reduction  in  the 
price  of  colonial  produce  in  the  former  country.  Sugar,  in  particular,  had 
fallen  near  30  per  cent,  namely,  from  78  to  56,  and  53  rubles  per  pud 
of40lb. 

The  following  is  an  account  of  the  last  convoy  which  sailed  from  Carls- 
crona  the  22d  of  December,  bou:id  to  England,  consisting  of  five  English 
ships  of  war,  three  Swedish  ships  of  war,  and  twelve  merchant  vessels, 
principally  large  Prussians.  British  vessels  of  war,  viz. 

"  Salcctte  fri»ate,  drifted  from  the  Mahno  channel,  among  the  ice  in 
the  Baltic,  without  anchors  or  cables;  Magnet  gun-brig,  totally  wrecked 
the  llth  of  January,  near  Malnio,  crew  saved;  Argent  gun-brig,  sent  round 
by  the  Baltic  with  despatches,  the  28th  of  December;  Fama,  brig-cutter, 
totally  lost  in  Bornholm,  on  the  23d  of  December,  with  her  commander 
and  three  of  her  crew ;  Sacorner,  sloop-cutter,  totally  lost  near  Ystadtj 
crew  saved ;  Camilla,  frigate,  drifted  into  the  Baltic,  from  the  Mahno 
Channel,  without  anchors,  &c.  Wen  tali  t  a  brig-cutter,  drifted  through  the 
.Sound  the  6th  of  January,  and  got  into  the  Swedish  port  Toreko;  Frau«h- 
ton,  brig-cutter,  drifted  through  the  Sound  the  6ih  of  January,  and  got 
into  the  Swedish  port  \Varberg. 

"  The  names  of  the  merchant  vessels  chiefly  loaded  from  different  Rus- 
sian ports,  with  hemp,  &c. — Recommencement,  Captain  Kruger  burnt 
while  on  shore  in  the  Mahno  Channel  by  the  Danes,  on  the  17th  January; 
Britannia,  Anderson,  taken  by  the  Danes  the  9th;  JoshinaFortunaUsshen- 
dorf,  drifted  into  the  Baltic  with  Daues  on  board;  Satisfaction,  Becker, 


252      NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1809. 

drifted  through  the  Sound  the  6th  of  January,  and  not  since  heard  of; 
Four  Friends,  Grenson,  an  English  vessel,  taken  by  the  Danes  the  6th  of 
January;  Three  Davids,  Bulk, stranded  nearSkani,  cargo  saved;  Minorca, 
Wegner,  taken  by  the  Danes  the  10th  of  January;  Nadicashda,  Dottas, 
drifted  into  the  Baltic  without  anchors,  and  returned  with  Danes  on  board, 
•and  sunk  near  Malino,  crew  saved ;  Yeschkenshal,  Sandboy,  burnt  by  the 
Danes  while  on  shore  near  Malmo,  the  iSth  of  January  ;  Eneykeil,  Eliza- 
beth, and  another  galliot,  taken  by  the  Danes  near  Ilornbeck." 


ADJUDICATION  OF  PRIZE  CAUSES,  IN  THE  ADMIRALTY 
COURT. 

DOCTORS'-COIIMONS,    MARCH    1. 

RANGER,  Henderson,  master. — This  was  a  question  of  salvage.  The, 
vessel,  under  British  colours,  was  captured  by  a  French  privateer,  and 
afterwards  recaptured  by  the  exertions  of  the  mate  and  a  boy,  the  only 
part  of  the  crew  that  were  suffered  to  remain  on  board,  who,  when  the 
Frenchmen  were  below,  threw  the  companion-hatch  over  them,  and 
steered  for  the  English  coast,  when  they  were  met  by  one  of  his 
majesty's  ships,  who  took  possession  of  her,  and  claimed  as  joint  salvors. 
The  Court  pronounced  for  the  usual  salvage,  and  directed  that  the  male 
should  be  paid  SOI.  and  the  boy  101.  thereof,  and  the  remainder  to  be 
equally  shared  amongst  the  other  salvors. 

THE  ADVENTURE,  Lisby,  master. — This  British  vessel  was  also  cap- 
tured by  a  French  privateer,  and  recaptured  by  a  British  cruiser.  The 
Court  pronounced  for  one-sixth  salvage. 

ECONOMIE. — This  was  a  Danish  vessel  bound  from  Petersburg!!  to  Lis- 
bon, and  the  question  was  respecting  a  claim  for  a  certain  quantity  of 
goods  on  board.  The  Court  rejected  the  claim. 

ANNA  DOROTHEA,  Schroeder,  master. — This  vessel  was  under  Prussian 
colours,  in  ballast,  at  the  time  of  capture.  Ship  condemned. 


^Imperial  parliament, 

HOUSE  OF  LORDS. 

WEDNESDAY,  JANUARY  25. 

thanks  of  the  House  were  unanimously  voted  to  Rear-admirals 
De  Courcy  and  Sir  Samuel  Hood,  and  to  the  captains  and  officers  of 
the  fleet  under  their  command,  for  the  assistance  which  they  had  af« 
forded  to  the  British  array  at  Corunna. 

THURSDAY,  JANUARY  26. 

An  address  of  thanks  was  unanimously  voted  to  his  Majesty,  for  his 
communication  of  the  papers  relating  to  the  negotialion  for  peace,  pro- 
posed by  the  Emperor  of  Russia,  and  Buonaparte,  at  Erfurth. 


MAVAL   HISTORY   OF  THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  253 

FRIDAY,  FEBRUARY  17. 

Lord  Grenville  made  his  promised  motion  on  the  Orders  in  Council, 
(recommending  conciliatory  measures  towards  America,  and  the  rescind- 
ing the  Orders ;  assuring  his  Majesty  at  the  same  time,  that  the  House 
was  disposed  to  resist  all  novel  claims  on  the  part  of  America,  and  to 
maintain  the  maritime  rights  of  his  Majesty. 

Lord  Bathurst  went  into  a  discussion  of  the  French  decrees,  that  »ave 
rise  to  the  Orders  of  Council,  and  justified  the  expediency  of  the  latter, 
which  he  said  the  late  ministry  had  themselves  admitted  by  the  Orders 
pf  Council  issued  on  the  7th  of  January,  1807.  He  said,  that  whenever 
the  object  of  those  Orders  in  Council  should  be  effected,  that  of  brin^- 
ing  France  to  reason,  and  inducing  her  to  repeal  her  decree  against  our 
commerce,  then  would  his  Majesty  rescind  the  Orders  in  Council. 

When  the  question  was  put,  the  House  divided  on  Lord  Grenville'g 
motion — Contents  70 — Non-contents  115 — Majority  against  the  motion 
45. 

HOUSE  OF  COMMON'S. 
WEDNESDAY,  JANUARY  25. 

The  thanks  of  the  House  were  unanimously  voted  to  Rear-admirals 
De  Courcy  and  Sir  Samuel  Hood,  and  to  the  captains,  officers,  seamen, 
and  marines  of  the  fleet  which  they  commanded,  for  the  assistance 
which  they  had  afforded  in  the  embarkation  of  the  British  troops  at 
Corunna. 

TUESDAY,  JANUARY  31. 

Mr.  Canning  moved  an  address  to  his  Majesty,  thanking  him  for  his 
communication  of  the  papers,  &c.  respecting  the  proposal  of  peace  made 
from  Erfurth. 

Mr.  Whilliread  moved  an  amendment,  importing  a  censure  on  minis- 
try for  their  answer  to  the  overture,  as  unwise,  impolitic,  intemperate, 
&c. 

FRIDAY,  FEBRUARY  3. 

Mr.  Ward  moved,  in  a  Committee  of  Supply,  130,000  seamen  for 
1809,  including  31,400  marines. 
Wages  for  130,000   seamen   and   marines,  for  13  months, 

at  ll.  17s.  per  man  per  month ...=£3,126,000 

Wear  and  tear  of  ships  during  the  same  period,  at  ll.  19s. 

per  man  per  month ......... 3,295,500 

Victuals  for  ditto,  at  2l.  19s.  per  man  per  month 4,985,500 

Agreed  to. 

MONDAY,  FEBRUARY  20. 

Mr.  Pole  presented  several  papers  from  the  Admiralty,  one  of  which 
related  to  the  circumstance  of  Admiral  Montague,  declaring,  if  the 
Russian  Admiral,  in  the  Tagus,  did  not  haul  down  his  colours  before  sun- 
set, he  would  send  him  on  shore,  and  never  suffer  them  to  be  hoisted 
again, 


254  NAVAL   HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

MOMDAY,  FEBRUARY  27. 

Sir  C.  M.  Pole,  referring  to  the  Navy  Estimates  upon  the  table,  ob- 
served, that  an  additional  commissioner  had  been  appointed  at  the  Pay 
Board  ;  he  would  ask  then  how  it  was,  that  the  crew  of  a  64  gun  ship 
bad  lately  paraded  the  streets  of  London  for  want  of  pay,  and  had  been 
sent  back  to  their  ship?  He  thought  he  could  shew  that  of  late,  in  many 
departments  of  the  navy,  several  appointments  had  taken  place,  in  which 
patronage  was  more  consulted  than  the  interests  of  the  public  service. 
He  should  be  happy  to  hear  that  there  were  other  reasons  for  such  ap- 
pointments, than  being  merely  a  relative,  a  brother-in-law  of  some 
personage  high  in  office.  (Hear!  Hear!} 

Mr.  Wcllesley  Pole  said,  he  was  perfectly  ready  to  meet  the  hon. 
l>aronet  on  these  points.  The  hon.  baronet  had  been  pleased  to  represent 
a  ship's  company  (the  Standard),  as  assailing  the  Admiralty,  almost  in  a 
state  of  mutiny,  for  their  pay ;  but  the  fact,  when  it  came  to  be 
explained,  would  shew  there  was  no  foundation  for  such  insinuation.  The 
present  lords  of  the  Admiralty  had  lately  made  a  regulation,  that  when  a 
ship's  company  had  been  long  at  sea,  on  their  coming  home  they  should 
receive  their  pay,  and  leave  to  visit  their  friends.  The  Standard,  after 
feeing  long  on  a  foreign  station,  had  come  home  to  England,  and  the 
ship's  crew  got  leave  of  absence,  without  receiving  an  advance  of  pay, 
in  consequence  of  their  not  coming  exactly  within  the  general  regulation 
laid  down  by  the  Admiralty.  They  came  to  London,  and  represented" 
their  case  to  thelAdmiralty  in  the  most  respectful  manner.  They  were 
told  that  their  case  should  be  considered,  and  also  desired  to  return  to 
their  ship,  which  they  did  in  the  most  orderly  way.  Their  case  was 
taken  into  consideration,  and  they  obtained  an  advance  of  pay.  He 
•would  not  libel  the  character  of  British  seamen,  by  saying  there  was  any 
thing  like  a  mutiny  on  that  occasion.  The  honourable  baronet  had  also 
thrown  out  a  broad  insinuation  against  Lord  Mulgrave,  to  the  effect  that 
he  had  made  various  appointments  rather  from  personal  favour  to  indivi- 
duals that  a  sense  of  public  duty.  He  denied  the  charge.  The  appoint- 
ment to  the  office  of  commissioners  at  the  Navy  Board  had  been  made 
from  lists  given  in  by  the  other  lords  of  the  Admiralty,  containing  the 
names  of  many  captains :  and  the  appointments  had  taken  place  from 
seniority  alone,  without  the  persons  themselves  being  so  much  as  known 
by  the  noble  lord,  lie  could  also  stale,  that  the  business  at  the  Victual- 
ling Board  had  been  lately  carried  on  upon  the  most  vicious  and 
faulty  system;  and  it  was  absolutely  necessary,  in  order  to  abolish 
the  system,  that  those  at  the  head  of  it  should  be  removed.  This  had 
been  done,  and  successors  to  them  appointed  in  the  manner  he  had  stated 
above.  The  persons  now  appointed  were  a  Peter  Brown,  who  had  been 
long  a  purser  in  the  navy,  and  a  Mr.  Overs,  of  whom  the  noble  lord  at 
the  head  of  the  Admiralty  had  no  personal  knowledge  whatever.  When 
the  hon.  baronet  thought  fit  to  mention  a  brother-in-law,  he  conceived 
^he  allusion  must  Lave  been  to  Cplonel  Walsh,  who  is  married  to  a  sister 


KAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  255 

•f  Lady  Mulgrave.  Now  the  fact  was,  that  Mr.  Harrison,  the  gentleman 
whom  Colonel  Walsh  succeeded,  had  long  wished  to  resign  from  old  age, 
and  he  was  permitted  to  retire  with  a  pension  of  5001.  a-year.  Colonel 
Walsh,  who  was  appointed  in  his  room,  was  an  officer  who  had  b'een  long 
in  active  service  in  India,  a  man  perfectly  conversant  in  business,  and 
likely,  from  his  habits  and  talents,  to  be  of  public  service.  Was  there 
anything  like  a  job  in  this,  as  had  been  insinuated  ?  Unless  a  person  was 
bound  to  exclude  his  friends  and  relations  from  all  offices  to  which  he 
had  the  appointment  (a  doctrine  certainly  which  was  quite  absurd),  he 
did  not  see  that  Lord  Mulgrave  had  much  to  answer  for  in  this  appoint- 
ment. 

FRIDAT,    MARCH  3. 

The  Attorney  General  obtained  leave  to  bring  in  a  bill  for  altering 
and  amending  the  Police  of  Plymouth  Dock. 

MONDAY,    MARCH    6. 

Mr.  JVhitbread  made  the  following  motion  relating  to  America  :— 
"  That  an  humble  address  be  presented  to  his  majesty,  representing  to 
his  majesty,  that  in  consequence  of  the  decree  of  Berlin  of  the  enemy, 
the  orders  in  Council  had  been  issued  by  his  majesty's  government,  both 
equally  contrary  to  the  usages  of  nations;  that,  however,  it  had  been  at 
the  same  time  vested  in  his  majesty  to  rescind  these  orders  as  circum- 
stances might  require;  that  America,  feeling  the  danger  likely  to  accrue 
from  those  measures  to  the  neutral  trade,  had  laid  an  embargo  on  her 
ports,  prohibiting  all  commercial  intercourse  with  foreign  states;  that 
America,  willing  to  put  an  end  to  these  inconveniences,  and  finding  the 
enemy  to  persist  in  his  Berlin  decree,  had  made  an  offer  to  this  country 
to  remove  the  embargo  with  respect  to  us,  should  we,  on  the  other  hand, 
consent  to  rescind  the  orders  in  Council ;  that  this  offer,  on  the  part  of 
America,  was  Justin  its  principle,  and  advantageous  to  Great  Britain,  a* 
it  would  infallibly  secure  to  us  the  trade  of  America:  though  this  offer 
had  not  at  first  been  accepted,  that  we  still  believe  it  is  in  the  power  of 
his  majesty's  government  to  restore  a  good  understanding  between  the 
two  countries  ;  and  that  therefore  we  heartily  pray  his  majesty  may  be 
pleased  to  adopt  such  measures  as  are  calculated  to  restore  a  good  under- 
standing, and  to  re-establish  the  commercial  intercourse  between  thi* 
country  and  America." 

This  motion  was  negatived  by  1-15  against  83. 

THURSDAY,    MARCH     16. 

In  a  committee  on  the  Marine  Mutiny  bill,  Mr.  /?-  Jlrard  rose  to  answer 
*ome  observations  made  by  an  hon.  baronet  (Sir  C.  Pole),  on  a  former 
night,  respecting  the  pay  captains  of  the  marines.  The  statement  of  the 
hon.  baronet  was  totally  fallacious.  Those  paymasters  were  established 
under  the  administration  of  Lord  St.  Vincent ;  they  were  selected  from 
the  oldest  captains  in  that  service;  and  in  consideration  of  the  duty  of 
paymaster  allotted  them,  they  were  exempted  from  all  duty  afloat,  and 
kad  nothing  to  do  but  to  attend  courts-martial  in  the  places  where  they 


256  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAft,    ISO?. 

were  quartered ;  and  instead  of  having  imposed  on  them  the  duty  of 
paying  the  whole  body  of  marines,  amounting  to  32,000  men,  they  had 
not  above  one-fourth,  or  perhaps  one-sixth  of  the  whole,  for  the 
remainder  were  always  afloat,  and  the  pay  was  only  to  be  issued  to 
divisions  occasionally  landing,  even  for  this  purpose  they  had  Pay- 
masters'-serjeants  allowed  them,  and  had  only  toconlroul  their  accounts. 
With  respect  to  the  stoppages  of  one  day's  pay  in  a  year  from  the  marines 
to  Chelsea  Hospital,  from  which  they  derived  no  advantage,  he  found  no 
stoppage  whatever  was  made  from  the  privates,  except  for  Greenwich 
Hospital,  to  the  benefits  of  which  they  were  entitled,  in  common  with 
seamen ;  and  as  to  the  stoppage  of  a  day's  pay  in  each  year,  and  the 
poundage  of  five  per  cent,  upon  the  pay  of  officers,  it  was  handed  over 
to  the  War  Office  for  the  benefit  of  the  Widows'*  Fund  ;  which  the  relicts 
of  marine  officers  enjoyed  in  common  with  those  of  officers  of  the  line  f 
but  those  stoppages  had  never  been  made  since  the  year  1806,  as  the  pay 
was  issued  net,  to  all  officers  under  the  rank  of  colonel,  on  the  same  oot- 
ing  as  the  other  officers  of  the  army. 

Sir  Cliarfca  Pole  said,  he  still  held  the  same  opinion  with  respect  to  the 
situation  of  the  pay  captains.  He  was  wel!  informed,  they  had  a  regular 
ledger  account  to  keep  with  every  man  and  boy  in  the  marine  service,  for 
which  they  had  no  remuneration,  although  the  captains  of  marine  artil- 
lery, for  only  paying  their  own  companies,  had  2s.  per  day  additional 
pay.  Besides,  those  old  officers,  in  any  branch  of  the  service,  would  have 
been  entitled  to  majorities,  and  many  of  theui  now  would  have  been  old 
field-officers. 

Mr.  Wellesley  Pole  said,  it  was  the  intention  of  the  present  Board  of 
Admiralty  to  afford  to  the  marine  corps  every  practicable  and  reasonable 
indulgence.  But  there  was  a  mistake  with  respect  to  the  stoppages  front 
the  pay  of  marine  officers  in  general  for  the  Widow's  Fund.  No  such 
stoppages  were  now  made  but  from  officers  who  retired  on  full  pay  ; 
and  the  widows  of  the  marine  officers  received  their  pensions  at  the  War 
Office,  paid  by  the  public.  With  respect  to  the  situation  of  the  pay 
captains,  he  begged  leave  to  refer  the  hon.  baronet  to  a  petition,  pre- 
sented by  those  very  officers  to  the  Admiralty,  when  he  himself  was  at 
that  board,  praying  for  this  very  allowance,  which  the  hon.  baronet  now 
sought  to  obtain  for  them  ;  and  the  answer  then  given  to  their  petition 
•was,  that  the  birth  was  a  pretty  good  one,  and  it  was  very  desirable  it 
should  continue  to  exist ;  but  if  they  did  not  like  it  with  full  p;vy,  and 
exemption  from  all  other  duty,  they  might  take  their  turns  of  service: 
ever  since,  they  had  been  pretty  well  satisfied  to  remain  as  they  were. 
With  respect  to  the  Compassionate  List,  for  which  there  was  a  bill  now 
in  progress,  it  was  only  for  such  widows  and  orphans  as  were  not  entitled 
to  any  provision  otherwise;  nor  was  it  ever  thought  of  before  the  esta- 
blishment of  the  present  Admiralty  Boaid;  and  it  was  his  intention,  in 
the  committee  on  this  bill,  to  place  the  widows  of  marine  officers  on 
the  same  footing  in  this  respect  with  those  of  the  officers  of  the  navy  and 
army. 


JTAVAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  257 


on 

Copied  verbatim  from  the  LONDON  GAZETTE. 

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE,    MARCE    4,    1809. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Worth,  of  his  Myesty's  Sloop  Helena, 
dated  at  Sta,  28M  February  1809,  to  Admiral  Young,  Commander 
•in  Chief  at  Plymouth,  and  transmitted  by  the  latter  to  the  Hon.  W. 
W.  Pole. 


T  HAVE  the  honour  to  acquaint  you,  that  before  day-light  this  morning;  a 
suspicious  vessel  was  seen  coming  from  under  the  Dodman,  and  standing 
for  the  convoy  under  my  protection.  The  wind  being  very  light,  I  sent  the 
boats  after  her.  She  proved  to  be  I'Auguste,  of  St.  Maloes,  armed  with  two 
carriage  guns,  large  swivels,  and  twenty-four  men;  out  six  days  without 
making  any  captures.  She  sailed  in  company  with  the  Speculator  lugger,  of 
10  guns,  and  seventy  men,  parted  from  her  yesterday;  the  Speculator 
had  that  day  captured  two  brigs,  which  are  now  in  sight.  "  I  lost  no  time  in 
dispatching  my  First  Lieutenant,  who  was  in  charge  of  a  fast  sailing  brig, 
which  I  had  previously  captured,  after  one,  and  the  master,  with  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  men,  in  the  privateer,  after  the  other. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

J.  A.  WORTH. 

MARCH  7. 

Copy  qfa  Letter  from  the  Hon.  Robert  Stopford,  Rear-Admiral  of  the  Slue, 
to  the  Hon.  William  Wellesley  Pole,  dated  on  board  his  Majesty's  ship 
the  Caesar,  at  Anchor,  Baleine  Light-House,  N.E.byN.  Four  Miles, 
Chussiron  S.S.E.  Ten,  the  27th  February,  1809. 

SIR, 

You  will  be  pleased  to  acquaint  my  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admi- 
ralty, that  on  the  23d  instant,  being  at  anchor  to  the  N.W.  of  the  Chassiron, 
light-house,  with  the  ships  named  in  the  margin,*  the  Amethyst  looking  out 
in  the  N.W.  the  wind  being  to  the  eastward,  about  ten  P.M.  I  observed 
several  rockets  in  the  N.W.  quarter,  which  induced  me  to  get  under  sail, 
and  stand  towards  them.  At  eleven  observed  several  strange  sail  to  the 
eastward,  to  which  I  gave  chase  with  the  squadron  until  day-light  next 
morning;  at  which  time  the  strange  ships  were  standing  into  the  Pertuis 
d'Antioche,  consisting  of  eight  sail  of  the  line,  one  of  them  a  three  decker, 
and  two  frigates.  They  hoisted  French  colours,  and  conceiving  them  to  be 
the  squadron  from  Brest,  I  immediately  detached  the  Naiad  by  signal,  to 
acquaint  Admiral  Lord  Gambier. 

The  Naiad  having  stood  a  few  miles  to  the  N.W.  made  the  signal  for 
three  sail  appearing  suspicious,  I  immediately  chased  them  with  the  squa- 
dron under  my  command,  Heaving  the  Amethyst  and  Emerald  to  watch 
the  enemy,)  and  I  soon  discovered  them  to  be  three  French  frigates 
standing  in  for  the  Sable  d'Olonne;  I  was  at  the  same  time  joined  by  the 
Amelia  and  Dotterel. 

*  Caesar,  Defiance,  Donegal,  Emerald,  Naiad. 


258  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

The  French  frigates  having  anchored  in  a  position  which  I  thought  s&- 
tackahle,  I  stood  in  with  the  Caesar,  Defiance,  Donegal,  and  Amelia,  and 
opened  our  fire  in  passing  as  near  as  the  depth  of  the  water  would  permit 
the  Caesar  and  Donegal  to  go.  The  Defiance  being  of  much  less  draught 
of  water,  anchored  within  half  a  mile  of  them  ;  in  which  situation,  so  judi- 
ciously chosen  by  Captain  Hothatn,  the  fire  of  the  Defiance  and  the  other 
ships  obliged  two  of  the  frigates  to  cut  their  cables  and  go  on  shore.  The  / 
ebb  tide  making,  and  the  water  falling  fast,  obliged  the  Defiance  to  get 
under  sail,  and  all  the  ships  to  stand  out ;  leaving  all  the  frigates  ashore, 
two  of  them  heeling  much.  They  have  been  noticed  closely,  and  from 
Captain  Rodd's  report  yesterday  afternoon,  they  appeared  with  all  their 
topmasts  on  deck,  sails  unbent,  main- yards  rigged  for  getting  guns  out,  and 
several  boats  clearing  them.  I  fancy  they  will  endeavour  to  get  over 
the  bar  into  a  small  pier,  but  I  am  informed  by  the  pilots  that  it  is 
scarcely  practicable. 

The  batteries  protecting  these  frigates  are  strong  and  numerous.  The 
Caesar  had  her  bowsprit  wounded  and  rigging  cut.  The  Defiance  has  all 
her  masts  badly  wounded;  two  men  killed,  and  twenty-five  wounded. 
Donegal,  one  killed  and  six  wounded. 

The  French  frigates  had  been  out  from  POrient  two  days;  and,  by  Cap- 
tain Irby's  report,  appear  to  be  the  Italienne,  Calypso,  and  Furieuse.  I 
am  very  confident  they  will  never  go  to  sea  again.  I\Jy  chief  object  in 
attacking  tLese  frigates  so  near  a  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  was  to  en- 
deavour to  draw  them  out,  and  to  give  our  squadron  more  time  to  assemble; 
but  in  this  I  was  disappointed.  I  returned  to  the  Chassiron  at  sun-set,  and 
observed  the  enemy  anchored  in  Basque  roads. 

On  the  25th  I  was  joined  by  Captain  Beresford,  in  the  Theseus,  with  the 
Triumph,  Revenge,  Valiant,  and  Indefatigable,  I  therefore  resumed  the 
blockade  of  the  enemy's  ships  in  Basque  Roads,  and  shall  continue  it  till 
further  orders. 

The  enemy's  force  consists  of  eleven  sail  of  the  line,  four  frigates,  and 
the  Calcutta.  The  force  under  my  command  consists  of  seven  sail  of  tiie 
line  and  five  frigates. 

*    I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

ROB.  STOPFORD. 

"Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Contain  Seymour,  of  his  Majesty's  ship  Amethyst, 
to  Rear-Admiral  Stafford,  dated  near  Chassiron,  Feb.  27,  1000. 

Yesterday  the  26th  the  whole  weighed  from  Basque  Roads,  and  proceeded 
to  the  Isle  d'Aix  anchorage,  one  frigate  excepted,  which  run  aground  on 
the  shoals  near  Isle  Madame,  called  les  Palles,  and  after  endeavouring  to 
force  her  off  by  press  of  sail  she  failed,  and  unrigged. 

The  enemy  are  anchored  from,  to  the  southward  of  the  Isle  of  Aix,  to  the 
northward  of  the  end  of  the  Boyart,  with  top  gallant  y^arcls  across,  but  not 
in  a  line  of  battle,  or  apparent  order  of  defence  ;  and,  I  conclude,  gone  in 
from  not  knowing  our  force;  but  seeing  our  numbers  increased,  they  have 
a  third  cable  bent  to  the  anchor  in  the  main  chains,  and  stopped  along  their 
side.  No  movement  to-day. 

MARCH  1 1. 

Copy  cf  a  Letter  from  Vice-admiral  Lord  Colling&ood,  Commander-in-chief 
of  hit  Majesty  i  Ships  and  VeastU  in  the  Meditei  ranean,  to  the  Hon.  W, 
— W,  PolCf.  dated  oil  board  the  Ocean,   at  Malta,  the  20th  of  January, 
J8Q9. 

si  a, 
The  Iinperieuse  having,  with  other  ships,  been  employed  in  the  Bay  of 


NAVAL    HISTOIIY   OF  THE   PRESENT     YEAR,    1809.  259 

Rosas,  to  assist  the  Spaniards  in  defending  that  fortress,  and  Captain  Lord 
{Jochrane  taken  on  him  the  defence  of  Trinity  Castle,  an  outwork  of  that 
•garrison,  I  have  received  from  him  a  letter,  dated  the  5th  December,  a. 
<;opy  of  which  is  inclosed,  stating  the  surrender  of  the  citadel  of  Rosas  by 
the  Spaniards  on  that  day,  and  of  his  having  embarked  the  garrison  of 
Trinity  Castle  on  board  the  ships,  which  castle  he  had  however 
destroyed. 

The  heroic  spirit  and  ability  which  has  been  evinced  by  Lord  Cochrane 
in  defending  this  castle,  although  so  shattered  in  its  works,  against  the 
repeated  attacks  of  the  enemy,  is  an  admirable  instance  of  his  Lordship's 
zeal;  and  the  distinguished  conduct  of  Lieutenants  Johnson  and  Hoare,  of 
the  royal  marines,  and  the  officers  and  men  employed  in  this  affair 
tinder  his  Lordship,  will  doubtless  be  very  gratifying  to  my  Lords  Com- 
missioners of  the  Admiralty. 

I  have,  &c.  COLLTNGWOOD. 

Laperieutf,  Bay  of  Rosas, 

MY  LORD,  December  5,  1808. 

The  Fortress  of  Rosas  being  attacked  by  an  army  of  Italians  in  the  ser- 
vice of  France,  in  pursuance  of  discretionary  orders  that  your  lordship  had 
given  me,  to  assist  the  Spaniards  wherever  it  could  be  dune  with  the  most 
•effect,  I  hastened  here.  The  citadel,  on  the  22d  ultimo,  was  already  half 
invested,  and  the  en-emy  making  his  approaches  towards  the  south-west 
bastion,  which  your  lordship  knows  was  blown  down  last  war  by  the  ex- 
plosion of  a  magazine,  and  tumbled  into  the  ditch;  a  few  thin  planks  and 
dry  stones  had  been  put  up  by  the  Spanish  engineers,  perhaps  to  hide  the 
defect;  all  things  were  in  the  most  deplorable  state,  both  without  and 
within;  even  measures  for  their  powder,  and  saws  for  their  fusees  were  not 
to  be  had — hats  and  axtrs  supplied  their  place.  The  castle  of  Trinidad, 
.situated  on  an  eminence,  but  commanded  by  heights,  was  also  invested; 
three  twenty-four  pounders  battered  in  breach,  to  which  a  fourth  was  after- 
wards added,  and  a  passage  through  the  wall  to  the  lower  bomb  proof  being 
nearly  erlected,  on  the  53d  the  marines  of  the  Fame  were  withdrawn.  I. 
went  to  examine  the  state  of  the  castle,  and,  as  the  senior  officer  in  the  bay 
had  not  officially  altered  the  orders  I  received  from  your  Lordship,  to  give 
every  possible  assistance  to  the  Spaniards,  I  thought  this  a  good  oppor- 
tunity, bv  occupying  a  post  on  which  the  acknowledged  safety  of  the  citadel 
depended,  to  render  tticni  an  effectual  service.  The  garrison  then  consisted 
of  about  eighty  Spaniards,  and  were  on  the  point  of  surrendering;  accord- 
ingly I  threw  nivself  into  it,  with  fifty  seamen  and  thirty  marines  of  the 
linperieuse.  The  arrangement  made  I  need  not  dotsiil  to  your  Lordship ; 
suffice  it  to  say,  that  about  one  thousand  bags,  besides  barrels  and  pali- 
sadoes,  supplied  the  place  of  walls  and  ditches;  and  that  the  enemy,  who 
assaulted  the  castle  on  the  30th,  with  a  thousand  picked  men,  were  repulsed 
with  the  l-.ss  of  their  commanding  othcer,  storming  equipage,  and  all  who 
had  attempted  to  mount  the  breaclu  The  Spanish  garrison  being  changed, 
gave  good  assistance;  and  Lieutenant  Botmnao,  of  the  regiment  of  Ulto- 
,nia,  who  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  Spanish  soldiers  in  the  castle, 
•on  Captain  Fitzgerald's  being  wounded  in  the  hand,  deserves  every  thing 
his  country  can  do  for  an  active  and  gallant  officer.  Inocenti  Maranger, 
cadet  of  the  same  regiment,  particularly  distinguished  himself  by  his  ztal 
and  vigilance.  As  to  the  officers,  seamen,  and  marines  of  this  ship,  the 
fatigues  they  underwent,  and  the  gallant  manner  in  which  they  behaved, 
deserve  every  praise.  1  must,  however,  particularly  mention  Lieutenant 
Johnson  of  the  navy,  Lieutenant  Hoare  of  the  marines,  Mr.  Bnrney, 
•gunner,  Mr.  Lodwick,  carpenter,  and  Messrs.  Stewart,  Stovin,  and  Maryat, 
midshipmen. 


260     NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1809. 

Captain  Hall,  of  the  Lucifer,  at  all  times  and  in  every  way,  gave  his 
zealous  assistance.  I  feel  also  indebted  to  Captain  Collins,  of  the  Meteor, 
for  his  aid. 

The  citadel  of  Rosas  capitulated  at  twelve  o'clock  this  day.  Seeing,  my 
Lord,  further  resistance  in  the  castle  of  Trinidad  useless  and  impracticable 
against  the  whole  army,  the  attention  of  which  had  naturally  turned  to  its 
reduction,  after  firing  the  trains  for  exploding  the  magazines,  we  embarked 
in  the  boats  of  the  Magnificent,  Impeneuse,  and  Fame. 

I  have,  &c.  COCHRANE. 

List  of  Killed  and  Wounded,  between  the  23d  November  and  5th  Decem- 
ber, 1808. 

John  Lloyd,  marine,  killed ;  John  Hitchins,  ditto,  ditto;  William  Fawkes, 
ditto,  ditto;  four  seamen  and  three  marines  wounded. 

Spaniards  of  the  Regiment  of  Ultonia. 
Two  killed,  five  wounded. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  the  Honourable  Rear- Admiral  Stafford  to  the 
Honourable  W.  W.  Pole,  dated  Cassar,  at  Anchor,  March  2/1809,  Ckas- 
siron  Light  House  S.  E.  \  S.  Eleven  Miles }  Balcine  Light  House  N.E. 
Four  Miles.  Wind  North. 

The  enemy's  ships  remain  at  Tsle  d'Aix.  On  the  28th  I  closely  recon- 
noitred them  in  the  Caesar,  and  only  counted  ten  sail  of  the  line,  four  fri- 
gates, and  the  Calcutta.  The  eleventh  ship  of  the  line  was  observed  on  her 
beam  ends,  with  all  her  masts  gone,  and  apparently  bilged.  She  grounded 
upon  the  shoal  called  les  Palles,  within  PIsle  d'Aix;  and  is  the  same  ship 
mentioned  in  my  letter  of  the  27th  ultimo,  supposed  by  Captain  Seymour 
to  have  been  a  frigate.  From  many  circumstances,  I  apprehend  this  ship 
is  the  Warsaw,  a  new  eighty.  There  are  two  rear-admiral's  flags  and  a 
broad  pendant  at  the  main.  One  rear-admiral  is  on  board  the  three 
decker. 

The  enemy's  frigates  remain  at  the  Sables  d'Olonne.  One  of  them  is 
abandoned  by  the  crew,  and  bilged  upon  the  beach;  another  is  hauled  up 
close  to  the  opening  of  a  small  inlet,  but  grounding  every  tide;  and  the 
third  is  in  the  same  situation,  but  not  quite  so  near  the  inlet.  These  two 
sail  appear  to  float  at  high  water,  but  are  on  their  beam  ends  at  low  water; 
a  western  swell,  which  has  set  in,  will  completely  destroy  them. 

The  loss  of  a  French  line-of-battle  ship  is  confirmed  by  the  masters  of 
three  doggers  which  came  out  of  the  Charante,  and  were  boarded  in  the 
night  by  our  frigates,  but  they  did  not  know  her  name. 

I  st-nd  this  account  to  England  by  the  King  George  cutter,  and  a  similar 
report  for  the  information  of  Admiral  Lord  Gambier,  in  the  event  of  the 
latter  falling  in  with  his  lordship  on  her  passage. 

MARCH  14. 

Vice-admiral  Doyglr.s,  commandcr-in-chief  at  Yarmouth,  has  transmitted 
to  the  Hon.  William  Wellesley  Pole,  a  letter  from  Captain  Hole,  of  his 
Majesty's  sloop  the  Egeria,  giving  an  account  of  his  having  captured  on  the 
2d  instant  off  the  Scaxv,  the  Danish  national  cutter  Aalborg,  of  six  guns, 
and  twenty-five  men,  bound  to  Norway  with  army  clothing. 

Mr.  Stewart,  commander  of  the  Lord  Nelson  packet,  had  brought  the 
above  vessel  to  close  action,  and  assisted  in  her  capture. 


NAVAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  261 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Vice-admiral  Sir  J.  B.  Warren,  Barf,  and  K.  B. 
Commander  in  Chief  of -his  Majesty"  s  Ships  and  Vessels  at  Halifax,  to  the 
tion.  W.  W.  Pole,  dated  Bermuda,  January  27,  1809. 

SIR, 

I  have  the  honour  herewith  to  enclose,  for  their  lordships'  information, 
the  copy  of  a  letter  I  have  received  from  Captain  Wales  giving;  an  account 
of  the  French  privateer  Becune  having  been  captured  by  the  Ferret. 

I  hare  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

J.  B.  WARREN. 

SIR,  His  Majesty's  Sloop  Ferret,  Oct.  27,  1808. 

I  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  you,  that  yesterday  his  Majesty's  sloop 
under  my  command,  after  a  chase  of  four  hours,  came  up  with  and  cap- 
tured la  Becune,  French  privateer  schooner,  mounting  one  long  nine- 
pounder  amidships,  and  two  carronades.  small  arms,  &c.  with  a  complement 
of  thirty-eight  men.  She  is  coppered,  and  sails  very  fast;  out  ten  days 
from  Martinique  on  a  three  months'  cruize,  and  has  one  made  capture. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

11.  WALES. 

To  the  Right  Hon.  Sir  J.  B.  Warren,  Bart.  K.  B, 
Vice-admiral  of  the  White,  and  Commander  in 
Chief,  4-c.  4-c.  $<-. 

Copy  of  another  Letter  from  Vice-admiral  Sir  J.  B.  Warren,  Bart,  and  K.B. 
to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole,  dated  Bermuda,  the  Id  of  February  last. 

SIR, 

I  have  inclosed  a  letter  for  their  lordships'  information  from  Captain 
Hawker,  of  his  Majesty's  ship  Melampus,  who,  with  his  usual  activity  and 
zeal,  has  captured,  after  some  resistance,  the  French  corvette  Colibri,  of 
fourteen  twenty-four  pounder  carronades  and  two  long  eight-pounders, 
with  a  complement  of  ninety-two  men,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  de 
Vaisseau  des  Landes,  and  having  on  board  570  barrels  of  Hour,  and  a  great 
quantity  of  gunpowder,  for  the  relief  of  the  enemy's  islands.  The  above 
vessel  is  new  off  the  stocks,  and  of  a  superior  class  of  workmanship; 
coppered  and  fastened,  and  appears  well  calculated  for  his  Majesty's  service. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

J.  B.  WARREN, 

jflis  Majesty's  Ship  Melampus,  at  Seat 

SJTR,  29th  January,  1809. 

Having  seen  the  transports  in  safety  to  Barbadoes  agreeably  to  your 
orders,  ami.  being  on  my  return  to  the  northward  on  the  16th  instant,  in  lat. 
19  deg.  30  rain.  long.  59  deg.  39  min.  the  Melampus  captured  the  French 
national  brig  le  Colibri,  Mons.  Desjandes,  lieutenant  de  vaisseau,  com- 
mander, of  sixteen  twenty-four  pounder  carronades  and  ninety-two  men, 
three  of  which  were  killed,  a  lieutenant  with  eleven  wounded,  through  the 
persevering  endeavours  of  her  commander  to  escape,  who  had  the  temerity 
to  return  our  fire  for  a  short  time  when  fairly  alongside.  She  is  quite  new; 
from  Cherbourg,  bound  with  a  cargo  of  flour  and  gunpowder  for  the  relief 
of  St.  Domingo;  had  taken  and  sunk  two  English  brigs  from  Newfoundland 
to  Lisbon,  (the  Hannibal  and  Priscilla  of  Dartmouth.) 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

E.  HAWKER. 

Vice-Admiral  Sir  John  Borlase  Warren,  Bart.  $c. 


562  NAVAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESENT   TEAR,    1809. 

ipromotions  anU  appointments* 

Captain  Moorsom,  private  secretary  to  Lord  Mulgravc,  has  succeeded 
Captain  Hope,  as  one  of  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty. 

Captain  Hamond  is  appointed  to  the  Victorious  ;  Captain  John  Bligh  to 
the  Valiant,  vice  Kerr,  acting  ;  Captain  Alexander  Robert  Kerr  to  the  Re- 
venge; Captain  Cocks  to  the  Naiad,  vice  Dundas;  Captain  Edward  Ster- 
ling Dickson  to  the  Inconstant;  Captain  Serrel  to  the  Helder,  late  Guel- 
derland,  Dutch  frigate  captured  by  the  Phoenix;  Captain  Morris  of  the 
Magnet,  to  the  command  of  the  sea-fencibles  at  Lynn,  in  Norfolk;  Cap- 
tain Bvam,  late  of  the  Bermuda,  to  the  Oppossum;  Captain  Thompson  of 
the  Minotaur  to  the  Perlin  ;  Captain  Phillip  Sommerville,  of  the  Nemesis, 
to  die  Rosa;  Captain  Henderson  to  the  Champion,  vice  Crawford;  Captain 
Henry  Whitby  to  the  Cerberus;"  Capt.  Richard  If.  Pearson,  eldest  son  of 
the  late  Sir  Richard  Pearson,  lieutenant-governor  of  Greenwich  hospital, 
to  the  Dictator;  Captain  Zachariah  Mudge,  to  the  Phoenix;  Captain  Major 
Henniker  to  the  Mermaid;  Captain  Hugh  Cook  to  the  Diomede;  Captaiu 
W.  Ferris,  to  the  Nemesis;  Captain  R.  T.  Hancock  to  the  Foudroyant; 
Captain  Jos.  Bi"gham,  to  the  Sceptre;  Captain  Thomas  Usher  to  the  Ley- 
den  ;  Captain  Hew  Steuart  to  the  Renard ;  Capt.  Jos.  R.  Watson  to  the 
Alfred ;  Captain  William  Mather  to  the  Rapid;  Captain  W.  Sanders  to  the 
Vesuvius ;  and  Captain  Alexander  Renney  to  the  Alert. 

Colonel  Richard  Williams,  of  the  royal  marines,  is  appointed  to  be  2d 
colonel  commandant  of  the  Plymouth  division;  Colonel  L.  Desborough  to 
be  2d  commandant  at  Chatham ;  Colonel  James  Meredith  to  be  ad  com- 
mandant at  Portsmouth ;  and  Colonel  Richard  Hill  Fanner  to  be  2d  com- 
mandant at  Woolwich, 

Majors  Robert  Moncreet,  James  CasscI,  and  Lewis  Charles  Mears  are 
appointed  lieutenant-colonels  of  the  Plymouth  division;  and  Major  John 
M'Intosh,  lieutenant-colonel  at  Portsmouth. 

.  Captain  Thomas  Davey  is  appointed  to  be  a  major  of  the  Woolwich  di- 
vision; Captain  Robert  Smith,  ditto  at  Woolwich;  Captain  Richard  Wil- 
liams, late  commander  of  the  royal  marine  artillery,  to  be  a  major  of  the 
Portsmouth  division;  and  Captain  James  Errol  Gordon,  to  be  a  major  of 
Woolwich  ditto.  / 

• 

Lieutenants  appointed. 

Lieutenant  Thomas  Davis  is  appointed  to  the  Weasel;  the  Hon.  J.  A. 
Maude  to  the  Ville  de  Paris;  Henry  Gary  to  ditto;  James  Brasier  to  the 
Alfred;  James  N.  Taylcr  to  the  Victorious;  Robert  John  Fayrer  to  the  Ni- 
jaden;  Edward  Kelly  to  the  Lynx;  Charles  Adams  to  the  St.  George ;  John 
Rude  to  the  Implacable  ;  Samuel  Mann  to  the  Standard ;  John  Hi^gins  to 
the  Badger;  George  Hay  to  the  Vulture;  G.  B.  Maxwell  to  the  Victory; 
Richard  Williams  (2)  to  the  Helder;  James  M'Ghie  to  ditto;  Michael  No- 
vosielski  to  the  Repulse;  James  Thomas  to  the  Raven;  Charles  C.  Dobson 
to  the  Brevdrageren ;  Henry  Rokeby  to  the  Crocus;  John  Armstrong  to  the 
Illustrious;  Edward  Fliu  to  the  Castor;  D.  Philpot  to  the  Myrtle;  Richard 
Welch  to  the  Surly  cutter;  Thomas  John  Ley  to  the  Standard;  William 
Pearce  (2)  to  ditto;  Charles  Letch  to  the  Plover;  John  Boulton  to  the  1m- 
petueuxj  E.  Turner  to  the  Ruby;  C.  Ilaultain  to  the  Decade;  Edward  S. 
Cotgrave  to  the  Achates;  William  Webb  (2)  to  the  Dreadnought;  William 
Nicholson  to  the  Resolution;  Wm.  C.  Hillyar  to  the  llovalist ;  John  Bucke 
to  the  Impetuetix  ;  Samuel  Slout  to  the  Champion  ;  John  Alexander  (2)  to 
the  Glomen ;  William  M.  Wyatt  to  the  Sparrow-hawk;  Matthew  Daven- 
hill  to  the  Childers;  John  Roberts  (2)  to  the  Gluckstadt;  John  R.  Colraau 


NAVAL   H-ISTORY   OF  THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  263 

to  tbe  Princess  of  Orange;  Edmund  Bennett  to  the  Africa;  George  Young 
to  the  Bermuda;  Thomas  Kingston  to  the  Tyrian ;  Lewis  Campbell  to  die 
Phcenix;  Doweil  O'Reilly  to  the  Tisiphone;  Walter  Croker  to  the  Aided  ; 
Wm.  Broad  water  to  the  Princess;  Thomas  Carter  to  the  Minotaur;  Magnes 
M*  Kelly  to  the  Phoenix;  Ethelbert  Turner  to  the  Rota,  commission  for  the 
Ruby  cancelled ;  William  Hoe  Walker  to  the  Euryalus;  Charles  Augustus 
Baumgart  to  the  Gibraltar;  James  G.  Harrington  to  the  Eagle;  Charles  Hill 
to  the  Rota;  Henry  L.  Baker  to  the  Ea-^le;  George  Elliott  to  the  Dictator; 
John  Greeiilaw  to  the  Naiad;  John  Mann  to  the  Ephira;  John  Ellis  to  the 
Vesuvius. 

Lieutenants  A.  Anderson,  II.  Garthwaite,  Frederick  Delmont  and  T.  J. 
Matthews  are  appointed  captains  of  the  royal  marines;  and  2d  Lieutenants 
Henry  Doswell,  G.  J.  Richardso-),  W.  L.  Wigg,  and  Wm.  Gray  1st  lieu- 
tenants of  the  said  corps. 

List  of  midshipmen  passed  for  lieutenants  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  the 
month: — William  Wade  West,  Robert  Speirs,  Edward  William  Pitt,  Thos. 
Robbins,  William  Henry  Rowcroft,  Richard  Langdon;  William  Roberts, 
Charles  Butts,  George  Peters  Browne,  Charles  Coppen,  George  Renny, 
Jarnes  Reid,  Wm.  Syfrett,  Jos.  Churchill,  Simon  Edward  Antram,  J.  G. 
Gordon. 

Surgeons  appointed. 

Mr.  W.H.  Bull  is  promoted  to  the  rank  of  surgeon,  and  appointed  to  the 
Tyrian  sloop;  Andrew  Gewmel  to  the  Cherokee;  Richard  Thompson  to 
the  Impetueux ;  Stephen  Jones  t«  the  Rhodian;  John  Oickson,  from  the 
Zebra,  to  the  Bermuda;  Walter  Steel,  assistant  of  the  Implacable,  surgeon 
of  the  Achates;  J«hn  Adams  to  the  Raven;  Francis  Jotmstoue  to  the  Hel- 
der;  H.  Baillie  to  the  Lavinia;  John  Edwards  to  the  Rapid  sloop;  Cuthbert 
Eden  to  the  Galgo;  William  Davis  to  the  Thetis;  J.  S.  L.  Miehad  to  the 
Linnet;  Hugh  Monk  to  the  Phcenix  ;  James  Wade  to  1' Argus;  William 
Dingwall,  from  the  Nemesis,  to  the  Rota;  Evau  Edwards  to  the  Eagle; 
H.  Hutchison  to  the  Crown  prison  ship;  Joseph  Arnold  to  the  Hindostan; 
William  M'Laughlin,  from  the  Brunswick,  to  the  Sceptre;  Jos.  Olliver  to 
the  Tigress;  James  Carroll  to  the  Pluto  sloop ;  L.  Armstrong  to  the  Clyde; 
D.James  to  the  Cerberus;  H.  Baillie  to  the  Naiad;  Jarnes  Hoi  brook  to 
the  Wrangler;  John  Adams  to  the  Helder;  William  Wilson  to  the  Neme- 
sis; James  Milligan,  from  the  Trusty,  to  the  Princess  of  Oraijge. 

Mr.  Robert  Mulberry,  surgeon  of  the  Ville  de  Paris,  who  performed  the 
operation  on  Lieutenant-general  Sir  David  Baird,  after  the  battle  of  Co- 
runna,  is  appointed,  by  the  Lords  of  die  Admiralty,  to  be  surgeon  of  the 
division  of  royal  marines,  at  Chatham. 

A.  Dalrymple,  Esq.  purser  of  his  Majesty's  hospital  ship  Tromp,  is  ap- 
pointed to  the  The  ban,  a  new  frigate. 

Assistants  appointed. 

Mr.  G.T.  Webb  is  appointed  to  be  assistant  surgeon  of  his  Majesty's  ship 
Eagle;  Mr.  J.  Dunthorn,  from  Plymouth  hospital,  to  the  Gibraltar;  Win. 
Hector  to  ditto;  Wm.  Porteous,  from  the  Alpaca  cutter,  to  be  an  hospital 
mate  at  Haslar;  Wm.  Bland,  to  be  an  hospital  mate  at  Plymouth;  Archi- 
bald Robertson  to  be  an  assistant  of  the  Caledonia;  J.  F.  Bailey  to  the 
Protector  gun-brig;  H.  D.  Morrison  to  be  an  hospital  mute  at  Barbadoes 
hospital;  Win.  Chrichton  to  be  an  hospital  mate  at  Plymouth;  Alexander 
Osborue  to  be  an  assistant  surgeon  on  board  the  Bellona;  James  Forrie  to 
the  Victory;  James  Carrol  to  the  Martial  gun-brig;  S.  J.  Dickeuson  to 
the  Thetis;  and  Richard  Morgan  to  be  au  hospital  mate  at  Haslar. 


264     NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1809* 

BIRTHS. 

Lately,  at  Blackheath,  the  lady  of  Captain  Thomas  Larkins,  of  the  HOD. 
East  India  Company's  service,  of  a  daughter. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  the  lady  of  Captain  Hawtayne,  of  the  royal  navy, 
of  a  daughter. 

Lately,  the  lady  of  Captain  Pultney  Malcolm,  of  a  son. 

In  Charles-street,  St.  James's-square,  the  lady  of  Robert  Mitford, 
Esq.  brother  to  Captain  Mitford  who  was  unfortunately  lost  in  his  Majes- 
ty's ship  York,  of  a  son. 


MARRIAGES. 

At  St.  Mary-le-bone  church,  Captain  Peter  Parker,  of  his  Majesty's  ship 
Melpomene,  son  of  the  late  Vice-admiral  C.  Parker,  and  grandson  of  Sir 
Peter  Parker,  admiral  of  the  fleet,  to  Miss  Marrianue  Dallas,  second 
daughter  of  Sir  George  Dallas,  Bart. 

At  Winterhorhe,  in  Wilts,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Goddard,  Lieutenant  Henry 
Haytfard  Budd,  of  the  royal  navy,  to  Miss  Turkey,  daughter  to  John  Tur- 
key, Esq.  of  that  place. 

On  the  16th  of  March,  at  Mary-le-bone  church,  Captain  Woodley  Lo- 
sack,  of  the  royal  navy,  to  Miss  Gordon,  only  daughter  of  the  late  George 
Gordon,  Esq. — Viscount  Melville  gave  Miss  Gordon  away. 

On  the  18th  of  March,  by  his  Grace  the  Archbishop  of  York,  Captain  T. 
le  M.  Gosselin,  of  the  royal  navy,  to  Miss  Hadsley,  eldest  daughter  of  the 
late  J.  II.  Hadsley,  Esq.  of  Ware  Priory,  Herts. 


OBITUARY. 

On  the  5th  of  March,  at  his  mother's  house  in  South  Wales,  Maurice 
Beauchamp  Bissel,  Esq.  of  the  royal  navv,  nephew  to  Walter  Bagenal, 
Esq.  M.  P. 

Lately,  after  a  long  and  painful  illness,  which  she  bore  with  unshaken 
fortitude,  Miss  Percival,  only  sister  of  Lieutenant  Thomas  Percival,  of  his 
Majesty's  ship  Valiant. 

Lately,  was  unfortunately  drowned  at  Bermuda,  by  the  boat  upsetting, 
Lieutenant  Ram  of  the  royal  navy,  brother  of  Lieutenant  Ram,  who  fell  in 
the  glorious  victory,  off  Trafalgar,  on  board  the  Victory. 

Also,  at  the  same  time,  Captain  Peake,   of  the  royal  marines. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  in  consequence  of  a  duel  with  P.  Powell,  Esq.  the 
Right  Hon.  Lord  Viscount  Falkland,  a  captain  in  his  Majesty's  navy,  and 
premier  viscount  of  Scotland.  He  is  succeeded,  in  his  titles,  by  his  eldest 
son,  who  is  about  live  years  old. 

Lately,  at  Chatham,  Mr.  Skinner,  surgeon  of  the  royal  marine  infirmary, 
at  that  place. 

In  the  royal  hospital  at  Haslar,  on  the  18th  of  March,  of  a  typhus  fever, 
Mr.  William  Bragg,  surgeon  of  his  Majesty's  prison  ship  San  Antonio.  He 
had  been  upwards  of  20  years  a  surgeon  in  the  royal  navy,  and  was  much 
respected  for  his  gentlemanly  conduct. 


; 


Street. 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  PUBLIC  SERVICES 


OF 


ADMIRAL  SIR  C.  M,  POLE,   BART.  3VI.P. 


"  Spotless  Integrity  in  a  brave  and  a  firm  mind." 


men  have  served  their  conntry  more  faithfully  than  this 
officer,  and  still  fewer  in  this  age  of  egotism  and  vanity,  have 
taken  so  little  pains  to  make  (heir  services  known. 

Mr.  C.  Pole,  the  son  of  Reginald  Pole,  Esq.  of  Stoke  Damarell, 
in  Devonshire,  and  of  Anne,  second  daughter  of  John  Francis 
Buller,  Esq.  of  Morval,  in  Cornwall,  was  born  at  Stoke  on  the 
18th  of  January,  1757.  He  is  a  descendant  from  the  eminent 
family  of  Pole,  belonging  to  Shute,  in  Devonshire,  being  great 
grandson  of  Sir  John  Pole,  the  third  baronet,  and  of  Anne}/ 
youngest  daughter  of  Sir  William  Morice,  Krrt.  one  of  the  secre- 
taries of  state  to  Charles  II. 

Mr.  Charles  Pole  received  the  first  rudiments  of  his  education  at 
<he  grammar  school  at  Plympton,  and  thence  was  entered  at  tliti 
Royal  Academy  at  Portsmouth,  June  18,  1770.  After  having 
gone  through  the  plan,  which  is  prescribed  for  the  midshipmen 
brought  up  at  that  institution,  he  embarked  with  the  early  patron 
of  Nelson,  Captain  Locker,  in  his  Majesty's  ship  Thames,*  of  32 
guns,  in  which  he  served  until  December  1773  ;  when  he  was  dis- 
charged into  the  Salisbury.  It  was  on  board  this  ship  that  Sir 
E.  Hughes  afterwards  hoisted  his  broad  pendant,  Captain  G.  R. 
Walters,  and  proceeded  to  the  East  Indies  in  1774.  Previous  to 
the  sailing  of  the  squadron,  Mr.  Pole  commenced  an  intimate 
friendship  with  a  young  seaman,  Horatio  Nelson,  -who  was  then 
in  the  Seahorse.  Captain  Farmer.  —  Mr.  Pole  afterwards  received 
liis  first  commission  as  lieutenant  of  the  Seahorse,  then  commanded 
by  that  most  able  officer,  Captain  Panton.  Soon  after  Sir  Edward 
Vernon  arrived  in  India  to  supsrcede  Commodore1  Hughes,  a 
war  with  France  commenced,  when  Lieutenant  Pole  was  removed 

*  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  V.  page  112. 
Jfcac.  eijjron,  Slot.  XXL  w  M 


266  MEMOIR     OF    THE    PUBLIC     SERVICES     OF 

from  the  Seahorse  to  the  commodore's  ship  the  Rippon.  The  first 
operations  of  that  campaign  in  India  being  the  attack  of  Pondi- 
cherry,  the  squadron  proceeded  immediately  to  blockade  that  port 
by  sea,  whilst  the  army  under  Sir  Hector  Munro  completely  sur- 
rounded it  by  land.  On  Sir  Edward  Vernon's  approach,  the 
French  squadron,  under  the  command  of  Mons.  Tronjolly,  was 
descried  on  the  8th  of  August,  1778,  consisting  of  the  Brilliant, 
of  64  guns,  Pourvoyeuse,  of  36  guns,  eighteen-pounders,  the  Sar- 
tine,*  of  32  guns,  and  two  of  their  country  ships  armed  as  men 
of  war.  There  being  such  light  airs  of  wind,  they  could  not  near 
the  enemy  until  the  10th,  when  at  6  A.M.  they  saw  the  above- 
mentioned  five  ships,  bearing  down  in  a  regular  line  abreast.  Sir 
Edward  stood  for  them,  forming  his  line  ahead  with  the  Rippon, 
Coventry,  Seahorse,  and  Valentine  India  ship,  and  having  the 
Cormorant  sloop  in  company  ;  and  at  noon  brought  to,  ready  to 
receive  the  enemy.  At  three  quarters  past  noon,  the  breeze  shift- 
ing to  the  seaward  gave  Sir  Edward  the  weather  gage,  when  he 
immediately  made  the  signal  to  bear  down  upon  the  enemy,  who 
had  formed  upon  the  starboard  tack.  Mons.  Tronjolly  afterwards 
made  sail  upon  a  wind  to  the  S.W.  and  'nothing  decisive  was 
effected.  Mons.  Tronjolly,  however,  left  Pondicherry  and  tha 
coast  to  take  care  of  themselves.  Sir  Edward  then  anchored  on 
the  20th,  between  Pondicherry  and  Cuddajore,  and  on  the  25th 
the  Sartinc  frigate  was  captured  by  the  Seahorse.  During  the 
ensuing  siege,  Lieutenant  Pole  was  sent  on  shore  to  command  the 
seamen  and  marines  that  were  landed  to  assist  in  reducing  Pondi- 
clierry,  which  offered  to  surrender  on  the  16th  of  October,  1778, 
ami  the  articles  of  capitulation  were  signed  on  the  17th.  During 
the  siege  our  ships  took  three  small  vessels  bound  to  that  port. 
Lieutenant  Pole  was  immediately  afterwards  appointed  to  thu 
command  of  the  Cormorant,  which  sloop  brought  home  the 
despatches  to  England.  (  He  arrived  there  on  the  12th  of  March, 
1779.  On  the  2'2d  he  was  advanced  to  post  rank,  and  appointed 
to  his  Majesty's  ship  Britannia,  destined  for  Vice-admiral  Darby's 
flag ;  in  which  situation  Captain  Pole  remained,  until  a  favourable 

*  Another  French  ship  is  mentioned,  but  not  named  in  Sir  Edward  Ver- 
non's official  letter,  as  being  teen  wn  tlic  ptli,  but  sh«  did  ngt  bear  down, 
with  tl»e  rest. 


ADMIRAL   SIR    C.    M.    POLE,    BART.    M.P.  267 

opportunity  offered  of  obtaining  a  more  active  situation,  in  the 
command  of  the  Hussar,  of  28  guns.  When  on  a  cruise  near 
home,  Mr.  Beatson  in  his  Memoirs  *  informs  us,  that  the  Hussar, 
Captain  Pole,  in  1780,  fell  in  with  three  French  luggers,  to  which 
he  immediately  gave  chase.  He  took  two  of  them,  le  Jcune  Lion 
and  le  Renard,  and  having  twelve  guns,  eight  swivels,  and  44  men. 
Previous  to  this,  Captain  Pole  had  sailed  from  Corke,  as  convoy 
to  a  fleet  of  victuallers,  with  the  Charon,  of  44  guns,  and  Licorne 
frigate,  which  sailed  frv;n  that  port  on  the  20th  of  August,  Cap- 
tain Pole  was  afterwards  sent  in  the  Hussar  to  America,  and  was 
scarcely  arrived  on  that  station,  when  he  had  the  misfortune  to 
lose  the  Hussar  on  the  Pot-Rock  in  the  passage  of  Hell  Gates, 
whilst  under  the  charge  of  a  pilot.  The  passage,  so  called,  is  a 
narrow  part  of  the  channel  of  the  East  River,  which  communicates 
with  and  forms  the  passage  to  North  Island  Sound,  N.E.  from 
New  York.  Ott  his  return  thither,  the  Commander-in-chief, 
Vice-admiral  Arbulhnot,  delivered  his  public  despatches  to  Cap- 
tain Pole,  for  his  Majesty's  government. 

Soon  after  his  return  to  England,  Captain  Pole  was  appointed 
to  the  Success  frigate,  then  on  the  stocks  at  Liverpool,  which  ship 
he  commissioned;  and  in  1782  fought  a  most  gallant  action  in  her 
against  the  Santa  Catalina,  a  Spanish  frigate.  The  following  account 
of  which,  is  given  by  Mr.  Beatson  in  his  Naval  and  Military 
Memoirs  :  + 

"  At  daylight,  on  the  16th  of  March,  1782,  the  Success  frigate,  Captain 
Charles  Morice  Pole,  in  latitude  55  cleg.  40  min.  N.  Cape  Spartel  bearing 
E.N.E.  distant  eighteen  leagues,  and  the  wind  at  S.W.  was  standing  lor  the 
Gut,  and  had  the  Vernon  storeship,+  bound  for  Gibraltar,  under  his  con- 
voy, when  he  discovered  a  sail  ri^ht  ahead,  close  hauled  on  the  larboard 
tack.  The  weather  being  hazy,  she  appeared  to  be  a  ship  of  the  line.  The 
two  ships  made  sail  from  her,  on  which  she  gave  chase,  which  continued 
until  half-past  two  in  the  afternoou.  Captain  Pole  then  perceiving,  that  the 
strange  sail  gained  ground  on  the  ''ernon,  shortened  sail,  dropped  astern, 
came  nearer  tlie  ship  in  chase,  and  then  brought  to,  in  hopes  of  drawing  hei 

*  Vol.  V.  page  141. 

t  Vol.  V.  page  070. 

+  The  Vernon  carried  22  guns,  six-pounders,  and  had  on  board 
Lieutenant-colonel  Gladstone?,  four  captains,  seven  subalterns,  and  100 
privates,  belonging  to  the  reginieiiu  in  Gibraltar;  besides  her  captain,  Mr. 
John  Falconer,  two  mates,  and  3U  acumen. 


268  MEMOIR   Of   THE   PUBLIC    SERVICES   OF 

attention  from  the  storeship.  The  weather  clearing  up,  she  was  discovered 
to  be  a  large  frigate  with  a  poop  ;  and  a  little  after  five,  she  hoisted  a 
Spanish  ensign  with  a  broad  pendant,  and  fired  a  gun.  At  six,  being  within 
random  shot,  the  Success  wore,  and  stemmed  for  the  enemy's  lee-bow, 
until  she  had  just  distance  sufficient  to  weather  her,  then  hauled  close 
athwart  her  forefoot,  and  poured  her  whole  fire  into  her  within  half  pistol 
shot.  The  Success  passed  close  to  windward,  engaging,  while  the  Spaniards, 
having  expected  the  attack  to  be  made  to  leeward,  were  firing  their  lee  guns 
into  the  water.  The  enemy  were  thrown  into  great  disorder  by  the  first 
broadside  from  the  Success;  and  their  confusion  increased,  by  a  smart  fire 
from  the  Vernon,  which,  having  wore,  came  up  and  engaged  very  closely. 
Both  the  British  ships  got  into  most  advantageous  positions,  and  poured  into 
their  opponent  an  incessant  and  well-directed  fire  until  twenty  minutes  past 
eight,  when  she  struck.  They  then  took  possession  of  the  Santa  Catalina, 
a  frigate  belonging  to  the  King  of  Spain,  mounting  3-1  guns,  viz.  26  twelve- 
pounders  on  the  main-deck,  and  eight  six-pounders  on  the  quarter-deck, 
and  having  upwards  of  three  hundred  men.  She  was  commanded  by  Don 
Miguel  Tacon,  who  was  a  captain  in  the  line,  had  a  distinguishing  pendant 
as  such,  and  was  senior  officer  of  the  Spanish  frigates  cruising  off  the  Straits' 
mouth.  lie  had  been  furnished  with  a  very  particular  description  of  the 
Success,  for  which  he  was  particularly  instructed  to  look  out,  and  had  been 
cruising  for  her  three  weeks.  lie  had  seen  the  Success  and  Vernon  four 
times,  and  chased  them  twice  with  his  squadron,  which  then  consisted  of 
four  frigates  and  six  sail  of  xebeques,  from  which  he  had  parted  two  days 
before  he  was  taken.  He  spoke  with  much  displeasure  of  the  behaviour  of 
his  officers  and  men.  The  enemy  had  twenty-five  men  killed,  and  only 
eight  wounded  in  the  action  :  the  prisoners  amounted  to  two  hundred  and 
eighty-six.  The  Success  had  only  one  man  killed  and  four  wounded.  The 
Yernori  had  but  one  man  wounded.  Captain  Pole  was  extremely  well  pleased 
with  the  behaviour  of  his  officers  and  crew,  both  before  and  after  the  en- 
gagement. The  smallness  of  their  numbers  had  encouraged  the  prisoners 
to  form  a  plan  for  rising  on  them,  which  was  fortunately  discovered,  and, 
"by  their  alertness,  prevented  from  being  put  into  execution.  Lieutenant* 
colonel  Gladstanes,  of  the  72d  regiment,  who,  with  several  other  officers, 
and  about  one  hundred  recruits,  was  on  board  of  the  Vernon  storeship,  had 
very  great  merit,  as  well  as  Mr.  Falconer,  the  master  of  that  vessel,  and  his 
crew,  for  the  conspicuous  bravery  and  good  conduct  which  they  displayed 
in  the  action,  and  for  the  assistance  which  they  afforded  in  securing  the 
prisoners.  Captain  Pole  sent  his  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  Oakley,  to  take 
possession  of  the  Santa  Catahna,  which  had  suffered  severely  in  hull,  masts, 
and  rigging.  He  was  indefatigable  in  clearing  away  the  wreck.  Her  mizen- 
mast  had  fallen  a  short  time  before  she  struck  :  her  main-mast  fell  imme- 
diately after  that,  and  her  foremast  must  have  shared  the  same  fate,  if  the 
sea  had  not  been  remarkably  smooth.  Her  hull  was  like  a  sieve,  the  shot 
having  gone  through  both  sides.  From  the  disabled  state  of  the  prize,  small 
hopes  were  entertained  of  being  able  to  conduct  her  to  port.  On  the  18th 
at  daylight,  when  the  Success  had  scarcely  had  time  to  repair  her  own 
damages,  which  were  considerable,  in  her  yards,  masts,  and  sails,  and  wlnlaE 


ADMIRAL   SIR    C.    M.    POLE,    BART.    M.P.  269 

•borne  of  her  men  were  endeavouring  to  secure  the  foremast  of  her  prize,  six 
sail  appeared  in  sight:  from  these,  two  frigate-  had  been  detached  ahead, 
which  seemed  to  be  reconnoitring.  Captain  Pole,  unable  to  combat 
such  a  force,  ordered  the  Vernon  to  make  all  the  sail  she  could,  hoisted 
out  all  his  boats,  sent  on  board  the  Santa  Catalina  fjr  Lieutenant  Oakley 
and  the  seamen,  and  gave  orders  that  before  leaving  her  they  should  set  her 
on  fire.  She  blew  up  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour  :  she  was  coppered,  and  was 
the  largest  frigate  in  the  Spanish  navy.*  The  wind  being  at  S.E.  the  cap- 
tain made  sail  from  the  strange  ships  :  and,  as  the  Vernon  was  in  want  of 
water  and  provision?,  he  determined  to  proceed  with  her  to  Madeira.  From 
the  reports  marie  to  Captain  Pole,  of  the  state  of  the  Santa  Catalina,  it  ap- 
peared, that  if  he  had  not  been  obliged  to  set  her  on  fire,  she  must  have 
sunk  ;  for  a  gale  of  wind  soon  came  on,  which  obliged  the  Success  to  lay- 
to,  under  a  storm-stay-sail." 

The  strange  sail  afterwards  proved  to  be  his  Majesty's  ships 
the  Apollo,  and  Cerberus  frigates,  with  four  transports.  Captain 
Pole's  friend,  the  then  Captain  Sir  Horatio  Nelson,  on  perusing 
(he  unassuming  manner  in  which  the  captain  of  the  Hussar  spoke 
of  this  action  in  his  official  letter,  observed  (when  writing  to  theif 
former  commander,  Captain  Locker),  "  I  am  exceedingly  happy 
at  Charles  Pole's  success.  In  his  seamanship  he  shewed  himself  as 
superior  to  the  Don  as  in  his  gallantry,  and  no  man  in  the  world, 
•was  ever  so  modest  in  his  account  of  it."  And  afterwards,  in 
another  letter  to  Captain  Locker  (who  then  was  Lieutenant, 
governor  of  Greenwich  Hospital)  Captain  Nelson  added — Never 
icas  there  <i  young  man  zcho  bore  his  ozsn  merits  zcilh  so  muck 
modesty.  I  esteem  him  as  a  brother.  The  Success  afterwards 
made  sail  for  England. 

During  the  peace  which  commenced  in  1783,  Captain  Pole  com- 
inaiuled  the  Crown  guard-ship;  and,  upon  occasion  of  the  Spanish 
arm  am -.in,  was  appointed  to  the  Melampus,  at  that  time  the  largest 
and  most  approved  frigate  in  the  navy.  While  the  discussion* 
with  the  Spanish  government  existed,  he  was  wholly  employed  off 


*  Dimensions  of  the  Santa  Catalina. 

Fee/.  Inches. 

Length  of  the  keel 133  11 

Length  of  the  deck 3jl  1° 

Jixti erne  breadth ^9  4 

Height  of  the  middle  port,  when  victualled 

for  i'utir  month* 8  0 


270  MEMOIR    OF    THE    PUBLIC    SERVICES    OF 

Brest  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  French.  From  the  Mclampus 
he  went  into  the  Illustrious,  and  was  afterwards  appointed  to 
command  the  Colossus,  in  which  ship  he  accompanied  Lord  Hood 
to  the  Mediterranean,  and  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Toulon. 
He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  admiral  in  1795,  and  hoisted  his 
flag  on  board  the  Colossus. 

Admiral  Pole  afterwards  proceeded  to  the  West  Indies,  with 
his  flag  on  board  the  Carnatic,  as  second  in  command,  and  took 
an  able  part  in  the  various  important  services  on  which  that  squadron 
was  engaged.  After  his  return  home,  he  was,  in  1798,  appointed 
captain  of  the  Channel  fleet  under  Lord  Bridport;  and  the 
arrangements  made  by  Admiral  Pole  for  the  discipline,  health,  and 
support  of  the  fleet,  did  him  the  greatest  credit,  and  gave  general 
satisfaction.  On  the  27th  of  June,  1799,  when  Lord  Bridport 
struck  his  flag,  Admiral  Pole,  as  we  learn  from  Captain  Schom- 
berg's  Chronology,*  hoisted  bis  flag  on  board  the  Royal  George, 
and  put  to  sea  from  Cawsand  Bay,  in  company  with  the  Sulphur, 
Explosion,  and  Volcano  bombs.  "  On  the  1st  of  July  he  joined 
Admiral  Berkeley  off  the  Isle  of  Rhe,  and  the  next  day  proceeded 
to  the  attack  of  the  five  Spanish  ships  of  the  line,  which  had  taken, 
shelter  under  the  protection  of  the  batteries  on  that  island,  and  a 
floating  mortar  battery  which  was  moored  in  the  passage  between 
a  shoal  and  the  Isle  of  Oleron.  The  squadron  having  anchored 
at  eleven  o'clock  in  Basque  Road,  the  bomb  ketches  took  their 
stations  under  cover  of  the  frigatts,  commanded  by  Captain  Keates, 
and  opened  their  fire  upon  the  Spanish  ships,  which  was  continued 
with  great  briskness  for  three  hours  :  but  with  no  effect,  the 
Spanish  squadron  being  at  too  great  a  distance.  The  batteries 
from  the  Isle  of  Aix,  during  this  time,  kept  up  an  incessant  can. 
onade.  The  wind  dying  away,  and  the  enemy  having  brought 
forward  several  gun. boats,  the  admiral  called  off  the  ships  engaged, 
got  under  weigh,  and  stood  to  sea.  Soon  after  Rear-admiral 
Berkeley  returned  to  Plymouth  with  three  sail  of  the  line  and  the 
bomb  ketches,  whilst  Admiral  Pole  remained  off  Rochefort  to  pre- 
vent the  Spaniards  escaping." 

Admiral  Pole's  services  were  now  directed  to  another  object, 

*  Vol.  IK.  page  200. 


ADMIRAL  SIR  c.  M.  POLE,  BART.  M.P.  271 

on  being  appointed  governor  and  commander-in-chief  at  New- 
foundland, to  which  station  he  sailed  in  1800,  with  his  flag  on 
board  the  Agincourt,  of  64  guns,  as  vice-admiral  of  the  blue. 
From  this  duty,  he  was  called  on  to  succeed  his  early  friend, 
Lord  Nelson,  during  the  month  of  July,  1801,  in  the  important 
command  of  the  Baltic  fleet :  as  that  great  officer,  after  the  fatigue 
and  severe  service  he  had  experienced,  both  during  the  battle  of 
Copenhagen  and  afterwards,  had  transmitted  the  most  earnest 
solicitations  to  be  relieved.  To  succeed  such  an  officer,  who  was 
the  beloved  hero  of  that  fleet,  and  of  every  other  he  had  commanded, 
was  no  common  task,  nor  inconsiderable  honour.  Admiral  Pol* 
sailed  in  the  Blonde  frigate,  and  hoisting  his  flag  on  board  the  St. 
George,  executed  this  arduous  service  with  his  wonted  ability. 
During  the  performance  of  it,  he  rendered  an  essential  service  to 
his  country,  by  exploring  the  passage  of  the  Great  Belt,  which 
has  since  been  of  advantage  to  our  operations  in  those  seas.  Qu 
his  return  to  Spithead  with  his  fleet,  August  10,  1801,  his  Majesty 
on  the  18th  was  pleased  to  confer  on  him  the  honour  of  a 
Baronetcy,  as  a  mark  of  his  gracious  approbation  of  his  conduct. 
Sir  Charles  was  immediately  ordered  off  Cadiz,  where  he  arrived 
at  the  end  of  August,  and  where  nothing  material  *  occurred  until 
the  signing  of  the  preliminaries  of  peace,  when  he  returned  in  De- 
cember to  England. 

In  1802  he  was  elected  a  member  of  Parliament  for  Newark ; 
and  when  it  was  deemed  necessary  to  bring  in  a  bill  to  appoint 
commissioners  for  inquiring  into  the  abuse?  in  the  civil  branches  of 
the  navy,  Admiral  Sir  C.  Pole  was  named  by  the  House  of  Com- 
mons chairman  of  that  commission  ;  in  which  highly  distinguished 
and  important  situation  he  remained  until  February,  1806.  Of 
the  labours  of  that  valuable  commission  it  is  not  necessary  to  say 
more,  than  that  the  [louse  of  Commons  passed  a  vote  of  approba- 
tion of  the  conduct  of  its  members,  which  was  communicated  to 
them  by  the  Speaker  in  his  usual  handsome  manner. 

In  February  1S06  he  resigned  his  seat  as  chairman  of  the  Naval 
Inquiry,  being  called  by  Mr.  Grey  (now  Lord  Grey)  to  take  a 
place  at  the  Board  of  Admiralty,  where  Sit  Charles  rendered 

»  An  official  letter  ironi  him,  giving  an  account  of  two  captures  that  had 
been  made  by  his  squadron,  was  ituerteJ  in  Vol.  VI.  page  4.04. 


MEMOIR    OF   THE   PUBLIC    SERVICES    OP 

essential  service  to  his  profession,  and  increased  that  experience 
or  knowledge  of  the  interests  of  his  profession,  which  lie  has  since 
so  uniformly  supported  in  Parliament.  He  left  the  Admiralty  in. 
October,  on  the  change  which  then  took  place  in  the  administra- 
tion. Daring  the  short  period  in  which  he  had  remained  at  the 
Board,  it  afforded  his  noble  mind  particular  gratification  to  assist 
in  that  wise  measure  which  was  then  adopted,  of  increasing  tho 
petty  officers  of  the  navy,  and  augmenting  the  pay  of  every  class, 
It  was  during  this  time,  under  the  auspices  of  Mr.  Grey,  that  a 
considerable  superannuation  list  was  added  to  the  captains,  com- 
manders, and  lieutenants.  Under  the  same  auspices,  a  bill  was 
brought  into  Parliament  enabling  the  pensioners  of  the  chest  to 
receive  their  pay  at  their  own  homes,  as  had  been  recommended 
by  the  Commissioners  of  Naval  Inquiry ;  and  the  pay  of  this 
suffering  and  meritorious  class  of  men  was  augmented  from  71.  to 
181,  per  annum. 

We  come  in  the  next  place  to  consider  the  public  services  of 
this  officer,  as  an  eminent  and  most  valuable  naval  member  of  the 
House  of  Commons  ;  where  he  has  appeared  as  an  example  to  such 
of  his  profession,  as  may  there  wish  to  serve  its  interests  and  to 
support  their  own  independence.  The  continued  exertions  of  Sir 
Charles  Pole  in  the  House  on  naval  subjects,  have  acquired  him  a 
general  and  well  merited  popularity.  We  can  only  dwell  on 
some  of  the  most  important  of  his  speeches ;  and  this  we  are  the 
more  glad  to  do,  as  owing  to  the  press  of  other  matter  at  the  time, 
we  have  not  hitherto  been  able  to  notice  these  debates  as  they 
merited. 

In  the  debate  on  the  Droits  of  Admiralty  (February  11,  1808), 
on  the  motion,  that  there  be  laid  before  the  House  fin  account  of 
all  captures  made  at  sea  by  the  naval  forces  of  this  country, 
which  zcere  claimed  to  remain,  and  rchich  did  remain,  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  Crown,  since  the  year  1792,  specifying  each  capture 
and  its  amount,  Kith  the  particular  appropriation  of  the  proceeds 
thereof — Sir  Charles  observed,  ii  that  all  his  reflections  on  the  sub- 
ject convinced  him,  that  the  Admiralty  Court  ought  to  be  upon  a 
new  footing."  At  the  close  of  this  debate,  he  disapproved  of  both 
the  original  motion  and  the  amendment  by  Mr.  Huskisson,  and 
proposed  a  motion  of  his  own,  by  which  the  gross  proceeds*  and 

*  COBBETT'S  Debates,  Vol.  X.  pages  450,  and  460. 


ADMIRAL   SIR   C.   M.   POLE,   BART.   M.P.  275 

n*t  proceeds  were  required  to  be  stated  in  distinct  columns,  &c. 
Alluding  to  the  delay  in  the  distribution  of  prize  money,  he 
instanced  an  officer  who  had  received  only  in  the  month  of  May, 
1807,  his  share  of  prize  money  for  a  vessel  captured  twenty  years 
before. 

In  the  months  of  February,  and  March,  1808,*  Sir  Charlel 
endeavoured  to  call  the  attention  of  the  House  of  Commons,  to  the 
Appointments  in  Greenwich  Hospital  and  the  Nai-al  Asylum; 
and  proposed  to  bring  in  a  bill  to  preclude  the  chusing  of  any, 
but  persons  connected  with  the  naval  service,  or  holding  situations 
in  either.  In  this  measure  he  was  defeated.  The  following  is  the 
interesting  debate  which  took  place  on  so  important  a  moment 
to  the  navy  :— 

"  House  of  Commons,^  March  8.— Sir  C.  Pole,  pursuant  to  notice,  rose  to 
submit  his  motion  to  the  House,  founded  upon  the  14th  Report  of  the 
Commissioners  of  Naval  Inquiry.  The  object  of  the  bill  which  he  had  to 
propose,  was  to  carry  into  effect  both  the  spirit  and  letter  of  the  charter  of 
Greenwich  Hospital.  Before  he  proceeded  to  make  las  motion,  he  begged 
that  the  report  of  the  commissioners  who  had  been  appointed  on  a  former 
occasion  to  inquire  into  the  state  of  that  Hospital  should  be  read.  Bv  the 
charter  of  the  Hospital,  which  was  granted  in  the  IGth  Gco.  HI.  it  was  re- 
quired, that  all  the  officers  of  the  Hospital  should  be  persons  who  had 
served  his  Majesty  in  the  navy,  and  had  lost  limbs  or  been  disabled  in  the 
service.  The  provisions  of  the  charter  it  appeared  haci  not  been  complied 
with ;  but  it  was  not  the  object  of  his  bill  to  interfere  with  any  of  the 
existing  appointments  or  emoluments;  its  sole  purpose  being  to  provide 
that  the  charter  should  in  future  be  complied  with,  both  in  letter  and  in 
spirit.  .Another  part  of  his  bill  would  provide  for  a  public  saving,*  by  re- 
quiring persons  holding  such  offices  to  give  up  their  halt-pay.  His  bill  was 
also  to  extend  to  the  institution  of  the  Naval  Asylum,  which  had  been 
established  for  the  encouragement  of  the  naval  service :  and  if  ever  there 
had  been  a  time,  when  they  ought  to  do  every  thing  consistent  with  economy 
and  the  interest  of  the  service  for  that  object,  it  was  the  present.  These 
were  the  clau-es  which  he  intended  to  introduce  into  this  bill;  and  there 
was  also  another,  to  provide  that  the  bjll  should  not  extend  to  any  persons 
holding  offices  at  this  moment,  cither  in  the  Naval  Asylum  or  Greenwich 
Hospital,  though  it  was  to  provide,  that  in  future  no  persons  but  such  as 
had  served  a  certain  number  of  years  in  the  navy,  or  been  disabled  in  the 
service,  should  hold  any  office  in  either  establishment.  It  bad  also  been  hj& 

*  Sir  C.  Pole  was  twice  returned  member  for  Newark  ;    and  has  been 
twice  returned  for  Plymouth,  for  which  place  he  at  present  holds  his  seat, 

*  COBBETT'S  Debates,  Vol.  X.  page  97C. 

ol*  XXL  *  H 


274  MEMOIR    OP   THE    PUBLIC    SERVICES    O7 

intention  to  introduce  a  clause  to  provide,  that  all  sums  panted  for 
t'ic  use  of  Greenwich  Hospital,  should  be  paid  into  the  Bank  of  England;: 
but  as  he  understood  that  regulations  were  to  Be  adopted,  which  would 
render  that  clause  unnecessary,  Tie  should  not  press  it.  lie  therefore 
moved  for  leave  to  bring  in  a  bill  for  the  encouragement  of  his  Majesty7* 
naval  service,  by  regulating  the  appointment  to  officers  in  the  Naval  Asylum* 
and  in  Greenwich  Hospital. 

Mr.  Rose,  (Treasurer  of  the  Navy)  stated,  that  immediately  after  his 
appointment  to  the  office  he  then  held,  he  iiad  inquired  into  the  lacts  stated 
in  the  Report  of  the  Commissioners  of  Naval  Inquiry;  and  that  in  conse- 
quence of  the  representation  made  by  him  to  the  Admiralty,  prosecution* 
were  now  carrying  on  against  the  persons  who  had  l>cen  guilty-  of  wtalversw- 
tion  in  that  department.  But  having  said  this,  he  did-  not  think  that  the 
lion.  Baronet  had  made  out  any  case  to  induce  the  House  to  accede  to  his 
motion.  About  thirty  years  ago,  an  inquiry  had  been  made  into  the  state 
and  management  of  Greenwich  Hospital ;  but  no  legislative  enactment  wat 
thought  necessary.  There  were  various  offices,  such  as  that  of  Organist, 
Surveyor,  and  Architect,  which  persons  of  naval  education  would  not  be 
competent  to  fill*  The  Auditor  was  an  officer  who  required' a  competent 
skill  in  the  law.  The  noble  lord  who  now  held  that  office  had  succeeded 
Lord  Thurlow,  who  must  be  allowed  to  have  been  skilled  in  the  law. 
Besides,  the  revenues  of  the  Hospital  exceeded  760,0001.-  per  annum,  and 
the  receiver  would  require  other  qualifications  than  a  naval  education.  A» 
to  the  question  respecting  the  Naval  Asylum,  he  thought  that  the  Hoii. 
Baronet  would  do  well  to  wait  for  the  report  from  the  commissioners  oa 
that  head.  He  was  as  desirous  as  any  person,  that  none  bust  those  who 
had  served  in  the  navy,  should  be  employed  in  the  offices  of  that  institution, 

*  We  wonder  that  a  person  of  Mr.  Rose's  experience,  who  has  bee» 
acquainted  with  many  eminent  naval  characters;  and  from  his  situation  at 
Treasurer  of  the  Navy,  may  be  supposed  to  be  possessed,  of"  much  informa- 
tion on  such  a  subject,  should  have  advanced  such  an  opinion.  There  ace 
many  seamen,  who  from  having  been  in  the  various  bauds  belonging  to 
captains  of  ships,  possess  a  competent  knowledge  of  music,  and  would  cer- 
tainly fill  the  situation  of  Organist  with-  credit  ;  or  if  none  could  be  found 
amongst  the  common  men,  there  doubtless  might  amongst  superannuated 
•midshipmen,  or  even  the  lieutenants.  Some  of  our  great  Architects^  who 
have  figured  away  and  amassed  great  riches  in  the  fashionable  world,  hate 
been  carpenters ;  and  we  see  no  reason  why  lull  as  able  men  might  not  ba 
found  amongst  our  very  skilful  ship  carpenters,  when  they  arc  worn  out,  or 
liave  had  their  health  injured  in  the  service  of  their  country.  Many  of  tliiB 
masters  in  the  navy,  who  greatly  demand  attention,  would  make  excellent 
Hurvfi/ors.  Naval  situations  should  undoubtedly,  in^  point  of  justice,  he 
always  occupied  by  naval  men  ;  and  with  all  our  respect  for  the  HOIK  G. 
Rose,  we  think  that  the  situation  of  Treasurer  of  the.  Navy  should  be 
expressly  given  to  some  eminent  naval  servant  of  his  country.  Sir 
Nepean,  and  man;  others,  would  fill  it  wilh  jyeat  credit^ 


ADMHlAL    SIR    C.    M.    ?O1E,    BABT.    M.P.  275 

for  which  they  would  be  qualified ;  and  if,  when  the  regulations  of  tiie  com- 
missioner* should  he  produced,  the  Hon.  Baronet  should  not  be  satisfied 
with  them,  it  would  be  perfectly  competent  to  him  to  move  for  such  a 
measure  as  the  present. 

"  Mr.  Wliitbreud  was  of  opinion,  that  -many  musical  persons  were  disa- 
bled in  the  navy,  who  might  be  competent  to  the  office  of  Organist ;  and 
observed,  that  the  Right  Hon.  Gentleman  who  had  just  sat  down,  and 
another  Gentleman,  a  member  of  that  House,  were  proofs  that  a  naval 
education  did  not  vender  persons  unfit  for  such  offices  as  those  he  had  men- 
tioned At  any  rate  scctfuring  men  7iiigkt  /told  sinecure  offices  as  veil  as  any 
»!hcr  description  of  persone  ;  and  -it  appeared  that  the  barber  of  the  Hos- 
pital, Mr.  Henry  Clew,  a  Swiss,  employed  six  deputies,  and  derived  an 
income  of  1501.  per  annum  from  his  office,  without  any  duty  to  perform, 
bnt  the  superintendence  of  the  shaving  of  the  pensioners.  He  highly 
•praised  the  labours  of  the  Naval  .Commissioners,  and  of  the  Hon.  B:»ronet 
in  particular,  and  he  was  decidedly  of  opinion,  I/tut  no  person  should  be 
ailowed  to  hotd  any  office  in  either  the  Naval  Asylum,  or  Greenwich  Hos- 
Jh'ul,  wh'.i  a- 1 is  not  a  seafaring  mati. 

"  Mr.  Lwkiiurt  regretted  that  the  Hon.  Baronet  had  connected  the  two 
.establishments,  which  were  so  different  in  their  object  and  nature.  The 
Naval  Asylum  had  been  instituted  by  public  spirited  persons,  as  strongly 
attached  to  the  naval  service  as  the  Hon.  Baronet,  who  had  subscribed  a 
sum  of  50,0001.  for  the  establishment.  The  proposal  of  the  Hon.  Baronet 
went  to  shew  a  distrust  that  men  having  acted  under  such  motives,  would 
not  make  regulations  for  ks  management  in  the  same  spirit.  Such  distrust 
might  excite  discontent  in  the  navy,  and  a  lukevvarmness  in  those  who  had 
originated  and  promoted  the  institution.  The  commissioners  were  coin- 
j  .'•••  :i  of  17  gentlemen  of  the  navy,  and  11  who  had  not  been  of  that  pro- 
fcssion.  The  latter  could  not  dictate  anv  thing  inimical  to  the  interests  of 
the  navy;  ond  he  therefore  thought  that  those  who  had  framed  the  institu- 
tion in  favour  of  the  navy,  should  not  be  deprived  of  their  influence  upon  it 
ky  the  vote  of  the  Hon.  Baronet. 

"  3J.r.  pontonby  observed,  that  the  arguments  employed  applied  only  to 
that  part  of  the  motion  which  concerned  the  Naval  Asylum,  and  not 
against  that  which  applied  -to  the  carrying  into  effect  the  charter  of  Grcei> 
wirh  Hospital.  That  charter  had,  k  appeared,  been  departed  from,  and 
therefore  there  was  a  necessity  for  the  interference  of  Parliament.  He 
suggested  to  the  Hon.  Baronet,  whether  he  ought  not  to  separate  the  ob- 
jects of  his  bill,  and  move,  Jn  the  first  instance,  for  a  bill  to  regulate 
Greenwich  Hospital;  and  afterwards,  if  it  should  be  necessary,  bring  for- 
ward si  motion  to  regulate  the  Naval  Asylum. 

Sir  C.  Pole  acceded  tojhe  suggestion  of  the  Right  Hon.  Gentleman,  and 
«onfmcd  his  motion  to  the  first  object. 

"  The  CfunicelLn-  nf  the.  Exchequer,  as  the  question  had  been  narrowed, 
should  then  only  say,  with  respect  to  the  Naval  Asylum,  that  it  v/ould  be 
competent  to  the  Hon.  Baronet  to  move  an  address  to  his  Majesty  for  the 
regulations  of  the  comm'» -loners,  and  to  make  the  or  the  subject  of  any  tup. 


276  MEMOIR    OF    THE    PUBLIC    SEIlVICtS    OF 

ther  proceeding  be  might  think  necessary.  But  as  to  the  remaining  part  of 
his  motion,  he  did  not  think  the  House  could  agree  to  it,  without  having  the 
charter  of  the  Hospital  before  it.  It  was  as  much  the  duty  of  the  trustees, 
under  the  charter,  to  correct  any  abuses  that  might  exist,  as  it  would  if  an 
act  of  Parliament  were  to  pass  for  the  purpose.  But  the  question  was, 
whether  it  would  be  desirable,  if  only  a  single  candidate,  who  had  been  con- 
nected with  the  navy,  should  offer  for  an  oftice,  who  might  not  be  as  well 
qualified  as  other  candidates,  that  any  peremptory  order  for  his  appoint- 
ment should  be  enacted.  He  contended  that  there  was  no  necessity  for  an 
act  of  Parliament.  The  Hon.  Baronet  himself  had  been,  whilst  in  the 
office  of  a  Lord  of  the  Admiralty,  in  a  situation  to  correct  these  abuses,  and 
if  he  had  not  done  so,  it  was  not  a  matter  of  blame  to  him,  as  he  had. 
followed  the  course  pursued  by  his  predecessors;  and  if  any  mischief  had 
arisen,  it  must  have  been  only  from  inadvertency  on  his  part.  The  House 
lie  was  sure  would  not  accede  to  the  motion,  until  it  should  have  the  charter 
of  the  Hospital  before  it. 

"  Sir  John  Nezrport  contended,  that  every  statement  of  the  Right  Hon. 
Gentleman  shewed  the  necessity  of  the  bill.  As  abuses  existed,  it  was 
highly  necessary  that  an  act  of  Parliament  should  be  made  to  correct  them. 
And  many  of  the  trustees  would  be  glad  to  be  protected  against  the  appli- 
cations of  their  frie'nds,  by  the  provisions  of  an  act  of  Parliament.  The 
IJon.  Baronet  appeared  to  him  to  deserve  the  thanks  of  the  House  and  the 
country,  fur  his  accurate  attention  to  the  interests  of  a  profession  to  which 
he  was  an  ornament;  and  as  to  the  unfitness  of  naval  men  for  the  offices  in 
the  Hospital,  he  never  could  forget  that  the  late  Lord  Chancellor  hud  been 
in  that  profession. 

"  Mr.  Pole  Curew  contended,  that  either  there  were  rules  in  the  charter 
requiring  persons  holding  offices  to  be  seafaring  men,  or  there  were  not  ; 
and  that  in  either  case  it  would  be  necessary  for  the  House  to  interfere,  to 
ailow  qualified  persons  to  be  appointed,  or  to  prevent  persons  not  qualified 
from  being  appointed. 

"  Admiral  Sir  John  Ord  could  not  agree  to  the  motion,  as  he  thought  it 
could  neither  be  consistent  with  justice,  nor  promote  the  advanlai>es  of  the 
institution,  to  take  it  out  of  the  hands  of  t lie  trustees, 

"  Sir  F.  Burdctt  was  extremely  surprised  at  the  opposition  given  to 
this  bill,  which  was  to  remedy  gross  abuses  acknowledged  to  be  existing. 
All  that  had  been  said,  applied  solely  to  the  bill,  the  exceptionable  parts 
of  which,  if  any,  might  be  left  out.  The  principal  object  he  had  in  rising, 
was  to  thank  the  lion.  Baronet  for  the  course  he  was  pursuing  in  spite  of 
all  obstacles.  He  could  not  suppose  that  the  House  could  object  to  the 
introduction  of  the  bill,  because  no  negative  had  been  given  to  the  state- 
ment of  the  Hon.  Baronet.  He  never  had  been  more  astonished,  than  at 
the  frivolous  objections  which  had  been  made  to  the  motion.  The  object 
of  the  bill  was  to  inflict  a  penalty  on  those  who  should  violate  the  pi  ^visions 
of  the  charter;  and  he  did  hope  that  the  House  would  never  come  to  any 
determination  that  would  preclude  the  Hon.  Baronet  from  bringing  forward 
his  bill.  A  division  then  look  place— For  the  motion,  52— .Against  it,  78. 
Majority,  2o." 


.   M-    POLE,    BAjaT.    M,P.  277 

This  measure  of  Sir  Charles  Pole  being  thus  defeated,  Ije  sooa 
afterwards  proposed,  and  carried  an  address  to  his  Majesty,  pray, 
jug,  he  would  be  pleased  to  dirept,  that  the  charter  of  Greenwich 
Hospital  should  be  so  amended,  or  a  new  charter  drawn,  which 
might  prevent  the  recurrence  of  abuses  now  complained  of.  The 
following  is  what  passed  on  that  occasion  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, March  22  (18Q8)  :— 

"  Sir  C.  Pole,  pursuant  to  notice,  called  the  attention  of  the  House  to 
some  appointments  on  the  establishment  of  Greenwich  Hospital,  in  which 
due  regard  was  not  had,  to  the  preference  that  ought  to  be  shewn  to  per- 
sons who  had  served  in  the  navy.  He  cited  all  the  commissions  relative  t9 
Greenwich  Hospital,  from  the  first  under  William  and  Mary,  to  shew  that 
such  a  preference  ought  always  to  be  given  ;  and  concluded  with  moving  an 
address  to  his  Majesty,  praying,  that  he  would  be  graciously  pleased  to  gir« 
directions,  that  all  appointments  belonging  to  the  said  Hospital,  should 
henceforth  be  filled  with  persons  who  had  served  in  the  navy. 

"  The  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  said,  it  must  be  the  object  of  .every 
one  to  promote  as  much  as  possible  what  the  Hon.  Baronet  was  desirous  to 
accomplish.  But  there  were  offices,  for  which  persons  properly  qualified 
could  not  be  found  in  the  navy,  such  as  Clerk  of  the  Works,  who  should  be 
an  architect;  Auditor,  who  should  be  a  lawyer;  Organist,  Brewer,  Clerk 
of  the  Cheque,  Surveyor,  and  other?.  Wich  these  exceptions,  lie  thought 
110  other  office  should  be  filled  otherwise  than  from  the  navy;  except  when 
after  a  months  notice  in  the  newspapers,  no  naval  person  should  present 
himself  with  proper  qualifications  to  fill  the  office  vacant.  He  should  pro- 
pose an  amendment,  adopting  the  Hon.  Baronet's  idea,  with  this  limitation; 
and  he  should,  in  the  event  of  the  amendment  being  adopted,  propose  an 
address  to  his  Majesty,  praying  that  he  would  cause  a  corresponding  altera- 
tion to  be  made  in  the  charter  of  Greenwich  Hospital. 

After  some  observations  from  Mr.  Whitbread,  Mr.  Rose,  Mr.  N.  Calvert, 
and  Mr.  R.  Ward,  Sir  C.  Pole  agreed  to  the  exceptions  proposed  by  the 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  and  the  motions  were  passed  accordingly."* 

."  House  of  Commons,  April  Jl.t— Sir  Charles  Pole  rose,  in  pursuance  of 
his  notice,  to  move  a  certain  Resolution  relative  to  the  Royal  Naval  Asylum, 
somewhat  similar  to  that  which  he  had  lately  proposed  as  to  Greenwich 
Hospital.  He  knew  it  would  be  objected  to  what  he  was  about  to  propose, 
that  this  charitable  institution  had  been  originally  supported  by  private 
voluntary  donations;  but  it  appeared  to  him  to  be  now  under  the  immediate 
management  of  government,  the  more  especially  as  Parliament  had  been 
cailed^on  to  vote  considerable  sums  of  money  for  its  support.  No  doubt 
the  private  donations  from  other  individuals  were  very  important;  but  still 

*  COBBETX'S  DEBATES,  Vol.  X.  page  1243.         i  Ibid.  Vol.  XI.  page  3. 


178  MEM01U   OF   THE   PUBLIC   SEAT  ICES   Of 

there  appeared  no  reason  for  separating  its  mode  of  management  from  that 
p{  Greenwich  Hospital,  as  described  in  the  charter.  Here  the  IIoiv 
Baronet  gave  a  statement  of  the  post  important  public  and  private  contrir 
billions  to  this  Asylum,  lie  observed,  that  a  very  large-  portion  of  that 
called  prhate  contribution,  was  given  from  the  Patriotic  Fund,  which  was 
avowedly  for  the  purpose  of  relieving  the  distresses  of  the  relations  of  thosa 
xvho  fell  in  the  naval  battles  of  their  country.  '  Surely,  then,'  heexclaimeo^ 
*  the  offices  of  this  charitable  and  naval  institution  could  not  be  better 
bestowed  than  upon  those  who  had  survived  these  battles,  but  unfortunately 
were  disabled.  The  sum  subscribed  by  the  Patriotic  Fund  amounted  to 
40,0001.  and  such  being  the  intention  of  that  fund,  it  surely  never  could  be 
supposed,  that  other  persons  subscribing  small  sums,  could  mean  that  their 
donations  should  be  bestowed  otherwise,  than  upon  individuals  connected 
•with  the  navy.  They  could,  never  imagine,  that  they  were  subscribing 
towards  the  relief  of  persons,  such  as  those  already  appointed  to  offices  in 
that  Asylum,  who  were  as  far  removed  from  the  naval  service  as  Jhe  Great 
.Mogul.  The  House  was  formerly  told,  that  the  office  of  Auditor  of  Green- 
\vich  Hospital  must  be  filled  by  a  lawyer,  that  Hospital  possessing  great 
sugar  estates,  and  also  great  estates  of  other  descriptions  in  the  north  ;  but 
in  the  present  case,  what  was  there  of  law  business  to  transact  for  the 
Naval  Asylum.  It  was  not,  however,  a  lawyer  that  had  been  appointed  to 
the  As\lum,  but  a  wealthy  clergyman,  who,  for  doing  little  or  nothing,  was 
to  enjoy,  in  addition  to  other  incoine,  a  salary  of  3001.  a  year  as  Auditor. 
Besides  which,  he  was  to  possess  a  free  house  and  garden,  and  a  very  large 
sum  of  money  had  been  laid  out  in  repairing  a  house  for  his  residence, 
amounting,  he  believed,  to  about  1,7001.  and  added  to  ajl  this,  even  furni? 
ture  to  the  house.  I  really,  Sir,  am  convinced  the  duties  of  the  office  I 
allude  to,  might  be  performed  by  some  poor  worn  out  or  disabled  naval  qr 
marine  officer,  at  a  salary  less  than  1001.  a  year ;  but  instead  of  this,  no 
less  than  7001.  was  thus  squandered  away  upon  a  spiritual  gentleman,  who 
had  no  occasion  for  any  assistance  whatever.  Another  thing  he  should  obr 
ject  to  upon  this  establishment,  was,  the  appointment  of  a  surgeon,  u'/io  had 
«ewr  been  at  sea  during  his  life,  and  inducing  him  by  a  great  salary,  to  give 
up  his  private  practice,  instead  of  appointing  a  naval  surgeon,  who  would, 
lie  less  expensive,  and  more  thankful  for  the  favour  bestowed  upon  him. 
There  were  various  other  appointments,  which  he  thought  objectionable, 
such  as  the  Clerk  of  the  Institution,  the  Clerk  of  Instructions,  &c.  but 
the  rhief  ones  were  those  I  have  mentioned,  the  Auditor  and  Surgeon.  I 
have  no  difficulty,  Sir,  in  saving,  that  the  persons  who  have  appointed  an 
Irish  clergyman  to  the  office  of  Auditor  of  the  Nava!  Asylum,  have  done 
wrong,  if  they  knew  that  he  was  already  possessed  of  four  church  livings  in 
Ireland,  and  a  glebe  land  so  extensive  as  to  contain  540  Irish  acres.  The 
gentleman  he  alluded  to  was  Dr.  Thomas  Brooke  Clarke,  to  whom  besides 
there  had  been  granted  several  very  large  sums,  by  resolutions  of  the  House, 
as  might  be  seen  by  their  journals.'  (Here  certain  resolutions  were  read 
by  the  clerk  at  the  desire  of  the  Hon.  Baronet.  Amongst  these  was  the 
'sum  of  5561.  grautcd  to  Dr.  Tljomas  Brooke  Clarke,  fur  his  trouble  in  en* 


ADMIRAL  siu  c.  M.  POLE,  BAIIT.  nr.p.  97$ 

Jtfrcing  tks  residence  of  the  Clergyi  whilst  he  himself  hi 'ended  lo  establish 
hi*  residence  at  tlit  N&vai  Asylum,  instead  of  biing  at  air/  <f  liis  li;-i:igs  in 
Ireland.)  Had  all  this  been  known,  continued  Sir  Charles,  when  thii 
reverend  divine  was  rccommeiuled,  I  certainly  do  thin!;  he  could  not  have 
been  appointed  to  that  .lucrative  situation".  There  are  many  of  the  old 
disabled  oriicers  of  the  navy,  with  lar^e  families,  who  would  have  been  most 
thankful  and  grateful  for  the  appointments  of  Auditor,  Surgeon,  or  Clerks 
to  the  Institution.  I  shall  now,  Sir,  sit  down,  with  the  hope  that  the  Reso- 
lution which  I  shall  propose  may  meet  with  some  consideration;  for  in  doing 
this  we  are  saving  the  public  money,  and  adding  to  the  comforts  of  those 
really  entitled  to  relief,  and  who  would  ever  be  grateful  for  the  favour 
bestowed.-  It  is  with  this  view  that  I  propose  this  Resolution — That  it  ap- 
pears to  this  House,  that  the  ajipointinent  of  competent  and  qualified  pcrsunt 
from  the  naval  and  marine  service,  to  hold  offices  and  employment*  in  the 
ttterul  departments  of  the  Royal  Naval  Asylum,  will  le.  productive  vf  much 
advantage,  to  the  empire,  by  materially  encouraging  tite  naral  service,  and 
diminishing  the  public  expenditure. — This  Resolution  the  Hon.  Baronet  said, 
if  acceded  to,  he  should  follow  up  with  another,  for  an  address  to  hi* 
Majesty,  praying  that  he  would  be  graciously  pleased  to  take  the  most  sum- 
mary ineaus  of  carrying  that  object  into  effect." — After  a  long  debate  the 
H.OUSC  divided,  for  the  Resolution,  46,  against  it,  78.  Majority,  25. 

Previous  to  the  debate*  on  the  Rochfort  squadron  (May  9th, 
I  SOS)  which  succeeded  what  had  passed  in  the  House  ou  the  samo 
evening,  respecting  the  expedition  to  the  Dardanelles,  Sir  Charles 
Pole  had  shewn  a  laudable  anxiety  for  the  fame  of  a  brother 
officer,  by  observing,  That  the  question  respecting  the  Rochfort 
squadron,  ought  not  to  be  brought  on  in  the  absence  of  S/r 
H.  Strachan,  or  of  some  person  qualified  and  authorised  lo  defend. 
his  conduct,  as  far  at  it  might  be  implicated  in  the  question. 
Mr.  Calcraft,  in  rising  to  bring  forward  the  motion  of  which  he 
had  given  notice,  declared  that  nothing  was  more  distant  from  his 
intention,  than  to  throw  out  the  slightest  reflection  upon  the  con- 
duct of  Sir  Richard  Strachan,  for  whose  character  both  as  a  naval 
officer  and  a  man,  he  entertained  the  highest  veneration;  and 
nothing  which  had  fallen  from  the  Right  Hon.  Baronet  went  to 
impute  to  him  any  such  intention.  All  that  the  Hon.  Baronet  had 
said  was,  that  the  testimony  of  Sir  R.  Strachan  would  be  very 
material  in  guiding  the  decision  of  the  House  upon  the  question 
which  he  was  now  bringing  before  it,  and  in  this  he  perfectly  agreed 
with  him.  After  going  at  large  into  the  state  of  Sir  R.  Strachan's 
squadron,  as  to  iis  means  not  only  of  remaining  on  the  blockading 

*  COLBBTT'S  Debates,  Vol.  XI.  page  13?. 


28O  WEMOItl    Ot    filt    PUBLIC    SEUTICES    Of 

service  on  which  it  had  been  employed,  but  also  of  following  ff?« 
enemy  ;  Mr.  Calcraft  declared  that  Sir  R.  Strachan  wds  reduced  to 
such  distress  for  provisions,  that  instead  of  addressing  his  letters, 
as  he  had  been  in  the  habit  of  doing,  lo  Lord  Gardner,  lie  wrote 
directly  to  the  Admiralty,  to  make  his  distress  knoivrn  to  that 
Board  j  a  state  of  distress  to  which  lie  could  not  IUITC  been  reduced 
tvithout  the  grossest  negligence  in  that  department  of  government. 
Mr.  CaJcraft,  after  fully  discussing  this  subject,  moved  fire  Resolu- 
tions, rising  out  of  the  question  he  had  brought  forward.  When, 
after  Mr.  Wellesley  Pole  had  spoken  in  defence  of  the  conduct  of 
the  Admiralty,  and  been  called  to  order  by  Mr.  Tierney,  for 
offering  to  read  a  paper  not  regularly  before  the  House,  and  Mr. 
"VV.  Pole  had  replied, 

"  Sir  Charles  Pole  arose, — He  totally  differed  from  the  Hon.  Gentleman 
who  had  just  sat  down,  both  as  to  the  facts  themselves,  and  the  inferences 
which  he  drew  from  them.  He  read  extracts  from  many  different  letters  on 
the  tahle,  by  which  he  shewed  that  the  fleet  off  Ilochfort  was  very  badly 
provided,  and  could  not  have  followed  the  enemy  more  than  three  or  four 
days.  The  power  of  despatching  ships  to  relieve  Sir  R.  Strachan,  it  wa& 
plain,  was  not  vested  in  Lord  Gardner;  else  he  surely  would  not  have  sent 
oiF  five  different  and  anxious  letters  to  the  Admiralty  on  the  subject,  lie 
read  extracts  from  a  letter  dated  11th  of  December,  stating  to  the  Admi- 
ralty the  distress  of  the  fleet,  which  letter  was  answered  by  the  Admiralty 
on  the  18th,  sending  a  supply  of  provisions  in  one  victualling  ship : 
although  this  ship  was  intended  for  the  supply  of  three  squadrons,  namely, 
that  off  L 'Orient,  off  Ferrol  and  Ilochfort,  yet  she  did  not  convey  more  than 
sixteen  days  bread  for  the  line-of-battle  ships  off  Ilochfort  alone.  He  said, 
if  every  pound  of  bread  which  had  been  so  sent,  had  been  received  by  the 
Ilochfort  fleet  alone,  it  would  not  have  put  it  in  a  situation  to  follow  the 
enemy.  Such  inattention  on  the  part  of  the  Admiralty  was  the  greatest 
blow  England  could  receive,  as  it  would  be  the  greatest  triumph  the  enemy 
could  obtain.  That  day  was  perilous  to  us  indeed,  when  we  found  our- 
selves unable  to  furnish  seven  sail  of  the  line  sufficiently  to  keep  their  sta- 
tion. He  could  not  conceive  what  was  meant  by  sending  one  store-ship  out 
to  supply  such  a  fleet  with  bread,  wine,  and  water.  He  could  not  foretel 
what  would  be  the  decision  of  the  House,  but  he  knew  well  what  would  be 
the  sense  of  the  country  on  such  conduct.  The  House  might  divide  threo 
to  one  in  its  favour,  but  the  nation  would  not  be  a  whit  the  more  con- 
•unced.  He  then  read  an  extract  from  a  letter  to  the  Board  of  Admiralty, 
dated  the  loth  December,  in  which  it  was  declared,  that  the  fleet  was  in 
total  waut  both  of  sails,  water,  and  every  other  necessary  with  which  a  fleet 
should  be  provided.  In  consequence  of  such  a  situation,  Sir  Richard 
Strac'lmn  was  compelled  to  quit  his  anchorage,  to  look  out  for  victuallers. 
"What  was  the  event?  The  enemy,  taking  the  advantage  of  his  absence^ 


AHMIUAf.    SIR    C.    M.    POLE,    BAUT.    M.P*  281 

escaped  out  of  Rochforr,  which  tliev  never  could  have  done,  nor  would 
have  attempted,  had  Sir  Richard  heen  sufficiently  provided  to  have  kept  his 
station  in  Basque  Road*.  At  length,  however,  lie  did  obtain  a  supply  of' 
340  tons  oi' water,  which  exactly  provided  his  fleet  for  26  days;  and  although 
he  admitted  that  the  Superb  and  Colossus  further  increased  his  store,  stiil 
they  did  not  so  increase  it,  as  to  enable  him  to  pursue  the  enemy  with 
safety.  On  the  2Cth  the  Admiralty  had  an  acknowledgment  from  the  fleet 
of  23  days  bread,  45  days  water,  and  24  days  wine;  this  supply  added  to 
the  former  supplies,  made  a  total  of  right  weeks  and  three  days  provisions; 
awd  he  would  ask,  was  that  a  sufficiency  for  a  pursuit,  for  instance,  to  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope  ? — The  present  Board  of  Admiralty  might  be  actuated 
by  as  pure  and  praise-worthy  a  zeal  as  possible;  but  he  lamented  their 
talents  were  not  equal  to  their  zeal.  He  said  as  to  Sir  Richard  StrachanV 
squadron  quitting  Basque  Roads,  he  believed  there  was  a  reason  for  it,  but 
too  serious  for  him  to  state  in  that  House.  As  to  the  transports  which  it 
had  been  stated  were  sent  to  relieve  the  squadron,  although  three  had  been, 
sent,  still  but  one  arrived.  He  complained  loudly  of  the  mischief  which 
would  ensue,  from  keeping  ships  at  sea  on  urgent  duty,  waiting  for  the 
arrival  of  transports ;  they  should  be  so  situated  as  totally  to  feel  abova 
contingencies;  but  here  so  fatal  was  the  adoption  of  a  contrary  course,  that 
even  had  our  blockading  admiral  seen  the  fleet  which  he  blockaded  standing 
out  to  sea  on  the  21st  of  January,  he  could  not  have  chased  them  twenty 
leagues  from  land !  From  the  very  weekly  accounts  laid  upon  the  table  for 
the  perusal  of  the  country,  it  appeared  that  there  was  at  that  time  on  board 
the  fleet,  only  bread  for  1 6'days,  and  water  for  25  days  ! — The  Hon.  Baronet  - 
declared  he  did  not  wish  idly  to  declaim  against  the  measures  of  any  man, 
or  set  of  men,  but  he  solemnly  did  assert,  that  had  a  charge  of  the  nature 
of  this  inquiry,  been  brought  before  a  court  martial,  with  no  other  justifica- 
tion than  what  the  papers  on  the  table  of  the  House  offered,  he  shouid  have 
no  hesitation  in  deciding  on  his  oath,  that  the  British  squadron  otfRochfort 
had  not  been  supplied  in  the  manner  in  which  the  exigency  of  the  service 
required,  and  the  safety  of  the  country  demanded.  He  could  not  conceive 
how  men  could  bring  themselves  lo  sport  thus  with  the  feelings  of  a  gallant 
and  deserving  officer.  What  must  those  feelings  have  been,  when,  after 
all  his  hope,  his  anxiety,  and  fatigue,  he  had  seen  the  French  stealing  out  of 
llochfort,  unable  to  follow  and  defeat  them  from  the  unmerited  neglect 
with  which  he  had  been  treated.  The  arrival  of  the  Colossus  and  Superb, 
had,  however,  been  much  dwelt  upon  ;  and  after  all,  even  when  they 
divided  their  supplies  among  the  fleet,  what  provision  had  it  ?  Exactly  seven 
days  bread,  63  days  wine  and  spirits,  and  40  days  water!  He  was  ashamed 
to  take  up  the  time  and  trouble  of  the  House  in  detailing  such  broad  and 
simple  facts  as  these,  when  in  truth  any  observation  on  the  subject  was  ren- 
dered quite  unnecessary,  by  the  able  statement  of  the  Hon.  Gentleman  who 
opened  the  debate.  This  was  a  question  to  which  the  House  should  give 
all  its  attention.  It  involved  the  dearest  interests,  of  the  country,  whose 
•afety  was  identified  with  the  welfare  of  the  fleet.  As  to  the  new  system 
which  the  Hon.  Gentleman  (Mr.  Yv .  Pole)  had  broached  to-night,  he  was  . 

/Rat!,  fffcron.  tBof,  XXI.  o  o 


282  MEMOHl    OF   THE    PUBLIC    SERVICED  OP 

sorry  to  see  any  such  attempted;  if  its  effects  were  to  be  the  allowing  a  sliip 
to  remain  at  sea  for  eleven  months,  and  when  she  had  remained  at  home 
only  as  many  days,  sending  her  out  again — if  such  were  to  be  its  effects,  he 
disclaimed  and  denounced  such  a  measure :  the  name  of  the  ship  so  treated 
•was  the  Defiance.  He  deprecated  leaving  ships  so  long,  and  so  ill  provided' 
at  sea,  for  such  a  length  of  time..  He  did  not  profess  himself  friendly  to- 
a  vote  of  censure  on  the  Admiralty,  however  ho  might  have  thought  them 
inefficient;  before  such  a  measure  was  adopted,  evidence  should  be  heard 
tit  the  bar  of  the  House;  and  then,  and  not  until  then,  a-censure  could  be 
warrantably  passed  on  so  public  and  respectable  a  Board ;  but  what  must 
the  squadron  off  Rochfort  think,  what  must  be  the  feelings  of  the  whole 
British  fleet,  and  of  the  country  at  large,  when  an  impartialand  temperate 
examination  of  the  papers  laid  on  the  table  of  the  House  by  the  Admiralty, 
proved,  that  the  blockading  squadron  had  been  cruelly  neglected?  And 
admitting  for  the  sake  of  argument,  that  every  pound)  of  bread,  and  every 
gallon  of  wine,  and  spirits,  which  reached  Sir  Richard  Straohan  before  the 
departure  of  the  French  squadron,,  had  been  correctly  distributed,  still  ic 
WRS  most  notorious,  that  the  British  squadron  would  not  have  been  in  astute 
to  have  followed  the  enemy.'' 

After  a  speech  from  Mr.  Ward  in  defence  of  the  Board,  Mr. 
G.  Ponsonby  closed  the  debate  by  observing,  That  the  Resolution 
went  to  say,  that  Sir  R.  Strachan  was  not  supplied  with  provisions, 
and  that  was  proved  by  the  documents  ou  the  table  beyond  a 
question.  Mr.  Ponsonby  concluded  a  very  spirited  speech  by 
declaring,  that  he  did  not  charge  the  Board  of  Admiralty  with  in- 
tentional neglect,  but  he  charged  them  with  want  of  judgment.— 
The  House  then  divided  on  the  previous  question. — Ayes^  146. 
Noes,  69.  Majority  against  the  Resolution,  77. 

In  the  same  session  this  indefatigable  guardian  of  the  welfare  of 
the  British  navy,  on  the  14th  of  June,  1808,  endeavoured  to  call 
the  attention  of  the  House  of  Commons  to  the  office  of  King's 
Proctor;  and  moved  an  adiltess  to  his*  Majesty,  praying,  that  he 
would  appoint  two  or  more  proctors,  in  order  that  the  naval  service 
might  have  an  option.  y  The  following  is  the  speech  which  he  made- 
on  that  occasion  : — 

"  He  declared,*  thnt  ke  rose  in  pursuance  of  the  notice  which  he  had 
given,  to  call  the  attention  of  the  House  and  the  country  to  the  mode  of  coiv 
ducting  the  business  of  the  jiavy  in  the  High  Court  of  Admiralty.  It  was  a 
subject  which  he  had  considered  of  the  first  importance  tO'  his  Majesty's 
naval  service,  and  on  which  he  had  more  than  once  endeavoured  to  express 
iis  sentiments  to  the  House,  ami  to  urge  ancl  pray  for  amendment;  but  he 
was  sorry  to  say,  the  influence  which  the  Right  Hon.  and  Hon.  Member 

*  COBBHTI'S  Debates,  Vol.  II.  page  8vO. 


AUMIRAL    Sill    C.    M.    frOLT,    BART.    M.P.  283 

<«onnected  whli  that  Court  possessed,  had  hitherto  effectually  prevented  the 
alteration  required.  Yet  thisshould  not  deter  him  from  exerting  his  utmost 
to  correct  evils  which  were  notorious,  and  which  must  continue  to  exist 
whilst  the  Court  was-conducted  as  at  present. — It  was  his  intention  to  move 
two  Resolutions,  the  one  purporting  that 'the  duties  of  the  King's  Proctor, 
or  Procurator  General  were  so  numerous,  that  no  one  perion  was  equal  to 
discharge  them;  tl>e  other  that  an  humble  address  be  presented  to  his 
Majesty,  praying  that  he  would  appoint  three  or  more  persons  to  be 
employed  as  Proctors  in  the  High  Court  of  Admiralty,  and  High  Court  of 
Appeal.  It  would  require  little  argument  to  satisfy  any  impartial  mind, 
with  the  necessity  of  these  Resolutions,  without  meaning  to  cast  the  smallest 
censure  on  the  character  of  the  individual  who  held  the  office  of  proctor,  or 
those  connected  with  him.  On  the  -contrary,  he  was  ready  to  give  them 
due  credit  for  exerting  themselves  to  the  utmost ;  but  the  business  of  that 
Court  was  so  increased  since  the  establishment  of  one  proctor  was  deemed 
sufficient,  that  it  was  impossible  it  could  be  executed  in  a  manner  to  do 
justice  to  the  individuals  in  his  Majesty's  navy.  Great  delays,  enormous 
charges,  and  injustice,  must  be  the  natural,  and  is  the  actual  consequence. 
In  the  course  of  the  last  four  years,  more  than  3000  ships  have  beea 
;libelled  by  the  King's  Proctor;  on  an  average,  each  of  those  ships  may  be 
5aid  to  produce  three  distinct  causes,  which  would  encrease  them  to  9000. 
Be  it  always  remembered  by  the  House,  that  the  whole  of  what  he  was  now 
stating,  and  about  to  state,  is  the  special  duty  of  the  King's  Proctor,  ztr.'io  is 
.exclusively  employed  for  the  whole  navy  of  England  in  all  matters  of  prize, 
.•besides  all  cases  in  uliich  the  interest  of  Ids  Majesty  is  agitated ;  in  all 
appeals  to  the  privi/  council,  as  well  a$  in  all  memorials  and  reports :  the 
number  of  appeal  cases  in  the  last  four  years  have  not  been  less  than  500, 
.all  of  which  are  under  his  immediate  direction,  and  on  many  of  them  very  in- 
.tricate  and  diilicult  questions  arise;  the  papers  upon  the  table  of  the  House 
shew  the  number  of  ships  Hbelled  in  the  last  four  years  by  the  King's  proc- 
,tor,  are  above  3000  ;  there  are  other  papers  on  the  table  which  shew  the 
-amount  of  the  proctor's  bills  on  ships  condemned  as  droits.  If  Gentlejnen 
will  take  the  trouble  to  average  those  bills,  they  will  find  them  to  give -an 
average  of  951.  on  each  case;  but  faking  the  average  profit  of  the  proctor's 
bill  at  less  than  a  moiety  of  that  sum,  the  .500  appeal  cases  at  an  average  of 
1001.  would  produce  a  sum  which  he  was  satisfied  the  House  would  deem 
sufficient  for  at  least  three  or  foqr  King's  proctors.  To  the  cases  of  ships 
libelled,  and  appeals  to  the  privy  council,  must  be  added  the  numerous  list 
of  memorials  and  reports,  which  make  a  large  portion  of  the  profits  of  the 
office.  But  it  was  not  the  enormity  of  the  sum  that  he  so  much  objected 
.to,  it  was  the  impossibility  of  justice  being  rendered  to  the  British  navy,  by 
the  system  now  persevered  in,  that  induced  him  to  offer  his  Resolutions  ; 
and  if  he  were  not  so  fortunntu  as  to  succeed  this  day,  he  still  flattered  him- 
self the  period  was  not  far  oiF,  when  his  Majesty's  government  would  see 
the  necessity  of  revising  this  Court.  He  was  aware  he  should  be  told,  that 
vessels  captured  by  men  of  war,  did  not  belong  to  the  captors,  but  to  the 
erovvn,$  therefore  his  Resolution  and- Address  were. an  improper  iitter£erciu» 


281  MLMOIK    OF    THE    1'DBLIC    SERVICES    01' 

with  the  prerogative.  Most  sincerely  should  he  regret  such  an  objection  to 
rendering  justice  to  a  most  valuable  portion  of  his  Majesty's  subjects.  The 
delays  and  cxpences  of  the  Admiralty  Court,  and  the  numerous  evils  and 
abuses  which  have  occurred,  were  so  well  known  to  almost  every  individual 
connected  with  the  navy,  that  he  had  not  troubled  the  House  with  a  long  list 
of  them  in  detad,  meaning  to  rest  the  expediency  of  his  motion  on  what 
must  be  obvious  to  every  impartial  man,  in  or  out  of  that  House  ;  namely, 
the  impossibility  of  one  Proctor  executing  the  duties  allotted  to  him.  He  had 
uever  been  able  to  collect  any  substantial  objection  to  the  appointment  by 
Lis  Majesty  of  three  or  more  learned  and  discreet  proctors,  ft)  officiate  as 
King's  proctors  in  the  said  Courts.  With  this  view  of  the  subject,  he 
should  take  the  liberty  of  moving  the  Resolution  and  Address  as  before 
recited." 

The  Advocate  General  feltit  necessary  to  oppose  the  Resolutions, 
as  injurious  to  the  interests  of  the  nation  and  of  the  navy  itself.  Mr. 
II.  Martin  supported  the  motion.  Neither  the  prerogative  of  the 
crown,  nor  the  interests  of  the  nation,  would  be  at  all  injured  by  the 
appointment  of  more  than  one  proctor,  for  all  the  proceedings  would 
be  as  much  under  the  eye  of  government  a^  before.  The  proctor 
considered  himself  as  totally  independent  of  the  captors  :  it  would 
be  much  better  for  the  navy  that  they  should  be  enabled  to  choose 
a  proctor  who  would  be  responsible  to  themselves.  Mr.  Stephens 
observed,  that  the  business  could  not  be  better  managed,  than  it 
vas  by  the  King's  proctor  and  his  assistants.  Mr.  Bastard,  in  the 
course  of  his  speech,  replied  to  some  arguments  adduced  on  the 
opposite  side,  "It  has  been  said,  Sir,  that  the  interests  of  the  navy 
itself  were  better  provided  for  by  the  present  practice;  but  the 
contrary  was  the  impression  universally  felt  in  the  navy,  though 
most  unwarrantable  measures  had  been  employed  by  the  Admiralty 
to  stille  their  complaint*.  I  know  the  fact^  because  a  petition  has 
been  put  into  my  hands,  complaining  of  gross  abuses,  and  signed 
by  many  of  the  most  respectable  persons  in  the  navy  ;  some  of 
ivhora  had  withdrawn  their  names,  in  consequence  of  their  having 
been  menaced  with  the  vengeance  of  the  Admiralty,  and  I  refused 
to  present  the  petition  afterwards,  lest  I  should  thereby  draw  down 
that  vengeance  on  the  parties."  Mr.  Whitbread  spoke  in  support 
of  the  Resolutions.  Sir  Samuel  Romilly  thought  that  the  best 
time  to  reform  the  constitution  of  a  court  of  justice  was  "when  the 
offices  in  the  court  were  respectably  and  unexccptionaWy  filled; 
because,  at  such  a  time)  all  personal  and  parly  motives  must 


ADMIRAL  sift  c.  M.  POLE,  BART.  M.P.  285 

necessarily  be  excluded.  He  did  not  pretend  to  be  intimately  ac- 
quainted with  the  mode  of  proceeding  in  the  Admiralty  Courts  ; 
but  he  conceived  it  to  be  a  very  extraordinary  principle,  and  one 
contrary  to  that  which  was  recognised  in  all  other  courts,  that  one 
person,  however  able  and  however  distinguished,  cither  by  his 
talents  or  integrity,  should  engross  the  whole  practice  of  the 
Court. 

Sir  Charles  Pole  made  a  short  reply,  in  which  he  stated,  that 
some  causes  had  been  pending  in  the  Admiralty  Courts  more  than 
ten  years  ;  and  that  a  majority  had  been  pending  more  than  seven 
years.  He  should  think  that  he  was  wanting  in  his  duty,  if  he  did 
not  take  the  sense  of  the  House  upon  the  motion  -which  he  had  the 
honour  to  have  proposed.  The  House  then  divided  upon  the  Hon. 
Barojiefs  motion,  Ayes,  16,  Noes,  35.  Majority,  19. 

The  next  instance  in  which  this  valuable  and  patriotic  officer 
displayed  his  political  courage  and  vigilance  was  on  the  succeeding 
17th  of  July,  (  1808)  when  opposing  the  Grant  moved  for  by  the 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  "  Towards  carrying  on  the  building 
of  the  Naval  Asylum  at  Greenwich." 

Sir  C.  Pole  opposed  the  Grant;  for  which  he  said  the  trustees  ought  not 
to  have  applied  to  Parliament  whilst  they  had  in  their  hands  a  sum  of 
50,0001.  towards  carrying  on  the  purposes  of  that  Institution;  no  account 
of  the  application  of  which  was  laid  before  the  House,  nor  the  interest  of 
that  sum,  which  ought  also  to  be  applied  to  the  purposes  of  the  establish- 
ment. He  said,  that  a  great  wast£  of  public  money  already  granted  had 
been  committed,  in  paying  a  large  salary  and  allowances  to  an  useless  and 
unnecessary  officer,  namely,  the  Auditor  ;  and  expended  in  building  for  him 
a  house,  with  extensive  gardens,  and  ounces.  There  was  no  such  officer  in 
the  military  Asylum,  and  he  thought  this  a  wasteful  profusion  of  public 
money  ;  and  towards  a  clergyman  too,  who- possessed  two  valuable  livings 
in  Ireland,  upon  which  it  was  his  duty  to  reside,  and  which  in  the  spirit  of 
the  Act  lately  passed  in  that  House,  he  ought  to  be  obliged  to  reside.  He 
objected  also  to  the  employment  of  a  surgeon  with  a  large  saliiry,  house,  and 
othces,  who  never  had  been  in  the  navy;  because  he  thought  that  all  officer* 
of  a  naval  in-»titut:on  ought  to  be  naval  men,  and  that  this  institution,  by 
employing  men  wholly  unconnected  with  the  navy,  was  rather  a  discou- 
racement  to  the  navy  than  otherwise, 

"  Mr.  Roue  expressed  his  astonishment,  that  the  Hon.  Baronet  could 
expect  that  a  sum  of  50,0001.  which  was  the  donation  of  private  persons, 
and  i^iven  expressly  on  the  condition  of  providing  for  such  children  of  sea- 
men^s  they  should  recommend,  was  to  be  applied,  in  the  first  instance, 
for  the  quite  different  purpose  of  carrying  on  the  building  now  adopted  bv 


MEMOIK   OF    THE    1'UBLI*    SERVICES    O7 

tiis  Majesty,  and  sanctioned  by  Parliament.  lie  was  ready  to  give  the  Hes. 
Admiral  credit  for  the  .friendship  he  had  always  professed  towards  the 
navy ;  but  was  utterly  at  a  loss  to  reconcile  that  profession  with  the  Hon. 
Admiral's  opposition  to  the  means  of  carrying  on  the  building  of  an  Institu- 
tion, where  a  thousand  children,  the  orphans  of  seamen,  were  to  be  pro. 
vided  for,  and  which  must  actually  be  stopt,  if  the  means  were  not  imme- 
diately granted  for  continuing  the  business  of  architecture  ;  and  this  merely 
because  two  gentlemen  were  employed  as  officers  in  the  Institution,  who 
were  not  actually  naval  men.  He  was  utterly  at  a  loss  to  account  for  thi* 
persevering  opposition  from  the  Hon.  Admiral,  who,  while  he  professed  a 
jreal  for  the  interests  of  officers  in  the  navy,  was  actually,  in  effect,  endea- 
vouring to  impede  objects  most  interesting  to  the  feelings  of  those  officers. 
There  was  a  •school  instituted  at  Greenwich  Hospital,  designed  originally 
for  the  tons  of  naval  officers,  to  the  number  of  200.  That  school  was  now 
full,  but  nol  entirely  with  the  children  of  officers,  of  whom  there  were  but 
73,  the  rest  being  the  son*  of  common  seamen ;  an-d  for  want  of  room,  the 
son  of  an  Admiral  was  now  obliged  to  sleep  in  the  same  bed  with  one  of 
those  common  boys.  It  was  designed  to  remove  from  the  school  to  tho 
Asylum,  all  the  children  of  common  seamen,  so  as  to  leave  the  Institution 
free  for  the  full  number  of  officers'  children  ;  and  yet  to  this  intention,  the 
Hon.  Admiral  was,  in  effect,  offering  every  opposition  in  his  power.  As  to 
the  gentleman  who  filled  the  office  of  auditor,  he  was  not  employed  by  the 
present  Commissioners,  they  found  him  in  the  employment,  while  under 
private  direction,  and  they  thought  it  not  right  to  discontinue  him.  But  he 
begged  leave  to  s:iy,  there  was  an  officer  in  the  Military  Asylum  to  execute 
the  same  duties,  but  he  was  under  the  denomination  of  treasurer.  The 
auditor  was  personally  quite  a  stranger  to  him,  except  in  his  official  capa- 
city, and  he  had  himself  inspected  the  house  and  garden  allotted,  ami 
thought  them  by  no  means  unreasonable  for  the  person  who  filled  the 
situation.  But  as  to  his  livings  in  Ireland,  and  his  own  residence  there,  it 
had  nothing  to  do  with  this  question,  so  long  as  he  was  obliged  by  the  strict 
rules  of  the  Asylum,  to  be  constantly  resident  there,  or  resign  his  situation. 

"  The  House  then  resolved  into  the  Committee,  and  on  tlie  Chancellor 
•of  the  Exchequer  moving  for  the  sum  of  3o,000l.  for  the  Asylum, 

"  Sir  C.  Pole  said,  that  his  motives  for  persevering  were  the  same  which 
had  actuated  him  with  respect  to  Greenwich  Hospital;  namely,  to  preserve 
the  exclusive  right  of  the  navy  to  the  official  appointments  originally  intended 
for  them,  but  which  principle  had  been  shamefully  violated  in  the  case  of 
Greenwich  Hospital.  The  like  violation  of  principle  had  commenced  in 
the  Naval  Asvlum,  and  if  it  were  not  resisted  in  the  outset,  he  should  expect 
shortly  to  see  the  governorship  there,  conferred  perhaps  upon  some  Ger- 
man captain  of  cavalry,  and  the  minor  situations  filled  by  Hanoverian 
subalterns  or  Serjeants,  instead  of  British  naval  officers.  He  would  not, 
however,  divide  the  committee, 

"Mr.  Windliam  vindicated  the  motives  of  the  lion.  Admiral,  withouf 
entering  into  the  examination  of  his  objections.  The  Resolution  was  then 
put  and  carried.'' 


ADMIRAL    SIH    C.    M.    POLK,    BAUT.    M.f.  287 

On  the  16th  of  March,  in  the  present  year,  1809,  Mr.  Robert 
Ward  rose  to  answer  somc'-observations  made  by  Sir  C.  Pole  ou  a 
former  night,  respecting  the  Pay  Captains  of  the  Marines. 

"  The  statement  of  the  Hon.  TCaronet  was  totally  fallacious.  Those  pay- 
masters were  established  under  the  administration  of  Earl  St.  Vincent  ; 
they  were  selected  fraia  the  oldest  raptaius  in  that  service ;  and  in  considera- 
tion of  the  duty  of  paymaster  allotted  them,  tliey  were  exempted  from  all 
duty  afloat,  and  had  nothing  else  to  do  than  merely  to  attend  courts  martial 
til  the  places  where  they  were  quartered  ;  and  instead  of  having  imposed 
on  them  the  duty  of  paying  tlie  whole  body  of  marines,  amounting  to  32,CGQ 
men,  t!;cv  had  not  ahove  one-fourth,  OH  perhaps  one-sixth  of  the  wh.>le,  for 
the  remainder  were  always  afloat,  and  the  pay  was  only  to  be  issued  to 
division;  01  rationally  landing  :  even  for  this  purpose  (hey  had  payraasters'- 
serjeaius  allowed  them,  and  had  only  to  controul  their  accounts.  Willi 
refptct  to  the  stoppages  of  one  day's  pay  in  a  year  from  the  marines  t» 
(.  i.:'i=ea  Hospital,  from  which  they  derived  no  advan'aae,  he  found  no  stop- 
page whatever  was  made  from  the  privates,  except  for  Greenwich  Hospital, 
to  the  benefits  of  which  they  were  entitled,  in  common  with  seamen  ;  and 
as  to  the  stoppage  of  a  day's  pay  in  each  venr,  and  the  poundage  of  five  per 
ceut.  upon  the  pay  of  officers,  it  was  handed  over  to  the  War  Office  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Widow's  Fund  ;  which  the  relicts  of  marine  officers  enjsyed 
in  common  with  those  of  officer*  of  the  line ;  but  those  stoppages  had  never 
been  made  since  the  year  180G,  as  the  pay  was  issued  net,  to  all  officers 
under  the  rank  of  colonel,  on  the  same  footing  as  the  other  officers  of 'the 
army. 

"  Sir  Charles  Pole  said,  if  the  Hon.  Gentleman  had  given  this  exphmatioa 
as  to  the  stoppages  of  pay  before,  it  would  have  altered  his  own  view  of  the 
subject.  But  he  still  held  the  same  opinion  with  respect  to  the  situation  of 
the  Pay  Captains.  He  was  wall  informed  they  had  a  regulaj-  ledger  account 
Co  keep  with  every  mm  and  boy  in  the  marine  sen  ice,  for  which  they  hnd 
BO  remuneration,  although  the  captain?  of  marine  artillery,  for  only  paying 
their  own  companies,  had  2s.  per  day  additional  pay.  Besides  those  old 
officers,  in  any  branch  of  the  service,  would  have  been  entitled  to  majorities, 
and  many  of  them  now  would  have  been  old  field  officers.  Any  advantage, 
therefore,  which  could  be  given  them,  without  great  expence  to  the  public, 
ought  not  to  be  withheld  from  a  brave  class  of  men,  whose  existence  was 
scarcely  known  to  their  country  except  by  their  brilliant  services  in  he* 
cause. 

"  Mr.  Ward  explained. 

"  Mr.  Calcraft  felt  it  his  duty  to  state,  that  it  wns  understood  rery 
generally,  that  the  stoppages  from  the  marine  troops  were  as  stated  by  th» 
Hon.  Baronet;  and  it  now  seemed  the  power  actually  did  exist  for  leaking 
those  stoppages,  although  it  was  not  exercised  to  the  extent  supposed,  but 
confined  to  Marine  officers  and  towards  the  Widow's  Fund.  But  he  saw 
no  reason  why  U*e  Marine  Oaioers  should  not  have  a  distinct  Widow's  Fund 
9*  their  ywa. 


288  .MEMOIR    OF    THE    PUULIC   SERVICES    OF 

"  Mr.  Wclleslf.)/  Pole,  said,  it  was  the  intention  of  the  present  Bonn?  of 
Admiralty  to  afford  to  the  marine  corps  every  practicable  and  reasonable 
indulgence.  But  there  was  a  mistake  with  respect  to  the  stoppages  from 
the  pay  of  marjne  officers  in  general  for  the  Widow's  Fund.  No  such  stop- 
pages were  now  made  but  from  officers  who  retired  on  full  pay  ;  and  the 
widows  of  the  marine  officers  received  their  pensions  at  the  War  Office,  paid 
by  the  public.  With  respect  to  the  situation  of  the  Pay  Captains,  he  begged 
leave  to  refer  the  lion.  Baronet  to  a  petition  presented  by  those  very  officers 
to  the  Admiralty,  when  he  himself  was  at  that  Board,  praying  for  this  very 
allowance,  which  the  Hon.  Baronet  now  sought  to  obtain  for  them,  and  the 
answer  then  given  to  their  petition  was,  that  the  berth  was  a  pretty  good 
one,  and  it  was  very  desirable  it  should  continue  to  exist;  but  if  they  did 
not  like  it  with  full  pay,  and  exemption  from  all  other  duty,  they  might 
take  their  turns  of  service  :  ever  since,  they  had  been  pretty  well  satisfied 
to  remain  as  they  were.  With  respect  to  the  Compassionate  List,  for  which 
there  was  a  bill  now  in  progress,  it  was  only  for  such  widows  and  orphans 
as  were  not  entitled  to  any  provision  otherwise,  nor  was  it  ever  thought  of 
before  the  establishment  of  the  present  Admiralty  Board;  and  it  was  his 
intention  in  the  committee  on  this  bill,  to  place  the  widows  of  marine  officer* 
on  the  same  footing  in  this  respect  with  thost;  of  the  officers  of  the  navy  and. 
army. 

"  Sir  C.  Po/t'had  no  recollection  of  the  petition  from  the  pay  captains  just 
mentioned. 

"  Mr.  Hutc/iinson  said,  that  an  opinion  had  been  very  generally  enter- 
tained by  marine  officers,  that  the  corps  !md  contributed  by  stoppages, 
some  30,0001.  to  Chelsea  Hospital,  without  receiving  any  advantage. 

"  Mr.  Ward  said,  that  no  trace  of  such  stoppages  could  be  found  in  thq 
navy  books  since  the  year  175.5. 

"  After  some  further  conversation,  in  which  Mr.  Pole,  Colouel  Bastard, 
nnd  Sir  Charles  Pole  spoke,  the  House  went  into  committee  on  the  bill, 
made  several  amendments,  and  it  was  ordered  to  be  reported  on  the  next 
day." 

On  the  2Ist  of  March,  Sir  Charles  Pole  brought  another 
important  object  before  the  House,  which  again  shewed  a  neglect 
of  naval  officers  in  those  {situations  at  the  Victualling  Board,  which 
they  had  generally  been  allowed  to  occupy,  and  which  Sir  Charles 
•was  particularly  induced  to  make,  from  circumstances  that  had 
been  brought  to  light  by  the  report  of  the  Commissioners  of  Naval 
Revision. 

"  House  of  Commons,  March  21,  1809.— -Sir  C.  Pole,  pursuant  to  notice, 
rose  to  call  the  attention  of  the  House  to  the  necessity  which  existed  on  the 
part  of  the  Board  of  Admiralty,  of  selecting  such  members  only  for  appoint- 
ment to  this  Bo.Td  as  were  men  of  professional  experience,  ability,  integrity, 
and  indefatigable  industry,  in  the  duties  of  their  office;  and  to  the  inc.onvc- 
iiienceii-aud  losses  whigh  obviously  had,  and  unavoidably  must  continue  to 


ABMIRAL   BIR    C,    M,    POLE,    BAIIT.    M.F.  289 

accrae  to  the  public  service,  and  to  the  country,  from  the  want  of  due 
attention  to  this  salutary  principle.  The  lion.  Baronet,  in  support  of  his 
position,  recurred  to  a  long  series  of  documents  in  the  Reports  of  the  Com- 
mittees of  Finance  and  of  Naval  Revision,  and  took  an  historical  view  of 
the  state  of  the  navy  at  different  periods,  in  order  as  well  to  shew  that  that 
state  was  always  affected  either  by  the  possession  or  the  want  of  pro- 
fessional experience  in  those  who  at  different  times  undertook  its  manage- 
ment, and  directed  its  operations,  as  to  prove,  that  within  the  present  reign, 
for  the  want  of  such  experience,  ability,  and  industry  in  those  who  at 
different  periods  superintended  the  various  branches  of  naval  expenditure, 
the  most  gross  and  flagitious  profusion,  improvidence,  and  peculation  had 
prevailed  in  our  dock-yards  at  home,  and  our  fleets  in  foreign  service;  and 
that  the  public  accounts  in  that  department  had  been  suffered  to  run  into 
such  arrear  and  confusion,  a»  to  render  the  audit  of  them  totally  imprac- 
ticable, for  a  series  of  twenty  years  together,  to  the  preclusion  of  all  effectual 
means  to  check  the  progress  of  peculation  .and  fraud.  In  no  one  branch  of 
the  naval  department  had  tkis  system  of  inefficiency  more  mischievously 
prevailed  than  in  that  of  the  Victualling  Board,  where,  it  appcaif-J  by  one 
©f  the  latest  Reports  of  the  Commissioners  of  Naval  Revision,  that  accounts 
to  a  very  considerable  extent  had  continued  in  arrear  for  above  twenty  years 
without  liquidation.  But  it  was  not  merely  of  late  years  that  such  com- 
plaints had  existed  in  this  department;  for  ever  since  the  reign  of  Queen 
Anne  t!»e  Victualling  Office  accounts  had  been  always  in  arrear,  and  at  the 
time  of  the  last  Report  of  tlie  Commissioners  of  Naval  Revision,  there 
were  actually  accounts  to  die  amount  of  nine  millions  unsettled.  He 
trusted,  however,  that  since  that  Report  had  been  laid  upon  the  table,  no 
new  arrears  of  account  had  been  suffered  to  accumulate.  At  a  time  when 
tlie  urgent  affairs  of  this  country  called  for  great  expenditure,  and  conse- 
quently for  a  heavy  pressure  of  taxation  on  the  people,  it  was  but  right  and 
reasonable  that  the  people  should  be  convinced  that  a  scrupulous  and  effi- 
cient vigilance  was  exerted  in  every  department  of  office,  in  order  to  secure 
the  fair  application  of  every  shilling  granted  for  the  public  service  ;  and  his 
principal  motive  for  BOW  calling  the  attention  of  the  House  to  this  subject, 
•was,  not  to  cast  any  blame  oa  the  present  Board  of  Admiralty,  but  in  order 
to  record  on  the  Journals  of  the  House  a  resolution  which  he  should  have 
the  honour  to  propose  now,  before  the  Navy  Estimates  came  to  be  voted, 
in  order  to  prove  that  die  House  coincided  with  the  recommendation  stated 
in  thd  Reports  of  the  Commissioners  of  Naval  Revision.  He  concluded-by 
moving  a  Resolution,  "  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  tl-js  House  that  neither  live 
plan  recommended  by  the  Commissioners  of  Naval  Revision,  respecting  the 
Victualling  Board,  nor  any  other  plan  can  be  effectual,  if  that  Board  be 
.composed  of  any  other  than  men  of  extensive  experience,  knowledge, 
ability,  integrity,  and  indefatigable  j>erseverance  in  their  duties." 

"  Mr.  R.  Ward  spoke  at  considerable  length,  in  answer  to  the  lion. 
Baronet.  He  said  that  he  should  be  totally  at  a  loss  to  understand  the  real 
.object  of  the  Honourable  Baronet's  motion  from  his  speech  this  night,  if  h« 
Jia'd  not  heard  the  conversations  both  within  and  without  those  walls,  which 

el.  XXI,  P  *• 


2DO  MEMOIll    OF   THE    PUBLIC    8EIIVICES    OF 

had  their  origin  in  the  suggestions  of  the  lion.  Baronet,  and  were  calculated 
to  throw  blame  on  the  present  Board  of  Admiralty.  This,  he  conceived,  to 
be  the  true  motive  of  the  Hon.  Baronet  for  wishing  now  to  enter  upon  the 
Journals  of  the  House  the  Resolution  which  he  proposed  ;  the  truth  of 
which  no  man  cr-uld  deny,  and  which  was  the  very  ground  laid  for  what 
the  present  Board  of  Admiralty  had  done,  towards  the  very  system  of  reform 
in  the  naval  department,  now  urged  by  the  Honi"  Baronet.  lie  must,  there- 
fore, be  excused  from  imputing  the  motion  of  the  Hon.  Baronet  merely  to 
the  motives  he  avowed.  He  must  call  tilings  by  their  right  names,  and 
freely  avow  his  own  conviction,  that  the  true  object  of  the  Hon.  Baronet's 
motion  was  to  cast  an  indirect  censure  on  the  Board  of  Admiralty;  and, 
therefore,  without  dissenting  from  the  truth  of  the  Resolution,  he  would 
oppose  it  by  the  previous  question.  It  would  have  been  more  honourable 
and  manly  to  name  the  persons  to  whose  appointments  he  had  objected,  and 
thereby  give  to  the  friends  of  those  gentlemen  the  opportunity  of  defending 
them  fairly  and  openly.  The  Hon.  Member  then  named  severally  the 
different  Members  of  the  Victualling  Board,  to  whose  characters  he  paid 
hi^h  encomiums,  and  wished  the  lion.  Baronet  to  state  to  which,  if  to  any 
of  them,  he  could  personally  object.  The  persons  at  that  Board,  against 
whom  he  conceived  the  Hon.  Baronet's  motion  chiefly  directed,  were 
Colonel  Welsh  and  Captain  Stuart,  and  this  for  no  other  cause  than  that 
they  were  military  men,  and  therefore  in  the  Hon.  Baronet's  estimation 
unfit  to  sit  at  the  Victualling  Board.  He  (Mr.  Ward)  however  conceived 
that  military  experience  was  as  necessary  as  naval  experience  to  the 
efficiency  of  that  Board;  inasmuch  as  ever  since  the  year  1793,  by  a  new 
arrangement  of  the  Board,  with  increased  salaries,  additional  clerks,  and  the 
appointment  of  a  military  inspector  of  provisions,  the  duty  of  purchasing 
victualling  stores  for  the  army  in  foreign  stations,  as  well  as  for  the  navy, 
devolved  upon  them,  although  the  victualling  of  both  branches  of  the  public 
force  was  carried  on  under  distinct  departments,  was  different  in  kind,  and 
distributed  differently  on  shipboard,  and  in  garrison.  The  Commi-.sioners 
of  Revision  had  said  there  should  be  some  military  and  some  civilians. 
There  could  be  no  objection,  nor  was  there  any  to  Colonel  Welsh,  other 
than  his  being  appointed  by  Lord  Mulgrave,  and  every  one  but  the  Hon. 
Baronet  allowed  his  merits.  All  he  had  said  of  Colonel  Welsh  was  equally 
applicable  to  Captain  Stuart;  and  in  point  of  justice  the  Hon.  Baronet 
ought  to  get  up  and  state,  that  they  have  no  abilities  and  no  integrity,  if  he 
wished  to  throw  blame  on  the  Admiralty  for  these  appointments.  The 
motion  went  to  charge  the  Admiralty  with  blame,  without  a  single  argu- 
ment in  support  of  it.  He  was,  therefore,  compelled  to  move  the  previous 
question. 

Mr.  H.  Martin  said  he  had  never  heard  more  warmth  nor  less  argument 
than  in  the  speech  just  delivered  by  the  Hon.  Gentleman.  The  fact  was, 
the  Admiralty  had  dismissed,  or  allowed  to  retire,  Mr.  Marsh,  who  pre- 
sided at  the  Victualling  Board,  under  the  pretence  of  his  age  and  in- 
firmities, because  the  accounts  were  in  a  mar,  and  had  appointed  a  person 
hmch  the  senior  of  him  they  had  removed:  and  the  person  so  appointed. 


ADMIllAZ.    SIR    C.    M.    POLE,    BART.    M.P.  291 

had  been  longer  in  the  Victualling  Office  than  any  other,  so  that  if 
bad  habits  were  an  objection,  they  applied  in  full  force  to  him.  Mr. 
Budge  had  also  been  removed,  without  any  application  on  his  part; 
and  Mr.  Moody,  who  was  allowed  to  be  one  of  the  best  accountants  in  the 
country;  and  if  it  were  true  that  the  accounts  of  the  office  were  so 
tremendously  in  arrear  as  had  been  represented,  it  was  very  extraordinary 
they  should  grt  rid  of  such  a  man,  who  was  in  all  respects  so  capable 
of  forwarding  them. 

Mr.  Bus'anl  said  he  could  not  but  feel  indignant  at  the  manner  in  which 
the  Hon.  Gentleman  (Mr.  Ward)  had  treated  the  motion  of  the  Hon, 
Baronet,  to  whom  he  thought  the  House  and  the  country  were  highly  in- 
debted for  bringing  it  forward,  as  well  as  for  many  other  services  he  had 
done  to  the  puhlic.  Public  Boards  were  not  the  masters  of  that  House, 
but  ought  to  be  their  servants,  and  liable  to  their  controul;  and  the  Hon. 
Gentleman  would  have  done  well  to  have  recollected  the  benefits  the 
country  had  received  from  a  Board,  of  which  the  Hon.  Baronet  had  been 
an  active  member.  The  Commissioners  of  Naval  Inquiry  had  said 
many  reports  had  been  made  a->  to  the  conduct  of  the  Victualling  Board, 
but  not  one  had  been  acted  on.  It.  was  the  duty  of  the  House  to  enforce 
such  a  resolution  as  the  present,  which  might  probably  prevent  such 
neglects  in  future.  It  was  not  the  Hon.  Baronet,  but  the  Naval  Commis- 
sioners who  asserted  this  to  be  necessary;  and  though  it  might  be  a 
truism,  it  came  before  the  House  in  a  much  more  apposite  shape 
than  many  others  had  done.  In  saying  this,  he  meant  no  slur  on  the 
Admiralty,  and  the  Hon.  Gentleman  hud  gone  very  far  out  of  his 
way  in  saying  so  much  on  the  appointment  of  Colonel  Welsh.  He  thought 
the  Hon.  Baronet  was  actuated  by  the  best  motives:  he  hoped  he  would 
persist  in  his  present  conduct,  and  he  should  give  the  motion  his 
cordial  support. 

Mr.  Welksley  Pole  defended,  at  considerable  length,  the  several 
removals,  and  the  appointments  made  in  their  stead.  He  thought,  however, 
that  what  the  Hon.  Baronet  had  now  brought  forward  did  not  call  for  what 
his  Hon.  Friend  (Mr.  Ward)  had  said  upon  it.  He  was  glad  the  Hon. 
Baronet  had  stated  the  matter  as  he  had  done,  which  allowed  that 
the  system  of  the  Victualling  Board  was  so  vicious  as  loudly  to  call 
for  alteration  and  reform.  There  was,  however,  another  Report,  which  the 
Hon.  Baronet  ought  to  attend  to,  viz.  the  llth,  which  particularly  related 
to  the  outports,  and  which  stated  that  in  the  Victualling  Board  at  Plymouth 
he  had  been  charged  with  4000  tons  of  casks  more  than  by  his  account  he 
ought  to  be  charged  with,  and  another  with  4000  tons  of  casks  less  than  he 
ought,  and  yet  both  accounts  had  been  passed  as  right.  When  the  Hon. 
Baronet  looked  to  the  various  Boards  with  so  jealous  an  eye,  he  could  have 
wished  the  Hon.  Baronet  had  not  suffered  his  own  Report,  as  a  Com- 
missioner of  Naval  Inquiry,  to  remain  for  ten  months  a  mere  dead  letter, 
though  he  was  all  that  time  in  office,  and  might  have  brought  it  into  action; 
and  during  that  period  there  were  no  less  than  eleven  millions  of  accounts 
i«  his  o2ke  which  were  never  looked  to  by  the.  Board.  Many  of  tUos« 


MEMOIR    OF    THE    PUBLIC    StUVICES    OP 

accounts  had  been  standing  25  years,  and  many  nearly  that,  and  those  of 
16  had  been  reported  ready  for  inspection,  but  no  notice  had  been  taken 
of  them  by  that  Board,  of  which  the  Hon.  Barowet  was  a  member.  Mr. 
Marsh,  the  Deputy  Chairman  of  the  Victualling  Board,  had  been  allowed 
to  retire  at  his  own  request  on  three-fourths  of  his  salary.  Mr.  Moody  was 
as  incapable  of  discharging  the  duties  of  his  office,  as  if  he  was  defunct. 
From  all  the  inquiries  he  had  made,  it  was  universally  agreed  that  he  was 
incapable  of  leading  the  Board  to  carry  into  effect  those  reforms  which  had 
been  recommended  by  the  Naval  Commissioners.  He  had  also  been 
allowed,  after  49  years  service,  to  retire  on  three-fourJhs  of  his  salary;  and 
the  Victualling  Board  was  at  present  constituted  in  the  exact  manner 
recommended  by  the  Commissioners  of  Revision.  The  lion.  Gentleman 
concluded  by  saying,  that  as  there  appeared  no  shadow  of  ground  for 
the  present  motion,  he  would  vote  for  the  previous  question. 

Mr.  Wlndham  said,  in  his  opinion,  the  whole  case  lay  in  th*  short 
compass  of  how  far  it  was  necessary  to  remove  some  officers,  and  put  others 
in  their  place;  he  could  not  see  the  necessity  of  this;  but  it  seemed 
the  Hon.  Gentleman  thought  a  reform  necessary,  and  so  he  began,  not  by 
changing  principles,  but  by  changing  men — a  very  commodious  system 
of  reform;  he  knew  none  of  the  officers-  but  Mr.  Marsh,  sind  coukl  see 
no  change  in  him  which  could  warrant  his  removal ;  time,  however,,  might 
have  an  effect  on  his  mind,  which  it  had  not  on  his  body.  He  defended  tlis 
motion  of  Sir  C.  Pole. 

The  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  denied  that  a  change  of  persons 
only  was  intended,  but  a  radical  reform  of  system  in  the  most  economical 
way  possible.  He  contended  the  Right  Hon.  Gentleman  hatl  formed  his 
opinion  on  partial  parts  of  the  report  and  deduced  therefrom  general 
propositions,  which  could  not  be  denied  in  the  abstract,  bat  which,  when 
particularly  applied,  were  defective.  He  would,  therefore,  support  the 
previous  question.  He  believed  Mr,  Marsh  was  a  very  zealous  officer,  but 
he  was  incapacitated  by  age  from  active  service.  This  was  also  the  case 
with  respect  to  Mr.  Moody. 

Mr.  Whitkread  defended  the  motion  of  the  Hon.  Baronet,  and  said 
he  had  never  heard  the  present  Board  of  Admiralty  praised  by  any 
but  themselves,  with  whose  testimony  on  the  subject  it  was  not  to 
be  expected  he  should  be  satisfied.  They  abused  the  Hon.  Baronet  for  not 
doing  every  thing  in  ten  months,  and  yet  they,  at  the  end  of  two  years,  had 
only  commenced  a  reform. 

Mr.  Peter  Moore  panegyrised  the  Hon.  Baronet,  and  defended  his 
motion. 

Admiral  Markfiam  supported  the  Hon.  Baronet's  motion,  as  he  thought 
hit  arguments  fully  bore  him  out. 

Sir  C.  Pole  shortly  replied,  and  the  previous  question  was  then  carried 
without  a  division. 

In  the  present  Session,  this  truly  independent  and  patriotic 
Member  has  been  also  occupied;  with  endeavouring  to  call  tho 


ADMIRAL   SIR   C.    M.    POLE,    BART.    M.P.  293 

attention  of  the  House  of  Commons  to  a  subject,  which  was  parti- 
cularly recommended  to  him  by  his  late  friend  Admiral  Lord  Nel- 
son, The  encouragement  of  a  Marine  Corps  of  Artillery^  to  avoid 
a  return  of  those  quarrels  which  had  prevailed  in  the  Mediterra- 
nean,  whilst  Lord   Nelson  had  the  command  in  1803  :  in  conse- 
quence of  some  young  artillery  officers  refusing  to  allow  such  of 
their  men  as  were  embarked  on  board  the  bombs,  to  assist  in  case 
of  emergency  to  support  the  labours  of  the  crew.  Sir  C.  Pole's  ob- 
ject also,  in  calling  the  attention  of  Parliament  to  the  Marine  Corps, 
is  to  establish  a  Fund  for  the  orphans  of  its  officers,  to  augment 
the  field  officers,  and  to  put  the  Royal  Marine  Artillery  on  a  more 
rational  and  respectable  plan;  endeavouring  that  some  young  men 
should  be  purposely  educated   at  Woolwich   for   that  purpose* 
We  trust  that  we  shall  have  very  considerable  additions  to  add  to 
this  memoir,   both  as  regarding  his  professional  and  senatorial  du- 
ties, in  which  we  have  endeavoured  to  direct  the  attention  of  our 
readers  to  a  subject,  already  glanced  at  by  our  sensible  and  worthy 
Correspondent,    E.  G.  F.   The  Parliamentary  Duties  of  Naral 
Officers.     The  subject  at  the  present  moment,  particularly,  is  of 
vast  importance,  and  of  great  national  interest :  and  we  trust  our 
Correspondent  will  direct  and  confine  his  attention  to  naval  par- 
liamentary subjects  alone,  and  a  discussion  of  the  various  specche* 
that  have  been  thus  made  by  officers  in  both  Houses. 

Such  has  been,  and  such  we  trust  will  long  continue  Admiral 
Sir  C.  Pole.  The  early  associate  and  intimate  friend  of  the  ever 
to  be  lamented  Nelson  ;  the  great  example  to  all  naval  officers  in 
Parliament,  to  whom  the  profession  and  ftie  country  may  safely 
look  up  for  integrity  and  independence.  By  principle  a  strict 
disciplinarian,  by  nature  brave  and  enterprising,  yet  unassuming  ; 
simple  in  his  manners,  open  in  his  character,  and  uniform  in  his 
friendship.  This  may  be  the  language  of  eulogy,  but  it  is  also  the 
language  of  truth.  We  trust  he  will  resolutely  stem  the  current  he 
has  so  nobly  opposed,  and  support  the  hitherto-neglected  interests 
of  the  British  navy  in  the  House  of  Commons.  And  instead  of 
crouching,  like  too  many  whom  we  could  mention,  to  men  in 
power  for  professional  employment,  or  holding  a  situation  in  Par. 
liament  from  motives  of  party  or  self  interest,  will  keep  on  his 
steady  course  with  a  press  of  canvass ;  and  though  unfavourable 


MEMOIR     OF    THE     PUBLIC     SERVICES     OF 

winds  may  sometimes  retard  Ms  progress,  or  the  three  deckers  oT 
ministry  may  open  their  broadsides  upon  him,  and  fire  stink  pots 
into  his  rigging  ;  still  we  trust,  like  an  experienced  and  able  sea- 
man as  he  is,  he  will  luff  up  and  rake  his  opposcrs.  We  trust 
that  dijring  many  succeeding  sessions,  he  will  continue  to  burn 
blue  lights  to  caution  other  officers,  when  he  thinks  the  good  old 
ship  is  standing  into  danger;  or  her  crew,  like  that  of  a  privateer, 
becoming  slovenly  and  thinking  only  of  prize  money,  fall  to 
squabling  amongst  themselves ;  and  thus  forget  to  scrub  the  decks, 
and  to  square  the  yards,  and  allow  the  purser  to  serve  out  oakura 
for  tobacco,  and  the  dust  of  corrupted  maggots  for  burgoo. 

*».*  Sir  Charles  Pole  has  been  many  years  one  of  the  Grooms 
of  the  Bedchamber  to  Admiral  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of 
Clarence. 

HERALDIC    PARTICULARS. 

The  family  of  Pole  is  of  great  antiquify  in  Devonshire.  Sir 
John  Pole,  of  Shute,  in  that  county,  was  created  a  Baronet  by 
patent  dated  12th  September,  Ui2S.  His  grandson,  Sir  John 
Pole,  married  Anne,  youngest  daughter  of  Sir  William  Morice,  of 
Werington,  Knight,  and  had  issue,  1st,  William,  his  successor  in 
the  title  of  Baronet ;  2d,  John,  an  officer  in  the  army,  who  died 
unmarried;  3d,  Charles,  who  died  young;  and  4th,  the  Rev. 
Carolus  Pole,  rector  of  St.  Breoch,  in  Cornwall,  grandfa- 
ther of  the  present  Admiral ;  which  Carolus  married  Sarah,  daugh- 
ter of  Jonathan  Rashleigh,  of  Meuabilly,  in  Cornwall,  Esq.  by 
Jane,  daughter  and  at  length  coheir  of  Sir  John  Carew,  of 
Anthony,  in  the  same  county,  and  by  her  had  issue  a  daughter, 
Jane,  who  married  Philip  Rashleigh,  of  Menabilly,  Esq.  and  two 
sons,  viz.  1st,  Reginald;  2d,  John,  rector  of  Faccumb  cum  Tang- 
ley,  Southampton,  who  died  unmarried  in  1750. 

Reginald  Pole,  the  eldest  son,  father  of  the  subject  of  this 
memoir,  was  of  Stoke  Damarell,  in  the  county  of  Devon,  and  died 
1 1th  November,  1769,  at  the  age  of  53,  leaving  issue  by  Anne  his 
wife  (2d  daughter  of  John  Francis  Buller,  of  Mortal,  Esq.  which, 
lady  died  25th  April,  1758)  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  of 
whom  Anne  was  2d  wife  of  Charles  Cox,  Lord  Sommers,  and 
Sarah,  married  Henry  Hippesley  Coxe,  Esq.  of  Stone  Easton>  in 
Somersetshire,  and  died  iu  August  1787.  The  sons  were,  1st,  the 
Right  Honourable  Reginald  Pole  Carevr,  of  Anthony,  in  t«* 


ADMIRAL  SIR  C.  M.  POLE,  BART.  M.P. 

county  of  Cornwall,  one  of  his  Majesty's  most  honourable  Privy 
Council,  and  M.P.  for  Fowey,  who  was  born  28th  July,  1753, 
and  assumed  the  surname  and  arms  of  Carcw,  by  Act  of  Par- 
Jiament,  pursuant  to  the  will  of  Sir  Coventry  Carcw.  He  married 
iu  November,  1784,  Jemima^  only  child  of  the  Hon.  John  Yorke, 
4th  son  of  Philip,  1st  Earl  of  Hardwicke?  by  whom  he  had  several 
children. 

2d,  Sir  Charles  Morice  Pole,  Baronet,  (so  created  by  patent 
dated  12th  September,  1801)  an  Admiral  in  the  Royal  Navy, 
born  18th  January,  1757,  married  8th  June,  1792,  Henrietta,  3d 
daughter  of  John  Goddard,  Esq.  formerly  of  Rotterdam,  and  late 
of  Woodford  Hall,  in  Essex,  and  niece  of  Henry  Hope,  Esq.  late 
of  Amsterdam,  but  now  of  Harley  Street,  and  by  her  has  issue5 
Henrrietra-Maria-Sarah,  born  7th  November,  1799. 

3d,  Edward  Pole,  Fellow  of  All  Souls  College,  Oxford.  , 

ARMS. — Azure )  a  lion  rampant,  argent,  within  an  orle  of  9 
Fieurs  de  15s,  or. 

SUPPORTERS. — Granted  by  his  Majesty's  Especial  Royal  War. 
rant,  dated  2d  November,  1801.  On  the  dexter  a  stag,  gules^ 
attired,  or ;  and  on  the  sinister  a  griffin,  atrwre,  beaked,  legged, 
and  ducally  gorged,  or. 

MOTTO. — Pallet  Virtus. 


NAVAL  ANECDOTES, 
COMMERCIAL  HINTS,  RECOLLECTIONS, 


NANTES    IN    GURGITE    VASTO. 


GALLANTRY    OF    THE    SANDWICH    LUGGER. 

ON  New  Year's  Day,  a  very  gallant  and  severe  actios  was 
fought  by  the  Sandwich  lugger.  She  fell  in  with  a  large 
JFrench  lugger,  soon  after  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  off  the 
Isle  of  Bass,  which  she  engaged  nearly  two  hours ;  and  so  close 
was  the  contest,  that  the  enemy's  main-sail  caught  fire  two  or  three 
times,  from  the  fire  of  the  Sandwich  :  it  was  evidently  the  intention 
of  the  enemy  to  board,  being  full  of  men  (it  is  supposed  nearly 
100),  and  for  that  purpose  she  ran  her  bowsprit  between  the 
Sandwich's  fore  and  main-masts;  but  the  brisk  fire  of  round  and 
cannister  kept  up  by  the  brave  crew  of  the  Sandwich,  prevented 
her  accomplishing  this  design.  At  length  she  disengaged  herself, 


295  KAVAI.    ANECDOTES, 

and  sheered  off:  the  Sandwich  pursued  her,  bat  the  weather  being 
dark  and  heavy,  and  the  wind  failing,  she  out  with  her  sweeps, 
and  made  her  escape.  The  long  and  brisk  cannonade  kept  up  by 
the  Sandwich  must  have  made  great  havoc  among  the  enemy's 
crew,  and  it  is  certain  she  must  have  been  so  much  shattered  as  to 
reach  the  shore  with  difficulty.  The  Sandwich  had  cm-,  n  iiii  killed 
and  seven  wounded  :  two  of  them  so  dangerously  iLit  th^y  are  not 
expected  to  live.  Lieutenant  Atkins,  the  brave  ..^inmander  of  the 
Sandwich,  received  a  ball  in  the  upper  part  of  his  right  arm,  near 
the  shoulder;  but  it  has  been  extracted.  Mr.  Phillips,  the  master, 
was  dangerously  wounded  ;  a  musket  ball  entered  his  right  breast, 
and  passed  out  at  his  back.  The  first  mate  was  wounded  by  a 
ball  passing  through  his  leg. — The  Sandwich  mounts  14  guns,  and 
had  50  men  on  board. 

PRESENT    STATE    OF    MALACCA. 

THE  fort  wails  at  Malacca,  were  built  by  a  colony  from  China, 
at  least  three  centuries  before  the  Portuguese  obtained  possession 
of  the  place  in  1512.  They  are  by  no  means  so  strong  as  has  been 
generally  supposed,  but  they  serve  to  strike  terror  into  the  Malays, 
•who  have  a  superstitious  veneration  for  them.  Preparations  are 
now  making  to  blow  up  the  works  ;  mines  are  excavated  along  the 
side  facing  the  sea,  some  of  which  are  charged.  Two  were  ex- 
ploded with  great  skill  and  precision,  on  the  16th  of  October,  1807. 
The  wall  was  completely  overturned  on  both  sides,  with  a  very 
trilling  explosion,  and  without  injuring  a  building  or  a  tree.  The 
country  round  Malacca  to  the  distance  of  eight  or  ten  miles  from 
the  fort,  is  a  pleasant  and  most  productive  spot.  The  rising 
grounds  are  barren  and  rocky,  and  the  acclivities  have  been  used 
by  the  Chinese,  for  places  of  sepulture.  Redoubts  are  also  raised 
on  the  Bocca  China,  and  St.  Jonas.  On  the  sides  of  the  hills  are 
innumerable  trees  of  a  variety  of  species,  including  the  sepharce 
and  the  arcca,  or  betel-nut  tree  ;  other  fences  of  the  fields  are 
bamboo,  rattan,  acacia,  &c.  Since  the  English  took  possession 
of  the  place  in  1793,  the  vajlies  produce  rice  and  sugar  canes  in. 
great  abundance,  the  cultivation  of  which,  under  a  settled  and 
permanent  government,  might  be  much  extended.  The  revenues 
bring  to  the  Company  80,000  dollars  a  year  for  land  rents,  taxes, 
and  customs.  The  latter  are  farmed,  and  there  is  a  considerable 
trade  with  the  buggesses  from  Borneo,  in  the  season  between  the 
monsoons.  They  also  trade  with  Sumatra,  Rhio,  and  many  of 
the  rivers  of  the  Peninsula,  both  to  the  east  and  west,  and  hays 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,     RECOLLECTIONS,    &C,  297 

frequent  communications  with  Java ;  whence  they  import  teak- 
wood,  pepper,  and  other  productions.  They  procure  spars  fit  for 
masts  from  Stack  and  Arroes,  but  these  growing  in  a  low,  marshy 
country,  are  of  inferior  quality.  In  the  river  which  runs  close  by 
the  walls  of  the  fort,  small  vessels  of  120  tons  have  been  built. 
They  have  good  timber,  including  what  they  procure  from 
Samarang  and  Java,  and  skilful  carpenters.  Under  the  lee  of  the 
island  nearest  to  the  fort,  there  is  a  kind  of  harbour,  where  in  the 
south-west  monsoon,  they  can  carry  and  secure  vessels  drawing 
16  feet.  The  cultivators,  sugar-makers,  distillers,  and  farmers  of 
the  customs  are  Chinese. 

IMPROVEMENTS     IN    THE    SANDWICH    ISLANDS. 

AMONG  the  extraordinary  phenomena  of  the  present  age,  so  fer. 
tile  in  revolutions  political  and  national,  may  be  justly  reckoned 
the  formation  of  a  new  empire,  and  the  introduction  of  European 
civilization  into  the  remote  islands  scattered  over  the  yast  expanse 
of  the  Pacific  Ocean.  We  are  assured  that  Tahama,  chief  or 
sovereign  of  the  island  O-Avy-hee,  has  not  only  subjected  to  his 
dominion  the  surrounding  islands,  but  is  actively  employed  in  ex. 
tending  his  power  on  every  side.  This  chieftain,  the  Buonaparte 
of  the  Pacific,  though  he  can  neither  write  nor  read,  is,  neverthe- 
less, endowed  with  distinguished  abilities,  energy,  and  ambition. 
Numbers  of  British  and  of  French  renegadoes,  or  deserters,  are 
employed  in  facilitating  his  projects  of  commerce  and  of  conquest. 
Already  it  is  certain  that  he  carries  on  a  trade  with  China,  with 
some  of  the  dependencies  of  Japan,  with  the  Ladrone  islands,  and 
Tinian  ;  nor  is  it  doubted  that  he  will  soon  navigate  the  South  Sea 
in  the  opposite  direction,  to  the  western  shores  of  Mexico,  Peru, 
and  Chili.  However  incredible  it  may  appear,  we  are  assured  that 
he  possesses  a  marine  consisting  of  nine  vessels  ;  among  which  are 
two  armed  and  copper-bottomed.  Tahama,  it  is  believed,  will 
subject  the  Society  and  Friendly  Islands,  as  well  as  many  of  the 
others  in  that  quarter  of  the  globe.  When  we  reflect  on  the 
geographical  position  of  the  Sandwich  islands,  placed  as  it'were  by 
nature,  to  connect  America  with  Asia;  and  competent  to  carry  on 
the  most  extensive  commerce  at  once  with  the  Philippines,  China, 
and  Japan,  on  one  hand  ;  no  less  than  with 'California,  Acapulco, 
Lima,  and  the  parts  of  Chili  on  the  other  side  of  the  Pacific ;  w« 
are  lost  in  contemplating  or  calculating  the  results  which  may  take 
place  in  the  course  of  a  few  years  from  this  event.  0-wy-hee  and 

t  C$nm»®»I«  XXI.  Q  « 


298 


NAVAT,    ANECDOTEi, 


Hayti,  may  both,  in  (he  lapse  of  the  IDth  century,  occupy  a  dis- 
tinguished place  in  the  history  of  the  world  ;  and  the  dynasties  of 
Tahama  or  of  Pction,  like  those  of  Buonaparte  and  Murat,  may 
arise  to  replace  the  distinguished  families  that  antecedently  ruled 
in  Europe  or  in  America, 

ADDITIONAL   HONOURS  CONFERRED  ON  SIR  SIDNEY  SMITH  BY 

THE    COURT    OF    PORTUGAL. 

THE  public  papers  have  lately  contained  many  contradictory 
accounts  of  the  state  of  afiairs  at  the  court  of  Brazil,  but  we  arc 
as  yet  very  scantily  supplied  with  genuine  intelligence ;  we  therefore 
Conceive  the  following  document  will  be  read  with  interest,  as 
authentic  testimony  of  the  sentiments  of  that  court  relative  to  the 
person  and  services  of  the  British  admiral  commanding  in  those 
seas.  It  is  somewhat  singular  that  Sir  Sidney  Smith's  conduct 
should  be  viewed  in  so  different  a  light  at  the  Admiralty  from 
what  it  is  by  our  ally,  that  he  has  just  been  unexpectedly  super- 
seded in  a  manner,  which  we  fear  will  be  considered  by  the  Avorthy 
admiral  as  the  most  abrupt. 

"  Palace  of  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Glh  August,  1808. 
(COPY.) 

"  His  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  Regent,  our  Sovereign  Lord,  being 
desirous  to  shew  the  estimation  in  which  he  holds  the  high  merit,  abilities, 
and  valour  of  Sir  Sidney  Smith,  rear-admiral  and  commander.in-chicf  of  his 
Britannic  majesty's  naval  forces  in  the  Southern  Seas;  his  royal  highness  has 
been  pleased  to  grant  him  the  honour  of  enabling  him  to  bear  the  arms  of 
Portugal,  quartered  with  his  own,  and  to  bear  them  as  the  French  express 
it,  oti  shield  and  banner,*  that  he,  and  his  descendants,  may  use  them,  and 
in  default  of  issue,  his  representatives  in  both  the  male  and  female  lines  : 
but  as  the  said  Sir  Sidney  Smith  cannot  do  this  without  his  Britannic 
majesty's  licence,  his  royal  highness  orders  that  your  excellency  will  request 
this  faculty  through  Mr.  Canning,  his  minister  of  state  for  foreign  affairs, 
signifying  the  great  pleasure  and  satisfaction  his  royal  highness  will  receive 
by  his  Britannic  majesty's  being  pleased  to  accede  to  this  his  particular 
desire.  Your  excellency  will  make  known  this  minister's  answer  as  soon 
as  possible.  His  royal  highness  flattering  himself  that  this  just  request  will 
not  meet  any  difficulty.  God  preserve  your  excellency. 

"  D.  RODRIGO  DE  SOUZA  CONTINHO." 

*'  To  Don  Domingos  Antonio  de 
Souza  Continho.     London. 

*  En  (tusson  ft  banniere. 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  299 

•INSCRIPTION'    AND    DIMENSIONS  OF  THE  LOWLSTOFF  UNIMMERGIBLE 
LIFE-BOAT.* 

Feet.     Inches, 
0 
0 

Breadth  a-raidships 10         0 

Depth 3         6 

Exclusive  of  amoveable  wash  strakeof       O         8 
The  form  the  same  as  the  yawls  of  that  coast ;  the  stern  post 
nearly  upright. 

External  gunwales  hollow,  forming  an  oblique  section  of  a 
parabola  with  the  side  of  the  boat,  and  projecting  nine  inches  from 
it  on  each  side  :  these  gunwales  are  reduced  a  little  in  their  pro- 
jection towards  their  ends,  and  are  first  formed  by  brackets  and 
thin  boards,  covered  at  top  and  bottom  with  one  thickness  of  good 
sound  cork,  and  the  extremity  or  apex  of  the  projection  having 
two  thicknesses  of  cork,  the  better  to  defend  it  from  any  violent 
blows  it  may  meet  with  in  hard  service.  The  depth  of  these  gun. 
wales  from  top  to  bottom  was  fifteen  inches,  and  the  whole 
covered  with  very  strong  canvas,  laid  on  with  strong  cement  to 
resist  the  water,  and  that  will  not  stick  to  anything  laid  upon  it. 

A  false  keel  of  wrought  iron  three  inches  deep,  made  of  t'nrerc 
bars  rivetted  together,  ami  bolted  under  the  common  keel,  which 
it  greatly  strengthens,  and  makes  a  very  essential  part  of  her 
ballast;  b.'ing  fixed  so  much  below  the  floor,  it  has  nearly  double 
the  power  the  same  weight  would  have  if  laid  on  the  floor,  and 
therefore  much  preferable  to  any  other  ballast  that  can  be  used  for 
sailing  boats. 

Thwarts  and  gang-board  as  usual  :  three  masts  and  lugg  sails, 
and  twelve  short  oars. 

In  this  state,  this  boat  is  much  safer  than  any  common  boat  of 
the  same  dimensions,  will  carry  more  sail,  and  bear  more  weather  : 
but  to  make  it  completely  unimmergible,  empty  casks,  of  about 
twenty-two  inches  diameter,  were  ranged  along  withinside  of  the 
gunwales,  lashed  firmly  to  the  boat,  lying  even  with  the  tops  of 
the  gunwales,  and  resting  upon  brackets  fastened  to  the  timbers 
for  that  purpose ;  also  two  such  casks  in  the  head,  and  two  in  the 
stern,  and  all  removable  in  a  short  time,  if  desired ;  there  were 
also  some  empty  casks  placed  under  the  gang-board;  these  woul 
be  an  addition  to  the  boat's  buoyancy  if  empty,  and  an,  increase  to. 
her  ballast  if  full. 

*  For  an  account  of  the  first  launching  of  the  kowestoff  life-boat,  on  the 
1 9th  of  Nov<jmber;  1607,  vide  NAVAL  CuRCWCLfi,  Vol.  XIX.  page  458., 


SCO 


PLATE  CCLXXXL 

THE  Island  of  Bombay,  about  seven  leagues  in  circumference, 
is  situated  in  longitude  72  cleg.  38  min.  east  of  Greenwich, 
latitude  18  deg.  57  inin.  north.  It  was  first  settled  by  the  Portu- 
guese, who  gave  it  to  Charles  II.  King  of  England,  as  a  marriage 
portion  with  the  infanta  Catherine.  Its  trade  flourished  exceed- 
ingly; but  its  revenues  were  inadequate  to  the  expence  of  keeping 
it;  in  consequence  of  which,  and  of  other  political  and  commercial 
reasons,  the  crown  made  it  over  to  the  East  India  Company,  in 
whose  hands  it  remains. 

The  principal  town  is  nearly  a  mile  long  ;  and,  within  these 
few  years,  the  general  appearance  of  the  houses  has  been  con- 
siderably improved.  The  soil  is  barren,  and  the  water  is  bad ; 
notwithstanding  which,  there  are  some  fine  groves  of  cocoa-nut 
trees  on  the  island,  and  the  gardens  produce  inargoes,  jacks,  and 
other  Indian  fruits. 

Salt,  in  large  quantities,  is  made  at  Bombay,  by  letting  the  sea 
into  pits,  and  suffering  it  to  evaporate  by  the  heat  of  the  sun. 

The  air  and  climate 'of  iliis  island  are  rather  unhealthy,  subject- 
ing  Europeans,  on  their  first  arrival,  to  fevers,  fluxes,  scrophulous 
disorders,  &c.  Persons  seasoned  to  the  country,  however,  fre- 
quently live  to  a  good  old  age.  Afte»  the  rains,  a  number  of 
venomous  creatures  appear,  and  attain  an  extraordinary  size. 

Bombay  Castle,  of  which  the  annexed  engraving,  by  Baily,  from 
a.  drawing  by  W.  Westal,  is  an  accurate  representation,  stands  in, 
and  forms  part  of  the  Fort  of  Bombay,  which  is  by  far  the  strongest, 
and  the  most  regular  fortification  in  India.  All,  the  arms,  and 
naval  stores,  for  the  Malabar  coast,  are  kept  in  this  castle. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

MR.    EDITOR, 

AS  you  profess  to  be  a  faithful  chronicler  of  naval  events  for 
the  future  historian,  you  should  candidly  insert,  as  indeed 
you  have  often  done,  the  different  naval  documents  that  have  cir- 
culated amongst  us  in  manuscript,  but  are  in  general  little  known 
to  the  public.  In  your  second  volume,  ,page  500,  you  inserted 
Lord  Nelson's  remarks  on  his  ship  the  Captain,  February  14, 
1797}  which  first  appearedjn  the  Sun :  but  you  have  never  in. 


CORUESPONDENCE.  301 

sorted  the  letter  which  those  remarks  produced  from  Admiral  W. 
Parker,  of  the  St.  George.     I  have  therefore  sent  you  a  copy. 

LIEUTENANT  H. 

"  DEAR  BiNGir.vxr,  "  Blenheim,  off" Cadiz,  September  1,1797. 

u  I  have  heard  some  time  back,  by  some  of  my  friends  in 
England,  that  from  a  statement  of  the  action  of  the  14th  February, 
by  then  Commodore  Nelson,  I  had  not  that  credit  that  properly 
belonged  to  ran. 

"  I  have  had  no  power  to  do  myself  the  justice  I  might  be  en-* 
titled  to,  for  want  of  a  sight  of  that  letter,  which  I  did  not  get 
until  the  20th  of  July. 

*'  It  is  of  no  moment  to  me  to  make  any  observations  further 
than  concerns  myself;  I  have  written  to  him  upon  the  subject, 
which,  least  any  of  my  friends  may  not  have  considered  me  in  the 
situation  I  really  stood,  in  the  success  of  that  day  from  that  cause 
also,  I  here  send  you  the  copy  of  what  I  have  written,  with  his 
answer. 

"  lie  was  absent  from  the  fleet  at  the  time  I  wrote,  and  when 
he  returned  had  lost  his  arm.  I  had  no  immediate  answer ;  it  was 
left  with  the  commander-in-chief,  by  whom  he  de<ired  it  to  be 
delivered  to  me  after  he  was  gone  to  England,  as  I  was  told  to  pre- 
vent a  rejoinder ;  but  with  assurances  that  no  offence  was  meant 
by  him  to  me,  and  (hat  he  never  thought  it  could  be  understood 
that  both  ships  had  struck  to  him. 

"  This  answer  is  little  to  the  purpose,  though  after  what  he  had 
written  it  could  not  be  much  otherwise.  He  has  got  my  observa- 
tions as  far  as  respects  myself;  and  I  receive  in  words  what  I  sup- 
pose was  thought  he  should  not  commit  to  paper,  for  I  believe  he 
had  advice  upon  the  occasion. 

"  1  have  no  other  object  or  wish  than  to  be  considered  by  my 
friends  in  the  way  I  am  entitled,  or  any  intention  of  making  com- 
ments upon  Admiral  Nelson's  letter,  but  what  concerned  my  own 
situation,  and  the  ships  he  did  not  mention. 

u  Dear  Bingham, 
"  Your  friend  and  well-wisher, 

«  W.  PARKER." 

"  P.S.  You  may  shew  this,  with  its  enclosure,  to  any  of  my 
friends  w-ho.m  you  may  suppose  have  read  Admiral  Nelson's 
letter." 


302  CORRESPONDENCE. 

"  MY  DEAR  SIR,  "  Blenheim,  off  Cadiz,  25th  July,  1797. 

<c  It  was  not  until  the  21st  of  this  inst.  July,  that  I  saw  the 
letter  in  the  Sun,  dated  the  20th  March,  with  remarks  upon  the 
proceedings  of  his  Majesty's  ship  the  Captain,  in  the  action  of  the 
14th  February,  to  the  whole  of  which,  from  a  near  situation,  J 
was  an  eye  witness. 

"  I  very  readily  admit  that  you  have  all  the  credit  (hat  belongs 
to  an  able  officer  and  a  brave  man  ;  but  in  support  of  myself,  the 
officers  of  the  Prince  George,  and  Orion  (and  Blenheim,  previous 
to  your  acknowledging  her)  I  cannot  but  express  my  surprize  at 
the  statement  contained  in  your  letter. 

"  You  say,  after  wearing,  that  at  a  quarter  past  one  o'clock 
you  were  engaged,  and  immediately  joined,  and  most  nobly  sup- 
ported by  the  Cullodcn,  Captain  Troubridgc,  for  near  an  hour. 
Did  the  Culloden  and  Captain  support  this  apparently,  though 
not  really,  unequal  contest,  when  the  Blenheim  passing  between 
you  and  the  enemy,  gave  you  a  respite',  &c. 

"  I  must  here  take  the  opportunity  of  pointing  out  to  you,  that 
after  passing  through  the  tnemy's  disordered  line  upon  the  star- 
board tack,  viz.  the  Culloden,  Blenheim,  Prince  George,  Orion, 
and  Colossus,  the  Culloden  and  Colossus  more  to  windward  than 
the  other  three  ships,  which  were  in  an  exact  line  close  to  each 
other,  tacked  per  signal  in  succession,  and  stood  after  the  enemy 
upon  the  larboard  tack  in  the  following  order,  viz.  Culloden, 
Blenheim,  Prince  George,  and  Orion,  the  Colossus  having  lost  her 
fore  and  fore-top-sail  yards,  missed  stays,  and  remained  astern  ; 
during  the  progress  towards  tho  enemy  upon  the  larboard  tack, 
you  were  observed  to  wear  from  the  rear  of  our  line,  and  stand 
towards  the  enemy  also,  the  Culloden  by  the  minutes  on  board  the 
Prince  George,  began  to  engage  first,  viz.  twenty  minutes  past  one 
o'clock,  and  you  fell  in  ahead  of  her  some  time  after,  and  began 
to  engage  at  hall-past  one.  Soon  after  you  began,  the  Blenheim, 
•was  advanced  upon  the  Culloden's  larboard  quarter  as  far  ahead 
as  she  could  be,  keeping  out  of  her  fire,  and  began  also;  and  not 
Iftng  afterwards  the  Prince  George  was  the  same  with  respect  to 
the  Blenheim,  and  Orion  with  respect  to  the  Prince  George. 
The  Prince  George  began  at  thirty-five  minutes  past  one,  but  for 
some  time  could  not  get  advanced  enough  to  bring  her  broadside 
to  bear  without  yawing,  occasionally ;  the  Orion  in  the  Prince 
George's  rear  began  as  soon  as  she  could  get  sufficiently  advanced ; 
therefore,  so  different  to  your  statement,  very  soon  after  you 
commenced  your  fire,  you  had  four  ships  pressing  on,  almost  oa 


CORRESPONDENCE.  303 

board  of  each  other,  close  in  your  rear ;  but  the  ships  thus  prcssino- 
upon  each  other,  and  the  two  latter  not  far  enough  ahead  to  fire 
with  proper  effect,  besides  having  none  of  the  enemy's  shipsHeft  in 
the  rear  for  our  succeeding  ships,  at  thirteen  minutes  past  one  I 
made  the  signal,  No.  66  (fill  and  stand  on),  the  most  applicable 
as  I  thought  to  the  occasion,  which,  though  occasionally  shot 
au-ay,  was  re-hoistcd,  and  kept  flying  the  greater  part  of  Ihc 
action. 

*'  From  the  time  stated  that  the  Prince  George  began  to  engage 
the  enemy  upon  the  larboard  tack,  until  the  San  Josef  struck  her 
colours  (say  about  five  or  ten  minutes  past  four),  after  falling  on 
board  the  San  Nicholas,  the  fire  of  the  Prince  George  was  without 
intermission,  except  a  small  space  of  time,  edging  under  your  lee 
when  dividing  from  the  San  Josef,  her  then  antagonist,  not  being 
able  to  pass  to  windward  of  your  ship,  and  the  San  Nicholas, 
then  on  board  each  other,  viz.  your  larboard,  bow  upon  her  lee 
quarter,  the  San  Josef  mizen-mast  being  gone,  and  main-top-mast 
head  below  the  rigging  shot  away,  fell  on  board  the  San  Nicholas 
to  windward,  the  Prince  George  in  the  mean  time  edging  to 
leeward  of  you  and  the  San  Nicholas,  and  advancing  sufficiently 
ahead  of  the  Captain  to  fire  clear  of  her,  re-commenced  her  fire 
both  upon  the  San  Nicholas  and  San  Josef,  from  receiving  shot 
from  the  San  Nicholas  upon  passing  ahead  of  the  Captain,  then 
on  board  of  her  ;  this  continued  pretty  heavy  eight  or  ten  minutes, 
until  the  San  Josef  struck  her  colours;  then,  upon  ceasing  to  fire, 
we  were  hailed  from  the  Captain,  saying  both  ships  had  struck. 
The  Prince  George  endeavoured  to  proceed  on  ahead,  leaving  the 
San  Josef,  as  also  the  other,  to  be  taken  possession  of  by  you, 
assisted  by  such  succeeding  ships  as  the  commander-in-chief,  who 
had  arrived  up,  might  direct. 

"  The  first  ship  that  came  within  my  observation,  except  the 
five  ships  alluded  to,  was  the  Excellent,  whose  captain  neither 
requires  your  testimony  or  mine  in  proof  of  his  bravery  and  good 
conduct ;  he  closed  with  the  San  Isidro  at  twelve  minutes  past 
three,  and  she  soon  struck  :  he  had  all  his  sails  set,  passing  on 
ahead  ;  the  Namur  some  time  after  came  up,  fired  at  SO:DC  ship  in 
the  rear,  and  passed  on  ahaud  also;  and  about  this  time  the  Orion, 
in  my  rear,  lowered  her  boat  down  to  take  possession  of  a  three- 
decker  (the  Salvador),  which  she  had  been  some  time  opposed  to, 
after  the  Prince  George  had  passed  her  ;  this  was,  I  think,  about 
the  time  the  Prince  George  was  edging  under  your  lee,  and  the 
commander-in.chief  arriving  up. 


304  CORRESPONDENCE. 

"  Of  this  action,  my  dear  Sir,  I  felt  conscious  at  the  time,  and 
feel  so  nowj  that  every  exertion  was  used  on  my  part  as  a  flag 
officer,  and  by  the  captain  and  officers,  and  company  of  the 
Prince  George,  in  which  I  was  embarked,  to  take  and  destroy  the 
enemy,  and  believe  me,  neither  they  or  myself  expected  to  meet  an 
account  so  different  to  the  real  statement  of  that  action,  as  is  ob- 
served in  your  letter.  I  am  well  aware  that  people  in  action  know 
but  little  of  occurrences  in  their  rear,  yet  when  a  letter  is  written 
to  be  exposed  to  public  view,  positive  assertions  should  be  made 
with  great  circumspection. 

"  I  observed  nothing  but  gallantry  and  good  conduct  in  every 
ship  that  came  under  my  observation,  from  first  to  last,  and  think 
myself  equally  entitled  to  an  acknowledgment  of  a  proportion  of 
the  success  of  that  day,  with  any  man  present  at  it. 

<c  I  feel  much  concern  at  the  occasion  of  this  letter,  but 
remain,  &c. 

«  W.  PARKER." 

"  To  Admiral  Nelson." 

Rear-admiral  Nelson's  answer,  written  with  his  left  hand  :< — 

"DEAR  SIR,  "August  19. 

"  I  must  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  fetter  of  the  25th 
July;  and  after  declaring,  that  I  know  nothing  of  the  Prince 
George  till  she  was  hailed  from  the  forecastle  of  the  San  Nicholas, 
it  is  impossible  I  can  enter  into  the  subject  of  your  letter,  &c. 

"  HORATIO  NELSON." 


Narrative  of  the  Proceedings  of  his  Majcftifs  Fleet  under  the 
command  of  Admiral  Sir  JOHN  JERVIS,  K,B.  and  Commander- 
in-chief,  Sfc.  the  14th  of  February,  1797. 

Ct  In  the  night  of  the  13,th  we  heard  the  signal  guns  of  the 
enemy,  and  at  day-light  the  signal  to  prepare  for  battle.  The 
morning  being  pretty  hazy,  vrc  did  not  get  sight  of  them  by  our 
frigates  until  seven  o'clock,  and  then  only  partially  ;  at  thirty- 
eight  minutes  past  nine,  the  signal  for  general  chase ;  at  half-past 
ten  a  frigate  made  known,  per  signal,  twenty-five  sail  of  the  line 
were  in  sight,  and  soon  after,  eight  sail  more  ;  at  a  quarter  past 
eleven  the  signal  for  the  order  of  battle,  without  regard  to  the  or- 
der prescribed,  the  enemy  now  being  open  to  our  view,  and  in 
disordered  line  upon  the  larboard  tack,  the  King's  fleet  upon  the 
starboard;  at  forty-two  mjnutes  past  eleven,  the  signal  to  cut 


CORRESPONDENCE.  305 

through  the  enemy's  line,  I  being  the  only  flag  officer  in  the  van  ; 
this  was  effected  by  the  Culloden,  Blenheim,  myself  in  the  Prince 
George,  Orion,  and  Colossus,  the  Culloden  passed  through, 
leaving  some  ships  of  the  enemy  between  the  Prince  George  and 
herself,  the  other  four  of  us  -were  close  after  each  other,  which 
occasioned  the  enemy's  ships  left  in  their  rear,  though  the  two 
headmost  were  three-deckers,  to  tack,  and  soon  after  they  wore 
about,  and  made  a  good  deal  of  sail.  At  forty-eight  minutes  past 
eleven,  the  signal  to  engage,  which  continued  during  our  passing; 
through  a  number  of  the  enemy's  ships  upon  the  contrary  tack,  in 
no  regular  order,  close  on  board  of  some,  and  others  more  distant ; 
and  until  eighteen  minutes  past  twelve,  when  we  tacked,  per  sig- 
nal, in  which  time  the  Colossus  lost  her  fore  and  fore-top-sail 
yards,  ar.d  the  enemy  u  good  deal  disabled  ;  and  at  twenty  minutes 
past  one  o'clock,  the  signal  to  cut  back  through  the  enemy's  line 
and  engage  them  to  leeward  :  when  we  tacked,  the  two  three- 
deckers  tacked  after  us,  and  which  the  rest  of  the  enemy's  rear 
were  about  to  do;  but  the  commander-in-chief,  with  the  ships  of 
centre  and  rear,  following  close,  covered  us  from  their  attack  upou 
the  rear  of  the  ships  with  me,  and  obliged  them  to  re-tack, 
engaging  that  part  of  the  enemy's  fleet,  and  effectually  divided  it; 
Commodore  Nelson?  in  the  Captain,  being  in  the  rear  of  our  line 
upon  the  starboard  tack,  tacked,  ar.d  joined  the  ships  with  me  in. 
the  van.  The  enemy's  van,  now  consisting  of  considerably  the 
larger  number  of  their  fleet,  in  great  disorder,  we  got  up  with, 
and  began  to  engage  upon  the  larboard  tack  ;  at  half-past  on« 
o'clock  do  e  on  board  of  them  ;  at  forty-three  minutes  past  one, 
the  signal,  per  my  order,  for  the  ships  ahead  to  fill  and  stand  on, 
and  which  I  found  necessary  again  to  repeat  at  three  o'clock  • 
the  commander-iu-chief  arriving  up  in  the  rear  of  the  Orion,  my 
second  astern,  at  a  quarter  past  repeated  it  also.  This  part  of  the 
action  was  supported  until  this  time  by  the  Culloden,  Captain, 
Blenheim,  Prince  George,  and  Orion,  during  which  time  the  enemy 
never  formed  ;  therefore,  though  we  sometimes  had  the  fire  of  two 
or  three  ships  together,  yet,  from  their  disordered  state,  our  fire 
had  great  effect  upon  them,  for  it  could  not  be  lost,  even  if  it 
had  not  the  full  effect  upon  the  ship  we  happened  to  be  most  par- 
ticularly  opposed  to  ;  they  were  generally  huddled  together  in  a 
very  irregular  manner,  and  I  have  no  doubt  but  they  did  each 
other  a  great  deal  of  injury.  By  this  time  five  of  them  became 
very  muck  disabled,  and  at  twenty-three  minutes  past  three,  toe 

n,  &OI.XXI.  a  R 


30(5  CORRESPONDENCE* 

Excellent,  Captain  Collingwood,  coming  up  closer  with  one  of 
them  most  to  windward,  and  she  struck  her  colours ;  and  at  half- 
past  the  Victory  up  astern  of  the  Orion,  when  one  of  the  three- 
declo.Ts  which  we  had  engaged,  and  left  in  a  rear  very  much 
disabled,  struck  her  colours,  I  believe,  to  the  Victory ;  soon  after, 
from  the  disabled  state  of  the  Captain,  fore-top-mast  gone,  she 
fell  on  board  one  of  Ihe  ships  she  had  been  opposed  to ;  but  whe- 
ther froui  the  exact  intention  of  Commodore  Nelson,  I  am  to 
learn,  however,  he  boarded  her  and  made  her  strike;  and  a  three- 
decker,  bearing  a  rear-admiral's  flag,  struck  to  the  fire  of  the 
Prince  George,  and,  from  her  disabled  state,  fell  on  board  the 
same  Spanish  ship  Commodore  Nelson  was  on  board  of,  upon  the 
quarter  on  the  other  side.  The  Namur  by  this  time  came  up  to 
windward  and  passed  between  the  Prince  George,  Cullodcn,  and 
the  St.  Trinidad,  of  130  guns,  Don  Cordeva,  the  commander, 
in-chief,  which  ship  was  very  much  beaten  at  that  time,  and  in  ap- 
parently a  sinking  state.  But  the  support  very  opportunely  given 
to  her  by  the  tsvo  three-deckers  in  the  early  part  alluded  to,  just 
arriving  up,  saved  her  from  the  necessity  of  striking,  though  it 
has  been  asserted  she  did  strike.  The  four  ships  that  we  iu  the 
Tan  had  left  in  our  rear  that  had  struck,  were  taken  possession  of 
by  our  succeeding  ships  :  at  sun-set  the  signal  to  wear  and  come 
to  the  wind  upon  the  other  tack,  and  soon  after  to  form  in  order 
of  battle,  in  close  order  to  cover  the  prizes.  Too  much  cannot  be 
said  of  the  bravery  displayed  in  the  conduct  of  the  ships  with  me, 
and  I  certainly  feel  it  incumbent  on  me  to  say,  that  the  Captain, 
Culloden,  and  Blenheim,  but  more  particularly  the  two  former, 
bore  more  of  the  brant  of  the  action  than  the  Prince  George  and 
Orion,  from  their  being  more  in  the  van.  The  eommandcr-in- 
chief  certainly  displayed  great  naval  abilities  in  conducting  this 
attack,  and  management  throughout,  and  I  do  not  believe  the 
King  has  a  more  competent  officer.  I  am  in  the  full  belief  that 
more  acts  of  gallantry  and  good  conduct  were  displayed  than 
possibly  could  come  within  my  observation. 

"  W.  PARKER." 

<c  MEW. — The  Prince  George  expended  197  barrels  of  powder; 
lost  ten  men  killed  and  nine  badly  wounded,  slightly  wounded 
innumerable." 

BRITISH  NAVY. — Number  of  their  guns,  1,244. 
SJ-ANISH  NAVY.— Number  of  tbeir  guns,  254Q8, 


CORBESPONDE.XOE.  307 

MR.    EDITOR, 

U  have  given  The  Answer  thai  teas  returned  by  the 
Admiralty  Board,  to  tlit  rejected  Petitions  of  the  Captains 
in  the  Royal  ftavy,  soliciting  -in  incrcu  -e  of  Pay  j  and  also  The 
Reply  of  the  Captains  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Admiralty,  on  that 
subject;*  but,  as  you  have  not  inserted  the  Original  Memorials 
of  the  Captain?,  alluded  to  in  those  papers,  and  as  many  of  your 
readers  may  wish  to  see  them  preserved,  I  do  myself  the  pleasure 
of  transmitting  them  to  you,  for  that  purpose. 

ONE  OF  THE  POOR  MAJORITY   OF  POST  CAPTAINS. 

To  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the 
Admiralty,  $c. 

<c  We,  the  undersigned  Captains  and  Commanders  of  his  Ma- 
jesty's Nary,  finding  our  p-'.y  utterly  inadequate,  however  econo- 
mically used,  to  support  the  r.ink  we  have  the  honour  to  hold,  take 
the  liberty  of  submitting  to  the  consideration  of  your  Lordships  the 
djfficulties  under  which  we  labour,  and  of  praying  such  relief  as  may 
enable  us  to  meet  the  various  expences  to  which,  whilst  engaged  in 
the  arduous  service  of  our  country,  we  are  subjected  by  our  abso- 
lute duty,  and  by  what  may  be  considered  nearly  as  imperiou's,  the 
necessity  of  keeping  a  suitable  table. 

u  The  deduction  of  the  Income  Tax,  the  extravagant  price  of 
every  article,  and,  among  other  matters  of  less  moment,  even  the 
postage  of  letters  ; — the  increased  value  and  enlarged  consumption 
of  stationary,  the  rise  of  servants'  wages,  &c.  all  combine  to  render 
it  impossible  for  us  to  support  that  respectability  of  appearauce 
(without  which,  it  is  obvious,  the  service  cannot  be  carried  on) 
otherwise  than  by  a  contiaual  and  heavy  expenditure  of  the  private 
fortunes  of  the  few  who  have  any  ;  or  by  a  ruinous  accumulation 
of  debts  upon  the  majority  of  us,  who  have  nothing  more  than  our 
pay.  It  may  indeed  be  remarked,  '  that  our  entrance  into  the  ser- 
vice was  voluntary,  and  that  most  of  these  difficulties  arc  such  as 
might  have  been  expected..' — This  argument  could  have  been  ad- 
duced in  times  of  less  importance  than  the  present ;  and  we  beg 
leave  to  observe,  that  the  augmented  price  of  provisions,  and  every 
other  article  of  life,  naturally  Cijlls  for  a  corresponding  increase  of 
salaries  in  general  : — in  addition  to  which,  in  our  particular  case, 
we  have  suffered  a  most  material  diminution  of  our  accustomed 
emoluments,  by  the  late  deductions  from  our  share  of  prize-money  ; 
the  only  source,  however  precarious  and  uncertain,  from  whence 

*  Vide  page  1 97  of  the  present  Volume, 


308  CORRESPONDENCE. 

•we  had  heretofore  hoped  for  relief,  from  (he  difficulties  we  experi- 
ence. For  this  eventual  loss,  although  most  important  to  us 
and  beneficial  to  others,  we  receive  no  compensation  ;  neither 
would  we  ask  any,  were  we  not  compelled  by  imperious  necessity, 
to  lay  this  our  petition  before  your  Lordships,  in  the  confident 
hope  that,  through  the  interposition  of  your  Lordships,  his  Ma- 
jesty's paternal  care  of  all  his  subjects  may  be  graciously  extended 
to  us,  and  afford  that  relief  which  we  solicit. 

"  Signed  by  authority  of,  &c." 

A  general  negative  was  given  to  the  prayer  of  the  above,  in 
consequence  of  which  the  following  was  transmitted  : 

To  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the 
Admiral fy,  Sfc. 

*c  We,  the  undersigned  Captains  and  Commanders  of  his  Ma. 
jesty's  Navy,  emboldened  by  the  distressing  insufficiency  of  our 
pay,  venture,  with  all  possible  respect,  to  lay  a  statement  of  our 
case  before  your  Lordships,  and  most  humbly,  but  most  earnestly, 
solicit  the  consideration  which  it  merits. 

il  Long  custom  has  made  it  imperative  upon  the  captain  to  keep 
a  constant  table,  while  serving  afloat,  as  a  social  intercourse  with 
his  officers,  and  as  the  best  means  of  knowing  them.  He  who 
would  venture  to  break  through  this  good  custom,  however  urged 
by  strong  necessity,  would  not  only  sacrifice  a  great  portion  of  the 
respectability  of  his  situation,  but  that  happy  connective  influence, 
which  generates  regard,  cements  the  various  links  in  the  service, 
and  not  a  little  tends  to  regularity  and  discipline. 

**  Submitting  this  most  humbly  to  your  Lordships,  shall  we  not 
be  pardoned,  if  we  ask,  how,  in  the  present  hard  times,  and  with 
all  the  accumulated  expence  of  live  stock  at  sea,  and  unavoidable 
waste  of  every  other  article  beyond,  what  it  would  be  on  shore, 
with  all  practicable  economy,  can  this  be  done,  without  involving 
the  whole  of  a  captain's  pay  ibr  his  table  alone,  and  without  forcing 
him,  for  the  rest  of  his  expenditure,  to  borrow  ? 

u  Among  the  many  increased  expences,  we  might  enumerate  the 
rise  of  servants'  wages  ;  and  trifling  as  the  articles  of  postage  and, 
stationary  once  were,  they  have  now  swelled  to  a  heavy  charge. 
Stationary  has  greatly  increased  in  price,  while  the  consumption 
has  been  much  enlarged;  and  it  is  seldom  that  a  captain,  on  his 
arrival  from  sea,  has  not  an  enormous  postage  to  pay  for  letters 
that  do  not  individually  concern  him,  and  which  arc  written  by  the 
wives  and  parents  of  sailors  to  solicit  tidings  of  their  husbands,  ojf 


CORRESPONDENCE.  309 

sons,  who  have  been  negligent  in  their  correspondence,  and  from 
whose  negligence  the  letters  are  thus  frequently  addressed  to  the 
captain. 

"  We  might,  perhaps,  rest  our  claim  upon  the  well  known  fact, 
tli at  very  few  years  ago,  there  is  scarcely  an  article  of  life  which 
might  not  have  been  obtained  for  about  half  the  sum  that  must  now 
be  its  purchase  ;  this,  without  any  other  corroborative  circum- 
stance, reduces  the  value  of  our  pay  from  what  it  once  was  to 
a  moiety. 

"  But  we  trust  your  Lordships  will  suffer  us  to  observe,  pressing 
as  this  circumstance  is  upon  means  that  were  before  sufficiently 
slender,  when  the  Income  Tax  ten  per  cent,  came,  it  fell  upon  a 
great  majority  among  us,  who  have  not  private  fortunes,  with  aforce 
that  was  almost  destructive,  and  the  effects  of  which  could  alone 
be  palliated  for  a  period,  by  incurring  debts,  and  living  upon  hope. 

"  There  was  a  time  when  this  hope  was  not  without  founda- 
tion :  an  occasional  prize  did,  in  former  days,  not  unfrequently 
reward  the  toils  of  a  few  fortunate  individuals  ;  and  although  we 
rejoice  at  the  cause,  although  we  rejoice  that  naval  gallantry,  skill, 
and  energy,  have  swept  the  seas  of  the  foes  of  Britain,  and  given 
security  to  these  realms,  yet,  even  this  event,  so  happy  for  our 
country,  is  to  us,  who  were  the  instruments  of  that  happiness,  an 
additional  cause  of  pecuniary  distress. 

li  And  without  presuming  to  canvass  what  has  been  so  lately 
done,  we  may  perhaps  be  suffered  to  add,  thateven  when  a  maritime 
prize  is  taken,  (as  fortuitous  an  event  now,  as  a  prize  in  the  lottery) 
the  captain  finds  a  heavy  defalcation  from  the  share  which  was  for- 
merly considered  his  due,  not  only  for  the  long  and  persevering- 
service  that  brought  him  to  the  rank  he  holds,  not  only  as  a 
necessary  means  to  assist  in  the  support  of  that  rank,  but  because, 
in  the  case  of  the  detension,  loss,  and  non-condemnation  of  a  vessel, 
he  alone  is  the  responsible  individual,  while  the  other  ranks  of  the 
navy  pat  take  of  his  success,  but  are  exonerated  from  his  mis- 
fortunes. 

"  \Ve  also  most  humbly  entreat,  that  your  Lordships  will  take 
into  consideration  the  pecuniary  insignificance  and  embarrassment 
to  which  we  are  banished  when  our  services  are  no  longer  re- 
quired ;  and  that  an  augmentation  may  be  made  to  our  half-pay, 
proportioned  to  the  period  we  have  served,  the  rank  we  respec- 
tively bear,  and  the  value  of  what  it  was  with  comparative  price  of 
all  the  articles  of  life  at  the  time  it  was  first  established. 

"  Should  a  supposition  be  possible,  after  the  innumerable  proofs 


310  CORRESPONDENCE. 

of  the  contrary,  that  in  rendering  our  retirement  more  respectable 
and  comfortable  than  the  present  half-pay  •will  admit,  it  might 
damp  that  ardour  for  active  service  which  is  essential  to  the  wel- 
fare of  the  state,  we  beg  permission  to  observe,  that  we  can  trace 
but  a  very  few  instances  indeed,  (if  any)  in  which  a  captain  or 
commander  has  been  less  solicitous  for  professional  employment, 
after  the  acquisition  of  fortune,  than  he  was  before.  It  has,  we 
believe,  rather  proved,  that  competence  has  been  an  additional 
siimulous  to  bo  active  in  the  pursuit  of  honours ;  and  age  or  infir- 
mity have  alone,  in  general,  checked  that  perseverance,  which  is 
the  characteristic  of  the  British  Navy,  and  which  the  love  of  our 
happy  country  will  never  fail  to  support. 

a  Urged,  therefore,  by  distress,  and  emboldened  by  the  melan- 
choly prospect  of  what  mast  eventually  be  the  consequence  of  debt 
to  a  large  majority  of  naval  Captains,  who  have  little  or  nothing 
beyond  their  pay,  we  humbly  entreat  that  your  Lordfchips  will  be- 
come our  mediators  w  ith  his  Majesty,  to  remove  the  depressions 
tinder  which  we  struggle  when  retired  on  half-pay  ;  and  that  he 
will  be  graciously  pleased  to  enable  those,  while  in  the  active  ser- 
vice of  their  country,  by  an  addition  to  their  full  pay,  to  support 
the  honourable  rank  they  bear;  whose  pride  it  is,  and  whose 
pride  it  ever  will  be,  to  give  glory  to  the  British  Hag,  or  die  in  the 
defence  of  it." 


LETTEK,  XII, 

MR.    EDITOR, 

ALTHOUGH  at  the  time  when  the  city  address  on  the  Cintra 
convention  met  the  very  memorable  repulse,  no  remonstrance 
from  the  petitioners  was  carried  up  to  the  throne,  yet  some  very 
strong  and  proper  resolutions  were  entered  upon  the  city  journals ; 
and  I  think  it  equally  proper,  that  some  observations  should 
appear  in  your  CHRONICLE  respecting  the  late  sharp  refusal  of  the 
petition  of  the  captains  in  the  royal  navy.  Enclosed  with  this,  I 
send  you  a  letter  addressed  to  the  First  Lord  of  the  Admiralty, 
the  insertion  of  which  will  oblige  your  Correspondent, 

E.  G.  F. 

tc    MY    LORI), 

"  I  conclude  that  although  I  have  no  reason  in  the  world  to 
believe  that  your  Lordship  has  any  predilection  for  naval  men,  or 
talents  for  naval  offices,  they  being  so  foreign  to  your  habits  and 
education,  yet  I  will  conclude,  that  as  yon  have  been  taken  from 


CORRESPONDENCE.  3J  J 

yoor  own  profession,  to  be  put  at  the  head  of  another,  you  may 
condescend  sometimes  to  look  into  the  NAVAL  CHRONICLE  ;  in, 
this  expectation,  I  have  thought  it  the  most  proper  vehicle  in  which 
to  convey  to  your  Lordship  some  remarks  on  a  late  very  important 
transaction.  I  know  well  my  Lord  what  little  notice  is  taken  by 
a  great  man  of  a  letter  which  comes  to  his  hands  by  the  usual 
channel  of  the  post,  if  the  contents  arc  not  adulatory  or  pleasin^ 
but  in  this  open  mode  of  conveyance  your  Lordship  will  be  certain 
that  my  epistle  will  be  read  also  by  many  thousands  of  your 
fellow  subjects,  who  will  pass  their  judgment  on  its  merit  and 
importance. 

It  is  necessary  that  I  should  state  why  I  address  my  letter  to 
your  Lordship,  instead  of  the  Board  at  which  you  preside.  My 
reasons  are,  that  in  the  public  opinion  you  reign  at  that  Board 
with  far  more  absolute  sway  than  any  of  your  predecessors,  and  I 
was  confirmed  in  this  opinion,  by  the  manner  in  which  the  Hon. 
Secretary  to  the  Admiralty  spoke  of  your  fellow  commissioners  in 
a  late  debate  of  the  House  of  Commons  (if  rightly  detailed  in  the 
newspapers)  ;  he  there  calls  the  naval  Lords  Commissioners  your 
Lordships  naval  advisers  !  This  does  appear  my  Lord  something 
like  a  Lord  High  Admiral  and  a  Council,  instead  of  a  commission 
to  several  persons  to  execute  an  office. 

That  your  Lordship  may  not  mistake  the  debate  alluded  to,  I 
will  describe  it  as  that  on  which  one  of  your  land  advisers,  and 
I  believe  a  relative  of  your  Lordship,  gave  such  a  notable  scold  to 
the  truly  worthy  and  respectable  Baronet  who  would  check  all 
public  abuses  if  he  could.  Another  reason  of  my  addressing  this 
solely  to  your  Lordship,  is  the  utter  impossibility  of  believing  that 
your  naval  advisers  could  have  joined  in  opinion  with  you  respect- 
ing the  answer  to  the  late  petition  of  captains  and  commanders  for 
an  increase  of  pay,  which  answer  occasions  the  present  letter. 
I  thought,  my  Lord,  that  the  manner  and  language  of  the  array 
had  been  so  correctly  disciplined,  that  such  a  reply  would  hardly 
have  been  made  to  the  petition  of  a  dram  boy,  a  reply  which- the 
gentlemanlike  manners  of  each  individual  of  your  Board  would 
Lave  precluded  the  possibility  of  his  writing,  and  which  confirms  a 
sentiment  I  have  seen  somewhere  expressed  in  ti-is  work,  that  a 
Board  in  its  collective  capacity  will  say  and  do,  what  the  charac- 
ters of  the  members  as  gentlemen  would  have  utterly  prevented 
their  saying  or  doing  separately.  But  I  beg  pardon  ;  I  forgot 
that  I  have  been  taught  by  experience,  and  the  Hon.  Secretary,  to 
consider  your,  Lordship  as  possessed  of  full  power,  with  naval  ad- 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

to  apply  to  if  you  think  proper,  although  in  the  present 
instance  I  am  led  to  believe  that  you  hare  not  applied  for  their 
advice.  Your  reply  then,  my  Lord,  like  tha*.  lately  given  to  the  citi- 
zens of  London,  appears  to  deny  to  the  British  subject  the  right  of 
petitioning,  for  if  the  prayer  of  the  petition  alluded  to,  be  indeed 
inadmistiblC)  can  we  expect  that  any  petition  will  be  deemed 
admissible^  unless  it  was  to  pray  for  your  Lordship's  continuance 
in  office;  the  return  of  the  late  commander-in-chief  to  power,  or 
thanks  to  Sir  II.  Burrard  for  not  fighting.  Your  reply,  my  Lord, 
has  driven  a  most  respectable  and  highly  esteemed  officer  from 
employ;  and  in  shewing  how  inimical  you  are  to  the  officers  of  the 
navy,  I  do  not  think  you  will  have  the  applause  of  your  country 
at  large,  ever  willing  to  do  justice  to  its  prime  defenders.  Your 
Lordship's  strong  military  partialities,  will  hardly  allow  you  to 
deny  that  this  is  a  true  character.  It  is  true,  my  Lord,  that  had  it 
been  in  my  way  to  have  offered  advice  respecting  the  petition,  there 
are  two  points  which  I  should  have  proposed  to  omit;  the  mention 
of  the  property  tax,  and  the  late  regulation  of  prize-money. 
With  respect  to  the  former,  these  are  times  of  imminent  danger, 
and  necessary  deprivation,  and  it  is  much  to  be  regretted  that 
princes  and  nobles  do  not  feel  their  share  of  these  deprivations,  but 
allow  them  to  crush  the  middle  rank  of  life  with  unequal  and 
almost  unbearable  pressure.  My  Lord,  had  the  officers  of  the 
nary,  or  any  class  of  men  with  life  incomes  only,  petitioned  that 
the  tax  should  be  justly  apportioned,  and  be  indeed  a  property  tax, 
that  what  is  worth  ten  or  twelve  years  purchase,  should  not  pay  as 
much  as  that  which  is  worth  thirty  years,  it  would  be  right,  but  the 
mention  of  the  tax  did  not  come  in  well  on  the  present  occasion. 
With  respect  to  prize-money,  I  hold  it  to  be  totally  irrelevant, 
and  to  be  considered  merely  as  a  gracious  gift  of  the  crown,  and  a 
reward  for  arduous  service,  but  has  nothing  to  do  with  the  pay, 
which  should  be  equal  to  the  maintenance  of  all  ranks  of  officers  in. 
a  respectable  competency.  There  are- many,  very  many  officers,  the 
nature  of  whose  employs  precludes  the  chance  of  prize-money,  and 
a  large  number  of  most  excellent  officers  also  who  have  gone  through 
the  service  without  the  good  fortune  of  meeting  a  golden  opportunity. 
Now,  my  Lord,  as  you  deem  the  prayer  of  the  petition  inadmissible, 
and  have  thus  placed  yourself  in  the  gap  between  the  naval  officers 
and  justice,  for  had  the  petition  found  its  way  to  the  throne  there 
is  no  doubt  of  having  received  it,  I  will  just  point  out  to  your 
Lordship,  who  of  course  knows  nothing  of  naval  matters,  when 
that  pay  was  established  which  you  tell  us  has  been  so  elL-ctually 


enlarged  lately.  In  1700,  the  pay  of  naval  captains  was  fixed 
from  11.  to  8s.  per  diem,  and  it  is  now  from  I/.  3s.  to  12s.  pet- 
diem.  The  half  pay  in  the  same  time  has  been,  I  believe,  only  in- 
creased from  10?.  and  6s.  to  12*.  and  7s.  per  diem,  the  other  emo- 
luments, which  form  part  of  a  captain's  income,  remaining  the  sama 
very  nearly.  Now  I  leave  your  Lordship  and  our  fellow  subjects 
to  judge,  whether  this  increase  in  109  years  is  at  all  adequate 
to  the  increased  demand.  If  you  know  the  circumstance,  I  am 
aware  that  you  will  reply,  that  now  the  officers  have  their  wine  and 
spirits  free  of  duty  when  serving  tttoat ;  but  you  will  also  recollect, 
that  when  the  pay  was  fixed  in  1700  there  was  little  or  no  duty  to 
pay,  and  duty  excluded,  perhaps  the  price  of  these  arucles  t'lL-n, 
were  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  the  present.  In  the  petition, 
which  you  deem  inadmissible,  stationary  and  postage  are  men- 
tioned, and  amidst  the  official  abundance  of  the  former,  and  never 
experiencing  the  latter,  your  Lordship  may  not  be  aware  of  the 
great  and  increased  expcnce  of  these  articles  to  the  petitioners. 
Since  1700,  the  business  of  a  captain's  clerk's  office,  and  the  con. 
sumption  of  stationary,  has  been  quadrupled  at  least,  and  every 
new  law  which  has  been  made  for  the  benefit  of  the  navy  in 
general,  has  borne  hard  upon  the  captains  in  that  particular. 
With  regard  to  postage,  not  only  the  increase  of  the  number  of 
men  in  our  larg.  ships,  and  the  high  rate  of  postage  itself,  but  some 
new  regulations  I  understand  bear  peculiarly  hard  upon  the 
officers  (and  particularly  of  course  on  the  captains)  of  the  navy,  as 
their  duty  frequently  requires  their  sailing  at  a  moment's  warning, 
and  their  letters  sent  after  them  to  the  port  they  are  bound  to,  have 
an  additional  charge ;  not  unlikely,  their  stay  at  this  port  may  bo 
too  short  to  admit  of  the  letters'  arrival  in  time,  but  follow  them 
to  another,  at  a  still  increased  expence.  This  is  a  case  of  peculiar 
hardship,  if  truly  stated,  as  I  believe  it  to  be  from  information. 
Your  franking  privilege,  my  Lord,  exempts  you  from  a  feeling 
knowledge  of  this  burden;  and  let  me  request  you  to  consider 
•whether,  "  under  existing  circumstances,"  this  said  business  of 
franking  be  not  a  mean  perquisite  of  title,  and  pray  my  Lord  do 
yourself  the  honour  of  proposing  its  abolition;  it  would  be  a 
liberal  act,  and  you  will  thank  me  for  my  advice,  which  a.  proper 
degree  of  pride  would  induce  you  to  follow.  I  will  not  delay 
your  Lordship  any  longer  than  just  to  remark,  that  although  I 
have  only  mentioned  captains,  the  pay  of  all  classes  of  officers  re- 
quires attentive  consideration,  and  if  1  hear  of  no  steps  on  your 

Jof>  XXI.  « » 


314  COREESPONPENCfi. 

part  towards  this  act  of  justice,  I  shall  advise  a  respectful  petition! 
to  the  House  of  Commons  for  their  interference,  on  the  equitable 
ground  that  your  Lordship  has  prevented  a  petition  from  reaching 
the  throne.  One  word  more  of  well  meant  advice.  The  refusal 
to  hear  or  to  answer  petitions^  or  perhaps  the  deeming  them  inad- 
missiblC)  gave  rise  to  the  great  mutiny  and  the  election  of  delegates. 
At  present,  because  you  have  to  deal  with  men  of  liberal  and 
generous  minds,  genuine- loyalty,  and  firm  patriotism  do  not  try 
the  experiment  how  much  contempt  and  neglect  they  can  bear, 
because  they  know  how  to  bear  like  good  subjects,  and  men 
of  honour.  Wishing  your  Lordship  speedy  and  high  renown  at 
the  head  of  a  division  of  the  army,  I  remain,  &c. 


MR.  EDITOR, 

OM  the  general  scarcity,  and  complaint  of  the  high  price  of 
oak  timber,  every  substitute  that  can  be  proposed  for  that 
valuable  article  merits  attention.  I  therefore  beg  leave  to  submit 
to  the  public,  through  the  medium  of  your  valuable  CHRONICLE, 
the  following  observations  upon  fir-built  ships.  The  writer  (M. 
Ducrest,  of  Copenhagen)  does  not  specify  whether  the  red  or 
white  fir  be  preferable ;  but,  from  the  superior  elasticity,  hardness, 
and  durability  of  the  former,  it  is  presumed  that  there  need  be  no 
hesitation  in  the  choice.  I  am,  &c. 

C.  D. 

te  I  built,  at  Copenhagen,  in  1799,  a  vessel  of  500  tons,  entirely 
of  fir-planks,  one  inch  and  a  half  thick.  For  three  years  suc- 
cessively it  has  navigated  the  North  Seas,  which  are  reckoned  the 
most  boisterous  in  Europe ;  and  it  weathered  a  tremendous  gale 
in  the  Baltic  in  November,  1801,  when  a  great  number  of  mer- 
chant ships  perished.  On  entering  the  port  of  Havre,  the  follow- 
ing year,  it  struck  on  the  pier,  and  no  one  on  board  expected  to 
be  saved.  However,  the  ship  righted  and  entered  the  harbour, 
without  having  staved  a  single  plank  or  sprung  a  nail. 

"  The  expence  of  building  this  vessel  was  just  half  what  it 
would  have  cost,  had  it  been  built  of  oak.  The  hull  does  not 
weigh  above  half  of  that  of  a  common  merchantman,  which,  when 
of  400  tons  burthen,  is  said  to  weigh  200  tons.  Thus  by  diminish, 
ing  the  weight  we  should  have,  with  the  same  cargo,  vessels  which, 
when  well  constructed,  ought  to  sail  as  fast  as  the  best  frigates. 
An  objection  having  been  made  that  vessels  thus  built  could  not 


NAVAL   HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT   YEAH,    1809.         315 

last  long,  as  the  intermediate  planks,  by  wanting  air.  would  heat 
and  soon  rot,  I  had  one  of  the  ports  opened,  and  found  that  th« 
inside  planks  were  much  sounder  than  the  others. 

"  Building  with  fir-planks  is  incomparably  more  solid  than  build- 
ing with  squared  timber  ;  and  by  being  as  cheap  again,  we  might 
employ  our  immense  furests  in  the  Pyrennees  and  the  Vrosges  to 
great  advantage.  The  danger  arising  from  springing  leaks  is 
entirely  avoided:  and  by  the  lightness  of  the  timber,  our  armed 
vessels  might  be  made  to  sail  as  fast  as  our  present  frigates.  In 
short  the  use  of  oak  timber  might  be  entirely  confined  to  the  navy, 
consequently  we  should  have  it  much  cheaper;  and  the  economy 
in  the  construction  of  merchantmen  is  a  very  material  object,  as 
they  might  not  require  any  repairs  for  twelve  or  fifteen  years. 
Though  line-of  battle  ship,  could  not  be  built  of  fir,  yet  the  navy 
might  use  it  for  vessels  armed  en  flute,  and  for  hospital  ships  a> 
tachcd  to  a  squadron." 


NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1809. 

(March — April. ) 
RETROSPECTIVE  AND  MISCELLANEOUS. 

TTT  will  be  seen,  in  our  succeeding  "  Letters  on  Service,"  that  four 
sail  of  the  Brest  fleet  were  totally  destroyed,  in  Basque  Roads,  on  the 
12th  of  April  (the  anniversary  of  Rodney's  brilliant  victory  in  the  West 
Indies)  by  the  frigates,  fire-ships,  and  bomb  vessels  of  Admiral  Gam- 
bier's  fleet,  under  the  immediate  command  of  Captain  Lord  Cochrane. 
Sir  Harry  Neale,  the  captain  of  the  fleet,  reached  town  with  this  interest- 
ing and  important  intelligence  on  the  2-lst  ;  and,  for  two  succeeding 
evenings,  the  Admiralty,  Horse  Guards,  Treasury,  Somerset  House, 
&c.  were  brilliantly  illuminated. 

Official  advices  had  previously  been  received  of  the  complete  surren- 
der of  the  Island  of  Martinique  to  his  Majesty's  arms.  Several  single 
actions,  of  distinguished  gallantry,  have  also  recently  occurred ;  amongst 
which  ought  to  be  particularly  noticed  the  capture  of  le  Niemen,  French 
frigate,  of  44  guns,  by  the  Amethyst,  Captain  Seymour,  who,  but  a  few 
months  ago,  after  a  very  brilliant  and  hard-fought  action,  succeeded 
in  taking  the  Thetis,  another  French  frigate,  of  superior  force  to  the 
Amethyst.* 

We  much  doubt,  whether  all  the  vaunted  land  victories  of  Buonaparte 
are  found  to  compensate  his  feelings  for  the  mortification  which  they 

*  A  portrait,  and  memoir  of  the  professional  services  of  Captain  Sey- 
mour, appear  in  the  present  Volume ;  vide  page  89. 


318'  NAVAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESENT    TEAR,    1809. 

uniformly  sustain  in  every  movement  attempted  by  llie  shattered  remains 
of  liis  naval  force.  "  Ships,  colonies,  and  commerce,"  was  his  anxiouf 
cry  ;  for  "  ships,  colonies,  and  commerce,"  he  seemed  willing,  and  de- 
termined, to  make  almost  every  sacrifice  ;  how  deeply  then  must  he  be 
chagrined,  at  perceiving  their  constant  diminution  ;  on  finding  them  gra? 
dually  recede  from  his  view,  till,  at  the  last,  he  may  expect  them  all  to 
vanish  into  empty  air ! 

Hostilities  are  understood  to  haveT)een  commenced  by  Austria  against 
France  ;  the  former  power  having  sent  forward  a  formidable  force 
towards  the  Bavarian  frontier. 

The  United  States  of  America,  in  a  spirit  of  inveterate  hostility  towards 
this  country,  have  passed  the  Non-Intercourse  Act,  as  a  substitute  for 
the  Embargo,  which  has  been  removed.  All  commercial  intercourse 
with  England  and  France,  on  the  part  of  America,  is  thus  precluded; 
but,  as  the  United  States  have  thought  proper  to  consider  Holland  as  a 
neutral  and  independent  State,  it  is  evident  that  they  expect,  through 
that  really  vassal  country,  to  give  France  every  commercial  advantage 
vhich  she  might  be  able  to  derive  from  a  direct  trade.  Now  is  the  time 
to  prove  the  value  and  efficacy  of  the  British  Orders  in  Council ! 

The  1st  of  May  has  been  appointed  for  the  trial  of  Rear-admiral  Har- 
vey, by  court  martial,  on  a  charge  of  breach  of  discipline.  It  is  said, 
that  upon  Lord  Cochrane's  joining  the  fleet,  Admiral  Gambier  gave  or- 
ders, that  a  boat,  boat's  crew,  and  an  officer,  should  instantly  be  pro- 
vided by  every  ship  under  his  command  ;  the  whole  of  the  men  being 
required  to  volunteer.  Upon  receiving  these  orders,  Admiral  Harvey 
addressed  his  ship's  company,  and,  after  stating  the  nature  of  them,  de- 
clared, that  he  himself  in  his  own  person  volt/Steered,  and  invited  as 
many  as  chose  to  follow  his  example  ;  in  consequence  of  which  the 
greater  part  of  his  officers  and  men  enrolled  themselves  along  with  him. 
A  list  of  these  being  conveyed  to  the  Caledonia,  Lord  Gambier's  flag- 
ship, his  Lordship  is  reported  to  have  stated,  that  these  were  not 
generally  the  kind  of  volunteers  he  wanted  ;  as  Lord  Cochranc  was  to 
command  the  expedition,  of  which  appointment  he  (Lord  Gambier)  had 
himself  some  reason  to  complain,  inasmuch  as  it  seemed  to  indicate  that 
there  was  no  officer  in  his  fleet  fit  to  take  charge  of  the  service  ;  but 
that  Admiralty  Orders  to  this  effect  had  been  received,  which  of  courso 
he  must  obey.  Hereupon  Admiral  Harvey  is  stated  to  have  expressed 
the  greatest  dissatisfaction,  and  to  have  bestowed  upon  Lord  Gambier 
himself,  epithets  descriptive  of  other  qualities  than  those  which  he  has 
evinced  in  his  profession,  such  as  Jesuit,  Mdhodisl,  and  Psalm-singer ; 
and  all  this  in  the  presence  of  Captain  Bedford,  of  the  Caledonia,  who 
desired  to  know  if  it  were  meant,  that  this  reply  should  be  conveyed  to 
the  Commander-in-chief :  to  which  the  other  answering,  in  the  heat  of 
passion,  in  the  affirmative,  the  communication  accordingly  took  place, 
and  the  letter  for  a  court  marlial  was  the  result. 

An  expedition  is  reported  to  have  been  sent  to  Archangel,  to  destroy 
ipverul  mca  of  war  which  are  building  in  the  dockyards  at  that  place. 


HA.VAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESENT   YEAR,    1809.  317 


on 

Copied  verbatim  from  the  Loxuox  GAZETTE. 

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE,    MARCH    28,    1809. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  Hon.  P.far-adairalSir  Alexander  Cochrane,  K.B, 
Commander-in-chief  of  his  Majesty's  Ships  and  Vessels  at  the  Leeward 
Islands,  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Po/'c,  dated  on  board  the  Neptune,  offMurti* 
niqve,  the  4th  of  February,  18o9. 

SIR, 

Having  on  the  20th  January  received  a  letter  from  Lieutenant-genera"! 
Beckwith,  informing  me  that  in  consequence  of  some  alteration  of  cir- 
cumstances he  was  induced  to  proceed  on  tfie  attack  of  Martinique,  and 
expressing  a  wish  to  see  me  at  Barbadoes,  in  order  to  make  the  final  ar- 
rangements, T  lost  no  time  in  meeting  him  there  for  that  purpose;  and 
having  embarked  all  the  troops,  I  committed  the  principal  landing  of  the 
army  intended  to  be  put  on  shore  at  Bay  Robert,  to  Captain  Beaver,  of 
his  Majesty's  ship  Acasta,  who  had  Lieutenant-general  "Beckwith,  the  com- 
mander of  the  forces,  with  him  ;  Major-general  Sir  George  Prevost,  com- 
manding the  division,  being  embarked  on  board  the  Penelope,  By  the  en- 
closed letter  from  Captain  Beaver,  their  Lordships  will  see  that  he  com- 
pleted this  service,  with  his  usual  ability,  on  the  30th  of  January,  and 
morning  of  the  31st,  whilst  the  other  division,  under  Major-general  Mait- 
land,  was  landed  on  the  30th  at  Saint  Luce,  under  the  snperintendance  of 
Cptain  Fahie,  of  the  Belleisle,  who  had  formed  the  most  judicious  arrange- 
ments for  the  purpose. 

About  six  hundred  men  \vere  detached  on  board  his  Majesty's  ship  York, 
under  the  command  of  Major  Henderson,  of  the  Royal  York  Rangers,  to 
take  possession  of  the  battery  at  Point  Solomon,  in  order  to  secure  a  safe 
anchorage  for  the  men  of  war  and  transports  :  after  effecting  this  the  Ran- 
gers pushed  on,  and  invested  the  fort  of  Pigeon  Island,  on  which  a  mortar 
was  brought  to  bear  so  early  as  the  1st  instant,  bat  not  finding  the  fire  of 
that  sufficient,  nine  others,  including  howitzers,  were  landed,  five  of  which 
were  got  up  to  the  top  of  a  commanding  height,  by  the  very  great  exertions 
of  Captain  Cockburn,  of  thePompee,  and  the  seamen  under  his  orders,  who 
ably  gave  support  to  Brigadier  generals  Sir  Charles  Shipley  and  Stchelin,  in 
completing  the  batteries,  which  opened  last  night,  at  six  o'clock,  with  sucli 
effect,  as  to  oblige  the  enemy  to  capitulate  this  morning;  and  one  hundred 
and  thirty-six  persons  that  wcrp  in  the  fort,  surrendered  themselves  prison- 
ers of  war.  Our  loss  consisted  of  two  seamen  killed,  and  one  soldier  of  the 
ttoyal  York  Rangers  wounded.  The  enemy's  of  five  killed  and  several 
wounded. 

In  order  to  cut  off  tha  retreat  of  the  enemy,  I  previously  sent  the  jEolus 
and  Cleopatra  frigates,  and  the  Recruit  sloop  of  war,  to  the  upper  part  of 
Fort  Royal  Bay;  when  this  was  perceived,  the  enemy  set  lire  to,  and 
destroyed  the  Am  phi  trite  frigate,  of  forty-four  guns,  and  all  the  shipping  in 
the  harbour  ;  having,  on  our  first  landing,  burnt  the  Carnation  at  Marin, 
also  a  corvette  at  St.  Pierrcs  on  the  following  night. 

The  nrmv  under  Lieutenant-general  Beckwith  having  advanced  towards 
the  heights'of  Surirey,  fell  in  with  the  enemy  on  the  1st  instant,  who  was 
defeated  with  considerable  loss  ;  since  then  two  actions  have  taken  place, 
which  has  given  to  his  Majesty's  forces  possession  of  the  before-mentioned 
Heights,  commanding  Fort  Bourbon.  The  enemy  upon  this  abandoned  the 


318  NAVAL    HUTOUY    OF    THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

lower  fort,  or  Fort  de  France,  having  destroyed  the  guns,  and  from  the 
different  explosions  1  suppose  they  have  blown  up  the  magazines. 

Major-general  Maitland  reached  Sainantin  on  the  2d  without  opposition, 
and  has  since  formed  a  junction  with  the  lieutenant-general.  I  am  now 
moving  the  squadron  to  the  Fort  Royal  side  of  the  Bay,  so  as  to  embrace 
the  double  view  of  an  early  communication  with  the  head  quarters  of  the 
army,  and  affording  the  supplies  necessary  for  the  siege  of  Fort  Bourbon  on 
both  sides. 

From  the  zeal  which  has  manifested  itself  in  eacli  service,  I  make  no 
doubt  but  the  batteries  will  soon  be  in  a  fit  state  to  open  upon  the  enemy, 
and  I  hope  before  lang,  that  I  shall  have  the  satisfaction  to  communicate  to 
their  Lordships  that  the  fort  has  surrendered. 

The  militia,  who  were  forced  to  serve,  have  returned  to  their  homes. 
I  have  tlie  honour  to  be,  &c. 

ALEX.  COCHRANE. 

Copy  of  another  Letter  from  the  Hon.  Pear-admiral  Sir  Alexander  Cochrnne, 
K.B.  4~c.  to  the  l/o??.  W.  W.  Pole,  dated  on  board  the  Neptune,  off  Mar- 
tinique, the  5th  February,  1809. 

SIR, 

Having  left  Carlisle  Bay,  Barbadoes,  about  noon  on  the  28th  January, 
with  the  expedition  for  the  attack  of  this  island,  I  had  the  pleasure,  on  the 
evening  of  the  same  day,  to  meet  with  his  Majesty's  ship  Cleopatra,  and  the 
French  frigate  la  Topaze  in  company;  when  Captain  Pechell  gave  me  the 
letter,  of  which  the  enclosed  is  a  copy,  stating  the  manner  of  her  capture  ; 
and  on  my  arrival  off  here,  the  Hazard  joined  with  Captain  Maude  of  the 
Jason's  report,  which  I  also  enclose. 

Captain  Pechell,  in  the  Cleopatra,  from  his  advanced  position,  closed  the 
enemy  first,  and  bore  the  brunt  of  the  action.  He  placed  his  ship  in  a 
situation  to  attack  with  advantage,  and  in  such  a  manner  as  did  credit  to 
his  intrepidity  and  judgment,  and  evinced  also  the  high  state  of  discipline 
and  steadiness  of  his  officers  and  crew. 

Captain  Maude,  of  the  Jason,  lost  not  a  moment  in  getting  into  action, 
and  I  had  every  thing  to  expect  from  his  zeal  and  gallantry,  which  I  have 
witnessed  for  a  series  of  years. 

Particular  credit  is  also  due  to  Captain  Cameron,  of  his  Majesty's  sloop 
Hazard,  for  boldly  chasing,  with  a  determination  to  bring  to  action,  an  ene- 
my's frigate  of  the  largest  class,  before  any  of  the  other  ships  were  in 
sight.  1  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

ALEX.  COCHRANE. 

His  Majesty's  ship  Cleopatra,  off  Basseterre,  Guadaloupe, 
SIR,  January  23,  1809. 

In  consequence  of  separating  from  his  Majesty's  ship  Jason,  and  there 
being  no  probability  of  communication  either  with  Captain  Maude,  or  Cap- 
tain Pigot,  of  the  Latona,  and  senior  officer  of  the  blockading  squadron,  I 
beg  to  inform  you,  that  yesterday,  in  obedience  to  the  signals  made  to  me 
by  Captain  Maude,  I  chased  a  ship  in  the  N.N.W.  which  I  shortly  after- 
wards made  ou<  to  be  a  French  frigate,  who,  on  seeing  us,  hauled  close  in 
shore,  and  anchored  under  a  small  battery  a  little  to  the  southward  of 
Point  Noir,  having  ascertained  that  they  were  securing  her  (by  springs  on 
her  cables,  and  others  fast  to  the  trees  on  shore)  as  well  as  her  situation 
would  permit,  I  made  every  preparation  for  attacking  her,  the  wind  being 
at  this  time  from  the  southward  and  westward,  but  very  light  and  variable  ; 
at  half-past  two  P.M.  we  «ot  the  true  breeze,  aisd  turned  up  to  windward 
till  within  a  cable's  length  of  the  shore,  utul  half  musket-shot  distant  from 


NATAL  HISTORY  OP  THE  PRESENT  YEAK,  1809. 

the  enemy,  which  was  effected  at  five  o'clock,  when  his  firing  commenced. 
I  saw  from  the  shape  of  the  land  and  the  shoal  water  hetween  us,  that  I 
could  not  close  without  danger  of  being  raked,  I  was  therefore  obliged  to 
anchor  in  six  fathoms  and  a  half,  and  returned  his  fire,  which  fortunately 
cut  away  his  outside  spring,  when  he  swung  in  shore  with  his  head  towards 
us,  giving  us  the  advantage  I  refused  him  before  ;  this  T  so  effectually  pre- 
served, that  he  never  afterwards  got  more  than  half  his  broadside  to  hear  ; 
we  thus  engaged  for  forty  minutes,  when  the  Jason  and  Hazard  came  up, 
the  former  having  taken  a  position  on  her  starboard  quarter,  and  firing  her 
bow  guns,  the  Hazard  at  the  same  time  directing  hers  to  the  fort,  the 
enemy  hauled  down  his  colours,  finding  he  was  not  able  to  sustain  so  une- 
qual a  combat. 

She  proves  to  be  the  French  national  frigate  Topaze,  carrying  forty-eight 
guns,  eighteen,  twenty-four,  and  thirty-six  pounders,  commanded  by 
Mons.  Lahalle,  capitaine  rie  frigate,  with  a  complement  of  three  hundred 
and  thirty  men  ;  she  has  been  from  Brest  forty-seven  days,  and  had  on 
board  one  hundred  troops  and  eleven  hundred  barrels  of  flour  for  Cayenne, 
but  meeting  with  superior  force  off  that  port,  she  was  obliged  to  push  for 
Guadaloupe. 

Our  loss  is  comparatively  small  with  that  of  the  enemy,  having  only  two 
killed  and  one  wounded,  as  his  guns  •were  chiefly  pointed  at  our  masts  and 
rigging,  which  he  succeeded  in  cutting  very  much,  most  of  our  fore  and 
main  rigging  shot  away,  and  had  we  been  under  sail  must  have  lost  our 
main-top-mast;  on  the  other  side  twelve  killed  and  fourteen  wounded,  as 
near  as  can  be  ascertained,  for  the  instant  her  colours  were  hauled  down, 
one-third  at  least  took  to  the  water,  and  several  were  either  killed  or  drowned 
in  attempting  to  effect  their  escape. 

Having  thus,  Sir,  given  you  the  detail,  it  becomes  a  pleasing  duty  to  me 
to  represent  the  zeal  with  which  Captain  Cameron,  of  the  Hazard,  offered 
Ins  services  before  the  action,  and  had  the  wind  allowed  him  to  get  up 
sooner,  would  have  attacked  the  fort,  and  thereby  prevented  many  of  the 
troops  getting  on  shore. 

I  am  happy,  also,  in  having  an  opportunity  of  bearing  testimony  to  the 
gallantry  displayed  by  the  officers  and  crew  of  his  Majesty's  ship  under  my 
command ;  and  beg  leave  to"  recommend  my  first  lieutenant  Simpson  to 
their  Lordship's  notice  ;  also  Lieutenants  Puckingham  and  Lambert  as  good 
officers,  and  erery  way  deserving  their  Lordship's  favour. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

SAM.  JOHN  PECHELL. 
"Rear-admiral  Sir  A.  Cochrane,  Bart.  $c. 

*4  Return  of  Killed  and  Wounded  on  board  his  Majesty's  Ship  Cleopatra, 
in  Action  with  the  French  National  Frigate  la  Topaze,  ^d  January,  1809. 
Alexander  M'Cloud  and  John  Simms,  killed. 
John  Francis,  wounded. 

SAM.  JOHN  PECHELL. 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Jason,  off"  Basseterre,  Guadaloupe, 
SIB,  January  23,  1809. 

I  beg  leave  to  acquaint  you,  that  while  cruising  off  Basseterre,  in  pursu- 
ance of  your  orders,  to  blockade  the  French  frigate  at  that  anchorage,  on 
the  morning  of  the  22d  the  Cleopatra  made  the  signal  for  a  suspicious  sail 
bearing  north,  which  I  immediately  directed  her  to  reconnoitre,  and  soon 
after  marie  sail  in  the  Jason  in  that  direction;  she  was  in  a  short  time  dis- 
covered to  be  an  enemy's  frigate,  standing  in  for  the  land,  where  she  effected 
ber  purpose  of  anchoring  close  under  a  small  battery.  As  I  perceived  by 


320  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809,4 

the  Cleopatra's  motions,  it  was  Captain  PecheU's  intention  to  bring  her  to 
action  as  early  as  possible,  I  considered  it  unnecessary  to  make  any  signals 
to  him;  and  he  most  fully  anticipated  my  wishes,  by  bringing  his  ship  to 
anchor  on  the  frigate's  starboard  bow,  and  opened  a  heavy  (ire,  which  was- 
warmly  returned  and  kept  up  by  the  enemy,  till  the  Jason  came  to  on  his 
quarter,  and  commenced  her  fire  from  the  bow  guns,  soon  after  which  she 
struck  her  colours.  After  "silencing  the  battery  she  was  taken  possession 
of,  and  proved  to  be  the  national  frigate  in  Topaze,  of  forty-eight  guns 
(long  eignteens  and  thirty-two  pounder  carronades)  and  four  hundred  men, 
many  of  whom,  with  some  troops  site  had  611  board,  had  escaped  on  shore 
from  Rochefort,  loaci-l  \viih  flour  for  the  supply  of  the  French  colonies, 
commanded  by  Monsieur  Laualie,  capitaine  de  frcgatc,  and  officer  of  the 
Legion  of  Honour. 

Captain  Pechell  speaks  in  high  terms  of  commendation  of  the  conduct  of 
his  officers  and  ship's  company  ;  and  1  have  also  every  reason  to  be  satisfied 
with  that  of  those  of  my  own  ship,  and  only  regret  a  fuller  opportunity  for 
their  exertions  was  not  afforded  them. 

Injustice  to  Captain  Cameron,  of  the  Hazard,  I  conceive  it  my  duty  to 
inform  you  that  (notwithstanding  the  disparity  of  force,  and  the  uncertainty 
of  falling  in  immediately  with  any  of  our  cruiser's)  the  enemy's  ship  was 
chased  by  him  from  day-light,  and  that  nothing  but  the  baffling  winds 
prevented  his  coming  into  action,  and  taking  the  station  assigned  him. 

Being  anxious  to  regain  my  station  off  Basseterre  to  prevent  the  escape 
of  the  other  frigate,  which  I  had  in  the  afternoon  despatched  the  Cherub  to 
watch,  I  left  the  prize  in  charge  of  the  Cleopatra  and  Hazard  ;  and  the  ser- 
vice on  which  I  have  since  been  employed  not  having  permitted  me  to  com- 
municate with  them,  I  am  ignorant  of  the  number  killed  and  wounded  on 
board  the  French  ship.  The  Cleopatra,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  had  two  badly 
wounded  (since  dead) ;  this  ship  not  a  man  hurt. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

\VM.  MAUDE. 

To  Hugh  Pigot,  Esq.  Captain  of  his  Majesty's  Ship 
Lutona,  and  senior  Officer  off  Guadaloupe. 

His  Majesty'' s  Ship  Acasta,  Bay  Robert, 
SIR,  iils<  Jtmitary,  1809. 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  that,  at  day-dawn  of  yesterday,  the  di- 
vision of  transports  carrying  the  army  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant- 
general  Beckwith,  were  four  leagues  to  windward  of  the  Carvel  Rock. 

I  immediately  bore  up  with  it  for  Bay  Robert,  being  joined  in  my  way 
thither  by  the  Ethalion,  Forrester,  Ring-Dove,  Haughty,  and  Eclair,  the 
Eurydice  having  joined  me  the  preceding  evening. 

The  weather  was  uncommonly  windy  and  squally,  and  there  was  a  very 
considerable  swell  as  f;ir  out  as  Loup  Garou,  neither  of  the  small  frigates 
(the  Cleopatra  or  Circe)  had  joined,  to  go  in  with  the  transports,  and,  not 
knowing  what  opposition  might  be  marie  to  a  landing,  J  determined  to  enter 
the  Cul  de  Sac  with  all  the  men  of  war,  that  I  might  effectually  protect  the 
landing,  if  occasion  required,  which  I  could  not  possibly  have  done  had  I 
anchored  as  far  out  as  Loup  Garon. 

Having  therefore  placed  boats  with  fings,  at  a  graplin  under  the  edges  of 
the  shoals,  I  led  in  with  the  Acasta,  followed  by  the  Penelope  aud  trans- 
ports, and  anchored  the  whole  of  them  about  noon. 

This  decision,  I  trust,  Sir,  you  will  approve,  as  it  enabled  me  to  land  ths 
first  and  second  brigades,  amounting  to  four  thousand  five  hundred  men, 
with  a  certain  proportion  of  artillery  and  horses,  before  sunset,  which  I  could, 
not  otherwise  have  done,  aud  this  morning  by  seven  o'clock  all  the  reserve 
were  landed, 


NAVAL    HISTOUY    OP   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  321 

To  Captains  Cochrane  of  the  Ethalion,  and  Bradshaw  of  the  Eurydice, 
I  am  indebted  for  arranging  the  boats  for  the  first  landing,  and  more  par- 
ticularly to  Captain  Dick,  of  the  Penelope,  for  superintending  that  arrange- 
ment, and  leading  in  the  transports,  which  he  did  with  great  judgment. 

From  Captain  Withers,  the  principal  agent  lor  transports,  I  received  all 
that  assistance  iu  the  various  arrangements  which  I  had  to  make,  which 
could  be  expectf-d  from  an  officer  of  great  zeal  and  clear  comprehension  ; 
and  Lieutenant  Senhouse,  whom  you  did  me  the  honour  to  appoint  as  my 
adjutant  for  this  expedition,  rendered  me  very  essential  service  in  carrying 
on  the  detailed  duties  of  the  squadron.  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  ccc. 

P.  BEAVER. 

To  the  Hon.  Sir  Alex.  Cockrant,  K.B.  Rear- 
admiral  of  the  Red,  Commander'in-chief,$c. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Browne,  of  his  Majesty's  Sloop  the  Plover, 
to  Admiral  Younf!,  Commander-in-chief  at  Plymouth,  and  transmitted  by 
the  latter  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole,  dated  at  Sea,  the  22rf  instant. 

I  beg  to  report  to  you,  that  his  Majesty's  sloop  under  my  command,  this 
day  at  10  P.M.  captured,  after  a  pursuit  of  thirty-six  hours,  the  French 
ketch  privateer,  1'Amiral  Martin,  of  Bayonne,  mounting  four  eightceu- 
pounder  guns,  with  a  complement  of  one  hundred  and"  four  men. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  APKinleif,  of  his  Majesty's  Ship  the 
Lively,  to  the  Han.  W.  W.  Pole,  dated  Villa  Garcia,  March  'l5,  1809. 

I  beg  lea\e  to  state  to  you,  for  the  information  of  my  Lords  Commission- 
ers of  the  Admiralty,  that  since  my  last  letter  of  the  6th  instant  (which  I 
had  the  honour  of  transmitting  by  the  Statira),  en  the  7th  instant,  a  bod/ 
of  French  troops  entered  the  towns  of  Carril  and  Villagarcia,  and  having 
killed  some  old  men  and  women  whom  they  saw  in  the  streets,  and  set  fire 
to  a  few  houses  of  the  people  whom  they  judge  inimical  to  them,  they  re- 
treated to  Paden. 

On  the  9th  a  party  of  eighty  infantry  and  four  cavalry,  under  the  com- 
mand of  three  officers  from  Pontivedra,  entered  Marin,  but  a  fire  being 
opened  on  them  from  this  ship  and  the  Plover,  and  the  carronade  from  the 
launch,  they  made  a  most  precipitate  retreat;  the  commanding  officer  on  a 
good  horse,  and  the  four  cavalry  benefiting  by  their  being  mounted,  left 
their  companions,  who  outrunning  their  officer?,  a  captain  and  lieutenanl 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Spaniards,  who  delivered  them  to  me. 

It  is  with  the  most  heartfelt  satisfaction  that  I  can  witli  confidence  assure 
their  Lordships  that  the  spirit  of  the  Gallicians  is  u  reused  to  the  most  enthusi- 
astic ardour,  governed  by  a  cool  and  determined  courage,  wh;ch  the  feelings 
of  loyalty  and  patriotism  naturally  inspire,  and  they  confidently  look  for  aid 
to  the  generosity  of  the  British  government  speedily  to  succour  them  with 
arms  and  ammunition  to  enable  them  to  succeed  in  the  glorious  and  just 
cause  which  they  have  undertaken,  to  expel  the  perfidious  invaders  of  their 
country. 

Thc'enemy  is  much  distressed  by  a  malignant  fever;  not  less  than  two 
cart  loads  are  buried  daily  from  the  head  quarters  at  St.  lago ;  the  military 
•overnor  and  commanding  officer  of  artillery,  with  a  number  of  other 
officers,  have  fallen  victims  to  it. 

Skirmishes  daily  take  place  between  the  peasants  and  the  enemy,  which 
render  their  procuring  provisions  both  difficult  and  harassing,  and  many 
fall  victims  to  fatigue.  In  this  perpetual  warfare,  the  enemy  invariably 
sufter,  particularly  un  tii£  '*2d  instant,  when  one  hundred  and  five  Frenchmen 
were  pillaging  the'convent  of  St.  Bernardo  de  San  Claudio,  where  Don  Ber- 

.  fcol.  XXI.  T  x 


UAVA-t    HISTORY    OF   ThE    PttESE.VT    YEAR,    1809. 

nardo  Goncales,  with  thirty-two  Spaniards,  attacked  them,  toyk  many; 
horses  laden  with  pillage,  and  only  sixteen  of  the  enemy  escaped.  On  the 
9th,  10th,  and  llth  instant,  the  French  attacked  the  peasants  of  Deza  and 
Trasdeza,  sustained  by  those  of  Banos  ai:d  Tabeiros,  and  were  obliged 
to  retreat  with  the  loss  of  one  hundred  and  fourteen  men  and  an  officer. 

The  appearance  of  his  Majesty's  ship  has  very  much  gratified  the 
Spaniards,  who  are  incessant  in  their  praise  and  gratitude  to  the  British 
government. 

On  my  coming  to  this  place  on  the  llth  instant,  I  left  the  Plover  at 
Marin,  the  French  being  at  Pontevedra,  but  have  received  information  to- 
day, that  a  division  of  the  Spanish  army,  under  the  command  of  the  Mar- 
quis de  Valladares,  was  attacked  on  the  llth  by  Marshal  Soult,  who  has 
since  retired  to  Tuy,  and  ordered  all  his  detachments  in  the  vicinity  of  Vigo 
to  join  him  by  forced  marches;  I  would  not  therefore  detain  her  longer. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

GEO.  M'KINLEY. 

APRIL    1,    1809. 

Copy   of  a   Letter  from   Vice-admiral  Rozclcy,   Commander-in-chief  of  his 
Majesty's  Ships  and  Vessels  at  Jamaica,  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole,  dated 
on  board  his  Majesty's  Ship  Polyphemus,  Port  Royal,  the  24th  January^ 
1809. 
SIR, 

I  have  the  honour  to  enclose,  for  their  Lordship's  information,  a  copy  of 
a  letter  which  I  have  received  from  Captain  Dashwood,  of  his  Majesty's 
ship  Franchise,  giving  an  account  of  the  capture  of  -the  French  letter  of 
marque  brig  1'Iphigenie,  bound  from  Bayonne  to  Guadaloupe,  with  naval 
Stores  and  provisions*  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

B.  S.  ROWLEY* 

SIR,  His  Majesty's  Ship  Franchise,  at  Sea,  16th  January,  1809. 

I  beg  to  acquaint  you,  that  I  have  this  day  captured  the  French  letter  of 
marque  1'Ephigenie,  pierced  for  eighteen  guns,  but  had  only  six  mounted, 
and  twenty-six  men,  from  Bayonne  to  Guadaloupe,  laden  with  naval  stores 
and  various  merchandize.  She  is  coppered,  and  sails  remarkably  fast, 
haviitg  been  pursued  several  times  during  her  passage,  and  led  the  Franchise 
a  chase  of  thirty  hours  in  her  favourite  point  of  sailing,  during  which  time 
she  threw  her  guns  overboard,  and  cut  away  her  anchors,  in  order  to  effect 
herescape.  She  was  built  at  Bayonne,  and  launched  about  two  months 
ago,  for  the  express  purpose  of  a  privateer  in  the  West  Indies,  and,  in  my 
numble  opinion,  is  calculated  for  his  Majesty's  service. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 
Vice-admiral  -Rotvley,  <$-c.  C.  DASHWOOD,  Captain. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Vice-admiral  Bertie,  Commander-in-chief  of  his 
Majesty's  Ships  and  Vessels  at  the  Cape  of  Good  'Hope,  to  the  Hon.  W. 
W.  Pole,  dated  on  board  the  Caledon,  in  Table  Bay,  the  19th  January, 
1809. 

SIR,  ^ 

I  have  the  honour  to  transmit  herewith,  for  the  information  of  their 
Lordships,  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Captain  Corbett,  of  his  Majesty's  ship 
Nereide,  informing  me  of  the  capture  of  the  French  Imperial  corvette  la 
6obe  Mouehe.  I  have  the  honour  to  be;  &c. 

A.  BERTIE. 


NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1809.    32 J 

SIR>  Nereide,  off  the  Isle  of  France,  December  18,  1808. 

The  chase  of  this  morning,  which  I  captured  at  eleven  A.M.  proves  la 
Gobe  Mouche  Imperial  corvette,  pierced  for  twelve  guns,  but  most  thrown 
overboard^  during  the  chase,  commanded  by  Enseigne  de  Vaissean  Sugor, 
from  the  Seychelles,  bound  to  Port  Louis  with  despatches,  which  he  threw 
overboard,  but  were  saved"  by  the  activity  of  our  boat's  crew,  at  least  a 
considerable  part  of  them,  which  I  send  herewith.  Her  complement  was 
eighty  men,  but  from  manning  prizes  off  Mozambique  last  cruise,  ar$ 
reduced  to  thirty  at  this  time.  J  am,  Sir,  &c. 

Vice  admiral  Ber lie,  $c.  R.  CORBETT. 


THE  LONDON  GAZETTE  EXTRAORDINARY, 

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE,    APRIL    12,    1809. 

Captain  Joseph  Spear,  of  his  Majesty's  sloop  the  Wolverine,  arrived  at 
this  office  this  morning  with  despatches  from  Rear-admiral  the  Hon.  Sir 
Alexander  Cochrane,  K.B.  commander-in-chief  of  his  Majesty's  ships  and 
vessels  at  the  Leeward  Islands,  addressed  to  the  Hon.  William  WellesJey 
Pole,  of  which  the  following  are  copies  : — 

Neptune,  Fart-Royal  Bay,  Martinique, 
SIR,  February  25,  1809. 

By  my  letter  of  the  18th,  a  duplicate  of  which  accompanies  this,  together 
with  one  of  the  4th,  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty  will  hava 
been  informed,  that  it  was  intended  to  open  a  lire  on  the  enemy  from  four 
batteries  on  the  succeeding  day,  ii>  addition  to  his  own  guns  turned  upon 
him  from  Fort  Edward,  winch  was  accordingly  done  at  half-past  four  in  the 
afternoon,  the  time  appointed. 

The  enemy  at  first  returned  the  fire  with  spirit,  but  it  gradually  slackened 
until  the  following  morning,  and  then  entirely  ceased,  except  at  long  interr 
vals,  which  made  it  evident  he  was  beaten  from  his  guns. 

While  the  batteries  were  kept  constantly  iiriug  on  the  enemy  from  the 
western  side,  Captains  Barton  and  Neshain,  of  the  York  and  Intrepid,  with 
about  four  hundred  seamen  and  marines,  continued  to  be  employed  in 
getting  the  heavy  cannon,  mortars,  and  howitzers  up  to  Mount  Surirey  from 
the  eastern  side  of  the  fort,  which  was  a  service  of  the  utmost  labour  and 
ditiiculty,  owing  to  the  rains  and  deepness  of  the  roads  ;  but  notwithstand- 
ing which,  a  battery  of  four  twenty-four  pounders  and  four  mortars  was 
finished  by  the  '2'ld,  and  the  guns  mounted  ready  for  service. 

On  the  following  day  several  more  guns  were  got  up,  and  ready  to  be 
placed  in  an  advanced  battery,  intended  to  consist  of  eight  twenty-four- 
pounders;  a  similar  battery  was  preparing  to  the  westward,  and  the  whole 
would  have  been  in  a  state  to  open  on  the  enemy  by  the  26th,  had  not  a  flag 
of  truce  been  sent  from  the  Fort  on  the  ^3d,  with  proposals  for  a  surrender, 
pn  the  principle  of  being  sent  to  France  on  parole ;  but  Lieutenant-general 
Beckwith,  the  conjina.nder  of  the  forces,  and  myself,  not  judging  it  proper 
to  accede  to  snch  terms,  the  batteries,  which  had  before  opened  their  fire, 
recommenced  the  attack  at  half-past  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and  con- 
tinued it  without  intermission  during  the  night. 

TheTtext  morning,  a  little  past  six  o'clock,  one  of  the  magazines  in  the 
fort  blow  up  with  a  great  explosion,  and  soon  afterwards  three  flags  of  truce 
were  hoisted  by  the  enemy,  and  hostilities  ceased  on  our  part. 

A  letter  was  then   received   from  the  Captain -general  Viil 
Requesting  that  commissioners  might  be  appointed  on  both  sides  to 


324  XAVAI.   HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESENT    TEAR,    1809. 

the  terms  of  capitulation,  which  was  agreed  to,  and  Lieutenant-general  Sir 
George  Prevost  and  Major-general  Maitland  were  named  by  the  commander 
of  the  forces,  ami  Commodore  Cockburn  by  me.  These  officers  were  met 
by  the  general  of  artillery,  Villaret  (the  Captain-general's  brother),  and 
Colonels  Montfort  and  Boyer,  in  a  tent  erected  for  the  purpose  between 
the  advanced  piquets  on  each  side,  when  the  terms  were  settled  and  ratified 
fiefore  midnight ;  a  copy  of  which  I  have  the  honour  to  enclose. 

This  morning  a  detachment  of  troops  took  possession  of  the  Bouille  Re- 
doubt, and  the  ravelines  and  gateway  of  Fort  Bourbon  on  the  hind  side ; 
and  the  garrison  (a  return  of  which,  as  well  as  the  rest  of  the  prisorfers 
taken  since  the  commencement  of  the  siege,  is  enclosed)  will  be  embarked 
in  the  course  of  eight  days  in  transports,  and  his  Majesty's  ships  Belleisle 
nnd  Ulysses  will  proceed  with  them  as  a  guard  to  Europe. 

I  now  beg  leave  to  congratulate  their  Lordships  on  the  happy  termination 
of  a  siege,  which  was,  by  the  "uncommon  exertions  of  the  army  and  navy, 
brought  to  a  close  within  twenty-eight  days  from  the  sailing  of  the  expe- 
dition from  Barbadoes, 

The  fire  kept  up  by  the  batteries  was  irresistible,  the  enemy  was  driven 
from  his  defences,  his  cannon  dismounted,  and  the  wh<;lc  of  the  interior  of 
the  work  ploughed  up  by  the  shot  and  shells,  within  five  days  after  the  bat- 
teries opened. 

Never  did  more  unanimity  prevail  between  the  two  services  than  on  the 
present  occasion.  One  sentiment,  one  wish  pervaded  the  whole;  and 
they  looked  with  confidence  to  a  speedy  and  glorious  termination  of  their 
toils. 

I  had  on  this  service  the  happiness  to  act  with  I  ieutenant-general  Beck- 
with,  an  officer  I  have  long  been  in  the  habits  of  intimacy  with,  from  whose 
2eal  I  had  every  thing  to  expect,  and  which  the  recent  events  have  so  fully 
realized.  He  did  me  the  honour  to  consult  me  on  various  occasions,  and  his 
communications  and  co-operations  were  friendly  and  cordial,  which,  on  all 
conjunct  expeditions,  is  the  surest  pledge  of  succes* 

1  have  already  informed  their  Lordships,  chat  I  ei,  usted  the  whole  of 
the  naval  arrangements  on  shore  to  Commodore  Cockbu.  a.  His  exertions 
have  been  unremitting, .and  his  merit  beyond  my  praise  He  speaks  in 
terms  of  high  approbation  of  the  able  support  and  assistance  he  received 
from  Captains  Barton,  Nesham,  and  Brenton,  whom  I  had  selected  to  act 
with  him.  To  all  these  officers,  and  the  lieutenants  and  other  officers^petty 
officers,  seamen  and  marines  immediately  under  their  commands,  I  feel  truly 
obliged,  for  performing  the  arduous  duties  imposed  upon  them.  The  seven- 
gun  battery  at  Folville  was  entirely  fought  by  seamen,  from  which  the  enemy 
suffered  severely. 

I  have  also  the  fullest  reason  to  he  thankful  to  the  other  officers  and  men 
of  the  squadron  employed  on  the  blockade  and  reduction  of  the  island,  for 
their  general  activity  and  emulation. 

I  subjoin  a  list  of  the  several  returns  and  papers  which  I  have  been  able 
to  collect,  and  send  herewith. 

For  any  other  information  I  beg  to  refer  their  Lordships  to  Captain  Spear, 
of  the  Wolverine,  an  old  and  deserving  commander,  whom  I  have  entrusted 
With  this  despatch.  I  have  the  honour  to  bo,  &c. 

ALEX.  COC1IRANE. 

ENCLOSURES.* 

Terms  of  Capitulation.  & 

Return  of  the  French  Garrison. 

*  The  Articles  of  Capitulation,  &c.  are  inserted  at  the  end  of  Sir  A.  Coch* 
fane's  General  Memorandum. 


NAVAL    HI6TOHY   OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  325 

Return  of  the  Batteries  erected. 

Return  of  killed  and  wounded  in  the  squadron. 

Return  of  the  squadron. 

General  Memorandum  issued  to  the  squadron. 

The  return  of  ordnance,  ordnance  stores,  commissary  stores,  &c.  has  not 
yet  been  completed. 

Colonies — French  Empire — Army  of  Martinique. 

Head-Quarters,  Fort  Desaix,  February  Q5, 1809. 

STAFF. 

List  of  Men  capable  of  being  embarked. 
Staff — 1  superior  officer,  6  officers. 

26th  Reg. — 2  superior  officers,  30  officers,  450  subalterns  and  soldiers. 
82d  Reg. — 2  superior  officers,  50  officers,  1100  subalterns  and  soldiers. 
Artillery — 2  superior  officers,  7  officers,  171  subalterns  and  soldiers. 
Artificers — 2  officers,  57  subalterns  and  soldiers. 
Horse  Chasseurs — 2  officers,  42  subalterns  and  soldiers. 
Engineers— 1  superior  officer,  2  officers. 
Colonial  Gendarmerie — 7  subalterns  and  soldiers. 
Seamen — 1  superior  officer,  23  officers,  242  seamen. 
Administration — 5  superior  officers,  19  officers. 

Total — 14  superior  officers,  141  officers,  1827  subalterns  and  soldiers, 
242  seamen. 

BOYER,  Chef  d'Etat  Major-Geueral. 

Jlclurn  of  the  Batteries  erected  and  intended  to  be  erected  against  Tort 
Bourbon,  in  the  Inland  of  Martinique, 

Batteries  corr^  'eted. 

1.  Tartenson — 4  thirteen-inch  mortars,  4  howitzers. 

2.  Folville— 4  ten-inch,    3   eight-inch,    4  five   and   half-inch  mortars, 
2  howitzer  mortars,  7  twenty-four-pounder  guns. 

3.  L'Arche— 1  thirteen-inch  mortar,  1  howitzer  mortar. 

4.  Clrilcctt  Ridge — 2  ten-inch  mortars,  2  howitzer  mortars,  4  twenty- 
/our-pounder  guns. 

5.  Fort  Louis— 4  thirtccn-inch  mortars,  4  twenty- four-pounder  guns. 
Total — 9  thirteen-inch,  6  ten-inch,  3  eight-inch,  4  live  and  half-inch 

mortars,  5  howitzer  mortars,  4  howitzers,  15  twenty-four-pouiider 
guns. 

Batteries  not  completed. 

Courville — 8  twenty-four-pounder  guns. 
Bexons — 8  tvventy-tour-pounder  guns. 

Bexons  Advance— 1    ten-inch,    2  tight-inch   mortars,    1   twenty-four- 
pounder  gun. 

Fauche— 2  eight-inch,  2  five  and  half-inch  mortars. 
Morne  Vannier— 3  thirteen-inch  mortars. 

Total— 3  thirteen-inch,  1  ten-inch,  4  eight-inch,  2  five  and  hall-inch 
mortars,  17  twenty-four-pounder  guns. 

ALEX.  COCIIRANE. 
*  

Return  of  Officers  and  Seamen  lulled  and  rcounded  whilst  seroing  on  short 
•under  the  Orders  of  Commodore  Cockburn,  at  the  Reduction  of  Martinique. 
Neptune— None  killed ;  2  badly,  1  slightly  wounded. 


326  JiAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

Pompce — 3  killed  ;  3  badly,  3  slightly  wounded. 
Belleisle — None  killed;   1  badly,  3  slightly  wounded. 
Araaranthe — 3  killed  ;  4  badly,  2  slightly  wounded. 
Total— 6  killed  ;   10  badly,  9  slightly  wounded. 

G.  COCKBURN,  Commodore. 
Names  of  Officers  wounded. 

Amaranthe — Mr.  Thomas  Wickland,  boatswain  ;  Mr.  Thompson,  gunner, 
slightly. 

Pompe'e — Mr.  James  Scott,  master's  mate,  slightly;  Mr.  Thomas  Mills, 
midshipman,  slightly  ;  Mr.  John  Edevearn,  gunner,  badly. 

Names  of  Men  killed. 

Pompee — Robert  Rundle,  carpenter's  crew ;  Moses  Butler,  able ;  Patrick 
Mackey,  landman. 

Amaranthe — John  Kerr,  coxswain ;  William  Roberts,  boy. 

G.  COCKBURN,  Commodore, 
•Martinique,  FebruanySd,  1809. 


List  of  the  Squadron  employed  in  the  Reduction  of  Martinique? 

,      Ships  of  the  Line. 
Neptune,  Pompee,  Beljeisle,  York,  Captain,  and  Intrepid. 

Frig&tet, 

Acasta,  Penelope,  Ethalion,  TEolus,  Circe,  Ulysses,  and  Eurydice. 

Sloops,  4-c. 

Goree,    Wolverine,    Cherub,    Stork,    Amaranthe,    Haughty,    Express* 
Swinger,  Forrester,  Recruit,  Star,  Eclair,  and  Frolic. 

ALEX.  COCIIRANE. 


Neptune,  Firf-Rm/al  Bay,  Martinique, 
February  %6,   io09. 

GENERAL  MEMORANDUM. 

I  have  great  satisfaction  in  announcing  to  the  squadron  the  surrender  of 
the  Fort  Bourbon,  which  event  was  finally  concluded,  and  the  terms  of  ca- 
pitulation ratified,  on  Friday  ni^ht  ;  and  yesterday  the  British  troops 
marched  in,  and  took  possesssion  of  the  principal  defences  of  that  fortress; 
by  which  the  sovereignty  of  this  important  island,  has  been  secured  to  Great 
Britain. 

When  I  reflect  on  the  labour  and  difficulcies  the  commodore,  the  several 
captains  and  officers,  petty  officers,  senmen  and  marines,  have  encountered, 
and  on  the  short  time  in  which  this  service  has  been  accomplished,  I  am 
impressed  with  the  highest  sense  of  their  perseverance  and  courage  ; 
and  I  shall  not  fail  to  report  the  same  to  my  Lords  Commissioners  of  the 
Admiralty. 

I  have  also  viewed  with  admiration  the  bravery  and  discipline  of  the 
army;  but  British  troops,  led  on  by  such  oitirer$  as  we  have  had  the  hap. 
piness  of  serving  with  in  the  reduction  of  this  island,  are  invincible^,  and  it 
is  with  no  little  pride  I  have  witnessed  the  cordiality  «  hich  lias  so  uninter- 
ruptedly subsisted  between  the  land  and  sea  forces,  which,  on  all  combined 
expeditions^  is  the  surest  means  of  leading  to  success. 

I  request  that  Commodore  Cockburn  and  the  several  captains  will  do  me 
the  honour  to  accept  my  warmest  thanks  for  then-  exertions,  also  the  othct 


*AVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809..          327 

officers  and  petty  officers,  seamen,  and  marines;  and  that  the  captains  will 
communicate  the  s,ame  to  the  latter  in  a  suitable  manner. 

ALEX.  COCHRANE. 
To  the  Commodore,  the  respective  Captains, 
Commanders,  $c. 


ARTICLES  of  CAPITULATION  between  Lieutenant  General  George 
Beckwith,  Commander  of  hi<  Britannic  Mujeni^s  Lund  Forces,  mid  Rear- 
admiral  the  Honourable  Sir  Alexander  Cocfirane,  K  B.  Commundtr-in- 
chief  of  his  Britannic  JlAyes//s  Squadron,  upon  a.  joint  Expedition  against 
the  French  Colony  of  Martinique,  on  the  one  Part,  and  General  Vitlaret, 
Captain-general  in  the  Service  of  France,  on  the  other  Part. 

Fort  Desaix  shall  be  given  up  to  the  troops  of  his  Britannic  Majesty  on 
the  following  conditions.— 

Art.  1 .  The  garrison  of  Fort  Desaix  shall  march  out  in  order  to  be  em- 
barked and  conveyed  to  one  of  the  ports  of  France,  between  Bourdeaux 
and  L'Orient,  on  the  days  and  at  the  hours  which  shall  be  agreed  upon,  with 
all  the  honours  of  war,  viz.  drums  beating,  colours  flying,  and  matches 
lighted,  having  in  their  front  four  field-pieces,  with  their  artillery  men. 
The  officers,  civil  and  military,  of  the  marine,  and  every  one  belonging  to 
this  department,  shall  be  also  conveyed  to  the  same  port. 

Answer. — The  Garrison  shall  march  out  with  all  the  honours  of  war  de- 
manded, but  must  ground  their  arms  beyond  the  Glacis.  Officers  shall  keep 
their  swords,  fn  answer  to  the  rest  of  this  article,  it  is  agreed  that  the  forces 
of  France  shall  be  embarked  in  proper  vessels  as  prisoners  of  war  :  thac 
they  shall  proceed  to  Quiberon  Bay,  under  guard  of  some  English  ships  of 
war.  There  an  exchange  shall  take  place  between  the  two  nations,  rank 
for  rank ;  but  from  the  high  respect  and  esteem  with  whiqh  his  Excellency 
the  Captain-general  Vi'laret  Joyeuse  is  held  by  all,  it  is  admitted,  that 
himself  and  Ins  Aides-de-camp  shall  be  sent  to  France  free  from  any 
restriction. 

Art.  II.  The  Captain-general,  the  Colonial  Prefect,  the  general  officers, 
and  those  of  the  staff,  of  the  artillery  and  engineers,  the  officers,  non-com- 
manding officers  and  soldiers  of  the  land  service,  the  officers,  troops,  and 
crews  of  the  navy,  the  chief  of  the  civil  staff,  the  commissaries,  and  others 
employed  in  the  administration  of  the  marine  and  colonies,  shall  carry  awav 
their  arms,  their  personal  effects  and  every  thing  belonging  to  them  : — they 
shall  besides  have  leave  to  dispose  of  their  private  property  of  every  kind', 
and  full  security  assured  to  the  purchasers. 

Answer. — Granted,  excepting  in  what  it  differs  from  the  answer  to  the 
preceding  article. 

Art.  Jit.  The  garrison  shall  be  embarked  at  the  expence  of  his  Britannic 
Majesty  by  battalions  and  companies;  each  person  belonging  to  the  military, 
or  officer  or  other  person  employed  in  the  civil  staff  shall  receive,  during  the 
passage,  the  ration  allowed  to  each  rank  according  to  the  French  laws  and, 
regulations. 

Answer. — Granted,  but  to  be  victualled  according  to  the  English  ration. 

Art.  IV.  The  necessary  number  of  carriages  and  boats  for  transporting 
and  embarking  the  personal  effects,  papers,  and  other  property  of  the  cap- 
tains general,  of  the  colonial  prefect,  of  the  general  officers,  commissaries, 
and  chiefs  of  corps,  of  the  officers  of  the  administration  of  the  iuncl  und  sea 
service,  and  particularly  the  papers  of  the  council  of  administration  of  corps, 
of  the  paymaster  of  the  colony,  and  of  other  persons  in  c:v;i  and  iniiitRry 
employments.  These  papers  shall  not  be  subject  to  any  search  or  inspec- 
tion, under  the  guarantee,  that  they  contain  nothing  foreign,  to  the  pubuc 
duties  of  these  agents, 


328  NAVAL  HISTORY   OP  THE   PRESBNYT    YEAR,    1809. 

Answer. — Granted,  it  being  understood  that  this  is  hot  to  protect 
public  papers  or  property. 

Art.  V.  The  sick  and  wounded,  as  well  those  in  the  hospitals  al 
the  period  of  the  attack  of  the  Colony,  as  those  who  have  since  en- 
tered them,  shall  be  attended  at  the  expence  of  his  Britannic  Majesty  until 
their  cure,  and  shall  share  the  fale  of  the  garrison.  Those  who  are 
able,  shall  be  immediately  embarked  along  vvith  it.  The  sick  and  wounded 
remaining,  shall  he  confided  to  the  honour  of  the  English  commander.  A 
sufficient  number  of  French  officers  of  health,  and  an  oiticer  of  the 
Civil  Staff  shall  remain  to  take  care  of  them. 

Answer. — Granted. 

Art.  VI.  The  garrison  of  Pigeon  Island,  as  well  as  all  others,  officers  and 
agents  of  the  military  Civil  Staff,  who  are  at  this  moment  out  ot 
fort  Desaix,  shall  share  the  fat«  of  the  garrison,  and  shall  be  sent  back  to 
France  in  the  same  manner. 

Answer. — It  is  not  objected  that  the  garrison  of  Pigeon  Island  shall  be 
treated  in  the  same  manner  as  the  rest  of  the  garrison. 

Art.  VII.  The  fortifications  of  fort  Desaix  shall  not  be  demolished  until 
after  a  treaty  of  Peace  to  be  concluded  between  tbt  two  powers. 

Answer. — The  British  government  alone  can  reply  to  this  article. 

Art.  VIIT.  There  shall  be  prepared  a  report  of  the  state  of  the  fort,  of  its 
establishments  and  magazines,  which  shall  be  formally  compared  and 
signed  by  the  Commissioners  charged  with  the  execution  of  the 'present 
capitulation. 

Answer. — Granted. 

Art.  IX.  As  soon  as  the  present  capitulation  shall  be  concluded, 
the  Redoubt  of  Bouille  shall  be  occupied,  partly  by  English  and  partly  by 
French  troops.  Their  number  shall  be  regulated  by  the  Commissioners. 
The  French  garrison  shall  continue  to  occupy  fort  Desaix  until  its  embark- 
ation, having  its  communication  with  the  town  free.  The  period  and  the 
mode  of  evacuating  it  shall  be  regulated  by  the  Commissioners.  The  sick 
and  wounded  actually  within  fort  Desaix  shall  be  removed  to  the 
Hospital  de  France,  and  the  means  of  transport  shall  be  provided  for  this 
purpose.  The  garrison,  until  the  moment  of  embarking,  shall  be  subsisted 
from  their  own  magazines,  and  by  the  French  Agents. 

Answer. — Granted ;  but  it  is  required  that  possession  should  be  given 
also  of  the  Sally  Port  of  the  North  Front,  and  of  the  Demi  Lune3  as  soon  as 
the  articles  are  ratified  by  the  respective  commanders  in  chief. 

Art.  X.  The  officers  and  all  others  employed  in  the  military  or 
civil  service  who  are  married,  may  take  on  board  with  them  their  wives  and 
children.  Those  who  have  property  or  business  in  Martinique  shall 
be  permitted  to  remain  tkcre  six  months.  The  English  commanders 
will  give  them  every  protection  for  this  purpose  during  their  stay  in 
the  Colony.  They  shall  afterwards  share  the  fate  of  the  garrison,  and  be 
conducted  to  France  at  the  expence  of  his  Britannic  Majesty. 

Answer. — Granted,  and  those  officers  who  remain  for  a  time  shall 
be  assisted  with  passages  as  convenient. 

Art.  XI.  The  officers  of  health,  and  all  others  who  have  been  attached 
for  the  moment,  and  by  order,  to  the  service  of  the  French  army,  shall 
be  permitted  to  return  to  their  homes  without  being  molested- 

Answer. — Granted. 

Art.  XII.  The  colonists  and  inhabitants  v.ho  wish  to  follow  the  fate 
of  the  garrison,  and  to  go  to  France  with  their  property,  shall  be  permitted 
to  do  so: — All  the  individuals,  of  whatever  nation  they  may  be,  who 
are  inhabitants  of  the  isle  of  Martinique,  shall  not  be  troubled,  molested,  or 


NAVAL    H1STOHY    OF   THE    PKESENT    YEAR,    1S09.  329 

questioned  on  account  of  tkeir  political  opinion.  Those  who  may  have 
been  arrested  under  this  pretext  shall  be  immediately  set  at  liberty.  " 

Answer — Granted. 

Art.  XIII.  The  persons  and  property  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  island 
of  Martinique  shall  be  respected.  The  laws  which  are  there  actually 
in  force  shall  be  maintained  until  a  peace  between  the  two  nations.  The 
organization  of  the  tribunals  shall  remain  as  it  actually  stands.  The 
exercise  of  the  Catholic  religion  shall  be  preserved  in  its  present  state.  Its 
ministers  shall  be  protected  and  respected.  The  national  property  appro- 
priated for  their  maintenance  shall  be  strictly  applied  to  that  purpose. 

Answer — Granted;  subject  to  such  alterations  as  his  Britannic  Majesty 
may  judge  necessary. 

Art.  XIV.  In  consideration  of  the  state  of  distress  to  which  the  Colony 
is  reduced,  the  inhabitants  shall  remain  exempt  from  all  taxes  for  twj 
years. 

Answer — Xot  granted ;  but  every  consideration  will  be  had  for  the  state 
of  the  Colony. 

Art.  XV7.  The  General  in  Chief  of  the  French  army  shall  be  permitted  to 
send  immediately  an  olh'ccr  to  his  Majesty  the  Emperor  and  Kins,  with  the 
account  of  the  present  capitulation.  A  vessel  shall  be  provided  bv  the 
English  Admiral  to  convey  this  officer  to  Bourdeaux,  Kochefutt,  or 
1'Orient. 

Answer. — Granted. 

Art.  XVI.  If  any  doubt  should  arise  as  to  the  meaning  of  any  article,  it 
shall  be  interpreted  in  the  most  favourable  manner  for  the  Erench 
garrison. 

Answer. — Granted. 

Art.  XVII.  Hostages  of  the  rank  of  Field  officers,  shall  be  delivered  on 
the  part  of  the  English  army  anil  tleet,  and  on  the  part  of  the  French  army, 
for  the  reciprocal  guarantee  of  the  present  capitulation.  The  officer  of  the 
English  army  shall  be  restored  when  the  articles  relative  to  the  garrison  have 
been  executed,  and  the  officer  of  the  licet  after  the  debarkation  of  the 
troops  in  Trance,  the  same  shall  take  place  on  the  part  of  the  French 
garrison. 

Answer. — Xo  hostages  arc  necessary. 

Art.  XVIII.  His  excellency  Admiral  Cochrane  shall  be  invited  to  rccieve 
on  board  the  line-of- battle  ships  and  frigates  of  his  excellency,  the  Captain 
General,  the  Colonial  Prelect,  and  the  other  officers  of  the  French 
army. 

Answer. — Granted,  and  a  ship  of  war  will  be  provided  for  the  Captain 
General  and  his  suite. 

Art.  XIX.  The  embarkation*  of  the  French  troops  shall  take  place 
at  soonest  in  eight,  Mid  at  furthest  in  fifteen  days,  according  as  his 
excellency  Admiral  Cochrane  can  prepare  the  transports. 

Answer. — Granted. 

Art.  XX.  The  articles  of  the  present  capitulation  shall  be  ratified  as  soon 
as  possible,  and  not  later  than  this  evening  at  ten  o'clock. 

Answer. — The  present  capitulation  is  signed  by  the  commissioners 
appointed  by  Lieutenant-general  George  Be:  xuith,  connpftadcr  of  the 
forces  of  hi?  Britannic  Majesty,  and  by  Rear-admiral  Sir  Alexander 
Cochrane,  K.S.  commander  in  chief  of  his  Uriun/nc  Majesty's  squadron,  on 
the  one  part,  tiiat  is  to  buy,  Lieutenant-general  .Sir  Gcjr-ic  Prevost,  Bart. 
Major-general  Maitland,  and  Comraodoie  Coekuirn,  ;uut  of  i.ic  commis- 
sioners appointed  by  General  Villarer,  Captain-general  in  the  service 
of  France,  on  the  other  part,  that  is  to  say,  the  General  of  brigade  Viilartt 

/2sB.  C&ron,  (Bel.  XXI.  u  u  • 


330  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    rilESEXT    YKAR,    1809. 

\         Joyeusc,  Colonel  Mont  fort  of  tlic  82d  Regiment,  and  Lieutenant- colonel 
Buyer,  chief  of  the  staff. 

Done  at  the  advance  posts  ibis  2 1th  day  of  February,  1309. 

fJF.O.  1'RF.VOST,  Lieutenant-general. 
FRED.  MAITLAND,  Major-general. 
G.  COCKBl  RN\  Comrooiore. 
YILLARhT  JOYEUSE,  Gen.  Brigade. 
MONTH  )RT,  Col.  V>'><\  resjimtn*. 
BOYEK,  Chief  of  the  Suit. 

(Ratified) 

CEO.  BECKWITII. 
A.  COCIIRANE. 
YD  .LA  R  ET,  Captain-general. 

Colonies — French  Empire — Army  of  Martinique. 

Ih-iifl-Qnartcrs,  Fort  Dcsakr,  Fab.  25,  1G09 , 
GENKRA.L  STAFF. 

List  of  Men  capable  of  being  embarked. 

Gcneraf  Staff—  1  general  ofllcer,  6  officers. 
2dth  regiment. — 2    superior    officers,    30  officers,.    450  petty   officers  or 

soldiers. 
02d  regiment. — 2    superior    officers,   50    officers,  1 100-  petty   oiliccrs  or 

soldiers. 

Artillery. — 5  officers,  171'  petty  officers  or  soldiers. 
Artificers. — '2  officers,  57  petty  officers  or  soldiers. 
Horse  Chasseurs.— 2  officers,  42  petty  oiliccrs  or  soldiers-. 
Engineers'  Department. — J  superior  officer,  2  officers. 
Artillery  Department. —  1  general  officer,  1  superior  officer,  2  officers 
Colonial  Gendarmerie. — 7  petty  officers  or  soldiers. 
Marines.— 1  superior  oflicer,  23  officers,  212  marines. 
Civil  Staff. — 5  superior  officers,  19  officers. 

Total.— 2  general  officers,  12  superior  officers,  111  officers,  182-7  petty 
officers  or  soldiers,  212  marines. 

The  chief  of  the  genera4  staff. 

BOYER. 


Return  of  Ordnance  and  Stores  found  in  Fort  Dt'Stiijc  and  its  Dependencies, 
.Martinique,  Feb.  26,  1U09. 

Brass  guns. — 9  serviceable,  I  unserviceable,  24-pounder  (Field-piece* 
complete)— 10;  3  serviceable,  1  unserviceable,  16-pnuiulers — 4;  2  ser- 
viceable 12-pounders  (carriages  all  good) ;  3  serviceable,  1  unserviceable, 
S-pounders  (carriages  all  good  except  one) — t;  G  serviceable  4-pounders, 
(four  large  .chambers). 

Brass  Mortars.— 5  serviceable  12  inch,  (1  smallj;  1  unserviceable  fi 
inch. 

Brass  howitzers. — 1  unserviceable  8  inch  ;  5  serviceable  6  inch. 

Iron  Guns. — 17  serviceable,  2  unserviceable,.  24-pounders — 19;  14 
serviceable  iy-pounders;  14  serviceable,  3  unserviceable,  12  pounders — 
17.;  19  serviceable,  2  unserviceable,  C-poiuiders — 21;  8  serviceable 
12  inch  iron  mortars;  4  serviceable  36-pounder  iron  carronades;  900 
serviceable  bright  muskets,  quite  new;  500,000  serviceable  musket  ball 
cartridges;  1670  barrels  of  serviceable  powder,  single  of  lOOlb.  each;  CO 
fesirrels  of  seviceable  powdtr,  double  of  200lb.  each. 


NAVAL   1HSTORY   Off   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  331 

Carriages. — 23  serviceable,^  15  unserviceable,  24-pounders — "S-  11 
serviceable,  10  unserviceable,  8-pounders— 21;  5  serviceable,  ]  unser- 
viceable, l(5-pounders — 6;  13  serviceable  5  unserviceable,  12-pounders 
— 18  j  15  serviceable,  12  unserviceable,  8-[;ouaders — '27;  8  serviceable 
4-poundcrs. 

Mortar  Beds. — 10  serviceable,  3  unserviceable  12  inch — 13;  1  service- 
able, 1  unserviceable  8  inch—?. 

Howitzer  Carriages. — 1  serviceable,  1  unserviceable  8  inch — 2;  5 
serviceable,  2  unserviceable  6  inch — 7. 

Round  Shut.  — 10,000  serviceable  24-pounders ;  7,500  serviceable  18- 
potinders;  1,600  serviceable  1(3  pounders;  7, 5UO  serviceable  12-pounders; 
4,000  .serviceable  8-pOundfrs;  (300  serviceable  6-pounders ;  3,500  service- 
able 4-poundere. 

Mortar  Shells. — 1,500  serviceable  1 2  inch ;   1,700  serviceable  8  inch. 

.Howitzer  She!!;. — 2000  serviceable  {'•  inch;  000  serviceable  6  inch. 

Case  or  Grape  Shot,  —  200  serviceable  3<3-pounders  ;  600  serviceable  24- 
pounders;  250  serviceable  Ib-pouiulers;  120  serviceab'e  IG-ponnders ; 
400  serviceable  12-pounders;  (500  serviceable  B-pounders;  800  serviceable 
•1-pomulcrs;  JJO  serviceable  cartridges  filled  with  powder,  fur  24  and 
i 8-pounders;  (30  serviceable  cartridges  for  mortars;  70  cwt.  of  w/rviceable 
slow  match;  200,(/00  serviceable  musket  flints;  30  reams  of  serviceable 
ranium  cartridge  paper  ;  80  reams  of  serviceable  musket  cartridge  paper; 
-000  rounds  or  serviceable  ammunition  for  ncld-pieces,  in  100  boxes,  con- 
taining 0  rounds  each;  700  serviceable  tubes;  200  serviceable  fuzees.; 
'200lbs.  of  serviceable  saltpetre  ;  10,000  serviceable  empty  paper  cartridges; 
12  J  do/ens  of  serviceable  portfires. 

I'idgeou  Island. — o  serviceable  30  pounder  iron  puns;  1  serviceable, 
2  unserviceable,  24-pounder  iron  i;uns — 3  ;  2  serviceable  8-pounder  iron 
guns;  1  serviceable  12  inch  brass-mortar;  2  serviceable  12  inch  iron 
mortars. 

Trinite. — 4  serviceable  2-1-pounder  iron  guns;  i  unserviceable  12  inch 
brass  mortur. 

St.  Pierre. — 14  serviceable,  3  unserviceable,  2J-poundcr  iron  guns 
— 17  ;  2  serviceable  Vi  inch  iron-mortars;  1  serviceable  9  and  three- 
quarter  inch  brass-mortar. 

N.B.  Carriages  bad ;  100  shot  for  the  gans;  no  powder  at  any  of  tlte 
out- posts;  1  sponge,  for  each. 

Point.  Xeero.  —  2  serviceable  3(3-pounders  iron  guns;  6  serviceable  2i» 
pounder  iron  guns;  I  serviceable  1'J  inch  iron-mortar. 

(ionorau.—  2  unserviceable  24-pounders  ivon  guns. 

Point  Catherine. — 4  unserviceable  i."l-pounders  iron  gnus. 

Carparanc  Redoubt. — 3  serviceable'  o-poundcrs  iron  guns. 

Ponicis  Itedoiibt. —  2  serviceable  12  pounders  iron-guns;  2  serviceable 
cight-pouru'ers  iron-guns. 

Morne  \"irogiee. — 2  serviceable  4-pounders  brass-guns. 

Coumac. — 2  serviceable  8-poundcrs  iron  gun*. 

N.B.   30  round  shot  and  20  case  for  each  piece. 

Fort  Edward.  Guns. — 10  serviceable  GUr pounder 5;  1-1  serviceable  24- 
pounders;  8  serviceable  Kj-poundersj  .3  serviceable  J2-pounders;  2  ser- 
vt'-cable  o-pounders, 

IMortars. — 4  serviceable  13  inch. 

Shot.— H0,000  serviceable  3o-poundors  ;  76,000  serviceable  24  poun- 
ders ;  6,000  serviceable  16-ponndcr.-,;  4^00  iervjcejibfe  12-poUHders5  12O 
serviceable  o-pouniicrs;  50 1  serviceable,  57  unserviceable,  loose  muskets. 
— ofil;  414  serviceable  muskets,  in  Cu^e*.;  «i,loO  s-rviceablc  n»uskat 
fliots. 


332  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESENT   YEAR,    1S09. 

.Arsenal. — 5  serviceable  4-pound er  brass-guns,  2  of  them  and  cnrringes 
are  in  the  canal ;  5  serviceable  5-pnunders  brass-swivels;  2  serviceable  8-» 
pounders  iron-guns;  8  serviceable  O-pounders  iron-guns;  4  serviceable  4 
-pounders  iron  guns. 

Sliot. — 500  serviceable  24-pou  rulers;  495  serviceable  18-pounders;  7O 
serviceable  16-pounders ;  706  serviceable  12-pouudcrs;  550  serviceable  8- 
pounders. 

Shells. — 26  serviceable  12-incli ;  498  serviceable  8-poundcrs;  1,000 ser- 
viceable, 250  unserviceable  muskets;  6  unserviceable  chests  of  muskets ; 
12  kegs  and  1  box  serviceable  musket  flints;  1  24-pounder  serviceable 
gun-carriage;  4  4-poundcr  serviceable  gun-carriages ;  2  serviceable  gins 
triangle;  !i  serviceable  limbers;  2  serviceable  devil  carts;  1  serviceable 
petard ;  17  hogsheads  serviceable  slow  matches. 

EDWARD  STKHELIN. 
Brig.  Gen.  Comm.  Hoy.  Artil.  W.  Indies. 


Fort  Royal,  Martinique,  Feb.  27,  1809. 
Return  of  Engineer's  Stores  fowul  in  the  Ordnance  Arsenal  at  Fort- 

7J  / 

Jtieytu, 

Intrenching  tools. — 3  serviceable  earth  rammers.  9  serviceable  large 
matts  of  wood  19  serviceable  scaling  ladders,  joints  of  6  feet.  30 
serviceable  picks.  40  serviceable  pick-axes.  40  serviceable  mattocks. 

Lumber. — 250  serviceable  of  2  inch  running  feet  piank.  34  serviceable 
12  feet  long  pieces  of  4  inch  plank.  9  serviceable  24  feet  long  pieces  of  4 
inch  plank.  8  serviceable  sawed  scantling  pieces.  20  serviceable  timber 
pieces, 

Eight  serviceable  spars,  6  inches  diameter,  (50  feet  long.  5  serviceable 
pieces  of  hardwood  plank.  950  serviceable  staves  of  \\hitc  oak.  22 
serviceable  bundles  hazel  hoops. 

Smith's  tools. — 13  serviceable  and  4  unserviceable  spare  elevating  screws, 
3  ton  10  cwt.  serviceable  in  bars  of  sorts.  25  serviceable  spare  axle  trees. 
120  serviceable  tires  for  wheels.  8  serviceable  large  vires.  8  serviceable 
anvils.,  8  serviceable  forge  bellows.  8  serviceable  tongs.  6  serviceable 
pincers.  3  serviceable  beck  irons.  1  serviceable  mandril.  3  serviceable 
sledge  hammers. 

Gun  Carriage  Work.— 60  serviceable  naves  for  wheels.  57  serviceable 
fellies  for  wheels.  100  serviceable  spokes  for  wlicels.  3  serviceable 
cheeks  for  gun-carriages.  14  serviceable,  20  reparable,  and  23  unservice- 
able spare  wheel*. 

Nine  serviceable  noingle  trees.  J  serviceable  grindstone  with  trough.  4 
serviceable  grindstones  without  troughs. 

CHALKS  SHIPLEY. 

Brig.  Gen.  commanding  the  Royal  Mug.  W.I.I?. 
SAM.  LAWRENCE,  Connn.  of  Eng.  btores. 

G.  B. 

Fort  Dcsai.r,  February  27,  1S09. 

There  appears  to  be  about  200  pick-axes,  the  like  number  of  shovels  arid 
spades,  and  about  50  wheelbarrows,  some  filled  sand  bags,  &c.  dispersed 
upon  the  different  works. 

CHARLES  SHIPLEY, 
Brisr.  Gen.  and  Comm.  Roy.  Eng.  W.I.R. 
SAMUEL  LAWRENCE,  Corntu.  of  Eiis.  Stores 

G.  B. 


XAVAL   HISTORY   OF  THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  333 

Martinique,  February  26th  1809. 

Return  of  Pro-t-hiotis,  Rum,  <$-c.  in  Fort  Dcsair,  this  Day. 
1300   barrels   flour;    2500   pounds  biscuit;    300  tierces  salt  beef-    93 
barrels  salt  pork;    112,600  pounds  sugar;    10,000   pounds   coffee;  W,000 
pints  rum;  COO  pints  brandy;    2,00*'  pints  claret;  2,000  pints  vinegar; 
J,COO  pounds  salt;  500  pounds  sweet  oil;  150  pounds  fish  oil;  650  cords 
wood  fuel;   1,000  pounds  candles. 
N.B.  Five  oxen,  strayed,  not  included  in  the  above. 

J.  H.  VAUX,  Assist.  Com. 

Return  nf  Sid:    and    Wounded    in    Jus    Majesties   General   Hospital  at 
Martinico,  br.ticeen  the  1st  and  11th  February  1809,  inclusive. 

Total.  —  gun-shot  wounds  380,  fevers  172,  fluxes  244,  Ulcers  9,  casualties 
6,  debility  4.  —  Total  815. 


of  ft  Letter  fnnn  Captain  George  M'Kinley,  of  his  Majesty's  Ship  Lively, 
to  tlic  Htm.  II.  IT.  Pole,  dated  on  board  that  Ship,  Vieo.  the  29M  'of 
March  1809. 

MB, 

As  I  have  thoneht  it  of  importance  that  my  Lords  Commissioners  of  tie 
Admiralty  should  have  the  earliest  intelligence  of  the  surrender  of  Vigo,  I 
have  despatched  Mr.  T.  Furbcr,  senior  lieutenant  of  this  ship,  (in  a  vessel 
hired  for  the  purpose,)  with  a  copy  of  my  letter  on  that  subject  to  the  lion, 
Vice-Admiral  Berkeley. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

GEORGE  Al'KINLEY. 

sin,  Lively,  Vigo,  March  29,  1809. 

In  consequence  of  a  Jetrcr  I  received  at  Yillagarcia  from  Captain  Craw- 
ford, of  the  Venus,  off  Vigo,  informing  me  that  the  loyal  peasantry  were  in 
considerable  force  around  the  castle  and  town  of  Vigo,  and  that  the  pre- 
sence of  another  frigate  would  very  much  contribute  to  the  surrender  of 
that  fortress,  I  joined  him  on  tl.e  evening  of  the  23d  instant. 

The  next  morning  I  went  to  the  head  quarters  of  Don  Joao  de  Almada 
de  Sanzo  e  Silva,  who  commanded  the  patriots.  At  the  instant,  a  summons 
was  sent  to  the  Governor  of  Vigo  to  surrender  at  discretion,  which  led  to  a 
iiegociation  between  him  and  the  French,  which  continued  till  the  26th, 
when  Don  Pablo  Murillo,'  commanding  a  regular  force  of  1500  men,  com- 
posed of  retired  soldiers  in  this  province,  arrived,  and  sent  in  a  summons  to 
surrender.  In  consequence  of  which,  on  the  following  day,  the  proposals 
(No.  I.)  were  brougnt  en  board  by  Don  Pablo  Murillo,  accompanied  by 
three  French  officers.  The  answers  to  them  (No.  U.)  were  delivered  at  five 
P.M.  by  Captain  Crawford,  who  concluded  the  capitulation  which  I  have 
the  honour  to  inclose;  and  the  whole  of  the  garrison,  consisting  qf  a  colo- 
nel, forty-five  officers,  and  about  thirteen  or  fourteen  hundred  men,  were 
embarked  the  next  morning. 

I  should  be  wanting  in  every  feeling  of  an  officer,  were  I  not  to  acknow- 
ledge the  liberal  attention  and  zealous  services  of  Captain  Crawford. 

It  also  becomes  most  gratifying  that  I  am  enabled  to  inform  you  of  the 
spirit  and  determination  of  the  Spaniards,  to  expel  from  their  counfy,  the 
invaders  of  all  that  is  dear  to  a  brave  and  loyal  people.  No  doubt  of  suc- 
cess could  have  arisen,  had  the  enemy  persisted  in  holding  out,  from  the 
able  and  prompt  conduct  of  Don  Pablo  Mariilo,  and  the  good  order  of  his 


334         NATAI.  HisTonv  or  xnc  PILESENT  YEAR,  1809. 

troops,  the  strongest  proof  of  his  zeal  in  tlic  just,  cause  of  his  king  and 
country,  and  the  ardour  of  the  peasantry  is  beyond  all  description. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

GEO11GE  M'KINLEY. 
The  Honourable  Vice-Admiral  Berkeley,  $c. 

P.S.  I  beg  to  inclose  as  correct  a  statement  of  the  French  force  as  time 
would  allow  me  to  procure.  GEORGE  M'KINLEY. 

No,  I, 

TOWN  OF  VIGO, 

This  flay,  the  27th  of  March  IfiOO,  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the 
garrison  of  the  town  and  forts  of  \  igo,  commanded  bv  [Monsieur  Chalot, 
Chef  d'Escadron,  Governor  of  the  Town,  assembled  and  represented  by  its 
body  of  ofiicers,  in  pursuance  of  orders  from  th«  Governor,  for  the  purpose 
of  entering  into  an  honourable  capitulation,  according  to  what  is  required 
by  the  circumstances  of  the  general  blockade  by  land  and  ?ca,  by  the  British, 
Spanish,  and  Portuguese  forces,  and  of  the  several  summonses  which  have 
bcc'ii  made  by  these  forces  for  the  surrender  of  the  town  and  torts  at  discrer 
tion.  The  following  articles,  after  having  been  maturely  and  deliberately 
Considered  and  discussed,  have  been  unanimously  agreed  upon: — 

I.  The  garrison  shall  inarch  out  of  the  town  and  forts  with  their  arms  and 
fcaggnge,  and  with  the  honours  of  war. 

II.  The  officers  and   men  shall  be  embarked   in  English  vessels,  and 
conveyed    to    the     nearest  French   port,    on    parole  not  to    bear    arms 
against  Spain  and  her  allies  until  exchanged,  or  until  peace  shall  take  place. 

III.  The  ofiicers,  and  persons  employed  in  the  military,  shall  keep  their 
arms  and  the  whole  of  their  equipages:  they  shall  take  with  them  their  con* 
ridential  attendants  and  .servant.-. 

IV.  The  money  belonging  to  the  French  government,  and  destined  for 
the  payment  of  the  troops  of  the  second  corps,  shall  remain  in  the  hands  of 
the  principal  paymaster,  who  is  accountable  for  it.     The  papers  relating  to 
the  accounts  ot  the  regiments  shall  be  preserved. 

V.  The  troops  shall  not  lay  down  their  arms  till  the  moment  of  embark- 
ing, and  then  under  the  protection   of  the  British;  that  is  to  say,  that 
each  division  or  section  shall  successively  lay   down  their  arms  when  re- 
ppectively  embarking. 

VI.  The  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Vigo  shall  be  respected. 

V1T.  The  two  hospitals,  containing  about  three  hundred  sick,  shall  be 
taken  rare  of  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  under  ihe  British  and  Spanish 
protection. 

VIM.  The  place  and  the  forts 'shall  only  be  delivered  up  at  the  moment 
of  embarking,  to  a  number  of  the  blockading  troops,  consisting  of  three  of- 
ficers and  fifty  subalterns  and  soldiers. 

IX.  The  present  capitulation  will  only  take  effect  when  ratified  on  one 
part  by  Monsieur  Chalot  the  Governor,  and  on  the  other  by  the  commandants 
of  the  blockading  land  and  sea  forces,  and  guaranteed  in  all  its  articles  by 
tlir  British  commanding  otljcers. 

Done  at  Vigo,  the  day,  month,  and  year  above  mentioned. 
J.  CONSCIFA( ']•;,' Paymaster. 
L'ARMIXGTj  Captain  30th, 

LArouu.F. 

tiMOSIN,  Captain. 
})i:  LA  MO'ITE,  1'aymastrr. 
MONTAL  \\T,  Officer,  '-;d  Redmcnt,  7th  Legion. 
1H'.  \VATKO\VII.LK,  Lieutenant  '2d. 
T.  M.  YABLANC,  Captain  of  Engineers. 
H-IIMX,  Lieutenant. 
])li  CR  \UZOT,  Oliicer  lOth. 
BEHKTTRE,  Lieutenant. 
KELM,  Lieutenant. 


NATAL    HISTOKY  OF  THE   PRE3EKT   YEAK,    1809.          325 


George  M/Kinley,  Ksq.  Captain  of  his  firitsunic  Majesty's  ship  Lively, 
and  senior  officer  before  Vigo,  and  Don  Pablo  Murillo,  commandant  eu 
xete  of  the  Spanish  forces  forming  the  siege  of  Vigo,  having  considered  tha 
articles  of  capitulation  proposed  for  the  surrender  of  Vi<_o>  hy  Moiii.  Char- 
lot,  chef  d'escadron,  governor  of  the  city,  and  by  the  otucers  of  the  gar- 
rison under  his  command,  have  agreed  on  the'  following  answers  to  d,c 
said  articles : — 

Answer  to  Art.  I. — The  garrison  of  Vimi  will  lie  allowed  to  march  (Hit  of 
the  forts  with  the  honours  of  war  to  the  ( Jlacis,  where  they  will  ground  Their 
arms,  and  surrender  themselves  prisoners  of  war,  the  om'ccr»  keeping  dieir 
avvords  and  tln-ir  \vearin2  apparel. 

Answer  to  Art.  II. — Refused. 

Answer  to  Art.  III. — Answered  in  the  first  article. 

Answer  to  Art.  IV. — First  part  refused;  public  accounts  shall  be  pre- 
served. 

Answer  to  Art.  V. — Answered  in  tiie  first  article. 

Answer  to  Art.  VI. — The  inhabitants  of  Vigo  shall  be  respected,  accord- 
ing to  the  laws  of  Spain. 

Answer  to  Art.  VII. — The  prisoners  shall  be  treated  as  the  laws  of  hu- 
manity require. 

Answer  to  Art.  VIII. — On  the  French  troops  laying  down  their  arm*,  the 
Spanish  troops  shall  march  in  and  relieve  the  guards,  taking  possession  of 
the  place  and  forts. 

Answer  to  Art.  IX. — One  hour  -after  the  receipt  of  the  articles  of  capi- 
tulation, they  shall  be  ratified,  or  hostilities  will  recommence,  and  no  fur- 
ther conference  will  be  permitted. 

The  town  and  forts  to  be  put  into  the  possession  of  the  Spanish  troop* 
immediately  after  the  ratification. 

Colonel  Chalot  must  be  well  satisfied,  that  die  power  of  the  combined 
forces  which  surround  him  will  make  resistance  vain,  and  must  himself 
be  responsible  for  the  further  effusion  of  blood. 

Given  on  board  the  Lively,  off  Vigo,  March  27,  1809. 

GF.OKGE  M'KTXLKY. 
PABLO  MU1ULLO. 


CAPITULATION  of  the  Town  and  Forts  of  J'lgo,  occupM  ly  tfie  De- 
pot o/'  the  Regiment*  forming  purl  of  ttic  Seci.-ftd  Corps  vt'  the  French 
Army  of  Spain. 

This  day,  the  27th  of  March  1809,  at  sk  o'clock  in  the  evening,  we, 
Jacques  A'ntoine  Chalot,  chef  d'escadron,  governor  and  commandant  of  the 
French  troops  in  the  town  and  forts  of  Vigo, on  one  part,  nnd  James  Coutts 
Crawford,  Esq.  captain  of  the  British  frigate  the  Veavs,  dc-puted  by  George 
M'Kiuley,  Esq.  commanding  officer  before  \  i:ro,  and  Don  i'ablo  Murillo, 
colonel-commandant  of  the  Spanish  troops  before  the  town,  on  the  other, 
Lave  concluded  the  articles  of  capitulation  for  the  French  garrison  iu  th» 
town  and  forts  of  Vigo,  in  the  following  terms,  viz. 

Art.  L  The  garrison  shall  march  out  of  the  towu  and  forts  with  their  arms 
and  baggage,  and  with  the  honours  of  war. 

Answer.— The  garrison  of  Vigo  will  be  allowed  to  march  out  of  tbc  forts 
with  the  hcnours  of  war,  to  the  Glacis,  where  they  will  ground  their  arui», 
and  surrender  themselves  prisoners  of  war  ,  the  officers  keeping  their  swoidi 
and  their  wearing  apparel. 

Art.  II,  The  officers  aad  mec  shall  be  embarked  iu  English  Tessels,  and 


336  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

conveyed  to  the  nearest  French  port,'  on  parole,  not  to  bear  arms  against., 
Spain  and  her  allies  until  exchanged,  or  until  peace  shall  take  place. 

Answer. — The  prisoners  shall  be  conducted  to  an  English  port. 

Art.  III.  The  officers  and  persons  employed  in  the  military  shall  keep 
their  arms,  and  the  whole  of  their  equipages:  they  shall  take  with  them 
their  confidential  attendants  and  servant*. 

Answer. —  Answered  in  the  first  Article. 

Art.  IV.  The  money  belonging  to  the  Trench  government,  and  destined 
for  the  payment  of  the  troops  of  the  second  corps,  shall  remain  in  the  hands 
of  the  principal  paymaster,  who  is  accountable  fur  it.  The  papers  relating 
to  the  accounts  of  the  regiment  shall  be  preserved. 

Answer. — Public  accounts  shall  be  preserved. 

Art.  V.  The  troops  shall  not  lay  down  their  arms  till  the  moment  of  cm- 
barking,  and  then  under  the  protection  of  the  British;  that  is  to  say, 
that  each  division  or  section  shall  successively  lay  down  their  arms  wheu 
respectively  embarking. 

Answer. — Answered  in  the  first  article. 

VI.  The  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Vigo  shall  be  respected. 
Answer. — Granted,  according  to  the  laws  ot  Spain. 

VII.  The  two  hospitals,  containing  about  three  hundred  sick,  shall  be 
taken  care  of  by  the  inhabitant)  of  the  town,  under  the  British  and  Spanish 
protection. 

Answer. — The  prisoners  shall  be  treated  as  the  laws  of  humanity  require. 

VIII.  The  place  and  the  forts  shall  only  be  delivered  up  at  the  moment 
of  embarking,  to  a  number  of  the  blockading   troopi,  consisting  of  three 
officers  and  tifry  subalterns  and  soldiers. 

Answer. — Iteferred  to  the  first  and  last  articles. 

IX.  The  present  capitulation  will  only  take  ciYoct  when  ratified  on  one 
part  by  Mons.  Chalot,   the  governor,  and  on  the  other  by  the  commandants 
of  the  blockading  land  and  sea  forces,  and  guaranteed  in  all  its  articles  by 
the  British  commanding  officer. 

Done  at  Vigo,  the  day,  month,  and  year  as  above-mentioned 

CHALOT. 

J.  COUTTS  CRAWFORD. 
PABLO  MU1ULLO. 


Statement  of  the  French  Forces,  $c.  surrendered  by  Capitulation  at  Vigot 
'27th  March  1809,  to  his  Majesty's  ships  Lively  and  Venus,  and  the  Forces 
of  his  Ctit/iolic  Majesty  Ferdinand  the  Seventh. 

46  officers;  958  inferior  officers  and  privates  fit  for  duty;  300  sick.-— 
Total,  1304  men. 

447  horses;  62  carriages,  covered  waggons,  aiid  carts.  Military  chest, 
containing  117,153  francs  in  French  specie. 

The  returns  of  the  garrison  cannon  field  pieces,  muskets,  ammunition, 
ordnance  stores,  £c.  £c.  not  yet  received,  but  the  whole  together,  with 
the  horses,  carriages,  aud  specie,  have  been  delivered  to  Don  Pedro  Mu- 
rillo,  commander  in  xefe  of  the  forces  of  his  Catholic  Majesty  Ferdinand 
the  Seventh. 

GEORGE  M'KINLEY. 

Copy  of  another   Letter  from   Captain   JH'Kinley,    of  his  Mcijcsty^s  ship 

Lively,  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole,  dated  March  29,  1809. 
SIH, 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  for  the  information  of  my  Lords  Com- 
f  tin;  Admiralty,  that  in  the  act  of  embarking  the  French  garri- 


NAVAL   HISTORY   OF   TIIE   PRESENT   YEAR,    1809.  337 

ion,  advice  was  received  of  a  French  force  approaching,  when  Don  Pablo 
JS'lurillo  immediately  inarched,  attacked,  totally  routed  them,  and  made 
many  prisoners,  who  informed  me  they  were  a  detachment  of  oOO  men 
from  Fuy,  for  the  relief  of  Vigo. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

GEORGE  M'KINLEY. 

APRIL  15. 

Captain  James  Lucas  Yeo,  of  his  Majesty's  ship  the  Confiance,  has.  with 
his  letter  dated  at  Cayenne,  the  9th  February  last,  transmitted  to  the  Hon. 
William  Welleslcy  Pole,  copies  of  his  letters  to  Rear-Admiral  Si;-  Vv  iliiaiu 
Sidney  Smith,  detailing  his  proceedings  ia  the  expedition  against  the 
above  settlement. 

Having,  in  conjunction  with  the  Portuguese  land  forces,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Lieutenant-colonel  Manner!  Marques,  tuken  possession,  on  the  8th 
December  lust,  of  the  district  of  Oyapok,  and  on  the  15th  of  the  s;\;ne 
month,  with  the  Contiance  and  a  Portuguese  sloop  and  cutter,  reduced  tir.it 
of  Approaque;  Captain  Yco,  together  with  the  lieiuenant-colonel,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  attack  of  the  island  of  Cayenne  with  the  Confiance,  two  Por- 
tuguese sloops,  and  some  smaller  vessels,  having  on  board  five  hundred  and 
fifty  Portuguese  troops.  The  following  is  u  copy  of  Captain  Yeo's  letter  ou 
this  subject. 

His  Majesty's  Shi:)  Confiance,  Cayenne  Harbour, 
SIR,  15;.';  Junuary,  1809. 

My  last  letters  to  you  of  the  2Gth  ult.  informed  you  of  the  arrival  of  the 
Portuguese  troops  at  Approaque.     On  the  4th  inst.  it  was  -determined  by 
Lieutenant-colonel  Manoel  Masques  and  myself,  to  make  a  descent  on  the 
east  side  of  the  island  of  Cayenne.     Accordingly  all  the  troops  were  enj- 
barked  on  board  the  small  vessels,  amounting  to  550,  and  SO  seamen  and 
marines  from  the  Confiance,  aiid  a  party  of  marines  from  the  Voador  aud 
Infante  brigs.    On  the  morning  of  the  6th  all  dropt  into  the  mouth  of  the 
river.     In  the  evening  I  proceeded  with  ten  canoes  and  about  250  men,  to 
endeavour   to  gain   possession   of  two  batteries:  the   one  Fort  Diatoaiit, 
which  commands  the  en  trance  of  the  river  Muhuree,  the  other  Grand  Cane, 
commanding  the  great  road  to  the  town  of  Cayenne.     The  vessels,  with  the 
remainder  of  the  troops,  I  entrusted  to  Captain  Salgado,  of  the  Voador, 
with  orders  to  follow  me  after  dusk,  to  anchor   in  the  mouth  of  the  river 
Mahuree,  and  wait  until  I  gained  the  before-mentioned  batteries;  when,  on 
my  making  the  signal  agreed  on,  he  was  to  enter  the  river  and  disembark 
with  all  possible  despatch.     I  reached  Point  Mahuree  at  three  o'clock  next 
morning,  with  five  canoes;  the  others  being  heavy  could  not  keep  up.     Vte 
then  landed  in  a  bay  half  way  between  the  two  latteries.     TUt  surge  was  so 
great,  that  our  boats  soon  went  to  pieces.    1  ordered  Major  Joaqoun  Manoel 
Pinto,  with  a  detachment  of  Portuguese  troops,  to  proceed  to  thr-  lefr,  and 
take  Grand  Cane;  while  myself,  accompanied  by  Lieutenants  Mill-caster, 
Blyth,  and  Read  (of  the  royal  marines)  ;  Messrs.  Savory,  XVilliuiu  Taylor, 
Forder,  and  Irwin,  proceeded  to  the  right  with   a  party  of  the  Confiance, 
to  take  Fort  Diamant,  which  was  so..n  in  our  possession,  mounting  tuo 
twenty. four  and  one  brass  nine-pounder,  and  fifty  men.     I  am  sorry  to  add, 
that  Lieutenant  John  Read,  of  the  ro\al  marines,  a  meritorious  young  offi- 
cer, was  mortally  wounded,  as  also  one  seaman  and  live  mnrinc-  badly. 
The  French  captain  and  commandant,  with  three  soldiers,  killcci,  and  four 
wounded.     The  major  had  the  same  success:  the  fort  mounting  LWO  brass 
nine-pounden*  and   forty   men ;  two  of  the  enemy  were  killed.     The  en- 
trance of  the  river  being  in  our  possession,  the  signal  agreed  on  was  made, 
and  by  noon  all  were  disembarked.     At  the  same  time  I  received  ipfor- 

i»  CJoI.XXL  x  x 


338  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   MIESEVT    YEAR,    1809. 

niation  of  General  Victor  Hugues  having  quitted  Cayenne,  at  the  head  of  a 
thousand  troops,  to  dispossess  us  of  our  posts.  Our  force  being  too  sm;\!J 
to  be  divided,  and  the  distance  between  the  two  posts  being  great,  and  only 
twelve  miles  from  Cayenne,  it  was  determined  to  di suiantlc  Fort  Diamant, 
and  collect  all  our  forces  at  Grand  Cane.  1  ther  .j  left  my  first  lieute- 
nant, Mr.  Mulcaster,  with  a  party  of  the  Confiance,  to  perform  that  ser- 
vice, and  then  join  me.  On  arriving  at  Grand  Cane,  I  perceived  two 
other  batteries  about  a  mile  up  the  river,  on  opposite  sides,  and  within 
half  gun-shot  of  each  other:  the  one  on  the  right  bank  called  Treo,  on 
an  eminence  commanding  the  creek  leading  to  Cayenne;  the  other,  at 
the  opposite  side,  at  the  entrance  of  the  creek  leading  to  the  house  and 
plantation  of  General  Victor  Hugues,  and  evidently  erected  for  no  other 
purpose  than  its  defence.  At  three  o'clock  I  anchored  the  Lion  and  Vin- 
ganza  cutters  abreast  of  them,  when  a  smart  action  commenced  on  both 
sides  for  an  hour;  when  finding  the  enemy's  metal  and  position  so  superior 
to  ours,  the  cutters  having  only  four-pounders,  and  many  of  our  men  falling 
from  the  incessant  shower  of  grape-shot,  I  determined  to  storm  them,  and 
therefore  directed  Mr.  Savory  (the  purser,)  to  accompany  a  party  of  Portu- 
guese to  land  at  General  Hugues'  battery ;  at  the  same  time  proceeding  my- 
self, accompanied  by  Lieutenant  Blyth,  my  gig's  crew,  and  a  party  of  Por- 
tuguese troops,  to  that  of  Treo;  and  though  both  parties  had  to  land  at  the 
very  muzzles  of  the  guns  keeping  up  a  continual  fire  of  grape  and  musketry, 
the  cool  bravery  of  the  men  soon  carried  them,  and  put  the  enemy  to  flight: 
each  fort  mounted  two  brass  nine-pounders  and  fifty  men.  This  service 
•was  scarcely  accomplished,  before  the  French  troops  from  Cayenne  attacked 
the  colonel  at  Grand  Cane.  Our  force  then  much  dispersed,  I  therefore, 
without  waiting  an  instant,  ordered  every  body  to  the  boats,  and  proceeded 
to  the  aid  of  the  colonel,  who,  with  his  small  force,  had  withstood  the  ene- 
my ;  and  after  a  smart  action  of  three  hours,  they  retreated  to  Cayenne. 
At  tl»e  same  time,  250  of  the  enemy  appeared  before  Fort  Diamant ;  but 
perceiving  Lieutenant  Mulcaster  prepared  to  receive  them,  and  imagining 
his  force  much  greater  thim  it  was,  they,  on  hearing  the  defeat  of  their 
general,  followed  his  example.  There  was  yet  the  strongest  post  of  the 
enemy  to  be  taken,  which  was  the  private  house  of  General  Victor 
Hugues:  he  had,  besides  the  fort  above-mentioned, planted  before  his  house 
a  field-piece  and  a  swivel,  with  an  hundred  of  his  best  troops.  It  is  situ- 
ated on  the  main,  between  two  and  three  miles  in  the  interior,  at  the  end 
«f  an  avenue  the  same  length  from  the  river;  on  the  right  of  which  is  a 
thick  wood,  and  on  the  left  the  creek  Fouillc.  I  have  also  to  remark,  that 
there  is  nothing  near  appertaining  to  government,  or  for  the  defence  of  the 
colony.  On  the  morning  of  the  8th  I  proceeded,  accompanied  by  Lieute- 
nant Mulcaster,  Messrs.  Savory  and  Forder,  with  some  seamen  and  marines 
of  the  Contiauce,  and  a  party  of  Portuguese  troops,  with  a  field-piece,  to 
take  the  said  post;  but  as  my  only  object  was  to  take  the  troops  prisoners,, 
by  which  the  garrison  of  Cayenne  would  be  much  weakened,  I  despatched 
Lieutenant  Mulcaster  in  my  gig,  with  a  flag  of  truce,  to  acquaint  the  officer 
commanding,  that  my  only  object  was  to  take  the  post,  for  which  I  had 
force  sufficient;  -and  though  I  might  lose  some  men  in  taking  it,  there  could 
be  no  doubt  as  to  the  result:  I  therefore  requested,  for  the  sake  of  huma- 
nity, he  would  not  attempt  to  defend  a  place  not  tenable ;  but  that  I  was 
determined,  if  lie  made  a  useless  resistance  in  defending  a  private  habi- 
tation, against  which  I  gave  him  my  honour  no  harm  was  intended,  I 
should  consider  it  as  a  fortress,  and  would  level  it  to  the  ground.  The 
enemy's  advanced  guard  allowed  the  flag  of  truce  to  approach  them  within 
a  boat's  length ;  then  fired  two  vollies  at  them,  and  retreated.  I  then 
lauded;  but  reflecting  it  was  possible  this  outrage  was  committed  from  th» 


STAY  At   HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  339 

ignorance  of  an  inferior  officer,  I  sent  Lieutenant  Mulcaster  a  second  time, 
v  hen  on  \u>  u,n  roaching  the  tiou:-e,  they  fired  the  field-piece  at  hitu.  Finding 
ail  commun  cat;ou  'hat  way  inufectual,  yet  wishing  to  preserve  the  private 
property  of  .I^L-IIM.V  '.fli.-cr,  who  was  perhaps  ignorant  and  innocent  of  his 
officer'  !  ,ct,  1  se  .t  one  of  the  general's  slaves  to  the  officer  with  the 

same  raev  <i  o.  \vtui  returned  with  an  answer  that  any  thing  I  had  to  commu- 
nir.x  P  uiust  L-e  .-i  writing;  at  the  same  instant  he  fired  his  field-piece  as  a 
sipi.u1  to  his  troops,  who  were  in  ambush  on  our  right  in  the  wood,  to  tire, 
kn:.  l-.-.s.  up  a  steady  rind  well-directed  fire  from  his  field  piece  at  the  house. 
It  was  my  mrent.on  to  have  advanced  with  my  field-piece;  but  finding  he 
ha*!  made  several  fosses, in  the  roa-i,  and  the  wood  being  lined  with  mus- 
keti  v  nut  a  man  of  whom  we  could  see,  and  the  field-piece  in  front,  I  or- 
de;c  i  uure  to  he  thrown  into  a  fosse,  when  our  men,  with  cheers, advanced 
will)  i  IKS  ai'.l  bayonet,  took  the  enemy's  guni  they  retreated  in  the  house, 
aiul  kt],L  n,>  u  smart  iiie  from  the  windows;  but  on  our  entering  they  flew 
through  Me  back  premises  into  the  wood,  firing  as  they  retreated.  Every 
tiling  «;.s  levdk-.l  with  the  ground,  except  the  habitations  of  the  slaves. 
As  we  received  information  that  about  400  of  the  enemy  were  about  to 
take  possession  of  Beauregard  Plain,  on  an  eminence  which  commands  the 
several  roads  to  and  from  Cayenne,  it  was  determined  between  the  lieute- 
nant-colonel and  mysei  i  be  before  hand  with  the  enemy,  ami  march  our 
whole  force  there  direct.  We  gained  the  situation  on  the  enemy  on  the 
9th,  and  on  the  10th  Lieutenant  Mulcaster  and  a.  Portuguese  officer, 
(Lieutenant  Bernardo  Mikillis,)  were  sent  into  the  town  wit.'i  a  summons 
(No.  f.j  to  the  general.  Tu  the  evening  these  officers  returned, accompanied 
by  Victor  Ilui,ues's  uid-de-camp,  requesting  an  armistice  for  twenty-four 
hours,  to  arrange  thearticies  of  capitulation.  This  being  granted,  and  hos- 
t;i.cs  exchanged,  on  the  llth  the  lieutenant-colonel  and  myself  met  the 
general,  and  partly  arranged  the  articles.  A  second  meeting  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  J2th  finally  fixed  them,  (No.  II.)  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
I4ih,  the  Portuguese  iroops  and  British  seamen  and  marines  marched  into 
Cayenne,  and  took  possession  of  the  town.  The  enemy,  amounting  to  400, 
laid  down  their  arms  on  the  parade,  and  were  immediately  embarked  on 
board  the  several  vessels  belonging  to  the  expedition;  at  the  same  time  the 
militia,  amounting  to  600,  together  with  200  blacks,  who  had  been  incor- 
porated with  the  regular  troops,  delivered  in  their  arms. 

It  is  with  pleasure  I  observe,  that  throughout  the  expedition  the  utmost 
unanimity  has  prevailed  between  the  Portuguese  and  British,  and  I  have 
myself  experienced  the  most  friendly  intercourse  with  Lieutenant-colonel 
>lanoel  Marques. 

The  conduct  of  Captain  Salgado  of  the  Voader  in  the  post  I  assigned 
him  was  that  of  a  zealous  and  energetic  officer,  and  I  feel  I  should  do  him 
an  injustice  were  I  to  withhold  my  testimony  of  his  merit.  ImustaUo 
acknowledge  with  satisfaction  the  services  of  Lieutenant  Joze  Pedro 
Schultz,  who  landed  the  Voader's  marines,  and  indeed  every  individual 
belonging  to  the  Portuguese  squadron. 

It  has  always  been  with  the  highest  gratification  to  my  feelings,  that  I 
have  had  to  mention  the  good  conduct  of  the  officers,  seamen,  and  marines 
of  the  ship  I  have  the  honour  to  command,  but  during  the  whole  course  of 
my  service  I  have  never  witnessed  such  persevering  resolution  as  they  have 
displayed  from  the  commencement  of  the  campaign  to  the  reduction  of 
Cayenne. 

To  my  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  William  Howe  Mulcaster  I  feel  myself  prin- 
cipally indebted  for  the  very  able  support  1  have  received  from  bin* 
throughout,  though  it  was  no  more  than  I  expected  froui  ao  officer  of  his 
known  merit  in  the  service. 


340  XAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

Lieutenant  Samuel  Blyth  continued  his  exertions,  notwithstanding  fci» 
wounds,  and  the  assistance  I  derived  from  his  active  intrepidity  can  never 
be  forgotten. 

I  must  here  pay  a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  a  very  zealous  and  gallant 
young  ofiiccr,  the  fate  Lieutenant  John  Read,  of  the  rpyal  marines.  His 
conduct  was  always  exemplary,  and  whenever  we  landed,  his  exertions 
wore  most  strenuous.  He  was  mortally  wounded,  us  before  observed,  in 
leading  the  marines  into  fort  Diamant.  His  memory  will  long  be  cherished 
by  his  brother  oriicers. 

To  Mr.  Thomas  Savory  ("the  purser),  who  has  made  himself  remarkably 
useiul  on  various  occasions,  and  who,  from  my  having  so  few  officers  on  so 
detached  a  service  as  this  has  been,  was  of  the  greatest  utility  to  me,  1  feel 
myself  much  indented. 

:\T.  James  Luujnc  (master's  mate),  to  whom  I  gave  charge  of  the  gun- 
boat j\o.  1,  conducted  her  much  to  my  satisfaction  ;  and  James  Thompson 
(gunner's  mote),  who  had  charge  of  the  gun-boat  No.  2,  is  entitled  to  an 
equal  share  of  commendation. 

To  Messrs.  William  Taylor  (carpenter),  George  Forder,  and  David 
Irvin,  midshipmen,  Mr.  Thomns  Silvester,  assistant-surgeon,  who  gave  par- 
ticular attention  to  the  wounded,  my  warmest  thanks  are  due. 

It  is  but  just  that  I  should  take  notice  of  the  exertions  of  Mr.  J.  Acott 
(acting)  master,  who  has  passed  for  lieutenant,  whom  I  left  in  charge  of  the 
ship,  and  who  proved  himself  worthy  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  him. 
The  Topaze  French  frigate  appeared  in  the  offing  on  the  13th,  with  a  rein- 
forcement for  the  garrison,  though  with  only  twenty-five  Englishmen  and 
twenty  negroes,  and  no  other  officers  than  two  young  gentlemen,  Messrs. 
George  Yeo  and  Edward  Bryant,  he  contrived,  by  his  skilful  manoeuvres, 
to  drhe  her  off  the  coast. 

As  to  tl)c  seamen  and  marines,  all  praise  I  can  bestow  falls  short  of 
their  merit ;  from  the  15th  of  December  they  never  slept  in  their  beds; 
the  weather  wa,s  constantly  both  boisterous  and  rainy;  the  roads  almost 
impassable;  and  from  the  time  we  landed  until  the  surrender  of  the  place 
they  had  not  the  least  cessation  from  fatigue. 

I  have  the  honour  to  inclose  a  statement  of  the  killed  and  wounded  on 
board  the  Confiancc  (twenty- four)  ;  also  a  list  of  the  returns  of  ordnance, 
stores,  &e.  The  Portuguese  land  and  sea  forces,  one  killed  and  ei^bt 
wounded;  French,  one  captain  and  fifteen  privates  killed,  and  twenty 
wounded. 

I  have  now,  sir,  the  happiness  to  congratulate  you  on  the  final  success 
of  the  expedition,  and  I  trust  the  steps  I  have  taken  will  insure  me  your 
approbation.  I  am;  &c. 

JAMES  LUCAS  YEO. 

To  Rear- Admiral  Sir  William  Sidney  Smith,  K.S. 
Commander  in  Chief,  $c. 

Caniluldtion.  proposed  tu  Victor  Tlvgacs,  Officer  of  the  Legion  of  Ho»ni>r, 
Cfinnrisaioner  of  his  Mcyn;t>t  /tic  l£mper.vr  find  Hi"^,  Comn>andert-in-chiff 


of 
^  the  Miliic.i 7;  Order  </;  Saint.  J>t  >;rl'  a"  Aviet  Lieutenant-colonel  in  Ch'tff 

and  JJin- •-<••>•  <J  i/ic  Cur  pa  (>j  Ai:tillcry  of  1'ura,  commanding  i.hc  advanced 

•A  rrtrj  '.'/  l  he  -k'1"'*  ugucse. 

.Although  the  advanced  posts  have  been  carried,  and  that  the  com- 
missioner of  the  Kmperor  and  King  is  reduced  with  his  garrison  to 
the  town,  he  owes  it  to  those  seiiiimcius  of  honour  which  have  always 


NAVAL   HISTORY   OP  THE   PRESENT   YEAR,    1809.  311 

distinguished  him,  to  the  valour  and  good  conduct  of  the  officers  and 
soldiers  under  his  command,  to  the  attachment  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Colony  for  his  Majesty  ilie  Emperor  and  King,  to  declare  publicly,  that 
he  surrenders  less  to  the  force  than  to  the  destructive  system  of  liberating 
all  the  slaves  who  should  join  the  enemy,  and  of  burning  all  the  plantations 
and  ports  where  there  should  be  any  re.-istance. 

The  commissioner  of  the  Emperor  commanding  in  chiefj  after  having 
witnessed  the  bnrni  ,•.;  of  several  plantations,  particularly  his  own,  the  most 
considerable  of  the  CJony,  had  attributed  it  at  first  to  the  casualties 
of  war,  and  the  disorganization  of  the  gangs,  and  the  liberation  of  the  slaves 
appeared  to  him  a  .v.omentary  nuisance:  Lut  being  assured  in  writing  that 
the  Euglish  and  ['=  iinguest  officers  acted  in  virtue  of  the  orders  of  his 
.Royal  Highness  the  Pricrc  Regent,  and  ia  wishing  to  save  the  Colony  from 
total  destruction,  a1;1|  to  preserve  his  august  master's  subjects,  who 
had  given  him  *n  f  their  attachment  and  fidelity,  the  commis- 

sioner of  his  Imperial  and  Royal  Majesty  surrenders  the  Colony  to 
the  forces  of  his  il:^al  Highness  the  Prince  Regent  on  the  following  condi- 
tions : 

Article  I.  The  garrison  shall  march  out  with  their  arms  and  baggage,  and 
all  the  honours  of  war;  the  officers  ;hull  retain  their  side  arms,  and  those 
of  the  staff  their  horses.  The  garrison  shall  lay  down  their  arm?,  and 
angage  not  to  serve  against  his  Royal  Highness  and  his  allies  during  one 
year. 

II.  Vessels  shall  be  furnished  at  the  cxpence  of  his  Royal  Highness  the 
Prince  Recent,  to  carry  the  garrison,  the  officers  civil  and  military,  and  all 
those   employed   in    the    service,  with   their  families  and   effects,  direct 
to  France  with  as  little  delay  as  possible. 

III.  A   convenient  vessel  shall  be  furnished  to  convey  to  France  the 
commissioner  of  the  Emperor  commanding  in  chief,  his  family,  his  officers, 
his  suite,  and  ciiects,  t;,c  chief  of  the  administration  of  finances,  the  com- 
mander oi'  the  troops,  the  inspector,  and  the  commandant  of  the  artillery, 
with  I  heir  families, 

IV.  A   convenient  delay   shall  he   granted  to    the    officers  who  have 
property  in  the  Colony  to  bcttle  their  affairs. 

V.  The  arsenals,  batteries,  and  every  thing  belonging  to  the  artillery,  the 
small  arms  and  powder  magazines,  and  the  provision  stores,  shall  be  given 
up  by  inventory,  and  in  the  state  in  which  they  now  are, and  the  same  shall 
be  pointed  out. 

VI.  The  slaves   on   both  sides  shall  be   disarmed    and   sent  to  their 
respective    plantations.       The    French   negroes   whom  the   commanders 
by  sea  and  laud  of  his  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  Regent  have  engaged  for 
the  sen  ice  during  the  war,  and  to  whom,  in  virtue  of  their  orders,  they  have 
given  their  freedom,  shall  be  sent  out  of  the  Colony,  as  they  can  only 
remain  there  in  future  an   object  of  trouble  and  dissension.     The  com- 
manders engage,  ab  they  have  promised,  to  solicit  of  his  Royal  Highness  the 
Prince  Recent  the  replacing  of  those  slaves,  or  an  indemnity  in  favour 
of  the  inhabitants  to  v\hom  they  belong. 

VII.  The  papers,  plans,  and   other  articles  belonging  to  the  engineer 
department,  shall  be  equally  £iven  up. 

VI II.  The  sick  and  wounded  who  are  obliged  to  remain  in  the  Colony 


may  leave  it,  with  all  that  belongs  to  them,  as  soon  as  they  are  in  a  situation 
to  do  so;  in  the  mean  time  they  shall  be  treated  as  they  have  been 
hitherto.  .  .  ,  , 

IN.   Private   property,   of    whatsoever  nature   or  description,  sna 
respected,  and  the  inhabitants  may  dispose  of  it  as  heretofore. 

X   Ttie  inhabitants  of  jjie  Colony  bhull  preserve  their  properties, 


342  VAVAt   HISTORY   OF   THE  PRESENT   YEAR,    1809. 

reside  there,  conforming  to  the  orders  and  forms  established  by  the 
sovereign  under  which  they  remain ;  they  shall  be  at  liberty  to  sell  their 
properties  and  retire  wherever  it  may  suit  them,  without  any  obstacle. 

XL  The  Civil  laws,  known  in  France  under  the  title  of  the  Napolean 
code,  and  in  force  in  the  Colony,  shall  be  observed  and  executed  until  the 
peace  between  the  two  nations  ;  the  magistrates  shall  only  decide  on 
the  interests  of  individuals  and  differences  connected  with  them  in  virtue  of 
the  said  laws. 

XII.  The  debts  acknowledged  by  individuals  during  or  previous  to  the 
time  fixed  by  the  preceding  article,  shall  be  exacted  agreeably  to  the  basis 
determined  by  the  same  article. 

XIII.  The  papers  concerning  the  controul  and  matriculation  of  the 
troops  shall  be  carried  away  by  the  quarter-master. 

XIV.  Desirous  of  preserving  the  spice  plantation  called  La  Gabrielle  in 
all  its  splendour  and  agriculture,  it  is  stipulated  that  neither  it  nor  any  of 
the  plantation  trees  or  plants  shall  be   destroyed,  but  that  it  shall  be 
preserved   in   the  state  in  which   it  is  given  up  to   the  commanders   of 
his  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  Regent. 

XV.  All  the  papers  of  the  stores,  of  inspection,  of  the  customs,  or  of  any 
responsibility  whatever,  shall  be  deposited  in  the  Secretaries'  office,  or 
in  any  other  place  that  may  be  agreed  on  to  be  referred  to  when  there  is- 
occasion  :  the  whole  shall  be  under  the  seal  of  the  two  governments,  and  at 
the  disposal  of  his  Imperial  and  Royal  majesty. 

XVI.  The  present  capitulation  shall  be  written  in  the  three  languages, 
and  signed  by  the  three  officers  stipulating. 

At  the  advanced  posts  of  Bourde,  this  12th  January  1009. 

VICTOR  IIUGUES. 
JAMES  LUC AS YEO. 
MANUEL  MARQUES. 

List  of  Killed  and  Wounded  of  his  Majesty's  Ship  Confiunce,  James  Lucas 
Yeo,  Esq  ;  Captain,  between  December  16,  1808,  and  January  14,  1809. 

Mr.  John  Read,  lieutenant  of  royal  marines,  mortally  wounded ;  died 
January  8,  1809 ;  Mr.  Samuel  Blyth,  lieutenant,  dangerously  wounded  in 
five  places  ;  James  Thompson,  quarter-master's  mate,  dangerously  wound- 
ed; Hans  Matteson,  able  ditto;  William Neale,  coxswain,  ditto;  John  Le 
Grandeure  ditto;  Charles  Christopher,  killed;  Thomas  James,  landman 
badly  wounded ;  Thomas  Roberts,  able,  ditto;  Samuel  Gardner,  able,  ditto ; 
Nicholas  Glowmaw,  able,  slightly  wounded;  Thomas  Bunie, ordinary,  ditto; 
John  Wells,  ordinary,  ditto  ;  Thomas  Wolley,  landman,  ditto ;  Jolm  Sinnot, 
ordinary,  ditto;  George  Leader,  able,  ditto. 

Marines. 

William  Bateman,  private,  mortally  wounded;  died  January  14,  1809; 
llugh  Carrogan,  corporal,  dangerously  wounded;  John  Lear,  private,  ditto; 
David  Daniels,  private,  ditto ;  Richard  Davis,  private,  ditto ;  Jacob 
Osterlony,  private,  slightly  wounded:  Robert  Luscombe,  private,  ditto; 
James  Simpson,  Serjeant,  ditto. 

Total.— 1  killed,' 23  wounded. 

JAMES  LUCAS  YEO,  Captain. 
THO.  SEVESTRE,  Surgeon. 

ADMIRALTY-OFFICE,  APRIL  15,  1809. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Admiral  Young,  Commander-in-chief  at  Plymouth,  to 
the  Hon.  IV.  W.  Pole,  dated  the  IStA  instant. 

sin, 
Xhave  great  pleasure  in  transmitting,  fur  the  information  of  the  Lords 


NAVAL    HISTORY   OF    THE   PRESENT    YEAR,  1809.  343 

Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  the  copy  of  a  letter  from  Captain 
Seymour,  of  his  Majesty's  ship  Amethyst,  to  Admiral  Lord  Gambier,  giving 
his  lordship  an  account  of  the  Amethyst  having  taken  another  of  th& 
enemy's  frigates. 

I  am,  &c.  W.  YOUNG. 

MY  LORD,  Amethyst,  off  Ushant,  April  1 2,  1809, 

I  have  very  sincere  pleasure  in  acquainting  you  of  the  capture  of 
le  Niemen,  a  fine  new  French  frigate  of  forty-four  guns,  twenty  eight 
of  which  are  eighteen-pounders  on  the  main  deck,  and  three  hundred  and. 
nineteen  men,  copper  fastened,  two  days  from  Verdun  Roads,  with 
six  months  provisions  and  naval  stores  on  board,  and  bound  to  the  Isle  of 
France,  commanded  by  Mcns.  Dupotet,  capitaine  de  fregate,  a  distinguished 
officer,  who  defended  his  ship  with  great  ability  and  resolution. 

At  eleven  in  the  forenoon  of  the  5th  instant,  the  wind  at  east,  Emerald 
north  within  signal  distance,  Cordovan  bearing  E.  by  N.  42  leagues,  a  ship 
was  perceived  in  the  E.  S.  E.  coming  down,  steering  to  the  westward ; 
which  hauled  to  the  S.  S  .E.  on  making  us  out.  She  was  immediately 
chased,  but  at  twenty  minutes  past  seven  we  lost  sight  of  her  and, 
the  Emerald,  and  had  not  gained  on  the  chace. 

After  dark  the  Amethyst's  course  was  shaped  to  meet  the  probable  route 
of  an  enemy>  when,  at  half-past  nine,  we  crossed  one,  but  though  within 
half  gunshot  at  eleven,  from  which  time  till  one  the  bow  and  the  stern 
chasers  were  exchanging,  her  extraordinary  sailing  prevented  our  effecting 
any  thing  serious.  From  one  till  past  three  A.M.  on  the  §th,  the  action  was 
severe,  after  which  the  enemy's  main  and  mizen-masts  fell,  his  fire  became 
faint,  was  just  silenced,  while  ours  continued  as  lively  as  ever,  when 
the  Arethusa  appeared,  and  on  her  firing,  be  immediately  made  a  signal  of 
having  surrendered,  and  proved  to  be  the  same  frigate  recommended  to  my 
notice  in  your  lordship's  order  of  the  9th  ultimo.  She  fell  on  board  us  once 
in  the  contest;  she  had  forty  seven  killed  and  seventy  tliree  wounded. 
The  main  and  mizen-masts  of  the  Amethyst  fell  at  the  close  of  the  action , 
and  she  had  eight  killed  and  thirty  seven  wounded. 

To  render  just  praise  to  the  brave  and  admirable  conduct  of  every 
officer  and  man  of  this  ship's  company  (of  whom  two  officers  and  thirty 
seven  men  were  absent  in  prices,  the  prisoners  from  which,  sixty  nine,  were 
on  board;  I  am  perfectly  unequal.  The  great  exertions  and  experience  of 
the  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  William  Hill,  and  Mr.  Robert  Fair,  the  master,  I 
am  particularly  indebted  for.  Lieutenants  Waring  and  Prytherch,  of  the 
royal  marines,  deserve  my  best  thanks. 

The  prize's  foremast  fell  next  day,  and  I  left  her  in  tow  of  the  Arethusa, 
who  afforded  us  in  every  instance  the  most  prompt  assistance,  and  by 
Captain  Mend's  desire  I  write. 

In  justice  to  a  most   vigilant  officer,   I  have   to  observe,  that   from 

the  Emerald's  situation,  even  Captain  Maitland's  skill  would  not  avail  him 

jn  getting  up  to  the  enemy,  and  the  darkaess  and  squally  weather  in  the 

early  part  of  the  night  precluded  all  hope  of  his  keeping  sight  of  the 

Amethyst. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

M.  SEYMOUR. 

R'ght  Honourable  Lord  Gambler,  4'C. 

Seamen  Killed. 

John  Ridgway,  ordinary;  Magnus  Slater,  ditto;  John  Copes,  able; 
George  Lime,  ordinary;  "John  Calcombe,  landoian,  John  Aledlyn,  or- 
dinary. 


344  NAVAL  HISTORY   OF    THE    PRESCXT    YEAR,'   1809. 

Seamen  dangerously  Wounded. 

Daniel  Butler,  ordinary:  Gideon  Dodgeon,  quarter-master's  mate;  John 
White,  carpenter's  crew  ;  James  Long,  able  ;  James  Carmichael,  ditto  ; 
Alexander  Cooper,  armourer's  mate;  William  Mitchell,  ordinary;  Mr. 
Boulton,  gunner;  Murk  Tack,  landman. 

Seamen  severely  Wounded. 

William  Woodward,  boatswain's  mate  ;  James  Marsh,  landman  ;  John 
$1 'Donald  (1),  captain  of  the  maintop;  John  Fitzgerald,  able;  John  For* 
syth,  landman  ;  Andrew  Grey,  yeoman  of  the  sheets. 

Stamen  slightly  Wounded. 

Mr.  Lacey,  boatswain;  Samuel  Roberts,  a'/ie;  Stephen  Woodland,  ordi- 
nary; Chris.  Laudebaugb,  laiiHman  ;  Charles  Field,  ditto  ;  Michael  Cowry, 
ordinary;  James  Tair,  able;  Anthony  Martin,  supernumerary;  James 
Campbell,  quarter  gunner;  Anthony  de  Vos,  carpenter's  crew. 

Marines  Killsd. 
Edward  Burridge,  private;  Joseph  Fou'.kes,  ditto. 

Marines  dangerously  Wounded. 

William  Binder,  corporal ;  James  Barrage,  private ;  James  Britain,  ditto. 
Marines  severely  Wounded. 

Mr.  S.  Prytheroh,  second  lieutenant;  John  flutter,  Serjeant;  John  Wells, 
private;  William  Taylor,  ditto;  Daniel  Mears,  ditto;  Thomas  Bestbeach, 
ditto ;  John  Baldwin,  ditto  ;  Robert  Sullinger,  ditto. 

Marine  slightly  Wounded. 
Mr.  Henry  Waring,  first  lieutenant. 

Admiral  Lord  Gambier  has  transmitted  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.Pole  a  letter 
from  Captain  Adam,  of  his  Majesty's  ship  Resistance,  Diving  an  account 
of  the  destruction  of  a  French  armed  schooner  and  a  chasse  maree,  in  the 
port  of  Anchove,  near  Cape  Machicaco,  on  the  8th  of  March  last,  by  the 
boats  of  that  ship,  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant  Corbyn,  who  had 
previously  carried  a  battery  of  four  guns,  which  commanded  the  harbour. 

APRIL  21,  J8C9. 

Sir  Harry  Keale,  Bart.  First  Captain  to  Admiral  Lord  Gambier,  Com- 
mander-in-chief of  his  Majesty's  ships  and  vessels  employed  in  the  Channel 
Soundings,  &c.  arrived  here  this  morning  with  a  despatch  from  his  lordship 
to  the  Hon.  William  Wellesley  Pole,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy: 

Caledonia,  at  Anchor,  in  Basque  Roads, 
SIR,  April  14,  1809. 

The  Almighty's  favour  to  his  Majesty  and  the  nation,  has  been  strongly 
marked  in  the  success  he  has  been  pleased  to  give  to  the  operations  of  his 
Majesty's  fleet  under  my  command  ;  and  I  have  the  satisfaction  to  acquaint 
you,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  that 
the  four  ships  of  the  enemy  named  in  the  margin  *  have  been  destroyed  at 

*  Ville  de  Varsovie,  of  30  guus;  Tonnerre,  of  74  guns;  Aquilon,  of  74 
guns;  and  Calcutta,  of  56  guns. 


XAYAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.          345 

their  anchorage,  and  several  others,  from  getting  On  shore,  if  not  rendered 
altogether  unserviceable,  are  at  least  disabled  for  a  considerable  time. 

The  arrangement  of  the  fire  vessels  placed  under  the  direction  of  Captain 
the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Cochrane  was  made  as  fully  as  the  srate  of  the  wea- 
ther would  admit,  according  to  his  lordship's  plan,  on  the  evenina  of  the 
llth  irist. ;  and  at  eight  o'clock  on  the  same  night  they  proceeded  to  the  at- 
tack under  a  favourable  strong  wiud  from  the  northward,  and  flood-tide, 
(preceded  by  some  vessels  rilled  with  powder  and  shells,  as  proposed  by  his 
lordship,  with  a  view  to  explosion),  and  led  on  in  the  most  undaunted  and 
determined  manner  by  Capt.  Wooldridge,  in  the  Mediator  tire  ship,  the 
others  following  in  succession,  but  owing  to  the  darkness  of  the  night  se- 
veral mistook  their  course  and  failed. 

On  their  approach  to  the  enemy's  ships,  it  was  discovered  that  a  boom 
was  placed  in  front  of  the  r  line  for  a  defence.  This  however  the  weight  of 
the  Mediator  soon  broke,  and  the  usual  intrepidity  and  bravery  of  British 
seamen  overcame  alldifficulties.  Advancing  under  a  heavy  fire  fro:n  the  fort3 
in  the  Isle  of  Aix,  as  well  as  from  the  enemy's  ships,  most  of  which  cut  or 
slipt  their  cables,  and  from  the  confined  anchorage,  got  on  shore,  and  thus 
avoided  taking  tire. 

At  daylight  the  following  morning,  Lord  Cochrane  communicated  to  me 
by  Telegraph,  that  seven  of  the  enemy's  ships  were  on  shore,  and  might  be 
destroyed.  I  immediately  made  the  signal  for  the  fleet  to  unmoor  and 
weigh,  intending  to  proceed  with  it  to  etfect  their  destruction.  The  wind 
however  being  fresh  from  the  northward,  and  the  flood-tide  running,  ren- 
dered it  too  hazardous  to  run  into  Aix  Roads,  (from  its  shallow  water),  I 
therefore  anchored  again  at  the  distance  of  about  three  miles  from  the  forts 
on  tbe  island. 

As  the  tide  suited,  the  enemy  evinced  great  activity  in  endeavouring  to 
warp  their  ships  (which  had  grounded)  into  deep  water,  and  succeeded  in 
getting  all  but  five  of  the  line  towards  the  entrance  of  the  Charente,  before 
it  became  practicable  to  attack  them. 

I  gave  orders  to  Captain  iiligh,  of  the  Valiant,  to  proceed  with  that  ship, 
the  Revenge,  frigates,  bombs,  and  small  vessels,  named  in  the  margin  *,  to 
anchor  near  the  Hovart  Shoal,  in  readiness  for  the  attack.  At  twenty  mi- 
nutes past  two  P.  M.  Lord  Cochrane  advanced  in  the  Imperieuse  with  his 
accustomed  gallantry  and  spirit,  and  opened  a  well-directed  fire  upon  the 
Calcutta,  which  struck  her  colours  to  the  Imperieuse ;  the  ships  and  vessels 
above-mentioned  soon  after  joined  in  the  attack  upon  the  Viile  de  Varsovie 
and  Aquilon,  and  obliged  them,  before  five  o'clock,  after  sustaining  a  heavy 
cannonade,  to  strike  their  colours,  when  they  were  taken  uossessiim  of  by  the 
boats  of  the  advanced  squadron.  As  soon  as  the  prisoners  were  removed,  they 
were  set  on  fire,  as  was  also  the  Tonnerre,  a  short  time  after  by  the  enemy: 
I  afterwards  detached.  Rear-admiral  the  Hon.  Robert  Stopford  in  the 
Ciesar  with  the  Theseus,  three  additional  fire  ships  (which  were  hasfly  pre- 
pared in  the  course  of  the  day),  and  all  the  boats  of  the  fleet,  with  Mr. 
Con«reve's  rockets,  to  conduct  the  further  operations  of  the  night  against 
any  of  the  ships  which  lay  exposed  to  an  attack.  On  the  morning  oi  the 
13th,  the  rear-admiral  reported  to  me,  that  as  the  Caesar  and  other  line-of- 
battle  ships  had  grounded  and  were  in  a  dangerous  situatio".  he  thought  it 
'  adviseable  to  order  them  all  out,  particularly  as  the  remaining  part  of  the  ser- 
vice could  be  performed  by  frigates  and  small  vc-seh  oidy;  and,  I  wa» 
happy  t )  find  that  they  were  extricated  from  clieir  perilous  situation. 

Captain  UHi  has  since  informed  me,  that  it  was  found  impracticable  to 


to 


*  Indefatigable,  Aigle,  Emerald,  Pallas,^  Beagle,  /Etna  bomb,  Insolent 
jun-brig,  Conflict,  Encounter,  Fervent,  and  Growler. 
(Hoi.  XXI.  Tf  Y 


346  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

destroy  the  three-decked  ship,  and  the  others  which  were  lying  near  the 
entrance  of  the  Charente,  as  the  former,  being  the  outer  one,  was  piotected 
by  three  lines  of  boats  placed  in  advance  tVoin  her. 

This  ship  and  all  the  others,  except  four  of  the  lin*  and  a  frigate,  have 
now  moved  up  the  river  Charente.  If  any  further  attempt  to  destroy  them 
is  practicable,  I  should  not  fail  to  use  every  means  in  my  power  to  accom- 
plish it. 

I  have  great  satisfaction  in  stating  to  their  lordships  how  much  I  feel 
obliged  to  the  zealous  co-operation  of  Rear-admiral  Stopford,  under  whose 
arrangement  the  boats  of  the  fleet  were  placed  ;  and  I  must  U!M>  express 
to  their  lordships  the  high  sense  I  have  of  the  assistance  I  received  from  ihc 
abilities  and  unremitted  attention  of  Sir  Harry  Neale,  Bart,  the  captain  of 
the  fleet,  as  well  as  of  the  animated  exertions  of  the  captains,  officers,  sea- 
men, and  marines  under  my  command,  and  their  forwardness  to  volunteer 
upon  any  service  that  might  lie  allotted  to  them  ;  particularly  the  Zealand 
activity  shewn  by  the  captains  of  line-of-battle  ships  in  preparing  the  fire 
vessels. 

I  cannot  speak  in  sufficient  terms  of  admiration  and  applause,  of  the  vi- 
gorous and  gallant  attack  made  by  Lord  Cochrane  upon  the  French  liae-of- 
battle  ships  which  were  on  shore,  as  well  as  of  his  judicious  manner  of  ap- 
proaching them,  and  placing  his  ship  in  the  position  most  advantageous  to 
annoy  the  enemy,  and  preserve  his  own  ship;  which  could  not  be  exceeded 
by  any  feat  of  valour  hitherto  atchieved  by  the  British  navy. 

It  is  due  to  Rear  admiral  Stop  ford,  and  Sir  Harry  Neale,  that  I  should 
here  take  the  opportunity  of  acquainting  their  lordships  of  the  handsome 
and  earnest  manner  in  which  both  these  meritorious  officers  had  volunteered 
their  services  before  the  arrival  of  Lord  Cochrane  to  undertake  au  attack 
upon  the  enemy  with  fire  ships  5  and  that  had  not  their  lordships  fixed  upon 
him  to  conduct  the  enterprise,  I  have  full  confidence  that  the  result  of  their 
efforts  would  have  been  highly  creditable  to  them. 

I  should  feel  that  I  did  not  do  justice  to  the  services  of  Captain  Godfred 
of  the  ./Etna,  in  bombarding  the  enemy's  =hips  on  the  12th,  and  nearly  all 
the  day  of  the  13th,  if  I  did  not  recommend  him  to  their  lordships'  notice ; 
and  I  cannot  omit  bearing  due  testimony  to  the  anxious  desire  expressed  by 
'  Mr.  Congreve  to  be  employed  wherever  I  might  conceive  his  services  in  the 
management  of  his  rockets  would  be  useful;  some  of  them  were  placedin 
the  fire  ships  with  effect*  and  I  have  every  reason  to  he  satisfied  with  the 
artillerymen  and  others  who  had  the  management  of  them,  under  Mr.  Con- 
greve's  direction. 

I  send  herewith  a  return  of  the  killed,  wounded,  and  missing  of  the  fleet, 
which,  I  am  happy  to  observe,  is  comparatively  small.  I  have  not  yet  re- 
ceived the  returns  of  the  number  of  prisoners  taken,  but  I  conceive  they 
amount  to  between  four  and  five  hundred. 

I  have  charged  Sir  Harry  Xeale  with  this  despatch,  (by  the  Imperieusc) 
and  I  beg  leave  to  refer  their  lordships  to  him,  as  also  to  Lord  Cochrane, 
for  any  further  particulars  of  which  they  may  wish  to  be  informed. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

(Signed)  GAMBIER. 

15th  April. 

P.  S.  This  morning  three  of  the  enemy's  line-of-battle  ships  are  observed 
to  be  still  on  shore  under  Fouras,  and  one  of  them  is  in  a  dangerous  situa- 
tion. One  of  their  frigates  (L'Indienne),  also  on  shore,  has  fallen  over,  and 
they  are  now  dismantling  her.  As  the  tides  will  take  off  in  a  day  or  two, 
there  is  every  probability  that  she  will  be  destroyed. 

Since  writing  the  foregoing,  I  have  learnt  that  the  Hon.  Lieut.*Co2on&l 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  347 

Cochrane  (Lord  Cochrane's  brother),  and  Lieut.  Bissett  of  the  navy,  were 
volunteers  i:i  the  Imperieuse,  and  rendered  themselves  extremely  useful, 
the  former  by  commanding  -some  of  her  guns  on  the  main-deck,  and  the 
latter  in  conducting  one  of  the  explosion  vessels. 


Names  of  the  Ships  in  Aix  Roads,  previous  to  the  Attack  on  the  11  th 
April,  1309. 

L'Ocean,  190  guns,  Vice-admiral  Allemande,  Captain  Roland. — Repaired 
in  1806,  on  shore  under  Founts. 

Foudrovant,  80  guns,  Rear-admiral  Gourdon,  Captain  Henri.— -Five  years 
old ;  on  shore  under  Fouras. 

Cassard,  74  guns,  Captain  Faure,  Commodore.— Three  years  old;  on 
shore  under  Fouras. 

Tourville,  74  guns,  Captain  La  Caille. — Old  ;  on  shore  in  the  river. 

Regulus,  74  guns,  Captain  Lucas. — Five  years  old;    on  shore    under 
Madame. 

•Patriotc,  74  guns,  Captain  Mahee. — Repaired  in  1803. 

Jemut:pe,  74  guns,  Captain  Fauvau. — On  shore  under  Madame. 

Tonnc-rre,  74  guns,  Captain  Clenuent  de  la  Rouciere. — Nine  months  old, 
never  at  sea. 

Aquilon,  74  guns,  Captain  Maingon. — Old. 

Vilie  de  Varsovie,  80  guns.  Captain  Cuvillier. — New,  never  at  sea, 

Calcutta,  56  guns,  Captain  La  Tonie. — Loaded  with  flour  and  military 
stores. 

Frigates. 

Indienne,  Captain  Porteau.— On  shore  near  Isle  D'Enet,  on  her  beam 
ends. 

Elbe,  Captain  Perengier. 

Pallas,  Captain  Le  Bigot. 

Horten.se,  Captain  Allgand. 

N.  B.  One  of  the  three  last  frigates  on  shore  under  Isle  Madame. 


/ 

'Return  of  the  Names  of  Officers,  Seamen?  and  Marines  killed,  wounded,  and 

missing,  belonging  to  the  Jlre*  under  the  command  of  Admiral  the  Right 

Hon.  Lord  Gcnilnrr,  Cmm/taiuler-in-chief,  $c.   between  the'  llth  and  \^th 

of  April  1809,  inclusive.  » 

Calidon'ui.— Mr.  Edward  Fairfax,  master  of  the  fleet;  contusion  of  th? 
flip. 

CsEwr. — William  Flinr.off,  acting  lieutenant;  killed. 

Thomas  Maiidox,  able ;  ditto. 

Jolm  Nelson,  nbie ;  ditto. 

John  Ellis  (2d),  able  ;  missing,  nnd  supposed  to  be  drowned. 

Theseus. — Richard  Francis  Jowers,  master's-mate ;  severely  wounded  m 
the  head  and  hands  by  powder  in  the  fire  ship. 

John  Podney,  marine;  wounded  in  the  scrotum. 

Thomas  Williams,  boy;  wounded  in  the  hand  and  arm. 

Imperieuse. — Henry  Crookman,  captain  of  the  forecastle;  killed,. 

Peter  Darouk,  boatswain's  mate;  ditto. 

John  Marsoviok,  seaman;  ditto. 

James  Mason,  seaman  ;  severely  wounded. 

John  Solomon,  seaman  ;  slightly  wounded, 

Mr.  Gilbert,  surgeon's  assistant;  ditto. 

M.  Marsden,  purser;  ditto. 

John  Gordon,  seaman;  ditto. 

John  Sheridan,  seaman;  ditto. 


348  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

John  Hunter,  seaman ;  ditto. 

John  Wheelan,  seaman;  ditto. 

Matthew  GoucJ,  seaman ;  ditto. 

William  Meuchenton,  marine;  ditto. 

John  Budd,  marine;  ditto. 

Revenge. — Henry  Johnson,  landman;  killed. 

Thomas  Cranmer,. marine  ;  ditto. 

Thomas  Pessey,  marine  boy ;  ditto. 

James  Garland,  lieutenant ;  severe  contusion  of  the  shoulder  and  side. 

James  Cooke  ( 1),  ordinary;  left  thigh  amputated,  and  a  very  dangerous 
wound  of  the  right  foot. 

Thomas  Whittock,  landman;  wound  in  the  head. 

The  mas  Tyler,  landman  ;  wound  of  eye. 

Dennis  Grey,  ordinary  ;  contusion  of  back. 

Thomas  Triuworlli,  ordinary  .  cuiitu-ion  and  wound  of  right  foot. 

Charles  Chew,  marine  ;  right  thigh  amputated,  and  a  very  dangerous  and 
extensive  wound  of  left  leg  ami  ti  igi:. 

Thomas  Berry,  mari-e  ;  febntusion  ef  thigh. 

John  Wiseman,  marine;  contusion  of  shoulder. 

Timothy  Burn, marine ;  cenitubkmuf  thigh. 

George  Skeily,  marine;  contusion  of  shoulder. 

Joseph  Week's,  marine  boy ;  wound  of  thigh,  and  contusion  of  back. 

John  Cooper,  marine ;  contusion  of  head  and  arm. 

Jarnes  Hughes,  corporal  of  mantles  ;   contusion  of  back. 

Jfihn  Ward,  marine;   contusion  of  arm. 

Mediator. — James  Seggess,  gunner;  killed. 

James  Wooldridge,  cap;ain  ;  very  much  burnt. 

Nicholas  Brent  Clements,  lieutenant ;  slightly  burnt. 

James  Pearl,  lieutenant ;  ditto. 

Michael  Gibson,  seaman ;  ditto. 

N.  13.  The  last  four  blown  out  of  the  Mediator  after  ^he  was  set  on  fire. 

Cibratiar. — John  Couyers,  master's  mate ;  very  badly  scorched  in   the 
face  and  hands. 

Total — 2  officers,  8  men,  killed ;  9  officers,   2(3  men,  wounded;   1 
man  missing. — Total  46. 

GAJIBIER. 

Received  since  the  above  was  written. 
Beagle. — James  Sutherland,  seaman  ;   wounded. 
J£,tna. — luchard,  W.  Charston,  midshipman;  slightly  wounded. 


His  Majesty's  ship  Laurel  is  taken  by  the  French  frigate  Cannoniere, 
and  carried  into  the  Isle  of  France.  It  is  stated  that  the  killed  and  wounded 
onboard  the  Cannoniere  amounted  to  180;  the  Laurel  5  killed  and  14 
wounded.  The  Canuoniere  had  44  twenty-four  pounders,  the  Laurel  22 
uinc-pounders,  and  was  totally  dismasted  before  she'  struck. 

An  open  boat,  with  eleven  deserters  from  Flushing,  was  picked  up  at 
sea,  by  the  fly  sloop  of  war,  and  carried  into  the  Downs.  They  consist  of 
four  seamen,  two  Danish  and  two  Dutch,  belonging  to  the  Dutch  admiral's 
flag-ship;  the  remainder  was  a  corporal's  guard,  consisting  of  the  corporal 
and  six  privates.  It  appears  that  the  sailors  had  formed  a  plan  with  the 
soldiers,  while  on  guard,  to  attempt  their  escape  :  iu  which  they  succeeded, 


NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1809.     349 

without  having  experienced  even  a  pursuit.  These  men  state,  that  the 
fleet  in  Flushing  ready  for  sea  consists  often  iail  of  the  line,  all  seventy- 
fours  ;  but  that  ihcy  are  very  badly  manned,  as  their  crews  comprise  many 
raw  conscripts,  and  the  Danes  who  had  been  sent  on  board  were  dissatisfied, 
and  persist  n>  r!ieir  refusal  to  serve  on  board  French  or  Dutch  ships.  The 
discontent  was  further  increased  by  a  great  scarcity  of  provisions  in  the 
fleet.  They  add,  that  a  great  number  of  seamen  and  soldiers  would  gladly 
follow  their  example,  had  they  an  opportunity.  They  had  been  three  days 
and  nights  at  sea,  ^ith  srHrcely  any  sustenance. 

In  addition  to  ShrapnelPs  shells  and  Congreve's  rockets,  another  new, 
and,  as  is  said,  more  destructive  engine  for  the  demolition  of  ships,  was 
lately  presented  to  the  Ordnance  Board  by  Captain  Ouseley,  of  the  foreign 
depot.  This  thunder  and  lightning  machine  has  been  exhibited  at  Wool- 
wich, to  a  vast  number  of  general  officers,  officers  of  artillery,  and  engi- 
neers. The  experiments  were  made  on  a  flag-staff,  rigged  out  by  several 
ropes,  and  representing  a  mast  and  rigging.  On  the  first  trial  the  mast  and 
ri»giug  fell  to  the  ground  with  an  instant  crash,  involved  in  flames.  The 
second  trial  was  not  so  perfect,  owing  to  some  irregularity  in  disposing 
the  materials.  The  fire  on  the  third  trial  clung  to  the  mast  and  rigging, 
and  burnt  with  the  same  astonishing  fury  as  the  first.  The  other  trials 
were  equally  successful,  in  shewing  the  effect  of  the  model  of  this  engine, 
which  is  no  larger  than  a  couple  of  pint  decanters  united.  Captain  Ouse- 
ley was  on  the  ground,  and  assisted  in  the  management  of  it. 


promotions  anU  gppointmenta* 

The  King  has  been  pleased  to  grant  the  dignity  of  a  baronet  of  the 
united  kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  unto  Sir  Samuel  Hood, 
knight  of  the  most  honourable  order  of  the  Bath,  and  rear-admiral  of 
the  white  squadron  of  his  Majesty's  fleet,  and  the  heirs  male  of  his 
body  lawfully  begotten,  with  remainder  to  Alexander  Hood,  Esq.  ne- 
phew of  the  said  Sir  Samuel  Hood,  and  the  heirs  male  of  his  body  law- 
fully begotten. 

His  Majesty,  on  the  26th  of  April,  was  pleased  to  invest  Captain  Lord 
Cochraue  with  the  honourable  order  of  the  Bath. 

We  have  much  pleasure  in  announcing,  that  the  gallant  Captain  Sey- 
mour will  shortly  be  raised  to  the  dignity  of  a  baronet  of  the  united 
kingdom. 

Captain  the  Hon.  Courtney  Boyle,  commander  of  the  Royal  William, 
bearing  the  flag  of  Admiral  Sir  Koger  Curtis,  Bart,  and  sou  to  the  Earl 
of  Cork,  is  appointed;  by  the  Lords  of  the  Treasury,  a  commissioner  of 
the  Transport  Board,  vice  G.  H.  Towry,  deceased. 

Captain  James  Prevost,  who  brought  home,  in  the  Saracen,  the 
account  of  peace  having  been  concluded  with  the  Ottoman  empire,  is 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  post  captain. 


Capt 


Captain  Charles  Felly  is  appointed  to  the  Bucephalus,   at  Chatham; 
ptain  Richard  Smith,  to  the  Diligence,  fitting  at  Woolwich;  Captaia 


350    •  NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PREStNT  YEAR,  1809. 

Buck'and  Sterling  Bluett,  to  succeed  Captain  Prevost  in  the  Saracen  ; 
Captain  ?t;>clq>oo!e  to  the  Phoebe  ;  Captain  J.  Tancock  to  the  Curlew; 
Captain  Charles  Gill,  late  of  the  Onyx,  to  the  St.  Domingo;  Captain 
Searlo  to  thc'PretterecUsU'in,  late  Danish  frigate;  Captain  G.  M.  Bligh 
to  the  Py  lades;  Captain  Sayer  to  the  Galatea  ;  Captain  L.  O'Bland,  late 
of  the  flora,  to  the  Africa,  of  84  guns,  destined  to  be  anchored  in  the 
Baltic,  as  a  protection  to  the  British  trade;  Captain  Simpson,  late  of  the 
Wolverine,  to  the  Goree  ;  Captain  Richard  Spear  to  the  Wolverine; 
Captain  F.  L.  Clay  to  the  Temeraire  ;  Captain  J.  W.  Dundas  to  the 
Stat::i»  ;  Captain  Edw.  Barker  to  Ihe  Alonzo  ;  Captain  R.  Honcyman 
to  the  Ardent ;  Captain  Robert  Balfbur  to  the  Fury  ;  Captain  A.  P. 
Holies  to  the  Standard ;  Captain  Dod,  of  the  Merope  sloop,  to  the 
]VIonmouth. 

Captain  O'Brien  to  be  private  secretary  to  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Mul- 
o-rave,  first  Lord  of  the  Admiralty,  vice  Captain  Moorsom,  appointed  one 
of  the  Lords. 

Lieutenant  Ellary  is  appointed  to  command  the  Desperate  gun-brig, 
in  the  Downs. 

Lieutenants  appointed. 

Lieutenant  Michael  Bell  is  appointed  to  the  Perlin  ;  John  Pike  to  the 
Minotaur  ;  W.  E.  fiott  to  the  Mermaid  ;  John  Wyborn  to  the  Sceptre; 
lucius  H.  Gifford  to  the  Blake  ;  Daniel  J.  Woodriff  to  the  Solebay  ; 
Thomas  Ball  to  the  Clio  ;  Charles  JoIIey  to  the  Rapid  ;  Whitwell  Butler 
to  the  Phe&sant ;  Thomas  Chapman  to  the  Cossack  ;  Richard  Cox  to  the 
Mosquito  ;  Jonas  Dade  to  the  Minotaur  ;  John  Orkney  to  the  Africa; 
W.  B.  Charap:on  to  the  Kite;  R.  I).  PrUchard  to  the  Avenger  ;  Samuel 
Radford  *o  O.e  Aboukir;  John  George  Phillips  to  the  Majestic;  William 
Ferris 'o  the  Nemesis;  Charles  Hill  to  the  iTota;  George  Lllioit  to  the 
Dictator;  J.  ?.  A.  Dennis  to  the  Alon?o  ;  Henry  George  Massie  to  the 
Africa;  Charles  Farvt!l  to  the  JNrd  l<',lvei>;  Waiter  Croker  to  tlie 
Alfred;  lewis  Campbell  to  the  PJuenix  ;  Tir>iTi;  s  Ki'i^.toii  to  the 
Tyrian  ;  Thomas  Gardiner  to  the  Hhodian;  John  Bticke  to  command 
the  Acute  gr.t-  vesse'  ;  John  Man  to  the  Fphira;  George  Elliott  (o  the 
Dictator  ;  William  li.  Dickson  to  the  liuby  ;  R.  S.  Gamage  to  the  St. 
Alba1'*  Geo  { e  *'ro!;e,  from  the  Dolphin,  to  the  Africa;  Gordon 
Stewart,  from  the  Ariadne,  to  tiio  .Ardent;  John  Cameron  (1).  from 
the  Galatea,  to  the  Leyden  ;  George  Williamson  to  Ihe  Defiance. 

A  list  of  ra'dshipmen  passed  for  lieutenants  the  first  Wednesday  in  li;e 
mo-.ith — George  ?immond»,  William  K.  Nicholas,  Churk-s  ir'omerville, 
"William  Martin  Collins,  Thomas  B.  Clowes,  William  I  irman,  James 
Storey,  William  i-.arricolt,  Jacob  S.  Potier,  Thomas  W.  Cope,  Hutton 
Dawson,  Robert  Harmer,  Jos.  VVr.  Shepherd,  Luke  Waller,  John  Mof- 
fall,  Charles  B.  isouce,  John  E.  Lane,  Alexander  Galloway. 

Surgeons  appointed. 

Mr.  Andrew  L.  Jack  is  appointed  to  be  surgeon  of  the  Ardent;  Mr. 
John  Neill  to  the  Sceptre;  William  M'Laughlin  to  tha  Victorious; 
Alexander  Denmark  to  the  San  Antonio;  William  Xormanto  the  Miuo- 
taur;  John  W  illiams  to  the  Perlin;  William  Macf'arlane  to  the  Africa; 
Jr.mes  Cra  ,i<'  to  tfea  Cromedarj  ;  William  Evans  to  the  President; 
Jan.es  Dick'son  to  the  Lynx  ;  Jos.  Oilier  to  the  Kite  ;  P.  C.  Blackett  i<> 
the  Tiiisbe ;  Samuel  Vvcalherail  to  the  Vestal;  John  W7ebb  to  the 
Tigress  cutter:  Jarr.es  Carroll  to  t!ie  Sarpedon  ;  William  Boyce  to  thft 
Meriuaid  ;  Bob.  Blake  to  the  Devastation;  Cuthbert  Eden  to  the  Sand- 


NAVAI.    HISTORY    OF    THE    PllESEVT    YEAll,    1809.  3cl 

wich  prison  ship;  Edward  Pelt  to  the  Niger  ;  B.  W.  West  to  the  Ley- 
den;  Joseph  Cullcrne  to  the  Triumph  ;  David  Lewis  to  the  Ned  Elviu; 
Charles  Slormouth  to  the  Nemesis ;  WiiKr.m  Wilson  to  the  Bucephalus; 
George  Gilbert  to  tlis  Orestes;  James  Carroll  to  the  Alonzo;  Charles 
Heynes  to  the  Diligence  ;  J.  S.  Hasted  to  the  Planta^enet ;  Francis 
Forbitt  to  the  Reynard;  Michael  Stewart  to  the  Curlew  sloop;  Alexan- 
der Forbitt,  from  the  Triumph,  to  the  St.  Domingo. 

Assistants  appointed. 

James  Hunter  is  appointed  to  the  Victory;  William' Cuddie  is  ap- 
pointed an  hospital  mate  at  Mill  Prison ;  John  Corson  an  hospital  mat* 
at  Deal;  John  Melligan  hospital  m'ate  at  Plymouth;  Robert  Dick 
assistant  surgeon  of  the  St.  Albans;  Patrick  Blaike  to  the  Majestic; 
John  Craig  to  the  Ruby;  James  Veitch  to  the  Cerberus;  William 
Cowling  to  the  Salvador  del  Mundo;  James  Black  to  the  Tribune; 
J.  M.  Parrott  to  the  Sussex  hospital  ship  ;  James  Soulter  to  the  Victory  ; 
Anthony  Adams  to  the  ftyadea;  George  Swann  to  be  an  hospital  mate 
at  Forton  prison  hospital ;  John  Shaw  to  the  East  Indies,  as  an  assistant 
surgeon;  Anthony  Adams  to  the  Standard;  James  Hamilton  to  the  Sta- 
tira  ;  John  Calian  to  the  Defiance;  \Viiliain  M'Masters  to  the  Sceptre; 
William  Birch  an  hospital  mate  at  Haslar  ;  S.  J.  Dickensoa  assistant  to 
the  Jamaica;  John  Farley  to  the  Euruihs  ;  Thomas  Hayes  to  the 
Diligent  store  ship  ;  Charles  Sherratt  to  the  Camel  store  ship  ;  William 
Morgan  to  the  Rota;  David  Lawsou  an  hospital  mate  at  Forton  prison, 
hospital;  William  Boyd  assistant  to  the  Volontaire  ;  H.  E.  Uudiand  to 
the  Quebec;  Jokn  Hately  to  the  Surveillante. 


The  Lords  of  the  Admiralty  have  been  pleased  to  direct,  in  pursuance 
of  his  Majesty's  order  in  council  of  the  13th  instant,  that  the  salaries  of 
the  officers  of  the  royal  hospitals  at  Deal,  Yarmouth,  and  Paiugton, 
in  consequence  of  their  inadequacy,  shall  be  increased  as  follows: — 

The  governors  at  Deal  and  Yarmouth  to  have  3003.  a-year  each,  and 
151.  for  house-rent. 

The  physicians  to  have  GOOl.  per  annum,  and  50l.  for  house-rent. 

The  surgeons  to  have  5001.  per  aaaum,  and  50l  for  house-rent. 

The  agents,  2501.  per  annum,  and  40l.  for  house-rent. 

The  dispensers,  2501.  per  annum,  and  401.  for  house-rent. 

The  clerk  to  the  agent,  1301.  per  annum,  and  ICs,  6d.  per  week  in  lion 
of  a  house. 

BIRTHS. 

On  Sunday,  the  9th  of  April,  at  Brighton,  the  lady  of  Captain  Ken- 
nedy, of  the  royal  navy,  of  a  daughter. 

On  Monday,  the  10th  of  April,  in  Portman-sqnare,  of  a  daoghter,  Latfy 
Emily  Drummond,  eldest  daughter  of  the  Duke  of  Athol,  and  wife  of 
Captain  Adam  Drummond,  of  the  royal  navy. 


MARRIAGES. 

On  the  13th  instant,  at  Iver  church,  by  the  Rev.  John  San  ford, 
Spurgeon  Farrer,  Esq.  of  Cole  Bray-field,  in  the  county  o!" Backs,  to  Mrs. 
Mitford,  relict  of  Captain  Henry  Mitford,  R.N.  who  was  unfortunately 
lost  'in  his  Majesty's  iate  ship  the  York,  and  daughter  of  the  Hon.  David 
Anitruther,  of  H untsmore  Park,  Berks. 


352  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAK,    1809. 

On  the  10th  of  April,  at  Whitehall,  by  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Norwich, 
Rear-admiral  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Gardner,  to  the  Hon.  Charlotte 
Smith,  daughter  to  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Carrington. 

On  the  llth  of  April,  Miss  Eliza  Brathwaite,  second  daughter  of  Mrs. 
Brathwaite,  one  of  the  matrons  of  the  royal  hospital  ai  Greenwich,  to 
Dr.  Locker,  only  sou  of Locker,  Esq.  of  Plymouth. 

On  the21sl  of  March,  at  St.  Clement's  Danes,  London,  Janes  Popple- 
well,  Esq.  of  the  royal  navy,  to  Miss  Mary-Ann  Sallwell,  eldest  daughter 
of  Captain  Saltweil,  of  the  Hon.  East  India  Company's  service,  and  of 
Hoisted,  in  Essex. 


OBITUARY. 

Lately,  at  Plymouth,  Nicholas  Vincent,  Esq.  senior  admiral  of  the 
red. 

On  the  6th  instant,  at  Dover,  John  Bazely,  Esq.  admiral  of  the  blue, 
aged  69. 

On  Sunday,  the  Oth  instant,  of  a  quinzy,  George  Henry  Towry,  Esq. 
brother-in-laiv  of  Lord  Ellen  borough,  and  only  son  of  Commissioner 
G.  Towry,  deputy-chairman  of  the  Victualling  Board,  an  old  post 
captain,  and  junior  commissioner  of  the  Transport  Board.  He  com- 
manded the  Dido  at  the  capture  of  the  Minecvc  ;  and  a'*:>  the  Diadem, 
on  the  14th  of  February,  1797.  He  w  s  an  active  and  valuable  officer, 
and  is  sincerely  lamented  by  a  large  circle  of  his  brother  officers. 

Lately,  at  Deal,  the  infant  son  of  Alexander  Copland  Hutchinson,  Esq. 
surgeon  of  the  royal  hospital  at  that  port. 

Lately,  on  board  the  Hindostan,at  Spithead,  Mr.  J.  Jackson,  surgeon 
of  that  ship. 

On  the  19th  of  March,  at  Dublin,  Major  Daniel  Gahan,  brother-in-law 
of  Captain  T.  Bayley,  of  the  royal  navy. 

Lately  was  killed,  Lieutenant  Hamilton,  of  the  Unicorn,  in  one  of 
the  boats  of  that  ship,  in  reconnovtering  the  French  fleet  in  Basque 
Roads. 

Lately  was  drowned,  in  coming  on  shore  at  Table  Bay,  Cape  of 
Good  Hope,  by  the  boat  upsetting,  Captain  Culvcrhouse,  R.  N.  and  his 
wife. 

Lately,  Mr.  Harry  Maybce,  a  surgeon  in  the  royal  navy. 

Lieutenant  John  Reid,  of  the  royal  marines,  was  killed  at  the  taking 
of  Cayenne,  in  storming  Fort  Diamant  and  Victor  Hugues's  house  and 
plantation. 

Lately,  at  Antigua,  Mr.  Alexander,  surgeon  of  his  Majesty's  sloop  the 
Wanderer. 

Mr.  William  Flintoft,  acting  lieutenant  of  his  Majesty's  ship  Ciesar, 
was  killed  at  the  attack  on  the  enemy's  fleet  in  Basque  Roads,  on  the 
12th  instant. 

Mr.  James  Sergess,  gunner  of  the  Mediator  fire-ship,  was  killed  at  the 
same  time. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  at  Stonehouse,  Devonshire,  ageil  5T,  Mrs.  Cle- 
ments, widow  of  the  late  Peter  Clements,  I'sq.  a  captain  in  the  royal 
navy,  and  daughter  and  heir  of  the  late  Sir  John  Dalston,  Bart,  of  the 
royal  marines. 


I:R  H  r  :KIH  '  i ,  t  >  i ;  K  uu 


//,/<// ./W    Marti  .'>'/  I,-;i »>    fa-./  Gold.  103.  Slr,'f.Leou.2.cndon. 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  PUBLIC  SERVICES 

OF   THE    LATE 

SIR  HUGH  CLOEERRY  CHRISTIAN,  K.B. 

REAR-ADMIRAL  OF  THE  WHITE  SQUADRON. 


"  What  frequent  tears  the  patriot  muse  has  shed  ; 

A  nation's  tribute  to  her  mighty  dead  ! 

AY  hat  suns  have  set  in  glory's  radiant  way* 

To  gild  with  cloudless  beams  a  brighter  day  !" •CocKi.E. 

A  CCORDLVG  to  a  family  tradition,  the  late  Admiral  Sir 
•*^*-  Hugh  Cloberry  Christian  was  a  descendant  from  the  ancient 
4'amily  of  Christian,  which  was  seated  at  Milntown,  in  the  Isle  Q£ 
Man.  His  father,  Thomas  Christian,  Esq.  who  died  in  the  year 
1751,  at  the  early  age  of  35,  was  a  captain  in  the  royal  navy. 
His  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Owen  Hughes,  Esq.  of  Bangor. 

Sir  H.  C.  Christian,  who,  from  his  birth,  is  believed  to  have 
been  destined  for  the  naval  service,  was  born  in  Buckingham- 
street,  York  Buildings,  London,  in  the  year  1747.  With  the 
period  at  which  he  entered  into  the  naval  service,  and  with  his 
early  progress,  we  are  unacquainted  ;  but  he  received  a  lieutenant's 
commission  on  the  21st  of  January,  1771  ;  and  on  the  9th  of 
August,  1778,  having  previously  been  advanced  to  the  rank  of 
master  and  commander,  we  find  hi:n  in  the  Vigilant  armed  ship, 
of  20  guns,  in  the  fleet  under  Lord  Howe,  off  Rhode  Island. 
This  was  shortly  after  the  time  when,  in  contradiction  to  all  the 
declarations  of  the  French  court,  the  Comte  d'Estaing  had  ap- 
peared, with  a  large  force  of  line-of-battle  ships  in  complete  con. 
dition,  off  Sandy  Hook.*  On  the  29th  of  July,  d'Estaing's  fleet 
having  arrived  off  Rhode  Island,  a  squadron  of  his  frigates  entered 
the  Scaunnet  passage,  where  the  Kingslisher  sloop  of  war  and  two 
gallics  were  at  anchor :  their  commanders,  finding  that  they  could 
iiot  escape,  set  fire  to  the  vessels,  and  went  ashore  with  the  crews. 
On  the  8th  of  August,  d'Estaing,  with  a  part  of  his  fleet,  stood 

*  Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  I.  p.  16. 
A  A 


178  MEMOIR   OF  THE   PUBLIC    SERVICES   or 

into  the  harbour  of  Newport ;  and,  anchoring  between  Goat 
Island  and  Conanicut,  the  captains  of  his  majesty's  ships,  which 
were  lying  in  the  harbour,  also  found  themselves  under  the 
necessity  of  destroying  them  to  avoid  capture.'*  On  the  following 
day,  having  obtained  a  reinforcement,  Lord  Howe  made  his 
appearance  off  Rhode  Island ;  and  on  the  10th,  d'Estaing  put  to 
sea,  with  a  fresh  breeze  from  the  north-east,  and  bore  down  on  the 
British  fleet.  The  English  commander  edged  away,  to  draw  the 
enemy  off  the  land,  in  the  hope  of  gaining  the  advantage  of  the 
wind,  but  it  continued  adverse.  On  the  12th,  notwithstanding 
the  inferiority  of  his  force,  Lord  Howe  determined  to  risk  an  ac- 
tion ;  but,  scarcely  had  the  respective  fleets  been  arranged  in  the 
Order  of  battle,  when  the  wind  began  to  blow  with  great  violence, 
and  soon  increased  to  a  dreadful  gale,  in  which  both  the  English 
and  French  ships  were  dispersed,  without  any  engagement  taking 
place. 

In  the  succeeding  month  Lord  Howe  returned  to  England  ;  and 
Captain  Christian  either  accompanied  him,  or  returned  about  the 
same  time. 

On  the  8th  of  December,  in  this  year  (1778),  hex  obtained  post 
rank  ;  and  on  the  25th  of  the  same  month,  he  sailed  from  Spithead 
in  the  Suffolk,  of  74  guns,  in  which  Commodore  Rowley  had 
hoisted  his  broad  pendant,  with  the  fleet  under  the  command  of 
Lord  Shuldham,  to  escort  the  trade  to  America,  and  to  the  East 
and  West  Indies.  The  Suffolk  proceeded  with  the  West  India, 
convoy. 

Captain  Christian  remained  some  years  in  the  West  Indies, 
•where  he  was  engaged  in  much  active  and  arduous  service.  In 
Admiral  Byron's  memorable  action  with  d'Estaing,  off  Grenada, 
on  the  6th  of  July,  1779,t  his  ship,  the  Suffolk,  sustained  a  loss 
of  seven  killed,  and  25  wounded.  J 
. j — . . ••  *  -— 

*  Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  XX.  page  82. 

+  Ibid.  VoL  IV.  pagelSti;  Vol.  VIL  page  10;  Vol.  VIII.  page  180; 
and  Vol.  XX.  page  341. 

*  The  total  loss  of  the  English  in  this  action  amounted  to  183  killed, 
and  34(j  wounded  ;  of  whom  four  officers  were  iu  each  list.    The  loss  of  the 
Fi  imuh,  owing  to  the  great  number  of  troops  on  board  their  ships,  was  pro- 
digious ;    the  lowest   estimate   slating  it  at  2,700,   of  which   the   killed 
amounted  to  1,200. 


THE    LATE    SIR    HUGH    CLOBERRY    CHRISTIAN,    K.B.  179 

Soon  after  this  action,  Vice-admiral  Byron  returned  to  England, 
and  the  chief  command  devolved  on  Rear-admiral  Hyde  Parker.* 
Captain  Christian  remained  in  the  Suffolk,  with  Mr.  Rowley,  now 
a,  rear-admiral  of  the  blue  squadron.  Towards  the  latter  end  of 
the  year  1779,  intelligence  having  been  received  at  St.  Lucia  that 
three  large  ships  had  been  seen  from  the  Morne,  steering  to  the 
northward,  the  commander-in-chief  detached  Rear-admiral  Row- 
ley M'ith  the  following  squadron  in  pursuit  of  them  :— • 

Ships.         Guns.  Commanders, 

f  Rear-admiral  Rowley. 

:olk 74  \Captain  H.  C.  Christian. 

Magnificent 74      —  John  Elphiustone. 

Vengeance     ....   74 

Stirling  Castle.. .  64 Ph.  Carket. 

The  enemy  M'ere  soon  descried,  and,  after  a  chase  of  several 
hours,  were  all  captured.  They  proved  to  be  three  large  French 
frigates.:  la  Fortunee,  of  42  guns,  and  247  men;  la  Blanche,  of 
36  guns,  and  212  men  ;  and  the  Ellis,  of  28  guns,  and  68  men  ; 
all  of  which  were  added  to  the  royal  navy. 

On  the  18th  of  December,  Captain  Christian  assisted  in  the 
destruction  and  capture  of  a  considerable  French  convoy,  off 
Martinique,  t  The  convoy  was  from  Marseilles ;  and  the  follow- 
ing were  the  ships,  laden  with  provisions  and  merchandise,  which 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  English  : — 

Ships.  Guns.         Men.          Tons. 

Le  President    30  160  550 

LeBethun 30  160  550 

Le  Menauere  +    30  160  COO 

L'Hercule    30  160  550 

Le  Mareschal  de  Erisac 22  150  400 

LcJuste 10  35  200 

LaClerie     8  35  180 

Le  Jean  Henrieitc ,--     2  30  160 

In  the  spring  of  1780,  Sir  George  R'odney  joined  Rear-admiral 
Parker,  in  Gros-islet  Bay,  St.  Lucia ;  and  in  the  succeeding 
actions  with  de  Gnichen,  on  the  17th  of  April,  and  the  15th  and 

*  Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  XX.  page  341. 
t  Ibid,  page  342. 

*  Taken  into  the  English  service,  and  named  the  Albcmarle, 


180  MEMOIR    OF   TllE    PUBLIC    SERVICES    OF 

IQth  of  May,*  Captain  Christian  had  the  honour  of  bearing  a 
part.  In  the  first  of  these  actions,  the  Suffolk  had  12  men 
wounded  ;  in  the  second,  none  either  killed  or  wounded  ;  and,  m 
the  third,  one  killed  and  21  wounded. 

Admiral  Rowley  having  shifted  his  flag  into  the  Conqueror, 
Captain  Christian  was  appointed  to  the  Fortunee,  of  38  guns,  one 
of  the  French  frigates  in  the  capture  of  which  he  had  formerly 
assisted.  When  Sir  Samuel  Hood's  fleet  was  attacked  by  de  Grasse, 
at  anchor  off  St.  Kitt's,  in  January,  1782, -f  theFortuuee  was  one 
of  the  frigates  attached  to  the  centre  division. 

On  the  9th  and  12th  of  April  following,  the  Fortunee  was 
attached  to  the  white  division  of  Sir  George  Rodney's  fleet,  in  the 
memorable  defeat  of  de  Grasse,  +  but  was  not  present  during  the* 
action. 

On  the  21st  of  July,  Captain  Christian  sailed  from  Jamaica, 
with  Admiral  Pigol's  licet,  and  on  the  5th  of  September,  he  arrived 
at  New  York.  He  returned  to  Port  Royal,  with  Rear-admiral 
Lord  Hood,  on  the  6th  of  February,  1783,  having  been  cruising 
some  time  off  Hispaniola,  on  the  passage.  In  the  succeeding 
months  of  March  and  April  he  continued  to  be  employed  in 
Lord  Hood's  squadron,  in  cruising  off  Capes  Francois  and  Nichola 
Mole.  On  the  26th  of  April  lie  sailed  from  Port  Royal,  for 
England,  with  Lord  Hood,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  paid  off 
shortly  after  his  arrival ;  as  we  do  not  find  his  name  mentioned 
again,  till  the  Spanish  armament  of  1790,  when  he  was  appointed 
second  captain  of  Lord  How-j's  Sag-ship,  the  Queen  Charlotte. § 

At  the  commencement  of  the  late  war,  Captain  Christian  was 
again  appointed  to  the  same  ship,  under  the  same  comman- 
der :  he  was,  consequently,  with  Lord  Howe,  in  the  bay,  when 
he  fell  in  with  a  French  squadron,  on  the  18th  of  Novemhcr, 
1793.  Chase  was  immediately  given  ;  but  the  enemy  being  con- 
siderably to  windward,  and  the  weather  thick  and  squally,  they 
effected  their  escape. 

Shortly  after  this  period,   Captain    Christian  left  the   Queen 


*  Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  I.  page  377. 
+  Ibid.  Vol.  II.  page  15,  ct  sfj, 
+  Ibid.  Vol.  I.  page  389. 
§  Ibid  page  IS. 


THE    LATE   SIR.   HUGH    cr.OBEKRY    CHRISTIAN,    K.H.  181 

Charlotte,  and  docs  not  appear  to  have  held  any  subsequent 
command  as  a  private  captain. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  1795,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of* 
rear-admiral  of  the  blue  squadron  ;  and  on  the  16th  of  Novem- 
ber, in  the  same  year,  having  hoisted  his  flag  in  the  Prince  George, 
of  98  guns,  he  sailed  from  St.  Helen's,  with  a  squadron  of  ships  of 
•war,  and  a  convoy  of  more  than  200  sail  of  transports  and  West 
Indiamen,  on  board  of  which  -were  embarked  upwards  of  16,000 
troops.  The  late  period  of  the  season  to  which  this  expedition, 
destined  against  the  French  and  Dutch  settlements  in  the  West 
Indies,  had  been  protracted,  occasioned  the  most  disastrous  result. 
On  the  second  night  after  Admiral  Christian  sailed,  the  wind 
shifted  to  the  westward,  and  blew  a  violent  gale,  which  separated 
the  fleet  :  many  of  the  ships  put  into  Torbay,  others  into  Port- 
land, and  some  returned  to  Spithead  with  the  admiral.  The  gale 
continued  with  unceasing  fury  the  -whole  of  the  18th  ;  several  of 
the  transports  and  merchantmen  foundered,  and  were  wrecked f 
and  above  two  hundred  dead  bodies  were  taken  up  on  the  coast 
between  Portland  and  Bridport.* 

Having  repaired  the  damage  which  they  had  sustained,  the 
following  squadron  sailed  again  from  St.  Helen's,  on  the  9th  of 
December  ;  Admiral  Christian  having  shifted  his  flag  into  the 
Glory,  the  Prince  George  being  in  too  bad  a  condition  to  under- 
take the  voyage : — 

Ships.         Guns.  Commanders. 

{II.  C.  Christian,  Esq.  rear-admiral 
of  the  blue. 
Capt.  J.  Bowen. 
Impregnable 98 John  Thomas. 

{C.  M.  Pole,  Esq.  rear-admiral  of 
the  blue. 
Capt.  H.  Jenkins. 

Alfred 74 Thomas  Drury. 

Irresistible 74 George  Murray. 

Trident 6-1 Ed.  O.  Osborne. 

Dictator 64 Thomas  Totty. 

Lion C4     Edm.  Crawlcy. 

Abcrgfivemiy   . .   54 E.  T.  Smith. 

*  During  this  tremendous  gale,  a  shpck  of  an  earthquake  .was  felft  in 
several  parts  of  the  kingdom. 


MEMOIR    Of    THE    PUBLIC    SERVICES    O7 

Ships.          Guns.  Commanders. 

Hindostan    ....   50 Thomas  Bertie. 

Grampus 50 John  Williamson. 

Malabar 50  — —  Thomas  Parr. 

Alcmene 32  —  William  Browne. 

Babet 24  W.  G.  Lobb. 

Dover  (A.  T.)  -  -  Lieutenant  T.  H.  Wilson. 

Ulysses  (A.T.)  -  —  G.  Lempriere. 

This  ill-fated  squadron  was  again  dispersed  by  a  violent  storm. 
On  the  29th  of  January,  1796,  the  Glory,  Impregnable,  Colossus, 
Irresistible,  Trident',  Lion,  Alcmene,  and  Prompte,  andtheVesu- 
Tius  bomb,  with  about  fifty  sail  of  transports  and  merchantmen, 
•were  obliged  to  return  to  Spithead  ;  many  of  them  in  a  very  dis- 
abled condition,  having  for  seven  weeks  encountered  weather  of 
the  most  dreadfully  tempestuous  description.  The  rest  of  the  ships 
of  war,  and  several  of  the  merchant  vessels,  arrived  safely  at  their 
places  of  destination  ,•  but  others,  less  fortunate,  were  either  lost, 
or  taken  by  the  enemy's  cruisers. 

On  the  17th  of  February,  Admiral  Christian  had  the  honour  of 
being  invested  with  the  insignia  of  the  most  honourable  military 
order  of  the  Bath,  at  St.  James's,  previously  to  his  going  out  ta 
assume  the  chief  command  in  the  West  Indies. 

On  the  20th  of  March,  having  hoisted  his  flag  in  the  Thun- 
derer, he  sailed  from  Spithead  with  the  following  squadron  ;  con* 
roying  such  of  the  transports  and  merchantmen  as  were  ready,  to 
that  station  :-— 

Ships.  Guns.  Commanders. 

{Sir  II.  C.  Christian,  K.B.  rear- 
admiral  of  the  blue. 
Capt.  J.  Bowen. 

Invincible 74     William  Cayley. 

Grampus 54     — —  John  Williamson. 

La  Prompte 20     George  Eyre. 

Swallow,  brig. ..  18     •          George  Fowke. 

Allbicore 16     — —  R.  Winthorpe. 

Terror,  bomb  ..     8  •  lion.  D.Douglas. 

Sir  H.  C.  Christian  arrived  in  Carlisle  Bay,  Barbadoes,  on  the 
21st  of  April,  and  joined  Admiral  Sir  John  Laforey,  who,  on  the 
following  day,  sailed  with  the  fleet  of  men-of-war  and  transports, 


THE    LA.TE   SIR    HUGH    CLOBERttY    CHRISTIAN,    K.B.  183 

for  Marin  Bay,  Martinico,  where  he  anchored  on  the  23d,  and 
resigned  the  command  on  the  24th.* 

On  the  evening  of  the  26th,    Sir  Hugh  proceeded  with   the 

following  squadron,  and  a  number  of  transports,  having  on  board 

a  large  body  of  troops,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-general 

Sir  Ralph  Abercromby,  to  the  attack  of  the  island  of  St.  Lucia  :— 

Ships.  Guns.  Commanders. 

[  Sir  II.  C.  Christian,  K.B.  rear- 

Thunderer 74-j       admiral  of  the  blue. 

[_  Capt.  J.  Bow-en. 

Canada 74     Geo.  Bowen. 

Vengeance 74    -—  T.  M.  Russell. 

Minotaur 74    Tho.  Louis. 

Ganges 74     R.  M'Douall. 

Alfred *. .  74     Thomas  Durrj. 

Hindostan 54     —  Thomas  Bertie. 

Madras 54 J.  Dilkes. 

Abergavenny     ,.54      Ed.  T.  Smith. 

Charon 44     J.  Stevenson. 

Beaulieu 40     L.  Skinner. 

Arethusa 33     Thomas  Wolley. 

Hebe 38     M.  H.  Scott. 

Undaunted    ....   36     H.Roberts. 

Astrea 32     R.  Lane. 

Laurel 03     R.  R0ues. 

Fury 16    H.Evans. 

Bull  Dog 16    G.  F.  Ryves. 

Pelican,  brig 16     J.  C.  Searle. 

Victorieuse,  do.  .  14     J.  Maimvaring. 

Woolwich  (S.  S.)  44    Dan.  Dobree. 

Tourterelle 20     Ed.  Fellows. 

Beaver  .'_ ...    16     S.  G.  Warren. 

Terror,  bomb 8 Hon.  D.  Douglas. 

The  disposition  for  landing  the  troops  having  been  previously 
arranged,  the  debarkation  of  two  divisions  was  speedily  efiecteJ, 
with  very  little  opposition,  in  Choc  Bay,  under  cover  of  the 
Vengeance,  Ganges,  Alfred,  Arethusa,  Beaulieu,  Hebe,  Astrea, 
Pelican,  and  Victorieuse  brig. — Sir  Hugh  Christian,  in  his  despatch 
to  the  Admiralty,  dated  Thunderer,  Choc  Bay,  St.  Lucia,  May 
4,  1796,  says : — 

"  The  time  for  preparation  was  but  short,  the  admiral  (Sir  John  Lafo'rey) 
having  proposed  to  make  his  arrangement  for  the  expedition  in  Mai'in  Bay; 

*  Sir  Joha  Laforev  returned  to  England  in  the  Majestic. 


184  MEMOIR    OF    THE    PUBLIC    SERVICES    OF 

but  I  felt  the  necessity  of  prompt  exertion,  and  therefore  ventured  upon  a 
hasty  arrangement  rather  than  delay  the  ardour  of  the  troops,  or  lose  time 
fn  so  advanced  a  season.  The  general's  plan  of  attack  required  support  in 
three  separate  divisions,  by  ships  of  force ;  the  first  was  to  take  place  in 
Longueville  Bay,  at  Ancc  la  Cap  and  A  nee  Bequene;  the  second  in  the 
Choc  Bay  ;  and  the  third  at  Ance  la  Have,  some  distance  to  the  southward 
of  theCul  deSac. 

"  The  first  point  of  landing  was  commanded  by  a  battery  of  five  guns, 
placed  on  the  low  point  of  Pigeon  Island ;  and  it  was  supposed  that  another 
lattery  commanded  the  hay  of  I.ongucville. 

"  I  therefore  directed  the  Vengeance,  Ganges,  Ilcbe,  and  Pelican,  brig, 
to  cover  this  landing,  with  instructions  for  the  Hebe  to  lead  into  Ance  la 
Cap,  the  Ganges  to  support  her,  and  the  Pelican  to  anchor  in  the  Ance* 
Bequene.  The  Vengeance  I  kept  upon  the  weather-beam  of  the  Astrea,  in 
order  that  she  might,  if  necessary,  cover  the  Ganges,  by  anchoring  in  the 
«ngle  of  Pigeon  Island  lattery.  The  position  was  taken  by  the  three  ships 
with  «reat  spirit  and  judgment :  the  fire  from  the  ships  kept  the  battery  at 
check,  dismounted  one  of  tl>e  guns,  and  the  troops  landed  without  opposi- 
tion. The  second  division  was  directed  to  be  led  by  the  Alfred  to  the 
'anchorage  of  Choc  Bay;  the  third  by  Captain  Dilkcs,  of  the  Madras,  sup- 
ported by  the  Beaulieu.  A  strong  !ee  current  had  driven  the  body  of  the 
transports  so  far  to  leeward,  that  it  was  not  possible  to  effect  the  landing  in 
Choc  Bay,  and  the  one  intended  for  Ance  la  Raye  was,  for  the  same  rea- 
son?, deferred  ;  but  the  Vengeance,  Arethusa,  and  Victorieuse  brig  were 
ordered  to  take  the  several  covering  stations  in  Choc  Bay  at  break  of  day 
on  the  2<  th,  when  the  landing  was  eiiected  at  half  past  ten  A.M.  and  equally 
without  opposition.  The  signal  was  made  at  the  sume  time  to  Capta'n 
DilkoP  to  put  his  orders  into  execution,  but  this  division  did  not  land  until 
the  2: 

At  the  time  here  mentioned,  the  whole  of  the  troops  were 
landed,  and  they  immediately  proceeded  to  the  attack  of  the 
enemy's  different  posts,  which  were  of  considerable  strength,  and 
defended  with  the  greatest  obstinacy.  At  length,  driven  from  one 
to  the  other,  they  retreated  into  Morne  Fortune. 

"  The  enemy,"  says  the  admiral,  in  his  official  letter,  "  retreated  from 
their  distant  posts,  and  have  entered  the  Morne  Fortune,  which  height  the 
general  is  surrounding  and  preparing  to  attack;  to  assist  the  measure,  I 
have,  iu  consequence  of  the  rrencral's  requisition  to  that  effect,  lauded  300 
-seamen,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Lane,  of  the  Astrea,  and  Captain 
Kyves,  of  the  Bull  Dcg. 

"  The  ger.eral  directed,  on  the  2d  instant,  nn  attack  to  be  made  against 
the  batteries  on  the  northern  side  of  the  graud  Cul  cje  Sac,  with  a  view  to 
obtain  that  anchorage,  and  thereby  facilitate  the  landing  artillery  and 
erecting  batteries:  the  attack  was  proposed  to  take  place  at  day-break  on 
t!ie  3d  by  three  columns,  commanded  by  Major-general  Mori-head  ;  two  o£ 


Tin-; 


uhd  Tfay.aLlBOQ.  fyJ.Gclcl.  Sfu-e  Lane,  fleet  Street-, 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  PUBLIC  SERVICES 

OF    THE 

RIGHT  HOX.  ALAN  HYDE  LORD  GARDNER. 

HEAn-ADMIUAL     OF    THE   BLUE    SQUADRON. 


"  A  noble  scyon  of  a  noble  stock.*' A.NOX. 

THE  Right  Honourable  Lord  Gardner,  whose  public  services 
have  already  reflected  so  much  credit  on  himself,  and  on  the 
professional  tuition  of  his  late  respected  father,  was  born  on  the 
6th  of  February,  in  the  year  1772.  He  is  the  eldest  son  of  the 
late  Admiral  Lord  Gardner,  by  Susanna  Hyde,  the  only  daughter 
and  heiress  of  Francis  Gale,  Esq.  of  Liguania,  in  the  island  of 
Jamaica.* 

Of  the  late  Admiral,  we  observed,  that,  like  most  persons  who 
have  obtained  an  eminent  rank  in  the  navy,  he  entered  into  the 
service  at  an  early  period  of  life.  His  son,  in  1781,  while  only  in 
his  tenth  year,  commenced  his  naval  progress.  He  first  embarked  in 
the  Duke,  and  served  in  that  ship,  under  the  auspices  of  his  father, 
in  the  memorable  action  of  the  12th  of  April,  1782.  "  On  this 
glorious  day,  the  Duke  was  second  to  the  Formidable,  the  flag- 
skip  of  Sir  George  Rodney,  and  Captain  Gardner  had  the  honour 
first  to  break  through  the  enemy's  line  of  battle."  t  Our  young 
midshipman,  who  served  as  captain's  aid-du-camp  on  this  occasion, 
received  an  early  proof,  in  his  own  person,  of  the  dangers  to  which, 
his  profession  exposed  him  ;  as,  in  the  course  of  the  engagement, 
he  received  a  wound,  which,  though  it  might  have  been  thought 
Hghtly  oi"  by  a  veteran,  must  have  been  sufficiently  alarming  to  a 
boy  who  had  only  just  completed  his  tenth  year. 

After  the  conclusion  of  the  war,  Mr.  Gardner  continued  to  serve 
in  various  ships ;  and  in  the  year  1787,  was  promoted  to  the  rank 

*  See  the  heraldic  particulars,  relating  to  the  family  or'  Lord  Gard- 
ner, affixed  to  our  biographical  memoir  of  his  father,  the  iate  admiral. 

NAVAL  CIUIOXICLE,  Vol.  VIII.  page  197. His  lordship  died  at  Bath, 

*m  the  1st  of  January,  in  the  present  year.  Vide  page  37  of  this  volume. 

t   Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  VIII.  page  191. 

,  Cferon.  flol.  XXI.  z  z 


358  MEMOIR    OF   THE   PUBLIC   SERVICES    OF 

of  lieutenant.  In  1789,  he  was  made  commander ;  and  in  the 
general  promotion  of  1790,  was  farther  advanced  to  the  rank  of 
post  captain,  by  commission  bearing  date  November  12,  in  that 
year. 

Captain  Gardner  -was  now  appointed,  by  the  Admiralty,  to 
command  the  Daphne,  of  20  guns  ;  but  was  soon  removed  from 
that  ship  into  the  Circe,  of  28  guns ;  in  which  he  continued  till  the 
breaking  out  of  the  late  war  with  France,  when  he  was  appointed 
to  the  Heroine,  of  32  guns. 

Early  in  the  year  1793,  he  proceeded  with  a  squadron  of  ships, 
under  the  command  of  Rear-admiral  Gardner,  to  the  attack  of 
Martinique,  in  the  West  Indies  ;*  but  subsequently  to  the  capture 
of  Tobago,  which  had  been  effected  before  the  Rear-admiral's 
arrival,  nothing  of  importance  was  achieved  against  the  possessions 
of  the  enemy,  on  that  station.,  during  the  season ;  and  in  the  autumn, 
Captain  Gardner  accompanied  the  squadron  on  its  return  to 
England  t 

Remaining  in  the  Heroine,  he  was  soon  afterwards  ordered  to 
India,  where  for  some  time  he  was  actively  employed  in  protecting 
the  trade  against  the  enemy's  cruisers.  Commodore  (the  late 
Admiral)  Peter  Rainier  was,  at  this  time,  commander-in-chief  on 

*  Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  VIII.  page  193. 

-r  Rear-admiral  Gardner  succeeded  Sir  John  Laforey  in  the  command,  on 
the  Leeward  Island  station.  Encouraged  by  the  disputes  which  existed 
between  the  Royalists  and  Republicans,  at  Martinique,  the  expedition  had 
been  fitted  out;  and  invited  by  the  former,  Admiral  Gardner,  and  Major- 
general  Bruce,  attempted  a  descent  on  the  island.  On  the  16th  of  June, 
under  cover  of  the  ships  of  war,  the  General  landed,  with  a  body  of  about 
3000  British  troops  ;  but,  finding  the  republican  party  too  strong,  he  was 
obliged  to  reimbark,  on  the  21st,  with  considerable  loss,  particularly  to  the 
royalists,  many  of  whom  could  not  be  taken  on  board  the  ships,  and  were 
unavoidably  left  to  perish  by  the  hands  of  their  implacable  enemies.  The 
Ferine,  a  French  ship  of  74  guns,  conimanded'by  the  Vicomte  de  Riviere, 
and  the  Calypso  frigate,  of  36  guns,  put  themselves  under  the  orders  of 
Admiral  Gardner,  and  saved  a  number  of  their  unfortunate  countrymen 
from  destruction,  with  whom  they  proceeded  to  Trinidad.  The  ships, 
commanded  by  French  officers,  were  taken  into  the  Spanish  service.  Mar- 
tinique was  taken  in  the  following  year,  by  Sir  John  Jervis  and  Sir  C.  Grey. 
Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  IV.  page  13. — For  a  map  of  the  island,  by 
Arrowsmith,  accompanied  by  an  historical  and  descriptive  account,  vide  also 
Vol.  XIII.  page  474. 


THE    RIGHT    HON.    ALAN   HYDE    LORD   GARDNER.  359 

the  India  station. — In  the  month  of  July,  1795,  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope  was  taken,  by  Admiral  Keith's  squadron  ;  and,  no  sooner 
was  Commodore  Rainier*  apprised  of  hostilities  having  been  com- 
menced  against  the  Dutch,  than  he  disposed  of  his  shipst  in  such  a 
manner  as  might  most  effectually  annoy  their  trade;  and,  in  con- 
junction with  the  Presidency  of  Madras,  he  adopted  the  most 
judicious  plans  for  the  reduction  of  their  settlements.  His  first 
object,  in  the  accomplishment  of  which  Captain  Gardner  partici- 
pated, was  to  secure  the  port  of  Trincomale,  and  the  other  valuable 
possessions  which  the  Dutch  held  in  the  island  of  Ceylon.  This 
service  occupies  a  portion  of  naval  history,  not  yet,  we  believe, 
adverted  to  in  our  Chronicle;  and,  as  Captain  Gardner  was  en- 
gaged in  nearly  the  whole  of  the  proceedings,  occasionally  as  a 
principal,  the  following  summary  sketch  may  not  be  thought  un- 
conducive  to  the  general  interest  of  this  memoir. 

The  expedition  against  Trincomale  having  been  determined  on, 
Lord  Hobart,  the  governor  of  Madras,  and  Commodore  Rainier, 
despatched  Captain  Gardner  in  the  Heroine,  with  Major  Agnew, 
to  Columbo,  to  explain  its  object  to  the  governor-general  of  Cey- 
lon. In  the  mean  time,  a  body  of  troops,  under  the  command  of 
General  Stuart,  with  ammunition  and  stores,  were  embarked  on 
board  the  ships  of  war  and  transports.  The  expedition  sailed  from 

*  The  commodore  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  rear-admiral  of  the  blue 
squadron,  in  the  month  of  June,  1795. 

f  The  following  appear  to  have  been  the  whole  of  the  squadron  at  this 
time  under  Commodore  Rainier's  command  : — 

Shijj$.  Guns.  Con^munde.rt. 

F  P.  Rainier,  Esq.  Commodore. 
Suffolk 74  \  Captain  R.  Lambert. 

*  Arrogant 74    • Richard  Lucas. 

*  Victorious......  74     W.Clarke. 

i  Centurion 50  •  Samuel  Oshorne. 

*  Resistance 44  • •  Ed.  Pakenliam. 

4  Diomcde. ......  44  Matthew  Smith. 

t  Heroine 52  A.  H.  Gardner. 

*  Orpheus 32     • Henry  Newcorae. 

Swift 16 J.  Doling. 

*  Joined  in 

+  At  ttie  taking  of  Trincomale. 
£  At  the  taking  oi'  Malacca. 


SCO  MEMOIH    OK    THE    FUBUC    SERVICES    OF 

Madras  on  the  21st  of  July  ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  Commo- 
dore detached  Captain  Edward  Pakenhain.  in  the  Resistance,  \vith 
Ihe  Suffolk's  tender,  and  a  transport,  having  a  party  of  European, 
and  native  troops  on  board,  to  assist  at  the  reduction  of  Malacca. 
On  the  23d,  the  squadron  arrived  off  Negapatnam,  where  it  took 
on  boa'rd  some  additional  troops  that  had  been  destined  for  the  ser- 
vice, and  proceeded  thence  to  the  place  of  its  destination,  on  the 
25th.  On  the  1st  of  August,  the  expedition  anchored  in  Back 
Bay;  having  been  joined,  on  the  preceding  day,  by  (he  Heroine, 
•with  Captain  Gardner  and  Major  Agnew.  The  major  had  brought 
•with  him  an  order,  from  the  governor  general  of  Ceylon  to  the 
commandant  of  Trincomale,  to  admit  300  of  his  Britannic  Majes- 
ty's troops  to  garrison  FortOstenburgh  ;  but,  when  the  order  was 
presented,  the  commandant,  under  the  pretence  of  an  informality 
in  the  instrument,  refused  obedience.  Nearly  two  days  having 
been  spent  in  useless  remonstrances,  it  was  resolved  to  land  the 
troops  ;  and,  to  facilitate  the  disembarkation,  the  ships  of  war  and 
transports  -were  ordered  to  n)ove  nearer  to  the  shore.  In  per- 
forming this  service,  the  Diomedc,  with  a  transport  in  tow,  struck 
upon  a  sunken  rock  with  such  violence,  that  there  was  scarcely 
time  to  save  the  crew  before  she  foundered,  with  all  her  stores  on 
board.  Notwithstanding  the  most  vigorous  exertions  of  the 
officers  and  men,  who  had  to  encounter  much  danger  from  the 
•violence  of  an  extraordinarily  high  surf,  occasioned  by  a  continu- 
ance of  a  string  land  wind,  ten  days  had  elapsed  before  the  whole 
of  the  troops,  provisions,  and  stores  were  landed. 

At  length,  on  the  18th  of  the  month  (August)  the  troops  com- 
menced their  march,  under  cover  of  the  guns  from  the  shipping, 
and  without  any  molestation  from  the  enemy.  On  the  23d,  the 
batteries  were  completed  ;  and  a  fire  was  opened  with  such  effect, 
that,  before  noon,  on  the  26th,  a  practicable  breach  was  made. 
The  garrison  was  then  summoned  to  surrender ;  but,  as  the  com- 
mandant demanded  terms  which  were  considered  inadmissible,  and 
refused  to  accede  to  those  which  were  sent  in  return,  hostilities 
were  necessarily  recommenced.  Three  hundred  seamen  and  ma- 
rines were  also  landed,  under  the  command  of  Captain  Smith,  late 
of  the  Diomede,  with  Lieutenants  Page  and  Hay  ward,  of  thena.vy} 
and  Lieutenants  M 'Gibbon  and  Perceval,  of  the  marines,  for  the 


THE    RIGHT    HON.    ALAN    IITDE    LORD    GARDNER.  361 

purpose  of  assisting  to  storm  the  breach,  should  the  enemy  deter- 
mine to  hold  out.  In  a  fe\v  minutes,  however,  the  white  flag  was 
displayed  from  the  ramparts,  and  the  Dutch  commandant  accepted 
the  terms  which  had  been  offered.  Fort  Ostenburgh  held  out 
until  the  31st;  but  then  surrendered  on  the  same  terms  as  those 
which  had  been  granted  to  Trincomale. 

The  loss  which  was  sustained  by  the  English  upon  this  occasion, 
amounted  to  one  seaman  killed,  and  six  wounded  ;  and  fifteen 
soldiers  killed ;  one  major,  one  captain,  one  lieutenant,  one  ensign, 
and  48  men  wounded. 

The  Dutch  settlement  at  Malacca  had  previously  surrendered, 
by  capitulation,  to  Captain  Newcome,  of  the  Orpheus,  on  the 
17th  of  August. 

The  next  service  which  occupied  the  attention  of  Admiral 
Rainier,  was  the  expedition  against  the  Molucca  Islands  ;  and, 
when  he  sailed  from  Madras,  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  those 
settlements,  he  left  Captain  Gardner  as  senior  officer  of  his 
Majesty's  ships  and  vessels  on  the  coast  of  Coromandel  and 
Malabar.* 

Captain  Gardner  had  now  the  satisfaction  of  being  entrusted 
with  the  conduct  of  the  naval  part  of  an  expedition,  though  only 
on  a  small  scale,  himself. — Early  in  1796,  he  was  detached,  with 
the  following  squadron,  to  co-operate  with  a  body  of  troops,  under 
Colonel  Stuart,  iu  the  reduction  of  Columbo,  on  the  island  of 
Ceylon : — 

Ships.  Guns.  Commanders. 

Heroine ......  32     Captain  A.  II.  Gardner. 

Rattlesnake 16 Edward  Ilamage. 

Echo.. 16' Andrew  Todd. 


*  On  the  16th  of  February,  179(5,  Admiral  Rainier  reduced  the  settle- 
ment of  Amboyjia,  and  its  dependencies;  and,  on  the  8th  of  March,  Banda 
was  also  delivered  up  to  him.  In  the  treasury  at  Amboyna  lie  found 
81.1!','  rix  dollars,  and  in  store,  515,940  pounds  weight  of  cloves.  In  the 
treasury  at  Banda,  he  found  66,075  rix  dollars,  84,777  pounds  of  nutmegs, 
19,587  pounds  of  mace,  and  merchandise  and  other  stores  of  great  value. 
Banda  is  the  principal  of  a  group  of  islands  in  the  eastern  sea,  lying  to  the 
eastward  of  the  Celebes.  Their  chief  produce  is  nutmegs,  with  which  they 
are  thought  to  be  capable  of  supplying  the  wants  of  all  the  world. 


862  MEM01K     OF    THE    TUBLIC     SERTICtS     OF 

Shipt.             Gunf.  Commanders. 

Swift 16 J.  S.  Rainier. 

*  Bombay  frigate  ...  20 

*  Drake,  brig 14 

*  Queen,  ketch 12 

•f  Bombay  Castle  ...  24 
i  Prince  of  Wales  . .  24 

On  the  5th  of  February,  this  squadron  having  anchored  off 
Ncgombo,  about  eighteen  miles  to  the  northward  of  Columbo  a 
small  body  of  troops  was  landed,  under  Major  Barbert,  who  im- 
mediately took  possession  of  a  fort  which  had  been  evacuated  by 
the  enemy.  By  the  evening  of  the  6th,  the  whole  army  had  dis- 
embarked. Colonel  Stuart  then  proceeded,  with  a  part  of  his 
force,  against  a  strong  post  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Matual 
river,  which  he  carried  on  the  morning  of  the  12th  ;  at  which 
time,  Captain  Gardner  brought  the  squadron  to  anchor,  about  two 
miles  from  the  fortress  of  Columbo,  where  he  landed  some  guns, 
ptores,  &c.  with  the  view  of  commencing  and  carrying  on  the 
eiege  ;  and,  on  the  14th,  in  conjunction  with  Colonel  Stuart,  he 
summoned  the  governor  to  surrender.  A  capitulation  was  ac-? 
cordingly  agreed  to  on  the  following  day,  by  which  Columbo,  and 
the  remaining  possessions  of  the  Dutch  in  Ceylon,  submitted  te> 
Jus  Majesty's  arms. 

Immediately  that  the  object  of  the  expedition  had  been  accom- 
plished, Captain  Gardner  sent  the  following  despatch  home, 
overland,  by  his  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  John  Davies : — 

"  His  Majesty's  ship  Heroine,  Columbo  Road, 
"  SIR,  February  16,  179C. 

"  Having  receired  directions  from  Sir  George  Keith  Elphinstone,  com- 
inander-in-chief  of  his  Majesty's  ships  and  vessels  in  these  seas,  to  take 
under  my  orders  the  ships  of  his  Majesty,  and  those  of  the  Honourable 
United  East  India  Company,  named  in  the  margin,  +  and  to  co-operate 
with  Colonel  Stuart,  commander  of  the  land  forces,  in  the  reduction  of 
Columbo,  it  is  with  peculiar  satisfaction  I  announce  to  you  the  surrenderor 
that  fortress,  with  the  remaining  possessions  under  the  Dutch  authority  oil 
the  island  of  Ceylon,  on  the  15th  instant.  I  have  the  honour  to  transmit 
herewith  the  terms  on  which  these  places  have  become  part  of  his  Majesty's 
dominions. 

*  Belonging  tu  the  East  India  Company's  Marine. 

+  East  India  ships. 

1  v 

£  Rattlesnake,  Echo,  Prince  of  Wales,  Bombay  Castle,  Bomjbay  frigate^ 

Drake  brig,  Queen  ketch,  and  Ssvift. 


fHE    RIGHT    HOK.    ALAV   HYDE    LORD    GARDNER.  3Q3 

**  The  transports  having  been  collected  off  Negombo,  an  anchorage 
eighteen  miles  to  the  northward  of  this  place,  on  the  5th  instant,  and  that 
fort  having  been  evacuated  by  the  enemy,  was  taken  possession  of  hv  Major 
Barbert  on  the  same  day,  and  the  whole  of  the  army  landed  by  the  eveniij"- 
of  the  6rh  instant. 

"  The  inland  navigation  from  Neeombo  to  Columbo  not  being  found 
adequate  to  the  purpose  of  carrying  the  stores,  provisions,  &c.  to  the  ground 
necessary  for  the  army  to  occupy  previous  to  opening  our  batteries,  Colonel 
Stuart  marched,  with  a  part  of  his  force,  to  possess  itim>elf  of  a  strop.^  no-t 
which  the  enemy  opposed  to  him  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Mutual  river 
which,  from  his  judicious  and  able  conduct,  was  happily  carried  on  the 
monrng  of  the  12th,  with  little  loss  on  our  side,  and  considerable  to  the 
enemy,  who  fled  tor  protection  under  the  walls  of  the  for:,  and  enabled  th« 
Colonel  to  take  up  his  final  position  before  Columbo  on  the  evening  of 
the  same  day. 

"  I  ako  anchored,  on  the  morning  of  the  1 2th,  with  the  ships  of  war  and 
transports,  about  two  miles  from  tlie  fortress,  in  a  very  favourable  situation 
for  binding  the  guns,  &c.  of  which  there  being  a  sufficient  number  put  on 
shore,  on  the  14rh  Colonel  Stuart  and  mysel  f  summoned  the  fort  to  surren- 
der, and  its  success  will  be  fully  explained  by  the  articles  of  capitulation 
which  I  have  before  alluded  to,  and  which  I  humbly  hope  may  meet  his 
Majesty's  approbation. 

"  It  becomes  me,  and  is  a  very  pleasing  part  of  my  duty,  to  mal;e  known 
to  you  for  his  Majesty's  information,  the  zeal  and  activity  which  have 
actuated  every  description  of  officers  and  men  employed  under  my  orders  ; 
and  I  am  happy  to  inform  you,  that  three  seamen  of  the  Swift,  wounded, 
are  the  only  casualties  of  the  siege.  First  lieutenant  Davies,  of  the  ll«roirif , 
an  officer  of  great  merit,  who  has  given  me  every  assistance  on  this  service 
which  his  relative  situation  enabled  him  to  do,  will  have  the  honour  of 
delivering  to  you  this  despatch  ;  and  I  beg  leave  to  recommend  him  to  your 
favourable  notice  and  protection. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

"  A.  11.  GARDNER.* 

*  By  the  articles  of  capitulation,  mentioned  in  the  above  despatch,  and 
signed  on  the  15th  of  February,  the  fortress  of  Columbo  was,  with  its  de- 
pendencies, surrendered  the  next  morning  by  Governor  Van  Angelbeck,  to 
his  Britannic  Majesty's  forces.  The  garrison  was  to  inarch  out  and  pile 
their  arms,  and  become  prisoners  of  war;  private  property  was  declared 
safe,  but  public  property  (belonging  to  the  Dutch  East  India  Company) 
was  all  to  be  taken  possession  of  by  tne  captors.  The  value  of  the  pepper, 
cinnamon,  and  ether  merchandize  only,  independent  of  the  ships,  military 
and  naval  stores,  was  stated  in  the  capitulation  at  23  lacks  of  rupees,  at  the 
lowest.  The  inhabitants  of  the  country,  submitting  to  the  dominion  of  hi» 
Majesty,  were  declared  free  in  their  persons  and  property ;  the  funds  of 
charitable  foundations,  &c.  were  to  remain  untouched,  and  for  their  peculiar 
appropriations  ;  and  certain  promissory  notes  recently  issued  for  inonej 
borrowed  of  the  servants  of  the  Dutch  Company,  were  engaged  to  be  con- 
tidered  to  the  amount  of  50,OOOL  us  a  dtbt  of  Great  Britain. 


SG4  MEMOIR    OF   THE   fUBUC   SERVICES   OF 

Caplain  Gardner  also  succeeded  in  reducing  the  Dutch  settlement 
of  Cochin,  on  the  coast  of  Malabar. 

Shortly  after  the  completion!  of  this  service,  in  March  1796,  he 
united  himself,  in  marriage,  with  Miss  Maria  Adderley,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Baroness  Hobart  ;  whose  husband,  Lord  Hobart,  now  Eari 
of  Buckinghamshire,  was  at  that  time  governor  of  Madras.* — 
This  marriage  has  since  been  dissolved  by  Act  of  Parliament. 

Captain  Gardner  returned  to  England  in  the  course  of  the  year ; 
and,  in  January,  1797,  was  appointed  to  the  Ruby,  of  64  guns, 
in  which  he  joined  the  Channel  fleet,  under  Lord  Bridport,  when 
that  officer  assumed  the  chief  command.  +  From  the  Ruby  he  was 
soon  afterwards  promoted  to  the  Resolution,  of  74  guns  ;  and  in 
that  ship  he  continued  to  serve,  in  the  same  fleet,  until  the  con- 
clusion of  the  war,  in  1802,  when  she  was  paid  oft' at  Chatham. 

Except  in  the  event  of  a  general  engagement  taking  place,  the 
commander  of  a  linc-of-battlc  ship  has  seldom  much  opportunity 
of  distinguishing  himself  in  the  Channel  fleet ;  and,  were  it  not  for 
the  satisfaction  which  arises  from  a  conscientious  discharge  of  pub- 
lic duty,  the  dull  routine  of  the  service  would,  we  conceive,  be 
almost  insupportable.  It  may  be  thought,  however,  to  reflect 
some  credit  upon  Captain  Gardner,  that  the  crew  of  the  Resolu- 
tion, while  under  his  command,  distinguished  themselves  by  their 
steady  and  loyal  conduct,  during  the  mutiny  which  broke  out  in 
Bantry  Bay,  at  the  close  of  the  year  1801.  +  The  marines  also  of 
that  ship  were  publicly  thanked  by  the  Admiralty,  for  having 
volunteered  their  services  to  reduce  the  disorderly  crews  to  a  pro- 
per sense  of  their  duty. 

*  The  lather  of  Miss  Adderlcj  was  Thomas  Adderley,  Esq.  oflnnishaimon, 
county  of  Cork.  The  lady  was  an  only  daughter. 

t  This  was  in  the  month  of  April,  on  the  resignation  of  Lord  Howe.  At 
that  time,  Vice-admiral  Sir  Alan  Gardner  became  second  in  command, 
Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  I.  page  '.23  ;  and  Vol.  VIII.  page  i96. 

+  The  Resolution  had  been  ordered  to  Bantry  Bay,  in  the  month  of  No- 
vember, with  a  detachment  from  the  Channel  fleet,  under  Vice-admiral  Sir 
A.  Mitchell,  K.B.  and,  after  cruising  there  for  some  time,  the  Resolution, 
Temeraire,  Formidable,  Majestic,  Vengeance,  and  Orion,  were  ordered 
to  the  West  Indies.  In  consequence,  however,  of  the  mutiny  which  broke 
out  on  board  the  Temeraire,  Rear-admiral  Campbell's  flag-ship,  the  sailing 
of  those  ships  was  suspended,.  —  J "vie.  NAVAL  CHROMCLK,  Vol.  XVI.  page 
105;  aud  Vol.  VII.  page  46. 


THE   RIGHT    HON.    ALAN    HYDE   LORD    GARDNER.  365 

When  the  present  war  broke  out,  Captain  Gardner,  as  an 
officer  of  tried  abilities,  was  appointed  to  the  Hero,  of  74  guns,  ia 
•which  he  joined  the  Channel  fleet,  then  under  the  command  of 
Lord  Bridport. 

In  Sir  Robert  Calder's  action  with  the  combined  fleets  of  France 
and  Spain,  on  the  22d  of  July,  1S05,  Captain  Gardner  had  the 
honour  to  lead  the  van  squadron  ;  and,  in  so  judicious  and  masterly 
a  style  did  he  perform  that  service,  that  his  conduct  was  noticed 
by  the  admiral,  in  his  public  despatch.*  On  this  occasion,  it  will 
be  recollected,  the  Rafael,  of  84  guns,  and  the  Firme,  of  74,  were 
both  captured,  f 

It  was  afterwards  the  good  fortune  of  Captain  Gardner  to  be 
ene  of  the  squadron  which  was  detached  from  the  Channel  fleet, 
under  the  orders  of  Captain  (now  Rear-admiral)  Shr  Richard 
Strachan  ;  which,  it  will  be  well  remembered,  after  a  severe  battle, 
on  the  4th  of  November,  1805,  captured  an  equal  number  of 
ships,  one  of  which  bore  a  rear-admiral's  flag,  t  —  In  this  action,  as 
well  as  in  that  of  Sir  Robert  Calder,  Captain  Gardner  had  the 
honour  to  lead ;  and  he  was  some  time  engaged  with  the  Formi- 
ilable,  the  French  flag-ship,  of  80  guns,  before  the  Namur,  Cap- 
tain  Hals  ted,  came  up  with  the  rest  of  the  squadron.  The  total 
loss  sustained  by  the  English  was  small ;  a  circumstance  accounted 
for,  by  Sir  Richard  Strachan,  by  "  the  enemy  firing  high,  and  we 
closing  suddenly  ;"  but  Captain  Gardner's  ship  (the  Hero)  had 

*  «  The  Hon.  Captain  Gardner,  of  the  Hero,"  says  Sir  Robert  Calder, 
"  led  the  van  squadron  in  a  most  masterly  and  officer-like  manner,  to  whom 
I  feel  mi/self  particularly  indebted."  The  Hero,  on  this  occasion,  had  one 
iiian  ki'lied,  and  tour  wounded.  Tide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  XIV. 
page  I6'J. 

f  For  the  official  accounts  of  this  action,  the  reader  is  referred  to  thq 
XlVth  volume  of  the  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  page  163;  for  «  Minutes  of  the 
Action,"  &c.  also  see  Vol.  XIV.  page  168  ;  for  Admiral  V.lleneuve's 
despatches  to  the  French  government,  see  Vol.  XIV.  page  170;  and,  for  a 
biographical  memoir  of  Sir  Robert  Calder,  with  farther  particulars,  se« 
Vol.  XVII.  page  99. 

+  M  Dumnnoir  le  Pelley,  who  was  woundei  in  the  action  ;  for  the 
official  particulars  of  which,  vide  NAVAL  CHROJUCLK,  Vol.  XIV.  page  420, 
et  sej. 

JoU  XXI.  3  A 


S68  MEMOIR    OF   THE    PUBLIC    SERVICES    OF 

10  men  killed,  and  51  wounded  ;  numbers  amounting  to  nearly 
half  the  total  of  each. 

For  this  service,  he,  with  his  brave  associates,  received  the 
thanks  of  Parliament,  and  was  honoured  with  a  gold  medal, 
similar  to  that  which  was  first  struck,  by  order  of  his  Majesty, 
commemorative  of  the  glorious  victory  of  the  1st  of  June,  1794. 
A  valuable  sword  was  also  awarded  to  him  by  the  members  of  the 
Patriotic  Fund  at  Lloyd's. 

Continuing  in  the  Hero,  Captain  Gardner  was  employed,  in  the 
early  part  of  the  year  1806,  with  the  squadron  under  the  command 
of  Sir  John  Borlase;  Warren,  in  search  of  the  enemy's  squadron 
which  had  escaped  from  Rochefort ;  and  was  consequently  present 
at  the  capture  of  the  Marengo  and  the  Belle  Poule,  the  former 
of  which  bore  the  flag  of  Admiral  Linois,  on  the  13th  of 
March.* 

In  the  year  1807,  Captain  Gardner  was  appointed  captain  of 
the  Channel  fleet;  an  appointment  which  he  continued  to  hold, 
till  the  retirement,  from  ill  health,  of  the  late  lamented  Lord  Gard- 
ner, the  commander-in.chief. 

Soon  afterwards  (on  the  28th  of  April,  1808)  he  was  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  rear-admiral  of  the  blue  squadron,  and  immediately 
hoisted  his  flag  on  board  the  Bellerophon,  of  74  guns  ;  since  which 
he  has  been  employed,  with  a  squadron,  in  watching  the  motions 
of  the  enemy  in  the  Scheldt;  and,  at  present,  he  is  engaged  in  the 
dull,  but  necessary  service,  of  blockading  the  Dutch  fleet  in  the 
Tex  el.  That  the  enemy  may  speedily  give  him  an  opportunity  of 
fighting,  instead  of  blockading,  we  have  no  doubt  the  admiral,  as 


*  Sir  John  Warren's  official  account  of  tlnVaction  is  given  in  the  XVth 
Volume  of  the  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  page  433. — It  was,  we  believe,  about  the 
14th  of  January,  that  the  Admiral  sailed  from  Portsmouth,  with  a  squadron 
of  seven  sail  of  the  line,  two  frigates,  two  brigs,  and  a  cutter.  He  arrived 
off  Madeira  on  the  15th  of  the  following  month,  and  continued  cruising  for 
some  time  off  the  Cape  de  Verd  Islands  ]t  was  on  the  morning  of  the 
13th  of  March  that  two  strange  sail  were  descried,  which  afterwards  proved 
to  be  the  Marengo  and  the  Belle  'Poule,  returning  from  the  East  Indies 
An  action  ensued,  which  terminated  in  their  capture.  Sir  John  Warren 
then  put  into  Port  Praya,  in  the  island  of  St.  Jago,  to  refit;  and,  after 
encountering  a  dangerous  storm,  in  which  the  Marengo  lost  all  her  masts, 
be  arrived  safe  at  Spithead,  with  his  prizes,  on  the  14th  of  May. 


THE    RIGHT    HON.    ALAN    HYDE    LORD    GARDNER.  367 

trell  as  every  one  of  the  brave  tars  under  him,  most  cordially 
•wishes. 

We  have  only  to  add,  that  at  the  commencement  of  the  present 
year,  on  the  death  of  the  late  Lord  Gardner,  as  has  been  already 
stated,  the  gallant  subject  of  this  memoir  succeeded  to  the  family 
honours  and  estates.  May  he  long  enjoy  them,  to.  the  credit  and 
advantage  of  himself  and  of  his  country. 


HERALDIC    PARTICULARS. 

For  a  full  account  of  this  family  AVC  must  refer  our  readers  to  the 
life  of  his  lordship's  father,  in  Volume  VIII.  page  197  ;  and  in  this 
place  have  merely  to  state,  that  his  lordship  was  born  on  the  6th  of 
February,  1771,  and  married  in  1796  Maria  Elizabeth,  only- 
daughter  of  Thomas  Adderley,  of  Innishannon,  in  the  county  of 
Cork,  Esq.  some  time  member  of  Parliament  for  that  county  :  his 
.  lordship  married  secondly,  on  the  10th  of  April,  1809,  the  Hon. 
Charlotte  Smith,  daughter  of  Lord  Carrington. 

His  lordship's  brother,  William  Henry,  married  20th  February, 
1803,  to  Eliza  Lydia,  third  daughter  of  Colonel  Fyers,  command- 
ing Royal  Engineer  at  Gibraltar,  by  whom  he  has  issue  Anne- 
Europa,  born  10th  December,  1804,  and  Eliza,  born  January 
17,  1806. 

The  Hon.  Herbert  Gardner,  another  of  his  lordship's  brothers, 
married  7th  November,  1804,  the  youngest  daughter  of  the  late 
John  Cornwall,  Esq. 

ARMS. — Or,  on  a  cheveron,  gules,  between  three  Griffins'  heads 
erazed,  azure ;  an  anchor  erect,  with  a  piece  of  cable  supported 
by  two  lions,  ch'everon-ways  of  the  field. 

CREST.— A  Demi-Griffin,  azure,  collared  and  chained,  or,  sup- 
porting an  anchor  as  in  the  arms. 

SUPPORTERS.— On  either  side  a  Griffin,  azure,  gorged  with  a 
naval  coronet,  or,  the  dexter  paw  resting  on  an  anchor,  sable. 

MOTTO. — Valet  anclwra  virtus. 


3G8 


NAVAL  ANECDOTES, 
COMMERCIAL  HINTS,  RECOLLECTIONS,  &c. 


XANTE3    IN    GURGITE    VASTO. 


I 


GALLANTRY  OF  LOUD  COCHRANI. 

T  is  not  very  surprising,  perhaps,  that  the  appointment  of  so 
young  an  officer  as  Lord  Cochrane,  to  a  service  so  important 
as  that  in  which  he  recently  acquired  so  much  honour,  should  ex- 
cite a  degree  of  jealousy  in  the  navy  ;  particularly  when  it  is  con- 
sidered, that  he  was  not  even  attached  to  the  lleet,  under  whos* 
commander  he  was  appointed  to  act.  If  there  were  any  blame, 
however,  in  the  appointment,  it  was  by  no  means  imputable  to  his 
lordship  ;  who,  on  the  contrary,  is  entitled  to  the  highest  praise, 
not  only  for  the  wisdom  of  the  plan,  but  for  the  promptness  and 
efficacy  of  its  execution  ;  and  it  would  be  ungenerous  in  the  ex- 
treme to  deprive  him  of  any  portion  of  that  glory,  which  he  has  so 
nobly  earned.  With  this  feeling,  therefore,  and  disclaiming  every 
party  sentiment  on  the  subject,  we  transcribe  the  following  article 
from  a  Morning  Paper.  The  wrriter  is  evidently  not  over  friendly 
to  the  present  system  of  naval  management;  but,  without  inquiring 
into  the  justness  of  his  opinions  or  allusions  on  that  point,  we  con- 
sider the  narrative  part  of  his  matter,  as  relating  to  the  professional 
conduct  of  Lord  Cochrane,  to  be  too  important  to  withhold  from 
our  readers. 

"  Nothing,"  says  he,  "  can  be  more  gratifying  to  the  liberal 
and  the  just,  than  to  see  the  merits  of  the  brave  and  the  benevolent 
rewarded  with  the  grateful  acknowledgments  and  praise  that  are 
due  to  their  intrepidity,  and  their  humane  exertions  to  save  and 
succour  the  victims  of  their  glory  :  and  yet  it  too  often  happetii 
that  the  jealousy  of  rivalship  for  renown,  which  ought  to  excite 
only  the  emulation  that  leads  (o  eminence  in  the  career  of  honour, 
excites  that  degree  of  envy  which  renders  only  a  cold  tribute  of 
applause  amidst  the  confusion  ol'  general  commendation,  withhold- 
ing those  particular  instances  of  valour  and  worth  which  cannot 
be  attributable  to  all,  diverting  thereby  the  right  current  of  po- 
pular favour,  by  drawing  oil'  the  attention  of  the  world  from  indi- 
vidual and  extraordinary  actions  to  general  events. 

*'  Such,  we  are  sorry  to  observe,  has  been  too  much  the  case 
in  the  signal  service  that  has  been  performed  by  Lord  Cochraiie  at 
Basque  Roads. 


NAVAL    ANECDOTES,   &C.  269 

"  It  is  notorious  that  his  lordship's  appointment  to  the  arrange- 
ment and  conduct  of  the  attack  produced  a  jealous  quarrel  between 
the  admirals  on  the  station,  and  that  the  commanding  admiral  un. 
willingly  submitted  to  the  directions  of  ministers^  who  had,  as  it 
will  appear  by  the  result,  s&  properly  entrusted  this  important  and 
hazardous  enterprise  to  this  intrepid  officer  j  and  Lord  Gambier's 
communication  to  the  Admiralty  insinuates,  that  Lord  Cochrane's 
appointment  might  have  been  dispensed  with;  for,  he  says,  "  had 
not  their  lordships  fixed  upon  him  to  conduct  the  enterprize,  I 
have  full  confidence  that  the  result  of  their  efforts  would  hava 
been  highly  creditable  to  them."  But  without  asking  why  u  their 
efforts"  had  not  been  already  exerted,  even  before  Lord  Coch- 
rane's  appointment,  instead  of  losing  so  much  time  as  allowed  his 
lordship  to  come  home,  to  propose  the  measure,  fit  out  the  explo- 
sion ships,  and  go  out  to  the  scene  of  action,  before  any  such, 
attempt  had  been  made  ;  we  shall  be  content  to  say,  that  the  par- 
ticular fact  which  most  entitles  Lord  Cochrane  to  his  country's 
admiration  and  applause,  ought  not  to  have  been  smothered  in  the 
general  acknowledgment  that  his  gallantry  and  judgment  "could 
cot  be  exceeded  by  any  feat  of  valour  hitherto  achieved  by  the 
British  navy  ;"  for  w  hen  the  circumstances  are  better  known,  we 
doubt  not,  an  admiring  nation  will  agree  with  us,  that  although 
these  arc  large  terms,  still  they  are  not  extensive  enough  to  include 
the  due  praise  of  this  "judicious"  and  "  gallant  officer,"  whose 
daring  spirit,  and  total  disregard  of  all  personal  consideration  in. 
the  performance  of  this  service,  were  not  only  never  exceeded,  but 
perhaps  never  equalled  before  ;  and  when  the  intentions  of  tha 
government  of  France  become  known  as  to  the  service  which  has 
been  prevented  by  the  destruction  of  this  squadron,  it  will  be 
allowed  that  no  exploit  was  ever  performed  with  more  real  benefit 
to  Great  Britain  and  Europe.  We  therefore  think  it  unjust  to 
withhold  from  the  public,  that  although  Captain  Wooldridge 
most  truly  did  "  lead  on  the  Mediator  fire-ship  in  the  most 
undaunted  and  determined  manner,"  and  of  whom  Lord  Coch- 
rane has  been  publicly  heard  to  speak  in  terms  of  unbounded 
praise,  as  well  as  of  sincere  regret  for  his  severe  sufferings  ;  yet  it 
is  equally  true  that  Lord  Cochrane  personally  conducted  the 
explosion  ship,  which  had  been  charged  by  himself  in  a  manner 
than  which  nothing  was  ever  contrived  to  be  more  dreadful. 

«  His  lordship  caused  about  1,500  barrels  of  gunpowder  to  be 
Started  into  puncheons,  which  were  placed  end-upward  :  upon  the 
lops  of  these  were  placed  between  SOO  and  400  shells,  charged 


370  NAVAL    ANKCDOTES, 

tnth  fusees,  and  again,  among  and  upon  these  were  between  2  and 
3000  hand  granaries.  The  puncheons  were  fastened  to  each 
oilier  by  cables  wound  round  them,  and  jammed  together  with 
"wedges  ;  and  moistened  sand  was  rammed  down  between  these 
casks,  so  as  to  render  the  whole,  from  stem  to  stern,  as  solid  as 
possible,  that  the  resistance  might  render  the  explosion  the  more 
riolent. 

6i  In  this  immense  instrument  of  destruction,  Lord  Cochrane 
committed  himself,  with  only  one  lieutenant  and  four  seamen  ;  and 
after  the  boom  was  broken,  his  lordship  proceeded  with  this  explo- 
sion ship  towards  the  enemy's  line. 

"  Let  it  be  recollected,  that  at  this  moment  the  batteries  on 
shore  were  provided  with  furnaces  to  fire  red  hot  shot,  and  then 
his  lordship's  danger  in  this  enterprise  may  be  properly  conceived, 

"  .The  wind  blew  a  gale,  and  the  tide  ran  three  knots  an  hour. 
When  the  blue  lights  of  thje  fire-ships  were  discovered,  one  of  the 
enemy's  signal  ships  made  the  signal  for  fire-ships ;  which  being 
also  a  blue  light,  the  enemy  fell  into  great  tionfusion,  firing  upon 
her  with  very  injurious  effect,  and  directly  cut  their  cables. 

"  When  Lord  Cochrane  had  conducted  his  explosion  ship  as 
near  as  was  possible,  the  enemy  having  taken  the  alarm,  he  ordered 
his  brave  little  crewinto  the  boat,  andfollowed  them,  after  putting 
fire  to  the  fusee,  which  was  calculated  to  give  them  15  minutes  to 
get  out  of  the  reach  of  the  explosion.  However,  in  consequence 
of  the  wind  getting  very  high,  the  fusee  burnt  too  quickly  ;  so  that, 
Trith  the  most  violent  exertion  against  wind  and  tide,  this  intrepid 
little  party  were  six  minutes  nearer  than  they  calculated  to  be,  at 
the  time  when  the  most  tremendous  explosion  that  human  art  ever 
contrived  took  place,  followed  by  the  bursting  at  once  in  the  air, 
of  near  400  shells,  and  3000  hand-grenades,  pouring  down  a 
shower  of  cast  metal  in  every  direction  !  But  fortunately  our 
second  Nelson  was  spared  ;  the  boat  having  reached,  by  unparalleled 
'exertion,  only  just  beyond  the  extent  of  destruction.  Unhappily 
this  effort  to  escape  cost  the  life  of  the  brave  lieutenant,  whom  thu 
noble  captain  saw  die  in  the  boat,  partly  under  fatigue,  and  partly 
drowned  with  waves,  that  continually  broke  over  them.  Two  of 
the  four  sailors  were  also  so  nearly  exhausted  that  their  recovery 
has  been  despaired  of.  Such  were  the  perils  our  hero  encoun- 
tered, and  \\hich  have  hitherto  been  buried  in  silence.  When  they 
reached  their  ship,  the  Imperieuse,  it  is  known  that  Lord  Coch- 
rane was  the  first  to  go  down  to  the  attack,  and  was  for  more  than 
an  hour  the  only  English  man  of  wari  a  the  harbour.  His  attack 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  371 

and  capture  of  the  Calcutta,  which  had  one-thinimore  guns  than 
the  Imperieuse,  has  been  properly  spoken  of. 

"  The  repetition  of  his  explosions  was  so  dreaded  by  the 
enemy,  that  they  apprehended  an  equal  explosion  in  every  fire- 
ship  :  and  immediately  crowding  all  sail,  ran  before  wind  and  tide 
so  fast,  that  the  fire-ships,  though  at  first  very  near,  could  not 
overtake  them,  before  they  were  high  and  dry  on  shore,  except 
three  74's,  besides  the  Calcutta,  which  were  afterwards  engaged, 
taken,  and  burnt.  Seven  went  ashore,  of  which  tiso  three-deckers 
afterwards  got  off,  before  our  ships  of  the  line  got  in,  and  they 
went  up  the  river.  Two  of  the  remaining  five  were  on  their  b«am 
ends  before  Lord  Cochrane  came  away,  and  it  was  his  lordship'* 
opinion,  that  with  proper  exertion  they  might  be  completely 
destroyed. 

"  And  here  we  think  ourselves  bound  (o  pay  to  this  most  gallant 
and  noble  commander,  the  tribute  that  is  also  due  to  his  benevo- 
lence, not  exceeded  even  by  his  bravery  ;  for  it  is  the  characteristic 
of  true  courage  and  greatness  of  mind,  when  in  the  midst  of  the 
most  imminent  danger,  to  save  and  succ»ur  those,  whom  superior 
valour  has  placed  upon  the  verge  of  destruction. 

*'  Our  Hero  soon  turned  his  attention  to  rescue  the  -van. 
quished  from  th«  devouring  elements;  and  in  bringing  away  the 
people  of  the  Ville  cle  Vurso-ie*  he  would  not  allow  even  a  dog  to 
be  abandoned,  but  took  a  crying,  and  now  rieglected  little 
favourite  up  into  his  arms,  and  brought  it  away.  It  may  be  sup- 
posed that  he  has  conveyed  this  fortunate  little  trophy  into  the 
bosom  of  his  family,  where  it  ought  to  be  ever  cherished  as  an  in- 
stance of  his  generous  care.  But  a  still  greater  instance  of  good- 
ness was  displayed  in  his  humanity  to  a  captain  of  a  French  74, 
who  came  to  deliver  his  sword  to  Lord  Cochrane ;  lamenting,  that 
all  he  had  in  the  world  was  about  to  be  destroyed  by  the  confla- 
gration of  his  ship.  His  lordship  instantly  got  into  the  bbat  with 
him,  and  pushed  off,  to  assist  his  prisoner  in  retrieving  some 
valuable  loss  ;  but,  in  passing  by  a  74,  which  was  on  fire,  her 
loaded  guns  began  to  go  off;  a  shot  from  which  killed  the  French, 
captain  by  Lord  Cochrane's  side,  and  so  damaged  the  boat  that 
she  filled  with  water,  and  the  rest  of  this  party  were  nearly 
drowned. 

"  A  total  silence  as  to  the  objects  this  squadron  had  in  view, 
and  which  have  been  prevented  by  Lord  Cochrane's  destruction  of 
it,  has  hitherto  deprived  the  nation  of  the  fair  means  of  justly 
fepprechithig  the  extraordinary  advantages  which  have  accrued 


372  NAVAL    ANECDOTES, 

along  with  his  addition  to  onr  naval  glory ;  for  it  has  noxv  been 
learnt,  that  this  squadron  was  to  have  gone  to  Ferrol,  -where  it 
•would  have  gained  a  great  additional  naval  strength  :  from  thence 
proceeding  to  Toulon,  it  was  to  receive  on  board  40,000  troops, 
intended  to  take  possession  of  Cadiz  and  the  fleet  ;  and  after  that 
they  were  to  proceed  to  the  West  Indies,  to  succour  Gifatlaloupe 
and  Martinique;  for  which  service,  one  of  the  seventy-four's  that 
was  burnt  was  laden  with  six  hundred  thousand  pounds  worth  of 
stores  and  ammunition. 

"  But,  it  has  happened  fortunately  for  Spain,  and  gloriously 
for  Great  Britain,  that  Napoleon's  hopes  of  obtaining  "  ships, 
colonies  j  and  commerce^"  are  now  blasted  ;  whilst  the  very  name 
pf  Cochrane  will  be  as  dreadful  to  him  as  was  that  of  Nelson  ;  if 
our  ministers  will  only  muster  up  courage  enough  to  look  our  old 
admirals  in  the  face,  and  permit  cur  young  hero  to  obtain  volun- 
teers among  the  young  officers,  to  burn  and  destroy  every  thing 
that  may  be  within  the  reach  of  youthful  courage  and  youthful 
TJgour. 

"  It  is  active  spirit,  and  not  helpless  seniority,  to  which  our 
vigilant  enemy  entrusts  the  execution  of  his  operations.  Pensions 
are  the  fit  rewards  of  long  service;  but  the  opportunity  of  gaining 
glory  should  be  given  to  the  young,  whose  bodies  are  capable  of 
doing  justice  to  the  ardent  suggestions  of  their  minds. 

"  It  is  to  youthful  talents  that  Buonaparte  is  indebted  for  the 
enormous  and  successful  strides  which  he  has  made  towards  univer- 
sal power.  The  decrepitude  of  ancient  experience  may  adapt 
itself  to  our  councils  of  war;  but  the  rapid  ardour  of  youth  ought 
to  be  employed  to  execute  those  daring  schemes,  by  which  alone 
the  most  daring  enemy  we  ever  had  to  encounter  can  be  defeated. 

"  It  is  to  be  hoped,  that  this  instance,  in  which  our  ministers 
have,  for  once,  successfully  entrusted  a  great  cnterprize  to  a 
meritorious  junior  officer,  will  have  the  effect  of  calling  forth  the 
active  efforts  of  other  juniors  in  the  navy,  whose  emulation  has 
hitherto  been  damped  by  the  immense  distance  between  them  and 
that  post  of  honour,  to  which  many  would  aspire  if  they  were 
likely  to  reach  it,  while  their  personal  activity  renders  them  capable 
of  doing  justice  to  a  command  ;  but,  to  look  forward  to  the  hoary 
state  of  worn-out  bodies  before  a  laurel  can  be  gained,  is  too 
chilling  a  prospect  to  excite  the  ardour  of  youth  to  a  career,  which, 
may  never  enable  them  to  reach  the  distant  goal  of  glory. 

11  Seeing  what  Lord  Cochrane  has  done  with  his  single  ship 
upon  the  French  shores,  we  may  easily  conceive  what  he  would 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,     RECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  373 

Have  achieved  if  he  had  been  entrusted  with  a  sufficient  squadron 
of  ships,  and  a  few  thousand  military,  hovering  along  the  whole 
extent  of  the  French  coast,  which  it  would  take  a  Considerable 
portion  of  the  army  of  France  to  defend.  Tims,  and  thus  alone, 
may  Spain  be  saved  ;  thus,  the  coast-ways  trade  of  France,  her 
only  but  yet  considerable  commerce,  may  be  annihilated  ;  thus 
alone  an  incessant  and  successful  war  may  be  easily  maintained  upon 
the  shores  of  France  ;  until  her  interior,  from  hitherto  unknown 
want,  shall  be  obliged  to  rise  and  shake  off  the  yoke." 

FRENCH    ACCOUNT    OF    LORD    COCHRANEJS    EXPLOIT    IN    BASQUE 

ROADS. 

THE  Moniteur  of  the  23d  of  April  contains  the  following 
"  Report  to  the  Minister  of  Marine,  by  Admiral  Alemand^ 
dated  "  on  board  the  Ocean,  12th  April,  Aix  Roads." 

"  By  my  last  of  the  9th,  I  had  the  honour  to  mention  that 
the  enemy's  force,  anchored  in  Basque  Roads,  consisted  of  eleven 
of  the  line,  six  frigates,  eleven  brigs,  and  thirty-two  transports. 
On  the  10th  there  appeared  also  sixteen  ships,  which  appeared  to 
be  transports  or  fire-ships.  I  struck  topmasts  on  the  llth,  when 
the  wind  was  N. W.  The  frigates  neared  the  Isle — the  fleet  of  hi« 
Majesty  lay  in  two  lines,  in  order  that  the  smallest  possible  front 
might  bo  presented  to  the  fire-ships. — They  were  flanked  by  a  raft 
800  toisc'S  long.  About  sun-set  it  still  blew  hard,  and  I  gave  to 
each  captain  the  liberty  to  act  according  to  circumstances. 

"  About  half-past  eight  o'clock  four  English,  ships  came  to 
anchor  to  the  westward  of  the  head  of  the  line — th?y  had  fire 
signals,  and  appeared  to  be  intended  for  beacons  to  the  fire-ships. 

"  About  nine  o'clock  a  great  explosion  took  place  close  to  the 
fleet,  which  was  followed  by  two  more.  A  brig  o.i  tire  Mas  sent 
against  part  of  the  fleet,  and  afterwards  a  number  of  other  b-igs 
and  three-masted  ships  advanced  in  full  sail  in  flames,  which  were 
by  the  tide  kept  off  some  time  by  'h^.  fleet,  but  at  last  they  reached 
my  line.  The  first  c-ime  close  to  the  Rcgulus,  and  fell  on  board 
her  starboard  side,  while  a  second,  also  in  flames,  run  on  board 
the  Ocean.  I  had  ordered  thg  cables  to  be  *lip*  o  avoid  complete 
destruction.  So  soon  as  the  tire-ships  camo  close  to  the  bowsprit, 
the  Ocean  sKpt  her  cable  and  drove.  The  fire-ships  followed  iii 
succession,  and  came  in  full  sail  against  the  whole  -jf  our  line, 

d  particularly  against  the  Ocean.     It  was  all  o>tr  with  his 

JRab.  <ZTijrotu  ffioU  XXI.  3  B 


374  NAVAL    ANECDOTES, 

Majesty's  ship  ;  the  flames  spread  rapidly  over  her.  (The  admiral 
th  n  mentions  the  efforts  to  get  her  away,  which  was  effected). 
The  enemy  had  three  infernal  machines  and  33  fire-ships,  and 
three-masted  vessels,  with  two  ships  of  the  line  and  frigates, 
directed  against  our  fl-  et.  All  his  Majesty's  ships  and  frigates 
have  been  delivered  from  the  attack  of  the  fire-ships  by  slipping 
their  cables," 

T!;is  Report  ends  with  complaints  of  the  ships'  crews  ;  a  cir- 
cumstance which  proves  the  wretched  state  of  French  naval 
discipline. 

(i  The  Marine  Prefect,"  observes  the  Monifeiir^  li  has  since 
given  notice,  that  three  ships  of  the  line,  and  one  armed  enjiute^ 
were  stranded,  and  could  not  be  brought  off,  and  were  set  fire  to 
after  the  crews  had  been  landed.  The  enemy  Avere  making  ar- 
rangements for  a  fresh  attack  by  the  next  Hood,  with  bombs  and 
fire-ships,  but  with  remarkable  tardiness,  and  they  have  not  been 
able  to  prevent  the  squadron  from  repairing  their  damage." 

The  Moniteur  concludes  with  a  declamation  against  Ilia  use  of 
Jire-shtps  I 

STATE    OF    THE    FRENCH    FLEET, 
By  an  Officer  who  left  Rochefort  on  the  24th  of  April. 

L'Ocean,  of  120  guns,  Vice-admiral  Alemanct,  Captain  Row- 
land;  on  shore  as  late  as  the  24th  of  April,  unrigged,  lightened 
and  shored  up  by  lower  yards,  and  no  probable  chance  of  getting 
off,  having  laid  there  two  spring  tides. 

Foudroyant,  of  84  guns,  Rear-admiral  Yourden,  Captaitt 
Henri ;  in  the  same  state  on  the  24th. 

Caesar,  of  84  guns,  Commodore  Faure ;  gone  up  the  river 
towards  Kochefort,  much  damaged  by  grounding. 

Tourville,  of  74  guns,  Captain  Le  Caillie;  gone  up  the  river, 
and  damaged. 

Aquilon,  of  74  guns,  Captain  Manyon  (died  of  his  wounds)  3 
struck  to  the  llevenge  and  frigates  on  the  12th  of  April,  and  burnt 
by  the  English. 

Tonnerre,  of  84  guns,  Captain  Clement  de  la  Rousiere  ;  burnt 
by  the  enemy,  with  the  French  Colours  flying. 

Ville  de  Varsovie,  of  84  guns,  Captain  Crevillicr;  struck  to  the 
Revenge  and  frigates,  and  burnt  by  them. 

Jemappe,  of  74  guns,  Captain  Favaur  ;  gone  up  the  river 
damaged ;  having  been  on  shore* 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,  &G.  37fi 

Jean  Bart,  of  SO  guns,  Captain  Bosee  (ordered  by  Buonaparte 
to  be  shot)  ;  wrecked  on  the  26th  of  February  on  Lcspalles  Shoal, 
while  reconnoitring  the  English  fleet. 

Calcutta  (formerly  English),  of  50  guns,  Captain  Lefence  j 
struck  to  the  Imperiense,  and  burnt  by  her. 

Regulus,  of  8*  guns,  Captain  Lucas,  and  Patriot,  of  74  guns, 
Captain  Mahe,  were  both  on  shore;  one  as  late  as  (he  24th, 
having  been  there  two  spring  tides ;  the  other  supposed  to  have 
gone  to  pieces  in  a  westerly  gale,  or  got  off  and  went  up  the  river 
in  the  night. 

Indienne  frigate,  Captain  Protoare ;  burnt  by  the  enemy  th« 
16th  of  April. 

Elbe,  ditto,  Captain  Beranger;  Pallas,  ditto.  Captain  Le  Bigot; 
and  Hortense,  ditto,  Captain  Allgand  ;  escaped  up  the  river  on  th« 
night  our  fireships  bore  down  on  the  enemy. 

NEW    MACHINE    FOK    DISCOVERING    THE    LATITUDE    AND 
LONGITUDE. 

CHARLES  VISCOUNT  DE  VAUX  has  lately  taken  out  a  patent 
for  a  machine  to  shew  the  latitude  and  longitude  at  sea.  &c. — The 
chief  part  of  this  machine  is  a  hydroscope,  which  is  a  double  box 
suspended  one  in  the  other,  and  supported  by  an  axis  or  horizontal 
pivot  hollowed  in  the  inside,  which  keeps  the  two  boxes  perpen- 
dicular in  all  the  motions,  of  the  thip.  The  inside  box  contains  a 
sort  of  clepsydra,  or  double  sand-glass,  furnished  with  one  or  two 
perpendicular  scales  ;  by  means  of  these  scales,  \\hich  cover  two 
sand-glasses,  the  weight  of  the  sand,  falling  in  due  proportion  ou 
the  bottom  one,  acts  upon  a  spiral  ring  fixed  perpendicular  in  the 
top  of  the  largest  box,  to  which  it  is  joined  by  some  wires,  and  a 
hook  placed  in  the  centre  of  each  scale  :  by  these  means  the  ivvight 
of  the  sand  falling  in  a  certain  time,  expresses  upon  a  dial  in  front 
of  the  top  box,  and  divided  into  sixty  parts  or  minutes  of  a  degree, 
the  quantify  of  miles  run  by  a  ship  according  to  its  velocity.  But 
the  continual  variation  of  that  velocity  is  expressed  upon  another 
dial  placed  upon  the  side  of  the  frame,  which  supports  th-.>  double 
box.  A.  globe  of  an  e-jual  specific  gravity  with  thy  water  is 
plunged  i'.i  (he  sea,  about  the  middle  of  the  ship,  which  has  a  com- 
munication with  the  inside  of  a  room  iu  the  ship  where  thelndroscope 
stands,  by  a,  cord  or  chain  through  a  cylinder.  A  cord  or  chain 
passing  over  a  pulley  or  crai.k  enters  the  tube  or  pivot  of  t:,e 
boxes.  In  this  tube  the  chain  joins  a  band  or  rod  of  brass,  which, 
passes  through  a  brass  collar,  iu  tfhich  the  sand  descends  from  ong 


376  NAVAL    ANECDOTES,    &C. 

glass, to  the  other.  The  band  of  brass  has  a  longitudinal  opening 
equal  to  the  extent  of  the  attraction  of  the  globe  upon  another 
spiral  spring,  placed  horizontally  in  the  same  tube  on  the  other 
side  of  the  brass  collar ;  so  that  the  greatest  velocity  of  a  ship  being 
supposed  to  be  twelve  miles  in  an  hour,  the  ship  going  at  that  rate, 
a  globe  of  six  inches  in  diameter  cannot  receive  in  the  water  a 
greater  resistance  than  twelve  pounds,  or  one  pound  per  mile,  as 
the  spiral  spring  shews  upon  its  rod.  The  rod  of  the  spiral  spring 
expressing  twelve  pounds,  or  twelve  miles,  not  coming  out  of  the 
spring  more  than  four-tenths  of  an  inch  for  that  weight,  or  for 
that  resistance  of  the  water  upon  the  globe  than  the  longitudinal 
opening  made  in  the  band  or  rod,  which  passes  through  the  com- 
munication between  the  two  glasses,  permits  the  sand  to  fall 
according  to  the  velocity  of  the  ship,  and  stops  it  entirely  if  the 
ship  is  at  rest.  If  this  hydroscope  is  used  on  land  instead  of  the 
sea,  or  in  a  ship  merely  for  a  time-keeper,  then  the  sand  will 
always  run  at  the  same  rate,  and  express  regularly  the  time  upon 
the  interior  circle  of  the  dial  divided  in  twenty-four  parts,  and  it 
•will  be  suffered  to  wind,  that  is,  to  turn  the  box  or  clepsydra  every 
twenty-four  hours. 

By  the  same  principles  of  the  weighing  clock,  the  same  dial 
which  serves  on  the  side  of  the  hydroscope  for  weighing  the 
resistance  of  the  fluid,  or  the  run  of  a  ship,  if  this  dial  is  taken 
separately,  with  its  spiral  spring,  is  a  convenient  machine  to  use 
instead  of  scales  for  weighing  any  commodities :  it  requires  no 
weights,  nor  any  other  scales  ;  it  never  entangles  like  scales,  and 
is  said  to  be  as  sure  and  convenient  as  it  is  ornamental.  This 
machine  will  likewise  become  an  excellent  perpetual  log  when 
the  globe  is  used  with  it.  It  may  also  be  made  to  measure  the 
strength  of  the  wind,  in  which  case  the  clepsydra  might  be  used 
separately  as  a  good  time-keeper. 

The  next  part  of  the  Count's  invention  is  the  elastic  cable,  for 
stopping  the  ship  or  other  vessel  at  sea,  in  order  to  calculate  the 
alteration  that  such  current  can  occasion  on  the  course  of  the  ship, 
as  these  clastic  cables  can  be  used  on  a  small  scale,  with  a  boat,  as 
•well  as  with  the  ship.  Hence  may  be 'calculated  the  course  of  the 
ship. 

The  Count  deduces  from  the  course  of  the  ship  the  lee-way, 
•which  is  accounted  for  in  this  invention  for  the  longitude  by  the 
means  of  a  litile  glass  tube,  such  as  that  for  a  barometer.  This 
glass  tube  is  fixed  across  the  ship,  to  a  little  opening  or  valve  on 
each  side,  very  little  under  the  level  of  the  water  :  the  centre 


CORRESPONDENCE.  377 

of  that  rises  perpendicular  along  the  frame  of  the  hydroscope 
where  a  scale  expresses  the  degree  of  the  lee-way  of  the  ship  by 
the  water  rising  in  that  perpendicular  glass  tube,  in  the  proportion 
of  the  lee-way. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

NAVAL   TRANSACTIONS    ON  THE   COAST   OF 
PORTUGAL. 

"  Sic  TOS,  noii  vobis." Vine.  Vie. 

AS  long  as  the  present  etiquette,  respecting  the  admission  of 
naval  reports  to  the  honours  of  publication  "  by  authority" 
shall  prevail  at  the  Admiralty,  the  NAVAL  CHRONICLE  is  our  only 
resource  for  rescuing  from  oblivion  a  multitude  of  praise-worthy 
services  performed  by  squadrons,  by  single  ships,  and  by  individual 
officers,  which  might  otherwise  never  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
nation  in  whose  cause  our  gallant  "  sons  of  the  waves  "  are  daily 
encountering  difficulty,  danger,  and  death.  Owing  to  this  deficiency 
of  some  semi- official  medium  of  publicity  for  naval  transactions, 
when  they  do  not  happen  to  be  signalised  by  success  in  battle,  one 
grand  incentive  to  military  virtue  is  lost ;  the  profession  is  bereaved 
of  the  benefit  of  many  a  bright  example  ;  the  sailor's  appropriate 
reward  falls  a  prey  to  party,  or  becomes  the  perquisite  of 
office  ;  and  no  inconsiderable  chasm  is  left  in  the  naval  history  of 
Uritain. 

TiiKje  form  the  principal  motives  for  transmitting  to  this  respec- 
table repository  the  following  memoranda  by  an  eye  witness  of  the 
proceedings  of  a  squadron,  which,  it  is  true,  had  no  opportunity 
of  measuring  its  force  with  an  enemy  .'  but  it  was  commanded  by 
an  officer,  from  the  very  selection  of  whom  some  estimate  may  be 
formed  of  the  degree  of  importance  attached  to  its  destination. 

The  court  of  Portugal,  after  consuming  several  weeks  in  fruitless 
attempts  to  propitiate  Buonaparte,  found  itseli  at  length,  towards 
the  close  of  1807,  much  in  the  state,  described  by  American  tra- 
vellers, of  birds  fascinated  by  the  rattlesnake.  Thus,  when  the 
French  army  had  reached  Salamanca,  the  Regent  of  Portugal 
proclaimed  this  palinody  : — 

"  It  having  ever  been  the  object  of  my  earnest  attention  to  observe  the 
most  perfect  neutrality  during  the  present  war,  from  a  sense  of  the  ac- 


375  OnRESl'ONJlENCE. 

laiowledged  benefits  thereby  resulting  to  the  subjects  of  this  crown  ;  finding, 
however,  that  I  can  no  longer  preserve  it,  and  considering  how  interesting 
to  humanity  is  a  general  peace,  I  have  determined  to  accede  to  the  cause  of 
the  Continent.  Therefore,  uniting  myself  with  his  Majesty  the  Emperor  of 
the  French  and  King  of  Italy,  and  with  his  Catholic  Majesty,  to  the  end  of 
contributing,  a;s  far  ns  shall  depend  upon  me,  to  the  acceleration  of  a  mari- 
time peace,  I  hereby  command  that  the  ports  of  this  kingdom  be  shut 
against  the  ships  of  Great  Britain,  whether  ships  of  war  or  merchant  vessels. 
So  be  it  understood. 

"  tyiifra,  20th  October,  1807.  (Signed)     "  THE  PRIXCi:." 

The  proclamation,  of  which  the  above  is  a  translation,  was  sent 
by  Mr.  Warre,  deputy  consul  at  Oporto,  to  Lord  W.  Stuart,  cap- 
tain of  the  Lavinia  frigate,  and  by  him  forwarded  to  Admiral 
Lord  Gardner,  on  the  9th  of  November.  Notwithstanding 
the  presence  of  a  British  legation  at  Lisbon  (whose  doings  on 
this  occasion  have  been  conspicuously  rewarded  in  the  person 
of  a  certain  noble  diplomatist)  it  does  not  appear  that  our 
government  had  any  previous  warning  of  such  an  extraordinarj 
change  in  the  politics  of  our  quondam  ally  ;  since  it  was  only  about 
the  time  the  mischief  was  actually  going  on  at  Lisbon,  that  the 
appropriation  of  a  naval  force  to  the  Tagus  was  taken  in  hand  at 
the  Admiralty  ;  and  not  until  the  27th  of  October  that  a  com- 
mission passed  the  Board,  appointing  Rear-admiral  Sir  Sidney 
Smith  coimnander-in-chief  of  a  squadron  on  this  particular  service. 

That  officer  had  b  en  recently  recalled  from  the  Mediterranean,.; 
and  at  this  time  was  not  only  in  an  invalid  state  of  health,  but 
almost  crippled  by  a  hurt  sulFercd  on  his  knee  ia  Egypt.  He  never- 
theless came  forward  with  his  characteristic  alacrity,  and  by  the  6th 
of  November  was  already  at  Plymouth  to  take  command  c~"  such 
of  his  squadron  as  was  then  assembled  in  Cawsand  Bay,  consisting 
of  the  ships  as  per  margin.*  The  Hib.-rnia,  120-,  had  been 
ordered  on  this  service  as  flag-ship,  and  Captain  C.  M.  Schomberg 
had  been  sent  with  a  commission  for  that  ship  to  Plymouth,  she 
being  supposed  to  be  cruising  with  the  .Channel  lleet  ;  but  it  so 
happened  tha.t  they  had  been  blown  by  westerly  gales  into  Torbay, 
where  Captain  S.  joined  her  on  the  7ih,  and  was  by  the  commander- 
in-chief  immediately  ordered  to  sail  for  Sir  Sidney  Smith's  ren, 
dezvous  at  sea  !  without  being  allowed  to  call  at  Plymouth, 
although  the  ilibernia  passed  that  port  in  sight,  upon  the  8th, 
The  rear-admiral  therefore  was  under  the  necessity  of  !;«>isting 
his  flag,  pro  tempnre,  in  the  London,  08,  and  on 


*  London,  Maryborough,  Bedford,  Monarch,  Elizabeth,  and  Sole-bay, 


CORRESPONDENCE.  379 

•flay  afternoon,  llth  November,  Aveighed  anchor  from  Cawsand 
Bay,  spoke  ilio  Fi-rrol  squadron  under  Captain  Sir  R.  King,  ori 
Saturday  morning,  and  on  the  Monday  following  (16th)  reached 
the  station  oft'  the  Tagns.  On  making  the  land,  it  not  being 
thought  fit  to  pass  the  bar  in  contempt  of  the  proclamation  of 
the  '20th  of  October,  thf^  admiral's  secretary  (Mr.  Speare)  was 
detached  in  one  of  those  small  craft  nicknamed  by  sailors 
*'  Ifcancodv^  to  open  soinc  communication  with  our  establish- 
ments at  Lisbon.  This  gentleman,  after  being  exposed  to  stormy 
\veatht  r  in  an  open  boat  1  5  hours,  delivered  his  despatches  secretly 
to  Lord  Viscount  Strangford,  his  Majesty's  secretary  of  legatioa 
and  char ge-d' -affaires  in  the  absence  of  the  minister,  Lord  R. 
Fitzgerald.  All  idea  of  migrating  to  South  America  was  at  an 
end,  and  the  government  was  so  anxior.s  to  be  forced  from  the 
contamination  of  an  English  representative,  even  functifs  ojficiot 
before  the  arrival  of  their  new  inmates,  that  passports  had  been 
delivered  to  his  Lordship  as  long  back  as. the  9th  November  ;  and 
he  had  been  pressed  to  take  a  passage  to  Gibraltar  in.  one  of  her 
most  faithful  Majesty's  frigates.  He  therefore  decided  to  return 
•with  the  admiral's  secretary  on  board  the  Hag-ship,  which  he  did, 
•without  taking  leave,  on  the  18th,  leaving  Mr.  Consul  Gambler,  to 
do  his  best  for  the  liberty  of  the  factory,  and  for  the  release/  of 
three  English  vessels  embargoed  in  the  river  :  an  agent  for  pri- 
soners of  war  was  also  appointed,  with  the  approbation  of  tha 
Portuguese  government.  On  the  other  hand,  the  admiral  declared 
the  Tagus,  Setubal,  and  Oporto  in  a  state  of  blockade :  bul  in 
adopting  hostile  measures  did  not  neglect  the  powers  of  persuasion, 
and  continued  to  cultivate  an  amicable  correspondence  with  the 
ministry  at  Lisbon,  tending  to  convince  their  wavering  minds  of 
the  futility  of  such  timid  policy  in  averting  the  scourge  of  French 
invasion.  At  length,  on  the  625th  of  November,  his  activity  and 
perseverance  was  rewarded  by  receiving  a  notification  from  the 
minister  of  state,  M.  Aranjo,  that  the  Regent  had  resumed  the 
intenion  to  emigrate.  Jn  consequence  of  this  hostilities  were  sus- 
pended, and  the  admiral  sent  the  Confiance  into  the  Tagus,  under 
a  flag  of  truce,  to  convey  those  solemn  pledges  of  safeguard 
adapted  to  the  crisis,  and  which  from  an  officer  of  Sir  Sidney 
Smith's  chivalrous  fame  could  not  fail  to  dispel  doubt  and  fear. 
Lord  S.  who  was  waiting  on  board  the  flag-ship  for  a  con. 
Teyance  to  England,  took  the  opportunity  of  accompanying 
Captain  Yeo,  to  revisit  Lisbon  for  the  final  settlement  of  aliairs 
connected  with  his  late  mission,  and  to  pay  his  respects  at  court. 


38O  COIUtESPOXr/ENCE. 

Wind  and  tide  would  not  allow  the  frigate  to  enter  the  Tagus  til! 
late  in  the  evening  of  the  28th,  so  that  it  was  near  midnight  when 
Captain  Y.  and  Lord  S.  reached  the  capital.  They  found  the 
royal  palace  a  solitude  ;*  the  Queen  being  already  embarked,  in 
consequence  of  General  Junot  having  passed  Abrantes,  and  even 
pushed  his  patroles  to  the  vicinity  of  the  metropolis,  f 

During  this  time  the  admiral  Avas  waiting  with  such  solicitude 
ihc  issue  of  the  mission  by  the  Confiance,  that  he  manned  and 
armed  a  Spanish  prize  lugger,  and  on  the  28th  sent  her  in  with  a 
message  to  Captain  Y.  purporting  that  under  certain  circumstances 
he  was  to  annul  the  flag  of  truce  and  immediately  act  against  the 
French,  sending  off  pilots  to  the  squadron  ;  which  Sir  Sidney  said 
he  would  bring  in  abreast  of,  or  above,  the  city,  making  a  dash  at 
the  batteries  with  his  marines  en  passant ,  and  then  seconded  by  an 
indignant  population,  dispute  every  inch  of  ground  with  the 
invader,  concluding  with  the  peculiar  emphasis  of  the  defender  of 
Acre,  ''•  Lisbon  surely  must  be  as  defensible  as  Buenos  Ayresl" 

It  was  not,  however,  the  fortune  of  the  gallant  knight  to  re- 
peat the  atchicvement  of  Palestine  on  that  day  ;  as,  on  standing 
into  Cascaes  bay,  the  next  morning  (29th),  daylight  disclosed  to 
our  anxious  eyes,  the  interesting  sight  of  the  Portuguese  navy 
conducting  a  numerous  fleet  to  place  them  under  the  conToy 
of  that  very  force,  whose  duty,  but  a  few  hours  before,  would 
have  been  to  destroy  instead  of  to  protect.  The  weather  was 
serene  ;  and  the  spectacle  of  the  meeting  of  the  two  fleets,  under 
a  reciprocal  salute  of  21  guns,  magnificent  beyond  description. 

*  Some  time  in  June  last,  at  Rio  de  Janeiro,  the  Prince  of  Brazil,  talking 
over  European  news,  in  a  circle  of  which  two  captains  and  a  lieutenant  of 
our  navy  formed  part,  expressed  himself  somewhat  indignantly  at  the  Lon- 
don Gazette,  (see  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  XVIII.  page  505)  making  him 
appear  under  the  tuition  of  the  English  Charge-d'affaires,  explaining  that  he 
had  taken  his  decision  to  evacuate  Portugal  on  the  25 ih  November,  in  con- 
sequence of  a  letter  from  the  admiral  on  the  22d ;  that  he  embarked  on  the 
2?th,  tried  to  sail  on  the  28th,  but  the  wind  was  adverse,  and  would  not  let 
him  leave  the  Tagus  till  the  29th.  In  point  of  fact,  concluded  the  Prince, 
emphatically,  "  Je  n'ai  vu  Milord  S.  qu'  apres  le  passage  de  la  barre,  J'ai 
sfw  qu'il  etoit  alord  la  ]\l&duse,  avec  M.  Z)'  Aranjo  ;  ct  je  »:c  suis  lei~6  a  4 
hcures  pour  le  receToir  ;  mais  it  n'est  pas  tienu.  Et  le  rent  6tant  ban,  je 
faisois  lever  Vuncre  commefeu  avois  deja  donne  I'ordre  ;  le  premier  Anglais 
quefai  xu  a  cetie  e^oque  etoit  le  Capitaine  Sckamberg,  envoye  de  ia  purl  de 


t  For  the  proclamation  notifying  thjs  event,  dated  27th  November,  see 
.NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  XVIII.  page  296. 


CORRESPONDENCE.  ggj 

The  admiral  immediately  went  on  board  the  ship  bearing  the  royal 
standard  of  Portugal  (then  no  longer  flying  on  the  European  con. 
tment)  to  pay  due  homage  to  the  Sovereign.  His  reception  was 
marked  by  all  honours  due  to  a  British  admiral,  and  by  every  dis- 
tinction the  individual  merited  ;  the  interview  taking  place  with  a 
dignity  suitable  to  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion. 

Although  the  weather  had  favoured  our  operations  during  the 
morning,  it  changed  during  the  day  to  a  storm  from  the  westward, 
which  not  only  interrupted  the  variety  of  arrangements  necessary 
for  a  voyage  undertaken  so  precipitately  ;  but  obliged  all  the  ships 
to  carry  a  press  of  canvass,  and  claw  off  a  lee  shore  with  split  sails. 
The  distress  and  annoyance  that  must  have  been  suffered  during 
the  night  by  our  Portuguese  friends,  may  be  conceived,  when  it  is 
recollected  that  most  of  their  ships  were  hurried  out  in  an  imperfect 
state  of  equipment,  overloaded  with  stores  and  baggage,  and 
crowded  with  passengers  in  a  promiscuous  throng,  of  all  condi- 
tions, and  of  every  age  and  sex.  The  judicious  dispositions  of  .the 
admiral  were  however  so  well  seconded  by  the  skill  and  activity  of 
the  captains  and  officers  of  our  squadron,  that  although  some 
dispersion  was  unavoidable,  yet  the  royal  charge  was  never  lost 
sight  of  by  the  Hag-ship,  all  the  convoy,  but  the  lame  ducks, 
were  collected  in  the  course  of  the  two  next  days,  and  not  a  singla 
instance  of  loss  happened  finally. 

Thus  \vas  the  service  upon  which  we  were  sent  performed 
•within  a  single  fortnight  ;  and,  even  in  these  eventful  times, 
it  may  be  questioned  whether  events  of  equal  moment  ever 
succeeded  each  other  with  such  rapidity  in  that  space  of  time. 
One  of  the  most  antient  monarchies  of  the  old  world  translated 
to  the  new. — The  house  of  Braganza  (comprehending  two  mem- 
bers of  the  Bourbon  family)*  snatched  from  the  longing  but  disap- 
pointed eyes  of  the  French  legions,  under  the  auspices  of  that  warrior 
who  had  already  saved  an  empire  from  the  grasp  of  their  tyrant; 
here  foiled  by  the  only  officer  who  had  ever  defeated  him.  We 
sailors  remembered  with  just  pride  that  the  sole  conqueror  of 
Buonaparte  was  our  leader,  and  an  Englishman  ;  however  it  may 
suit  the  policy  or  the  temper  of  this  or  that  administration  to  for- 
get that  the  MAN  is  Sir  Sidney  Smith.  + — Sic  vos,  non  vobis  ! 

*  Donna  Carlota  Juaquina  cle  Bourbon,  Princess  of  Portugal  and  Brazil^ 
sister  and  presumptive  heiress  to  Ferdinand  VII.  accompanied  by  her 
cousin,  Don  Pedro  Carlos  de  Bourbon-y-Braganza,  Infante  of  Spain. 

t  It  is  remarkable  that  on  this  occasion  the  admiral  was  acting  in  concert 
with  a  minister  who  had  been  his  fellow  prisoner  in  1'raiice,  (M.  Araujq 

av.  ttgcon.  fflol.  XXI.  3  c 


382  CORRESPONDENCE. 

As  soon  as  the  weather  permitted,  the  utmost  attention  was  paid  to 
the  present  comfort  and  future  safety  of  the  illustrious  voyagers  and 
their  loyal  followers.  Every  comparative  luxury  that  the  flag-ship 
afforded  was  devoted  to  the  royal  family.  Every  necessary  that 
could  be  spared  from  the  others  was  liberally  shared  with  the 
Portuguese  fleet.  Their  own  provisions  were  more  equally  distri- 
buted, and  the  crowd  of  emigrants  w»;re  mustered  and  classed  by 
ranks  and  families  undur  the  management  of  our  officers.  The  pains- 
taking required  to  go  through  such  details  at  sea  can  hardly  be 
imagined  by  landmcn.  When  all  was  accomplished,  during  a 
run  of  100  leagues  to  the  westward,  the  admiral  took  his  leave,  to 
rejoin  that  division  of  his  squadron  left  to  observe  the  Tag-as, 
making  the  charge  of  the  Brazil  convoy  over  to  the  able  and  judi- 
cious captain  of  the  Marlborough  (G.  Moore).  On  the  7lh  of 
December,  the  Confiance  parted  company  for  England,  with 
despatches.  Lord  S.  still  the  admiral's  guest,  went  home  in 
her  ;  and  the  Ilibernia  (now  the  flag-ship)  returned  to  the  sta- 
tion on  the  2Jth.  The  revolutionary  flag  was  flying  on  the  forts 
and  batteries  along  the  coast  of  Portugal,  and  the  following 
authentic  particulars  were  learnt  concerning  the  enemy's  occupa- 
tion of  Lisbon. 

The  apparent  tranquility  of  the  people  on  the  day  of  the  royal 
family's  departure,  was  threatened  with  disturbance  that  very 
evening  (29th  November)  by  some  soldiers  of  the  regiment  of 
Penichc  ;  who  after  receiving  orders  to  embark,  and  not  finding 
room  on  board,  returned  on  shore  in  a  disorderly  manner,  throw- 
ing away  their  colours;  but  their  Serjeants  collected  them,  and  got 
them  back  to  their  quarters.  Towards  three  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, the  workmen  of  the  arsenal,  harangued  by  an  Er-Com- 
missary,  also  assembled  in  a  riotous  manner,  and  talked  of  going 
to  meet  the  enemy  ;  but  the  patroles  of  the  police  dispersed  these 
tumultuous  assemblies,  and  the  day  passed  peaceably,  owing  to  the 

having  been  confined  as  a  state  prisoner  at  Paris  by  the  Directory,  in 
1796)  imd  was  opposed  to  a  general  who  was  the  first  with  whom  he  had 
exchanged  shot  in  Syria.  Junot  commanded  the  vanguard  of  the  French  ;inny 
marching  along  the  coast  to  attack  Acre  in  179P,  when  he  was  surprised  in 
the  night  by  Sir  S.  S.'s  guard-boats  at  the  mouth  of  the  brook  Kishon,  near 
Mount  Carni-el.  He  was,  moreover,  not  long  afterwards  taken  on  his 
passage  to  France  with  despatches,  by  Sir  Sidney's  cruisers,  and  remained 
some  weeks  his  prisoner,  or  rather  his  guest,  for  "  our  Christian  knight" 
retaliated  the  persecution  of  the  Temple  Tower,  by  the  hospitality  of  Le 
Tigre's  cabin. 


CORRESPONDENCE.  3S3 

firm  conduct  of  this  corps  ;  that,  and  the  good  order  maintained 
by  the  Count  do  Novion.  quieting  the  apprehensions  of  v/ell  dis- 
posed persons.  The  French  advanced  guard,  which  reached 
Saccarera,  a  small  town  two  leagues  from  Lisbon,  in  the  course  of 
the  day,  might  from  those  heights  have  been  witnesses  of  the  scene 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Tagus.  Notwithstanding  the  army  had  been  har- 
rassed  by  forced  marches  and  by  bad  wcathar,  in  a  country  the  most 
mountainous,  and  intersected  by  torrents,  of  all  Porlugal,  General 
Junot  might  have  brought  this  corps  into  Lisbon  that  night :  but 
it  appeared,  as  well  from  the  conversation  of  the  officers  as  from 
certain  expressions  which  escaped  him,  that  he  was  afraid  cf  coming 
on  with  such  a  handful  of  men,  and  finding  the  English  and  Por- 
tuguese united  to  oppose  him.  That  apprehension  seems  to  have 
dictated  this  his  first  proclamation  : — 

"  Inhabitants  of  Lisbon  !  My  army  is  going  to  enter  your  walls.  It 
came  to  save  your  Prince  from  the  influence  of  England  :  but  this  Prince, 
so  respectable  for  his  virtues,  has  allowed  himself  to  be  led  astray  by  the 
evil  counsellors  who'surround  him;  and  is  gone  to  throw  himself  into  the 
arms  of  his  enemies ;  they  caused  him  to  tremble  for  the  safety  of  his 
person  ;  his  subjects  have  been  counted  for  nought ;  and  your  interests  have 
been  sacrificed,  to  the  cowardice  of  courtiers.  Inhabitants  of  Lisbon  ! 
Remain  quiet  in  your  houses.  Fear  not  either  my  army  or  me  :  we  are  to 
be  dreaded  only  by  our  enemies  :  and  are  terrible  only  to  the  wicked. 
The  great  Napoleon,  ray  master,  sends  me  to  protect  you.  I  will  protect 
you. 

"  JUNOT." 

The  effect  of  this  address  was  aided  by  the  terror  which  usually 
precedes  a  French  army,  and  the  public  mind  was  sufficiently  dis- 
posed to  subnii-sion.  The  Regency  sent  off  express  after  express 
to  Junot  to  receive  his  orders  ;  while  the  latter  despatched  frequent 
messengers,  as  well  to  the  French  consul  (Mr.  Herman)  who  had 
preceded  him  by  three  days,  as  to  Novion  :  of  the  former  he  re- 
quired imonnation  as  to  the  obstacles  he  feared  :  to  the  latter  he 
inculcated  the  greatest  care  of  the  public  tranquility,  desiring  him 
to  meet  the  army  with  some  squads  of  his  horse  patrole,  to  serve 
as  guides  "with  the  different  columns.  In  eifect,  Junot's  advanced 
piquets  under  his  aid-de-camp,  Gransei^ne-D'flautenve,  had  by 
7  A.M.  taken  post  at  Arroyos,  and  thence,  making  a  circuit 
by  the  Val  de  Preire,  St.  Isabella,  and  the  bridge  of  Alcantara, 
pushed  on  to  Bclcm,  and  to  the  forts  of  St.  Julian  ,nd  Cascaes. 
The  general  was  received  at  the  entrance  of  the  city  by  the  Mar- 
d'Abrantcs.  The  division  he  led,  although  called  djOUOrnen, 


384  COURfeSPONDEXCE. 

certainly  could  not  muster  more  than  half  that  number  effective, 
•whereof  one  regiment  of  chasseurs,  a  battalion  of  grenadiers,  and 
a  small  detachment  of  Spanish   Hussars   belonging  to  the  Queen's 
regiment.     It  was  afterwards  discovered  that  this  division  had  not 
more  than  half  a  dozen   rounds  of  ammunition,   without  either 
cannon  or  caissons.,   both  being  left  behind  on  impassable  roads  j 
moreover,  the  soldiers  were  too  exhausted  by  fatigue  and  priva- 
tions  to  have  withstood  an  attack  ;'  having  sometimes   marched 
for    two    days   together,    by    parties    of   three  and   four  men, 
without   shoes,    almost  without  apparel,    and  debilitated  by   the 
dysentery.     Most  of  the  troops  being  conscripts  from  16  to  18 
years  old,  and  the  marches  having  been  doubled  and  tripled  ;  and 
moreover,  from  the  frontiers  to  Abrantes,  not  having  found  either 
provisions  or  fuel,  the  cottages  being  deserted  by  their  inhabitants, 
a  great  number  died  by  the  way,  and  others,    who  straggled  in 
search  of  food,   either  lost  themselves  in  the  mountains,   or  were 
assassinated  by  the  peasantry.     Besides,   the  torrents,  swelled  by 
rains,   the  rivers   Erga,   Zezere  and  Ponsul,  overflowed,  and  the 
plains  of  Golgau  flooded,   had  so  separated  the  troops,  that  Junot 
said  100  men  making  a  stand  on  any  one  of  those  rivers,   would 
have  stopped  him  for  a  week.    When  he  advanced  towards  Belem, 
and  saw  the  last  of  the  emigrant  vessels  under  sail,  he  immediately 
ordered  the  tower  to  open  its  fire  upon  them  :    three  of  the  hind- 
most were  stopped,  a  fourth  escaped.     The  troops  sent  into  the 
forts  St.  Julian   and  Bugio,  having  neither  grape  nor  round  shot 
•with   them,    finding    the  guns    spiked,    and  the  powder  thrown 
into  the  water,  could  not  have  made  any  resistance.     And  it  is  to 
be  observed,   that  the  natives  having  soon  recovered  their  fright, 
caused  by  the  mere  name  of  the  French,  began  to  feel  ashamed  of 
having  let  themselves  be  overrun  by  a  handful  of  boys,  against 
•whom  the  national  troops  would  have  been  quite  sufficient.     How- 
ever,  as   their  fears  subsided,  the  Portuguese  became  moved  by 
compassion,  and  were  seen  to  receive  and  shelter  great  numbers  of 
the  French  soldiers,  less  from  policy  than  pure  charity.     And  it 
must  be   admitted,  that  the  poor  conscripts  shewed  none  of  the 
insolence  and  presumption  of  their  officers,  who,  considering  their 
pay  as  mere  subsistence,   and  speculating  on  war  as  the  means  of 
fortune  by  pillage  and  promotion,  treated  with  the  utmost  severity 
the  soldiers  who  partaking  of  neither,   marched  by  force,  obeyed 
from  fear,   and  lived  only  in  the  hope  of  deserting   home  again. 
The  generals  thought  to  get  rich  at  once,  and  seemed  quite  disap- 
pointed at  not  meeting  the  booty  they  expected.     The  officers  had 


CORRESPONDENCE,  335 

made  their  account  for  here  and  there  a  few  shot,  just  to  give  them 
the  right  of  sacking  the  different  tow  us.  In  default  of  which  they 
made  themselves  amends  by  living  at  free  quarters,  so  licentiously 
as  was  not  to  be  restrained,  either  by  an  order  of  the  adjutant, 
general,  Thiebault,  nor  even  by  a  second  proclamation,  of 
the  Commander-in-chief,  who  at  the  time  he  was  forbidding  his 
subalterns  to  require  anything  from  th.ir  hosts  but  food  and 
firing,  -was  setting  them  the  example  of  levying  contribution  on  his 
own,  Mr.  Quintella;  appropriating  to  himself  the  plate,  furniture, 
and  other  personal  property  of  the  Prince,  also  seizing  the  baggage, 
&c.  left  at  Lisbon  by  the  Duke  of  Sussex. 

It  took  near  eight  nays  to  assemble  the  French  army  in  and 
about  Lisbon.  It  was  at  first  in  three  divisions,  commanded  by- 
Generals  de  la  Horde,  1'Oison,  and  Grain-d'orge.  The  first 
named  by  Jmiot,  governor  of  the  city,  quartered  his  troops  in  the 
barracks  and  convents — the  second  commanded  at  Mafra,  Peniche, 
and  along  the  coast— the  third  occupied  the  forts  of  Cascaes,  St. 
Julian,  Bjgio,  and  Belem.  General  KelLrman  commanded  the 
cavalry,  of  a  very  motley  description  ;  and  of  the  infantry,  not 
above  four  regiments  had  seen  service,  the  others  were  third  batta- 
lions of  recruits  ;  amongst  the  staff,  Thiebault,  L'Oison,  and 
Grain-d'orge  (arrived  from  Poland)  were  the  only  officers  of 
repute.  Jn  short,  Jtinot  admitted  he  never  saw  an  army  so  disor. 
ganiscd.  Such  were  the  conquerors  of  Portugal,  and  such  th« 
faithful  picture  of  their  conquest,  when  Sir  Sidney  Smith  resumed 
the  blockade  of  the  coast. 

The  proceedings  of  the  squadron  now  became  direr  ified  only 
by  the  routine  of  events  incidental  to  that  line  of  service  ;  amongst 
•which,  providing  the  means  of  subsistence,  became  an  object  of 
daily  and  increasing  anxiety.  The  squadron  was  victualled  from 
England,  and  watered  by  sending  the  ships  in  rotation  to  Gibraltar, 
to  the  Berlingas  Islands,  to  the  Bayonna  Isles  at  the  entrance  of 
Vigo  (an  enemy's  port,  where  a  very  little  exertion  on  the  part  of 
the  Spaniards  might  have  prevented  it),  and  even  as  far  as  the 
Azores  and  Madeira.  On  the  9th  of  January,  the  first  convoy  of 
victuallers  arrived  :  but  had  the  member  for  Rochester  pointed  hi» 
parliamentary  telescope  our 'way,  he  would  have  perceived  that 
famine  was  as  much  the  order  of  the  day  at  'the  Tagus,  as  off 
Rochefort.*  On  the  15th  a  ship  hove  in  sight,  which  we  hoped 
was  the  Ilindostan  storeship,  with  fresh  supplies  for  our  wants; 

*  See  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  XIX.  page  250—322. 


386  CORRESPONDENCE. 

but  to  the  disappointment  of  the  hungry  sailors,  and  to  the  sur- 
prise of  every  body,  it  proved  to  be  the  Minotaur,  with  the  Hag 
of  a,  vice-admiral  (Sir  C.  Cotton),  appointed  commandcr-in-chief 
on  our  station,  not  to  relieve  but  to  supersede  Sir  S.  Smith.  The 
vice-admiral  shifted  his  flag  to  the  Hibcrnia  next  day,  exchanging 
his  predecessor  into  the  vacant  two-decker.  This  arrangement 
was  but  just  completed,  when  a  gale  of  wind  came  from  the  east- 
ward, which  lasted  with  encreased  violence  til!  the  23d,  blowing 
the  squadron,  in  a  great  measure,  off  the  station,  and  producing 
the  unpleasant  discovery,  that  the  Minotaur,  Iresh  from  home 
after  a  nominal  thorough  repair,  and  fitted  for  six  months  foreign, 
service,  had  suffered  so  much  during  the  gale,  and  was  in  a  state  so 
far  from  efficient,  that  the  rear-admiral  reported  to  the  commander- 
in-chief  his  opinion,  that  the  service,  as  well  as  the  honour  of  his 
flag,  would  be  compromised  by  keeping  it  in  a  non-effective  ship  ; 
and  with  the  vice-admiral's  assent  shifted  to  the  Foudroyant. 
The  Minotaur,  leaking  and  pumping,  was  patched  up  as  well  as 
could  be  done  at  sea,  in  order  to  save  appearances  of  force  for  the 
present,  with  a  Russian  fleet  of  superior  numbers  lying  at  single 
anchor  in  the  Tagus,  and  the  knowledge  of  a  French  squadron  of 
equal  force  being  out.  One  really  cannot  help  thinking  that  the 
catastrophe  of  the  Blenheim  ought  to  have  served  as  a  warning  at 
home  not  to  make  ships  undergo  the  ceremony  of  docking  without 
doing  justice  to  them  ;  and  then,  hurry  them  out  when  hardly  a 
safe  conveyance  for  the  very  stores  and  provisions  loaded  upon 
them,  abstracted  from  the  superior  consideration  of  the  valuable 
lives  thus  risked  by  the  apathy  of  office. 

We  considered  ourselves  rather  fortunate  in  a  gale  having 
blown  ofl"  shore,  and  consequently  with,  comparatively  speaking, 
smooth  water  ;  otherwise  the  Minotaur  might  have  been  lost ;  and 
also  that  the  Rochefort  squadron  had  neither  fallen  in  with  any  of 
the  disabled  ships  when  dispersed,  nor  attempted  joining  the 
Russians,  which  very  feasible  manoeuvre  would  have  established  a 
temporary  superiority  more  than  a  match  for  us. 

The  first  occurrence  of  any  interest  after  the  gale,  was  the  return 
of  the  Con  fiance  from  England  ;  which  fell  in  with  the  squadron 
on  the  24th  January.  We  found  her  gallant  commander  pro- 
moted by  government  to  post  rank,  as  a  compliment  for  his  having 
carried  home  the  news  of  the  29th  Noverjber.  By  him  the  rear- 
admiral  had  the  satisfaction  of  receiving  despatches  from  the 
Admiralty,  conveying  (in  terms  of  courtesy  and  encouragement, 
that  it  is  to  be  wished  naval  officers  were  more  accustomed  to 


CORRESPONDENCE.  337 

receive  from  "  My  Lords  Commissioners")  high  approbation  of 
the  rear-admiral's  whole  conduct  in  the  management  of  the  service 
committed  to  his  charge,  and  in  the  execution  of  the  various  orders 
he  had  received  from  time  to  time. 

If  the  Admiralty  did  not,  go  beyond  praise  in  marking  satisfac- 
tion at  the  conduct  of  their  officer  for  what  he  did  do,  the  same 
reproach  does  not  lie  at  the  door  of  the  F.  0.  in  rewarding  its 
agent  for  what  he  did  not  do.  To  be  sure  we  were  not  a  little 
astonished  in  the  squadron  when  we  came  to  read  in  our  newspa- 
pers the  new  L-isiad  by  a  diplomatic  pen  ;  *  and  the  romance  of 
the  Penates  of  Braganza,  so  eloquently  narrated  to  the  country 
gentlemen  by  a  ministerial  orator.  Our  astonishment  was  not 
lessened  at  afte'rwards  finding  a  passenger  in  our  squadron  nomi- 
nated privy  counsellor,  promoted  to  the  rank  of  minister,  and 
dubbed  knight  of  a  "  military"  order,  all  in  the  twinkling  of  an 
eye,  for  his  presumed  or  assumed  influence  over  the  cabinet  of 
Portugal,  in  its  choice  between  safety  and  destruction;  while  we, 
on  board  ship,  had  all  along  ignorantly  ascribed  the  scene  in  which 
\ve  were  the  actors,  first  to  Buonaparte,  and  next  to  Sir  Sidney 
Smith. 

We  shall  now  resume  the  thread  of  occurrences  on  shore,  it 
being  proper  to  ascertain  the  state  and  position  of  the  enemy, 
up  to  the  time  of  the  naval  command  thus  changing  hands. 
When  Junot  had  re-united  his  army,  he  began  to  think  of 
hoisting  the  French  Hag  as  well  on  the  Castle  as  at  the  diiferent 
forts.  A  grand  parade  was  ordered  for  Sunday,  13th  December. 
It  was  composed  of  100  cavalry,  about  600  grenadiers,  chasseurs, 
and  ^elites,  with  four  battalions  of  infantry.  Previous  to  the 
close  of  the  ceremony,  the  French  colours  were  displayed  amidst 
salutes  of  artillery.  This  caused  some,  murmurs  amongst  the  popu- 
lace, whose  discontent  was  encrea^ed  by  the  rumour  (which  hap- 
pened too  true)  that  some  soldiers  had  robbed  a  church,  and  killed 
a  Portug;ic>e  captain  near  Santarem.  As  soon  as  (he  troops  had 
marched  off,  some  voices  were  heard  to  cry,  "  Portugal  forever! 
Long  live  the  Marquis  of  Alorna!"  This  nobleman,  who  hap-r- 
petied  to  be  then  near  the  spot,  on  horseback,  was,  although 
incognito,  recognised  and  followed  by  the  people,  who  seemed  to 
designate  him  as  their  chief.  But  he,  declining  that  dangerous 

*  Quaere.  In  framing  bulletins  (out  of  France)  is  it  quite  fair  to  suppress 
part  of  an  officer's  despatches,  and  substitute  the  augmentation,  amplifica- 
tion, and  embellishments  of  a  spectator,  dated  at  the  scene  of  action,  but 
written  at  the  place  of  publication? 


388  CORRESPONDENCE. 

honour  in  a  moment  so  tumultuous  and  ill  organised,  made  hast* 
to  escape.  General  Junot  addressed  his  troops  on  the  parade, 
praising  their  discipline,  and  promising  to  make  an  honourable  re- 
port of  them  to  his  Sovereign,  concluding  by  the  cry  of  u  Vive 
PEtnpereur .'"  which  was  rep.  ated  by  all  the  officers,  and  about 
a  third  of  the  soldiers.  In  the  evening  the  Opera  was  opened  to 
the  public,  grafts;  but  there  was  hardly  any  company  in  the 
boxes  but  courtezans,  or  in  the  pit,  but  the  French  officers  and  a 
few  Russians.  Bet.wecn  the  acts  the  French  flag  was  suspended 
over  the  royal  box,  occupied  by  Junot,  amidst  the  cries  of  Vive 
fErnpereur!  from  the  officers,  set  a  going  by  their  general's 
emissaries. 

V\  liile  this  farce  was  performing  in  the  theatre,  the  mob  was 
collecting  in  groups  in  the  Plaza  de  Ilosio,  at  the  marine  arsenal, 
and  along  the  river  side  :  the  French  sentinels  were  stabbed  with 
knives,  stones  were  thrown  at  the  patroles :  a  serjeant  and  some 
privates  were  killed,  and  an  officer  mortally  wounded.  The  drums 
then  beat  to  arms,  the  garrison  assembled,  and  cannon  were  placed 
at  head  quarters,  on  the  Plaza  de  Commercio,  and  at  the  arsenal, 
SO  as  to  enfilade  the  different  avenues;  while  Notion,  with  the 
police  guads,  went  to  the  Rosio,  and  haranguing  the  rioters,  pre- 
vailed on  them  to  disperse.  A  part  of  the  people  went  to  the 
barracks  of  the  r  e.i'iient  of  Peniche,  demanding  arms  and  support  ; 
but  the  r  gimcnt  r«.-f  ised  ;  not  from  any  want  of  indignation  at  the 
sight  of  their  national  banner  being  supplanted  by  a  foreign  one  ; 
but  that  they  could  not  feel  confidence  in  a  scheme  evidently  so  ill 
managed.  When  the  troops  turned  out,  stones  were  thrown,  and 
a  few  shot  fired;  by  -.vl.-ich  some  persons  were  killed  on  both  sides. 
The  night  was  passed  in  alarm  ;  arid  in  the  morning  some  more 
acts  of  violrrce  were  committed  ;  but  the  garrison  being  under 
arms,  ti<e  guards  quadrupled,  and  the  regiments  cantoned  in  the 
neighbourhood  having  marched  in,  tranqtiility  was  gradually 
restored  by  Tuesday,  the  16th.  Two  Portuguese  were  taken  into 
custody,  asid  menactd  to  be  shot ;  but  it  docs  not  appear  that  they 
were  executed.  During  the  riot  Junot  evinced  a  good  deal  of  dis- 
quietude, believing  it  more  serious  than  it  was  ;  the  cannon  always 
afterwards  remained  pointed,  and  two  frigates  were  armed  as 
floating  bitteries,  one  to  command  the  avenues  loading  fo  the  great 
square  of  Commerce,  and  the  other  near  Bdem  Tower.  He 
likewise  ordered  some  booths  and  standings  fur  the  sal-  of  goods 
on  this  same  square  to  be  cLared,  and  to  serve  as  huts  for  dra- 
goons 5  in  sh,.,rtj  took  every  precaution  for  his  personal  safety, 


389 

£tnd  for  that  of  his  staff,  that  a  well  founded  distrust  of  the  people 
he  had  to  deal  with  could  suggest :  of  which  the  following  general 
order  of  the  4th  December  may  serve  as  a  sufficient  sample  : — 

"  Whereas,  under  pretence  of  the  chace,  assassinations  are  daily  com- 
mitted, and  the  intention  of  the  general-in-chief  being  to  destroy  the  game 
jn  the  grounds  where  it  may  do  mischief,  but  with  method,  the  right  of 
chace  and  of  carrying  fire-arms  is  hereby  abolished  thrfiujjhout  Portugal, 
especially  on  the  Crown  Manors.  Therefore,  every  person,  non-miiitarv, 
who  shall  be  found  armed,  either  with  a  gun  or  pistol,  sporting  without  a 
licence,  signed  and  sealed  by  General  de  Labcrde,  commandant  of 
Lisbon,  shall  be  regarded  as  a  vagabond,  an  assassin  on  the  highways,  and 
as  such,  taken  before  a  court  martial  ordered  to  assemble  for  this  purpose. 
The  council  of  regency,  the  commissioners  of  the  French  government,  the 
genera!  commandant  of  Lisbon,  the  mayors  (corregidors)  ami  magistrates 
of  all  classes,  are  charged  with  the  execution  hereof,  which  shall  be  printed 
and  posted  throughout  Portugal." 

Ever  after  these  measures  the  Portuguese  became  more  cautious ; 
but  their  anger  and  enmity  for  not  being  loud  were  not  the  less 
deep.  Most  of  the  Portuguese  troops  were  removed  from  Lisbon, 
leaving  there  only  the  police  guard,  the  regiments  of  Peniche,  and 
of  La  Lippe  ;  ten  French  officers  were  incorporated  with  the  first, 
and  one  of  them  was  a  son  of  Madame  Tallien,  by  her  first  hus- 
band. Junot  named  the  Marquis  d'Alorna  commander  of  the 
Portuguese  troops  distributed  in  the  provinces  of  Alcntejo, ^Beira, 
and  Tra-los-mibntes.  He  ordered  all  recruits  of  less  than  six 
months  standing,  and  old  soldiers  of  more  than  eight  years,  to  be 
discharged.  This,  and  the  encouragement  to  quit  the  service  given 
to  all  so  disposed,  reduced  some  of  the  national  regiments  to  mecr 
skeletons.  Moreover,  the  Portuguese  army  was  to  undergo  an 
entire  new  organization,  upon  a  smaller  scale ;  in  the  course 
of  which,  the  horses  of  the  Portuguese  cavalry  were  by  a  sort  of 
slight  of  hand,  turned  over  to  the  French"  dragoons ;  and  certainly 
not  before  it  was  necessary,  for  seldom  or  never  was  cavalry  seen 
in  a  worse  condition  ;  the  French  cast  horses  not  fetching  more 
than  two  or  three  cruzados  *  at  auction.  Amongst  Junot's  pro- 

*  When  King  Alfonso  V.  made  a  vow  to  go  to  the  Holy  Land,  he  caused 
a  gold  coin  to  be  struck,  bearing  on  one  side  St.  George's  cross,  with  tlas 
Legend,  "  Adjutorium  nostrum  in  nomine  domini;"  on  the  reverse, 
an  escutcheon,  with  the  King's  arms,  placed  on  the  cross  of  the  military 
order  of  Arit,  and  inscribed,  «  Cruzatus  Altbnzi  quinti  rtgis;"  the  value  of 
this  was  400  reis.  The  Portuguese  have  preserved  the  name  of  Cruzado 
in  a  coin  of  later  date,  both  of  gold  and  silver,  which  is  worth  480  rf  is. 
In  accompt  the  former  denomination  is  understood,  unless  otherwise  ex- 
pressed. The  rei  itself  is  an  imaginary  money  like  th«  French  denier,  and 
of  tittle  more  value. 

J3at>,  er&ron.  OtoItXXI.  3  B 


"SO  CORRESPONDENCE. 

clamations  the  favourite  resource  of  confiscating  English  property 
•was  not  forgotten,  our  merchants  who  remained  behind  were 
arrested,  although  mostly  naturalised  by  law  or  long  residence. 
In  the  number  was  Mr.  Stevens,  proprietor  of  the  only  glass 
manufactory  in  the  country,  and  above  60  years  old  ;  and  this  not. 
withstanding  he  had  paid  his  quota  in  the  contribution  of  2.000,000 
cruzados,  levied  the  day  after  the  army  entered  Lisbon.  Junot 
answered  the  representations  made  for  his  release,  that  he  had  no 
other  ways  and  means.  For  the  same  unanswerable  reason  a  native 
merchant  named  Antonio  Joze  Pereira,  for  neglecting  to  make  due 
declaration  of  a  vessel  from  Ireland  with  provisions,  entered  before 
the  port  was  closed,  lost  his  ship  and  cargo,  besides  being  fined  ten 
times  the  value.  Another,  Mr.  Bandeira,  accused  as  an  accom- 
plice, was  fined  near  30,0001.  sterling.  Mr.  Consul  Hermann, 
named  administrator  of  the  finances,  had  nothing  to  do  with  the 
department  of  English  confiscations :  this  was  placed  under  the 
direction  of  Mr.  Joufre  ( Junot's  brother-in-law)  and  Mr.  Legoix 
(his  secretary)  whose  places  were  considered  as  very  lucrative. 
But  generally  speaking,  there  was  not  a  commissary  or  general  in 
the  army  who  made  a  secret  of  their  being  come  to  Portugal  for 
no  other  purpose  than  to  make  their  fortunes.  General  de  Laborde 
sold  his  licences  for  game  ;  and  after  living  at  M.  d'Aranjo's, 
carried  off  ten  carriage  loads  of  furniture.  When  the  generals 
Tvere  not  attached  to  any  lucrative  branch  of  administration,  they 
made  no  scruple  of  plundering  the  houses  they  were  quartered  in, 
and  these  scenes  of  robbery  sometimes  gave  rise  to  disputes  among 
the  French  officers,  which  would  have  been  comical  if  they  had  not 
been  so  villainous. 

The  Regency  continued  in  office  ;  but  without  the  power  of 
action,  unless  in  concert  with  Hermann,  or  under  Junot's  orders. 
A  decree  was  passed  for  levying  another  contribution  of  40 
millions  ;  but  it  was  attended  with  difficulty  as  to  the  Spaniards,  who 
claimed  the  revenues  of  those  provinces  occupied  by  their  troops, 
a  mutual  aversion  existed  between  the  officers  of  the  two  nations, 
and  also  influenced  in  some  degree  the  Russians,  many  of  whom 
did  not  disguise  their  disgust  at  the  insolence  and  presumption  of 
their  Gallic  comrades;  insomuch  that  even  the  general  and  admiral 
were  somewhat  estranged,  and  quarrels  sometimes  ensued  between 
the  junior  officers  at  places  of  public  entertainment.  Those  of  that 
nation  did  not  attend  thejete  given  by  Junot  on  the  anniversary  of 
Louis  XVIth's  death  (21st  January.) 

The  French  regiments  often  changed  quarters,  both  in  town  and 


CORRESPONDENCE.  391 

country,  which  appeared  to  multiply  their  numbers ;  but  they  were 
not  believed  to  amount  to  much  more  than  15,000  between  Peniche 
and  Lisbon  ;  and  even  comprising  those  cantoned  at  Santarem, 
Tomar,  Abrantes,  ami  Castel-Branco,  not  to  exceed  22,000;  but 
a  reinforcement  of  5.000  was  expected  in  February,  as  the  army 
in  Spain  encreased  :  among  the  regiments  was  a  Hanoverian,  a 
Swiss,  two  battalions  of  Italian  light  infantry,  with  a  corps  com- 
posed  of  all  nations,  and  called  Regiment  of  the  South.  The  Spa- 
jiiards  occupied  Algarva  and  Setubal,  with  7,000  men,  under 
General  Solano  ;  besides  10,000  under  Lieutenant-general  Te- 
ramo,  in  Minho.  The  French  army  not  healthy,  the  mortality 
averaged  at  about  30  per  week,  assassination  included.  Finally, 
let  the  following  decree  suffice  to  compleat  this  view  of  Frenchified 
Portugal  : — 

"  The  governor  of  Paris,  first  aid-de-camp  of  his  Majesty  the  Emperor 
of  the  French,  King  of  Italy,  &c.  &c.  &c. 

"  Desirous  as  far  as  depends  upon  him  of  protecting  all  the  classes  of 
citizens,  especially  the  most  distressed;  and  considering  of  what  importance 
the  fishery  in  the  port  of  Lisbon  is  to  the  consumption  of  this  great  city; 
but  also  feeling  it  necessary  to  check  the  abuses  which  might  result  from 
the  unlimited  exercise  of  that  calling,  outside  the  bar  especially,  with 
reference  to  communication  with  the  English  squadron, ENACTS.  ARTICLEI. 
All  fishing  boats  shall  be  numbered  by  the  quarters  they  belong  to,  from 
No.  1  upwards,  with  the  letter  A  for  Lisbon ;  the  same  signs,  with  B  for 
Belem,  and  so  forth ;  the  numbers  and  letters  to  be  one  foot  longz  painted 
in  white  on  the  bows  and  sterns  of  the  boats.  ART.  II.  Every  master  shall 
be  furnished  with  a  muster  roll,  containing  the  number  of  his  boat,  the 
letter  of  his  district,  his  name,  place  of  abode,  as  well  as  the  names  of  his 
crew.  This  document  will  serve  as  his  passport  for  the  batteries  and 
guard-boats;  who  will,  in  case  of  finding  any  supernumerary,  arrest  the 
same,  and  seize  the  boat,  which  shall  be  condemned  as  lawful  prize  to  the 
captors  ;  the  only  means  of  preventing  the  passage  of  strangers. 
ART.  III.  The  magistrates  of  the  respective  districts  shall  register  the  name 
of  the  owner  so  as  to  ascertain  the  property  in  case  of  any  breach  of  these 
rules,  aud  the  muster  roll  shall  not  be  delivered  to  the  master  but  on  the 
exhibition  of  the  register  ;  a  copy  of  this  decree  shall  be  sent  to  the  judges 
and  syndics  that  they  may  not  pretend  ignorance.  ART.  IV.  Another 
register  shall  be  kept  on  board  the  floating  battery,  in  the  same  form, 
tallying  with  the  muster  rolls.  ART.  V.  All  fishing  boats  to  assemble  every 
Saturday  on  board  the  floating  battery,  to  be  reviewed  by  M.  BiUard, 
lieutenant  of  the  navy,  commanding  the  said  battery,  and  especially  charged 
with  this  service,  io  order  to  ascertain  that  all  the  registered  fishermen  are 
actually  present.  The  muster  roll  shall  be  taken  away  from  those  boats 
where  a  single  man  shall  be  missing,  till  the  absentee  shall  be  legally 
accounted  for.  ART.  VI.  Any  boat  found  navigating  contrary  to  the  pre- 


392  CORRESPONDENCE. 

ceding  regulations,  shall  be  seized  arid  sold  for  the  benefit  of  the  captors. 
ART.  VII.  Any  boat  which  shall  have  communication  with  the  English 
squadron  to  be  seized.  The  .commandants  of  the  forts,  and  the  naval 
officers  charged  with  this  duty,  reporting  the  delinquents.  ART.  VIII.  AH 
boats  to  return  within  the  bar  before  sunset,  under  the  penalty  of  40 
francs  for  the  first  oflcnce,  120  for  the  second,  confiscation  of  the  vessel, 
and  corpora!  punishment  for  the  third.  ART.  IX.  All  commanding  officers 
of  forts  and  of  batteries  shall  be  apprised  of  the  present  regulations;  and 
they  shall  receive  from  the  naval  commander-in-chief,  copy  of  a  mubter 
roll,  to  compare  in  case  of  need  with  those  of  the  fishermen  in  their  respec- 
tive quarters.  ART.  X.  The  commander-in-chief  of  the  navy  is  specially 
charged  with  issuing  the  muster-rolls,  affixing  the  numbers  and  letters,  and 
in  general  with  the  execution  of  the  present  decree;  which  shall  be  printed 
and  posted. 

"  Given  at  the  palace  of  Head  Quarters,  at  Lisbon,  5th  January,  1808. 

(Signed)  «  JUNOT." 

The  general's  uneasiness  at  the  proximity  of  his  old  Levant 
acquaintance,  prompted  him  further  to  answer  one  of  the  roar- 
admiral's  flags  of  truce  by  a  laconic  and  peremptory  note,  that 
none  should  henceforward  be  admitted  in  any  of  the  harbours 
of  Portugal.  On  which  occasion,  it  is  a  justice  due  to  the  Russian 
admiral,  Seniavin,  to  record,  that  his  Excellency  adopted  a 
less  unbecoming  stile. 

While  these  things  were  passing  on  shore,  the  state  of  the 
squadron  was  growing  critical  as  to  provisions,  and  more  particu- 
larly as  to  water.  The  arrival  of  the  long  looked  for  Ilindostan 
on  the  2d  of  February,  brought  but  a  partial  relief;  for  that  ship 
was  so  full  of  naval  stores  that  she  could  only  stow  provisions  for  the 
squadron  equal  to  aboul  one  week's  allowance.  The  Defence  and 
Elizabeth  had  been  sent  off  to  Madeira  for  refreshments ;  Planta- 
genet  and  Conqueror  to  the  I3ayonnas  for  water  ;  but  these  could 
not  be  well  expected  back  in  less  than  a  fortnight ;  and  we  had 
but  for  three  weeks  left ;  consequently,  notwithstanding  the 
expcnce  was  curtailed  to  the  very  utmost,  we  found  ourselves  by 
the  7th  of  February  getting  so  near  our  last  drop,  that  it  became 
matter  of  serious  calculation  whether  we  should  not  be  off, 
•which  must  have  been  the  case  had  not  the  Elizabeth  joined  on 
the  llth.  Let  party  prejudice  or  official  pride  seek  to  dig- 
guise  the  truth  and  shift  responsibility  as  they  may,  blame  certainly 
does  attach  to  some  of  our  public  offices,  for  letting  two  of  our 
squadrons  before  the  enemy  at  once  be  so  hard  run  for  the 
meee*s.aries  of  Jife  as  Sir  C.  Cotton's  and  Sir  R.  Stfachau's.  The 


CORRESPONDENCE.  353 

latter  being  under  the  necessity  of  clearing  the  Mediator  *  store- 
ship  in  a  gale  of  wind  .at  east,  was  blown  out  to  sea,  so  as  to  allow 
of  the  enemy  slipping  out  .without  his  perceiving  them  ;  and  they 
stole  quite  away  owing  to  the.  Phoenix  uot  coming  immediately  to 
biin. 

On  the  13th  of  February  the  French  gun-vessel  stationed  as 
guard  just  within  the  entrance  of  the  Tagus,  to  superintend  th<? 
fishery,  in  pursuance  of  Jnnot's  decree  of  the  6th  January,  was 
boarded  and  carried  by  Captain  Veo's  counter-guard  boats,  under 
Messrs.  Trist  and  Largue,  master's  mates  of  the  Confiance,*  who 
went  above  the  Frenchman's  station  to  reconnoitre  the  Russian 
fleet,  and  dropt  down  with  the  stream  as  from  Lisbon  ;  convincing 
the  watch  upon  deck  that  the  post  was  not  tenable  by  cutting  their 
heads  with  English  cutlasses,  and. bringing  their  astonished  officer 
on  board  the  flag-ship,  with  the  following  instructions  in  hja 
pocket: — 

"  Magendie,  captain  and  commanding  officer  of  the  navy  of  H.  I, 
and  R.  M.  and  ofiicer  of  the  legion  of  honour. 

"  Instructions  for  M.  Gandolphc,  ensign  of  the  navy,  commanding  the 
gun-vessel,  No.  1 ,  hereby  ordered  to  get  under  way  from  Lisbon,  ami  keep 
cruising  from  Belem  to  fort  St.  Julian,  in  order  to  look  after  the  fishing 
boats,  in  conformity  to  his  excellency  the  general  in  chief's  decree  of  th« 
5th  instant  (of  which  a  copy  is  annexed). 

He  is  enjoinec'  to  come  in  every  evening  (as  well  as  the  fishing  boats) 
and  to  take  a  position  that  will  secure  him  against  any  surprise  on  tht 
part  of  the  English  cruisers  on  the  outside  of  the  bar.  He  will  take  in  eight 
day's  provisions,  and  come  up  to  Lisbon  every  Saturday  to  revictual,  and 
will  send  a  report  to  me  of  any  thing  remarkable  that  may  have  occurred 
during  the  week.  I  need  not  recommend  to  him,  in  case  of  his  perceivinj 
any  movements  on  the  part  of  the  enemy  indicating  an  attack  or  debarka- 
tion, to  come  in  directly  and  apprise  the  captain  of  the  Charlotte,  under 
whose  command  he  is  to  remain.  For  the  rest  I  rely  upon  his  knowledge* 
zeal,  and  observation,  in  the  execution  of  his  excellency's  decree,  as  far  as 
it  may  concern  him,  and  also  for  his  not  committing  himself  in  any 
fnanuer. 

(Signed)  "  J.  J.  MAGENDIE." 

Captain  Yeo  landed  the  sufferers  in  the  attack,  by  flag  of  truce,  not 
knowing  of  the  interdiction  ;  nor  could  the  bayonets  of  (he  French 
guard  at  the  water  side  succeed  in  silencing  the  applause  of  the  spec- 
tators. It  is  right  to  add,  that  the  senior  master's  mate  was,  ac- 
cording to  the  true  military  principle,  "  Palmatn  qui  meruit  ferat," 

*  See  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  XIX.  page  251. 

t  Se*  Gazette  Letter,  NAVAL  CHROJUCLE,  Vol.  XIX.  page  249. 


394  CORRESPONDENCE. 

immediately  taken  by  Sir  C.  Cotton  on  board  the  flag-ship,  and  pro- 
moted  to  the  lirst  vacant  lieutenantcy. 

Rear-admiral  Otway  having  joined  the  squadron  in  the  Lively 
frigate  on  the  1 5th,  Admiralty  orders  were  received  to  put  any  two 
of  the  line-of-battle  ships  (except  the  Foudroyant)  and  the  Con- 
fiance,  under  Sir  Sidney  Smith's  command,  in  order  to  augment  the 
squadron  which  had  been  detached  to  accompany  the  Prince 
Regent  of  Portugal,  and  of  which  the  rear-admiral  was  to  take 
upon  himself  the  chief  command,  under  the  authority  of  his  original 
commission  of  ^7th  October,  1807,  now  revived.  The  vice-admiral 
appropriated  the  Hercule^  74,  and  Agamemnon,  64,  to  this  ser- 
vice, pointing  out  the  former  as  flag-ship.  But  Sir  S.  S.  represent- 
ing to  him  that  the  Hercule  was  an  old  French  prize,  fitted  out 
merely  for  the  Copenhagen  expedition,  and  observing  that  the 
poop,  cabin,  &c.  having  been  taken  away  to  ease  the  ship,  making 
it  particularly  awkward  for  a  flag-officer,  requested  she  might  be 
surveyed,  when  she  was  reported  not  sea-worthy  ;  in  proof  of 
wliich,  part  of  her  timbers  (in  the  forta  of  snuff)  was  produced. 
A  fresh  choice  now  became  necessary  ;  that  is  to  sav,  the  rear- 
admiral  pleading  for  good  ships  upon  a  distant  service,  and  the 
Tice-admiral  preferring  to  keep  the  best  upon  his  own  station. 
The  Conqueror  rejoined  during  the  discussion  of  this  matter,  and 
was  applied  for  ;  but  being  a  favourite  ship,  commanded  by  the 
captain  of  the  fleet's  brother-in-law  (there  being,  as  Scrub  says 
in  the  play,  "  secrets  in  all  families")  it  was  at  length  decided,  not 
to  turn  the  rear-admiral  out  of  the  Foudroyant.  Sir  S.  S.  ac- 
cordingly proceeded  in  that  ship  on  20th  February,  as  commander- 
in-chief  in  the  Southern  Seas,  from  the  river  of  Amazons  to  that 
of  La  Plata,  good  humouredly  thanking  his  stars  for  a  double 
escape  from  drowning  in  the  rickety  Minotaur  or  the  rotten 
Hercule*,  and  Sir  C.  Cotton  remained  in  the  command  off  the 
Tagus,  to  become  known  to  the  public  and  to  posterity  as  a  party 
to  the  convention  of  Cintra. 

RALEIGH. 

Chatham,  1st  April,  1809. 

*  At  this  period  the  royal  navy,  according  to  Steel's  list,  consisted  of 
one  thousand  ships  of  war,  and  yet  this  country  could  not  contrive  to  find 
three-deckers  for  our  flag-officers,  according  to  the  approved  example  of  the 
French. — N.B.  It  is  to  be  observed  in  conclusion,  that  notwithstanding  the 
junction  of  the  Conqueror,  which  it  will  be  recollected  was  a  foraging  ship, 
the  very  low  state  of  the  water  and  provisions  in  the  squadron  obliged  the 
commander-in-chief  to  take  as  much  out  of  the  two  detached  ships  as 
could  possibly  be  spared,  occasioning  their  deviation  to  Gibraltar  to  com- 
plete before  they  could  undertake  the  voyage  to  Brazil. 


CORRESPONDENCE.  395 

MR.    EDITOR, 

jN  my  return  from  Basque  Roads,  I  was  not  a  little  surprised 
to  find  the  public  appeared  to  be  somewhat  divided  in  their 
estimation  of  the  importance  of  our  successful  enterprise  ;  and  that 
an  impression,  extremely  prejudicial  to  the  general  satisfaction 
•which  ought  to  have  been  excited  by  the  achievement,  seems  to 
have  prevailed,  from  a  mistaken  notion  \vhich  has  been  spread, 
that  there  existed  a  want  of  cordiality  between  the  commandcr-in- 
chief  and  Lord  Cochrane,  a  notion  which  every  one  knows  to  be 
unfounded,  either  in  fact,  in  cause,  or  in  eftect.  Through  the 
channel  of  your  publication,  therefore,  the  spirit  and  object  of 
which  I  am  convinced  arc  independence  and  impartiality,  I  cannot 
refrain  from  offering  to  the  public  those  convictions  which  arose 
from  personal  observation,  as  to  the  importance  of  the  service  per- 
formed, the  cordiality  of  the  co-operation  with  which  it  was  con- 
ducted, and  the  fulness  of  the  measures  adopted  for  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  enemy. 

As  to  the  importance  of  this  exploit,  I  cannot  but  consider  it  as 
even   greater  than  that  of  a  more  extensive  victory  at  sea  in  the 
present  moment,  because  victory  in  such  a  case  is  almost  a  certainty. 
The  destruction,  however,  of  the  ships  in  Basque  Roads,  in  one  of 
the  enemy's  strongest  and  best  ports,  is  a  victory  of  a  new  class  : 
it  proves  that  he  is  no  where  safe,  and  points  out  a  mode  of  war- 
fare which  defies  the  utmost  caution  he  can  adopt.     But  there  is 
another  point  not  to  be  forgotten  in  this  estimation — that  Buona- 
parte cannot  conceal  the  extent  of  this  misfortune,  and  the  bravery 
of  the  British  navy,  from  his  subjects.     It  was  done  in  presence  of 
a  large  army,  prepared  to  embark  in  the  devoted  squadron,  and 
before   thousands   of  the  French  people,    who  there   beheld    an. 
English  frigate  leading  in  to  the  attack  of  their  line-of-battle  ships, 
and  fearless  of  their  batteries.     Surely,  Sir,  when  these  points  arc 
fairly  considered,  it  gives  a  claim  of  the  utmost  importance  to  this 
service,  even  where  the  Gazette-account  leaves  it.     But  there  is  no 
doubt,    from   subsequent  information,  that  the  discomfiture,  if  I 
may  not  use  the  term  destruction,  is  nearly  total  :  there  are  not 
above  otic  or  two  of  these  ships  that  can  ever  probably  go  to  sea 
again — and  those  not  without  a  thorough  repair.     Yet  were  they 
not  in  this  ruined  condition,  they  have  been  driven  into  a  corner, 
where   they  may  be  blocked   up   for  ever;    nor  do  I  therefore 
hesitate  to  say,  that  not  one  ship  of  this  lleet  will  ever  go  to  sea 
again  ;  and  1  know  not  how  a  victory  can  be  well  more  important 
or  complete. 


596  CORRESPONDENCE. 

With  regard  to  the  remaining  points,  a  short  account  of  the 
transactions  of  the  llth  and  12th  at  once  proves  the  cordiality  of 
the  commanders,   and  the  sufficiency  of  the  means  adopted.     On 
the  night  of  the  llth  Lord  Cochrane's  plan  was  carried  into  effect, 
under  his  own  immediate  direction  in  every  respect,  as  far  as  the 
State   of   the  weather  would   permit;    and  although  none  of  the 
enemy's  ships  were   actually  destroyed  that  n:ght  by  the  fire-ships 
in  the  manner  projected,   s»ill  that  attack  drove  them  from  their 
Strong    position,   and    led    to    all    the  successes  which    followed. 
Placed  as  the  enemy  were  in  line-of-battle,  in  a  narrow  channel, 
and  flanked  by  the  batteries  of  L'Isle  d'Aix,  our  fleet  could  have 
attempted  nothing;  the  channel  would  not  hold  both  fleets ;  and 
any  attack  in  such  a  position  must  have  b.^en  certain  of  failure,  if 
not  worse  ;  but  when,  by  the  tornado  of  fire  with  which  ihey  were 
assailed,  the  enemy's  fleet  had  been  driven  with  confusion  and  dts- 
tnay  from  their  anchorage  ;  whon,  to  avoid  immediate  conflagra- 
tion, they  were  obliged  to  open  the  channel  to  the  ruin  that  was 
to  follow  ;   nay,  even  to  risk  the  chance  of  immediate  shipwreck, 
for  a  temporary  escape  from  a  greater  peril  ,  from  that  moment 
ultimate  success  became  certain  ;  from  that  moment  it  was  evident 
that  the  ruin  of  the  enemy's  fleet  must  ensue.     At  day-break  most 
of  their  ships  Avere  on  shore,  but  it  was  yet  ebb  tide;  it  required 
at  least  half  flood,  before  it  could  be  expedient  for  the  large  ships 
to  get  under  weigh ;  every  ship,  however,  cleared  for  action,  un- 
moored, and  as  soon  as  the  tide  served,  the  whole  fleet  took  a 
closer  position.     The  commander-in-chief  s  first  plan  was,  that  the 
Caledonia  and  Ctssar  were  to  lie  against,  and  attempt  to  silence 
the  batteries  of  the  fort  of  the  Isle  of  Aix,  whiln  the  attack  was 
made  on  the  enemy's  ships  on  shore  by  smaller  vessels.     It  was, 
however,  the  opinion  of  evaty  officer,  and  of  the  pilots,  that  there 
•would  not  be  water  for  those  large  ships  ;  so  that  Lord  Gambier 
was  obliged  to  abandon  this  plan,  and  I  can  take  upon  me  to  say, 
with  reluctance,  for  I  witnessed  his  anxiety  and  mortification  at 
that  moment.     About  an   hour  after  the   fleet  had   taken   this 
advanced  station,  the  Imperieuse  got  under  weigh,  and  ran  down 
towards  the  enemy's  fleet,  in  the  most  gallant  style,  and  to  the 
admiration  of  every  one.     Lord  Cochrane  now  made  a  signal,  that 
the  enemy  might  be  attacked  with  advantage,  and  immediately  the 
Commander-in-chief  ordered  in  the  Revenge  and  Valiant,  seventy- 
fours;  the  Emerald,   Pallas,  and  other  frigates,  with  the  sloops, 
brigs,  &c.  of  the  squadron.     From  the  judicious  position  taken, 
and  the  well-directed  fire  of  the  Imperieuse,  the  Calcutta  soon 


CORRESPONDENCE.'  397 

Sfruck.  The  Revenge  now  shot  a-head,  and  the  rest  of  the  force 
coming  up,  the  four  outermost  ships  of  the  enemy  were  burnt. 
The  others,  however,  which  had  gone  on  shore  the  preceding 
night,  at  about  half  flood,  having  now  lightened,  alternately 
grounding  and  floating  under  a  press  of  sail,  were  by  this  time  able 
to  get  further  up  ;  and  the  Revenge,  and  even  the  Imperieuse  her- 
self, having,  as  the  tide  was  now  ebbing,  felt  the  ground,  it  was 
necessary  for  all  to  draw  out  into  deeper  water.  What  follows, 
it  is  needless  to  expatiate  on  :  enough  has  been  said  to  prove  that 
there  existed  no  jealousy,  no  want  of  co-operation  ;  and  that  the 
means  employed  were  equal  to  the  occasion  ;  for  even  the  ships 
that  went  in,  could  not  all  of  them  be  well  brought  into  action,  and 
the  frigates  themselves  partially  grounded.  It  has  been  asked, 
why  was  the  fleet  moored  on  the  morning  of  the  12th  ?  Because 
having  unmoored  the  preceding  afternoon,  it  blew  too  hard  for 
them  to  continue  to  lie  at  single  anchor,  they  were  therefore 
obliged  to  moor  again  in  the  evening,  and  the  weather  was 
extremely  unsettled  all  night.  It  has  also  been  a  question,  why 
were  they  not  unmoored  at  an  earlier  hour  ?  Because,  if  they  had 
been  so,  they  could  not  have  gone  in  before  the  flood-tide  had 
made. 

These,  Sir,  are  plain  and  unsophisticated  answers,  as  I  trust 
every  part  of  the  above  statement  will  appear.  For  myself,  be 
assured,  I  have  no  interested  or  party  feelings  on  the  subject,  but 
as  an  honest  man,  and  a  true  Englishman,  I  grieve  to  find  a  great 
public  benefit  undervalued,  from  an  unfounded  belief  that  more 
might  have  been  done.  It  is  easy  to  fight  a  battle  over  a  second 
time,  and  difficult  in  that  case  not  to  find  some  point  that  might 
have  been  improved  upon  ;  but  perhaps  few  actions  have  hap- 
pened in  which  there  appears  less  to  mend  under  the  existing  cir- 
cumstances of  weather,  and  the  extraordinary  rapidity  of  execution, 
required  ;  and  I  am  convinced,  that  neither  Lord  Cochrane,  nor 
any  true  friend  of  his,  will  contradict  this  assertion. 

But  I  trust  the  thanks  of  the  country  will  soon  convince  the 
public,  that  whatever  injurious  opinion  may  have  gone  forth,  it  is 
totally  unfounded.  It  behoves  us  thus  to  nourish  our  best  hopes, 
in  times  like  the  present,  when  there  are  but  too  many  amongst 
us,  whose  object  is  to  detract  from  all  our  successes,  whoever  the 
minister  may  be,  or  whoever  th;-  commander. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  obedient  Servant, 

Nay  -1,  1809.  -  AN  EYE-\VITJSTESS. 

/2at><  Cfjroiu  (Bo!*  XXI,  9  E 


CORRESPONDENCE. 
MR.    EDITOR, 

I  HAVE  lately  seen  some  imperfsct  accounts  of  an  intention 
tried  at  Woolwich  to  ascertain  the  practicability  of  obtaining 
a  communication  with  ships  stranded  on  particular' shores.  These 
kinds  of  description  arc  generally  so  deficient,  that  I  do  not  pre- 
tend to  comprehend  more,  than  that  a  shell  having  a  rope  attached 
to  it,  is  to  be  fired  out  of  a  mortar,  from  any  convenient  spot,  in 
such  a  direction,  that  one  part  of  the  rope  maybe  carried  over  the 
ship's  hull,  while  the  other  is  detained  on  shore,  by  whith  means 
a  larger  rope,/  with  other  materials,  may  be  conveyed  on  board. 
As  every  sailor  must  be  anxious  for  the  success  of  such  an  inven- 
tion, I  take  the  liberty  of  mentioning,  that  as  many  parts  of  our 
rocky  coast  will  be  found  impracticable  for  cither  horses,  or 
heavily-laden  men,  it  is  by  no  means  unlikely,  that  objections  may 
arise  against  the  weight  of  the  shell  and  mortar,  in  which  case  it 
may  be  worthy  of  consideration,  whether  the  large  rockets  might 
not  be  found  a  valuable  substitute  ;  I  believe  they  were  many 
years  ago  tried  in  France  with  great  success. 


SIR,  May  12,  1809. 

I  FEEL  a  great  degree  of  professional  pride  from  knowing, 
that  in  all  the  late  developement  of  iniquities,   we  hear  of  no 

naval  men  who  have  been  tampering  with  W s  and  Rogues, 

or  trying  to  make  their  way  in  the  service  by  bribery  or  cor- 
ruption. But  I  have  noticed  with  pain,  that  amidst  those  various 
descriptions  of  placemen,  pensioners,  reversionists,  &c.  who  have 
Ibeen  mustered  as  the  abettors  of  Mr.  Perceval  in  his  extraordinary 
attempt  to  defend  the  late  commander-in-chief,  the  officers  of  the 
army  and  navy  in  Parliament  have  been  universally  included  by  the 
editors  of  the  public  prints.  I  will  leave  the  army  to  defend  itself 
from  the  charge,  but  I  cannot  allow  the  stigma  to  rest  on  the  navy 
•without  proof.  You  will  therefore,  Mr.  Editor,  very  much  oblige 
me,  and  many  other  of  your  constant  readers,  if  you  will  give  us 
correct  lists  both  of  the  majorities  and  minorities  of  naval  officers, 
«n  the  several  divisions  which  took  place  on  the  late  discussions. 

I  remain,  Sir,  yours?  &c. 

E.  G.  F. 


CORRESPONDENCE.  399 

Extract   of  a  Letter  from   an   Officer   of  his   Majesty1 s  Ship 
Revenge)  of  74  guns,  dated  off  Rochefort^  13th  April ,  1809. 

I  INFORMED  yon  in  my  last  that  the  Hon.  Captain  Pagett  had 
obtained  a  temporary  leave  of  absence,  and  our  ship  was  com. 
manded  by  Captain  Alexander  Robert  Kerr. 

I  will  now  endeavour  to  send  you  a  few  particulars  of  our 
attack  on  the  enemy's  fleet  in  Aix  Roads :  for  two  hours  and  a 
half  we  encountered  yesterday  a  dreadful  fire  from  the  batteries 
and  some  of  the  enemy's  ships  ;  we  were  the  Jirst  ship  of  the  line 
in,  and,  thank  Go,d,  considering  our  situation,  we  were  yery*  for- 
tunate, only  three  killed  and  fifteen  wounded  ;  our  men  behaved 
nobly,  and  knocked  an  84-gun  ship  almost,  to  atoms  ;  we  under, 
stand  she  had  60  killed,  and  as  she  was  lying  aground  she  was 
burnt:  last  night  the  sight  was  glorious,  four  line-of-battle  ships 
in  flames,  and  their  blowing  up  was  awfully  tremendous.  We  had 
just  water  enough  for  the  Revenge  to  get  without  the  range  of  the 
shot,  where  we  lay  at  anchor  all  night ;  and  this  morning  we  were 
the  last  line  of  battle  ship  that  came  out.  We  had  a  42-pound  shot 
jn  the  bowsprit,  which  has  cut  it  up  very  much  ;  some  of  our  men 
are  badly  wounded,  one  shot  knocked  down  nine  men  in  the  quarter 
deck,  two  were  killed  and  seven  wounded  ;  one  of  our  lieutenants 
was  wounded,  by  the  head  of  a  man  that  was  taken  oft' as  clean  as 
if  by  a  knife,  and  struck  him  violently  on  the  breast.  Lord 
Cochrane  behaved  most  gallantly  ;  he  is  now  in  a  bomb,  firing 
away  at  a  three-docker  that  is  on  shore,  which  I  hope  he  will  be 
able  to  drstroy  ;  all  this  has  been  done  in  one  of  our  enemy's  har- 
bours, that  has  hitherto  been  considered  as  totally  impracticable 
for  any  of  our  ships  to  enter. 

MR.    EDITOR, 

I  HAVE  much  pleasure  in  being  able  to  furnish  your  Correspon- 
dent,   "AN   OFFICER  IN  THE  ROYAL  NAVY,"*    with   the 
information  which  he   requires,  respecting  Captain,  Bolton's  im- 
provement in  jury-masts. 

For  this  improvement,  the  Silver  Medal  of  the  Society  for  the 
Encouragement  of  Arts,  Manufactures,  and  Commerce,  was 
awarded  to  Captain  Bolton,  in  May,  18Q8  ;  and  a  model  thereof 
may  be  seen  in  the  Society's  Repository,  in  the  Adelphi.  Captain 

age  2 1.3. 


40(5  CORRESPONDENCE. 

Bolton,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Taylor,  the  Secretary  of  that  Institution, 
observes  as  follows  : — 

tf  Herewith  you  will  receive  the  model  of  a  plan  for  fitting 
ships'  jury-;nasts,  to  be  formed  from  the  spare  spars  usually  carried 
on  board  King's  ships,  and  in  every  merchantman  that  i->  properly 
found.  By  having  jury-masts  so  fitted,  ships  will  be  cnabicd  to 
carry  as  much  sail  as  on  the  usual  regular  mast  ;  the  great  use  of 
which  I  need  not  dwell  on,  only  observing  that  it  may  be  of  great 
importance  to  fleets  after  a  general  action,  or  when  in  want  of 
proper  lower  masts,  either  at  home  or  abroad,  and  enable  ships, 
after  the  loss  of  their  mast,  to  prosecute  their  voyage,  or  service, 
without  any  deficiency  of  sail." 

For  the  more  particular  information  of  your  readers,  Mr* 
Editor,  I  take  the  liberty  of  forwarding  to  you  the  following 
descriptive  remarks,  copied  from  the  recently-published  volume  of 
the  "  Transaction/;"  of  the  Society  for  the  Encouragement  of 
Arts,  &c.  together  with  a  drawing  from  the  mode!,  as  given  in  that 
work ;  and  am,  Sir,  yours,  &c. 

A    FuiENI)    TO    THE    NAVY. 

il  In  the  model  in  the  Society's  possession,  the  main-mast  is 
broken  about  one-third  of  its  length  above  the  deck,  proper  part- 
ners are  secured  on  the  deck,  in  which  a  hand  mast  and  spare 
main-top-mast  are  fixed  on  each  side  of  the  broken  main-mast,  and 
secured  thereto  by  two  spare  caps,  morticed  on  a  square  made  in 
its  centre.  A  strengthening  cap,  moveable  on  these  additional 
masts,  connects  th^in,  and  the  upper  parts  of  these  masts  are 
secured  firmly  by  tressel-trees  in  tiie  main-top.  The  foot  of  a  spare 
fore-top-mast  passes  through  a  cap  made  from  strong  plank,  mor- 
ticed into  the  heads  of  the  two  temporary  masts  above  mentioned, 
goes  through  the  main-top,  and  rests  in  the  moveable  strengthening 
cap  which  connects,  those  two  masts,  and  enables  the  fore-top-mast 
to  be  raised  to  any  height  which  the  main-top  -will  admit,  and  be 
then  firmly  secured  by  the  upper  cap,  the  m  in-top,  and  the 
strengthening  cap  below  it.  The  fore-top-mast  being  thus  ad- 
justed, the  cross-trees  and  top-gallaut-mast  are  mounted  upon  it, 
•which  completes  the  whole  business. 

Two  caps  are  the  only  things  necessary  to  be  made  expressly  for 
the  purpose,  the  other  articles  being  usually  ready  on  board  the 
ship." 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


401 


Reference  to  the  Drawing  of  Captain  BOLTON'S  Jury  Mast. 
Figs.  1,  2,  and  3. 

ec  Figs.  1,  2.  and  3,  where  A  A  represents 
the  partners  or  pieces  of  timber  which  are 
bolted  to  the  quarter-deck  for  the  mast  to 
rest  upon.  B  is  the  stump  of  the  lower 
mast,  which  is  cut  square  at  the  top,  and 
of  the  same  sjze  as  the  head  of  the  mast 
originally  was  ;  upon  this  square,  the  main 
and  spare  lower  caps  a  a  are  fixed;  two 
mortices  must  be  cut  in  the  partners  A  A 
to  receive  squares  made  at  the  lower  ends 
of  two  tempo  ary  masts  DD,  which  are 
supported  by  the  caps  «  a,  one  of  them  is  a 
spare  main-top-mast,  the  other  a  hand-mast ; 
these  two  support  the  main-top  E,  addi- 
tional squares  being  made  on  the  tressi-1^ 
trees  to  receive  each  of  them,  b  is  a  cap G1 
shown  in  fig  2,  made  of  four  inch  plank 
doubled  for  the  purpose,  and  fitted  upon 
the  heads  of  the  mast  D  D,  for  a  fore- top. 
mast  F  F,  the  heel  of  which  rests  in  a  mor- 
tice made  in  the  stump  of  the  lower  ma->t; 
it  is  also  steadied  by  a  double  cap  G,  sepa- 
rately shown  in  tig.  3,  on  which  it  lids 
finally  on  the  top.  The  top-gallant-mast 
II  is  lixed  «o  the  mast  F,  by  the  top  and  cap 
in  the  usual  manner.  The  figures  2  and  3 
show  the  caps  separated  from  the  masts,  and 
are  the  only  things  necessary  to  lv  made  for  the  purpose  ;  and  the 
object  of  the  cap.  tig.  2,  is  to  steady  and  prevent  any  wringing  of 
the  lower  jury-mast,  and  to  fid  the  top-mast  wheneTer  it  is  reefed. 
The  io.  e-top-mast  F  F  appears  in  two  separate  pieces,  on  account 
of  its  length. 


MR.    EDITOR, 

AVING  observed  that  you  regret  in  a  former  part  of  this 
volume,  the  intelligence  you  possess  relative  to  South 
American  affairs  is  but  slight,  and  that  a  letter  therein  published, 
page  248,  dated  Hio  de  Janeiro,  December  18,  contains  informa- 
tion by  no  means  accurate,  I  presume  you  will  not  think  me  the 
Jess  a  well  wisher  to  your  publication,  if  I  offer  you  the  best 


402  CORRESPONDENCE. 

means  of  correcting  the  error  which  the  information  I  happen  to 
hare  received  from  that  distant  quarter  enables  me  to  afford. 

Addresses  and  proclamations  have  been  distributed  all  over  th« 
continent  of  South  America,  on  the  part  of  those  members  of  the 
royal  family  of  Spain  out  of  the  gripe  of  Buonaparte,  in  proof  of 
their  non-acquiescence  in  the  resignation  of  their  rights  to  the 
crown  of  Spain.  Since  this,  which  was  done  at  the  desire  of  the 
Prince  Regent  of  Portugal,  events  occurred  which  rendered  it  ad- 
visable for  the  Princess  of  Brazil  to  proceed  to  the  Spanish  terri- 
tory for  the  preservation  of  the  interests  of  her  family,  and  th» 
measure  was  proposed  to  the  Prince  by  the  Princess,  who  caused 
an  answer  to  be  written,  expressing  his  consent,  should  he  receive 
an  application  in  due  form.  But  something  having  been  since 
instilled  into  his  mind  as  to  his  own  right  to  the  crown  of  Spain,  in 
default  of  the  heirs  of  Ferdinand  and  his  brothers,  the  consent  on. 
the  request  being  renewed  was  withdrawn,  and  another  answer 
given. 

There  has  besides  existed  a  wish  in  the  Portuguese  government 
to  direct  its  force  against  certain  objects  incompatible  with  the 
existing  political  relations  of  Portugal,  Great  Britain,  and  Spain, 
and  in  which  measures  consequently  Sir  Sidney  Smith,  as  com- 
mander of  the  British  force  in  those  seas,  could  by  no  means  assist ; 
but  on  the  contrary,  protested  and  cautioned  those  concerned  as  to 
the  consequences  of  such  steps  being  taken.  Persons  whose  ideas 
are  different  from  the  admiral,  and  who  therefore  (ind  him  a 
restraint  on  them,  have  had  recourse  to  representations  to  get  him 
removed,  and  he  has  since  been  actually  recalled  ;  the  consequences 
of  which  measure  remain  to  be  seen.  In  December  last  the  fleet 
at  Rio  Janeiro  were  in  expectation  of  going  to  the  southward, 
after  the  arrival  of  the  next  packet  from  England. 

A  paper  war  had  commenced  between  Buenos  Ayres  and  Monte 
Video,  Guarda  Costas  had  been  fitted  out  by  Liniers  to  prevent 
vessels  going  to  the  latter  place,  while  Elio  on  the  other  hand  had 
a  frigate  to  protect  his  trade;  the  interposition  of  Sir  Sidney  Smith 
it  is  said  has  been  requested  by  both,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped,  from 
the  confidence  they  repose  in  him,  he  will  be  able  to  reconcile  the 
contending  parties  and  restore  tranquility.  What  advantage  is  to. 
arise  to  the  political  influence  and  commercial  interests  of  England 
from  the  removal  of  that  able  commander  under  such  circum- 
stances is  much  beyond  the  comprehension  of 

Your  occasional  reader, 

NAUTICUS, 

Falmoutfi,  April  20,  1809, 


CORRESPONDENCE*  401 

»«TRUCTION  OF  THE  FRENCH  FLEET  IN  BASQUE  ROADS,  WITH 
A  PLAN  OF  THE  HARBOUR,  &C.  KY  AN  OFFICER  OF  HIS  MA- 
JESTY'S SHIP  VALIANT. — (With  an  Engraving.) 

"  Errant i passemque  oculos per  cuncta fercnti" VIRC. 


MR.    EDITOR, 

AS  a  public  despatch  is  not  calculated  to  include  many  of  th« 
minute  particulars  relating  to  a  naval  operation,  but  merely 
to  pencil  out  a  broad  outline,  and  sum  tip  the  final  result,  I  beg 
leave  to  fill  a  few  of  the  chasms  with  such  particulars  as  fell  under 
my  immediate  observation,  during  the  late  attack  on  (and  I  may 
say  destruction  of)  the  French  fleet  in  Basque  Roads.  On  the 
llth  of  April,  1809,  the  French  fleet  were  anchored  in  two  lines, 
between  Isle  D'Aix,  and  a  shoal  to  the  southward  of  that  island 
(Les  Pattes).  The  channel  was  narrow,  and  between  them  and 
the  outer  roads  was  placed  a  kind  of  boom  (No.  14),  composed  of 
cables,  secured  by  anchors,  and  floated  by  buoys,  &c.  which  they 
believed  capable  of  resisting  fire-ships  ;  while  the  batteries  of  Isle 
D'Aix  on  one  side,  and  Oleron  on  the  other,  secured  them  from 
open  attack  by  ships  of  war.  I  learned,  however,  afterwards, 
from  a  French  officer,  that  they  had  a  number  of  boats  out  every 
night,  ready  to  tow  off  any  fire- vessels,  in  case  we  succeeded  in 
breaking  the  boom.  As  the  wind  was  strong  from  the  northward 
all  the  afternoon  of  the  llth  April,  they  judged  the  precaution  of 
boats  unnecessary ;  not  expecting  that  we  should  attempt  any 
thing  that  night.  Our  officers,  however,  having  assembled  on 
board  the  Caledonia  for  orders,  repaired  to  their  respective  fire- 
ships,  and  in  the  evening  dropped  down  to  the  place  marked 
No.  24  in  the  plan,  where  they  lay  at  anchor  till  about  9  o'clock  ; 
they  then  got  under  weigh,  and  in  an  hour  afterwards  there  were 
18  or  20  vessels  in  a  blaze.  From  the  ships  in  Basque  Roads, 
they  appeared  to  form  a  chain  of  ignited  pyramids,  stretching 
from  the  Isle  D'Aix  to  the  Boyart  shoal;  while  Congreve's  rocket* 
flying  through  the  air  in  various  directions,  and  like  comets, 
dragging  a  fiery  train  behind,  formed  a  scene  at  once  the  most 
grand  and  terrific  that  can  well  be  imagined.  The  Mediator  was 
the  first  to  strike  the  boom,  and  providentially,  from  the  strength 
of  the  wind  and  tide,  she  broke  the  gallic  barrier,  and  thus 
destroyed  the  palladium  of  their  hopes  !  A  brisk  cannonade  now 
commenced  from  the  batteries  on  the  Isle  D'Aix,  and  likewise 
-from  several  of  the  French  ships,  whose  vivid  flashes  glancing  lik« 
electric  fires  through  the  volumes  of  smoke  and  flame,  emitted  by 
the  fire-shjps;  heightened  the  sublimity  of  the  scene ;  every  breast 


404  CORRESPONDENCE. 

now  heaved  with  the  strongest  emotions  of  anxiety  for  the  fate  of* 
our  brother  officers  and  gallant  seamen  employed  on  this  most  dan- 
gerous entorprize  ;  nor  were  the.-e  emotions  unaccompanied  by  a 
frequent  sigh  of  regret  for  the  desperate  situation  of  our  enemies  1 
.and  many  of  us  anathematised  the  tyrant,  whose  insatiable  ambi- 
tion drove  a  generous  and  brave  enemy  to  the  necessity  of  using 
these  cruel  implements  of  destruction  in  defence  of  Ih  ir  hearths 
and  altars!  At  this  moment  the  channel  b  ing  opened  by  the  suc- 
cessful impulse  of  the  Mediator,  a  train  of  at  least  a  dozen  fire- 
ships  drifted  directly  towards  the  French  fleet,  which  in  the  utmost 
consternation,  cut  their  cables,  and  ran  aground  on  the  shoal 
marked  ( Lcs  Palles)  in  the  chart ;  two  fire-ships  actually  fell  foul 
of  two  French  men  of  war,  but  by  great  exertions  they  (the 
French)  disengaged  themselves,  and  su tiered  the  rest  to  drive 
peaceably  up  towards  the  Charante. 

On  board  the  English  fleet  we  were  of  course  in  the  greatest 
suspense,  both  with  respect  to  the  fate  of.  our  companions,  and  the 
success  of  the  enterprize  ;  indeed,  of  the  latter,  we  began  to  form 
no  sanguine  hopes,  seeing  that  no  explosion  took  place,  and  that 
many  of  the  fire-ships,  from  a  wrong  direction,  had  fallen  upon 
shoals  and  sands,  where  they  burned  without  annoying  the  enemy. 
Before  day-light,  most  of  our  officers  returned  ;  and  as  the  dawn, 
advanced,  we  beheld  the  greater  part  of  the  French  ileet  driven 
from  their  anchorage,  and  fast  aground  on  the  above-mentioned 
shoal ;  many  of  them  nearly  on  their  broadsides,  and  in  a  most 
melancholy  condition.  A  telegraphic  communication  having  taken 
place  between  Lord  Gambier  and  Lord  Cochrane,  the  English 
fleet  got  under  weigh  (12th  April)  ar.d  dropped  down  nearer  to 
the  enemy,  where  they  arc  represented  in  the  plan  (26)  ;  it 
having  been  intended  that  the  Caledonia  and  Qesar  should  engage 
the  batteries,  but  too  little  water  having  been  found  for  this  operation, 
the  Valiant  and  Revenge,  ships  of  the  lino,  were  ordered  to  anchor 
off  the  Boyart  shoal  (No.  12  and  ]  3)  within  range  of  shell,  in 
company  with  the  JKtna.  bomb  and  several  frigates.  At  this  time 
the  enemy  were  making  every  exertion  to  heave  their  ships  olF  th« 
shoal,  which  many  of  them  effected,  and  stood  up  towards  the 
entrance  of  the  Charante  ;  four,  however,  of  their  ships, .namely 
the  Varsovie,  Aquilon,  Tonnere,  and  Calcutta  seemed  completely 
fixed  ;  at  one  o'clock,  therefore,  Lord  Cochrane  in  the  Imperier.se 
weighed  anchor,  and  stood  in  between  the  Boyart  and  Isle  D'Aix3 
close  to  the  former,  and  followed  by  the  /Etna  bomb. 

The  Batteries  from  Oleron  now  opened  5  and  the  shells  pitched 


COURESPOXDEXCE.  -405 

in  every  direction  around  the  Imperieuse  and  JEtna ;  while  the 
42-pounders  from  Isle  D'Aix  went  over  them  in  the  contrary 
direction  ;  regardless  of  these,  they  steadily  pursued  an  equidistant 
course  between  the  two  islands,  and  in  twenty  minutes  they  passed 
the  Scylla  and  Charybdis  without  any  loss  :  they  now  steered  for 
the  western  edge  of  the  shoal,  and  having  proceeded  to  that  part 
marked  (21)  in  the  plan,  they  opened  their  fire  on  the  French 
ships  Hvhich  were  aground  at  (18  and  19)  ;  th?  batteries  on  the 
fortified  point  of  Isle  D'Aix  (23  and  15)  at  the  same  time  opening 
a  tremendous  cannonade  on  them  in  return.  The  Valiant  antl 
Revenge,  accompanied  by  the  Indefatigable,  Pallas,  Emerald, 
Unicorn  and  Aigle  frigates,  at  half-past  two  o'clock,  weighed 
anchor,  and  took  the  same  route  which  the  Imperieuse  and  ./Etna 
liad  done  before,  the  shot  and  shells  passing  over  them  without 
producing  any  effect ;  these  ships  having  come  to  an  anchor  off  the 
edge  of  the  shoal,  opened  a  well-directed  fire  on  the  French  ships, 
'(under  a  heavy  discharge  from  Isle  D'Aix)  particularly  on  the 
Ville  de  Varsovie  and  Aquilon,  while  the  Calcutta,  in  all  proba- 
bility, struck  to  the  Imperieuse,  whose  judicious  position,  and 
inimitable  fire,  exceed  ah  praise.  The  French  ships,  after  tiring1 
for  some  time  from  their  sterns,  Sec.  struck  their  colours,  many  of 
the  crew  betaking  themselves  to  their  boats  ;  while  the  Tonnerre, 
cither  by  accident  or  design,  caught  fire,  and  in  half  aa  hour  blew 
up,  with  a  most  awful  and  magnificent  explosion  ;  previously  to 
this,  however,  the  Calcutta  was  n  flames,  but  did  not  explode  till 
past  seven  o'clock,  when  she  blew  up,  and  exhibited  the  most 
terrific  and  sublime  spectacle  the  human  mind  could  contemplate, 
or  the  eye  survey,  without  emotions  of  terror  ! — u  Proximus  ardet 
Ucalegon." — After  securing  five  or  six  hundred  of  the  prisoners, 
the  Aquilon  and  Ville  de  Vrarsovie  were  doomed  to  the  flames  i 
and  as  the  night  advanced,  the  inhabitants  of  Rochefort,  Rochelle, 
Isle  of  Ithe,  Isle  of  Oleron,  and  Isle  D'Aix,  &c.  &c.  beheld  one  of 
their  chief  harbours  mournfully,  but  splendidly  illuminated  by  trie 
destruction  of  their  shattered  navy  !  That  anchorage  which, 
twenty-four  hours  before,  contained  eleven  sail  of  the  line,  and 
four  frigates,  defended  irom  open  violence  by  numerous  batteries, 
and  from  fire-ships  by  a  supposed  impassable  boom,  was  now 
occupied  by  a  victorious  enemy  ;  while  the  refluent  tide*  earned 
up  to  the  walls  of  thei.-  proudest  cities  the  melancholy  emblems  of 
their  own  defeat,  and  the  memorable  trophies  of  British  bravery  ! 
Almost  all  of  those  ships  which  escaped  destruction  by  fire,  were 
aground  in  various  directions,  between  Isle  D'Aix  and  Isle  .Ma  lame  : 
iwo  or  three  days  after  the  action,  a  fti^ate  was  burnt  near  Euel 
ato,  ££ron«  BoUXXI.  3  s 


406  CORRESPONDENCE. 

Isle,  and  the  others  must  have  experienced,  many  of  them, 
irreparable,  and  all,  considerable  damage,  as  we  could  see  them 
heaving  overboard  their  ammunition  and  stores,  in  order  to  prevent 
their  going  to  pieces  on  the  shoals.  No  farther  operations, 
however,  wer,'  deemed  practicable,  on  account  of  the  intricacy  of 
the  Channel,  and  the  numerous  protecting  batteries  which  now 
surrounded  the  French  ships  in  every  direction. 

The  Valiant  was  aground  five  hours,  and  the  Caesar,  which  came 
down  late  in  theafternoon,  was  likewise  on  shore  ;  but  fortunately 
they  all  got  off  early  on  the  morning  of  the  13fh  of  April,  without 
any  material  injury,  leaving  a  squadron  of  frigates  out  of  gun-shot 
to  the  westward  of  the  shoal,  at  (No.  25)  in  the  plan,  where  they 
lay  in  despite  of  the  enemy ;  though  in  passing  to  and  from  our 
fleet  they  were  expostd  to  a  cannonade  from  both  sides. 

I  shall  now  conclude  with  a  few  observations  on  the  series  of 
events  which  took  place  here,  on  the  llth  and  12th  of  April,  with 
their  immediate  and  probable  consequences. 

There  cannot  be  a  doubt  but  that  the  fire-fessels,  with  the  addi- 
tional terrors  given  them  by  the  application  of  Congreve's  Rock- 
ets,* although  they  did  not  directly  destroy  the  French  ships, 
were  the  first  cause  of  their  destruction  ;  for  had  the  enemy  not 
been  thus  driven  from  their  anchors,  there  is  scarcely  a  possibility  of 
their  having  been  attacked  by  a  sufficient  number  of  our  ships,  on  ac- 
count of  the  want  of  water  and  narrowness  of  the  Channel,  it  is  like- 
wise a  pleasing  reflection  to  the  humane  mind,  that  the  object  sought 
after,  was  thus  gained,  in  a  circuitous  manner,  which  prevented  the 
effusion  of  blood  on  both  sides.  The  Ruler  of  France  has  'been 
deprived  of  a  strong  weapon,  while  the  subject  has  been  spared. 

*  A  thousand  rockets  were  discharged  at  the  enemy  during  this  attac^, 
fifty  having  been  placed  in  the  tops  of  each  fire- ship,  which,  as  the  fire  as- 
cended into  the  rigging  twenty  minutes  or  more  after  the  ship  was  abandon- 
ed, were  flying  about  in  all  directions  amongst  the  French  ships,  thus  giving 
our  fire-vessels  a  power  of  distant  conflagration,  as  well  as  that  by  absolute 
contact.  The  enemy  ceased  firing,  and  shut  down  their  ports,  as  the  pri- 
soners informed  us,  011  seeing  this  unexpected  discharge  ;  nor  can  it  be 
doubted  that  many  took  effect ;  and  although  by  their  exertions  the  enemy 
prevented  the  immediate  burning  of  any  of  their  ships,  still  this  shower  of 
iire  must  have  added  infinitely  to  their  terror  and  confusion,  and  have  greatly 
contributed  to  drive  them  from  their  anchorage,  which  was  the  foundation 
of  all  our  future  success.  In  like  manner  one  of  the  fire  vessels  carried  in 
by  the  first'Lieu tenant  of  the  Hero,  armed  witli  a  volley  of"  50  rockets  on  one 
side,  was  laid  ashore  on  the  Isle  of  Ai\,  and  the  whole  going  into  thu  batteries 
in  one  flight,  silenced  a  very  heavy  fire  of  cannon  and  musketry. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


407 


"  Parcere  subjects,  et  debellare  snperbos !  "  should  ever  be  the 
motto  of  an  enlightened  nation,  when  engaged  in  war.  I  would 
here  fain  pay  a  tribute  of  admiration  to  the  zeal  and  co-operation  of 
the  fleet,  and  to  the  gallantry  of  Lord  Cochrane,  whose  valour, 
judgment,  and  modesty,  are  equally  deserving  the  highest  encomi- 
ums, and  received  the  most  unreserved  support  from  the  commander- 
in-chief.  But  his  Lordship's  ownfeelings  will  behisbest  reward.  The 
last,  though  not  least,  subject  I  shall  allude  to,  is,  the  consequences 
resulting  from  this  enterprizc.  The  mere  destruction  of  five  ships  is 
of  but  comparatively  small  concern  ;  but  the  lesson  we  have  taught 
our  enemies,  by  forcing  our  way  into  one  of  their  securest  har- 
bours, and  destroying  their  fleet  in  the  view  of  perhaps  a  million  of 
spectators,  will  make  an  indelible  impression  even  on  the  rulers  of 
France.  This  transaction  cannot  be  vamped  up  and  disguised  in 
the  public  prints,  as  is  the  case  when  we  conquer  them  at  sea. 
Our  superiority  will  be  too  glaring  not  to  produce  conviction  ; 
and  indeed  some  of  the  officers  when  they  came  on  board  as  pri- 
soners, exclaimed,  "  that  they  had  now  no  security  from  the 
English  in  their  harbours,  and  they  expected  we  should  next  go 
into  Brest,  and  take  out  their  fleet,  whenever  it  suited  our  conve- 
nience !  "  It  is  now  probably  in  our  power  to  destroy  the  harbour 
of  Rochefort,  by  sinking  hulks  in  the  narrow  channel  near  Iste 
D'Aix,  and  at  all  events  the  foundation  of  a  battery  which  they 
are  erecting  on  the  Boyart  sand,  should  be  demolished,  and  small 
vessels  left  there  to  guard  it  in  future.  The  Rochefort  station, 
needs  no  more  be  regarded  as  a  dangerous  one  in  westerly  gales,  as 
ships  of  any  draft  of  water  may  run  in  and  anchor  between  the 
Boyart  shoal  and  Isle  D'Aix,  in  perfect  security,  during  the 
heaviest  tempest ;  and  in  short  a  small  squadron  there,  may  keep 
in  check  double  the  number  of  the  enemy,  as  the  moment  they 
come  to  the  only  anchorage  where  they  can  take  in  their  guns, 
they  will  be  liable  to  the  same  salutation  they  experienced  on  the 
memorable  12th  of  April !  ,  J.  J. 


English  Fleet. 

Frigates,  $c. 

French  fleet  ^ 

Frisaies* 

1  Caledonia. 

Pallas. 

Foudroyant 

80 

Pallas; 

2  Caeitir. 

Unicorn. 

Varsovie 

74  B 

L'Klbe. 

3  Beilona. 

Indefatigable. 

L'Ocean 

110 

L'Ort. 

4  Resolution. 

Emerald. 

C'assard 

74 

L'lnaienne. 

5  Theseus. 

Imperieuse. 

Calcutta 

56  B 

6  Hero 

Aigle. 

Tonnerre 

74  B 

7   Donegal 

/Etna. 

Patriotic 

74 

8  Illustrious. 

Foxhound. 

Jemap|;e 

74 

9   Revenue. 

Beajde. 

Aquilun 

74  B 

10  Gibraltar, 

Cutters,  sloops, 

Tourviile 

7-1 

11  Valiant. 

&e. 

408  CORRESPONDENCE, 


OK    COFFEES,    ROCKETS,     INTERNALS,    FIRE 
CATAMARANS,    &C. 

MIL  EDITOR  London.) 

ERE  is  not  perhaps  any  opinion,  in  the  present  age,  more 
JUL  engerly  embraced  or  more  fondly  cherished,  than  that  every 
great  discovery  or  attainment  of  science  must  necessarily  be  pro- 
dnccive  of  results  beneficial  to  ourselves,  or  advantageous  to  pos- 
terity. Yet  it  is  certain,  that  no  opinion  can  possibly  be  wider 
from  the  truth,  or  more  palpably  fallacious  j  as  one  instance  of 
•which,  had  the  mea^.s  of  procuring  ardent  spirits  never  been 
developed,  how  greatly  both  in  morals  and  happiness  would  man- 
kind at  this  moment  be  gainers  ?  And  if  this  remark  be  so  ob- 
viously true,  as  it  affects  mankind  in  general,  how  numerous  are 
the  instances  of  important  discoveries  operating  destructively  on 
the  interests  of  particular  nations  and  societies  ?  To  the  disco- 
very of  a  passage  to  India  round  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  Alex- 
andria and  Venice  now  justly  ascribe  the  commencement  of  a 
mournful  declension.  To  the  genius  of  Columbus  and  the  mines 
of  America,  Spain  at  this  day  wisely  imputes  the  miseries  which 
oppress  her.  And  if  we  should  proceed  to  anticipate  the  probable 
consequences  of  encouraging,  what  are  termed  great  acquisitions 
to  the  country  we  live  in.  we  shall  I  think  be  readily  brought  to. 
acknowledge,  that  it  is  not  always  to  acquisitions  the  most 
brilliant  that  nations  are  most  largely  indebted.  To  illustrate 
this,  let  us  for  a  moment  suppose,  that  the  patentee  of  the  gas, 
lights  has  actually  realised  what  he  pretends  to,  and  thereby  con- 
siderably reduced  the  consumption  of  oil.  Let  us  go  on  to  sup- 
pose, that  canals  on  canals  are  multiplied,  till  there  remains  no 
employ  for  the  vessels  called  coasters  ;  and  granting  to  our  wishes 
still  more,  let  us  admit,  that  a  coal  mine  has  just  been  opened  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  London.  Now,  it  is  thought  to  be  indis- 
putably true,  that  the  immediate  effect  of  such  acquisitions  would 
be  incalculably  great  in  commercial  advantages.  But  is  it  not 
equally  true,  that  in  proportion  as  the  country  enlarges  its  com- 
mercial ability,  the  most  alarming  effects  would  be  entailed  on  the 
guardian  of  that  ability,  through  the  nurseries  of  the  navy? 

Your  lights,  your  coals,  and  your  canals,  would  they  not  rapidly 
consume  the  principal  sources  of  its  strength,  oar  fisheries,  our 
colliers,  and  our  coasters  ?  If  these  reflections  be  just,  it  ne- 
cessarily follows  that  government  can  never  be  too  cautious  in 


CORRESPONDENCE^  4Q9 

granting  the  favour  of  its  countenance  to  any  proposals  for  pro- 
ducing temporary  advantages  ;  and  this  immediately  brings  me  tt> 
the  subject  of  this  paper,  the  absurd,  inhuman,  and  dangerous 
policy  of  instituting  so  abominable  a  warfare,  as  that  of  the  coffers, 
rockets,  &c.  and  indeed  the  impolicy  in  general  of  encouraging 
inventions,  that  tend  to  innovate  in  any  considerable  degree  on  the 
honourable  and  triumphant  system  of  naval  warfare,  in  which  we 
are  allowed  to  excel.  It  may  be  worth  while  stopping  here  a  mo. 
mcnt  to  consider  what  would  be  the  conduct  of  those  who  are 
called  prudent  men,  in  ordinary  life,  under  similar  circumstances, 
of  established  superiorly,  looking  down  with  contempt  upon  their 
foes  ;  for  instance,  let  us  select  that  class  of  men  among  our  manu- 
facturers, whose  prudence  and  enterprise  are  equally  conspicuous, 
I  mean  the  proprietors  of  the  cotton  manufactories.  We  all,  or 
at  least  a  great  part  of  us,  have  at  one  time  or  other  contemplated 
with  pride  the  wonderful  exertions  of  skill  and  capital,  which  are 
displayed  in  the  construction  of  those  stupendous  establishments. 
Let  us  then,  keeping  this  circumstance  in  memory,  grant  for  the 
sake  of  illustration,  that  one  of  the  many  foreign  rivals  who  have 
been  driven  from  the  market  by  our  superiority,  has,  in  a  moment 
of  desperation,  or  to  answer  some  favourite  purpose,  collected 
together  the  remnant  and  wreck  of  his  stock,  intemperately 
boasting,  that  by  these  means  he  should  again  assume  his 
consequence  in  Europe  ;  or  coming  still  nearer  to  the  subject,  let 
us  imagine,  that  some  foreign  genius  was  said  to  have  discovered  a 
method  of  fabricating  cottons  diametrically  opposite  to  that  in 
•which  we  excel ;  a  method  so  simple  and  unexpensive,  as  to  need 
neither  skill  nor  great  establishment ;  in  short,  one  completely 
congenial  to  the  resources  of  their  opponents.  Now,  with  these 
•views  of  the  case,  can  we  (knowing  the  wisdom  and  magnanimity 
of  our  countrymen)  hesitate  to  decide  on  what  would  be  their 
conduct.  Would  they,  in  answer  to  such  a  threat,  resolve  at  once 
on  violating  all  their  ancient  and  honourable  customs  ?  Or  on  the 
latter  supposition,  would  they,  on  the  first  hint  of  a  secret  existing 
pregnant  with  such  ruin  to  their  manufactories  and  families,  invve- 
diately  hold  out  rewards  for  its  encouragement.  Would  these 
prudent  men  ostentatiously  combine  to  give  life  and  notoriety  to  a 
plan  for  rendering  useless  those  very  establishments  on  which  their 
superiority  is  founded  ?  Oh,  no  !  there  is  not  a  man  in  Britain 
•who  is  ready  to  answer  in  the  affirmative  :  there  is  no  one  in  the 
universe  to  accuse  them  of  so  flagrant  a  folly.  Jlow  then  is  it, 
that  the.  very  mea  wUo  ought  to  be  the  most  prudent  among  us. 


410  CORRESPONDENCE. 

have  adopted  so  opposite  a  conduct ;  have  been  for  so  long  a  tim» 
the  patrons  of  coffers  and  rockets,  the  enthusiastic  admirers  of 
every  invention,  no  matter  how  diabolical,  that  promised  destruc- 
tion to  maritime  establishments?  I  have  some  where  read  of  a 
prince,  reigning  over  a  people  made  rich  by  their  skill  in  the  manu- 
facture of  glass,  to  whom  a  certain  projector  offered  a  secret,  by 
•which  that  brittle  article  might  be  made  malleable,  or  easily  con- 
verted into  numerous  shapes,  by  a  process  extremely  simple,  and 
totally  different  from  that  in  which  his  subjects  excelled.  If  I 
remember  right,  the  prudent  prince,  alarmed  lest  such  an  innova- 
tion should  take  from  his  people  the  fruits  of  their  present  supe- 
riority, was  so  far  from  encircling  the  mischievous  projector  with 
honour,  that  he  enclosed  him  in  a  prison  for  life  ;  and  the  story 
adds,  that  the  grateful  nation  ever  after  honoured  his  memory. 
If  this  story  be  true,  Sir,  what  distinctions  await  the  inventors  and 
patrons  of  coffers  and  rockets!  The  construction  of  the  famous, 
or  rather  infamous,  coffers,  is  so  well  understood  throughout  the 
country,  that  any  attempt  to  describe  them  here  would  be  highly 
superfluous  ;  but  it  may  not  be  equally  well  known,  that  the  sub- 
marine bomb  or  coffer  was  first  used  as  a  resource  by  the  Americans, 
at  a  time  when  their  coasts  were  exposed  to  wanton  depredations 
from  any  frigate  that  chose  to  anchor  in  their  rivers  ;  and  that 
even  under  those  circumstances,  they  have  never  been  openly  jus- 
tified. The  first  allusion  to  them  by  Lord  Stanhope,  in  Par- 
liament, was  received  with  horror  and  derision,  though  the  man. 
who  afterwards  was  cherished  in  England,  was  at  that  time  on  his 
road  to  Paris.  On  the  arrival  of  this  notable  projector  in  that 
capital,  he  is  said  instantly  to  have  submitted  to  the  minister  of 
marine  the  following  proposal  :  that  provided  he  were  assisted  by 
two  privateers  and  fifty  resolute  men,  he  would  engage  to  destroy 
in  a  few  nights  the  largest  fleet  that  ever  lay  at  Spithead,  and  that 
too  with  scarcely  a  shadow  of  danger  to  the  persons  employed. 
He  then  proceeded  to  develope  his  plan,  which,  according  to  his 
declaration,  would  enable  any  one  brave  man  (rujfian)  at  little  or 
no  hazard,  under  cover  of  night,  so  to  place  his  submarine  bomb, 
or  coffer,  as  to  insure  the  blowing  up  into  fragments  the  crew  and 
hull  of  the  largest  ship  that  ever  floated  !  How  base  !  how  horri- 
ble !  how  revolting  is  such  a  proposal  to  every  noble  principle  in 
our  nature  !  Eight  hundred  brave  men  buried  in  sleep,  hurled  to 
eternity  by  one  crafty  murderous  ruffian  !  No  wonder  that 
Decres,  a  man  who  has  the  credit  of  having  fought  an  action  that 
covered  him  with  glory,  turned  shuddering  with  horror  from  th« 


CORRESPONDENCE.  411 

proposal.  It  is  said,  that  no  sooner  had  he  heard  it,  than  quitting 
the  apartment,  he  angrily  uttered  this  memorable  reply,  "Go, 
Sir,  your  genius  to  the  Algennes  may  be  acceptable,  but  novr 
learn,  that  France  has  not  yet  abandoned  the  ocean." 

It  would  certainly  be  matter  of  curious  inquiry,  were  it  possible 
to  develope  the  hidden  springs  which  actuated  the  decisions  of 
men  filling  high  and  responsible  offices  in  different  kingdoms.  In 
this  particular  case$  we  see  the  first,  or  rather  solo  Lord  of  the 
Admiralty  in  France  (where  we  might  reasonably  imagine  that 
every  project  for  the  destruction  of  maritime  establishments  would 
be  readily  embraced")  turning  with  just  indignation  from  the  very 
identical  invention,  that  is  received  by  the  English  Admiralty  with 
joy  and  exultation.  Good  God  !  from  what  does  this  proceed  ? 
Surely  not  from  a  deficiency  of  humanity?  Yet  when  we  see  men 
obviously  go  out  of  their  way,  openly  stooping  from  their  lofty 
station  to  superintend  the  construction  of  such  detestable  machines, 
what  are  we  to  infer  ?  Is  it  not  still  in  the  memory  of  every  one, 
that  even  the  great  mind  of  Mr.  Pitt,  while  gorged  with  power, 
was  employed  in  bringing  to  perfection  these  murderous  machines  ? 
Will  it  ever  be  forgotten  that  delicate  and  noble  females  were 
assembled  at  Deal  to  witness  the  experimental  effects  of  these 
frightful  explosions  ?  Well  might  the  astonished  tar  exclaim, 
"  Guy  Fox  is  got  afloat!  "  and  well  might  serious  men  reflect  on 
all  that  has  been  urged  against  the  employment  of  incendiaries  ; 
and  with  all  our  deference  to  the  patriotism  of  Mr.  Pitt,  it  will 
surely  admit  of  a  query,  whether  the  energy  of  his  eloquence 
would  not  have  been  heard  dooming  to  execration  any  similar 
scheme  for  blowing  up  him  and  his  relatives  in  the  Castle  of  Wal- 
mer.  If  the  patronage  of  such  machines  docs  in  reality  emanate 
from  the  Admiralty,  and  not  as  some  surmise,  from  higher  autho- 
rity, then  the  inhumanity  and  impolicy  of  the  adoption  arc-  still  more 
extraordinary  ;  for  it  is  scarcely  to  be  credited  that  the  naval 
Lords  at  least,  should  give  their  assent  to  such  practices.  Lord 
Mulgrave,  the  first  Cfimmissioner,  is  said  to  be  a  man  of  humanity, 
and  those  selected  from  the  navy  stand  high  in  the  profession ; 
here  then  at  once  is  a  majority,  and  yet  we  see  these  practices 
continued  ;  not  only  continued,  but  if  reports  may  be  credited, 
considerably  extended.  Scarcely  had  the  impracticability  of  the 
coffer  war  been  apparently  demonstrated,  than  the  ardent  minds  of 
our  schemers  were  directed  to  rockets ;  with  these  weapons,  it  hag 
been  contended,  a  common  trawl-boat  might  be  made  superior  in 
power  to  the  largest  opponent ;  for  that,  by  discharging  flight 


CORRESPONDENCE* 

after  flight  into  Ihe  sails  or  hull  of  her  antagonist,  in  spite  of  her" 
seamen's  exertions,  she  must  shortly  be  reduced  to  ashes  !  But 
coffers  and  rockets,  bad  as  they  are,  are  nothing  to  what  may  be 
cxpeck-d,  a  vast  current  of  genius  is  now  directed  to  the  practica- 
bility of  destroying  powerful  ships  in  every  direction,  which  of 
course  will  ud  sooner  be  brought  to  perfection,  than  be  adopted 
Iby  the  enemy.  All  that  have  yet  appeared  are  but  mere  runners 
from  the  great  Jlcet  of  inventions  now  on  its  passage.  As  to  ex- 
plosion  craft,  they  are  nothing  new  ;  with  the  French  they  are 
infernals,  as  well  as  the  coffers,  and  naturally  expected  by  a  nation 
that  accuses  us  of  employing  them  in  the  streets  of  Paris.  Noah's 
ark,  it  has  been  said,  never  contained  such  a  diversity  of  form* 
and  natures,  as  the  llect  alluded  to  will  offer.  Water  worms,  and 
fire  devils  are  among  them  ;  in  fact,  it  seems  all  the  elements  have 
teen  put  in  a  state  of  strict  requisition.  Thunder  and  lightning 
are  mere  playthings  in  the  hands  of  these  modern  Joves.  Even 
winds  and  tides,  formerly  the  friends  of  the  seaman,  are  now  to  be 
combined  for  his  destruction,  and  no  one  on  earth  can  tell  where 
this  astonishing  infatuation  will  end.  But  if  conjectures  may  be 
attended  too,  a  great  revolution  is  about  to  take  place  in  maritime 
skill  and  machinery.  Battles  in  future  may  be  fought  under 
•water  :  our  invincible  ships  of  the  line  may  give  place  to  horrible 
and  unknown  structures,  our  frigates  to  catamarans,  our  pilots  to 
divers,  our  hardy,  dauntless  tars,  to  submarine  assassin*,  coffers, 
rockets,  catamarans,  infernals,  water  worms,  and  fire  devils. 
How  honourable  !  how  fascinating  is  such  an  enumeration  !  how 
glorious,  how  fortunate  for  Britain  are  discoveries  like  these  ! 
How  worthy  of  being  adopted  by  a  people,  made  wanton  by  naval 
irictoiiesj  by  a  nation  whose  empire  are  the  seas. 

F.  F.  F. 

MR.  KDITOR, 

THE  following  letter  from  a  midshipman,  on  board  one  of 
the  vessels  engaged  in  the  late  glorious  enterprise  in  Basque 
Roads,  to  his  mother,  giving  a  detail  of  that  gallant  achievement, 
vill  not  possibly  be  found  uninteresting,  as  coming  from  an 
amiable  and  spirited  youth  aged  only  thirteen.  The  insertion  of 
it  in  your  NAVAL  CIIUOMCLE  will  oblige  and  gratify  the  feeling* 
of  his  friends.  E  B.  G. 

"   MY    BEAR    MOTHER,  u  DotCTlS,  April  27,  1800. 

"  We  arrived  in  Basque  Roads  on  the  lOih  of  April,  and  found 
Lord  Gambier  with  a  fine  fleet,  of  eleven  sail  of  the  line,  frigates^ 


CORRESPONDENCE,  413 

brigs,  &c.  besides  the  fire  vessels   that  we  brought  from  England. 
The  French  fleet  was  at  anchor  within  three  or  four  miles  of  the 
British,  and  consisted  of  ten  sail  of  the  line  and  four  frigates.     On 
our  arrival  every  thing  was   prepared  for  the  attack,   under  the 
eye  of  the  gallant  Lord  Cochrane  ;  and  our  captain  had  the  honour 
of  commanding  one  o-f  the  fire-vessels.     Every   thing   being   pre-' 
pared,  about  eight  o'clock  on.  the  night  of  the  llth  the  fire-ships 
proceeded  with  a  favourable  breeze,   on  service.     We  weighed,  in 
company  with  several   frigates'  and  brigs,  to  COTCF  their  attack. 
Several  explosion   vessels  AT  ere  set  off  in  the  midst  of  the  enemy. 
The  sight  was  truly  awful  !  but  still  the  enemy  received  less  damage 
than  was  expected  ;  they  cut  their  cables  to  avoid  tin*:  fire-ships, 
and  escaped  by  running  ashore.     One  of  the  enemy's  frigates  was 
destroyed  by  the  Mediator   fire-ship,  the   gunner  of  which  'was 
blown  out  of  the  port,   and  never   seen   more.     The  Imperieuse, 
one  of  our  advanced  frigates,  commanded  by  Lord  Cochrane,  per- 
ceiving the  enemy  in  an  advantageous  situation  for  attack,  stood 
in  towards  him,  in  company  with  the  ^Etna  bomb,   and  we  imme- 
diately followed.     Lord   Cochrane  anchored  clo^e  to  three  of  the 
enemy's  74  gun-ships.     We    passed  him,   and  giving  three  cheers, 
opened  our  fire.     About  three  o'clock  the  action  became  general, 
and  about  four  the  Calcutta,  of  64  guns,  struck  her  colours  to  our 
little   squadron.      The   Revenge   and  Valiant  now   arrived,   and 
opened  a  most  terrible  fire  upon  La  Ville  cle  Varsovie  :  and  about 
five  o'clock  .she  struck.     The  firing  now  ceased  from  the  ships  ; 
but  the- French  batteries  on  the  island  D'Aix  still  continued  firing 
at  us,  as  indeed  they  had  done  the  whole  time.       Our  captain 
observing  one  of  the  enemy's  ships  in  a  proper  situation  for  attack, 
immediately   bore  down,  and  we   hove  to  under  her  stern,   and! 
engaged    L'Aquilon,    of    84    guns,    for  thirty  minutes ;    at  the 
end  of  which  time,  we  found  ourselves  drifted  opposite  the  broad- 
side of  our  adversary.     We   were  now  in  the  most  imminent  dan- 
ger of  being  sunk  ;    and  had   we   not  given  her  a  good  drubbing 
before,  this  would  certainly  have  been  our  lot.     We  tacked  irnme* 
diately,    and   resumed  our  station   across  her  stern  ;    and    after 
several  severe  broadsides,   she  struck  to  us.     /  believe  that  zee  are 
the  first   brig  of  18  guns  that  ever  took  a  line-of-buttle  ship* 
About  six  o'clock  our  second   lieutenant  set  fire  to  the  Calcutta, 
(one  of  our  prizes),   it   proving  impossible  to  get  her  off.     About 
two  hours  afterwards  she  blew  up  with  a  terrible  report :  we  now 
tompelled  the  enemy  to  set  fire  to  the  Tonnerre,  of  74  guns :   »h« 

.  Sol.  XXI.  3  * 


414  PtAfE   «CL*iXlTf. 

blew  up  t  sliort  time  after  the  Calcutta.  Thus,  my  dear  Mothefy 
ended  this  glorious  day  !  in  which  a  small  squadron  of  two  sail  of 
the  line,  four  frigates,  and  several  brigs,  destroyed  four  sail  of  the 
line  out  of  ten,  and  drove  the  rest  ashore.  We  received  a  great 
deal  of  damage  in  our  rigging,  but,  thank  God,  had  not  a  man 
killed.  On  the  morning  of  the  13th  Lord  Cochrane  made  the  sig- 
nal to  protect  the  bomb  which  was  to  heave  her  shells  at  the 
enemy.  We  accordingly  weighed,  and  anchored  within  half  a  mile 
of  the  French  three-decker,  1'Ocean,  bearing  the  flag  of  Vice* 
admiral  Alemand,  the  French  commander-in-chief.  We  were  also  en- 
gaged with  1'Hortense,  44-gun  frigate,  and  the  batteries  of  the  Isle 
D'Aix.  This  action  lasted  five  hours  3  at  the  end  of  which  time, 
the  tide  falling,  we  were  obliged  to  retire,  to  prevent  getting 
ashore.  On  the  15th  the  French  admiral  having  got  every  thing 
out  of  his  ehip  to  make  her  light,  stood  up  to  Rochefort ;  and  on 
the  1 6th  the  French  rear-admiral,  and  a  74,  escaped  the  same  way. 
We  were  now  recalled  by  our  admiral,  and  sent  to  England  with 
despatches,  which  we  landed  near  Plymouth  :  we  expect  to  go  to 
Portsmouth  to  repair  our  damages  :  we  had  only  one  man  wounded, 
and  two  or  three  hurt  by  splinters.  As  we  were  coming  away, 
the  enemy  set  fire  to  the  Ilortense  frigate,  to  prevent  her  falling 
into  our  hands.  The  Lucian  is  on  her  beam  ends,  and  will  never 
be  able  to  get  off." 


PLATE   CCLXXXIII. 

CORK,  the  capital  of  a  county  of  the  same  name,  is  one  of  the 
principal  cities  of  Ireland.  It  stands  ort  the  River  Lee,  by 
•which  it  is  nearly  surrounded,  about  15  miles  from  the  sea,  in 
latitude  61  dog.  53  min.  54  sec.  north,  longitude  8  deg.  28  min. 
15  sec.  west  of  Greenwich.— It  is  remarkable  for  its  deep  and 
spacious  harbour,  generally  mentioned  as  the  Cove  of  Cork,  which 
lies  about  seven  miles  below  the  town.  The  largest  vessels,  and 
the  most  numerous  fleet,  may  ride  here,  secure  from  currents  and 
storms.  One  side  of  the  harbour  is  formed  by  an  island,  four 
miles  long  and  two  broad,  defended  by  a  fort.— Vessels  of  120  tons 
may  go  up  to  the  quay  ;  but  those  of  greater  burden  unload  at 
Passage,  five  miles  and  a  half  from  the  town. 

The  annexed  view  of  the  harbour,  engraved  by  Daily  from  a 
drawing  by  Mr.  Pocock,  was  taken  when  it  bore  N.N.E  by  tko 
compass.  In  that  direction  the  harbour  appears  open  ;  but  ia 


NAVAL  LITERATURE.  415 

ethers,  and  in  hazy  weather,  it  is  (as  the  phrase  is)  a  blind  harbour, 
without  any  apparent  opening,  the  land  being  of  nearly  an  equal 
height  along  the  coast.  It  is  so  well  known,  and  so  much  fre- 
quented, that  few  are  unacquainted  with  if,  yet  the  following  re- 
marks may  enable  strangers  to  the  coast  to  avoid  much  trouble, 
anxiety,  and  risk. 

In  coming  from  the  eastward,  and  the  wind  at  N.E.  haul  well 
up  to  the  northward,  so  as  to  make  Cable  Island,  or  Ballycotton, 
keeping  the  starboard  shore  on  board,  that  you  may  haul  close 
round  Poor  Head,  and  fetch  into  the  harbour.  For  want  of  this 
precaution,  many  ships  have  been  thrown  by  a  strong  outset  from 
St.  George's  Channel  and  the  Ebb  Tides  beyond  calculation  off  the 
Old  Head  of  Kinsale,  and  even  to  the  westward  of  it  ;  from 
whence,  if  the  wind  continues  easterly,  it  is  not  easy  to  beat  up^ 
and  often  requires  some  days. 

N.B.  About  halfway  between  Ballycotton  and  Poor  Head,  He 
some  sunken  rocks  called  the  Hawkes  ;  they  are  dangerous  at  low 
water,  and  it  is  better  to  give  the  shore  at  that  place  a  good  berth. 


NAVAL  LITERATURE. 

A  Voyage  to  the  Dem-entry,  containing  a  Statistical  Account  of 
the  Settlements  there,  and  of  those  on  the  Rssequibo,  the  Ber- 
bice,  and  other  contiguous  Rivers  of  Guiana.  By  HENRY 
BoLiNGuuoKE,  Esq.  *)f  Norwich,  Deputy  Vendue  Master  at 
Surinam.  4to, 

E  settlement  of  Demerara,  or  Demerary,  which  was  origi- 
nally  formed  by  the  Dutch,  on  the  banks  of  that  river,  has, 
in  succeeding  wars,  been  frequently  taken  and  retaken,  by  the 
contending  powers.  It  was  seized  by  the  English,  in  the  American 
•war;  the  French  obtained  possession  of  it  soon  afterwards;  by 
the  peace  of  1783,  it  was  restored  to  the  Dutch  ;  in  the  course  of 
the  last  war,  it  again  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  English  ;  by  the 
peace  of  Amiens  it  was  returned  in.  a  greatly  improved  stale,  to 
the  country  by  which  it  had  been  originally  colonised  ;  and»  at  the 
commencement  ol  the  pending  coutest,  it  reverted  to  its  present 
possessors,  the  English. 

Had  it  been  determined  to  retain  possession  of  the  Demerary, 
its  dependeucies;  their  general  improvementj  by  the  J^ugluh, 


416  NATAL    LITERATURE. 

would  have  been  a  measure  deserving  of  unqualified  approbation  ; 
particularly  as,  according  to  the  statements  of  Mr.  Bolingbrokc, 
they  haJ  previously  been  greatly  undervalued,  neither  the  British 
ror  the  Batavian  government  -having  duly  estimated  their  import- 
ance ;  but,  when  we  are  told,  that  an  expcnce  of  1,500,0001. 
sterling  was  incurred,  during  the  last  war,  merely  on  the  specula- 
tion of  retaining  those  colonies,  we  cannot  but  hesitate  in  assent- 
ing to  ihe  policy,  by  which  such  a  sum  was  allowed  to  be 
expended. 

The  details  which  are  furnished  by  Mr.  Bolingbroke,  we  should 
hope,  may  have  some  influence  in  the  negotiations  which  may  lead 
to  the  ultimate  retention,  or  restoration,  of  the  Demerary. 

The  contents  of  this  volume  will  be  perused  with  considerable 
interest,  by  the  naval,  as  well  as  by  the  general  reader.  Stabroek, 
the  capital  of  the  Demerary,  is  thus  described  : — 

"  Stabroek  was  to  me  quite  a  new  sight.  I  recollected  no  English  town 
which  bore  the  least  resemblance.  It  stands  on  the  flat  strand;  and  canals, 
where  bluck  and  tawny  children  were  plunging  about  like  didappcrs, 
inclose  the  main  street:  while  wooden  houses,  with  colonnaded  porticoes 
and  balconies,  shaded  by  a  projecting  roof,  are  orderly  arranged  between 
spacious  intervals  in  three  parallel  hues.  They  are  seldom  above  two  sto.ry 
hiib :  they  stand  on  low  brick  foundations,  and  are  roofed  with  red  wood, 
which  I  took  for  mahogany.  No  where  the  glirter  of  a  glass  casement; 
Venetian  blinds,  or  jtalousces  as  they  are  cal!eri  by  the  inhabitants,  close 
every  window;  and  the  rooms  project  in  all  directions  to  catch  the  luxury 
of  a  thorough  draft  of  air,  so  that  the  ground-plan  of  a  dwelling  is  mostly 
in  the  shape  of  a  cross.  There  are  no  trees  in  the  streets  as  in  Holland ; 
the  town  would  have  been  pleasanter  with  this  imitation  of  the  old  country; 
but  casks  and  bales  lie  about,  as  if  every  road  was  a  wharf,  and  numerous 
•warehouses  are  intermingled  with  the  dwellings.  Even  the  public  buildings 
are  of  wood.  Blacks  clad  only  with  a  blue  pantaloon,  or  with  a  mere 
towel  of  checking,  supported  by  a  string  about  the  loins,  come  to  perform 
every  office.  Here  and  there  a  white  man,  in  a  muslin  shirt,  and  gingham 
trowsers,  is  seen  smoking  his  segar,  and  giving  directions  from  under  aft 
umbrella  to  his  sable  messengers ;  or  is  led  about  in  his  phaeton  drawn  by 
ponies  to  superintend  the  shipping  of  his  goods.  A  noon-day  sultriness 
and  silence  prevail :  every  motion  is  performed  with  such  tranquility,  for 
fear  of  kicking  up  a  dust,  that  one  would  suppose  the  very  labourers  at 
work  in  a  church  during  service. 

"  By  the  time  I  had  unpacked,  washed,  and  dressed,  dinner  was  ready; 
namely,  at  five. 

"  A  dinner  at  Stabroek  is  a  sort  of  mercantile  medley  of  the  imitable 
parts  of  the  manners  of  remote  nations.  There  was  soup  to  begin  with. 


WAVAL    LITERATURE.  417 

tn  in  France,  and  salted  ling  to  begin  with  as  in- Holland:  there  was  an 
English  huge  joint  of  beef,  and  a  couple  of  Muscovy  ducks;  there  was  aa 
Italian  desert  of  Bologna  sausages  and  sallad,  anchovies  and  olives;  thera 
was  fruit  of  all  kinds,  pine-apples,  guavas,  oranges,  shaddacks,  and  avoiras. 
V,  ine  was  taken  duiing  the  repast,  and  porter  between  the  courses,  fora 
bonne  bouc/ie. 

"  At  dusk,  spermaceti  candles  were  lighted,  and  placed  within  large  cone* 
»f  glass,  to  prevent  the  xvind  from  bkw»,ig  them  aside.  Segars  were  offered 
to  us  at  the  whist  table,  and  most  of  the  party  smoked,  and  drank  coffee. 
A  hammock,  protected  by  a  gauze  curtain  against  the  mosquitoes,  was 
allotted  me  to  sleep  in,  until  beds  could  be  put  up. 

*'  The  household  establishment  I  found  to  consist,  of  eight  male  and  two 
female  negro  servants  ;  a  strange  disproportion.  The  house  was  spaciou=, 
airy,  and  open,  with  pervious  shutters,  to  admit  every  where  a  free  circula- 
tion of  air." 

Mr.  Colingbroke  is  more  favourable  in  his  accounts  of  the 
negroes,  than  some  authors  whom  we  have  met  with. 

"  There  is  a  market-place  (says  he)  where  the  negroes  assemble  to  sefl 
their  truck,  such  as  fruit,  vegetables,  fowls,  eggs,  and  where  the  hucksters 
expose  for  sale,  articles  of  European  manufacture  (mucli  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  pedlars  do  in  England),  in  addition  to  saitlieef,  pork,  and  sh,  bread, 
cheese,  pipes,  tobacco,  and  other  articles,  in  small  quantities,  to  enable 
the  negroes  to  supply  themselves  agreeably  to  the  length  ot  their  purses. 
Hucksters  are  free  wome:i  of  colour,  who  purchase  their  commodities  of 
merchants  at  two  or  three  months  credit,  and  retail  them  out  in  the  manner 
described.  Many  of  them  are,  indeed,  wealthy,  and  possess  ten,  fifteen, 
and  twenty  negroes,  all  of  whom  they  employ  in  this  traffic.  It  is  by  no 
meaiis  an  uncommon  thing  for  negroes  in  this'  line  to  be  travelling  about 
the  country  for  several  weeks  together,  sometimes  with  an  attendant, 
having  trunks  of  goods  to  a  considerable  amount,  say  two  hundred  pounds, 
and  when  a  good  opportunity  offers,  they  remit  to  their  mistresses  what  they 
have  taken.  It  is  really  surprising  what  a  large  sum  is  thus  returned  by 
these  people  going  from  one  estate  to  another.  The  permission  of  the 
manager  to  every  plantation  is  always  necessary,  before  the  huckster  ven- 
tures to  the  negro  hnu'es,  where  the  bargains  are  made.  Those  that  have 
not  money,  barter  their  fowls,  p'igs,  and  segars,  for  what  they  stand  in  need 
of.  The  hucksters  are  provided  with  such  an  assortment  as  to  be  able  to 
supply  the  negro  with  a  coarse  check,  or  the  manager  with  a  fine  cambric, 
for  his  shirts.  Coloured  women  of  all  descriptions  are  extravagantly  fond 
of  dress:  but  those  resident  in  the  country,  not  having  such  an  opportunity 
as  the  Stabroek  ladies  of  seeing  every  thing  new  as  it  arrives,  feel  a  lively 
sensation  of  joy  and  pleasure  at  the  sight  of  n.  huckster,  and  anticipate  the 
pleasure  of  tumbling  over  the  contents  of  her  truuj;  ;  and  if  it  contains  nny 
ne.v  articles  of  fashion,  their  hearts  beat  high  with  wishes  to  obtain  them. 
If  a  joe  or  a  dollar  be  still  remaining,  it  is  sure  to  go;  should  their  purse 
be  empty,  they  make  BO  hesitation  hi  asking  for  credit;  such  is  the 
general  character  and  conduct  of  coloured  women. 


418  VATAL    LITERATURE. 

"  The  market  is  copiously  supplied  with  butchers'  meat,  but  at  a  most 
•xtravagant  rate:  mutton  3s.  veal  2s.  6d.  beef  2s.  Id.  pork  lOd.  per  pound. 
With  fish  the  town  is  not  so  well  provided  as  the  country;  no  fishmonger 
has  ever  yet  engaged  in  the  business  upon  a  scale  sufficiently  extensive  to 
supply  the  population.  The  utmost  endeavour  yet  made,  is  that  of  some 
negroes,  who  hire  themselves  of  their  masters,  at  so  much  a  day  or  month, 
and  go  a  little  beyond  the  mouth  of  the  river  in  canoes,  returning  by  one 
or  two  o'clock,  and  selling  what  rbey  may  have  caught.  A  very  glutinoui 
fish,  called  a  snaukama,  which  is  esteemed  a  dainty,  is  taken  in  a  curious 
manner.  It  finds  a  principal  part  of  its  sustenance  in  hollow  trees,  logs  of 
wood,  and  in  the  skeletons  of  old  ships,  which  from  lying  in  the  mud  bj 
the  water  side,  soon  decay.  These  they  visit  for  food  during  flood  tide, 
but  at  ebb  are  left  in  the  cavities  of  the  wood,  out  of  which  the  negroes 
draw  them  by  a  hook  fastened  to  the  end  of  a  stick. 

"  A  negro,  in  the  enjoyment  of  social  happiness,  having  his  wife  and 
children,  a  garden,  his  goats,  pigs,  and  feathered  stock  to  attend  to,  feels  n 
degree  of  interest  in  the  estate,  which  would  scarcely  be  expected  from  an 
emigrated  African.  By  being  transported  to  a  new  soil,  and  a  more  civi- 
lized country,  these  people  become  more  humanized,  and  more  enlightened; 
their  minds  undergo  a  new  formation,  and  they  are  enabled  to  distinguish 
the  good  treatment  they  receive  here,  from  the  arbitrary  and  unrelenting 
mandates  of  the  petty  kings  and  princes  in  their  own  country,  where  they 
are  subject  to  be  butchered  like  a  parcel  of  swine.  Better,  sure,  are  the 
Africans  under  the  West  India  planters,  protected  as  they  are  by  the  colo- 
nial laws,  transplanted  into  a  settlement,  where  their  industry  and  talents 
will  make  them  useful  members  of  the  community,  than  abandoned  to  the 
cruel  and  rude  tyranny  of  an  uncivilized  master  in  their  own  country.  The 
severe  methods  of  coercion,  formerly  used  by  the  West  India  planters,  are 
traditional  among  the  Africans,  and  resulted  from  employing  negro  task- 
masters. In  proportion  as  white  overseers  have  become  numerous,  has  die 
treatment  improved.  During  my  residence  in  Demerary,  I  made  it  a 
regular  question  of  inquiry  among  plantation  negroes,  whom  I  was  constantly 
in  the  habit  of  seeing  and  conversing  with  at  remote  places,  as  my  chief 
occupation  consisted  in  travelling,  whether  they  preferred  their  own  country 
to  this;  and  I  hereby  make  a  solemn  asseveration,  which  will  remain  upon 
record,  that  of  several  hundreds  of  negroes,  to  whom  I  have  put  the 
question  at  different  periods,  they  have  all  given  the  preference  to  their 
present  s  tuation.  I  will  venture  to  assert,  that  in  case  of  asking  all  the 
negroes  round  in  the  colonies,  there  will  be  found  ninety  contents  out  of 
every  hundred  to  whom  the  question  should  be  put." 

After  the  above,  as  an  object  of  contrast,  the  reader  will  not 
fail  to  be  struck  by  the  perusal  of  the  following  passage,  extracted 
from  FOYER'S  History  of  Barbadoes,  a  work  of  respectability 
lately  published : — 

"  They  (the  negroes)  are  Pagans  in  the  most  extensive  signification  of 
thnt  opprobrious  appellative.  Without  even  the  advantage  of  idolatry, 


HAYAL   LITERATURE.  419 

they  have  no  system  of  morality,  no  sense  of  religion,  nor  faith  in  its  doc- 
trines ;  their  creed  is  witchcraft,  and  their  only  religious  rite  the  practice  of 
Obeah.  Travellers  report,  that  the  Africans  are  helievers  in  the  Supreme 
Being;  that  they  have  modes  of  worship,  and  many  religious  ceremonies; 
but  those  who  have  been  brought  to  Barbadoes  seem  to  have  left  their 
national  faith  and  household  gods  behind  ;  and,  what  is  far  more  unfortu- 
nate, they  have  adopted  no  others  in  their  stead.  Some,  indeed,  profess 
Christianity ;  that  is,  they  have  been  baptized,  but  their  hearts  are  as  void 
ot  any  religious  impressions,  as  if  they  had  continued  in  the  wilds  of 
A/rica.  Frequent  attempts  have  been  made  by  some  humane  owners  to 
convert  their  favourite  slaves  to  Christianity,  and  though  many  of  them 
are  treated  with  parental  fondness  and  indulgence,  no  benefits  have  beem 
derived  from  the  pious  endeavours  to  effect  their  conversion." 

We  shall  offer  one  more  extract  from  Mr.  Bolingbroke's  per- 
formance, as  displaying  an  instance  of  genuine  native  benevolence 
in  an  African  ;  an  instance  the  more  interesting,  as  it  relates  to 
our  respected,  but  unfortunate  fellow-countryman,  Mung» 
Park  :— 

"  I  discovered  in  a  singular  manner  that  one  of  the  sailor  negroes 
attached  to  our  establishment,  and  who  had  been  in  Demerary  about  two 
years,  had  seen  Mungo  Park,  in  his  travels  in  the  interior  of  Africa.  I  wa» 
going  down  to  Essequibo  in  the  schooner,  and,  as  was  my  custom,  I  had 
put  three  or  four  books  into  my  portmanteau  :  Mungo  Park's  Travels  was 
among  the  number.  In  looking  over  the  vocabulary  of  the  Mandingo 
tongue,  I  called  Peter,  a  negro  of  that  nation,  and  asked  him  a  question  in 
his  own  language.  "  Kie  !  massa,  you  sabbe  talk  me  country,"  was  the 
exclamation.  I  had  now  an  opportunity  of  proving  Mungo  Park's  correct- 
ness, and  desired  Peter  to  turn  the  question  I  had  put  to  him  into  English, 
tvhich  he  did,  with  several  others,  and  from  their  agreeing  with  the  transla- 
tion, he  convinced  me  that  the  travels  in  Africa  deserved  credit  and  confi* 
dence.  However,  to  prove  further,  I  told  Peter  what  I  was  reading,  when 
he  replied  with  energy,  "  Massa,  me  been  see  that  white  man  in  me 
country,  in  de  town  where  me  live,  he  been  come  dere  one  night  for  sleep, 
one  blacksmith  countryman  for  me  been  with  him,  me  been  give  "him  ric« 
for  he  supper,  and  soon,  soon,  in  the  morning  he  been  go  towards  the 
Moor's  country."  From  the  earnest  manner  in  which  this  artless  tale  was 
delivered,  I  was  convinced  that  Peter  had  seen  Mungo  Park ;  the  name  of 
the  village,  and  the  reception  he  met  with,  agreed  so  exactly  with  what  was 
aarrated,  that  there  could  be  no  doubt  of  it." 

It  will  readily  be  perceived,  that  we  cannot  compliment  our 
author  upon  the  style  of  his  work  ;  but,  if  the  manner  be  not 
exactly  what  might  be  wished,  the  matter  will  be  found  sufficiently 
important  to  obtain  for  it  an  extensive  perusal. 


420 

$abal  Courts  partial. 

TRIAL   OF  REAR-ADMIRAL    HARVEY. 

IN  Monday,  May  the  22d,  a  Court  Martial  was  assembled 
on  board  his  Majesty's  ship  Gladiator,  at  Portsmouth,  fof 
the  trial  of  Rear-admiral  KLIAB  HARVEY,  on  charges  imputing  dis- 
respect to  his  superior  officer,  Admiral  Lord  GAMIUER,  comman- 
der-in-chief  of  the  Channel  fleet,  and  which  Charges  were  com* 
prized  in  two  letters  addressed  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Admiralty. 
the  Hon.  W.  W.  POLE. 

Sir  R.  CURTIS,  Bart.  President. 
Vice-admiral  John  Holknvay 
Vice-adm.  Sir  .1.  T.  Duckworth 
Vice-adm.  Sir  II.  E.  Stanhope 
Vice-adm.  Thomas  Wells 
llear-admiral  John  Sutton 


"Rear-admiral  W.  A; 
Capt.  the  Hon.  A.  K.  Lcgge 
Captain  Pulteney  Malcolm 
Captain  James  M'Namara 
Captain  John  Irwin. 


M.  GREF.THAM,  Esq.  jun.  Judge-Advocate. 

The  order  for  assembling  the  Court,  and  Lord  GAMBIER'S 
letters,  were  read  as  follows  :— 

"  SIR,  "  Caledonia,  in  Basque  "Roads,  April  4,  1309. 

M  His  Majesty's  ship  Impel  ieuse  arrived  at  this  anchorage  yesterday,  and 
Lord  Cochrane  delivered  to  me  your  letter,  signifying  their  Lordships  direc- 
tions to  me  to  employ  him  on  the  service  of  attempting  to  destroy  the  enemy's 
fleet  by  the.  means  of  fire-ships,  £c.  and  I  beg  to  assure  their  Lordships,  that 
Lord  Cochrane  shall  have  every  assistance,  with  all  the  means  in  my  power 
to  give  him,  for  the  accomplishment  of  so  desirable  an  object.  As  the  fire- 
ships  may  be  expected  to  arrive  every  moment,  I  immediately  communicated 
to  the  different  ships  (through  the  medium  of  the  admirals  of  the  division,  to 
the  respective  captains)  the  projected  intention  of  destroying  the  enemy's 
fleet,  and  directed  them  to  furnish  me  with  the  names  of  such  lieutenants  as 
would  volunteer  to  command  the  fire-ships,  which  may  not  be  under  the 
direction  of  an.officer  of  the  rank  of[  commander,  and  also  that  a  certain 
number  of  volunteer  seamen,  sufficient  to  man  the  fire-vessels  (or  for  any 
other  service;  should  be  kept  in  readiness;  at  the  same  lime  I  held  out  to 
the  officers  and  men  (volunteers)  encouragement  of  reward  by  their  Lord- 
ship- to  such  as  distinguish  themselves  on  this  occasion.  Upon  this  Rear- 
admiral  Harvey  came  on  board  the  Caledonia,  and  stated  a  number  of  offi- 
cers and  men  on  board  the  Tonnant  that  were  ready  volunteers  to  undertake 
the  service,  and  that  he  offered  himself  to  have  the  direction  of  executing 
that  service :  I  informed  him  that  their  Lordships  had  fixed  upon  Lord 
Cochrane  fdr  the  purpose.  On  which  Rear-admiral  Harvey  declared  to  me, 
in  the  most  violent  and  disrespectful  manner,  and  desired  me  to  consider  it 
as  an  official  communication,  '  that  if  he  was  passed  by,  and  Lord  Coch- 
rane, or  any  other  junior  officer,  appointed  in  preference,  he  should  imme- 
diately desire  to  strike  his  flag,  and  resign  his  commission.'  I  informed  him 
I  should  be  sorry  he  should  take  such  a  strong  measure,  and  that  the  Lorcf* 
Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty  having  fixed  on  Lord  Cochrane,  aud 
Greeted  me  lu  employ  him  upon  this*  service,  I  could  not  dtvialc  from  their 


TRIAL    OF    ADMIRAL    HARVEY.  42t 

lordships'  orders.  The  rear-admiral,  upon  this,  continued  his  vehement 
and  insulting  lansr'insc  to  me,  and  stated  how  much  he  had  been  negle(  ted 
fur  his  former  services,  both  by  myself  nhcn  holding  a  seat  at  their  Lord- 
ship's Board,  as  well  as  by  others  of  their  Lordships'  predecessors  there; 
that  he  had  not  been  rewarded  for  the  eminent  services  he  hud  performed; 
and  after  such  violent  invective,  MM}  a  continuation  of  insulting  postures  and 
laaglMge,  under  which  I  beg  to  assure  their  LonNi-ips  I  preserfed  my  tem- 
per and  calmness  towards  him,  l-.e  declared  that  he  had  differed  with  me  in 
opinion  with  respect  to  my  conduct  in  the  command  of  the  fleet;  that  he 
could  impeach  me  for  misconduct  and  bad  management,  and  concluded  by 
saying,  with  the  same  insulting  tone  and  manner,  that  he  would  go  in  the 
Tonnant,  or  any  old  rotten  74,  to  board  the  enemy's  three-decked  ship  in 
Aix  Roads,  and  bring  her  out. — Here  I  must  observe  to  their  Lordship*, 
that  in  a  conversation  a,  few  days  ago  with  Rear-admiral  Harvey,  upon  the 
strong  position  of  the  enemy's  fleet,  he  stated  it  to  be  his  opimo.t,  that  any 
ships  that  entered  that  anchorage  to  attack  the  enemy,  could  never  return 
from  it. — I  will  not  trouble  their  Lordships  with  any  further  detail  respect- 
ing the  disrespectful  conduct  of  Rear-admiral  Harvey  toward*  me,  but  only 
say,  that  I  never  in  tny  life  received  so  much  insult  to  wound  my  feelings  so 
sharply,  as  on  the  present  occasion.  I  must  add,  however,  that  I  have  uni- 
formly shewn  the  rear-admiral  that  respect  and  attention  to  which  his  rank 
entitled  him ;  and  I  can  venture  to  appeal  to  all  the  officers  under  my  com- 
mand, that  the  sen-ice,  since  I  have  been  in  the  command  of  the  fleet,  has 
been  conducted  with  the  greatest  harmony,  and  the  best  understanding 
with  the  officers  their  Lordships  have  done  me  the  lionaur  to  place  under 
my  command,  and  that  I  have  used  all  the  zeal,  attention,  and  diligence  in 
my  power,  to  discharge  my  duty  with  integrity  and  uprightness. 

"  Under  these  circumstances,  and  a  consideration  that  the  public  service 
may  be  impeded,  I  trust  their  Lordships  will  see  the  necessity  of*  taking  the 
most  speedy  measures  of  relieving  me  from  the  embarrassing  situation  in 
which  i  am  placed  by  the  officer,  second  in  command  here,  treating  me  in 
a  manner  so  contemptuous  and  insulting,  as  to  amount  even  to  mutiny. 
Havingstated  what  I  have  done,  I  beg  you  toassure  their  Lordships  that  I  do 
it  only  with  a  view  to  vindicate  my  character  from  the  unmerited  assertions 
cast  upon  it  by  an  officer  so  violently  irritated  against  me  as  Rear-admiral 
Harvey  appears  to  be,  and  this  for  an  act  not  my  own.  If  their  Lordships 
should  not  upon  this  statement  think  it  necessary  to  order  a  Court  Martial 
to  be  held  upon  Rear-admiral  Harvey  for  his  conduct,  I  beg  it  may  be  con- 
sidered that  I  reserve  to  myself  the  right  of  making  an  application  for  that 
purpose.  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir, 

"  Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

"  GAMBIER." 
"  The  Hon.  W.  W.  Pok,'$c.  Admiralty." 

<e  sin,  Caledania,  in  Baxgiit  Roads,  April  4. 

"  Since  I  closed  my  letter  to  you  this  morning  (No.  88),  stating  the  con- 
duct of  Rear-admir.ilHarvey  yesterday,  it  has  come  to  my  knowledge,  that 
he  has  in  many  instances  spoken  of  me  in  a  most  contemptuous  and  dis- 
respectful manner  to  s-everal  officers  in  the  fleet,  and  done  so  with  that 
publicity,  that  it  cannot  fail  to  have  been  disseminated  amongst  the  inferior 
officers  and  seamen  under  my  command.  It  is  truly  painful  to  me,  particu- 
larly under  the  circumstances  of  an  approaching  enterprize,  that  language 
should  have  been  used  by  any  one  calculated  to  subvert  due  confidence  and 
discipline,  and  to  militate  so  much  against  the  proceedings  of  the  public  ser- 
vice ;  more  especially  that  it  should  have  been  used  by  an  officer  holding  tl* 
•situation  of  second  in  command.  I  cannot  now,  however,  hesitate  upon  the 

/3a»«  er&rom  8fll»  XXI.  3  u 


422  TRIAL    OF    ADMIRAL    HAUVEY. 

course  which  becomes  necessary  for  me  to  pursue  OH  this  occasion,  and 
have  therefore  to  request  that  tlic  Lords  Conmns.-ionprs  of  the  Admiralty 
\viil  IK-  p!c  ised  to  .Tiler  a  Court  Martial  to  try  Rehr-adtnirnl  Harvey,  upou 
the  duu'ijes  sot  forth  in  my  letter  of  this  day's  dute  (  \'o  (>fi)  am!  for  having, 
a*;  h.-'itin  bet' ire  sta<er!,  spoken  of  me  and  of  my  character  and  conduct,  at 
different  times,  in  an  unofricfr-like  and  contemptuous  manner,  tending  to 
subvert  the  discipline  of  the  fleet,  much  to  the  prejudice  of  the  public  ser- 
vice. I  have  the  hono,:.-  to  be.  Sir, 

"  Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

«  GAM  BIER." 
, 

Mr.  Bicknell,  then,  as  So'idfor  for  thf  Admiralty,  began  the 
proceedings  by  calling  on  the  first  witness,  Admiral  Lord  Garnbier. 

Q,.  Was  your  Lordship  appointed  commander- in-chief  of  the  Channel 
fleet,  and  did  you  hoid  that  situation  on  the  '2d  and  3d  of  April  last  ?-— 
A.  I  was,  and  did  hold  that  situation  on  theda\~  mentioned. 

Q.  On  what  particular  duty  was  your  Lordship's  fleet  employed  at  that 
tinier — A.  In  blockading  (be  enemy's  fleet,  anchored  under  the  isle  of  Aix. 

Q.  Did  your  Lordship  receive  any  and  what /orders  to  employ  Lord 
Cochrane,  from  the  Admiralty,  f»r  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  enemy's 
fleet  in  Basque  Roads? — A.  I  did  receive  such  orders  on  the  2d  or  3d  of 
April  last. 

[Here  he  producer!  the  order,  which  was  read.] 

Q.  Did  your  Lordship  in  consequence  of  that  order  issue  any,  and  what 
directions  to  the  captains  of  the  fleet,  through  the  medium  of  the  admirals 
of  division  ? — A.  I  issued  orders  to  the  flair  officers  of  the  fleet. 

Q.  What  was  Rear-admiral  Harvey's  rank  in  the  fleet  at  that  time  ? — • 
A.  He  was  Rear-admiral  of  the  Red,  and  second  in  command  in  the  fleet. 

Q.  Did  Rear-admiral  Harvey  come  afterwards  on  board  the  Caledonia, 
and  on  what  date  ? — A.  Admiral  Harvey  came  on  board  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  3d  of  April. 

Q.  Be  pleased  to  state  to  the  Court  all  that  passed  between  you  and  the 
admiral  on  that  day  ? — A.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  3d  of  April,  Admiral 
Harvey  said  in  my  cabin,  no  other  person  being  present,  that  in  consequence 
of  the  orders  I  had  issued,  calling  upon  the  otiieersand  seamen  to  volunteer 
their  services  in  the  fire-ships  that  were  preparing  to  be  employed,  there 
were  several  officers  on  board  the  Tonnant  ready  to  undertake  that  service, 
and  the  admiral  offered  himself  to  me  for  the  duty.  I  informed  Admiral 
Harvey  that  I  had  received  orders  from  the  Admiralty  to  employ  Lord 
Coclirane  to  conduct  that  service;  upon  which  Admiral  Harvey  replied  to 
me  in  a  high  tone,  and  in  a  disrespectful  manner,  that  if  Lord  Cochrane 
was  employed,  or  any  other  officer  junior  to  him,  in  preference  to  him,  he 
should  immediately  desire  to  strike  his  flag,  and  resign  his  commission.  I 
informed  Admiral  Harvey  that  I  should  be  sorry  he  should  take  strong 
measures  ;' that  I  had  received  particular  orders  from  the  Admiralty  to 
employ  Lord  Cochrane.  Upon  this  Admiral  Harvey,  in  a  vehement,  insult- 
ing manner,  said,  he  had  been  neglected  in  his  former  services  bv  myself, 
when  I  held  a  place  in  the  Admiralty,  and  by  other  members  of  the 
Admiralty,  and  that  he  had  not  been  rewarded  for  the  eminent  services  he 
had  pel-formed.  Admiral  Harvey  went  on  in  a  manner  highly  offensive  and 
contemptuous  to  me.  He  said  that  he  was  sure  I  had  written  to  the  Admi- 
ralty trr  propose  or  recommend  some  other  officer  junior  to  him  for  the 
execution  of  any  service  that  might  be  undertaken  by  his  Majesty's  fleet. 
1,  observing  that  Admiral  Harvey's  warmth  increased,  was  careful  to  avoid 
tftying  any  thin<$  that  might  give  him  any  offence,  or  increase  his  irritation, 
Wt  salmiy  told  him  tltsU  I  hud  not  taken  any  suck  step  ;  that  I  k: 


TRIAL    OF    ADMIRAL    HAfl\EY.  423 

?i  private  communication  to  Lord  Mul»rave,  informing  him  tlmt  the  enemy's 
*hips  in  Aix  did  then  lie-  much  exposed,  and  tlmt  Lord  (_  ochrane  had  In  en 
appointed  to  conduct  the  service,  whilst  the  rear  admiral,  bv  his  manner  and 
countenance,  treated  my  reply  v.  i;h  contempt,  and  said  he  s'nuld  bring  me 
to  account  tor  my  conduct.  I  said  this  was  not  the  tinie  and  place  for  it; 
and  lie  said,  in  the  most  contemptuous  manner,  that  lie  despised  the 
meanness  of  my  sending  an  application  to  (lie  Admiralty  by  tiit  acting 
master  of  the  Tonnant,  for  a  court  martial.  I  mr.st  oi;.-crve.  that  I  used 
all  the  means  in  my  power  to  accommodate  the  dih'erei'.res  between  Admiral 
Hutrey  and  myself,  which  I  thought  rarher  desired  the  acknowledgments  of 
the  re  ir-admiral  "than  otherwise.  He  a!s  )  reproached  rac  jencrally. 

Prcsi»!enf. — Q.  Wjll  your  Lordship  allow  mo  to  u-^k  lor  the  precise 
words  of  Admiral  Harvey  on  this  occasion  ? — A.  As  far  as  I  can  recollect — 
I  'wish  if)  speak  so,  as  nearly  as  I  can. 

President. — As  we  are  to  jud^e  of  words,  when  you  say  he  used  con- 
temptuous and  reproachful  Ian«na4e,  we  should  wish  to  know  the  precise, 
lenns. — A.  Admiral  Ilarvcv  then  immediately  said,  ho  differed  from  me 
with  respect  to  my  conduct  pnd  management  of  the  tleet,  and  that  he  would 
impeach  me  for  misconduct  and  bad  management  ;  and  HI  the  same  insult- 
ing manner  he  oft'ero.d  him^i  1'"  to  go  in  the  To:;nanr,  or  any  oilier  oid  rotten 
ship,  to  undertake  the  cnterpri/.e,  board  the  enemy \  three-deck  snip  in  .vix 
Itoads,  and  brii,;j;  her  out  ;  this  1  considered  only  as  an  insult  to  me,  as 
previous  to  this  convcr^atiun  IK:  had  suid,  that  any  ship  that  ventured  this 
service  would  never  return,  or  -.vnrds  to  that  eftV-ct.  iic  shortly  afterwards 
went  on  the  quarter-deck  of  the  Caledonia,  when  1  was  informed  he 
used — 

Cross-examined  by  Admiral  Harvey. — Q.  Did  your  Lordship  eve-  com- 
municate with  me  officially  on  the  .-.i;S),fct  of  attacking  the  enemy  in  Aix 
lloads  ? — A.  I  had  some  conversation  with  linn  on  the  pmcticabilitv  of  it. 

Q.  Did  not  your  Lordship  consult  tlie  junior  oiiicers  of  the  fk-et  pre- 
viously ! 

!  resident.*—!  very  much  fear, that  the  commander-in-chicf  should  not  be 
asked  that  <|ne-tiou. 

Q. — Does  not  Lord  Cambicr  know  that  I  offered  to  make  any  apology  to 
him  that  an  oliiccr  or  <ientlemnn  could  make,  consistent  with  my  honour? — • 
A.  I  cenaiiiiv  do  know  it,  and  would  ha\e  been  mo^t  happy  to  accept  it, 
had  it  been  co:->islent  vith  my  duty  to  my  country,  to  my  prole>Mon  as  a 
r.av.d  officer,  and  to  what  lo\\e  to  the  chaiafer  that  1  hold  as  a  com- 
inander-in-chier,  and  to  my  public  duty  generally  ;  for  1  must  state,  that  I 
bear  no  personal  enmity  or  resentment  to  Admiral  liurvcy  whatsoever. 

Lord  (Jambicr  withdrew. 

Captain  Sir  li.  H.  i\t  aie  was  next  evamined. — lie  stated,  that  Admiral 
Ilarveycame  oil  hoard  the  Cali-donia,  and  said,  that  iie  never  s  iw  a  man  so 
unfit  for  the  command  of  ihe  licet  as  J.ord  Gambier  ;  that  instead  of  send- 
ing boats  to  sound  the  Channel,  whi<  h  lie  considered  the  best  manner  of 
attacking  the  eneinv,  he  had  einploye.;!  hinisel;  or  aimi^^cd  him-eli'  with  mn.-> 
l«TinU  the  ship's  coiiipauus  ;  that  he  ha:!  not  taken  pains  to  ascertain 
\vhcther  the  enemy  i^d  placed  any  boon  in  iront  of  their  line  ;  that  if  Lord 
\dson  had  been  there,  he  would  not  have  anchored  in  H.isque  Jtoads,  hut 
have  dasiied  at  the  e'.:euiy  at  once,  or  words  to  that  eife'-t  ;  thai  lie  had 
spoken  Ins  mind  to  the  commander-in  chief ;  that  Lord  Gainbier  had 
received  him  very  coldly  after  the  batile  of  '1  ra fulmar,  and  ha:i  used  linn 
very  ill,  in  having  transmitted  the  master  of  the  Tonnunt's  letter  fora  court 
martial  upon  him. 

Q.  Wliat  were  the  words  used  by  Admiral  Harvey  to  Lord  Cochnmo, 
expressive  of -his,  uitupprobatiun  of  his  (Lord  Gambler's)  conduct? — 


424  TIU  IL  or  ADMIRAL  IIARTET. 

A.  When  he  carne  into  my  cabin,  he  went  up  anrl  shook  hands  with  Lord 
Cochrane,  assuring  him  lie  should  have  been  very  happy  to  have  seen  him 
on  any  other  occasion  than  the  present;  that  his  (Lord  Cochrane's)  being 
ordered  to  execute  the  service  on  this  occasion,  was  an  insult  to  that  service, 
and  that  I  e  would  strike  his  .flag  as  soon  as  that  service  was  executed. 
Lord  Cochrane  answered — •'  I  assure  you  I  did  not  seek  it ;  I  went  to 
town  ;  and  in  a  conversation  either  with  Lord  Mulgrave  or  the  Board  of 
Admiralty,  it  was  mentioned  to  me  that  the  expedition  was  composed  of 
bombs  and  lire-ships,  fur  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  French  fleet  in  the 
Isle  of  Aix.  I  answered,  that  it  was  a  service  very  easy  to  be  executed. 
I  was  asked  if  I  would  undertake  it?  I  answered,  "  Yes."  Admiral 
Harvey  said,  that  he  meant  nothing  personal  to  him  (Lord  Cochrane)  ;  he 
had  a  high  opinion  of  him  ;  he  spoke  only  to  the  insult.  Then  follows  what 
J  have  before  stated  re!atin<:  to  the  admiral.  Admiral  Harvey  likewise 
Said,  that  he  had  made  an  offer  to  go  in  willl  the  Tonnant,  to  bring  out  the 
enemy's  three-decker. 

Lord  Cochrane  examined. — Q.  Was  your  Lordship  present  when  Admiral 
Harvey  came  to  Sir  11.  Neale's  cabin  on  the  3d  of  April,  alter  his  having  an 
jnte'rview  with  the  Commander-in-chief  ?— A.  Yes,  I  was. 

Q.  Tell  what  pa-sed  on  that  occasion  ? — A.  The  only  information  that  I 
had  of  his  having  been  wi'h  Lord  Gambier,  was  froi.i  Admiral  Harvey  him- 
self, and  he  said,  that  he  iiad  a  conversation  with  Lord  Gamhier,  relative 
to  appointing;  a  junior  officer  to  act  against  the  enemy's  fleet.  He  said,  that 
he  had  volunteered  his  services  to  be  employed,  but  was  refused.  He  also 
mentioned,  that  he  had  heen  treated  several  times  lightly,  and  that  he  did 
not  think  his  services  had  been  attended  to  in  that  way  that  he  deserved. 
There  were  other  things  said,  not  connected  with  the  affair;  they  were 
respecting  a  man's  religious  principles,  or  conduct  on  shore.  All  that 
Admiral  Harvey  said,  was  evidently  unpremeditated,  and  appeared  to  pro- 
ceed more  from  the  warmth  of  his  'feelings  at  the  moment,  which  I  con- 
ceive his  cooler  judgment  would  not  have  induced  him  to  say.  In  the 
Course  of  a  conversation  he  said,  "  he  was  no  canting  methoHist,  no 
hypocrite,  nor  no  psalm-singer.  I  do  not  cheat  old  women  out  of  their 
estates  by  hypocrisy  and  canting."  He  said  that  he  had  volunteered  to 
perform  the  service  that  I  came  on,  and  would  have  heen  happy  to  have 
seen  me  on  any  other  occasion,  and  expressed  himself  very  sorry  to  have  an 
inferior  officer  placed  over  his  head.  He  also  said  that  he  had  spoken  to 
Lord  Gambicr  with  the  same  degree  of  prudence  uhich  he  had  done  to  mo 
in  the  presence  of  Sir  H.  Neale. 

[Here  Admiral  Harvey  submitted  that  the  evidence  given  did  not  go  to 
support  the  charge?.] 

The  Solicitor,  Mr.  Bickntll,  then  desired  Lord  Cochra,ne  would  he  pleased 
to  state  what  reply  he  made  to  Admiral  Harvey? — A.  Lore!  Cochnini-  stated 
that  it  was  general,  and  it  would  be  impossible  tor  him  at  that  tune  to 
repeat  it. 

Q.  Did  your  Lordship  make  any  observations  to  these  expressions  of  the 
admiral  ? — A.  1  said,  you  have  a  stiangc  notion  of  \n -micncc.. 

Q.  Was  your  Lordship  afterwards  present  on  the  quarter  deck  of  the 
Caledonia,  and  did  you  hear  any,  and  what  observations'inade  by  the  rear- 
admiral  to  Captain  Bedford,  or  any  othfr  person,  respecting  the  conduct  of 
the  coinmaiidt-r-in-chitf  ? — A.  I  was  present  on  the  quarter-deck  of  the 
Caledonia  at  the  time  that  Admiral  Harvey  wat  speaking  with  Captain 
Bedford,  but  I  did  not  hear  one  word  of  that  conversation.  I  was  at  that 
tin;e  talking  with  Sir  II.  Neale  :  I  do  not  know  whether  any  other  person 
was  in  conversation  with  Admiral  Iluivty,  except  Captain  Bedford,  whom 
I  remarked. 


TRIAL    OF    ADMIRAL    HAIlVEY.  425 

Q.  (By  the  President.) — You  have  recited  several  expressions  you  heard 
Rear-admiral  Harvey  make  use  of  in  the  presence  of  Sir  Il.Neale,  and  you 
have  said  that  you  did  not  know  that  those  expressions  alluded  to  Lord 
Gambler;  did  the  impression  made  upon  your  mind  at  the  moment,  induce 
you  to  believe  that  the  rear-admiral  meant  to  apply  those  expressions  to 
Lord  Gambler? — A.  I  have  put  the  Court  in  possession  of  all  that  passed 
on  that  occasion,  upon  which  the  Court  may  form  their  opinion.  With 
Lord  Gambler's  private  transactions  1  am  utterly  unacquainted.  I  have 
heard  that  Lord  Gambler  was  a  religious  man,  and  then-fore  I  did  think 
that  he  was  alluded  to. 

Q-  (By  Admiral  Sutton).When  Admiral  Harvey  said  to  you  that  he  had  been 
light  I  v  treated,  and  that  he  did  not  think  his  services  had  been  treated  as 
they  merited,  did  he  say  it  was  by  Lord  Gambler?  —  A.  To  the  best  of  my 
recollection,  he  said  that  he  had  been  lightly  treated  by  the  Admiralty  when 
Lord  Gambler  was  of  that  Board;  but  it  seemed  to  be  a  more  general  com- 
plaint of  the  manner  he  had  been  treated  in  the  service,  with  the  exception 
of  liis  having  mentioned  his  disapprobation  of  the  transmission  by  Lord 
Gambler  of  the  application  by  the  Master  of  his  (Admiral  Harvcv)  ship, 
for  a  Court-Martial,  which  Admiral  Harvey  passed  his  opinion  that  he  should 
not  have  done,  under  all  the  circumstances. 

Q.  Wa*  Sir  11.  Neale  so  near  as  to  hear  the  conversation  between  you 
and  Admiral  Harvey? — A.  Admiral  Harvev  addressed  himself' particularly  to 
me.  Sir  11.  Ncale  was  within  three  or  four  ynrd>  looking  over  papers. 

Q.  (By  one  of  the  Court.)— Did  Admiral  IlatVev,  in  the  presence  of  Sir 
H.  B  .\cale,  express  any  opinion  of  Lord  Gambler's  conduct  as  commander- 
in-chief? — A.  Yes';  he  said  that  he  disapproved  of  such  conduct  in  ninny 
instances.  I  think  ho  stated  one  in  particular,  carrying  sni!  off  a  shin, 
and  endangering  the  fleet.  He  said  it  had  long  been,  or  was  hi*  opinion, 
that  Lord  Gambler  wa-  not  equal  to  the  command :  that  he  meant  to  bring 
his  Lord-hip's  conduct  before  a  Court-Martial.  That  was  the  impression 
on  mv  mind. 

[Admiral  Harvey  declined  asking  this  witness  any  questions.] 
Captain  BEDFORD   examir.ed.—  Q.     Did    Rear-admiral  Harvey  come    on 
hoard  theCalcdonia  on  or  about  the  '2<1  of  April  last  ? — A.  Y»-s. 

Q.  State  to  the  Court  the  observations  made  by  him  to  you,  alluding  to 
the  conducrof  the  coinmanrlcr-in-c!iiet'? — A.  He  observed,  that  he  was  not 
in  the.  contidfcnce  of  the  comm -inder-in-chicl';  that  1  would  inform  him  that 
he  was  ready  for  any  service  I  lien  to  be  performed. 

Q.  \Yhcre  did  this  conversation  pass? — A.  On  the  starboard  gangway, 
'there  were  a  number  of  people  round,  Officers,  within  hearing  of  the 
conversation.  1  observed,  that  it  was  not  part  of  my  duty  to  m;;kc  such 
communication  til  the  conmiandcr-in-chicf,  and  desired  the  Admiral  would 
do  it  directly,  or  through  SirH.  B.  Nealc.  He  repealed  hi>  request,  obser- 
ving, that  considerable  time  had  been  lost  in  making  an  attack  on  the  ene- 
my, and  that  lie  had  a  plan  for  doing  this,  and  should  be  much  disappoint- 
ed  if  he  "ere  not  allowed  an  opportunity  for  putting  it  into  execution,  and 
unless  he  were  allowed  means  of  doing  so.  He  sin-used  exec— ivcly  angry, 
and  wouid  not  albw  mi' nor  any  oilier  person  to  ask  him  a  question. 

Q.  Did  the  rear-admiral  on  the  following  day  again  come  on  board  th* 
Ca  edonia?  —  A.  Yes. 

Q.  Had  he  then  an  interview  with  the  commandcr-in-chief  in  his  Lord* 
ship's  cabin? — A.  I  Believe  so;  I  went  oil"  the  quarter  deck. 

Q.  Did  he  afterwards  on  the  quarter  deck  make  any,  and  what  observa- 
tions to  you  concerning  the  conduct  of  the  comniandcr-iu-chief?— A.  H« 
told  me  to  tell  any  person,  that  thcTonnant  was  at  his  service,  for  he  w:i.v 
determined  to  strike  his  flag;  tint  the  person  being  sent  to  perform  the  in- 
tended service,  was  certainly  tin1  suggestion  of  the  commander-in-chief.  If 
vas  an  injury  u>  f, e:y  dficcv  in  the  u'eet,  and  to  the  service  in  geuer.fl, 


426  TRIAL    OF    ADMIRAI,    HAIlVEV. 

•phich  f  rtgfeed  to  ;  saying,  lie  believed  there  was  hut  one  opinion 
out  the  fleet,  lie  said,  Lord  Gambier's  conduct  to  him  on  his  return  froirt 
Trafalgar,  as  well  as  his  forwarding  a  letter  t>y  ihe  master  of  the  Tonnant, 
for  a  eourt-martial  on  him,  were  proofs  of  In-,  ihefhodisticat,  Jesuitical  con- 
duct, and  of  his  vindictive  t<-in|)er;  that.  Lord  Gambler's  conduct  since  he 
took  the  command  of  the  fleet,  did  not  meet  his  approbation;  that  he  em- 
ployed ihe  ofiicers  in  mustering  the  ship's  companies,  instead  of  g;iinin£ 
information  as  to  the  soundings:  that  lie  thought  him  quite  unequ-d  to  the 
command  of  the  fleet,  and  that  lie  knew  J  was  of  iht  same  opiui.m,  a:;d 
that  it  was  unfair  to  put  the  (jucstton  to  him.  Lord  Cochra'.ie  and  Sir  11. 
Neale  were  walking  on  the  quarter  deck.  I  do  not  know  that  thev  heard  the 
conversation,  but  I  think  they  must;  for"  they  fashed,  and  said,  hear  him  ! 
hear  him!  Admiral  Harvey,  on  going  out  of  the  ship,  Jinked  me  a.ain  if  t 
had  made  the  Comiiumdcr  this  oiler  of  service,  for  he  was  ready  to  perform 
any  duty.  I  told  him  1  had.  1  believe  mure  might  have  been  said  as  to  the 
eommandcr's  unfitncs.s,  but  F  avoided  the  conversation.  It  must  have  been 
heard  by  the  ship's  crew,  as  I  afterwards  saw  it  in  the  public  papers.  He 
said  he  had  spoken  his  mind  to  the  conimander-iii-chict',  but  no  one  wu» 
present  at  the  time. 

Q.  Were  any  officers  and  men  within  hearing? — -A.  Yes,  there  were  not 
less  than  30  persons  upon  the:  quarter-deck. 

Captain  UtJtKsroau  examined.—  Q.  Had  you  any  conversation  with  Ad- 
miral Harvey  some  few  days  before  you  left  Masque  Roads,  on  the  sub- 
ject of  attacking  the  enemy's  lleet  under  the  Isle  of  \ix? — A.  Some  days 
before  Admiral  llarvev  left  Basque  lloads  we  agreed  in  opinion  that 
the  enemy's  ships  in  Basque  Roads  could  not  he  destroyed  by  our  fleet  without 
running  tl%.r:  risk  of  both  being  sacriliced,  and  thought  by  tire-ships  the  ene- 
my might  he  destroyed. 

Captain  Bo\vr,.\  said,  th;tt  he  had  heard  Admiral  Harvey  express  an  opi- 
nion, that  the  Commander-in-chief  was  not  competent  to  the  Command  of 
the  fleet — that  otlu-r  persons  must  no  doubt  have  heard  him  so  express 
himself,  because  they  were  within  hearing  when  the  word:-  wire  spoken. 
Being  asked  whether  he  ever  heard  Admiral  Harvev  say  any  thing  disre- 
spectful of  the  comiuandcT«-in-chief  in  his  way  to  London — this  question 
Was  over-ruled. 

Sir  H.  B.  Xr.At.ft  ro-examined. — Q.  Were  you  Upon  the  quarter-deck  of  rh$ 
Caledonia  on  the  3d  of  April  last,  while-  a  conversation  was  held  between 
Admiral  Harvey  and  Captain  Bedford? — A.  1  was. 

Q.  Did  you  hear  any  part  of  the;  conversation  that  passed  between  thcs« 
nili  errs?  —  A.  I  did  not  hear  any  part  of  it. 

Here  the  evidence  closed  on  the  part  of  the  crown. 

The  President  signified  this  (o  Admiral  Harvey,  who  expressed 
a  wish  that  he  might  be  indulged  till  the  next  morning  to  prepare 
his  defence.— To  which  the  Court  most  readily  agreed 

On  the  follow  Ing.  morning,  the  Court  assemble;!  at  half  past 
limeo'clock,  pursuanttoudjournmcnt,  when  liear-iidmiral  HAUVKY 
being  called  upon  to  make  his  Delence,  lie  addressed  the 
Court  shortly,  staling,  that  it  was  not  his  intention  to  trouble  them 
•with  calling  any  witnesses  in  hi-  behalf;  but  «ith  (heir  permission, 
he  would  deliver  into  the  hands  of  the  Deputy  Judge  Advocate,  a 
'paper,  which  he  desired  to  be  read,  as  it  contained  all  that  hu 
deemed  expedient  to  oiler  to  their  coAs. 


TRIAL  OF  ADMIRAL  HARVEY.  427 

The  Deputy  Judge  Advocate   (Mr.  GUEETHAJ:)   then   read  as 
follows:  — 

"  Mr.  Pnr-inr.NT  and  Gr.NTT.EMrjc, 

"  I  thank  the  Court  for  adjour«iin;;  to  this  day.  The  interval  of  trm* 
has  given  you  an  opportunity  of  perusing  the  evidence  that  has  becu  ai!r 
duced;  tun!,  I  trust.  ;>t  discovering  that  it  tails  short  of  juvivni-j,  the  charges 
that  have  !,(_•(.',>  exhibited  against  IDC.  I  should,  hov.  c\er,  not  be  acting  * 
fair  and  candid  part,  were  1  to  deny  that  a  c.n:duLt,  which  I  cannot  <u--tilv, 
lias  heeii  exhibited  I'.gainxt  me,  and  I  now  offer  my  most  humble  apology  to 
the  Court  for  it.  For  the  offence  that  I  h  >ve  given  to  the  comumider  in- 
Chief,  his  Lordship  h:is  proxed  that  1  ha  vest  I  ready  offered  au  apology  it-hat 
was  satisfactory  to  !i!.s  tedin^s.  The  Court  xvill  not  tail  to  recollect,  that 
although  I  hav«  M.oktn  of  ti:e  commander-in-chief  in  terms  which  [  am 
i-jvtn  r.\-A\  sorry  for  having  used,  I  did  not  speak  with  that  publicity  that  is 
sta'.ed  in  the  charge  against  me  —I  spoke  only  to  persons  of  ran!;  aud  sta» 
lion  iu  the  fleet,  on  whose  minds  my  words  could  have  no  injurious  elfect; 
*vhat  I  said  is  not  found  to  have  been  disseminated  among  the  inferior  or- 
ders of  tlie  navy.  No  hcasimn  or  petty  officer  has  U:en  called  who  ever 
heard  any  of  the  lan^iifu'.i:  complained  of.  It  will  also  occur  to  you,  tha£ 
•all  the  intemperate  cx;>:c  SIGHS  used  by  me  are  proved  to  have  been  .used. 
about  the  same  time,  ui;en  I  was  in  a  state  of  s;reat.  irritation,  in  conse- 
quence of  my  oiler  to  attack  the  French  licet  hting  passed  over  xvithou1  ths 
lca.it  acknowledgment  of  its  having  been  made.  Excess  of  zeal,  and  ifl^ 
patience  of  restraint,  where  an  opportunity  of  enterprize  presents  it-cl.f, 
altlio'  faults,  *re  suchns  the  most  eminent  naval-commanders  have  not  been 
free  from,  and  the  effects  of  these  are  all  that  can  he  found  blameahle  iu 
ray  conduct.  It  never  was  my  intcn  ion  to  thwart  any  superior  officer;  oa 
the  contrary,  my  wiiole  life  has  been,  and  shall  continue  to  be,  cntir* 
submission  to  their  commands. 

u  To  many  of  the  Gentlemen  of  this  Court  I  have  the  honour  -to  be 
known  ;  to  them  I  appeal  for  my  former  character. 

•''  I  shall  also  beg  leave  to  desire,  that  two  letters  from  most  distinguish* 
rd  persons,  under  ™!>om  I  have  had  the  honour  to  serve,  .may  be  read- 

"  The  manner  in  which  my  services  have  been  estimated  by  them,  wiH, 
I  am  sure,  have  its  due  effect  on  the  Judgment  which  the  Court  is  called 
upoa  to  pronounce  upon  me.'' 

*'Mi-  DEAR  SIB,  "jZuryalus,  Oct.  ?8,  JS05. 

"I  congratulate  you  most  sincerely  on  the  victory  his  Majesty's  fleet  has 
obtained  over  the  enemy,  and  on  the  noble  and  distinguished  part  the 
Temeraire  took  in  the  battle;  nothing;  could  be  finer;  I  have  not  word?  .in 
which  1  can  sufficiently  express  my  admiration  of  it.  I  hope  to  hear  you 
are  unhurt,  .and  pray  send  me  your  report  of  killed  and  wounded,  with 
the  officers'  names  who  fell  in  the  action,  and  the  state  of  your,  own  sliip^ 
-whether  you  can  get  her  in  a  state  to  meet  Gravina,  should  he  agaiij  at- 
tempt any  thing,  I  am  dear  Sir,  with  great  esteem,  your  faithful  humble 
servant, 

"CUTIIB.  COLLING  WOOD.1' 
*  Captain  E,  Harvey, 


"  SIR,  "  Mortimerrstrect,  April  22,  1807, 

•"  I  cannot  retire  froro  the  command  of  the  Channel  fleet,  without  ej:- 
pressing  the  high  sense  I  entertain  of  the  ability,  zeal,  and  perseverance 
displayed  by  von  in  the  command  of  a  detached  squadron,  during  an  UIM-XT 
atnpled  long  cruize  off  the  North  Coast  of  Spain,  and  assuring  you  of  ,tb.Q 
«st<jena  and  cejard  with  wliich  I  have  the  honour  to  be, 


Sir,  yoar  most  obedient  humMe  servant, 
rtmiral  B»rvy,  *c,  "  "  ST.  VINC.L  IN  1    " 


4"28  NAVAL    HISTORY   OF   THE    PIIESE.VT   YEAR,    1809. 

The  Admiral  then  withdrew  with  his  Counsel,  Mr.  Serjeant  Best. 
and  the  Court  was  cleared  of  strangers,  for  the  purpose  of  deli- 
berating on  the  evidence,  in  which  they  were  occupied  a  consider- 
able  length  of  time.  At  length  strangers  were  re-admitted,  when  the 
Rear-admiral  taking  his  station,  on  the  left  hand  of  the  Deputy 
Judge  Advocate,  the  Gentlemen  pronounced  the  following 

SENTENCE: 

The  Court  having  heard  and  deliberated  upon  the  evidence  which 
has  been  adduced  in  support  of  the  charges  exhibited  against  Rear- 
admiral  EMAB  HARVEY,  and  having  heard  what  he  has  alledged 
in  his  own  defence,  arc  of  opinion  that  the  charges  of  vehement 
and  insulting  language  to  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  GAMBIEK,  and  of 
having  otherwise  shewn  great  disrespect  to  him  as  commandcr-in- 
ehicf,  on  board  his  Majesty's  ship  the  CALEDONIA,  and  of  having 
spoken  of  his  Lordship  to  several  officers  in  a  disrespectful  manner, 
hare  been  proved:  and  the  Court  doth  therefore  adjudge  the  said 
Rear  admiral  ELIAB  HARVEY  TO  BE  DISMISSED  HIS  MA- 
JESTY'S SERVICE;  and  he  is  dismissed  accordingly. 

The  Court  was  then  dissolved. 


NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1809. 

(April — May. ) 
RETROSPECTIVE  AND  MISCELLANEOUS. 

E  first  object  of  naval  importance,  and  on  which  we  touched  in  our 
preceding  Retrospect,  has  been  the  trial  and  sentence  of  Admiral 
Harvey.  We  could  not  but  take  a  lively  interest  in  the  trial,  which  we 
have  detailed  at  full  length  ;  and  must  own  we  felt  sincerely  at  seeing  this 
brave  man,  after  receiving  sentence,  walking  np  alone  from  the  Sally  Port 
to  his  house.  He  left  Portsmouth  immediately.  Tins  trial  will  afford  a 
memorable  example  of  the  impartial  discipline  of  the  British  navy;  and 
prove  to  every  common  seaman  in  the  service,  that  no  one  can  transgress 
its  rules  with  impunity. 

At  page  316,  we  announced,  that  hostilities  had  been  commenced  by 
Austria  against  France.  A  series  of  battles  has  since  taken  place,  in  most 
df  which  the  French  were  decidedly  victorious  ;  and,  to  crown  the  success 
of  the  campaign,  Buonaparte,  after  a  short  and  ineffectual  resistance,  entered 
Vienna,  the  capital  of  the  Austrian  empire,  on  the  12th  of  May.  The 
Emperor  Francis  is  reported  to  have  made  overtures  for  peace,  which  were 
rejected  ;  but  this  report  is  not  generally  believed.  The  Austrians  are  yet 
in  considerable  strength,  and  a  formidable  opposition,  by  the  Archduke 
Charles,  is  still  confidently  expected. 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

In  Italy,  particularly  in  the  department  of  the  Tyrol,  and  in  Poland,  the 
Ausrnans  have  obtained  some  important  advantages. 

A  formidable  insurrection  has  broken  out  in  Westphalia,  which  threatens 
the  existence  of  King  Jerome's  sovereignty  ;  and  Colonel  Schill,  a  Prussian 
officer,  of  considerable  talent  and  enterprise,  has  seized  upon  Urcincn,  and 
is  spreading  his  forces  throughout  Brunswick  and  Hanover.  These  are  all 
serious  and  useful  diversions  in  favour  of  Spain  and  Portugal. 

In  the  latter  country  Sir  Arthur  .WelU-sley  has  retaken  Oporto,  anAdefeated 
Marshal  Souk,  in  three  successive  actions.  At  the  date  of  the  last  accounts, 
it  was  expected  that  he  would  cut  oft'  his  retreat  into  Galida,  whtcre  Mar- 
shal Ney  was  stationed. 

Russia  is  said  to  have  declared  war  against  Austria. 

The  gallant,  but  unfortunate  King  of  Sweden,  \vas  compelled  to  sign 
what  is  imprudently  termed  a  voluntary  Act  of  Abdication,  on  the  29tli  of 
March. 

Respecting  our  relations  with  America,  a  very  serious  sensation  has 
recently  been  excited  in  the  mercantile  world.  About  the  22d  of  Mar, 
government  received  despatches  from  Mr.  Erskine,  the  British  Envoy  at 
Washington,  announcing  the  adjustment  of  the  differences  between  this 
country  and  the  United  States;  and  that,  in  consequence  of  the  alleged 
revocation  of  our  Orders  in  Council,  with  respect  to  America,  the  head  of 
that  government  had  issued  a  proclamation,  authorising  the-renewal  of  the 
trade  with  Great  Britain,  after  the  10th  of  June.  It  appears,  however, 
from  the  statements  of  the  Earl  of  Liverpool  and  Mr.  Canning,  in  Par- 
liament, that  government  will  not  ratify  die  arrangements  of  Mr.  Erskine, 
who,  they  assert,  has  acted  diametrically  opposite  to  both  the  spirit  and 
letter  of  his  instructions.  But,  to  prevent  as  much  as  possible  the  loss  and 
inconvenience  which  might  accrue  to  the  American  merchants,  from  ficting 
on  the  faith  of  the  agreement  between  Mr.  Erskine  and  the  government  of 
the  United  States,  an  Order  in  Council  has  been  issued,  suspending  the 
blockade  of  the  ports  of  Holland,  from  the  9th  of  June  to  the  'IQih  of  July; 
thereby  allowing,  for  that  period,  a  free  trade  from  America  direct  to 
Holland.  Licenses  are  also  to  be  granted  to  the  British  merchants,  to 
trade  to  Holland,  during  a  certain  period. 


A  report  having  been  circulated,  that  in  the  Brilliant  service  lately  per- 
formed by  his  Majesty's  ships  in  Basque  Roads,  the  Revenge,  commanded 
by  Captain  Alexander  Robert  Kerr,  had  been  placed  in  the  position 
she  took  up,  with  so  good  an  effect,  not  by  her  captain,  but  by  some  other 
sent  on  board  for  that  purpose,  we  think  it  neces-ary  lo  state,  that  such 
report  is  wholly  unfounded,  and  is  a  shameful  attempt  to  deprive  Capt.  Kerr 
of  the  credit  which  was  so  eminently  his  due  tor  the  gallantry  he  displayed, 
on  that  day.  His  ability  as  a  seaman,  and  iiis  zeal  us  an  officer,  are  ±u  well 
known,  that  th^se  acquainted  with  him  are  certain  lie  does  not  require  the 
Advice  or  a-fistance  ot  any  man,  upon  an  occasion  oi  su  much  importance 
to  his  own  character. 

JSSab.  etyrom  fflol*  XXI.  3  i 


430  NATAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YKAB,    1809. 


on 

Copied  verbatim  from  the  LOKDON  GAZETTE. 

ADMIKALTY-OFFICE,    APRIL    29,    1309. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Admiral  Lord  Gambler,  Commander-m-Chief  of 
his  MnjestJ/S  Ships  and  Vessel*  employed  in  the  Channel  $<>un'lirt$,  SfC.  to 
the  Hon.  IV.  W.  Pule,  du'ed  on  board  the  Caledonia,  in  Basque  Road*,  the 
16th,  Infant. 

TT  hits  blown  violently  from  the  southward  and  westward  since  the  depar- 
ture of  the  Imperieuse,  which   has   rendered  it  impracticable  to  act  it» 
any  way  with  ihe  small  vessels  or  bo'its  of  the  fleet  against  the  enemy. 

I  have  the  satisfaction  to  observe  this  morning,  that  the  enemy  have  set 
fire  to  their  frigate  (L'Indienne)  ;  and  that  the  ship  of  the  line,  which  is 
aground  at  the  entrance  of  the  river,  (supposed  to  be  the  llcgulus,)  there  u 
every  reason  to  believe  will  bu  wrecked. 

•Copy   of  another  Letter  from   Admiral   Lord  Gambler  to  the  Hon.  W.  W» 
Pole,  dated  on  board  the  Caledonia,  in  Basque  Roads,  the  15Z/J  instant. 

SIR, 

Be  pleased  to  lay  before  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty  the 
inclosed  letter  which  I  have  this  day  received  from  Captain  Mends,  of  hi>« 
Majesty's  ship  Arethusa,  detailing  particulars  of  the  destruction  of  three 
different  batteries  (one  of  them  twenty  heavy  guns)  at  Lequito  and  other 
places  on  the  north  coast  of  Spain,  bv  boats  from  that  ship  ;  and  of  their 
active  annoyance  of  the  enemy  in  attempting  to  send  supplies  to  their  army 
along  that  coast. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

CAMBJER. 

His  Majesties  Ship  Arethusa,  offBilboat 
sru,  C20t/i  March,  1809. 

I  have  the  pleasure  of  acquainting  you,  for  the  Coinmauder-in-Chief  's 
information,  that  on  the  loth  instant,  at  day-break  in  the  morning,  a  party 
of  seamen  and  marines  belonging  to  this  ship  were  landed  under  the  com- 
mand of  the  First  Lieutenant,  Air.  Hugh  Pearson,  and  Lieutenant  Scott  of 
the  Marines,  and  destroyed  upwards  of  twenty  heavy  guns  mounted  on  the 
batteries  at  Lequito,  defended  by  a  detachment  of  French  soldiers,  a  ser- 
jefuit  and  twenty  of  whom  were  made  prisoners,  who,  on  our  people  forcing 
the  guard-house  in  the  principal  battery,  threw  down  their  arms,  and 
begged  for  quarter;  the  rest  of  their  comrades  effected  their  escaue  by  run- 
ning for  it. 

This  little  affair  was  conducted  by  Lieutenant  Pearson  with  that  boldness 
and  promptitude  which  generally  command  success,  to  which  I  attribute 
our  having  only  three  men  wounded,  notwithstanding  a  quick  fire  of  mus- 
ketry for  some  time  from  the  battery  and  guard-house  as  our  people  ad- 
vanced. A  small  chaloupe,  laden  with  brandy,  was  found  in  the  harbour 
and  brought  away. 

The  following  day.  having  received  information  of  two  cliasse-marees  be- 
ing up  the  river  Andero,  laden  with  brandy  for  the  French  army  in  Spain,  in 
the  evening  the  same  party  was  again  landed,  who  found  them  aground, 
about  four  jniles  up,  with,  their  cargoes  onboard,  which  were-  destroyed  ; 


XAVAt,    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,   1809.  431 

rnit  the  vessels  appearing  to  be  Spanish  property,  and   forcibly  seized  on  to 
carry  those  supplies,  were  restored  to  their  owners. 

On  the  20th,  Lieutenant  Elms  Steele,  with  a  party,  destroyed  the  guns  at 
Baignio,  and  captured  a  unall  vessel  laden  with  Marino  wool,  which  had 
run  in  there  tor  security,  from  St.  Audero,  bound  to  Bayonnr;  whilst  Lieu- 
tenant I'Vimel,  of  the  ret  urines,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Ell:ott,  the  purser,  and 
a  limit's  cre\Vj_  ascended  the  mountain,  and  destroyed  the  signal  posts. 

Tiie  same  eve;'.:u«r  Lieutenant  Pearson,  with  the  officers  and  men  who 
were  wirh  him  at  Lequito,  took  possession  or'  the  batteries  of  the  town 
of  Pai.-ance  without  opposition,  and  destroyed  the  gwn>;  the  sinull  parlies  of 
the  ene  ay  stationed  at  these  places  retirinc  as  oar  people  approached. 

I  am,  &j.  11.  MENDS. 

To  Charles  AdaaU,  F^fj.   Captain  of 

hi-,  Mujisiifa  Stii}}  Resistance. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  Honourable  George  Elliot,  Captain  of  his  Ma- 
jes  y's  S-'iip  he  Alodetle,  to  \'i:e-Admiial  Str  Sduard  Pelltw,  Com^unritr- 
Hi-<  iitif  «/  his  Jliuiesty's  Ships  and  densely  in  the  ~E..st  Indies,  and  trunt- 
initrcd  i-y  the  latter  lo  the  Honourable  William  Welles  ley  Pole. 

SIR,  Modeste,  of  Sandshead,  Oct.  9,  1808. 

I  have  great  satisfaction  in  acquainting  your  Excellency  of  his  Majesty** 
ship  Modesto,  under  my  command,  hating  last  night  captured  La  Jena, 
Irench  national  corvette,  pierced  for  twenty-four  guns,  but  only  eighteen 
on  board,  am!  complement  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  commanded  by 
Mons.  Morice,  Lieutenant  dc  Vaisseau,  after  a  chace  of  nine  hours,  and  a 
running  action  of  nearly  one  hour,  (from  it  being  but  a  light  breeze,  which 
enabled  tier  to  keep  her  distance  with  her  sweeps,)  when  she  struck,  a 
complete  wreck  in  iier  *aiis  and  rigging  ;  she  had  cut  away  her  boats  and 
hooms,  and  thrown  three  guns  drerboard  in  the  chace.  We  received  no 
damage  to  signify,  but  the  loss  of  Mr.  William  Donovan  (;he  master,)  a 
very  valuable  and  gallant  orticer,  unfortunately  killed,  and  one  seaman 
wounded.  La  Jena  has  not  received  any  material  damage  in  her  hull ;  she 
saiis  well,  and  appears  a  very  fit  vessel  for  his  Majesty's  service.  She  had 
been  four  months  from  the  Isle  of  France,  and  taken  the  Jennet,  of  Ma- 
dras, and  the  Swallow  of  Penang;  the  first  she  sunk,  the  latter  was  in  sight 
during  the  chace,  but  sailing  very  well,  g"t  out  of  sight  to  leeward  be- 
fore La  Jena  was  taken,  and  we  have  not  been  fortunate  enough  to  see  her 
•since  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

GEORGE  ELLIOT. 

MAY  6,  1809. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Vice-admiral  the  Right  Honourable  Lord  Colling- 
Koo.7,  Commaiider-in-C/tirfof  Aw  Majesty's  Ship*  and  Vessels  in  the  Medi- 
terranean, to  the  Honourable  W.  fV.L'ole,  dated  un  board  the  Ocean,  the 
15th  Mar.h.  1809. 

si  ti, 

T  have  the  pleasure  to  inclose  to  you,  to  be  laid  before  my  Lords  Com- 
missioners of  the  Admiralty,  the  le'ttcr  of  Captain  Brisbane,  of  his  Majes- 
ly's  ship  Belle  Poole,  infurlniiij'  me  of  his  hating, fallen  in  with,  and  cap- 
tured, the  French  frigate  Lc  Var,  in  the  (Jnlph  of  Veloua. 

Also  a  letter  fr«>:n  Cap'.u'm  lli.ste,  of  his  Majesty's  ship  the  Amphion, 
stating  his  luiviua  cuptureil  a  French  armed  hrc;.  mounting  six  guns,  and 
a  Trabaccul",  which  were  employed  in  transpurtiivg  trou^s  from  Zara  tw 
the  coast  of  ItJiiy. 


432  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    TEAR,    1809. 

The  unremitting  vigilance  of  those  officers,  and  of  all  who  are  employed 
in  the  Adriatic  and  oft' Corfu,  is  deserving  of  tiie  highest  commendation. 
r!  in  ir  strict  watch  on  the  enemy's  possessions  has  reduced  the  Ionian 
inland*  to  the  greatest  want  of  every  necessary,  most  of  the  supplies 
/Yom  the  coutinent  having  been  intercepted  by  them ;  and  the  frigate  cap- 
tured by  the  Belie  Poule,  I  understand,  was  on  her  way  to  some  port  in 
Italy  for  a  cargo  of  Cora.  I  am,  &c. 

COLLING  WOOD. 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Belle  Poulc,  off 
MY  LORD,  Corfu,  Feb.  16,  1809. 

I  have  the  honour  to  report  to  your  lordship,  that  his  Majesty's  ship 
under  rny  command  being  driven  by  a  bard  southerly  gale  about  twelve 
leagues  to  the  northward  of  Corfu,  a  suspicious  ship  was  discovered  on  the 
morning  of  the  14th  instant,  tar  distant  on  the  lee  bow.  All  sail  was  in- 
stantly made  in  pursuit  of  her.  but  light  and  partial  winds  having  come  on, 
prevented  our  closing  with  tier  on  chat  day ;  we,  however,  evidently  marie 
lier  out  to  be  a  French  ship  of  war,  and  very  distinctly  saw  her  intention 
of  making  for  the  Gulph  of  Vel.ma.  Our  course  was  directed  accordingly, 
and  day-light  on  the  following  .-,iorni:ig  discovered  her  moored  with  cables 
to  the  walls  of  the  fortress  of  Velon.i,  mounting  fourteen  eighteen  and 
twenty-four  pounders,  with  another  fort  on  an  eminence  above  her,  com- 
pletely commanding  ihe  whole  anchorage.  A  breeze  at  length  favouring 
us,  at  one  P.M.  his  Majesty's  ship  was  anchored  in  a  position  at  Once  to 
take  or  destroy  the  enemy,  and  at  the  same  time  to  keep  in  check  the  for- 
midable force  we  saw  prepared  to  support  the  French  frigate.  A  most 
animated  and  well-directed  fire  was  opened  on  the  enemy's  ship.  The 
forts  makihgno  effort  to  protect  her,  and  our  attention  being  thus  undivided, 
the  contest  of  course  was  very  short*  She  surrendered  alter  a  few  broad- 
sides, and  proved  to  be  Le  V'ar  French  frigate,  pierced  for  3'2  guns,  but 
having  only  ^'2  niue-pouriders,  and  4  twenty-four  pounder  carronades 
mounted,  commanded  by  Capital  ne  de  Fregate  Paulin,  with  a  complement 
of  200  men,  from  Corfu,  destined  to  any  port  in  Italy  she  could  reach. 

I  cannot  close  my  letter  without  expressing  my  regret,  that  the  occasion 
hnd  nut  afforded  more  room  for  the  display  of  that  exertion  and  gallantry 
which  my  oilicers  and  ship's  company  have  proved  themselves  at  all  times 
fcn  ready  to  evince  ;  and  it  is  with  sincere  satisfaction  I  add,  that,  with  the 
exception  of  some  trifling  damage  in  our  rigging,  we  sustained  no  loss  what- 
ever; that  of  the  enemy  cannot  he  ascertained,  as  the  greater  part  of  her 
officers  and  ship's  company  took  the  opportunity  of  getting  on  shore  the 
moment  the  ship  struck. 

Le  Var  is  but  two  years  off  the  stocks,  coppered,  and  copper-fastened, 
and  300  tons  burden. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

Right  Honourable  Cut  fiber  I  Lord  JAMES  BRISBANE. 

Collingwood,  4"C. 

MY  LORD,  His  Majesty**  Ship  Amphion,  a>  Sea,  Feb.  10,  1800. 

The  Redwing  joined  me  on  the  8th  instant,  off  Long  Island,  with  in- 
formation that  an  armed  brig  and  a  Trabacculo  were  lying  in  a  small  creek. 
in  the  island  of  Malida  I  proceeded  there  in  consequence  with  the  Red- 
wing, and  found  the  above  vessels  advantageously  moored  for  defending 
the  entrance  of  the  creek,  and  several  hundred  soldiers  drawn  up  behind 
some  houses  and  walis.  The  brig  and  a  twelve-pounder  from  the  shore 
opened  on  the  ships  whilst  they  were  taking  their  stations,  which  was  no 
sooiu-r  effected,  than  they  fled  in  all  directions. 

She  mounted  six  twelve-pounder  carronades,  had  sailed  from  Sara",  in 


NAVAL    HISTORY    oV    TUE    PRE5EVT    YEAR,    1809.          433 

Company  with  the  Trabacculo,  on  the  4th  January,  with  400  French 
troops  tor  Ancot.a,  which,  on  our  approach,  landed,  and  were  those  I 
mentioned  a'oove,  but  kept  a  respectable  distance  from  our  guns  tl>e  whole 
tune. 

Tlie  boats'  crews  of  the  two  ships,  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant 
Philiott,  landed,  and  brought  off  three  guns,  one  twelve-pounder  and  t\vo 
Small  ones,  and  destroyed  two  storehouses  of  xvine  and  oil  collected  there. 

I  am  happy  to  say,   no  person    was  hurt  on  this  service,  and  have  the 
honour  to  oe,  &c. 
To  lite  High'  Hon.  Lord  Collingrcood,  4'f.  W.  TIOSTE,  Captain* 

The  brig  sunk  soon  after  we  got  her  out  in  deep  water,  from  the  effects 
of  our  shot. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Vlfe-Adudrctl  Campbell,  Conmtander-in-Chief  in  the 
Dooms,  tu  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole,  dated  tilt  3d  instant. 

SIR, 

Enclosed  T  transmit,  for  their  lordships'  information,  a  letter  from  Cap- 
tain Maxwell,  of  the  iloyulist,  (forwarded  by  Commodore  Owen,)  stating 
his  having  captured  La  Princesse  French  privateer,  of  16  guns  and  50  men, 
after  a  chace  of  two  hour*.  J  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

GEO.  CAMPBELL,  Vice-Adrn. 

SIR,  His  Majesty* s  Sloop  Royalist,  Dorcjis,  2rf  May,  1809; 

I  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  you,  that  at  rive  yesterday  evening,  Dieppe 
hearing  south,  distant  seven  or  eight  leagues,  his  Majesty's  sloop  Royalist, 
under  my  command,  fell  in  with  rive  French  lugger  privateers,  to  which  we 
immediately  gave  chacc,  and  after  a  run  of  two  hours  and  a  quarter,  cap- 
tured La  Priuci  sse,  of  16  guns,  and  50  men;  the  other  four,  during  the 
short  interval  of  exchanging  prisoners,  it  being  then  nearly  dark,  and  rather 
hazy,  made  their  escape.  I  feel  happy  in  having  made  tnis  capture,  as  she 
has  hitherto  been  amo.-t  successful  cruizer. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 
To  Commodore  Owen,  4-r.  Doxns.  JOHN  MAXWELL. 

Rear-Adminil  Sir  Richard  Strachan  has  transmitted  to  the  Honourable 
W.  Wclleslty  Pole  two  letters  from  Lieutenants  Samuel  Burgess  and 
Joshua  L.  Rowe,  commanding  Ins  Majesty's  gun-vessels  the  Pincher  and 
Censor;  the  former,  giving  an  account  of  the  capture,  near  the  Watt  Sand, 
of  a  Danish  privateer,  mounting  one  carriage  gun  and  four  swivels,  and  a 
fiaiii-it  laden  \\i;h  deals,  bv  the  boats  of  the  Pincher  and  Basilisk,  under  the 
command  of  Sub-Lieutenant  William  Woolcock,  of  the  Pincher;  the  latter 
stating  tiie  capture,  in  the  river  Emms,  of  a  Danish  privateer,  mounting 
one  long  gun  and  four  swivels,  by  the  boats  of  the  Censor  and  Bresdrageren, 
commanded  by  Sub-Lieutenant  George  Anderson  of  the  latter. 

MAT     13. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Harvard,  of  His  Majesty's  Stoop  the 
.fiirtklani,  to  Admiral  Young,  Commander-in-chief  of  His  Majctly't 

Ships  at  I'lymouth,  and  transmitted  by  him  to  the  Honourable  IV.  W. 

Pole,  dated  at  $ea,  the  blh  Instant. 

On  the  2d  instant,  in  latitude  45  He£.  X.  longitude  9  de?.  W.  a  brig 
was  discerned  in  the  west,  aad  from  the  description  previously  received, 
soon  made  out  lo  he  la  Nouvelie  Gironde,  the  noted  privateer  of  Bour- 
dt-aux  ;  which  vessel,  I  am  happy  to  acquaint  yod,  was  captured  after  a 
.chaw,  in  li«ht  winds,  of  thirty-six  hours,  owing  to  the  nnremilted, 
t'vceeuiug  great,  and  determined" exertions  of  c-vcrj  individual  on  board, 


434  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAH,     1S09. 

•who  perseveringly  continued  to  labour  hard  at  the  sweeps  nearly  the 
•whole  rhace. 

La  Nouvelle  Gironde  is  a  fine  copper  fastened!  brig,  commanded  by 
Mons.  Lecomte,  mounting  four  twelve  and  ten  four-pounders,  with  a 
complement  of  eighty-six  men  (fifty-eight  on  hoard],  out  forty-five 
days. 

In  (be  capture  of  such  a  scourge  to  the  trade,  T  cannot  nut  feel  grati- 
fied :  particularly  as  she  has  been  chased  during  this  last  cruise  l>y  twelve 
different  men  of  war,  none  of  \vhicii,  by  the  prisoners'  accounts,  had  the 
smallest  chance  of  Bearing  her. 

NAY  20. 

Copy  f\f  a  Letter  f ram  Wce-aami'ral  Sir  Jamc.s  Faumurrz,  K.B.  Cam- 
mundfr-in-ckicf  of  Hi*  ^tiajasij/'s  Miips  and  I'esxelx  in  ii>c  Rtiltic,  to 
the  lion.  IV.  W .  Pain,  daled'On  board  tha  P'ictory,  in  (Pingo  Sound, 
the  6/A  Instant. 

SIR, 

Herewith  I  inclose,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of 
the  Admiralty,  a  letter  from  Captain  Parker,  of  his  Majesty's  ship  Mel- 
pomene, addressed  to  Rear-admiral  Sir  Samuel  Hood, giving  an  account 
ofhis  Laving  chased  a  Danish  maaof  war  cutter  on  shore,  and  afterwards 
destroyed  her,  with  some  other  vessels,  hy  the  boats  of  that  ship,  under 
the  directions  of  Lieutenants  Plamridgc  and  Rennie;  the  lailer  officer 
and  five  men  being  severely  wounded.  In  which  enterprise  great  gal- 
lantry and  spirit  appear  to  have  been  displaced.  1  am,  &c. 

J.  SAUMAREZ. 

Ills  Jlfajeily's  ship  Melpomene,  in  tlie  Sleeve, 
gin,  May  1,  1«09 

T  beg  leare  to  acquaint  you,  that  having  chased  a  Danish  man  of  war 
cutter,  of  six  guns,  and  apparently  quite  new,  on  shore  at  Huilbo  (a  har- 
bour in  Jutland),  and  anchored  his  Majesty's  ship  in  nineteen  feet  water, 
the  boats  wer£  sent  under  the  directions  of  Lieutenants  Plumridge  tuul 
Rennie,  who  succeeded  in  boarding  and  destroying  her,  with  some  other 
vessels,  under  a  most  tremendous  lire. 

The  immense  crowds  of  the  enemy  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  Melpo- 
mene, and  that  of  her  launch's  carronade,  leaves  me  good  reason  to  sup- 
pose their  loss  must  be  very  considerable. 

Ours  is  confined  to  Lieutenant  George  Tlcnnie  and  five  men  wounded 
in  the  boats  ;  but  more  might  have  been  expected  from  the  severe  and 
galling  fire  altogether  directed  on  them. 

I  cannot  close  this  letter  without  expressing  how  much  Lieutenants 
Plumridge  and  Rennie  are  to  be  admired,  with  every  officer  and  man,  for 
their  zealous  and  gallant  conduct  on  this  occasion. 

Underneath  is  the  report  of  wounded. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

PETER  PARKER,  Captain. 
To  Rear-admiral  Sir  Samuel  Hood,  Bart,  and  K.B.  $c. 

List  of  Wounded. 

Lieutennnt  George  Rennie,  severely;  John  Gibbs,  seaman,  ditto; 
John  Griffiths,  ditto,  ditto:  Frederick  Thomas,  marine,  ditto;  William 
Evans,  ditto,  ditto  ;  William  Binding,  ditto,  ditto. 

Commodore  Owen  has  transmitted  to  the  Honourable  William  Welles- 
ley  Pole,  a  letter  from  Captain  Dolling,  of  his  Majesty's  sloop  the  Troitt- 


NATAL    HISTORY    Of    THE    PRESENT    TEAR,    1809.  435 

pease,  giving  an  account  of  his  having,  on  the  15th  instant,  in  company 
with  the  Badger  sloop,  fallen  in  with  eleven  of  I  he  enemy's  gtm-schujU, 
sJanding  to  the  eastward  from  Boulogne.  On  the  approach  of'his 
Majesty's  sloops,  the  enemy  endeavoured  to  put  into  Amhlcleuse;  but 
three  of  the  vessels  having  overshot  that  harbour,  vere  obliged  to  go 
round  Cape  Grisnez,  and  T  ere  attacked  in  the  night  by  the  boats  of  the 
Trompeuse  and  Badger,  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant  Strong,  of  the 
former:  two  of  them,  mounting  two  Ion;  six-pounders  and  two  howit- 
zers, wifh  thirteen  men  each,  were  hoarded  and  brought  out  under  a 
heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's  batteries  and  musketry  on  the  beach,  and 
the  third  was  driven  amongst  the  rorks,  where  she  appeared  to  be  ren- 
dered useless.  One  person  belonging  to  the  Trompeuse  was  slightly 
wounded;  the  enemy  had  two  wounded,  and  six  threw  themselves  into 
the  water. 

MAT  23,  1809. 

Qopy  nf  ti  LeJtrr  from  Rear-Ad inira!  the  Hvntmrable  Sir  Alexander  Cock' 
tune,  K.  J>.  Cammauder-in-chief  of  His  Majesty's  Ships  and  Vessels  at  the 
Lcfrcurd  Islands,  to  tin  lionuttrable  W.  W.  Pole,  dated  on  board  the. 
Xt'ptutte,  off  the  Mono  Passage,  the  11  tk  of  April,  1809. 

SIP, 

Having  in  my  letter,  (Xo.  63?,)  dated  the  7th  instant,  informed  the 
Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty  of  the  arrangements  that  had  beea 
made  between  Lieutenant-general  Beckwith  and  me  for  the  Reduction  of 
the  saints,  and,  if  possible,  to  secure  the  French  squadron  of  three  ships  of 
t;:e  li;.c  and  two  iriuates,  then  at  anchor  there,  which  it  is  ascertained  were 
sent  to  this  country  expressly  for  the  relief  of  Martinique;  I  have  now  the 
feonour  to  acquaint  you,  for  their  Lordships'  information,  with  our  subse- 
quent proceedings,  which  have  been  attended  with  the  capture  of  Le 
JU'IIaurpouIt,  a  one  new  ship,  of  seventy-four  guns,  of  the  largest  class, 

The  troops,  under  the  command  of  Major  General  Maitlaud,  arrived  at 
the  Saints  on  the  13th  instant, and  were  landed  the  following  day  with  little 
Joss;  tlie  direction  of  all  naval  operations  connected  with  the  army  having 
been  left  entirely  with  captain  Denver,  of  the  Acasto,  who  conducted, 
that  service  with  all  the  correctness  and  celerity  which  I  expected  of  him. 

On  the  afternoon  of  th«  sa;ne  day  two  howitzers  and  mortars  began  to 
play  upon  the  enemy's  ships;  and  I  received  information  that  one  of  the 
line  had  weighed  one  of  her  anchors,  but  that  the  others  did  not  appear  to 
be  preparing  for  Sea. 

1  must  here  call  their  Lordships'  attention  to  the  situation  of  the  Saints, 
which  have  three  passages  the  enemy  could  escape  through,  and  these  be- 
Tiig  situated  in  different  directions  made  it  particularly  difficult  to  guard;  by 
five  ships  of  the  line,  so  as  to  bring  an  equal  force  to  meet  the  enemy  at 
either  point. 

At  half-past  nine  in  the  evening,  the  concerted  signal  was  made  for  the 
f  neiny's  ships  having  put  to  s-ea;  but  the  signals  were  for  their  having  gone 
both  to  Windward  and  to  Leeward  of  the  islands,  which  was  literally  the 
case,as  lam  informed  the  two  frigates  proceeded  one  way,  and  the  three  line- 
df-battle  ships  the  other. 

The  Neptune  being  at  the  time  off  the  south-west  passage,  made  sail  to 
join  the  Pompeestationed  under  the  west  end,  whichship  I  found  riad  closed 
with,  and  was  in  chace  of  three  ship1-,  apparently  standing  to  the  W.  S.  VV. 
but  from  their  appearance  in  the  dark,  1  did  not  suppose  them  to  be  of  the 
line. 

At  this  time  I  was  particularly  at  a  loss  how  to  act,  fur  if  those  ships 
should  be  the  enemy's  small  men  of  war,  and  the  linc-ot-battFe  ships  n.- 


435  KAVAL    HTSTORY    OF    THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809; 

ported  to  bo  preparing  for  sea,  should  remain  behind,  the  withdrawing  of 
the  squadron  from  the  Saints  would  have  been  fa  tit!  to  the  troops  landed 
the  preceding  day,  The  night  was  very  dark,  and  it  was  not  possible  to 
determine  whether  the  whole  of  the  ships  making  off  were  of  the  line  or 
not,  although  we  crossed  so  near  the  sternmost,  that  her  shot  struck  the 
Neptune, and  killed  one  man  and  wounded  four.  When  day-light  approach- 
ed they  were  clearly  discovered,  and  every  endeavour  used  to  come  up  with 
them,  the  PompCe  being  the  only  line- of-baf tie  ship  in  company,  and  the 
frigates  not  joining  until  the  following  day.  Some  ships  were  seen  from  the 
mast-head,  to  whom  I  sent  to  signify,  by  a  sloop  of  war,  the  course  we- 
were  steering. 

The  superiority  of  the  enemy's  sailing,  left  little  chance  for  the  Neptune 
Jf'tting  up,  unlf-ss  some  of  the  ships  were  disabled,  , and  if  any  accident  had 
happened  to  the  PompeVs  Masts,  they  must  inevitably  have  all  escaped; 
I  therefore  directed  Captain  Fahie  to  endeavour  to  cripple  the  sternmost 
ship,  without  bringing  on  the  collected  fire  of  the  three,  then  in  line  abreast* 
In  this  attempt  he  was  most  gallantly  supported  by  Captain  Napier,  ot  his 
Majesty's  sloop  Recruit,  who  kept  close  up,  although  fired  at  from  ail  their 
itern-chace  guns,  and  did  every  thing  that  was  possible  to  be  done  to  cut; 
sway  the  enemy's  masts  and  rigging,  and  continued  on  this  service  dunnij 
the  whole  chacf,  which  lasted  tmtil'this  morning  at  halfrpast  three,  when 
Le  D'Hautpoult  was  brought  to  action  by  the  Pompee  and  Castor,  as  will, 
more  fully  appear  by  Captain  Fahie's  letter,  here  inclosed. 

I  should  not  render  Justice  to  that  excellent  othcer  was  tto  withhold  the 
praise  due  to  him  for  his  unremitted  attention  during  so  long  and  arduous  a 
pursuit,  and  his  taking  such  advantages  of  the  enemy's  situation  as  they 
occasionally  occurred. 

I  have  much  to  regret  in  the  loss  of  those  that  liavc  fallen  and  suffered 
on  the  occasion,  a  list  of  whom  is  enclosed. 

As  the  other  two  ships  of  the  enemy  separated  on  the  morning  of  the 
17th,  at  two  o'clock,  their  route  cannot  be  well  ascertained,  I  suppose  they 
made  sail  to  the  southward,  and  will  pa- s  through  the  Sambrero  passage. 
They  had  outsailed  this  ship  so  much  as  to  be  at  two  great  a  distance  to 
be  observed  when  they  parted,  we  of  course  followed  the. PompeVs  lights.. 

I  am  now  waiting  until  the  Pompee  and  the  prize  are  refitted,  to  proceed 
to  the  windward ;  and  I  have  detached  tiie  York  and  Captain,  with  two 
frigates  and  a  sloop  of  war,  to  the  northward  to  try  to  intercept  the  enemy's 
two  ships  that  have  escaped. 

Until  their  Lordships'  pleasure  is  known,  I  have  commissioned  the  prize, 
and  appointed  captain  Napier  to  the  command  of  her,  as  a  reward  for  bis. 
spirited  conduct  during  the  chace. 

I  have  the  honour  to 'be,  ike. 

ALEX.  COCHRANE^ 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Pomp6e,  April  17,  1809, 
Cafe  JRo.ro,  Por.o  Ri<o}  N.  E.  by  N.  Stvc/i 
sin,  or  Ei^ht  leagues. 

Having  in  obedience  to  your  orders  communicated  to  me  by  telegraph, 
at  five  P.  M.  on  the  14th  instant,  proceeded  under  the  Lower  Saint,  for  the 
purpose  of  watching  the  enemy's  motions  should  they  attempt  to  escape 
from  thence  to  the  northward,  I  observed  soon  after  nine  o'clock  the  sig- 
nal from  the  small  ships  and  brigs  more  in  shore,  under  the  orders  of  cap- 
tain Cameron,  of  his  Majesty's  sloop  the  Hazard,  that  the  enemy  had  put 
to  sea,  those  signals  were  repeated  to  you ;  and  at  forty  minutes  after  nine 
o'clock,  the  lower  Saint  bearing  east,  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  I  distinctly 
saw  three  large  ships  coming  down  under  all  sail,  and  followed  closely  bjf 


NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESEXT  YEAH,  1809.     437 

the  Hazard  and  several  others  of  the  inshore  squadron,  with  the  signal  for 
their  being  the  enemy.  At  ten  o'clock  I  closed  up  with  the  stermnost  ship, 
and  endeavoured  to  stop  her,  by  the  discharge  of  two  broadsides,  but  being 
under  a  press  of  sail,  and  a  strong  breeze  steerina;  away  W.  S.  W;  she  suc- 
ceeded in  crossing  us,  without  returning  our  tire.  At  this  moment  tbd- 
Neptune  was  seen  in  the  S.  W.  standing  towards  us  with  all  sail,  and  as 
you  hailed  me  soon  after  and  joined  in  the  pursuit,  it  is  unnecessary  for  me 
to  touch  on  any  of  the  occurrences  on  board  this  ship  from  that  period  un- 
til five  o'clock  P.  M.  of  the  loth  instant,  at  which  hour  we  entirely  lost  sight 
ot  the  Neptune  from  the  mast-head;  the  Latona  and  Castor  then  in  com- 
pany, and  one  of  the  eneinv's  ships  about  three  miles  ahead,  steering  away 
N.  \V.  £  X. 

Our  exertions  to  close  her  continued  unremittf-d.  Just  before  sunset  the 
high  land  of  Porto  Rico  was  seen  bearing  N.  N.  E.  about  nine  leagues» 
The  night  shut  in  extremely  dark,  and  as  we  drew  in  >vith  the  landi  we  were 
baffled  with  tight  and  variable  winds  from  the  northward  and  westward, 
but  fortunately  never  for  a  moment  lost  sight  of  the  enemy.  At  half-past 
three  A.  M.  the  Castor  succeeded  in  getting  within  shot  of  him,  and  soon 
after  began  a  smart  cannonade,  which  was  immediately  returned  by  the 
enemy,  who,  in  yawing  to  bring  his  guns  to  bear,  gave  me  an  opportunity 
of  ranging  up  abreast  of  him.  At  four  o'clock  I  brought  him  to  close  ac- 
tion, and  continued  hotly  engaged  with,  and  constantly  nearing  him,  until  a 
quarter  past  five,  when  both  ships  being  complete  wrecks  in  their  rigging 
and  sails,  and  within  their  own  lengths  of  each  other,  the  Pomuce  nearly 
Unmanageable,  and  the  enemy  entirelv  50,  sii^  surrendered. 

I  must  here,  Sir,  express  mv  obligations  to  captains  Pigof  and  Robert?, 
of  his  Majesty's  ships  Latona  and  Castor,  for  their  attention  during  the 
chace,  and  their  spirited  efforts  to  afford  me  their  support  in  the  battle. 
The  latter,  as  1  have  already  stated,  iiad  a  partial  opportunity  of  doing  so; 
and  I  am  assured  that  the  want  of  opportunity  alone,  prevented  my  receiv- 
ing it  equally  from  the  former. 

And  it  may  not  he  improper  here,  Sir,  to  go  hadi  to  the  occurrences  of 
the  15th  instant^  in  order  to  express  my  admiration  of  the  gallant  conduct 
of  captain  Napier,  of  his  Majesty's  brig  the  Recruit,  in  keeping  within 
the  tire  of  the  stern  chasers  of  three  sail  of  the  line  throughout  that  day> 
and  constantly  annoying  them  with  his. 

To  the  officers  and  crew  of  hi->  Majesty'*  >hip  under  my  command,  my 
warmest  thanks  are  due,  for  their  unabated  and  cheerful  exertions  through- 
out so  long  and  anxious  a  chace,  and  for  their  steady  and  gallant  conduct 
during  the  action;  to  Mr  William  Bor.e,  the  first  Lieutenant,  I  must  parti- 
cularly offer  them. 

The  captured  ship  is  the  D'Hautpoult,  of  seventy-four  gun?,  commanded 
by  captain  Armand  Le  Due,  C.ievalicr  of  the  Legion  of  Hotx/tr,  wkli  a 
crew  of  six  hundred  and  eighty  men;  between  eighty  and  ninety  of  whom 
were  killed  and  wounded,  including  several  oihcers.  She  is  a  perfectly  new 
ship,  Mf\er  at  sea  uat.l  she  quitted  L'Oricmtia  1'Yhruary  lab!-. 

Inclosed  is  a  return  of  the  killed  and  woundtd  on  board  his  Majesty's 
Ship  under  my  command,  together  with  that  of  the  damages  sustained  m 
her  mastSj  yards,  sails,  rigging.  &C. 

I  have,  esc. 

W.  C.  FAHIE-. 
To  Rear-admiral  the  Hon.  Sir  Alex. 


jron.  CJou  XXI.       2  * 


458  NAVAI.    HISTORY    OF    THE    PUESENT    TEAR,    1809. 

A  Lin?  of  the  Killed  and  Wounded  of  His  Majesty's  Ship  PompSe,  in  the 
Action  wi  h  the  French  National  Ship  d 'Haulpou.lt ,  on  the  Morning  of 
the  HthtfAfril.  1809. 

Killed. 

,  Mr.  Edward  Casey,  boatswain  ,  Richard  Codlin,  seaman  ;  Joseph  Poolr 
ditto;  John  Miles,  ditto;  Joseph  Lee,  ditto;  John  Falconer,  ditto; 
Christopher  Fiuisker,  ditto ;  Edward  Rowe,  ditto ;  Thomas  Charles, 
marine. 

Wounded. 

William  Charles  Fahie,  Esq.  captain  ;  William  Bone,  first  lieutenant; 
Charles  -Edward  Atkins,  lieutenant  royal  marines  ;  John  Esson,  sail- 
maker  ;  John  Craig,  captain  of  the  forecastle  ;  John  Harris,  seaman  ;  Tho- 
mas Norton,  ditto  ;  Edward  Ellis,  ditto ;  William  Rayner,  ditto;  William 
May,  ditto;  James  Lay,  seaman;  John  Carey,  ditto;  John  Miller,  ditto; 
John  Sheerman.  ditto  ;  John  (Gorman,  ditto  ;  Boston  Gaw,  ditto ;  William 
Short,  gunner's  mate  ;  Daniel  Hall,  seamen  ;  John  Bryan,  ditto  ;  Benjamin 
Booth,  private  marine  ;  Henry  Wagg,  63d  reuiment;  Alexander  Allan, 
boatswain's  mate;  David  Melchin,  seaman;  John  Buntin,  ditto;  John 
Davis,  ditto;  Jeremiah  Mahony,  ditto;  Christopher  Cain,  ditto;  John 
Noglet,  private  marine;  Thomas  Pease,  63d  regiment;  Thomas  Mortimer, 
ditto. — Total,  9  killed,  30  wounded. 

Return  of  Killed  and  Wounded  on  board  the  under-mentioned  Ships. 

Neptune. 

William  Bozier,  able  seamen,  killed:  Michael  Sands,  ditto,  wounded; 
William  Gallow,  ditto,  ditto;  Andrew  Saunders,  quarter  gunner,  ditto; 
John  Williams  (4),  able  seaman,  ditto. — Total,  1  killed  4  wounded. 

Castor. 

Mr.  Samuel  Cross,  mate,  killed;  John  Rnssell,  seaman,  wounded; 
William  Conterson,  ditto,  ditto;  Thomas  Mason,  marine,  ditto;  Beuk 
Blophn,  seaman,  ditto;  John  Lynn,  ditto,  ditto;  Peter  Murphy,  ditto.— • 
Total,  1  killed,  6  wounded. 

Recruit. 
Serjeant  of  marines  wounded. 


3!ntpmal  parliament. 

HOUSE  OF  LORDS. 

FRIDAY,    MARCH    24. 

HE  Marine  Mutiny  Bill,  and  a  Bill  for  regulating  the  trade  of  ttie 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  having  been  passed  on  the  preceding  dav,  re- 
ceived the  Royal  Assent. 

Lord  Auckland  expressed  a  wish  to  receive  some  explanation  from  minis- 
ters relative  to  the  great  omission  of  not  adopting  measures  to  secure  die 
numerous  and  powerful  Spanish  squadron,  comprising  three  three-deckers, 
and  fceveral  large  ships  of  the  line,  which  were  stationed  at  Ferrol,  from, 
falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  This  he  thought  was  a  circumstance 
easy  to  have  been  effected,  when  he  considered  the  state  of  circumstances 
for  a  long  interval  of  that  part  of  the  Peninsula,  and  the  long  presence  of  a 
powerful  British  force.  He  did  not  mean,  however,  that  this  most 


NAVAL  HISTOUY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1809.     439 

important  object  was  to  be  effected  by  force,  but  it  might  have  been  done 
by  means  of  arrangement,  and  in  a  way  in  which  the  interests  of  the  Allied 
Nations  might  both  have  been  consulted.  He  therefore  moved,  "That 
there  be  laid  before  the  House  copies,  or  extracts,  of  instructions  sent  out 
to  the  officers  commanding  the  British  naval  and  military  forces,  relative 
to  the  securing  the  Spanish  squadron  at  Ferrol  from  falling  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy/' 

Lord  Ma/grave  said,  the  topic  to  which  the  motion  referred  was  one  of 
equal  delicacy  and  importance.  lie  would  not  say  that  farther  information 
officially  may  not  be  laid  before  the  House  on  this  subject,  but  he  begged 
leave  now  to  state,  that  his  Majesty's  government  wtre  by  no  means 
unmindful  of  that  important  object ;  that  the  British  admiral  in  command 
in  that  quarter  had  offered  to  take  those  ships  under  his  protection ;  but  it 
was  represented  to  him  by  the  Spanish  commanders,  that  Ferrol  was 
sufficiently  strong  to  be  able  to  resist  the  attacks  of  the  enemy,  and  that 
the  ships  in  question  would  be  of  essential  service  in  enabling  them  to  repel 
such  attacks.  He  must  add,  that  under  the  present  relative  circumstances 
of  the  two  countries,  such  a  discussion  as  the  Noble  Lord's  motion  must 
produce,  would  he  injurious  to  the  public  service. 

The  Duke  of  Xo  folk  said,  he  felt  rather  alarmed  than  satisfied  at  the 
statement  just  made  by  the  Noble  Lord.  Such  arguments  might  as  well  be 
used  by  the  Spaniards  in  the  case  of  Cadiz,  should  we  propose  any  steps  for 
the  security  of  the  squadrons  in  that  port. 

Earl  Grey  was  of  opinion,  that  measures  should  be  adopted  to  prevent 
the  squadrons  now  in  Spanish  ports  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  It  was  not  at  Cadiz  alone,  bat  at  Carthagena  there  was  a  powerful 
squadron  ready  equipped  anil  manned,  which  was  very  dangerously  situated. 
With  reference  to  the  negotiations  which  may  lie  going  on,  it  would  be  as 
well  not  to  press  the  discussion  at  present;  but  a  most  severe  responsibility 
rested  upon  ministers  with  respect  to  their  conduct  relative  to  Spain. 

Lord  Auckland  at  length  consented  to  withdraw  his  motion. 

MONDAY,    MARCH    27. 

The  Earl  of  Liverpool  laid  before  the  House  a  copy  of  a  treaty,  offensive 
and  defensive,  entered  into  by  his  Majesty  with  the  government  acting  for, 
and  in  the  name  of  his  Catholic  Majesty  the  King  of  Spain  and  the  Indies, 
dated  14th  January  last. 

Lo  d  So/A'iW;  was  desirous  of  ascertaining,  whether  the  recent  negotiation 
with  the  American  States  applied  only  to  making  satisfaction  for  the 
abrupt  conduct  of  our  commander  on  that  station,  or  whether  it  went 
generally  to  other  topics  as  well  as  to  that. 

"  The  Earl  of  Lite/pool  answered,  that  any  question  on  the  subject  of  that 
negotiation  was  at  present  ill-timed,  and  very  ill  suited  to  preseut  circum- 
stances. 

MONDAY,    APr.II..    17. 

On  the  motion  of  Lord  Liverpool,  the  Thanks  of  the  House  were  voted 
to  the  guilant  captors  (naval  and  military)  of  the  island  of  Martinique. 


440  NATAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    TEAR,    1809. 

I'RIDAY,     APRIL    21. 

Earl  Grey  moved  an  Address,  generally  censuring  the  conduct  of 
ministers,  relatjng  to  t^e  affairs  of  Spain,  which  was  negatived  by  145 
against  92. 

HOUSE  OF  COMMONS. 

FP.ID.AY.    MARCH    17. 

Sir  C.  J\l.  Pole,  adverting  to  the  debate  of  the  preceding  day,  upon 
the  Marine  Mutiny  Bill,  expressed  his  wish  to  make  an  alteration  in  the 
bill,  by  inserting  the  words,  "  in  aid  of  the  fund  for  the  widows  of  offi- 
cers in  the  royal  marine  service,"  instead  of  the  words,  "  for  the  use  of 
Chelsea  Hospital ;"  which  was  agreed  to. 

MONDAY,    MARCH  20. 

The  Marine  Mutiny  Bill  was  passed. 

An  account  of  all  the  sums  paid  by  the  paymaster  of  marines  to  Chelsea 
Hospital,  and  the  number  of  widows  of  marines  pensioned,  from  tha 
years  1800  to  1809,  was  ordered. 

Mr.  IV".  Pole  obtained  leave  to  bring  in  a  Bill  for  the  more  convenient 
payments  of  Pensions  to  the  Widows  of  Officers  of  the  Navy. 

TUESDAY,    MARCH  21. 

Sir  C.  M.  Pole  submitted  to  the  House,  a  motion  founded  on  the 
Reporls  of  the  Commissioners  of  Naval  Revision.  He  readexlractsfrom, 
the  First  Report,  which  pointed  out  neglect  in  various  branches  of  the 
Navy  Department;  also  extracts  from  the  Second  and  Tenth  Reports, 
pointing  out  further  instances  of  remissness  in  various  offices,  and  the 
injury  the  public  wefe  likely  to  sustain  from  the  great  arrears  in  Navy 
accounts;  ten  millions  of  money  at  one  period  remained  unaudited  in 
the  Victualling  Office  accounts;  to  remedy  which,  the  Commissioners  of 
Naval  Revision  had  submitted  opinions,  which  bethought  had  not  been 
duly  attended  to.  He  moved,  "  That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this  House, 
that  neither  of  the  plans  recommended  by  the  Commissioners  of  Naval 
Revision  will  have  any  avail,  unless  the  members  of  the  Victualling  Board 
are  men  of  real  abilities,  of  great  professional  knowledge,  and  are  formed 
consistently  with  the  opinions  given  by  the  Commissioners  of  Naval  Re- 
vision in  their  several  Reports." 

Mr.  Ward  said,  if  the  honourable  gentleman  knew  of  any  misdoings, 
or  of  improper  conduct  in  any  individual,  it  would  have  been  more  manly 
to  come  forward,  and  point  out  the  particular  departments,  or  the  par-; 
ticular  individual.  The  lion,  member  then  produced  two  extracts  from 
reports  of  the  Victualling  Board  ;  from  which  it  appeared,  that  that  Board 
had  been  excused  from  forwarding  their  accounts  in  1?98,  as  it  would, 
then  have  embarrassed  them,  from  the  great  pressure  of  business,  and 
tend  to  the  injury  of  the  service,  by  occasioning  neglect  in  more  impor- 
tant matters.  He  concluded  by  moving  the  previous  question. 

Mr.  JVellesley  Pole  was  sorry  the  honourable  baronet  had  not  read  the 
Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Reports.  The  Eleventh  Report  goes  to  mis- 
management at  the  various  outports,  and  was  so  connected  with  the 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  441 

former,  that,  in  order  to  come  to  a  just  conclusion,  they  must  necessarilj 
go  together.  If  he  had  read  thai  Report,  he  would  have  found  various 
instances  of  mismanagement.  When  he  looked  to  the  then  state  of  the 
Victualling  Board,  he  did  certainly  think  there  could  be  no  effectual 
reform  take  place,  without  the  removal  of  some,  at  least,  of  the  members 
from  their  situations.  This  was  sufficiently  proved  by  the  circumstance, 
stated  in  the  Tenth  Report,  of  the  arrears  amounting  to  no  less  then 
eleven  millions  and  a  half,  and  which  was  owing  to  the  accounts 
of  twenty-five  years  standing,  not  having  been  looked  into  by  the 
Victualling  Board.  The  contusion  arising  from  this  was  such,  as  to 
make  it  idle  to  hope  for  reformation, by  any  other  means  than  removal. 
And  here  he  could  state,  that  the  noble  lord  at  the  head  of  the  Admiralty, 
having  in  view  the  very  paragraph  in  the  Report  now  under  consideration, 
had  actually  called  for  his  naval  advisers,  for  the  express  purpose  of  re- 
commending the  fittest  persons  to  (ill  those  stations,  and  they  had  done 
so  accordingly, 'Under  the  very  terms  of  the  Report.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances, he  should  vote  for  the  previous  question. 

After  some  farther  remarks,  Sir  C.  M.  Pole  observed,  that  he  had  no 
other  object  in  view  than  the  public  service  :  he  had  aimed  at  no  indiTi- 
/dual ;  he  did  not  wish  to  cast  the  slightest  censure  upon  any  one,  but 
thought  that  that  was  a  proper  measure  by  which  the  House  might  shew 
the  country  its  intentions  of  acting  upon  the  retormations  proposed. 

The  previous  question  was  then  put,  and  carried  without  a  division. 

In  a  committee  on  the  Navigation  Act,  leave  was  given  to  bring  in  a 
Bill  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  Prize  Court  in  the  Island  of  Malta. 

WEDNESDAY,    MARCH  22. 

Mr.  Whillreud  moved,  that  there  be  laid  before  the  House  an  account 
fif  the  amount  of  all  fees  on  licences  granted  by  the  Admiralty,  the  num- 
ber of  protections  and  letters  of  marque  granted  for  the  last  five  years ; 
which  motion  was  agreed  to. 

In  a  committee  of  supply,  Mr.  Ward  moved  the  usual  Navy  Estimates 
as  follow  :  — 

l,-?OS,;3'i !.  13s.  9J.  for  the  ordinaries  of  the  Navy,  including  the  half- 
pay  of  the  officers  of  the  Navy  and  Marines, 

2,269,0001.  for  building  and  rebuilding  ships  of  war,  and  for  the  ordi- 
nary allowance  of  wear  and  tear. 

.'  ,000,0001.  for  hiring  transports. 

31  J, 000!.  to  defray  thecxpence  of  Marines  at  home  and  abroad. 

50,0001.  to  defray  the  expence  of  prisoners  of^war  at  home  and  abroad. 

500,0001.  to  defray  the  expenses  of  sick  and  wounded  seamen,  at  home 
a:ul  abroad. 
-5,0001.  to  form  a  Compassionate  List  for  the  Officers  of  the  Navy  and 

Marines. 

FRIDAY,    MARCH  24. 

Mr.  Gibbn  called  the  altcntion  of  ministers  to  the  Thirteenth  Report 
/of  the  CommJlt.ee  of  Naval  Inquiry;  and  particularly  to  that  part  of  it 


442  NATAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR, 

which  related  to  Dr.  Mayne,  and  wished  to  know  whether  any  proceed- 
ings were  had  in  pursuance  of  it  ? 

Mr.  Hose  said,  that  proceedings  were  instituted,  and  would  be  carried 
on  with  as  much  expedition  as  the  formalities  of  the  law  (as  applicable 
to  this  case)  allowed ;  not  upon  this  subject  only,  but  also  on  others 
connected  with  it,  or  noticed  in  that  Report. 

TUESDAY,    MARCH  28. 

Sir  J.  Newport  obtained  leave  to  bring  in  a  Bill  for  the  farther  Ad- 
vancement of  the  Inland  Navigation  of  Ireland. 

WEDNESDAY,,  MARCH  29. 

Ordered,  on  the  motion  of  Sir  C.  Pole,  that  the  last  Report  of  the 
Committee  of  Naval  Revision  be  printed. 

Mr.  Perceval,  who  entered  the  House  at  a  subsequent  period  of  the 
evening,  on  being  apprised  of  the  above-mentioned  order,  observed,  that 
the  papers  to  which  it  related  were  so  voluminous,  that  to  print  them 
would  cost  20  or  30,0001.  a  circumstance  of  which  the  House  was  not, 
perhaps,  aware.  He  therefore  objected  to  this  unnecessary  expence,  un- 
less some  very  urgent  reason  were  pointed  out. 

The  Speaker  observed,  that  the  Appendix  might  be  printed  with  such 
references  as  might  enable  members  to  consult  any  part  of  the  original 
papers. — A  motion  to  this  effect  was,  some  days  afterwards,  agreed  to. 

THURSDAY,    APRIL    13. 

Mr.  JVeHesl^y  Pole  obtained  leave  to  bring  in  a  Bill  for  the  more  con- 
venient "Payment  of  the  Allowances  on  the  Corn  passionate  List  of  the 
Navy  for  Widows  and  Orphans  of  Naval  and  Marine  Officers. 

Sir  Charles  Hamilton  rose  to  complain  of  a  breach  of  privilege. 
A  sheriff's  officer,  of  the  name  of  Daniel  Butler,  had  insulted  him  in  his 
own  house,  and  arrested  him  ;  he  therefore  claimed  the  protection  of  the 
House,  aiforded  to  its  members  in  such  cases.  The  said  Daniel  Butler 
was  therefore  ordered  to  attend  at  the  har  of  the  House  to-morrow,  to 
answer  for  a  breach  of  the  privileges  of  that  House. 


S3romotion0  an 

The  kins  hns  been  graciously  pleased  to  confer  on  Captain  Michael 
Seymour,  of  the  Amethyst,  die  dignity  of  a  baronet  of  the  united  kingdom 
of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  for  his  late  gallant  action  and  capture  of  two 
of  the  enemy's  frigates  of  superior  force. 

Vice-Admiral  Sir  J.  T.  Duckworth,  Bart.  K.B.  hoists  his  flag  in  the  St. 
Josef. 

The  Lords  of  Admiralty  have  l>cen  pleased  to  appoint  Captain  Alex- 
ander Robert  Kerr,  (who  was  acting  in  the  Revenge,  in  the  hue  brilliant' 
exploit  in  Basque  Roads,)  to  the  command  of  his  Majesty's  ship  Isis. 

Rear- Admiral  Pick-more  is  appointed  second  in  command  in  the  Baltic, 
and  hoists  his  i'ag  on  board  the  St.  George,  Captain  Hillyur. 

Captain  Thomas  Eyies  is  appointed  to  the  Plantagencf  ;  Captain  C.' 
Pellv,  to  the  Bucephalus;  Captain  Booty  Harvey,  to  the  Rosario ;  Cap- 
tain Jnhn  Tancock,  to  the  Curlew;  Captain  James  Green,  to  the  Sarpedon; 
Captain  W.  Mouncey,  to  the  Bonne  Citoycnne;  Captain  H.  H.  Christian, 
to  the  Venus;  Captain  II.  Matson  from  the  Venus,  to  the  St.  Fiorenzo; 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE   PRESENT    YEAK,     1809.  448 

Captain  W.  Cumberland,  to  the  Saturn  ;  Captain  M'Leoci,  from  the  Isis, 
to  the  Antelope;  Captain  A.  R.  Kerr,  to  the  Isis;  Captain  Dowers,  son  of 
the  governor  of  Deal  hospital,  to  the  Julia;  the  Hon.  Captain  \V.  Lake, 
to  the  Ulysses  ;  Captain  Tate,  to  the  Leopard  ;  Captain  Cumberland,  to 
the  Saturn ;  and  Captain  Lord  Amelia  Beauclerk,  to  the  Royal  Oak. 

Lieutenants  appointed. 

Lieutenant  Dowell  O'Reilly,  is  appointed  to  the  Surveillanle;  William 
Augustin  Thomson,  to  the  Tisiphone;  John  R.  Colman,  to  the  Agincourt; 
James  Jones,  to  the  Dictator;  Charles  Touzean,  to  the  Ardent;  Frederick 
Drafter,  to  the  Quebec;  Christopher  West,  to  the  Blake;  Samuel  llem- 
ming,  to  the  Leyden;  Samuel  Deserat,  to  the  Tisiphor.e  ;  Richard  Pawle, 
to  the  Calliope  ;  John  Richards,  to  the  Bucephalus ;  George  Russel,  to  the 
Chanticleer;  Claude  Crespigny,  to  the  Success  ;  George  Hutcheson,  to  th« 
Defiance ;  Robert  Dixon,  to  the  Dotterel ;  David  A.  Dickson,  to  the  Fury  ; 
John  Francis,  to  the  Devastation;  Jeremiah  Morgan,  to  the  Inflexible; 
M.  Smith,  to  the  Nemesis  ;  Charles  Hills,  to  the  Egeria;  John  Stoddart, 
to  the  Canopus  ;  John  Simpson,  (3)  to  the  Goldfinch.;  Watkin  Evans,  to 
theRosario;  Hugh  Goldsmith,  to  the  Cadmus;  B.  R.  Hoar,  to  the  Dio- 
mede;  Edward  D:\vies,  (2)  to  the  St.  Fiorenzo;  Thomas  O.  Hewes,  to  the 
Venus  ;  William  Hy.  Had  well,  to  the  Revenge  ;  John  Reeve,  to  the  Aima- 
ble;  George  Grenville  to  the  St.  Domingo;  James  Purches,  to -the  Ilindo- 
stan  ;  Henry  Davis,  (2)  to  the  Lynx  ;  John  Finchley,  to  the  St.  Domingo  ; 
.T.  L.  Peak,"  from  the  Clio,  to  the  Victorious ;  Joseph  Taylor,  from  the 
Spencer,  to  the  Venus  ;  James  Campbell,  (1)  to  the  Royal  Oak  ;  Richard 
W  elby,  to  the  Amsterdam  ;  Wm.  Haithwaite,  from  the  Leyden,  to  the 
Plover ;  Charles  Squarey,  to  the  Orestes  ;  John  Everard,  to  the  Saturn  ; 
Win.  Le  Svmonds,  to  the  Diligence;  Hugh  Goldsmith,  to  the  Thisbe; 
Win.  Cay'lev,  to  the  Heroine;  John  Bull,  to  the  Impctueux  ;  Thomas 
Welch,  to  the  Eaele;  James  G.  Jacob,  to  the  Amethyst;  Win.  T.  Carrol, 
to  the  Achille;  Wm.  P.  Stevenson  to  the  Audacious;  G.  Bush,  (2)  to  the 
Curlew  ;  John  Neale,  (1)  to  the  Reynard  ;  Evan  F.  G.  Mackenzie,  to  the 
Warspite ;  James  Moriarty,  to  the  Impctueux  ;  Thomas  S.  Greenwood, 
from  the  Sparrow-hawk,  to  the  Curlew ;  Donald  Potter,  from  the  Trusty, 
to  the  Bellona;  Hy.  T.  Jauncey,  to  the  St.  Fiorenzo  ;  Jas.  Morgan,  (2)  to 
the  Nymph;  Hy.  Davis,  (1  )  to  the  Venerable;  Win.  Ogilvie,  to  ditto; 
Win.  Burchell,  (2)  to  the  St.  Fiorenzo;  Herbert  Win.  Hoare,  to  the  Stately ; 
Gawen  Forster,  to  the  Prometheus  fire-ship;  H.  J.  P.  Proby,  to  the 
Blossom;  George  Bowen,  to  the  Dreadnought;  Richard  Alcock,  to  the 
Theseus;  and  James  Stone,  (2)  to  the  Raven. 
Surgeons  appointed. 

Mr.  Matthew  Kent,  is  appointed  by  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty,  to  be 
dispenser  and  apothecary  to  Greenwich  hospital. 

Mr.  M'Laushlin,  to  succeed  Mr.  Kent,  as  first  assistant-surgeon  and 
assistant-surgeon  of  the  chest  at  Greenwich. 

C.  Morris,  a  surgeon  of  the  Vestal,  to  be  assistant-dispenser,  vice  Burke, 
superannuated  ;  R.  Hinds,  to  be  assistant-surgeon,  vice  M'Laughlin. 

Mr.  Richard  Gibbs,  is  appointed  to  be  surgeon  of  the  Aimable;  Mr. 
Michael  Stewart  to  the  St.  Fiorenzo  ;  D.  Rowland  to  the  Antelope  ;  Wm. 
Burneil,  (2)  to  the  Tsis  ;  David  Steel,  to  the  Surly  cutter;  George  Harvey, 
to  the  Lavinia;  Thomas  Watkins,  to  the  Guildtbrd;  Wm.  Thompson,  to 
the  Royal  Oak;  David  Cowan,  to  the  Lavinia;  Thomas  Keys,  to  the 
Baracoulta  ;  John  Reynolds,  to  the  Hyacinth  ;  Nathaniel  Boardman,  to 
the  Marlborough;  Wm.  Hillman,  to  the  Seaflowcr ;  P.  C.  Parlebien,  to 
the  East  Indies;  F.  S.  Duke,  to  the  Jamaica;  John  Kerr,  to  the  Heroine; 
M.M.Cormick,  to  the  St.  Josef ;  James  Wade,  to  the  Goree;  Francis 
AL'AHibter,  to  the  Jamaica;  William  Watson,  to  the  Rosario ;  J.  P.  L. 


444     NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1809. 

Miciiod,to  the  Fly;  Wm.  Aitkin,  to  the  Bucephalus  ;  Edward  F.  Brornlejr, 
to  the  Adamant. 

Assistant-surgeons  appointed. 

Mr.  William  Porteous  is  appointed  to  be  assistant-surgeon  of  the 
Martial  gun-brig  ;  Richard  Kent,  to  the  Antelope;  Samuel  Randall,  to 
the  Isis  ;  Edward  Colley,  to  the  Gorgon  ,•  Thomas  Woodward,  to  the 
Prevoyante  ;  W.  H.  Rudland,  to  the  Temeraire  ;  F.  R.  Ja^o  and  John 
Cleland,  to  the  Antelope;  W.  B.  Godfrey,  to  the  Cenlinel  ;  James 
Magavenny,  to  the  Adonis  schooner;  A.  Stewart,  to  the  Jamaica; 
Charles  Kent,  to  the  Sussex;  Joseph  M'Leod,  to  the  Patriot;  John 
Morgan,  to  the  Tonnant ;  John  Smith,  to  the  St.  Domingo  ;  Patrick 
Blarkic,  to  the  Alfred;  David  Williams,  to  the  Fredcrickswarn ;  W.  E. 
Godfry,  to  the  Gorgon;  Alexander  Dunbar,  to  the  Theseus;  \Villiam 
Todd,  to  the  Royal  Oak  ;  Francis  Brandon,  to  the  St.  Fiorenzo  ;  George 
Parsons,  to  the  Royal  William;  P.  H.  Scott,  to  the  Magicieime  ;  Archi- 
bald Cameron,  to  the  Leeward  Island  station  ;  G.  S.  Rutherford,  to  the 
Majestic;  John  Taylor,  to  the  Indefatigable;  John  Hunter,  to  the 
Ley  den ;  R,  M'Gee,  to  the  Decade;  William  Chambers,  to  the  Sf. 
George;  James  Rae,  to  be  an  hospital  mate  at  Mill  Prison;  James 
Clark,  to  be  an  hospital  mate  at  Haslar  ;  Edmund  Pearce,  to  be  an 
hospital  mate  at  Dartmooi  ;  Ebenezer  Walker,  to  be  assistant-surgeon 
of  the  St.  Josef ;  Edward  Caldweil,  to  ditto:  Henson  Barker,  to  the 
Agincourt ;  William  Craig,  to  the  Defender  gun-brig  ;  ThomasGray,  to 
the  St.  George;  Edward  Sibbit,  to  the  Cracker  gun-brig  ;  Robert  Dunn, 
to  the  Bucephalus ;  E.  II.  Seymour,  to  the  Jamaica  station  ;  William 
M'Cord,  to  the  Shannon  ;  J.  H.  Jones,  to  the  Caton  ;  Donald  Cameron, 
to  the  Alfred  ;  William  Carroll,  to  the  Centaur;  David  Small,  to  the 
Powerful;  Simon  Davidson,  to  the  Caledonia  ;  G.  H.  Wealherhead,  to 
be  an  hospital  mate  at  Haslar  ;  James  Fry,  to  the  William  store-ship  ; 
J.  A.  Donally,  to  the  Alfred;  Donald  Cameron,  to  the  Archer  ;  Charles 
Osborn,  to  the  Adamant ;  F.  A.  Donelly,  to  the  Serapis  ;  Alick  Osborne, 
to  the  Aid  ed  ;  and  James  Scott,  to  the  Marlborough. 

A  list  of  midshipmen  who  passed  for  lieutenant/!  on  the  first  Thursday 
in  the  month  : — O'Brien  N.  J.  Hall,  Lauchlan  Burn,  Au^.  R.  Yalcs, 
Alexander  Rhode*,  Samuel  Sparshott,  Thomas  Curson,  Wi!!in;n  Smith* 
James  Gibson,  Robert  J.  Ilownam.  John  Courtney,  John  Kc-ay,  Richard 
H.  Campl'm,  lion.  Augustus  F.  Berkeley,  ChrisLopher  Tuthili,  Edward 
Sward,  a«d  Thomas  Favell. 

BIRTHS. 

At  Margate,  the  lady  of  Captain  S.  Ballard,  R.  N*  of  a  son. 

On  Friday,  the  19th  instant,  in  Edward-street,  Portman-square,  fha! 
lady  of  the  Hon.  Captain  Blackwood,  of  a  son. 

At  liie  Royi'.l  Infirmary  at  Greenwich  Hospital,  the  Uuly  of  Dr. 
B..  Robertson,  physician  of  that  institution,  of  a  daughter. 


MARRIAGES. 

Lntoly,  Lieutenant  Jofi'n  'EiirKe,  of  the  Wrslmcalh  mil; ti n,  )o  Frances,' 
daughter  of  Rear-admiral  Sir  Digby  Der.t,  Bart. 

On  the  2T(h  of  April,  at  V/hifcciiapci  Churr't,  C;ip!ain  G.  Antony,  of 
the  Cornwallis  packet,  to  Miss  alary  Ann  vVils.m,  niece  oi'  I.iculeiiaul- 
«oloncJ  \Vilson,  of  the  '2u  reiiiiaeiil  of  Tower  Hair.leis, 


>?! 

>?& 

hitlvfad  June  3O  ISO'}.  U' J  Gold.  103.  Shoe  Latf.  Fleet  Street. 


MEMOIR  OF  THE  PUBLIC  SERMCES 


PHILIP    AFFLECK,    ESQ. 

ADMIRAL  OF  THE  BLUE  SQUADRON; 

AND  OF  THE  LATE 

SIR  EDMUND  AFFLECK,  BART. 

BEAR-ADMIRAL   OF    THE    RED   SQUADRON. 


"  Britannia's  bulwark,  and  her  monarch's  love." 

f  jl^HE  Affleck  family,  whose  name  is  modernised  from  that  of 
-*-  Auchinleck,  is  of  Scotch  extraction ;  and  the  gentlemen, 
whose  services  we  aro  about  to  notice,  belonged  to  a  branch  which 
had  long  been  settled  in  the  county  of  Suffolk. — Philip  Affleck, 
Esq.  was  the  younger  brother  of  the  late  Admiral  Sir  Edmund 
Affleck,  Bart,  and  the  uncle  of  Sir  Gilbert,  the  present  represen- 
tative of  the  family. 

Mr.  Philip  Affleck  was  born  about  the  year  1725.  He  was 
originally  in  the  service  of  the  East  India  Company  ;  but  after- 
wards entered  into  the  royal  navy,  and  obtained  a  lieutenant's 
commission  on  the  2d  of  May,  1755.  He  served  in  this  rank, 
either  on  board  the  Hunter  sloop,  or  the^Etna  bomb  ketch,  at  the 
siege  of  Louisbourg,*  and  so  particularly  distinguished  himself  at 
the  time  that  the  Prudente  and  Bienfaisant  were  boarded  by  the 
boats  of  the  squadron,  that  he  was  promoted  by  Admiral  Bos- 
cawen  to  the  rank  of  master  and  commander,  f 


*  Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  VII.  page  202  et  seq. 

t  It  was  on  the  9th  of  May,  1758,  that  Admiral  Boscawen  arrived  ^at 
Halifax,  and  assumed  the  command  of  the  fleet,  destined  for  the  attack  on 
Louisbourg.  The  troops  were  all  embarked  by  the  28th of  the  same  month; 
on  the  2d  of  June,  the  fleet  rendezvoused  in  Gabarus  Bay;  and,  a  landing 
place  having  been  selected,  Admiral  Bo?cawen  ordered  seven  frigates  to 
place  themselves  opposite  to  the  enemy's  batteries,  and  to  cover  the 
debarkation,  which  was  effected,  with  the  greatest  order  and  regularity,  un- 
der the  command  of  Brigadier-general  Wolfe.  The  enemy,  after  3  heavy 
fire  of  cannon  and  musketry,  aliandoneu  their  works,  leaving  behind  them 

U2S3.  ff&iom  Ofll,  XXI.  3  L 


446  MEMOIR    OF   THE    PUBLIC   SERVICES   Of 

In  Admiral  Boscawcn's  action  with  the  French  squadron,  undef 
the  command  of  M.  do  la  Clue,  in  the  Mediterranean,  on  the  18th 
of  August,  1759,*  Mr.  Aflleck  commanded  the  Grammont,  of  14 
guns ;  and,  soon  after  the  engagement,  the  admiral  made  him  post, 
in  the  Namur,  of  90  guns,  by  commission  bearing  date  August  28, 
1759. 

Captain  Affleck  was  soon  afterwards  removed  into  the  Panther, 
of  60  guns,  and  ordered  to  the  East  Indies,  where  he  continued 
till  nearly  the  close  of  the  war.  In  the  winter  of  1760,  he  was 
some  time  employed  in  the  blockade  of  Pondicherry,  under  the 
.Rear-admirals  Stevens  and  Cornish.  The  Panther  was  one  of  the 
ships,  which,  in  the  hurricane  of  the  1st  of  January,  1761,  cut 
away  their  masts,  and  rode  out  the  storm.  + 

several  cannon  and  mortars,  and  took  shelter  in  the  town  ;  against  which, 
on  the  25th  of  June,  the  military  commander  opened  several  batteries,  with 
great  success.  On  the  23th,  the  enemy  sunk  a  ship  of  the  line,  a  frigate, 
and  two  corvettes,  across  the  mouth  of  the  harbour.  On  the  21st  of  July, 
the  Entreprenant,  of  74  guns,  took  fire;  before  the  flames  could  be  extin- 
guished, she  blew  up ;  and  two  other  ships  were  also  consumed.  Only  two 
ships  of  the  line  now  remained  in  the  harbour,  which  Admiral  Boscawea 
determined  either  to  take  or  destroy.  For  this  purpose,  on  the  25th,  at 
night,  he  ordered  600  seamen  to  be  sent,  in  the  boats  of  the  fleet,  under  the 
command  of  the  Captains  Laforcy  and  Balfour,  who  rowed  into  the  harbour, 
amidst  an  incessant  fire  from  the  enemy's  ships  and  batteries.  Captain 
Laforey  boarded  la  Prudente;  but,  finding  that  she  was  aground,  and  also 
moored  with  a  strong  chain,  he  set  her  on  fire.  The  Bienfaisnnt  was  carried 
by  Captain  Balfour,  and  towed  into  the  north-east  harbour.  For  this 
gallant  service,  Captain  Laforey  and  Captain  Balfour  received  post  rank, 
and  Mr.  Affleck,  one  of  the  lieutenants  who  accompanied  them,  was  made 
master  and  commander,  as  has  already  been  stated. — The  enemy's  ships 
have  been  all  either  taken  or  destroyed.  Admiral  Boscawen  informed 
General  Amherst,  the  military  commander,  that  lie  had  determined  to  send 
six  ships  of  the  line  into  the  harbour  on  the  following  morning.  Before  that 
period,  however,  the  French  desired  to  capitulate,  and  terms  of  surrender 
were  agreed  to  on  the  same  evening. 

*  Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  VII.  page  207. 

i  On  the  night  of  this  sudden  and  tremendous  hurricane,  the  wind  at 
first  blew  with  great  violence  from  the  north-west;  in  a  few  hours  it  shifted 
to  the  north-east ;  and,  suddenly,  it  burst  forth  with  redoubled  fury  from 
the,  south-east.  Admiral  Stevens,  at  the  commencement  of  the  gale,  finding 
that  it  would  be  impossible  to  ride  it  out,  ordered  the  cables  to  be  cut,  and 
stood  to  sea :  at  the  same  time,  he  made  the  signal  for  the  squadron  to 


THE  LATE  PHILIP  AFFLECK,  ESQ.  447 

Captain  Affleck  returned  to  England  in  the  Argo,  of  20  guns ; 
from  which  period,  till  1779,  when  he  was  appointed  to  the 
Triumph,  of  74  guns,  he  does  not  appear  to  have  holden  any  com- 
mand. In  that  year  he  was  employed  in  the  Channel  fleet,  under 
Admiral  Sir  Charles  Hardy,  and  was  present  when  it  fell  in  with 
the  French  and  Spanish  fleets,  on  the  31st  of  August,  after  they 
had  had  the  temerity  to  appear  before  Plymouth.* 

Early  in  1780,  Captain  Affleck  was  ordered  to  the  West  Indies, 
to  reinforce  Sir  George  Rodney  ;  but  it  was  not  till  the  10th  of 
May,  upwards  of  three  weeks  after  the  first  encounter  which  had 
taken  place  with  the  French  Admiral  de  Guichen,  that  he  reached 
his  destination.  Ho  was  present,  however,  in  the  second  action,  on 
the  1 5th  of  May  ;  and,  in  the  3d,  on  the  19th  of  the  same  month, 
he  was  very  warmly  engaged  ;  his  ship  (the  Triumph)  having  four 
men  killed,  and  fourteen  wounded,  t 

During  the  early  part  of  the  ensuing  year,  Captain  Affleck 
served  on  the  same  station  ;  but,  as  he  continued  with  the  com- 
mander-in-chief,  at  St.  Eustatia,  when  Sir  Samuel  Hood  put  to 

follow  him  ;  but  the  violence  of  the  wind,  and  the  darkness  of  the  nighr, 
rendered  it  impossible  for  the  signal  to  be  seen.  The  squadron  conse- 
quently remained  at  anchor  till  their  cables  parted.  Before  they  could  gain 
a  sufficient  offing,  the  wind  shifted,  and  raged  with  such  fury;  that  they  were 
driven  into  shoal  water,  and  obliged  to  anchor.  The  Panther,  as  has  been 
already  stated,  with  the  Medway  and  Falmouth,  cut  away  their  masts,  and 
rode  out  the  storm.  The  Due  d'Aquitaine,  Sunderland,  and  Duke  store- 
ship,  by  not  taking  this  precaution  when  they  brought  up,  either  overset,  or 
foundered.  Excepting  seven  Europeans,  and  as  many  Lascars,  who  were 
the  next  day  picked  up  on  pieces  of  the  floating  wreck,  their  crews, 
amounting  to  1,100  men,  perished.  The  Newcastle,  Qucenborough,  and 
Protector  tire-ship,  were  driven  on  shore  about  two  miles  south  of  Pondi- 
cherry,  and  totally  lost ;  but  their  crews,  excepting  seven,  were  saved.. 

M.  Lally,  the  governor  of  Pondicherr.yv  was  in  greajt  hopes,  that  the 
disaster  which  had  befallen  the  British,  squadron  would  open  to  him  a  com- 
munication from  the  sea,  and  that  succours  might  be  derived  from  that 
quarter;  but,  on  the  3d  of  January,  to  his  great  disappointment  and  sur- 
'prise,  Admiral  Stevens  again  anchored  in  Pondicherry  Road.  By  the  lotk 
a  considerable  breach  had  been  made  in  the  walls  ;  and,  the  garrison  finding 
themselves  reduced  to  the  last  extremity,  the  place  was  surrendered  to  the 
English  on  the  following  day. 

*  Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  XIX.  page  104. 

+  For  an  account  ofthcseactions;nc/eNAVAi.CiJRO»iCL£,Vol.I.pnge377» 


448  MEMOIR    OF   THE   PUBLIC   SERVICES   Or 

sea,  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  the  Count  de  Grasse,  on  his  pas- 
sage to  the  West  Indies,  he  was  not  concerned  in  the  encounter 
which  took  place  with  the  enemy,  off  Martinique,  on  the  29th  of 
April.* 

Previously  to  Sir  George  Rodney's  resigning  the  command  of 
the  fleet  to  Sir  Samuel  Hood  (at  the  end  of  July)  Captain  Stair 
Douglas  appears  to  have  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  Tri- 
umph ;  and  Captain  Affleck  is  believed  to  have  returned  ta 
England,  as  a  passenger,  in  some  other  ship,  before  the  close  of 
the  year.  He  remained  out  of  commission  till  towards  the  end  of 
1782,  when  he  was  re-appointed  to  the  Triumph,  which  was  then 
refitted ;  but,  in  consequence  of  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  she 
was  employed  only  as  a  guard-ship,  at  Portsmouth.  Captain 
Affleck  held  this  command  during  two  years  ;  after  which  he  was 
not  again  employed  as  a  private  captain. 

On  the  24th  of  September,  1787,  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  rear-admiral  of  the  blue  squadron  ;  and,  in  1700,  he  was 
appointed  commander-in-chief  on  the  Jamaica  station,  where  he 
hoisted  his  flag  on  board  the  Centurion,  of  50  guns.  On  the  21st 
of  September,  in  the  same  year,  he  was  made  rear-admiral  of  the 
•white ;  and,  on  the  1st  of  February,  1793,  vice-admiral  of  the 
blue  squadron.  In  1792  he  was  succeeded  in  his  West  India  com- 
mand by  Commodore  Ford.  On  the  26th  of  April,  1793,  he  had; 
the  honour  of  being  appointed  one  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of 
the  Admiralty.  Towards  the  close  of  the  same  year,  he  was  also 
elected  Vice-President  of  the  Marine  Society.  On  the  1. 1  th  of 
April,  1794,  he  was  made  vice-admiral  of  the  white;  on  the  4th 
of  July  following,  vice-admiral  of  the  red;  on  the  1st  of  June, 
1795,  admiral  of  the  blue  ;  and,  on  the  14th  of  February,  1799, 
admiral  of  the  white  squadron. 

Admiral  Affleck  retired  from  his  seat  at  the  Admiralty  Board, 
in  1796;  after  which,  he  never  appeared  in  any  official  station. 

Universally  respected  as  an  officer,  as  a  gentleman,  and  as  a 
Christian,  he  died  at  Bath,  on  the  22d  of  December,  1799. 


Vide  NAVAL  CBRONJCLS  Vol.  II.  pnge  7. 


THE   LATE   SIR   EDMUND    AFFLECK,    BART.  449 

MU.  EDMUND  AFFLECK,  who  was  adranced  to  the  dignity  of  a 
Baronet  in  the  year  1782,  was  the  elder  brother  of  the  admiral,  of 
whose  professional  services  we  have  just  been  treating.  He  entered 
into  the  navy  when  very  young,  and  obtained  a  lieutenant's  com- 
mission on  the  2d  of  July,  1745.  Very  little  is  known  respecting 
his  early  services.  He  is  said  to  have  been  promoted,  in  the  year 
1765,  by  Commodore  Frankland,  then  commamler-in-chief  on  the 
Leeward  Island  station,  to  command  the  Advice,  of  50  guns ;  but, 
if  so,  his  commission  was  not  confirmed  by  the  Admiralty  Board, 
as  he  dated  his  post  rank  only  from  the  23d  of  March,  1757,  when 
he  was  appointed  to  the  Mercury,  of  24  guns.  After  remaining 
a  short  time  in  this  ship,  he  is  believed  to  have  been  out  of  com- 
mission, till  the  year  1759,  when  he  was  appointed  to  the  Laun. 
ceston,  a  fifth  rate,  of  40  guns,  in  which  he  continued  during  the 
remainder  of  the  war,  employed  in  a  variety  of  routine  service,  but 
without  meeting  with  any  favourable  opportunity  for  distinguishing 
himself.* — After  the  war,  about  the  year  1766,  he  was  appointed 
to  the  Argo,  of  28  guns,  the  same  frigate,  we  believe,  which  his 
brother  subsequently,  for  a  short  time,  commanded.  In  the  Argo 
he  proceeded  to  Lisbon  ;  bat,  not  retaining  the  command  of  that 
frigate  more  than  one  or  two  years,  he  was  not  again  employed 
till  1770,  when  he  was  appointed  to  the  St.  Anthonio,  of  60  guns, 
a  guard-ship,  at  Portsmouth,  as  successor  to  Captain  Gayton,  who 
had  just  then  been  promoted  to  a  flag.  He  continued  in  this  ship 
only  till  the  autumn  of  1771,  when  she  was  put  out  of  commission, 
as  unfit  for  further  service. 

In  1775,  Captain  Affleck  was  appointed  to  the  Medway,  of  60 
guns,  bearing  the  flag  of  Vice-admiral  Mann,  who  was  then  sent 
put  as  commander-in-chief  in  the  Mediterranean.  He  remained 
with  that  officer  till  his  return,  in  1778  ;  and,  immediately  on  his 
arrival  in  England,  he  was  appointed  to  the  Bedford,  of  74  guns, 
one  of  Admiral  Byron's  squadron,  then  under  orders  for  America, 


*  In  1762,  he  was  attached  to  the  fleet  which  was  sent   in  quest  of 
M.  de  Ternay,  under  Sir  Edward  Hawke;  *  «  and,  in  the  autumn  of  the 
same  year,  he  was  employed  in  cruising  in   the  Bay  under  Sir  Charle* 
Hardy. 

*  a  Vide  NAVAL  CHROMCLE,  Vol.  VII.  page  470, 


450  MEMOIR   OF  THE   PUBLIC   SERVICES    OF 

This  squadron  sailed  from  Spithead,  in  quest  of  M.  d'Estaing,  on 
the  5th  of  June  ;  but,  unfortunately,  on  the  3d  of  the  following 
month,  it  was  dispersed  in  a  heavy  gale  of  wind  from  the  north. 
However,  Captain  Bedford's  ship,  and  five  others,  having  had  the 
good  fortune  to  keep  together,  reached  Sandy  Hook  in  safety,  on 
the  28th  of  August,  under  the  command  of  Rear-admiral  Parker. 
The  month  of  October  arrived,  before  Admiral  Byron  had  col- 
lected his  fleet.  At  length  he  put  to  sea,  from  New  York,  and 
proceeded  to  cruise  off  Boston,  to  block  up  d'Estaing's  squadron, 
which  had  taken  shelter  in  that  port.  Still  pursued  by  adverse 
fortune,  he  had  not  long  reached  that  station,  before  a  violent 
storm  drove  him  off  the  coast,  dispersed  his  fleet,  and  obliged  many 
of  the  ships  to  put  into  Rhode  Island,  in  a  very  shattered  condi- 
tion. D'Estaiug,  not  suffering  so  favourable  an  opportunity  to 
escape,  slipped  out  of  Boston,  and  steered  for  the  West  Indies. 
Byron  prepared  to  follow  him  ;  but  the  Bedford  had  received  so 
much  damage  in  the  storm,  that  it  was  found  expedient  to  send  her 
home ;  and  she  accordingly  arrived  at  Spithead,  on  the  25th  of 
January,  1779,  in  company  with  the  Amazon  frigate. — Captain 
Aflleck  afterwards  served  in  the  Channel  fleet,  under  the  orders  of 
Sir  Charles  Hardy  ;  and,  in  the  month  of  December,  his  ship  sailed 
•with  the  armament,  under  Sir  George  Rodney,  to  the  relief  of 
Gibraltar.  On  his  passage  thither,  on  the  16th  of  January,  1780, 
he  had  the  pleasure  of  first  descrying  the  Spanish  squadron,  com- 
manded by  Don  Juan  do  Langara  ;  and,  in  the  encounter  which 
ensued,*  he  had  the  still  higher  satisfaction  of  bearing  a  distin- 
guished part. 

The  object  of  the  expedition  having  been  accomplished,  Captain 
Affleck  returned  to  England,  and  was  shortly  afterwards  ordered 
to  America,  with  the  squadron  under  Admiral  Graves,  which  had 
been  sent  thither  for  the  purpose  of  counteracting  the  efforts  of 
the  Chevalier  de  Ternay  t — In  a  violent  gale  of  wind,  which  arose 

*  Vide  NAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  I.  page  373 ;  Vol.  XVI.  page  179  j  and 
Vol.  XIX.  page  26 7. 

t  De  Teniay  arrived  at  Rhode  Island,  from  France,  with  a  squadron  of 
seven  sail  of  the  line,  five 'frigates,  and  two  armed  ships,  on  the  1 1th  of 
July  ;  having  under  his  convoy  several  sail  of  transports,  with  6,000  troops 
on  board,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-general  the  Count  de  Radiaia- 


THE   LATE  SIR    EDMUND    AFFLECK,    BART.  451 

on  the  23d  of  January,  1781,  while  off  the  east  end  of  Long 
Island,  the  Bedford  was  unfortunately  dismasted.  At  the  same 
time  the  Culloden,  Captain  Balfour,  was  driven  ashore,  and  totally- 
lost;  but  her  masts  were  saved;  and,  having  been  fitted  to  the 
Bedford,  the  latter  ship  was,  by  very  great  exertion,  repaired  by 
the  1st  of  March,  when  the  whole  squadron  immediately  put  to 
sea. 

On  the  16th  of  the  same  month,  a  partial  engagement  took 
place  with  de  Ternay's  squadron,  about  fourteen  leagues  from 
Cape  Henry;  but  the  Bedford,  and  indeed  the  whole  rear  of  the 
British  squadron,  were  prevented  from  getting  into  action,  by  the 
enemy's  line  having  .been  broken  before  it  became  general.* 

Ou  the  20th  of  May  following,  Captain  Affleck  hoisted  a  broad 
pendant,  as  commodore,  in  the  Bedford ;  but,  on  being  appointed 
to  the  port  department,  at  New  York,  he  almost  immediately 
shifted  it  into  a  frigate. — He  continued  thus  occupied,  till  the  re- 
turn of  Admiral  Graves  into  port,  after  his  engagement  with  the 
Count  de  Grasse,  off  the  Chesapeak,  on  the  5th  of  September  ;  f 
when,  an  attempt  to  relieve  Earl  Cornwallis,  at  York  Town, 


be;!U.  Admiral  Arbuthnot  was  then  lying  at  New  York,  with  only  four  sail 
of  the  line.  On  the  13th  (two  days  after  de  Ternay's  arrival)  he  was  rein- 
forced by  Admiral  Graves,  from  England,  with  six  sail  of  the  line.  Aa 
attack  was  now  meditated  on  the  French,  at  Rhode  Island.  On  the  17th 
the  troops  were  embarked,  and  the  fleet  sailed  ;  but,  on  their  arrival,  they 
found  that  the  enemy  were  strongly  posted,  and  that  they  had  put  the  forti- 
fications into  a  proper  state  of  defence.  From  these  circumstances,  and 
from  some  disagreement  having  arisen  between  the  naval  and  military  com- 
manders, the  expedition  was  given  tip;  and  the  admiral  satisfied  himself 
with  blocking  up  the  enemy's  fleet  in  port,  as  an  attack  by  sea  would  have 
been  wholly  impracticable.  The  squadron  continued  on  this  service  till  the 
6th  of  August,  when  it  put  into  Gardiner's  Bay  to  water  and  refit. 

*  The  enemy  having  been  descried  some  hours  before,  a  partial  engage- 
ment commenced  at  2  P.M.  the  brunt  of  which  was  chiefly  borne  by  the 
Robust,  Europe,  and  Ardent,  until  the  rest  of  the  van  and  centre  could  come 
up  to  their  assistance  :  it  then  became  more  general,  and  continued  till 
three  o'clock,  when  De  Ternay  bore  up,  and  ran  to  leeward.  The 
crippled  condition  of  the  three  van  ships  prevented  Admiral  Arbuthnot 
from  pursuing  the  enemy.  The  English  squadron,  which  had  sustained  a 
loss  of  30  men  killed  and  73  wounded,  anchored  the  next  day  in  Lynn. 
Haven  Bay,  to  repair  its  damages. 

-r  Vide  NAVAI.  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  V.  page  391. 


452.  MEMOIR    OP    THE    PUBLIC    SERVICES    OV 

having  been  determined  on,  he  re-hoisted  his  broad  pendant  oit 
board  the  Bedford,  and  was  appointed  to  lead  the  fleet  on  the  lar- 
board tack.  The  garrison,  howerer,  had  been  compelled  to  sur- 
render, previously  to  the  arrival  of  the  British  armament ;  in  con- 
sequence of  which,  the  fleet  returned  to  Sandy  Hook,  where  it 
arrived  on  the  29th  of  October. 

On  the  12th  of  November,  Commodore  Affleck,  who  still  con-    * 
tinued  in  the  Bedford,  sailed  for  the  West  Indies,  with  Sir  Samuel 
Hood,  and  the  greater  part  of  the  combined  naval  force  of  the 
North  American  and  West  Indian  stations,  in  quest  of  the  Count 
de  Grasse,  who  had  proceeded  thither  with  a  very  formidable  fleet.* 

On  his  arrival  at  Carlisle  Bay,  Barbadoes,  on  the  5th  of  Decem- 
ber, Commodore  Affleck  was  entrusted  with  the  command  of  a 
squadron,  or  division,  consisting  of  seven  ships  of  the  line  ;  and, 
in  the  encounter  with  the  enemy's  fleet,  on  the  25th  and  26th  of 
January,  1782,  in  Basse  Terre  Road,  St.  Christopher's,  t  he  so 
highly  distinguished  himself,  as  to  call  forth  the  following  encomium 
from  Sir  Samuel  Hood,  in  his  official  despatches  :• — 

"  The  enemy  gave  a  preference  to  Commodore  Affleck,  but  he  kept  up 
so  noble  a  fire,  and  was  so  well  supported  by  his  seconds,  Captain  Corn- 
wallis  and  Lord  Robert  Manners,  that  the  loss  and  damage  sustained  in 
those  ships  were  very  trifling ;  and  they  very  much  preserved  the  other  ships 
in  the  rear." 

Commodore  Affleck  had  also  the  good  fortune  of  bearing  a  very 
conspicuous  part  in  the  memorable  conflicts  with  De  Grasse,  on 
the  9th  and  12th  of  April.  J  Lord  Rodney,  in  his  official  letter, 
says:—"  nor  can  less  praise  be  given  to  Commodore  Affleck,  for 
his  gallant  behaviour  in  leading  the  centre  division." 

It  was  for  his  gallant  exertions  on  this  occasion,  that  Commodore 
Affleck  was  advanced  to  the  dignity  of  a  Baronet  of  Great  Britain. 
He  also  had  the  satisfaction  of  receiving,  in  concert  with  the  flag 
officers,  the  well-merited  thanks  of  both  Houses  of  Parliament. 

Sir  Edmund  remained  with  Lord  Rodney,  till  the  return  of  that 
officer  to  England,  in  July  ;  artd,  on  the  approach  of  the  hurri- 

*  J'ide  NAVAL  CHUONICLF,,  Vol.  I.  page  14. 

f  Ibid.  Vol.11,  pnge  15. 

^  Ibid.  Vol.  I.  page  389  ;  and  VoL  IT.  page  21. 


THE    LATE    SIR    EDMUXD    AFFLECK,    BART.  453 

cane  months,  he  sailed  for  America,  with  Admiral  Pigot.  While 
on  that  station,  he  was  detached  with  a  strong  squadron  of  ten  or 
twelve  ships  of  the  line,  under  the  orders  of  Lord  Hood,*  with  the 
view  of  intLTcepting,  on  its  return,  a  part  of  the  French  fleet  which 
had  repaired  to  the  West  Indies,  under  the  command  of  M.  Vran- 
dreiul ;  but,  by  the  caution,  and  good  fortune  of  the  enemy,  this 
plan  was  frustrated  ;  and,  Admiral  Pigot  having  returned  to  the 
West  Indies,  Sir  Edmund  Affleck,  with  Lord  Hood,  rejoined  him 
on  that  station. 

In  consequence  of  the  peace  which  almost  immediately  ensued, 
the  commodore  returned  to  England  early  in  the  summer  of  1783, 
and  struck  his  pendant. — On  the  10th  of  February,  1784,  he  was 
promoted,  singly,  to  the  rank  of  rear-admiral  of  the  blue  squadron; 
and,  on  the  2 1th  of  September,  1787,  he  was  made  rear-admiral  of 
the  red,  but  never  hoisted  his  flag. 

In  the  year  1782,  shortly  after  the  intelligence  of  the  defeat  of 
De  Grasse  had  reached  England,  Sir  Edmund  Affleck  was  chosen 
representative  in  Parliament,  as  successor  to  Mr.  Christopher 
Potter,  for  the  borough  of  Colchester;  for  which  place  he  con- 
tinued member  till  his  decease,  on  the  15th  of  December,  1787. 


HERALDIC    PARTICULARS. 

Affleck  Esq.  had  two  sons,  Edmund  and  Philip,  whose 

professional  services  are  recorded  in  the  preceding  pages.  Edmund, 
the  elder,  created  a  Baronet  on  the  28th  of  May,  1782,  married  a 
lady,  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  Gilbert,  the  present  Baronet.  Lady- 
Affleck  died  at  Colchester,  on  the  15th  of  December,  1787  ;  and 
Sir  Edmund  married,  secondly,  on  the  16th  of  May,  1788,  Mrs. 
Smithers,  a  widow  lady,  from  New  York,  who  survived  him,  and 
died  in  Queen  Ann  street,  East,  London,  in  the  year  1799,  about 
the  same  time  as  her  brother-in-law,  Admiral  Philip  Affleck. 

ARMS. — Argent,  three  bars,  sable. 

CHEST. — A  stalk  and  ear  of  wheat,  proper. 


*  Vide  NAVAL  CHROMCLE,  Vol.  II.  page  22. 
.  tHof.  XXI.  3  ie 


451 

NAVAL  ANECDOTES, 
COMMERCIAL  HINTS,  RECOLLECTIONS,  &c. 


NANTES    IN    GUaOITE    VASTO. 


MUTINEERS    OF    THE    BOUNTY. 

A  CCOUNTS  have  been  received  from  the  squadron  in  the 
-£-*  Southern  Sea.s,  under  Rear-admiral  Sir  Sidney  Smith.  They 
Sailed  frorn'Rio  Janeiro  on  the  7th  of  March  :  it  being  the  anniver- 
sary of  the  Prince  of  Brazil's  arrival  in  that  country,  they  fired  a 
royal  salute  in  sailing  outot'the  harbour.  On  the  13th  of  March  they 
were  in  latitude  26  deg.  33  min.  S.  and  longitude,  30  dcg.  51  min. 
W.  The  last  advices  left  them  at  sea,  all  well,  on  the  ICth  of 
March,  otf  the  island  of  Trinidada.  The  only  intelligence  of  any 
moment  is  comprised  w  the  following,  extract  from  the  log-book 
of  the  American  ship  Topaz,' of  Boston,  Folgar,  master,  riz. 

"  Extract  from  the  log-book  rf  Captain  FOLGAK,  of the  American  Ship 
Tcpaz,  of  Boston. 

"  Captain  Folgar  relates,  upon  landing  upon  Pitcair.i's  Island  (or  Incar- 
nation, off  Quiro«),  in  lat.  2i  dcg.  2  min  S.  long  130  deg.  W.  by  lunar  ob- 
servation, he  found  an  Englishman  of  the  name  of  Alexander  Smith,  the 
only  person  remaining  of  nine  that  escaped  in  his  Majesty's  late  ship 
Bounty,  Captain  W.  Bligh. 

"  Smith  relates,  that  after  putting  Captain  BUgli  in  the  boat,  Christian 

the  leader  of  the  mutiny,  tool;  the  command   of  the  ship,  and  went  to 

Oi'.tlx'ite    where  a  great  part  of   the  crew    left  the  ship,  except  himself, 

Smith,  and  seven  others,  who  each  took  wives,  and  si"  Otaheiiean  men  as 

srnan-'h,  and  shortly  after  arrived  at  this  island,  where  they  ran  the  ship  on 

sh  ..-(-,  and  broke  her  up.     This  event  took  place  in  the  year  1790.     About 

foui  \enrs  after  their  arrival,   a  great  jealousy  existing,  the  Otahciteand 

fctcrrtly  revolted,  and  kii!c-d  every  Englishman  except  himself,   whom  they 

severely  wounded  in   the  neck  with  a  pistol  ball.     The  same  night,  the 

-.  s  of  the  deceased  Englishmen  rose  and  put  to  death  the  whole  of  the 

si  leaving  Smith  tiic  only  man  alive  upon  the  island,  with  eight  or 

iiin-c1  wo.vrii,  and  several  small  children.     lie,  when  he  recovered,  applied 

'<:'  i.o  ul'iug  the  ground,  so  that  it  now  produces  plenty  of  yams,  cocoa 

Dins,  huuanas,  and  plauta<ns,  hogs  and  pouhry  in  abundance. 

'•  There  are  now  •join  grown  up  men  and  women,  children  of  the  mu- 
tineers, on  the  island,  the  whole  population  amounting  to  about  35,  who 
j  c:;r.v-  ii  t!  c  \unih  as  f.ilher  and  commander  of  them  all.  They  all  speak 
TuiTl'sh,  ami  have  been  educated  by  him,  Captain  Folgar  represents,  in  a 
religious  and  raorul  way. 

"  The  second  mate  of  the  Topaz  asserts,  that  Christian,  the  ring-leader. 


NAVAL    ANECDOTES,    &C.  455 

became  insane  shortly  after  their  arrival  on  die  island,  and  threw  himself 
off  the  rocks  into  the  sea;  another  died  of  a  fever,  before  the  massacre  of 
the  whole  took  place. 

'  The  island  is  badly  supplied  with  water,  sufficient  only  for  its  present 
inhabitants,  and  no  anchorage.  Smith  gave  to  Captain  Folgar  a  chrono- 
meter made  by  Kendall,  wh'.ch  was  taken  from  him  by  the  Governor  of  Juim 
Fernandez." 

PIRATES. 

THE  introduction  to  a  general  history  of  the  pyr cites ^  from  the 
first  rise  and  settlement  in  the  island  of  Providence,-  by  Captain. 
Charles  Johnson  (London,  1726)  contains  the  following  remark- 
able account  of  proceedings  in  the  Spanish  West  Indies  : — 

"  About  March,  1729,  one  of  our  men  of  war  trading  upon  the  coast, 
viz.  the  Greyhound  galley,  Captain  \\~aldron,*  the  said  captain  invited  some 
of  the  merchants  to  dinner,  why  wiili  their  attendants  and  friends  came  on 
board,  to  the  number  of  J6  or  13  in  all.;  and  having  concerted  measures, 
about  MX  or  eight  dined  in  the  cabin,  and  the  rest  were  waiting  on  the 
deck.  While  the  captain  and  his  guests  were  at  dinner,  the  boatswain 
pipes  for  the  ships  company  to  dine  ;  accordingly,  the  men  take  their 
j/latters,  receive  their  provisions,  and  down  they  go  between  decks,  leaving 
only  four  or  five  hands  besides  the  Spaniards  above,  who  were  immediately 
dispatched  by  the  latter,  and  tl.e  hatches  laid  on  .he  rest.  Those  in  the 
cabin  were  as  ready  as  their  companions,  for  they  pulled  out  their  pistols, 
and  shot  the  captain,  surgeon,  and  another,  doad  ;  and  grievously  wounded 
the  lieutenant  :  f  but  he,  getting  out  of  the  window  upon  a. side  ladder, 
thereby  saved  hi-j  life,  and  so  they  made  themselves  masters  of  the  ship  in 
:HJ  instant.  Bat  by  accidental  good  fortune  she  was  recovered  before  she 
was  carried  off;  for  Captain  W.  having  manned  a  sloop  with  thirty  hands 
out  of  his  ship's  company,  had  sent  her  to  windward  some  days  before,  also 
for  tradu,  v.  hitli  tiic  Spaniards  know  very  well,  and  just  as  the  action  was 
over  thi-v  saw  this  sloop  coining  clown  before  the  wind  towards  their  ,>hip  : 
upon  which  the  Spaniards  took  about  10,0001.  in  specie,  quitted  the  ship, 
and  went  off  in  their  launch  unmolested." 


*  See  chronological  list  of  the  captains  of  the  royal  navy,  by  Rear- 
admiralJo'.m  Hardy.  4co  (London,  1781.)  Page  34.  No.  714. 

"  John  Waldron,  P.  C.  13th  April,  1719,  H.  M.  S.  Gibraltar ;  killed 
J9th  April,  1722,  off  Cuba,  by  the  Spaniards,  who  toak  his  ship,  the  Grey- 
hound, but  afterwards  gave  her  up  ajain." 

+  The  lieutenant  was  Edward  Smith,  who  was  made  p;jst  captain  in  the 
Elthum  frigate,  Kith  November,  1739,  and  died  at  Antigua,  of  wounds, 
'.M.-a  June,  1743,  commanding  the  Burford.  (See  NAVAL  CHROMCLE, 
Vol.  XXI.  poize  1 50,)  Rear-admiral  Sir  \V.  Sidney  Smith  is  this  oncer's 
grandson. 


456  VITAL  ANECDOTES, 

HEMARKABLE  CASE  OF  GUMMING,  AN  AMERICAN  SEAMAN. 

A  MOST  singular  case  having  lately  occurred  in  Guy's  Hospital, 
of  a  man  who  lived  several  years  after  swalhnving  a  number  of 
knives,  and  imperfect  and  erroneous  accounts  of  it  havins  found 
their  way  into  the  public  pipers,  we  have  succeeded  in  obtaining 
the  following  short  but  authentic  information  respecting  it :  — 

ic  John  or  William  Gumming,  an  American  seaman,  while  in 
France  in  1799,  seeing  ?ome  itinerant  jugglers  pretend  to  swallow 
knives,  was'induced,  in  a  moment  of  intoxication,  to  do  (he  same 
in  reality,  and  actually  swallowed  four  clasp  knives,  such  as  sailors 
commonly  use  ;  all  of  which  he  got  rid  of  in  a  few  clays,  without 
much  inconvenience.  Six  years  afterwards  he  performed  another 
feat  of  the  kind  at  Boston,  by  swallowing  i'ourfe -n  of  diilVrent 
sizes;  by  these,  however,  he  was  much  disordered,  but  recovered 
in  the  infirmary  at  Charleston,  near  Boston,  where  the  knives  are 
preserved.  Being  captured  on  board  an  American  ship,  by  his 
Majesty's  frigate  Isis,  in  the  latter  end  of  1S05,  he  entered  the 
British  service  ;  and  having  boasted  of  his  former  exploits,  he  was 
unfortunately  prevailed  on  to  gratify  idle  curiosity,  by  svfailowing 
seventeen  on  two  successive  days.  He  was  immediately  seized 
•with  violent  pains,  incessant  retching,  and  other  alarming  symp- 
toms, requiring  the  aid  of  the  surgeon,  under  whose  caic  he 
remained  for  eighteen  months  from  that  time,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged as  unserviceable.  He  was  twice  in  Guy's  Hospital,  under 
Dr.  Babington,  in  1807  ;  and  was  again  admitted  in  1808,  by  Dr. 
Curry,  under  w:hose  care  he  continued  for  the  last  seven  months 
of  his  life  ;  the  whole  of  that  time  being  passed  in  almost  constant 
pain,  and  progressive  wasting,  until  the  end  of  March,  1809,  when 
he  died.  On  examining  the  body  after  death,  fourteen  knife 
"blades,  and  a  number  of  back-springs,  were  found  in  his  stomach  ; 
all  of  them  much  corroded,  and  some  nearly  dissolved.  A  brass 
button,  and  part  of  the  lining  of  a  silver  knife,  wore  scarcely 
affected  ;  but  the  horn  handles  and  iron  linings  of  the  other  knives 
were  either  dissolved,  or  had  been  passed  downwards. — The  imme- 
diate cause  of  his  death  was  the  back-spring  of  a  large  c!a«p  knife, 
which  had  penetrated  through  the  intestines  into  the'cavity  of  the 
belly.  Two  other  back-springs  had  got  down  still  lower,  and 
were  fixed  across  the  gut,  so  as  to  be  felt  by  the  linger.  Though 
the  blades  and  back-springs  feund  in  the  stomach  were  extremely 
ragged  and  sharp,  yet  this  organ  was  not  penetrated  by  them  in 
any  part  ;  and  what  is  still  more  surprising,  he  could  bear  con- 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  457 

siderabie  pressure  there,  and  at  times  took  food  with  appetite. 
Camming  was  remembered  to  have  been  in  Charleston  Hospital  in 
1805,  by  a  gentleman  from  Boston,  now  in  London  ;  and  if  any 
doubt  could  remain  after  the  inspection  of  the  body,  hisexploit  on 
board  the  Isis  at  Portsmouth  has  been  co.i finned  in  the  fullest  man. 
ner  by  Captain  Ommanney,  the  commander,  and  Dr.  Lara,  of 
Portsea,  who  was  surgeon  of  that  ship.  The  knives,  as  taken  out  of 
the  stomach,  with  the  stomach  itself,  are  preserved  at  Guy's  Hos- 
pital ;  and  it  is  understood  that  Dr.  Curry  is  drawing  up  a  com- 
plete history  of  the  whole  case,  to  be  laid  before  the  public  either 
in  the  Philosophical  Transactions,  or  some  other  periodical  work. 
Many  of  the  knives  he  swallowed  were  four  inches  long,  and  one 
inch  and  a  quarter  across  the  widest  part  of  the  blade  and  handle." 

NEW-INVENTED    BATTEAIT. 

LIEUTENANT  BROWNE,  of  the  royal  navy,  lately  crossed  th» 
Thames,  and  passed  through  one  of  the  arches  of  Westminster 
Bridge,  in  the  presence  of  some  thousands  of  spectators,  in  a  can- 
vas  batteau,  invented  by  Colonel  Browne,  of  St.  Vincent's,  for  the 
life  of  the  army,  with  thirty  persons.  This  military  batteau  is 
made  of  prepared  canvas,  so  as  to  be  impervious  to  water.  The 
liattean  is  seventeen  feet  long,  five  feet  wide,  and  three  feet  deep, 
and  when  loaded  with  thirty  persons  only  draws  three  inches 
•tvater.  It  is  capable  of  conveying  100  soldiers,  with  their  arms, 
accoutrements,  and  baggage,  across  the  widest  river,  provided  they 
lie  down,  and  30  if  sitting.  This  batteau  weighs  only  60  pounds, 
and  can  bo  fitted  tip  or  taken  to  pieces  in  three  minutes,  so  that  it 
forms  an  easy  load  for  a  soldier  on  a  march.  Two  battcaus  lashed 
together  are  capable  of  conveying  the  heaviest  piece  of  ordnance, 
&c.  and  a  number  connected  together  form  a  bridge,  for  the  passage 
of  cavalry.  This  invention  has  been  highly  approved  of  by  the  Duke 
of  York,  Lords,  Moira,  Mulgrave,  Chatham,  and  Sir  A.Wellesley. 
The  Colonel  intends  fitting  up  one  of  his  batteaus,  to  carry  two 
six-pounders,  one  in  the  head,  and  the  other  in  the  stern. 

UECENT    INSTANCE    OF    NAVAL    GALLANTRY. 

THE  Calcutta  Post,  of  November  18,  1808,  contains  the  follow- 
ing statement : — 

"  The  three  Bengal  ships,  Baring,  Admiral  Drury,  and  Mar- 
garet,  laden  with  very  valuable  cargoes  for  China,  having  met  at 


458  NAVAL    ANECDOTES, 

Malacca  with  the  Bombay  ship,  David  Scott,  commanded  by  Cap. 
tain  Colin  Gib,  bound  also  to  China ;  the  commanders  of  the  four 
ships  agreed  to  sail  in  company  for  their  joint  safety  against  an 
enemy.  It  was  fortunate  enough  they  did  so  ;  for  in  the  China 
Seas  they  met  with  a  French  privateer  of  considerable  strength, 
who  chased  them,  and  would  have  taken  the  two  rear  ships,  had  it 
not  been  for  the  cool  and  determined  conduct  of  Captain  Gib,  who 
being  the  senior  commander,  was  appointed  to  act  as  commodore. 
He  ordered  the  three  other  ships  to  lay  to,  ami  immediately  hauled 
out  of  the  line  himself  towards  the  privateer  for  the  purpose  of 
fighting  her.  This  resolute  conduct  speedily  made  the  Frenchman 
haul  his  wind  and  make  off.  Captain  Gib  chased  him  till  sunset, 
and  then  rejoined  the  fleet, 

u  A  letter  is  published  in  all  the  India  papers  from  the  other 
Captains  to  Captain  Gib,  in  which  they  speak  in  the  highest  terms 
of  his  gallantry,  and  say  that  it  saved  to  his  country  property  to 
the  amount  of  300,0001." 

LORD  NELSON'S  PIIESENCE  OF  MTNB,  AT  TUB  BATTLE  OF 
COPENHAGEN. 

AMIDST  the  numerous  anecdotes  which  have  appeared,  respect, 
ing  Lord  Nelson,  the  following  (taken  from  POUTEK'S  "  Travelling 
Sketches  in  Russia  and  Sweden" J  will  probably  be  new  to  most 
of  our  readers  : — 

"  In  the  midst  of  these  horrors,  surrounded  by  the  dying  and 
the  dead,  the  British  admiral  ordered  an  oih'cer,  bearing  a  Hag  ot" 
truce,  to  go  on  shore  with  a  note  to  the  Croun  Prince,  it  con- 
tained a  proposal  to  his  lioyal  Highness  to  acquiesce,  without  fur- 
ther delay,  in  the  propositions  of  the  British  government ;  not  on!/ 
to  put  a  stop  to  the  present  ettiisioii  of  blood  on  both  .skies,  but  to 
save  from  total  destruction  Copenhagen  and  its  arsenals,  which  he 
•would  otherwise  level  with  the  water.  Whilst  his  Lordship  was 
•writing  with  all  the  calmness  of  a  man  in  Iris  study,  ho  desired 
Colonel  Stewart  to  send  some  one  below  for  a  light,  that  he  might 
seal  his  despatch.  Colonel  Stewart  obeyed;  but  none  appearing 
with  a  candle  when  Lord  Nelson  had  nearly  completed  his  letter, 
he  enquired  the  reason  of  such  neglect,  and  found  that  the  boy,  who 
had  been  sent  for  it,  was  killed  in  his  way  by  a  cannon  shot.  The 
order  was  repeated  ;  upon  -which  Colonel  Stewart  observed, 
u  Why  should  your  Lordship  be  so  particular  to  use  wax  !  why 
not  a  wafer  ?  The  hurry  of  battle  will  be  a  sufficient  apology  foj 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,   &C.  459 

the  violation  of  etiquette."— "  It  is  to  prove,  my  friend, "  replied 
Lord  Nelson,  "  that  we  are  in  no  hurry  ;  that  this  request  is  not 
dictated  by  fear,  or  a  wish,  on  our  part,  to  stop  the  carnage,  from 
the  least  apprehension  of  the  fate  of  this  day  to  us,  that  I  am  thus 
particular.  Were  I  to  seal  my  fetter  with  a  wafer,  it  would  still 
!>e  wet  when  it  reached  the  shore  ;  it  would  speak  of  haste.  Wax 
is  not  the  act  of  an  instant;  and  it  impresses  .the  receiver  ac- 
cordingly." The  reasoning  of  the  Admiral  was  duly  honoured  br 
the  result.  The  Danes  acceded  to  his  proposal,  and  a  cessation 
«f  hostilities  was  the  consequence." 

A  'FEMALE   CORPSE  FOUND  AT  SEA. 

THE  following  letter,  relating  a  very  remarkable  circumstance, 
v,  as  lately  received  by  the  Dean  of  St.  Asaph,  from  a  gentleman, 
an  attorney,  in  the  island  of  Nevis  :  — 

"  DEAR  SIR,  "  Net  is,  February  27,  1309. 

"  I  beg  to  mention  the  following  circumstances,  and  leave  la 
your  better  jud^r"  int  the  propriety  of  making  the  same  public  : 

"  About  a  fortnight  since,  the  overseer  on  the  camp  estate  dis- 
covered a  chest  floating  in  the  wash  of  the  sea,  and,  with  the 
assistance  of  several  negroes,  he  had  it  brought  on  shore.  On 
opening  it,  it  was  found  to  contain  a  female  corps  wrapped  ia 
several  folds  of  seer  cloth,  and  a  quantity  of  tea  was  spread  be- 
tween each  fold.  The  box  or  coffin  was  also  filled  up  with  tea,  to 
the  quantity  it  was  supposed,  of  t\vo  hundred  weight.  The  body 
was  in  a  tolerable  state  of  preservation,  and  had  the  appearance  of 
having  been  that  of  a  person  about  30  years  of  age,  rather  corpu- 
lent, with  a  remarkable  handsome  hand,  a  good  set  of  teeth,  and 
long  dark  hair ;  the  mouth  had  been  filled  with  tea,  and  some 
moisture  having  occasioned  the  tea  to  swell,  left  the  teeth  exposed  ; 
on  touching  them,  one  fell  in.  The  box  was  better  than  six  feet 
long,  and  mad«  remarkably  strong,  having  sixteen  iron  clamps  ; 
the  whole  of  it  covered  with  cloth,  which*  had  Burgundy  pitch 
rubbed  over  it,  and  was  perfectly  water  tight.  It  must  have  been 
in  the  sea  a  very  long  time,  as  it  had  a  number  of  barnacles  upon 
it.  The  wood  was  supposed  to  be  what  is  called  in  the  East 
Indies  Teak-wood.  Around  the  middle  of  the  box  was  a  tarred 
rope,  which  had  the  appearance  of  having  suspended  it,  or  been  a 
lashing  to  it. 

"  Should  the  publishing  this  account  be  the  cause  of  making  it 


460  VAYAL    ANECUOTKJ, 

known  to  the  relatives  of  the  deceased,  it  may  prove  grateful  if 
their  feelings,  to  know  that  the  body  Avas  decently  interred  in  thb 
island,  and  every  attention  paid  it. 

"  I  remain,  dear  Sir,  yours  very  truly, 

«  JOHN  COLHOUN  MILLS." 

JUVENILE    ROSCIUS. 

PROGRESS  of  the  English  language  in  allied  countries,  being  a 
literal  copy  of  an  advertisement*  for  St.  Ferdinand's  Theatre,  at 
Palermo,  on  10th  January,  1807:  — 

"  Gasper  Grifuni,  a  boy  six  years  old,  for  his  benefits  night  shall  expose- 
on  the  stage,  four  languages  in  mask,  to  wit,  English,  French,  Spanish,  and 
Italian,  with  a  hobgoblin  lackey,  and  a  Greek  tragic,  and  Lappanio  Spanish 
and  French  servant. 

"  One  of  the  most  tragical  scenes ;  labour  of  the  said  boy  who  shall 
expose  in  the  middle  of  such  graceful  and  ridiculous  representation." 

ECCENTRICITIES    OF    CAPTAIN    Oil    MAD    MONTAGUE. 

A  DUTCH  ship  of  400  tons  was  lost  in  Portsmouth  harbour  ; 
Montague,  coming  on  shore  in  his  barge  soon  after,  sav,-  about  a- 
dozcn  of  the  dead  Dutchmen  lay  on  the  beach ;  he  immediately 
told  his  men  to  put  all  the  Dutchmen's  hands  in  their  pockets. 
Going  to  the  Prospect  coffee-house,  lie  fell  in  company  with  the 
Dutch  captain  ;  every  one  there  Avas  condoling  with  him  about  his 
loss  :  Montague  directly  says,  d —  their  eyes,  for  a  set  of  lubberly 

b ,  that  they  would  not  pull  their  hands  out  of  their  pockets 

to  save  their  lives :  and  he  dare  bet  six  dozen  of  wine,  that  if  any 
of  the  crew  were  cast  on  shore,  their  hands  would  be  found  in 
their  pockets.  The  Dutch  captain,  highly  nettled,  took  the  bet  ; 
the  waiter  was  sent,  and  brought  word  there  were  twelve  lay  dead 
on  the  beach,  with  their  hands  in  their  pockets.  u  There,  cries- 
Montague,  did  I  not  tell  you  they  were  too  lazy  to  save  their 
lives."  The  Dutch  captain  was  ashamed  to  shew  his  face  for 
several  days,  till  Montague  told  him  of  the  joke. 

TERROR    OF    A    FRENCH    CAPTAIN* 

MONTAGUE  being  on  a  cruise  in  the  bay,  fell  in  with  a  French- 
man of  nearly  his  size  ;  he  ran  his  ship  alongside  the  Frenchman, 

*  The  abov«  was  published  out  of  compliment  to  the  English  garrison. 


COKRESPONDENCE.  461 

and  made  her  fast.  He  then  hailed  the  French  captain,  with  these 
words,  '•  d —  you,  Sir,  if  you  dont  strike  directly,  I  will  blow 
both  ships  up,  and  we  will  all  go  to  II —  together."  The  French 
captain  it  seems  was  not  prepared  for  so  long  a  voyage,  and  struck 
his  colours. 

CAPTAIN    BO  WEN'. 

BY  an  error  of  the  press,  at  page  134,  tne  Christian  name  of 
Thomas,  instead  of  Jo/;/?,  is  gi'en  to  that  distinguished  and 
gallant  officer,  the  late  Captain  Bowen,  who  fell  at  the  unsuccessful 
attack  on  Tenerific. 

His  brother  is  Commissioner  James  Bowen,  of  the  Transport 
Board;  also  a  captain  in  the  royal  navy,  who  was  master  of  the 
Queen  Charlotte  on  (he  first  of  June,  1794,  under  that  gallant 
Teferan,  the  late  Earl  Howe,  whose  esteem  for  Commissioner 
Bowen  was  fixed  from  his  observation  of  his  superior  talents  and 
courage  on  that  victorious  day.  This  gentleman  has  lately  added 
to  his  well-earned  fame,  by  the  important  services  which  he  ren- 
dered our  brare  army,  in  their  embarkation  at  Corunna ;  for  which 
he  received  the  thanks  of  Parliament. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

Mn.    EDITOR,  21s,' May. 

THE  report  of  the  recent  debate  in  Parliament  on  Cap'.ain 
Hardinge's  monument,  reminding  me  of  an  official  list  made 
out  in  the  year  1799,  pursuant  to  Admiral  Lord"  Keith's  orders, 
wherein  1  recollected  to  have  seen  the  name  of  the  gallant  Captain 
of  the  St.  Fiorenzo,  with  honourable  mention  in  a  marginal  note 
by  the  senior  officer  (Sir  S.  Smith),  I  have  mad  a  it  my  business 
to  regain  sight  of  that  list ;  and  conceiving  that  such  a  genuine 
record  of  the  defenders  of  Acre,  deserves  a  place  in  the  naval 
history  of  the  XVIHth  century,  and  that  the  feelings  of  Captain. 
IPs  surviving  kindred  must  be  gratified  by  the  short  but  pithy 
commendation  of  the  youthful  hrro  by  his  gallant  chief,  "  Laudari 
a  niro  Laudato,"  I  transmit  this  interesting  document  for  the 
information  of  your  readers.  It  is  pleasing  to  witness  such 
anxiety  on  the  part  of  a  distinguished  officer  to  do  justice  to  the 
merits  of  those  serving  under  his  command,  down  to  the  very 
youngsters.  It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  this  little  band  of 
brothers  has  already  produced  to  the  service  some  valuable  officers, 

and  the  same  school  promises  more. 

TRIDENT. 
IBat.  Cfcron.  fficl.  XXI.  3  N 


46* 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


A  List  of  Ofiiccrt  by  Commission  and  Warrant,  belonging  to  his  Majesty  *•  Ship  Tigw, 
Sir  WILLIAM  SIDNKV  SMITH,  Knt.  Cnp'.aiii;  and  also  to  his  Majesty's  Ship 
Theseus. 

[*„*  The  remarks  printed  in  italics  are  in  the  hand-writing  of  5ir  Sidney  Smith.] 


Name. 

Quality. 

From  whence  Commission  received. 

TIGRE. 

Thomas  England     -    -    - 

1st  Lieutenant 
2d         do. 
3d         do. 

4th        do. 
ith       do. 

6th        do. 

Master 
Purser 
Boatswain 
Gunner 
Carpenter 
Surgeon 
Chaplain 

Acting  Captain 
1st  Lieutenant 
Qd      do. 
3d      do. 
4th    do.    acting 
itli    do.    acting 

Master 
Purser 
IJoalswain 
Gunner 
Carpenter 
Surgeon 
Chaplain 

Admiralty  to  Theseus  ;  commission  from  Sir  Sid- 
ney Smith,  Knt.  &c.  to  Tigre. 
Ad'.niraltv  ;  taken  prisoner  in  a  gun-boat,  retaken, 
and  returned. 
Admiralty  to  Alliance  ;  commission  from  Sir  Sid- 
ney  Smith,  Knt.  &c.  to  Tigre. 
Admiralty. 
Commission  from  Earl  St.  Vincent  ;  wnnnded  at 
Acre,  recovered,  and  now  commanding  the.flntilla. 
Acting  commission  from  Sir  Sidney  Smith,  Knt. 
&c.  has  nerved  tiii   tiinc.,  passed,  and  is  recom- 
mended by  Sir  S.  S.  fur  confirmation  in  iht  va- 
cancy arising  from  Captain  JVilmot't  death. 
Per  Warrant, 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 
do. 

Per  acting  commission  from  Sir  Sidney  Smith,  Kt. 
Commission  from  Earl  St.  Vincent, 
do. 
do. 
do. 
Peracting  commission  from  Sir  Sidney  Smith.  Kt. 
Recommended  by  Sir  Sidney  Smith  on  account  of 
his  good  conduct  at  Acre. 
Per  Warrant  from  Earl  St.  Vincent. 
do. 
do. 
Per  Warrant. 

Per  Warrant  from  Earl  St.  Vincent. 
Per  Warrant. 

George  Hillier     .... 
Wm    Knight  -    -    -    -    - 

John  Wesley  Wright    -    - 

John  Penny    -    -    -    -    - 

George  Stewart    .... 
James  Bray     -    -    -    -    - 
Arthur  Collins     .... 
The  Rev.  David  Lloyd  -    - 

THESEUS. 
f..  3.  Canes,  Esq.    -    -    - 
James  Summers  .... 
Thomas  Charles  Brodie    - 
Samiisl  Englefield    -   '-    - 
David  A'kinson   -    -    -    - 
Christopher  Schroeder  -    - 

Thomas  Atkinson    -    -    - 

Honry  Wyatt       -    -    -    - 

James  Gezp.rd      -    -    -    - 
Robert  lainsh     .... 
The  Rev.  Fred.  Morris,  A.B. 

A  List  of  Master's  Mates  and  Midshipmen  belonging  to  II.  M.'s  Ships  Tigre  amlThe.- 
seus,  who  have  served  (or  harr  nearly  completed)  the  time  required  in  the  iN'avy. 


Name. 

Quality. 

Ship 
belonging  to. 

How  long  has  served. 

Time  expired  on. 

James  Stokes 

Acting  as 

Tigre. 

Has  served  his  time 

Commanded  the  f.ntilla  at 

Lieutenant 

and  passed. 

Acre,  an:i  bcliaved  well. 

Years.        Months. 

6,  N.  Hardinge 

Master's  Mate 

Theseus 

0 

4 

10th  May,  1799;  command- 

edagiin-buat  at  Acre  Kith. 

credit. 

B.  H.  Savage 

Midshipman 

do. 

« 

4 

10th   May,    179!>;    serve* 

with  credit  at  Acre. 

George  Macrae 

Master's  Mate 

Tigre. 

6 

36th  August,   171>9;  anet- 
derly  tteady  man. 

John  Pike 

do. 

d_ 

The&eus 

5 

3 

James  Boxer 

o« 

ligre 

' 

7 

mantling  the  Mary  Ann 

gun-boat,  andfulty  qua- 

df. 

lified. 

Samuel  Simms 

Midshipman 

o. 

f 

7 

manding    the    Negresse 

dn 

gun-boat. 

Richard  Janrerin 

do. 

9m 

on  the  coast  of  Damietts. 

since  he  recovered  from 

ftjs    wound    received   at 

Acre  ;    gone  down  with 

' 

Itave  to  join  Lord  Keith. 

tOUHESPONDENCE,  46S 

"  Omnc  tulit  pimctum  qui  miscuit  utile  dttlci.* 

MR.   EDITOR,  4th  June,  1809. 

AM  gratified  by  seeing  your  instructive  miscellany,  which  I 
think  surpassed  by  none  of  its  cotemporaries,  begin  to  blend 
higher  matter  occasionally  with  mere  technical  details ;  and  thus 
secure  a  place  for  its  volumes  in  the  libraries  of  the  historian  and  of 
the  cosmographer,  while  its  numbers  continue  to  fertilise  the 
juvenile  minds  of  our  manners.  It  is  the  highest  praise  of  a  writer 
to  entertain  while  he  instructs  ;  and  to  interest  the  heart  while  he 
informs  the  mind.  These  reflections  have  been  excited  by  the  con. 
tents  of  your  last  number,  which  has  just  reached  me;  and  exhibits 
that  variegated  species  of  literature  which  should  characterise  the 
periodical  press.  After  much  probationary  reading  of  the 
ephemeral  productions  of  the  day,  I  have  finally  fixed  upon  the 
four  following  works  as  of  standard  merit,  nearly  equal  in  their 
respective  lines,  and  collectively  conveying  nearly  the  sum  of  cur. 
rent  information  necessary  for  the  man  of  business  or  the  man  of 
letters,  viz.  the  Edinburgh  Review,  Cobbett's  Political  Register 
(bating  the  recent  overdose  of  Hampshire  politics),  the  Gentlcman'i 
Magazine,  and,  though  last,  not  least,  the  Naval  Chronicle,  con. 
ducted  with  so  much  proper  deference  to  constituted  authority, 
and  at  the  same  time  with  so  much  independence  of  spirit  as  it  is  by 
you,  Sir.  Therefore,  holding  it  right  that  your  readers  <not  only 
should  acknowledge  the  benefits  derived  from  your  labours,  by 
recommending  the  circulation  of  your  work ;  but  should  endeavour 
to  repay  either  amusement  or  instruction  by  contributions  in  kind, 
I  beg  leave  to  transmit  you  the  annexed  translation  of  an  article 
given  to  me  by  a  naval  friend  as  a  typographical  curiosity,  being  a 
specimen  of  the  performance  of  the  only  printing  press  in  Brazil. 
It  is  entitled,  "  Manifesto,  or  detailed  Expose,  in  justification  of 
the  conduct  pursued  by  the  court  of  Portugal  towards  France, 
since  the  commencement  of  the  revolution  until  the  invasion  of 
Portugal  (in  1807)  ;  and  of  the  motives  which  forced  it  to  declare 
war  against  the  Emperor  of  the  French  in  consequence  of  that 
invasion,  and  of  the  subsequent  declaration  of  war  founded  on  the 
report  made  by  the  minister  of  exterior  relations."  It  is  moreover 
$e  first  state  paper  published  by  the  Prince  of  Brazjl  after  his 


464 

arrival  at  Rio  de  Janeiro,  and  consequently  may  serve  by  way  of 
supplement  to  "  A  Narrative  of  Naval  Transactions  on  the  Coast 
of  Portugal,"  which  appeared  in  your  number  under  considera- 
<ion,*  and  deserves  the  attention  of  your  political  readers,  as 
offering  a  series  of  marginal  notes  to  a  despatch, -f  slated  to  have 
been  received  from  Lord  Viscount  Strangford,  his  Majesty's 
minister  plenipotentiary  at  the  court  of  Lisbon,  by  the  Right 
Hon.  George  Canning,  his  Majesty's  principal  secretary  of  state 
for  foreign  affairs,  doled  on  board  his  Majesty's  ship  Hibernia,  off 
the  Tagus,  29th  November,  1S07,  of  which  a  copy  was  published 
in  the  L  jndon  Gazette,  on  the  19th  December,  by  the  authority 
of  the  Foreign  Office.  Any  one  who  will  take  the  trouble  of 
collating  the  two  publications  will  have  a  correct  idea  of  the  real 
state  of  the  case  ;  and  can  conjecture  why  the  Gazette  in  question 
was  retarded  in  its  appearance  for  several  days  after  the  news  of 
the  Portuguese  emigration  was  made  public,  as  I  well  recollect  to 
have  happened.  I  am, 

Your  constant  reader,  and  occasional  correspondent, 

VASCO  L>E  GAMA. 

TRANSLATION. 

The  Court  of  Portugal,  after  having  kept  the  silence  adapted  to 
the  different  circumstances  in  Avhich  it  found  itself,  and  until  the 
moment  that  the  seat  of  government  was  established,  thinks  it 
due  to  its  own  rank  and  dignity  to  publish  a  genuine  state- 
ment of  its  conduct,  supported  by  incontestible  facts,  to  the  end 
that  the  impartial  portion  of  Europe,  its  own  subjects,  and  even 
the  remotest  posterity,  may  judge  of  the  purity  of  its  conduct,  and 
of  the  principles  it  adopted,  both  in  order  to  avoid  the  useless 
effusion  of  blood,  and  because  it  could  hardly  persuade  itself  that 
solemn  treaties,  the  burthensome  articles  of  which  in  favour  of 
France  it  had  punctually  fulfilled^  would  be  treated  like  a  childish 
plaything  by  a  government  whose  ambition  seems  to  have  no  limits, 
and  whose  conduct  has  but  too  completely  opened  the  eyes  even  of 
those  the  most  prejudiced  in  its  favour.  It  is  neither  by  declama- 
tion nor  menace  that  the  court  of  P.  will  raise  its  voice  from  the 
bosom  of  the  new  empire  it  is  about  to  create  ;  but  by  authentic 
facts,  exposed  with  simplicity  and  moderation,  that  it  will  make 
known  all  that  it  has  suffered,  and  that  it  will  awaken  the  attention 
of  those  who  may  still  desire  not  to  fall  victims  to  such  immeasurable 

,  Vol.  XXI.  p.  of  7.      t  I'j'i'Ji.  Vol.  XViii.  p. 605. 


CORUESPONDENCS. 

ambition  ;  and  who  may  feel  how  much  the  future  fate  of  Portugal, 
invaded  in  time  of  peace,  without  a  declaration  of  war,  must  prove 
interesting  to  Europe,  if  they  hope  to  see  revived  that  sort  of  repub- 
lic in  which  the  safety  and  independence  of  its  several  members  were 
secured  by  the  balance  of  the  constituent  powers.  The  result  of 
this  statethent  is  an  appeal  to  Providence  by  a  religious  Prince, 
impressed  with  a  due  sense  of  its  power  :  since  crimes  do  not 
remain  unpunished,  and  usurpation  and  tyranny  weaken  and 
exhaust  themselves  by  the  very  efforts  they  are  obliged  continually 
to  employ. 

The  Court  of  P.  saw  with  regret  the  commencement  of  the  revo- 
lution in  France;  and  although  it  deplored  the  fate  of  the  virtuous 
king  (with  whom  the  royal  family  was  connected  by  near  ties  of 
consanguinity),  yet  it  did  not  think  fit  to  take  any  part  in  the  war 
•which  the  conduct  of  the  enthusiasts  who  domineered  over  and 
desolated  France,  (as  is  avowed  even  by  the  present  government,) 
forced  most  governments  to  declare  against  them  ;  and  even  in  fur- 
nishing stipulated  succours  to  Spain  for  the  defence  of  the  Pyrenees, 
it  still  endeavoured  to  observe  perfect  neutrality. 

The  French  government  in  1793  sent  a  minister  to  the  court  of 
Portugal,  who  was  received  with  all  due  attention  individually,  but 
\vho  was  not  acknowledged,  because  at  that  period  the  principlei 
of  public  law  did  not  warrant  governments  in  recognising  extraor- 
dinary changes  without  investigating  their  legitimacy  ;  and  this 
without  any  pretension  to  interfere  with  the  independence  of  other 
nations.  The  French  government,  without  declaration  of  war,  or 
any  other  formality,  began  to  detain  Portuguese  merchant  vessels, 
and  after  (he  peace  of  1801,  demanded  and  obtained  indemnities 
for  those  which  the  court  of  Portugal  had  detained  in  order  to 
insure  itself  some  degree  of  compensation,  and  this  without 
paying  the  least  regard  to  the  claims  of  the  Portuguese  merchants. 
The  court  of  Spain,  which  had  required  succours  from  Portugal, 
that  by  the  admission  of  the  very  French  generals  were  of  the 
utmost  utility  and  necessity,  in  making  its  peace  with  Fraflce,  not 
only  forgot  its  ally,  whom  it  ought  to  have  caused  to  be  declared 
in  a  »ta(e  of  peace  with  France,  fsince  the  Court  of  P.  in  sue. 
couring  Spain  according  to  the  conditions  of  a  treaty  of  defensive 
alliance,  had  no  idea  of  making  war  against  France  upon  its  own 
account)  but  what  is  perhaps  unheard  of,  or  at  least  very  rare  in 
the  annals  of  history,  Spain  actually  made  common  cause  with 
France  to  force  Portugal  to  receive  unjust  and  humiliating  condi- 
tions of  peace,  without  the  latter  having  been  ever  really  at  war; 


466  CORRESPONDENCE. 

and  did  not  cease  to  act  as  the  enemy  of  its  former  ally,  profiting 
by  the  power  of  France,  to  wrest  from  Portugal  a  small  portion 
of  the  province  of  Alcntejo,  on  the  sidi-  of  Olivenca,  by  the  trca'ies 
of  Badajoz,  and  of  Madrid,  thus  leaving  to  posterity  a  sad  immu- 
ment  of  the  recompense  it  accorded  to  a  neighbour  who,  u.augre 
the  antient  rivality  of  the  two  nations,  had  not  shrunk  from  per- 
forming the  duties  of  defensive  alliance. 

The  two  treaties  just  cited  furnish  fresh  proof  of  the  bad  faith 
of  the  enemies  of  Portugal  ;  since  the  French  government  would 
not  ratify  that  of  Badajoz,  although  signed  by  Lucien  Buonaparte 
and  the  Prince  of  the  Peace  ;  but  compelled  Portugal  to  sign  a  new 
treaty  at  Madrid,  with  much  harder  conditions,  without  ha\  ing  any 
motives  to  allege,  other  than  those  of  caprice  and  ambition.  The 
last  treaty  was  signed  almost  at  the  same  time  with  the  preliminary 
treaty  of  London,  between  England  and  France,  in  which  latter 
some  of  the  hardest  conditions  imposed  on  Portugal  were  modified, 
and  the  northern  limits  of  its  American  territories  were  more  par- 
ticularly fixed.  This  consideration  for  an  old  ally  on  the  part  of 
England  appears  to  have  been  interpreted  by  France  as  a  new  proof 
of  the  state  of  bondage  in  which  the  English  government  kept 
that  of  Portugal. 

The  treaty  of  1801  was  hardly  concluded,  but  the  court  of  P. 
hastened  to  execute  its  conditions,  and  to  manifest,  by  the  religious 
and  exact  fulfilment  of  its  engagements,  how  desirous  it  was  to 
confirm  the  good  harmony  re-established  between  the  two  govern- 
ments, and  to  pass  an  act  of  oblivion  over  past  sufferings,  unpro- 
voked as  they  had  been.  The  conduct  of  the  French  government 
•was  materially  different  ;  and  from  the  very  first  moments  of  peace 
seemed  to  think  of  nothing  but  extorting  fresh  sacrifices  from  the 
Portuguese  government  in  favour  of,  the  most  ill-founded  and  extra- 
vagant pretensions  of  French  subjects.  Europe  might  then  have 
foreseen  that  its  subjection  from  Lisbon  to  Petersburg  was  resolved 
at  the  Thuillericsv,  and  that  it  had  no  alternative  but  to  pull  down 
the  colossus,  or  become  its  victim. 

After  a  short  interval,  war  broke  out  again  between  England 
and  France ;  and  the  court  of  Portugal  having  acquiesced  in  the 
harsh  and  humiliating  propositions  of  the  French  government  to 
avoid  war,  "thought  itself  very  fortunate  in  purchasing,  by  great 
sacrifices  of  money,  the  treaty  of  1804,  wherein  France  promised  as 
follows  by  article  VI.  viz.  "  The  First  Consul  of  the  French 
Republic  consents  to  recognise  the  neutrality  of  Portugal  during 
the  present  isar^  and  he  promises  not  to  oppose  ant/  of  the  mm 


CORRESPONDENCE.  467 

*ures  mhich  may  J)e  adopted  Kith  regard  to  any  of  the  belligerent 
natt'ons,  in  consequence  of  the  principles  or  general  lazss  of 
neutrality.'''' 

A 11  the  advantages  of  the  treaty,  such  as  it  was,  were  immediately 
realised  by  France,  without  its  ever  having  reason  to  make  the 
simllest  complaint  against  the  Portuguese  government :  and  yet 
notwithstanding,  and  in  the  very  same  war,  it  exacted  from  the 
court  of  Portugal,  not  only  an  infraction  of  the  stipulated 
neutrality,  hut  a  declaration  of  war  against  England,  by  which 
should  be  violated  all  the  existing  treaties  between  the  two 
countries,  wherein  was  provided  for,  the  manner  in  which  the  sub- 
jects of  the  two  countries  were  to  be  treated  in  every  supposed 
possible  case  of  war.  And  all  this  without  Portugal  having  the 
least  ground  of  complaint  against  the  British  government,  which 
ha  1  always  granted  every  species  of  satisfaction  whenever  the  com. 
madders  of  its  ships  of  war  had  been  wanting,  in  the  attentions  due 
to  a  neutral  flag. 

During  this  interval,  the  Emperor  of  the  French  sent  out  one  of 
his  squadrons,  on  board  which  was  his  brother,  (Jerome)  and  which 
cast  anchor  in  the  bay  of  All  Saints  (on  the  coast  of  Brazil).  His 
reception  there  was  marked  by  every  sort  of  distinction,  while  the 
squadron  received  all  kinds  of  refreshments ;  and  what  is  par- 
ticularly worthy  of  attention,  at  the  very  -time  the  French 
government  was  receiving  so  many  marks  of  amity  and  considera- 
tion on  the  part  of  Portugal,  that  squadron  burnt  several  Portu- 
guese vessels  to  conceal  its  track,  under  a  promise  of  indemnifying 
their  owners;  which  promise  was  not  kept.  Hence  Europe  may 
form  an  idea  of  the  fate  that  awaits  her,  if  ever  the  French  govern- 
ment acquires  an  ascendency  at  sea  equal  to  that  it  has  on  land,  and 
may  form  a  just  estimate  of  the  foundation  of  those  complaints  it 
makes  against  the  British  government,  and  so  loudly.  England 
never  protested  against  the  succours  given  to  the  French  squadron, 
for  they  were  within  the  limits  of  the  law  of  nations:  but  the 
minister  for  exterior  relations  dares  assert  in  the  face  of  Europe, 
that  Portugal  furnished  succours  to  the  English  for  the  conquest 
of  Monte  Video  and  of  Buenos  Ayres  ;  while  it  is  a  fact  notorious 
to  all  the  world,  that  this  expedition,  sent  from  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  did  not  receive  from  Portugal  either  vessels,  money,  men, 
nor  in  fine  any  articles  considered  as  contraband  of  war;  and  (hat 
even  the  English  squadrons  during  the  course  of  the  war  have 
found  no  other  supplies  at  Rio  dc  Janeiro  nor  at  the  other  ports  of 
Brazil,  except  such  as  are  not  refused  to  any  natron,  and  which 


468  CORRESPONDENCE. 

had  been  granted  in  abundance  to  the  French  squadron.  The 
ci>urt  of  Portugal  defies  tlie  court  of  France  to  produce  any  fact 
that  can  controvert  this  assertion,  founded  on  the  most  exact  and 
impartial  truth. 

From  1804  till  1807,  France  received  from  Portugal  all  the 
colonial  produce  and  ran'  materials  necessary  for  its  ma&ufactttves  : 
thus,  from  the  circumstances  of  depression  under  nliich  arts 
and  industry  laboured  in  consequence  of  .perpetual  war  by  !ai:d, 
and  disastrous  war  by  sea,  the  alliance  between  Eng'aiul  and  Por- 
tugal was  useful  to  France,  and  the  trade  of  Portugal,  free  from 
restraint  or  depredation,  was  certainly  useful  to  both  countries. 
By  ravaging  Portugal,  by  subjecting  it  to  excessive  contributions 
in  an  unheard  of  manner,  without; being  in  a  previous  sute  of  v.ar, 
or  having  experienced  any  hostile  resistance,  France  has  not  reaped 
the  fruits,  a  commerce  nould  iiave  procured  to  tru-  two  countries. 

The  court  of  Portugal  might  therefore  justly  expect  on  every 
ground  that  that  of  the  Thuilleries  would  respect  a  neutraii'jr 
which  it  had  acknowledged  by  a  solemn  treaty  ;  and  from  which 
it  derived  such  decided  advantages  ;  when  in  the  month  of  August, 
1SOG,  a  formal  declaration  of  tke  minister  for  foreign  rt-htious  to 
Lord  Yarmouth,  roused  the  Portuguese  ministry  from  the  state  of 
security  in  which  it  reposed.  By  this  declaration  she  made  known 
to  the  latter,  that  if  England  did  not  make  a  maritime,  peace,  Hie 
French  government  would  declare  war  against  Portugal,  an:!  mat-ch 
,10,000  men  to  occupy  it.  By  this  it  is  not  meant  to  say  that  Por- 
tugal could  have  been  invaded  by  that  force,  but  (he  French  Empe- 
ror, well  knowing  the  state  of  security  in  which  Portugal  believed 
itself  to  be  placed  by  the  treaty  of  neutrality,  fancied  he  should  be 
able  to  surprise  it,  and  that  was  enough  for  him.  The  court,  of 
England  was  alarmed,  and  offered  every  species  of  succour  to  that 
of  Portugal :  but  France,  which  at  that  moment  had  arranged  every 
thing  for  overwhelming  Prussia  (which  latter  then  defied  tho 
superior  power  single  handed,  when  it  had  not  clioscn  the  year 
before  to  attack  it  conjointly  with  Austria,  and  perhaps  force  it  to 
receive  the  law),  found  means  to  tranquillise  the  court  of  Portugal, 
which  it  was  then  desirous  of  keeping  quiet,  and  which  could  not 
persuade  itself  that  so  much  perfidy  could  be  joined  to  so  much 
greatness.  The  war,  which  afterwards  continued  with  Russia,  and 
that  might  perhaps  have  yet  saved  Europe,  (if  the  union  between 
the  governments  composing  it  had  been  as  close  as  it  ought  to  have 
been)  still  retarded  the  French  court's  views  upon  Portugal  ;  and. 
it  was  not  until  the  peace  of  Tilsit  that  the  Emperor  of  the  French, 


469 

in  a  dictatorial  tone,  such  as  might  become  Charlemagne  (o  his 
vassal  princes,  caused  the  following  singular  demand  to  be  made  to 
the  court  of  Portugal,  both  by  the  medium  of  h\rchar*e-d' -affaires 
and  by  the  Spanish  ambassador.  1.  To  shut  the  ports  of  Portugal 
against  England.  2.  To  detain  all  the  English  residing  in  Por- 
tugal. 3.  To  confiscate  all  English  property.  Or  else  ia  case  of 
refusal  to  expose  itself  to  immediate  war  with  France  and  Spain, 
since  the  respective  representatives  had  orders  to  come  away  on 
the  1st  of  September,  (three  weeks  afterwards)  if  the  court  of  Por- 
tugal did  not  satisfy  all  the  pretensions  of  the  two  other  courts. 
The  good  faith  of  the  French  government  was  made  evident  on  this 
occasion  by  the  celerity  with  which,  without  waiiing  for  the  Por- 
tuguese answer,  it  stopped  all  vessels  under  that  flag  in  the  ports 
of  France,  thereby  commencing  hostilities  without  declaring  war, 
and  carried  slill  farther  all  those  proceedings  that  have  formed 
the  subject  of  its  endless  reproaches  against  England,  which 
after  such  a  conduct  will  be  appretiated  according  to  their  just 
Value. 

The  court  of  Portugal  might  then  have  adopted  that  well-known 
maxim  of  the  Romans,  that  dishonourable  conditions  have  often 
proved  the  salvation  of  those  by  whom  they  are  refused,  and  caused 
the  ruin  of  those  who  impose  them  ;  but  on  the  one  hand,  it 
'could  hardly  bring  itself  to  believe  that  the  court  of  the  Tliui'leries 
made  propositions  so  incompatible  with  honour  and  dignity 
seriously;  and  on  the  other,  it  hoped  to  avert  the  storm  without 
shedding  the  blood  of  its  people.  Therefore,  having  full  confidence 
in  the  friendship  of  its  antient  and  faithful  ally,  his  Britannic 
Majesty,  it  tried  to  moderate  the  pretensions  of  the  French  govern, 
ment,  by  acceding  to  the  closure  of  the  ports,  but  refusing  the 
two  other  articles,  as  contrary  to  public  jurisprudence  ai  d  to 
treaty.  His  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  Regent  declaring  that  they 
wounded  those  religious  and  moral  principles  from  which  he  never 
swerves,  and  to  which  he  perhaps  owes  the  unshaken  fidelity  of  his 

subjects. 

The  Court  of  Portugal  then  began  to  take  measures  for  securing 
its  retreat  to  that  part  of  its  dominions  which  is  safe  from  any 
invasion  that  can  prove  eventually  alarming.  To  this  efftctit 
armed  such  part  of  its  squadron  as  was  fit  to  keep  the  sea:  and  at 
the  same  time  caused  all  the  English  to  quit  its  territory,  enjoining 
them  to  dispose  of  their  property.  It  began  to  proceed  with  a 
t  iew  to  shutting  the  ports  against  England,  ia  order  to  avoid 

a$ton.  Clal,  XXI.  3  o 


470  CORRESPONDENCE. 

effusion  of  blood  by  uselessly  contending  with  superior  force, 
in  order,  by  a  show  of  compliance  with  the  French  Emperor'* 
wishes,  to  sooth  him,  if  he  was  not  to  be  moved  by  the  justice 
_with  which  Portugal  sustained  the  rights  of  its  independence,  and 
those  derived  from  the  treaty  of  1801.  The  court  of  the  Thuille- 
ries  refusing  to  yield  to  any  mode  of  conciliation,  and  requiring. 
not  only  the  closure  of  the  ports,  but  the  imprisonment  of  English 
subjects,  with  the  confiscation  of  their  properly  ;  and  even  that 
the  project  of  retreat  to  America  should  be  given  up,  the  Prince 
Regent  of  Portugal,  who  on  the  one  side  knew  that  his  Britannic 
Majesty  being  informed  of  the  critical  state  of  things,  would,  iu 
order  to  save  Portugal,  consent  to  the  shutting  its  ports  simply  ; 
and  on  the  other  also  knew  that  there  no  longer  remained  in  Por- 
tugal any  English  who  were  not  naturalised  Portuguese;  and  that 
all  English  property  had  been  sold,  and  its  value  exported,  resolved 
to  shut  the  ports  against  England,  and  even  to  comply  with  all  th* 
other' requisitions  of  France  ;  declaring,  however,  that  if  the  French 
troops  entered  Portugal,  his  Royal  Highness  had  taken  the  firm 
resolution  of  transferring  the  scat  of  government  to  Brazi!, 
which  formed  the  most  essential  and  best  defended  part  of  hia 
ktates.*  « 

His  Royal  Highness  th.cn  causing  his  army  to  wifehilraw  to  the 
sea  coasts  and  harbours,  believed  that  France  having  obtained  in 
reality  what  she  demanded,  could  have  no  ground  for  farther 
requisitions,  and  reposed  himself  upon  that  good  faith  which  ought 
to  belong  to  every  government  that  has  ceased  to  be  revolutionary, 
and  upon  the  reflection  that  by  having  done  all  that  depended  upon 
him  to  assure  the  tranquility  of  his  people,  and  to  avoid  the  elfu- 
sion  of  blood,  .he  had  fulfilled  all  the  duties  of  a  virtuoui  prince, 
adored  by  his  subjects)  and  accountable  alone  for  his  actions  to  the 
Supreme  Being. 

Tlve  cond-uct  of  the  French  would  be  without  example,  but  for 
the  invasion  of  Switzerland  by  the  executive  directory.  General 
Junot,  without  previous  declaration,  with'/ut  the  consent  of  his 
Royal  Highness,  entered  the  kingdom  with  the  vanguard  of  his 
armv,  assuring  the  people  of  the  country  he  traversed,  thathe  came 
to  succour  the  Prince  Regent  against  an  English  invasion,'  as  the 
geivrral  of  a  powerful  friend  and  ally.  This  journey  furnished 
Lirn  authentic  proofs  of  the  good  faith  of  the  Portuguese  govern- 
ment ;  far  he  must  have  seen  the  perfect  state  of  security  in  which 
it  felt  itself  as  to.  France,,  no  troops  remaining  on  any  part  of  the 
frontiers.  The  Prince  Regent,  surprised  iu  such  au \mheard  of 


CORRESPONDENCE.  471 

Jnanncr,  might  (hen  even  have  collected  the*  corps  near  liiir,  -ml 
causing  the  English  .squadron  to  enter  the  port  of  Lisbon,  conid 
have  cut  to  pieces  the  small  and  miserable  body  with  wide!'  General 
Junot  advanced  with  a  temerity  that  would  have  been  ridiculous, 
if  that  officer  (whose  conduct  at  Venice  and  at  Lisbon  h;-;«  nude 
him  but  too  well  known)  had  not  confided  in  the  heart  of  a  virtuous 
Prince,  who  could  not  bring  himself  to  expose  his  people  to  terrible 
reverses  for  a  single  success,  however  certain,  merely  for  the  sake 
of  chastising  the  audacity  of  a  man,  who,  like  many  others  in 
cxeruting  unjustifiable  orders,  abused  the  power  in  his  hands. 

His  Royal  Highness  then  embraced  the  only  alternative  (hat 
becomes  his  principles,  in  order  to  avoid  the  accomplishment  of  the 
criminal  views  of  the  French  government,  which  intended  nothing 
less  than  to  secure  his  person,  and  those  of  the  whole  royal  family, 
in  order  afterwards  to  dispose  of  the  spoils  of  the  crown  of  Por- 
tugal at  pleasure.  Providence-  seconded  the  efforts  of  a  just 
Prince;  and  the  magnanimous  resolution  embraced  by  his  Royal 
Highness  at  once  rendered  the  designs  of  the  French  government 
abortive,  and  exposed  to  the  light  of  day  in  the  face  of  Europe 
the  criminal  and  perfidious  views  of  a  government  which  aims  at 
the  domination  over  Europe  and  the  whole  world,  if  the  great 
powers  of  Europe,  awakened  from  their  lethargy,  do  not  make 
common  cause  agair.st  such  disordered  and  excessive  ambifion. 

Since  his  Royal  Highness  has  happily  arrived  in  his  Cra*ili.in 
slates,  he  has  learnt  with  horror  not  only  the  usurpation  of  Por- 
tugal, and  the  ravage  and  pillage  committed  there,  but  also  the 
unworthy  proceeding  of  the  Emperor  of  the  French,  who  in  the 
tfie  spirit  of  dictator  of  Europe  has  dared  to  impute  to  him,  as  a 
crime,  the  having  transferred  his  capital  to  Bra/.}!,  and  to  his  faith- 
f,;l  subjects,  the  having  followed  the  fortunes  of  a  Prince  v  horn  his 
subjects  serve  still  more  for  his  virtues,  than  for  the  inherited 
rights  of  his  august  family  ;  in  virtue  of  which  he  reigns  over 
them.  His  Royal  Highness  has  seen  with  Iftrror  the  presumptuous 
proscription  of  those  rights  in  a  French  ministerial  paper,  and  is 
v.-.irranteil  in  demanding  of  the  French  Emperor  from  what  code 
cJ  ;!je  law  of  nations  he  has  drawn  his  authority  for  so  doing. 
Thii  demand  merits  the  serious  meditation  of  all  the  governments 
in  Europe,  witnesses  of  the  introduction  of  a  new  government  into 
Portugal,  without  its  consent,  as  well  as  the  levying  unmeasured 
i-ontribntion  on  a  country  neither  in  a  state  of  war,  or  that  had 
the  sm.illcst  resistance  to  the  eutry  of  the  French  troops. 


472  CORRESPONDENCE. 

Impartial  Europe,  as  well  as  the  remotest  posterity,  must  A  lew 
•with  pain  such  acts,  forerunners  of  ages  of  barbarism  and  n  isery  ; 
surh  as  those  which  followed  the  overthrow  of  the  Roman  Empire; 
and  which  cannot  be  avoided  if  an  unanimous  effort  be  not  made 
to  re-establish  the  equilibrium  of  Europe,  forgetting  all  the 
rivalries  which  have  hitht-rio  been  the  main  and  real  causes  of  the. 
elevation  of  that  monstrous  power  which  now  threatens  to  swallow 
up  all. 

After  this  faithful  recital  of  all  that  has  taken  place  between  the 
two  governments,  the  Prince  Regent,  placing  his  cause  in  the 
liands  of  the  Almighty,  (whose  aid  he  feils  a  right  to  invoke  in  a. 
cause  so  just)  feels  it  owing  to  tite  rank  and  dignity  of  his  crown  to. 
make  the  following  declaration  :  — 

His  Royal  Hig'mess  breaks  all  communication  with  France, 
recalls  his  mission  collectively  and  individually,  and  authorises  his 
subjects  to  make  war  by  land  and  by  sea  upon  those  of  the 
Emperor  of  the  French. 

His  Royal  Highness  declares  all  the  treaties  that  the  French 
Emperor  has  forced  him  to  conclude,  and  especially  those  of 
Badajoz  and  of  Madrid  in  1SOI,  and  of  neutrality  in  ISO},  which 
the  said  Emperor  has  infringed  and  never  respected,  to  be  null  and 
void. 

His  Royal  Highness  will  never  lay  down  his  arms  but  in  con- 
junction with  his  ancient  and  faithful  ally,  his  Britannic  Majesty; 
and  in  any  case  wil1  not  consent  to  the  cession  of  Portugal,  which, 
forms  the  most  antient  part  of  the  heritage  and  lights  of  his  august 
royal  lamily. 

When  the  Emperor  of  the  French  shall  have  satisfied  the  jus£ 
claims  of  his  Royal  Highness  the  Prince  Regent  of  Portugal  on  all 
these  points,  shall  h;i  e  ab  indoned  the  absolute  and  imperious  tone 
with  which  he  rules  ppr  ssed  Europe,  and  shall  have  restored  to 
the  crown  of  Portugal  ail  he  has  despoiled  her  of  by  an  unprovoked 
invasion  in  the  midst  of  peace ;  his  Royal  Highness  will  be  ready 
to  renew  the  ties  which  have  always  subsisted  between  the  two 
countries,  when  not  divided  by  principles  of  unlimited  ambition, 
•which  the  experience  of  ages  lias  but  too  clearly  shewn  to  be  alike 
contrary  to  the  welfare  and  to  the  tranquillity  of  those  by  whom, 
such  principles  are  adopted. 

Rio  de  Janeiro.  1st  May,  1808. 


CORRESPONDENCE.;  473 

J-fR.    EDITOR, 

S  you  solicit  communications,  I  beg  to  state  that  you  do  not 
appear  to  have  inserted  in  your  NAVAL  CHRONICLE  the  pro- 
motion of  Lieutenant  William  Dawson,  who,  (for  his  very  gallant 
conduct  in  March,  18C8,  when  he  succeeded  to  the  command  of 
his  Majesty's  ship  the  St.  Fiorenzo,  on  her  brave  commander, 
Captain  G.  N.  Hardinge,  having  fallen,  in  the  third  action  between 
that  frigate  and  le  Piedmontaise,  off  Ceylon,  in  capturing  and  car- 
rying her  info  Cohimbo,  as  appears  by  Lieutenant  Dawson's  pub- 
lic let'er  in  your  XAVAL  CHRONICLE,  Vol.  XX.  page  483,)  was 
inade  by  Sir  Kdw-trd  Pellew  commander  into  the  "VVilhelmina,  and 
immediately  sent  in  a  post  ship,  as  acting  post  in  la  Dedaigneuse, 
of  36  guns,  with  charge  of  a  convoy  to  China  ;  and  on  the  arrival 
of  Lieutenant  Da",  sun's  despatches  in  December  last,  his  commission 
of  commander  was»con  firmed  by  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty,  and 
cLittd  the  Sth  of  JViarch,  1808,  the  date  of  the  capture,  and  bj 
whom  he  has  since  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of  post,  dated  9th 
March,  1809,  and  appointed  to  the  Expedition,  41,  though  still  in 
India  in  Ja  Dedaigm  use. 

The  Underwriters  at  Bombay  presented  him  witha  sword,  value 
100  guineas. 

It  is  the  same  William  Dawson  who  was  dangerously  wounded 
in  the  breast  with  a  boarding  pike  in  the  act  of  boarding  la  Psyche, 
in  the  action  between  that  frigate  and  the  St.  Fiorenzo,  at  that  time 
commanded  by  Captain  Henry  Lambert,  when  she  was  taken  in 
February,  1805,  as  per  NAVAL  CISRONICLE,  Vol.  XIV,  page  165, 
and  on  which  occasion  the  Patriotic  Fund  presented  Lieutenant 
Dawson  with  one  hundred  pounds. 


LETTER  XIII. 
MR.   EDITOR,  June  1>  1809. 

THE  debates  in  Parliament  have  been  by  no  means  void  of 
naval  interest  during  the  last  month,  and  as  usual  we  have 
been  indebted  to  the  vigilance  and  care  of  the  Hon.  Baronet,  with 
•whose  memoirs  you  have  lately  favoured  us,  to  prevent  our  fights 
from  sinking  into  ollivion,  even  although  at  present  unsuccessful 
in  getting  them  established. 

I  am  agab  induced  to  request  you  to  furnish  your  readers  with 
a  short  account  of  the  various  reports  presented  to  his  Majesty 
(which  have  all,  1  believe,  been  laid  be  fore  Parliament)  by  the  late 
Board  of  Naval  Revision,  from  whose  long  sitting  the  expectations 


474  CORRESPONDENCE- 

of  the  nation  at  large,  and  the  naval  service  in  particular,  were 
very  highly  excited,  but  hare  not  yet  been  gratified.  I  think, 
Sir,  that  we  heard  somewhat  of  their  opinions  in  one  instance 
respecting  the  Victualling  Office^  but  they  were  not  adopted,  in 
consequence,  I  suppose,  of  the  persuasion  oi  the  General  of  the 
Admiralty,  that  the  introduction  of  military  instead  of  naval  officers 
into  that  board,  would  be  attended  with  the  same  brilliant  advan- 
tage to  the  nation  which  it  derives  from  his  own  management. 

That  an  objection  should  have  been  started  at  the  proposal  of  a 
^nonunuent  to  the  brave  Hardinge,  who  can  now  only  be  honoured 
in  memory,  surprised  me  a  good  deal.  I  was,  however,  much 
pleased  to  hear,  in  the  course  of  that  debate,  qn  the  authority  of 
Mr.  Wilberforce,  that  it  has  been  in  contemplation  to  establish  a 
naval  order  of  merit,  and  I  yet  hope  that  the  day  will  arrive  when 
it  will  be  fashionable  to  adopt  a  more  liberal  treatment  towardsour 
very  laborious  and  certainly  very  meritorious  services,  and  that  the 
adoption  of  a  characteristic  system  of  reward  will  be  one  of 
the  improvements.  Your  Correspondent,  A.  F.  Y.  has  given  us 
some  judicious  remarks  on  this  subject,  and  his  complaint  also,  tha{; 
our  service  has  never  been  in  favour  with  the  higher  powers  for 
many  years  past,  is  strictly  just. 

In  the  debate  on  May  15,  Sir  Charles  Pole  adverts  to  a  point  of 
great  consequence,  in  which  the  officers  and  crpws  of  his  Majesty's 
ships  are  debarred  of  the  rights  of  British  subjects,  in  being  obliged 
to  submit  their  interests  incases  of  appeal  exclusively  to  the  King's 
proctor.  It  is  not  long  since  that  the  man  who  filled  that  office 
•was  known  to  act  as  inimically  to  those  interests  as  he  possibly 
could,  and  it  was  offered  so  to  be  proved  before  Parliament,  but 
Mr.  Pitt,  with  the  high  hand  of  power,  forbade  enquiry.  Now, 
Sir,  these  causes,  in  consequence  of  delays,  and  of  decisions, 
politically  instead  of  justly  given,  have  involved  many  excellent 
officers  in  great  djstress,  and  totally  ruined  the  fortunes  of  others. 
When  an  officer  has  acted  in  perfect  consistency  with  his  duty  and 
his  instructions,  in  detaining  a  neutral  vessel,  and  she  is  legally 
condemned  by  the  Court  of  Admiralty,  it  appears  to  me  the  acme 
of  cruelty  and  injustice  that  he  should  afterwards,  wifhotd  his  con- 
sent, and  without  being  allotted  to^  name  the  man  who  is  to  de- 
fend his  cause ,  be  involved  in  a  long  and  expensive  process,  and 
perhaps  cast  in  heavy  damages,  merely  for  having  done  an  act 
•which  to  have  left  undone  would  have  been  a  dereliction  of  his 
duty.  The  star  chamber  was  legal  and  just,  compared  * , 

*  We  trust  our  Correspondent,  E.  G.  F.  will  excuse  us  for  having  omitted 


CORRESPONDENCE.1  475 

On  the  same  day  also  Sir  Charles  made  some  observations  respect 
ing  the  act  of  Parliament  which  enables  seamen  and  marines  in 
allot  half  their  pay  to  their  families.  '  This  act  requires  very 
serious  consideration,  as  it  was  certainly  framed  and  enacted  with 
the  most  benevolent  views,  and  the  best  intentions  for  the  good  of 
the  service.  But  in  many  instances,  the  half  pay  retained  by  the 
sailor  is  not  sufficient,  and  he  certainly  sometimes  suffers  depriva- 
tions for  the  benefit  of  the  parish  Avherehis  family  resides.  Another 
objection  to  this  act,  is  its  encouragement  of  desertion,  as  I  have 
been  informed  by  some  officers  who  have  served  abroad  since  it 
has  been  in  foree.  A  seaman,  who  has  received  his  two  months 
advance,  and  taken  up  his  allotted  quantity  of  slops  a;id  tobacco, 
•while  his  wife  at  home  receives  6d  per  diem,  may  arrive  at  a  foreign 
station  with  a  very  few  shillings  due  to  him,  while  he  is  sure  that 
liis  wii'e  will  receive  her  allotment  for  some  months  to  come.  This 
holds  out  a  lure  for  desertion,  which  is  very  frequently  taken 
advantage  of.  I  wish  for  the  good  of  the  service  I  could  see  the 
lion.  Baronet  at  the  head  of  a  board  of  revision,  to  report  upon 
this  and  various  other  acts.  I  shall  only  observe  farther  on  this 
subject,  that  desertion  under  such  circumstances  is  attended  by  a 
much  greater  degree  of  moral  turpitude  than  where  a  total  loss  of 
pay,  &c.  is  the  consequence,  and  should,  1  think,  receive  some  mor* 
severe  puuismeut. 

The  trial  of  Admiral  Harvey  a'fibrds  a  subject  for  much  serious 
reflection,  and  closes  the  objects  of  great  naval  interest  for  the  last, 
month.  There  is  not  the  smallest  excuse  to  be  made  for  the  rear- 
admiral's  conduct,  but  there  is  much  to  censure  in  the  conduct  of 
those  whose  mismanagement  led  him  into  such  glaring  imprudence* 
The  irritation  which  he  felt  at  the  coldness,  that  cruel  chilling  cold- 
ness with  which  he  and  hi.s  follow  victors  in  the  glorious  battle  of 
Trafalgar  were  received  by  the  Board  of  Admiralty  then  in  gpwer, 
was  so  strongly  marked,  that  it  did  not  fail  to  strike  every  indivi- 
dual in  the  fleet,  and  is  still  deeply  felt,  though  not  openly 
expressed,  as  it  ha:  been  by  Admiral  II.  I  have  been  led  to  allude 
to  that  reception  in  the  course  of  my  correspondence,  and  I  have 
also  seen  it  strongly  reprobated  in  other  parts  of  your  work, 
trust  the  present  and  all  future  Boards  of  Admiralty  will  ponder 

the  concluding  part  of  this  paragraph.  The  comparison  he  has  made  be- 
tween the  decisions  in  the  SlarCksmKr  and  Court  of  Appeals  may  be  per- 
fectly correct,  but  as  it  is  not  in  our  power  to  ;  rrcc  the  same,  should  we  La 
legally  called  ou  so  to.  do,  we  must  decline  inserting  it. — Enron. 


476  CORRESPONDENCE; 

well  this  important  matter,  and  guard  against  giving  cause  for  fui 
ture  complaint. 

I  trust  also  that  when  their  Lordships  read  over  the  manly  and 
officcr-Hkc  evidence  of  Captain  Bedford,  they  will  be  very  cautious 
how  they  wqiind  and  insult  the  feelings  of  every  officer  of  a  whole 
fleet  engaged  in  a  particular  service,  by  a  pariial  selec'lon  of  a  man 
not  employed  in  it.  The  noble  Lord  who  was  in  this  rase  selected, 
is  indeed  most  fit  and  capable  to  lead  wherever  skill  and  bravery  are 
needed  to  ensure  success,  but  'here  were  also  many  gallant  hearts 
already  in  the  fleet  opposed  to  the  enemy,  ardently  burning  to  lead 
the  daring  and  hazardous  attack.  Lord  C  has  been  not  only  glo- 
riously successful  in  the  many  gallant  exploits  he  has  achieved,  but 
eminently  fortunate  in  meeting  occasions  to  display  his  skill  and 
intrepcdity,  and  needed  not  that  the  laurels  should  have  been 
snatched  out  of  the  grasp  of  others,  to  be  added  to  those  he  had 
already  earned.  Great  as  are  his  Lordship's  merits,  there  are  no 
doubts  upon  my  mind,  but  that  without  this  partial  and  invidious 
selection  by  the  Board  of  Admiralty,  the  enterprise  would  have 
been  conducted  by  a  regular  appointment  from  the  fleet,  with  equal 
conduct  and  courage. 

One  other  remark  occurs  to  me  as  of  great  moment.  The 
t-lFects  of  genuine  Christianity  arc  ever  sure  to  attract  affection  and 
esteem,  and  in  spite  of  the  rough  habits  and  careless  conduct  of 
British  Bailors  in  some  respects.  I  have  never  seen  them  wanting  in 
allowing  due  honour  to  religion,  to  its  ministers,  or  advocates — . 
*'  These  men  sec  the  works  of  the  Lord,  and  his  wonders  in  the 
deep,"  and  have  more  serious  convictions  in  their  minds,  than 
appearances  would  lead  us  to  suppose.  But  when  religion  degene- 
rates towards  the  sour  discipline  of  the  puritans,  or  the  dogmatic 
severity  of  fanatics,  the  true  beauty  of  holiness  is  no  longer  to  be 
seen,  and  suspicions  of  hypocrisy  and  cant  are  entertained,  when 
in  fact  there  only  exists  a  mistaken  zeal  working  without  tru«  v 
knowledge. 

I  remain,  Sir,  yours,  &c. 

E.  G.  F. 


PLATE   CCLXXXV. 

THE  city  of  Cadiz,  which  lies  at  the  distance  of  42  miles  north 
west  of  Gibraltar,  in  latitude  36  deg.  30  min  north,  longi- 
6'  deg.  10  min.  west,  is  situated  at  the  north  west  extremity 


of  Leon,   an  island  that  is  separated  from  the  continent  on:y  by  a 


HAHBOVH. 


T--  g     ••  V  -  - 

,//,v«    *  >> 

,  *      ''', 


>    <*     >4      c  >^  °  t     * 


';      **y       .«    -s^*> 

,- 


Published  June  jofjjhy.  br  Jerrr  feM.  -toy.  Shoe  iamf. 


PLATE    CCLXXXV.  477 

very  narrow  strait.  It  was  first  built  by  the  Phoenicians,  who 
called  it,  Gadez.  Its  form  is  nearly  square  :  on  the  south  side,  from 
the  height  and  steepness  of  the  shore,  it  is  inaccessible  from  the 
sea  ;  on  the  east  side,  towards  the  land,  it  is  defended  by  two 
strong  bastions;  several  rocks  and  sand  banks  protect  it  on  the 
north  ;  and  the  point  which  runs  out  to  the  westward  is  defended 
by  Fort  Matagorda,  which  also  covers  the  entrance  of  the  Bay. 
The  city  is  likewise  defended  by  a  Castle. — The  streets  of  Cadiz 
are  broad,  strait,  and  well  paved  ;  and  the  houses,  a  great  number 
of  which  are  inhabited  by  merchants  of  different  countries,  are 
large  and  commodious. 

Cadiz  is  one  of  the  keys  of  Spain  ;  and,  excepting  that  the  war, 
and  the  more  recent  events  which  have  taken  place  in  the  country, 
have  operated  to  the  suspension  of  almost  every  commercial  pur- 
suit, it  may  be  considered  as  the  centre  of  commerce  to  the  West 
Indies  and  America.  The  vessels  of  Spain  were  accustomed  to  be 
freighted  thence,  with  the  various  productions  qf  Europe,  and  to 
return  with  gold,  silver,  precious  stones, .cochineal,  indigo,  coffee, 
tobacco,  woods  of  different  sorts,  chocolate,  &c. 

In  the  year  1596,  Cadiz  was  taken  and  plundered  by  the  English, 

Yinder  the  Earl  of  Essex,  and  the  Lord  High  Admiral  Howard 

In  1702,  an  attempt  was  made  by  the  Duke  of  Ormond  and  Sir 
George  Rook,  to  seize  Cadiz  for  the  Archduke  Charles ;  but, 
after  landing  some  troops,  they  found  the  scheme  impracticable, 
and  returned. 

The  island  of  Leon  was  anciently  denominated  Junonis  Insula  ; 
from  a  temple  to  the  honour  of  Juno  having  been  erected  there. 
Hercules  also  had  a  temple  in  Leon,  in  which  Caesar  is  said  to  have 
wept,  while  reflecting  on  the  actions  of  Alexander  the  Great,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-three. — At  the  eastern  point  of  the  island  is  a  rope- 
yard  ;  and  towards  the  west  are  some  salt  works. 

The  town  of  Rota,  anciently  called  Ebora,  which  appears  in  the 
map  at  the  distance  of  three  leagues  north  from  the  city  of  Cadiz, 
is  much  celebrated  for  its  wine.  It  is  protected  by  a  castle. 

Porto,  or  Puerto  Santa  Maria,  a  sea-port  town,  as  its  name  in- 
dicates, lies  to  the  eastward  of  Rota,  at  the  distance  of  seven  miles 
north  from  Cadiz.  It  consists  of  only  one  parish,  containing  an 
hospital,  five  convents,  and  from  8,000  to  10,000  inhabitants,  and 
has  a  considerable  trade  in  salt. 

Can-area,  another  sea-port,  to  the  eastward  of  Caiiz,  isa  general 
rendezvous  for  the  galleons. 

.  CTfjroii,  Qof,  XXL  3  p 


478 
STATE  PAPERS. 


|JTT  will  be  in  the  recollection  of  most  of  our  readers,  that  in  the- 
-**-  Parliament  before  the  last,  certain  papers  relative  to  Captain 
John  Westley  Wright,  R.  N.  were  moved  for  in  the  House  of 
Commons  by  Mr.  Windham,  and  seconded,  we  believe,  by  Sir  Sid- 
ney Suiith.* — It  was  so  late  in  the  session  before  those  documents 
were  presented,  that  we  understand  they  were  not  printed,  by 
order  of  the  House  ;  but  that  manuscript  copies  only  were  circu- 
lated :  and  that  at  all  events  the  case  has  never  yet  met  the  public 
eye  iu  a  complete  form.  We  are  therefore  happy  to  have  an  op- 
portunity of  making  good  that  deficiency,  by  laying  before  our 
readers  an  authentic  transcript  of  the  whole  of  the  very  interesting 
official  correspondence  relative  to  the  ill-fated  officer  in  question  ; 
•whose  treatment  was  so  derogatory  from  the  credit  and  character 
of  the  government  by  whom  it  was  inflicted,  and  so  repugnant  to 
all  the  laws  and  usages  hitherto  acted  upon  between  civilized  na- 
tions, that  it  is  really  difficult  to  believe  tha<  Buonaparte,  howcvcs 
regardless  of  right  and  wrong  he  is,  can  have  been  truly  informed 
upon  the  subject. 

No.  I. 
(COPY.) 

"  SIR,  "  Admiralty  O/tcc,  llth  J-iil;,  1804. 

"  I  am  commanded  by  my  Lords  Commissioners  ot'  the  Admiralty  to 
transmit  to  you  herewith  the  enclosed  copy  of  a  letter  from  Mr.  Riviere, 
of  the  office  of  the  French  minister  of  marine  to  the  commissioners  fsir 
tran*;)orts,  relative  to  the  capitulation  of  the  enemy's  forces  at  the  island 
of  St.  Domirijro,  and  to  request  you  will  lay  the  same  befoce  Lord  Camclen^ 
for  his  Lordship's  information,  and  directions  thereupon.  1  am,  &c. 
"•  Edward  Coohe,  Esq.  (Signed)  «  WM.  MARSDEN." 

Enclosure  belonging  to  No.  I. 
Translation  from  the  French. 

"  GENTLEMEN,  "  Paris,  IQt/i  June,  1801,  ZlPrairial,  xn. 

"  Tne  minister  of  the  department  of  marine  and  colonies  being  informed 

that  the  crews  of  different  vessels,  as  well  as  the  several  garrisons  which 

*  For  the  first  Parliamentary  notice  of  Captaiu  W.'s  captivity,  see  M  AVAL 
CUKOXICLE,  Vol..  XIII.  page  Ijl. 


STATE    PAPrUS.  479 

•evacuated  the  Cape,  in  the  island  of  St.  Domingo  (in  virtue  ot  the  capitula- 
tion made  on  board  the  frigate  la  Surveiilante,  the  SOth  November,  1803), 
are  detained  prisoners  in  England,  his  Excellency  has  ordered  me  to  claim 
in  his  name,  on  the  grounds  hereinafter  stated,  the  return  to  France  of  these 
rrews  and  garrisons,  in  conformity  to  the  second  article  of  the  said 
Convention. 

"  It  is  conceived  in  these  terms,  "  the.  garrison  of  the  Cape  cmlarked  on 
board  of  the  different  vessels,  and  the  crr.as  of  these  resaela  shall  be  prisoners 
of  rear,  and  stnt  io  Europe  as  soon  as  possible  upon  their  purolc,  not  to  se/r« 
until  esc/tftngc,  $c.  &:c.. 

"  It  is  readily  to  be  conceived  that  the  spirit  of  this  article  would  for 
greater  exactness  require  the  word  France  to  be  substituted  for  that  of 
*  Europe.' 

"  But  it  would  he  nn  offence  towards  the  English  national  character  to 
suppose,  that  its  government  could  take  advantage  of  a  meer  defect  of  pre- 
cision in  the  choice  of  words,  to  infringe  a  capitulation,  of  which  the  spirit 
is  so  explicitly  developed  by  the  very  conditions  which  they  who  capitulated 
have  subscribed. 

"  In  effect,  if  the  intent  and  spirit  of  the  capitulation  had  not  been  that 
f  lie  garrisons  and  crews,  who  thereby  constituted  themselves  prisoners  of 
•Nva4-,  should  be  sent  to  France,  the  soonest  possible,  instead  of  being  detained 
in  England,  it  is  evident  that  their  conveyance  to  Europe  would  not  have 
boc-n  shackled  bv  the  condition  of  gi'ii^  Ihtir  parole  not  to  serve  before 
Leing  exchanged. 

"  No  doubt  that  the  jnilitary  men  on  both  sides,  as  well  those  whom  the 
events  of  war  forced  to  abandon  the  post  which  they  were  forced  to  yield 
up,  frankly  and  fairly  understood  the  spirit  of  the  conditions  which  they 
signed,  without  a  grammatical  arrangement  of  the  phraseology;  and  they 
never  supposed  that  any  discussion  about  meer  words  would  afterwards 
arise  upon  a  matter  so  thoroughly  established  by  the  essential  condition  of 
Article  II. 

"  His  Excellency  is  therefore  led  by  his  own  innate  equity  to  think,  that 
if  the  British  government  believes  itself  authorised  to  retain  the  troops  and 
sailors  who  capitulated  at  the  Cape,  that  belief  can  only  be  owing  to  its  not 
having  sufficiently  used  its  attention  on  this  second  article  of  the  capitula- 
tion, and  especially  on  these  expressions,  winch  form  so  very  essential  a  part 
thereof,  viz.  '  and  tludl  Le  sent  to  Europe  on  their  parole,  not  to.  serve  until 
exchanged* 

"  His  Excellency  orders  me  to  request  you  to  lay  these  important  obser- 
vations before  the  Lords  of  the.  Admiralty,  and  he  likes  to  cherish  the 
belief  that  the  very  line  of  conduct  he  himself  would  pursue  in  a  similar 
case,  namely,  to  conform  to  the  manifest  spirit  of  the  capitulation,  will  turn 
out  to  be  that  which  their  Lordships  will  not  hesitate  to  adopt  in  this. 
His  Excellency  observes,  that  the  misfortunes  of  war  are  sufficiently  grave 
in  themselves,  without  those  persons,  who  are  called  by  their  places  to  sued 
extensive  influence  over  the  lot  of  humanity,  descending  to  aggravate  thenx, 
by  descending  to  evasions  and  quibbles,  unworthy  their  public  character. 


430  STATE    PAPERS. 

"  It  is  come  round  to  his  Excellency's  ears  that  certain  persons  in 
England  have  supposed  that  prisoners  of  war  sent  back  to  France  upon 
parolo  have  been  there  employed  before  they  were  exchanged.  Without 
choosing  to  dwell  upon  an  allegation  which  has  only  reached  him  indirectly, 
his  Excellency  however  charges  me  to  acquaint  you  that  no  infraction  of 
this  nature  has  taken  place. 

"  On  the  other  hand  I  have  laid  before  him  the  representations  which 
you  have  desired  me  to  submit  to  him  concerning  the  treatment  of  prisoners 
of  war  detained  in  France. 

"  His  Excellency  has  very  lately  had  occasion  to  carry  on  some  cor- 
respondence with  the  mast  distinguished  amongst  these  prisoners,  and 
nothing  in  the  course  of  it  has  led  him  to  perceive  any  tendency  to  complaint 
on  this  subject.  Nevertheless  he  has,  inasmuch  as  the  police  over  them 
depends  upon  the  minister  of  war,  applied  to  the  marshal  of  the  empire 
having  that  department,  for  proper  attention  to  be  paid  to  your  representa- 
tion on  this  head,  should  it  prove  founded,  and  as  soon  as  his  answer  shall 
come  to  hand,  you  shall  be  informed  of  the  real  state  of  things. 

"  But  you  may  rely  upon  it  beforehand,  Gentlemen,  that  none  of  the 
duties  which  humanity  prescribes  in  favour  of  prisoners  of  war,  will  be  neg- 
lected, for  such  is  the  formal  intention  of  his  Imperial  Majesty. 

I  have,  &c.  "  IllVIERE." 

"  The  Commissioners  of  his  Britannic  Majesty's 
Transport  Service. 

No.  II. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Lord  HARROWBY  to  the  Chevalier  D'AxouAGA, 

dated  July  13,  180-1. 
"  SIR, 

"  The  obstacles  which  have  been  opposed  by  the  French  government  to- 
all  communication  between  the  two  countries,  as  well  as  the  want  of  any 
authentic  information  respecting  what  passes  at  Paris,  have  hitherto  pre- 
vented me  from  expressing  his  Majesty's  sentiments  as  to  the  manner  in 
which  a  British  officer  of  distinguished  character  is  said  to  have  been 
treated.  As,  however,  an  opening  appears  to  be  offered  (in  consequence 
of  the  conversation  I  had  the  honour  of  holding  with  you  on  Mon- 
day last)  of  apprising  that  government,  through  the  medium  of  the 
Spanish  ambassador  at  Paris,  of  the  light  in  which  his  Majesty  views  the 
proceeding  which  is  understood  to  have  taken  place,  it  is  my  duty  not  to 
lose  the  opportunity  which  you  are  pleased  to  afford  me,  of  endeavouring 
by  representation  to  avert  the  consequences  which  -must  follow  so  great  a, 
violation  of  the  rights  of  nations  and  the  usages  of  war. 

"  If  the  accounts  published  in  the  French  papers  are  correct,  it  appears 
that  Captain  Wright,  commanding  his  Majesty's  ship  Vinecjo,  who  was 
taken  off  the  coast  of  Britanny.  on  the  20th  of  May  last,  by  several  gun- 
boats, instead  of  meeting  with  that  liberal  treatment  which  has  uniformly 
been  experienced  by  French  officers  in  similar  cases,  was  sent  with  circum- 
stances of  peculiar  indignity  and  severity  to  Paris,  subjected  to  close  con- 


STATE    PAPEBS.  481 

fr.iennent  in  tho  Temple,  and  obliged  to  undergo  repeated  interrogatories 
before  a  court  of  criminal  justice. 

"  It  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  enter  into  tlie  discussion  of  those  pretences 
Ly  which  this  treatment  is  attempted  to  be  justified,  as  none  of  the  facts 
alleged  would,  even  if  true,  authorize  the  French  government  to  consider 
Captain  Wright  in  any  other  lii'ht  than  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  and  as  entitled 
to  every  privilege  of  that  situation. 

"  To  ca!!  upon  a  prisoner  of  war  to  answer  interrosatories  in  order  t» 
produce  proof  against  himself  of  some  alleged  crime,  supposed  to  have 
beea  committed  previous  to  his  capture,  and  even  anterior  to  the  present 
war,  i«  evidently  inconsistent  with  everv  principle  of  justice;  and  to,abfidse 
his  personal  liberty,  much  more  to  confine  him  as  a  prisoner  of  state,  is  con- 
trary to  that  mitigated  exercise  of  the  rights  of  war,  which  has  formed  the 
boast  of  civilized  Europe. 

"  I  have  been  directed  to  state  these  sentiments  to  you,  in  the  confidence 
that  you  wii:  take  the  first  opportunity  of  conveying  them  to  the  Spanish 
ambassador  at  Paris,  and  of  requesting  him  to  communicate  them  to  the 
French  government. 

•'  His  Majesty,  ever  unwilling  to  add  to  the  calamities  of  war,  is  desirous 
of  trym<r,  through  any  friendly  channel,  to  procure  that  redress  by  remon- 
strance which  he  must  ultimately  be  compelled  to  seek  by  means  less 
^agreeable  to  his  inclinations',  he  will  abstain  from  having  recourse  to  those 
means,  while  he  entertains  the  hope  that  such  an  answer  will  he  given 
through  the  same  channel,  as  may  satisfy  his  just  expectations;  but  if  he 
learns  thai,  notwithstanding  this  representation,  the  imprisonment  of  Cap- 
tain Wright  is  still  continued,  he  will  no  longer  feel  himself  justified  in  de- 
laying to  treat  with  the  same  rigour  some  officer  of  equal  or  superior  rank, 
whom  the  chance  of  war  has  placed  in  his  power,  and  to  consider  such 
ollii.er  as  an  hostage  for  the  safety  of  Captain  \Vright. 

"  I  must  bi-g  you,  Sir,  to  accept  my  best  thanks  for  the  obliging  manner 
in  which  you  have  allowed  me  to  make  use  of  yotv  intervention  upon  au 
occasion  equally  interesting  to  humanity  and  to  justice. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

(Signed)  "  HARROWBY." 

No.  III. 

[Translation  from  the  French.] 

"  MY  LORD,  "  Portland  Place,  19th  July,  1804. 

"  I  have  received  the  note  your  Lordship  has  done  me  the  honour  of 
addressing  to  me,  in  which  I  am  desired  to  forward  ite  contents  to  his 
Catholic  Majesty's 'ambassador  at  Paris,  to  the  end  that  his  Britannjc 
Majesty's  sentiments  on  the  treatment  which  has  been  exercised  towards 
Captain  NYriuht,  may  be  made  known  to  the  French  government. 

"  At  our  last  interview  I  had  the  honour  of  expressing  to  your  Lordship 
how  much  I  should  be  flattered  at  being  able  to  render  myself  at  all  useful 
to  his  Britannic  Majesty's  government,  in  facilitating  its  means  of  commu- 
nication with  that  of  France  on  this  head,  I  consequently  hasten  to  assure 


482  .  STATE    PAPERS, 

your  Lordship  that  I  will  sei/.e  the  first  occasion  which  may  offer  for  ranking 
such  communication). 

"  Meanwhile,  I  have  the  satisfaction  of  expressing  to  you  my  very  sincere 
Wishes  to  see  this  step  crowned  with  such  a  measure  of  success  as  may  prove 
satisfactory  to  his  Britannic  Majesty. 

"  I  beg  your  Lordship  to  accept  my  assurances  of  the  high  consideration 
with  which  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

(Signed)        «  THE  CHEVALIER  D'ANDUAGA." 

"  Lord  Harrowby," 

No.  IV. 

(COPY.) 

a  SIR,  Downing  Street,  IZthAugus',  1804. 

"  I  have  had  the  honour  to  lay  before  Lord  Camden  your  letter  of  the 
17th  ultimo,  enclosing  the  copy  of  a  letter  from  M.  Riviere,  written  hy 
order  of  the  French  minister  of  marine  and  colonies,  to  the  commissioners 
for  the  custody  of  prisoners  of  war,  claiming  the  release  of  the  French 
crews  and  garrisons  that  were  made  prisoners  hy  his  Majesty's  squadron  off 
Cape  Francois,  in  the  island  of  St.  Domingo,  on  the  30lh  of  November  last, 
in  virtue  of  the  2d  article  of  the  convention  then  agreed  to  by  the  English 
and  French  commanders,  and,  in  answer  thereto,  I  am  directed  to  commu- 
nicate to  you  his  Loulship's  sentiments,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords 
Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  in  order  that  they  may  he  transmitted, 
through  M.  Riviere,  to  the  French  government. 

"  In  that  letter,  M.  Riviere  states,  that  the  minister,  under  whose  orders 
he  acts,  directs  him  to  observe  that '  the  misfortunes  of  war  are  sufficiently 
heavy  in  themselves,  and  call  particularly  on  those  who,  by  their  situation 
on  either  side,  are  so  powerfully  enabled  to  influence  the  fate  of  humanity, 
not  to  seek  occasions  reciprocally  to  aggravate  those  misfortunes  still  more, 
either  by  evasions,  or  discussions  unworthy  of  their  public  character;'  mid 
he  concludes  his  despatch  by  remarking, '  that  the  Admiralty  may  be  assured 
of  the  direct  and  decided  intention  of  (he  government  of  France,  that  none 
of  the  duties  of  humanity  shall  be  neglected  in  favour  of  prisoners  of  war.' 

"  The  sentiments  thus  avowed  are  congenial  with  those  which  are  enter- 
tained by  his  Majesty's  ministers;  and,  however  much  the  conduct  hitherto 
adopted  by  the  French  government  tuts  differed  from  those  sentiments,  I  am 
notwithstanding  directed  hy  Lord  Camden  to  lay  before  you  the  following 
statement,  as  he  cannot,  from  M.  Riviere's  expressions,  but  entertain  the 
expectation,  that  when  the  justice  of  the  cases  which  I  proceed  to  lay 
before  you,  for  his  information,  shall  l>c  considered,  the  French  goverqmer.t 
Tvill  afford  that  satisfaction  to  this  country  which  she  has  a  right  to 
expect. 

"  At  the  very  outset  of  the  war,  even  before  his  Majesty's  ambassador 
had  left  France,  a  very  considerable  number  of  his  Majesty's  subjects,  who 
were  resident  in  France  by  the  permission  of  the  French  government,  and 
on  the  faith  of  the  law  of  nations,  or  under  the  protection  of  passports  from 
the  ministers  of  France,  were,  in  defiance  of  the  established  practice  of 


STATE    PAPERS.  483 

European  nations,  detained  as  prisoners  in  France,   and  have  since  been 
cotifiiu'cl  in  distant  fortresses  in  that  country. 

"  Whilst  this  flagrant  violation  of  those  laws  and  customs,  by  which 
civilized  nations  have  so  long  been  guided,  has  taken  place  in  France,  his 
Majesty's  government  have  yet  allowed  all  persons  who  are  of  the  class 
know  n  in  the  cartel  of  the  last  war  by  the  designation  of  '  nun  CombattatuJ 
to  return  to  France,  and  526  persons  of  thiij  description  have  been  actually 
srnt  to  France,  whilst  only  one  person  of  the  same  description  is  known  by 
the  Transport  Board  to  have  bei'n  sent  from  France  to  this  country. 

"  Lord  Camden  conceives  that  this  plain  statement  sufficiently  marks  the 
different  principles  which  have  actuated  the  conduct  of  the  two  nations,  and 
therefore  makes  no  further  comment  or  observation  upon  it.  but  directs  me 
to  state  to  you  other  circumstances  connected  with  this  subject. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1803,  a  detachment  of  his  Majesty's  troops  landed 
on  the  island  of  St.  Lucia,  and,  on  terms  of  capitulation  being  refused,  they 
stormed  the  chief  fortress  on  that  island,  and  took  the  garrison  prisoners  of 
war  ;  but  so  far  from  using  the  power  which  a  victory  so  obtained  might 
kave  afforded  him,  his  Majesty's  commanding  officer,  though  he  might  have 
kept  the  sarrison  prisoners  in  the  West  Indies,  though  he  might  have  sent 
them  to  England,  stripped  of  all  their  private  property,  there  to  be  retained 
in  prison,  yet  upon  the  highest  principle  of  honour  and  humanity,  he  sent 
them  to  their  own  country  on  their  parole,  with  an  entire  confidence  of  their 
being  immediately  exchanged. 

"  No  acknowledgment  of  this  generous  conduct  has  been  made,  and  not 
a  single  British  prisoner  lias  been  released  in  return  for  the  garrison  of 
fct.  Lucia. 

"  In  the  same  month  of  June,  1303,  the  island  of  Tobago  was  attacked 
bv  a  strong  British  force  ;  and,  on  being  summoned  to  surrender,  General 
Berthier,  the  commandant,  not  being  in  a  situation  to  make  resistance, 
proposed  a  capitulation  the  most  favourable  to  the  French  garrison,  which 
consisted  of  only  89  rank  and  file.  It  was  in  the  power  of  his  Majesty's 
commanding  officer  to  have  forced  the  garrison  to  surrender  at  discretion, 
ye.t  he  humanely  agreed  to  the  capitulation  proposed,  and  gent  the  garrison 
t>  France  at  the  expence  of  Great  Britain. 

"  In  October,  1803,  the  French  garrison  of  Pondicherry,  consisting  of 
17  T  persons,  cut  off  from  aH  possibility  of  support,  were  summoned  to  sur- 
render, by  a  strong  detachment  of  his  Majesty's  forces ;  when,  on  their 
proposing  a  capittila'ion,  the  British  commanding  officer,  who  might  have 
reduced  them  without  the  danger  of  loss,  consented  to  allow  them  the  most 
favourable  and  generous  conditions — they  were  to  be  carried  to  France, 
and  to  receive  their  full  pay,  till  their  arrival,  from  the  India  Company,  and 
were  only  debarred  from  serving  again  for  a  year  and  a  day. 

"  A  cartel  ship,  named  the  Mutiuhi,  was  taken  into  employment  for  this 
ft  TV  ice,  which  a  few  days  ago  tirrived  in  the  Channel,  and  immediately  pro- 
ceeded off  Havre;' that  port  bring  blockaded,  the  cartel  was  directed  to 
proceed  to  Fecamp  ;  upon  his  amv-U  u'.T  that  port,  no  notice  being  taken 
of  the  ship,  several  of  the  French  oliicers  requested  to  be  allowed  to  enter 
the  port  in  a  boat;  this  wa^  permitted,  but  on  advancing  near  the  harbour 


484  STATE    PAPERS. 

with  n  flag  of  truce,  tlie  boat  was  so  repeatedly  fired  upon,  that  they  were 
obliged  to  relinquish  the  attempt,  and  the  cartel  has  arrived  in  the 
Downs. 

"  Notwithstanding  these  circumstances,  and  the  last  public  cartel  ship 
was  fired  upon  from  Morlaix,  which'  is  pointed  out  by  the  French  govern- 
ment  as  the  port  to  which  flags  of  truce  are  to  be  sent,  the  cartel  has  been 
ordered  to  proceed  to  that  port,  and  to  make  another  attempt  to  carry  the 
capitulation  entered  into  at  Poadicherry  into  execution. 

"  I  now  proceed  to  state  individual  cases  to  shew  the  spirit  which 
actuates  the  government  of  France, 

"  Captain  Jurien,  commander  of  the  French  frigate  la  Francaisc,  was 
allowed  to  go  to  France,  on  /tin  rurolc  to  return  to  England  in  three  months, 
if  he  conlil  not  procure  the  exchange  of  Captain  Brenton,  of  his  Majesty's 
frigate  Minerve. 

The  liberation  of  Captain  Brenton  lias  been  refused,  and  the  French 
government  have  proposed  lo  substitute 

1st,  Colonel  Crauford.  2dly,  Mr.  Macnarnara,  and  3dly,  a  Colonel  Smith. 
The  two  former  of  whom,  being  resident  in  France  at  the  time  of  the  rup- 
ture between  the  two  countries,  were  detained  as  prisoners  contrary  to  the 
law  of  rlations;  and  Colonel  Snath  is  not  known  to  be  in  the  army  or  the 
navy  of  this  country. 

"  I  am  next  to  advert  to  the  captu-re  and  detention  of  Lieutenant  Dillon, 
of  his  Majesty's  frigate  1'Africaine,  who  was  sent  into  Llelvoet  Sluys  on  the 
20th  of  July,  1803,  in  a  six-oared  cutter,  with  a  flag  of  truce,  and  was  there 
seized  and  detained  with  his  crew. 

"  Upon  a  representation  being  made  on  the  subject,  a  letter  was  re- 
ceived from  the  otiicer  commanding  at  the  Texel,  under  date  October  16, 
1803,  to  the  officer  commanding  his  Britannic  Majesty's  ships  off  that  port, 
stating  that  orders  had  been  issued  by  the  council  of  the  Batavian  navy,  to 
the  commanding  officer  at  Helvoet  on  the  30th  of  July  preceding,  for  the 
entire  release  of  the  said  lieutenant,  flag  of  truce,  and  equipage  ;  in  conse- 
quence whereof  he  departed  on  the  same  day,  but  that  he  was  on  Lis 
return  carried  back  by  a  French  armed  boat,  and  transported  on  board  the 
ship  of  the  commandant  of  a  French  division  stationed  at  the  same  port. 

It  appears  that  remonstrances  have  been  made  by  the  Batavian  Rcpi 
to  the  French  government,  for  the  liberation  of  Lieutenant  Dillon  ;  but, 
notwithstanding  these  circumstances,  Lieutenant  Dillon  is  still  detained  a 
prisoner  in  the  territory  of  France,  in  open  violation  of  every  privilege,  in 
relation  to  flags  of  truce,  established  and  acknowledged  by  civilized 
nations. 

"  But  the  case  of  Captain  Wright  deserves  and  requires  more  observation 
than  even  any  of  these  I  have  laid  before  you. 

et  It  appears  that  Captain  Wright,  commanding  his  Majesty's  sloop  F.I 
Vincejo,  (which  was  taken  off  the  coast  of  Britanny  on  the  20th  of  May 
last,  by  several  gun-boats),  instead  of  meeting  with  that  liberal  treatment 
which  has  uniformly  been  experienced  by  French  officers  in  similar  cases, 
•was  sent,  with  circumstances  of  peculiar  indignity  and  severity  to  Paris, 
subjected  to  close  imprisonment  in  the  Temple,  and  obliged  to  undergo 


STATE    PAPERS.  485 

/ 

repeated  interrogatories  before  a  court  of  justice,  where  none  of  the  facts 
p.lle'ied  against  him,  would,  if  true,  authorise  the  French  govprnment  to 
consider  Captain  Wright  in  any  other  light  than  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  and 
entitled  to  every  privilege  of  t!  at  situation.  Lord  Cainden  rinds  it  difficult 
to  permit  Die  to  advert  to  a  case  of  this  flagrant  nature  in  the  terms  and 
expre.-sions  to  which  this  communication  ought  to  be  confined;  for  he 
believes  that  no  age  has  yet  produced  an  instance  of  a  gallant  officer,  who, 
after  defending  his  ship  to  the  utmost,  was  obliged  to  surrender  and  whv> 
thus  becoming  a  prisoner  of  war,  was  entitled  to  nil  the  respect  which  his 
conduct  merited,  was  yet  dragged  to  the  capital  of  the  hostile  country,  and 
interrogated  there  in  a  manner  most  unjust  liable,  upon  a  subject  to  which 
he  conld  not,  and  ought  not  to  answer.  Captain  Wright's  judgement  :i  i 
firmness  appeared  to  be  as  conspicuous  u-uler  the  circumstance*  in  which 
he  was  placed,  as  his  gallantry  in  his  particular  profession,  but  he  ut 
remniiis  a  close  prisoner  in  the  Temple  at  Paris,  an  example  of  the  honour, 
the  firmness,  and  the  spirit  of  the  British  character. 

"  I  close  this  statement  with  this  case,  and  I  now  proceed  to  state  to 
you,  fur  the  information  of  M.  Riviere,  that  in  order  to  lessen  the  evils  of 
tvar,  and  to  consult  the  interests  of  humanity,  his  Majesty  lias  twice  united 
the  French  govern  i,e:it  to  accede  to  the  principles  of  a  general  cartel, 
founded  on  the  basis  of  that  which  ex.sttd  between  the  two  nations  in  the 
last  war. 

"  The  accession  to  those  proposals  has,  however,  been  evaded  by  the 
French  government,  by  insisting  that  the  Hanoverians  are  to  be  considered 
as  British  prisoners,  when  they  cannot  be  ignorant  that  the  case  of  the 
invasion  of  Hanover,  and  the  war  with  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  are  per- 
fectly distinct  in  all  their  circumstances;  when  they  know  that  during 
Several  years  of  the  last  war,  the  electoral  dominions  of  Hano\er  were  at 
peace  with  France,  and  that  a  mention  was  made  of  Hanover  in  the  treaty 
of  the  peace  at  Amiens,  as  not  forming  in  any  manner  whatsoever  a  part  of 
the  British  Empire;  and  when  they  equally  know  that  no  Hanoverian  is  a 
British  subject  :  but  on  the  contrary,  considered  by  the  laws  of  Great 
Britain  as  an  alien  and  foreigner,  and  over  whom  tliere  is  no  controul  in 
this  country. 

"  Having  laid  before  yon  this  statement,  it  remains  for  me  now  only  to 
advert  to  tiie  particular  subject  of  M.  Riviere's  letter,  viz.  that  those  French 
prisoners  who  surrendered  at  Cape  Francois,  by  capitulation,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1803,  should  be  sent  to  France  without  delay. 

"  On  this  part  of  the  subject,  I  am,  in  the  first  place,  directed  by  Lord 
Camden  to  refer  you  to  the  enclosed  copy  of  the  statement  to  V^ice-admiral 
Duckwoith  by  Captain  Bligh,  respecting  the  said  capitulation  in  order  that, 
by  a  communication  -thereof  to  M.  Riviere,  no  pretence  may  be  made  of 
ignorance  with  respect  to  all  its  particlnars. 

"  Upon  this  statement  of  Captain  Blish,  Lord  Camden  directs  me  to 
Bidce  the  following  observations: — iirst ;  It  appears  that,  in  a  moment  the 
most  critical  to  the  French  srarrison,  all  possibility  of  tneir  escape  cut  off, 
their  position  being  such  that  their  falling  a  sacrifice  to  the  vengeance  «f 

&0!.  XXI.  2  « 


486  STATE   PAPERS. 

die  inhabitants  of  St.  Domingo  was  inevitable,  no  time  being  allowed  for 
consideration  and  adjustment  of  the  terms  and  niceties  of  a  formal  capitu- 
lation, a  paper  of  articles  ready  prepared  by  the  French  corntnanding 
officer  was  presented  to  Captain  Bligh,  who,  actuated  by  the  motives  of 
generosity  and  compassion,  immediately  consented  thereto,  with  certain 
modifications;  and  with  great  difficulty  induced  General  Dessalines  also  to 
consent  to  them ;  which  modifications  (as  there  was  not  time  to  reduce 
them  into  regular  written  terms)  the  French  commander,  in  the  presence 
of  Captain  Bligh  and  three  of  his  officers,  promised  on  their  honour  to 
ratify  as  soon  as  they  should  arrive  at  Jamaica. 

"  Secondly — On  the  faith  of  this  promise,  thus  fully  and  distinctly  given 
in  the  presence  of  four  British  officers,  who  certify  the  fact,  the  French,  v 
garrison  were  received  under  the  protection  of  his  Majesty's  squadron,  and 
removed-  from  certain  immediate  destruction  ;  but  as  soon  as  by  these 
means  they  were  placed  in  a  state  of  security,  they  retracted  their  promise, 
and  refused  to  ratify  the  very  engagement  by  which  they  were  laved. 

"  Lord  Camden  has  thought  it  necessary  that  a  statement  of  the  transac- 
tions which  took  place  at  Cape  Francois  should  be  detailed  to  M.  Riviere, 
in  order  that  the  French  government  maybe  aware  of  all  the  circumstances 
of  the  case,  and  how  equitably  his  Majesty  might  be  authorised  in  acting 
conformably  thereto  ;  still,  however,  with  that  scrupulous  adherence  to 
capitulations  and  treaties,  which  has  ever  distinguished  this  nation,  his 
Majesty  will  not  insist  upon  any  point  which  is  not  included  in  the  words 
of  the  capitulation  of  Cape  Franeois,  and  wi!!  be  guided  in  his  conduct  by 
the  written  instrument  alone.  I  am  now  therefore  directed  by  Lord' 
Camden  to  desire,  that  it  may  be  stated  to  M.  Riviere,  that  no  time  will 
be  lost  in  carrying  into  execution  the  capitulation  of  Cape  Francois, 
whenever  his  Majesty^  government  shall  be  enabled,  from  the  conduct  of 
the  French  government,  to  effectuate  that  measure,  and  that,  so  soon  as  a 
number  of  British  prisoners,  equal  in  number,  and  proportionate  in  rank, 
to  the  garrison  of  St.  Lucia,  shall  be  sent  to  England,  a  proportion  of  the 
garrison  which  capitulated  at  Cape  Francois  shall  be  sent  to  France  in  order 
to  be  exchanged. 

"  This  proposition  is  made  upon  the  principle  of  evincing  the  most 
scrupulous  regard  to  the  capitulations  agreed  to  by  his  Majesty's  officers; 
but  Lord  Camden  hopes  that  the  French  government  may  be  induced  to 
ulterior  measures,  in  which  the  cause  of  general  justice  and  humanity  is  " 
concerned,  and  which  are  calculated  to  alleviate  those  evils  of  warfare^ 
which  M.  Riviere  so  truly  states  ought  not  to  be  aggravated. 

"  I  am  therefore,  secomlly^to  desire  itshould  be  proposed  to  II.  Riviere, 
that  if  the  French  government  shall  release  those  persons,  natives  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  who- were  resident  in  Francs  at  the  commencement 
of  hostilities,  by  the  permission  of  the  French  government,  or  the  passports 
ot  their  ministers,  and  who  have  been  detained  in  France  captives,  contrary 
to  the  law  of  nations  ;  or  if  Lieutenant  Dillon  shall  lie  liberated,  and  Cap- 
tain \Vri«lu  released  from  his  confinement,  and  treated  as  a  prisoner  of 
"•ar,  a  general  cartel,  upon  the  b;;s:s  so  properly  agreed  to  during  the  course 
of  the  lasc  war,  should  be  established  between  the  two  countries. 


STATE   PAPERS.  487 

K  It  must  be  obvious  to  M.  Riviere,  and  to  the  French  minister  of 
marine,  under  whom  he  acts,  how  deeply  his  Majesty  must  be  impressed  by 
the  already  lengthened  and  unjust  captivity  of  bis  subjects ;  and  by  the 
circumstances  of  Lieutenant  Dillon's  detention,  and  Captain  Wright's 
imprisonment,  and  how  reasonable  it  is  to  expect  an  honourable  redress  in 
these  points,  previous  to  the  establishment  of  a  general  cartel. 

"  When  this  sentiment  is  conveyed  to  M.  Riviere,  I  am  directed  to  desire 
that  their  Lordships  may  at  the  same  time  impress  upon  him  the  conh'dent 
expectation  of  Ins  Majesty's  government,  that  if  the  French  government 
shall  embrace  the  measure  of  a  general  cartel,  they  will  not  again  impede 
its  progress,  by  requiring  terms  in  which  it  is  known  that  it  is  impossible 
for  his  Majesty  to  acquiesce.  I  am,  &c. 

(Signed)  «  EDW.  COOKE." 

"  W.  Marsden,  Esq.  <§•<•.* 

No.  IV. — Enclosure. 
<COPY.) 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Theseus,  Port  Royal,  Jamaica, 
"  SIR,  December  11,  1803. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  30th  of  November  1  received  orders  from  Cap. 
tain  Loring  to  proceed  to  Cape  Francois  to  ascertain  the  real  situation  of 
the  French,  and  the  reason  of  their  remaining  in  the  port  after  the  forts 
had  been  taken  possession  of  by  the  Blacks,  and  from  my  knowledge  of  the 
circumstances,  to  act  as  I  should  deem  most  expedient. 

*'  When  I  had  proceeded  as  far  as  the  entrance  of  the  harbour,  I  was  met 
by  the  guard-boat,  which  I  thought  proper  to  accompany  on  board  the  Sui> 
veillante.  I  acquainted  Captain  Barre  that  having  perceived  the  colours  of 
the  Blacks  hoisted  at  the  batteries,  and  every  'appearance  of  a  strong 
north  wind  coming  on,  which  would  necessarily  prevent  their  putting  to 
sea,  we  were  induced,  by  motives  which  always  actuate  a  civilized  nation, 
to  afford  them  once  more  an  opportunity  of  entering  into  terms  of  capitula- 
tion, which  would  effectually  prevent  their  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
Blacks  ;  they  instantly  presented  me  terms  of  capitulation,  to  which  I  con- 
sented, with  some  exceptions,  and  for  which  I  received  General  Boyer's 
and  Captain  Barre's  word  of  honour  (in  the  presence  of  the  officers  whose 
names  are  hereunto  subscribed)  that  they  would  alter  according  to  my 
explanation,  or  Captain  Loring's  (the  senior  officer)  on  their  arrival  at 
Jamaica. 

"  I  was  disposed  to  concur  in  this  arrangement  the  more  readily,  as  I 
was  assured  by  Captain  Barre"  that  they  were  threatened  with  being  fired 
upon  with  red  hot  shot,  if  every  ship  was  not  out  of  the  harbour  by  six 
o'clock  that  evening;  the  time  was  critical,  and  I  conceived  it  necessary,  in 
order  to  prevent  this  threat  from  being  carried  into  execution,  to  have  some 
written  document  immediately  to  produce  to  General  Dessalines,  to  prove 
to  him,  that  they  had  become  prizes  to  his  Britannic  Majesty's  squadron. 

"  On  njy  waiting  on  the  Black  General,  at  half-past  rive  o'clock,  it  was 
with  considerable  'difficulty  I  prevailed  upon  him  to  desist  from  his  intention 


488  STATE  PAPERS. 

of  firing  into  the  ships,  if  they  did  not  leave  the  Cape  xvithin  the  appointed 
time,  although  at  this  time  it  wa^  an  impossibility,  the  wind  blowing  direct 
into  the  harbour,  and  nothing  but  tlieir  having  surrendered  to  the  squadron 
of  Ins  Britannic  Majesty  prevented  him  from  doing  so. 

"  I  feel  extreme  surprise.  Sir,  in  hearing,  that  (.General  Buyer  and  Cap- 
tain Barre  ha\e  refused  to  make  the  alterations  they  hud  pledged  them- 
selves to  d'i  on  their  arrival  at  Jamaica:  they  are  well  aware  of  the  circuin- 
etances  under  which  the  capitulation  was  mude,  as  well  as  the  urgency  of 
the  time,  which  admitted  only  of  verbal  explanation  and  parole  evidence. 

According  to  those  explanations,  the  2d  and  5th  articles  of  the  capitula- 
tion were  greatly  restricted  from  the  sense  which  I  understand  Ujey  will 
have  them  to  bear. 

"  By  the  2d  article  it  never  was  intended  that  any  but  the  officers  should 
have  their  parole,  and  that  only  to  return  to  Europe,  meaning  England,  in 
order  that  their  exchange  might  be  effected  without  delay;  and  the  5th 
article  meant  only  that  personal  property  should  be  respected  of  course, 
without  including  merchandize,  or  public  property,  which  might  be  f.nind 
on  board  the  vessels.  I  have,  &c. 

(Signed)  "  JOHN  BLIGH." 

"  To  Sir  John  Duckworth,  %c." 

"We,  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  do  testify  to  the  truth 
of  the  above  explanations  of  the  2d  and  5th  articles  of  capitulation 
off  Cape  Francois,  and  likewise  of  the  promise  made  in  our  presence' 
by  General  Boyer  and  Captain  Barre,  that  ti.ey  wuuld  ratify  them 
accordingly  on  their  arrival  at  Jamaica. 

(Signed)         ««  JOHN  PERKINS,  Captain  of  his  Majesty's 
ship  Tartar. 

"  FRANCIS  MACDONALD,   Lieutenant  of 
h:s  Majesty's  ship  Theseus. 

«  EDWARD    WROTTESLEY,  Midshipman; 
of  his  Majesty  s  ship  Theseus. 

No.  V. 

[Translation  from  the  French  ] 

"  MY  LORD,  '.'  Portland  Place,  24/A  September,  J804. 

**  At  length  I  have  the  satisfaction  of  announcing  to  your  Lord»!)ip  the 
success  which  has  attended  the  steps  taken  in-  favour  of  Captain  VVri«ht. 
By  a  letter  from  M.  Talleyrand,  addressed  to  his  Catholic  Majesty's 
ambassador,  (a  copy  of  which  I  have  the  honour  of  transmitting  to  you) 
your  Lordship  will  perceive  that  the  French  government  is  di>postd  to  order 
Mr  Wright  to  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  his  Britannic  Majesty,  and  for 
bis  deliverance  only  waits  to  leani  the  place  where  this  prisoner  i5  to  be 
con-igned. 

"  After  the  lively  interest  which  is  evident  to  have  been  felt  by  his 
Britannic  Majesty  in  the  fate  of  this  individual,  1  c.,nnot  bat  be  infinite  rj 


STATE   PAPERS.  489 

flattered  at  the  resolution  thus  taken  by  the  French  government,  and  t 
shall  he  no  less  so  as  being  instrumental  towards  the  perfect  conclusion  of 
this  affair. 

"  In  expressing  these  sentiments,  I  do  but  fulfil  the  wishes  and  evcu  the 
vcrv  Di-.-lcrs  o'  ihe  Kir,^  my  i:ia-,ter;  for  no  sooner  was  his  Mujestyunformed 
Qf  the  desires  of  lite  Bri  isl>  government  with  regard  to  Captain  Wright, 
than  he  cnar^cd  his  ambasaad-ir  at  Paris  most  particularly  to  omit  nothin^ 
\vincji  could  ;iid  iheir  obtaining  a  favourable  result. 

"  l  avail  niyseif  of  this  opportunity  for  renewing  to  your  Lordship  tlie- 
assurance  of  the  ln_h  consideration  with  which  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c, 
(Signed)        "  THE  CHEVALIER  D'ANDUAGA," 

^  Lord  Harroaly." 

No.  V. — Enclosure. 
[Translation  from  the  French  ] 

c<  «in,  "  Paris,  IP/A  Fi  ••ctihr,  xii  (1304). 

"  I  h  ivr  laid  before  his  Majesty  the  Emperor  the  letter  which  you  have 
<jonp  me  the  honour  of  Communicating  to  me.  By  his  order  I  m>ist  reca- 
pitulate to  voiir  F.xrt  Henry  some  facts  which  relate  to  the  object  of  that 
loiter.  Mr.  Wright  was  taken  by  our  cruisers  at  the  very  moment  he  was 
land'nm  Jean  Maiie  and  two  of  his  accomplices  on  the  coast  of  Britamn-. 
Prior  to  this  he  had  already  landed  at  three  times  consecutively  banditti 
of  a  similar  description,  v\  ho  have  since  been  brought  tojudgement,  convicted 
and  punished,  for  having  conspired  against  the  state,  and  attempted  tho 
life  of  the  first  consul.  These  species  of  acts,  under  whatever  point  of 
view  they  may  otherwise  be  contemplated,  certainly  do  not  appertain  to 
war :  there  is  no  age  nor  any  nation  in  which  they  ivould  not  be  regarded 
as  crimes,  and  one  may  with  truth  aver  that  it  was  Jlagranti  delicto.  Mr. 
Wright  was  captured  by  French  mariners  then  officiating  as  an  armed 
force. 

"  Accord'ng  to  accounts,  to  which  full  credit  must  be  given,  this  officer 
had  been  demanded  from  the  English  Admiralty.  The  Lords  directing  this 
departmmt  were  of  course  not  ignorant  of  the  kind  of-service  to  which  ha 
was  destined  ;  the  shame  attached  to  the  premeditation  and  execution  of  a 
project  as  Atrocious  and  vile  as  it  was  cowardly,  remains  entirely  with  the 
men  who  devised  the  plot,  and  with  him  who  undertook  to  accomplish  their 
views. 

"  I  am  ordered,  Sir,  to  declare  to  your  Excellency,  that  his  Majesty  the 
Emperor  « ill  never  surfer  Mr.  Wright  to  i»e  exchanged.  No  Frenchman 
belonging,  with  whatever  rank  he  may,  to  the  Imperial  Xavy,  can  e\er  con- 
sent to  lie  placed  in  the  balance  with  that  person  in  a  cartel  of  exchange. 
But,  Sir,  the  Emperor  having  at  heart  to  do  every  thing  which  dependsupon 
Lis  Imperial  Majesty  to  mitigate  the  scourges  of  war,  and  willing  to  prove 
that  in  his  breast  sucn  a  disposition  preponderates  over  every  motive  of 
useful  and  just  severity,  has  authorised  me  to  declare  that  his  Imperial 
Majesty  will  give  orders  that  Mr.  Wright  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  th« 
English  government.  May  J  beg  of  joa  therefore  to  make  knowu  to  Lowl 


490  STATE   PAPERS. 

JIarrowby  this  generous  determination  of  his  Majesty.  You  will  see  in 
it,  Sir,  the  marked  intention  ofdoing  what  may  be  personally  agreeable  to 
yourself;  and  his  Britannic  Majesty's  new  ministry  will  be  constrained  to 
recognise  in  it  »  proof  of  the  disposition  so  often  manifested  on  the  part  of 
fcis  Imperial  Majesty,  to  shew  himself  above,  not  only  those  sentiments 
which  offences  in  general  excite,  but  even  above  those  which  might  spring 
from  the  attempts  of  which  his  own  person  has  been  the  object.  I  shall 
therefore  remain  in  expectation  of  learning  by  your  means  the  place  which 
the  English  government  wish  the  prisoner  of  state  claimed  through  your  in- 
tervention to  be  delivered  over. 

"  I  avail  myself  of  this  opportunity  of  renewing  to  your  Excellency  the 
assmances  o£  my  most  high  consideration. 

(Signed)    "  CHARLES  MAURICE  TALLEYRAND-" 

Certified  as  a  Copy,  • 
{Signed)   FREDERIC  GRAVINA. 

Certified  as  a  Copy, 
(Signed)  THE  CHEVALIER  D'ANDUAGA. 

"  To  his  Excellency  Admiral  Gravina." 
I  . 

No.  VI. 

(COPY.) 
"  SIRT  "  Dozening  Street,  September  25th,  1804. 

**  I  have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  yester- 
day, and  to  assure  you,  that  his  Majesty's  government  entertain  a  just  sense 
•of  the  liberality  and  generosity  with  which  Ins  Catholic  Majesty  has  been 
ipleased  to  interpose  his  good  offices  in  favour  of  Captain  Wright,  and  of 
the  very  obliging  manner  m  which  you  and  Mr.  Gravina  have  complied  with 
the  request  contained  in  my  former  note  to  you  upon  this  subject 

"  As  the  French  government  has  consented  to  lilx-rate  that  officer  from 
his  present  confinement,  and  to  allow  him  to  return  to  this  country,  I  do 
not  think  proper  to  make  any  observations  upon  the  contents  of  M.  Talley- 
rand's note  to  Admiral  Gravina  :  I  have  therefore  to  request  that  you,  Sir, 
will  be  pleased  to  communicate  through  M.  de  Gravina  to  the  French 
government,  in  consequence  of  the  wish  they  have  intimated  to  know  the 
place  to  which  Captain-  Wright  should  be  sent,  that  it  is  the  desire  of  his 
Majesty's  government  that  he  should  be  sent  to  Dover  in  a  flag  of  truce,  or 
if  there  is  any  objection  to  that  mode  of  liberating  him,  that  he  may  be 
.allowed  to  quit  the  territories  of  France,  for  the  purpose  of  proceeding  to 
Etnbden,  or  any  other  neutral  port  or  place.* 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

(Signed)  "  HARRQWBY." 

"  The.  Chevalier  D'Anduaga." 

*  The  French  government  never  fulfilled  its  promise,  and  Captain  W. 
died  in  confinement.  See  NAVAL  CUUQMCLE,  Vol.  XIV.  page  376. 


401 

Inscription  on  tie  Monument  of  the  lafe  Admiral  Sir  GEORGE  POCOCK,*     . 
erected  in  Westminster  Ablcy,  being  the  Frontispiece  to  thepresent  Volume, 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of 

SIR   GEORGE    POCOCK,    K.B. 

Who  entered  early  into  the  naval  service  of  his  country,  under  the  auspices 

of  liis  uncle,  Lord  Torrington, 
And  who,  emulating  his  great  example,  rose  with  high  reputation  to  the 

rank  of  Admiral  of  the  Blue. 
His  abilities  as  an  Officer  stood  confessed  by  his  conduct  upon  a  variety  of 

occasions : 

But  his  gallant  and  intrepid  spirit  was  more  fully  displayed 

By  the  distinguished  part  he  bore  at  the  taking  of  Geriah, 

And  in  leading  the  attack  at  the  reduction  of  Chandernagore; 

And  afterwards,  when  with  an  inferior  force,  he  defeated  the  French  fleet 

under  M.  D'Ache, 

In  three  general  engagements  ; 

Shewing  what  British  valour  can  atcbieve,  aided  by  professional  skill  and 

experience. 
Indefatigably  active  and  persevering  in  his  own  duty,  he  enforced  a  strict 

observance  of  it  in  others ; 
At  the  same  time,  with  so  much  mildness,  with  such  condescending  manners, 

As  to  gain  the  love  and  esteem  or' all  who  served  under  him  ; 

Whose  merits  he  was  not  more  quick  in  discerning,  or  more  ready  to  reward, 

Than  he  was  ever  backward  in  ackowledging  his  own. 

Returning  from  his  successful  career  in  the  East, 
He  was  appointed  to  command  the  fleet  upon   the  expedition  against  the 

Havannah, 

By  his  united  eflbrts  in  the  conquest  of  which, 
He  added  fresh  laurels  to  his  brow,  and  a  valuable  possession  to  this  kingdom. 

Upon  his  retiring  from  public  employment, 

He  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  a  state  of  dignified  ease  and  splendour : 
Hospitable  and  generous  to  his  friends ;  and  exhibiting  a  striking  picture  of 

Christian  benevolence, 
By  rlis  countenance  and  support  of  public  charities,  and  by  his  liberalities 

to  the  poor. 
A  life  so  honourable  to  himself,  and  so  endeared  to  his  friends  and  his 

family,  was  happily  extended  to  the  age  of  3(>, 
When  he  resigned  it  with  the  same  tranquil  and  serene  mind, 
Which  peculiarly  marked  and  adorned  the  whole  course  of  it. 

He  left, 

By  Sophia  his  wife,  daughter  of  George  Francis  Drake,  and  who  was  first 
married  to  Commodore  Dent, 

A  Son,  and  a  Daughter; 

George  Pocotk,  Esq.  who  caused  this  Monument  to  be  erected  ;  and  Sophia, 
imrricd  to  John  Earl  Poulett. 

*  For  a  portrait  and  meuiuir  of  bur  Oeorgc  Pococli,  see  NAVAL  CHROM- 
CLB>  Vol.  VIII. 


492 


MARINE  DESIGNS,  NAVAL  PORTRAITS,  &c, 

IN    T11C 

EXHIBITION  AT  THE  ROYAL  ACADEMY, 

M;DCCC1X. 

THE  FOR1Y-FIRST. 

R.A.  Roy  a!  Academician.     A.  Associate.     A.  E.  Associate 
Engraver.     II.  Honorary. 


E  Right  Hon.  the  Earl  of  Kingston,  as  the  Right  Worships 
-*«-    fui  Master  of  the  Royal  Naval  Lodge  of  Freemasons. 

G.  F.  JoxepJi. 

The  watering  place     ...; A.  W*  Calcott,  A. 

Spi'.head  :  boat's  crew  recovering  an  anchor. 

J.  M.  W.  Turner,  R.A4 

Glendore  Head,  and  entrance  of  Glendore  harbour,  in  the  county 
of  Cork,  in  Ireland— the  Galley  Head  appears  in  the  distance; 

G.  ArnaUL 

Vfc\V  on  the  Thames,  near  Millbank     .>..,.. T.  tiuic. 

A  fresh  gale,  with  ships,  &c JV.  Pocock. 

Aenercoil,  near  Manapar,  on  the  Coromandel  coast,  a  reclnsd 
situation  of  the  religious  Hindoos,  East  Indies  T.Daniell,  R.A. 

Portrait  of  Lord  Gambler. . * Sir  W.  Beecliey.  R.A. 

Ifurra-gowree,  a  place  of  great  sanctity  of  the  Hindoos,  near 
Bidzee-Ghur,  a  hill  fort,  in  the  district  of  Benares,  East 

Indies T.  Darnell,  R.A. 

The  singular  circumstance  of  his  Majesty's  ship  Centaur,  of  74 
guns,  Captain  Markham,  passing  Gravesend  at  ten  o'clock  at 
night  by  moon-light,  September,  1797. 

Captain  Richlell^  R.N.     If. 
View  at  the  falls  of  the  Yantick,   a  branch  of  the  River  Thames, 

near  Norwich,  in  North  America J.  TrumbulL 

Minster  Point,  Isle  of  Shoppy  — //.  IV.  Pickersgill. 

The  view  from  the  west  end,  on  Rochester  bridge. 

J.  Richards,  R.A. 
Portrait  of  Sir  C.  Brisban'^  representing  his  attack  on  Cnracoa. 

J.Northc^ie,  R.A. 
A  calm ....  — T.  Thompson. 


MARINE   DESIGNS,    NAVAL    PROJECTS,    &C.  493 

A  boat's  crew,  with  passengers  escaping  from  a  wreck.  G.  Arnold. 

"  As  buoyant  on  the  wave  the  pinnace  rides, 
Its  crew,  expectant  of  the  \vish'd-for  shore, 
.    Quit  the  dear  foimd'ring  bark,  and  o'er  the  main, 
Oil  every  side  a  mournful  wreck  deplore." 

Portrait  of  Captain  Curtis,  R.N S.  IVoodforde,  R.A. 

The  poor  sailor ..  . _  G.  Wilson. 

Portrait  of  Earl  St.  Vincent.. ....   J.  Hoppner^  R.A. 

View    of  Plymouth   Dock   and   Hamoaze,    taken    from   Mount 

Edgecumbe   W.  Duniell,  A. 

Portrait  of  Captain  M.  Seymour,  of  the  royal  navy. 

J.  Northcole,  R.A. 

Portrait  of  Sir  W.  Pole,  Bart J.  Northcote,  R.A. 

View  at  the  falls  of  the  Yantick,  a  branch  of  the  river  Thames, 

near  Norwich,  in  North  America ..* J.  Trumbull. 

ANTI-ROOM. 

Sea  piece C.  M.  Powell. 

A  sea  piece. Rev.  C.  Moysey,  If. 

Portrait  of  Admiral  Essington  ....... — J.  J.  HalL 

COUNCIL-ROOM. 

Dover,  from  the  pier J.  P.  Neale. 

North-west  view  of  a  sufferance  wharf V.  Davis. 

Portraits  of  a  naval  commander  and  a  lady  of  quality. 

J.  Dozcnman,  A. 
The  interio  r  part  of  a  sea-port. — Vide  Pausanias,  b.  ii.  c.  xii. 

J.  Gaudy,  A. 
ANTIQUE  ACADEMY. 

Hospitality  to  shipwrecked  sailors  — T.  Thompson. 

View  of  the  action  between  his  Majesty's  ship  Amethyst,  Captain. 
M.  Seymour,  and  the  French  frigate  Thetis,  a  few  minutes 
before  the  latter  surrendered,  after  a  hard  contest  of  three 
hours  R.  Dodd. 

Retreat  of  the  Russian  admiral  into  Port  Baltic  ;  his  rear-most 
ship,  after  beine;  rescued  in  the  morning,  cut  off  and  captured 
at  the  mouth  of  that  port,  at  close  of  day,  by  the  Centaur.  26th 
Augu.- 1,  180S R-  Dodd, 

LIBRARY. 
A  view  on  the  river  Medway - E.  Clulde. 

&IQU.  &ol.  XXL  3  R 


494  MARINE   DESIGNS,    NATAL    PROJECTS,   &<% 

View  near  Southampton .._. R. Brazen?* 

Margate  Roads   „.,    T.  Thompson, 

MINIATURES. 

Portraits  of  the  late  Captain  Bettesworth,  Lord  Nelson,  and 
Mr.  Pitt T.  Warner. 

Portrait  of  Lord  Nelson  :  Impression  from  a  die  for  a  gold  medal 
given  by  Dr.  Turton,  for  a  poetical  essay  on  the  death  of  that 
lamented  hero • T.  Wyon. 

Portrait  of  a  naval  officer T.  Hargrearcs. 

Sketch  of  Captain  M'Leod,  of  the  royal  navy...  D.  B.  Murphy. 

MODEL  ACADEMY. 

Design  for  a  boat-house  and  banquetting  room J.  Baber. 

Desigri  for  a  triumphal  mansion  for  the  descendants  of  the  immortal 
Nelson,  as  a  grateful  tribute  of  his  country  to  perpetuate  that 
hero's  valour ..P.  llardieick. 

Design  for  an  observatory  and  light-house.  _• J.  Baber. 

Britannia  at  the  tomb  of  her  departed  hero,  referring  you  to  his- 
tory  for  his  achievements  :  Design  for  a  public  monument. 

J.  Theakston. 

To  commemorate  the  death  of  General  M'Pherson,  of  Charles 
Town,  South  Carolina,  who  was  shipwrecked  in  a  storm  off 
New  York,  on  the  24th  of  August,  1800.  After  rescuing  his 
daughter  three  times  from  the  waves,  he  was  washed  overboard 
and  disappeared.  The  life  of  Miss  M'Pherson  was  afterwards 
preserved  by  one  of  the  passengers Devaere. 

Bust  of  the  late  Admiral  Earl  He  we F.  L.  Chanlrcy. 

Design  for  a  boat-house,  landing-place,  and  aquatic  temple,  for  a 
gentleman's  villa  on  the  banks  of  the  Thames J.  Elmes. 

Design  for  a  marine  villa J.  Griffiths. 

Bust  of  the  late  Admiral  Lord  Duncan,  modelled  for  (he  Royal 
Naval  Asylum,  Greenwich F.  L.  Chanirey* 

Bust  of  Earl  St.'  Vincent F.  L.  Chantrey. 

Naval  column  to  the  memory  of  Lord  Nelson,  now  building  at 
Dublin W.  Wilkins* 

Drawing  of  the  Royal  Naval  Asylum  now  building  at  Greenwich, 
under  the  patronage  of  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Cum- 
berland   D.  Alexander. 


495 


The  heart's  remote  recesses  to  explore, 

And  touch  its  springs,  when  prose  avaiPd  no  more. 

FALCOHIR. 

THE   BRITISH   CHANNEL. 

BY    ROBERT    BLOOMFIELD. 

llJJ  OLL,  roll  thy  white  waves,  and  enveloped  in  foam, 
*-*'     Pour  thy  tides  round  the  echoing  shore  ; 
Thou  guard  of  Old  England  —  my  country,  my  home  ! 
And  my  soul  shall  rejoice  in  the  roar  ! 

Though  high-fronted  valour  may  scowl  at  the  foe, 

And  with  eyes  of  defiance  advance, 
"Tis  thou  hast  repell'd  desolation  and  woe, 

And  the  conquering  legions  of  France, 

'Tis  good  to  exult  in  the  strength  of  the  land, 

That  the  flow'r  of  her  youth  are  in  arms  ; 
That  her  lightening  is  pointed,  her  jav'lin  in  hand, 

And  arous'd  the  rough  spirit  that  warms  : 

But  ne'er  may  that  period  of  horror  be  known, 

When  these  hills  and  these  vallies  shall  feel 
The  rush  of  the  phalanx  by  phalanx  o'erthrown, 

And  the  bound  of  the  thundering  wheel. 

The  dread  chance  of  battle,  its  blood  and  its  roar, 

Who  can  wish  in  his  senses  to  prove  ; 
To  p  ant  the  foul  fiend  on  Britannia's  own  shore, 

All  sacred  to  peace  and  to  love  ? 

Hail  —  glory  of  Albion  !  ye  fleets  and  ye  hosts  ! 

I  breathe  not  the  tones  of  dismay  : 
In  valour  unquestioned,  still  cover  your  coasts, 

But  may  Heav'n  keep  the  slaughter  away. 

Thou  gem  of  the  ocean,  that  smil'st  in  thy  pow'r, 
May  thy  sons  prove  too  strong  to  be  slaves  ! 

Yet  let  them  not  sco;n  in  the  dark-fated  hour 
To  exult  in  their  rampart  of  waves. 

The  nations  have  trembled—  have  cowcr'd  in  the  dust, 
Even  the  Alps  heard  the.  Conqueror's  song, 

When  the  Genius  of  Gaul,  with  unquenchable  thirst, 
Push'd  her  eagles  resistless  along. 


496  KAVAL   FOETB.Y. 

And  still  they  advance,  and  the  nations  must  bleet!? 

Then  sing,  O  my  Country,  for  joy  ; 
The  girdle  of  ocean,  by  Heav'n  was  decreed, 

To  protect  what  the  sword  would  destroy. 


MR.  G.  CAMPBELL,  the  admirable  author  of  the  Baffle  o 

lenden  and  the  Pleasures  of  HOJJC,  has  very  lately  published 
amongst  some  other  Poems?  (the  principal  of  which  is  styled 
Gertrude  of  Wyoming)  a  Naval  Ode  of  great  merit,  entitled 
THE  MARINEUS  of  ENGLAND.  This  little  Volume  we  under* 
stand  was  all  sold  in  a  few  days.  We  therefore  insert  the  first, 
seeondj  and  third  stanzas  of  the  above  Ode. 


YE   MARINERS  OF  ENGLAND, 

A    KAVAL    ODE, 
I. 

YE  Mariners  of  England  ! 
That  guard  our  native  seas  : 
Whose  flag  has  braved,  a  thousand  years^ 
ThcT)attle  and  the  breeze  ! 
Your  glorious  standard  launch  again 
To  match  another  foe ! 
And  sweep  through  the  deep, 
While  the  stormy  tempests  blow  ; 
While  the  battle  rages  loud  and  longa 
And  the  stormy  tempests  blow. 

II. 

The  Spirits  of  your  Fathers 

Shall  start  from  every  wave  ! 

For  the  deck  it  was  their  field  of  fame, 

And  Ocean  Ava^  their  grave : 

Where  BLAKE  and  mighty  NELSON  fell ' 

Your  manly  hearts  shall  glow, 

As  ye  sweep  through  the  deep. 

While  the  stormy  tempests  blow  ; 

While  the  battle  rages  loud  and  long, 

And  the  stormy  tempests  blow, 


NAVAL   HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1S09.  497 

III. 

Britannia  needs  no  bulwark, 
No  towers  along  the  steep ; 
Her  inarch  is  on  the  mountain  waves, 
Her  home  is  on  the  Deep. 
With  thunders  from  her  native  oak, 
She  quells  the  floods  below—- 
As they  roar  on  the  shore, 
When  the  stormy  tempests  blo'.v  ; 
When  the  battle  rages  loud  and  long, 
And  the  stormy  tempests  blow. 


NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1809. 

(May—  June.) 
RETROSPECTIVE  AND  MISCELLANEOUS. 

A  GREAT  and  noble  mind  now  actuates  the  armies  of  Austria 
and  the  Confederates.  It  will,  however,  be  still  a  hard  and  sevtre 
labour  to  oppose  the  wide  influence  of  French  corruption,  aided  by  the 
wretched  politics  of  Russia.  Spain  still  keeps  her  head  above  water  ;  Sir 
Arthur  Wellesley  contintfes  successful,  and  Buonaparte  has  certainly  sus- 
tained a  severe  defeat  and  is  retreating.  But  why  is  Lord  Wellesley  at  an 
enormous  expense  to  be  sent  out  to  Spain  for  only  a  few  months,  and  then 
to  return  :  and  why  are  the  troops  kept  on  board  the  numerous  transports 
at  Spithead,  and  in  Portsmouth  harbour,  losing  the  golden  opportunity  and 
their  own  health  ?  These  and  various  other  questions  are  constantly  asked, 
but  are  never  answered. 

The  reports  of  a  change  at  the  Admiralty  have  proved  fallacious,  and  th« 
resignation  of  Lord  Mulgrave  and  the  raising  of  the  Royal  George  are  given 
up  for  the'  present.  The  trial  of  Lord  Gambier  has  been  put  oft'  for  some 
weeks  to  collect  the  witnesses,  and  begins  to  take  a  more  decided  character 
than  was  at  first  expected.  It  is  at  all  events  a  great  misfortune  to  the  ser- 
vice to  meet  with  such  impediments  and  clogs,  whatever  may  be  the 
result. 

It  is  remarkable,  that,  in  his  Majesty's  Speech,  at  the  prorogation  of 
Parliament,  no  mention  whatsoever  is  made  respecting  America.  The 
Speech  of  Mr.  Madison,  the  American  President,  at  the  opening  of  the 
extra  Session  of  Congress,  on  the  contrary,  dwells  on  scarcely  any  other 
topic  than  the  renewal  of  amity  with  England,  and  the  necessary  alteration* 
which  that  renewat  will  cause,  in  the  respective  departments  of  govern- 
ment. The  event,  which  the  Americans  erroneously  believe  to  have  been 
accomplished,  appears  to  give  great  and  almost  general  satisfactkm 
throughout  the  territories  of  the  United  States  ;  and  despatches  have  been 
forwarded  to  the  American  minister  at  Paris,  instructing  him  to  urge  the 
revocation  of  the  Berlin  decrees. 


498  NAVAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

A  new  and  formidable  expedition,  intended  to  create  a  diversion  infavou? 
«f  Austria,  is  in  great  forwardness.  An  embarkation  of  12,000  troops  is 
taking  place  at  Portsmouth ;  and  the  entire  number  of  soldiers;  it  is  said, 
will  amount  to  nearly  40,000.  The  naval  part  of  the  expedition  is  to  be 
entrusted  to  Rear-admiral  Sir  Richerd  Strachan,  with  Sir  Home  Popham 
under  him.  The  military  commander-in-chief  has  not  been  mentioned; 
nor  is  it  yet  known  against  what  point  the  attack  will  be  directed. 

An  attempt  to  destroy  the  enemy's  fleet,  in  the  Scheldt,  is  said  to  have 
been  in  contemplation  by  government,  but  to  have  been  abandoned,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  escape  of  a  person,  considered  as  a  spy,  who  had  obtained 
a  knowledge  of  the  intention. 


Extract  of  a  Letter  from  a  Naval  Officer,  dated  Rio  de  Janeiro, 
January,  1809. 


"  Notwithstanding  the  great  heat  from  85'  to  91P  we  are  in  tolerable 
health  :  the  inconvenience  Europeans  feel  here  is  from  a  nettle-rash,  or 
prickly  heat,  which  flays  us  alive,  and  renders  it  almost  impossible  to  sit 
still,  even  for  writing.  This,  however,  is  wholesome  they  say  ;  and  striking 
it  in  would  be  fatal,  so  we  all  take  care  of  checks  of  perspiration  accord- 
ingly. This  heat  is  peculiar  to  this  reverberating  harbour  j  for  off  Cape 
Frio,  where  our  advanced  ships  cruise,  it  is  cool  and  pleasant,  and  in  the 
River  of  Plata,  about  Monte  Video,  &c.  at  this  season  delightful.  As  to 
news,  I  can  only  say  every  thing  is  in  a  state  of  stagnation.  By  the  time 
Lord  S.  has  concluded  his  commercial  treaty,  we  shall  have  no  commerce. 
British  influence  zcas  strong  in  every  department  ashore,  till  the  President 
frigate  brought  her  precious  diplomatic  cargo  ;  alter  which,  the  reign  of 
intrigues  commenced,  and  ever  since,  although  the  Prince  Regent  expresses 
himself  as  happy  in  the  protection  of  British  naval  force,  the  ministry  shew 
occasional  symptoms  of  jealousy:  for  instance,  the  London,  in  going  out  on 
a  cruise  some  time  ago,  being  obliged  to  corue  suddenly  to  an  anchor  under 
the  fort,  was  seen,  as  is  customary  and  necessary,  to  take  soundings.'  This 
was  made  the  subject  of  a  formal  complaint  to  the  Admiral,  as  a  breach  of 
hospitality  :  which  Sir  Sidney  Smith  got  rid  off,  by  coolly  answering,  that  the 
duty  of  his  sjiips  must  be  carried  on  according  to  the  rules  of  the  service* 
in  all  parts  of  the  world  ;  and  that,  as  to  any  impropriety  in  surveying  the 
coast,  (--upposing  that  to  have  been  the  case)  as  he  was  charged  with  the 
responsibility  of  defending  it,  it  stood  to  reason  that  he  ought  to  bfc 
made  acquainted  with  it.  —  Sir  Sidney  has  a  pleasant  house  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  river,  with  a  good  deal  of  land.  It  was  a  present  from  the 
Prince,  and  is  called  Chacra  Braganca.  They  are  all  at  loggerheads  in  the 
Spanish  provinces  to  the  southward.  I  am  convinced  had  Sir  S.  S.'s  duties 
admitted  of  his  appearing  at  Monte  Video,  he  would  greatly  have  promoted 
the  interests  of  commerce.  Some  diminution  of  intercourse  has  been 
observed  between  our  envoy  and  the  admiral,  arising  as  far  as  I  can  learn 
fiom  the  laser's  difiike  to  asking  as  a  boon  what  may  be  deemed  our  right. 


NAVAL   HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

A  great  many  changes  and  removals  in  the  squadron— Captain  Schomberg 
to  the  President,  vice  Mackenzie,  gone  into  the  Bedford  ;  Captain  Davie  to 
the  Foudroyant,  acting  till  the  return  of  Captain  Yeo,  who  is  to  be  flag  cap- 
tain when  he  comes  in  from  a  cruise.  One  of  the  Agamemnon's  lieutenant* 
to  the  vacancy.  Adieu.'' 


EUtters  on 

Copied  verbatim  from  the  LOKDON  GAZETTE. 


ADMIRALTY-OFFICE,   MAT    27,    1809. 

Cor.y  nfa  Le'ter  from  Vice-admiral  Lord  Cottingwood,  Commander-in-chief 
of  his  Majesty's  Ships  and  Vessels  in  the  Mediterranean,  to  the  Hon. 
W.  W,  Pole,  dated  on  board  the  Ocean,  at  Sea,  the  6th  March,  1809. 

SIR, 

T  ENCLOSE,  to  be  laid  before  their  Lordships,  a  letter  I  have  received 
from  Lord  Cochrane,  captain  of  his  Majesty's  ship  Imperieuse,  who 
has  been  for  some  time  past  employed  on  the  coast  of  Catalonia,  and  where 
the  good  services  of  his  Majesty,  in  aid  of  the  Spaniards  and  in  annoyance 
«f  the  enemy  could  not  be  exceeded.  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

COLLINGWOOD. 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Imperieuse,  Caldagues, 
MY  LORD,  2d  January,  1809. 

Having  received  information  of  two  French  vessels  of  war,  and  a  convoy 
«f  victuallers  for  Barcelona,  being  in  this  port,  I  have  the  honour  to  inform 
your  Lordship,  that  they  are  all,  amounting  to  thirteen  sail,  in  our 
possession. 

The  French  have  been  driven  from  the  town  of  Caldagues,  with  the  loss 
of  nine  cannons,  which  they  had  mounted  and  were  mounting  on  the 
batteries.  I  have,  &c. 

The  Right  Hon.  Lord  Collingwaod,  4-c.  COCHRANE. 

La  Gauloise  cutter,  commanded  by  M.  Avenet,  member  of  the  Legion  of 
Honour,  7  gnns,  46  men. 

La  Julie  lugger,  commanded  by  M.  Chaseriau,  5  guns,  4  swivels,  44  meu. 
And  eleven  victuallers. 


Vice-Admiral  Sir  James  Saumarez,  commander-in-chief  of  his  Majesty's 
•hips  and  vessels  in  the  Baltic,  has  transmitted  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole,  a 
letter  which  he  had  received  from  Captain  Hollis,  of  his  Majesty's  ship  the 
Standard,  who  had  been  detached  with  the  ships  and  vesst'S  nainjed  in  the 
margin,*  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  the  island  of  Ai.liolt,  giving  an 
account  of  its  reduction  on  the  18th  imtant,  by  a  party  of  seamen  anil  ma- 
rines, landed  under  the  command  of  Captain  Selby,  of  the  Owen  Glenduur, 
assisted  by  Captain  Edward  \icho!ls,  of  the  royal  marines.  The  garrison, 
consisting  of  one  hundred  and  seventy  men,  surrendered  at  discretion.  On 
our  side  one  private  marine  was  killed  and  two  wounded. 

The  acquisition  of  this  i-.Iand  is  stated  to  be  of  Importance  in  furnishing 
supplies  of  water  to  his  Majesty's  fleet,  and  affording  a  good  anchorage  to 
the  trade  in  going  to  or  coming  from  the  Baltic. 

*  Standard,  Owen,  Glendour,  Avenger,  Ranker,  Rose,  S;>ipe  gun-vessel. 


500  NAVAL    HISTORV    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAtt,    1809. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  lice-admiral  Sir  James  Saumarez,  Jiart.  and  K.B, 
Commander-in-chief  of  hit  Majesty's  Shi,/s  and  Vessels  in  the  Baltic,  to  the 
Hon.  W.  IV.  Pole,  dated  on  board  the.  Victory,  in  Win  go  Sound,  the  IC.'A 
instant  i 

SIR, 

Herewith  I  enclose  a  lettter  I  have  received  from  Rear-admiral  Sir 
R.  G.  Keats,  K.B.  stating  the  capture  of  a  Danish  lugger  privateer  by  the 
boats  of  his  Majesty's  ship  Majestic,  and  of  two,  sloop-rigged,  by  his 
Majesty's  gun-brig  Earnest,  which  you  will  please  to  lay  before  the  Lord* 
Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty.  I  am,  &c. 

JAMES  SAUMAREZ. 

SIR,  Superb,  offYstud,  May  9,  1809. 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  of  the  capture  of  a  Danish  lugger  pri- 
vnteer,  the  Spider,  of  two  guns  and  twenty-one  men,  by  the  boats  of  his 
Majesty's  ship  Majestic  ;  and  also  two,  sloop-rigged,  by  the  Earnest, 
Lieutenant  Templar,  one  the  Four  Brothers,"  of  four  guns  and  twenty-two 
men,  the  other  the  Mackarcl.  of  two  guns  and  eighteen  men. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

11.  G.  KEATS. 

Sir  James  Saitmarez,  Jlnrt.  and  K.B.  Vice- 
admiral  oj'  the  l>lue,  $c. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Putcr,  of  his  Majesty's  Skip  the  Princess 
Carolina,  to  Rear-admiral  Sir  Richard  Strachan,  oj which  the  former  has 
transmitted  a  copy  to  the  Hon.  W-  W.  Pole. 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Princess  Carolina,  off"  the  Texcl, 
SIR,  May  21,  1809. 

As  I  had  been  informed  that  a  schooner  lay  in  the  Vlie  Passage  to  guard 
that  anchorage,  and  having  thought  it  practicable  to  cut  her  out,  I  beg  to 
inform  you,  that  having  drifted  to  the  northward  so  as  to  open  the  said 
Passage,  I  last  night  made  the  attempt  (taking  with  me  Lieutenants  Bash- 
ford  and  Dobbs,  and  Lieutenant  Furzer,  of  the  royal  marines,  who  volun- 
teered) with  four  boats  of  his  Majesty's  ship  under  my  command,  which  I 
am  happy  to  say  succeeded,  by  boarding  her  at  half-past  eleven  o'clock, 
P.M.  and  in  a  few  minutes  after  discharging  her  guns  surrendered.  She 
proves  to  be  the  King  of  Holland's  schooner  Admiral  Pietheyer,  of  seven 
guns,  three  twelve  and  four  eight-pounders,  with  one  brass  howitzer, 
twenty-four-pounder,  commanded  by  Lieutenant  D.  Van  Hcareskcrch  ;  is 
five  years  old,  copper-bottomed;  she  carries  two  bow  chasers,  twelve- 
pounders,  and  one  aft;  her  complement  is  twenty-seven,  all  of  whom  were 
at  their  guns  to  receive  us,  having  seen  the  ship  at  anchor  and  expected  the 
attack.  I  am  happy  to  add  not  any  lives  were  lost  on  this  occasion  ;  and 
I  feel  it  a  duty  I  owe  tu  the  officers  and  men  I  have  the  honour  to  com- 
mand, to  say,  that  harl  the  strength  of  the  enemy  been  srrenter,  they  mani- 
fested a  forwardness  and  zeal  on  tlm  occasion  that  would  have  dune  honour 
to  their  country.  I  have  the  honour  to  he,  ccc. 

C.  D.  PATER, 

P.S.  From  whnt  we  hare  discovered,  T  have  no  doubt  of  her  being  very- 
fit  for  his  Majesty's  service,  should  a  vessel  of  that  force  and  easy  drought 
of  water  be  wanted;  s>hs  is  sent  to  Yarmouth. 

JUXE  2,  1809. 

A  despatch,  of  which  the  following  is  a  cony,  has  been  received  from 
Lieutenant-general  Sir  George  Beckwit'n,  K.  B.  coinmander-in-chief  of  his 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    TEAK,    1809.  501 

Majesty's  forces  in  the  Leeward  Islands,  by  Lord  Viscount  Castlereagh,  one 
of  his  Majesty's  principal  secretaries  of  state : — 

"  MY  LORD,  Fort  Royal,  Martinique,  April  20,  1 809. 

The  French  sotundron,  consisting  of  three  sail  of  the  line  and  t  vo  frigates, 
fr«in  L'Oricnt,  having  taken  shelter  in  the  Saints,  in  the  vicinity  of  Guada- 
loupe,  where  they  were  blockaded  by  Rear-admiral  Sir  Alexander  Cociirano 
with  a  superior  force,  I  detached  a  corps,  of  between  two  and  three  thou- 
sand men,  under  the  command  of  Major-^enend  Maitland,  to  co-operare 
with  the  navy  in  the  reduction  of  those  islands,  to  destroy  or  capture  the 
ships  of  the  enemy,  or  to  force  them  to  sea. 

I  have  the  satisfaction  to  report  to  your  Lordship,  for  his  Majesty's  infor- 
mation, that  after  tlr.-ee  days  of  ^jreat  toil  and  most  active  service,  the  foris 
were  reduced,  and  the  troops  surrendered  prisoners  of  war. 

The  IVench  ships  of  the  line  pushed  to  sea  c-arly  on  the  night  of  the 
14th;  on  the  16th  the  admiral  was  within  four  miles  of  them,  and,  I  trust, 
will  be  enabled  to  bring  them  to  close  action. 

I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  the  major-general's  report  upon  the 
honourable  termination  of  this  service ;  and  I  beg  leave  to  recorn:nend  t'» 
his  Majesty's  favourable  consideration,  the  meritorious  services  of  this 
general  otncer,  not  only  in  the  present  instance,  where  he  held  a  distinct 
command,  but  for  his  general  good  conduct  during  the  whole  campaign. 

The  onicers  of  all  ranks  have  done  their  duty  in  an  exemplary  manner, 
and  the  troops  employed  upon  this  service  have  maintained  tlr.tt  superiority 
which  has  distinguished  this  army  during  the  whole  series  of  our  operations 
since  our  deoarture  from  Barbadoes.  I  have  the  honour  to  bs,  &c. 

GEO.  BECKWiTH. 
The  Right  Hon.  Lord  Viscount  Castlereagh,  <5'C. 

SIR,  Camp,  at  the  Saints,  April  18,  1809. 

I  have  the  honour  to  transmit  you  a  report  of  the  proceedings  of  his 
-Majesty's  troops  detached  for  the  reduction  of  the  Saints. 

We  sailed  from  Fort  Royal  Bay  on  the  12th  ;  Captain  Beaver,  of  his 
Majesty's  ship  Acasta,  who  was  commodore  of  ti.e  division,  left  the 
-iiuadi  on  under  charge  of  Captain  Carthevv,  of  his  Majesty's  ship  Glalre, 
and  went  forward  to  meet  Rear-admiral  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane.  The 
13th  was  passed  in  examining  the  enemy's  positions,  and  in  making 
arrangements. 

The  disembarkation  was  fixed  to  be  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the 
14th,  but  a  bad  night  separated  our  ships.  By  ten  they  were  collected. 
Soon  after  the  Acasta  led  in,  through  a  very  narrow  channel  which  w.ts 
buoyed  on  each  side  The  Gloire,  Narcissus,  and  Circe  followed  ;  the 
Intrepid  about  an  hour,  after,  but  the  Dolphin  not  until  next  day.  His 
Majesty's  ships  anchored  opposite  to  the  little  bay,  Bois  J>>!y.  The  landing 
was  meant  to  have  been  at  the  next  to  the  eastward,  called  Arice  Vanovre. 
As  much  time,  it  was  then  seen,  would  be  lost  by  persevering  to  go  to  Ahce 
Vanovre,  because  the  boats  would  have  had  a  lo;ig  row  against  wind  and 
current,  we  landed  at  Ance  Bois  Joly ;  a  secure  landing,  though  a  stony 
beach,  protected  by  the  tire  of  the  frigates.  We  experienced  no  opposition 
except  a  cannonade  from  the  Islet  of  Cabrit,  the  guns  of  which  fired  over 
the  rid^e  among  the  shipping. 

When  advanced  to  the  first  ridije,  we  found  the  enemy  occupie-J  the 
great  mountain  which  is  above  eight  hundred  feet  high,  called  Mount 
Rujisel.  This  was  immediately  on  our  right,  nor  could  we  advance.  The 
riile  companies  of  the  3d  and  "of  the  4th  battalion?  CC'lh  regiment,  were 

.  Sol.  XXI.  3s 


502  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAH,     1809. 

ordered  to  dislodge  the  enemy.  The  exertion  of  these  companies,  under 
Captains  Dolling  and  Lupton,  was  great;  the  ascent  no  less  steep  than  ai> 
angle  of  fifty  decrees,  covered  with  bush  and  prickly  pears,  they  most 
gallantly  effected  the  service,  and  drove  back  the  enemy,  who  suffered  con- 
siderably. The  rifle  companies  were  supported  to  their  right  by  the  flank 
companies  of  the  3d  West  India  regiment,  and  one  company  of  the  Royal 
York  Rangers,  led  by  Lieutenant- colonel  Campbell,  deputy  adjutant-general, 
whom  I  detached  for  this  service.  We  had  now  a  strong  position.  Before 
us  were  the  enemy's  three  forts,  showing  stout  garrisons,  and  three  line-of- 
battle  ships,  and  two  frigates  in  the  harbour.  The  large  ships  wire  full  of 
men.  We  found,  however,  we  could  not  advance  without  being  flanked  on 
our  left  by  the  fort  on  Isle  de  Cabrit.  Two  eight-inch  howitzers  were 
immediately  landed,  a  battery  quickly  constructed  by  Lieutenant  Hobbs,  of 
the  Royal  Engineers.  Brigadier-general  Stehelin,  of  the  royal  artillery, 
and  all  his  ofhccrs  and  men,  were  must  strenuous,  and  before  six  that 
evening  our  battery  opened  on  the  enemy's  squadron  at  a  very  fair  distance. 
About  an  hour  after,  there  were  indications  that  the  French  squadron  was 
about  to  push  out,  and  by  eight  it  was  not  doubtful.  Not  a  moment  was 
lost;  Captain  de  Courcy,  of  the  quarter-master-general's  department,  was 
sent  by  me  to  Captain  Beaver,  of  the  Acusta,  and  we  fired  six  rockets  from 
a  headland,  at  five  minutes  interval,  being  the  signal  fixed  on  by  the  admiral. 
About  ten  at  night,  the  three  French  line-of- battle  ships  were  seen  to  go 
through  the  windward  passage.  Next  morning,  the  15th  iustant,  the  Intre- 
pid was  the  only  line-of-battle  ship  in  sight. 

The  difficulty  of  advancing  on  the  west  side  of  the  island,  forced  us  to  re- 
embark  the  greater  part  of  our  troops,  to  land  at  Ance  Vanovre,  but  as  the 
enemy  occupied  a  strong  and  commanding  position  on  the  east  side  of  t.'iis 
bay,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Prescot,  with  the  flank  companies  of  the  3d  West 
India  regiment,  and  the  two  rifle  companies  of  the  60th.  and  Major  Hen- 
derson, with  the  reserve,  were  ordered  to  descend  from  Mount  Russel  to 
protect  the'landing,  and  to  dislodge  the  enemy.  This  was  well  executed,  and 
we  gained  a  favourable  position,  whence  our  mortars  could  re:ich  Fort 
Napoleon  at  a  proper  distance,  as  well  as  the  fort  on  the  islet.  A  mortar 
battery  of-two  thirteen-inch,  and  four  ten-inch  was  immediately  begun,  and 
carried  on  with  unremitted  exertions;  all  our  men  volunteering  every 
labour.  Between  the  enemy's  forts  Napoleon  and  Murelle,  and  us,  was  a 
middle  ridge,  which  was  on  the  back  of  the  town,  and  held  by  the  enemy. 
On  the  night  of  the  15th,  a  strong  picquet  of  the  enemy  was  surprised  by 
two  companies  of  the  Royal  York  Rangers,  commanded  by  Captain  Starke 
and  Lieutenant  White.  The  French  had  one  officer  and  seventeen  men 
bayonetted,  and  twelve  prisoners  were  brought  away.  This  affair  was 
highly  creditable  to  the  officers  named.  The  night  following  we  determined 
to  occupy  the  middle  ridge,  and  confine  the  enemy  within  his  works.  Msijur 
Alen  was  ordered  with  the  two  flank  companies  of  the  3d  West  India,  and 
a  flank  company  of  the  8th  West  India  for  tin's  service;  he  was  supported 
by  part  of  the  Royal  York  Rangers,  under  Major  Henderson.  The  position 
vvus  tuk«n  up  without  opposition,  but  about  eight  next  morning  the  enemy 
advanced  from  Forts  Napoleon  and  Morel le  to  recover  this  ground.  A 
sharp  action  took  place,  the  whole  of  the  York  Rangers,  and  the  rifle  com- 
panies of  the  60th,  supporting  our  black  troops.  The  ground  lay  open  in 
great  part  to  the  grape  shot  from  Forts  Napoleon  and  Morelle,  and  to  round 
shot  from  Islet  de  Cabrit;  but  all  our  troops  v\ere  undaunted  j  —  none  were 
more  brave  or  active  than  the  flank  companies  of  the  3d  West  India 
regiment,  and  a  Qank  company  of  the  8th  West  India,  under  Major  Alen. 
The  enemy  was  driven  back  with  loss,  and  our  p<>s>ession-  of  the  ground 
completely  secured.  On  this  occasion  our  loss  was  about  thirty  men,  killed 
»ud  wounded. 


NAVAL   HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  503 

I  omitted  to  say  that  the  two  French  frigates,  both  loaded  with  flour,  took 
their  chance  of  escaping  on  the  fori  .0011  of  the  15th.  They  went  through 
the  windward  passage,  keeping  a  little  from  the  wind  to  gain  the  shore  of 
Guadaloupe.  The  leading  frigate  was  engaged  by  his  Majesty's  ship  Intre- 
pid. This  frigate  however  doubled  the  point  of  Vieux  Fort,  was  followed 
bj  the  other,  and  both  escaped  into  Basse  Terre. 

About  the  middle  of  the  day,  yesterday  the  17th,  the  French  commandant, 
Colonel  Madicr,  sent  a  flag  of  truce  to  enter  into  terms.  They  expected 
what  we  would  not  concede,  and  they  submitted  to  what  we  were  willing  to 
grant.  They  are  prisoners  of  war. 

I  understand  their  number  to  be  from  seven  to  eight  hundred  ;  of  this 
number,  six  hundred  were  landed  by  the  French  squadron 

We  are  to  take  possession  of  the  forts  this  evening  at  four  o'clock.  The 
French  troops  will  be  immediately  embarked,  and  1  shall  proceed  to  carry 
the  remainder  of  your  orders  into  execution  without  loss  of  time.     But  I 
must  not  conclude  my  report  without  doing  justice  to  the  merits  of  thoso  ' 
who/n  I  have  been  so  h/ipuy  as  to  command. 

The  navy  have  most  cordially  supported  us.  Captain  Beaver,  of  his 
Majesty's  ship  Ac  ista,  has  increased  that  character  which  I  know  his  con- 
duct at  Bay  Robert,  Martinique,  in  your  presence  gained  him.  His  arrange- 
ment and  presence  of  mind  render  him  particularly  qualified  for  joint 
operations.  Captain  Carthew,  of  the  Gloire,  and  Captain  Malcolm,  of  the 
Narcissus,  also  merit  the  warmest  acknowledgment:  and  I  am^ilso  much 
obliged  to  the  Hon.  Captain  Bertie  of  his  Majesty's  ship  Dart,  who  acted  on 
shore. 

The  royal  artillery,  under  Brigadier-general  Stehelin,  have  continued  their 
usual  spirited  manner.  If  the  enemy  had  not  capitulated  yesterday,  "'*-• 
should  nave  opened  a  fine  battery  of  six  mortars  ;  and  I  am  certain,  from 
what  happened  at  Martinique,  our  artillery  would  have  given  them  enough 
of"  it  in  one  night. 

To  Lieutenant-colonel  Rial,  15th  regiment,  I  with  pleasure  acknowledge 
the  assis'aiue  I  have  recei red  from  him.  He  tantalized  me  with  an  offer  to 
take  I  ort  Morel! i  by  assault  with  the  15th  regiment,  the  morning  of  yester- 
day during  the  action.  Lieutenant-colonel  Prevost  deserves  equal  eood 
report.  Major  Henderson,  who  commands  the  reserve,  is  a  true  soldier  ; 
and  Major  Alen,  3d  West  India  regiment,  gallantly  led  his  black  troops. 

The  Statf  have  all  been  active.  Lieutenant  colonel  Campbell,  deputy 
adjutant-general,  luis  been  always  forward;  he  is  an  officer  who  must  rise 
from  his  merit. 

llu  Hon.  Captain  de  Courcy,  of  the  quarter-master-generai's  department, 
has  shewn  an  activity  and  exertion  which  does  him  great  credit,  and  proves 
him  to  be  an  officer  for  service. 

Lieutenant  Hobbs,  royal  engineers,  yields  to  no  one  in  work,  and  is  an 
admirable  officer  for  a  service  of  this  nature. 

The  medical  department  has  been  ably  conducted  by  Doctor  Burke. 

I  have  been  much  assisted  by  Colonel  Soler,  the  royalist,»a  man  inflexible 
in  loyalty. 

My  aide-de-camp,  Captain  Taynton,  64th  regiment,  will  have  the  honour 
to  deliver  this  despatch  to  you;  he  has  been  many  years  with  me;  I  wish  I 
could  get  him  the  promotion  his  merit  deserves. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

F.  MAiTLAND,  Maj.  Gen. 
His  Excellency  Lieutenant-general  Beckwith, 
Commander  of  the  Forces. 

P.S.  I  enclose  the  necessary  returns.  There  are  fourteen  pieces  of 
artillery  nnd  four  mortars;  ti-lueen  in  all  in  Fore  Xapoleon  alone. 


504  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

ARTICLES  of  CAPITULATION  proposed  by  Colonel  Madicr,  Member  of 
the  Legion  of  Honour,  Commandant  of  nil  the  Saint  f,  to  Major-general 
Maitland,  commanding  the  Troops  of  his  Britannic  Majesty,  and  Captain 
Bearer,  of  his  Majesty's  Ship  Acasta,  Senior  Naval  Officer. 

Lieutenant-colonel  Cirtnpbell,  deputy  adjutant-general,  and  Captain? 
Mercier,  of  the  66th  regiment,  in  the  service  of  France>  being  appointed 
Commissioners,  agreed  upon  the  following  terms  : —  , 

Article  I.     All  the  troops  shall  march  out  with  all  the  honours  of  war. 

II.  They  shall  be  prisoners  of  vyar,  and  conveyed  to  England. 

III.  The  officers  shall  equally  be  considered   as  prisoners  of  war  upon 
their  paroles  of  honour,   to    be  transported   to   England    until  exchanged. 
They  shall  retain  their  swords. — Answer.  Articles  I,  II,  and  III,  granted. 

To  be  carried  into  execution  between  twelve  and  four  o'clock. 
Arms  to  be  deposited  outside  of  the  different  forts,  and  the  troops  to 
embark  immediately  after. 

IV.  The  troops  shall  retain  their  personal  baggage. — Ans.  Granted. 

V.  The  officers  shall  also  retain  their  private  baggage. — Ans.  Granted. 

-  VI.  All  the  officers  regularly  employed  in  the  administration,  and  medical 
officers,  shall  not  be  considered  as  prisoners  of  war  ;  they  shall  be  sent  to 
Guadaloupe,  with  their  private  baggage. — Ans.  Granted. 

VII.  Private  property  shall  be  respected,  and  the  inhabitants  shall  return 
to  their  houses. — Ans.  All   inhabitants  possessing  property  in   the  Saints, 
•who  are  not  soldiers  in  the  service  of  France,  may  return  to  their  houses, 
and  shall  not  be  molested  as   long  as  they  conform   to  the  laws  of  the 
colony. 

All  private  property  shall  be  respected,  and  every  individual  treated  with 
the  same  liberality  and  good  faith  of  the  British  nation. 

VIII.  Whatever  is  doubtful  in  these  articles   of  capitulation,  shall  be 
construed  in  favour  of  the  inhabitants. — Ans.  Granted. 

ADDITIONAL  ARTICLE. 

An  officer  of  artillery  and  one  civiJ  officer  sh«ll  be  appointed  from  each 
side,  who  will  meet  at  this  spot  to-morrow  morning  at  eight  o'clock,  in  or- 
der to  take  a  list  of  all  military  stores  and  other  public  property.     They 
shall  be  given  precisely  in  the  state  they  are  at  this  moment, 
Subscribed  by  us  at  the  Saints,  the  ITth  day  of  April,  1800. 

(Signed)  N.  CAMPBELL,  Lieut.  Col.  and 

Dep.  Adj.  Gen. 
MERCIEIl,  Capt.  66th  Reg. 

Ratified, 

(Signed)         FRED.  MAITLAND,  Maj.  Gen. 

P.  BEAVER,  Captain  of  his  Mojesty's 

ship  Acasta,  and  senior  Officer  at  the 

Saints. 
(Signed)         M.  MADIER,    Colonel,   Commandant 

les  Isles  dvs  Saintes. 

He' urn  of  Killed,  Wounded,  rtnd  Missing,  of  the  Army  under  Major-general 
Maitland  at  the  Saints,  frmn  14M  to  17 Ik  'lipril,  1809. 

3d  Ratt.  60th  Reg.— 1  officer,  1  rank  and  file,,  killed  ;  1  officer,  16  rank 
and  file,  wounded. 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  £05 

York  Light  Infantry  Volunteers. — 3  rank  and  file,  wounded. 

Royal  York  Rangers. — 1  rank  and  file,  killed ;  1  officer,  24  rank  and  file, 
wen  tided. 

3d  West  India  Reg. — I  rank  and  file,  killed;  2  serjcants,  1  drummer, 
12  rank  and  file,  wounded  ;  1  rank  and  file,  missing. 

8th  ditto.— 1  officer,  1  rank  and  file,  killed  ;  1  officer,  7  rank  and  file, 
wounded. 

Total. — 2  officers,  4   rank  and   file,   killed';   3  officers,  2  Serjeants, 
1  drummer,  62  rank  and  file,  wounded  ;  1  ran,k  and  file,  missing. 

N.B.  The  officer  of  the  60th  returned  killed,  is  Captain  Dolling,  who 
fell  from  a  precipice,  and  was  found  dead  two  or  three  days  after. 

The  officer  killed  of  the  8th  West  India  Regiment,  is  Lieutenant  John 
Crosbie. 

The  officer  wounded  of  the  60th,  is  Lieutenat  Von  Koning. 

The  officer  wounded  of  the  Royal  York  Rangers,  is  Major  Henderson, 
slightly. 

Assistant-surgeon  Beasant,  37th  regiment,  attached  to  8th  West  India 
regiment,  slightly  wounded. 

(Signed)  N.  CAMPBELL, 

Lieut.  Col.  Dep.  Adj.  Gen. 

Return  of  Ordnance  and  Stores  found  at  the  Saints,  at  Fort  Napoleon, 
April  18,  1809. 

Iron  Guns. — 1  serviceable  18-pounder  on  a  garrison  carriage ;  4  ser- 
viceable 1'2-pounders  on  ditto;  1  serviceable  4-pounder  on  ditto ;  3  ser? 
viceable  six-pounders  on  field  carriages  ;  3  serviceable  4-pounders  on  ship 
carriages;  3  serviceable  3-pounders  on  ditto. 

Brass  Guns  and  Howitzers. —  1  serviceable  6-inch  howitzer,  the  carriage 
unserviceable;  1  serviceable  4-pounder  gun,  the  carriage  unserviceable. 

Brass  and  Iron  Mortars — 1  serviceable  English  8-inch;  1  serviceable 
French  eight  and  hall-inch,  dismounted  ;  1  repairable  12-inch, 

Sfiflln. — 55  serviceable  13-inch;  40  serviceable  8-inch  ;  120  serviceable 
seven  and  half-inch  ;  178  serviceable  live  and  halt-inch. 

Sfiot. — 755  serviceable  12-pounders;  90  serviceable  6  pounders;  40  ser- 
viceable 4-poundcrs;  40  serviceable  3-pounders.— 57  serviceable  barrels  of 
powder;  711  serviceable  muskets; "40  serviceable  pistols;  100  serviceable 
files;  about  six  casks  of  serviceable  musket-ball  cartridges  ;  5  kegs  of  ser- 
viceable musket-balls. 

Fort  Morelle. 

Iron  Guns. — 2  serviceable  24-poanders;  1  serviceable  4-ponnder;  1  ser- 
viceable S-poundcr ;  1  serviceable  30-inch  iron  mortar;  40  serviceable 
shells  for  ditto;— shot,  '22  serviceable  24-pounders ;  15  barrels  of  ser- 
viceable powder. 

Point  Sucre  Battery. 

2  serviceable  iron  8-pounders,  mounted. 

Fort  Lief. 

Iron   Guns.— 5   serviceable   24-pounrlers  ;    1  serviceable   12-pounder; 
1  serviceable,  1  unserviceable  six- pounder;   1  serviceable  3-poumier. 
Brass  Mortars,  and  Beds  repairable.— I  serviceable  8-inch  ;  1  serviceable 


&06  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

seven  and  half-inch. — 80  barrels  of  serviceable  powder;  16,000  serviceable 
musket  ball  cartridges. 

Saints'  Town  •Magazine. 
12  barrels  of  serviceable  powder. 

(Signed)  EDWARD  STEHELIN, 

Brigadier-general,  Royal  Artillery. 

JUNE  10,  1809, 

Vice-admiral  Sir  James  Saumarez  lias  transmitted  to  the  Honourable 
William  Wellesley  Pole  a  letter  he  lias  received   from   Rear-admiral  Sir 
Richard  Goodwin  Keats,  reporting  the  capture  of  the  Levigerna  Danish 
privateer,  of  6  guns,  and  17  men,  by  the  Superb  ;  ai..l  of  the  Tilsit  French    , 
privateer,  of  10  guns,  and  41  men,  by  the  Cruizer  sloop. 


Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Goate,  of  his  Majesty's  Sloop  the  Mosquito, 
to  the  Honourable  William  Wellesley  Pole,  dated  off  Heligoland,  the  25<A 
May,  1309. 

SIR, 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  that  his  Majesty's  sloop  Mosquito,  under 
my  command,  has  captured  the  Sol  Fuglen  Danish  privateer  cutter,  of 
six  guns  and  twenty-four  men. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

WILLIAM  GOATE. 

MEM.— Captain  Goate,  with  another  letter  to  the  Honourable  William, 
Wellesley  Pole,  has  transmitted  oae  from  Captain  Pettet,  of  his  Majesty's 
sluop  the  Briseis,  giving  an  account  of  the  capture  of  El  Courier  Danish  pri- 
vateer, of  one  two-pounder  and  four  swivels,  by  the  boats  of  the  Briseis  and 
Bruiser  gun-vessel. 

JUNE  13,  18G9. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Capfain  Taker,  of  his  Majesty**  Sloop  the  Cruizer, 
addressed  to  VicL-adntiral  Sir  James  Suumurez,  and  transmitted  by  the 
fut.cr  to  the  Hon.  W.  W.  Pole. 

His  Majesty's  Sloop  Cruizer,  offBornholm, 
SIR,  May  iil,  1809. 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  acquaint  you,  that  his  M  ajesty's  sloop  under  my  com- 
mand, this  evening  captured  the  Danish  privateer  brig  Christiansborg,  com- 
manded by  H.  F.  Hatting,  of  six  guns,  three  of  which  she  hove  overboard 
during  the  chase,  with  aconiplonifiit  of  thirty  seven  men,  thirteen  of  whom 
weie  lately  sent  to  cruise  in  a  large  boat,  and  taken  by  one  of  i.is  Majesty's 
ships.  She  was  fcix  hours  horn  the  Earthholuis,  is  copper  fastened,  and  had 
not  made  any  capiuifa.  I  ha\e  the  honour  to  be,  <Src. 

TiiO.  RICH.  TOKER. 
Vice-admiral  Sir  James  Saitmarez,  Bart,  and 
K.B.  CoHi/nandw  iu-cliitf,  4'C. 

JTTNE  17,  1809. 

of  a  Letter  from  C,,ptain  Baker,  of  his  Majesty's  Ship  the  Tartar,  to 
Rear-admirdi  Sir  llic!i,.rd  G.  Keais,  and  transmitted  by  Sir  Jatnts 
Saumarez  to  the  Hun.  IV.  W.  Pole. 

SIB,  His  Mnjes'y's  Ship  Tartar,  June  Q,  1800. 

I  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  you,  that  on  the  1.5th  of  May,  180*),  I 
chased  on  shore  near  I'tljxber^,  on  the  coabt  of  Counand,  a  Danish  sjt-op 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OP   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  507 

privateer,  of  Four  guns,  two  of  them  twelve-pounders,  on  slides,  and  two 
lung  four-pounders;  the  crew,  twenty-four  in  number,  landing  with  their 
muskets,  and  being  joined  by  some  of  the  country  people,  posted  themselves 
behind  the  sandhills,  near  the  beach. — The  vessel  appearing  calculated  to 
do  much  mischief  to  the  trade,  I  sent  the  boats  of  this  ship,  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenants  Sykes  and  Parker,  with  orders  either  to  bring  her 
off  or  to  destroy  her,  the  former  of  whieh  they  effected  with  considerable 
address  and  activity,  and  without  loss,  very  soon  getting  the  vessel's  guns  to 
bear  upon  the  beach. 

Before  the  Danes  abandoned  her,  they  placed  a  lighted  candle  in  n 
twelve-pounder  cartridge  of  gunpowder,  in  the  magazine,  where  there  was 
some  hundred  weight  beside,  which  was  happily  discovered  by  one  of  the 
boat's  crew,  who  immediately  gra«ped  it  in  his  hand,  and  extinguished  if, 
when  it  had  burnt  down  wirh'n  half  an  inch  of  the  powder;  another  minute 
would  in  all  probability  have  been  the  dertrncfion  of  every  man  on  bonrd 
and  alongside  the  vessel ; — a  dishonourable  mode  of  warfare  necessary  to  be 
known,  to  be  properly  guarded  against. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

(Signed)  JOS.  BAKER,  Captain. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Lim'enant  Mansef,  commanding  his  Majesty's  Gun- 
vcsse/  Patriot,  addressed  to  Captain  Goute,  of  the  Mosquito,  and  tram* 
mittedby  him  to  the  lion.  W.  W.Pole. 

His  Majesty's  Gun  Vessel  Patriot,  Heligoland, 
SIR,  30th  Mai/,  1809. 

I  beg  leave  to  inform  yon,  th;it  his  Majesty's  gun-vessel  under  my  com- 
mand  yesterday,  in  the  R'ver  Hever,  captured  the  Danish  cutter  privateer 
Snap,  mounting  three  guns,  with  nine  men,  one  week  from  Toiuiingen, 
without  making  any  capture.  I  am,  Sir,  &c. 

(Signed)  E.  W.  MANSEL. 


^Imperial  parliament. 

HOUSE  OF  LORDS. 

FRIDAY,    APRIL    28. 

'"pHE  Royal  Assent  was  siven  by  commission  to  the  Newfoundland  Judi- 
L    cature  Bill,  the  British  American  Fisheries  Bill,  the  Dover  and  Ports- 
mouth Works  Bill,  the  Naval  Officers'  Widows'  Pensions  B:ll,  and  Malta 
Prizes  Bill. 

THURSDAY,    MAY   4. 

Lord  Selkirk,  adverting  to  the  affair  with  the  Chesapeak  Americau 
frigate,  contended,  that  the  government  of  America  had,  from  beginning  to 
end,  acted  hostilely  10  the  welfare  and  to  the  honour  of  this  country,  and 
that  therefore  ministers  should  have  demanded  reparation  and  satisfaction 
for  that  conduct,  and  for  the  insult  committed  on  the  British  flag;  instead 
of  which,  they  had  tamely  submitted  to  concessions.  He  therefore  moved, 
"  that  an  humble  Address  be  presented  to  his  Majesty,  expressive  of  their 
Lordships'  opinion,  that,  in  whatsoever  negotiation  or  treaty  there  may  b« 


508  NAVAL   HISTORY    OF    THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

entered  into  between  his  Majesty  and  the  government  of  the  American 
States,  there  should  be  introduced  a  preliminary  covenant,  declaratory  of 
reparation  for  the  past,  and  of  the  supremacy  of  the  British  flag  for  the 
future." 

Lord  Liverpool  opposed  the  motion,  on  the  ground  that  the  Hon.  mover 
had  not  obtained  sufficient  information  on  which  to  found  it,  and  that  it 
was  an  improper  interference  with  the  royal  prerogative. 

The  motion  was  consequently  negatived,  without  a  division. 

MONDAY,    MAY    8. 

The  Earl  of  Liverpool  laid  before  the  House  a  message  from  his  Majesty, 
the  purport  of  which  was,  that  his  Majesty  had  been  graciously  pleaded  to 
advance,  by  way  of  loan,  to  the  Prince  Regent  of  Portugal,  the  sum  of 
600,0001.  the  same  to  be  guaranteed  or  secured  by  the  possession  of  the 
Island  of  Madeira,  in  trust  for  the  repayment  thereof. 

TUESDAY,    MAY    9. 

An  Address  was  agreed  to,  on  the  motion  of  Lord  Liverpool,  thanking 
his  Majesty  for  his  gracious  communication  respecting  the  loan  to  Portugal. 

FRIDAY,    MAY    12. 

The  Bill,  relating  to  the  compassionate  List  of  the  Navy,  and  the  Admi- 
ralty Droits  Prizes  Bill,  received  the  Royal  Assent. 

THURSDAY,    MAY    25. 

Earl  Grey,  in  the  course  of  a  conversation  which  arose  respecting 
America,  expressed  his  opinion,  that  Mr.  Erskine,  the  British  envoy  to  the 
United  States,  had  acted  conformably  to  the  spirit  of  British  interest,  if  not 
to  the  strict  letter  of  his  instructions. 

The  Earl  of  Liverpool,  on  the  contrary,  asserted,  that  the  gentleman 
alluded  to  had  not  only  acted  in  a  manner  which  his  instructions  did  nut 
warrant,  but  had  acted  in  direct  opposition  to  them. 

The  Earl  of  Liverpool  presented  a  Message  from  his  Majesty,  relative  to 
the  proposed  subsidies  to  Austria,  Spain,  and  Portugal ;  stating.,  that  it  was 
the  usual  Message  for  a  Vote  of  Credit  previous  to  the  close  of  a  Session, 
and  the  amount  of  the  Vote  which  it  was  intended  to  ask  of  Parliament, 
3,000,0001.  in  order  to  enable  government  to  take  advantage  of  circum- 
stances as  they  arose,  and  to  render  assistance  to  our  allies,  according  to  the 
nature  of  those  circumstances,  and  the  exigencies  of  the  case. 

FRIDAY,    MAY    26. 

An  Address,  the  echo  of  the  above  Message,  was  agreed  to. 

THURSDAY,    JUNE    15. 

The  Prize  Share  Regulation  Bill,  and  the  Ship  Owners  Bill,  received  the 
Royal  Assent. 

WEDNESDAY,   JUNE    21. 

Parliament  \«us  prorogued,  by  commission,  to  the  10th  of  August.  [For 
the  Sjpeech,  see  the  Commons.]] 


HAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1809.     509 

HOUSE  OF  COMMONS. 

FRIDAY,    APRIL  14. 

Sir  Charles  Hamilton  stated  to  the  House  the  circumstances  of  his  arrest, 
on  Tuesday  last,  by  Daniel  Butler,  a  sheriff's  officer,  who  was  then  in 
attendance.  Butler  and  another  man  came  into  his  room,  and  shewed  h  in. 
a  writ  against  a  Sir  John  Hamilton,  and  said,  that,  he  was  the  person.  He 
told  them  that  ho  was  not  the  person  intended,  hut  they  persisted  that  he 
was,  and  told  him  to  20  along  with  them.  He  then  told  them,  in  the  hear- 
ing of  his  servants,  that  his  name  was  not  John,  and  that  he  was  a  member 
of  Parliament,  and  if  they  arrested  Him,  they  must  take  the  consequence?. 
Butler  insisted  that  he  was  the  person,  and  that  if  he  did  not  go  willingly, 
they  would  take  him  by  force.  He  then  went  with  them  to  the  plaintiff's 
attorney,  when  he  satisfied  them  that  he  was  not  the  defendant,  and  they 
set  him  at  liberty.  The  Hon.  Gentleman  concluded  with  stating,  that  it 
was  not  his  own  wish  to  put  Butler  to  any  trouble,  but  as  no  apology  had 
been  even  offered  for  such  a  gross  breach  of  privilege,  he  felt  it  his  duty  to 
lay  the  case  before  the  House. 

Butler  was  then  called  to  the  bar ;  but  not  offering  any  apology,  he  WPS 
ordered  to  be  committed  to  Newgate,  for  a  breach  of  the  privileges  of  tie 
House. 

Lord  Castlcreagh  called  the  attention  of  the  House  to  the  services  of  the 
navy  and  army  in  the  West  Indies,  in  the  conquest  of  Martinique.  That 
capture  had  never  been  effected  under  circumstances  more  glorious  than  in 
the  recent  instance.  It  was  a  proud  circumstance  for  the  country,  that 
whilst  we  had  an  army  of  50,000  men  on  the  Continent  of  Europe,  govern- 
ment had  been  able  to  collect  a  force  of  10,000  men  for  offensive"  operatioi  s 
ngainst  Martinique,  without  detaching  any  troops  from  Europe.  Though 
the  gallantry  of  the  troops  had  been  most  distinguished,  there  was  one  ci=- 
cumstance  which  peculiarly  characterized  this  conquest,  namely,  that  frc.m 
the  effectual  measures  taken  by  the  Officers  of  Health,  the  object  of  ti:e 
expedition  had  been  accomplished  with  less  loss  by  disease  than  at  any  !•  i- 
mer  time.  Every  favour,  too,  consistent  with  the  interests  of  the  public, 
bad  been  shewn  to  the  inhabitants  of  Martinique,  who  had  behaved  with  t!  e 
greatest  good-will  towards  their  captors.  The  Noble  Lord  concluded  by 
inovin"  ihe  thanks  of  the  House  to  Lieutenant-general  Geor«e  Beckw.th, 

O 

for  the  entire  conquest  of  the  Island  of  Martinique  ;  to  Sir  A.  Cochrane, 
Knight  of  the  Bath,  for  his  able  disposal  of  the  naval  force  under  his  com- 
mand for  the  attainment  of  this  object  ;  to  Lieutenant-general  Pi-fvosf, 
Major-general  Maitland,  Brigadier-general  Hougluou,  Commodore  Cock- 
burn,  and  those  under  his  command  ;  and  that  the  approbation  of  the 
House  should  be  signified  to  the  non-commissioned  om.cers,  and  to  the 
sailors  and  marines  concerned. —Agreed  to  new.  coti. 

Mr.  Ward  informed  the  House  from  the  Bar,  that  the  Lords  Com- 
missioners of  the  Admiralty,  having  ordered  a  court  martial  to  be  held 
on  the  1st  of  May,  upon  Admiral  Harvey,  on  charges  for  a  breach  of  disci- 

.  Cfcron,  Sol.  XXI.  3  x 


510  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    Yl'AR,    18C9. 

pline  exhibited  against  him  by  Admiral  Lord  Gambicr,  had  issued  n  warrant 
to  the  Marshal  of  the  Admiralty  to  take  the  said  Admiral  Harvey  into  cus- 
todv,  and  as  he  was  a  member  of  that  House,  that  their  Lordships  thought 
it  right  to  communicate  die  same,  together  with  a  copy  of  their  warrant  to 
that  House.  The  warrant  was  then  given  in, , and  'read  by  the  clerk  at  the 
table. 

MONDAY,    APRIL    17. 

Mr.  Rose  brought  inva  Bill,  for  amending  the  law  as  to  the  register  of 
eapuired  ships. 

Trr.JTUY,    APRIL     13.. 

Mr.  Rose  alluding  to  an  opinion,  that  the  manufactures  of  the  country 
were  on  the  decrease,  observed,  that  our  shipping  employed  to  the  different 
parts  of  America,  had  increased  68,000  tons  during  last  year,  according  to  a 
statement  now  on  the  table  of  the  House.  That  member*;,  therefore,  might 
he  sufficiently  in  possession  of  such  necessary  and  important  facts,  he  moved 
that  certain  papers  relative  to  British  shipping  employed  to  America,  be 
printed. — Ordered. 

THURSDAY,   APRIL    20. 

Mr.  Canning,  in  answer  to  a  question  from  Mr.  Ponsonby,  stated,  that  the 
Spanish  treaty  bound  his  Majesty  not  to  acknowledge  any  other  Sovereign 
but  Ferdinand  VII.  but  as  that  prince  and  his  family  were  in  the  actual 
possession  of  the  Ruler  of  France,  it  became  necessary  to  look  forward  to 
the  possibility  of  their  extinction,  in  which  case  there  would  arise  a  divided 
daim  to  the  Throne  of  Spain,  different  Spanish  jurists  being  disposed  to 
assign  it  to  different  families.  It  therefore  became  necessary  to  add  to  the 
legitimacy  of  the  Sovereign,  that  he  should  be  acknowledged  by  the  Spanish 
people.  He  wished  also  to  add,  that  the  whole  purview  of  this  treaty  went 
to  bind  us  to  act  in  concert  with  the  Spanish  nation  only  in  certain  circum- 
stances. Should  they  deviate  from  it,  and  acknowledge  the  reign  of  a 
French  Ruler,  in  that  case  the  Treaty  was  ipsojacto  annulled. 

Lord  Henry  Petty  observed,  that  it  appeared  to  him,  from  the  American 
Non-Intercourse  Act,  that  all  English  ships  from  this  country  entering  any 
American  port  after  the  26th  of  May,  were  made  liable  to  confiscation. 
He  should  be  glad  to  know,  whether  due  measures  of  precaution  had  been 
used,  for  the  purpose  of  warning  our  merchants,  to  prevent  the  loss  of  their 
property. 

Mr.  Canning  could  not  say  what  precaution  Mr.  Erskine  our  ambassador 
bad  taken,  but  he  had  no  doubt  that  that  gentleman  had  taken  due  means 
to  warn  off  all  British  ships  from  entering  the  American  harbour,  and  thu» 
jo  prevent  the  effects  of  the  Act. 

Sir  C.  Hamilton  presented  a  petition  from  Daniel  Butler,  the  sheriff's 
officer,  expressing  his  great  contrition,  and  begging  the  pardon  of  the 
House,  and  of  Sir  C.  Hamilton,  for  the  gross  insult  of  which  he  had  been 
guilty  towards  the  Hon.  Baronet,  in  attempting  to  arrest  him,  and  stating 
that  his  conduct  proceeded  entirely  from  mistake,  arising  from  the  inforuaar 
tion  of  a  brother  officer. 


NAVAL    HISTORY   OF    THE    P3£?F.NT    YEAR,    1809.  511 

SATURDAY,  APRIL  22. 

Butler,  the  sherifFs  ofl'cor,  was  brought  up  to  the  bar,  reprimanded,  and 
crdered  to  be  discharged,  on  paving  lii»  fees. 

wr.DxrsDAY,  APRIL  26. 

In  a  Committee  of  Supply,  the  sum  of  15,000!.  was  voted,  for  the  works 
at  the  harbour  of  Howth. 

Two  Resolutions  were  agreed  to,  allowing  the  planters  of  Martinique  to 
import  their  sugars  and  coffee  into  British  ports,  for  exportation,  on  the  saiut 
terms  as  our  own  West  India  Colonists. 

THURSDAY,   APRIL  27. 

Mr.  R.  W  liar  ton  brought  in  a  bill  for  preventing  frauds  and  depredations 
on  ship  owners  and  underwriters.  The  Hon.  Member  stated,  that  he  meant 
lite  Bill  to  extend  to  all  the  out-ports  of  the  United  Kingdom.  %  There  was 
a  provision  therein,  that  all  property  found  at  sea  should  he  entered  on  the 
log-book  of  the  ship  finding  the  same,  the  day  on  which  it  was  found,  and 
on  their  arrival  at  the  port  of  their  destination,  should  make  a  return  of  the 
same  to  the  Trinity  House.  The  penalties  which  would  be  fixed  in  the 
Committee  were  intended  to  be  divided  between  the  informer  and  the  poor 
of  the  parish  where  incurred,  and  the  distribution  to  be  made  according 
to  the  Act  of  Queen  Anne. 

MONDAY,    HAY    1. 

Mr.  Ord  called  the  attention  of  the  House  to  the  Fourth  Report  of  th« 
Committee  of  Public  Expenditure,  and  particularly  to  that  part  which 
related  to  the  Dutch  Commissioners  for  the  management  of  Dutch  prizes. 
In  the  year  1705,  cert. tin  Commissioners,  to  the  number  of  five,  were 
appointed  to  manage  and  dispose  of  vessels  captured  from  the  Dutch. 
These  gentlemen  received  instructions  from  the  Privy  Council  how  to  act, 
t'le  mode  how  they  were  to  keep  their  accounts,  &c.  In  July,  1799,  tho 
a-ii'iunt  in  their  hands  was  180,0001.  and  here  they  acted  in  the  first  in- 
stance in  direct  violation  of  an  Act  of  Parliament,  as,  instead  of  paying  the 
>-).)MPV  into  the  Bank  of  England,  it  w.ts  deposited  in  private  banks  every 
one  of  the  co.mnissioners  huving  his  own  private  banker.  In  May,  Ui'o, 
tie  amount  01  cu-h  i.i  tht-ir  hands  amounted  to,  200,0001.  and  afterwards 
fluctuated.  In  February,  lFi>'J,  Mr.  Pitt  made  an  application  for  15fl,Oi»Gl. 
fur  the  public  service,  but  the  answer  he  received  was,  that  the  commission- 
ers rou Id  not  make  anv  advances  whatever,  because  there  were  demands 
on  them  for  money,  lint  it  would  appear  to  the  House,  on  a  perusal  of 
the  Rir<)ort,  that  »ivat  advantages  accrued  to  those  commissioners,  in  U>t-p- 
iivj  the  money  at  their  private  bankers,  find  discounting  bills.  They  wire 
du-t-rted  to  keep  minute-,  of  then  proceedings  but  HMIIC  were  to  be  found. 
The  committee,  he  observed,  next  adverted  to  the  enormous  sum  of  live 
percent,  which  they  charged  on  their  sales,  when  it  was  proved  by  vtry 
respecta'Je  mcivhants,  who  gave  their  evidence  before  the  Committee,  that 
they  never  char-eel  more  than  two  and  a  half  per  cent,  commission.  The 
total  piolits  whii  i.  ihey  received  was  2?,00.)l.  each,  for  work  done  for  four 
years  atid  a  hall:  It  appeared  ilai  they  had  averted  that  they  did  not  get 


512  NAVAL  HISTORY   OF    THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

more  than  the  French  commissioners ;  but  the  fact  was,  the  latter  consisted 
of  fourteen,  who  did  not  get  more  than  1,0001.  a  year  each.  They  also 
considered  themselves  as  prize  agents,  because  the  Lord  Chancellor  men- 
tioned them  as  such  in  the  House  of  Lord*,  but  they  differed  widely  from 
prize  agents,  who  were  obliged  to  have  a  capital  of  their  own,  were  subject 
to  heavy  advances,  and  liable  to  great  losses  ;  but  they  were  subject  to  no 
loss  whatever.  In  1804  the  Treasury  pronounced  the  commission  useless, 
but  it  was  not  terminated,  because  there  were  some  legal  obstructions,  and 
the  Treasury  certainly  would  not  be  suspected  of  wantonly  reporting  against 
a  commission  of  which  Mr.  John  Bowles  was  a  member. — Two  members, 
it  had  been  said,  abandoned  their  profession,  and  therefore,  notwithstand- 
ing the  enormous  profits  they  obtained,  they  required  compensation.  It 
appeared  that  there  was  a  Mr.  Thomas  Macdonuld,  who,  he  understood, 
as  a  commissioner  of  American  claims,  received  5,000l.  and  1,500  a  year  as 
eompensation,  which  was  a  shameful  and  monstrous  job.  As  to  Mr.  John 
Bowles,  he  did  not  think  he  ever  held  a  brief,  and  would,  with  respect  to 
his  profession,  probably  have  been  starving,  if  Mr.  Pitt  had  not  employed 
him  as  a  political  writer,  who  wrote  under  the  denomination  of  an  Anti- 
Jacobin. — The  Hon.  member  concluded  wilh  reading  the  following  Reso- 
lutions :— 

"  1st,  That  it  appears  to  the  House,  that  to  commit  pecuniary  trust  to 
any  persons  without  any  check  on  their  proceedings,  and  without  calling 
periodically  for  their  accounts,  and  settling  their  remuneration,  must  lead 
to  the  prejudice  of  the  country,  and  was  a  shameful  neglect  and  violation  of 
the  duty  of  government. 

"  2dly,  That  it  appeared  such  neglect  existed,  with  loss  to  the  public; 
and  that  the  Dutch  Commissioners  violated  their  trust,  by  appropriating 
sums  of  money  to  themselves,  without  any  authority  for  so  doing,  and  are 
accountable  for  such  to  the  public. 

"  Sdly,  That  it  appears  that  the  Report  of  the  Commissioners -should  he 
referred  to  the  Commitec  of  Public  Accounts. 

"  And,  4thly,  That  all  decision  with  respect  to  remuneration,  should  be 
suspended  till  the  said  accounts  were  finally  settled." 

The  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  thought  it  necessary  to  state  what  steps 
had  been  taken  by  the  Treasury  towards  the  Dutch  commissioners,  upon 
the  appearance  of  the  Report.  They  called  upon  them  for  their  accounts 
to  be  examined,  and  allowed  them  the  per  centage  of  iive  per  cent,  upon 
the  net  proceeds  which  should  come  into  their  hands,  deducting  the  interest 
received  by  them  for  such  balances  as  they  should  hold.  They  were  not  to 
be  allowed  the  per  centage  upon  the  gross  proceeds,  but  upon  the  net 
balance  after  the  expenses  of  sale,  and  all  incidental  expense  had  been 
deducted.  Of  all  the  successive  administrations  which  had  been  iu  otHce 
during  the  period  of  the  commission,  no  particular  blame  attached  to  any  ; 
none  of  them  could  stand  perfectly  clear,  but  none  of  them  deserved  that 
reflection  which  was  thrown  upon  them  in  the  resolutions.  He  considered 
it  a  perfectly  anomalous  fact  in  Parliamentary  history,  to  take  the  cuntroul  oi' 


NAVAL    HISTORT    OF    THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  513 

any  public  commission  from  the  executive  government,  when  it  could  be 
properly  and  constitutionally  controuled  by  government.  If  the  commis- 
sioners had  in  any  instance  neglected  their  trust,  they  were  responsible  to 
the  Court  of  Admiralty.  It  was  there  that  the  public  ought  to  look  for 
redress.  The  House  of  Commons  would  have  no  other  business  before 
them,  if  they  were  to  attend  to  subjects  like  the  present.  He  concluded 
with  moving  the  previous  question. 

On  a  division,  the  first  resolution  was  negatived,  by  98  against  77;  and 
the  original  motion  was  consequently  lost. 

iMOXDAY,    MAY  8. 

Mr.  Canning  brought  up  a  message  from  his  Majesty,  respecting  the 
loan  to  Portugal,  similar  to  that  presented  by  the  Lords. 

In  a  Committee  of  Supply,  the   following   miscellaneous  grants  were 
voted  :  — 

To  pay  bills  drawn  from  New  South  Wales £.30,000 

For  the  expense  of  the  colony  at  Sierra  Leone  for  this  year   ....       ]  7,000 
For  the  expenses  of  the  civil  establishment  of  Upper  Canada    . .         8430 

New  Brunswick    . 5500 

Nova  Scotia     .. «. J 0,000 

Island  of  St.  John         ,- 3100 

Cape  Breton    2060 

Newfoundland     -.. 198.5 

Bahama  Islands        2700 

r.ermuda  Islands     . -         1030 

Tin-tola 600 

For  the  establishment  at  New   South  Wales     15,100 

FRIDAY,    MAY  12. 

Mr.  Cunning  presented  a  copy  of  the  Subsidiary  Treaty  that  had  been 
entered  into  between  his  Majesty  and  the  King  of  Sweden. —  Fife  observed, 
that  it  would  have  been  presented  immediately  on  its  arrival  from  Stock- 
holm, had  not  the  events  in  Sweden  rendered  it  probable  that  it  would  he 
necessary  to  accompany  it  with  some  observations.  No  payment  had 
taken  place  on  this  treaty  subsequently  to  the  first  quarter  after  its  conclu- 
sion ;  and  such  was  the  state  of  the  relations  existing  between  this  country 
and  Sweden,  that  at  the  present  not  any  thing  more  was  intended. — The 
Treaty  was  ordered  to  lie  on  the  table. 

MONDAY,    MAY  15. 

Mr.  Rote  brought  in  a  bill  to  amend  the  Acts  relating  to  the  preservation 
cf  seamen's  wages  for  their  heirs. 

THURSDAY,    MAY    18. 

Mr.  Ward  moved,  "that  an  humble  address  be  presented  to  his  Majesty, 
pravin<j  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  order  a  monument  to  be  erected  to  the 
memory  of  the  late  Capt.  G.  N.  Hardinge,  in  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  in  com- 
memoration of  his  gallant  sen-ices,  and  gloriqus  fall." 

This  motion  experienced  some  opposition  from  Mr.  Windham,  and  one 


514  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809. 

or  two  others,  on  the  ground  that  the  honours  of  the  House  ought  to  be 
conferred  only  in  cases  of  great  and  important  result,  however  exalted 
might  be  the  merit  of  the  party ;  but  it  was  at  length  agreed  to,  nem.  dis. 

THURSDAY,    MAY  25. 

The  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  brought  up  a  message,  relative  to  «. 
supply  to  be  granted  to  that  presented  in  the  Lords. 

THURSDAY,    MAT    SO. 

Mr.  Marryatl  moved,  that  an  Humble  Address  be  presented  to  hit 
Majesty,  praying  that  his  Majesty  would  be  pleased  to  order  to  be  laid 
before  the  House,  Copies  of  such  Notes  as  may  have  passed  between  his 
Majesty's  Minister  in  America,  and  the  Government  of  that  country,  rela- 
tive to  the  repeal  of  the  Orders  in  Council  of  Janua/y  and  November, 
1807,  together  with  a  Copy  of  the  Instructions  transmitted  by  his  Majesty's 
Secretary  of  State  to  the  British  Minister  in  America,  relative  to  that 
•ubject. 

Mr.  Canningliad  no  objection  to  the  motion. 

His  Majesty's  Minister  in  America  had  been  instructed  to  make  conces- 
sions to  that  government,  arising  out  of  such  concessions  as  they  should 
propose  on  their  part  to  him,  and  in  such  a  manner  as  should  render  the 
concessions  mutual.  Instead  of  thi?,  however,  Mr.  Erskine,  our  Minister, 
had  made  every  concession  on  his  part,  without  obtaining  one  stipulated 
concession  on  the  part  of  America. 

Mr.  Ponsonby  wished  to  know,  if  Government  had  received  any  commu- 
nication from  Mr.  Erskine,  by  way  of  justification  on  this  subject. 

Mr.  Canning  acknowledged  there  had  been  such  a  communication  re- 
ceived, but  saw  no  necessity  at  present  to  lay  any  thing  of  this  nature 
before  the  House. 

WEDNESDAY,    MAY    31. 

Mr.  Huskisson  brought  in  a  Bill  to  appoint  Vice-Admiral  Courts  where 
such  Courts  were  wanting,  in  order  to  protect  the  Navigation. 

MONDAY,  JUKE    12. 

Lord  Cochrane  gave  notice,  for  the  next  Session,  of  motions  on  the  subject 
of  Naval  Courts  Martial,  of  Proctors,  and  the  Distribution  of  Prizfe-Money, 
and  on  the  subject  of  the  Fortifications  at  Portsmouth. 

THURSDAY,   JUNE    15. 

Lord  Cochrqne  called  the  attention  of  the  House  to  the  subject  of  afford- 
ing assistance  to  the  Spanish  cause,  on  the  side  of  Catalonia,  concerning 
which,  if  Ministers,  during  the  recess,  did  not  adopt  s-me  effective 
measures,  he  should  feel  it  his  duty,  early  in  the  ensuing  Session,  to  make 
a  motion  on  the  subject. 

WEDNESDAY,   JUNE    21, 

The  Speaker,  attended   by  the  Members,  proceeded   to  the  bar  of  the 
Upper   House,  where   his   Majesty's  Commissioners   were   in    waiting  to 
prorogue  the  Parliament.     The  Lord  Chancellor  then  delivered  the  fulkw-  ( 
ing  Speech:-—— 


NATAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  515 

c<  My  Lords  and  Gentlemen, 

**  We  are  commanded  by  his  Majesty  to  acquaint  yon,  that  his  Majesty 
has  great  satisfaction  in  being  enabled,  by  the  state  of  the  public  business, 
to  release  you  from  your  laborious  attendance  in  Parliament. 

"  His  Majesty  doubts  not  that  on  your  return  into  your  respective 
counties,  you  will  carry  with  you  a  disposition  to  inculcate,  both  by  instruc- 
tion and  example,  a  spirit  of  attachment  to  those  established  Laws  and 
that  happy  constitution  which  it  has  ever  been  his  Majesty's  anxious 
wish  to  support  and  to  maintain,  and  upon  which,  under  Providence, 
depend  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  this  kingdom. 

*'  Gentlemen  of  the  House  of  Commons. 

**  We  have  it  in  command  from  his  Majesty  to  thank  you  for  the 
liber.il  provision  you  have  made  for  the  services  of  the  present  year; 
and  to  express  the  satisfaction  which  his  Majesty  derives  from  your  havinw 
been  enabled  to  provide  for  those  services  without  any  great  or  immediate 
addition  to  the  burthens  upon  kis  people. 

"  His  Majesty  particularly  commands  us  to  acknowledge  your  prompt 
attention  to  his  wishes,  respecting  an  increased  provision  for  the  poorer 
clergy;  an  object  in  the  highest  degree  interesting  to  his  Majesty's  feel- 
ings, and  deserving  the  favourable  consideration  of  Parliament. 

"  My  Lards  and  Gentlemen. 

"  The  atrocious  arid  unparalleled  act  of  violence  and  treachery  by  which 
the  Ruler  of  France  attempted  to  surprise  and  to  enslave  the  Spanish  nation, 
while  it  has  excited  in  Spain  a  determined  and  unconquerable  resistance 
against  the  usurpation  and  tyranny  of  the  French  government,  has,  at 
the  same  time,  awakened  in  other  nations  of  Europe  a  determination  to 
resrst,  by  a  new  effort,  the  continued  and  increasing  encroachments  on 
their  safety  and  independence. 

"  Although  the  uncertainty  of  all  human  events,  and  the  vicissitudes 
attendant  upon  war,  forbid  two  confident  an  expectation  of  a  satisfac- 
tory issue  to  the  present  struggle  against  the  common  enemy  of  Europe, 
his  Majesty  commands  us  to  congratulate  you  upon  the  splendid  and 
important  success  which  has  recently  crowned  the  arms  of  the  Emperor 
of  Austria,  under  the  able  and  distinguished  conduct  of  his  Imperial 
Highness  the  Archduke  Charles. 

"  To  the  efforts  of  Europe  for  its  own  deliverance,  his  Majesty  ha« 
directed  us  to  assure  you,  that  he  is  determined  to  continue  his  most 
strenuous  assistance  and  support,  convinced  that  you  will  agree  with  him 
in  considering  that  every  exertion  for  the  re-establishment  of  the  inde- 
pendence and  security  of  other  nations,  is  no  less  conducive  to  the  true 
interests,  than  it  is  becoming  the  character  and  honour  of  Great  Britain." 

A  Commission  for  proroguing  the  Parliament,  till  the  10th  of  August, 
was  then  rend  ;  after  which,  the  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Common*  retired, 
and  th«  Members  respectively  withdrew. 


5Ift         NAVAL  HISTORY  or  Tiir  PRESENT  YEAR,  1809. 
LOSS  OF  THE  TRAVERS  EAST  INDIAMAN. 

The  Travers,  Captain  Collins,  extra-ship  in  the  Honourable  East-India 
Company's  service,  was  lost  in  the  Indian  Seas,  in  the  month  of  November, 
1808.  She  had  treasure  on  board  to  a  larye  amount,  besides  500  pipes  of 
Madeira,  wine,  and  several  valuable  investments;  and,  in  the  whole,  her 
loss,  which  is  rf  lated  in  the  following  letter  from  Captain  Collins,  to  the 
Right  Honourable  Lord  Miato,  Governor  General,  &c.  is  estimated  at 
150,0001.:— 

MY  LORD, 

It  is  with  the  deepest  regret  I  have  the  honour  to  inform  your  Lordship 
of  the  loss  of  the  Honourable  Company's  extra-ship  Travers,  u\ider  my 
command,  on  the  ?th  of  November,  at  me  o'clock,  a.  m.  on  a  rock  detached 
from  the  Sunken  Island,  in  lat.  15.  38.  N.  long.  04.  20.  E.  Diamond  Island 
bearing  W.  by  N.  distance  about  three  miles;  Sunken  Island  S.  W.  by  S. 
distant,  one  mile  and  a  quarter.  But  I  feel,  myself  still  happy  in  saving, 
the  passengers,  officers,  and  ship's  company  (lists  of  whom  I  have  the  ho- 
nour to  subjoin^,  with  the  exception  of  six  Europeans,  seven  Chinese,  and 
three  Lascars,  were  all  saved,  and  have  been  received  by  Captain  Heming, 
of  the  Earl  Spencer.  The  deplorable  state  we  were  all  in,  having  nothing 
but  the  cloaths  we  had  on,  left  most  ample  room  for  the  display  of  his  ge- 
nerosity. I  now  further  beg  leave  to  intrude  upon  your  Lordship  a  detail 
of  this  most  melancholy  catastrophe. 

About  ten  minutes  before  five  o'clock,   a.  m.   on  the  7th.  of  November, 
when  in  ouc  station  on  the  starboard  quarter  of  the  Monarch,  with  the  Earl 
Spencer  in  company,  having  hove  the  lead  and  got  ground  in  20  fathoms, 
mud  and  fine  sand,  I  went  over  to  leeward,  and  saw  breakers  on  the  star- 
board beam,  and  a  head.     I  immediately  hauled  the  ship  close  to  the  wind, 
but  unfortunately  notwithstanding  our  exertions  to  clear  the  reef,  we  struck 
about  five  a.  m.   on  a  rock  detached  from  Sunken  Island,  the  other  two 
ships  passing  considerably  within  hail.     The  cause  of  their  escape,  I  be- 
lieve,  was  from  my  hailing  and  firing  guns.     At  this  time  the  mizen-mast 
went  15  feet  above  the  board,   the  ship  then  bilged  on  the  starboard  side, 
and  in  about  five  minutes  we  lost  the  rudder,  and  the  stern-posts  gave  way. 
Finding  it  impossible  to  get  the  ship  off,  I  ordered  the  main,  foremast,  and 
spare  anchors  to  be  cut  away,  and  threw  over  the  starboard  guns  to  ease 
her.     I  then  sent  an  officer  down  to  secure  the  packets,  which  I  regret  was 
impracticable,  as  the  water  was  level  with  the  gun  deck,  part  of  which  had 
given  way.     As  it  WHS  now  day-break,  and  we  clearly  could  distinguish  the 
•hips  standing  on  their  course,  we  hoisted  our  ensign  to  the  stump  of  our 
mizen-mast,   with  the  union  downwards:    but  not  seeing  that  to  have  any 
effect,  our  only  resource  was  now,  in  our  boats,  which,  with  the  greatest 
exertions  of  the  officers  and  crew,  having  no  masts  left  to  which  we  could 
affix  tackles,  we  were  obliged  to  cut  the  gunwale  down,  to  launch  the  long 
boat,  and  by  dint  of  strength — a  labour  which  was  rendered  doubly  difficult 
by  the  uneasy  state  of  the  ship,  the  sea  Laving  by  this  time  made  a  COLU- 


NAVAL   HJS'IOUY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.          517 

piete  breach  over  her.  By  seven  o'clock  I  had  the  happiness  to  see  all  the 
ladies,  passengers,  and  crew,  with  the  exception  of  tiie  sixteen  men  menti- 
oned, in  the  boats.  The  we-tther  was  so  extremely  squally,  and  a  heavy  sea 
running,  I  thought  it  not  *fi:;e  to  allow  more  tlian  ninety-three  persons  111 
the  launch,  she  being  so  extremely  deep,  and  eighteen  in  the  cutter  ;  hut 
ordered  the  jolly-boat  back,  though  she  was  also  very  crouded,  to  endea- 
vour touring  oft' as  many  of  those  remaining  as  possible-;  which  I  am  sorry 
to  say,  from  their  obstinacy  in  persisting  on  not  com i tig  without  tiseir  bag- 
gage, the  officer  was  unable  to  effect,  exceptiucr  three.  When  we  put  oft", 
our  situation  was  still  more  distressing,  as  Captain  11  awes,  of  the  Monarch* 
the  senior  officer,  followed  by  the  Karl  Spencer,  had  gone  to  so  great  a  dis- 
tance, that  we  could  not  discern  the  ships.  I  had  in  my  pocket  a '.compass, 
and  steeruig  W.  S.  VY.  in  about  an  hour  and  a  halt"  described  them  at  a  dis- 
tance of  about  ten  or  eleven  miles.  The  boats  shipping  much  water,  kept 
us  constantly  baling,  which  gave  me  at  one  time  much  apprehension* 
from  the  severity  of  the  weather,  of  our  not  bc-ing  able  to  reach  them;  but, 
to  our  great  joy,  about  dtven  A.  M.  we  were  all  safe  on  board  the  Karl 
Spencer,  &c.  £c.  • 

I  -  (Signed) 

J.  COLLINS. 

NAMES    OF    THE    PEOPLE    LEFT    OK    THE    WRECK. 

Thomas  Tnicey,  carpenter's  mate ;  John  Green, quartermaster,  W.  IIoitT, 
Peter  Olson,  Jacob  Bergman,  and  F.  Smith,  seamen;  three  Lascars;  aud 
*even  Chinamen. 


The  grand  Naval  Pillar,  which  was  to  be  erected  in  honour  of  our  heroes 
of  the  ocean,  cannot  be  finished,  from  the  want  of  an  ad  equate  subscription  i 
and  the  money  which  has  been  advanced,  has  been  returned  to  the  sub- 
scribers. The  Bank  of  England,  which  subscribed  5001.  has  transferred 
it  to  a  fund  under  the  direction  of  the  Marine  Society,  for  bestowing  pen- 
sions'ut*  10!.  a  year  upon  30  widows  of  deserving  naval  omcers. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Heligoland)  May  30. 

"  A  very  gallant  action  was  fought  on  the  21st.  by  the  Alert  hired  cut- 
ter, mounting  two  3-pounders  and  two  carronadcs,  commanded  by  lieute- 
nant Macdougall,  with  a  crew  consisting  of  eight  boys,  the  master,  and 
himself.  Proceeding  up  the  Jahole  with  a  convoy,  four  Danish  privateers 
were  discovered  in-shore,  receiving  reinforcements  of  men  trom  the  French 
stationed  there.  They  soon  made  iaii  towards  the  cor.  voy,  which  heutuiiaiit 
M.  iu  his  small  cutter  bravely  resolved  to  protect.  With  that  intention  he- 
bore  down  on  the  enemy,  keeping  between  them  and  the  vessels  under  h;s 
charge,  aud  in  that  situation  maintained  an  action,  frecjueiitiy  within  pi->t  ..1 
iiwt,  iui-  two  hours,  wlieu  he  ind  ihe  satisfaction  to  stv  iLc  wiule  cuuvuy 

.  €'Qion.  (Hoi.  XXf.  3  u 


51$  WAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    PIIESENT    YEAUj    1809. 

safe  in  poi  t.  The  Alert  had  none  killed  or  wounded,  and  only  received  w 
few  grape  shot  through  the  main-sail;  eight  men  are  said  to  have  been 
killed  on  board  the  privateers.  When  the  disparity  ot*  force  is  considered, 
each  of  the  privateers  having  not  less  ihati  25  men  on  board,  it  is  difficult 
sufficiently  to  appreciate  the  steady  courage  and  superior  seamanship  of 
lieutenant  M'DnugaU,  and  the  bravery  of  his  little  crew,  by  which  four 
privateers,  each  greatly  superior  in  force  to  the  Alert,  were  prevented  from 
taking  a  single  vessel  of  the  convoy." 


Ipromotions  anU  3ppointmfnw» 

Captains  appointed. 

Commodore  Francis  Beaufort,  of  the  Woolwich,  is  appointed  to  the  Blos- 
som sloop;  Captain  J. Phillimore  to  the  Marlborough;  Captain  D.  Ramsay 
to  the  Eurydice;  Captain  11.  W.  Otvvay  to  the  Ajax;  Captain  Tait  to  the 
Grampus;  Captain  Charles  Napier  to  the  Abercrombie,  for  his  gallant 
conduct  at  the  capture  of  that  vessel,  in  the  Recruit;  Captain  Anthony 
Abdy,  acting  in  the  Tonnant;  Captain  Alexander  Robert  Kerr,  from  the 
Isis,  to  the  Ganymede;  Captain  Woodley  Losack  to  the  Isis;  Captain 
Shortland  to  the  Valiant;  Commodore  John  Peyton,  grandson  of  the  late- 
Admiral  Peyton,  to  the  Ephira;  Captain  James  Sanders  to  the  Atlas,  vice 
Pym;  Captain  Bayntun  to  theMilford;  Captain  Robert  Plampin  to  the 
Courageux  ;  Commodore  Robert  Williams  to  the  Ruby;  Captain  John  Sykes 
lo  the  Adamant;  Commodore  John  Lawson  to  the  Port  Mahon ;  Commo- 
dore George  William  Blamy  to  the  Harpy  ;  Commodore  John  Taylor  to  the 
Devastation;  Commodore  Edward  Killwick  to  the  Princess;  and  Commo- 
dore William  Dowers  to  the  Cherub. 

Lieutenants  appointed. 

Lieutenant  William  Hire!  is  appointed  to  the  St.  George;  James  Setford, 
from  the  Prometheus,  to  the  Alfred:  Joseph  R.  llownnm  to  the  Resistance; 
George  William  Brown  to  theGlonnnen;  Bevis Thelwall  to  the  Venerable; 
T.  Manderson  to  the  Adamant;  Hon.  A.  Tnrnuur  to  ditto;  George  Davis, 
from  the  Champion,  to  the  Conragenx;  Thomas  Wren  Carter  to  the  St. 
Domingo;  M.  Donneilan,  from  the  Revenge,  to  the  Sarpeclon;  John  N. 
O.  B.  Hall  to  the  Raven;  David  Anderson  to  the  Adamant;  John  Nepean 
to  the  Peruvian ;  Andrew  Duncan,  from  the  Salooman,  to  the  Devas* 
tation;  Lawrence  Smith  to  the  Archer  gun-brig;  William  Brown  (l)  to  the 
Hound;  Thomas  Crawford,  late  of  the  Magnet,  to  the  Saturn,  James  Rus- 
rlen,  from  the  Dnke  of  York,  curler,  to  the  Beagle;  Frederick  Vernqn  to  the 
Implacable;  G.  8.  Parsons  to  the  Valiant;  George  Seward  to  the  Abou- 
kir;  Henry  Richard  Camplhi  to  the  Briseis;  Thomas  Drake  to  the 
Hound. 

A  list  of  midshipmen  who  passed  for  lieutenants  the  first  Wednesday  in 
June:— Othnell  Mawdesley,  David  Welch,  John  Hudson,  William  Vine, 
John  Rothery,  John  Thompson,  B.  II.  Wyatt,  Philip  Graham,  Richard 
Pettman,  Charles  B.  Hitchins,  Richard  Holmes,  Stephen  Poyntz  Townley, 
John  Arnall,  Edward  Simmons,  John  Waterman,  James  Athill,  Joseph 
Birch,  George  Addis,  Orlando  Orlebur,  Joseph  Dodd,  Thomas  Lee,  Joseph 
Smith,  Thomas  Cook  Dybail,  Richard  Cole,  R.  Whitehurst,  Charles  Gran* 
thuin,  Edward  R.  Hunter,  and  Thomas  Darby. 

Mr.  Lane  is  appointed  to  be  purser  of  the  Princess,  at  Liverpool.  Mr. 
Denny  Walker  lias  been  dismissed  the  service,  by  the  sentence  of  a 
•oart-martHil. 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1809.  519 


Surgeons  appointed. 

Mr.  William  Watson  is  appointed  to  he  surgeon  of  the  Rosario ;  J.  P.  L. 
Michod  to  the  Fly  sloop;  William  Aitken  to  the  Bucephalus;  Edward 
Bromley  to  the  Adamant;  William  Ratty  to  the  Harpy  sloop  ;  George  Gil- 
bert to  the  Kover  sloop;  Henry  Lewin  to  tbe  Araciiue ;  Alexander  Teller  to 
the  Ganymede;  James  Campbell  (3)  to  the  llawke  5  David  Steel  lo  the 
Mosquito;  Caryer  Vickery  to  the  Gladiator;  S.  II.  Jones  to  the  Edgar; 
Richard  Webster  to  the  Royal  Oak;  Alexander  Baxter  to  the  Nerens; 
James  Brydone  to  the  Endymion;  Matthias  Hoffman  to  the  Inflexible; 
Robert  Sliand  to  the  Ajax;  J.  E.  Risk  to  the  Milford;  William  Ratty,  from 
tha  Harpy,  to  the  Sabrina;  William  Cullen  Brown,  from  the  Woolwich,  to 
the  /Etna  bomb;  William  Jackson,  from  the  Illustrious,  to  theNereus;  and 

F.  M'Allister  to  the  Jamaica. 

Assistants  appointed. 

Robert  Dunn  is  appointed  to  the  Bucephalus;  E.  H.  Seymour  to  the  Ja- 
maica station;  William  Al'Cord  to  the  Shannon.;  Joseph  Henry  J.mes  to 
the  Caton  ;  P.  H.  S.  Donald  Cameron  to  the  Alfred;  William  Carrol  to  the 
Centaur;  David  Small  to  tbe  Powerful;  Simon  Davidson  to  the  Caledonia; 

G.  H.  Weatherhead  to  he  an  hospital  mate  at  llaslar;  James  Fry  to  the 
William  store  ship;  F.  A    DonaUy  to  the  Alfred;  Charles Osborne  to  the 
Adamant ;  Alick  Osborne  to  the  Alfred;  James  Scott  to  the  Marlborougfh ; 
Henry  Barnes  to  the  Hyaena  store  ship;  James  Grant   to  the   San  Josef; 
John  Curtis  to   the  Courageux ;  James  Simpson  to  the  Heroine;  Thomas 
Miller  to  the  Hermes  store-ship  ;  Henry  Hart  to  the  Endymion  ;  J.  It.  Scott 
to  the  Orion;  Matthew  Anderson  to  the  Milf'ord ;  Thomas  Logan  to  the 
Tickler  cutter;  William  Simpson  to  the  Ajux;  William  Dobson  to  the  De- 
fender gun-brig;  James  Carruthers  to  the  Gibraltar;  John  Thompson  to 
be  an  hospital-mate  at  Haslar  hospital;  William  Waddell  to  the   Basilisk 
gun-brig  ;  Andrew  Hutchison  to  the  Mediterranean  ;  Joseph  Cook  to  ditto; 
Willum  Campbell  to  ditto;  John  Cameron  to  the  Donegal;  Thomas  Hayes 
to  the  Woolwich  store-ship;  Richard  Morgan  to  the  Argonaut;  Andrew 
Barrie  to  the  Imperieuse;  J.ohn  Grei.j;  ro  the  Nereus;  James  Breer  to  the 
Atlas;    Andrew  Alaca;:sli  to  be  an  hospital  mate  at  Deal;  John  Weir  to  the 
.Med'ti  rrailoan;   William  Blakie  to  ditto;  William  Leaky  to  the  Perlcn; 

.  M'Uce  to  the  Ajax;  Tiur.ims  Miller  to  the  Diligente  store-ship;  George 
B::r;o.vr-s  to  the  Rebuff  gun-brig;  John  Pawson  to  the  Jamaica;  Patrick 
Re;llv  to  the  Mediterranean;  James  Harvey  to  ditto;  William  Culleu 
to  the  Antelope;  and  Alexander  Laughlen  to  the  Lejden. 


MARRIAGES. 

Lately,  at  Weymouth,  Miss  Esther  Ellison,  second  daughter  of  Captain 
Joseph  Ellison,  of  the  royal  hospital  at  Greenwich,  to  Captain  Basdon,only 
gon  of  Lieutenant  Basden,  of  his  Majesty's  dock-yard  at  Deptford. 

On  the  6th  of  June,  at  Limehouse,  F.  J.  Jago,  Esq.  first  assistant  surgeon 
of  his  Majesty's  ship  Antelope,  bearing  the  ling  of  Admiral  Hollow-ay,  to 
Miss  Jane  Whitmore,  daughter  of  Captain  Whitmore,  of  Blacklieath. 

By  special  licence,  at  the  parish  church  of  St.  Mary-le-bone,  C'antain, 
J.  P".  Beresford,  of  the  Theseus,  to  MX?  Multoy,  dnught-cr  ofCapt-.iin  J.  P. 
y,  of  Upper  Wimpole-strect. 


520     NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1809. 

OBITUARY. 

Lately,  at  Plymouth,  Lieutenant  Samuel  Holmes,  of  the  royal  navy. 

In  February  last,  on  hoard  the  Wanderer,  in  tlie  West  Indies,  aged  21, 
Lieutenant  William  White,  of  the  Royal  Navy,  eldest  sou  of  A.  W.  White, 
Esq.  of  Jamaica. 

On  the  17th  of  March  last,  at  sea,  a  few  days  after  leaving  St.  Helena, 
Captain  Thomas  Hudson,  commander  of  the  Hon.  East  India  Company's 
ship  Ceylon. 

Lately,  after  a  lingering  illness,  Mr.  Matthew  Ball,  of  the  Transport 
OScc,  only  sou  of  Dr.  Ball,  of  the  royal  navy. 

On  the  14th  of  May,  sincerely  lamented  by  her  family,  Miss  Bowen, 
el  lest  daughter  of  Commissioner  James  Bowen,  of  the  Transport  Office. 

Suddenly,  Lady  Hughes,  an  old  and  very  respectable  inhabitant  of  South- 
ampton, and  relict  of  Admiral  Sir  Edward  Hughes,  Bart. 

Lately,  at  Boston,  in  Lincolnshire,  Mr.  George  Moore,  surgeon,  of  the 
royal  navy. 

At  Portsmouth,  suddenly,  Mr.  James  Reed,  of  the  Guildford  store  ship. 

Off  Porto  Rico,  in  an  action  with  the  Ilautpoult,  Mr.  Casey,  boatswain  of 
the  Potnpee;  and,  in  the  same  action,  Mr.  Samuel  Cross,  master's  mate  of 
the  Castor  frigate. 

On  the  19th  of  January,  Mr.  John  Simmons,  surgeon  of  his  Majesty's 
ship  Claudia,  which  was  ou  that  day  wrecked  olf  the  coast  of  Norway. 

On  the  15th  of  June,  at  her  residence  in  Millman-street,  Mrs.  Margaret 
Haswell,  widow  of  the  late  Admiral  Hasweil,  aged  74. 

At  Chelsea,  after  a  very  lingering  and  painful  illness,  Sir  William  Ilerirv 
Douglas,  Bart.  Vice-admiral  of  the  Blue.  He  is  succeeded  by  his  brother, 
now  Sir  Howard,  a  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  army,  and  commandant  of  the 

royal  military  college  at  High  Wycombe. 

•f 

At  Richmond,   on    the  "Oth  of  May,  aged   14,  Henry,  the  eldest  IOIT 
of  John  Deas  Thompson,  Esrj.  one  of  the  commissioners  of  his  Majesty's, 
navy. 

At  Brackley,  the  country  residence  of  his  «on,  after  a  long  and  distressful 
illness,  Henry  Grueber,  Esq.  many  years  a  captain  in  the  lion.  East  India 
Company's  service. 

On  the  Cth  of  June,  at  Cheltenham,  aged  46,  the  lady  of  Captain  Sir 
Francis  Hartwel!,  Ban.  oac  of  the  Commissioners  of  his  Majesty's  navy, 

On  the  llth  of  June,  at  Shcerness,  Mr.  William  Etty,  of  the  royal  navy, 
aged  28.  He  was  unfortunately  drowned  whilst  bathing. 

On  the9rh  of  June,  aged  seven  year*,  Miss  Mary  Aim  Patcrson,  daughter 
of  Captain  C.  W.  Patei  son  of  the  royal  uaw. 

On  the  27th  of  April  last,  on  board  his  Majesty's  ship  Ocean,  off 
Minorca,  Mr.  M'Innes,  first  assistant  surgeon  of  that  ship. 

At  Gosport,  on  the  Oth  of  June,  of  a  decline,  Mr.  Robert  Welch, 
surgeon  of  the  royal  navy. 


INDEX 


to 


THE  I 


VOLUME. 


A. 


A  CTTOXS—  between  the  Cornwallis  & 
-  a  French  privateer,  16.  An  English 
merchant  ship,  and  a  French  privateer, 
in  1656,  18.  Tiie  Terpsichore,  and  a 
Frc'p.  h  frigate,  23.  The  Kite,  and  a 
Danish  flotilla,  98.  The  English  and 
Russian  Poets  in  the  Baltic,  99.  The 
Sandwich,  and  a  French  lugger,  295. 
AiTi.ici-:,  ,A;i::iiral  Philip,  portrait  and 
memoir  of,  445.  Made  lieutenant, 
serves  at  the  siege  of  Louisbonrg,  and 
advanced  to  the  rank  of  master  r.nd 
commander,  i!>.  Commands  the  Gram- 
irsoiu,  ancl  is  made  post  in  the  Namur, 
446.  Sails  for  the  East  Indies,  in  the 
Panther,  ih.  Returns  to  England,  in 
the  Arjjo;  is  appointed  to  the  Triumph; 
goes  to  the  West-Indies;  and  is  engaged 
in  two  of  the  actions  with  de  Guichen, 
4  iT.  Returns  to  England,  ami  is  re-ap- 
pointed lo  the  Triumph,  448.  Obtains 
a  fl<:;i,  and  a  seat  at  the  Admiralty 
Board,  ih.  Dies,  j';. 

,  Hear  Admiral  Sir  Edmund,  me- 
moir of,  44:>.  Made  lieutenant;  p:-o- 
rnotecl  to  pc<t  rank,  in  the  Mercmy; 
commands  the  Lauiiceston,  the  Argo, 
the  St.  Anthonis,  the  Medway,  and  the 
Bedford,  ih.  Serves  in  America,  and 
in  the  Channel  fleet,  450.  Descries 
Langara's  squadron,  and  assists  in  the 
succeeding  encasement,  ib.  Proceeds 
to  the  relief  of  Gibraltar,  returns  to  En- 
eland,  and  sails  for  America,  ib.  Ap- 
pointed commodore,  in  the  Bedford, 
451.  Goes  to  the  \Vest-lndies,  tthd 
distinguishes  himself  in  tlie  several  ac- 
tions with  de  Grassc,  452.  Made  a 
Baronet,  and  receives  the  thanks  of 
Parliament,  ih.  Returns  to  England, 
obtained  a  flag,  ari'l  is  elected  M.  P.  for 
Colchester,  453.  Dies,  ib.  Heraldic 
particulars,  ib. 


Albion,  destruction  of  the,  by  fire,  17. 

America,  supposed  adjustment  of  the  dif- 
ferences of,  with  England,  429. 

America,  South,  letters  respecting  the  af- 
fairs of,  248,  401. 

American  embargo  act,  anniversary  of  the, 
108. 

Amphitrite  Island,  and  Shoals,  account 
of  the,  26- 

Anchors,  proposed  improvement  for  weigh- 
ing, 211. 

Anthony,  Captain,  of  the  Cornwallis  pack- 
et, presented  with  a  silver  cup,  by  the 
merchants  of  Barbadoes,  17. 

Austria  and  France,  war  between,  428. 


B. 


Barfleur,  boat  of  the,  overset,  and  17  per- 
sons drowned,  161. 

Basque  Roads,  destruction  of  the  French 
fleet  in,  by  Lord  Cochrane,  M5,  344, 
GG8,  373,  '3T4,  395,  399,  403  (with  a 
plan  of  the  attack),  and  412. 

Batteau,  account  of  a  new-invented,  457. 

Black  Sea,  com  nunication  respecting  the 
freedom  of  the,  '.'16. 

Hlake,  anecdotes  of  Admiral,  97. 

Bolt-Hi,  Captain,  representation  of  his  im- 
provement injury-masts,  399. 

Bombay,  description  and  view  of  tiie  Island 
of,  3UO. 

Bountv,  fate  of  the  mutineers  of  the,  454 

Bowen,  Capt.  error  of  the  press  respect- 
in;;,  corrected,  461. 

Brazils,  account  of  an  expedition  from  the, 
asrain^t  C:ivenne,  1^3. 

Brest  fleet,  escape  of  the,  156,  249. 

Britannia,  loss  of  the,  66. 


C. 


Calmady,  anecdote  of  the  late  Admiral, 
194. 


INDEX. 


Cannibals  of  New  Zealand,  107. 

Capri,  description,  and  account  of  the  loss; 
of  the  Island  of,  C5. 

Catamarans,  &c.  letter  respecting,  403 

Cayenne,  ot't'cial  particulars  of  the  capture 
of,  337. 

Cadiz,  map  and  description  of  the  harbour 
of,  476. 

Corpse,  a  female,  found  at  sea,  4o9 

Cunv.ning,  an  American  seaman,  remark- 
able case  of,  456 

CHRISTIAN,  Rear-Adm.  Sir  Hugh  Clober- 
ry,  portrait  and  memoir  of,  177.  Made 
lieutenant,  and  master  and  commander, 
id.  Commands  the  Vigilant,  off  Rhode- 
Inland,  ib.  Returns  to  England;  made 
post  captain;  goes  to  the  West-Indies, 
in  the  Suffolk;  and  is  engaged  in  Ad- 
miral Byron's  action  with  d'Estaing,  in 
July,  1779,  178.  Assists  in  the  cap- 
ture of  three  French  frigates;  and  in 
the  destruction  and  capture  of  a  French 
convoy,  off  Martinique,  179.  Kngaged 
in  Rodney's  several  actions  with  dc  Gai- 
chen,  in  April  and  May,  1780,  ib.  Serves 
in  the  Fortunee,  under  Sir  Samuel  Flood, 
Sir  George  Rodney,  and  Admiral  Pigot, 
180  .  Appointed  to  the  Queen  Char- 
lotte, ib.  Made  Rear-admiral  of  the 
blue,  and  sails  with  a  convoy  for  the 
West-Indies,  181.  Driven  back  by  a 
storm,  ilt.  Sails  a  second  time,  ib.  Dri- 
ven back  again,  182.  Created  knight 
of  the  Bath,  ib.  Sails  for,  and  arrives 
in,  the  West-Indies,  ib.  Attacks  St. 
Lucia,  183.  Captures  that  Island,  185. 
Reduces  the  insurants  of  St.  Vincent 
and  Grenada,  and  returns  to  England, 
188.  Made  Rear-admiral  of  the  White, 
appointed  second  in  command  at  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  succeeds  Ad- 
miral Prin»le  as  commander  in  chief,  ib. 
Dies  at  the  Cape,  ib.  Heraldic  parti- 
culars, ib. 

Clarges,  Sir  William,  account  of  his  impro- 
ved lite-boat,  192. 

Cochrane,  Lord,  Spanish  euloguim  on, 
195. 

,  ,     interesting  account  of 

bis  destruction  of  the  French  fleet  in 
Basque  Roads,  G68.  French  official 
nccount  of  ditto,  373.  Letter  to  the 
Editor  respecting,  .195.  Letter  from  a 
midshipman  to  his  mother,  respecting, 
412. 
Coombe,  Captain,  gallantry  and  death  of, 

at  Gundaloupc,  101. 

Cork,  view  and  description  of  the  harbour 
of,  414 


Cornwallis  packet,  gallant  action  of  the,  iu 
the  West- Indies,  16 

Correspondence,  28,  109,  199,  300,  377, 
461. 

Corunna,  official  account  of  the  battle  of, 
79,  83. 

Crescent,  loss  of  the,  64. 

Courts  martial,  (Naval) — On  Captain  Ba- 
ker, and  the  crew  of  the  Jupiter,  84. 
On  John  Brown,  for  the  murder  of  R. 
Nelson,  ib.  On  Rear-admiral  Harvey, 
for  disrespect  to  his  superior  officer, 
Lord  G  imbier,  420. 

Cowardice  and  bravery,  instances  of,  1 23. 

D. 

Dawson,  lieutenant,  account  of  the  pro- 
motion of,  473. 

Deal  hospital,  increased  salaries  of  the 
officers  of,  351. 

Demerary,  review  of  Bolingbroke's  voyage 
to  the,  415. 

Despatch,  loss  of  the,  62. 

Domingo,  San,  account  of  the,  199. 

DOWNMAN,  Captain  Hugh,  portrait  and 
memoir  of,  1.  Family  particulars  ol, 
ib.  Enters  the  navy,  under  Captain 
M.  Graham,  ib.  Serves  in  the  Aretiuisa, 
and  Emerald,  Capt.  Marshal! ;  the  Ed- 
gar, Commodore  Ilotham;  the  Queen, 
Admiral  Montague;  the  Triumph  and 
Barfleur,  Lord  Hood;  and  the  Crown, 
Commodore  Cornwailja,  2.  Taken  bv 
the  French ;  exchanged ;  serves  at  the 
relief  of  Gibraltar;  goes  to  the  East- 
Indies;  made  lieutenant,  in  the  Perse- 
verance, ib.  Goes  to  t!.r:  Mediterra- 
nean, in  the  Alcirle,  Captain  Li:r/cc,  il'. 
Serves  under  that  officer,  at  Corsica; 
and  as  2d.  lieutenant  of  the  Windsor 
Castle,  3  Returns  to  England,  in  the 
Victory,  Lord  Hood,  ib.  Serves  under 
Sir  John  Jtrvis,  in  the  victory  <;f  i'eb  14, 
1 797  ;  and  afterwards,  \v;t.h  th=.it  officer, 
in  the  Ville  de  Pans,  ii>.  iM:-ji^  com- 
mander in  the  Speedy  sloop,  and  stati- 
oned off  Oporto,  it.  Engages  le  [V.pil- 
lon,  French  privateer,  off'VigO',  ib.  Re- 
ceives the  t,hnnks  of  the  factory  at  Opor- 
to, ib.  Made  post  captain  in  the  Santa 
Dorotea,  in  which  he  makes  several 
captures,  5.  Serves  under  Lord  Keith, 
at  the  blockade  of  Genoa,  C.  Reduces 
the  fortress  of  Savona,  destroys  the  for- 
tifications at  Aspcrccio,  and  preserves 
the  Florence  gallery,  7.  Receives  the 
thanks  of  the  Tuscan  court,  8.  Carries 
the  King  and  Queen  of  Sardinia  to  Na- 
ples, for  which  he  receives  their  thanks, 
and  a  diamond  ring,  9.  Serves  as  Sif 


James  Saumarez*  Captain,  in  the  Caesar, 
and  in  die  Diomede,  10.  Goes  to  tlse 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  as  Sir  Home  Pop- 
ham's  captain,  in  the  Diadem,  lb.  Sent 
home  with  despatches,  announcing  the 
capture  of  the  Cape,  ib.  Sails  for  South 
America,  and  resumes  the  command  of 
the  Diomede,  ib.  Returns  to  England, 
and  is  paid  off,  ib.  Appointed  to  the 
Assistance,  and  Vengeance,  prison  ships, 
ib.  Fac  sirui'e  of  his  hand  writing,  ib. 
Farther  particulars  respecting  his  action 
off  Oporto,  213. 


r. 


Fanshaw,  account  of  Captain  Robert, 
190. 

Feroe  Islands,  account  of  the,  229. 

Fir  Timber,  the  use  of,  recommended  in 
the  navy,  3  14. 

Fitzgerald,  some  account  of  Lord  Charles, 
13. 

Fogs,  remarkable  effects  of  the  clearing 
away  of,  131. 

Foot,  lieutenant,  drowned,  161 

Fortitude,  instance  of  Jewish,  104. 

France  and  Austria,  war  between,  428. 

Frio,  Cape,  a  geographical  error  respect- 
ing, corrected,  43. 

G. 

Gardner,  Rear-admiral  Lord,  portrait  and 
memoir  or,  357.  Embarks  in  the  Duke 
and  is  wounded  in  Rodney's  action  of 
April  12,  1780,  ib.  Made  lieutenant, 
commander,  and  post  cnptuin,  358. 
Commands  the  Daphne,  Circe,  and  He- 
roine, ib.  Ordered  to  India,  ib.  En- 
gaged in  the  reduction  of  Trincomale, 
and  other  Dutch  settlements,  359. 
F.mployed  as  senior  officer  on  the  coast 
of  Coromandel  and  Malabar,  361. 
Commands  an  expedition  against  Go- 
lumbo,  ib.  Reduces  that  settlement, 
362.  Reduces  the  settlement  of  Co- 
chin, 564.  Marries  Miss  Adderley, 
returns  to  England,  and  successively 
commands  the  Ruby,  and  Resolution, 
in  the  Channel  fleet/  ib.  Appointed  to 
the  Hero;  assists  in  Sir  Robert  Calder's 
action,  in  July,  18'.).") ;  and  in  Sir  Rich- 
ard Strachau's  action,  in  November, 
1805,  rG5.  Receives  the  thanks  of 
Parliament,  a  t'>icl  medal  from  the  King, 
and  a  sword  from  the  Patriotic  Fund, 
366.  Assists  at  the  capture  of  the  Ma- 
renjo  and  the  Belle  Poule.  and  is  ap- 


•  pointed  captain  of  the  Channel  fleet, 
ib.  Made  Rear-admiral  of  the  blue, 
hoists  his  flag  in  the  Belletoplion,  and 
blockades  ihe  Dutch  in  the  Scheldt,  and 
tiie  Textl,  ib.  Heraldic  particulars, 
367. 

Gardner,   Admiral,  account  of  the  loss  of 
the,  East-Indiaman,  C5. 

Gazetie  letters,  71,  16'2,  -.2 57,  317,  430, 
49* 

Gib,  Capt.  gallantry  of,  457 

Gilpin's  Western  Counties,  extract  from, 
1S1. 

Gunpowder,    ditference    between  French 
and  English,  23. 


H. 


Ilardinge,  notices  respecting  the  late  cap- 
tain, 11. 

,  letter    respecting   the  mon- 
ument of,  4(31. 

Ilervoy,  trial  of  Rear-admiral,  420. 

Hood,  Sir  S.  receives  the  thanks  of  Par- 
liament, for  his  services,  at  Coruuay, 
tfil. 

I. 

Ilfracomr.e,  vic-w  and  description  of,    133. 
luce  Castle,  view  and  description  of,- 44. 


J. 


James,  Captain,  abstract  of  his  voyage  t» 

the  South  Sea,  144. 

Johnson,  lieutenant  John,  murder  of,  160. 
Jury-masts,  Captain  Bolton's  improvement 

in,  39.). 

K. 

Kew  Nopal,  use  of  the,  in  scorbutic  casts, 

40. 
Kite,  action  between  the,  and  a  Danish 

flotilla,  98. 
Knives,  several,  swallowed   by   a   sailer, 

456. 


Latitude  and  longitude,  new  machine  for 
discovering,  375. 

Laurel,  loss  of  the,  348. 

Letter  to  the  Editor,  on  the  present  ma- 
na^ement  and  discipline  of  the  navy, 
No.  X.  28;  No.  XI.  109;  No.  XII. 
199,  XIII.  473. 

to  the  same,  respecting  the  de- 
bate oa  Cuptaiu  Hardinge's monument. 


INDEX. 


including  a  list  of  officers,  of  tlieTigre, 

Capt.  Sir  W.  S.  Smith,  461. 
Letter  to  the  same,  on  the  duties  of  na- 
val members  of  Parliament,  No.  VIII. 

315  No.  IX.  34;  No.X.  122;  No. XL 

209. 
< —  from   Admiral  Trident,  to  Lord 

Mulgrave,  36. 
. —  to  the  Editor,  from  Captain  Ilick- 

ctts,  with  a  representation  or  his  new 

nipper,  38. 

to  the  same,  enclosing  a  commu- 
nication from  Mr.  Edmund,  surgeon  of 
the  Russel,  respecting  the  use  of  Kew 
Nopal,  in  cases  of  scurvcy,  40. 

•  to  the  same,  from  the  secretary  to 
the  society  of  arts,  relating  a  remark- 
able anecdote  of  youthful  fortitude,  42. 

• to  the  same,  from  Timothy  Wea- 

therside,  correcting  an  error  in  the 
charts  of  the  coast  of  Brazil,  43. 

• to  the  same,  from  Sir  J.  Senhotise, 

recommending  the  use  of  a  wood  called 
serrawauolia,  i'or  ship  building,  113. 

• to  the  same,  respecting  the  crew 

of  the  standard,  115. 

to  the  same,  enclosing  Tom 

Pai  ne's  svstcm  of  national  defence, 
116. 

to  the  same,  relating  a  remarka- 
ble story  of  a  shark,  121. 

to  the  same,  from  Yusco  de  Gama, 

inclosing  a  state  paper  respecting  the 
emigration  of  the  Portuguese  court  to 
the  Brazil?,  463. 

to  the  same,  with  an  account  of 

the  promotion  of  lit-utcnant  Dawbon, 
of  the  St.  Fiorenzo,  473. 

to  the  same,  recording  instances 

of  cowardice  and  bravery,  123. 

— — —  from  Captain  Bviig,  of  the  Bclli- 
qucux,  to  Sir  E.  Peiiew,  relating  the  re- 
sult of  an  attack  on  a  Malay  Prow, 
125. 

• from  the  secretary  of  the  .Admi- 
ralty, to  the  captains  in  ihe  navy,  refu- 
sing an  increase  of  pay,  197. 

— — —  from  the  captains,  to  the  secre- 
tary, in  reply,  ib. 

— — —  to  the  Editor,  respecting  tlic 
Brest  fleet,  the  insurrection  in  Calabria, 
invasion,  &c.  202. 

to  the  same,  respecting  the  grant 

of  Parliament  to  the  Nelson  family, 
208. 

• to  the  same,  from  Captain  Rick- 

ctts,  proposing  an  improvement  in  the 
mode  of  weighing  anchors,  ill  1. 

— — - —  to  the  same,  respecting  Captain 
Dowiimiui's  action  off  Oporto,  213. 


Letter  to  the  same,  respecting  Captain 
Bolton's  substitute  for  a  lower  must, 
213. 

to  the  same,  enclosing  a  narrative 

of  the  proceedings  of  the  fleet  under 
the  command  of  Admiral  Sir  J.  Jervis, 
on  the  14l!i  of  February,  1797,  300. 

from  the  Captains  in  the  navy,  to 


ihc  lords  of  the  Admiralty,  soliciting  ah 
increase  of  pay,  C07,  308. 

to  the  Editor,  recommending  the 


use  of  fir  timber,  in  the  navy,  314. 
to  the  same,  from  an  eve-witness, 

on  the  destruction  of  the  French  fleet  in 

Basque  Roads,  397. 
to  the  same,    from  Captain  Rick- 

etts,  suggesting  the  use  of  large  rockets, 

for   obtaining   a     communication    with 

stranded  s>hips,  398. 
to  the  same,   requesting  lists  of 

the   naval  officers   who  voted   for  and 

against  the  Duke  of  York,  .393. 
— — —  extract  of  a.  from  an  officer  of  the 

Revenge,   respecting  the  destruction  of 

the  French  fleet,  in  Basque  Roads,  399. 
to  the  Editor,  with  an  account  of 

Captain  Bolton's  improvement  injury' 

masts,  399. 
to  the  same,  respecting  the  affairs 

of  South  America,  401. 

to    the  same,   with   an    engraved 

plan  of  the   attack  on  the  French  fleet,, 
in  Basque  Roads,  403. 

to  the  sume,  on  catamarans,  rock- 
ets, &c.  ^08." 

from  a   midshipman    to    his  mo- 
ther, with  an  account  of  the  destruction 
of  the  French   ileet  in  Basque  Roads, 
412. 

Letters  on  service,  71,  162,  257,  317,  430. 

,  description  and  dimensions  ot , 

the  Loweston  uniimnergible,  2'J°. 

•,  extract  of  a,  from  a  naval  cfiiccr, 


Sir    William 


at  Rio  de  Janeiro,  498 
Life  boat,    description    of 
Clargea'  improved,  192.  • 

M. 

Macbride,  characteristic  sketch  of  the  lat« 

atiminil,  17. 

Malacca,  present  state  of,  266. 
Malay  Prow,   result  of  an  attack   on 

125. 
Manners,  account   of  the  late  Lord 

bcrt,  15. 

Marine  scenery,  43,  131,  229. 
Marshall,    account    of    Captain    Samuc 

191. 
Martinique,  official  particulars  of  the  caj 

ture  of,  317,  323. 


IXDEX. 


Marine  designs,  &c.  in  the  41st  exhibition 
of  the  royal  academy,  492. 

Alontague,  whimsical  eccentricities  of  the 
late  captain,  12.  460 

iUulgrave,  letter  to  Lord,  on  certain  abu- 
ses in  the  navy,  36. 


Naval  anecdote*,  commercial  hints,  reso- 
lutions, &c.  11,  97,  190,  295,  368.  454 

architecture,  improvements  in,  138. 

• history  of  the  year  1809;  60,  156, 

217,  3 15,"  423. 

— —  Literature. — Bolingbroke's  voyage  to 
the  Demerarv,  415. 

events,  chronological  sketch  of  re- 
markable, in  the  year  1808,  47. 

Poetry.— — Pye's  ode  for  the  new 

year,  54.    Apostrophe  to  the  river  Nith, 
55.     Prologue  to  the  tragedy  of  Doug- 
las, 56.     Prologue   to  Othello,  and  the 
Citizen,  57.     Extracts  from  Scott's  M;ir- 
mion,  58.     Lines  to  ?*lrs.  Smith,  wiih 
an  epitaph  on   her  husband,  Capt.  Ed- 
ward Smith,    153.     A  shipwreck,   242. 
Inscription   to   the  memory  of  Admiral 
Earrinsjton,  2-17.     The  British  Channel, 
495.     Ye  Mariners  of  England,  496 

Retrospect,  497. 

Navy,  letters  on  the  management  and 
discipline  of  the,  28,  109,  199.  473 

Nauscopy,  or  the  art  of  discovering  ships 
at  a  distance  from  lend,  account  of,  51. 

Nelson,  Lord,  presence  of*mmd  of,  453 

Nelson,  Lord,  and  the  Hamburgh  Wine- 
merchant,  anecdote  of,  107. 

Newfoundland  Fishery,  account  of  the, 
20. 

Nipper,  new,  description  of  Captain  Rick- 
etts's,  SI. 

Non-intercourse  act  passed  in  America, 
316. 

Norge,  description  of  the  head  of  the  Ba- 
nish ship,  27. 

North  Cape,  Acerbi's  description  of  the, 
43. 


O. 


Oporto,  re-capture  of,  by  Sir  Arthur  Wel- 
kslej,  429. 


P. 


Paine,  Tom,  his  system  of  national  defence, 

116. 
Parker,  Admiral    "U  illiom,     letters  from, 

relating  to  the  proceedings  o-'  the  gquad- 


,  Sol,  XXI. 


ron,  under  the  command  of  Sir  J.  Jer- 
vis,  on  the  1-lth.  of  February,  1797, 
301. 

Parliament,  proceedings  in,  66,  252,  438. 
507 

Parliamentary  duties  of  naval  officers, 
letters  respecting  the,  31,  34,  122,  209, 
398. 

Pay,  correspondence  respecting  an  increase 
of,  between  the  captains  in  the  navy 
and  the  board  of  Admiralty,  197,  307. 

Paington  hospital,  increased  salaries  of  the 
officers  of,  351. 

Philosophical  papers,  51,  127. 

Pocock,  Sir  George,  inscription  on  the 
monument  of  the  late,  491. 

Portugal,  official  paper  respecting  the  emi- 
gration of  the  court  of,  to  the  Brazils, 

POLE,  Admiral  Sir  C.  M.  portrait  and  me- 
moir of,  265.  Family  particulars  of, 
ib»  Enters  the  navy  in  the  Thames, 
Captain  Locker,  ib.  Serves  in  the  Sa- 
lisbury, ib.  Commences  an  intimacy 
with  the  late  Lord  Nelson,  ib.  Made 
lieutenant  in  the  Sea-horse,  and  goes  to 
the  East-Indies  ib.  Removed  iiuo  the 
Rippon,  266.  Serves  at  the  attack  of 
Pondicnerry,  ib.  Made  post  in  the  Bri- 
tannia, ib.  Commands  the  Hussar,  and 
loses  that  ship,  in  America/  267.  Ap- 
pointed to  the  Success,  in  which  he  en- 
gages the  Santa  Catilina,  Spanish  frigate, 
ib.  Commands  the  Crown  guardbhip, 
and  tiie  Melampus,  ib.  Appointed  to 
the  Illustrious,  270.  Prqscnt  at  the  sur- 
render of  Toulon,  in  the  Colossus,  ib. 
Promoted  to  a  flag,  ib.  Appointed  cap- 
tain of  the  Channel  fleet,  under  Lord 
Bridport,  ib.  Hoists  his  flag  in  the 
Royal '  George,  and  attacks  a  Spanish 
squadron  off  the  Isle  of  Rhe,  ib.  Sails 
in  the  Agincourt,  as  governor  and  com- 
mander in  chief  at  Newfoundland,  271 . 
Succeeds  Lord  Nelson  in  the  command 
of  the  Baltic  fleet,  ib.  Explores  the 
passage  of  the  Great  Belt,  ib.  Advan- 
ced to  the  dignity  of  a  baronet,  ib. 
Commands  off  Cadiz,  ib.  Elected  M. 
P.  for  Newark,  and  appointed  chairman, 
of  the  commission  for  enquiring  into  the 
abuses  in  the  civil  department  of  the 
navv,  ib.  Resigns  his  seat  as  chairman 
to  the  naval  comir.issi  >ners,  and  is  made 
a  Lord  of  the  Admiralty,  ib.  Leaves 
the  Admiralty,  272.  Speaks  in  Parlia- 
ment, on  the  droits  of  Admiralty,  ib. 
Proposes  a  bill,  iclating  to  Greenwich 
Hospital  and  the  Naval  Asylum,  273. 
Elected  AI.  P.  for  Plymouth,  ib.  JMakes 


bther  motions  relating  to  Greenwich- 
Hospital  and  the  Naval  Asylum,  277. 
Speaks  in  the  debate  concerning  the 
Roche  ford  squadron,  279.  Moves  an 
address  respecting  the  office  of  King's 
proctor,  282.  Opposes  the  grant  moved 
for,  towards  carrying  on  the  building 
of  the  Naval  Asylum,  2135.  Offers  some 
observations  respecting  the  pay  captains 
of  the  marines,  287.  Makes  a  motion 
relatirig  to  the  victualling  board,  288. 
Directs  the  attention  of  Parliament  to- 
wards the  encouragement  of  a  marine 
corps  of  artillery,  293.  Heraldic  par- 
ticulars, 294. 

Portugal,  account  of  naval  transactions  on 
the  coast  of,  377. 

Primrose,  loss  of  the,  61,  62. 

Pringle,  account  of  the  late  captain,  190. 

Prizes,  adjudication  of,  in  the  Admiralty 
court,  252. 

Proserpine,  loss  of  the,  250 

Purfleet,  remarks  on  the  new  clocks  at, 
195. 

R. 

Revenge,  conduct  of  the*  in  the  attack  on 

the   French,    in   Basque    Roads,    399, 

429. 

Roscins,  a  juvenile,  460 
Rook,  loss  of  the,  62. 
Russian  Fleet,  state  papers  respecting  the, 

234. 
Rio  de  Janeiro,  extract  of  a  letter  from, 

498. 

S. 

Snmana,  account  of  the  capture  of,  63. 

Sandwich  Islands,  improvements  in  the, 
297. 

Sandwich  Itigcer,  gallantry  of  the,  295. 

Scurvy,  use  of  the  Kew  Nopal,  in  cases 
of,  40. 

Seaman,  providential  preservation  of  a, 
19. 

Serpent,  sea,  account  of  a,  127. 

Serrawabolla  wood,  the  use  of  recommend- 
ed, for  ship-building,  113. 

SEYMOUR,  Captain  Michael,  portrait  and 
memoir  of,  89.  Anecdote  of  his  father, 
90.  Family  particulars,  ib.  Enters  the 
navy  in  die  Sicrlin  sloop,  the  Iluii.  cap- 
tain J.  Luitrell,  ib.  Serves  with  that 
officer"  in  the  Portland,  Mediator,  and 
Ganges,  9J.  Engaged  with  a  EreucI: 
squadron,  ib.  Serves  in  the  Europa, 
Antelope,  Janus,  Ariel,  Pegase,  Magni- 
ficent, and  Marlborongh,  92  JMade 
lieutenant  in  the  Magnificent,  ib.  J  ...-r  s 
his  arm,  in  the  aetiou  wf  June  1,  17Q4, 


93.  Made  master  and  commander  ill 
the  Spitfire  sloop,  ib.  Promoted  to  rani; 
of  Post  Captain,  ib.  Serves  as  acting 
captain  in  six  successive  ships,  94.  Cap- 
tures the  Thetis,  ib.  Presented  M'itii 
the  freedom  of  Limerick,  and  of  Cork, 
96.  Presented  with  100  guineas,  for 
the  purchase  of  a  piece  of  plate,  by  th« 
Patriotic  Fund,  ib.  Heraldic  particu- 
lars, and  fuc-simile  of  his  hand  wri- 
ting, ib. 

Shark,  remarkable  story  of  a,   I2f. 

Ships  expected  to  be  launched  in  1809", 
196. 

Shipwreck. — Of   a  Portuguese  sloop,  134. 

Smith,  Sir  Sidney,  additional  honours  con- 
ferred on,  by  the  court  of  Portugal, 
298. 

Spearing,  lieutenant,  death  of,  in  an  un- 
successful attack  on  the  Island  of  St. 
Martin,  102. 

State  papers  (naval)  234,  478. 

Standard,  statement  respecting  the  crevr 
of  the,  115. 

Stranded  ships,  mode  of  obtaining  a  com- 
munication  with,  398. 

Sweden,  revolution  in,  247. 

,  abdication  of  the  king  of,  429. 

Swedish  convoy,  disasters  of  a,  251, 

Saints,  account  of  the  reduction  of  the, 
501 

f. 

Terpsichore,  a'ction  of  the,  with  a  French 
frigate,  in  the  Indian  seas,  23. 

Terror,  instance  of,  in  a  French  captain, 
460. 

Topaze,  loss  of  the,  251. 

Turkey,  peace  concluded  with,  249. 


V. 


Valetta,  view  and  description  of,  213. 
Vigo,  official  particulars  of  the  capture  of, 

S3o.    ' 
Volcano,  a  new,  at  the  Azores,  105. 

W. 

Warwick,  Constant,  Account  of  the,  192. 
VV'aldron,  Capt.  account  of  the  murder  of, 

£55. 
Wright,  Capt.  state  papers  respecting  the 

late,  4<8. 

Y. 

Yarmouth  hospital,  increased  salaries  of/ 

the  officers  of,  351. 
\  e  Mariners-  of  England,  490. 


INDEX. 


GAZETTE   LETTERS. 


A 


DAM,  Capt.  3-1-1 
Buircl,  Lieut.  Gen.  D. 

79 

Beaver,  Capt.  P.  321 
Beitie,  Vice-admiral  A,  322 
Brisbane,  Capt.  J.432 
Broke,  Capt.  P.  B.  V.  171 
Baker,  Cupt.  J.  507 
Beckwitb,  Sir  (7.  501 
Campbell,  Vice-admiral  G. 

164,  433 
Cochrane,  Admiral  Sir  A.  7*5, 

76,77,  168,  170,318,324, 

325,  326,  327,  436 
. ,    Capt.  Lord  74, 

260 

Cockburn,  Capt.  E.  76,  326 
Collier,  Capt.  F.  A.  170 
Coliingwood,  Admiral  Lord, 

73,  165,  1(38,269,432 
Corbett,  Capt.  It.  323 
Cuinby,  Capt.  W.  P.  163 
Coliingwood,  Lord,  -199 
Cochrane,  Lord,  499 
Dashwood,  Capt.   C.   163, 

164,322 
PC  Cuurcey,  Admiral  M.  83 


Dundas,  Capt.  72 
Dyason,  Capt.  J.  77 
Klliot,  Capt.  G.  431 
Fahie,  Capt.  W.  C.  437 
Gambier,  Admiral  Lord,  171 

346,  348,  430 
Gill,  Capt.  C.  78,  79 
Goatc,  Capt.  W.  506 
Harvey,  Capt.  T.  73 
ilanvard,  Capt.  433 
Hawker,  Capt.  E.  261 
Hole,  Capt.  L.71 
Hope,  Lieut.  Gen.  J.  83 
Sloste,  Capt.  W.  433 
Keats,  Rear-admiral,  R.  G. 

500 

Lillicrap,  Capt.  J.  71 
Ma!  in<:,  Capt.  T.  J.  J73 
Maude,  Cupt.  W.  320 
Maxwell,  Capt.  J.  433 
.Mends,  Capt.  R.  431 
M'Kinley,  Capt.  G.  322, 333, 

334, 335, 336, S3 7 
Morris,  Capt.  G.  78 
Maitland,  Maj.  Gen.  F.  503 
Mansel,  Lieut.  E.  W.  507 


Newcombe,   Capt.   F.    164, 

173 

Parker,  Capt.  P.  434 
Pearse,  Capt.  72 
Pechell,  Capt.  S.  J.  319 
Pater,  Capt.  C.  D.  501 
Rogers,  Capt.  T.  74 
Rowley,  Vice-Admiral  B.  S. 

162,  163,322 
Sanders,  Capt.  G.  77,  171 
Saumarez,  Vice-Admiral  Sir 

J.  434 

Seymour,  Capt.  M.  ?43 
Spear,  Capt.  J.  171 
Stopford,    Rear-Admiral    the 

Hon.  R.  258 

Stuart,  Cjipt.  Lord  G.  17^ 
Samnarez,  Sir  James,  500* 
Toker,  Capt.  F.  R.  506 
Wales,  Capt.  R.261 
Warren,  Vice-Admiral  Sir  J. 

B.  261 

West,  Capt.  J.  167 
Worth,  Capt.  J.  A.  257 
Yeo,  Capt.  J.  L.  340 
Young,  Admiral  W.  34S, 


PROMOTIONS  and  APPOINTMENTS. 


ADAMS,  262,  263,  351 
Aitken,  W.  444 
Alcock,  Lient.  R.  443 
Alexander,  Lient.  J.  262 
Anderson,  Lieut.  A.  263 
Antraiii,  S.  E.  263 
Armstrong,   86,    175,   262, 

263 

Arnold,  J.  263 
Abdy,  Capt.  A.  518 
Anderson,  Lieut.  D.  518 
Aitkin,W.5l9 
Anderson,  W.  5 19 
.Arnall,  J.  518 


\ thill,  J.  518 
•\ddis,  G.  5  IS 
Bailey,  J.  F.  263 
Baillie,  II.  263 
Baiston,  J.86,  175 
^aker,  Lieut.  II.  L.  263 
Balfour,  Capt.  R.  350 
liall,  Lient.  T.  350 
Barker,  350,  441 
Basht'ord,  Lieut.  J.  85 
Bastard,  Capt.  J.  85 
Baumcart,  Lieut.  C.  A.  263 
Bateman,  R.  86,  175 
Ikauclerk,  Lord  A.  443 


Blackit,P.444 
Blaike,  P.  351 
Blake,  B.  350 
Bland,  W.  263 
!Jli»h,  Capt.  262,  350 
3luett,  Capt.  B.  G.  85,  340 
Boardman,  N.  443 
Borough,  B.  R.  175 
Boucluer,  Capt.  174 
aoultoii,  Lieut.  J.  €62 
Bourgoyne,  Lieut.  F.  W.  174 
Bowen,  Lieut.  G.  443 
lioyce,  174,  350 
Boyd.W.3^ 


Bell,  175,  350 
Bennett,  Lieut.  E.  ?63 
Berkeley,  A.  V.  444 
Bingham,  Capt.  J.  262 
Birch,  VV.  351 
Black,.!.  351 
Blackett,  P.  C.  350 
Boyle,  the  Hon.  C.  349 
Brandon,  F.  444 
Brasier,  Lieut.  J.  262 
Brazier,  Lieut.  S.  85 
Brenton.  Capt.  J.  85 
Broadwater,  Lieut.  VV.  263 
Bromley.  E.  F.  444 
Broomliead,  Lieut.  G,  174 
lirovvell,  85,  173 
Brown,  85, 80,  175 
Browne,  G.  P.  263 
Brues,  Lieut.  K.  85 
Bouke,  Lieut.  J.  262,  350 
Bull,  175  263,  443 
Burchell,  Lieut.  W.  443 
Burn,  L.  444 
Burnell,  VV.  443 
Burton,  Lieut,  R.  86 
Butler,  Lieut.  W.  350 
Butts,  C.  263. 
Byam,  Capt.  262 
Beaufort,  Cap_t.  F.  513 
Bayntun,  Capt.  518 
Blamy,   Capt.  G.  VV.  513 
Brown,  Lieut.  G.W.  518 

, W.  518 

Bromley,  £.  F.  519 

Baxter,  A.  519 

Brydone,  J.  519 

Brown,  W.C.  519 

Barnes,  H.  519 

Barrie,  A.  5 19 

Breer,  J.  519 

Blaikie,W.  519 

Buck,  Lieut.  J.  262,  350 

Burrowes,  G.  519 

Bine,  VV. 519 

Birch,  J.  518 

Caldwell,  E.  444 

Cowling,  VV.  35 

Callan,  J,  351 

Cameron,  174,  250,  444 

Campbell,   175,  263,  3oO, 

443 

Camplin,  H.  444 
Camth,  M.  86,  175 
Cannon,  A.  175 
Carney,  Lieut.  T.  W.  85 
Carroll,  263,  350,  351,  443, 

444 

Carter,    1 74,  263 
Cary,  Lieut.  H.  262 
Cassel,  Major  J.  262 


Caylcy,  Lieut.  W.  443 
Chambfcrlain,  Lieut.  \V.  T. 

174 

Chambers,  VV.  444 
Clay,  Capt.  £.  L.  350 
Champion,  Lion.  VV.  B.  350 
(..'Imp-nan,  Lit  :it.  T.  350 
Chriciiton,  VV.  263 
Christian,  Capt.  H.  H.  442 
Churchill,  Lieut.  J.  ^63 
Chirk,  J.444 
Cleland,  J.  444 
Clowe*,  T.  B.  350 
Cochranc,  86,  174,  175.,  349 
Cocks,  Capt.  262 
Colley,  E,  444 
Collier,  173,  174 
Collmgwood,  Lord,  84 
Collins,  VV.  M.  350 
Colman,   Lieut.   J.  P.  262, 

443 

Cowan,  D,  443 
Cowling,  VV.  C51 
Cook,  Capt.  H.  262 

po,  T.  vV.  350 
Coppen,  Lieut.  C.  263 
Cormick,  M.  M.  443 
Corson,  J.  351 
Cot.nue,  Lieut.  E.  S.  262 
Coltei-eli,  Capr.  F.  173 
Courtney,  J.  444 
Cox,  Lieut.  R.  350 
Craig,  351,  444 
Cragie,  J.  350 
Crawford,  Lieut.  P.  174 
Crespiguy,  Lieut.  C.  443 
Croker,  Lieut.  VV.  263 
Cuddie,  VV.  351 
Cullerne,  J.  351 
Cumberland,  Capt.  W.  443 
Cunningham,  Capt.  174 
CoopeV,  Mr.  174 
Cursou,  T.  444 
Curtis,  Sir  R.  173 

C'apt.  L.  ib. 

Carter,  Lieut.  T.  VV.  518 
Crawford,  Lieut.  T.  518 
Camplin,  Lieut.  II.  R.  518 
Campbell,  J.  519 
Cameron,  D.  519 
Carrol,  W.  519 
Curtis,  J.  519 
Carrutliesr,  J.  519 
Cook,  J.  519 
Campbell,  W.  . 51 9 
Cameron,  J.  519 
Cullen,  W.  519 
Cole,  R.  518 
Dacle,  J.  175,  3£0 
Daley,  D.  86 


Dalryiuple,  A.  263 
Davtntrill,  Lieut.  M.  262 
Davey,  Ciijjt.  'V.  262 
Davidson,  L.  4~44 
Uavies,  Lieut.  E.  443 
Davis,  86,  174,   202,   265, 

443 

Daw-sen,  1,73,  350 
Day,  Lieut.  C.  174 
Do  Courcey,  the  Hon.  Lieut. 

A.  174 

Delaucey,  Lieut.  C.  174 
Delinont,  Lieut.  F.  2b3 
Denuark,  A.  350 
Dennis,  Lieut.  J.  S.  A.  350 
Deshorougn,  Col.  L.  262 
De-aerat,  Lieut.  S.443 
Dick,  R.  361 

Dickenson,  S.  J.  263,  351 
Dickson,    175,  262,   263, 

S50,  4io 
Dilkes,  Cap.  174 
Dingwall,  \V.  263 
Dixon,  Lieut.  R.  443 
Dobie,  J.  86 

Dobson,  Lieut.  C.  C.  262 
Dod,  Capt.  350 
Donally,  J.  A.  444 
Doaelly,  F.  A.  444 
Doswell,  Lieut.  H.  263 
Douce,  C.  B.  360 
Dowers,  174,  443 
Hraffer,  Lieut.  F.  443 
Duckworth.  Sir  J.  T.  442 
Duell,  T.  86 
Duke,  E.  S.  443 
Dumuresque,  Lieut.  P.  174 
Dun  bar,  A.  44-1 
Duncan,  VV.  86,  175 
Dundas,  Capt.  J.  VV.  350 
Dunn,  R.  444 
Dunthorn,  J.  86,  175,263 
Dowers,  Capt.  VV.  518 
Davi-,  Lic-ut.  G.  518 
Dounellan,  Lieut.  M.  518 
Duncan,  Lieut.  518 
Drake,  Lieut.  T.  518 
Dunn,  R.  519 
Davidson, S.  519. 
Donah  v,  F.  A.  519 
Dobson,  VV.  519 
Dodd,J.5l8 
Dyball,T.  C.  513 
Darby,  T.  518 
Eastwood,  J.  86,  174- 
Eden,  C.  263,  350 
Edge,  Capt.  VV.  173 
Kd  wards,  263 
.bllany,  Lieut.  330 


INDEX. 


^Hiott,  Lieut.  G.  263,  350 
Ellis,  Lieut,  j.  263 
Evans,  350,  443 
Everard,  Lieut.  J.  413 
Every,  H.  86,  175 
Ewing,  H.  86,  175 
Eyles,  Capt.  T.  442 
Fahie,  Capt.  174 
Parley,  J.  col 
Farmer,  Col.  11.  H.  262 
Farwell,  Lieut.  C.  350 
Favell,  T.  444 
Favner,  Lieut.  R.  J.  262 
Ferris,  26',',  350 
Finchley,  Lieut.  J.  -143 
Fiott.  Lieut.  W.  E.  350 
Firman,  W.  350 
Flin,  Lieut.  E.  ^62 
Folliot,  Lieut.  H.  175 
Forbitt,  A.  351 
Forbitt,  F.  351 
Forder,  Lieut.  II.  174 
Forrie,  J.  263 
Forster,  Lieut.  G.  443 
Foster,  Lieut.  R.  174 
Fozer,  Lieut.  A.  85 
Francis,  Lieut.  J.  -143 
Franklyn,  Lieut.  G.  174 
Froke,  Lieut.  G.  350 
Fry,  J.  -M4 

Fuller,  Lieut.  W.  S.  86 
Galloway,  A.  350 
Carnage,  Lieut.  II.  S.  350 
Gardiner,  Lieut.  T.  350 
Gardner,  Lord,  e'5 
Garrett,  Capt.  173 
Garthwaite,  Lieut.  11.  2G3 
Genmiel,  A.  263 
Gilbs  K.  -143 
Gibson,  J.  444 
Gifford,  Lieut  L.  H.  350 
Gilbert,  G.  351 
Gill,  Capt.  C.  174,  350 
Gladston,  Mr.  86 
Goddard,  J.  86,  175 
Godbehere,  D.  1/5 
Godfrey,  W.  B.  -144 
Goldsmith,  Lieut.  II,  443 
.Gordon,  262,  263 
Gourly,  Capt.  J.  173 
Gray,  86,  if  5,  263, 444 
Green,  Capt.  J.  4-12 
Greenlaw,  Lieut.  J.  263 
Greenwood,  Lieut.  T.  S-  4-lc 
Grenville,  86,  443 
Guild,  G.  L.  86 
Gilbert,  G.  519 
Greig,  J.  515 
Grant,  J.519 


jraliarn,    VV.  518 
Grantham,  C.518 
Hadu-ell,  Lieut.  W.  H.  443 
Haitb'.vaite,  Lieut.  W.  443 
Hall,  86,  444 
Hamilton,  174,351 
iiatnond,  Capt.   G.   E.   85, 

262 

Hancock,  Capt.  R.  T.  262 
llanchett,  Capt.  J.  M.  174 
Han  well,  Capt.  J.  173 
ilarmer,  R.   350 
Harrington,  J.  G.  86,  263 
1  Ian  cy,  -112,  443 
Hasted,  J.  S.  351 
Hately,.!.  351 
Hatton,  J.  86 
Haultain,  Lieut.  C.  262 
Hay,  Lieut.  <_•.  26? 
Hayes,  T.  851,  519 
lleacock,  Lieut.  G.  174 
Ileawood,  J.  86 
Hector,  W.  86,  175,  263 
Hemming,  Lieut.  S.  443 
Henderson,  Capt.  262 
Henniker,  Capt.  M.  262 
Hewes,  Lieut  T.  O.  443 
Heynes,  C.  351 
Higgins,  Lieut.  J.  262 
Hill,  Lieut.   C.   263,   350, 

443 

Hillraan,  W.  443 
Hillyer,  Lieut.  W.  C.  262 
Hinds,  R.  443 
Hoar,  Lieut.  B.  R.  443 
Hoare,  174,  443 
Hodgson,  S.  175 
Hoi  brook,  J.  263 
Holies,  Capt.  A.  P.  350 
Honeyman,  Capt.  R.  350 
Hood,  Sir  S.  349 
Hooper,  T.  86,  175 
Hopley,  E.  86,  175 
Hownam,  R.  J.  41  !• 
Hunter,  J.  351,  444 
lutcheson,  Lieut.  G.  443 
Hutchison,  H.  263 
Hird,  Lieut.  W.  518 
Hall,  Lieut.  J.O'B.  518 
Hoffman,  M.  519 
Hart,  II.  519 
ilutchisun,  A.  519 
Harvey,  J.  5P9 
Hudson, J.  518 
Hitchins,C.  B.  518 
Holmes,  R.  518 
Hunter,  E.  R.  518 
fnger,  J.  J.  86,  175 

ram,  Lieut.  A.  174) 


Tack,  A.  L.  350 
.Jacob,  Lieut.  J.  G.  44$ 
Jaff,  Lieut.  J.  86 
Jag'o,  F.  R.  444 
fames,  D.  263 
Jauncey,  Lieut.  H.  T.  44S 
Johns,  J.  86,  175 
Johnstone,  174,  263 
Jolley,  Lieut.  C,  350 
Jones,  263,  443,  444 
leans,  Lieut.  J.  T.  85 
Jefferys,  Lieut.  C.  85 
Jones,  S.  II.  519 
Jackson,  W.  519 
Jones,  J.H.  519 
Keay,  J.  444 
Kelly,  Lieut.  E.  262 
Kennedy,  Lieut.  174 
Kent,  413,  444 
Kerr,  442, 443, 444 
Keys,  T.  443 

Kingston,  Lieut.  T.  263, 3oQ 
Kerr,  Capt.  A.  R.  518     , 
Kellwick,  Capt.  E.  518 
Kownam,  Lieut.  J.  R.  518 
Lake,    the   lion.    Capt.    Wt 

174,  443 
Lane,  J.  E.  350 
Lane,  Mr.  518 
Langdon,  It.  263 
Laughliu,  A.  519 
Lawson,  D.  351 
Lauson.  Capt.  J.  518 
Latham,  J.  VV.  86 
Leaky,  W.  519 
Leslie,  W.  175 
Le  Symonds,  Lieut.  W.  445^ 
Lee,  T.  518 
Letch,  Lieut  C.  262 
Levili,  Lieut.  T.  174 
Lewis,  D.  351 
Lewin,  H.  519 
Ley,  Lieut.  T.  J.  262 
Linton,  C.  86,  175 
Loden, T.  86 

Longchamp,  Lieut.  J.  174 
Losack,  Capt.W.  518 
Logan,  T.  519 
Mactarlane,  W.  350 
Mackenzie,  Lieut.  E.  F.  G. 

443 

M'AIlister,  F.  443,  519 
Man,  Lieut.  J.  350 
Vlaun,  Lieut.  262,  263 
Marks,  11.  86,  175 
Marpole,  J.86 
Mai  ten,  Capt.  T.  B.  173 
Massie,  Lieut.  II.  G.  350 
.Mather,  Capt.  W.  262 


Uacan;h,A.  519 
Manderson,  Lieut.  T.  518 
Alatson,  Capt.  H.  442 
Matthew's,  Lieut.  85,  263 
Maude,  174,  262 
Mawdesley,  O.  518 
Maxwell,  85,  174,  262 
M'Cord,  W.  444.  519 
M'Clure,  G,  175 
Meara,  Lieut.  J.  174 
Clears,  Major  L.  C.  202 
Medley,  Lieut.  E.  174 
Meredith,  Col.  J.  2ov! 
M'Gee,  R.  444 
M'Gce,R.  11.519 
M'Ghie,  Lieut.  J.  2C2 
Miehad,  J.  S.  L.  263 
Micliod,  J.  P.  L.  519 
Miller,  86,  175 
Miller,  T.  519 
Miiiigan,  J.  263,351 
M'Intosh,  Major  J.  262 
Mitchell,  Lieut.  T.  174 
M'Keliy,  Lieut.  M.  263 
M'l^enzie,  Lieut.  E.  J74 
M'Kinley,  W.  86 
M'Kirdy,  Lieut.  J.  174 
M'Laughlin,   175,  263,  350 

443 
M'Leod,  Capt.  85,  443, 

444 

M'Millan,  Mr.  175 
M'Masters,  86,  175,  351 
Moffatt,  J.  350 
Moncreet,  Major  R.  262 
Mquk,  II.  263 
Moorsom,  Capt.  262 
Morgan,  175,  263,  351,  443 

444 

Morgan,  R.  519 
Moriartz,  Lieut.  J.  443 
Morris,  262,  443 
Morrison,  H.  D.  263 
Moubray,  Capt.  G.  174 
Motvncey,  Capt.  W.  442 
Mudge,  Capt.  Z.  262 
Muir,  It.  175 
Mulberry,  R.  175,  263 
Narricott,  W.  S50 
Nayce,  Lieut.  J.  85 
Neale,  Lieut.  J.  44-3 
Neiil,  J.  86,  175,350 
Nepean,.  Lieut.  J.  518 
Neville,  Lieut.  J.  85 
Nichols,  W.  R.  350 
Nicholson,  Lieut.  \V.  262 
Norman,  W.  86,  175,350 
NwvosicUki,  Lieut.  M.  262 
Isapier,  Capt.  C.  518 


[O'Rland,  Capt.  L.  £50 
jO'L>rien,444* 
O'Brycn,  Capt.  350 
Odell,  G.  86,  175 
Odj;cr,  Mr.  175 

ilvie,  Lieut.  W.  443 
it'!-,  J.  350 
Oliiver.J.  263 

O'Reilly,  Lieut.  D  263,  443 
Orkney,  Lieut.  J.  350 
Osborn,  C.  444,  519 
Osborne,  A.  263,  444,  519 
Osborne,  C.  519 
Otway,  Capr.  R.D.513 
prlebar,  O.  5 18 
Parish,  Capt.  J.  174 
Parkin,  If.  175 
Parlebien,  P.  C.  443 
Parroft,  J.  M.  c-51 
Parsons,  G.  444 
Parsons,  Lieut.  G.S.  518 
Patterson,  85,  174 
Pawle,  Lieut.  R.  443 
Pawsou,  J.  86,  519 
Paw  son,  J.  519 
Peak,  Lieut.  J.  L.  443 
Peake.'Lieut.  T-  L.  174 
Pearce,  262, 444 
Pearson,  G.  175 

• ,  Capt.  R.  II.  262 

Pelly,  Capt.  C.  349,  442 
Pett,  E.  351 
Petunan,  R.  518 
Peyton,  Capt.  J.  518 
Phillips,  Lieut.  85,  174,  250 
Phillimore,  Capt.  513 
3hilpot,  Lieut.  D.  262 
3ickmore,    Rear-admiral, 

442 

Piercy,  R.  86 
3igot,  Capt,  1 74 

e.  Lieut.  J.  350 
'into,  Capt.  174 
"•itt,  E.  W.  263 
-Mampin,  Capt.  R.  518 
\><>rc,  W.  86 
Portious,  W.   86,  175,  263, 

444 

3otier,  J.  S.  350 
'otter,  Lieut.  D.  443 
'revost,  C;-.pt.J.  349 
Price,  D.  175 

'ritchard,  Lieut.  R.  D.35Q 
'roby,  Lir  tit.  H.  J.  P.  443 
'rector,  G.  86, 175 
'ryce,  Lieut.  H.  174 
'urches,  Lieut.  J.  443 
tladtbrd,  Lieut.  S.  i'50 
Rac,  175,44-1 


Kamsay,  Cnpt.  A.D.  518 
Rams>ay,  L;ctit.  J.  35 
',  P.  86,  175 


Randall,  S.  414 
ftatty,  W.  519 
tleade,  Lieut.  G.  174 
Reading,  Lieut.  E.  85 
Reeve,  Lieut.  J.  443 
Keid,  J.  263 
U(il'y,  P.  519- 
Renney,  1'GJ,  ?G3 
ttothcry,  J.  518 
Reynolds..!.  143 
Rhodes,  A.  4-14 
Richards,  Lieut.  J.  443 
Richardson,   Lieut.   G.  J, 

263 

Risk,  J.  E.  519 
Robbins,  T.  263 
Roberts,  85,  262,  263 
Robertson,  A.  263 
Robins,  W.  175 
Roe,  G.  175 
Rokeby,  Lieut.  H.  263 
Rowcn;ft,  W    II.  263 
Rowe,  Lieut.  H.  174 
Rowland,  D.  443 
Rude,  Lieut.  17-1,  262 
Rudland,  351,  444 
Ruaden,  Lieut.  .1.  518 
Russell,  Lieut.  85,  443 
Rutherford,  G.  S.  444 

Sanders,  Cunt.  W.  262 

Sanders,  Capt.  j.  518 

Sayer,  Capt.  3oO, 

Scott,  174,  444 

Scott,  J.  R.  519 

Scott,  J.  519 

Soden,  T.  175 

Scrivtn,  Lieut.  T.  85 

Searle,  Capt.  350 

Selby,  Capi.  174 

Serrel,  Capt.  262 

Setfbi-d,  Lieut.  J.518 

Sewaril,  Lit-ut.  G.  513 

Scyiiiuur,  Capt.  M.  442 

•evmour,  E.  11.  519 
,  E.  H.  444 


,  R.  519 

Shepherd,  J.  W.  350 
•vierratt,  C.  351  • 
Shiftier,  il.  175 
Shortland.  Capt.  518 
•Mbbit,  E.  444 
immends,  G.  350 
iiir.inon>,  E.  518 
limpson,  3  JO,  44^ 
liujpson,  \V.  519' 


ISDEX. 


.Smpson,  J.  5 19 

Slout,  Lieut  S.  262 

Small,  U.  444 

Small,  D.  519 

Smith,  86,  174,  262,  349,443.. 

444 

Smith,  J.  518 
Smith,  Lieut.  L' 5 18 
Somerville,  J 74,  262,  350 
Soulter,  J.  351 
Sparshott,  S.  444 
Spsar,  Capt.  R.  350 
Speck,  Mr.  175 
Speirs,  R.  263 
Spence,  Lieut.  G.  174 
Squarey,  Lieut.  C.  443 
Stackpoole,  Capt.  S50 
Steel,  263,  443 
Stevenson,  Lieut.  174j  443 
Steuart,  Capt.  174,  262 
Stewart,  86,   175,  i'50,  251, 

443,444 

Stimpson,  Lieut.  P.  86 
Stoddarr,  Lieut.  J.  443 
Stokoe,  J.  175 
Stone,  Lieut.  J.  174,  443 
Storey,  J.  3 60 
Siormouth,  C.  351 
Swann,  G.  351 
Sward,  E.  444 
Syfrett,  W.  263 
Sykes  dipt.  J.  518 
Steel,' D,  519 
Tait,  Capt.  518 
Tapumii,  Lieut.  G.  174 


rancock,  Capt.  J.  350,  442 
Tate,  Capt.  443 
Tayler,  Lieut.  J.  N.  262 
Taylor,  J.  443,  444 
Taylor,  Capt.  J.  518 
Teifer,  A.  519 
Thel wall,  Lieut.  B.  518 
Thomas,  85, 174,  262 
Thompson,  85,-  86, 175,  262, 

263,443 

Thompson,  J.  518 
Thomson,  Lieut.  W.  A.  443 
i'odd,  W.  444 
Touzean,  Lieut.  C.  443 
fownley,  S.  P.  513 
Trant,  P.  H.  175 
Treglohan,  J.  175 
Troke,  Lieut.  G.  85 
Trollope,  Capt.  G.  85 
Turner,  Lieut.  E.  262,  263 
Tuthill,  C.  444 
Tumour,  the  Hon.  Lieut.  A 

513 

randenber£,  (!.  W.  86, 175 
Veitcli,  J.  351 
Vernon,  Lieut.  F.  518 
v'ickery,  C.  51? 
Vine,  W.  518 
Usher,  Capt.  T.  262 
Waddell,  W.  519 
Wade,  263,  443 
Walker,  Co,  17-1,263,444. 
W;,l!cr,  L.  350 
Wardlaw,  G.   175 
•iVaterman,  J.  518 


'.Vatkins,  85,  44S 
•Vatson,  262,  413 
>Vatson,W.  519 
vVauchopc,  Lieut.  R.  86,  17* 
vVeatherall,  S.  350 
Vcatherhead,  G.  H.  519 
vVebb,  Lieut.  262,  263,  359 
Webster,  R.  519 
•Veir,  J.  519 
Wei  by,  Lieut.  R.  443 
Welch,  Lieut.  262,  443 
Welch,  D.  518 
Wells,  Capt.  174 
West,  263,  351,  443 
White,  J.  86,  175 
Whitehurst,  R.  518 
Whitley,  Capt.  I?.  262 
Witley,  Capt.  W.  H.  17J 
Wigg.'W.  L.  263 
Wilcox,  Lieut.  J.  174 
Williams,    174,  262,   350, 

444 

Williams,  Capt.  R.  518 
Williamson,  Lieut.  G.  350. 
Willison,  J.  175 
Wilson,  W.  263,  Sol 
Woodriffe,  Lieut.  D.  J.  350 
Woodward,  T.  444 
Wood,  Capt.  174 
Woolcombe,  Capt.  E.  1?* 
Woolley,C.  175 
Worth,' Lieut.  J.  174 
Wybom,  Lieut.  G.  350 
Wvatt,  Lieut.  W.  M.   2fi»' 
Wyatt,  B.H.  518 


BIRTHS. 


T>  ALLARD,  44| 
^'Batlmi-st,  86 
Bedford,  176 
Birch,  175 
Black\vood;  44,-i 
Liutt,  &fi 


Courteray,  86 
Orummond,  351 
Hawtayne,  204 
tforton,  87 
Kennedy,  351 
Larkins,  264 


Malcolm,  264 
M'Cleverty.SC 
Mitlbrd,  S64 
•lobertson,444, 
Scott,  87 
i'oo'yy,  17» 


ANTHONY,  Capt.  G.  444 
Budd,  Lieut.  II,  II.  264 
."Burke,  Lieut.  J.  444 
Basden,  Capt.  5 19 
Beresford,  Capt.  J.  P.  519 
Duitori,  Lieut.  T.  1?6 


MARRIAGES. 

Farrer,  8.  Esq.  35.1 
Gardner,  Lord,  35'.' 
Gosseliri,  Capt.  T.  le  M.  2l 4 
Hollin^worth,  Capt.  87 
Jago,  F.  J.  Esq.  5 19 
Larke,  W.  Esq.  87 


Locker,  Dr.  552 
Losack,  Capt.  W.  261 
Malcolm,  Capt.  P.  87 
M'Coy,  Mr.  A.  176 
Parker,  Capt.  P.  264 
I'opplcwtll,  J.  Esq.  352 


OBITUARt. 


A  LEXANDER,  W.  S52 
•"•Anderson,  Dr.  88 
Anderson,  Mr.  176 
Archbold,  Lieut.  Col.  87 
JSazely,  Admiral,  352 
Bissel,  M.  B.  Esq.  264 
Bonetrier,  Capt.  87 
Braig,  M.  W~2<S4 
Bali,  Mr.  M.  520 
Bowen,  Miss,  520 
Clerments,  Mrs.  352 
Coombe,  Capt.  176 
Cranstoun,  Mrs.  87 
Crawford,  Lieut.  88 
Culverhouse,  Capt.  352 
Casey,  Mr.  520 
Drury,Mr.  87 
Douglas,  Admiral  Sir  W.  II. 

Bart.  520 
Etty,  Mr.  W.  520 
Falkland,  Lord,  264 
Farquharson,  Capt.  J.  R.  176 
Faulkner,  Rear-admiral,  88 
Flintoft,  Mr.  W.  352 


Gahan,  Major  D.  352: 
Gardner,  Lord,  87 
Gill,  Mr.  176 
Grneber,  H.  Esq.  5?0 
Hall,  Mr.  J.  176 
Hamilton,  Lieut.  352 
Hutchinson,  Master,  352 
Haswell,  Mrs.  Margaret,  5 
riartwcll,  Lady,  520 
Holmes,  Lieut.  S.  520 
Hudson,  Capt.  T.  520 
[lushes,  Lady,  520 
Innes,  Mr.  520 
Jackson,  Mr.  J.  352 
fewcJl,  Licat.  W.  176 
Johnstone,  Lieut.  J.  176 
Maybce,  Mr.  IL  352 
,vlein,Capt.  J.  17,6 
Aioorc,  Mr.  G.  520 
O'Brien,  Rear-admiral,  88 
Peake,  Qipt.  264 
Pcrcival,  Miss,  264 
Peyton,  Mrs.  176 


Price,  Mr.  S.  176 
Pateison,  Mary  Ann,  520 
Ram,  Lieut.  264 
Reid,  Lieut.  J.  352 
Reed,  Mr.  J.  520 
Salmon,  Mr. . I.  W.  176 
Scott,  Miss,  88 
20  Serges?,  Mr.  J.  352 
Shelton,  Lieut.  W.  87 
Skinner,  Mr.  CG4 
Smitli,  General,  88 
StephSiison,  Capt.  T.  170 
*todart,  Mr.  J.  176 
Thompson,  II.  50 
Temple,  Capt.  87 
Towry,  Capt.  G.  II.  352 
Vincent,  Admiral,  352 
[Jredale,  Rear-admiral,  7? 
Walclcgrave,  Lieut.  176 
White,  Mrs.  176 
Windsor.  Miss,    88 
Welch,  Mr.  R.  520 
White,  Lieut.  \V.  520 


JOYCE   GOLH,    TRIXTEKj    SHOE    LANE,    LONDON". 


University  of  California 

SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

305  De  Neve  Drive  -  Parking  Lot  17  •  Box  951388 

LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90095-1388 

Return  this  material  to  the  library  from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


Form 


A     000438217     2 


:  DO  NOT   REMOVE 
THIS   BOOK  CARD 


University  Research  library