Full text of "Nelson's Hardy : his life, letters and friends"

ll;ii:ii!liiBlSiii

.^.^•'■•.yj-'

Vl)

THE LIBRARY

THE UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

NELSON'S HARDY

HIS LIFE, LETTERS, AND FRIENDS

hcin ti ininin hii^^

NELSON'S HARDY

HIS LIFE, LETTERS
AND FRIENDS

BY A. M. BEOADLEY

JOIUT-AUTHOR OF "NAPOLEON AND THE INVASION OF ENGLA^JD " AND
"DUMOCRIEZ and the defence of ENGLAND AGAINST NAPOLEON," ETC.

AND R. G. BARTELOT, M.A.

AUTHOR OF "a HISTORT OF CREWKERNE SCHOOL"

VICAR OF ST George's, fordington, dorchester

LONDON
JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET

1909

^7.1

THOMAS HARDY

PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY OF DORSET MEN IN LONDON

WHOSE HISTORICAL NOVEL THE "TRUMPET MAJOR" AND EPIC

POEM "THE DYNASTS" HAVE DONE SO MUCH TO AWAKEN

PUBLIC INTEREST IN THE STIRRING TIMES DURING

WHICH HIS GALLANT DORSET NAMESAKE

FOUGHT FOR HIS COUNTRY UNDER

NELSON

THIS VOLUME IS WITH HIS PERMISSION
DEDICATED

BY THE AUTHORS

%^ «-> ^.— >~

GEORGE III., PITT AND HARDY
AT WEYMOUTH

Scene from "The Dynasts," Vol. I., Act IV.,

Scene I.

{^Reprinted by permission of Mr Thomas Hardy.']

King. And now he has left Boulogne with all his host ?
Was it his object to invade at all,
Or was his vast assemblage a mere blind ?

Pitt. Undoubtedly he meant invasion. Sir,

Had fortune favoured. He may try it yet.
And, as I said, could we but close with Fox

King. But, but ; — I ask, what is his object now?

Lord Nelson's Captain — Hardy — whose old home

Stands in a peaceful vale hard by us here —

Who came two weeks ago to see his friends,

I talked to in this room a lengthy while.'

He says our navy still is in the dark

As to the aims by sea of Bonaparte

Now the Boulogne attempt has fizzled out.

And what he schemes afloat with Spain combined.

The Victory lay that fortnight at Spithead,

And Nelson since has gone aboard and sailed ;

Yes, sailed again. The Royal Sovereign follows,

And others her. Nelson was hailed and cheered

To huskiness while leaving Southsea shore,

Gentle and simple, wildly thronging round.

1 See pp. 134-135-

PREFACE

OF all the subordinate characters in the tragedy of
Trafalgar, the personality of Thomas Masterman
Hardy is unquestionably by far the most interesting,
striking, and attractive. The " Kiss me. Hardy " of the
dying Nelson has perhaps taken a firmer hold on the
popular imagination than either the " Remember " of
Charles Stuart, or the real or supposed " My country,
oh my country" of William Pitt.

Another of the " greatest sailor's " utterances during
the brief interview which preceded Hardy's return to his
duties on deck, within about half an hour of "his Lord's"
death, is scarcely less distinctly graven on men's minds.
It was, as we are told by the able author of Nelson
and his Captains, the timely quotation of the words,
"Anchor, Hardy, anchor," more than forty years later,
by which Sir Herbert Edwardes steadied in a moment
of supreme difficulty the iron nerve of the worn-out and
over-wrought Sir John Lawrence.^

Twenty-eight years have passed away since another
Thomas Hardy (scarcely less famous in his generation than
his great naval namesake) gave to the world that delightful
novel The Trumpet Major, the scenes of which are laid in
Dorset during the later days of the " Great Terror" (1796-
1805). Its author had talked to many men and women
who vividly remembered the events of that momentous
period of our history when George III. reviewed his troops

* Nelson and his Captains, W. H. Fitchett, p. 63.
ix

X PREFACE

— Regulars and Volunteers — on the heights above
Weymouth, and the arrival of the "dreaded Corsican"
on our shores was hourly expected.^ Mrs Charteris, the
daughter of Sir T. M. Hardy, was then alive, and it was
from her description of her father that Thomas Hardy
wrote the vivid pen-picture to be found in Chapter XXX HI.
of his book, in which love-sick Bob Loveday of the
mercantile marine is made to visit the captain of the
Victory at Portisham with a view to volunteer for service
on board Nelson's flag-ship. The author of The Tni)upet
Major had many long talks with Mrs Charteris, who,
amongst other things, informed him that during the last
illness of her revered father she had burned, by his
directions, the whole of his correspondence. It is evident
that she spoke only of communications addressed to
Hardy, for Hardy's own letters are constantly turning up,
very often throwing fresh light on the events in which he
played a more or less important part, and always adding to
one's appreciation of his amiable and unselfish character.
A good many letters of Hardy have come to light since
the first issue of the biography in The Three Dorset
Captams at Trafalgar. The most important of these will
be found in the last chapter of this volume.- " The
Captain," writes his namesake, " at this time was thirty-five,
rather short in build, with light eyes, bushy eyebrows, a
square, broad face, plenty of chin, and a mouth whose
corners played between humour and grimness."

In the result, Loveday, who had successfully resisted
the snares of the press-gang, fought at Trafalgar on board
the Victoiy, although for obvious reasons he does not
appear under that name in the muster-roll. By permission
of the author, further reference will be made in our text to

^ Full particulars of the various schemes projected for the defence
of Dorset and other interesting details will be found in Napoleo7i and
the Invasion of England, by H. F. B. Wheeler and A. M. Broadley
(1907), and Dunwuriez and the Defence of England against Napoleon^
by Dr J. Holland Rose and A. M. Broadley (1908).

^ Sg.q post, p. 245.

PREFACE xi

the allusions to " Nelson's Hardy," both in the Dynasts and
The Trumpet Major. Thomas Hardy's graphic account of
the meeting between the captain of the Victory and his
Sovereign has already been printed after the dedication.

No sooner did the belated news of the battle of
Trafalgar reach England than the whole kingdom was
flooded with popular mementoes of the great event which
had saved her from the long-feared foreign invasion, while
depriving her of her foremost sailor. In all these
souvenirs— songs, broadsides, glass-pictures, engravings,
or pottery — the favourite theme was that of the most
familiar death scene in naval history— Nelson expiring
in the arms of Hardy. Two-and-twenty years after
Trafalgar, the late Admiral Sir W. William Phipps Hornby
was serving with Hardy, then Commander-in-Chief of the
Experimental Squadron at Portsmouth. Shortly before
his death, Sir William Hornby communicated to Mr Henry
Newbolt an old Trafalgar song, "The Quarter-gunner's
Yarn," ^ containing the following verses :—

" Our captain was Hardy, the pride of us all,
ni ask for none better when danger shall call,
He was hardy by nature and Hardy by name.
And soon by his conduct to honour he came.

The Victory led, to her flag it was due.
Though the Te'meraires thought themselves admirals too,
But Lord Nelson he hailed them with masterful grace,
' Cap'n Harvey I'll thank you to keep in your place.'

To our battering next the Redoubtable struck.
But her sharpshooters gave us the worst of the luck,
Lord Nelson was wounded, most cruel to tell,
' They've done for me, Hardy,' he cried as he fell.

When the captain reported a victory won,
' Thank God,' he kept saying, ' my duty I've done ' ;
At last came the moment to kiss him good-bye,
And the captain for once had the salt in his eye.

1 The Year of Trafalgar, by Henry Newbolt, pp. 232-3-4. London
John Murray, 1905.

xii PREFACE

' Now anchor, dear Hardy,' the admiral cried.
But before we could make it he fainted and died ;
All night in the trough of the sea we were tossed,
And for want of ground tackle good prizes were lost.

Then we hauled down the flag, at the fore it was red,
And blue at the mizzen was hoisted instead
By Nelson's famed captain, the pride of each tar
Who fought in the Victory off Cape Trafalgar."

In the times immediately following Trafalgar the
" Mummers Play " was still enacted every succeeding
Christmastide in the mansions and farmhouses of the
West, and specially in the county of Hardy's birth.
" St George," " Captain Bluster," " Room," and the " Egyp-
tian King," may claim direct descent from the Middle
Ages, but an interlude was added dealing with the absorb-
ing topic of the hour, and in which the sole dramatis
personce were Nelson and Hardy. For the nonce the floor
of the room in which the rustic actors performed was
supposed to be the deck of the Victory. The following
dialogue, for half a century at least, never failed to provoke
the utmost enthusiasm : —

Nelson. " Hardy, I be wownded."
Hardy. " Not mortually I hopes, my lord."

Nelson. " Mortually I be afeared. Kiss me, Hardy, thank God
I've done my duty."

The friendship which existed between Nelson and
Hardy for over ten years was of the closest description.
Nothing could ever interrupt it. Nelson regarded Hardy
not merely as a " right-hand man " like the resourceful
Berry, or an able and courageous seaman like Ball,
Troubridge, Keats, and others. Hardy possessed all their
good qualities, but he had other attributes which led
Nelson to feel he might safely make him the recipient
of his most intimate confidences. Possibly the strong
union of sympathy which linked them together was inten-
sified by their strange diversity of both temperament and

PREFACE xiii

physique. It is difficult to imagine a more striking con-
trast than that presented by the pale-faced, stunted, and
attenuated admiral — "that cripple-gaited, one-eyed, one-
armed little naval critter," as Sam Slick has been made
to describe him — and the captain — tall, broad-shouldered,
muscular, robust, rubicund of countenance and hearty in
manner, like his stalwart Dorset forebears. Nelson was
habitually moody, sensitive, and fretful ; at times he was
despondent, but Hardy could always cheer him with a
ringing laugh, an unruffled temper, and a constant dis-
position to look on the bright side of things. The
intense personal regard for one another of these two
comrades im.parts a peculiar interest to the letters of Hardy
which will now be read for the first time.

At Nelson's funeral it was Thomas Masterman Hardy
who bore the "banner of emblems." It must not be
forgotten that Hardy took part in all Nelson's principal
naval engagements — St Vincent, the Nile and Copenhagen,
as well as Trafalgar — but so important was the role played
by Hardy at Trafalgar that it overshadows many notable
occurrences in his career both before and after the most
memorable 21st October of history. From December 1796,
when Nelson hoisted his broad pendant on board the La
Minerve, of which ship Hardy had been appointed lieutenant
on the preceding 20th August, they became inseparable
friends. The victor of the Nile very soon realised the merits
of the future captain of the Victory. " I never knew Hardy
wrong upon any professional subject," said Nelson ; " he
seems imbued with an intuitive right judgment." It was
not, therefore, surprising that Nelson trusted Hardy
implicitly, and the same confidence was placed in him
by Lady Nelson and other members of their family. To
all of them he was "dear Hardy," and their affection was
repaid by the most sterling loyalty. Hardy was ever
jealous of the fair fame of the great admiral, who regarded
him as one of his best friends and ablest officers almost
from the day he saved him from capture by the Spaniards

XIV

PREFACE

in February 1797. That Hardy often told Nelson home
truths is abundantly evident from the voluminous corre-
spondence which now sees the light.

When Hardy returned to England after Trafalgar he was
in his thirty-seventh year. He survived Nelson for four-
and-thirty years, dying in harness as Governor of Greenwich
Hospital on the 20th September 1839, having served the
State under no less than four sovereigns, including her
late Majesty, Queen Victoria. Between 1806 and 1827
(when he finally struck his flag), on the 22nd anniversary
of Trafalgar, Hardy rendered invaluable services to
his country both on the North and South America
Stations. It has even been said that his tact and prudence
alone saved England from a third war with the United

States.

From a comparatively early stage in his career Hardy
enjoyed the intimate friendship of at least two of the
Royal Dukes. In the autumn of 18 12 he thus wrote to
the Duke of Clarence, afterwards William IV. : —

Sept. ibth, 1812.

Sir,

T have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
your Royal Highness's letter of the 14th of last month,
which I only received yesterday from Lieut. Hay, who is
now in the Barfleur. I am appointed to the Ramillies,
and if I possibly can I will take young Hay with me
should either of the lieuts. not join that are now named to
her. I have great pleasure in stating to your Royal
Highness that during the time Mr Hay was under my
command he has at all times conducted himself most fully
to my satisfaction, and I have no hesitation in saying that
he will turn out a most excellent officer. I feel quite
grateful to your Royal Highness for your kind remem-
brance of me, and I beg to subscribe myself your Royal

Highness's

Dutiful humble servant,

T. M. Hardy.

PREFACE

In 1830, when Lord Grey formed his first Cabinet,
William IV. only accepted the nomination of Sir James
Graham (whose name he declared he had never heard of)
to the post of First Lord of the Admiralty on the under-
standing that Sir T. M. Hardy, whom he knew well, and
of whose ability and prudence he entertained the highest
opinion, should be First Sea Lord. Hardy moved to
Whitehall, where for four years he threw all his consti-
tutional energy into the discharge of his official duties.
In the traditions of the Admiralty he is remembered as
one of the best and most far-sighted men who ever held
that responsible post. A portion of the Hardy corre-
spondence deals with that all-important epoch of his
career, as well as with the closing days of his life, which
he spent in company with many other Trafalgar survivors
at Greenwich Hospital, of which he became Governor, and
where he more than once welcomed his brother sailor, the
"jolly young tarry breeks" of 1782, now known as "Good
King William."

It is somewhat surprising that the life of Thomas
Masterman Hardy has never been written, and that until
less than three years ago, the places of his birth and baptism
were matters of historic doubt. In July 1905, however, a
Nelson and Trafalgar Exhibition was held at Dorchester,
the capital of Hardy's county, under the auspices of the
Rev. S. E. V. Filleul, Rector of All Saints' Church in that
town, assisted by a local committee. The result of the
activity of Mr Filleul and his associates was to bring
together, in one room, a number of rare, and in many
cases unique, relics connected not only with Lord Nelson
himself, but with the life and exploits of Thomas Hardy,
captain of the Victory, and other famous Dorset sailors
from Elizabethan times downwards. The portion of the
Dorchester Exhibition devoted to Hardy was of quite ex-
ceptional interest, for it contained relics of every description,
ranging from medals and miniatures to the watch he
wore while he held the dying Nelson in his arms, the pencil-

xvi PREFACE

case he used to note the signals during the battle of
Trafalgar, with the marks of his teeth still clearly visible
upon it, and the silver shoe>buckle, shattered by a splinter
only a few minutes before the British Commander-in-Chief
received his death wound.

Mr Filleul was fortunate enough to obtain the active
co-operation of Hardy's direct descendants and representa-
tives, including Sir Malcolm MacGregor, Lady Helen
MacGregor, Mrs John Thynne, and Mr Atholl Macgregor,
while Mrs Manfield and her son, Mr William Hardy
Manfield, the present possessors of Sir T. M. Hardy's old
home at Portisham, contributed other objects of great
historic value. The loan was also obtained of several
autograph letters written by Hardy to his brother-in-law,
Mr John Callard Manfield, a former Mayor of Dorchester,
who, in the days of Trafalgar, and for some years previ-
ously, carried on the solicitor's business which has now,
after various changes, passed into the hands of Mr H.
A. Huxtable, like his predecessor, an ex-Mayor of
Dorchester, and who now holds the post of Town Clerk
of Weymouth. The presence of these autographs in the
exhibition eventually led to the discovery of several other
bundles of Hardy's letters, beginning 26th May 1798, and
ending 29th April 1839, less than five months before his
death. Mr Manfield died 21st June 1808, and the latter
portions of the Hardy correspondence are addressed to
Joseph Hardy, the admiral's elder brother, who survived
him.

In addition to this unlooked-for discovery of hitherto
unknown Hardy letters, the writers have been enabled to
use other important MSS., including a letter written by
Hardy to his brother Joseph at the age of thirteen, now in
the possession of Mrs John Thynne, and other communica-
tions addressed by him to Mr Edmund Noble, Sir Benjamin
Hallowell-Carew, K.C.B., and others.

The captain of the Victory had no pretence to scholar-
ship in the modern sense of the word. He often wrote in

PREFACE xvii

a hurry, and under circumstances of considerable excite-
ment. Sometimes he is racked with anxiety for the reputa-
tion of his " dear Lord"; other letters are jotted down in
the intervals of travel by land or sea. Occasionally he
writes with the din of battle still ringing in his ears, to
give the Dorset folk the earliest news of great victories
and stirring events, quorum pars magna futt, for Thomas
Masterman Hardy was ever in the thickest of the fight.
From first to last. Hardy wrote from the heart, and it has
been deemed expedient to publish the letters just as he
penned them, with the errors uncorrected.

Hardy's letters may not throw an important light on
the larger questions of naval history, but they certainly
very materially help us to a closer acquaintance with the
personality of Nelson, as well as that of all those who played
a prominent part in the great naval drama, of which he was
the central figure. They are remarkable also for the spirit
of affectionate regard to his own people which they
breathe throughout, and the deep love he entertained for
his native county. With him, charity always commenced
at home. Digby might want him to give a berth to the
son of some meritorious clergyman, but Hardy preferred
the recommendations which came from Dorchester or
" Possum." In very many of these letters we have ample
evidence of his constant care for the boys from Dorset — the
Balstons, the Robertses, and the Manfields — as well as of
that singular sweetness of disposition and temper which
endeared him to " old Nelson " (as Hardy affectionately
called him), who, just after Copenhagen, wrote to Alexander
Ball at Malta : " All in the fleet are so truly kind to me
that I should be a wretch not to cheer up. Foley has put
me under a regimen of milk at four in the morning ;
Murray has given me lozenges — Hardy is as good as ever."
The picturesque side of life in the Navy during the Great
War, as graphically depicted in Commander C. N. Robin-
son's deservedly popular British Fleet, is reflected through-
out the earlier portions of the Hardy correspondence.

xviii PREFACE

Without the information there given, it would have been
difficult to understand many of the matters to which Hardy
frequently alludes.

The Appendix contains a complete pedigree, not
only showing Hardy's lineal connection with Clement le
Hardi, Bailly and Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey in 1483
and 1488, but giving the names of the whole of his
descendants alive at the centenary of Trafalgar. It is
certainly an auspicious coincidence that Hardy's grandson.
Sir Evan MacGregor, K.C.B., was Permanent Secretary
of the Admiralty up till 1907. The room he so
long occupied was in close proximity to the apartments
tenanted sixty-three years since by Sir Thomas and
Lady Hardy, the latter of whom lived till 1877, and
is vividly remembered by Sir Evan. " Little," writes
Sir John Briggs,^ " could Lord Nelson's favourite captain
have anticipated that his own grandson would, at the end
of the nineteenth century, assist in carrying out the views
he entertained, and the opinions he expressed as First Sea
Lord of Sir James Graham's Board of 1830, and as his
representative witness all those great and important
changes which he then predicted science and steam would
render inevitably necessary throughout every branch of
the Naval Service."

From two roughly-bound folio volumes of stamped
receipts in the possession of Messrs Maggs, of 109 Strand,
the writers have been enabled to compile a complete and
accurate muster-roll of the Victory on the 21st October
1805. The earlier of these records, dated August 1806,
deals with the division pro rata of the ;^300,C)00 voted by
Parliament for the whole of the Trafalgar Fleet, while the
latter, begun in April 1807, shows in the minutest detail
the distribution of the sum total of the Trafalgar Prize
Money and Bounty Bills. The first Page of the Victory
section of both these valuable registers (which should
certainly find a home either at Whitehall or in the British
^ Naval Administrators, 1827- 1892. London, 1897, p. 44.

PREFACE xix

Museum) have been reproduced (by Messrs Maggs' per-
mission) amongst our illustrations.

In order to explain as far as possible the true import of

Hardy's letters, and to give something like an adequate

idea of the invaluable services rendered to his " king and

country" by the captain of the Victory during a career

extending over nearly sixty years, the writers have had

recourse to the works of standard authors dealing with our

naval annals between the years 1780 and 1840. They

desire to express the deep obligations they are under to

Captain Mahan,^ Mr Henry Newbolt,^ Commander Charles

N. Robinson,^ Mr W. H. Fitchett, B.A., LL.D.,^ Professor

John Knox Laughton,^ Secretary of the Navy Records

Society (probably the greatest living authority on Nelson

bibliography), Mr David Hannay,^ and last but not least,

the able correspondent of The Tunes'^ whose masterly

elucidation of the tactics of Trafalgar in a series of articles

recently published, has been the admiration of all those

interested in the achievements of Lord Nelson and his

captains.

While the sheets of the first issue of this work were
going through the press, another very interesting discovery
was made, viz., the " remark-book " of Richard Francis
Roberts, one of Hardy's midshipmen on board the Victory
at the battle of Trafalgar. It was used with the sanction
of its owner. Miss Roberts of the Grove, Burton Bradstock,
in the chapter relating to that momentous event in Hardy's
career. Miss Roberts has since then come across a series

1 The Life of Nelson^ Captain A. T. Mahan. London : Sampson,
Low, Marston & Co., 1897.

"^ The Year of Trafalgar. London: John Murray, 1905.

3 The British Fleet, Commander C. N. Robinson. London :
George Bell, 1896.

^ Nelson and his Captains. London : Smith, Elder & Co., 1904.

^ The Nelson Memorial, by John Knox Laughton. London :
George Allen, 1896. Biography of Nelson in D.N.B., etc., etc.

* Introduction to reissue of Southey's Life of Nelson.

^ The Times, September 16, 19, 26, 30, and October 19, 1905.

XX PREFACE

of interesting letters from her ancestral kinsman, giving
a minute account of the action of October 21, 1805, and
the events which immediately followed it. The interest of
these letters, written at the time of the momentous occur-
rences they deal with, is very great, and Chapter XXIII.
of the present volume is devoted to their publication.

For many years a Dorset or Dorsetshire figured in the
list of British ships-of-war. The first Dorsetslm'e, a third-
rate of 80 guns, was built at Southampton in 1694. She
was a vessel of 1176 tons, and carried a crew of 476 men.
She was rebuilt at Portsmouth in 17 12, and finally taken to
pieces in 1749. Then came the Dorset, a large yacht with
swivel guns only, constructed at Deptford, November 1752
— August 1753. She survived the Great War, and in the
spring of Waterloo year fetched £'H^. The second Dorset-
shire was a third-rate of 80 guns, built at Portsmouth
in 1757. She was broken up in 1775. Two men-of-war
have been named after Lord Hood — like Hardy, a native
of Dorset — viz., the Hood (late Edgar), a second-rate of
80 guns, launched in 1856, and sold in 1888 for ;;^5000.
The existing /2^(?c'^, a battleship of 14,150 tons, was com-
pleted for sea at Chatham in 1893, and is now in commis-
sion in reserve at Devonport. The disappearance of
Dorsetshire and Dorset as ship names is unaccountable,
and for a time the county of Hardy and the Hoods has
had to console herself with the reflection that the ancient
regiment of foot, bearing her name, can still boast of the
proud device, " Primus in Indis," as well as that of " Mortis
Insignia Calpe." If, in years to come, the name of the
Dorset, the Dorsetshire, or possibly the Hardy, be bestowed
on one of the armour-clad, of which the First Sea Lord of
1830-4 foretold the existence and realised at least some of
the possibilities, the life-story of "Nelson's Hardy" will
not have been told in vain.

A. M. B.
Jany. i, 1909.

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAQB

I. Dorset and her Famous Sailors . . . i

II. The Dorset Hardys and their Jersey Forebears . 7

III. The Birth, Birthplace, and Boyhood of Thomas

Masterman Hardy . . . . .12

IV. Hardy's Schooldays at Crewkerne and Milton

Abbas. His Early Experiences in the Navy and
Merchant Service [1778-1790] . . . .17

V. Hardy as Midshipman and Lieutenant [i 790-1797] . 26

VI. Hardy as Commander of the "Mutine" [June 16,

1797— August 3. 1798] . . . • -33

VII. Hardy as Flag-Captain of the "Vanguard" and

" FOUDROYANT." WiTH NELSON IN NAPLES AND

Sicily [4TH August 1798 — i2th October 1799] . 37

VIII. Hardy's Holiday in England. He Awaits the

Return of Nelson . . . . -45

IX. Hardy once more Nelson's Flag-Captain. His
Commands of the "Namur," "San Josef," and
"St George." The Battle of Copenhagen
[November 1800 — April 1801] . . . '55

X. From the Battle of Copenhagen [2ND April 1801] to
THE Peace of Amiens [27TH March 1802]. Hardy
Captain of the "St George" and the "Isis" . 66

XI. From the Peace of Amiens [March 27, 1802] to
Hardy's Appointment as Flag-Captain of the
"Victory" [July 21, 1803] . . . ,89

XII. Nelson and Hardy once more in the Mediter-
ranean. The Blockade of Toulon [i8th May
1803 to 31ST Dec. 1804] . . . . .108

XIII. The Year of Trafalgar [1805] . . . .125

XIV. Trafalgar, October 2ist, 1805 . . . .136
XV. After Trafalgar [1806-1816] . . . .148

xzi

xxii CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

XVI. Hardy in Command of the "Princess Augusta"
Yacht and the "Superb" [June 23, 1815— August
II, 1819] ....... 167

XVII. Hardy Commodore and Commander-in-Chief on the

South America Station [18 19- 1824] . . -179

XVIII. Hardy Rear-Admiral. He returns Home, Escorts
the Expeditionary Force to Lisbon, Commands
the Experimental Squadron and Strikes his
Flag [1824-1827] ...... 194

XIX. Hardy Rests on his Laurels [1827-1830]. He
becomes First Sea Lord of the Admiralty in
THE Government of Earl Grey [November 1830 —
July 1834]. . . . . . .205

XX. Sir Thomas Hardy, Bart., G.C.B., Governor of
Greenwich Hospital (1834-1839). His Death
THERE, 20TH September 1839 .... 220

XXI. Hardy Memorials at Greenwich Hospital and in

Dorset : Hardy Portraits .... 238

XXII. Sir T. M. Hardy in Prose, Poetry, and the Drama.

Some Additional Letters and Notes . . 245

XXIII. Lieutenant Roberts's Letters to his Friends at
Burton Bradstock, Describing the Battle of
Trafalgar and the Events which followed it.
The Trafalgar Rejoicings at Burton and Brid-
port. The Song of the Burton Volunteers . 256

APPENDICES

A. The Muster-roll of the Victory, October 21, 1805. . . 273

B. "Remark-Book" of R. F. Roberts of Burton Bradstock . . 286

C. Grant of Arms to Thomas Masterman Hardy, Esq., dated i8th

January 1806 ....... 287

D. Pedigree of the Hardys of Portisham, Co. Dorset Between 288-289

E. Wills of the Hardys . . . . . .289

F. Official List of the Naval Services of Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas

Masterman Hardy, Bart. ..... 292

G. Statement of Account between Hardy and his Agent, George

Hartwell. ....... 294

Index ........ 299

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Thomas Masterman Hardy. From a miniature in the

possession of Mrs Hardy Manfield of Portisham . Frontispiece

Long Bredy Church, Dorset, where Sir T. M. Hardy

was christened in 1769 ..... Face p. 12

The Bride Valley, as sketched in water-colour by

Thomas Rowlandson in 1799 . . . . „ 14

Kingston Russell House, Dorset, Hardy's birthplace . „ 16

Hardy's Home at Portisham , . . . „ 18

Crewkerne School. From a pen-and-ink drawing by

Frances Jane Broadley . . . . . „ 20

Captain Francis Roberts of Burton Bradstock, Dorset „ 22

Ferdinand IV., King of Naples . . . . „ 42

Lady Nelson ....... 46

Dorchester in Nelson's Days {circa 1797) — The
King's Arms and All Saints' Church. From a
Drawing by Thomas Rowlandson . . • » 5^

Lord Nelson. From a Drawing by an unknown Italian

Artist ........ 60

Hardy Relics . . . . . . „ 142

Sketch Plan of the Battle of Trafalgar . . „ 143

Facsimile Letter of Thomas Masterman Hardy

Between pp. 144 and 145

The Banner of Emblems. .... Face p. 152

Hardy's Nile and Trafalgar Medals . . „ 154

"The Grove," Burton Bradstock — the home of Francis

Roberts, Hardy's first Captain . . . . „ 160

xxiv LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Greenwich Pensioners in Hardy's Time . . Face p. 220

Royal Aquatic Excursion to Greenwich Hospital „ 226
Scene on Board the "Victory" just after Nelson

HAD received HIS DEATH WOUND . . • ,, 238

Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, Bart., G.C.B. From
the Portrait in Greenwich Hospital, by R. Evans.
Published by permission of the Lords of the Admiralty „ 240

Bust of Sir Thomas Hardy in Dorchester Museum „ 240

Facsimile of List of Captain, Officers, and Com-
pany ON Board the "Victory" who shared in
THE Government Grant of ^300,000 voted by
Parliament for the British Fleet after the
Battle of Trafalgar. . . . . „ 273

Facsimile of List of Captain, Officers, and Com-
pany OF the "Victory" who shared in the
Prize Money received from the Proceeds of
Four French Ships and Spanish Ships captured
on the 21ST October 1805 . . . . „ 274

Hardy's Bust and Monument in the Chapel of

Greenwich Hospital . . . . ,, 288

Hardy's Desk on Board the "Victory" . . Page 237

Hardy's Monument, Blagdon Hill, Dorset . . „ 298

THE THREE DORSET CAPTAINS
AT TRAFALGAR

CHAPTER I

DORSET AND HER FAMOUS SAILORS

ALTHOUGH Dorset is one of the smallest of the
maritime counties of England, she has played an
important part in our naval annals ever since the far-
off days of the ninth century, when the Wessex fisher-
men and peasantry looked down with dismay from the
cliffs of Golden Cap and Thorncombe Beacon on the
destruction of the fleet of King Ethelwulf by their Danish
adversaries. The disaster of A.D. 843 was evidently taken
to heart by the vanquished Saxons, for thirty-four years
later it was signally avenged by the brilliant victory won
by the marine forces of King Alfred in Swanage Bay,
when no less than 120 Danish ships were sunk and the
few vessels which contrived to evade pursuit were dashed
to pieces on the Peverel Rocks. The Dorset littoral
from Liliput Hill and Canford Cliffs on the east to Lyme
Regis and Charmouth on the west, measures about 70
miles. In the centre the peninsula of Portland, assuming
the shape of a booted foot, apparently kicking contemptu-
ously at any possible invader of England's shores, helps
to form West Bay on one side of the Chesil Beach and
Weymouth Bay on the other. The latter terminates in
the chapel-crowned headland of St Aldhelm (commonly
known as St Alban), while further eastwards, towards the

2 DORSET AND HER SAILORS

Hampshire borders, He the smaller bays of Swanage and
Studland, and the land-locked harbour of Poole, once
securely guarded by the castle of Brownsee or Branksea
Island. Lines of lofty cliffs, bare of verdure, inaccessible
and often well-nigh perpendicular, broken here and there
by verdant valleys and stretches of golden sand, are the
characteristic features of the Dorset sea-board, the scene of
some of the most terrible shipwrecks of history and the
home of many generations of sturdy sailors. The Dorset
smuggler was in his day quite as adventurous as his
Cornish confrere^ and in the beautiful and picturesque
hinterland hidden behind the yellow cliffs, all sorts of
cleverly-contrived hiding-places and over-spacious cellars
still keep the memory of their prowess green. In the
print-room of the British Museum may be seen a set of
maps portraying the coast of Dorset as it was in Henry
VIII.'s time. They are embellished with rude drawings
of towns, castles, churches, ships, and beacons, to say
nothing of sundry stately swans and stags with enormous
antlers. The greater part of the names (notwithstanding
the primitive spelling) are easily recognisable, and the
*' Cobbe " at Lyme Regis looks very much like what it is
now and what it must have been two hundred and twenty
years ago, when the luckless Monmouth stumbled and fell
as he set his foot upon it on his way to Sedgemoor and Tower
Hill. These charts demonstrate sufficiently the importance
of Dorset as a naval centre in the middle of the sixteenth
century, which was to close with the complete discomfiture
of the Armada called " Invincible," off Portland Bill.

We must not forget, however, that long before that
"crowning victory" was achieved, Weymouth, Poole,
Lyme Regis, and Wareham had all made notable con-
tributions of men and ships to the force which crossed
the Channel to win the battle of Crecy and cover the
English arms with glory. In this expedition, at least
31 Dorset ships and 479 Dorset mariners took part.
As far back as King John's reign the best cordage came

BINGHAM AND SUMMERS 3

from Bridport, which, as " Byrportte," figures conspicuously
in the suggestive sketches of the Tudor hydrographer.
In 1322 Sir Nicholas Cheney, Sheriff of Dorset, sought in
vain to recover from the king his out-of-pocket expenses —
70 shilHngs and some odd pence — incurred by the dispatch
of six " ropers " from Bridport to Newcastle-upon-Tyr>e.
About the time of the elaboration of these early maps of
the Dorset littoral, an Act of Parliament made short work
of unauthorised " ropers " on the ground that " Time-out-
of-mind Bridport (' Byrportte ') had made all the great
cables, ropes, hawsers, and other tackling for the Royal
Navy and the most part of other ships within this realm."
The ingenious Leland came to Bridport and was evidently
taken in by the ancient joke arising out of the varied
uses to which good rope was put, for he asserts gravely
that " at Bridportt be made good daggers." The old saw
about being " stabbed by a Bridport dagger " {i.e., hanged),
was evidently in vogue in the days when Sir Richard
Bingham [1528-1598-99], the first of Dorset's famous sea-
dogs, was giving proof of his skill as a sailor, soldier, and
statesman. The captain of the Swiftsure eventually
became Marshal of Ireland, but died before he could
assume the reins of office. As Governor of Connaught,
ten years before, he had mercilessly butchered the Spanish
sailors who had survived the engagement off Portland
Bill, only to meet with a still more terrible fate on the
rock-bound shores of Ireland. Bingham's native county
had placed 8 ships and 340 men at the disposal of the Lord
High Admiral, who commenced the destruction off the
Dorset coast, on which various relics of the Armada have
been cast up by the waves ever since.

Sir George Summers or Somers [i 554-1610], the ship-
mate of Raleigh and the discoverer of the Bermudas, was
born at " Lyme of the King." Summers was one of the
boldest and most successful of the early sixteenth-century
"adventurers." Having taken many prizes, including a
particularly rich " carrack " off Lisbon, he came home to be

4 DORSET AND HER SAILORS

knighted by James L, and sit in Parliament for Lyme Regis.
Having escaped the perils of the Gunpowder Plot, he once
more crossed the Atlantic to colonise Virginia and discover
the Bermudas, where he unfortunately died " of the surfeit
of eating of a pig." His nephew and heir, Matthew
Summers, brought his embalmed body back to Berne
Manor, the mansion on the banks of the Char which he
had purchased with the proceeds of his "prize-taking."
I'he house still exists, but American travellers look in vain
for his grave or any memorial of him in the beautiful church
of St Candida and Holy Cross, where he was laid to rest.
Forty-three years after the death of Summers, the
Portland waters were again the scene of another memorable
engagement. For three entire days (February 18-20),
Robert Blake maintained a death-struggle with Van
Tromp, upon whom he finally inflicted a complete defeat,
capturing 11 men of war and 30 merchantmen.

Within easy walking distance of Summers' home at
Whitchurch is the modernised farmhouse of Little Windsor,
where, in Charles H.'s reign lived Alexander Hood, from
whom the six seamen bearing that name are descended.
Lieutenant Arthur Hood, R.N., lost on the Pomona^ Captain
Alexander Hood, who fell in the naval duel between the
Mars and the Hercule on the 21st April 1798, and Admiral
Sir Samuel Hood, were his great-grandchildren, through his
eldest son and namesake ; while from the youngest, the
Rev. Samuel Hood, Vicar of Thorncombe and Master of
the Beaminster Grammar School, sprang the much more
celebrated Admiral Samuel Hood, Viscount Hood, and
Admiral Alexander Hood, Viscount Bridport. From
the cliffs of West Bay (the modern name for what
was only twenty years ago generally known as Bridport
Harbour), one can see Thorncombe Beacon to the west, as
well as the heights of Lewesdon and Pillsdon (the " Cow "
and " Calf" of the sailors of Nelson's time), which rise
above the aboriginal home of the Hoods at Little Windsor
and the old-fashioned town of Beaminster where Samuel

THE HOODS AND DIGBYS 5

Hood, the schoolmaster, espoused Mary Hoskins the
mother of two naval peers — Lord Hood and Lord Bridport.
The Bullens, from whom came Admiral Sir Charles Bullen,
who commanded the Britannia at Trafalgar, have long
been associated with Charmouth, which immediately adjoins
both Lyme Regis and Whitchurch — the birthplace and
burial-place of Summers.

Close to Thorncombe, Charmouth, and Whitchurch is
Hawkchurch, whence came Admiral Sir William Domett
[1752-1828], another hero of the Great War, who dis-
tinguished himself as flag-captain to Lord Bridport,
assisted Thomas Hardy to promotion in the earlier days
of his career, and eventually represented the united
boroughs of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in the House
of Commons. Sir William Domett sleeps in his native
village, in one of the most romantic of Dorset God's acres,
where a lengthy inscription on a tablet inside the church
sets forth all his professional achievements.

Admiral Robert Digby [1752-1815], the first instructor
of William IV. in his "jolly young tarry breeks " days, and
Admiral Henry Digby [1770- 1842], who commanded the
Africa at Trafalgar, are both associated with Minterne in
central Dorset, but turning eastwards on the rising ground
above West Bay, a massive column some seven miles away
at once arrests the view. It stands out boldly on the grassy
summit of Blagdon on Blackdown Hill, where, as at
Thorncombe, Norchard, Lewesdon, Cerne Abbas, Badbury,
Bubb Down, Blackdown (in Hawkchurch), Bulbarrow,
Frampton, Lytchett, Ridgeway, Woodbury, and Penbury
Hills, the Dorset yeomen in 1805, and the years which
preceded it, guarded and watched the beacons which were
to announce the always-expected arrival of the " Corsican
ogre" on these shores. The obelisk in question com-
memorates the valour and virtues of Dorset's favourite
naval hero, Thomas Masterman Hardy, captain of the
Victory, at once the most intimate and the most trusted of
all Nelson's companions in arms, and to whom the dying

6 DORSET AND HER SAILORS

admiral murmured his last words on the afternoon of the
2 1st October 1805, while the shadows of night were falling
fast on distant Dorset, and Joseph Hardy, the captain's
elder brother, unconscious of what was taking place off the
coast of Spain, was climbing up the steep sides of Black-
down Hill to tend the beacon, the lighting of which was no
longer necessary.

The Hardy Monument (as it has been called for
nearly three-quarters of a century) possesses no artistic
or architectural merits, but its position is singularly appro-
priate. It dominates the greater part of that Dorset
littoral and its hinterland which has given England so
many brave sailors in the past and from which the crews of
His Majesty's fleet are still largely recruited. It is in
immediate proximity to Kingston Russell, where Hardy
was born in the same eventful year as Napoleon and
Wellington, while his parents lived in the old home of
the Dukes of Bedford, as well as to Portisham, the
" Possum " of his correspondence, where Hardy spent the
greater part of his boyhood, and which, almost unchanged
and untouched since Hardy left it, still shelters many of
the most characteristic and interesting relics and mementos
of Thomas Masterman Hardy. The object of the follow-
ing pages is to tell as briefly as may be, and as much as
possible in his own words, the hitherto unrevealed story of
the life of the captain of the Victory — Nelson's "dear
Hardy," on many ships and in many lands.

CHAPTER II

THE DORSET HARDYS AND THEIR JERSEY FOREBEARS

THOMAS MASTERMAN HARDY was the last of
four distinguished admirals who could one and all
claim descent from Clement le Hardy or Hardi, Bailly of
Jersey in 1483, and five years later Lieutenant-Governor of
that island, where the Le Hardis had flourished exceedingly
during the Middle Ages, and from whence the younger
son of Bailly John Hardy emigrated to England vers
rouest, i.e., to Dorsetshire.^ The first of the four admirals
Hardy, was, like the last, named Thomas. He was the
son of John Hardy, Solicitor-General of Jersey. Born in
the year of the great fire of London, he won a knight-
hood at the hands of Queen Anne for the share he took
in the complete destruction of the combined fleets of
France and Spain in Vigo Bay. Having represented
Weymouth in Parliament for some years, Sir Thomas
Hardy died in 1732 and was buried in Westminster
Abbey, where his tomb is still to be seen. The first
Sir Charles Hardy was born in 1680, his father Philip
Hardy, son of John Hardy, the Jersey Solicitor-General,
holding the office of commissioner of garrisons in

^ A pedigree of French Hardys of Vieques and Beaulieu in France
is in possession of Mrs J. C. Thynne. Although the Christian names
are often identical, it establishes no connection with the Hardis of

Jersey.

8 THE DORSET HARDYS

Guernsey. Having commanded with distinction the
Weymouth and the Guernsey, he earned a knighthood in
consideration of long service in the royal yacht, the
Carolina, and died in 1744 a Lord Commissioner of the
Admiralty. His son, afterwards Sir Charles Hardy the
younger, was born amidst the excitement occasioned by
the Old Pretender's bootless invasion of England in 171 5.
He won his first laurels as captain of the Jersey in a
severe action fought off the Portuguese coast with the
French ship Saint Esprit. Ten years later (1755) he
was appointed Governor of New York, and before leaving
England was knighted by George H. In 1759 he was
second in command when Sir Edward Hawke won his
memorable victory in Ouiberon Bay. Sir Charles Hardy
(who sat for a time in the House of Commons as M.P.
for Portsmouth) was for nine years Governor of Greenwich
Hospital, where his portrait by Romney still hangs in
the Painted Hall.

The relations between the Channel Islands, and
the Dorset littoral which directly faces them, have always
been of a very intimate character ever since the days
of William the Norman. For a time they both formed
part of the same ecclesiastical diocese, and Weymouth
has always been the port through which the produce of
the fertile Channel Islands reached the English markets.
This traditional intimacy accounts for the presence on the
Dorset coast of such names as the Poole Havillands, Jolliffes,
and Filliters ; the Swanage Chinchins ; the Parmiters of
Corfe Castle ; the Loups and Lerousses of Wareham ;
the Russells and Keynells of Weymouth and Kingston
Russell; the Halletts, Traverses, Denziloes, Gerrards, and
Jeffords of Bridport ; and the Perrotts, Limbrys, and Doll-
ings of Lyme Regis and Charmouth. Another well-
known descendant of the Jersey Hardys was Sir Thomas
Duffus Hardy [1804-1878], Deputy-Keeper of the Public
Records, whose pedigree in some detail figures in the
Armorial of Jersey, edited by Mr J. Bertrand Payne.

HARDY'S NATIVE VILLAGE 9

There are few places on the Dorset sea-board which
have not at some time or other been the homes of the
Hardys. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
they possessed land at Toller VVhelme, Wolcombe Ma-
travers, Sydling, Frampton, Frome St Quintin, Melcombe
Regis, Compton Abbas, Askerswell, Abbotsbury, and Por-
tisham. In the " Herald's Visitations of 1565 " the right of
the Hardys of Toller Whelme and Wolcombe Hall to
bear the same arms as the Le Hardis or Hardys of Jersey
was recorded and subsequently confirmed by Sir William
Dethick, the Garter King at Arms (see Pedigree). The
Grammar School at Dorchester was founded by Thomas
Hardy, of Melcombe Regis Priory, in 1569, and after
the lapse of three centuries his crest — a wyvern's head
— is still worn on the cricket caps of the Dorchester
alumni. It is from a nephew of this Thomas Hardy
that the Portisham branch of the family, to which Sir
T. M. Hardy's immediate ancestors belonged, traces its
descent.

Portisham, a typical Dorset village of the more
prosperous kind, nestles amongst the hills within two miles
of the coast, in the hinterland of Abbotsbury and the
Chesil Beach. It will be further alluded to in the chapter
dealing with the upbringing and the boyhood of the future
captain of the Victory. Here, in the principal house of the
parish, the foundations of which were laid in Tudor times,
lived generation after generation of Hardys, who farmed
their own estate, brewed their own beer, and pressed their
own cyder. While the Frampton Hardys sided with the
Parliamentarians, Joseph Hardy, of Portisham (Sir T. M.
Hardy's great-great-great uncle) and his loyal brother-in-
law, William Weare, of the same village, declared boldly for
church and king,^ suffering thereby a sequestration of their
property and enduring much persecution. The Hardys
and Weares sleep side by side in vaults both below and

' See Mayo's Dorset Committee, p. 452, and Hutchin's History of
Dorset, 3rd ed., vol. ii., p. 765.

10 THE DORSET HARDYS

around the beautiful old church of Portisham, of which they
were often wardens and eventually became patrons. In
the exterior of the southern wall may still be seen the
time-worn and lichen-stained monument of William Weare,
on which the following curious inscription is still decipher-
able : —

" William Weare lies Heere in dust,

As thou and I and all men must,

Once plundred by Sabaean force

Some cald it war but others worse

With confidence he pleads his cause,

And Kings to be above those laws.

September's eyghth day died hee

When neare the date of 63

Anno Domini 1670."

William Weare married Joane, daughter of Anthony
Hardy, of Portisham, on the 3rd May 1646, and mentions
his brother-in-law, Mr Joseph Hardy, in his will, dated
1670. The " Sabaean " force alluded to in the inscription,
refers to the sequestration of stock, valued at £140, in 1644
by order of the Roundhead Committee. In the reigns of
William III., Queen Anne, and George I., II., and III.,
Joseph Hardy, Thomas Masterman Hardy's grandfather,
lived at Portisham House, where he died on i6th January
1778, when in his eighty-ninth year. He had married
his cousin, the grand-daughter of that ardent royalist,
William Weare, thus still further cementing the alliance
between the two families. Thomas Masterman Hardy
must have known his venerable grandfather, who lived till
he was nine years old. Nearly thirty years later, when the
Heralds College was busily engaged over the record of his
pedigree, in accordance with the stipulations of the patent
of baronetcy won at Trafalgar, he wrote thus to his brother-
in-law at Dorchester : —

" Mr Nayler ^ wants to know who was the Father of my
Grandmother Hardy. Of course my Aunt can tell and

^ Sir George Nayler, York Herald, Garter King-of-Arms, 1822.

"ANCHOR, HARDY, ANCHOR" ii

then I believe the Pedigree will be finally settled ; at least
I hope so."

Doubtless the information thus asked for was immedi-
ately forthcoming, but the pedigree which appears in the
Appendix is the only one which can claim anything like
completeness, for, as has already been mentioned, the
actual place of Hardy's birth was unknown until the
summer of 1905. Sir T. M. Hardy neither sought for nor
adopted the Trafalgar augmentations of arms so freely
granted by Sir Isaac Heard ^ to the fortunate winners of
so much prize money. He continued to use the old Jersey
coat and crest of the Le Hardis, notwithstanding the slight
changes introduced into his armorial bearings previous to
the issue of the baronetcy grant. Nor, as far as it can
be ascertained, does it appear that he ever adopted the
naval crown and dragon's heads allotted him, or the motto
" Anchor, Hardy, Anchor," suggested by the sailor prince,
under whom, when the latter became King of England, he
was destined to serve as First Sea Lord of the Admiralty.

' Garter King-of-Arms, 1784-1822.

CHAPTER III

THE BIRTH, BIRTHPLACE, AND BOYHOOD OF THOMAS
MASTERMAN HARDY

THE future captain of the Victory was born at King-
ston Russell House, in the heart of the beautiful
valley of the Bride, on the 5th April 1769 — the eventful
year which gave the world so many of the principal actors in
the drama of the Great War, including Napoleon Bonaparte,
Arthur Wellesley and Nicholas John de Dieu Soult.
Hardy was the junior by four weeks of the Duke of
Wellington, and by four months the senior of the great
master of statecraft, whose ambitious schemes of invasion
and conquest he helped so materially to combat.

He was the second son of Joseph Hardy, of Portisham
[1733-1785], and Nanny, his wife [1737-1799], daughter and
co-heiress of Thomas Masterman, gentleman, of Kingston
Russell and Winterbourne St Martin. For at least seven
years prior to Thomas Hardy's birth, his parents had
resided at Kingston Russell House, which had previously
been tenanted by Nanny Hardy's parents, Thomas and
Mary Masterman, who died there in 1763 and 1757
respectively. Like the Hardys, the Mastermans were
honoured in the parish registers with the title of" Esquire,"
and may be presumed, therefore, to have been at least
small landowners farming their own estate. Like the
Hardys and the Weares, the Mastermans were originally
natives of Portisham, where, as far back as 1690, they
held the farm of Friar Waddon, and where a Masterman

Charity still keeps them in remembrance. Kingston
12

5-,

KINGSTON RUSSELL HOUSE 13

Russell House was a mansion of more than ordinary
importance. Although the facade of Portland stone is
in the severest form of that classical architecture which
delighted the soul of Christopher Wren, the back still
retains high mullioned Tudor windows, from which the
brittle bluish glass of Elizabethan times has not wholly
disappeared. It was, in some shape or other, the aboriginal
home of the wealthy and powerful Russells (once probably
Rousselles), from which John Russell,^ afterwards the first
Earl of Bedford, is supposed to have started on the journey
across the hills to Wolfeton or Wolveton House (now the
property of Mr Albert Bankes), where by his linguistic skill
he won the favour of the shipwrecked Archduke Philip of
Austria, son-in-law of King Ferdinand of Spain, and laid
the foundations of the fortunes of his family.

Opposite the entrance of Portisham House, to which
Thomas Masterman Hardy's father and mother removed in
1778, on the death of Joseph Hardy, the elder, stands a
weather-worn sun-dial, which they must have brought with
them from Kingston Russell. It bears the following inscrip-
tion : " Joseph Hardy, Esq., Kingston Russell, 1767. Lat. 50.
Fugio fuge." In accordance with the custom of the times, in
the case of the upper classes, Thomas Masterman Hardy
was christened privately two days after his birth. Four
weeks later he was taken in due course to Long Bredy
Church, where his father and mother had been married
from Kingston Russell House on the 31st March 1755,
and there publicly received " into the Congregation." The
entry in the Long Bredy register runs as follows : —
"Baptized, Anno Dom"' 1769, Thomas Masterman, son
of Joseph Hardy, and Nanny his wife, was baptized
April 7th, and rec^ into the Church, May 4th."

The early years of Hardy's life were indeed cast in

pleasant places, for there is nothing more picturesque to be

found in the whole of Wessex than the verdant valley

through which the limpid Bride winds, now swiftly and now

1 John Russell, Earl of Bedford [1485-1555]-

14 BIRTH, BIRTHPLACE, AND BOYHOOD

slowly, from its source in the Bridehead hills, past Kingston
Russell, the two Bredys, Litton Cheney and Barwick, until
it joins the sea some 6 miles to the west at Burton Brad-
stock, formerly known as Briditon or the town of the
Bride, just as Bridport is the town of the Brit, the sister
river which rises in the neighbourhood of Beaminster and
joins the Channel at a short distance from the mouth of
the Bride. Little is known of this the most peaceful
portion of Hardy's life. He probably saw the sea for
the first time when carried over a spur of the hill, now
crowned by the Hardy Monument, to see his octogenarian
grandfather at Portisham House. He may also have
visited his Hardy cousins, who lived at the Hyde, near
Bridport, obtaining from the road beyond Burton a
glimpse of the glories of West Bay and the cliffs of Thorn-
combe Beacon, and Golden Cap. It is possible he was
also taken to Shapwick, near Blandford, where lived a
number of somewhat distant Masterman kinsmen.

A series of gates, not too easy to open, has as yet saved
the road from Burton to Kingston Russell from the invasion
of the motor-car, and even the cyclist finds his progress a
matter of difficulty. It would, however, be well-nigh im-
possible to discover a more delightful afternoon's walk than
that which Thomas Masterman Hardy, his brothers Joseph
and John, and his sisters Elizabeth, Ann, Mary, Catherine,
Martha, and Augusta must often have taken. The oldest of
them all was Elizabeth, who was twelve years of age when
her afterwards celebrated brother was born. His brother
John was only two years his junior, and the baby of the
youthful party at Kingston Russell was his sister Augusta,
born only twelve months before the lares et pennies of the
Hardys were finally transferred to the family house at
Portisham. The scene has changed very little during the
century and a quarter which have rolled by since then.
It is true that the early Victorian restorer has wrought sad
havoc in the quaint churches of the Bride Valley, from
which many memorials of the past have vanished for ever,

5
w

fc?

THE VALLEY OF THE BRIDE 15

but the banks of the Bride are not a whit less lovely now
than they were then, and the hedgerows which border the
narrow road are still a delightful tangle of maple and
hazel, alder and " snag," wild hops and " withy wind," " old
man's beard" (clematis) and honeysuckle. Sleek cattle
graze knee-deep in rich meadows by the water side, in the
shade of giant elms and venerable oak trees, beneath which
Thomas Hardy and his brothers and sisters may have
played, while in search of the primroses, bluebells, " ragged
Robin," " Stars of Bethlehem," " cherry pie " (soap wort),
and the lilac " butter burr," which grow in profusion
between Kingston Russell and Burton. On one side of
the vale, far above the stretches of purple heather and
bracken fern, are perched the villages of Puncknowle and
Swyre, the homes of many a Dorset sailor who fought
with " Cap'n Hardy on the deck of the Victory'' ; on the
other rises the keel-shaped hill of Shipton Beacon (a
favourite haunt of the smuggler), towering far above the
tiny church of Chilcombe, which still shelters a rude-carved
altar-piece of cedar wood, saved as tradition asserts from
the oratory of one of the Armada wrecks. Next comes
Litton Cheney, erstwhile the residence of those doughty
warriors, the Cheneys, kinsmen of the stalwart and valiant
Sir John Cheney, whose exploits at Crecy were chronicled
by Froissart, where palms and other sub-tropical plants
grow luxuriantly amongst a series of fish-ponds formed in
the grounds of the rectory by one of the tributaries of the
Bride rushing down the hill slopes. In the same parish
stands Baglake Farm, once the abode of the Dorset
Napiers, and the scene of a well-known Civil War
ghost-story.

Leaving Long Bredy Church behind you, you tra-
verse the broad meadows over which Thomas Masterman
Hardy must have been carried to his christening.
A wire fence now surrounds the historic and once
stately home of the Russells, the Mastermans, and the
Hardys, which the Dukes of Bedford arc allowing to

i6 BIRTH, BIRTHPLACE, AND BOYHOOD

become a ruin, although the massive roof still remains
intact. The arms of the Russells have been cut bodily
out of the centre of the heavy pediment which surmounts
the facade. Doors and windows have been removed, and
the empty spaces thus created are now filled up with
brickwork. In the interior all is fast falling into decay.
The oak wainscoting has gone to Woburn ; the main stair-
case will soon be altogether inaccessible ; but the spacious
corridor, which should be lighted by the half closed-up
Tudor windows, retains something of its pristine charm,
and traces are still discernible of old glass, neglected
pictures, dilapidated hangings, and elaborate decoration.
Above the intruding brickwork, which has replaced the
ponderous front door, is a stone slab on which the
astonished pilgrim in the footsteps of Hardy reads the
words: — "John Lothrop Motley, Minister of the United
States, Historian of the Dutch Republic, died at Kingston
Manor House, May 20th, 1877." The swallows have made
their nests in the spaces once covered by the dethroned
panelling, but the broad flight of eight steps leading up to
the entrance hall defies alike the ravages of time and
weather. As far as Kingston Russell is concerned, the
presence of the Hardys is clean forgotten, although the
public memorial to the great sailor born there is plainly
seen on the bleak summit of Blagdon or Blackdown
Hill. You contrive to creep over a heap of rubbish into
the death-chamber of Motley ; possibly it was also the
birth-room of Hardy. In any case, your guide remembers
the time before the desertion of the old house was
decreed, when "Duke William" and "Duke Hastings"
came down to Kingston Russell to walk the boundaries.
Surely the preservation of the home of the Dorset Russells,
the birthplace of Thomas Masterman Hardy, and the
scene of the death of John Lothrop Motley, would be
worthy of the present bearer of the motto, " Che sara sara "
— the owner of the green meadows and fertile fields of the
beautiful valley of the Bride ?

-a

H
W
tn
«
O

i-l
►J
M
t/i
(O

is
-a"

2; S

IS ^

(L)

a
<u

C
<

CHAPTER IV

hardy's schooldays at CREWKERNE and MILTON
ABBAS. HIS EARLY EXPERIENCES IN THE NAVY
AND MERCHANT SERVICE [1778-I790]

THE spring of 1778 witnessed the removal of the whole
of the Hardy family from Kingston Russell to
" Possum." The eldest of Joseph Hardy's children,
Elizabeth, was just of age and about to marry John
Thresher, who belonged to another ancient Portisham
family, established there some years before the defeat of the
Spanish Armada by Lord Howard of Effingham off Port-
land Bill might have been clearly seen from the high land
above the village, the leading inhabitant of which, one John
Studley, had contributed £2'^ to the national defence fund.
Her next sister, then a girl of twenty, remained all her life
unmarried, but the third and fourth daughters of Joseph
and Nanny Hardy — Mary and Catherine — in 1778, aged
eighteen and sixteen respectively, in the course of the next
few years became the wives of James Balston and John
Callard Manfield, the latter of whom was destined to
become Thomas Hardy's legal adviser and the recipient of
his confidential correspondence. Their two youngest
sisters, Martha and Augusta (the latter in 1778 a baby),
never married. Of Thomas Hardy's two brothers, Joseph,
the elder (aged fourteen in 1778) was five years his senior.
In after life he married Miss White of Cerne and resided
at Charminster, where he died some years after the demise
of the captain of the Victory. John, the youngest of
17 B

i8 SCHOOLDAYS AND EARLY EXPERIENCES

Joseph Hardy's sons (a child of seven when his parents
went to hve at Portisham) never married, and after
he reached manhood farmed the Hardy lands in and
near their native village until he died, on the 25th April
1822. If the childhood of Thomas Hardy and his
brothers and sisters at Kingston Russell is clean forgotten
as far as the dwellers in the Bride Valley are concerned,
their life at " Possum " is still the subject of local legend.
Joseph Hardy offered his sons ponies to scour the bridle-
paths of the Dorset downs, but the proffered favour was
declined by the embryo sailor, who replied that " Joe and
Jack might have horses, but that he wanted a wooden one,"
thereby meaning that he intended to go to sea.

In the latter half of the eighteenth century, country
squires like Joseph Hardy were in the habit of sending
their sons to school at an age which would now be
regarded as abnormally early. As far as grammar
schools are concerned, Dorset could boast of something
approaching an evibavras de richesses. Within easy reach
of Portisham and the Valley of the Bride were the
flourishing educational establishments of Wimborne
(founded in 1496 by the Countess Margaret, only
daughter of John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset) ; Milton
Abbas, established a quarter of a century later by William
Middleton, Abbot of Milton ; Sherborne (chartered on the
13th May 1550 by Edward VI. of pious memory), and
Dorchester (built and endowed in 1569 by Thomas
Hardy of Melcombe Priory, an ancestral kinsman of
the Portisham Hardys), to say nothing of minor
seminaries at Beaminster, Gillingham, and Cranborne.
Thomas Hardy, however, was at first sent to none of
these. Just across the Somerset border, and not more
than 18 miles from Portisham, prospered exceedingly the
ancient grammar school of Crewkerne, which had originated
at the end of the fifteenth century in the munificent
benefactions of John de Combe, Precentor of Exeter and
formerly Rector of the picturesque little town then called

' ^B^^F^^

•--*'

— -<

^■iS

1^^

f'^

'..'i

<
S

a
<

CREWKERNE GRAMMAR SCHOOL 19

Crokehorn.^ Between 1762 and 1787 the fortunes of John
de Combe's foundation were entrusted to two worthy-
pedagogues, who enjoyed something more than merely
local fame. The first of these was the Rev. Robert Burnett
Patch, B.A., Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, who in 1780
was succeeded by the still better known Rev. Robert
Hoadly Ashe, D.D., a connection of the celebrated Bishop
Hoadly, of Salisbury and Winchester, who had at one time
no less than eighty boarders. It was to this school that
Thomas Masterman Hardy went soon after the settling-
down of his parents at Portisham House.

The old building in which Hardy, and in all probability
his two brothers, acquired the rudiments and doubtless
received correction at the hands of the worthy Mr Patch
and the eminent Dr Ashe, both stern and uncompromising
believers in the theory and practice of King Solomon's
precept on the subject of the rod, still exists close to
Combe's old church of St Bartholomew. The ancient brass
over the entrance, with its curious inscription ending in the
lines, " Venite filii obedite mihi timorem domini eeo vos
docebo," was about a quarter of a century ago transferred
to a new and more ornate school-house. Although the
whole of the registers prior to 1828 have disappeared, there
is no lack of information as to the state of the school
about the time Hardy must have arrived there, probably
after a long ride over Blagdon Hill, and through the two
valleys of the Bride and the Brit. The following were the
modest requirements of a Crewkerne boarder in the matter
of wardrobe : —

" Ten shirts

Eight ' necks '

Six pair of stockings

Four handkerchiefs

One worsthred nightcap

One white waistcoat."

' See History of Crewkerne School, by llie Rev. R. Grosvenor
Bartelot, M.A. ; Crewkerne, James Wheatley, 1899.

20 SCHOOLDAYS AND EARLY EXPERIENCES

The diversions at Crewkerne were by no means con-
fined to such ortliodox games as cricket and football.
One learns from the MS. common-place book of John
Banger Russell, of Beaminster, himself an old Crewkernian,
that on every Shrove Tuesday the boys were accustomed
to indulge in cock-fighting in the school-room and under
the superintendence of the masters. After the contests
the victor was expected to write a copy of verses on his
triumph. If success fell to a youth of tender years he
was required to procure a poetic effusion from one of
his seniors. Mr Russell observes that the contending
cocks at Crewkerne were armed with steel spurs, and
adds naively that " such indulgences were calculated to
give boys a fondness for that cruel and unmanly diversion."
Amongst Hardy's Crewkerne contemporaries was one
at least who won name and fame in after life, viz., William
Draper Best, a day boy, who eventually held the office
of Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and was sub-
sequently created Baron Wynford. In 1816, as Serjeant
Best 1 he represented Sir T. M. Hardy in a delicate and
important lawsuit, in which he won a verdict for his client.

Hardy's lesson-books were soon closed, for a time at
least, for in the late autumn of 1781 he returned to Portis-
ham to prepare for joining H.M.'s brig Helena, then
commanded by Captain Francis Roberts of Burton Brad-
stock, a relative of the Churchills of West Compton or
Compton Abbas and the Browns of Mappercombe, all
of them neighbours of the Hardys in the Kingston
Russell days." On the 30th November of this year

^ See/(?^/, p. 168.

2 Francis Roberts (born 1749, died 1794). As first lieutenant, he was
the only surviving officer of the Quebec frigate after the famous engage-
ment with the Surveillante. In the same year that Hardy joined the
Helena, Roberts had acquired fresh distinction by carrying despatches
in her to Gibraltar, through the thick of the fire of the enemy's flotilla.
He died on board the Success, of yellow fever, ofif Jamaica, ist September
1794, aged 45, after thirty-six years' service in the navy. His nephew,
R. F. Roberts, served with Hardy as midshipman on the Victory ^\.

e
o

o
o
K
u
m

OS
O

ft.

HARDY WRITES HOME 21

begins Hardy's naval record. He was rated as " Cap-
tain's servant," in conformity with the then existing
custom by which commanders of ships were permitted,
under this designation, to initiate promising youths into
the mysteries of seamanship. It was with the same
qualification that Dorset's famous Admirals, Lord Hood
and Lord Bridport, first went to sea.^ Three months
passed away, and a letter addressed to his brother Joseph
(now aged eighteen) arrives at Winterbourne St Martin
(Martinstown), on the other side of Blagdon Hill, whither
he had gone to learn something of practical farming. It

runs as follows : —

"Helena," Downs,

March 6th, 1782.

Dear Brother,

I received your letter on the i8th of last
month and was glad to hear Father, Mother, Sisters and
Brother and all our relations were well. We anchored
here yesterday from Ostend where we went with a con-
voy and to bring one back. I was going to wright to Father
when we were at Portsmouth but our sailing from there so
soon prevented me, and my having so much to say. We
put in there from chesing of another Privateer which got
away again after they had struck owing to very bad
weather so bad that we could not hoist our boat out and
it being very dark. The bow (boy ?) and Bounce - are

Trafalgar. Another nephew, Francis, was an officer with Hardy on board
the Triumph and Barfieicr. The Grove, the home of the Robertses at
Burton Bradstock, sheltered by a gigantic mulberry tree, has changed
very little since 1781. It belongs now to Staff Commander Roberts,
R.N., and is tenanted by Miss M. M. Roberts, who possesses many
interesting relics of her nautical ancestors, including a fine portrait of
Francis Roberts and several letters from Hardy to members of the
Roberts family.

^ See D. N. B. under Hood (Samuel) and Hood (Alexander).
For much interesting information as to qualification of "Captain's
servant," see The British Fleet, by Commander C. N. Robinson,
p. 316.

2 Hardy's favourite dog at Greenwich Hospital, fifty-five years later,
also bore the old name of " Bounce."

22 SCHOOLDAYS AND EARLY EXPERIENCES

safe on board. I was very angry with Bounce, he would
not know me till I had put on my old coat. Captn.
Roberts likes him very much and everybody. He has
promised when an opportunity offers to send me home
to go to school for some time to learn navigation and
everything that is proper for a sailor, therefore should be
glad if you would ask Father to look out for a good
school for me as I am resolved to learn everything as fast
as I can. The close Mr Bagter sent are to large but
they do prety well. Please to direct to me in the Downs
as this is the place we always come to after our cruise is
out. Capt. Roberts desiers his best compts. to you and
all our family. Remember my duty to Father and Mother
and Aunt Hardy and Love Sisters and Brother John
and am Dear Brother

Yours affectionately

Thos. Masterman Hardy.^
Joseph Hardy
Martinstown, Dorchester.

The receipt of this letter must have given much
satisfaction both at Portisham and Martinstown, for it
bears the following endorsement in the handwriting of
Captain Francis Roberts : —

Dear Sir,

I am happy to hear, by 'your letter to
Thomas, that all your family are well. I thank you for
your information of my friends ; I have by the same post
received letters from them. Am glad to inform you that
Thomas is a very good boy, and I think will make a com-
plete seaman one day or other. He is now very desirous
of learning ; and please to make my compliments to your

1 This letter was printed in the United Semice Jotirnal, November
1839, with the spelling corrected. It is now reproduced as Hardy wrote
it, by permission of its present owner, Mrs John C. Thynne, Sir T. M.
Hardy's granddaughter.

Captain Francis Roberts
of Burton Bradstock, Dorset, with whom Hardy first went to sea on board

the Helena Britr.

\To faee page 22,

HARDY ONCE MORE AT SCHOOL 23

father, and tell him I think in two or three months, if he
approves of it, and can procure him a good school, to send him
home for an education ; as it is impossible for him to learn
everything that is proper for him on board ship. We were
glad to find the dog safe ; I think him a very fine one. My
best compliments to yourself and family, and am,

Dear Sir,

Your obedient humble servant,

Francis Roberts.

So far, at any rate, Hardy had justified his choice
of the "wooden horse." On the 9th April 1782, his
name disappeared from the books of the Helena, and three
weeks later was entered under the same rating in those of
the Seaford, to which Captain Roberts was promoted, and
where he remained for exactly twelve months. For nine
months, i.e., from 26th April 1783 to 24th January 1784,
he seems to have remained on shore, and if current tradition
on the subject may be trusted, went, for the purposes set
forth in his own letter, to the Grammar School at Milton
Abbas, then presided over by John VVarton, a near relative
of Thomas Warton, the poet laureate, and Joseph Warton,
the author of the once famous critical " Essay on the Genius
and Writings of Pope." The Rev. Herbert Pentin, Vicar
of Milton Abbas, and secretary of the Dorset Field Club,
writes as follows : " That Hardy was educated at Milton
there is no doubt. The father of the old parish clerk in
Mr Roberts's time (Roberts was appointed vicar in 1842)
knew the boy Hardy well at school, and the anecdote
related of him in Vol. XXV. of the Proceedings of the Field
Club was found amongst Mr Roberts's papers." The story
here alluded to by Mr Pentin is as follows : —

"When Hardy (afterwards Admiral Sir Thomas
Masterman Hardy — Nelson's friend) was at the (Milton
Abbas) School, it is recorded that he mounted the abbey
tower one day with another boy, and they let down the

24 SCHOOLDAYS AND EARLY EXPERIENCES

headmaster's son (James Wood) over the tower to take
a nest from the head of the stack pipe. Hardy then
threatened to cut the rope unless Wood promised to give
him two out of the four eggs,"

The absolute authenticity of this legend must certainly
remain a matter of doubt. In the first place, the Rev,
James Wood resigned his post as Headmaster of Milton
School in 1780, when Hardy was only eleven and scarcely
likely to indulge in so perilous an adventure. Moreover,
in an official record published in 1808, Crewkerne School is
clearly stated to have been the place of his early education
and upbringing. If Hardy ever went to Milton Abbas at
all, it was at the epoch of his career above indicated, when
Mr Wood was no longer headmaster, although it is just
possible his son may have remained at the school. The
story itself little accords with the generous and open
character of Hardy, whose constant aim through life was
to take a paternal care of the youths under his command.
At Milton Abbey still hangs a fine portrait said to be that
of Hardy. It has been ascribed to Gainsborough, as well
as to Beach (the latter a native of Milton). It represents
a naval officer, in a captain's uniform, of the period of
1780-81. It bears no resemblance whatever to the
authentic miniature of Hardy which prefaces this volume,
or either of the other acknowledged portraits of the
captain of the Victory. By the kind permission of Mr
Everard Hambro, the alleged Hardy portrait has been
photographed, but competent critics have pronounced
decidedly against its relation to Thomas Masterman
Hardy, quite apart from the incompatibility of naval
costume it discloses. Another painting, professing to
portray the features of Hardy, is in the collection of the
Baroness Burdett-Coutts, but its authenticity is denied by
Hardy's descendants.

The month of January 1784 once more sees the
name of Thomas Masterman Hardy appearing on the
muster-roll of the Carnatic guardship as " Captain's

HARDY REJOINS THE NAVY 25

servant." He continued to be thus rated until the i6th
October 1785, but it has been alleged that he really-
remained at school during the whole of this time. Be this
as it may, from this date until the 5th February 1790, no
further mention of him occurs in the archives of the Navy
Office. His father died on the 24th April 1785, at the
comparatively early age of fifty-two. This is recorded on
a memorial ring, which once belonged to Sir T. M. Hardy,
and is now in possession of the Manfields of Portisham.
Nanny Hardy was thus left a widow, with the care of a
large family, of which several were still minors. It seems
probable that from motives of economy, and possibly from
an unselfish wish to assist his mother in her difficulties,
Hardy at this juncture resolved, for a time at least, to
leave the navy and join the merchant service.^ As far as
can be ascertained, no correspondence or records exist
which can throw any light on Hardy's life and adventures
in the mercantile marine. He doubtless acquired much
valuable experience, which stood him in good stead
throughout the whole of the brilliant career, which began
on the 5th February 1790, when, just a month before his
twenty-first birthday, he joined the Hebe as midshipman,
under that brave Dorset sailor, Captain Alexander Hood,
who, like his younger brother. Sir Samuel, was born at
Kingsland Farm, Netherbury, at the head of the Valley
of the Brit.

^ The biographer of Hardy, in the United Service Journal oi 1839,
Part 3, pp. 383-4, accounts for Hardy's temporarily joining the merchant
service by the commission of some "youthful transgression," adding
that he "shipped on board a West Indiaman in London in some
inferior capacity and served for some time before his friends knew what
had become of him." The present writers have failed to find any grounds
for such an insinuation, and it must not be forgotten that the same
biographer located Hardy's birth erroneously at Martinstown, which
he actually described as "a small town near Dorchester." It was
in Hardy's time, and is still, only a village of less than 400
inhabitants.

CHAPTER V

HARDY AS MIDSHIPMAN AND LIEUTENANT [179O-I797]

THROUGHOUT the whole of the latter half of the
eighteenth century, the Hoods were the naval heroes
par excellence of the Dorset littoral. Their exploits formed
the constant subject of conversation in the chimney-corners
of cottage, tavern, and farm, and afforded congenial material
for many a stirring song and rudely-printed broadside.
While Hardy was at Crewkerne School, he was within
an easy walk of the homes of the Hoods at Mosterton,
Little Windsor, and Kingsland, and we are indebted to the
personal influence of Alexander Hood for the return of
Hardy to his first love — the king's navy. His wish to
do so was doubtless facilitated by his coming of age and
inheriting his share of the paternal estate.

After joining the Hebe frigate as midshipman, he went
for several cruises in the Channel, and before the year was
out (December 8, 1790) was promoted to be master's mate
on board the same ship. This position he filled until the
5th March 1792, when the crew was paid off. On the
next day his name appears as " A.B." on the Tisiphone
sloop of twelve guns. Captain Anthony Hunt. He was
again rated as midshipman in the same vessel in the month
of October following, and when Captain Hunt assumed the
command of the Amphitrite frigate of twenty guns, in
May 1793, he took Hardy with him (once more as mid-
shipman), and they joined Lord Hood's fleet in the
Mediterranean. The French Revolution had now broken
out, and the story of Lord Hood's operations before

HARDY ON BOARD THE "MELEAGER" 27

Marseilles and Toulon, and the embarrassments caused by
the dual command (for joint powers were exercised by
Hood, then on board the Victory, and the Spanish admiral,
Don Juan de Langara) has been often told. The golden
opportunity which presented itself of entirely wiping out
the fleet of the French Convention was lost, but Hardy
must have distinguished himself, for on the loth November
he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on board the
Meleager frigate, Captain (afterwards Sir Charles) Tyler.^
It was now that Hardy first came in contact with Captain
Nelson, for the Meleager was attached to Nelson's squadron
off Genoa. In June 1794, Captain Cockburn (thirty-four
years later, Hardy's immediate predecessor as First Sea
Lord of the Admiralty) succeeded Captain Tyler in the
command of the Meleager, Between midsummer 1794,
and August 1796, Hardy remained on board this vessel,
which served as a repeating ship in Hotham's two actions
off Toulon (March 14 and July 13, 1795). During the last
twelvemonth of that period, i.e., from July 1795 to August
1796, the Meleager was employed in the Gulf of Genoa,
under the immediate orders of Captain Nelson, to whom
Cockburn (and it may be presumed Hardy) gave un-
qualified satisfaction. On the 20th August 1796, Hardy
(still only a lieutenant) moved with his captain into the
Mijierve^" a large frigate lately captured from the French,
and in which, in the following month of December, Nelson
(who had become a commodore of the second class on the
previous 4th April) was to hoist his broad pendant.

On the 15th December 1796, the Minerve and the

^ Wounded while commanding the Tontiani at Trafalgar. Died
an admiral in 1835.

2 On the 3rd July 1803, the Minerve, which played so important a
part in the careers of both Nelson and Hardy, struck on a cone in
Cherbourg harbour and was compelled to surrender to the French.
Her officers and crew were conveyed to Verdun, where such of them
as could not escape were detained for many years. The MS. journal
of William Sweeting, of Huntingdon, one of the prisoners, rated as first-
class boy in the ship's books, has lately been acquired by Mr Broadley.

28 MIDSHIPMAN AND LIEUTENANT

Blanche sailed from Gibraltar, and five days later, off
Carthagena, fell in with two Spanish frigates, the Sabina
and the Ceres. The Minerve attacked the former, which
was commanded by Don Jacobo Stuart, a descendant of
the Duke of Berwick. After a prolonged resistance the
Sabina surrendered, and Lieutenants Culverhouse and
Hardy commanded the prize crew which took possession
of the ship. Meanwhile the Ceres had struck her colours
to the Blanche, but before a prize crew could be sent on
board, a Spanish squadron of two ships of the line, accom-
panied by two frigates, hove in sight. The Blanche at once
made sail, and, being some distance to leeward, escaped,
but the Minerve was only saved by the courage and adroit-
ness of Hardy. He ran up the English ensign in the
Sabina, with the humiliated Spanish flag floating beneath
it, an indignity which so irritated the commander of the
largest Spanish ship, that he stopped his pursuit of the
Minerve, and made for the Sabina, which he soon recaptured
after her masts had gone over the side, and thus Culver-
house and Hardy became prisoners of war.^ They were
conveyed to Carthagena, where they were promptly ex-
changed for the unlucky scion of the House of the Stuart,
who had surrendered his sword on board the Minerve, on
the taking of his ship by the English. Hardy again joined
the Minerve at Gibraltar, after her return from Elba, on
9th February 1797, so that his enforced absence from his
ship was little more than six weeks.

On the following day, an incident occurred which not
only demonstrated Nelson's regard and esteem for Hardy,
but won for him the undying gratitude of his Dorset pro teg-e.
The Minerve, with the Spanish in chase, was passing through
the Straits of Gibraltar in order to join the admiral, Sir John
Jervis, when a man fell overboard, and Hardy, without the
slightest hesitation, jumped into the jolly-boat and put off with

^ Nelson's unqualified praise of this evidence of Hardy's courage
and alertness will be found in Sir H. Nicolas's Collection 0/ Nelson's
Despatches a?id Letters, ii. 315.

NELSON SAVES HARDY FROM CAPTURE 29

her crew to save the drowning sailor. The boat and Hardy
in it were being fast borne by the current towards the leading
enemy's ship. It seemed as though he must be taken prisoner
once more ; but Nelson, who knew the value of a brave man,
said : "By G — , I'll not lose Hardy ; back the mizen topsail."
It was instantly done ; the effect was electrical. The Spanish
saw the Minerve slowing down, and at once themselves
started shortening sail, and this allowed Hardy to be
picked up by the Minerve, which three days later joined
the English Fleet just in time to take a frigate's part in
the brilliant victory off Cape St Vincent (14th February
1797), in which Nelson won the star of a K.B., which he is
supposed to have preferred to a baronetcy.

With the news of Jervis' glorious success ringing
throughout the length and breadth of the land, begins
most appropriately the newly discovered Hardy corre-
spondence, to which the present chapter and those which
preceded it, serve only as an introduction. The letter
which Hardy addressed, after this momentous affair, to his
brother-in-law, the Dorchester attorney, John Callard Man-
field, has been lost, but one obtains a good notion of its
contents from the communication which Manfield subse-
quently addressed to Captain, afterwards Sir William
Domett, another of the Dorset naval heroes of the Great
War. Mr Manfield's epistle ran thus : —

Dorchester, \Zth April 1797.

Sir,

I ought to apologize for not answering your
letter of 25 Febry long before now but very soon after I
received it I read in the papers your having sailed on a
cruise — since which for these last six weeks I have been
very ill indeed and not able to attend to business of any
kind, I observe what you say respecting the Estates at
Westhay ^ in your brother's occupation and agree with you
that a lease ought to have been granted before this time

» Westhay, in Hawkchurch, Captain Domett's paternal home.

30 MIDSHIPMAN AND LIEUTENANT

but the reason why it was delayed was owing to the
Tenements falling into hand from time to time as the
Lives droppd. — But now I have prepared a Draft of the
intended Lease of the whole in your brother's occupation
which only waits for his Lordship,^ coming into the
Country when I will take care to get the lease executed.
If anything should fall into Hand convenient to be
occupied with what your Mother & Brothers have at
present you might depend on my giving them the pre-
ference. I have a Brother-in-Law (T. M. H.) in the Navy.
He is now serving on Board the Minerve Frigate of which
he is First Lieutt. and was with Admiral Nelson when he
engaged and took the Spanish Frigate which was after-
wards retaken by the Fleet and Mr Hardy (who was then
2nd) with Mr Culverhouse the first Lieutt. was carried into
Carthagena prisoners of war. However they got their
liberty and joined the Minerve again two days previous
to the late Glorious Action off St Vincent. If at any
time it should lye in your power to serve him I shall
consider it an obligation conferred upon me — and I trust
on enquiry into his conduct he will be found deserving
of it.

I am, etc.,

John Callard Manfield.
Captn. Domett.

The covering letter written by Captain Domett to
his legal representative at Dorchester is missing, but its
enclosure, i.e., a letter addressed to Domett by Sir Robert
Calder, who had been knighted some ten weeks previously,
on bringing home the first intelligence of Jervis's victory,
speaks for itself It runs as follows : —

' The Earl of Dorchester who purchased the Hawkchurch estate
from the Henley family.

SIR R. CALDER PROMISES TO HELP HARDY 31

"ViLLE DE Paris,'
At anchor off Cadiz,
2Ztk May 1 797.

Dear Domett,

Many thanks for your kind congratula-
tions, and for all your good wishes ; rest assured you
have mine in return and I hope that we shall soon
meet at Southwick to talk over all our adventures since
we parted over a good Bottle of the best.

Lieutenant Hardy of La Minerve is very highly spoken
of by all who know him and I shall have great pleasure
whenever in my power to give him a helping hand not
only as one in whom you are interested but from his
general good character. I have the pleasure to tell you
La Minerve is now gone on a very good cruize with the
Lively and I am in great hopes they will have it in their
power to do something to get both money and promotion
to the first Lieuts.

The Dons promise to come out when ready with a
very large force, some say 33 sail of the line and 12 Frigates
etc., etc. They also count upon having down from Toulon
and Carthagena from 10 to 12 ships of the line and Frigates,
possibly we may put a little salt upon their tails in their
way to Cadiz should they attempt a junction. We have
now here with us at anchor 22 sail of the line, one 50 gun
ship, and 5 or 6 Frigates cruizing about us. We are all
tolerably healthy and in very high spirits, so far so good,
this goes a great way.

I beg my respects to Lord Bridport and best regards
to Rear Admiral Pole,

I am, Dear Domett,

Ever yours truly,

Robert Calder.
To Captn. William Domett

H.M. Ship Royal George, Spithead.
[Re-directed to Torbay, Postage is. gd.]

32 MIDSHIPMAN AND LIEUTENANT

The high hopes which Sir Robert Calder had imparted
to Captain Domett were speedily realised. On the very
next day after he had penned his encouraging epistle, the
Minerve and the Lively discovered the presence of a French
brig of war, the Mutine, a beautiful vessel of i6 guns,
in the Bay of Santa Cruz. Lieutenant Hardy was placed
in command of the boats sent to cut her out. He per-
formed the duty allotted to him in so dashing and skilful
a manner that complete success rewarded his efforts.
Although the taking of the Mutine was effected in broad
daylight, not a single man was lost, but Hardy received a
wound in the head, from the effects of which he afterwards
suffered at intervals. The Mutine was captured (29th May
1797), and Hardy not only gained his promotion to the
rank of commander, at the hands of Lord St Vincent,
but was appointed to the prize, in the securing of which
he had played so important a part. No one was more
delighted at Hardy's success than Nelson, who hastened to
express his warm approval of the appointment made, in
the following words : — " My dear Admiral the Capture of
the Mutine was so desperate an enterprise that I should
certainly have promoted Lieut. Hardy so that neither you,
Hallowell, nor Cockburn have any debtor account to me
on this occasion. He has got it by his own bat and I hope
will prosper." Thomas Masterman Hardy was only
twenty-eight, and now commanded a ship of his own.
He had got his " wooden horse " at last, and the gossips at
Dorchester and " Possum " prophesied that his fortune was
as good as made. From that time forth his relatives at
home evidently thought it worth while to preserve the
bulk of his correspondence. History will assuredly be
no loser by the decision which they arrived at.

CHAPTER VI

HARDY AS COMMANDER OF THE "MUTINE" [JUNE l6,
1797 — AUGUST 3, 1798]

FOR the remaining months of 1797 and those of the
following year which preceded the never-to-be for-
gotten naval engagement at the mouth of the Nile, Hardy-
was busily engaged in executing, with admirablepromptitude,
the orders of Lord St Vincent and Sir Horatio Nelson.
The Mutine, a fast-sailing brig and the only single-decked
vessel in the squadron,^ was in constant requisition during
the momentous events which culminated in the battle of
1st August 1798. In the intervals of keeping up com-
munication between St Vincent and Nelson, Hardy was
lucky enough to capture a few prizes, which not only helped
to swell his balance with his agents, but materially increased
his popularity with his crew. Few men ever had a more
ardent love of glory or keener sense of duty to king and
country, but Hardy after all was human, and his letters,
especially the earlier ones, disclose a pardonable weakness
both for prize-money and promotion. In April 1798, the
successes of Bonaparte in Italy impelled the British
ministers to impress strongly on Lord St Vincent the
absolute necessity of striking a decisive blow in the
Mediterranean, with the view of thwarting once and for
all the projects of the Toulon fleet. " Either our Govern-
ment," wrote the victorious French generalissimo at this
1 Gentlemaiis Magazine^ vol. xii., new series, p. 650.

88 ^

34 COMMANDER OF THE "MUTINE

time, " must destroy the English monarchy, or must expect
itself to be destroyed by the corruption and intrigue of
those active islanders." ^ The reply to this was Earl
Spencer's despatch to Lord St Vincent informing him that
reinforcements were to be sent out at once, and suggesting
that Nelson might achieve such a triumph as would "bring
about a new system of affairs in Europe which shall save
us all from being overrun by the exorbitant power of
France." This despatch reached the Commander-in-
Chief on the loth May, and was followed a week later by
more urgent messages of the same nature. On the 19th
May, Hardy was ordered to notify Nelson that a squadron
of 10 ships of the line and the Leander of 50 guns, under
the orders of Captain (afterwards Sir Thomas) Troubridge,
were about to join him from Cadiz, in order to facilitate his
operations against the enemy. A week later, Hardy, on his
way to join Nelson, put in at Gibraltar, whence he wrote as
follows to his brother, now occupying the family house at
Portisham : —

" La Mutine," Gibraltar,
May ibth^ 1798.

Dr Brother,

We are bound to Naples under the Command
of Sir Horatio Nelson & you may expect to hear of some-
thing handsom being done very soon by his Squadron which
at present is small but I believe will consist of eighteen sail
of the Line.

I hope Sir Horatio will have it in his power to do
something for me before our Cruise is out. I find by Sir
Robert Calder- my Friend Captain Domett has written to
him in my behalf & Sir Robert appears very much inclined
to assist me. Should Manfield write to Cap'' Domett I
hope he will not forget to add my thanks to him for his
attention to me. I have sent my Journals To Mr Hartwell
for the Meleager & La Minerve. Should you or Manfield

1 Mahan's Life of Nelson^ vol. i., p. 318.

^ See Letter of Sir Robert Calder, Chapter V., p. 31.

HARDY ON HIS WAY TO NAPLES 35

go to London I'll thank you to call on him & inquire if he
has reed them & add I am very anxious to hear from him.
Should you find he rides the High Horse act as you think
proper & if he has not received my Prize Money for the
Spanish Squadron do tell him it has been payable some
Months by Cook & Halford, Strand. Should he be careless
I think they had better be appointed, & I can easily send a
Power of Attorney for that Purpose. We have been
fortunate enough to have two Newtral Vessels condemned
it is supposed ten Thousand Pound however if half I shall
be satisfied as Appeals are dangerous. I shall not think
of meddling with the Cash until twelve Months are expired
after that period all will be safe. La Mutine was alone at
their Capture.

If you write to me within these two [months] from this
Date I wish you to direct to me at Naples to the Care of
Sir Wm Hamilton his Majesty's Consul. I'll thank you to
tell Tulledge's Friends that he is well & I assure you he
behaves remarkably well. Jas Dine is on board the Hector
he has applied to me to get him with me but as yet I have
not been able he is well & desires to be remembered to his
Mother.

I thank you to give my duty, Love, &c., to all friends
and remain,

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

Tell Ann I have written her a long letter but fear the
conveyance was not good however shall write again from
the first Port we put in not in the Mediterranean.

Joseph Hardy, Esq.,

Portisham, near Dorchester,
Dorset.

The Mutine joined Nelson somewhere near Elba on the
Sth June, and Hardy found the Rear-Admiral was much
depressed by an untoward series of accidents. The French

36 COMMANDER OF THE "MUTINE"

transports had successfully evaded his pursuit ; a storm had
dismasted his flag-ship, the Vanguard, and other mishaps
had plunged Nelson in one of his gloomy and desponding
moods. No messenger was ever the bearer of more
welcome intelligence than his loyal and loving friend,
Thomas Hardy. Sir Horatio Nelson now realised the
fact that at last a supreme chance was to be vouchsafed
him. The promised reinforcements arrived, although
three frigates, upon which he greatly relied, still tarried
at Gibraltar, and the ever-useful Mutine was all he had
to replace them. On the 5th June the chase began. A
fortnight later the Mutine conveyed Troubridge to Naples
with letters from Nelson for Acton, the Neapolitan
Premier, and Sir William Hamilton, the British Minister.
On Troubridge rejoining the squadron, 10 miles off the
Italian coast, Nelson sailed for Aboukir Bay.

For the story of the Battle of the Nile the reader is
referred to the pages of Captain Mahan and other standard
authorities. Suffice it to say, the Mjitine did excellent
service. When Troubridge's ship, the Culloden, grounded.
Hardy went to his assistance, and the continued absence
of the missing frigates must have appreciably enhanced
the value of the good work done by the only brig in
Nelson's fleet. Once more, in the hour of victory, the
wounded Admiral remembered his friend Hardy. Edward
Berry, Nelson's flag-captain on the Vanguard, and often
described as his " right-hand man," was sent home with
despatches in the Leander, while the Mutine followed
her with the duplicates. Hardy, however, was no longer
her commander. On the 4th August 1798, one of Hardy's
cherished dreams of promotion was realised. Two days
before Berry sailed for England, Hardy replaced him as
Nelson's flag-captain on board the Vanguard. At this time
he was still on the sunny side of thirty.

CHAPTER VII

HARDY AS FLAG-CAPTAIN OF THE "VANGUARD" AND
" FOUDROYANT." WITH NELSON IN NAPLES AND
SICILY [4TII AUGUST 1 798 — I2TH OCTOBER 1/99]

HE gratitude of England to Nelson was unbounded.
The thanks of Parliament and a pension of ;^2000 a
year were voted him. He was also made a Peer of the
Realm under the style of Baron Nelson of the Nile. His
wound proved very troublesome, but it began to heal at
last ; and after the essential repairs of the damaged ships
had been effected, and the most worthless of the prizes
destroyed, the Vanguard set sail for Naples, where she
arrived on the 22nd of September towed in by a frigate,
her foremast having gone by the board in a squall which
she encountered a week previously. The arrival of her
"two crippled consorts," on the i6th of the same month,
enabled the King and Queen of Naples, as well as Sir
William and Lady Hamilton, to prepare a series of those
public rejoicings so dear to the hearts of the Neapolitans.
Hardy is silent on the subject of the meeting of Nelson
and Lady Hamilton and other incidents about which so
much has lately been written. The succeeding four months
must have been busy ones for Hardy. They were crowded
with events as momentous to the future of Nelson as to the
history of the kingdoms of Sicily and Naples. On the
15th October, Hardy sailed in the Vanguard with Nelson
for Malta, the blockade of which island had been resolved
upon. Three other ships accompanied them. By the 5th
November they were back in Naples, and on the 22nd of
that month the Vanguard and the rest of the squadron.

38 FLAG-CAPTAIN OF THE "VANGUARD"

with 5000 troops on board, set out for Leghorn. A week
later the Vanguard, with Nelson and Hardy, returned
to Naples. Then came the total rout of the Neapolitan
rabble army, 40,000 of the soldiers bolting at the sight of
barely 10,000 French. Nelson waxed furious. With grim
humour he writes : " The Neapolitan officers have not lost
much honour, for God knows they have but little to lose,
but they lost all they had. Cannons, tents, baggage, and
military chest — all were left behind." The invaders
marched on Naples. The royal family, the English
minister and his wife, the British residents, the most
prominent sympathisers with King Ferdinand (irreverently
called il vecchio Nasone — "old Nosey"), and the tactless
Queen Caroline, went on board the flag-ship and three
British transports which happened to be in the harbour.
The King and Queen of Naples, as well as Sir William
and Lady Hamilton, were the guests of Lord Nelson on
board the Vanguard, freighted also with treasure in jewels
and specie of enormous value. On the evening of 23rd
December she sailed for Palermo, where she arrived three
days later, after a most tempestuous passage. Never did
Nelson or Hardy spend a more uncomfortable Christmas
Day. Before the Sicilian coast was sighted, the youngest
of the sons of King Ferdinand died of convulsions, in the
arms of Lady Hamilton. Exactly one month later, Hardy
addresses the following letter to his brother-in-law : —

"Vanguard," Palermo Mole,
Jan. 26th, 1799.
Dr Manfield,

I received your letter a few days ago and am
much obliged to you for the trouble you have taken to
settle between Mr Hartwell & me. I also very much
approve of taking my business out of his hands. As he
says I am indebted to him two hundred & fifty pounds &
since that time I have drawn on him for at least one
hundred pounds more It is necessary that should be

MORE NEWS FROM NAPLES 39

settled. I have therefore enclosed my Power of Attorney
to Messrs Cook & Halford & written to them on that head.
The day I received your letter I got my Commissions for
the Meleager, Falcon (I suppose Mutine) & Alligator all
in a blank cover I suppose from Mr Hartwell tho' he has
not even written me a word. The Commission given me
by Lord Nelson was dated 2nd of August which was sent
to Mr Hartwell, that from the Admiralty is dated the 2nd
of October therefore I lose two months. If there are
many Captains made between the 2nd of August & the
2nd of October I shall lose that rank unless some good
friend at home represents it to the Admiralty, should no
one be made between those two dates it will be of little or
no consequence. That will be easily seen by looking at
the last Steel's List. The French have not as yet posses-
sion of Naples but are within twelve miles of it and we
have little doubt but they will soon garrison the City.
Captain Troubridge is gone off Alexandria with three
Bomb Vessels. I believe the intention is to make a dash
which I hope and trust will succeed. The surrender of
Malta is I believe near at hand. We have accounts today
of our ships having possession but it wants confirmation.^
There is little doubt but the Vanguard will soon go to
England with the Admiral & Sir William Hamilton's
family. If I can get a frigate in this Country I shall not
refuse, if not I think you will see me in the course of three
months. I am sorry to hear of my Brothers illness but
hope Spring will recover my Mother & him. Give my
love to Catherine 2 & all my little Nephews and Nieces.
Wishing you health & happiness I remain

Dear Manfield,

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

John Call. Manfield, Esqr.
Dorchester, Dorset.

• Malta did not, however, surrender until 5th September 1800.
^ Hardy's sister, the wife of John Callard Manfield.

40 FLAG-CAPTAIN OF THE "VANGUARD"
Three weeks later he again writes : —

"Vanguard," Palermo Mole,
Feby ijth, '99.

Dr Manfield,

I received your letter of the 19th of Novr
three Weeks ago & answered it the next day but as letters
frequently miscarry & you wished to know if I approved
of the exchange of Agents I again repeat my approbation
& thanks to you for the trouble you have taken with that
Obstinate Gentleman Mr Hartwell. I this day have sent
my Power of Attorney &c. &c. to Messrs Cook & Halford
& have requested them to settle with Mr Hartwell & send
me his Account.^ I suppose there wil be no difficulty in
settling with him provided my Pay &c. does not amount
to the sum which I am indebted to him as my Prize
money for the ist of August will be greatly in my favour.
I find the Admiral is not so anxious to quit this Country
as when I wrote you last ; therefore my going to England
greatly depends on Captn Berry's coming to join the
Vangua7'd.

The Politicks of this Country appears to me to be
nearly in the same state as those of Naples were three
Months ago & if I judge right, which I very much fear I
do, the French will have possession of this Island in the
course of this Summer & what will become of the poor
Royal Family God knows but I suppose we shall have to
carry them to Trieste.

The French have full possession of the Kingdom of
Naples & have given it the name of Vesuvian Republick.
We expect to have orders from this Court in a few days
to make reprisals on all Neapolitans. The blocade of
Malta will I fear be much prolonged owing to a Frigate
having got in with a Quantity of Stores & Provisions,
however as the winter is almost over I hope & trust no
more will escape the indefatigable exertions of Captn

^ See Appendix, p. 294.

THE RENDEZVOUS AT MARITIMO 41

Ball.^ I am very sorry to hear of my Mother " & Brothers
indisposition but hope soon to hear of their perfect
recovery. Give my love to Catherine my little Nephews
& Nieces & all friends.

I remain, yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.
John Calld. Manfield, Esq.
Dorchester, Dorset.

For five months we have no more letters from Hardy.
In the interval, Naples had been taken possession of by the
French (January 1799), who shortly afterwards withdrew,
leaving only the fortress of St Elmo and one or two other
forts occupied by their troops. A counter revolution now
became possible, the project being doubtless diligently
fomented by the fugitives at Palermo. The appearance in
Mediterranean waters of a naval force under Admiral
Bruix aroused Nelson from the lethargy plainly hinted at
by Hardy, and he lost no time in summoning his ships to a
rendezvous off Maritimo, so as to be able to assist Lord
St Vincent or strike another blow on his own account.
The order was dispatched on the 12th May. On the 23rd
of that month, Nelson and 7 ships were waiting for
reinforcements at Maritimo. No sooner did they arrive
than Bruix, seeing his plans were thwarted and pre-
sumably overawed by the demonstrations, precipitately
retired through the Straits of Gibraltar. On the 8th June,
Nelson, once more at Palermo, transferred his flag to the
Foudroyant, which had arrived there two days previously,
taking Hardy with him. On Midsummer Day — a fortnight
later — with the whole of his squadron, he entered the Bay
of Naples, and apparently acting as representative of the
king, annulled the existing armistice and demanded the

' Ball had been sent on the previous 4th October (1798) in the
Alexander to conduct the blockade of Malta, and eventually became
British Ciovernor of the Island and uas kni<,fhted.

'^ Mrs Joseph Hardy died at Portisham in March 1799.

42 FLAG-CAPTAIN OF THE "VANGUARD"

surrender of the rebels. On the 14th July, Hardy thus
writes to his brother-in-law at Dorchester : —

" FOUDROYANT," NAPLES BAY,
July li^th, 1799.

Dr Manfield,

I received your letter a few days ago & take
the opportunity of sending this by Liut Parkinson who
takes home the Admiral's dispatches with the accounts of
the surrender of St Elmo which Castle commanded the
whole City of Naples, Captain Troubridge & Hallowell
had the Command of the Marines of the Squadron & after
a close siege of ten days they got possession of it yesterday.
The loss on our side has been very small that of the French
about 20 killed and forty wounded. They set off to-
morrow for Capua a garison town about sixteen miles from
Naples. As the strength on our side will be very formid-
able we soon expect to place the King of Naples on his
throne. He is now on board the Foudroyant waiting the
event. The lower & middling class of People who have
little or nothing to lose all appear to be loyal. The
Nobles are almost all Republicans & the greater part of
them are now in irons on board the Fleet. One only as
yet has been hanged/ but the tryals come on to-morrow &
we expect that at least a hundred more will share the
same Fate & the lowest Rank will be that of a Bishop or
a Knight. The Queen & Royal family are still at Palermo
but we expect very soon to go for them. We have been
in the Foudroyant about a month she is one of the finest
two Deck Ships in the service but I do not think Lord
Nelson will remain in her long as Lord St Vincent is gone

^ Francesco Caracciolo, the Neapolitan leader, who had been
captured in disguise and brought on board the Foudroyant on the
29th June 1799. After a trial, before a court-martial of Neapolitan
ofificers, he was sentenced to death, and hanged at 5 P.M. from the
fore yard-arm of the Minerve. This vessel belonged to the Neapolitan
Navy, and must not be confused with Hardy's ship, La Minerve, origin-
ally a French prize.

""?§?V~.~,.

*^.'..''-.

Ferdinand IV., King of Naples.

From an original Water-colour once in xiosscssion of Sir T. M. llanly.

[To Jace page 42.

HARDY COMES HOME 43

home. I think it more than probable he will follow if not
we shall I think go in to the Ville de Paris — however this
is all conjecture — Lieut Parkinson came out in the
Vanguard & has been ist Lieut about 4 Month it gives
me great pleasure at this opportunity as he is a very good
young man & it will insure his promotion. I think it
likely he will call on you & I am certain you will find him
a very pleasant young man. I'll thank you to tell my
brother that I wish my proportion of every description
(left by my Father & Mother) to be equally divided
between my three unmarried Sisters & I shall be much
obliged if you will beg of them to accept it. I have not
yet heard from Cook & Halford but hope they have reed
my books of the Mutine &c. &c. Give my best love to
Catherine and the little ones & to all Friends & remain

Dr Manfield

Yours affectionately

T. M. Hardy

John Callard Manfield, Esq.,
Dorchester, Dorset.

Hardy's service as flag-captain to Nelson on board the
Foudroyant was now drawing rapidly to a close. As he
anticipated. Captain Berry (by this time Sir Edward) re-
turned to the Mediterranean, and on the 12th October 1799,
relieved him of the post which he had held for over fourteen
months. Two days later, Nelson appointed him Captain of
the Princess Charlotte. In less than a month he was on his
way home, reaching London a week before Christmas, when
he wrote the following brief letter to Dorchester, announc-
ing his arrival : —

Beaufort Buildings,
Deer. iZth, '99.

Dr Manfield,

I arrived last night too late to save the Post ;
therefore it is likely you will see my Name in the papers
before you receive this.

44 FLAG-CAPTAIN OF THE "VANGUARD"

I shall come in the Country as soon as I possibly can, I
think the 24th will be the day,

I remain,

Dr Manfield, in great haste,

Yours most sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

John Manfield, Esq.j.
Dorchester, Dorset.

On Christmas Eve the Dorchester coach deposited
Nelson's flag-captain at the door of the " King's Arms."
After a short drive over execrable roads, Hardy and his
brother-in-law, Manfield, were welcomed by Joseph and
John Hardy, and their three unmarried sisters, to the old
home at " Possum," where the villagers accorded him the
welcome he merited after his prolonged absence.

The church bells rang out many a merry peal, and
Thomas Hardy spent his Christmas in good old Dorset
fashion in the shadow of the rugged hill now surmounted
by the memorial of his valour and victories.

CHAPTER VIII

hardy's holiday in ENGLAND. HE AWAITS THE
RETURN OF NELSON

HARDY'S sojourn with his kinsfolk at " Possum " was
not destined to be of long duration. A week after
the dawn of 1800 (then erroneously considered to be the
first year of a new century), the Dorchester coach brought
him back to London. Society as well as dear Dorset had
now its claims on Nelson's flag-captain, and a presentation
at court was, of course, inevitable. On the 8th January
he thus writes from i Cecil Street, Strand : —

Dr Manfield,

I am this moment arrived from Court, there
were so many presentations that the King had but little
time to talk to any of us. Genl Stewart, Admirals Harvey ^
& Mitchell 2 were honored with the Order of the Bath.
The Cermony was very short & simple.

Lord Spencer has been out of Town until this Morning.
I shall wait on him to-morrow morning, & should he give
me any promises, I will let you know. There will not be a
Drawing Room till the Birth Day, & I am advised to go
to it, & I think I shall leave Town on that day or the day
following, for Portsmouth. To-morrow I shall call on

» Sir Henry Harvey [1737-1810].

■'' Sir Andrew Mitchell [1757-1806].
45

46 HARDY'S HOLIDAY IN ENGLAND

Mary Thresher,^ Martha desired me to get her something,
but I quite forget what it was, do inquire & let me know.
With Love & CompHments, I remain,

Dr Manfield,

Yours most Sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

Three months elapse, and one hears of Hardy dining
with Lady Nelson, who had already interested herself in
his welfare. In a hitherto unpublished letter to her husband,
dated loth December 1799 (a week before Hardy's arrival
in England), she says : " I long to hear what you have
done for Captain Hardy. His character is indeed excel-
lent." Hardy's solicitude for the comfort of Nelson's father,
the venerable rector of Burnham Thorpe, is indeed touching.
His next letter to Mr Manfield runs thus : —

I Cecil Street, Strand,
April 12 th, 1800.
Dear Manfield,

I Dined yesterday with Lady Nelson ; Mr
Nelson has been very ill but is getting better and can
eat nothing but light food ; he expressed a wish to her
Ladyship whilst at dinner that some Sea Cale may be
procured for him & I verily believe there is none to be
got in London. As I know Mrs Manfield has plenty I
am certain she will spare me some & I recommend it to
be sent by the Balloon - as the Guard comes to London.
If he is asked I doubt not he will deliver it himself in
Cecil Street & the Carriage had better not be paid as I
think my being in his debt will assist his memory.

Yesterday being Good Friday no business was done
at the Admiralty, nor have I been able to see Lord Spencer
as yet. When I do I will write again. Lady Nelson has

1 Hardy's niece. Daughter of John and Elizabeth Thresher of
Corfe Hill and Portisham.

2 A well-known Dorchester coach.

Frances Herbert, Viscountess Nelson

From a Miniature, taken in 1804, in the 2io^:'csdon of Mrs Kccles, Sherwell House, Plymouth.

(Copyright).

[To face page 46.

THE ANTE-CHAMBER OF THE ADMIRALTY 47

not heard from Lord Nelson but thro' Mr Morris^ Nelson
of the Navy Office, who I shall not see before Tuesday &
from whom I expect some hints concerning his Lordship's
movements. If Mrs Balston - should have some young
Chicken or Ducks a Couple will be very acceptable to
old Mr Nelson. Spinage would be a valuable article if
the Country produces it fit for use.

I am sorry I have no news for you, but hope Tuesday
will furnish me with some. With Love and Coms. to all
friends,

I remain, Dr Manfield,

Yours most sincerely,

T. M- Hardy.

The results of this appeal for Dorset table-delicacies

seemingly proved satisfactory. So much so that Lady

Nelson desired to cultivate the vegetable her father-in-law

longed for in her own garden. Three days later Hardy

again writes : —

ApHl i^th, 1800,
Dr Manfield,

I'll thank you if you can Provide some Sea
Cale Seed & send it as directed on the other side.^ If you
can also inquire of some of the Gardners at Dorchester
and inform Mr Fuller the manner in which it is sown Lady
Nelson will be obliged to you as it is for her Ladyship's

Garden.

Yours truly,

T. M. Hardy.

Mr Manfield,
Dorchester, Dorset.

Hardy now begins a dreary course of lobbying at
Whitehall, an experience to which Nelson himself in days

' Maurice Nelson, Lord Nelson's elder brother [1753-1801].

^ One of Hardy's married sisters, then living in or near Dorchester.

3 Mr Fuller, Cauldwell Hall, Near Ipswich, Suffolk.

48 HARDY'S HOLIDAY IN ENGLAND

gone by was not wholly a stranger. He writes no longer
of sea-cale or spinach, but of his own professional prospects.

Cecil Street,

Apl. i()th, 1800.
Dear Manfield,

I shall not be able to see Lord Spencer before
Tuesday next & as I have determined with Mr John
Browne ^ to leave London on Thursday (should nothing at
the Ameralty prevent me) 1 will thank you to desire John
to send my Horse to your house by Wednesday next &
Mr Browne's Servant will call for it on Thursday. There
appears little doubt but Lord Bridport will strike his Flag
very soon & it is equally clear in the Opinion of the folks
in this part of the World that Lord St Vincent is to have
the Command of the Channel Fleet. I waited on His
Lordship the day before yesterday He was extremely
polite & advised me not even to refuse a Troop Ship
should it be offered me. Mr Browne received a very
satisfactory letter from Jos yesterday. I expect to hear
from you on Monday with the Name of the Man of whom
I am to get a Saddle for you.

Mr Bagster- has not got a Measure for Mrs Balston
later than the year '96 therefore he is afraid to begin her
habit until he hears from her again —

Give my Love to all the Family

I remain Dr Manfield

Yours most sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

1 Francis John Browne of Frampton Court, sometime M.P. for
Dorset. He held a commission as Captain in the regiment of Dorset
Yeomanry raised to resist the threatened invasion of the Dorset httoral
by Bonaparte. In 1801 the defence of the seventh division was
allotted to him. It extended from the Fleet River (Weymouth) to the
Bride or Bredy, and included Portisham, Abbotsbury, Kingston
Russell, Shipton Gorge, and Burton Bradstock. His portrait by
Thomas Beach is to be seen at Came House, Dorchester.

" A lady's tailor of the period.

HARDY IN SEARCH OF A SHIP 49

The ante-chambering at the Admiralty (where thirty
years hence he was to reign as First Sea Lord) continues.
July comes round and Hardy is still waiting for a ship.
He now writes : —

No. 8 Cecil Street,
July 2<^th, 1800.

Dear Manfield,

Thank you for your letter & my friend
Parker's 1 long Epistle which if I was obliged to answer
line by line I think I should eat nothing for these three
days to come, however as there is no Fleet (except the
prison) in this great City his letter will be answered in one
side & an half.

I am happy to hear that the Castle Yacht sails un-
common well & am sorry I had not the pleasure of being
with you.

Mary- & I slept at Salisbury & came on next morning
in the Coach we arrived at Prospect House about 9 o'clock
on Monday evening & her Governess was very happy to
see her tho' a fortnight before the Vacation was ended. I
have reduced the Impress to ;^33i : 7 : 6 8i expect to pass
my Accounts as soon as I hear from the Pursur of the
Vanguard whom I wrote to yesterday. I saw a letter
from Leghorn, dated 23rd of June, saying that Lord
Nelson had actually sail'd for Gibraltar in the Culloden on
his way to England & he is hourly expected at the
Admiralty ; however as I can always be in London so
shortly after his arrival I am determined to quit Town as
soon as I possibly can for no man would remain here for
pleasure that could exist on bread and water in the
Country.

As I cannot determine on when I leave town I will

^ Parker was one of the many young naval officers in whose career
Hardy took a kindly interest. He afterwards died at Deal, September
28, 1801, of wounds received in the unsuccessful attack on Boulogne ;
vide p. 7 1 .

■'' His niece Mary, daughter of J. C. Manfield.

50 HARDY'S HOLIDAY IN ENGLAND

give you a line before I quit it. Give my love to Catherine
the Children & all friends

I remain Dear Manfield,

Yours sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

P.S. — As I have no female correspoitdence I'll thank
you to open all the letters that come for me.

Everybody goes out of town and further lobbying

would be a bootless task. Hardy resolves to give himself

a holiday in Dorsetshire.

London,
July 2%th, 1800.
Dear Manfield,

I leave London tomorrow evening in the Mail
and will Dine with you on Wednesday

Yours truly,

T. M. Hardy.

Nelson's homeward journey has occupied nearly the
whole of the summer, and in October Hardy returns to
London to await his arrival.

New Exchange Coffee House,
Strand, Octr. \^th, 1800.
Dear Manfield,

I did not write to you before because I had
nothing to say. Lord Nelson's arrival has been hourly
expected till yesterday when it was proved they knew
nothing about it.

I saw Mr Sylvester (the Messenger) who tells me he
saw his Lordship on the 4th inst two stages this side
of Dresden with Sir VVm & Lady Hamilton and my
good friend Miss Knight^ &c. The Roads are so
extremely bad that they with great difficulty got on at

^ A literary friend of Lady Hamilton at Naples. Afterwards an
authoress.

LADY NELSON AWAITS HER LORD 51

the rate of four Miles an hour with eight horses in each
Carriage however he thinks we may expect them in about
a week. Ned Balston ^ has been on board his Ship a week
& is expected in town tomorrow. I wrote to John request-
ing him to send the stock of my single barrell gun which is
not come, but suppose I have only to blame the tardyness
of Russell's Waggon.

Give my love to Catharine the Children & all relations

I remain

Dr Manfield

Yours sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

A fortnight passes and still no news of "his -lordship"
and his companions. Hardy has now secured lodgings in
the West End near those of Lady Nelson. He writes as
follows : —

No. 9 Duke Street,
St James's Square, Octr. ^ot/i, 1800.
Dear Manfield,

I suppose you have given me up for lost long
ago ; however here I am within a half a Dozen Dores of
Lady Nelson who arrived last Week to wait her Lord's
arrival & I am just informed by Mr Wagstaff (the
Messenger) that arrived this Morning from Vienna that
his Lordship with Sir Wm & Lady Hamilton & Lord
Whitworth had been waiting fifteen Days at Hamburgh
for a fair Wind & he has no doubt but they sailed last
Sunday the Wind being then fair & the Frigate waiting to
take them on board so I think we may expect to hear of
his arrival within a day or two. Do tell Mr Oakley that
the Hamper which he sent Lady Nelson was so badly
packed that eighteen Bottles were broken & the corks so
extremely short and bad that several had flown. However

' Hardy's nephew, who by this time had entered the Navy under
his auspices.

52 HARDY'S HOLIDAY IN ENGLAND

the Beer that remained was the best ever drank in Norfolk ^
therefore I think with the precautions above mentioned
another hamper will not be amiss against his Lordship's
arrival which you will have the goodness to order to be
sent to me here as soon as possible. As Mr Bagster has
not received the Beer ordered for him will you at the same
time enquire if it is sent ; if not if there is any chance of its
being sent ; the old Gentleman never sees me without asking
me about it.

Give my Duty to my Aunt when you see her & say I
am indebted to her twenty-two shillings and sixpence. I
received a good Basket of Game two or three Days ago.
I suppose I am to thank Mr Travers ^ for it but do not
know as the Direction was torn off before I saw it. Ned
Balston has told you how much I am tired of London
therefore I need say nothing on that head. I think what
with the straggling hand, distance between the lines &
sentences spun out as long as possible that I have occupied
more than three sides where one and a half would have
answered every purpose. Love to Catherine & all relations
& Compliments to all friends

I remain, Dr Manfield yours

Most sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

P.S. — I shall write to my brother John tomorrow or
next Day.

1 Dorset ale and beer has been famous for centuries. It still
maintains its old renown in the twentieth.

^ Richard Travers of Loders, another of the Dorset Yeomanry
Captains of the Great War. He was assigned the ninth division in the
scheme of defence, which extended from the mouth of the Bride to that
of the Brit, and thence westwards to Lyme Regis. Captain Travers'
portrait, painted in his prime by Beach, is to be seen at Came. He
is buried outside the chancel door of the interesting and picturesque
church of Loders, near Bridport. The Traverses were allied by
marriage to the Roberts family of Burton ; and another picture of
Richard Travers as an old man is in possession of Miss M. M.
Roberts.

NELSON AND HARDY MEET 53

November arrives and still no Nelson. Hardy becomes
more and more anxious and writes : —

9 Duke Street,
Novr. 8///, 1800.
Dear Manfield,

Notwithstanding all the Newspapers his
Lordship is not arrived in town & when he will God only
knows. His Father has lost all patience, her Ladyship
bears up very well as yet but I much fear she also will
soon despond. He certainly arrived at Yarmouth on
Thursday last & there has been no letter received by
anybody. Should he not arrive tomorrow I think I shall
set off for Yarmouth as I know too well the cause of his not
coming. Sir Thos Troubridge waits today for his arrival
but sets off this evening for Torbay, he thinks my going to
Yarmouth advisable. He has spoken to Lord Spencer for
me & in short done every thing in his power to serve me.

I saw Ned Balston this Morning. He has not yet
determined weather his health is equal to another Voiage
but will write as soon as the Physicians give their answer.
Bagster has reed the Game ; the Beer is not yet arrived — I
dine with young George Bagster to-day therefore shall not
close my letter till the Bellman comes to the dore however
you may depend on hearing from me on Monday. I reed
Catharine's order and shall not forget it. Give my Duty
Love & Comps to all friends. I remain Dr Manfield

Yours most sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

\ past 5 No News of Lord Nelson.

The last letter had not reached Dorchester before
Nelson arrived. Hardy hastened to meet him, and their
old friendship is at once renewed in spite of Hardy's
outspoken sympathy for Lady Nelson, who finally separ-
ated from her husband a few weeks later — in the early

54 HARDY'S HOLIDAY IN ENGLAND

days of 1801. On the loth November 1800, Hardy writes
from 9 Duke Street to his brother-in-law as follows : —

Dear Manfield,

I beg ten thousand pardons for not writing

by today's post but really his Lordship kept me till I had

not a moment to spare & then told me I must go with him

to dine at Guild Hall & as you will get a much better

description from the papers than I can possible give I refer

you to them. All things go well here & in a day or two

you shall know more about it. He is certainly to be

employed very soon and I leave you to guess the rest — On

Wednesday I go to Court and Thursday to make our bow

to the Queen — I shall not close this till tomorrow

afternoon therefore wish you a good Night as I am to

breakfast with his Lordship tomorrow at 8 o'clock Duty

Love &c

I remain Dear Manfield,

Yours most sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

Tuesday nth 5 o'clock. I have nothing more to say
than you must read Hardy insted of Gentleman & Sir Edwd
Berry, as the Editors have not yet found out my name.

CHAPTER IX

HARDY ON'CE MORE NELSON'S FLAG-CAPTAIN. HIS
COMxMANDS OF THE "NAMUR," " SAN JOSEF," AND
"ST GEORGE." THE BATTLE OF COPENHAGEN.
[NOVEMBER 180O — APRIL 1801]

THE high hopes excited in Hardy by the advent of
Lord Nelson were speedily realised. Within a
week of his attending the Lord Mayor's banquet of 1800,
at the invitation of Sir William Staines, he obtained the
long looked-for appointment. Nelson realised the im-
portance of the task before him, and knew that he could
have no better or more faithful a flag-captain than the
resourceful Dorset sailor, in whom he had placed entire
confidence during the whole of the Neapolitan and Sicilian
troubles. On the 13th November 1800, Hardy writes thus
from his quarters in Duke Street : —

Dear Man field,

I leave town in a few days for Dorsetshire,
where I shall remain 24 Hours (at most) in my way to
Plymouth & there to take the Command of the Nainur
until the St Josef is ready which will be only a few days.
The former ship is then to be paid off and all the men go
to the other — I suppose the day for my departure will be
fixed tomorrow, if so I will let you know — I am this
moment come from Court where his Lordship was well
received & your Friend Tom cut no small figure as hat-

56 ONCE MORE NELSON'S FLAG-CAPTAIN

bearer to the Hero of the Nile. I saw Mr Darner,^ but had
not time to ask for my friends in Dorsetshire. My going
out to Dinner I hope will be a sufficient excuse for not
giving you more News as it is now ^ past five & the Bell-
man waiting, yours

Most sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

P.S. — My appointment is not publick (tho' all the World
knows it), say nothing about it but to my relations till you
hear from me again. Doctor Bartlett must hold himself in
readiness.

By a letter on the same day, Hardy wrote as follows : —

9 Duke Street, St James,
November 13//^, 1800.

Dear Manfield,

As I could not get a place in the Mail, I have
taken one in the Mercury. I set off tomorrow morning at
three o'clock. I believe we arrive at Dorchester about the
same hour on Monday morning. If you will have the
goodness to order a bed for me at the King's Armes, I will
be much obliged and will breakfast with you at 8 o'clock.
Captain Ingram is this moment arrived with his two jolly
Weymouth friends. He is uncommon well, but how he
will get over the Stone Expedition I know not,

Yours most Sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.
Mr Manfield,

Attorney-at-Law,
Dorchester.

1 Mr Lionel Damer, M.P. for Peterborough, a brother to the
second Earl of Dorchester. Came House, near Dorchester, still
belongs to the Dawson-Damers, Earls of Portarlington. It is there
that the portraits of the Dorset Captains of the Great War are preserved.

a
a

f~,

{/]
M
K
O

o
O

HARDY CAPTAIN OF THE "NAMUR" 57

Next day (November 14th, 1800) he writes from 9

Duke Street.

9 Duke Street, Novr. 14^/1, 1800.
Dear Manfield,

I just received my Commission for the
Namur & leave London tomorrow night & hope to
see you on Sunday. I shall not take my place till to-
morrow as my Admiral changes his mind every hour
therefore cannot say by what conveyance I shall come
but by the Mail if possible.

I have just reed the Beer but it has not been tasted yet.

I remain

Dr Manfield, Yours sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

P.S. — I fear I shall not be able see my friend Ingram ^
unless he comes to Dorchester.

The Christmas spent on board the Namur vjdiS little less
festive than his previous one at Portisham. Both of them
presented a striking contrast to that terrible Christmas
Day (1798) between Naples and Palermo, when the six-year-
old Neapolitan Prince died in Lady Hamilton's arms.
Hardy's next letter to Manfield reads thus : —

"Namur," Hamoaze, Deer, nth, 1800.
Dear Manfield,

I received my Books &c. the day I got
your letter. Do tell the Girls at Possum I will not trouble
them to get Mince Meat for me as my acquaintances here
are so numerous I never dine at home. You did quite
rite in putting my name to the Game you sent Lord
Nelson. I wrote to Halford yesterday & did not forget
to desire him to call on Mr Bryden & I will answer for it

' Then Captain, R.N., and a native of Burton Bradstock, where
he died 3rd February 1826, aged 71. His tomb is still to be seen in
the church there. It may be remembered that Hardy's first Captain,
Francis Roberts, came from the same village at the western extremity
of the Bride Valley.

58 ONCE MORE NELSON'S FLAG-CAPTAIN

you will hear from Mr B very shortly. You had better

send Mrs Pitman's Papers to the Proctor and he will settle
the remainder. I will thank you to pay Mr Yeatman &
Mr Oakley, but for Gods sake send no more by land they

are such d d raskels here that they charged £i : 2:6:

for the carriage of the Beer & 5s for the Brace of hares,
which is double the price from Dorchester to London. I
have heard nothing of Mr Wallis or young Hamilton but
suppose they are doing very well. I am much obliged to
the Weld ^ Family for enquirys give my best Compliments
to them and say I shall be happy to see them whenever
they can make it convenient. I also hope you will make
one of the party. Everything goes on as I wish on board
San Josef I have orders to prepare the Namur for paying
off & I shall report her ready tomorrow. I had a letter
from my friend Sir E. Berry yesterday where he Congratu-
lates me on my promotion to San Josef & the happyness
of serving with the Hero of the Nile. He hopes to keep
the Pss Charlotte as that will give him a spell with His
Lady. I partook of Part of the Mutton that was sent from
Possum yesterday at Sir Thos. Pasley's - it was very good
& the old Barontt was very much pleased with it.

Deer. 13th. I had not time to send this till today. Mr
Wallis is arrived & I have got Martha's Letter which shall
be ansd when I have an opportunity. If John is fortunate
enough to get some game for my friends here do tell him
to pay the Carriage of it as it will be no present at the
Price I paid. T. M. H.

Plymouth Dock.

Hardy now transfers himself and his crew into the San
Josef where he witnessed the dawn of the nineteenth

^ Of Lulworth Castle, Dorset. Mrs Fitzherbert' sfirst husband was
a Weld, and the Captain Weld who commanded a troop of Dorset
Yeomanry during the Great War, eventually became a bishop and
car inal, and a candidate for the Papal throne.

Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley, Bart, [1734-1808].

HARDY AT PLYMOUTH 59

century. A few days before this he again wrote to his

brother-in-law : —

"San Josef," Hamoaze,
Deer, zqth, 1800.

Dear Manfield,

I enclose a letter to Martha in answer to one

I reed from her yesterday. I am happy to hear you are

got better. I thought you knew better than to allow the

Merchant at Lothers ^ to gull you with so much Wine as

lay you up for three Days. He was here the other day in

very good spirits & said that you & Jos talked of coming to

see me before I left Plymouth. I hope it is true & I advise

you to be here within three Weeks or you will be too late.

I have a very good Ships Company & everything got on

very well. Give my Love to Catherine & the Children.

I remain,

Dear Manfield,

Yours most sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

As soon as you have payd Mr Yeatman & all the rest
of my debts I wish you to draw on Cook & Halford for the
amount as it is as well in your hands as theirs.

I believe I never paid my Aunt for the Lottery Ticket.
Do it for me.

Hardy begins the new century with the following
kindly letter to Mr Manfield :—

"San Josef," Hamoaze,
Jany. yth, 1801.

Dear Manfield,

As you cannot spare time to come to Plymouth
before the latter end of the Month after that period Torbay

^ Loders, near Bridport. Sir Evan Nepean, Secretary to the
Admiralty at the time of Trafalgar, lived at Loders Court, which he
purchased in 1799. The merchant mentioned was probably Richard
Travers, the genial Yeomanry captain.

6o ONCE MORE NELSON'S FLAG-CAPTAIN

will be sufficient as I think to sail for that place in lo Days
if His Lordship arrives as we are ordered there as soon
as possible.

I am happy the Prints please, A Register Stove &
Carpet, with the Hero of the Nile's Picture (which Jno
Brown of course will get) cannot fail to make it the
Handsomest Drawing Room in Dorchester. The King
of Naples Picture will soon follow from Mr M'Arthur.^ I
have heard nothing of young Hamilton. Do send to his
Father & say we are almost ready for sea.

Thank you for Harbin's ^ letters I have ansd it but I

fear not to his satisfaction. Love to Catharine & the

Childr.

I remain, Dr Manfield,

Yours sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

Nelson now made up his mind to join his ship ; and

Hardy writes the following characteristic letter to Mr

Manfield :—

"San Josef," Plymouth Dock,
Janry. idt/i, 1801.

Dear Manfield,

I am sorry his Lordship passed through
Dorchester so late in the evening which of course pre-
vented my countrymen paying him the respect due to his
merit. He arrived here last night, comes on board on
Monday next and I believe we sail for Torbay the latter
end of the week. He tells me that he was taken so ill just
before they arrived at Dorchester that he thought he would
have died in the carriage. You no doubt have seen Mr
Hamilton and I trust he will give you so good an account

1 These were probably the pictures of Nelson and King Ferdinand
now at Portisham House, and which are now reproduced by permission
of Mrs Manfield and her son, Mr W. Hardy Manfield.

2 Of Newton Surmaville, Yeovil.

^ord .A<^hr

, 'ii-iii (I dm iriiiii fi/iiii ii/i/.'iifirii . ^ hi li'uii nr/i.d

HARDY IN THE "ST GEORGE" 6i

of my health that even Martha will be satisfied that Fagging
agrees best with me. If any of my friends here have
a wish to see San Josef they will find her at Torbay all
the week after next as the Earl ^ has been good enough to
say he will give us Seven days to put us to rights under his
own eye. I reed a letter from Dr Sherive ^ the other day
requesting I would take a Mr Tucker.^ I wish Ingram*
could advise him to keep the youth at home as it is a very
unseasonable time to send a Boy to sea. I find he still
laments the great loss he has sustained in our cousin
Christopher.^

With Duty Love and Compliments I remain

Dear Manfield

Yours most sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

On the 1 2th February 1801, Lord Nelson transferred his
flag to the St George (the San Josef being considered too
heavy for the Baltic service), and took Hardy with him.
The following letter was written by the latter when the
complications with Denmark were paving the way to the
battle of Copenhagen.

"Saint George," Spithead,
Feby. 2^tk, 1801.

Dear Manfield,

I received your letter yesterday & am sorry
to say that we have heard nothing of the Beer nor do I

' Earl Spencer was at the head of the Admiralty, 1 794-1 801. A
keen appreciator of the genius of Nelson, whom he sent to win the
battle of the Nile.

2 Rev. Henry Sherive, LL.D., Rector of Bridport, Dorset, 1766-1791.
Married T. M. Hardy's cousin, Martha Hardy of the Hyde, Bothen-
hampton, where Dr Sherive was living in 1801.

•'' Belonging to an old Bridport family.

* Of Burton Bradstock.

^ Rev. Christopher Hardy Sherive, M.A., succeeded his father as
Rector of Bridport, where he died loth November 1800. Hutchins
erroneously states that he resigned the living in 1801.

62 ONCE MORE NELSON'S FLAG-CAPTAIN

expect to unless you can find out the Vessel's Name and to
whom consigned. His Lordship left Portsmouth for Town
on Monday last & we expect him the beginning of next
Week. He continues in good health but was rather low
for a few days after quiting San Josef. However we are to
return to her as soon as the business in the North is
settled which we trust will be completed by the latter end
of May. Sir Hyde Parker is expected down in a few days.
The London waits here to hoist his Flag. The change of
Adminstration ^ was rather sudden. We brought Sir Thos
Troubridge from Torbay. As I have nothing to ask of
course nothing can be done for me. Young Faddy is here
& I wish I could say he was deserving of my notice, but I
much fearful he will never do his Lordship or myself any
credit. He was with us in the Vanguard which ship he
quited not for his good conduct.

Parker is gone to Southampton. He returns on Friday
next.

I saw the Thompson Family yesterday they are all well
& desire their best compliments. — If I have an opportunity
I shall not forget Mr Tucker in the Dockyard. With Duty
Love &c &c

I remain Dear Manfield,

Yours most sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

Hardy's excellent seamanship was never more conspicu-
ous than in the voyage to the Baltic, and the operations
which immediately preceded the engagement before
Copenhagen. In all probability, he now profited by his
five years' experience as a practical navigator while in the
merchant service. In the pitchy darkness of the night

* John, Earl St Vincent, succeeded Earl Spencer at the Admiralty,
19th February 1801. Three weeks later, WiUiam Pitt resigned office,
after a Premiership of eighteen years. A new Ministry was formed by
Henry Addington, afterwards Lord Sidmouth.

THE BATTLE OF COPENHAGEN 6^

before the battle, he made soundings in the channel from
an open boat, going so near to the enemy's vessels that
long poles or rods had to be used lest the sound of the
heaving of the lead should arouse suspicion. Had Hardy's
calculations been relied on rather than the questionable
information of the pilots, none of the English ships need
have grounded, the loss of life would have been less, and
the victory achieved more decisive. Unfortunately, the St
George drew too much water for the shallows to be tra-
versed, so Nelson shifted his flag to the Elephant, and
Hardy's ship was unable to take an active part in the
fighting of the 2nd April 1801. One of the most im-
portant letters ever addressed by Hardy to his brother-
in-law gives a detailed account of the action : —

" St George," Copenhagen Roads,
April ^th, 1 80 1.
Dear Manfield,

This is the first opportunity I have had of
writing to you since we left Yarmouth. Our passage
was rather tedious and attended with bad weather. How-
ever, we arrived off Cronenburge Castle on the 30th of
last month, when a plan of attack was formed against
Copenhagen, and as the water is very shallow near that
city it was thought necessary for Lord Nelson to shift his
flag into the Elephant (Capt. Foley), and next morning we
passed by Cronenburge where the ist shot was fired at us
from the Castle and a heavy canonading kept up on both
sides on our passing, without the least effect, the distance
being too great. The next morning his Lordship, with
twelve sail of the smallest line of Battle Ships and all the
Frigates, Bombs, Fireships, Gun Brigs, &c., &c., passed
thro' what is called the middle ground, and the next morng
made the most daring attack that has been attempted this
war (the Nile not excepted) was made, and after a very
heavy loss on both sides, he was completely victorious,
having taken and destroyed every ship and vessel that was

64 ONCE MORE NELSON'S FLAG-CAPTAIN

opposed to him, six of which was of the Line, the remain-
ing twelve were Frames or floating Batteries. Our ships
were also exposed to the fire of more than eighty pieces
of heavy Cannon from the shore. The more I see of
his Lordship the more I admire his great character, for,
I think on this occasion, his Political management was, if
possible, greater than his Bravery. The water was so sh"*^ ^
that two of the Line of Battle Ships got on shore before
the action commenced, a third owing to the current and
light winds was not able to get into Action, and his Lord-
ship, finding his little squadron very hard pressed by the
Batterys after the ships had struck, the wind not sufficient
to take off his Prizes and crippled ships, he very deliber-
ately sent a Flag of Truce on shore to say that his orders
were not to Destroy the City of Copenhagen, therefore, to
save more efusion of blood he would grant them a truce
and land their wounded as soon as possible. The Prince ^
thanked him for his great humanity and entered into a
negotiation that moment which allowed him to get off all
the Prizes that was not sunk or burnt, and his own ships,
five of which at this time were on shore within gunshot of
the Batteries. His Lordship and myself was on shore
yesterday, where, extraordinary to be told, he was received
with as much aclamation as when we went to Lord Mares
Show, and I really believe it would not have been a very
hard business to have brought on a revolution in Denmark.
We dined with all the Court, and after Dinner he had an
audience with the Crown Prince for more than two hours
and I will venture to say that his Royal Highness never
had so much plain trooth spoken to him in his life.

I shall not close my letter till the negotiation is con-
cluded, which we expect will be to-morrow. Tho' I could
not be with his Lordship myself, I sent Messrs Gill &
Walin, the former was slightly wounded, but Sir Hyde

^ Shallow.

2 Frederick, eldest son of Christian VII., and nephew of George
III. He was born in 1768, and declared Regent, April 12, 1784.

THE BOYS FROM DORSET 65

Parker has promised to promote him as soon as he can do
his duty, which, I expect, will be in a few days. Mr Walin
is appointed Lord Nelson's Secretary, and I hope soon to
get him into a good Frigate. The young Doctor has
written to his Father, and I suppose has given a very full
account of the Action. I regret very much that Poor
Parker was not with us, as I have little doubt but it would
have gained him the other step. Young Roberts is very
well as are the rest of the youngsters from Dorsetshire.
Roberts, as is customary with them all, has lost almost all
his clothes, however, he will do well enough by and by.

April 6th. — The Brig that takes Sir Hyde Parker's
Despatches is now getting under weigh, and as his Lord-
ship is on board the London, we do not know as yet * *
{torn) the business is ended but hope for the best. Captn.
Otway, Sir Hyde's Capt"- is charged with the despatches.
Domett is very well, but, I believe, very much tired with the
Situation. As I have had but very little time to write this,
I hope you will excuse the scrall. With Duty, Love, &
Compts.

I remain. Dear Manfield,

Yours most Sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

CHAPTER X

FROM THE BATTLE OF COPENHAGEN (2ND APRIL 1801) TO
THE PEACE OF AMIENS (27TH MARCH 1802). HARDY,
CAPTAIN OF THE " ST GEORGE " AND THE " ISIS "

HARDY'S next letters home are written two months
later from the bleak and inhospitable shores of
Kioge Bay, where the fleets had been anchored since
the 25th April 1801. On the 6th June he commenced a
lengthy epistle to Mr Manfield, which he only completed
on the 17th of that month.

" St George," Kioge Bay,
June 6th, 1801.

Dear Manfield,

I received your letter of the 20th of April
the Day I received one from Jos & that of the 6th of the
same Month I got yesterday by Mr Cox. I am sorry to
say that his conduct on board the Vanguard has been so
very improper that Sir Thos Williams^ will not let him
join the St George (at least for the present). As the Van-
guard was but a short time with us Sir Thos had not an
opportunity of explaining to me but I understand he
feels that Mr Cox has been making a conveniejice of him & is
actually borne on the Vangua^-ds Books as Midshipman nor
did he hint to Sir Thos his intention of quitting him till he
had seen me & he informed me that he had his Captains per-
mission to join the St George, & only waited my approbation ;
however when I next see the Vanguard I daresay I shall
be able to get him & you may depend on my giving him
1 Admiral Sir Thomas Williams, G.C.B. [1762-1841].

LORD NELSON'S DESIRE FOR HOME 67

such a lecture as he will not forget these twelve Months.
I had just time to inquire a little into his Character from
one of my old Ship Mates who is with him, & I am informed
that he acknowledges how much he is ashamed of his late
conduct & promises fair to turn over a new leaf when he
joins the Flag Ship. I think you had better apprise his
relations of this & add that I will do everything in my
power for him. But he must alter his Conduct or quit the
St George.

\2th. — I have not had an opportunity of seeing Captain
Foley ^ of the Elephant but will not forget to enquire about
Belninger when I do. I am sorry to hear of Mr Balstons
illness but hope the Spring has quite brought him round.
Give my best Compliments to my good friend Captain
Ingram & tell him I Drank his health on the 4th and
sighed when I thought of the Partner he introduced me
to on that evening Twelve Months. The Weather is
remarkably fine in the Country and I think nearly as
warm as it is in the Mediterranean. The Crops of all
description are remarkably fine & there is every prospect
of a most plentiful Harvest. The export of Corn from
this has been so great that the price of Bread is greater
than in England. Lord Nelson is quite recovered but
still anxious to go home & has again written to be super-
seded but we hope to be all ordered home very soon as we
think it impossible that anything more can be done in
this part of the World, His Lordship talks of sending
the Pylades home soon therefore you will in all pro-
bability get this very soon. Parker is very well & desires
his best compliments. I'll trouble you with my best
compliments to Messrs Frampton - & Brown. It may

' Admiral Sir Thomas Foley, G.C.B., commanded the Elephant at
Copenhagen [1757-1833].

2 James Frampton, of Moreton, Dorset [i 769-1855], married Lady
Harriet Fox Strangways, daughter of the 2nd Earl of Ilchester, Colonel
of the Dorset Yeomanry. In this year (1801) as Major he had charge
of the 5th division of the Dorset coast defences, reaching from Worth-
barrow Bay to Ringstead Bay.

6S COPENHAGEN— PEACE OF AMIENS

not be unpleasant for the former to hear that his Relation

(by Marriage) Capt" Step" Digby^ is well, a very good

young Man, much liked by Lord Nelson & I believe first on

the list for promotion.

June lyth. — The Pylades is just going to sail for England

with a fine easterly wind and I have little doubt that you

will receive this in less than a Week. There is a Cutter

just come in sight which we think is from England but his

Lordship will not wait for her as the Wind is fair for

England & foul for the Cutter. With Love to Catherine

& all the children

I remain

Dear Manfield

Yours sincerely

T. M. Hardy.

Doubtless, the cutter brought the news that his lord-
ship had been superseded, for Captain Mahan ^ says that
on the 19th June Nelson left the Baltic in the brig
Kite, and landed at Yarmouth on the first of the follow-
ing month.

A few days later, Hardy writes : —

"St George,'"' Kioge Bay,
July %th, 1 801.
Dear Manfield,

I wrote to Ann the other day requesting she
would make me two or three Dozen of Shirts ; as letters so
often miscarry you will have the goodness to mention it to
her. It is very immaterial weather the Linen is purchased

1 Stephen Digby [1776-1820] was the son of the "Mr Fairly" of
Madame d'Arblay's Memoirs (see Mr Austin Dobson's Edition, vol.
ii., p. 411, etc.). His mother. Lady Lucy Fox Strangways, was the
daughter of the first Earl of Ilchester. He brought Lord Nelson
home in the Kite, and a characteristic letter written to him by Nelson
from Merton, on the 6th January 1802, is now in possession of his
kinsman. Admiral Noel Digby.

2 The Life of Nelson, vol. ii., p. 117.

ONCE MORE AT YARMOUTH 69

at Dorchester or in Town. Admiral Sir Thos Graves^
sailed from here yesterday with a large detatchment of
our Ships their destination is not yet Publickly known.
Everything goes on well in this Quarter & I have little
doubt but we shall all be in England very soon, & what is
to become of me I know not ; however Lord Nelson says he
never will be employed again, & I shall have a fine Frigate
but it is as much impossible for him to remain at home as
it is for him to be happy at Sea, therefore I expect soon to
hear that he is gone to Egypt & I shall be ordered to
follow him in the best way that I can. We learn by a
Vessel that arrived from Yarmouth yesterday that his
Lordship entered that Port on the 29th ulto. I am very
Comfortable with Adml Pole- but I am not anxious to
remain with him or any other Adml (except Lord Nelson)
therefore I shall make all the Interest I can to get into a
frigate when we get to England. I have not seen the
Vanguard since, of course have not got Mr Cox & as It is
probable I shall quit this ship very soon, I think he had
better remain where he is however that shall rest with
himself. As our stay here is so very uncertain I think you
had better not write till you hear from me again which shall
be the next opportunity.

With best Love to Catherine & the Children,

I remain Yours sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

In August, reaches home two months later :^ —

Dr Manfield,

We arrived off Yarmouth this Day we are
ordered round to Spithead where I suppose we shall not

' Admiral Sir Thomas Graves [1747- 18 14], second in command at
Copenhagen, where he won his K.C.B.

'^ Admiral Sir Charles Maurice Pole, G.C.B. [1757-1830], succeeded
Nelson in command of the English Fleet in the Baltic, 19th June i8oi.

■' This is the only undated letter found amongstthe Hardy correspond-
ence. It bears, however, the English postmark of loth August 1801.

70 COPENHAGEN— PEACE OF AMIENS

remain long therefore I hope to hear from you by return

of post. x'\s we have had no communication with the

shore I know nothng of what is going on in England.

We have had a very good passage from Copenhagen &

trust we shall soon be at Spithead. The Fishing boat that

will take this on shore is now waiting I have therefore only

time to wish you health &c. &c. With Duty love &c. I

remain,

Dear Manfield,

Yours most sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

I have not had an opportunity of seeing Mr Cox but
shall not forget him when an opportunity offers.

Hardy's days on board the St George were now
numbered. The news of his being superseded is thus
conveyed to Mr Manfield : —

Portsmouth, Augt \Zth, 1801,
8 dclock.
Dear Manfield,

This day to my great astonishment Captain
Nicholls received a Commission for the St George & I am
ordered to the Downes Immediately, & what Ship I am to
go to I have not the least idea. There is an order come
by Telegraph for a Cutter to take my things on board as
soon as possible, therefor in all probability I shall sail this
eveng ; however the Wind at present is not Fair. Everything
as you may suppose is in a happy confusion ; however I shall
leave my Servant Edward to take the greater part of my
things to Mr Thompson's & Thos & I must do as well as
we can till Edwd comes to us. To Make things better the
St George is to sail this evening or tomorrow morning & I
am obliged to leave all the youngsters behind in St George
as I have no place for them. I am sorry to say that young
Tucker's eyes are so very badd that he can scarcely see out
of them & I very much fear he will be obliged to leave the

AT PORTSMOUTH 71

Service on account of it. I think Ann had better send my
Shirts as soon as finished to the care of Mr Thompson as
he will always have an opportunity of sending them to me.
You shall hear from me as soon as I can give you any
more information about myself.

6 o'clock. — I can't sail this evening but should the Wind
continue foul I go off by Land tomorrow morning. I am
sorry to see by the Papers of to-day that his Lordship
has met with the worst of it, and that poor Parker^ is
wounded ; however as it is not confirmed I hope there is no
truth in it.

I reed Ann's letter to-day. I'll thank you to tell her
that there is no great hurry for the remainder of the shirts.
With love to Catherine the children & all Friends

] remain

Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

Hardy remained for some days in uncertainty as to his
future. His next letter runs as follows : —

Portsmouth,
August 20th, 1 801.
Dear Manfield,

I embark on board the Vesuvius Bomb at
12 o'clock this day for the Downes but strange to tell I
have no orders from the Admiralty nothing but a private
letter from Sir Thomas Troubridge desiring me to go to
the Downes as fast as possible & that they would not
forget me. I have not received the Shirts but it is of no
consequence as we must call at this place before we go
abroad (should we be ordered) I very much fear that my
little friend Parker has lost his thigh & Langford (who was
in the Foudroyant with us) I much fear is also wounded, &

1 Commander Edward Thornborough Parker, R.N., Aide-de-camp
to Lord Nelson. He died of wounds received on the 15th August 1801
in the unsuccessful attempt on Boulogne (see pp. 49> 73> and 1 14).

72 COPENHAGEN— PEACE OF AMIENS

very singular to relate that they are the only two young
men that I strongly recommended to his Lordship. Our
Relation Mr Robt Budden came on purpose to see me
yesterday & is returned to Leamington with Adml Man^
this morning ; he desires his Compliments to you & all
friends.

lo o'clock. — I am this moment going on board & as the
Wind is coming to the Westd I hope soon to write to you
from the Downes.

With Duty Love &c. I remain
Dear Manfield

Yours affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

Mr Manfield,
Dorchester, Dorset.

Five days later, he writes thus on his way to join the

his : —

"Vesuvius" off Dover,

August z^ih^ 1801.

Dear Manfield,

We arrived off this Port last Night & are now
Weighing to proceed to the Downes. We have had a very
pleasant passage tho' a foul wind all the way. I see by
the Papers of the 21st Int that I am appointed to the Isis
but I have not heard a word about it; however the
mystery will be unriddled before I close this letter. I
saw a Horse the other Day at Portsmouth so much like
the Roan, that I could have sworn it was that which I gave
John even the No. 6 on the near Shoulder was not omited,
but on inquiry I found it belonged to a Lord (I forget his
name) in whose possession it has been more than Twelve
months. I hear from the Fishermen that Lord Nelson
sailed to the Eastward the Day before yesterday but his
destination was unknown. I'll thank you to tell Mr
Hamilton of Weymouth that I was very sorry to leave his

^ Admiral Robert Man. He was in command under Hotham at the
fleet action of 13th July 1795.

HARDY IN THE "ISIS" 73

son in the Sf George but it was impossible for me to take
any of the young Gentlemen with me as I did not know
what was to become of me, nor do I at this moment ; how-
ever Captain Nicholls has promised to take care of them
& to advance any Money that may be necessary. They
are all to return to me as soon as I am settled in a Ship.
If you see Pearson of Steepleton & Roberts I'll thank you
to tell them the same.

Deal, Augt. 26th. — We arrived last night too late
to save Post. This morning I received my Commission
for the his & set off tomorrow to join her off Boulogne,
& by Directing your letters at this Place they will be
forwarded to me. Weather His Lordship is to Hoist
his Flag or not with me I cannot learn but I should
suppose not, as the Isis is but just Commissioned & I fear
in rather a badish kelter. I am happy to say that I found
my two wounded friends much better than I could have
expected after the accounts we had .seen, but I have often
told you that there was no dependence on lampblack & oil.
Parkers wound is certainly very bad. A Musket ball
has passed thro' the Thigh very high up & completely
broken the bone but he is in very good spirits & Doctor
Beard ^ who is very clever Man says he is in great hopes of
saving the Limb. Langford's- wound is a Musket Ball
through the small of the Leg & it is hoped that the Bone
is not Broken. I have been sitting with them all the
Morning & they bear their misfortune like themselves. I
suppose I shall see Lord Nelson in a Day or two when it
is probable I shall know what is to become of me. With
Duty love & Compliments to all Friends
I remain.

Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

' Dr Baird, vide Nelson's letters to Baird about Parker and Lang-
ford, post, p. 113.
- See post, p. 113.

74 COPENHAGEN— PEACE OF AMIENS

Augt. 27th. — I missed the Post Last evening. Lady &
Sir Wm Hamilton arrived last Night, & Lord Nelson
Anchored this Mong ; I hope he will not remain long ; he
says he is quite tired of his present Comand & hopes we
shall soon return to San Josef I set off tomorrow morng for
the his.

Hardy has now joined his new ship, the Isis, and writes
again to Mr Manfield : —

" Isis," DUNGENESS, Septr. lyd, 1801.

Dear Manfield,

I did not get your letter of the nth Inst till
yesterday. We arrived here last Saturday the Weather
not allowing us to remain off Boulogne any longer & the
Equinoctial gales seem to have set in, it having blown very
hard these last four Days. We return to our Station as
soon as the weather is settled. 1 am sorry for Mr Damer's ^
indisposition and trust he will soon get the better of it.
I'll thank you to return my compliments to him & His
Lordship 2 when you see them. You have heard of course
that poor Parker has lost his Thigh & I am happy to hear
from a Gentleman who came from Deal yesterday that he
was much better and there was great hopes that he would
do well but I very much doubt it. As Lady Hamilton
has left Deal, we expect his Lordship here tomorrow
should the weather moderate. The last time I saw him he
told me he was determined to give up the Command on
the 14th of this Month but the Admiralty has perswaded
him to the Contrary, & I have no doubt but he will con-
tinue the Command all the Winter ; he begins to think
that Lord St Vincent has sent out Adml Pole to take the
Comand from Lord Keith ^ if so It will be some time
before the young Gentlemen from Dorsetshire can join me.

1 Lionel Damer, M.P. (see ante, p. 56), died 28th May 1807.

2 George Damer, second Earl of Dorchester, born 1746, succeeded
1798, died 1808, when the title became extinct.

3 George Keith Elphinstone, Admiral Lord Keith [1746-1823].

DEATHS IN DORSET 75

I am much better pleased with the his than I was & I
suppose in another Month I shall be quite sorry to leave
her. The young Doctor is happy to hear that the Buggey
is alive & I am sorry to hear of the Roans misfortune ;
however accidents will happen in the best regulated
Families. I am astonished to hear that Bread still con-
tinues so Dear where it will end I am at a loss to guess.
In this part of the Country Sheep are £'^ apiece Turkeys
S. 8 Gees 6. & Duck & fouls in proportion I think I have
taken a very unfavourable time to begin housekeeping Mr
Pearson's Money is to go in part to pay my debts. If my
Cousin the Doctor ^ should offer you young Tucker's Money
I'll thank you to take it ;^i6 : 9 : is the sum but dont ask
for it. With love to Catherine & the Children. Love &
Compliments to all friends.

I remain Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

Three weeks later, he again writes : —

"Isis," October 14M, 1801.

Dear Manfield,

I did not receive your letter and Jos' with one
inclosed for Tom till three Days ago. I missed it in my
way to the Downs to which place I went for Commodore
Sutton & arrived here last night. It grieved me much to
hear by Jos' letter the MelanchoUy account of the Poor
Doctor's^ Death ; his loss must be felt very severely by Mrs
Sherive & Miss Hardy- but his loss is quite irreparable in
the neighbourhood as a publick Character & I know no

> Rev. H. Sherive, LL.D., of the Hyde, Bothenhampton, Bridport
(seep. 61). Dr Sherive, who was sometime Rector of Bridport, married,
5th Sept. 1776, Martha, daughter and co-heir of Joseph Hardy, Esq.,
of the Hyde, Bothenhampton, and was buried there, 26th Sept.
1801.

- Miss Anne Hardy, who died at the Hyde, Dec. 1839, aged 97.

'je COPENHAGEN— PEACE OF AMIENS

Man that is equal to keep those Bridport Savages in
order now he is gone. The Commodore was sent to me
rather unexpectedly but I got so civil a Note from my
friend Troubridge that nothing can withstand him ; however
the Commodore is a very good Man & we make it out
extremely well. He expects as we do all to be ordered in
within these ten Days & of course paid off as soon after as
possible. I left Lord Nelson three Days ago very much
displeased with the Admiralty for refusing him leave of
absence, but I think they seem Determined to oppose him
in everything he wishes. I begin to think Ld St V. wishes
to clip his Wings a little & certainly has succeeded a little
in the affair of Boulogne.^ Troubridge Hke a true Politician
forsakes his old friend (who has procured him all the Honor
he has got) & sticks fast by the Man who is likely to push
him forward hereafter.

My letters will come better if you will Direct them for
me at New Romney as I have come here in preference to
the Downes. I hope this will find you quite recovered &
if any scolding would be of any service, you shall have it
most heartily. I think bad eyes arise from cold & Cold
from carelessness but Mrs Manfield must be to blame. I
hope to be with you & then it will be time to think of my
future residence. As yet I am quite undetermined what
to be at. I think if I was to push hard I may get a Ship
but I don't know whether it will not be as well to let it
alone ; however a short time will determine on what is to be
done. With best love to Catherine & the Children

I remain Dr Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

In September of this year. Lord Nelson obtained leave
by royal license to use the foreign title of Duke of Bronte

^ On the 15th August Nelson failed in his attack on the flotilla
assembled at Boulogne. The British loss was 44 killed, 128 wounded
(see Mahan's Life of Nelson^ vol. ii., p. 137).

A KNIFE AND FORK AT BRONTE -77

in Sicily, which had been some time before bestowed on
him by the King of Naples. In November, Hardy writes
thus from the Downs : —

" Isis," Downs, Novr. 7th, 1801.
Dear Manfield,

The Weather has been so very bad that I
did not get your letter of the ist Inst till the day before
yesterday & have not had an opportunity of writing to you
till now. The Papers has quite misinformed you respect-
ing Lord Nelson's future destination as he has declared to
me more than once that he was determined not to accept
his Flag in Peace. Of Course you have seen His
Lordship's speeches ; I only hope he will be guarded as we
poor Sailors are quite out of our element when on Shore.
As there can be no secret in my last letter to Jos I now
come to an open explanation. Lord Nelson has given me
one hundred Acres in any part of his Estate at Bronte that
I chose to point out, with apartments in his House, a Knife
& Fork &c. (he being determined to reside there in peace)
the former part I certainly have accepted & intend to keep,
but the latter I have not yet determined on, nor shall I till
I know the Company that will attend him there. His
Lordships leave is renewed a fortnight & I suppose at the
end of that time it will be again renewed, therefore we do
not expect to see him here again. When I got on shore
yesterday after the Gale I was invited to Dine with Captain
& Lady Charlotte Durham ^ & of course I could not refuse,
her Ladyship was very pleasant and we had a long talk about
Weymouth ; her Ladyship sets off today for Portsmouth &
the Endymion sails for that place as soon as the Weather
will permit.

The Bombay Anna Indiaman returned here the Day
before yesterday with the loss of her Rudder & was very
near lost off Margate. I am sorry for the sake of my
friends Ingram and Festing that the Fencibles are

» Admiral Sir Philip C. H. C. Durham, G.C.B. [1763-1845], one of the
few survivors of the Royal George accident at Spithead.

78 COPENHAGEN— PEACE OF AMIENS

redused, but hope that Burton Bradstock will be as pleasant

to our Friend as Weymouth was. I have no doubt of Mr

Nepean's ^ success at Bridport particularly as our friends

Travers^and Ingram =^ are the leading Characters in that

part of the Country. I am happy to hear that Joseph Weld ^

is to settle so near us & I think the Staffordshire estate will

suit Lord St Vincent very well. I am happy to hear your

eyes are got Better & I trust with the care you take of

yourself you will continue well. I have seen a letter

from Hill to Lord Nelson before his Lordship left us, &

that which appeared in the papers he received on his arrival

in London, he has received several nearly to the same effect

all of which he intends publishing at a future Day. With

Duty to my Aunt who I suppose is a near Neighbour by

this time & Love to the Aldermans^ Lady Children &c.

I remain

Dear Manfield,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

1 Sir Evan Nepean (see ante, p. 59). He was duly elected as M.P.
for Bridport in the place of Charles Sturt. He was again returned up
till 1810. Sturt had also served in the Navy. When Prince William
Henry was in the Prince George, under Rear-Admiral Digby, the future
M.P. for Bridport was a brother midshipman with H.R.H. The
Prince and Mr Sturt having had some misunderstanding on the quarter-
deck, they agreed to go down to the orlop or cockpit to decide the
matter, when after a long and very severe contest victory decided
itself in favour of the latter, who was a greater adept in the art of
boxing than his royal opponent. The generous prince did all in his
power to conceal the affair from the admiral, and ever afterwards
testified the warmest friendship for his victorious antagonist. See The
Naval Atlantis, by Nauticus Junior, 1788.

2 See ante, p. 52.

3 Admiral Ingram, see ante, p. 57. Ingram House still stands at
Burton Bradstock, a creeper-covered Queen Anne mansion of mellowed
red brick, quite close to the Grove, the home of Francis Roberts and
his descendants.

4 Joseph Weld of Lul worth Castle, brother of Cardinal Weld [i777-
1862].

■' Mr Manfield now became Alderman of Dorchester, and served
the office of Mayor three years later.

NELSON IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS 79

I see you know very little of the Service to suppose I
can have much time on my hands. You have seen by the
papers that Admiral Lutwidge has struck his Flag & is
gone to Portsmouth to sit on Sir Wm Parkers Court
martial.^ The his is now the Commanding officiers ship &
great part of the duty falls on me, however I shall always
find time to answer your letters punctually & occasionally
give you two for one. I got a letter to Day from Martha
I find she is spending a few Days with our Relations in
the East.

Hardy again writes

Dear Manfield,

" Isis," Downs, Novr. i^ih, 1801.

Not having heard from you these ten Days I
much fear your eyes are got worse ; however I can excuse
you as business must be attended to. We continue here as
usual anxiously waiting for the Definitive Treaty.^ I see
almost by every paper that Lord Nelson has been speaking
in the House, I am sorry for it, and I am fully convinced
that Sailors should not talk too much. You must not
expect long letters now, for literally I have nothing to say.
I suppose Martha is returned from Shapwick, if she is I will
thank you to tell her she may expect a very long letter
from me soon. I see by the Papers that Lord Fitzwilliam
is one of the oppositionests to the Peace ; of course Lord
Dorchester is of the same way of thinking, but if you have
thought much on the subject I am of opinion you cannot
agree with them, for I do not see any prospect of a better
Peace being made had we continued the War for years to
come. They appear to be getting too strong for Mr

' Admiral Sir William Parker [1743-1803]. His offence was only
a technical one. He had sent two ships to the West Indies, when in
command of the Halifax Station. He was acquitted of everything
but indiscretion.

- The Peace of Amiens was not finally concluded till 27th March
1 802.

So COPENHAGEN— PEACE OF AMIENS

Addington in the lower house, I do not know any man
capable of taking his place but Mr Pitt. They have
stopped Mr Tierneys mouth & Mr Grey is quite silent ; you
see we have all our Pluck. If John should happen to have
a hare & a Phesant to spare, I will thank him to send it to
Halford but it is of little or no consequence. As petitions
will be presented to His Majesty as soon as the Peace is
settled I expect to see that Alderman Manfield was the
chosen Man from the Borough of Dorchester.

With Duty to my Aunt & Love to Catherine the
Children & all friends I remain Dr Manfield,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

In the following month. Hardy is evidently a little nettled
at not getting his news of Lord Nelson at first hand : —

"Isis," Sheerness, Deer, loth, 1801.
Dear Manfield,

The Isis went into Dock last Monday & she
is not found so bad as was expected. She leaves the
Dock on the 21st & I hope to be at the Nore in about
a Week after, from thence it is probable she will be ordered
to Portsmouth as there is little doubt but Lord Radstock ^
is to hoist his Flag on board her. Captain Bligh who
now commands the Theseus, will, I suppose exchange with
me, as my friends at the Admiralty will not think it worth
while to appoint another Captain for the short time she
will be kept in Commission. I shall then have to pass
accounts for five ships in about 10 Months, which will
cost me nearly the amount of my pay for that time, there-
fore I fear I shall not add much to the 3 pr cent. Should
any business or inclination bring you to Town I hope you
will find a leisure hour to give me a call. I saw in the
papers of yesterday that Lord Nelson had waited on the

1 Admiral William Waldegrave, G.C.B., first Baron Radstock
[1753-1825].

HARDY AT SHEERNESS 8i

Admiralty previous to his taking the Command on a
Foreign Station. I think it is not true as I had a letter
from him three days ago, & I think he would have at least
given me a hint ; however there is nothing certain in this
life but Death. I see Lord St Vincent is quite recovered
& I think I may add that he will continue so only as long
as convenient, Sir Thos Troubridge is very ill. Thank
you for sending Halford the Game; & as he had got it,
I think it but fair you should have the credit & thanks
for it. I am sorry to hear that Mr Balston is so unwell
but hope the Month of December will prove more favour-
able than that of November. As this will be received on
Saturday Jos & perhaps John will be in Dorchester & will
get the Sheerness News anxious as you.

With Duty to my Aunt & Love & Comps to all friends

1 remain

Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.
John Call. Manfield, Esqr.

A note on the above letter runs thus : " 3rd distribution
of the Action of the Nile to be paid 4, 5, and 6 Jan. 1802.

2 William Tombs, Minotaur''

Hardy, always mindful of his Dorset friends on the
eve of the first Christmastide of the nineteenth century,
writes : — -

"Isis," Sheerness, Deer. 21st, 1801.

Dear Manfield,

The Isis is found so bad that she is to remain
in Dock till the 5th or 6th of January, therefore I trust
that Business or Pleasure will call you to Town before
that Period, & that you will have a Day to spare which
I think cannot be better employed than coming to Sheer-
ness, where I shall be very happy to see you. Of course
you have seen by the Papers that Lord Nelson has taken
leave of the Admiralty but it is all humbug as I heard

82 COPENHAGEN— PEACE OF AMIENS

from him a Day or two ago & he says that he will not
be employed if he can possible help it ; but I am of opinion
that Old St Vincent will not let him remain at home if
he can possible help it. Peregrine Bingham of [Bingham's]
Melcombe is Chaplain of the Isis, & I have not seen him
since I have been in her, if you know where he is I wish
you would tell him that I cannot continue him on the
Books if he Does not join her. The Son of Hawkins the
Gunsmith is a Midshipman on board the Waarzaamhind
in this Harbour, he has served his time & goes to pass the
1st of next Month ; his appearance is not much in his
favour, but his Captain (Hall) speaks very handsomely of
him ; however at present it is out of my power to do any-
thing for him. Lieutenant Hawkins of the Alonzo (late of
the Cidloden) is to be tried by a Court Martial in a Day
or two I believe by the Pursur of the same ship for
Quarreling. I am sorry to say that his Captain does not
speak very favourably of him ; he is very young which is
the only thing which can be said in his favour. I have
seen him once or twice, & I think he has as little the look
of a Gentleman as his Father. I will thank you to give
my love to the young ladies at Possum, and tell them that
I have plenty of time on my hand & am ready to answer
all their Letters. I believe neither Ann or Augusta has
written to me these six Months. With Duty to my Aunt
Love and Compliments to Catherine the Children and all
friends and Wishing you the Compliments of the Season

I remain, Dear Manfield,

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

The eventful year 1802 begins with the following

letter : —

" Isis," Sheerness,
Jany 6th, 1802.

Dear Manfield,

In consequence of your application from Mr
Pitt & a very Polite letter I received from Mr Fane, I

THE BANTRY BAY BUSINESS 83

requested ^ Captain Hall of the WaarzaaniJiitid to let young
Hawkins come in this Ship with an intention (if possible)
of recommending him to the next Captain who may join
the Ship & to my great astonishment yesterday I received
a letter from him to say he was arrested for a Mess Debt of
Sixteen Pounds, at the same time enclosing a Bill on his
Father for that amount, requesting I would endorse it how-
ever I have too often been taken in by those Gentlemen, &
on inquiry to Day I am sorry to say his Character is by no
means a good one, therefore his coming to the his is of no
use as I cannot possible recommend him. The his does
not come out of Dock till the 23rd ; she is getting a very
good repair and the report now is that Sir Thos Trou-
bridge is to be made an Admiral to hoist his Flag in her
& go to the East Indies ; you know as much of the truth of
the report as I do. Lord Nelson is determined not to be
employed if he can help it. I think it by no means
unlikely that they will make him hoist his Flag ; particularly
if the Bantry Bay business ^ is not quite stopped as he is a
popular Man amongst us ; however we have reason to
believe it is all settled at least for the present. John will
give you all the News & the manner in which we pass our
time here.

With Duty to my Aunt & Love Catherine & the
Children.

I remain, Dear Manfield,

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

Mr Hawkins still remains in the Spunging House (for
that is the name of the Prison) & I hear from Pretty good
authority that he is in Debt pretty largely in Sheerness.
If his Father wishes more information I will get him the
best I can.

'William Morton Pitt of Kingston Maureward [1754-1836], M.P.
for Dorset, 1790 to 1809.

- In December 1801 the Bantry Bay Squadron, commanded by
Admiral Mitchell, mutinied.

84 COPENHAGEN— PEACE OF AMIENS

The following letters speak for themselves : —

" Isis," Sheerness,
Jany 1802.

Dear Manfield,

The Isis came out of Dock last Wednesdy.
We are going on very well & I shall report her ready for
Sea the latter part of this Week. What is to become of
us is as yet quite unknown at least in this part of the
World. Young Hawkins is out of Gaol ; how he got out
is not known nor has he as yet made his appearance on
board the Waarzaamhind. Captain Hall is so much dis-
pleased with him that I think it more than probable he
will be obliged to quit her very soon. I had applied for
him, but have refused to take him as I could not possible
recommend him. I have heard nothing of Pereguine
Bingham nor do I ever expect to hear of him again.
There is great talk of Sir Thos Troubridge having the
Command in the Est Indies; thd a particular friend of
mine, I do not think we should make it out so well to-
gether in the same ship as he is extremely hasty on
Duty. If Jos Tombs is very anxious to receive the prize
Money for the Nile I think you may get it by applying
to Halford. As it is only sixteen shillings I think he
may as well wait till you go to London or till I am paid
off. My share comes to £'^^g : 8 I understand there is
to be another payment but it must be very small. The
young Doctor reed a Letter from Thos Balston the other
Day & I was glad to find that John was getting better.
I hope he is quite recovered. I hope you will be called
to town soon on a good errand that I may have the
Pleasure of seeing you. I'll thank you to give my Duty my
Aunt and Love to Catherine the Children & all friends.

I remain, Dear Manfield,

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

I forgot that Wm Tombs was Petty Officer his share
will be between four and five pounds.

THE TREATY OF AMIENS 85

" ISIS," NORE (Sheerness),
Feby 2>th, 1802.

Dear Manfield,

We arrived here the Day before yesterdy our
further destination is still a Secret, but I think it possible
we shall be ordered round to Portsmouth & there be fitted
for a Flag. I see by the Papers that the St George is gone
to the West Indies. I suppose my Dorsetshire Friends are
very anxious about their young relations which I left in her,
& should the Yellow Fever carry any of them off, I fear I
shall lose all my Credit at least amongst all the old Ladies.
When I wrote to you last Mr Hawkins had joined his Ship
&: I find he behaves very well (at least for the present) ; he
has not been to me & I have reccomend his Captain to
advise him to save himself the trouble as my mind is fully
made up.

Private letters from Town state that Lord Nelson is
certainly going to the West Indies, but I have not heard a
word from his Lordship nor do I believe he has the least
intention of going. It cannot be long before we shall get
the Definitive Treaty & then all our destinations will be
known. Should they offer me a Frigate I do not think I
shall refuse her but I do not feel very anxious about it.

I conclude (as I have not heard from any of you lately)
that John is quite recovered. With Duty to my Aunt and
Love to Catherine & Children. I remain

Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

" Isis," NORE, Fedy 20th, 9 o'clock at night.

Dear Manfield,

This afternoon, I reed orders to proceed to
Spithead & tomorrow morning I shall sail for that place.
What is to follow is yet a Secret, I have no doubt but we
shall be ordered to be fitted for a Flag on our arrival.
What is to become of me I know not (nor do I care) ; how-

86 COPENHAGEN— PEACE OF AMIENS

ever I do not wish to sail under any other Flag but Lord
Nelson's from whom I have not heard a word for some
time, but I intend writing to him on my arrival at Spithead
which I trust will be on Monday or Tuesday next.

With Duty to my Aunt & Love to Catherine the
Children & all friends I remain,

Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

"Isis," Spithead, March lofh, 1802.

Dear Manfield,

I have been waiting many days expecting to
give you some news but nothing has yet transpired. Gore
of the Midusa is arrived here & to fit with all expedition ;
the report is that Lord Nelson is to go in her to the West
Indies however all is a profound secret at Portsmouth. My
relation Colonel Moriarty is here in the Standard who
desires his respects to all friends. Portsmouth is as Barren
of News as Sheerness was ; at least I find it so as I strictly
attend to the Orders of the Admiralty (sleep on board) &
of course am very little out of the Ship. William Pain I
find is on Board the Maidstone & am happy to find his
Captain speaks very well of him. Your old friend Dukey
Prator is at Portsmouth & I think is fatter than ever. I
saw Colonel Bingham ^ the Other day who was very civil,
Peregrine is on board the Raniniillies, at least he ought to
be, but Parsons are privileged men on board Ships of War.
Captain Meggs^ wishes me much to Dine at the Dorset
Mess but has not yet been able to prevail on me, as a trip

' Colonel Bingham of Bingham's Melcombe [1741-1824]. He com-
manded the Dorset Militia during the Great War. A fine mezzotint
portrait of him is in existence.

2 Captain (Thomas) Meggs (died 1819) belonged to the Meggs
family of Bradford Peverel, but resided at Piddlehinton, where he is
buried. He raised a troop of Yeomanry, and commanded in 1801 the
eighth division of the Dorset Defences. His picture, by Beach, is to
be seen at Came.

FESTIVE PORTSMOUTH 87

to Spithead is not very pleasant at 10 o'clock at Night.
My friend Harry Garnett is appointed to the Jessel as a
Troop Ship, which is not very pleasant at this moment.

With Duty to my Aunt & Love & Compliments to all
friends. I remain,

Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

Hardy appears to have greatly enjoyed the festive life
of Portsmouth. The following letter was dated the day
after the signing of the Treaty of Amiens, of which fact the
writer was, of course, unconscious : —

"IsiSj" Spithead, March 28M, 1802.
Dear Manfield,

Literally for want of something to say has

prevented my writing to you before. We go on in the old

way expecting the Definitive Treaty Daily. I had a letter

a few Days ago from Lord Nelson, where he says he had

not the smallest intention of going to the West Indies ; the

other Day therefore (as I have often told you) lamplack &

Oil cannot always be depended on, I saw Mr Morton Pitt

& mentioned to him my reason for not taking young

Hawkins, he was in as great a hurry as usual & only

remained twenty-four hours at Portsmouth. After a

number of invitations from Meggs, I am to Dine to Day

at their Mess ; however as I alway sleep on board I shall

leave them at \ past 7. If they push the Bottle fast I

shall not forget to mention my unfortunate Wound in the

head that always makes me mad after the first Bottle. I

reed an odd Letter from Tom Smith the other Day

requesting I would get him made a Purser, or take him in

any situation, as his liberty on shore was in Danger. I

told him I was sorry it was out of my power as I daily

expected to be paid off I shall answer Martha's Letter in

88 COPENHAGEN— PEACE OF AMIENS

a few days & give her the Chit Chat News of Portsea &
Portsmouth Assembly where I was last Thursday & am to
be again on Tuesday next ; she will be astonished to hear
that Lady Charlotte Durham was my partner last but you
know that Captains at Portsmouth are Nobbs. With Duty
to my Aunt & Love & Compliments to all friends.

I remain, Dear Manfield,

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

CHAPTER XI

FROM THE PEACE OF AMIENS [MARCH 27, 1802] tO
hardy's appointment AS FLAG-CAPTAIN OF THE
"VICTORY" [JULY 21, 1803]

A FEW weeks after Portsmouth was ablaze with
illumination in honour of the delusive Peace of
Amiens, Hardy sailed for the Bay of Biscay to convey
H.R.H. the Duke of Kent^ to the scene of his duties as
Governor of Gibraltar. The following letters need no
comment : —

" Isis," Spithead, Apl 2,rd, 1802.
Dear Manfield,

This Morning I reed orders to prepare the
Isis for the reception of the Duke of Kent who is going
Governor of Gibraltar. I am ordered to go to London to
wait on His Royal Highness & I leave Portsmouth this
evening for that purpose. You shall hear from me in a
day or two.

Duty, Love, &c.,

Yours truly,

T. M. Hardy.

* H.R.H. the Duke of Kent [1767-1820], fourth son of George III.
and father of Queen Victoria. He subsequently presented Hardy with
a magnificent silver soup tureen, now in possession of Sir Evan Mac-
Gregor, K.C.B. It bears his own arms on one side and those of Hardy
on the other.

90 FLAG-CAPTAIN OF THE "VICTORY"

London, Apl ^th,
6 o^clock Eveng.

Dear Manfield,

In about five Minutes I shall break my fast
for the Day. I have been on the Leg ever since 7 o'clock
this morning. I have now done all my business & shall
leave Town in the Portsmouth Mail at 7 this evening. I
was obliged to go to Windsor yesterday to wait on the
Duke I was reed very politely & Dined with Genl Guinn
&c. &c. I stole three hours today to go to Merton where I
saw his Lordship Sir Wm & Lady Hamilton. They are
all extremely well & her Ladyship was quite angry that I
could not stay longer. It is settled with the Duke of Kent
that the his is to leave Portsmouth on the 17th Inst for
Falmouth where he is to embark on the 24th if possible.
If anything should call you near Ports*^ before that time I
shall be happy to see you.

My Dinner is now on the Table & I shall just have
time to swallow it & Drink many happy returns of the
Day to Jos &

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

"Isis," Spithead, Apl nth, 1802.
Dear Manfield,

By not hearing from you I conclude some of
you intend visiting Portsmouth shortly ; however you had
better give me a line stating nearly the Hour of your
arrival that I may be on the look out for you. I suppose
you reed my letter of the 5th Inst which said I was to sail
from Portsmouth on the 17th, & from Falmouth on the
24th Wind & weather permitting. I reed a Letter
yesterday from the Duke's Aide De Camp saying that all
the Servants Baggage &c. &c. would be at Portsmouth on
Friday Morning (i6th) therefore if I get my orders (which

HARDY AND THE DUKE OF KENT 91

I have no doubt but I shall) We shall sail that evening
or early next morning. The Thompson and Crone familys
are well & desire their best Compliments. Duty to my
Aunt & Love to Catherine & the Children.

I remain, Dear Manfield,

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

"Isis," Spithead, April 2oth, 1802.
Dear Manfield,

I have just received my Orders & shall sail as
soon as the remainder of the Dukes things are on board
which will be this evening or early tomorrow morning, &
as the Wind is foul it is possible we shall not be off"
Portland before Thursday or Friday but I shall not put in
there If I can possible help it, as my good friends at the
Admiralty would say that I wanted to go home.

His Royal Highness is to be at Falmouth on Sunday,
therefore I suppose he will pass thro' Dorchester on
Saturday morning. *

My stay at Gibraltar will be very short & I am to
return to Spithead to be paid off", but I have applied for
employment & am partly promised. I hope it will be the
Channel as I think to make some money by keeping a
good look out after the Smugglers.

I have been lumbered a great deal in my time, but I
think never so much as at present ; we have received twelve
Waggon Loads of Cases Trunks &c. &c. however the bar-
gain is made. We must not grumble therefore but do as well
as we can. I was rather astonished to receive a letter from
Martha in London, I hope by this Mrs Balston is well
enough to return home as I suppose she will soon be tired
of London. If you wish to write to me at Falmouth the
Letter must be there by Monday next as we sail as soon as
possible after our arrival.

92 FLAG-CAPTAIN OF THE "VICTORY"

With Duty to my Aunt & Love to Catherine the
Children & all friends I remain,
Dear Manfield,

a little Bothered,

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

On his return from his four weeks' voyage, he writes as
follows : —

" Isis," Mother Bank, May 29/^, 1802.

Dear Manfield,

After a passage of twelve Days we arrived at
this Anchorage last Night at 10 o'clock. I remain under
Quarantine (I suppose only for a few Days) Our Passage
out was a very Pleasant one of thirteen Days & I had the
satisfaction of landing my Royal Passenger in good spirits,
& I believe much pleased with the Isis & her Captain.
Our stay at Gibraltar was six days, the three last occa-
sioned by Westerly Winds. As I found everything at
Gibraltar nearly as I left it, & Providence has been so good
to me since my departure from Spithead that I have no
disasters to relate. What is to become of the ship or
myself is as yet quite unknown to me, & you shall be made
acquainted with our destination as soon as known. I see
nothing but Frigates at Spithead & as we have no com-
munication with anything but the Pratique Boat we shall
get very little News till we have communication with the
shore.

As the Boat is waiting for this I must conclude with

Duty to my Aunt & Love to Catherine the Children & all

friends

I remain

Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

HARDY LEAVES THE "ISIS" 93

" I SIS," Portsmouth Harbour,
June ^th, 1802.
Dear Manfield,

The his this Day Paid off & I suppose by-
tomorrows Post I shall know what is to become of me. I
expect to be offered to remain as Adml Gambler's ^ Captn
which I shall positively refuse. Mr Bonnett (once the
Hair Dresser now the Publican & soon to be the Gentle-
man, as he informs me he is to retire shortly on his fortune)
has given me ;^5 : 10 : o which I shall be obliged if you
will pay to Mr Thos Slade stone mason who I understand
lives at the bottom of the Town.

I am sorry you did not take Portsmouth in your way
from London the other Day as we were out of Quarantine
on Tuesday Morng. If I am not employed of course you
will see me soon. If I am and can with propriety ask
leave I shall and give you a call for a few days.
With Duty Love &c.

I remain Dear Maniield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

Portsmouth, /««^ 20//4, 1802.
Dear Manfield,

I have just taken my place in the Mail for
Tomorrow evg (Monday). I hope soon to hear what is to
become of me. I intend going to the Spring Garden Coffee
House, but my stay in Town shall be as short as possible,
& I see nothing at present to prevent my being in Dorset-
shire the latter end of the Week. I suppose the young
Doctor arrived yesterday he will no doubt hammer out a
long storey as to his Mother that will make her Hair
stand on end on her head. I am just going to Dine with
Mr Thompson.

' James Gambler, afterwards first Baron Gambler [1756-1833], dis-
tinguished himself on the " Glorious First of June," and in the second
attack on Copenhagen.

94 FLAG-CAPTAIN OF THE "VICTORY"

With Duty to my Aunt Love to Catherine & the

Children.

I remain

Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

Once more we find Hardy without a ship and an
assiduous visitor to the waiting-room of the Admiralty.^
He was, however, very soon appointed to the Amphion, his
commission being dated nth July 1802. The next letters
speak sufficiently for themselves. They show that, not-
withstanding the estrangement between Nelson and his
wife, Hardy contrived to maintain friendly relations with
both :—

Spring Garden Coffee, /««,? 24M, 1802.

Dear Manfield,

I saw Lord St Vincent yesterday & he has
promised to give me a Ship very soon. I shall not remain
in Town a moment longer than I am absolutely obliged to.
I dine today with Geo Bagster tomorrow with Sir Thos
Troubridge & if possible the Day after with Lord Nelson
at Merton, & I think the Day after I shall take my depar-
ture in the Mail for Dorchester. I breakfasted this Morn-
ing with Lady Nelson 1 am more pleased with her if
possible than ever ; she certainly is one of the Best Women
in the World. As London is as barren of News as the
Country I have nothing to add but Duty to my Aunt Love

1 See British Fleet, p. 150. Captain Marryat is said to have
written on the wall the following lines : —

" In sore affliction, tried by God's command,
Of patience Job the great example stands ;
But in these days a trial more severe
Had been Job's lot, if God had sent him here."

HARDY IN LONDON 95

& Complts to all Friends & in hopes of seeing you in a few
Days. I remain

Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

London, /«^ 8^>%, 1802.
Dear Manfield,

Sir Thos Troubridge did not return from
Yarmouth till this morning, & I find the Amphion is at
Dungeness the nearest town to it is Dover for which place
I set out this eveng. I am to write an official Letter to
the Admiralty for permission to send a Gun Brig to Ports-
mouth, & Sir Thomas will manage the business for me.
I will write to you as soon as I join the Ship & point out
in what manner Tom is to proceed, my other Servant is
waiting for me at Portsmouth but I shall not trust him
with my things. I saw Ned Balston for a Minute I
believe he dines with the Williams's tomorrow. There
was a letter sent from the Coffee House for me the Day
before I arrived I'll thank you to give me the heads of it in
your next letter, as I understand it was from Mrs Walpole
and she left Town before my arrival. You had better
direct to me Amphion Dungeness Kent. With Duty to
my Aunt & Love to Catherine the Children & all Friends.
I remain

Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

I do not know where there is a Chaplain on board
the Amphion but will tell you in my next. I fear it will
be impossible to get my friend Geo Feaver into a Guard-
ship.

I wish you Success at Weymouth.

96 FLAG-Cx^PTAIN OF THE "VICTORY"

"Amphion," Downs, July \2th, 1802.
Dear Manfield,

I arrived here yesterday & joined the same
day ; we sail tomorrow for Dungeness where your letters
will always find me. Tell Tom Bartlett to go to
Portsmouth & wait further orders. The Admiralty has
promised me a Vessel to bring round my things, but is
quite uncertain when she will be ready I shall direct to the
young Doctor at Mr Thompsons where I think will be the
best place for him to go. He had better go by the Coach
as he may be wanted very soon you shall hear from me
again very soon till then,

I remain, in haste,

Dear Manfield,

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

"Amphion,"
OFF Dover, /z/(^ 14//^, 1802.

Dear Manfield,

The Admiralty has allowed me to send the

Bloodhound Gun Brig to Portsmouth for my things I trust

Tom is there ; if not hurry him off as fast as possible, &

should the Bloodhound be sailed before his arrival, he must

make the best of his way to Lydd Kent about a mile from

Dungeness Road,

Yours in great haste,

T. M. Hardy.

"Amphion," Dungeness, /«// iind, 1802.
Dear Manfield,

I am happy to hear (tho' not Victorious) you
are so well pleased with your proceedings at Weymouth ;
but I trust you will be more successful against the Great
Man at Dorchester, tho' I doubt not but you will have a
very strong fever against you— I am sorry I had not an
opportunity of paying my respect to Mr Weld & Family.

ADMIRALS AND BISHOPS 97

I'll thank you to give my Best Compliments to them when
you see them ; I think there is but little chance of my being
off the Isle of Wight. I inclose you a list of more expenses
incurred by my young friend whilst off Cadiz. I have paid
Captn Nicholls & will trouble you to receive the Money
from their Friends. George Feaver has given up the
thoughts of going to Sea as the emoluments (without
trouble) do not amount to more than ^100 a year ; with
trouble I might safely add ^^"50 ; however in those Days we
all want to be Admirals or Bishops. I am rather
astonished at not hearing from Portsmouth the Bloodhound
left Deal the 15th. I suppose it is the D d Custom-
house that stops them. With Duty to my Aunt Love to
Catherine the Children and all friends. I remain

Dr Manfield,

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

Tell John I have written to Captn Ganett & desired him
to inform John how he would wish the Dogs to be sent.
We have had very bad weather I fear bad for the Hay &
Corn but good for Turnips.

This is the Ninth letter I have written toDay so much
for being a Commodore however I believe it will do me a
great deal of good.

More Dorset ale is now requisitioned for the table of
the captain of the A inphion.

"Amphion," Dungeness, Augtii^th^ 1802.

Dear Manfield,

I have not written to you before literally for
want of something to say, & I believe if I wait till I have a
long story to tell, it will be sometime before you hear from
me. I find by Mr Nevill (now on board the Amphion) that
my friend Mrs Walpole is only a Cousin to the Mr Walpole;

98 FLAG-CAPTAIN OF THE "VICTORY"

however I shall not forget to move her Interest with him
when an opportunity offers. Young Hamilton of Wey-
mouth is to join us soon (I believe by Water). If my
Friend Mr Oakley should have any good Beer by him &
Mr H. can take it without trouble, I will thank you to
send me two Hampers. We continue Cruising as usual
without much chance of success. The Weather has been
very fine for this last Month & I suppose you have every
prospect of a Good Harvest. I had a long letter from our
Friend Captain Ingram; I find the Burton^ Fish &c has been
too good for him however a touch of Gout in September
sometimes is a pleasant thing for the partridges. We met
with a Gale of Wind last Night that drove us into the
Downs ; however it is moderate now & we are just arrivd
off this place. The young Doctor has received a Letter
from Tom Balston & I find John Manfield is with him &
well. When you see Mr Weld I'll thank you to give my
best respects to him & Family. I note you are in a fair
way to beat the Great.

I'll thank you to give my Duty to my Aunt. Love to
Catherine & the Children and all friends

1 remain, Dear Manfield,

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

26//^, Downs. — The Weather has been so bad that we
bore up last night for this place.

Later in the autumn, Hardy was ordered to convey
Lord Robert Fitzgerald to Lisbon, where he had been
appointed Minister — (Hardy dubs him Ambassador).
The Dorset ale had arrived, but, sad to relate, did not
maintain its habitual standard of excellency.

^ The future Admiral (see ante). There was evidently a great deal
of conviviality at both Burton and Loders in those days.

A TRIP TO LISBON 99

"Amphion," Spithead, Septrz^t/i, 1802.
Dear Manfield,

We arrived here this Morng per Telegraph
from the Downs & I find my orders are to take Lord
Robert Fitzgerald ^ to Lisbon as Ambasador ; you see my
friend Tom Troubridge^ has not forgotton me. We are
to be paid off on our return & reCommissioned. Thank
you for the Beer I hope it will be up ; I tasted a bottle
the other Day & thought it rather Flat. I have not as
yet learnt when his Lordship will be ready. I find the
Possum people are to have a visit from the Thompsons
in a few Days (Charles & Ann). I thank you to remember
me to them.

With Duty Love & Compt. I remain (in haste)

Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

"Amphion," Spithead,
October 20th, 1802, 8 ock morning.

Dear Manfield,

Lord Robert Fitzgerald & Family arrived at
Portsmouth the Day before yesterday and the Weather
had been so bad that they could not go on board. It is
now very fine weather but the Wind still continues from
the Westward. However I shall get them on board today
and sail as soon as the Wind inclines from the Northd or
Eastd. There are a few Ships gone with Dispatches to
different Places, but I do not think there is the least
prospect of a War at least for the present. The Blenheim

1 Lord Robert Stephen Fitzgerald [1765-1833], sixth son of the
first Duke of Leinster, and younger brother of the ill-fated Edward
Fitzgerald. He married Sophia Charlotte, daughter of Captain
Fielding, R.N. Hardy relates her troubles on shipboard with grim
humour.

^ Admiral Sir Thomas Troubridge, Bart. [1758- 1807]. He has
evidently now risen in Hardy's estimation (see ante, p. 84).

100 FLAG-CAPTAIN OF THE "VICTORY"

sails on Friday with Sealed orders. It is supposed for the
Mediterranean. I am ordered to return to Spithead &
that order has not been contradicted. If the Winds
should be foul we shall certainly put into Portland Road.

^ past 4. — The wind continues so strong to the Westwd
that the Family do not think proper to venture on board,
but I hope tomorrow will be more Favourable. With
Duty to my Aunt & Love & Compliments to all Friend
I remain

Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

"Amphion," Portland Roads,
October z^th, 9 o'clock Night [1802].

Dear Manfield,

We arrived here about two hours ago as Lady
Robt Fitzgerald realy could not stand the fatigues of the
Sea any longer, & how she is to get to Lisbon God only
knows, as we have literally had very fine weather ever
since we left Spithead which was only yesterday at 3
o'clock in the afternoon. The Wind is not fair but we
could make a very good Slant could I prevail on them to
allow me to proceed. If ever married man was Blessed
I think poor Lord Robert was last evening, and this
Morning, out of a Wife eight Children, as many Female
Servants a Secretary & Six Men Servants his Lordship
had not a sole to put the Children to Bed & Dress them
this Mor"^, but two Women belonging to the Ship^ ; however
he bears it with the most Christian Fortitude & is worthy

^ "The custom of carrying a certain number of seamen's wives to
sea appears to have prevailed all through the eighteenth century.
According to Marryat, Barker, Chamier, and others, the practice con-
tinued to exist, more or less, until the peace in 1817. Captains often
took their wives to sea with them." — Commander C. N. Robinson in
British Fleet, p. 427. Lady Hardy was often at sea with her husband
after their marriage in 1807 {?,&c. post).

HARDY'S LADY PASSENGER loi

of being cald a good Husband & a good Father. I have
written this in hopes some Portland Boat will call along-
side of us in the Morning or should the Wind remain
Westerly I shall send a boat to Weymouth for Fresh Beef
but the moment the Wind comes from the Eastward
(which I trust will be in the course of the day) We shall
be off.

I shall write to Jos by the same Conveyance that takes
this & for want of something else to say shall give him
nearly a copy of this. With Duty to my Aunt Love to
Catherine the Children & in hopes of an Easterly Wind in

the Morning

I remain Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

PORTSMOUTHj Decr loth, 1802.

Dear Manfield,

We arrived at Spithead this morning after an
8 days Passage from Lisbon but I am sorry to say that
we were thirty one Days going out, & the weather was not
the most Pleasant in the World; at least Lady Robert
Fitzgerald did not think it so, for she talked of departing
this Life more than once but we landed her safe at last.
What is to become of us I know not but suppose paid off
in a few days. Mr Thompson (who I have just seen)
desired me to say he had reced the game &c from Mr
Balston & John & is much obliged. My stay at Lisbon
was only six Days & I have brought no News from that
part of the Country & have not been long enough here to
learn any, but I learn from Mr Thompson there has been
no news of us since we sailed, therefore determined to give
you the earliest account possible of our arrival. With
Duty to my Aunt Love to Catherine the Children & all
friends. I remain Dear Manfield

In great haste

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

I02 FLAG-CAPTAIN OF THE "VICTORY"

The Hardy letters of 1803 begin here: —

" Amphion," Portsmouth Harbor,
J any jth^ 1803.

Dear Manfield,

I have not written to you before for want of
something to say, & I am truly sorry that the present
subject is so unpleasant. Poor Ned Balston's accident of
course was known here a few days ago ; it must be a very
distressing thing to the Family. As the Papers did not
mention his Death I conclude he is safe. I wish I had been
in the Downs I could have then gone to his assistance he
must have lost a great deal of Property & I much fear his
Voiage will also be lost to him.^ Let me know when you
intend going to tov/n & it is not unlikely but I shall meet
you there. I expect we shall be paid off the latter part of
this Month but it depends on the Shipwrights & their time
is quite uncertain. Tell Augusta 1 reed her letter & shall
write to her very soon. Miss Crone reed the Turkey, &c.
& returns Thanks. With Duty to my Aunt Love to
Catherine & the Children

I remain Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

"Amphion," Portsmouth,
Feby. tth, 1803.

Dear Manfield,

I could not answer your letter yesterday as
there was no post. We get Men so fast that I almost
despare of seeing you except you take Portsmouth in your
way to Dorsetshire. Our ist Lieut is now on leave of
absence & I cannot possible quit the Ship till he returns,
which I think will be in ten days.^ I shall then try my

1 Hardy refers to the shipwreck described in one of Tegg's illus-
trated pamphlets.

2 This was partly no doubt attributable to his own popularity,
and partly to the fact that when peace was declared thousands of

ORDERED TO CORK 103

friends at the Admiralty for two or three Days. If we are
not ordered to hold ourselves in readiness before that time,
but the Admiralty make it such a favor to grant leave that
I really do not like to ask them. I learnt from a Captn
Pearce of the India Co Service that Poor Ned Balston was
still at Margate and that he was not yet out of Danger I
hope & trust his information was ill founded. Did you
receive a Parcel for me some time ago from a Mr Pearce
(late of the 5/ George) ; if you did I wish you would send for
it to London & give it to Halford to forward it to me the
first opportunity. I hope Jos Ann & Augusta will remain
as long as you I will slip up & see you when Bennett
returns. With best love to them all

I remain Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

"Amphion," Spithead,
March bth, 1803.

Dear Manfield,

To my great astonishment yesterday I reed
order to proceed to Cork without loss of time & I believe
we sail for that place either tomorrow or Tuesday.

Our Friend Capn Domett is taken so ill that he has
given up the Command, & who we are to have there I have
not yet learnt. I conclude you are at Dorchester therefore
shall direct to you there. I hope Ann got home safe &
trust she is getting better. The Weather has been so bad
that yesterday was the first time I landed since our arrival

seamen were thrown out of employment, and were starving for want
of work. As soon, therefore, as they began to commission ships in
view of a fresh outbreak of hostihties, the men flocked down, and it
was unnecessary to take the extreme measures for manning, which had
been necessary in the last years of the old century, to provide crews for
the Fleet. Again Hardy says he "cannot quit the ship because the
first lieutenant is on leave of absence." This was strictly according to
the regulations of the day.

104 FLAG-CAPTAIN OF THE "VICTORY"

at Spithead. I think living on board a Week has done me
a great deal of good for I find myself quite recovered
except a little pain in the Back & as that is a Family
Complaint I must not Complain. Everything here is so
barren of News that I have not a Word to say but Duty to
My Aunt Love &c &c

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

"Amphion," Spithead,
March 30///, 1 803.

Dear Manfield,

We arrived last Night too late for Post.
We are ordered to be fitted for Foreign Service & what
follows is yet to be learnt. The Papers I hear have
appointed me to the Cidloden but all is unknown to me. I
rather think Lord Nelson will hoist his Flag in this Ship
for a Passage to the Mediterranean should the War go on,
but to Day it is all Peace at Portsmouth. Our Passage
from Cork was very tedious it was either a foul Wind or
Calm the whole way. I was rather anxious as I feared old
Nelson ^ would have sailed before my arrival. I am quite
recovered and was never better in my life than at present.
Young Roberts has joined but I have not seen him yet. I
know you will excuse my scrall as you may suppose I have
but little time to spare. I hope Ann Hardy is got well.
Give my Duty to my Aunt Love &c &c as Catherine says
is always the conclusion

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

^ The use of the endearing term "old Nelson" shows the strong
friendship which existed between them. Although Nelson was only
ten years older than Hardy, the latter always looked after the health
and comforts of his chief with a paternal assiduity.

LADY HAMILTON'S FUTURE 105

"Amphion," St Helens,
Ap. bth^ 1803.

Dear Manfield,

Here we are fitted for Foreign Service as
full as an &%% what is to follow is yet to be learnt. As you
know I am not inquisitive I have not taken the trouble to
ask but hold myself ready for the worst & then I shall be
prepared for the best. The Papers (as you have seen I
suppose) say Lord Nelson is to hoist his Flag here ; however
that I suppose will be known in due time. I am sorry to
hear Mrs Manfield has been so ill, give my love to her &
tell her she must not gad about so much, Married Women
are best at home. I am very sorry to hear poor Martha
is so 111, but trust this fine Weather will bring her round.
If you see young Wallis remember me to him & tell him I
hope soon to hear of his Ship being in Commission. My
friend Sir Thos Troubridge is not worth one third of the
Money that he was accused of selling out for, & he is the
last Man in the world to do it. Our Friend Sir William
Hamilton died on Sunday afternoon & was quite sensible
to the last. How her Ladyship will manage to Live with
the Hero of the Nile now, I am at a loss to know, at least in
an honourable way. So soon as I know my destination (&
am allowed to communicate it) you may depend on being
informed. If you thought that I could receive my Shirts
(that are at Possum) in 4 or 5 Days from this date I should
like to risk it should we sail Mr Thompson will take care
of them for me it would be as well to Direct them for me
to his care. With Duty to my Aunt & Love &c &c

I remain

Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy. .

io6 FLAG-CAPTAIN OF THE "VICTORY"

"Amphion," St Helens,
April 22,rd, 1803.

Dear Manfield,

I received my Shirts safe for which I am
obliged. I am happy to hear you are all getting round
again. I shall be happy to do anything I can for Mr
Ferris but it appears by your letter he only wishes to be
employed should the War go on. As I am not in the
habit of making bargains I cannot give our Friend John
Browne an answer till we know for certain how it is to
be. I conclude Lt Ferris is married. I wrote to Colonel
Bingham a few Days ago on the subject of his Son. If
you see him, do ask if he received my Letter. Tho' I
am extremely angry with his son yet I should be happy
to serve the Father. I had a letter from Captain Digby
yesterday requesting I would take a Son of Charles
Strangeways ^ of Maiden Newton. I refused (in a handsom
way) because I think Mr S. might as well a let it come
thro' some of my relations as Captn D. Nothing has
transpired relative to our Sailing since I wrote last, & what
is to become of us is yet to be learnt. I am in hopes that
matters will be made up but I fear a Peace cannot last
long. With Duty to my Aunt Love &c to all I remain

Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

An unexpected slice of good fortune now falls to the
lot of Thomas Hardy. Notwithstanding his loyalty to
Lady Nelson and his unwelcome candour in the matter
of Lady Hamilton, the Hero of the Nile, now on the point
of starting in the Victory for the blockade of Toulon (the
war which lasted for eleven years having been declared
on the 1 8th May 1803), insisted that Hardy and no one

' A son of the Rev. Charles Fox Strangeways, B.C.L., Rector of
Maiden Newton from 1787 to 1837.

CAPTAIN SUTTON'S EXCHANGE 107

else should be captain of the Victory, on which he had
decided to hoist his flag. An exchange was accordingly
arranged with Captain Sutton ^ as shown in the following
letter :—

"Amphion," St Helens,
Afay 20th, 1803.

Dear Manfield,

I really have been so much employed that I
have not had time to write & I can only tell you now
that we are just getting under weigh. Lord Nelson is on
board the Victory, but as it is not quite certain weather
we shall not be obliged to leave her (the Victory) Off Brest,
my change with Captn Sutton does not take place till we
have passed Old Adml Cornwallis.^ His Lordship looks
remarkably well and is in high spirits. As the Boat is
waiting I can only promise to write to you again by the
first opportunity.

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

' Captain Samuel Sutton entered the navy in 1777 ; served in
several general actions with Sir J. Rowley and Lord Rodney. Was
Lieutenant of the Culloden on the ist June 1795, and commanded the
Alcviene at Copenhagen (1801).

2 Admiral Sir William Cornwallis, G.C.B. [1744-1819], commanded
the Channel Fleet in 1801 and from 1803 to 1806.

CHAPTER XII

NELSON AND HARDY ONCE MORE IN THE JNIEDITER-
RANEAN. THE BLOCKADE OF TOULON [i8TH MAY
1803 TO 3 1 ST DEC. 1804]

ON the 1 8th May 1803, Lord Nelson hoisted his flag
on board the Victory at Portsmouth. Two days
later, he sailed for Brest on his way to Gibraltar and the
Mediterranean. On the loth July, however, he was on
board the Aniphion, with Hardy, off Algiers. The following
important letter throws new light on the reason for this
change of ships. On the day in question. Hardy thus
writes to his relative at Dorchester : —

"Amphion," off Algiers,
July loth, 1803.

Dear Manfield,

Our stay at Gibraltar was so short & I was
so much employed, that I had not time to give you a line, &
in short I had nothing to say but that we arrived there on
the 3rd Inst & sailed the 4th in the morning. We were
fortunate enough to capture a Dutch Ship off Plymouth
& should she be condemned (which at present is uncertain)
I suppose I shall get a Thousand pounds as the Victory
was the only Ship in Company. Since we left Gibraltar
we have taken another Dutch Man & a french Brig but
I believe their Cargoes are not Valuable. Mr Elliot ^

1 Hugh Elliot [1752-1830]. He eventually became a Privy Coun-
cillor and Governor of IVIadras.

108

LORD NELSON ON THE "AMPHION" 109

Minister for Naples leaves us tomorrow Morning in the
Alaidstone for that place, by whom I shall send this
Letter and wether you will ever get it or not is quite
uncertain. We have a fair Wind for Malta where I hope
to arrive in about two or three Days. William Payne is
1st Lieut of the Maidstone & is very well but complains
he has not heard from his Friends for nearly twelve
Months. We expect the Victory every Day & Captain
Sutton is to have the AmpJiion. As Lord Nelson left
England in the Victory you would be rather surprised to
hear of his being in this ship, but the truth is it was
necessary for her to make her appearance Off Brest with
Adml Cornwallis, & as we were not fortunate enough to
fall in with him, & the wind being fair His Lordship would
not wait but thought it advisable to come on in this Ship.
You may depend on hearing from me very often & I
trust I shall not have reason to complain on your part.
I shall write to Ann by the next conveyance which I
think is Likely to be received before this. The Weather
is very warm already I suppose it will be exceptionally
hot at Malta however I trust our stay there will be very
short. With Duty & love to all I remain

Dear Manfield,

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

It is not proposed to recapitulate in this volume the
story of this period of Nelson's career, which has been so
ably dealt with by Captain Mahan and other writers. The
means of communication with England appears to have
been far from satisfactory, or Mr Manfield was possibly
over-occupied with his professional and municipal duties,
and the cares of his coming mayoralty. Before the
beginning of September, Hardy was evidently installed
as captain of the Victory (his appointment dates from

no THE BLOCKADE OF TOULON

July 31, 1803), for at the beginning of September he thus
addresses Mr Manfield : —

" Victory " off Toulon,
Sept ^th, 1803.
Dear Manfield,

I have written to some of you every oppor-
tunity since we left England, and tho' several vessels have
arrived from Spithead lately, I have not heard a word from
Dorsetshire, however I do not despair of a letter by the
next arrival. My hands have been pretty full as you may
suppose but all is nearly to rights now, I have been very
unwell but am quite recovered, in fact the N.W. Breeze
off Toulon is so salutory that it is almost impossible to
be unwell. We get well supplied with beef, vegetables,
&c from the Bay of Roses [Rosas] which is near our
cruising ground and our men are all very Healthy, but
I think there is every prospect of a war with Spain, when
of course we must get our supplies from another quarter,
which can be very easily done by sending to the Barbary
States. The French has made a move by sending two
frigates out, and it was with some difficulty they got into
Calvi in Corsica, and I trust the next attempt will be
attended with better success on our part ; and I have
very little doubt but the fleet (which consists of 8 sail
of the line) will make a Dust during the winter months.
I hope the Business in Ireland ^ has not been of an alarming
nature, and that government have taken strong measures
to prevent a similar affair happening in future. I think it
necessary that every step should be taken in England to
prevent the Enemy landing, but in my own opinion the
Corsican never intended an invasion except he found parties
run high, which I trust is not the case. We have been
very unfortunate since off Toulon in the way of Prize
money, but upon the whole I have no reason to complain
provided they condemn the Dutchman which we sent into

^ Emmett's futile insurrection of July 1803.

WAITING FOR THE FRENCH FLEET iii

Plymouth. I long to hear that poor Ned Balston is again
afloat ; if he is at home do remember me kindly to him.
The young doctor^ is doing very well and I think very
much improved ; at present he is Lord Nelson's servant
who is very fond of him, but I believe his attachment to
his old master is such that he only considers himself as lent
to his lordship.

This will be sent by the first opportunity that offers ;
till then God Bless you.

Off Toulon^ October 2^th. — The Morwwuth leaves the
fleet this day for Gibraltar by which I take the advantage
of this. This is so barren a spot for the pen that I
really have nothing to say but that we are anxiously
waiting for the French Fleet, as there is no prospect of
going into port till they have been beat.

With Duty to my Aunt & Love to all

I remain Dear Manfield

Yours affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

P.S. — I have sent young Hamilton & Roberts with
Captn Elliot of the Maidstone'^ in hopes of putting some
money in their pockets as Capt E. is a very active
fellow.

In December he writes : —

"Victory" off Toulon, Deer ^th, 1803.

Dear Manfield,

I received your letter of the 21st of September
by the Excellent which is the first from Dorsetshire since
I left England. If your Son John is determined to go to
Sea the sooner the better I think. It will be necessary for

1 Edward Bartlett.

2 Afterwards Rear-Admiral Elliot. The second son of the Earl of
Minto. He died after seeing a great deal of war service in 1863.

112 THE BLOCKADE OF TOULON

you to point out to him all the inconveniences attending
our profession, & that he must make up his mind to en-
counter numberless hardships ; with that & a good Constitu-
tion I have no doubt but he will do very well. If I can
manage to put him on the Books (as John Callard
Manfield) I will but I am not quite certain that I can do
it. I will inclose you a letter to a Friend that I am sure
will take care of him, which you can send or destroy as
you judge fit ; if you prefer his coming out to this Country
I would recommend your taking him to our Friend Mr
Thompsons & he will get him a passage by the first
opportunity that offers. I am happy to hear you have had
so good a Harvest. If you see Colonel Bingham tell him
his Son is with us in the Victory, & when we take the
French Fleet he may depend on his being promoted. I
am sorry to hear that Martha & Augusta continue ailing
but hope this Winter will bring them quite round. Do
give my best respects to the Weld Family & John Brown
& condole or Congratulate him as you think proper. My
kind Complements also to Captn Ingram & tell him we are
all uncommon well here & only wait for the French Fleet
to come out. I am sorry to hear they have not given Ned
Balston a Ship but trust he will not be forgotten much
longer. I have had a letter from Admiral Brine ^ & I find
all I have done about his Son is quite right. This is
written in readiness to be sent first opportunity.

Agincourt, Sound Island of Sardinia,
Deer 25//^, 10 o'clock at Night.

The Phoebe sails for Gibraltar tomorrow morning
which is the first opportunity I have had since I reed your
Letter. We hear there is a Cutter arrived off Toulon from
England & I think I stand a fair chance of hearing from
some of you. We have had some very bad weather,

^ Admiral James Brine, who commanded the Belliqueux in the
action with the Comte de Grasse on 5th Sept. 1781. He had two sons
in the service, but which one is mentioned here it is impossible to
say.

A LETTER TO LANGFORD 113

arrived here last Night to compleat our Water &; proceed
in a few Da)s for our old station.

I have not been on shore nor Do I think I shall, it is a
poor miserable place not capable of furnishing us with fresh
Provisions. Wishing you all the Compliments of the
season. I remain Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

On the same day, he writes to Captain Langford ^ as
follows : —

"Victory," obt Toulon,
Deer ^th^ 1803.

Dear Langford,

I am happy to see by the papers that the
Fury is on so Active a Station and have no doubt but it
will soon gain you the other step. I have a young Rela-
tion who is anxious to go to Sea ; if you can make room for
him in the Class, I shall be much obliged should you be
able to comply with my request, and will write to his
Father (Mr Manfield, Dorchester, Dorset), he will send the
Youngster to you. We are going on in the old way here.
Sir William Boulton - joined us the other day, and of
course, is first for promotion. Old Potterdale Commands
the Termagant, Pearce, the Halcyon (a prize Brig), &
Layman, the Weazle. You will have seen by the papers
that George Elliott ^ has got the Maidstone, and I think

^ Of Massingham, Norfolk. He was severely wounded in the
attack on the Boulogne flotilla. (See Nelson's letters in Nelson, His
Public and Private Life, by C. Lathom Browne, London, 1891, pp.
274-75. A portrait of Captain Langford is in possession of his descendant
Mrs Chamberlayne of Maiden Bradley, Wilts.

- Captain Sir William Bolton, R.N., died ist Dec. 1830. He
married Catherine, niece of Lord Nelson (daughter of Thomas Bolton
and Susanna Nelson). Her brother became second Earl Nelson on
the 28th February 1835, and was the father of the present holder of the
title (born 1823), who succeeded his father, ist November 1835.

^ Captain George Elliott (afterwards Admiral Sir George Elliott,
K.C.B., 1 784- 1 863) was placed in command of a ship by Lord Nelson
on the loth July 1803, and of the Maidstone frigate on the ist August
following. He was then only nineteen.

114 THE BLOCKADE OF TOULON

promises to make a very good Officer. I think Lord
Nelson looks as well as I ever saw him, he desires to be
kindly remembered to you. I am very happy to see that
Admiral Thornborough ^ has not forgotten to erect a Monu-
ment to our poor Friend Parker. Wishing you every

success,

I remain,

Dear Langford,

Yours very sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.

To Captn. F. Langford,

H.M. Ship Fury, Downs.

Captain Langford writes thus to Mr Manfield : —

H.M.S. "Fury," Downs,
March nth, 1804.

Sir,

I had the pleasure of receiving Captn. Hardy's

Letter from the Victory requesting I would receive your

Son to the Fury. If there is any Person in the creation

I could oblige — it would most certainly be him — to whom

I am under numerous obligations. I have frankly stated

to Captain H. there is at this moment no vacancy, neither

do I at present see a possibility of receiving Him. My

Complement of Men and Boys is and has been some time

complete. Indeed I have now a young Gentleman on

Board I am at a loss how to dispose of. If I can get any

of my friends on this Station to receive him till I have an

opportunity of entering Him on the Ftiry Book it will give

me great pleasure. If I succeed you shall hear from me.

In the Interval I am.

Sir, Your obt. Servant,

Fred Langford.

Some months elapse. The tedious blockade still con-
tinues without any stirring events as far as Hardy is con-

^ Admiral Sir Edward Thornborough, G.C.B. [1754-1834] (seep. 7i).

A DINNER WITH LORD NELSON 115

cerned. Meanwhile, John Callard Manfield, the younger,

joins the Nav)^ In August his uncle thus writes to the

youth's father : —

"Victory," Palma Bay,
Island of Sardinia, Augt 6ik, 1804.

Dear Manfield,

I received your letter of the 12th of May one

from Martha of the 19th of the same Month by John who

joined us two Days before in the Ambuscade & Captain

Durban has been good enough to take men for me into

that ship which I consider a very fortunate circumstance as

he pays particular attention to the education of his

youngsters & is himself very clever in his profession.

John appears quite satisfied with his situation & has got

the better of the Sea Sickness. He Dined yesterday with

Lord Nelson & his Lordship was pleased to say he was

very much like his Uncle only the Chin was a little longer,

you may depend on my taking every care of him, & you

may make yourself quite easy about his Money concerns,

all that I will strictly attend to. Captain Durban speaks very

highly of his Disposition and I have no doubt but he will

do very well. As I conclude you will be very anxious to

hear of his safe arrival I take the opportunity of the

Childevs going to Rosas (in Spain) this afternoon of sending

this by her, & shall write to you again by the Kefit^ who

sails for England in about ten days & as the Ambuscade

will not leave us before that time I shall make John Write

to his Mother by the same Conveyance. We came here

for the purpose of clearing the Victuallers & store ships

that came with the Ambuscade ; the Prevoyant remained at

Gibraltar at which place John joined Captain Durban ; our

stay here will be but a few Days when we shall return to

our old Station. I think this very extraordinary change in

France ^ is likely to bring about Peace tho' I almost fear a

' Napoleon Bonaparte became Emperor in virtue of a decree of the
Senate, dated i8th May 1804. He was crowned by the Pope at Paris
on the 2nd December following.

ii6 THE BLOCKADE OF TOULON

good one cannot be made with Bonaparte. However it is
not necessary to fight with every Rascal one meets but to
be on our guard is incumbent on us.

I am sorry to hear from Martha that Aunt Hardy is
not so well as she has been ; give my Duty to her & beg of
her to make her self as comfortable as she can. With Love
to Catherine & the Children. I remain,

Dear Manfield,

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.
Hardy writes a week later : —

"Victory," off Toulon,
Augt 17 tk, 1804.
Dear Manfield,

I wrote to you some Days ago but knowing it
to be quite uncertain whether you will receive it or not I
take the opportunity of getting this ready as I know the
Kent is to sail for England in a few Days. I shall now give
you the heads of my last letter. John arrived safe in the
Ambuscade on the 29th of July & did not make it known
to me till our arrival in Palma Bay which was the 1st of
August. I received your letter and one from Martha & I
concluded John had remained at Gibraltar as the Prevoyant
was detained there to deliver stores ; however Captn Durban
informed me he had a young Gentleman on board by the
name of Manfield who he understood was my Nephew &
Mr John made his appearance soon after. He looks very well
& says he is quite pleased with his profession. Captn
Durban is quite pleased with him & has been good enough
to keep him in \h^ A^nbuscade. He dined the next Day with
his Lordship who was pleased to say my Nephew was very
much like me except the Chin was rather longer therefore
you will conclude mine is reduced a little. I have not seen
the young gentleman since we left Palma but shall have
him on board the first opportunity & I hope he has
prepared a letter for his Mother ; if not I shall make him

CAPT. DURBAN AND THE YOUNGSTERS 117

get one ready & inclose it with this. Make yourself quite
easy about his Money Concerns. I will undertake it all & I
would recommend you not to send him out any Cloths, as I
can get every thing he may want in this Country. I con-
sider it very fortunate his being with Captn Durban as
he takes a great deal of pains with the Education of the
youngsters & is himself very clever in his profession. I
fear Mr Thompson is quite angry with me for not writing
to him oftener however I wrote the other Day and shall
write again by this conveyance. I believe he feels much
for the loss of Poor William, & Steel's list has I see killed
his Son John, but your Son John tells me there is no truth
in it which I am quite happy to hear. I have written to
Martha this Day & I am only sorry I have not more news
for her but we are rather in a barren spot. The Kent is
just going to sail & your Son John has forgot to send his
Mothers Letter he was very well last Night you shall hear
from him the next opportunity.

With Duty to my Aunt Love to Childn &c. I remain,

Dr M, Yours Afify,

T. M. Hardy.

On the 20th August in the same year, he writes thus
to Mr Noble at Malta 1 :—

"Victory" off Toulon,
August 2otk, 1804.

My dear Noble,

I was favoured with your letter of the 22nd
of May {vid Madaline) by the Belleisle at which place I
hear your vessel was at her departure. Should we fall in
with her I shall be happy to pay every attention to her
officers. I sent your letter by way of Rosas by our friend

' Mr Broadley's collection of Nelson MSS.

ii8 THE BLOCKADE OF TOULON

Sir VVm Boulton which I hope will be in England before
the Convoy. I remain

My dear Noble

Yours most Sincerely

T. M. Hardy.
Edmund Noble, Esq.,
Malta.
[Endorsed " Reed 31st Augt, Ansd ist Oct."]

Now comes a charming and characteristic letter from
Mary Manfield, the daughter of the Dorchester Alderman,
to her brother John, serving with Captain Durban on
board the Ambuscade off Toulon : —

Dorchester,
October i Zth, 1 804.

My dear Brother,

I was happy to hear by your letters that you
were well and liked being a sailor. My Mother hopes you
will continue to write long ones every opportunity you
have of sending them to England and I assure you I will
always answer them equally long. We have not seen any
account in the papers of the engagement you expected to
have, I suppose you said it to alarm your Mother. William
is gone to school to Mr Adams at Tiverton we have had
one letter from him which was very well written for the
first my mother wishes to go and see him before the
vacation as he is very young to be sent 52 miles from
home. I am happy to see you make good use of the
Book I gave you ; it will amuse us to read your journal
when you come home. The Yeomanry are come here to-
day they are to be quartered in the town for a week we
are to have Mr J. Browne the two Welds, Uncle Hardy,
and Uncle John to sleep here. They expect to be reviewed
by the King, if they should be I hope I shall go out and
see them. I assure you I am very glad they are here, as
it will make Dorchester a little gay, having such a number

A WEYMOUTH BALL 119

of soldiers in it. I shall be very much amused to see the
gentleman going with their bags for corn which I under-
stand they are obliged to do. I have been staying a
fortnight at Weymouth, with Aunt Ann at Mrs Warne's.
I spent my time very pleasantly, in walking on the
Esplanade and sailing, I went to the ball and danced
with an Officer in the Navy to whom Captain Ingram
introduced to me : I was at a play which was very crowded
and hot, but however I had a very good view of the Royal
Family, as I sat opposite them. I went on board the Royal
Sovereign, she is fitted up very superbly, covered with
gold and scarlet velvet ; the sea was unfortunately rough
which made me uncomfortable the whole of the day. I
can easily imagine what you must have suffered, from sea
sickness at first : Weymouth has been extremely full for
the first month the king was there, it was said there was
not a bed to be got in the town, it is thining very fast
now, the Royal Family are to leave it in a fortnight. My
Mother wishes to know if you have written to Mr Thompson
if you have not she desires you will do it, the first oppor-
tunity you have of sending a letter. Miss Ann Thompson
has been in Dorsetshire this last two months, she staid a
fortnight with us, then went to Weymouth, and is now at
Portisham ; I saw her last Monday, she was very well and
said she believed her Sister Eliza was married last week
& Father, Mother, and Ann join me in love to My Uncle
and yourself and believe me to remain

Your affectionate Sister,

M. Manfield.

After perusing the letter, the Alderman adds a
postscript : —

P.S. — Mv DEAR John,

If you want anything apply to your Uncle
who has been so good as to say he will furnish you with

I20 THE BLOCKADE OF TOULON

everything you may want. He speaks well of you continue
to deserve it and no doubt you'll prosper. God bless you

Yours affectionately

JNO Call : Manfield.

The following letter is interesting as referring to the
working of the impressment system^ as late as 1804, It is
addressed to Mr Noble at Malta 2 :—

"Victory," Madalina Islands,
October ^yd^ 1804.

My Dear Noble,

I was favoured with your letter of the ist Inst
by Phoebe & as yet have not seen the two men sent in lieu
of Benjn Hambleton, but am quite satisfied with Captn
Cassel's report of them, and have sent Hambleton on board
Active for a Passage to Malta with a full discharge which I
trust will be sufficient to prevent his being again impressed.
I hope you have kept an account of the number of great-
coats sent to me for I realy have no idea of the quantity as
I disposed of them as fast as they arrived.

There is no doubt but his Lordship will leave us for
England very shortly and our loss of course will be very
great but we are in hopes he will return in the Spring.
Should I see the Old Maid I shall be happy to pay her
every attention for you must recollect I have not seen a
female face these sixteen months.
Wishing you every Success

I remain Dear Noble

Yours very sincerely

T. M. Hardy.
Edmund Noble, Esq., [Seal

Malta. T. M. H.]

[Endorsed "Reed ist Nov," Ansd 9th Do.]

^ Many most interesting details about impressment and exemptions
from it will be found in the British Fleet, pp. 104 and 412. A man
impressed might provide a substitute, and this is probably what
Hambleton did.

- Nelson and Hardy MSS. in possession of A. M. Broadley.

RUMOURS OF A SPANISH WAR 121

A fortnight later Hardy writes : —

"Victory," off Toulon,
Nov. 6th, 1804.

Dear Man field,

The Ambuscade joined the Fleet the day
before yesterday and I learn that John is well but the
weather has been so bad I have not had an opportunity of
seeing him ; and as it is probable he will not write by this
conveyance I think it will relieve Catharine's mind to
hear from this quarter as you doubtless have heard of the
dreadful fever at Gibraltar. However we are quite healthy
here and I have little doubt but we shall continue so from
the great care taken by our worthy and good Commander
in chief. His Lordship will certainly leave this country for
England by the middle of this month and what is to
become of me cannot be determined till it is known
weather Lord Nelson gos home on leave or they supercede
him. If the latter, it is more than probable that I shall
quit the Victory with his Lordship ; if the former of course
I remain where I am till his return. In the event of my
leaving the Mediterranean I think I cannot do better than
leave John with Captain Durban and all his money matters
shall be settled by me. Durban speaks very handsomely
of him, and I have no doubt but he will make a good officer
in due time. We have had a great deal of bad weather
and much more must be expected before the winter is over.
We have had some little idea of a Spanish war but there
appears no prospect of it now (at least for the present).
The account we have just received from Gibraltar is
extremely bad but we are in hopes that the cold weather
and heavy rains that prevail in this season will soon stop
the dreadful ravages. Accounts from Malaga and Cadiz I
am sorry to say are not less calamitous. I will thank you
to give my best compliments to Mr Jno Browne and
Captain Ingram. I hope the former will soon be one of
the representatives of the borough of Weymouth. The last

122 THE BLOCKADE OF TOULON

letter I had from home was from Augusta ; it was answered
by the John Bidl cutter about the 1 3th of last month. You
will know I hope that my relations do not trouble me with
many letters.

With best wishes for all friends.

I remain Dear Manfield

Yours affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

Young Manfield in the following week thus writes to
his father, now Mayor of Dorchester : —

"Ambuscade," off Barcelona,
Novr I'ith, 1804.
My dear Sir,

I have been out on this Station very near six
months and have received no letter from Home. I have
wrote a great many to Mother and have expected answers
but have received none. We have not been in port since I
wrote you last but we have sent our boat ashore at Barce-
lona but they will not send us off any fruit. We expect
to hear of a war with Spain every day as I suppose you
have heard of the Engagement between four of our frigates
and four Spanish Ditto.^ We hear very little or no news so
you must not expect a long letter I should not have
wrote to you before I had received an answer, if Capt
Hardy had not Commanded me. You promised to send
me some newspapers but I have seen none yet, I hope
in a little time the young Lawyer (William) will be able
to write to me as I suppose he is the Officer already I
assure him it will be better than going to sea. I suppose
Mary is looking out for a Husband whoever marries her
will have caught a Tartar I can assure him. Give my com-
pliments to the members of the Club if it is met yet.
Miss Cooper has left Dorchester I suppose and the Miss
Thompsons Married, we are always at sea and have con-

1 An engagement which preceded the actual declaration of war.

HARDY'S BET WITH NELSON 123

tinual gales of wind. Give my love to Grandmother and
Aunt Manfield and to my Friends at Martinstown, Portis-
ham and Gorton^ and my complyments all Friends at
Dorchester. My love to Mother Brother and sisters

I remain Dear Father

Your affectionate Son

JNO Call. Manfield.

Captain Hardy now congratulates his brother-in-law
on his accession to the Mayoralty : —

"Victory," off Toulon,
Deo- 3 1 J-/, 1804.
Dear Manfield,

I received your letter yesterday of the i6th
of October by the Swiftsure and I suppose you will not
be a little surprised at the sudden arrival of your son
John which I conclude took place about Christmas Day
at last. I betted his Lordship a dollar that Admiral
Campbell would dine in England on that day. As Captain
Durban was good enough to put John on his books I
thought it best for him to remain in Ambuscade and I am
happy to say his Captain speaks of him in the hand-
somest manner.

However I hope Mama will not be enough to

wish him to come home as the movements of Ships now
a day are so sudden that he will run a great risk of
losing his passage and of course his ship. I recommend
you not to send him any clothes, or at least as little as
possible. Shirts he is not the least in want of, as I pro-
cured him a dozen in addition to his former stock. I have
every reason to believe the Ambuscade will be ordered
again to this station immediately. I have given up all
thoughts of returning to England myself & it is by no
means clear to me that his Lordship will, but he has not
yet given up the idea. You remark my old ship {Amp/iion)
' Gorton is in Portisham parish.

124 THE BLOCKADE OF TOULON

has been lucky. I am glad of it Should war be declared
against the Spaniards the Fleet has done very well. It
gives me great pleasure to hear that the King is so much
recovered. I am sure we ought all to pray for a long
continuation of his health. The Abby ^ must have been
very much crowded. I think our friends Mr & Mrs
Woodward must have had enough to do. I am sorry
the poor Earl - has not recovered the use of his legs. I
am happy to hear of Mr Bingham's safe arrival & that
he will be able to give a good account of himself to his
Father. I suppose the farmers expect all to be ruined ;
as ewes only fetch 50 shillings a head nothing can save
them but Wheat getting up again to thirty pounds a load.
I have written to Martha by this conveyance requesting
her to try if my Aunt Hardy can make herself comfortable.
I shall be happy to add anything to her income to enable
her to do it. Sir John Orde is off Cadiz with 4 sail of the
line; it is conjectured that he is to have the command
here but it is quite unknown to our good Admiral.

I think since the thoughts of a Spanish War our
Commander in Chief looks better & I conclude as troubles
increase he will mend give my duty to my Aunt, Love
to Catharine and the Children & all friends

I remain Dear Manfield

Yours affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

I see by the paper you are elected Mayor, I wish
your Worship much Joy.

1 This evidently refers to a wedding at Milton Abbey, Dorset, the
seat of the Earl of Dorchester.

2 George, second Earl of Dorchester, who died in r8o8.

CHAPTER XIII

THE YEAR OF TRAFALGAR [1805]

IT is unnecessary to recapitulate the story of Nelson's
tantalising pursuit of Villeneuve, first through the
Mediterranean and afterwards to the West Indies. Two
excellent maps showing the course of both fleets will be
found in Mr Henry Newbolt's TJie Year of Trafalgar}
Captain Mahan deals exhaustively with the subject in his
Life of Nelson? Hardy's first letter home in this eventful
year of his life is as follows : —

" Victory,"

OFF THE West End of Sicily,

Feby 22,rd, 1805.

Dear Manfield,

We are now on our way off Toulon after a
Trip to Egypt in pursuit of the French Fleet without the
good fortune to fall in with them ; and yesterday we learnt
that they had returned to Toulon a few days after they
saild, which was on the i8th of last month in a very crippled
state having met with a heavy gale of wind on the 19th.

Our good Commander in Chief's great zeal and activity
pushed us in rather too fast ; however the error was on the
right side (at least I think so) for by every account we can
get, they were certainly bound to Alexandria, and if they

^ The Year of Trafalgar, London, John Murray, 1905, pp. 8 and 18.
2 The Life of Nelson, by Captain A. T. Mahan, London, Sampson,
Low & Co., 1897, vol. ii., p. 267 et seq.

125

126 THE YEAR OF TRAFALGAR

had not been TAYLORS instead of SAILORS it is more than

probable we should have fallen in with them before they

arrived at their destination. We have the satisfaction to

hear that an eighty gun ship is wrecked at the entrance of

the harbour of Ajaccio (in Corsica) and said to be totally

lost. Some of their frigates are said to be missing and I

trust some of our frigates will be fortunate enough to fall in

with them, so that I think upon the whole the Emperor

will not have much to brag of. How fortunate it is for us

that he cannot cast sailors in a mould. We are not without

hope that they will make another trial and we trust we shall

have the good fortune to fall in with them. I think

Bonaparte will not give up his favourite expedition for one

failure. I see by the papers the arrival of the Ambuscade

at Spithead of course you have seen John, and as Lord

Nelson has written for her to be allowed to return to this

country immediately, I conclude I shall soon have the

pleasure of seeing the young gentleman. My friend John

Harbin late Chaplain of the Belleisle is about to go to

England and is good enough to take charge of a small box

directed to you. It contains five gold chains one of each

you will have the goodness to present to my five neices

with their uncle's best love. If my sisters like them I will

send an additional six the next opportunity but I am told

they are only fit for jj/(9«;/^ ladies.

March iitk — off Toulon. — We have just received the

unfortunate news of the loss of the Raven Brig, Captain

Layman ^ who was made out of this Ship into the Weazle

about eighteen months ago, which brig he also lost six

months after he took command of her. You might recollect

him on board the Sa7i Josef a. stout full faced man and you

will agree with me he is D unfortunate. A cutter

^ Nelson took a great interest in Captain Layman, whom he con-
sidered entirely free from blame in the matter of the loss of his ships.
On the loth March 1804 he wrote to Lord Melville, "Captain Layman
has served me in three ships, and I am well acquainted with his
bravery, zeal, judgment, and activity ; nor do I regret the loss of the
Raven compared to the value of Captain Layman's services."

IN QUEST OF THE FRENXH FLEET 127

bound to the Fleet with despatches is also taken by the
French Fleet and all the letters of both vessels are destroyed
therefore I give up all hopes of hearing from you till the
arrival oiXhQ Ambuscade. I conclude of course that m)'sisters
wrote to me and that their letters are lost, I shall therefore
write to them shortly. We have I am sorry to say received
information that the Arion and Acheron (Bomb) are both
taken. They had a valuable convoy under their charge.
We have not yet learnt but I fear a number of them must
have fallen into the enemy's hands.

Give my Duty to my Aunt Hardy who I hope is well.
Love to Catherine the young folkes (I suppose I must not
say children) and all Friends,
I remain,

Dear Manfield,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

Nearly three months later he again writes : —

" Victory,"
May ()th, 1805.

Dear Manfield,

We passed thro' the Gut of Gibraltar
yesterday and are now steering with a fair wind for Cape
St Vincent when it is his Lordships intention to despatch a
vessel for England.

I am sorry to say we have heard nothing of the French
Fleet since they left Cadiz which was on the loth of last
month. It is therefore strongly believed by Lord Nelson
that they are gone to the West Indies and of course we
shall follow them, if we hear nothing of their destination
from Lisbon from whence we expect the Aiuazon will join
us tomorrow.

Thank God I am quite recovered from my late illness
and was never better in my life than at present. I feel
quite happy at going to the West Indies as I am convinced

128 THE YEAR OF TRAFALGAR

it will agree with me and at least it will vary the scene. I
have not heard from you since last October but I conclude
your letters are lost in the Raven Brig. I shall put you to
an additional sixpence expense by enclosing a letter from
you to John that you may have the satisfaction of destroy-
ing it. I think my nephew John has acted a very wise
part in quitting the Navy, for I fear his delicate constitution
would not have agreed with our very rough and uncertain
service. I am sorry he was so much neglected on board the
Ambuscade as he appeared quite clean when he came on
board the Victory which made me think ourselves fortunate
that he should be in so good a ship.

It is extremely unfortunate that the French Fleet
should have so much the start of us. They were only nine
days from Toulon to Cadiz and we were 26 from Sardinia
(which is the same distance). However I recollect that
poor Mr Thomas Russell recommended to my Aunt (or
my Aunt to him) Patience and Perseverance which has and
must be poor Lord Nelson's motto.

I wrote to you by my friend John Harbin of Renow7t
and sent some trifles for my neices which I hope will be
received safe. The Renown had a narrow escape of being
taken but we conclude she is arrived in England by this
time with Sir John Orde's Squadron which also was
obliged to hasten from off Cadiz.

Lord Melville's business^ of course makes us all stare
and to say truth I am sorry for him for I believe it was
much his wish to befriend the Navy in spite of his being a
Scotchman. I think the opposition will push Mr Pitt very
hard ; however I sincerely hope they will not succeed. I
shall not close this till I know our destination.

May loth, 10 o'clock at night. — A vessel leaves for
England early tomorrow morning but I do not know her
name. We are now off Cape St Vincent and his Lordship

^ First Lord of the Admiralty, 1804-05. Erased from roll of the
Privy Council, 1805. Subsequently impeached for malversation,
acquitted, and restored to the Privy Council.

IN WEST INDIAN WATERS 129

has made up his mind to bear up for the West Indies in

the course of tomorrow. Our Fleet is in perfect health

and spirits. We are all in great hopes that we shall meet

the French Fleet. It will be needless for you to write to

me till you hear from me again.

With Duty to my Aunt and Love to Catharine and the

Children.

I remain, Dear Manfield,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardv.

Just a month later he again writes : —

"Victory," off Antigua,
June 12th, 1805.
Dear Manfield,

As I think it probable that the Captains
Friends will be more anxious about him than he deserves,
I shall take the latest opportunity of closing this letter.

We arrived off Barbadoes on the 4th and there received
accounts that the French Fleet had passed to the south-
ward (supposed destined for Trinidad) on the 29th of May.
We received on board Genl Sir William Myers and about
one hundred and fifty Artilery men, and in the Fleet we
have about two thousand soldiers. As the F. Fleet never
passed to the southward of course we never saw them,
and I am sorry to say that the different information
we have received has as yet proved false. Yesterday
we were informed by an American that he saw the F.
Fleet at 5 o'clock that morning consisting of 18 sail of the
line and 7 Frigates standing for Guadaloupe which I also
believe to be a Lye, however we expect to hear something
about them from this Island when we communicate with it
which will be in the afternoon. Our squadron consists of
12 sail of the line which we think fully equal to twelve
French and six Spaniards. I am quite recovered of the
rheumatism and was never better in my life than at this
moment. I think we have every prospect of very soon

I30 THE YEAR OF TRAFALGAR

returning again to Europe but I realy have no great
objection to remain in this country. I saw young Roberts
of the Jason yesterday ; he is very well but I do not think
he will ever set the Thames on fire.

June izth. — We have just received information that the
F. Fleet passed this Island (Antigua) on Saturday last
steering to the northward and it is generally believed they
are bound to Europe, We are now landing the troops
and shall sail in a few hours for Gibraltar where you may
direct to me as usual. I think we shall have had a pretty
good round of it. We still hope to ketch the Rascals,
(should they be bound to Cadiz) before they get there.

With best wishes for you all

I remain Dear Manfield

Yours affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

In his next letter, written a month later, he once more
recurs to the old question of prize-money, and his business
relations with Messrs Cooke & Halford.

"Victory," at Sea,
July iZ)th^ 1805.
My Dear Manfield,

I hope you will forgive my troubling you with
this letter and I trust you will see it in the light I do.

I have directed Halford to answer your Bills on me
for One hundred and fifty Pound, and I shall be thankful
to you if you will present fifty Pound to each of my
unmarried Sisters with my best Love. It will serve them as
pocket Money for the present and should I be fortunate
enough to receive half the Prize Money that is supposed
will come to my Share, it will enable me to do something
permanent for them ; however I never calculate on profits
till they are in my Agents hands, and as yet he has not
received any very large sums on my account. This letter

ONCE MORE OFF CADIZ 131

will be directed by another hand and if it could be kept a
secret from our relations I should like it better. I shall
write another letter to you by the same Conveyance that
takes this. From some little hints I have lately had I fear
they are not more comfortable at Possum than they used
to be. I am sure you will forgive my troubling you with
this Commission and that you will believe

I am,

My Dear Manfield

Yours most Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

On the same day he commenced another letter which
may almost be described as a journal, and tells its own
story of the return voyage to Europe.

"Victory," at Sea,
July i^th^ 1805.

Dear Manfield,

We are now within fifty leagues of Cape St
Vincent and as the wind is fair it is more than probable we
shall be in sight of it tomorrow morning.

The movements of our good Commander in Chief are
so rapid that I find it necessary always to be prepared with
a letter, and I think it likely he will despatch a vessel to
England in a day or two. Nothing has been heard of the
Enemy since I wrote to you last, which was by way at
Lisbon on the 17th of June. We are still in hopes that
they are not arrived at the place of their destination, and
should they be bound to Cadiz or the Mediterranean there
is still a chance left of our getting hold of them.

We have had a very pleasant passage and our people
continue excessively healthy notwithstanding the long time
they have been without refreshments ; none of any sort
having been received since we left Sardinia.

132 THE YEAR OF TRAFALGAR

His Lordship still talks of going home but so many
events are about to take place that I give myself no
thought on the subject, nor is it at all clear to me that I shall
make one of the party as it is his intention to return again
to this station.

July 20th. — We arrived at Gibraltar this morning and
as yet have had no account of the French Fleet therefore
we have little doubt but they are gone to some port in the
Bay of Biscay. After our Water and provisions are com-
pleat which will be in the cours of tomorrow we shall again
sail for Cape St Vincent and I have no doubt but by that
time their destination will be fully known.

Vice Admiral CoUingwood with four sail of the line is
off Cadiz so that we shall be fully equal to them should
fortune at last favour us. I cannot say that I am sorry to
find Sir John Orde ^ has struck his Flag, for in the first place
he is senior to Lord Nelson, and in the next place he is a
most unpleasant man to sail under.

I was on shore this morning for a few minutes, and I
find it as hot and unpleasant as ever, and the greater part
of my old acquaintance I am sorry to say are dead. If
they do not take the greatest precautions I very much fear
the fever will again break out in Septr.

July 25//2. — We have just received accounts that the
Curieux Brig passed the Enemy's fleet on the 19th of June
therefore no doubt remains but they are gone to the north-
ward, and I think it more than probable that you will (very
soon after the receipt of "this letter) hear of the Victory and
Squadron being off Brest.

I am sorry to say that I have another attack of
rheumatism tho' not jquite so severe as it was last time.
I shall therefore if possible procure leave to remain on
shore a few weeks should we be ordered to England.
We are now standing through the Gut and the Pickle

» Admiral Sir John Orde, Bart. [1751-1824]. Hardy evidently
participated in Nelson's feelings of antagonism towards Orde. (See
Laughton's The Nelson Me?norial, p. 90.)

THE "VICTORY" AT SPITHEAD 133

Schooner takes his Lordships despatches to England this
afternoon.

With Duty to my Aunt and love to all,

I remain Dear Manfield,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

In three weeks' time what Hardy prophesied happened.
Lord Nelson went home in the Victory, and his next com-
munication to Mr Manfield is written well in sight of the
coast of Dorset. This letter runs as follows : —

" Victory,"
August iZtk, 1805.

Dear Manfield,

We are now standing in to Spithead and
shall be at an Anchor in about an hour. As my health
mends but very slowly^ I have applyed to the Admiralty
for leave of absence, therefore in all probability I shall
have the pleasure of seeing my friends in Dorsetshire the
latter part of this month.

His Lordship will strike his Flag so soon as we get
Pratique which I trust will be in the course of the day. As
for news I know none, except that we fancy ourselves very
unfortunate after so many anxious moments to have
missed the combined squadrons, but when we come to
consider that our force was 1 1 sail of the line and theirs
20 perhaps it will be as well to agree with Mr Pope
" Whatever is is right."

Let me hear from some of you soon With Duty to my
Aunt and love to all,

I remain Dear Manfield,

Yours most Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

' Hardy had been suffering severely from rheumatism.

134 THE YEAR OF TRAFALGAR

Lord Nelson at once proceeded to Merton, and Hardy
evidently lost as little time as possible in going down into
Dorsetshire. Mr Newbolt does not share the somewhat
despondent views entertained by the captain of the Victory
as to the practical consequences of the great sea-chase.
He says,i " On the 20th of August, Villeneuve ran south
into Cadiz, unable to face the combination of Cornwallis's
and Nelson's fleets. On the 25th, Napoleon, in bitter
wrath, broke up his camp at Boulogne and marched
against the Austrians. The British admirals had beaten
the " Army of England."

On the 1 2th of the previous month (July 1805) the
court had migrated to Weymouth, the King, Queen, and
the Royal Princesses taking up their quarters as usual at
Gloucester Lodge, their favourite seaside residence ever
since their memorable visit of 1789, of which Fanny
Burney became the amusing chronicler. The homely life
of George HI. in Dorset had been the object of the gibes
of Wolcot and the caricatures of Gillray, but heedless of
ridicule, the British sovereign pursued the even tenor of his
ways, making excursions by sea, announcing naval suc-
cesses either at the theatre or on the esplanade, and
indulging in the sea-bathing for the excellence of which
Weymouth was, and still is, famous. In the audience
chamber at Gloucester Lodge (now the dining-room of a
hotel) George HI. had conferred with Pitt and Addington ;
with Loughborough and Eldon ; with Cathcart and Dundas,
and with all the great personages of the time. It was in
the same homely apartment that the mordant pen of
"Peter Pindar" had, ten years before, thus pictured an
audience between Pitt and his royal master : —

" Lo, Pitt arrives ! alas, with lantern face.
'What, hee, Pitt, hee what, Pitt, hee, more disgrace?'
' Ah Sire, bad news ! A second dire defeat !
Vendee undone, and all the Chouans beat,'

1 The Year of Trafalgar^ Henry Newbolt, p. 22.

WITH KING GEORGE AT WEYMOUTH 135

' Hee, hee, what, what ?— beat, beat ? what, beat agen ?
Well, well, more money — raise more men, more men.
But mind Pitt, hee mind, huddle up the news.
Coin something, and the growling land amuse :
Make all the sans-culottes to Paris caper.
And Rose shall print the vict'ry in his paper.' "

Times had changed since then, and Bonaparte had
succeeded the revolutionaries of 1793 as our national bug-
bear and standing terror. Tradition says that Hardy (with
Lord Nelson's knowledge) had paid a hurried visit to Lady
Nelson, before setting out for " Possum," where he would
be the near neighbour of the king, whose loyal and faith-
ful servant he was. The sojournings of King George in
Dorsetshire ended for ever in 1805. On the 7th of August
their Majesties had given a gala dinner at the Royal Hotel
(then as now one of Weymouth's principal hostelries), in
honour of the twenty-second birthday of the Princess Amelia.
A few days later much excitement was occasioned by the
passing of a homeward-bound West Indian convoy, and on
the 27th August the news arrived of the death, on the
previous day, of the king's brother, the Duke of Gloucester,
at whose earnest recommendation Weymouth had first been
patronised by the English court. It is recorded that grief
kept the king and queen indoors for several days, but an
intimation must have reached " Possum " that His Majesty,
at any rate, desired to hear all the details of Nelson's
voyage from the lips of the captain of the Victory. The
Morning Chronicle now makes the following announce-
ment : —

" Weyjnouth, Tuesday Sept. 3, 1805.— Captain Hardy,
Lord Nelson's captain, was waiting the return of his
Majesty (from his ride), and had a long conversation with
him."

Even then Hardy had earned the name of " Nelson's
Captain," and so he is likely to be known for all time.

CHAPTER XIV

TRAFALGAR, OCTOBER 2 1 ST, 1805

THE news of the arrival of the combined fleets at
Cadiz reached London the very day before Hardy's
interview at Weymouth with George HI., but the captain
of the Victory could hardly have been cognisant of it.^
Probably the intelligence was communicated by signal-
telegraph to the King," who may have at once summoned
Hardy from Portisham only 7 miles away. Pitt's Govern-
ment at once determined either to blockade the enemy's
ships in Cadiz effectually or to compel them to give battle
the moment they came out Nelson, and nobody else, could
strike the longed-for blow. By the 6th September, three
days after his visit to Gloucester Lodge, Hardy is back at
Portsmouth getting the Victory ready for the admiral's
arrival. On that day he writes to Dorchester:—

Portsmouth, Sepir^ih, 1805.
Dear Manfield,

I arrived at Portsmouth at 6 o'clock on
Wednesday therefore too late to save the Post on that day.

1 See Mahan, vol. ii., p. 328 ; Newbolt, p. 25.

2 The telegraph of 1805 was an elaborate arrangement of slabs of
wood encased in a framework on the principle of a Venetian blind, so
that each slab could be moved at will. Corresponding machines on
various eminences connected London with the principal naval ports.
In view of the constant visits of the Royal Family to Weymouth, that
place had been included in this primitive system of signalling.

136

ROBERTS OF BURTON 137

Yesterday I was on board the Victory and it Blew so fresh
I could not get on shore time enough to save post. As
Lord Nelson is expected on Saturday, I thought it not
worth going to Town therefore wait patiently his arrival. I
continue to mend as fast as can be expected, and my friends
here are surprised to see me look so much better in so short
a time. I find by a letter from our Friend Davison ^ that
Orioti (a Dutchman)- will be paid on Sunday I hope to
Touch ;^2000 at least.

I have a small parcel I wish to send Mary Masterman
but I fear sending it by the Cross Post. It may be lost
therefore Shall put it in the hands of Mr Thompson to have
sent the first opportunity.

I remain in haste
Dear Manfield

Yours Affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

I think we shall sail Monday next.

A week later he again writes : —

Portsmouth, Septr i^th, 1805.
Dear Manfield,

The Letters Parcel &c all came safe to hand
for which accept my best thanks. The Victory is gone to
St Hellens and his Lordship is expected tomorrow morning
at 9 o'clock of course we sail the same Day. I continue to
mend as fast as can be expected and am in hopes that the
Salt Air will again agree with me. My Cousin Budden has
been to see me and dines here toDay. Roberts of Burton

1 Alexander Davison, clothing contractor to the Army. One of
Nelson's closest friends, and a very frequent correspondent. He was
the donor of the Nile medals, and acted as agent for the prizes taken at
that battle. He caused a reliquary to be made of the eighty-four guineas
found in Nelson's purse after Trafalgar, for the reception of a lock of
Nelson's hair in a glass tube. This has recently been sold in London.

2 Prize-money due for the capture of the Dutch ship Orion.

138 TRAFALGAR

has brought his Son who seems a fine lad. He is to be in
the Pursing line.^

Give my Duty to My Aunt and love to Catherine and
Mary.

I remain, Dear Manfield,

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

On the following day, as Hardy expected, Lord Nelson
arrived and hoisted his flag. They did not sail till the 15th
September, and on the 29th of that month (Lord Nelson's
forty-sixth birthday) joined the English fleet ofl" Cadiz,
On the 9th October, Nelson had issued his famous memor-
andum as to the order of sailing being that of the order of
battle.'^ Hardy evidently realised that the supreme
moment they had so long looked forward to was now near.
The letter he wrote home a few days after the informal
conferences of the British commanders on board the Victory,
breathes the old spirit of affection and solicitude for others.
There was no blinking the gravity of the situation.

" Victory," off Cadiz,
Ocir 13///, 1805.
Dear Manfield,

I enclose you a Codicil to my Will but trust
it will not be opened by my relations for many a year.
We are in daily expectation of the combined Fleet coming
out but I fear they will think us too strong for them.

1 This certainly refers to Richard Francis Roberts, the eldest son
of Richard Roberts of Burton Bradstock, and therefore the nephew of
Hardy's first captain, Francis Roberts. He had probably already had
some years' experience in the merchant service. According to the
archives of the Public Record Office, he volunteered as an A.B. in the
Victory on the loth September 1805, at the age of 20. Hardy promoted
him to the rank of Midshipman two days before the battle of Trafalgar,
and he finally quitted the Navy from the Gannet fifteen months later
(December 8th, 1806).

- See Mahan, vol. ii., p. 340 et seq.

POOR SIR ROBERT CALDER 139

I am happy to say that my leg is getting much better
and the Surgeon is in hopes of making a good Job of it
and I am of the same way of thinking. I saw Mr Plow-
man yesterday. He is very well and says he has not
heard from home for nearly twelve months, tho' he writes
every opportunity. He appears to be a very good young
man and his Captain speaks very handsomely of him.
Perhaps it would be satisfactory to Colonel Bingham to
hear that his son John is made a lieutenant into the
Prince (Capt Grindall) but he is at Gibraltar in the
Canopiis and is not yet acquainted with his good fortune.
I shall not write to his Father on the subject tho' I have
assisted in the promotion of his son. I am sorry to say
that my good friend Sutton late of the Auiphion is so
unwell that he is invalided and is returning to England
by the same conveyance as takes this (the Prince of
Wales) I hope poor Sir Robert Calder will get well over
that unfortunate business. I heard from Martha the other
day and shall write the next opportunity. I have seen
John Browne's friend in the Prince, Mr Ferris and will
be useful to him if it lays in my power.

With every good wish for you all

I remain Dear Manfield

Yours affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

In the " remark-book " of Midshipman Roberts,^ one
finds the following entries as to what occurred on board
the Victory during the days immediately preceding the
battle :—

^'Saturday igth October. — At 10 A.M. a ship was dis-
covered to leeward in a calm or but very little wind

^ This book is now in possession of his kinswoman, Miss M. M.
Roberts of Burton (see Preface). It seems probable from its contents
that "young Roberts," evidently a man of superior education, although
rated first as A.B. and afterwards as midshipman, was employed as
Captain's Clerk or in some similar capacity.

140 TRAFALGAR

(supposed to be a frigate), firing minute guns and making
signals, but could not make out what they were.

"At 10.30 observed her signal, which communicated
that the combined fleets were coming out of Cadiz. The
signal was immediately made by the Commander-in-Chief,
and two guns fired to leeward for a general chase. Cadiz
then bore of the fleet S. 88 E. dist. 16 leagues. Every ship
immediately made all sail and chased accordingly, with
very little wind which was from the westward.

" At 1 1.30 another signal was repeated to us from the
frigate (repeated to her by ships which were stationed for
that purpose betwixt Cadiz and the fleet) that the enemy
were out and had been three hours.

" Employed on board the Victory getting up a thousand
shot on each deck, stowing away chests, etc. etc., clearing
for action.

"At 12 P.M. a little more wind, nothing particular
going on but preparing for action.

"At 12.30 another signal was repeated to us from the
frigate, communicating that the enemy were still at sea,
steering S.S.E. The Defence made the signal which was
repeated to us, saying that she was within 4 miles of the
Enemy's fleet.

" In the evening a little breeze from the southward,
going 3 or 4 knot ; made sail all the night. Sunday
morning at daylight the fleet were upon the point of
entering the Gut with a fine breeze, when we observed a
frigate to leeward firing guns and making signals which
was repeated to us by the Royal Sovereign^ that the enemy's
fleet were north. The Commander-in-Chief made the
signal immediately to tack and shorten sail.

" At 9 A.M. we lay too with a fresh breeze. Enemy's
fleet steering for Cadiz. Victory tellegraphed to the Africa
to paint the hoops of her masts yellow.

"At 12 part of the Enemy's fleet anchored off Cadiz (or
in Cadiz, which I am not positive of). The remaining 9
sail did not anchor.

DINNER AND GROG 141

" At I P.M. filled and made sail to the westward.

" At 4 the enemy put again to sea steering N.E. ; made
sail and stood towards them. Hazy weather with a fresh
breeze from the S.W., dist. from Cadiz 7 or 8 leagues.
Euryalus tellegraphed ' that the Enemy appeared deter-
mined to push to the westward.' Victory tellegraphed ' I
depend on your keeping sight of the Enemy during the
night.' The whole of the Enemy's [Ships] were at this
time at sea.

" At 7.30 saw two of the enemy's ships from the deck
on our starboard bow. Fresh breezes and lightening.

" Sunday Evening. — Our look out ships showed their
blue lights and sky rockets signifying that they were still
in sight of the Enemy. English fleet to windward of the
Enemy.

" At 8.40 wore and stood away from them. Wind
W.N.W. drawing them off from Cadiz as much as possible,
they continuing on the same tack in our wake. Our look-
out ships continued showing their blue lights, rockets, and
firing guns (making signals of the Enemy's position in the
night).

" Monday morning. — At daylight saw the Enemy's fleet
in line of battle laying too the leeward. Dist. 10 or 1 1
miles, consisting of 33 sail of the line, 5 frigates, 2 brigs.
A very fine morning, but little wind. Enemy's fleet bear-
ing E. by S. extending from N.N.E. to S.W.W. The
signal was made by the Commander-in-Chief to bear up,
and set all sails, even steering sails. English fleet in two
lines consisting of 27 sail of the line and frigates schooner
and cutter. Victory Commander-in-Chief leading the
weather line and Royal Sovereign second in command
leading the lee line cleared away everything for action.

" At 10 A.M. — Beat to quarters.

" At 1 1. — Dinner and grog.

" Victory telegraphed General * England expects that
every man will do his duty.'

" At 1 1-30. — Victory telegraphed to Royal Sovereign ' If

142 TRAFALGAR

the Tonnant cannot close, order other ships between,* when
the Mars took her place in the line, and the other ships
closed. Royal Sovereign tellegraphed to the Victory ' The
enemy's Chief appears to command in a frigate.' "

Roberts here breaks off his own narrative with the
words, " The remainder of this was taken from the Victory's

logr

It is not proposed to tell once again the now familiar
story of the great naval battle of the 21st October 1805.
All writers on the subject are in agreement as to Hardy's
honourable share in the laurels won, and the occurrences
preceding and following the death-wound of Nelson in
which he, as captain of the Victory, played an important
part. These incidents may be conveniently summarised
as follows : —

Soon after the fighting began, Nelson and Hardy were
walking on the deck of the Victory when flying splinters
passed between them, cutting Hardy's left foot, and taking
off the buckle of his shoe.^ " This is too warm work, Hardy,
to last long," said Nelson. And so the two friends con-
tinued on deck in the thick of the fight. Nelson conspicuous
with his four stars, an object for the marksmen in the
enemy's rigging. At about half-past one, Nelson turned
suddenly as he walked, and before Hardy could reach
him, fell on his knees and hand. Hardy bent over him
in tender inquiry. " They have done for me at last,
Hardy," said Nelson. " I hope not," answered Hardy.
" Yes," replied the other, " my backbone is shot through."
A sergeant-major of marines and two seamen, at Hardy's
orders, carried him below into the cockpit of the Victory^
and thither the flag-captain came in the intervals of the
crisis of the fight, to tell his admiral how the fortunes of the
day inclined. It is significant to note that one of Nelson's
chief anxieties as he lay dying was as to how Captain Hardy

1 Vide illustration. The broken buckle is still treasured by Mrs \
J. C. Thynne, Sir T. M. Hardy's descendant.

HARDY RELICS.

Watch worn at Trafalgar.

ShoEIjUCKLES, one of which was i^lainagud by a Splinter of a Shell at

the iialtlu of Trafalgar.

Pi:N( ir. Case used on board the I'w/orv.

[Tu face page ll'i

Ci.

b^^

jti,.

.tl«^

^r_.

to.

l}/o

lj^9

S\53

Sketch-Pla.v of the Battle of Trafalgar from the "Remark-Book" of
R. F. Roberts, Midshipman on board the Victory.

: o^.^— ^'^^_^'^;^

i^^o

^yfr ^/^^tM--

\To face page 143.

"ANCHOR, HARDY, ANCHOR" 143

fared, and when his flag-captain came to report the progress
of the fight, and to say that twelve of the enemy had struck.
Nelson said, " I hope none of our ships have struck." " I
am a dead man. Hardy, I am going fast, it will be all
over with me soon. Pray let my dear Lady Hamilton
have my hair," and Hardy went to his post on deck
again. When he returned to the dying hero he was
able to report that 14 or 15 ships had struck, Nelson
replied, " That is well, but I bargained for 20." And then
Nelson went on to say, "Anchor, Hardy, Anchor," and
when Hardy asked whether Collingwood ought not to
make the necessary signal, he answered, " Not while I live.
Hardy. No, do you anchor. Hardy ; if I live I'll anchor."
As Hardy left to return on deck, the final parting between
him and Nelson, which was touching in the extreme, took
place. " Don't throw me overboard. Hardy," said Nelson ;
"take care of my dear Lady Hamilton, Hardy, take care of
poor Lady Hamilton. Kiss me. Hardy." The flag-captain
kissed him, and Nelson murmured, " Now I am satisfied.
Thank God I have done my duty." Then Hardy, taking
one last look at his friend, bent over and kissed his fore-
head. Nelson asked who it was, and on hearing that it
was Hardy, said, "God bless you, Hardy," and the two
friends parted for the last time. The scene is realistic, the
pathos of that parting is something too deep to be de-
scribed by words.

In the course of his lengthy extract from the log-book
of the Victory, Roberts interpolates the words, " This is
incorrect," after the much-quoted phrase, " Partial firing
continued until 4.30, when a victory having been reported
to Lord Nelson, K.B., he died of his wound." ^

For an entire week Hardy had no leisure to take up a
pen. He had no rest day or night. The Victory, with

^ Roberts probably means that firing continued some time after
4.30 P.M. In his remark-book is a roughly drawn but perfectly com-
prehensible diagram of the order of battle, which is now reproduced.

144 TRAFALGAR

Nelson's body on board, was riding out the gale, which
sprang up as soon as the last shot had been fired. It was
not till the 27th October that Hardy was able to give his
friends at home the following modest account of the
greatest sea-battle of naval history.

"Victory," off Cadiz,
Octr 27 ih^ 1805.
Dear Manfield,

We have on the 21st Inst obtained a most
Glorious Victory over the Combined Fleets, but it has cost
the Country a Life that no Money can replace, and one for
whose Death I shall for ever mourn. Our Dear and ever
to be lamented Lord fell in the Action and as it fell to our
lot to lead the Fleet into Action, our loss has been rather
great (54 killed and 80 wounded), however I have come off
unhurt. The weather ever since the Action has been so
bad that we have had some Difficulty to save our shattered
ship, and have had no communication with any of the Fleet.
I realy cannot say the exact number of ships taken but
twelve we are certain of, tho' I much fear many of them are
since lost and one or two taken into Cadiz as the gale for
thease last 5 Days has not ceased blowing directly on that
shore. Thos Bartlett is well and has written by this
conveyance. It will also be satisfactory for Sam Clark (of
Possum) to know that his son is well. The Victory is in so
nude a state that she must be ordered to England, at any
rate you will soon see me and I am determined to remain
on shore some months. You will suppose my mind is not
very easy and I am sure you will excuse this hasty scrall.
We are this moment ordered to Gibraltar by Telegraph
and I have only time to say that in hopes of seeing you
soon,

I remain, with good wishes for all,
Dear Manfield,
Ever yours most Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

ROBERTS'S REMARK-BOOK 145

Midshipman Roberts, Hardy's Dorset compatriot, had
meanwhile contrived to add the following notes to his
narrative of what happened after Trafalgar : —

" Tuesday October 22nd. — Fresh breezes and cloudy.
Employed knotting and splicing the fore and main
rigging, etc. Cape Trafalgar bore S.E. 2 E. dist. 11
leagues.

" Wednesday 2^rd — Employed clearing the wreck of the
mizen mast. Strong gales and heavy squalls from the
westward. Sounded in 70 fms. Cadiz bore E. by S. dist,
5 leagues. Mustered the ships company, carpenters
employed stopping the shot holes. H.M.S. Polyphemus
took us in tow. The high land of Rota bore E, b. S. 5
or 6 leagues. Winds this day S. b. W. and S.

" Thursday 2/^th. — Fresh breezes and squally. Em-
ployed setting up the fore rigging. Got up a Jury fore
top mast and a main top gall, yard for a fore top sail
yard, and bent the mizen top sail for a fore top sail.
Sounded in 60 fm. Observed a ship on fire astern. At
9.45 she blew up. Strong gales and squally with rain
at intervals. Winds this day S.W, and S. b. W.

"Friday 2$th. — Strong gales and squally with rain.
At 4.15 P.M. heavy squalls. At 5.10 carried away the
main yard. Split the main top sail and main sail all to
pieces. Cleared away the wreck, sounded every hour
with 100 fm. no bottom. Polyphemus increased her dis-
tance from us supposing the hawser had parted. Hard
gales and a heavy swell from the W.S.W.

" At daylight saw the Royal Sovereign in the N.E.
with signal 314 flying, made the signal to the Polyphemus
with the Royal Sovereign pendts. At 7 wore ship. At
8 more moderate. Heavy squalls at intervals. Africa^
N.N.E. with the signal of distress, all her masts being
gone. At noon, moderate breezes and squally, heavy
swell from the W.S.W. Several sails in sight around us.
Winds S.W. b. W. and W.S.W.

" Saturday 26th. — Fresh breezes and hazy. Employed

146 TRAFALGAR

rigging the jury main yard and fitting a main top sail
yard. Neptune took us in tow. Bent the main sail.
Sounded in 50 fm. Mud. Saw the land bearing E.b.N. p.
compass. Fleet E.S.E. Winds this day W.S.W. & W.

^^ Sunday 2'jth. — Moderate and hazy. Fleet in sight
E.N.E. At 9.40 carried away the tow rope. Tried for
soundings every hour ; no bottom. Saw the land over
Conil Bay E.S.E. Squally with rain. Neptune carried
away her fore top mast. Made and shortened sail occas-
sionally. At noon Cape Trafalgar bore N.E. 2 E. dist. 7 miles.
Sounded in 29 fm. Winds this day W. by S. and W.S.W.

" Monday 2Zth. — Fresh breezes and cloudy. Steering
for Gibraltar. At 7, anchored in Rosia Bay, Gibraltar.
Found lying here H.M. Ships Prince, Tonnant, Thunderer,
Revenge, Colossus, and several men of war. Rear-Adml.
Knight's flag flying on board the Endymion. St Juan
Spanish prize at anchor here. Departed this life, Mr A.
Palmer, Mid., of his wounds."

It was not till five weeks later that the Victory reached
St Helens. Hardy said to Capt. Parker of the Amazon,
who was one of the first to come on board : " Parker,
you and Capel have often talked of your attacking a
French line - of - battle ship with two frigates. Now,
after what I have seen at Trafalgar, I am satisfied it
would be mere folly, and ought never to succeed."^ The
news of the arrival of the Victory was thus conveyed to Mr
Manfield by Hardy's Portsmouth friend, Mr Thompson.

PORTSEA, &,th December 1805.

Dear Sir,

It is with infinite pleasure I communicate to
you the safe arrival of the Victory at St Helens this
Morning she cannot get further to Day it being a Lee
Wind and Tide. I could not learn at 3 o'clock that any

1 Life of Admiral Sir William Parker, by Rear-Admiral Augustus
Phillimore ; London, Harrison, 1876, vol. i., p. 308.

cC/i^^^^^L.

^^^'/^.^.

^ .

(^L^^^

i^^^^-'-^/Z^^'^

.^ ^^.-^u^

v^ j:^:^^^ ^'^/s ,,^3^^ ^...^ ^:^ -^^-- ^^

\TitlKM\ vs- I'"'".

^.^.^ ^ ^u.^.^. ^^, ^^^^ -^ "^^-- -^-^ ^^ ^-^-Z ,

■o

t^"^

-«

f^^

•

^'^7^-

RETURN TO ENGLAND 147

Boat is yet from her. I hope in God to meet my good and
worthy Friend to Morrow well, he must have experienced
a most fatiguing and melancholy time of it since the Action
and the loss of his most brave and gallant Friend. It is a
distressing sight to now see the Ships Flags and Pendants
half Mast on the melancholly occasion ; you may be assured
of someones writing again to Morrow.

With sincere Respect for yourself Mrs Manfield and
family and all around you I remain,

Yours most truly,

Geo. a. TnoMPsoN.i

You will of course Communicate the Contents of this to
the Family,

' The following note, written by Henry Thompson of Andover on
7th December 1883, is attached to Admiral Nelson's chair now in the
possession of Earl Nelson at Trafalgar House near Salisbury : —

"This chair is the last chair the great Lord Nelson ever sat in. It
was given by the Captain Thomas M. Hardy (to whom my grand-
father, Anson Thompson, had been a friend in his youth) to my aunt,
Isabella Thompson, and landed out of the Victory in 1805, after
Trafalgar, and taken to my grandfather's house in Chapel Row, Portsea.
After various removals it was given by my aunt to me. I would add
that my aunt did twit Captain Hardy that he kept the Admiral's chair
and gave her the one he used himself, upon which Sir Thomas assured

her, and with a nautical oath confirmed it, that ^ he^d be d d if that

was 7iot the AdjniraPs chair, and its fellow, in which he hirnself sat, was
broken in clearing the ship for action.^ It has never been repaired, but
is to be given at my decease to the present Earl Nelson and his heirs."
Lord Nelson has added, ^^ N.B. — A further proof of its authenticity is
the matching, the covering, and legs of the sofa I already possessed
from the Victory cabin, and also there is a soft place covered with silk
on the right arm of the chair for the stump of his arm to rest on."

CHAPTER XV

AFTER TRAFALGAR [1806-I816]

THE moral effect of Trafalgar throughout England was
very great On the Dorset littoral it can only be
described as tremendous. For eight weary years the word
invasion had been on everyone's lips, for it was very generally
thought (on shore at any rate) that Bonaparte would in all
probability endeavour to effect a landing at some point
between St Alban's Head and Thorncombe Beacon. Between
1797 and 1805, the staple topic of conversation had been of
wars and rumours of wars ; there had been constant marching
and counter-marching of Yeomanry and Militia ; elaborate
plans of supply in case of emergency had been frequently
distributed amongst the farmers, and, as has already been
mentioned, a chain of beacon-signals had been planned on
the summits of all the highest cliffs and hills.

It was then (and for years afterwards) that Dorset
nursemaids overawed their refractory charges with the
refrain : —

" Baby, baby, naughty baby,

Hush, you squaUing thing, I say ;
Hush your squaUing, or it may be
Bonaparte will pass this way.

Baby, baby, he's a giant.

Tall and black as Rouen steeple ;
And he dines and sups, rely on't,

Every day on naughty people.

Baby, Baby, he will hear you

As he passes by the house,
And he, limb from limb, will tear you

Just as pussy tears a mouse."

148

THE BEACON ON BLAGDON HILL 149

By a felicitous coincidence it has fallen to the lot of
another Thomas Hardy (like the captain of the Victory, a
man of Dorset), whose vivid pen-pictures of Wessex
life have, during the past thirty years, been read and
admired by millions on either side of the Atlantic, to
describe in soul-stirring verse the condition of the country
he loves so well in the dark time of the Great War. Captain
Hardy, as might be expected, figures prominently in T/ic
Dynasts} While Nelson lay wounded in the cockpit of
the Victory, Captain Hardy is made to say in response
to Nelson's query, " What are you thinking that you speak
no word? "

"Thoughts all confused my lord— their needs on deck,
Your own sad state, and your unrivalled past,
Mixed up with flashes of old things afar-
Old childish things at home down Wessex way.
In the snug village under Blackdon Hill
Where I was born. The tumbling stream, the garden,
The placid look of the grey dial there,
Marking unconsciously this bloody hour.
And the red apples of my father's trees
Just now full ripe."

In the thick of the fighting on board the Victory,
Hardy's mind doubtless went back to " Possum," for he
knew full well that his brother Joseph had charge of
the beacon on Blagdon Hill, which he had so often gazed
at when going up or down channel. With Hardy's
letter describing Trafalgar, was tied up the following
memorandum : —

To Mr Joseph Hardy,

PORTISHAM.
June zyrd, 1804.

Sir,

I am directed by Lord Dorchester to desire

that you will without delay, send me an account of the

whole expense of erecting, and also watching the beacon

' The Dynasts, a drama of the Napoleonic Wars, by Thomas
Hardy, part i. London : Macmillan & Co., 1904.

I50 AFTER TRAFALGAR

on Blagdon Hill from the beginning to the present time
according to the form below, in order that the same may
be discharged forthwith.

(Signed) Edward Boswell,

Clerk to the Lieutenancy.

May 2nd, 1804. — Received of Mr Hardy £\, i6s. for
attending to the beacon four weeks at 9s. a week.

William Boyt X his mark.

It would be curious to learn if Thomas Hardy, the
Poet, was aware of the existence of honest William Boyt,
who could only make his mark, although his family possibly
vied in antiquity with that of the Turbervilles of Bere Regis,
when he planned the following graphic scene as taking
place on one of the neighbouring heights : —

First old 7nan. — " Now Jems Purchess once more mark
my words. Black'on is the point we've to watch, and not
Kingsbere ; and Til explain for why. If he do land any-
where here about 'twill be inside Deadman's Bay and the
signal will straightway come from Black'on.^ , . . The words
of my Lord Lieutenant was whenever you see Kingsbere
Hill beacon fired to the eastward or Black'on to the west-
ward light up and keep your second fire burning for two
hours. Was that our documents or was it not ? "

^ The following contemporary letter throws considerable light on
the organisation of these Dorset beacons in and before 1805. Lord
Dorchester, writing to Henry Bankes of Kingston Lacy, 12th October
1803, says: — "I beg of you that you will give directions for an
assemblage of faggots, furze, and other fuel, also of straw to be stacked
and piled on the summit of Badbury Rings so as the whole may take fire
instantly, and the fire may be maintained for two hours. It is to be
fired whenever the beacon of St Catharine's is fired to the eastward,
or whenever the Lytchett or Woodbury Hill beacons are fired to the
westward ; but it is not to be fired from any demonstrations of any
coast signals." T/te Story of Corfe Castle, by the Right Hon. George
Bankes, M.P., p. 278, London : John Murray, 1853.

TRAFALGAR HONOURS 151

Second old man. — " I don't gainsay it. And so I keep my
eye on Kingsbere because that's most likely o' the two
says I."

In the interval of the news of Trafalgar reaching
England and the arrival of Nelson's remains at Ports-
mouth, few of those who had taken part in the battle were
as much talked of as Hardy. The following letter, written
within a fortnight of the victory becoming known, speaks
for itself: —

Mr Editor,

In no great action in this or any preceding
war has the Captain of the Comm''-in-Chief's Ship been
forgotten, when the honours of our Sovereign have
deservedly been conferred on the Flag Officers of the
Victorious Fleet. The public are anxiously expecting that
the brave Capt" Hardy, who was the immortal Nelson's
Captain, and indeed he may be called the Captain of the
Fleet, will not be forgotten, and will " receive soon the
honours due to his gallantry." England expected that he
would do his duty, and " he has done so."
I am. Sir,

Your humble Serv*,

A Friend to the Valiant,
AND A Constant Reader.

London, Nov. \()ih, 1805.'

On the 8th January 1806, the day before the final
consignment of Nelson's "honoured remains" to their last
resting-place in St Paul's, Sir Isaac Heard, Garter King of
Arms, confirmed to Thomas Masterman Hardy and his heirs
the ancient "coat" of the Jersey Hardys, with a difference
of colour and the substitution of the heads of dragons
instead of " wyverns." ^ On the next day Hardy, carrying

1 Naval Chronicle, vol. xiv. (1805), p. 383.

2 See Appendix, p. 287.

152 AFTER TRAFALGAR

" the banner of emblems " ^ just before the members of the
Nelson family, was the observed of all observers, in the
greatest funeral pageant which London had witnessed for
centuries.

On the 28th January, Hardy received, with the rest of
the Trafalgar officers, the vote of thanks awarded them
by both Houses of Parliament, and only two days later he
was further honoured with the presentation of the freedom
of the City of London, accompanied by a sword of the value
of one hundred guineas. The civic address is now amongst
the Hardy relics at Portisham. A month later (4th
February) Hardy was created a baronet. The patent, a
very formidable document indeed, with the Great Seal
pendant, is still preserved at Portisham. The preamble
to it runs as follows : —

" Know ye that we of our especial grace, certain know-
ledge and meer notion have erected, appointed & created our
trusty and well-beloved Thomas Masterman Hardy, Esquire,
Captain in our Royal Navy, a man eminent for family
inheritance, estate and integrity of manners to and unto
the dignity, state and degree of a Baronet."

About this time the last will and testament of Lord
Nelson, with its various codicils, was proved. Amongst
the numerous bequests to friends was the following : —
" To my worthy friend, Captain Thomas Hardy, all my tele-
scopes and sea-glasses and a hundred pounds." The shorter
of these telescopes, employed by Nelson at Trafalgar, now
belongs to Lady Helen MacGregor, the widow of Hardy's
grandson. The longer, used by Nelson prior to the loss

^ The nature of the flag borne by Hardy at St Paul's is seen in the
accompanying contemporary illustration. This banner was evidently
regarded as the one of the greatest importance, for the official ground
plan shows Hardy's position in the ceremonial to have been just
behind the chair of state occupied by the Prince Regent as principal
mourner at the foot of Nelson's coffin.

LORD NELSON'S

BANiSETi 0¥ EMBLEMS,

.h aiiThd in the I'uiunil /'k/h smo/i uii Ihf 'Jih i<f Jimuiini, I80().
from llii . IdmiruUn lit Si. I'tiul's.

The Banner of Emblems.

[To face pngf 152.

MEMENTOES OF NELSON 153

of his arm, was given by Hardy in 1837 to his nephew
by marriage, Lord Frederick Fitz Roy. Hardy also
received from Lord Nelson's family a handsome memorial
ring, with the initials " N. B." coroneted, and the word
" Trafalgar " in enamel.

Hardy's war medals are in possession of Lady Helen
MacGregor, by whose permission they are now reproduced
for the first time. She also possesses the silver pencil-
case he used to note the signals at Trafalgar, and which
still shows the marks of his teeth, made while he held it in
his mouth.

It was apparently Hardy's task to convey to Lady
Hamilton the incomplete letter begun by Nelson before the
commencement of the battle. It is endorsed in her hand-
writing — " This letter was found open on his desk and
brought to Lady Hamilton by Captain Hardy." He also
brought with him to Merton the coat worn by Nelson when
he fell, and which afterwards, by the generosity of the late
Prince Consort, became the property of the nation.

Sir T. M. Hardy's town residence was now at 16

Buckingham Street. Thence he writes to Manfield on the

loth March : —

16 Buckingham Street,'
March loth, 1806.

Dear Manfield,

Thank you for your letter and its inclosure
which I got this morning, my trunk also was received in
due time. Mr John Browne left us yesterday and will
give you an account of our proceedings. I have had so
much to do since my arrival that I have not yet had an
opportunity of paying my respects to Lord Dorchester,
but intend calling tomorrow, if possible. I have not yet
seen Mr Guy nor shall I be in a great hurry. I did not
forget to speak to Miss Crone and I think it all right.

^ As this house still stands, the attention of the London County
Council is respectfully called to it as a fitting site for the erection of a
commemorative tablet.

154 AFTER TRAFALGAR

Prosser of Charing Cross by my side and talks so fast that
I can only say God bless you all.

T. M. Hardy.

A few days later he writes : —

i6 Buckingham Street,
March 20tk, 1806.

Dear Manfield,

Mr Nayler wants to know who was the Father
of My Grand Mother Hardy, of course my Aunt can tell
and then I believe the Pedigree will be finally settled, at
least I hope so. My Friend Travers^ has breakfasted with
me almost every morning since his arrival in Town, and is,
I assure you, in very high spirits. It is almost feared that
Digby will not stand his ground as he has not arrived in
Town according to promise. I have had an interview with
Mr Grey and conclude I am soon to be employed, I dine
with him next Wednesday. I have called three times at
Lord Dorchester's, and he has always been out in his
Carriage, therefore I conclude he is much better. Tell Jos
when you see him that his Plows, &c., left London by
Russel's Waggon on Feby 22nd, therefore I conclude they
are save arrived at Dorchester. I have sent, directed to
you, a small Clock for them at Possum. Bridge and
Rundell has promised to send the Watches I took from
Lul worth to their proper owners in a k\v days.

I hopes of seeing you soon in this part of the World, I
remain with Duty to my Aunt and Love to Catherine and
Mary,

Dear Manfield,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.
The Money is already for Jos.

^ Richard Travers of Loders (see ante).

SIR T. M. HARDY'S xMEDALS.

Medal to Celebrate the Victory of the Nile.

Medal to Celebrate the Victory of Trafalgar.

The Trafalgar medal is of pure gold, i^ inches in (hanietcr, and covered with glass.
It was suspended from a gold bar ig inclies wide by a wliite ribbon edged witli navy blue.
On the reverse is a figure of Britannia, standing on the prow of a galley ; her shield bearing
the Union Jack is behind her ; her right foot rests on a helmet, wliile a winged \'ictory
crowns her with a wreath. The inscription on tlie obverse reads :— " Thomas Masterman
Hardy, Esquire, Captain of H.M.S. Vktorji on the 21st October MDCCCV. The com-
bined Fleets of France, .Spain, and England."

Hardy had already received a very splendid gold medal on account of tiie Nile, now
also in the possession of Lady Helen MacGregor. It is 2 inches in diameter, and is covered
with glass on either side. On one side are engraved two sliips of tlie lint' in dead gold
relief, with the sun setting on the horizon. Round tlie ujipcr part, in blocl'C capitals, runs
the words : —

ALMIGHTY GOD HAS BLESSED HLS MAJESTY'S ARMS

below the sea, in two straight lines,

VICTORY Ol' THE NILE
AUGUST I, 1798.

The other side has a figure of Britannia in relief, standing on a rock, holding out in
her right hand an olive branch, and leaning her left arm on an oval sliield, with bust por-
trait of Nelson in further relief, and round the shield is the legend : —

EUKOl'E'S HOPE AND RKITAIN's GLORY.

Above the figure, also in relief, arc the words :

REAR-ADMIRAL LORD NELSON OK THE NILE.

Round the rim is the following inscription : —

A TRIIiUTE (JE REGARD I'ROM ALKX"- DAVISON ESQ"-
ST JAME.S'S SQUARE TO CAr|N- MAKDV, ''MlilNE."

[y'o lace page 101

HARDY CONTESTS WEYMOUTH 155

Hardy's Dorset friends were now desirous that he should
enter the House of Commons, and he accordingly offered
himself as a candidate for Weymouth, where he had seen
the King the year before, and which was then described
as one constituency "with two names (Weymouth and
Melcombe Regis) sending four members to Parliament."
Notwithstanding the heroic exertions of Mr Manfield and
others, and despite all the glamour of Trafalgar, Hardy was
seventh on the poll. In the following year he again
entered the lists, but with no better results.

On the 27th March Hardy became Captain of the
Sainpson, and a few weeks later of the Triianph (15th May).
Meanwhile, he wrote the following letter to his brother : —

Plymouth Dock,
May \2th, 1806.

Dear Jos,

I suppose before you get this you will see by
the papers of my appointment to the Triumph, so that I
trust my friends will not allow that I was not in the wrong
to accept the Sampson.

We sail in a few days under the Command of Sir Richd
Strachan,^ I believe, off the Western Islands. If I had
been offered my choice of any Ship in the Navy, I should
have taken the Ship I now have, and had they given me
my choice of a Cruise, I should have chosen that which we
are now going on, therefore, you will see I, as usual, fall on
my Legs. As we are to sail so very soon, you may
suppose I have not much time to spare, therefore, in hast,
I remain, with Love to all.

Dear Jos

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

The object of Sir Richard Strahan's expedition, in which
Hardy was now to take part, was the pursuit of Admiral
Willaumez, who was reported to have sailed for American
' Admiral Sir Richard Strachan, Bart, (born 1760, died 1828).

156 AFTER TRAFALGAR

waters. A fairly full account of the movements of the
squadron will be found in the life of the late Admiral Sir
William Hargood, who was then captain of the Bellisle}
Strahan's force consisted of seven ships of the line, two
frigates, and a brig. After cruising for some time between
the Cape de Verde Islands and the Azores, the news
reached Strahan at Funchal, on the 20th July 1806, that
Willaumez was in the West Indies. They at once started
in pursuit, but encountered some days later (iSth August)
a terrible hurricane, in which both fleets experienced the
most serious damage, and a fight became impossible.
Hardy's trusty weather-glass warned him of the coming
storm, and Hargood ascribes his safety to having followed
Hardy's example in shortening sail, being aware, as his
biographer tells us, of the superior quality of Hardy's
marine barometer. The Admiral, however, in his eager-
ness to come up with the enemy, continued to fly the
signal " make more sail," and his vessel, the Ccssar, being
dismasted in the gale, his flag was transferred to Hardy's
ship the Trmniph.

Sometime in the summer of the following year (1807),
Hardy in the Triuvipli joined the squadron of Vice-Admiral
Sir George Cranfield Berkeley, then in command of the
North America station. From Chesapeake Bay he wrote
the last letter ever addressed to his brother-in-law, Mr J. C.
Manfield, who died on the 21st June 1808, at the early age
of forty-six : —

"Triumph," Chesapeake, America,
August ^th, 1807.
Dear Manfield,

I am really at a loss to know the reason that
I have not heard from you every Packet. Letters reach
me from people who I am not anxious to hear from, but

^ A Memoir of Sir William Hargood^ by Joseph Allen, Esq.,
Greenwich. Printed for private circulation only, by Henry .S.
Richardson, 1841, pp. 158-165.

THE BLOCKADE OF CHESAPEAKE BAY 157

none from Dorsetshire except one from Richd Roberts
some Months ago. I have written frequently to you I
therefore conclude they must all have miscarried. I got a
letter from Halford dated ist of April he told me he had
seen you a few Days before the date of that Letter. Our
Blocade ^ has been rather tedious, and now to mend the
matter the President of the United States of America has
interdicted all of us and will not allow us the smallest sort
of refreshment and I really begin to think that war with
this Country is inevitable. You will have seen long before

' The "blocade" Hardy refers to, was that of a portion of the
French Fleet shut up in Chesapeake Bay by the presence of the
Triumph and her sister ships in these waters during the latter part of
1807 and the commencement of 1808. The following certificate, given
by Hardy to Francis Roberts, speaks for itself: —

"These are to certify the Right Hon^l^. the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty that Mr Francis Roberts - served as midshipman from
1806 to 181 1 on board his Majesty's ships Trimnph and Bar/kurnndtr
my command. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in 181 1 for
his good conduct by Admiral the Hon^ie. Sir George Berkeley from
the latter ship. During the time the Triumph was assisting to blocade
a French squadron in the Chesapeak in 1 807 Mr Roberts was entrusted
with the command of the Hamilton, tender to the Triumph, where he
was very active particularly after the affair of the Leander ["Say
Leopard'' in another hand written below], and the United States frigate
Chesapeak, he with great perseverance got up to the town of Norfolk
in a very dark night and made the result of the action known to
Captain, now Vice-Admiral Douglas of H.M.S. Bellona then the senior
officer in the Chesapeak who was on shore at that place. He received
Captain Douglas on board the schooner before the account of the
action was known at Norfolk and conveyed him to the Bellona in
Chesapeak Bay.

Lieutenant Roberts is the nephew of the late Captain Roberts who
died on board the Success in the West Indies early in the war. I
consider him a very deserving officer and beg to recommend him to
their Lordships' notice.

Given under my hand in London this i8th day of September

1830.

M. Hardy,
Rear Admiral."

2 A younger brother of Richard Francis Roberts of the Victory
(see ante).

IS8 AFTER TRAFALGAR

you get this the affair that happened between the Chesa-
peake frigate and the Leopard} One would hardly suppose
that the Jonathans could be so blind to their own Interest,
but their Insolence is not to be borne with and they will I
suppose oblige us to take and destroy the whole of their
Trade. It will be a melancholly thing for me to increase
twenty or thirty thousand Pounds which I can easily do in
a fortnight. I literally write this to tell you I am well and
in hopes of drawing a letter from you. I shall be at
Halifax in October if you write by the Packet there is no
doubt of my getting it. All the youngsters from Dorset-
shire are well except young Dampier- who I think gets
worse every Day. I wrote His Father on the subject a
long time ago but no answer. I think If I had told him
that his Son had made a Thousand Pounds I should have
had an answer. Give my Duty to my Aunt who I hope
continues as well as usual Love to Catherine the Young
Ladies and all Friends. I remain
Dear Manfield,

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

His projected visit to Halifax had important conse-
quences, which he evidently did not foresee when he wrote
to Dorchester, for on the 17th November he there married
Miss Anne Louisa Emily Berkeley, the eldest daughter of
his chief,^ who was, as might be expected, considerably his
junior.

* On the 22nd of June 1807, Captain S. P. Humphries of the Leopard
(fifty guns) asserted the right to search for deserters, by causing the
surrender of the American ship the Chesapeake^ after an action of
ten minutes, because the latter refused to give up some British sea-
man, who had deserted to his ship. This action caused much tension
between the two Governments, and was one of the causes which led
to the war which broke out five years later, i8th June 1812.

2 The Dampiers were a very old Dorset family of Huguenot origin.
They possessed two residences in the Isle of Purbeck, Leeson House
in Langton, and Morton's House, Corfe Castle.

^ Sir George Cranfield Berkeley, G.C.B., Admiral in the Royal Navy,

LADY HARDY'S PRIVATIONS IS9

Lady Hardy has left behind her some amusing notes of
their early married life. " We spent," she writes, " from
December 1807 to April 1808 in that gloomy desolate bay
(Chesapeake), not allowed to land, as the Americans were
in such an exasperated state that they might have been
very disagreeable. At last we were released, and I returned
to Bermuda where my parents were." She often vividly
described the incidents of those weary days to her grand-
son, Sir Evan MacGregor. During the whole winter there
was no fire in the cabin, and the ship was kept perpetually
ready for action ; but she always stipulated with the Captain
that should there be any fighting she was to come on deck
and not remain below. She was a true Berkeley, whose
courage was hereditary and traditional. She also proved
a clever diplomatist. On her husband telling her she
must never refuse to take wine with any particular officer,
lest it might lead to quarrels, she accordingly quietly
substituted a decanter of toast and water for the orthodox
sherry, and so never shirked the ordeal thus imposed upon her.

At this point the Manfield correspondence ceases. He
died 2 1 St June 1808, and was buried in the Hardy vault,
beneath the chancel of Tortisham Church. Hardy, however,
was not unmindful of his other Dorset friends. In the
year of Mr Manfield's death he once more returned for
a short time to England, and in September wrote to Mr
Richard Roberts at Burton Bradstock, whose younger son
Francis was now serving v/ith him as midshipman, the
following characteristic letter : —

"Triumph," Portsmouth,

Septr. 22d in the Evening
1808.

Dear Sir,

It was not till this afternoon that I received
your letter sent me by your son Frank owing (I believe) to

and some time Lord High Admiral of Portugal, born I753, second son
of Augustus, fourth Earl of Berkeley ; married, 1784, Emily Charlotte,
daughter of Lord George Lennox. Died 25th February 1818.

i6o AFTER TRAFALGAR

his having mislaid it. He now is in perfect health but you
may rely on it that he shall not be allowed to go aloft or
to do any duty that may in any degree indanger his health.
May I beg of you to give my best compliments to Admiral
and Mrs Ingram. I request also you will give my best
regards to Mrs Roberts.

I remain, Dear Sir,

Yours very faithfully,

T. M. Hardy.

While cruising in lat. 47.3 and long. 4.25, during the
early days of 1809, Hardy captured Xhtjojige Fanny, galliot,
bound from Bordeaux to Bergen laden with good French
wine. Young Francis Roberts was sent home with her in
command of the prize crew, he being rated as master's
mate. The galliot, however, was caught in a storm, and
made shipwreck in Whitesand Bay on the 25th January.

Meanwhile Sir John Borlase Warren had relieved Sir
George Berkeley on the North America station, and the
latter, accompanied by Lady Berkeley, had returned
home on the Leopard flag-ship. Admiral Berkeley had
already (December 1808) been appointed to the chief
command " on the coast of Portugal and in the Tagus " ;
on the 17th May 1809, Hardy became captain of the
Barfleur, and in her, with Lady Hardy on board, proceeded
to join his father-in-law in Portuguese waters. On Hardy's
arrival the Admiral's flag was transferred to this ship, from
which the Captain thus writes to Burton : —

"Barfleur," Tagus,
Septr 22,d, 1809.

My Dear Sir,

Your letter of the 3d of August I found here
on my arrival at this Port, and mentioned its contence to
your son who is now so far recovered that he seems quite
equal to do his Duty and has declined accepting of your
offer. Should a relaps take place and the surgeon

-<->

ISi

t/1

^->

•^

K
H

ffi

lU-

-C

WAR WITH THE UNITED STATES i6i

recommend it I shall most certainly advise his trying his
native air, and he shall have leave of absence for that
purpose but we have every reason to hope that he will do
very well. I beg of you to offer my very best compliments
to Admiral and Mrs Ingram and I shall be most happy to
give him an account of his nephew's promotion which I
hope is not far distant. Lady Hardy joins me in best
compliments to Mrs Roberts and yourself.

I remain, Dear Sir,

Yours very sincerely,

T. M. Hardy.
Richard Robkrts, Esq.,
Burton, Bridport.

Hardy remained with Sir George Berkeley for about
three years, receiving in iSiothe rank of Commodore in the
Portuguese Navy.^ On the retirement of Sir G. C. Berkeley
from active service in the autumn of 1812, Hardy came
with him to England, and on the 8th October received a
commission as captam of the R ami/ lies {sQ.\&nty-mnQ guns),
and proceeded to reinforce the North America squadron,
war having been declared against the United States, loth
June 1 81 2. Nearly a year later he writes to his brother
as follows : —

" Ramillies," off Block Island,

NOT FAR from NEW YORK,

May 1st, 1 8 13.

Dear Jos,

We are cruising off this Island to prevent if
possible the Sailing of the United States and Macedonian

' Under date September 18 10, the Naval Chronicle, vol. xxv., p. 437,
makes the following announcement : —

" Notice that the Portuguese Government had conferred on the
Hon. Admiral Berkeley and Captain Sir Thomas Hardy, the former
the rank of Commander-in-Chief, and the latter of a Chief of Division,
in the Royal Armada of Portugal, and had recently douljlcd the
pay attaching to those appointments."

i62 AFTER TRAFALGAR

Frigates they are both ready for sea and laying at New
York ; however I rather wish they would put to sea for the
chance of our falling in with them. We have been
fortunate enough to take several prizes tho' not valuable,
yet they will all turn to account, but I never reckon on
Prize Money till I have received it. As young Burgis is a
constant correspondent with Sister Thresher I have no doubt
but you will get all the News of the Raviillies from him ;
at least much more than I can give you. He is a very fine
Boy and I have no doubt but he will turn out very well. I
hope Mr Crawford will get Prize Money sufficient to repay
me, for his friends have not supplied him with Sixpence
and literally he could not walk the Quarter Deck without
my assistance and he really behaves so well that I continue
to advance him Money at my own risk. Fortunately for us
Block Island has no Guns in it, therefore we get plenty of
Water and Stock from it and we also get our Linen washed
there. The inhabitance are very much alarmed and of
course they are most completely in our power, but as long
as they supply us we shall be very civil to them. I have
not heard from any of you since I left England and my last
letter from Louise^ was Dated Jany 5th and we are quite
out of the way of all News, However I will dispense with
that for the sake of some good Prizes, and there are two or
three India Men expected which we are looking out very
sharp for. As it is possible Edward Bartlett might not hear
from his Son, tell him that he is very well and goes on much
to my satisfaction and Doctor Plowman is very well
pleased with young Hodder. My Steward had the mis-
fortune a few Days ago (whilst loading a gun) to blow a
piece of his left Arm off and I very much fear if he will
ever get the better of it ; he is a most excellent Servant
and will be a very great loss to me. I have heard
nothing of poor Thos Bartlett but much fear that he
died soon after we left Portsmouth for I think I never

^ Lady Hardy.

EARLY TORPEDOES AND SUBMARINES 163

saw any Creature look worse than he did the last time I
saw him.

With best Love to all. I remain,

My dear Jos,

Yours most Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

About two months later (25th June 181 3), Hardy in the
Ramillics was off New London in command of a squadron
of ships of the line. He captured an enemy's schooner
making for that harbour, and the boarding officer reported
her to be laden with provisions. The crew, however, had
escaped in the boats after planning a carefully-contrived
arrangement of clock work and gunpowder, which they
hoped would have destroyed the English ships. Hardy was
not to be taken in ; he did not bring her close to the
Ramillies, but ordered her to be secured alongside another
prize, and sent a prize crew of thirteen men under Lieutenant
Geddes to take possession. They had no sooner got on
board than an explosion took place, and the officer with
ten of his men perished.

Another attempt to blow up the Ramillies a month later
is interesting, from the fact that it shows that submarine
warfare was contemplated by the Americans at a much
earlier date than is generally supposed. In July 18 13,
whilst lying at anchor off New London, the deck sentinel
suddenly sang out, " Boat ahoy," on seeing an object rise
to the surface like a porpoise a few feet astern of the ship.
The thing immediately disappeared ; so the sentinel fired
an alarm gun ; all hands were called to quarters ; the cable
was cut and the ship got under weigh with all possible
dispatch. Once more the mysterious stranger rose to the
surface, and before any guns could be turned on her,
dived again and fastened herself on to the keel of the
British ship, remaining there for half an hour, during
which time a man within her succeeded in drilling a hole

i64 AFTER TRAFALGAR

through the copper of the Ramillies, but whilst engaged in
attaching a torpedo, the screw broke and the attempt failed.
It turned out to be a diving boat " the invention of a gentle-
man living at Norwich, U.S.," who by means of paddles
could propel himself in her under water at the rate of three
miles an hour, ascending to the surface and descending
at pleasure. Commodore Hardy thereupon withdrew his
squadron from New London, and issued orders to his
ships to keep under weigh the whole time instead of lying
at anchor.^

On 7th July 1 8 14, Hardy in the Ramillies with two
transports, having on board the 102nd Regiment, joined
with a land force under Lieut, Col. Pilkington, Adjutant-
General, and proceeded up the Passamaquaddy Bay,
anchoring off the town of East Port on Moose Island
on the nth, whence the following summons was sent to
the officer commanding Fort Sullivan : —

'fc>

On Board H.M.S. "Ramillies,"
OFF Moose Island, July 11.

Sir,

As we are perfectly apprised of the weakness of
the fort and garrison under your command, and your
inability to defend Moose Island against the ships and
troops of his Britannic Majesty placed under our direc-
tions, we are induced from the humane consideration of
avoiding the effusion of blood, and from a regard to you
and the inhabitants of the island, to prevent, if in our
power, the distresses and calamities which will befall them,
in case of resistance. We, therefore, allow you five
minutes, from the time this summons is deHvered, to
decide upon an answer.

In the event of your not agreeing to capitulate, on
liberal terms, we shall deeply lament being compelled to
resort to those coercive measures which may cause destruc-

' Gentlemetis Magazine, 1813, ii., p. 285.

HARDY'S SUMMONS TO SURRENDER 165

tion to the town of East Port, but which will ultimately
insure us possession of the island.

T. M. Hardy,
Captaiyi of H. M.S. Ramillies.

A. PiLKINGTON,
Lieut.-Colonel Co7nmanding.

To the Officer commanding the

United States Troops on Moose Island.

On the refusal of the Americans to surrender, Hardy
made every preparation for an attack, but as the boats filled
with soldiers were approaching the shore, the American
colours were hauled down, and the garrison became
prisoners of war. The Allen and Frederick Islands were
also subsequently occupied. In these last operations
not a single life was sacrificed. The terms of the summons
to surrender are curiously characteristic of Hardy's
decision of character. In his dispatch of July 12th,
1814, Lieut.-Col. Pilkington writes: "To Captain Sir
Thomas Hardy I consider myself under the greatest
obligations, having experienced every possible co-
operation, with an offer to disembark from his squadron
any proportion of seamen or marines which I considered
necessary."

Having satisfactorily disposed of the islands in Passa-
maquaddy Bay, Hardy was able to turn his attention to
the town of Stonnington, the inhabitants of which had
excited his wrath by their activity in preparing the torpedoes
which had so narrowly missed destroying his ship. On the
9th August the Ramillies, with the Pactolus (dispatch-
brig) and Terror bomb, anchored off Stonnington. Two
days later (an attempt at " boarding " the fort having
failed on account of the shallowness of the water), the
town was partially destroyed by bombardment.

The Second American War, terminated by the Peace

i66 AFTER TRAFALGAR

of Ghent, concluded on Christmas Eve 1814. A month
later (January 181 5) Hardy was made a K.C.B., and
returned to England in the eventful month which witnessed
Wellington's crowning victory at Waterloo, the Ramillies
being paid off five days before that battle.

CHAPTER XVI

HARDY IN COMMAND OF THE "PRINCESS AUGUSTA"
YACHT AND THE "SUPERB" [JUNE 23, 1815 —
AUGUST II, 1 819]

AT last the captain of the Victory was to obtain the
brief respite from foreign service he had lately been
looking forward to. By this time Lady Hardy, to whom
he was devotedly attached, was the mother of three
engaging daughters, viz., Louisa Georgina (who died
unmarried), Emily Georgina (afterwards the wife of Mr
William Chatteris of Sandleford Priory, Newbury i), and
Mary Charlotte (who became Lady MacGregor),and survived
both her sisters, dying on the 29th April 1896.

Ten days after the Ramillies had been paid off. Hardy
was appointed to the captaincy of the Princess Augusta,
the royal yacht, generally stationed at Deptford. This
command lasted very nearly three years. During the first
part of that time Sir T. M. and Lady Hardy lived at
3 Montagu Square, but towards the end of 1847 they
went to reside at Teignmouth in Devonshire. The first
letter of Hardy's in the Dorchester collection, belonging to
this part of his career, is addressed to his brother Joseph,
and relates to a now forgotten lawsuit in which the
gallant captain, as usual, scored a signal success over his

' Once the home of Elizabeth Montagu, Queen of tlie Blue Stock-
ings [1720- 1 800].
1G7

i68 "PRINCESS AUGUSTA" AND "SUPERB"

enemies, who did not dare to face a trial, but allowed
judgment to go by default. Hardy writes : —

Montague Square,
June '^th, 1816, 5 o'clock.

My Dear Jos,

I am just returned from Serjent Best.^ The
business was brought before the Sheriff and as the party
pleaded guilty the Damages are given at a Thousand
Pounds - you will see by the papers of Tomorrow all that
transpired and all who were present seemed quite satisfied.

In haste I remain,

Yours Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.
I was not in Court.

The slanders, though obviously ridiculous, did not end
here. Hardy's next letter speaks for itself: —

3 Montague Square,
June lyih, 18 16.

My Dear Jos,

I wrote you a long letter yesterday which
would have reached you if I had had the misfortune to
have fallen in an unpleasant affair which took place at 4
o'clock yesterday afternoon between Lord Buckingham
and myself^ His Lordship is the person whom I sus-
pected to have been the author of the Anonymous letter,

1 Afterwards Lord Wynford, and one of Hardy's contemporaries at
Crewkerne School (see ante, p. 20).

2 The Tunes of Friday 7th June 18 16 alludes to the matter in the
following terms : — " In the Sheriff's Court on Wednesday, Sir Thomas
Hardy obtained a verdict with ^1000 damages against the proprietors
of the Morning Herald for a libel contained in various paragraphs last
winter, insinuating that Lady Hardy had eloped with the Marquess of
Abercorn." [John James, first Marquess of Abercorn, born 1756, died
1818.]

^ Richard Temple Nugent Brydges Chandos Grenville, first Duke
of Buckingham, born 1776, succeeded his father as Marquess nth
February 18 13, died 1839.

HARDY'S DUEL 169

and in fact all my domestic troubles. After exchanging a
Shot the seconds would not allow us to proceed, so that it
has ended nearly as it began, and I still suspect his Lord-
ship to be the person, however now the eyes of the World
will be on him, and most probably he will cease to trouble
us. On Tuesday last I was taken into custody by the Peace
Officers, owing to an anonymous letter having been written
to Marlborough Street Office stating that a Duel was to
take place on the following day between Lord Abercorn
and myself, his Lordship was also brought up from the
Priory (12 Miles from London) and bound over to keep
the Peace, and as I had strong grounds to suspect Lord
B to be the Writer of the letter, I took an oppor-
tunity of saying something to him in strong language,
which was the occasion of our meeting. I am certain that
you will do me the justice to believe that I would not have
brought my name under the discussion of the public if I
could possibly have avoided it, but the infamous attacks
which have been made on my Wife left me no alternative,
and I hope by following it up with moderation & firmness,
that I shall soon get the better of our enemies. Louisa of
course is very much annoyed but she has born up against
it with the greatest fortitude. Our three children have got
the Measles but it is very favourable and they are doing
remarkably well. I forgot to Say that Mr Fremantle ^
attended Lord Buckingham & Lord March '^ was my
second ; it will of course occasion a great deal of conversa-
tion and of course it is very unpleasant. My time of late
has been so much occupied that I have not seen Captain
or Mrs Balston lately, but I purpose calling on them in the
course of the day. I am getting a rough case made to
hold a Dozen of Shirts which I will forward to you by

1 Afterwards the Right Hon. Sir William Henry Fremantle,
M.P., Treasurer of the Household (born 1766, died 1850). In 1816,
M.P. for Buckingham.

^ Charles, Earl of March, subsequently fifth Duke of Richmond
and Lennox (born 1791, died i860).

170 "PRINCESS AUGUSTA" AND "SUPERB"

Russell's Wagon in a Day or two to remain at the
Waggon Office Dorchester till called for, I am joined by
Louisa in best love to you all.

I remain,

My Dear Jos,

Yours most Affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

Five days later he writes : —

3 Montague Square,
June 22?td, 1816.

My Dear Jos,

Many thanks for your kind letter and I assure
you that I should not hesitate one instant in requesting of
you to come to Town if I saw the least necessity for it, but
it is pleasant to see that the greater part of London
espouses our cause. I have put the business in the hands
of Lord Sefton ^ who is indefatigable in our cause. Positive
Proof we certainly have not, but everything short of that
is in our possession and we have just learnt that the
suspected person is laid up with a fit of the gout. We have
not been troubled with any more annonymous letters & I
now hope that we shall in future be allowed to rest quiet.
My Rheumatism has troubled me very much, but as the
cause is now removed, I have no doubt but I shall soon
recover my health. Louisa has also been very unwell but
I think she is getting better, the children are all doing
remarkably well and in a few days will I trust be quite
recovered. Sir George Berkeley has got a house at
Moulsey about 12 miles from Town. We are going there
on Tuesday next for a short time but if you should have
occasion to write to me you might as well direct London, as

1 William Philip, second Earl of Sefton (born 1772, died 1838). As
"Lord Dashalong," he is depicted in one of the best of Dighton's
caricature portraits. He was a great dandy, and moved in the most
fashionable society.

LORD SEFTON AND HARDY 171

I shall frequently be in Town. I sent off the Shrub by
Russell's waggon on Thursday so that most probably it
will be at Dorchester on Monday. I am quite sorry to hear
so bad an account of poor Mrs White but hope the fine
weather will soon restore her to health. I occasionally see
the Balstons, Edward is very much taken up with his Ship,
as she is to sail again very soon he purposes going into
Dorsetshire only for one day. Pray give our best love to
all, I remain,

My Dear Jos,

Yours most affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

Joseph Hardy, Esq.

In September he writes: —

3 Montague Square,
Septr()th, 1 8 16.

My Dear Jos,

I am again put off by the Admiralty till the
1 8th with a promise, if the person is not then ready to try
his experiment,^ I shall be allowed to proceed into Dorset-
shire, so that I hope to be with you by the 20th & which
I suppose will be quite soon enough for shooting, as I con-
clude the corn will not be down before that time. We
have not been in the least troubled by our Anonymous
friend, but he has now made an attack on my friend Lord
Sefton & I have been much alarmed fearing that a Duel
with him could not be prevented, but I am happy to say
that it is settled without comeing to that horrible ex-
tremity. The worry again brought on my complaint in
my leg, but I am now quite well again, Louisa & the

1 This refers to one of the many projects for new departures in
marine construction brought at this time to the notice of the Admiralty.
Hardy was always anxious to encourage inventors, as he already felt
the time for great improvements and radical changes was at hand.

172 "PRINCESS AUGUSTA" AND "SUPERB"

children are quite well she joins me in best love to Mrs
Hardy and all the family I remain,

My Dear Jos,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

Early in the following year Hardy writes to his
brother : —

3 Montague Square,
Febry 7th, 1817.

My Dear Jos,

I received your letter yesterday & should have
answered it but I was in hopes of getting a Frank for
to-day but no member has happened to come this way.
I met Mr John H. Browne who told me that Sir William
Oglander^ & Mr Purling^ had both written to request
that they might not be named as Sheriffs, I hope you
have also written as Lord Bathurst^ told me, that he had
but one voice, but it was the custom to name the first
on the list & which I sincerely hope will be the case. My
expenses this year has been rather more than I expected,
which has put me a little behind hand with Halford, there-
fore I should feel thankful if you would remit the money
to him to be placed to my credit. 1 was at Court yesterday
& it was the most crowded one that I ever remember to
have seen. The Prince was looking remarkably well & I
think that the late attack* on him will be strengthening
the Ministers more than anything they could possibly
have done. I made use of the Heal-all, at the time I

1 Sir William Oglander, sixth Bart, of Parnham, Dorset (born 1769,
died 1852). Sheriff of Dorset, 1818.

^ George Purling of Bradford Peverel Manor, Dorset (died 1840).
Sheriff of Dorset, 1820.

^ Henry, third Earl Bathurst, K.G. (born 1762, died 1834).

* The revelations of Tierney as to the extravagance of the Prince of
Wales since becoming Regent. It was at this time that the ominous
words, " Bread, or the Regent's head," were written on the walls of
Carlton House.

DEATH OF SIR GEORGE BERKELEY 173

wrote to you last, and in three days the pain was quite
removed, nor has it in the smallest degree since returned.
Lady Hardy strained her ankle about the same time and
after using it a few times the pain was completely re-
moved, so that she swears by it as well as myself. When
you see any of the Possum Family will you thank them
for the butter ^ which is so good that we are using it for
breakfast in preference to the London fresh butter. Louisa
& the children are all well, they join me in best love to

you all, I remain,

My Dear Jos,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.
Joseph Hardy, Esq.,
Dorchester, Dorset.

In 1 81 8 Sir T. M. and Lady Hardy went to reside at
Teignmouth, while Joseph removed from Dorchester to
Charminster, where he lived till his death. In February
of this year Sir T. Hardy writes : —

Teignmouth, Feby 27th, 1818.
My Dear Jos,

I am sorry to acquaint you that I have this

day received an account of the death of poor Sir George

Berkeley.'- He was seized with violent spasms on

Wednesday last, and expired almost immediately, I am

excessively glad that Lady Hardy is in Town as she

will be a great comfort to her Mother, who is in a most

deplorable state, as she never would allow herself to

believe that he was in the least danger. I do not know

if I shall be wanted in London as I can be of no use

I shall not go unless they particularly desire it ; however

' "The real Dorset " of Our Boys sixty years later.

- Lady Hardy notes in the diary she kept at intervals, now in the
possession of Mrs Thynne, that after the funeral, which Sir T. M. Hardy
attended, she went to stay with her grandmother. Lady Louisa Lennox,
at Woodend, and in returning to Teignmouth, slept on the night of
1 8th May (181 8) at Mrs Manfield's house in Dorchester.

174 "PRINCESS AUGUSTA" AND "SUPERB"

should they wish it I will go by the Mail and will give
you notice of the Day which I pass thro' Dorchester, and
if you are not otherwise engaged, I might hope for the
pleasure of shaking you by the hand. I received William
Manfields letter this morning and will attend to his
directions respecting his chimney piece, I am sorry to
hear that he has had a fall from the Grey, until the horse
has had more practice in leaping I hope my Nephew
will be more careful. I am happy to hear better accounts
of Mr Balstons health, the children are all quite well &
join me in very best love to you & Mrs Hardy, I remain,

My dear Jos,

Yours very affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

In May, Hardy resigned his command of the Princess
Augusta, and remained without any appointment till the
following November, when he returned (Nov. 30, 181 8) to
active service as captain of the " old " Superb, the same
vessel which had accompanied the Victory home to England
just before Trafalgar. During the interval it seems that
Sir T. M. and Lady Hardy for a time lived at Plymouth,'^
from which town, beloved of all naval men ever since the
days of Drake and Hawkins, he wrote the following letter
on Midsummer Day : —

42 DuNSFORD Street,

Stone House, near Plymouth,
June ■zifth, 18 18.

My dear Jos,

My reason for going to Plymouth before I
first intended was the danger I should run of getting a
house in August, & as I had an opportunity of giving up
that which I had at Teignmouth, I thought it advisable to

1 In Lady Hardy's diary, mention is made of numerous social
gaieties at Plymouth, including eighty-five receptions as well as balls,
dinners, and other festivities. She and her husband were amongst
the guests who stayed at Mount Edgcumbe during the Grand Duke
Michael of Russia's visit.

THE CHOOSING OF CHAPLAINS 175

do so, I have taken this for a fortnight, to give Louisa time
to suit herself, she & the children are not yet come, but I
expect them this evening. Will you say to Admiral
Ingram that I shall be most happy to do all I can for
Lieut. Pitfield,^ but I have already made application for
two, & I fear their Lordships will only give me one, how-
ever, I will try. I recollect his Father very well, I have had
already several applications from Chaplains, but I do not
like to take one that is not known to me, or strongly
recommended by some friend, now it appears by your
letter that you have only seen him, Mr Brice, once or
twice.- Will you, therefore, make enquiry about him & let
me know in what ships he has served, so that I might know
a little more about him before I reply to his request, as I
am very anxious to have a respectable Clergyman if
possible. I have not written to John Ward, but if you see
him will you say that I shall give him timely notice. I
expect to be commissioned about ist of September, which I
hope wmII not prevent my paying you a visit, as I feel
myself quite equal to a little partridge Shooting. I was
not in the least hurt by my overturn in the Subscription,^
I fortunately fell on my head, and whether I partake most
of the Hardy or the Masterman Breed, I know not, but
I believe the brains that ought to have fallen to my share
are transferred to some other branch of the family, as my
head must be composed of a much harder substance.

5 o'clock. — Louisa & the children are all arrived, they
are quite well & join me in best love to you all. I remain,

My Dear Jos,

Yours most affectionately,

T. M. Hardv.

1 Joseph Pitfield [1790-1858], of Symondsbury, Dorset. Taken
prisoner in the Proserpine, 28th February 1809 ; escaped 4th February
181 1. Distinguished himself at the bombardment of Algiers.

2 Rev. Edward Brice, B.A., Wadham Coll., Oxford [1785- 1873].
son of the Rev. George Tito Brice, Vicar of Canford Magna, Dorset.
He married the sister of Francis Roberts of the Triu)itph.

3 A well-known coach.

176 "PRINCESS AUGUSTA" AND ^'SUPERB"

Hardy, however, did not join the Superb till November.
Four months later he writes : —

" Superb," Plymouth Dock,
March 2yth, 1819.

My Dear Jos,

I am very much obliged to you for yours of the
15th instant. I am truly sorry to hear so bad an account
of Mrs Balston, but sincerely hope the Spring will bring
her about again. I am also sorry to hear so bad an
account of Martha & Augusta, but I look forward to the
fine weather for their recovery. I am much obliged to
your County Member^ for his good opinion &c & pray
return him my best respects when you next see him.
Captain Gambler, Nephew, (I believe) to the late Mrs
Pitt, is going to reside near Dorchester, he is married to a
daughter of General Browne, Lieut Governor of Plymouth.
I am much obliged to you for a very fine Cheese it is remark-
ably good. Mr Colston was good enough to bring it to
me^ I have sent you by the Balloon of this day (I hope)
a fresh cod with a hund'^ of oysters & we have taken the
precaution to embowel it & I hope it will arrive good, it
was alive when I bought it. The weather of late has
been so unfavorable that no terbits have been caught.
By todays conveyance I have also sent Mrs Thresher a
cod & Trimmings. I hope it will arrive in time for the
Wedding,^ but to say the truth I am not in the Secret but
I wish them all much happiness, & should the purchase be
made at Charminster I shall be enabled to visit my brother
& Sister without the assistance of a horse ; however I do
not think it possible that such an arrangement is likely to
take place. I never before knew that Matrimony was

1 W. Morton Pitt, M.P. for Dorset. His first wife was Margaret,
daughter of John Gambier.

2 The "blue vinney" cheese of Dorset, like the Dorchester ale, has
been famous from time immemorial.

3 The marriage of Miss Thresher, Hardy's niece, of Corfe Hill to
Tom NichoUs of Weymouth.

OLD ADMIRALS AND YOUNG WIVES 177

good for a Paralitic stroke, & I always have remarked
that our old Admirals with young wives soon leave their
spouses in quiet possession of their prize money : however
I hope Tom Nicholls will be more prudent. Louisa &
her eldest Daughter are going to Town, the second week
in April. Lady Emily has expressed a great wish to see
them & I see no objection to their going ; as the new road
is so much better than the old, as well as ten miles shorter
they will go that way. If you see Admiral Ingram will
you say that I am very sorry that I could not get Mr Cox
with me, but Sir Henry Hotham has put him into the
Lee on this Station, so that at a future day I do not despair
of getting him with me. I am joined by Louisa & the
children in best love to you all I remain,

My dear Jos,

Yours most affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

I hear Mary Manfield is still at Exeter.

On the 1 2th August 18 19, Sir Thomas Hardy, K.C.B.,
was appointed Commodore and Commander-in-Chief on
the South America Station, and hoisted his broad pendant
on the Superb. Next day he writes to Nelson's old friend.
Sir Benjamin Hallowell, K.C.B., as follows : —

Plymouth Dock,
August \ith, 1 8 19.
My Dear Sir,

I will take out your son the moment the
Owen Glendower joins & place one of mine (if I have no
vacancy) with Spencer. I can only repeat what I hastily
stated to you at Lord Spencers " that your son shall be
the first promoted by me," & I do assure you that it will
give me the greatest pleasure to prove to you that I have
never for a moment forgotten your kindness to me in
former times, & I do not think you will feel greater pleasure
in hearing of his promotion than I .shall in communicating

178 "PRINCESS AUGUSTA" AND "SUPERB"

it to you which I hope will be the day after he has served
his time and is of age. I have got the duplicate of his time
which I will take care of. I am quite glad you have
communicated to Sir Geo. Cockburn^ how things stand
& I sincerely hope something will soon be done for you.
Lady Hardy joins me in best regards I remain My dear
Sir

Yours most truly and sincerely

T. M. Hardy.

Rear- Admiral
Sir Benjamin Hallowell, K.C.B.,''^
Ealing, Middlesex.

Shortly after this (Sept. 9, 18 19) Hardy set out for
his new sphere of usefulness on the east coast of South
America.^

^ See ante.

2 (Born 1760, died 1830.) Assumed the additional name of Carew,
1828. It was Sir B. Hallowell who gave Nelson the coffin made out of
the timbers of the Orient.

^ Lady Hardy says the house they rented from General Desborough,
in Durnford Street, Stonehouse, was at once given up, as she had settled
to go abroad with their children. " There were no leave-takings. vSir
Thomas hated them. He would never even allow anybody to see him
off, saying that at such a time he was completely absorbed by his duties
to his ship."

CHAPTER XVII

HARDY COMMODORE AND COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF ON THE
SOUTH AMERICA STATION [1819-1824]

THE selection of Hardy for this particular command
speaks volumes for the high opinion of his dis-
cretion and ability, which must have been entertained
both by Lord Liverpool and Robert, Lord Melville.
Whenever he had been placed in a position requiring a
combination of tact, foresight, and courage, he had always
made his mark for good, raising, when the exigencies of
the situation required it, the prestige of the English flag
by some bold stroke of firm insistance. He had also more
than once given evidence of diplomatic talents of no mean
order. Hardy's biographer in Colbourne's United Service
Journal} gives a very lucid description of the situation with
which Hardy now had to deal and the difficulties he was
expected to grapple with. " This command," he writes,
"was one of the greatest possible importance."

The War of Independence, or as the Spaniards termed
it, the Revolutionary War, had generated anarchy and
confusion everywhere : the interests of all parties had to
be consulted, British trade to be protected, and a strict
neutrality to be observed. At such a time the arbi-
trator required to have a clear head and a vigorous arm,
both of which were found in Sir Thomas Hardy : his
conduct was the theme of universal praise ; the loser and

1 United Service Journal {ox 1839, part iii., p. 385 et seq.
179

i8o THE SOUTH AMERICA STATION

the gainer equally allowed the justice of his awards,
and he had the additional satisfaction of receiving the
thanks of the Admiralty on his return from the station.
In Marshall's Naval Biography, Captain Basil Hall says : —

" Hardy was trusted everywhere, and enjoyed in a
wonderful degree the confidence and esteem of all parties.
His advice, which was never obtruded, was never suspected,
and a thousand little disputes were at once settled amicably,
and to the advantage of all concerned, by a mere word of
his, instead of being driven into what are called national
questions, to last for years, and lead to no useful end.
When this respect and confidence had once become fully
established, everything went on so smoothly under his
vigilant auspices, that it was those only who chanced to be
placed near the scene who could perceive the extent, or
appreciate the importance of the public good which he was
silently dispensing."

The following correspondence between Hardy and his
brother throws some light on this portion of Hardy's life.

" Superb," Rio de Janeiro,
Novr 2oth, 1819.

My Dear Jos,

I wrote you a hasty letter a day or two after
our arrival at this place I now take advantage of the Packet
who sails tomorrow to say I like the climate very much & I
think the Country by far the most beautiful I ever saw.
I have seen a great deal of Mr & Mrs Cunningham, they are
good enough to give me a Bed when I sleep on shore, but
I prefer living on board. I am sorry to say the climate
does not seem to agree with young Ward ; altho' he is not
absolutely ill, yet he is constantly unwell, & is troubled
with a very unpleasant cough. He is however better now
than he has been for some time. I forgot if I told you in
my last letter the best mode of writing to me, but if you will
enclose your letters to John Hay Esqr, Admiralty London
he will forward them to me. I meet occasionally with some

HARDY AT BUENOS AYRES i8i

of my old friends (Portuguese) who I knew at Lisbon & I
receive the greatest civilit)' from them all. We had a most
excellent passage here from England & I landed all my
passengers in high good humour. I am ver}- much pleased
with Mr Thornton & as we shall have some business to
transact, it is very fortunate for us both, that we seem to
understand each other. There is a Son & Daughter here
of our old school fellow Dampier, She is married to a Mr
May who is a Merchant here, & the Brother is a Clerk with
him, She is really a very nice woman & I believe her
Husband is making money very fast, I frequently see him
& of course talk of our Dorsetshire friends. Pray offer to
Mrs Hardy my best love as well as to all my relations.
I remain,

My Dear Jos,

Yours most affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

In the spring of the following year : —

Buenos Ayres, March 24//^, 1820.
My Dear Jos,

I send by the Blossom who takes despatches to
England tomorrow morning. This Country is in a sad
troubled state having experienced three complete changes
of Government, in as many months. The last which took
place on the 12th of this Month was attended with a great
deal of confusion & some alarm, A strong party, called
the Montoneros entered the City by force, drove the then
Governor from his Post & he took refuge on board some of
the Ships in the Road, Some firing took place a Lieut
Colonel was killed and another Officer badly wounded.
Many robberies were committed & Houses broken open
& Plundered. The Montoneros Bivouacked close to my
Quarter, and as the English families living close to me
were dreadfully allarmed, I took three ladies and seven
children under my protection, so with my own family which

i82 THE SOUTH AMERICA STATION

amounts to seven, and about a dozen servants I think we
were pretty well filled.

Three of my Officers were robbed & their horses taken
from them & an attempt was made to treat Mr Ward in
the same manner, but he resisted with great firmness,
galloped off & saved his horse & money for which he has
gained great credit. We are now very quiet but I will not
vouch for its long continuance as the parties are nearly of
the same strength and their annemosity is very great ;
however we must expect those things till a regular form of
Government is established. The present people in power
have published a secret correspondence with France which
you will see in the English papers, it is making a great
noise here & I have no doubt but it will gain strength by
going to England. Mr Ward like myself complains very
much at not having heard from Dorsetshire since we left
England ; however we hope to hear by the next Packet
which is expected from Rio de Janeiro in about a week ; our
last accounts from England was 7th of Deer. They appear
to be in a very troubled state in some parts of the Country,
but I sincerel}' hope that the new Laws will keep you all
quiet & those who are not satisfied with our Government
should come to this nice Republican Country, where liberty
is enjoyed only by the strongest & we live nearly by Club
Law. Pray offer to Mrs H. & all the family my best love.

I remain.

My Dear Jos,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

The next letter is written four months later : —

"Owen Glendower," Buenos Ayres,
July c)th, 1820.

My Dear Jos,

I was much gratified yesterday by the receipt
of your letter of the 16th of Febry & I hope the fine

TROUBLES IN SOUTH AMERICA 183

weather which you have now got, has put you all to rights.
This is the finest climate I was ever in, this is }-our
January & we have the Thermometer at night down to
about 30 & the Day tho' a little cold it is quite delightful,
but from the sad quarrels in the Country we cannot take
the exercise we otherwise should. A Battle was fought on
the 28th of June between what is called the Federal Troops
& those of Buenos Ayres about 3 leagues from the City.
The Buenos Ayrians were completely beaten. We are
now blockaded by the Federals. The Town is so strong
that they are afraid to enter it. Skermishcs daily take
place, & of course we keep out of the way. How it is to
end we have \ et to learn, but I hope the Federals will not
enter the City for the sake of British property which is
very considerable. I am very glad Mr Hay has written
to you as I shall hope to hear from some of you occasion-
ally. I shall reply to William Manfield's request & shall
be very happy to do as he desires when I can find out
who he means, but we have no such Midshipman on the
Station as " Robinson " but I have no doubt some young
man will soon let me know that he is recommended to
me by Mr Cowper. I have not been at Rio de Janeiro
since I first left it but I hear frequently from there. Mrs
May & her family were quite well on the 21st of last
Month ; one of her children had been unwell but it is quite
recovered. I am in regular correspondence with Cunning-
ham, I sent him the other day two horses & four Mules
we having them very cheap here & at Rio they are very
dear. He is now acting Consul & his son is Vice Consul ; I
shall give him an account of the poor Admiral in my next
letter. How he must have regretted the loss of so many
good dinners. Tell him when you see him, that his friend
Mr Cox is very well but has not grown in the least. I
much fear that I cannot promote him for no one will die.
As the River Plate is very much exposed for ships of the
line, I have sent them to Rio de Janeiro & they will return
again in August. I am quite happy to hear so prosperous

184 THE SOUTH AMERICA STATION

an account of Mrs Henning, before you get this I hope
we shall have added a cousin to our family. Pray offer
to her and Mrs H. my congratulations.

How fortunate it is for our Service that all our wives
are not so fond of us as our Niece is of Captn Balston,
I should be quite wretched if mine was to take it into her
head to keep me at home. She writes me a very good
account of our children they are the Beauties of Geneva,
& I find Emmy still bears the Bell ; Lou the most graceful
& Mary is now become very good.

I remain

My dear Jos

Yours affectionately

T. M. Hardy.

There is a silence of six months, and then he writes : —

Buenos Ayres,
Jany 14th, 182 1.

My Dear Jos,

We are all very busily employed packing up,
as I am going to embark tomorow on board the Creole,
and I purpose passing round Cape Horn, to see that part
of my Station. The voiage is said to be very boisterous
but I have no doubt but we shall do very well, I have
not heard from you for some time ; my last letter from
Louisa is dated 17th of August she was then at Lousanne
near Geneva, and where she purposes remaining twelve
months. The children were quite well and improving very
much.

Everything remain very quiet at Buenos Ayres, I
sincerely wish that things looked so well in England, but
I am sorry to see that the Radicals seem daily to gain
strength.

I hear frequently from Colonel Cunningham but I have
not seen him since my first arrival in South America. Mr

LORD COCHRANE'S SUCCESSES 185

and Mrs May are quite well ; one of the children was unwell
but is now quite recovered. I hope Mrs Hardy and all
our Family continue in good health. Young Ward still
continues with me ; not having had an opportunity of
promoting him, he is a very good young man and I should
be much pleased if I had an opportunity of providing for
him. You will not hear from me again for some time, as
my passage round, in all probability will be six weeks, and
the conveyance of letters from the other side of the Andes
to England is quite uncertain. We hear that Lord Cochrane
has been very successful and has taken one of the Spanish
Frigates. Most likely I shall have the pleasure of seeing
him and I have no doubt but we shall agree very well.
Pray offer my best love to Mrs Hardy and all our friends,
I remain,

My Dear Jos,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

In the following November he again writes :—

"Creole," Callao Bay near Lima,
Novr. 2(jth, 1 82 1.

My Dear Jos,

I have not heard from you for a long time but
probably I shall by the next opportunity.

You will long ago have heard of the sad accident which
Louisa and our Eldest Daughter met with; however I
suppose we must thank God that it was no worse, I heard
from Little Lou three weeks after the accident, and she
was doing very well her Mother was very much bruized
but no bone broken, my wife was so anxious about her
daughter that she quite forgot to mention herself.

I am going to reside at Lima for two months when I
purpose returning to Valparaiso, and shall pop round Cape
Horn, for Rio de Janeiro in April.

Peru is now nearly in possession of the Patriots, and

i86 THE SOUTH AMERICA STATION

our trade in Lima is very considerable. As there is no
return for our Manufactories but Dollars and Bullion, a
good proportion falls to our share to carry to England. The
Superb will sail tomorrow with about a million and a half
dollars, and this ship probably will take to Rio de Janeiro
about the same sum, which will be forwarded home by
some other ship of War ; I am doing very well, in fact
much better than could have been expected.

Young Cox is quite well as is Mr Ward, the latter com-
plains much of not hearing from his family, do mention
them when you write.

My time of service will expire in October, and I expect
to be relieved immediately.

Give my best love to all my friends, I remain.

My Dear Jos,

Yours most affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

I hope Mrs Hardy is well give my love to her. I have
never seen our Weymouth friend but I hear he made a
very bad passage round Cape Horn.

On New Year's Day 1822 his thoughts travel back to
" Possum " where his brother John lay on his deathbed.
He writes home thus : —

Lima, /(2«y. \st, 1822.
My Df:AR Jos,

I received your letter of June lOth a few days
ago, and one from Mary Manfield at the same time. I am
quite sorry to hear so bad an account of poor John's health,
but sincerely hope that the abcess will take a favourable
turn, or the consequences I much fear will be fatal. The
summer season I hope will be found favourable for his
complaint, and I trust long ere this that he is again
restored to health.

BUENOS AYRES AND ITS PIGS 187

John Ward is very unwell the climate does not agree
with him so well as it does with me, as I have enjoyed
remarkable good health. Owing to the death of a Mr
Lambert late Purser of the Alacrity, I have appointed
John Ward to the Vacancy, and he is now certain of being
confirmed which I am much pleased at, as it will give him
with care, an independence for life. He is not seriously ill,
but he was confined to his bed the last time I heard of him.
He is at present on board the Creole at Callao, but the
Alacrity is daily expected.

Young Cox is under some alarm, for the fate of some
of his money as he sa3's he has seen in the Portsmouth
paper, the failure of the House of Cox Patterson & Co. I
own I have not seen it in the Paper and I sincerely hope it
is not true. I am not surprised to hear of the death of
poor Mr Edward Balston, the last time I saw him I did
not think that he would have lived six months the sum he
has died worth is something enormous. The Captain
(Balston) I think has not chosen a good time to turn
Farmer, however I hope it will only be on a small scale. I
think you are quite right to have a little business, as
it will be an amusement to you. I am rather astonished
that Captain Thompson should have spoken so highly of
the Buenos Ayres Pigs, they originally come from Spain,
they are quite black, and in my opinion of the coarsest
kind ; however I will take some of them to England and if
the breed is approved of you shall have some of them.
I am anxious to hear from you again, for your last account
of poor John is less favourable, however we must hope for
the best. With best love to all, I remain.

My Dear Jos, Yours most affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

I expect to be at Rio de Janeiro by the ist of May.
His next letter is one written six months later :—

i88 THE SOUTH AMERICA STATION

BOTAFOGO, NEAR RiO DE JANEIRO,

July yd, 1822.

Mv Dear Jos,

A few days ago I received your letter of the
nth April, and I am truly sorry to hear of the distressing
state that poor John appears to have been in at the time
you wrote, and from your account of him I much fear that
there is very little hope of his recovery. Independent of
the loss of a Brother, it will be a most distressing thing for
our Sisters, and from the badness of the times I am at a
loss to know what is best to be done, but I shall be most
happy to do everything in my power for them. Thank
God I have enjoyed my health and have sent home about
fifteen thousand pounds, but I fear that my golden harvest
is nearly at an end.

I have left things tolerably quiet in the Pacific, but I
fear that our troubles are about to commence in the
Braziles, as the Government here seem determined to shake
off the Mother Country.

Young Cox is my acting Flag Lieut, and I sincerely
hope that I shall be able to get him promoted. Poor fellow,
I find that he has lost his Father, and a large proportion of
his money was in hands of Cox, who it appears by the
Papers has failed, and I hear that he is on his passage to
Lima. He will arrive there at an unfortunate time, for all
the mines are now filled with water, and for many months
to come, there will be very little silver got.

Colonel Cunningham (for that is the name he goes by)
is quite well and Mrs C. as gay as ever. He was Deputy
Consul General, but Mr Chamberlain is arrived which is a
bad thing for our Piddle Town friend.

As I have reason to believe that I shall be here for a
few months I have taken a house near Cunninghams, and
we are living very comfortable, having a whist party most
evenings. I hear my little friend Plowman is doing very
well, and I am quite sorry to learn that he has made so bad
a choice. 1 have not heard from Lady Hardy since

DEATH OF JOHN HARDY 189

December but I am told that she is gone with her family
to Florence which probably is the cause of my not hearing
from her. Pray offer my best love to I\Irs Hardy and all
the family, I remain,

My Dear Jos, Your affectionate Brother,

T. M. Hardy.

Hardy had now shifted his broad pendant into the
Creole, from which ship he writes : —

" Creole," Rio de Janeiro,
Sept 7 th, 1822.

Mv Dear Jos,

I have not heard from you since last April,
but I have seen in the Portsmouth Paper that Poor John
died on the 25th of that Month, In common with you all,
I very much lament his being taken from us, his loss I fear
will be very much felt.

My troubles have again just commenced. The Brazil
Troops at Bahia have resisted the King's forces, and that
City is in great confusion. As we have a considerable
Trade there, I feel it right to go there, and shall sail for
Bahia in a day or two.

My time of service on this Station has expired, and I
expected to be relieved, but as yet I have not heard who
is to be my successor. Thank God I continue to enjoy
my health, and I wait with patience the Orders of the
Admiralty.

I have got a house close to Cunninghams, and as I
have been at some expense in fitting it up, of course I am
sorry to quit it. Mr Hetherly son to Mrs Cunningham who
you might recollect at Piddle Town^ is going to Bahia with
me for change of Air, he has been very unwell and I hope
the change of scene will do him good, he is the Vice Consul
at this place.

Mrs May has been in England some time, and is

' A village six miles from Dorchester, now called Puddletown.

I90 THE SOUTH AMERICA STATION

expected out again very soon ; her Brother Mr Dampier is

here, and is a very fine young man. I have lent Mrs May

my house during my absence which I should hope will not

exceed two months. Young Cox still continues my Flag

Lieut he is not yet confirmed, but I am in great hopes that

I shall be able to get him Promoted when I arrive in

England. Pray offer my condolence to all our family,

I remain,

My Dear Jos,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

A month later he again writes : —

"Creole," Bahia, Coast of Brazil,
October bth, 1 822.

My Dear Jos,

I did not receive your letter of the 3rd of June
until a few days ago owing to my having left Rio de
Janeiro sooner than I first intended, but my letter to you
of the 7th of September will have shown that the death of
Poor John had reached me thro' the Portsmouth paper.
From the account you give of his late illness and sufferings,
it must have been a happy release, both for him and our
Sisters. The account you gave of Augusta's health is very
uncomfortable, but I hope she will bear up against the loss
we have all sustained. I think his Will has been judi-
ciously made, and I hope the Ladies will take your advice,
and give up, at the least, one of the Farms, altho' their loss
in the sale of stock will be considerable, yet probably the
first loss may be the least.

Fortune has been very kind to me, and I shall be most
happy to make my Sisters an annual allowance of £^0
each, which I feel I can afford out of my present income.
I have sent home about Eighteen Thousand Pounds, and I
hope to increase that to Twenty before my return.^

^ Hardy here refers to the freight of treasure by a ship-of-war,
then a legitimate source of gain to everybody concerned, from the

HARDY AND HIS DAUGHTERS 191

I have left the Pacific and Buenos Ayres tolerably-
quiet, but I fear we shall have some trouble in the
Brazil. This place is in Latitude 13 South, and very
hot it is, but thank God I continue to enjoy excellent
health.

I have not heard for some time from John Ward, but
he was quite well in June and on his way to Valparaiso
from Lima, in the Alacrity.

Young Cox is still acting as my Flag Lieut, and I shall
do all I can to get him confirmed, he is a very clever fellow,
and a great favourite of mine.

I have not yet had the pleasure of seeing the Reverend
Mr Penny, you will have heard that he quitted the Doris,
and is residing at Pernambuco, which place is between
three and four hundred miles to the North of Bahia.

I am quite sorry at what you tell me about Tom
NichoUs, but am not much surprised at it.

I find I have got a Weymouth young man on board as
my Secretary's Clerk, his name is Edward Thorne,^ I am
very much pleased with him, and shall give him the first
vacancy as Purser should one occur during my stay in
South America.

The accounts I get of my children are very flattering,
and I am very anxious to see them. I was always of
opinion that Emily would be the handsomest, but her
Mother would not allow it. Louisa is a Berkeley and Emily
a Hardy; little Mary is between the two, and I understand
is very much improved, Louisa has quite recovered the
fall she had, it happened in April 1821. Her Mother is so
partial to Lusanne that she talks of remaining there until
my return. I hope Mrs Hardy is recovered of her

Admiralty downwards. Greenwich Hospital also had its share of the
profit. At this particular time it added materially to Hardy's income.
It was then regulated by a Proclamation, dated 12th July 18 19. This,
with other enactments, has since been modified by a " Proclamation
respecting the conveyance of public and private treasure," issued on
the loth August 1888.

* See post^ chapter xx., p. 222.

192 THE SOUTH AMERICA STATION

Rheumatism. Pray offer to her my best love as well as
to all my Relations, I remain,

My Dear Jos,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

Once more the broad pendant of Commodore Sir T. M.
Hardy is shifted to the Doris, from which he writes : —

"Doris," Bahia,
Jan. isf, 1823.
My Dear Jos,

I have been in daily expectation of the arrival
of a packet from England, but as she is not come, the
Conway, which takes this letter, will sail early tomorrow
morning for Spithead, with a tolerable good lot of Dollars.
I have not heard from you for some time, but I hope that
" no news is good news." Probably the papers will alarm
our friends for the safety of the British in this quarter, and
I own that our situation is not enviable as we are com-
pletely surrounded by the Brazilians, who almost daily
attack the Portuguese, but the ground is very strong and
can be defended with great ease.

Provisions are very scarce and dear, a couple of fowls
cannot be purchased for less than thirty to forty shillings
sterling, and other necessaries in proportion, but I manage
to get a little from Rio de Janeiro, where I have sent the
Creole to refresh her Crew. I was in hopes to have finished
my troubles, when I left all quiet in Spanish South America,
but this new Emperor of Brazil ^ seems determined to drive
all the Portuguese out of this Country, and the Butes^
Interest is so connected with Lisbon that individuals must
suffer. I wrote to you on the 6th of October, and I think

1 Pedro I., crowned Emperor ist December 1822. He abdicated
7th April 1831.

2 The meaning of this phrase is not clear, unless the " Butes "
describe some commercial house of business.

BAHIA AND ITS CLIMATE 193

I told you that I was to remain out a little longer. Of course
I feel grateful to my friends at home for their good opinion
of me, and I sincerely hope that I shall continue to give
satisfaction, but I find it very difficult to please my
Countrymen. As probably }'ou will see by some of the
papers, Dan. Cox now stands first on my list for Promo-
tion, and I hope he will soon be provided for, I continue to
enjoy good health, but I do not like the climate of Bahia.
I have not had an opportunity of seeing the Reverend Mr
Penny, but I hear that he is quite well at Pernambuco.
Pray offer to Mrs Hardy and all the family my best love,
I remain. My dear Jos,

Yours most affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

John Ward was quite well at Valparaiso when I last
heard from him.

CHAPTER XVIII

HARDY REAR-ADMIRAL. HE RETURNS HOME, ESCORTS
THE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE TO LISBON, COMMANDS
THE EXPERIMENTAL SQUADRON, AND STRIKES HIS
FLAG [1824- 1 827]

IN January 1824 Hardy reaches England in the Creole to
which once again he has transferred his pendant.
Lady Hardy is now Hving at Florence with her daughters,
and the Commodore, who now makes the United Service
Club his headquarters, acquaints his brother with the news
of his arrival in the following letter : —

GODALMING, on my way to London,
Jan. 2^th, 1824.

My Dear Jos,

I left the Creole off Cowes assisting to get off
the Seringapatam which ship we found on Shore yesterday.
We experienced some bad weather on our way to Ports-
mouth, but kept clear of accident. I shall get thro' my
business in Town as soon as I possibly can and then pay
you a visit, but I fear it will be nearly a month before I
can possibly go into Dorsetshire.

My address for the present is United Service Club,
Waterloo St., London.^

^ The first United Service Club was in Charles Street. Hardy
either refers to Waterloo Place, or Charles Street may in 1824 have
been known as Waterloo Street.

194

ONCE MORE IN DORSET 195

With best love to all, I remain, in haste,

My Dear Jos,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardv.

My Wife and Girls are all well at Florence.^

His next letter is written on his way home to
" Possum " : —

Portsmouth, Febry \^th^ 1824.

My Dear Jos,

I am at last thus far on my way to Dorset-
shire. I was obliged to come here, as I have many things to
settle, but I purpose quitting Portsmouth on Sunday morn-
ing and if possible will be at Dorchester on Sunday evening.
I shall write to Mary Manfield tomorrow as it is possible
that William might be out of Town. I have had a great
deal to do in London and began to fear I should never get
away.

I have heard from Louisa ; they are all well and at Flor-
ence, and as the oldest girl is rather delicate the Mother
does not like to remove her for the present. In hopes of
seeing you on Monday morning and with best love to Mrs

Hardy, I remain,

My Dear Jos,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

Now intervenes a silence of more than two years (19th
February 1824 to 4th August 1826). On 27th May 1825
he became Rear-Admiral. Sir T. M. Hardy now ceased
to be a Colonel of Royal Marines, having held that rank

1 Lady Hardy, in her diary for May 1824, mentions a visit paid to
Florence and Leghorn by her husband. On returning together from
Leghorn to Florence, a ball was given by them at their house in the
Piazza San Maria Novello, "in return for much civility." Long rides
were also constantly taken in the neighbourhood of the city, and the
sojourn in Italy was ever after referred to as a most enjoyable
experience.

196 REAR-ADMIRAL

ever since the 19th July 1821. In that capacity his pay
was ;^8o per annum. In the autumn of 1826 he is
apparently living with his family in Regent Street. The
following gossipy letter speaks for itself : —

8 Regent Street, August d,th, 1826.
My Dear Jos,

I had the pleasure of receiving your letter a
few days ago. I hope the Claret will be found as good as
Mr Casher promises.

My friend Plowman rather over rates the Beauty of
Emily, they are both however very good looking and
most excellent girls. I am sorry to say that little Mary
has got a very bad cough ; her Mother is of opinion that it
is the Hooping Cough. I have been very much occupied
at the Admiralty correcting Signals, and I fear we shall not
finish before the latter end of this Month, but if I can get
away I will pay you a visit early in September. The
Galatea I believe is still at Portsmouth, I have not seen
any of her Officers nor have I heard anything of young
Bascomb, I have got an account of the money expended
for him, which I will give you when we meet. I hope
Cousin Jim shewed you the letter I sent him from Lord
Napier ^ when you see him you may say that the Diamond
will be in England the latter part of September she is now
at Lisbon. Of course you have heard of Captn Garth
having set off with Lady Astley. I suppose it will annoy
the old General very much. The weather continues very
warm and the harvest about London is quite finished, the
wheat is very good and the Barley very short in straw but
on the whole a saving crop. It is very difficult to get a
Frank as every body are out of Town. Give my best love
to Mrs Hardy, I remain.

My Dear Jos,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

* Francis, seventh Baron Napier [1758-1823].

IN THE DOCTOR'S HANDS 197

A little later he writes : —

8 Regent Street, Septr. 2C)th, 1826.
My Dear Jos,

I am happy to inform you that my leg is
nearly well ; the little Doctor put on a long face on Monday
mornins: and said if he had been in Dorsetshire he would
not on any account have allowed me to have stirred ; how-
ever as I was in London he would begin with me in
earnest, so he gave me the Black Pill and put on a Swinging
Poultice. He now sees the necessity of attending to my
stomach, and all is going quite right, and my Nose is not
half so troublesome.

My Committee ^ has also indulged me by sitting in my
room instead of the Admiralty which has given me the
advantage of a comfortable sofa. I am very anxious to
hear how Mrs Hardy is ; I sincerely hope that she con-
tinues to gain her strength ; pray give me a line to say
how she is, Sir Edward Codrington- has been good
enough to say he will take young Brown, but the Asia,
his Flag ship, is not to be commissioned for a month to
come.

As we are sitting at 8 Regent Street I fear I shall not
be able to get a Frank but I will go out at 4 which is the
time we break up and try if I can find my friend Colonel
Drinkwater.3 With best love to Mrs Hardy and hoping
that I shall hear favourable accounts of her. I remain,

My Dear Jos,

Yours most affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

I have written to Augusta this day.

' Sir T. M. Hardy was at this time chairman of a committee deal-
ing with the important subject of changes in naval construction.

2 Admiral Sir Edward Codrington [\770-\^^\

3 Colonel Drinkwater [1762-1844] the historian of the siege of
Gibraltar. He subsequently assumed the additional name of Bethune.

198 REAR-ADMIRAL

Later in this year Rear-Admiral Sir T. M. Hardy was
appointed to command the Experimental Squadron organ-
ised for the purpose of deciding on the class of ship most
suited to the changed conditions of naval warfare. He
received his commission on 5th December 1826, and writes
to his brother with reference to his new duties : —

Portsmouth, Deer nth, 1826.
My Dear Jos,

I had the pleasure of receiving your letter of
the 9th, I find that young Brown has run from the Asia ;
it is not worth looking after him so let him remain with
his Father. I am very sorry to hear so bad an account
of Mrs Hardy, this damp weather is I fear much against
her. Little Plowman says that my new command, will do
more towards my recovery, than all that he can do for me,
I hope he will prove to be right, for I am quite tired of
blowing my nose. It certainly is much better than it was,
but I am still annoyed by it, in all other respects I never
was better in my life. My present command may be
honourable but I fear that it will not turn out profitable ;
however we must take things as they are, and hope for
the best. The squadron which I am to command is built
on experiment, and we shall go to sea for the purpose of
trying which is the best ship of War. There are four
Constructors, all of whom at present are friends of mine.
As my opinion (alone) is to be taken at the Admiralty,
I much fear that I shall lose three friends out of the four,
however I hope and trust my opinion will be impartial ; for
the rest I must take my chance. I have not heard any-
thing more about the Warspite, when I do I will let you
know. I have seen Miss Croan she is looking just the
same as she did when you and I paid her Mother and
Mrs Pope a visit in, what year shall I say, 1783 or for ought
I know some years before that. I am to dine with her
tomorrow to meet Mr Thompson, who is also very well.
I hope Wm Manfield is getting better, his last letter told

A CRUISE TO LISBON 199

me that he had been unwell. With best love to Mrs
Hardy. I remain,

My Dear Jos,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

Prior to his start on the " experimental " cruise, affairs
in Portugal assumed a critical aspect Dom Pedro had,
on the 2nd May previous, abdicated in favour of his
daughter, Donna Maria da Gloria. The insurrection of the
Marquis de Chaves, in favour of Dom Miguel in October,
and the disturbances which followed, caused the Portuguese
Government to seek the assistance of Great Britain in
maintaining order, and Hardy, on 17th December, with his
flag in the Wellesley^ escorted the expeditionary force to
Lisbon.^ He was soon back again at Portsmouth busy
with the Experimental Squadron, his flagship being the
Sibylle.

Shortly after his return to England he thus writes to
his brother : —

Portsmouth, Febry. 22nd, 1827.
My Dear Jos,

I should have written to you before if I could
have given you a favourable answer about Lieutenant
Critchell, but I am sorry to say that I have so many of my
own followers unemployed, that I cannot hold out to Mr
Hawkins the least hope of success for his friend. I am
sorry to hear that Mrs Hardy does not gain strength faster ;
the cold weather I conclude is the cause. Our Connection
Mr Frampton has requested of me to get one of his sons
provided for, either in the Marines or otherwise, it is hard
that a child should suffer for the sins of the father, but it is

* A full account of this episode is to be found in the biography
of Sir Charles Napier. Our action at that time doubtless laid the
foundation of the friendship now existing between Great Britain and
Portugal.

200 REAR-ADMIRAL

quite out of my power to do anything for him. My
Squadron are getting in a forward state, and I am in hopes
of getting them ready for sea in a fortnight ; one of them
the Satellite has had the misfortune to get on Shore last
Sunday in a heavy gale, but fortunately she has not
received any damage. My health continues quite good
and I do not feel the cold as I used to do. I am sorry to
say that my two elder girls are laid up at Paris with severe
colds, which I am not much surprised at. Pray offer to
Mrs Hardy my best love, I remain,

My Dear Jos,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

Since writing the above, Mr Critchell has introduced
himself to me, and as I have given him the same reply as
stated in this letter, I hope he is satisfied ; if not I am very
sorry for it.

Of Hardy's opinions as regards the ship of the future at
this period, Sir J. H. Briggs says : —

" Sir Thomas Hardy was strongly impressed with the
conviction that what the Navy stood most in need of were
line-of-battle ships of 120 and 90 guns. He attached as
much importance to three-deckers and 90-gun ships as
Voltaire did to strong battalions, who is reported to have
said with more truth than reverence that he observed that
the Almighty generally fought on their side." ^

In the course of the summer the rear-admiral's flag is
transferred to the Pyramus, and he thus writes to Mr
Joseph Hardy about Portisham business : —

Portsmouth, /««^ 9//5, 1827.
My Dear Jos,

I had the pleasure of seeing your letter this

morning. I shall not at all object to pay the odd ^500 for

^ Naval Ad7nmistrations, by Sir J. H. Briggs. London : Sampson
Low, 1897, p. 24.

PURCHASE OF THE RICCARD'S ESTATE 201

the Rickards ^ Estate as you recommend it, but I will not
trouble you to advance the money. My money at present
is out on Mortgage ; I have called Six Thousand Pounds in,
but I fear it will be some months before I can get it ;
however I have no doubt but Halford will advance the money
if I stand in need of it ; however I will arrange with William
Manfield when I see him. Thank God that I was not
returned for Weymouth- I have nothing to do with Politics,
they are all friends of mine, and I attend to my Orders. I
did not intend to have informed you that I had been in
correspondence with Mrs Walcott, because I knew it would
vex you as my object is to oblige you and not your
Nephew in Law. Their folly shall not stand in his way of
promotion, I have named him to His Royal Highness ^ who
makes no promises, but says he will not forget him. If the
young man has patience I think his promotion certain, but
pray do not hint it to any of his connections, as it will be
deemed by them as a promise from me. It has quite
slipped my memory what I said to William Manfield, about
young Bascombe, but I should think that I did not speak of
his Father, for I consider him as an Orphan and as such I
have taken him under my protection. I have seen him
and he is looking very well. Lady Hardy with my girls

1 Sir Andrew Riccard, Kt., was a native of Portisham, of very mean
extraction, and who, going to sea young, acquired a great fortune ; was
an eminent merchant and President of the East India and Turkey
Companies. He purchased the manor of Portisham. He was born
1604, and died 6th September 1672. His daughter Christian married
John, Lord Berkeley of Stratton. The Hardys had been lessees of
part of this estate, and now Sir Thomas Hardy purchased a portion
which afterwards came to his nephew, William Manfield.

2 The Right Hon. Thomas Wallace and Masterton Ure, Esq., this
year (1827) became members for Weymouth. If Hardy was a candidate,
as it certainly seems to have been the case, this was his third defeat
for that constituency (see ante, p. 155).

'^ The death of the Duke of York in January 1827 made the Duke
of Clarence next heir to the throne. In April of that year he had
accepted the office of Lord High Admiral in ihe Canning administra-
tion. He resigned the post in August 1828.

202 REAR-ADMIRAL

are quite well and staying at Dieppe. I hear that the
youngest has grown very much & is much the prettiest of
the three. I saw in the papers the melancholy death of
poor John Balston, but I have not heard from Augusta
since my return. I am sorry to hear that Mrs Plowman is
unwell but I hope this fine weather will set her up again.
Pray offer to her my best Compliments and with best love
to Mrs Hardy, I remain,

My Dear Jos,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

Wm Manfield is not to be alarmed if he sees in the
papers of my having sailed. I am only going out for two
days to try some new guns.

He next writes on the same subject : —

Portsmouth, Septyth, 1827.
My Dear Jos,

I am much obliged to you for your letter
which I received this morning. I really am very anxious
to see you before we sail, which will be very soon after the
15th instant, and if you can make it convenient to come to
Portsmouth I shall be delighted to see you. Our Ships
are preparing for foreign service, but I do not think that I
shall go abroad just now ; however I should not like to leave
Spithead without seeing you and really I have not time to
visit my friends in Dorsetshire. I am not in the least
surprised at what you say about our beloved Sister, and I
have no doubt but she will keep the little piece of ground
which divides your property from that which I have
purchased. I can give you a Bed. I am at Meradith's the
Tailor 73 High Street opposite the Parade Coffee House.
If you will give me a line to say at what time you will
arrive I will look out for you. I have told William
Manfield that the money to pay the remainder of the

TRAFALGAR DAY, 1827 203

purchase is now laying in Cooke & Halford's hands,
therefore the sooner it is paid for the better. I wrote to
Mr VValcott a few days ago at Doulo [sic] but of course the
letter will follow him. I fear that I shall find great trouble
in getting him promoted for I do not think that he will keep
a sufficient time on a foreign station. I have lately heard
from my family at Dieppe they are all well and talk of
spending the next Winter in England.
Pray offer to Mrs Hardy my best love,

I remain.

My Dear Jos,

Yours most affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

On Trafalgar Day Hardy struck his flag, and thus
writes to his sister at Portisham : —

8 Regent Street, October zdth, 1827.
My Dear Augusta,

I was quite sorry to hear from William
Manfield a day or two ago that Martha had met with an
accident, pray give me a line and tell me how she is. I have
been very much hurried since my return from Sea and I do
not quite see when I shall be quiet, for I set off this day for
Portsmouth where I purpose to remain until Monday or
Tuesday, when I shall again venture to this place. My
flag is for the present struck and I do not as yet know if I
am soon to hoist it again. I heard a few days ago from my
Girls they are all quite well and at Paris. You had better
send your letter here as my movements are so very
uncertain.

With best love to my Sisters, I remain,

My Dear Augusta,

Your affectionate Brother,

T. M. Hardy.

204 REAR-ADMIRAL

Rear-Admiral Sir T. M. Hardy was evidently unconscious
of the fact that the twenty-second anniversary of the most
memorable day in his life was destined to see the end of
his active service as an officer in the Royal Navy. It had
lasted exactly thirty-five years and three hundred and
sixty-four days.

CHAPTER XIX

HARDY RESTS ON HIS LAURELS [1827-183O]. HE
BECOMES FIRST SEA LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY IN
THE GOVERNMENT OF EARL GREY [NOVEMBER
1830— JULY 1834]

A PROLONGED period of almost entire cessation
from active employment followed the Trafalgar
Day of 1827. He was still residing at 8 Regent Street,
where he remained for another two years, removing in
the autumn of 1829 to Addison Villa, Kensington.
Amongst the Hardy papers at Dorchester is a portion
of a letter dated the 4th February 1828, which shows that
he was still negociating for the purchase of the Rickard
(generally written Riccard) property at Portisham.^ He
refers also to Captain Elliot, who now filled his old post
on board the Victory. Hardy's keen interest in Dorset
affairs remained unabated, although he had done for ever
with electioneering at Weymouth.

8 Regent Street, Febry i,th, 1828,
My Dear Jos,

I cannot resist enclosing you a letter which
Captain Elliot of the Victory has sent me which he re-
ceived from Sir Thomas Staines.^ Should George Feaver
to whom I have written come to you, pray advise him to
take his boy out of the Service. William Manfield when

' See ante^ p. 201.

'^ Sir Thomas Staines, Capt. R.N. (born 177O, died 1830).

205

2o6 RESTS ON HIS LAURELS

in Town said that Rickard's Estate would be transferred
to me in lo days. The Election^ set him off and I have
heard no more about it.

For nearly a year and three quarters the corre-
spondence leaves no trace, but in the Life of Admiral Sir
William Parker- may be found the following note, well
worth quotation : — " i8th July 1829 — I have," writes Sir W.
Parker, " unexpectedly this day received intimation from
the Admiralty that they have nominated me to meet
Vice-Admiral Sir L. Halsted, Rear-Admiral Sir Thos.
Hardy, Commodore White and Captain E. Brace and
Thos, Hayes in committee for the purpose of revising the
Rigging Warrant and Sea Store Establishment of the
Navy ... I consider the measure very desirable, and
they have wisely included Sir T. Hardy, who is unquestion-
ably the best seaman, and most understanding on the
points to be under consideration, in the service."

A fortnight later. Hardy writes as follows to his old
midshipman of the Triumph and Barfleur days : —

United Service Club House,
Pall Mall,
August y^d, 1829.

My Dear Sir,

Owing to my being out of Town I did not
receive your letter of the i6th ultimo until my return. I
fear that if it is out of my power to get you employed
either in a packet or in the Transport Service. The
former I think the best employment if you can get an
appointment. Captain Bowles at present is out of Town.
Should you prefer the Preventative Service I will with

' He evidently alludes to the Weymouth Election of 1828, when
Edward Burtenshaw Sugden became Member in the place of Thomas
Wallace.

2 Life of Admiral of the Fleet, Sir William Parker, by Vice-
Admiral Augustus Phillimore. London : Harrison, 1879, vol. i., p. 494.

THE SMALL HOUSE AT KENSINGTON 207

great pleasure interest myself with Captn. Bowles on your
behalf.

I beg to offer my best compliments to your Brother,
and Should Commodore and Mrs Bullen be at Burton will
you offer them my best regards.

I remain My dear Sir

Yours very sincerely

T. M. Hardy.

To Lieut. Roberts,
Burton Bradstock.

On the 23rd October 1829, he writes a letter to his
brother, alluding to his change of residence, and the death
of his brother-in-law and Dorset neighbour, John Thresher,
of Upway.

Portsmouth, October 2ird^ 1829.
My Dear Jos,

Your letter of the 20th instant gave me the
information of the death of our late Brother-in-law Mr
Thresher^ an event which I own I was in some degree
prepared for, as I thought him breaking very fast when
last I was in the Country. In general occurrences of that
nature tend to remove past differences, and I have to
regret that the loss of our relation has not brought that
consolation. I own from my short but frequent visits into
Dorsetshire I never thought that the deceased was the
cause of the unpleasant feeling which existed in the
family, and I sincerely hope that the few years which may
be spared to our Sister, she will employ them in making
peace with her brother and Sisters. I have since received
a letter from Captain Balston, but it had been detained
in London two days. Lady Hardy has given up her in-
tended journey to Paris and all have taken a small house
at Kensington situated close to Holland House and she
will take possession of it on Monday next. It is called
> John Thresher, Esq., of Upway, died i8th October 1829, aged 82.

2o8 RESTS ON HIS LAURELS

Addison Villa, a finer name than Addison Cottage, which
most probably would suit it better. I have been detained
here longer than was first expected, but I think we shall
finish our labours in ten days when I shall join my family.
They are all quite well. Our house is only taken for six
months. I see no prospect of employment ; unfortunately
they do not want any more Admirals, so I must wait
patiently. I am rather surprised at Plowmans anxiety
to be called father, probably he thinks it would make
Mrs P. more obedient, pray remember me to him I am
pleased to hear that Mrs Hardy is better and I sincerely
hope we shall have a mild winter. Pray offer to her my
best love, I remain.

My Dear Jos,

Your affectionate Brother,

T. M. Hardy.

A month later he writes from his new home : —

Addison Road, Kensington,
Nov. 26th, 1829.

My Dear Jos,

You will see by the enclosed note that Bas-
combe is in the Donegal at Sheerness. It is quite possible
that he has not as yet written to his Brother to say so. As
Sir Jahleel Brenton ^ is an acquaintance of mine I shall take
an opportunity of thanking him for taking the youngster but
I shall get him into a Sea going ship as soon as any of my
friends are employed. I remain,

My Dear Jos,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

1 Sir Jahleel Brenton, Vice-Admiral (born 1770, died 1844). He
commanded La Minerve when lost off Cherbourg in 1 803 (see ante).

A HOLIDAY AT SEAFORD 209

The next letter (only a month before he became First
Sea Lord at Whitehall) is as follows : —

Seaford,' October z^th, 1830.

My Dear Jos,

We have spent a very pleasant month at this
place, the weather having been delightful. We return to
Addison Road on Friday next. Lady Hardy has derived
great benefit from Sea Bathing and is now nearly recovered ;
the young ladies are all quite well they all join me in best
love to you and Mrs Hardy whom I hope is also well.
When you see Cousin James will you thank him from me
for a basket of game which he sent me a short time ago.
The Farmers in this neighbourhood are quite tired of the
dry weather as they cannot commence their wheat sowing ;
however we have had a little [rain] this morning and I have
no doubt but we shall now have enough of it. I have not
heard of my Sisters since you last wrote to me, but I hope
during this fine weather that they have laid in a sufficient
stock of Health to carry them thro' the Winter. The
Politics on the Continent continue very unsettled I think
this Country will find great difficulty in keeping out of a
War.- I have applied for the East India Station, in the
event of Sir Edward Owen^ coming home, which they say
he must do in consequence of ill health, but I cannot get
Lord Melville to give me a promise. I remain

My Dear Jos,

Your affectionate Brother,

T. M. Hardy.

England was now in the throes of the reform agitation,
which was to have such momentous consequence. George

' Seaford in Sussex, 2| miles south-east of Newhaven.

2 The revolution in France was further complicated by the struggle
between the Belgians and the Dutch. The position of affairs was for
some time very threatening.

3 Sir Edward Owen, Admiral (born 1771, died 1849). He did not
return from the East India Station until 1832.

2IO RESTS ON HIS LAURELS

IV. had died four months previously, and Sir Thomas
Hardy's friend and fellow sailor had become King of
England. On the 15th November the Tory Ministry of
the Duke of Wellington was defeated, and William IV. sent
for the leader of the Opposition, Earl Grey. In the Well-
ington administration Robert, Lord Melville, had filled the
post of First Lord of the Admiralty, an office which he had
held with one brief interval ever since 1812. Lord Grey
proposed Sir James Graham as Lord Melville's successor.
The King at first demurred, and only agreed to the appoint-
ment on the understanding that Hardy, with whose views
he was in sympathy, and in whose ability and discretion
he placed entire confidence, should replace Sir George
Cockburn as First Sea Lord : Cockburn, by a strange coin-
cidence, had also been one of Nelson's captains. Sir James
Briggs, in his Naval Administrations (p. 14), writes : —

" Sir Thomas Hardy was no politician, had no seat in
Parliament, and was selected solely on account of his
high professional attainments. . . . He did not possess the
gift of eloquence, and could not indite a despatch with the
felicity of Sir George Cockburn though no one knew
better than he what ought to be written, for nothing could
be more true than the remark of Lord Nelson respecting
him that Providence had imbued him with an intuitive
right judgment. . . . Sir Thomas was frequently heard to
say ' that he could not argue against Cockburn, Croker, and
Barrow,^ for they carried far too heavy a broadside for him.
They would prove him wrong in two minutes though he
knew he was right for all that' "

In another place (p. 15), Sir James Briggs, who had
himself served under Hardy at Whitehall, says : " The
brilliant services of Hardy as a naval officer are of world-
wide fame, but his administrative abilities as First Sea

1 Sir George Cockburn was First Sea Lord of the Admiralty before
Hardy's appointment. Sir John Barrow held the post of Secretary of
the Admiralty for forty-one years, and John Wilson Croker was for a
long time Political Secretary of the Admiralty.

HARDY FIRST SEA LORD 211

Lord of the Admiralty have never received a fair meed
of honour by the country at large, though thoroughly
appreciated in the service. He took a large and com-
prehensive view of all subjects, and clearly foresaw the
many changes which must inevitably take place in the
navy. ... If Sir George Cockburn dreamt of the past,
Sir Thomas Hardy lived for the future ; he was not only
a reformer, but also a most prudent reformer, for he con-
sidered how far the leading members of the profession
would be likely to go with him, so as not to provoke
needless opposition. He was unquestionably thirty years
in advance of the opinions held by the admirals of that
day ; and seemed to behold, in prophetic vision, the mighty
changes which science and steam are now effecting in the
naval service. He was strongly impressed with the con-
viction that our naval superiority could only be maintained
by large and powerful line-of-battle ships carrying heavy
armament, as in action nothing could resist their con-
centrated fire. He was no less an advocate for numerous
and powerfully-armed frigates, as indispensable appendages
to a fleet. He considered all large sums of money expended
upon small craft as money wasted, as they must necessarily
become a prey to vessels of superior force. The policy of
Sir Thomas was never to allow any foreign power to gain,
even temporarily, an advantage over us. He used to say,
' Happen what will, England's duty is to take and keep
the lead.'"

Sir Thomas Hardy lost no time in taking over his
new duties. His predecessor (who had always been his
senior and formerly his commanding officer in the navy)
did his best to make matters smooth ; and Sir James Briggs
has placed on record an interesting conversation between
them, on the occasion of Cockburn " waiting " on his former
Lieutenant on board the Meleager and Mhierve^ to take his
instructions on leaving for the command of the West
India Station, which had been given him. Sir James
says Hardy always told him he felt in Cockburn's presence

212 RESTS ON HIS LAURELS

just as he did in the old days when their relations were
so strikingly different. On the occasion of the above-
mentioned interesting meeting, Hardy had requested Sir
James (then an Admiralty clerk) to remain in the room.
We are gratified, therefore, with the following characteristic
account at first hand of what took place ^ : —

" ' My dear Hardy,' said Sir George, ' I have come to
receive your instructions, as you know I am now under
your orders.' Sir Thomas said, ' Pray make any correc-
tions in them you think fit, sir ' ; when Sir George with a
smile replied, ' It is not for me, Hardy, to make corrections,
but merely to offer any suggestion that may occur to me
for your better consideration.' I then proposed to Sir
Thomas Hardy that it might be perhaps agreeable to Sir
George Cockburn to take the instructions home with him,
so as to peruse them at leisure. Sir George said, 'This
seems a good suggestion, Hardy. If you have no objec-
tion I will take them with me,' which he accordingly did,
and then left, to the great relief of Sir Thomas Hardy.
As soon as Sir George had gone, Sir Thomas said, ' I
really cannot believe I am First Sea Lord, the tables seem
so entirely turned.' Is it not wonderfully strange that a
man, the bravest of the brave, who, during the raging of
the storm and the fury of the battle, would stand cool and
collected and not lose his presence of mind for an instant,
should be temporarily disconcerted upon finding himself
in authority over one to whom he had for years paid pro-
fessional obedience ? Yet such is the effect of habit and
discipline."

The first letter from the Admiralty in the Dorchester
correspondence is dated 30th March 1832, but before that
its writer was nominated a Grand Cross of the Bath,^

* Naval Administrations, p. 19.

2 Either the officials took their time in sending in their bill of costs,
or the new G.C.B. was in no hurry to pay them, for in possession of
Mrs J. C. Thynne is the following document : —

" Received, April 19th 1833, of Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas M. Hardy,

HARDY AS GODFATHER 313

This was on the 13th September 1831. This letter is
addressed to his nephew, William Manfield, then, like his
father before him, a Dorchester solicitor. The First Sea
Lord is evidently now in much request as a godfather
" down Dorset way " : —

Admiralty, March 2,0th, 1832.
My Dear William,

Doctor Plowman is anxious to Christen his
two boys, and as I am to be Sponsor to Thomas Henry,
I shall be much obliged if you will get my brother to stand
Proxy for me, unless the Doctor will allow you to officiate
for me. Lady Hardy and your cousins regret very much
that they had not the pleasure of seeing you this morning,
but they hope to be more fortunate when next you come
to Town.

With best love to your Mother and Sisters. I remain,

My Dear William,

Your affectionate Uncle,

T. M. Hardy.

In August Sir T. M. Hardy goes with Admirals Sir W.
Parker and Dundas on a tour of official inspection to
Devonport.

Three months later he writes to his brother Joseph as
follows : —

AdisiiraltYj November <)th, 1832.

My Dear Jos,

I am sorry to inform you that our oldest girl
Louisa has taken cold, which the Medical men fear will
fall on her lungs, if the greatest precaution is not taken.

Bart., G.C.B., the sum of one hundred and sixty-four pounds, seventeen
shillings and 2d., the amount of fees due to the several officers of the
most Hon. Military Order of the Bath, upon his nomination to be a
Knight Grand Cross of the said Order.

"J. PULMAN,
";[^i64, 17s. 2d. Receiver of Fees."

214 RESTS ON HIS LAURELS

Lady Hardy, as you may suppose, is very much alarmed
about it and has almost made up her mind to go to
Malta with her, by the next Packet, leaving the two
youngest girls with me. I hope that it is not so serious as
the Medical men imagine, but I am sorry to say she has
nearly lost her voice.

I have just received a fine turtle and I will send Mrs
Hardy some in a few days. It will be ready dressed and
all you have to do is to warm it and add a wine glass of
Madiera with a little lemon juice ; not more than one small
lemon or half a large one. It shall leave London on
Tuesday next per mail & it will keep two or three days.
I have a good deal to do but my health continues as
good as ever. All the rest of the family are quite well
& join me in best love to you and Mrs Hardy. I
remain,

My Dear Jos,

Your affectionate Brother,

T. M. Hardy.

On the 5th June 1833, Hardy thus writes from the
Admiralty to his friend, Sir W. Parker : —

"You see by the papers that there has been a blow
up in the House of Lords about the neutrality of Portugal,
but you have come off with flying colours. There is to be
a trial of strength on the same subject in the House
of Commons to-morrow evening. If we are not more
successful there I fear that we shall be in a bad way ; but
I think the Commons will be on our side, and I do not
think the Lords can turn us out."

Five months later, Hardy, still at his desk in Whitehall,
writes thus, announcing the approaching marriage of his
youngest daughter to Mr John Atholl Bannatyne
MacGregor, who, in 1841, succeeded his father as third
baronet : —

APPLICATIONS FOR PROMOTION 215

Admiralty, iV<?t/r 9//^, 1833.
My Dear Jos,

It was yesterday settled that Mary is to be
married on Thursday next the 14th inst. It is to be as
private as possible, and they are to spend the honeymoon
at Stoke near Windsor at a Cottage of Lord Sefton's.
The ladies are all quite well and join me in best love to
you and Mrs Hardy.

I remain. My Dear Jos,

Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

Sir T. M. Hardy next writes : —

Admiralty, Deer ^th, 1833.
My Dear Jos,

Perhaps you would like to send the enclosed
to Mr Tizard. I have made fifty applications to the
Admiral for the promotion of different people but have
not been fortunate enough to get one promoted ; the fact
is that we are reducing the Naval Establishments in all
the different yards, and there is no promotion ; however
if you particularly wish it I will write to Admiral Garnett,
but I know that nothing can be done for Jos Hawkins.

Lady Hardy and the two girls are at Woburn Abbey
with the Duke of Bedford ^ and Mrs MacGregor^ and her
Husband will return to Town in a day or two. I have
heard from William Manfield & I will let him know when
the boy is to be sent. I remain,

My Dear Jos, Yours affy.,

T. M. Hardy.

1 John Russell, K.G., sixth Duke of Bedford (born 1766, died 1839).
In view of Hardy's birth at Kingston Russell (see ante), it is a strange
coincidence that Lady Hardy, through the Lennoxes, should be con-
nected with that ancient family. In 1833, John, Duke of Bedford,
was the owner of Kingston Russell.

^ Sir J. A. B. MacGregor, Bart., was the father of Sir Evan
MacGregor, K.C.B., now (1905) Permanent Secretary at the Admiralty.

2i6 RESTS ON HIS LAURELS

The First Sea Lord was evidently besieged with Dorset
aspirants to naval employment. Here are two of his
replies : —

Admiralty, Deer /^th, 1833.
My Dear Jos,

I have nothing whatever to do with the
appointment or promotion of the men in the Victualling
yards or I should be very glad to attend to the request of
Joseph Hawkins. The patronage rests with Rear-Admiral
Superintendent Garnett.

I remain, My Dear Jos,

Your Affectionate Brother,

T. M. Hardy.

Admiralty, April i^rd, 1834.
My Dear William,

I have again made application to all my
friends, and I hope that your wishes have been crowned
with success. Pray let me see you before you go into
Dorsetshire.

I remain,

Yours affectly.,

T. M. Hardy.

About this time the First Sea Lord of the Admiralty
became a Vice-Patron of the Royal Thames Yacht Club,
and so remained till the day of his death. His engraved
portrait may still be seen there. He had already been for
many years a member of the United Service Club, where
his bust now occupies a place of honour. He also belonged
to the Royal Naval Club of 1765, and often attended its
fortnightly dinners. In 1809, with his friends Berry and
Blackwood, he had, in addition, joined the Navy Club of
1785. These clubs since 1888 have been amalgamated
under the designation of The Royal Naval Club of 1765
and 1785.

GOVERNOR OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL 217

Sir T. M. Hardy's useful presence in the councils of
Whitehall was not to last much longer. On the 8th April
1834, he was appointed Governor of Greenwich Hospital,
in succession to Sir Richard Keats/ but it was distinctly
understood (at King William's personal suggestion) that in
the event of war Sir Thomas Hardy would again take the
command of a fleet and serve his country on the high seas.
A few weeks later Lord Grey (on acount of Irish complica-
tions) resigned, and was succeeded by Lord Melbourne.
Lord Auckland replaced Sir James Graham at the
Admiralty, and soon afterwards Sir Thomas Hardy
migrated from the Admiralty to the scene of his duties
on the banks of the Thames. The following letter shows
that before he quitted Whitehall he was already practically
in harness at Greenwich : —

Admiralty, May \2th, 1834.
My Dear Lethbridge,^

I sent you last Eveng a lanthorn which was
taken in the Ville de Paris ^ which I shall be obliged if you
will place with other curious things. I now send Com-
mander Fleming's Letter. I also send you a letter from
Mr Lene and shall be obliged if you can inform him what
vessel his son belongs to. I remain,

Dear Mr Lethbridge,

Yours very truly,

T. M. Hardv.

1 Admiral Sir R. Keats (born 1757, died 1834). Nelson had the
highest admiration for Keats, who in 1803 commanded off Toulon the
Superb^ of which ship Hardy became captain fifteen years later. It
was in 1803 that Nelson said, " Keats is one of the very best officers
in His Majesty's Navy. I esteem his person almost equal to one
French 74-, and the Siiperband her captain equal to two 74- gun ships."

- John Arscott Lethbridge, afterward one of Hardy's executors.

3 A similar lantern still hangs in the hall of Portisham House,
the roof of which, tradition says, is supported by oaken beams sent
there by T. M. Hardy from "broken-up" battle ships.

2i8 RESTS ON HIS LAURELS

His Majesty purposes going to Church at the Hospital
on the 1st of June.

Allusion has been made to Sir T. M. Hardy's excusable
slips in the matter of orthography, which here and there
are observable in his straightforward, downright, matter-
of-fact letters. Sir J. H. Briggs (to whom Hardy was a
giant amongst First Sea Lords, and little less than a hero),
gives the following anecdote on the subject which pre-
sumably refers to an occurrence of 1831 : " At this time," he
writes {Naval Administrations, p. 32), "the officer in com-
mand of the Channel Squadron was Vice-Admiral Sir
Edward Codrington. He was a Trafalgar captain and the
hero of Navarino. Unfortunately he had, about this time,
involved himself in some unpleasantness by imprudently
preferring certain charges against Captain Dickinson of
the Genoa, which he failed to substantiate. The squadron
being ready for sea, Sir Thomas Hardy asked Sir James
Graham, just as the Board was breaking up, what orders he
wished him to give to Sir Edward Codrington. He replied,
* I think you had better send the squadron to cruise for
three weeks or a month for the purpose of gunnery and
exercise. Write a minute to that effect, and give it to Mr
Briggs to bring to me.' I went with Sir Thomas Hardy
to his private room where he wrote as follows : ' Vice-
Admiral Sir Edward Codrington to proceed to sea with the
squadron under his command, and to cruise for three weeks
for the purpose of exercise, and gunnery off the " Silly "
Islands.' I took the minute to Sir James, and handed it
to him with a grave face. He smiled upon reading it, and
said, ' A very proper place, Mr Briggs, for that admiral to
cruise. Nevertheless, we had better insert the " C " before
it falls into the hands of the young gentlemen of the
office.' "

It is only common justice to the memory of Sir Thomas
Hardy to place on record in this volume the following
minute made by Sir James Graham before quitting office : —

SIR JAMES GRAHAM ON HARDY 219

Admiralty,

i,th June 1S34.

Understanding that in the new Patent constituting
this Board, the name of Sir Thomas Hardy, the Governor
of Greenwich Hospital, will not appear, and myself being
about to leave an office, in which I have had the honour of
serving with Sir Thomas for three years and a half, I
cannot omit an earnest recommendation to the Board,
that a mark of respect, which was granted to Sir George
Cockburn, should be tendered to Sir Thomas Hardy ; and
that he should be requested to nominate a Commander, a
Lieutenant and a Mate for promotion by the Board, before
he leaves this Office, as a special mark of gratitude for his
services, and of admiration of his Character,

It appears to me conducive to the public good, that
this Justice should be rendered to exemplary Merit by
Colleagues, who can best appreciate it. The Naval
Character of Sir Thomas Hardy will live in the Annals of
his Country, while Nelson and Trafalgar are remembered :
it is right, that his Civil Services should be recorded at
the Admiralty, with some mark of gratitude and respect,
which are so justly due,

J, R. G. Graham,

CHAPTER XX

SIR THOMAS HARDY, BART., G.C.B., GOVERNOR OF GREEN-
WICH HOSPITAL (1834- 1 839). HIS DEATH THERE,
20TH SEPTEMBER 1 839

THE last post to which Sir Thomas was ever appointed
must have been one in many ways after his own
heart. Amongst his predecessors at Greenwich Hospital —
the Royal Palace converted into a great naval asylum by
the munificence of King William and Queen Mary in 1694 —
were his own ancestral kinsman, Admiral Sir Charles
Hardy (who had died there a little more than half a
century before), as well as such distinguished sailors as Sir
G. B. Rodney, Samuel, Lord Hood (another Dorset " sea-
dog"), and Sir Hugh Palliser. Congratulations came to
him from all sides. Sir William Parker wrote from Lisbon
expressing his hopes that Hardy would " hold the position
long with uninterrupted pleasure."

One of the most prominent characteristics of Hardy's
generous and kindly nature was a solicitude for the comfort
and happiness of those placed under his command. His
anxiety about the young officers and sailors of his various
ships (as constantly shown in his letters to Dorchester) is
often quite touching. Even at that period when the navy
served as a sort of refuge for the very dregs of society he
believed in treating the British sailors as rational human
beings, instead of as animals amenable only to fear of
punishment. In the matter of discipline. Sir Thomas

Greenwich Pensioners in Hardy's Time.

Trafalgar Day.
" Hearts of oak are our ships,
Jolly tars are our men ;
They always are ready
To fight and to conquer again and again."

[7*0 Jact page 220.

HARDY AMONGST THE VETERANS 221

Hardy was far in advance of his times. He was the first
who had the courage to trust to the honour of his men and
to dispense with the patrol of boats round the ships for the
prevention of desertion. He was in the habit of granting
shore-leave for forty-eight hours at a time, with no security
for their punctual return but their pledged words. The
result was the creation of an esprit de corps, and on one
occasion, when weighing anchor to put to sea, the whole
crew was apparently in a ferment of dissatisfaction. It soon
became known that the cause of the commotion was the
continued absence of two of the sailors on leave, which their
comrades regarded as a breach of good faith reflecting on
them, one and all. The missing men were seen approaching
in a boat, rowing might and main. Three cheers were given,
not for them, but for " Cap'n Hardy." At Greenwich Hospital,
Sir Thomas Hardy found a new sphere for his geniality
and human sympathy. He rapidly became as popular
with the pensioners (many of whom had served under him)
as he formerly was with the middies and " captain's servants."
Many abuses prevailed at Greenwich Hospital when he
arrived there, which Hardy at once set himself to remedy.
His biographer, in Colbourne's United Service Journal} wnt^s
as follows: — " With his great kindness of heart,he endeavoured
to do away, as much as possible, with the .sentence of
expulsion from the Hospital — which sentence, as it carried
with it the loss of all claim to re-admission as well as
forfeiture of pension, he considered highly objectionable,
and we believe it was rarely, if ever, resorted to by him.
But another sentence, the resistance of which not unfre-
quently led to expulsion, was felt by him to be of a nature
too degrading to be passed upon an old sailor — that of
wearing a bright-yellow coat with red sleeves. This punish-
ment was commonly inflicted by the Council when a man
had been found drunk upon a Sunday. We are far from
advocating drunkenness on any day, and particularly upon
the Sabbath ; but it must be borne in mind that on that day,

' 1839, part iii., p. 385.

222 GOVERNOR OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL

more than on any other, the pensioners are visited by their
children and friends — an adjournment to the ale-house seems
to follow as a matter of course — an extra pint of porter, or
a glass of grog too much, is administered, and the old man
forgets that it is Sunday. It is surely not such an offence,
great though it be in a certain light, as to render it neces-
sary to degrade that man from his station amongst his
fellows by putting upon him a badge of infamy. It was in
this light that the humane Governor viewed the offence
and the punishment, and he never suffered it to be carried
into execution. He also requested and obtained his late
Majesty's consent to the substitution of trousers for knee-
breeches in the dress of the pensioners — an alteration
which conferred an incalculable degree of comfort upon the
pensioners. But that which most endeared him to every
one was his amiable simplicity — a simplicity arising from
pureness of heart and intellect, which shed upon all his
actions a soft and pleasing light. He was a Christian in
profession and practice."

After Hardy's death a Dorset sailor, Mr Edward Thorn,
who had served with him as purser on the South America
Station (1821-1827),^ speaking at Dorchester, rendered an
eloquent tribute to his large heartedness and consideration
for others. Mr Thorn assured those who were assembled
to do honour to Hardy's memory, that no Governor of
Greenwich Hospital had ever enjoyed anything like so
large a measure of popularity with every class of its
inmates. Shortly before his death, the visitor had over-
heard one of the pensioners exclaim : " There goes our
good old Governor : God bless him. We honour the very
ground he treads on."

At Greenwich, Hardy found his post no sinecure. In
addition to his routine duties, he had to arrange the
ceremonial for state visits paid there by the King and
Queen on the anniversaries of great naval victories, when
they happened to fall on Sundays. The " Sailor King "

' See ante, p. 191.

THE SAILOR KING AT GREENWICH 223

made these " progresses " one of his rules of life. An
allusion to the earliest of these royal pilgrimages to
Greenwich occurs in one of the last letters written by Sir
T. Hardy from the Admiralty. The following communica-
tion relates to the thirty-eighth anniversary of the Battle of
Camperdown : —

Greenwich Hospital,
Octr. ird, 1835.

My Dear Elliot,

I have received His Majesty's commands to
inform you that he wishes the Board of Admiralty, now in
London, and also Sir John Barrow to attend Divine Service
in the Chapel at this Institution on Sunday the nth
instant. A Guard of Honor of Royal Marines is also to be
provided from Woolwich. I am also commanded to invite
you to dine at St James' Palace on that Day at 7 o'clock.
Frock Dress.

I remain. My dear Elliot,

Yours very truly,

T. M. Hardy.
This I hope to deliver in person.

Endorsed — 3 Octr. — Direct Commandant of Woolwich
to furnish a Guard of Honor consisting of 100 men to
receive His Majesty at Greenwich Hospital at half after ten
o'clock on Sunday the nth instant. Orders as on former
occasion, viz., 17 July 1835. — J. H. B,

The following account of the proceedings appeared in
the Annual Register for 1835: — "A large body of the
Metropolitan Police, together with the constabulary force
of Greenwich, attended in the avenues leading to the
Hospital, as well as within the bounds of the Hospital
itself, to preserve order. A strong detachment of Royal
Marines was stationed in the great quadrangle of the
building, and a guard of honour, selected from the same
Corps, was formed in a line, extending from the great hall

224 GOVERNOR OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL

to the chapel. Exactly at half-past eleven o'clock, His
Majesty, accompanied by the Queen and Prince George of
Cumberland,^ and attended by the Royal Suite, in six
carriages, each drawn by four horses, and escorted by a
detachment of the 8th Hussars, entered the western gates
of the Hospital, the band of the Royal Marines performing
the National Anthem in a most spirited style, and pro-
ceeded to the chapel. The lower part was chiefly filled by
the veteran inmates of the institution ; those who had
served under Admiral Duncan on the eleventh of October
1797, were conspicuously placed by themselves in a
situation opposite to the Royal pew. The Reverend Dr
Cole, Chaplain to the institution, having read the prayers,
the Bishop of Hereford ^ ascended the pulpit, and preached
a sermon, having selected as his text Ephesians, chapter iv.,
verse i.^ At a quarter before two o'clock their Majesties
and suite left the chapel, and proceeded to Town."

Nearly three weeks later, Hardy thus writes to his

daughter, Mrs MacGregor : —

Greenwich Hospital,
Octr. 20, 1835.

My Dear Mary,

Thank you for your little note which I
received a few days ago. We were fortunate in having a
fine day on the i ith, and as you will have heard from your
sisters that every thing went off quite as well as we could
wish. I dined after at St James', where I had to make a
speech, which annoyed me more than fighting the Battle,
for which I had to return thanks to His Majesty on the
compliments paid to the Officers and Men of the Nile.

I am glad to hear that my Grandson is so well.

In the following year. Sir Thomas Hardy appears to
have met the clever but unfortunate Letitia Elizabeth

^ Afterwards King of Hanover.

2 Edward Grey, D.D., Bishop of Hereford [1832- 1837].

3 " I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk
worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called."

"L. E. L.'S" POEM ON HARDY 225

Landon at Greenwich. He never could for a moment
foresee that this young and enthusiastic woman was pre-
destined ten months later to predecease the veteran of 68.
She subsequently addressed him the following poem, the
original of which, signed " L. E. L." ^ is now amongst the
Dorchester correspondence in possession of Mr H. A.
Huxtable : —

" Silence is now upon the seas,
The silent seas of yore ;
The thunder of the cannonade
Awakes the wave no more.

The battle-flag droops o'er the mast,

There quiet let it sleep ;
For it hath won in wilder hours

Its empire o'er the deep.

Now let it wave above their homes.

Of those who fought afar ;
The victors of the Baltic Sea,

The brave of Trafalgar.

Upon a terrace by the Thames,

I saw the Admiral stand ;
He who received the latest clasp

Of Nelson's dying hand.

Age, toil, and care had somewhat bowed

His bearing proud and high ;
But yet resolve was on his lip.

And fire was in his eye.

I felt no wonder England holds

Dominion o'er the seas :
Still the red cross will face the world

While she hath men like these.

And gathered there beneath the sun,

Were loitering veterans old ;
As if of former victories

And former days they told.

* "L. E. L." afterwards Mrs Maclean (born 1802, died 1838).

226 GOVERNOR OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL

No prouder trophy hath our Isle,

Though proud her trophies be,
Than that old Palace where are housed

The veterans of the sea.

Her other domes — her wealth, her pride.

Her Science may declare ;
But Greenwich hath the noblest claim —

Her gratitude is there."

During the latter part of their residence at Whitehall
(after Sir Thomas Hardy's nomination to Greenwich), and
subsequent to their removal to the hospital, Lady Hardy
jotted down in her diary many short memoranda as to
the various functions which took place there. As early as
May 1834, one finds a note to the effect that "the King
sent for Sir Thomas Hardy to tell him he meant to go
with the Queen to attend Church at Greenwich Hospital
on the 1st June,^ and desired that Lady Hardy also should
be there to receive their Majesties. The King desired
that all the survivors of Lord Howe's action should be
placed on cross benches, to distinguish them. — The
governor's house not being yet ready, the King and Queen
could not be entertained, but Sir Thomas and Lady
Hardy dined at St James's Palace next evening with
the Misses Hardy."

On Saturday, ist August, in the following year (1835),
William IV. and Queen Adelaide came to a breakfast at
Greenwich, "His Majesty having desired Sir Thomas and
Lady Hardy to invite a suitable party to meet the Queen,
the Torys being then in favour." " It was a lovely day,"
writes Lady Hardy. " The King and Queen and all the
Court came down by water in barges, and made a most
beautiful procession, about 100 guests. The Queen brought
her sister the Duchess of Saxe Weimar, Lady Brownlow,
Lady Denbigh, Miss Mitchell, Miss Bagot, Lord Howe
(chamberlain to the Queen), Lord and Lady Jersey, Lord

^ Sunday, June ist, 1834, the fortieth anniversary of Lord Howe's
"Glorious first of June."

C3>

H
Z
O

2
(d
M
K

O
H

?-.

O
CO

en
D
o

<
a

A ROYAL PICNIC AT GREENWICH 227

and Lady Mansfield and their daughters." Sir George
and Lad}' Seymour and Lady Hardy's three nephews,
Lord Ipswich (afterward Duke of Grafton),^ Lord Charles
FitzRoy (present Duke of Grafton),'- and Lord Frederick
FitzRoy, were also present,^ Sir Thomas took the Queen
down to Luncheon in the large dining room — and the
King took Lady Hardy. The others went to the other
rooms, where the daughters of the house presided. Their
Majesties stayed till 6 o'c. and went back by water. The
Thames was lined with Barges full of people* and there
were bands of music all along the river to Whitehall
where they disembarked. The Band of the Royal Marines
from Woolwich played in the Court before the house."

In the course of 1836 the new railway from Greenwich
to London Bridge was opened. Lady Hardy made up a
party for a trial trip, and the journey both ways was
effected in twenty minutes. She adds that " none of the
guests had ever travelled before in the new fashioned
manner." Sir Thomas Hardy declined to go at any price,
saying it was a needless risk to run, and, until his death
four years later, could never be persuaded to enter a
railway carriage.

The year of Queen Victoria's coronation was a very
busy one for the indefatigable Governor of Greenwich
Hospital, now in his seventieth year. In May he was
constantly driving up to London to attend the meetings
of the Commission on the " Defences of the Harbours
and Coasts of England," of which he was a member.
He took a very active part in its deliberations. Doubt-
less his advice and experience often proved valuable. In
the late Admiral Colomb's Memoir of the late Admiral
Sir Cooper Key (1898), mention is made of Hardy's in-

' The sixth Duke of Grafton (born 1819, died 1882).

- The seventh Duke of Grafton (born 1821, and alive at the
centenary of Trafalgar).

^ Born 1823, and still living.

■• This fete is evidently the one illustrated in the rare colour-print,
dated ist August 1838, and now reproduced.

228 GOVERNOR OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL

genuity in the matter of a radical change in the mounting
of guns afloat, " The great improvement," writes Admiral
Colomb, " but only for carronades and lighter guns, had
been the invention of Sir Thomas Hardy — Nelson's
' Trafalgar ' Hardy — where the gun-carriages, without trucks,
slid in and out on iron rails which were fixed to a wooden
slide fastened to the ship's side by a pivot, so as to allow of
the gun being trained in its port. There was an arrange-
ment called a compressor attached to the carriage, which,
dropping through a slot in the centre of the slide, could be
set to grip carriage and slide together, and so check the
recoil of the gun when fired, reducing the sudden strain
on the breeching, and perhaps enabling the space necessary
for recoil to be reduced."

On the loth January 1837, Sir T. M. Hardy by seniority
became Vice-Admiral of the Blue. Amongst the few
Hardy papers at Greenwich Hospital, is a letter acknow-
ledging the receipt of the notice of this promotion, and
less than a month later — viz., 7th February — he was
unanimously elected to the honourable and much-sought-
after position of an Elder Brother of the Trinity House.
He attended the Special Court held on that day, and
subscribed the necessary declaration. On the 20th June
1837, Hardy had to mourn the loss of his true friend. King
William IV., whom he had known intimately during the
later portion of his career, and who was but three years
his senior. During Hardy's tenure of office at Greenwich,
William IV. had placed a bust there in memory of his
predecessor Keats, and had always promised to pay the
same honour to Hardy if he survived him. This, however,
was not to be, and there is still preserved at Portisham a
lock of silvery white hair, sent to the Governor by the
widowed Queen, and bearing an inscription in Hardy's
handwriting.

Sir Thomas and Lady Hardy were amongst those who
attended the Coronation of Queen Victoria, on the 28th
June 1838. Lady Hardy notes that they were "in the

HARDY'S LAST VISIT TO DORSET 229

Abbey from 5 A.M. to 7 P.M." On the 5th July, Marshal
Soult, the French Ambassador, came to see the hospital,
en route for a review at Woolwich. He was accompanied
by the Prince de Ligne and the Marquis de Miraflore. Sir
Thomas Hardy's almost daily drives to London continued
during the whole of the remainder of the )'ear. In the
early summer of the following year (1839), the last of
Hardy's life, the widowed Queen Adelaide (who shared
her late husband's deep interest in Greenwich), came down
to lunch and see over the hospital. She was accompanied
by the Duchess of Saxe Weimar, Lord Howe, Lady
Georgina Curzon, and Lady Bedingfield.

Once more the old Admiral turns his face Dorsetwards.
This time he does not arrive there in either the " Subscrip-
tion " or the " Balloon." His visit is announced to his
brother in the following letter : —

Greenwich Hospital,
August \2th, 1838.

My Dear Jos,

As my friend Lord Seaford will pass through
Dorchester in his way to Falmouth, he has been good
enough to give me a place in his carriage, but he is not
yet quite settled the day that we are to quit London, but
it will be either on Sunday Monday or Tuesday next, and
as we sleep at Salisbury I will write to you again before
we leave London. Lady Hardy and the girls start in a
Steamer for Scotland on the 19th inst.

We heard of Mary Manfield & I believe she will dine
with us tomorrow. I am joined by my Family in best love
to you and Mrs Hardy.

I remain. My Dear Jos,

Your affectionate Brother,

T. M. Hardy.

I have written to William Manfield.

230 GOVERNOR OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL

As far as can be ascertained, this was the last time
Hardy ever saw his beloved " Possum," where his sister
still inhabited the old house which had long been their
property. One can imagine " Jos " (now a septuagenarian)
coming over from Charminster to show the Governor over
the Rickard estate. It is hoped that partridges were
abundant that autumn in the Portisham fields, and that
the brothers (now soon to part for ever in this world)
had many a pleasant chat of old times in the room
adorned with naval relics over " a bottle of the best."

In November 1838 "Tom" Allen, Lord Nelson's old
body servant, died in Greenwich Hospital, where, through
the instrumentality of the Governor, he had passed the last
years of his life in comfort.^ Hardy wrote on the 29th
November expressing his regret at the " loss of poor Ti>m
Allen," and a little later once more gave proof of his char-
acteristic warmth of heart and his constant regard for his
old shipmates, great and small, by causing a memorial to
be erected in the Hospital cemetery, bearing the following
inscription : " To the memory of Thomas Allen, the faithful
servant of Lord Nelson, born at Burnham Thorpe, in the
county of Norfolk, 1764, and died at the Royal Hospital,
Greenwich, on the 23rd November 1838."

Well before New Year's Day (destined to be the last of
Hardy's life) he was, as shown by his action in the matter
of Allen, back again at the hospital. In the letter he now
writes to his brother, he shows once more the old desire
to give a deserving youngster a helping hand.

Greenwich Hospital,
iTthJanry^ 1839.

My Dear Jos,

I send you an extract from a letter I have
this day received from Captain Napier- of the Powerful.

^ See Nehonian Reminiscences, by G. S. Parsons, R.N., edited by
W. H. Long. London : Gibbings & Co., 1905.

2 Afterwards Admiral Sir Charles Napier, G.C.B. [1786-1860]. In
1839 he was sent to the Mediterranean with the rank of Commodore.

SYDNEY SMITH ON HARDY 231

"If you will send down your young friend I shall fill
up the necessary papers for him."

You had better desire Mr Phelps to proceed as soon
as convenient to Sheerness and if he comes by way of
London call upon me.

My health continues quite good and I hope my leg
is a little better.

I remain, Yours affectionately,

T. M. Hardy.

In March the Rev. Sydney Smith — the witty Canon of St
Paul's — sent the Governor of Greenwich Hospital a volume
of sermons. Having received an expression of apprecia-
tion from Lady Hardy, he wrote her the following letter : —

My Dear Lady Hardy,

I would rather have the approbation of Sir
Thomas Hardy than that of several Bishops. If Bishops
approved, the sermons must be pompous, intolerant and
full of useless Theology. If Sir Thomas likes them they
are true, honest and useful, and if you add your sanction
then at least I am not dull, and I feel that I am helping to
pay off the debt we all owe you for looking so well as you
do and talking so agreeably.

Ever yours,

Sydney Smith.

March 26, 1839.
33 Charles St., Berkley Square.

As yet there was no sign of a final break in Hardy's
health. He is only troubled by his old enemy — rheu-
matism, and in May he was able to welcome Joseph Hardy
and " Cousin Tom " on their return visit to Greenwich. He
was apparently as full of activity as ever, and managed to
attend certain official meetings in London.

232 GOVERNOR OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL

Greenwich Hospital,
April ■z'^th^ 1839.
My Dear Jos,

I am enjoined by the ladies to say that we
shall be delighted to see you and Cousin Tom on Tuesday
the 7 of May I shall be in London on that day to attend
the Naval and Military Commission, and if you will tell me
where I can pick you up, I will call for you and take you to
Greenwich, The Commission assembles at 12 o'clock at
No. 10 Downing Street, Whitehall and we generally break
up a little before 3, when I will call for you, but probably
Cousin Tom will call at 10 Downing Street 5 minutes
before 12 when he will find me at the door.

My health is slowly improving but my hands continue
very weak.

I am joined by the ladies in best love to you and Mrs
Hardy and we all beg to express our regret that Mrs
Hardy should continue so unwell.

I remain, My Dear Jos,

Your affectionate Brother,

T. M. Hardy.

This is the last letter of Hardy to be found in the
Dorchester correspondence. He became seriously ill
during the late summer, but retained his consciousness
almost to the last. When all hope was abandoned and
Hardy knew his fate, he bade farewell to his wife and
children and his beloved brother Joseph, who, with a few
intimate friends, surrounded his bed, and faced death with
the stoical courage and resignation one would have expected
of the captain of the Victory. With admirable calmness, he
discussed the details of his funeral, and gave certain instruc-
tions as to the distribution of a few personal mementos.
The certificate of his demise on the 20th September 1839
states that he died from "torpor on paralysis of the
intestines."

Eight days later all that was mortal of " Dear Hardy "

HARDY'S FUNERAL 233

was laid to rest in the now abandoned mausoleum of
the old cemetery belonging to the hospital, where, not-
withstanding later alterations, his body still remains. The
following description of the funeral appeared in the Gentle-
man's Magazine (1839, Part II., p. 652): — "On Saturday
28th Sept. the remains of this gallant officer were consigned
to their last home." . . . The funeral was in some respects
a public one, but Sir Thomas Hardy himself had strictly
enjoined his executors. Sir John Dean Paul, Bart., John
Arscott Lethbridge, Esq., and Sir George Francis Seymour,
Kt., to avoid any ostentation in the last obsequies. At
1 1 A.M. the procession set out from the Council Room in
the following order : —

Six boatswains, two and two.

Crew of the Governor's barge.

Colours with crape. Mace with crape.

Muffled Drum and Fife.

Warder's Gang.
Warders, two and two.
Fifty pensioners, two and two.
The Governor's guard with halberds covered with crape.
Medical Officers, juniors. Military Officers, juniors.

- Sir J. Brunton, the Lieutenant Governor.
Chaplains in Surplices.
Pallbearers. Pallbearers.

Lieut. Filton. ^ BODY Lieut. Tucker.

Lieut. Rivers. ' Lieut. Bedford.

Capt. Huskisson. Capt. Larkan.

Mourners.

Commissioners of the Hospital.

Civil Officers of the Hospital.

Civil Officers of the Schools.

The late Governor's Household.

Pensioners who served with Sir Thomas Hardy in the Victor;}'

and other Ships.
Two inspecting boatswains.

Amongst the mourners were: — Lord Euston, Mr Fitz-
hardinge Berkeley, the Hon. Captain Berkeley, Sir John
Paul, Mr Lethbridge (the executors). Sir Richard Dobson,
Chief Medical Officer of the Hospital. Mr Jc.s.sep, the long

234 GOVERNOR OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL

and faithful friend of the deceased Admiral, and formerly his
purser on board the Raniillies, and his secretary until
appointment to Greenwich Hospital in 1834. Mr W.
Manfield of Dorchester and Mr Balston (nephews to Sir
Thomas).

Two of the Pallbearers, namely, Lieutenant Rivers
and Captain Huskisson, were in the Battle of Trafalgar.
The former was Aide-de-camp to Sir Thomas Hardy in the
Victory, and lost a leg a short time before Lord Nelson
was wounded. The latter was a midshipman on board the
Defence.

With Sir T. M. Hardy was buried a small print of

Nelson by which he set some store. This circumstance

gave rise to certain rumours at the time which are thus

disposed of by the biographers of the United Service

Journal : —

" The veneration entertained for Nelson by the subject
of our memoir was greater than is even generally imagined.
A paragraph has gone the round of the newspapers, respect-
ing a small print of the hero, called a miniature, which, it
has been stated, was constantly worn round the neck of the
subject of this memoir, and that it was his dying request
to have it placed in the coffin that inclosed his own
remains. That it lies buried with him is true ; in all other
respects the paragraph is void of foundation ; but as he
was known to have entertained a great value for the picture
it was placed by him in death." ^

The following short obituary notice was penned for
the Gentleman's Magazine by an official of Greenwich
Hospital, subscribing himself R. H, G. : — " On Sept. 20,
at Greenwich Hospital, Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas M,

' In the Memoirs of Sir William Hargood, published two years after
Sir T. M. Hardy's death, Mr Joseph Allen writes:— "The late good
Sir Thomas Hardy permitted only one of his letters to escape destruc-
tion — that one was the first he wrote after leaving his home [see ante^
p. 21]. It was found in a drawer, after his lamented decease, together
with a small portion of Lord Nelson's hair ; which proves that the
letter was highly prized by him since it was placed with such a relic."

AN APPRECIATION OF HARDY 235

Hardy, Bart, G.C.B., Governor of that Establishment,
eminent for that judgment and self possession without
which deeds of honour and arms are seldom achieved,
perpetually awake to the various duties of his command,
anxious for the improvement of the service to which he
had devoted himself, equal to every difficulty which it
could present, yet not above its most trivial details,
detecting with intuitive facility whatever might require
correction, and applying the due remedy, passing readily
from the sharpest reproof to the very gentleness of human
nature in her best forms ; always mindful of those who
shared with him the toils and perils of warfare, or were
otherwise deserving of encouragement. Sir Thomas
Hardy will descend to posterity as one of the truest
models in that profession to which the State is so much
indebted for its security, its wealth, and its renown.

"R. H. G."

''21st Sept. 1839."

As Sir T. M. Hardy left no son, the baronetcy died with
him. From Greenwich Hospital his widow and unmarried
daughters removed to 3 Chester Square, where they took
up their abode ; and thence Lady Hardy writes, five
months later, the following letter to Mr Joseph Hardy,
her brother-in-law : —

3 Chester Square,

February 25//;, 1840.

Dear Mr Hardy,

I write a few lines not expecting you to
give yourself the trouble of answering me, unless your arm
has quite recovered its use, but to tell you that Mr
Lethbridge will pay you a visit shortly as he is on a visit
in Devonshire & will take Dorchester on his way back but
it will probably be only for an hour or so.

We are all very well & comfortably settled.

Emily was a little quaking and thin, & so I let her go

236 GOVERNOR OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL •

by the railroad with the MacGregors to Liverpool about
three weeks ago, & she stayed with Lord & Lady Sefton at
Croxteth for ten days & they brought her back a week ago
in very good care. She had a good deal of riding and the
change did her great good. The reports of her marriage
to Mr Bruce have been very prevalent, but it is not the case
& you never need believe anything that you may hear till
you hear it from me, as I shall make it a duty as well as
pleasure to let you know the instant anything of the kind
could be in question. The MacGregors went on from
Croxteth to Edinburgh where he had business for his
father to transact, & they are now on a visit near their own
home at a Lady Lucy Grant's and will soon get back to
Birnam Lodge which is the place they rent near Dunkeld.
The children are quite well & were not the least trouble-
some on the journey. Little Ally ^ and Emmy - grow more
& more beautiful & the latter is the most engaging little
creature that ever was & walked alone before she left us.
I hear great praise of Prince Albert from all sides. I have
not seen him as of course I do not go out any where likely
to meet him. Sir George Seymour^ returned the Badge &
ribbon of the Bath at the Levee & brought me a very kind
message of condolence from the Queen who spoke most
handsomely of your poor brother & lamented the loss the
Navy had had in him. He was admitted into the Royal
Closet for this audience which is not usually done on such
occasions, but it was as a mark of respect to the memory of
him who had worn that Order.

Colonel & Mrs Dawson Damer were at Cairo & she has
been travelling about on a Camel's back all through the
Desert, and seems to be as able to bear fatigue as the
Colonel, but so can all women if they like what they are

1 Mr Atholl MacGregor (born 1836, living 1905).

2 Emily Louisa MacGregor, who married Viscount Stormont, and
is the mother of the fifth Earl of Mansfeld.

^ Sir G. F. Seymour, Admiral, G.C.B. (born 1787, died 1870), one
of the executors to Sir T. M. Hardy's will.

LADY HARDY REMARRIES

237

doing, believe me My Dear Mr Hardy with your Nieces
kindest duty & love to you & Mrs Hardy,

Yours affectionately,

L. E. Hardy.

Pray remember me to Augusta when you see her.

Lady Hardy, who afterwards remarried with Lord
Seaford, survived her first husband for nearly forty years,
dying on the 2nd November 1877, at Hampton Court,
where she is buried. Her eldest daughter Miss Louisa
Hardy, and her youngest daughter Lady MacGregor (who
died in 1896) are buried in the same place.

Hardy's Desk on board the I'tctory, now preserved at Portishain House.

CHAPTER XXI

HARDY MEMORIALS AT GREENWICH HOSPITAL AND
IN DORSET : HARDY PORTRAITS

OF the illustrations of the never-to-be-forgotten death
scene on board the Victory, which began at half-past
one and ended at half-past four on the afternoon of the 21st
October 1805, the number is almost infinite. They vary
from rare and beautiful mezzotints and colour plates down
to the roughest and rudest woodcuts and glass-pictures,
which at one time were to be found in almost every
cottage. In all of these the figure of " Cap'n Hardy" is
little less prominent than that of Nelson himself. In
the printed descriptions below many of them the name
of Hardy is often associated with that of his illustrious
chief — " Nelson giving his last commands to Hardy,"
" Kiss me Hardy," etc. In the majority of these engrav-
ings the attempt at any accurate likeness is of the
faintest. Most of them were produced and published
at high pressure, either in the days which immediately
followed the arrival of the news of Trafalgar in England,
or in the first fortnight of 1806, when the eyes of all
England were directed to the great funeral pageant at
St Paul's. This can hardly be said of the beautiful and
artistic colour-print of the scene on the deck of the Victory
just after Nelson had received his death wound,^ now repro-
duced. It was engraved by Charles Turner, after a painting

* In the collection of A. M. Broadley.

23S

f-l

Q
Z

D
O

a
Q
in

Q
M
>

H
(I.

H
O

X
H

MEMORIALS AT GREENWICH 239

by J. Parry. Below it are the words of the familiar Nelson
signal. It was published more than a year after the battle,
viz., on the 21st November 1806. The publisher was Mr
Vittore Zanetti, of 87 Market Street Lane, Manchester.
The face and figure of Hardy, as portrayed in this picture,
bear a sufficient if not striking resemblance to the hitherto
unpublished miniature in possession of Mrs Manfield of
Portisham, which forms the frontispiece of this volume, as
well as to the recently discovered profile bust in Poole clay,
and the large three-quarter-length portrait in oils by Evans,
painted at the instance of King William IV. for Greenwich
Hospital, while Hardy was Governor. This has been very
frequently engraved by H. Robinson and others. There is
a good photogravure reproduction of it in Sir J. H.
Briggs's Naval Administrations. Some replicas of the
Greenwich picture also exist, one of them being now in
possession of Mrs Thresher of Corfe Hill, Weymouth.

In addition to the Evans portrait in the Painted
Chamber, there is a bust of Hardy in the chapel of Green-
wich Hospital. This was placed there by public subscrip-
tion three years after his death. The sculptor was
William Behnes, a former student of the Royal Academy,
who, in a letter dated 9th August 1842, agreed to provide
for the sum of ^^"300, a bust exactly similar to that which
Chantrey had executed of Hardy's predecessor. Sir R. G.
Keats.^ To the fund thus organised, of which Sir George
Seymour, one of Hardy's executors, was apparently the
moving spirit. Queen Adelaide contributed no less than
£^o\ Miss Augusta Hardy of Portisham giving a similar
amount. Hardy's old friends and shipmates figure ex-
tensively in the list. Amongst them were Sir George
Cockburn, Sir R. Hussey, Sir Henry Digby, Sir P. C. H.
Durham, Sir Charles Rowley, Sir J. Beresford, Sir J.
Whitshed, and Sir G. Martin.

' William Behnes, sculptor (died 1864). He was much in vogue as
a sculptor of portrait-busts between 1820 and 1845. He died in
complete destitution, having quite outlived his fame.

240 HARDY MEMORIALS

The following inscription was placed below the bust on
a tablet surmounted by a medallion of Nelson, and the
words : " England expects every man will do his duty."

ERECTED TO THE MEMORY OF

VICE-ADMIRAL SIR THOMAS MASTERMAN HARDY

BARONET AND G.C.B.
GOVERNOR OF GREENWICH HOSPITAL

THE FRIEND AND COMPANION-IN-ARMS OF NELSON

EMINENT FOR JUDGMENT AND SELF-POSSESSION ; EVER ANXIOUS

FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SERVICE TO WHICH HE HAD

DEVOTED HIMSELF; EQUAL TO ALL ITS DIFFICULTIES AND

DUTIES, AND CONVERSANT WITH ITS MINUTEST DETAILS.

THE NAME OF THIS GALLANT AND DISTINGUISHED

OFFICER WILL DESCEND TO POSTERITY AS ONE

OF THE NOBLEST ORNAMENTS OF THE

PROFESSION TO WHICH ENGLAND IS SO

MUCH INDEBTED FOR SECURITY

AND RENOWN

DIED 20TH SEPTEMBER 1 839, AGED 70 YEARS

Never probably did any public movement meet with
more unanimous approval and general enthusiasm than
that for commemorating the " valour and virtues " of
Thomas Masterman Hardy in the county of his birth.

On 2nd of March 1844, Lord Ilchester presided at a
public meeting in the Town Hall, Dorchester, convened by
the Mayor (Mr Charles Criswick), " for the purpose of
considering the best mode to be adopted for carrying into
effect the wishes of many influential persons in the towns
of Dorchester and Weymouth, as well as the general feel-
ing of the county of Dorset that the public services of the
late Admiral Sir T, M. Hardy are highly deserving of
some public testimonial which would be most appropriately
placed on some conspicuous spot in this his native
County."

The " Portlanders " offered to provide the whole of the

/^' Ai/o^Vi* .i4>i

. J/i<iii(i'> . I In.sfi I III (III . 'idiili/ ■ /'art .. J.L'.. ').

Bust of Sir Thomas Hardy
in Dorchester Museum.

[To face page 240.

DORSET HONOURS HARDY'S MEMORY 241

stone if the projected column might adorn the " Verne," one
of the heights of their peninsula, but the consensus of
opinion pronounced itself strongly in favour of the
"beacon-mound" on Blagdon Hill, principally because it
had once belonged to Hardy, and was in close proximity
to Portisham Village and other localities connected with
his boyhood, in addition to being the very spot he had
selected years before for the erection of a tall rick of furze
faggots which should serve as a "sea mark "visible miles
away to ships going down Channel.

The projectors of the memorial, now known throughout
the length and breadth of Dorset as the " Hardy
Monument," were not aware that it also dominated his
birthplace at Kingston Russell ; but many doubtless re-
membered that it was there that Joseph Hardy and William
Boyt, during the last phases of the Great War (when on the
1st of June 1805, the parole word of the Dorset Yeomanry
was " Victory " and the counter - sign was " Howe "),
awaited, flint and tinder in hand, the expected signal
which would have told all England, in the course of
a few hours, that the " Corsican Ogre " had at length
effected a landing on the Dorset littoral. Blagdon Hill
having been chosen as the site, the design (a massive
column with no great claim to artistic merit) sent in by
Mr Arthur Dyke Acland was selected. Mr William
Manfield, Hardy's nephew, gave the ground, and promised
to provide the necessary stone from his quarry at Luckham's
Pond. The foundation stone was laid by Mrs Floyer,
wife of Mr John Floyer, one of Dorset's representatives
in Parliament, and High Sheriff of the County, on the
2 1st October 1844, the thirty-ninth anniversary of the
Battle of Trafalgar. The base of the column is 830 feet
above sea-level, and the structure rises 72 feet in height, so
that the corona at the top is 905 feet above the waters of
Weymouth Bay. Subscriptions poured in from every town
and village in Dorset ; and four years later (after the
satisfactory carrying out of the scheme), the Hardy

242 HARDY MEMORIALS

Memorial Committee issued, on the 12th June 1848,
a final balance-sheet headed by a vignette of the " Monu-
ment," showing that they had received and expended
£609, 1 6s.

It soon became a veritable place of pilgrimage.
Throughout the "fifties" and the "sixties" of the last
century it was the practice of summer visitors to Wey-
mouth, Dorchester, and Bridport to regard the climbing of
Blagdon Hill as almost de rigneur. And what a treat
awaited them after ascending the steep spiral staircase
which led to the summit of Mr Acland's massive pillar !
Looking seawards, the eye rests on an unbroken panorama
of coast-line extending from the Isle of Wight and St
Catharine's Point on the east to Start Point and the
Tors of Dartmoor on the west. It has even been said
that on an exceptionally clear day one can see the
Nelson column, far away to the east on the crest of
Portsdown Hill in the hinterland of Portsmouth and the
Solent. Far down below lie clearly spread out, as if on a
map, Weymouth and the Backwater, as well as Portland
and the Chesil Beach, while St Aldhelm's Head and the
Purbeck Hills to the left, and Thorncombe Beacon with
Golden Cap beyond it to the right, stand out, in prominent
grandeur. Landwards the view is almost equally magni-
ficent, even if not so extensive. Pillesdon Pen and
Lewesdon Hill with Lambert's Castle tower up above
peaceful valleys and snug-lying hamlets, the prospect
towards the north-east being bounded by the beacon-
heights of Bulbarrow and Lytchett.

When the novelty wore off, the stranger was content
to look at the Hardy column from a distance. It was
neglected, if not forgotten — no sustentation fund existing ;
and a flash of lightning completed the havoc which time
had begun. The monument became unsafe, and the
internal staircase was closed. Five years ago, however,
the structure was completely restored by the instrumentality
of Colonel Robert Williams, M.P. of Bridehead, in whose

THE HARDY MONUMENT 243

grounds the river Bride takes its rise. There is no fear
of the Hardy monument ever again becoming a ruin, for
the inscription over the doorway now runs as follows : —

ERECTED BY PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION, IN THE YEAR 1844,

IN MEMORY OF

VICE-ADMIRAL SIR THOMAS MASTERMAN HARDY

BART., G.C.B.

FLAG-CAPTAIN TO LORD NELSON

ON H.M.S. "VICTORY" AT THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR

RESTORED I900

AND PLACED IN CHARGE OF THE NATIONAL TRUST FOR PLACES

OF HISTORIC INTEREST OR NATURAL BEAUTY BY THE

DESCENDANTS OF SIR THOMAS MASTERMAN HARDY,

ON WHOSE LAND IT STANDS

Hardy, however, needs no visible memorial to keep his
memory green in the fair countryside from which he sprang.
His name and exploits ^ have become, as it were, part and
parcel of Wessex folklore. In out-of-the-way nooks and
corners of West Dorset the " Not mortually I hopes, my

1 During the whole of the nineteenth century, the opinions as well
as the deeds of Hardy find frequent mention at the hands of nearly all
naval historians. In Captain Basil Hall's Fragments, i., p. 165, is
found Hardy's reply to a query put to him as to the behaviour of the
captain of the French privateer Milan, captured by the Endymion
on the 8th November 18 10, after a prolonged chase. "This French-
man's conduct may teach us the important lesson that an officer should
never surrender his ship whatever be the force opposed to him, while
there remains the slightest possible chance of escape. The privateer you
speak of had very nearly slipped through your hands ; and had he
knocked away one of your sticks, probably would have done so. It is
always useful to have good practical examples of what perseverance
and well-directed zeal may accomplish, especially with very small
means. I think I have known more than one ship captured,
which might, perhaps, have baffled their enemy had they been as
stoutly defended as your little privateer. Don't let us forget her
example ; for it is no matter whence instruction comes— from friend or
from foe — provided it be good."

244 HARDY MEMORIALS

Lord" is still heard when the mummers enact their
Christmas play. It speaks volumes for the enduring fame
of Thomas Masterman Hardy amongst successive genera-
tions of Dorset men and women, that he is invariably
spoken as Hardy tout court. - It is always Hardy or possibly
" Cap'n " Hardy, just as Nelson is Nelson only for Norfolk
and the whole world. It has, however, been reserved for
the still living Thomas Hardy, to give us in his drama
of The Dynasts yet another reason for the constant holding
in remembrance of his great namesake. Never have the
moments of supreme anxiety, which followed the last shot
and the last surrender at Trafalgar, been more graphically
described than in the lines : —

" ' Pull hard and make the Nothe, or down we go,' one says, say he,
We pulled ; and bedtime brought the storm ; but snug at home

slept we.
Yet all the while our gallants, after fighting through the day,
Were beating up and down the dark sou' west of Cadiz Bay,

The dark

Sou' west of Cadiz Bay.

The victors and the vanquished then the storm it tossed and tore.
As hard they strove, those worn-out men upon that surly shore.
Dead Nelson and his half-dead crew, his foes from near and far.
Were rolled together on the deep that night at Trafalgar,

The deep

The deep
That night at Trafalgar."

CHAPTER XXII

SIR T. M. HARDY IN PROSE, POETRY, AND THE DRAMA.
SOME ADDITIONAL LETTERS AND NOTES

THE references to Hardy in the text of The Trumpet
Major have already been referred to in the preface,
and the description of the captain of the Victory, penned by
the author of that book from the information given to him
by Hardy's daughter, has been transcribed at length. It
is thus that Thomas Hardy, the novelist, draws the scene
enacted upon the Weymouth Esplanade, on that eventful
September day of 1805, when George III. took counsel with
the gallant sailor, who was recruiting his shattered health at
his Portisham home : — " The town clock struck, and Bob
Loveday retraced his steps till he again approached the
Esplanade and Gloucester Lodge, where the morning sun
blazed in upon the house fronts, and not a spot of shade
seemed to be attainable. A huzzaing attracted his attention,
and he observed that a number of people had gathered
before the King's residence, where a brown curricle had
stopped, out of which stept a hale man in the prime of
life, wearing a blue uniform, gilt epaulettes, cocked hat, and
sword, who crossed the pavement and went in. Bob went
up and joined the group. 'What's going on?' he said.
' Captain Hardy,' replied a bystander. ' What of him ? '
'Just gone in — waiting to see the King.' 'But he's in
the West Indies.' ' No, the fleet is come home ; they

246 HARDY IN PROSE, POETRY, AND DRAMA

can't find the French anywhere.' ' Will they go and look
for them again ? ' asked Bob. ' Oh, yes. Nelson is
determined to find 'em. As soon as he's refitted, he'll put
to sea again. Ah, here's the King coming in.' " In the
result. Bob Loveday, as has already been related, took
service as a volunteer in the Victory, and witnessed the
events detailed in the next chapter. In the dramatic
version of TJie Trumpet Major, lately presented at
Dorchester, no role was assigned to " Nelson's Hardy,"
who, however, figures prominently in the first volume of
the magnificent poem of TJie Dynasts.

The second scene of the fifth act of the dramatic poem
passes on the quarter-deck of the Victory. Nelson and
Hardy walk up and down, and the following conversation
is supposed to take place between them : —

Hardy.^ — At least let's put you on your old great coat, my lord —
(the air is keen) —
'Twil cover all. So while you still retain your dignities, you baulk
these deadly aims.
Nelson. — Thank'ee, good friend. But no — I haven't time,
I do assure you — not a truce to spare,
As you will see.

\A few minutes later ScOTT falls dead.

Immediately after a shot passes between the
Admiral and the Captain, tearing the
instep of Hardy's shoe^ and striking away
the buckle. NELSON glances round and per-
ceives what has happened to the Secretary.]

Nelson. — Poor Scott, too, carried off! Warm work this, Hardy.
Too warm to go on long.

Hardy. — I think so, too ;

Their lower ports are blocked against our hull,
And our charge now is less. Each shot so near
Sets their old wood on fire.

' The quotations both from The Trumpet Major and The Dynasts
are made with the sanction and by the kind permission of Mr Thomas
Hardy.

^ See ante, p. 142.

SCENE ON THE VICTORY 247

Nelson. — Ay, rotten as peat.

What's that ? I think she has struck, or pretty nigh !

\A cracking of musketry^

Hardy. — -Not yet. Those small-arm men there, in her tops,
Thin our crew fearfully. Now, too, our guns
Have to be dipped full down, or they would rake
The Temcraire there on the other side.

Nelson. — True. — While you deal good measure out to these,
Keep slapping at those giants over here —
The Trinidad, I mean, and the Bucentaure
To winnard — swelling up so pompously.

Hardy. — I'll see no slackness shall be shown this way.

[They part, but meet again.^

Nelson. — Bid still the firemen bring more bucketfuls,
And dash the water into each new hole
Our guns have gonged in the Redoubtable,
Or we shall all be set ablaze together.

Hardy. — Let me once more advise, entreat, my lord,
That you do not expose yourself so clearly.
Those fellows in the mizzen top up there
Are peppering round you quite perceptibly.

Nelson. — Now, Hardy, don't offend me. They can't aim ;
They only set their own rent sails on fire —
But if they could, I would not hide a button
To save ten lives like mine. I have no cause
To prize it, I assure 'ee. — Ah, look there.
One of the women hit — and badly, too.
Poor wench ! Let some one take her quickly down.

Hardy. — My lord, each humblest sojourner on the seas,
Dock labourer, lame longshoreman, bowed bargee.
Sees it as policy to shield his life
For those dependent on him. Much more then,
Should one upon whose priceless presence here
Such issues hang, so many strivers lean,
Use average circumspection at an hour
So critical for us all.

Nelson. — Ay, ay. Yes, yes ;
I know your meaning. Hardy ; and I know
That you disguise as frigid policy
What really is your honest love of me.
But, faith, I have done my day. My work's nigh done ;
I serve all interests best by chancing it

248 HARDY IN PROSE, POETRY, AND DRAMA

Here with the commonest. — Ah, their heavy guns
Are silenced, every one ! Thank God for that.

Hardy. — 'Tis so. They only use their small arms now.

[//e goes to larboard to see what is progressing on
that side of the ship and the " Santissima
Trinidad."]

[Nelson is struck and falls. Hardy looks rounds
and sees what has happened^

Hardy {hastily).— P\h. — what I feared !

[He goes towards Nelson, who in the meantime
has been lifted by Sergeant-Major Secker
and two seamen^

Nelson. — Hardy, I think they've done for me at last !
Hardy. — I hope not !

Nelson. — Yes. My backbone is shot through.
I have not long to live.

\The men proceed to carry him, below ^
These little ropes
They've shot away, get instantly repaired.

\At the sight there is great agitation among the crew.]

Cover my face. There will no good be done
By drawing their attention off to me.
Bear me along, good fellows ; I am but one
Among the many darkened here to-day !

[He is carried on to the cockpit^
To the Chaplain.
Doctor, I'm gone. I'm good for none but you.

Hardy {remaining behind). — Hills, go to CoUingwood and let him
know
That we've no Admiral here.

The fourth scene of the fifth act is located in the
Victory's cockpit, where Nelson is lying undressed in a mid-
shipman's berth, surrounded by the doctors, chaplain, etc.

Dr Magrath {in a low voice). —
Poor Ram, and poor Tom Whipple, have just gone.'

Dr Beatty. — There was no hope for them.

Nelson {brokenly). — Who have just died?

1 Seepost, Chapter XXIII., p. 259.

NELSON'S LAST WORDS 249

Beatty. — Two were badly hit by now, my lord ; Lieutenant Ram
and Mr Whipple.

Nelson, — Ah !

So many lives — in such a glorious cause . . .
I join them soon, soon, soon ! O where is Hardy ?
Will nobody bring Hardy to me — none ?
He must be killed, too. Surely Hardy's dead ?

[Hardy arrives.]

Nelson. — Hardy, how goes this day with us, and England ?

Hardy. — Well ; very well, thank God for't, my dear lord.
Villeneuve their Admiral has this moment struck,
And put himself aboard the Conqueror.
Some fourteen of their first-rates, or about
Thus far we've yet.

[YiKRD'^ gives details of Ike prizes, etc.]

Nelson. — That's well. I swore for twenty. — But it's well.

Hardy. — We'll have 'em yet ! But without you, my lord.
We have to make slow plodding do the deeds
That spring by inspiration 'ere you fell,
And in this ship the more particularly.

Nelson. — No, Hardy. — Ever 'twas your settled fault
So modestly to whittle down your worth.
But I saw stuff in you which admirals need.
When, taking thought, I chose the Victory's keel
To do my business with those Frenchmen in
A business finished now, for me ! — Good friend,
Slow shades are creeping on me ... 1 scarce see you.

Hardy. — The smoke from ships upon our win'ard side,
And the dust raised by their worm-eaten hulks,
When our balls touch 'em, blind the eyes, in truth.

[Hardy goes up, but soon re-enters.]

Nelson. — Who's that? Ah — here you come ! How, Hardy, nowi?

Hardy. — The Spanish Admiral's rumoured to be wounded.
We know not with what truth. But, be as 'twill
He steers away with all he could call round.
And some few frigates, straight to Cadiz Port.

Nelson {arousing). — Our course will be to anchor. Let them

know.
Hardy. — But let me ask, my lord, as I needs must,
Seeing your state, and that our work's not done,

250 HARDY IN PROSE, POETRY, AND DRAMA

Shall I, from you, bid Admiral Collingwood
Take full on him the conduct of affairs.

Nelson {trying to raise himself). —
Not while I live, I hope ! No, Hardy ; no.
Give Collingwood my order. Anchor all.

Hardy {hesitating). — You mean the signal's to be made forthwith ?

Nelson. — I do ! By God, if but our carpenter
Could rig me up a jury backbone now.
To last one hour — until the battle's done,
I'd see to it ! But here I am — stove in —
Broken — all logged and done for ! Done, ay done !

Dr Beatty. — My Lord, I must implore you to lie calm !
You shorten what at best may not be long.

Nelson {exhausted). — I know, I know, good Beatty ! Thank you
well.

Hardy. — I was impatient. Now I am still.
Sit here a moment, if you have time to spare.^

Nelson. — Come nearer to me, Hardy. One of all,
As you well guess, pervades my memory now ;
She, and my daughter — I speak freely to you.

. Now she rests
Safe in the nation's honour. . . . Let her have
My hair, and the small treasured things I owned,
And take care of her, as you care for me.

Hardy. — Now I'll leave,

See if your order's gone, and then return.

Nelson {symptoms of death beginning to change his face). —
Yes, Hardy ; yes, I know it. You must go.
Here we shall meet no more ; since Heaven forfend
That care for me should keep you idle now,
When all the ship demands you. . . .
My time here is the briefest. If I live
But long enough I'll anchor. . . . But — too late —
My anchoring's elsewhere ordered ! . . . Kiss me, Hardy.

[Hardy bends over him.]
I'm satisfied. Thank God, I have done my duty !

[Hardy brushes his eyes with his hand., and with-
draws to go above., pausing to look back before
he finally disappears^

' For Hardy's reverie on what is passing " down Wessex Way," see
Chapter XV., p. 149.

AN IMPORTANT HARDY LETTER 251

Since the first issue of the story of " Nelson's Hardy,"
under the title of The Three Dorset Captahis at Trafalgar^
many additional letters of the most famous of the gallant
trio of naval heroes have come to light. The one which
follows supplies a link in the correspondence of Hardy
with his brother-in-law. It would seem to indicate that
the latter availed himself of Hardy's suggestive hinL^

" If any of my friends here have a wish to see San Josef
they will find her at Torbay all the week after next."

"San Josef," Torbay,

Dear Manfield, ^

We are in Hourly expectation of the St
George where the Admiral is to hoist his Flag the moment
she arrives ; myself and all the Officers go with him. We
shall sail as soon as possible for Portsmouth and from
thence to the North Sea after we have done the business
there which we expect to do in about two months. The
Flag is again to be hoisted in San Josef. The Squadron
under Sir Henry Harvey arrived the day before yesterday
and saild the same even^ to detach a squadron after the
ships that left Brest about a fortnight ago.

Laurence arrived yesterday with young Roberts ; he is

a fine Lad, and I think will do, but is very young. The

Adm^ tells me he saw you when you landed and of course

you made your Grand Salaam to him. I suppose a

number of wonderful stories has been told of San Josef in

and about Dorchester. Our beer is reduced to six Bottles,

and on a moderate calculation that cannot last more than

three days, therefore you will add to the many obligations

I am under to you if you will order our friend Oakley to

send as soon as possible six or eight Doz" more directed

for Lord Nelson St George Spithead by any vessel that

sails from Weymouth.

With Duty, Love, &c., to all friends

T. M. Hardy.

Mr Manfield.

' See p. 61.

252 HARDY IN PROSE, POETRY, AND DRAMA

It is not difficult to imagine the Dorchester attorney in
his best coat spending a jolly day on board the San Josef ,
and making his " grand salaam " to the famous, but always
genial admiral. The next letter is much briefer.

"St George," Torbay,
Feby 20th, 1801.

Dear Manfield,

I have only time to say that we are now
getting under weigh for Spithead and shall probably pass
Abbotsbury during the Night. Do write to me at
Spithead and tell me if the Beer is sent as the Adm^
longs for it every day at Dinner.

T. M. Hardy.

Post mark Brixham, yd. to pay.

Nelson's appreciation of the merits of Dorchester beer
is evident. Songs in its praise date back to the days of
the first American War, and the refrain of one of the most
popular patriotic songs during the Great Terror ran : —

"If the Frenchmen a landing should win,

In each County they'd find we're not slugs ;
Then with the Land's End to begin.

In Cornwall i\i&y'd get Cornish hugs,
In Devon they'd dread Ply?nouth fort,

Find boxers in Somersetshire,
And in Dorset they'd meet pretty sport.

From the lads who drink Dorchester beer." ^

The following letter is in the Nelson collection of Mr
F. T. Sabin, by whose kind permission it is published. It
discloses the hitherto unknown fact that it was only by a
happy accident that Hardy commanded the Victory at
Trafalgar. On i8th August 1805, he felt so seriously ill
that he writes thus to Captain Conn, who some seven
weeks later was eventually appointed to the Dreadnought.

^ This song, commended by The Spectator to Mr Haldane as a
useful aid to military enthusiasm, has been published by Mr Edward
Everard of Bristol.

HARDY'S LETTER TO CONN 253

"Victory," Spithead,
August 18M, 1S05.

My Dear Conn,

We are just anchored here and I am sorry to
say that the state of my health is so very bad that I have
been obliged to apply to the Admiralty for leave of
absence. His Lordship has desired me to tell you that he
has applied for you to command the Victory in my absence.
Whether she will go to sea or not is quite uncertain, but I
should rather think she will. His Lordship desires me to
say to you that all his furniture will be left, therefore you
need not trouble yourself to get any. Give my best
respects to Mrs Conn and say I hope she will forgive my
taking you from her. The Ship is to be considered as
Lord Nelson's Flag Ship, and kept in readiness for him.
Do answer me by return of post. I think there is no
doubt but you will get your Commission, Wednesday or
Thursday, as the letter is gone to the Admiral this day.
We have had a long round as you have seen by the papers.
Keats is arrived here with us, all the remainder are left off
Brest. God bless you my dear Conn, and in hopes of
seeing you soon T. M. Hardy.

So magical, however, was the effect of the exhilarating
climate of his native Dorset, that in less than three weeks
the captain of the Victory interviews the King at Wey-
mouth (3rd September), and started the very next day to
rejoin his old ship to busy prepare for the voyage which
was to gain him the fame so graphically depicted by his
namesake in The Dynasts}

The relations of Lieut. Roberts and Hardy will be more

fully discussed in the next chapter. He thus addressed

his former midshipman a quarter of a century after

Trafalgar : —

London, Sept. \%t/t, 1830.

I received your letter of the 13th instant

yesterday, and I have great pleasure in forwarding to you

1 See ante.^ p. 246.

254 HARDY IN PROSE, POETRY, AND DRAMA

a certificate of my full approbation of your conduct during
the time you served under my command and I sincerely
hope that your Memorial will procure for you the employ-
ment you solicit

T. M. Hardy.
Lieut. Roberts, R.N.

As will be seen when Hardy's services at the Admiralty
are dealt with, he was one of the first to recognise the
possibilities of steam as regards the futurity of the Navy.
In 1834 he thus wrote to the officer who was in later life
Vice-Admiral C. E. Binstead [1796- 1876] : —

Admiralty, March 2yih, 1834.

I have this day been favored with your letter of yester-
day, and beg to say that I shall have great pleasure in
recommending you to Sir James Graham, as a candidate
for the Command of a Steam Vessel, but that I
think it right to inform you that the first Lord has a
large number on his List, and I fear that you will stand
a bad Chance of Employment on board a Steam Vessel.

T. M. Hardy.

The following letter to his old shipmate, Captain
Young of Exeter, is of later date : —

Greenwich Hospital,
May 26th, 1836.

I have been favoured with your letter of the

24th instant, and beg to say that I am informed the

vacancy caused by the Death of Commander Deacon on

the out Pension List of Greenwich Hospital has been

already filled up. I shall be very glad to remind the

Board of Admiralty of your long services and Claims, but

I am sorry to inform you that I have very little interest at

the Board. I will make a point of seeing Sir Robert

Otway as soon as I possibly can

T. M. Hardy.
Captain [R. B.] Young.

HARDY AND HIS OLD SHIPMATE 255

Amongst Hardy's few intimate friends was Mr
Samuel Bagster of Paternoster Row, of whom mention is
made in his correspondence. In his autobiograph)-, Mr
Bagster says he was, as a boy, sent by his father every
Monday morning to Somerset House to find out if
Tom Hardy was " made a Lieutenant." After the battle
of Trafalgar, Hardy was his guest, and in reply to his
host's query as to how the scenes of slaughter affected
his mind, the Captain of the Victory said : — " I certainly
was unmoved, except at one moment when my sympathy
overcame my resolution. Good Dr Scott was shot as he
stood by my side, and cast into the sea, and in falling his
body was caught by the tackle of the ship, and his bowels
were torn out ! Oh, it excited deep emotion to see that
excellent man in that state." Mr Sydney Bagster has
kindly forwarded to the writers a letter from Hardy to his
ancestor, dated Rio de Janeiro, May 25, 1822. In it Hardy
says : " We have just returned from the Pacific, where I
have had some trouble, but I have got through it better than I
expected. I thank God I enjoy good health, and as my
period of service will expire in September or October I shall
look for the pleasure of shaking you and all your worthy
family by the hand, some time the latter part of this year."

The late Mr Samuel Bagster used also to relate the
following anecdote on the authority of his friend Hardy : —
" On one occasion Lord Nelson and Hardy were going
ashore in the Admiral's barge at Plymouth. One of the
Sailors was under the influence of liquor, or some untoward
fit of bad temper had seized him, but talk he would and
would not keep the stroke of oars. His lordship spoke to
him ; he did not desist ; again he was spoken to warmly, but
still he was not obedient. His lordship then went to him,
and with a light buff glove that he had been swinging in
his hand, struck him with it in the face, and said with
Nelson Authority, ' Remember for ever you've been struck
by your Commander.' It is hardly necessary to say the
effect was complete."

CHAPTER XXIII

LIEUTENANT ROBERTS'S LETTERS TO HIS FRIENDS AT
BURTON BRADSTOCK, DESCRIBING THE BATTLE OF
TRAFALGAR AND THE EVENTS WHICH FOLLOWED
IT. THE TRAFALGAR REJOICINGS AT BURTON
AND BRIDPORT. THE SONG OF THE BURTON
VOLUNTEERS

MISS M. M. Roberts of Burton Bradstock, whose ready-
aid has been already acknowledged/ has now
placed at the disposal of the present writers a bundle of
correspondence which throws new and important light on
the details of Nelson's "crowning victory" and the part
played in it by Hardy. The account of the great battle
by Midshipman (and probably acting Captain's Clerk)
R. F. Roberts was written almost before the smoke of
the contending fleets had cleared away. The replies of
the various members of his family afford an interesting
picture of the tension of public opinion in a Dorset village
towards the end of the Great Terror, and the jubilation
caused by the good news brought to England in the
manner described. The nation, relieved from the pro-
bability of immediate invasion, breathed freely once
more. In November 1805, Richard Francis Roberts was
the hero of those who then chaunted uproariously
"The Song of the Burton Volunteers," discovered by

^ See Introduction, p. xix.

256

SONG OF THE BURTON VOLUNTEERS 257

Miss Roberts amongst the papers of her ancestral

kinsman : —

Come my lads of courage true,

Ripe for martial glory,
See the standard waves for you,

And leads the way before ye.

Chorus. — To the field of Mars advance,
Join the bold alliance ;
Tell the blood-stained sons of France,
We bid them all defiance.

II.
Burton's sons were always brave

On the land or ocean.
Ready for to kill or save

When honour's the promotion.
Chorus.

III.

Burton long has had a boast.

And right well deserving ;
For pretty maids a standing toast,
Of nature's sweet preserving.
Chorus.

IV.

Gallia's sons invasion plans \sic\

Threat'ning to destroy us.
Seize our maidens, houses, lands,

And as slaves employ us.
Chorus.

We must fight, or starve, or fly,

Hope naught else remaining ;
Or wives may faint and children die

With no hand restraining.
Chorus.
Final Chorus —

Lives are lent for Laws and King,

When that they may need 'em ;
Let us then in chorus sing.

Give us death or freedom.*

* This song, with the original music, has been published by Mr
Edward Everard of Bristol.

258 ROBERTS'S LETTERS TO HIS FRIENDS

Within twenty-four hours or less of the firing of the
last shot, Midshipman Roberts wrote as follows : —

"Victory," at Sea,
OFF Trafalgar, i^nd Oct. 1805.
Dear Parents,

I have just time and opportunity to tell you
that we had a desperate engagement with the enemy, and,
thank God, I have so far escaped unhurt. The Combined
Fleet came out of Cadiz on Saturday morning with
a determination to engage and blow us up (as the
prisoners say) out of the water, but they are much — very
much — mistaken. I can't tell you how many we have
taken and destroyed, they say fifteen, but it is quite un-
certain. / don't think it is so many ; but none of us know
at present, but amongst the taken is a four-decker ^ which
struck to the Neptune. We engaged her for some time
and then she fell astern of us.

I am sorry — very sorry — to tell you that amongst the
slain is Lord Nelson, his secretary Mr Scott, and Mr
Whipple, Captain Hardy's clerk, whom you know. Out
of four marine officers two were Vv'ounded and the captain
killed. It was as hard an action, as allowed by all on
board this ship, as ever was fought. There were but three
left alive on the Quarterdeck, the enemy fired so much
grape and small shot from the rigging, there was one ship
so close to us that we could not run out our guns their
proper length. Only conceive how much we must have
smashed her, every gun was trebly shotted for her.

We have a great many killed and wounded — danger-
ously wounded — 21 amputations. I am happy to say
Captain Hardy escaped unhurt, but we have one Lieu-
tenant killed^ and two wounded, and one midshipman^
killed and three wounded. We had no less than ten ships
on ours.

I forgot to tell you that we engaged them on Monday,

^ Sanctisshna Trinidada. ^ Lieutenant William Ram. ^ Robert Smith.

HOW NELSON DIED 259

we began at 12 o'clock and continued till ^ past 4. The
enemy consisted of 35 sail of the Line, 4 frigates, 2 brigs;
and our fleet of 27 sail of the line, 4 frigates and a
schooner and sloop. Unluckily for us Admiral Lewes
had been sent a little time before with 5 sail of the line
up the Gut.

This morning the enemy are out of sight and we have
the prizes in tow, going I believe for Gibraltar. We have
several ships fit for the enemy now, and if they should
come to attack us we should be able to give them a warm
reception, they have most of them had enough of it ; there
are several lame ducks gone off. The rascals have shot
away our mizen mast and we are very much afraid of our
main and foremasts. The Royal Sovereign has not a
stick standing — a total wreck. It was she that began the
action in a noble manner, engaging four of them at the
same time. Admiral Collingwood had shifted his flag on
board of her a few days before. Two of the enemy blew
up and one sank. You can have no conception whatsoever
what an action between two fleets is ; it was a grand but
an awful sight indeed ; thank God we are all so well
over it.

Admiral Nelson was [shot] early in the action by a
musket ball from the enemy's top, which struck him a little
below the shoulder, touched the rib and lodged near his
heart. He lived about 2\ hours after ; then died without
a groan. Every ship that struck, our fellows ceased firing
and gave three cheers like Noble Britons. The Spaniards
fought very well indeed, as did the Frenchmen. Scarcely
any prizes have a stick standing. One that we had posses-
sion of, and struck to us, had 75 killed in her middle deck,
and many more in her lower deck. Capt. Duff (I believe
he commands the Colossus) is killed, but I have not heard
of any more captains being killed. I will give you all the
particulars in my next, but you must excuse me now as
really we are in such confusion that I can't tell how I have
written this. I thought you would be uneasy if you did not

26o ROBERTS'S LETTERS TO HIS FRIENDS

hear of me by the first ship, so I have as my duty requires
written to you.

Remember me to all that ask for me, and believe me

Your dutiful Son

R. F. Roberts.

PS. — We have 40 men wounded, 9 officers, and (I
think) as many killed. It was a much harder action than
the Nile, several in our ship say so. The carpenter whom
you saw at Mr Jacob's was there, and has been in several
other actions with Lord Nelson, and he says it is the hardest
action he was ever in. There were a thousand shot on
each deck, and the middle deck in the action was obliged
to be supplied with more. One poor fellow lost both his
legs in the action, and is since dead of his wounds.

Lord Nelson's last request was that his body might be
taken to England. This ship will not be able to come
home with him yet, so I suppose he will be sent by
some other. We expect to come to England as soon as
we can get a jury mast rigged and a little repaired.

Adieu for the present. Neither Mr Atkinson nor Mr
Williams are hurt.

Some time later the following letter was written

without date : —

" Victory," at Sea.
Dear Father,

I thank you to shew this plan to Mr Cheney
as I promised him he should in my letter to him. I hope
Frank has got out of the Princess of Orange as she is
not a ship for making Prize money. I take this oppor-
tunity of writing by the Belleisle who is bound to
Plymouth with Pleasure as we may be 2 or 3 days beating
up Channel unless we have a fair breeze. We have had a
long and disagreeable passage from Gibraltar, having put
in there after the Gale to refit a little. We sailed from
thence the 4th Nov.

THE PLAN OF ATTACK 261

I have this on the other side by stealth, being a correct
account of our ships, how they went into action, and the
Enemy's line ; likewise an account of the ships which
struck to us, &c. ; but their number of guns is not correct,
the Sanctissivia Trinidada carrying 140 guns, and the St
Ana 130, and several that I have marked 74 are 80; but
it is correct in every other respect. I wish you not to
shew the plan of attack^ to more than to your friends
before it is made public, as I believe it is to be engraved
in that way, and no doubt will be given to some particular
engraver, and if anyone else were to get hold of it before-
hand it would not be quite right in the way I got it. But
don't think that their line is at all correct. According to
my own observations they were this way

<TjjTT) < TTTTT ) < l 1 1 I 1 )

< M M < l 1 1 1 1)

to prevent our ships breaking through their line : but that
was impossible. It is beyond description. The way our
ships went into action in such an irresistible manner —
Words cannot describe it, but the result was glorious.

Lord Nelson was shot by a man in the Redoubtable^ s
mizen top, but the rascal was afterwards shot by one of
our midshipmen. Poor man ; how he wished so much to see
England again ! But he died about 2 hours after he was shot.

I wrote you shortly after the action, but I have since
heard that the letters were put on board the Euryalus
which had not sailed when we left the Fleet, but we
suppose that she will arrive home before us.

Whether this ship will be paid off and the men
draughted into other ships will be impossible to say ;
but I daresay Captain Hardy will put me in another ship
if he does not go to sea again ; which I do not think

* The plan of attack mentioned is given at p. 143. The letter
shows it was made at the time — a fact which unquestionably gives it
additional importance. Midshipman Roberts was evidently a younjf
man of more than ordinary intelligence.

262 ROBERTS'S LETTERS TO HIS FRIENDS

likely as he seems to wish to be on shore for a little time;
but I will not answer for it, it will not be for a long time.
I have no doubt that the action will make him Sir Thomas,
and he well deserves it Poor Whittle his clerk, whom you
saw at Mr Jacob's at Portsmouth, was killed by a splinter.

This ship is very much cut up everywhere ; we can
count 92 shot that struck her on one side and about 30 on
the other. Our mizen mast was shot away, and our fore
and main masts very much cut — particularly the foremast.
We endured a terrible gale of wind in Cadiz Bay; we
expected to go on shore ; the captain was afraid of it.
Our anchors would have been our last hope which we must
have tried in a short time had not the gale abated. We
split all to pieces the sails we set and carried away our
main yard. The ship laboured very much indeed, but she
did not make any water to alarm us, thank God.

I have collected different things previous to the action
which I will send you on our arrival at Spithead. I believe
the Victory must go into dock. If she is fitted out again I
hope it will be for the same station as I like it much and
the climate agrees with me very well. I feel a great differ-
ence now. A hot climate I am certain agrees with me
well. I am, thank God, quite free of my complaint, which
left me shortly after I was at sea, tho' I took no sort of
medicine whatsoever, but I shall again when I arrive in
England. I am rated midshipman, so that my Prize
money will amount to much more. I was not rated at the
time, but Capt. Hardy has been so good as to rate me back,
which is equally as well as I shall stand as midshipman in
the Prize List. I would thank you to tell me where Frank
is that I may write him ; likewise Mr Geekie, as I under-
stood before we left England that he had a job somewhere
near Portsmouth. Seventeen of our mids are gone into
the Queen on promotion, where they will be made Lieu-
tenants immediately. Likewise 3 clerks and our i^*
Lieutenant is moved into the Etna bomb. Mr Williams
will no doubt be promoted when we arrive in England.

NELSON AND HARDY 263

Amongst the things that I shall send you is an order
sent to every captain in the Fleet some time before the
action by Lord Nelson, which I would beg you to be careful
of and not shew it to any but your friends, as it is not fit
for everyone to see — not to be made public.

Give my duty to Mother and love to Sophia, William
and Augusta. Remember me to Grandmother, uncle and
aunt at Gorwell, Aunt at Brown's Farm. Likewise best
respects to Mr Hunter, Mr Travers, Mr Kenway, Mr
Margrie and all friends that may enquire for me

Your duteful and affec^^^ Son

R. F. Roberts.

P.S. — I dined with Captain Hardy a few days ago, and
he asked me if I intended writing a long letter home. I
told him yes. He said that I must ask you to go to
Portisham and tell his friends that he was well, and that he
shouldn't write them, but I believe it was in a joke. How-
ever if you have an opportunity of sending I should be
much obliged to you as I am greatly indebted to him for
his kindness. He was struck two or three times by
splinters, but nothing to hurt, thank God ! ^ I have a small
present for Sophia that I bought at Gibraltar and shall
send it her when we arrive at Spithead. It is but trifling,
but coming from abroad it may be thought the more of,
which I must beg her acceptance.

1 The above postscript throws additional light on Hardy's char-
acter. When one considers the variety of emotions he had gone
through, and the loss of his dear admiral, and of so many brave ship-
mates, it would seem as if, beyond the brief epistle he penned to
Manfield a week after the battle, he really was unable to indite a lengthy
despatch to his own family during those weeks of the homecoming of
the Hero's corpse. That his mind was heavily weighted appears from
the fact that young Roberts could not make out whether he was
joking or not. At any rate, through it all within that middy's heart
there shines that enthusiastic love and admiration with which Hardy
inspired everyone who served under him.

264 ROBERTS'S LETTERS TO HIS FRIENDS

In another letter (undated) young Roberts replies
to a friend's epistle of Saint Nicholas Day concerning
Trafalgar : —

Many thanks for your kind and affectionate letter of
the 6th Dec, and I sit down as you request with pleasure
to answer it.

I was not in much danger of being killed or wounded,
though it was not impossible. I was quartered to assist
the surgeons, and as you may imagine it was a very dis-
agreeable one, but that was nothing at all after the first.
But should it ever be my luck to be in another action I
will not if possible be quartered there again. I was happy
when I reflected that I had not a relation or dear friend in
the Fleet. If I had I am sure I must have felt much more
for them than I did for myself, which I assure you was
very little, as a person going into action must work up
himself to a certain pitch, when all those but cowards are
perfectly resigned, when their King and Country need
their utmost efforts against the Enemy.

You request me to give you an account of the action,
but it would be too tedious to insert in a letter, and I
am convinced that you have good accounts in the
newspapers ; but as you particularly request some account
of it I will give you some that lay under my particular
observation.

It was a glorious sight to see the Royal Sovereign
commence the action. The long wished for time for
Britons arrived. She fired a most tremendous broadside
to begin with, but we did not see her but a very short
time, she was soon involved in smoke, and the flash of the
guns made it appear awfully grand ; and at this time we
could see nothing but the Royals above the Clouds.
The Van of the Enemy were then firing, when our men
were ordered to lay down on the deck and not return their
firing; but in a short time the word was passed, " if you
can bring your guns to bear on them fire away" which was

NELSON'S PERSONAL COURAGE 265

quickly answered with a thundering broadside. We were
then steering for the Biicentajire' s main mast. We con-
tinued for about two hours when we had a respite for ten
minutes, not choosing to answer their long balls, as there is
nothing like close hugs for a Frenchman to make him
strike.

About ten minutes after i o'clock Lord Nelson was
borne down by four of his brave crew wounded in the
shoulder mortally. He survived about two hours, when he
died in the height of Glory always to be lamented by
his country as one of the greatest Admirals that ever
existed — perhaps too brave as he exposed himself in
his full uniform, and the Redoubtable being close along-
side of us he couldn't help being observed by them.
I have heard it was hinted to him concerning his dress
before the action, but he replied, " / was never afraid of
my honour^

I was by his side when he expired ; he expressed
repeatedly a wish to survive to return to his country once
more, or even to see the Battle over, which he did knowing
we had won the day, but not that Villeneuve was taken
which was his particular wish before we came into action
to conquer him. Every ship that was seen to strike by
our men they gave three cheers immediately, which was
re-echoed by some of the poor wounded then in the cockpit
and it seemed to give new life to Lord Nelson.

[The letter closes with personal matters and the writer's
reluctance to be treated as a hero by the enthusiastic
Burtonians.]

How the whole populace of Burton Bradstock received
the good news of the Trafalgar victory, and especially how
the Roberts family took the lead by virtue of having a son
in the great admiral's flagship, is shown by the following
letters. News travelled fast, and on the very day after the
Victory anchored once more off the shores of old England,
Roberts's father penned the following paternal epistle : —

266 ROBERTS'S LETTERS TO HIS FRIENDS

Burton, Bridport,
^th Dec. 1805.

My Dear Richard,

I have just received the happy news of the
arrival of the Victovy at Portsmouth and I sincerely hope
you are well. I have only a few days since received your
letter written the day after the battle and also Mr Kenway's
dated the 27th Oct. from Trafalgar Bay. You cannot con-
ceive the pleasure and happiness it gave your Mother, your
brother and your sisters and myself to find you had so
happily escaped the fate of the 21st Oct. I will assure
you that it was no common feelings that agitated the
sensations of the whole family, to which you may add a
great many of your friends and acquaintances at Burton,
Bridport, and elsewhere as soon as it was known that you
were safe. We had the pleasing gratification of congratula-
tions from many friends both by person, letters and messages.
This you may be assured was highly gratifying. I have
news further to tell you that your Mother, myself and
Sophia will very soon be up to see you, Capt. Hardy, and
all the brave fellows of the Victory whom I have any
personal knowledge of; to all of whom I sincerely beg
of you to give my most hearty and sincere congratulations
for this happy escape. I am told that Capt° Hardy is soon
to come home as his health is very indifferent. I hope it
will not be so before we get up. I have written to Mrs J.
Jacobs to try and get me some lodgings with two beds
at least and if three the better. I have also written
to Captain Rogers to ask for leave for Frank to
come to Portsmouth to meet us, which I hope and
trust he will do.

I beg you will write to me by return and say how your
own health and Capf^ Hardy's is, also to say what are your
proceedings with the corps of Lord Nelson and where the
ship is or likely to be, &c.

CONGRATULATIONS FROM BURTON 267

I leave the other part of the paper for you to receive
the congratulations of your Mother, brother and sisters.

I am with the greatest affection

Your father

Richard Roberts.

In accordance with the father's desire, the children and
wife append their letters as follows : —

Burton, 5//^ Dec. 1805.
Our Dear Brother,

We beg to offer you our most sincere and
earnest congratulations for your late fortunate escape from
the dreadful battle you have lately had, and also the lucky
escape of Shipwreck, and hope soon to have a pleasing
answer from your own hand. We are your loving and
affectionate sisters and brother

Sophia A. Roberts
W. Roberts
Ag. Roberts.

The mother writes the following characteristic note : —

My Dear Richard,

I sincerely congratulate you on your late
preservation from the perilous situation you have lately
undergone. It is not in my power to describe the painful
anxiety I have felt for your safety, or the joy I felt on
hearing you were safe and well, on the receipt of which I
returned my thanks to your Almighty Preserver and hope
you did not forget to do the same. Hoping to see you in
a few days

Your affectionate Mother

M. Roberts.

The next day young William Roberts takes pen and
paper on the quiet and writes the following boyish account

268 ROBERTS'S LETTERS TO HIS FRIENDS

of the high doings in Burton Bradstock in honour of the
Great Naval victory, interspersed with details of the home
life of the ponies and dogs belonging to the paternal
estate.

Burton, Dec. 6fh, 1805.
Dear Brother,

Your kind letter on the 22nd of November
[i.e. October] we were all very happy to receive, and to find
you were alive and well. We gave away beer to almost
every man in the parish. I was almost drunk myself Mr
T. Fish brought the news and deprived old Jemmy of the
pleasure, but we were afraid old Jemmy would not be quick
enough. Augusta wishes she could write. Father has
bought a little black pony and gave £% 19s. 6d. for it. It
is not broke in yet.

We have raised at Burton and Bridport a subscription
for the widows and orphans. They collected at Bridport
£1^ at the Church door Thanksgiving day, but they got a
great deal more than that the day before. We at Burton
collected i^6, 8s. id. Mr Hunter^ and Father are going
all round the parish to those people who were not at Church.
Jn° Cheney wants to see you and for that matter so do I
too. You will see Father and mother and Sophy. I still
remain your affectionate Brother

Wm. H. Roberts.

P.S. — Please write soon and give me a good account of
the battle. We had bell ringing and beer drinking the
night that we received the list of the killed and wounded
and likewise when we received your letter. The colours
were hoisted on the tower. Mother had hard work to
keep the beer barrell a running. Our family is increased
very much for we have had no less than 13 puppies;
Blossom 7 and Clara 6. Ralph, Gipsy, and all are well and
hearty. We have been talking about your taking Ralph
with you, but I suppose you have enough. I expect you

' Rector of Burton Bradstock.

THANKSGIVING DAY AT BRIDPORT 269

home to Burton but none of the rest don't. All the Bridport
Volunteers went to Church on Thanksgiving Day, I do
not think there is any person in your place. Father will
write you soon ; he received your letter on the 6th inst.
This is all I have at present to say.

Addressed Mr Rich» F. Roberts
H.M. Ship Victory
Portsmouth
To the care of Mrs J. Jacobs

Ordinance Row
Portsea.

Another Burtonian a day later indites the following
epistle to the midshipman. It throws a more refined
light on the way in which they relaxed the tension of the
mental strain wrought on the dwellers in English seaboard
villages by the domination of the Great Terror. At the
same time it exhibits the effect of that strain on the
educated mind of the country gentleman unversed in
nautical terminology, but none the less claiming a share
in the national thanksgiving.

Burton,
Dec. Tth, 1805.
Dear Friend,

'Tis impossible for me to express the happi-
ness that I feel in having to congratulate you on your safe
arrival. The many anxious weeks that have elapsed
seem for a moment forgotten. I am truly thankful to the
Almighty for your preservation. What must have been
your feelings in the dreadful conflict you have witnessed !
It chills my blood when I think of it, and I am ready to
conclude I should not have been able to have endured such
a terrible scene.

When I consider your never having been to sea before
and the short time that elapsed between your sailing and
the battle, together with the distressed condition of your
ship since ; it seems to me sufficient to determine anyone

270 ROBERTS'S LETTERS TO HIS FRIENDS

to leave it. However, knowing your determination it prob-
ably will have the contrary effect, and be the means of your
persevering in the line you are in. If so, I sincerely wish
you every success and that you may become a dignified
character in the British Navy.

We first heard of the engagement on the morning of
the 5th Nov. The account was sent by Mr J. Hounsell
to Burton soon after Lieutenant Lapinoture^ passed
Bridport. It informed us of the death of Lord Nelson ;
and that 19 ships were taken and one blown up. Our
feelings were extremely racked ; all deploring the loss of
the Hero ; all measureably pleased the victory was so
decisively in our favour. But at the same time our minds
were much distressed on your account. For my own part
I never experienced such incoherent emotions in my life ;
one minute hoping you were safe ; the next doubting it
from the dreadful carnage that was inevitable in such a
situation. From this dilemma nothing could relieve me
but hearing immediately from you. Every post was
looked for, with indescribable anxiety. Our disappoint-
ment was great in not having the particulars of your ship
in the first Gazette ; and the impracticability of it did not
appear till other despatches arrived. During the interval
(which was extremely tedious) every means was used by all
your friends to obtain the earliest information. Capt°
Blackwell of the Euryalus desired Mrs Fish to present his
compliments to Mr Hardy's Family and your Father say-
ing Capt" Hardy was safe and he had no doubt you were
likewise. This was some consolation ; but nothing equal
to what we experienced when your name was not to be
found amongst the list of killed and wounded. The news
flew like lightning through the village. The bells rang and
everybody seemed actuated by one general sentiment of
joy. But this however was not the positive intelligence I
wanted ; for afterwards a doubt crept in whether your

1 Lieut. J. R. Lapinotiere, who brought home the despatches in the
Pickle schooner.

THE INVINCIBLE ADMIRAL 271

name might not have been omitted, and this was not dis-
pelled till the receipt of your very acceptable letter dated
Oct. 22nd (to your Father) which he received in Bridport
and immediately sent by Mr Fish to Burton, The bells
rang again till several of the ropes broke ! They were
repaired next morning. Your Father's colours were
hoisted on the tower and continued flying several days. I
was really astonished to find you were so collected the day
after the action as to be able to write such a letter. It
gave me great pleasure and it does you infinite credit.
Your favour to me of the 27th came at the same time. I
should have written you sooner but did not know where to
direct as we expected the Victory home some time past. I
should have thought that you had been so much agitated
by the transactions of the 21st that it would have been
impossible to collect your ideas on paper. It is not to be
wondered at that at the time you did not know the parti-
culars of the action. This has been pretty well supplied by
the public prints, which is astonishing.

What would the English Nation have done with your
gallant Commander had he survived the action and brought
home all the captured ships ! Not that it is wanting in
bestowing every encomium on him and on all those under
his command. But surely a new vocabulary must have
been formed, for however verbose our language may be
reckoned it would still have been wanting in epithets.
Great; Magnatiimoiis ; Illustrious ; would appear too
hackneyed and common. It must have been more than
Invincible Admiral of Admirals and perhaps Lo7'd of Lords ;
for I think the people would have run into idolatry and
absolutely worshipped him. Pray God may have taken
him to Himself and given him a Crown of Glory.

I have no doubt that the subscriptions now making in
the kingdom to help the widows, orphans, and wounded
will be followed up by others for a remuneration to the
officers and crews of every ship in action. However, I shall
be most happy to hear that you come in for a share of

272 ROBERTS'S LETTERS TO HIS FRIENDS

Prize money ; for I am such a novice that I do not know
whether clerks have any share.

Deer. 2)ih. — I left off writing last night thinking there
would have been a letter to your Father informing him
that you were in harbour, which would have fixed the day
of your mother and sisters leaving Burton, but am informed
there was no letter. It therefore being uncertain when
you will come into port, I thought best to send this and
write again by them. I am happy to inform you that
your relations and friends in general are well. Mr R.
Roberts of Gorwell was here and told me he thought he
should go up to see you, but I heard yesterday he has the
gravel and is otherwise unwell, I have many times been
requested by your friends and acquaintances to present
their love and kind remembrances