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THE    THREE    DORSET    CAPTAINS 
AT    TRAFALGAR 


THE 

THREE    DORSET    CAPTAINS 
AT    TRAFALGAR 

THOMAS   MASTERMAN  HARDY 

CHARLES    BULLEN 

HENRY  DIGBY 

BY   A.    M.   BROADLEY 

AUTHOR      OF      "  TUNIS      PAST     AND      PRESENT," 
"  HOW    WE    DEFENDED    ARAHI,"    ETC. 

AND    R.    G.    BARTELOT,    M.A. 

AUTHOR    OF    "A    HISTORY    OF    CREWKERNE    SCHOOL " 


LONDON 
JOHN  MUUllAY,  ALBEMARLE  STREET 

1906 


TO 

THOSE  DESCENDANTS  AND   KINSMEN 

OF 

THOMAS    MASTERMAN    HARDY 
CHARLES    BULLEN,    AND    HENRY    DIGBY 

THE  THREE  DORSET  CAPTAINS  AT  TRAFALGAR 

'■•WHO   ARE  LIVING  ON  THE    2 1  ST  OCTOBER    I905,   THE  CENTENARY 

OF   NELSON'S   GREAT  VICTORY 

THIS   VOLUME   IS   RESPECTFULLY   INSCRIBED 

BY    THE  AUTHORS 


Wi 


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.^ 

No  sooner  did  the  belated  news  of  the  battle  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. 
1  Nelson  and  his  Captains,  W.  H.  Fitchett,  p.  63. 


X  PREFACE 

Two-and-twenty  years  after  Trafalgar,  the  late  Admiral 
Sir  VV.  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  ^ong,  "  The  Quarter-gunner's  Yarn,"  i  containing 
the  following  verses  : — 

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

"  The  Victory  led,  to  her  flag  it  was  due. 
Though  the  Tenieraires  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  captam  for  once  had  the  salt  in  his  eye. 

"'  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, 

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


PREFACE  xi 

"  St  George,"  "  Captain  Bluster,"  "  Room,"  and  the  "  Egj^p- 
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 
persotKE  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  wounded." 
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 
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 


xii  PREFACE 

comrades  imparts  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 
Mincrve^  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 
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,  Hard\'  rendered  invaluable  services  to 
his   country    both    on    the     North    and    South    America 


PREFACE  xiii 

Stations.  It  has  even  been  said  that  his  tact  and  prudence 
alone  saved  England  from  a  third  war  with  the  United 
States.  In  1830,  when  Lord  Gre\'  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  da\'s  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 
a  very  few  months  ago,  the  places  of  his  birth  and  baptism 
were  matters  of  historic  doubt.  Last  July,  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  lives  and  exploits  of  Thomas  Hardy, 
captain  of  the  Victory,  Charles  Bullen,  captain  of  the 
Britannia,  ^.nd  Henry  Digby,  captain  of  the  Africa.  The 
portion  of  the  Dorchester  Exhibition  devoted  to  Hardy  was 
of  quite  exceptional  interest,  for  it  contained  relics  of  every 


xiv  PREFACE 

-description,  ranging  from  medals  and  miniatures  to  the 
watch  he  wore  while  he  held  the  dying  Nelson  in  his  arms, 
the  pencil-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. 


PREFACE 


XV 


The  captain  of  the  Victory  had  no  pretence  to  scholar- 
ship in  the  modern  sense  of  the  word.  He  often  wrote  in 
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  f nit ^  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  aa  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.  P'oley  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- 


xvi  PREFACE 

son's  deservedly  popular  Britisli  Fleet,  is  reflected  through- 
out the  earlier  portions  of  the  Hardy  correspondence. 
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  i/j-83 
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  at  the  present 
moment  Hardy's  grandson,  Sir  Evan  MacGregor,  K.C.B., 
is  Permanent  Secretary  of  the  Admiralty.  The  room  he 
now  occupies  is  in  close  proximity  to  the  apartments 
tenanted  sixty  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  ^^300,000  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  J^ills.  The  first  page  of  the  Victory 
^  Naval  Administrators^  1827-1892.     London,  1897,  p.  44, 


PREFACE  xvii 

section  of  both  these  vakiable  registers  (which  should 
certainly  find  a  home  either  at  Whitehall  or  in  the  British 
Museum)  have  been  reproduced  (by  Messrs  Maggs'  per- 
mis'iion)  amongst  our  illustrations. 

The  writers  desire  to  offer  their  thanks  for  valuable 
assistance  rendered  to  them  in  the  course  of  their  labours 
by  Mr  H.  A.  Huxtable,  by  whose  kind  permission  the 
Hardy  correspondence  in  his  possession  is  now  published, 
as  well  as  to  Lady  Helen  MacGregor,  Sir  Evan  MacGregor, 
K.C.B.,  Miss  Eva  Mary  MacGregor,  Mrs  J.  C.  Thynne,  Mr 
Atholl  MacGregor,  Mrs  William  Manfield  and  her  son 
Mr  William  Hardy  Manfield,  the  Rev.  S.  E.  V.  Filleul, 
Commander  Charles  N.  Robinson,  R.N.,  Colonel  Bullen 
of  Catherston  [great-great-nephew  of  John  Bullen, 
father  of  Admiral  Sir  Charles  Bullen],  Lord  Digby  of 
Minterne,  Mrs  Wingfield  Digby  of  Sherborne  Castle,  Mr 
Owen  F.  Daniel,  Miss  M.  M.  Roberts  of  the  Grove,  Burton 
Bradstock,  and  the  Rev.  H.  Pentin,  Vicar  of  Milton 
Abbas,  for  useful  aid  either  as  regards  incidents  in  the 
careers  of  Hardy,  Digby,  and  Bullen,  or  the  reproductions 
of  original  portraits  and  other  illustrations.  They  gratefully 
acknowledge  the  courtesy  of  Messrs  Maggs  in  lending  them 
the  Trafalgar  Receipt  Books,  and  that  of  the  Rev.  Sir  John 
Molyneux,  Bart.,  Vicar  of  Portisham,  the  Rev.  W.  F.  Cornish, 
Rector  of  Steepleton,  the  Rev.  H.  Pigou,  Rector  of  Long 
Bredy,  and  the  Rev.  F.  W.  Crick,  Rector  of  Litton  Cheney, 
for  allowing  them  access  to  the  registers  of  their  respective 
parishes. 

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 

b 


xviii  PREFACE 

Captain  Mahan,^  Mr  Henry  Nevvbolt,'-  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  Times'^  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  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  has  been  used  with  the  sanction  of  its  owner. 
Miss  Roberts,  in  the  chapter  relating  to  that  momentous 
event  in  Hardy's  career. 

For  many  years  a  Dorset  or  Dorsetshire  figured  in  the 
list  of  British  ships-of-war.  The  first  Dorsetshire,  a  third- 
rate  of  80  guns,  was  built  at  Southampton  in  1694.  She 
was  a  vessel  of  1 176  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  £^0.  The  second  Dorset- 
shire  ,\xdiS  a  third-rate  of  80  guns,  built  at  Portsmouth 
in    1757.     She  was  broken  up  in   1775.     Two  men-of-war 

'  T/ie  Life  of  Nelson^  Captain  A.  T.  Mahan.  London  :  Sampson, 
Low,  Marston  &  Co.,  1897. 

-  T/ie  Year  of  Trafalgar.     London:  John  Murray,  1905. 

^  The  British  Fleet,  Commander  C.N.  Robinson.  London  :  Cdorge 
Bell,  1896. 

■*  Nelson  and  his  Captains.     London  :  Smith,  Elder  &  Co.-,  1904 

•''  The  Nelson  Memorial.,  by  John  Kno.x  Laughton.  London  ;  George 
Allen,  1896.     Biography  of  N6ls6n  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. 


PREFACE  xix 

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  ;^50oo. 
The  existing //ic^^/,  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-clads,  of  which  the  First  Sea  Lord  of 
1830-4  foretold  the  existence  and  realised  at  least  some  of 
the  possibilities,  the  story  of  Hardy,  Bullen,  and  Digby, 
the  three  Dorset  captains  at  Trafalgar,  will  not  have  been 
told  in  vain. 


CONTENTS 

CilAP.  PAGE 

I.  Dorset  and  her  Famous  Sailors         .  .  .        r 

II.  The  Dorset  Hardys  and  their  Jersey  Forei;ears.        7 

III.  The  Birth,  Birthplace,  and  Boyhood  of  Thomas 

Masterman  Hardy         .  .  .  .  .12 

IV,  Hardy's  Schooldays  at    Crewkerne   anu    Milton 

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

V.  Hardy  as  Midshipman  and  Lieutenant  [1790-1797].      26 

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

1797— August  3,  1798J 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  onge  more  Nelson's  Flag-Captain.  His 
Comhands  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  3 1ST  Dec.  1804]   .  .  .  .  .108 

XIII.  The  Year  OF  Trafalgar  [1805]    .  .  .  -125 

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


xxii  CONTENTS 

CriAP.  PAGE 

XVI.  Hardy  in  Command  of  the  "Princess  Augusta" 
Yacht  and  the  "Superb"  [June  23,  18 15 — August 
II,  1819]      .  .  .  .  .  ,  .167 

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

South  America  Station  [1819-1824]    .  .  .     179 

XVIII.  Hardy  Rear-AdiMiral.  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  1 839    ....    220 

XXI.  Hardy  Memorials  at  Greenwich  Hospital  and  in 

Dorset  :  Hardy  Portraits       ....    238 

XXII.  Charles  Bullen,  Captain  of  the  "  Britannia,,' at 

Trafalgar  [1768-1853]    .....    245 

XXIII.  Henry    Digby,      Captain     of     the      "Africa,"    at 

Trafalgar  [1768-1842]     .....    259 


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,    dated    i8th 

January  1806       .  ....  .  .  .     287 

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

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

F.  Official  List  of  the  Naval  Services  of  V^ice-Admiral  Sir  Thomas 

Masterman  Hardy,  Bart.  .  .  .  .  .     292 

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

Maxwell  .  .  ...  .  .  .     294 

H.  Grant  of  Arms  made  to  Charles  Bullen,  C.B.,  3rd  November 

1817  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .298 

I,  The  Bullens  of  Weymouth  and  Charmouth  .  .  ,     301 

J.  The  Digbys  of  Sherborne  and  Minterne  .  .  ,  .     302 

K.  The  Song  of  the  Burton  Volunteers         .  .  .  .     303 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 


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 

A 


2  DORSET  AND  HER  SAILORS 

Hampshire  borders,  lie  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 
b^y  verdant  valleys  and  st.retches  of  golden  sand,  are  the 
cfliaracteristic  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  cotifrere,  and  in  the .  beautiful  and  picturesque 
hinterland  hidden  behind  the  yellow  cliffs,  all  sorts  of 
cleverly-contrived  hiding-places  and  over-spacious  cellars 
still  k^ep  the  memory  of  their  prowess,  green.  In  the 
print-room  of  the  British  Museum  may  be  seen  a  set  of 
maps. portraying  the  coasf  of  Dorset  as  it  was  in  Henry 
Vill.'s  time.  They  are  embellished  with  rude  drawings 
pf-  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  PortTand  T3ill. 

~  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  Crec^  and  cover  the 
knglish  arms  with  glory.  Tn  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  hydrogirapher. 
In  1322  Sir  Nicholas  Cheney,  Sheriff  of  Dorset,  sought  in 
vain  to  recover  from  the  king  his  out-of-pocket  expenses — 
70  shillings  and  some  odd  pence — incurred  by  the  dispatch 
of  six  "ropers  "  from  Bridport  to  Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 
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  "  (/.<•.,  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  Sioiftsurc  eventually 
became  Marshal  of  Ireland,  but  died  before  he  coiild 
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  [1554-1610],  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  I.,  and  sit  in  Parliament  for  L}'me  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 
bad  purchased  with  the  proceeds  of  his  "prize-taking." 
The  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  1 1  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  Poj/iona,  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.  P'rom 
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 
[1752-1828J,  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,  an<i  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 
m.any  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. 


CHAt'TER   II 

THE   DORSET    HARDYS   AND   THEIR   JERSEY   FOREBE'ARSI 

THOMAS  MASTERMAN'  HARDY  was  the  last  ot 
four  distinguished  admirals  who  could  one  and  all 
claim  descent  from  Clement  le  Hardy  or  Hardi,  Bailly  otf 
Jersey  in  1483,  and  five  years  later  Lieutenant-Governor  of 
that  island,  where  the  Le  Hardis  had  flourished  exceiedjngly 
during  the  Middle  Ages,  and  from  whence  the  yo4nger 
son  of  Bailly  John  Hardy  emigrated  to  England  vers 
roucst,  i.e.,  to  Dorsetshire.^  TJie  first  of  the  four  admiralis 
Hardy,  was,  like  the  last,  i?^med  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  toojc 
in  the  complete  destruction  of  the  combined  fleets  of 
Frarbce  and  Spain  in  Vigo  Bay.  Having  represented 
Weymouth  in  Parliament  for  some  years,  Sir  Thoma,s 
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  possessioA  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 
WeyvioictJi  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  17 15. 
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  Quiberon  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  Whelme,  Wolcombe  Ma- 
travers,  Sydling,  Frampton,  Frome  St  Ouintin,  Melcombe 
Regis,  Compton  Abbas,  Askerswell,  Abbotsbiiry,  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  Prior}',  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 
aliiumi.  It  is  from  a  nephew  of  this  Thomas  Hardy 
that  the  Portisham  branch  of  the  fam.ily,  to  which  Sir 
T.  M.  Hardy's  immediate  ancestors  belonged,  traces  its 
descent. 

Portisham,  a  t\'pical  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  Hard}%  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 
properly  and  enduring  much  persecution.  The  Hardys 
and   Weares  sleep  side  by  side   in  vaults  both  below  and 

'  See  Mayo's  Dorset  Co7)uinftcc\  p.  452,  and  Hutchin's  Histoiy  of 
Dorset,  3rd  ed.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  765. 


lA  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  W^eare  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  i!^i40,  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  )-cars  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  Tr'afalgar,  he  wrote  thus  to  his  brother- 
in-law  at  Dorchester : — 

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

*  S4r  George  Nayler,  York  Herald,  Garter  King-of-Arms,  1S22. 


"ANCHOR,  HARDY,  ANCHOR"  ii 

then  I  believe  the  redigree  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. 

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


CHAPTER  III 

THE    BIRTH,   BH-ITHPLACE,   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 
Hard)'s  and  the  Weares,  the  Mastermans  were  originally 
natives  of  Portisham,  where,  as  far  back  as  1690,  they 
held  the  farm  of  P'riar  Waddon,  and  where  a  Masterman 
Charity    still    keeps    them    in    remembrance.      Kingston 


KINGSTON  RUSSELL  HOUSE  13 

Russell  House  was  a  mansion  of  nnore  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 

'  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  be}'ond  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  EHzabeth,  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  wa^  his  sister  Augusta, 
born  only  twelve  months  before  the  laj-cs  ct  pcnatcs  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, 


THE  VALLEY  OE  THE  BRIDE  ix, 

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 
pla}-ed,  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 
Sw\  re,  the  homes  of  many  a  Dorset  sailor  who  fought 
with  "  Cap'n  Hardy  on  the  deck  of  the  J  ^tctorj^ ";  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  Arnriada  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  christeninp- 
A  wire  fence  now.  nsurrDunds  the  historic  and  once 
stately  home  of  the  Russells,  the  Mastermans,  and  the 
Hard}s,   which   the    Dukes   of    Bedford    are    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? 


CHAPTER  IV 

HARDY'S  SCHOOLDAYS  AT  CREWKERNE  AND  MILTON 
ABBAS.  HIS  EARLY  EXPERIENCES  IN  THE  NAVY 
AND   MERCHANT    SERVICE   [1778-I790J 

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  enibarras  de  iHcJiesses.  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  VVilliam 
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 


CREVVKERNE  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 
Iloadly  Ashe,  D.D.,  a  connection  of  the  celebrated  Bishop; 
Hoadly,  of  Salisbury  a,nd  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  ego  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  Histoy  of  Crewkertie  School,  by   the    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  orthodox  games  as  cricket  and  football. 
One  learns  from  the  MS.  comm'on-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  w^ere  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  Sergeant 
Best  ^  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 

^  Ste.  post,  p.  168. 

^  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  Surveillanfe.  In  the  same  year  that  Hardy  joined  the 
Helena,  Roberts  had  acquired  fresh  distinction  by  carrying  despatches 
on  her  to  Gibraltar,  through  the  thick  of  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  flotilla. 
He  died  on  board  the  Success,  of  yellow  fever,  off  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  sX 


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  6  th,   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  Barfleur.  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. 

1  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. 

-  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 
pot  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  1  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 

'  This  letter  was  printed  in  the  United Senncc  Journa}^  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  grand-daughter. 


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  Warton,  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  bo}',  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.  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.  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. 

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  2S 

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  vvhole  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  thrown  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. 

I  The  biographer  of  Hardy,  in  the  U7iited  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   [ 1 790- 1 79/] 

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  Tisiplione 
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  Amphi trite  frigate  of  twenty  guns,  in 
May  1793,  he  took  Hardy  with  him  (once  rnbre  as  mid- 
shipman), a'nd  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  OX  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  ]^ictorj>,  and  the  Spanish  admiral, 
Don  Juan  de  Lang'ara)  has  been  often  told.  The  golden 
opportunity  which  presented  itself  of  entirely  wiping  out 
the  fleet  of  the  Erench  Conv^ention  was  lost,  but  Hardy 
must  have  distinguished  himself,  for  on  the  10th  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,  ?>.,  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 
Minerve^-  a  I^rge  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   Alinerve   and  the 

'  Wounded  while  commanding  the  Tonnant  at  Trafalgar.  Died 
an  admiral  in  1835. 

2  On  the  3rd  July  1803,  the  Minet-iie,  which  played  so  important  a 
part  in  the  careeis  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 

BlaiicJie  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  Y^ovsqI  protege. 
The  Minei've,  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  of  Nelson^ s 
Despatches  (Hid  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,  18//^  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 
\ery  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  Erigate  of  which 
he  is  First  Lieutt.  and  was  with  Admiral  Nelson  when  he 
engaged  and  took  the  Spanish  Erigate  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  Man  field. 
Captn.  Domett. 


The  covering  letter  \yritten  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  Mawkchurch  estate 
from  the  Henley  family. 


SIR  R.  CALDER  PROMISES  TO  HELP  HARDY   31 

"Vii.LE  DE  Paris," 
At  anchor  off  Cadiz, 
28///  A/try  1797. 

Dear  Domett, 

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

Lieutenant  Hardy  of  La  Mitierve  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,  I'ostage  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 
Miiierve  and  the  Lively  discovered  the  presence  of  a  French 
brig  of  war,  the  Alutme,  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  Ahitine  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  Miitine  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  Ccntlcinan^s  Magazine^  vol  xii.,  new  series,- p.  650. 
33  ^ 


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  dispatch  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  26th,  1 798. 
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  iind  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  lilincrve.     Should  you  or  Manfield 

'   Mahan's  Life  of  Nelso?i,  vol.  i.,  p.  318. 

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


HARDY  OX   HIS  WAY  TO  NAPLES  35 

go  to  London  I'll  thank  }'ou  to  call  on  him  &  inquire  if  he 
has  reed  them  &  add  I  am  very  anxious  to  hear  from  him. 
Should  you  find  he  rides  tlu  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.  J  as  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  somev/here  near  Elba  on  the 
5th  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  Va7iguard,  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,  stHl  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  Mutine  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 
describes  as  his  "  right-hand  man,"  was  sent  home  with 
despatches  in  the  Lcander,  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"  iSLND 
"  FOUDROYANT."  WITH  NELSON  IN  NAPLES  AND 
SICILY.      [4TH   AUGUST    1 798 — I2TH   OCTOBER    1 799] 

THE  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  squadroii, 


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  vccchio  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.  2(>/k,  '799- 
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  Aleleager,  Falcon  (I  suppose  Miititie)  &  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-  &  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  17  th,  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.^  F  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 
Vanguard. 

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  MAR  IT  I  MO  41 

BalU  I  am  vcn'  sorry  to  hear  of  my  Mother-  &  Brothers 
indisposition  but  hope  soon  to  hear  of  their  perfect 
recovery.  Give  my  love  to  Catharine  my  little  Nephews 
&  Nieces  &  all  friends. 

I  remain,  \-ours  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  ^ajid  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 
Foiidroj'ant,  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  (179&)  in  the 
Alexander  to  conduct  the  blockade  of  Malta,  and  eventually  became 
British  Governor  of  the  Island  and  was  knighted. 

-  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   ij,t/i,   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  Foiidroyant  wdAimg  ihQ 
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  Foudroyajit  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 

1  Francesco  Caracciolo,  the  Neapolitan  leader,  who  had  been 
captured  in  disguise  and  Ijrought  on  board  the  Foudroyant  on  the 
29th  June  1799.  After  a  trial,  before  a  court-martial  of  Neapolitan 
officers,  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  Mincrvc,  origin- 
ally a  French  prize. 


HARDY  COMES  HOME  43 

home.  I  think  it  more  than  probable  he  will  follow  if  not 
we  shall  I  think  go  in  to  the  Villc  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 
\'oung  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  }'0u  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 
Foiidroyant  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.  \Zih,  '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.   HaRDV. 
John  Manfield,  Esq., 
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,  Manfielc],  werp  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  peel,  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-  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 
followiner,    for    Portsmouth.     To-morrow    1    shall    call    on 


't>> 


^  Sir  Henry  Harvey  [1737-1810]. 
-  Sir  Andrew  Mitchell  [[757-1806]. 


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  i2th,  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 

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

-  A  well-known  Dorchester  coach. 


THE  AXTK-CHAMBKR  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  sincerel}', 

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  : — 

April  x^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  [1753-1S01]. 

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

^  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. 

Cech.  Street, 

Apl.  i()fh,  1800. 
Dear  Man  field, 

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)  I  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  CEcn.  Street, 
July  2^ih,  1800. 

Dear  Manfield, 

Thank  you  for  your  letter  &  my  friend 
Parker's^  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- 
conivwn  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  :  y  -.^  %l  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  vvasone  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.  71. 

-  His  niece  Mary,  daughter  of  J.  C.  Manfield. 

D 


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  feviale  correspondence  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%ih,  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,  Ocfr.  i^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  Wm  &  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.  y^th^  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 
Whitvvorth  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. 

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

2  Richard  Travers  of  Loders,  another  of  the  Dorset  Yeomanry 
Captain  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.  Zth,  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  shal) 
set  off  for  Yarmouth  as  I  know  too  well  the  cause  of  his  not 
coDiing.  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. 

I  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  i^w  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  Gentlevian  &  Sir  Edwd 
Berry,  as  the  Editors  have  not  yet  found  out  my  name. 


CHAPTER  IX 

HARDY  ONCE  MORE  NELSON'S  FLAG-CAPTAIN.  HIS 
COMMANDS  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  Namuv 
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  ccme  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  h  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  I'^th^  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  }-ou  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. 


'  Mr  Lionel  Darner,  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. 


HARDY  CAPTAIN  OF  THE  "NAMUR"         57 

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

9  Duke  Street,  Novr.  \^thy  1800. 
Dear  Manp^ield, 

I  just  received  my  Commission  for  the 
Nai)iur  &  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  no,t  been  tasted  yet. 
I  remain 

Dr  Manfield,  Yours  sincerely, 

T.  M.  Hardy. 

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

The  Christmas  spent  on  board  the  Nanmr  wdA  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.  wtJi,  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  )'ou  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  e.xtremity 
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  ^1:2:6: 

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  Naviur  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 
Josefs  where  he  witnessed    the   dawn    of    the    nineteenth 

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

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


HARDY  AT  PLYMOUTH  59 

century.     A   few  da\'s  before  this  he  again  wrote  to  his 
brother-in-law  : — 

"San  Josef,"  Hamoaze, 
Deer.  2C)t/i^  1800. 
Dear  Man  field, 

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  allov/  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  }'ou  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.  Jt/i,  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.  Hardv. 

Nelson  now  made  up  his  mind  to  join  his  ship ;  and 
Hardy  writes  the  following  characteristic  letter  to  Mr 
Manfield  :— 

"San  Josef,"  Plymouth  Dock, 
Jan>y.  i6th,  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. 

^  Of  Newton  Surmaville,  Yeovil. 


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.  Hardv. 

On  the  1 2th  February  1801,  Lord  Nelson  transferred  hi.s 
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.  25///,  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. 

'^  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. 
Y'^   ■*  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  conspic- 
uous 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,  William  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  Si 
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  zvas,  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  Loi'd  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  Lord.ship  my.sclf,  1  sent  Messrs  Gill  & 
Walin,  the   former  was   slightly  wounded,  but  Sir  Hyde 

'  Shallow. 

-  Frederickj  eldest  son  of  Christian  VII.,  and  nephew  of  George 
m.     He  was  born  in  1768,  and  declared  Regent,  April  T2,  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  6f/i,  1 80 1. 

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  Geoj'gc  (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  Vanguards  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. 

\2tJ1. — 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]- 

-  James  Frampton,  of  Moreton,  Dorset  [(769-1855],  married  Lady 
Harriet  Fox  Stran^vays,  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. 


68         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  hst  for  promotion. 

June  xjih. — 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  Zth,   1 80 1. 

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 

'  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. 

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


OXCE  MORE  AT  YARMOUTH  69. 

at  Dorchester  or  in  Town.  Admiral  Sir  Thos  Graves^ 
sailed  from  here  }-esterday  with  a  large  detatchment  of 
our  Ships  their  destination  is  7tot  yet  Pnblickly  known. 
Everything  goes  on  well  in  this  Quarter  &  I  have  little 
doubt  but  w^e  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  Jiappy  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  Adrnl  (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 
Vafiguard  smcQ,  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  Manfieli), 

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

'  Admiral  Sir  Thomas  Graves  [1747-1814],  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  180 r. 

•'  This  is  the  only  undated  letter  found  amongst  the  Hardy  correspond- 
ence.    It  bears,  however,  the  English  postmark  of  loth  August  iSoi. 


70        COPENHAGEN— PEACE  OF  AMIENS 

remain  long  therefore  I  hope  to  hear  from  you  by  return 
of  post.  As  we  have  had  no  communication  with  the 
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  S^  Geoi'ge  were  now 
numbered.  The  news  of  his  being  superseded  is  thus 
conveyed  to  Mr  Manfield  : — 

Portsmouth,  Augt  iZth,  iSoi, 
8  dclock. 
Dear  Manfield, 

This  day  to  my  great  astonishment  Captain 
NichoHs  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  Geoi'ge  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 
I  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, 
A  ugust  20th,  1 80 1 . 
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  mc,  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,  & 

^  Commander  Edward  Thornborough  Parker,  R.N.,  Aide-de-camp 
to  Lord  Nelson.  He  died  of  wounds  received  on  the  15th  August  i8ot 
in  the  unsuccessful  attempt  on  Boulogne  (see  pp.  49,  73,  and  1 14). 


yk        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  d 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 

Yoiirs  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  2^ih,  1 80 1. 
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  his 
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  s^orn  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  S^  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  nie,  nor  db  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,  A//^'-^.  26///. — We  arrived  last  night  too  late 
to  save  Post.  This  morning  I  received  my  Commission 
for  the  /s/s  &  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  /sts  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. 

1  Dr  Baird,  T^'^fe  Nelson's  letters  to  Baird  about  Parker  and  Lang- 
ford,  fios/,  p.  1 1 3. 
-'  See  pos/,  p.  113. 


74        COPENHAGEN— PEACE  OF  AMIENS 

Aiigt.  2yfh. — 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  \  set  off  tomorrow  morngfor 
the  his. 

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

"  I  SIS,"  DUNGENF.SS,  Scpir.  22,rd,  1801. 

Dear  Manfield, 

I  did  not  get  your  letter  of  the  iith  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"^  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.  x-\s  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. 

'  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. 

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


DEATHS   IN   DORSET  75 

I  am  much  better  pleased  with  the  Jsis  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 
P^amilies.  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  £T)  apiece  Turkey s 
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  \j\th,  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  Melancholly  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 
(see  p.  61).  Dr  Sherive,  who  was  some  time  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,  Deer.  1839,  aged  97. 


y6        COPExNHAGEN— 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  like  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 

Ti  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  yy 

in  Sicily,  which  had  been  some  time  before  bestowed  on 

him  by  the  King  of  Naples.     In  November,  Hardy  writes 

thus  from  the  Downs  : — 

"  I  SIS,"  Downs,  Novr.  jf/i,  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&  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  Endyviion  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  sur\v^rs  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  Alderuians^  Lady  Children   &c. 

I  remain 

Dear  Manfield, 

Yours  affectionately, 

T.  M.  Hardy. 

1  Sir  Evan  Nepean  (see  a7ite,  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. 

^  See  ante^  p.  52. 

■^  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  hoine  of  Francis  Roberts  and 
his  descendants. 

*  Joseph  Weld  of  Lulworth  Castle,  brother  of  Cardinal  Weld  [1777- 
1862]. 

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


NELSON   IN  THE   HOUSE  OE  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  strucf:  his  Elag  &  is 
gone  to  Portsmouth  to  sit  on  Sir  Wm  Parkers  Court, 
martial'  The  Isis  is  now  the  Commanding  officiers  ship  & 
great  part  of  the  duty  falls  on  me,  however  I  shall  always 
find  time  to  answer  }'our  letters  punctually  &  occasionally 
give  you  two  for  one.  I  got  a  letter  to  Day  from  Martha 
I  find  sh(?  is  spending  a  few  Days  with  our  Relations  in 
the  East. 


Hardy  again  writes  :- 


Dear  Manfield. 


Isis,"  Downs,  Novr.  15///,  1801. 


Not  having  heard  from  }-ou  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  Eitzwilliam 
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 

1  Admiral  Sir  William  Parker  [1743-1802].  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  Marc^i 
1S02. 


8o        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,  Z^^cr  lO/"/;,  1801. 
Dear  Manfield, 

The  his  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 

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


HARDY  AT  SHEERNESS  81 

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.  Tharlk 
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  Isz's  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  hear.d 

F 


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  Waarzaanihind 
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  Culloden)  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, 
/any  bth,  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  Waarzaavihiiid  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  1  am  sorry  to  say  his  Character  is  by  no 
means  a  good  one,  therefore  his  coming  to  the  Isis  is  of  no 
use  as  I  cannot  possible  recommend  him.  The  Isis  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  Shcerness. 
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  Waaraaamhind.  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  ;  tho'  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  ^^"389  :  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  Wi,  1802. 

Dear  Manfield, 

We  arrived  here  t;he  Day  befoire  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  tlawkins  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  mi];id  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     :;j  ;    , 
Dear  Manfield 

Yours  Affectionately 

T.  M.  Hardy. 

"  I  SIS,"  NORE,  Feby  20//;,  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  Raminillies,  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. 

^  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  Jesscl  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: — 

"Isis,"  Spithead,  March  zZth,  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 
num.ber  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 
rccd  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 
jthat  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    2/,    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 : — 

"ISls,"  Spithead,  Apl  T^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. 

*  II.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- 
Cregor,  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  '^ik, 
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  &  ner  Ladyship  was  quite  angry  that  I 
could  not  stay  loi.ge  .  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,"    Si'ITHEAD,   Apl   11///,    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 
P'riday  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  2ofh,  1802. 

Dear  Manfield, 

1  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         FLA^-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,  &  Provdence  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   nmst  conclude  with 

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

friends 

I  remain 

Dear  Manfield 

Yours  Affectionately, 

T.  M.  Hardv. 


HARDY    LEAVES    THE   "ISIS"  93 

"  Isis,"  Portsmouth  Harbour, 
June  ^th^  1802. 

Dear  Manfield, 

The  Isis  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  Gambier'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  £^  :  10  :0  which  I  shall  be  obliged  if  you 
will  pay  to  Mr  Thos  Slade  stone  mason  who  I  understand 
lives  at  the  bottom  of  the  Towri. 

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  Manfield 

Yours  Affectionately 

T.  M.  Hardy. 

Portsmouth, ////z^  2o//;,  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  WeeJ<.  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  Flfst  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  I 

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  AnipJiion^  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  I  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 

^  See   British   Fleets   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. 


Lobf  DON, /«/;/ 8//z,  1802. 

Dear  Manfield, 

Sir  Thos  Troubridge  did  not  return  from 
Yarmouth  till  this  morning,  &  I  find  the  AinpJiion  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  Aniphiori  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  Avipliion  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-CAPTAIN  OF  THE  "VICTORY" 

"Amphion,"  Downs, ////j/  \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  Affectionatel}^, 

T.  M.  Hardy. 

"Amphion," 
OFF  Dover, //^(k  \AiK  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  BloodJioufid  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, /«/y  22;;^^,  1802. 
Dear  Manfield, 

I  am  happy  to  hear  (tho'  not  Victorious)  you 
are  so  well  .pleased  with  your  proceedings  at  Weymouth ; 
but  I  trust  yQU  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  ;^ioo  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  BloodJiound 
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  Aniphion. 

"Amphion,"  Dungeness,  Augt  zi^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  Aviphion)  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,  JWe .  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  things,  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  Til  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 

I  remain,  Dear  Manfield, 

Yours  Affectionately, 

T.  M.  Hardy. 

•<    26///,  Doivns. — 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  Lodcrs  in  those  days. 


A    TRIP    TO    LISBON  99 

"Amphion,"  Spithead,  Scptr  z-,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  forgotten  me.  We  are 
to  be  paid  off  on  our  return  &  reCommissioned.  Thank 
}-ou  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 
Tossum  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,- 
Ociober  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 
i  ]^2astd.  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 
humcKir. 

2  Admiral  Sir  Thomas  Troubridge,  Bart.  [1758-1S07].  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. 

I  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  2^fh,  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  181 7.  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  {ste  fiosi). 


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. 

Portsmouth,  Deer  lofh,  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  o?ice  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  w^e  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, 
Jany  jtk,  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  town  &  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,"  Ports-mouth, 
Feby.  6t/i,  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 

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

2  This  was  due  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  ourselv^es  in  readiness  before  that  time, 
but  the  Admiralty  make  it  such  a  favor  to  grant  leave  thdt 
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  St  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,"  SriTHEAD, 

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  hostilities,  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  T6ave  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  y:>th^  1803. 

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  CulLoden  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. 

1  The  use  of  the  endearing  tenn  "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.  6th,  1803. 

Dear  Manfield, 

Here  we  are  fitted  for  Foreign  Service  as 
full  as  an  egg  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  Fhos  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  i-^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  knoAV  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 
Stl^angeways  ^  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   rSo3),  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  : — 

"AxMPHioN,"  St  Helens, 
Alay  20/h,  1S03. 

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  Victor}',  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  1st  June  1795,  ^"d  commanded  the 
Alcmene  at  Copenhagen  (1801). 

^  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  MEDITERRANEAN. 
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  [175 2- 1 830].     Me  eventually  became  a  Privy  Coun- 
cillor and  Governor  of  Madras. 

108 


LORD    NELSON    ON   THE   "AMPHION"     109 

Minister  for  Naples  leaves  us  tomorrow  Morning  in  the 
Maidstone  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  Amphion.  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,  1S03),  for  at  the  beginning  of  September  he  thus 
addresses  Mr  Manfield  : — 

"  Victory  "  off  Toulon, 
Sept  ^fh,  1S03. 
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  ne\cr  intended  an  invasion  except  he  found  parties 
run  high,  which  I  trust  is  not  the  case.  W^e  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  wc  sent  into 

'  Emmctt's  futile  insurrection  of  July  1S03. 


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  3-oung  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  2i\th. — The  J^Fonmouth  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'^  'm  hopes  of  putting  some 
money  in  their  pockets  as  Capt  E.  is  a  very  active 
fellow. 

In  December  he  writes: — 

"Victory  "  off  Toulon,  Deer  5///,  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. 

^  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  25th  10 
o'clock  at  Night. 

The  Phoebe  sails  for  Gibraltar  tomorrow  morning 
which  is  the  first  opportunity  I  have  had  since  I  reed  )'our 
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  Bclliqueux  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  Days  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"  off  Toulon, 
Deer  •,t/i,  1803. 
Dear  Langford, 

I  am  happy  to  see  by  the  papers  that  the 
Fuiy  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.  Lathum  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  1st  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.,  1784-1863)  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. 

n 


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  Fiiry^  Downs. 

Captain  Langford  writes  thus  to  Mr  Manfield : — 

H.M.S.  "  Fury,"  Downs, 
March  iifh,  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  r  at  present  see  a  possibility  of  receiving    Him.     My 

Complement  of  Men  and  Boys  is  and  has  been  some  time 

com^plete.     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  Fuiy  Book  it  will  give 

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

ill  the  Interval  I  am, 

Sir,  Your  obt.  Servant, 

P'red  Langford. 

Some  months  elapse.     The  tedious  blockade  still  con- 
tinues without  any  stirring  events  as  far  as  Hardy  is  con- 
1  Admiral  Sir  Edward  Thornborough,  G.C.B.  [1754-1834]  (see  p.  73). 


A    DINNER   WITH    LORD    NELSON         115 

cerned  Meanwhile,  John  Callard  Manfield,  the  younger, 
joins  the  Navy.  In  August  his  uncle  thus  writes  to  the 
youth's  father  : — 

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

Dear  Manfield.i 

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 
Childers  going  to  Rosas  (in  Spain)  this  afternoon  of  sending 
this  by  her,  &  shall  write  to  you  again  by  the  Kent^  who 
sails  for  England  in  about  ten  days  &  as  the  Ambuscade 
will  not  leave  us  before  that  time  1  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  follovvin<r. 


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  lyth,  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 
Ke7it  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 
Avibuscade  on  the  29th  of  July  &  did  not  make  it  known 
to  me  till  our  arrival  in  Palma  Bay  which  was  the  ist  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  b)'  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  the  Ainbuscade.  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  Affy, 

T.  M.  Hardy. 


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


"Victory"  off  Toulon, 
August  20th,  1804. 


My  dear  Noble, 


I  was  favoured  with  your  letter  of  the  22nd 
of  May  {via  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 

1  Mr  Broadley's  collection  of  Nelson  MSS. 


'ii8  THE  BLOCKADE  OF  TOULON 

Sir  Wm  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  18///,  1804. 

My  dear  Brother, 

I  was  happy  to  hear  by  your  letters  that  you 
<^ere  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  x-ldams  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  arc  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 
f^entleman  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  Captani  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  reniain 

Your  affectionate  Sister, 

M.    MANFIELD, 

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

P.S. — My  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  :  -— 

"Victory,"  Madalina  Islands, 
October  2'^rd,  1804. 

My  Dear  Noble, 

I  was  favoured  with  your  letter  of  the  1st  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.  6tk,  1804. 

Dear  Manfield, 

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  Victojy  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  Wc\'mouth.     The  last 


122      THE  BLOCKADE  OF  TOULON 

letter  I  had  from  home  was  from  Augusta  ;  it  was  answered 
by  the  JoJin  Bull  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. 
Noyr  iith,  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,  qvery  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  h^-ve  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- 

'  An  engagement  which  preceded  the  actual  declaration  of  war. 


HARDY'S    BET   WITH    NELSON  123 

tinual  gales  of  wind.     Give  my  love  to  Grandmo.ther  and 
Aunt.Manfield  and  to  my  Friends  at  Martinstow'n, -Pprtis- 
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. 
Deer  31^/,  1804. 

Dear  Manfield, 

I  received  your  letter  yesterday  of  the  i6th 
of  October  by  the  Szviftsure  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  hini  to  remain  in  Aiiibuscade  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  Ainbus<;ade  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  {Ajnp/don) 
^  Corton  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  EarP  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. 

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

^  George,  second  Earl  of  Dorchester,  who  died  in  1808. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

THE   YEAR   OF   TRAFALGAR   [1805] 

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

"  Victory  " 
OFF  THE  West  End  of  Sicilv, 
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.  Sand  iS. 

2  The  Life  of  Nelson,  by  Captain  A,  T.  JvLihan,  London,  Sampson, 

Low  &  Co.,  1897,  voL  ii.,  p.  267  et  seq. 
12  j 


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.  1  see  by  the  papers  the  arrival  of  \hQ  Ambuscade 
at  Spithead  of  course  you  have  se^n'  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  Bellcisle  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  {ox  yoimg  ladies. 

March  nth — off  Tbuloti: — 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  San  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 
h-as  served  tne  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. 


INQUEST  OF  THE  FRExXCH   FLEET         127 

bound  to  the  Fleet  with  despatches  is  also  taken  b)-  the 
F'rench  Fleet  and  all  the  letters  of  both  vessels  are  destroyed 
therefore  I  give  up  all  hopes  of  hearing  from  you  till  the 
arrival  oi  the.  Ambuscade.  I  conclude  of  course  that  mysisters 
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  gf/t,  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  intentipn  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  tjieir  destination 
from  Lisbon  from  whence  we  expect  the  Ainason  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  Renown 
and  sent  some  trifles  for  my  neices  which  I  hope  will  be 
received  safe.  The  Renoivn  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. 

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

'  First  Lord  of  the  Aclininilty,  1S04-05.  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.  Hardy. 

Just  a  month  later  he  again  writes  : — 

"  Victory  "  off  Antigua, 
June  i2th,  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  L}-e,  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 

I 


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  Ere. 

June  lyJi. — We  have  just  rec€ived  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  and  Halford. 

"Victory"  at  Sea, 
July  i^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  )'ou  with'' 
this  Commission  and  that  you  will  believe 

1  am, 

My  Dear  Manfield 

Yours  inost  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  15///,  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  despateli  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  20ih. — 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  2^th. — 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  quite  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.  [1751-1S24].  Hardy  evidently 
participated  in  Nelson's  feelings  of  antagonism  towards  Orde.  (See 
Laughton's  The  Nelsoti  Manorial^  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  i2,fh,  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  se\erely  from  rheumatism. 


,.,i34  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,^  "  On  the  20th  of  August,  Villeneuve  ran  south 
into  Cadiz,  unabled  to  face  the  combination  of  Cornvvallis'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  an 
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  ro\-al  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.' 

'   Tile  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, 
Coitr  something,  and  the  growling  land  amuse  : 
Make  all  the  sans-culottes  to  Paris  caper, 

And  Rose  shall  print  the  vict'r)'  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.  O^i  the  7th  of  August 
their  Majesties  had  given  a  gala  dinner  at  the  Royal  Hotel 
(then  as  now  one  of  W'eymouth's  principal  hostelries),  in 
honourof  the  twenty-second  birthday  of  the  Princess  Amelia. 
A  few  da}'s  later  much  excitement  was  occasioned  by  the 
passing  of  a  homeward-bound  West  Indian  convo\-,  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  \\"e\-mouth  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 : — 

Weynwuth,  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,  ^'^jJ/r  6///,  1805. 
Dear  Man  field, 

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

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

-  The  telegraph  of  1805  was  an  elaborate  arrangement  of  slabs  of 
wood  encased  in  a  framework  on  the  principle  of  a  Venetian  blind,  sa 
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 
jilace  had  been  included  in  this  primitive  system  of  signalling. 


ROBERTS  OF  BURTON  137 

Yesterday  I  was  on  board  the  Victory  and  it  Blew  so  fresli 
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 
Orioji  (a  Dutchman)-  will  be  paid  on  Sunday  I  hope  to 
Touch  £20^0  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'^t/i,  1805. 
Dear  Manfield, 

The  Letter3  Parcel  &c  all  came  safe  to  hand 
for  which  accept  my  best  thanks.  The  Victoty  is  gone  to 
St  Hellens  and  his  Lordship  is  expected  tomorrow  morning 
at  9  o'clock  of  course  we  sail  the  same  Da}'.  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 

'  Alexander  Davison,  clothing  contractor  to  the  Army.  One  of 
Nelson's  closest  friends,  and  a  verj'  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. 

^  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  off  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, 
Octr  13///,  1805. 
Dear  Manfield, 

I  enclose  you  a  Codicil  to  m)-  Will  but  trust 
it  will  not  be  operied  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. 

'  This  certainly  refers  to  Richard  Francis  Roberts,  the  eldest  son 
of  Richard  Roberts  of  Ikirton  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  montlis  later 
(r3ecember  8th,  1806).  :     " 

-  See  Mahan,  vol.  ii.,  p.  340  ct  scq. 


POOR  SIR  RpIUCRT  CALDKR  139 

I  am  liappy  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 )-esterday.  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  )'Oung 
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 
Canopus  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  AmpJiion  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  ma.n- 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  V/c/o/y  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  Defejice  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.     Eresh  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.NAV.  drawing  them  off  from  Cadiz  as  much  as  possible, 
they  continuing  on  the  samie  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  11 
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. —  Victoiy  telegraphed  to  Royal  Sovereign  '  If 


142,  TRAFALGAR 

the  Tonuaiit  cannot  close,  order  other  ships  between,'  when 
the  Maj's  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 
/ogr 

It  is  not  proposed  to  tell  once  again  the  now  familiar 
story  of  the  great  naval  battle  of  the  2ist  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  rfardy  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. 


"ANXHOR,  HARDY,  AXCHOR"  143 

fared,  apd  when  his  flag-captain  game  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  Nelso3i ; 
"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  dut}'."  Then  Hardy,  taking 
one  last  look  at  his  friend,  bent  over  and  kissed  his  fore- 
head. Nelson  asked  who  it  w'as,  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  r€mark-book  is  a  roughly  drawn  ])ut  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  }-ours  most  Affcctionatel}', 

T.    M.    IlARDV. 


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 
•"'ggj^g)  etc.  Cape  Trafalgar  bore  S.E.  2  E.  dist.  11 
leagues. 

"  Wednesday  2yd — 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.  Polyp Jievms 
took  us  in  tow.  The  high  land  of  Rota  bore  E.  b.  S.  5 
or  6  leagues.     Winds  this  day  S.  b.  VV.  and  S. 

"  Thursday  24.1/1.  —  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^tJt. — 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.  PolypJieinus  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  26/'//.— Fresh  breezes  and  hazy.     Employed 

K 


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'jtJi. — 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.  Neptnne  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  28///. — Fresh  breezes  and  cloudy.  Steering 
for  Gibraltar.  At  7,  anchored  in  Rosia  Bay,  Gibraltar. 
Found  lying  here  H.M.  Ships  Prince,  Tonnajit,  TJuinderer^ 
Revenge,  Colossus,  and  several  men  of  war.  Rear-Adml. 
Knight's  flag  flying  on  board  the  Endyniioji.  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  Decnnber  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 

'  Life  of  Admiral  Sir  Williavi  Parker,  by  Rear-Admiral  Augustus 
Phillimore  ;  London,  Harrison,  1876,  vol.  i.,  p.  308. 


RETURxN  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  raelancholly  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.  Thompson.^ 

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\i  be  d d  if  that 

was  not  the  Adj/tiraPs  chair,  and  its  fellow,  in  which  he  himself  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  ovi!' 


CHAPTER  XV 

AFTER   TRAFALGAR  [1806-1816]. 

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 
pljans  of  supply  in  case  of  emergency  had  been  frequently 
distributed  amongst  the  farmers,  and,  as  has  already  been 
mentioned,  a  chain  of  beacons-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  squalling  thing,  I  say  ; 
Hush  your  squalling,  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  Hard}-  (like  the  captain  of  the  Victoiy\  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  Vtctojy,  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  tlje  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  23rc/,  1804. 

Sir, 

I  am  directed  by  Lord  Dorchester  to  desire 
that  yoy  will  without  delay,  send  me  an  account  of  the 
whole  expense  of  erecting,  and  also  watching  the  beacon 

1  The  Dynasts,   a   drama   of  the    Napoleonic   Wars,  by   Thomas 
Hardy,  part  i.     London  :  Macmillan  &  Co.,  1904. 


ISO  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  man. — "  Now  Jems  Purchess  once  more  mark 
my  words.  Black'on  is  the  point  we've  to  watch,  and  not 
Kingsbere ;  and  Pll  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."  The  Story  of  Corfe  Castle.,  by  the  Right  Hon.  George 
Bankes,  M.P.,  p.  278.     London  :  John  Murray,  1853. 


TRAFALGAR  HONOURS  151 

Scco)idold  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  Torts- 
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.  \()fk,  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 

'  Naval  Chronicle,  vol  xiv.  (1805),  p.  ;})2>2). 
^  See  .'\ppendix,  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  wSs  evWently 
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. 


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 

1 0th  March  : — 

16  Buckingham  Street,' 
March  lot/i^  1806. 

Dear  Manfield, 

Thank  you  for  your  letter  and  its  inclosure 
which  I  got  this  morning,  my  trunk  also  was  received  in 
clue  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  \  be  in  a  great  hurry.  I  did  not 
forget    to    speak   to    Miss   Crone   and   I   think  it  all  right. 

1  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, 
iMarch  20 fk,  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 
Lulworth  to  their  proper  owners  in  a  few  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.   IL\RDY. 
The  Money  is  already  for  Jos. 

'  Richard  Travers  of  Loders  (see  ante). 


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  )-ear  he  again 
entered  the  lists,  but  with  no  better  results. 

On  the  27th  March  Hardy  became  Captain  of  the 
Sainpscvi,  and  a  {cv^  weeks  later  of  the  TriuvipJi  (15th  May). 
Meanwhile,  he  wrote  the  following  letter  to  his  brother  : — 

Plymouth  Dock, 

May  12  fh,  1806. 

Dear  Jos, 

I  suppose  before  you  get  this  you  will  see  by 
the  papers  of  my  appointment  to  the  TriinnpJi,  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,  w^  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  Ccesar  being 
dismasted  in  the  gale,  his  flag  was  transferred  to  Hardy's 
ship  the   Triinnph. 

Sometime  in  the  summer  of  the  following  year  (1807), 
Hardy  in  the  Triumph  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,  .•\merica, 
August  ^th^  1807. 
De.vr  MANFIKI.I), 

I  am  really  at  a  loss  to  know  the  reason  that 
I  have  not  heard  from  you  every  Backet.  Letters  reach 
me  from  people  who  I  am  not  anxious  to  hear  from,  but 

^  A  Memoir  of  Sir  IVil/iain  I/argood,  by  Joseph  Allen,  Esq., 
Cireenwicli.  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  ^go.  I  have  written  frequently  to  you  I 
therefore  conclude  they  m.ust  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 
Triianph  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^i'"-  fhe  Lords  Commissioners 
of  the  Admiralty  that  Mr  Francis  Roberts' served  as  midshipman  from 
1806  to  181 1  on  board  his  Majesty's  ships  Triumph  and  Barfteurund&r 
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  1807  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 
ofificer  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  ofificer  and  beg  to  fecommend  him  to 
their  Lordships'  notice. 

Given  under  my  hand  in  London  this   i8th  day  of  September 

•  1830. 

T.  M.  Hardy, 

Rear  Admiral."  . 

2  A  younger  brother  of  Richard  Francis  Roberts  of  the  Victory 
(see  ante). 


158  AFTER  TRAFALGAR 

you  get  this  the  affair  that  happened  between  the  Chcsa- 
Jjeakc  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  P'riends.  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. 

1  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  18 12. 

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  Cranficld  I'.crkeley,  G.C.  15. ,  Admiral  in  the  Royal  Navy, 


LADY   HARDY'S   PRIVATIONS  159 

Lady  Hardy  has  left  behind  her  some  amusing  notes  of 
their  early  married  Hfe.  "  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  Berkele}',  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 1st  June  1808,  and  was  buried  in  he  Hardy  vault, 
beneath  the  chancel  of  Portisham  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  with  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  1753,  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  th^Joiige  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  1S08)  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 
Barjicnr,  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, 
Sepfr  23</,  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 


WAR  WITH  THE  UNITED  STATES         i6i 

irecommend  it  I  shall  most  certainly  advise  his  trying  !his 
mative  air,  and  he  sha'll  have  leave  of  absence  for  that 
purpose  but  we  have  icvery  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  t® 
,give  him  an  account  of  his  nephew's  promotion  which  I 
(hope  is  not  far  distant.  Lady  Hardy  joins  xne  in  .best 
tcompliments  to  Mrs  Roberts  and  yourself 

I  remain,  Dear  Sir, 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

T.  M.  Hardy. 

"Richard  Rop.e-rts,  Esq^ 
Burton,   Bridport. 

Hardy  remained  with  Sir  George  Berkeley  for  about 
three  years,  receiving  in  iSiothe  rank  of  Commodore  in  tHae 
Portuguese  Navy.^  On  the  retirement  of  Sir  G.  C.  Berkeley 
from  active  senvice  in  the  autumn  of  j8iI2,  Hardy  came 
with  him  to  England,  and  on  the  8th  October  received  a 
•commission  as -captain  of  the  Rainiilies  {^Qwenty-mno.  guns), 
•and  proceeded  to  reinfoipce  the  N-orth  America  sq.uadiroia., 
war  having  been  declared  agaiiast  the  United  States,  lOth 
June  1812,  Nearly  a  year  later  he  writes  to  his  brother 
^s  follows.: — 

"".RAMILLIES,"  off  BI.OCK  ISLATSrt^, 
NOT  FAR  FROM  NEW  YORK, 

May  1st,  1 8 13. 

Dear  Jcds, 

We  are  cruising  off  fhis  Island  to  prevent  iif 
possible  the  Sailing  .of  the    United  States  and  Macedoman 

^  Under  date  SeptennTDer  i8iQ,.tbe  Naval  Otromcle,vo\.  xxiv.,p.457., 
imakes  .the  fol'lowing  announcement : — • 

"  Notice  that  the  Pcnrtuguese  Government  had  cenferred  on  the 
Hon.  Admiral  Berkeley  and  Cajptain  Sir  Thomag  Hardy,  the  former 
ithe  rank  of  Commander-in-Chief,  amd  the  latiter  of  a  .Chief  of  Division, 
;in  the  Royal  Armaida  .of  Portugal,  and  had  recently  doubled  the 
ipay  attaching  to  those  ajppointments." 

X 


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  Raniillies  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  1813),  Hardy  in  the 
Raniillies  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  181 3, 
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  his  ship. 
The  thing  immediately  disappeared  ;  so  the  sentinel  fired 
an  alarm  gun  ;  all  hands  were  called  to  quarters  ;  the  cable 
u-as  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 
^vhich  time  a  man  within  her  succeeded  in  drillincr  a  hoJe 


i64  AFTER  TRAFALGAR 

through  the  copper  of  the  Rauiillics,  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  Rainillics  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  iith,  whence  the  following  summons  was  sent  to 
the  officer  commanding  Fort  Sullivan  : — 

On  Board  H.M.S.  "Ramillies," 
OFF  Moose  Island, /z^/y  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  delivered,  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- 


I 


^  GentlemtrHs  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, 
Captain  of  H. M.S.  Rami  I  lies. 

A.   PiLKINGTON, 

Lieut.-Colonel  Covivianding. 

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, 
1 8 14,  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  Raiiiillies,  with  the  Pactohis  (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 


1 66  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 
bemg  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,    1819] 

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  ^),  and 
Mary  Charlotte  (who  became  Lady  MacGregor),and  survived 
both  her  sisters,  dying  on  the  29th  April  1896. 

Ten  days  after  the  Rauiillies  had  been  paid  off,  Hardy 
was  appointed  to  the  captaincy  of  the  Princess  Augustii, 
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  18 17  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 

1  Once  the  home  of  Elizabeth  Montagu,  Queen  of  the  Blue  Stock- 
ings [1720- 1 800].  • 

107 


ii68-    "PRINCESS  AUGUSTA"  AND  "SUPERB" 

enemies,  who  did    not   dare  to  face  a  trial,   but    allowed! 
jiudgment  tO'  go-  by  defaulit     Hardy  writes  : — 

Montague  Square, 
Jni7ie  it^iy  i8i6j  5  o'clock. 

Mr  Dear  Jos^ 

I  am  just  returned  from  Serjent  B'est.^  The 
bmsmess  was  brought  before  the  Sheriff  and  as  the  party 
pleaded  guilty  the  Damages  are  given  at  a  Thousand: 
Pound's  ^  you  will  see  by  the  papers  of  Tomorrow  all  that 
transpired  and  all  who  were  present  seemed  quite  satisfiedi 
Iia  haste  I  remain, 

Youxs  Affectionately, 

T.  M.  Hardy. 
I  was  not  in  Court. 

The  slanders,  though  obviously  ridiculous,  did  not  endl 
Biere,     Hardy's  next  letter  speaks  for  itself :: — 

•  J  MoNTAGu-E  Square, 
June  I J  thy  18 1 6. 

My  dear  Jos, 

I  wrote  you  a  long  letter  yesterday  whichi 
would  have  reached  you  if  I  had  had  the  misfortune  to- 
Biave  fallen  m  an  unpleasant  affair  which  took  place  at  4. 
o'clock  yesterday  afternoon  between  Lord  Buckinghami 
and  myself.^  His  Lordship  is  the  person  whom  I  sus- 
pe€±ed  tO'  have  been  the  author  of  the  Anonymous  letter,. 

^  Afterwards  Lord  Wynford,  and  one  of  Hardy's  contemporaries  at 
Crewkerne  School  (see  ante,  p.  20). 

2'  The  Times  of  Friday  jth  June  r8i&  alludes  to  the  matter  m  the 
following  terms  : — "In  the  Sheriffs  Comrt  on  Wednesday,  Sir  Thomas 
Mard'y  obtained  a  verdict  with  ^{^  1000. damages  against  the  proprietors 
of  the  Mortiing  Herald  ior  a  libel  contained  in  variows  paragraphs  last 
winter,  insinuating  that  Lady  Hardy  had  eloped  with  the  Marquess  of 
Abercorn."  [John.  James,  fiirst  Marquess  of  Abereorn,  born  1756,  died! 
18 1 8'.] 

3  Richard  Temple  Nugent  Brydges  Chan-dos  Grenville,  first  Duke- 
ef  Buckingham,  born  1776,  succeedied  his  fatlier  as  Marquess  iitb 
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 

^  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). 


I/O     "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  22nd,  1 8 16. 


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 

'  William  Philip,  second  Earl  of  Seflon  (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, 
Septrqth^  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 

'  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  -jth,  1817. 

Mv  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.  I  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   1 

'  Sir  William  Oglander,  sixth  Bart,  of  Parnham,  Dorset  (born  1769, 
died  1852).     Sheriff  of  Dorset,  18 18. 

-  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  1818  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  21  th^  18 18. 
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  Oicr  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  (1818)  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,  1818)  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, 
Ju?te  14th,  1818. 
MV   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 

'  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  Edgcuiribe  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  W^ard,  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  will  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.  Hardy. 

'  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.  Edwar-d  Brice,  B.A.,  Wadham  Coll.  Oxford  [1785-1773], 
son  of  the  Rev.  George  Tito  Brice,  Vicar  of  Canford  Magna,  Dorset. 
He  married  the  sister  of  Francis  Roberts  of  the  Tfiuviph. 

^  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  27 ik,  18 19. 

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 

'  W.  Morton  Pitt,  M.P.  for  Dorset.     His  first  wife  was  Margaret, 
daughter  of  John  Gambier. 

^  The  "blue  vinney  "  cheese  of  Dorset,  like  the  Dorchester  ale,  has 
been  famous  from  time  immemorial. 

^  The  marriage  of  Miss  Thresher,  Hardy's  niece,  of  Corfe  Hill  to 
Tom  Nicholls  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  Siiperb.  Next  day  he  writes  to  Nelson's  old  friend, 
Sir  Benjamin  Hallowell,  K.C.B.,  as  follows: — 

Plymouth  Dock, 
August  i2)th,  18 19. 
Mv  Dear  Sir, 

I  will  take  out  your  son  the  moment  the 
Ozven  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 

M 


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. 

^  (Bom  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.  Sir 
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 
'   United  Service  Journal  iox  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  hi^ 
brother  throws  some  light  on  this  portion  of  Hardy's  life. 

"Superb,"  Rio  de  Janeiro, 
Novr  iot/i,  1 8 1 9. 

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  }'ou  will 
enclose  your  letters  to  John  Hay  Elsqr,  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  civiHty  from  them  all.  We  had  a  most 
excellent  passage  here  from  England  &  I  landed  all  my 
passengers  in  high  good  humour.  I  am  very  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  zi^th,  1820. 
Mv  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  ariarined,  I  took  three  ladies  and  seven 
children  under  my  protection,  so  with  my  own  family  which 


182  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  sincerely  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  Avres, 
Jufy  g//i,  1820. 
Mv  Dear  Jos, 

I  was  much  gratified  yesterday  by  the  receipt 
of  your  letter  of  the    i6th    of  Fcbry  S:   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  your 
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.  Skermishes  daily  take 
place,  &  of  course  we  keep  out  of  the  way.  How  it  is  to 
end  we  have  yet  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.     1  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, 
1  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  Emrhy  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  i^ih,  1821. 

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  ray  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  COCHUaNE'S  SUCCESSES  1S5 

and  Mrs  May  are  quite  well ;  one  of  the  children  was  unwell 
but  is  now  quite  recoveried.  I  hope  Mrs  Hardy  and  all 
our  Family  continue  in  good  health.  Young  Ward  still 
continues  with  me;  not  having  had  an  bpportunity  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.  29///,  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 


186  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  W'eymouth  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 "  w^here  his  brother  John  lay  on  his  deathbed. 
He  writes  home  thus  : — 

Lima,  y<:;;/y.  \st,  1822. 

My  Dear  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  ITGS  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  says  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  }'Ou  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. 

1  expect  to  be  at  Rio  de  Janeiro  by  the  1st  of  May. 

His  next  letter  is  one  written  six  months  later  : — 


i88  THE  SOUTH  AMERICA  STATION 

BOTAFOGO,  NEAR  RiO  DE  JANEIRO, 
July  2,rd,  1822. 

My  Dear  Jos, 

A  few  days  ago  I  received  your  letter  of  the 
I  ith  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.     I    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  Mrs  Hardy  and  all 
the  family,  I  remain, 

My  Dear  Jos,  Your  affectio^iate  Brother, 

T.  M.   Hardy. 

Hardy  had  now  shifted  his  broad  pendant  into  the 
Creole,  from  which  ship  he  writes  : — 

"  Creole,-''  Rio  de  Janeiro, 
Sept  7ih,  1822. 

My  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 
]3ahia  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. 


i'90  THE  SOUTH  AMERICA  STATION 

expected  out  again  very  soon  ;  her  Brother  Mr  Dampier  is 

here,  and  is  a  very  fine  }'oung  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  }'et  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  6th,  1822. 

Mv  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  ver\'  kind  to  me,  and  I  shall  be  most 
happy  to  make  my  Sisters  an  annual  allowance  of  £z^O 
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-\var, 
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 
Nicholls,  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  PLmily 
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 
j)artial  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  1819.  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/oj/,  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. 
H.ardy  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,  wheii  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 

'  Pedro  I.  crowned  Emperor  ist  December  1822.  He  abdicated 
7th  April  1831. 

-  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  you  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. 


N 


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  living  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, 
/an.  2^ih,  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  1834  have 
been  known  as  Waterloo  Street. 


ONCE  MORE  IN  DORSET  195 

With  best  love  to  all,  I  remain,  in  haste, 
My  Dear  Jos, 

Yours  affectionately, 

T.  M.  Hardy. 

My  Wife  and  Girls  are  all  well  at  Florence.^ 

His  next  letter  is  written  on  his  way  home  to 
"  Possum  "  :— 

Portsmouth,  Febry  i^th,  1824. 

Mv  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  fronx  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 

'  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. 


ig6  REAR-ADMIRAL 

ever  since  the  19th  July  1821.  In  that  capacity  his  pay 
was  ;i^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 : — 

S. Regent  Street,  August  ii,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.  HAiiDV. 
'  Francis,  seventh  Baron  Napier  [1758-1823]. 


IN  THE  DOCTOR'S  HANDS  197 

A  little  later  he  writes  : — 

8  Regent  Street,  Septr.  zgf/i,  1^26. 
Mv  Dear  Jos, 

I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  my  leg  is 
nearly  well ;  the  little  Doctor  put  on  a  long  face  on  Monday 
morning  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  P'lag  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.^  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. 

1  Sir  T.  M.  Hardy  was  at  this  time  chairman  of  acomm,ittee  deal- 
ing with  the  important  subject  of  changes  in  naval  construction. 

-  Admiral  Sir  Edward  Codrington  [1770-185 1]. 

^  Colonel  Drinkwater  [1762- 1844]  the  historian  6f  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  VVm  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,  Feity.  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 
PortueaL 


,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  go  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  ofthe  summer  the  rear-admiral's  flag  is 
transferred  to  the  Pyramus,  and  he  thus  writes  to  Mr 
Joseph  Hardy  about  Portisham  business  : — 

Portsmouth, //^«^  9///,  1827. 
Mv  Dear  Jos, 

I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  your  letter  this 
morning.     I  shall  not  at  all  object  to  pay  the  odd  ;^5oo  for 

'  Naval  Administratio7is^\rj '^'vc  ].W,V>x\'g<gs.    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  ha Ve  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  Gt)d  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 

^  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  ]5erkeley  of  Strattdn.  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  xhe  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  the  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,  Septjfh,  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  laj-ing  in  Cooke  &  Halford's  hands, 
therefore  the  sooner  it  is  paid  for  the  better.  I  wrote  to 
Mr  Walcott  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  idth,  1827. 

Mv  Dear  Augusta, 

I  was  quite  sorry  to  hear  from  William 
Man  field  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.  Hardv. 


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 

HARPY.  JIESJS  ON  HIS  LAURELS  [1827-183G].  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  Weyjnguth. 

8  RpGENT  Street,  Febrj  /^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  1776,  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 
Riggirig  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  TriumpJi  and  Barfleur  days  : — 


United  Service  Club  House, 
Pall  Mall, 
Attgust  2)^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 

1  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  Flect^  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  Up  way. 

Portsmouth,  October  z^rd,  1829. 
Mv  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  pur  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  : — 

Addisq^t,  Road,  Kensington, 
Nov.  26tk,  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. 

'  Sir  Jalileel  Brenton,  Vice-Admiral  (born   1770,  died    1844).     He 
commanded  La  Mlncrvc  when  lost  off  Cherbourg  in  1803  (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  2<ith,  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. 

-  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. 

^  Sir  Edward  Owen,  Admiral  (born  1771,  died  1849).  He  did  not 
return  from  the  East  India  Station  until  1832. 

O 


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  Adiiiinistt'ations  (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  wa§  frequently  heard  to 
say  '  that  he  could  not  argue  against  Cockburn,  Croker,  and 
Barrow,^  for  they  carried  far  too  heavy  a  broad  side  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 

'  Sir  George  Cockburn  was  First  Sea  Lord  of  the  Admiralty  before 
Hardy's  appointment.  Sir  John  Barrow  het^  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  2111 

T^ord  of  the  Admiralty  have  never  receiveci  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  tlie 

•  naval  service.  He  was  strongly  impressed  with  the^con- 
-viction  that  our. navaJ-  superiority  could  only  be  maintained 

■  by  large  and  powerful  line-of-battle  ships  carrying  heavy 
armament,  as  in  action  nothing  could  resist  their  con- 
kcentrated  fire.  He  was  no  less  an  advocate  for  numerous 
and  powerfully-armed  frigates,. as  indispensable  append^es 
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  o\-Qr  his 
new  duties.  His  predecessor  (who  had  always  been  hie 
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  Minei've,\.o\.2ik&\m, 
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  Adminish-atiotis^  p.  1 9. 

^  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  I\ear-.\dmiral  Sir  Thomas  M.  Hardy, 


HARDY  AS  GODFATHER  213 

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. 
Mv  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  : — 

Admiralty,  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, 

"^{^164,  17s.  2d.  Receiver  of  Fees.^ 


2'i4:  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  s€rious  as- 
the  Medical  men  imagine,  but  I  am  sorry  to  say  she  has^ 
nearly  lost  her  voice. 

r  have  just  received  a  fine  turtle  and  I  will  send  Mrs 
Hardy  some  in  a  few  days.  It  will  be  ready  dressed  and' 
ail  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 
cemain, 

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  h  fear  that  we  shall  be  in  a  bad  way  ;  but 
r  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  fatiier  as  third.' 
baronet.; — 


APPLICATIONS  FOR  PROMOTION  215 

Admiralty,  A'is'T/r  9//^,  1833. 
Mv  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.  Hardv. 

Sir  T.  M.  Hardy  next  writes  :— 

Admiralty,  Deer  ^th,  1833. 
Mv  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  jto  Town  in  a  day  or  two.  I  have 
heard  from  William  Manfield  &  I  will  let  him  know  wheii 
the  boy  is  to  be  sent.     I  remain. 

My  Dear  Jos,  Yours  affy., 

T.  M.  Hardv. 

'  John  Russell,  K.G.,  sixtji  Duke  of  Bedford  (born  1766,  died  1839). 
In  view  of  Hardy's  birth  at  Kingston  Russell  (see  afite)  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. 
Mv  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  23?-^,  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  12th,  1834. 
Mv  Dear  Lethbridge,^ 

I  sent  you  last  Eveng  a  lanthorn  which  was 
taken  in  the  Ville  de  P^r/j^  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 
f>ench  74-,  and  the  Superb  and  her  captain  equal  to  two  74-  gun  ships." 

^  John  Arscott  Lethbridge,  afterward  one  of  Hardy's  executors. 

^  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,  dowhright,  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  Adviinistrations,  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  }'oung  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, 

4///  June  1834.. 

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,  \ 
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.  Grah.-ul. 


CHAPTER  XX 

SIR  THOMAS  HARDY,  BART.,  G.C.B.,  GOVERNOR  OF  GREEN- 
WICH HOSPITAL  (1834-I839).  HIS  DEATH  THERE 
20TH    SEPTEMBER    1839 

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    ()f    discipline,  Sir    Thomas 


HARDY  AMONGST  THE  VETERANS         23i 

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  J oicrnal}  writes 
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  af  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  in  the  South  American 
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 
ithey  happened  to  fall  on  Sundays.  The  "  Sailor  King " 
■'  See  a/ifc,  Y>.  191. 


THE  SAILOR  KING  AT  GREENWICH         223 

made  these  "  progresses "  one  of  his  rules  of  Hfe.  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  : — 

GreIenwich  Hospital, 
Octr.  2,rd,  1835. 

Mv  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  iith 
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,  M)-  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  iith  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  giiard  of  honour,  selected  'ffom  the  same 
Corps,  was  formed  in  a  line,  extending  f"rom  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  h9.d 
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. 
Mv  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.U.,  Bishop  pf  Hereford  [1832- 1837]. 
'  "  Ij  therefore,  the  prisoner  of  the  Lord,  beseech  you  that  ye  walk 
worthy  of  the  vocation  wherewith  yc  are  called." 


"L.  E.  L.'S"  rOEM  ON  HARDY  22^ 

'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  conresipondence  in  possession  of  Mr  H.  A. 
Huxlable  : — 

'"  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  bowefl 

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  cro&s  will  face  the  world 

While  she  hath  men  like  these. 

And  gathered  there  beneath  the  sun. 

Were  loitering  veterans  old  ; 
As  if  of  foirmer  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  Tliomas  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  Tory's  being  then  in  favour."  "  It  was  a  lovely  day," 
writes  Lady  Hardw  "  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, 
Lad)'  Denbigh,  Miss  Mitchell,  Miss  Bagot,  Lord  Howe 
(chamberlain  to  the  Queen),  Lord  and  Lady  Jersey,  Lord 

1  Sunday  June  ist,  1834,  the  fortieth  anni\ersary  of  Lord  Howe's 
"Glorious  first  of  June." 


A  ROYAL  PICNIC  AT  GRKEXWTCH 


■zi-j 


and  Lady  Mansfield  and  their  daughters."  Sir  George 
and  Lady  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  pla\'ed  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- 

1  The  sixth  Duke  of  Grafton  (born  1819,  died  1882). 

^  The  seventh  Duke  of  Grafton  (born  1821,  and  alive  at  the 
centenary  of  Tmfalgar). 

^  Born  1823,  and  still  living. 

''  This  fete  is  evidently  the  one  illustrated  in  the  rare  colour-print, 
dated  ist  .\ugust  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  ships  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." 

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 
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  year.  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  Bedingficld. 

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  IClder  Brother  of  the  IVinity  House. 
He  attended   the   Special   Court    held    on    that    day,    and 


HARDY'S  LAST  VISIT  TO  DORSET  229 

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  intimatel}'  during  the 
later  portion  of  his  career,  and  who  was  but  three  years 
his  senior.  During  Hard)-'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  Hard\'  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. 

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. 

Mv  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  \ou  and  Mrs  Hardy. 

I  remain,  My  Dear  Jos, 

Your  affectionate  Brother, 

T.  M.  Hardy. 

I  have  written  to  William  ]\Ianfield. 


250     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  been  for  long  a 
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  Tom 
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,  1864,  3-"^  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. 

GREENwacH  Hospital, 
ijtk  Jafiry,  1839. 

Mv  Dear  Jos, 

I   send  you   an  extract   from   a  letter  I  have 
this  day  received  from  Captain  Napier-  of  the  Potvcrful. 

'  See  Nelsonian  Reiiiiniscences,  by  G.  S.  Parsons,  R.N.,  edited  by 
W.  H.  Long.     London  :  Gibbings  &  Co.,  1905. 

■■^  Afterwards  Admiral  Sir  Charles  Napier,  G.C.H.  [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." 

\'ou  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.  Haruv. 

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  : — 

Mv  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. 


ZJ2     GOVERNOK  OF  GREENWICH  HOSPITAL. 

Greenwich  Hospital,. 
April  2()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  L  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  1.2  o'clock  at 
No.  LO  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  expectedi 
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  FUXERAL  233 

was  .aid  to  real  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  G.entle- 
vians  ]\Iagazine  (1839,  Part  IL,  p.  65.2): — "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  Se\'mour,. 
Kt.,  to  avoid  any  ostentation  in  the  last  obsequies.  At 
II  A.M.  the  procession  set  out  from  the  Council  Room  in 
the  fo^llowing  order  : — 

Six  boatswainSj  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,  Fikon.  r^^^  g^^^.  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  Victory 

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  Jessep,  the  long. 


234     GOVERNOR  OF  GREENWICH   HOSPITAL 

and  faithful  friend  of  the  deceased  admiral,  and  formerly  his 
purser  on  board  the  Rnmillies,  and  his  secretary  until 
appointment  to  Greenwich  Hospital  in  1834.  Mr  W. 
Manficld  of  Dorchester  and  Mr  Balston  (nephews  to  Sir 
Thomas). 

Two  of  the  Pallbearers,  nameh',  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 
Defejice. 

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  Sennce 

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. 

1  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  Ldrd  Nelson's  hair  ;  which  proves  that  the 
letter  was  highly  prized  by  him  since  it  was  f)laccd  with  such  a  relic." 


"AN  APPRECIATION  OF  HARDY  235 

Hard)',  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;  ahvav's  mindful  of  those  who 
shared  with  him  the  toils  and  iperils  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  securit)-,  its  wealth,  and  its  renown." 

R.  H.  G. 

2  is/  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  2^th^  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  shortl}-  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  ]\Ir  Bruce  have  been  very  prevalent,  but  it  is  not  the  case 
&  you  never  need  believe  anything  that  you  may  hear  till 
you  heaj  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  journe}'.  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 

'  Mr  AthoU  MacGregor  (born  1836,  living  1905). 

-  Emily  Louisa  MacCiregor,  who  married  Viscount  Stormont,  and 
is  the  mother  of  the  fifth  Earl  of  Mansfeld. 

■'  Sir  G.  F.  Seymour,  Admiral,  (i.C.B.  fborn  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  }'ou  &  Mrs  Hardy, 

Yours  affectionately, 

L.  E.  Hardv. 
Pray  remember  me  to  Augusta  when  }'ou  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. 


CHAPTER   XXI 

IIARIJV    MEMORIALS   AT   GREEiNWICH    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  2  ist 
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  b)'  Charles  Turner,  after  a  painting 

'   In  the  collection  of  A,  .^L  Droadlev. 


MEMORIALS  AT  GREENWICH  239 

by  J.  Parry.  Below  it  arc  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  Aduiiiiistratioiis.  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  Ro}'al  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 
^50  ;  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. 

1  William  Behnes,  sculptor  (died  1864).  He  was  much  in  vogue  as 
a  sculptor  of  portrait-busts  between  1820  and  1845.  ^^  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   COiMPANION-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    1839,    AGED    JO   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  "  Portlandcrs  "  offered  to  provide  the  whole  of  the 


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 
awa\'  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 
Bo}'t,  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 
affected  a  landing  on  the  Dorset  littoral.  Blagdon  Hill, 
having  been  chosen  as  the  site,  the  design  (a  massive 
column  with  no  sort  of  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  Flo}'er, 
wife  of  Mr  John  Plover,  one  of  Dorset's  representatives 
in  Parliament,  and  High  Sheriff  of  the  County,  on  the 
2 1  St  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  )-ears  later  (after  the 
satisfactory    carr\'ing    out    of    the    scheme),    the     Hardy 

Q 


242  HARDY  MEMORIALS 

Memorial  Committee  issued,  on  the  I2th  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  i^igueur.  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,  whilst  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  insti'umentality 
of  Colonel  Robert  Williams,  M.P.  of  Bridehead,  in  whose 


THE  KARDY  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    ]\IEMORY   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    I90O 

AND    PL.^CED    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 

'  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  Endyinion 
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 
tliere  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  theJNothe,  or  down  we  go,'  one  says,  says  he. 
We  pulled  ;  and  bedtime  brought  the  storm  ;  but  snug  at  home 

slept  we. 
Yet  all  the  while  our  gallants,  after  fightmg  through  the  day. 
Were  beating  up  and  down  the  dark  sou'  west  of  Cadiz  Bay, 
The  dark 
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 

CHARLES   BULLEN,   CAPTAIN    OF   THE   "BRITANNIA," 
AT   TRAFALGAR    [ 1 768- 1 85 3] 

OIDE  by  side  with  the  Hardys  and  the  Weares, 
>--^  beneath  the  quaint  and  historic  Church  of  St  Peter  at 
Portisham,  rest  the  bones  of  one  of  Dorset's  soldier  sea- 
men— Bullen  Reymes  by  name.  Migrating  to  Dorset  in 
the  early  days  of  Charles  I.'s  reign,  he  acquired  Gerard's 
Waddon  in  that  parish  by  marrying  the  co-heiress  of 
Thomas  Gerard ;  fought  as  colonel  in  the  royalist  army 
during  the  Civil  War ;  suffered  sequestration  of  his  estates 
in  consequence  ;  and,  when  the  Dutch  fleets  threatened  the 
coasts  of  England  after  the  Restoration,  became  a  seaman, 
and  Vice- Admiral  of  Dorset  (1674). 

Bullen  Reymes  was  ancestral  kinsman  to  Charles 
Bullen  of  the  Britannia,  the  eldest  of  Dorset's  three 
captains  at  Trafalgar.  The  Bullens  of  Dorset  trace  their 
ancestry  from  Simon  Bullen  of  Salle,  in  Norfolk,  who,  in 
the  thirteenth  century,  married  the  heiress  of  Robert  Malet 
From  him  descended  Jeffrey  Bullen,  Lord  Mayor  of 
London  (1456),  the  father  of  Thomas,  Earl  of  Wiltshire, 
and  grandfather  of  Lord  Rochford  and  Queen  Ann  Boleyn. 
From  William,  a  brother  of  the  Lord  Mayor,  branches  of 
the  family  spread  to  Lincoln  and  to  Ireland  ;  of  the  latter 
family,  Jeffrey  Bullen,  Governor  of  Kinsale,  under  the  Earl 
of  Essex,  claimed  kinship  with  Queen  Elizabeth.  In 
the  seventeenth    century    a    member  of  the  family  came 

245 


246  CHARLES  BULLEN 

into  Somerset  and  held  an  estate  at  Cathanger,  in  Fife- 
head,  under  the  Wyndham  family.  It  has  always  been 
handed  down  that  this  migration  took  place  under  the 
influence  of  Bullen  Reymes,  whose  brother-in-law,  Francis 
Wyndham,  was  like  the  BuUens,  a  scion  of  an  ancient 
Norfolk  stock.i 

Charles  Bullen  was  born  at  Newcastle-on-Tyne  on 
the  loth  September  1768.  His  father,  John  Bullen  of 
Weymouth,  was  son  of  Richard  Bullen  of  Seavington  St 
Mary,  and  grandson  of  William  Bullen  of  Cathanger, 
Somerset.  His  mother  was  a  native  of  Newcastle-on-Tyne, 
being  the  daughter  of  Charles  Liddell  and  a  cousin  of  the 
great  Lord  Chancellor  Eldon,  who  by  his  acquisition,  on 
the  25th  April  1807,  of  Encombe,  in  Purbeck  (the  ancient 
seat  of  the  Cullifords  and  the  Pitts),  also  became  a  Dorset 
worthy.  One  other  son,  the  issue  of  this  marriage,  Richard 
Bullen,  born  at  Newcastle  in  1779,  and  educated  at  Wadham 
College,  Oxford,  served  as  captain  in  the  2nd  Royal  North 
British  Regiment  of  Dragoons — the  Scots  Greys — and  his 
descendants  received  special  permission  to  use  the  Arms 
under  the  Heralds  College  grant  of  the  year  18 17. 

The  greater  part  of  Charles  Bullen's  early  youth  was 
spent  in  Dorset  where  his  father  resided.  Weymouth  was 
an  ideal  home  for  the  future  admiral.  Ships  of  all  sizes 
visited  that  port ;  officers  of  the  Royal  Navy  were  well 
known  to  his  father,  who  himself  was  a  naval  surgeon,  so 
that  young  Charles  must  early  have  been  imbued  with  a 
love  of  the  sea.  Occasionally,  no  doubt,  he  enjoyed  a  little 
sailing  excursion  down  the  coast  to  Charmouth  where 
lived  his  uncle,  Simeon  Bullen,  and  a  family  of  young 
cousins.  On  other  occasions  the  more  lengthy  voyage  in 
a  coasting  vessel  to  Newcastle  took  him  to  his  maternal 
grandparents  and  his  Northumbrian  cousins,  whilst  an 
overland  journey  into  Somerset  to  visit  his  paternal 
grandfather  brought  him  through  tlie  typical  Wessex 
scenery  of  the  road  from  Dorchester,  Maiden  Newton, 
•  See  Bullen  pedigree,  Appendi.\  I. 


A  TEN-YEAR-OLD  SAILOR  247 

and  Crewkerne  to  the  little  village  of  Seavington  St  Mary, 
the  hume  of  RicharcJ  Bullen  and  Elizabeth  his  wife. 

An  event  of  momentous  importance  for  the  future  career 
of  the  youthful  Charles  Bullen  took  place  in  the  autumn  of 
1778.  He  had  just  celebrated  his  tenth  birthday,  when 
home  to  Weymouth,  with  the  honours  of  promotion  to 
flag  rank  fresh  upon  him,  came  Rear-Admiral  Marript 
Arbuthnot'  As  he  was  a  relation  of  the  Bullen  family 
and  a  native  of  Dorset,  one  can  well  imagine  the  delight  of 
the  embryo  Trafalgar  hero  in  listening  to  his  kinsman's 
talcs  of  gallant  exploits  of  seamanship,  to  say  nothing 
of  the  attraction  of  the  cocked  hat  and  naval  uniform. 
War  was  declared  with  France  on  the  6th  February  1779, 
and  the  Admiral  was  sent  out  in  command  of  the  North 
America  Station,  where  a  French  fleet  was  expected  to 
arrive,  and  through  the  Admiral's  influence,  John  Bullen 
received  an  appointment  as  Surgeon-General,  whilst  his 
youthful  son,  Charles,  was  entered  in  the  Navy,  i6th 
February  .1779,  as  first-class  volunteer  on  board  the 
Europe,  a  64-gun  ship,  under  Captain  William  Swiney. 
The  Europe  served  as  the  admiral's  flagship,  in  which 
Arbuthnot  and  his  Dorset  kinsmen  sailed  for  American 
waters  the  May  Day  following.  They  reached  New  York 
on  the  25th  August,  six  weeks  after  the  French  Fleet, 
under  D'Estaing,  had  unsuccessfully  attempted  to  get 
their  ships  close  enough  in  to  attack  that  place.  Here  they 
awaited,  during  the  autumn,  the  return  of  the  same  enemy, 
who,  however,  were  expending  their  strength  in  a  futile 
attack  on  Savannah. 

Two  days  before  Christmas,  Charles  Bullen  was  trans- 
ferred into  the  Loyalist  sloop,  Captain  J.  P.  Ardesoif,  in 
which  he  sailed  three  days  later,  under  Arbuthnot  himself, 
from  Rhode  Island,  to  assist  in  the  only  real  success  which 
befel  the  English  arms  during  the  war  of  American  Inde? 

1  A  portrait  of  Admiral  Arbuthnot  is  in  fhe  possession  of  Colonel 
Bullen  of  Catherston.  Another,  by  Thomas  Beach,  is  owned  by  the 
Rev.  W.  H.  Beach  of  the  Mythe,  Stoke  Bishop,  Bristol. 


248  CHARLES  BULLEN 

pendence.  It  must  have  been  a  bitter  training  school 
for  the  youthful  volunteer ;  the  voyage  proved  very 
stormy,  the  weather  being  so  severe  that  Americans 
looked  back  upon  the  winter  of  1779-80  as  the  coldest 
season  of  the  decade.  The  key  to  the  enemy's  position 
was  turned  by  Arbuthnot's  fleet ;  when  crossing  the  bar 
his  ships  captured  Mount  Pleasant,  Fort  Moultrie,  and 
the  harbour  (9th  April),  after  which  the  fall  of  Charleston 
was  only  a  matter  of  days  (12th  May  1780). 

Serving  shortly  afterwards  in  the  Rowivn,  a  50 -gun 
ship  (Captain  George  Dawson),  Bullen  was  at  sea  in  the 
heavy  gale  which  totally  dismasted  her  while  escorting  a 
large  convoy  from  New  York  to  Quebec.  After  this  he 
returned  to  the  Loyalist^  serving  in  her  as  A.B.  and  mid- 
shipman, thus  showing  that  he  had  thoroughly  taken  to  his 
naval  life.  For  two  months  he  was  rated  in  the  Halifax, 
lOth  June  to  nth  August  1781.  Arbuthnot,  however, 
after  sundry  differences  of  opinion  with  Admiral  Rodne}-, 
asked  to  be  recalled  on  the  plea  of  health,  and  in  the 
summer  of  1781  went  home.  The  Bullens,  father  and  son, 
returned  to  England  with  him. 

Young  Bullen  now  spent  several  years  in  completing 
his  education,  until  at  the  age  of  seventeen  he  joined  the 
Culloden,  74,  as  midshipman,  under  Captain  Sir  Thomas 
Rich,  serving  in  the  Channel  for  two  years.  On  26th 
September  1788  he  moved  into  the  Leandcr,  50  guns, 
the  flagship  of  Rear-Admiral  Joseph  Peyton,  in  which 
he  spent  two  years  and  a  half  in  the  Mediterranean. 
During  this  service  he  was  promoted  to  be  second  lieu- 
tenant, 9th  January  1791,  quitting  that  ship  two  months 
later  for  the  Merairy,  28  (19th  March),  in  which  he  acted 
for  six  weeks  under  Captain  Augustus  Montgomery.  From 
her  he  was  confirmed,  9th  August  1791,  into  the  Eiaydice, 
24,  Captain  George  Lumsdaine.  He  returned  to  England 
at  the  end  of  the  year,  and  went  on  half  pay  for  twelve 
months.  It  was  during  this  interval  of  release  from  active 
service  that  one  of  his  cherished  dreams  was  accomplished 


BULLEN'S  COURAGE  249 

At  the  age  of  t\vent)--three  he  married  Miss  Wood  of 
Martock,  one  of  his  distant  Somerset  cousins,  and  spent 
many  happy  months  on  shore. 

On  the  eve  of  the  war  of  the  French  Revolution  he 
once  more  took  service  under  Captain  Sir  Thomas  Rich 
on  board  the  Culloden,  22nd  December  1792,  in  which  he 
sailed  for  the  West  Indies,  and  took  part  in  the  unsuccessful 
attack  on  Martinique  in  the  April  of  the  next  year. 
Returning  to  England  early  in  1794,  BuUen  continued 
exactly  one  year  on  half  pay  (12th  January  1794  to  13th 
January  1795).  He  then  became  first  lieutenant  of  the 
Rainillies,  74,  Captain  (afterwards  Sir)  Henry  Harvey, 
and  joining  the  Channel  Fleet,  under  Lord  Howe,  took 
part  in  the  actions  of  28th  and  29th  May  as  well  as  the 
"Glorious  First  of  June."  Harvey  having  been  for  his 
services  promoted  to  flag  rank,  Sir  Richard  Hussey 
Bickerton  became  captain  of  the  Rainillies,  with  whom 
Bullen  then  sailed  to  the  West  Indies,  and  served  there 
and  in  Newfoundland  waters  until  the  end  of  1795.  He 
then  returned  home  and  joined  in  the  same  ship,  Admiral 
Duncan  and  the  North  Sea  Fleet.  A  short  period  of  service 
once  more  in  the  flagship  of  Admiral  re}'ton,  the  Ovcryssel, 
64,  lasted  from  19th  September  to  23rd  December  1796, 
when  he  spent  the  Christmas  holidays  on  half  pay. 

Bullen's  next  appointment  was  on  board  the  Monvwiitli, 
a  64-  gun  ship  of  the  North  Sea  Fleet,  which  he  joined,  2nd 
February  1797.  It  was  here  that  he  first  served  under  the 
Earl  of  Northesk  whose  flag-captain  he  was  destined  to  be 
six  years  later  at  Trafalgar.  On  this  ship  one  of  the  most 
tragic  scenes  of  Bullen's  life  took  place.  The  Mutiny  of 
the  Nore  broke  out  on  27th  May  following.  Captain,  the 
Earl  of  Northesk,  was  detained  a  prisoner  on  board  his  own 
ship,  and  further  excesses  would  have  occurred  had  not 
Bullen,  with  admirable  promptitude,  pistol  in  hand,  drawn 
a  line  on  the  deck,  saying,  "  the  first  man  who  steps  beyond 
this  line  I'll  shoot  him  dead."  The  mutineers  released 
Northesk,  and  sent  him  to  lay  their  grievances  before  the 


250  CHAR1.es  BULLEN 

king,  and  to  return  with  the  royal  answer  within  fifty-four 
hours  (6th  June).  The  captain,  however,  never  came 
back,  and  after  the  suppression  of  the  mutiny  resigned  his 
post,  being  succeeded  by  Commander,  afterwards  Rear- 
Admiral,  James  Walker,  under  whom  Bullen  distinguished 
himself  in  Duncan's  great  victory  of  Camperdown  (nth 
October).  As  the  Monvio)itk  was  bearing  down  on  the 
enemy  before  the  battle,  Walker  thus  addressed  his  crew  : 
"  My  lads,  you  see  your  enemy  ;  I'll  laj^  you  close  aboard, 
and  give  you  an  opportunity  of  washing  the  stain  off  your 
characters  in  the  blood  of  your  foes.  Now  go  to  your 
quarters  and  do  your  duty." 

They  so  far  acted  up  to  his  words,  that  two  prizes 
fell  to  their  share  in  the  fight,  each  being  a  50-gun  ship 
One  of  these  was  the  Alkmaar ;  Bullen  was  sent  to  take 
possession  of  the  other,  the  Delft.  He  found  her  in  a 
pitiable  condition,  full  of  wounded,  and  leaking  badly. 
The  guns  of  the  MonnwutJi  had  done  great  execution, 
killing  two  officers  and  41  men,  and  wounding  one  officer 
and  75  of  the  crew.  Her  mainmast  yard  had  been 
shot  away,  and  the  sails  and  rigging  cut  to  pieces. 
Sending  the  captain  of  the  prize  with  two  officers  and 
90  men  on  board  the  Monniouth^  Bullen  set  Heilberg, 
the  late  first  lieutenant,  who  happily  had  escaped  being 
wounded,  to  assist  him  with  the  men  under  his  com- 
mand to  prevent  the  ship  from  sinking.  For  three  days 
they  successfully  accomplished  their  purpose,  until  the 
14th  October,  when  a  storm  arose  which  placed  the  vessel 
in  imminent  risk  of  foundering.  With  10  feet  of  water 
in  the  hold,  and  no  chance  of  stopping  the  leaks  or  of 
j)umping  her  out,  all  hope  of  saving  the  prize  was  at  length 
abandoned.  Lieutenant  Bullen  explained  this  to  Heilberg, 
tcllincr  him  that  at  a  certain  signal  he  should  embark  him- 
self  and  his  men  into  the  long  boat,  and  inviting  him  to 
avail  himself  of  this  op|)()rtunit}'  of  saving  his  life.  "  But 
how  can  I  leave  these  unfortunate  men,"  replied  the  latter, 
pointing  to  the  wounded  sailors,  wiicwn  it  had  been  found 


BULLEN.  AND.HEILBERG  251 

necessary  to  bring  on  deck,  since  the  hold  was  full  of  water. 
Lieutenant  Bullen  was  much  struck  with  this  answer,  and 
exclaimed,  "  God  bless  )'Ou,  my  brave  fellow !  here's  my 
hand  !  I  give  you  my  word,  I  will  stay  with  you."  He 
then  ordered  his  own  men  to  save  their  lives  by  leaving  the 
ship  in  the  long  boat,  whilst  he  himself  remained  to  assist 
the  Dutch.  The  Riisseil  soon  sent  her  boats  to  the  assist- 
ance of  the  Dutch  ship,  and  brought  off  as  many  of  her  crew 
as  could  be  put  on  board,  after  which  they  lost  no  time 
in  making  a  second  vo}'age  to  the  Delft  with  equal  success. 
But  few  of  the  wounded  could  be  got  off,  although  the 
two  officers  had  united  their  efforts  to  accomplish  that 
purpose,  and  still  remained  with  them  in  the  vessel,  together 
with  three  subalterns  and  about  30  seamen.  They  were 
still  cherishing  the  hope  that  the  Russell's  boats  would  a 
third  time  come  to  their  rescue,  when  the  fatal  moment 
arrived,  and  on  a  sudden  the  Delft  went  to  the  bottom. 
Bullen  sprang  into  the  sea,  and  providentially  reached  his 
own  ship ;  but  the  unfortunate  Heilberg  perished,  the 
victim  of  his  courage  and  humanity.^ 

For  these  services  Bullen  was,  on  2nd  January  1798, 
deservedly  promoted  to  be  commander.  Leaving  the 
j\[o)iinoiith  the  same  day,  he  enjoyed  three  and  a  half 
years  in  England  on  half  pay.  His  home  during  that 
period  was  in  Dorset,  where  he  resided  with  his  wife  and 
family  at  Weymouth,  now  basking  in  the  sunshine  of  royal 
favour  and  patronage.  In  the  summer  of  1801  Charles 
Bullen  once  more  went  to  sea.  As  commander  of  the 
Wasp  frigate  of  18  guns  (23rd  June)  he  sailed  to  the  coast 
of  Guinea,  where  he  again  distinguished  himself  A  powerful 
combination  of  native  chiefs  was  at  that  time  threatening 
the  very  existence  of  Sierra  Leone  as  a  British  Colony.  So 
successful,  however,  was  he  in  protecting  the  interests  of 
his  country  that  he  was  promoted  to  be  post-captain,  29th 
April  1802,  after  which,  in  the  following  August,  he  returned 
home  to  spend  nine  months  ashore  once  more  on  half  pay. 
'  Steele's  List,  March  1803. 


252  CHARLES  BULLEN 

When  next  he  entered  active  service  good  fortune 
awaited  him  in  the  shape  of  prize  money.  In  the  summer 
of  1803  Captain  Jahleel  Brenton  of  the  Minej've'^  frigate 
of  38  guns,  serving  in  the  blockade  off  Cherbourg,  was 
wounded  by  a  block  falling  on  his  head.  Bullen  at 
Weymouth  was  easily  accessible,  and  so  took  his  place 
on  9th  May,  serving  under  Sir  James  Saumarez  off 
Guernsey.  He  had  the  good  fortune  to  fall  in  with  a 
valuable  convoy  of  vessels  loaded  with  naval  stores,  which 
he  brought  safely  into  Spithead.  His  total  of  captures 
in  less  than  a  month  amounted  to  twenty-three  French 
merchantmen,  and  a  frigate  of  the  largest  class.  Napoleon's 
threatened  invasion  was  now  occupying  the  attention  of 
the  naval  authorities  as  well  as  the  minds  of  all  dwellers 
on  the  southern  littoral.  Organisations  for  coast  defence 
put  Dorset  and  Devon  in  readiness  for  any  emergency  in 
the  case  of  attack  from  seaward.  Bullen  was,  therefore, 
chosen,  being  still  post-captain,  to  command  the  Plymouth 
district  of  Sea  Fencibles,  14th  July  1803,  an  appointment 
which  he  held  until  i  5th  May  of  the  following  year,  when 
the  immediate  prospect  of  invasion  had  been  for  the 
moment  dispelled.  Meanwhile,  in  November  1803,  he  took 
command  also  of  the  flotilla  which  was  fitting  out  in  the 
Thames. 

Northesk,  who  had  just  been  promoted  rear-admiral, 
23rd  April  1804,  calling  to  mind  Bullen's  good  service  on 
board  the  JMonmoutii,  appointed  him  his  flag-captain  in 
the  Britminia,  100  guns,  3rd  June  1804.  In  her  he 
served  with  the  fleet  off  Brest,  under  Cornwallis,  until 
August  in  the  following  year,  when  he  was  detached 
under  Sir  Robert  Calder  to  reinforce  the  fleet  ofl" 
Cadiz.  It  is  in  this  capacity  that  Bullen  ranks  as  one 
of  Dorset's    three    captains  at  Trafalgar.       As  the  fourth 

'  lUillcn  left  the  Mincrvc  3rd  June.  On  the  2nd  July  following, 
this  ship  ran  ashore  on  a  cone  of  the  Cherbourg  breakwater  during  a 
fog.  Brenton  and  his  crew  became  prisoners  of  war  (see  note,  p.  27, 
anti:).    He  was  exchanged  in  1806;  the  rest  remained  prisoners  until  i8i^. 


THE  "BRITANNIA"  AT  TRAFALGAR        253 

ship^  in  the  weather  Hne,  led  by  Nelson  himself,  the 
Britannia  came  into  action  only  ten  minutes  later  than 
the  Victory ;  engaged  three  of  the  enemy's  ships,  and 
after  passing  through  the  line,  firing  broadsides  right  and 
left,  pursued  the  flying  van,  with  the  loss  of  10  killed  and 
42  wounded.  Bullen  brought  home  three  prizes,  received 
the  King's  gold  medal,  and  after  his  ship  was  paid  off 
(20th  June  1806),  spent  fifteen  months  on  half  pay,  his 
Trafalgar  prize  money,  amounting  to  over  ^,"3000, 
proving  a  most  welcome  addition  to  his  finances.  It 
is  unfortunate  that  Bullen's  "  Trafalgar  letter "  -  to 
his  friends  at  home  should  not  be  extant,  otherwise  it 
would  be  here  recorded,  as  the  letters  of  other  Dorset 
captains  on  that  memorable  occasion  have  been.  It  is 
not  generally  known  that  Bullen  was  a  skilled  draftsman, 
and  used  to  send  to  his  wife  sketches  of  most  of  the 
places  which  he  visited.  Some  of  his  drawings  are  still 
preserved  in  the  possession  of  Lady  Mitchell,  the  widow 
of  Admiral  Bullen's  great-nephew,  Colonel  Sir  Charles 
Bullen  Mitchell,  G.C.M.G.,  formerly  governor  of  the 
Leeward  Isles,  who  died  during  the  Boer  War,  holding 
the  same  position  in  Natal. 

Bullen's  next  command  was  the  Volontaire  frigate  of 
38  guns,  to  which  he  was  appointed,  7th  September  1807. 
In  this  ship,  for  more  than  three  years,  he  did  excellent 
service  off  the  French  and  Spanish  coasts.  He  had  the 
honour  of  conveying  the  Due  d'Orleans  and  his  brother,  the 
Comte  Beaujolais,  to  the  Island  of  Malta,  and  commanded 
occasionally  the  inshore  squadron  off  Toulon.  On  the 
declaration  of  war  between  France  and  Spain  he  did  useful 
work  on  land  by  undertaking  an  expedition  from  Fez  to 
Tangiers,  as  the  result  of  which  he  induced  the  Court  of 

Mt  is  a  matter  of  family  tradition  that  as  the  Britannia  was 
sailing  up  to  meet  the  enemy,  Bullen  had  a  serious  difference  with 
Admiral  Lord  Northesk,  refusing,innomeasured  terms,  to  obey  his  order 
to  shorten  sail. 

2  John  Wells,  senior  midshipman  on  board  the  Britannia^  wrote 
an  account  of  the  battle,  which  he  sent  home  to  his  parents. 


254  CHARLES  BULLEN 

Morocco  to  furnish  the  Spanish  patriots  with  supplies 
during  the  hostilities. 

Several  dashing  exploits  raised  his  reputation  during 
the  year  1809.  He  captured  the  Island  of  Pomegue  near 
Marseilles,  and  destroyed  Fort  Rioux  near  Cape  Crois- 
sette.  The  latter  success  was  effected  by  the  boats  of  the 
Volontaire,  which  he  sent  in  under  Lieutenant  Isaac 
Shaw,  who  destroyed  the  battery  of  14  guns,  bringing 
away  five  vessels  which  had  taken  refuge  under  its  shelter. 
Again  on  the  23rd  October  of  the  same  year,  when  off 
Cape  Saint  Sebastian,  he  signalled  to  Lord  CoUingwood 
the  valuable  information  which  led  to  the  pursuit  and 
destruction,  by  Rear-Admiral  George  Martin,  of  two  French 
line-of-battle  ships,  the  Robiiste  and  the  Lion.  Shortly 
afterwards  he  assisted  the  boats  of  Captain  Benjamin 
Hallowell's  squadron  in  the  capture  of  a  valuable  convoy 
of  three  men-of-war  and  seven  merchant  ships  in  the  Bay 
of  Rosas. 

His  good  services  caused  him  to  be  appointed  the 
next  year  to  command  a  small  squadron  on  the  coast  of 
Catalonia,  with  orders  to  co-operate  with  the  Spaniards 
against  the  French.  In  this  work  he  was  eminently 
successful,  and  his  letter  dated,  "  Off  St  Sebastian,  the 
28th  September  18 10,"  displays  his  modesty  in  alluding 
to  those  actions  in  which  he  took  so  great  a  part.  "  I 
beg  to  report  that  on  the  5th  inst.  the  Spanish  army 
under  Gen.  O'Donnell  left  Tarragona,  and  on  the  13th 
got  to  Arrans  de  Mar,  at  which  place  he  divided  his 
forces,  himself  taking  the  road  ta  Besbal ;  and  so  rapid 
were  his  movements  the  enemy  was  not  apprised  of  his 
arrival  till  within  a  quarter  of  an  hour  of  entering  the 
town.  This  happened  on  the  14th,  when  a  smart  action 
took  place,  but  of  very  short  duration,  when  the  French 
General  Swartz  with  500  men  were  taken  prisoners. 
On  the  same  day  St  Philion,  Palarhos,  and  Beger  were 
severally  attacked  and  all  surrendered,  the  total  of  French 
taken   being  about    1400   men    besides   cannon,  etc.,  etc., 


BULLEN  IN  THE  BAY  OF  ROSAS  "255 

so  that  this  coast  from  Rosas,  with  the  exception  of 
the  Medas  Islands,  is  again  in  the  possession  of  the 
Spaniards.  ...  I  was  yesterday  at  Escala  in  the  Bay  of 
Rosas  where  the  French  had  a  depot  of  corn,  etc.,  all  of 
which  1  have  got  on  board  this  ship." 

BuUen's  service  in  the  Volontaire  frigate  was  now 
drawing  to  a  close.  On  the  13th  December  18 10,  Palamos 
was  again  attacked,  the  magazine  blown  up,  and  all  but 
two  ships  in  the  harbour  taken,  and  those  not  burned  were 
brought  out.  In  retiring,  the  troops  gave  the  enemy  some 
advantage  by  returning  along  the  wrong  road,  with  tlie 
result  that  several  were  killed,  wounded,  or  made  prisoners. 
Amongst  the  latter  was  Captain  F.  W.  Fane  of  the 
Cambrian  frigate,  40  guns,  in  consequence  of  which 
accident  Bullen  was  transferred  to  that  ship  on  New 
Year's  Day  181 1.     He  writes  to   Admiral  Sir  C.  Cotton 

three  months  later  : — 

"Cambrian,"  off  Rosas, 
ibth  April,  181 1. 

Sir, 

1  have  great  pleasure  in  sending  you  by  the 
Blossom  the  important  intelligence  of  the  surrender  of 
Figueras  to  the  Spaniards  on  the  loth  inst.,  and  that 
St  Philion  and  Palamos  were  taken  possession  of  by  the 
Cambrian  and  Volontaire  on  the  12th  and  14th;  the  guns 
all  embarked  and  the  batteries  destroyed.  I  am  now  on 
my  way  to  Rosas  and  Cadaques,  and  I  have  reason  to  hope 
the  latter  place  with  Selva  will  also  shortly  be  ours.  .  .  . 
I  purpose  remaining  off  here  with  the  Volontaire  ready 
for  anything  that  may  offer.  ...  I  also  beg  to  inform  you 
that  a  large  settee  deeply  laden  with  grain  for  Barcelona 
from  Port  Vendee  was  the  night  before  last  most  hand- 
somely cut  out  from  under  the  Medes  Islands,  and  batteries 
by  the  boats  of  this  ship  led  by  Lieut.  Conolly  without  a 
man  being  hurt. 

'      1  have  the  honour  to  be,  etc., 
■  Charles  Bullen.^ 

Ce/iflc7nin's  Magazine,  181 1,  i.,  576. 


'c'7/lJf2's 


256  CHARLES  BULLEN 

His  hopes  were  realised  in  regard  to  Cadaques,  at 
which  place  he  captured  no  less  than  nineteen  merchant 
vessels  ;  but  at  Selva  he  himself  nearly  lost  his  life  whilst 
he  was  serving  in  a  battery  on  shore.  He  was  there 
so  severely  wounded  that  quitting  the  Cambrian,  9th 
December  181 1,  he  returned  home  invalided.  For  the 
three  following  years  Bullen  was  on  half  pay,  until  loth 
November  18 14,  when  he  took  command  of  the  Akbar,  50, 
and  served  under  Admiral  Sir  Thomas  Byam  Martin, 
superintending  the  partition  of  the  fleet  and  naval  stores 
at  Antwerp.  Afterwards  he  proceeded  in  the  same 
ship,  under  Rear-Admiral  Edward  Grififith,  to  North 
American  waters,  serving  on  the  Halifax  station  until 
the  Akbar  was  paid  off,  on  the  ist  January  1817.  Whilst 
serving  on  this  ship  he  was  nominated  Companion  of  the 
Bath  (4th  June  1815),  and  this  probably  led  him,  when  he 
returned  home,  to  spend  some  of  his  prize  money  in 
obtaining  from  the  Heralds  College  a  grant  of  his  coat  of 
arms  with  the  Trafalgar  augmentations,  dated  3rd  November 
1817,  the  preamble  of  which  document  is  interesting  from  its 
reference  to  Bullen's  share  in  the  victory  of  Trafalgar  (see 
Appendix).  After  close  upon  seven  years  at  home  Bullen 
again  entered  active  service  on  the  12th  December  1823, 
being  appointed  Commodore  on  the  west  coast  of  Africa, 
hoisting  his  broad  pendant  on  board  the  JMaidstonc  of 
42  guns.  Here  he  did  excellent  service  for  a  period  of 
three  and  a  half  years  in  a  very  trying  climate,  acting 
in  co-operation  with  Lieut-Col.  Sutherland  in  the 
Ashantee  War  (1824-26),  and  being  the  means  of  restor- 
ing to  the  enjoyment  of  their  liberty  nearly  10,000 
slaves. 

During  the  three  years  following  his  leaving  the 
Maidstone  (15th  September  1827  to  22nd  July  1830), 
the  commodore  and  his  wife  resided  in  Dorset,  making 
l^urton  Bradstock  for  some  time  the  place  of  their 
abode.  In  his  letter  to  Captain  Francis  Roberts  of 
that   place,  dated    3rd   August   1829,  Sir   Thomas  Master- 


A  CROP  OF  HONOURS  257 

-man     Hardy     thus     referred     to     his     fellow     Trafal^r 
•captain  :  ^ — 

"  Should  Commodore  and  Mrs  Bullen  be  at  Burton  will 
you  offer  them  m}'  best  regards." 

Bullen's  foreign  service  being  now  over,  he  was  at  the 
age  of  sixty-two,  appointed  Superifttendent  of  Pembroke 
Dockyard  (22nd  July  1830)  and  captain  of  the  Royal 
Sovereign,  yacht.  It  is  this  period  of  his  career  to  which 
Admiral  the  Hon.  Sir  Henry  Keppel  refers  in  his  diary 
thus  :  "  1847,  July  8,  Visited  Sir  Charles  Bullen,  who  gave 
me  a  model  of  the  Dido.  He  had  been  captain  of  Pembroke 
Dockyard  when  she  was  building." - 

Promotions  now  fell  in  quick  succession  upon  the 
Dorset  captain.  He  became  a  Knight  Commander  df 
the  Hanoverian  Guelphic  Order  (13th  January  1835), 
and  on  the  25th  February  following  was  dubbed 
Knight  Bachelor,  receiving  his  promotion  to  flag  rank 
when  he  was  in  "his  seventieth  year  (loth  January  1837). 
His  work  being  now  done,  he  retired  from  active  service  on 
the  1 2th  March  of  the  same  year,  and  settled  at  Southamp- 
ton with  his  wife  and  family.  His  promotions,  however, 
•contiaued,  for  he  was  advanced  in  the  Order  of  the  Bath 
to  be  a  Knight  Commander,  1 8th  April  1839.  Three  years 
.later  he  was  left  a  widower,  loth  July  1842,  after  fifty 
years  of  married  life,  and  shortly  afterwards  he  settled  at 
Shirley,  Hants.  On  12th  July  1843,  a  good  service  pension 
•of  iJ^300  a  year  was  accorded  him,  and  three  years  Jater 
(9th  November  1846),  he  was  advanced  by  seniority  to  the 
rank  of  Vice-Admiral,  receiving  ast  the  age  of  eighty-fouir 
his  Grand  Cross  of  the  Bath,  and  becoming  Admiral  of  the 
Blue  (30th  July  1852). 

Less  than  a  twelvemonth  later  he  departed  this  Hfe  ful 
of  years  and  honour  (2nd  July  1853),  at  the  age  of  eighty-six, 
and  was  buried  at  .Shirley,  where  a  tablet  .in  the  Church  of 

^  See  a}7te^  p.  207. 

2  Life  of  Admiral  the  Hon.  Sir  Henry  Ke'ppcl.  London':  Macmillan, 
3899,  vol.  ii.,p.  5i- 


258  CHARLES  BULLEN 

St  James  sets  forth  in  a  few  lines  the  story  of  his  long 
and  honourable  career, 

SACRED  TO  THE   MEMORY   OF 

ADMIRAL  SIR  CHARLES   BULLEN,  G.C.B.,  G.C.H. 

WHO  DEPARTED   THIS   LIFE,   JULY   2,    1 853 
AGED   86 

HIS  LIFE  WAS  DEVOTED  TO  THE  SERVICE    OF    HIS  COUNTRY,   AND  HE 

RECEIVED   FROM   HIS   SOVEREIGN  MANY  HONOURS  FOR  THE  ACTIVE 

PART  TAKEN   IN  THE  GLORIOUS  ACTIONS  OF  LORDS  DUNCAN, 

HOWE,  COLLINGWOOD,  AND  NELSON.      THIS   LAST  TRIBUTE 

OF    AFFECTION     IS    PLACED    HERE    BY    HIS    NEPHEW, 

RICHARD   BULLEN 

A  portrait  of  Sir  Charles  Bullen  hangs  in  the  Painted 
Hall  at  Greenwich  Hospital,  of  which  Colonel  J.  B.  S. 
Bullen,  D.L.,  J.P.,  of  Catherston  Manor,  Dorset,  possesses 
a  replica.  The  former  is  now  reproduced  by  permission  of 
the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

HENRY   DIGBY,   CAPTAIN    OF   THE   "AFRICA," 
AT   TRAFALGAR   [177O-1842] 

TWELVE  centuries  ago,  when  Dorset  could  boast  of  an 
Episcopal  See  within  its  territorial  limits,  Sherborne 
held  the  proud  position  of  bishopric  and  ecclesiastical  centre 
of  the  county.  The  bishop  was  lord  of  the  manor  and  castle  ; 
the  town  was  the  capital  of  Wessex  ;  the  abbey  and  school 
flourished  abundantly,  and  royalty  made  its  abode  there  in 
life,  choosing  it  as  its  resting-place  in  death.  When, 
therefore,  nearly  four  centuries  later  (1072)  Sarum  took  the 
place  of  Sherborne  in  church  life,  the  manor  and  castle 
came  into,  and  continued  in,  the  possession  of  the  Bishops 
of  Old  and  New  Sarum  down  to  the  days  of  "  Good  Queen 
Bess."  How  Her  Majesty,  the  last  of  the  Tudors,  acquired 
the  castle  and  manor,  and  bestowed  it  on  Sir  Walter 
Raleigh,  need  not  be  told  here.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  in  the 
year  16 16  the  whole  estate  came  into  the  possession  of  Sir 
John  Digby,  afterwards  Earl  of  Bristol,  the  descendant  of 
an  ancient  family  settled  at  Tilton  in  Leicestershire  in  the 
times  of  the  Norman  kings.  There  have  been  Digbys  at 
Sherborne  Castle  ever  since,  though  the  Earldom  of  Bristol 
became  extinct  on  the  death  of  the  third  earl  in  1698,  for  the 
estates  then  reverted  to  the  fifth  Baron  Digby,  whose  grand 
father,  nephew  to  the  first  Earl  of  Bristol,  had  been  raised 
to  the  peerage  on  the  29th  July  1620.  This  title  is  still  in 
existence,  though  Sherborne  Castle  is  no  longer  the  seat  of 


26o  HENRY  DIGBY 

the  head  of  the  family,  for  Henry,  the  seventh  baron,  who 
was  created  Earl  Digby  in  1765,  left  the  estate  to  his  son 
the  second  earl,  who,  dying  a  bachelor  in  1856,  bequeathed 
Sherborne  Castle  and  manor  to  the  heir  of  his  sister,  Lady 
Charlotte  Maria,  who  had  married  William  Wingfield,  from 
whom  descends  the  present  Mr  Wingfield  Digby  of 
Sherborne.  It  is  of  a  nephew  of  the  first  Earl  Digby 
that  this  chapter  treats — Henry  Digby,  the  captain  of  the 
Africa  at  Trafalgar.'  It  is  significant  to  note  that  of  the 
twelve  ships  of  the  line  forming  the  weather  division  at  that 
famous  battle  three  were  captained  by  Dorset  men,  and 
that  these  three  were  almost  of  the  same  age.  Digby 
was  the  youngest  of  the  three  Dorset  captains,  whilst 
Bullen  was  the  eldest,  though  only  sixteen  months 
separated  them  in  point  of  seniority. 

Henry  Digby  was  the  eldest  of  the  four  sons  of  the 
Very  Reverend  the  Hon.  William  Digby,  D.C.L.,  Vicar 
of  Coleshill,  Canon  of  Christ  Church,  Oxford,  Dean  of 
Worcester  and  afterwards  of  Durham.  His  mother  was 
Charlotte,  daughter  of  Joseph  Cox  and  niece  of  Sir  Charles 
Sheffield,  Bart,  of  Normanby  Park,  Lincoln.  Henry  Digby 
was  born  at  Bath  on  the  20th  January  1770,  and  baptised 
at  St  James'  Church  in  that  city  on  the  i6th  February  fol- 
lowing. Everyone  in  the  west  of  England,  with  any  preten- 
sions to  a  position  in  society,  spent  the  winter  at  Bath  in  those 
days.  Shortly  before  his  birth,  his  father  was  appointed 
Dean  of  Worcester,  and  further  promoted  in  1777  to  the 
same  dignity  at  Durham,  so  that  in  the  shadow  of  two  of 
England's  most  beautiful  cathedrals  the  early  boyhood  of 
the  future  captain  of  the  Africa  was  spent. 

Two  of  his  brothers  were  baptised  at  Worcester 
Cathedral,  viz.,  William  (1774),  who  afterwards  became 
Prebendary   of  Worcester   and    Vicar    of    Coleshill ;   and 

1  A  sketch  pedigree  in  the  Appendix  shows  at  a  glance  the  connec- 
tion of  the  two  branches  of  the  Dorset  Digbys  with  the  parent  stem  at 
Coleshill,  as  well  as  the  descent  from  Admiral  Sir  Henry  Digby  of  the 
present  owner  of  M interne,  the  tenth  Lord  Digby. 


THE  TWO  ADMIRALS  DIGBY  26i 

Sheffield,  baptised  1/76,  who  died  young.  The  other  two 
brothers,  Charles  George  (born  1780),  and  Joseph  (born 
1786),  were  natives  of  Durham,  and  both  did  excellent 
service  in  the  navy,  the  latter  of  them  rising  to  the  rank  of 
Vice-Admiral.  Besides  these  children,  Dean  Digby  had 
six  daughters,  and  of  the  whole  family  of  eleven,  ten  were 
living  at  the  death  of  their  father,  in  September  1788,  as 
well  as  at  the  time  when  their  mother  died  three  years  later 
(27th  June  1 791). 

Henry  Digby  was  early  imbued  with  the  desire  to  go  to 
sea.  His  famous  uncle,  Admiral  Robert  Digby,  the  naval 
governor  and  instructor  of  Prince  William  Henry,  after- 
wards King  William  IV.,  had  invested  his  prize  money  in 
the  purchase  of  the  manor  and  estate  of  Minterne  Magna, 
whither  young  Henry,  whom  he  looked  upon  as  his  heir, 
often  went  to  spend  his  holidays  amidst  the  scenery  of 
the  county  identified  so  closely  with  the  history  of  his 
family.  So  it  came  about  that  as  soon  as  he  was 
thirteen  the  name  of  Henry  Digby  was  entered  on  the 
muster-roll  of  the /rtj-^/^,  2nd  April  1783,  with  the  rank  of 
captain's  servant.^  After  a  month  in  the  Jason,  Digby 
removed  to  the  Vestal,  ist  May  1783,  where  he  con- 
tinued ten  months  under  the  same  rating  until  6th 
March  1784.  After  six  weeks'  holiday  he  was  entered 
on  the  Royal  Chaj'lotte,  i6th  April  1784,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued till  the  end  of  the  year,  when  he  joined  the  Europa, 
50  guns,  as  captain's  servant,  but  was  almost  immediately 
promoted  to  be  an  A.B.,  and  soon  became  midshipman.  He 
served  in  this  ship  under  Admiral  Innes  for  more  than  two 
years  and  a  half,  most  of  that  time  being  spent  in  theWest 
Indies.  Returning  to  England  in  the  summer  of  1787, 
he  was  appointed  to  the  Janus  as  supernumerary  on  the 
4th  July  1787,  and  on  board  that  ship  and  afterwards  on 
the  Salisbury  as  midshipman,  he  served  on  the  North 
America  Station  under  Commodore  (afterwards  Admiral) 
John  Elliot,  Commander-in-Chief  of  Newfoundland,  whose 
'  See  ante,  p.  21,  and/<;j-/,  p   293  (footnote). 


262  HENRY  DIGBY 

flag-captain  was  [Sir]  Erasmus  Gower.  Digby  returned  to 
England  in  November  1788,  just  after  his  father's  death, 
and  on  loth  December  1788  joined  the  Racehorse  sloop  as 
A.B.,  and  afterwards  was  rated  as  "  master's  mate."  In  this 
ship  he  served  for  nine  months  in  the  North  Sea,  in  the 
home  waters,  and  off  the  coast  of  Scotland,  being  principally 
engaged  in  checking  the  smuggling  trade,  which  at  that  time 
was  rife  in  those  parts.    Leaving  that  ship,  22nd  September 

1789,  he  spent  eleven  months  at  Sherborne  and  Minterne, 
during  which  he  obtained  his  certificate  (ist  October  1789)1 

His  next  employment  was  on  board  the  BelleropJion, 
which  he  joined  on  the  5th  August  1790,  serving  a  short  time 
as  midshipman  under  Commodore  (afterwards  Sir)  Thomas 
Pasley,  in  the  Channel  Fleet,  during  the  Spanish  armament 
of  that  year.  His  period  of  probationary  service  being  now 
completed,  he  was  promoted  to  be  lieutenant,  ist  October 

1790,  joining  the  Lion  (Captain  the  Hon.  Seymour  Finch) 
as  fourth  lieutenant  (22nd  October),  and  shortly  afterwards 
proceeding,  under  Admiral  Cornish,  to  the  West  Indies. 
In  less  than  a  year,  returning  to  England,  Digby  went  on 
half  pay  for  a  year  and  eight  months  (i6th  September  1791 
to  4th  May  1793),  the  reason  of  this  being,  doubtless,  his 
mother's  death  and  the  amount  of  business  which  he,  as 
eldest  son,  had  to  do  in  settling  family  affairs.  As  soon  as 
he  was  free  again  to  serve  his  country,  he  received  an 
appointment  as  first  lieutenant  in  the  Eutydice  (5th  May 
1793)  in  which  ship  he  served  nine  months  with  the 
Channel  Squadron  in  home  waters,  removing  into  the 
Proserpine  on  the  i6th  February  1794,  and  thence  into  the 
Pallas  as  second  lieutenant  six  weeks  later  (25th  March). 
Here  he  did  good  service,  notabl}',  when,  on  the  occasion 
of  the  accidental  burning  of  the  Boj'ne,  98,  at  Spithead  (30th 
April  1795),  he,  in  the  jolly  boat  of  the  Pallas,  was  the 
means  of  saving  many  of  the  crew  of  that  unlucky  ship. 
This  was  no  easy  task,  for  all  the  guns  were  loaded  and 
went  off  one  by  one  as  the  flames  mastered  the  ship, 
wounding  and  killing  in  every  direction. 


PRIZES  AND  PRISONERS  263 

Three  weeks  afterwards  Digby  became  first  lieutenant 
on  board  the  Dictator  (20th  May),  where  he  remained 
three  months,  and  then  received  his  promotion  to  the  rank 
of  commander  (24th  August),  and  proceeded  with  the 
expedition  to  Ouiberon  Bay,  on  the  Incendiary  fire  ship. 
Upon  his  return  home  he  was  employed  in  the  Channel  on 
detached  service,  and  was  subsequently  under  the  orders  of 
Admirals  Lord  Hugh  Seymour  and  Sir  Alan  Gardner 
(afterwards  Lord  Gardner).  In  October  1796,  Digby  was 
sent  on  a  secret  expedition  with  troops,  etc.,  off  the  Texel, 
under  the  orders  of  Sir  R.  H.  Bickerton,  but  the  service 
was  stopped  by  the  decision  of  a  council  of  war  on  board 
Admiral  Lord  Duncan's  flagship,  the  Venerable.  Digby, 
however,  was  not  forgotten.  Two  months  later  he  received 
his  commission  as  post-captain  (19th  December),  and 
four  days  later  took  command  of  the  Aiirora  frigate,  32, 
sailing  in  her  to  Lisbon  with  a  convoy.  For  a  year  and 
three  quarters  he  served  with  distinction,  cruising  between 
the  Azores  and  the  northern  coast  of  Spain,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Lord  St  Vincent,  being  engaged  most  of  that  period 
in  the  arduous  and  exciting  work  of  protecting  British  com- 
merce, and  inflicting  all  possible  damage  on  the  ships 
and  trade  of  the  enemy.  He  holds  almost  a  record  for 
prize-taking  during  so  short  a  period.  No  less  than  forty- 
eight  merchantmen  were  captured  or  sunk,  whilst  of  war 
ships  there  fell  to  his  share  the  French  privateers  Neptune, 
14,  St  Bias,  8  (though  she  was  afterwards  given  up  on 
Lord  St  Vincent's  decision,  that  being  Spanish,  she  was 
too  near  a  fort  on  the  coast  of  Portugal  at  the  time  of  her 
capture),  La  Marie  Atme,  UAigle,  and  L'Espiegle,  each 
mounting  14  guns,  L'Aventure  of  10  guns,  LEgalite 
a  corvette  of  20  guns,  and  the  Velos  Aragonesa  pierced 
for  30  guns,  in  which  were  three  of  the  mutineers  of  the 
Herinione.  The  grand  total  of  these  captures  amounted 
to  124  guns,  and  no  less  than  744  prisoners.  Digby,  as 
captain  of  the  Aurora  frigate,  gained  further  laurels 
in    the    summer    of    1798.        He    was    cruising    off    the 


264  HENRY  DIGBY 

Spanfsh  coast,  and  on  the  i6th  June,  pursued  several 
merchantmen  until  they  ran  into  the  Bay  of  Curmes  for 
shelter.  Nothing  daunted,  he  sent  two  boats,  under  the 
orders  of  Lieutenant  Henry  Lloyd,  into  the  bay,  and  the 
fugitives  were  successfully  destroyed.  Three  days  later  he 
chased  a  convoy  of  six  vessels  into  the  harbour  ©f  Gedeira,. 
but  losing  the  wind  and  being  nearly  land-locked,  he  had 
tO:  tack  out  again.  On  the  22nd  June  he  chased  a  ship,, 
apparently  a  corvette  or  privateer  of  20  guns,  off  Cape 
Machichicao.  The  stranger  hauled  in  under  a  fort  at 
Baquoi,  where  she  hoped  to  be  in  safety,  but  Digby  sailed 
in,  and  the  Anroi-as  broadsides  did  their  work  so  effectually 
that  the  enemy  drifted  on  to  the  shore  a  helpless  wreck, 
whilst  the  Aurora,  in  spite  of  the  incessant  fire  from  the 
fort,  got  clear  away  without  loss  or  damage. 

Quitting  the  Aurora  on  the  20th  September  1798,  Digby, 
four  weeks  later,  received  the  command  of  the  Leviathan, 
74  (I'Sth  October)^  which  ship  carried^  the  broad  pendant 
of  Commodore  Duckworth,  and  in  her  he  proceeded  to  join 
Lord  St  Vincent  in  the  Mediterranean,  where  he'  took  a 
prominent  part  in  the  capture  of  the  Island  of  Minorcac 
The  LeviatiuDi  conveyed  the  troops  to  that  Island,  and 
covered  the  land  operations  which  were  so  effectually 
carried  out  between  the  7th  and  15  th  November  that 
Minorca  capitulated  after  only  eight  days'  investment. 
The-  success  of  this  expedition'  won  for  Duckworth  a 
baronetcy  and  promotion  to  the  rank  of  rear-admiral,  so 
that  Digby  became  his  flag-captahi;  His  eminent  fitness 
for  cutting ,  out  expeditions,  however,  caused  Digby  to  be 
chosen  to  command  the  Alcmene  frigate,  32  (8th  March); 
in  which  he  was  as  usual  successful  in'  one  of  his  dashing 
adventures.  On  the  3rd  April  he  cut  out  Le  Depit,  8, 
which  v/as  taking  refuge  beneath  the  guns  of  a  fort  near 
Malaga.  On  the  12th  May  he  was  again-  flag-captain  in 
the  Leviathan  off  Cadiz  with.  Lord  Keith,  and  Sir  VVilliami 
Parker,  whence  on  the  30th  of  that  month,  Duckworth'.'j 
squadron  was  detached  und.cr  orders  to  join   Lord   Nelson;  fl 


THE  CAPTURE  OF  THE  "COURAGEUSE"    265 

off  Palermo.       Arriving    there    on    the    7th    June,    Digby 
for  the  second  time  went  on  a  cruise  in  the  ALanene. 

He  was  not  long  in  getting  oiice  more  into  the  work 
which  was  so  much  after  his  own  heart,  for  on  22nd  June, 
whilst  executing  a  sweeping  movement  off  the  island  of 
Corvo,  he  sighted  a  French  privateer  boardmg  an  American,, 
and  gave  chase.  The  winds  were  light,  but  for  four  whole- 
days  he  kept  up  pursuit,  till  on  the  26th  he  brought  her 
to  an  action,  and  after  a  running  fight  forced  her  to  strike 
her  colours.  She  proved  to  be  La  Courageuse,  of  Bordeaux,. 
Captain  Jean  Bernard,  with  28  guns  and  253  men.  A 
month  later  he  made  another  capture,,  which  he  describes  in 
his  own  words  thus  :. — 


H.iVr.S.  "-Alcmene," 
River  Tagus,  ^o  July  1799. 

Mv  Lord,       ^ 

L  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  }'ou  that  I 
stood  into  the  harbour  of  Vivero  on  the  i8th  imst.  towards 
sunset  and  running  between  two  Spanish  vessels  at  anchor 
distant  from  each  other  near  two  cables  length  I  sent 
Lieuts.  Warren  and  Oliver  with  parties  armed  to  board 
them  and  make  out  which  service  they  executed  in  a 
spirited  and  masterly  manner.  On  their  appearance  under 
sail  two  forts  and  a  detached  gu-n  opened  round  us  which 
I  returned.  The  heavy  smoke  of  my  guns,  and  day  closing 
prevented  the  enemy  directing  them  to  effect. 

One  of  the  prizes  named  Le  Felmdaddi  sKxp  between 
seven  and  eight  thousand  tons  pierced  for  22  guns  is 
loaded  with  hemp,  a  ^qw  lower  masts  and  ship  timber; 
the  other  named  El  Bisajrro,  a  brig  near  400  tons, 
wath  ship  timber  and  iron,  botli  bound  to  the  arsenal  at 
Ferrol. 

I  am  obliged  to  Mr  Hammond  commanding  the 
PJiccnix  privateer  lugger  of  Jersey  for  the  intelligence  ;  he- 
followed  in  and  gave  every  assistance  to  the  prizes.     On  the 


266  HENRY  DIGBY 

25th  inst.   I  sent  him  in  chase  and  he  captured  a  French 
sloop  from  St  Domingo  bound  to  Bordeaux. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be  &c. 

H.    DiGBY. 
To  Admiral 
The  Earl  of  St  Vincent. 

Again  he  writes  four  days  later,  concerning  another 
prize  : — 

H.M.S.  "Alcmene," 
In  THE  Tagus,  3  August  1799. 
My  Lord, 

I  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  you  that  I 
captured  on  the  ist  ulto.  the  Deux  A;;iis  French  brig  of 
marque,  of  6  guns  and  60  men  bound  to  St  Domingo 
from  France. 

I  have  the  honcUr  to  be  &c. 

H.  DiGBY. 
To  Admiral 
The  Earl  of  St  Vincent. 

It  was  not,  however,  until  nearly  three  months  later 
that  the  richest  capture  of  prizes  that  ever  he  made  fell  to 
his  share.  On  the  i6th  and  17th  of  October  1799,  in  the 
Bay  of  Biscay,  when  in  company  with  the  Naiad,  Triton, 
and  EtJialion  frigates,  he  had  the  good  fortune  to  intercept 
two  richly-laden  Spanish  frigates,  the  Thetis,  36  guns,  250 
men,  and  the  Santa  Brigida,  40  guns  and  300  men,  on 
their  way  home  from  Vera  Cruz.  They  were  carrying 
three  million  dollars,  besides  valuable  merchandise,  and 
the  prize  money  of  each  of  the  English  captains  amounted 
to  more  than  ^^40,730.  It  took  fifty  military  waggons  to 
convey  the  specie  from  Plymouth  Dock  to  the  Citadel  on 
the  4th  December  following,  each  waggon  having  the  Union 
Jack,  British  ensign,  and  pennant  flying  over  the  Spanish 
colours,  the  whole  being  escorted  by  the  captains,  officers. 


A  Rl-:CORD  HAUL  OF  PRIZE  MONEY       267 

marines,  seamen,  the  Somerset  Cavalry,  and  the  band  of 
the  Plymouth  Volunteers.  In  addition  to  these  war  ships, 
Digby,  whilst  in  command  of  the  Alcviene,  captured  twenty 
merchant  vessels,  and  his  prize  money,  according  to  his  own 
statement,  amounted  to  ;^5 7,000  before  he  was  thirty  years 
of  age,  to  which  he  added  ;^6300  more  in  the  next  six 
years. 

Certainly  a  warm  welcome  awaited  the  successful 
captain  when  he  returned  to  England  early  in  1801. 
Many  a  man  would  have  retired  on  his  laurels  after 
gaining  so  much  prize  money,  but  Digby,  after  ten  weeks' 
half  pay  (1st  March  to  13th  May),  was  ready  for  work  on 
the  North  America  Station,  and  became  captain  of  the 
Resistance,  a  frigate  of  the  largest  class,  in  which  he  sailed 
for  Quebec  with  a  convoy.  On  his  way  out  he  captured 
the  Elisabeth,  a  French  letter  of  marque  from  Cayenne 
bound  for  Bordeaux,  which  was  the  last  vessel  taken  in 
that  war.  After  holding  his  appointment  one  year,  he 
returned  from  American  waters  after  the  conclusion  of 
peace,  and  went  on  half  pay  for  more  than  three  years 
(9th  May  1802  to  19th  July  1805). 

Three  months  before  Trafalgar,  he  entered  on  active 
service  once  more  as  captain  of  the  Africa,  64  (20th  July 
1805),  ^nd  was  ordered  to  join  Lord  Nelson's  squadron  off 
Cadiz  without  the  least  delay.  He  was  lucky  enough  to 
reach  the  commander-in-chief  a  few  days  before  the  memor- 
able 2ist  of  October,  and  in  that  crowning  victory,  as  is  well 
known,  the  Africa  played  a  brilliant  and  unique  part.  She 
was  the  smallest  line-of-battle  ship  on  either  side,  with  a 
complement  of  490  men  and  boys,  there  being  only  two 
other  sixty-four  gun  ships  present.  And  yet  true  to 
Digby's  dash  and  courage,  she  had  the  temerity  to  attack 
the  largest  ship  in  the  enemy's  fleet,  mounting  140  guns. 
The  story  is  well  known,  but  will  always  bear  telling  again. 
The  Africa  having  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  sight  of  the 
fleet  during  the  night,  found  herself  at  daybreak  several 
miles  to  the  north  of  the  English  fleet,  and  therefore  came 


268  HENRY  DIGBY 

into  the  battle  on  a  line  of  her  own,  heading  for  the  leading 
ship  on  the  nearest  column,  that  is  to  say  the  Victory. 
Forty  minutes  before  the  action  began,  Lord  Nelson 
signalled  her  to  "  make  all  possible  sail  with  safety  to 
the  masts."  When  the  Royal  Sovereign  opened  fire,  the 
Africa  was  broad  on  the  Victory's  larboard  beam,  nearly 
abreast  of  the  first  ship  of  the  enemy's  van  and  well  within 
range.  As  she  passed  onwards  she  exchanged  broadsides 
in  succession  with  ship  after  ship  of  the- enemy,  receiving 
much  less  damage  than  might  have  been  expected.  Lord 
Nelson's  plan,  however,  was  that  the  van  should  be  isolated 
rather  than  attacked,  so  that  he  signalled  to  the  Africa  to 
"  engage  more  closely."  In  consequence  of  this,  Digby  bore 
down  ahead  of  the  Santissima  Trinidada^  140,  a  four 
decker,  the  largest  ship  of  those  days  which  was  already 
engaged  by  the  Neptune.  "  In  twenty-eight  minutes,  the 
whole  of  her  masts  went  by  the  board,  when  she  struck. 
Sent  Lieut.  Smith  with  a  party  to  take  charge  of  her," 
records  the  Africa  s  log.  L'pon  reaching  the  quarter-deck, 
Lieut.  John  Smith  asked  whether  the  Santissima  Trini- 
dada  had  surrendered.  A  Spanish  officer  advanced  to  meet 
him,  and  replied,  "  Non,  non,"  pointing  at  the  same  time  to 
one  Spanish  and  four  French  sail  of  the  line  then  passing  to 
windward.  For  want  of  masts  the  Santissima  was  settling 
fast  to  windward  of  the  two  fleets,  so  that-  having  only 
a  boat's  crew  with  him,  the  lieutenant  of  the  Africa  quitted 
the  Spanish  vessel  (the  crew  of  which,  singularly  enough, 
permitted  him  to  do  so),  and  returned  on  board  his  own 
ship,  which  then  pushed  on  into  the  thickest  of  the  fire,  and 
in  a  most  gallant  manner  brought  up  alongside  the  French 
ship  hitrcpide,  74,  and  in  spite  of  the  superiority  of  force 
to  which  she  was  opposed,  maintained  the  contest  for  three- 
quarters  of  an  hour,  when,  the  Orion  coming  to  her  assist- 
ance, the  Frenchman  struck  his  colours  and  was  taken 
possession  of  "  in  this  brilliant  action  the  Africa  sustained 
great  loss,  having  had  her  main  topsail  yard  shot  away,  and 
her  bowsprit  and  three  lower  masts  so   badly  injured  that 


THE  "AFRICA"  AT  TRAFALGAR  269 

none  of  the  latter  could  afterwards  stand.  Her  remaining 
masts  and  yards  were  also  more  or  less  injured,  her  rigging 
and  sails  cut  to  pieces,  and  her  hull,  besides  other  serious 
damage,  had  received  several  shots  between  wind  and 
water."  ^ 

She  suffered  also  considerably  in  the  storms  which 
succeeded  the  battle.  R.  F.  Roberts,  midshipman  in  the 
Victory,  records  in  his  "  remark  book,"  under  date  Friday 
25th  October:  "  At- 8,  Africa  N.N.E.  with  the  signals  of 
distress,  all  her  masts  being  gone." 

Digby  wrote  the  following  modest  account  of  his 
exploits  to  his  uncle.  Admiral  Robert  Digby  of  Minterne, 
Dorset,  eleven  da}'s  after  the  battle  : — 

"  Africa  "  at  sea,  off  the  Straits, 
November  is/,   1805. 

Mv  Dear  Uncle, 

I  write  merely  to  say  I  am  well,  after  being 
closely  engaged  for  six  hours  on  the  21st  of  October.  For 
details,  being  busy  to  the  greatest  degree,  I  have  lost  all 
my  masts  in  consequence,  of  the  action,  and  my  ship  is 
otherwise  cut  to  pieces,  but  sound  in  bottom.  My  killed 
and  wounded  63,  and  many  of  the  latter  I  shall  lose  if  I  do 
not  get  into  port.  Out  of  so  many  great  prizes,  it  has 
pleased  God  that  the  elements  should  destroy  most, 
perhaps  to  lessen  the  vanity  of  man  after  so  great  a  victory. 

I  will  give  you  a  rough  sketch  of  the  lines  going  into 
action ;  more  minute  it  shall  be  hereafter. 

I  beg  my  love  to  Mrs  Digby,  and  remain, 

Your  affectionate  nephew, 

H.  Digby. 

With  the  rough  sketch  he  added  the  following  post- 
scripts : — 

"  I  really  have  no  time  to  say  more,  surrounded  as  I  am 

'  Ralfe's   Navai  Biography—KisioucaX    Memoirs  of  Admiral  Sir 
Henry  Digby,  C.B. 


2  70 


HENRY  DIGBY 


by  the  wounded  men  in  my  cabin,  and  in  all  sorts  of 
employ,  completing  jury  masts  &c.  &c.  and  I  will  thank 
you  to  say  so  to  Dr  Shiffand  my  brothers  and  sisters." 

''The  Africa  was,  with  many  others,  dispersed  by  variable 
winds,  and  perceiving  the  French  signals  during  the  night, 
I  took  a  station  at  discretion,  and  was  the  means  of  being 
early  in  action  the  next  day,  engaging  the  van  as  I  ran 
along  to  join  the  English  lines." 

"After  passing  through  the  line,  in  which  position  I 
brought  down  the  foremast  of  the  Santissima  Trinidada, 
mounting  140  guns  ;  after  which  I  engaged,  within  pistol- 
shot,  Ulntn'pide,  74,  which  afterwards  struck  and  was  burnt, 
Orion  and  Conqueror  coming  up." 

"A  little  boy  that  stayed  with  me  is  safe.  Twice  on  the 
poop  I  was  left  alone,  all  being  killed  or  wounded.  I  am 
very  deaf,  with  a  sad  pressure  over  my  breast."  ^ 

Ten  years  later,'  in  consequence  of  some  adverse 
criticisms  as  to  Digby's  action  in  the  battle  not  being 
approved  of  by  Lord  Nelson,  Sir  Thomas  M.  Hardy,  the 
renowned  flag-captain  of  the  immortal  hero,  wrote  thus  to 
his  Dorset  friend  and  companion-in-arms  : — 

Putney, /««^  27//^,  1815. 
My  dear  Digby, 

On  my  arrival  here  last  night  I  found  your 
letter  of  the  21st  instant,  and  I  cannot  sufficiently  express 
my  surprise  at  hearing  that  a  Captain  of  the  Navy  had 
informed  you  that  Lord  Nelson  was  displeased  with  }'Our 
conduct  on  the  21st  October.  I  beg  to  assure  you  that 
Lord  Nelson  expressed  great  satisfaction  at  the  gallant 
manner  in  which  you  passed  the  enemy's  line  ;  and  I  assure 
you  he  appeared  most  fully  satisfied  with  the  conduct  of 
the  Africa.     I  shall  be  most  happy  personally  to  contradict 

'  A  Sailor's  Life  under  Four  Sovereigns.,  by  Admiral  the  Hon.  Sir 
Henry  Keppel.     London:   Macmillans,  1899,  vol.  i.,  pp.  12-14. 


IN  RETIREMENT  AT  MINTERNE  271 

the  report,  if  you  will  inform  me  of  the  Captain's  name  who 
conveyed  it  to  you. 

I  remain  yours  most  sincerely, 

T.  M.  Hardy. 

For  his  services  at  Trafalgar,  Digby  was  mentioned  in 
Collingwood's  despatches,  and,  with  his  brother  officers,  re- 
ceived the  thanks  of  both  Houses  of  Parliament.  He 
was  also  presented  by  the  King  with  the  gold  medal 
to  commemorate  the  victory.  In  addition  to  which  the 
prize  money  which  fell  to  his  share  amounted  to  ^973, 
whilst  his  portion  of  the  Government  grant  of  ^300,000 
reached  the  goodly  sum  of  ^2389,  7s.  6d. 

Returning  to  England  after  the  battle,  Digby  quitted 
the  Africa,  19th  February  1806,  and  went  on  half  pay. 
Two  months  later  he  married  (17th  April  1806)  Lady  Jane 
Elizabeth  Coke,  daughter  of  the  first  Earl  of  Leicester,  and 
widow  of  Charles  Viscount  Andover.^  She  survived  her 
second  husband  twenty-one  years,  dying  on  the  29th 
April  1863. 

Three  children  were  the  issue  of  this  marriage,  the 
elder  son  being  Edward  St  Vincent  who  succeeded  his 
cousin  as  ninth  Baron  Digby  in  1856,  and  is  the  father  of 
the  present  peer  whose  name,  Edward  Henry  Trafalgar 
Digby,  perpetuates  his  grandfather's  gallant  share  in 
England's  most  famous  naval  battle. 

In  181 5,  on  the  death  of  his  uncle,  Admiral  Robert 
Digby,  he  inherited  the  Minterne  estate  in  Dorset,  once 
the  property  of  the  ancestors  of  the  great  Duke  of 
Marlborough,  where  he  resided  for  the  rest  of  his  life. 
He  did  not  sever  his  connection  with  the  navy,  for  he  was 
ready  to  serve  his  country  the  moment  he  should  be 
required.     Promotion  came  to  him  according  to  seniority. 

^  Admiral  Keppel,  p.  7,  says  : — 

"  Lady  Andover,  who  was  early  a  widow,  married  secondly  the 
good-looking  and  distinguished  Captain  Digby  who  commanded  the 
Africa  at  Trafalgar." 


ZJZ 


■HENRY  DIGBY 


'In  1815  he  was  nominated  a  Companion  of  the  Bath. 
He  became  rear-admiral  on  the  12th  August  18 19,  and 
vice-admiral  on  the  22nd  July  1830;  was  nominated  to 
the  dignity  of  K.C.B.  in  March  1831,  and  appointed 
Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Nore  at  Sheerness,  ist  August 
1840,  which  post  he  held  sixteen  months,  retiring  on 
1 2th  December  1841.  He  became  Admiral  of  the  Blue 
(23rd  November  1 841),  and  died  at  Minteme  House  on 
19th  August  1842,  aged  seventy-three.  He  was  buried  in 
the  parish  church  where  for  so  many  years  he  had  wor- 
shipped. 

On  a  large  brass  on  the    south    wall    of  the   nave    of 
Minterne  Church  may  be  read  the  following  inscription  : — 

IN    MEMORY   OF 

SIR    HENRY     DIGBY,    K.  C.  B., 

ADMIRAL   OF   THE    "BLUE" 

BORN   JANUARY  20,    \^^0  ;     I>IED   AUGUST    I9,    1842 

HE   COMMANDED    H.M.S.    "aTRICA"    IN    THE    MEMORABLE    ACTION    OPF 

TRAFALGAR,    OCTOBER   21,  1805.      BY    HIS   GALLANTRY  AND   DARING 

OBTAINED  THE   MARKED   APPROBATION  OF  ADMIRAL   HORATIO, 

VISCOUNT    NELSON,   AND   THE  TKANKS   OF   PARLIAMENT 

ALSO   OF    HIS   WIFE 

JANE     ELIZABETH 

ELDEST   DAUGHTER   OF   THOMAS   WILLIAM    COKE, 

EARL   OF   LEICESTER 

AND 

RELICT   OF   CHARLES    NEVISON,    VISCOUNT   ANDOVER 

BORN     DECEMBER     22,     1777;       DIED     APRIL     29,      1863 

JN   TESTIMONY   OF    THEIR    SINCERE  AND    DUTIFUL    AFFECTION,   THEIR 

.SONS,    EDWARD    ST    VINCENT,    LORD    DIGBY,     AND    THE     HON.    AND 

REV.     KENE1.M     HENRY    DIGBY,     M.A.,     HAVE  .CAUSED     THIS 

MONUMENT   TO   BE   ERECTED 


APPENDIX  A 


THE  MUSTER-ROLL  OF  THE   VICTORY 

October  21,  1805 

Up  to  the  present  time  it  has  never  been  possible  to  obtain 
anything  like  an  accurate  or  complete  list  of  the  British  sailors 
who  took  part  in  the  Battle  of  Trafalgar.  Two  very  interesting 
volumes  have  lately  come  into  the  possession  of  Messrs  Maggs  of 
109  Strand.  They  consist  of  two  bulky  roughly-bound  folios  of 
stamped  receipts.  The  earlier,  dated  August  1806,  deals  with  the 
division /ro  rata  of  the  ^300,000  voted  by  Parliament  for  the 
whole  of  the  British  fleet.  The  later  volume,  dated  April  1807 
onwards,  shows  the  distribution  of  the  Trafalgar  Prize  Money  and 
Bounty  Bills. 

From  these  records,  by  permission  of  Messrs  Maggs,  the  com- 
plete muster-roll  of  the  H.M.S.  Victory  is  here  presented,  contain- 
ing the  names  of  every  one  on  board  the  ship  who  took  part  in 
the  glorious  victory  of  Trafalgar,  October  21,  I805. 

The  heading  of  vol.  i.  is  : — 

"H.M.S.    Victory. 

"  We  whose  names  and  marks  are  hereunto  subscribed  being 
the  captain,  officers,  and  company  of  H.M.S.  Victory  under  the 
command  of  the  late  Rt.  Hon.  Lord  Nelson  at  the  battle  off  Cape 
Trafalgar  on  the  21st  October  1805,  do  acknowledge  to  have 
received  by  ourselves  or  our  legal  representatives  through  the 
hands  of  Messrs  C.  Cooke  and  J.  Halford  for  and  on  account  of 
the  Rt.  Hon.  Lord  Howick,  John  Earl  Bpencer,  and  Lord  H.  G. 
Petty,  trustees  for  the  distribution  of  ^300,000  voted  by  Parlia- 
ment, the  several  sums  expressed  against  our  names  being  the 
amount  of  our  proportions  of  the  said  grant.     And  we  do  hereby 

■'73  S 


274  APPENDICES 

discharge  our  said  trustees  as  well  as  the  said  Messrs  Cooke  and 
Halford  from  all  further  demand  on  account  thereof : — 
"*  Lord  Visct.  Nelson        Adml.        /i8,5T7,  13s.  6d.    Pd.  exors. 

Lord  Collingvvood  „  4,629,    8s.  ^d. 

Lord  Northesk  „  4.629,    8s.  4d. 

Sir  Thos.  Louis  „  4,654>    os.  od. 

John  Knight,  Esq.  ,,  4,629,    8s.  4d." 

The  following  18  ships  crews  are  contained  in  these  volumes  : 
H.M.S.  T^iclorj,  Capt.  T.  M.  Hardy. 

„  Neptune^  Capt.  Tho.  F.  Freemantle. 

,,  Orion,  Capt.  Edw.  Codrington. 

„  Polyphemus^  Capt.  Richd.  Redmill. 

,,  Prince^  Capt.  Richd.  Grindall. 

,,  Revenge^  Capt.  Robt.  Moorsom. 

,,  Royal  Sovereign^  Capt.  Edw.  Rotheram. 

„  Spartiate^  Capt.  Sir  Eras.  La  Eorey,  Bart. 

„  Swiftsnre^  Capt.  W.  G.  Rutherfurd. 

,,  Tdmeraire,  Capt.  Eliab  Harvey. 

,,  Tonnant^  Capt.  Chas.  Tyler. 

,,  Thunderer^  Lieut.  John  Stockham. 

,,  Euryalus^  Capt.  the  Hon.  H.  Blackwood. 

,,  Naiad^  Capt.  Thos.  Dundas. 

,,  Phoebe^  Capt.  Hon.  T.  B.  Capel. 

„  Striiis,  Capt.  Wm.  Prowse. 

,,  Pickle  (schooner),  Lieut.  J.  R.  Lapenotiere. 

,,  Entreprenante^  Lieut.  John  Power. 

,,  Enterprise  (cutter),  Lieut.  R.  B.  Young. 

N.B. — The  other  15  ships  which  fought  at  Trafalgar  were 
presumably  dealt  with  in  the  volumes  including  the  earlier  letters 
of  the  alphabet  A  to  L,  which  are  missing. 

Vol.  ii.,  in  possession  of  Messrs  Maggs,  is  headed  as  follows  : — 

"  H.M.S.  Victory. 
"  We  whose  names  and  marks  are  hereunto  subscribed,  being 
the  captain,  officers,  and  company  of  His  Majesty's  Ship  Victory  at 
the  Battle  of  Trafalgar  on  the  21st  October  1805,  under  the  com- 
mand of  the  late  Rt.  Hon.  Lord  Nelson,  do  acknowlege  to  have 
received  of  our  agents,  Messrs  Chris.  Cooke,  and  Willm.  Rd. 
*  Deceased  at  time  of  payment. 


APPENDIX  A 


275 


Ctisway,  by  ourselves  or  our  legal  representatives,  the  several  sums 
expressed  against  our  names,  being  the  amount  of  our  respective 
proportions  of  the  proceeds  of  4  French  ships  and  Spanish  ships 
captured  on  that  day,  together  with  Bounty  Bills  for  the  enemy's 
ships  destroyed.  And  we  do  hereby  discharge  our  said  agents 
from  all  demands  on  account  thereof." 

First  Cfass  {i) — 6  Aug.  1806,  /2389,  7s.  6d.  Share  Gov.  Grant;  10  Apr. 
1807,  /973  Prize  Money. 

T.  M.  Hardy,  Esq.,  Captn. 

Second  Class  (11) — ^161   each  of  the  Gov.  Grant;    ^65,  iis.  each   for 
Prize  Money. 


Jno.  Quilliam,  Lieut. 

G.  M.  Bligh,  Lieut,  (wounded). 

John  Yule,  Lieut. 

John  Pasco,  Lieut,  (wounded). 

Andw.  King,  Lieut. 

Thos.  Atkinson,  Master. 


Edw.  Williams,  Lieut. 

Geo.  Brown,  Lieut. 

Alex.  Hills,  Lieut. 
*Wm.  Ram,  Lieut. 
*Chas.  Wm.  Adair,  Capt.  Marines. 


Third  Class  (16) — ^108,  12s.  of  the  Gov.  Grant  each  ;  ^44,  4s.  6d.  each 
for  Prize  Money. 


Wm.  Rivers,  Gunner. 

Wm.  Chaseman,  Masr.  Mte. 

Alex  J.  Scott,  Chaplain. 

Thos.  L.  Robins,  Masr.  Mte. 

Walter  Burke,  Purser. 

Saml.  Spencer,  Masr.  Mte. 

Wm.  Beatty,  Surgeon. 

Wm.  Henry  Symons,  Masr.  Mte. 

Wm.  Willmet,  Boatsn. 

Fourth    Class   (63) — ^26,   6s.  each 
for  Prize  Money. 

Adams,  Jas.,  Qr.  Masr.  Mte. 
Andrew,  Geo.,  Sees   Clerk. 
Bookless,  Robt.,  Coxswain. 
Brown,  Lane,  Yeo,  P.  Room. 
Bailey,  Thos.,  Gunr.  Mte. 
Brown,  Jno.  (5),  Gunr.  Mte. 
Barton,  Rob.  C,  Mid. 
Bulkeley,  Rd.,  Mid.  (wounded). 
Carslake,  Wm.  Jno.,  Mid. 

*  Those  marked  thus  were 


James  Green,  Masr.  Mte. 

Wm,  Bunce,  Carpr. 

Thos.  Goble,  Masr.  Mte. 

Jas.    G.    Peake,    Lieut.    Marines 

(wounded). 
Lewis  B.  Reeves,  Lieut.  Marines 

(wounded). 
Lewis  Roatley,  Lieut.  Marines. 
*John  Scott,  Secretary. 

from  Gov.    Grant;    ^10,    14s.  each 

Clements,  Michl.,  Ships  Carpn. 
Cormach,  John,  Bos.  Mte. 
Gary,  Hy.  Mid. 
Dixon,  Chrisr.,  Qur.  Mas. 
Dowden,  Saml.,  Sergt.  Mar. 
Elliott,  Will,  Mastr.  of  Arms. 
Ebbs,  John,  Gunr.  Mte. 
Eaves,  Fras.,  Yeo.  Shts. 
Fenwick.  Geo.,  Gunr.  Mte. 

deceased  at  time  of  payment. 


276 


APPENDICES 


Ford,  Hy.,  Qur.  Masr. 

Felton,  John,  Mid. 

Fearall,  Danl,  Sergt.  Mar. 

Grindall,  Festing,  Mid. 

■Gillman,  John,  Sergt.  Ms. 
,  Henley,  Danl.,  Ships  Carpr. 

Hanniford,  Josh.,  Boatn.  Mte. 

Harrington,  Daniel,  Mid. 

Johnson,  Jas.,  Qur.  Mas.  Mte. 
*Johnson,  Thos.,  Qur.  Mas. 

King,  Thos.,  Qur.  Mas.  Mte. 
*King,  John,  Qur.  Mas. 

Kidd,  John,  Carpr.  Mte. 

Lovitt,  Peter,  Qur.  Mas. 

Lessimore,  Arthr.,  Qur.  Mas. 

Leaky,  John,  Carpr.  Mte. 

Lyons,  John,  Mid. 

Mannell,  Wm.,  Qur.  Mas.  Mte. 

Maloney,  Ml.,  Qur.  jNIas.  Mte. 

Ogilvie,  David,  Mid. 

Poad,  Jas.,  Mid. 

Pollard,  John,  Mid. 
*Palmer,  Alex.,  Mid. 


Picken,  Oliver,  Mid. 

Rivers,  Wm.,  Mid.  (lost  a  leg). 

Robertson,  Jas.,  Mid. 

Roberts,  Rd.  F.,  Mid. 

Spencer,  Thos.,  Yeo.  Shts. 

Smith,  Wm.  (i),  Sail  Mr. 

Spencer,  Wm.  (i),  Yeo.  P.  Room. 

Stevenson,  Benj.,  Qur.  Mas. 
*Smith,  Robt.,1  Mid. 

Sach,  Andw.j  Yeo.  Shts. 

Smith,  Neil,  Ass.  Surg. 

Sibbald,  Jas.,  Mid. 

Seckar,  Jas.,  Sergt.  Mar. 

Thorling,  Jno.,  Qur.  Mas. 

Twiney,  Thos.,  Qur.  Mas. 

Thovez,  Php.,  Mid. 

Thresher,  Thos.,  Mid. 

Welstead,  Jno.,  Bos.  Mte. 
^Whipple,  Thos.,  Clerk.^ 

Westphall,  G.  A.,  Mid.  (wounded). 

Wright,  Jas.,  Bos.  Mte. 

Westenburgh,  Wm.,  Asst.  Surg. 


Fifth  Class  (728) — ^4,  12s.  6d.  each  for  Gov.  Grant  ;  ^i,  17s.  6d.  each 
for  Prize  Money. 


Astie,  Chas.,  Ab. 
'Anderson,  Thos.  (i),  Ordy. 
Andrews,  Isaac,  L.M. 
Aslett,  Anthy.,  L.M. 
Antoine,  Antonia,  Ordy. 
Abrahams,  Wm.,  Ab. 
Anderson,  John  (i),  Ab. 
Aunger,  Geo.,  Ordy. 
Appleby,  Jno.,  Ordy. 
Arthur,  Jno.,  L.M. 
Atkins,  Wm.,  L.M. 
Aldridge,  Jas.,  Ab. 
Archibald,  Jas.,  Ordy. 
Anderson,  Hans,  Ab. 
Adams,  Wm.,  Ab. 
Ansell,  Thos.,  Ab. 


Aldcroft,  Israel,  Ordy. 
Abbott,  John,  Marine. 
Altomaro,  Gaetano,  Marine. 
Annison,  Josh.,  Supy. 
Ashton,  Wm.,  Supy. 
Borthwick,  Geo.,  L.M. 
Bentole,  Jas.,  L.M. 
Bird,  Thos.,  Ordy. 
Barry,  John,  Ordy. 
Bryan,  Thos.,  Ordy. 
Biggs,  Wm.,  Caulkrs.  Mte. 
Brown,  Josh.,  Ordy. 
Brown,  Jno  (i),  Ab. 
Brashett,  Jno.,  Ab. 
Barkas,  Saml.,  L.M. 
Butler,  Wm.,  Ab. 


*  Those  marked  thus  were  deceased  at  time  of  payment. 
^  Roberts,  in  his  Remark  Book,  calls  him  John  Smith. 
"^  Captain's  Clerk  (Roberts). 


APPENDIX  A 


277 


Beagan,  Jas.,  L.I\T. 

Brown,  Josh.,  Ordy. 

Brasby  alias  Brazil,  Jas.,  Qu.  Gr. 

Bush,  John,  Ordy. 

Barnett,  Wm.,  Gunsmith. 

Burton,  Geo.,  Ordy. 

Bond,  Wm.,  Ab. 

Bell,  John,  Ordy. 

Burgin,  Jos.,  Ordy. 

Booth,  Wm.,  L.M. 
*Bowler,    Jho.,    L.M.    (Pd.    to    his 
father  John,  9  Apr.  1807). 

Butcher,  Hy.,  Ab. 

Brown,  Jno.  (3),  Ordy. 

Buchan,  David,  Ab. 
*Brown,    Wm.    (i),    Ab.    (Pd.    to 
Mary  Thomson,  administrator, 
19  May  1807). 

Bird  alias  Boyd,  Chas.,  Ab. 

Barrow,  Wm.,  Ab. 

Brannon,  Timy.,  Qur.  Gr. 

Boyle,  Bernard,  Ordy. 

Blake,  David,  Ab. 

Beaumont,  Wm.,  Ab. 

Benbow,  Saml.,  Ab. 

Buckley,  Corns.,  L.M. 

Brown,  Wm.  (2),  L.M. 

Browis,  Wm.,  Ordy. 

Blumberry,  Peter,  Ab. 

Button,  Jos.  (2),  L.M. 

Brady,  Will.,  Ordy. 

Boll,  Hy.,  Ordy. 

Barret't,  Jos.,  Ab. 

Bacon,  Richd.,  Ab. 

Beard,  Phinias,  Trumpeter. 

Barrett,  Thos.,  Ab. 

Bell,  Wm.,  Ordy. 

Bowe,  Patk.,  Ab. 

Booth,  Thos.,  L.M. 

Boyes,  Chas.,  Ab. 

Bush,  Fredk.,  Ordy. 

Browne,  Jas.,  Ordy. 

Bowen,  Robt.,  Ab. 

Benjua,  Josh.,  Ordy. 


Baptish,  Jno.,  Ab. 

Bomkworth,  Jno.,  Ordy. 

Bartlett,  Thos.,  Ab. 

Bateman,  Jno.,  Ordy. 

Burlingham,  Jno.,  L.M. 

Belson,  Robt.,  Ab. 

Black,  Hugh  G.  W.,  Boy. 
*Berry,  Jas.,  Drumr.  Marines. 

Bagley,  Richard,  Marine. 

Brookes,  John,  Marine. 

Blackhorn,  Thos.,  Marine. 

Bagley,  Wm.,  Marine. 

Bagley,  Jas.,  Marine. 

Buckley,  Thos.,  Marine. 

Brown,  Jacob,  Marine. 

Brice,  John,  Marine. 
*Brennan,    John,    Marine   (Pd.   to 
John  Wolfe   of  Cork   foT  the 
widow  Johana,  17  Jul.   1807). 

Barlow,  Wm.,  Marine. 

Buchanan,  Jas.,  Marine. 
*Brown,  John  (r),  Marine. 

Brown,  John  (2),  Marine. 

Bradford,  John,  Marine. 

Browning,  W.  D.,  Marine. 

Bennett,  Richd.,  Marine. 

Baker,  Saml.,  Marine. 

Bullock,  John,  Marine. 

Beeton,  Wm.,  Marine. 

Burgess,  Jas.,  Marine. 

Bower,  Vale.,  Marine. 

Borrow,  Patk.,  Supy. 

Borrow,  Philp.,  Supy. 

Carroll,  Chas.,  Cook. 

Conn,  David,  L.M. 

Caharty,  Patk.,  Ab. 

Cope,  John,  Ab. 

Chapman,  Jas.,  L.M. 

Campbell,  John  (i),  L.M. 

Connell,  Josh.,  Ordy. 

Corten,  Geo.,  L.M. 

Gary,  Hy.  (i),  Ordy. 

Cooper,  John,  L.M. 

Connor,  Jas.,  Ordy. 


Those  marked  thus  were  deceased  at  time  of  paymejit. 


278 


APPENDICES 


Collins,  Rd.,  Ab. 
Colliver,  Rd.,  L.M. 
Cornwall,  Thos.,  Ordy. 
Caton,  Jas.,  L.M. 
Chant,  Isaac,  Ab. 
*Cramwell,     Hy.,     L.M.     (Pd.     to 

mother  Jane,  17  Apr.   1807). 
,  Cruize,  Thos.,  Ordy. 
Callaghan,  John,  Ordy. 
Curry,  Jas.,  Ab. 
Coates,  Josh.,  L.M. 
Clarke,  Hy.  (i),  Ab. 
*Cale,  Wm.,  L.>L  (Pd.  to  Ann  Cale, 

II  Sep.  1807). 
Connolly,  Thos.,  Ordy. 
Cole,  Nathl.,  Ab. 
*Cornwarder,  John,  Ordy.  (Pd.  to 

Eliz.    Harris    for   the   mother, 

21  Apr.  1807). 
Clarke,  Jas.,  Ab. 
Collard,  Thos.,  Ab. 
Clarke,  Wm.,  Ab. 
Clarke,  Hy.  (3),  L.M. 
Cooper,  Saml.,  Ab. 
Campbell,  John  (3),  Ab. 
Coleman,  Benjn.,  Ordy. 
Curran,  John,  Ordy. 
Crawley,  Timy.,  Ordy. 
Casey,  Dennis,  Ab. 
Clarke,  Saml,  Ordy. 
Casewell,  John,  Ordy. 
Collins,  John  (2),  Carpr.  Crew. 
Cepell,  Jas.,  Armr. 
Cosgrove,  Jas.,  Purs.  Std. 
Camelaire,  Eml.,  Ordy. 
Clarke,  Geo.,  Ordy. 
Christopher,  Jas.,  Ab. 
Caldwell,  Wm.,  Ab. 
Chapman,  Jas.,  Ordy. 
Crooke  alias  Crookes,  Math.,  Ab. 
Castle,  Wm.,  Ab. 
Clay,  John,  Boy. 
Carroll,  Corns.,  Boy. 
Cogswell,  Wm.,  Corp).  Marines. 


Coulston,  Geo.,  Marine. 

Crofton,  Thos.,  Marine. 

Chappell,  Chas.,  Marine. 

Cownley,  Thos.,  Marine. 

Cowling,  Wm.,  Marine. 

Coburne,  Wm.,  Marine. 

Carrick,  Wm.,  Marine. 

Crofts,  Rd.,  Marine. 
*Cockran,  Geo.,  Corporal. 

Cooke,  Benj.,  Marine. 

Church,  John,  Marine. 

Cooke,  Wm.  (i).  Marine. 

Cummins,  Wm.,  Marine. 

Chambers,  Tho.,  Marine. 

Cappell,  Jacob,  Marine. 

Cooke,  Wm.  (2),  Marine. 

Chivers,  John,  Marine. 

Cloughton,  Robt.,  Marine. 

Chevalier,     Hy.    Lewis,    Retinae 
(Lord  Nelson's  Steward). 

Carr,  Wm.,  Supy. 

Collingwood,  Fras.,  Supy. 

Chappell,  Chas.,  Supy. 

Catling,  John,  Supy. 

Cavanaugh,  Arr.,  Supy. 

Dinton,  Jas.,  Ordy. 

Dixon,  Thos.,  L.M. 

Donnelly,  Chas.,  Ab. 
*Daniels,  Thos.,  L.M. 

Darby,  Geo.,  Ordy. 

Davis,  John  (i),  Ordy. 

Drake,  Saml,  Ordy. 

Duffy,  Siam.,  Ordy. 
*Davis,  Chas.  (i),  Ordy, 

Davis,  Chas.  (2),  Ab. 

Darby,  Robt.,  Ab. 

Darnold,  Wm.,  Ordy. 

Dixon,  John,  L.M. 

Downes,  Wm.,  Ordy. 

Dowding,  Thos.,  Qur.  Gr. 
*Davidson,  Robt.,  Ab.  (Pd.  to  his 
father  Thomas,  2  June  1807). 

Dubine,  Domk.,  Ordy. 

Dunkin,  John,  Ordy. 


Those  marked  thus  were  deceased  at  time  of  payment. 


APPENDIX  A 


279 


Dennison,  Thos.,  Ab. 
Davidson,  Jas.,  Ordy. 
Dobbin,  Peter,  Ab. 
Dupuis,  John,  Ordy. 
Dobson,  Isaac,  Carpr.  Crw. 
Dizmont,  Danl.,  Ordy. 
Double,  Rob.,  Carpr.  Crw. 
Druce,  Edw.,  Ordy. 
Doak,  Wm.,  Boy. 
Downes,  Wm.,  Marine. 
Dutton,  John,  Marine. 
Dean,  Nichs.,  Marine. 
Dunn,  John,  Marine. 
Drummond,  Rob.,  Retinue. 
Dear,  Thos.,  Retinue. 
Edmund    alias    Henman,    John, 

Ordy. 
Evans,  Jas.,  Ordy. 
Evison,  Thos.,  Ab. 
*Edsworth,  John,  Marine. 
Flynn,  Matth.,  L.M. 
Ford,  Wm.,  Ordy. 
Flemming,  Wm.,  Ab. 
French,  Geo.,  Ordy. 
French,  Jas.,  Ab. 
Fennell,  Jas.,  Ab. 
Forbes,  Wm.,  Ab. 
Flynn,  Bernd.,  Ordy. 
Fitzgerald,  John,  Ordy. 
French,  Fras.,  Ab. 
Francois,  John,  Ordy. 
Fall,  Wm.,  Ab. 
Fairman,  John,  Ordy. 
Foley,  Thos.,  Ordy. 
Fisser,  John,  Ab. 
Ferrins,  Wm.,  Ab. 
Foley,  Stepn.,  Ordy. 
Finlay,  Rob.,  Ab. 
Flight,  Hy.,  Carpr.  Crew. 
Farecloth,  Rob.,  Ab. 
Ferris,  Wm.,  Boy. 
Feagan,  Jas.,  Marine. 
Ford,  Wm.,  Alarine. 
Flinn,  Edw.,  Marine. 


Garrick,  Jas.,  Ab. 
Gibson,  Rob.,  Ab. 
Gray,  John,  Ab. 

Graham,  Thos.,  L.M. 

Griffen,  Wm.,  Ordy. 

Gillett,  Wm.,  Ordy. 

Goodchild,  Thos.,  Ordy. 

Gasby,  Saml.,  L.M. 

Grey,  Edw.,  Ordy. 

Gibbons,  Wm.,  L.M. 

Gallachan,  Edw.,  Ordy. 

Gill,  Jas.,  Ab. 

Green,  Tho.  (i),  Ab. 

Green,  Jas.,  Qur.  Gr. 

Green,  Tho.  (2),  Ordy. 

Graham,  John,  Ab. 

Gantlett,  John,  Ab. 

Griffith,  Griffith,  Ab. 

Griffiths,  Michael,  Ab. 

Gutlipster,  John,  Ordy. 

Godby,  Philip,  Ab. 

Gentile,  Domque,  Marine. 

Ging,  Michael,  Ordy. 

Graham,  Tho.,  Ab. 
*Gordon,  Josh.,  Ab. 

Giddice,  Josh.,  Ab. 

Greenfield,  Geo.,  Ab. 

Griffiths,  Wm.,  Boy. 

Gregory,  John,  Marine. 
*Green,  Jas.,  Marine. 

Graves,  Geo.,  Marine. 

Green,  Saml,  Marine. 

Guinti,  Giovanni,  Marine. 

Geoghegan,  John,  Supy. 

Hall,  Peter,  L.M. 

Honnor,  Wm.,  Qur.  Gr. 

Highland,  John,  L.M. 

Hoffinan,  Peter,  Ordy. 

Hulbert,  Jas.,  L.M. 

Hawkins,  Benjn.,  Ab. 

Hayes,  James,  Ordy. 

Harris,  George,  Ab. 

Hodgkins,  Josh.,  Ordy. 

Hartnell,  James,  Rope  Mr, 


Those  marked  thus  were  deceased  at  time  of  payment. 


2S0 


APPENDICES 


Haggerty,  John,  Ab. 

Heath,  John,  Carpr.  Crew. 

Hampton,  Saml,  Ordy. 

Hallet,  Wm.,  Ordy. 

Hall,  John,  Ordy. 

Hunter,  John,  Ab. 

Hall,  Wm.,  Ab. 

Hughson,  Lawe.,  Ordy. 

Hartley,  Matth.,  Ab. 

Howard,  John,  Ordy. 

Harrison,  Wm.,  Ordy. 

Humphries,  Wm.,  L.M. 

Hannam,  Wm.,  Ordy. 

Harvey,  Wm.,  Ab. 
*Herwin,    Arthur,    Ordy.    (Pd.    to 
mother  Elizth.). 

Heaver,  Richd.,  Ordy. 

Hardy,  Jonn.,  Ordy. 

Hubert,  Aaron,  Boy. 

Huns,  John,  Boy. 

Huchinson,  Wm.,  Boy. 

Haile,  John,  Marine. 

Hodges,  Geo.,  Marine. 

Henrix,  Thos.,  Marine. 

Harding,  Henry,  Marine., 

Harding,  Robt.,  Marine. 

Hanbury,  Wm.,  Marine. 
*Hillier,  Danl,  Marine. 

Harris,  Isaac,  Marine. 

Hines,  James,  Marine. 

Hawkins,  Thos.,  Marine. 

Heath,  Isaac,  Marine. 

Hammond,  Chas.,  Supt. 

Inwood,  Wm.,  Ab. 

Jackson,  Wm.,  Ordy. 

Johnson,  John,  Ordy. 

Jacobs,  John,  Ordy. 

Jefferson,  John,  Ordy. 

Jago,  Thos.,  L.M. 
*Jewell,     Richd.,     Ordy.    (Pd.    to 
Martha  Jewell). 

Johns,  Thos.,  Ab. 

Jones,  Wm.  (i),  Ordy. 

Jameson,  Saml,  Ordy. 


Jarvis,  Thos.,  Ab. 

Jones,  James,  Ab. 

Johnson,  Wm.,  Ordy. 

J  ewer,  Andw.,  Ab. 

Jones,  Morgan,  Ab. 

Jones,  Wm.  (2),  Ab. 

Jones,  Wm.  (3),  L.M. 

Johnson,  Saml.,  Ab. 

Jones,  Peter,  Ab. 

Jackson,  John,  Ab. 

Johnson,  Ezechiel,  Ordy. 

Johnston,  Wm.  (2),  Ab. 

Ireland,  Geo.,  Ab. 

Johnson,  Thos.,  Boy. 

Jackson,  John,  Marine. 

Jennings,  Hy.,  Marine. 

Joey,  Wm.j  Marine. 
*Jones,  Wm.,  Marine. 

Johnson,  Wm.,  Supy. 

Kendall,  John,  Ordy. 

King,  Wm.,  Ordy. 

Kenney,  Stephn.,  Ab. 

Kennedy,  John  (2),  Ordy. 

Kennensaw,  Steph.,  Ordy. 

Killy,  Peter,  Ordy. 

Killen,  Peter,  Ab. 

Kennedy,  Archd.,  Ab. 
*Kennedyj  Geo.,  Marine. 

Knight,  Wm.,  Marine. 

Lambkin,  Wm.,  L.M. 

Leeds,  Thos.,  Ordy. 

Leek,  Wm.,  Ab. 

Laundry,  Thos.,  Ab. 

Legg,  Chas.,  L.M. 

Lawrie,  Thos.,  Ordy. 

Lavenny,  Jas.,  Ordy, 

Lewis,  John  (i),  Ordy. 

Loft,  William,  Ordy. 

Leary,  Danl.,  Ab. 

Lay,  Jas.,  L.M. 

Lewis,  John  (2),  Ab. 

Lemon,  John,  Ab. 

Lovitt,  Saml.,  Ab. 

Lenham,  Jas.,  Qur.  Gr. 


*  Those  marked  thus  were  deceased  at  lime  of  payment. 


APPENDIX  A 


281 


Leary,  Jas.,  Ordy. 

Lovvrane,  Chas.,  A'b. 

Lever,  John,  Ab. 

Lewis,  Edw.,  Ab. 

Leggj  Peter,  Ordy. 

Levericks,  Thos.,  Ordy. 

Longshavv,  John,  Ordy. 

Le  Dam,  Hans,  Ordy. 
*Laing,  Geo.,  Carpr.  Crew  (Pd.  to 
Harry  Laing,  father). 

Lancaster,  Hy.,  Boy. 

Ludford,  Jas.,  Boy. 

Leech,  Wm.,  Marine. 
*Lewis,  Jer.  G.,  Marine. 

Long,  Jas.,  Drummer. 

Le  Couteur,  Nich.,  Supy. 

Lerosa,  Degara,  Supy. 

M'Pherson,  Jos.,  L.M. 

Mansell,  Jas.,  Ab. 

Munro,  Danl.,  Ab. 

M'Kenzie,  Lewis,  Ordy. 

M'Beth,  Alex.,  L.M. 

M'Pherson,  Danl.,  L.M. 

M'Kennan,  Langn.,  Ordy. 

M'Donald,  Jas.,  Ab. 

Mann,  John,  Ab. 

Matthews,  Tho.  (i),  L.M. 

Maloney,  Tho.,  L.AL 

I^Iitchell,  Pat.,  Ab. 

Magee,  Peter,  Ab. 

M'Laughlin,  Jas.,  L.M. 

M'Guire,  Edd.,  Ab. 

M'Donald,  Mich.,  Ordy. 

Marsh,  Hy.,  Ordy. 

Moon,  Simeon,  Ab. 

Manning,  John,  Ordy. 

Martin,  Sam.,  Ordy. 

Murray,  Robt.,  Ordy. 

Martin,  Geo.,  Ab. 

M'Manners,  Owen,  Ab. 

Minute,  John,  Ab. 

Mason,  John,  Ab. 

Morris,  Wrn.,  Ab. 

Marshall,  John  (i),  Ab. 


Milebury    alias    Munbury,    John, 
Arms.  Mate. 

Morris,  John,  Ordy. 
*Muck,  Wm.,  Ab. 

Miffen,  David,  Ab. 

Marshall,  Wm.  (i),  Ordy. 

Marshall,  John  (2),  Ab. 

Monday,  John,  Ordy. 

Mainland,  Wm.,  Ab. 

M 'Williams,  Andrew,  Ab. 

M'Connell,  John,  Ordy. 

Moss,  John,  L.M. 

M'Dowell,  Alex.,  Ordy. 

Murray,  Josh.,  Ab. 

Morton,  Wm.,  Ab. 

Mooney,  Edw.,  Ordy. 

Marr,  Edw.,  Ab. 

M'Donald,  Ab. 

Merrygan,  Pat.,  Ordy. 

M'Donald,  John,  Ordy. 

M'Donald,  Angus,  Ab. 

Murray,  Alex.,  Ab. 

Murphy,  John,  Ab. 

Morley,  Geo.,  Ordy. 

M'Connerky,  Alex.,  Carpr.  Crew. 

M 'Clements,  Gilbt.,  Ab. 

Mullen,  Ja5.  S.,  Ab. 

M'Indoe,  Archd.,  Ordy. 

Matthews,  John,  Ab.   ■ 

Mitchell,  Wm.,  Boy. 

Moss,  John,  Boy. 

M'Donald,  Archd.,  Ordy. 

Matthews,  Wm.,  Ab. 
*M'Pherson,  Jas.,  Boy. 

Mitchell,  Wm.,  Ab. 

Moss,  Josiah,  Ab. 

Magee,  John,  Marine. 

Morgan,  John,  Marine. 

Melvin,  Jas.,  Marine. 

Matthews,  Rob.,  Marine. 

Moore,  John,  Marine. 

M'Elroy,  Thos.,  Marine. 

Mead,  David,  Marine. 

Marston,  Thos.,  Marine. 


Those  marked  ihus  were  deceased  at  time  of  payment. 


282 


APPENDICES 


Molloy,  Philip,  Marine. 

Matthews,  Benjn.,  Marine. 

Magolina,  Ante,  Marine. 
*Myers,  Lamt.,  Marine. 
*M'Manus,  Bernd.,  Marine. 

Mason,  Geo.,  Supy. 

Morgan,  Michl,  Supy. 

Marat,  Thos.,  Supy. 

Mason,  John,  Supy. 
*North,  James,  Ordy. 

Nutting,  Rob.,  Ab. 

Norville,  Rob.,  Ordy. 

NichoUs,  Hy.,  Ordy. 

Nipper,  Jas.,  Ab. 

Northwood,  John,  Marine 

NichoUs,  Chas.,  Marine. 
*Norgrove,  Jas.,  Marine. 

Nash,  John,  Marine. 

NichoUs,  Hy.,  Retinue. 

NeviU,  Hon.  R.,  Supy.^ 

Neale,  Pat.,  Supy. 
Ogilvie,  Geo.,  Ordy. 
*Onions,  Wm.,  Ordy.  (Pd.  to  sister 
Sarah  Stephens). 
Owen,  John,  Ab. 
Osborne,  Wm.,  Ordy. 
Peters,  V'aUer,  L.M. 
PhiUips,  Robt.,  L.M. 
Peters,  John,  Ab. 
PoweU,  Richd.,  Ordy. 
*Park,  Jas.,  Ordy. 
Penny,  Alex.,  Ab. 
Palmer,  Thos.,  Ordy. 
/Packett,  John,  Ab. 

y  alias  Fernie,  Peter,  Ab. 

Patterson,  Wm.,  Ab. 

Prescott,  Geo.,  Ordy. 

Prout,  Tho.,  Ordy. 

Pain,  John,  L.M. 

Padaro  alias  Panaro,  Fras.,  Qur. 

Gr. 
Pelcone,  John,  Ordy. 
Pille,  John,  Ab. 


Page,  Jas.,  Ab. 

Pickering,  Thos.,  Ordy. 

Pooley,  Isaac,  Ordy. 

Pillique,  Stromblo,  Ordy. 

Painter,  Josh.,  Ab. 

Piercey,  Tho.,  Ab. 

Pritchard,  Robt,  Ab. 

Pritchard,  Wm.,  Ab. 

Pirch     alias     Nicholas,     Nathl., 
Ordy. 

Pennell,  Michl,  Ab. 

Parker,  Jas.,  Ordy. 

Price,  Thos.,  Ab. 

Pitt,  Geo.,  Ordy. 

Pope,  Wm.,  Boy. 

Peppett,  Jas.,  Boy. 

Portfield,  Hugh,  Boy. 

Perrion,  Wm.,  Boy. 

Parry,  John,  Marine. 

Pritchard,  Saml.,  Marine. 
*Perry,  Wm.,  Marine. 

Pearson,  Geo.,  Marine. 

Powell,  David,  Marine. 
*Palmer,  John,  Marine. 

Parnell,  John,  Marine. 

Pitney,  Fras.,  Marine. 

PoweU,  Thos.,  Marine. 

Padden,  Edw.,  Marine. 

Porter,  Abrm.,  Supy. 

Penning,  Rob.,  Supy. 

Quinton,  Geo.,  Qur.  Gr. 

Recain,  John,  L.M. 

Ryan,  Stephn.,  L.M. 

Ross,  John  (i),  Ab. 

Ritchie,  Peter,  Ordy. 

Roberts,  David,  Ab. 

Reynolds,  Peter,  Ab. 

Ryan,  Geo.,  Ordy. 

Read,  Danl,  Ordy. 

Richards,  John,  Ab. 

Ross,  John  (2),  Qur.  Gr. 

Randall,  Thos.,  Ab. 

Richards,  Saml.,  Ab. 


Those  marked  thus  were  deceased  at  time  of  payment 
'  Afterwards  X'iscoiint  NeviU,  Captain  R.N. 


APPENDIX  A 


'■^3 


Ross,  Robt.,  L.M. 
Rawlins,  John,  L.M. 
Remmington,  Stephn.,  L.M. 
Rome,  John,  L.M. 
Rowe,  Michl.,  Ab. 
Russell,  Wm.,  Ab. 
Rowe,  Jas.,  Ab. 
Richards,  Wm.,  Ordy. 
Rylett,  Hy.,  Ordy. 
Robinson,  John,  Ab. 
Rey,  John,  Ordy. 
Rev,  John,  Ordy. 
Randall,  Wm.,  Boy. 
Rawlinson,  Jas.,  Boy. 
Robbins,  Saml.,  Boy. 
Rayner,  Saml.,  Marine. 
Rawlinson,  Tho.,  Marine. 
Reece,  Saml.,  Marine. 
Rogers,  Jas.,  Marine. 
Rowland,  Lewis,  Marine. 
Reece,  Wm.,  Marine. 
Richards,  Nathl.,  Marine. 
Raymont,  John,  Marine. 
Rackhams,  John,  Marine. 
Riggan,  John,  Supy. 
Riceri,  Simini,  Supy, 
Swain,  Wm.,  L.M. 
Shadd,  Robt.,  L.M. 
Stiles,  Hy.,  L.M. 
Smith,  John  (2),  Ordy. 
Stevens,  Saml.,  L.M. 
Stevenson,  John,  Ab. 
Saunders,  Wm.,  Ab. 
Summers,  John,  Ordy. 
Stanford,  Wm.,  Ordy. 
Stevens,  Hugh,  Armr.  Mte. 
*Shaw,  Wm.,  L.M. 
Stevenson,  Anty.,  Ordy. 
Stake  a/tas  Hake,'  Geo.,  Ab. 
Shimmel,  Josh.,  Ab. 
Straker,  Wm.,  Ab. 
Selby,  Wm.,  Ordy. 
Smith,  Tho.  (i),  Ab. 
Simms,  Wm.,  Ab. 


Stapleton,  Geo.,  L.M. 

.Sutherland,  Jas.,  Ordy. 

Syms,  John,  Ab. 
*Smith,  Geo.  (i),  L.AL 

Stevenson,  Geo.,  Ab. 

Searle,  Richd.,  Ab. 

Simpson,  Tho.,  Ab. 

Stayham  ah'as  Strawn,  Tho.,  L.^L 

Smith,  Jas.,  Ab. 
*Smith,  Wm.  (2),  Ordy. 

Smith,  David,  Ordy. 

Sedgwick,  Thos.,  Qur.  Gr. 

Smith,  Geo.  (2),  Ab. 

Shinner,  Wm.,  Ordy. 

Sarson,  Wm.,  L.M. 

Sexton,  Thos.,  L.I\L 

Smithson,  Jas.,  Ab. 

Sayking,  Chas.,  Ordy 

Starr,  John,  Qur.  Gr. 

Stewart,  Chas.,  Ab. 

Sheppard,  Wm.,  L.M. 

Stacey,  Jas.,  Ordy. 

Searchwell,  Hy.,  Ab. 

Smith,  Chas-,  Carpr.  Crew. 

Stallet,  Andrew.,  Ab. 

Scott,  Andrew,  Sailmaker's  Mate. 

Sullivan,  Jerie.,  Ab. 

Smith,  Wm.  (4),  Ab. 

Spencer,  Wm.  (2),  Ab. 

Stewart,  David,  Ab. 

Stair,  John,  Ab. 

Studdy,  Fras.,  Ordy. 

Sherman,  Jas.,  Ordy. 

Smith,  Jno.  (3),  Ab. 

Saunders,  Isaac,  Ab. 

Stead,  John,  Sailmaker's  Crew. 

Sweat,  Wm.,  Ordy. 
*Skinner,  Wm.,  Ordy. 
*Skinner,  Jas.,  Ordy. 

Scott,  John,  Boy. 

Smith,  Geo.,  Boy. 

Sabine,  Stephn.,  Boy. 

Saunders,  John,  Boy. 

Smith,  Wm.,  Marine. 


Those  marked  thus  were  deceased  at  lime  of  payment. 


284 


APPENDICES 


Smith,  John,  Marine. 

Sutton,  Geo.,  Marine. 

Sullivan,  Corns.,  Marine. 

Smith,  John,  Marine. 

Sheppard,  Wm.,  Marine. 

Scattergood,  Wm.,  Marine. 

Salluzzd,  Crescenzo,  Marine. 

Staples,  Richd.,  Marine. 

Spedillo,  Gaetano,  Retinue. 

Sarr,  Jas.,  Supy. 

Sloane,  Andrew,  Supy. 

Thompson,  Stephn.,  L.M. 

Thomas,  Chas.,  Ordy. 

Tomlinson,  Tho.,  CatJD.  Crew. 

Thomas,  Tho.  (i),  Ab. 

Thompson,  Wm.  (i),  Ordy. 

Taylor,  Alfred,  Ab.  (Pd.  to  Mother 
Isabella). 

Thomas,  Jeree.,  Ab. 

Thomas,  John  (i),  Ordy. 

Tarrant,  Wm.,  Qur.  Gr. 

Terry,  John,  Ab. 

Tobin,  Richd.,  Ordy. 

Temple,  John,  L.M. 

Thomas,  John  (2),  Ordy. 

/Thomas,  Thos.  (2),         \r   ■.. 

Xah'as  Thomas,  John  (3),] 

Turner,  Fras.,  L.M. 

Taylor,  Wm.,  Ordy. 
^Thompson,  Wm.  (3),  Ab. 

Thompson,  Wm.  (4),  Ordy. 

Thompson,  Robt,  Ordy. 

Taylor,  Geo.  A.,  L.M! 

Tart,  John,  Ordy. 

Toole,  Chrisn.,  Ab. 

Tater,  Mark,  Ordy. 

Twitchett,  Robt.,  Boy. 
^Turner,  Colin,  Boy  (Pd.  to  Mother 
Jane). 

Twitchett,  Tho.,  Boy. 

Taft,  Wm.,  Corpl.  Mar. 

Turner,  Wm.,- Marine. 

Thompson,  John,  Marine. 

Tuck,  John,  Marine. 


Tadd,  Wm.,  Supy. 

Vincent,  John,  Qur.  Gr. 

Vent,  Jas.,  Ordy. 

Vava,  Filippo,  Marine. 

Upton,  Robt.,  Ab. 

West,  Jas.  (i),  L.M. 

West,  Richd.  (i),  Ab. 

Wilkins,  Hy.,  Ordy. 

Walton,  John,  L.M. 

Waddle,  Wm.,  L.M. 

Wood,  Wm.  (i),  Ordy. 

Wilkinson,  Benj.,  Ordy. 

Walton,  Wm.,  L.M. 

Willoughby,  Tho.,  L.M. 

Warden,  Alex.,  Ab. 

White,  Richd.,  L.M. 

Wilson,  Wm.,  L.M. 

Waters,  Chas.,  Ab. 

Wood,  Thos.,  Ordy. 

Welch,  Wm.,  L.M. 

Welch,  John,  L.M'. 

Walker,  John,  Ab. 

White,  Wm.,  Ab. 

Willan,  John,  Ab. 

Watson,  Thos.,  Ab. 

Waters,  Wm.,  Ordy. 

Wood,  Wm.  (3),  L.M. 
nVharton,  John,  Ordy.  (Pd.  W.  C. 
English  for  father  John). 

Winnigle,  Wm.,  Ab. 
nVaters,  Edw.,  Ab. 

Whitton     a/zas      Bitton,      John, 
L.M. 

Wood,  Thos.  (2),  Ab. 

Wilkins,  Geo.,  Ab. 

Williams,  Jas.,  Ab. 

Warrandall,  John,  Ab. 

Which  a/i'as  Ulrick,  Peter,  Ordy. 

Williams,  John  (3),  Ab. 
*Walker,  John,  Ab. 

Whitton  a/ias  Bitton,  Thos.,  Carp. 
Cw. 

Williams,  Richd.,  Ordy. 

Welsh,  John  (2),  Ab. 


Those  marked  thus  were  dec.-ised  at  time  of  piymcnt. 


APPENDIX  A 


285 


Walker,  Geo.,  Ordy. 

Williams,  John,  Ordy. 
*Ward,  Josh.,  Ordy. 

Wise,  Edw.,  Ab. 
*Wilson,  Geo.,  Boy. 

Worson,  Thos.,  Boy. 

Wright,  Wm.,  Marine. 

Wilton,  Tho.j  Marine. 
*Wilkes,  Saml,  Marine. 

Warner,  Jas.,  Marine. 

Walker,  Saml.,  Marine. 


*Wilmot,    Geo.,    Marine     (Pd.    to 

mother  Elizth.). 
Wells,  Wm.,  Marine. 
Witchall,  Chrisr.,  Marine. 
Ward,  Edw.,  Marine. 
Wizzen,  Geo.,  Marine. 
Webster,  Wm.,  Supy. 
White,  Wm.,  Supy. 
Ward,  Geo.,  Supy. 
Yaul,  Hans,  L.M. 


*  Those  marked  thus  were  deceased  at  time  of  payment. 


Totals. 
Class     I i 

„        H II 

„      III 16 

„       IV 63 

„         V 728 

Total  of  the  Victory 819 

Total  of  those  deceased 56 

N.B. — Hardy's  letter  says  54  killed  on  the  Victory.  So  does 
Roberts'  Remark  Book,  adding  that  57  were  wounded. 
The  official  returns  say  57  killed  on  the  Victory.  No 
other  English  ship  had  so  many  killed.  It  should  be 
remembered  that  Nelson,  writing  to  Sir  T.  Troubridge, 
2 1  St  December  1803,  said  :  "We  are  not  stoutly  nor  in 
any  manner  well  manned  in  t^e  Victory.,  but  she  i^  in 
very  excellent  order.  Thanks  to  Hardy,  and  1  think 
woe  be  to  the  Frenchman  she  gets  along  side  of." 


APPENDIX  B 


R.   F.  Roberts,   midshipman  in  the    Victory,   enters  the  follow- 
ing notes  in  his  "Remark  Book"  : — 

"  Defects  to  H.M.S.  Victory.,  5th  December  1805.  Thos.  M. 
Hardy,  Esq.,  Captain. 

"  The  hull  is  much  damaged  by  shot  in  a  number  of  different 
places,  particularly  in  the  wales,  strings,  and  spurketing,  and 
some  between  wind  and  water.  Several  beams,  knees,  and  riders, 
shot  through  and  broke  ;  the  starboard  cathead  shot  away  ;  the 
rails  and  timbers  of  the  head  and  stem  cut  by  shot  ;  several  of 
the  ports  damaged,  and  port  timbers  cut  off;  the  channels  and 
chainplates  damaged  by  shot,  and  the  falling  of  the  mizen  mast  ; 
the  principal  part  of  the  bulkheads,  halfports,  and  portsashes 
thrown  overboard  in  clearing  ship  for  action. 

"  The  mizen  mast  shot  away  about  g  feet  above  the  deck  ;  the 
main  mast  shot  through  and  sprung ;  the  main  yard  gone  ;  the 
main  topmast  and  cap  shot  in  different  places  and  reefed  ;  the 
main  topsail  yard  shot  away  ;  the  foremast  shot  through  in  a 
number  of  different  places,  and  is  at  present  supported  by  a  top* 
mast,  and  a  part  of  the  topsail  and  crossjack  yards  ;  the  fore  yard 
shot  away  ;  the  bowsprit  jibboom  and  cap  shot,  and  the  spritsail 
and  spritsail  topsail  yards,  and  flying  jibboom  gone  ;  the  fore  and 
main  tops  damaged  ;  the  whole  of  the  spare  topmast  yards,  hand- 
mast,  and  fishes  shot  in  different  places,  and  converted  into  jury 
geer. 

"The  ship  makes  in  bad  weather  12  inches  water  an  hourv" 


APPENDIX  C 


GRANT  OF  ARMS  TO  THOMAS  MASTERMAN  HARDY, 

EsQ.j  DATED    i8tH    JANUARY    1806 

To  ALL  AND  Singular  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come.  Sir 
Isaac  Heard,  Knight,  Garter  Principal  King  of  Arms,  and  George 
Harrison,  Esquire,  Clarenceux  King  of  Amies  of  the  south-east  and 
west  parts  of  Enghnd,  from  the  river  Trent  southwards,  send 
Greeting. 

Whereas  Thomas  Masterman  Hardy,  Esquire,  Captain  of  His 
Majesty's  Ship  the  Victory^  under  the  command  of  the  ever-to-be- 
lamented  Hero,  Vice-Admiral  Lord  Viscount  Nelson,  in  the  late 
memorable  and  glorious  Engagement  with  the  Combined  Fleets 
of  France  and  Spain  off  Cape  Trafalgar,  second  son  of  the  late 
Joseph  Hardy  of  Portisham,  in  the  County  of  Dorset,  Esquire, 
deceased,  hath  represented  unto  the  most  noble  Charles,  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  Earl  Marshal  and  Hereditary  Marshal  of  England,  that 
His  Majesty  having  been  graciously  pleased  to  signify  his  inten- 
tion of  conferring  upon  him  the  Dignity  of  a  Baronet  of  the 
United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  being  informed 
that  the  arms  used  by  his  family  have  not  been  duly  registered  in 
the  College  of  Arms,  and  that  such  registry  is  necessary  on  the 
present  occasion.  He,  therefore,  requested  the  favour  of  his 
Graces'warrant  to  the  Kings  of  Arms  concerned,  for  their  granting, 
confirming,  and  exemplifying  the  same,  with  such  variations  or 
distinctions  as  may  be  necessary  to  be  borne  by  him  and  his 
descendants,  and  by  those  of  his  said  late  father,  Joseph  Hardy, 
deceased,  viz.,  Joseph  Hardy  of  Portisham,  aforesaid.  Esquire,  John 
Hardy,  Esquire,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  Thresher,  Gent.,  Anne 
Hardy,  Mary,  wife  of  James  Balston,  Gent.,  Catherine,  wife  of  John 
Callard  Manfield,  Gent.,  Martha  Hardy  and  Augusta  Hardy,  with 


288  APPENDICES 

due  and  proper  differences  according  to  the  Laws  of  Arms.  And 
for  as  much  as  the  said  Earl  Marshal  did,  by  warrant  under  his 
hand  and  seal,  bearing  date  the  seventeenth  day  of  January  instant, 
authorise  and  direct  us  to  grant,  confirm,  and  exemplify  to  the 
said  Thomas  Masterman  Hardy  the  Armorial  Ensigns  used  by  his 
family  accordingly. 

Know  Yk,  Thp:refore,  that  we,  the  said  Garter  and  Clarenceux, 
in  pursuance  of  His  Grace's  warrant  and  by  virtue  of  the  Letters 
Patent  of  our  several  offices  to  ^ch  of  us  respectively  granted,  do 
by  these  Presents  grant  and  exemplify  to  the  said  Thomas 
Masterman  Hardy  the  arms  following,  that  is  to  say  : — 

Pean  on  a  Chevron  or,  between  three  Escallops  Argent, 
THREE  Dragons'  Heads  erased  of  the  Field, 

and  for  a  Crest, 

Out  of  a  Naval  Crown  or,  a  Dragon's  Head  Pean, 

as  the  same  are  in  the  margin  hereof  more  plainly  depicted,  to  be 
borne  and  used  for  ever  hereafter  by  him  the  said  Thomas 
Masterman  Hardy  and  his  descendants,  and  by  those  of  his  said 
late  father,  Joseph  Hardy,  deceased,  viz.,  Joseph  Hardy  of  Portis- 
ham  aforesaid,  Esquire,  John  Hardy,  Esquire,  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
John  Thresher,  Gent.,  Anne  Hardy,  Mary,  wife  of  James  Balston, 
Gent.,  Catharine,  wife  of  John  Callard  Manfield,  Gent.,  Martha 
Hardy  and  Augusta  Hardy,  with  due  and  proper  differences 
according  to  the  Laws  of  Arms. 

In  Witness  whereof,  we,  the  said  Garter  and  Clarenceux 
Kings  of  Arms,  have  to  these  presents  subscribed  bur  names,  and 
affixed  the  seals  of  our  several  offices  this  eighteenth  day  of 
January,  in  the  forty-sixth  year  of  the  reign  of  our  Sovereign, 
Lord  George  the  Third,  by  the  grace  of  God  of  the  United 
Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  King,  Defender  of  the 
Faith,  etc.,  and  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  One  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  six. 

Seals  and  signatures  of  Sir  Isaac  Heard,  Garter  Principal  King 
Arms,  and  George  Harrison,  Clarenceux  King  of  Arms. 

From  the  original  in  the  possession  of  W.  Hardy  Manfield, 
Esq.,  of  Portisham  House,  Dorset. 


APPENDIX    D.-PEDIGREE    OF    THE    HARDYS    OF    PORTISHAM,    CO.    DORSET. 


r,  Eiq..  dial  7lh  April  II 


1.  JOSEPH  liAltnV.  of  a-™lnitn,  »,  JOHN  HAROY  rf  PortUtani,  Emi..  a  V™Ad«i.i  Si.  TIIOmAs  »  .    ^     .       ,     ,, 

CaDoiHUEwiihoBllinlUKInialon  h™  10.  Am^I  ItJlj  "iUd^  «lh  nl   KlnK«oiJ   Huwll.   OUi  April  l.«»i   "fJJ^PJJJi, 


Loi^ Bridr. Mill  April  ITt'l:  ^vrttd  Joiin 


'i-:Str  '•"' 


Sk«, 


s;s 


APPENDIX  E 


WILLS  OF  THE  HARDYS 

Thk  will  of  John  Hardy,  senior,  of  Portisham,  co.  Dorset, 
gentleman,  is  dated  the  8th  May  1704.  He  desires  that  his  body 
may  be  buried  in  the  Parish  Church  of  Portisham.  To  his  son 
John  Hardy,  he  bequeaths  household  goods  and  furniture.  To 
his  son  Joseph  Hardy,  his  large  chests  and  other  furniture. 
Residue  to  his  daughter,  Anne  Hardy,  whom  he  appoints  to  be 
executrix  of  his  will. — Witnesses,  Richard  Baily,  Edward  Fooks, 
and  Katharine  Michell.     Sealed  with  the  Hardy  Arms. 

The  will  was  proved  by  the  executrix  at  the  Court  of  the 
Archdeacon  of  Dorset,  the  6th  March  170?,  and  is  endorsed 
"  Mr  John  Hardy  Senr's  Will." 

The  will  of  Thomas  Masterman  of  Kingston  Russell,  co.  Dorset 
gentleman,    is   dated   the    12th   February    1763.     He  bequeaths 
legacies  to  several  servants.     To  his  son-in-law,  Joseph  Hardy,  the 
younger,  of  Portisham,  bequeaths  the  remainder  of  his  estate  for 
term    of   years    in  Carrents  Farm,  in  Winterborne    St  Martin, 
Dorset,  which  he  holds  on  a  lease  from  William  Pitt,  Esq.     Al 
the  rest  of  his  lands  are  bequeathed  to  his  loving  brother-in-law, 
Thomas  Rawlins  of  Druce,  in  Puddletown,  gentleman,  Charles 
Masterman  of  Friar  Waddon,  gentleman,  and  to  the    testator's 
nephew,  William  Masterman  of  Abbotsbury,  gentleman,  executor 
in  trust  for  the  testator's  daughters,  Mary  Masterman  and  Nanny 
wife  of  Joseph  Hardy  aforesaid,  equally.     Sealed  with  these  arms 
— A  cross  coupe  between  four  pears. 

The  will  was  proved  by  the  executors  in  the  Court  of  the 
Archdeacon  of  Dorset,  the  20th  January  1764. 

289  ^ 


290  APPENDICES 

Will  of  John  Hardy  of  Portisham,  Dorset,  gentleman,  dated 
the  4th  February  1809.  He  bequeaths  all  his  personality,  the 
stock  on  his  farms,  etc.,  to  his  sisters,  Anne  Hardy,  Martha  Hardy, 
and  Augusta  Hardy,  to  be  equally  divided,  and  he  appoints  them 
to  be  executrices  of  his  will.  Witnesses,  John  Templeman  and 
Francis  Oakley,  junr. 

The  testator  died  the  25th  of  April  1822.  The  will  was 
proved  at  Blandford,  in  the  Court  of  the  Archdeacon  of  Dorset,  the 
29th  April  1823.     Sworn  under  ^2000. 


The  will  of  Vice-Admiral  Sir  Thomas  Masterman  Hardy, 
Bart.,  G.C.B.,  Governor  of  Greenwich  Hospital,  is  dated  the 
loth  June  1839.  , 

He  appoints  Sir  John'.,  Dean  Paul,  Bart.,  Sir  Francis 
Seymour,  K.C.H.,abd  John.  Arscott  Lethbridge,.  Esq.,  to  be  his 
executors  in  trust  ror  the  ecjual  division  of  his  estate  between  his 
three  children,  viz.,"  Louisa  Georgina  Hardy,  Emily  Georgina 
Hardy,  and  Mary  Charlotte  MacGregor,  wife  of  John  Atholl 
Bannatyne  MacGregor,.  Esq.  His  wife.  Lady  Anne  Emily  Louisa 
Hardy,  is  provided  for  under  her  marriage  settlements.  He 
bequeaths  an  annuity  to  his  sister.  Miss  Augusta  Sarah  Master- 
man  Hardy  of  Portisham,  Dorset.  Power  is  reserved  to  his 
executors  to  dispose  as  they  shall  think  fit  of  all  household  effects 
which  Lady  Hardy  might  not  choose  to  retain. 

..Testator  died  at  Greenwich  Hospital,  the  20th  September 
1839.  ,  The  will  was  proved  in  the  Prerogative  Court  of  Canter- 
bury by  the  executors,  the  7th  November  1839.  Sworn  under 
/2  5,000. 

[Reference,  P.C.C.  690,  Vaughan.} 


The  will  of  Joseph  Hardy, ,E^sq.,  of  Charminster,  in^the  county 
of  Dorset,  is  dated  the  7th  March  1840.  He  bequeaths,  to  his 
three  nieces,  the  daughters -of  his  late  brother,  Sir  Thomas 
Masterman  Hardy,  Bart.,  the  sum  of  XS^oo-  ^^^  ^^"^  nieces, 
Mary  Manfield  and  Anne  Manfield,  ;^iooo  each.  To  his  nephew, 
Thomas  Balston,  gentleman,  of  Broadway,  Dorset,  ^1000.  An 
annuity  of  ;^IQ0  to  his  sister,  Miss  Augusta  Sarah  Masterman 
Hardy  of  Portisham,  Dorset.  Legacies  to  his  servants.  Life 
interest  in  his  estate  to  his  wife,  Mrs  Mary  Hardy.     Residue  to 


APPENDIX  E  291 

his  nephew,  WilHam   Manfield   of  Dorchester,    attorney  at  law, 
whom  he  appoints  to  be  executor. 

The  testator  died  at  Charminster  on  the  6th  May  1841.  The 
will  was  proved  by  the  executor  in  the  Prerogative  Court  of 
Canterbury,  on  the  22nd  July  1841. 

[Reference,  P.C.C.  1841,  No.  500.] 


292 


APPENDICES 


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APPENDIX  G 

STATEMENT  OF  ACCOUNT  BETWEEN  HARDY 

22ND  May  1794 

Dr. 

1794. 

May  22.  To  paid  Fees  on  his  confirmed  Commission   -         -       ^116 

1795 

Feb.    17.  „  paid  his  Draft,  nth  Oct.  1794,  to  G.  Cockburn  - 

18.  „  pd.  do.j         Deer.,  to  do. 

Dec.    31.  „  interest,  £;i,  13s.  gd.,  and  postage,  7s. 

^64 


40 

0 

0 

20 

0 

0 

3 

0 

9 

1796. 

Jan.       I.  To  balance  of  last  year  -        -----  ^64     2  3 

10.  „  pd.  Draft,  4th  Novr.,  to  D.  H.  Garrott       -        -  30     o  o 

Apl.     12.  „  pd.     do.,     15th  Feby.,  to  Thos.  Pollard     -         -  40    o  o 

Oct.     17.  „  pd.     do.,     1st  Augst.,  to  J.  R.  Willson      -        -  31   10  o 

Dec.    31.  „   difference  of  in.,  ^5,  5s.  2d.,  and  postage,    5s.  6d.  5   10  8 


«^i7i 


1797. 

Jan.       I.  To  bal.  of  last  year 

Mar.     9.  ,5  pd.  Draft,  20th  Augt.  1796,  to  J.  R.  Willson 

Apl.      9    „  pd.     do.,    31st  Deer.  1796,  to  J.  Culverhouse    - 

;  June     4.  „  pd      do.,     13th  April  1797,  to  G.  Cockburne 

Dec.    12.  „  pd.     do.,     13th  Octr.  1797,  to  J.  Lampiere 

31.  „  difference  of  int.,  ^10  IDS.  od.,  and  postage,  55.  id, 


£^2>i 

18 

5 

03 

0 

0 

40 

0 

0 

25 

0 

0 

30 

0 

0 

10 

15 

I 

^276  13    6 


1798. 
Jan.       I.  To  balance  of  last  year  -         -         -         .         -        .   ^^276 
.  Mar.   10.  „  pd.  his  Draft,  3rd  Janry.,  to  J.  Lampiere  - 

„  pd.       do.,       13th  Janry.,  to  Jn.  Robin,  Esq.     - 
Nov.   28.  „  pd.       do.,       1st  Aug.,  to  do 

14    „  pd.  Fees  on  your  Commissions  as  Comr.,  Az/tc/; 
and  Post-Captain  Alligator   -        -        -        - 
30.  „  his  Order,  5th  Augst.,  to  Capt.  Berry 
Dec.   31.  „  differenceof  int., ^i3s  6s.  7d., and  postage,  3s-6d 


76 

9 

6 

35 

Q 

0 

30 

0 

0 

10 

5 

0 

6 

6 

0 

14 

14 

0 

13 

10 

I 

294 


Carry  forward     -    £'S^(i     4     7 


^AND    HIS   AGENT,   GEORGE    HARTWELL 

TO  i6Tn  July  1799. 

Cr. 

1795- 
Dec.  31.  Balance  due  G.  H.  .--.--     ^64     2     3 


£fiA    2     3 

1796. 
Apl.   16.  By  Prize  Money  of  Poulain  &  Keys,  Tisiphone  for 
LOiitardo      -         -         -         -         ^34     i     6 
„   Commission      -         -         -         -  o  17     o 

^33     4     6 

jj   Balance  due  G.  H. 137  18     5 

i^iyi     2   II 

1797. 

Mar.  29.  By  Prize  Money  AmpJiitrite  ior  Pfince^^Royal  of 
Swede fi,  captured  5th  Aug^t.,  1793,  ^"d  an 
oil  boat  -         -         - ^o     4     o 

Dec.   31.  „   Balance  due  G.  H. 276     9     6 


^276  13     6 

1798. 
June    2.  By    Messrs    Cook   &    Halford,    P.M.,     14th    Feb. 

{Mineme) ^113126 

„   Commission  -         -         -         -  2170 

^iio  15     6 

Dec.    19.  „  Wages,  Tisiphone,  ist  May  '92  to 

23rd  May  '93     -         -         -         -      ;^  1 7  18     6 
„  Wages,  AiJiphiirite,  24th  May  '93 

to  26th  Nov.      ...        -  910 


/26  19    6 
Commission  -        -        -         -  0136 

• — ■         26     6     o 


Carry  forward    -  .^137     i     6 


STATEMENT  OF 

Dr. 

1798. 

Brought  forward     -  £386     4     7 


i:386    4     7 

1799, 
Jany    i.  To  balance  of  last  year  ------     ^32  13     3 

12.  „  paid  his  Draft,  nth  Octr.  1798,  to  Jos.  Littledale  70  o  o 
May  25.  „  paid  do.  (no  date),  to  Messrs  Littledale  &  Brodrick  70  o  o 
July    16.  „  interest      ----...-  334 


290 


ACCO  U  y,i:S—conitJiucd. 

Cr. 

1798. 

Brought  forward     -    ^137     i     6 
Dec.   31.  By  Pay,  Meleager,  27th  Nov.  '93  to 

31st  July '96       ...         -    ^192     5     6 
„   Compensation       -        -        -         -         26     8     6 


Paid —  ^218   14     o 

Carr  Journals     £0     1     6 
Passing       do. 
and  dispens- 
ing Order     -     o     17     6 

£0  19     o 

Commn.  -        -        -         -         5     9     6 

6     8     6 

212     5     6 

Dec    31   By      do.        do.,     ist  to  19th  August  '96      -        -  444 

„  Balance  due  to  G.  H.        -        -        -        -        -        32  13     3 


^386    4     7 


1799- 
July     16.  By  cash  of  Messrs  Cooke  &  Halford     -        -        -   £^7S  ^6     7 


^175   16     7 


Errors  Excepted, 

G.  HARTWELL, 

London,  i6th  July  1799. 


APPENDIX    H 

•GRANT    OF    ARMS    MADE    TO    CAPTAIN 
BULLEN,  C.B.,  ^rd^^^^oyember  1817. 

To  all  and  Singular  to  whom  these  Presents  shall  come  Sir 
Isaac  Heard  Knight  Garter  Principal  King  of  Arms  and  George 
Harrison  Esquire  Clarenceux  King  of  Arms  of  the  South  East 
and  West  Parts  of  England  from  the  River  Trent  Souths^rds 
send  Greeting.  Whereas  Charles  Bullen  Esquire  a  Post 
Captain  in  the  Royal  Navy  and  Companion  of  the  Most 
Honourable  Military  Order  of  the  Bath  only  surviving  Son  of 
John  Bullen  late  of  Weymouth  in  the  County  of  Dorset 
Esquire  deceased  hath  represented  un,to  Henry  Thomas  Howard- 
Molyneux-Howard  Esquire  commonly  called  The  Right 
Honourable  Lord  Henry  Thomas  Howard-Molyneux-Hovvard 
Deputy  (with  the  Ro3'al  Approbation),  to  his  Brother  the  Most 
Noble  Bernard  Edward  Duke  of  Norfolk  'Earl  Marshal  and 
Hereditary  Marshal  of  England  that  he  is  informed  on  an 
Examination  of  the  Records  of  the  College  of  Arms  that  the 
Armorial  Ensigns  used  by  his  Ancestors  have  not  been  duly 
registered  to  his  Family  and  being  unwilling  to  continue  the 
use  thereof  without  lawful  Authority  he  therefore  requested 
;  the  favour  of  His  Lordship's  Warrant  for  our  granting  and 
assigning  such  Armorial  Ensigns  as  may  be  proper  and  allusive 
to  the  Services  of  the  said  Charles  Bullen  more  particularly  in 
Command  of  His  Majesty's  Ship  Britannia  of  100  guns  in  the 
memorable  and  decisive  Victory  obtained  over  the  combined 
Fleets   of  France  and  Spain    off  Cape  Trafalgar  on   the  21st 


APPENDIX  M  zg^ 

of  October  1805  to  be  borne  by  him  and  his  -Descendants  ynd 
by  the  Descendants  of  his  younger  Brother  Richard  BuHen 
Esquire  late  a  Captain  in  the  second  or  Royal  North  British 
Regiment  of  Dragoons  deceased  and  by>  Ms  'Uncle  Simeon 
Bullen  now  of  Charmouth  in  the  County  «f  Dbrset  aforesaid 
and  his  Descendants  the  whole  according  to  the  Laws  of  Aims 
And  foreasmuch  as  His  Lordship  did  by  Warrant  under  his 
Hand  and  Seal  bearing  date  the  thirtieth  day  of  October  last 
authorize  and  direct  Us  to  grant  and  exemplify  such  Armorial 
Ensigns  accordingly  Know  ye  therefore  that  We  the  said 
Garter  and  Clarenceux  in  pursuance  of  the  said  Warrant  and 
by  virtue  of  the  Letters  Patent  of  Our  several  Offices  to  each 
of  Us  respectively  granted  do  by  these  Presents  grant  and 
assign  to  the  said  Charles  Bullen  Esquire  the  Arms  following 
that  is  to  say  Ermine  on  a  Cheveron  Azure  between  three 
Bulls  Heads  erased  Sable  two  Swords  proper  pomels  and  hilts 
Or  the  points  saltireways  encircled  by  a  Wreath  of  Laurel  Gold 
in  the  centre  Chief  point  pendent  from  a  Ribband  Argent 
fimbriated  of  the  second  a  Representation  of  the  Gold  Medal 
presented  by  His  Majesty's  Command  to  the  said  Charles  Bullen 
for  his  Services  in  the  said  memorable  and  decisive  Victory 
obtained  over  the  Combined  Fleets  of  France  and  Spain  off 
Cape  Trafalgar  encircled  by  the  word  "  Trafalgar  "  And  for 
the  Crest  On  a  Wreath  of  the  Colours  Out  of  a  Naval  Crown 
Or  Sails  Argent  the  Rim  inscribed  with  the  Word  "  Trafalgar  " 
a  Bulls  Head  of  the  first  charged  on  the  Neck  with  an  Anchor 
Sable  between  two  Wings  Azure  as  the  same  are  in  the  Margin 
hereof  more  plainly  depicted  to  be  borne  and  used  for  ever 
hereafter  by  him  the  said  Charles  Bullen  Esquire  and  his 
Descendants  and  the  said  Arms  without  the  Medal  in  the  centre 
Chief  Point  and  the  said  Crest  Avithout  the  word  "Trafalgar" 
on  the  Rim  of  the  Naval  Crown  to  be  borne  by  the  descendants 
of  his  said  late  Brother  Richard  Bullen  Esquire  deceased  and 
also  by  his  Uncle  the  said  Simeon  Bullen  and  his  Descendants 
with  their  due  and  proper  differences  according  to  the  Laws  of 
Arms  In  witness  whereof  We  the  said  Garter  and  Clarenceux 
Kings  of  Arms  have  to  these  Presents  subscribed  Our  Names 
and  affixed  the  Seals  of  Our  several  Offices  this  third  da}'  of 
November  in  the  Fifty  eighth  Year  of  the  Reign  of  Our 
Sovereign  Lord  George  the  Third  by  the  Grace  of  God  of  the 
United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  King  Defender 


300  APPENDICES 

of  the  Faith  &c.  And  in  the  Year  of  Our  Lord  One  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  seventeen. 

/  certify  that  the  above  is  correctly  copied  from  the  Register 
of  Nobility  and  Gentry  vohime  2,0  folio  2,'i^  py<^sej7jed  in 
the  College  of  Anns. 

W.  A.  Lindsay, 
(Windsor). 
College  of  Arms, 
T/oth  August  1905. 


APPENDIX   I 


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APPENDIX    K 

THE  SONG  O'F  THE  BUT^TON  VOLUNTEERS 

Amongst  the  papers  of  Mids-hitman  R.  F.  Roberts  of  the 
Victoiy  is  a  MS.  cop}^,  words  and  music,  of  the  song  of  the  loyal 
volunteers  of  Burton  Bradstock,  written  on  a  folio  sheet  of  paper, 
bearing  the  watermark  1801. 


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. 


304  APPENDICES 

IV. 

Gallia's  sons  invasion  plans  {sic) 
Threat'ning  to  destroy  us, 

Seize  our  maidens,  houses,  lands, 
And  as  slaves  employ  us. 
C/ionis. 


We  must  fight,  or  starve,  or  fly, 

Hope  naught  else  remaining  ; 
Or  wives  may  faint  and  children  die 

With  no  hand  restraining. 
C/forus. 
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. 

A  note  says:  "This  music  sounds  tolerable  well  for  fife  and 
drum,  and  makes  a  good  militar^ma^ch." 

On  the  back  of  the  paper  is  the  Bishoport  postmark,  and  the 
address,  "Lieut.  B.  A.  Symes,  ist  Dorset  Regt.,  Lewes  Barracks, 
Sussex." 


Nv 


>^ 


INDEX 

The  figures  in  square  brackets  refer 
to  the  notes  only. 

AbeRCORN,  John  James,  first  Marquis 

of [i68],  169 
Aboukir  Bay,  36 
Acheron,  bomb,  127 
Acland,  Arthur  Dyke,  240 
Active,  120  . 

Acton,  the  Neapolitan  Premier,  36 
Adams,  iMr,  his  school  at  Tiverton   1 18 
Addington,    Henry    (afterwards    Loid 

Sidmouth)  [62],  80,  134 
Adelaide,  Queen,  222,  224,  226-228,  239 
Africa,  at  Trafalgar,  5,  HO,  I45,  267- 

270 
Akbar  (50  guns),  256 
Alacrity,  187 

Alcwene  (32  guns)  [107],  264 
Alexander  [41] 
Alfred,  King,  defeats  Danes  in  bwanage 

Bay,  I 
Alkmaar,  250 
Allen  Island,  165 
Allen,  Joseph,  Memoir  of  Sir   William 

Haywood  [I'^f]  [234] 
Allen,  Tom,  Nelson's  body  servant,  230 
Alonzo,  82 
Amazon,  127,  146 

Ambuscade,  I15,  "6,  121-123,  126-128 
Amelia,  Princess,  135 
America,  war  with,  160-165 
Amiens,  Peace  of,  79,  85,  87,  89 
Amphion,  94-109,  123 
Amphitrite  frigaie,  26 
Andover,  Charles,  Viscount,  271 
Ann  Boleyn,  Queen,  245 
Annual  Register,  223 
Arbuthnot,  Admiral  Marriot,  247,  248 
Ardesoif,  Captain  J.  P.,  347 
Arion,  1 27 
Ashantee  War,  256 
Ashe,     D.D.,     Rev.     Robert     Hoadly, 

Master  of  Crewkerne  School,  19 
Asia,  197,  198 
Astley,  Lady,  196 
Auckland,  Lord,  217 
Aurora  frigate  (32  guns),  263,  264 

Bagot,  Miss,  226 
Baglake  Farm,  15 
Bagster,  ladies'  tailor,  48,  52 
Bagster,  George,  53,  94 
Bahia,  188,  190 


304 


A 

drum, 

Oi 

addre 

Susse 


Ball,  Captain,  Governor  of  Malta,  41 

Balston,  James,  17,  67,  81 

Bdlston,  Mrs    (Mary   Hardy),    17,   47, 

48,  91 
Balston,  Edward,  51,  53,  95,  102,  103, 

III,  112,  171,  187 
Balston,  John,  84,  202 
Balston,  Captain  Thomas,  84,  169,  171, 

184,  187 
Balston,  Mrs  Thomas,  169,  1 71,  176 
Baltic,  voyage  to  the,  62 
Bankes,      Albert,       of      Wolfeton      or 

Wolveton  House,  13 
Bankes,  M.P.,  Rt.  Hon.    George,   The 

Story  of  Corf e  Castle  [150] 
Bankes,     Henry,    of     Kingston     Lacy 

[150] 
Bantry  Bay  squadron,  mutiny  of,  83 
Baquoi,  264 

Barfleiir  [21]  [157],  160 
Barrow,     Sir    John,    Secretary    of    the 

Admiralty,  210,  223 
Bartlett,  Dr  Edward,   56,  96,  98,   ill, 

162 
Bartlett,  Thomas,  55,  96,  144,  162 
Bascombe,  201,  208 
Bathurst,  Henry,  third  Earl  of,  172 
Beach,  Thomas,  his  alleged  portrait  of 
Hardy,  24  ;  portrait  of  F.  J.   Browne 
[48]  ;    of   Captain    Meggs    [86]  ;   of 
Admiral  Arbuthnot  [247] 
Beach,  Rev.  W.  H.  [247] 
Beaminster,  4  ;  school,  18 
Beaujolais,  Comte,  253 
Bedford,  John  Russell,  Earl  of,  13,  215 
Bedford,  Lieut.,  pall-bearer  at  Hardy's 

funeral,  233 
Bedingfield,  Lady,  228 
Behnes,  William,  sculptor  of    Hardy's 

portrait-bust,  239 
Belleisle,  117,  126,  156 
Bellerophon,  262 
Belliijiieiix  [112] 
Bellona  [157] 
Beresford,  Sir  J.,  239 
Berkeley,     Miss    Anne    Louisa    Emily 

(afterwards  Lady  Hardy),  q.v. 
Berkeley,  Augustus,  fourth  Earl  of  [159] 
Berkeley,      Lady     (Emily      Charlotte 

Lennox),  159 
Berkeley,  Hon.  Captain,  233 
Berkeley,  Fitzhardingc',  233 
Berkeley,     Vice-Admiral     Sir    George 
Cranfield,  156-158,  160,  161,  170,  173 
Berkeley,  Lady,  160,  161 
Berkeley  of  Stratton,  John,  Lord  [201] 
Berkeley,  Christian,  Lady  {nee  Riccard) 

[201] 
Bermudas,  the,  3,  4 


304 


A 

drum, 

0) 

addre 

Susse 


2 
Bernard,  Captain  Jean,  of  Za  Couragettse, 

265 
Berry,     Sir     Edward,     Nelson's     flag- 
captain  on    Vanguard^  36,  40,  43,  54, 

58,  216 
Berwick,  Duke  of,  28 
Best,  William  Draper,  Chief  Justice  of 

the  Common  Pleas  (afterwards  Baron 

Wynford),  20,  168 
Bickerton,    Sir    Richard    Hussey,    249, 

263 
Bingham,  Colonel,  Dorset  Militia,  86, 

106,  112,  139 
Bingham,  Lieut.  John,  124,  139 
Bingham,  Rev.  Peregrine,  82,  S6 
Bingham,  Sir  Richard,  3 
Bisca}^  Bay  of,  266 
Blackdown  Hill,  5,  6 
Blackwood,  Admiral,  216 
Blagdon    Hill,    beacon    on,    149,    150; 

Hardy  Monument  on,  240 
Blake,  Robert,  4 
Blanche,  28 
Blenheim,  99 
Bligh,  Captain,  80 
Bloodhound,  gun-brig,  96,  97 
Blossom,  181,  255 
Bolton,  Thomas  [113] 
Bolton,  Catherine,  Lady,  [113] 
Bolton,    Captain    Sir   William,     R.N., 

113,  "8 
Bombay  Anna  Indiaman,  77 
Bonnett,  hairdresser,  93 
Bodwell,  Edward,  Clerk  to  the  Dorset 

Lieutenancy,  150 
Botafogo,  near  Rio  de  Janeiro,  188 
Boulogne,  failure  of  Nelson's  attack  on 

tlotilla  at,  71,  76  [113] 
Bounce,  Hardy's  dog,  21 
Bovvles,  Captain,  20b 
Boyne  (98  guns),  262 
Boyt,  William,  150,  24O 
Brace,  Ckptain  E.,  206 
Brenton,  Vice- Admiral  Jahleel,  208,  252 
Brice,  Rev.  Edward,  175 
B;ice,  Rev.  George  Tito  [i75] 
Bride  River,  12,  14,  15 
Bridge  and  Rundell,  154 
Bridport  (Byrportte),  3 
Bridport,    Admiral    Alexander    Hood, 

Viscount,  4,  5,  21,  48 
Briggs,  Sir  J.  H.,  iVaval  Administrations^ 

200,  210,  21 1,  218,  239 
Brine,  Admiral  Jaines,  lit 
Bristol,  first  Earl  of,  259 
Britannia  at  Trafalgar,  5,  252,  253 
1)1  own,  I '17,  iijS 
Biowne,  C.  Laihom,  A-elsoti,  His  Public 


304 


A 

drum, 

O: 

addre 

Susse 


Yeomanry,  M.P.  for  Dorset,  48,  67, 
106,  112,  118,  ]2i,  139,  153 

Browne,  John  H  ,  172 

Browne,  General,  Lieut.-Gov.  of  Ply- 
mouth, 176 

Brownlow,  Lady,  226 

Brownsee,  or  Branksea,  Island,  2 

Bruix,  Admiral,  41 

Brunion,  Sir  J.,  Lieut-Gov.  of  Green- 
wich Hospital,  233 

Bryden,  Mr,  57 

Buckingham,  Richard,  first  Duke  of, 
Hardy's  duel  with,  168,  1 69 

Budden,  Robert,  72,  137 

Buenos  Ayres,  181-184 

Bullen,  Admiral  Sir  Charles,  5  ;  his 
ancestry,  245  ;  birth  and  parentage, 
246  ;  a  ten-year-old  sailor,  247  ;  the 
ships  he  served  in,  247,  248  ;  his 
coiir.ige  at  the  Mutinv  of  the  Nore, 
249  ;  at  battle  of  Camperdown,  250  ; 
and  Lieut.  Heilberg,  2(;o,  251  ;  on 
the  Guinea  Coast,  251  ;  Flag-Captain 
of  the  Britannia  at  Trafalgar,  252, 
253  ;  a  skilled  draftsman,  253  ; 
Superintendent  of  Pembroke  Dock- 
yard, Captain  of  Royal  Sovereign, 
3'acht,  G.C.B.,  Admiral  of  the 
Blue,  257  ;  Hardy's  reference  to, 
ihid. ;  death  of,  and  tablet  to  his 
memory,  257,  258  ;  grant  of  arms 
made  to,  298-3CO  ;  pedigree  of,  301 

Bullen,  Lady  (;//«  Wood),  249 

Bidlen,  Colonel  J.  B.  S.,  of  Catherston 
Manor,  Dorset  [247],  258 

Bullen,  Jeffrey,  Lord  Mayor  of  London, 

245 
Bullen,  Jeffrey,  Governor    of   Kinsale, 

245 

Bullen,  Surgeon-General  John,  of  Wey- 
mouth, 246, 247 

Bullen,  Richard,  of  Seavington  St 
Mary,  246,  247 

Bullen,  Captain  Richard,  Scots  Greys, 
246 

Bullen,  Simeon,  246 

Bullen,  Simon,  of  Salle,  Norfolk,  245 

Bullen,  AVilliam,  245 

Bullen,  William,  of  Cathanger,  Somer- 
set, 246 

Biillens  of  Dorset,  the,  245 

Burdett-Coults,  Baroness,  24 

Burgis,  162 

Burion,  Dorset,  14,  15 

Burton  Volunteers,  the  S.-ng  of  the, 
303,  304 


304 


A 

drum 

O 

addre 

Susse 


3 

Cadaques,  255,  256 

Cadiz,  the  combined  fleets  at,  1 36,  140 

Ccesar,  156 

Calder,  Sir  Robert,  30,  34,  139,  252 

Callao  Bay,  Lima,  185 

Cambrian,  40-gun  frigate,  255 

Came    House,  Dorchester,   48,    52,    56 

[86] 
Campbell,  Admiral,  123 
Camperdovvn,  battle  of,  223,  250 
Canford  Cliffs,  Dorset,  i 
Canopus,  139 
Cape   St   Vincent,   Jervis'   victory   oS", 

29.  30 
Caracciolo,       Francesco,       Neapolitan 

leader,  42 
Carnatic  guardship,  24 
Carolina,  royal  yacht,  8 
Caroline,  Queen,  37,  38,  42,  134 
Casher,  wine  merchant,  196 
Cassel,  Captain,  120 
Catalonia,  Bullen's  squadron  off,  254 
Cuthcart,  Lord,  134 
Cedeira,  264 

Ceres,  Spanish  frigate,  28 
Chamberlain,  Mr,  188 
Chamberlayne,  Mrs,  of  Maiden  Bradley, 

Wilts  [113] 
Channel  Islands,  8 
Chantrey,    his  bust  of  Admiral  Sir  R. 

G.  Keats,  239 
Charleston,  Fall  of,  248 
Charmouth,  i,  5 
Chatteris,       William,      of     Sandleford 

Priory,    Newbury,    167 
Chatteris,  Mrs  {tiee  Hardy),  167 
Chaves,  Marquis  de,  199 
Cheney,  Sir  John,  15 
Cheney,  Sir  Nicholas,  Sheriff  of  Dorset 

(1322),  3 
Chesapeake,  U.S.  frigate  [157],  158 
Chesapeake  Bay,  blockade  of,  137 
Chesil  Beach,  1 
Childers,  1 1 5 

Clarence,  Duke  of.     See  William  IV. 
Clark,  Samuel,  144 
Cochrane,  Lord,   185 
Cockburn,  Sir  George,  27,  178,  210-212, 

219,  239 
Codrington,  Admiral  Sir  Edward,  197  ; 

in   command  of  Channel   Squadron, 

218 
Colbourne's  United  Service  Journal 
Cole,  Rev.  Dr.,  Chaplain  of  Greenwich 

Hospital,  224 
CoUingwood,  Admiral  Lord,   132,  254, 

271 
Colomb,    Admiral,   Memoir   of  the   late 

Admiral  Sir  Cooj>ez-Jiej,  227 


304 


A 

drum 

O 

addre 

Susse 


Combe,    Rev.  John   de,    Precentor    of 

Exeter,   1 8 
Coiio.ly,  Lieutenant,  255 
Conqueror^  270 
Co'iway,  192 
Cooke  and  Halford,  35.  38,  4°,  43,  39, 

130,  203 
Copenhagen,  battle  of,  63,  64 
CLiik,  Hardy  ordered  to,  103 
Cornish,  Admiral,  262 
Cornvvaliis,  Admiral  Sir  William,   107, 

109,  252 
Co-ton,  Admiral  Sir  C  ,  255 
Counig€use,  La,  French  privateer,  265 
Cowper,  Mr,  183 
Cox,  Lieutenant  Daniel,  66,  69,  70,  177, 

183,  186,  188-191,  193 
Cox,  Joseph,  260 

Cox,  Patieison  &  Co.,  187,  1 88 

Cranborne,  i8 

Cruvfo  d,  Mr,  162 

Cregy,  battle  of,  2,  15 

Creo:e,  184,  185,  187,  189,  192,  194 

Crewkerne  (Crokehoni)  Grammar 
School,   19,  20 

Criswick,  Charles,  Mayor  of  Dor- 
chester,  240 

Critchell,  Lieutenant,  199,  200 

Croker,  J(;hn  Wilson,  Political  Secretary 
of  the  Admiralty,  210 

Crone,  Miss,  102,  153,  198 

Culloden  (74  guns)  36,  82,  I04  [107], 
248,  249 

Culverhouse,  Lieutenant,  28,  30 

Cumberland,  Prince  George  of  (after- 
wards King  of  Hanover),  224 

Cunningham,  Colonel,  Deputy  Consul- 
General,   Rio  de  Janeiro,    180,    183, 

184,  188 
Cunuingham,  Mrs,  180,  188 
Curieux  brig,  I  J2 
Curmes,  Bay  of,  264 
Curzon,  Lady  Georgina,  228 

D.\MER,  Lionel,  M.P.  for  Peter- 
borough, 56,  74 

Dampier,  Lieutenant,  158,  181 

Dampiers  of  Dorset,  the  [158] 

Danes,  the,  I 

d'Arblay,  Madame,  Memoirs  [68] 

Davison,  Alexander,  Clothing  Con- 
tractor to  the  Army,  137 

Dawson-Damers,  Earls  of  Portarling- 
ton  [56] 

Offence,  140,  234 

De  ences  of  the  Harbo.irsand  Coasts  of 
England  Commission,  JLtrdy  a 
member  of,  227 


304 


A 

drum 

O 

addre 

Susse 


Delft^  250,  251 

Denbigh,  Lady,  226 

Desborough,  General  [178] 

D'Estaing,  French  Admiral,  247 

Dethick,  Sir  William,  Garter  King  at 
Arms,  9 

Deux  Amis,  French  brig  of  marque,  266 

Diamond,   1 96 

Dickinson,  Captain,  2l8 

Dictator,  zbl 

Dido,  257 

Digby,  fifth  Baron,  259 

Digby,  Henry,  seventh  Baron,  first  Earl, 
260 

Digby,  Edward  St  Vincent,  ninth  Baron, 
371 

Digby,  Charles  George,  261 

Digby,  Edward  Henry  Trafalgar,  tenth 
Baron,  271 

Digby,  Sir  Henry,  106,  239  ;  his 
ancestry,  259  ;  birth  and  parentage, 
260  ;  the  ships  he  served  in,  261-263  ; 
his  fitness  for  cutting  out  expeditions, 
264;  captures  La  Lourageuse,  265; 
his  richest  prizes — a  record  hand, 
266  ;  Captain  of  the  Africa  at  Tra- 
falgar, 267-270  ;  his  marriage,  271  ; 
made  C.B.,  K.C.B.,  and  Admiral  of 
the  Blue,  272  ;  death  and  burial  in 
Minterne  Church,  Dorset,  272 

Digby,  Sir  John  (afterwards  Earl  of 
Bristol),  259 

Digby,  Admiral  Joseph,  261 

Digby,  Admiral  Noel  [68] 

Digby,  Admiral  Robert,  5,  261,  269, 
271 

Digby,  Sheffield,  261 

Digby,  Captain  Stephen,  68 

Digby,  the  Very  Rev.  the  Hon.  William, 
Dean  of  Woicester  and  of  Durham, 
260 

Digby,  Rev.  William,  Prebendary  of 
Worcester,  260 

Digby,  Hon.  Mrs  William  (Charlotte 
Cox),  260 

Digby,  Wingfield,  of  Sherbourne,  260 

Digbys,  the  Dorset,  302 

Dighton,  caricature  of  Lord  Sefton, 
"  Lord  Dashalong"  [170] 

Dine,  James,  3j 

Dobson,  Austin,  his  edition  of  Madame 
d' Arhlays  Memoirs  [68] 

Dobson,  Sir  Richard,  Chief  Medical 
Officer,  Greenwich  Hospital,  233 

Domett,  Admiral  Sir  William,  5,  29,  30, 
34,  65,  103 

Donegal,  208 

Dorche.'ter  Grammer  School,  9,  18 


304 


A 

drum 

O 

addre 

Susse 


of.  30  [56].  74,  79,  150,  153,  124 

Doris,  191,  192 

D'Orleans,  Due,  253 

Dorset,  and  her  Sailors  in  British  Naval 
History,  1-6  ;  the  Hardj-'s  and  their 
Jersey  forbears,  7-1 1  ;  the  Napiers  of, 
15  ;  Field  Club,  23;  ales,  52,  97-99; 
nursemaids'  refrain,  148  ;  beacons 
[150];  butter,  173;  "blue  vini.ey  " 
chee.-e,  176;  Hardy  Monument,  241- 
243 

Douglas,  Vice-Admiral,  157 

Dnnkwater  (afterwards  Bethune) 
Colonel,  historian  of  the  Siege  of 
Gibraltar,  197 

Duckworth,  Commodore,  264 

Duncan,  Admiral  Loid,  224,  249,  250, 
263 

Durban,  Captain,  1 1 5- 1 1 7,  121,  123 

Durham,  Lady  Charlotte,  77,  «S 

Durham,  Admiral  Sir  Philip  C.  H.  C, 
77,  239 

Edward  VI.,  18 

El  Bisarro  (Spanish),  265 

Eldon,  Lord,  134,  246 

Elephant,  Ne  son's  flagship  at  Copen- 
hagen, 63,  65 

Eiizalieth,  French  brig  of  marque,  267 

Elizabeth,  Oueen,  245 

Elliot,  Hugh,  Minister  for  Naples 
(afterwards  Governor  of  Madras),  108 

Elliot,  Admiral  John,  261 

Elliott,  Captain  (afterwards  Admiral), 
Sir  George,  :ii,  113,  205,  223 

Emmett's  insurrection  in  Ireland,  no 

Endytninn,  77,  146,  243 

Essex,  Earl  of,  245 

Ethalion  frigate,  266 

Ethehvulf,  King,  i 

Europa  (50  guns),  247,  261 

Etiryalus,  1 40 

Eurydice  (24  guns),  248,  262 

Euston,  Lord,  233 

Evans,  his  portrait  of  Hardy,  239 

Experimental  Squadron,  Hardy  in  com- 
mand of  the,  198-200 

Fane,  Mr,  82 

Fane,  Captain  F.  W.,  255 

Feaver,  George,  95,  97 

Ferdinand,    King    of    Spain,     13  ;     of 

Naples,    37,   3^i,    42  ;  his    portrait  at 

Portisham  House,  60 
Ferris,  Lieutenant,  106 
Festiiig,  Captain,  77 
Fielding,  Captain,  R.N.  [99] 
Filton,      Lieutenant,      pail-tearer      at 

Hardy's  funeral,  233 
Finch,  Captain  the  Hon.  Seymour,  262 


304 


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5 

Fitzgerald,  Lord  Edward  [99] 

Fitzgerald,  Lady  Robert  (Sophia  Char- 
lotte Fielding)  [99],  loo,  loi 

Fitzgerald,  Lord  Robert  Stephen, 
Minister  at  Lisbon,  98-100 

F"itzherbert,  Mrs  [58] 

FitzRoy,  Lord  Charles,  seventh  Duke 
of  Grafton,  227 

FitzRoy,  Lord  Frederick,  153,  227 

Fitzwilliam,  Lord,  79 

Fleming,  Commander,  21 7 

Floyer,  John,  High  sheriff  of  Dorset, 
240 

Flojer,  Mrs,  lays  foundation  stone  of 
the  Hardy  Monument,  240 

Foley,  Captain  (afterwards  Admiral)  Sir 
Thomas,  63,  67 

Foudroyant,  41-43 

Frampion,  Colonel  James,  Dorset  Yeo- 
manry, 67, 199 

Frampton,  Lady  Harriet  (jiee  Fox 
Strangways)  [67] 

Frederick,  Prince  Regent  of  Denmark, 
64 

Frederick  Island,  165 

Fremantie,  Sir  William  Henry,  169 

French  Revolution,  27,  209 

Froissart,  15 

Fuller,  Mr,  of  Cauldwell  Hall,  Ipswich, 

47 
Fury,  113,  114 

Gainsborough,  his  alleged  portrait  of 

Hardy,  24 
Galatea,  196 

Gambler,  Admiral  James,  first  Baron,  93 
Gambler,  Captain,  176 
Gannet  [138] 

Gardner,  Admiral  Sir  Alan,  263 
Gdrneti,  Captain  Harry,  87,  97  ;   Rear- 

Admiral,  215,  2i6 
Garth,  Captain,  196 
Geddcs,  Lieutenant,  163 
Genoa,  218 
Gentleman's   Magazine    [33],    233,   234 

[255]   ,. 
George,  King  of  Hanover,  224 
George  11.,  8 

George  III.,  45,  124,  134,  135 
George  IV.,  209 
Gerard,  Thomas,  245 
Ghent,  Peace  of,  166 
Gill,  Lieuienant,  64 
Gillingham,  18 
Gillray's  caricature,  134 
Gloucester,  Duke  of,  135 
Golden  Cap  Cliff,  i,  14, 
Gore,  Captain,  86 
Gower,  Sir  Erasmus,  262 


304 


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Grafton,  seventh  Duke  of,  227 

Graham,  Sir  James,  210,  217-219 

Grant,  Lady  Lucy,  236 

Grasse,  C^mte  de  [112] 

Graves  Admiral  oir  fhomas,  second 
in  comm  md  at  Copenhagen,  69 

Greenwich  Hospital,  6  [191];  Hardy 
Governor  of,  217-232  ;  bust  of 
Admiial  Keats  at,  229;  Hardy 
mem  trials,  portraits,  etc.,  at,  238-240 

Grey,  Earl,  80,  210,  2x7 

Grey,  Dr  Jbdward,  Bishop  of  Hereford, 
224 

Griffith,  Rear-Admiral  Edward,  256 

Grindall,  Captain,  139 

Gicernsevy  7 

Guinn,  General,  90 

Guy,  Mr,  153 

Halcyon  b'ig,  113 

Haltjrd,  of  Cooke  and  Halford,  57,  81, 

34,  103,  157,  172,  201 
Hail/ ax,  24  S 
Hall,  Captain  Basil  (^Fragments'),  82-S4, 

180  [243] 
Hallo  well,  bir  Benjamin,  42,  177,  254 
Hahted,  Vice-Admiral  Sir  L.,  206 
Hambleton,  Benjamin,  120 
Hambro,  Edward,  24 
Hamilton,  157 
Hamilton,  Sir  William,  British  minister 

at  Naples,  35-38,  50,  51,  74,  90,  105 
Hamilton,  Lady,  37,  38,  50,  51,  74,  90, 

105,  106,  143;  Nelson's  last  letter  to, 

153 
Hamilton,  Mr,  of  Weymouth,  72 
Hamilton,  junr.,  of  Weymouth,  58,  60, 

98 
Hammonrl,  Lieutenant,  265 
Harbin,    Mr,    of    Newton    Surmaville, 

Yeovil 
Harbin,     Rev.    John,    naval    chaplain, 

126,  128 
Hardy,  Miss  Ann  (Hardy's  sister),  14, 

75 
Hardy,  Miss  Augusta  (Hardy's  sister), 

14,  239 _ 
Hardy,  Miss  C  itherine  (Hardy's  sister), 

afterwards  Mrs  J.  C.  Manfield,  14,  17 
Hardy,  Admiral  Sir  Chnrles,  7,  220 
Hardy,  the  younger.  Sir  Charles,  M.P. 

for  Portsmouth,  Captain  of  the  Jersey, 

Governor   of   New    York  (afterwards 

Governor  of  Gieenwich  Hospital),  8 
Har  ly.  Miss  Elizabeth  (Hardy's  sister), 

afterwar  Is  Mrs  John  Thresher,  14,  17 
ILirdy.    Miss    Emily    Georgina,    atler- 

wards  Mrs  William  Chatteris,  167 


304 


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6 

Hardy,  Joane  (Mrs  William  Weare),  lo 

Hardy,  Sir  John,   Solicitor-General    of 

Jersey,    destroys    combined    fleets    of 

France  and  Spain  in  Vigo  Bay,  7 

HarJy,  John  (Hardy's  brother),  14,  17, 

186, 188-190 
Hardy,  Joseph,  of  Portisham  (Hardy's 

great-great-great  uncle),  9,  10 
Hardy,  Joseph  (Hardy's  father),  12,  13, 

18,  25 
Hardy,    Mrs   Joseph    (Nanny    Master- 
man,    Hardy's    mother),   12,    13,    25 
41 
Hardy,  Joseph  (Hardy's  brother),  6,  14, 
17;   Hardy's  letters  to,   21,  34,   155, 
161,  168,  170-177,   180-202,  205-209' 
213-216,  229,  230,  232 
Hardy,  Mrs  Joseph  (nee  White),  17 
Hardy,  Miss  Louisa  Georgina,  167,  237 
Hardy,    Miss  Martha  (Hardy's  sister) 

14 
Hardy,  Miss  Mary  Charlotte,  afterwards 

Lady  MacGregor,  167 
Hardy,    Miss    Mary   (Hirdy's    sister) 
afterwards  Mrs  James  Balston,  14,  17 
Hardy,   Philip,  commissioner  of  garri- 
sons in  Guernsey,  7 
Hardy,  Thomas,  T/ie  Dynasts,  a  drama 

of  the  Napoleonic  Wa'rs,  149,  244 
Hardy,    Thomas,   of    Melcombe   Reo-is 

Priory,  9,  18  * 

Hurdy,   Sir    Thomas,    M.P.    for    Wey- 
mouth, 7  •' 
Hardy,   Sir    Thomas    Duffus,    Deputy- 
Keeper  of  the  Public  Records  8 
Hardy,     Bart.,    G.C.B.,     Vice-Admiral 
Sir     Thomas     Masterman,     Dorset's 
favourite  naval  hero  :  Commander  of 
the    Victory  at  Trafalgar,  5  ;    monu- 
ment on  Blackdown  Hill,  6,  241-243  • 
Nelson's  last  words  10,  6,' 143  •    his 
grandfather,     10 ;    his    birth,    birth- 
place,    and     boyhood,     12-16-     his 
schooldays,  etc.,  17-25;   "Captain's 
servant     m  the  brig  Helena,  20   22  • 
in  guardship  Seaford,  23  ;  in  guard- 
ship    Carnatic,    24;    joins    Hel,e    as 
midshipman,    25;    midshipman-lieu- 
tenant,   26-32;    in     Tisiphoue   sloop 
26  ;  Amphitrite  frigate,  26;  iMeUager 
frigate     27  ;    first   comes    in    contact 
with   Nelson,  I'nd ;  Mtnerve    frigate 
27-32  ;   Nelson's    praise   of,    28,    32  ' 
saves  a  drowning  sailor,  29  ;  at  Cape 
St   Vincent,   29-31  ;    his  part  in  the 
capture  of  the  Mutme,  32  ;  commander 
ol    the    Miituie,  33-36;    prize  money 
and  promotion,  33  ;  at  Gibraltar,  34  • 
flag-captain    of   the    Va,i<r„n-,-J   ....a 


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England,  awaiiing  Nelson's  return, 
45-54  ;  presented  at  Court,  45  ;  once 
again  Nelson's  tlag-captain,  com- 
manding Namur,  San  foseJ\  and  St 
George,  35-65  ;  battle  of  Copenhagen, 
55-65  ;  voyage  to  the  Baltic — his  sea- 
manship, 62  ;  captain  of  St  George 
at  Kioge  Bay,  66-70  ;  the  Isis,  73- 
93  ;  Nelson  gives  him  a  knile  and 
lork  at  Bronte,  77  ;  the  Amphion^  94- 
107  ;  captain  of  the  Victory,  lie- 133, 
13S-146  ;  blockade  of  Toulon,  iio- 
124;  his  bet  with  Nelson,  123; 
Manfield's  Mayoralty,  124  ;  Trafalgar, 
125-147;  makes  his  will,  138;  his 
account  of  the  battle,  144  ;  Trafalgar 
honours,  151,  1 52  ;  unsuccessful 
candidate  for  Weymouth,  155  :  cap- 
tain of  the  Sampson  and  Triumph, 
155-160;  of  the  Barfleur,  captures 
the  y6>.'^^  Fanny  galliot,  160  ;  of  the 
Ramillies,  161-166  ;  Commodore  in 
the  Portuguese  Navy,  161  ;  summons 
American  troops  to  surrender  off 
Moose  island,  164;  Princess  Augusta, 
royal  yacht,  167-174  ;  v.  Morning 
Herald,  168  ;  his  duel  wi'h  Lord 
Buckini;ham,  169;  Superb,  174,  180; 
Commodore  and  Commander-in-Chief 
on  the  South  American  Station,  179- 
193  ;  Creole,  1S9-191  ;  Doris,  192  ; 
Rear-Admiral :  returns  home,  escorts 
the  Expeditionary  F'orce  to  Lisbon, 
commands  the  Experimental  Squad- 
ron, and  strikes  his  flag,  194-204  ; 
chairman  of  a  committee  for  dealing 
with  changes  in  naval  construction, 
197  ;  purchases  the  Riccard  Estate, 
201,  205  ;  member  of  Commission 
for  revising  the  Rigging  Warrant  and 
Sea  Store  Establishment  of  the  Navy, 
2c6 ;  Urst  Sea  Lord  of  Admiralty, 
21C-216;  Governor  of  Greenwicli 
Hospital,  217-232;  L.E.L.'s  poem  in, 
225  ;  member  of  Commission  on  the 
Defences  of  the  Harbours  and  Coasts 
of  England,  227  ;  attends  Queen 
Victoria's  Coronation,  228  ;  Vice- 
Admiral  of  the  Blue  :  Elder  Brother 
of  the  Trinity  Hou^e,  228  ;  Sydney 
Smith  on,  231;  his  death  and  funeral, 
232-234;  "R.H.G.'s"  apprjci.ition 
of,  235  ;  his  reference  to  Bullen,  257  ; 
on  Nelson's  satisfaction  with  Digby 
at  Trafalgar,  270  ;  Grant  of  Arms  to, 
287,  288  ;  official  list  of  his  naval 
services,     292,     293  ;     statement    of 


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7 

account  between  his  agent  George 
Hartwell  and,  294-297 
Hardy,  Lady  (Anne  Louisa  Emily 
Berkeley)  [ico],  160,  162,  167,  169, 
173,  174,  178;  marriage,  158;  her 
privations  at  Chesapeake  Bay,  159; 
at  Florence,  195  ;  her  diary  at 
Greenwich  Hospital,  226 ;  attends 
Queen  Victoria's  Coronation,  228  ; 
Sydney  Smith's  letter  to,  231  ;  letter 
to  Joseph  Hardy,  235  ;  marries  Lord 
Seaford,  237 

Hardys,  Dorset,  and  their  Jersey  for- 
bears, 7-1 1  ;  the  Fiampton,  9  ;  wills 
of  the,  289-291 

Hargood,  Admiral  Sir  William,  1 56; 
Memoirs  [2  34 J 

Hartwell,  George,  Hardy's  agent,  34, 
38-40  ;  statement  of  account,  294-297 

Harvey,  Admiral  Sir  Henry,  45,  249 

Hawk  church,  5 

Hawke,  Sir  Edward,  Lord,  his  victory 
in  Quiberon  Bay,  8 

Hawkins,  gunsmith,  82 

Hawkins,  Lieutenant,  of  the  A/onzo,  82 

Hawkins,  Joseph,  Midshipman  of  the 
Waarzaamhind,  82-85,  ^7)  ^99)  215, 
216 

Hay,  John,  of  the  Admiralty,  180,  183 

Hayes,  Thomas,  206 

Heard,  Sir  Isaac,  Garter  King  at  Arms, 

II,  151 
Hehe  frigate,  25,  26 
Heilberg,  Lieutenant,  250,  251 
Heleyia  brig,  20 
Henning,  Mrs,  184 
Herald's  Visitatiojis  0/^1565,  9 
Hercule,  friendship,  4 
Hermione,  263 
Hetherly,  I\lr^  189 
H'ladly,  Dr,    Bishop  of  Salisbury  and 

Winchester,  19 
Hodder,  162 
Hood,  Alexander,  4 
Hood,  Captain  Alexander,  R.N.,  4,  25 
H   od,    Admiral    Alexander,    Viscount 

Biidport,  4,  5 
Hoo   ,  Lieutenant  Arthur,  R.N.,  4 
Hood,  Admiral  Sir  Samuel,  R.N.,  4 
Hood,  Admiral  Samuel,  Viscount,  4,  5, 
21,  220  ;  his  operations  before  Mar- 
seilles and  Toulon,  27 
Hood,  Rev.  Samuel,  4 
Hoskins,  Mary  (Mrs  Samuel  Hood),  5 
Hotham,    Admiral    Sir    Heniy,   27,  72, 

177 
Howard   of   Effingham.    Lord,    defeats 

Spanish  Armada  off  Portland,  17 
Howe,  Lord,  226,  228,  249 
Humboldt.  Frederick  Alexander,  12 


304 


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O 

addre 

Susse 


Humphne?,  Captain  s.  r.,  ot  the  Leo- 

Hunt,  Captain  Anthony,  26 
Huskisson,     Captain,      pall-bearer      at 

Hardy's  funeral,  233,  234 
Hussey,  Sir  R.,  239 
Huichin,  History  of  Dorset  [9]  [61] 
Huxtable,  H.  A.,  225 

IiXHESTER,  Stephen,  first  Earl  of,  [68] 
Ilc!ie=ter,  Henry  Thomas,  second  Earl 

of [67] 
Uchester,  Henry  Stephen,  third  Earl  of, 

240 
Impressment  sytem,  120 
Incendiary  fireship,  263 
Ingram,  Admiral,  56,  57,  61,  67,  77,  78, 

98,  112,  121,  160,  175,  177 
Ingram,  Mrs,  160 
In2;ram  House,  78 
Ipswich,  Lor^i,  afterwards   sixth    Duke 

.of  Gra'ton,  227 
A/'5,  72-93 

James  I.,  4 

Jajius,  261 

Jason,  130,  261 

Jersey,  forbears  of  the  Dorset  Hard}'?, 
7-11 

Jersey,  8 

Jersey,  Lord  an-l  Lady,  226 

Jervis,  Admiral  Sir  Jolm.  See  St  Vin- 
cent, Lord 

Jessel,  87 

Jessep,  purser  on    the    Ramillies,    233, 

234 
John,  King,  2 
John  Bull,  cutter,  122 
Jonge  Fanny,  gal'iot,  160 

Keats,  Admiral  Sir  Richard,  Governor 

of  Greenwich  Hospital,  217  ;  his  bust 

at  Greenwich,  229,  239 
Keith,  Admiral  George  Keith  Elph  n- 

stone.  Lord,  74,  264 
Kent,  1 1  5-1 1  7 
Kent,  Duke  of,  Governor  of  Gibraltar, 

89 
Keppel,  Admiral  the   Hon.    Sir   Henry, 

A  Sailor^ s  Life  under  Four  Sovereigyis, 

257,  270,  271 
Key,  Admiral  Sir  Cooper,  227 
Kights,  the  Dorset,  rs 
Kingston    Russell    House,    6,    12,   13  ; 


304 


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drum 

O 

addre 

Susse 


8 

Motley's  death  at,  i6 
Kioge  Bay,  66,  68 
Kite,  68 
Knight,  Rear-Admiral,  Commander  of 

Endymion  at  Trafalgar,  146 
Knight,    Miss,    literary  friend  of  Lady 

Hardy,  50 

La  Courageuse,  French  privateer,  265 
L'Aigle,  French  privateer,  263 
La  Marie  An?te,  French  privateer,  263 
Lambert,  purser  of  the  Alacrity,  187 
Landon,  Letitia  Elizabeth  ("  L.  E.  L.") 
afterwards    Mrs    Maclean,  her  poem 
on  Hardy,  225 
Langara,      Don     Juan     de,      Spanish 

Admiral,  27 
Langford,     Captain,     of    Massingham, 

Norfolk,  71,  73,  113,  114 
Larkan,  Captain,  pall-bearer  at  Hardy's 

funeral,  233 
Laughton,  The  Nelson  Memorial  [132] 
L'Aventure,  French  privateer,  263 
Layman,  Captain,  113,  126 
Leander  (50  guns),  34,  248 
Le  Depit,  264 
Le  Fehcidad,  265 
L'Egalite,  French  privateer,  263 
Le  Hardy,  or  Hardi,  Clement,  Lieut.- 

Governor  of  Jersey,  7 
Leicester,  first  Earl  of,  271 
Leinster,  first  Duke  of  [99] 
Leland,  3 
Lene,  Mr,  217 
Lennox,  Lord  George,  159 
Lennox,  Lady  Louisa,  173 
Leopard  [157],  158,  160 
U Espiegle,  French  privateer,  263 

Leihbridge,     John     Arscott,     Hardy's 
executor,  217,  233,  235 

Leviathan  (74  guns),  264 

Lewesdon,  4 

Liddell,  Charles,  246 

Ligne,  Prince  de,  228 

Liliput  Hill,  Dorset,  i 

Lima,  I&6 

Vlntrepide  (74  guns),  268,  270 

Lion,  262 

Lisbon,  98,  99  ;  expeditionary  force  to, 
199 

Little  Windsor,  4 

Lively,  32 

Liverpool,  Lord,  179 

Lloyd,  Lieutenant  Henry,  264 

Loders,  near  Biidport,  52,  59 

London,  62,  64 

Long  Bredy  Church,  13 

Long,  W.  H.,  editor  of  G.  S.  Parson's 
Nehonia7i  Remijiiscetices  [230] 

Loughborough,  Lord,  134 


304 


j^oyaiiM  siou}),  ^4/,  ^40 
Lumsdaine,  Captain  George,  248 
Lutwidge,  Admiral,  79 
Lyme  Regis,  I,  2,  5 
Lytton  Chene),  14,  15 

M'Arthur,  Mr,  60 

Macedonian  irigaie,  161 

MncGregor,  AihoU,  236 

MacGiegor,      Emily      Louisa      (Lady 

Stormoni),  236 
MacGregor,     Sir     Evan     [89],      159; 

Permanent  Secretary  at  the  Admiralty 

[215] 
MacGregor,  Sir  John  Atholl  Bannatyne, 

third  Baronet,  214,  215 
MacGregor,     Mary     Charlotte,     Lady 

(Hardy's  daughter),  167,  214,  224 
MacGiegor,  Lady  Helen,  152,  153 
MachichicHO,  Cape,  264 
Maclean,  Mrs  ("  L.  E.  L."),  her  poem 

on  Hardy,  225 
Mahan,    Captain,    Life  of  Nelson   [34] 

[68]  [76],  109,  125  [136]  [138] 
Miiidsione  (42  guns),  80,  109,  III,  1 1 3, 

25b 
Malet,  Robert,  245 

Malta,  blockade  and  surrender  of,  39,  40 
Man,  Admiral  Robert,  72 
Mantield,  John   Callard,    17  ;     Hardy's 

letters    to,    38-158;     Mayor   of   Dor- 
chester, 78,  124 
Manfield,  Mrs  J.  C.  (Catherine  Hardy), 

17.  239 
Manfield,  John  C,  junr.,   111-I15,  121, 

126,  128 
Manfield,   Mary,  49,  118,  186,  195,  229, 
Manfield,  William,    I18,   122,  174,  183, 

195,   198,    201,   202,    205,   213,    229, 

234,  240 
Manfield,  W.  Hardy  [6c] 
Mansfield,  fifth  Earl  of  [236] 
Mansfield,  Lady,  227 
March,     Charles,    Earl    of,    afterwards 

filth  Dukj  of  Ri  hmond  and  Lennox, 
169 
Maria  da   Gloria,  Donna,  of  Portugal, 

199 
Mariiimo,  41 
Marryat,    Captain,    his    verses    in    the 

Admiralty  waiting-room  [94] 
Mars,  4,  142 

Marsliall,  Naval  Biography,  180 
Martin,  Admiral  Sir  George,  239,  254 
Martin,  Admiral  Sir  Thomas  Byam,  256 
Martinique,  unsuccessful  attack  on,  249 
Masterman,     Thomas,      of      Kingston 
Russell  and  Wintercourne  St  Martin, 


304 


9 

12 

Rlay,  Mr,  merchant  of  Rio  de  Janeiro, 

i8i,  185 
May,  Mrs,  181,  185,  189,  190 
Mayo,  Dorset  Committee  [9] 
Medusa,  86 
Meggs,      Captain      Thomas,       Do'set 

yeomanry,  his  portrait  by  Beach,  86, 

87 
Melbourne,  Lord,  217 
Aleleager  frigate,  27 
Melville,    Robert,    Lord,    first   Lord  of 

the   Admiralty,   126,   128,   134,    179, 

209,  210 
Mercury  (28  guns),  248 
Michael,  Grand  Duke  of  Russia  [174] 
Middleton,  William,  Abbot  of  Milton, 

Sherbourne,  18 
Miguel,  Dom,  of  Portugal,  199 
Milan,  French  privateer  [243] 
Milton  Abbas  Grammar  School,  18,  23 
Minerve  (38  guns)  frigate,  27-32,  252 
Minorca,  Island  of,  264 
Minotaur,  81 
Minterne,  5 
Minto,  Earl  of  [iii] 
Miraflore,  Marquis  de,  228 
Mitchell,  Admiral  Sir  Andrew,  45  ;  in 

command   of  Bantry   Bay   Squadron 

[83] 
Mitchell,  Colonel  Sir  Charles   BuUen, 

Governor  of  Leeward  Isles,  then    of 

Natal,  233 
Mitchell,  Lady,  253 
Mitchell,  Miss,  226 
Monmouth  (64  guns),  III,  liff^l^X 
Monmouth,  Duke  of,  2 
Montagu,  Elizabeth,  Queen  of  the  Blue 

Stockings  [167] 
Montgomery,  Captain  Augustus,  248 
Montoneros,  the  (S.  America),  181 
Moriarty,  Colonel,  86 
Morning  Chronicle,  135 
Morning  Herald,  168 
Motley,  John  Lothrop,  dies  at  Kingston 

Manor  House,  16 
Mutine  French  brig,  32-36 
Myers,  General  Sir  William,  129 

Naiad  frigate,  266 

Namur,  55,  57,  58 

Napier,  Admiral  Sir  Charles,  199,  230 

Napier,  Francis,  seventh  Baron,  196 

Napiers,  the  Dorset,  15 

Naples,  in  possession  of  the  French, 
40,  41 

Napoleon  Bonaparte,  12  ;  crowned 
Emperor  [115],  1 16;  the  Dorset 
nursemaids'  refrain,  148  ;  his  threat- 
ened invasion  of  England,  252 

Nauticus  Junior,  The  Naval  Atlantis 
[78] 

Naval  Chronic  I'  [  1 5 1  ] 

Nayler,  Sir  Gcoige,  York  Herald, 
Garter  King-of-Aims,  10,  154 

Nelson,  Lord,  5,  6,   147  ;  his  squadron 

off    Genoa,    27  ;    praises  Hardy,   28, 

32  ;  at  Cape  St  \'incent  :  knighted, 

and    made    Reai-Admiral,    29,     32  ; 

^,^^1     2  Battle   of  the   Nile,  36;    thanks    of 


^,0. 


lO 

Orion,  137,  270 
Otvvay,  Captain,  65 
Overyssel  (64  guns),  249 


Parliament,  and  a  peerage,  37  ;  at 
Naples,  Palermo,  and  Maritime,  37- 
41  ;  returns  to  England,  53,  68  ; 
his  portrait  at  Poitisham  House,  60  j. 
Hardy's  tribute  to,  after  Copenhagen, 
64  ;  lailure  of  his  attack  on  Boulogne 
flotilla  [76]  ;  Duke  of  Bronte,  76, 
77  ;  in  the  House  of  Lo  ds,  79 ; 
Har  y's  bet  with,  123;  Trafalgar, 
138-143;  deith,  142,  143;  funeral, 
152;  will,  152,  153;  his  praise  of 
Digby  at  Trafalgar,  270 
Nelson,  Lady,  46,  47,   51,   53,  94,  106, 

135 

Nelson,      Maurice      (Nelson's      elder 

brother),  47 
Nelson,  second  Earl  [113] 
Nel'on,  Rev.  (Nelson's  father).  Rector 

of  Burnham  Thorpe,  47,  48 
Nepean,    Sir    Evan,    Secretary    to    the 

Admiralty,    59;    M.P.    for   Bridport, 

78 
Neptune,  146,  263  [268] 
Nevill,  Mr,  97 
New    London,    Hardy's    squadron    at, 

163,  164 
Newbolt,  Heniy,  The  Year  of  Trafalgar, 

125,  134  [136] 
Nicholls,  Captain,  70,  73,  97 
Nicholls,  Tom,  176,  177,  191 
Nicholls,  Mrs  T.  {jiee  Thresher),  176, 

^177 
Nicolas,   Sir    H.,   Co'lecliot   of  Nehoirs 

Despatches  and  Letters  [28] 
Nile,  Battle  of  the,  36 
Noble,  Edmund,  117,  120 
Nore,  Mutiny  of  the,  249 
North  Ameiica  Station,  267 
Northesk,  Earl  of,  249,  252  [253] 

Oakley's  Brewery,  Wej mouth,  52,  58, 

98 
O'Donnell,  General,  254 
Oglander,  Sir  William,  sixth   Baronet, 

"172 
Oliver,  Lieutenant,  265 
Orde,  Admiral  Sir  John,  124,  128,  r32 
Orient  [17&] 


Plowman,  Mrs,  202,  208  n^.->.« 

Plowman,  Lieutenant,  139  , 

Plymouth,  174  ^^^^^ 
Pole,  Admiral  Sir  Charles  Maurice,  69, 

74 
Folyphemiis,  145 
Pomepue  Island.  2i;4  '   «  ' 


^o. 


lO 

Orion,  137,  270 
Otway,  Captain,  65 
Oirei-yssel  {t^  guns),  249 
Owen,  Admiral  Sir  Edward, 
Owen  Glendower,  177,  182 


!09 


Pactolus,  despatch  brig,  165 
Pain,  William,  89 
Palamos,  Catalonia,  254,  255 
Palermo,  38-41 
Pallas,  262 

Palliser,  Sir  Hugh,  220 
Palmer,  A.,  Midshipman,  146 
Parker,    Commander    Edward    Thorn- 
borough,  A.D.C.  to  Nelson,  67,  71, 

73,  74 
Parker,  Sir  Hyde,  62,  65 
Parker,  Lieutenant,  R.N.,  49,  114 
Parker,  Admiral  Sir  William,  79,    146, 

2o5,  213,  214,  220,  264 
Parkinson.  Lieutenant,  42,  43 
Parry,  J.,  his  Trafalgar  picture,  239 
Parsons,  G.  S,,  Nelsonian  Reminiscences 

[230] 
Pasley,  Admiral  Sir  Thomas,  Bart,,  58, 

262 
Passamaquaddy  Bay,  164,  165 
Patch,  Rev.  Robert  Burnett,  master  of 

Crewkerne  School,  19 
Paul,   Sir   John   Dean,   Bart.,    Hardy's 

executor,  233 
Payne,  J.  ^^TtfunA,  Armorial 0/ Jersey ,  8 
Payne,  Lieutenant  William,  109 
Pearce,  Captain,  India  Co.  Service,  103 
Pearce,    Captain,    of    St    George    and 

Halcyon,  103,  II3 
Pearson,  of  Steepleton,  73 
Pedro    I  ,     Emperor    of    Brazil,    192  ; 

abdicates,  199 
Penny,  Rev.,  191,  193 
Pentin,  Rev.  Herbert,  Vicar  of  Milton 

Abbas,  23 
Peru,  186 

Peyton,  Rear-Admiral  Joseph,  248,  249 
Phelps,  Mr,  231 

Philip  of  Austria,  Archduke,  13 
Phillimore,     Rear-Admiral     Augustus, 

Life   of  Admiral    of    the    Fleet,     Sir 
William  Parker  [146],  206 
Phcebe,  120 

Phcpnix,  privateer  lugger  of  Jersey,  265 
Pickle  schooner,  132 
Pilkington,  Lt.-Col.,  Adjutant-General, 

164,  165 
Pillsdon,  4 

Pittield,  Lieutenant  Joseph,  175 
Pitman,  Mrs,  58 
Pitt,  William  [62],  80,  128,  134 
Pitt,  William  Morton,  M.P.  for  Dorset, 

82,  87,  176 
Pitt,  Mrs  W.  M.  inee  Gambler),  176 
Plowman,  Dr,  162,  18S,  19%  208,  213 
Plowman,  Mrs,  202,  208 
Plowman,  Lieutenant,  139 
Plymouth,  174 
Pole,  Admiral  Sir  Charles  Maurice,  69, 

74 
Polyphemus,  143 
Pomegue  Island,  254 
Pomona,  4 


his 
nry 


MS. 


66 


his 
47] 

lOI, 

iry's 
'ard, 


•dy), 

5lls), 

^42], 


loral 

253 
orset 

Dther 


,  34, 

,  84. 


^      4 


Pope,    Alexander,     "  Whatever     is,     is 
right,"  133 

Portarlinglon,  Earls  of  [56] 

Portisham  ("Possum"),  6,  9,  17,  18 

Portland  Bill,  2,  3 

Portland,  the  peninsula  of,  I 

Portugal,   critical   aspect  of   affairs    in, 
199 

Potterdale,  Captain,  113 

Power] j(l,  230 

Prator,  Dukey,  86 

Pretender,  the,  his  bootless  invasion  of 

Plngland,  8 
Prevoyani,  115,  116 
Pivice,  139,  146 

Prince  Consort,  153  """^ 

Prince  George^  78 
Prince  of  Wales,  139 

Princess  Augusia,  royal  yacht,  167,  174  ,.  p 

Princess  Charlotte ,  43  "'    ■ 

Proserpine  [175],  262 
Puiman,  J.,  Receiver  of  Fees  [213] 
Purling,  George,    of    Bradford    Peverel 

Manor,  Sheriff  of  Dorset,  172 
PylaJe<,  67,  68 
Pyramus,  200 


Quebec  frigate  [20] 

Ouiberon  Bay,  victory  of,  8,  263 


his 


MS. 


66 


Racehorse  sloop,  262 

Radstock,    Admiral    William     Walde- 

grave,  first  Baron,  80 
Raleigh,  Sir  Walter,  3,  259 
Ralfe,  Naval  Biography,  268,  269 
Ramillies  (74  guns),  86,   161-164,  234, 

247 
Raven  brig,  126,  128 
Reform  agitation,  209,  210 
Regent,  Prince,  172 
Renown  (50  guns),  1 28,  248 
Resistance  frigate,  267 
Revenge,  146 
Reymes,  BuUen,  245 

Riccard,  Sir  Andrew,  201  "■}? 

Rich,  Captain  Sir  Thomas,  248,  249  47] 

Rio  de  Janeiro,  180 
Rioux  Fort  destroyed  by  Bullen,  254  ^O'^i 

iry's 
'ard, 


dy), 

Jlls), 
St  Philion,  Catalonia,  255 
St  Sebastian  Cape,  254 
St  \'incent.  Sir  John  Jarvis,  Earl,  28,  42]> 

33,  48,  74,   76,  78,  81,  82,  94,  263  ; 

his  victory  off  Cape  St  Vincent,  29  ; 

succeeds  Lord  Spencer  at  Admiralty, 

62 
Salisbury,  261 
Samps<n,  155 
San  Josif,  38,  60,  61,  126 
Santa    Brigida     (40     guns),     Spanish 

frigate,  266 
Santissima  Trinidada  (140  guns),   268,  lOral 

270  253 

Satellitj,  200  oi'set 

Saumarez,  Sir  James,  252 

Saxe- Weimar,  Duchess  of,  226,  228  ^^^'^ 

Seajord,  guardship,  23 


2/0 

Satellile,  200 


MS. 


II 

Rivers,  Lieut.,  pall-bearer  at  Hardy's 

funeral,  233,  234 
Richardson,  Henry  S.,  printer,  [156] 
Richmond   and   Lennox,    Charles,    5th  , . 

Duke  of,  169  "^s 

Roberts,  Staff  Commander,  [21]  ""^^ 

Roberts,  Captain  Francis,  20-22,  73,  78, 

[138],  [157] 
Roberts,    Francis,     [21],     [157],    159,  r  p 

[175]  ^^' 

Roberts,  Rev.,  Vicar  of  Milton  Abbas, 

23 
Roberts,  Richard,  137,  157,  159,  160 
Roberts,  R.  F.  [20],  65,  104,  130,  138, 

139     [157].     206;     his     "Remark 

Book"    on  Trafalgar,   139-142,   I45, 

146,  269,  286 
Roberts,  Miss  M.  M.,  [21],  [52],  [139] 
Robinson,    Commander     C.    N.,     The 

British  Fleet  [21]  [94]  [lOo],  I20 
Robinson,     H.,     engraver     of    Evan's 

portrait  of  Hardy,  239 
Rochford,  Lord,  245 
Rodney,  Admiral  Lord  [107],  220,  248 
Romney,    his    portrait    of    Sir    Charles 

Hardy  in  Greenwich  Hospital,  8 
Rosas  Bay,  BuUen's  exploit  in,  254,  255 
Rowley,  Sir  Charles,  239 
Rowley,  Sir  J.  [107] 
Royal  Charlotte,  261 
Royal  Naval  Cluh^  2l6 
Royal  SovereigJi,  II9,  140-I42,  145,  26S 
Ro)al    Thames    Yacht    Club,    Hardy 

Vice-Patron  of,  216 
Russell,  251 
Russell,  John  Banger,  of   Beaminster, 

19 
Russell,  Thomas,  128  ^°^' 

Russells,  or    Rousselles,  of  Portisham  , 

House,  13  ''■y^ 

Sa/iitia,  Spanish  frigate,  28  ' 

St  Alban  (St  Aldhelm),  headland,  I 

St  Bias,  French  privateer,  263 

St  Domingo,  266 

St  Elmo,  surrender  of,  42 

Saint  Esprit,  8 

St  George,  61,  63,  66-70,  85 

St  Philion,  Catalonia,  255 

St  Sebastian  Cape,  254  -, 

St  Vincent,  Sir  John  Jarvis,  Earl,  28,  42], 

33,48,74,   76,   78,  81,   82,  94,   263; 

his  victory  off  Cape  St  Vincent,  29  ; 

succeeds  Lord  Spencer  at  Admiralty, 

62 
Salisbury,  261 
SampS(  n,  155 
San  Josef,  58,  60,  61,  126 
Santa    Brigida     (40     guns),     Spanish 

frigate,  266  , 

Santissima  Trinidada  (140  guns),   268,  ^°''=^^ 


66 


his 
47] 


dy), 
ills), 


253 
orset 


Saumarez,  Sir  James,  252  , 

Saxe-Wcimar,  Duchess  of,  226,  228  ^^^^^ 

Seaford,  guardship,  23 

Seaford,  Lon),  229,  237 

Sefion,  William    Philip,  second  Earl  of 

(•'  Lord  Dashalong  "),  1 70,  173,  214,  '  \^' 

236  '     4, 

Selva,  256 


3C 


Seymour,  Lady,  227 

Seymour,  Sir  George  Francis,   Hardy's 

Hxecuior,  227,  233.  236,  239 
Seymour,  Adminil  Lord  Hugh,  263 
Shaw,  Lieutenant  Isaac,  254 
Sheffield,  Bart.,  Sir  Charles,  260 
Sherborne,  259 
Sherive,  LL.D.,  Rev.  Henry,  Rector  of 

Bridport,  61,  75 
Sherive,  Mrs  Henry  (.\Lirtha  Hardy)  ] 

[61],  75 
Slierive,     Rev.     Christopher      Hardy, 

Rector  of  Bridport  [61] 
Shift',  Dr,  270  rt,   his 

Shipton  Beacon,  15  Henry 

Shirley,  Hants,  BuUen  buried  at,  257 
Sif^ylle^  199 
Sidmouth,     Henry    Addington,    Lord 

[62],  80,  134  M.P. 

Sierra  Leone,  25 1 

Shide,  Thomas,  stone  mason,  93  ,  3 

Smith,  Lieutenant  John,  268 
Smith,  Rev.  Sydney,  on  Hardy,  231 
Smith,  Tom,  87 

Somerset,  John  Beaufort,  Duke  of,  18 
Soult,  Marshal  Nicholas  John  de  Dieu,  t 

12  ;   French  ambassador,  228 
South  American  Station,   Hardy  Com- 
modore and  Commander-in-Chief  on  5  MS. 

the,  179-193 
Spanish  Armada,  17 
Spencer,     Earl,     First     Lord    of     the 

Admiralty,  34,  45-  46,  48,  53,  61,  62 
Staines,  Captain  Sir  Thomas,  205  12] 

Staines,   Sir  William,    Lord  Mayor    of 

London,  55 
Standard,  86 
Steele's  List  [251] 
Stewart,  General,  45 

Stonnington,  town  of,  165  266 

Stormont,     Emily,     Lady    (iiee    Mac- 

Gregor),  236 
Strahan,    Bart.,  Admiral  Sir    Richard, 

155,  156  r,    h's 

Strangways,  Rev.  Charles  Fox,  106  !l47] 

,  roi, 

!tary's 

Iward, 


ardy), 

.  ,    ^  holls), 

46,  176 
Thunderer,  146 
Thynne,  Mrs  John  C,  [7],  [22],  [142], 

[173],  [212] 
Tierney,  80,  172 
Times,  The  [168] 
Tisiphone  sloop,  26 
Tizard,  Mr,  215 
Tombs,  William,  81,  84 
Tonnant,  [27],  I42,  I46 
Torpedoes  in  181 3,  163 
Toulon,  blockade  of,  107,  IIO-114 
Trafalgar,    battle    of,    1 36- 147  ;     moral 

effect  of,  148  ;  the  Britannia  at,  253 
Travers,       Captain     Richard,     Dorset 

Yeomanry,  52,  59,  78,  154 
Trinity  House,  Hardy  an  Elder  Brother 

of,  228 
Triton  frigate,  266 


12 

Strangways,  Lady  Lucy  Fox,  [68] 

Stuart,  Don  Jacobo,  28 

Studland  Bay,  2 

Studley,  John,  17 

Stuit,  Charles,  M.P.  for  Bridport,    his 

quarrel  with  Prince  William  Henry 

on  the  Prince  George,  [78] 
Submarine  in  1813,  163 
Success,  20,  157 
Sugden,    Edward    Burtensham,    M.P. 

for  Weymouth,  [206] 
Summers,  or  Somers,  Sir  George,  3 
Summers,  Matthew,  4 
Super/),  174-177,  180,  186,  [217] 
Surveillante,  [20] 
Sutherland,  Lieut.-Colonel,  256 
Sutton,  Commodore,  75,  107,  109 
Swanage  Bay,  i,  2 
Swartz,  French  General,  254 
Sweeting,  William  {^Minerve),  his  MS. 

Journal,  [27] 
S-wiftsure,  3,  123 
Swiney,  Captain  William,  247 

Tegg's  illustrated  pamphlets,  [102] 

Teignmouth,  173 

Telegraphy  in  1805,  136 

Termagant,  113 

Terror  bomb,  165 

Theseus,  80 

Thetis  (36  guns),  Spanish  frigate,  266 

Thompson,  Miss  Ann,  1 19 

Thompson,  Anson,  [147] 

Thompson,  Captain,  187 

Thompson,    Henry,    of    Andover,    his 

note  attached  to  Nelson's  chair  [147] 
Thompson,  Isabella,  [147] 
Thompson,  George  A.,  70,  71,  93,  loi, 

105,  112,  117,  119,  146,  198 
Thorn  1    Edward,     Hardy's    secretary's 

clerk,  191,  222 
Thoinborough,    Admiral    Sir   Edward, 

114 
Thorncombe  Beacon,  i,  4,  14 
Thresher,  John,  17  [46],  207 
Thresher,  Mrs  John  (Elizabeth  Hardy), 

17,  46,  162,  176,  239 
Thresher,  Mary  (Mrs   Tom  Nicholls), 

46,  176 
Thunderer,  146 
Thynne,  Mrs  John  C,  [7],  [22],  [142], 

[173],  [212] 
Tierney,  80,  172 
Times,  The  [168] 
Tisiphone  sloop,  26 
Tizard,  Mr,  215 
Tombs,  William,  8r,  84 
Tonnant,  [27],  142,  146 
Torpedoes  in  181 3,  163 
Toulon,  blockade  of,  107,  1 10- 1 14 
Trafalgar,    battle    of,    136-147;     moral 

effect  of,  148  ;  the  Britannia  at,  253 
Travers,       Captain     Richard,     Dorset 

Yeomanry,  52,  59,  78,  154 
Trinity  House,  Hardy  an  Elder  Brother 

of,  228 
Triton  frigate,  266 
Triumph  [21],  155-160 
Troubridge,  Captain    Sir   Thomas,  34, 

36,  39,  42,  53,  62,  71,  76,   81,  83,  84, 

94,  95.  99,  105 
Tucker,  Mr,  of  Bridport,  61,  62 


Tucker,     Lieut.,    73  ;     pall-bearer    at 

Hardy's  funeral,  233 
Tulledge,  35 
Turner^    Charles,   engraver    of    Parry's 

Trafalgar  picture,   238 
Tyler,  Captain  (afterwards  Sir  Charles), 

27 

United  Service  Club,  194  ;  Hardy's 

bust  at,  216 
United  Service  Gazette  [25] 
United    Service   Journal,     Colbourne's, 

[22],  179,  221,  234 
United  States,  frigate,  1 61 
Ure,    Mastenon,  M.P.  for  Weymouth, 

[201] 

Vanguard,  36-40,  66,  69 

\^an  Tromp,  Admiral,  4 

Velos  Aragonessa,  263 

Venerable,  263 

Vestal,  261 

Vesuvius  bomb,  71 

\'ictoria.  Queen,  coronation  of,  228 

Victory,  Hardy  Captain  of,  at  Trafalgar, 

5,     106-144,     234,     238  ;     Trafalgar 

Muster-RoU,  273-285 
Vigo  Bay,  7 
VUle  de  Paris,  43,  21 7 
Villeneaux,  125 
Vivero,  265 

Volontaire  (30  guns),  frigate,  253-255 
Waarzaamhind,  82-84 
Walcott,  Mrs,   201 
Walcott,  Mr,  203 
Walker,  Admiral,  250 
Walin,    R.N.,  64;    Nelson's  secretary, 

65 
AVallace,  Rt.  Hon.  Thomas,  M.P.  for 

Weymouth,   [201] 
Wallis,  Mr,  58 
Walpole,  Mrs,  97 
Ward,   John,  Pursuer  of  the   Alacrity, 

175,  180,  182,  185-7,  191,  193 
Wareham,  2 
Warne,  Mrs,  119 


BuUen),  249 
Woodward,  Mr  and  Mrs,  124 
Wyndham,  Francis,  246 
Wynford,  Baron  (William  Draper  Best), 

20,  168 

YeatmaN,  Mr,  58,  59 
York,  Duke  of,  [201] 

Zanetti,  Vittore,  publisher  of  Parry's 
Trafalgar  picture,  239 


13 

Warren,  Lieutenant,  265 

Warren,  Sir  John  Borluse,  160 

Warspiti,   198 

Warton,  John,  master  of  Milton  Abbas 
grammar  school,  23 

Warton,  Joseph,  Essay  on  the  Genius  atid 
Writings  0/  Pope,  23 

Warton,  Thomas,  Poet  Laureate,  23 

Wasp,  frigate,  251 

Weare,  William,  of  Portisham,  9  ;  in- 
scription on  his  tomb,  10 

Weare,  Mrs  William  (Joane  Hardy),  10 

Weazie,  1 1 3,  126 

Weld,  Captain,  Dorset  Yeomanry,  after- 
wards a  Bishop  and  Cardinal,  58,  78 

Weld,  Joseph,  of  Lutworth  Castle,  78, 
96,  98,  112,  118 

Wellesley,  199 

Wellington,  Duke  of,  12,  210 

Wells,  John,  253 

West  Bay,  Dorset  (formerly  Bridport 
Harbour),  i,  4,  14,  29 

Weymouth,  2,  8 

Weymo^ith,  7 

Wheatley,  James,  publisher,  19 

Whitchurch,  5 

White,  Commodore,  206 

White,  Miss,  of  Cerne  (Mrs  Joseph 
Hardy),  17 

White,  Mrs,  171 

Whitshed,  Sir  J.,  239 

William  IV.,  5,  210,  217,  222-224,  226, 
227,  229,  261  ;  his  quarrel,  when 
Prince,  with  Charles  Sturt  on  the 
Prince  George  [78] 

Willaumez,  Admiral,  155 

Williams,  Colonel  Robert,  M.P.  for 
Bridehead,  242 

Williams,  Admiral  Sir  Thomas,  66 

Wiltshire,  Thomas,  Earl  of,  245 

Wim borne  School,  18 

Wingfield,  William,  260 

Wingfield,  Lady  Charlotte  Maria,  {fiee 
Digby),  260 

Wolcot,  John,  "  Peter  Pindar,"  on  Pitt 
and  the  king,  134 

Wolfeton,  or  Wolveton,  House,  13 

Wood,  Rev.  James,  Head  Master  of 
Milton  School,  23 

Wood,  Miss,  of  Martock  (Lady  Charles 
Bullen),  249 

Woodward,  Mr  and  Mrs,  124 

Wyndham,  P'rancis,  246 

Wynford,  Baron  (William  Draper  Best), 
20,  168 

YeATMAN,  Mr,  58,  59 
York,  Duke  of,  [201] 

Zanetti,  Vittore,  publisher  of  Pany's 
Trafalgar  picture,  239 


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