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THE  m. 

M^ul  Cfitomcle, 

FOR   1807: 

CONTAlNINtr   A 

GENERAL  AND  BIOGRAPHICAL  HISTORY 

OP 

THE  mOYAIL  NAYY 

OP   THE 

UNITED  KINGDOM; 

WITH    A 

VARIETY  OF  ORIGINAL  PAPERS 

ON 

NAUTICAL  SUBJECTS: 

UNDER  THE  GUIDANCE  OF  SEVERAL 

LITERARY  AND  PROFESSIONAL  MEN 


VOLUME  THE  SEVENTEENTH. 

(from  JANUARY  TO  JUNE.) 


"  EfJOLAND    EXPECTS    THAT    EVERY  MAN    WILL    DO    HIS    DUTY." 

'       NELSOK    AND    BRONTI. 


iLontion  i 

PRINTED   AND  PUBLISHED  BY  JOYCE  GOLD,    SHOE-LANE. 

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■VVhite,  Fleet-street;  Messrs.  Vernor,  Hood,  and  Sha;;pe,  Poultry;  Mr. 
AspERNE,and  Messrs.  Richardson,  Cornhill;  Messrs.  Black,  H.  Parry, 
and  KiNCSBURY,  Leadenhall-street ;  Messrs.  CRosbv  and  Co.,  Stationers'  Hall 
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MDCCCVIk 


•  TO 

JOHN   HOLLO  WAY,  Esq. 

ADMIRAL  OF  THE  RED  SQUADllOX, 

AND  GOVERNOR  AND  COrJMANDER  IN  CHIEF  OF 
NEWFOUNDLAND, 

THIS  SEVENTEENTH  VOLUME  OF  THE 

jl^atjal  Cftronicle 

IS  RESPECXrULLY  DEDICATED 
BV  THE  EDITORS. 


f>LATES  IN  VOLUME  XVII. 
From  Original  Designs. 

Plate  Page 

Head  Piece  to  Vol.  XVII,  is  an  Engraving  on  Wood,  by  Nesbit, 
from  a  Drawing  by  Pocock,  and  is  an  accurate  repreientation 'of 
ttie  Bow  of  the  Tonnant,  as  she  appeared  after  the  Battle  off 
Trafalgar    • 1 

CCXXII.  PoRTRATT  of  Commodore  Sir  Samuel  Hood,  K.B.  and  K.S.F. 
Engraved  by  lirDLEY,  fronj  a  Print  published  by  JMr.  Avdrev/s, 
of  Charing  Cross,  by  whose  permission  the  present  Engraving  was 
made • I 

CCXXIII.     Walmer  Castle,   near  Deal.     Engraved  by  Cook,  from  a 

Drawing  by  Bennett , . , . .     50 

CCXXIV.     Portrait  of  Sir  Robert  Calder,  Bart.,  Vice-Admlral  of  the 

White- Squadron.     Engraved  by  Cooke,  from  an  original  Painting     89 

CCXXV.     The  Giant's  Causeway  in  Ireland.     Engraved  by  Rick  a  kds, 

from  a  Drawing  by  Pocock 128 

CCXXVI.     Portrait  of  the  late  Sir  Francis  Gearv',  Bart.,  Admiral  of 

the  White  Squadron.     Engraved  by  Cook 177 

CCXXVIL  Representation  of  the  Pile  of  Warehouses  at  Liverpool, 
as  they  appeared  prior  to  their  being  destroyed  by  Fire.  Engraved 
by  Hall,  from  a  Drawing  by  F.  W 205^ 

CCXXVIII.     Portrait  of  Captain  Richard  BuDD  Vincent.     Engraved 

by  Cook 265 

CCXXIX.  View  of  the  Straits  (or  Fare)  of  Messina,  with  His  Majesty's 
Ship  Foudroyant.  Engraved  by  Hall,  from  a  Drawing  by 
Pocock 309 

CCXXX.  Portrait  of  the  late  Captain  John  Cooke,  who  fell  in  the 
Action  olf  Trafalgar.  Engraved  by  Fittler,  A.S.,-  from  an 
Original  Painting,  in  the  Possession  of  Mrs.  Cooke    35a 

CCXXXI.     View   of  the  Sound    from   above   Elsinkur.      Engraved   by 

Wells,  from  a  Drawing  by  F.  Gibson,  Esq.  F.A.S 393 

CCXXXII.  Portrait  of  Thomas  IMacnamara  Russel,  Esq.,  Vice- 
Admiral  of  the  Blue  Squadron.  Engraved  by  Cook,  from  a 
Painting  by  C.  G.  Stuart,  in  the  Possession  of  Sir  John  Hayes, 
Bart 441 

CCXXXIII.     Map  of  the  Bay  of  Aboukir,  Alexandria,  &c.     Drawn 

and  engraved  by  Lu ffm an 489 

CCXXIV.  FkontIspiece  to  the  Volume;  being  a  Representation  of  the 
Monument  erected  in  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  to  the  Memory  of 
Captains  Moss  and  Rior. 


'wis  71'    .  ' ^^£^'^""^^^^^^^^^ 


^^^^^.^®CSls^^Mt^^S^^^^' 


F  F^  E  F  A  €  E 

TO  THE  SEVENTEENTH  VOLUME. 

JU/URING  the  period  which  this  portion  of  the  Naval 
Chronicle  embraces,  our  good  old  ship  the  Britannia  has 
suddenly  changed  its  Officers,  and  its  Quarter  Masters,  whose 
places  have  been  occupied  by  the  followers  of  her  old  Comman- 
der, William  Pitt;  and,  as  it  was  found  necessary  also  to 
have  a  new  Siiip's  Company,  the  press  has  been  very  hot 
throughout  the  different  counties,  and  public  notice  was  given 
by  Commodore  Percivat,,  that  the  Boatswaiti  would  pi])e  all 
hands  on  the  22d  of  June. 

Never  did  party  run  more  high,  never  was  abuse  of  the  most 
angry  and  calumniating  nature  poured  forth  in  such  abundance 
from  both  sides :  tending,  in  our  humble  opinion,  to  irritate  the 
public  mind,  and  to  weaken  that  spirit  of  patriotism,  w  hich  all 
who  are  true  Englishmen  should  sedulously  cherish.  It  too 
much  reminds  us  of  the  wretched  and  illil)cral  Builetins  of  the 
French. — In  the  present  Ministry  are  men  of  the  highest 
talents,  and  the  most  respectable  character.  In  the  late 
Ministry  there  m  as  also  an  aggregate  of  public  spirit,  of  inde- 
pendence, and  of  ability,  which  if  it  sometimes  erred,  and  there 
never  was  any  Ministry  that  did  not  err,  most  certauily  deserved 
the  thanks  and  the  gratitude  of  their  country. 

/9at).  <3:f)ron.^oI,XVII.  l> 


Vi  PREFACE. 

Tiie  fall.ne  of  tlie  e.%p(?tlilion  against  Constantinople,  and  onr 
defeat  in  Egypt,  liave  coii.sf.quoiiliy  ]>vcn  rouinicnttd  on  Milli 
iiuich  asperity.  Wlieii  these  events  are  discussed  in  liie  House 
of  Coninioiis,  a  uune  correct  opiiiion  can  be  formed,  indeed  the 
only  oiie  that  can  be  leiicd  on  ;  and  we  pledge  ourselves  to 
collect  this  willi  impartiality.  The  recent  communication  from 
Monte  Video,  signed  I',  at  page  49'-2,  gives  a  faithful  account 
of  the  state  oi'  die  inhabitants,  and  offers  some  judicious  vemarks 
respecting  that  vahiable  part  of  South  America.  We  eariiesdy 
request  similar  coinminiications  from  such  of  our  friends  as  may 
be  on  foreign  stations,  or  mIio  are  on  board  the  dilierent 
squadions  on  liie  home  service  ;  as  they  materially  tend  to 
throw  light  on  llie  naval  history  of  this  evcntfiu  period,  and  to 
cori^ct  the  erroneous  statements  of  self-created  politicians. 

The  present  Volume  has  rendered  some  service  to  our  Xaval 
History,  by  giving,  from  no  common  sources,  the  biographical 
memoirs  of  Sir  Samuel  Hood,  of  Sir  liobert  Cakler,  (page  8}),) 
of  Sir  Francis  Geary,  (page  117?)  of  Captain  Richard  Jiudd 
Vincent,  (page  '2G5,)  of  the  late  Captain  John  Cooke,  who  fell 
in  the  memorabh?  action  oft  Trafalgar,  (page  Cio'3,)  and  of 
Vice-Admiral  Russell,  (page  4  +  1.)  These,  as  the  reader  may 
immediately  })erceive,  have  I;een  selected  witliout  anv  idea  of 
party  or  partiality.  In  recording  the  actions  of  the  brave  and 
worthy  xVdmiral  Geary,  we  ) evived  the  professioiKil  fame  of  a 
most  excellent  oflicer,  and  jiaul  iJuit  justice,  which  is  the  dutv  of 
a  Chronicler,  to  the  exertions  {>(  former  heroes  :  and  in  detailing 
the  career  which  liie  brave  Commander  of  the  Arrtnv,  Caiitain 
Vincent,  had  hitherto  lan,  v. e  have  shown  that  ouv  Work  con- 
tinues oj)en  to  all  ranks  of  tlie  British  Ntivy;  and  that  our 
object  in  publishing  these  memoirs  of  living  officers,  is,  by  means 
of  Biography,  to  collect  those  valuable  and  disj>crsed  facts,  whicii 
can  ahnie  give  accuracy  and  interest  to  the  subsecjuent  historian. 
AiUidst  the  variety  of  docunienls  which  have  thus  been  pre- 
served, the  attention  of  the  reader  may  be  directed  to  Unit 
interesting  letter  from  the  thru  Captain  Russell,  dated  off  Sandy 
Hook,  rVbntary  G,  1783,  wiiieii  ^ives  s-j  udmiiabie  an  account 


l'HF,l-ACE.  Ml 

oi  his  action  in  the  Hussar  with  hi  Sybille,  coninnindt'd  hv  ^I. 
!e  Comtcde  Krergarou,  and  which  h;ts  never  bciuie  iippcarcd  in 
print. 

Respecting  otlior  documcnis  wliicli  wc  have  received  throuijh  tho, 
kinihiess  of  our  frit-nds,  our  thanlvs  arc  due' — J.  for  f lie  excellent 
J/Cttcr  which  forms  a  sort  of  Joiiriial  of  tlio  proceedings  f  tiie 
Squadron  inuler  Commodore  Keafes,  olf  iJoelifort,  in  the  month  of 
Pecember  last,  (j)age  47,)-^^!  I.  ']"o  the  consjir.heii.^ive  Narraiive 
of  the  Proccediiigs  of  the  Crew  of  IJis  -Majesty's  ship  Por- 
poise, after  the  h)ss  of  their  sliip,  to  their  arrival  at  Canton, 
(pages  52,  l.>t,  'tOl,  and  4.S3.)  — Ilf.  An  accomit  of  tiic 
Speech  delivered  by  Cenjamin  Alilnc,  Esq.,  on  the  firtit  est.i- 
})lishment  of  Flamborough  Light-ljoiise,  (page  117.) — IV.  Sir 
Jlichard  Haddock's  account  of  (he  '28th  of  ^May,  1672,  (page 
121.) — V.  For  an  account  of  the  situation  of  the  Centaur,  in  the 
Jiurricanc  (tf  July  29,  180.5,  (page  12i.)  —  V'i.  i<'or  a  short 
memoir  of  the  recent  services  of  Admiral  Corruvallis,  (pn<;e  2()i.) 
—  \  11.  To  Trinculo,  for  a  Sailor's  description  of  (he  liouse  of 
Connnons  in  1773,  (page  219.) — VIll.  i''or  the  extract  from 
JJeutenant  Copmbe's  Log,  detail!. is  the  glorious  cxjiloit  (hat  was 
performeil  by  the  boats  of  (he  (lalatea,  (page  304.) — IX.  For  the 
valual)le  Journal  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Squadron  under  Sir 
J.  Jervis,  in  the  ^Vest  Indies,  during  1794  and  179.^,  (pajfes3l2, 
.3S.S,  and  473.) — X.  For  the  commu'iicatlon  of  the  original  MS. 
Avhicli  narrates  the  vovagc  and  loss  of  the  Duke  ^^  illiam,  I'rans- 
])ort,  in  17.58,  (page  39G.)— And  X I.  For  the  Naval  ikUads  that 
are  inserted  at  pages  oOO,  .501,  and  .503. 

'I'he  Lettf.rs  ox  SERvrcv.,  of  vvhi(;h  our  Chronicle  may  now 
])oast  a  very  valuable  collection,  froin  the  \  ear  1799,  record  in  (he 
present  \'oliime,  amongst  other  brilliant  exploits,- — !.  Capfaiu 
J'earse's  action  in  the  Halcyon  sloop,  wiih  (he  Sj^anisii  siiip  Xcp- 
tuno  dios  dc  los  Mares,  a  brig,  and  a  zebe'ck,  which  teriniiiated 
in  tiie  captiire  of  the  Neptuno,  (page  7S.) — J  I.  Lieutenant  Bar- 
ker's capture  of  the  French  slooj)  ])rivateer  le  Tijire,  by  IJij 
Majesty's  armed  brig  Grenada,  being  the  third  which  ihat  ollicer 
had  taken  in  the  course  of  three  weeks,  (page  l.SS.)— Ml.  Capr 
tain  NValdeijrave's  cliase  of  eleven  of  the  eneniv's  privateers  in  the 
Strnits  of  (ribraltar,  bv  His  .Majesty's  sloo])  tlie  I\iinorca,  and  his 
sfkilful  manicuvre  in  capturing  (he  largest,  close  to  Cape  Tra- 
falgar, (page  1.59.) — iV,  Particulars  of  an  enteiprize  hiiihiy 
preditable    to    i/icuteiiant   ^laph-ton,     of    tl<e    Impeiieusej    l;0i4 


Vm  PREFACE. 

Cochrane,  (page  ]67.)— V.  From  Captain  Brisbane,  of  the 
Arelhiisa-  eiving  an  account  of  the  gallant  and  resolute  manner  in 
Avhicli  the  Island  of  Cura^oa  was  taken  by  the  four  frigates  under 
his  command,  (page  16S.)--VI.  List  of  men  of  v.'ar  and  armed 
Tcssels  captured  and  destroyed  by  tin;  squadron  on  the  Jamaica  sta- 
tion, from  January  1,  1806,  to  January  1,  1807,  (page  254.) — 
Vir.  Account  of  the  spirit  and  gallantry  that  were  displayed  by 
the  officers  and  men  in  tlie  boats  of  the  (lalatea  and  Cerberus,  off 
Martinique,  (page  335.) — VIII.  Gallant  conduct  of  Captain 
Elplnnstone,  and  Captain  Troubridge,  in  the  Java  Seas,  July  25, 
1808,  (page  338.) — The  capture  of  Monte  Video,  as  detailed  by 
Admiral  Stirling,  (page  341.) — IX.  Captain  Sayer's  letter,  de- 
tailing the  noble  exertions  of  the  ofhcers  of  the  Galatea,  in  their 
capture  of  the  Lynx,  (page  346.) — X.  Captain  Dacres' capture  of 
the  French  schooner  Dauphin,  and  his  subsequent  destruction -of 
the  Fort  at  Samana,  a  noted  asylum  for  the  enemy's  privateers, 
(page  349.) — XL  Admiral  Duckworth's  proceedings  in  the  Dar- 
danelles, (page  425.) — XII.  Captain  llallowell's  account  of  the 
surrender  of  Alexandria,  (page  433.)--XllL  A  gallant  attack 
made  by  the  armed  ship,  Sally,  Captain  Chetham,  on  a  column  of 
French  troops  on  the  Nchrung,  (page  512.)  — XIV.  The  capture 
*)f  the  St.  Pedro,  Spanish  packet,  by  the  boats  of  His  Majesty's 
ship  Comus,  Captain  Shipley,  (page  .315.) — XV.  The  destruction 
of  some  gun-boats  and  small  craft,  in  the  Spanish  Main,  by  His 
Majesty's  sloop  Lark,  Captain  Nicholas,  (page  5IG  ) — XVL 
And,  though  last,  not  least.  Captain  Barrie's  capture  of  thirteen 
sail  of  a  French  convoy,  and  the  destruclion  of  a  fourteenth  ;  an 
achievement  Avhieh,  great  as  it  was,  would  have  been  extended, 
had  the  wind  been  favourable,  (page  ol7.) 

In  Naval  Ljteraturl;  we  particularly  recommend  to  our 
readers,  in  the  hrst  place,  a  Work  whicii  we  ougiit  long  since  to 
have  paid  a  greater  attentloni  to  ;  and  we  intend  in  our  next 
Voiuui"  to  give  some  extracts  from  it: 

1.  A  'i'lealise  on  Xava!  Architecture,  founded  upon  Philoso- 
phical and  Rational  Principles,  towards  establishing  fixed  rules  for 
tlie  best  iorm  and  i)roi)ortional  dimensions,  in  length,  breadth,  and 
depth,  of  Merchants'  ships  in  general,  and  also  the  management  of 
them  t')  the  greatest  advantage,  by  practical  seauMinship  ;  with 
imporhint  hints  aul  remarks  relating  tiierefo,  especiilly  bo!h  ior 
defence  and  attacks  in  war  at  sea,  i'roni  long  approved  experience. 
By  VViiiiam  Hutclilnsonj  Mariner,  lately  a  Dock  Master  at. 
Liverpool. 


PREFACE.  IX 

2.  Authentic  Materials  for  a  History  of  the  People  of  Malta  : 
la  four  Parts  :  contaiuing  the  Form  of  Government  under  their 
own  Magistrates,  under  the  Grand  Masters,  and  under  the  British 
Civil  Commissioners  ;  their  former  Efi'orts  to  regain  their  ancient 
Rights  and  Liberties,  and  their  present  Claims  thereto  ;  a  Memorial 
to  the  King;  Revenues,  Expenditure,  Coins,  Cora  Measures, 
Agriculture,  kc.     By  William  Eton,  Esq. 

3.  The  Present  State  of  Turkey;  together  with  the  Geogra- 
phical, Political,  and  Civil  State  of  the  Principalities  of  Moldavia 
and  Wallachia.  From  observations  made  daring  a  residence  of 
fifteen  years  in  Constantinople  and  the  Turkish  Provinces.  By 
Thomas  Thornton,  Esq. 

4.  Some  Account  of  New  Zealand,  particularly  the  Bay  of 
Islands  and  surrounding  Country  ;  with  a  description  of  the 
Religion  and  (jrovernment,  Language,  Arts,  Manners,  and  Customs 
of  the  Natives.      By  John  Savage,  Esq.  Surgeon. 

5.  An  History  of  Jamaica  ;  Avith  Observations  on  its  Climate, 
Scenery,  Trade,  Productions,  Negroes,  Slave  Trade,  Diseases, 
Customs,  iManners  and  Dispositions  of  the  Inhabitajits. — To  which 
is  added,  an  illustration  of  the  advantages  which  are  likely  to 
result  from  the  Abolition  of  the  Slave  Trade.  By  Robert 
Rcnny,  Esq. 

6.  Letters  addressed  to  the  Right  Hon.  Lord   M — ,    on 

the  late  Expeditions  to  the  Spanish  Main  ;  and  on  the  expediency 
of  a  gradual  and  systematical  Emancipation  of  Spanish  America ; 
including  the  Sketch  of  a  Plan  for  effecting  it,  in  a  manner 
beneficial  to  Great  Britain  and  that  Country.  By  a  Native  of 
Spanish  America. 

7.  J'he  Pamphlet  just  published,  entitled  "  Free  Trade  to  the 
East  Indies.,"  is  an  interesting  publication.  Although  we  will  not 
enter  into  the  merits  of  the  subject,  or  give  our  opinion  on  it,  we 
shall  mention  to  our  readers  the  contents  of  this  production.  The 
Author  takes  a  comprehensive  view  of  the  Company's  present 
situation,  and  gives  a  full  history  of  its  civil  transactions  from  its 
firsr  charter,  in  IGOO,  to  the  present  day.  Having  finished  the 
Iiistory,  he  proceeds  to  consider,  whether  the  exclusive  charter  of  • 
the  East  India  Company  be  advantageous  or  disadvantageous  to 
the  British  Empire.  He  then  states,  in  a  candid  manner,  all  the 
arguments  in  defence  of  the  present  chartered  monopoly.  He 
investigates  them  calml),  and,  in  !iis  opinion,  refutes  fh^m  clearly. 
After  Mhieh,  he  concludes  thi'.  part  of  ilie  ^ubjl.'Ct  by  endeavwuring 
to  point  out  the  nccciiitj/  and  udvantu^cs  of  a  Free  Trade  to  the 


X  PREFACE. 

East  Indies,  and,  consequently,  of  a  total  (erniinaiion  to  t'le  prc« 
sent  chartered  monopoly. 

For  this  purpose  he  first  points  out  the  hurtful  effects  of  the. 
present  system.  He  .shows — 1st.  The  interests  of  the  Public  and 
of  the  East  India  Company  are  contrarij  to  each  other.  2.  Tluit 
the  Company  are  totally  unahla  to  carry  on  the  trade  to  its  proper 
extent.  3.  That  the  present  system  prevents  competition,  and 
represses  the  industry  of  the  liritish  ^Merchant  and  Manufacturer. 
4.  That  the  trade  of  rival  nations  is  encouraged  and  increased,  and 
that  ihc  trade  of  America  alone  to  the  Ea-^t  Indies  and  China^ 
(ictuaUij  exceeds  that  of  Great  Britain.  5.  That  by  exacting- 
exorbitant  profits,  they  impoveri>h  the  English  people,  and  lessen 
our  foreign  trade.  6.  That  the  Directors  and  Proprietors  of  the 
East  India  Company  arc  totally  unfit  to  be  the  J^egi>Iators  ofagreat, 
extensive,  and  populous  Empire.  7.  The  Directors  are  careless 
about  the  increase  of  trade,  and  despise  ail  economy  :  and,  8.  The 
immense  private  fortunes  poured  into  the  country,  endanger  its 
independence,  and  prove  subversive  of  its  Jiappiucss.  Thc>c  facts 
arc  all  illustrated  and  explained  in  their  order.  The  Author  now 
points  out  the  advantages  \vhich  must  undoubtedly  be  derived  from 
a  free  trade.  He  states,  that,  1st.  A  free  trade  to  India  Mould 
greatly  increase  our  exports.  '2d.  A  free  trade  to  India  would 
lessen  the  commerce  of  our  maritime  i-ivals  uith  that  country. 
3dly.  A  free  trade  to  India  would  equally  increase  the  wealth  and 
naval  power  of  the  State  ;  and,  4thly,  The  condition  of  every  class 
of  the  comqiiinity  would  be  gi-eatly  improved,  in  consequence  of  a 
fne  trade.  The  Author  harving  supported  fill  these  propositions 
by  various  arguments  and  illu>trations,  concludes  with  a  serious 
address  to  every  friend  of  his  country,  in  this  important  crisis. 

This  pamphlet  is  written  v\ithmu(h  spititand  force  of  argument, 
and  has  already  excited  considerable  attention.  It  is  said,  that  the 
Company  are  preparing  an  answer  to  it,  Avhich  will  shortlj- be 
published. 

8.  Thoughts  on  the  value  to  Great  Britain,  of  Commerce  in 
general,  and  on  the  value  and  iniportance  of  rhe  Colonial  Trade 
in  particular.     By  Charles  Bosanquet,  I'^sq. 

9.  An  Account  of  the  Navigation  and  Commerce  of  tlie  Diack 
Sea,  collected  from  ori^jinal  sources.      By  Charles  Wilkinson. 

10.  Voyages  in  Portuga',  Spain,  Asia  Minor,  E;;;ypt,  kc.  from 
1796  to  1801,  with  serious  reflections,  by  F.  Collins,  late  Lieu., 
tenant  of  the  Dolphin. 

11.  A  Clergyman  of  Xykocbing,   in  Denmark,   has  trivcn  tlie 


PREFACE.  M 

description  of  an  Island,  the  name  of  \vhidi  is  ?carc<-]y  known  to 
the  J)anps  tiumsclves  :  it  is  that  of  Mors,  situated  in  the  north- 
cast  part  of  Juthind,  and  formed  by  tiie  Cieat  Gulf  of  Limlierd. 

VI.  A  new  JNIap  of  the  Feroe  Islands  has  appeared  in  Denmark, 
c6nstructcd  by  M.  Loevenvern,  adistinguislied  OiTicer  in  the  Xavy  ; 
it  comprehends  a  space  from  lat.  Gl°  ^o',  to  !at.  f)'2°  '25'. 

l.'^.  Captain  Footers  vindication  of  his  conduct,  when  Captain 
of  liis  Majesty's  ship  Seahorse,  and  senior  Ollicer  in  the  Bay  of 
Naples,   in  the   summer  of   1791).      Pp.    171. 

'**"*  This  admirable  Pamphlet,  -wliich  wo  shall  notice  more  full)' 
in  our  next  Volume,  has  been  published  in  consc([uence  of  a  direct 
attack  on  this  excellent  Officer,  by  a  Work  which  professes  to  con- 
tain  "  Genuine  Memoirs  of  Lord  Nelson's  Life." 

We  are  glad  to  hear,  that  Lord  ]Mu1grave  intends  to  fnrnlsli 
every  one  of  liis  Majesty's  ships  with  a  set  of  correct  charts^ 
and  to  communicate  also  the  numerous  observations  that  have 
been  made,  anel  arc  constantly  making,  by  different  officers. 
This  is  worthy  of  the  name  of  Mulgrave,  and  will  eventually 
lead  to  other  measures  of  a  similar  nature.  We  sincerely  hope 
that  amidst  the  scuffles  of  party,  ll;e  great  and  leading  interests 
of  tlie  nation  will  not  lor  a  nioment  be  neglected:  there  are  at 
present  very  cogent  reasons,  why  a  most  marked  and  uniform 
attention  should  no.v  be  particularly  given  to  the  wishes  and  the 
comforts  of  the  ihili.'sli  Xavy. 

!Mr.  Anowsmilh  has  lately  published  a  most  valuable  Chart 
of  the  Mediterranean,  and  two  smaller  ones,  of  the  iStraits^^of 
Constantinople  and  the  Dardanelles. — His  large  Map  of  Scot- 
land is  also  just  published,  which  gives  a  most  accurate  di:li- 
ueation  of  its  indented  coast.  He  is  also  at  ])resent  employed 
in  draw  ing  some  more  of  those  small  Charts  of  detached  places 
of  public  interest  for  our  ChUoxicle,  Mhich  have  already 
given  so  nuich  satisfaction. 

It  has  been  our  custom  to  mention  some  of  the  Biographical 
IMemoirs  we  have  in  hand,  tliat  we  might,  before  iiublitation  of 
them,  receive  such  anecdotes,  and  delineations  of  their  pro- 
fessiontd  character,  as  iheir  respective  acquaintance  might  wish 
to  fiirni>li  :  with  this  idea  we  therefore  inform  our  numerous 


XII  PREFACE. 

literal^  friends,  that  we  have  at  present  on  our  table,  the  Lives 
of  Vice-A<lmiral  Sir  J .  T.  Duckworth,  of  Vice-Admiral  John 
Hollovav,  of  Lord  Cochrane,  of  the  late  Captain  Pearson, 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  Greenwich  Hospital,  of  Sir  Andrew 
Snape  Hamond,  and  of  Admiral  George  Murray,  now  at  the 
Mauritius. 

We  request  the  sons  and  relatives  of  other  officers,  who  are  at 
present  serving  their  Country,  or  v>ho,  having  served  it,  have 
drifted  on  the  half-pay  shoals,  to  assist  and  extend  this  valuable 
portion  of  our  Chronicle  ;  which  too  many  writers  continue 
to  steal  from,  without  the  smallest  acknowledgment. 

The  large  orders  which  wc  have  lately  received  from  foreign- 
ers, are  particularly  flattering ;  and  ^ye  beg  to  observe,  that  we 
should  gladly  insert  whatever  memoirs  of  foreign  Naval  Officers 
might  be  sent  us.  The  variety  of  beautiful  Drawings  of  Sea 
Coasts  and  Harbours  which  we  have  received,  shall  in  time 
meet  with  the  attention  they  deserve.  We  now  take  our  leave, 
and  return  to  our  respective  Stations ;  anxiously  hoping  to  per- 
form our  duty,  and  to  preserve  the  good  opinion  which  we  have 
obtained. 


All  communications  intended  for  insertion  in  the,  Naval 
CuRONicLt,  are  requested  to  be  sent  to  Mr.  Gold,  103^  Shoe 
Tiane,  London. 


^ 


^'<%,    IJihcJSc. 


COMMOJDOMIE    SlIL 


AM^'HOOID)  KB  &K 


PiLblufh£d  31.  Jew  .rif!  ^y,  hi/  L  froLd  J  03. .  fhoe  Lan/r.  F&c-t  Strea . 


The   above   Engraving  by  Nesbir,    is  from  a  Drawing  by  Pocick,   and  i;  an  rccurite  r.-prescntation  of  the 
B®w  of  the  Tonnant,  as  she  appeared  after  the  Battle  of  Trafalgar. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  MEMOIR   OF 

COMMODORE  SIR  SAMUEL  HOOD,  K.B.,  K.S.F., 

AND    M.P.    FOU    THE    CITY    OF    WESTMINSTEU. 


The  heart  of  a  sailor   c\>t  fv.li.. 


For  his   fuieni/s,   for  ins  coi;NTn\'s  ui-posii  ; 

To    TIIESK    IT    PRESENTS    THE    SMOOTil    PEEL, 

And  the  rough  oak  ceneatj!,  to  theik  foes." 

0<nLV!R. 

TrT  is  recorded^  on  die  sepuldiral  monument  of  a  certain  noble 
family,  that  "  all  die  brothers  were  valiant,  and  all  the  sis- 
ters virtuous."  With  the  female  branches  of  die  Hood  family, 
ve  have  not  the  honour  of  being  acquainted;  Ijiit,  as  far  as  our 
knowledge  extends,  respecting  the  males,  we  can  w  ilh  confidence 
assert  them  to  be  all  "  valiant." 

Already  has  it  been  our  task  to  emblazon  the  virtues  and 
exploits  of  Sir  Samuel  Hood's  noble  relatives,  the  Lords  Hood 
and  Bridport;  and  to  embalm  the  respected  memory  of  his 
deceased  brother  :  it  now  becomes  our  pleasing  duty  to  exhibit 

■/9a\;*  Cfjron.  (HdI.XVH.  b 


2  BIOGRAPHICAL    MEMOIR    OF 

the  more  prominent  traits  of  his  own  professional  life — a  lifc;, 
of  which  upwards  of  tliirty  years  have  been  spent  in  the  service 
of  his  beloved  country. 

This  gentleman,  whose  nautical  career  we  are  about  to  dis- 
close, was  born  in  the  month  of  November,  1762;  and  conse- 
queiitly  is  now  in  his  forty-fifth  year.  Sir  Samuel's  grandfather 
was  the  Rev.  Arthur  Hood,  of  Dawlish,  Somersetshire,  elder 
brother  of  the  father  of  the  Lords  Hood  and  Bridport :  his 
fatlier  was  the  late  Mr.  Samuel  Hood,  an  opulent  farmer,  of 
Kingsland,  in  the  parish  of  Nctherby,  Dorsetshire.  Sir  Samuel's 
eldest  brother,  Arthur,  was  unfoi  tunately  drowned  in  His 
iMajesty's  sloop  Pomona,  which  foundered  in  a  hurricane,  on 
tlie  Leeward  Island  station,  in  the  year  1775;*  and  his  second 
brother,  Alexander,  Captain  of  the  Mars,  was  killed  in  that 
ship,   in   an    action   with    THercule,    on   the   21st   of  April, 

1798 1- 

From  the  above  genealogical  particulars,  it  appears  that  Sir 
Samuel  Hood  is  second  cousin  to  the  two  illustrious  Admirals 
whom  we  have  mentioned  ;  and  not  nephew,  as  has  been  most 
generally  understood. 

Thus  related,  however,  it  is  by  no  means  surprising,  that  the 
subject  of  this  memoir  should  emulate  the  proudest  deeds  of  his 
predecessors  and  contemporaries — that  he  should  mentally 
exclaim  : — 

*'  That  which  Alexander  sigh'd  for, 

T'nat  which  Cassars  soul  possess'd, 
That  which  Iieroes,  kings  have  died  fof, 

61or_y  ! — animates  my  breast !  " 

About  the  age  of  fourteen,  Mr.  Hood  commenced  his  naval 
career,  as  Midshipman,  under  the  protection  of  the  Right 
Honourable  Lord  Hood,  who  then  (1770)  cwunnanded  the 
Courageux.     He  remained  in  that  ship,  and  in  the  Robust  :j:. 


*  The  Pomona,  Captani  Eastwood,  and  the  Ferret,  Captain  Rodney,  were  lost 
we  believe  at  the  same  time,  and  all  their  crews  perished. 

t  Vide   biographical   memoir  of  the   late   Captain  Alexander   Hood,   TS'.was 
Chronicle,  Vol.  Yl,  page  173,  et  seq. 

*  Coninianded  by  Captain  Hood,  now  Lord  Briclport. 


COMMODORE    SIR    SAMUEL    HOOD,    K.B.    AND    K.S.F.  S 

until  the  year  1779-  Ih  1778,  while  in  the  latter,  he  was  pre- 
sent at  the  capture  of  two  French  frigates,  the  Pallas  and  the 
Licorne*;  and,  on  the  27th  of  July,  in  the  same  year,  in  the 
memorable  engagement  between  Admiral  Keppel  and  ie 
Comte  d'Orvilliers  f,  he  had  the  honour  of  serving  as  Aid-du- 
camp  to  the  Captain  of  the  Robust. 

In  the  course  of  the  following  year,  Mr.  Hood  \^  as  removed 
into  the  Lively  sloop ;  and,  in  17Si/',  he  was  in  that  vessel  at 
the  capture  of  la  Duchesse  de  Chartres,  a  French  privateer, 
which  surrendered  after  a  short  action,  in  the  liritish  Channel, 

At  the  latter  end  of  the  year  1780,  Lord  Hood  having 
hoisted  a  Rear-Admiral's  flag  on  board  of  the  Barileuri,  he 
was  accompanied  to  the  West  Indies,  in  that  ship,  by  his  young 
protege;  who  served  under  him,  as  acting  Lieutenant,  and 
Lieutenant,  from  the  month  of  October,  1780,  until  the  ^ist  of 
January,  1782. — During  his  services  in  the  Barfleur,  Lieutenant 
Hood  exerted  himself,  as  far  as  his  rank  and  orders  would  per- 
mit, in  the  battle  with  de  Grasse,  oft"  Martmique,  on  the  29tli 
of  April,  1781  ;  in  the  engagement  oft'  the  Chesapeak,  on  the 
5th  of  September  following  §  ;  and  in  tfie  actions  between  the 
I  wo  fleets,  at  St.  Kitt's,  on  the  2oth  and  26th  of  Januarv, 
1782. 

Were  it  not  that  we  hare  already  given  a  copious  and  correct 
detail  of  these  respective  services,  m  our  memoir  of  Lord  Hood, 
we  could  here  dwell  with  much  pleasure  upon  their  extent  and 
importance;  and  would  endeavour  to  oft'er  some  tribute  to  the 
gallantry  and  skill  of  those  brave  Commanders,  who  perl'ormed 
so  much  for  the  honour  of  the  British  flag.  As  it  is,  we  must 
content  ourselves  with  referrmg  the  reader  to  the  lives  of  Lord 
Rodney,  Lord  Hood,  and  Lord  Graves,  whose  actions  form 
such  conspicuous  figures  in  the  pages  of  our  Chronicle  [!.     Jt 


*  June  17  and  18.  Vide  X.vval  Chronicle,  Vol.  I,  pad,c  27'3;  and  \o\. 
VI T,  page  293. 

t  Vide  Navai.  Chronici.t,  Vol.  I,  page  271. 

i  Vide  Naval  Chroniclk,  Vol.  II,  page  7. 

j  The  Cntisli  lieet  was  then  commanded  i>y  (lie  lale  Lord  Graves. 

II  Vide  jVaval  CnnoKicLi',  Vol.  I,  page  'Jjo-,  \ul.  11,  ])agc  1  j  and  Vol.  V. 
page  377, 


4  Biof;nAPincAL  memoir  of 

would  be  unjust,  however,  to  dismiss  the  subject,  without 
observing,  that  the  office)-,  to  whom  this  memoir  immediately 
relates,  derived  ample  experience  and  profit  from  the  situation 
in  which  he  was  placed.  Acting  so  immediately  under  the  eye 
of  such  distinguished  Commanders  as  those  whom  we  have 
mentioned,  he  could  not  but  acquire  a  portion  of  their  skill,  and 
imbibe  a  sentiment  of  emulation,  which  opened  to  him  a  pros- 
pect of  the  brightest  and  the  happiest  results.  We  cannot  con- 
sider Sir  Samuel  Hood  as  otherwise  than  extremely  fortunate  in 
liaving  been  thus  stationed.  Favoured  by  nature  with  an 
excellent  constitution,  a  brave  and  martial  spirit,  fortune  seems 
to  have  indulged  him  with  an  opportunity  of  turning  those 
advantages  to  the  best  account. 

On  the  31st  of  January,  1782,  five  days  after  the  second 
action  at  St.  Kitts,  Mr.  Hood  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Commander,  and  appointed  to  the  Renard  sloop,  by  the  present 
Lord  Viscount  Hood.  This  appointment  took  place,  it  is 
worthy  of  remark,  when  he  had  scarcely  passed  his  twentieth 
year  ;  a  presumptive  proof  that,  joined  to  his  family  interest  in 
the  Navy,  he  had  given  sufficient  indications  of  future 
eminence. 

Captain  Hood's  command  of  the  Renard  appears  to  have 
been  rather  nominal  than  real.  At  the  period  of  his  appoint- 
ment, that  vessel  \\  as  lying  as  a  convalescent  ship  at  Antigua ; 
and,  revolting  from  the  state  of  inactivity  to  which  such  a  ser- 
vice would  have  condenmed  him,  he  remained  as  a  volunteer  on 
board  of  the  Barfleur. 

'•  The  warrior's  wish  arose  within  his  soid, 

As  Fancy  piclur'd  scenes  of  radiant  hue; 
He  saw,  at  distance,  Fame's  immortal  goal, 

And  future  glories  press'ti  upon  liis  view  1" 

Captain  Hood  was  in  the  Barfleur  at  the  well-remembered 
actions  of  the  Qth  and  i2th  of  April,  I'/SC,  in  which  his  noble 
relation  so  conspicuously  'dv.d  eminently  distinguished  himself*; 
and,  on  the  lyth  of  the  same  month,  he  was  also  at  the  capture 

*  Vide  Naval  Chronicle,  Vol.  I,  page  589;  and  VoL  11,  page  20. 


COMMODORE   SIR    SAMUEL    HOOD,    K.B.    AND    K,3.F.  5 

«f  the  French  squadron  in  the  Mona  Passage,  consisting  of  le 
Jason,  le  Cato  •,  I'Aimable,  and  la  Ceres*. 

This  was  the  last  engagement  in  which  Captain  Hood  was 
concerned  during  the  war. — When  the  preliminaries  of  peace 
were  signed,  he  took  the  opportunity  of  going  over  to  France, 
where  he  remained  until  the  year  1785. 

On  his  return  o  Eughuid,  he  was  appointed  to  command  the 
Weazie  sloop  of  war,  in  which  he  proceeded  to  Halifax.  He 
was  there  employed  in  surveying  the  coasts  and  harbours  on 
that  station ;  where,  for  the  vigilance  and  activity  of  his  services, 
!ie  was  rewarded,  by  the  Commander  in  Chief  at  Halifax,  with 
a  Post  Captain's  commission  f ,  and  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  Thisbe  frigate.  Captain  Hood  remained  at  Halifax  until 
tlie  latter  end  of  J  789,  when  the  Thisbe  was  ordered  to 
England  and  paid  off. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1790,  he  was  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Juno  frigate,  m  which  he  proceeded  to  Jamaica. 
Whilst  on  this  station,  nothing  particular  occurred  until  the 
beginning  of  February,  in  the  following  year,  when  Captain 
Hood,  in  a  manner  the  most  honourable  to  his  character  as  an 
ofiicer  and  as  a  man,  had  the  satisfaction  of  saving  the  lives  of 
three  men  from  a  wreck,  at  sea.  His  ship  was  then  lying  in 
St.  Ann's  Harbour ;  and,  in  the  height  of  a  gale  of  wind,  which 
increased  to  an  absolute  hurricane,  a  wreck  was  descried  from 
the  mast  head,  with  three  people  upon  it,  over  whom  the 
waves  broke  with  such  unremitting  violence,  that  it  appeared 
scarcely  possible  to  rescue  them  from  their  dreadful  situation. 
The  Juno's  cutter  and  launch  had  been  previously  dispatched  to 
the  assistance  of  a  vessel  in  the  offing ;  so  that  Captain 
Hood  had  nothing  but  his  own  barge,  with  which  to  attempt 
the  preservation  of  his  unfortunate  fellow  creatures.  From  the 
extreme  apparent  danger,  the  crew  evinced  the  greatest  reluc- 
tance to  descend  into  the  barge,  until  Captain  Hood  undauntedly 
leaped  in,  exclaiming — /  never  gave  an  order  to  a  sailor  in  my 


*  Vide  Nav.m.  CnnoN'ici.r,  Vol.  IT,  page  22. 
t  Dated  Mav  2i,  1788. 


6  BIOfiRAPIiICAL    MEMOIR    OF 

life,  zcltich  I  ccas  not  reachf  to  undertake  and  execute  myself  I 
The  barge  then  pushed  off;  and,  through  the  most  determined 
perseverance.  Captain  Hood  had  the  happiness  of  succeeding  in 
liis  gallant  and  meritorious  effort.  This  was  an  action  worthy 
even  of  I^ord  Nelson  himself! 

The  following  extract  of  a  letter,  dated  Feb.  3,  1791^  from  a 
gentleman  at  St.  Ann's,  to  the  Printer  of  the  Kingston  Daily 
Advertiser,  contains  the  only  authentic  narrative  of  this  transac- 
tion, which  has  ever  appeared ;  and  is  now,  we  believe,  for  the 
first  time  published  in  this  country : — 

Ycsterrlay  morning  a  ship  in  the  offing  imdcr  sail  standing  in, 
and  having  a  signal  of  distress,  Captain  Hood,  of  the  Juno,  now 
lying  here,  sent  a  sailing'  boat  (the  launch)  out  to  her,  and 
ivhich  returned  with  an  account  that  it  "vvas  tlie  Fame,  Captain 
]Moyzc,  of  Bristol,  which  had  been  blown  out  of  Spring  Garden, 
where  she  parted  four  cables,  and  had  not  an  anchor  or  cable  on 
board.  It  was  surprising  with  what  expedition  Captain  Hood  sup- 
plied her  wants  ;  for  notwithstanding  the  extreme  badness  of  the 
weather,  it  blowing  very  hard,  and  the  sea  being  very  high,  he 
sent  out  an  anciior  and  cable  by  tv.o  sailing  boats,  (the  launch  and 
cutter,)  which  could  not,  after  delivering  the  anchor,  regain  this 
port,  and  we  entertained  some  fears  for  their  safety.  We  have 
however  been  just  now  informed,  that  they  got  safe  into  Runaway 
Bay,  about  nine  miles  to  leeward. 

This  morning  our  feelings  were  arrested  by  a  most  distressing 
scene — a  signal  of  distress — a  white  shirt  fastened  to  a  piece  of  the 
shallop's  mast,  about  six  feet  high,  was  seen  about  a  mile  at  sea. 
With  the  glass  we  could  plainly  discover  some  people  on  the 
wreck  of  a  small  vessel,  water  logged,  and  scarcely  tenable;  the 
sea  breaking  over  her  with  great  violence,  we  could  i^ive  her  no 
assistance,  having  no  craft  here  that  durst  venture  out.  The 
Juno's  two  sailing  boats,  (the  cutter  and  launch,)  as  I  have 
already  told  you,  being  Avind  bound  at  Runaway,  and  Captain 
Hood  having  no  other  boat  but  his  barge,  which  no  one  on  shore 
imagined  could  have  lived  in  so  turbulent  an  ocean  as  the  wreck 
was  in.  Captain  Hood  however,  as  an  encouragement  to  his 
bargemen,  leaped  himself  into  her,  to  undertake  an  attair  of 
humanity,  at  the  great  ri^k  of  his  own  life.  The  spectators  you 
may  suppose  were  numerous;  our  distress  was  increased,  instead 
of  being  allayed,  bj'  the  bold  attempt,   for  we  expected    every 


COMMODORE   SIH   SAMUEL   HOOD,    K.fi.    AND    K.3.F.  7 

moment  to  see  the  barge  and  her  crew  perish,  the  sea  running 
mountains  high,  and  with  incredible  violence  ;  but  it  pleased  the 
Almighty  to  favour  the  attempt,  and  to  protect  the  brave  and 
humane  Captain  Hood  and  his  men  :  in  less  than  half  an  hour  the 
barge  reached  the  wreck,  which  had  now  driven  almost  on  the 
roaring  reef;  one  of  her  crew  had  been  drowned  before  Captain 
Hood  came  up  with  her ;  the  remaining  three  were  saved,  but  they 
were  so  exhausted,  that  they  Avcre  not  able  of  themselves  to  get 
into  the  barge ;  and  in  two  minutes  more,  but  for  the  assistance  of 
Captain  Hood,  must  have  perished  on  the  reef. 

It  required  great  management  to  keep  the  barge  from  filling, 
having  been  obliged  to  go  so  near  the  reef,  to  rescue  the  poor 
wretches  from  death,  that  she  was  amongst  the  breakers. 

The  wreck  it  seems  was  a  Turtler,  belonging  to  Montego  Bay, 
and  had  upset  about  two  miles  from  where  the  people  were  taken 
out  of  her. 

You  may  form  some  idea  of  the  violence  of  the  sea  from  the 
wreck's  being  overset  and  righted  again  several  times. 

So  highly  was  the  Governrn^nt  of  Jamaica  impressed  witli  a 
sense  of  the  humane  and  adventurous  conduct  of  Captain  Hood, 
upon  this  occasion^  that  it  immediately  passed  the  followhig 
Resolution : — 

HOUSE     OF    ASSEMBLY,  ^ 

Tuesday,  22<i  day  of  February,  1791. 

Resolved,  ncm.  con.,  that  the  Receiver-General  do  forthwith 
remit  to  the  agent  of  this  island,  the  sum  of  one  hundred  guineas, 
for  the  purchase  of  a  sword,  to  be  presented  to  Captain  Samuel 
Hood,  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Juno,  as  a  testimony  of  the  high 
sense  which  this  House  entertains  of  his  merit,  in  saving  (at  the 
manifest  peril  of  his  own  life^  in  a  violent  gale  of  wind,  off  the 
port  of  St.  Ann,  on  the  3d  inst.)  tl;c  lives  of  three  men,  discovered 
on  a  wreck  at  sea,  and  who  must  inevitably  have  perished,  but  for 
his  gallant  and  humane  exertion. 

Ordered  that  the  Clerk  of  this  House  do  transmit  to  Captain 
Samuel  Hood,  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  resolution. 

By  the  House, 
GEORGE  WRENCH, 

Clerk  to  the  Assembly. 

Captain  Hood  returned  to  England,  in  the  Juno,  in  the 
course   of   1791  ;    having,    however,   previously    received   tjie 


8  BIOCnAPHlCAL    MEMOIR    OF 

following  letter,  containing  the  unanimous  thanks  of  the  Humane 
Society  of  Jamaica,  for  liis  philanthropic  exertions: — 

siu, 
THE  Humane  Society  of  Jamaica,  over  ready  to  acknowledge 
those  acts  of  benevolence,  which  do  honour  to  their  institution, 
have  at  their  last  general  meeting  unanimously  voted  that  the 
thanks  of  the  Society  should  be  transmitted  to  you,  for  your 
humane  and  courageous  exertions  at  St.  Ann's  Bay,  in  saving  the 
lives  of  your  fellow  creatures  at  the  imminent  risk  of  your  own. 
This,  Sir,  I  do  in  behalf  of  the  Society,  taking  this  opportunity  of 
wishing  you  a  prosperous  and  safe  voyage,  to  enjoy  in  the  arms  of 
your  relatives,  that  happiness  which  must  ever  attend  a  benevolent 
and  brave  Man.  I  have  the  honour  to  be, 

Wilh  esteem  and  respect,  Sir, 
Your  most  humble  Servant, 

JOHN  HARRIS,  Sec. 
Sumuel  Hood,  Esq.  July  8,  1791. 

Some  time  after  his  arrival  in  England,  Captain  Hood  was 
presented  with  the  sword,  which  had  been  voted  to  him  by  the 
Government  of  Jamaica,  accompanied  by  tlie  folloAving  elegant 
and  classical  letter  : — 

gjjj  London,  Fchruary  17,  1792. 

IN  obedience  to  the  commands  of  the  Assembly  of  Jamaica,  I 
have  the  honour  to  present  you  with  a  Sword,  the  value  of  which 
is  greatly  increased  by  their  unanimous  resolution  of  the  '22d  Feb. 
1791,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy. 

Resolved,  ncm.  con.,  that  the  Receiver-General  do  forthwith 
remit  to  the  agent  of  this  island  the  sum  of  one  hundred  guineas, 
for  the  purchase  of  a  sword,  to  be  presented  to  Captain  Samuel 
Hood,  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Juno,  as  a  testimony  of  the  high 
sense  the  House  has  of  his  merit,  in  saving  (at  the  manifest  peril  of 
his  own  life,  in  a  violent  gale  of  wind,  off  tlie  port  of  St.  Ann,  on 
the  3d  instant)  the  lives  of  three  rat  n,  discovered  on  a  wreck  at 
sea,  and  who  mu-.t  inevitably  have  perished,  but  for  his  gallant 
and  humane  exertion. 

In  obedience  to  the  c-ommand;  of  the  Committee  of  Correspon- 
dence, I  have  ordered  an  Inscription  to  be  engraved,  Avhich  I  hope 
will  meet  with  their  approbation,  which  is  as  follows  :  — 
SAMCELi   iiooi)   on  TJir.s  civr.s 

SCO    EXEMPLO,    ET    SCO    PEUICULO    SERVATOS 

JJ.D.D.    SFQ.    JAMAICEXSIS. 

MDCCiCJ. 


COMMODOIIK    STll    SAMUEL    HOOD,    K,B.    AXD    K.S.T.  9 

To  which  I  have  added  another  very  short  inscriplion,  upon  the 
lippcr  drriament  of  tlic  scabbard,  in  order  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  your  speech  to  your  sailors,  when  you  sprang  on 
boar.l  your  boat  to  save  the  men  on  t:ie  wreck,  which  I  am 
iiifornicd  were  these : — ••  I  never  g^ive  an  order  to  a  sailorin  my 
life,   which  I  was  not  rcvAy  to  undertake  and  execute  myseli." 

The  Inscription  stands  thus  ;— 

OMNE    NAUTARUM    pr.RICULLM 
MEG    SUJ3IUE    PARATt'S. 

Horace. —  Epod.  1.  Lib.  1. 

Amongst  the  ornaments  upon  the  hilt,  you  Aviil  find,  in  pursu- 
ance of  my  directions,  an  elegant  enamel  of  the  Corona  Civica, 
the  chaplet  oi  oaken  leaves,  Avhich  the  Roman  Senate,  in  the  time 
of  its  greatest  prosperity,  presented  to  any  person  that  had. sig- 
nalized himself  by  saving  the  life  of  a  citizen. —  I  take  upon  myself 
to  say,  that  no  Roman  ever  deserved  (hat  honour  better  than  your- 
self; few  so  well  ;  as  you  saved  not  one  life  only,  but  three :  and 
what  is  more,  at  the  imminent  hazard  of  your  own.  The  applause 
of  the  whole  world  will  follow  you  to  the  end  of  time,  and  the  same 
applause  will  follow  that  liberal  Assembly,  which  has  distinguished 
its  own  humanity  by  rewarding  yours.  Permit  me,  Sir,  to  add 
one  wish  of  my  own,  and  I  have  done.  oNIay  \ic(ory  in  futura 
finish  the  character,  which  humanity  has  begun ;  and  may  they 
both  join  hands  in  promoting  you  to  the  highest  honour  of  your 
profession.  I  have  the  honour  to  be, 

Si  15, 

Your  most  obedient,  and  obliged  humble  Servant, 

STEPIIEX  FULLER. 

Captain  Samuel  Hood,  of  His 
IMaJtity's  Sliij)  JuiiOt 

In  the  autiinin  of  1791^  after  liis  return  to  England,  and  in 
tliat  of  the  succeeding  year.  Captain  Hood  had  t!ic  honour  of 
attending  uj)on  their  jMajeslics  at  Weymouth.  Tl;is  duty  must 
have  afforded  him  a  pleasing  relaxation  from  tlie  toils  of  severer 
service.  But  a  scene  more  animating,  more  congenial  to  the 
enterprising  spirit  of  this  ofikerj  was  on  the  eve  of  presenting 
itself. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  t)ie  late  war,  in  1793,  Captain  Heod 

Jf9at).  Cf;ton,  (nohXVIL  c 


10  BIOGnAPUICAL   MEMOIR    OF 

wae  ordered  up  the  Mediterranean,  in  his  old  ship,  the  XunO/ 
and  was  there  very  actively  employed  *. 

It  will  be  recollected,  that,  in  the  month  of  December,  1703;, 
Lord  Hood  had  been  under  the  necessity  of  evacuatinsr  Toulon ; 
after  which  he  proceeded,  with  his  fleet,  to  Ilieres  Bay,  there 
to  await  the  arrival  of  a  fleet  of  tiansports  and  victua'lers  from 
Gibraltar.  Previously  to  the  evacuation  of  Toulon,  Captain 
Hood  had  been  dispatched  to  IVlalta;  and,  on  his  return  from 
that  port,  'tt'ith  supernunwrarles  for  the  fleet,  being  wholly 
unacquainted  with  the  events  v.hich  had  occurred  during  his 
absence,  he  stood  into  Tculon  harbour.  His  escape  from  the 
enemy,  under  the  consideration  that  it  was  night  when  he 
entered  the  road,  may  be  regarded  as  one  of  those  fortunate 
circumstances,  which  history  has  but  rarely  an  opportunity  of 
recording.  For  his  good  fortune  in  this  instance,  however^ 
Captain  Hood  was  certainly  much  indebted  to  his  own  promp- 
titude of  decision,  and  activity  of  exertion.  The  justness  of 
this  position  will  be  evident,  from  Captain  Hood's  narrative  of 
the  affair,  as  transmitted  to  Vicc-Adniiral  Lord  Hoodj  in  the 
subjoined  envelope  : — 

MY    LORD,  Jvno,  Buy  of  Hkrcs,  Januai-y  13,  i7^4. 

I  BEG  leave  to  enclose  your  Lordship  a  narrative  of  the  fortu- 
nate escape  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Juno,  nnder  luy  conimaiid,  from 
the  port  of  Toulon,  after  having  run  ashore  in  the  inner  harbour 
on  the  night  of  the  11th  instant. 

The  firm,  steady,  and  quiet  manner  in  which  my  orders  Afcre 
carried  into  execution,  by  Lieutenants  Mason  and  Webly,  in  their 
respective  stations ;  the  attention  of  Mr.  Kidd,  the  Master  of  the 
steerage,  &c.  with  the  very  good  conduct  of  every  officer  and  man, 
were  the  sole  means  of  the  ship's  preservation  from  the  enemy,  and 
for  which  I  must  request  permission  to  give  them  my  strongest 
Tecommendation.         1  have  the  honour  to  be. 

With  the  greatest  respect, 
Your  Lordship's  very  obliged  humble  Servant, 


To  the  Right  lion.  Lord  Hood,  Vicc-Admiral 
of  the  Red,  and  Commander  in  Chief,  t^-c. 


*  For  a  detailed  account  of  the  proceedings  at  Toulon,  see  the  biographical 
memoir  of  Lord  Hood,  Navai.  Chuonicle,  Vol.  II,  page  1,  ct  seq.,  and  tU"* 
3'.ries  of  Toulon  Papers,  in  the  same  Volume. 


COWMODOUE   SIR   SAMUEL    HOOD,    K.B.    AND    K.S.T.  11 

Juno,  Bay  qflJieres,  January  13,  1794. 
OX  file  3d  instant  I  left  the  Island  of  Malta,   having  on  board 
150   supemameraries,    46    officers    and    private   marines    of  Wn 
Alajesty^s  ship  Uoinnej'  :   the  remainder,  Maltese,  intended  for  the 
fieet. 

Ou  the  night  of  the  7th  passed  the  S.W.  point  of  Sardinia,  and 
steered  a  course  for  Toulon;  on  the  ©th,  al)out  11  A.M.,  macJc 
Cape  Sicic,  but  found  a  current  had  set  the  ship  some  leagues  to 
the  westMard  of  oi;.r  expectation  ;  hauled  the  wind,  but  it  blowing 
liard  froTTi  th^"  eastward,  with  a  strong  lee  current,  we  could  but 
just  fetch  to  the  westward  of  the  above  Cape.  The  wind  and 
current  continuing,  we  could  not,  tiil  the  evening  of  the  11th,  get 
as  far  to  windward  as  Cape  Sepet ;  having  thst  evening,  a  little 
before  10  o'cl.jck,  found  the  ship  would  be  able  to  fetch  into 
Toulon.  I  did  not  like  to  wait  till  morning,  as  vre  had  been, 
thrown  to  leeward  before  ;  and  having  so  many  men  on  board,  I 
thought  it  my  indispensable  duty  to  get  in  a^  fast  as  possible.  At 
10  I  ordered  the  hands  to  be  turned  up,  to  bring  ship  to  anchor, 
being  th  n  abreast  of  Cape  Sepet,  entering  the  outer  harbour. 
Not  having  a  Pilot  on  board,  or  any  person  acquainted  witli  the 
Port,  I  placed  two  Midshipmen  to  look  out,  with  night  glasses, 
for  the  fleet ;  but  not  discovering  any  ships,  until  we  got  near  the 
entrance  of  tlic  inner  harbour,  I  supposed  they  had  moved  vp 
there  in  tht^  eastern  gale  :  at  the  same  time,  seeing  one  vessel,  with 
several  o(her  lights,  which  I  imagined  to  be  the  Ileet's,  I  entered 
the  innci;  harbour,  under  the  top-snils  only;  but  finding  I  could 
not  weather  a  biig,  which  lay  a  little  way  to  the  point,  called  the 
Crjud  Tower,  1  ordered  the  foresail  and  driver  to  be  set,  to 
be  ready  to  t;ick  when  on  the  other  side  of  the  brig.  Soon  after 
the  brig  hailed  us,  but  1  could  not  make  out  what  laaguage;  I 
supposed  they  wanted  to  ■ilnow  what  ship  it  was  ;  I  told  them  it 
was  an  Kngli^h  frigate,  called  the  Juno  :  they  answered,  /Vrv/. 
After  asking,  in  Knglish  and  French,  for  some  time,  what  brig 
the  was,  and  where  the  British  Admiral  lay,  tl)ey  appeared  not  to 
understand  me,  but  called  out  as  we  passed  under  their  stern, 
JLuj)'!  Lnjp  ic\cra.\  times;  which  made  me  s-uppose  there  was 
shoal  water  near ;  the  helm  was  instantly  put  a  lee,  bui.  we  found 
the  ship  was  on  shore  before  she  got  head  to  wind. — There  being 
very  little  wind,  and  perfectly  smooth,  I  ordered  the  sails  to  be 
clewed  up,  and  handed  :  at  this  time  a  boat  went  from  the  brig 
towards  the  town.  Before  the  people  were  all  oil  the  yard, 
found  the  ship  went  a&tcrn  very  fast,  by  a  tlaw  of  wind  that  came 


12  BIOGRAPHICAL    MEMOIR    OF 

down  the  harbour:  hoisted  the  driver  and  mizen-stay-sail,  keeping 
the  sheets' to  windward,  that  slie  might  get  farther  from  the  shoal. 
Tiie  instant  she  lost  her  yvay,  the  bow  being  then  in  |  less  5,  let 
go  the  bost  bower  anchor,  when  she  tended  head  to  wind,,  the 
after  part  of  the  keel  w  :s  aground,  and  we  could  not  move  the 
Tudd"r.  I  oriU^red  the  launch  and  cutter  to  be  hoisted  out,  and 
the  1;  tch  anchor,  with  two  hawsers,  to  be  put  in  them  to  warp 
the  ship  farther  oif.  By  the  time  the  boats  were  out,  a  boat  came 
alongside,  after  having  been  hailed,  and  Ave  thought  answered  as  if 
an  cilicer  had  been  in  her.  The  people  w  ere  all  anxious  to  get 
out  o"  her,  two  of  whom  appeared  to  be  olViccrs.  One  of  theni 
said  he  was  come  to  inform  me,  that  it  was  the  regulation  of  the 
Port,  and  the  Conimanding  Officer's  orders,  that  1  must  go  into 
another  branch  ot"  the  harbour,  to  periorm  tcii  days'  quarantine. 
I  kept  asking  him  where  Lord  Hood's  ship  lay ;  but  his  not 
giving  me  any  satisfactory  answer,  and  one  oi  the  I\Iidshipmen 
having  at  the  same  instant  said,  "  they  Avear  national  cockades," 
I  looked  at  one  of  their  hats  more  stedfastly,  and  by  the  moon- 
light clearly  distinguished  the  three  colours.  Perceiving  they  were 
suspected,  and  on  my  c^uestioning  them  again  about  Lord  Hood, 
one  of  them  replied,  "  Soyez  tranqnillc.  les  Anglois  soiit  de 
braves  gens,  nous  les  traitons  bien ^  L'Ainirul  Anglois  est  sortie 
il  y^a  quclque  tems.^'' 

It  may  be  more  easily  conceived,   than  any  words  can  express, 
what  I  felt  at  the  moment.     The  circumstance  of  our  situation  of 
'  course  was  known  throughout  the  sliip.     In  an  instant,  .»nd,  say- 

ing we  were  all  prisoners,    the  ofiicers   soon  got  near  enough  to 
./%X    know   our  situation.     At  the  same   time  a  Haw  ol"  wind  coiniVig 
• "      down  the  harbour.    Lieutenant  Webly,   third  Lieutenant  of  the 
ship,  said  to  me,   "  I  believe,  Sir,  we  shall  be  able  to  fetch  out,  if 
i|^  we  can  get  her  under  sail."     I  immediately  perceived   we  should 

'■'  have  a  chance  of  saving  the  ship  ;  and  at  least  if  we  did  not,  we 

ought  not  to  lose  His  Majesty's  ship  without  some  contention. 
I  ordered  every  person  to  their  respective  stations,  and  the  French, 
men  to  be  sent  below  ;  they  perceiving  some  bustk-,  two  or  three 
of  them  began  to  draw  their  sabres,  on  which  1  ordered  some  of 
the  marines  to  take  the  half-pikes  and  force  them  below,  which 
was  soon  done  :  I  then  ordered  all  the  ?ila!tese  between  decks, 
that  we  might  not  have  confusion  with  too  many  men.  I  believe, 
in  an  instant,  such  a  change  in  people  was  never  seen  ;  csaiy  oflicci* 
and  man  was  at  his  duty  ;  and  I  do  think,  wi.hin  three  minutes, 
every  sail  in  the  ship  was  sctj  and  the  yards  braced  rvady  fu; 


COMMOOOUE    SIR    SAMUEL    HOOD,    K.B.    AST)    K.S.F.  IS 

(Casting  ;  (lie  sfcatly  and  active  assistance  of  Lieutenant  Turner, 
and  all  the  oHiccrs,  prevented  any  confusion  from  arising  in  our 
critical  situation.  As  soon  as  the  cable  was  taught.  I  ordered  it 
to  be  cut,  and  liad  the  great  good  fortune  to  sec  the  ship  start 
from  the  shore  tlie  moinciit  the  head  sails  were  filled  ;  a  favourable 
Haw  of  wind  coming  at  the  same  time,  got  good  way  on  her,  and 
we  had  then  i'vcry  prospect  of  getting  out,  if  the  forts  did  not 
disable  us.  'J'o  prevent  being  retarded  by  the  boats,  I  ordered 
them  to  be  cut  adrift,  as  also  the  French  boat.  The  moment  the 
brig  saw  us  begin  to  loose  sails,  we  could  plainly  perceive  she  Avas 
getting  her  guns  ready,  and  we  also  saw  lights  upon  all  the 
batteries.  AV'hon  we  had  shot  far  enough  for  the  brig's  guns  to 
bear  on  us,  which  was  not  more  than  three  ships'  lengths,  she 
began  to  fire,  and  also  a  fort  a  little  on  the  starboard  bow,  and 
soon  after  all  of  them,  on  both  sides,  as  they  could  bring  their 
guns  to  bear.  As  soon  as  the  sails  were  well  trimmed,  I  beat  to 
quarters,  to  get  the  guns  ready,  but  not  with  an  iuteiiiion  of 
firing  till  we  were  sure  of  getting  out.  When  we  got  abreast  of 
the  centre  port  of  the  land  of  Cape  Scpet,  I  was  afraid  Ave  should 
have  been  obliged  to  make  a  tack  ;  but  as  Ave  drew  near  the  shore, 
and  Avere  ready,  she  came  up  tAVO  points,  and  just  Avcathercd  the 
Cape.  As  Ave  passed  very  close  along  that  shore,  the  batteries 
kept  up  as  brisk  a  fire  as  the  wetness  of  the  weather  would  per- 
mit. When  I  could  allbrd  to  keep  the  ship  a  iiule  from  the  Avind, 
I  ordered  some  gnus  to  be  Jired  at  a  battery  tliat  had  just  opened 
abreast  of  us,  Avliich  quieted  them  a  little;  we  then  stopped  tiring 
till  wc  could  keep  her  away,  Avith  the  Aviiul  abaft  the  beam  ;  Avhen^ 
for  a  few  minutes,  wc  kept  up  a  very  brisk  lire  on  the  last  battery 
we  had  to  pass,  and  whicli  i  believe  mubt  have  ot!ier«ise  done  us 
great  damage. 

At  lialf-past  12,  being  out  of  reach  of  tlu-ir  shot,  the  firing 
ceased.  Fortunately  we  had  no  person  hurt;  some  shot  cut  the 
sails;  part  of  the  standing  and  running  rigging  shot  away ;  and 
tAvq  French  3G-pouad  shot,  that  struck  the  hull,  U  all  the  damage 
the  ship  sustained. 

Early  in  tlie  siicrccding  month  (February)  Lord  Hood  pro- 
ceeded towards  Cor.sica,  with  ilie  view  of  reduciiu;  that  island. 
On  this  occasion^  tlje  Juno,  A\itli  the  Egnioiit^  Fortitude,  uiul 
Lowestoft',  UMnicK  the  orders  of  Conuiiodore  Linzee,  in  the 
^Icide^  was  dlispatched  to  the  Gulf  of  St.  Fioreuw^  for  the 


J4  mOSRAPHICAL    MEMOIR    0¥ 

purpose  of  facilitating  and  covering  the  debarkation  of  some 
troops,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant-General  Dundas. 
This  object  was  effected  on  the  7th,  in  a  Bay  to  the  vestward 
of  Mortello*.  We  have  stated,  in  our  memoir  of  Lord  Hood, 
ihat,  *'  by  the  incredible  exertior.s  of  the  British  seamen,  in 
dragging  guns  up  precipices  almost  perpendicular,  the  heights, 
which  overlook  the  town  of  Mortello,  were  taken."  In  this 
•ervice  Captain  Hood  v»'as  very  actively  employed,  for  which  he 
afterwards  received  the  thanks  of  the  Commander  in  Chief  of 
the  land  forces. 

On  the  day  after  that  on  which  the  debarkation  of  the  troops 
had  been  effected,  it  v.as  thought  expedient  to  attack  the  tower 
.of  Mortello,  from  the  Bay ;  and  the  J  uno,  in  conjunction  with 
the  I'ortitude,  Captain  Young,  accordingly  commenced  a 
cannonade  against  it,  which  lasted  for  two  hours  and  a  half. 
The  attempt  was  ineffectual;  but  the  bravery  of  the  assailants 
was  not  the  less  conspicuous  :  at  least  it  may  be  presumed  so, 
from  the  following  c<immunication,  addressed  by  Commodore 
Xfinzee  to  Captain  Hood  "• — 

A'cidc,  9lh  February,  179-1. 
Memorandum. — Commodore    Linzec   reqi'csts   Captain    Hood 
will  thank  the  officers  and  cr^w  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Juno,  (in 
his  name,)  for  their  steady  and  gallant  behaviour  in  the  action  of 
yesterday. 

Captain  Hood.  Juno.  ROBERT    LINZEE. 

It  was,  we  believe,  on  the  10th,  or  1 1  th  of  February,  that 
the  town  surrendered,  in  consequence  of  the  galling  fire, 
which  was  kept  up  a^tiinst  it,  froui  some  great  guns  on  an  adja- 
cent heiglit. 

On  the  night  of  the  J  7th,  the  heights  of  Fornelli  were 
Yigorously  att-.icked,  and  carried  by  assault.  The  enemy  then 
retreated  into  ihe  town  of  St.  Fiorenzo,  which  they  also 
•vacuated  on  the  IQth,  and  continued  their  retreat  tovvarda 
IBastia*  Two  fine  French  frigates,  la  Minerve  and  la  Fortunee, 
which  were  iyiug  off  the  town,   were   destroyed.     On  these 

-<*—»-'■»■      111  ■  -  II  ■  |. 

♦  Vide  Naval  Chbonicli;,  Vol.  II,  page  38* 


COMMODORE   STR   SAMUEL    HOOD,    K.B.    AND    K.S.F.  l4 

occasions.  Captain  Hood  again  particularly  distinguished  him- 
self; and,  for  his  different  services  in  this  quarter,  he  had  the 
satisfaction  of  receiving  the  thanks  of  the  Commander  in 
Chief. 

We  are  not  exactly  informed,  as  to  the  manner  in  which 
Captain  Hood  was  employed,  in  the  subsequent  attack  upon 
Bastia  ;  though  he  certainly  was  attached  to  the  fleet  at  that 
time.  At  the  blockade  and  capture  of  Calvi,  he  served  in 
I'Aigle  frigate ;  and  his  conduct  was  mentioned  by  the  Com- 
mander in  Chief,  on  that  occasion,  as  highly  meritorious. 

Captain  Hood  continued  in  I'Aigle  until  the  year  1796; 
and,  during  the  whole  of  17f)5,  he  had  the  command  of  a  small 
squadron  in  the  Archipelago,  for  the  purpose  of  protecting  the 
trade,  and  blockading  a  squadron  of  the  enemy's  frigates,  of  equal 
force,  at  Sinyrna.  For  the  unwearied  activity  and  vigilance 
^hich  he  displayed,  while  on  that  station,  he  received  the 
thanks  of  the  Levant  Company,  conveyed  in  the  following  verj 
Jiandsome  and  gratifying  letter,  fiom  Mr.  Spencer  Smith,  His 
Majesty's  Minister  at  the  Court  of  Constantinople : — 

SIR,  Constantinople,  January  9,  1796. 

A  DISPATCH,  addressed  to  this  Embassy  by  the  R.  W. 
Levant  Company,  under  the  date  of  29th,  September,  has  beea 
lately  received  by  me,  since  the  departure  of  his  Excellency  th« 
Ambassador,  containing  the  following  paragraph  relating  to  you, 
Sir: 

"  The  testimony  given  by  your  Ercellency,  of  Captain  Hood'* 
activity  and  judgment  in  protecting  the  factory  and  our  trade, 
■with  a  force  hardly  superior  to  the  enemy,  is  highly  flattering  to 
that  gentleman,  and  his  conduct  on  the  occasion  merits  our  warm- 
est approbation.  We  request  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  com- 
municate to  Captain  Hood  the  enclosed  extract  o*"  t},p  minutes  of 
our  general  court,  expressive  of  our  thanks  for  his  gallant  con- 
duct, and  attention  to  the  protection  of  our  trade." 

In  the  absence  of  Mr.  Liston,  this  pleasing  commission  has 
devolved  to  me,  aid  I  avail  myself  of  the  first  opportuaity  to 
convey  the  above  honourable  testimony  oJ  your  rreritoiious 
liohaviour,  accompanifid  by  a  copy  of  the  extract  allud: d  fo. 

I«  presenting  you  my  ptrsoijal  compliiueuls  ou  this  occasion, 


Is  bio(;rapiikal  memoir  of 

allow  mc  to  add  the  expression  of  my  own  admiration  of  ihd 
edifying  example  alforded  by  your  late  command  upon  Ihe 
Levant  station,  forming  a  striking  contrast  with  the  conduct  of 
otir  unworthy  cneiriief?,  under  the  eyes  tff  the  Ottoman  nation, 
and  tending  to  extend  and  perpetuate  the  renown  of  the  Bfitlsli 
national  charaeteri 

I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
With  great  respect,  truth,  and  regard, 
Sir, 
Your  very  obedient  humble  (^ervant, 
Samvel  Hood,  Ksq.  J.    SPENCER   S.AIlTlt. 

Captain  IIooil  had  also  tlie  pleasure  of  rcceivlnfj  the  sub- 
joined comtnuuicalion  from  Mr.  Werry,  His  Majesty's  Consul 
at  Sinyrna,  enclosing  the  thanks  of  the  British  Factory  at  that 
port : — • 

SIR  Smiinia,  Decemhcr  '2,  itOj. 

I  HAVE  the  honour  to  transmit  you  the  enclosed  letter  of 
thanks  from  the  British  Factory  of  INferchants  cstahlishcd  here, 
a  copy  of  which  I  hare  also  transmitted  to  the  Levant  Company, 
in  order  that  their  sentiments  of  the  essential  services  you  have 
rendered  them  may  be  made  knoAvn,  and  publicly  acknoAV- 
ledged. 

I  am  very  anxious  to  have  news  of  the  safety  of  the  Nemesis,  not 
having  any  intelligence  since  you  left  us.  1  dispatcli  a  boat  with  orders' 
to  go  to  Salonica,  unless  they  fall  in  with  that  ship  at  sea  ;  and  wrote 
by  an  express  to  Mr.  Smith,  at  Constantinople,  giving  him  every 
information,  and  saying  how  necessary  it  was  Captain  Linzee 
should  be  advised  of  his  situation,  and  of  your  departure  for  the 
Commander  in  Chief.  The  boat  returned  on  the  2Stii,  after  being 
from  here  seven  days ;  had  not  been  able  to  weather  Myteline,  the 
wind  blowing  strong  from  southward.  On  the  29(h  we  sent  off 
your  waterman,  in  a  large  boat  for  Salonica,  and  I  ordered  a 
smaller  boat  to  cruise  for  ten  days  off  the  entrance  of  tlie  Gulf,  to 
put  letters  on  board,  in  case  he  should  attempt  this  port. 

Since  you  sailed,  the  Sensible,  and  la  Sardine,  have  got  below 
the  Castle,  nearly  in  your  berth.  Le  Rosignol,  the  day  after  you 
"was  known  to  have  been  out  of  the  Gulf,  they  rigged  and  re- 
mounted her  battery  :  she  remains  in  the  Bay. 

The  French  division  is  stationed  for  the  present  as  follows :  la 
Kepublicaincj  of  74  ;  la  Junon,  of  41 ;  and.  the  brig,  of  14  guns, 


COM-.ICDORE    SIB    SAMUTT.    UOOD,    K.B.    A>fn    K.vF.  17 

cruising  oil'  Mytdino  ;  la  Jiisfirc,  of  3G,  and  PArtcKiisc.  3G,  one 
ot'whicli  is  diimasttd,  are  at  the  Dardanelles;  la.  Ilad.iie,  it  wa-. 
reported^  Avas  criiising  off  Serigo.  We  hope  .she  has  i:illen  in  uiih 
jour  ship,  as  a  small  rccompc!u»e  lor  disturbijig  us  so  iinex- 
pecti'dly. 

It  is  very  pxtraordinarj ,  however,  none  of  Uiem  has  yet  made 
tjieir  appearance  here;  we  conjecture  from  that  circumstance  they 
iire  looking  out  for  the  Nemesis.  Whatever-  their  real  intention 
is,  nc  know  not;  tlicy  report  every  where,  they  come  to  destroy 
the  frigates  and  English  pro[)erty  wliere  they  find  it;  at  present 
those  here  have  not  overcome  the  disgrace  they  fell  in,  by  not 
itccepting  the-opportuiiily  of  fighting  your  ships. 

J  flatter  myself,  Sir,  1  need  not  repeat  what  pka.surc  it  'wiil  be 
to  me  if  I  can  be  made  useful  to  you  ia  this  part  gf  Asia.  1  beg 
to  assure  yoa  how  much  1  am,  Sir, 

Your  much  obliged, 
And  most  obedient  humble  Servant, 
Samuel  Hood,  Esn.  FRANCIS    WERRY. 

SIR, 

P.S.  The  gentlemen  r,f  <!te  Factory  request  you  will  do  them 
the  favour  to  represent  to  the  Commander  in  Chief  the  great  loss 
it  will  bo  to  them  to  have  the  goods  already  purchased  remain 
here  any  time,  and  particularly  the  cargoes  at  Salonica,  Avliich  in 
part  are  perishable.  We  arc  not  free  of  apprehensions  from  the 
insolence  of  the  crews  of  this  squ.idron,  who,  I  have  just  now 
hcardj  are  expected  in  a  day  or  two. 

1  have  the  ho.iour  to  be,  Sir, 

Your  devoted  Servant, 

FRANCIS  WERRY, 

The  foHowlng  is  the  letter  of  tliaiiks  to  Captain  IJood,  from 
the  British  Tactory  at  Smyrna,  alluded  to  in  t!ie  above 
letter : — 

SIR  Smiinm,  December  2,  17  95. 

IMPRESSED  as  we  are  with  the  liveliest  sense  of  gratitude 
towards  you.  Sir,  f (  r  the  innumerable  bi'nehts  Avhich  we  have 
derived  in  our  trade  and  persons  from  your  protection,  during  the 
time  you  have  been  in  those  seas,  we  should  do  the  greatest 
violence  to  our  feelings,  and  justly  incur  the  imputaliou  of  a  want 
of  this  sentiment,  if  wy  Mvro  to  suppr>  ss  the  expression  of  it. 
Permit  us  therefore,   Sir,   to  ofi'cr  you  our  warmest  ackpowledgv 


lis  BIOGRAPinCAL    MEMOIH.    or 

ments,  for  (he  very  effectual  and  satisfactory  manner  in  wliicti  yoii 
have  accomplished  the  object  foi'  whicii  you  were  sent  here  by  the 
Comraander  ia  Chief  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  your  very  conde- 
scending and  obliging  attention  to  every  request  of  ocrs,  con- 
sistent %yith  your  duty  ;  and  to  assure  you,  that  we  shall  consider 
ourselves  as  peculiarly  bound  to  retain  a  deep  ar.d  grateful  sense 
of  the  important  benefiis  which  we  arc  indebted  to  you  for:-r- 
benefits  which  have'  been  extended,  in  a  great  measure,  to  every 
foreign  nation  here,  who  speak  in  the  highast  terms  of  admiration 
of  the  propriety  and  dignity  Miiich  hare  marked  your  conduct ; 
which  forms  such  a  striking  contrast  with  that  of  our  enemies  here, 
that  even  the  Turks  themselves,  who  are  partial  to  the  F.rencb, 
join  in  the  general  applause,  and  have  received  so  favourable  an 
impression  from  it  of  our  national  character,  that  wc  assume  no 
email  degree  of  pride  to  ourselves  from  the  circumstance.  To 
superior  merit,  like  yours,  no  commendations  of  ours  can  confer 
additional  lustre  ;  we  therefore  confine  ourselves  to  mere  matter  of 
fact  in  this  particular,  and  shall  content  ourselves  with  assuring 
you,  that  you  will  ever  have  a  place  in  the  admiration  and  affec- 
tion of  the  British  Factory,  every  individual  of  wliich  would 
esteem  himself  happy  in  the  occasion  of  giving  you  proofs  of  thoso 
gentimcnts;  and  our  regrets  that  you  should  have  expcritnced  so 
juany  inconveniences,  from  the  necessity  of  being  unconnected 
with  the  shore,  and  considerably  heightened,  by  tit;-,  circumstance 
having  put  it  out  of  our  power  to  show  you  personally  that 
respect  and  those  attentions,  which  you  are  so  much  entitled  to 
from  us. 

We  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the  most  respectful  attachment, 
Sir,  your  most  devoted,  and  much  obliged  humble  Servants, 

F,  Weury,  Consul,         Jas.  La  Fontaine, 
George  Perkins,  Wm.  Barker, 

Anthony  Hayes,  Wm.  Tomkinsox, 

Joseph  Franel,  Edwaro  Lee, 

John  Haltass,  John  Lee. 

R.  Wilkinson, 
Samuel  Hood,  "Esq. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1796,  Captain  Hood  was  appointed 
to  command  the  Zealous,  of  74  guns  ;  in  which,  during  that 
year,  he  was  actively  employed  under  Sir  John  Jervis,  off 
Toulon;  and,  in  1797:,  off  Cadiz.  In  the  summer  of  the  latter 
year,  he  was  with  Lord  Nelson,  at  Teneriffe,  when  his  Lord~ 


COr.IMODOUE    SIR    SAMUEL    HOOD,    K.B.    AND    K.S.F.  19 

ship  had  the  misfortune  of  losing  his  arm  *.  By  his  spirited 
and  judicious  conduct,  in  effecting  the  return  of  the  British 
troops  and  seamen  from  their  disastrous  attack,  lie  had  the 
satisfaction  of  endearing  himself  to  that  great  Connnander, 
tliat  lamented  Hero,  whose  loss  we  can  never  cease  to  deplore. 
After  Rear-Admiral  Nelson  had  been  wounded,  and  carried 
back  to  his  ship  ;  after  all  the  boats  had  been  either  sunk  by 
the  dreadful  tire  from  the  enemy's  batteries,  or  swamped  in  the 
surf.  Captain  Hood  and  Sir  Thamas  Troubridge  found  them- 
selves in  the  heart  of  the  town  of  Santa  Cruz,  at  the  head  of  a 
few  seamen  and  marines,  armed  with  pikes,  but  surrounded  by 
some  thousands  (3f  Spaniards.  Their  situation  was  most  criti- 
cal, h  was  dark ;  and,  for  the  present,  the  enemy  were  kept  in 
check,  fromiiot  being  acquainted  with  the  position,  or  number, 
of  the  invaders  ;  but,  by  day-light,  their  miserable  force  must 
inevitablj  be  discovered  !     They  deliberated  ;  and 

"  Decision  foHowerl,  as  the  thunderbolt 
The  lightning's  flash  !" 

Captain  Hood  immediately  waited  on  the  Spanish  Governor, 
Don  Juan  x\ntoine  Gutterry,  with  the  following  laconic 
message  : — "  I  am  come,  Sir,  from  the  commanding  Ojjicer  of 
the  British  troops  and  seamen  iiozv  within  your  zcalls,  and  in 
possession  of  the  principal  strutto,  to  say,  that  as  zee  are  disap- 
pointed in  the  object  zohich  zee  came  for,  (alluding  to  specie,) 
j)7'ovided  you  znnll  furnish  iis  zcith  boats — those  zi^e  came  in 
being  all  lost — -zee  zcill  return  peaceably  to  our  ships;  but, 
should  any  means  be  taken  to  molest  or  retard  us,  zee  zcill  f  re 
your  tozcn  in  different  places,  and  force  our  zvny  out  of  it  at 
the  point  of  the  bayonet."  Taking  out  his  watch,  he  added: — 
''  I  am  directed  to  give  you  ten  minutes  to  consider  of  this 
offer." 

"^rhe  Governor  was  astonished  at  the  proposal,  made  with 
such  confidence,  on  the  part  of  men  whom  he  conceived  to  be 
already  in  his  power.  He  observed,  that  he  had  thought  they 
zcere  his  prisoners;  but,  as  it  zn'as  not  so,  he  zoould  hold  a  coun- 
cil zcith  his  officers,  and  let  the  British  Commander  knozv  the 

*  \'ide  iVAVAt  Chroniclk,  Vol.  Ill,  page  178. 


20  T5focriAPntrAL  memoir  o* 

fCault  in  the  course  of  an  hnirr.  To  this  Captain  iJood  coolly 
replied^  that  he  was  limited  to  a  second,  and  that  his  frie?id.i 
ti-cre  anxiously  awaiting  hin  return,  to  re-commence  hostilities, 
should  not  his  demand  have  been  complied  zcith.  He  was 
about  to  take  his  leave ;  wheu  the  Governor,  alarmed  at  the 
probable  consequences  of  drivhig"  Eiiji;lishnien  to  extremity, 
acceded  to  his  proposal.  He  accordingly  provided  boats,  and 
sent  all  the  English  off  to  their  ships,  vhere  they  had  ceased  to 
be  expected,  laden  with  fruit,  and  various  other  refreshments. — 
The  conduct  of  the  Spanish  Governof  was  indeed  eminently 
noble  and  generous.  Previously  to  the  embarkation  of  the 
invaders,  he  furnished  tliem  with  a  ratio  of  biscuit  and  wine ; 
and  gave  orders,  that  such  of  the  British,  as  had  been  wounded, 
should  be  received  into  the  hospital.  He  also  intimated  to 
Admiral  Nelson,  tliat  he  was  at  liberty  to  send  on  shore,  and 
purchase  whatever  necessaries  the  squadron  might  be  in  need  of, 
"whilst  it  remained  off  the  island. 

In  179B,  Captain  Hood  was  employed  in  blockading  the 
port  of  Rochfort.  He  was  recalled  from  this  station,  for  the 
purpose,  it  was  said,  of  commanding  a  secret  and  remote  expe- 
dition ;  and  was  only  waiting  to  be  relieved  by  Captain  Keats, 
when  some  of  the  enem.y's  frigates,  attempting  to  escape  by 
night,  afforded  him  another  opportunity  of  displaying  his  vigi- 
lance and  skill,  in  preventing  the  accomplishment  of  their 
object. 

Instead,  however,  of  being  appointed  to  the  command  of  an 
expedition,  Captain  Hood,  in  the  Zealous,  (with  Sir  Tliomas 
Trowbridge,  in  the  Cullodifn,  and  nine  other  ships,)  was  dis- 
patched to  reinforce  the  squadron  of  Lord  Xelson. 

On  the  mem<)rable  1st  of  August,  1798,  Captain  Hood, 
having  the  'look-out,  tiist  discovered  the  French  fleet  in  th« 
Bay  of  Aboukir,  and  was  ordered,  by  signal,  to  reconnoitre  their 
position.  ^Vhen  Admiral  Nelson,  about  six  in  the  evening, 
arrived  off  the  Bay  ot"  Shoals,  he  hove  to,  and  hailed  Captain 
Hood,  to  ask  him,  *'  JVhat  he  thought  of  attacking  the  enemy 
that  night  f  His  answer  was,  *'*^  fVe  have  nozi'  eleven  fat  hums 
vater;  and,  if  the  Admiral  will  give  tne  have,  I  icill  lead  in. 


COMMOUOUE    Sin    SAMUEL    HOOt),    K.E.    A^SD    K.S.F.  21 

mahvig  I:how71  my  soundings  by  signal,  and  bring  the  van  ship 
of  the  enennj  to  acliun."  Late  as  it  was,  ihe  firmness  of  ihis 
answer  decidf d  ihe  Admiral^  who  said,  '•'  Go  on,  and  J  tiish 
you  success."  During  this  conversation,  the  Goliath  passed,  and 
took  the  lead,  which  she  kept ;  but,  not  bringing  up  alongsid* 
tlie  first  ship,  went  on  to  engage  the  second.  On  this.  Captain 
Hood  exclaimed  to  his  officers : — ''  Thank  God!  my  frieiid 
Foley  lias  left  me  the  van  ship."  He  soon  after  took  such  a 
position  on  the  bow  of  le  Guerrier,  the  ship  in  question,  as  to 
shoot  away  all  her  masts,  and  efit'ect  her  capture,  in  twelve 
minutes  from  the  time  tiiat  the  Zealous  commenced  her  fire. 
This  u  as  achieved  without  the  loss  of  a  man,  or  the  slightest 
injury  to  Captain  Hood's  ship. 

The  Zealous  afterwards  engaged,  alone,  the  four  French  ships 
\vhich  escaped*,  until  called  off  by  signal.  The  total  loss 
which  she  sustained  in  the  conflict  amounted  to  only  one  seaman 
killed,  and  seven  wounded. 

For  the  service  w  hich  Captain  Hood  rendered,  in  this  glorious 
and  important  engagement,  he  w  as  subsequently  honoured  with 
the  thanks  of  Parliament ;  and  was  also  presented  with  a  sword 
by  the  City  of  London. 

After  the  victory  of  Aboukir,  Admiral  Nelson  proceeded  to 
Naples,  and  left  Captain  Hood  with  the  command  of  the  follow- 
ing squadron,  on  the  coast  of  Egypt : — 

Ships.  Giuis.  Commandrrf. 

v^calous 74     Captain  Samuel  Ilood. 

+  Goliath 74     Thomas  Foley. 

Swiftsure   74 Benjamin  Hallowell. 

Emerald 36     T.  M.  Waller. 

Alcmcne..-. 32     George  Hope. 

Fortune,  polacre 18 

Bonne  Citoyenne.. 20 

+  Seahorse 38     Ed,  J.  Foote, 

La  Tonide,  advice  boat 
La  Legere, do 


*  Le  Guilliaume  Tell,  of  80  guns;  le  Gfaereu\,   74;    la  J)iane,  4b;  siai  la 
Justice,  44. 
•j-  Ileuirned  to  join  the  fleet  under  Admiral  Ntls«». 
^  Joiaed  at'teCwards. 


22  BIOGKAPHICAL   MEMOIR   OF 

With  this  force.  Captain  Hood  kept  the  port  of  Alexandria 
closely  blockaded.  He  also  contributed,  in  a  material  degree, 
to  the  interests  of  this  country,  by  his  amicable  communications 
with  all  the  Pachas  and  Governors  under  the  Grand  Seignior; 
and  particularly  with  Jezzar,  Pacha  of  Acre,  whose  friendship 
he  succeeded  in  acquiring. 

While  on  this  station.  Captain  Hood  took,  and  destroyed, 
upwards  of  thirty  of  the  neutral  transports,  which  had  carried 
the  enemy's  troops  to  Egypt ;  and,  as  an  honorary  reward  for 
his  services,  was  presented,  by  the  Grand  Seignior,  with  a 
handsome  snuff-box,  set  with  diamonds. 

In  the  month  of  Februarj',  1799^  he  joined  Lord  Nelson  at 
Palermo,  and  was  employed  in  reducing  His  Sicilian  Majes- 
ty's subjects  to  obedience,  and  in  driving  the  French  out  of  the 
kingdom  of  Naples. — At  Salerno*,  with  only  forty  marine* 
belonging  to  the  Zealous,  Captain  Hood  kept  in  check  a  force 
of  3000  men,  who  were  attacking  that  place,  until  the  few 
Neapolitans  that  had  taken  up  arms  had  time  to  escape.  The 
enemy  attempted  to  surround  the  little  band  of  Neapolitan 
royalists ;  but,  favoured  by  the  exertions  of  Captain  Hood,  they 
had  the  good  fortune  to  effect  a  retreat,  with  the  loss  of  only 
two  killed,  nine  wounded,  and  six  prisoners.  Twice  also  Cap- 
tain Hood  drove  the  French  out  of  Salerno,  by  the  fire  from  the 
Zealous. 

Captain  Hood  was  afterwards  employed  on  shore  at  Naples, 
in  taking  charge  of  Castel  Nuovo  -f ;  and  kept  the  city  perfectly 


*  Salerno  is  a  sea-port  town  of  Italy,  in  the  kingdom  of  Naples,  and  capital  of 
tlie  province  of  Principato  Citra.  It  has  a  good  harbour,  forlined,  and  defended 
hy  a  castle.  It  is  situated  at  the  distance  of  twenty-six  miles,  E.S.E.  from 
Naples. 

•j-  Castel  Niiovo  was  taken  possession  of  on  the  26th  of  June,  the  French 
having  previously  evacuated  the  City  of  Naples.  This  is  one  of  the  five  castles 
which  protect  the  city.  It  has  a  communication  with  the  royal  palace,  and  on 
•ne  side  is  contiguous  to  the  sea.  It»  arsenal  formerly  contained  50,000  complete 
stand  of  arms. 


COMMODOUE   SIR   SAMUEL    HOOD,    K.B.    AND    K.S.F.  23 

quiet,  during  the  siege  of  St.  Elmo*,  and  of  Capua f,  until  the 
period  of  their  reduction.  His  Sicilian  Majesty  acknowledged 
these  services,  by  presenting  him  with  a  snuff-box,  enriched  with 
diamonds ;  and  at  the  same  time  conferring  on  him  the  rank  of 
Commander  of  the  Order  of  St.  Ferdinand  and  of  Merit. 

This  honour  was  confirmed  to  Captain  Hood,  by  his  owa 
Sovereign's  royal  license  and  permission,  er;closed  for  hira  in  ths 
Tollowing  letter  to  Lord  Viscount  Hood  : — 

MY   DEAR   LORBj  College  of  Arms,  May  1,  1801. 

AS  I  am  at  present  unacquainted  with  the  address  of  Captain 
Samuel  Hoed,  I  take  the  Hberty,  at  the  suggestion  of  Sir  Thomas 
Troubridge,  to  commit  to  your  Lordship's  obliging  care  the 
enclosed  Royal  License,  authorizing  your  distinguished  relative  to 
accept  the  rank  of  Commander  of  tfee  Order  of  St.  Ferdinand  and 
of  Merit,  and  to  bear  the  Insignia  of  the  said  Order  ;  as  also  the 
letter  of  notification  of  His  Sicilian  Majesty's  Secretary  of  State; 
both  \^hich  in.itruments  have  been  duly  recorded  in  this  College. 

Captain  Hood's  Agents  have  discharged  the  usual  fees  accruing 
upon  the  occasion,  at  the  Duke  of  Portland's  Office,  and  at  this 
College.     I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  respect, 

Your  Lordship's  faithful  and  obedient  humble  Servant, 

ISAAC  HEARD, 

Lord  Viscount  Hood,  cjfc.  <|-c.  ^c.  Garter. 

The  subjoined  is  a  copy  of  His  Majesty's  License,  for  Cap- 
tain Hood's  acceptance  of  the  Sicilian  Order  of  St.  Ferdinand 
and  of  Merit : — 

GEORGE    R. 

GEORGE  the  Third,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  of  the  United 
Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  King,  Defender  of  the 
Faith,    &c.       To    our   right    trusty   and    right   entirely   beloved 

*  The  Frencl),  when  they  evacuated  Naples,  retained  possession  of  tlie  fort  of 
St.  Elmo,  or  St.  Eranio,  which  is  hewn  out  of  a  rock,  towards  the  west  of  the 
city.  Its  subterraneous  works  are  wide,  lofty,  and  bomb-proof;  and  it  has  eight 
reservoirs  for  water.  The  harbour  is  spacious,  with  a  canal  and  a  raole  nearly 
600  paces  in  length ;  and,  on  the  whole,  it  is  a  place  of  great  strength.  On  the 
present  occasion,  it  held  out  eight  days,  during  which  time  our  heavy  batterie* 
were  advanced  within  180  yards  of  tlie  ditch.  Sir  Thomas  Troubridge,  assisted 
first  by  Captain  Ball,  and  alterwards  by  Captain  (now  Admiral)  HalleweU, 
fiommanded  the  forces  which  were  landed  from  the  English  squadron, 

f  Capaa  i»  situated  fifteen  ipUe»  sortb  of  NapUs, 


21  BIOGRAPHICAL    MEMOIR    OF 

Cousin,  Charles  Duke  of  Norfolk,  Earl  Marsha!,  and  out 
Hereditary  Marshal  of  England,  greeting.  Whereas  our  good 
lirother,  Ferdinand  the  Fourth,  King  cf  the  Two  Sicilies,  hath 
solicited  our  consent  to  allow  our  trusty  and  well-beloved  Captain 
Samuel  Hood,  of  our  Royal  Navy,  to  have  the  rank  of  Comman- 
der of  the  Order  of  St.  Ferdinand  and  of  Merit,  which  it  is  our 
said  good  brother's  intention  to  confer  upon  him.  And  wc  being 
graciously  pleased  to  approve  thereof ;  know  ye  that  we,  of  our 
princely  grace  and  special  favour,  have  given  and  granted,  and  by 
these  presents  do  give  and  grant,  unto  him  the  said  Captain 
Samuel  Hood,  our  royal  license  and  permission  to  accept  the  said 
gracious  mark  of  His  Sicilian  Majesty's  favour,  and  bear  the 
Insignia  of  Commander  of  the  said  Order.  Our  will  and  pleasure 
therefore  is,  that  you,  Charles  Duke  of  Norfolk,  to  whom  the 
cognizance  of  matters  of  this  nature  doth  properly  belong,  do 
require  and  command,  that  this  our  concession  and  declaration  be 
registered  in  our  College  of  Arms,  together  with  tiie  relative 
documents,  to  the  end  that  our  Officers  of  Arms,  and  all  others, 
upon  occasion,  may  take  full  notice  and  have  knowledge  thereof. 
And  for  so  doing  this  shall  be  your  warrant.  Given  at  our  Court 
at  St.  James's,  the  seventh  day  of  January,  1801,  in  the  forty- 
first  year  of  our  reign. 

By  His  Majesty's  command, 

PORTLAND. 

Recorded  in  the  College  of  Arms,  London,  in  the  register  36, 
pursuant  to  a  warrant  from  the  Most  Nobje  Charles  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  Earl  Marshal,  and  Hereditary  Mai>hal  of  England,  and 
examined  therewith  this  fourth  day  of  February,  ISOl. 

GEORCE  HARRISON, 

Captain  Samuel  Hood ,  License  to  Norroj  Regi^ttr, 

accept  the  Rank  nf  Commander 
0f  the  Order  of  St.  Ferdinand 
Mtid  of  Merit,  and  to  bear  the 
Jnsignia  ofCommunder  of  thi 
said  Order. 

The  Zealous  was  paid  off  in  the  month  of  May^  1 SOO,  uuti 
Sir  Samuel  Hood  was  appointed  to  tlie  Courageux,  of  7-i  guns, 
in  which  he  was  for  some  time  actively  employed  in  the 
Channel  Fleet.  The  Courageux  afterwards  formed  part  of  a 
detached  squadron,  under  Sir  J.  B.  Warren,  at  Ferrol  and 
Vigo,  until  Jamiary  1^01  :    at  wlilch  period  Sir  Samuel  w?.^ 


COMMODOIIE    SIR    SAMUEL    HOOD,    K.B.    AXD    E.S.r.  23 

revnoved  into  the  Venerable^  another  74  gun  ship.  In  ilie 
Venerable  he  was  again  employed  in  the  Channel  ileet,  until 
the  month  of  April ;  when  he  escorted  a  valuable  ficet  of  East 
Indiamen  beyond  the  Cape  de  Verdes.  On  his  return,  he 
joined  Sir  James  Saumarez,  off  Cadiz  ;  and,  after  making  some 
captures  on  that  station,  was  in  the  action  of  the  (ith  of  July,  at 
Aloesiras*.  This  action,  it  will  be  recollected,  was  not  of  the 
most  fortunate  stamp ;  but,  as  we  had  occasion  to  observe,  in 
our  memoir  of  Sir  James  Saumarez,  the  failure  was  attributable 
to  catises  which  no  prudence  could  foresee,  which  no  valour 
could  controul. — Sir  James  Saumarez,  in  his  official  account  of 
this  attack  upon  tlie  enemy's  fleet  in  Algesiras  Bay,  says  : — 
*'  I  had  previously  directed  Captain  Hood,  in  the  Venerable, 
from  his  experience  and  knowledge  of  the  anchorage,  to  lead 
the  squadron,  which  he  executed  with  hi.i  accustomed  gallantry  ; 
and  although  it  was  not  intended  he  should  anchor,  he  foiuid 
himself  under  the  necessity  so  to  do,  from  the  wind's  failing,  (a 
circumstance  so  much  to  be  apprehended  in  this  coiUitry,)  and  to 
whidi  circumstance  I  have  to  regret  the  want  of  success  in  this 
M'ell  intended  enterprise." — Sir  James  Saumarez  also  observes : 
^'  My  thanks  are  particularly  diie  to  all  the  Captains,  officers, 
and  men  under  my  orders  ;  and  aUhough  their  endeavoius  have 
not  been  crowned  with  success,  I  tiiist  the  thousands  of  specta- 
tors from  His  Majesty's  garrison,  and  also  the  surrounding 
coast,  will  do  justice  to  their  valou;-  and  intrepidity,  which  waij 
aiot  to  be  checked  by  the  fire  from  the  numerous  baliciies, 
■however  formidable,  that  surround  Algesiras." — Sir  Smnuci 
flood's  ship,  on  this  occasion,  sustained  a  loss  of  eight  killed^. 
and  twenty-live  v\  oundcd. 

After  this  action,  Linois,  the  French  Commander^  wan 
reinforced  with  a  Spanish  squadron  of  five  sail  of  tjie  line;  not- 
withstanding which,  and  notwithstanding  the  ci  ipplcd  state  of 
his  own  ^hips.  Sir  Janjts  Sauniarez  delerjnjncd  to  pursue,  and 
attack  the  enemy -j-.  A  glorious  victory,  in  Mhich  Sn  Samuel 
Jlood  had  the  honour  of  bearing  a  distinguished  j)art,  was  the 

r — 

*  Vide  Navai.  Chhonicli  ,  Vol.  VI,  pngc  109,  and  UC     t  Ibid.  <>.  li:5,  ami  Ms. 

/3at.  er!;i8H.  ffCcbXVIL  E 


tQ  BIOGRAPHICAL   MElilOiR    OP 

result  of  tills  determination.  In  the  evening  of  July  IS,  the 
enemy's  ships  were  observed  to  have  cleared  Cabarcta  Point ; 
at  eight,  Sir  James  bore  up  after  them  ;  and,  by  eleven,  the 
engaoenient  had  commenced.  The  Admiral  continued  the 
pursuit  all  night.  "  It  blew  excessively  hai  d  till  daylight,"  says 
Sir  James  Saumarez,  in  his  dispatch  of  July  13,  ''  and  in  the 
morning  the  only  ships  in  company  were  the  Venerable  and 
Thames,  a-head  of  the  Cassar,  and  one  of  the  French  ships  at 
some  distance  from  them^  standing  towards  the  shoal  of  Conil^ 
besides  the  S})encer  a-stern  comhig  up. — All  the  ships  imme- 
diately made  sail  ^^■ith  a  fresh  breeze;  but,  as  we  approached, 
the  wind  suddenly  failing,  the  Venerable  was  alone  able  to 
bring  her  to  action,  which  Captain  Hood  did  in  the  most 
gallant  manner,  and  had  nearly  silenced  the  French  ship,  when 
his  main-mast  (wiiich  had  been  before  wounded)  was  unfortu- 
nately shot  away,  and  it  coming  nearly  calm,  the  enemy's  ship 
Avas  enabled  to  get  off  without  any  possibility  of  following  her. 
The  highest  praise  is  due  to  Captain  Hood,  the  officers  and 
men  of  the  Venerable,  for  their  spirit  and  gallantry  in  the  action, 
which  entlded  them  to  better  success.  The  French  ship  was  an 
84,  with  additional  guns  on  the  gunwale.  This  action  was  so 
near  the  shore,  that  the  Venerable  struck  on  one  of  the  shoals, 
but  was  soon  after  got  off,  and  taken  in  tow  by  the  Thames,  but 
with  the  loss  of  all  her  masts." — Sir  James  Saumarez,  in  his 
official  letter  of  the  following  day,  observes  : — "  Captain  Hood's 
merits  are  held  in  too  high  estimation  to  receive  additional 
lustre  from  any  praises  I  can  bestow ;  but  I  only  do  justice  to 
my  own  feelings  when  I  observe,  that  in  no  instance  have  I 
known  superior  bravery  to  that  displayed  by  him  on  this 
occasion^'.'' 

In  this  engagement,  the  Venerable  had  30  killed,  and  100 
wounded']-. — Oil  his  arrival  at  Gibraltar,  after  the  action.  Sir 

•  For  Sir  Samuel  Hood's  own  account  of  his  ciigageinent  with  this  French  ship, 
(the.  Forniidabk',)  the  reader  is  relcrred  to  the  Vlth  V^olume  of  the  ]Navai, 
CnnriMCLE,  pa.ge  239. 

t  The  Gazet'.e  account  of  this  action  (vide  Naval  Cijronicle,  Vol.  ^'I,  pags 
239)  states  the  loss  of  the  VeneraMe  to  have  been  18  killed,  and  87  wounded ; 
but  Sir  Samuel  Hood's  Alemorial,  which  will  preicntly  appeRv,  nientioijs  the  low 
as  above.    The  latter  account,  we  presume,  may  be  the  correct  one» 


co?.iMODonr.  sir  samltx  hood,  k.b.  and  k.s.f.  '27 

Samuel  Hood,  in  common  with  the  other  Captains  of  the  fleet, 
received  tlie  following  Memorandum  of  Thanks  from  the 
jAdmiral : — 

C(X&ar,  Rosia  Bay,  Ju/a  I/),  lOtfl. 

Rcar-Admiral  Sir  James  SaumarcK,  Bart,  has  the  happiness  to 
ofl'er  his  most  heartfelt  congratulations  to  the  Captains,  ollicors, 
and  men,  of  the  ships  he  has  the  honour  to  command,  on  the  sig- 
nal success  with  which  it  has  pleased  the  Aliuigluy  God  to  crown 
tlicir  zealous  exertions  in  the  service  of  their  country. 

To  the  discipliue  and  valour  of  British  seamen,  is  to  be 
ascribed  their  great  superiority  over  the  enemy,  who  although 
treble  the  force  of  the  English  squadron,  in  number  of  guns  and 
weight  of  metal,  have  been  so  singularly  defeated. 

The  Rear- Admiral  has  not  failed  to  transmit,  in  his  late  dis- 
patches, a  report  of  the  unparalleled  exertions  of  all  the  ofliicers  and 
men  in  refitting  His  Majesty's  ships  after  the  battle  of  Algesiras, 
(where  their  conduct  and  bravery  were  equally  conspicuous,) 
which  has  led  to  the  late  glorious  success.  ^ 

Sir  Samuel  Hood  had  afterwards  the  satisfaction  of  receiving 
the  particular  Thanks  of  tlie  Admnalty,  in  addition  to  the 
general  vote  of  thanks  from  Parliament,  for  his  great  and 
extraordinary  exertions. 

Sir  Samuel  returned  to  England  in  the  month  of  November ; 
and,  on  the  signing  of  the  Preliminaries  of  Peace,  his  ship,  tlie 
Venerable,  was  paid  off. 

His  services,  ho^^  ever,  were  too  valuable  and  important,  for 
him  to  be  permitted  a  long  enjoyment  of  repose.  In  the 
month  of  October,  1802,  he  was  appointed  a  joint  Commissioner 
for  the  Government  of  the  Island  of  Trinidad  ;  and,  on  the 
death  of  Rear- Admiral  Totty,  he  w  as  -ajjpointed  Commander  in 
Chief  on  the  Barbadoes  and  Leeward  Island  station. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  present  war.  Sir  Samuel  Hood,  in 
conjunction  with  General  Grinfield,  the  Commander  in  Chief  of 
the  army,  captured  the  Islands  of  St.  Lucia  *  and  Tobago  ; 
made  prisoners  upwards  of  twelve  hundred  of  the  enem\'.s 
troops  ;  and  completely  destroyed  their  trade  in  those  seas. 

*"  St.  Lucia  suirendcreu  to  flis  Majesty's  iiriiis  on  t!ii  ',"id  or.lune,  ISO,-.  ]'i:tc 
Naval  Chkomcli:,  Vol.  X,  page  260.  Tobajjo  surrcutkicJ  on  {h^-  oOUi  ut  ihe 
smiie  iiiuiUli. 


28  EIOGItAPincAL    MEMOIR    OF 

Wiiliiu  the  period  of  tlirce  months,  Sir  Samuel  also,  ill 
conjunction  with  General  Grinfichl^  captured  the  valuable 
colonies  of  Denierara,  Isscrjuibo,  alid  Corbice  * ;  and,  in  about 
eight  months  after,  he  compelled  the  settlement  of  Surinam 'J-  to 
surrender,  and  subsequently  reduced  the  island  of  Jlartiniquc  to 
tlie  greatest  distress. 

In  addition  to  the  above-mentioned  important  captures,  Sii* 
SiMiinel  Hood  tcck  a  id  destroyed,  as  our  Letters  upon  Service 
most  amply  testify^  a  great  number  of  the  enemy's  privateers 
•and  fillips  of  v.ar,  upon  the  Leeward  Island  station ;  and  pro- 
tected our  own  trade  in  tliat  quarter,  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
all  parties.  Tor  these  numerous  and  signal  services.  His 
^Majesty  was  graciously  pleased  to  bestow  upon  him,  as  a  dis- 
tinguishing mark  of  his  royal  favour,  the  mo:;t  honourable  Order 
of  the  Bath. 

On  the  arrival  of  Kear-Admiral  Cochrane  in  the  West  Indies 
in  1S03,  Sir  Samuel  Hood  returned  to  England;  but,  before 
his  departure  from  the  Leeward  Islands,  he  was  presented  with 
the  most  flattering  addresses  from  the  respective  Legislative 
Assemblies,  accompanied  by  an  elegant  service  of  plate,  valued 
at  three  hundred  guineas.  The  garrison  of  Barbadoes  made 
him  a  similar  present,  as  a  token  of  their  gratitude  for  his 
attention  to  them,  during  his  three  expeditions,  against  St. 
Lucia  and  Tobago,  Demerara,  Is.'^equibo,  and  Berbice,  and 
Surinam.  Sir  Samuel  also  experienced  many  highly  gratifying 
marks  of  attention,  from  the  merchants  and  inhabitants,  for  his 
.services  in  the  culonit^,  and  for  the  protection  which  he  had 
atlorded  to  the  trade. 

After  his  return  to  England,  in  the  course  of  1805,  this  de- 
serving ofhcer  was  made  a  Colonel  of  Marines. 

Early  in  the  year  180!^^.  Sir  Samuel  Hood  was  appointed  to 
the  Centaur,  a".;d  placed  urider  the  orders  of  Earl  St.  Vincent, 

*  Demerara  and  L>equiba  surrendered  on  tlie  19tli  of  September.  liae 
?v^vv.4L  CiinoxicLE,  Vol.  X,  page  501;  and  \'oJ.  XI,  page  57,  ct  scq.  Jjerbite 
surrendered  on  the  24ili.     Jbid.  page  57,  ct  scij. 

t  Tliis  colony  surreudered,  by  capitulation,  on  the  4t]i  of  May,  loOi.  Vide 
Naval  Chronicle,  Vol.  XII,  page  80,  ct  scq.  On  Uus  occasion,  JJaior  General 
i-'if  Churlts  Green  was  the  military  toiumander. 


Commodore  sir  samuel  hoop,  k.b.  axd  k.s.t.  29 

who  gave  iiim  the  command  of  seven  sail  of  the  Hne,  with  some 
smaller  vessels,  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy  off  Roclifort. 
On  the  morning  of  September  Q.3,  after  four  montli.s'  perse- 
verance in  this  service,  he  had  the  good  fortune  to  fall  in  with 
a  squadron  of  the  enemy,  consisting  of  five  large  frigates  and 
two  corvettes,  full  of  troops.  In  the  action  which  ensued,  Su- 
♦Samuel  was  severely  wounded,  and  was  afterwards  under  the 
^necessity  of  having  his  right  arm  amputated.  He  succeeded, 
liowever,  in  capturing  four  of  the  frigates,  all  very  tine  ships, 
one  of  which  bore  the  French  Commodore's  pendant. — Sir 
Samuel's  official  account  of  this  action  has  so  recently  appeared 
in  the  Naval  Chromcle  *,  that  we  now  feel  it  unnecessarj 
to  enlarge  upon  the  subject  ;  but  justice  requires  us  to  state^ 
tliat,  altiiough  he  had  seven  sail  of  the  line>  &c.  under  his  orders, 
only  three  of  his  ships — the  Centaur,  Monarch,  and  iNIars — 
"were  able  to  come  up  w  ith  the  enemy.  The  total  loss  of  Sir 
Samuel's  squadron  consisted  of  9  killed,  and  32  wounded. 

For  his  conduct  upon  this  occasion,  and  in  consideration  of 
the  loss  of  his  arm,  and  of  his  former  numerous  services.  His 
Islajesty  has  since  been  most  graciously  pleased  to  order  liini  a 
pension  of  oOO/.  per  aiutum. 

Having  brought  the  subject  of  this  memoir  thus  far  upon  his 
career  of  glory,  we  shall  subjoin,  by  way  of  summary  of  what 
V\c  have  advanced,  the  following 

McMouiAr.  nf  Sir  Suinucl  Hood,  K.B.^  a  Commodore  in  Ills 
Majc^iij's  Nai'j/,  scliing  J'oiih  his  Services,  and  flic  loss  of  his 
rii^ht  (inn J  in  an  Action  icith  a  Squadron  of  the  Enciiijj''s  Fri- 
gatfs  on  the  23th  of  September  last  ;  and praijing  a  Vcmioiu 

To  the  King's  jNIost  Excellent  ]Majcs(y  in  Council, 
The   Meiijorial    of    Sir   Samuel    Hood,    Knight   of    the   most 
honourable  Order  of  the  Uathj  and  a  Commodore  in  your  ^Mujes* 
ty's  Royal  Navy, 

MOST    HUMBLY    SUEWETU, 

THAT  your  Majesty's  ^Memorialist  ha^i  served  upwards  of 
thirty  years  iu  the  Royal  Navy  ;  as  Midshipman  in  your  Majesty's 

*  "\ol.  XVI,  page  Sio. 


30  BlOGnAl'irTC.lL    MEMOIR.    OF 

ships  Courageus  and  Robust,  from  the  year  1776  to  the 
beginning  of  the  year  1779  ;  that  he  was  actively  cruising  in  the 
former  ship,  and  in  the  latter,  at  the  ca])ture  of  la  Pallas  and 
T^icornc  in  177S,  and  in  the  action  of  the  27th  July,  was  Aid-de- 
camp to  the  Captain,  in  which  action  the  ship  had  9  men  killed 
and  23  wounded  ;  that  he  served  in  His  Majesty's  sloop  Lively  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  year  1779,  until  Octob^^r  1780,  and  was  at 
the  capture  of  the  Duchesse  de  Chartrcs  privateer,  in  the  Bristol 
Channel,  after  a  short  action;  that  he  served  as  acting,  and 
Lieutenant  of  Tlis  Majesty's  ship  Barllcur,  under  the  flag  of  Sir 
SauMiel  (Novv^  Lord  \'iscoun()  Hood,  from  October  1780,  to  the 
3!st  January,  1782,  and  was  in  the  action  of  the  29th  of  April, 
J  781,  with  Count  de  Grasse,  olf  Martinique  :  in  the  action  of  the 
two  fleets  ofl' ihc  Chesapiiak,  the  5th  of  September  1781,  and  in 
the  actions  of  the  25th  and  2Gth  of  January  1782,  between  the 
two  fleets  at  St.  Ritt's;  that  your  Majesty's  Memorialist  was  then 
first  Lieutenant  of  the  Barflcur,  and  was  promoted  the  31st  of 
January,  1782,  at  St.  Kitt's,  Avhile  the  enemy's  fleet  was  in  sight, 
into  His  Majesty's  sloop  Renarde,  she  being  laid  up  as  a  conva- 
lescent ship  at  Antigua;  your  iMajesty's  Memorialist  seeing  this 
would  be  an  inactive  life,  volunteered  to  remain  on  board  the 
Barflcur,  and  was  in  that  ship  serving  as  Volunteer  in  the 
memorable  battles  of  the  9th  and  12th  of  April,  1782,  in  which 
the  BarUeur,  wearing  Sir  Samuel  (now  Lord)  Hood's  flag,  bore  a 
very  conspicuous  part,  and  suffered  a  great  loss  in  men  ;  that  he 
also  was  in  her  at  the  capture  of  the  squadron  of  the  enemy  in  the 
Mona  Passage,  on  the  19th  of  April,  1782;  that  owing  to  some 
misunderstanding  on  the  subject  of  your  Majesty's  Memorialist, 
he  was  not  promoted.  Sir  Samuel  (now  Lord)  Hood  would  not 
ask  Sir  George  Rodney  the  favour,  and  Sir  George  would  not 
give  it  without  a  request  from  Lord  Hood,  which  then  prevented 
vour  Majesty's  Memorialist  from  being  promoted  :  he  therefore 
remained  a  Volunteer  in  the  Barfleur  until  the  preliminaries  of 
peace  were  signed,  when  he  joined  his  sloop  at  Antigua,  and 
carried  recommendations  to  Admiral  Pigot,  but  he  had  unfortu- 
nately sailed  for  England,  by  which  your  Majesty's  Memorialist^ 
was  again  prevented  from  gaining  the  rank  of  Post  Captain  ;  and 
in  June  1783,  the  Renarde  b^ing  paid  ofl',  your  IMajesty's 
^Memorialist  Avent  to  France,  that  he  might  obtain  useful  know- 
ledge for  his  future  services  to  your  Majesty  ;  that  he  was,  on  his 
r::turn  to  England  in  1785,  appointed  to  the  Weazle  sloop  of  war, 
aiii]  scat  un  the  Halifax  stationj  where,  from  his  gaining  a  thorough 


COMMOnOUE    SIR    SAMUEL    JIOOl),    K.T!.    AND    K.S.T.  31 


knowledge  of  the  coast,  he  made  his  services  very  useful  to  the 
Commander  in  Chief  on  that  station,  and  was  in  1788  rewarded 
with  a  Post  Commission,  and  appointed  to  the  command  of  Jlis 
Majesty's  ship  Thisbe,  where  he  continued  until  the  latter  end  of 
the  following  year,  when  the  Thisbe  was  ordered  to  England,  and 
being  a  few  days  only  stationed  to  ])rotect  the  llevenuc,  he  cap- 
tured a  famous  smuggling  cutter,  called  the  Lively,  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty  tons,  and  was,  on  his  return  to  Portsmouth,  paid  off. 
In  May,  1790,  he  was  appointed  to  your  Majesty's  ship  Juno, 
and  shortly  after  proceeded  to  Jamaica,  Avherc  your  Majesty's 
IMemorialist,  in  1791,  had  the  good  fortune  by  his  exertions  in  the 
barge,  to  save  the  lives  of  three  men  from  a  wreck  at  sea,  for 
"which  the  Assembly  at  Jamaica  gave  him  a  sword,  value  one  hun- 
dred guineas  ;  that  your  Majesty's  Memorialist  returned  to 
England,  and  was  stationed  to  protect  the  Revenue  in  the 
Channel,  between  Dunnose  and  the  Start,  and  had  the  honour, 
that  and  the  following  year,  to  attend  your  Majesty  at  Wey- 
mouth. 

In  1793  your  Majesty's  Memorialist  was  employed  in  the  Chan- 
nel, and  made  several  captures  from  the  enemy,  two  of  them  were 
privateers;  he  then,  in  the  Juno,  proceeded  to  the  Mediterranean, 
where  he  was  actively  employed,  and  in  that  ship's  escape  from 
Toulon,  he  trusts  his  judgment  and  firmness  were  conspicuously  dis- 
played ;  that,  in  February,  she  Avas  employed  at  the  attack  of  St. 
Fiorenzo,  and  particularly  engaged  against  Mortello  Tower  ;  and 
your  Majesty's  Memorialist  received  the  thanks  of  the  Admiral  for 
his  conduct,  and  also  those  of  the  Commander  in  Chief  on  shore, 
for  his  services  in  getting  cannon  up  for  the  several  batteries,  and 
otherwise  aiding  the  army  in  the  reduction  of  that  port.  Your 
Memorialist  was  immediately  after  appointed  to  your  Majesty's 
shipl'Aigle,  in  which  he  served  until  1796,  and  was  employcdat  the 
blockade  and  capture  of  the  port  of  Calvi  ;  that  your  .Majesty's 
Memorialist  the  whole  of  1795  was  employed  in  tlse  command  of 
a  small  squadron  in  the  Archipelago,  where  lie  J.ot  only  pro- 
jected the  trade,  but  also  kept  blockading  a  squadron  of  thi^ 
enemy's  frigates  of  equal  force,  and  received  the  thanks  of  th« 
Levant  Company,  with  that  of  the  British  Factory  in  those  seas- 
in  very  handsome  terms  ;  your  Majesty's  INIenioriulist,  in  April 
17S6,  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  your  Majesty's  ship 
Zealous,  and  was  actirely  employed  under  Sir  John  Jervis,  (no\r 
Earl  St.  Vincent,)  oil'J'oulon,  in  the  same  year,  and  in  1797  off 
ijnilh  ;  your  Majesty's  Meiaorialiat  accompauied  Lord  Neljou  in 


3^  BIOGRAPHICAL   MEirOIR    OF 

the  Zealous  to  Tenerifie,  and  was  in  the  action  when  he  lost  hist 
arm  ;  the  next  year  he  also  served  under  him  in  following  the 
ei\emy's  lleet  up  the  Mediterranean,  and  was  at  the  Battle  of  the 
Nile,  in  which  the  Zealous  alone  captured  the  Giicrrier,  the  van 
»hip  of  the  enemy,  which  was  dismasted  twelve  minutes  after  the 
Zealous  opened  her  fire  ;  tliat  your  Majesty's  Memorialist  in  the 
Zealous  alone,  engaged  the  four  ships  escaped,  until  she  was 
recalled  by  signal  ;  that  your  JMajesty's  Memorialist,  after  the 
action,  Avas  left  by  the  late  Lord  Nelson  with  the  command  of  a 
squadron  on  the  coast  of  Egypt,  and  kept  the  port  of  Alcxan  Iria 
eloselv  blockaded,  which  afterwards  hastened  its  capture;  he 
'opened  an  amicable  commuuication  with  all  the  Pachas  and 
Governors  under  the  Grand  Seignior,  and  conciliated  a  friendship 
with  Jezzar  Pacha  of  Acre,  which  was  afterwards  of  essential  ser- 
vice to  Sir  Sidney  SmiMi,  and  gave  the  squadron  abundant  supplies 
and  rcfrtshnients  during  its  stay  oii  the  coast  of  Egypt ;  that  your 
Majesty's  Memorialist  took  and  destroyed  above  thirty  of  the 
neutral  trant^ports  that  carried  the  enemy's  troops  to  Egypt,  and 
the  squadron  made  some  other  caijtures  ;  that  he  was  sometimes 
engaged  in  annoying  the  enemy  on  shore  with  the  gun-boats ;  and 
was,  as  au  acknowledgment  for  his  services  by  the  Grand 
Seignior,  i)rescnted  with  a  handsome  snulT-box  set  with  diamonds; 
that  your  Memorialist  returned  to  join  Lord  Nelson  at  Palermo, 
in  the  month  of  February  1789,  and  afterwards  was  employed 
with  Lord  Nelson  in  reducing  Ilis  Sicilian  Majesty's  dominions  to 
obedience,  and  driving  the  Frauch  out  of  the  kingdom  of  Naples  ; 
that  at  Salerno,  the  enemy,  with  a  force  of  3000  men,  attacked 
that  place,  and  your  jMajesty's  Memorialist,  with  only  40 
marines,  kept  the  whole  army  in  check,  until  the  few  Neapolitans 
who  had  taken  up  arms  had  time  to  escape;  and  though  the 
cnenif  attempted  to  !-urround  this  small  party,  he  was  cnalj-led  (o 
embark  the  greater  part,  with  the  loss  only  of  two  killed,  six 
wounded,  and  nine  taken  prisoners  ;  that  your  JMajesty's 
INIemorialist  drove  the  enemy  twice  out  of  Salerno  by  the  fire  of 
the  Zealous,  and  very  n.uch  assisted  the  Royalist  Party  ;  that  your 
M2Jesty's  Memorialist  was  afterwards  employed  on  shore  at 
Naples,  in  taking  charge  of  Castel  Nuovo,  and  kept  the  city  most 
perfectly  ([uiet  during  the  siege  of  Elmo  and  Capna,  til!  the  period 
of  their  reduction  :  which  services  His  Sicilian  Majesty  acknow- 
ledged, by  giving  your  Memorialist  a  handsome  snniF-box  svt  with 
diamonds,  and  conferring  on  him  (with  your  IvTajesty's  per- 
Biission)  the  rank  of  Comiu^iider  of  St.  Ferdi^iiind  and  cf  Merit, 


C05{M0I)0j1E   Sik    SAMt'EI-   HOOD,    K.D.    AND    K.S.f.  33 

fhe  Order  of;  that  your  Majesh's  Memorialist,  after  distressing 
the  enemy's  trade  on  the  coast  of  Spain,  was  ordered  to  lOngland  ; 
and  the  Zealous,   in  May  'SOI,    being    found  in  want  of  great 
repairs,   your  Majesty's   Memorialist  was  appointed  to  the  com- 
inand  of  the  Couragoux,  and  Avas  actively  employed  in  lier  in  the 
Channel     fleet,     and  in    a   detached    squadron    under   Sir   John 
Warren,  at  Fcrrol  and  Vigo,  until  January  ISOI  ;  your  Majes- 
ty's   Memorialist    Avas    then    appointed    to   the    V^enerable,    and 
actively  employed  in  that  ship  in  the  Channel  fleet,  until  Aprii, 
when   fhe  escorted  ft  TuluaWc  ilret  for  the  East  Indies  beyond 
Cape  de  Verdes,  and  returned  oft"  Cadiz,  after  making  some  cap- 
tures ;  that  your  Majesty's  Memorialist  soon  afterwards  joined 
Sir  James  Saumarez,  and  put  himself  under  his  command,  liad  the 
honour  of  being  in  the  action  on  the  Gth  July,  at  Algcsiras,  and  iu. 
those  of  the  Tith  and  18th,  when  the  Venerable  had  all  her  masts 
shot  away,   and  had  30  men  killed,  and  100  w^ounded,  for  which, 
your  Majesty's  Memorialist  was  not  only  thanked  by  Sir  James 
Saumare/.,    but  also  particularly  by  the  Admira'ty  ;     that  your 
Majesty's  Memorialist,  after  the  V  enerablc  was  refitted,  returned 
to  England,  and  in  November,  from  the  ship  wanting  considerabia 
repairs,  and  preliminaries  of  peace  being  signed,  he  was  paid  off; 
that    your    Majesty's  JNIemorialist   was    in    October  appointed  a* 
joint  Commissioner  of  the  is^Iand  of  Trinidad,  and,  oii  the  death  of 
ilear-Admiral  Totty,  v.as  appointed  Commodore  and  Comirander 
in  Chief  on  the  Barbadoes  and  Leeward  Island  station,  to  which  he 
proceeded  in   the   Blenheim  ;    that  on  the  suspicion  of  the  com- 
mencement   of    hostilities,     every   arrangement    was    made    for 
attacking  the  enemy's  colonics  and  trade,   tiie  success  of  whicft 
was,  that  within  ten  days  after  tiie  receipt  of  the  infor?nation  of 
war  being  declared,  the  islands  St.  Lucia  and  I'obago  were  cap- 
tured, the  enemy's  trade  quite  destroyed  in  those  seas,   and  more 
than  1200  of  their  trooi)s  made  prisoners ;  and  in  conjunction  with, 
the  Commanders  in  Chief  of  the  army,  the  valuable  colonics  of 
fiemerara,    Berbiec,  Isscquibo,  and  Surinam,  were  placed  under 
ilis    Majesty's    Government   within    twelve   months,    PvIartiniqutJ 
reduced  to  the  greatest  distress,  many  of  the  enemy's  privateers 
■were  taken  and  destroyed,   and  our  ovvn  trade  protected,   to  the 
satisfaction  of  all  parties  J  those  services  received  your  Majesty's 
gracious   apjjrobation,  and  the  distim:;uished  honour  of  the  most 
honourable  Order  of  the  Bath.' — In  Eeljrnary,  ]S05,  an  enemy's 
force,  much  superior  to  your  iNiajesty's  squadron,  made  its  appear- 
ance in  tlic  U  est  Indies.     Your  Majesty's  Memorialist  cull?Gted 


34  BIOGRAPHICAL    MEMOIU    OF 

all  the  scattered  force,  threw  reinforcements  of  troops  into  tfrtfe 
islands  most  likely  to  be  attacked,  and  joined  Rear-Admiral 
Cochrane's  squadron  with  the  only  ship  of  the  line  he  had,  and 
frigates  that  could  be  of  service  to  him,  and  was  then  superseded 
in  the  command  by  the  arrival  of  this  senior  officer.  Your 
Majesty's  Memorialist  received  the  most  flattering  marks  of 
attention  from  the  merchants  and  inhabitants,  for  his  services  in 
the  colonies,  in  the  protection  of  their  trade,  and  annoyance  of  the 
enemy,  Avhen  he  returned  to  England,  and  was  early  this  year 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Centaur,  and  placed  under  the 
orders  of  Earl  St.  Vincent,  who  gave  your  ^.laj^est}  's  Memorialist 
a  command  of  seven  sail  of  the  line  and  other  small  vessels,  to 
watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy  off  llochfort.  After  four  months 
perseverance  in  this  service,  your  Majesly's  Memorialist  had  the 
good  fortinie  to  fall  in  with,  and  capture  the  greatest  part  of  a 
squadron  of  the  enemy's  fiigates,  full  of  troops,  endeavouring  to 
escape;  and  in  the  action  into  which  the  Centaur  had  the  good 
fortune  to  get  up,  your  ^Majesty's  Memorialist  was  severely 
Mounded,  and  was  obliged  to  suffer  the  amputation  of  his  right 
arm.  Your  Majesty's  Memorialist  prays  you  will  be  pleased  to 
take  (his  his  severe  loss  while  in  command.of  the  above  squadron, 
and  those  his  other  services  herein  mentiojied,  together  with  tho 
circumstance  of  his  having  lost  two  brotiiers  in  your  i\iajosty's 
Naval  service,  into  your  Majesty's  most,  gracious  consideratioiij 
and  you?  ^Memorialist  ia  dutj-  bound  will  ever  pray» 


^  WN-N^^^^^^ 


[rac-biniue  after  die  loss  of  his  arm.] 
Centaur,  Spithead,  December  8,  1506. 

In  the  year  1782,  Sir  Samuel  Hood  met  with  a  very  serious 
accident,  which  is  not  recorded  in  the  above  Memorial.  At  the 
time  that  he  was  serving  as  a  Volunteer  in  the  Eailieur,  that 
ship  being  then  in  Port  Royal  Haibour,  a  fire  broke  out  ofi 
beard  of  a  merchahtman,  which  excited  considerable  alarm. 
Sir  Samuel  was  very  actively  emplo\ed  in  the  hold,  in  making 
some  necessary  clearance^  for  the, purpose  of  getdng  the  Bartieur 
out  of  the  reach  of  the  flames,  when  a  hawser,  suddenly  hauled 
away  tVom  tiie  spot  \>  here  he  was   stimding,  tore  up  a  part  oF 


COMMODORt:    SIR    SAMUEL    HOOD,    K.B.    AND    K.S.F.  35 

die  flesh  of  one  of  bis  legs.  Tills  wound  \\  as  a  long  time  before 
it  healed  ;  and  even  at  present,  on  any  excess  of  fatigue,  it 
gives  him  considerable  pain.  Sir  Samuel,  however,  from 
a  point  of  honour,  as  the  hurt  iiad  not  been  incurred  ni  the 
regular  course  of  service,  refused  to  mijntion  it  in  his  Memorial. 
Had  he  been  less  delicate,  it  is  not  unlikely  that  the  munificence 
of  his  Sovereign  might  have  been  somewhat  farther  exieuded. 

At  the  late  general  Election,  Sir  Samuel  Hood's  professional 
services  having  acquired  him  a  just  portion  of  popularity,  he  had 
the  honour  of  being  returned  as  one  of  the  Members  of  Par- 
liament for  the  City  of  Westminster.  Throughout  the  ilfteeii 
days'  poll,  he  maintained  a  decided  superiority  of  numbers;  and, 
aJ:  the  close  of  the  books,  on  the  last  day,  lie  had  polled  5478 
votes;  whilst  Mr.  Sheridan  had  but  4758,  and  Mr.  Paull,  the 
unsuccessful  candidate,  only  4481. — Agreeably  to  custom,  from 
time  immemorial.  Sir  Samuel  was  afterwards  cliaired  by  the 
populace.  As  this  is  a  ceremony,  with  tlie  nature  of  v.hich 
some  of  our  readers  may  be  imacquainted,  for  dieir  information 
and  amusement,  whilst  employed  peihaps  upon  a  tedious  and 
unprofitable  cruise,  we  shall  here  insert  the  Order  nf  Procession, 
in  which  Sir  Samuel^  accomjuuued  by  Mr.  Sheridan,  the 
Treasurer  of  the  Navy,  was  conveyed  from  the  hustings,  at 
Covent  Gaiden,  through  Catherine  Street,  and  thence  to  the 
Thatched  House  Tavern,  in  St.  James's  Street,  \\licre  tlie  par- 
ties dined  with  a  numerous  assemblage  of  their  frieiius. — 


ORDER  OF  PROCESSIOX. 

High  Constable   on  horseback,    Constables,    ?>Iarrow4joncs  and 

Cleavers,  and  three  Banners. 

SrR   Samuel  Ifoon's  Car. 

Band    of    ?Jnsic,    CLnOemen    on   horseback.     Lord    Petersham, 

Hon.   Berkeley  Craven,   ^'*r.  Mellish,   Hon.  ^Mr.  Bar.'-y,  iMr. 

Homan,   &c.,  <S:c. 

Beadles  of  St.  Ann's,   Banner,   and  Parodiial  Coinmittcc  for  con- 

diicthiiT  tl'.e  f'-icciion, 
Readies   of  St.  Clement   and  St.  JMary.lc-Strand,    Banner,    and 

Connnittee. 


26  BIOGRAPHICAL    MCMOia    Of 

Beadles  of  St.  George,  Hanover  Square,  Banner,  and  Committee, 

Beadles  of  St.  James,  Banner,  and  Committee. 

JJeadles  of  St.  Margaret's  and  St.  John's,  Banner,  and  Committee. 

Beadles  of  St.  Martin  in  the  Fields,  Banner,  and  Committee. 
Pcadlcs    of   St.    Paul   and   St.    Martin-le-Grand,    Banner,    and 

Committee. 

Large  Banner — ''  The  People's  Choice." 

Banner — "  Sacred  to  Female  Patriotism." 

Gentlemen  on  liorseback,  two  and  two. 

Band  of  Music. 

Party  of  Sir  Samuel  Hood's  Seamen,  -' 

Various  Banners  of  Mr.  Sheridan's,  intermixed  ^vith  Sir  Samuel 

Ilood'i. 

THE  CAll  WITH  T[IE  MEMBERS, 

Surrounded  by  their  Friends,   draAvn  by  six   horses,   decorated 

■with  ribands. 
The  Busts  of  Mr.  Fox  and  Loi-d  Nelson,   both  crowned  with 

laurel. 

Members'    Carriages,   with  niany  of  tho^e  of  the   Nobility  and 

Gentry,  &c.  Sec. 

Since  his  election.  Sir  Samuel  Hood  has  sailed  Mith  a 
"Squadron  of  ships,  to  the  Baltic  ;  for  tlie  supposed  purpose  of 
convincing  the  enemy  of  the  impracticability  of  any  attempt  to 
shut  us  out  of  those  seas. — Lord  Nelson,  it  will  be  recollected, 
obtained  three  great  victories  after  the  loss  of  his  arm ;  and, 
Avhen  we  retlect  upon  what  the  subject  of  this  memoir  has 
already  achieved — ^vhen  we  reflect,  that,  to  him,  it  hag  ever 
seemed 


"  ■ — ■ ■ an  easy  leap. 

To  pluck  bright  honour  I'roin  the  pale-faced  moon; 
Or  Llive  Jnlo  the  bottom  of  the  deep, 
Whsre  tathoin  line  could  iieve^:  touch  the  ground. 
And  pluck  up  drowned  iionour  by  tlic  loclcs," 

Shakspearb. 

^vc  are  fully  justified  in  forming  th:.  most  sanguine  expectation^* 
pi'  his  future  progress. 

We  have  only  to  add,  that,  whilst  in  Barbadoes,  on  the  6th 
of  November,  1S04,  Sir  Samuel  Hood  married  ISIarv,  the 
eldest  daughter  of  the  Governor,   Lord  Seaforth,   the  repiesen- 


COMMODORE    SIR    SAMUEI,    HOOD,    K.B.    AND    K.S.F.  37 

tative  of  the  ancient  Earls  of  that  title  in  Scotland ;  by  his  wife, 
the  daughter  of  Dr.  Proby,  Dean  of  Litchfield,  uncle  to  the 
present  Earl  Carysfort  *. 

Sir  Saiiiuel  Hood  is  at  present  the  presumptive  heir  of  the 
night  Honourable  Lord  Viscount  Bridport ;  his  Lordship's 
patent  having  been  made  out,  with  remainder  to  the  second 
and  every  other  son  or  sons  born  after  him  of  Henry  Hood, 
only  son  of  Samuel  Lord  Viscount  Hood,  and  their  heirs 
respectively  ;  to  Alexander  Hood,  who  was  killed  in  the  Mars  ; 
and  to  his  surviving  brother,  the  present  Sir  Samuel  Hood,  aud 
their  heirs. 


NAVAL  ANECDOTES, 
COMMERCIAL  HINTS,  RECOLLECTIONS,  &e. 

NANTES    IN    GUnCITE    VASTO, 

<;ALLANT    exploit    of    lieutenant    KERR. 

|N  the  1st  of  July,  the  boats  of  the  Jason  frigate,  Captam 
Coclirane,  and  of  the  Maria  scljooner,  Avcre  sent,  under  the 
Gomniand  of  Lieutenant  C.  Kerr,  of  the  former  sliip,  to  sik-nce  a 
small  fort  on  the  coast  of  Porto  Rico,  -which  liad  annoyed  the 
Maria  very  much  the  day  before.  On  landing  close  under  the 
fort,  the  boats;  grounded  at  such  a  distance,  that  tlie  men  -were  up 
to  their  middle  in  the  water,  by  which  all  their  ammunition  was 
spoiled,  and  tiioy  cunseciuciitly  could  not  fire  a  single  musket 
against  the  enemy.  Tlio  Spaniards  kept  up  a  smart  and  mcI!- 
directed  fire,  which  killed  and  wounded  a  number  of  our  people, 
and,  among  others,  the  second  in  connnand,  Master  of  the  Maria, 
Avas  struck  at  once  ])y  four  bullets,  and  almost  instantly  expired. 
In  this  situation,  Lieutenant  Kerr,  considering   that  cither  liesita- 


*  Lady  liuoi!  had  nciti'y  niti  with  a  fat;il  accident,  whuii,  upon  the  return  of 
Sir  Samuel  to  port,  after  liis  engagement  with  the  frigate«,  she  went  on  board  the 
Centaur  to  visit  hira.  Slie  got  alongside  the  sliip  between  three  and  four  o'clock 
in  the  morning  :  it  was  then  quite  dark  ;  and  the  boat,  not  having  been  properly 
made  fast,  driried  away  fiom  the  ship  at  tlie  moment  she  was  getting  out  :  Lady 
Hood  con!^cf|uentlY  fell  overboard;  and,  had  it  not  been  for  the  most  active 
exertion,  siie  must  inevitably  have  been  drowned,  'the  alarm  of  Sir  Samuel  upoQ 
tljis  occasion  wmy  be  more  eiisilv  conceived  than  described. 


3-S  NAVAr,    ANECDOTES, 

tion  or  retreat  threatened  certain  destruction  to  the  vhole  party, 
instantly  stormed  the  fort,  and  carried  it  without  farther  resis- 
tancf,  the  Spaniards  ali  running  off  the  moment  our  brave  tars 
began  to  advance.  In  the  fort,  instead  of  a  single  cfuiaon,  Avhich 
they  only  supposed  it  to  possess,  were  found  five  ;  an  iron  24- 
pounder,  three  brass  twelves,  and  an  iron  eight-pounder.  The 
first  four  were  immediately  spiked,  and  the  last  was  turned 
against  the  Spaniards,  who  siili  lurked  in  the  bushes  near  the 
place.  By  some  uiifoitunatE  mistake,  just  as  our  men  were  about 
to  leave  the  fort,  a  cartiidgc,  much  too  large,  was  brouglit  from 
the  magazines  ;  and,  after  it  had  been  cut,  the  overplus  powder 
was  left  upon  the  ground,  immediately  under  the  gun.  On  firing, 
a  spark  set  this  loose  powder  on  lire,  which  coDmmnicated  to  the 
magazine,  and  blew  it  up,  by  which  two  of  our  men  were  killed, 
and  three  badly  wouiidtd.  Lieutenant  Kerr  was  wounded  in  the 
leg  by  a  splinter,  and  had  his  face  so  much  burnt,  as  to  be  in  dan- 
ger of  losing  his  si-ht.  Of  -10  men  who  landed  from  the  boats,  22 
were  killed  or  wounded,  all  before  storming,  excepting  those  killed 
and  wounded  by  the  explosion. 

In  about  a  month  after  the  accident,  however,  Lieutenant  Kerr 
•was  so  much  recovered,  as  to  be  nearly  able  to  resume  his  duty. 

DISTRESS    OF    SIH    RICHARD    STRACIIAN's    SOUADRON. 

THE  following  extract  of  a  letter,  from  a  young  gentleman 
on  board  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Montague,  to  his  father,  dated 
Cawsand  Ba}',  September  the  30lh,  1806,  meritji  preservation; 
as  it  conveys  some  idea  of  the  course  of  Sir  Richard  Strachan's 
squadron,  in  pursuit  of  Jerome  Buonaparte;  and  of  the  subse- 
quent distress  and  danger  to  which  it  \\as  exposed  : — • 

We  this  moment  arrived  from  (he  coast  of  America,  under  jury- 
top-masts  ;  and  as  T,  have  reason  to  think  we  are  the  fust  of  the 
fouadron,  I  shall  give  you  the  folio.ving  account  of  our  dangerous 
circuit  round  the  Atlantic  ocean.  From  Kng'and  we  made  all 
expedition  to  Madeira  and  St.  Jago;  from  St.  Jago  we  returned 
to  St.  Michael.  Standing  northward  from  tliis  island,  we  fell  iu 
with  a  vessel Jjonnd  to  England,  with  dispatches  from  'the  West 
Indies,  nnjiouncing  tho  French  squadron's  arrival  at  Martinico, 
for  whici)  we  immediately  steered,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
Barbidoes  in  the  short  space  of  fourteen  days,  whose  distance  is 
2200  miles.      Wc  oxpvctccl   to  liave   surprised  Jerome   arid  his. 


COMMEKCIAL    HINTS,    RECOLLECTIOXS,    &C.  39 

squadron;  but  jvere  jireatly  disappointed  in  finding  them  pursued 
to  the  northu'cifd  by  Sir  J.  B.  Wari-cn,  whoso  vigiJancc,  no  doubt, 
has  been  equal  to  our  own.  It  was  o\v  necessary  to  victual  and 
"water  before  we  could  proceed  any  fdrthcr,  after  having  suffered 
considerably  from  the  saltncss  of  provisions,  intense  heat,  and  a 
scarci(y  of  water ;  but,  before  even  this  was  nearly  completed, 
"wc  sailed,  with  all  expedition,  to  the  northward.  ^  I  am,  however, 
sorry  to  say,  our  endeavours  in  thrs  were  soon  frustrated  by  tho 
following  dreadful  event:  —  On  the  17th  of  August,  it  blowing 
fresh,  the  Admiral,  in  the  Caesar,  ma;!o  a  signal  of  having  sprung 
a  leak.  The  gale  Increased  towards  night  iii(o  a  most  dreadful 
and  alarming  hurricane.  It  was  supposed  by  the  most  experienced 
seamen,  that  a  vessel  could  not  survive  this  tremendous  night. 
jVothing  could  be  heard  but  the  violence  of  the  wind  ;  yet  every 
thing  Avas  effected  for  the  preservation  of  our  ship,  beyond 
imagination.  The  lightning  that  prevailed  at  Intervals,  depicted 
the  "most  awful  atmosphere  ;  and  the  rain,  which  was  a  great  nicans 
of  allaying  the  sea  for  our  preservation,  fell  in  a  solid  mass ;  no 
sail  could  be  set,  so  that  we  lay  entirely  at  the  mere)-  of  the 
waves,  which,  thank  lieavcn  !  v.erc  less  turbulent  than  the  wind. 
The  damages  we  sustained  require  a  ruiich  ;ibler  description  than  I 
can  give  you,  especially  if  I  extend  it  beyond  iho  Montague,  who, 
I  am  fearful,  felt  it  much  more  favourable  than  others.  'I'ln; 
next  morning,  being  the  18th,  it  was  debated  whether  we  should 
cut  away  our  maiu-mast;  but  as  the  wind  began  to  abate,  and  the 
sea  not  being  yary  high,  we  saved  it,  though  in  an  useless  con^ 
dition.  As  the  sky  cleared  up,  avo  saw  the  Audacious  to  winJ- 
ward,  totally  dismasted,  wiili  wliom  we  parted  company  that  night. 
Wc  now  directed  our  course  to  V  irgiuia,  the  latitude  of  rendez- 
vous. Several  tine  da}  s  \jere  employed  in  repairing  damages, 
tishing  our  main-mast,  getting  up  jury  top-masts,  kc. 

On  the  2d  of  September,  we  had  another  severe  gale,  very  little 
inferior,  excepting  for  wind,  to  the  former,  in  which  the  sea  ran  so 
high,  that  many  people  received  violent  contusions,  and  wei-c  iii 
danger  of  being  washed  overboard.  Our  Captain  finding  it 
impossible  to  stay  any  longer  in  this  turbulent  latitude,  after 
running  the  greatest  risk,  and  using  every  possible  means  to  join 
the  squadron,  we  bore  up  for  England  ;  and  the  ship  has  beea 
preserved  entirely  through  the  good  conduct  and  perseverance  of 
our  intrepid  officers  and  seamen  ;  she  arrived  here  in  a  deplorable 
condition,  with  neither  sails,  ri::ging,  masts,  nor  yards. 

lu  making  England,  we  again  fell  in  Avith  the  poor  Audacious,.. 


46 


NAVAI,    ANECDdfES, 


Vho  we  found  had  suffered  considerably  that  night ;  licr  fofc-mast 
fell  overboard,  and  her  fore-yard  went  through  her  decks  ;  allhei' 
boats  were  destroyed,  excepting  one ;  and  she  informed  us,  she 
heard  frequent  firing  of  guns,  as  signals  of  distress.  She  remained 
a  perfect  Mrcck  five  days,  during  which  she  saw  a  deal  of  wreck 
floating. 

PROCEEDINGS     OF     PRINCE     JEROME      BUONAPARTE,      IN 
THE    VETERAN. 

THIS  distinguished,  and  valiant  personage,  having  had  the 
good  luck  to  elude  the  grasp  of  our  cruisers,  the  Moniieur,  of 
September  the  3d,  thus  announced  his  fortunate  return  to 
France : — 

Captain  Jerome  Buonaparte,  who  commanded  the  Veteran, 
arrived  in  France  on  the  2Gth  ult.  lie  gives  an  account,  that  he 
Jias  left  the  squadron  under  the  command  of  Vicc-Admiral. 
Guillaumcz  in  the  t)est  condition,  having  made  SO  rich  prizes,  and 
being  in  pursuit  of  a  numerous  convoy. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  a  detailed  account  of  tlie  operations  of 
Our  squadron,  which  is  commanded  by  that  Admiral,  as  it  xcould 
unjoldihe  olject  of  his  missio7u  It  is  suilicicnt  to  say,  that  he 
has  already  injured  the  English  commerce  to  the  amount  of  20 
millions ! 

The  Veteran  celebrated  the  foast  of  the  Emperor  on  the  15th  of 
August,  in  a  manner  very  honourable  to  its  Captain  and  brave 
crew.  The  following  is  an  account  of  it,  taken  from  the 
Journal : — 

Aus^ust  \5. — At  the  dawn  of  day  we  perceived  two  English 
ships  of  war  escorting  a  convoy  of  IG  sail.  A  general  cry  of 
*'  Long  live  the  Emperor  !"  resounded  through  the  ship,  which 
in  an  instant  crowded  all  its  sails.  Being  arrived  within  cannon 
shot,  we  hoisted  English  colours.  The  enemy  made  signals,  to 
■which  we  did  not  answer ;  but  observing  that  the  ships  dispersed, 
and  sought  for  safety  in  flighty  we  hoisted  Vac  French  flag,  and 
accompanied  it  with  a  discharge  of  cannon.  The  frigates  manocu- 
Tercd,  and  a  part  of  the  convoy  followed  their  example.  The 
Veteran  inimcdiatehj  pursued  those  to  the  windward,  which  were 
twelve  in  number,  of  which  she  took  nine  : — The  Alexander,  of 
210  tons;  the  John  and  Isabella,  350;  the  Janus,  350;  the 
Silver  Eel,  400;  the  Success,  55;  the  William,  70;  the  Esther, 
300;  the  Hilton,  200;  the  Lydia,  210. 


COM^tEPvCl  An    JIINTS,    UECCLT.ECTIO.VSj    &.C.  41 

The  convoy  w<iq  comin<T  from  QiK'])ec,  and  was  loaded  with 
jnasts,  pitch,  skihs,  £ind  other  produce  of  that  colony.  Tiie  prizes 
are  valued  at  live  millions  ofU  res. 

OnihslGch,  at  four  P.M.,  the  Veteran  having  collected  tha 
j^nglish  crews,  and  what  was  most  valuable  of  the  citrgoes,  set  the 
vessels  on  fire,  and  took  advantage  of  several  American  sliips 
which  she  met,  to  dispose  of  the  Engli  h  sailors  on  board  them. 

During  the  nine  months  that  the  Veteran  has  been  on  her 
rriiise,  she  has  lost  but  five  men.  Tiic  crew  have  constantly  beea 
in  good  health.  Some  scorbutic  symptoms  made  their  appearance 
before  the  ship  arrived  at  St.  Salvador,  where  the  men  were  per- 
fectly cured. 

Admiral  Cochrane,  with  four  ships  and  two  frigates,  appeared 
at  the  distance  of  three  leagues  to  the  vvindward  of  the  French 
squadron  oif  Tortola  ;  but  that  Admiral,  perceiving  that  the 
Frc7ich  squadron  manceuvered  to  bring  him  to  an  engagement^ 
j)ut  to  sea,  and  having  the  wind,  soon  disappeared. 

Not  contented  with  the  preceduig  rhodomontade^  another  of 
the  French  papers,  of  the  9th  of  Septeinber,  exhibited  the 
following  pompous  and  bombastic  detail : — 

Prince  Jerome.  Buonaparte  arrived  on  Sunday  at  St.  Cloud,  after, 
his  long  cruise.  His  Majesty  inmiediately  presented  him  with  the 
Great  Riband  of  tlie  f^cgiou  of  Honour.  From  the  13th  Decem- 
ber, to  the  2Gth  of  August,  this  Prince  contiuually  kept  the  sea. 
in  the  midst  of  hostile  squadrons^  supporting  in  every  quarter  the 
honour  of  the  French  flag,  and  doing  irreparable  mischief  to  the 
English  commerce.  In  tracing  the  history  of  his  voyage,  as  it  is 
detailed  in  the  English  papers,  we  see  him,  on  his  first  putting  to 
sea,  compel  the  convoy  destined  for  tlie  East  indies  aiid  Ain:'rica 
to  return  to  the  Irish  ports  :  from  thence  he  went  to  St.  Helena, 
in  which  remote  cruise  he  destroyed  several  enem}  's  vessels.  The 
squadron  afterwards  put  into  >it.  Salvador,  the  capital  of  the 
^Brazils,  to  procure  fresh  provisions  for  the  few  sick  the}  had  on 
board.  It  afterwards  coasted  along  South  America,  and  destroyed 
several  English  privateers;  and,  on  a  sudden,  appeared  in  th« 
West  Indies,  throzcing  the  trade  and  colonies  of  the  enemij  into 
consternation,  and  obliging  Admiral  Cochianc  to  take  shelter  iii 
Barbadoes.  After  it  quitted  Martinique,  it  went  to  St.  Domingo, 
ivhere  it  repressed  the  scandalous  traffic  of  some  American  adven- 
turers, who  trade  with  the  rebel  negroes.     It  appears  that,  m 

jl2ab.  <s:pmu  CJoIiXVII,  e 


d 


4»  NAVAL    ANECaOT£."!, 

pursuing  them  to  the  northward,  the  squarlron  encountered  a  gal4 
of  wind,  wliich  separated  the  Veteran  from  the  other  ships.  The 
Prince  then  steered  for  the  coast  of  France,  and  :;fter  liaving 
chased  several  other  vessels,  ho  destroyed  above  half  the  Quebec 
convoy,  ^\vl put  iojii^ht  the  frigates  which  accompanied  it.  The 
loss  of  this  convoy  creates  the  most  painful  sensation  in  England, 
because  it  was  freighted  with  timber  for  the  Navy,  which  Avas 
much  rcanted.  At  la^-t  (he  Veteran  entered  a  French  port,  without 
the  English  Government  being  able,  not^vithstanding  they  had 
covered  the  seas  with  superior  squadrons,  under  the  orders  of 
Duckworth,  Louis,  Cochrani^,  Straehan,  and  Warren,  to  prevent 
tho.  French  division  from  fuiiilling  any  ony  of  its  missions.  Letters 
from  rOrient  mention,  that  Prince  Jerome,  dnri-ng  this  long 
Ciuise,  wiMied  to  partake  the  fatigues  of  it  liki  an^  other  oiScer ; 
and  that  the  only  time  when  Admiral  Duckworth,  with  a  supcrion 
force^  was  near  enough  to  rtnder  an  en;;aj^en;ent  probable^  the 
Prince  entreated  Admiral  GuillaumezHo  be  allowed  ike  honour  of 
leading  the  .squadron  into  action.  The  crews,  animated  hy  his 
example^  manifested  the  g^reatest  impatience  to  engage;  and  every 
thing  leads  us  to  hope  the  result  of  it  zcoitld  have  been  glorious  to 
the  French  Navy,  if  the  wind  had  not  separated  the  twa 
squadrons,  3,ncl  given  Admiral  Guillaumez  au  opportunity  of  pur- 
suing bis  destination. 

His  Royal  Highness,  PRINCE  Jerome  Buonaparte,  lias 
not  only  been  invested  uilh  the  great  riband  of  the  Legion  of 
Honour,  since  his  return  to  Fiance_,  but  he  has  had  ihe  honour 
to  be  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Rear- Admiral ;  and,  according  to 
report,  he  is  on  the  eve  of  being  married  to  a  Princess  of  the 
^oLise  of  Whtemberg ! ! ! 

©ANGERS    OF    THE    ASTEEA    FKIGATE. 

THE  following  letter  describes,  with  affecting  minulenessj 
the  incidents  of  this  dangerous^,  and  almost  fatal  voyage  : — 

Y.hineur,  Deceviber  i,  1806. 
After  a  tremendous  passage,  no  description  of  which  can  give 
any  adequate  idea  of  its  horrors,  the  Astrea  frigate  arrived  here, 
1  may  say  almost  a  total  wreck.  V/c  had  little  to  complain  of, 
considering  the  season  of  the  year,  and  the  dreary  region  we  were 
approacliingj  from  the  time  we  left  the  English  coast,  till  Fiidaj 


fcOMMEUClVr.   lit  Jit?!,    HECOI-LECTfOXS,    8cc,  43 

J'dist,  when  we  made  the  ?v;\zo  of  Norway,  which  is  the  soutlierrl 
part  of  that  country-  ^Ve  had  the  shore  upon  t'ue  larboard  hand^ 
a  good  bree/.c  of  wind,  and  were  going  at  the  rate  of  Un  knots; 
*«  h?n,  on  a  sudden,  without  the  smallest  indication  whatever  that 
Biich  an  evil  was  iniponditig,  one  of  the  most  terrible  gales  of  wind 
broke  upon  us,  th;it  tlie  oldest  seaitiin  ever  witnessed.  The  roar 
of  its  sudden  burst  Is  yet  in  my  ears.  Tremendous  as  the  tempest 
was,  the  admirable  dii^^cipline  of  the  ship,  and  the  alertness  of  our 
men,  were  able  to  meet  it  with  every  exertion  that,  under  such  a 
difficuUy,  it  was  possible  to  make;  but  the  wfM'^hi:  of  the  storm, 
and  its  rapidity,  had  disabled  our  rigging  considerably;  and  it  was 
only  such  a  crew  as  wc  had,  that,  under  Providence,  was  able  to 
work  our  safety.  For  a  tiiue  we  apprehended  that  our  fate  was 
inevitable,  and  that  the  Astrea  was  destined  to  leave  her  ribs  on 
the  shoals  of  Norway  ;  but  we  Avere  reserved  for  new,  and  still 
more  alarming  dangers,  though,  thank  God,  ultimately  for  safety. 
We  disengaged  the  vessel  frdm  the  shore  with  infinite  difficulty, 
and,  pursuing  our  course,  we  had  to  encounter  the  risk  of  touching 
upon  the  Skaws,  which  arc  off  the  point  of  Jutland,  and  which  are 
objects  of  terror  to  the  best  Pilots  even  in  the  tinost  weather.— 
With  the  best  preparations  that  precaution  and  seamanship  could 
take;  every  man  looking  out  that  was  possible;  soiindisig  con- 
tinually ;  and  the  Islastcr  and  Pilot  as  vigilant,  as  our  officers  and 
men  were,  strenuous  and  active,  we  escaped  the  Skaws,  and  got 
into  the  Cattegat.  Here  our  confidence  was  somewhat  restored  ; 
and  the  piercing  cold,  and  the  furious  gale  that  was  blowing,  were 
scarcely  inconveniencics,  when  we  reiiected  upon  what  we  had 
cscapi'd.  In  (his  disposiition,  our  spirits  felt  relieved,  though  there 
was  not  any  material  abatement  of  our  caution;  our  Pilot  did  not 
seem  to  give  us  much  cause  for  apprehension,  and  we  wore  pur- 
iuing  our  course  briskly,  w!ien,  to  our  dismay,  the  ship  struck  ! 
We  found  ourselves  upon  a  reef  of  rocks,  perhaps  those  called  tha 
New  Dangers,  about  three  miles  from  the  island  of  Anholt,  and 
nbout  nine  miles,  as  well  as  1  can  guessj  from  any  other  shore- 
Jt  will  require  some  aid  from  the  fancy  of  whoever  has  witnessed  a; 
scene  of  this  sort,  to  imigine  our  condition,  \^'e  immediately 
hoisted  siguals,  and  fired  guns  of  distress — but  in  vain.  Not  a 
soul  from  the  shore  put  off  to  assist  us  in  any  way.  Several  vessels 
passed  us,  indiHerent  spectators  of  our  distress,  and  insensible  to» 
every  indication  we  made  to  them  of  our  dreadful  situation  :  their 
fcrews  were  as  callous  as  the  reef  of  rocks.  All  this  time  no  effort 
*'as  spared  on  board  the  Astrea,   that  coolueis  and  beamaushiy 


44  NAVAL    AXECDOTESj    (fcc. 

could  devise.  The  mizcn  and  main-masts  were  cut  away,  the  guns 
ivere  thrown  overboard,  as  well  as  the  stores  and  provisions,  to  a 
considerable  degree.  Still  the  vessel  laboured  hard,  and  the  water 
was  rushing  t'nroiigh  her  l)ottom,  in  a  degree  that  left  no  man  the 
hope  of  being  saved.  Before  it  gained  considerably,  a  great 
quantity  of  the  ballast  Avas  thrown  over.  At  this  awful  moment, 
it  was  only  a  British  man  of  war  that  could  exhibit  so  noble  a  dis- 
play of  cool  ana  sober  heroism.  The  conduct  of  every  man  in  the 
ship  was  great  beyond  all  praise.  Although  imi)endiHg  death  had 
levelled  us  all  to  a  sentiment  of  equality,  and  though  every  man 
expected  momentary  engulphment,  still  not  a  voice  was  heard  but 
the  coramaiid  of  the  officers  from  one  end  of  the  ship  to  the  other— 
jiot  a  face  betrayed  fear — not  an  instance  of  turbulent  despair; 
everv  man  was  displaying,  in  this  sort  of  passive  courage,  as  much 
heroism  as  if  he  were  grappled  with  an  enemy.  The  miraculous 
eHorts  made  by  the  crew,  with  all  the  pumps,  kept  the  water  from 
gaining  wholly  upon  us  ;  and  while  we  were  in  the  midst  of  all 
this  exertion,  to  our  astonishment,  and  to  our  horror  in  some 
Tcspects,  thv'  ship  floated  !  Judge  of  our  situation,  lightened  even 
to  the  loss  of  some  of  oar  ballast,  with  only  the  foremast  standing, 
and  the  vessel  so  damaged  in  the  bottom,  as  that  it  required  all  the 
pumps  to  prevent  the  water  gaining  to  a  fatal  increase  upon  us ! 
Those  territic  difBcuHies,  however,  only  showed  the  resources  of 
skill  and  courage.  In  an  incredibly  short  time,  jury,  main,  and 
inizen-masts  were  rigged,  though  only  a  few  could  be  spared  from 
the  pumps;  and,  as  the  wind  was  fair,  we  took  a  farewell  of  the 
reef  that  had  been  nearly  so  fatal  to  us  :  and  at  length,  exhausted 
almost  to  death,  we  arrived  here  this  day. 

During  the  dreadful  scene  we  had  experienced,  Lord  Hutchinson 
and  his  suite  were  not  inactive  assistants.  New  as  the  danger  was, 
they  were  as  composed  under  it  as  any  person  on  board,  though 
the  expectation  of  safety  was  abandoned  by  all.  If  British  seamen 
■wanted  the  force  of  example,  they  would  have  it  very  amply,  in 
the  amazing  coolness  and  collectedness  of  Lord  Hutchinson  during 
the  whole  of  our  danger,  in  wi;ich  the  force  of  his  Lordship's  luind 
afforded  some  valuable  suggestions.  His  Lordship,  I  am  sorry  to 
say,  has  not  escaped  the  eilects  of  his  exertions  and  privations  for 
nearly  three  days  ;  he  is  gone  on  shore  somewhat  indisposed. 


45 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


MR.   EDITOR, 

T  HAVE  had  the  honour  of  filling  several  of  your  pages,  and 

the  pleasure  of  perusing  the  zchole  of  them.  Your  labours 
have  been  extended  through  a  most  eventful  period  of  general 
history,  and  one  most  peculiarly  honourable  to  the  profession  your 
VFOrk  is  designed  to  iuTorra,  and  to  do  justice  to.  If  you  have 
space  enough  vacant  from  the  lab;mrs  of  more  valuable  corre- 
spondents, be  so  good  as  to  insert  this  letter,  for  the  sake  of  its 
topic,  which  I  hold  to  be  most  critically  interesting,  no^  to  the 
Navy  only,  but  to  the  national  honour  and  character. 

Whatever  expressions  fall  from  the  lips  of  Lord  Howick,  must 
come  with  weight,  as  sanctioned  by  the  known  abilities  and  inte- 
grity of  the  speaker.  Such  is  my  opinion  of  that  nobleman,  that  it 
is  painful  to  me  to  differ  from  him ;  but  I  very  much  lamented  to 
see  the  following  sentence  inserted  iti  your  last  C'iiuonicle,  and 
the  newspapers,  as  part  of  a  speech  made  by  his  Lordship  : — 

"  Sir  H.  P.  has  chosen  to  write  circular  letters  to  manufactur- 
ing towns,  on  the  principle,  and  from  ihs  fa/ fd  injlucnce  olihsit  pa- 
triotic society  at  Lloyd's^  which  is  held  out  to  the  Navy,  as  giving 
greater  encouragement  than  ihe  government  of  the  conniry.'''* 

What,  Sir !  am  I  to  consider  this  society,  which  is  so  justly  esteem- 
ed a  very  high  honour  to  our  national  character,  as  everting,  or 
having  used,  a  fatal  injluence?  Was  it  in  the  power  of  our  Go- 
vernment, as  now  and  usually  executed,  to  have  placed  so  many 
prisoners^  icidows,  and  orphans,  in  comparatively  easy  and  com- 
fortable circumstances?  fVoidd,  or  could  the  Government  (I 
repeat,  as  now  executed,)  have  given  so  many  honourable  marks  of 
reward  as  decorate  the  houses  and  tables  of  those  M'ho  have  fought 
their  country's  battles,  which  afford  so  much  honest  pride,  and 
which  excite  so  much  honourable  emulation  in  the  friends  and 
relations  of  those  who  have  won  these  trophies  ?  I  have  always 
observed,  Mp.  Editor,  that  it  is  not  the  massy  plate  to  which  the 
attention  is  drawn,  but  the  inscription  which  records  the  deeds 
which  have  merited  the  nie.d  of  hoiio.ir. 

Nor  can  we  travel  far  in  this  inland,  without  meeting  some 
maimed  seaman  or  marine,  who  is  enjoying  cpn^fort  from  th.;  mu- 
nificonce  of  this  truly  patriotic  society.  Sir,  I  believe,  that  the 
society  at  Lloyd's  only  acts  for  the  nation  at  large,  and  that  there 


46  CORRESPnunENCe. 

is  no  town  or  hamlet  that  docs  not  add  its  mite  towards  this  greai 
and  benevolent  undertaking. 

This  society  has  always  appeared  to  me  to  hare  come  forward  to 
avsi.st  the  executive  Government  in  a  point,  wherein  the  most 
liberal  administration  could  not  have  given  way  to  its  wishes,  with 
respect  to  the  magnitude  of  pecuniary  reward  and  assistance,  in 
the  case  of  death  or  wounds.  With  respect  to  the  honorary  re- 
gards which  have  been  given  by  the  society,  they  are  the  applauses 
of  our  country  reduced  into  a  form,  M'hich  descend  to  gratify 
posterity  for  ages  to  come.  Where,  then,  arises  Wtc  fatal  hifiU" 
encc  of  this  society  ? 

But  this  short  sentence  gives  rise  to  another  question.— What 
encouragement  does  the  Navy  receive  from  the  Government  of  the 
coitntrij?    Does  it  receive  Jus'Jcc  ? 

I  believe,  Sir,  that  I  may  assert  in  full  confidence,  that  the 
honour  of  the 'gold  chains  and  medals  is  what  our  Admirals  an^C 
Captains  look  forward  to  in  the  day  of  battle;  they  wish  no  other, 
they  can  think  of  no  higher^  This  mark  of  their  Sovereign's  ap- 
probation, and  the  thanks  of  the  Houses  of  Lords  and  Commons, 
are  the  brightest  jewels  in  the  cabiuit  of  a  naval  officer  ;  but  these 
are  only  given  on  momentous  occasions  ;  and  they  should  not  be 
too  common.  But  besides  these  honourable  marks  of  distiuctiorf 
for  actions  of  high  national  import,  Avhat  are  tiie  encouragement^ 
shown  to  the  Navy  by  the  Government  of  the  country?  and  there 
are  actions  of  equal  enterprise,  and  at  least  of  equal  danger,  anci 
which  merit  some  honourable  distinction. 

A  naval  officer  or  seaman  has  two  very  powerful  encourage- 
ments— one  self  derived,  "  that  every  man  has  dune  his  duty''' — ? 
the  other  is  the  apidause  of  his  country  ;  and  I  have  never  esteem- 
ed the  gifts  of  ihe patriotic  society  but  as  visible  and  durable  testi- 
monies of  ihat  applause. 

If  ad  so  just  a  man  as  I  esteem  Lord  IL  to  bo,  remained  longer 
at  the  head  of  the  Atlmiralty,  he  might  have  been  more  able  to 
have  appreciated  this  subject,  and  to  see  the  difficulties  and  dis- 
couragements which  attend  the  naval  service.  But,  unfortunately, 
before  any  man  has  been  long  enough  at  the  head  of  the  Admiralty 
to  form,  much  less  execute,  any  plan  for  the  advantage  of  the  ser- 
vice,, he  is -dismissed,  or  removed  to  some  ot!\er  office. 

If  his  Lordship  ever  wishes  to  befriend  (he  Navy,  let  him  in- 
quire of  the  naval  agents  respecting  the  delays  and  difficulties 
attending  the  receiving  the  pay  of  officers,  particularly  Captains. 
Let  him  inquire  into  the  ruinous  injustice  which  has  taken  place 


eORUESPOXDENCl.  47 

yftspecting  prize  appeals.  Let  him  inquire  liow  many  officers,  after 
having  clone  their  duty  in  the  most  heroic  maimer,  liave  never  re- 
ceived the  most  slight  or  distant  token  of  approbation,  but  perhaps 
have  met  with  checks  respecting  trifling  inforn;alities,  which  might 
have  been  spared  at  any  time.  Let  him  observe  how  heavily  the 
promotions,  after  even  the  great  victory  of  Trafalgar,  were  drag- 
ged out  of  of&ce.  Let  him  observe  how  almost  all  promotions  for 
cmin*  nt  services  have  been  wrung /ro»«  the  Guvernment  of  /he 
Coimtry. 

But  1  trespass  beyond  proper  bounds.  Should  this  meet  the  eye 
of  Lord  ii.  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  the  subject  will  attract  his 
attention.  I  approve  rather  o!  re  nesting  you  to  in-ert  this  letter, 
instead  of  addressing  m)  self  at  once  to  his  Lordship,  in  the  hope 
pi  its  attracting  the  atteniion  of  many  besides,  who  may  judge  of 
the  merits  of  the  case,  astd  yield  essential  benefit  to  the  naval  ser- 
vice, and  of  course  to  the  nation  at  large,  by  due  regard  to  its 
jp'ontents. 

I  rcrriain,   Sir,  &c.  &c. 


*  P.  S.  In  common  v.ith  many  of  your  readers,  I  am  anxious  to 
hear  particulars  oi  the  nature  of  the  inquiries  of  ihc  iioard  of  ile- 
vision,  and  of  their  jirogress. 

I  should  tliink  you  might  so  much  curtail  some  of  the  reports  of 
the  Board  of  Inquiry,  as  to  give  us  some  prospect  of  seeing  the 
Gild.     The  results  oi  many  of  their  inquiries  are  sufficient. 


"IIT^XTRACT  of  a  Letter  from  the  Rev.  Mr. ,  on 

■^-^  board  one  of  His  Majesty's  ships  off  Rochfort. 

Quibi'ron  Buij,  M'edncsdaji,  December  'iTlh,  1805, 
Last  Thursday  I  sent  you  word  that  we  had  arrived  on  our  cruis- 
iHg  ground  off  Kohfort.  On  account  of  a  severe  gale,  which  we 
experienced  during  the  two  following  days,  the  chief  part  of  Com- 
modore Keate's  squadron  put  into  this  bay  on  Sunday.  The  Dra- 
gon came  in  the  next  day,  but  had  suilercd  a  good  deal.  She 
grounded  upon  a  shoal  in  entering  the  bay,  and  remaiiied  upon  it 
five  minutes;  and  before  this  she  was  very  near  going  iipoii  the 
rocks  of  Bellcisle,  from  the  difficulty  she  had  in  weathering  them. 
The  Kent  has  not  appeared  yet,  and  we  are  in  some  anxiety  about 
hiix  and  the  gun-bri^.     We  found  the  Renown,  Captain  Durham, 


4S  COItRESFONDEXCR. 

here,  with  two  frigates,  the  Blanche  and  Niobc.  His  station  is  oi? 
rOrient,  but  he  has  been  here  nearly  a  fortnight,  on  account  of 
the  tempestuous  weather.  The  Montague  is  one  of  our  squadron  j 
I  mentioned  the  Spartiatc  in  her  stead.  The  Revenge  is  expected 
to  return  home  directly. 

This  is  a  noble  bay,  and  large  enough  to  contain  all  the  Navy 
of  England.  The  French,  I  dare  say,  are  very  angry  that  they 
cannot  prevent  our  using  it  thus  freely.  Our  anchorage  is  about 
ten  miles  distant  from  the  main  land,  where  there  is  a  large  town, 
with  a  handsome  church,  very  perceivable,  and  a  signal  tower, 
w^hich  is  often  at  work.  You  will  see  by  the  map,  that  tiie  two 
great  rivers  that  flow  from  Vannes  and  Nantes  are  no  great  dis- 
tance from  our  present  situation  :  but  there  seems  a  cassation  of 
all  traffic  ;  we  have  only  seen  two  American  merchant  brigs  sinc« 
we  have  been  here. 

There  arc  tv/o  islands,  Hedic  and  Houat,  very  near  us.  They 
■were  once  fortifie:!,  but  in  1795  Sir  J.  B.  Warren  came  hither  with 
his  squadron  of  frigates,  took  possession  of  them,  and  they  have 
been  since  used  by  us  for  watering  our  own  ships.  I  landed  upoa 
Hedic  yesterday  with  the  watering  party.  This  island  does  not 
seem  more  than  two  miles  round ;  it  contains  a  small  village,  and, 
J  should  think,  at  most  100  inhabitants.  Their  chief  subsistence 
arises  from  fishing  ;  but  they  grow  some  corn,  and  they  may  hava 
200  head  of  cattle  :  they  have  a  good  market  for  these  from  our 
ships,  though  they  are  extremely  small ;  but  they  do  not  ask  mora^ 
than  about  three  pounds  a  pii  ce  for  them.  The  money  this  brings 
them,  and  what  they  get  for  their  vegetables,  they  take  over  to 
the  Continent,  and  bring  back  whatever  necessaries  they  stand  ia 
need  of.  They  all  wear  wooden  shoes,  and  their  dress  and  figures 
are  exactly  what  I  have  seen  in  old  French  pictures.  There  is  a 
chapel  in  the  island,  but  in  no  very  good  state,  and  a  Priest.  I 
was  very  sorry  that  I  missed  seeing  the  latter  ;  from  my  ignorance- 
of  their  language  I  could  not  discover  where  he  lived,  and  all  their 
houses  appeared  equally  insignificant.  The  Priest  of  course  is 
acquainted  with  Latin,  and  then  perhaps  I  could  have  made  my- 
self understood.  I  picked  up  a  few  shells,  but  none  very  valuable  ; 
in  one  place  the  soil  is  covered  with  them.  I  probably  may  go 
again  from  the  ship  before  we  leave  \his  bay  ;  our  boats  go  every 
day. 

Ilouat  seems  a  larger  island,  and  better  inhabited  ;  but  as  it  is 
farther  off,  it  has  not  yet  been  visited.  We  shall  most  likely 
continue  here  as  long  as  the  wind  keeps  westerly ;  for  it  prevents 


CORRESPOKDENcr.  49 

tlie  French  putting  to  sea ;  and  if  it  blew  strong  when  we 
were  away  from  hence,  we  might  again  feel  the  danger  of  a  lee 
shore. 

The  25th, —I  wish  you  all  a  merry  Christmas.  On  the  day 
after  I  last  Avrote,  the  Fame  came  into  Qiiibcron  Bay.  Ever  since 
"WC  parted  company  with  her  she  had  been  endeavouring  to  join 
Captain  Ke^teS'  squadron,  and  during  the  gale  I  have  mentioned 
before,  she  found  herself,  aboutten  at  night,  close  to  the  isle 
d'Icn :  she  was  so  near,  that  she  could  distinguish  the  lights 
in  the  houses  above  her  on  the  rocks. 

On  the  19th  inst,  the  R.enown,  with  the  small  craft,  sailed  out 
of  the  Bay,  to  endeavour  to  intercept  a  number  of  French  sloops 
that  were  trying  to  get  round  Celieislc,  but  they  did  not  succeed  in 
the  attempt.  It  was  highly  diverting  to  see  the  Frenchmen  sepa- 
rating on  viewing  our  intent,  and  running  in  all  haste  to  their  own 
shores  for  safety. 

On  the  20th,  signal  was  made  for  our  sailing,  but  almost  imme- 
diately as  we  were  under  weigh  Ave  were  ordered  to  anchor  again  ; 
and  it  was  perhaps  lucky  for  us  we  did  so,  as  a  hard  gale  from 
N.  W.  continued  blowing  during  that  and  the  two  following 
days. 

On  the  23d  the  wind  was  more  moderate,  and  we  got  fairly  out ; 
but  about  two  P.  M.  we  sprung  our  fore-top-mast,  which  occa- 
sioned the  whole  of  us  to  put  back.  On  anchoring  in  our  old 
situation  the  Commodore  sent  word  that  Ave  should  fit  a  new  one 
directly,  and  be  ready  for  sailing  the  next  day  at  six  A.  M.,  Avhen 
we  Avere  again  under  Avcigh,  and  w.  have  since  kept  our  station 
remarkably  Avell.  The  Avind  still  continues  in  its  old  quarter, 
N.  W.,  Avhich  has  obliged  us  to  tack  very  frequently  ;  but  avc 
have  now  obtained  a  very  tolerable  offing,  as  avc  are  about  fifteen 
miles  S.  W.  of  Belleisle.  The  RenoAvn  came  out  Avith  us  yester- 
day, but  she  Avill  not  probably  be  long  away  from  Quiberon  Bay, 
as  it  lies  convenient  for  her  station  ;  but  we,  most  likely,  shiill 
not  see  it  again,  as  Captain  Keatcs  has  had  strict  orders  from  (he 
Admiralty  to  keep  at  sea  as  much  as  possible.  On  this  account 
he  Avas  very  anxious  to  get  aAvay  from  thence.  AV'e  left  the  Dra- 
gon in  the  bay  ;  she  is  ordered  home  Avhen  she  has  supplied  the 
Penelope  frigate  Avith  some  of  her  stores.  The  Revenge  sailed  for 
England  on  the  23d.  I  sent  no  letter  by  her,  for  thc^  reason  1  have 
before  mentioned,  but  I  shall  send  you  this  by  the  next  opportu- 
nity that  oflcrs.     The  Fame  has  not  been  in  sight  since  yesterday 

/53n.  Qrt?ron.  (HoI.XVII.  ii 


56  ?LATE  ccxxiir. 

evening ;  all  the  other  ships  are  good  sailers  ;  the  Superb  is  super- 
excellent  in  every  respect. 

Sunday,  Dec.  28th. — Since  I  last  wrote  v,e  hare  had  delightful 
•weather  ;  in  my  cabin  the  thermometer  has  generally  stood  at  60°, 
and  was  hardly  ever  below  that  in  Quibcron  Bay.  I  suppose  you 
have  had  frost  and  snow,  and  hard  weather.  The  Kent  and  Fame 
joined  us  yesterday,  so  we  are  now  quite  ready  for  the  llochfort 
squadron  whenever  it  may  choose  to  make  its  appearar.ee.  We 
hear  of  their  being  at  single  anchor. 

Jan.  7th,  1807. — Wc  have  been  at  our  present  anchorage  ever 
since  the  1st  instant.  The  wind  coming  easterly,  we  stood  towards 
the  land  the  day  before  ;  and  at  noon,  when  wc  tacked,  ^\e  were 
about  eight  miles  from  Sables  d'Ollonc,  w  hich  appeared  to  bo  a  large 
town  with  a  handsome  light  house  near  it.  We  found  the  Blanche 
off  there.  She  had  just  driven  a  French  cutter  ashore,  and  her 
boats  were  out  to  try  to  destroy  her ;  but  as  the  cutter  was  within 
the  range  of  a  large  battery,  they  were  obliged  to  return  on  board 
without  eifecting  their  purpose. 


PLATE  CCXXIIL 

fTOlIE  village  of  Walmer — probably  so  called,  quasi  vuUum 
JjL     maris ^  that  is,  the  w"ali,  or  foriilicafion  made  against  the  sea 

is  situated  about  a  mile  to  the  southward  of  Deal,  and  about 

Jialf  a  mile  from  the  sea-shore. 

Walmer  Castle  is  one  of  the  thro--  cas{ks  (Walmer,  Deal,  and 
Sandown,)  built  by  King  Henry  the  Vllitb,  in  the  year  1539,  for 
the  defence  of  the  coast  j  and,  by  Act  32  of  the  same  Sovereign, 
it  w  as  placed  under  the  government  of  the  Lord  Warden  of  the 
Cinque  Ports.  This  castle  has  four  round  lunettes  of  very  thick 
stone  arched  work,  with  many  large  port-holes.  In  the  middle  is 
a  great  round  tower,  with  a  cistern  at  the  top,  and  underneath 
an  arched  cavem,  bombproof:  the  whole  is  encompassed  by  a 
fo.ssc,  over  which  is  a  draw-bridge.  • 

Before  the  three  castles  were  bnilf,  there  were,  between  the 
sites  of  Deal  and  Walmer  Castles,  two  eminences  of  earth,  called 
the  Great  and  Little  Bulicark  ;  and  another  between  the  north 
end  of  Deal  and  Sandown  Castle  (all  of  which  are  now  remaining)  ; 
and  there  was  probably  one  about  the  middle  of  the  town,  and 
others  oa  the  spots  where  the  castles  now  stand.     They  had  era- 


PLATE    CCXXfTt.  £1 

Erasures  for  guns  ;  and  together  formed  a  defensive  line  of  bat- 
teries along  that  part  of  the  coast,  when  there  was  deep  water, 
and  where  ships  of  war  could  approach  the  shore,  to  cover  the 
debarkation  of  an  enemy's  army. 

Walmer  Castle  occupies  a  remarkably  pleasant  situation,  close 
to  the  shore,  having  an  uninterrupted  view  of  the  Dow  ns,  and  the 
adjoining  channel,  as  far  as  the  coast  of  France,  The  apartments 
towards  the  sea,  having  been  modernized,  and  handsomely  fitted 
up,  have  been  used  some  years  by  thp  Constable  and  Lord  Warden 
of  Dover  Castle,  for  his  residence  in  that  part  of  the  country. 
The  truly  great  Mr.  Pitt,  the  late  Lord  Warden,  resided  there 
whenever  his  public  duties  would  permit  his  absence  from  the 
capital. 

The  history  of  the  Cinque  Ports  is  detailed  by  Hams  in  his 
History  of  Kent,  page  46G  ;  by  old  Lambard,  in  his  Perambula- 
tion of  that  county  ;  and  latterly  by  Ilalstead. 

The  first  Cinque  Ports  were  Hastings,  Dover,  Hithe,  Romney, 
and  Sandwich,  and  so  they  are  still.  But  this  was  not  always  the 
order  of  naming  thera.  Winehelsea  and  Rye  were  very  soon 
added  to  them,  as  the  two  ancient  towns,  as  were  afterwards  many 
other  places,  which  therefore  were  called  Members  or  Limbs  of 
the  Ports. 

The  Navy  of  the  Cinque  Ports  was  anciently  called  the  King^'s 
Navy,  for  he  had  no  other,  properly  speaking,  for  many  hun- 
dreds of  years  together.  And  though,  as  Harris  adds,  "  Their 
first  design,  Lambard  and  some  others  make  to  have  been,  for  the. 
honourable  transportation  and  safe  conduct  of  the  King's  own 
person,  or  his  army,  over  the  narrow  seas  ;  yet  the  Ports  have 
not  only  most  diligently  performed  that  service,  but  they  have 
most  valiantly  behaved  themselves  against  the  enemies  of  their 
country,  from  time  to  time,  as  occasiQn  ofTered  itself,  or  the  ne- 
cessity of  the  realm  required." 

The  first  charter  was  granted  to  the  Cinque  Ports  in  1077  by 
William.  That  king  also  appointed  a  Constable  of  Dover  Castle, 
who  is  now  called  Lord  Warden  of  the  Cinqup  Ports,  and  is  in- 
vested with  the. command  of  them. 

The  present  Constable,  who  sufceeded  the  Rif^hi  Hob,  Williaip 
^;tt,  is  LorcJ  Hawkesbury. 


52 


CORRECT  RELATION  OF.  SHIPWRECKS. 

[Continued  from  page  4l3.] 

ii^o.  XV. 

Again  the  dismal  prospect  opens  round, 

The  wreck,  the  shore,  the  dying,  andthe  drown'd. 

Falconer, 

NARUATRT  OF  THE  WRECK 

OF 

HIS  MxVJESTY'S  SHIP  PORPOISE, 

LIEUTENANT    ROBERT    FOWLER,    COMMANDER, 

ON    A    REEF    OF    CORAL    IN'    THE    PACIFIC    OCEAN,    AUGUST    17tI1,    1803, 

And  the  subsequent  Proceedings  till  the  Arrival  of  the  Creio  at 
Canton  ;  x^ith  a  little  extraneous  Mutter  relative  to  the  Coloni^ 

oj'  Neio  South  Wales. 

BY  ONE  OF  THE  CREW. 

Ille  salutiferam  porrexit  ab  pethere  dcxtrara, 
Et  nie  de  rapidis  per  euntem  sustulit  uudis. 

A  PSALMIS  ETJCII^K. 

■(■■ 

THE  whole  tribe  of  vvootl-hewers  should  be  employefl  in  cut- 
ting down  timber  for  n);ists,  -which,  when  seasoned,  should  be 
made  into  proper  sizes,  for  gun-brigs,  sloops,  and  twenty  gun- 
ships  ;  by  which,  tonnage  and  labour  would  be  saved,  and  their 
importation  rendered  as  profitable  as  possible.  But  as  there  raust 
of  necessity  be  more  worlimen  than  are  requisite  to  furnish  this 
article  of  consumption,  the  rest  might  prepare  timber  for  house- 
l)uilding,  enclosures,  or  even  in  building  small  vessels,  to  transport 
corn  from  settlement  to  settlement;  which,  if  not  wanted  by 
Government,  might  be  disposed  of  to  private  individuals,  in 
exchange  for  produce,  or  money,  if  their  circumstances  permitted. 
As  the  strength,  security,  riches,  and  prosperity  of  the  colony, 
will  consist,  lUce  the  mother  country,  in  ships  and  trade,  rearing 
up  sailors  is  of  the  fir-,t  consequence  ;  and  I  would  encourage 
always  a  maritime  spirit  in  the  youth.  The  Seal  fishery  should 
meet  v.  itii  my  warmest  patronage ;  and  to  individuals  among  the 
settlers,  entering  into  such  a  speculation,  I  Avould  give  them  a  due 
proportion  of  Govci:nment  men,  with  one  or  two  boys  in  every 
vessel,   who  should  be   victualled  by   the  colony.     I  would  aho 


CORfirCT    KELATION    OF   SUIPWUFXKS.  53 

employ  vessels  in  bringing  coral,  for  the  purposes  of  building,  and 
manure;  and  the  Norfolk  j pine,  from  the  harbours  we  before 
spoke  of:  which  should  be  carried  on  in  colonial  vessels,  with  a 
large  proportion  of  men,  to  diffuse  nautical  knowledge  as  -widely 
as  could  be  admitted,  without  prejudice  to  agriculture. 

With  respect  to  tiie  settlers,  very  little  more  than  what  has 
already  been  hinted,  needs  to  be  said.  The  enfranchised  should 
he  admitted  to  all  the  privileges  of  those  Avho  had  voluntarily  emi- 
grated. Industry,  fair  dealing,  and  correctness  of  behaviour, 
should  never  want  encouragement;  and,  to  promote  their  lia])pi- 
ness,  and  prevent  monopoly,  they  should  have,  in  exchange  for 
their  corn,  bacon,  kc.  from  the  general  store,  what  articles  of 
clothing,  and  necessaries  of  life,  were  v.anting  to  make  their  life 
easy  and  comfortable.  That  prostitution,  and  illegitimate  sexual 
intercourse,  might  be  ])artly  abolished,  I  would  hold  out  rewards  to 
the  parents  of  such  children  as  were  lawfully  begotten,  by  adding  a 
few  acres  to  his  farm  for  every  child  his  wife  brought  him  :  or,  if  he 
•were  a  mechanic,  by  something  equivalent  in  tlic  way  of  his  pro- 
fession. In  an  infant  state,  monopoly  can  only  be  prevented  bj 
the  immediate  interference  of  Government; — which  renders  it 
necessary  for  Government,  itself,  to  act  the  merchant  for  the 
public  weal.  There  should  be  therefore  every  article  of  traffic  ia 
their  store-houses,  which  ought  to  be  sold  at  a  reasonable  profit ; 
and  every  person  turning  merchant,  prohibited  from  selling  his 
goods  at  a  higher  rate.  To  prevent  imposition,  tables  of  the 
prices  of  articles  might  be  affixed  in  the  public  places,  signed  by 
the  Commissary. 

As  for  the  children,  I  would  siipcrintend  their  education  with  a 
truly  parental  solicitude;  and  endeavour,  from  the  moment  of 
their  birth,  to  train  them  up  in  the  principles  of  truth,  honestv, 
and  integrity.  Those  children  belonging  to  convicts,  I  would 
have  under  my  immediate  tuition  ;  and,  as  soon  as  suckled,  they 
should  be  removed  from  the  mother  into  a  school.  VVhilc  the 
children  wxrc  nursing,  I  would  have  them,  at  a  certain  hour  every 
day,  be  presented  in  a  body  by  their  mothers,  for  inspection,  to 
see  that  they  were  kept  clean;  and,  from  the  time  of  their  wean- 
ing, to  the  age  of  three  years,  they  should  be  u;ider  the  manage- 
ment of  nurses,  appropriated  for  the  })nrpose :  they  should  then 
be  sent  out  to  schools,  boys  and  girls  indiscriminately ;  and 
taught  to  read,  write,  and  ligure,  till  they  had  reached  their  tenth 
or  twelfth  year,  when  they  should  be  separated  ;  the  males  learning 
some  trade,  and  the  females  the  quaHiications  necessary  for  making 


ifi  CORRECT    RELATION    OF   blllPWIlECKS. 

them  good  housewives.  To  interest  the  different  parts  of  the 
colony,  as  much  as  possible,  in  each  other's  welfare,  and  to  infuse 
a  maritime  spirit  among  the  males,  I  would  send  all  the  boys  of 
IS'ew  South  Wales  to  be  educated  with  the  girls  of  Van  Diemau's 
Land  ;  and,  vice  verm  ;  allowing  each  of  them  once  a  year  to  visit 
their  relations  ;  by  which  means  they  would  make  a  small  vojage 
annually,  and  be  connected  to  each  other,  by  all  the  ties  of 
friendship,  and  the  tendercst  affection.  They  would  thus  be 
familiarized  *to  a  sea  life,  without  neglect  of  education,  and  grow 
sailors  insensibly.  To  such  of  the  settlers  as  chose,  I  would  re- 
commend a  plan  exacdy  similar;  or  that  they  should  adopt  each 
fithcrs  boys,  in  the  diUcrcnt  settlements ;  to  which,  on  both 
sides,  I  should  pledge  myself  to  see  justice  done ;  and  they  should 
Reeducated  v\ith  the  Government  children,  in  the  public  school. 
I  will  no  longer  miilii;>ly  words,  in  describing  minutely  every  cir- 
cumstance, as  you  may  easily  comprehend  the  rest,  from  the  out- 
line I  have  drawn.  Suffice  it  to  sa)',  that  all  my  institutions 
should  tend  to  make  them  hardy,  enterprising,  industrious, 
generous,  and  disinterested  to  each  other;  which,  in  the  execution, 
conld  not  fail  to  make  them  love  and  esteem  their  mother  country. 
i  would  always  have  in  viev.-  that  law  of  Solon,  which  absolved 
buslards  from  paying  any  deference  or  respect  to  their  parents; 
aiul  prevent  them,  under  colour  of  that  pretext,  from  shaking  off 
their  connexion  with  the  mother  country.  Lest  it  might  give  too 
great  a  predilection  for  a  sea  life,  to  the  prejudice  of  agriculture, 
T  would  keep  at  home  one ;  or,  if  the  family  were  numerous,  two, 
to  Inherit  the  trade  and  property  of  tiie  father. 

Let  us  next  take  a  view  of  the  means  most  proper  for  accom^ 
plishing  all  these  measures. — The  practice  of  hiring  transports,  for 
the  ronveyance  of  prisoners  to  New  South  Wales,  I  would  abolish 
<nfiiely,  from  the  many  unpleasant  accidents  that  have  actually 
jiiippencd,  and  may  ahvays  be  dreaded,  in  vessels  of  that  descrip- 
tion. Many  ]Ma«ters  of  convict  ships  have  conducted  themselves 
with  a  humanity  that  does  them  honour;  but  others  again  have, 
from  pusillanimify,  and  fear,  had  recourse  to  such  harsh  and 
arbitrary  measures,  as  to  stir  up  their  prisoners  to  mutiny,  or  to 
•bring  on  disease  by  consequence  of  confinement,  and  breathing  an 
impure  air.  Examples  directly  in  point,  we  had  experience  of,  iu 
the  Coromandol,  Hercules,  and  Atlas  transports;  all  of  which 
arrived  in  Sydney  Cove,  when  we  happened  to  be  there  in  1802. 
One  of  them  did  not  lose  a  soul  during  the  voyage,  but  brought 
till  her  cargo  out  in  a  state  of  unexampled  good  health :  another 


CORRECT    RELATION    OF    SIIIPWIlErKS.  .'5.1 

had  mutiny  to  an  alarmin*  degree;  in  consequence  of  which,  not 
less  than  a  dozen  of  the  poor  miscreants  Mcre  either  killed,  or 
desperately  Avounded;  and,  to  wind  up  the  fcene  of  misery,  scurvy 
and  fever  found  their  way  into  the  ship.  But,  in  the  third  ship, 
though  there  was  no  butchery,  there  was  still  distress  enough  to 
beggar  all  description  ;  for  a  malignant  fever,  and  scurvy  con- 
joined, carried  off  a  number  ;  and,  I  have  b.^en  credibly  informed, 
several  died  in  confinement;  and,  shocking  to  relate,  with  irons  on 
their  legs.  The  shooting  of  a  man,  of  the  name  of  Pendergrass, 
was  attended  v/ith  circumstances  of  a  disgraceful  nature.  He  was 
suspected,  and  generally  believed,  to  have  been  a  principal  riug- 
leader  in  the  mutiny,  and  was  brought  on  the  quarter-deck  after 
the  mutiny  had  been  quelled  ;  where,  after  half  an  hour's  inter- 
rogation, and  solicitation  to  confess  his  having  been  accessary  to 
the  affair,  he,  notwithstanding  his  pleading  innocence  to  the  last, 
was  deliberately  shot.  • 

You  may  very  likely  think    I  have  amplified  and  esag^grated 

~  this  picture ;  but  I  do  assure  you,  it  is  neither  more  nor  less,  than 

the  evidence  of  a  number  of  w  itncsscs,  who  v  ere  present  on  thn- 

occasion,   and  who  made  their  depositions  to  this  eflcct,  in  the 

Vice-Adm.iralty  Court  at  Sydney. 

In  the  Glatton,  and  Calcutta,  there  was  no  such  work  ;  and  it 
will  never  happen,  where  order,  regularity,  and  discipline,  are  en- 
forced. I  hope  in  God,  for  the  sake  of  humanity,  that  King's 
ships  will  in  future  be  employed  in  the  convict  service ;  and  that  a 
ship  may  be  appropriated  for  that  service  alone.  C>ue  44  guiu 
^liip,  a rmee  enjluie,  devoted  entirely  for  the  transi)orting  thos«^ 
depraved  wretches,  who,  by  their  misdeeds,  have  forfeited  all 
right  and  claim  to  the  protection  of  the  laws  of  their  country, 
would,  I  am  persuaded,  save  a  number  of  lives;  and  she  would 
take  back  any  masts,  and  logs  of  pine,  which  might  be  ready  to 
ship,  without  delay  :  so  that  her  voyage  would  be  performed  in  a 
year.  As  in  our  dock-yards  a  quantity  of  coarse  oil  is  also 
required,  that  quantity  might  be  procured  through  this  chaunrl ; 
which  would  all  tend  to  defray  the  expenses  to  (he  country,  and 
be  of  incalculable  service  to  the  colony.  In  the  ship  bringing  cut^ 
the  stores  for  the  colony,  1  would  have  the  raw  materials  alone 
brought  out  of  such  articles  as  could  be  manufactured  there. 
Hides,  oil,  and  wool,  they  have  in  abundance  ;  the  first  of  which, 
they  are  unable  to  tan,  from  want  of  bark  ;  and  the  second,  which 
is,  in  reality,  the  staple  commodity  of  the  colony,  if  well  followed 
ap,  would  require  a  few  vesseli  of  considerable  burthen^  to  hare 


55  eonRECT    HELATION    OF    SIllPWRECKS, 

the  privilege  of  going  backwards  and  forwards  to  Britain,  i& 
market.  The  oak  would  grow  in  perfection  in  Van  Dieman'S 
Land  ;  and  ought,  by  all  means,  to  he  planted  there,  for  the  pur- 
poses of  tanning,  as  well  as  ihip-building.  The  skin  of  the  fur 
seal  is  a  marketable  article  in  China,  and  would  fetch  valuable 
returns  of  tea,  sugar,  spice,  kc.  From  the  increase  of  the  breed 
of  sheep,  there  will  soon  be  wool  sufficient  to  clothe  the  whole. 
Artificers  of  every  description,  are  much  wanted  to  instruct  the 
youth.  Liberal  salaries,  to  invite  men  of  abilities  to  teach  the 
different  arts,  is  more  wanted  for  that  colony,  than  any  other 
thing.  I  would  have  academies  for  instructing  the  youth,  not  only 
ill  reading,  writing,  and  ciphering,  but  in  all  the  mechanical 
professions ;  which,  as  soon  as  there  is  a  proper  circulation  of 
trade,  would  turn  to  good  account. 

There  is  already  laid  the  foundation  of  a  great  power,  which, 
in  process  of  time,  will  extend  itself  to  the  farthest  limits  of  the 
coast;  and,  if  the  saying  of  Lord  Bacon  is  true,  "that  know- 
ledge is  power,"  the  dissemination  of  knowledge  is  certainly  of  the 
lirst  importance,  whether  considered  in  a  moral  or  politicrd  view, 
for  rendering  that  foundation  solid  and  lasting,  and  raising  a 
heantifiil  superstructure  so  much  sooner  to  maturity  and  per- 
fection. It  is  high  time  to  dismiss  the  subject,  and  advert  to  our 
passage  from  the  reef  to  China,  and  from  thence  to  England. 

The  two  colonial  vessels,  Frances  and  Cumberland,  came,  as  I 
have  already  said,  with  the  lloUa ;  and  the  following  were  the 
arrangements  that  had  fakqn  place  : — The  Rolla  v,as  to  receive  the 
officers  and  crew  of  t!ic  Porpoise,  with  which  she  was  to  proceed 
to  Canton  ;  where  they  were  to  be  distributed  among  such  of  the 
East  India  Company's  ships,  as  their  servants  in  that  part  of  the 
world  might  think  proper.  The  Frances  was  to  take  on  board 
such  stores  saved  from  the  wreck,  as  she  cculd  conveniently  and 
safely  carry,  with  any  of  the  officers  or. people  that  had  a  desire 
to  return,  and  proceed  with  them  forthwith  to  Port  Jackson.  Mr. 
Denis  Lacy,  one  of  the  Master's  Mates  of  the  luvesJigator,  with 
half  a  dozen  volunteers,  returned  also,  in  our  schooner,  the 
Resource.  Poor  Lacy  having  served  his  time  as  a  Midshipman, 
was  anxious  to  get  home ;  and  thought  that  by  going  back,  and 
meeting  ti:c  Calcutta,  he  would  accomplish  his  design  more 
expeditiously,  and  anticipate  us  in  our  arrival  by  the  round 
about  way  of  China.  He  embarked  in  a  small  brig  from  Port 
Jackson  to  the  Mauritius,  and  avc  arc  yet  unacquainted  with  his 
^^stiny.     As  the  sti-iclcst  habits  of  intimacy  subsisted  betwixt  us, 


CORiltCT    RELATION    OF    SHIPWKECKS.  57 

I  feel  particularly  interested  in  his  behalf,  and  rogret  much,  thiit 
my  remonstrances  a'^ainst  the  step  he  took,  were  ineflFectuaL 
Upon  our  favourite  parade,  on  the  iiiorning  of  parting.',  I  urged 
the  matter  afresh,  but  his  inflexible  rcsolntion  was  not  to  be 
shaken  ;  and  he  has  paid  full  dearly  for  his  unfortunate  opU 
Dion.  I  never,  in  the  whole  conrse  of  my  life,  knew  a  young 
mail,  who  followed  up  with  such  application  and  perseverance, 
atiy  scheme  he  had  projected.  Neither  labour,  iiuliistry,  nor 
patience,  were  spared  ;  and  by  his  unremitting  assiduity,  he  gene- 
rally succeeded  in  whatever  he  had  undertaken.  When  he 
joined  us  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  his  knowledge  in  navigation 
did  not  much  exceed  the  boundaries  of  a  day's  work;  but  he 
never  rested  a  moment  afterwards,  till  he  had  acquired  a  pro- 
ficiency in  all  the  branches  of  the  art,  and  understood  perfectly  its 
principles.  Ills  fate,  whatever  it  may  be,  will  be  lamented  by  all 
his  messmates ;  and  I  Avill  never  cease  to  cherish,  with  alfcctionate 
regard,  the  recollection  of  his  warmth  of  friendship, 
['J'o  be  conUiiut.-d.] 


Farihcr  rariicidars  oj  the  SJu'pzcrcck  of  ih<i  Alhenieiuw,  as  given 
/  'u/.  X  V  [,  page  493. 

nP'HE   following   liitcrestlng  particulars   of  the  loss  of  His 
Majesty's    ship    Alheniennc^    are    given   by    one    of    the 
Officers  who  belonged  to  her  : — 

r^ilcrnio  Bui',  on  board  His  Majcstij's  Ship  Intrepid, 
October  27,  1806. 
^\'hcn  I  left  you,  I  little  th.ought  of  the  misfortunes  that  awaited 
me.  The  4th  day  after  sailing  from  the  Rock  we  passed  Sardinia, 
and  were  all  in  high  sj)iii(s,  not  doubting  but  we  should  arrive  at 
Malta  the  next  day;  but,  dreadful  to  relate,  that  very  night  (the 
'20th),  at  about  a  quarter  before  ten,  when  going  fully  nine  knots 
an  hour,  the  Athenienne  struck  on  the  rocks  known  by  the  name 
of  the  Skirkes,  or  Quills ;  they  were  completely  under  water,  and 
at  least  sixty  miles  from  any  shore.  The  shock  was  terrible, 
and  the  dreadful  consternation  into  Mhich  the  crew  were  thrown, 
was  beyond  any  thing  you  can  possibly  conceive.  The  most  awful 
painting  or  description  of  shipwreck  was  a  mere  nothing  to  it. 
Every  soul  was  instantly  upon  deck,  most  of  them  naked,  and  in 
such  a  state  of  despair,  as  to  be  perfectly  unable  to  make  the 
smallest  exertion.     Some   went  below  and  gave  themscives  up  to 

/5a\).  €'f)ron.  etoI.XVIT.  i 


58  COURrCT    UEL.A'ilOX    OF    SHIl'SrRtrKS- 

their  faic  :   others  took  possession  of  the  poop,  being  highest  oi\i 

of  the  Avatcr  (for  in  a  very  few  minutes  the  lee  side  of  the  quarter 

was  covered  with  water)  ;   otliers,  who  had  more  presence  of  mind, 

took  to  the  boats ;   three  of  w  hich,  containing  twenty-seven  men, 

got  olffrom  the  ship  very  early,  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  after 

she  stniclv.     At  this  time  all    (he  masts  went  overboard.     Two 

other  boats,  in  endeavouring  to  escape,  Avere  swamped,  and  all  the 

people  in  them  ijcrished.      I  fortunately  failed  in  an  attempt  to  get 

into  one  of  them.     There  now  remained   only  two  boflts ;   one  I 

found,  upon  inquiry,  had  her  side  knocked  in,  from  the  falling  of 

the  foremast:    the  other   (the  launch)   I   regarded   as    the  only 

possible  remaining    chance ;    the   odds   against  which    were  very 

great,  for  she  was   still  nearly   in    her  station,    a-midships,   and 

crowded  with   people,   so  that  it  was  imj)ossib!e  to  use  the  least 

power  to  set  her  atloat.     I  however  leapt  into  her,  and  was  soon 

followed  by  General  Campbell,   who  is  now  along  with  me.     I 

made  several  efiorts  to  get  the  men  out  of  her,   so  as  to  make  an 

attempt  to  shove  her  oil",   but  all  in   vain.     Though   I  leapt  out 

myself,  as  an  example,   very  few  followed  me,     1  therefore  again 

took  my  place  in  her,  and  after  remaining  there  full  half  an  hour, 

expecting  every  moment  that  her  bottom  would  be  knocked  out, 

by  the  sea  dashing  her  against  the  spars  upon  which  she  rested,  a 

fortunate  wave  washed  us  out  of  the  wreck.     We  had  oars  all 

ready,   and  immediately  pulled  from  her  ;  but  thinking  wc  could 

take  in  a  few  more  men,  although  we  had  already  an  hundred  on 

board,  we  rowed  under  the  stern  with  that  intention,   but  so  great 

was  the  anxiety  of  those  upon  tlic  poop  to  join  iis,  that  we  were 

in  the  most  imminent  danger  of  benig   overwhelmed  by  numbers 

jumping  into  her.     The  general  cry  in  the  boat  was,  "  Pull  offy'" 

which  we  did,  after  having  taken  in  only  tvf^o  ofiicers,  who  jumped 

overboard. 

It  was  now  nearly  an  hour  and  a  half  from  the  time  the  sl'.ip  had 
struck.  The  anxiety  of  our  minds  was  dreadful :  but  the  momcjit 
that  we  pulled  off  from  (he  wreck,  for  the  last  time  {Xol-  I  forgot 
to  tell  you  that  we  returned  tliree  times),  leaving  poor  Raynsford, 
with  350  men,  without,  I  may  say,  the  most  distant  hope,  has  left 
an  impression  upon  R.y  mind  much  more  powerful  than  all  that  I 
suffered  before  tliat  time.  We  immediately  pulled  towards  the 
Inland  of  Maritimo,  which  (with  the  assistance  of  a  miserable  sail, 
made  out  of  the  men's  shirts)  we  got  sight  of  at  day-light  the 
morning  of  the  21st.  ^Ve  at  the  same  time  boarded  a  Daniyh 
vessel,   (hat  gave  us  a  sail,  broad  and  watcr^   and  a  little  ]>r;v!idy. 


< 

COUUtXT    ItELATlOX    OF    SlilfV.UECKS.  -59 

We  put  two  oiTicers  and  twenty  me-.i  oi»  board  (.f  her,  who  nctifc 
to  look  out  for  the  wreck  ;  but  {he  wind  blew  so  fresh  they  coii'd 
make  nothing  of  it,  and  have  put  into  this  po.-t.  Sir  SiJniy  Smith 
has  seat  oiF  from  this  place  the  Eagle  and  a  transport;  but  it  has 
blown  Ycry  hard  ever  since  ;  I  fear,  if  they  even  reached  the  spot 
th(;y  could  be  of  no  service,  as  we  havo  every  reason  to  suppose  that 
the  wreck  went  to  pieces  soon  after  we  leit  lior. 

After  leavln*::;  the  Dasic,  we  sfood  towards  .Mariiimo,  which  we 
reached  about  four  o'clock  in  the  evening,  after  huvisig  been  six- 
teen hours  in  the  boats.  Two  of  the  boats  which  first  escaped 
from  the  sliip  were  in  sight  when  we  boarded  the  Dane,  and 
followed  us  to  Maritimo,  where  we  remained  all  night,  and  ne:-;t 
night  we  arrived  at  Trcpani,  where  we  slept.  The  following 
morning,  the  23d,  General  Campbell  and  myself  set  oit  for 
Palermo  by  land,  which  we  reached  i;;  tlie  evening  of  the  '2  jth. 

Sir  Sidney  Smith  waited  upon  lis,  and  procured  us  a  jia^sage  to 
Messina,  oti  board  of  a  Ncap^jlitan  frigate.  We  (iincd  on  board 
of  thj  Inirepid  the  '25th,  and  were  to  have  sailed  in  the  evening, 
i):it  it  has  blown  so  fresh  ever  since,  that  wc  have  been  detained 
here,  and  cannot  even  go  on  shore.  As  you  may  suppose,  I  have 
lost  Gvcvy  thing;  the  moment  the  siiip  struck  I  pulled  oif  my 
boots,  put  on  slippers,  and  did  not  put  even  a  cob  in  my  j^ocket, 
for  fear  I  should  be  under  th.e  nece.-<^iiy  of  swimming;  b'.itas  i 
had  made  up  my  mind  to  lose  my  Hie,  th.c  saving  of  t!i;it  uutkes  my 
other  los-jes  very  light,  although  they  exceeded  101)0/. 

No  entreaties  could  prevail  on  Cap'ain  Haynsford  to  quit  his 
ship.  From  the  first  moment  of  her  striking  to  the  launch's  la.'t 
quitting  her,  he  conducted  himself  in  a  manner  thu  most  heroic  — 
his  presence  of  mind  never  forsook  him,  and  his  whole  faculties 
■were  employed  in  the  moans  of  saving  h^s  people. 

ACCOUNT    OF    THE    LOSS    OF    L'AlMABLr.    MAIUHF,  OX  TTiE 
COAST    OF    WALES,     IN     THt;     YEAR    l/S'). 

'"IpHE  Aillowing  a'fcount  of  the  Shipwreck  of  M.  Durariil, 
formerly  Govcniov  of  Isle  St  [iOui^Jj  is  extracted  from  that 
gentleman's  ''  Viujaga  to  Senei);al.''  We  have  much  pleasure 
in  presenting  it  to  our  readorit,  us  it  contains  some  hiterestinj^ 
anecdotes  of  tlie  humane,  hospitable,  and  generous  conduct  of 
our  gallant  couuirvinuu.  Sir  Henry  Trollope  : — 

I  left  tile  Senegal  for  llavie,  says  I>.L  Durand,  on  the  24th  of 
July,  17SGj  on  board  the  b;igaiitstie  I'Aimable  JNiarthc]  the  crew 


60  CORlinCT    RFI.ATION    OF    SUIIMT,  £(.  Ki. 

consisted  of  (iio  Captain,  -wliose  name  mms  Dore,  a  Lieutenant,  w 
Carpenter,  a  Mate,  and  three  sailors.  Th.;  passengers  v.ere 
INTcssrs.  Gourg,  Naval  Commissioners  at  Senegal,  Loncer,  Captain 
of  a  frigate,  Bernard,  my  Cook,  a  young  negro,  and  myself. 

After  an  uncommonly  long  and  dangerous  passage,  we  were  of 
opinion,  on  the  12th  September,  in  the  morning,  that  we  should 
arrive  in  the  course  of  the  night  at  Havre  ;  and  we  in  consequence 
gave  ourselves  up  to  that  pleasure  which  travellers  always  expe- 
rience at  the  end  of  a  long  voyage;  when  I  perceJA'ed  that  the 
Captain  was  out  in  his  reckoning,  and  that  we  w"ere  in  the  British 
Channel.  I  informed  him  of  this  circumstance,  and  his  surprise 
v.;is  equal  to  my  own.  The  weather  was  stormy,  the  sea  ran  high, 
and  the  rapid  g  ists  of  wind  indicated  an  approaching  tempest. 

At  tiiree  o'clock  we  were  in  sight  of  Sundy  Island,  and  Littempted 
to  take  refuge  in  it ;  but  our  etForts  were  unavailing  ;  and  we 
then  directed  our  course  for  the  Bay  of  Tnmby,  which  we 
entered,  though  here  our  hopes  of  finding  shelter  also  proved 
abortive;  and  we  coidd  not  withstand  the  violence  of  the  wind 
and  tide.  We  were  however  near  enough  to  the  shore  to  observe 
the  inhai;i'ants  collecting  upon  it,  a:ul  expressing  their  regret  that 
they  could  not  afford  us  any  assistance.  We  had  dropped  our 
bower  anchor,  but  wc  were  under  the  ntccssity  of  cutting  the 
cable,  and  then  our  loss  seemed  inevitable.  VVe  nevertheless 
attempted  to  reach  the  Isle  of  Caldy  ;  and  for  tins  purpose  we 
kept  tacking  the  whole  of  the  night,  during  which  the  weather 
was  dreadful.  The  wind  was  W.S.W.,  and  blew  so  strong,  that 
we  could  only  let  out  the  main  and  mizcn-sail.  We  were  then  in 
tliree  fathoms  water;  l)iit,  after  tacking  on  diOeront  points,  we 
found  ourselves  at  two  o'clock  in  Langhorn  Bay,  in  only  two 
fathoms  Mater :  the  sea  was  furious,  and  every  instant  covered 
our  vessel,  v,hile  the  rain  was  violent  in  the  extreme,  so  that  it 
soon  became  impossible  to  work  the  ship ;  she  therefore  ran 
aground.  Avith  three  violent  shocks,  which  laid  her  open,  un- 
shipped the  rudder,  and  decided  our  fate. 

^V  e  now  found  ourselves  complctcl)  wrecked  :  and,  in  order 
to  li"^hten  the  vessel,  wc  cut  away  the  masts,  when  we  found  that 
she  remained  fixed  in  six  fevt  \iat;.'r,  but  was  every  instant  covered 
with  Avav:'s  of  an  enormous  size,  which  secme^l  ready  to  swallow 
her  up.  In  this  dreadful  crisis  some  fell  to  making  rafts,  others 
sciztd  on  pieces  of  wood,  and  all  endeavoured  to  avoid  that  death 
which  seemed  to  be  prepared  for  them.  At  this  period,  it  is  re- 
markable that  some  of    our  little   crew    Avere    concerned   about 


cor.RicT  i:r,i,AxioN   or  iiiiPWRFXKS.  CI 

fnfiiritj  ^''  ;  and  one  of  Ihem  being  verj  anxious  respecting  the 
fate  of  the  Negro  boy,  who  had  never  been  christened,  baptized 
him  in  my  presence  with  some  fresh  water,  and  then  held  hi^i 
fast  by  the  arms,  with  a  view  that  they  might  die  and  arrive  to- 
gether in  the  otlier  world. 

About  three  o'clock  Vac  storm  besjan  to  subside,  and  the  %vaves 
broke  with  less  violence  against  our  vessel.  We  then  perceived 
that  it  was  low  water ;  but  the  darkness  of  the  night  prevented  i;? 
from  distinguishing  Avhere  we  were,  or  ascertaining  the  place  of 
our  shipwreck  ;  nevertheless,  without  knowing  what  distance  wa 
Averc  from  land,  we  thought  it  probable  that  we  might  get  to  i(, 
and  resolved  to  make  the  attempt.  A  small  canoe  was  therefore 
let  down,  and  I  was  the  first  who  got  into  it :  JiOnger  and  the 
Lieutenant  follov.ed  me,  but  we  did  not  find  sufficient  water  to 
work  the  boat;  we  therefore  got  out  of  it,  and  walked  for  about 
an  hour  in  the  sea,  preceded  by  two  sailors,  Avho  sounded  at  every 
step,  and  served  as  guides.  After  passing  through  ditfercnt  depths 
of  water,  but  not  sufficient  to  stop  us,  we  at  length  landed,  and 
sent  back  the  two  sailors  to  inform  ot:r  companions  that  we  were 
safe,  and  invite  them  to  follow  the  route  we  had  taken. 

On  quitting  the  vessel  Ave  left  all  our  clothes,  which  might  have 
prevented  us  from  swimming,  if  necessary  :  f  had  nothing  on  but 
a  pair  of  trowscrs,  in  one  of  the  ))ockets  of  which  I  put  a  letter, 
with  my  address,  in  order  that  my  family  might  be  informed  of  my 
fate,  if  I  should  be  drowned,  and  cast  on  shore.  'J'his  was  the 
only  precaution  which  I  thought  it  neccs.iary  to  take.  We  at 
length  found  ourselves  in  an  unknown  spot,  four  in  number,  al- 
most naked,  and  without  the  means  of  subsistence. 

The  night  continued  to  be  very  dark,  and  the  rain  poured  down 
in  torrents.  We,  however,  continued  to  walk  for  two  hours, 
wifhout  knowing  whither  we  were  proceeding:  at  length  we 
reached  a  mansion,  which  we  walked  round  several  times,  but 
could  not  fmd  any  door  open,  or  a  place  that  w^e  could  obtain 
shelter  I'l,  though  we  made  noise  enough  to  be  heard,  if  the  inha- 
bitants had  not  been  in  a  sound  sleep.  At  length,  after  much 
trouble,  I  discovered  a  little  gate,  v.hich  led  into  the  court.  I 
raised  the  latch,  the  gate  opened,  and  we  found  ourselves,  with 
inexpressible  pleasure,  in  a  large  walk,  which  led  to  the  vestibule 

*  We  are  not  surprised  tliat  this  should  appear  extraordinary  to  a 
Frenchman  ;  but  in  an  English  ship  it  would  noi  h;.ve  been  thought  at  ail 
fxtraordinary. — Editor. 


6'2  CORHECT    RELATION    Of    SniIMVK.!:CK.S. 

of  the  mansion.  I  knocked  at  the  door  with  all  my  strength,  and 
we  heard  the  barking  of  dogs  inside ;  we  also  found  that  thf 
domestics  were  stiri  iug  :  they  appeared  to  be  running  to  the 
chamber  of  their  master,  doubtless  to  inform  him  that  the  house 
was  infested  by  banditti,  as  they  only  spoke  to  us  through  a 
garret  window.  They  asked  us  lirst  in  English,  and  then  in  bad 
French,  for  Avhat  reason  we  had  entered  the  park  at  such  an  hour? 
I  answered  in  a  feeble  voice,  and  lamentable  accent,  that  we  were 
unfortunate  Frenchmen,  whose  ship  had  been  wrecked,  and  that 
^  we  requested  an  asylum. 

If  that  be  the  case,  answered  the  person  who  first  spoke,  }  ou 
may  be  ea^y  ;  1  will  order  my  doors  to  be  open,  and  you  shall 
receive  all  the  assistance  that  you  may  be  in  w.ant  of. 

Soon  afterwards  the  doors  were  throv.n  open,  and  ww.  saw  in  the 
hall  all  the  servants  of  the  chateau,  aimed  with  muskets  and 
sables  :  it  seems  they  had  taken  tills  precaution,  lest  we  had 
deceived  (hem  by  our  story  ;  but  when  they  saw  us  naked,  almost 
frozen,  and  objects  of  pity  rather  than  f;.ar,  they  put  down  their 
arms,  and  paid  us  every  attenlion. 

Wc  AT  ere  at  first  conducted  into  the  kitchen,  where,  before  a 
large  fire,  we  v/armcd  our  frost-bitten  limbs.  Soon  afterwards  the 
mistress  of  the  house,  and  all  her  female  domestics,  came  and 
brought  ns  linen,  and'othcr  apparel,  which  we  divided  amongst 
each  other  as  well  as  we  could.  A  tal)le  was  then  laid  out,  and 
v/e  were  supplied  with  victnalj  and  drink  ;  which  we  devo'ircd 
with  great  eagerness,  being  almost  famished. 

After  t!ic  repast,  1  was  shown  to  a  chamber;  while  my  com^ 
panions  and  the  masttr  of  tlio  house  went  down  to  the  shoie,  to 
endeavour  to  save  something  from  the  wreck.  On  his  return,  I 
learnt  that  the  vessel  had  gone  entirely  to  pieces  at  three  o'clock. 

All  the  cr^w  were  saved  ;  but  most  of  them  had  taken  another 
direction;  ray  Cook  and  boy  lost  themselves,  and  three  days 
elapsed  before  they  found  me. 

About  noon  the  lady  of  the  mansion  sent  to  know  if  I  would 
take  some  tea  :  I  begged  to  be  served  with  it  in  my  apartment, 
but  she  insisted  that  I  should  come  down  stairs,  and  take  it  with 
her.  I  had  much  difficulty  to  bring  myself  to  accept  this  compli- 
ment, as  I  was  still  in  a  most  deplorable  condition,  and  not  fit  tu 
be  seen.  About  five  in  the  afternoon,  the  gentleman  returned 
with  several  of  his  neighbours,  and  some  of  the  crew.  They  had 
saved  very  f-j^w  things  from  the  wreck ;  but  they  restored  to  me  a 
bag,   with  about  jOO  dollars,   and  a  box  containing  my  papers. 


CORRECT    RELATION    OF    SIII  f  V.'UECICS.  0.3 

ivliich  I  got  dried  in  llie  oven.  My  boy  John  also  s:ivcd  a  bag 
■with  neaily  1200  livres  ;  a  packet  of  virgin  gold,  from  Senegal, 
which  I  sold  in  London  ibr  about  100  subicas;  an  ape,  a  ycllow 
parroquet,  and  some  ostriches'  eggs.  The  loss,  however,'  which  I 
sustained  by  this  wreck  I  shall  ever  regret,  on  account  of  the 
useful  knowledge  which  it  has  prevented  me  from  comraunifating 
to  my  country.  I  lo'^t  a  choice  collection  of  plants,  unknoun  in 
Kurope;  several  bottles  of  distilled  palm  wine  ;  some  wafer  taken 
from  th^'  Senegal,  at  Isle  St.  Louis  and  Podor  ;  several  tons  of  the' 
earth  from  the  gold  mines  at  Galam  and  Banibouk;  a  collection  of 
the  scarcest  reptiles,  birds,  and  fishes  ;  and  drawings  of  the  cos- 
tumes, arms,  equipages,  &c.  of  all  the  Jiordcs  in  this  part  of 
Africa. 

At  six  o'clock  we  sat  down  to  an  excellent  dinner,  and  remained 
a  long  time  at  table.  The  repast  terminated  in  the  Knglijih 
manner;  that  is,  we  swallowed  bumpers  of  wine  till  wo  were  all 
drunk.  The  next  day  our  host  conducted  me  to  Carmarthen, 
where  I  purchased  a  new  wardrobe,  and  equipped  mj'Stlf  from 
head  to  foot. 

This  day  we  received  an  express  from  the  Merchants  of  London  ; 
who,  having  heard  of  our  shipwreck,  sent  to  offer  us  their  ser- 
vices. We  were  grateful  for  their  attention;  but,  situated  as  we 
were,  we  could  only  thank  them,  and  answer  that  we  wanted  for 
nothing.  I  shall  always  regret  that  1  lost  the  letter  from  these 
obliging  Merchants,  m  horn  we  afterwards  saw  at  London,  where 
they  treated  u9  in  a  magnificent  style.  I  should  have  had  the 
greatest  pleasure  in  making  known  to  my  countrymen  the  names 
of  these  liberal  gentlemen,  so  respectable  for  their  humanity  and 
the  nobleness  of  their  sentiments  ;  but  being  deprived  of  the  means, 
I  must  content  myself  Avith  speaking  of  their  countryman,  whose 
care  saved  me  from  misery  and  death. 

The  name  of  this  generous  Engli!^hman  was  Henry  Trolhpc ; 
he  "vvas  a  native  of  Norwich  ;  was  then  30  years  of  age,  and  was  a. 
Captain  in  the  Navy.  His  Lady  was  Iiand.>onie,  modest,  and  of 
the  gentlest  manner  ;  was  a  Jiative  of  London,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Fanny  Best ;  she  was  tlien  about  ^'2  years  old.  They  had  no 
cliildren  ;  a  circumstance  whicli  they  felt  severely,  as  they  were 
both  very  anxious  to  have  a  young  family.  1  hope  for  the  hajipi- 
ness  of  themselves,  and  of  the  human  race,  that  their  wishes  iiavc 
been  fuUilled.  Mrs.  Trollcpe,  when  a  girl,  had  been  educated  at 
Brussels,  so  that  she,  as  well  as  her  husband,  spoke  French 
sufliciently  well   to   be  uiidcrstood.      I    mu'-t  here  add,    th«t   the 


6i  CORRECT    RELATIOri    OE    SHIPWRECKS. 

atiachment   of  this  amiable  woman   towards   her  husband^  had 
induced  her  to  accompany  him  in  all  his  voyages. 

They  iiihabited  VV'estmead  Castle,  about  three  miles  from  Lang* 
horu,  in  Wales,  the  place  of  our  shipwreck.  It  stands  in  » 
delightful  situation,  is  well  built,  and  its  architecture  possesses  a 
noble  simplicity.  Its  internal  arrangements  are  well  adapted  ;  the 
park  is  large  and  well  planted,  and  the  gardens  are  judiciously 
laid  out.  At  the  time  I  was  wrecked  Captain  Trollope  had  taken 
a  lease  of  it  from  Lord  Montalt,  of  which  three  years  bud 
expired. 

During  our  stay  at  the  Castle,  the  liberal  inhabitants  incessantly 
endeavoured  to  dispel  from  our  minds  the  remembrance  of  our 
misfortune ;  and  every  day  was  distinguished  by  some  new 
festivity  :  hunting,  fishing,  gaming,  and  feasting,  succeeded  each 
other  without  interruption  ;  and  the  only  care  seemed  to  be  how 
fresh  pleasure  could  be  procured.  Oh  !  Mrs.  Trollope,  worthy 
and  affectionate  Avife  of  the  most  humane  of  men,  I  feel  the  most 
lively  emotion  In  thus  bearing  testimony  to  the  gratitude  which  I 
owe  you,  and  which  will  never  be  effaced  from  my  heart! 

On  the  24th  of  September,  in  the  afternoon,  Captain  Trollope 
proposed  to  me  a  hunting  party  ;  but  I  preferred  keeping  com- 
pany with  his  wife,  and  he  left  me  alone  with  her.  We  Avere 
walking  in  the  park,  when  we  observed  at  a  distance  a  huntsman 
riding  at  full  gallop  ]  he  passed  by  us  without  stopping  at  the 
Castle. 

^Irs.  Trollope  was  alarmed,  and  said  to  me,  "  some  accident 
has  happened  to  my  husband."  We  soon  learned  that  his  horse 
had  fallen,  and  rolled  on  him,  by  which  he  was  dangerously 
hurt;  and  the  messenger  who  passed  us,  was  riding  to  fetch  a 
Surgeon.  It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  distraction  of  his  Lady, 
and  our  own  consternation,  Avhen  we  saw  Captain  Trollope 
brought  home  upon  a  lit!,er  :  he  was  taken  to  his  chamber, 
followed  by  his  w  ii'e,  who  made  the  most  pitiable  lamentations  : 
he,  however,  turned  towards  her,  and  said,  with  much  unconcern, 
•■'  Fanny,  be  quiet,  wipe  away  your  tears,  and  cease  crying." 

On  the  arrival  of  the  Surgeon,  our  fears  were  dispelled,  as  he 
assured  us  that  (he  accident  would  not  be  attended  with  any  bad 
consequences.  In  short,  by  proper  medical  attention,  the  Captain 
was  in  a  few  days  restored,  and  we  were  enabled  to  resume  our 
ordinar)'  exercises  and  amusements. 

After  passing  eighteen  days  in  this  delightful  abode,  without 
boing  suffered  to  incur  the  least  cxpeesc,  wc  embarked  for  Brii- 


NAVAL    LITERATCRE.  65 

tol,  at  the  very  place  of  our  shipwreck.  Our  separation  cost  tears 
on  both  sides  ;  I  left  my  ape  with  Mrs.  Troliope,  together  Avith 
■whatever  I  had  iaved  from  the  wreck,  that  was  worth  her  accep- 
tance. My  paroquet  was  unique  of  its  kind  ;  it  spoke  well,  and 
•was  the  only  one  of  a  yellow  colour  that  I  ever  saw  even  at 
Senegal,  -where  I  obtained  it.  It  came  to  a  miserable  end,  having 
been  caught  and  devoured  by  the  cats.  Mrs.  Troliope  was  incon- 
solable at  the  event,  and  spoke  of  it  every  day. 

The  generous  Captain  was  not  satisfied  with  the  kind  reception 
that  ho  had  given  us  at  his  mansion,  but  wished  to  serve  us  after 
our  separation.  He  therefore  gave  lis  letters  of  recommendation 
to  Bristol,  Bath,  and  London  ;  in  consequence  of  which  we  were 
every  where  received  with  the  highest  respect. 


NAVx\L  LITERATURE. 

A  VoTjage  to  Senegal;  or,IIi-forical,  Philosophical,  a?i(l  Poli~ 
iical  Memoirs,  relative  to  the  Discoveries,  Establishments,  and 
Commerce  of  Europeans  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  from  Cape 
Blanco  to  the  River  of  Sierrc  Leone.  To  zi'hich  is  added,  an 
Account  of  a  Joumeif  from  Lie  St.  L^oiiis  to  Gulam.  llif 
J.  P.  L.  Dl'rani),  forvierlij  Governor  of  Lie  St.  Louis. 
Translated  from  the  French,  and  embellished  zcith  numerous 
Engravings.     1  vol.  8vo.   1806. 

A  LTHCUGH  this  work  has  not  long  been  published,  some 
of  the  occurrences  which  it  records  took  plucc  as  far  back 
as  the  year  1786.  IVom  the  Preface,  we  learn  that  its  author, 
M.  Durand,  was  formerly  employed  in  the  naval  department  of 
the  French  Government ;  that  he  was  appointed,  by  the  Mar- 
shal de  Castrecs,  princiiuil  director  of  the  Company  at  Isle  St. 
Louis;  aud  that  he  arrived  at  his  destinatltm  in  A])ril  178(i, 
where  he  rensamtd  several  years.  His  reuturks,  as  mav  be 
inferred  from  the  title-page  of  his  book,  relate  more  to  com- 
nierciiil,  and  political,  than  to  nautical  aftairs.  From  the  po>t 
which  he  held,  every  species  of  iiiformation,  of  this  nature,  was, 
of  course,  within  his  grasp  ;  and,  consequently,  his  performance 
exhibits  a  considerable  portion  of  useful  intelligence,  rehitlve  to 
the  topics  on  which  he  treats.  But,  as  his  tranihuor  justiy 
f5ali.  (JTfjrom  (aoi;X\JI.  k. 


ffS  NAVAL    LITF.RATURE* 

observes,  his  spirit  and  motives  are  throngliout  sufficiently 
evident :  bis  objccjt  is  to  promote  tbe  ambitious  views  of  his 
countrymenj  at  t?Te  expense  of  every  other  nation. 

The  most  vakiable  pieee  of  nautical  information,  which  this 
vohune  contains,  is  the  following  account  of  the  bar  of  the 
Senegal,  and  of  the  mode  of  passing  it  : — 

The  bar  of  the  Senegal,  says  M.  Durand,  is  situated  in  about 
lb°  bo'  lat.,  and  18°  51'  30"  long.  ;  it  is  a  bank  of  moving  sand, 
formed  at  tbe  month  of  (he  rirer,  by  the  mud  and  sand  which  it 
conveys  in  its  course  (o  the  Si'a,  and  Avhich  the  latter  repels 
incessantly  towards  the  coast.  The  river,  in  consequence  of  its 
mass  of  water,  and  X\\\i  violence  of  its  current,  has  made  outlets 
here,  vrhich  are  c*a!led  Hie  jjasses  of  the  bar,  and  are  distinguished 
bv  the  appellation  of  Great  and  Small.  To  enter  them  is  very 
difficult,  and  even  dangerous. 

The  great  pass  is  generally  about  a  hundred  fathoms  wide,  and 
eight  or  nine  feet  deep ;  and  at  all  times  the  only  shi])s  that  can 
pass  itj  are  those  that  draw  seven  or  eight  feet  of  water.  The 
waves  are  so  short  and  strong,  that  they  breaic  with  a  terrible 
violence  ;  and  this  passage  often  proves  an  end  to  the  most 
favourable  navigation.  The  small  pass  is  so  narrow  and  shallow, 
that  none  but  canoes  or  small  boats  can  'get  through  it. 

The  large  opening  cannot  be  passed  without  an  expert  Pilot, 
who  is  in  the  habit  oi"  visiting  it  every  day,  to  know  exactly  its 
state  and  depth;  both  of  which  arc  iuiCirtain,  as  they  vary 
according  to  circumstances  All,  therefore,  that  is  known,  is  the 
extent  and  rapitlity  of  the  iloods  ;  but  the  sudden  variations  in 
qucsti&n  must  doubtless  be  attributed  to  the  double  action  of  the 
river  and  the  sea. 

l"he  Pilot  who  is  eng.i-ged  to  conduct  ships  over  the  bar  has  a 
large  boat  with  a  deck,  and  a  crew  of  negroes,  who  have  no 
cloatiiing  but  a  baud  of  lii>eu,  about  six  inches  broad,  which  passes 
between  their  thighs  :  they  are  all  strongly  made  people,  and 
excellent  swimmers.  Dnt  notwithstanding  their  knowledge  and 
activity,  the  boat  and  its  crew  often  perish  :  tliey,  however,  more 
frecpiently  escape  the  destruction  wliich  threatens  them,  and  often 
exert  themselves  for  the  safety  of  strangers.  Ibit  woe  be  to  the 
rash  seamen  who  migiit  dare  to  attempt  without  their  assistance 
the  passage  of  the  bar,  ;.;  they  would  infallibly  perish.  Fortu- 
nately- this  passage  docs  not  last  longer  than  a  quar'er  of  an  hour  ; 


NATAT.    LITrnATrRE.  6f 

but  it  inspires  so  much  dread,  that  the  length  of  lime  sooius 
insupportable.  The  fust  por>ons  who  passwl  tliis  bar  niuht  have 
ibocn  intrepid  sailors. 

When  this  passage  is  cfu'cted,  its  horrors  are  snccei-vlod  hy  a 
calm,  as  the  course  of  the  river-  -Jicn  becomes  as  smooth  and 
gentle,  as  its  entrance  was  shocking  and  dithcnlt. 

It  is  from  twenty  to  twciity-fivc  feet  deep,  and  of  a  considerable 
Hvidth.  The  exhausted  rowers  Ihan  take  breath,  drink  brar.dy, 
and  dance  and  rejoice  at  their  success:  they  of  course  always 
receive  a  recompcnee.  When  I  entered,  I  gave  them  a  louis  d'or, 
with  which  they  w«rc  so  highly  satisfied,  that  they  were  a  long 
time  singing  my  generosity,  aiiu  afterwards  did  me  great  iionour  in 
the  colony. 

In  a  foriBcr  part  of  ojir  Chronicle*,  we  reviewed  the  woik  of 
M.  Oiolberry,  another  French  aiiti'.or;  who,  for  the  purpose  of 
acquiring  information  respecting  the  interior  of  the  western 
continent  of  AlVica,  accompanied  M.  Boufflers,  the  Governor 
of  the  Senegal,  through  the  whole  extent  of  tliat  district.  From 
M.  Golberry's  book,  we  extracted  some  higlily  uselul  j)as3ages, 
relative  to  the  road,  the  bar,  and  the  mouth  of  the  Senegal ; 
together  with  a  plan  for  the  construction  of  a  boat,  for  passing 
the  bar  with  comparative  safety.  IM.  Golberry  was  in  these 
parts  much  about  the  same  time  as  M.  Durand;  his  means  of 
obtaining  knowledge  wt*e  in  most  cases  equally  good;  and, 
upon  the  whole,  we  have  no  hesitation  in  saying,  that  the  pub- 
lication of  the  former  ranks  much  higher  than  that  of  ihH 
litter. 


'I'hc  heart's  remote  recesses  to  explore. 

And  touch  its  Springs,  \^lieu  Prose  avail'd  no  more, 

iALCONEn. 


ODE  FOR  THE  NEW  YEAR,  1807. 

Bij  Hlnhy  Jami:s  Pvr,  Esq,  Poet  Laurent. 

II E\  loud  and  drear  tiio  tempests  roar, 
\-\'hin  high  the  billowy  mountains  rise, 
And  headlong  'gamst  tiic  rocky  shore, 

Driven  by  the  blast,  the  giddy  vessel  flics  ; 

*  Vide  iSiAVAL  Chronicle,  VoJ.  X,  jMge  227,  et  scq. 


08  NAVAL  ror.TRY. 

Unguided,  by  the  wild  waves  borne, 

Her  rudder  broke,  her  tackling  torn  ; 

Say,  does  the  seaman's  daring  mind 
Shrink  from  the  angry  frown  of  fate; 

Does  he,  to  abject  fear  resign'd, 

Th'  impending  stroke  in  silence  wait? 

No — wliile  he  pours  the  fervent  prayer 

To  Him  whose  will  can  punish  or  can  spare^ 

Cool  and  intrepid  'mid  the  sound 

Of  w  inds  and  waves  that  rage  around, 

The  powers  that  skill  and  strength  impart, 

The  nervous  arm,  th'  undaunted  heart, 
Collecting — firm  he  fronts  the  threat'ning  storm, 
And  braves,  with  fearless  breast,  fell  Death's  terrific  form 

So,  though  around  our  sca-cncircled  rcignj 
The  dreadful  tempest  seems  to  lower; 

Dismay 'd  do  Britain's  hardy  train, 
Await  in  doubt  the  threafning  hour  ? 

Lo  !  to  his  sons,  w  ith  cheering  voice, 

Albion's  bold  Genius  calls  around  : 

Around  him  valiant  myriads  crowd, 

Or  death  or  victory  their  choice: 

From  ev'ry  port  astonish'd  Europe  sees 

Britannia's  white  sails  swelling  with  the  breeze  ; 

Not  her  imperial  barks  alone 

Awe  the  proud  foe  on  ev'ry  side. 

Commerce  her  vessels  launches  on  the  tide. 

And  her  indignant  sons  awhile 

Seceding  from  their  wonted  toil, 

Turn  from  the  arts  of  peace  their  care, 

Hurl  from  each  deck  the  bolts  of  war, 
To  sweep  th'  injurious  boasters  from  the  main. 
Who  dare  to  circumscribe  Britannia's  naval  reign. 

And  see  with  emulative  zeal 

Our  hosts  congenial  ardour  feel ! 

The  ardent  spirit,  that  of  yore 

Flara'd  high  on  Gallia's  vanquish'd  shore  ; 
Or  burn'd  by  Danube's  distant  flood  ; 
When  flow'd  his  current  ting'd  with  Gallic  blood; 
Or  shone  on  Lincelle's  later  fight ; 
Or  fir'd  by  Acre's  tow'rs  the  Christian's  Knight : 


NAVAL    POETRY.  6ft 

Or  tauglit  on  Maidii's  funds  the  Gaul  to  feel, 

Urg'd  by  the  Briton's  arm,  the  Britiih  steel ; 
Now  in  each  breast  with  heat  redoubled  glows, 
And  gleams  dismay  and  death  on  Europe's  ruthless  foes 

Not  to  Ambition's  specious  charm, 

Not  to  th'  ensanguin'd  despot's  hand, 
Is  conquest  bound — a  mightier  Arm 

Than  Earth's  proud  tyrants  can  withstand. 
The  balance  holds  of  human  fale, 
Raises  the  low,  and  siaks  the  great. 
Exerting  then  in  Europe's  cause, 
Each  energy  of  arm  and  mind. 
All  that  from  force  or  skill  the  warrior  draAVSj 

Yet  to  th'  Almighty  Pow'r  rcsign'd. 
Whose  high  behest  all  Nature's  movements  guide?, 
Controls  the  battle's,  and  the  ocean's  tides ; 
Britain  still  hopes  that  Heav'n  her  vows  will  hear. 
While  Mercy  rears  her  shield,  and  Justice  points  her  spear. 


Mxiract  from  an  Ode  on  B.vmborough  Castlk,  from  Poems  bjf 
the  Jier.  George  Richards.  1S04. 

A  T  solemn  midnight,  when  the  bark  shall  ride, 
■■^^  With  streaming  pendants  o'er  the  peaceful  tide  ; 
When  trembling  moon-beam<!  play  along  the  brine, 
And  Stars  round  all  the  glowing  Welkin  shine; 
When,  silettt  borne  along,  the  whitening  sails 
Swell  with  the  summer's  gently-breathing  gales; 
The  Pilot,  listening  to  the  wave  belo^V, 
Which  hoarsely  breaks  against  the  passing  prow. 
Shall  thoughtful  turn,  where  dimly  to  his  eyes 
Through  the  pale  night  these  mcllow'd  Turrets  rise; 
And  as  he  muses  on  some  friend  most  dear, 
Rais'd  by  thy  mercy  *  from  a  watery  bier. 
Swelling  at  heart,  shall  o'er  the  tranquil  wave 
Give  thee  a  sigh,  and  bless  thy  hallow'd  grave. 


*  For  an  account  of  this  charilaMe  Institution  for  Shipwrecked  !\Iariners,  sue 
Naval  Chronicle,  and  Clarke's  Kaufra^'ut,6r  HUtorical  Memoirs  of  Shipwrcch^ 
lately  published. 


CimOXOLOClCAL  SKETCH 

OF    THE 

MOST  REMARKADLE  NAVAL  EVENTS 

OF  THE  YEAR  1806. 

JANUARY. 

9.  ^HE  remains  of  Lord  Nelson,  which  were  on  the  8th  removed  from 
Greenwich  College  by  water  to  the  Admiralty,  were  tiiis  d  'y  con- 
veyed in  grand  funeral  prucessiun  to  St.  Pauls  Cathedral,  and  there  so- 
lemnly interred. 

13.  Accounts  received  of  the  loss  of  the  Orquiso  sloop  of  war,  on  the  7th 
of  November,  off  Port  Antonio,  having  on  board  1S6  persons,  of  whom  101 
perished. 

15.  In  consequence  of  the  changes  which  took  place  in  administration 
after  the  death  of  Mr.  Pitt,  the  lion.  C.  Gray,  now  Lord  Ilowick,  succeed- 
ed Lord  Barham,  as  first  Lord  of  the  Admiralty. 

FEBRUARY. 

6.  Admiral  Duclvworth  captured  and  destroyed  five  French  sail  of  the 
line  in  the  Bay  of  St.  Domingo ;  an  84  pun  ship,  and  two  74's  taken — a 
three  decker  and  74  driven  on  shore,  and  burnt. 

27.  Advices  received  at  the  Admiralty  of  the  arrival  of  the  expedition 
under  Sir  Home  Popham  and  Sir  David  Baird  at  the  Cape  of  Good  IIopo, 
and  of  the  surrender  of  Cape  Town,  on  the  lOth  of  January. 

INLVRCIL 

4.  The  Volontaire  French  fiigate  taken  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  Into 
v.'hich  she  put,  supposins:  the  j>lace  to  he  in  the  possession  of  the  Dutch.— 
This  frigate  was  supposed  to  belong  to  the  squadron  of  Admiral  Guillaumez 
jind  Jerome  Buonaparte,  which  had  sailed  from  Brest  in  December. 

13.  Capture  of  the  Marengo,  of  80  guns,  Rear- Admiral  Linois,  and  the 
Belle  Poule,  of  40  guns,  on  tlieir  return  from  India,  (where  they  had  com- 
mitted great  depredations,)  by  the  squadron  under  the  command  of  Sir 
John  Borlase  Warren. 

27.  The  Revanche,  le  Guerricr,  and  la  Syrene,  three  French  frigates, 
escaped  from  I'Orient,  intending,  it  was  said,  to  cruise  on  the  coast  of 
Africa,  aqd  afterwards  to  run  down  to  tlie  \^'est  Indies. 

AI'RIL. 

5.  A  rupture  with  Prussia  announced  in  the  Gazette  of  this  day,  by  an 
order  of  Council,  laving  aii  embargo  on  Prussian  vessels,  in  consequence 
of  his  Prussian  Majesty  having  taken  possession  of  the  Electorate  of  Han- 
over, &c. 

16.  General  Miranda  (who  had  sailed  from  New  York)  about  this  time 
arrived  on  the  Spanish  Main,  with  a  small  squadron,  mann(?d  by  volunteers, 
who  accompanied  him  tor  tlie  purpose  of  emancipating  tiie  Caraccas  from 
the  Spanish  yoke.  He  desi:;ned  first  to  land  in  the  province  of  Coro,  but 
en  approaching  the  shore  tuo  of  his  schooners  were  captured  by  the  Sprv- 
r.iards,  and  this  first  attempt  failed. 


CHRONOLOGICAL    SKETCH    OF    NAVAL    EVEXTS.  71 

^1.    Message  from  His  Majesty  to  Parliament,  announcing  tlie  recall  of 
Lis  Miuiater  from  Berlin,  and  ihe  adoption  of  measures  of  rctalliation 
against  the  navigation  and  com  raerce  of  Prussia. 

25.  His  Swedish  Majesty  laid  <tn  embargo  on  all  Prussian  ships  in  the 
harbours  of  his  dominions,  and  ordered  the  blockade  of  the  Prussian  ports 
by  Snedibh  frigates. 

—  A  shot  fired  from  His  Majesty's  ship  Leander,  stationed  off  Sandy 
Hook,  killed  a  man  on  board  an  American  \\ooi),  called  '.he  Richard.  This 
afTair  caused  great  clamour  in  the  United  Scit^s  against  the  liritish  Com- 
manders on  that  coast.  The  Grand  Jury  of  <ew  York  fomid  a  bill  for 
niurder  against  C'ai)ta'n  Wlntby,  of  tlie  Leander;  and  the  Prcaident,  Mr. 
Jeft'erson,  issued  a  [jroclamation  for  his  apijrehension. 

'  23.  The  Proceedings  on  the  Impeachment  of  Lord  Melville  coininenccd 
before  the  High  Court  of  Parliament  in  Westminster  Hall. 

MAY. 

12.  A  message  from  His  Majesty  to  the  House  of  Commons  recommend- 
ed, that  provision  be  made  for  securing  an  annuity  of  oOOOl.  to  the  present- 
Earl  Nelson,  and  to  those  to  whom  the  title  may  descend  ;  and  to  provide 
the  sum  oi  120,0001.  for  the  purchase  of  a  house  and  lands,  to  be  aiuicxed 
to  the  said  dignity. 

—  The  ialand  of  Capri  taken  by  Sir  Sidney  Smith.  At  the  same  time 
debarkations  were  made  from  the  ships  under  hi-  command,  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Gaeta,  to  co-operate  with  the  forces  from  that  garrison,  so 
bravely  defciidcd  by  the  Prince  of  Hesse  Philiipsthal. 

14.  In  the  House  of  Commons,  Mr.  JetTery  of  Poole  brought  forward 
several  ciiargcs  against  Earl  St.  Vincent,  which  were  rejected,  by  the  itso- 
lutions  grounded  thereon  beinsi  negatived  without  a  division.  Mr.  To.x. 
then  moved  a  resolution,  apprcn  ing  the  conduct  of  the  Noble  Earl,  which, 
after  some  discussion,  was  carried. 

JUNE. 

10.  On  the  motion  of  Mr.  Fox,  a  resolution  to  the  following  elTect  wa=; 
adopted  by  the  House  of  Commons,  viz.  "  That  this  House,  conceiv  n^  the 
African  Slave  'I'rade  to  be  contrary  to  the  principles  of  justice,  iiu.ianirv, 
and  sound  policy,  will,  with  all  expedition,  take  effoctnal  measures  for 
ab(;lisliin2;  the  said  trade,  in  such  manner,  and  at  such  period,  as  may  be 
deemed  most  practicable. 

12,  Lord  Melville's  trial  terminated,  his  Lordship  being  acquitted  iiv 
the  Peers  of  the  several  Articles  of  Impeachment  exhibited  against  him  by 
the  Connnons. 

21.  On  the  motion  of  Lord  Grcnville,  the  House  of  Peers  concurred  in 
the  resolution  of  the  Commons,  moved  by  Mr.  Fo.x,  for  the  Abolition  of  the 
Slave  Trade. 

29.  The  French  squadron,  commanded  by  Admiral  Ouillauinez,  includ- 
ing Buonaparte's  ship  tiie  \eteran,  arrived  m  divisions  at  Martinique,  on 
four  dilTercut  days  preceding  this  date. 

JULY. 

1.  The  French  squadron,  to  which  Jerome  Buonaparte  belonged,  sailed 
from  Martinique.  Un  the  Cith,  Admiral  Cochrane  came  in  biglit  <jf  the  ene- 
my, olf  St,  Thomas's,  but  the  enemy  stood  to  the  westward^  and  the  very  in. 


72  CHRONOLOGICAL    SKETCH    OF    NAVAL   ETF.NT3, 

ferior  force  of  Admiral  Cochrane  not  permitting  him  to  pursue  them,  no 
action  took  place. 

13.  Surrender  of  Gaeta  to  the  French  army,  the  Prince  of  Hesse  Philips- 
thai  having  been  previously  wounded,  and  carried  on  board  a  British  frigate. 

19.  Le  Guerrier  French  frigate,  of  50  gunS,  and  3J7  men,  captured  by 
the  Blanche  frigate  off  the  Ferroe  Islands,  after  an  action  of  45  minutes. 

28.  Surrender  of  Buenos  Ayres  and  its  dependencies  to  His  Majesty's 
forces  under  the  command  of  Major-General  Bercbford  and  Sir  Home 
Pop  ham. 

—  Le  Rhin,  French  frigate,  captured  by  the  Mars,  Capt.  Oliver,  being 
one  of  four  frigates  returning  from  Porto  Rico  to  France. 

AUGUST. 

2.  Departure  of  Lord  Lauderdale  for  Paris,  to  conduct  the  Negotiation 
commenced  with  the  Frencli  Government. 

16.  Six  of  the  homeward-bound  Quebec  convoy  captured  by  Jerome 
E:iouaparte,  m  the  Veteran,  uu  his  return  to  France. 

23.  BrlUiant  naval  achievement  by  His  Alajesty's  ships  Arethusa  and 
Auson,  in  an  attack  on  the  enemy  near  Moro  Castle,  in  the  island  of  Cuba } 
the  Spanish  frigate  Pomona,  of  38  guns  and  ^47  men,  being  captured; 
twelve  24-pounder  gun-boats  destroyed,  each  of  which  had  a  crew  of  100 
men;  and  the  fort,  mounting  sixteen  36-pounders,  blown  up. 

25.  Jerome  Buonaparte  having  separated  from  Gilleaumez's  squadron, 
escaped  from  the  British  crui/ers, ,  which  pursued  him,  and  arrived  at  Con- 
carneau  Bay,  near  FOrient. 

SEPTEMBER. 

f).  A  tremendous  hurricane  at  Dominica  and  Martinique,  by  which  great 
damage  was  done  to  those  islands,  and  many  of  the  inhabitants  were  de- 
stroyed. 

14.  Part  of  the  French  squadron,  commanded  by  Gilleaumcz,  (after 
Jerome  Buonaparte's  ship  separated  from  it,)  having  sustained  great  damage 
in  a  gale  of  wind,  took  shelter  in  the  Chesapeak,  where  I'lmpetueux,  74 
guns,  was  destroyed  by  the  Bellona  and  Belleisle,  two  of  Sir  R.  Strachan's 
Sfjuadron. 

15.  Loss  of  the  King  George  packet,  bound  from  Parkgate  to  Dublin, 
with  all  the  passengers  and  crew,  amounting  to  106  persons ;  four  seamen, 
one  woman,  and  a  child,  excepted. 

So.  Sir  Samuel  Hood,  having  under  his  command  the  Centaur  and  Mo- 
narch, fell  in  with  a  French  squadron,  consisting  of  five  frigates  and  two 
brigs,  which  had  just  escaped  from  Rochfort.  Sir  Samuel  lost  his  right 
arm  in  the  action,  and  four  of  the  frigates  were  captured. 

OCTOBER. 

8.  A  telegraphic  message,  announcing  the  return  of  Lord  Lauderdale, 
.sent  by  Lord  Ilowick  to  the  Lord  Mayor,  and  by  the  latter  to  Lloyd's  CotFce- 
house,  where  the  intelligence  was  received  with  three  cheers. 

—  Amongst  the  changes  in  Administration  which  took  place  in  conse- 
quence of  the  death  of  Mr.  Fox,  Lord  Howick  was  appointed  Secretary  of 
State  f(ir  Foreign  Affairs,  and  Mr.  T.  Grcuville  succeeded  his  Lordship  at 
tile  Admiralty. 


CIIROVOI.OOICAL    SKF.TCIf    OI"    N'AVAL    rvr.MTS.  73 

12.  Lord  T/uifk-rdulc  Inndod  at  Deal,  on  his  return  from  Ta-is,  in  con- 
■scqiiciice  ot'the  rupture  of  tlie  Nciiociiition  Inr  I'eace. 

14.  Loss  of  His  Majcstv's  frigate  Constance,  Captain  i>urro\vrs,  ofTSf. 
jNIalocs,  in  consorpuj'.u.e  of  a  j;al'ant  C(iler[)ri/.c.  'iliu  I  oii'^Lancf  hii\  uig 
j)urSMcd  tlie  Irench  t'rii:;ato  Sulamauder  under  tlie  I'rcncli  Ijaticrics,  luaiii- 
taincfl  a  Jons;  and  viconnis  ac-ti<jn  witli  tliem,  tlie  ciieiny''»  i?lii|)S,  and  gun- 
beats.  Tlic  Salamander  wasiriptured,  and  bronwlit  olf,  hut  sunk  after  talk- 
ing out  licr  crew ;  aftr'r  wliicli  the  Constanee  drifted  oii  sliori',  luid  \.as 
taken  posbessiou  of  bj  tlu;  enemy.  Captain  Jjuriuwes  and  a  sj^reat  part  uf 
the 'Crevv  kiiled. 

20.  Loss  of  His  IMajcstv's  shij)  lljo  Atlionieiuie,  with  Captain  llajn'-ford, 
and  1517  of  tlic  crew,  on  a  ridL;c  of  locks  in  the  .MedinTr.iiicaii. 

Q'i.  IIis  Alajcsty's  Declaration  on  the  ruptiu'e  ol' ilic  NegoLJatinn  ujth. 
IVance,  puhlisiicd  in  the  J^mdon  <ia/(  ttr. 

.11.  General  Miranda  arrived  at  l^arhndoc^,  havin:;  left  the  small  foicc 
with  uhich  he  hiid  made  an  inisnece'^ful  a'tia-.i'i  on  ilie  (.ai  areas  at  .Ariiba, 
^vhenrc  his  troops  afterwards  reino\eil  to  [V  iiidad. 

—  Aliont  this  time,  faccordins  to  iTports  in  tie  American  Papi'rs,)  a 
revolution  took  place  in  the  (iovermn;»iit  of  llnvii,  or  St.  Domingo,  the  hlnck 
EmjuM'or  D/:s:5alines  bciiij;  kilk-J.,  and  Christopii!:  elected  to  supply  Lis  place. 

nove:.iber. 

1'3.  General  Crauford  sailed  from  Falmnnth  on  an  important  expedition, 
Lavinir  under  his  ctmimand  a  military  force  of  hctwten  5  and  (iOOO  men. 
Destination  supp(jscd  to  he  South  America. 

1?.  An  Armistice  concluded  hetween  the  French  and  rrussian  armies, 
and  sii^ned  by  Duroc  on  tl)e  one  part,  and  i\l,  J.ucciic-im  and  (ieneral 
Zastrovv  on  the  other.  This  Armisticv  his  T'rvs>iau  iMajesty  afterwards 
refused  to  ratify,  and  no  cassation  of  liostilitjes  took  place. 

19.  Comnjodorc  Sir  Samuel  Hood  was  Returned,  a>  one  of  the  Meuihers 
of  Parliament  for  Westminster. 

—  Hamburi^h  occupied  by  a  detachment  of  French  troops,  under  the 
coiriiaand  of  General  iMortier;  all  the  En<i;lish  property  found  there  conlis- 
catcfJ,  and  the  Dritish  merchants  put  under  arr^^sf. 

21.  Lord  Hut-hinson  embarked  at  Yarmouth  for  the  Continent,  in  order 
to  proceed  on  a  mission  to  the  head-rpiarters  of  the  united  Prussian  and 
Knssian  army. 

—  A  frantic  Decree  published  by  Puonapiu-tt',  from  the  hca;!  quarters 
of  his  army  at  Hta-lin,  declarinj;  t!ie  Uritis!)  Isles  in  u  siate  of  blockade, 
prohibiting  all  trade  :jnd  connuimication  with  this  country,  i.Vc, 

DFCF'JCFPv. 

2.  A  Decree  i'^sncd  by  Kins:  Louis,  in  Ifol'and.  for  enibrcin^;  Ijiiona- 
parle's  pri'tended  lilockade  of  the  I'uitisli  i>lcs,  throughout  all  the  <ountiics 
uccupied  by  the  Onlcli  troops. 

2'^.  The  !'a|)crs  iclative  to  the  late  Xe'j;nii;uion  with  France  |)re^enlcJ  to 
the  lloi'.st  of  l.ordi  by  Lord  (irenville,  and  to  the  House  oi' <,  'jui.ijoua  by 
Lo)-d  llowick. 


74 


NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1806-7. 
(December — January. ) 
RETROSPECTIVE  AND  MISCELLANEOUS. 

npHE  recapture  of  Buenos  Ayres,  after  the  repeated  reports  that  have  pre- 
■^  vailed,  and  been  contradicted,  prove  at  last  to  be  true.  It  however 
seems  probable  thai  it  may  again  revert  into  our  hands.  For  the  par- 
ticulars, we  refer  our  Headers  to  the  official  account,  which  we  have 
given  in   our  Let  Zeis  on  Senitce. 

The  very  interestinL^  Letter  which  we  have  received  respecting  the 
proceedin2;s  of  Connriodorc  Keates'  squadron  off  Rochhirt,  is  given  in  a 
preceding  page.  Commodore  Keates.is  one  of  tlic  first  officers  in  our  ser- 
vice^  and  was  considered  as  such  by  our  immortal  Nelson. 

Respecting  the  force  cf  the  enemy  in  Bourdeaux,  an  ofi^cer  of  His 
I\Iajesly's  ship  Imperieusc,  Lord  Cochrane,  in  a  letter  dated  December  31, 
&ays,  "  There  are  ti\  c  sail  of  the  line  (one  three-decker),  three  frigates,  and 
three  brig=,  ready  for  sea.  Wliere  the  sliip  cannot  go,  our  boats  do  :  so  that 
w'c  are  sometimes  amused  by  going  within  half  a  mile  of  the  French  squad- 
ron, and  ai-e  chased  off  by  their  boats." 

The  di.>trcss  under  which  the  British  seamen  suffer  in  France  is  excCisive. 
The  scanty  pittance  allowed  each  man  daily  consisted  of  a  small  square 
piece  of  bullock's  liver,  a  slice  of  black  bread,  and  a  glass  of  new  brandy- 
Had  it  not  been  for  the  relief  they  received  from  the  Patriotic  Fund,  for^ 
wardfcd  to  them  through  a  private  channel,  many  of  them  must  have 
perished  from  want.  The  object  of  the  French,  in  treating  our  seamen 
with  sucl)  inhumanity  in  this  respect,  was  with  the  viev/  of  making  them 
dissatisfied  with  their  Government,  by  inducing  a  belief  that  they  were 
neglected  by  it,  and  in  order  to  tempt  them  to  enter  into  the  French  service. 
IVumerous  were  the  offers  made  to  them  for  that  purpose,  which,  to  the 
lionour  of  our  brave,  but  unfortunate  tars,  were  rejected  with  contempt  and 
indignation.  They  resolved  to  perish,  rather  than  prove  traitors  to  their 
country. 

The  Revenge  of  74  gnns,  Sir  J.  Gore  came  into  Portsmouth  harbour  on 
the  8th  of  January,  from  off  Rochfort,  where  she  had  been  five  months. 

There  was  lately  driven  into  the  bay  of  Donbcg,  in  the  county  of  Clare, 
the  deck  of  a  large  vessel,  to  wliicli  were  fastened  by  ropes  five  dead  bodies. 
It  is  supposed  the  unfortunate  ssiilors  had  lashed  themselves  to  the  rings  of 
the  deck,  during  one  of  the  late  tremendous  storms,  and  the  ship  encoun- 
tering a  very  heavy  sea,  was  dashed  to  pieces. 

The  Directors  of  the  East  India  Company  have  presented  Captain  Lar- 
kins  with  the  sum  of  500  guineas,  for  the  purcha'.e  of  a  piece  of  plate,  as  a 
riistinguishing  mark  of  their  approbation,  for  his  defence  of  the  Vv'arreu 
Hastings.    'The  ofiicers  and  crew  of  that  ship  are  iikeviiscj  for  their  mcri- 


^fAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESrXT    YEAR,    1807.  75 

torious  coiulacf,  to  have  (?000  guineas  distributed  among  tlicrn,  according 
to  their  rank. 

Among  the  many  calamitous  occurrences  wliich  happened  on  the 
25th  ult.  we  have  to  mention  the  loss  of  three  boiits,  with  all  their  crews, 
GOnsi-ting  of  eighteen  men,  and  three  bovs,  belonging  to  Stotfield,  near 
T.Wiu.  By  this  unfortunate  calamity,  eighteen  widows,  and  about  fifty 
children,  are  left  destitute. 


%ttm!S  on  ^rrticr, 

Copied  verbatim  from  the  Los  cos  Gazette. 

[Continued  fruui  \o\.  XVI,  page  510. j 

ADMIRALTY    OmCE,   JAX.    3,    1807. 

Copy  of  a  Jitter  from  the  JlioJif  Honourable  Lord  Keith,  ii.  R.,  Admiral  of 
the  White,  &r.,  to  William  Marsden,  Esq.;  dated  at  liumR^ale,  ^ist 
December  lad. 

SI&, 

I  TRANSMIT,  for  tlieir  Lordships'  information,  a  copy  of  a  letter  which 
[  have  received  from  Commodore  Owen,  and  of  the  incdosure  to  which 
it  refers,  reporting  the  capture  of  the  Deux  Freres,  Fiench  privateer,  and 
the  recapture  of  an  iMiglish  trader,  by  lieutenant  Parry,  at  present  acting 
in  ihe  command  of  His  Majesty's  blnop  the  Spitfire. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c.  KEITH. 

His  Mojcstys  Ship  C'yde,  Walmer  Road, 
Mv  LORD,  30//!  December,  1806. 

I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  a  letter  from  Lieutenant  Parry,  the  acting 
Commander  of  His  Majesty's  >loop  the  Spitlir-,-,  reporting  the  capture  of  the 
Frencli  lugger  nrivatcer,  whicli  .he  intercepted  on  iier  return  from  Beaciiy 
Head,  havingjust  before  recaptured  the  Friendship,  English  brig  from  iNIo- 
gadore,  which  had  been  taken  by  this  privateer,  in  company  with  another 
vessel  of  the  same  description. 

I  have  had  nequer.t  reason  to  commend  the  vigilance  of  Lieutenant  Parry 
since  he  was  intrusted  with  the  command  of  this  sloop,  as  well  as  his  per- 
severance in  r'.-inaimng  on  his  station  during  tlie  t.  inpesliious  weather  we 
liuve  lately  experienced;  aiid  I  should  do  liiui  g.  at  injustice,  were  I  not 
to  avail  myself  of  this  occasion  to  inform  yuur  Lordship  of  the  merit  he  has 
uniformly  siiovvn. 

I  have,  ^c. 

E.  W.  C.  R.  OWEX. 

Admiral  Lord  Keith,  K.B.,  £)C. 

Hia  ALiie^tfi/'s  Shop  Spi'fre,  Do-j:ns, 
SIR,  '<29t}>  December,  1306. 

T  beg  leave  to  acquaint  vou,  for  the  inf  )rmatiou  of  tlie  Commander  in 
Chief,  that  I  had  scarce  dispatched  the  Friendship  (recaptured  brii';)  for  the 
Downs,  of  which  I  hail  informed  you  by  letter,  but  Uiat  I  disco. ered  a  sail 


76-  NAVAL    HISTOHY    OF    THL    r-RKSCNT    YEAR,     lSOf<. 

in  the  E.X.l',.,  beiii^;  tlicn  on  our  Ice- beam,  to  wliiuli  I  ir.iiiieiliatfly  gave- 
dia-e,  and  am  Isappy  to  acquaint  you  that  by  lialt' jjast  live  A.  M.  1  \^ot  up. 
with  hur;  but,  in  co;iscqnoiic«'  uf  her  tcmcritv  and  perscverancf,  sliu  wonkl 
uotbiin^  to  till  nearly  mulcr  the  niu/.zk*  of  (jiir  gun.'-^,  by  \^hich  her  Captain 
and  third  olHccr  were  killed,  and  tour  men  severely  winindcd;  one  of  \\li()Ui 
has  had  hi^  arm  amputated  by  our  Surgeon.  She  proves  to  be  tiie  Deux 
I'rcres  Iuj;t:,er  psivateer,  of  14  guns,  four  of  which  oa\y  were  uK/unted,.  the 
I'cst  in  the  1)1)1(1,  and  with  fift^'  five  )))en.  She  was  at  the  taking  of  the 
T'rieiulship  yesterday,  in  company  with  TEspoir,  another  lug<;er;  and  which, 
I  am  sorry  to  say,  has  escaped,  as  she  had  the  Piaster  and  (_')ew  of  the 
I'r.endship  on  board.  lla\ing  so  many  |jrisoners,  1  thought  it  necessary 
to  bear  up  wit!)  the  lugger  lor  the  l)o\\ns,  of  which  1  hope  von  will  appryve^ 
Tlie  otlicers  and  crew  beliu\ed  v\ith  every  alacrity  during  the  chase. 

1  have,  cS:c.  '  11..  i'ARUY. 

Co»ii/ivJoic  E.  W.  C.  }\.  Ouejiy  C/i/dc^ 

j.vx.  JO. 

Copy  i>f  a  Letter  f,om  Adniind  Young,  Coniminider  in  Chief  of  Hh  RIa]csl)/'s 
^/ujis  and  /'twtVi'  at  Flj///iout/i,  to  Wiiliuiu  2Iuridni,  A'iq.j  dated  t/i'j 
5th  litslanl. 

sin, 

I  enclose,  for  the  infoi-ination  of  the  Lords  fommissioncrs  of  the  Arl- 
luii'alty,  a  letter  I  have  received  from  ],ieuteuant  Calhiuay,  Commaiulcr  of 
]lis  Waje3ty''s  scho(jncr  the  Pickle,  giving  an  account  of  tlie  capture  of  the 
rrench  cutter  pri\  atccr  la  Tavourilc. 

I  Liue  tlx!  honour  to  be.  &e. 

W.  YOUNG. 

SIR,  His  MLJcsf'/s  ScJiDivic?-  Pielde,  Pb.nioufh,  btit  Jan.  1807. 

I  beg  leave  to  aci|uaiMt  you,  that,  on  the  moioing  of  the  3d  instant,  tlie 
].izard  bearing  N.  live  leagues,  I  saw  a  cutter  in  the  S.  Iv  steering  to  the 
westward,  under  |)ress  of  sail,and  a  brig  in  chase  of  her,  which  proved  to  be 
Mis  Majesty's  lirig  .Scorpion  :  all  sail  was  iu)mediately  made  to  close  with 
the  cutter,  which  was  ell'ccted  about  ten  o'clock.  \V"e  exchanged  a  few 
broadsides.  Finding  he  was  pushing  hard  to  get  to  leeward  of  us,  I  laid 
hiin  on  btjard;  and,  in  a  few  minutes,  was  in  possession  of  la  Favorite 
riiench  cutter  privateer^  1'..  J.  Bouiruche,  Commander,  of  14  guns,  with  a 
conipk'.iufut  of  seventy  men,  one  of  whom  was  killed,  and  two  \\()unded. 
She  let't  Cherbourg  on  the  l>t  ijistaiit;  has  )nadc  no  capture;  is  well  found, 
•and  only  two  ujouths  oft  tlii^  stucks.  1  am  sorry  to  add,  that  IVIr.  Ceorge 
AK'Cy,  acting  Mastei',  and  one  ieaman,  are  badly,  and  ISIr.  (JIuulcs 
Hawkins,  Sub-Lieutenant,  slightly,  wijundcd  in  boarding.  The  damages 
we  ha\e  otherwise  leeeived,  are  trilling.  The  otlicers  and  seamen  under  u)y 
comnjund  merit  n)y  warmest  praise,  for  their  cool  and  steady  conduct,  fc 
lake  the  liberty  of  recomi))endiiig  to  tiieir  Loid-hijjs'  notice  i\lr.  liaukiiis, 
.Sub-Lieutenant,  to  whom  1  an)  jducIi  indelrted  for  his  activity  and  exertions 
in  boardii  g,  and  afterwards  getting  the  ))ri/.c  clea)'.  Captain  Caricret,  on 
coming  u|.',  lujk  the  prisoners  on  board  the  Scorpion,  to  land  thtm 
at  ralmoulh. 

I  have  the  honour  to  i)C.  &:c. 

DAN.  CALLAWAY, 

Admiral  Young.  Commander  in  ChlQf\  Ac. 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OP   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1807.  77 

Copj/  nfaiiollier  Lcl'rr  J'rom  Adiidrul   Young,  to  V.'iUium  Marsdcn,  Esq.; 
du'cd  ut  I'l^jinuuth,  i/i-clith  InUtint. 

sin, 
I  herewith  transmit,  for  tlie  infornntio:i  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of 
the  Admiraliv,  a  letter  from  Captain  Hr.)vvn,   the  Commander  of  His  Ma- 
jp-5tv's  Sloop  the  Plover,  giving  an  account  of  his  having  captured  I'EUze 
French  cutter  privateer,  of  St.  iMalo. 

I  have  the  l:onoar  to  be,  Sec. 

W.  YOL'XG, 

His  Majesty'' s  Sloop  Plover,  at  Sea,  January  1, 
SIR,  1807,  Scilly,  A.?>Mr.  12  Leagues. 

I  beji,  to  make  known  to  yon,  IIis  ?.Iajesc\'s  sloop  under  my  command  tliis 
day  capt'ared  tlie  French  cutter  privateer  TElize,  of  14  gun-,  with  sixty-six 
men,  seven  days  from  St.  JNlalo,  and  has  not  made  any  captiue. 

I  Live  the  honour  to  be,  Sec. 

PillLTP  BROWX. 
William  Young,  Esq.,  Admiral  L^f  I  he  Blue, 
c^r.  Flyinoutti. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Vice-Admiral  Douglas,  to  William  Marsdcn,  Esq. ; 
du'ed  at  Yainioutli,  the  Zth  instant. 
sin, 

I  enclose  a  letter  from  Captain  Stoddart,  of  the  Crnizer,  which  has  this 
moment  arrived  wjdi  a  rrencli  privateer,  le  Jeua,  of  IG  gusn,  which  she 
took  on  the  (3th  iuitant,  otV  the  Galloper. 

Hk  Mujesty'^s  Sloop  Cruizer,  Yarmouth  Roads, 
MY  LORD,  January  S,  1807. 

On  the  6th  instant,  at  ei^ht  A.M.,  beint;  eiiiht  leaiiues  south  of  the  Gal- 
loper, we  observed  a  suspicions  iussier  S.  K.  s^f^ering  for  tlie  Plemish  coast 
under  a  press  of  sail ;  chased,  and  in  four  hours  came  up  with,  and  cap- 
tured le  Jena  French  privateer,  of  IG  guns,  three  and  four-pounders,  (two 
of  whicli  were  thrown  overboard  duriuu  the  chase,)  commanded  by  Mon- 
sieur Morel.  She  iwd  taken  thi-cc  F.n^.dish  vessels  on  the  1st  and  2d  in- 
stant, about  seven  leagues  from  Flambro' Head ;  they  were  part  of  the 
Haltic  convoy  separa'L-d  in  a  gale  of  wnul,  viz.  tlie  Felicity,  of  Yarmouth  r 
Neptune,  of  Sunderland  ;  and  Bre,  of  Kirbddy.  I  am  happy  to  add,  that 
tlie  ?.I asters  and  crews  wcie  on  hoard  the  privateer;  and  their  vessels  arc 
likely  to  be  reca]}turcd,  having  sh.iocd  a  course  for  Goree,  and  were  next 
(Jay  fulKnved  by  tlie  privateer,  who  endeavoured  to  enter  tliat  port,  when 
she  wai  chased  oif  by  a  friiiatc  and  cuitcr,  and  the  day  after  fell  into  our 
hands.  Fc  .lena  was  only  fourteen  dnys  off  the  stocks  when  taken.  She  is 
well  found  in  every  thiny:,  and  sails  remarkably  fast. 

Ihavc,&c.'  P.  STODDART. 

The  Right  Hon.  Lord  Ktith,  Syc. 

JAN.    13. 

Copy  of  a  J^etler  from  Vice-Admiral  J^rd  Collingrcood,  Commander  in  Chi^^ 
of  His  Majesty's  Ships  and  Vessels  in  the  Mediterranean,  to  William 
Marsden,  E<q. ;  dated  on  board  the  Ocean,  off  Cadiz,  the  20th  of 
December,  18U6. 

sin, 

I  enclose  to  yon,  to  be  laid  before  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Ad- 


fS  NAVAL    niSTOUY    OF    TUL    PnESF.NT    YtAR,    1807. 

Iniralt}',  the  copy  of  a  letter  from  Captain  Pearse,  Commander  of  His  M.J- 
jcstv's  sloop  the  Halcyon,  informing  me  of  his  having  fallen  in  with  a  shi|:, 
a  brii;,  and  zeheck,  of  the  enemy's  cruisers,  on  the  loth  instant,  off  Cape  St* 
Martin's;  and  after  an  action,  highly  creditable  to  tins  officer,  and  his 
sliip's  company,  succeeded  in  capturing  the  Spanish  sliip  the  Neptuno  dios 
de  los  JNIares,  of  14  guns,  and  seventy-two  men,  the  brig  and  zebeck  making 
their  escape  after  their  fire  was  silenced. 

I  am  glad  of  this  opportunity  of  giving  to  their  Lordsliips  my  testimony  of 
the  spirited  and  skilful  conduct  of  Captain  Pearse,  in  all  the  duties  on 
which  he  is  employed.  The  present  instance  of  his  having  attacked  and 
succeeded  against  an  enemy  so  very  superior,  demonstrates  what  his  abihty 
is  when  there  is  opportunity  to  exhibit  it. 

I  am,  &c.  COLLINGWOOD. 

His  JSIdjcstifa  Ship  Halc^/oii,  Gibraltar  Baj/, 
MV  LORD,  December  V6,  1800. 

I  beg  leave  to  niform  your  Lordship,  that  on  the  13th  instant,  at  ei'^ht  in 
the  mcnnme,  Cape  St.  Martin's  S.  S.  W.  six  leagues,  1  perceived  three  sail 
standing  out  from  the  land  towards  me;  being  on  contrary  tacks,  we 
closed  fast:  when  within  four  or  five  miles,  I  discovered  they  were  vessels 
of  war,  (a  ship,  a  brig,  and  a  zebeck,)  and  shortly  after  steered  directly  for 
me.  Seeing  they  were  superior,  and  five  settees  seen  from  the  tops  coming 
from  the  same  quarter,  I  judged  it  prudent  (as  they  seemed  determined  to 
brin"  mo  to  action)  to  close  with  them  as  soon  as  possible,  and  decide  the 
contest  before  any  assistance  could  be  given  from  the  other  five.  At  iialf 
past  ten,  (being  nearly  within  muskct-sliot,)  they  hoisted  Spanish  colours, 
and  connnenced  action.  As  soon  as  I  got  abreast  of  the  second  vessel, 
I  got  on  the  other  tack,  and  brought  them  to  closer  action,  vijhich  lasted  till 
twelve  o'clock,  when  their  fire  slackened.  At  half  past,  being  nearly  a 
calm,  the  brig  and  zebeck  h;iulcd  away  to  the  southward,  assisted  by  their 
boats  and  sweeps;  the  ship  then  nearest  us  endeavouring  to  do  the  same  to 
the  nortiuvard:  we  swept  after  her,  and  in  an  htjur  got  close  alongside,  when 
elie  struck  her  coloui'S.  She  proved  to  be  a  Spanish  polacre  ship  (privateer), 
the  Neptuno  dios  de  los  Mares,  of  14  guns,  and  seventy-two  men,  from 
Denia,  going  on  a  cruise  between  Minorca  and  the  Coast  of  Africa,  with 
the  otiier  t"0  in  company;  who,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  made  their  escape,  but 
not  before  their  fire  had  been  silenced.  'J"hc  five  settees,  when  within  three 
miles,  seein^i;  the  ship  deserted,  returned  to  the  shore,  and  went  into  tlie 
port  of  Denia.  Tliough  extraordinary,  I  am  happy  to  say  wc  had  none 
killed,  and  only  tlu-ee  wounded:  Lieutenant  Briggs,  my  first,  by  a  splinter, 
in  the  arm,  whom  1  beg  leave  to  recommend  to  your  Lordship's  notice  j 
Lieutenant  Pearse,  who  has  been  acting  three  years  and  a  half  in  this 
vessel;  and  one  seaman.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  must  be  great.  Thu 
wounded  from  the  ship  are  doing  well,  nine  in  all.  I  give  your  Lordship 
tiie  full  particulars  of  this  event,  and  trust  my  attacking  so  very  superior  a 
force  (seeing  they  were  resolutely  detcnnineii  to  bring  n)e  to  action)  will 
meet  your  Lordship's  approbation,  knowing  I  could  depend  upon  my  offi- 
cers and  ship's  company,  whose  cool,  brave,  and  steady  conduct  on  this,  as 
on  former  occasions,  almost  insured  me  success  before  the  action  com- 
menced.    Tliey  merit  my  warmest  acknowledgments. 

I  cannot  omit  mentioning  my  having  fi)ur  passengers.  Captain  Sullivan, 
of  the  fSlst  regiment,  who  c<)mniandcd  the  small  arms;  Messrs.  Purvis, 
Crokat,  and  a  Neapolitan  messenger,  were  all  of  great  service,  as  we  were- 
sixteen  shoit  of  complement.  The  object  of  the  enemy's  fire  was  mostly 
directed  ai  oMr  masts  and  rigj^iuLj ;  iu  which,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  we  have 
suffered  very  i»'.'.terially. 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    TRKSENT    YEAH,    1807.  79 

The  force  opposed  to  the  Halcyon  was,  Nf  ptiino  clios  dc  los  Mures,  four- 
teen tui'ive  pi)  !iiders,iiiid  .  oveiity-two  men;  la  Vergin  di  Sulidad,  fourteen 
twelve  and  ei^iit  poiinders,  and  seveaty-ciglit  ineu;  cl  Vivcs,  twelve  eight 
and  oix  pounders,  and  aixty-fivc  men. 

I  have  the  lionour  to  be,  &c. 

II.  W.  PEARSE. 
The  rdiihl  H  m.  C.  Lord  Cul/in^'cooiL 

Copi/  of  a  Let  I  cr  from  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Gardner,  Adniimt  of  the  Whltr^ 
lyc.  to  Williim  JSlursdcn,  E'S'j. ;  dated  Trent,  Cork  Ha/ boar,  iit/i  i)f 
Jduiturij,  laOT, 

SIK, 

I  have  the  honour  to  transmit  herewitli,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords 
CovDi.iissi  .i;!,TS  of  the  Aduiiralty,  copy  of  a  letier  from  Captain  James  BrJs- 
Lnne,  of  the  Alcmeae,  iriviu;^  an  account  of  the  capture,  hy  tlint  >hip,  on  the 
-ith  iii-taiit,  In  lat,  50  deg.  i\.,  long.  11  deg.  W.,  of  le  Courier  i-'rencli  cutter 
privateer,  of  .St.  Maloes. 

I  have  the  iionour  to  be,  i«i;c. 

GARDNER. 

iiY  LOi'.D,  Alonrne,  at  Sea,  Jan.  6,  1807. 

I  have  the  honoiu-  to  acquaint  your  Lordship,  that  His  M;yesty's  shin 
under  my  command,  on  the  4th  in- taut,  in  latitude  60  deg.  N.,  longitude  Jl 
deg.  VV.,  fell  in  with,  and  captured  Is  Courier,  French  cutter  privateer, 
(formerly  His  iVIajfsty's  hired  armed  cutter  Alert,)  pierced  for  fourteen 
guns,  hut  now  mounting  seven,  of  diilerent  calibres,  forty-two  and  twenty- 
four  poiuul  brass  carro-iades,  and  seventy  men  :  four  days  from  Morlaix, 
witJiout  makin..  a  capture. 

Ihave,  &c.       JAMES  BRISBANE. 

The  llight  Hon.  Adm,  Lord  Gardner,  i^,-c. 


DOWNING    STKEET,   JAN.    'It. 

D'K'HifcJica,  of  rohlch  the  fo/ lore  Ins  "re  Co;ni->i,  hnrc  been  rerrmd  hy  the 
Ri:j.l>'.  Hon.  ]Villl(titi  Windham,  One  of  His  ALijestj/\<i  Frincifal  Secretariis 
vf  Slate,  f.'Oin  Lieuienunt-Cotonel  Backhoasv,  coniwanding  a  DeLaehmeht 
^f  His  M(ijcsit/s  Land  Forces  in  the  River  dc  la  Plata. 

Royal  Charlotte  (Ti-ansport ) ,  off"  Monte  Video, 
srit,  '  October  13,   130G. 

Understanding  that  a  vessel  is  to  sail  immediately  for  England,  I  do  m'- 
self  tlie  honour  to  transmit  to  you  a  copy  of  a  letter,  addres>ed  to  Liei.- 
tcnaut-Gcneial  Sir  David  Eaird,  in  obedience  to  whose  orders  I  sailed  on 
tiie  'iOrii  of  August  last,  with  1st  battalion  47th  regiment,  for  the  purpose  of 
joining  Major-vjcneral  Beresford,  in  South  America. 

Roi/al  Charlotte  (Transport),  off  Monte  Video, 
SIR,  '  OJober  V^,  U>0<j. 

I  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  your  Exrellency,  that,  on  my  arrival  here, 
I  had  ihe  mortiiication  to  find  the  city  of  Buenos  Ayrcs  recaptured;  and 
that  Major-Genei-al  Beresford,  with  the  forces  under  his  command,  (after  a 
most  able  and  g:dlant  defence,)  had  been  made  prisoners  of  war,  so  far 
joark  as  vlic  ICth  of  August  la  t. 
■     iiavi:ijg   arri\ed   last   njuht,  I  am  not,   at   this  u^omcnt,  suffipleutl^'  ac^- 


80  NAVAL    IIISTOHV    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1 807. 

quainted  with  the  particulars  to  enable  nic  to  detail  them,  thongli  T  pre- 
sume due  and  full  information  of  this  unfortuuiile  and  important  cvcnt,- 
must  have  been  transmitted  to  you  soon  after  its  oecurrence. 

You  arc  aware,  .'^;;r,  th;it  the  command  of  lii'  Maje^^tj's  land  forces,  at 
present  in  this  river,  dcnlvcs  upon  ine;  with  which,  in  co-operation  with 
the  squadron  under  Sir  Home  Popham,  it  is  my  intention  to  occupy  a 
favourable  po-ition,  until  a  reinforcement  shail  arrive,  or  I  may  be  honoured 
with  your  liirther  instructinns;  and  trust  tiiat,  by  an  early  opportunity,  I 
sliall  be  able  to  afford  you  a  satisfactory  report  of  my  arrangements 
and  operations  in  carrying  your  designs  into  execution.     And  am,  tkc.  &c. 

To  Licntcnant-General  Sir  D.  Baird,  i^-c. 

The  immediate  departure  of  the  ship  for  Endand,  and  the  situation  in 
which  1  find  myself  unexpf'Cedly  placed^  prevent  any  further  communi- 
cation than  what  is  contained  in  tiie  preceding;  letter. 

1  have  the  honour  to  he,  See. 

T.  .].  IJACKIIOUSE, 
Colonel  coinniandiug  47th  llegimcut. 
"The  Right  Hon.  Wm.  Windham,  S^c. 

Copji  of  a  Diapatch  from  JJcutenanf-Coloiipl  Backhouse,  1o  the  Right.  Ho- 
nourable Wit'iit  "  Windiuuii,  dated  JSIoldunado,  on  the  River  de  la  Plata, 
Slsf  October,  180G. 

SIR, 

In  my  letter  of  the  loth  instant,  T  had  the  hononr  to  transmit  a  copy  of 
mv  letter,  of  the  same  date,  to  His  Excellency  Lieutcnaut-Geucrnl  Sir  ])a- 
vid  B-.iird,  apprising  him  of  my  urrivtjl  in  the  river  Plata,  and  of  my  inten- 
tion to  occupy  a  position  on  sliorc,  to  await  his  further  orders. 

I,  in  consequence,  immediately  reconnoitred,  from  one  of  the  frigates,  whicli 
carried  me  sufficiently  close  in  shore  for  tlic  purpose,  the  works  of  tlie  jilace, 
and  the  positions  and  defences  in  the  vicinity  of  jMonte  \')deo,  from  which 
I  formed,  as  the  most  eligible  mode  of  attack,  the  idea  of  being  able  to  carry 
the  town  and  citadel  by  assault,  on  the  south  face  edging  on  the  waler,  in 
co-operation  with  the  ships  of  the  squadron,  under  Commodore  Sir  Home 
Popham,  which  were  to  silence  the  batteries  on  that  face,  so  as  to  enable 
the  troops  to  land  and  enter.  The  attempt  was  accordingly  commenced  on 
the  2oth,  by  the  Navj' ;  but  the  water  pioving  too  sb.allow  to  admit  of  the 
ships  coming  sufiiciently  near  to  cannonade  it  with  effect,  a  further  effort 
■was  necessarily  given  up. 

Upon  tliis  1  deemed  it  advisable,  with  the  co-operative  concurrence  of  Sir 
Home  Popham,  to  take  possession  of  the  town  of  Moldonado,  as  a  favour- 
able position  for  the  purpose  of  refreshing  the  troops,  mounting  my  ca\alry, 
anrl  carrying  on  such  other  arrangements  as  might  thereafucr  appear 
most  necissary. 

Not  a  moiucnt  was  lost;  and,  accordingly,  on  the  evening  of  the  29th  I 
landed  with  about  -100  men,  composed  principally  of  a  part  of  the  3oth 
regiment,  under  Colonel  Vassal,  and  advanced  against  the  town,  which 
seemed  to  be  occupied  by  about  600  reguUn-s  and  militia,  mostly  mounted 
with  one  howitzer,  and  one  lon^  four  poundei-  iield  piece,  botii  brass. 

Notwithstanding  we  were  witliout  ;iny  artillery,  the  enemy  were  soon  dis- 
persed, with  the  loss  of  tlieir  guns,  m  d  aliout  fifty  men  killed  ami  wonnded. 
The  loss  on  our  side  was  two  kille.l  and  four  wounded,  of  His  Majesty's 
UCJth  regiment. 

To  the  cool  intrepidity  of  oiu-  litrlo  column  on  tl)is  occasion,  much  ])r:i)-c 
is  dac,  as  it  advanced  with  the  utmost  steadincse  and  alacrity,  and  wi.tiwut 


KAVAL   HISTORY   OF   TJIE   PRESENT   TEAR,    1807.  SI 

firing  a  sliot,  until  sufScientIv  ncnr  to  make  a  certainty  of  carrying  both  the 
puns  and  the  town,  which  was  principally  dune  by  the  btiyonet,  liotwjth- 
standing  the  advance  was  made  under  heavy  discharges  ot'  grape  and 
musketry. 

To  the  well  known  gallantry  and  ability  o£  Colonel  Vassal,  I  feel  myself 
much  indebted;  and  the  conduct  of  every  other  otiicer  in  the  field  lias  com- 
manded my  thanks. 

At  day-break  yesterday  morning  I  detached  Colonel  Vassal  to  take  pos- 
session of  the  heavy  batteries  on  the  beach  of  the  harbour,  and  on  tiie 
peninsula,  vvhich  precluded  any  communication  for  the  enemy  between  the 
main  land  and  the  scrong  island  and  poit  of  Gorretti,  situated  in,  and  much 
commaiiding  the  Bay  of  Maldonado;  and  which,  in  c  )nse!juence,  i '.  the 
course  of  the  day  surrendered  at  discretion  to  a  summons  sent  fnjm  Sir 
Home  Popham,  and  thereby  pre\ented  t!ie  necessity  of  carrying  it  by 
storm,  and  the  consequent  blood  hed  that  might  have  e  'sued.  J^uring  yes- 
terday and  this  morning,  the  chief  part  of  the  remainder  of  the  troops  liave 
been  landed ;  and  I  have  already  contrived  to  mount  nearly  one  half  of  my 
cavalry. 

The  Wellington  transport  being  directed  to  sail  immediately  to  England, 
I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  addressing  this  s'ijrc  account  of  mv  proco"ding:i 
directly  to  you,  Sir  Home  Poplram  iiaving  r'^jrc^ented  to  me  iiis  mabdity  to 
dispatch  a  vessel  atthis  time  to  tuo  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  piecluding  me  the 
power  of  making  my  report  through  the  regular  channel  of  Lieuienant-Ge- 
ceral  Sir  David  Eaird. 

I  ought  not  to  omit  to  mention  the  very  steady  and  praise-worthy  con- 
duct of  a  small  party  of  marines  and  armed  seamen,  sent  on  shore  by  Sir 
Home  Popham,  who  joined  and  composed  part  of  our  column  on  its  wav 
into  the  town,  and  occupied  such  positions  as  were  allotted  to  them  during 
the  night,  in  such  a  correct  manner,  as  to  reflect  the  greatest  credi'.,  both 
on  the  officers  that  commanded  them,  and  their  own  zenl  and  discipline. 

I  should  also  be  wanting  in  justice  to  my  own  feelings,  if  I  closed  my 
dispatch  without  acknowledging  the  services  I  have  received  from  L:cutc- 
nant-Colonel  Brovvnrigg,  Deputy  Quarter-Master-General,  and  Major 
Trotter,  of  the  83d  regiment,  acting  Deputy  Adjutant-General  to  the 
forces  at  present  under  my  command.  And  I  also  beg  leave  to  acknowledge 
the  assistance  aftbrtled  me  by  Ttlajor  Tucker,  of  the  72d  regiment;  who,  by 
permission  of  Lieutenant-Gcnerat  Sir  David  Baird,  is  with  me  on  this 
occasion,  and  acting  in  the  capacity  of  Military  Secretary. 

I  herewith  have  the  honour  to  enclose  the  return  of  such  ordnance,  am- 
munition, and  stores,  as  have  yet  been  discovered. 

1  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

J.  T.  BACKHOUSE, 
Lieut.  Col.  47th  Regiment. 

Keturn  of  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the    Troops   under   the  Comma  id  of 
Licutenant-Colonc!  Backhouse,  in  the  Attack  of  Maldonado,  on  the  %Oth  of 
Octol'cr,  1806. 
38th  regiment. — 2  rank  and  file  killed,  4  rank  and  file  woimded. 

W.  R.  TllOlTER, 
Major  83d  Reg.  Acting  Dep.  Adj.  Gen. 

Rcfuryi  of  Ordnance,  Ammunition,  and  Stores,  SjC.  taken  from  the  Enemy  in 
the  Town  and  Vicinity  of  Maldonado,  and  Island  of  Oorrclti,  on  the  U9t/i 
tf  October,  1806. 

Brass  Ordnance. 
1  six  inch  howitzer,  with  ten  rounds  of  ammunition;  1  six  pounder,  with 
ten  rounds  of  diilo. 

Iron  Ordnance. 
Twelve  twenty-six-pounders,  on  sea  batteries;  twenty  twenty-four-pound* 

il9atj.  dfjton.  ©oUXVII.  m 


S^  VAvAt   insTouY  OP  Tiir.  pur.srxT  year,   1SG7. 

cr<,  on  tlie  Inland  of  Corrctti;  seven  liundrcd  muskcfs ;  fwo  luiiidred  pis- 
tols; three  hundred  swurds;  and  one  hundred  and  eight  barrets  of  powder. 

A.  WAISON, 
Capt.  I?.  :M.  Artillery. 
N.B,  Tiie  above  is  the  most  correct  return  I  have  vet  been  alile  to  collect. 

W.R.  IRCriTKi;, 
Actinj^Dep.  Adj.  Gen. 

;»T>MIT!AL1V  OrnCE,  JANfARY  27,  1807. 

Dispatcher,  of  uh'tch  ike  foVmtivfi  a>e  Copies,  fiarc  hccn   recr'rccd  at  t/iis 

dft'icc  pom  Ciinonodorc   Sir  Heine  rophirm,  addrt'fstd  to  WiUitim  2TaJS' 

din,  Ei^q. 

His  Majcslys  Ship  Dindem,  Hio  dc  la  Platu^ 
ME,  August  25,  18C)C. 

r  \Vlien  the  events  of  •n-ar  cease  to  be  favourable  to  any  armament,  I  consider 
It  the  duty  of  Cnmmaiidhig  Olhccrs  to  state  all  the  circumstances  under  their 
knowledge  or  information  with  clearness  and  perspicuity,  \\hiLii,  either 
progressively  or  suddenly,  led  to  a  reverse  of  fortune.^ 

]n  pin-suing  this  course,  I  feel  confident  I  shall  be  able  to  satisfy  tlie 
Lords  C'onnnissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  that  the  liberal  and  Ixncficeirt 
princij'les  upon  which  the  Governnunt  of  General  Beresford  was  conducted 
do  more  honour  to  His  ^NJajesty's  arms,  and  the  character  of  Great  Britain, 
than  if  he  iiad  resorted  to  c>ij)edicnts  completely  within  his  power,  wiiich 
would  have  etlectually  annihilated  all  the  efforts  of  the-;  enemy,  and  wrested, 
probably  for  ever,  these  countries  from  the  crown  of  Spain. 

Pueridon,  one  of  the  numit  ipaiity,  appears  to  have  been  the  greatcJ^t 
organ  of  the  revolution.  He  apjilicd  himself  with  groat  art  and  address  in 
pre.paring  the  people  for  a  general  insurrection. 

'1  he  arms  in  the  town  were  secreted,  ready  for  the  moment  of  action  j 
the  discontented  assembled  everv  night,  and  attended  to  his  instructions;  and 
he  raised  all  the  rabble  of  the  country  by  the  ample  supplies  of  money 
with  which  lie  was  furnished  on  the  north  side  of  the  river.  Colonel  JJnicrs, 
a  I'rench  olVicer  in  the  Spanish  scnicc.  and  on  his  parole,  successfully  era- 
ploved  himself  in  collecting  people  at  Colonia. 

Terror  was  established,  and  every  person  who  refused  to  contribute  his 
assistance  to  this  conspiracy  was  threatened  with  immediate  death. 

I  have  traced  this  from  very  unquestionable  authority;  and  so  rapid  was 
the  pro;:ress  of  the  revolution,  when  it  first  sliowcd  itself,  that  it  was  not  till 
the  31st  Julv  that  I  learnt  by  a  dispatch  from  the  General,  which  reached 
nie  at  Ensenada,  on  my  return  from  Woiite  Video,  that  he  was  apjjrchensive, 
liom  the  information  he  received,  an  insurrection  would  shortly  be  made. 

1  heard  at  the  same  time,  from  Captain  Tlioinson,  that  seventeen  of  the 
enemy's  vessels  had  just  arrived  at  Colonia;  and  as  it  was  reported  that 
I''orcc  was  still  to  be  increased  from  INIonte  \'ideo,  I  sent  orders  t'or  the 
Diomede  to  be  brought  to  Ensenada,  and  for  Captain  King  of  tiie  Diadem 
to  come  up  with  the  remaining  few  marines,  the  two  Com})anies  of  Blue-, 
and  as  many  otiier  men  as  could  in  any  degree  be  spared  from  the  ships, 
for  the  purpose  of  arming  some  vessels  to  attack  the  Eiieiny  at  Colonia,  as 
it  was  impossible  to  prevent  his  crossing  from  the  north  shore  whene\cr 
the  w  ind  was  fair. 

On  the  1st  of  August,  in  the  afternoon,  the  I.eda  anchored  otT  Buenos 
A  vies,  about  twelve  miles  distant;  and  on  my  landing  on  the  2d,  which  I  did 
as  soon  as  the  weather  w(juld  admit  of  a  boat  getting  on  shore,  J  found  the 
General  had  just  made  a  very  successful  attack  on  about  fifteen  liiindred 
Spaniards  under  rueridon,  five  leagues  from  the  town,  with  five  hundred 
men,  in  which  he   took  all  the  enemy's  cannon  (I  think  nine  pieces)  ami 

i(-       r        'iI--SM||crS. 

On  the  3d  I  attempted  to  return  to  the  Lcda,  in  the  Encounter,  which 
Captain  llunyrnun  brought  wittiin  a.  few  iniles  ot  the  shore  for  thi;<  purpOM.', 


NAVAL    inSTOUV    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAU,    1807.  83 

as  It  birw  very  Strong ;  Ijiit  the  wind  trcbliened  so  considerably  from  tlie 
eastward,  that  \vc  rould  not  j:ct  to  uiiidwiird. 

On  the  -Jth,  in  the  moriiinir,  it  was  very  thick  weather,  and  the  gale 
increased  so  much  that  it  was  impossible  to  wci^li. 

About  noon  Captain  Kin;j;  arrived  in  a  f^alivat,  with  one  hundred  and 
fittv  men  I'rom  the  Diadem,  I'ur  the  purpose  of  arming  and  conuoaiidini; 
the  tew  small  vessels  we  had  collected  in  the  harbiiur  ;  but  he  was  not  able 
to  L'Ct  there  till  the  followin-;  day. 

(Ja  the  oth,  in  the  morning,  it  moderated,  ami  I  reached  the  Lcda,  ulicii  I 
received  a  report  (Vom  (':ii)tain  Thomson,  that  in  the  gaie  of  the  precedini^ 
dav  the  enemy  hatl  crossed  from  Colona  totally  unobserved  by  any  of  onr 
>hips,  except  the  schouner  under  the  connnand  of  JJeutenant  Ilerrick,  who 
^vas  Ivini;  in  the  farrow  gut  leading  to  Conchas  and  St.  l^idro,  but  the 
easterly  wind  had  thrown  so  much  water  in  the  river,  that  the  enemy  were 
enabled  to  cross  over  any  ])art  of  the  Fatmas  ijank  witliont  the  ueccbsity  of 
luakirif;  a  greater  detour  by  going  ijighcr  up  the  river. 

On  the  6th  and  7th  it  blew  a  hurricane;  the  Ix'da  was  lying  in  four 
fathoms,  with  two  anchors  down,  ai)d  her  yards  and  tupmasts  struck. 

On  the  8th  I  heard  from  Captain  King  that  five  of  our  gun-boats  iiad 
fmndered  at  their  anchors  ;  that  the  Walker  had  lost  her  rudder,  and  that 
the  launches  and  large  cutters  of  the  Diadem  and  Leda  were  lost. 

The  torrents  of  rain  that  fell  during  the  (Jtii,  7th,  and  tith,  had  rendered 
the  roads  totally  impracticable  for  any  thing  but  cavalry,  and  consecpiently 
(j'enerLd  IJercrford  was  most  seriously  di-appointed  in  his  determination, 
to  attack  the  enemy  at  a  distance  tVom  the  town:  in  which,  had  it  taken 
place,  I  (Mitcrtain  no  doubt  that  jiis  army  would  have  added  another  trait  of 
its  iiuincible  spirit  under  his  dispositions. 

Tlie  enemy,  however,  by  liis  inexhaustible  supply  of  horses,  suffered  little 
inconvenience  from  the  state  of  tlie  x'oads,  ami  lie  u  as  thereture  en^d)|ed  to 
approach  the  town  by  several  directions,  widiuut  giving  the  liritish  arinv  any 
opportunity  to  attack  him. 

On  the  lUth,  in  the  evening,  the  castle  was  summoned, and  on  the  foilowv 
ing  day  1  landed,  while  our  remaining  vessels  were  tiring  on  the  Spanisli 
posts,  and  I  learned  tint,  I'xciusivc  of  the  ."^paniijh  army,  which  was  divided 
into  many  columns,  occupying  the  various  avenues  of  thp  town,  the  inha- 
bitants w  ere  all  armed,  and  sheltered  on  the  tops  of  the  houses  and  churches, 
widi  a  design  of  tiarryin-i  on  a  war  of  aiabush. 

Under  these  circunjstances,  and  the  manit'e.-t  dispositicjn  of  the  eneniv 
to  prevent  an  cngagenjent,  it  was  determined  to  eud^ark  the  wounded  that 
night,  and  cross  the  liio  Chello,  t'or  the  purpov;  of  moving  towards 
]-'.nsenuda;  but  this  mea-nre  was  in  a  great  d;  grec  frustratc4  bv  the 
'.veailier,  which  bccaiue  very  violent  during  the  night,  and  consequently 
retarded  the  progress  of  embarkation,  though  the  enemy  added  a  coiis.- 
«leral)le  niunber  of  men  to  the  houses  and  cliurdies  near  the  castle,  and 
advanced  by  all  the  streets  nut  under  the  iijUuence  of  its  fire  :  in  slunt, 
Sir,  his  object  was  to  avoid  by  every  means  a  general  action,  and  to  place 
his  men  in  such  a  situation  thi-.t  tiiey  could  lire  at  our  troops  while  they 
remained  in  perfect  security  themsfUes. 

On  the  1 '2th,  at  day-liglit,  I  understand  a  smart  lire  began  from  tlic 
rnemy's  advanced  po<ts,  but  was  soon  returned  with  great  elVect  fruia  our 
artillery,  which  was  planted  towards  the  principal  streets  leading  to  the 
great  square,  and  for  a  short  tunc  the  enemy  by  his  immense  uuniberii 
showed  a  greater  degree  of  iirinness  llian  on  any  other  occasion,  and 
rushed  tbrward  with  three  pieces  of  artillery ;  which  Colonel  Pack  of  the 
7!>-tS')on  ciiaiged  and  took  from  him.  During  this  time,  however,  re- 
inforcements crowded  the  tups  of  all  the  luKiMS  cominaiiding  the  gre-t 
sijuare  from  the  back  street'',  and  our  troops  were  soon  con»iderablv 
;.iuiu)yed  by  people  I  hey  could  not  get  at.  The  enemv  commaaded  t!ie 
castle  in  tlic  aume  way,  witli  the  additional  advantage  vi'  a  luu  on  the  top 


S4  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,     1807. 

of  one  of  the  churches,  whicii  I  consider  an  indelible  stigma  against  the 
character  of  the  TiJiop,  not  only  from  his  situaiiun,  but  tlie  profctbions 
he  made. 

I  can  easily  conceive  how  the  feelings  of  General  Beresford  must,  at 
this  moment,  have  been  on  the  rack;  disappointed  in  his  last  efforts  to 
invlure  the  enemy  to  a  general  engagemeuL  in  the  great  square,  his  gallant 
little  army  falling  fast  by  shots  from  invisible  persons;  and  the  only 
alttniative  "hxh  co''ld  present  itself  to  save  the  useless  effusion  of  so 
much  valuable  blood  was  a  flag  of  truce,  which  was  hoisted  at  the  castle 
about  oijL  «/clock. 

In  an  instaiu  there  were  near  ten  thousand  men  in  the  great  square, 
pressing  toiward  in  the  most  outrautious  manner  to  get  nito  the  fort,  and 
evtn  firiiig  at  our  men  on  the  ramparts;  so  miich  so/  that  it  was  with 
extreme  difficulty  the  British  troops  were  prevented  re\'enging  this  insult : 
indeed  the  General  w.is  obliged  to  tell  the  Spanish  otikers,  if  their  men 
did  not  retire  iti  tiie  course  of  one  minute,  he  must,  as  the  only  measure 
ofsa:ety,  haul  down  the  flag  of  truce,  and  recoinmence  hostilities:  this 
firmness  had  the  desired  eHect,  and  he  then  sent  his  conditions  to  the 
Spanish  Genera],  ai.d  they  uere  instantly  acceded  to. 

I  enclose  a  copy  of  the  capitulation;  and  I  trust  the  high  and  indepen- 
dent language  in  which  it  is  couched,  and  the  terms  dictated  by  General 
Beresford  to  an  officer  at  the  head  of  myriads  of  people,  will  do  him 
infinite  honour  in  England,  and  obtain  for  him  liis  Majesty's  most 
grvicious  approbation  ot  lis  Ciihduct. 

i  have  rec^'ived,  and  annex  a  leturn  of  the  killed,  wounded,  and 
missmg;  by  whicii  it  appears,  that  there  are  two  officers,  two  Sergeants, 
one  Drummer,  forty-thiee  rank  and  llle,  killed;  eight  officers,  seven  Ser- 
geants, ninety-two  rank  and  file,  wounded;  and  nine,  missing;  making  a 
total  of  one  hundred  and  si.\ty-five;  and  scarce  any  of  those  misfortunes 
were  occasioned,  except  from  the  inhabitants  on  the' tops  of  the  houses 
and  the  cnurchi  s. 

The  tnemy  confoses  to  have  lost  about  seven  lumdrcd  killed  and  wound- 
ed, in  tiie  short  conflici  in  the  streets;  and  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  m- 
habitaiils,  1  have  lit'.le  doubt  that  the  Spanish  troops  would  have  been 
r.'juipktely  defeated,  alinough  seven  times  tiic  number  of  the  British 
forces. 

Kothing  is  more  difficult  than  to  give  their  Lordships  an  idea  of  the 
nuuiLerof  men  iii  :;:-ms;  but  f'nrn  th^  btst  accounts  we  can  obtain,  it  is 
thought  Puerid'K;,  and  the  othc-:  principal  pe-jio  engaged  in  this  }  lot, 
haa  collf'ffed  fVoni  eight  to  ten  thoi.^and  ir.ei;  la  rlie  country;  that  Lcuiers 
inay  have  i-.  ougiit  o\  f  r  from  eight  hur.dred  to  a  thousand  ;  and  the  town 
furnisijed,  though  ;:rir>ed  in  various  ways,  about  ten  thousand,  under  the 
Secret  nrrangeiae;;(  of  the  Ivia-istrates. 

When  every  vc^:-el  that  could  c.-ciipe  from  Buenos  Ayrcs  had  joined,  I 
proce-  Jed  towards  luiscnada,  to  retire  the  detachment  of_mar:ues>  Lieute- 
nant Groves,  of  the  Duidein,  was  obliged  to  quit  the'L-elem  schooner,  its  she 
■would  not  work  out;  ore  giin-b.  at  and  :.  settee,  a  prize,  were  also  left  iii 
the  harbour,  \.  ith  the  Justina,  a  small  Fnglish  n'.crcliiint  ship  that  had  fol- 
lowed the  expedition  from  S:.  Jtjrlena.  (/apt^dn  Thomson,  of  the  Nc  ptune, 
who  was  in  the  castle,  wo^  made  a  prisoner  j  a;;d  Lieuienant  Burgh,  of  the 
Raisonahie,  with  Mr.  Ramsay,  a  Midshipman,  and  seven  men,  who  were  in 
the  sttLec,  as  her  boats  could  no;  hold  them.  Lieutenant  Herrick,  in  the 
Do!,  res,  the  other  armed  scIido;  t  r,  worked  out  in  a  mainier  which,  coupled 
with  !.  ^  o»Mi  conduct  on  rhe  whole  of  this  liui-incss,  docs  him  great  credit. 

On  the  IC'h,  in  tic  mornii,.-,  the  detaclimtnt  of  marines,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Litu'cnaiit  Svw.ile,  was  embarked  iVom  Ensenada,  and  his  two 
Spanish  fie.d  p.ece-;  spiked  anr!  tK;-o\vn  into  tiie  river. 

On  ihe  I^th  I  sailed  'or  this  anciioragc    where  I  arrived   the  t'ollowing 
day,  and  immediately  addressed  the  Governor  of  Monte  \''idco  on  the  sub- 
ject of  our  troops. 


NAVAL   HISTOaiY   OF    THE    PRESEVT   YEATl,    1807.  85 

On  the  ICth,  in  consequence  of  receiving,  by  Colonel  Liniers'  Aid-de- 
Canip,  a  letter  tVoin  Generiil  lieresfurd,  I  dispatclied  t  vo  of  the  transpoits 
to  Buenos  Avres,  vvlicre  one  arrived  ou  the  J7  th;  hut  frjni  the  prevarication 
of  the  Governor  of  Monte  Video  in  '.he  i'irst  iublauct,  and  his  subsequent 
dishonourable  conduct,  iio  troops  nu.\- ;  ^-t  been  embarked. 

Whilst  I  iiad  the  iionour  of  being  on  board  the  Lcda,  I  had  every  reason 
to  be  satisfied  with  the  z.ealous  attention  of  Captain  iionyraan,  iiis  otliCers 
and  s'lip's  company;  and  I  cannot  but  express  my  extreme  approbation  of 
the  conduct  of  all  the  i>Qiccrs  a:.d  seHmcn,  wlio  were  coriitantly  employed  iu 
tlie  small  ves-nls  and  loat'i,  under  alaiosc  every  privation,  in  the  very  severe 
and  trying  weather  whicii  v\e  experienced  ilie  last  ten  days. 

I  most  sincerely  rej;ri :.  however,  that  my  situation  has  imposed  on  me  the 
painful  H.ity  of  mailing  i!;'s  report,  to  their  i,  jrdships,  ejjpe  -ially  us  it  is  done 
principally  by  materials  colncteil  from  different  people,  which  they  probably 
in  many  instances  dc.iuced  from  vaj^ue  and  uncertain  conclusions:  it  how- 
ever it  shoula  hereafter  appear  that  1  have  failed  in  any  instance  to  do  ample 
justice  to  the  conduct,  energy,  ar;-.!  prowess  of  General  Berciford,  and  the 
officers  and  sold.ers  under  his  command,  it  has  been  owing  to  the  limited 
scale  of  mv  commumcdtions  since  tlie  i'Zih,  froM  the  extreme  jealousy  of  the 
enemy,  and  not  from  any  indisposition  to  appreciate  their  merits  in  the  most 
liberal  manner;  a  sentuncnt  vvhich  f  have  held  on  every  occasion,  and  pubr 
lickly  marked  it  in  all  my  foi-mer  dispatches. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c.     ilOIME  POPIIAM. 

Fiiri  Biicnox  Ayrts,  Auguat  12,  1805. 

The  iBritish  General  having  no  further  object  for  remaining  in  Buenos 
Ayres,  and  to  avoid  »n  unnecessary  clfusioaof  blood,  as  also  the  destructiiyu 
of  the  property  of  the  inhabitants  of  tliis  city,  consents  to  deliver  up  t!ie 
fort  of  Buenos  Ayres  to  the  Commander  of  His  Catholic  Majesty's  forces  oa 
the  following  conditions ; 

Art.  I.  The  British  troops  to  march  out  with  all  the  honours  of  war,  t9 
he  considered  as  prisoners  of  war,  but  to  be  embarked  as  soon  as  possible  oa 
board  the  Britisii  transports  now  m  the  river,  to  be  conveyed  to  England,  oc 
the  stations  where  they  came  from. 

II.  The  British,  on  their  entrance  into  this  place,  made  many  Spanish 
prisoners  of  war,  which  rem.ained  on  their  parole;  and  as  the  number  of 
olficers  is  much  greater  on  one  side,  and  of  men  on  the  other,  it  is  agreed 
that  the  wliolc  shall  be  exclianged  for  the  whole,  the  English  trm.sports  re- 
liirning  to  the  place  of  their  destination  as  cartels,  and  to  be  guaranteed  as 
such  by  the  Spanish  gcivernraent  from  capture  on  the  voyage. 

III.  Provisions  will  be  furnished  for  the  passage  of  tlie  English  troops, 
according  to  the  usual  custom  in  like  cases. 

IV.  .Such  wounderl  of  the  Biinsli  troops  as  cannot  be  removed  on  board 
of  sliip,  shall  remain  in  the  hospitals  at  Buenos  Ayres,  either  under  charge  ot 
the  Spanish  or  British  Surgeons,  at  the  option  of  the  British  General,  aui 
shall  be  furnished  with  every  thing  necessary;  and,  on  their  recovery,  sent 
lo  Great  Britain, 

V.  'I'he  property  of  all  English  subjects  in  Buenos  Ayres  to  be  ron 
spected. 

(Signed)  W.  C.  BERESFORD,  Maj.  Gen. 

(Considido)        SANTIACiO  LINIERS. 
Il£turn  qfKUltd,  Wounded,  and  Mhwiii,  of  the  T  oops  under  the  Cornand 
ofJfajor-GcaeraL  BeresJordJ'rom  the  10th  to  tht  I2th  of  Avgust,  at  Buenos 
Ai/rts. 

Royal  Engineers— 1  Captain,  killed. 

Koyal  Artillery— 3  rank  and  tile,  killed ;  1  Captain,  1  Lieutenant,  Q.  rank 
and  file,  wounded. 
St.  Helena  Artillery— 9  rank  and  flip,  killed;  1  SerjcJuit,  13  rank  aad  file, 

■VOUi}Jl:d. 


86  XATAL    HISTORY    OF    IME    PRESENT  YKAR,   1807*. 

Drivers — 1  rank  and  file,  wounded. 

71st  reg. — 1  Lieutenant,  1  herjeant,  1  Drummer,  24  rank  and  file,killed; 
1  Colonel,  1  Lieutenant,  2  Ensigns,  5  Serjeants,  67  rank  and  file,  wounded; 
1  Serjeant,  missing. 

Royal  Marines — 6  rank  and  file,  killed;  i  Captain,  I  Serjeant,  5  ranlc 
and  file,  wounded ;  8  rank  and  file,  missing. 

St.  Helena  Reg. —  1  Serjeant,  1  rank  and  file, killed;  1  Lieutenant,  4  rank 
and  file,  wounded;   1  rank  and  file,  missing. 

Total. — 1  Captain,  1  Lieutenant,  2  Serjeants,  1  Drummer,  43  rank  and 
fdc,  killed;  1  Colonel,  2  Captains,  3  Lieutenants,  2  Ensigns,  7  Serjeants, 
92  rank  and  file,  wounded;   1  Serjeant,  ?  rank  and  file,  missing. — 144. 

N.  B.  5  men  of  the  71st,  three  men  of  the  companies  of  .Artiller}',  1  Roval 
Marine,  1  of  the  St.  Helena  Regiment. — Total  1  0— dead  since  going  int« 
the  hospital. 

Officers  Killed. 

Hoyal  Engineers — Captain  Kennett. 

71st  Reginient — Lieutenant  \V.  Mitchell. 

Officers  Wonmled, 

Royal  Artillery — Captain  Ogilvic  ancii  Lieutenant  M'Donald. 

7 1st  Reg. — Lieutenant-Colonel  Pack ;  Lieutenant  Murray  ;  Ensigns  CouseJ 
and  Lucas,  (since  dead.) 

Royal  Marines — Captain  IMackenzie. 

St.  Helena  Reg.— Lieutenant  Sampson. 

ALEX.  FORBES,  r!rigadc-:Maior. 
SIR,  Diadem,  liio  dc  la  Plata,  Oct.  9,  1806. 

On  the  5th  instant,  off  Lobes,  we  fell  in  with  the  Rollo,  having  a  detacli-i 
ment  of  the  SSth  on  board  ;  she  sailed  frcnn  the  Cape  in  company  with  the 
Melantho,  which  was  to  the  westward  of  her.  I  took  tlic  troops  out  of  the 
Roilo,  and  sent  her  to  Rio  Grande,  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  any  tlour 
or  biscuit,  and  ascertaining  whether  any  quantity  of  the  latter  could  be  baked 
there. 

On  the  6th  we  returned  to  this  anchorage,  where  we  foimd  tlie  Protector, 
with  the  Adamant  and  Columbine  transj.'orts,  having  on  board  detachments 
of  the  SSth,  and  the  Diadem  victualler,  1  lost  no  time  in  ordering  all  the 
men  of  war  to  coinpiete  their  provisions  to  three  months,  for  fear  of  any  ac- 
cident happening  to  the  victualler. 

On  the  7th,  in  the  evening,  the  Medusa  joined,  with  four  of  the  Lancas- 
ter's convoy  ;  and  Captain  Bouverie  reported,  that  the  Lancaster  was  to  the 
eastward  with  the  remaining  two  ships,  haviiig  the  preceding  night  parted 
their  cables.  The  Leda  joined  the  same  evening,  and  Captain  Hoiiyinaii 
reported,  that  he  had  detained  a  Danislj  ship  bound  to  Monte  \  ideo,  having 
on  board  the  Governor  of  Valdivia. 

I  intended  to  have  dispatched  the  Wellington  th.is  evening,  but  Colonel 
Vassal  particularly  requested  I  would  detain  her  till  the  arrival  of  the  Lan- 
caster, as  Colonel  Backhouse  was  a  ^nior  Lieutenant-Colonel  to  himself, 
and,  succeeding  adventitiously  to  the  command  of  the  army,  he  would  na- 
turally be  desirous  of  making;  a  report  to  the  Duke  of  York  of  the  state  of 
his  force,  and  the  arrangements  he  had  made. 

The  weather  was  so  hazy,  and  the  current  so  strong  to  the  southward, 
that  the  Lancaster  did  not  join  till  the  12th,  in  the  evening,  on  the  following 
day;  as  it  appeared  to  me,  tiiat  the  commanding  otticer  of  the  troops  in- 
tended to  make  his  first  attempt  on  INlonte  \'ideo,  and  was  anxious  to  see 
that  place,  I  directed  Captain  Rowlev  to  take  all  the  transports  to  Llores 
Bay,  and  proceeded  on  the  14th  ot^"  Monte  \'ideo,  and  then  to  Flores,  w  here 
■vve  arrived  on  the  15th,  in  the  morning. 

From  the  1.5th  to  the  27th,  it  blew  so  hard,  that  nothing  could  he  at- 
tempted. On  the  2Sth,  in  the  morning,  the  wind  was  easterly,  ami 
every  circumstance  as  favaurable  as  possible  to  try  tjie  experiment ;  and 
as  the  Pilots  assured  us  a  flat  ruu  off  from  the  rocks  of  the  town  lor  ;; 


NAVAL   mSTOUY    OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1807.  87 

jrinile,  makins^  precisely  the.  same  Avater  alonosidc  of  them  as  at  that  dis- 
tance, I  ordered  Captaiu  I'dnionds,  who  a  cry  handsomely  rci|uestcd  to 
remain  till  the  experiment  was  tried,  ancfto  command  the  leadinc;;  trans- 
)»ort,  not  to  attend  to  the  ostensible  orders  of  leading  do^vn  in  three 
fathom,  bnt  to  haul  in  (ill  lie  had  small  (jiiarter  less  tiuee,  to  ascertain 
■whether  the  flat  really  run  otV as  described,  or  not.  Captain  Kdmonds 
will  explain  the  circunistauce  fully  to  their  J<ordships :  he  borrowed  as 
near  the  shore  as  he  could,  lor  the  safely  of  the  frij^ales,  and  then  was 
only  within  random  shot,  and  therefore  1  would  not  let  the  Lcda  '^o 
down  a  second  time;  for  unless  the  ships  could  have  tjot  well  witliiti 
point  blank  shot,  there  w  as  no  chance  of  making-  a  breach  for  the  armv 
to  land  in  the  town.  Although  the  enemy  fired  for  more  than  an  hour 
on  our  ships,  in  consequence  of  there  bein;;-  but  little  wind,  1  am  happy 
to  inform  you  that  only  one  man  Mas  wounded. 

As  I  now  saw  it  was  impossible  to  get  close  enough  in  to  make  any 
breach  in  the  south  Mall  with  the  men  of  war,  1  proposed  to  Colonel, 
Uackhousc  to  take  Maldonado,  which  I  should  have  attempted  early  iu 
the  winter,  if  the  marines  had  not  been  left  at  Buenos  Avres. 

Maldonado  is  an  excellent  harbour,  where  the  fleet  can  water,  and  get 
bullocks,  which  now  really  become  very  necessary  to  recruit  our  men. 

The  island  Gorrctti,  which  forms  the  harbour  of  Maldonado,  is  venr 
strong  ;  and  after  the  troops  are  landed  to  take  the  village,  and  the  bat- 
teries on  the  sea  coast  in  re\erse,  1  shall  propose  to  take  the  island  by 
the  Navy,  provided  it  docs  not  surrtnider  to  my  sununons. 

1  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

HOME  POFIIAM. 
D'uidcm,  Mahhnaih)  Harlmir,  Rio  de  lu  Plata, 
SIR,  Ocloicr  30,  lij()6. 

I  considered  it  right  to  take  possession  of  the  harbour  of  Maldonado, 
as  a  safe  anchorage  for  the  ships  now  iu  the  river,  and  those  expected  to 
arrive,  independent  of  the  supplies  which  that  district  could  so  abun- 
dantly furnish  us  with. 

1,  therefore,  request  that  you  will  inform  my  Lords  Commissioners  of 
the  Admiralty,  that  the  moment  I  satisfied  Ijrigadier-lieneral  Backhouse 
of  the  expediency  of  the  measure,  no  time  was  lost  in  moving  part  of  the 
38th  regiment  to  the  Lcda  and  Medusa,  when  they  accompanied  the 
Diadem  to  this  place. 

'J'he  frigates  anchored  about  five  oclock  yesterday  evening,  to  the 
westward  of  the  westernmost  battery;  and  Captain  Honeyman  informed 
Tne  by  telegraph,  that  the  beach  was  smooth,  and  that  the  debarkation 
could  be  easily  covered. 

At  six,  the  troops  from  the  Diadem  assembled  alonjiside  tiiR  Lcda,  and 
a  landing  was  immediately  etlccted,  without  any  opposition  ;  but,  as  I  tliought 
it  possible  that  the  enemy  might  have  a  greater  force  than  he  sliowcd  on  tlve 
iiills,  and  its  the  nearest  transport  was  yet  some  distance  from  the  road?,  I 
ordered  the  marines  of  the  Medusa,  and  a  conipuny  of  blues,  from  each 
sliip,  to  be  landed,  to  support  the  army,  who  enteied,  and  took  possession  of 
tiie  village  of  Maldonado  betbre  eight  o'clock. 

This  morning  I  sent  a  summons  to  the  fortified  Island  of  Gorrctti,  which 
forms  this  harbour;  and  I  enclose,  for  tlieir  Lordships'  information,  a  copy 
(jf  it,  with  liicCorauKUidant's  answer,  and  my  reply,  which  wasaccoiuj-anitd 
by  an  assin-anee,  tliroui^h  Lieutenant  Wiseman,  of  iht  Diadem,  who  was 
cinpluycd  on  triis  service,  that  I  would  not  hoUl  any  further  comumiiication 
with  hill),  until  Ilis  iMajcbty's  colours,  wliicii  I  sent  tur  that  purpose,  were 
hoisted  on  the  fort. 

This  proposition  was  acceded  to,  and  the  Spanish  pr'S(jners  were  inune- 
dialciy  emljarkcd;  eoiislsiing  of  one  Captain,  two  Lieutenants,  one  Ensign, 
and  one  hundied  and  four  men. 

Gorrctti  is  a  very  strong  position,  defended  by  twentv  twcnfy-ftu'r- 
pounders  in  four   batteries,  so  placed,  as  to  command  the  roudstead,  the 


Sg  WAVAL  HISTOUY   OF  THE   PRESENT   YF.AR,    1807. 

*?astcrn  passage  between  it,  and  the  peninsula;  and  the  only  two  practical 
beaches  I'or  landing. 

The  troops  were  disemharked  as  they  arrived,  and  the  transports  or- 
dered to  be  watered  as  fust  as  possible,  and  held  in  readiness  for  any 
other  service. 

It  is  impossible  for  me  to  conclude  this  dispatch  without  assuring  their 
lordships,  that  I  continue  to  receive  the  most  cordial  assistance  from  every 
©fficer  and  n.an  in  the  squadron  under  my  command:  nor  could  I  observe 
the  least  abatement  of  their  zeal,  under  niatiy  considerable  privations  which 
they  experienced  during  the  whole  of  this  winter. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

HOME  POPHAM. 
Jlet'tryy  of  Ordnance  taken  in  the  Island  of  Go7retti. 
Twenty  twenty-four- pounders,  mounted  on  field  carriages,  side-arms,  and 
ammunition,  complete;    four  twenty-four   pounders,  not  mounted;    two 
hundred  stand  of  arms;  and  various  otlier  small  articles. 

HOME  POPHAM.    • 

His  Britannic  Majesty's  Ship  Diadem^ 

STR^  Rio  de  la  Plata,  October  S0,.1806. 

His  Britannic  Majesty's  forces  are  in  possession  of  Maldonado,  and  witli 

n  view  to  save  time,  as  the  General  is  on  shore,  I  summon  you  to  surrender 

the  Island  of  Gorretti. 

Any  oppoition  on  your  part,  to  such  a  force  as  is  now  in  this  bay,  must 
1)6  fruitless;  and  if  you  do  not  allow  the  ofticer  who  is  charged  with  this 
letter  to  hoist  His  Majesty's  colo'irs  at  the  fort,  and  trust  to  tiie  known  libe- 
ralit}'  of  the  British  nation,  you  will  have  to  answer  for  all  tiie  serious  and 
inevitable  consequences  of  an  attack,  whenever  the  General  and  myself 
think  it  expedient  to  make  one. 

HOME  POPHAM. 
To  the  Commandant  of  the  Island  of  Gorretti. 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Dicdem,  Rio  de  la  Platdf 
SIR,  October  30,  1806. 

The  Island  must  surrender  immediately. 

The  British  nation  always  treats  its  prisoners  with  honour  and  liberality. 
Private  property  is  held  sacred  by  British  officers. 

The  Spanish  officers  and  men  at  Gorretti  shall  immediately  join  the  pri« 
soners  already  taken. 

HOME  POPHA^I. 
To  the  Commandaid  of  the  Island  of  Gorretti. 

TRANSLATION. 

SIR, 

The  honour  of  the  Spanish  arms  not  permitting  me  to  surrender  at  dis- 
cretion, as  you  desire  by  your  letter  which  you  sent  me,  dated  the  30th 
instant,  I  trust  you  will  grant  me  the  terms  which  accompany  this,  to 
vindicate  my  honour  with  my  superiors.  Our  Lord  preserve  you  many 
years. 

Island  of  Gorretti,  30th  October,  1806. 
Terms  made  in  the  Island  of  Gorretti,  the  30th  October,  1806. 

I.  The  garrison  to  march  out  with  all  military  honours,  keeping  their 
arms,  and  the  officers,  Serjeants,  and  corporals,  their  swords. 

II.  All  their  effects  to  be  embarked,  and  carried  to  the  main  by  the  Bri- 
tlsli  boats,  there  not  being  any  in  the  Island. 

III.  The  garrison  to  be  permitted  to  proceed  to  Monte  Video,  on  con- 
dition of  not  bearing  arms  until  exchanged. 

I\^  The  remains  of  artillery  and  stores  shall  faithfully  be  delivered  up. 
V.  No  person  to  be  permitted  to  enter  the  Island  before  it  is  evacuated 
except  those  intended  to  take  possession, 

AUGUSTIN  DE  LERGS, 
To  the  General  of  Great  Britain, 


CALBER    BAjRT 


iUlMktd  Feb-'  ^.S^'WOJ,  hJGoUil03.  Sh>eLan£.FUet  Street. 


BIOGBAPIIICAL  MEMOIR   Of 

SIR  ROBERT   CALDER,   JJart. 

VICE-ADMIUAL   OF   THK  MllITE  SQUADUON. 


"  Now  I  behold  thexliiefs,   in  the  pride  of  their  former  deeds  !    Their  souls 
are  kindled  at  the  battles  of  old,  and  the  actions  of  other  times." — O^sian. 

TTN  attempting  to  trace  the  professional  life  of  Sir  Robert 
-^  Calder^  we  again  tind  ourselves  acting  under  the  pressure 
of  circumstances  rather  delicate  than  pleasurable.  It  has  eviT 
been  our  wish  to  regard  the  Naval  Chkonicle  as  a  depo- 
sitory of  factS;,  as  a  register  of  honourable  and  heroic  transac- 
jions.  Without  any  bias  to,  or  aversion  from,,  political  parties, 
our  unremitting  endeavonrs  have  been,  to  "  speak  the  plain  and 
simple  truth/'  to  bestow  the  pahn  where  it  may  have  been 
deserved,  and  to  render  justice  to  the  professional  merits  of  all 
Mien.  Our  opinion  strictly  accords  w  ith  tlie  sentiment  so  oi'tcn 
expressed,  and  inculcated  by  the  late  gallant  Lord  Rodney, 
*'  that  our  naval  officers  have  nothing  to  do  with  parties  or 
politics,  being  simply  bound  to  carry  their  instructions  into 
execjLition,  to  the  best  of  their  abilities,  without  deliberating 
about  men  and  measures,  which  forms  no  part  of  tlipir  duty,  and 
for  which  they  are  in  no  degree  responsible.-'  I  nder  the 
indtience  of  this  opinion,  it  matters  not  to  us,  whether  tui 
officer  be  a  whig  or  a  tory,  an  adherent  to  the  ministry  or  to  the 
opposition ;  provided  he  perforni  his  duty,  to  his  own,  and  to 
his  country's  honour, 

Had  it  not  been  for  the  rccordhig  pages  of  our  Chronicle, 
jnauy  a  briliiunt  achievement,  condemned 

"  To  dull  forgelfainess  a  prey," 

would  hvivc  been  suffered  to  glide  down  the  Ptrcam  of  oblivion. 
In  conducting  this  work,  it  has  been  onr  undeviatiug  a'ni, 
rather  to  display  excellence^,  than  to  search  for  defects ;  to 
preserve  the  memory  of  an  heroic  exploit,  atid  to  clear  it  from 
the  obscuring  rubbish  by  which  it  might   be   sturoundtd^   than 


90  uiOGnArTiicAt-  jiemoik  of 

to  toil  in  the  exposure  of  a  casual  lapse  of  judgment,  to  wliirh 
all  men  are  liable,  or  to  assist  in  casting  a  veil  over  the  efforts 
of  genuine  merit. 

^  From  the  satisfaction  which  such  a  mode  of  proceeding  has 
given,  we  are  encouraged  to  advance  in  our  labours  ;  and, 
without  meaning  to  oftend  anif,  Ave  would  willingly  afford 
satisfaction  to  ad; — but  not  at  the  expense  of  our  integrity. 

These  preliminary  remarks  have  been  elicited,  from  a  know-' 
ledge  that,  while  many  consider  the  sentence  of  a  late  Court- 
Martial  upon  Sir  Robert  Caldcr,  as  a  lenient  infliction  of  justice, 
others  regard  that  officer,  not  merely  as  innocent,  but  as 

"  A  great  man  struijgling  with  tlie  storms  of  fate," 

and  meriting  the  warmest  eulogiums  from  his  country. 

When  we  come  to  that  part  of  Sir  Robert  Calder's  life  here 
alluded  to,  we  shall  make  no  effort  to  glo^s  over  the  business  ; 
nor,  considering  how  recently  they  have  been  before  the  public, 
shall  we  much  enlarge  upon  the  facts.  Some  points,  however, 
in  addition  to  those  which  have  already  appeared  in  our 
Ghronicle,  remain  to  be  stated;  but,  in  noticing  them,  we 
shall  most  studiously  refrain  from  obtruding  any  opinion  of  our 
own.  To  the  old  law  maxim,  audi  alteram  partem,  we  shall 
as  studiously  adhere. 

The  Calders,  of  ISIuirtown,  in  the  County  of  Moray,  fiom 
whom  the  subject  of  this  memoir  is  descended,  have  been 
settled,  for  several  centuries,  in  the  northern  division  of  our 
island.  Tradition  states,  that,  being  much  in  favour  with  King 
James  the  lid,  while  Duke  of  York,  and  possessing  great 
wealth,  they  advanced  a  large  sum  of  money  to  His  Royal 
Highness,  which  he  embarked  in  commercial  speculations;  the 
whole  of  which,  to  the  irreparable  loss  of  the  Calders,  were 
overthrown  by  the  subsequent  revolution.  The  only  rclick,  we 
believe,  of  iheir  family  possessions  in  that  quarter,  is  a  house 
now  standing  on  the  north  side  of  the  High,  or  Middle  Street, 
at  Klgin.  Of  this  house  it  is  idly  related,  that  it  was  built  soon 
after  the  return  of  the  crusaders  from  the  Holy  Land ;  and  that 
its  turrets  were  erected  in  express  imitation  of  the  minarets,  so 


Slk    ROBERT    CALUER,    BART.  fll 

prevalent  in  the  East.  Whcllier  the  Calder  family  possessed  a 
house,  occupying  the  site  of  the  present,  at  tlie  period  alluded 
to,  is  a  point  which  we  shall  leave  to  the  determination  of 
antiquaries  ;  but,  with  respect  to  the  mansion  now  standing,  th© 
fact  is,  that  it  was  built  by  lliomas  Calder,  the  great  great 
grandfather  of  the  present  Baronet,  in  the  year  \66'J  *. 

Sir  James  Calder,  whose  great  grandfather  had  been  created 
a  Scotch  Baronet  in  the  year  1  (J8(),  came  over  to  England  in 
the  early  part  of  the  last  century,  and  settled  in  Kent,  where  he 
possessed  a  small  estate,  and  acted  for  several  years  as  a  m.igis- 
Irate.  He  had  the  good  fortune  to  acquire  the  notice  and 
patronage  of  his  countryman,  the  Earl  of  Bute,  through  whose 
influence  he  was  nominated  one  of  the  gentlemen  ushers  of  the 
privy  chamber  to  Her  present  Majesty  ;  an  appointment  which 
he  appears  to  have  retained  from  1 701  to  1774.  Long  pre- 
viously to  this,  however.  Sir  James  had  married  a  daughter  of 
the  late  Rear- Admiral  Robert  Hughes,  by  whom  he  had  sevett 
children. 

Robert,  to  whose  professional  services  the  present  memoir  is 
devoted,  was  the  fourth  son  of  this  marriage.  He  was  born  at 
Park  Place,  on  the  2d  of  July,  1745  ;  and  received  his  educa- 
tion at  the  neighbouring  town  of  Maidstone,  in  the  inancdiate 
vicinity  of  his  father's  house. 

In  fixing  upon  the  Navy,  as  his  future  profession,  it  is  not 
inilikely  that  the  minds  of  his  parents  were  influenced,  in  some 
degree,  by  the  circumstance  of  his  maternal  grandfather  f  being 


*  111  the  Gentlrman^i  'Maguzine,  for  I\I;irch,  180?,  there  is  ;i  vicu-  of  this 
biiildine,  wliich  was  taken  fur  Sir  Ruhert  Calder  in  1802;  accompanied  by 
some  historical,  i^enea!()i:;icai,  and  descriptive  particulars.  The  h  )Mse  now 
forms  two  distinct  hnhirations.  The  arms  of  Cftlder,  which  formerly 
appeared  o\er  one  of  the  doors,  were  taken  down  sunie  years  ago  by  the 
father  of  the  present  proprietor. 

t  This  s^entlcnian,  (the  late  Rear-Admira!  Robert  Tlnsihcs,)  accordinsitw 
Churnock-,  was  commander  of  the  Shark  sloop  in  17-14- ;  and,  ou  the  2d  of 
April,  1745,  he  was  promoted  to  ^b"  Kini;ston,  a  50  i^un  ship,  to  which  be 
was  rc-com  nissioned  two  years  afterwards.  In  17-18,  he  was  appointed  to 
the  Tilbury  ;  in  1751  to  the  Dcptford,  of  60  ;:vins;  and,  inmiedi;-ttely  l)ofore 
the  cummeaccineiit  of  tliC  war,  in  ITsci,  he  couamindcJ  the  Pwrt  Mahon 


S2  BIOOnAPIllCAL    MTOtOIR    OF 

in  tbat  service.  Robert  w as  clesiiHed  for  the  sea  at  a  vcrv  early 
period;  and,  in  17o9,  \\hen  only  fourteen  ye?,rs  of  age,  he 
commenced  his  nautical  progress,  under  the  command  of  Ci-p- 
tain,  afterwards  Admiral,  Sawyer.  This,  we  believe,  was  in  the 
Chesterfield,  of  40  guns^  as  Captain  Sawyer  had  been  appointed 
to  that  ship  on  the  G6th  of  December,  IJJS.  Captain  Sawyer, 
however,  was  soon  afterwards  removed  into  the  Active  frigate, 
and  ordered  into  the  Mediterranean ;  where,  after  the  com- 
mencement of  hostilities  with  Spain,  in  1702,  he  fell  in  M-ith, 
and  captured  the  Hermione,  a  Spanish  register  ship^  reported  to 
have  been  one  of  the  richest  vessels  ever  taken.  He  continued 
in  the  ]SIediterranean  during  the  remainder  of  the  war  ;  and  it  is 
probable  that  Mr.  Calder  contmucd  with  him;  but  of  this  we 
are  not  certain  *. 

friiiate.  From  the  lasr-ine<itioi)ed  siiip  he  was,  in  the  month  of  April  suc- 
ceedinjf,  promoted  to  the  Augusta.  In  June,  he  removed  into  the  Berwick, 
of  70  i^uns.  He  continued  iu  that  sliip  till  die  year  1758,  at  the  beginning 
of  which  he  was  employed  on  the  xJeiiiterranean  station,  under  the  com- 
jnand  of  Admiral  O-jborue.  On  tlie  last  day  of  February,  in  that  year,  he 
assisted  in  the  defeat  and  capture  of  the  small  French  squadron  under  the 
IMaiquis  de  Quesne.  On  his  rtturn  to  England,  some  months  after,  he  was 
appointed  Commodore  of  a  squadron,  coasisthig  of  cigiit  ships  of  the  line,- 
and  ordered  to  the  West  Indies  for  the  purpose  of  reinforcing  Commodore 
Moore,  and  enabling  him  to  attack  the  (liferent  islands  and  colonies  in  that 
quarter.  He  hoifted  his  broad  pendant  on  board  the  Norfolk,  of  74  guns, 
and  sailed  from  S[)ithcad  on  the  lOili  of  November,  having  a  fleet  of  store- 
shins  and  traii'^ports,  with  six  regiments  of  infantry  on  board,  under  ht» 
convoy.  He  arrived  safelv  at  Barbac'ocs,  with  tlie  whole  squadron,  on  the 
Sd  of  January,  1750,  Commodore  Moore  having  been  some  time  there 
waiting  to  receive  him.  {Vide  Naval  Ciiuomcle,  Vol.  Ill,  page  4o9, 
et  seq.) 

The  object  of  Cnramodore  Moore's  expedition  having  been  completed, 
Captain  Huiihes  was  ordered  back  toEnglaiid,  with  the  convoy  of  troops, 
^'c.  in  the  month  of  June;  and,  soon  after  his  return,  he  was  appointed  to 
the  Kin^-ton,  in  which  he  ctnuinued  but  a  very  short  tisce.  At  the  latter 
end  of  1763,  he  was.  appointed  to  the  Dorsetshire,  of  70  guns,  one  of  the 
gunrd  ships  stationed  at  Portsmouth,  where  he  remained  for  the  usual 
period  of  three  years,  but  is  not  known  to  have  enjoyed  any  subsequent 
command.  On  ilie  13th  of  October,  1770,  he  was  advanced  to  the  rank  of 
Rcar-Adiairai  of  the  Red  Squadron  ;  and  died  at  Bath,  without  experiencing 
any  farther  proniotion,  on  the  19th  of  January,  177-1. 

*  'i'he  p-uticulaES  vvLicU  ate  kiajv,-;s  4;eipecting  the  J  ate  Admiral  Ilerb-ert 


SIR    ROCF.ET    CALDEK.    BART.  93 

It  seldom  happens,  that,  in  the  gubordiiiate  capacity  of  a 
Midshipman,  a  youth  can  have  mucli  opportunity  of  distin- 
guishing himself;  notwithstanding  which,  the  reader  generally 

Sawyer,  are  not  very  numerous.  He  received  his  commission  as  Lieutenant 
on  the  4th  of  March,  17.56  ;  from  which  time,  until  his  appointment  to  the 
Ciiesterfield,  above  mentioned,  nothing  is  known  respecting  him.  When 
he  captured  the  Ilermione,  tJie  Favourite  sloop  of  war,  then  commanded 
by  tlie  late  Captain  Pownal,  was  in  company  ;  a  circumstance  which 
greatly  reduced  the  amount  of  his  prize-money,  as  the  Favourite  was 
entitled  to  an  equal  share.  His  good  fortune  also  sustained  a  second 
diminution,  by  a  parole  agreement  entered  into  with  a  brother  officer, 
(Captain  Mcdows,  afterwards  Lord  Viscount  Pierrepoint,)  that  they  should 
share  with  each  other  whatever  prizes  were  made  during  their  continuance 
on  a  foreign  station;  an  engagement  which  Captain  Sawyer  most  strictly 
fulfilled.  Early  in  the  year  1777,  the  dispute  with  America  having  com« 
menccd,  and  a  rupture  with  France  appearing  probable.  Captain  Sawyer 
was  appointed  to  the  Boyne,  of  70  guns.  After  being  employed  f)r  some 
time  ai  a  cruiser  on  the  Home  Station,  he  was  ordered  to  the  West  Indies, 
where  he  served  with  the  highest  reputation  and  credit,  fir^t  under  Ptear- 
Admiral  Barrington,  and  afterwards  under  Vice-Adiniral  Byron.  In  ilie 
action  ofFGronadn,  with  the  French  fleet  under  de  la  Motte  Piquet,  he  was 
amongst  the  first  who  got  up  with  the  enemy ;  but,  notwithstanding  the 
spirited  manner  in  wliich  he  supported  Rear-Admiral  Barrington,  and  Cap- 
tain Gardner,  in  making  the  attack,  his  ship  lost  fewer  men  than  that  of 
either  of  those  otiicers,  having  only  twelve  killed,  antl  thirty  wounded. 

During  the  latter  part  of  1780,  and  in  the  succeeding  year,  Captuia 
Sawyer  commanded  the  Namur,  of  90  guns,  one  of  the  ships  ijciungin;:  to 
the  Channel  fleet.  In  ]\Iarch,  1781,  he  accompanied  V'ice-Adiniral  Dar.by 
on  his  expedition  for  the  relief  tif  Gibraltar,  and  was  stationed  in  the  line  as 
one  of  the  seconds  to  Sir  John  Luckhart  Ross.  CaptHin  Sawyer  quitted  tha 
Namur,  when  that  ship  was  ordered  to  the  Wfcst  Indies  at  the  end  of  the 
year  1781,  and  held  no  other  command  ti!lthe  beginning  of  170S,  when  he 
was  appoiuted  to  the  Bombay  Castle.  This  ship  was  one  of  those  reta;*ictl 
in  commission,  as  a  guard  ship  at  Plymouth,  where  Captain  Sawyer  con- 
tinued till  the  end  of  the  year  1785.  After  quitting  the  Bombay  Ca-xie, 
be  held  no  subsequent  commission  as  a  private  Captain;  but  was  soiui 
at'terw.nrds  appointed  Commodore  and  Communder  in  Chief  on  the 
Halifax  station.  On  the  'Mth  of  September,  1788,  while  absent,  he  wa» 
promoted  to  the  rank  of  Rcar-Admiral  of  the  White  squadron  ;  on  tNe 
21st  of  September,  1790,  he  was  made  I'ear-Admiral  cf  the  Rfd  ;  on 
the  1st  of  February,  1793,  V^ce  of  the  Blue;  on  the  K'th  of  April,  I79i, 
Vice  of  the  White  ;  on  the  4th  of  July  folicwing,  Vice  of  the  Red  ;  and  on 
the  1st  of  June^  1795,  Admiral  of  the  I'ilue.  He  died  at  Eaiii,  in  tliC 
tnoiith  of  .Tune,  1793,  not  Laving  held  aoy  cciumand  during  t!.v  iuttcr 
jears  of  hi?  life. 


94  felOGRAPIflCAL    MEMOIR    OP 

likes  to  be  informed,  as  to  the  nature  of  the  service  in  which  the 
probationer  for  a  Post  Captain's  commission  is  employed. 
Respecting  Mr.  Calder,  the  probability  is,  as  we  have  just 
remarked,  that  he  remained  with  Captain  Sawyer  till  the  close 
of  the  war  ;  but  we  hear  nothing  farther  of  him  till  the  year 
1766,  when  we  find  him  serving  as  Lieutenant  of  the  Essex,  of 
64  guns,  then  under  the  command  of  the  honourable  Captain 
George  Faulkner.  It  has  been  stated,  but  we  cannot  vouch  for 
the  correctness  of  our  authority,  that,  with  Captain  Faulkner, 
ISlr.  Calder  proceeded  to  the  West  Indies.  Mr.  Charnock 
informs  us,  that  that  gentleman  was  appointed  to  the  Essex,  in 
the  year  1764,  and  ordered  out  to  the  coast  of  Africa.  It  is 
possible,  indeed,  that  he  might  have  returned,  and  that  he  might 
subsequently,  in  17G6,  sail  for  the  West  Indies;  in  which  case 
the  above  statement  may  be  authentic  *. 

*  We  shall  liere  subjoin  a  short  account  of  Captain  Faulkner. — The  fust 
of  this  family  on  record  is  Walter  de  Loncorp,  whose  son  llanulph,  being 
falconer  to  King  William  the  Lion,  obtained  a  charter  of  the  huids  of 
Luthra  and  Balbcgno,  in  the  county  of  Kincardin.  whicii,  r  cm  his  oflice, 
were  named  Halkerton,  and  the  family  called  rulconcr,  which  for  many 
years  was  honoured  witli  knitihthood.  George  Faulkner,  or  Falconer,  the 
subject  of  this  note,  was  the  fifth  and  youngest  son  of  Da%'id,  fourth  Lord 
IJalkerton,  and  the  Lady  Catherine  Keith,  daughter  tu  William,  second 
Earl  of  Kintore.  Having  entered  into  the  lloyal  Navy,  he  was  made  a 
Lieutenant  on  the  ICth  of  February,  1744-5 ;  and  Commander  on  tlie  10th  of 
November,  1756.  Between  the  latter  period,  and  that  of  April  27, 1762,  when 
he  was  advanced  to  the  rank  of  Post  Captain,  he  for  some  time  commanded 
a  vacht,  and  afterwards  the  Diligence  sloop.  lie  was  made  Post  in  the 
Captain,  of  sixty-four  guns,  a  ship  soon  afterwards  ordered  to  be  paid  ofF 
and  broken  up.  Before  t!ie  close  of  the  year  1762,  Captain  Faulkner  was 
appointed  to  the  Juno  frigate,  of  32  guns.  After  the  cessation  of  hostilities 
lie  proceeded  to  Lisbon,  and,  returning  from  tiience  in  1764,  was  promoted 
to  the  ]■!s^e;i,  as  already  stated.  In  1775,  he  was  appohited  to  the  Mars, 
of  74  guns,  one  of  the  guard-ships  stationed  in  the  Medway  ;  and,  after  tiie 
dispute  had  commenced  with  the  American  colonies,  he  was  one  of  the  oftl- 
cers  ordered  to  cruise  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  and  olf  tiie  coast  of  France,  for 
the  protection  of  Britis'i  commerce,  and  the  annoyance  of  that  of  America, 
Whilst  thus  occupied,  the  only  success  he  is  known  to  have  met  with,  was 
the  capture  of  an  American  merchant  brig,  in  the  month  of  October  1777, 
bound  tium  Charlestown  to  Bourdeaux,  with  a  cargo  of  inconsideralilc 
value.  It  was,  we  believe,  in  the  course  of  this  year  that  ihe  Mars  was  blown 
out  of  the  Downs,   and  narrowly  escaped  foundering.    The  Mars  was  after- 


SIR  ROBERT  CALDER,  BART.  95 

From  this  period,  however,  until  the  !27th  of  August,  1780, 
when  he  was  made  Post,  we  are  wholly  unacquainted  with  the 
professional  services  of  Captain  Calder. 

In  the  interim  (May  1,  1779)  he  married  Amelia,  the  only 
daughter  of  John  Michell,  of  Baytichi,  in  Norfolk,  Ksi^.,  late 
M. P.  for  Boston,  in  Lincolnshire*.  This  lady  is  still  living  ; 
but  we  are  not  aware  that  the  marriage  has  been  productive  of 
any  issue. 

The  newly  published  Volume  of  Public  Cliaracters  says : — 
"  In  178-2  we  find  him  (Captain  Calder)  cotnmaudiiig  the 
Diana,  which  served  as  a  repeating  frigate  to  Admiral  Kenipeu- 
fclt,  in  1782,  at  that  disastrous  period  when  Sir  Charles  Hardy 
deemed  it  prudent  to  withdraw  widi  the  British,  fleet  from  before 
the  combmed  squadrons  of  France  and  Spain,  by  hauling  in 
between  the  Wolf  Bock  and  die  ISIain,  so  as  to  open  thu 
British  Channel.  Oii  litis  occasion  Captain  Calder,  icho 
belonged  to  the  rear  diviaion,  zc'aa  uitltin  a  mile  of  one  of  the 
tnemy\  tzoo-dcckers,  and  might  have  been  sunk,  if  that  ship 
had  fired  a  broadside ;  but,  as  if  indignant  at  the  event 
alluded  to,  lie  refused  to  retire  icitk  a  Kings  ship,  until 
expressly  ordered  hi/  signal" 

Passing  over  the  extreme  absurdity  of  the  latter  part  of  this 
paragraph,  the  whole  is  louuded  in  error.  In  the  first  place. 
Sir  Charles  Hardy  died  as  early  as  the  lyth  of  ^lay,  1780  ;  and, 
consequently,  could  in  no  ways  be  concerned  in  any  event 
occuning  in  1782.  In  the  next  place,  no  circumstance  of  the 
nature  here  described  happened  in  the  year  1782  :  the 
'^  disastrous  period,"  adverted  to  above,  must  have  been  in 
August,  1779;  when  the  combined  fleets  contrived  to  elude 
the  observation  of  the  British,  then  cruising  in  the  Soundings, 
entered  the  Channel,  and  ostentatiously  paraded  two  or  three 
days  before  Plymouth.     Some   French  frigates  even  anchored 


wards  founrl  to  he  so  imicii  out  of  repair,  ;is  to  he  iiiitit  tor  sorviee  :  aiul  (':ip- 
tain  Faulkner  died  hefoic  another  ship  had  hccn  selected  tor  his  oomnKind. 
Hi>  death  is  thotmht  to  have  taken  place  late  in  lliQ,  or  early  iu  1  //i*. 
*   Mi:  Miehell  died  iii  the  vcar  lUiO, 


99  EiOGRAPlIICAL    BfEMOIR    OT 

in  Ca\\sand  Bay,  and  captured  a  few  coasting  vessels  ;  and  ilis 
Jirdent,  of  64  guns,  commanded  by  Captain  Boteler^  ^vas  cap- 
tured in  sight  of  the  harbour.  The  strong  easterly  winds  which 
at  length  forced  the  hostile  fleets  out  of  the  Channel,  prevented 
Sir  Charles  Hardy's  entrance;  but,  on  the  31st  of  August, 
when  the  wind  shifted  to  the  westward,  he  gained  the  mouth  of 
the  Channel,  in  sight  of  the  enemy,  without  their  being  able  to 
oppose  him.  The  combined  fleet  followed  that  under  Sir 
Charles  Hardy,  until  sun-set;  Mhen,  being  a  little  to  the 
eastward  of  Falmouth,  they  hauled  to  the  south-west,  and  stood 
out  of  the  Channel.  At  this  ''  disastrous  period,^'  unfortunately 
for  the  credit  of  the  passage  which  we  have  just  quoted.  Admiral 
Kempenfelt  ^^  as  only  Captain  of  the  fleet,  under  Sir  Charles 
Hardy  .;  Captain  Calder  had  not  received  his  commission  ;  and 
the  Diana  did  not  serve  as  a  repeating  frigate  ! 

At  the  peace  of  1783,  Captain  Calder  commanded  the 
Thalia  frigate,  of  36  guns,  on  the  home  station  ;  and  from  that 
time,  till  the  period  of  the  Spanish  armament,  in  1790,  he  was 
without  a  ship.  He  was  then  appointed  to  the  Stately,  of  64 
gims ;  but,  on  a  reconciliation  taking  place  with  Spain,  that  ship 
>vas  ordered  to  be  paid  off ;  and,  as  she  was  amongst  those 
which  v/ere  fllting,  it  is  doubtful  v»helher  Captain  Calder  ever 
actually  assumed  the  conmiand. 

.  In  1791^  he  served  as  Vice-Admiral  Roddam's  Captain,  iq 
the  Dulse,  of  98  guns,  at  Portsmouth  ;  and,  in  1 793,  he  was 
appointed  to  the  Theseus,  of  74  guns.  The  latter  ship  formed 
part  of  Lord  Howe's  fleet,  in  1 794 ;  but  had  been  dispatched, 
under  Rear-Admiral  JMontcigu,  to  escort  a  convoy  to  a  certahi 
latitude,  previously  to  the  memorable  battle  of  the  1st  of 
June. 

In  1  796,  when  Sir  John  Jcrvis,  now  Earl  St.  Vincent,  was 
appointed  to  the  command  In  the  Mediterranean,  Captain  Cal- 
der had  the  honour  of  being  iixed  upon^  l>y  that  distinguished 
ollicer,  to  serve  as  his  iirst  Captain,  on  board  the  Victory,  of 
iOO  guns.  Tiiis  selection  must  be  regarded  as  a  strong  pre- 
sumptive proof,  at  least,'  of  the  high  estimation  in  which  Cap- 
tain Caider's  profc;S4iiouul  talents  vyere  then  h olden  ;  for^  in  bu^ 


SIR    ROBERT    CALDER,    BART.  97 

few  Instances^  we  believe,  has  the  judgment  of  Lord  St.  Vincent, 
in  this  respect,  been  known  to  err.  In  the  subsequent  victory 
of  the  14th  of  February,  1797, — a  victory  which,  in  no  period 
pf  naval  history,  from  the  battle  of  Salamis  to  the  day  of  its 
accomplishment,  had  ever  been  exceeded — Captain  Calder 
retained  his  honourable  po^t ;  and,  according  to  the  official  dis- 
patch of  Sir  John  Jervis,  after  the  action,  his  able  assistance  had 
greatli/  contributed  to  the  public  service. 

Of  this  brilliant  victory,  which  completely  prevented  the 
intended  junction  of  the  enemy,  which  enabled  the  iieets  of 
England  to  ride  in  triumph  through  the  ocean,  and  which  was 
attended  by  the  most  important  advantages  to  this  country,  we 
have  given  so  circumstantial  an  accuant,  in  our  memoir  of  Earl 
St.  Vincent,  as  to  render  it  unnecessary  for  us  here  to 
enlarge  *. 

Captain  Calder  was  the  bearer  of  Sir  John  Jervis's  dispatclics 
to  Government  on  the  occasion  ;  for  which,  and  for  the  service 
which  it  had  been  his  lot  to  render  to  his  country,  he  received 
the  honour  of  kr.ighthoud  from  His  Majesty,  on  the  3d  of 
March,  1797-  He  also,  in  ccunmun  with  his  brotlier  officers, 
received  the  thanks  of  Parliament,  and  was  presented  with  a 
gold  medal,  emblematic  of  the  victory  in  which  he  had  par- 
ticipated. 

In  the  following  year,  the  royal  favour  Mas  still  farther 
extended  towards  him  ;  as,  on  the  22d  of  August,  he  obtained 
a  patent  of  baronetage,  as  Sir  Robert  Calder,  of  Southwick,  in 
the  county  of  Hants. 

Sir  Robert,  we  believe,  was  not  again  employed  as  a  private 
Captain;  but,  on  the  14th  of  February,  1799,  j»st  two  years 
after  the  victory  off  Cadiz,  he  was  promot(;d  to  the  rank  of 
Rear  Admiral  of  the  Biue  Squadron;  in  1800,  he  hoisted  his 
flag  in  the  Prince  of  Wales,  of  9^  guns,  in  the  Channel  fleet ; 
and  on  the  1st  of  January,  1801,  he  was  nrade  Kear-Admiral 
of  the  White,  his  flag  still  flying  in  the  Prince  of  Wales. 

Sir   Robert  was  at  this   time  serving  in  the  Channel  fleet, 

*  yidc  jNaval  CuixoiiXtLE,  \'ol.  IV,  jJiige  34-,  et  accj. 

ilSatJ.  erjjron.  aiol.XVII.  o 


98  BIOCUAPIIICAL    MEMOIR    OF 

under  Earl  St.  Vincent.  Towards  llie  latter  end  of  January,  a 
French  squadron,  under  the  command  of  Rear-Admiral  Gan- 
theaume,  found  means  to  escape  out  of  Brest ;  a  circumstance 
no  sooner  known,  than  the  Rear-Admiral  was  detached^  with  the 
following  squadron,  in  pursuit : — ■ 

Ships.  Guns.       -  Commanders. 

(  Rear-Admiral  Sir  Robert  Caldcr, 
Prince  of  Wales 98  J      Rart. 

(  Captain  Prowse. 

Ponipee 80     Charles  Stirling. 

Juste    80     •  11.  Sawyer. 

Montague*., 74 Hon.  R.  Curzon, 

Spencci 74     R.  D.  E.  Darby. 

Courageiix 74 J.  iiowen. 

Cumberland  + 74 

Diamond  + 38     Ed w.  Griffith. 

Thames 32     • Wm.  Lukin. 

Magicienne 32     Ogilvie. 

Sir  Robert  Calder's  pursuit,  however,  proved  fruitless.  From 
the  intelligence  which  he  had  received,  he  imagined  that  Gan- 
theainne  had  steered  for  the  West  Indies,  and  he  also  shaped  his 
course  for  that  quarter.  He  arrived  off  Carlisle  Bay  on  the 
25ih  of  March  ;  on  the  'ZC)ih  he  anchored  in  Cape  Navaire  Bay, 
Martinico;  whence,  on  the  29^1,  he  sailed  for  Jamaica;  and, 
on  the  13lh  of  Aprils  anchored  in  Port  Royal  Harbour.  Flere 
Sir  Robert  learned,  that  Gantheaume  had  entered  the  JMedi- 
terranean ;  and,  on  the  21st  of  the  month,  as  soon  as  his 
squadron  had  been  retitted  and  revictualled,  he  left  Port  Royal, 
on  his  return  to  England,  leaving  the  Cumberland  to  supply  the 
place  of  the  Thunderer,  the  latter  ship  being  in  a  very  bad  state. 
Sir  Robert  rejoined  the  Cluiunel  fleet  early  in  June  ;  and,  a 
cessation  of  hostilities  soon  after  taking  place,  he  had  no  farther 
opportimity  of  distinguishing  himself  during  the  last  war. 

On  die  23d  of  April,  1 804,  Sir  Robert  was  made  Vice- 
Admiral  of  the  Blue  Squadron  ;  previously  to  which  period,  we 

*  Put  into  Lisbon,  di^:il)led.  f  Left  in  ihc  W^st  ladies. 

I  Jletunicd  to  England. 


SrR    ROEEUT    C\r,DER,    BART.  99 

believe,    he   had   not   hoisted   his   flag   after   the    renewal   of 
hostilities  *. 

We  now  approach  the  most  unportant  epoch  in  the  life  of 
this  officer.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say,  tliat  we  ulkide  to  his 
contest  with  the  combined  French  and  Spanish  squadrons,  on 
the  22d  of  July,  J  805;  and  to  the  investigation  of  liis  conduct 
which  followed.  On  this  delicate  snbject,  to  avoid  tlje  charge  of 
partiality,  we  liere  copy  the  follow  ing  narrative,  which  appears  to 
have  been  drawn  up  with  considerable  attention,  as  to  the  facts, 
from  the  life  of  Sir  Robert  Calder,  in  Public  Characters: — 

Having  been  employed  in  the  Channel  [icet,  says  the  writor  ijj 
that  puI;lication,  he  was  seK-ctod  Si^  an  olilcer  of  cvperience  by 
Admiral  Cornwallis,  then  cruising  o(}"  Ushant,  in  February  1805 
to  blockade  the  harbours  of  Fcrrol  and  Cornnr.a.  AlthouTh  there 
Avere  then  five  French  ships  oi"  the  line  and  three  frigates,  together 
ivith  five  Spanish  line  of  battle  ships,  and  four  frigates,  ready  for 
sea,  besides  three  Spanish  ships  jnst  come'Dut  of  the  arsenal,  and 
getting  ready  for  service,  yet  lie  had  only  seven  sail  allotted  to 
him  on  (his  occasion.  These  v>'erc  afterwards  increased  to  nine  • 
but,  notwithsta.'iaing  the  exigency  of  the  service,  he  could  not 
obtain  two  frigates  and  two  sr.jall  vessels  to  be  placed  fat  the 
entrance  of  the  harbours  in  quL-stion, 

With  the  very  inadequate  force  that  could  be  spared,  however 
he  kept  his  station  ;  and  reported  both  to  the  Adiniralty.and  the 
Commander  in  Chief  all  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  At  icnt^th, 
in  the  month  of  April,  the  Toulon  and  Cadiz  fleets  having  effected 
a  junction,  and  the  ships  in  Brest  evincing  a  disposition  to  put  to 
sea,  the  situation  of  the  squadron  of  observation  became  so  dan- 
gerous, that  Lord  Gardner  issued  directions,  in  certain  cases,  to 
repair  to  h'.ai.  The  combined  naval  forces,  however,  went  to  the 
West  l>(lios;  but  it  bfing  ex|)ected  they  wonld  return,  and 
attempt  to  join  the  fleet  at  Ferroi,  the  othcer  stationed  there 
received  ord^Ts  to  be  on  his  guard  against  that  f^ycn*. 
■  Meanwhile  intelligence  had  been  received  tiiaf  ai'Vench  Admiral 
■was  expected  daily  to  supei>ede  the  naval  comi'iander  at  the  port 
jnst  nn-ntioned  ;  and  th'<t  fne  ships  fhcn  lying  Miere,  consisting  of 
thirteen  sail  of  the  line,  besides  frigates  and  sloops  of  war,  had 
orders  to  be  at  Coruuna  by  the  miduie  of  the  nio.'.h.      In  conse- 

*  On  the  9th  of  November,   1805,  Sir  Robert  Caidcr  wus  matie  Vi«*>- 
Admira!  of  tlic  White, 


100  BlOGKAnriCAL    MEMOin    OF 

quencc  of  a  subsequent  report  made  by  Captain  Prowsc,  of  ihc- 
Sirius,  it  also  appeared  that  the  enemy  had  erected  a  line  of  signal 
posts,  so  as  to  enable  a  squadron  to  communicate  with  the  shore; 
and  that  three  more  large  ships  v/cre  getting  ready  and  beginning 
to  more.  On  the  10th  of  July,  Admiral  Stirling,  Avith  Ave  sail  of 
the  line,  tht-  Egyptienne  frigate,  and  Nile  luggtr,  was  therefore 
ordered  from  Rochfort,  where  there  were  five  ships  of  the  line 
ready  for  sea,  to  join  Sir  Robert  Caldcr,  Avho,  according  to  his 
instructions,  proceeded  to  the  Avcstward,  on  the  15th,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  intercepting  the  French  and  Spanish  squadrons  from  the 
■  West  Indies,  which  Avere  stated  to  consist  of  no  more  than  sixteen 
sail. 

On  the  22d,  about  noon,  the  combined  fleet,  consisting  of  no 
less  than  twenty  sail  of  the  line,  seven  frigates,  and  two  brigs, 
came  in  sight,  while  the  English  force  was  composed  of  only  fifteen 
ships,  two  frigates,  a  cutter,  and  a  lugger. 

Notwithstanding  the  decisive  superiority  of  the  enemy  iu  point 
of  force,  coupled  with  the  manifest  advantage  of  being  to  wind- 
ward, yet  they  were  forced  into  action  ;  and,  after  a  short  contest, 
which  continued  until  dark,  two  sail  of  the  line,  the  Rafael,  of  84, 
and  the  Firme,  of  74  guns,  Avere  both  captured*. 

As  Sir  Robert  had  before  considered  it  his  duty  to  pursue  and 
conquer,  so  he  now  deemed  it  equally  his  duty  to  preserve  his 
ascendency,  to  secure  his  prizes,  and  to  protect  his  own  ships, 
many  of  which  had  received  considerable  damage,  while  the 
Windsor  Castle   was  actually  in   tow  t.     This   did   not   preA^eut 

*  For  Sir  Robert  Gaidar's  official  account  of  the  action,  vide  Navai. 
CiinoNiCLE,  Vol.  XIV,  page  163,  et  $eq.  For  "  Minutes  (yf'tke  action,^'  &c. 
also  vide  Naval  Chronicle,  Vol.  XIV,  page  1(J3;  and,  for  Admiral 
V^illeneuve's  dispatches  to  the  French  Government,  vide  page  170  of  the 
same  Volume. 

t  An  abstract  of  the  danuiges  sustained  hy  the  ships  of  the  squadron  under 
ike  command  of  Vice-Admiral  Sir  Robert  Calder,  Burt,  on  the  '22d  of  Juli/, 
1805,  ichcn  in  action  zvith  the  combined  French  and  Spanish  squadrons. 

1.  Hero. — The  fore  and  main-masts,  fore-yards,  and  main-top-mast, 
badly  wounded ;  the  standing  and  running  rigging  very  much  cut ;  and 
several  shot  between  wind  and  water,  &c. 

2.  Aj(i.v. — ^Iain-yard  and  spanker-boom  shot  away  ;  one  of  the  lower 
deck  guns  totally  disabled  ;  the  starboard  bumpkin  shot  away  ;  the  rigging 
and  sails  much  cut,  &c. 

3.  Triumph. — The  bowsprit  and  main-mast  much  wounded;  the  fore- 
mast sprung;  and  driver-boom  carried  away;  sails  and  rigging  much  cut ; 
two  of    the    thirty-two    pouadtrs    unserviceable;    also  four  carronade 


SIR  ROBERT  CALDER,  BART.  101 

him,  however,  when  the  enemy,  who  were  still  in  sight,  evinced  a 
disposition  to  bear  down,  from  hauling  his  wind,  and  evincing  a 
readiness  to  engage  them,  which  it  was  in  their  power  at  any  time 
to  have  complied  with,  had  they  been  so  inclined. 

Nor  was  this,  or  any  part  ol'  his  behaviour,  blamed  by  Admiral 
Cornwallis,  Avho,  on  the  contrary,  as  a  proof  of  his  confidence,  on 
the  17th  of  August,  dispatched  him  with  a  detachment  to  watch 
the  motions  of  the  enemy.  The  subsequent  demand  for  an  inves- 
tigation into  his  conduct  proceeded  solely  from  himself,  and  couH 
only  result  from  a  delicate  sense  of  injured  honour. 

Thus  far  the  biographer  of  Sir  Robert  Calder,  in  Public 
Characters. 

Sir  Robert^  learning,  from  different  sources,  that  his  conduct 
on  the  C3d  of  July  had  become  very  much  the  subject  of  con- 

4.  Barjieur. — The  foremast  wounded,  and  the  fore-yard  ditto,  badly,  &c. 

5.  Agamemnon. — Main  and  fore-yards  badly  wounded,  the  niain-top-masc 
ditto ;  fore-top-sail-yard  and  mizen-top-mast  shot  away  ;  the  standing, 
running  rigging,  and  sails,  much  cut,  &c. 

6.  Windso?-  Castle. — The  head  of  the  foremast  badly  wounded  ;  the  fore- 
top-mast  shot  away;  and  a  great  part  of  the  fore-top  carried  away;  the 
foreyard,  bowsprit,  and  main- yard  badly  wounded;  all  the  rigging  and 
sails  much  cut,  &c. 

7.  Defiance. — The  main-mast,  fore-yard,  and  dnver-boom,  wounded  ; 
mizen- top-sail-yard  shot  away;  the  lower  rigging,  stays,  and  sails,  much 
cut,  &c. 

8.  Prince  of  Wales. — Fore-top-sail-yard  shot  away,  mizen-top-mast 
wounded  ;  mizen-vard  badly  wounded  ;  the  rudder  shot  through,  about  two 
feet  above  the  water's  edge;  rigging  and  sails  much  cut,  &c. 

9.  Repuhe. — The  bowsprit  badly  wounded,  and  sprung  in  two  places  ;■ 
the  top-mast  and  other  rigging  very  much  cut,  and  the  sails  much 
shattered;  the  knee  of  the  head  damaged  below  the  bob-stays,  &c. 

10.  Haisonable. — Cross-jack-yard  damaged,  and  some  shot  in  the  hull, 
■&c. 

11.  Glory. — Fore-yard  wounded,  and  the  rigging  cut,  &c. 

12.  Warrior. — Spritsail-yard,  forc-top-gallant-yard,  and  driver-boom- 
shot  through  ;   running  rigging  and  sails  much  cut,  &c. 

13.  T/ninderer. — Mizen-mast,  fore-yard,  and  muin-top-sailyard,  wounded ; 
a  shot  between  wind  and  water ;  the  upper  cheek  of  the  knee  of  the  head 
shot  through,  and  the  opposite  one  staited  otF;  the  sails  and  rigging  much 
cut,  &c. 

14.  Malta. — Mizen-mast  wounded  ;  mizen-top-mast,  and  ditto  top-sail- 
yard,  shot  away  ;  main-yard  very  badly  wounded  ;_fore-top-mast  wounded  ; 
standing  rigging  and  saib  much  cut. 


102  mOGRAPHICAI,   MEMOIR   OF 

versation,  in  a  manner  extremely  hurtful  to  his  feelings,  as  a  man", 
and  to  his  reputation,  as  an  officer,  formed  the  resohition  of 
demanding  an  mquiry  into  his  proceedings ;  and  he  accordinglj 
addiessed  the  following  letter  to  Mr.  Marsden,  then  Secretary 
at  the  Admiralty : — 

SIK,  Prince  of  Wales,  off  Cadiz,  Sept.  SO,  1805. 

Having  loamt  vlth  astonisliment,  yesterday,  by  the  ships 
just  arrived,  and  by  letters  from  my  frieiuls  in  England,  that  there 
has  been  a  most  nnjust  and  wicked  endeavour  to  prejudice  the 
public  mind  against  nic  as  an  oificer,  and  that  my  conduct  on  the 
23d  of  last  July,  in  particular,  has  been  animadverted  on,  in  the 
mo^t  unjust  and  illiberal  manner,  for  such  it  must  be  deemed, 
having  been  done  at  a  iime  when  I  Avas  absent  abroad,  employed 
ifl  the  service  of  my  King  and  Country. 

I  must  therefore  request  you  will  be  pleased  to  move  the  Lords 
Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty  to  grant  an  inquiry  into  my  con- 
duct on  the  23d  of  Jvilv  last,  or  upon  the  whole,  or  such  part  of 
it,  (when  in  presence  of  the  enemy,)  as  shall  appear  to  their 
Lordships,  for  the  good  of  His  Majesty's  service,  and  for  the  pur- 
pose of  enabling  me  to  give  my  reasons,  publicly,  for  my  conduct 
at  that  time,  and  to  refute  such  unjust,  illiberal,  and  unfounded 
assertions  ;  when  I  trust  I  shall  make  it  appear,  to  the  satisfaction 
of  my  King,  Country,  and  Friends,  that  no  part  of  ray  conduct 
and  character,  as  an  officer,  will  be  found  deserving  of  those 
unfavourable  impressions,  which,  at  present,  occupy  the  publip 
mind  ;  being  conscious  that  every  thing  in  my  power,  as  an  officer, 
■was  done  for  the  honour  and  welfare  of  my  King  and  Country, 
after  a  very  mature  investigation  of  all  the  existing  circumstances, 
and  the  very  criLical  situation  I  Mas  placed  in,  with  the  sq[uadron 
I  had  the  honour  to  command,  at  the  time  alluded  to. 

I  am,  Sir, 
Your  most  obedient  humble  Servant, 

W.  Marsden,  Esq.  Admiralty.  K.    CALDER. 

Sir  Robert  Calder,  in  a  letter  of  a  later  date  than  the  above^ 
viz.  on  the  10th  of  November,  requested  that  the  Court  might 
be  empowered  to  inquire  into  the  zi:hoIe  of  his  conduct,  even 
prior  to  his  falling  in  ziith  the  enemy,  ^hile  in  their  presence, 
and  subsequent  thereto.  The  Court,  however,  thought  it  right 
to  confine  the  inquiry  to  the  2Sd  of  July,  and  to  Sir  Robert'^ss 


SIR   ROBERT    CAT-DF.R,   BART.  103 

subsequent  conduct  and  proceedings,  until  he  finally  lost  sight  of 
the  enemy's  ships.  "  I  cannot  but  Janient/'  says  the  Vice- 
Admiral  in  his  defence,  ''  that  the  inquiry  is  so  liniiied ;  as  it 
prevents  my  giving  evidence  of  the  circumstances  of  the  action, 
which  I  have  no  doubt  I  should  have  proved  to  have  been  such 
as  ^o  add  to  the  reputation  of  ti)e  British  Navy." 

It  wijl  be  recollected,  that,  in  con^equeiice  of  Sir  Roberts 
application  to  the  Admiralty,  the  Court  Martial,  for  his  trial, 
assembled  on  board  His  Majesty's  ship  the  Prince  of  Wales,  in 
Portsmouth  harbour,  on  the  23d  of  December,  1805.  A» 
early  as  the  time,  and  the  limits  of  our  publication  would  per- 
mit, we  gave  an  account  of  the  ensuing  trial ;  which  account^ 
on  collating  it  with  the  ''  Miuiifes  of  the  Proceedino-s/'  &c. 
afterwards  *^  published  by  authority  of  the  Vice-Admiral,"  by 
Mr.  Mottley,  at  Portsmouth,  we  find  to  be,  in  substance, 
correct*.  In  tliis  place,  therefore,  as  our  readers  are  already 
in  possession  of  the  tiial,  it  is  unnecessary  much  to  enlarge  upoa 
it;  and,  indeed,  no  abstract,  ihat  our  circumscribed  limits 
would  permit,  could  render  it  justice.  One  or  two  points, 
however,  require  elucidation.  The  first  of  these  relates  to  the 
cross-examination  of  Hear- Admiral  Stirling,  by  Sir  Robert 
Calder,  concerning  the  following  letter  f : — 

WY    DEAR   SIR,  Prince  of  Wales,  at  Sea,  Jnhj  2-i,  1805. 

PERMIT  me  to  return  you  my  most  heartfelt  thanks  for  your 
unremitting  attentions,  and  for  the  very  gallant  support  you  ren- 
dered me  during  the  whole  of  the  action  on  the  '22d  instant.  Had 
the  weather  been  favourable,  and  we  could  have  seen  to  have  made 
the  necessary  signals,  to  have  availed  ourselves  of  some  of  the 
mistakes  of  the  enemy,  1  am  fully  coiiviuced  we  should  hare  made 
the  victory  much  more  compKte.  I  was  obliged  to  stand  to  the 
northward  thus  far,  in  order  to  cover  the  Windsor  Castle,  and  the 
two  captured  ships.  I  think  tliey  are  now  safe  from  the  combined, 
as  well  as  tlie  Hociifort  squadron,  and  I  am  going  back  to  Cape 
Finisterre,  in  hopes  of  seeing  Lord  Nelson;  if  I  do  not,  I  shall 
proceed  oif  Cape  Fca-rol,'  to  see  il"  any  favourable  opportunity 

*  Vide  Naval  CiiKoxiCLe,  Vol.  XV,  pajje  79,  aud  page  162,  et  sc<], 
t  Jbjd.  pa^e  a'i. 


104  ilOGRAPUICAL    MEMOIR    OP 

should  offer,  ivhen  I  may  hope  to  attack  the  enemy  to  advantage. 
Wishing  us  all  possible  success, 

I  am,  my  dear  Stirling, 
Ever  yours,  most  truly  and  sincerely, 

llOBERT  CALDER. 

The  subjoined  is  the  private  letter  of  Rear- Admiral  Stirling, 
'•'  written  in  reply  "  to  the  above  ;  and  that  which  follows  it^  is 
^epubiic  answer^  from  the  same  officer  : — 

MY    DEAR    SIR,  Glory,  95th  July,  1805. 

I  THANK  you  much  for  your  letter  of  yesterday,  and  can 
assure  you,  with  great  truth,  I  meant,  and  do  mean  to  give  you 
all  the  support  in  my  power. 

I  hope  you  made  a  good  tale  to  please  John  Bull,  for  you  had 
a  good  subject  to  write  on  ;  and  I  think  you  have  convinced 
Mons.  Buonaparte  that  he  cannot  always  get  to  sea  and  home 
again  with  impunity. 

Excuse  haste,  and  believe  me 

Most  truly  yours, 

Sir  Robert  Calder,  Bart.  ClIAS.   STIRLING. 

MY   DEAR   SIR,  Glory,  24th  July,  1805. 

I  CONGRATULATE  you  on  the  capture  of  the  two  Spa. 
liiards  from  a  force  so  very  superior  to  that  opposed  to  it ;  and  I 
think,  if  the  three  ships,  which  at  one  time  showed  a  disposition  to 
support  them,  had  followed"  the  intention,  the  consequences  might 
have  been  decisive. 

The  great  object  I  had  in  view,  was  to  obey  your  orders,  by 
keeping  in  a  compact  line,  whilst  the  signal  for  that  purpose 
remained  in  force ;  and  therefore,  as  the  Raisonable  closed  with 
you,  my  Captain  took  care  that  nothing  could  pass  between  her 
and  this  ship. 

On  the  surrender  of  the  Spaniards,  I  directed  the  Warrior 
to  send  and  assist  in  taking  possession,  and  afterwards  sent 
similar  orders  to  the  Thunderer,  as  there  was  no  knowing,  from 
the  thickness  of  the  weather,  what  might  otherwise  be  the  conse- 
quence, if  your  attention  was  confined  to  the  van.  I  likewise 
ordered  the  Egyptienne,  when  I  got  sight  of  her,  to  get  the 
prizes  on  the  same  tack  with  us,  and  to  tow  them  to  leeward  of 
our  line;  which  orders  will,  I  hope,  meet  with  }Our  approbation. 
I  know  not  why  there  was  a  separation  in  the  night.     Captaia 


SIR    EOBERT    CALOF.n,    BART.  10^ 

Linzce   went  in  pursuance  of  his  instructions,  and  rejoined  me 
before  the  morning. 

We  had  only  one  man  killed,  and'four  wounded ;  the  fore-yard 
•was  grazed,  which  avc  have  fished;  arid  what  was  other wioe  hit, 
was  not  of  any  consequence. 

I  have  great  pleasure  in  bearing  testimony  to  the  zeal  of  Captain 
Warren  and  his  officers,  and  feel  much  confidence,  from  the  good 
conduct  of  the  crew  belonging  to  the  ship  where  my  flag  is  flying, 
if  our  good  fortune  should  again  lead  us  against  the  foes  of  our 
country. 

Believe  me,  witli  great  esteem,  dear  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  humble  Servant, 

CHARLES  STIRLING. 

Sir  Rolen  CalJer,  Bart. 

The  official  dispatch  of  Sir  Robert  Calder,  to  Admiral  Corn- 
wallis,  as  it  appeared  in  the  Gazette  *,  concluded  with  the 
following  sentence  : — "  They  (the  enemy)  are  now  in  sight  to 
windward ;  and  when  I  have  secured  the  captured  ships,  and 
p^t  the  squadron  to  rights,  I  shall  endeavour  to  avail  myself  of 
any  opportunity  that  may  ofier,  to  give  you  some  further  account 
of  these  combined  squadrons ; "  but  to  this  should  have  been 
subjoined  what  now  immediately  follows  : — 

At  the  same  time  it  will  behove  me  to  be  upon  my  guard 
against  the  combined  squadrons  in  at  Ferrol,  as  I  am  led  to 
believe  they  have  sent  ofl"  one  or  two  of  their  crippled  ships  last 
night  for  that  port,  therefore  possibly  I  may  find  it  necessary  to 
make  a  junction  with  you  immediately  offUshant,  with  the  whole 
squadron. 

P.  S.  I  am  under  the  necessity  of  sending  th«  Windsor  Castle 
to  you,  in  consequence  of  the  damage  she  sustained  in  the  action. 

Captain  Duller  has  acquainted  me,  that  the  prisoners  on  board 
the  prizes  assert  Ferrol  to  be  the  port  to  which  the  enemy's 
squadron  are  bound,  as  you  will  perceive  by  letters  enclosed  with 
my  original  dispatch,  together  with  other  private  information. 

Adverting  to  the  omission  of  the  above,  Sir  Robert  Calder, 
in  his  defence,  says  : — ''  Had  this  part  of  my  letter  been  pub- 
lished, I  may  venture  to  ask,  would  the  public  have  been  so 

*  Vide  Naval  Chromclk,  \'o1.  XIV,  page  163, 


ICG  BIOGRAPHICAL    MEMOIR    OF 

sanguine  in  their  expectations  of  a  renewal  of  the  engagement, 
as  they  aj^poar  to  have  been  ? — They  would  perhaps  liave  rather 
rejoiced,  as  I  think  they  had  reason,  that  so  much  had  been 
(lone  ;  and  I  should  probably  never  have  had  occasion  to  give 
you  this  trouble." 

The  subjoined  letter  of  the  Yice-Admiral,  to  Captain  Boyles, 
of  the  Windsor  Castle,  fully  developes  his  intentions^  on  the 
twenty-jifth  of  July,  three  days  after  the  action: — 

ST  R,  Piince  nf  Wales,  2r>th  Juhj. 

YOU  will  proceed  and  get  to  the  latitude  of  Ushant  as  fast  as 
possible,  or  at  any  rafe  to  the  northward  of  Belleisle,  when  you 
will  he  i)erfect!y  secure  from  tlie  combined  squadrons,  as  well  as 
the  Rcchfort  one,  which  may  be  expected  to  sail  every  day. — I 
shall  part  company  with  you  this  day,  and  make  the  best  of  my 
way  to  the  rendezvous  otf  Cape  Finisterre,  in  the  hope  of  falling 
ill  with  Lord  Nelson:  if  not  fniding  his  Lordship  there,  in  a  short 
time  after  ray  arrival,  I  shall  then  proceed  in  search  of  the  com- 
bined squadrons,  supposed  to  be  gone  to  Ferrol  ;  and  if  any 
favourable  opportunity  ofl'ers  of  my  attacking  them  before  they 
get  in,  I  shall  certainly  avail  myself  of  it :  this  you  may  inform 
any  ships  you  may  fall  in  with  in  search  of  me  ;  and  you  will  com- 
municate this  information  to  the  Commander  in  Chief  on  your 
joining  him,  I  am,  Sir, 

Your  very  humble  Servant, 

ROBERT  CALDER. 

Caplaia  Boi/lcs,  nf  the  Windsor  Custle. 

The  following  communications  have  not  hitheito  been 
inserted  in  our  Chronicle  : — 

SIR,  Frince  of  Wales,  at  Sea,  the  26lh  Jul//,  1805. 

BY  tl'.e  Nile  lugger  I  have  the  honour  to  send  you  the  quadru- 
plicate of  my  dispatches  of  the  23d  inst.,  and  1  hope  she  may 
arrive  in  time  for  you  to  correct  <he  unfortunate  mistake  of  my 
Secretary  respecting  the  omission  of  Hear-Admiral  Stirling's  name 
in  my  public  thanks  :  this,  bL'licve  mc.  Sir,  has  given  me  very 
^rcat  concern,  that  such  an  omission  on  my  part  should  have 
occurred,  and  nothing  but  the  ill  state  of  my  Secretary's  health 
could  have  occasioned  it ;  for  be  assured,  the  Rear-Adihiral's  con- 
duct has  been  such  as  to  merit  my  fullest  approbation.  Lieutenant 
G.  Fennel;   who  will  have  the  honour  of  delivering  this  to  you, 


SIR  ROBTRT  CALDtR,  EART. 


107 


has  conducted  himself  very  much  to  my  satu^faction  since  under  my 
orders  ;  he  was  very  acdve  during  the  action,  and,  Avith  Lieutenant 
Nidiolson,  rendered  me  every  possible  assistauce  In  their  power  : 
the  activity  and  zeal  of  the  latter  officer  I  had  the  honour  to  men- 
tion in  a  former  dispatch  to  you,  which  enclosed  a  letter  of  his  to 
jne,  giving  an  account  of  vessels  he  had  captured  o(f  Ferrol. 
Since  my  last,  I  have  learnt  from  the  prisoners  on  board  the  cap- 
tured ships,  the  exact  force  of  the  enemy  on  the  "22(1  inst.  at  t!ie 
commencement  of  the  action  ;  it  was  as  follows  : — 14  of  the  line 
(French,)  6  of  the  line  (Spanish)  1  armed  en  (lute,  6  frigates,  and 
3  brigs.  Yesterday  evening,  the  Malta  made  the  signal  of  liaving 
sprung  her  fore-yard,  and  the  Repulse  the  signal  of  having  sprung 
Jier  bowsprit ;  this  obliged  me  to  bring-to  the  squadron  for  the 
night.  This  morning  the  Repulse  made  the  signal  of  being  able  to 
miike  sail,  and  I  am  now  steering  S.  S.  E.  for  Cape  Finisterre, 
distant  about  30  leagues.  I  am  in  great  hopes  I  shall  fall  in  with 
Lord  Nelson,  provided  his  intentions  were  to  come  otF  Ferrol. 

I  have  the  honour  to  bo.  Sec.  r 

ROBERT  CALDER. 

The  lion.  Admiral  CornivaMli.        *- ; 

P.  S.  I  have  this  moment  received  from  Captain  Griffiths,  of  the 
Dragon,  an  account  of  four  men  who  Avcre  wounded  in  the  action 
of  the  22d  inst,,  which,  through  mistake,  were  not  inserted  in  the 
general  statement.  I  likewise  enclose  the  enemy's  line  of  battle 
on  that  day,  which  was  forwarded  to  me  by  Captain  Rulkr,  of 
the  Malta,  this  afternoon. 

ROBERT  CALDER. 


Bnemifs  Line  of  Bailie  on  the  22(1  of  Jul^,  ISO'). 

SPANISH. 

'1    El  Argonauta SO  Admiral  Gravina. 

2  —  Terrible 74 

3  — Espania _   64 

4  —  America ..    G4 

5  —Rafael  (taken)  84  Bon  Francis  Monfes. 
^G  —  Firme  (taken)    74  Don  Rafael  Viilavicencij. 


5<; 


rnic  ATKS. 
L'iloriense. 
La  Jiiraelie. 
La  Didoii. 
La  Herniione 
La  Si^ciie. 
La  'I'liniiiise. 


FRrxcii. 

"  7   Le  Pluton 80 

8  —  Neptune 90 

^  ,     9  —  Mont  Blanc  .   74 

'^   j  10  —  Bucentaur  .-  84  Vice-Adm.  Vil!oneu\« 

'^    I  U  —  Atlas 74 

Ll'i  —  Berwick....   74 


10$ 


BiOCRAPHICAL    MEMOin    •? 


BRISS. 

t/Arg\is. 
Le  Furet. 


"13  Le  Formirlable  .  80  Rear- Admiral  Dumanoir. 

14  — Intrepide...  74 

15  — Swiftsure 74 

16  —  Iiidomptable  80 

17  — Scipion .  74 

18  —  Aigle 74 

19  —  Achille 74 

20  —  Algeziras 74  Rear-Adrairal  Magon. 

iSuglii'h  Line  of  Battle. 


1  Hero  .--...._. 

74  Hon.  A.  11.  Gardner* 

2  Ajax 

80  W.Brown. 

BjvpfienRc. 

3  Triumph 

74  H.  Inman. 

. 

4  Barflenr    

98  G.  Martin. 

5  Agamemnon 

64  J.  Harvey. 

6   Windsor  Castle  . 

98  C.  Boylcs. 

7  Defiance    - 

74  P.  C.  Durham. 

FrUli  cutter, 
^ik  lugger. 

8  Prince  of  Wales . 

/  Vice-Adm.SirR.Caldrr, 
•^^  \  Barl.;W.Cumiug,Capt, 

"  9  Repulse 

74  Hon.  A.  K.  Legge. 

10  Raisonabic 

64  J.  Roviey. 

11   Dragon 

74  Edvv.  Griffiths. 

h 

12  Glory 

(^    Sam.  Warren,  Captain. 

Sirius. 

ti 

13  Warrior 

74  S.  H.  Linzee. 

14  Thunderer ..... 

74  AV.  Lechmcre. 

LPTU 

_15  Malta 

84  E»  Buller. 

SHIPS  C-f) 

RED. 

Rafael. 

84  1 

;uns.         Ferrol  bearing  east,  distant  49  leagues. 

Firme, 

74 

Cape  Finiste 

rre  S.  52  E.  distant  39 league*. 

jTR  Ville  de  Par'ts,  of  IVnant,  the  '29lh  July,  1805.  . 

I  HAD  the  pleasure  of  receiving  your  dispatches  last  evening  by 
the  Frisk  cutter,  which  I  sent  imnicdiately  to  England;  and! 
assure  you  I  have  the  greatest  satisfaction  in  hearing  of  your 
s'.iccess.  The  Windsor  Castle  joined  nic  this  morning;  she  is  also 
gone  into  port,  and  ty  her  I  forwarded  your  original  account  of 
the  action,  which  had  terminated  so  mr.ch  to  the  disgrace  of  the 
enemy.  I  had  sent  fh^  Ximble  brig  to  you  yesterday  morning, 
and  the  Niobe  I  directed  sonae  days  since  to  join  you  ;  I  now  serfd 
the  iEolus,  which  ship  hai  just  eome  to  me.     I  Lave  only  17  ships 


SIR  ROBERT  CALDEH,  EAUT.  109 

»f  tlie  line  with  me  at  present,  several  having  been  ordered  to  th« 
eastward  within  these  few  days. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sh", 

Your  most  obedient  humble  Servant, 

W.  CORNVVALLIS. 

tlr  Bohert  C alder,  Bart.,  T'jce- 
Admiral  of  the  "Blus. 

Th«  sentence  of  the  Court  Martial,  v.Iiitli  tried  Sir  Robert 
Calder,  must  be  well  remembered.  The  Court  declared  itself 
to  be  of  opinion,  that  he  had  not  done  his  utmost  to  renew  the 
engagement,  and  to  take  or  destroy  every  ship  of  the  enemy  ; 
which  neglect  was  attributed  to  an  error  in  judgment,  and  he 
was  adjudged  to  be  severely  reprimanded. 

There  is  no  man,  whatever  his  sentiments  may  be  vith 
respect  to  the  justice  of  this  sentence,  but  must  sympathize  with 
the  feelings  of  Sir  Robert  CaUler,  an  esteemed  and  veteran 
officer,  who  had  devoted  nearly  iifty  years  to  the  service  of  liij 
King  and  Country,  and  who  had  uniformly  conceived  himself  to 
be  acting  for  his  own,  for  his  Sovereign's,  and  for  his  Couutiy's 
honour ! 

As  no  political  question,  says  the  biographer  of  Sir  Robert 
Calder,  already  noticed,  happened  to  be  intermingled  with  this 
decision,  it  was  received  calmly  and  dispassionately  by  the  whole 
nation  ;  and,  without  meaning  to  insinuate  the  slightest  disrespect 
to  the  members,  it  may  be  fairly  said  that  the  result  was  not 
popular.  Some  extraordinary  naval  trials  have  taken  place  ia 
this  country.  In  1744,  the  gallant  Mathews,  who  had  plunged 
into  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  was  declared  incapable  of  serving  in 
His  Majesty's  Navy  ;  while  the  cunning  and  undictive  Lcstock 
was  honourably  acquitted,  although  he  had  kept  aloof  during  the 
engagement.  In  1757,  in  consequence  of  a  dubious  sentence, 
Admiral  John  Byng,  was  shot  at  Portsmouth,  for  cowardice ;  a 
charge  which  his  death,  as  well  as  his  life,  alike  belied.  But  nei- 
ther of  these  had  defeated  a  superior  fleet,  or  captured  two  line  of 
battle  ships  :  nor  is  there  a  similar  instance  of  a  reprimand  in 
respect  to  a  victorious  commander  to  be  found  on  the  records  of 
the  Navy.  In  fine,  the  sentence  of  Vice-Admiral  Sir  Robert  Cal- 
der may  be   ^onaidcred  as    ajiofnalcus   in.   our  service ;    and  the 


110  BIOGRAPHICAL    MEMOIR    OF 

peculiar  hardship  of  his  case  has  been  already  mentioned  in  par** 
Ikinient  by  two  noble  members  of  the  legislature*. 

Having  thus  exhibited  as  clear  a  view  of  the  naval  services  of 
Sir  Robert  Calder,  as  our  limited  information  would  permit^  we 
shodd  here  close  the  account,  were  it  not  for  a  couple  of  letters 
%vhich  have  for  some  time  lain  before  us.  These  letters, 
respecting  which  we  have  received  permission  to  make  what  use 
we  please,  were  written  to  a  gentleman  several  months  ago,  by 
a  veteran  officer^  of  eminent  rank  and  merit  in  the  profession  ; 
one  who  has  known  Sir  Robert  Calder,  in  his  professional 
capacity,  for  a  number  of  years ;  and  who,  from  a  variety  of 
circumstances,  possesses  the  means  of  forming  a  fair  estimate 
of  his  character.  The  opinion  of  such  a  person  must  merit 
consideration  ;  and,  for  the  gratification  of  Sir  Robert  Calder 's 
friends,  we  shall  here  transcribe  some  passages  from  the  letters 
alluded  to.  The  Avriter,  after  glancing  at  the  earlier  events  of 
Sir  Robert's  life,  proceeds  as  follows  : —  . 

I  can  only  repeat  to  you,  what  I  have,  and  do  avoro  to  all  the 
TVoj'ldy  that  the  most  glorious  deeds  of  any  hero,  in  any  age,  did 
not  surpass  that  of  SW  Robert  Calder  in  his  command,  and  his 
action  in  the  summer  of  1805;  when,  with  fifteen  sail  of  the  line, 
two  frigates,  one  cutter,  and  one  lugger,  he  beat  t\vcnty  sail  of 
the  line,  seven  frigatcis,  and  two  brigs  ;  took  two  of  their  ships, 
one  84  guns,  the  other  74  ;  though  on  the  enemies'  coast  in  a  fog, 
and  near  to  Forrol,  where  sixteen  sail  of  the  line  were  ready  to 
join  the  above  numlJcr  of  the  combined  fleet,  besides  the  llochfort 
squadron  being  out,  and  on  its  way  to  add  to  the  already  over- 
powering strength  of  the  enemy ;  but  all  this,   the  judiciuus  and 

*  Tl)c  two  noblemen  here  alluded  to,  are,  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  the 
Earl  of  Romney.  The  hitter,  not  quite  a  year  older  than  Sir  Robert  Cal- 
der, was  one  of  his  play-fellows.  The  iNIoat,  the  family  residence  of  the 
Marahanis,  in  Kent,  was  at  but  a  small  distance  from  Park  Place,  where 
Sir  Robert  was  born;  and,  with  the  younger  branches  of  the  two  families, 
a  close  intimacy  took  place;  which,  between  the  subject  of  this  memoir  and 
the  present  Earl,  still  sulisists  in  all  the  warmth  of  youtliful  attacliment, 
tempered  by  the  niaturer  judgment  of  age.  Sweet  are  such  friendships; 
for,  in  tlie  winter  of  life,  they  recall  many  a  dcli^ihtful  scene,  which  smiled 
upon  the  days  that  are  past.  / 


SIR  ROBERT  CALDIR,  BART.  HI 

great  professional  skill  of  Sir  Robert  Calder  counteracted,  ami  he 
remained  triumphant,  though  distressed  Avith  weather,  disabled 
ships,  &c.  &c.  and  in  doubt  and  uncertainty  where  the  fleets  of 
Lord  Nelson  and  Vice-Admiral  Collingwood  were.  Could  any 
man  so  acting,  and  so  situated,  expect  a  viper  had  surrounded  his 
native  Isle,  and  instilled  its  poisonous  dart  into  the  minds  of  hij 
countrymen  ?  Had  the  Vice-Adn)iral  in  any  instance  acted  diffcr- 
<^^^\\y  from  the  excellent  conduct  he  pursued,  this  country  wotild  in 
all  probability  now  have  groaned  under  the  miserable  effects  of  an 
invading  foe,  who  had  20,000  men  at  that  very  time  embarked  iu 
Holland  ready  to  make  a  landing  in  Great  Britain  ;  but  from  this 
Vice-Admiral  Sir  Robert  Calder  saved  us;  and  further,  He,  and 
He  alone,  laid  the  intire  foundation  of  every  subsequent  victory  ia 
this  war;  no  victory  off  Cadiz,  no  victory  in  the  West  Indies, 
&c.  &c.  <S:c. ;  no  honours,  or  rewards,  iu  consequence,  would  ever 
have  taken  place  buffer  him;  and  this  is  the  man  Englishmen 
have  been  taught  and  permitted  to  abuse  !  And  here  I  may  indeed 
make  a  scriptural  application,  for  Sir  Robert  Calder  is  literally 
the  Head,  the  Corner  Stone  of  all  the  fabric  of  victory  this  coun- 
try has  so  greatly  and  justly  boasted  of.  The  excellent  Lord  Nelson 
knew,  saw,  spoke,  and  wrote  of  this ;  which  does  more  honour 
to  the  correctness  of  his  judgment,  sentiments,  and  mcinorj/,  than 
all  the  pageantry  of  his  funeral,  &c,  &cc. 


Sir  Robert  Calder  frequently  wrote  to  request  a  larger  force, 
stating  the  critical  situation  in  Avhich  he  was  placed  by  the  very- 
great  inferiority  to  that  of  the  enemy.  See.  S:c.  And  he  also  stated, 
that  a  drawn  battle  at  those  times  v.  ould  be  looked  upon  in  the 
eyes  of  Europe  as  a  defeat.  lie  implored  that  he  might  not  be 
placed  in  such  a  distressing  situation.  Notwithstanding  which,  his 
force  was  fixed  to  his  small  number,  in  spite  of  all  his  remon- 
strances. The  Rochfort  sqiiadron,  wi(h  five  sail  of  the  line  ani 
three  frigates,  was  not  only  at  sea,  but  very  near  Sir  Robert  Cal- 
der at  the  time  of  his  engagement,  and  looking  for  the  coml'ined 

fleets,  as  Sir  Robert  Calder  well'knew  at  the  time. Sir  Robert 

Calder  received  instructions  to  keep  himself  upon  his  guard  from 
all  those  diflcrcnt  points ;  and  if  he  found  it  necessary,  he  was  to 
make  ajuncfion  with  the  fleet  oif  Brcstj  to  prevent  the  invasion 
either  of  England  or  Ireland. 


11^  BIOGRAPHICAL    MEMOIR    OF 

The  folIovA'ing  passage  is  from  the  second  letter,  adverting  f» 
the  above : — 

What  I  said  in  that  letter,  Sir,  I,  from  the  highest  opinion  and 
unalterable  conviction  of  Sir  Robert  Calder's  dear^LwA  unsurpass>. 
ed  fame,  most  heartily  and  conscientiously  again  subscribe  my  name 
to.  The  eyes  of  the  world  are  now  open  ;  it  was  impossible,  after 
the  frenzy  of  JEALOUS  malice  subsided,  but  truth  and  justice 
must  prevail :  the  former,  every  manly  heart  must  acknowledge, 
and  the  latter  I  trust  our  excellent  Sovereign  Avill  (by  the  advice 
of  a  well-judging  administration,)  bestow.  So  good,  so  excellent 
an  officer  must  be  called  forth  for  the  honour  and  safety  of  his 
country  and  his  Royal  Master :  to  him  an  old  proverb  may  pro- 
perly be  applied——'*'  Many  have  done  well ;    but  he  excelleth 

them  all ! Nor  is  this  taking  any  merit  from  others ;    they 

could  not  so  act;  for  no  Commander  in  Chief  ever  had  so  perilous^ 
so  dif&cult  a  task  ;  and  no  Commander  in  Chief  ever  went  through 
a  situation  so  difficult,  so  judiciously,  so  valorously,  and  so  sue- 
fcssfidli/ ; none  could  do  more;  and  few  (if  any)  would  at- 
tempt to  do  so  much.  In  late  years.  Sir,  you  must  remember 
Lord  Rodney  desisted  from  renewing  his  famed  action ;  as  did 
Lord  Howe,  that  he  was  so  praised  for,  on  the  first  of  June. 
These  gentlemen  both  used  their  own  discretion,  without  being 
even  censured  for  an  ''  Error  in  Judg7nent ;'"  though  the  latter  at 
noon  day,  a  calm  ocean,  and  7io  difficulties  of  any  kind  to  guard 
against,  let  four  of  the  enemies'  ships  without  masts  get  away.  It 
was  always  allowed  both  these  Admirals  might  have  renewed  their 
diiferent  actions ;  as  might  Sir  George  Pococke,  Sir  Edward 
Hughes,  &c.  &c.,  but  Sir  Robert's  seems  to  have  been  the  first,  th» 
only  victory  that  ever  was  found  fault  rcith;  and  upon  my  honour, 
Sir,  it  the  least  deserved  it.  He  could  not,  he  had  not  the  power 
to  renew  his  action;  he  never  did,  he  never  could  say  to  Lieute- 
«ent  Nicholson,  that  he  mould,  for  he  did  not  suppose  that  Lieute- 
nant was  to  come  to  England  with  the  news ;  it  was  an  uncusto- 
mary thing  ;  his  Messenger  was  only  sent  to  Admiral  Cornwallis, 
who,  by  usual  practice,  was  most  certainly  likely  to  forward  the  ao» 

count  of  Sir  Robert's  victory  by  one  of  his  own  vessels. ]\Iy 

former  letter  names  the  20  sail  of  the  line  he  had  so  successfully 
fought;  as  also  the  16  in  Ferrol  harbour,  and  the  5  that  were  so 
near  to  him  from  R,ochfort.  I  might  also  have  added,  that  he  was 
by  no  means  secure  from  the  22  sail  of  the  Brest  fleet:— hcr« 


SIR    ROBEUT    CAL1)£R,    BART.  113 

altogether  were  sixiy-thrce  sail  of  the  line:  what  a  weapon  of  many 
points  was  here  set  against  Sir  Robert  and  liislittlt!  squadron  !  and 
yet  over  this  monster  did  fiis  skill  and  valour  carry  him  in  safety  1 

The  good  Admiral  Cornwailis,  under  whose  direction  he  was, 

Diost  handsomely  sent  the  Fri-ke  cutter  forward  to  Kiiijlarid  Avitli 
the  news:  Ifc,  and  the  Lords  of  the  AdiiiiraUii^  n-turned  the'r 
thanks  to  the  Commander  in  Cliief  ofl"  Feirol  : AVhat  must  Ad- 
miral Cornwailis,  what  must  the  rest  of  Sir  l^ohert  Caider's  friends 
have  thought,  M'licn  tlie  newspapers  tccinrd  out  abuse  U[)on  an 
officer,  who  is  as  worth v  iu  pri\ate  life,  and  as  sincere  as  a  good 
Christian,  as  he  is  great  iu  the  profession  to  which  he  does  soinueii 
honour? 

We  !ri}iall  conclude  this  memoir,  with  the  followintif  passage 
from  Dr.  IJalloraii's  Poem  of  The  Batlle  of  Trafa/gar: — 

When  Fraiicc  and  .Spahi's  defeated  scjuadrons  fled 

1  he  force,  bv  l)r:i\'c,  biil.  injm-'d  t'aUlLr  led, 

With  terror  wini^'d,  to  (JaA'u.  purt  ibcy  stci-i'd, 

Ijii;lonjii:>  refuy,e,  from  tlic  Cliicf  lliey  tetirM  I 

There  Iuhj;  inactive,  but  secure,  tijcy  si.iv'd; 

And  ignominious,  pent  by  close  blockade, 

IJeioie  tiieir  port,  with  frustrate  ras^e  descry'd 

A  lji'iti-)!i  riect,  of  strength  inferior,  ride! 

Twice  had  the  iMoon  her  various  phases  worn, 

Anil  s  ill  the  Toe  sustain'd  tlie  Hriiish  scorn  ; 

Still,  in  base  sloth  contin'd,  tlicir  Fleets  rcm;'.in'd, 

1'hough  iir!i,\l  by  Hoikjup,  ni^rc  by  Pear  restrain'd ! 

'\\  hen,  lo!  giad  signals,  tho'  unhop'd,  txpress'd, 

(Vt  Ihle  pour'd  new  transfiort  tin'o'eiich  Uriton's  breast,) 

'J'lie  joyful  tidini^s,— — '  that  the  hostile  tbicu, 

Their  Port  forsaken,  steer'd  u  soutliward  course*!' 

*  To  tiiis  passa^^e,  Dr.  Ilallorun  has  atiixcd  the  i'ollowing  note,  in  wliicli 
his  ojiinion  appears  to  be  very  freely  ex|)res.-ied :  — 

"  I  have  read  without  prejudice  or  partiality,  and  considerod  v.ith  ail  tne 
attention  of  which  I  sun  eafiable,  the  trial  of  Sir  Robert  CaUler.  Certainly, 
fnnn  the  evidence,  I  euuid  not  possibly  aiitic;j)ate  the  sentence.  And,  /«- 
juicd,  I  cannot  liul  deem  iin  olficer,  who,  tiiough  of  mupiestionable  braverv, 
and  haviii;!  gained  an  important  advantage  over  a  superitir  force,  is  yet 
severely  ienii:,rtd  for  ait  error  iiiJi(i/i:Mi.nl  ! — a  sentence,  which,  it  nnght  be 
presumed,  a  court,  composed  oi' men,  iliemselxes  weak  and  fallible,  vvoutd 
liave  paused, and  seriously  iiiilced  deliLi  laud  upon,  before  they  thusindelibiy 
placed  upon  record,  uliat  nuii/  liircuJUr  saiiclinu  tttclr  vicii  conJiiiiiiation  .' 
lor,  if  an  error  in  judgment  be  se\crely  teiisuruble,  v^heI■e  i^  the  ni.ui,  iiuw- 


114  BIOGRAPHICAL    MEMOia    Oi' 

IIEKALDIC    PARTICULARS. 

Robert  Calder,  of  Asswanlie,  in  the  county  of  Aberdeen,  had 
issue,  beside  George,  who  succeeded  to  the  lands  of  Asswanlie,  in 
1625,  another  son,  James,  who  married  Margaret  Gordon. 
Their  son,  Thomas,  (Sheriff  of  Miln,  in  1669,)  married  Magdalinc 
Sutherland,  by  whom  he  had  issue,  James,  William,  and  Harriot. 
James,  the  eldest  son,  married  Grizel,  daughter  of  Sir  Robert 
Innes,  of  Iiines  ;  and,  in  1686,  being  at  that  time  Laird  of 
Muirtowne,  was  created  a  Baronet  of  the  Kingdom  of  Scotland. 
In  1711,  his  eldest  son,  Sir  'J'homas,  was  married  to  Christian, 
daughter  of  Sir  John  Scott,  of  Ancrum.  James,  the  eldest 
offspring  of  this  marriage,  married  first,  in  1735,  Alice,  daughter 
of  Robert  Hughes,  Esq.,  Rear-Admiral  of  the  Red  Squadron  ; 
secondly,  Catherine,  daughter  of  VVentworth  Odeane,  Esq.,  Clerk 
pf  the  House  of  Commons.  By  his  former  lady,  J>e  had  issue, 
Thomas,  lost  in  the  Namur  man  of  war ;  Henry,  of  Parkhouse, 
Major-General  and  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Gibraltar,  who  died 
in  1792*';  James,  who  died  young;  Robert,  the  subject  of  the 
preceding  memoir  ;  Aleth  a,  who  died  in  1793,  the  wife  of 
Robert  Roddam,  Es  .,  Admiral  of  the  Red  Squadron  ;  and  twQ 
plher  daughters,  who  died  young. 

There  is  a  story  respecting  the  grant  of  the  lands  of  Asswanlicf 
to  Hugh  Calder,  affer  the  battle  of  Brechin,  related  by  Gordon, 
in  his  history  of  the  family  of  Gordon,  and  thence  copied,  in  part, 
by  Nesbitt,  in  the  Appendix  to  his  second  voiume  on  Heraldry. 
The  story,  however,  is  unfounded,  as  any  way  relating  to  the 
grant  of  Assv/anlie  ;  and  it  was  probably  invented,  when  the 
Duke  of  Gordon,  somewhre  about  the  year  1715,  gave  a  gilt  cup 
to  Alexander  Calder,  of  Asswanlie.  The  lands  of  Asswanlie  were 
granted  by  "  Sir  Alexander  Scton,  Laird  of  Gordon  and  Strath- 
bogie,  kc.  &c.'to  Hugh  Calder,  (son  and  heir  ^f  Alexander  Cal- 
derj)  and  to  his  spouse,  Elizabeth  Gordon,  &c.  &:c."     This  grant 

ever  brave,  or  skilful,  or  prudent,  who,  while  subject  to  the  failings  inci- 
dent to  our  nnfure,  m;iy  not  become  obnoxious  to  i\  similar  setitencer — 
Byijg  w;is  sacriiiced,  aii,l  Ciilder  censiircrl,  because  tiicy  weve  not  exempted 
from  human  tidlibiljty  !  Were  tliey  not,  therefore,  evidently  the  victims, 
ratlior  of  popular  prejudice,  than  of  actu'.il  demerits?  Posterity  has  too  late 
done  justice  to  the  memory  of  the  one  ;  to  the  other,  it  is  to  be  lioped,  tlie 
general  sense  of  the  Navy,  and  of  every  iu:partial  Briton,  has  a!re:idy  proved 
a^  lenitive  for  his  wounded  feeliufis." 

*  ILs  ai;l_y  son  inlicrits  the  title  of  Baronet  of  Scotland. 


flIR    ROBERT    CALDER,    BART.  113 

is  dated,  at  EJgin,  on  the  last  day  of  August,  1440 ;  and  was  con- 
firmed, by  royal  charter,  at  Edinburgh,  in  1450.  This  original 
charter  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Sir  Robert  Calder.  On  the 
death  of  Alexander  Calder,  of  Asswanlie,  at  Old  Aberdeen,  in 
1768,  the  estate  was  finally  sold  to  the  Earl  of  Fife,  whose  rtro- 
perty  it  novv  is.  The  gilt  cup  above  mentioned  is  now  thel 
property  of  Sir  John  Gordon,  of  Park  ;  and  its  size,  form,  orna- 
ments, &c.,  sufficiently  contradict  and  confute  the  idle  story  of  its 
having  been  Crawford's  cup,  brought  to  Iluntly  after  the  battle 
of  Brechin,  fought  in  1452,  twelve  years  after  the  date  of  the 
grant  of  thi*  lands  of  Asswanlie  to  Hugh  Calder,  son  and  heir  of 
Alexander  Calder. 

Arms. — Or,  a  buck's  head,  caboshed,  sable,  ai tired,  gules. 

Crest. — A  swan  in  a  lake,  with  bullrushcs  proper. 


NAVAL  ANECDOTES, 


COMMERCIAL  HINTS,  RECOLLECTIONS,  &«. 

NANTES    IN    CURGITE    VASTO. 


THE    LATE     ADMIRAL     HARRISON  S     MEMORIAL     TO    L0RI7 

ONSLO'v^. 
MY    LORD, 

PURSUANT  to  your  Lordship's  request^  I  have  drawn  out 
a  Memorial  of  the  time  and  manner  of  my  service  in  the 
Navy. — 

I  served  two  years  a  Volr.nteer  oii  board  Ills  Majesty's  ships 
London  and  Dunkirk,  in  King  William's  war.  In  1700,  I  served 
as  Midshipman  on  board  the  Pcndcnnis,  commanded  by  Captain 
Strickland,  who  took  me  with  him  into  the  Romney,  where  I 
Served  as  ^Master's  first  Mate,  from  June  1701,  to  April  1703; 
where  I  was  made  Lieutenant  of  the  Darimouth  in  Helvoetsluys, 
as  appears  by  certificate  annexed.  In  a  voyage  from  Archangel, 
at  the  utmost  hazard  of  my  own  life,  I  was  the  instrument  (under 
God)  of  preserving  the  Romney,  and  in  all  probability  the  whule 
•<hip"s  company,  from  perishing  in  the  White  Sea. 

The  next  year  at  Elsinorc,  being  with  the  long  boat  on  shore  at 
Elseiiburg,  the  povernor  of  that  province,  under  pretence  of 
trespass  committed  by  our  peo})le  cutting  a  little  broom,  seized  on 
tel»  of  them,  Vi'hom  he  made  prisoners,  (wounding  two  or  three,) 


lie  NAVAL    ANLCnoTl"..-, 

and  in?i?tcd  on  400  ri\-dollars  for  the  damage  :  Capfain  Slriclc-- 
jand,  vitli  C'aplaiiii  Tudor,  Trover,  ajid  Watkins,  bi-iufT  on  sliore- 
at  the  time,  could  bring  liim  to  no  other  terms.  I  took  the  said 
Ciovcirnor  otF  from  the  bridge  of  Elsinbiirg,  where  there  was  a 
fTuaid  of  six  soldiers  and  about  twenty  Swedes,  otficersj  and  other 
gentlemen  ;  broui;lit  liim  on  board,  and  obliged  liim  to  send  a 
Iclter  fortl'.witli  to  discharge  the  nsen  :  for  the  trutli  of  this  I  rc'fer 
to  Captains  Tudor  a'.id  'I'rcvor. 

la  1705  1  was  m;ide  Lieutenant  of  the  Diin%'.  i',-k,  where  I  pro- 
iecied  a  niachi-n-e  to  melamorphose  the  said  sliip  into  a  Duteli  lly 
boat;  M-hich  so  well  answered  tlie  design.,  that  b)  decoying,  thcu» 
within  pistol-shot,  we  took  five  jirisaleers  ;  pnt  o-n  shore  en,  Sluys- 
Beach  a  French  man  of  war,  of  24  gnns;  and  six  privateers  npon  ' 
the  Bead)  of  Calais:  for  confirmation  of  which  I  refer  to  Captain 
(Jliarlcs  JIardy,  Commander  of  the  Carolina  }  acht,  and  Captain 
Tiiomas  Graves. 

J  attacked,  boarded,  and  took  a  French  privateer,  of  six  gnns^ 
and  31  men,  ofl' Dui./'encss,  A\ith  our  jj^ni^ace  and  yanl;  in  Avhicb 
]  Iiad  bnt  19  mo;*,  tiioaigh  a  fsfcsh  g;irle  of  wind,  ar.d  the  privateer 
under  sail,  our  ship  a])o\e  a  league  from  us  :  for  which  Captain 
Craves  and  all  the  ship's  comjiany  gave  mc  the  property  of  the 
whole  ])rizo. 

In  1711  I  was  made  Captain  of  tho.  Dun  wick,  preferable  to 
either  of  the  Admiral's  own  Lieutenants  :  which  commission, 
though  not  confirmed,  liOrd  Torrington  was  of  ojiinion  it  ought  to 
have  been,  and  three  years  since  promised  he  would  be  my  a(ho- 
cate  to  get  me  a  ship  :  but  1  still  remain  on  the  half-pay  list  of 
]jieutenants. 

In  1714,  by  order  fio  n  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty,  I  was  sent 
f.om  Pl\  mouth,  Comniaader  of  ilis  ^Majesty's  smack  the  Mary,  to 
Brest,  to  inform  mvself  of  all  the  preparations  niakiug  both  by  sea 
iind  land,  at  that  port,  and  places  adjacent  :  whicli  1  performed  in 
eleven  davs,  and  gave  their  Lordships  a  particular  account.  The 
r  )nv  of  which  is  annexed.  'J'his  expedition  co.^f.  me  more  thaR 
twelve  guineas,  which  I  was  never  reimbursed. 

I  liope  their  Lord-ships  will  be  pleased  to  take  into  consldi'radon, 
and  for  the  better  s\ipport  of  my  fa;nily,  which  consists  of  a  wife 
and  nin*  children,   runiove  me  from  ihc  list  of  Lieulenants. 

JMy  preser\ing  Ilis  ^ilajes^y's  ship  !icmn<?y  was  in  the  manner 
iis  follows  : — In  our  p^ssagi^  from  Archangel,  we  were,  by  a  very 
.■^•^rong,  unknown  current,  driven  so  nigh  tlie  island  Caudernoze,  that 
lU-a  dark  and  ?lormv  night  »\  c  w-tc  cl/ligvd  to  come  to  an  anchor;. 


COMMF.RrrAT,    iriN'TS,    UrCOLT-ECTIOXS,    Scc.  117 

ihc.  next  morning  findinif  ourselves  on  a  lee  shore,  and  so  ncaraledge 
of  rocks,  without  castinsj  (he  ship  to  starboard  she  ni;.;st  incvitabfy 
have  been  on  shore,  not  having  room  to  wear  the  ship  ;  the  wind 
at  the  samp  time  two  points  or  more  on  the  starboard  bow,  and 
h!cw  >o  hard  with  a  current  and  a  great  sea,  that  there  was  no 
possibility  of  lowering  a  boat,  or  standing  in  the  head  to  jnit  a 
spring  on  the  cable :  the  messenger  and  viol  being  both  broke  ia 
heaving,  and  the  hitches  jammed  in  the  hause  hole,  so  that  the 
ship  rode  entirely  by  the  hause  piece;  with  a  rope  reeved  in  a 
block  at  the  boM  sprit  cjid,  I  swang  myself  from  the  head  of  the 
Lyon,  so  iar  out  as  the  buoy,  and  swam  to  it  with  a  deep  sea  line 
in  my  hand  ;  which  being  fastened  to  the  end  of  a  hawser,  I 
reeved  in  the  strap  of  the  buoy,  and  was  hauled  on  board  with 
the  saine,  (having  been  above  12  minutes  in  the  water,  the  sea 
makiiig  a  free  passage  over  me,  and  at  the  same  time  above  fifty- 
tons  of  ice  hanging  about  the  sliip,)  Avhich  hawser  was  brought  on 
the  laiboard  quarter  to  the  main  capstern,  and  with  it  hove  up  to 
bring  the  wind  on  the  starboard  bow,  cutting  the  cal)Ic  with  some 
chisels  iu  the  hause,  and  cast  the  ship  the  right  way. 

-Mcmoiial  of  Admiral  IJarvison''s  long, Services. 

Was  made  a  Lieutenant  in  April  1701 

A  Post  Captain,   28th  February  1739 

A  Rear-Admiral 1 756 

A  Vice- Admiral  of  the  Blue 1 758 

A  Vice  of  the  lied 1759 

Died  13th  of  March 1750 

rLAMBOr.OUGII    LIGHT-HOUSE. 

FLAM  BOROUGH  I.ight-house  was  erected  under  tfit- 
direction  of  Mr.  Wyat,  llie  Architect.  The  height  of  the  build- 
ing, from  the  basis  to  the  sumniit,  is  eighty-five  feet ;  and  from 
the  level  of  the  seu,  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  1806,  th6  following  oration 
was  delivered  by  Benjanihi  Milne,  Esq.,  Collector  of  His 
Majesty's  Customs  at  Bridlington,  on  the  first  exhibition  of 
tliesi'  liglit.5 : — 

Rome,  in  the  plenitude  of  power,  enriched  with  the  plunder  of 
conquered  p.oviucos.  and  e!a*:cd  with  pride,  erected  stately  pi'lar?,. 


lis  NAVAL   ANECROTES, 

ornamented  with  exquisite  sculpture,  io  co'raracmorate  the' 
achievements  of  her  illustrious  citizens  ;  but  those  splendid 
embellishments  were  the  ostentatious  monuments  of  an  unbounded 
ambition,  which  gra'.pcd  at  universal  dominion,  and.  in  the  career 
of  victory,  exk-ndcd  a  wide  scene  of  ruin  and  desolation.  Under 
the  influeTice  of  a  better  principle,  and  for  purposes  infinitely  more 
iij;eful,  this  sup^'rh  edilicc,  for  the  exhibition  of  lights,  is  erected, 
it  was  raised  for  the  benevolent  irttcntion  of  securing  the  propcrt}' 
of  individuals,  and  of  preserving  human  life  from  the  calamities  of 
shipwreck.  To  the  honour  of  the  Elder  Brethren  of  the  Trinity 
House,  Deptford  Strond,  and  London,  it  must  be  observed,  that 
with  laudable  zeal  Ihey  have  patronized  the  undertaking,  and  com- 
pleted the  bniiding  in  a  style  supiM-ior  to  e>cry  other  of  the  samrr 
class  in  the  L.'nited  Kingdom— an  eminent  dis])lay  of  taste  and 
judgment.  Tiic  gnm.leur  of  its  situation  on  this  elevated  pro- 
montory is  unequalled  ;  the  sublimity  of  the  prospect  must  excite 
the  admiration  of  every  beholder;  the  vast  sweep  of  the  northern 
ocean  fills  the  eye  with  its  immeasurable  expanse,  and  exhibits  a 
scene  which  inspires  exalted  ideas.  Innumerable  fleets,  laden 
•with  the  produce  of  the  coal  mines,  and  rich  trading  vessels  from 
Scotland,  daily  pass  in  view.  Ships  freighted  with  naval  stores, 
and  valuable  merchandise,  from  Archangel,  from  Norway,  the 
ports  of  the  Baltic  and  Holland,  and  others  from  the  AV'hale 
Fisheries,  direct  their  course  to  this  distinguished  promontory. 
Scenes  of  this  kind  are  characteristic  of  national  grandeur.  The^ 
bold  cnterprize,  and  mercantile  spirit  of  Britain,  astonish  the 
world.  The  magnitude  of  her  commerce  covers  the  sea  with  her 
tlcets  ;  her  flag  waves  triumphant  in  every  quarter  of  the  globe  ; 
the  unrivalled  skill,  industry,  honourable  conduct,  and  opulence 
«>f  the  country,  are  the  solid  basis  of  its  stability.  Surely  such 
important  interests  merit  a  sedulous  attention  to  their  security. 
While  you  view  with  complacency  the  multitude  of  ships  floating 
on  the  extended  ocean,  should  you  at  the  same  time  take  into 
consideration  the  immense  value  of  their  cargoes,  and  the  many 
thousands  of  seamen  by  which  they  are  navigated,  you  would  then 
be  able  to  form  some  judgment  of 'the  extensive  advantages  which 
must  result  from  the  execution  of  a  plan  so  highly  useful  and 
beneficent.  If  prompted  by  curiosity,  you  have  ever  surveyed  the 
formidable  rocks  which  line  the  adjacent  shore,  and  have  observed 
the  foaming  waves  of  the  stormy  ocean  dashing  witii  irresistible 
fury  agiMus-t  the  perpendicular  cliffs,  (he  sight  alone  must  have 
iiiied  vou  witJi  astonishment  and  dread !    Figure  then  to  yoursnU' 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    KECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  119 

the  melancholy  scene  of  some  unfortunate  vessel  enveloped  in 
midnight  darkness,  driven  by  the  tempest,  and  suddenly  stranded 
on  tiie  tremendous  coast ;  paint  to  your  imagination  the  crew  of 
helpless  soamen  sinking  among  the  overwhelming  billows,  and 
raising  their  supplicating  voices,  in  vain,  for  aid !  reflect  on  tha 
inexpressible  agony  of  their  tender  connexions,  deprived  in  one 
cad  moment  of  all  that  is  esteemed  dear  in  life,  and  left,  perhaps 
desolate  and  forlorn,  in  a  state  of  helpless  indigence,  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  a  husband,  a  father,  or  a  son  !— These  are  not  visionary- 
ideas,  they  are  scenes,  alas !  'which  have  too  frequently  beea 
realized.  With  such  impressions  on  your  minds,  you  must 
assuredly  acknowledge  the  utility  of  a  design,  calculated,  U'  der 
Providence,  to  prevent  consequences  so  wounding  to  the  tender 
sensibilities  of  human  nature.  Had  this  building  been  erected  at  a 
more  early  period,  the  loss  of  His  Majesty's  ship  the  A^autilus, 
Captain  Gunter,  from  the  Baltic,  and  several  of  the  vessels  under 
his  convoy,  with  many  valuable  lives,  might,  in  all  human  pro- 
bability, have  been  prevented.  From  the  exhibition  of  these 
brilli.int  lights,  innumerable  wiil  be  the  advantages  to  navigation. 
I  will  detail  the  most  prominent : — Thesight  of  them  wi!l  dispel  the 
gloom  which  frequently  seizes  the  boldest  and  most  bkiliul  navi- 
gator, in  a  critical  moment  ;  and  direct  him,  when  surrounded  by 
the  obscurity  of  a  winter's  night,  to  avoid  the  dangers  of  this  pro- 
jecting coast.  They  will  guide  the  tempest-beaten  mariner  to  the 
JIumber,  or  to  a  safe  anchorage  in  Bridlington  Bay,  famed  for  its 
convenience  and  security  :  ditlusing  their  friendly  lustre  afar,  thev 
will  shine  as  leading  stars  to  enable  ships  in  a  large  ofling  to 
ascertain  their  situations  with  accuracy,  and  to  take  a  new  depar-, 
lure;  and  also  warn  others,  contending  with  eastern  gales,  to  keep 
at  a  proper  distance  from  the  dangers  of  a  lee  shore  ;  to  the 
fishermen,  who  are  frequently  exposed  to  great  perils  on  the 
unstable  element,  they  will  be  eminently  useful  in  the  night :  they 
will  guide  them  to  the  proper  fishing  grounds,  and  direct  them,  oij 
their  return  to  the  shore,  to  a  place  of  safety.  Numerous  have 
been  the  disasters  of  this  industrious  race  of  men  at  Flamboroughc 
I  am  persuaded  that  jnany  of  you,  who  are  now  present,  have  Avit~ 
nessed  the  painful  scene  of  the  whole  viijage  in  mourning! — the 
lamentations  of  the  disconsolate  widow  and  mother  must  have 
pierced  your  souls:  with  inexpressible  aiiguish,  I Iiav.':  scf'>2  the- 
tears  of  the  helpless  orphan  flow  for  an  imhilgent  parent,  mIio 
perished  in  the  merciless  wave:  while  [  retuiu  the  faculty  ot 
p.ieipory,   the  sad   infpre^siou   \yill   never   bo  erased  ;    and  at  this 


120  NATAt    AMiCDOTES, 

moment  it  is  difficult  to  restrain  my  emotions :  but  th.o,  consideration, 
that  my  humble  exertions  have  been  instrumental  in  promoling  a 
design  to  prevent  those  calamities  in  futare,  will  be  a  source  of 
satisfaction  to  me  to  the  remotest  period  of  life.  Tliis  description 
of  an  undertalving  so  conducive  to  the  security  of  navigation,  will 
not,  I  trust,  be  deemed  too  highly  coloured— the  facts  are  incon. 
trovcrtible,  the  utility  indisputable.  So  long  as  this  noble  edifice 
shall  stand  unshaken  on  its  firm  foundation,  and  lift  its  aspiring 
summit  to  the  view  of  the  admiring  spectator,  it  will  remain  a  con- 
spicuous monument  of  the  humanity  and  munificence  of  the 
British  nation,  unparalleled  by  any  otlier  of  (he  maritime  states  on 
Ihe  face  of  the  globe.  May  the  kind  Providence  of  Almighty  God 
favour  this  and  every  other  effort  of  national  utility  -vvith  success, 
and  crown  with  glory  the  ardent  courage  and  determined  resolution 
of  our  matchless  seamen,  in  the  defence  of  their  native  land  '. 
"While  afilicled  iOuropc  mourns  her  desolated  provinces  and  sub- 
jugated states,  may  this  United  Kingdom,  iirm  in  loyalty,  in 
patriotism,  and  every  exalted  virtue,  oppose  an  insurmountable 
barrier  to  the  impetuous  torrent  which  threatens  to  overwhelm 
the  earth  !  May  Britain  ever  continue  in  the  envied  possession  of 
the  Empire  of  the  Main,  and  lifting  her  unclouded  head  with  dis- 
tinguished  lustre  amid  the  gloom  which  at  this  awful  crisis 
overshadows  the  world,  exhibit  to  desponding  nations  a  bright 
example  of  gloiy,  iiuincible  by  every  hostile  shock,  uushakeu 
as  the  rocks  tiiat  g'lard  our  sea-girt  shore;. 

LOUIS    Tilt     lOURT EENTil,     AND    THE     EPYiiTONE 
I.lGHT-llOLSE. 

LOUIS  the  Fourteenth  being  at  war  with  England,  during  the 
proceeding  M'it  ;  the  Edystonc  Jvight-house,  a  French  privateer 
took  the  men  at  ^vo^■U  upon  the  Rock,  together  -with  their  tools, 
av.d  carried  them  to  France;  and  the  Cajitain  \va-  in  expectation 
of  a  reward  for  th.'  achievement.  While  the  r;iptives  lay  in  pri- 
son, the  transaction  reai!i?d  the  envs  of  that  JMonaich  ;  he  immedi- 
atelv  ordered  them  to  be  released,  and  the  captors  to  be  put  in 
their  places;  declaring,  (hat  though  he  was  at  war  with  England, 
lie  was  not  so  with  mankind.  lie  therefore  directed  the  men  to 
be  sent  back  to  their  work,  with  presents;  obsLr\ing,  that  "  the 
Kdystone  I^ight-house  was  so  situated,  as  to  be  of  equal  service 
to  all  nations,  having  occasion  to  navigate  th-  Channel  between 
I'-ngland  and  France."  After  this  occurrence,  the  workmen  were 
protettcd  by  frigates,  by  order  of  Fiince  Cieprgc  of  l)cuiniiriL. 


COMMEKCIAI.    HINTS,    RECOI.I.KCTIOXS,    ScC.  121 

Copi/ of  Sir  Kmuaku  Haddock's  ^icco?//?/.  given  to  His  Royal 
Highness  the  Duke  of  J'oik,  uf  their  Engugcuienl  the  USth  of 
May,  1072,  in  the  Ruj/ul  James. 

SIR, 

IN  obedience  to  your  Royal  Higliness's  commands,  I  here 
humbly  present  to  your  view  a  brief  narrative  of  our  actions 
on  board  the  Royal  James,  the  '28th  of  May  last  past,  as  fol- 
loweth  : — 

Upon  signal  from  our  scouts,  of  the  Dntcli  fleet's  approach,  we 
put  our  ships  immediattd/  iiito  a  figl)(ing  posture,  and,  between 
3  and  4  P.  M-,  wind  E.  by  S.,  brought  our  cable  to  the  capstan, 
and  heaft  a  peak  of  our  anchor;  which,  upon  firing  a  gun  and 
loosing  fore-topsail  of  your  Uoyal  lil^'hness's  sliip,  we  presently 
weighed,  and  alternards  lay  l<(Hlging  with  our  head  .sails  at  the  mast, 
till  our  anchor  was  up;  which  done,  we  made  sail,  steered  iV.  E. 
by  N.,  and  stood  off  with  our  signal  abroad  for  the  squadron  to 
draw  into  the  line  of  battle ;  which'  an  as  done  as  well  as  the  short 
time  we  had  would  permit :  but  fuiding  myscU  one  of  the  weather- 
most  siiips,  I  bore  to  leeward,  till  I  had  brought  ourselves  in  a 
line;  the  Vice- Admiral*,  and  part  of  his  division  right  a-head;  the 
Rear-Admiral,  and  his,  right  a-stern  :  only  two  or  three  frigates  to 
leeward,  and  so  near,  one  of  them  ^^  itliin  call.  The  Dutch  squa- 
dron. Van  Ghent,  attacked  us  in  the  body  and  rear  very  smartly, 
let  the  van  go  a-head  without  engaging  them,  for  some  time,  as  far 
as  I  could  perceive.  We  engaged  about  an  hour  and  naif  \ery 
smartly  :  when  the  Dutch  found  they  could  do  no  good  on  us  with 
their  men  of  war,  they  attacked  us  with  two  iire-ships,  tlie  first  of 
which  we  fired  with  our  shot,  the  secund  we  disai;b  d  by  shooting 
down  his  yards ;  before  Avhich  time  I  had  sent  our  barge,  by  my 
Jvord's  command,  a-hcad,  to  Sir  Joseph  Jardine  tj  tack,  and  with 
his  division  to  weather  the  Dutch  that  were  upon  us,  and  beat  them 
down  to  leeward  of  us,  and  come  to  our  assistance;  our  pinnace  I 
likewise  sent  astern,  to  command  our  shi  s  to  come  to  our  assist- 
ance, which  returned,  but  were  on  board  several  Avho  endeavoured 
it,  but  couh!  not  elfe  tit.  About  iwu  hours  after  we  engaged,  Ave 
were  boarded  athwart  hawse  by  one  of  their  men  of  war,  notwith- 
standing our  endeavours  to  prevent  them,  by  Avearing  our  ship  two 
or  three  poinis  from  the  Avind,  to  have  taken  him  alongside.   When 

*  The  Edgar. 

/28II.  ei;ror;.  (Hol.XVlI.  h 


I2t  NAVAL    ANECDOTES, 

he  had  been  thwart  our  hawse  some  short  time,  my  Lord  would 
have  had  me  boarded  hiin  with  our  men  and  taken  him;,  which  I 
refused  to  do,  by  giving  him  my  reasons  that  it  would  be  very  dis- 
advantageous to  us  :  first,  that  I  must  have  commanded  our  men 
from  our  guns,  having  then  1  believe  300  men  killed  and  wounded, 
and  could  not  expect  but  to  los<;  100  in  taking  him.  Secondly  ;  if 
I  had  so  done,  we  could  not  have  cut  him  loose  fiom  us,  by  reason 
of  the  tidj  of  flood  bound  him  fast;  and,  thirdly,  had  we  plied  our 
guns  slowly,  by  taking  away  our  men,  we  had  then  given  cause  to 
the  enemy  to  believe  we  had  been  disabled,  and  consequently  more 
of  them  would  have  boarded  us,  which  might  possibly  have  over- 
prest  us,  and  would  have  been  more  dishonour  to  have  lost  her  by 
that  means,  than  being  at  last  burnt.  So  that  my  Lord  was  satis- 
fied with  my  reasons,  and  resolved  we  should  lutf  it  out  to  the  last 
man,  still  in  expectation  of  assistance.  About  tea  o'clock.  Van 
Ghent  himself,  finding  those  his  other  ilags  could  do  no  good  upon 
us,  nor  the  party  with  them,  came  up  with  us  himself,  we  having 
lost  the  conduct  of  our  ship.  lie  ranged  along  our  side,  gave  us  a 
smart  volley  of  small  shot,  and  his  broadside,  which  we  returned  to 
him  with  our  middle  and  lower  tier,  our  upper  guns  almost  all  dis- 
abled, the  men  killed  at  them,  lie  passed  a-head  of  us,  and 
brouf^ht  his  ship  too,  to  leeward;  and  there  lay  still.  I  was  gone 
oif  the  deck  ;  some  short  time  after.  Sir  Jose])h  Jardiue  (our  barge 
having  been  with  him,  and  given  him  my  Lord's  commands)  past  by 
us  very  unkindly  to  windward  ;  with  how  many  followed  of  his  di- 
vision I  remember  not  ;  and  took  no  notice  at  all  of  us,  which 
made  me  call  to  mind  his  saying  to  your  Royal  Highness,  when  he 
received  his  commission,  that  he  would  stand  betwixt  you  and  dan- 
ger, which  I  gave  my  Lord  account  of  ;  and  did  believe  by  his  act- 
ing, yourself  might  be  in  view  in  greater  danger  than  we  ;  which 
made  my  Lord  answer  me,  we  must  do  our  best  to  defend  ourselves 
alone.  About  12  o'clock  I  was  shot  in  the  foot  with  a  small  shot, 
I  supposed  out  of  Van  Ghent's  main-top,  which  pressed  me  after  a 
small  time  to  go  down  to  be  drest ;  I  gave  my  Lord  account  of  it, 
and  resolved  to  come  up  again,  as  soon  a>  1  was  drcst.  Jn  the  mean 
time,  whm  I  went  o if  the  deck,  sent  up  Sir  Charles  and  Lieutenant 
Mayo  to  stand  by  my  Lord.  As  soon  as  I  came  down,  rcmember- 
infy  the  llood  was  done,  sent  up  to  my  Lord  to  desire  him  to  com- 
mand the  ship  to  anchor  by  the  stern,  which  was  innnediatily  done; 
and.. after  wo  had  brought  up,  the  ship  athwart  our  hawse  fell 
away,  and  being  entangled  with  our  rigging,  our  men  boarded  and 
tojk  her.    Cut  her  loose  from  us,  and  at  my  Lord's  commands  re- 


COMMERCIAL   HIN'TS,    RECOLLECTIONS,    ScC.  123 

turned  all  on  board  again:  upon  wliicli  I,  hearing  the  shij^  wa^ 
loose,  sent  up  to  my  Lord  that  the  cable  might  be  cut,  and  the 
ship  brought  to  sail  before  the  wind,  and  loose  our  main-sail, 
Avhich  was  presently  done.  Then  my  Lord  sent  me  his  thanks  for 
my  advice,  and  withall  doubted  not  but  to  save  the  ship  :  at  that 
time  the  Surgeon  was  cutting  ofi"  fhc-saattercd  flesh  and  tendons  of 
my  toe;  and  immediately  after  we  were  boarded  by  the  fatal  fire- 
ship  tliat  burnt  us. 

BRAVERY    OF    A    SERJEANT    OF    MARINES. 
MR.    EDITOR  Portsmouth,  Feb.  5,  1S07. 

LOOKING  over  the  papers  of  a  young  gentleman  that  for- 
merly belonged  to  His  Majesty's  ship  la  Desiree,  when  com- 
manded by  Captain  Whitby,  on  the  Jamaica  Station,  I  found  tlie 
following  anecdote  of  the  Serjeant  of  Marines  belonging  to  that 
^Miip.  If  you  deem  it  worthy  of  inserting  in  your  valuable  work, 
the  Naval  CiiRONiCLE,  you  will  oblige.  Sir, 

Your  humble  Servant, 

HECTOR. 

A  few  days  previous  to  an  unsuccessful  attack  made  by  th« 
boats  of  our  ship  on  a  French  privateer  schooner,  concealed  ifl 
Rio  Cresse,  or  Hidden  Port,  in  the  island  of  Cuba,  James 
Mulhollaiid,  Serjeant  of  Marines,  was  broke  from  that  situation, 
and  put  into  the  ranks,  for  insolence  to  his  superior  officer.  The 
intention  of  the  Ca'ptain  Avas,  I  believe,  only  to  keep  him  in  that 
subordinate  situation  until  he  was  conscious  of  his  error,  for  ha 
■was  an  excellent  soUIicr,  and  otherwise  a  good  man  ;  he  appeared 
often  much  dejected,  and  the  disgrace  had  apparently  made  a  deep 
impression  on  his  mind.  When  the  boats  were  preparing  to 
depart  on  the  enterpri.'.e,  he  came  into  the  Midshipmen's  berth, 
and  requested  he  might  be  permitted  to  go  with  one  of  the  young 
gentlemen  who  was  to  have  the  charge  of  the  launch,  saying,  that 
he  was  perfectly  assured  he  should  ne-ver  return  alive  again  to  the 
ship,  but  that  he  wished  to  show  he  was  a  brave  man,  and  worthy 
the  situation  that  a  few  days  before  was  taken  from  him.  His 
request  was  granted,  and  he  proved  himself,  by  his  conduct  the 
whole  of  the  time,  a  brave  and  steady  fellow  ;  but,  according  ta 
his  own  words,  he  never  returned,  having  received,  just  before  the 
action  termmated,  eight  or  nine  musket  balls  at  ones,  in  his  bit^ast. 


124  COmiESPONDENCE. 

while  in  the  act  of  discharging  the  contents   of  his  piece  at  the 

Frenchmen.    His  death  was  regretted  by  every  one  on  board  ;  and 

wliat  makes  the  circumstance  the  more  extraordinary,  is,  that  he 

was  the  only  man  killed. 

His  Mn'estii's  Ship  Deslrde, 
23d  Feb.  laOi. 

CTKIOUS    ANF.rDOTE. 

THE  following  anecdote  took  place  on  board  one  of  His 
Majesty's  ships  lately  : — 

The  Boatswain  being  one  day  in  want  of  a  piece  of  rope,  jumped 
down  from  the  forecastle  into  the  waist,  and  looking  down  the 
fore-hatchway,  sung  out  to  his  Yeoman,  (who  kept  his  accounts, 
the  Boatswain  not  being  able  to  read  or  write,)  "  Veo  !  ho  !  there. 
Jack  ;  hand  up  that  there  remnant  of  inch."  Now  the  Yeoman 
had  for  a  glass  of  grog  given  it  aw  ay  to  one  of  the  gentlemen,  for 
a  lashing  to  his  hammock,  and  was  therefore  at  a  loss  how  to 
answer  properly  for  it :  he,  however,  returned,  "  It's  expended, 
Sir."  The  Boatswain  being  aware  that  it  could  not  be  without 
his  knowledge,  said,  harslily,  "  You  lie,  d — n  you,  it's  not." 
*'  Why,"  retorted  the  Yeoman,  "  I'll  be  d — nd  if  I  can't  show  you 
it  ii^black  and  white ;"  meaning  its  expenditure  in  writing,  knowing 
he  could  not  read  it. — '•'  Ah  !  d— n  you,"  cried  the  Boatswain, 
quite  hurt  at  his  own  ignorance,  "  there  you  palls  me;"  walking 
off,  and  cursing  his  hard  fate,  that  he  had  not  as  much  larning 
as  his  Yeoman.  E. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 

ACCOUNT    OF    A    HURRICANE. 

MR.  EDITOUj  Portsmouth,  Feh.  7,  180r. 

HAVE  transmitted  the  following  extracts  from  the  journal 
of  a  yomig  officer^  late  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Centaur, 
Captain  Whitby,  giving  an  account  of  the  situation  of  that  ship 
in  a  hurricane,  experienced  the  29lh  of  July,  180.5,  as  I  am  sure 
you  will  be  pleased  to  think  it  worthy  inserting  into  your  valu- 
able Naval  Chronicle.    I  am.  Sir, 

Your  obedient  Servant, 

POSEIDON. 


COURESPONDEKCE,  125 

On  the  10th  of  Juno,  1805,  \vc  sailed  from  Port  Rojal, 
Jamaica,  in  company  with  His  Majesty's  ships  St.  George,  Com- 
modore dc  Courcy  ;  Kagle,  Captain  Colby  ;  Atlas,  Captain  Pym  ; 
and  Success,  Captain  Scott ;  to  join  and  reinforce  the  fleet  of  our 
late  gallant  hero  Lord  Nelson,  uho  had  arrived  at  Barbadoes  in 
search  of  the  French  squadron.  At  9  the  greater  part  of  the  ships 
had  cleared  the  shoals  that  lay  off  the  harbour,  when  we  saw  by 
signal  that  the  St.  George,  who  was  the  sternmost  ship,  had  struck 
the  ground  ;  tlic  boats  were  immediately  sent  to  her  assistance 
from  all  the  ships,  who  brought  up  in  10  fathoms  without  the 
Keys.  The  sea  breeze  came  in  strong  about  two  o'clock,  and  sJie 
continued  striking  heavily  until  five  in  the  afternoon,  when  she 
was,  by  the  help  of  anchors  taken  out,  got  off.  At  seven  we 
weighed  and  stood  to  sea,  in  company  with  the  squadron. 

Nothing  particular  occurred  until  the  3d  of  July,  when  wc 
found  the  ship  made  a  good  deal  of  water,  which  obliged  us  to 
keep  the  hand-pumps  continually  working  :  on  the  6th  we  cleared 
the  Passages  :  on  the  loth  spoke  an  American  schooner,  who 
informed  us  the  French  fleet  had  sailed  from  Martinique. 

On  the  28th  the  wind  was  moderate  from  the  E.N.K.  and  the 
weather  cloudy  ;  at  0  P.M.  the  breezes  freshened,  and  the  2d 
reefs  of  the  top-sails  were  taken  in  :  at  4  in  the  morning  it 
appeared  very  dark  to  windward,  and  the  breeze  came  on  in  heavy 
squalls,  with  vivid  lightning  and  rain  ;  this  was  a  true  indicatioij 
of  what  followed.  The  top-sails  were  lowered  and  close  re.fed  by 
the  Captain's  order,  and  the  courses  still  kept  on  her. 

At  5  the  larboard  bumpkin  gave  way  ;  in  consequence  of  which 
the  fore-yard  went  in  the  slings,  and  split  the  fore-top-sail,  which 
blew  away  from  the  yard  ;  all  hands  were  immediately  turned  on 
deck,  and  the  main-sail  hauled  up,  to  ease  the  ship,  and  the 
nnzeu-top-sail  furled. 

The  wind  now  increased  to  a  perfect  gale;  several  shrouds  of 
the  lower  rigging  giving  way,  it  was  found  necessary,  for  the 
further  security  of  the  masts,  to  get  the  runners  and  tackles  up  ; 
the  top-gallant-yards  were  sent  down,  and  the  fore  and  mizen-top- 
gallant-masts  struck  ;  the  main  could  not  be  got  down,  as  the  heel 
of  the  mast  jammed  in  the  trussel  trees,  the  jib-boom  was  run  in, 
the  small  sails  sent  down  out  of  the  tops,  and  every  tiling  made 
snug  ;  set  the  fore-stay-sail,  and  at  seven  it  blew  away  ;  at  half- 
past  the  main-top-sail  blew  out  of  the  wait-rope  into  a  thousand 
ribands.  The  weather  noAV  had  an  alarming  appearance,  the  gale 
increased  to  a  perfect  hurricanCj  and  it  was  now  thought  ncccisary 


126  CO  RRESPONDESCfi. 

to  secure  the  guns,  as  the  ship  began  to  labour  and  roTl 
exceedingly  ;  the  louer  deck  ones,  32-pounders,  were  accordingly 
double  breeched  and  cleared,  and  the  main-deck  ones,  24-pouB- 
ders,  secured  accordingly.  It  is  almost  impossible  to  conceive  the 
strength  of  the  ship's  sides,  in  bearing  the  immense  weight  of  tlie 
guns,  when  thrown  on  her  beam  ends  by  the  sea  every  moment. 
At  eleven  A.M.  the  main-top-mast  actually  blew  away,  and  shortly 
after  the  fore  one,  close  to  the  cap.  Tiie  force  of  wind  at  this  mo- 
ment is  beyond  conception,  and  not  a  soul  dare  show  himself  on  the 
deck  without  keeping  under  (he  lee  of  the  weather  bulwark,  for 
fear  of  being  blown  overboard  ;  and  the  weather  became  at  once 
so  gloomy,  that  we  could  scarcely  see  the  bowsprit's  end ;  every 
exertion  was  used  both  by  officers  and  men  to  clear  the  wreck  of 
the  top-masts.  The  ship  now  laboured  dreadfully,  and  there  were 
several  seas  shijjped,  which  obliged  the  lower  deck  to  be  scuttled 
to  admit  the  water  to  pass  into  the  hold;  the  gratings  and  tar- 
paulins were  over  every  hatchway,  to  prevent  the  water  from 
going  down  that  was  shipped  ;  but,  in  consequence  of  the  ship 
straining,  the  seams  were  opened,  and  admitted  the  water  down. 
At  twenty  minutes  after  eleven  the  best  bower  anchor  broke 
adrift,  and  hung  suspended  from  the  bows  by  the  cable,  which  was 
never  unbent  :  as  our  place  of  destination  was  not  far  off,  this 
alarming  circumstance  was  soon  communicated  to  the  lower  deck, 
"where  the  cable  was  instantly  cut ;  axes  being  at  hand,  in  case  of 
an  accident  of  the  kind  happening.  This  circumstance  gave  us 
great  anxiety  for  the  moment,  as  we  were  perfectly  assured,  if  the 
peak  of  the  anchor  penetrated  through  the  ship's  bows,  as,  from  her 
labouring,  we  had  every  reason  to  expect,  she  would  inevitably 
have  gone  down. 

The  Carpenter  now  reported  the  leak  increasing,  making  from 
five  to  six  feet  per  hour  ;  every  spare  hand  was  sent  down  to  the 
pumps,  which  were  kept  working  with  great  exertion  by  all,  but 
particularly  the  marines,  alternatt-ly  taking  spell  and  spell.  The 
air  was  so  close  and  putrid,  having  no  circulation  whatever,  (the 
hatchways  and  every  other  part  that  could  admit  it  being  well 
covered,  to  prevent,  as  was  said  before,  the  water  from  coming 
down,)  that  going  from  the  quarterdeck  to  the  lower  one,  your 
breath  would  be  instantly  stopt,  and  it  would  be  a  few  moments 
before  you  were  able  to  recover  yoursi-lf.  It  did  not  ad'ect  the 
men  who  remained  there;  but,  in  consequence  of  the  intense  heat, 
they  \rere  obliged  to  strip  off  all  but  their  trowscrs.  A  few 
minuttis  before  meridian  the  main-mast  went  over  the  side,  withou' 


CORRESPONDENCE.  127 

I 

toucTutig  the  bulwark,  with  an  immense  crash,  and  very  shortly 
after  tho  mizen-mast  in  three  pieces,  the  niiddle  piece  falling  on  tJie 
poop;  likewise  a  cutter  that  had  been  blown  some  way  up  the 
shrouds  from  the  weather  quarter.  The  arm  and  signal  chests, 
V  ith  a  siv-oared  cutter,  went  over  the  side  with  the  mizen-mast. 
The  hc'ltn  was  put  np  to  keep  the  wreck  dear  of  the  rudder,  but 
the  sliip  would  not  answer  her  helm,  the  sea  striking  her  on  the 
quarter,  and  the  force  of  wind  on  the  poop  kept  her  to  :  every 
man  exerted  himself  in  cutting  and  clearing  the  u  reck,  the  Cap- 
tain's gig,  with  the  poop  lanthorn,  were  washed  away  by  a  sea  at 
this  time. 

Not  a  soul  appeared  the  least  dismayed  at  the  awful  scene  that 
presented  itself  before  us,  but  worked  and  exerted  themselves  with 
that  zeal  and  fortitude  so  conspicuous  in  a  British  sailor  in  the 
moment  of  danger:  about  twelve  we  had  the  satisfaction  to  observe 
the  wreck  on  the  weather  quarter,  and  clear  of  the  ship. 

The  wind  if  possible  increased,  and  we  saw  with  great  concern 
no  appearance  of  its  clearing  up.  Our  attention  was  now  solely 
taken  up  with  the  pumps,  and  every  man  was  sent  to  them  from 
the  quarter-deck,  to  relieve  those  poor  fellows,  who  had,  from 
their  continued  exertions,  become  quite  weak  and  exhausted.  The 
leak  liad  increased  from  six  to  eight  feet  per  hour;  during  this 
time  there  was  not  one  of  the  squadron  seen,  and  it  was  much 
feared  the  St.  George  would  founder.  The  wind  had  veered  from 
E.jN'.E.  to  S.S,  W.  :  our  latitude,  by  dead  reckoning,  there  bLii;g 
not  the  least  appearance  of  the  sun,  was  '2C°  17'  N.,  and  the  longi- 
tude 57°  42'  \V.  The  hurricane  continued  to  blow  with  unabated 
fury  until  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  it  died  in  a  small 
degree ;  we  attempted  to  set  the  fore-stay-'-ail,  from  the  stump  of 
the  mizen-mast  to  the  main  bitts,  but  did  not  succeed,  for  it  blew 
away  the  moment  the  sheet  was  attempted  to  be  hauled  aft. 

At  six  the  hemisphere  bccdme  a  little  cleared,  when  we  descried 
a  large  ship  on  our  weather  quarter,  apparently  scudding,  which 
'we  took  for  the  St.  George,  At  eight  the  hurricane  appeared  to 
be  breaking,  to  our  great  satisfaction  the  clouds  began  to  disperse, 
and  we  had  now  every  hope  of  its  concluding  ;  every  soul  appeared 
enlivened,  and  sensible  of  the  Divine  mercy  in  saving  us  from  the 
jaws  of  death  :  the  pumps  were  worked  with  double  vigour. 
The  ship  laboixred  very  heavy  as  the  wind  abated,  aud  the  leak 
increased,  to  our  no  sn)all  uneasit»ess  ;  the  pumps  however  were 
"worked  cheerily  without  intermission,  as  the  only  means  left  to 
preserve  our  lives.     At  day-light  the  grtat  force  of  wind  abated, 


128  CORRESPOXDEN-CE. 

and  the  heavy  clouds  dispersed.  It  is  impossible  for  those  v.ho 
have  not  experienced  a  like  situation,  to  conceive  our  delight,  at 
hcholding,  a  few  miles  to  wiiKhvard  of  us,  the  Eagle  and  Atlas,  Uvjy 
of  our  consorts  ;  they  appeared  not  to  have  received  so  much 
damage  as  ourselves.  The  signal  ol'  distress  was  instantly  made. 
The  signals  -were  observed  and  attended  to  ;  in  an  hour  wc 
received  an  ofFicer  from  the  Eagle,  stating  that  ship  to  have  lest  her 
top-masts,  sprung  her  lever  masts,  and  otherwise  much  damaged. 
The  Atlas  was  dispatched  to  Barbadoes,  and  the  Eagle  took  us  ia 
tow  for  Halifax,  where  we  ariivcd  in  seventeen  days.  It  was 
found  necessary,  after  examining  into  the  defects  of  the  ship,  to 
heave  a  number  of  the  guns  overboard,  to  ease  her.  The  Carpen- 
ter reported  all  the  rudder  ends  aft  started,  the  main-deck  knees 
and  water-stays  giving  way.  Jury-masts  were  rigged,  and  sails 
set  in  a  few  hours,  by  the  assistance  of  a  party  from  the  Eagle,  our 
men,  the  greater  part  of  them  being  constantly  employed  at  the 
pumps:  every  officer  and  man  of  the  Centaur  feels  indebted  to 
Captain  Colby,  for  his  attention.  The  complement  of  men  of  the 
Centaur  was  not  near  complete,  and  there  were  at  the  time  upwards 
of  an  hundred  sick  ;  they  however  recovered  before  the  ship  sailed 
for  England. 

The  conduct  of  Captain  Whitby  during  the  hurricane  was  such 
as  bespoke  him  an  able  and  excellent  ofiicer  and  seaman,  and 
likewise  that  of  every  officer  was  deserving  of  the  greatest  praise. 
The  ship  was  hove  down  at  Halifax,  and  14  feet  of  false  keel  was 
found  off  from  the  fore  foot  aft,  which  occasioned  the  leak.  The 
ship's  company  consta  tly  attended  Divine  Service  at  Church, 
•while  the  ship  remained  at  Halifax,  to  the  great  credit  of  Captain 
^Vhitby. 

PIlATE  ccxxv. 

n|^HE  Giant's  Causeway,  of  which  the  annexed  Engraving  is  a 
View,  from  a  Drawing  by  Mr.  Pocock,  is  a  promontory 
of  Ireland.     It  is  situated  in  the  county  of  Antrim,  on  the  north 
coast,  west  of  Bengore  Head. 

The  Causeway,  strictly  so  denominated,  is  regarded  as  a  great 
natural  curiosity.  Twiss,  the  celebrated  tourist,  thus  describes 
it:— 

It  consists  of  about  thirty  thousand  pillars,  mostly  i\i  a  perpen- 
dicular situation  ;  at  low  water  the  causewa}  is  about  sis;  hundrad 


PLATE    CCXXT.  1,29 

feet  long,  and  probably  runs  far  into  the  sea-  It  is  not  known 
whether  the  pillars  are  continued  under  ground,  like  a  quarry ; 
they  are  of  different  dimensions,  being  from  fifteen  to  thii  ty-six 
feet  ill  height  ;  their  figure  is  chiefly  pentagonal  or  hexagonal, 
ieveral  have  been  found  \vii.h  seven,  and  a  few  with  three,  four, 
and  eight  sides,  of  irregular  sizts  :  every  pillar  consists  as  it  were 
of  joints  or  pieces,  which  are  not  rented  by  surfaces  ;  for  on  being 
forced  off,  one  of  them  is  concave  in  the  middle,  and  the  other 
convex  ;  many  of  these  joints  He  loose  upon  the  strand.  The 
stone  is  of  a  kind  of  basaltes,  of  a  close  grit,  and  of  a  dusky  hue; 
it  is  very  heavy,  each  joint  generally  weighing  two  hundred  and  a 
half.  It  clinks  like  iron,  melts  in  a  forge,  breaks  sharp,  and,  by 
reason  of  its  extreme  hardness,  blunts  the  edges  of  tools,  and  is 
thus  incapable  of  being  used  for  building.  The  pillars  stand  very 
close  to  each  other  ;  and  though  the  number  of  iheir  sides  difiers, 
yet  their  contextures  are  so  nicely  adapted,  as  to  leave  no  vacancy 
between  them ;  and  every  pillar  retains  its  own  thickness,  angles, 
and  sides,  from  top  to  bottom.  These  kinds  of  columns  are  con- 
tinued, with  interruptions,  for  near  two  miles  along  the  shore, 
'i'hat  parcel  of  them  which  is  most  conspicuous,  and  nearest  the 
Causeway,  the  country  people  call  the  looms  or  organs.  These 
pillars  are  just  fifty  in  number,  the  tallest  about  forty  feet  in 
height,  and  consisting  of  forty-four  joints ;  the  others  gradually 
decrease  in  length  on  both  sides  of  it,  like  organ-pipes. 

Tlie  Giants'  Causeway,  specimens  of  the  stones  from  which 
have  been  deposited  in  the  British  Museum,  has  been  the  sub- 
ject of  several  Papers  in  the  Philosophkal  Transactions ;  and 
has  also  been  noticed  in  Boate's  Natural  History  of  Ireland, 
Bush's  Hibernia  Curiosa,  and  several  other  publications. 


PHILOSOPHICAL  PAPERS. 

On   the   Jntroiluciion   of  the    Teak   Tree   into    Barhadoes.     By 

NatuAniel  Lucas,  ^sq.  of  Lynxjord  Hall,  Norfolk. 

(From  Co.-niminkations  to  the  Board  cf  Agrlcultnve,  Vol.  IV.) 

TTiV  May,  or  June,  1799,  being  in  Barbadocs,  I  received  sundry 
-^  East  India  seeds  from  Langford  MJIington,  Esq.,  a  member 
of  that  Board  ;  requesting  me,  by  desire  of  the  Board,  to  di-<tri. 
biite  them  in  the  island.     No  time  v.as  lost  in  so  doing;  but  not  a 

ftJr.t),  ^^von.  ©oI.XVII.  s 


130  PjnT.OSOpUlCAL    PAPERS. 

sii'.jTle  seed  of  any  kind  vegetated,  except  one  of  the  Teak  Wood  ; 
and  that  was  at  Sunbury,  an  estate  belonging  to  Jolm  Henry 
Barrow,  Esq.,  of  Hill  Park,  iu  the  county  of  Kent. 

The  soil  in  whicli  tliis  single  seed  vegetated  is  a  very  rich  black^^ 
mould,  upon  Avhitc  clay,  iu  the  orchard,  north  of  the  dwelling 
house. 

Bein"f  again  in  the  island  in  July  1803,  I  visited  the  tree,  in 
company  with  Mr.  Barrow,  and  was  astonished  to  see  Avhat  pro- 
gress it  had  made  in  so  short  a  period  of  time.  From  a  memo- 
randum in  writing,  taken  on  the  spot  under  the  ti-ee  itself,  at  that 
time,  I  found  it  upwards  of  twenty-five  feet  high,  thriving  most 
luxuriantly,  and  at  least  five  inches  in  diameter,  six  feet  from  the 
ground..  Being  ati^ evergreen,  the  leaves  very  large,  and  the 
lateral  branches  very  numerous  and  extensive,  it  was  bowed  down 
very  considerably  by  their  weight,  afid  the  force  of  the  trade 
winds,  though  it  was  in  a  sheltered  situation.  On  theso  accounts^ 
Mr.  Barrow  was  under  the  necessity  of  cutting  off  the  lateral 
branches,  to  keep  it  more  upright  ;  and  one  of  these  branches  was 
-sent  to  me,  and  is  now  ofl'ered  to  the  inspection  of  the  Board, 
through  the  favour  of  A.  B.  Lawicst,  Esq.,  V.  P.  L.L.  to  whom 
I  had  given  it. 

The  servant,  to  whose  care  its  delivery  to  mc  was  entrusted, 
most  unfortunately  had  barked  it  before  I  received  it ;  and  being 
under  the  necessity  of  leaving  the  island  immediately,  I  had  not 
time  to  procure  another  specimen; 

The  length  of  the  branch  was  considerable  ;  but  it  was  cut  short 
to  enable  me  to  convey  it  Avith  convenicncy  during  the  voyage, 
and  my  subsequent  journey  home  into  Norfolk. 

The  wood  is  very  compact,  small  grained,  and  heavy,  as  will  he 
noticed  in  the  specimen.  Its  growth  is  very  rapid,  if  we  consider 
tlie  texture  of  the  wood  :  the  tree  had  not  flowered  when  I  left 
tiip  island. 

It  must  prove  a  most  valuable  acquisition  to  the  AVest  Indies  ; 
particularly  in  those  islands  where  lands  are  of  little  value,  and 
can  be  suffered  to  remain  encumbered  with  trees  ;  but  it  must  be 
TaJiiaMe  in  all  ;  for  being  evergreen,  with  very  large  thick  leaves, 
and  a  quirk  grower,  it  will  be  planted  for  ornamernt.  Its  use  in 
Ijuilding  th('  small  colony  craft  will  be  great  indeed,  for  the  ])ro- 
perty  of  this  timber  in  resisting  the  worm  reinlers  it  invaluable  ; 
and  its  duration  ia  tropical  countries  ip  far  greater  than  any  other 
ship  timber  with  which  we  p.re  acquainted. 

The  cedar  (cedula  odorata  of  Brown,  p.  158,)  and  the  whit* 


puiLOjornicAL  rvPEns.  151 

■R  00(1  (bignonia  pentaphylla  of  Brown,  p.  ^G3.)  bofh  of  wlii-h 
resist  tlic  worm,  and  now  bccowin:?  very  scarce  in  Barbadocs,  and 
Avere  ahnost  exclusively  used  in  buikiing  the  sinall  vessels  ;  even 
trees  originally  planted  or  left  for  ornament,  ha,ve  been  cut 
down. 

European  oak  la^ts  but  few  years  indeed  there ;  and  the 
termiles  are  so  fond  of  it  as  food,  that  (hoy  can  hardly  be  kept 
from  it  by  any  precautions,  if  the  vessels  be  laid  ashore  ;  and  oak 
tii'ibers  laid  partly  in  the  wafer,  and  partly  asliore,  have  frequcnijy 
been  seen  eaten  by  them  to  the  very  edge  of  the  water. 


DISQUISITIONS  ON  SHIP  BUILDING. 

THE  attention  of  the  public  ])eing  at  present  so  much  dircctod 
to  this  important  subject,  in  conseciuence  of  tlie  dcliates  winch 
some  time  ago  took  place  in  the  House  of  Commons*;  and  as 
various  writers  have  also  taken  up  the  same,  it  may  be  acceptable 
to  our  readers  to  peruse  some  observations  on  the  building  of  ships, 
which  appeared  in  a  licw  of  fhc  Naval  Force  of  Great  Uriiitin, 
published  by  an  anonymous  +  author  in  1791,  and  also  to  a 
Report  of  the  State  of  Timber  in  this  Count r^^  as  made  to  the 
House  of  Commons  in  1771,  which  appeared  in  the  same  work. 

The  present  builders,  in  the  dilferent  dock-yards  of  this  country, 
arc  generally  such  as  have  risen  from  being  carpenters  of  ships  of 
•war  ;  and,  perhaps,  before  that,  have  been  in  very  low  employ- 
ments in  the  dock-yards.  , 

From  such  stations  they  are  promoted  to  be  master-builders  in 
some  of  th"  first  yards  in  Europe.  It  is  true  they  understand  the 
practice  of  their  art,  but  little  of  the  theory;  it  is  not  likely, 
therefore,  that  much  improvement  should  be  derived  from  such  a 
source,  more  especially  when  some  of  them  arrive  at  the  oflicc 
of  Surveyor;  it  is  a  fact  well  known,  that  the  finest  bodies  for 
ships  of  war  have  been  designed  by  the  French  ;  these  were  copied, 
and  many  others  said  to  be  inii)roved,  built  from  them.  But 
surely  we  should  be  among  the  first,  and  not  the  second,  as  a  ma- 
ritime nation,  in  these  arts. 

Our  builders  arc,  without  doubt,  much  superior  to  foreign 
artists,  in  the  execution  and  finishing  of  their  works  ;  but  the 
general  system  of  some  foreign  powers  is  far  superior  to  ours. 


*  See  Navai,  Ciiiioxici.?:,  V'oh  XI,  pnges  231,  iU(j. 
f  Given  tu  Commissioner  luglefiold. 


132  PIITLOIJOPIIICAL    PAPEU5. 

How  beneficial  would  it  be  to  Naval  Architecture,  if  tlie  Unirer- 
sities  of  this  kingdom  were  to  nuike  it  a  part  of  their  studies,  to 
calculate  the  best  form  of  models  for  ships  to  divide -the  fluid  in 
tlie  easiest  manner  ;  and  also  to  establish  tables  for  the  resistance 
of  fluids,  that  might  be  of  use  to  builders  in  laying  down  ships  ! 

These  would  be  objects  of  infinite  consequence  to  this  science  ; 
and  sorry  am  I  to  say,  that  the  best  works  on  these  subjects  have 
been  written  by  foreigners  ;  especially  that  most  excellent  one  of 
Professor  Euler,  Sur  la  meilleiirc  Forme  des  Vaissea'ux  :  the  others 
are,  Ulloa's  TrauslatiGn  of  Bougcr  on  the  Resistatice  of  Fluids  ; 
and  Clairbois',  and  also  Chapman's  Treatise.  In  our  own  lan- 
guage, Murray's  System  of  Ship  Building ;  also  Sir.  Stalkard's 
Naval  Architecture,  lately  p\^blishcd. 

Two  faults,  •  among  many  others  which  our  builders  commit, 
are,  that  they  shortL'n  the  ship  too  much  in  its  length,  and  that 
they  place  the  centre  of  gravity  too  high.  They  have  improved, 
in  some  degree,  by  carrying  the  bearings  of  a  ship  up  to  the  sill  of 
the  lowcT-deck  ports.  Foreign  powers  consider  length,  if  not 
carried  too  far,  equal  to  breadth,  according  to  the  foice  employed 
upon  a  body,  and  the  resistance  it  meets  with  :  the  different 
advantages  of  this  plan  show,  that  the  principal  reason  of  tliese 
errors  arises  from  a  general  want  of  system,  that  might  encourage 
emulation  and  bring  forth  knowledge.  The  masts  and  yards  for 
our  Navy,  in  general,  are  too  large  ;  but  this  may  be  rectified  by 
p,  new  form  of  calculation,  the  old  method  having  been  pursued 
hince  Charles  the  First's  time. 

Perhaps  it  is  necessary  for  a  maritime  state  to  have  a  greater 
number  of  ships  than  are  actually  wanted  for  service  in  store,  of 
which  the  three  following  plans  are  worth  the  attention  of  the 
Commissioners  :  — 

Fir.':t, — To  build  a  greater  number  than  maybe  wanted,  in  time 
of  peace  ;  as  it  is  supposed  the  timber  will  keep  in  this  state  better 
than  if  exposed  to  the  weather,  either  in  a  ship's  frame,  orseparatc 
pieces.  The  only  disadvantage  that  may  occur  from  this  way  is, 
that  otlier  powers,  knowing  wliat  is  done,  would  always  be 
tempted  to  do  the  like. 

Sccoudlij, — To  build  a  sutficient  number  of  ships,  and  leave 
them  on  the  stocks,  covering  thera  with  a  thin  shed  of  deal,  as  at 
Venice. 

Thirdl^j-rr-l'o  have  u  number  of  ships  cut  out,  their  timbers, 
beams,  &c.  marked  and  numbered,  and  to  remain  in  separate  shids  to 
season,  so  as  to  be  put  together  whenever  an  emergency  may  hap- 
pen.      This  method  appears  the    best,    as  it   depends    upon   the 


\ 

FHILOSOPIIICAL    PAPERS.  133 

abilities  of  a  state  to  have  whatever  number  of  ships  they  may 
judge  necessary,  Avithout  its  being  known  to  tlieir  cnemitv:. 

The  Seven  United  Provinces,  in  the  2enith  of  their  glory,  had 
always  ten  or  twenty  sail  of  the  line  in  this  state. 

Another  plan  is  lilievvise  worthy  of  some  consideration,  and 
that  is,  (whenever  an  emergency  might  render  it  necessary,)  whe- 
ther upon  a  number  of  ships  being  laid  down,  and  their  moulds  made, 
an  intendant  or  sub-builder  might  not  contract,  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  any  country  port,  with  the  common  sawyers  and  work- 
men, for  the  timber  necessary  for  the  construction  of  a  ship  of 
•war,  to  be  cjit  out  according  (o  the  moulds,  a  sufficient  number  of 
which  might  be  distributed  to  them,  and  afterwards  brought  to  the 
port  ready  formed,  and  in  condition  to  be  put  together.  It  is 
inconceivable  how  much  time,  carriage,  work,  and  expense,  might 
be  saved  by  this  way,  and  the  common  country  workmen  made 
use  of,  whom  it  has  been  thought  impossible  to  make  any  use  of. 
I  do  not  sec  why  such  a  person  may  not  saw  or  cut  out  a  ship's 
timber,  beam,  or  knee,  as  well  as  the  best  man  in  the  world,  when 
he  has  the  mould  before  his  eya  marked  and  numbered,  with  the 
breadth,  thickness,  and  length  upon  it. 

A  number  of  shipwrights,  assembled  at  the  port,  under  the 
direction  of  an  intendant  or  builder,  would  soon  put  the  frame  of 
the  ship  together,  and  finish  it  in  a  shorter  time  than  in  any  other 
way  whatever.  And,  by  this  method,  it  is  in  the  power  of 
Government  to  make  use  of  the  timber,  shipwrights,  and  other 
workmen,  at  the  country  ports  ;  when,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is 
impossible  to  remove  or  collect  them  together  elsewhere.  What 
numerous  situations  do  the  coasts  of  Wales,  the  north  of  England, 
and  Scotland,  offer  for  such  purposes  ! 

Chips,  V, hen  they  are  necessaiily  created,  should  be  sold  weekly 
or  monthly,  by  public  sale,  and  the  money  devoted  to  watching 
the  yards,  or  any  other  useful  purpose.  A  great  quantity  of  tim- 
ber is  cut  away  by  the  workmen  of  the  yards  to  w  aste,  merely  to 
make  up  a  bundle  of  chips  for  each  man  employed  in  the  yard,  or 
in  taking  away  suiall  pieces  that  they  may  afterwards  convert  into 
ship  trunnels,  which  are  often  sold  at  so  much  a  dozen,  or  hun- 
dred, to  the  officers  of  the  yard,  or  to  merchant  builders. 

How  much  better  would  it  be  to  abolish  these  customs,  and  to 
allow-  sixpence  per  day  wages  in  lieu  thereof;  especially,  as  upon 
a  calculation,  it  is  acknowledged,  that  the  quansity  of  timber  cut 
to  pieces  for  the  above  piirposcs,  and  carried  away  each  day, 
amounts  to  near!)'  as  much  as  would  buiid  a  sloop  of  war  ! 


134 


CORRECT  RELATION  OF  SHIPWRECKS, 

[Continued  from  page  57.] 

i;2o.  XV. 

A^ain  the  dismal  prospect  opens  round, 

The  wreck,  the  shore,  the  dying,  and  the  drown 'd. 

Falconea. 

NArvHATrVT  OF  THE  WRECK 

OF 

HIS  MAJESTY'S  SHIP  PORPOISE, 

LIEUTENANT    ROBERT    FO^VLER,    COMMANDER, 

ON    A    REtF   OF    CORAI,    IN    THE    PACIFIC    OCEAN,    AUGUST    17x11,    1803, 

And  the  subsequent  Proceedings  till  the  Arrived  of  the  Creis  at 

Canton  ;  ~,.:iih  a  little  extraneous  Matter  relative  to  the  Colonj/ 
of  iYeu)  South  Wales. 

BY  0^^E  OF»THE  CREW. 

Ille  salutiferam  porrexit  ab  a?there  dextram, 
Et  me  de  rapidis  per  cuiitem  bustulit  undis. 

A  PSALMIS  BUCHAN, 

j-jT^APTAIN  FLINDERS,  M-ith  a  select  portion  of  the  ship's 
^^3^  company,  attcndetlby  Mr.  Aken,  the  Master,  and  Mr,  Char- 
rington,  the  Boatswain  of  the  Investigator,  went  on  board  the  Cum- 
bcrland,  a  schooner  of  the  very  moderate  burden  of  twenty-five  or 
twenty-seven  tons ;  and  proceeded  in  her  to  the  Mauritius,  by  way 
of  Torres  Straits  ;  with  a  view,  I  believe,  of  anticipating  Palmer  in 
the  news  of  the  wreck,  and  to  prevent  the  spreading  of  t\\Q.  reports 
which  he  must  necessarily  raise,  by  way  of  exculpating  himself  for 
his  unprecedented,  unfeeling  behaviour,  and  which  could  hardly 
fail  to  bring  a  load  of  grief,  and  sorrow,  on  our  friends  and  rela- 
tions ;  under  Avhich  some  of  them  might  sink.  Such  were  the 
motives  of  Captain  Flinders ;  and  though,  frum  the  great  start  of 
the  Bridgewater  before  the  Cumberland,  he  could  not  expect  to 
prevent  the  promulgation  of  our  misfortunes,  yd  he  might  be  in 
time  enough  to  obviate  their  dangerous  tendency,  and  hinder  them 
from  taking  deep  root  in  the  minds  of  the  parents  and  other 
relatives  of  the  suiTerers.  After  his  arrival  at  the  Mauritins,  he 
was,  agreeable  to  that  Machiavelian  policy,  which  has  of  late 
grown  into  a  settled  system  among  Frenchmen,  detained  by  the 


CORRECT    HELATION    OF   SHIPWREfCKS,  135 

Governor,  on  pretence  of  his  being  a  spy;  becausefwhcn  entering 
Port  Louis,  he  took  soundings,  as  a  measure  of  precaution  ;  but 
which  was  construed  into  a  meaning  consonant  to  those  principles 
by  which  his  own  conduct  was  usually  regulated  ;  for  now  adays, 
in  Franco,  it  is  customary  never  to  act  honourably,  but  by  way  of 
practising  deceit*.  He  is  now  closely  confined,  and  treated  with 
a  rigorous  severity,  highly  disgraceful  to  a  nation  who  has  any 
pretensions  to  civilization  or  good  faith. 

On  the  10th  of  October,  we  set  sail  from  the  reef,  in  corrpany 
with  the  Cumberland,  but  made  little  or  no  progress  that  day.  In 
the  afternoon  of  the  following,  a  fine  breeze  springing  up,  we 
parted  company,  each  taking  their  respective  course-  We  stood 
to  the  north-east,  Avith  a  fine  trade  wind,  and  on  the  13th  pas^(;d 
Bampton's  Shoal,  Avhich,  according  to  our  reckoning,  was  very 
correct  in  its  position  on  the  charts.  Nothing  material  happened 
till  the  17th,  when  we  passed  Deliverance  Isles,  which  are 
moderately  high,  and  well  covered  with  wood  ;  this  day  I  entered 
my  24th  year,  and  exceeded,  by  two  months,  what  I  bargained  for 
on  the  17th  of  August.  On  the  20th  we  passed  to  the  eastward 
of  a  small  woody  isle,  which  is  not  laid  down  in  any  charts  ;  hence 
we  reckoned  it  as  hitherto  unknown;  the  latitude  of  it  is  some- 
where about  8*  30' south,  and  long.  103°  34' east,  by  account. 
About  midnight  of  the  25th,  we  passed  a  small  island,  which  we 
supposed  to  be  what  is  laid  down  as  Pleasant  Isle,  and  soon  after 
crossed  the  Equator.  Since  our  leaving  the  Porpoise's  reef  there 
had  been  no  opportunities  for  astronomical  observation,  so  that  we 
went  in  a  great  measure  by  chance,  (for  the  dead  reckoning  of  a 
ship  is  very  little  to  be  counted  on.)  till  the  30th,  when  by  distances 
of  the  moon  from  Alpha  Pegasi,  in  lat.  5°  41'  north,  the  longitude 
of  169°  2  4'  east  was  deduced  ;  which  was  exactly  5l'  to  the  west- 
ward of  our  reckoning  by  account.  The  ship  at  that  time  bore 
due  west  from  a  clustc;'  of  low  islands,  at  the  distance  of  eight  or 
ten  mile-:  ;  which  we  supposed  might  be  those  called  Biiriug's  ; 
but  there  are  so  many  islands  in  those  seas,  that  it  is  hard  to 
defermine.  As  the  day  was  calm,  several  of  our  gentlemen  were 
invited  thereby  to  visit  them  ;  but  on  their  approach  to  the  shore, 
they  found  such  a  higli  surf,  as  to  prevent  the  accomplishing  of 
their  design,  and  they  were  obliged  to  come  back,  contented  with 
a  sight  of  them.     They  were  very  low,  of  a  corally  base,  and 

•  Captain    Bergeret  is  an   exception  to   the  general  rule,   aad  has  to 
Captain  Fliade.-=  acted  a  !ii-hly  honourable  part. 


135  connT-'T  ret.atiov  or  shipwrecks. 

though  uninhabited,  pretty  perfect  r.\  their  formation ;  for  they 
were  thiclvly  covered  -with  ■wood,  Mhich,   to  appearance,  was  prin- 
cipally of  the  palm  kind,  affording  shelter  to  myriads  of  birds  of 
the  parrot  species,  and  there  were  marks  every  where  of  luxuriant 
vegetation.     The  late  discoveries  in   chemistry  have  furnished  us 
with  the  means  of  ascertaining,  among  all  other  things,  that  coral 
is  fully  saturated  with  the  chief  food  and  nutriment  of  the  vege- 
table world  ;    hence  the  wonder  ceases,  why  these  coral  banks, 
when  once  reared  above  water,   so   soon  acquire  plants  and  soil. 
What  we  most  Monder  at  is,  that  a  cluster  of  sequestered  islands, 
in  the  middle  of  the  ocean,  which,  possibly,  fifty  years  back  were 
not  above  water,  should  produce  many  of  the  indigenous  plants  of 
the  parallels  of  latitude  under  which  they  themselves  are  placed. 
Lunar  observation   on   the  4th  of  November,   indicated  a  strong 
current  easterly  :  our  longitude,  tliisday  at  noon,  in  lat.  0°  53'  N., 
was  1G9°  37'  E.,  and  1°  37'  to  the  eastward  of  that,  by  account.. 
On  the  6th  at  noon,  a  low  groupe  of  islands,  which  we  had  every 
reason  to  believe  were  the  muskitto  groupe  of  the  Royal  Admiral, 
East  India  ship,  Captain  Bond,  bore  iV.\\\,  distant  three  or  four 
miles.     The  latitude   of  their   southern   extreme,    by   meridional 
altitude  of  the  sun's  lower,    and   complementary  altitude  of  his 
upper  limb,  was  7**  19'  N.     Wc  had  this  day  no  distances  of  the 
sun  and  moon,   but  on  the  following,  were  fortunate  enough  to 
get  several  very  good  sights  :    which,  when  carried  back  to  the 
noon  of  the  preceding  day,  made  the  longitude  of  that  part  of  the 
groupe,  in  conjunction  with  the  observations  of  the  4th,  brought 
forward,  IGS*^  36'  E.     These  islands  are  excessively  low,  but  well 
peopled  ;  and  if  we  might  be  permitted  to  form  a  judgment  from 
the  plump  appearance  of  the  inhabitants,  are  not  deficient  in  the 
good  things  of  this  life.     The  men  are  muscular,  and  well  made, 
rather  above,  than  below  the  middle  size,   of  a  dark  copper,  or 
olive  colour,  -with  regular  animated  features,  fine  teeth,  and  long 
black  hair.     All  of  them  were  tattooed  on  the  breast,  and  on  the 
belly,  in  a  fanciful  way.     The  outline  resembled  a  pair  of  cones, 
^^•hose  api'jos  joined  at  the  middle  of  the  body,  tlie  base  of  each 
being  on  the  top  of  the  breast  and  bottom  of  the  belly.     Within 
the  line,  there  were  fine  checkered  divisions,  executed  with  much 
regularity  and  neatness.     They  had  a  piece  of  shell,  in  the  shape 
of  a  gorget,  over  those  places  which  modesty  teaches  us  to  conceal, 
and  none  of  thorn  had  any  beard  ;   but  whether  this  was  a  natural 
deficiencj',  or  the  consequence  oLshaving,  we   could  not  observe. 
They  came  olfiii  canoes,   widiout  any  syn)ptoms  of  distrustj  and 


con.nF.cT  nEi.ATio.v  of  shipwkecks.  137 

exchanged,  alongside,  their  different  articles  of  traffick,  for  iron, 
with  which  thvy  seemed  perfectly  acquainted,  and  showed  a  pre- 
dilection for  it  to  every  other  thing.  What  they  brought  along 
with  them  was  cliietiy  a  kind  of  mats,  square  in  their  form,  neat  in 
the  workmanship,  but  not  larcer  than  a  napkin,  and  evidently 
made  from  the  leaves  of  sotne  kind  of  palm.  They  had  contrived 
to  dye  of  a  black  colour,  the  fibres  forming  the  mirgin,  which  had 
a  good  cifect ;  but  from  the  size,  we  could  form  no  notion  to  what 
uses  they  were  applied.  Besides  these,  they  had  a  few  cocoa  nuts, 
and  a  sour,  spongy,  ill  flavour;'d  I'ruit,  -vv  ith  a  farinaceous  sort  of 
substance,  made  up  in  great  rolls  like  a  pine  apple  cheese;  which 
We  supposed  to  be  the  bread  fruit  prepared  in  some  peculiar  way  ; 
but  it  was  by  no  means  palatable,  and  therefore  not  much  pur- 
chased. 

The  breeze  being  fresh,  our  interview  was  transitory,  and  served 
only  to  give  us  a  glance  of  these  islanders  ;  during  our  short  in- 
tercourse among  them,  however,  We  saw  nothing  in  the  shape  of 
arms.  From  the  little  we  beheld,  Me  concluded  them  to  be  of  the 
same  race,  and  of  the  same  mild  disposition,  with  the  people  of  the 
Society  and  Friendly  Islands.  Their  canoes  were  long  and  nar- 
row, with  a  rudder  at  each  end,  a  stage  and  out-riggers  in  the 
middle,  as  also  a  mast  with  a  lugsail,  so  centrally  placed,  and  sa 
conveniently  rigged,  that  when  beating  to  windward,  they  lost  no 
ground  in  tacking.  Instead  of  putting  their  vessel  about,  they 
carried  the  sheet  of  the  sail  over  to  windward,  and  hooked  it  down 
as  a  tack,  hauling  aft  as  a  sheet  to  leeward  at  the  same  time  what 
was  the  tack,  while  a  hand  stationed  at  the  opposite  rudder,  brought 
her  to  the  wind  without  loss  of  grouiid  or  time,  and  she  set  out 
forthwith  in  the  opposite  direction  with  great  velocity.  The  inge- 
nuity displayed  in  the  structure  a.;,d  management  of  their  canoes, 
as  well  as  the  plump  and  healthy  looks  of  the  inhabitants,  left  us 
no  room  to  doubt,  but  that  the  earth  spontaneously  produced  all 
the  necessaries  of  life,  and  allowed  a  free  exercise  of  their  talents, 
in  cultivating  the  arts  with  Avhich  they  were  acquainted,  beyond 
the  mere  boundaries  of  utility.  Necessity,  though  the  mother  of 
invention,  seeks  at  nothing  more  than  the  adaptation  of  means  for 
satisfying  her  »»ants.  She  is  contented  with, putting  info  the  hands 
of  the  needy  savage,  a  rude  unformed  club,  or  a  wooden  spear, 
•with  which  he  makes  shift  to  protect  himself,  and  obtain  his  prey: 
but  he  has  possibly  such  dilliculty  in  acco!n[)liihing  his  purpose, 
that  no  leisure  is  left  him  for  polishing  his  weapons.  Where  nature 
is' benelicent  in  her  gifts,  and  showers  down  on  him  her  blessings, 

/^ati.  eihron.  SJoI.XVlI.  x 


138  COKRECT    KKMilON     Oi     SHITVEIXai. 

he  then  aims  at  a  higher  end  ;  and  his  -vveopons,  besides  being  in- 
ti'udod  for  use,  are  ornamented,  and  embellished,  so  as  to  be  plea- 
sing to  the  eye,  and  llatteriiig  to  the  iancy. 

Thongli  these  men  displayed  much  taste  and  ingenuity  in  their 
canoes,  and  mats,  and  personal  ornaments,  yet  they  seemed  far  in- 
ferior to  the  'Taheiteans,  in  point  of  knowledge  in  the  arts.  They 
were  entirely  naked,  and  had  nothing  for  market  but  what  has 
been  already  mentione;!,  which  they  barlered  for  iron. 

It  may  here  admit  of  doubt,  whether  they  liave  the  same  mate- 
rials to  work  on,  as  their  neighl)()nrs  at  the  Society  and  Friendly 
Islands.  1  strongly  suspect  tiiey  have  neither  the  hog,  nor  the 
fowl  ;  for  such  saleable  articles  could  hardly  have  failed  being  in 
their  canoes,  if  the  island  had  afforded  them.  Though  deficient 
in  these,  yet  they  had  access  to  the  vast  storehouse  of  the  deep; 
which,  with  a  profusion  ol'  fruils,  and  vegetables,  acquired  without 
the  labour  of  husbandry,  was  perfectly  favourable  to  the  exertion 
of  their  mental  faculties,  whose  power  we  saw  put  forth  to  advan- 
tage, in  the  structure  and  dexterous  management  of  their  canoes. 

Scarce  any  thing  so  far  surpasses  the  reach  of  our  understanding, 
as  to  account  for  the  mode  in  which  these  men  must  have  migrated 
thither,  and  to  the  other  Islands  in  the  Pacilick.  The  quarter  from 
■whence  we  should  naturally  expect  them,  is  America. 

By  putting  before  the  trade  wind,  they,  without  knowledge  of 
navigation,  might  have  reached  some  of  the  clusters  of  Islands, 
and  scattered  themselves,  afterwards,  over  an  extensive  surface. 
So  many,  and  such  strong  objections  militate  against  this,  that 
few,  very  fcv  consider  them  of  American  origin,  unless  we  were 
to  suppcjse  that  conlincnt  (o  have  contained  a  primitive  race  of 
men,  w  liich  n.ight  have  been  displaced  by  it's  present  inhabitants  ; 
for  1  think  they  are,  beyond  the  possibility  of  doubt,  sprung  from 
one  root,  and  that,  too,  Asiatick.  Such  a  perfect  concurrence  in 
the  manners  and  customs  over  the  whole  confinent  of  America, 
and  such  a  striking  resemblance  of  feature  to  some  of  those  tribes 
in  the  north  east  of  Tartary,  naturally  lead  to  such  a  conclusion. 

I  have  been  told,  that  a  philosopher  in  America,  who,  no  doubt, 
is  deeply  read  in  conim.Tcial  ma'tiMS,  has  ventured  to  suggest,  that 
his  own  country  did  not  receive  it>  inhabitants  from  Asia,  but,  ou 
the  contrary,  that  continent  vvas  peophd  from  America. 

Qui  vai  lure  ciipit  rem  ]>rudigiiilitcr  iinam^  De/phi/nim  .^i/!vii 
appingit-Jluctibus  api'iaii,  1  gready  venerate  this  gentlen;an  A>r 
his  opinion,  beciuse  it  citincivies  exactly  with  that  oi  u'y  n)aiJcii 
graud-aat  iMargery  ;  au  admirable  womau,  of  immense  erudition. 


CORRTXT    RKL.VTION    OF    SIIII'WRECKS.  139 

and  indefatigable  research  ;  who,  with  a  becoming,  and  inflexible 
obstinacy,  maintained,  in  spite  of  reason  and  common  sense,  that 
the  Ili;j,hlands  of  Scotland  were  the  centre  from  whence  all  the 
Celtic  nations  emanated  ;  and,  when  in  a  merry  humour,  she  wonld 
soin.  times  ])ieasantly  say,  "no  wonder  the  Celts  were  a  {^roat 
people,  seeing  they  were  so  highly  bred."  lint  while,  on  the  one 
hand,  we  see  the  most  perfect  resemblance  among  the  whole  of  the 
natives  of  America,-  tiiere  is  not  the  most  distant  trace  of  lilieness 
betwixt  them  and  the  Pacilick  islander.  Tiiongh  they  may  vary 
much  in  their  manners  and  customs  among  each  other,  yet  is  there 
an  aOinity  of  feature,  and  of  shape,  (with  the  cxceplion  of  the  New 
Hebrides,)  pervading  the  whole  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Pacilick 
Ocean,  that  warrants  the  assertion,  of  their  being  of  one  commort 
origin;  and  this  striking  resemblance  can  be  traced  to  a  source 
dilficult  to  be  reconciled  with  their  j)osition  on  the  g!o!)c,  and  as 
remote  from  probability  as  the  first  supposition.  There  is  a  per- 
fect likeness  betwixt  them  and  the  Malays,  with  the  exception  of 
stj^ture  and  muscularity,  in  w  hich  the  latter  have  the  disadvantage  ; 
but  the  same  colour,  shape,  and  countenance,  are  common  to  both; 
insomach,  that  if  tjje  trade  winds  were  westerly,  wc  should  not  he- 
sitate in  sayiag,  they  were  of  JNlalay  descent.  Situated  as  they 
are,  at  a  great  distance  from  any  Malay  island,  and  directly  to 
■windward,  this  i^  absolutely  inadmissible,  unless  we  si!])po.se,  that 
at  some  very  early  period,  they  had  been  intimate  wiih  the  art  of  ' 
navigation,  and  that  since  their  departure  from  the  sulu/it  ntUalc^ 
they  have  dwindled  into  a  state  of  primitive  simplicity. 

The  subject  is  so  intricate,  and  involved,  that  it  cannot  be  un- 
ravelled by  the  most  abstruse  speculations  of  philosophy  ;  for  on 
every  side  we  meet  with  such  irreconcjleable  contradictions,  that 
Ave  are  almost  induced  to  believe,  where  Ciod  Almighty  has  thought 
pro])er  to  form  islands  fftted  for  the  rec;  ption  of  human  biings, 
there  has  he  formed  man  also.  This,  like  all  other  vague  conjec- 
tures, is  liable  to  the  strongest  objections  ;  and  non.'  more  >o,  sure, 
ly,  than  to  see,  besides  similarity  of  aspect,  a  sameness  even  in  the 
language  of  all  the  islands  ;  which  it  is  not  likely  could  have  taken 
pbcu,  but  by  intercourse  with  each  other.  But  again,  it  may  be 
urged,  how  come  the  natives  of  the  New  Hebrides  to  deviate  in 
features,  shape,  and  manners,  from  the  other  islands  ?  Whence  do 
they  derive  their  origin  ?  This  brings  ns  back  to  the  goal  from 
whence  we  started,  and  we  arc  lost  in  amazement,  when  we  con- 
teijiplate  the  variety  of  stamps  affixed  to  the  human  frame.  Many 
fiave  alledgcd  climate,  and  habitude  of  living,   to  be  the  cause,  ngt 


14f>  NATAL    I-ITERAXrnE. 

only  of  this  difference,  but  of  the  ditfcrcnce  of  colour.  Tho^igh 
tills  opinion  may  hold  with  resipect  to  feature,  obserTation  has 
proved  it  absurd,  and  erroneous,  in  respect  to  colour.  According 
to  thi<;  theory,  we  should  find  near  the  equator,  people  of  the 
darkest  hue  ;  and  in  proportion  as  we  receded  north,  and  south, 
have  the  shades  lighter  andlightor,  till  our  arrival  nt  the  temperate 
zones :  when  all  would  be  reducible  to  a  commoa  medium  of 
fairness. 

[To  Ije  continued.] 


NAVAL  LITERATURE. 

Mffnioirs   of  ike  Rue  and  Progi^ess  of  the  Roiial  Navy.     Bi^ 
Charles  Dkkiiick,   Er,q.  of  the  Navy  Ojficc.  4to. 

"^T^THEN  we  take  up  a  book,  it  is  a  material  point,  imme- 
^  ^  diately  to  ascertain  w  hat  may  be  the  author's  object  and 
design.  Previously  to  our  perusal  of  the  preface  to  the  work 
before  v.s,  we  expected,  uotN\  ithstanding  the  modesty  of  its  title, 
to  be  entertained  with  a  compact  history  of  the  civil  and  mili- 
tary affairs  of  tlie  Royal  Navy.  Nothing,  however,  could  be 
more  foreign  from  the  plan  of  ]Mr.  Derrick.  '^  My  principal 
object,"  says  he,  '^  has  been  to  show  the  state  of  the  Navy,  as 
to  the  number,  tonnage^  &LC.  of  the  several  classes  of  the  ships 
and  vessels  at  diiterent  periods ;  when  the  naval  force  was  }>ro- 
moted,  ueglecled — or,  at  least,  not  augmented ;  and  at  what 
periods  improvements  in  ship-building  were  introduced  into  it." 
We  are  certainly  thankful  to  ^\r.  Derrick,  for  the  information 
which  he  has  afforded,  as  it  will  materialiy  facilitate  the  labour.^ 
of  the  future  liistorian ;  but^  as  his  "  Memoirs"  cuoimence 
only  from  the  reig-i  of  lleniy  the  Vllth,  we.  should  have  been 
more  gratified,  had  he  prefixed  a  brief  sketch  of  our  naval  pro- 
gress— if  not  from  the  period  when  the  Britons  are  said  to 
have  accompanied  tlic  Cimbrians  and  Gauls  upon  an  expedition 
to  Greece,  at  leaf;t  from  the  time  uhen  our  Island  was  in  the 
popsession  of  the  Romans,  or  from  the  reign  of  the  innnortai 
AUVed.  This  has  indiied  been  c^one,  by  Entick,  Campbell,  an4 
fttijer  naval  historians ;   yet  a  compressed  view  of  the  subjt.ct 


N.WAI.    LXTFRATURE.  Ml 

would  liavc  been  higlily  acceptable  in  this  place,  as  fuinislung 
a  briliiant  testimony  of  what  stupendous  mouinnents  luay  arise 
from  the  luuublcst  foundations. 

Without  pretending,  however,  to  censure  Mr,  Derrick,  for  tlie 
omission  of  .what  evidently  formed  no  part  of  liis  plan,  we  sliall 
proceed  to  exhii>it  such  a  summary  of  liis  work,  as  ma/ 
enable  the  reader  to  form  a  tolerably  correct  estimate  of  its 
merit. 

First,  we  premise,  that  it  is  dedicated,  in  very  handsome  terms, 
"  To  the  Ri<ynt  Honourable  Charles,  Lord  Barhaf/i,'''  late  First 
Lord  of  the  Admiralty. 

Henry  the  Vllth  built  the  iii'st  large  ship,  called  the  Great 
ilarri/,  which  cu&t  him  about  14,000/.  This  ship  was  acci- 
dentally burnt  at  Woolwich,  in  the  year  1555.  liem-y  the 
Vlllth,  in  w  hose  reign  the  sea  service  became  a  distinct  and  re- 
gular profession,  materially  increased  the  Royal  Navy,  which,  at 
his  death,  consisted  of  from  10,550  to  12,455  tons.  At  the 
close  of  the  short  reign  of  Edward  the  Vlth,  the  tonnage  ap- 
pears to  have  somewhat  decreased  :  the  total  number  of  ^hips, 
gallies,  pinnaces,  and  row-bargei;,  at  tliat  period,  was  53,  only 
28  of  which  were  above  80  tons.  At  the  death  of  Queen 
Mary,  in  1558,  the  number  of  ships  and  vessels  was  reduced  to 
Cf)  or  27,  and  the  tonnage  to  about  7110  tons.  The  enter- 
prising genius  of  Elizabeth  raised  the  British  Navy  from  this 
deplorable  state ;  during  the  last  iive-and-tvventy  years  of  her 
life,  she  almost  doubled  its  force;  aiul,  at  her  death,  L^he  leit  4'2 
ships,  comprising  I  7,055  tons,  arid  employing  834(3  men.  Ju 
the  reign  of  Queen  Mary,  it  was  computed  that,  after  14,000/. 
had  been  applied  to  the  use  of  the  fleet,  for  repairing  and  vic- 
tualling, 10,000/.  per  annum  would  answ  er  all  necessary  charges ; 
but,  in  Elizabeth's  time,  the  expense  of  the  navy  was  estimated 
at  30,000/.  a  year.  In  the  peaceable  reign  of  James  the  Ist, 
14  ships  were  added  to  the  Royal  Navy,  beside  fiom  three  to 
five  tliat  were  rebuilt ;  and  the  increase  of  tonnage,  fi om  iliC 
death  of  Elizabeth,  was  about  2345  tons  :  the  nmnber  of  ships, 
however^  upon  the  whole,  had  decreased  from  9  to  11.     la  the 


142  NATAL    LITERATURE. 

year  I5l6,  King  James  issued  a  Proclamation,  forbidding  any 
English  subject  to  export  or  import  goods  in  any  but  English 
bottoms;  the  good  eftects  of  which  were  soon  experienced^  as 
it  occasioned  much  larger  ships  to  be  built  for  the  merchants* 
service,  and  also  a  great  increase  of  trade.  Charles  the  1st 
built  at  least  22  ships  and  vessels.  At  the  death  of  Cromwell, 
in  1658,  there  were  157  ships,  carrying  4390  guns,  and  21,910 
men;  exclusive  of  guns  and  men  for  four  ships  which  were 
building.  Cromwell  obtained  an  annual  grant  of  400,000/.  for 
the  expenses  of  the  navy.  From  the  year  l660,  to  l670,  the 
charge  of  the  navy  never  amounted  to  less  than  500,000/.  a  year. 
In  1677,  the  sum  of  586,000/.  was  voted  for  building  30  ships  ; 
i)00,000/.  having  been  previously  voted,  in  1(J75,  also  for  the 
purpose  of  building.  Notwithstanding  these  grants,  the  navy 
greatly  dechned  during  the  reign  of  Charles  the  lid ;  though,  at 
the  decease  of  that  Monarch,  in  lG85,in  consequence  of  the  30 
new  ships  which  had  been  built,  its  total  number  of  ships  was 
17 D,  bearing  103,558  tons.  Some  very  effective  measures  were 
adopted,  for  the  repairs  of  the  navy,  whilst  James  the  lid  occu- 
pied the  throne ;  nevertheless,  at  the  period  of  his  abdication, 
there  was  a  decrease  of  six  ships.  In  the  second  year  of  Wiiliara 
the  Illd,  an  act  was  passed  for  building  30  more  ships :  1 7^  of 
about  1100  tons  each,  to  carry  80  guns ;  3,  of  1050  tons,  to 
carry  70  guns;  and  10,  of  9OO  tons,  to  carry  60  guns.  In  the 
course  of  the  war,  which  began  in  1689  and  ended  in  1 697, 
50  ships,  carrying  1112  gims,  were  taken  by  the  enemy,  beside 
several  that  were  lost  by  accident ;  yet,  at  the  latter  period,  the 
King  asserted,  in  his  Speech  from  the  Throne,  that  the  naval 
force  of  the  kingdom  had  been  increased  to  nearly  double  what 
it  was  at  his  accession.  The  total  was  323  ships  ;  and,  at  the 
dose  of  IG98,  several  vessels  having  been  disposed  of  at  the  end 
of  the  war,  the  number  was  266.  This  increase  was  in  part 
owing  to  the  number  of  ships  which  had  been  taken  from  the 
French.  At  the  death  of  King  William,  in  1702,  the  number 
of  ships  was  272;  that  of  tons,  159j.020;  being  an  increase,  in 
his  reign,  of  99  ships,  and  57^128  tons.     The  nuaubei  of  ships 


NATAL    LIXnUATL'RE.  143 

fluctuated  in  the  time  of  Queen  Anne ;  and^  at  her  decease,  there 
was  a  decrease  of  25  ships,  though  an  increase  of  8199  tons. 
The  number  of  ships  also  decreased  during  the  reign  of  George 
the  tst;  but,  in  consequence  of  their  enlarged  size,  the  tonnage 
increased.  At  iiis  death,  there  were  23o  ships,  bearing  170_,862  ■ 
tons.  In  1730,  there  were  238  ships;  in  1742,  271;  at  tlie 
end  of  1744,  302;  at  the  end  of  1748,  334;  at  the  beginning 
of  1750,  282 ;  at  the  beginning  of  1753,  291 ;  at  the  beginning 
of  1756,  320;  and,  at  the  death  of  George  the  lid,  in  17GO, 
412.  Of  this  grand  total,  consisting  of  321,104  tons,  127  were 
ships  of  the  line,  and  285  of  50  guns  and  under.  Ilius,  at  the 
conimcncement  of  the  present  reign,  our  navy  was  in  the  most 
flourishing  state  ever  known.  By  the  latter  end  of  1762,  the 
number  of  ships  had  increased  to  432.  From  the  yc^r  1755, 
to  1762,  inclusive,  200,000/.  had  been  annually  voted  for  tlie 
building  and  repairing  of  ships ;  but,  in  the  preceding  war,  no 
money  had  ever  been  voted  for  those  services.  Twenty-six  sail 
of  the  line,  and  82  smaller  ships  and  vessels,  were  built  in  mer- 
chants' yards  in  the  course  of  the  war,  wliich  ended  in  1762,  or 
were  building  in  those  yards  at  that  time :  and  24  sail  of  the  line, 
and  12  smaller  ships,  were  launched  in  the  King's  yards,  be- 
tween the  declaration  of  war  in  1756,  and  the  proclamation  of 
peace  in  1763. — After  the  end  of  the  war,  the  navy  was  of 
course  considerably  reduced,  but  chict^y  in  the  small  ships  and 
vessels.  At  the  commencement  of  the  American  war,  in  1775> 
we  had  340  ships;  in  1777,  we  had  396;  and  in  1778,  450; 
of  which  131  were  of  the  line.  At  the  general  peace,  in  1783, 
we  had  6l7  ships,  of  which  174  were  of  the  line:  their  toiuiage 
was  estimated  at  500,781  tons. 

Having  brought  his  tables  down  thus  far,  ]Mr.  Derrick 
says : — 

It  will  now  be  proper  to  take  notice  of  two  regiilafions  that 
were  adopted,  or  greatly  improved,  by  the  Navy  Board,  after 
the  war,  which  cannot  fail  of  being  emioently  useful  at  all 
ti'nes. 

1st. — Respecting  furniture  and  stores,  appropriited  aad  laid 
apart  for  ships  in  ordinary. 


I)AVAL    LITKRATUllE. 

The  forrher  directions  on  this  su])ject  having  'been  found  tod 
general,  and  the  provisions  of  stores  and  furniture  too  limited,  to 
answer  effectually  the  intended  purpose,  the  Board  now  laid  down 
the  most  particular  rules  about  the  articles  li)at  were  from  that 
time  to  be  set  apart  for  the  respective  classes  and  descriptions  of 
ships,  in  order  (hat  each  individual  ship,  by  the  time  she  should  be 
built,  or  put  into  good  condition,  might  in  future  have  a  large 
proportion  of  the  material  parts  of  her  furniture  and  stores  ia 
readiness,  and  distinctly  laid  apart  for  her;  so  that  the  remainder 
might  Jiot  require  more  time  to  provide,  than  the  necessary  time 
for  her  equipment  would  very  well  adn^it  of,  however  short  that 
might  be.  Dispatch  in  issuing  the  furniture  and  stores,  and  also 
correctness,  must  of  necessity  have  resulted  from  this  improved 
plan,  in  addition  to  the  other  great  advantages. 

2dly. — The  second  regulation  above  alluded  to,  was  that  of 
an  establishment  of  stores,  of  a  great  variety  of  species,  for  the 
general  magazines,  at  each  of  the  dock-yards,  and  also  at  the  se- 
Teral  other  naval  stations,  both  at  home  and  abroad. 

This  was  truly  an  original  and  great  plan*,  no  idea  of  the  kind 
having  probably  been  ever  entertained  at  any  former  period.  It 
was  suggested,  no  doubt,  in  some  measure,  by  the  dillicalties  tlie 
Board  had  experienced  in  procuring  certain  articles,  and  the  high 
prices  paid  for  others,  during  the  war;  but  the  same  must  have 
been  the  case,  in  a:  greater  or  less  degree,  in  most  of  the  preceding 
wars.  These  evils,  it-  was  theret'ore  highly  necessary  to  guard 
against,  as  far  as  might  be  practicable,  and  consistent  with  sound 
economy,  before  another  war  should  take  place.  In  conformity 
to  which  plan,  the  said  establishments  consist  of  specific  quantities 
of^ll  the  principal,  and  many  inferior  articles  of  naval  stores,  at 
the  several  dock-yards,  and  also  at  the  other  naval  stations,  so  far 
as  the  nature  of  tliii  service  of  those  stations  requires.  The  quan- 
tities o'  those  species  of  stores  which  are  not  of  a  perishable  na- 
ture, and  of  tho  :c  which  cannot  be  readily  obtained  in  a  time  of 
emergency,  are  calculated  to  last  for  a  considerable  period,  even  in 
time  of  war;  and  they  are  kept  up  by  means  of  the  annual  or  oc- 
casional contracts.  The  almost  -necessary  result  of  this  plan  has 
been  the  preventing  of  unnecessary  or  improper  accumulations  of 
any  stores  in  the  magazines,  for  so  long  a  time,  as  to  occasion  their 
receiving  injury   by   lying   too  long  in  them,  which  is  a  matter 

*  It  originated  enttrely  with  Sir  Cliarles  I\Iidiiifton,  (now  Lurd  Barhaui,) 
tbeii  Cotiiptrollcr  of  the  N" uvv. 


NAVAL    LITEIIATURE.  145 

■of  great  consequence,  in  such  extensive  concerns.  Many  other 
lasting  good  efffcts  have  also  been  produced  by  the  measure 
in  question,  which  it  is  not  necessary  here  to  notice ;  neither 
could  some  of  them  be  explain^^d  so  as  to  be  generally  com- 
prehended. 

After  the  peace  of  ITS.",  all  the  artificers  were  retained  in  the 
<lock-yards,  and  employed  extra  time,  even  in  the  winter  months, 
instead  of  being  discharged,  as  had  been  the  case  at  the  close  of 
former  wars.  About  this  time,  the  mode  of  working  by  job  was 
also  introduced,  which  much  facilitated  the  operations. — By  the 
]st  of  January,  1790,  in  consequence  of  the  extraordinary  exer- 
tions which  had  been  made,  the  condition  of  our  ships  had 
approached  nearer  to  a  state  of  perfection  thim  at  any  former 
period:  ihcir  nuraljcrs  were — of  the  line,  140;  of  52  guns  aiid 
under,  including  the  smallest  class,  332;  making  a  total  of 
478. 

At  the  close  of  I7;}2,  just  before  ilie  late  war  commenced, 
the  stores  in  liund,  at  the  respective  deck-yards,  were  valued  at 
l,812,9S2l.;  a  circumstance  t.'nlireiy  owing  to  the  wise  regula- 
tions which  we  liave  already  noticed.  i\s  soon  as  it  was  deter- 
mined to  arm,  the  most  vigorous  measures  were  adopted  by  go- 
vernment ;  and  so  rapidly  did  tiie  equipment  of  ships  proceed, 
''  that;  at  the  end  of  nine  months,  there  were  60  sail  of  the  line 
in  commission,  as  ships  of  war,  and  74  of  50  guns  and  under, 
"exclusive  of  sloops  and  small  vessels,  more  than  at  the  beginning 
of  that  period  ;  a  degree  of  dispatch  almost  astonishing,  as  no- 
thing to  be  compared  with  it  hud  ever  been  done  in  any  former 
war." — In  the  comse  of  1793,  the  navy  was  increased,  as  to  fri- 
gates and  smaller  vessels  ;  and,  on  the  1st  of  September,  in  that 
year,  the  total  number  o.^  shi)>s  was  498 ;  bearing  a  tonnage  of 
435,22(3  tons.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1795,  the  number  of 
our  ships  Mas,  599;  on  the  1st  of  Jinutary,  1797,  691  ;  on  the 
1st  of  January,  1799,  803  ;  and,  at  the  signing  of  the  prelimi- 
r.aries  of  peace,  on  the  l;;t  of  October,  1801,  the  number  had 
increased  to  8()4.  Out  of  these,  703  Mere  in  commission;  con- 
sisting of  144  of  the  line,  aijd  di^v.n  to  J4  gun-ships,  inclusive ^ 


116  »  NAVAL    LITKRATLRE. 

242  50  ^nd  44  gun-ships  and  frigates;  and  317  sloopS;,  Inred 
arnudMliips,  &.c.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  in  October,  1801, 
we  had  247  more  ships,  than  at  the  close  of  the  preceduig  war 
in  1783. 

At  the  recommencement  of  hostilities,  in  May,  1803,  we 
had  770  ships;  on  the  1st  of  January,  1805,  949;  of  wliich, 
on  the  1st  of  October,  in  the  hitter  year,  6'98  were  in  com- 
mission. 

In  perusing  !Mr.  Derrick's  very  laudable  performance,  we 
have  thus  abstracted  a  sort  of  liistorical  view  of  the  rise,  pro- 
gress, and  ahiiost  astonishing  increase  of  the  Royal  Navy,  as  far 
as  relates  to  its  numbers,  and  to  the  rise  of  its  ships.  Mr. 
Derrick's  work,  as  must  be  evident  from  the  abstract  which  we 
have  presented,  consists  chiefly  of  tables,  drawn  up  fromanthcu- 
li."  documents,  to  which  the  autiior  has  obtained  access.  Many 
of  these  tables  relate  to  subjects  which  we  have  not  immediately 
thought  it  requisite  to  liotice ;  but  which,  as  we  have  already 
observed,  will  be  found  gready  to  facilitate  the  labours  of  the 
future  historian. — x\t  a  future  period.  Me  shall  occasionally  in- 
troduce some  of  his  statements  into  the  misceliaueous  department 
of  the  Naval  Chuonicle. 


The  heart's  rcniote  recesses  to  explore, 

And  touch  its  Springs,  when  Prose  availM  no  more. 

I'alconi'.r. 


MIJ.    EDITOH, 

TilH'j    following   Song   and    Introductory   Letter,    by  Ricltard 
Ivovat,  an  Armourer's  Mate,  was,  as  I  well  remuinber,  sent 
to  the  latii  Admiral  Lord  Nelson.      Yours.  .Sec. 

BLRGOO. 

SIR,.  Tu  Captain  2[i//cr. 

I  hope  you  will  pnnlon  my  prcsiiniptii)n  in  presenting  vou  with  the  fol- 
lowing .Song,  whicli  I  made  in  memory  oi'  the  c-n^notnicut  with  the  French 
on  the  14th  of  Miirch.     I  have  nothing   to  say  in  its  favour;  it  is  the  j  ro^ 
duction  oi' a  poor  unpolished  i'eliow,  who  has  nothing;  to  rcc»iiin;end  hiin  te 
your  favour,  Lut  loyulty.  to  iiij  lii-uE,  and  affc^iliuu  to  ins  Country. 

RICHARD  I.O^'AT, 

v\ran(i!rtr*s  j\i«ce. 


NATAL    rOKTRV. 


I. 


AV>  AKE  my  musp,  assist  mylvro, 
INIy  feeble  untuii"d  tongue  inspire, 

To  sing  a  glorious  Deed. 
I[ow  gallant  Horn  AM  did  defeat 
The  French,  and  made  them  to  retreat 

AVith  niiiiijie-fooled  speed. 

II. 

As  in  Leghorn  \vc  quiet  lay, 
Report  camp  in,  and  thus  did  say, 

"  Hiitannia's  Sons  give  ear! 
The  French  whom  }oii've  so  often  beat, 
The  object  of  your  Country's  hate, 

OiY  Corsica  appear," 

III: 

"  Then  weigh  your  anchors  Boys  with  care, 
And  every  culverin  prepare, 

Proud  Gallia's  Sons  to  fight: 
Re  brisk,  my  Lads !   make  no  delay, 
Your  Country  c^Hs  I  all  hearts  obey  ; 

You  fight  for  England's  Right.'' 

IV. 

All  heard,  and  instantly  obey'd, 
Our  high  and  lofty  wings  we  spread, 

And  steadily  we  stccr'd  : 
For  many  days  no  fleet  was  seen, 
And  all  had  sickeu'd  with  the  spleen, 

When,  lo  !   the  French  appear'd. 


V. 


Immediate  thunder  roar'd  arouHd, 
And  soon  o'er  all  the  dread  profound 

The  smoky  volumes  rise  ; 
The  streaming  harbinger  of  Death, 
The  vivid  liame,  is  seen  beneath, 

As  'fore  the  balls  it  flies. 


X48  KATAL    POETRT> 


VT. 

No  ship  attempts  to  mm  away, 
Since  all  were  anxious  for  to  sta,}', 

And  humble  hauglity  France: 
Destruction  spreads  on  ev'ry  side, 
Whilst  boldly  o'er  the  swelling  tide,. 

Britannia's  sons  advance. 

VII. 

Stout,  valiant,  rpsolute,  and  brave,. 
Do  Olficers  and  Men  behave. 

Strangers  alike  to  fear  : 
}.t  was  their  heart  and  souls'  desire, 
To  mins;le  in  the  thickest  fire, 
And  each  proud  foe  to  near. 

VIII. 

,  Th'  Illustrions,  and  the  Courageux, 
Le  Ca-ira,  and  Censeur  too, 

Four  dismal  wrecks  display  ; 
Anil  British  Tars  witfi  due  renown, 
Made  Frenchmen  haul  their  colours  down^ 

For  they  had  lost  the  day. 

IX. 

Two  wc  secnr'd  :  and  soon  the  beat 
Of  Drums  did  sound*  a  quick  retreat, 

T!)rougho(;t  oi\i  dasta'  d  foe: 
Then  fill  the  cann,  and  raise  the  song, 
Mfi?/  Heaven  our  Cou-ntnf.s  pozcer  juoiofig^ 

And  capsutd  Fi  ance  lai)  loxv. 


*  I  urn  sensiljle  to  talk  of  soundrig  a  d  urn  is  recl^oncd  hud  English  ;  l.ut 
I  am  of  a  confraiv  opinion,  and  think  it  altogether  as  >;0')d,  a^  to  sav  thx 
drum  beats.  It  is  the  man  tiut  be.its.  the  diuru,  but  'tis  liie  drum  th-At 
sounds.  "  li.  L. 


NAVAL    POKTRY.  149 

MARY  ISIARTON. 

A  BALLAD. 

BY    30n\    MAYNE. 
I. 

FO  Oil  WiM.iAM  Avas  landed  at  bonny  Dumbarton, 
Where  the  streams  from  F.ochlomond  run  into  the  sea: 
At  home,  in  sweet  Ireland,  he  b'ft  Mary  MAUTO>f, 
Witli  a  child  at  her  foot,  and  a  babe  on  her  knee. 
The  Regiment  march'd  off  when  the  passage  was  over ; 

The  route  was  for  England,   by  land  all  the  way; 
No,   never  to  halt ;  but,  at  llanisgate  or  Dover, 

Embark  in  the  vessels  that  were  in  the  Bay.  ^^ 

n. 

Fond  Mary,   the  while,  in  lu^r  spirit  quite  brol;en, 

Disturb'd  in  her  sleep,  and  perplex'd  in  her  mi.id, 
No  letter  from  William,   no  tidiiiijs,  no  token, 

Resolv'd,  at  all  hazards,  her  Hero  to  find. 
O  !  what,  in  this  world,  can  deter  a  true  Lover? 

It  is  not  long  journies  by  land  or  by  sea  : 
*Twecn  hope  and  despair,   in  a  boat  without  cover,  ' 

She  cross'd  to  Port  Patrick  from  Donaghadee  I 

III. 

The  Irish  are  trua  to  Humanity's  claims. 

And  the  Scots  and  the  English  are  never  unkind; 
Poor  MAuy  found  friends  from  the  Ooync  to  the  Thames, 

As  she  trudg'd  vvitli  her  babes  in  a  wallet  behind! 
Arriv'd  at  the  Coast— by  her  sorrowful  tale, 

Slie  soften'd  the  Captain  to  let  her  on  board ; 
Ami  never,  O!  never,  did  Mariner  sail 

Wilh  a  couple  like  William  to  Mauy  restoi'j  ! 

IV. 
^lVh|'n  he  prcss'd  to  his  bosom  his  infants  and  wife, 

The  Sdilors  gave  way  to  a  tear,  and  no  more  ; 
The  Soldiers  danc'd  round  to  the  drum  and  the  fife, 

And  plaudits  were  heard  from  the  people  on  shore ; 
Then  away  went  the  fleet— and,  sailing  with  glee, 

May  Giory,   in  battle,   be  ever  at  hand  ; 
May  Britons  live  happy  ,  united,  and  free, 

Supreme  on  the  Ocean,  unconquer'd  by  Land! 
Sttturd^,  August  23,  1806. 


1.50 


NAVAL  HISTORY  01'"  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1807, 

(Januarj/ — Februarij.) 

RETROSPECTIVE  AND  ftllSCELLANEOUS. 


Admirals,  &c.  in  Commission,  with  their  Sechetaries  and  Stations. 

Those  with  a  *  are  Commanders  in  Chief. 

•    \   DMIRAL  Earl  St.  Vincent  .  ,  Channel  Fleet, 

-^^^  *A{liniral  Lord  Gardner  .  .  John  Pay,  Esq.  Cork. 

*Admiral  G.  Montague,  Esq.     .  .  N.  P.  Rothery,  Esq,  Portsmouth. 

♦Admiral  Lord  Keith,  K^B.     .  .  .  Nic.  Brown,  Esq.  Downs. 

*Adrairal  W.  Young,  Esq.    ....  W.  Smith,  Esq.  Plymouth. 

Vicc-Admiral  Sir  Cha.  Cotton,  Bt.  ,  Channel  Fleet. 

Tice-Admiral  John  Holloway,  Esq. ,  Esq.  Downs. 

^  Vice-Adiniral  Lord  Collingwood,  W.  R.  Cosway,  Esq.  Spainand  Gib. 

Vice  Admiral  Sir  J.  T.  Duckworth,  Robert  Sconce,  Esq.  Off  Cadiz. 

*Vicc- Admiral  J.  R.  Dacves,  Esq.  James  Baikie,  Esq.  Jamaica. 

■»Vice-Admiral  Hon.  G.  Berkeley,  C.  Williams,  Esq.  Halifax  Stat. 

*Vice-Adniiral  B.  S.  Rowley,  Esq.  ,  Esq.  Nore. 

*Vicc-AdrairaI  T.  M.  Russel,  Esq.  G.  Guy,  jun.  Esq.  North  Sea. 

"Vice- Admiral  lion.  IT.  E.  Stanhope  P.  C.  Le  Geyt,  Esq.  Woolwich. 


Vicc-Admiral  B.  Douglas,  Esq.  .  . 
*Rear-Admiral  James  Vashon,  Esq. 
*  Rear-  Admiral  Sir  E.  Pellew,  Bart. 
K&ar-Admira!  Sir  Isaac  Cofiia.  .  . 
Rear-Admiral  J.  C.  Purvis,  Esq.   . 

Rear- Admiral  G.  Murray 

Rear-Admiral  J.  Sutton,  Esq. 


T.  Alldridge,  Esq.  Yarmouth  Roads. 

D.  K.  Whytt,  Leith  Roads. 

E.  H.  Locker,  East  Indies. 

J.  S.  Hulbcrt,  Esq.  Portsmouth. 
G.  Hayward,  Esq.  Ofif  Cadiz. 

,  Foreign  Service. 

-,  Plymouth. 


*Rcar-Ad.Hon.  Sir  A.  Cochrane,Bt.     J.  S.  Tracey,  Esq.  Leeward  Islands. 


*Rcar-Adm.  SirT.  Troubridge,  Bt. 
Rear-Admiral  C.  Stirling,  Esq.  .  . 
Rear-Admiial   Thomas  Louis,  Esq. 


J.  C.  Harvey,  Esq.  East-Indies. 
—  Railton,  Esq.  Cape  of  G.  Hop*?. 
Tho.  Robertson,  Esq,    Mediterra- 
nean. 

« ,  Foreign  Service, 

■ ,  Mediterranean. 


I?ear-A(!m.  Sir  R.  J.  Strachan,  Bt.     < 

K ear- Admiral  Sir  VV.  Smith.    .  .  .     . 

Rear-Admiral  E.  Harvey R.  Bromley.  Esq.  Off  Cape  Fin. 

Kear-Admiral  Sir  E.  Xaglc ,  Guernsey  Stat. 

Cairtuiodore  tir  Samuel  Hood  ...     J.  H.  Clewlow,  Esq.  Secret  and  de- 
tached Service. 

-  THE  BRITISH  NAVY. 

*.  rrordiag  to  fhe  last  returns,  there  are  now  in  commission  764  shrf»s, 
ci  which  134  ai-e  of  the  line,  13  from  50  to  44  guns,  168  frigates,  190 
«'.of;ps,  and  264  brigs  and  lesser  vessels. 

if  any  tiling  were  wanting  to  prove  that  littleness  of  mind  which  is 
^r>  visible  ill  ail  the  actions  of  our  invoJcrato  enemy,  the  wonder  workirig 
Corsican,  it  is  the  following  strange  and  blasphemoussubterfuge,  by  which, 
i■^^f  a  sf-asoa,  he  keeps  his  wretched  .^laves  in  ignorance  of  the  resistance 
and  \ncsc%  \ic  has  evp**!  ien'-ed  in  his  present  Campaign.     Instead  of  rt-a- 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESCNT    YEAR,     1807.  151 

derino-  justice  to  t)ici  valour  of  his  opponents,  as  a  noble  minded  Soklier 
would  have  done,  lie  endeavours,  by  \aiii  and  lyintj  Bulletins,  to  asperse 
the  high  spirit  of  the  Russian  forces — and  then  comtnands  liis  abject 
Priests  of  Paris  to  chant  a  solemn  Te  Dcum  for  his  Victories. 

Paris,  Jan.  22.    - 
His  Majesty  the  Emperor  and  Kin^,  to  the  Bishops  of  the  Empirc. 

"    MONS.    l'eVKQUE,    of  . 

"  The  new  successes  which  our  armies  liave  gained  on  tljc  Banks  of 
the  Bu""  and  the  Narev/,  •w'jcre,  in  five  dnys  t'ley  routed  the  liussian 
army,  took  its  artillrry,  baggage,  and  a  groat  number  of  prisoners,  and 
obliged  it  to  evacuate  ail  the  important  posts  in  which  it  was  intrenched, 
induce  us  to  desire,  that  our  people  would  offer  up  thanks  to  Heaven, 
in  order  that  it  may  continue  to  be  favourable  to  us,  and  that  tlie  God 
of  Armies  may  second  our  just  enterjH-izes,  the  object  of  which  is  to 
procure  for  our  people  a  solid  and  lasting  peace,  v.hicii  the  genius  of 
evil  may  not  disturb.  This  i^etter  being  for  no  other  purpose,  we  intreat 
God,  Mons.   I'Eveijne,  to  keep  you  in  his  lioiy  protection. 

'*  From  our  Imperial  Camp  at  Pultusk,    Dec.  .'il,  1806. 

(f-igncd)  *'  NAPOr.F.OV. 

The  Minister  of  Worship,  "  PORTALIS-"' 

jnenin2;son,  to  wliom  the  ciinnnand  of  the  K.ii'^siiui  aiiiiy  ha'^  been  i:i\fn, 
in  couse(|uence  of  the  advanced  age  of  Kiuuinslvoy,  is  by  birth  a  lltuio- 
verian  ;  but  such  is  tiie  enthusiasm  for  Britain  in  lltissui,  that  the  jjtople 
persist  in  calling  him  an  Englishman. 

The  Cossacks  particularly  signalize  ihcmsclves.  Tlicir  general  orders 
from  Kamuiskoy  are,  to  rush,  venire  a  lirrr,  iiuu  t!ie  very  heart  (jf  ilia 
French  artillery.  It  \v;is  this  artillery  which  annoyed  the  Russians  so 
dreadfully  at  Austeriitz;  but  we  trust  the  Cossacks  and  Bashkcrs  wili 
prove  an  overmatch  for  it;  in  which  case,  Kaminskoy  has  declnrcd  he 
will  answer  fur  the  success  of  the  war,  siucc  our  infantry  is  decidedl/ 
superior. 

"  BuonaparKi's  Spies  appear  to  have  been  as  unsuccessful  as  his  sol- 
diers. When  Kanunskoy  was  at  Grodno,  one  of  these  pretending  to  be 
a  Prussian  General,  brouglit  a  letter,  signed  apparently  by  ILs  Prussian 
Majesty,  Hud  requesting  a  contideulial  CDniraunication  ol'  ;he  irUended 
route  of  the  Russian  forces.  The  sagacious  veteran  instantly  peneimted 
the  fraud.  Two  Cossacks  stripped  the  wretch,  and,  after  a.hninibtering  la 
him  some  salutary  correction,  Kaminskoy  ordered  him  to  return  to  Buu» 
napart<^,  and  to  show  bini  on  his  back  the  route  of  the  Russian  army. 

We  have  thus  deviared  a  little  from  our  general  plan,  ia  orilt  r  to  paj 
some  attention  to  those  military  proceediu!:s,  whit  h  wili  probably  dcc^ae 
the  f.'ite  of  the  War. 

Of  General  Befiing'-'en,  but  little  is  known.  He- is  nbout  forty  yc:ir ;  ■■.■X 
age;  but  the  ability  which  he  certninly  displayed  in  the  affair  of  cl*s 
2t)lh  December,  in  repelhnsf,  and  eticcti.ig  his  retreat  Uom  an  army  of  hi;.  - 
rior  force,  commanded  by  rsapoleon  in  person,  has  added  a  lustre  to  his 
character  that  deinunds  our  couiidence,  and  offers  n  fa';-  prospect  ty  fci* 
fuluro  fume. 


152  NAVAL     HISTORV    OF    THE    PilESEXT    YEAR,    1807. 

The  force  of  the  French  army  is  immense,  and,  from  the  last  accounts, 
may  be  estimated,  on  the.  1st  of  January,  at  200,000  men;  of  uliicb 
170,000  were  native  Frenchmen:  since  that  period  reiaforcemeiits  have 
been  marching  to  it  from  all  quarters,  from  France,  Holland,  Bavaria,  and 
from  the  Confederation  Coiitin<i:cnts.  To  suclf  an  extent  has  this  beer;  car- 
ried, that  a  body  of  Spanish  infantry  and  cavalry  have  been  actually  hold  in 
readiness  to  marcli  from  Spain,  to  garrison  the  adjoining  sea-ports  of 
France. 

The  force  of  the  er.emy  is,  therefore,  not  over-rated  when  we  suppose  him 
about  to  commence  tlie  ensuing  campaign  with  an  array  of  350,000  fighting 
men,  commanded  by  able  otScers,  and  determined  to  maintain  that  supe- 
riority they  have  acquired  during  a  long  trial  of  seventeen  years  of  various 
and  bloody  warfare. 

The  force  of  Russia  docs  not  amount  to  a  regular  army  of  403,000 
fighting  men,  and  she  has  a  large  frontier  to  defeiid,  liearly  the  whole  of 
which  is  threatened,  from  the  Caspian  Sea  to  the  Baltic. 

France,  on  the  other  hand,  has  no  frontier  to  !;u.ard,  and  she  exhibits  tiic 
singular  spectacle  to  astonished  Europe  of  the  wliole  army  of  a  country  com- 
mencing a  campaign  at  a  distance  of  000  miles  from  its  own  boundary. 

It  has  been  thoau,ht  by  some  persons,  and  with  reason,-  that  the  second 
paragraph  of  Sir  Home  Popham's  letter  of  the  25th  of  August,  requires 
■some  exjjlanaticn : 

"  The  liberal  and  beneficial  principles  upon  which  the  Government 
of  General  Beresford  was  conducted,  do  more  honour  to  Ills  jNJajestyV 
arms  and  the  chm-actcr  of  Great  Britain,  than  if  he  hud  resorted  to  e.rj.-c- 
■dlents  complclely  zr-ilhin  his  power,  uhich  would  have  effect aalti/  (•  anihilutcM 
Kill  the  cff',)!  ts  cif'  the  enuny,  and  zcir.sled,  probablj for  ever,  these  countries 
from  the  Crown  of  Spain." 

An  Editor  of  a  morning  print  has  made  it  his  business  to  inquire  into 
ihe  particular  meaning  of  ti;e  passage  in  question;  and  with  confidence 
fl'^iiures  his  readers  that  the  following  explanation  of  it  may  be  dt'pended 
Tjn  as  correct :  — 

"  Prior  to  any  liostile  symptoms  being  manifested  towards  our  little 
army,  proposals  v-cre  m;v:b  to  Genera!  [icresford,  and  Commodore  Sir 
Jlomc  Pophani,  tliat  if  tlicy  would  declare  the  Colony  indepcndait,  a 
largo  force  was  ready  to  join  the  Britisii  army  as  (il/iex;  and  would  render 
our  Commanders  every  assistance  to  secure  that  independence. — Another 
proposition  was  also  made  to  those  officers,  by  the  black  slaves  of  Buenos 
Ayres,  which  was,  that  they  should  l>e  immediately  emancipated;  on- which 
coiidiiion  ihcy  oiVered  to  join  the  British  force,  and  ellcctaally  to  annihi- 
late c'.  ery  Spanianl  in  the  colony. 

"  Generai  Bcresford  and  Sir  Home  Popham  declined  both  these  proposal >, 
Kudfor  the  fi>!loi\iag  prudent  and  sfitisfactory  reasons: — They  were  not 
inve^!ted  wiih  any  power  whatever  by  t'le  British  Government  to  declare 
the  Colony  indrpendcnt  of  t!ie  Mother  country.  Having  conquered  it 
in  the  name  of  His  Britannic  Ttlajesty,  they  could  not  render  themselves 
the  instruments,  notwithstanding  the  jcoparjly  in  which  they  were  placed, 
of  ai!ien;iting  tlie  conquest  to  iusurreeiional  Chiefs.  To  have  eraaacipateii 
li»c  slavca  would  have  hecu  to  lay  the  fo'jiiJaii.)n  of  massacre  and  bloo^- 


KAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRF.sr.St    TEAR,    1807.  15.> 

*ihcd,  more  shockine  to  humaaity  tliaii  the  awfal  sncncs  wliicli  Imvc  lately 
jtaiiied  the  plains  of  Sr,  Dominjio  ;  andj  iu  its  corisequeiices,  rniglit  have 
proved  fatal  tu  every  one  of  our  countrymen  at  Buenos  Ayies."' 

A  Dutch  frigate,  and  two  Dutch  Indianien,  richly  laden,  from  the  Eas 
Indies,  have  been  captured  by  some  of  our  ships.  The  Dutch  frigate  is 
N  named  the  Pallas,  and  the  other  ships,  the  V'ictorie  and  Batavie.  The  car- 
goes of  the  two  latter  are  valued  at  (}00,000l.  sterling  ;  the  prime  cost  in  the 
Spice  Islands  1,000,000  Spanish  dollars: — they  comprised  the  greater  part' 
of  the  produce  of  the  Dutch  Spice  Kstahlishniunts  of  the  growth  of  11505 
and  will  prove, 'of  course,  most  valuable  prizes.  The  capture  was  made  by 
a  British  frigate  and  a  brig,  (the  uaniCs  of  which  are  not  mentioned.)  The 
Dutch  frigate  was  supported  in  the  action  by  a  corvette,  which,  it  appears, 
effected  her  escape.  The  Captain  and  the  first  Lieutenant  of  the  Pallas 
were  killed  the  first  broadside, — ^The  following  is  the  official  account  of  the 
Dutch  Governor  of  Batavia,  found  on  board  a  Danish  ship,  which  has  been 
detained  and  sent  into  Dartinoutii  by  His  Majesty's  ship  I'hito  : — 

"  With  the  severest  fochugs  of  affliction  I  have  to  mention,  that,  ac- 
cording to  the  latest  authentic  intelligence  here,  upon  the  20th  of  July, 
1806,  in  the  latitude  of  Salayer  Islands,  the  iJataviau  frigate  the  Pallas, 
and  the  corvette  the  William,  coming  from  Amboyna,  and  having  under 
convoy  the  f'ictorie  and  the  liiitavie,  two  very  large  shij)s,  belon"-ino" 
to  the  Company,  completely  laden  with  mace,  cloves,  and  nutmegs,  had 
an  engagement  with  an  B'nglish  trigate  and  a  brig;  and  the  unfortunate 
issue  was,  that  the  frigate  was  forced  to  surrender,  and  both  the  Com- 
pany's ships  are  become  the  prey  of  the  enemy. — We  know  no  further 
particulars,  e.xcept  that  the  William  escaped  by  flight,  and  got  to  Ma- 
casser;  but  the  fact  of  itself  has  cast  an  universal  dejection  over  every 
one  here,  and  truly  not  without  reason,  as  the  loss  amounts  to  full  a 
million  of  dollars  iu  specie,  which  the  sale  of  the  spices  was  to  have  re- 
placed, and  the  blow  will  be  severely  fell  by  the  Treasury,  the  chest  of 
which  is  already  in  so  exhausted  a  condition."' 

The  American  Papers  give  the  following  account  of  the  above  cap- 
ture :  — 

A  letter,  dated  Ratavia,  Sept.  14,  1806,  says  :—"  The  Dutch  Spice 
Fleet,  from  the  Moluccas,  bound  for  this  place,  has  been  captured  by 
an  English  country  ship  and  frigate.  This  fleet  is  valued  at  three  or 
four  millions  Spanish  dollars — a  loss  which  must  be  most  seriously  felt 
by  the  Coinpany  at  this  moment." 


/5aferil  Courtsf  ^^artial. 

POIlTSxAIOUTII,  J.VXIVUV,  .SO,  180r. 

A  COURT  MARTIAL  wa'i  held  on  hoard   ti)e  Gladiator,  on  Jonathan 
Armstrong,  alias  William  Anderson,  beJDngiiig  to  IIis  .Alajcsty's  ship 
Leander  :   he   being  one  of  tlie  crew  of  the  boat  wliu  mutinously  t'ouk  U-e 

/53D.  SJ>ron.  lioLXVII.  x 


154  NAVAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESENT   YEAR,    1807. 

command  of  her  from  the  officer,  and  deserted,  was  found  guilty  and  Sen- 
teticed  to  suflFer  death  ;  but,  in  consequence  of  his  extreme  good  character, 
he  was  recommended  by  the  Court  to  mercy. 

The  same  day,  Mr.  John  Hall,  Boatswain  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Crocodile, 
\Mis  tried  for  absenting  himself  from  his  diitv  without  leave,  and  general  bad 
conduct ;  which  was  partly  proved.  He  was  recommended  to  be  removed 
into  a  ship  in  ordinary,  in  consideration  of  his  age  and  long  service.  Ad- 
miral Sir  Isaac  Coffin,  Bart.,  President. 

Ffb.  7.  This  morninc:  a  Court  Martial  was  held  on  board  the  Gladiator, 
on  Captain  J.  Brenton,  for  the  loss  of  His  Majesty's  sliip  la  Minerve. — It 
appeared  to  the  Court,  that  the  loss  of  that  ship  was  causer)  by  her  having, 
in  a  f(jg,  struck  upon  the  western  point  of  the  Cories,  off  Cherbourg,  being 
then  in  charge  of  the  Pilot,  who  had,  in  consequence  of  the  fog,  mistaken  the 
land  ;  and  lia\  ing  been  taken  possession  of  by  the  enemy,  after  the  moj't 
gallant  exertions  had  been  used  by  Captain  Brenton,  his  officers,  and  ship's 
company  under  a  galiing-fire  from  the  enemy  on  her  for  many  hours  ;  and 
the  Court  did  adjudge  Captain  Brenton,  iiis  officers,  and  ship's  company,  to 
be  most  honourably  acquitted.     Admiral  Sir  Isaac  Cotfin,  Bart.,  President. 

On  Tuesday,  10th  February,  and  the  two  succeeding  days,  a  Court 
Martial  was  held  on  board  the  Gladiator,  at  Portsmouth,  which  has 
excited  an  uiuisual  degree  of  interest.  The  following  composed  the 
Members  of  the  Court: 

Rear-Admiral  Sir  Isaac  Coffin,  Bart.,  President. 

Xlcar-Adn>iral  Sir  Richard  Capt.  Lechmehe. 

Straiian,  Bart.  K.B.  M.  Henry  Scott. 

Capt.  Sir  F.  Lafohfy,  Bt.  ■  ■     ■  T.  Le  M.  Gosseliv. 

■ Sir  .ToiiN  Gokf,,  Knt.  — —  the  Hon.  C.  Boyle. 

• John  Irwin.  Henry  Basely. 

— —  George  Astle.  — —  Frank  Warren. 

• Sir  Thomas  Lavie. 

The  President  reported  to  the  Court,  that  Captains  David  Aitkins,  and 
Zachary  Mudge,  were  absent,  on  Admiralty  leave. 

The  Court  being  opened,  the  Admiralty  Order  was  read,  commanding 
the  trial  of  Captain  Edward  Hawkins,  late  Commander  of  His  Majesty's 
brig  Dispatch,  ''  for  cruelty  and  oppression  unbecoming  the  character 
ofan  officer,  exercised  by  him,  or  caused  by  him  to  be  exercised,  upon 
AVdIlam  Davie,  late  seaman  of  the  said  brig,  and  for  negligence  and 
iuattention  to  the  said  W.  Davie  as  a  sick  persr)n  under  his  conmiand  on 
board  the  said  ship,"  by  the  33d  and  3Gth  Articles.  The  following  papers 
weie  then  read ; 

An  anonymous  letter  addressed  to  Earl  Spencer,  dated  Nov.  23,  1806, 
accusing  Captain  Hawkins  of  "  the  wilful  murder  of  a  fellow  creature, 
by  continual  acts  of  violence  on  his  person,  on  board  His  Majesty's  brig 
Dispatch,  between  the  9th  of  December,  1805,  and  the  251  h  of  tho 
same  month."  Signed — "  A  Seaman,  a  Lover  of  my  Country  and  IIu- 
inanity," 

Narrative  of  the  above  aliedgcd  transaction,  in  detail,  of  the  same  date 
as  the  letter,  signed — "  A  Seaman  and  arimirer  of  Humanity." 

[Tkesc  Letters  were  transmitted  to  the  Jdniiralty,  and  hij  Litem  sent  doun 
to  this  Port,  and  uere  traced  to  the  Prosecufor.~l 

Thomas  Thompson,  late  Master  of  tlie  Dispatch,  appeared  to  prft- 
.*erute,  and  acknowledged  and  verified  the  anonymous  Idlers  as  being 
written  by  himself. 


NAVAt    HISTORY    OF   THE   PULStNT    Yr.VR,    1807.  155 

The  witnesses  examined  for  the  prosecution,  were,  Alexander  Ingram, 
First  Lieutenant  of  ihe  Dispatch;  George  Hugo,  Master's  Mate ;  William 
Donald,  Surgeon;  .(aines  JU'Leod,  sail-maker ;  John  Bowiey,  marine ; 
John  Hates,  Purser's  .Steward  ;  and  Tliomas  Kenny,  John  Williams,  and 
John  Ward,  seamen  ;  after  which 

The  Prosecutor  closed  his  charge.  The  Prisoner  prayed  the  Court,  to 
permit  him  to  ulfer  his  defence  on  the  following  day;  ''  as  nut  only  the 
conduct  of  the  Prosecutor,  bat  other  circiiuistanccs  he  had  respectfully  to 
uil'iv  to  the  Court,  loudly  called  on  him,  in  justice  to  himself,  to  animadvert 
tliereon." 

At  the  sitting  of  the  Court  on  the  following  day,  Mr.  \Y.  Donald,  Surgeon 
of  the  Dispatch,  was  called  in  again.  lie  said,  in  answer  to  the  Court,  that 
he  did  not,  at  any  time,  when  Davie  was  on  deck,  report  to  (/apt.  Hawkins, 
that  it  would  be  dangerous  to  keep  him  there,  and  that  he  never  heard  the 
Captain  give  any  order  for  Davie  to  come  on  deck,  after  he  had  reported 
his  being  under  a  course  of  mci'cury. 

The  Prisoner  then  requested  permission  of  trie  Court  for  his  friend  to  read 
his  Defence,  which  was  granted.     Captain  Hawkins's  friend  then  read  a 
most  able  and  elocjuccit  Defence.     It  commenced   by   stating,   that   the 
Prisoner  was  advised,  he  might  demur  to  the  competency  ot'  the  Court  to 
try  him,  on  the  authority  of  the  articles  under  which  he  was  tried ;  but, 
resiingon  his  conscious  innocenc«=,  and  the  whole  course  of  his  conduct, 
which  had  been  directly  the  opposite  of  the  crime  alledged  against  him,  he 
had  felt  it  due  t-o  his  honour  to  meet  the  accusation  with  ai>   open   front. 
The  Defence  then  states,  that  he  had  retired  to  his  residence  at  Saltash,  iu 
Cornwall,  where,  in  cliaricter  and  (jpulence,  he  ranks  with  the  most  respect- 
able of  his  neighbours,  and  has  the  iioiiour  to  l)elong  to  its  Corporation,  being 
one  of  it.  Aldermen,  and   a  Magistrate. — "  Basking  as  I  then  was,"  the 
Defence  proceeds,  "  in  the  ease  ot'iny  retirement  from  service,  and  in  the 
serene  enjoyment  of  an  uiulisturbed  and  happy  conscience,  (to  which  my 
prosecutor  must  be  a  stranger,)  I  dreamt  not  that  any  one  (liend-like)  was 
meditating  in  the  dark  so  serious  an  attack  upan  me.     It  so  happenc'l  that 
an  electioneering   controversy  and  a  borough  faction   existed  at  Saltasli, 
in  wliich  certainly  uo  one  of  the  truly  honourable  and  respectable  Lords  ot 
the  Admiralty  bore  any  part,  but  in  which  some  of  those  who  happen  to 
enjoy  the  confidence  of  their  Lordships,  I  venture  to  assert  was  principally 
engaged.     To  this  person  I  was  in  an  opposite  interest ;  and  whilst  these 
things  were  passing  in  that  borough,  a  verbal  comiuimicatioii,  I  received 
with  astonishment,  through  the  medium  of  a  third  person,  of  the  charge 
tliat  was  raising  against  me,  accompanied  with  a  hint,  (which  three  of  that 
borough  took  o[)p()rlunities  to  join  in,    strongly  persuading  and  soliciting 
my  acquiescence,)  that  if  I  would  throw  my  weight  into  the  scale  ut  inlluence 
of  their  Friend,  no  prosecution  should  ever  take  place  against  ma.     Con- 
scious as  I  was  of  my  innocence,  and  roused  to  an  honest  indignation  of 
the  vile   attempt  to  seduce  me  fr(jm  those  principles  which  are  the  pride 
of  my  life,  i  spurned  the  contaminated  (/tier  with  the  contempt  it  descried; 
I  dehed  the  malice  of  every  foe,  and,  sacredly  jealous  of  my  honour,  I 
avowed  I  would  meet  every  charge,  confident  that  I  sfiould  come  out  vin- 
dicated, befcjre   whatever  tribunal  it  might  be  instituted.       These  circum- 
stances I  assert  on  my  honour,  and  am  ready  to  verify  on  oath.     Had  I 
yielded  to  such  a  base  invitation,  I  have  just  reason  to  think  this  Court 
would  never  have  been  assembled;  but  no  sooner  was  it  ascertained  that  [ 
was  not  to  be  moved  from  my  principles,  than,  barely  on  thi.'  ground  of  an 
anonymous  letter,  an  inquiry  is  instituted  ;  and  persons  (some  of  whom  were 
the  worst  characters  in  tlie  ship,  and  two  of  thun  acCiluHy  dcs.rtcrs  tVoia  :t) 
are  soiigliL  out  for  it?  support.'' 


156  HAVAi   HftTORV   OT   TiT?  ynESKHT    YEAfi,    1 80T. 

The  Defence  then  commcBt?  with  sc\'erity  oii  an  assertion  in  the  'inony* 
mous  letter,  that  an  inferior  oliict-r  would  encounter  ruin  in  brins:in2;  foruarif 
such  an  accusation,  ami  aserts  tlip  hmiour  of  our  Courts  Martial.  It  after- 
nards  goes  on  to  discitss  and  coml.iat  the  wliole  train  of  the  e\ ideiice,  anci 
finally  contends,  tiiatit  is  crude,  lagne,  and  contradictary.  The  Witnesses 
who  spoke  with  most  hil'tLrness  aJ:■ain5^t  the  Prisoner,  tojiether  wjtii  the 
Prosecutor,  were,  the  Defence  observes,  proved,  by  the  Prosecutor's  own 
evidence,  to  luive  been  Crfficers  reprehended  by  Captain  H.  for  repeated 
roiscondiict ;  and  it  infers  niatrgn'rty  in  their  motive,  and  very  little  scruple 
in  their  testimony.  Enouiih  too  had  slipt  out  in  evidence  to  show  that  there 
was  an  actual  conspiracy,  a  combining;  together,  amonsst  the.  Witnesses,  w  ho 
ijad  said  any  thing  to  the  Piisoner's  disadvantage,  to  fabricate  a  cltar^re. 
One  of  these  Witnesses  had  declared,  not  that  his  discipline  was  too  severe, 
but  too  relaxed,  and  that  this  was  the  opinion  of  liis  fellow  officers.  It  had 
been  proved  by  the  Surijeon,  that  the  deceased  had  slept  between  tlie  main- 
mast and  (he  fore-ma?t  bull:  head  of  the  tiun-room,  the  best  place  in  the 
sliip ;  that  the  deceased  never  appeared  on  deck  after  the  venereal  disease 
was  disrovered  upon  him;  and,  liefore  tliat  time,  hiscou-.phunts  were  not  so 
bad  as  he  ailed^ied  :  that  the  deceased  quacked  hiniself,  by  internal  and 
exienjal  medicines,  actually  prodacing  a  nir>iriiication  ;  the  official  reptjrt 
to  the  transport  oriice  (made  when  tliis  trial  could  not  h;(v<)  been  thougiit 
«fj  shows  that  the  deceased  was  properly  attended,  and  had  wine  allowed 
instead  of  groji;.  It  was  proved"  by  oae  of  the  Witnesses  on  whom  tlie  Pro- 
svcutor  mi^ht  best  expect  to  rely,  tliat  the  deceased  had  been  actvially  in- 
valided from  an  hospital  just  before  he  c:\uic  on  board ;  concurrent 
testimony  proved  that  he  was  a  skulker,  early  shaniminijto  be  ill  to  get  to  tiiC 
hospital,  and  from  the  service  ;  was  exiremcly  hlthy  au'l  noxious,  and  was 
universally  deemed  an  inipobtor  ;  and  it  was  in  proof,  that  the  Prisoner  hatj 
ordeied  Bowley  to  put  a  clean  shirt  on  Davie,  and  to  dry  his  bed.  '1  he 
practice  of  having  the  sick  on  deck,  for  air,  was  fully  justified,  particulaily 
io  this  man,  I'nnn  his  filthy  habits.  The  concurrent  testimony  of  all  the  Wit- 
nesses proved,  that  tlie  I'risouer  had  ;^iven  oiders  that  no  man  should  be 
struck  or  tJl  treated  on  board  his  ship  :  and  by  the  testimony  of  all,  :is  a 
general  fact,  that  the  Prisoner  was  i»ot  guilty  of  cruel  or  oppressive  con- 
duct to  the  crew.   The  Defence,  speaking  of  Davie,  says — 

'•  I  admit  that  1  did  once,  and  once  only,  shove  him  from  me  on  deck  in 
contemptuous  indignation  at  his  conduct,  about  the  second  or  third  day  of 
his  coming  on  board  ;  and  I  declare,  on  my  lianour,  I  never  at  any  other 
tiii>e  lifted  my  hand  annrsist  him.'' 

It  cjjRcluded  b_^  seating,  the  Prisoner  would  call  only  three  Witnesses  to 
the  charge  itself;  one  to  rebut  a  single  point  of  evidence,  (when  it  had  been 
stated  that  the  Prisoner  gave  orders  to  the  Cook  to  beat  Davie,}  for  he  felt 
tliere  was  but  that  one  to  rebut,  and  two  to  fpeak  taa  fact  his  Prosecutor 
had  not  turnished  him  with.  lie  should  then  call  on  one  of  the  Honourable 
Alembers  of  the  Court,  to  hi;>charactcr,  auti  produce  other  evidence  of  cha- 
racter. 

SJrT.  Lavie  said — "  I  have  been  ship-mate  v.ith  Captain  Hawkins  ;  I  do 
affirm  that  his  conduct  was  uniformly  uiavked  with  mildness,  humanity,  and 
gentleness." 

Capt.  ?»U'uds  called. — "  I  have  been  intimate  with  Capt.  Hawkins  between 
twenty-cwo  aiul  twenty-three  years;  antl  se\en  of  that  we  were  iMidstupineu 
and  i.ientcnants  of  the  same  ship,  and  that  gaie  me  t'ull  opportunity  of 
knowing  him;  and  duriiig  the  whole  time,  wlieu  we  were  on  duty  together, 
I  solemnly  declare,  that  I  know  of  no  insttmce  of  any  thing  like  trutlty, 
uppres^ioM,  or  injustice  in  his  conduct  :  on  the  contrary,  liis  conduct  was 
markfed  by  the  utmost  .icjjrec  of  huuiaaity  and  henevoh.;nc'..." 


NAVAL   HISTORY   OP   THE   PRESENT    YEA'r,    1807*  V57 

Mr.  Wm.  Evans,  Cook  of  the  Dispatch  called — Capt.  Iliuvkins.  Q.  Do 
vou  remember  WilUaia  Davie  being  in  the  Dispatch,  and  did  you  belong  to 
her  all  the  time  he  was  in  her  ?  A.  Yes.  (^.  Did  I  ever  order  yuu  to  beat 
him,  with  the  stick  you  usually  have,  or  any  other  weapon?  A. Mo. 
Q.  Did  you  ever  beat  liim  while  on  board  .^     A.  Xo. 

Court. — (i.  What  sort  of  stick  did  you  carry  when  the  deceased  was  on 
board,  and  for  what  purpose  ?  A.  The  first  thing  I  cimld  get  hold  of  to 
steady  myself,  having  lost  my  leg,  sometimes  a  broomstick.  Q.  Did  you 
«ver  strike  any  body  with  that  broomstick .?     A.  No. 

Prosecutor. — Q.  Do  you  recollect  Capt.  Hawkins  sent  for  you  three  or 
four  days  after  the  Disp'atch  sailed  .?  A.  Yes.  Q.  Do  you  recillect  Ca[.t. 
H.  giviuii;  you  orders  respecting  the  deceased,  on  the  larboard  side  ot  tint 
quarter  deck.?  A.  Yes.  Q.  Do  you  recollect,  that  Lieut.  Barrel  and  myself 
were  present  ?  A.  I  cannot  recollect  that.  Q.  What  orders  did  Capt.  II. 
give.?  A.  To  keep  him  in  the  store-room,  to  do  something,  and  not  to  let 
him  lay  about  the  galley.  Q.  If  he  did  not  go  when  ordered,  what  were  ins 
orders.?  A.  To  get  him  there,  and  keep  him  there  till  12  o'clock,  and 
then  let  him  como  out  again.—  No  othor  orders.  Q.  Did  Capt.  II.  point  to 
the  stick  you  had  in  your  hand  ?     A.  Not  to  my  knowleolge. 

Court.— Q.  Had  you  orders  fro:n  Capt.H.  to  beat  or  ill  treat  the  deceased 
in  any  way  ?  A  Not  to  my  knowledge,  Q.  Did  you  think,  in  conserjuence 
of  what  the  Captain  said  to  you,  you  were  authorized  to  do  it  ?  A.  I  did 
not.  Q.  Do  you  know  that  the  Captain  in  any  way,  or  through  any  chan-  ' 
iiel,  used  the  deceased  in  a  cruel  or  oppressive  manner?  A.  No,  1  do 
not.  > 

Captain  Hawkins. — (J.  Was  the  store-room  in  which  I  ordered  Davie  to 
be  kept,  as  comfortable  a  place  as  any  cabin  firward  ?     A.  Yes,  it  was. 

Thomas  Bolam,  (Jimner's  Mate  of  the  Dispatch,  called. — Q.  Do  you 
remember  William  Davie  being  in  the  Dispatcfi,  and  did  you  belong  to  iier 
all  the  time  he  was  ill  her?  A.  Yes.  Q.  Was  he  your  messiuute?  A.  He 
was.  Q.  Had  he  quack  medicines  in  his  chest?  A.  I  do  not  know  what 
medicines  they  were  ;  he  had  medicines.  Q.  Did  you  ever  give  him  of 
those  medicines  by  his  own  desire?     A.  Yes,  often. 

Court. — Q.  How  long  before  the  deatli  of  Davie  did  you  give  him  any 
of  those  medicines  ?  A.  From  his  rirst  coming  on  board  till  four  or  five  days 
after  we  went  to  sea  ;  I  gave  him  powders  aud  something  out  of  a  bottle, 
and  some  bougies.  Q.  Did  he  ever  say  for  what  purpose  he  took  tiiose 
medicines  ?  A.  He  said,  they  were  medicines  tlvit  h?  got  from  a  Doctor  on 
shore,  he  thouglit  they  would  do  him  good.  Q.  Did  he  take  them  when  t!ie 
Surgeon  of  CTie  ship  give  him  medicines.  A.  No,  he  did  not.  Q.  Of  what 
disorder  did  he  complain  for  which  lie  took  those  medicines?  A.  A  stoppage 
of  his  water.  Q.  Did  you  ever  intorm  your  t'aptain  or  the  Surgeon,  th;it 
he  took  such  medicines?  A.  No,  I  never  did.  Q.  Could  Davie  at  any 
time  have  got  those  medicines  without  your  knowledge?  A.  i  do  not 
know. 

A  letter  from  Sir  C.  M.  Pole,  to  the  Judge  Advocate,  dated  Chandns- 
itreet,  Caveadisti-square,  was  read,  as  part  of  the  Defence.  Sir  Charles, 
after  stating  that  he  could  not  possibly  attend  the  Court  Jlartial,  expresses 
his  intention,  to  have  olfered  himself  as  a  most  willing  and  anxious  \Vitiicss 
to  Capt.  Hawkins'  general  character  and  conduct  for  nearly  tv.eniy  years  ; 
to  have  declared  on  oath,  that  Capt. II.  had  served  with  lam,  from  the  year 
178(3,  and  was  scarcely  ever  out  of  his  knowledge  as  to  beha\iour  and  con- 
duct until  his  promotion  from  the  Royal  Georire  in  'Jl\;  in  which  period  his 
character  and  conduct  were  those  of  a  most  humane,  considerate,  and 
ienevoicut  oliiccr,  zealously  attentive  to  tb©  sick  and  suffering  seamen  ;  and 


158  NATAt   HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1807. 

he  should  also  have  declared  on  oath,  he  was  almost  the  last  man  in  tlie 
service  against  whom  such  an  attack  could  have  obtained  credit. 

Here  the  evidence  for  the  Prisoner  closed. 

The  Court  being  cleared,  and  the  Prisoner,  after  some  deliberation, 
l>eing  brought  in,  the  Judge  Advocate  read  the  following  sentence : — The 
Court  is  of  opinion,  that  the  Charges  have  not  been  proiucl  against  the  said 
Capt.  Edward  Hawkins,  but  were  scandalous  and  malicious,  and  dolh  adjudge 
him  to  be  acquitted, 

Feb.  17.  A  Court  Martial  was  held  on  board  the  Gladiator,  on  Lieut. 
Alexander  Day,  of  the  Royal  Marines,  on  chanj;es  exhibited  by  Lieutenant 
Trotter,  commanding  on  board  the  prison  ship  Guilford,  in  the  harbour,  for 
contempt,  disobedieace  of  orders,  and  neglect  of  duty. — Presider.t,  Captain 
Lechmere.  The  Court,  after  a  very  s!)ort  deliberation,  adjudged  Lieutenant 
Day  to  be  honourably  acquitted  of  all  the  charges. 

Feb.  20.  George  Melvin,  seaman  of  His  INIajesty's  ship  Antelope,  was 
tried  by  a  Court  Martial,  for  desertion,  and  sentenced  to  receive  1300 
iashes. 


umiii  iini  I II II  iiiw 


%mtvs  on  ^fttia, 

Copied  verbatim  from  the  London  Gazette. 
[Continued  IVom  page  88.j 

ADMIRALTY  OmCE,  JANIZARY  24,  1807. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Jiecr-Admiral  the  Honourable  Sir  Alexander  Coch-- 
rane,  K.  B.,  Commander  in  Chief  of  His  Majesfr/'s  Ships  and  Vessels  at 
the  Leeward  Islands,  to   William  Marsden,  Esq.;    dated  onboard  His 
Majcstt/s  Ship  Northumberland,  in  Carlisle  Bay,  Barbadoes,  10th  De- 
cember. 180(3. 

SIR, 

TlIS  enclosed  copy  of  a  letter  from  Lieutenant  Earkcr,  of  His  Majes- 
ty's armed  brig  Grenada,  gives  an  account  of  the  third  privateer 
captured  by  that  vessel  in  three  weeks. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

ALEX;  COCHRANE. 

His  Majestifs  Brig  Grenada,  St.  George's, 
SIR,  Grenada,  November  '27,  1806. 

I  have  the  satisfaction  to  acquaint  you,  that  at  daylight  this  morning* 
London  Bridge  Rock  bearing  east  three  leagues,  I  discovered  a  su^pic^ou3 
vessel  to  the  southward  ;  and,  after  a  ch;ise  of  four  hours,  came  up  with  and 
captured  the  French  sloop  privateer  le  Tigre,  mounting  tsvo  six-pounders, 
and  twenty-six  men,  out  from  Guadaluupe  fifteen  days,  and  had  taken  a 
mail  boat. 

I  have  much  satisfaction  in  this  capture,  as  the  ves'jol  sails  very  fast,  and 
has  done  considerable  damage  to  tlie  coasting  trade  of  St.  Lucia  and  St. 
Vincent. 

I  have  the  hoonur  to  be,  Sec. 

JOHN  BARKER. 
The  Hon.  Sir  A.  Cochrane,  K.  B.,  lVc.  &c.  SjC. 


NATAL   UI9T0RY   OF   THE   PRESENT   YEAR,    1807.  159 

^  JANUARY    31. 

Copif  of  a  Letter  from  Vice- Admiral  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Collin gzcood, 
Coninandtr  in  Chirf  of  Hia  Mnjetsi/a  Ships  and  Fesscls  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean, to  Williain  Marsden,  Esij.;  dated  un  board  His  Majesty's  SMp 
Ocean,  ojj'Cadiz,  the  5th  vf  January  1807. 

SIR, 

Enclosed  I  transmit  to  you  a  letter  from  the  Honoura'ble  Captain  Walde- 
grave,  of  His  Majesty's  sloop  the  Minorca,  informing  me  of  his  having 
chased  a  number  of  those  small  privateers  which  infest  the  Straits,  and, 
by  a  skilful  manoeuvre  having  separated  the  largest  from  the  rest,  cap- 
tured her. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

COLLINGWOOD. 

His  Majesty's  Sloop  Minorca,  Gibraltar 
MY  LORD,  Buy,  December  19,  1806. 

T  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  you,  that  on  my  passage  to  this  port  with 
the  Spanish  vessel  I  captured  oa  ilic  23d,  on  entering  the  Straits  eleven  of 
the  enemy's  privateers  stood  out  to  reconnoitre  us  so  near,  that  I  gave  chase 
to  them,  on  which  they  dispersed.  We  were  coming  up  with  two  very  fast, 
when  the  largest  stood  to  the  westward,  with  the  intention  of  cirtting  off  our 
prize.  Having  allowed  her  to  get  a  sufficient  distance  oft' shore  to  prevent 
her  regaining  it,  I  hauled  up,  and  after  a  chase  of  two  hours,  captured  her, 
close  to  Cape  Trafalgar, 

Her  name  is  the  Nostra  Senora  del  Carmen,  alias  la  Caridad,  mounting 
two  twelve-pounders,  two  four-pounders,  and  two  large  swivels,  having  oa 
board  thirty-five  men  out  of  her  complement  of  fifty. 

I  have  peculiar  satisfaction  in  announcing  this  capture,  being  one  of  the 
largest  of  that  class  which  infest  these  Straits. 

I  afterwards  captured  a  small  felucca,  the  Spanish  packet  from  Tangier 
to  Tariffa,  having  a  mail  on  board. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

G.  G.  WALDEGRAVE. 
To  the  Right  Honourable  Vicc-Admiral 
Lord  Collingicood,  <^-c. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Commodore  Sir  Home  Popham,  to  William  Marsdertf 
Jiisq.;  dated  on  board  His  Majeslys  Ship  the  Ltda,  off  Buenos  AyreXy  the 
4th  of  August,  1806. 

SIR, 
I  have  the  honour  to  transmit  to  you,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords 
Commissioners  of  tlie  Admiralty,  the  copy  of  a  letter  which  I  have  this  day 
received  from  Captain  King,  ol  His  IMajesty's  ship  Diadem. 
I  liave  the  honour  to  be,  dec. 

HOME  porn.ui. 

Diadem,  Monte  Video  N.N.  E.ftvc 
SIB,  leagues,  July  CO,  1806. 

I  beg  to  inform  yon,  that  a  strange  sail  having  been  discovered  in  tlie 
N,  W,  quarter  about  noon  this  day,  I  immediately  weighed  and  chased  her 
until  the  Diadem  was  in  four  fathoms  water,  when  I  hove  to,  and  detached 
the  boats,  who  soon  came  up  with  her  and  captured  her.  She  proved  to 
be  a  Spanish  man  of  war  brig,  called  tlie  Arrogante,  pierced  for  Hvelveguns, 
but  had  only  two  mounted,  with  twentv-fom-  men  on  board. 

I  haxc,  &c.  WILL.  KING. 

To  Commodore  Sir  Home  Topliam,  K.  B., 
<5c.  Sfc.  4c. 


180  NAVAL   HISTOUY   OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1 807. 

Cop7/  of  another  Letter  from  Commodore  Sir  Flome  Fopham,  to  WiUiam. 
Marsden,  Eaq. ;  dated  on  board  the  Diadem,  Rio  de  la  Plata,  September 
9,  1806. 

SIR, 

I  have  the  honour  to  transmit  you,  for  the  information  of  my  Lords  Com- 
missioners of  tlie  Admiralty,  the  copy  of  ;i  letter  which  I  have  this  day  re- 
<;eived  from  Captain  Honyman. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

HOME  POPHAM. 

His  Mujest)/s  Ship  Leda,  of  Monte 
SIR,  Video,  September  9,  180G. 

In  obedience  to  your  signal  to  slip,  at  ten  A.M.  we  made  sail  in  chase  of 
a  Brigaiitine  standins;  towards  the  river  St.  Lucia;  at  two  P.M.  Point  del 
Lspinello  beariiiji  N.  about  four  miles,  and  conceiving  ourselves  near  the 
Hock  la  Pancla,  tacked  siiip,  with  an  intention  of  making  a  short  board  to 
prevent  the  enemy  from  gaining  the  river;  shortly  after,  the  chase  not  being 
able  to  wcatlicr  the  rocks  off  the  point,  she  bore  up  and  ran  for  Monte 
Video;  tacked,  and  made  all  sail  towards  her,  and  at  half-past  three  drove 
her  on  shore,  close  under  the  Pointa  de  las  Yagues,  when  she  hoisted  Spa- 
nish colour^;  anchored  in  four  fathoms  within  gun-shot;  hoisted  out  the 
large  cutter,  pinnace,  and  launch,  and  sent  them,  manned  and  armed,  to 
endeavour  to  bring  otf  or  destroy  the  enemy  ;  Lieutenant  Parker,  and  Mr» 
O'Grady,  ]\Latc,  in  the  large  cutter;  Mr.  Lascelles,  Mate,  in  the  pinnace  ; 
and  Lieutenant  Stewart,  and  Mr.  Sterne,  Midshipman,  in  the  launch,  with 
a  carronade  to  cover  the  boats.  During  the  time  jhey  were  pulling  to  the 
vessel,  we  fired  from  the  ship,  to  prevent,  if  possible,  the  enemy  from  col- 
lecting. At  six  P.  M.  the  cutter  and  pinnace  returned;  Lieutenant  Parker 
reports  his  having  boarded  the  enemy,  she  was  pierced  for  fourteen  guns, 
had  none  on  board,  and  deserted  by  the  crew  ;  from  the  heavy  sea  and  state 
of  the  vessel,  he  found  it  impossible  to  get  iier  off  or  destroy  her  by  fire,  he 
therefore  cut  the  cable  and  left  her  to  drift  further  in  amongst  the  breakers. 
The  wind  veered  more  to  the  southward  after  the  boats  left  the  ship,  tiie 
launch  unavoidably  sunk  and  was  lost,  and  in  the  act  of  taking  out  her  crew, 
about  two  Jiundred  men,  who  had  before  concealed  themselves  behind  tli« 
Sand-hills,  commenced  a  fire  of  musketry  on  the  other  boats,  and  unfortu- 
nately wounded  i^ieutenant  Stewart,  and  three  men,  who  were  with  much 
difficulty  brought  oif. 

Lieutenant  Parker,  and  those  with  him,  appear  to  have  acted  with  great 
7e«l ;  and,  liad  tiie  weather  been  more  favourable,  I  make  no  doubt  they 
would  have  done  themselves  great  credit,  and  had  to  contend  with  a  visible 
instead  of  tm  invisible  force. 

I  cannot  coiiclude  this  without  mentioning,  that  it  is  the  second  wound 
received  this  war  by  Lieuienat  Stewart  in  the  service  of  his  country,  and  I 
trust  their  Lordships  will  consider  him  entitled  to  their  protection,  his 
last  wound  hiivir.g  occasioned  the  loss  of  his  left  arm  much  above  the  . 
elbow  joint,  but  I  am  happy  to  say  he  is  now  in  a  fair  way  of  reco- 
very. Enclosed  I  have  the  lionour  to  transmit  a  list  of  the  names  of  the 
wounded.  I  am,  &c. 

ROB.  IIONYMAN. 

Commodore  Sir  Home  Popham,  K.  B. 
^■c.  4c-.  4e. 

List  of  Wounded. 
Lieutenant  V/illiam  Stewart ;    William  Cumber,  seaman;  John  White, 
ditto; Abdula,  ditto,  dangerously.  '- 


NAVAL    IIISTOP.Y    OF    THE    PllESEXT    YEAR,     1807.  161 

FEBHUAIiY    a. 

Cop}/  of  a  Letter  from  the  R'liiht  Himimjub/e  Lord  Keith,  K.  R.,  Admiral  of 
the  White,  4"c'.,  to  WiUium  Mursde/iy  Esq.;  daltd  off  Rams^ale,  the  lit 
Ina.niit. 

SIR, 

I  tmiismit,  tor  their  LorHsIiips'  iiiforniiition,  a  opy  of  a  letter  wliirh  I 
have  received  tVoni  Captain  Stodrlurt,  of  ills  Majcbtys  sloop  the  (Jruizcr, 
acqiiiniuiii<;  me  tliat  lie  liad  driven  on  shore,  i'.i  the  vicinity  of  Blaakenbern, 
and  arterwitrds  tirouirht  off,  the  French  privateer  le  iirave,  of  sixteen  guns; 
and  als.)  that  ho  had  recaptured  the  LeaniU  r  of  .Shields,  and  the  Guardian 
of  Bri.llini;t.:i.. 

Their  J.oi  ii'iiips  wilMiave  nuicli  satisfaction   in  oliscrvint^  tJie   iudicious 
inini:i!ieniei!t  that  has  been  manifested  iiy  Captnin  Studdart  on  that  occa- 
sion, as  well  as  the  meritorious  condncr  of  jiis  officer.;  and  boats'  crews, 
1  ha\e  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

KEITIL 

His  AI(ijestj/'s  Shop  Cruizer,  nt  Sea, 
MY  i.or.D,  January  28,  1807. 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  your  Lordship,  that  on  the  2^it!i  instant,  at 
t\Vo  A.  M.,  as  we  were  stretching  t'roni  the  Island  of  Walchcren  towards  tha 
Galloper  Shoal,  and  only  four  leagues  fiom  the  latter,  a  lujiirer  was  seen 
passing;  onr  weather  beam  on  the  opposite  tack;  being  Ijol!)  under  easy  sail, 
lio  alteiation  wa.^  made  until  out  of  sight,  when  the  wind  veeriiig  to  the 
west,  enabled  us  to  fetch,  into  her  wake  :  after  a  long  chase,  we  forced  her 
on  ehi-rc  three  miles  to  the  westward  of  Blankenberg,  at  which  time  her 
Captain  and  considerable  part  of  her  crew  made  their  escape.  I  anchored 
about  half  gun-'shot  off,  to  scour  the  beacli,  if  necessary,  und  cover  the 
boais.  which  were  dispatched  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant  Pearse.  as- 
sisted by  Mr,  Lash,  the  Master,  and  Mr.  Mnffut,  Master's  Mate;  t'lroao-h 
whose  animated  exerti  ms  the  privateer  wasgi.t  off  without  snstainnig  the 
Smallest  damage.  During  the  performance  of  thi-;  service,  (lie  enemy  col- 
lected on  the  Sand-hills,  and  kept  up  a  brisk  fire  or  musketrv  wirhont  effect. 
The  lugger  is  le  Brave,  of  Dunkirk,  carrying  sixteen  iruns,  and  is  reputed 
one  of  the  fastest  sailing  ve.-sels  of  her  description:  she  had  capturei'  lie 
Lcander,  a  Collier  brig,  of  Shields,  and  an  Englisii  iialiiot,  i.'.uea  ..Jtlirum 
on  Government  account;  the  l\Iaster  and  crews  of  which  were  fouad  on 
board  of  her.  The  Lcander  was  retaken  by  u-i  thit  ar'rernouii,  as  w^.!!  as 
the  (Tu;irdian,  of  Bridlington,  which  had  been  capiuied  by  le  llev„i!;che 
privateer,  off  Flamborougb  Head,  along  with  four  others,  all  from  the 
Bailie. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

P.  STODDART. 

Admiral  Lord  Keith,  K.  B.  ^e.  <§c.  4"C- 

Cojiy  ijf  a  Let ier  from  Vice- Admiral  Russell  to  WilUam  Marsden.  Esq.} 
dattd  on  board  the  Majestic,  in  Yarmouth  Roads,  the  31si  of  Januara 
1807. 

SIR, 

Ilcrewitii  T  enclose  a  letter  from  Lieutenant  Tracev,  of  the  Princess  Au- 
gusta hired  cutter,  reporting  his  having  cupitn-id  the  Jena  privateer,  and 
recaplmed  her  prize,  a  Prussian  ship,  laden  with  tiii)ber,  boniid  to  London, 
whicli  I  beg  you  vvdi  lay  befi;re  my  Lords  Connnisiionors  of  the  Ad- 
miralty. I  am,  &c. 

T.  U.  RUSSELL. 


1C2  NAVAX    HISTORY    Or    THE    rHESENT    YEATl,     1S07. 

His  iJujrsh/s  Hired  Cutter  Piinccst  Am^u.sfa, 
SIR,  Yaimvut/i  Roud.i,  Jan.  31,  1807. 

I  hertiuith  enclose  ;i  letter  to  Adiuinil  llie  JUiiht  lion.  Lord  Keith.  K.  B.. 
Cuinniaiidcr  in  C'liict,  of  svlucli  the  tollovviiig  ii  iii  subbtaiice  ii  dupiJcivic,  tor 
vour  iiitbnuatioij. 

MY    LORD, 

I  h&ve  tlie  honour  to  inform  vour  Lordship,  that  on  the  07lh  inst.  Lowes- 
tofl'e  !)eurin<i;  ^^est  hy  iiorlh  t'orty-tivc  mile-,  !it  half-jiait  eleven  P.  3iL  i  fell 
in  w  itii  ;i  Lrencli  cutter  [-rivaleer,  and  tiiased  her  to  ttie  S.  8.  E.  until  tiaif- 
past  two  A.M.  on  tl>e  2oth,  when  havjnij;  got  alongside  of  her,  and  ririui^ 
-soiiic  ;^uns  and  niubkctry  into  her,  she  lovsci't-d  her  sails,  and  hailed  that  she 
luid  stiuck. 

8he  i.s  called  the  Jena,  commanded  by  C  .ptain  Francis  Caprllo,  with  thirty 
men,  mounting  four  {^uns,  and  has  on  board  a  gi'eat  number  of  small  anu*. 
Had  sailed  from  llushinsj;  twelve  days  ago,  and  made  two  capture.^;  one  of 
which,  a  liir<;e  Piubsian  ship,  laden  with  a  ^■aluable  cargo  of  timlier,  boui;ii 
to  Lo.idou,  I  recaptured  on  the  same  morning. 

1  have  the  honour  to  be,  &:c. 

J.  TU.VCEY,  Lieut,  and  Coin. 

7b  Vlcc-Adiniial  Russell,  ^r.  ^c.  <§t-. 

KF.KIUARY    7. 

Ciipi/ofc  Letter  from  Vice-.'iihmral  Dacres,  Commander  in  Cliirf  of  Hh' 
M(!Jes^t/'s  S/iips  (I lid  J'(.v.s<7.s  ut  Jamaica,  to  William  MarsdeUf  JL's/y. ;  dultil 
at  Fort  lioi/cd,  Dceiuibtr  1,  lyuo. 

SXR, 

On  the  Pique's  return  from  her  cruise,  I  received  from  Captain  Ko-is 
two  letters,  of  which  the  enclosed  are  co[)ies,  and  transmit  them  to  you^ 
for  the  infurnaation  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty. 

I  am,  iS»:c. 

J.  R.  DACRES. 

His  Majcstifs  Sfnn  Pique,  Alona  Passaiie, 
SIR,  ^oiumbcr  2,  180ti. 

T  have  the  hononr  to  inforn>  you,  that  the  b;\rge  and  two  other  boats  of 
His  Majesty's  snip  under  my  conmiand,  were  sent  yesterdav  to  intcree[)t  a 
schooner  coming  round  Cape  Ro\o  (Forti>  Rico),  hut  (jwing  to  a  very  heavy 
squall,  with  rain,  connng  oit' shore,  tliey  lost  sight  of  her  in  the  night;  but 
have  great  satisfaction  in  adding,  that  Lieutenant  Hell,  who  commantied  the 
party,  a'-sistcd  by  Lieutenant  iJaillie,  of  the  Royal  JNJarines,  pushed  in  lV»r 
Cabaret  Bay,  vvhere  they  completely  succeecied  in  destroying  a  battery  on 
sliore,  of  three  guns,  spiking  tliem  uj),  breaking  the  carriages,  and  bring- 
ing out  u  very  iine  Spanish  copper-bottomed  brig,  pierced  tor  twelve 
giuis. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

C.  B.  H.  ROSS. 
To  J.  Pt.  Dacrcs,  Es-j.,  c^c.  .^r.  ^c. 

His  Majesty's  Skip  Pique,  Mona  Passage, 
SIR,  November  3,  1806. 

I  liave  the  honour  to  infirm  you,  that  on  the  2cl  instant.  Lieutenant  Baker,. 
.  in  the  launch  of  His  JMaj-  sty's  ship  under  my  command,  chased  and  drove 
on  shore,  afiei  some  smart  skirmisiiing,  upon  the  reef  of  Cape  Roxo,a  rreiijch 
feiiuche-rigged  piivateer,  of  two  guns,  four  swivels,  and  tv.eiity-Mx  men, 
wliere  she  was  totally  lost. 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    TIIF.    riir.SENT    YIAR,     1807.  103' 

{  Iinvo  the  [ilcnsiirc  further  to  itirorin  yon,  fiiat  on  his  reriiniiiKj;  to  join  the 
^^lip,  ho  buccceiicd  in  cuptiirinii  (nfler  a  vcr  v  loiiir  i.lia^e)  another  very  latjt 
saiiiii;^  French  privateer,  of  one  gun,  and  twcutv  uieii. 

I  hav» ,  iScc. 

C.  B.  II.  ROSS. 
J.  R.  Dacrrx,  E^f.,  Vice- Admiral  of  tlie 
White,  Jkc.  6j-c,  Sfc, 

Copy  iif  another  Letter  from  Vice-  'fhni:  a!  Dacrcs,  to  William  Marsden,  Es-j.; 
dated  ut  Por'  Roi/ul,  Decciuhcr  IC,  18U6. 

-  I  have  the  liononr  to  enclose  von,  for  tiic  information  of  tiie  Lnrtis  Corn" 
missioncrs  of  the  Adnuralty,  tlie  co])y  of  a  letter  I  have  received  from  Cap*' 
taiH  Bri'.-:t;-*,  of  the  Orpheus,  ac(j;iaiiitiii<^  mk?  of  hi-;  ha'  ;m>;  captured  tlir  Spa- 
nish schoon.er  Subauiia,  offuurgriis,  from  Canipeche  to  the  iluvannah,  \^iLtl 
merchandize.  1  am,  &c. 

J.  R.  DACRKS. 

Orflii  it<:,  in.  the  G'llfof  iVIexivo, 
SIR,  1'6tfi  NuvciiiU-r,  loOti. 

I  hft;  to  acqnaint  you,  that  on  tiie  ICJth  instant  i  feli  in  wjtN,  anti,  after  a 
short  ciiase,  caj.'tured  the  Spanish  schooner  Suiaima,  of  f>nr  u.n\y-i,  (two 
cij;hts  and  two  sixes,j  '.ruiu  Cainp^chc  to  tije  liuvannafi,  witii  nicr- 
chanuize,  1  am,  ike. 

T.  DIUGGS. 
To  J.  ft.  JD«rrrs-,  Es'].,  Vicc-Admira!  <)f  the 
White,  6,e,  4c.  c,c. 

Coj'ij  of  another   Le'ler  from   Vice-A'hniral   T)ncrcs,   to    fVi'liuin  Marsden, 
Escj.;  dated  ul  Eori  Roj/ul,  Dceei.iler  12,  loOO. 

SIR, 

Tlieir  Lordships  will  be  concerned  to  learn,  that  thf  enclosed  copy  of  a 
letter  fi-oni  Captain  AysC'vanh,  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Success,  acjoainting 
uic  of  t!ie  destruction  of  the  Venjieiir  friQcca-ri:a;ed  privateer,  of  one  gun,, 
and  al)-)!it  tifty  men,  by  t:;c  boats  of  t!)at  s'riip,  reputs  so  great  a  loss  of  killed 
and  woiitided,  thcugh  >;reat  intrepidity  and  perseverance  'verc  displayed, 
very  creditable  to  the  oarty  cn<rai;ed  in  it. 

I  am,  cS:c.  J.  R.  D.VCRES. 

His  Mii'ied^fx  Sbi'.i  Succexx,  Lucca, 
sjn,  ijih  Decentber,  1806. 

I  beg  leave  to  inform  you,  that,  on  tiie  niornin>.'  oi'  tne  20th  of  last  month, 
fltaiKhng  in  for  the  land  to  the  eastward  of  Cumberland  iiarhmir,  I  observed 
ii  small  felucca  rinming  into  Hidden  Port  Mr.  ^V.  Duke,  the  lirst  Lieute- 
ii.iur,  \-oli:nteered  his  s  rvicc-,  witii  Lieutenant^ Charles  Spcnce,  and  acting 
Lieut-nant  Do>ve!|  O'lieiily.  The  bar^e  and  yawl  were  armed,  and  in. 
stai>tly  dispatched.  On  their  approach  they  found  her  crew  had  landed 
(aboar  iifty  in  munber)  witli  tiicir  small  arms,  and  llu.  only  long  gun  ;  had 
Jastud  tie  vessel  to  tiio  trees;  poste<l  themselves  on  a  h.U  clothe  to  the 
heacii,  and  fired  down  on  oiw  boats  witli  jrrape  tmd  nnisketrv  in  the  n>ost 
determined  manner.  (I  am  very  sorry  to  say  Lientonant  Duke  was  kdled 
the  iirst  vcjllry.)  Lieutenant  Spence,  wno  took  the  c(jmmand,  nifbnns  me  it 
was  impo>sible  to  stani!  the  continual  fire  kept  up  ("n^m  our  boats  for  one 
hour  ami  twenty  uuMiites,  (several  of  the  eiuany  having  fallen  daring  that 
time.)  From  the  n;irg';  i.eiiig  shot  through  i:;  niany  place^,  seven  wounded 
men  in  the  buats,  Lieutciiani  Spence  very  properly  jiidLod  it  uouid  be  a.nly 
fucriiicing  the  lives  of  the  brave  party  ty  attempt  tjit  hiil,  he  tlitrcfore  or- 


164  NAVAt    HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESE^fT   YEAR,    1807. 

dercd  rh  vessel  to  be  tnwed  out,  whicli  was  done  from  under  n.  very  heavy 
fire  of  ;ri'apc.  By  her  journal  she  a;,penrs  to  be  the  Vtageur  French 
pri 'ateer,  a-ul  sii'ed  from  the  city  of  St.  Domingo  the  Ist  of  Tic'ober, 
vvliikh,  from  being  leaky,  owing  lo  shot-holes,  &c.  sunk  abtcr;i  jf  the 
ship. 

Lieutenant  Spenrc  spe;il-b  in  the  hli^hfost  terms  of  the  artinj.  l.icinenant 
O'Reilly.  (  ho  has  \  eeii  m  ;hur  siuation  v\ith  me  above  eight  m<jntlis,J  the 
petty  otliccrs,  seamen, .;.   i  marines  under  li:S  orders. 

I  n-.nn'U  .unit  reeo,;..  r  uding  to  your  notice  Mr.  William  Rand  Hut!;hcs, 
Master's-"' late,  vvho  passed  for  a  Lieutenant,  and  conducted  himself  in  a 
ver,'  siur'.ted  man  ,er. 

With  concern  I  enclose  you  a  list  of  the  killed,  wounded,  and  missingj 
and  h  ive  tlie  iionour  to  he,  &c. 

JOHN  AYSCOUGH. 

"To  Vice-Admiral  Darres,  Cnmnander  in  Chief, 
^c.  C)C.  dj-(\  Jauiuica. 

jiRcturnoiKlied,  Woundtd,  uvO  Missing,  in  the  Boats  commanded  by  TJcu- 
taiunt  Cltar'i'H  Spence,  of  His  Ahtjesti/s  S/tip  Sinctss,  John  ^-ji/moiigh, 
Emj.,  Captain,  in  Action  <ih  ii'it  Ving  ur  Fremh  ±'c!a  ca  l^rizatcer, 
of  one  gMi  and  abvutfif\>/  Mi  u,  on  the  Win  of  ^uvoiibt  r  1806,  in  Hidden 
Port,  on  chc  Coast  of  Culia. 

William  Duke,  first  Lieutenant,  killed;  "Dowell  O'Reilly,  actin;;  Lieute- 
nant, woiii  ded  in  the  lei^;  Jo!m  Frederick,  orriinary,  badiy  wounded  in  the 
this^h  ;  James  (.'lewer,  able,  havily  wuiiuled  in  the  kni  c  joint ;  Henry  Cibby, 
ordinary,  badly  wuundi.d  through  the  bod\  ;  John  I'ornsby,  able,  badly 
wounded  thioiiifh  the  lunjis;  Daniel  Burn-,  landman,  slightly  wounded  h\ 
the  lingers;  Jasper  Wheeler,  marine,  slightly  wounued  in  the  hand;  An- 
thony Pascal,  able,  missing,  supposed  to  have  deserted. 

Total — 1  killed,  7  wounded,  and  1  missing. 

JOHN  AYSCOUGH,  Captain. 
THOAL^S  DEAR,  Surgeon. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  Earl  of  St.  Vincent,  K.B.,  Admiral  and  Co: - 
inandcr  in  Chi  f  if  His  Mojesffs  Fleet  ennploijtd  in  the  Chunne!^  Sound- 
ings, 4c.  io  William  luuisUtn,  E-aj. ;  dated  in  Topn,  the  od  Instant. 

SIR, 

i  enclose,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admi- 
ralty, copy  of  a  letter  winch  I  liave  this  day  received  from  Captain  Sir 
Thomas  Lavie,  of  His  MHJesty  ship  the  Blanche. 

I  am,  &c.  ST.  VINCENT. 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Blanche,  off'  Bour- 
MY  LORD,  -  di ail X,  January  16,  1807. 

Ihvtve  the  hononr  to  transmit,  for  your  Lordship's  information,  a  copy  of 
*  letter  I  have  addressed  to  Captain  Keats,  Commander  of  a  squadron  of 
His  Majesty's  shius  off  Rochefort. 

"  With  my  accustomed  good  fortune  I  have  intercepted  tlie  George 
Washington,  and  found  Ca[)iain  Karg;n-ian,  late  Commander  of  the  Valeur 
reuse  French  fVinate,  with  his  ofncers  and  men  on  board,  consisting,  in  all, 
of  three  hiindied  and  six  men  ;  but  .■^he  has  no  stores  bci;)nging  to  that  ship. 
I  have  taken  the  prisoners  out,  and  sent  the  ship  to  England." 
1  have  the  honour  to  be,  ike. 

"THOMAS  LAVIE. 
To  the  ruohf.  Hon.  pa  .'  St.  Vincent,  Com- 
juundcf  in  Chitf  ^c,  i^c.  t^t'. 


T^W 


IfAVAL   HISTORY    OV   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1807.  163 

Copt/  <)fa  Leiler  from  Captain  Campbell  of  Hh  Majesli/^s  Sfiip  the  TctcI,  to 
Witiiam  Mumden,  ilsij.;  duled  lu  Ltith  iiuads,  tite  ^t/i  Instant. 

sin, 
You  will  l)e  pleased  to  acquaint  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admi- 
ralty o'  the  arrival  here,  yesterdtiy,  ot'  flis  Majesty's  hired  defence  ship  the 
Nort'olK,  from  Slieeriicss;  and  hcre'\ith  I  enclose  a  letter  which  I  have  re- 
ceived from  Captain  Richan,  giviiif^  an  apcount  ot  the  capture  of  I'Adolphe 
J'Veuch  privateer,  as  mentioned  iii  my  letter  to  you  of  the  31st  ult. 

I  am,  &c. 

D.  CAMPBELL, 

His  Mujesli/s  armed  Defence  S/iip  Norfutl-, 
SIR,  L(.i.th  Roads,  Febiuarji  3,  1807. 

I  have  to  acquaint  you,  that  on  my  returning  from  the  Nore  t"  rliis  an- 
chorage, we  ob^erved  on  the  Cfith  iilr.,  :it  eiL'ht  o'clock  A.  M..,  alugger  bearr 
iug  r,.  i.E.  (hstaiit  six  or  seven  miles,  Flamhru'  (lead  heariiig  N.  N.  \V. 
distant  four  miles,  the  wind  W.  S.  W.,  several  merchant  vessel?  V-  '*hore; 
made  ail  sail  in  chase,  and,  at  twenty  minutes  past  one  u'c'ock  P.  I.  came 
up  and  boarded.  The  rl'u-e  proved  to  tie  I'Adolphe  French  privateer,  can* 
mandcd  by  Jacques  Francis  Leclerc,  mounting  fourteen  guns,  aiic;  l,n\;i;g 
on  board  thirty-nine  men  ;  two  ^runs,  fourteen  carriages,  with  their  i.oats 
and  ports,  they  had  thrown  overboard  dur  ng  thp  chase.  She  snileo  '..no. 
Dunkirk  Roads  on  the  21st  ult.  and  made  a  capture  o.i  tiie  ^.'id  ult.  ut  the 
Leith  packet,  laden  vvitii  hemp,  &c.,  from  Toimingen  bound  to  London,  neir 
the  Dogger  Bank.  We  ffuuKl  on  l)oard  PAdolphe  the  Master  and  ave  of 
the  crew,  with  three  passengers.  I  have,  &c. 

W.  RICIJAN". 
Donald  Campbell^  Esq.,  Captain  of  Hin  Jh[a^ 
Jestys  Sitip  Texcl,  i^c.  Sfc.  ^c, 

FEBRUARY    10. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from,  the  Right  Honourable  Lord  Keith,  K  B.,  Admiral 
off-e  White,  S;c.  to  Wiiliam  Mar.sJen,  Esq.;  dated  off" liamsgate,  the  6th 
Instant. 

I  have  also  the  satisfaction  of  enclosing  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Captain 
James,  of  His  Majesty's  sloop  the  Kite,  to  \'ice-Adm!ral  M(»lii.\vav,  report- 
ing tlie  capture  of  le  Cliassenr,  another  {'rtnch  lugger  privateer,  and  one  of 
those  by  which  the  Channel  has  lately  been  infested. 

His  Majesty s  Sloop  Ki'c,  Dozens^ 
SIR,  7th  Februart/,  l.'jo? 

I  beg  leave  to  inform  you,  that  last  night,  about  half  past  eleven,  the 
North  Foreland  Light  bearing  W.  by  S.  distant  about  four  ieas^ues,  I  fell  in 
with  and  captured,  after  a  (hase  of  one  hour  and  a  halt,  a  f  re..'  i  lugger 
privateer  le  Chassiur,  commanded  by  Jacques  1  rai.cois  lo'iiinciitier, 
pierced  for  sixteen  guns,  two  only  mounted,  tlu.  icmainJer  being  m  the  hold. 
She  is  a  very  taht-sailing  vi  ssel,  only  three  months  oiil ;  saileti  i'r jm  ("afiis 
yesterday  morning  in  company  with  another  pru  ateer  of  tlie  »ame  de.■^(  lip- 
tioii  ;  had  imt  made  any  capture  since  she  last  sailed;  her  cn.uplemei  t  of 
men  was  fifty- two,  but  had  only  forty-two  on  board  when  captured,  two  of 
which  were  wounded.  I'ortunatf  ly  our  snot  cut  anay  his  jib,  wlieu  we  first 
commenced  our  hre  U}  on  him,  otherwise  the  ciiase  would  have  bt  t  n  long,  and 
our  success  doubtful.  I  have,  &c. 

JOS.  JAMES. 

Vice-Admiral  Hoiloicai/,  ^c.  SjC.  4c. 


166  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT  YEARj'lSO?. 

rEBKUARY    14. 

Copj/  of  a  Letter  from  the  Honourahle  Captain  Stopford,  of  His  Majesty's 
Ship  the  Spenrrr,  to  }Villinin  Marsdcn,  Esq.;  doled  at  l^ortoFruifa,  St. 
Jcgo,  the  11th  Janiicty,  1807. 

SIR, 
I  herewitli  transmit  two  letters  Mhirlj  I  havo  received  from  Captain  Cor- 
bet, of  His  Majesty's  ship  the  Ncreidc,  acquainting  mc  with  the  captures 
of  two  Spanish  vessels. 

I  have  the  honour  to  he,  5zc. 

R()bi:rt  stopford. 

His  Mnjes'ifs  Ship  Nercide,  off  Madeira, 
SIR,  'Zd  December,  1806. 

His  Majestv's  ship  under  my  command  captured,  on  the  25ti\  uU.,  in  lat. 
42  dcg.  >J.,  lonti.  11  do:;.  W.,  J!  Brilliante  Spanis'i  hiL'gcr  privateer,  of  lour 
guns  and  fifry  men,  out  two  days  from  Vigo,  on  a  four  months"  cruise,  ami 
hod  captured  nothing. 

I  was  much  picaseil  at  this  capture,  as  there  were  several  sail  in  sight  when 
1  chased  him,  some  of  whicli  might  have  become  his  p icy. 

I  ha\e  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

R.  CORBET. 
Captain  the  Hon.  R.  Stopford. 

His  Malesfi/''s  Ship  Ncreidc,  at  Sea, 
SIR,  21  st  Kotember,  1806. 

Yesterdav,  whilst  under  separation  from  the  convoy  nndor  your  orders,  in 
lat.  47  dc<:.  \.,  lonjr.  10  dei:.  W.,  I  captured,  after  a  chase  of  some  hours,  el 
Veioz  Spanish  corvette,  pierced  for  twenty  guns,  ritted  out  at  Biib.ia.  with 
ten  guns  mounted,  and  seventy-five  men,  to  carry  dispatelK"-,  some  passen- 
gers of  distu)Ction,  and  a  eario  "f  Hour  on  (nnernmcnt  account,  to  the 
Caraccas.  She  is  a  beautiful  vessel,  w.as  to  have  been  fitll  armed  abroad, 
and  since  her  capture  has  kept  way  with  the  Nereide  on  all  points  of 
sailing. 

R.  CORBET. 
The  Hon.  R.  Stopford,  4c.  ^c.  Sfc. 

Ff.BRt'ARY     17. 

Copy  of  a  J^etter  from  the  Eurl  of  St.  Vincent,  K.  B.,  Admiral  and  Com- 
tvander  in  Chief  of  His  Majrslifs  Fliel  employed  in  the  Channel,  Sound- 
ings, fyc.,  to  Wiiliayn  Marsden,  Esq. ;  dated  in  Town,  the  13th  Instant. 

SIR, 

I  enclose  herewith  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Connnodore  Keatj;,  and  of  one 
addressed  to  him  by  Cnptam  Lord  Cochrane,  trivinga  more  rleiailed  account 
of  ail  aitack  made  upon  I'ort  iiKquette,  at  the  entrance  of  the  fj;isMn  d'Aiv 
casson,  whereof  the  outline  was  reported  in  an  enclosure  of  niy  ieiler  of  the 
17th  ultimo.  1  am,  iS:c. 

ST.  \T\CEXT. 

His  Majrstifs  Ship  Superb,  oft  Ckassiroti, 
MY  torp,  'Z8th  Junuurij,  IQui . 

T  have  tiie  honour  herewith  to  transmit  a  letter,  which  I  hnvo  just  re- 
ceived  from  Lord  Cochranii,  Captain  of  Ujs  Majesty's  siiij>  Imperieuse^ 


NAVAI,   HISTORY    OF   THE    PUESF.NT    YEAR,    1807.  167 

reporting  the  particu'.iirs  of  an  enterprise  (noticed  in  my  letter  to  your 
Lordship  of  ihe  Idth  in'itont,)  hii^'hiy  crcdituble  to  Lieutenant  Maple- 
ton  of  that  ship,  and  to  the  othccrs  and  men  employed  under  his  coiu- 
inand. 

I  have  the  honour  to  Le,  &c. 

R.  G.  KEATS. 
The  Earl  of  St.  Vincent,  K.  B.,  c^c.  ^c  S,-c. 

His  ]\rjest.i/'.i  Ship  imperieuse, 
SIR,  January  7,  1807. 

Having  been  led  in  chase  to  the  southward  yesterday,  as  tlie  Imperieuse 
passed  the  Bason  of  .ircasson,  in  returning  to  l!ic  station  you  liad  assigned. 
Lieutenant  MapleCwn  volunreered  his  services  to  brinji  out  ivitli  the  boats 
whatever  vessels  mighr  be  found  there,  and,  as  a  preliminary  step,  attacked 
I'ort  lioquctle,  uliii^h  was  intended  for  the  defence  of  tlie  entrance.  A 
Kirge  quantity  of  mditury  stores  was  destro^-ed,  four  thirty-six  poundt-rs, 
two  field  pieces,  and  a  thirteen  inch  mortar  spiked,  the  platoons  and  car- 
riages burnt,  and  the  fort  laid  in  ruins. 

The  Honourable  Mr.  Napier  and  Mr.  H.  Stewart,  Midshipmen,  accon> 
panied  Lieutenant  Mapleton;  and  Mr.  Gibbert,  the  Surgeon's  tirst  Assist- 
ant, embraced  the  opportunity  to  show  his  zeal  even  in  this  alfair,  forei;;n  ta 
Lis  profession. 

1  am  liapjjy  to  add,  that  as  it  was  well  conducted,  so  it  was  accomplished 
iftitliout  any  lo^s. 

Subjoined  is  a  liit  of  vessels  taken  or  dc-troycd  since  the  fifteenth  of  last 
inontii. 

I  have  tlie  honour  to  be,  &c. 

COCIIRAXE. 

Captain  R.  Kails,  His  M.ijest)/^  Ship  Superb^ 

Vt'sse/s  captured. 

Lc  .lean  Baptiste,  laden  with  wine;  el  Anna,  laden  with  wine;  Pere  de 

Famille,  laden  with  wine;  la  Decide,  laden  with  rosin;  Joseph,  laden  fviih 
butler  and  cheese  ;  Cutter,  laden  with  butter  and  cheese;  VViliiehuiua,  ua». 
tioual  transport;  r.:Vimabifc  Xanncte,  laden  with  vviue^ 

Vessels  deslroj/ed. 

Ship  Frederica,  a  transport,  wrecked;  ship  St.  Jean,  a  transport,  wreck- 
ed; a  chassc  murce,  sunk;  la  Confiance  dc  Nantes,  destroyed ;  a  chasse 
maree,  destroyed;  a  sloop  sunk,  drifted  to  sea;  a  small  siuop,  went 
adrift. 


LONDON  GAZETTE  EXTRAORDL\ARY. 
Sl'NDay,   Februauy  22,  1807. 

Admiralty  Office,  Feb.  '21,  1807. 
Capfnin  Lj/diard,  f>fHis  Mnje^fy's  Ship  the  Ansvn,  urrivd  here  this  m  tru- 
ing, aiUi  dispatekts  from   Vic-Adn.iral  Dacres,  Comiuuiider  in  Chitfuf 
His  Mujcsti/'s  Ships  and  t^es^els  at  Jumuica,  to  Wiiliam  Marsden,  Esq.  ; 
of  which  l/icj'olloxiug  are  copies. 

sni.  Shark,  Port  Royal,  Jan.  11,  1807. 

I  have  much  satisfaction  in   congratulating  my  Lords  Commissioners  of 
the  Admiralcy  on  tlw  capture  of  the  island  of  Caracosi)  ou  NcwYeaiV 


iGS  NAVAL    HISTORY   OF  THE    PUESENt   YEAR,    1807. 

I)ay,  in  the  morning,  bv  the  fmir  frigates  named  in  the  margin  *,  under  th« 
ordcs  of  Captain  Brisbane,  (if  the  Arethiu-a;    a  copy  of  whose  letter  I 
'  enclu'-e  for  their  Lordatiips'  information. 

W!i;lst  r  contt  njplate  t!ie  immense  strengr!)  of  the  harbour  of  Amster- 
dam, and  the  superior  force  contained  in  its  uilTercnt  batteries  opposed  to 
tilt  e-.nrance  of  tlie  fiigates,  I  know  not  ho\\  suthciently  to  admire  tlie 
decision  of  Captain  Brisbane  in  attc  rnptmg  the  Iiarbonr,  and  the  deter- 
mined bravery  and  conduct  displayed  by  hiniGcIf,  the  otlier  three  Captains, 
and  all  the  otlicers  and  men  under  his  conniianfl  :  and  is  another  strong 
iiisrance  of  the  cool  and  determined  bra\ery  of  British  seamen. 

Captain  Brisbane  being  from  his  situation  obii^i'd  to  act  as  Governor,  I 
have,  as  an  acknowledgment  and  lii^h  approbation  of  hi-?  conduct,  continued 
hini  in  tl)at  situation  until  ilis  iNiajcstv's  pleasure  shall  be  kiiOun;  and 
request,  in  the  strongest  manner,  that  tlieu-  Lordsliips  will  be  pleased  to 
recommend  him  for  ihat  appointment. 

Captain  Lydiard,  (who  will  liavc  the  honour  of  delivering  this,  and  who 
fnlly  partook  of  the  conquest,  and  has  before  distmouished  himself  olT  the 
Havana,)  I  beg  to  refer  their  Lordships  to  for  any  information.  I  shall  put 
an  acting  Captain  into  the  Ansjn  initil  his  return,  or  1  receive  directions 
thereon.  1  am,  &c. 

J.  R.  DACRES. 
SIB,  Hk  Mujeii^ifs  Ship  jhr'htisa,  Curacoa,  Jan.  1,  1807. 

Tt  is  v.ith  the  most  lively  and  heartfelt  satisfaction  I  liave  tl)e  honour  to  ' 
inform  you,   that  liis  Majesty's  squadron  under  my  connnand  has  this  day 
opened  the  New  Year  with  what  I  humbiy  liatlcr  myself  will  be  deemed  an 
enterpri/.e  of  considerable  consequence  to  my  country. 

I  proceeded  in  the  execution  of  your  orders  the  '->9th  of  November,  with 
fevery  possiiile  avidity,  but  the  adverse  wind  and  current  prevented  me  fioni 
reacl)ing  this  inland  before  the  Jst  inst.  In  my  way  up  I  njet  (^'aptain 
Boltftn,  of  the  Visirard,  going  to  Jamaica;  I  took  hiin  under  my  orders, 
according  lo  your  directions,  and  proceeded  with  the  squadron  off  this  port, 
ha\inii  previously  resolved  oj'.  that  sy>teni  of  aitack  which  British  seamen 
are  so  capable  of  executing.  My  arrangements  having  been  previously  made 
known  to  the  respective  Cajitaiiis,  1  was  satislied  nothing  farther  remained 
for  iTicthan  to  put  it  in  execution.  Mylineofbattleconsistedof  the  '-.rcthusn. 
Latona,  Anion,  and  Fisguard  ;  anr',  very  soon  after  the  bnakofday,  1 
made  all  })OssJi)le  sad  with  tlie  ships  in  close  order  of  battle,  passing  the 
wiiole  extensive  line  of  sea  batteries,  and  anchored  the  squadron  in  a  style 
far  surpaisii  a  mv  cxpecuuions.  Being  still  desirous  of  having  the  clfusion 
of  liunuui  bl,M,d  spared,  I  writ  tlie  enclosed,  No.  1,  on  the  capstan  of  His 
Majesty's  ship  Arethusa,  during  the  acti^on,  which  was  not  regarded,  as  they 
did  their  utmost  to  destroy  us.  Words  cannot  express  the  ability  of  the 
Snuadron.  The  harbour  was  defended  i)y  regular  fortifications,  of  two  tier 
of  guns,  Fort  Amsterdam  alone  contistiog  uf  sixty  six  pieces  of  cannon  ; 
the  entrance  only  fit'ty  yards  wide,  athwart  which  was  the  Dutch  frigate 
Hatslar,  of  36  gur.s,  and  Surinam,  of  'i'l,  with  two  large  sciiooners  of  war, 
one  commanded  by  a  Dutch  commander;  a  chain  of  forts  was  on  Misel- 
burg  commanding  height ;  and  that  almost  impregnable  fortress,  Fort 
Republique,  within  the  distance  of  grape  shot,  enlilading  the  whole 
harbour. 

At  a  quarter  past  six  o'clock  we  entered  the  port ;  a  severe  and  destruc- 
tive cannonade  ensued  ;  t'le  frigate,  sloop,  and  schooners,  were  carried  by 
buardiiigj  the  lower  forts,  the  citadel  and  town  of  Amsterdam,  by'"oim; 
ail  of  V.  liich,  by  seven  o'clock,  were  in  onr  possession.  For  humanity  sake 
1  grunted  die  annexed  capitulation;  and,  at  ten  o'clock,  the  British  flag  was 
hojsie.l  ir.  Fort  Rep:;.:jUque  : — the  whole  island  is  in   our  quiet  pOssessiou. 

*  Arethusa,  Latona,  Anson,  and  Fisgard. 


NAVAL   HISTORY    OV   THE    PRESENT    TEAK,    1807.  169 

The  strength,  commerce,  and  value,  I-unclcrstanii,  is  immense.  It  is  now 
beconj.e  a  pleasin;;  part  of  my  duty,  althoiigii  impossible  to  do  ju^tice  to  the 
merits,  gallantry,  and  determination  of  Captains  Wood,  l.ydiard,  and  Bol- 
ton, wiio  so  nobly  hended  tlieir  respective  ship's  companies  to  tiie  storm; 
and  the  same  (gallantry  and  determination  are  due  to  tlie  officers,  seamen, 
and  marines,  for  followiiii;  up  so  glorious  an  example.  Enclosed  is  a  list  of 
tlie  killed  and  vvounfled  in  His  lAIajesty's  squadron.  I  have  imt  yet  been 
able  to  a-certain  ih.it  of  the  enemy,  except  tfiosc  in  the  ships.  I'he  l^utch 
Commodore  was  killed  early  in  ttie  action,  and  the  Captain  of  the  Surinam 
severely  wounded.  I  have  appointed,  by  Proclamation,  Wednesday  next, 
the  7th  instant,  for  riie  inhabitants  (winch  amount  to  thirty  tlionsand),  to 
take  the  Oath  of  Alle;.;iancc  to  our  Most  Gracious  Sovcrei:^n  ;  those  who  do 
not  choose,  will  he  instantly  embarked  as  prisoners  of  war.  For  any  farther 
particulars,  I  must  beg  to  reter  you  to  that  gnlhuit  orHccr,  Captain  Lydiard. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &:c. 

CHARLES  BRISB.iNE. 
To  James  Richard  Dacres,  Esq..,  Vlce-Admiral 
of  the  White,  Commander  in  Chief,  S^c. 

NUiSIBER  I. 

His  Majesty  Ship  ArefhuM,  Curacoa  Harbour.^ 
srn,  Jan.  I,  iao7. 

The  British  squadron  are  here  to  protect:,  and  pot  to  conquer  you  ;  to 
preserve  to  you  your  lives,  liberty,  and  property.     If  a  shot  is  tired  at  any 
one  of  Hiy  squaflron  after  this  sunnnons,  I  shall  immediatelv  storm  your 
batteries.     You  have  five  minutes  to  accede  to  this  determination. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &C. 

CHARLES  BRISBANE. 
2c  His  Excellency  the  Coiernor  of  Curacoa% 

KU:\iBER  IT. 

Curacoa,  January  I,  1807. 
PRELIMINARY  ARTICLES  of  the  Capitulation  aj^rced  upon  hy  Charles 
Brisbane,  llsq.,  Captain  of  His  .Majesty's  ship  Areihusa,  and  senitir 
otiicer  of  a  squadron  of  His  i!vlajesty's  ships  at  CuracoaJ  on  the  one  part; 
and  by  His  Exceliency  Pierre  Jean  Chaiiguion,  Governor  of  the  island  of 
Curacoa,  and  its  Dependencies,  on  the  other. 

Art.  I.  The  Fort  Republique  shall  immediately  be  surrendered  to  the 
British  f.jrce  ;  the  Garrison  shall  ma.'-ch  out  with  the  honours  of  "  ar,  lay 
down  their  arn.s,  and  become  pri;:oners  of  war.— Answer — Granted. 

Art.  II.  The  Dutch  Garrison  at  Curacoa  shall  be  prisoner?  of -var,  and 
hy  His  Britannic  Majesty  sent  to  Holland,  not  to  serve  this  war  before  they 
shall  be  regularly  exchanged  ;  and  for  the  ckie  performaixe  of  this  Article^ 
die  officers  pifdge  tiieir  word  of  I'.onour. — Answer — Granted. 

Art.  HI.  The  same  terms  as  in  the  above  Article,  are  granted  to  the 
officers  and  peojile  oi'  the  Dutch  men  of  war. — Answer — Granted. 

Art.  IV,  .'\ll  the  Civil  Otliccrs  mav  remain  at  their  respective  appoint- 
ments if  they  think  proper;  and  those  who  choose,  shuU  be  sent  by  His 
Britannic  J>lajesty  to  Holland.— Answer — (Granted. 

Art.  V.  I  he  Euij^hers,  Merchants,  Planters,  and  other  Inhabitants, 
without  diiferencc  of  colour  or  opinion,  shall  be  respected  in  tlieir  persons 
ami  property,  provided  they  take  the  Oath  of  .Alleiiiance  to  Mis  Bnuinuic 
JViajcaty. — Aut-wer — Gr.intcd,  neutral  properly  beir.g  ic.-pccted. 

.il2a0»  €l;rort.  uJol.XVU.  z 


J70  NAVAL    HISTOllY    OF   THE    PRtSTNT    YEAR,    1807. 

Art.  VI.  All  the  incrcliant  vessels,  with  their  carjioes,  in  the  hnrhour,  of 
^'hatsoever  nation  they  belong  to,  sliall  be  in  the  possession  of  ilieir  proper 
owners. — Answer — Not  Granted. 

Art.  VII.  A  Definitive  Capitulation  f.haU  be  signed  upon  this  basis  in 
Fort  Amsterdam. — Answer — Granted. 

Ctn-acon,  Jaiwary  1,  1807. 
The  foregoing  Airticlcs  having  this  day  been  mutually  read  and  agreed  to, 
this  Capitulation  is  Ijeconie  dclinitivc. —  Signed  ou  the  one  part  bv 

CHARLES  BRISBANE. 
Signed  on  the  otlier  part  by  His  Excellency 

'  P.  J.  ClIANGUiON. 

A  List  of  KlUed  and  Wounded  on  hoard  His  Mnjesfi/s  Squadron  under  ituf 
Command,  at  the  Capture  of  the  hlund  of  Cutacoa,  on  the  Isl  ofjanuury, 
1807. 

Arethusa. — 2  seamen  killed,  5  seamen  wounded. 
Lntoiia. —  1  seamnu  'nilled,  '2  seamen  wounded. 
Anson. — None  killed,  7  seamen  wounded. 
lusgnrd. — None  killed,  none  wounded. 
Total. — 3  scaraeu  killed,  li  scanicii  wounded. 

CHARLES  BRISBANE. 

Cunicoa,  Junuarj/  3,  J  807. 

Lists  (if  Killed  and  Wounded  on  hoard  the  Hutslar  Frigate,  Surinmn  Sloop, 
and  F/i/uig  Fish  Schoont  r. 

Hatslur. — C.  J.  Evertz,  Commandant,  killed  ;  G.  B.  Z.  Gerond,  second 
Purser,  ditto  ;  A.  Graaf,  chief  Mate,  batliy  wounded  ;  .1.  J.  N.  Giblesperd, 
t>tcward,  killed  ;  William  Maubers,  seaman,  ditto;  Henry  Driel,  seaman, 
ditto. 

Surinam. — .Tan  ^'^an  Nes,  Captain,  dangerousdy  wounded  ;  Jean  Bap- 
tiste,  Lieutenant,  ditto;  G.  B.  Baltner,  jMidshipman,  dangerously  wound- 
ed ;  Arend  Arens,  seaman,  ditto  ;  Ecrdinand  Ballatin,  seaman,  ditto  (since 
dead.) 

F/j/iiig  Fish. — G.  II.  V.  A.  Ilinget,  Gunner,  dead  ;  M.  S.  Giblespred, 
Seaman,  wounded. 

By  Charles  Brisbane,  Esq.,  Captain   of  His  IMajcsty's  ship  Arethusa, 
and  senior  officer  of  a  squatlron  of  His  Majesty's  ships  employed  at 
Curacoa. 
His  Excellency,  Lieutenant-Gencral  Changuion,  Governor  and  Comman- 
der in  Chief  of  the  Island  of  Curacoa  and  its  Dependencies,  having  refused 
to  take  the  Oath  of  Allegiance  to  His  Britarmic  Majesty,  and  surrendered, 
liimself  prisoner  of  war,  I  have  thought  proper  to  appoint  myself  Governor 
of  the  said  Island  and  its  Dependencies,  until  the  pleasure  of  the  Comman- 
der in  Chief  is  made  known  ;   and  I  do  hereby  appoint  myself  accordingly. 
Given  under  my  hand  at  Curacoa,  this  -Ith  of  January,  i;X)7. 

CHARLES  BRISBANE. 

By  Charles  Brisbane,  Esq.,  Captain  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Arethusa, 
and  senior  officer  of  His  Britannic  Tvlajcsty's  squadron  in  Curacoa 
harbour. 

Whereas  this  Island  and  its  Dependencies  have  surrendered  to  the 
arms  of  His  Britannic  Majesty,  as  appears  by  the  Capitulation  which  has 
been  signed  by  Hi*  Excellency  Piene  Jean  Changuion  and  me  ou  the  l*t 


NVV\r    JUSTOUY    OF    THE    PREST-NT    YEAR,    180^.  171 

instant,  I  therefore  hereby  require,  that  all  Burghers  and  Inhabitants  of  this 
Island,  shall  meet  on  Wednrsclay  next,  the  7th  instant,  at  ton  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  at  the  Government  House,  in  order  to  take  the  Oath  of  Alletriance 
to  His  liritannic  Majesty  aforesaid-  Tlio^e  who  belong  to  tiie  Militia 
Companies  will  receive  further  orders  from  their  Major,  and  are  to  conduct 
themselves  accordingly.  All  those  who  fill  public  ollices,  of  whatsoever 
nature  thev  may  be,  and  all  such  as  do  not  belonj;  to  the  Militia  Compa- 
nies, are  also  r,e(|uircd  to  meet  at  tho  Government  HOuse,  at  the  hour  and^ 
for  the  purpose  aforesaid. — I  expect  tliat  the  Burj^hers  and  Inhabitants  ot' 
this  Island  will  conduct  themselves  in  such  a  manner  as  to  deserve  my 
protection  and  favour  ;  ;ind,  on  my  part,  shall  not  fail,  as  far  as  in  my  power 
lies,  to  promote  the  ii.-ippiiiOss  and  welfare  of  this  Island  and  its  Inhabi- 
tints:  and  I  flatter  myself  that  niy  endeavours  in  this  case  will  be  crowned 
with  the  <:raciuus  approbatic.i  of  my  Sovcreij^n,  and,  I  hope,  to  the  satisfac*> 
don  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Island  and  its  Dependencies. 

Given  under  my  hand,  on    board  His  Majesty's  ship  Arethusa,  in  th« 
llarboiii-  of  Curacoa,  tliis  lifch  day  of  January,  18U7. 

CHARLES  BRISB^VN'E. 


Erratum  in  the  Gazette  of  27th  January,  1807. 
Admirulty  Office,  Janiiari/  27,  1807. 
For  Dispatches,  of  which  the  following  are  Copies, 
Read,  Dispalchesj  of  which  the  foilowing  are  Uitracts  and  Copies. 


31mf£rial  parliament. 

HOUSE  OF  LORDS,  Thursday,  Fee.  5- 

IT  ORD  GREXVILLE,  in  moving  the  second  reading  of  the  Bill  for  abo» 
jLA  lishinij  the  Slave  Trade,  expatiated,  at  great  Icneth,  on  the  in;policy, 
as  well  as  inhumanity,  of  courinuiug  that  traffic,  until  the  whole  island  oi 
Jamaica  and  tlie  settlement  of  Trinidud  should  be  cleared.  If  that  were  to 
be  done,  three  centiu'ies  must  ehipse,  during  which  the  tratHc  must  be  cop* 
tinned  to  the  same  extent  as  at  present,  for  each  of  those  islands  would  re- 
quire the  importation  of  1,0U0,0U0  of  Megroes.  His  Lordship  observed, 
that  should  no  other  country  unite  with  us  in  putting  an  end  to  this  detest- 
able traffic,  that  ought  not  to  prevent  us  from  obeyiug  the  dictates  of  jus- 
tice. In  the  American  Congress,  however,  there  was  a  Bill  passing  un- 
resisted, througli  its  dilYerent  stages,  for  inflicting  on  t!»e  continuation  of 
this  traftc  the  punishment  of  death.  Denmark  had  abolished  it ;  Sweden 
had  never  engaged  in  it;  and,  at  jn-csent,  at  least  France,  Spain,  and  Hol- 
land, could  not  carry  it  on.  Portugal,  unassisted  by  British  capital  and 
shipping,  and  deprived  of  a  market  in  the  \\'es£  India  islands,  could  not 
carry  it  on  to  any  great  extent,  if  she  were  disposed  to  continue  it.  His 
Lordship  then  proceeded  to  consider  the  state  of  the  Negroes  already  im- 
ported into  the  NVest  India  islands  ;  with  regard  to  whom,  he  dep.ecated  all 
intcrftrence  on  the  part  of  the  liritish  Legislature,  and  reconnncnded  a  slow 
and  gradual  emancipation,  under  sucii  regulations  as  the  Colonial  Assemblies 
might  think  prrjpcr  to  adopt. 

'ihe  Duke  of  Clarence,  in  opposing  tiie  measure,  predicted,  that  in  less 
than  live  years  after  piissing  the  present  Bill,  Parliament  would  have  to 
j-epeal  it. 

The  Duke  of  Gloucester  spoke  in  favour  of  the  BiU ;  and  Lord  Mortoji, 
jj^.4  tl^e  Earl  of  Westmoreland,  against  it.    Lord  Selkirk,  Lord  lloilyn,  Lord 


172     KAVAL  HrSTOKY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1807. 

Kin^,  Lord  IMoira,  the  Bishop  of  Durham,  Lord  Northesk-  the  Earl  of  Suf- 
folk, aud  Lord  A  illaud,  aUo  gave  their  support  to  the  Bill;  which  was  op- 
posed by  Lord  St.  Vincent,  Lord  Eldon,  and  Lord  Hawkesbury. — The  Iloubs 
at  length  divided  on  the  second  reading. 

C  intents "^"otes  72 Proxies  28 — — 100 

Non-Conteuts -Vote*' 28 Proxies    8 36 

Majority      64 

FRIDAY,    TEB.    6. 

In  a  Committpe  on  the  Slave  Trade  Abolition  Bill,  Lord  Grenvjlle,  in  pro-! 
posing  that  tiiri  blanks  of  the  Bill  should  be  ijlled  up,  wished  to  fix  the  Ub 
iiiited  time  t<<r  ships  to  proceed  on  this  trathC;  to  the  1st  day  of  May  next. 
This  would  atford  opportunity  sutticieut  for  ail  those  who  had  already  em-, 
barked  in  the  trade  to  complete  the  object  they  iiad  coiiimcticed,  without 
any  deti-imeut  to  their  interest,  and  prevent  the  Bill  i'roin  taking;  tiie  ch'ect 
of  an  ex  post  facto  law.  For  j?r')hibitinii  all  further  dealm^  on  the  trade  from 
Africa,  lie  would  fix  the  1st  of  January,  1808;  and  for  the  termination  of  it 
all  together  in  tiie  West  Indies,  to  the  1st  of  January,  JoOB,  also.— 
Resolutions  to  this  offect  were  moved,  and  the  bhuiks  ordered  to  be  lilicd 
up  accordingly. 

The  several  clauses  of  the  Bill  being  iione  through,  and  the  question 
on  the  preamMe  beiug  put,  "  tiiat  it  should  stand  part  of  the  Bill," 

Lord  Hawke^bnry  moved  an  amendment,  that  tlig  words,  "justice  and 
humanity"  should  be  om.ttcd  la  the  preamble,  ur!:;;ig,  that  they  implied  an 
indirect  censure  upon  ourselves,  for  having  continued  the  trajhc  so  long; 
and  that  the  sla\es  understanding,  for  the  hrst  time,  that  to  be  the  prevail- 
ing cause  of  at  length  abandoning  it  altogether,  it  might  lead  to  revolts  and 
niirfchief  in  our  Colonies,  not  to  be  calculated. 

This  produced  a  conversation  of  some  length;  after  which  the  Hou^e  di~ 
%'ided,  when  there  appeared  for  the  amendment,  10— Against  it,  33. — 
The  original  motion,  therefore,  was  carried,  and  the  report  urdcred. 

TUESDAY,    FEB.    10. 

The  Bill  for  the  Abalition  of  the  Slave  Trade,  was  read  a  third  time 
and  passed. 

THURSDAY,    FEB.    19,. 

The  Royal  Assent,  by  comn■^i^sion,  was  given  to  a  Bill  for  preventing  tha 
seduction  of  men  from  the  Navy;  and  to  a  Bill  for  rcgulatiu-  the  trade  am^ 
commerce  of  liie  Cape  of  Good  fiope. 

HOUSE  OF  COMMONS,  Friday,  Jan.  23. 

Mr.  T.  Grenville,  in  a  CommiUee  of  Supply,  rose  to  propose  a  vofe  of 
10,000  stamen  for  the  Navy,  in  addition  to  the  120,000  already  granted  tor 
the  service  of  1807.  Li  the  course  of  his  speech,  he  also  stated  the  out- 
line of  a  new  plan,  which  it  was  intended  to  follow  in  future,  iu  making  up 
the  accounts  relative  to  the  Navy;  by  ufiigh  the  expenditure  incuircd 
under  each  particular,  of  timber,  cordage,  &c.,  would  b^  separately  kut^ 
before  Parlisiment. 

Mr,  Rose  observed,  that  there  was  nntlnng  new  in  the  supposed  im- 
provement promised  by  the  first  Lord  of  the  Admiralty;  for  the  acctiuuts  of 
the  nav?J  expenditure  had,  for  yenrs,  been  kept  under  the  distinct  heads 
mentioned  by  hnii,  thouj^h  it  Ijud  iK»t  been  usual  to  state  to  the  Houi-e  any 
more  than  tlie  fovms. 


NAVAL   HISTORY    OF   THE    riirSEN'T    YEAR,    1807.  173 

This  remark  led  to  a  conversation  of  coiisiderulile  length;  in  the  course 
of  which,  Mr.  Cireuvillc  and  Mr.  \'ausittart  declared,  that  they  had  found 
no  such  documents  in  the  Public  Othces,  as  those  alluded  to  by  Mr.  Rose. 
Tlie  latter  <;entlcninn,  after  a  few  minutes'  absence  from  his  seat,  returned 
with  a  paper,  from  svhicli  he  read  a  variety  of  items,  in  proof  of  his  state^ 
luent.  The  resolution  was  at  lengtti  put, and  agreed  to;  as  were  also  vari- 
ous resoluliuns,  under  the  followinij  heads  of  estnnates: — Wages,  240,500/, ; 
Victualling,  247,000,.;  Wear  and  Tcvr,  :39(),000/,;  Ordnance,  ^52,500/.; 
Ordinaries,  1,135,43-1/,  9s,  'Id.;  Buildmg,  and  extra  works,  2,134,903/.; 
Transports,  1,500,000/. ;  Sick  and  \Voundcd,  at  home  and  abroad,  300,000/.  ,- 
Prisoners  of  War,  500,000/. 

MONDAY,   JAX.    26, 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  of  Supply,  on  the  vote  for  10,080  addi* 
tional  seamen,  t<.c.  was  brought  up,  and  agreed  to. 

MONDAY,    lEB.    2. 

Mr.  Slieridan,  agreeably  to  notice,  moved  for,  and  obtained,  leave  lo 
bring  in  a  Bill,  for  the  fuitlicr  regulation  uf  the  Office  of  Treasurer  of  His 
Majesty's,  .Navy. — In  prciacmg  his  motion,  lie  observed,  that  there  could  be 
but  (me  seutiincnt  as  to  t!ie  propriety  of  the  measure.  There  had  been 
passed  an  .'.c;  for  tlie  regulation  of  the  Offices  of  Treasurer  and  Paymaster 
of  the  Aavy ;  but  the  opinions  of  the  Judges,  as  delivered  in  the  case  of  lx>rd 
Melville,  had  thrown  doubts  upon  that  Act,  It  was  provided  by  that  Act, 
that  on  no  account  should  the  Treasurer  of  the  Navy,  and  the  Paymaster, 
have  any  eiiioluments  from  the  public  money  in  their  hands,  yet  the  opinions 
of  the  Judges  had  rendered  the  o[)eration  of  that  provision  doubtful.  It 
was  necessary  to  remove  those  doubts  l)y  a  new  Act,  that  should  subject  the 
Bank  to  as  little  inconvenience  as  possible.  This  was  the  object  of  his  pro- 
posaL 

WEDNESDAY,    FEB.    4. 

Mr.  Percival,  agreeably  to  notice  given  a  fortnight  before,  respecting  the 
lieutral  tratle,  in(/>ed,  that  an  luimble  address  should  be  presented  to  His 
Majesty,  praying  that  His  Majesty  would  be  graciously  pleased  to  direct, 
that  there  should  be  laid  upon  the  table  a  copy  of  the  (_>rder  of  His  Majesty 
in  Council,  on  the  7th  of  Jaimary,  relative  to  vessels  sailing  from  port  to 
port,  such  ports  being  in  possession  of  the  enemy. 

Sir  John  iN'icholl,  the  Advocate  General,  in  following  Mr.  Percival,  took 
a  most  a>)le  and  cMensive  view  of  the  subject.  As  to  tiic  measure  pro- 
posed, by  that  hunouiable  and  learned  gentleman,  to  be  substituted  for  the 
order  of  council,  namely,  that  no  ships  with  colonial  produce  should  be  suf- 
fered to  enter  t!ic  ports  of  France;  such  a  measure  would  not  be  mcn-e  dis- 
tressing to  the  trade  of  France  than  to  that  of  neutrals,  or  to  our  own  trade, 
}t  would  be  injurious  to  our  trade,  because  the  neutrals,  by  carrying  the 
colonial  produce  of  the  enemy,  are  enabled  to  export  our  manufactures  in 
great  quantities.  The  House  of  Commons  would  not,  therefore,  in  the  exer- 
cise of  its  inquisitorial  powers,  interfere  with  this  act  of  the  executive,  until 
jt  should  see  what  etl'ect  would  be  produced  by  the  measure  that  had  al- 
ready been  resorted  to.  It  was  his  opniiun,  tfiat  the  cutting  off  of  the  coast- 
ing trade  would  be  higldy  distressing  to  tVatice.  But  if  France  should,  in 
the  madness  of  her  policy,  think  of  shutting  up  the  remaining  neutral  ports 
tipon  rhe  Continent,  she  would  soon  find  tiiat  they  are  now  as  necessary  to 
her  as  to  Croat  Britain.  It  was  therefore  his  opinion,  that  they  should  in 
the  fir.^t  instance  make  trial  of  the  measure  that  had  been  adopted,  as  they 
would  at  idl  tunes  have  it  in  their  power  to  resort  to  mcaiures  of  greater 


174  NATAL   mSTOKY    OF   THE   PilESENT    YEAR,    1807. 

extremity,  if  sach  should  be  found  ne.cessary.  If  tlie  enemy  should  persist 
in  their  deciT?e,  and  attempt  to  enforce  it,  thfiii  he  was  convinced  tliat  the 
country  had  builicient  means,  and  His  iMajesty's  Ministers  sufficient  vigour, 
to  resort  to  such  measures  as  should  be  deemed  necessary  for  a  complete 
retaliation. 

A  long  and  spirited  debate  ensncd;  in  which  the  motion  was  opposed,  as 
unprecedented,  unconstitutional,  and  injurious. — Lord  Ilowick,  in  parti- 
cular, observed,  that  it  was  direcU'd  against  a  nKasure  in  proj^ress;  and 
which,  if  deficient  in  its  oVrject,  might  be  succeeded  with  ulterior  means  ; 
but  that  at  present  it  was  su  connected  with  the  dearest  interests  of  us  and 
our  friends,  that  without  danger  to  both,  it  could  not  be  discussed. — The 
motion  was  at  length  withdrawn. 

On  the  motion  of  Air.  ituse,  it  was  ordered  that  there  be  laid  before  the 
House  an  account  of  the  tonnage  of  ships  that  arrived  from  China  each 
year,  from  1778  to  the  present  lime.  Also  an  account  of  the  manufactures 
exported  to  China  since  1773,  with  their  real  value.  Also  an  account 
of  the  quantity  and  value  of  tobacco,  tea,  and  various  other  articles 
exported. 

TUESDAY,    FEB.     10. 

The  Slave  Trade  Abolition  Bill  was  brought  down  from  the  Lords,  and 
read  a  first  time. 

WEDNESDAY,   I'EB.    1  1 . 

In  a  Committee  on  the  report  of  the  Sierra  Leone  Petition  Committee, 
leave  was  moved  for,  and  given,  to  bring  in  a  liill  for  transforring  to  His 
Majesty  certain  possessions  and  rights  vested  in  the  Sierra  Leone  Com- 
pany. 

TKunSDAY,  rr.B.  12. 

In  a  Committee  on  the  report  concerning  the  Naval  Asylum,  it  was 
agreed  to  move  for  leave  to  bring  in  a  Bill  for  empowering  His  Majesty  to 
grant  the  Royal  Palace  and  appurtenances  in  Greenwich  Park,  to  certain 
Trustees,  for  tl:-j  use  and  occupation  of  the  said  Asylum. 

MOKDAY,    FEB.    16. 

Sir  Charles  Price  presented  a  petition  from  the  Ship-owners  qf  the  port 
of  London,  which  stated,  that  they  apprehended  it  was  one  of  the  objects  of 
the  new  financial  arrangement,  to  continue  the  additional  duties  laid  on  the 
tonnage  of  shipping;  they  prayed,  therefore,  that  these  duties  miglit  cease 
at  the  end  of  the  war.     Ordered  to  be  laid  on  the  table. 

ERIDAY,   FEB.   20. 

Mr.  T.  Grenville  presented  a  copy  of  the  warrant,  by  which  the  Lords  of 
the  Admiralty  had  tiiought  proper  to  put  Sir  Home  Pupham,  a  Member  of 
thib  House,  under  arrest.' — The  Clerk  then  read  the  copy  of  the  warrant,  in 
substance  as  follows  : — 

"  Whereas,  Captain  Sir  Home  Pophain  left  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  witli- 
out  any  orders,  and  proceeded  to  attack  a  Spanish  settlement  on  Itio  de  la 
Plata;  now  this  is  to  command  you,  that  you  take  the  said  Sir  Home  Pop- 
ham  under  arrest,  preparatory  to  his  trial  by  Court  IMartial  for  liis  said 
offence.  But  you  are  not  to  put  him  to  any  greater  intonvenience  than  is  ab- 
solutely necessary;  and,  therefore,  having  made  the  arrest,  you  are  to  take 
his  word  of  honour  for  his  apj)earance,  when  the  Court  Martial  takes 
place,  and  you  are  to  attend  him  to  and  from  the  said  Court  Martial. 

"  To  Jo.hn  Cricket,  £sq.  Marshal 
of  t fit:  AdiuiratijJ' 


JfATAL   HISTOnV    or   THE   PRESE^fT    YEAK,    1807.  175 

On  the  motion  of  Lord  liowick,  this  documciit  was  ordered  to  be  entered 
on  tlie  Journals  of  the  House. 

Tiie  Slave  Trade  Abolition  Bill  was  read  a  second  time;  after  wJiich, 
(/enerul  Gascoi!j,iic  t^ave  notice,  that  it  was  liis  iiiteiitiou  to  move  for  com- 
pensation to  sucii  of  the  \Ncst  India  traders  and  planters,  as  miglit  suffer  in- 
jury fioui  tlic  passing  of  this  Bill  into  a  law. 


j[Pr&niotionj3  auB  appointmcnt0» 

His  Majesty  has  been  pleased  toy  direct  tliat  a  pension  of  .'500/.  per 
atinuin  be  settled  on  Sir  Samuel  Hood,  in  cuusideratjoii  of  tlte  loss  of  his 
arm. 

Captain  Alexander  IVaser,  to  the  Prince  ;  Captain  P.  Puget,  to  the 
Gibraltar;  Captain  T.  liowen,  to  the  Hindostan  ;  Captain  G.  Pi*^>t,  to 
tlie  Blossom;  JMr.  Payne,  firot  Lieutenant  of  the  Clyde,  is  promoted  to  a. 
(Jonnnander. 

.T.  W.  Nelson,  Esq.,  Clerk  of  the  Survey  at  liis  Majesty's  dock-yard  at 
Deptford,  is  appointed  Store-keeper  of  His  Majesty's  dock-yard  at  Potts- 
mouth,  in  the  room  of  VV.  Gilbert,  Fsq.,  who  is  superannuated.  J.Scott, 
Esq.,  Clerk  of  the  Rope-yard  at  Plymouth,  succeeds  Mr.  Nelson,  at  Dept,. 
ford;  and  Mr.  Scott's  son  is  appointed  Clerk,  of  the  Ilope-yard  at  Ply- 
moutii.  Mr.  Gilbert  has  been  a  zealous,  upright,  and  faithful  pubhc  ser- 
vant in  His  JMajesty's  service  47  years  ;  he  retires  with  a  pension  of  oOO/,. 
a  year. 

Lieutenant  Rose,  of  the  Royal  William,  is  appointed  to  command  tlie 
Crown,  prison  ship,  at  Portsmouth. 

Mr.  W.  H.  Banks,  (of  Rhytie,)  is  promoted  frotn  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the 
Ilibernia,  to  be  Surgeon  of  the  Hermes,  sloop  of  war. 

Captain  J.  West,  to  the  Excellent;  Captain  Lake,  (re- appointed)  to  the 
Gibraltar;  Captain  K.  M'Kenzie,  to  the  Valiant  ;  Captain  Raggett,  to  th^ 
Africaine;  Captain  Rose,  to  retain  the  command  of  the  Agamemnon; 
Captain  W.  Peake,  to  the  Etna;  Captain  SchomberiT,  to  the  Juno;  Cap- 
tain Mainwaring,  to  the  Tartarus  ;  Lieutenant  D,  Carpenter,  to  the 
Chearful  cutter. 

Earl  Nelson,  by  Lord  Grenville,  upon  his  receiving  the  grant  of  a  pen- 
sion and  estate,  and  receiving  His  Majesty's  permission  to  accept  the  title 
of  Duke  of  Bronte,  in  Sicily. 

Viscount  Trafalgar,  son  to  the  Earl,  by  Lord  Grenville,  upon  Ins  receiving 
His  Majesty's  permission  to  assume  the  title  of  Viscount  Trafalgar,  and  to 
accept  the  Order  of  St.  Joachim.  The  Noble  Viscount  wore  the  Riband, 
and  all  the  Insignia  of  the  Order,  as  worn  by  his  late  Uncle,  x4.dmiral  Lord 
Nelson. 

New  and  immense  powers  have  been  granted  by  ihe  Kinp;  of  Spain  to 
the  Prince  of  Peace.  He  is  appointed  to  the  office  of  High  Admiral  gf 
Spain  and  the  Indies,  and  Protector  of  Commerce,  with  the  title  of 
"  Serene  Highness." 

Captain  Brcnton  is  appointed  to  the  Spartan  ;  and  Captain  M'Leod  to 
the  Superb,  bearing  the  broad  pendant  of  Commodore  KcHts. 

The  Spartan  frig-.ite,  Captain  Brcnron,  takes  the  East  India  convoy  as  fir 
as  the  Cape  of  good  Hope,  in.stcad  of  the  .'\ntclope,  Captain  Eea.:icy,  which 
i*  to  sail  alone  with  Lord  Calcdon,  for  tiie  Cape. 

\ 


ITS  NAVAt   HISTOUY    OV   TIlC    PHE^ENT    YEAR,    1S07. 

BIRTHS. 

On  tlie  31st  of  Dccember,180(j,  the  ^vife  of  Captain  Foote,  R.  N.,  of  a 
daupjhter. 

On  the  16th  of  February,  1807,  at  Brompton,  London,  the  hidy  of  Cap- 
tain J.  JSrentou,  o(  the  Navy,  of  a  son. 

MARRIAGES. 

Lately  ^vas  raarried,  at  NcnfouncIlanH,  Lieutenant  Bibhop,  of  the  TMac- 
iarel  schooner,  to  Miss  Duggin,  daughter  of  Mr.  Dugi^in,  Surgeon,  of  St. 
John's. 

On  the  25th  of  January,  was  married,  at  Alverstoke.  Lieutenant  Elers, 
of  the  Royal  Navy,  to  Miss  Yuunghusband,  daughter  of  the  late  G.  Yount^- 
liusband,  Esq.  of  Berwick  upon  Tweed,  and  sister  to  the  late  Captain  Youn^-* 
husband,  of  the  llo^al  Navy. 

OBITUARY. 

On  the  16th  of  January,  died,  of  the  dropsy,  at  Lambeth,  London,  Cap- 
tain Jolin  Larniour,  of  the  Royal  Navy,  late  of  Mis  Majesty's  ship  Emerald. 
An  excfUent  otficei',  who  rose,  by  forluuate  merit  alone,  from  the  humblest 
bituatioiKin  a  ship. 

On  the  21st  of  January,  died,  J.  Swaffield,  Esq.  jun.  chief  Clerk  at  the 
Kavy  Pay  Otiice  at  PortMuouth  Jock-}urd. 

On  the  2d  of  February,  most  poignantly  regretted  by  her  parents  and  re- 
latives, Miss  Ann  Montai;u,  youngest  daugliter  of  Admiral  Montagu,  Com- 
uiiuider  in  Chief  at  Portsmouth. 

An  inquisition  was  held  at  Portsmouth,  on  the  body  of  John  Ilayman,  a 
seaman,  belonging  to  tiie  Daring  gun-brig,  wlio  fell,  two  days  previously, 
from  the  main-topsail-yard,  while  reefing  the  sail,  and  fractured  his  skull. 
ngainst  a  gun.    Verdict — Accidental  Death. 

On  Sunday,  the  7th  of  February,  at  her  house  in  Hinde-street,  Manches- 
ter square,  the  Right  Hon.  Raroncss  Dufferin  and  Claneboye,  of  the  county 
of  Down,  Ireland,  at  the  age  of  80  years,  leaving  issue  five  sons  and  four 
daughters,  all  married,  and  by  them  fifteen  grand  cliildren.  She  was  mother 
of  the  gallant  and  brave  Captain  Henry  Blackv/ood,  the  confidential  friend 
of  the  most  Illustrious  Lord  Nelson,  especially  in  tlie  glorious  battle  of 
Trafalgar.  She  was  alwr.ys  admired  amongst  her  numerous  friends,  for  the 
dignity  of  her  manner,  and  the  wir,  of  her  repartee;  and  she  was  also, 
durint'  a  tedious  illness,  the  admiration  of  all  for  piety  and  foriitudc,  which 
has  been  often  aimed  al  of  late  by  the  philosophers  of  the  age,  but  never 
surpassed  by  those  brave  men,  wlio,  by  their  destinations  in  life,  Iim'.  e  often 
met  death  in  the  field.  She  died  with  calmness  and  tranquillity.  She  is 
succeeded  in  her  fortune  and  title  by  litr  eldest  sun,  the  Hon.  Sir  James 
Blackwood,  now  Lord  Duflerin  and  Claneboye. 

On  the  14th  of  February,  a  very  sad  and  fatal  accident  happened  in 
Portsmouth  dock-yard  : — Mr.  Campbell,  foreman  of  Mr.  Huft'am's  contraci- 
xiggers,  was  struck  in  the  head  with  tlie  studdins-sail-booin-on  hoard  the 
Brunswick,  which  was  fixing  to  form  part  of  a  stage;  the  blow  was  so  vio- 
lent, that  it  instantly  killed  him.  This  accident  is  rendered  the  more  af- 
flicting by  its  being  the  first  day  of  his  employment  here,  and  he  has  leit  a 
wife  and  three  children. 


^^^^MttMi  €>f  the 


GEAIRT  BAIR- 


PubUihed.   32^Mt>vhie07.  Jy  J-  Gcl&  203.  StwcLaiialUet  Strett 


BXOCRAPinCAL  MEMOIR  OF  THE  LATE 

SIR  FRANCIS   GEARY,   Bart. 

ADMIRAL    OF    THE    WHITE    SQUADRON. 


"He    was BUT    WORDS    ARE    WAXTISO    TO    SAY    WHAT; 

Say  all  that's  odod  and  bkave,  and  ke   was   that." 

LOUD    LYTTLfTOV. 

*|rX  presenting  a  memoir  of  Aclmiml  Sir  Francis  Geary — a 
■^  distinguislied  officer  of  tlio  old  school — %ve  are  in  hopes  of 
gratifying  many  ol  the  friends  of  that  deceased  Commander. 

The  father  of  Sir  Francis  was  the  descendant  of  an  ancient 
family,  which  had  been  long  settled  near  Aberystwyth,  in  the 
county  of  Cardigan.  In  the  earlier  part  of  his  life,  he  resided 
at  Cheddington,  Bucks;  but  after\^a^d3  at  Areall  Magna,  near 
Wellington,  in  Shropshire.  Sir  Francis  was  born  in  the  year 
1709;  but  whether  at  Che^ington,  or  at  Areall  Magna,  we 
know  not. 

Wr.  Charnock  *  informs  us,  that,  having  made  choice  of  a 
naval  life,  Mr.  Geary  was,  in  1727,  by  an  Admiralty  order  f^ 
entered  as  a  Vohmteer   on  board  the  Revenge,  a  70  gun-ship, 
at  that  time  commanded  by  Captain  Conningsby  Norbury.     She  ^s- 

was  one  of  the  fleet  which,  under  the  orders  of  Sir  J  ohn  Nor-  -' 

ris,  was  sent  to  the  Baltic,  for  the  purpose  of  overawing  the 
Czarina,  and  preventing  a  rupture  between  the  courts  of  Den- 
mark and  Sweden.— On  his  arrival  off  Copenhagen,  Sn  .John  was 
joined  by  a  Danish  squadron  ;  but,  as  the  death  of  the  Czarina 
happened  soon  after,  hostilities  were  prevented,  the  Russian  tleet 
was  laid  up,  and  the  English  Conmiander  returned  home. 

Imnjediately  on  her  return,  the  Revenge  was  ordered  to 
Gibraltar,  as  a  reinforcement  to  Sir  Charles  Wagor,  who  had 
..>  ' - ■  '      -    ■ 

*  To  Mr.  Ciiarnock's  very  useful  piililication,  7'/ic  BiociK,\j'u:A  Navalis, 
we  are  indebted  tnr  the  principal  facts  in  thii  nieimtjr. 

t  This,  according  to  the  earlier  usuj^t;  of  lln:  ^ll»v^,  w&s  denominated  Uw 
Kin'i''s  Letter. 


i7S  KIOGRAI'lIU  AL     MLMOIK     Ot      iflE     I.ATi: 

been  sent  tluther  to  ri^livve  the  place  Iruiu  the  Snauiiird.-;  by 
Mhom  it  was  tlinn  bisii.  p'tl. 

Oi  thf  sncceediiii,  tiflfen  years  of  Mr.  v»far\V  life,  we  kwow 
nothiijg  tarlherj  ihaii  that  he  cfniuiujtd  to  sti\c  in  tlii^  Navv,  as 
a  Midsliipman,  a..d  altciward^  as  a  Jjeutt'uaiU.  On  iht  'jO'Ji  of 
June,  \7-^~,  iie  was  promoted  frcm  the  lutlei'  rank,  to  be  Cap- 
tain of  the  Squirrel,  of  CO  guns.  Soon  afleiward?,  he  wis 
ordered  out  on  a  cru:-e  otY  liie  island  of  ^ladeira  ;  where,  on 
the  lOlh  of  February,  1743,  ho  fell  in  with  the  Pierre  .Joseph, 
a  Frc'icli  ship  chartercil  by  th.e  Spani.sl)  merchants  at  Cadi/,  atid 
bound  thither  from  the  ports  of  \  era  Cruz  and  the  Havana. — 
"  The  eiieiny  had  used  consmiunate  art  in  endeavouring  to 
conceal  from  any  ship  that  mJ'j.ht  casually  meet  them,  the 
knowh  dge  of  the  [)ersons  to  whom  tiie  cargo  in  reality  belonged. 
The  papers  were  all  throv>n  overboard,  and  the  Supercarjio 
concealed  hm}?eif.  The  Ma'-.ter  was  a  Frera  Innau,  unlrue  to 
bis  trust,  and  dishonest  to  his  employers,  for  he  coiifesscd  the 
■whole  cargo  was  totally  Spanish  property.  It  consisted  of 
sixty-five  chf-ts  of  silver,  each  ccmtajn.'ug  ih.rec  th.ousand  nieces 
of  eight,  (}ve  hides  of  cochineal,  (irt\->^evcn  of  indigo,  ar.d  one 
c;i-e  nf  viniilla,  a  quantiiy  of  sugar,  and  'Inee  thousand  fi\e  hn;;- 
ditd  hfdes." 

PreMoiisly  to  this.  Captain  Gear,  hud  cnnUned  a  Sjjanish 
privateer,  \sliich  he  manned  am!  employed  as  an  armed  tender; 
and,  in  company  with  her,  he  had,  on  the  '2f)lii  of  the  prect dinu 
month,  taken  and  bmnt  a  Spanisf:  armed  ^liip. 

Before  he  sailed  upon  tins  cruise,  wliicii  proved  so  snrcess- 
fid,  he  entcicd  into  an  engagement  with  another  Captain,  to 
share  witli  him  whatever  pri.ns  they  migh.t  take,  during  a  given 
period.  I'lie  Fieri e  Joseph  was  not .  captured  till  after  the 
expiration  of  the  term  agreed  upon  ;  notwitlistanding  which, 
Ca[)iain  Geary,  m  the  most  honomable  manner,  presented  his 
frieu.l  with  a  fair  moiety  of  the  pnze  ;  eN})vessing  his  conviction, 
that  be  wonid  'ave  dcud  m  the  same  manner  towards  hini,  had 
he  been  eqaaliv  siiccesstul. 

Captain  Geary  apjHars  to  ha\e  b*  en  extremelv  fortunate  in 
his  captures.     "  Eaiiy  in  1744,"  '=>-'ys  J>lr.  Charnuck,  '*  he  com- 


«iH   FRVNCis  f;r.Ariv,    n.^RT.  179 

i-'nnrlfJt     *  oiii/iL  time,   the    Dolpliin;   but,  f)'.i  tlie  17'-h 

(  us   jjioinotcd  to  tlif   Ciu'Ster,  of  50  guns:  and 

b':'.:  •-,  •  Hit  to  cruise,  in  company  with  C;ij5l:!;!i  iJictt,  of  the 
Savidcriaad,  captureii,  on  the  'iOlli  of  rtbiuarv,  a  French  fiij^ale, 
ot  JO  guns,  and  l.^-i  intn,  bfsiilfs  niauy  pn>;s{ngcis  of  conse- 
quence, liaving  on  board  t\vent\-f<;ur  tisousand  dollars,  and  a 
vfry  vakiablo  cargo." — Fuitiier  on,  in  a  note,  Mr.  Ch;'rucck 
savs  : — "  In  a  meniorandnm  nuide  bv  himyelf.  Sir  Francis 
stah-^,  that  w'lile  he  command!  d  the  Chu--ter,  he  ciip'ared,  a!'t<T 
a  triiHn-j,-  skirmish,  as  he  terms  it,  but  in  which  he  hud  an  officer 
kiii(  <!;  and  sevcra!  men  killed  an(i  wounded,  a  I'rcnch  frigate, 
calh  d  th.e  Elephciut.  W  iiether  th.is  circumstance  took  phico  in 
Fnrope,  or  durm;;  the  time  he  s\  as  at  Louisburc:,  he  is  silent." 
The  fact  is,  that  bo(h  of  these  accounts  relate  to  one  an<l  the 
same  capture.  But  the  iJepliant,  commanded  by  M.  Seliot, 
was  taken  on  the  '2()lh  of  Fobrunrv,  174o,  and  not  1744-  By 
the  date,  this  ("vcnt  took  p'ace  b'i'orc  Captain  Geary  sailed  ivr 
jjouisbing. 

Iji  the  year  1744,  houcver,  this  oftircr  participated  in  the 
taking  f)f  ri^iit  French  \N  est  Indiamen.  It  does  not  appear  that 
that  exploit  was  ofTlrially  recorded  ;  but  the  following  account 
thereof  was  given  in  one  of  the  newspiipe.rs  of  the  day  : — - 

July  the  1st,  1744. — Vesterdiy  morning  an  CTprc-s  arrived  at 
(he  Adinindfy  Oilico,  with  an  account  that  Ilis  Maj;"-fv's  ships  tlis 
J{:iTr.pton  Court,  and  Chester,  with  the  Grampus  shjop,  have 
tak.  n  ei;.':ht  West  Indiamen,  from  flispaniola  and  Marthiiro, 
curr'.  iiig  1  .'iS  s""^?  ^i-''  •'' '  ■^  men.  Tln^  Chester  aifd  Grampus  arfe 
since  arrived  in  the  Downs  with  their  prizes. 

[n  the  month  of  February,  174.5,  C-sptnin  Geary  sr.t  as  one 
of  tlie  menibers  of  the.  Court  Martial,  v,};ich  was  holdcn  on 
board  the  Lenox,  in  PorL*mf)uth  harbour,  for  the  tiials  of  tlie 
Captains,   GrifHii,    Mi^styn,   lirctt,   and    Fowke*;    soon    after 

*  Thi  se  oiHcers  hjivin;^  heeii  much  ceiisuipci  liv  tiic  jn.hiic  tor  not  coji- 
tiiHiinjr  to  pursue  and  eiiia;:c'  two  Fronrh  ships  of  w;ir,  le  Neptune  !ind  le 
Fltufon,  of  74  izuns  eiicli,  \\l)i(h  flifyti-ll  in  -vlth  in  "ihe  ('liar:ripl,  ']■  mauried 
a  f'or.rt  Martial  to  in'^niirt  iiuo  their  ("Hiducf,  ai)4  \^cve  hoiionrahly 
acquitted.  Captniti  Brett,  ns  well  as  (^iptaiu  Cc;iiv,  afterwards  joined 
Cuintuodore  Waricn's  squadron  off  Louibburg. 


180  BIOCRAFinCAL    MEMOIR    OP    THE    t,ATE 

v.'luch  he  Avas  ordered  for  Louisbnrgj  to  reinforce  tlie  small 
squadron,  then  employed  in  the  reduction  of  that  place,  under 
the  late  Commodore  Sir  Peter  Warren*.  Shortly  after  the 
surrender  of  Louisburg,  in  June,  Captain  Geary  v. as  sent  home 
Avith  an  express ;  a  circumstance  by  which  he  was  prevented 
from  receiving  a  share  of  the  immense  property  that  was 
subsequently  captured.  He  is  said  to  have  thus  sustained  a 
*'  negative  loss"  of  nearly  12,000/. 

Soon  after  his  arrival  in  England,  Captain  Geary  Mas 
appointed,  through  the  special  interest  of  the  Duke  of  Bcdford_, 
at  that  time  first  Lord  of  the  Admiralty,  to  the  Culloden,  of  7-t 
guns.  In  this  ship  he  was,  in  1 747,  ordered  into  the  Bay  of 
Biscay,  with  the  squadron  under  the  command  of  Rear- Admiral 
Ilawke,  with  whom  he  remained,  on  constant  service,  until  the 
conclusion  of  the  war,  in  1748'f'.  While  thus  employed,  he 
had  the  misfortune  to  encounter  a  violent  storm,,  in  which  the 
Culloden  lost  one  of  her  masts. 

Captain  Geary  was  next  appointed  Commander  in  Chief  of 
the  ships  in  the  Medway,  with  the  rank  of  Commodore ;  an 
appointment  which  he  is  supposed  to  have  holden  but  a  short 
time  ;  as>  in  the  month  of  September,  1748,  he  quitted  the 
Culloden,  and  is  not  known  to  have  received  any  subsequent 
command,  until  the  beginning  of  the  year  \7o5. 

In  the  course  of  the  same  month  that  he  left  the  Culloden, 
Captain  Geary  niarricd  Miss  Bartholomew,  a  Kentish  lady,  of 
considerable  fortune;  througli  whom  his  son  and  successor,  the 
present  Sir  William  Geary,  inherits  the  family  seat  of  Oxeu' 
heath. — During  the  remainder  of  the  peace  he  lived  in  retire- 
ment. 

In  consequence  of  the  French  having  continued  to  foment 
disturbances  in  America,  it  was  found  expedient,  in  the  spring 
of  1755,  again  to  prepare  for  hostilities.     At  this  time,  Ca})tain 

*  yide  Naval  C'droniclk,  Vol.  XII,  pa;^e  263. 

+  Captain  Geary  does  not  appear  to  have  joined  .Admiral  Ilawke,  until 
after  his  action  with  the  French  squadron  of  M.  de  I'Etcndiere.  Viile 
Kaval  Chkdmcif,  Vol.  VII,  piic;c  454.  Indeed  we  have  some  doubt, 
whether  he  joined  him  at  all  be-fore  January  374B. 


SIR  FRANCIS  GEARY,  BART.  181 

Geary  was  appointed  to  the  Somerset,  of  70  guns  ;  and,  in  the 
month  of  April,  he  sailed  for  North  America,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Admiral  Boscawen  *.  The  result  of  this  expedition 
was,  that  thecomhincd  squadrons,  of  Boscawen  and  Holbournc, 
captured  two  of  de  la  Motte's  ships,  the  Alcide^  and  the  Lys, 
of  64  guns  each,  with  80,000/.  sterling,  and  a  number  of  French 
ofKcers  of  distinction  on  board.  Finding  that  nothing  farther 
was  likely  to  be  aeliieved,  x\dmiral  Boscawen  returned  to 
Fngiand  in  November. 

At  tlie  close  of  the  year.  Captain  Geary  was  ordered  to  join 
the  Channel  fleet,  then  under  the  command  of  Sir  Edward 
Hawkc.  In  the  winter  of  1756-7,  he  was  one  of  the  members 
of  the  Court  Martial,  assembled  on  board  the  Prince  George, 
in  Portsnjouth  harbour,  for  tlie  trial  of  Admiral  Byng,  the  result 
of  which  it  is  unnecessary  to  state. 

The  only  material  success  that  Giptain  Geary  met  Avith, 
whilst  employed  in  the  Channel  fleet,  appears  to  have  been  the 
following  : — 

At  dawn  of  clay  (in  April,  1757,)  the  Somerset  and  Rochester 
men  of  war  discovered  ftve  sail  about  two  leagues  distance;  they 
consisted  of  three  ship-,  one  snow,  and  a  schooner :  upon  which 
the  Somerset  and  Rochester  immediately  chased  the  two  largest, 
who  bore  away  to  the  northward,  and  the  other  three  hauled  to 
the  north-west,  iieforo  noon  tlie  Somerset  and  Rochester  took 
them;  one  named  the  llenonnnee,  burthen  three  hijndred  and  fifty- 
tons,  laden  chiefly  with  pork,  llour,  and  two  hundred  muskets  : 
the  other,  the  Superb,  burthen  seven  hundred  and  lil'ty  tons,  hiden 
with  some  provisions,  bale  goods,  and  several  cases  ot  small  arms, 
both  letter  of  marque  ships  from  Bourdeaux  to  QucbLC,  havinj;  on 
board  two  hundred  and  forty-two  othcers  and  soldiers  of  the  royal 
regiment  of  foreign  vohniteers,  wliich,  Avith  the  scavien  and 
passengers,  amounted  to  three  hundred  and  ninety-one  prisoners. 

About  the  month  of  Februtiry,  ]7o8.  Captain  Geary  was 
appointerl  to  the  I^enox,  a  new  third  rate,  of  74  guns ;  but 
quitted  her,  in  the  following  year,  for  the  Resolution,  a  ship  of 
the  same  force.     On  the  1 8th  of  May,  17 o9,  he  sailed  with  the 

*  Vide  Naval  Cuuo.vicle,  Vol.  VII,  page  200. 


182  BIOGRAPHICAL    MEMOIR    OF    THE    L  V7E 

fieet  commanded  by  Sir  Edward  Hawkc  ;  and^  in  tliree  days 
after,  was  ordered,  by  the  Commander  in  Chief,  to  iioist  a  red 
broad  pendant,  as  Commander  of  a  division  or  squadron,  con- 
sisting of  ten  ships  of  the  line,  two  frigates,  and  a  fire-ship.  It 
does  not  appear,  that,  in  this  new  comiTxand,  he  had  any  parti- 
cular opportunity  of  distinguishing  himself.  Whilst  at  sea,  in 
v})e  month  of  June,  he  received  his  commission*,  as  Rear- 
j^dmiral,  accompanied  by  instructions  to  put  himself  under  the 
command  of  Sir  Edward  Hawke,  with  the  following  squa- 
dron : — 

Ships,  Guns.  Com.mn)j^eys. 

r  Francis  Geary,  Ilear-Admiral 

Sandwichf.... 90  <       of  the  Blue. 

C  Captain  R.  Norbury. 

Fondroyant  ......    8J R.Tyrrell. 

Bienfaisant 64     ■ G.  Balfour. 

America 60     ■ •  J.  Kirk. 

Anson 60     M.  Whitwell. 

Firm .    60     J.  Revuokls. 

Juno 32     ■ •  J.  I'hillips. 

On  the  29th  of  August,  he  shifted  his  flag  from  the  Sand- 
wich, into  the  Royal  George,  the  former  having  been  ordered 
into  Plymouth  to  refit.  When  she  rejoined  the  fleet,  off 
IJshant,  on  the  '29th  of  September,  he  again  hoisted  his  flag  in 
the  Sandwich  ;  in  which  he  remained,  under  Sir  Edward 
Hawke,  watching  the  fleet  of  Confluns,  then  King  in  Brest 
harbour,  till  the  strong  westeiiv  winds  drove  the  British  ships 
from  their  station,  and  compelled  them  to  put  into  Torbay,  in 
the  beginning  of  November.  The  Sandwich,  having  sprung  her 
main-mast,  was  prevented  from  getting  in  till  after  the  rest  of 
the  fleet. 

Sir  Edward  Flawkc  put  to  sea  again,  on  the  14th  of  the 
month  (November)  in  quest  of  the  enemy i;  ordering  Rear- 
Admirai  Geary  to   land  his  sick,  amouiiting  to  eighty-seven,  at 


*  Dated,  either  on  the  V.)0.i  of  May,  or  l!ie  5lS  ofjaiie. 
t  The  Reiir-Arlmiral  first  hoisted  his  flai!;  on  Ijoanl  of  the  Resolution  oa 
the  1  Ith  of  June;  hut  removed  it  iuto  the  S'lndsvieli  on  the  7th  of  Jul^. 
I  I'iiJc  Naval  Ciuioniclk,  Vol.  VII,  page  -162. 


SIR    FRANTIS    r.r.ARV,    HAUT.  183 

Plymoutii,  and  to  pet  up  :i  iiiw  toji-niu-it ;  alter  wlifch  he  was 
to  proceed  to  tlie  place  of  rendezvous,  off  Ushaiit,  taking 
with  him  out  of  Uie  Sound  every  ship  that  was  ready  for  sea. 

Unfortunately,  the  delay,  thus  necessarily  occasioned,  prevented 
the  Rear-Adiuiral  from  rejoining  the  Commander  in  Chief, 
sufiiciently  early  to  participate  in  the  memorable  defeat  of  tho 
]Marijuis  de  Conflans  *.  Exerting  himself,  how  tver,  with  the 
greatest  possible  diligence,  "  he  sailed  from  Plymouth  on  the 
19th  of  November,  carrying  with  hau  the  Foudroyaiit  and 
Jiienfaisant;  but,  on  his  passage  to  the  appointed  rendezvous,  he 
received  a  letter  and  order  from  Sir  Edward  Hau  ke,  instructing 
him  to  continue  cruising  oti'  Brest,  with  all  the  ships  of  his 
squadron,  till  farther  orders.  On  the  '2'2d  of  November  the 
Actoon  joined  him  with  a  duplicate  of  the  order  last  mentioned, 
enclosed  to  him  by  Commodore  llauuay,  from  Plymoiilh. 
When  otf  Ushant,  he  unfortunately  encountered  a  most  tremen- 
dous gale,  whicli  drove  him  near  two  hundred  leagues  to  the 
westward:  he  then  made  sail  and  regained  his  station,  where  he 
continued,  though  w  ithout  being  fortunate  enough  to  met.'t  with 
any  success  till  towards  the  end  of  JDccember,  and  returned  inlu 
port  on  the  QJih,  having  been  seven  months  and  nine  days  ut 
sea,  with  the  trivial  interval  of  putting  into  Plymouth  Sound  for 
three  days,  by  order  of  Sir  Edward  Hawke,  to  put  his  sick  nicu 
on  shore,  to  procure  water  and  get  up  liis  top-mast." 

jAfter  this  long  cruise,  Rear-Admiral  Geary  contiriUfJ  in 
port  till  the  30th  of  April,  17(iO;  when  he  received  an  order 
from  Admiral  Boscawen,  to  proceed,  with  a  squadron]-  uudtr 
his  command,  to  cruise  off  Rochfort,  for  the  purpose  of  inter- 
cepting a  French  expedition,  then  fitting  for  the  Iva'^t  Indies,  iu 
that  harbour.  This  w  as  a  measure  of  precaution,  on  the  part  of 
Government ;  as,  had  the  French  squadron  got  to  sea,  and 
arrived  safely  in  India,  their  naval  force  in  that  quarter  would 
have  become  greatly  si  perior  to  that  of  ll;e  English.     Accord- 


*  ViJe  Xavai.  CniiONirt  p.,  Vol.  VU,  f)a;:e  40'?. 

f  The    Saiithvicli,    War^pitc,     Orford,    Torbuy,    Chichester,    Priucess 
Amelia,  uud  Unicorn  (Vl^aie. 


184  BIGGRAPincAL    MEMOIR    OF  TUT.    LATE 

injE^Iy,  tlie  Rear-Admiral  continued  cruising  off  Rochfort^  and 
occasionally  anchoring  in  Basque  Road,  in  sight  of  the  encmvj 
till  the  6th  of  September.  On  that  day,  it  having  been  ascer- 
tained that  the  Frerjch  had  abandoned  their  intended  expedition, 
and  had  actually  unrigged  their  ships,  he  received  orders  to 
join  Sir  Edward  Hawkc,  in  Quiberon  Bay.  This  junction  he 
effected  ''  on  the  7th_,  and  continued  on  that  station,  with  Sir 
Edward,  till  the  3d  of  October,  when  he  received  orders  from 
the  Commander  in  Chief  to  proceed  to  Spilhead,  where  he 
arrived  on  the  25th  of  the  same  month.  On  the  following  day 
he  struck  his  flag,  having  obtained  leave  of  absence  from  the 
Admiralty  Board,  but  soon  after\\ards  was  invested  with  the 
command  as  Port  Admiral  of  the  ships  and  vessels  at  Spilhead, 
being  successor  to  Vicc-Admiral  Holbourne  :  lie  accordingly 
hoisted  his  flag  on  board  the  Royal  Sovereign. — His  first  conse- 
quential charge,  after  entering  on  this  office,  was  the  equipment 
of  the  squadron  intended  for  the  expedition  against  Belleisle, 
and  the  embarkation  of  the  troops  destined  for  that  service. 
The  same  occupation,  thougli  not  on  so  extensive  a  scale,  not- 
withstanding the  object  itself  was  more  important,  was,  repeated 
in  1761.  This  was  the  superintendance  of  the  equipment  ot 
that  part  of  the  arnsamcnt  which  sailed  from  England,  under 
the  command  of  Sir  George  Pocock,  destined  for  the  attack  of 
the  Havana  and  the  island  of  Cuba.  The  great  diligence  and 
attention  to  the  service,  as  well  as  the  indefatigable  exertions 
disj)IaYed  by  Mr.  Geary,  in  forwarding  every  thing  that  related 
to  it,  were  so  conspicuous,  that  the  Earl  of  Albemarle,  the 
General  in  Chief,  made  a  very  particular  representation  of  his 
conduct  to  His  Majesty,  who  signified  his  highest  and  most 
gracious  approbation  of  his  beliaviour." 

On  the  2 1  st  of  October,  1 762,  he  was  promoted  to  tlie  rank 
of  Vice-Admiral  of  the  Blue  Squadron,  retaining  iiis  command 
at  Spilhead  until  the  signing  of  the  preliminary  articles  of  peace*. 
Soon  after  that  event,  he  received  orders  to  strike  his  Hag,  the 

*  The  preiiniinarics  weio  signed  at  Fontaiiiblcau,  in  November,  I7ti2, 
and  raiitied  at  Loiidczi  oa  luc  10th  of  Febiuarv,  176^. 


SJR    FRAXCIS    CEAllY,    71ART.  185 

paitiidular  service  on  which  he  had  been  employed  having  becu 
ilccomplished. 

I'hus,  during  the  wliole  of  the  war.  Admiral  Geary  had  been 
uninterruptedly  employed  in  the  Channel  service^  and  as  Com- 
mander in  Chief,  or  Port  Admiral,  at  Portsmouth  and  Spilhead ; 
excepting  only  for  ten  months,-  when  he  commanded  at  the 
Nore,  with  the  rank  o{  an  established  Commodore,  having  a 
Captain  under  him. 

By  the  saTite  packet  which  conveyed  to  Admiral  Geary  the 
■orders  for  striking  his  Hag,  at  Spithead,  he  had  the  satisfaction 
of  receiving  "  the  thanks  of  the  House  of  Commons,  both  to 
himself,  and  the  officers  under  his  command,  for  his  diligence 
and  conduct,  m.ore  particularly  on  those  occasions  which  had 
already  established  him  in  the  highest  reputation,  both  with  his 
Sovereign  and  his  countrymen." 

From  the  peace  of  17^^?  to  the  period  of  the  Spanish 
armament,  in  1 770^  to  v.hicli  we  have  so  often  had  occasion  to 
advert,  the  Vice-Admiral  enjoyed  another  interval  of  retirement. 
At  that  time  he  was  re-appointed  to  the  Portsmouth  command, 
and  made  Vice-Admiral  of  the  Red  *.  Assisted  in  this  case  of 
emergency,  which  required  the  utmost  dispatch,  by  Rear- 
Admiral  Buckle,  he  succeeded  in  effecting  the  intentions  of 
Government,  as  for  as  his  department  was  concerned  ;  after 
which,  when  the  armament  was  laid  aside,  he  f^  once  more 
passed,"  says  Mr.  Chaniock,  "  into  retii  ement  and  private  life ; 
a  station  to  which  no  man  could  do  more  honour,  either  as  a 
friend,  a  relative,  or  a  gentleman  ;  perfectly  independent  in  his 
principles,  strictly  honourable  in  all  transactions  with  which  he 
Was  connected,  and  exhibiting  on  everv  occasion  the  character 
of  a  man  possessing  every  moral  and  social  virtue." — It  is 
deservhig  of  notice,  that,  soon  after  Vice-Admiral  Geary  entered 
upon  the  conmiand  of  which  we  have  been  speaking,  he  had  an 
unpleasant  dispute  with  Rear-Adniiial  Elphinstonc,  of  the 
Russian  service,  respecthig  the  right  of  the  latter  to  fire  a 
morning  and  evening  gun,   at  relieving  and  setting  the  watch. 

*  October  18,  1770. 

/^atj.  ^5wn.  acol.XVIL  b  b 


LS&  BIOGUAPHIGAL   MEMOIR    OF    THE    iATE 

The  English  CoiiTmanckr  resisted  the  practice,  as  irreguliir ; 
particularly  as  the  Russian  ship  had  neither  flag  nor  pendant 
Hying.  Several  letters  passed  upon  the  subject,  in  which  thy 
conduct  of  Rear-Admiral  Elphinstone  \vas  censured  by  the 
Russian  Minister  ;  whilst  Vice-Admiral  Geary  was  much 
applauded  for  his  vigilance  in  attending  to  the  forms  of  His 
Majesty's  service. 

On  the  31st  of  March,  1775,  during  his  absence  from  active 
life,  this  officer  Mas  made  Admiral  oi"  the  Blue  Scjuadron  ;  and, 
on  the  29tli  of  January,  1779,  Admiral  of  the  White. — In  the 
month  of  May,  1780,  on  the  death  of  Admiral  Sir  Charles 
Hardy,  Admiral  Geary,  though  in  a  very  indifferent  state  of 
hicalth,  w'as  again  called  upon  to  return  to  the  service  of  his-, 
country.  Accordingly,  on  the  C4th  of  the  month,  having 
received  His  Majesty's  orders,  through  tlie  Earl  of  Sandwich, 
then  first  Lord  of  the  Admiralty,  he  assumed  the  chief  command 
of  the  Channel  fleet,  which  at  that  time  consisted  of  the 
following  ships : — 

Ships.  Guni.  Commanders. 

r  Francis  Geary,  Esq.,  Admiial  of  the 

^^^^^"^y 10*^1    1st  Captain,  Richard  Kempenfelt. 

t  2d  Captain,  S.  ^Y.  Clayton. 

i  George  Darby,  Esq.,  Vicc-Admiral 
Britannia -  -   tOo)^      of  the  White. 

C  Captain  James  Bradby. 

r  Sir  J.  L.  Ross,  Rear-Admiral  of 
Royal  George  ....  100/      the  Red. 

l_  Captain  John  Bourmastcr. 

5  Robert  Digby,  Esq.,  Rear- Admiral 
JL..W..V.  v^v^v,.^^ ^^  ^      of  the  Red. 

^  Captain  William  Fox. 

i  Hon.  Sam.  Barrington,  Vice. Admiral 
Barfleur.--.- =   98^      of  the  White. 

{.Captain  Bcn-jamin  Hill. 

Buke 98     .  Sij  Charles  Douglas. 

Formidable D8     J.Stanton. 

Queen - 98     Alex'ander  Innis. 

Namur, -»..»-.---  90    Herbert  Sawyer. 


sill    FUANCIS    GEARV,    BART.  il£7 

Ships,  Guns.  Commanders. 

Ocean 90  Captain  George  Ourry. 

L-niou 90  John  Dalrymple. 

Princess  Amelia 80  — J.  IM'Cartney. 

Foudroyant 80  .  John  Jervis. 

Cibraltar 80  J.C.Allen. 

Alexander 74  — Lord  Longford. 

Alfred 74  William  Bayne. 

Eellona 74  Richard  Onslow.  j 

Canada 74  Sir  George  Collier. 

Couragcux 74  ■ Lord  Mulgrave. 

Defence 74  ■ •  James  Cranston. 

Dublin    74  Samuel  Wallis. 

Edgar 74  ■ John  Elliot. 

Invincible  — 74  Charles  Saxton. 

Marlborough 74  .  Taylor  Penny. 

Monarch 74  — ■  Adani  Duncan. 

V'aliant 74  Samue!  C.  GoodalT. 

inllexible 64 

Nonsuch 04  • Sir  J.  Wallace. 

Buffalo CO Row.  Cotton, 

rraoATES,  &c. 

La  Prudente  ._, 36  Captain  Hon.  W.  Waldegrave. 

Ambuscade ..  .    32  Hon.  IL  Sey.  Conway, 

Proserpine „..   '28  .  George  A.  Byron. 

Licorne 31  Hon.  T.  Cadogan. 

Diana 32 Sir  William  Burnaby. 

Emerald 32  ■  Samuel  ]\iarshall. 

Pluto,  fire-ship U  > T.  Geary. 

Incendiary,  ditto  ..    14  ■ G.  A.  JNlerrick. 

Prior  to  his  first  putting  to  sea,  with  the  above  fleet.  Admiral 
Geary  received  the  Ibllowing  letter  from  that ''  greirt  and  ever- 
to-be-revered  character/'  Lord  Ilawke ;  \Ahicli,  with  another 
that  will  presently  appear,  *"'  will  be  considered,"  observes  !Mr. 
Ciiarnock,  ^'^  extremely  interesting,  as  displaying  the  private 
thoughts  of  so  brave  and  great  a  Commander,  even  at  the  latest 
period  of  his  life  ;  and  showing  that,  however  age  and  disease 
might  have  enervated  his  body,  they  had  nothing  impaired  the 
vigoxir  of  his  mind."    Iiufependenlly  of  this,  the  letters  are  such 


188  ElOGUAPinC.VL    MEMOin    OF    Tllf    tATE 

hpnourable  testimpnials  of  the  high  professional  character  m^ 
conduct  of  Admiral  Geary,  that  it  would  be  injustice  to  with- 
hold them.  The  one  here  immediately  alluded  to  is  as 
follows  : — ■ 

MY    DEAll    SIR, 

THIS  is  principally  to  tliank  you  for  the  farouar  of  your  letter 
of  the  3d  instant,  and  for  all  the  kind  acts  you  have  been  so  kind 
as  to  do  for  my  Parson,  which  -was  doing  every  thing  in  your 
'  pov^'er.  I  have  this  day  dispatched  him  away  for  town,  in  order 
to  take  up  his  warrant,  so  that  he  Avill  be  ready  at  a  moment's 
•warning  to  obey  the  commands  of  his  Captain. 

I  find  by  the  papers  that  you  are  getting  reai3y  for  sea  wiih,  all 
the  dispatch  tliat  is  possible,  and  that  yon  will  sail  the  iustant  tlia^ 
is  in  your  power  ;  and  though  I  could  wish  this  could  get  to  your 
hands  first,  yet  the  times  are  so  very  pressing,  from  many  unfortu- 
nate events,  that  I  think  the  sooner  you  can  get  to  my  old  station 
<)ff  Brest,  the  better  it  will  be  for  my  country'.  When  you  are 
there,  watch  (hose  felloAvs  as  close  as  a  cat  watches  a  mouse;  and 
|f  once  you  can  have  the  good  fortune  to  get  up  to  them,  make 
jnuch  of  them,  and  don't  part  with  them  easily. 

Forgive  my  being  so  free  :  1  love  you.  We  have  served  long 
together,  and  I  have  your  interest  and  happiness  sincerely  at 
heart.  My  dear  friend,  may  God  Almighty  bless  jon  !  and  may 
that  all-powerful  hand  guide  and  protect  you  in  the  day  of  battle  I 
And  that  you  may  return  with  honour  aud  glory  to  your  country 
and  family,  is  the  sincere  and  faitliiul  wish  of  him  who  is  mo^t 
truly, 

]My  dear  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  and  humble  Servjint, 

HAWKE. 

P.  S.  Pray  remember  me  to  ray  friend  Barrlngton,  aud  hope  fcc 
approves  of  young  Baron. 

F,  Geary,  Esq.,  Admiral  and  Commander 
in.  Chief  nt  Spltkeud. 

When  Admiral  Geary  put  to  sea^  he  immediately  proceeded 
off  Brest ;  his  instructions  being,  to  prevent,  if  possible,  aii 
intended  junclion  between  the  Spanish  squadrons  tlien  in  Cadiz^ 
Ferrol,  and  Curthagena,  and  those  of  France  in  Brest,  Rochfort^ 
and  rOrient.    Nothing  material  occurred,  however,  "  till  t^je  3<^ 


SIB    FUANCIi    GF.AnV,    BAP.T.  18Sf 

pf  July,  when  the  Monarch,  being  a-head  of  the  tleet  on  tJie 
look-out,  made  a  signal  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  for  disr 
covering  a  fleet  consisting  of  twenty  sail :  these  were  immediately 
concluded  to  be  the  enemy  of  whom  they  were  in  search,  and 
the  utmost  alacrity  was  used  in  endeavouring  to  get  up  with 
them.  The  chase  continued  the  whole  day,  and  at  live  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  the  headmost  ships  came  up  with  the  sternmost 
of  the  fugitives,  which  were  now  discovered  to  be  nothing  more 
than  a  pouvoy  from  Port-:au-Prince,  under  the  protection  of  a 
single  ship  of  tifty  guns.  The  chase  was  continued  by  the  pur- 
suers, who  did  i]Ot  bring  to  for  tl-s  purpose  of  securing  the  ships 
they  passed,  leaving  thaj;  duty  to  some  others  of  the  fleet  who 
were  still  astern.  Unfortunately  a  very  thick  fog  ciunc  on  about 
^ven  o'clock,  and  proved  the  preservation  of  nearly  half  the 
(enemy's  cor.yoy."  The  following  twelve,  however,  were  cap- 
tured ;  and,  had  it  not  been  for  the  fog,  the  whole  of  ihem  iuu>t 
have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  British  fleet : — 

The  Voyageur,  valued  at £  15,000 

Compte  d'Argout _  14,500 

L'Hazard 10,500 

Conipte  d'Kstaing 9,00Q 

Cosmopolite  . . ,  5,700 

Courier _.  5,50(). 

L'Aurore 5,50Q 

Solitaire '.'. 5,000 

Marie  Thcrese 5,000 

St.  Bartholomew C,90Q 

J^leonore ._. 4,700 

Jeunc  Francois 2,800 

The  aViove,  witli  the  Compte  de  Ilalwicd,  valued  at  70,000/.^, 
«nd  la  Marguerite,  valued  at  18,000/.,  also  captured  in  the 
Channel,  were  reckoned  at  a  total  of  126,000/. 

It  was  during  the  chase  of  thii^  French  convoy,  th^t  the 
following  ludicrous  incident  took  place.  The  unfortunate 
Kempenfelt,  celebrated  for  his  skill  in  manceuvering  a  large 
fleet,  previously  to  the  commencement  of  an  action,  and  also 
||uring    its    continuance^,    was    Admiral    C^eary's     first    Cap- 


ISO  BIOGrllAPlliCAL   ^ItMOIR    OF   THE   LATE 

-jtaivi*.  Kempeafelt  had  contracted  a  habit  of  using  more  signals 
■than  men  less  practised  in  that  particular  branch  of  service  tliought 
necessary.  '^  As  soon  as  the  enemy  Mere  discovered,"  says 
.Charnock,  "  and  the  signal  made  for  a  general  chase,  Kenipenr 
felt,  burning  with  as  much  impatience  as  his  Commander  in 
Chief  to  get  up  with  the  enemy,  though  differing  in  a  trivial 
.degree  in  his  idea  as  to  the  best  mode  of  effecting  it,  brought  up 
the  signal  book,  v.hich  he  opened  and  laid  on  tlie  binnacle  with 
the  greatest  form  and  precision  ;  Admiral  Geary,  eagerly  sup^ 
posing  the  chase  to  be  the  Brest  tleet,  went  up  to  him  with  the 
greatest  good  humour,  and  r-iueezing  him  by  the  hand  in  a 
manner  better  to  be  conceived  than  expressed,  said  quaintly, 
*  Now  my  dear,  dear  friend,  do  pray  let  the  signals  alone  to-day, 
and  to-morrow  you  shall  order  as  many  as  ever  you  please.'" 

Having  continued  at  sea  for  upwards  of  two  months,  and 
having  2,500  sick  men  on  Ijoard  the  llect.  Admiral  Geary  thought 
it  advisable  to  return  to  port,  and  accordingly  put  into  Spithead 
on  the  16th  of  August.  Shortly  after  his  arrival  theie,  he 
received  the  following  letter,  to  which  we  have  already  alluded^ 
from  Lord  Hawkc  :r— 

MY    DEAR   SIR,  Sunhmj,  August  26,  1780. 

I  AM  greatly  obliged  to  you  for  tlie  favour  of  your  letter  of  the 
^Oth,  on  your  arrival  at  Spithead  ;  indeed  it  was  more  than  I 
expected,  well  knowing  the  hurry  and  bustle  you  must  be  in  on 
your  first  coming  into  port.  I  do  not  Avonder  at  the  men  being 
sickly  upon  so  long  a  cruise;  six  weeks  is  long  enough  in  all 
conscience  ;  any  time  after  that  must  be  very  hurtful  to  the  meiij 
and  will  occasion  their  falling  ('own  very  fast.  I  hope  in  God 
they  will  soon  recover,  that  yon  may  be  enabled  to  proceed  to  sea 
immediately,  for  by  all  accounts  the  enemy  is  out,  so  that  nothing 
can  well  stir  from  hoaie  with  safety.  I  wish  the  Admiralty  would 
see  what  was  done  ia  former  times,  it  Mould  be  the  means  o*^ 
making  them  act  with  more  propriety,  both  for  the  good  of  officers 
and  men.  I  take  it  for  granted  that  the  grca,t  ones  will  let  you 
have  no  rest  till  they  iget  you  out  to  sea  again. 

*  Lord  Hawkc,  who  was  u'.i  excellent  judge  ot'  naulicai  abilities,  acids,  iis 
a  postscript  to  one  of  Wis  letters  to  Admiral  Geary,  "  I  am  glad  j-ou  liavo 
got  so  excellent  an  officer  with  you  as  I  an^  convinced  KcinpcnfcU  is  :  ,\v^ 
will  be  of  great  service  to  you." 


SIP.    rilANCIS    GEARY,    BART.  ififl 

AUhoiialh  I  am  iu  a  good  deal  of  pain,  and  much  in  the  invalid 
f)ider,  yet  I  cannot  refuse  myself  the  pleasure  of  Misliing  3  ou  all 
imaginable  good  fortune  when  you  go  out  again  :  and  I  trust  in 
God  your  next  cruise  will  prove  a  happy  and  a  glorious  one,  botli 
for  your  country  and  yourself.  JNIy  good  friend,  I  ha>e  ahvays 
•wished  you  well,  and  have  ever  talked  freely  and  openly  to  you  on 
every  subject  relative  to  the  service.  liecoUect  some  of  these 
jjassages  ;  and,  for  God's  sake,  if  you  should  be  so  lucky  as  to 
g.et  sight  of  the  enemy,  get  as  close  to  them  as  possible.  Do  not 
let  thorn  shuffle  with  you  by  engaging  at  a  distance,  but  get  Avithia 
rausket-shot  if  you  can  ;  that  will  be  the  way  to  gain  great  honour, 
and  will  be  the  means  to  make  the  action  decisive.  By  doing  this, 
yon  will  put  it  out  of  the  power  of  any  of  the  crawlers  to  lind 
fault.  I  am  fully  persuaded  you  will  faithfully  do  your  part, 
therefore  hope  you  will  forgive  my  saying  so  much  on  the  subject. 
I  find  the  Russians  are  gone  from  tlie  Douns,  so  that  you  will  have 
110  trouble  about  them.  jMy  good  friend,  God  bless  you !  may 
the  hand  of  Providence  go  with  you  and  protect  you  in  the  day  of 
b.ittle,  and  grant  yon  victory  over  oar  perfidious  enemies!  and  may 
)'ou  return  w  ith  honour  to  your  country  and  family  again  !  These 
arc  the  'incere  and  hearty  wishes  of  him  who  is  most  truly  and 
fnithfully,  My  dear  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  and  most  iiumble  Servant, 

SirRGcanj.  HAWKE, 

Admiral  Geary  had  not  the  happiness  of  reahzhig  the  wishes 
of  his  friend  ;  as,  shortly  after  his  arrival  at  Spithead,  he  was 
taken  ill  ;  and,  obtaining  leave  of  absence,  he  went  on  shore,  to 
his  house  at  Polesdcn,  in  Surifn-,  under  the  hope,  by  that  means, 
of  facilitating  his  recovery.  His  returning  health,  however,  did 
not  keep  pace  with  his  wishes ;  and,  conceiving  such  a  trust  too 
important  to  be  holden  by  any  person  whose  imbecility  of 
body  might  impair  the  energies  of  his  mind,  he  solicited  and 
obtained  leave  to  resign  his  command.  "  This  gentleman," 
says  jSIr.  Charnock,  ''  continued  to  live  ever  afterwards  in" 
retirement,  spending  the  remainder  of  his  life  with  a  character 
rendered  truly  exalted  by  a  long  and  most  meritorious  service  : 
the  grateful  remembrance  of  which  procured  him  the  honourable 
advancement  to  the  rank  of  a  Baronet  of  Great  Britain,  on  the 
3d  of  August,  1782.  Having  obtained  the  advanc-ed  age  of 
eighty-six  years,  he  died  ou  the  7th  day  of  February,  179^.. 


192  BibcnAPuicAL  memoik.  of  the  lati; 

most  highly  revered  as  a  Naval  Commander,  and  not  less  sifl- 
cerely  lamented  as  a  friend^  a  gentleman,  and  a  Briton.  In  thisj 
tiierefore,  among  many  other  instances,  we  have  the  satisfactioa 
of  sayingj  without  the  imputation  of  flattery,  that  honour,; 
benevolence,  public  spirit,  and  general  worth,  formed  the  leading 
traits  of  his  character,  and  that  mankind  have  not  been  so 
ungrateful  as  to  forget  them.'* 

As  a  proof  of  the  high  estiiiiation  in  which  Admiral  Geary^ 
character  was  holden  amongst  the  seamen,  Mr.  Charnock  sub- 
joins the  following  anecdote  : — "  At  the  late  contested  election 
for  the  county  of  K.,  a  sailor  was  carried'  down  to  vote  by  a 
gentleman  in  the  interest  of  Mr.  II. ;  but  on  his  arrival  at  the 
booth,  after  inquiring  who  the  otlu-r  candidates  were,  of  whom 
Sir  Francis  Gearj's  son  was  one,  immediately  declared,  with  a 
tremendous  oath,  that  it  should  never  be  said  he  voted  against 
liis  worthy  old  Admiral's  son  ;  for  him  alone  he  would  j)oll ; 
and  in  that  instance,  at  least,  kept  his  word." 

• 

UKKALDIC     I'ArvTICUr.ABS. 

Francis  Geary,  of  Cheddington,  Bucks,  afterwards  of  Areall 
Magna,  near  WeUuigton,  in  Shropshire,  niai^ried,  in  1663,  Judith, 
daughter  and  heiress  of  Robert  Barber ;  by  whom  he  had  issue, 
Corletta,  Susanna,  Robert,  John,  and  Francis,  the  subject  of  the 
preceding  memoir.  lie  married  Mary,  only  child  of  Philip  Bar- 
tholomew, by  Mary,  Jiis  second  Avife,  daughter  of  Leonard  Tho- 
mas. By  this  lady,  who  died  on  the  28th  of  August,  1778,  he 
had  two  sons  and  tiiree  daughters  :  Francis,  a  Cornet  in  General 
Burgoyne's  Light  Dragoons,  killed  in  an  action  in  America; 
AVilliam,  the  present  Baronet,  who  was  one  of  the  Members,  iu 
the  two  last  Parliaments,  for  the  county  of  Kent ;  i\Iary,  born 
1749,  married,  March  30,  1779,  Thomas  Leigh,  Esq. ;  Judith^ 
born  1750,  unmarried  ;  and  Elizabeth,  born  1734,  married,  April 
Ihe  8th,  1782,  to  Sir  John  Twisden,  Bart. 

Arms. — Quarterly  :  1st  and  4th,  gules  ;  two  bars,  or;  on  the 
bars  three  mascles,  azure  ;  two  and  one,  on  a  canton,  argent;  an 
anchor,  sable;  2d  and  3d,  argent,  a cheveron  voided  between  three 
fleurs  de  lis,  all  within  a  bordure,  gules. 

Crest. — Out  of  a  naval  Crown,  a  sinister  hand  and  arm  in  naval 
uniform,  s-upporting  a  flag,  argent;  on  the  Hag  a  crossj  gules. 

Motto. — Chase, 


1S3 


NAVAL  ANECDOTES, 
COMMERCIAL  HINTS,  RECOLLECTIONS,  &c, 

NAN'TKS    IM    GURCIIK    VASTO. 

AUTHENTIC    NARRATIVE    OF    THE    *DEATH    OF 
LORD    NELSON. 

fExtrncted  from  Df.  Bcatty's  Work,  entitled,  "Authentic  Narrative  of  the 
Death  of  Lord  Nelson  :  v/ith  the  Circumstances  preceding,  attending,  and 
Subsequent  to,  that  Event  ;  the  professional  Report  of  hi>  Lordsfiip's 
Wound ;  and  several  interesting  Anecdotes.  With  an  admirable  Portrait 
of  Ijis  Lordship;  and  a  Plate,  representing  the  Wound,  and  CourJc  of  the 
Ball."] 

IT  was  from  the  Redoubtable  that  Lord  Nelson  received  his 
mortal  wound.  About  j&fteen  minutes  past  one  o'clock? 
■which  was  in  the  heat  of  the  engagement,  he  was  walking  the 
quarter-deck  with  Captain  Hardy,  and  in  the  act  of  turning  near 
the  hatchway,  with  his  face  towards  the  stern  of  the  Victory, 
when  the  fata!  ball  was  fired  from  the  enemy's  mizen-top  ;  -which, 
from  the  situation  of  the  two  ships  (lying  on  board  of  each  other), 
was  brought  just  abaft,  and  rather  below,  the  Victory's  main-yard, 
and  of  course  not  more  than  fifteen  yards  distant  from  that  part  of 
the  deck  where  his  Lordship  stood.  The  ball  struck  the  epaulette 
on  his  left  shoulder,  and  penetrated  his  chest.  lie  fell  with  his 
Face  on  the  deck.  Captain  Hardy,  who  was  on  his  right,  on 
turning  round,  saw  the  Serjeant-Major  (Seeker)  of  Marines,  with 
two  seamen,  raising  him  from  the  deck,  where  he  had  fallen,  on 
the  same  spot  on  which,  a  little  before,  his  Secretary  had  breathed 
his  last,  with  whose  blood  his  Lordship's  clothes  were  much  soiled. 
Captain  Hardy  expressed  a  hope  that  he  was  not  severely  wounded ; 
to  which  the  gallant  Chief  replied;  "  They  have  <doae  for  me  at 
last,  Hardy." — "  I  hope  not,"  answered  Captain  Hardy.  "  Yes,'* 
teplied  his  Lordship,   "  ray  back-bone  is  shot  through." 

Captain  Hardy  ordered  the  seamen  to  carry  the  Admiral  to  the 
cock-pit.  While  the  men  were  carrying  him  down  the  ladder 
from  the  middle-deck,  his  Lordship  observed,  that  the  tilier-ropes 
were  not  yet  replaced,  and  desired  one  of  the  Midshipmen 
stationed  there  to  go  upon  the  quarter-deck  and  remind  Captain 
Hardy  of  that  circumstance,  and  request  that  new  ones  should  be 
immediately  rove.  Having  delivered  this  order,  he  took  his  hand- 
kerchief from  his  pocket,  and  covered  his  face  with  it^  that  he 

i^&^»  erj^ron.  ©oI.XVII.  c  c 


194  VAVAr.    ANECDOTESj 

might  be  conveyed  to  the  cock-pit  at  this  crisis  unnoticed  by  UiS 
crew. 

Several  wounded  officers,  and  about  forty  men,  were  likewise 
•arried  to  the  Si!r2;eon  for  assistaiicc  just  at  this  (iine,  and  some 
others  had  breatlied  tlieir  last  during  their  conveyance  bclovv. 
Among  the  latter  were  Lieutci^ant  Wra.  Andrew  Ram,  and  Mr. 
Whipple,  Captain's  Clerk,  The  Surgeon  had  just  examined  these 
two  officers,  and  found  that  they  were  dead,  when  his  attention 
was  arrested  by  several  of  the  wounded  calling  to  him,  "  Mr. 
Beatty,  Lord  Nelson  is  here  :  Mr.  Beatty,  the  Admiral  is 
wounded."  The  Surgeon  now,  on  looking  ronnd,  saw  the 
handkerchief  fall  from  his  Lordship's  face,  when  the  stars  on  his 
coat,  which  had  also  been  covered  by  it,  appeared.  Mr.  Burke, 
the  Purser,  and  the  Swrgeon,  ran  immediately  to  the  assistance  of 
Iiis  Lordship,  and  took  him  from  the  arms  of  the  seamen  who  had 
carried  him  below.  In  conveying  him  to  one  of  the  IMidsIupmin's 
berths,  they  stumbled,  but  recovend  themselves  without  falling. 
Lord  Nelson  then  inquired  who  were  supporting  hira ;  and  when 
the  Surgeon  informed  him,  his  Lordship  replied,  "  Ah,  Mr. 
Beatty  !  you  can  do  nothing  for  me.  I  have  but  a  short  time  to 
live:  my  back  is  shot  through."  The  Surgeon  said,  "  he  ho^icd 
the  wound  was  not  so  dangerous  as  his  Lordship  imagined,  and 
that  he  might  still  survive  long  to  enjoy  his  glorious  victory.'' 
The  Rev.  Dr.  Scott,  who  had  been  abseiit  in  another  part  of  the 
cock-pit,  administering  Iciuonade  to  the  wounded,  now  came 
instantly  to  his  Lordship  ;  and  in  the  anguish  of  grief,  wrung  his 
hands,  and  said:  "Alas!  Beatty,  how  prophetic  you  wore!" 
alluding  to  the  apprehensions  expressed  by  the  Surgeon  for  his 
]jOrdship's  safety  previous  to  the  battle. 

His  Lordship  was  laid  upon  a  bed,  stripped  of  his  clothes,  and 
covered  with  a  sheet.  While  this  was  ejecting,  he  said  to  Dr. 
Scott,  "  DoGtor,  I  told  yon  so.  Doctor,  1  am  gone;"  and, 
after  a  short  pauso,  he  added  in  a  low  voice,  "  I  have  to  leave 
Lady  Ilamilto'!,  and  my  adopted  daughter  Iloratia,  as  a  legacy  to 
my  country."  The  Surgeon  thpn  examined  the  wound,  assuring 
hi»  Lordship  that  he  'Aoidd  not  ))ut  him  to  much  pain  in  endea- 
vouring to  discover  the  course  of  the  ball ;  which  he  soon  found 
liad  penetrated  deep  into  the  chest,  and  had  probably  lodged  in  tha 
spine.  This  being  explained  to  his  Lordship,  he  replied,  "  he 
was  confident  his  back  was  shot  through."  'J'hs  back  was  then 
examined  externally,  but  without  any  injury  being  perceived  ;  on 
"rthich  his  Lordship  was  requested  by  the  Surgeon  to  make  him 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    RKCOLLtCTIOXS,    Sc.  195 

ac/iuaiii(c(l  w  ith  all  his  sensations.  He  replied,  that  "  lie  felt  a 
gush  of  blood  every  minute  within  his  breast :  that  he  had  no 
fueling  in  the  lower  part  of  his  body  ;  and  that  his  breathing  was 
(iifhcult,  and  attondfd  with  very  severe  pain  about  tiuit  part  of  the 
spine  where  he  was  conlident  lliat  tlie  ball  had  struck;  for,"  said 
he,  <'  I  felt  it  break  my  back."  These  symptoms,  but  more  par- 
ticularly the  gush  of  blood  which  his  Lordship  complained  ot, 
together  with  tine  state  of  his  pulse,  indicated  to  the  Surgeon  tho 
hopeless  situation  of  the  case  ;  but,  till  after  the  victory  was 
ascertained  and  announced  to  his  Lordship,  the  true  nature  of  ius 
wound  was  concealed  by  the  Surgeon  from  all  on  board,  except 
Captain  Hardy,  Dr.  Scott,  Mr.  Burke,  and  iNlessrs.  Smith  and 
Westemburg,  the  Assistant  Surgeons. 

The  Victory's  crew  cheered  whenever  they  observed  an  enemy's 
ship  surrender.  On  one  of  these  occasions.  Lord  Nelson  anxiously 
inquired  what  was  the  cause  of  it ;  Avhen  Lieutenant  Pasco,  who 
lay  wounded  at  some  distance  from  his  Lordship,  raised  himself 
up,  and  told  him  that  another  ship  had  struck,  which  appeared  to 
give  him  much  satisfaction.  He  now  felt  an  ardent  thirst ;  and 
frequently  called  for  drink,  and  to  be  fanned  with  paper,  making 
use  of  these  words :  "  Fan,  fan,"  and  "  drink,  drink."  This  he 
continued  to  repeat,  when  he  Avished  for  drink,  or  the  refreshment 
of  cool  air,  till  a  very  {cw  minutes  before  he  expired.  Lemonade, 
and  wine  and  water,  Avere  given  to  him  occaMonally.  lie  evinced 
great  solicitude  for  the  event  of  the  battle,  and  fears  for  the  safety 
of  his  friend  Captain  Hardy.  Dr.  Scott,  and  ^Mr.  Burke,  used 
every  argument  they  could  suggest,  to  relieve  his  anxiety.  JMr. 
Burke  told  him,  "  the  enemy  were  decisively  defeated,  and  that 
he  hoped  his  Lord>hip  would  still  live  to  be  himself  the  bearer  of 
the  joyful  tidings  to  his  country."  He  rej)Iied,  •'  It  is  nonsense, 
Mr.  Burke,  to  suppose  1  can  live:  my  sulferings  are  gr-at,  but 
they  will  all  be  soon  over."  Dr.  Scott  entreated  his  Lordship 
**•  not  to  despair  of  living;"  and  said,  "  he  trusted  that  Divine 
Provideece  would  restore  him  once  more  to  his  dear  country  and 
friciuls." — "  Ah,  Doctor  I"  replied  his  Lordship,  "  it  is  all  over  j 
it  is  all  over." 

Many  messages  were  sent  to  Captain  Hardy,  by  the  Surgeon, 
requesting  his  attendance  on  his  Lordship,  who  became  impatient 
to  sec  him,  and  often  exclaimed  :  "  Will  no  one  bring  Hardy  to 
me?  He  must  be  killed  :  he  is  surely  destroyed."  The  Captain's 
Aid-du-camp,  Mr.  Bulkelcy,  now  came  below,  and  stated  that 
^'  circumstances  respecting  the  licet  required  Captain  Hardy's  pro- 


196  NAVAL    ANECDOTES, 

sence  on  deck,  but  that  he  would  avail  himself  of  the  first  favour- 
able  moment  to  visit  his  Lordship,"  On  hearing  him  deliver  this 
message  to  the  Surgeon,  his  Lordship  inquired  who  had  brought 
it,  Mr.  Burke  answered,  *'  It  is  Mr,  Bulkeley,  my  Lord."-^ 
"  It  is  his  voice,"  replied  his  Lordship:  he  then  said  to  the  young 
gentleman,   "  Rcnaember  me  to  your  father.*' 

An  hour  and  ten  minutes  however  elapsed,  from  the  time  of  his 
Lordship's  being  wounded,  before  Captain  Hardy's  first  subse- 
quent interview  with  him  ;  the  particulars  of  which  are  as  follow: 
They  shook  hands  affectionately,  and  Lord  Nelson  said  :  "  Well, 
Hardy,  how  goes  the  battle?  How  goes  the  day  with  us?"— 
*'  Very  avcH,  my  Lord,"  replied  Captain  Hardy  :  '-'  we  have  got 
twelve  or  fourteen  of  the  enemy's  ships  in  our  possession;  but  live 
of  their  van  have  tacked,  and  show  an  intention  of  bearing  down 
tipon  the  Victory  ;  I  have  therefore  called  two  or  three  of  our 
fresh  ships  round  us,  and  have  no  doubt  of  giving  tiiem  a  drub- 
bing."-*-" I  hope,"  said  his  Lordship,  "  none  of  our  ships  have 
struck,  PLirdy," — "  No,  my  Lord,"  replied  Captain  Hardy  • 
^''-  there  is  no  fear  of  that."  Lord  Nelson  then  said:  "  I  am  a 
dead  man,  Hardy.  I  am  going  fast:  it  will  be  al!  over  with  me 
soon.  Come  nearer  to  me.  Pray  let  my  dear  Lady  Hamilton 
have  my  hair,  and  all  other  things  belonging  to  me."  Mr.  Burke 
-was  about  to  withdraw  at  the  commencement  of  this  conversation  ; 
but  his  Lordship,  perceiving  his  intention,  desired  he  would 
remain.  Captain  Hardy  observed,  that  "  he  hoped  Mr.  Beatty 
could  yet  hold  out  some  prospect  of  life." — "  Oh  !  no,"  answered 
his  Lordihip,  "  it  is  impossible.  My  back  is  shot  through, 
Beatty  will  tell  you  so."  Captain  Hardy  then  returned  on  deck, 
and  at  parting  shook  hands  with  his  revered  friend  and  Com- 
mander. 

His  Lordship  now  requested  the  Surgeon,  who  had  been  pre- 
Tiously  absent  a  short  time  attending  Mr.  Rivers,  to  return  to  the 
■wounded,  and  give  his  assjstatice  to  such  of  them  as  he  could  be 
tisefiil  to  ;  "  for,''  said  he,  "  you  can  do  nothing  for  me."  The 
Surgeon  assured  him  tliat  the  Assistant  Surgeo'is  were  doing  every 
thing  that  could  bo  eifectcd  for  those  unfortunate  men  ;  but  on  lus 
Lordship's  several  times  repeating  his  injunction  to  that  purpose, 
be  left  him,  surrounded  by  Doctor  Scott,  Mr.  Burke,  and  two  of 
his  Lordship's  domestics.  After  the  Surgeon  had  been  absent  i» 
fiew  minutes,  attending  Licvitenants  Peake  and  Reeves,  of  the 
Marines,  who  were  wounded,  he  was  called  by  Doctor  Scott  to  his 
Lordship.  wLo  said  :  "  Ah,  Mr.  Beatty  !  I  have  sent  for  you  to 


COMMERCIAL   HINT8,   RECOLLECTIONS,   ke.  197 

iiy,  what  I  forgot  to  tell  you  before,  that  all  power  of  motion  or 
feeling  below  my  breast  is  gone  ;  and  ^oj/,"  continued  he,  "  very 
well  knozo  I  can  live  but  a  short  time."  The  emphatic  manner  in 
■which  he  pronounced  these  last  words,  left  no  doubt  in  the  Sur- 
geon's mind,  that  he  adverted  to  the  case  of  a  man  who  had  some 
months  before  received  a  mortal  injury  of  the  spine  on  board  tiie 
Victory,  and  had  laboured  under  similar  privations  of  sense  and 
muscular  motion.  The  case  had  made  a,  great  impression  on  Lord 
Nelson  :  he  was  anxious  to  know  the  cause  of  such  symptoms, 
which  was  accordingly  explained  to  him  ;  and  he  now  appeared  to 
apply  the  situation  and  fate  of  thi-i  man  to  himself.  The  Surgeon 
answered,  "My  Lord,  you  told  me  so  before:"  but  he  now^ 
examined  the  extremities,  to  ascertain  the  fact;  when  his  Lordship 
said,  *'  Ah,  Bcatty  !  I  am  too  certain  of  it;  Scott  and  Burke  have 
tried  it  already.  Von  knozo  I  am  gone."  The  Surgeon  replied  : 
"  My  Lord,  unhappily  i'or  our  country,  nothing  can  be  done  for 
you  ; "  and  having  made  this  declaration,  he  was  so  much  ali'ected, 
that  he  turned  round  and  withdrew  a  few  steps  to  conceal  his 
emotions.  His  Lordship  said  ;  "  I  know  it.  I  feel  soraethiag 
rising  in  my  left  breast,"  putting  his  hand  on  his  left  side,  "  which 
tells  me  I  am  gone."— Drink  was  recommended  liberally,  and  Dr. 
Scott  and  Mr.  Burke  fanned  him  with  paper.  lie  often  exclaimed, 
"  God  be  praised,  1  have  done  my  duty  !"  and  upon  the  Sur- 
geon's inquiring  whether  his  paia  was  still  very  great,  he  declared, 
*'  it  continued  so  severe,  that  he  Avished  he  was  dead."-^"  Yet,'* 
said  he,  in  a  lower  voice,  "  one  would  like  to  live  a  little  longer, 
too;"  and,  after  a  pause  of  a  few  minutes,  he  added  in  the 
same  tone,  "  What  would  become  of  poor  Lady  Hamilton,  if  she 
knew  my  situation  !" 

The  Surgeon,  finding  it  impossible  to  render  his  Lordship  any 
further  assistance,  left  him,  to  attend  Lieutenant  Bligh,  Messrs. 
Smith  and  Westphall,  Midshipmen,  and  some  seamen,  recently- 
wounded.  Captain  Hardy  now  came  to  the  cock-pit  to  see  his 
Lordship  a  second  time,  which  was  after  an  interval  of  about  fifty 
minutes  from  the  conclusion  of  his  first  visit.  Before  he  quitted 
the  deck,  he  sent  Lieutenant  Hills  to  acquaint  Admiral  Colling- 
wood  with  the  lamentable  circumstance  of  Lord  Nelson's  b^'ing 
wounded.  Lord  Nelson  and  Captain  Hardy  shook  hands  again  : 
and  while  the  Captain  retained  his  Lordship's  hand,  he  congra- 
tulated him  even  in  the  arms  of  death,  on  his  brilliant  victory  ; 
*'  which,"  he  said,  "  was  complete  ;  though  he  did  not  know  how 
jpany  of  the  enemy  were  captured,  as  it  was  impossible  to  percciva 


198  NATAL    ANECDOTE*, 

every  ship  distinctly.  He  was  csrtain^  howerer,  of  fourteen  or 
fifteen  ha> in g  surrendered."  His  LordsJiip  answered,  "  That  is 
■Kell,  but  I  bargained  for  twenty  : "  and  then  emphatically 
exclaimed,  ^^  Anchor^  Hardy,  anchoi^  I"  To  this  the  Captain 
jeplied:  "  I  suppose,  my  Lord,  Admiral  Collingwood  will  now 
take  upon  himself  the  direction  of  affairs." — "  Not  while  I  live,  1 
hope.  Hardy ! "  cried  the  dying  Chief ;  and  at  that  moment 
endeavoured  ineffectually  to  raise  himself  from  the  bed.  *'  No,'* 
added  he,  "  do  ^o?«  anchor,  Hardy."  Captain  Hardy  then  said, 
*'  Shall  arc  maka^he  signal,  Sir?" — "  Yes,"  answered  his  Lord- 
ship, "  for  if  I  live,  I'll  anchor."  The  energetic  manner  in 
"Hhich  he  uttered  these  his  last  orders  to  Captain  Hardy,  accompa- 
nied with  his  efforts  to  raise  himself,  evinced  his  determination 
never  to  resign  the  command  while  he  retained  the  exercise  of  his 
transcendant  faculties,  and  that  he  expected  Captain  Hardy  still  to 
earry  into  effect  the  suggestions  of  his  exalted  mind ;  a  sense  of 
his  duty  overcoming  the  pains  of  death.  He  then  told  Captain 
Hardy,  "  he  felt  that  in  a  few  minutes  he  should  be  no  more;  " 
adding  in  a  low  tone,  "  Don't  throw  me  overboard.  Hardy." 
The  Captain  answered,  "Oh!  no,  certainly  not."— "Then,'' 
replied  his  Lordship,  "  you  know  what  to  do  :  *  and,"  continued 
jte>.  "  take  care  of  my  dear  Lady  Hamilton,  Hardy  ;  take  care  of 
poor  Lady  Hamilton.  Kiss  me.  Hardy."  The  Captain  now 
knelt  down,  and  kissed  his  cheek  ;  when  his  Lordship  said, 
"  Now  I  am  satisfied.  Thank  God,  1  have  done  my  duty." 
Captain  Hardy  stood  for  a  minute  or  two  in  siknt  contemplation  : 
he  then  knelt  down  again,  and  kissed  his  Lordship's  forehead. 
His  Lordship  said:  "Who  is  that?"  The  Captain  answered : 
"  It  js  Hardy  ;"  to  which  his  Lordship  replied,  "  God  bless  you, 
Hardy!"  After  this  affecting  scene,  Captain  Hardy  withdrew,  and 
returned  to  the  quarter-deck,  having  spent  about  eight  minutes  ia 
Ibis  his  last  interview  with  his  dying  friend. 

Lord  Nelson  now  desired  Mr.  Chevalier,  his  Steward,  to  turn 
him  upon  his  right  side ;  which  being  effected,  his  Lordship  said  ; 
*'  I  wish  I  had  not  left  the  deck,  for  I  shall  soon  be  gone."  He 
afterwards  became  very  low ;  his  breathing  was  oppressed,  and  his 
Toicc  faint.  He  said  to  Dr.  Scott :  "  Doctor,  1  have  not  been  a 
great  sinner  ;"  and  after  a  short  pause,  "  Remember^  that  I  leave 
Lady  Hamilton,  and  my  daughter  Horatia,  as  a  legacy  to   my 

*  Alluding  to  some  wishes  previously  expressed  by  bis  Lordship  to  Cap* 
ftain  Hardy,  respecting  the  place  of  bis  interment. 


COMMERCIAL   HINTS)    RECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  199 

country:  and,"  added  he,  ''never  forget  Horatia."  Ilis  thirst 
now  increased  ;  and  he  called  for  "  Drink,  drink,"  "  Fan, 
fan,"  and  ''  Rub,  rub  :"  addressing  himself  in  the  last  case  to 
Doctor  Scott,  who  had  been  rubbing  his  Lordship's  breast  with 
his  hand,  from  which  he  found  some  relief.  These  Avords  he  spoke 
in  a  very  rapid  manner,  which  rendered  his  articulation  difficult  : 
but  he  every  now  and  then,  with  evident  increase  of  pain,  made  a. 
greater  effort  with  his  vocal  powers,  and  pronounced  distinctly 
these  last  words :  "Thank  God,  I  have  done  my  duty  !''  and 
this  great  sentiment  he  continued  to  repeat  as  long  as  he  was  able 
to  give  it  utterance. 

His  Lordship  became  speechless  in  about  fifteen  minutes  after 
Captain  Hardy  left  him.  Doctor  Scott  and  Mr.  Durke,  who  had 
all  along  sustained  the  bed  under  his  shoulders,  (Avhich  raised  him 
in  nearly  a  semi-recumbent  posture,  the  only  one  that  was  sup- 
portable to  him,)  forebore  to  disturb  him  by  speaking  to  him; 
and  when  he  had  remained  speechless  about  five  minutes,  his  Lord- 
ship's Steward  went  to  the  Surgeon,  who  had  been  a  short  time 
occupied  with  the  wounded  in  another  part  of  the  cock-pit,  and 
stated  his  apprehensions  that  his  Lordship  was  dying.  The  Sur- 
geon immediately  repaired  to  him,  and  found  him  on  the  verge  of 
dissolution.  He  knelt  down  by  his  side,  and  took  up  his  hand, 
which  was  cold,  and  the  pulse  gone  from  the  wrist.  On  the  Sur- 
geon's feeling  his  forehead,  which  was  likewise  cold,  his  Lordship 
opened  his  eyes,  looked  up,  and  shut  them  again.  The  Surgeon 
again  left  him,  and  returned  to  the  wounded,  Avho  required  his 
assistance ;  but  was  not  absent  five  minutes  when  the  Steward 
announced  to  him,  that  "  he  believed  his  Lordship  had  expired.'* 
The  Surgeon  returned,  and  found  that  the  report  was  but  too  well 
founded  :  his  Lordship  had  breathed  his  last  at  thirty  minutes  past 
four  o'clock ;  at  which  period  Dr.  Scott  was  in  the  act  of  rubbing 
his  Lordship's  breast,  and  Mr.  Burke  supporting  the  bed  under  his 
shoulders. 

From  the  time  of  his  Lordship's  being  wounded,  till  l;is  death, 
a  period  of  about  two  hours  and  forty-five  minutes  elapsed  ;  but  a 
knowledge  of  the  decisive  victory  which  was  gained,  he  acquired  of 
Captain  Hardy  within  the  first  hour-and-a-quarter  of  this  period. 
A  partial  cannonade,  however,  was  still  maintained,  in  conss-- 
quence  of  the  enemy's  running  ships  passing  the  British  at  different 
points  ;  and  the  last  distant  guns  that  were  fired  at  their  van  ships 
that  were  making  oft',  were  heard  a  minute  or  two  before  his 
Lordship  expired. 


■%00  JfAVAfi    ANECDOtES, 

flATAL    OFFICERS,  .BORN   OR    EDUCATED    IN    THE    COtJNiT 
or    DEVON. 

Flag  Officers. 

LORD  VISCOUNT  HOOD,  Governor  of  Greeriwicb  HospU 
tal,  and  Admiral  of  the  Red. 

Lord  Viscount  Kridport,  Admiral  of  the  Reid. 

Wil'km  Domett,  Esq.,  Rear-Admiral  of  the  ftHiitei 

Sir  Thomas  Louis,  Bart.,  K.M.T.,  and  K.S.F.  Rear-Admiral 
Of  the  \V  hite. 

Sir  I'ho.nus  Graves,  K.B.,  Vice-Admiral  of  the  Blue.  / 

Edward  Thornborough,  Esq.,  Vice-Admiral  of  the  Blue. 

Sir  Thomas  Trouhridge,  Bart.,  Rear-Admiral  of  the  White. 

Sir  Edward  Pollow,  Bart.,  Rear-Admiral  of  the  Red. 

Sir  Richard  John  Strachan,  Bart.,  K.B.,  and  Rear-Admiral  Of 
tiie  Blue. 

Sir  John  Thomas  Duckworth,  K.B.,  Vice-Admiral  of  the 
White.    . 

Post  Captahis. 

Captain  Sir  John  Laforey. 

•  Keates. 

■ Brown. 

THE    mariner's    COMPASS. 

M.  AZUNE,  a  French  author,  has  published  a  dissertation  on 
the  origin  of  the  compass,  in  order  to  prove  that  the  French  were 
the  first  who  made  use  of  it:  it  was  known  in  France,  he  tells  us. 
so  early  as  the  twelfth  century,  under  the  name  of  mannicre  ; 
and  was  used  under  the  reign  of  Louis  the  IXth.  Givia  d'Amflaj, 
tvho  is  said  to  be  the  inventorj  lived  not  earlier  than  about  the  year 
1300.  The  ficur-de-Us  has  been  adopted  in  all  countries  for  t^e 
•ompass.  The  same  author,  in  his  Navigationj  observes,  that 
*'  Father  Xiraenes,  a  ceiebraied  Italian  astrononier,  proved  the 
priority  of  the  French,  in  his  work  enlitled,  Del  Gnomone  Fioreiu 
tiiio,"  page  59. 

SIR    SAMUEL    HOOB,    K.B. 

IN  the  month  of  October,  1804,  His  Majesty  was  most  gra* 
ciously  pleased  to  coiifer  the  Order  of  the  Bath  upon  Commo- 
dore Hood,  for  his  important  services  in  the  West  Indies*.     He 

— T" . 

'  *  Vide  page  28  of  the  present  Volume. 


COMJitRtlAL    IIINTg,    HECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  201 

*>sas  invested  with  that  honourable  Order,  at  Antigua,  by  Lord 
Lavington,  the  Governor,  in  the  spring  of  ISOo.  After  the 
ceremony,  his  Lordship  addressed  him  in  the  following 
words  : — • 

COMMODOllE    SIR    SAMUI.L    HOOD, 

AfU'T  the  honour  wliich  you  have  this  clay  received  by  command 
of  His  ^Majesty,  no  eulogy  from  me  of  those  services  Avhicli  have 
so  mcrito/iously  obtained  it,  can  enhance  its  value,  ordesf.rvcyour 
acceptance.  But  1  cannot  repress  the  expression  of  my  own  gra- 
tification, in  being  delegated  by  my  Sovereign  to  administer  a  mark 
of  his  royal  favour  to  a  gallant  officer,  the  very  name  of  whose 
family  occurs  in  no  page  of  our  naval  history  without  circum- 
stances of  celebrity  and  distiuction.  There  wants  no  herald  to 
proclaim  the  w'ell-known,  well-earned  reputation  of  the  two  Chiefs 
of  it,  who  are  novv  enjoying  an  honourable  repose  from  danger  and 
fatigue,  under  the  shade  of  those  honours  which  the  services  of  their 
past  lives  have  so  eminently  merited.  But  your  nearest  and  ever- 
to-bc-lamented  relative  has  secured  to  himself  a  place  in  the  Tem- 
ple of  Fame,  paramount  to  all  the  rank  and  titles  which  Princes 
can  confer,  and  which  the  King  of  Kings  alone  can  bestow— the 
glory  of  sealing  with  his  blood,  in  the  arms  of  victory,  a  life  spent 
in,  and  devoted  to,  the  service  of  his  King  and  Country.  May 
this  period  of  renown,  if  ever  it  be  destined  for  you,  although  tho 
ultimate  ambition  of  patriots  and  of  heroes,  be  far,  far  distant,  for 
the  sake  of  that  country,  for  the  sake  of  every  object  which  is 
dear  to  you. — Ma}'  your  conduct,  of  which  the  harbour  of  Touloa 
and  the  bay  of  Aboukir  were  witnesses,  be  only  the  presage  of 
your  future  trophies,  and  still  more  splendid  achievement^  !  And 
may  you,  in  the  mean  time,  after  a  safe  and  prosperous  voyage, 
cxpciioncc  that  auspicious  reception  from  our  gracious  Sovereign, 
which  the  best  of  masters  will  feel  to  be  due  to  a  brave  and 
faithful  servant. 

Sir  Samuel  Hood,  as  already  stated  *,  received  the  congra- 
tulations of  the  inhabitants  of  the  islands  where  he  had  com- 
manded ;  accompanied  by  their  thanks  for  the  able  manner  iu 
which  he  had  provided  for  their  interests.  A  letter,  which  was 
transmitted  to  him  from  the  mercantile  interest  of  the  Virgin 
Islands,  says  : — 

The  enemy's  ships  of  war  and  privateers  have  repeatedly  learned, 
•  Vidi;  page  28  of  the  present  V^oliiiae. 

f9a0»  Cljron.  GJoI.XVIt.  o  d 


20'1  COnUESrONDENCE. 

from  mortifvlng  experience,  that  their  most  formidiilile  g;irrisons  . 
an^  batteries  could  afford  them  little  or  no  protection  from  your 
boats,  though  placed  almost  in  contact  with  them.  The  predatory 
sffuadron  of  Rochfort,  possessed  of  so  decided  a  superiority,  has 
been  greatly  checked  in  its  designs,  not  daring  to  detach  itself,  fear- 
ful of  being  cut  off  by  your  little  squadron.  The  recollection  of 
the  Juno  at  Toulon,  and  of  the  Zealous  at  Aboulcir,  -would  cen- 
Tince  this  flying  eneiTiy,  that  -what  naval  skill  could  project,  or 
valour  possibly  perlorm,  they  v.ould  have  to  encounter. 

Tn  the  address  of  the  gentlemen  deputed  to  convey  to  llie 
gallant  Commodore  the  sentiments  of  the  Board  of  Council  for 
Antigua,  we  find  this  passage  : — 

We  are  desired  at  the  same  time  to  express  to  yoii  the  liigh  sense 
•which  the  Board  entertains  of  your  sjiirited  conduct  in  keeping  the 
seas  •vvith  your  vcrv  suiall  squadron,  during  the  many  weeks  that 
the  naval  strength  of  the  enemy  was  so  vaslly  superior  to  you ;  and 
to  assure  you,  that  we  felt  very  sincerely  for  the  mortification  which 
a  gallant  and  brave  mind,  like  yours,  must  have  experienced  at 
your  inability,  with  any  regard  to  prudence,  to  seek  and  engage 
the  enemv. 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


MR.    ElilTOlJj 


nrillE  life  given  in  your  Naval  CiiKonicle  of  Admiral 
Cornwallis  is  so  very  imperfect^  and  does  so  little  justice  to 
this  truly  good  man  and  excellent  officer^  that  I  am  induced  to 
add  a  fcA'  particulars  relative  to  what  has  already  been  published 
of  him;,  as  they  relate  to  the  last  command  held  by  one,  who 
may  truly  be  said  to  be  the  father  and  the  fiiend  of  all  who  have 
ever  had  the  happiness  of  serving  under  him. — 

In  May  1803,  Admiral  Coi-nwalHs  hoisted  his  flag  on  board  tlie 
Dreadnought,  in  Torbay,  and  came  on  board  on  the  11th  of  that 
month,  and  proceeded  to  cruise  off  tJshant.  On  the  9th  of  July, 
in  the  same  year,  he  shifted  his  flag  to  the  Ville  de  Paris,  as  Com- 
mander in  Chief  of  the  Channel  fleet.  In  October  a  fresh  supply 
of  provisions  and  water  from  the  Ardent  man  of  war  was  taken 
into  the  Ville  de  Paris,  in  order  to  avoid  the  necessity  of  quitting 
the  French  coast,  the  French  having  a  large  force  in  l]rest  ready 


CORUESPONDrXCE.  203 

for  soa  ;  but  such  severe  weather  arose  in  November,  that  Admiral 
Corii-vvallis  was  blown  oft' his  station  above  an  hundred  miles  to  the 
south-west,  and  had  his  masts  and  yards  crippled  in  the  gales.  On 
Christmas  Day,  a  most  tremendous  gale  split  the  sails  of  the  Ville 
de  Paris,  and  laid  her  over  in  an  incredible  manner  under  her  bare 
jioles.  la  January  1804,  she  was  again  blown  ott"  her  station  by 
violent  gales.  In  July  she  came  Ut  Spithcad  to  go  into  dock,  and 
on  the  9th  of  August  sailed  again  with  Admiral  Cornwallis's  flag, 
to  resume  her  old  and  tedious  station.  In  January,  1805, 
Admiral  Cornwallis  was  confined  to  his  cabin  for  a  fortnight,  with 
a  badly  sprained  foot,  in  consequence  of  a  fall  occasioned  by  the 
ship's  taking  a  very  heavy  lurch  ;  a  tremendous  sea  having  struck 
her  on  her  broadside.  .The  gale  was  so  violent,  that  thu  Prince, 
and  Piince  George,  who  were  in  company,  sprung  some  very  bad 
leaks,  and  were  obliged  to  go  into  dock,  being  otherwise  also 
much  damaged.  Several  of  the  lleet  sprung  their  masts;  and  the 
Villc  dc  Paris  drifted,  in  the  course  of  the  gale,  upwards  of  four 
hundred  miles  from  her  station,  and  was  obliged  to  come  into 
Plymouth,  having  her  rudder  damaged  :  but  Admiral  Coriiwallis's 
unremitting  anxiety  to  keep  at  sea  was  such,  that  the  Ville  de 
Paris  merely  remained  in  Cawsand  Bay  long  enough  for  the  pro- 
per workmen  to  be  sent  round  to  her  from  the  dock-yard,  and 
sailed  the  next  morning. 

On  the  10th  of  March,  the  Ville  de  Paris  came  into  Portsmouth  ; 
but  on  tlie  31st  of  the  same  month  was  ordered  to  take  in  pow- 
der, provisions,  Sec,  and  get  ready  for  sea  with  all  possible  expe- 
dition, bi'ing  ordered  by  telegraph  in  consequence  of  its  being 
thought  the  French  fleet  were  out ;  which  was  done  so  actively, 
that  she  sailed  Aith  several  others  on  the  2d  of  April,  but  was  not 
fortunate  enough  to  find  any  truth  in  the  rejjort  of  the  enemy- 
being  at  sea. 

On  the  21st  of  A\igust,  1S05,  a  frigat.^  made  the  signal  that  the 
enemy's  fleet  were  apparently  preparing  to  weigh  anchor  :  our 
fleet  immediately  made  all  sail,  but  without  any  bustle.  In  a  fe^v 
liours  they  were  near  enough  to  discover  twenty-one  sail  of  the 
lilie,  very  large  ships,  and  four  frigates,  besides  smaller  vessels. 
The  French  were  lying  close  in,  uridor  their  strong  batteries,  in 
"what  they  call  the  Goullet  I'assage.  The  Ville,  de  Paris  made  th^ 
signal  for  the  fleet  to  lie  bs  ,  and  disregard  the  Admiral's  motions  ; 
she  then  stood  in  within  gur.-shot  of  their  fleet,  under  a  very  heavy 
lire  from  their  batteries  all  the  w  ay  up,  took  a  certain  observation 
af  their  strength,   and  then  stood  down  again  towards  the  BritisJi 


204  CORRESPONDENCE. 

fleet.  Admiral  Cornwallis  intending  to  go  in,  and  engage  them  at 
their  anchors  the  next  day,  he  sent  orders  on  board  every  sliip  of 
the  fleet,  soon  after  he  rejoined  Ihem,  the  purport  of  which  was  to 
mention  this  intention,  and  added,  "  The  Admiral  intends 
engaging  the  French  Commander  in  Chief ;  and  hopes  evcri)  ship 
zcill  follozo  his  example,  and  bring  out  her  opponent.''^  There  wais 
very  little  else  in  the  order.  The  next  morning  at  three  o'clock 
the  Ville  de  Paris  weighed,  and  formed  the  line  of  b3.ttle,  the 
Admiral  himself  leading  the  Tan,  contrary  to  the  general  form  of 
battle  of  an  Admiral's  station  being  in  the  centre.  The  enemy 
■weighed  as  soon  as  the  English  were  within  gun-shot  of  their  bat- 
teries, and  stood  alongshore  under  those  numerous  batteries,  which 
form  one  entire  range  of  guns  all  along  their  cliffs,  their  shells 
annoying  our  ships  much  more  than  their  shot ;  but  although  so 
Biuch  superior  to  the  English  in  point  of  nun^.bcrs,  they  would  not 
allow  themselves  to  be  brought  to  action  by  those  of  our  ships 
who  had  got  in,  but  kept  so  exactly  under  their  forts,  that  it  was 
impossible  to  bring  them  to  a  general  action.  However,  the  Villc 
lie  Pari?,;  CiGsar,  and  Montague,  our  three  van  .ships,  annoyed  their 
rear  so  considerablyj  that  great  hopes  were  entertained  that  they 
would  have  run  on  shore  ;  but  the  w  ind  and  tide  being  both  in  their 
favour,  they  escaped,  though  with  considerable  damage.  The  first 
shell  that  struck  the  Ville  de  Paris  (the  tirst  since  she  was  launched) 
struck  the  spare  anchor,  and  burst  into  a  thousand  small  pieces^ 
flying  in  all  directions ;  one  piece  of  about  one  pound  and  an  half 
in  weight,  struck  Admiral  Cornwallis  on  the  breast;  but  being 
entirely  spent,  did  not  hurt  him  ;  a  small  piece  however  struck  one 
of  the  Midshipmen.  The  Ville  de  Paris  had  her  hull  a  little 
damaged,  and  rigging  cut,  but  none  killed  ;  the  Caesar  three  men 
killed,  and  seven  wounded  ;  some  of  the  latter  died  afterwards  of 
their  wounds.  The  Ville  de  Paris  had  between  three  a!)d  four 
hundred  picked  men,  well  armed,  ready  for  boarding,  the  inten- 
tion of  the  Admiral  being  to  run  alongside,  and  whilst  one  party 
•was  lashing  the  ships  together,  and  another  fighting  the  guns,  the 
boarders  were  to  go  on  board  the  enemy;  but  this  design  was  frus- 
trated by  their  weighing.  • 

Admiral  Cornwallis  continr-cd  in  the  command  of  the  CJiannel 
fleet,  until  the  22d  of  Februarj',  1806,  when  he  struck  his  flag  at 
Spithead,  and  was  succeeded  by  liOrd  St.  Vincent. 

The  tranquillity  he  might  have  enjoyed,  on  returning  to  his  resi- 
dcnce  near  Lyminglon,  was  embittered  by  the  recent  loss  of  liis 
bi'Otherj  (the  late  gallant  liOrd  Cornwallisj)  the  news  of  which  Lad 


PLATE    CCXXVII.  2Q5 

not  long  reached  him,  when  he  also  sustained  a  heavy  affliction  by 
the  death  of  his  esteemed  friend,  Captain  Whitby,  who  had  fol- 
lowed this  brave  Commander  through  tl^e  fatigues  and  vicissitudes 
of  many  years'  service,  selected  as  a  companion  he  esteemed,  and  as 
an  officer  on  whose  conduct  and  judgment  he  could  rely.  Captaia 
Whitby  died  of  a  malignant  fever  at  the  seat  of  Admiral  Corn- 
vvallis.  The  news  of  his  death  Avas  received  on  board  the  Villc  dc 
Paris  by  those  he  had  so  recently  commanded  with  the  truest  marks 
of  sorrow ;  it  spread  an  universal  gloom  t  and  althougii  snatched 
from  the  service,  and  from  his  revered  friend  and  patron  at  an  early 
age,  he  will  live  in  the  remembrance,  and  grateful  hearts,  of  thoso 
-who  knew  and  felt  his  worth  and  kindness.  From  the  commence- 
ment of  1806,  Admiral  Cornwallis  has  continued  at  his  scat  near 
l^ymington.  We  were  very  glad  to  observe  the  praise  bestowed 
on  tliis  gallant  officer,  in  the  life  you  have  published  of  Captaiu 
Faulknoi-,  and  trust  it  will  r>ot  be  long  before  Ave  see  his  flag  again 
hoisted  in  the  service  of  that  country  who  so  long  viewed  Avith 
gratitude  and  admiration,  his  patience  and  perseverance  in  fulfilling 
his  duties,  during  his  long  and  tedious   cruises    off  the   coast  of 

France. 

Yours,  Sec. 

LIEUT.  H*^.;-****. 


PLATE  CCXXVII. 

lIjlOR  X\\e  View  which  is  here  given  of  that  extensive  and 
noble  pile  of  building,  known  by  the  name  of  France's 
Warehouse*,  at  Goree,  Liverpool -f,  we  are  indebted   to  our 
Correspondentj,   F.  W^.       This   structure,   which   fronted   St. 
George's  Dock,  and  which  had  long  been  the  pride  of  Liver- 
poors  enterprising  inhabitants,  and  the  admiration  of  strangers, 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  on  the   14th  of  September,   1B02.     A 
conflagration,  so  tremendous  in  its  appearance,  so  extensive  in 
ts  devastation,  had  never  been   known  in  that  city  ;  and,  M'ith 
Inspect  to  the  waste  of  property  wliich  it  occasioned,  it  was  one 

Neidicr  tlie  celebrated  warehouses  at  Antwerp,  nor  thos^c  at  \  eiiice, 
eqully  iainous,  were  so  lofty  or  commodious  as  this  warehouse,  or  ratlier 
thiSiile  of  warehouses. 

+  \  View  of  Liverpool,  as  it  appears  when  coming  up  the  I\icricy,  by 
5Ii".  'ocock,  is  given  in  our  Second  Volume,  page  597, 


200  '  FLATE  ecxxvii. 

of  the  most  destructive  that  has  happened  in  the  British  domi- 
nions, since  the  great  iire  of  London,  in  1(3G6.  Tlie  following 
extract  of  a  letter,  written  at  the  scene  of  the  calamity,  on  the 
day  follo\Aing",  will  convey  some  faint  idea  of  its  alarming  and 
disastrous  progress  : — 

It  is  not  known  how  this  dreadful  ca1anu(y  originated ;  bat 
about  ten  o'clock  (at  night)  smoke  was  observed  to  issue  from  the 
centre  of  France's  Buildings*.  The  firc-bcll  was  instantly  rung, 
the  drum  beat  to  arms,  the  whole  of  the  military^  turned  out,  and 
every  exertion  that  active  attention  could  furnish  was  rendered. 
The  remains  of  the  Northumberland  Fencible  llegimcnt  were  par- 
ticnlarly  active,  commanded  by  their  Adjutant. — About  one 
o'clock  the  flames  burst  forth  Avith  tremendous  fury,  and  continued 
threatening  destruction  to  all  around  till  six  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, when  the  fire  abatedf-  All  those  beautiful  and  extensive 
buildings,  reaching  from  Water  Lane  to  Brunswick  Street,  with 
the  correspondent  storc-houses,  are  one  prodigious  heap  of 
ruins, 

I  am  just  returned  (twelve  o'clock)  from  visiting  these  ruins, 
and  cannot  describe  to  you  how  awfully  grand  they  appear.  The 
walls  which  bounded  these  prodigious  buildings,  being  from  ten  to 
fourteen  stories  high,  stand  perfect,  but  unsupported.  The  front 
has  given  way,  except  some  large  arches,  which  formed  its  basis  j 
these,  as  the  buildings  have  fallen  J,  are  mutilated,  and  appear 
above  the  heaps  of  rubbish  a  perfect  picture.  St.  George's  Dock 
is  one  scene  of  confusion  ;  bales  of  cotton,  puncheons  of  rum, 
hogsheads  of  sugar,  bags  of  corn,  &c.  lying  in  promiscuous  heapsj 
every  face  bears  evident  marks  of  sorrow  or  of  sympathy  ;  the 
actual  damage  cannot  be  less  than  a  million   of  money  §.     The 

*  The  actideut  is  generally  supposed  to  have  been  occasioned  by  tlie 
falling  of  a  snuff  of  caudle  amongst  sonic  bhaviugs  in  a  porter  vault. 

f  Fears  were  at  one  time  pnteitaincd  fur  the  gaol,  and  ihe  debtors  \\cr> 
removed  to  the  Public  Exchaui^e,  and  contincd  in  ss,  room  there  till  t!; 
fire  had  been  got  luider,  when  they  were  re-conducted  to  prison. 

:j:  Not  a  single  individual  lost  his  life  daring  the  time  of  the  fire;  Jitj 
afterwards,  some  of  the  ruins  fell  upon  a  Mr.  Phillips,  by  wliich  he  w;i  so 
dreadfully  crushed,  that  he  expired  in  a  few  hours. 

§  This  is  an  exaggerntion.  \'arious  estimates  of  the  loss  were  nide  j 
and,  according  to  a  medium  computation,  the  following  may  be  cousiered 
;is  approaching  nearest  to  the  truth  : — the  buildings,  52,000/. ;  iugac^^ 
51,000/.;  cotton,  9.^jomL;  cotfcc,  n-id  other  West  India  pwd.^jte,  4(001)/; 


*  PLATK    fCXXVIT.  207 

»,ljipplng  (for  the  dock  was  close  to  the  spot)  were,  from  it'i  for- 
tiinatcly  beiiiy  flood-tide,  removed  and  preserved;  but  every 
attention  was  nccCSi-ary,  £uch  as  wet  sails  placed  before  the 
rigging,  kc. 

In  arresting  tlic  progress  of  this  dreadful  fire,  the  most 
beneficial  effects  were  experienced  from  the  abundance  of  water 
yielded  by  the  Bootle  w  ater-works  *  ;  notwithstanding  wiuch_, 
about  thirty  waichouseSj  of  immense  height  and  depth,  were 
destroyed.  Such  was  the  huge  and  shapeless  mass  of  ruins, 
M'hich  the  site  of  these  buildings  presented,  as  almost  to  preclude 
the  hope  of  seeing  the  mischief  repaired,  in  any  moderate  num- 
ber of  years.  Every  stranger  M'ho  visited  Liverpool,  soon  after 
this  event,  seemed  convinced  that  the  prosperity  of  the  town 
had  received  a  blow,  from  which  it  could  not,  but  at  a  very  dis- 
tant period,  be  expected  to  recover.     How  gratifying  must  it 

jTi-oin,  110,000/. ;  tallow,  hemp,  &c.  16,000/.;  making  a  total  of  295,000/, 
'Damaged  articles  were  afterwards  disposed  of  for  somethitig  more  than 
13,000/. — Some  time  ago,  a  Mr.  Gregson,  of  Liverpool,  published  the 
result  of  some  iutercstitig  investigations,  relative  to  the  uses  of  articles 
consumed  by  public  fires.  From  the  ruins  of  these  warehouses,  he  had 
collected  a  quantity  of  wheat,  burnt  sugar,  rice,  flour,  and  cotton  :  the 
sugar  he  reduced  to  a  fine  powder,  and  made  it  into  a  nater-colour  paiur : 
it  also  answered  as  a  varnish  ground,  an  oil  colour,  and  a  printinor  ink.  I'he 
burnt  wheat  answered  the  same  purposes;  and  the  fine  American  flour  was 
converted  into  excellent  paste.  Mr.  Gregson,  to  whom  the  Society  of  Arts 
voted  a  gold  medal  for  his  observations,  was  of  opinion,  that,  if  his  method 
had  been  adopted,  after  this  fire,  a  saving  of  44,000/.  might  have  been  made 
upon  the  grain  alone. 

*  The  Bootle  springs,  nearly  two  thousand  of  which  are  concentrated  as  it 
were,  in  one  point,  rise  upon  tlie  estate  of  Lord  Derby.  They  are  situated 
upon  a  hill,  in  the  village  of  Bootle,  three  miles  north  of  Liverpool ;  to 
which  city  their  waters  have  been  brought,  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
inhabitants,  by  great  perseverance  and  expense,  and  uncommon  exertions. 
At  the  entrance  of  Liverpool  there  is  now  an  immense  reservoir — bnt  it 
was  not  finished  at  the  time  of  the  fire — capable  of  containiin;  4000  tons  ot" 
water;  so  that,  should  any  accident  happen  to  the  long  train  of  pipes,  the 
town  will  still  possess  a  supply  of  that  indispensable  clement.  Tin's 
reservoir,  from  its  great  and  commanding  height,  is  calculated  to  prevent 
the  occurrence  of  a  similar  calamity  to  that  which  we  have  been  deserihiiuT, 
[t  would  be  able  to  pour  down  its  contents  upon  the  most  elevated  build- 
ings in  the  town ;  whereas,  from  the  vast  height  of  the  warchouse>.  jto 
•envine  could  reach  them. 


268  TLATE    CCXXTII. 

then  be  to  leani,  and  what  an  exalted  credit  does  it  reflect  ofl 
the  enterprising  spirit  of  tho  in'iabitants,  that^  in  less  than  four 
vears,  the  whole,  like  a  phoenix  from  its  ashes,  had  risen  w  ilh 
increased  niagniticencc,  and  augmented  extent  !  A  more 
decisive  and  unequivocal  testimony  of  the  resources-  of  the  town 
of  Liverpool,  could  not  possibly  be  presentedi 

The  new  v>arehouses,  which  may  \fe  regarded  as  a  public 
ornament,  as  w ell  as  a  con:iincixial  establishment^  have  been  thus 
"described : 

At  the  time  of  the  conflagration,  (he  stone  basement,  of  the 
tvhole  of  that  large  and  beautiful  range  whicli  fronts  to  George's 
Dock,  had  been  erected,  but  the  superincumbent  warehonses  had 
only  been  built-  on  that  division  which  reaches  from  the  bottom  of 
Brunswick  Street  to  V/atcr  Street,  and  on  about  one  fourth  of  the 
other  division.  The  whole  of  (his,  except  the  part  last  men- 
tioned, was  entirely  dcmolislied.  l>ut  tiic  entire  range  from 
Brunswick  Street  to  Water  Street,  and  from  Brunswick  Street  to 
Moore  Street,  is  now  completed,  and  for  elegance,  Convcaience, 
and  situation,  there  certainly  i.s  jiot  such  another  range  of  ware- 
houses in  Europe.  The  enormous  piles  Avhich  hare  lately  been 
erected  on  the  West  India  and  Wapping  Docks  in  London,  are 
indeed  vastly  superior  in  size  and  extent,  but  for  beauty  and  con- 
venience they  are  not  to  be  compared.  The  new  row  on  the 
Gorcc  is,  including  (he  two  divisions,  in  length  nearly  two  hun- 
dred yards,  of  a  proportionate  depth,  and  in  height  six  stories, 
exclusive  of  the  cellars  and  garrets.  It  is  built  with  exact 
uniformity,  on  a  rustic  stone  basement,  which  encloses,  to  the 
front,  a  fine  flagged  arcade,  of  thirteen  feet  in  width,  very  conve- 
nient as  a  promenade  for  the  merchants  in  wet  weather.  This 
piazza  is  formed  by  alternate  great  and  small  arches,  the  former 
ten  feet  nine  inches  in  breadth,  the  latter  full  five  feet  eight  inches. 
This  intermixture  has  a  pleasing  appearance  to  the  eye,  and 
detracts  much  from  the  heaviness  of  that  species  of  architecture. 
The  whole  pile  has  the  convenience  of  being  open  to  a  wide 
pavement,  both  in  Ciont  and  rear.  The  front  rooms  of  the  lower 
story  are  used  as  counting  houses  by  the  merchants  mIio  occupy 
the  warehouses.  The  noble  range  of  buildings  belonging  to  Mr. 
Dawson,  and  others,  which  stood  behind  the'  pile  we  have  just 
described,  was  also  entirely  consumed ;  and  the  whole  of  this 
ground,   excepting   a  few  yards^   has  likewise   been  completely 


tRI.VL    OF    SIR    HOME    POPUAM,    KNT.  20? 

rebuiU.— The  new  buildings,  it  is  true,  do  not  reach  the  enormous 
elevation  which  in  the  old  was  so  much  admired ;  but  this  defi- 
ciency may  justly  be  reckoned  an  improvement.  The  extreme 
height  of  the  former  warehouses,  was  not  only  beyond  the  bound* 
of  just  pro|>ortion,  but  occasioned  a  variety  of  inconveniences; 
and  particularly  rendered  (he  danger  and  mischiefs  of  a  fire  much 
more  alarming  and  distressing. 


j^aljal  Court  ^partial. 
T  R  I  A  i. 

OF 

CAPTAIN  SIR  HOME  POPIIAM,  Knt. 

riKST    D.VV,    PORISMOUTH,    ^fARC^    G,    1807. 

THIS  morning  a  Court  Martial  assembled  on  board  Ills 
Majesty's  ship  Gladiator,  for  the  purpose  of  proceeding  on 
the  Trial  of  Captain  Sir  Home  Popham,  agreeably  to  the  following 
Admiralty  Order  :—-• 

Bjj  the  Commissioners  for  exentting  the  Office  of  Lord  High  Admiral  oj"  the 
United  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  s  i^x.  HjC. 

Whereas,  by  our  Order,  dated  29tli  July,  180.5,  Sir  Home  Popham,  then 
Captain  of  His  r\Iajt;sty'.>  bhip  Diadem,  was  directed  to  lake  under  his  com- 
mand His  Majesty's  sliipsliclliqueux,  llaisonable,  Diomede,  Naicissus,  and 
Lcda,  the  Espoir  sloop,  and  Encounter  gun-brig,  for  die  purpose  of  cap- 
turing the  enemy's  settlement  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  in  conjunction 
with  the  troops  under  the  command  of  Major-Gcneral  Sir  David  Baird, 
whicli  settlement  was  surrendered  to  the  ships  and  troops  above  men- 
tioned, in  the  month  of  January,  180G.  And  whereas  it  appears,  by  letters 
from  Jjir  Home  Popham  to  our  Secretary,  dated  the  13tli  aud  ;>Olh  of  April 
follovvinj;,  tliat,  with  the  view  to  attack  tiie  Spanish  settlements  in  the  Rio 
de  la  Plata,  for  which  attack  he  iiad  no  direction  or  authority  whatever,  he 
did  withdraw  from  the  Cape  the  whole  of  the  naval  force,  which  liad  been 
placed  under  his  command  for  the  sole  purpose  of  protecting  it,  thereby 
leaving  the  Cape,  which  it  was  his  duty  to  euard,  not  only  exposed  to  attack 
and  insult,  but  even  without  the  means  of  affording  protection  to  the  trade  of 
His  Majesty's  subjects,  or  of  taking  possession  of  any  ships  <jf  the  enemy, 
which  miizht  have  put  into  any  of  the  hays  or  harbours  of  the  Cape,  or  ports 
ndjacent;  all  which  he,  the  said  Sir  Home  Popham,  did,  notwithstanding 
that  he  iiad  received  previ<jus  information  of  detachments  of  the  eneray'a 
^llips  being  at  sea,  and  in  the  neigiihourhood  of  the  Cape;  and,  notwith- 
standing lie  had  been  apprised  that  a  French  squadron  was  expected  at  the 
Mauritius,  of  which  he  informed  us  by  his  letter  to  our  Secretary,  dated  th« 
9tli  of  April,  180(3,  only  four  days  prior  to  his  departure  trom  tha  Capo  f«r 
the  liio  de  la  Plata. 

/^at.ei?ron.  0:iol,XVJT.  e  e 


210  IRI.VL    OF    SIR    HO.Mi:    rOPKA^f^ 

And  whereas  it  appears  to  us,  that  a  due  regard  to  the  !:ood  of  Hi* 
Majesty's  service  imperiously  demands  that  so  flagrant  a  breach  of  puMu; 
dutv  should  i>ot  pass  unpunished  ;  and,  whereas,  by  our  Order,  dated  the 
23th  of  July,  1806,  Rear-Adiniral  Stirlitig  was  directed  to  send  the  said  Sir 
Hor/te  Popiiani  to  En2;lan(h  which  he  has  clone  accordin;ily  ;  and  whereas 
Sh'  Home  Popham  was,  on  his  arrival,  put  uridcr  an  arrcal  by  our  Order, 
and  is  now  at  Portsmouth,  awaiting  his  trial, 

We  send  herewith  the  necessary  Papers  for  tlie  support  of  the  Char<.'e  ; 
and  do  hereby  require,  at.d  direct  you  forthwiih  to  assemble  a  Court  Mar- 
tial, (you  hoiii'4  the  President  thereof,)  wJiich  is  hereby  required  and  dircctefi 
to  inquire  into  tlie  conduct  of,  and  to  try  the  said  Captain  Sir  Home  Pop- 
ham,  for  the  oftences  with  wh  ch  he  is  charged  accordingly. 
Given  under  our  hands,  &c.  ike. 

IVillunn  Young,  Esq.,  Admiral  of 
the  Blue  Squadron. 

The  Court  was  composed  of  (he  follovving  Ofl'.ccrS  :— 
William  Yocnc,  Esq.,  Admiral  of  the  Blue  Squadron,  President. 


\'ice-AdmiraI  Sir  E.  Gower. 

IIoLLOWAY. 

-■ — -■  ROWLP.V. 

Stanhope. 

llear-Admirai  Vasiion. 

■"^ Sir  Isaac  Com  v. 


llear-Admiral  Sir  R.  J,  Steacuan. 
Captain  Guavi:s< 

ScoiT. 

T.ixzr.E. 

-= —  {kvvi:?. 

Bovi.r. 


MosKS  Giu.i-TiiAM,  Esq.,  Jud;;c  Advocate. 

The  usual  formalities  of  swearing  the  ^Members  of  the  Court, 
and  Judge  Advocate,  ha\ing  been  gone  through — tlic  Order  from 
the  Admiralty,  appointing  Mr.  Jcrvis  to  conduct  the  prosecution  ; 
also  that  directing  ^Ir.  Bickncll,  their  Solicitor,  to  assist  him, 
were  read.     Both  were  signed  by  Mr.  iSIarsdeu. 

The  charge  against  Sir  Home  Popham,  agreeing,  in  substance, 
with  the  above  Admiralty  Order,  was  then  read  by  the  Judge 
Advocate.  This  charge  adverted  to  eighteen  dirt'erent  documents, 
which  were  also  respectively  read.  Of  their  Gonteiils,  the  follow- 
ing is  an  abstract :— ^ 

No,  L — Copy  of  Original  Instructions  to  Sir  Home  Popham. 

No.  E— (Most  secret.) 

By  the  Commissioners  for  executing  the  Ojficc  of  Lord  High  Admiral  if  the 

United  Kingdom  of  Gieut  Biitaia  and  IreUnrl. 

The  Lord  Viscount  Castlereagh,  one  of  Ilis  Majesty's  principal  Secreta'». 
ries  of  State,  having,  with  his  letter  to  us  of  tlie  'J5tii  .July,  transmiitcd  a 
copy  of  the  instructions,  which,  by  command  of  His  Majesty,  he  had  fur- 
nished to  ]Major- General  Sir  David  Baird,  conunancling  His  Alajcsty's  land 
forces,  oil  an  expeditii-)n  for  attempting  the  reduction  of  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope;  on  the  subject  of  which  the  iNlajor-tiencral  has  been  directed  lo 
communicate  with  you,  intbeino^t  confuhntial  manner,  and  to  concert  uith 
you  such  measures  as  may  be  best  for  His  Majesty's  service;  we  transmit 
to  you  herewith  a  copy  of  the  said  instructions  for  your  information,  toge- 
ther with  copies  of  the  instructions  from  tiie  Secret  Cowiniittec  of  the  Court 
of  Directors  of  the  East  India  Company,  to  the  (Governor  and  Council  of 
St.  Helena,  and  also  to  the  officers  commanding  their  ships,  which  you  w  .1! 
communicate  to  the  said  Governor  and  Council,  and  to  the  said  olhcers^  as 


TUIAL    01'    SIR    HOME    POI'IIAM.  211 

5t>u  fthall  think  it  expedient ;  ariti  we  do  liereby  require  you,  and  direct  you 
to  comuiunicate  in  the  iDost  cuutideiitial  manner  with  iVlajor-General  Sir 
David  liaird,  to  tuniish  him  witli  all  the  iiitbi-mation  in  your  power,  and  to 
ro-o[)er:itc  uitii  him  in  tlie  cxocution  of  His  Majesty's  commands  concern- 
ing: sych  mea-urc=  with  the  Major-CJcncral,  for  proceeding  against  the  Cape 
in  x\\t  manner  whicii  may  be  nnjst  likely  to  ensure  success. 

On  your  arriial  at  Madeira,  you  will  take  under  your  command  His 
Majesty's  ships  named  in  the  margin*,  which  you  may  expect  to  find  there, 
(-and  the  Caj)tains  of  which  are  directed  to  follow  your  orders,)  together 
with  the  tran:-ports,  victuallers,  and  Indiamen;  and  on  leaving  this  island, 
you  will  deliver  to  the  several  Captains  and  Commanders  such  rendezvous, 
in  case  of  separation,  as  may  be  judged  most  likely  to  enable  you  to  arrive 
off  the  Cape  with  the  whole  of  your  collected  force. 

Upon  the  surrender  of  the  settlement  to  His  Majesty's  arms,  you  are  to 
use  your  utmost  diligence,  as  far  as  may  depend  on  you,  to  have  the  troops 
iind  jecruits  destined  for  ]n(Jia,  expeditiously  re-embarked,  in  order  that 
they  may  proceed,  under  the  convoy  of  the  Relliqueux,  to  the  ulterior  desti- 
aation,  notitying  by  them,  or  by  the  earliest  opportunity  which  you  can 
find,  the  surrender  of  tlie  Cape  to  the  two  Commanders  in  Chief  of  His 
iNIajcsty's  Naval  Forces  in  the  Indian  Seas,  in  order  that  the  accustomed 
communication  with  the  eolony  may  again  be  opened.  And  you  are  further 
directed,  as  soon  as  the  object  (jf  the  expedition  stiall  be  accomplished,  to 
send  the  Raisonable  to  St.  [lelena,  with  orders  to  take  under  her  convoy 
such  of  the  vessels  of  the  East  India  Company  and  others,  us  may  bo 
collected  at  that  island,  and  proceed  with  them  to  Spittiead. 

In  the  event  of  circumstances  arising  whicli  may  make  it  expedient  to 
dfsi«t  from  the  enterprise,  you  are  nevertheless  to  detach  the  India  siiips  to 
iheir  rlestination,  under  the  convoy  of  tiie  ]3elliqueux,  and  to  return  with 
tfje  remainder  of  your  force  and  transports  to  St.  Helena;  and  not  fiufling 
thei-e  any  tVesh  instructions,  after  waiting  fifteen  days,  or  longer,  if  it  shall 
be  found  expedient,  you  vvill  proceed  to  Cork,  with  the  ships  and  transports 
imder  your  convoy-,  unless  you  shall  receive  a  different  destination  at  Port 
i'raya,  at  St.  Jago,  where  you  are  directed  to  call  tor  further  orders,  leaving 
at  St.  Helena  the  liaisonable,  to  take  under  her  convoy  any  of  the  liomc- 
warihhound  East  India  shijis,  that  may  either  have  arrived  there,  or  be 
expected  to  aiiive  within  one  month;  but  in  the  event  of  none  being 
there,  nor  any  expected  in  the  above-mentioned  period,  you  are  to 
contiiuic  the  Raisonai)le  imder  your  command,  and  proceed  as  before 
tlireclcd. 

Iinmediatelv  after  tlie  surrender  of  ilie  Cape,  or  in  event  of  circumstances 
arising  which  may  (jbli^e  you  to  de.-i=l  from  the  enterprise,  yon  are  to  dis- 
p.itili  one  of  llu!  >.mall  vessels,  which  will  accompany  you  to  England, 
inmsniirting  to  our  Secretary,  for  our  infonuatiori,  an  account  of  your 
pi'occedmgs. 

(Jiien,  ^c,  July  ?9,  1305. 

RARIIAM, 
.).  GAMBIER, 
Pji.  PATrEN. 

By  conimand  of  their  Lord'hips, 

JoH.N    BaRPvOW. 

In  tills  was  an  Ijiclosnre,  containing  the  Secret  Instructions  to  Sir  D. 
Praird  to  co-operate  with  Sir  II.  Po]ih;uii. 


*  Belliqiieux,   liaisonable,    pioan'.M-,    .\iii\i-sr..':,    i.cdn.   I'.spoir   sloop,  and 
J'ri'jouaU'r  gun-buat. 


212  THIAl    OF    Sia    HOME    FOPIIAM. 

No.  II. 

SIR,  Admiralh/  Office,  August  2,  1805. 

I  am  commanded  by  my  Lords  Commissioners  of  ihe  Admiralty  to  sig-^ 
nlfy  their  direction  to  you  to  send  a  frigate  to  cruise  on  the  east  coast  of 
South  America,  between  Rio  de  Yamira  and  Rio  de  la  Plata,  as  soon  us 
you  shall  have  accomplished  the  object  of  the  expedition  on  which  you  are 
about  to  proceed,  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  intelligence  of  the  eneiny's 
motions,  in  order  that  you  may  be  prepared  against  any  attack  they  may  be 
disposed  to  make  on  the  settlement. 

Yours  J  &c. 

To  Captain  Sir  Home  Pophnm.  JOHN  BARROW. 

No.  3,  is  dated  Admiralty  Office,.  Sept.  14,  1806,  and  directs  Sir  Home 
to  retain  all  the  transports ^at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  after  tiie  reduction 
of  the  settlement,  until  he  received  further  orders. 

No.  4,  dated  Admiralty  Office,  Sept.  24,  directed  Sir  Home  Popham  to; 
send  transports  to  India,  for  the  conveyance  of  the  troups,  which,  according 
to  an  enclosure  addressed  to  Sir  D.  Baird,  that  otiic  cr  was  instrucled  to  send 
to  India,  in  case  of  a  new  war  apprehended  with  Scindea  and  the  Rajah  of 
Berar,  in  conjunction  with  Holkar.  In  this  order  Sir  Home  was  directed  to, 
proceed  to  India  with  the  whole  of  Sir  D.  Baird's  force,  if  necessary,  with 
the  exception  of  the  royal  artillery,  engineers,  apd  light  drngoons,  which  li<f 
was  ordered  to  send  to  Europe,  with  a  frigate  and  the  Raison.'^ble,  provided 
!s>he  had  not  left  the  station.  He  was  also  ordered  to  send  to  Europe  such, 
of  the  prisoners  of  war  as  he  might  not  find  it  expedient  to  enlist. 

The  enclosure  stated,  that  Lord  Cornwallis,  or  such  person  as  shovild  be 
Commander  in  Chief  in  India  at  ttie  time,  was  directed  to  send  for  rein- 
forcements to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  if  required.  After  having  safciy 
conveyed  the  troops  to  India,  Sir  Home  was  directed  to  return  to  the  Cape 
of  Good  Hope  or  to  St.  Helena,  according  to  circumstances,  ''  at  one  of 
which  places  he  might  expert  to  find  orders  for  bis  fmtlier  proceeding!?." 

No.  o,  dated  Admiralty  (Jffice,  Nov.  21,  1805,  ordered  Sir  Home,  on  the 
event  of  the  surrender  of  the  Cape,  to  send  home  without  delay,  under  u 
proper  convoy,  all  the  transports  which  were  not  wanted  for  the  conveyance 
of  the  troops  ordered  to  proceed  to  the  Iv.ist  Indies. 

Nos.  6  and  7,  dated  the  llUh  and  28ih  of  January,  1806,  from  Table 
Bay,  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  contair.cd  Sir  Home  Popliam's  account  of  the 
capture  of  ttic  Cape,  with  the  Articles  of  Capitulation,  Ike,  \\hicii  appeared, 
in  the  London  Gazette. 

No.  8,  a  letter  from  Sir  Home  Popham  to^Mr.  IMarsdcn,  states  tl!ccr,pture 
of  a  Fretich  brig,  which  was  brought  into  the  Cape,  by  which  means  two 
letters  from  Admiral  Linois  to  General  Jauscn,  Commander  of  the  Cape  at 
the  time  of  its  cnpturc,  anr!  to  tl)c  ^Minister  of  I\Jari;ie  at  Paris,  fell  into  Sir 
Home's  hand?.  J'"rom  these  letters  it  appeared,  lliat  Linois  never  again 
intended  to  go  to  the  Isle  of  Prance,  as  provisions  were  not  likely  to  be  had 
there,  if  he  siiouid  have  occasion  for  them.  This  letter  also  states  the 
arrival  of  a  Danish  ship  at  the  Table  Ray,  frum  which  Sir  Hume  Pophain 
learned  that  slic  had  the  evening  before  been  boarded  by  the  Piedinoutese 
Prench  frigate,  which  was  a  large  ship  bound  tor  the  Isle  of  Pr.ince.  Of 
this  the  writer  mentioned,  that  he  would  traiiitnic  intelligence  to  Sir  Edward 
Pellew.  The  following  is  a  paragraph  of  tliis  letter: — "The  letters  from. 
Linois  are  rather  too  equivocal  to  say  exactly  wlicn  be  will  arrive, 
but  he  may  be  expected  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  March,  and  as  the 
Northmnbcriai'd  and  J'liphrates  Indiamen  are  expected  the  beginning  c,f 
the  ensuing  month,  I  s^liall  proceed  minnediately  oft'  the  Cape  with  my  wliole 


TniAL   OF   SIR   HOME    POPIIAM.  213 

aquadron,  to  prevent,  if  possible,  his  falling  in  with  such  valuable  ships  as 
they  would  be  to  him,  as  well  in  point  of  the  intelligence  they  could  give 
him,  as  the  great  supply  of  provisions  and  stores  which  they  contain,  ^nd  of 
which  they  so  essentially  stand  in  need." 

No.  9,  dated  Table  Bay,  March  4,  was  a  letter  from  Sir  Home  to  the 
Admiralty,  communicating  intelligence  of  the  capture  of  a  French  ship 
called  lu  Voloutairc,  which  he  describes  as  "  the  forerunner  of  Admiral 
Willeaumez's  squadron." 

No.  10,  dnted  March  9,  informs  the  Admiralty  of  the  propriety  which 
Sir  Home  felt  of  desisting  from  his  endeavours  to  seize  the  Atalauta  French 
frigate,  because,  as  he  states,  "  the  possibility  of  the  enemy  coming  suddenly 
upon  US,  when  a  number  of  our  men  were  absent,  made  me  c-ntertain  no 
idea  of  again  attempting  to  seize  her." 

No.  li,  dated  Taijle  Ray,  March  12,  states  Sir  Home  Pophaui's  compli- 
ance with  the  request  of  Sir  David  Baird,  to  send  two  transports,  with  tlio 
whole  of  the  French  prisoners,  to  France. — ^Ihe  writer  urges  as  a  reason  for 
complying  with  this  request,  in  addition  to  the  motives  which  operated  upon 
his  own  conduct  on  a  similar  occasion,  (the  sending  to  France  iiie  olbccrs 
and  men  taken  on  board  the  Volontaire.)  "  the  disadvantn^cs,  if  not  the 
cxtrcnie  danger,  that  would  attend  the  detention  of  so  many  French  pri- 
soners, at  a  time  when  an  attack  on  the  colony  i»  a  possible  case,  and  likely 
to  be  so  for  some  days  longer.''  He  added,  tliat  he  would  adopt  the  same 
expedient  v^ith  respect  to  any  prisoners  whom  he  might  capture,  in  case, 
said  ho,  "  any  part  of  the  squadrons  of  which  we  have  had  intelligence 
should  come  in  here  by  small  proportions,  to  water  and  victual." 

No.  i2  is  dated  Table  Bay,  March  15. — In  this  Sir  Home  Popham  men- 
tions the  arrival  of  a  whaler  at  Saldanha  Bay,  the  officer  of  which  stated, 
that  he  had  on  the  Goth  of  February,  in  lat.  .".3°  50'  S.,  and  long.  50°  E.  of 
Greenwich,  fallen  in  with  eight  sail  of  ships,  steering  about  E.S.E.,  and 
thought  them  English  East  Indiamen,  but  he  was  not  lono  in  sight.  'J'hc 
writer  adds,  "  Admiral  Willeaumez's  squadron  consisted  only  of  seven  siiii, 
but  they  may  have  taken  a  prize,  or  this  may  be  a  small  convoy  of 
Jpdiamen." 

No.  13,  (l{\tcd  Table  Bay,  2Ist  of  March,  is  a  letter  from  Sir  Homo,  ii; 
which  he  states,  that  a  brig  from  Tonningen  had  fallen  in  with  the  Leda, 
which  was  at  the  time  cruising  off  St.  Helena,  and  informed  her,  tiiat  he  hiid 
been  boarded  by  Willeaumez's  squadron,  in  lat.  33°  23',  and  long.  10°  E. 
The  IMasfer  of  the  brig  therefore  said  to  the  Captain  of  the  Leda,  ''  get  olf, 
oj:  you'll  be  taken  by  the  Frcnc(i."  From  the  time  at  which  the  brig  had 
met  Willeaumez,  the  writer  concluded,  thf^t  if  bound  tor  the  Cape  he  must 
have  reached  it  some  days  before  this  letter  was  written,  and  IVom  the  pro- 
visions and  water  which  the  fleet  originally  took  out,  as  stated  to  him  by  tht: 
Captain  of  the  \'olontaire,  he  was  of  opinion,  that  it  would  touch  at  Rio  de 
Janeiro.  He  immediately  dispatched  intelligence  by  the  RoUa  brii:, 
to  Admiral  Cochrujio,  iu  the  West  Indies,  to  St,  Helena,  and  to  Sir  E. 
Vellew. 

No.  XIV. 

SIR,  His  j[hjcsfi/'s  Sfiip  Diadem,  Table  Ben/,  April  0,  1806. 

As  thp  season  is  very  far  advanced  for  lying  in  this  Bay,  and  the  weather 
particularly  unsettled  tor  the  time  of  the  year,  I  propose  quitting  it  with 
the  squadron  immediately  ;  more  especially,  as,  from  the  length  of  time 
that  has  elapsed  since  we  heard  of  Admiral  Willeaumez's  fleet,  it  was  very 
improbable,  consistent  with  the  situation  he  was  then  in,  that  he  should 
anchor  at  piesont.  io  determine  his  position  at  the  moment  would  be  im- 
possible, and  it  is  almost  equally  difficult  to  decide  on  the  best  mode  of  apr 


214  TUIAL    OF    SIR    IIOSIE    POPHAM. 

piving  the  exertions  of  the  squadron,  the  ensuing  two  months,  to  the  greatest 
advantage.  The  intelligence  we  received  by  the  Volontaire  and  Camel,  and 
■which  has  already  been  transmitted  to  you  for  their  Lordships'  information, 
appears  materially  to  incline  to  the  supposition,  tliat  the  West  Indies  is  the 
destination  of  Admiral  Willeauraez's  fleet;  but  General  Anker,  the  late 
Governor  of  Tranq-ocLar,  who  is  just  arrived  here  on  his  passage  to  Europe, 
informed  me  in  the  course  of  conversation,  that  a  Irencii  squadron  was 
expected  at  Mauritius,  but  that  it  was  impossible  for  that  island  to  supply 
any  flour  to  it,  without  looking  to  Rio  de  la  Plata,  on  tiie  coast  of  Erazil, 
for  a  supply;  on  which  consideration,  I  think  employing  the  squadron  in 
cruising  a  short  time  oft"  that  coa^t,  instead  of  remaining  idle,  will  he  a  dis- 
position fraught  with  some  advantages,  and  which  I  hope  will  appear 
so  evident  to  their  Lordships,  as  to  induce  them  to  approve  of  this 
measure. 

As  this  letter  is  to  he  conveyed  bv  a  foreign  ship,  I  shall  not  enter  into 
anv  minute  detail,  but  say  it  is  my  intention  to  proceed  of!"  Hio  de  la  Plata 
in -the  first  instance;  to  send  the  llaisonable  to  her  destination  by  the  time 
fixed  ;  the  Diomede  to  Kio  de  Janeiro  to  procure  rice  for  the  colony,  of 
which  it  is  in  the  greatest  want,  and  to  return  imniefhately  to  False  Bay, 
with  the  other  ships,  unless  I  should  hear  that  Admiral  Linois  is  at  St. 
Catherine's,  preparing  to  cruise  for  the  outward-bound  East  India  trade;  in 
which  ca.'e  I  shall  endeavour  to  intercept  him,  if  it  does  nut  infringe  on  the 
time  of  my  return  to  the  Cape,  to  leceivc  their  Lordships'  commands,  in 
consequence  of  the  dispatches  conveyed  by  the  Espoir. 

When  I  have  the  opportunity  of  a  safe  conveyance  to  write  more  fully  to 
their  Lordships,  I  hope  tlse  additional  reasons  I  shall  give  will  be  sutticient 
to  £-atisfv  their  Lordships  of  the  expediency  of  the  measure  which  1  aii) 
about  to  adopt. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  iSjc. 

Wn>.  MarsdcTi,  Esq.  ^c.  I1031E  POPHAM. 

No.  XV. 

SIR,  DiumectC,  Tabic  Hay,  April  \?>,  180G. 

I  had  the  honour  to  address  you  on  the  9th  instant,  for  the  inforavation 
ef  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  and,  as  stated  in  that  letter, 
I  weighed  on  the  JOth  with  a  light  brce/c:,  but  it  soon  £\fter  fell  calm,  and  I 
was  obliged  to  anchor  in  the  outer  part  of  the  bay. 

In  the  evening  I  received  some  intelligence  respecting  the  weak  state  of 
defence  which  Moutc  Video  and  Buenos  Ayres  were  in,  and  I  returned  to 
the  shore  the  follow ing  morning,  to  comnmnicate  it  to  General  Sir  David 
Uaird. 

This  intelligence  so  fully  corroborated  what  I  had  ?,Ircady  received  from 
various  quarters,  that  1  suggested  I  he  expediency  of  sparing  a  few  troo.|)s 
for  a  short  time,  to  enable  us  to  brin^  a  question  of  such  iniportanct  to 
immediate  issue.  I  hesitate  not  to  confess  to  their  J^mJships,  that  I  urged 
it  %vith  every  argument  in  my  power,  from  a  conviction  of  the  great  and 
splendid  benefits  winch  the  con iitry  would  derive  by  a  conquest  of  such  a 
nature  at  this  moment,  embracing  ronsidcratioiis  of  various  advantages,  not 
only  to  the  mother  country,  but  to  this  colony,  which  has  been  tlireatened 
more  or  less  for  many  years  with  lasnnie,  owing  to  the  failure  of  iti 
crops. 

The  result  of  mv  inquiries  for  many  years  respecting  South  An:!crica  in 
general,  and  Buenos  Ayres  in  particular,  have  been  presented  to  XWa 
Majesty's  Governmeiit;  and  as  it  was  at  one  time  settled  that  1  should-  be 
gent  there,  1  tuok  every  pains  to  form  a  detailed  project  for  a  con>l»i«c4 


Tni  V.L  01   sni  HOME  ro¥HAJ,ti  215 

ffpcration,  aiul  winch  I  had  the  liononr  of  eivinc;  to  the  late,  and  sent]iii<T  to 
tlie  present,  I'ir>t  I.onl  of  the  Admiralty.  After  Sir  D.ivid  Baird  had 
scrioii?ily  considered  this  snhjcct,  and  coii?uhcd  with  General  Bcresf(;rd  oa 
the  occasion,  he  detenniiied  to  accede  to  my  proposition,  and  the  71st 
regiiiioiit  \vas  onlered  for  einharkatiini,  under  the  directions  of  Briiiadier 
General  Bcrest'ord;  aud  I  have  the  pleasnre  to  inform  tiieir  Lordships,  that 
the  whole  of  that  rcpjaieiit,  with  its  deUichnient  of  artillery,  iiorses,  and  all 
its  other  departiiuius,  are  eniharked,  and  we  only  "ait  a  breeze  to  sail;  and 
the  concurrent  testimonies  of  various  people  whom  we  have  examined,  gi\e 
us  the  c'rcatest  prospect  of  success. 

If  our  expectations  are  realized,  I  shall  lose  no  time  in  bcjrin'j;  myself  the 
di»|)atches  for  En;:land  ;  Sir  David  Baird  will  notice  this  to  Lord 
(.'astlereaj^h,  and  a-^sigr.  the  reasons  on  whicli  such  a  decision  was  founded; 
one  of  the  principal  ones  however  is,  that  of  conveyins^  to  their  Lordships 
the  true  situation  of  the  country,  its  commerce,  resources,  dispositio;i  of 
the  inhahitants,  and  the  extent  to  which  its  exportatior.s  may  be  curried, 
with  a  scaL'  also  of  the  consumption  for  the  manufactures  of  (ireat  Biitain. 
Althoui:;!)  these  are  points  on  which  I  cannot  doubt  Ijut  their  Lordships 
liKve  collected  a  j^rcat  deal  of  information,  yet  I  consider  what  may  be  per- 
sonally conveyed  by  an  othcer,  w  [lose  sole  ambition  is  to  obt;iin  ttieir  Lord- 
ships' confidence  and  <iood  opinion,  will  he  more  s:ei\eral,  more  correct, 
and  more  specilic,  than  any  whicii  can  he  obtained  by  other  channels; 
and  as  Captani  Row  lev  is  the  next  oiUcer  on  the  list  to  myself,  I  considered 
that  the  service  would  be  deprived  of  little  dignity  w  ith  resjxxt  to  rank, 
and  certainly  none  in  point  of  zeal,  judgment,  and  ability. 

I  have  only  presumed  to  say  a  few  words  on  the  advantage  which  we  may 
dcri\e  by  the  exports  from  this  country,  by  the  cliaimel  of  importation 
which  it  opens,  up  a  navii^alile  river  for  many  hundred  lea;:ues,  to  supply 
several  millions  of  inhabitants  with  the  manufactures  of  the  United  Kin;^- 
dom.  Therein,  however,  another,  not  of  less  conse(]ucnce  on  any  con- 
sideration, which  is  that  of  dtprivin;^  the  enemy  of  this  most  valuable  trade, 
^^hich  is  carried  on  entirely  under  neutral  ila^s.  These  prosjjLcts  not  oniv 
apply  to  Great  Britam,  but  the  connnunication  with  this  colony  will  remove 
all  idea  of  famine  in  future,  antl  be  attended  with  vast  reciprocal  advan- 
tap;es,  far  beyond  any  calculation  of  risk  in  the  present  undiM-takiuj:.  Tiiis 
letter  will  go  by  a  neutral  ship,  but  I  hope  under  such  a  precaution  as  will 
almost  ensure  its  safe  delivery.  I  \vill,  however,  not  enter  into  any  fur- 
ther parti<:ulars,  but  sttite,  for  the  iuformatiou  of  their  Lord.shi[)S,  that  the 
moment  the  place  is  taken,  I  shall  send  to  Uio  de  Janeiro,  because  it  may 
enable  His  Majesty  to  give  discretionary  powers  to  any  troops  bound  to 
India,  touching  at  Janeiro,  to  proceed  to  la  Plata,  if  the  Conmiandinj^ 
Ulhcer  hears  that  it  is  in  oin*  possession. 

I  will  also  send  notice  to  St.  Helena,  as  the  Governor  may  be  induced  to 
spare  us  a  i'vw  troo])s  from  that  island,  and  I  have  already  adviseil  him  of 
this  enterprise,  hoping  that,  in  the  (irst  instance,  he  may  be  able  to  detach 
one  hundred  artillery  men  in  the  Georgiana  jiacket,  and  at  the  same  tim«- 
acquaint  me  if  he  has  inlorniatiou  of  a  man  of  war  from  England  from  his 
June  conioy,  wdiieh  will  prevent  the  necessity  of  my  sending  the  Uaisouable 
or  another  ship  there  from  la  Plata. 

I  enclose  to  their  Lordships  one  of  the  letters  which  I  have  received  from 
the  master  and  ow  ner  of  an  American  ship,  who  is  now  on  board  the  Dia- 
dem ;  and  the  result  of  many  examinations  is,  that  there  are  not  above  five 
Inmdrcd  regular  troops  at  the  two  places,  some  provisional  cavalry  and  mi- 
litia ;  that  the  walls  of  Monte  Video  are  in  a  very  ruinous  state,  and  the  in- 
habitants disatVected  beyond  any  calcuhition. 

I  hope  the  view  I  have  given   tiieir   Lordships  of  my  conduct,  aud  ihr 


S16  TRIAL    OF    SIR   HOME    POPHAM. 

motives  by  which  I  was  induced  so  strongly  to  press  on  Sir  David  Baii'd  tKljr 
expediency  of  undertakina;  a  project  of  zeal,  enterprise,  and  exertion,  pro^ 
inibing  so  much  honoured  prospect  ofadvantage  to  the  empire,  will  be  con-* 
f^idered  by  their  Lordsliips  as  far  preferable  to  the  alternative  of  allovvini^ 
tiie  squadion  I  have  the  honour  to  command  to  moulder  away  its  natural 
«nerij;y  by  wintering  in  False  Bay,  and  eventually  become  paralysed  after 
remaining  so  long,  as  it  has  done,  in  a  state  of  cold  defensive  inactivity. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  6ic. 

HOME  POPHAM. 

In  tliis  letter  were  the  following  enclosures.  The  first  is  from  the  Amei'i- 
can  Captain  alluded  to  iu  the  tbrmer  letter. 

sir..  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  QUth  Mairfi,  1806. 

I  heg  leave  to  represent  to  you,  that  I  have  been  three  times  to  Buenos 
Ayres  and  IMonre  Video  ;  that  lioth  places  have  the  greatest  abundance  of 
wheat,  flour,  and  intleed  evei'y  sort  of  provision.  From  n^y  knowledge  of 
the  minds  and  disposition  of  the  inhabitants,  I  can  assure  you  that  His  Ma- 
jesty's squadron  imdtr  your  command,  wit!;  a  small  military  assistance, 
would  with  ease  take  possession  of  either  of  those  places ;  and  if  permanent 
possession  could  he  cllccted,  there  is  not  the  smallest  doubt  of  procuring 
any  quantity  of  flour  ;  and  to  prove  to  you  that  it  is  not  an  idle  suggestion 
to  mislead  the  British,  I  could  !ia\eno  objection  to  be  one  of  live  hun- 
ched men  to  attack  either  place.  I  am  sure  the  inhabitants  are  so  ridden 
by  their  government,  that  to  prevent  a  shot  being  fired  at  Monte  Video,  if 
they  had  any  threat  from  the  men  of  war,  they  would  send  out  any  quantity 
of  flour  or  biscuit  to  prevent  mischief;  but  the  places  may  be  taken  as  I 
describe  ;  and  if  the  trade  is  thrown  open,  all  the  inhabitants  would  willingly 
acquire  and  keep  the  place  for  the  British  nation  without  troops,  which 
would  be  a  mine  of  wealth.  I  hope  you  will  not  make  use  of  my  name  im- 
properly, as  it  may  injure  me  greatly.    I  myself,  with  my  sliip ,  are  at 

jour  service,  to  do  w  hat  you  please  to  get  possession  of  JBuenos  Ayres. 

I  am,  &ic. 


The  other  enclosure  was  Sir  Home's  letter  to  Governor  Patten,  St.  Helena, 
in  which  the  Hon.  Captain  enclosed  his  letter  to  the  Admiralty,  and  re- 
quested some  military  assistance,  particularly  a  company  of  artillery,  or 
8uch  force  as  he  could  spare.  This  letter  is  dated  Table  Bay,  I3th  of 
April. 

No.  16,  dated  St.  Helena,  30th  April,  is  as  follows: — 
siu,  (COPY.) 

Conformably  to  the  letter  I  had  the  honour  of  addressing  to  you  the  1.3th 
instant,  I  sailed  from  the  Cape  with  the  ships  named  in  the  margin*,  hav- 
ing on  board  ti:e  71st  regiment,  with  a  small  detachment  of  artillery,  and  a 
few  dismounted  dragoons. 

On  the  night  of  the  20tb,  in  very  squally  unsettled  weather,  attended 
with  a  high  sea,  the  Ocean  parted  company  ;  and  as  I  thought  it  possible 
she  might  have  rolled  away  the  main-mast,  and  bore  up  for  St.  Helena,  it 
was  deemed  advisable  to  bear  up  for  that  island,  not  only  on  account  of 
the  Ocean,  but  because  it  had  been  suggested  as  pos.sible  that  the  Gover- 
nor Hiight  be  able  to  spare  a  few  hundred  troops  to  strengthen  the  expe- 

*  Diadem,  Raisonable,  Diomede,  Narcissus,  Encounter. — Transports — Walkr-r, 
TiivoD,  Nelanchoi  OceaS)  AVillingtou. 


XniAL    OF   SIR    HOME    POPHAM.  217 

"dition  ;  esppcinlly  as  it  had  been  proposed,  during  the  late  war,  to  attempt 
3  similar  c'i^tci[)rise  with  the  trorjps  of  the  island  only. 

That  no  time  mi^Iit  he  lobt  after  this  decision  was  taiken,  I  dispatched 
the  Encuinircr  to  Captain  Honeyman,  who  was  cniisiuL;  oti"  the  nii;uili  of 
the  river,  to  warn  him  of  the  probable  arrival  of  the  CK;eaii ;  and  the  Nar- 
cissus was  sent  to  St.  Helena  with  letter  No.  1,  to  the  GovxM-nor;  and  al- 
thouyjh  I  have  not  yet  received  nn  official  answer,  vet  he  has  ordered  one 
hundred  and  fifty  infantry,  and  (jne  lunidred  artillei'V  men,  with  two  how- 
itzers, to  join  the  ex|)cdirion  ;  and  as  [  truKt  they  will  be  embarked  either 
this  mornintjj  or  early  to-morrow  morning,  I  hope  we  shall  be  able  to  sail 
immediately  in  the  execution  of  this  service. 

I  am,  &c. 

IIOMK  POPHAM. 

Since  writing  ihs  above,  I  have  received  the  Governor's  answer,  No.  2 ; 
to  vvhich  I  have  annexed  my  answer,  No.  3,  tor  their  Lordships'  iufornia- 
tion. 

The  enclosed  contain  the  letters  referred  to  in  this  p(jsrscript. 

No.  17,  dated  Rio  de  la  I'lata,  July  19,  is  the  dibpatch  from  Sir  Home  to 
the  Admiralty,  summoning  the  gari'ison  of  liueno>  Ayres.  This  letter  con- 
tains the  copies  of  two  letters,  the  one  addressed  to  the  officer,  senior  in 
command  to  sir  Home  Pophain,  at  the  Cape  of  (Jood  ihjpc,  and  the  other 
to  any  othcer,  jim.  Pjoth  press  strongly  for  reinforccmeiits,  in  oider  to  be 
enal)li'd  to  proceed  to  farther  offeuoive  operations,  pariicularly  against 
Monte  Video.  In  the  letter  to  the  junior  oliicer.  Sir  Home  srates>  "  I 
tliiiik  it  rii;ht  to  direct  that  you  lose  no  time  in  disjjattliing  all  the  naval 
force  at  the  Cape  to  this  place,  except  such  part  as  Sir  David  Uaird  and 
yourself  may  think  it  absolutely  necessary  to  deiam  there.'' 

No.  18,  is  a  letter  from  Sir  George  Shee  to  Mr.  Al  irsden,  enclosing  the 
copies  of  two  letters  addressed  by  .Sir  David  iiaird  to  Lord  Castlereagh,  and 
dated  at  the  Cape  of  Cocjd  Hope,  on  the  l4ih  of  April  and  6di  of  i\Iay. 
The  first  of  these  letter's  comnnuiicates  an  account  of  the  dctaclimcnt  whicii 
Sir  David  Baird  hati  sent  \\ith  Sir  Home  i'opiiain  to  the  ilio  de  la  Plata, 
and  states  the  reasons  which  iiuliiced  that  otiicer  c>;  concur  in  the  enterpri/.e, 
which  reasons  are  quite  tantamount  to  those  that  appear  in  Sir  Home 
Popham's  letter  to  the  Admiralty,  detailed  in  No.  15. — 'General  baird  ex- 
presses his  hope  that  the  importance  of  the  object,  and  the  apparent  facility 
of  attaining  it,  will  serve  to  reconcile  His  Majc-ty's  Government  to  his  con- 
duct in  undertaking  it  without  any  special  commtuui.  Tlie  3d  letter  from 
(icneral  Baird  contains  an  account  (jf  the  Cannouier  French  frigate  hav  iig 
on  the  CUth  of  April  anchored  in  .Simon's  Bay,  and  sending  on  sliore,  suj;- 
posing  the  Cape  to  be  >til!  in  pos=essioii  oi"  the  Dutch  :  hut  that  the  Lieu- 
tenant was,  with  his  boat's*,  re  .v,  taken  prisoners,  and  the  Canuonier  Cacap- 
ed  by  cutting  and  putting  to  sea  again  with  the  greatest  i>iccipitatiou,  leav- 
ing t\vo  anchor-i  and  cables  behinii  her.  I'liis  letli.-r  t'urilier  uientioued  t:  e 
capture  m  Table  Bay  of  the  hv'nx  Fortuna  under  iMelanhurLih,  bound  to  the 
Ca|ie  and  to  Batavia.  '1  he  writer  meulious,  tiiat  amo.ig  some  dispatches 
which  were  found  on  board  this  brigj  wa^  an  order  to  the  Gcnernoi'  at  the 
Cape,  (supposing  that  place  of  course  to  be  in  p'j-session  of  the  Dulcn,)  to 
receive  any  French  troops  which  might  arrive,  in  a  distinguished  niitnncr, 
and  to  yield  the  commaad  of  the  French  and  Batavian  fortes  tu  tne  senior 
olHcer  of  the  former,  alriiough  of  inferior  rank.  "  An  inference,"  observes 
Cicneral  Baird,  "  may,  I  think,  be  faii'iy  drawn  from  this  C;rcum-lance,  that 
the  French  mediiaied  to  soiiii  out  a  body  of  troops  for  the  purpo-,e  of  cither 
taking  possession  of  the  Ca[)e,  or  of  forming  a  c.on_^,uiiiU.  expedition  against 
St.  Helena,  or  some  of  liur  Asiatic  possessions." 


/^ab.  ^!)ron.  ^toI.XVII. 


r  F 


21 S  TKIAL    OF    SIR    HOME    POPHAM. 

Upon  reading  the  fin^t  enclosure  in  the  last  number, 

Sir  lloMfc  I'mUAM  })ointffl  out  :tii  l)!lli^^iiot»,  proljuliiy  in  rlie  copviit-:  the 
letter,  as  it  only  mentiouf  tl  "  the  West,"  whereas  il  bh'>uid  have  hecn  "  the 
\^Vsr  Indic:^,"  tn  wliicli  tiie  Treuch  lleet  had  pn^aecuted  ilirir  voyage,  ae- 
Cf)Tdui<x  to  the  iiil'onnatioii  !ic  liad  rci"ei\ed,  u:id  Sir  I).  Baird  iiad  his  intelli- 
g«iice  from  him  ;  therellire  there  inunt  have  heeii  a  mistake  in  the  omission 
of' the  woid  '•  Indu:-."  wliicli  he  wished  to  iiavt  corrected,  lest  any  impro- 
per iinprc  siunsho'.ihl  be  pioduced  by  the  stateuicnt  as  it  now  a{)pca!ed. 

3Ir.  .Iluvis  wa^-  not  di^incliutd  to  admit  ihat  there  niii>,lit  be  such  a  niis- 
tpke  as  that  alluded  to  i>y  the  Hon.  Captain  ;  but  as  he  iiad  not  brought 
down  the  original,  he  could  not  state  positively.  This  (jriginal,  indeed,  he 
did  not  tliink  material,  as  he  did  not  mean  to  oUer  the  letteis  referred  to  as 
evidence  against  the  Hon.  Captain,  althou^.h  read  in  the  staleme.it  of  the 
qharj^e. 

Sir  iloMK  PorriAM  was  aware  that  sucli  letters  were  not  adnii;:sible  e\i~ 
dence  aj^ainst  him  ;  yet  he  wished  that  afiy  document  hiid  btlbre  the  Court 
hlinnhl  be  correct,  and  in  that  case  he  bad  no  objection  whatever  liiat  any 
letter  and  paper  at  all  rtlaliu::;  to  the  subject  of  the  charj^e  l^eforc  the  Court, 
should  be  brau;;ht  forward.  Indeed,  lie  C(ndd  not  i)at  be  anxitjus  that  every 
thin;:  connected  with  this  business  shouhl  transpire — concealment  was  not 
Lis  interest. 

This  conversation  ended  by  an  admission,  tliat  Sir  Homo  Pophani  repre- 
sented his  belief  to  Sir  David  liaircl  that  llie  Ficncli  licet  had  gone  to  the 
West  Indies,  which  admission  was  entered  accordinsly. 

The  .1:  DGK  Advocate  having  stated,  that  the  papers  which  he  had  read 
composed  ail  that  were  referred  to  in  the  charge  before  the  Court, 

iMr.  .Iervis  asiicd,  whether  the  Hon.  Canrain  adinitiCil  the  receipt  ot  the 
on-^mal  instructions  of  the  c;9th  of  .Inly,  lb05  r 

Sir  HoMF.  Poi'HA-ii. — '•  Certalidy  ;  and  1  admit  every  document  referred 
to  in  the  cluuge,  which  purports  to  have  been  written  by  me;  also  such  as  I 
received." 

The  instructions  \\-erc  read  over  again  as  evidcr,ce  ;  b.ut  sonic  ofthed'  cu- 
nients,  which  iinmedialcly  t'oliowed,  benig  but  copied,  with  some  bdaiiks, 
the  Court  adjourned  f(n-  some  time,  until  the  originals  were  sent  for 
a-shorfe. 

Sir  Home  Popham  stated,  tl.at  ho  never  received  the  Nos.  3,  4,  and  5, 
until  the  other  day,  cai  his  return  to  England.  He  therefore  could  know 
nothing  tit  the  orders  they  cui. tamed. 

Mr.  Jervis  admitted  that  these  dispatches  did  not  form  evidence  to 
affect  the  Hon.  Captaiu,  as  knowing  their  contents.  He  adduced  them 
merely  as  evidence,  that  such  orders  were  issued  by  the  Admiralty. 

Sir  IIoMi  PoriiAM  asked  ihen,  if  not  against  bim,  why  bring  them  for- 
ward at  all  upon  his  trial  r 

Mr.  .lERVJs. — "  I'o  show  that  the  Board  of  Admiralty  believed  the  Hon. 
Captain  to  be  at  the  C'ape  to  receive  orders." 

riie  PuE^inr.NT. — "  As  there  is  no  evidence  of  the  receipt  of  these  orders, 
of  course  no  charge  of  disobedience  can  arise  out  of  them." 

After  some  further  discussion,  the  President  ordered,  that  the  letters^ 
8cc.  should  be  admitted,  observing,  that  tlie  (  ourt  might  afttrwards  con- 
sider, how  far  they  l)ore  upon  the  case  before  it. 

'ihe  learned  Gentleman  here  stated,  that  the  case  for  the  prosecution 
was  closed.  He  observed,  that  the  Hon.  Captain,  in  a  letter  olhcially 
received  from  him  yesterday,  placed  a  good  deal  of  emphasis  upon  what  he 
called  the  introduction  of  new  matter  into  the  cliarge,  whicli  had  been  re- 
cently conveyed  to  him.  But  having  seen  tiie  char;:e,  a  copy  of  wliich  was 
Uiuisinitted  to  the  lion.  Captain  iuunediately  after  liis  arrival  in  England, 


t;;i\l  or  sir  homi;  i-oj-uam,  2I^ 

luc  declared  that  be  saw  no  material  difference  between  tirat  and  the  former. 
;|^Ie  was  sorry  tlsat,  in  the  toniicr,  the  dacunicnis  to  l>u  adduced  in  evi- 
dence were  not  s|Kci(i<ally  described,  as  the  llon.C^iptaid  jirot'essed  to  foci 
sunie  inconvenieiire  on  account  of  thatoujission. 

bjr  Howe  I'oi'.'iam  ob^x■rved,  tiiat  the  diii'erence  would  be  obvious  to 
any  man  wiio  reviewed  the  dufunients  themselves.  Indeed  there  v\  ere  some 
papers  read  to-day  nl^.ieh  he  had  never  Seen  or  lieard  ol'. 

1  he  PuiisiDENi  lelHng  bir  lionie  l'apha;n  that  lie  was  now  at  liberty  to 
enter  ujxjn  Ins  defence,  Sir  Uomf,  requested  liberty  to  retire  with  his  conn- 
sel  tor  a  lev.-  moments,  which  was  s^ranted.  Ljjun  bib  return  to  Coni't,  Sir 
Home  said,  he  n)ust  confess  that  he  could  not  feel  himself  coJ'Ortcdile  if 
callerl  upon  to  eater  into  his  defence  before  jMo:uiLiy.  He  sii(>ul(l  be  happy 
to  conic  forward  to-morrow  if  it  were  in  his  po'.ver,  but  he  hopeti  the  Couit 
would  feel  it  very  natural  that  he  slioald  be  piopared,  when  they  redectcd 
that  theic  were  some  icflers  advanced  in  evidence  against  him  \vliich  he 
never  heard  of  until  this  tiay,  and  that  some  procecdm;;s  had  been  taken 
by  his  I'rosecutors,  of  wliicti  he  was  not  apprised  until  he  came  to  Ports- 
mouth. 

F^iu-.siOK\T. — "  There  arc  oliiccrs  here  who  have  been  called  away  from 
I'a.ious  stations,  where  they  are  enga'^ed  in  the  service  of  their  country, 
therefore  every  convenient  expeditani  is  desirable.  Perhaps  by  t  )-iiiorrovv 
yon  may  be  able  to  prepare  y(;ur  defence;  in  that  hope  we  sh:;!!  aiijoarti 
the  Court  until  then;  if  not  ready,  yon  will  state  when  you  can  be  so.  I 
trust  you  will  endeavour  to  come  forvvard  as  soon  as  possible." 

Sir  Home  Porn  am  expressed  iiis  anxiety  to  come  forward  as  early  as 
possible;  but  observefl,  that  there  were  some  letters  for  wliiih  he  had 
applied  to  the  Admiralty,  that  he  hud  not  yet  received;  and  he  trusted 
f.hat  that  Honourable  Ccjurt  would  feel,  that  it  was  due  to  iiis  ciiaracter,  to 
omit  no  endeavour  to  meet  every  pare  of  the  accusation. 

1  lie  Court  then  adjourned,  until  Saturday,  the 

SIX'OND  DAY. 

Sir  Home  Popham,  upon  bis  appearance  in  Court,  was  asked  by  tli^ 
president,  whctiier  he  was  ready  to  enter  upon  his  defence.'' 

I'iie  Hon.  Captain  replied,  that  however  anxious  he  must  be  to  stratify  the 
wish  of  the  C«)urt,  and  to  briui;  this  business  to  a  conclusion,  he  was  mott 
sincerely  umvilling  to  occasion  t!ie  Court  any  delay  that  could  consistently 
be  av'oided.  But  from  the  alteriition  vvliich  appeared  between  the  charge 
ori!!;inally  served  upon  him  in  London,  aiul  that  which  he  had  received 
from  the  Judge  Advocate  since  hi,-  arrival  at  Portsmouth ;  the  for.ner 
referrini;;  to  but  three  letters,  the  luttcr  to  no  less  than  eighteen,  some  of 
which  he  had  heard  for  the  hrst  time  yesterday,  hastily  read  in  Court; 
from  the  very  severe  aniiaadvei-sions  upon  his  conrluct,  which  had  been 
made  in  the  Senate;  and  the  party  animadvernons  still  more  severe  which 
had  appeai'cd  in  some  of  the  periodical  publications;  be  felt  it  essentially 
neces-ary  to  his  character  to  enter  at  large  into  all  the  facts  wiiich  he  had  it 
in  his  power  to  adduce  in  Ids  defence.  He  therefore  found  it  im[)0  sible 
to  come  prepared  at  that  moment,  the  more  especially  as  it  was.  amono- 
other  eircumstauces,  his  misfortune  recently  to  meet  with  a  very  -erioiis 
domestic  atflcction,  arising  out  of  the  animadversions  he  tiad  already  alluded 
to.  For  these  reas^ms,  which  he  hoped  the  Court  would  feel  siilfu  lent  to 
(.Miervate  and  disarrange  any  man's  mind,  ho  rey;rerted  to  say,  that  he  was 
quite  iinalile  to  comply  with  the  wisiies  of  the  Comt.  by  enterin;^  into  his 
defence  at  present.  Put  there  were  some  letters,  v.iiieh,  in  order  to  save 
j^inie,  he  wished  now  to  have  read.  These  letters  were,  that  which  was 
y,ddrossed  to  him  by  the  Judge  AdvocftCc,  and  dated  the  4tli  instant,;  and 


220  IRTAL    or   SIR    IIQME    fOPHAM. 

also  liis  onn  letter  to  Mr.  Scrrctai y  Marsden,  ref]iiinng  a  copy  of  the  trin! 
of  Captain  Thomps-jn,  with  whom  he  (Sir  Home)  had  sailed  as  a  Mid^hipr^ 
iToan  for  three  ye;irs  ;  also  iii-i  letter  of  the  30th  of  April,  from  St.  Helena, 
the  mere  addenda  to  "liicli  were  read  by  the  prosecutor;  also  the  Gazette 
.of  tiie  27tii  of  July  hist,  in  order  to  compare  it  with  his  letter  of  the  same 
date  ;  also  the  enclosures  in  his  letter  to  the  Admiralty,  of  the  &th  of 
October,  1S05. 

The  Pkl.mdent  asked  Sir  Home,  whether  the  letters  he  required  to  have 
read  were  necesst.ry  to  his  defence  ? 

Sir  HoMi-;  replied,  that  in  his  defence  he  meant  to  refer  to  them. 

Mr.  JtBvis  obherved,  that  the  Charge  before  the  Court  was  word  for 
vord  the  same  witli  that  which  he  had  itrn  before  the  Hon.  Captain  came 
to  Enszland,  and  which  was  presented  to  him,  he  understood,  immediately 
upon  hi3  arrival.  The  learned  Gentleman  t!ien  entered  into  some  legal 
objections  to  the  right  of  tlie  Hon.  Captain  to  demand  papers  or  evidence 
from  his  prosecutors.  He  did  not  wish  to  press  this  ohjection,  but  yet  he 
wished  it  to  be  understood,  that  he  felt  it  to  he  perfectly  tenable.  'I'he 
leTinicd  Gentleman  was  proceedin;;,  when  he  was  interrupted  by  the  Court, 
who  told  him,  that  he  could  not  be  allowed  to  go  into  any  observations  of 
that  nature. 

The  Judge  Advocate  observed,  that  the  letter  from  him  to  the  Hon. 
Captain,  was  only  meant  to  apprize  the  Hon.  Captain  of  the  intended 
t;  ial,  ill  order  that  he  might  be  fully  prepared. 

Sir  HoMK  Foi'iiAM. — "  But  I  only  received  that  note  of  preparation  on 
Thursilay  last.  I  approach  this  Honourable  Court  with  great  deference, 
and  I  offer  my  sentiments  with  extreme  ditfidence  ;  but  I  must,  deprecate 
the  learned  Gentleman's  perseverance  in  his  le;;al  discussions.  I  am  sur- 
prised that  the  karucd  Prosecutor  should  take  advantage  of  the  absence  of 
my  legal  friend  and  adviser,  (we  understood  the  Hon.  Captain  to  mean 
I\Ir.  Harrison,  ^^hu  was  absent,)  to  engaj;e  in  discussions  of  this  nature. 
Although  1  am  Ciware,  that  I  am  under  llie  protection  of  a  more  paramount 
Counsel,  the  President  of  this  Hon.  Court,  I  cannot  help  remarking,  tiiat  it 
would  have  been  more  liberal  in  the  Proiecutor  to  have  suspended,  under 
the  circumstances  I  have  mentioned,  his  animadversions  upt^n  the  law  of 
e'.'idence.  I  am,  upon  sood  authority,  justified  in  believing  that  instances 
b.ive  occurred,  in  which  such  requests  as  I  have  made  for  paper.s,  a;id  as 
the  learned  Gantlcman  deprecates,  have  been  immediately  complied  with. 
Bi^t  even  suppo  ing  no  precedent  had  existed,  would  it  be  derogatory  to  the 
diguity  of  the  Ad.niralty,  to  introduce  a  liberal  precedent  in  my  favoin";  as 
it  has  ihoDjilit  projjer  to  establi>h  a  precedent  so  new,  as  that  of  sending 
down  the  learned  Gentleman  as  the  Prosecutor  against  me;  as  it  has  thouglit 
proper  to  apjioint  one,  who,  independeatly  of  the  advantage  derived  from 
tiis  consu-iations  with  that  lion.  Board  m  London,  is  also  enabled  to  avail 
liiaiself  of  the  information  he  had  the  opportunity  of  obtaining  from  the 
ingenuity  and  profound  knowledge  of  the  Counsel  to  the  Adniiraliy,  with 
wtjoni  no  one  is  more  intin.ate  tlian  the  learned  Prosecutor.''  But  my 
jnca)  acity  to  contend  with  tlie  learned  Gentleman,  particularly  upon  (jucj- 
tions  of  Itgal  dithculty,  will  be  >tiil  moie  evident  to  tliis  Hon.  Court,  when 
I  state,  that  even  here  he  h-.is  it  in  his  power  occJtsionally  to  resort  to  the 
Advice  of  the  Counsel  for  the  Admiralty;  to  the  advice  of  one  who  has 
yover  before  been  heard  of  in  a  Court  Martial,  although,  on  thid  opcasion, 
bis  profound  juilginent  and  ele\;Kcd  talents  can  be  referred  to  by  the  Pro-» 
seciitor,  while  tli^  learned  Counsel  is,  by  the  use  of  a  sort  of  invisible 
ring,  concealed  from  the  hglit,  and  from  the  avowed  knowledge  of  liu:^ 
Coin-r." 

Tbi;  PRE=iDr.\T  desired  the  Hon.  Officer  would  read  the  list  of  papers  h^ 
^efiiied  i;;  expedient  to  hu.vc  read  to  t-ie  Court. 


TRIAL    OF    SIR    HOMK    rOI'HAM.  "2*21 

Sir  HoMl.  %nve  in  the  list  requircil,  and  after  the  Court  had  consulted  for 
A  tew  minutes  widi  Mr.  Jervis,  all  ^tl■allI:cr^  wc-f  oHt-rcd  to  be  cxcludtd. 
The  Court  was  ctuscd  lor  ab()nt  an  hour,  afur  vshich  it  was  ro-opeiicd,  'and 
the  Judcrc  Advocate  read  the  fwHowiiig  decision,  addressing  hiiustlf  to  Sir 
Home  Popham  :  — 

"  The  Coart  liavioir  taken  liito  cc)n>i(ltTatinn  yoxir  app!tc:ition,  to  be 
allowed  until  nine  o'clock  on  INIonday  uiortiinjx  to  prepare  your  DefencF-, 
liave  consented  to  yonr  request;  but  as  the  principal  rea>on  yuu  have  tjiven 
for  asking;  for  more  time,  is  ihe  introduction  of  aqreat  variety  of  new  matter 
into  the  char^'p,  the  Court  tiiiuk  it  necessary  to  ob^^erve,  iljat  be! ween  the 
copies  of  the  iiitendcd  Charj^e  as  sent  by  tlie  Sccretarv  of  the  Admiralry, 
and  that  delivered  to  vou  by  liie  Jndjjc  jXdvocate,  tlK-rc  is  no  materiiil 
difference;  that  no  new  matter  has  been  introduced,  the  only  ditVerencc 
between  them  consisting  in  the  insertion  of  a  list  of  papers  intended  for  the 
support  of  the  charge,  and  the  Court  consider  it  to  be  more  rcL;n!ar  to  hear 
your  Defence  before  anv  other  documents  itiall  be  produced." — The  Court 
then  adjourned  to  Monday. 

THIRD  DAY. 

On  the  opening  of  the  Court,  Sir  Home  Popham  immediately  proceeded 
to  read  his  Dpfejiee,  in  substance  as  follows  :— 

MR.    PRtsiPEXT, 

Aftpr  havint;  devoted  the  preater  part  of  my  life  to  the  service  of  mjr 
King  ,'ind  Country,  I  am  broui^ht  before  you,  and  tlie  otljer  .NJcmljcrs  ol  this 
Honourable  Court,  to  vindirate.  my  conduct  upon  a  charge  as  extraordinuiy 
m  its  nature,  and  unprecedenfed  in  the  form  aiid  mode  in  which  it  is  pre- 
ferred, as  perhaps  was  ever  submitted  U)  the  investigation  of  a  Court 
JMartial. — [  am  brought  to  trial  by  that  superior  ;uithoriiy  to  which  every 
Oilicci*  in  His  Majesty's  Naval  .Serxice  loolis  up  for  reward  and  protecti<m, 
for  having  zcalou-ly,  and  to  the  best  of  jny  judument  and  abilities, 
employed,  within  the  limits  of  my  station,  tiic  means  placed  at  my  disposal 
in  making  a  succcsst'ul  attack  on  a  possession  bilunging  to  the  enemy, 
instead  ofsutYering  the  squadron  I  commanded  to  remain  inactive.  —  I  ara 
ehargei!  with  having  withdrawn  from  the  ('a[x:  of  (Jood  llo})e  the  iiavai 
force  with  which  I  bad  completely  fultilled  liic  orders  I  had  received  for 
Its  capture,  and  xvith  having  left  that  loiiqncst  unprotected  ;  thouLih,  in  tlie 
judgment  of  tiie  very  able  and  distinguished  .Military  Oliicer  commandin; 
there,  it  was  in  perfect  security;  with  having  acted  contrary  to  the  informa- 
tion I  had  received,  though  that  information  was  the  groundwork  of  iny 
proceedings;  and  in  the  conclusion  of  the  accusation,  uiy  conduct  is  pre- 
judged, and  circumstances  which,  in  ordinary  cases,  are  stated  a-,  facts, 
whence  the  Court  are  left  to  draw  the  inference  of  guilt  or  innocence,  are 
against  me  chariitd  to  constitute  a  flagrant  breach  of  public  duty  ;  aud, 
contrary  to  that  nniversally-iicknowledged  principle  of  justice,  \\hich  pre- 
sumes every  man  innocent  till  he  is  [)roved  'o  be  otherwise,  punishment, 
instead  of  trial  and  investigation,  is,  I  liumbh  conceive,  fur  the  tirst  time  iu 
the  annals  of  the  British  Navy,  imperiously  (len»an>led  iVoiii  the  high  tnbu- 
Uid  before  vv^hich  I  have  n<»w  the  honour  to  appear. 

To  the  ;,;i!bs(  quent  part  of  the  charge,  deiaihng  and  commenting  on  the 
fiocumeuts  v.hicii  are  reterrid  to  in  support  of  it,  I  r.'.so  wish  to  call  the 
attention  oftheCpnrt;  as  J  am  confident  it  will  appear,  thai  inuiy of  those 
comments  ar^'  not  juAtilied  by  the  liucumeiits  professed  to  be  r«citeil ;  and  the 
Court  uiil  iia.e  perceived  tliat  many  of  tliose  letters  and  details  were  no 
<'\ideiice  against  me,  and  that  iwany  which  were  so  read,  as  part  of  tlie 
charge,  were  not  attempted  afterwards  to  be  proved  at  all: — tlie  productitm 
^f  :ho,e  ducuments,   or  rather  the   iL.kJii:^^  of  theiU;  as  p-.u't  of  tiic  charije. 


2:i2  TRIAL    OF    SIR    HOME    POPKAM. 

makes  it  necessary  that  I  should  comment  on  them  and  their  STippOSi^d 
effect  j  and  I  sincerely  lament  that  this  necessity  compelled  me  rnoit 
uimillingly  to  ask  the  indulgence  nf  the  Court  until  this  morninj];. 

I  am  not  disposed,  Sir,  to  complain  of  those  who  have  directed  this 
'investigation,  for  having  broui;ht  me  before  you;  yet  I  cannot  but  think. 
Sir,  that  I  have  some  little  right  to  complain  of  not  having  received  any 
intimation,  before  I  left  the  Ilio  de  la  Plata,  of  the  probability  or  possibility 
even  of  my  conduct  being  submitted  to  this  investigation  :  the  silence  of  the 
Board  of  Admiralty  in  this  respect  has  deprived  mc  of  some  material  wit- 
nesses, and  accident  only  has  furnished  me  witli  others^  most  important  on 
a  subject  in  which  my  character  and  feelings  are  mo5t  deeply  intcrcslcd, 
I  csmnot  but  suspect  that  the  conduct  of  the  Board  of  Admiralty  must  have 
originated  in  some  change  of  opinion.  All  the  information,  and  every  fact, 
on  which  tlie  judgment  of  the  i5oard,  as  to  my  conduct,  was  to  be  formed,, 
had  long  been  before  them.  The  re-capture  of  Buenos  Ayres  could  not 
have  produced,  on  high  and  honourable  minds,  any  such  change  of  opinion; 
but  that  some  change  did  take  place,  from  causes  I  am  unable  to  de\  elope, 
is  obvious  from  the  following  otlicial  letter  of  the  Secretary  of  the 
Admiralty  :— 

[Sir  iicjme  Popham  here  read  the  letter  of  j\Ir.  Marsden,  dated  Septem- 
ber 25,  180(j,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  his  dispatches,  announcing  ths 
surrender  of  Buenos  Ayres.  Tliis  document  concluded  in  the  following 
words  : — "  I  have  iheir  Lordships'  commands  to  acquaint  you,  tliat,  although 
they  have  judged  it  necessary  to  mark  their  disapprobation  of  a  measure  of 
buch  importance  being  undertaken  without  the  sanction  of  His  Majesty's 
Governniciit,  and  of  your  having  left  the  station,  which  it  was  your  duty  to 
guMrti,  without  any  naval  delence  ;  they  arc  nevertheless  pleased  to  express 
tlieir  entire  approbation  of  the  judicious,  able,  and  spirited  conduct  mani- 
iesled  by  your5elf,  the  officers,  seamen,  and  marines  employed  under  your 
or(ler:^  on  tiic  above  occasion,  and  which  you,  (or  tiie  senior  ofliccr  on  the 
spot,)  will  cotnmunicate  to  them  in  a  proper  manner  accordingly."'] 

Disappointed  as  I  naturally  felt  at  fmding  that  the  destination  of  the 
force  under  ray  command  met  with  disapprobation,  instead  of  approval,  I 
was  in  some  measure  consoled  by  their  Lordships'  commendations  upon  the 
manner  in  which  the  expedition  had  been  conducted ;  and  punished  as  1 
^nust  be  considered  to  be  by  their  expression  of  disapprobation,  and  still 
further  by  being  superseded  and  recalled,  I  could  not  suppose  that  their 
Lordships  meant  to  bring  me  to  this  trial.  But  I  will  not  occujiy  the  time 
or  attention  of  this  Honourable  Court  in  trncing  the  casises  that  may  have 
led  U)  it.  In  looking  round  this  Honoural)le  Court,  hi  which  I  see  the 
highest  ornanu  nts  of  my  profession,  I  am  well  satibfied  that  no  party  or 
political  feelings  will  operate  to  my  prejudice  ;  and  I  should  not  deem  it 
Kcspcctful  to  :i!ch  a  Court  collecti\ely,  or  to  the  High  and  Honouiabie 
Mimbers  of  ii  indivicfually,  to  aficmpt,  by  any  comments  on  the  elVcct  of 
political  prejuhces  and  party  spirit,  to  produce  any  unrlue  impression  in  my 
favyur.  1  wish  io  be  tried,  and  to  ^I^UKI  or  f;\ll  in  the  opinion  of  this  Court, 
«f  my  profes^'M.  and  of  tny  connrry — by  my  conduct  as  an  otliccr;  and  it 
is  in  the  firm  conviction  that  I  shall  be  so  tried  and  so  judged,  that  I  present 
wyseh"  i;efore  you  with  conndence  as  to  the  result.  I  will  not  detain  yoa 
1  )nger  kjy  general  observations;  but  will  now  proceed  to  comment  upon  the, 
ctia.'-ge,  the  fo'indufion  on  winch  it  re^ts,  and  the  grounds  on  which  i  rcl}[ 
upon  the  justice  of  this  Court  for  my  honourable  acquittal. 

I  will  rirst  consider  tlic  nature  of  the  charge  generally,  which  \i,  thai 
havuiji  hreii  mtrustuci  with  a  force  for  the  capture  of  the  Cape,  and  having 
succteded  in  that  object,  I  did,  with  a\iew  t)  an  attack  on  the  Spanish 
settlements  in  the  PlIo  de  ia  Plata,  for  whirl),  it  is  said,  I  had  no  direction, 
or  autiiOijty  w!*al.e..crj  withdraw   the  whole  of  the  iiuval  force  frum  the 


TUI.VL  or  sitt  HOME  popaA^T.  223 

C'npc,  nndcr  circurriFtaticGs  stated  in  the  charge,  nliicli  I  wiil  consider 
iiciTaftcr, — 'J'liat  I  had  no  positive  directions  or  express  autlioiity  for  such  a 
dcstiiiatiou  of  tlie  t'urce  under  my  coiuuuuid,  i  readily  ntiMiit;  ihv  my  in- 
yructions  onlaindd  no  direction  vviiatever,  in  relation  to  my  future  conduct' 
after  the  capture  of  tlic  Cape.^-lt  cannot  be  contended,  tlicrcl'orc,  that  I  acted 
coxTU.viiv  to  orders.  What,  tiiercfore,  is  the  fair  construction  on  the  letter 
and  tenor  of  my  orders?  What  were  the  ohjccts,  which  it  was  my  duty,  as 
a  naval  oiliccr,  to  keep  in  view  i* — I  admit  to  the  fullest  extent,  tliat  my  first 
object  was  to  be  satisfied,  that  liie  cajjti-.red  settlement  was  in  a  perlect 
state  of  security  iVom  attack  ;  the  next,  it  will  not,  for  it  cannot  be  denied 
to-mc,  was  the  disposal  of  the  force  under  my  command  for  the  t;,ood  of  l]is 
iMajcbty's  service,  and  the  further  annoyance  of  llie  enemy  within  the  limits 
of  my  command.  —To  the  ilcml)crs  composin;:  this  Honourable  Cf)urt,  it  is 
scarcely  necessary  to  point  out  the  coinliination  and  the  variety  of  unox- 
pected  circumstances  v/hieh  may  occur,  aiul  iinperioiiily  dictate  tlie 
necessity  of  advaiitaj^c  Ijeing  taken  of  the  moment  in  proinj)tlv  actin^ 
aiiainst  an  enemy.  Circumstances  may  be  such,  that  delay  may  lead  onh' 
to  discomlJture  or  disgrace;  and  that  no  time  could  be  spaicd  for  consulting 
the  superior  authorities  at  fiome,  or  waiting  for  iheir  orders. 

Had  such  extreme  ciuition,  such  rigid  reguluiions,  as  seem  to  produce 
die  present  accusation,  been  hitherto  enforced,  tliat  daring  spirit  of  cuter- 
prise,  that  prompt  and  decisive  energy  of  action  which  have  rai,-,ed  tlie  Bri- 
tish name  and  ciiaracter  to  so  proud  and  enviable  a  summit  of  distinction, 
would  not  only  have  been  checked,  but  in  a  great  me  i sure  annihilated; 
iiiid  the  annals  of  our  history  would  not  have  lieen  grr.ced  iiy  so  manv  gal- ■ 
l.uit  actne\cment5,  which,  though  nnilertakcn  without  orders,  ha\e  in  ge- 
neral been  eminently  conducive  to  the  interesi  and  glory  of  this  comitrv. 
ISumerous  precedents  exist,  which  fully  illusUate  the  truth  of  this  position. 
i\mongbt  otlicrs  vvhic:ii  present  thems-clves  to  my  njetuory  at  this  momenr, 
I  shall  ijcgieave  to  iveution  the  ciwp  de  main,  uhicli  put  the  Ih-iii>li  crowu 
in  possession  of  (Jiiualtar.  /.diniial  vSir  Cleorgc  lloi;ke  had  no  orders  fwr 
imdeittiking  that  l)oId  euierprise,  nor  was  he  arraigned  by  his  siipc^riors  at 
home  for  having  exercised  his  discretion  on  that  occasion.  On  the  con- 
trary, Il-er  Majesty  (jueen  Anne  did  every  lionour  to  his  spirited  conduct. 
In  the  American  war,  Admiral  .Sir  Peter  Parker  and  (u-neral  Sir  John 
Dalling,  the  then  naval  and  mditary  Commanders  at  .famaica,  concerted  au 
expedition  against  the  Spani>>h  settlement  of  Omoali,  which  was  to  a  cer- 
tain degree  successful.  No  blame  was  understood  to  have  ritt;iched  to 
either  of  those  othccrs  for  having  directed  this  Ojicration  wit'iout  orders. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  late  war,  in  179o,  Lord  Hood  entered  Toulon,  and 
afterwards  attacked  Corsica,  not  only  without  orders,  but,  in  the  latter  case, 
against  the  opinion  of  the  General  and  other  military  otliccrs,  who  there- 
fore refused  to  co-operate  with  him  :  he  tru.sted  to  his  own  resources  of  ta- 
lent, exertion,  and  perseverance,  and  succeeded  m  his  attack.  He  apolo- 
gizes in  liis  public  letter  tor  having  undertaken  these  operations;  and  I'uu- 
lon  and  Corsica  were  ultimately  evacuated,  in  consequence  of  our  military 
f  irce  being  iuaderiuate  to  their  prcservatiou;  and  yet,  neidicr  this  oxer^j^e 
of  discretion  iu  th.e  first  instance,  nor  the  subsc'iuent  mi-fortune  s  which  lust 
f.ho^e  places  to  the  British  ann^,  were  ever  maile  the  subject  of  imputation 
on  Lord  Hood  as  an  otficer,  or  of  any  criminal  charge  against  him,  or  oi" 
ccnsnre;  but,  on  the  contraj-y,  his  conduct  met  with  the  mi;st  unriualilied 
approbation  of  Government  and  his  Sovereign,  and  tlie  highest  Jioimur  and 
rewards.  In  J70G,  Lord  St.  \'iucent  (then  Sir  J.  Jcrvis)  sent  tfie  heroic 
^cIlou  to  attack  'l'ene<  ifl'e,  in  consequence  (jf  information  which  he  receivcc|, 
tiiHl  two  biiips  from  the  liio  de  l.i  i'iata  had  landed  llieir  treaMire  there^ 
ilvtry  petion  is  acajiaintcd  v.ith  the  issue  of  lluU  expedui-in,  which  Joirt  to 


22-1  TKIAL    or    sill    JIOME    POFHAST.  /■ 

the  country  so  many  brave  men,  and  in  which  Lorrl  Nelson  himself  vvn?  se- 
verely vvauiidcd.  Xutwiili^taiiriiiig  the  disabtruus  result  of  this  attack,  which 
wa?  undcLtukeii  witliout  orders  from  any  superior  authority,  and  I  believe  I 
am  warranted  in  saying,  out  of  the  limits  of  Lord  St.  Vincent's  command, 
no  censure  was  ever  understood   to  have  passed  on  the  conduct  of  that 
otUcer  in  directing  it:  certainly  no juilicial  inquiry  or  public  censure  ever 
followed  the  entcrjirise.     Ancjtiier  instance  I  think  it  necessary  to  observe, 
of  tfiG  excrci>o  of  discretion,  wliicii  is  aftorded  to  me  bv  the  treaty  of  el 
Arisch,  entered  into  by  Captain  Sir  Sidnev  Smitti  with  (jeneral  Kieber,  for 
the  return  of  the  I'lcnch  ain)y,  under  the  command  of  the  latter,  fr(;m 
Egypt  to  J'rance.     This  treaty,  iis  is  well  known,  involving  as  it  did  great 
political  iiiterest~,  was  not  approved   of  by  tlie  Britisli  Government ;  and 
tiiough  it  liad  been  regularly  signed  and  exchanged  by  Sir  S.  Smith,  orders 
were  sent  out  to  Lord  Keitii  to  put  an  end  to  tliat  treaty,  and  tu  prevent  its 
being  carried  into  execution;  and  aichougii  Sir  S.  Smitli  had  the  inortilica- 
tion  of  finding  his  well-meant  exertions  disapproved  of,  and  cauceih-d  at 
home;  though  they  were  the  source  of  much  embarrassment  and  imeasincs^ 
to  the  Government  at  the  time;  and,  above  all,  tliuugh  he  had  no  separate 
command,  l)ut  was  inunediately  under  ].ord  Keith,  then  Commander  in 
Chief  ill  the  I\Iediterr;uiean,  to  wiiom  the  means  and  opportunity  of  refer- 
«ice,  as  compared  witii  the  present  case,  were  siiort  and  easy: — yet,  under 
;dl  these  circuin'^tances,  ti>e  conduct  of  Sir  Sidney  Smith  in  this  instance 
was  never  submitted  t(j  a  Court  ^Martial.     That  illustrious  character,  Lord 
Nelson,  has  also  nfforded  to  llie  navy  another  strong  example  on  the  exer- 
cise of  their  di-cretion-.iry  power,  by  leuvin<i  his  station  in  the  .Mcditerrmiean 
to  go  tt>  the  West  Lidies,  under  circumstances  which  I  cannci  so  forcibly 
state,  as  by  quoting  his  own  words,  in  a  letter  from  him,  since  published,  to 
]Mr.  Simon  Tavlor,  of.lam.'.ica,  dated  Victoiv,  (jff  Martinico,  June  10,  1805- 
"  1  had  no  he.-itation  in  forming  my  judguiciit,  and  I  llew  to  the  West  In- 
dit  5  without  any  orders,  but  I   think   the  ministry  ca'uiot  be  tlispleased." 
Leaving,  however,  it  nmst  be  recollected,  (if  that  judgment  had  been  erro- 
neous,) !iis  station  without  a  smgle  sinp,  and  many  vulni.'rable  points  tinpro- 
tected.    It  is  mmeces.saiy  to  slate,  that  general  and  pnl^lic  tipprobation  fol- 
Imied  this  I  old  find  judicious  exercise  of  discretion.     Captain  Y..  'Ihomp- 
&<m,  of  the  IIya.'iia,  with  vAhom  T  served  three  years  as  ^Ld-hipman,  exer- 
cised !iis  own  discretic^n,  in  comnig  to  England  from  the  West  Indies  with 
!i.  convoy,   without  any  orders  foi-  tiiat  purpose.     He  wiis  tried,  in  conse- 
cnencc  of  a  letter  written  by  Sir  Saunu-l  liuod  to  the  then  Secretary  to  the 
^idmiraity,  in    which  that    Admiral  states,  tliat    acjthing    which  Captain 
Thompson  had  written,  can  induce  him  (Sir  S.  Ihjod)  to  ajiprovc  of  hi» 
(CaptJiiii  Thoin;)Sun)  going  to  England  without  orders.     Sir  bamuel,  in  his 
letter,  repeats  the  cx;)re«Mon  m  these  words: — "  1  say,  without  orders,  as 
he  had  none  from  me;'  and  finally  concludes  his  letter  of  complaint  to  the 
Admiralty  thus:  **  It  is  my  duty  to  state  facts  :is  they  are  represented  to 
lae,  and  it  remains  for  their  Lordships  to  decide  upon  the  propriety,  or  im- 
propiiety,  of  a  Capt:iin's  going  such  lengths  zcit/iout  orders."     Nothing  ii 
more  apparent,  or  can  b-e  much  more  strongly  ex|jrei>scd,  than  the  impres- 
siion  of  misconduct  on  the  part  of  Captain  Thompson,  which  prcdomin.nttd 
in  Sir  Saniuei  Ilofsd's  mind,  at  the  moment  vshen  he  wrote  the  preceding 
letter  of  complaint:  yet  the  Admiralty  Board  of  that  day,  notwithstundiug 
the  luit'avourable  in-pres-ion  ceitaiiily  intended  to  be  cunvtyeti  against  Cap- 
tain 'i  li<nnpson  by  Sir  Siiuuel  ilood,  did  not,  as  in  my  ca^e,  prejudge  Cap- 
t;)in  I'Lompson  to  rtic;  Court,  -.'IhI   term  his  conduct,  n  jlni'/az/t   Lrtach  of 
dtitij  that  should  rwt  pass  unjnimshcd,  V>nt  simply  directed  tlie  C'mrt  to  in- 
quire into  the  conduct  ot'the  -aid  Captum  Thompson,  in  luiving  left  Barlia- 
dutis,  and  come  to  England,  without  ijrdcrs,  and  to  try  him  for  the  same  au- 


TRIAL    or    SIR    HOME    POPHAM.  225 

■cordlngly.    Captain  Thompson  was  tried  for  his  supposed  offence;  liis  con- 
duct was  declared  by  the  Court  to  have  been  necessary,  judicious,  »nd  highly 
meritorious,  and  he  was  honourably  acquitted. — I  uiil  relurtu  auotht  r  c;ise, 
which  parlicularly  applies  to  the  subject  ot'tlie  present  in'.|uny.    TheComt 
will  iiave  oljserved,   that  in  my  letters  and  correspondence  with  the  Go- 
vernor of  St.  lleicun,  I  ;tilude  to  a  former  intention  of  makin^i  an  attack  on 
the  settlements  in  the  Rio  de  la  Plata  from  St  Helena.    I  am  able  to  prove, 
that  sucli  an  expedition  was  discussed  and  considered  by  Lord  Macartncj 
suid   Admiral  Chriitiim,,  on  the    su<rL'eslion   of  Governor    Ijrookc,   of  St. 
Helena,  and  that  without  any  orders.     The  objection  of  liavinf^  no  orders 
did  not  occur  to  either  of  ihcm,  the  olycct  being  to  annoy  the  enemy  within 
the  limits  of  Admiral  Christian's  command.  —  Beibre  1  quit  this  part  of  the 
subject,  r  mu>t  observe,  that  it  is  impossible  to  confine  that  wise  and  stdu- 
tary  discretion,  vvhicli  must  in  all  cases  be  left  to  CouTnanders  on  distant 
forei;:n  statioiiS,  vviiliin  any  precise  and  deiinite  limits.     T!ie  conduct  of  au 
officer,  so  ciicumbtaiiced,  must  in  such  cases  bo  tried  by  the  actual  situation 
in  which  he  was  placed  at  the  time,  not  by  subsequeiit  events  or  facts,  whidi 
could  not  be  ki-own  to,  or  suspected  by  iiiin,  much  less  by  change  of  opi- 
nion, arisHii^  I'roin  political  chaniics  in   the  superior  authorities.     Having 
iiivefi  a  'zeneral  view  of  the  sul»ject,  in  order  to  direct  the  attention  of  the 
Court  tr>  the  statcmont  which  I  must  enter  into,  and  to  enable  iheni  more 
readily  to  apply  the  facts.  I  shall  proceed  to  the  circumstances  which  pre- 
ceded and  <:u\e  rise  to  tli€  expeditit)iis  to  the  Cape  and  Buenos  A  vies;  and 
I  must  for  that  purpose  <j;o  back  to  the  period  when  I  was  hrst  desiied  to 
collect  tiie  informalion   necessary  for  pi.nming  the  latter  expedition.  — Jt 
was  in  the  cud  of  the  year  lu03,  tliat  i   first  iiad  conferences  with  some  of 
the  mendjers  of  the  adininistrtition  then  in  power,  relative  to  an  expedition 
to  the  Kio  de  la  Plata,  and  which  was  combined  with  one  proposed  by 
General    .^liranda.     I    had    also    frequent    conmuinicaiions  with    General 
?.Iiranda   on   the   subject;    and,   in    fact,   towards   the  close  of  that  ad- 
ministration, some  steps  were  taken  for  carrying:  this  projected  expctlition 
into  eflcct.    In  the  course  of  the  fuil.'»v\ing  year,  1804,  a  change  occurred  in 
the  (io\ernment  of  the  Country,  after  whicii  I  was  appointed  to  command 
l.'ie  bl(;ckadiiig  squadron  off  Bor.lo-iiie,   hi   ihe  absence  of  Admiral  l.cmis. 
During  tliib  period.  Lord  ^Melville,  then  First  Lord  of  the  Admiralty,  cor- 
responded with  me  on  the  subject  of  Miranda's  plan;  and  on  my  comiiiir  to 
town  in  the  month  of  October,  in  that  year,  (at  which  period  the  probability 
of  a  Spanish  wvsr  had  increased,)  his  I.ordsiiip  directed  me  to  send  again  for 
General  Miranda,  and  to  digest  my  ideas  on  the  subject  of  an  expedition 
«gainst  the  Sj^anish  settlements  in  South  America,  into  the  form  of  a  me- 
moir.    I'o  the  best  of  my  recollection,   Idelaercd  this  document  to  Lord 
Melville  on  the   IGth  of  October,  1B04:  sljortly  aflerv.ards  1  was  directed 
to  attend  i\lr.  Pitt,  in  order  that  he  niigi.t  conver^^e  with  n;e  on  the  \arious 
points  comprehended  in   that  memoir. — in  the  inonrh  of  December,  ItJiH, 
the  Diadem,  to  which  ship  I  was  appointed,  was  put  into  coinmissi(jn  lijr 
the  ex^rcs^  purpose  of  my  proceeding  m  her  on  tlie  intended  expedition  to 
^iouth  America;  but  various  circumstHiices  arose  to  retard  t'lc  execution  of 
the  project  at  that  time.  In  July,  ]8UJ,  when  I  «  as  at  poit^Tnouth,  anxious- 
ly waiting  the  linal  arrangement  about  South  .\iiicrica,  I  received,   by  pri- 
vate channels  of  communication,  an  account  ol  the  weak  state  of  the  gyr- 
rison  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.     This  intelligence  appeared  to  mc  so  im- 
portant, not  only  from  the  advantage  to  be  d(  rived  from  tlie  capture  of  the 
i'ape  of  (7or;d  Hope  itself,  but  from  the  facility  whicii  the  f_o>stsbioii  of 
4  hat  settlement  would  alford  to  the  proj-cctcd  conquest  of  the  defjondencies 
on  the  east  coast  of  South  America,  ttiat  I   lost  no  time  in  comini'  up  to 
town  and  conimtinicating  it  to  Mr.  Pitt.     This  cciumuaicaiiou  was  made 

rSat).  Q'tjion,  QcLXVII.  a  « 


22.Q  TuiAjL  01    ~iiL  aoMT,  j'oi'u.ui. 

ihro'rtiili  Mr.  Stiiri^cs  noiirno,  llii  n  one  of  the  Sccrctriiiea  ot"  the  Tifn'Si.fy, 
ivlioin  I  sliall  call  as  a  vvidt-^  bel'orc  ynu.  I  c,i:i  take  iipuu  :nc  coiifjdeiitlj 
to  say,  it  v. ill  appear,  tVoin  llie  t'viilciicf  of  that  i^ciitlcuian,  tliat  the  idea  (k' 
s>ii  espetlitioii  to  the  Cape  "as  adopteii  by  Mr.  I'itt,  on  this  suii^i^tioti;  and 
i:r  tirt:  t'oiiFse  of  a  few  davs  [  recened  iiiy  iiisti  uctions  to  pri;*i.eil  iii  tlie 
Dradeiii,  :fs  Corniiiaiulitig  Otiiccr  of  all  His  Majesty's  ships  and  vessels  des- 
tined for  tFiivt  service. 

Outhe  yWh  of  July,  i;;0:),  T  took  leave  of  Mr.  Pitt,  when  T  had  a  lon^ 
conversation  witii  him  on  the  original  project  of  the  expedition  to  SoiitU 
America  ;  in  the  course  of  which  Mr.  Pitt  infoniied  me,  that  from  the  tlieii 
state  of  Europe,  and  the  confetleracy  in  part  formed,  and  fonning  against 
Trance,  there  "as  ;t  L;re<it  uuxiery  to  endeavour,  by  fiii.  ndly  nc^ociation,  t'> 
detach  Spain  from  htT  conncclion  with  that  pi^uer;  and,  inilil  the  result  iM 
such  an  a'ttertipt  shouk!  l,e  kiujwn,  it  was  desirable  to  suspeiid  all  hosliltt 
operations  in  ijonth  America;  but,  in  case  of  failure  in  *!iis  object,  it  was. 
liis  intention  ajj;ain  to  enter  on  the  orii^inal  project.  I'rom  tlie-e  circnni- 
stances  it  v\  ill,  I  am  confident,  a|)|)ear  manifest  to  everv  Member  of  this 
Honourable  C'ourt,  that  if  the  attack  on  the  Cajie  of  (io(Kl  Iloi'e  pieceded: 
that  of  the  .Spanish  settlements,  the  priority  was  the  residt  of  uiy  own  im- 
mediate suL'Cestion  to  the  late  Piinle  ^jini.ster.  Unhappily  for  nje.  ideatb 
has  deprived  me  of  the  means  of  provinj^  the  part;iculars  of  w hat  passed  ia 
my  last  interview  wiiii  that  ilhistrious  and  ever  to  be  lumenled  Statesman. 
But  I  can  prove,  by  the  stronge-t  preoum;;tive  evidence,  that  one  f)f  the  last 
orders  to  me,  from  ^Ir.  Pitt,  was  l(j  furnish  Air.  Huski-soji  with  a  memo— 
ranilmn  of  the  names  of  the  irentlemeu  from  v\iioin  he  wiis  likely  to  obtaiu 
any  fui  rher  information  he  might  want  on  the  subject.  Our  con^ersatiou 
toiAi  jdace  in  Mr.  fluskisson's  room  in  the  Treasury;  and  as  Mr.  Pitt  was 
i;o;n_i;  out  Mr.  Huskissoii  came  in,  and  to  him  I  inimediately  corainunicatet^ 
JMr.  Pitt's  tlirections  to  me,  and  furnished  liiiu  with  the  name-;  and  .Mr. 
Hiiskissou  can  prove,  from  subscMjuent  conversation  with  .Mr.  I'ltt,  that  the 
iitimes  were  so  given  to  him  by  Mr.  Pitt's  order. 

I  rerpjest,  therefore,  the  .Members  of  this  Honourable  Court  to  compare 
all  the  circumstances  positively  proved — rhe  plan  delivered  in — the  expedi- 
tion set  on  toot  to  carry  it  into  execution — the  delay  of  it — ^thc  suhstiiiitiuii^ 
l>y  my  >tiu.ii;cstio!i,fjf  the  Cape — and  what  will  be  proved  by  Mr.  Hnskisson, 
as  to  the  lust  order  1  received  relatiiii;  to  this  project;  and  ask  themselves, 
whether  it  is  possible  ty  entertain  a  reasonable  doubt,  independsiis  of  my 
as->eriioii,  of  my  havin|;  been  in  complete  possession  of  Mr.  Pitt''s  views 
towards  tiiis  expcd.tion : — And,  in  .corroboration  of  vvhat  I  have  abovQ 
stated,  Mr.  IJuskisHHi  can  provejhat  active:  steps  were  taken  to  continue  to 
procure  further  infovmatimi  i-u  iflation  to  the  Spanish  settlements  ou  the 
east  coast  of  Soutli  America.  The  precise  nature  of  t}ie;\;  steps,  (as  I  (lo 
not  feel  at  liberty,  even  in  iny  own  defence,  to  make  disclosuies  whicfi 
miiihr  hcreaftei'  Iia<iard  the  persoral  safety  of  others,}  1  cannot  state:  it 
will  be  siithcient  for  my  purj'0::e,  and  suliicient,  I  irust,  for  the  Court,  thart 
steps  were  lakcn  which  showed  that  the  object  vv:is  not  lost  sight  of,  tiioujicli 
pi/stponed,  from  coiihidej'ations  con;.ected  with  tlie;  then  political  state  of 
r.uropc,  and  which  ( ircnnisiances  L-h+tve  noi  ius!r;\tion  iii  savinij  were 
the  sole  cause  of  my  nut  having  specii'.c  instructions  uj)exn  tlie  suh;<  ct. 

Early  .n  Fcljruary,  ISOO,  I-rtce;ved  acfounti  of  t.'ic  teni)inati(;n  of  the 
war  in  India,  and  naturally  concliided,  that  no  possible  exigeiicv  could  im- 
mediately arise  in  tliat  countiy,  to  make  it  ncccisury  for  the  Go vernor-(. fe- 
udal to  apply  to  the  (.'ape  for  any  military  su;  port.  In  the  course  of  the 
same  montli,  I  also  received  tlic  uevv;  of  Lord  \el-ou's  glorious  victory  ott" 
Trafdgar,  and  an  uccount  of  the  con'erlerary  again't  France,  i'lu-ni  an  alii- 
aucc  with  which  power  it  had  not  been  [; -.tci  .'u'ei'j  to  dctacuSnuLii.  Tuwtii'dS; 


Tni  VL  or  siK  iioMT.  ror'iJAM.  227 

tlip  nid  of  February,  ri  Danisli  ve«sel,  whicii  nrrived  ;it  I'lc  (  apr,  l)nnit;lii 
Kimli^li  newspapers,  f:i\  ii.12  iiii  accomir  of  the  defeat  w  ciipitiiJariou  of  tlie 
i\ustriuii  sirmv  :ir  Ulni.  I'.v  tlie  r<ii)tnre  of  tlio  VOJoiitaire  rix-iicb  fiJiiate, 
Oil  t.lie'.Uh  of '.M:iicl),  ]l!Or.,'l  learnt  the  defeat /^fUie  i{u^^■'JiUl  ai'iuy  at.Xiis- 
ter'Utz,  niul  tliat  liiiojiaparte  was  in  po^^e^»^on  of  NveiiHi*,. — Tliis  UnuouraiJe 
.Court  will,'ttieref(>ro,  not  full  to  ob>erv«>,  tliat  tlic  cau^e-i  ^vlijcli  \i:\^  cuntri- 
"buti^cl  to  suspend  ativ  e\p:;(iition  to  South  America,  a"  a  matter  of  prjiicv, 
4ind  to  clianp-  ray  orifj;inal  destifjatiwu  to  \.\\c  attack  <jn  the  Cape,  were  f.ul- 
deulv  done  away.  But  even  under  tiac.se  inapressions,  aud  witli  si»  tavnunte 
uti  object  of  purt^.ui-t''ln'fore  mo,  I  did  not  at  (irst  co!),template  tlie  cxceHtioa 
of  it,  or  the  beinj;  able  to  carry  troojiB  from  the  C-^ipc  for  its  arcomplish- 
xnent:  ou  the  contrary,  I  dn-ected  ail  n;y  attention  to  mcasuK>s  of  prvec^^.ntiou 
as  to  the  Frencl)  fleets  wluch  w«re  at  sea,  and  the  protectiqii  pf  the  Cape 
and  the  trade.  *  * 

liaviui;  tstaMi'-bed  these  c^eneral  principles  applicable  to  the  nature  of 
the  char;:e,  and  -ituted  all  the  circinnstances  which  occv.rred  previous  to  my 
leaving  i'jjdaud  up  to  the  period  of  the  coiniuencemeiit  of  tl^e  expedifioii, 
sft  as  to  put  iht  (Jourt  in  full  pos-essio!i  of  tlie  i'.npressioas  011  my  iriind  upon 
the  subject^  and  also  stated  my  conduct,  and  the  motives  by  wiiich  that 
conduct  was  directed,  up  to  the  period  of  my  coutemplating  leavini;  the 
Cape,  and  the  exji^jditiou  to  Buenos  Ayr«s,  Inow  come  mure  immediately 
to  the  charge  itself. 

The  first  subject  fur  cGusirtcration.  under  all  tlie  circumsianccs  oftliccase, 
wr.fc  the  safoiy  of*  the  captured  settleiueiits,  and  airan^^craeuts  with  a  view 
to" tlie  Freiwh  squadrons,  and  th.c  proter  tiou  of  the  trade;   tlie  first  of  which 
I  am  cbarsied  to  have  leH  utiguar»lefl  and  open  to  attack  and  insult,  and 
tho  latter  to  have  left  without  protection.     I  must  here  call  the  attention  of 
the  Court  to  the  particular  words   of  the  charge.      [Virie  the  Admiralty 
Order.]     I  will  now  i.t;Ue  the  intelligence  I  had  received  in  relation  to  the 
French  squadron,  and   luy  conduct  on   that  iiitellii;ence,  as  applicable  to 
these  charges.     The  first" intelfee nee   I  collected   tVom  the  ot^icers  0!'  the 
VoloDfaJ.'-e,' which  w;is  captured  (.mi  the  Itii  oI'March,   1806,  inducc'l  nie 
to  ap|)rehend  an  iinmcdiaie  attack  tm  the  Cape;  or,  at  all  events,  that  o;;e 
of  the  divisions  of  the  lircst  squadron  w(juld  put  into  tlic  Cape :  this  is  ap- 
parent froin  my  fetter /.o  the  Secretary  of  the  Adniiralty  of  the  7th  of  March, 
180(3,   drtai1iii;4  Ihe  accounts  I  ha<^  then    procured.     IJy  subsequent  and 
iiiore  particular  inquiiies  (jf  the  otVicers  of  the  Volontaire,  stated  to  the  Ad- 
miralty, in  a  letter  of  the  2(jth  Mii;cJi,  t  o-athercd  such  presumptive  evi- 
dence respectniii  the  ulterior  destination  of  VVilleaumez's  squadron,  as  in- 
duced ine  strongly  to  infer  that,  af^er  cruisiui  a  certain  time  ou  the  bank 
of  Laj^ul'ilas,  he  would  put  into  the  Brazils  for  water  and  ret"re?hmcuis,  and 
the.nee  proceed  to  the  West  Iiidie-- ;  more  especially  alter  lie  should  have 
been  iuNirn;rd  that  the  Cape  was  actually  taken  by  the  Britii.h  forci-s  :  in- 
deed so  strongly  did   this  presumption   tlicn  operate  upon  my  mind.  ct>u- 
firmed  as  it  was  by  no  enemy  ha\  ins;  appeared  at  the  Cq^e,  that  f  dispatch- 
ed a  ftiiuil  copper-bottomed  transport  brig  to  Admiral  Cocliraue  at  IJarba- 
does,  to  apprise  him  of  what  I  conceived  was  the  most  likely  course  to  be 
j),irsued  by  V\  illeaumez,  under  every  circumstance  wliich  had  reached  my 
knowlcd'j;e  ifspei-tiuij;  the  s-'iate  of  his  ?-qu;ulron.     I  also  dispatched  the  pro- 
fPcto'/ ^un-brii;  to  Sir  Fdwtiril  t'ellew  iii  India,  and  the   flolla  brfc,  to  eii- 
dpavour  to  fall  in  with  w  hatever  British  S(|uadron  nii>:ht  be  employed  in  tl  e 
blorkade  of  the   iMaiiritiiis. —  Fhost;  measures  of  precaution    will  t-v  ince  to 
ihis   Honourable  Court  my  extreme   anxiety  to  c  )mmtinicate  to  the  I 'om- 
ni-mders  in  Chief  of  His  Majesty's  naval  forces  in  cverv  fpiarter  of  the  -iiobo, 
and  on  every  station   liable  to  attack    from   the  enemy'-  flyiu;;  squadrons, 
^Utrti  intiilJigoiice  as  uii^dit  best  enable  tlicm  to  intercept  those  squadrous,  or 


228  TRIAL  OF  SIR  iro:.iE  To^iiAyr. 

to  net  on  the  rlcfensivp,  anrl  aiTord  every  protection  in  their  power  to  the 
commcrrc  of  the  United  Kins;doin. 

Here.  Sir,  I  must  for  a  mornerit  advert  to  the  instructions  of  the  2d  Auc:. 
1R06,  ordering;  me  to  send  a  frigate  to  crui'^e  on  the  east  coast  of  South 
j'^merica,  hetween  Rio  de  Janeiro  and  the  Rio  de  la  Plata.  From  such  an 
order  it  is  certainly  pos>ihle  to  ch-aw  tliis  inference,  that  I  liad  no  specific 
directions  with  relation  to  the  attack  of  the  enemy's  settlements  in  the  Rio 
de  la  Plata  ;  this  I  hiive  already  fuliy  admitted.  I  had  no  com.munication 
whatever  with  Lord  Barham  upon  the  subject  of  South  Anaerica  :  altliough  T 
knew  tiiat  la  Plata  was  a  part  of  the  Cape  station  last  war,  as  well  as  tiie 
Mauritius,  yet  I  douhted  whether  the  last  place  would  be  considered  so  this 
war;  and  upon  writing  a  letter  to  Mr.  Barrow  on  the  subject,  I  received 
the  letter  of  the  2d  of  August,  accompanied  by  a  private  letter  of  the  same 
date,  stating  that  he  had  not  bgen  able  to  get  a  bomb  allowed,  but  had  sent 
the  aiiove-mentioned  order  for  a  frigate  to  the  coast  of  South  America ; 
but  that  it  did  not  appear  to  be  necessary  to  look  out  to  the  eastward,  as 
little  was  to  be  apprehended  from  that  quarter;  and  he  added,  "  that  it 
"  would  oiilv  create  ajealousy  in  the  commanders  in  the  Indian  Seas,whoce 
*■'  connnands  extend  at  present  to  the  .Mauritius." 

It  is  publicly  knowm,  and  ofticially  to  some  of  the  jMerabevs  of  this  Court, 
that,  during  the  lare  war,  our  cruisers  were  constantly  either  off  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  or  cnnsinu  ab-olutely  off  Monte  Video :  one  of  the  very  ships, 
indeed,  (the  Diomede.)  which  had  crui^efl  there,  was  now  one  of  my  squa- 
dron ;  and,  independent  of  every  other  consideration,  I  not  only  had  the 
op'uion  of  that  respectable  officer  Captain  Rowley,  who  was  on  the  Cape 
station  last  war,  that  the  Rio  de  la  Plata  was  considered  as  a  part  of  that 
station,  but  it  was  also  the  unanimous  opinion  of  every  officer  under  my 
command.  1  beg  it,  however,  to  be  understood,  that  these  opinions  were 
expressed  long  before  our  arrival  at  the  Cape. 

[  have  entered  at  some  iengtii  on  tliis  subject,  because  an  impression  has 
heet!  circulated  with  considerable  industry,  that  I  had  no  authority  what- 
ever fo  go  to  the  Rio  de  la  Plata  ;  but  it  must  be  evi<icnt,  by  the  letter  of 
the  2d  of  August,  that  the  Admiralty  considered  that  river  as  an  cnemx's 
port,  which  ought  to  be  constantly  watched  by  some  of  the  cruisers  muier 
tlie  orders  of  the  senior  naval  officer  at  the  Cape,  and  consequently  within 
the  limits  of  his  command  ;  nay,  if  it  were  possible  that  it  could  be  con- 
tfnded,  that,  because  the  order  directed  the  sending  a  frigate,  I  had  no 
right  to  carry  there  mv  whole  squadron,  I  should  answer,  that  the  object  of 
sendim:  a  frijratc  would  be  nugatory,  unless  it  was  allowed  to  act  on  the  in- 
telli'jmct;  she  might  bring;  fori  would  ask,  whether,  if  a  cruiser  had 
brought  an  account  that  two  of  the  enemy's  line  of  battle  ships  had  entered 
the  river  total'v  dismasted,  and  that  they  were  moored  off  P.Ionte  Video, 
and  every  exrrrion  was  making  to  get  thein  refitted  for  sea,  I  should  not 
have  been  jns'itied  in  sending  a  force  from  the  Cape  to  attack  them  with- 
out a  moment's  loss  of  time? 

But  CO  re^■crt  to  the  military  state  of  security  at  the  Cape  :  by  the  weli- 
known  zeal,  ability,  and  judgmeut  of  Sir  David  Baird,  it  w;is  placed  in  a 
state  of  the  most  perfect  safety.  The  garrison  had  been  strengthened  by  a 
lew  of  native  militia,  nnfl  its  means  of  defence  were  deemed  so  ample  and 
adequate  bv  Sir  David  T3aird,  whose  opinion  in  such  a  case  I  considered 
myself  justified  in  adopting,  as  he  was  tlie  most  competent  judce  in  mili- 
tarv  affairs,  that  this  intelligent  officer  did  not  hesitate  to  furnish  a  detaeh- 
ment  of  his  gallant  troops,  in  consequence  of  my  submitting  to  him  all  the 
information  I  had  receiv«^d  respecting  the  defenceless  state  of  Monte  Video 
and  Buenos  Avres,  and  mv  urgent  representations  to  him  of  the  <j:reat  ad- 
vantai^es  which  our  country  was  likely  to  derive,  particularly  at  ao  critical 


TiiiAL  or  sill  iiOMr.  roPHAM.  2^ 

a  period,  from  such  a  valuable  acquisition  as  the  conquest  of  one  or  both 
of  those  places.  Certain  I  am  tiiat  it  is  not  necessary  for  nie  to  imjircss  on 
this  Honourable  Court,  that  the  prek  rencc  felt  by  the  Dutcli  colonists  and 
natives  to  the  nnld  and  fo.stcrini;  protection  of  the  lirilisii  Govc-rnnient, 
would  have  disposed  l!)cm  to  have  lent  tlieir  most  cordial  assistance  in  i-c- 
pclling  a  French  force,  if  it  were  possible  to  ex|)ect  such  a  force  ;  as,  in  the 
event  of  its  succeeding  in  the  attack,  the  colony  would  have  become  sub- 
ject to  the  oppressive  exaction  and  tyranny  of  tlie  French  Go\ernment. — 
But  if  any  additional  proof  wore  wantinir  of  the  perfect  state  of  security  in 
which  Sir  David  Baird  considered  the  Cape  after  he  had  furnished  me  with 
adetaclunent  of  his  tarrison  for  the  expedition  to  llio  de  la  Plata,  it  is  to 
be  fr>uud  in  the  circumstance  of  his  having  reinforced  (icncral  Ecres- 
ford  by  a  second  detachment  of  his  troops.  This  surely  furni-<hes  in- 
controvertible evidence  that  Sir  David  Baird  considered  tlie  Cape  in  no 
dani^er  from  the  weakness  of  his  garrison  or  means  of  defence  ;  and  shall  I 
be  condemned  fur  availinsi  myself  of  that  aid,  which  his  superior  judgment 
felt  could  be  afforded  witli  perfect  safety  ? — Farther,  as  to  the  state  of  se- 
curity in  which  the  Cape  was  considered  by  General  Baird,  I  shall  prove  to 
the  sati.ifactiou  of  this  Honourable  Court,  by  the  testimony  of  fvlr.  Browne, 
who  was  ^Jasper-Attendant  at  the  Cape,  that,  by  t!ie  construction  of  several 
additional  batteries  mounted  with  heavy  artillery,  no  enemy's  ship  could 
fairly  enter  any  of  the  principal  bays  or  harbours  in  its  vicinity,  without; 
inctH-ring  the  danger  of  being  captured  or  totally  dcstmycd.  Mr.  Browne 
will  be  able  to  show  to  the  (ioin-t,  that  it  was  the  most  earnest  wish  of  Sir 
David  Baird,  that  the  enemy  might  make  an  -'itteinpt  to  wrest  the  settle- 
ment from  the  British  forces.  He  was  perfectly  satisfied  thev  would  find  it 
almost  impossible  to  etVect  a  landing  ;  or,  if  a  landing  was  effected,  to  suc- 
ceed in  reducing  the  place  with  an  army  often  thousand  men  — I  must  now. 
Sir,  particularly  advert  to  a  letter  from  (ieneral  Baird  to  Lord  Castlc- 
reagh,  dated  5th  May,  1806,  which  has  been  read  as  part  of  the  charge, 
but  not  proved  by  evidence.  'Ihis  letter  states,  tliat  a  French  frigate  an- 
chored in  Smion's  Bay,  and  sent  a  boat  on  shore ;  which  boat,  with  a  French 
otiicer  and  her  crew,  wrre  taken  prisoners  on  their  hniding.  This  letter 
nuist  have  been  engrafted  on  the  charge  with  a  view  of  supi)orting  that  part 
v.liich  alludes  to  the  protection  of  the  Cape  from  insult,  but  more  particu- 
larly to  what  relates  to  its  being  left  without  the  means  of  taking  possession 
of  any  ship  of  the  enemy  that  might  put  into  any  of  the  harbours  or  bays  of 

.  the  Cape.  It  is  intended,  no  doubt,  to  endeavour  to  impress  the  Court 
with  an  opinion,  that  if  I  had  remained  at  the  Cape  with  my  squadron,  the 
Trench  frigate  iw  question  might  have  been  captured.  However  specious 
such  an  idea  may,  ])robably,  appear,  nothing  can  be  more  erroneous.  'I'liis 
Trench  frigate  is  stated  to  have  come  into  Simon's  Bay,  where  she  i->  said  to 
have  anchored  :  but  I  shall  prove.  Sir,  by  the  evidence  of  Mr.  Browne, 
that  she  never  did  enter  Simon's  Bay,  but  came  to  anchor  in  False  Bay, 
and  so  far  out,  that  when  she  was  fired  at  from  the  batteries  in  Simoifs  Boy, 
every  shot  foil  short.  >;o  sooner  did  she  discover,  by  the-e  discharges  of 
cannon,  that  the  settlement  was  in  possession  of  the  British  force*,  than 
she  cut  her  cables,  and  made  all  sail  into  the  oSing. — Now,  Sir,  upon  the 
suppO::itiun  that  I  had  received  no  intelligence  to  induce  me  to  proceed  uith 
the  squadron  to  the  Rio  de  la  I'lata,  f  deny  the  prol)a!)ility,  I  might  even 
say  the  possibility,  of  ray  being  able  to  capture  this  1  rt  nch  fri^iate.  To 
put  the  fact  in  a  clear  point  ot  view,  so  as  to  convince  every  Alembcr  of 
this  Honourable  Court  that  no  imputation  can  possibi ,  attach  to  me  for  her 
escApe,  it  will  .)nly  be  necessary  for  me  to  prove,  by  tne  deposition  of  tlje 
6 line  witness,  (Mr.  Browne,)  that  while  I  was  Iving;  at  am  lior  in  Table  Bay, 

with  the  gioiter  part  of  my  squadron,  another  French  ;:;^.tLe  (la  Picdniou- 


230  TttlAL    OF   SIR    HOME   POPIIAM. 

taise,)  cl'ased  in  there  n  neutral  ship,  and  actually  approached  the  sqiia- 
Hr.iii  so  near,  lliat  tVorn  the  signal  statiDn  on  the  Lion's  liump,  she  was  clear- 
ly fii^covercd  ti>  be  a  cruiser.     Notwjtlistandine;  that  I  had  received  a  mes- 
auge  to  this  elu'Ct  from  the  ojficer  stationed  at  tlie  >ignal  tower,  it  was  ut- 
terly impossible  for  me  to  prevent  lier  from  esciping.     'J'l)c  treneral  state  of 
the  prevailiiie;  m  inds  ia  the  principal  ancliorapes  at  the  Cape,  Sir,  is  such, 
that  the  utmo-t  efforts  of  the  most  skilfuland  vigihint  commander  of  a  squa- 
dron lying  there,  would  in  vain  be  exerted  in  attempting  to   overtalie  an 
enemy's  ship  t!)at  should  use  due  precaution  in  standing  in  for  the  land  to 
reconnoitre.    I'liose  who  have  a  knowledge  of  the  bays  and  anchorages  oi 
the  Cape,  and  in  the  neigiibourhood,  w  ill  be  sati^^fied  tliat  1  am  correct  in 
asserting  that  a  British  squadron.  King  in  Table  Ray,  can  seldom  or  ever  get 
out  between  Green  i'oint  and  Robin  Islajid,  unless  there  is  a  strong  nor- 
therly wind,  by  reason  of  the  heavy  swell  constantly  setting  m  th»re  from 
the  south-wtst,  and  the  current,  ^vhich  comes  to  the  southward  and  east- 
xrard,  and  sets  to  the  northward  between  Robin  Island  and  the  main;  cm- 
scqnently  an  enemy's  cruiser,  standing  in  for  that  part  of  the  land  called 
the   Lion's  Rump,  would,  as  soon  as  she  discovered  a  squadron  at  anchor 
in  the  bay,  be  able,  under  the  circumstances  before  stated,  to  eftoct  her 
escape;  because  the  British  fleet  would,  with  the  south-east  wind,  which  is 
tiie  prevailing  wind  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  have  to  run  down  to  lee- 
ward, that  is,  to  the  westward  of  Robin  Island,  theieby  making  a  circuit  of  at 
least  three  leagues  before  she  could  haul  up  in  chase  of  an  enemy's  cruiser. 
This,  Sir,  was  exactly  the  case  when  la  Piedmoutai-e,  a  Tretioh  frigate,  hove 
ia  sight  of  the  signal  post,  while  1  was  lying  at  anchor  in  Table  Bay.      The 
south-east  wind  prevailed  in  theoftiag,  whilethf  rewas  a  deadcalm  in  thcbay ; 
and  although,  on  hearing  of  a  strange  sail  being  in  the  olhng,  1  instantly  made 
a  signal  tor  the  Leda  and  >.arcivsus  to  slip  and  cha^e  ;  yet  it  was  impossible 
for  those  frigates  to  get  out  of  the  bay  till  the  evening  of  the  follo\\ins  day. 
— Now,  Sir,  let  us  suppose  that  I  was  lying  with  all,  or  a  |iart  of  my  squa- 
dron, ill  Table  Bay,  may  t  not  come  nt^arer  the  case  in  Simon's  Bay,  when 
la  Cannoniere  was  stancinig  in;  can  it  be  imagined  that  she  would,  on  the 
discovery  of  my  squadron,  have  continued  to  do  so,  much  kss  have  come 
to  an  anchor,  even  out  of  gun-shot  r  Independently  of  which,  circumstances 
somewhat  similar  to  these  before  described,  would  have  opposed  any  efforts 
I  might  have  made  on  such  an  occasion,  to  prevent  her  escape ;  for  the 
winds  in  Simon's  Bay  arc,  in  general,  so  light  and  variable,  tliat  hefore  a 
ship  of  war  could  have  ^lipped  and  got  out  of  the  Bav,  the  Cannoniere,  or 
any    other  enemy's    cruiser   standing    in   t'or  the  land  in     tliat    quarter, 
would  ha\e  made  so  large  an  ofiiug  as  to  aff<rd  no  probabihty  of  success  to 
am  ship  detaclx.d  in  pursuit  of  her  from  the  anchorage  in  Simon's  Bay.     t 
shall  only  ;uid,  that  sliifjs  lying  at  anchor  in  Simon's  liay  may  be  seen  at  so 
great  a  distance  by  any  vessels  standing  iiuo  Fa'se  l^.av,  that  there  is  no 
chance  of  a  capture  b'.^iug  made  of  an  enemy's  cruiser,  which  could  not  fail 
to  observe  any  men  of  war  of  equal  or  fuperior  force,  h;  cause  she  is  sure  to 
have  the  bay  quite   open,  in  consequence  of  the  necessity  of  her  keeping 
Jii  the  north-east  part,  for  the  purpose  of  rontiiiuing  within  the  limits  of  the 
trade  wind,  and  of  avoiding  the  Whith  Hock. 

I  havf  entered  into  ttiis  explanation  with  a  view  of  removing  any  unfa- 
vourable impression  which  tiie  circumstances  velaii\e  to  la  Cannoniere,  a? 
mentioned  in  Sir  David  Baird's  letter  to  Lord  Castlereagh,  dated  the  .5th  of 
]NJay,  1806,  are  intended  to  produce  on  the  Court  Jn  doiuii  this,  Sir,  I 
flatter  myself  that  I  iiave  also  completely  answ  ered  tiiat  part  of  the  -accusation 
•which  mentions,  that  I  left  the  Cape  '■'■  uiihiiid  flu  nieuns'oi  ta];hi;^  poHsrn-^ 
sioii  of  uw,  atiifix  i)f  the  fiim.y  ukich  /iiigkt  liuvt  jutl  into  atii/  i>f'(/n-  buijs  or 
harlouj  ioj'iht  Cq"^,  or  pur  It,  aJJuciut.^' 


TUIAI.    OF   SItl    HOME    POPII  VM.  23 1 

A-:  to  the  Cnpe  Imvinj  Ijccn  left  icilhout  the  mcam  of<:ffordhig  projection 
h*  t/iL  tnuk  of  His  Miijcsti/'i  suhjccti,  in  coiiscqu(MiLC  of  my  liiiviii<r  sailed 
witd  my  squ;i(in>n  on  tl)ec\pcditi:)n  lo  tiiu  Kiodo  l;i  Plata,  I  shall  also  prov^ 
hy  the  tcstiiauus'  of  Mr.  tlrovviie,  that  t'le  ditfereiit  batteries,  armed  with 
hcHvy  camion,  arc  erected  in  such  (jusitioiis,  as  to  coinuiaiid  the  aiichuraiie 
ill  I'iihlc  Biiv  and  Simon's  Cay;  so  that  wliile  they  threaten  destruction  to 
any  enciiiv's  truiiscr  that  should  atlernpt  to  c()nic  within  the  raiisiC  of  their 
puns,  they  Ht  the  Same  ti  lie  artord  to  all  iiuTchant  vessels,  sailing  under 
the  iJritisii  llat;,  the  must  complete  protection.  Besides,  at  the  time  v^hcu 
I  ieft  the  Cape  the  wiiUer  season  was  about  to  commence,  during 
which  no  ships  can  lie  m  Table  Bay  with  safety.  Commodore  John- 
stone Justly  observed,  when  he  was  sent  into  those  seas  on  a  secret 
expedition,  in  1781,  it  was  deemed  unadvistahle  by  h'm-^elf  and  Gene- 
ral Meaduui  to  attack  the  Cape  m  that  season.  Xo  attack,  indeed,  Oii 
this  settlement  was  to  be  apprehended  from  an  enemy's  force,  durinir  the 
pciiod  in  which  I  am  charsijed  wiih  leavins;  the  Cape  exposed  to  attack  and 
insult. — Independently  of  these  circnmstances,  I  would  a->k,  how  often  has 
tlie  Ca|)e  been  left  without  a  iiuiile  ship  of  war  to  assist  in  its  defence  dur- 
ing the  time  it  was  in  posses-ion  uf  the  h5riti.-.h  forces  in  the  late  war,  and 
the  Hul;  of  the  naval  conunanding  otiicer  on  the  station  left  tiyiiii^  on  board 
a  small  vessel  scarcely  c^jjable  of  makiui!;  any  re?i->tance  r  Indi'cd,  in  the 
iinniediale  expectation  of  the  arrival  at  the  Cape  of  some  men  of  war  from 
England,  I  left  an  order,  dated  the  llith  of  .April,  IBOti.  addressed  to  any 
naval  oiiicer  who  might  arrive  there,  and  be  junior  to  myself;  by  which 
order  he  or  they  were  at  perfect  liberty  either  to  remain  at  the  Cape,  or 
follow  me  to  the  ilio  de  la  Plata,  as  should  appear  most  for  the  benctit  ofHis 
IVlaiesty'sscrvice,after  a  con.-.nlration  with  Sir  David  Baird  on  the  subject. 

1  have  already,  I  trust,  repelled  that  part  of  the  charge  which  accuses  me 
©f  havinj;  "  left  the  Oipc  nut  onli/  erposcd  to  (tltmk  an!  iii'iult,  but  tvi  n 
uitliout  the  jficuiis  i>fti[f'orduii:  prot^^elion  to  I  lie  trade  of  His  Miijtsti/"!!  iul- 
ject.1,  or  of  taking;  pussc-sion  of  anv  ships  of  the  enemy  that  mi;4ht  have  put 
into  any  of  the  bays  or  harbours  of  the  Cape,  or  parts  adjacent."  I  must 
now  reply  to  the  continuation,  or  sequel,  coupled  as  it  is  (in  a  manner  not 
as  I  coiKX'ivo  tlie  most  candid)  with  the  procedini;  parts,  which  [  have 
answered,  and,  1  ho|)t',  refuti'd.  This  sequel  runs  thus: — "  All  which  he, 
the  said  Sir  Home  I'opham,  did,  notwithstandini^  he  had  reccivetl  previous 
inforuiatiou  of  a  detachmeut  of  the  enemy's  ships  beiu^  at  ■^e  (,  and  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  Cape;  and  notwithstanding  he  had  been  apj'rised  that 
a  IVench  squadrf;n  was  CNpected  at  the  Mauritius,  of  which  iie  informed  us, 
by  his  letter  to  owr  Secretary,  dated  the  9th  of  .April,  IBt'J,  only  four  dajs 
prior  to  his  departure  from  the  Cape  to  the  Riode  la  Plata." — I  have  called 
the  manner  in  wliich  thi-<  sequel  of  the  charge  is  concluded  uncandid  ;  tor 
it  conveys  to  the  mind  that  1  left  the  Cape  at  the  very  moment  when 
detaclnnents  of  the  enemy's  ships  were  expected  there,  of  wiiose  arrival  iti 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  Cape  1  had  received  previous  information. — 'That 
this  is  not  a  fair  or  candid  interpretation  will  be  manifest,  v\hen  it  shall  be 
seen,  by  the  perusal  of  the  svhole  of  tnv  letter  of  the  ytli  April,  to  yU: 
Jlarsden,  and  by  an  eKaniination  into  the  particulars  ol'  tl:e  information 
asserted,  or  implied,  to  have  been  thus  i;ivcn  by  me  to  the  Admiralty, 
respecting  rletachments  of  ti.e  enemy's  ships,  that  my  expressions,  in  one 
part  of  the  said  letter,  esplaiu  completely  tliosc  previvisly  uscd,  either  in 
another  paragrajjh  of  that  letter,  or  sny  prior  inteiiigencc  given  by  nie 
respecting  the  enemy's  ships  in  other  letters;  and  tiiat  1  had,  in  my  com- 
Uinnic  itions  to  the  Admiralty,  fairiy  disposed  ol  UiHeaunie/'s  squadron, 
uhich,  in  fact,  was  the  Irench  squadron  said  to  have  bet  n  expected  at  the 
ilauritius.     What,  Sir,  tan  be  aioic  uncauJiJ  tliuti  ti;us  to  idiud'j  to  a  part 


232  thial  of  siu  home  pophajt. 

of  a  letter;  and,  by  not  adverting  to  some  other  part  of  tlie  said  letter, 
make  it  appear  tliat  the  writer  (and  that  writer  the  commaiidiiiiJ  otKcer  of  a 
Britisl)  squadron  in  a  distant  cjuarter)  stands,  as  it  were,  before  liis  judges 
self-convicted  of  improper  conduct  by  his  own  ofticial  coiviniunications? 
My  respect  to  the  Court,  and  the  controul  which  I  have  endeavoured  to 
impose  upon  my  feelings  and  my  language,  prevent  me  from  givii;g  way  to 
the  sensations  uliich  naturally  arise  in  my  breast  while  I  am  conimentintr 
on  sucli  a  proceeding.  Justly  as  I  have  a  right  to  complain  of  it,  I  shall 
content  myself  with  pointing  it  out  to  the  notice  of  the  Court,  and 
with  proving  to  the  conviction  of  all  the  honourable  Members  of  which  it 
is  composed,  that  there  is  no  just  ground  for  the  interpretation  which  is 
attempted  to  be  impressed  on  their  minds — that  I  not  only  knew  of  the 
expected  arrival  of  detachments  of  the  enemy's  sliips  at  the  time  when  I 
left  the  Cape  with  my  squadron,  but  had  myself  actually  given  to  the 
•Secretary  of  tiie  .Admiralty  information  to  that  effect.  In  the  very  first 
paragraph  of  llie  letter  in  question,  so  far  from  my  saying  tliat  I  had 
received  pre\ious  information  of  detachments  of  the  enemy's  ships  being  at 
sea,  and  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Cape,  I  begin  by  stating, — as  tlie  sea- 
son is  very  far  advanced  for  lying  in  Table  Bay,  and  the  weallier  particularly 
unsettled  for  the  time  of  the  year,  I  propose  quitting  it  with  the  squadron 
immediately; — assigning,  as  an  additional  reason  for  my  departure,  that, 
from  the  length  of  time  that  had  elapsed  since  we  heard  of  i\ilmiral 
VVilleaumez's  fleet,  it  is  very  improbable,  consistent  with  the  situation  be 
was  in,  that  he  should  come  here  at  present.  I  then  proceeded  to  remark, 
that,  "  to  determine  bis  position  at  this  moment  would  be  impossible,  and 
it  would  almost  be  equally  ditiicuk  to  decide  on  the  best  mode  of  applying 
tlie  exertions  of  the  squadron  the  ensuing  tv,o  montiis  to  tlie  greatest 
advantage." — My  next  paragraph  in  the  said  letter  is,  "  that  tlie  intelligence 
we  received  by  la  \'olontairc,  and  which  has  already  been  transmitted  to 
you  (that  is,  to  Mr.  Marsden,)  for  their  Lordships'  information,  appears 
materiiiliy  to  incline  to  the  suj)position  that  the  W  est  Indies  is  the  di-btina- 
tion  of  Admiral  \Villeaumez's  tieet:"  but  the  Court  will  be  pleased,  I  hope, 
to  give  the  next  paragraph  their  particular  attention,  v>  bile  I  observe  that 
this  is  the  part  on  which  this  unfounded  interpretation  of  the  letter  rests, 
"  General  Anker,  the  late  Governor  of  Tranquebar,  who  is  just  arrived 
here  on  his  way  to  Kurope,  informed  me,  in  the  course  of  conversation, 
that  a  Trencii  squadron  was  expected  at  the  Mauritius,  but  that  it  was 
impossible  for  that  island  to  supply  any  flour  to  it,  without  looking  to  Rio 
de  la  Plata  or  the  coast  of  Brazil  for  a  supph'.  On  which  consideration,  I 
thinji;  employing  the  squadron  in  cruising  a  short  time  oft"  that  coast, 
instead  of  remaining  idle,  will  be  a  dispoMtion  fraught  with  some  advan- 
tages, and  which  1  hope  will  appear  so  evident  to  tiieir  Lordships  as  to 
induce  them  to  approve  of 'the  measure." — Here,  Sir,  I  have  stated  my 
reasons  for  suj)p<jsing  tluit  the  ulterior  destination  of  Admiral  Wideaumez's 
squadron  was.  the  U'est  Indies;  and  in  the  same  paragra[>h  of  my  letter  I 
addril  what  was  mentioned  to  me  by  General  Aiiker,  the  late  G(n'erncr  of 
Tranquebar,  in  the  course  of  general  conversation,  respecting  a  IVeiirh 
squadron  expected  at  the  Mauritius.  But  it  is  to  be  remarked,  that  this 
was  not  trivcn  to  me  by  (leneral  Anker,  or  rej?eated  by  me  to  Mr.  Marsden, 
as  positive  intelligence,  but  merely  as  a  matter  of  conjecture. — Every  Mem- 
ber of  this  Honourable  Court  nmst  be  aware,  tliat  during  the  progress  of  a 
war,  a  variety  of  rumours  obtain  cireuliition,  respecting  the  movt.nnents  and 
supposed  destination  of  the  hostile  naval  forces,  and  that  in  a  di.stant  quai- 
U-v  of  the  globe  sosne  of  those  rumours  are  wafted  in  opposite  directions, 
till  the  event  proves  that  a  report  concerning  the  expected  arrival  of  one 
fc^uadrun  at  a  particular  place,  originated  from  li.e  circumstance  of  that 


Till*  I-    OF    SIR    HOME    I'OrilAX.  23S 

>fjn;iflmii  haviiiL;  fallen  in  with  ti  vessel  bocintl  to  thnt  [jjace,  onrl  conreyrd 
tliiMiiuh  licT  some  intrlliizcnce  c:ilculatf(J  to  tlftcive  and  inisloa;!  as  to  the 
rr;il  ol)jc(i  of  its  flobtinatiiia,  wliile  tliis  hilse  iiitciiigcnce  h:i*  the  iiii:igii)ary 
c'llcvrt  ofdividiii;^  or  inultiplyiii<^  this  oiiP  squadron  into  two  dctuclifnonls, 
aiifl  t'ms  ci'eiiting  a  donljlc  cau'se  cither  otaLiiin  <jr  prcfantion.  'Ihi^  was 
tlic  case  in  the  present  instance;  the  j;c|iiad(on  alhided  tu  liy  General  Anker 
was  no  otiier  than  W'illeauniez's  squadron,  v\hi  h,  m  1  rightly  imagined, 
would  either  put  into  the  llio  dt  l;i  Plata,  or  the  Brazils,  tor  wmer  nnd 
refreshments,  and  theti  proceed  to  the  West  indies;  which  conjeetuic 
induced  mc  to  dispatch  a  vessel  to  Admirnl  Coehr.me  on  that  station,  lo 
v'uuble  him  to  be  prepaied  a'jainsr  the  enemy's  arrival.  I  next  informed  tlie 
Admindty  of  uiv  then  intended  disposition  of  tiie  squadron  under  my  com- 
mand, in  these  icrms: — "  As  this  letter  is  to  be  conveyed  l)y  a  foreign  shij), 
I  shall  not  enter  into  any  minute  detail,  but  say  it  i>  my  intention  to  pro- 
aecfl  off  Uio  de  la  Plata,  in  ttie  first  instance;  to  send  the  ilais(>nal)te  to  lier 
destination  by  the  time  fixed,  the  iJiomede  to  Ilio  dc  Janeiro  to  procure 
rice  for  the  colony,  of  wbieh  it  is  in  the  greatest  v\ant,  and  to  retiiin  inimi- 
diatcly  to  False  Bav  with  the  other  ships,  unless  I  sliould  hear  that  Adnutal 
I.inois  is  at  St.  Catherine'.-.,  preparin'j:  to  cru  si'  fur  the  outward-bound  shi]-*, 
in  which  case  I  shall  endeavour  to  intercept  him,  if  it  docs  not  infriuLie  on 
the  time  of  my  return  to  the  (,'ape  to  receive  their  T.ordships'  commands, 
in  consequence  of  the  dispatches  conveyed  by  I'Kspoir." 

Havint;  thus  brouj^lit  this  letter  of  the  (»th  of  April,  J806,  before  the 
Court,  [  submit  to  their  consideration,  whether,  on  a  candid  and  dispassionate 
review  of  its  contents,  I  am  not  borne  out  in  asseriing,  that  no  pasMisre  is 
it  can  be  fairly  and  justly  construed  so  as  to  imply  that  I  apprehended  or 
expected  the  arrival  of  a  French  squadron  at  the  Ca|)e  about  the  p(;riod  of 
my  dej)artuie  from  that  settlement  on  the  expetlitioii  to  the  llio  de  la 
Plata? 

As  to  the  circumstance  of  my  leaving  the  Cape  only  four  days  after  I  had 
written  to  Mr.  Maisden  this  letter  of  the  9th  of  Aprd,  my  reasons  for  so 
doing  are  fully  derailed  in  the  otlicial  letter  which  J  addressed  to  him  as 
Secretary  to  the  Board  of  Admiralty,  on  the  l.'Uh  of  Aprd,  wliich  has  l)een 
read  to  the  Court  as  part  of  tlie  charye,  and  which  1  now  request  to  be  con- 
sidered as  again  read.  These  letter^  are  still  more  enlarged  upon  in  a  letter 
1  addressed  to  the  Admiralty  from  St.  Helena,  under  the  date  of  the  ;!Oth 
of  April,  to  which  the  letter  of  that  date  read  on  the  part  of  tlte  prosecution 
is  only  an  addenda,  and  therelbre  1  must  now  desire  to  ha\e  the  material 
letter  read  in  this  place*. 

If  I  am  asked,  v\hy  I  was  so  anxious  to  leave  the  Cape  in  such  apparent 
haste,  as  not  to'wait  for  the  an  ival  of  the  men  td"  war  expected  from  Knginn  I  ? 
my  answer  is  this; — that  I  was  apprehensive  that  any  delay  in  my  deparim-e, 
addcfl  U)  the  probable  length  of  the  passage  to  the  east  coast  of  South 
America,  might  defeat  the  object  of  the  expedition,  by  retarding  my  arrived 
in  the  llio  de  la  Plata  until  that  season  which,  from  the  information  1  was 
possessed  of  respecting  the  navigation  of  tliis  river,  might  render  it 
impossil/le  to  ascend  it  higti  enough  to  attack  either  oC  the  settlements  of 
IMonte  X'ideo  or  Kuenos  Ayres. 

I  am  now  desirous  of  calling  the  attention  of  the  Court  to  the  maimer  in 
vvhi(;h  the  Secretary  of  the  Admiralty  replied  to  my  letter  of  tlie  9th  of 
April,  wherein  I  api)risei.l  thit  Board  of  my  intended  de()arluro  for  the  lliu 
de  la  Plata.  Thi?  leticr  is  in  the  following  tern;s: — "  I  have  rjeceived  and 
communicated  to  my  Loi'ds  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty  your  letter  of 
the  9th  of  April  last,  informing  them  of  your  intended  proceedings  with  the 

*  Xol  put  ill  lh«  ^liiiutes 


234  TUIAL  OF  Sin.  HOMK  POPHAM. 

squadron  under  your  orders." — Have  I  not  then,  Sir,  a  just  right  to  suppose 
that  the  Admiralty  Board  di  1  not  disappi-ove  of  my  ha\ing  i-ai!ed  with  the 
srjuacirua  from  the  Caper— ibr  cerlainly  it  is  rational  to  infer  that  some 
expressiuii  of  their  displeasure  would  have  been  inserted  in  this  letter  of 
Mr.  xVlar^cleu,  1  am  naturally  led  to  this  construction,  also,  by  the  terms 
of  iheir  leiter  ackn.nvlcdging  the  receipt  of  ray  account  of  the  capture  of 
the  Cape,  which  is  cuuclied  in  t'le  following  terms: — "  I  have  received  and 
liijd  before  mv  Lords  Comuiiisioners  of  the  Admiralty  your  letter  of  the 
IStii  of  January  last,  with  tiie  several  papers  tiierein  referred  to,  relative  to 
the  capitulation  of  the  town  aiid  castle  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope." 

Will  it  n^yt  appear  to  the  Court  almost  incredible,  that  not  only  no  di.s- 
approLjiion  was  expicssed  as  to  my  intentions  siiinihed  in  the  letters  of  the 
9th,  ISth,  aiid  SOtl'i  of  Aprii,  but  that  no  steps  were  taken  to  remedy  the 
mischiefs  I  am  accused  of  havin<;  occasioned ;  no  ships  ordered  imuipdiately 
to  proceed  to  the  protection  of  the  defenceless  Cape  of  Good  Hope  ;  no  fast 
sailing  vessel  to  order  me  back  to  the  duty  I  had  so  flagrantly  broken,  or 
even  to  supersede  me  for  a  cunsiderable  leniith  of  time?  I  must  leave  it  to  , 
the  Court  to  develope  these  mysteries.  But,  in  truth.  Sir,  the  nnportance 
which  tiiC  Admiralty  now  profess  to  attacli  to  the  Cape  seems  not  a  little 
singular,  when  contrasted  with  the  opinion  which,  from  Mr.  ilarsden'§ 
letter  acknowledging  t!ie  receipt  of  my  account  of  its  capture,  they 
appeared  to  entertain  of  it.  Indeed  the  cold  terms  of  this  letter,  unaccom- 
panied with  any  thins;  like  an  e.\pressiou  of  satisfaction,  eit'uer  in  the  success 
of  the  anas,  or  in  the  elforts  by  which  that  succe.-s  had  been  achieved, 
would  naturally  induce  an  idea  that  the  Admiralty  were  disposed  rather 
to  regret  the  event,  than  to  consider  it  of  any  value,  either  as  a  conquest, 
or  .-H  a  proof  of  gall?ntry  and  good  conduct  in  the  officers  and  men  under 
my  .  ornmand.  But,  Sir,  thoug.h  the  Admiralty  chose  not  to  express  the 
smallest  approbation  of  the  condisct  of  ti.e  naval  force  at  the  late  reduction 
of  the  Cape,  permit  mc  to  remark  to  the  Court,  that  in  acknowledging  the 
receipt  of  my  dispatches  relating  to  tiiat  event,  they  on  tlie  very  same  day 
acknon ledge  to  me  t!;e  receipt  of  ai-iother  letter,  enclosiug  a  copy  of  one 
which  I  had  received  from  that  active  and  able  officer  Captain  Donelly,  then 
of  the  ]S'arci>sus,  (giving  an  account  of  his  having  driven  on  shore  a  ITrench 
privateer);  and  in  making  this  acknov.lcdument  they  desire  me  to  acquaint 
iiini,  that  their  Lordships  higiily  approve  of  his  conduct  on  tiiat  occasion. 
Zvlust  it  not  appear  to  this  Honourable  Court,  and  to  the  world  at  large,  not 
a  little  extraordinary,  that  the  same  Admiralty  Board  which  could  liberally 
bestow  their  applause  on  the  conduct  of  a  Captain  of  a  frigate,  in  the 
destruction  of  an  msignilicant  French  privateer,  could  withhold  tiicir  appro^ 
bation  froui  another  otticer,  who  commanded  a  squadron  of  His  ^Majesty's 
ships,  and  all  those  who  had  acted  under  him,  and  were  employed  in  the 
capture  of  a  settlement  deemed  so  imj;ortant,  in  a  luilitary,  political,  and 
commercial  point  of  view,  as  the  Ca|)e  of  Good  Hope?  Whatever  might 
have  been  the  opinion  of  the  Government,  at  the  time,  of  the  importance  of 
the  cafjture  of  the  Cape,  with  reference  to  the  thanks  of  Parliament,  so 
gratiiying  to  tho'jc  who  receive  them  (t^i  which  it  would  be  presumption  iu 
me  to  suppose  I  had  any  claim),  I  may  vcn;ure,  I  believe,  to  state,  that  this 
is  th<;;  h:>t  iustance  of  a  capture  of  this  description  iiaving  been  nuide  by  a 
joint  arma.nent,  in  whic'j  some  expression  of  approbation  a,t  lease  from  the 
Lords  of  the  Admiralty  iias  nut  been  bestowed  on  tho.5e  of  the  Navy  who 
have  'successfully  performed  their  orders.  For  it  must  be  recollected,  that, 
as  to  the  Cape  at  least,  the  orders  wera  specific  and  prgcise,  and  those  con- 
cerned in  tlie  enterprise  werg  engaged  in  tlie  strict  pertbrmance  of  their 
duty.  And  here,  Sir,  I  may  be  allowed  to  remark,  that  tlie  withholding 
from  those  uiulcrmy  command  this  natural  and  invariable  re'vasd^oC^zeui, 


TRfAI,    OF    SIR    IIO.'ME    POPHAM.  235 

vnloiir,  and  perseverance,  succesbfunv  exerted  in  tlieir  country's  cause,  was 
t.<)  thciu  the  in:)re  mortifying,  as  the  army,  in  whose  ctf;)rts  and  gallantry 
thi'V  f'ullv  participated,  was  cheered  by  the  approl>ati(jn  <;f  tlieir  superiors, 
and  h;ul  the  consolation  of  being  intormeil,  that  their  labours  and  success 
were  acceptable  to  those  on  whose  approbation  tiiey  look  fur  encoi;rai;cincnt 
and  reward.  ')n  this  occasion,  I  hope  it  will  liot  appear  vanity  on  my  part 
to  show  the  different  liah't  in  which  our  conduct  was  viewed  by  the  G^'ver- 
nor-General  in  council  in  India,  wlio  were  pleased  to  transmit  to  ir.e  the 
foilowint;  testimonies  of  their  approbation  :  [Here  Sir  Home  read  an 
oiiicial  paper,  concluding  in  the  tolli)wing  manner  : — '•  vVe  request  you  will 
accept  our  ackn<iw!ediimcnts  for  the  transmission  of  a  copy  of  your  dispatch 
to  his  F.xcellecy  llear-Admiral  ^^ir  Edward  Pellew,  under  date  Slsc  jHUuary, 
conlainii)<f  the  details  of  the  operations  of  the  naval  and  milii.arv  forces 
under  your  command,  and  that  of  Sir  David  Laird,  employed  in  ttif  late 
"iuccesiful  cspcdix:f)n  against  the  Cape  of  Good  H.)pe.  On  tiiis  occasion," 
we  cannot  refrain  from  the  exprcrsion  of  our  adinir:ition  at  the  ablp  dispo^ 
i.tions  of  ihe  naval  and  military  forces  engaged  m  that  arduous  service,  an<i 
the  bravery,  activity,  and  exerfion,  manifested  by  the  officers  and  men 
employed  on  it,  which  secured  tlie  conquest  of  that  iinportant  coiony.  The. 
judjiinenr,  activity,  and  naval  skill,  manifested  by  you  on  tiiirt  occasion,  are 
consistent  with  those  eminent  qualities  which  have  unifoimly  distinguished 
your  exertuons  in  the  service  of  your  country.  We  request  you  will  accept 
our  cortlial  congratulations  on  the  success  which  has  attended  His  Majesty's 
arms  in  the  important  capture  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,"  &c. 

But  to  myself  and  my  associates,  s-'me  of  whom  had  en<;aged  most 
actively  in  the  service  on  shore,  not  one  solitary  expression  of  approbation 
was  communicated  in  the  answer  of  the  Admiralty.  Yet  I  am  to  be  con- 
demned for  havini;  exposed,  even  to  imaginary  h;izard,  that  acquisition 
which  appears  nut  to  have  been  worth  those  thanks  of  our  superiors;  the 
■value  of  which,  though  so  easy  and  cheap  for  them  to  bestow,  I  need  not 
expatiate  upon  in  a  Court  of  British  (Jtiicers,  whose  actions  and  whose  lives 
would  be  to  tlit  world  ihe  Lest  proof  of  the  estimation  in  which  they  ar6 
justly  held.  The  importance  of  the  capture  was  passed  over  in  silence, 
when  I  and  those  under  me  might  have  been  gratified;  l.ut  it  is  loudly 
eidianced,  and  made  the  subject  of  a  crlmmal  charsre,  when  tiic  object  is  to 
depress  me.  Whence  this  difl'erencer — I  leave  it,  Gentlemen,  to  your  re- 
flections—  [  leave  it  to  the  reflections  of  my  country  ! 

I  shall  next  proceed  to  show,  that  whatever  diesarisracti.ui  the  Admiralty 
Board  (whicli  bad  succeeded  to  that  Board  under  who^e  orders  [  sailed 
from  England)  thought  proper  to  manifest,  for  my  liaving  exeicised  my  own 
discretion  h\  undertaking  t!ie  subsequent  expedition  to  ti-.c  Rio  de  la  Plata; 
yot  my  conduct,  in  the  execution  of  tlsat  enterprise,  was  sucli  as  to  draw 
from  them  the  most  unqualiiied  approbation,  as  appears  from  the  letter  of 
the  2jth  of  September.  The  natural  inference  to  be  drawn  from  the 
perusal  of  that  h-tter  is,  that  the  Admiralty  Board,  at  the  time  when  it  was 
written,  considered  my  recal  as  a  suiHcicnt  mark  of  their  disapprobation  of 
my  having  lelt  the  Cape  with  my  squadron,  and  attacked  Buenos  Ayres 
without  orders.  But  the  panegyric  passed  on  my  conduct,  and  those  under 
my  command,  strongly  marks  the  high  opinion  entertained  of  the  importance 
of  th^  conquest;  for  if  Mr.  Mars-ten's  letter  of  liie  'iotii  of  September, 
acknowledging  the  receipt  of  my  account  of  the  surrender  of  Bucnos  Ayres 
and  its  dependencies,  be  compared  with  his  letter  in  answer  to  mme  of  the 
13ih  of  January,  announcing  to  thorn  the  capture  of  tlic  Cape,  it  is  fair  tu 
infer  from  the  circumstance  of  the  Admiralty  Board  having  expressed  their 
unqualified  approbation  of  my  conduct  in  tiie  conquest  of  Buenos- Ayres, 
and  of  li^eir  having  withheld  huiu  me  every  sign  of  satisfaction  iu  regard  to 


■236  Tin  AT    0>     ?1R    HOME    POPUAM. 

my  pmcee'lincs  in  the  redtict'nii  of  tlie  Cape,  tliat.  in  their  estimation  of  the 
comparative  im porta i ire  to  flic  cuuiitry  of  tlie  two  places,  they  set  a  much 
higher  value  0:1  the  acquisition  of  Buenos  Ayres  than  on  that  of  the 
Cape. 

B:'t,  "^ir,  if  ni^-  anient  zeal  for  tlie  "service  of  my  country  has,  in  the 
opinion  or"  any  of  the  ilemhers  of  this  Honourable  Court,  carried  me 
beyond  tlie  exact  limits  of  unrcstiiLtetl  instructions,  I  siihmir  that  I  have 
nircady  sutFcred  a  mure  than  adcipKite  punislmieut*;  not  iiieroly  hv  havin<^ 
b;^cn  deprived  of  niy  late  conmMud,  hut  from  tlie  de^radiui;  manner  in 
^*hich  I  \\  as  supei-?cde<l  and  recalled,  as  must  tippear  to  this  Honourable 
Court,  when  they  tiud  that  my  solic  tation  for  the  use  even  of  a  transport 
was  peremptorily  refused,  and  that  I  was  left  to  take  my  passai;e  to  Englaiui 
in  a  small  prize-hri;j;,  uith  the  an^ravatinc  circumstance  of  the  few  men  of 
the  squadron  put  on  board  to  navijiate  this  vessel  home,  bein::;  taken  froia 
l.cr  by  the  (uxh.'rs  of  my  successor,  Admiral  Stirling,  to  whom  I  was  scarcely 
known,  and  to  whon  thercjfore  I  could  have  never  given  personal  offence. 
.— vN'hethcr  the  per-.on.->  wlio  >;avc  these  orders,  or  the  Admiral  who  executed 
t!iem,  thori!j;ht  iliey  were  tlic  best  means  of  upholding  the  character  of  a 
British  olhcer  commanditit;  in  chief,  or  whether  they  or  he  judged  tliis  was 
the  most  proper  metij.a!  of  shoAinj;  others  their  extent  of  power,  I  will  not 
presume  to  detennine  ;  i)nt  of  conduct  so  unusual,  so  unprecedented,  and 
so  unhand-onie,  I  assure  inyself  no  iMember  of  tliis  Court,  nor  any  other 
person  now  pre-cnt,  can  recollect  an  instance. — Humble,  however,  as  my 
accommodation  was,  ami  exposed  as  I  was  to  capture,  in  a  vessel  without  a 
single  gun  to  defend  Iut,  I  reached  this  country  without  accident.  The 
delay  of  Admiral  Stirling's  arri\al  id  the  Rio  de  la  Plata,  owing  to  the  very 
unusual  length  of  his  passage,  I  shall  always  consider  as  a  providential  cir- 
cumstance; for  I  can  assert,  \^ilhout  fear  of  contradiction,  that  his  orders 
were  to  evacuate  that  settlement;  and,  but  for  this  circumstance,  which 
afforded  time  for  the  arrival  of  the  Pheasant  ?loop  with  coimter  orders, 
South  America  would  have  been  at)andoned:  v\lie»eas,  I  now  may  safely 
vciiture  to  predict,  that  the  arrival  of  the  force  under  General  Achnjuty  has- 
long  since  repaired  the  misfortune  wiiich  befel  my  gallant  friend  General 
Beresfoid,  by  putting  the  Driti-»h  forces  in  possession  of  Monte  Video;  and, 
I  trust,  not  only  ri.scucd  that  <li-;tinguished  otHcer  and  his  brave  anriy  from 
the  hands  of  t!ie  enemy,  but  t'lilly  puiiished  the  perlidy  of  those  men  wlio, 
wliilst  on  their  parole  of  honour  and  the  complete  enjoyment  of  personal 
liberty,  violated  the  one,  and  availed  themselves  of  the  oilier,  to  combine 
iiieaiis  for  the  attack  .n  which  they  unhappily  succeeded.  Nevertheless, 
^ir,  the  unhandsome  tre;'.''ment  which  I  have  experienced,  and  of  which  [ 
have  just  reason  to  complain,  had  no  influence  on  my  mind  when  I  could  be 
lit  the  smallest  deuiee  mstrumental  in  proinoiinsr  the  good  of  my  country; 
,  rthich  is  tuily  shown  i^iy  my  correspondence  uith  .Admiral  Stirling.  [Sir 
Home  here  read  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  himself  to  Admiral  Stirling,  dated 
Dec.  3,  liiOO,  tenfierl;;g  iiis  services  in  any  inauner  that  might  be  thought 
most  eligible.] 

Having  developed  all  the  motives  which  ur<:cd  me  to  proceed  to  the  at- 
tack of  the  Spanish  settlements  on  the  Rio  dc  la  I'iata,  1  now  beg  ka\e  to 
call  the,  atteiiti(Mi  vi'  tliis  Honourable  Court  to  the  consequence^  which  hax  e 
alread>  ensued  from  this  expedition.— In  the  first  place,  then,  1  humbiy 
presume,  tliat  it  is  but  ftiir  to  infer,  th.at  His  Majesty's  (jovernment,  nuL- 
>yithslanduig  the  cliange  which  has  occurred  amour,  its  Members,  highly  ap- 
proved of  tlie  enterpri.',e,  from  the  energy  by  wliich  they  are  following  it  up, 
f.ven  at  this  veiy  moment,  when  I  am  vindicating  my  conduct  in  havmg  un- 
dertaken If.  witiio'ir  positive  orders.  I  am  naturally  led  ft  thij  conclusion 
by  thf  modf;  in  wiiich  the  Board  of  Admiralty  has  shaped  the  cliarge.     1 


TJIIAL    OF    SIR    IIOMi:    POPIIAM.  237 

^on  notaccascd  ofhavinfi,  with  iiiadequato  means  and  .vith  in.^ufficiciit  jjrc- 
paratiuu,  unticrtakea  the  attuclc  on  Buenos  Ayrcs;  the  rt^asoiis  lor  this  wijl 
appear  ohvious  when  1  cuiiie  to  comment  on  the  instructions  to  Sir  Samuel 
Achniuty,  the  olliccr  seat  out  to  prosecute  tlie  enterprise  riiat  I  had  so  hap- 
pily b'-'^an,  and  vvhicli  otliccr,  as  already  appears  to  the  Court,  was  rcconi- 
inendcd  to  His  Maje^t\'s  JMiiiisters  by  (lencral  Baird  as  a  proper  pcr.-oii  to 
he  emph>yf  d  on  this  service.  In  these  instrnetiuns  to  (Jeneral  Achiuuty, 
the  utmo.--t  anxiety  is  expre.-s^cd  by  His  ^lajesty's  present  Minibters,  in  t;ie 
eveat  of  anv  mislbrrane  ],avin<;  ha|)pened  to  (n-iura!  Bereaford,  to  obtain 
such  a  footini!;  oij  the  Continent  of  South  AuKTica,  ciiher  in  tlie  same,  or 
in  some  adiaceut  part,  as  may  enable  him  (General  Acnmuty)  to  w;iit  tl)e 
arrival  of  a  further  force,  and  that  force  consistinji  of  ;>0U0  men;  \vl;ich  is 
stated  71U/:  U>  have  been  intended  orif^inally  as  a  reinforcement  to  General 
Bcrcsford,  but  tor  a  service  of  very  considerable  importance,  but  wliicJi  Lc 
is  authorised  to  detain  until  his  object  is  attained;  and,  in  a  preceding  part 
of  tlie  instructions,  ( Jeaerul  AcJjjnuty  is  enjoined  not  ton  hastily  to  abandou 
the  attempt  of  iiainijj.!;  a  I'ooriui;  in  Sontli  Aujcrica. — Is  it  possible  tor  me 
to  avoid  fceliiig  (jr  eKprcssinir  some  satisfaction,  when  I  reflect  tliat,  not- 
withstanding tlie  reverse  of  fortune  which  liad  occurred,  i  !iad  anticipated 
not  only  the  wishes  of  the  last,  but  also  of  tiie  present  Adnfinistrati'm  :  t!)at 
I  had  secured  a  very  strong  position,  suited  to  the  views  of  His  Majesty's 
Government,  and  had  thus  obtained  a  larm  tbotijig  on  the  C-)ntinent  of 
Soutli  America;  that  (ientral  Adinmty  would  find  the  object  of  his  expe- 
dition, iii  a  threat  measure,  Ciunpieted  before  his  arrival;  and  that  the  3(!00 
men,  destined  to  another  object  of  very  considerable  importance,  would  he. 
in  consequence  at  liberty  to  pursue  their  original  destination. — Nex-er,  Sir, 
could  I  for  a  moment  contend  that  success  could  justify  neglect  or  breach 
of  duty;  but  onscious  as  I  am  that  I  am  not  open  to  such  a  charge,  it  is 
jmpoasible  for  me  not  to  feel  gratified  in  rcllecung  on  the  cncumstance 
vvliich  1  have  ju'jt  stated, 

^Moreover,  Sn-,  the  proclamation  issued  on  the  17th  of  September,  IGC-fy, 
snfticiently  shows  the  cncom-agement  which  the  ^Members  of  His  Majesty's 
Government  were  anxious  to  give  to  the  spirit  of  our  commercial  men,  de- 
pressed beyond  example  at  the  un|)recedented  measures  taken  to  exclude 
their  exports  from  the  Continent  of  Europe,  and  the  readiness  with  wliicJi 
they  were  pleased  to  meet  my  ideas  on  this  particular  point,  by  inviting  all 
Britiah  subjects  to  trade  with  Buenos  Ayres,  and  the  other  settlements  tm 
the  iiio  lie  la  Plata,  under  the  favour  of  His  Majesty's  said  Proclaiaation, 
In  regard  to  tiie  value  attached  to  the  conquest  of  Buenos  Ayres  in  a  poli- 
tical point  of  view,  and  which,  as  I  have  before  observed,  was  oi;e  of  the 
principal  motives  I  hat  urged  me  to  undertake  the  enterprise,  I  cannot  viu- 
dicate  its  in»portance  more  clearly  and  undeniably,  than  by  quoting  to  the 
)io!iourable  Court  the  language  used  by  Lord  Lauderdale,  His  Majesty's 
P!enip:»tentiary  at  Paris,  during  the  late  negotiation  for  peace,  to  Moijs. 
Taileyrand,  the  French  Minister  for  Foreign  Afiairs.  In  a  note  writtcu  by 
Lord  Laudeidale  to  the  said  Minister,  on  the  19th  day  of  ;?eptembcr,  ISOti, 
his  Lordsliip  says,  '■  When  the  undersigned  reflects  that  he  came  to  Paris, 
authorised  lo  conclude  peace  upon  terms  understood  to  have  beou  proposed 
by  France;  that  ni/twithsiandiag  the  refusal  of  His  Imperial  Majesty  of  all 
the  Russias  to  ratify  tiie  Treaty  signed  by  i\L  d'Oubriel,  and  the  sulendid 
mcceas  ti  ubiaincd  bi/  Hia  MaJLHii/'s  arms  in  South  Ar.u-na,  he  was  autho- 
rised to  give  assurances,  (as  he  had  the  honour  of  doing  to  his  lixcellency 
The  Minister  for  Foreign  Affairs.)  that  the  demands  of  his  Court  in  its  owu 
favour,  would  not  in  C!)nsefpience  of  these  bU  cesocs  be  materially  in- 
creased." Is  not  this,  I  ask,  language  of  which  I  ha\e  reason  to  be  proud, 
iaaS'jiuch  a?  it  convevs^  in  a  uuumer  tiie  most  J'ueU  and  un'jualillfd,  thfc 


23$  TRIAL    OF   SIR    HOME    POPIIAM. 

opinion  entertained  by  His  ]\Iajesty's  Government,  of  tlie  successes,  in  the 
plan  and  uccomplislinicnt  of  wliich  I  bore  so  active  luid  so  considerable  a 
share?  If  Lord  Lauderdale  calls  the  successes  splendid,  in  an  official  note 
to  the  French  Minister,  surely  it  will  not  now  be  contended  that  they  were 
not  so  considered  by  that  cabinet  which  deputed  him  to  negociate  the  late 
projected  treaty  for  peace  !  and  though  iiis  Lordship  adds,  that  the  demands 
of  his  Court  in  its  favour,  would  not,  in  consequence  of  these  successes,  be 
materially  increased,  yet  this  tone  of  moderation  diminishes  not  their  splen- 
dour ;  nor  does  it  in  the  smallest  degree  detract  from  the  merit  of  those  by 
whom  they  wore  achieved.  If,  however,  the  late  negociation  had  termi- 
nated in  a  peace,  upon  terms  honourable  and  advantageous  to  Great  Bi-i- 
tain,  it  will  not  be  denied  that  tiie  character  of  those  terms  would  have  been 
influenced,  at  least  in  some  degree,  by  the  success  of  His  Majesty's  arms  m 
South  America. 

Bctbre  I  conclude,  I  must  comiilain  of  the  mutilated  state  in  which  the 
Admiralty  Board  has  presented  to  the  public  my  letter  of  September  last, 
giving  an  account  of  the  recapture  of  Buenos  Ayres  ;  most  unfavourable 
opinions  and  prejudices  have  been  excited  against  me  by  these  mutilations. 
In  fact,  several  persons  liave  called  on  me  for  an  explanation  of  the  last- 
hientioned  letter.  I  am  compelled  to  notice  the  circLinislance,  not  only  in 
justice  to  myself,  but  also  to  that  gallant  officer  Genci-al  Berestbrd,  who,  I 
trust,  has  long  since  been  released  from  captivity  through  the  success  of 
:ilis  Majesty's  arms.  The  coniparison  can  only  be  made  by  reading  my 
original  letter,  and  the  publication  of  it  in  the  Gazette*.  1  here  beg  Irnve 
to  read  my  last  letter  to  the  Governor  of  .Monte  Video,  on  the  infraction 
of  the  treaty  under  which  General  Beresford  surrendered. — I  must  now 
advert  to  the  papers  of  the  14th  of  September,  24th  of  September,  and  ^Ist 
of  November,  and  the  enclosme  in  that  of  the  24th  of  September,  which 
have  been  lately  introduced  into  the  charge.  The  latter  1  never  saw,  or 
heard  of,  until  read  in  Court;  nor  was  I  informed,  until  my  arrival  at 
Portsmouth,  that  any  of  these  papers  were  to  be  brought  against  me.  The 
object  of  this  attempt  was,  I  presume,  to  show  the  sentiments  of  the  Go- 
vernment under  whose  orders  I  sailed,  on  tlie  subject  of  the  future  destina- 
tion of  my  force;  but  it  was  known  to  my  Prosecutors  that  I  never  received 
any  of  these  papers;  as  the  Belle  packet  by  which  one  of  them  was  sent 
was  captured,  and  the  Thalia,  which  conveyed  the  others,  never  went  to  the 
Cape;  but.  Sir,  the  subsequent  opinion  of  the  Government,  founded  also 
on  subsequent  hasty,  and,  as  it  afterwards  appeared,  inaccurate  informa- 
tion, could  not  in  any  case  be  evidence  against  me,  or  implicate  me  in 
having  used  my  force  as  I  did;  having,  as  it  has  been  shown,  no  orders  for 
my  directions  after  the  capture  of  the  Cape;  more  particularly  as  the  pro- 
bability of  such  a  destination,  as  it  proved  to  have  been  the  wis!)  of  the  Go- 
A'ernment  at  that  time,  in  certain  events,  could  not  in  the  most  distant  way 
iiKve  been  in  contemplation  when  I  sailed,  and  the  possibility  of  which  I 
could  not  suspect.  In  addition  to  which  I  might  observe,  that,  before  I 
could  by  any  possibility  have  received  tiiese  orders,  I  knew  that  the  intelli- 
gence on  which  they  were  founded  was  wholly  false,  and  that  peace  had 
been  made  in  India.  [In  proof  of  this,  Sir  Home  Popham  here  read  Ge- 
neral Baird's  letter  to  Mr.  Windham,  in  answer  to  the  dispatches  which  he 
received  on  this  subject.] 

I  am  aware.  Sir,  that  my  justification  has  already  extended  to  a  great 
length;  yet,  as  I  coiiceive  it  to  be  incumbent  on  me  to  omit  no  circum- 
stance that  can  at  all  tend  to  illustrate  the  views  which  intiuenced  my  con- 
duct during  the  expedition  to  the  Rio  de  la  Plata,  I  must  solicit  the  in- 

*  Read  in  Court,  but  not  put  in  tlie  Minutes. 


TUIAI-    OP    SIR    HOME    rOPIlAM.  239 

Hiilj^ence  of  the  Court,  while  I  state,  as  briefly  as  posiihlc,  a  few  facts  which 
may  serve  to  show,  that  in  the  whole  course  of  iny  proceed!  u^s,  as  Com- 
niaiidiig  Officer  of  the  squadron  in  that  river,  I  was  never  actuated  hy  any 
selfish  consideration ;  but  that,  from  the  time  of  the  surrender  of  Buenos 
Ayres  to  His  Majesty's  arms,  until  the  period  of  its  being  wrested  from  our 
possession,   I  made    every  sacrifice  wiiicli    miglit  convince  the   world   in 
general,  tiiat  tiie  good  of  my  country  was  my  sole  object  in  having  under- 
taken this  expedition  without  po-itive  orders.     I  am  the  more  anxious  to 
establish  this,  because  I  iiave  had  the  mortification  to  hear  it  said,  since  my 
return,  that  sordid,  instead  of  honourable,  motives,  operated  to  indjce  me 
to  undertake  this  expedition.     I  am  proud  to  have  it  in  my  power,  not  only 
to  rescue  my  own  character  in  this  respect,  but  to  prove  that  I  luive  not 
degraded  the  profession  to  whicli  I  belong,  by  permitting  unworthy  motives 
to  operate  on  my  conduct  as  an  officer :    I  should  not  have  wanted  prece- 
dents to  hear  me  out  even  in  such  conduct ;  but  though  I  have  quoted  [irece- 
dents  for  mv  justification,  as  to  the  exercise  of  my  discretion,  I  should  dis- 
dain to  avail  myself  even  of  the  same  authority,  to  palliate  cupidity  or  in- 
justice.    In  proof  of  my  conduct  in  this  respect,   permit  me,  Sir,  to  recal 
v.o  tiie  attention  of  the  Court,  tliat  immediately  on  the  surrender  of  Buenos 
.•\yre3,  all  the  property  aiioat  contained  in  upwards  of  one  hundred  and 
eighty  vessels,  to  the  amount  of  at  least  a  million  and  a  half  of  dollars,  was 
given  up  to  the  proprietors  by  proclamation — an  evident  proof  of  my  sincere 
inclination  to  concihate  the  minds  of  t!ie  inhabitants  of  every  description, 
and  to  convince  them  that  the  expedition  was  undertaken  with  views  dia- 
metrically opposite  to  those  which  attach  to  a  predatory  incursion.     If  it 
should  be  suggested,  that  I  could  not  have  manned  even  a  very  small  pro- 
portion of  those  vessels,  I  would  reply,  that  I  might  have  disposed  of  them 
at  an  inferior  price  to  their  respective  proprietors. — I  acted  with  the  same 
disinterested   regard   to  public  service   in   relation   to   large  quantities  of 
quicksilver  and  i)ark  to  the  amount  of  upwards  of  three  millions  of  dollars, 
in  small  and  very  convenient  packages,  which  were  in  the  castle  near  the 
quay,  and  might  have  been  embarked  in  the  course  of  three  or  four  days; 
but  I  would  not  suffer  any  of  the  valuable  merchandize  whatever,  which 
might  be  considered  as  appertaining  to  the  captors,  to  be  shipped,  before 
the  squadron  should  be  completely  victualled,  in  order  that  I  mig'it  be  en- 
abled more  effectuall'-  to  blockade  the  river  in  case  of  a  reverse  of  fortune; 
and  the  whole  of  which  j)roperty  was  ultimately  recovered  by  the  enemy. 
Moreover,  I  proposed  to  the  Captains  and  olTicers  of  the  squadron,  and 
it  was  eenerally  agreed,  that  we  should  present  to  Government  whatever 
armed  vessels  mii^ht  be  captured,  and  be  deemed  fit  for  His  Majesty's  ser- 
vice.    Among  these  was  the  Neptune,   a  tine  ship  of  twenty  guns,  which 
had  been  formerly  a  Liverpool  privateer,  and  had   been  taken  by  the  Spa- 
niards, together  with  several  large  armed  scliooncrs  and  gun-vessels. 

J  have  at  length  concluded  the  statement  of  facts,  and  the  obsorvatioiis 
which  were  necessary  to  enal;!e  the  Court  to  form  a  competent  judgment 
of  my  case;  and  in  doing  which,  I  have  unavoidably  been  obliged  to  occupy  a 
cons'dcrable  portion  of  your  time.  It  may,  however,  be  said,  that  in  my 
letter  to  the  Admiralty,  I  did  not  fully  detail  all  the  motives  which  had 
led  to  my  undertaking  the  attack  of  Buenos  Ayres.  If  the  statement 
of  these  reasons  should  appear  less  ample  and  less  fltiailcd  than  those 
which  I  am  now  laying  before  the  Court,  it  is  becau^-e  I  conceived  that  I 
was  addressing  them  to  those  with  whose  general  views  and  intentions 
on  this  subject  I  was  already  acquainted,  and  who  were  well  aware 
of  the  inducement  to  this  luulertaking.  From  tlujse  by  whom  my 
letters  were  in  tact  received,  no  intimation  ever  reached  me  that  these 
reasons  were  insufficient,  nor  has  any  su[iplementary  exphuiatiuu  been  re- 
quired. 


210  TniAL   OF  sin  home  /'orjiAsi. 

Before  I  finally  close,  T  must  a<:ain  shortly  revert  to  the  point  moEt,  jrn- 
yoitant,  bcc.'Juse  it  does  not  apply  to  my  case  only,  but  to  that  of  every 
otftcer  in  the  Navy — I  iiienn  that  of  the  ciiscrcrionary  use  of  aulhority 
wid.\)Ut  precise  orders.  Indeed,  if  an  officer,  commanding  in  f(nx'i;;n  pari?, 
is  never  to  avail  himself  of  information  which  lie  may  receive,  never  to  use 
his  own  discretion,  or  to  unficrtake  an  expeditioi>  against  an  enemy's  pos- 
sessions without  precise  and  innnediaite  orders  from  home,  which  cannot 
arrive  until  the  moment  for  action  shall  have  elapsed  ;  if  tiiis  is  to  he  the 
rule  and  limit  of  aii  oihcer's  exertions  in  a  situatio!i  of  h;!;h  trust  and  confi- 
rfence,  the  result  will,  I  confidently  forctel,  be  ruin  to  the  Hriush  Navy;  — 
it  will  lead  to  the  entire  cessation  of  all  acts  of  enterprise,  and  to  the 
total  extinction  of  that  <iaiine  spirit  uhich  has  so  long  hid  defiance  to 
all  opv'osition;  because  an  olUccr  will  be  cfelcrrcd  by  the  reflection, 
that  for  venturini:  to  attack  or  annoy  the  enemies  of  ids  country  with- 
out positive  instruc'ions,  his  conduct  may  be  prejudged  by  a  superior 
atrthority  at  home,  and  (as  in  the  order  for  hoidaii^  the  present  trial)  it 
may  he  stitfiiiatised  as  (tJla^Tcnt  breach  irf  puhltc  dulti  ifiat  ahould  not  pu£S 
vnpunhhed. 

I  must  now,  Sir,  before  I  end  my  defence,  and  put  myself  upon  tlie 
judcrneiit  of  the  Court,  draw  your  attention,  in  a  few  woi-ds,  to  wiiat  I 
htnubly  conceive  are  the  points  for  your  consideratlijii. — On  your  decision 
now  depends  the  future  conduct  and  enterprise  of  the  Navy  of  Great 
Britain;  always  bearing  in  mind,  that  I  stand  before  you,  not  for  having 
faiiled  in  the  fuUllment  of  orders,  but  for  having  done  more  than  my  strict 
duty  against  the  common  enemy.  The  interest  that  I  have  in  the  result, 
tJeep  as  it  is,  is  triffiiig  compared  with  that  wiiich  must  be  felt  by  every 
officer  in  the  Navy — I  may  say  by  the  nation  at  large.  My  case  must  be 
(fecided  on  general  principles,  totally  unconnected  with  any  feelings  which 
reltite  to  me  personally;  and  it  is  for  yon,  Sir,  and  the  Honourable  !Mem- 
bers  of  this  Court,  to  determine  whether  an  oflicer,  circumstanced  as  I  was, 
employed  as  I  lun'e  been  on  previous  occasions,  led  on  by  a  singular  and 
connected  chain  of  circumstances,  to  consider  this  enterprise  as  a  favourite 
object,  not  of  my  own  ambition,  but  of  the  niv|iesol"a  great  and  distin- 
guished minister,  on  whose  approbation  would  luive  f(jllowed,  not  merely 
protection,  but  proijably  coniimiuiation,  honour,  and  re\vard,  having  been 
criginally,  and  so  lately,  appointed  to  carry  it  into  execution,  diverted  from 
it  only  by  my  own  suggestion  of  an  intermediate  expedition;  having  a  full 
and  confidential  knowledge  of  all  the  circumstances,  which  for  a  time  de- 
layed the  execution :  and  hearing  in  a  distant  part  of  the  world,  without 
means  of  immediate  conmiunicutiou,  that  all  t[:-ese  obstacles  had  been  done 
away  ;  having  also  means  at  my  disposal  adequate  as  I  thought  to  the  end, 
and  believing  that  the  then  state  of  Europe,  and  particularly  of  my  country, 
the  inunediate  execution  of  thrs  plan  v.-as  most  important.  It  is  for  you, 
Gentlemen,  I  say,  under  all  these  ciicumstances,  to  determine  whether  I 
ivas  justHied  according  to  my  orders,  or  whether  I  am  not  to  stand  excused 
for  having  hazarded  this  exeici~e  of  discretion. — In  your  hands  I  put,  with 
confidence,  my  ca-e;  satisfied  that  the  importance  of  it,  and  the  attention 
1  have  received,  will  ens'ire  me  the  benefit  of  all  the  circumstances  I  have 
stated,  and  of  the  arguments  I  h.a^e  urged.  On  these  grounds,  I  humhlv 
liope  and  trust  that  I  shall  receive  from  ihejusticeof  theCuurtan  lIo^ofR- 

AHI.F.  Acf^UITTAL. 

The  Court  now  proceeded  to  the  examinatif>n  of  witnesses.  lord 
Melville  was  the  i!r^:c  examined.  The  principal  questions  put  to  his  Lord- 
ship by  the  prisonier  were,  as  to  the  confitlential  eoinmunii:atioiis  from  time 
to  time  made  to  him  by  .Mr.  Pitt,  as  well  a-  by  his  Lordship,  on  the  subject 
of  I'^otitli  America,  particularly  relative  to  some  proposals  made  to  Go' 
\eifciu€i!t  bv  Geuerai  Miraufi-i.  in  whieu  ( uuummictuiun  *Sir  ll(>ii!e  hoit 


IRIAL    OF    SIR    HOME    POPUAM.  241 

a  conspicuous  part,  being  at  one  time  left  in  company  with  General 
Miranda  for  the  express  purpose  ot"  ascertaining  minutely  all  the  Genemi's 
plans;  and  afterwards,  by  his  Lordship's  direction,  drawintr  up  a  nienmir 
und  projct,  vvlsich  were  submitted  for  the  consideration  of  Govcnnneiit^ 
His  l.ordshij)  distinctlv  admitted,  that  he  had  fret|uently  turned  bis  serious 
ihougLts  to  the  3ui>ject  of  South  America,  vvith  a  view  to  the  arlvautages 
which  rnjght  Le  derived  by  obtaiuinii  a  footinjf  in  it  for  the  introduction  of 
our  manufactures.  When  he  heard  of  tlie  capture,  he  considered  the 
acquisition  oi"  Buenos  Ayrcs  as  hiy;lily  beneticial  for  this  purpose,  lie  stated 
that  Sir  Home  had  certanily  been  employed  at  diifercnt  times  by  the 
Govci-uincat  on  contidt-ntial  services,  and  luivl  gi\  en  satisfaction  by  the  ^vay 
in'whicli  tiiose  services  hnd  been  executed  :  b\it  his  Lordship's  evidence  did 
not  go  so  far  as  to  siiy  that  Sir  Home  had  been  autlionzed  to  make  an 
attack  upon  the  settlement  of  Buenos  Ayres, 

Mr.  SroRGf.s  BouuNE  was  tlie  next  witness  called.  His  testimony  went 
principally  to  prove  that  .Sir  Home  I'opham  had  had  interviews  with  Mr, 
Pitt  on  the  subject  of  the  Cape  of  G^od  Hope,  and  that  in  consequence  of 
.some  coniinuuication  made  tiySir  Home  Pop.ham  to  Mr.  Pitt,  liidarter  had 
directed  the  v.-itncss  to  make  further  iufjuiry  and  take  some  ste^s,  the 
residt  of  whicli  completely  confirmed  the  information  given  by  Sir  Home 
Fopham. 

Mr.  Hlskisson,  who  was  next  sworn,  starod  tlie  different  interviews 
which  Sir  ilome  Popliam  had  had  with  tlie  late  Minister  and  himself  oii  the 
S'lbjec*  of  South  America,  and  the  anxiety  expressed  bv  Mr.  Pitt  to  make 
use  of  the  naval  superiority  of  the  country,  for  the  purpose  of  otjrainio}.';  an 
advantage  tfiere,  an<l  admitted  that  it  harl  been  constantly  an  object  that 
was  deemed  very  ilesirable.  Buenos  Ayre.s,  in  particular,  had  been  the 
subject  of  some  conversations  between  himstli'  and  i\lr.  Put;  and  he  had, 
by  Mr.  Pitt's  directions,  made  very  particidar  inquiries,  aud  liad  t  ikeii  some 
measures  »liercon ;  but  he  was  not  aware,  that  an  attack  upon  Buenos 
Ayres  was  in  the  actual  CiH.templalion  of  Mr.  Pitt,  at  llie  time  \v!ien  Sir 
Home  sailed  for  the  Ca[)e  of  Good  Hope;--yet  he  adnnlted,  that,  in  the 
summer  of  1805,  a  'step  was  taken,  with  a  view  to  prepare  and  facilitate 
the  execution  of  any  attempt  that  miglit  be  made  upon  that  seitlemenc,  la 
which  by  their  signature  the  Lords  of  the  Adnuraity  were  accessary. 

FGURTH  DAY. 

Tno-vf.vs  Map.sden,  Esq.,  Secretary  to  the  Admiralty;  and  Thom-s  'Vrr,. 
SON,  Esq.,  a  Merchq,nt  of  London,  were  called  in  ami  sworn  ;  out  iJic/r 
evidence  was  not  important. 

i\lr.  Browne,  late  Master  Attendant  of  tiie  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  was  next 
called  in.  He  delivered  liis  testimony  at  cousulerable  leaiitli,  fully  c<in- 
firinini:  the  s'atcments  of  Sir  Hona:  Pupham,  as  to  the  perfect  safely  of  the 
("aj)e  at  i!ie  time  of  his  departure  for  ttie  Kio  de  la  Plan.  He  was  present 
at  the  arrival  of  the  Cannoiiiere  French  frigate,  and  assigi  id  reasons  why 
Sir  Home  could  not  possibly  iiave  captured  her,  had  his  squadron  been 
either  in  IVule  Bay  or  in  Simon's  Bay.  He  vvas  certain,  that  the  Piciinon- 
taisc,  had  she  not  heard  of  the  English  being  there,  aud  had  she  ventured 
in,  might  have  effected  her  escape,  after  discovering  our  ships  at  anchor  iu 
Tai'Je  Bay.  She  might  have  anchored  l)eyond  tlie  reach  oi  the  batteries, 
and  beyond  the  reach  of  the  guns  of  the  shipping.  Iroin  ttie  siluali-m  of 
the  spot  where  the  Volontaire  anchored,  she  must  have  bten  sunk,  or  biowu 
np,  before  she  could  have  get  beyond  the  reach  of  the  guns,  had  she 
attempted  to  escape.  By  being  properly  moored,  cither  in  Simon's  liay  or 
Table  Bay,  the  merchant  ships  miglit"  lie  ia  safety,  completely  protected 
from  any  insult  of  the  enemy. 

Tiie   evidence    of   Captain    Iu.ng,    of  the    Djadtfiu,    the    last    \vitne"5» 


21.i  TKI  VL    OV    6111    IIOMK    POl'H.VM. 

exainiiu-d,  was  extremely  iiiiportant  to  tin;  case  of  Sir  Home  Pophnrn,  as  Tt 
went  t.>  <;oiiliri!i  the  wlioic  of  liis  Sitatenifiit.s,  rt.spectins;  the  .safc-ty  of  the 
C;ipo,  ami  of' v\  h;it<ivpr  lutTchaiit  slii^AS  iiii^ht  he  i\inn  tiiere ;  thf  impra( - 
ti(;ahility  of  a  sucfesstul  attack  hy  the  tiieiny;  the  deatiaatiou  of  the  I'reiich 
s>f|iiaclri)iis,  (live.  It  had  uUsavs  l»een  uiidcrbtonci,  that  IJiiL'uos  Ayv»s  tonncd 
a  part  of  the  Cape  Stat'iDti,  He  stated,  tliat  Sir  Uome  I'ophain,  hy  his  very 
htrict  atlcmiuii  to  his  profes-^ioiial  diities,  in  not  sntVeriuj^  any  of  the  eap- 
tiiiid  I'voperty  at  Buer.os  .Ayres  to  be  shipped,  until  the  s(jiiadron  Inid  been 
completely  re-victuiilled,  sustained  a  pecuniary  loss  of  at  least  i!0,000/. 

riFlII  DAY. 

On  the  npervinp;  of  the  Court,  Sir  Home  Popham  stated,  that  he  hr>d  it  \n 
his  powertoaHd  several  other  witnesses,  particularly  (  aptains  Edwards  atid 
Parker,  and  Lieutenant  Madden,  who  could  corroborate  the  testimony  of 
Captain  King;  but  trom  an  imu  illiniiucss  to  trespass  furtiier  on  the  atteii- 
tiini  of  tlie  Court,  he  would  decline  any  further  evidence,  if  the  Court  should 
not  think  it  necessary. 

'i'h(!  Piii:siD>M  and  the  other  Members  expressed  their  readiness  to 
attend  to  any  witnesses  the  llouourafjle  Captain  mitiht  feel  it  advisable  to 
brin^  forward;  but  declared  it  as  their  ntianimons opinion,  that  tiie evidence 
of  (Captain  Kiiiir  required  no  corroboration  whatever,  and  that  if  the  other 
witnesses  were  meant  to  apply  to  the  conduct  of  Sir  Home  at  Buenos 
Ayres,  or  to  the  motives  which  actuated  his  prr)ceedii)ti;s,  it  was  perfectly 
unnecessary  to  resort  to  them,  as  no  ojie  could  ascribe  uny  sinister  moti\e 
to  the  liononrahle  Captain. 

Sir  lIoMK  PoPiiAM  tlicu  gave  in  tltc  following  Paper  :-^ 

*'  MK.    lliESIDr.NT, 

"  [  fiere  close  my  defence ;  and  T  throw  myself  upon  the  wisdom  and 
justice  of  tills  Honourable  Court;  my  feelings  ancl  my  character  ha\e 
suifcred  severely,  but  1  trust  to  yoiir  judgment  to  relieve  the  otw,  and  to 
rescue  the  other.  It'  I  have,  in  tiie  exeicise  of  my  zeal,  exceeded  tin; 
strictest  honnds  of  discretion,  I  hope  it  will  be  evident,  1  have  been  actu;itcd 
solely  by  a  desire  to  promote  the  honour,  the  interests,  and  the  glory  of  my 
country  ;  and  if,  in  the  prosecution  ot'  those  great  objects,  aided  by  mv 
gallant  tVjltowcrs,  and  fostered  by  the  sujxrintending  hand  of  Pro\  ideuce. 
It  has  been  niy  good  fortune  to  be  put  in  the  possession  of  the  t\^o  capitals 
of  twd  quarters  of  the  glol)e,  I  trust  it  w  ill  be  found,  upon  a  close  examina- 
tion of  my  defence,*  that  the  very  head  and  front  of  my  ott'ending  hath  this 
extent — no  more  !' 

"  HOME  POPHA-'\I." 

The  Coiirt  was  cleared,  and  agreed  that  tlie  Charges  had  been  proved 
against  the  said  Captain  Sir  Home  Popham. — That  the  withdrawing,  without 
Ordei-s  so  to  do,  the  whole  of  any  naval  force  from  the  place  where  it  is 
directed  to  be  employed,  and  the  employing  it  in  distant  operations  against 
t!ie  enemy,  \t  ore  especially  if  the  success  of  such  ojieiations  should  be 
likely  t(t  prevent  its  s[)ee(iy  return,  isiay  be  attended  with  the  most  serious 
inconvenience  to  the  puhbc  sei'vice,  as  the  success  of  any  plan  formed  by 
His  Majesty's  Ministers  fi>r  operations  against  thc^  enemy,  in  which  such 
iui\ai  fo;ce  might  be  intiuded,  may  by  such  removal  be  entirely  prcventi-d. 
And  the  Court  furtiier  agreed,  that  the  conduct  of  tlie  said  Captain  Sir 
}b)me  pinhani,  ;n  the  «ithdr;iwin'j:  the  u  hole  of  the  naval  force  under  !iis 
coiinnuml  iV'jnt  the  t'atte  of  </ooil  Hope,  and  the  proceeding  witii  it  to  the 
}{,io  de  la  "'lata,  was  inp,hiy  censurable ;  but  in  con.-ideration  (jf  cncuiu- 
ftaiu  pf;  did  atJ|udj;e  him  tJ  be  oxlv   siviriELY  iiKPr.i.MAXJiLD. 

Tlie  ( Durt  vMis  again  opened,  Captiiiii  Sir  Home  Popliain  bionghl  in,  and 
4udicnce  admitted,  uud  siuteuce  passed  accordingly. 


213 


NAVAL  LITEKATURl'. 

The  Buftlc  of  TraJ'dlgar,  a  Poem.  To  xJu'c/i  /s  achlcd,  a  Sclrx- 
tiun  of  Jutgidve  Pieces.  Chkjfi/  zir///cn  at  Sea.  Pi/  Lar.rcrfe 
Jlalluran,)  D.  D.,  late  Chaplain  to  the  Pritannia.^  and  Secre- 
tary to  Rear- Admiral  the  Earl  vf  y<ort]iesk.^  K.  P. 

^ir^HIS  Poem,  whicli,  the  aiitlior  informs  iiq,  "  was  written  oa 
-^  the  Scene  of  Action,  sfiortly  affcr  the  achiovimcnt  of  the 
glorious  Victory  of  Trafalgar,"  is  introduced  to  the  notice  of  tlic 
reader  by  the  following  exalted  tribute  to  Rear-Admiial  El  ab 
IJarvey  :— 

"    SIR, 

"  AVhrii  on  the  cver-mcmorable  twciity-fir^t  otOctol^cr,  I  sawyouplnce 
the  TpMKKAjuE  between  tzco  of  the  enemy's  line  of  battle  ships,  and  cap- 
laic  tbcni  l)()th,  I  exultingly  said  to  niy-^olf,  *  I'his  is  truly  a  brave  man.' 

"  At  the  various  Cftnrts  Martial,  which  1  have  attended,  and  upon  which 
you  have  sate  as  a  ^lember  of  the  (.'ourt,  1  have  been  no  iniitteiui\e  ob- 
server of  your  jud<j;inent  and  discrinnnalion  in  investigating  trutli :  nor  bave 
I  been  unsitfocteti  Ijy  the  mildness  and  iunnanity  yon  liave  invariably  ex- 
biiiited  towards  the  unfortunate  prisoners  !  On  such  occasions  uiy  heart 
has  again  sngij;tsted,  '  This  is  truly  a  benevulent,  good  man.' 

"  lo  such  a  character  it  lias  been  my  ambition  to  address  this  Poem, — 
nnitijlucnced  bif  Ike  bias  qt'prtviitclrit'iic/i,f,i/i  or  pcrsoiud  intlmnci/ ; — and  by 
Fuch  inducements,  strengthened  by  the  consideration,  that  it  is  a  faithful 
record  of  achievements,  '  (jiiorum  pars  ti^opiu  fiiiall^  I  am  encoiu'a»ed  to 
place  tlie  publication  under  the  protection  of  your  name  ; — tissnred,  that, 
ttiDUf^b  it  cannot  confer,  it  must  recL-ivc  distinction,  if  honoured  by  the 
patronaj^c  of  a  l;rave  and  good  man." 

It  is  not  a  little  extraordic.ary,  that,  in  honour  of  tlie  Victory  of 
Trafalgar — one  of  the  most  gloriouij  victories  ever  obtained,  in  any 
country,  or  any^  age — though  we  have  had  an  abundance  of  rhjmep^ 
we  have  had  but  very  little  poetrij.  With  the  evceptiou  of  '•  Ulm 
AND  Tr  viAi-GAU*,"  this  production  of  Dr.  ilallpran's  is  the  only 
one,  at  all  worthy  of  the  subject,  that  has  met  our  eye.  That  the 
present  writer  is  adequate  to  the  task  which  he  has  undertaketij 
■Bill  be  obvious  on  perusing  the  succeeding  passage,   the  lirsl  part 

•  Of  the  liltle  poem  here  mentimjed,  thegeiieral  compusuion  is  attribut- 
ed to  Geori^c  t'anniui;,  Ksq.,  M.  P.^  but  ujany  of  the  l.nes  are  said  to  have 
bt:eu  the  production  of  the  late  lliiiht  Honourable  William  Piu,  iluiihu.  fiis 
iasi  illness.    This  circumstauce,  alone,  niUii  aitacb  an.  adduioUci  vivlue  ta 


244  \AVAL    LITERATURE. 

of  which  is  descriptive  of  llie  scene  that  presented   itself  on  the 
morning  after  the  battle  :  — 

"  Now,  from  tlic  eastern  wave  emerging  slow, 
As  backward  to  re\isit  scenes  of"  woe, 
(Wliile  clouds  and  sioiins  his  genial  influence  mar,) 
The  slsrouded  sun  arose  o'er  Trafalgar. 
Disastrous  d;iy  !  how  dilfeient  from  tlie  past. 
Whose  op'ning  horrors  man  beliolds  aghast ! 
Where  yestcrmorn  two  mighty  squadrons  rode. 
In  martial  grand«ur  on  the  tranquil  flood  ; 
Now,  o'er  swoln  surges,  by  t!)e  southern  gale 
At  random  driv'n,  their  scattered  relics  sail  I 
Dismasted  hulls  are  seen  on  every  side, 
And  groan,  and  labour  through  the  boist'rons  tide. 
These,  as  their  prows  arc  vainly  turn'd  to  sea,  , 

Insidious  shoals  attract  beneath  their  lee  ! 


the  work  ;  from  which  we  have  much  pleasure  in  transcribing  the  following 
truly  beautiful  and  expressive  apostrophe  to  our  departed  Chief; — • 

"  Lamented  Hero  !  whfn  to  Britain's  shore 
Exulting  Fame  those  awful  tidings  bore, 
Joy's  bursting  thoul  in  wfiehning  grief  was  drown'd. 
And  Victory's  self  unwilling  audience  found  ; 
On  every  brow  the  cloud  of  sadness  hung, 
The  sounds  of  triumph  died  on  every  tongue  ! 

"  iSot  joy  thus  doubtful,  sadness  thus  sincere, 
Siiall  grace,  erewhile,  the  tyrant-conqueror's  bier : 
Vt'hether  with  undiscrirninuthig  sweep 
The  scythe  of  ^'ur,  amid  the  mangled  heap. 
Shall  lay  him  low;  or  lone  corroding  care, 
U'ithout  one  heart  to  pity  or  to  share, 
A'.id  cheerless  toils  of  solitary  sway 
Shall  waste  his  with.ering  frame  with  slow  decay; 
Come  when  it  will,  from  Ileav'n's  all-righteous  hand^ 
"I'o  save,  or  to  avenge  each  iqjur'd  land. 
Nations  shall  kneel  to  bless  the  welcome  doom. 
And  France,  unfetttr'd,  trample  on  his  tomb, 

"  But  thee,  lov'd  Chief!  what  genuine  griffs  bemoan  ! 
Fleets,  cities,  camps,  the  cottage,  and  the  throne  ! 
Round  thy  throng'd  hearse  those  mingling  sorrows  flow, 
And  seek  faint  solace  in  a  pomp  of  woe  ! 

"  Yet  not  the  vows  thy  weeping  country  pays, 
Not  that  high  meed,  thy  mourning  Sovereign's  praise; 
Not,  that  the  great,  the  beauteous,  and  the  brave, 
Bend,  m  mute  reverence,  o'er  thy  closing  grave; 


NA-VAL   LITER  ATUnE.  215 

And,  hoart-appalling  sight !  tlie  slain— the  diown'd. 
And  wrecks,  and  corses  fioat,  promiscuous  round  ; 
Wliile  from  charg'd  ckiuds  the  rain  incessant  flows, 
As  Nature's  tears  for  liaplcis  mortals'  woes. 

*'  The  victors  now,  impell'd  by  anxious  care, 
Tlielr  wounded  masts  and  shatter'd  ludls  repnir; 
Close  the  wide  leaks  aj^ainst  th'  invading  tide, 
And,  cautious,  for  the  <;rowin^  storm  provide  : 
Some,  more  eflcctive,  instant  signals  urge, 
To  tow  the  helpless  prizes  thro'  the  surge, 
With  Icngthen'd  hawsers,  westward  guide  their  prores, 
From  dcstind  shipwreck  on' the  hostile  sliores  ! 
These  cares  discharg'd,  each  mournful  crew  attends 
The  last  sad  duties  of  their  slaughter'd  fi  ienrls ; 
Consigns  the  bodies  to  tiieir  watery  graves, 
And  blends  their  streaming  sorrows  with  the  waves! 

"  Nurs'd  mid  rude  billows,  cradled  by  the  storm; 
Still  their  firm  souls  can  feel  th'  emotion  warm  ; 
For  still  to  pity  bravest  hoaits  incline, 
And, '  \'alour's  breast  is  Mercy's  loveliest  shrine  !* 

**  Thus,  for  their  comrades,  while  their  tears  o'erflow'd. 

Too  acti\e  Fame  an  added  pang  bestow'd ; 

When  weeping  Pity  bade  her  sorrows  tell. 

How  gallant  Cooke  and  Duff  in  battle  fell ! 

Lamented  Chiefs !  whose  fate  too  early  prov'd, 

They  died  regretted,  as  they  liv'd  belov'd  ! 

But,  ah!  what  equal  language  can  impart 

The  boundless  grief,  that  wrung  each  seaman's  heart, 

When  thro'  tiie  (leet  ihe  fatal  news  were  spread. 

Their  much  lov'd  Chief,  their  godlike Ni:lsox  dead  ! 

Then,  from  each  bosom  burst  afflictive  sighs; 

Then,  streams  of  anguish,  gushing  from  their  eyes, 

That  with  such  grief  as  bathes  a  kindred  bier, 
Collective  nations  mourn  a  death  so  dear  ;— 
Not  these  alone  shall  sootlie  thy  sanitcd  shade, 
And  consecrate  the  spot  where  thou  art  laid  ! 
Not  these  alone  :   But,  bur^tin^  through  tlie  gloom, 
With  radiant  glory  from  thy  trophied  tomb, 
The  sacred  splendour  of  thy  deathless  name 
Shall  grace  and  guard  thy  country's  martial  fame; 
Far  seen,  shall  bla/e  the  unextinguisti'd  ray, 
A  mighty  be;icon,  lighting  Glory's  way; 
With  living  lustre  this  proud  land  adorn, 
And  shine,  and  save,  through  ages  j'etuuboui !'' 


£45  UAVAI,  tlttRATCIir. 

Peclar'd,  in  bitter  agony  of  tliought, 

*  Their  glorious  conquest  waa  too  dearly  bought.' 

"  Ves,  lov'd,  heroic  Nelson  !  o'e:  thy  bier 
Thv  faithful  seaujen  pour  the  artless  tear; 
Teel  their  stern  breasts  with  pangs  unwonted  torn, 
Am]^  though  victorious,  'mid  their  triumphs  mount; 
"NVIiile  the  whole  Navy  shares  their  {generous  pain ; 
Its  truest  Friend,  its  brightest  Glory  slain  ! 
Nor  less  thy  country's  grief,  thy  worth  attest ; 
Her  pitying  Genius  droops  her  plumed  crest. 
With  mournful  cypress  twines  her  laurel  wreath, 
And  weeps  bright  chrystal  on  thy  urn  beneath  -. 
White,  from  the  humblest  cottage  to  the  throne. 
The  land  emits  one  universal  groan  ! 
Not  with  Biore  grief,  with  more  distracting  woe, 
Pevoted  Ilion's  tears  were  seen  to  flow ; 
When  she  beheld,  before  her  sacred  wall. 
Her  bravest  son,  her  godlike  Hector  f;\U  ! 
In  whom,  as  in  thy  noble  breast,  combin'd 

*  The  gentlest  manners  with  the  bravest  mind; 

*  To  whom  her  safety,  and  her  fame  she  ow'd, 

*  Her  Chief,  her  Hero,  and  almost  her  God  !' 

"  Yet  Nelson!  if  unequall'd  honours  paid, 
If  deathless  praise  can  soothe  thy  mighty  shade  ; 
Thy  Prince  embalms  thy  memory  with  his  tears; 
Th-v  grateful  Isle  a  Mausoleum  rears ; 
Crests  the  tall  pile  with  Glory's  brightest  wreath. 
And  bids  around  perennial  fragrance  breathe; 
While  Fame's  loud  clarion,  to  each  distant  7one, 
Has  made  thy  Name  and  great  .Achievements  known  ! 
From  where  the  Ganges  rolls  his  ample  streams, 
To  the  far  goal  of  day's  declining  heams; 
From  realms,  by  suns  of  fiercest  fervour  cross'd. 
To  polar  regions  of  eternal  frost. 
Skill  thy  proud  Fame,  through  every  age  and  clime. 
Imperishable,  mock  the  rage  of  Time  ! 
While,  ev'n  this  humble  tribute  Fkilndship  pays, 
Too  just  for  censure,  t!io'  too  mcmi  for  praise, 
Grac'd  by  thy  Name,  may,  not  ephemeral,  bloom; 
But  gain  one  wreath  of  laurel  from  thy  tomb." 

We  had  rather  quote  beauties,  than  dwell  upon  defects  :  T)ut, 
had  M-e  been  disposed  to  cavil,  the  following  lines,  ^hich  con- 
clude the  Poem,  would  have  disarmed  our  severity  :— 

"  Ye  learn'd  dispensers  of  poetic  bays, 
Ah !  censure  not  these  unaspiring  lays ; 


NAVAL    LITEKATURn.  217 

Alike,  ufikiiown  to  Fortune  and  to  rainc,' 
No  patron '5  smiles,  no  laurel-wreath  1  claim ; 
But,  exil'd  lorig  from  literary  ease. 
And  forc'd,  reluctant,  on  tlie  taitliless  seas, 
Too  happy,  it' to  life's  approaching  close 
Rolentin^  Fate  a  calm  retreat  beslou  s ; 
\Vhere,  unobtrusive  from  the  '  haujjhty  Great,* 
Irom  '  Wealth's  contem[)t,'  and  '  Grdiidexir's  idle  state,' 
With  ruy  lov'd  children  bless'd,  f  may  retire. 
And  view  them,  smiling  round  my  evening  lire. 
There,  when  I  read  this  rude,  incondite  lay. 
Their  fund  attentions  shall  my  cares  repay  ; 
Wliile  my  lov'd  Laura,  bending  o'er  the  page, 
(Pride  of  my  youth,  and  solace  of  my  age,) 
Reverts  to  long  past  sufferings  and  toils, 
And  checks  a  tear  jubtgiist'ning  thro'  her  snii!es. 
Would  piiving  Heav'n,  fur  all  my  gricf'>  and  care, 
(And  Heav'ji  is  witness  I  have  had  my  share, j 
On  life's  decline  a  ray  of  comfort  beam, 
And  realize  fond  Fancy's  soothing  dream; 
Then,  the  bright  evening  of  a  stormy  day 
Should  injurdj'iitndiitip's  poignant  pangs  allay  \ 
Then  fiJi'd  where  vice  and  folly  rie'er  intrude, 
01)scurely  useful,  and  in  secret  good^ 
iV[y  hearc  oivce  more  to  social  scenes  might  wa!;e, 
Once  more  its  lost  domestic  jo  vs  partake  ; 
Ah  !   then  a  Monarch's  state  I  could  contemn, 
And  feel  more  than  a  Monarch'^  bliss  in  them, 
Whose  love  can  every  absent  good  atone, 
r»Iy  wealth,  tiicir  virtues;  ajid  their  hearts,  my  throne  !" 

From  the  smaller  poems,  in  this  volume,  we  shall,  at  a  future 
period,  make  one  or  two  extracts. 


i^atal  poetry 

The  heart's  remote  recesses  to  explore. 

And  touch  its  Springs,  when  Troie  avail'd  no  more. 

2;'Ai.covEir. 


(From    Tnmslations    chicfli/  from   the  Greek  Jnihohgj/,    zsith 
Tales  and  mixctlluncuus  Potim:     180t).^ 

^^{T^^^  ^'^*^  smooth  Main  when  scarce  a  zephyr  blows, 
^VJ^  'J'o  break  the  diirk  blue  Ocean's  deep  repose, 
I  seek  the  calmness  of  the  breathing  shore, 
Delighted  with  the  ficUl*  and  woods  no  more. 


548  NAVAL    POETRY, 

But  when,  white  foaming,  heave  the  deeps  on  higli^ 

Swells  the  black  storm,  and  mingles  sea  with  sky  ; 

Trembling  I  fly  the  wild  tempestuous  strand, 

And  seek  the  close  recesses  of  the  land. 

Sweet  are  the  sounds  that  murmur  thro'  the  woody 

While  roaring  storms  upheave  the  dang'rous  flood  : 

Then,  if  the  winds  more  fiercely  howl,  they  rouse 

But  sweeter  music  in  the  Pine's  tall  boughs. 

Hard  is  the  life-  the  weary  fisher  finds 

Who  trusts  his  floating  mansion  to  the  winds  ; 

Whose  daily  food  the  fickle  sea  maintains, 

Unchanging  labour,  and  uncertain  gains. 

Be  mine  soft  sleep,  beneath  the  spreading  shade 

Of  some  broad  leafy  plane  inglorious  laid, 

Lull'd  by  a  fpuntain's  fall,  that,  murmuring  near. 

Soothes,  not  alarms,  the  toilsome  labourer's  ear." 

THE  NAVAL  SUBALTERN ; 

OR,    who's  AritAID  ! 

I  EN  Block  was  a  veteran  of  naval  renown, 
And  renown  was  his  only  reward; 
For  the  Board  still  omitted  his  service  to  crown, 
And  no  int'rest  he  held  with  my  Lord  : 

Yet  bravo  as  old  Denbow,  Avas  sturdy  old  Ben, 

And  he'd  laugh  at  the  cannon's  loud  roar; 
When  the  death-dealing  broadside  made  worms'  meat  of  men, 

And  the  scuppers  were  streaming  with  gore. 

Nor  could  a  Lieutenant's  poor  stipend  provoke 

The  staunch  tar  to  despise  scanty  prog  ; 
But  his  biscuit  he'd  crack,   turn  his  quid,  crack  his  joke. 

And  drown  care  in  a  jorum  of  grog. 

Thus  year  after  year,   in  a  Subaltern  state, 

Poor  Btn,  for  his  King,  fought  and  bled, 
'Till  time  had  unroof'd  all  the  thatch  from  his  pate. 

And  the  hair  from  his  temples  had  fled. 

When,  on  humbly  saluting,  with  sinciput  bare. 

The  first  Lord  of  the  Admiralty  once ; 
Says  his  Lordship,  "  Lieutenant,  you've  lost  all  your  hair. 

And  the  v'»iads  mustaissail  your  poor  sconce ;'" 


NAVAL    POr.TRY. '  ^i9 

*^  Why,  my  Lord,"  repliod  Ben,  '''  it  with  triiih  may  be  s;ild, 

"  While  a  bald  pate  I  long  have  stood  under, 
'^^  There  have  so  niany  Ca-iitaitis  zcalk^d  over  my  head, 

"  That  to  se.-  me  quite  scalp'd  'twere  no  Monder.'' 


A  Sailor's  Diiscriptton  of  the  House  of  Comjiovs,  rcrilien 
upon  the  Preseniatiuri  of  the  Captains''  Petition  J  or  an  Licreuitf 
of  their  ila'f-pai/,  the  Wih  of  Februar^j^  1773. 

HEARD  a  Petition  was  go'iiu;  to  be  made 
la  favour  oieach  Man  of  VVi;r  ; 
So  I  haiil'd  up  my  bowlines,  and  to  the  wind  laid, 
To  stand  by  each  brave  brother  tar. 

Through  Westminster  Ilall  I  first  pass'd  with  surprizcj 

Of  which,  too,  T     ften  h;ul  hoard  ; 
It  look'd  like  a  barn  of  a  wonderous  size. 

Where  the  owls  wlic  not  fcather'd — but  furr'd.  ' 

Up  ladders  and  step^-  and  up  ratlines  and  stairs, 

We  pass'd,  the  great  cabin  to  gain, 
Like  beasts  to  the  Ark  who  ^irs*  march'd  up  in  pairs^ 

To  take  a  short  criii  '  on  the  main. 

Beasts  have  left  off  suc-j  tricks,  now  a  days  they're  more  wise. 

All  the  live  stock  we  carry  is  prcst ; 
Unless  some  few  Monkios,  with  tails  of  such  size, 

They  look  as  if  made  lor  a  jest. 

^Vhen  the  gall'ry  we  boarded,  egad  I  was  'maz'd, 

To  look  at  the  orlop  below  ; 
Where,  lo  !  in  a  chair,  Mr.  Parson  was  rals'd, 

And  he  seem'd  the  great  man  of  the  show. 

The  rest  were  all  sweet  little  quarter-deck  beaux, 

AVho  loii'd  on  barge-ciisliions  at  ease  ; 
And  if  I  might  judge  by  the  cut  of  their  clothes, 

They  had  not  been  much  on  the  seas. 

But  one  hungry  wolf  in  sheep-clothing  I  twigg'd, 

All  iiid  in  a  Captain's  boat-cloak  ; 
I  tij)p'd  him  the  hip — that  he  might  be  umigg'd; 

But  the  lubber  would  not  take  the  joke. 

/9au.  (Iljron.  QXoLXVII.  k  k 


SoO  NAVAL    rOETRY. 

lie  said  he'd  come  up  too,  and  order  me  out, 

Unless  I  sat  decently  still ; 
I  cried,  "  JMaster  Hans — but  pray  don't  go  about, 

i'or  you  may  get  up  by  your  bill  *." 

The  PrioHt,  from  his  look,  I  thought  promis'd  great  things  y 

But  he  was  a  mere  Moggy  Lauder  ; 
For  to  tho'^e  who  were  all  stuck  with  stars  and  with  strings 

He  kept  baw  ling  eternally- — Order  ! 

It  look'd  like  a  school  when  the  master's  away^ 

When  the  over-grown  boys  get  to  tricks; 
So,  when  pussy  cat  sleeps,  the  little  mice  play, 

As  these,  for  the  want  of  their  licks. 

At  length  a  magnanimous  Admiral  rose, 

No  gallanter  boy  ever  swam  ; 
He  has  oft  given  a  dressing  to  old  England's  foe?, 

And  to  each  jaliy  sailor  a  dram. 

His  sp'^^-cli  it  was  good',  and  recetv'd  with  applause. 

For  he's  a  true  Tar  of  the  ma-In  • 
To  Engknd  an  honour — a  friend  to  the  cause, 

And  a  foe  both  to  Franec  and  to  Spain. 

No  sooH&r  he'd  done,  but  the  wind  rose  at  North^ 

And  began  for  to  damnably  blow  ; 
Now  send  to  the  helm  a  good  steersman  of  wortiij 

Or  the  vessel  will  soon  pitch  below. 

Con  Phlpps,  in  a  trice,  like  a  hero  appear'd. 
And,  in  spite  of  this  squall  from  the  clouds. 

He  cunn'd,  box'd  the  compass,  and  gallantly  stecr'd'j 
Nor  strain'd  a  small  yarn  of  the  shrouds. 

Into  harbour  he  piloted  safely  and  well, 

This  tight  little  smack,  caU'd  Petition  ; 
Had  it  not  been  for  him,  she  had  founder'd  to  heS  } 

But  now — she's  in  special  condition. 

After  bowing,  and  calling  each  other  oft  o'er 
All  the  n;imes  keen  inveiition  con'd  rest  on> 

The  word  Honourable  soon  healM  up  the  sore, 
And  they  boldly  bawl'd  out  for  the  Question. 

*  'ibis  Gciulciuau's  luce  is  of  tin- parrot  make. 


NATAL    HISTORY    OF    TUE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1807.  251 

The  Question  briiii;  put — '(was  a  Quosiion  of  want  ;— 

*'  Shall  these  Sailors  all  starve  while  alive  ?" 
One  hundred  and  fifty-four  souls  said — '•  They  shan't/' 

While  "  Yes,"  said  the  dogs  forty-five. 

I  out  with  my  reefs,  and  my  steering  sails  too, 

And  roij'd  like  a  god  'fore  the  wind ; 
I  damn'd  Forty-five,  boys,  from  earing  to  clue, 

And  my  messmates  were  all  of  my  mind. 

TuiJiCULO. 


NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1807. 

(February — March.) 

PvETROSPECTIVE  AND  ailSCELLANEOUS. 

A  SUBJECT  of  the  utmost  National  Iinportaiice  was  discussed  in  tlie 
■^  House  of  Commons,  March  the  5tli,  on  the  Motion  of  Lord  llovvick, 
Tliat 

CATHOLICS  MIGHT  BE  ENABLED  TO  HOLD  COMMISSIONS  IN 
THE  NAVY  AND  ARViY. 

We  do  not  presume  to  give  our  crude  and  jrjutic  ideas  ou  so  bold  an 
innovation ;  but  give  it  a  preference  to  any  other  event  in  our  coneise 
History.  It  recjuires  the  heads  of  the  most  cool  and  experienced  Statesmeu, 
and  was  admirably  answered  by  Mr.  Pcrcival ;  who  in  the  course  of  his 
speech  observed: — It  was  not  so  mucli  to  the  individual  measure  that  lie 
objected,  but  to  the  system  of  which  it  formefi  a  part,  which  was  growing 
day  after  day,  and  threatening  to  cxpauil  into  the  most  alarming  magnitude. 
If  it  was  desirable  to  preserve  any  of  our  ancient  and  venerable  esta- 
blishments, it  could  only  be  elFfCted  by  making  a  stand  against  cvei-y  fresh 
attempt  at  iimovation.  lie  had  as  great  a  regard  for  true  toleration  as  any 
man.  He  would  never  restrain  the  free  exercise  of  religious  worship  in  any 
individual,  for  he  could  not  conceive  tiiat  one  man  could  commit  a  greater 
crime  against  another  than  by  sucli  an  interference. — (Hear!  hear  !)  But 
however  strongly  he  might  feel  this  sentiment,  the  application  of  it  to  any 
particular  measure  was  a  very  different  consideration.  The  Noble  Lord 
ptoposed  to  open  the  Navy  and  Army  to  persons  of  all  icligions,  and  he 
founded  this  proposition  on  the  Irish  Act  of  1793,  ami  on  the  incongruity 
which  this  Act  produced.  To  this  he  could  not  bring  himself  to  consent 
without  a  much  stronger  case  than  that  which  was  made  out  l)v  the  Noble 
Lord.  If  tiie  grievances  which  had  been  stated  by  the  Noble  Lord  ever 
existed  in  possibility,  they  bad  at  least  never  been  experienced  in  practice. 
There  was  not  an  instance  of  a  single  individual  having  been  injured,  or  pro- 
secuted, ill  consequence  of  tliCin.    The  No))le  Lord  had  declared,  that  he 


262  NAVAL  HisToriy  of  the  present  VEA/t,   1807. 

apprehended  no  inconvenience  front  this  nnprecedented  tolc  .;riim  in  the 
Navv.  No  inconvenience  !  Suppose  the  Captaui  and  crew  of  a  man  of 
war  were  Roman  Catbolicr.,  diey  must  have  a  Roriian  Catliolic  Clergyman 
— (A  ay  of' No  .'  No  !) — '^'V'hy,  as  a  Captain  of  a  man  of  war  had  a  right 
to  appoint  his  Ciuiplain,  if  he  were  a  Ronian  Catholic,  he  would  scarcely 
appoint  a  Protestant  Clergyman.  Perhaps  it  v.  as  intended  that  this  should 
be  determined  by  the  Admiralty  Board.  But  it  wmdd  be  diliicult  for  that 
board  accurately  to  ascertain  the  proportion  in  a  crew  between  the  Catho- 
lics and  Protestants.  This  too  he  would  maintain,  that,  hi  case  of  any  in- 
vasion of  Ireland  by  a  French  lorce,  the  commander  of  which  should  isiue 
a  proclamation  in  support  of  the  Roman  Catholic  religion,  that  invasion 
would  not  be  so  vigorously  repelled  by  a  Roman  Catholic  CapLam  and  crew, 
as  by  a  Protestant  Captain  and  crew.  'I'hcse  were  considerations,  which 
ought  to  excite  the  jealousy  and  apprehension  of  the  House  and  of  the 
country ;  but  he  was  not  so  anxif)us  to  call  their  attention  to  the  particular 
measure  now  proposed,  as  to  the  principle  of  innovation  which  was 
gradually  increasing  ;  and  was  much  more  formidable,  thus  stealing  on  by 
degrees,  than  if  it  were  fairly  exposed  in  all  the  magnitude  to  wluch  it 
seemed  intended  tliat  it  should  arrive.  In  that  case,  the  notice  of  Parlia- 
ment would  be  strongly  attracted  to  the  subject;  it  would  take  it  up  in  an 
extensive  point  of  view ;  it  would  determine  upon  it  deliberately,  and  he 
trusted  wisely.  The  consequences  of  a  storm  he  should  not  be  apprehensive 
about;  but  these  gradual  approaches  were  dangerous,  because  each  by 
itself  was  not  deemed  worthy  of  notice.  It  should  be  considered,  however, 
that  even  if  they  were  little  in  themselves,  their  consequences  were  not  so. 
Por  his  own  part,  he  vv^s  satisfiecj  that  if  I'arliament  allowed  their  accu- 
mulation, it  would  ultimately  ha\  e  th;it  extorted  from  its  weakness,  whicU 
its  wisdom  would  be  desirous  to  witlihold. 


Letters  received  at  Piymoutli,  dated  i:i  December  last,  from  our  fleet  in 
the  Dardanelles,  state  the  f;illowirg  interesting  particulars  of  tlie  state  of 
affairs  at  that  period  in  Turkey ;  ••  i'he  Canopus,  ?A  guns,  Rear-Admiral 
"Loui?,  the  Euciyraion,  44  guns,  and  another  frigate,  are  stationed  di- 
rectly opposite  the  Grand 'Siguior's  seraglio,  or  palace.  The  Thunderer,  74 
guns,  and  Standard,  ^1  guns,  and  two  tiigates,  are  anchored  to  comuiand 
tilt  passaiie  of  the  DardaaclKs.  A  few  days  bei'ore  these  letters  came 
away,  a  Russian  frigate  from  the  ^Mediterranean  passed  the  Dardanelles 
■withoiit  molestation  from  the  Turkish  batteries;  but  Scba^tiani,  the  in- 
trifiuing  ambassador  from  rrance  to  the  Ottoman  Porte,  inndea  violent  rc- 
'inonslrance  at  this  frigate  passing  the  Dardanelles ;  but  could  get  no  redres«, 
as  our  Knvoy,  Mr.  y\rbuthiiot,  gave  in  a  representation  of  the  business,  and 
placed  it  in  its  proper  point  of  view,  to  the  satisfaction  of  tiie  Turkish  Go- 
vernment. 

There  arc  twenty  sail  of  the  line  and  fit'tcen  fiigatcs  in  the  arsenal,  but 
jiot  five  ol"  thcni  are  half  iiianned.  Our  sliips  are  all  m  high  order  and  ciis- 
cipbne.  The  Tiirks  treat  our  pe<>])lc  udth  tlie  greatest  eivihty  and  attention. 
Refresh, rents  of  all  kinds  are  sent  on  board  our  men  of  war.  Our  galhuit 
Admiral  and  his  ofhcers,  and  the  Captain?  and  oiiicers  of  the  other  iJntish 
men  of  war,  tieoumtly  diiie  on  sliore  witli  Mr.  Arbuthtiot,  whose  ;^ood 
gcnse  and  manlv  cuiiuiict  are  uiucii  admifed. 


KAV  VT,    TriSTOT'-Y    0>'    THE    PHTTJEXT    YEAR,    1807.  253 

Dcuf,  Fttiuary  35. 

Bctwo.!  ,;;  aiu'  S€veM  o'clock  tliis  inorninfj;  a  vessel  was  rliscovi-rcri  on 
the  O'joc'A-ir,  5:' ii.Lis,  about  h-ilf  a  niilf!  from  the  South  Sauds  lica.l,  rinng 
signal  ^Mi- !.r  distress ;  upoi»  the  wcatiier  clearing  away  a  little,  she  ap- 
peart'l  t(.  oe  a  vessel  of  war.  One  of  our  boats  uniHCtluitely  put  olf  to  her 
assist... ,ce,  and  was  soon  followtid  by  three  others;  at  the  same  tMie  tiie 
Spcjculator  lui^ifer,  LieutcuLiiit  M'Creedie,  got  under  vveij,li,  and  saileu  to 
the  back  of  iie  (joodujii,  iu  order  to  be  a'.  i:aud  iii  alFording  sucii  assistance 
its  the  dauoerous  situatiuii  oi  tne  vessel  deiufcinded.  I'lie  weather  was  tmck 
and  squally,  the  sea  runnui::  very  high,  and  continually  breaking  ove.  the 
ship,  ^o  that  It  made  it  dangerous  tor  boats  to  approach  her;  nevertheless, 
our  boatme  !.  with  their  usual  iiitjepidity,  auu  set":iig  danger  at  detia;ice, 
got  alongside  and  took  out  the  distressed  crew  ;  and,  with  the  assistance  of 
the  boats  vvliicii  came  up  in  succesiiun,  succeeded  in  getting  the  vessel  ofi^ 
iintl  are  no.v  procetdmg  witu  her  to  llainsgate  harbour. 

Three  o'cloc' .  I'.  M. — 1  have  just  learned  that  the  I'cssel  above  racn- 
tiocc  !  is  His  aUajesty's  gim-brig  Virago,  of  12  guns,  Lieutenant  iJanclu-r, 
from  tlie  Iri.-.h  -lation.  She  be  it  so  violently  while  ou  the  s.uids,  as  •••■  un- 
ship lier  rudder  and  start  her  sternpost,  and  is  otherwise  s>  much  dam  iged, 
that  it  will  lie  with  considerable  difficulty  slie  is  kept  afloat  to  reach  ttaiUi- 
jjate  harbour. 

Plmnou'!i,  March  7. 

Came  in  the  Insolent  irnn-brig,  13  guns,  with  French  pnsun<.-rs  fro;!i  Fal- 
mouth, which  were  landed  at  Alill  Bay  As  soon  as  that  fine  ship  the 
Hibernia,  Captain  Osborne,  was  passing  down  between  the  Island  and 
the  Main  for  Cawsand  Bay,  while  the  boat  with  French  prisoners  lay  lui 
their  oars,  the  Frenchmen  were  so  struck  with  the  grand  appearaiici.  of 
the  ll.l)enjia  majestically  gliding  down  the  Sound,  ttiey  one  and  all  ex- 
claimed, '■■  Tliee  iioesthc  i'j-und  coup  tie  grace  of  BuonapiirLe  f  Siie  got 
to  her  mooring.;  at  three  P.iM.,  and  was  saluted  by  hearty  cheers  f  om  all 
the  ships  as  t>he  passed  them,  her  own.  band  playing  several  M)'.pro:jnate 
tunes  on  the  quar'cr  deck,  which  were  answered  by  respoasive  national 
airs  from  the  bands  and  drums  of  the  Royal  Lancashire,  assembled  ou 
the  Pranks  at  Devjl's  J^oint  for  the  occasion. 

The  Monitfur  gives  the  following  li>t  of  English  vessels  driven  on  sliore 
on  the  French  coast,  from  the  ISth  to  the  22d  of  February  ; 

Near  O.il end. — The  brig  i  riends,  of  Northumberland,  of  170  tons,  laden 
with  ditfcrent  merchandize ;  the  brig  Merchant,  of  Loudon,  Captain  R, 
Acheson,  i)i  130  tons. 

Near  Dieppe. — A  vessel  of  200  ton'?,  laden  with  conls. 

Near  St.  Fallen/. — The  Ocean,  of  100  C(;ns,  part  ef  the  crew  perished. 
—A  brig,  of  l.")0  tons,  with  no  person  on  board;  the  Emily,  of  ItJO  tons, 
with  coals;  and  the  London  packet,  of  200  tons. 

P/Les. — At  flushing,  tlie  Royal  I'orrester,  taken  by  the  Chasseur  corsair. 
At  Calais,  the  James,  of  Sunderland,  with  coals;  and  the  Experiment,  of 
1 JO  tons. 

The  other  papers,  in  mentioning  the  immense  damage  done  by  tb.e  late 
Storins,  state  the  ibllowing  English  vessels  to  have  also  wrecked,  viz. 

Two  JMiglish  vessels,  names  not  stared.  The  Europa,  of  140  tons; 
Ceres,  190:  Bacchus,  100:  Bretby,  ifO;  Fox,  a  ship  of  300  tons,  under 
Fort  lleiirt;  Selby,  250;  a  sliip  of  250  tons,  near  Dieppe;  two  other 
ships  dismasted;  and  towed  into  Dieppe;  a  ship  of  300  tons  sunk  opjjosite 
Boulogne,  crew  saved ;  a  brig  of  18  guns  and  sixty-si.t  men,  thirty  were 
saved  near  Suttevdlc;  two  brigs  lost,  one  at  iWeldckerke,  the  other  at 
Wcndcnc;  the  Good  Iniention:  six  other  vessels  had  anchored  near 
Duiikirk-r-tliey  were  taken  by  embarkations  from  the  shore — their  names 
are,  the  Iriends  of  London,  2.'0  tons,  laden  with  navnl  stores;  ihe 
Koguistitn,  of  70  tons;  iAIediator,  250;  I'eel,  li30;  Speculation,  200;  Uie 
Commerce,  of  Bristol,  with  port  wiuc,  got  into  Uoscof. 


254  NAVAL     HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEARj     1S07. 

ORDER  OF  COUNCIL. 

At  the  Court  at  the  Queen's  Palace,  26th  March  1807,  present, 
the  King^s  Most  Excellent  Mujesly  in  ConncU. 
IT  is  lliis  day  ordered  by  His  Majesty  in  Council,  that  all  ships  and 
goods  belonging  to  the  inhabitants  of  ilaniburgh,  ."ad  other  places  and 
countries  in  the  North  of  Germany,  iiow  in  the  possession,  or  under  the 
controul  of  France  and  her  Allies,  which  have  been  detained  prior  to  the 
3st  of  January  last,  :hall  be  restored,  upon  being  pronounced  by  the 
High  Court  of  Admiralty  to  belong  to  the  inhabitants  aforesaid;  and"  that 
the  ship',  ;inl  floods  shal!  he  permitted  to  proceed  to  any  neutral  port; 
and  all  such  ships  and  goods  captured  on  or  after  the  said  first  of  January, 
and  pronounced  in  like  manner,  shall  be  detained  (save  and  except  sliips 
and  goods  engaged  in  a  trade  to  or  from  tliC  ports  of  this  country,)  until 
larther  orders  ;  and  the  goods  shall  be  sold  by  the  claimants  thereof,  under 
a  commission  from  tlie  Court  of  Admiralty,  to  be  granted,  upon  notice 
given  to  liis  Majesty's  Procurator-General;  and  the  proceeds,  after  de- 
ducting the  claimant's  advances  in  respect  thereto,  bhall  be  paid  into  the 
Registry  of  the  said  Court,  and  shall  be  invested  in  Government  Seciu'ities, 
until  His  Majesty's  further  pleasure  shall  be  signilied  thereon :  and  the 
llight  Hon.  tiie  Lords  Commissioners  of  His  jNIajtsty's  Treasury,  the  Lords 
Conanissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  and  the  Judge  of  the  High  Court  of 
Admiralty,  are  to  give  the  necessary  directions  herein,  as  to  thern  n^ay 
respectively  appertain. 

STEPHEN  COTTRELL. 


3lfcecrs;  on  ^ertiice, 

Copied  verbatim  from  the  London  Gazette. 

[Continued  from  pngc  171.J 

ADMinAMy  OFFICE,  FEBRUAtlY  24,  1807. 

Copt/ of  a  Lc'tcr  from  Vicc-AcJmhal  Dacret,  Commander  in  Chhfof  His  Ma~ 
jestifs  Ship!,  and  Fe.'-'iels  at  Jamaku,  to  William  Marsdcn,  Esq.;  dated  at 
Poit  Royal,  Januait/  12,  ia07. 

Mr,, 
~[F  ENCLOSE  to  you,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of 
•J*-  the  Admiralty,  a  list  of  men  of  war  and  armed  vessels  captured  by  the 
.-;qnadion  under  my  command  between  the  1st  of  January  ICOd,  and  the  1st 
of  January,  JB07.  J  am,  &C. 

J.  R.  DACRES. 

A  List  (tf  Men  of  War  and prini'e  armed  JVs."r/s,  captured  and  dcs'roj/rd  In/ 

the  Squcdro'i  on  the  Jamaica  Station  bctueen  the  1st  (>/' January,  1806,  and 

the  1st  of  January,  1807. 

Spanish  brig  Ilaposa,  of  12  guns  and  90  men;  captured  by  the  Fran- 
chise, Charles  Dashwood — now  m  His  Majei-ty's  service.  ' 

Spanish  schooner  el  Carn-ien,  of  2  four-pounders  and  eighteen  men  ;  cap- 
tured by  the  ?>Iagicienne,  Adam  M'Kenzie. 

Spanish  schooner  St.  <  hristi  \  rl  Pana,  of  1  cightcen-pounder  and  2  four- 
poimders,  and  torty  nu  ;i;  captured  by  the  Serpent,  John  V,  aller. 

.Spanish  sciiooncr  Cscilia,  of  4  guns,  and  '■■0  uica;  captured  by  the  Elk, 
Georiie  ilorris. 


^AVAr>   HISTORY   OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1807.  255 

French  bri<^  Phaeton,  of  16  guns  and  120  men;  cnplured  by  the  Pique, 
C  B.  II.  Ross — now  ill  His  Majesty's  service. 

Freticli  brig  Vokigeur,  of  16  i^uns  and  1^0  men  ;  captured  by  the  Pique, 
same  CommaiKler — now  iu  His  Majesty's  service. 

Fit-nch  brig  Dilifi;t'nte,  of  16  guns  and  126  men ;  captured  by  the  Ilenard, 
Jeremiah  Cogliiaii— now  in  ilis  Majesty's  service^ 

SpanisJi  ship  Pomona,  of  "8  guns  and  3-17  men ;  captured  by  the  Arethusa, 
Charles  Brisbane— now  in  liis  Majesty's  service. 

Dutch  sliip  lialstar,  of  36  guns,  men  uncertain ;  captured  by  tlie  Are- 
thusa, Charles  Brisbane;  Latona,  J.A.Wood;  Anson,  C.  Lydiard;  and 
Fisgard,  W.  Bolton. 

Dutch  ship  Surinam,  of  22  guns,  men  uncertain;  captured  by  the  same 
ships,  and  the  same  Commanders. 

Dutch  scho(iner  Flying  Fish,  of  14  guns, men  uncertain:  captured  by  the 
same  ships,  and  the  same  Commanders. 

A  Dutch  schooner,  name  unknown,  guns  and  men  uncertain ;  captured  by 
the  same  ships,  and  the  same  Commundei's. 

French  schooner  Regulateur,  of  3  guns  and  80  men ;  captured  by  the 
Wolf,  G.  C.  M'Kenzie,  and  sunk. 

French  schooner  Napoleon,  of  5  guns  and  GO  men;  captured  by  the  Wolf, 
same  Cummundor,  and  sunk. 

French  schooner  Creole,  of  6  guns  and  59  men;  captured  by  the  Rein 
Beer,  John  FyiVe, 

A  French  felucca,  name  unknown,  of  1  gun,  crew  escaped;  captured  by 
tlie  Wolf,  G.  C.  M'Kenzie. 

Spanish  felucca  Santa  Clara,  of  1  nine-pouiulcr  and  28  men;  captured  by 
the  Pique,  C.  B.  II.  Ross. 

Spanish  row-boat  Cubana,  of  1  gun  and  7  men;  captured  by  tlie  Ellc, 
W.  F.  Wise. 

Spanish  schooner  I'Aimablc  Theresa,  of  2  howitzers  and  18  men;  cap. 
tured  by  the  Cerberus,  W.  Sclby. 

French  schooner  Grand  Juge  Bertolio,  of  6  guns  and  !>1  men  ;  captured 
by  the  Fortunce,  Henry  Vansittart. 

French  schooner,  name  unknown,  of  2  guns,  cvcw  escaped;  captured  by 
the  llercule,  B.  Ducres. 

Spanish  schooner  el  Carmen,  of  1  gun  and  34  men;  captured  by  the 
Franchise,  C.  Dashwood. 

Dutch  schooner  Brutus,  of  20  men;  captured  by  the  Franchise,  same 
Commander. 

French  schooner  laLurtc,  of  2  guns  and  47  men  ;  captured  l)y  the  Morne 
Fortunee,  Lieutenant  Rorie. 

i'rcncb  schooner  I'Aimable  Jeannette,  of  2  guns  and  20  men:  captured 
by  tlie  rNioine  Fortunee,  same  Commander. 

French  privateer  Alliance,  of  5  guns  and  75  men;  captured  by  the  Elk, 
George  Morris. 

A  French  brig, name  unknown,  of  4  guns,  crew  escaped;  captured  by  the 
Bacchante,  James  II.  Dacres. 

Spanish  letter  of  marque  le  Sebastian,  of  1  gun  and  20 men;  captured  hv 
the  same  ship,  and  the  same  Commander. 

Spanish  privateer  Desiade,  of  1  gun  and  oO  men  ;  captured  by  the  same 
ship,  and  the  same  Commander. 

Spanish  privateer  Marscllois,  of  3  guns  and  55  men;  captured  by  the 
Penguin,  (Jeorge  Morris. 

A  Spanish  guii-boat,  of  1  thirty-two-pounder  and  40  men ;  dcslrovcd  by 
iht:  Supericure,  Edward  Rushwoith. 

A  Spanish  gun-boat,  of  1  thirty-two-pomider  and  J.'>  nuni :  destroyed  h'f 
the  £am{;  sl:ip,  and  the  ;r»ine  Commander. 


256  NAVAL   HISTORY   OF  THE    PRESENT   VEAR,    1807. 

Spanish  letter  of  marque  St.  Joseph,  of  5  guns  iind  30  men  ;  capturec]  by 
the  Port  ?.Iahon,  Sanuiel  Chamhers. 

A  Spanish  sclioonrr.  name  unknown,  of  10  guns  and  60  men;  captured 
by  the  Serpent,  John  Waller. 

Spanish  schooner  St.  John,  of  3  guns  and  32  men  ;  captured  by  the  Fis- 
gard,  William  B  )!ton. 

Spanish  schooner  le  Napoleon,  of  1  gun  and  14  men ;  captured  by  the 
X5Higente,  W.S.Hall 

Spanish  schooner  St.  Jos.  y  las  Animas,  of  I  eight-pounder  and  15  men  ; 
captured  by  tlie  Hunter,  J.  S,  Inglefieid. 

French  schooner  Suneib  of  14  guns  and  05  men;  captured  by  the  Pitt 
schooner,  lieutenant  I'itton. 

A  French  felucca,  name  unknown,  of  1  gun,  crew  escaped;  capturtd  by 

the  Siiark, le  Geyt;    Superieurc,  Edward  Rushworih  ;    Flying  Fish, 

liutenant  Price;  and  Pike,  Lieutenant  Otley. 

A  French  privateer,  name  unknown,  of  4  guns,  crew  escaped  ;  captured 
by  the  same  skips,  and  the  same  Commanders. 

A  Spanish  vessel,  name  anknown,  of  1  gun,  crew  escaped;  captured  by 
the  same  ships,  and  the  same  Commanders. 

A  Spanish  vessel,  name  unknown,  of  1  gun,  crew  escaped;  captured  by 
file  same  ships  and  the  same  Commanders. 

A  Spanish  vessel,  name  unknown,  of  I  gun,  crew  escaped  ;  captured  by 
the  same  ships,  and  the  same  Commanders. 

A  French  privateer,  name  unknown,  of  2  guns,  crew  escaped;  destroyed 
by  the  liein  Deer,  Joim  Fyffe. 

'  French  privateer  Vengeur,  of  1  gun  and  50  men ;  captured  by  the  Success, 
John  Ayscough,  and  sunk. 

A  Spanish  brig,  name  unknown,  pierced  for  12  guns,  none  mounted, crew 
escaped;  captured  by  the  Pique,  C.  B.  II.  Ross. 

A  Frencli  felucca,  name  unknown,  of  2  guns  and  26  men ;  captured  by 
the  same  ship,  and  the  same  Commander. 

Spanish  schooner  Susannah,  of  4  guns  and  20  men ;  captured  by  the  Or- 
pheus, Tiioraas  BriijGis. 

J.  R.  DACRES. 

Shcnh,  Fort  Royal,  Jamaica, 
January  12,  1807. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Admiral  Yotaig,  Commander  in  Chief  of  Hi^  Mujea- 
tifs  Stup!>  and  Vesseh  a  Plymoiiih,  to  Wiltii:m  Mars/en,  Esq. ;  dated  ok 
hoard  the  Salvador  del  Mundo,  in  llumoazc,  the  'ilut  Instant. 

SIR, 

Herewith  T  transmit  a  letter  which  I  have  received  from  Captain  Carteret, 
of  His  Majesty's  sloop  Scorpicni,  acquainting  me  of  t!ie  capture  of  le  Hou- 
E;ainvillc  French  privateer  by  that  sloop,  which  I  request  you  will  lay  before 
the  Lords  Commissioners  of  tlie  Admiralty. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

W.  YOUNG. 

His  Mqjestifs  Sloop  Scorpion,  Scilly  N.  E.    . 

SIR,  Four  Leagties,  Feb.  17,1807. 

Yesterday   evening,   after  a  long   chase   and   a  slight  resistance,    the 

Bougainville   French   brig  privateer,  twenty-three  days  out  from  St.  jMa- 

loes,  having  sixteen   guns  and  ninety-three   nien,  was  captured  by    this 

sloop,  I  am,  Sir,  (&c. 

PHIL.  CARTERET. 
2o  IVilliain  Young,  Ei^q.,  Admiral  of  the 
Blue,  <;>(■.  4<-".  <SiC.         ^ 


JTAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    lEAR,    1807.  257 

FEB.    9.8. 

jTo/??/  of  a  Letter  from  the  Ili<;hf  Hououruhle  Lord  Keith,  K.B.,  Adnilral  of 
the  Whtie,  lVc,  to  Wii'/i/irn  Mursdcn,  -Eyj. ;  dated  on  board  the  Edgar,  off" 
liiit/isgate,  the  iiht/i  Inataiit. 

SIR, 
I  transmit,  for  their  Lordiliips'  information,  a  copy  of  a  letter  whicli  I 
iiave  received  from  Captain  Farquhar,  of  llis  I^la)l•^t)''s  ship  tlie  Ariadne, 
■reporting  the  cuptuie  of  the  French  cutter,  letter  of  marfjue,  \c  Cliasieur. 
V'ice-Adiairal  Duugias  acquaints  nie  "ih.a  this  vessel  is  a  pri\atcer. 
I  liuve  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

KEITH. 

,  His  Majes'y^s  Ship  Ariadrie,  at  Sea, 
MY  LOKD,  Februinij  19,   l807. 

I  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  your  Lordbhip,  that  I  have  this  day  cap- 
tured a  French  cutter,  letter  of  marque,  le  Chasseur,  of  32  tons,  two 
carriage  jiuiis,  and  36  men,  commanded  by  Pr.  Callicr  ;  24  men  only  were 
i(Aind  on  board,  twelve  havini^  been  sent  in  prizes. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

A.  FARQUIIAR. 
Admiral  Lord  Keitli,  K.B.,  S^c. 

Copu  of  another  T/:tter  from  the  Right  Honourable  I^ord  Keith,  K.  B.,  Ad- 
miral of  the  White,  ^c,  to  William  Mursden,  E^q.,  dated  on  board  the 
Editor,  off' Ramsgatc,  i'ebjuur//  2(3,  1807. 

SIR, 

J  have  tiie  satisfaction  of  traiismittiiiii',  for  their  Lordships'  information,  a 
*fcopy  of  a  letter  which  I  have  received  i'roni  Lieutenant  Ramsey,  cominand- 
iiig  llis  Majesty's  cutter  the  Carrier,  acquainting  me  with  die  capture  of 
another  French  privateer. 

I  have  the  hoiio  »r  to  be,  &c. 

KEITH. 

His  Mdjcdi/'ii  Cutter  Currier,  at  Sea, 
MY  i-ORD,  Eebruari/  20,  IBUf. 

I  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  your  Lordship,  that  having  yesterday 
chased  le  Chasseur,  French  cutter  privateer,  into  the  hands  of  Captain 
I'arquhar,  of  llis  Majesty's  ship  Ariadne,  1  was  this  morniiiy  returning  to 
my  station,  accompanied  by  tlic  Princess  Aui;usta  cutter,  when  at  nine 
A3L,  Coiee  bearing  •'5.  by  K.  d>ttant  ten  leagues,  we  discovered  a  buspicjous 
sail  on  tiie  N.E.  quarter,  steeriiiL;  in  for  the  Dutch  coast,  to  which  I  imme- 
diatcly  gave  cliase,  and  at  two  P.M.  came  up  with,  and  captured  the  FrencU 
schooner  privateer  le  Rugotin,  cominanded  by  Jaques  Jappie,  mounting 
ciglit  <iuns,  which  were  thrown  overboard  in  the  cliase,  with  a  complemeiiC 
of  29  men;  eight  days  from  Dunkirk,  witiiout  having  made  any  capture, 
and  this  being  her  lirst  cruise. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

R.  RAMSEY, 
Lieuleuant  uud  Cumin  binder. 
Admiral  Lord  Ktith,  K.B.,  ^c. 


258  NATAL     HtsTORY    OF    Tlii:    PliESENT    YEAR,    1807. 


Copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  Rinht  Hononrahle  Lord  Gardner,   Admiral  of 
ike  White,  ^-c,  to  Willia/ii  Marsdcn,  Esq.^  dated  at  Cork,  February  25, 
i807. 
SIR, 

I  beg  you  will  lie  pleased  to  lay  before  their  Lordships  the  enclosed  copy 
of  a  letter  from  Captaia  Maling,  of  the  Diana,  givins;  an  accuunt  of  the 
capture  by  that  ship,  on  tlie  18th  instant,  of  the  French  ship  privateel^ 
la  Charlotte,  of  St.  Pvlalocs,  pierced  for  twenty  gnns,  but  only  four- 
teen mounted,  and  having  a  eoinplement  of  one  hundred  and  eighteen 
men. 

I  understand  from  the  officer  who  delivered  to  me  Captain  Maling's  let- 
ter, that  the  above  privateer  was  fallen  in  witli  by  the  Diana^  about  thirty- 
leagues  3.  W.  of  Scilly. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

GARDNER. 

ilis  Mnjcatys  Ship  Diana,  off' Cork 
MY  Lor.t),  Harbour,  Feb.  25,  1807. 

By  following  tlie  track  pointed  ont  by  your  I^ordship  as  the  most  likely 
to  find  the  enemy's  cruisers  on,  I  have  the  satijfaction  to  acquaint  you,  thaE 
the  frignte  I  command  fell  in  with  and  captured,  on  the  }!!th  instant,  the 
Trench  privateer  ship  la  Charlotte,  who  being  deceived  by  the  sail  we  were 
under,  bore  down  nearly  within  eun-^iiot  uf  us,  befcjre  s'le  discovered  her 
mistake;  it  was  then  too  l;jte  to  escape :  after  a  doubtful  chase  during  five 
hours,  the  gale  freshened,  and  we  out  carried  her.  She  is  pierced  t'uc 
twenty  guns,  has  only  fourteen  mounted;  was  commanded  by  Mons. 
Quimper,  Lieutenant  de  ^'aisseau,  and  had  a  complement  of  one  huiKlred' 
and  eighteen  men,  fitted  out  at  St.  Maloes,  but  last  from  Nantes,  out 
twenty  days;  and  though  formerly  successful,  has  oidy  captmx-d  a  Swedish 
baik  and  ship,  and  recaptured  a  chasse  raaree,  pri2e  to  a  Jersey  priva- 
teer, since  her  Uist  leavingport.  I  rejoice  at  having  made  this  capture,  the. 
more  as  we  probably  have  saved  three  valuable  Liverpool  ships  we  met  with 
the  next  day. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

T.  J.  MALTNG, 
Admiral  Lord  Gardner,  yc  ^'C  £)C. 

MARCH    C4. 
Copy  of  a  Lefferfrom  Rear-Admiral  Sir  FdaardFelIao,'Bart.,  Commander- 
in  Chief  of  His  Mnjtsty' s  Ships  and  Fessels  in  the  F.ast  Indies,  to  Williain 
Marsden,  Esq.;  dated  on  board  the  Culloden,  in  Madrax  Roads,  the  '29th 
August,  1806. 

SIR, 

The  enclosed  letters  from  Captains  Plampin  and  Lord  George  Stuart  will 
convey  to  tlieir  Lordships  intelligence  of  the  capture  of  la  JBelloue,  la  lieu- 
riette,  .and  I'lle  de  France,  privatefers  fri;m  the  ^lauricius. 

I  reflect  with  much  pleasure  on  tlie  capture  of  la  Bellone  in  particular, 
as  well  from  her  superior  sailing,  as  Ler  uncommon  success  in  the  present 
and  preceding  war  against  the  British  commerce  in  the  Indian  and  Euro- 
pean seas.  The  commercial  interests  of  this  coutitrv  are  particularly  seemed 
by  her  capture,  which  could  not  have  been  expected  bat  under  very  favour- 
able circumstances. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c, 

E.  PELLEW. 


NAVAL    laSTOUY    OF    THE    PRESLM    YEAR,    1807.  259 

His  Miijesti/s  S/iip  Powerful,  B'^ck  Bay, 
siRj  Tiincomate,  idih  Jui^,l806. 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  tliat  on  Wednesday  the  9th  instant, 
beiniz  at  anchor  in  this  bay,  I  received  inlbrinatKjn,  by  a  ship  from  Co- 
lonil;o,  that  hi  i'cllone  privateer  had  returned  to  her  old  cruising  ground, 
off  Dondra  Head  ;  in  cons(  qnence  of  which  f  instantly  put  to  sea,  and  sent 
directions  to  Captain  iJabXard,  of  the  llattlesuake,  (who  was  in  the  inner 
harbwur,  tal;iiig  in  the  iron  ballast  of  tiicSheerne-s,  agreeably  to  your  orders,) 
to  folloa-,  and  join  me  off  the  Basses,  wliich  he  did  the  next  niornmg  at 
dayiio;ht.  iV'ly  intention  was,  if  possible,  to  beat  up  «s  tar  as  Tengall,  into 
wliicli  place  la  Bolloue  had  chased  the  ship  above  mentioned  ;  but  on  Sa- 
turday inorninj:,  being  to  the  soutliward  of  the  Great  Basses,  I  found  so 
much  wind,  and  such  a  heavy  sea,  that  the  crippled  state  of  my  masts 
obhged  me  to  bear  up  and  run  for  the  Little  Ba-ses,  intending  to  keep  close 
in  shore  under  their  lee.  The  mnrnaig  being  very  tiiick,  the  Rattlesnake 
had  fortunately  separated  in  t!.e  afternoon;  about  a  quarter  past  three, 
being  about  seven 'miles  to  the  northward  of  the  Little  Basses,  a  ship  was 
discovered  on  our  weather  beam,  steering  free,  with  steering  sails  set;  we 
uere  soon  convinced  it  was  la  Bellone,  and  very  shortly  at'ier  we  had  tlie 
pleasure  to  see  the  llaitlesnake  broad  on  iiis  weatlier  qaarier,  so  th.at  he 
could  not  haul  his  wind  frain  us,  without  beng  forced  to  action  by  lier.  he 
therefore  preferred  the  chance  of  crossing  between  us  and  the  sliore,  having 
at  that  time  a  strong  land  wind,  and  we  lying  nearly  becalmed  ;  in  this  hope 
lie  was  deceived,  ar.d  was  by  five  o'clock  within  gun  shot  of  us,  at  which 
time  he  hoisted  his  colours, "and  tired  a  broadside  at  us  and  continued  a 
running  fire  until  a  quarter  before  seven,  at  which  time,  finding  there  was 
1)0  possibility  of  getting  from  us,  lie  struck  his  colours  and  brouglit  to. 

1  am  sorry  to  add,  we  had  two  men  killed  and  eleven  wounded;  the  ene- 
my acknovvledi:e  only  one  killed,  and  six  or  seven  woundtd. 
1  have  the  honour  to  be,  6:c. 

R.  pla:\ipix. 

Rcar-Adittiral  Sir  E.  Fcllezc,  Bart.  &;c. 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Fozcerful,  Buck  Bay, 
SIR,  'Trincomale,  June  15.  1806. 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  that,  pursuant  to  ycur  orders,  I  left  Madras 
Roads  early  on  the  4th  instant,  and  arrived  at  this  anchorage  in  the  fore- 
noon of  the  ilth.  Having  received  inteiiigence  that  the  privateer,  whose 
description  you  favoured  me  wit!i,  had  been  seen  lint  a  few  days  since  in- 
the  neighbourhoovl  of  Batecato ;  I  put  to  sea  again  in  the  afternooii,  and 
being  close  in  with  the  land,  abreast  of  Friars  Hood,  the  f). lowing  evening, 
I  continued  staiding  to  the  «t)uthward,  under  easy  sail,  all  nisiht;  at  day- 
break of  the  13th,  ue  discovered  a  ship  on  the  lee  quarter,  with  tie  courses 
up,  on  the  opposite  tick,  and  had  soon  t!ic  pleasure  to  be  convinced,  !>y  her 
appearance  and  mana-uvrcs,  that  it  was  the  sl.ip  we  were  in  search  i;f. 
After  a  ciiasc  of  eleven  hours,  during  the  last  hour  of  which  she  continued 
firing  her  stern-chasers  over  us,  (happily  without  effecr,)  Uie  enemy  struck 
bis  colours,  and  brought  to.  The  sliip  proved  to  be  la  iU  nriette.  momiting 
twenty  guns,  four  twclve-poimder  carronades.  Two  nine-pounders,  nnd 
fourteen  six-pounders,  (four  of  the  latter  were  hove  over  during  the  ciiase,) 
having  on  board  one  hundrrd  and  iwenly-f.ur  men,  including  ofhcers.  She 
Bailed  from  the  Isle  of  France  on  the  7th  of  April. 

1  have  the  honour  to  be,  S<.c. 

R.  rLAMPIX. 
To  Kcar-Admiral  Sir  Edward  Pdlew, 
Bart,,  4t.  <5c.  4c. 


260  NAVAL    HISXORY    OF    TUE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1807. 

ffis  MaJesU/s  Sliip  Di/7rcan,  off  the  Isk  of 
STB,  i'tunce,  April  29,  1806. 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  after  having  spoke  His  Majesty's  ship 
p?yclie,  and  delivci-ed  your  orders  to  Caplain  Wooldridge  for  his  further 
proceedings,  on  my  return  to  join  you,  I  fell  iu  with  and  captured,  on  the 
8th  instant,  (after  a  chase  of  five  hours,)  the  French  hrig  privateer  I'Ue 
de  France,  rnountujg  six  twelve- pouudL'r  cap-onadee  and  two  long  brass 
nines,  .the  former  of  which  she  hove  overho,Ard  diirin,:;  the  chase,}  manned 
■with  sevcntv-one  men,  and  tiad  only  been  out  twenty-four  hours  from  Port 
Is\  VV.  Slie  is  a  very  line  vessel,  almost  new,  cupper-bottomed,  and  well 
found  in  every  thing  (bound  to  Ifidia). 

I  have  tlic  honour  to  be,  &:c, 

G.  STUART. 

Captain  Caulfield,  His  Majesty  s  Ship 
Ruisei,  Sj-c.  4c-  4<-'' 

Cop7/  of  another  Letter  from  Rear-Admiral  Sir  Edrcard  Fellrw,  Bnrf.,  to 
iVthiam  Marsden,  Esq.;  dated  on  board  His  Mujrslfs  Ship  Cullodut^ 
Madras  Roads,  October  I,,iaO«). 

SIK, 

You  will  do  mc  the  honour  to  lay  before  their  Lordships  the  enclosed  ex- 
tract of  a  letter  from  Capt;un  Cole,  of  ills  Majesty's  ship  Culloden,  stating 
the  capture  of  the  Frcucii  corvette  I'Emilien,  of  eigliteen  guns  and  one  huu-^ 
dred  and  iifty  men. 

I  have  the  hon(jur  to  be,  &c. 

E.  PELLE^V. 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Cajiialn  Christopher  Cole  to  Rear-Admirnl  Sir  E. 
Fel/ezo,  Bart.,  Commander  in  Chief,  ^5  f . ;  dated  HisJilaJestfs  Ship  Culloden, 
at  Sea,  September  25,  180(3. 

I  have  the  honour  to  report  to  you  the  cafiture  of  rEmilicn  ship  corvette, 
of  ei<zhteen  guns  and  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  by  His  Majesty's  ship  under 
my  command,  after  a  chase  which  lasted  two  days  and  i\  night.  At  two 
A.M.  on  the  251  h,  wc  got  possession  of  her  close  oH' the  shoals  of  Point  Gua- 
riaveri.  We  found  tliat  we  IukJ  driven  her  on  shore  the  night  before,  and 
that  she  liad  hove  overboard  twelve  of  licr  guns,  and  had  lost  her  anchors 
and  bf)uis  before  she  got  afloat  again. 

L'Emilien  was  formerly  His  Majesty's  sloop  Trincomale,  is  copper  fas- 
tened, anil  was  considered  to  bi-  one  of  the  linest  ci-uisers  out  of  the  l.-^ie  of 
France. — She  has  heretofore  annoyed  our  trade  by  the  name  of  la  Gloire; 
but  has  made  no  captui;ci  since  leaving  the  Isle  of  FVance,  two  months 
ago. 

Copu  nfario> her  Letter  from.  Rear- Admiral  Sir  Frlrt-ard  PeUerr,  Bart.,  tn 
iViilian  Mursdtn,  Es:/.:  dated  on  board  Ha  Mujestfs  Ship  Roiceifil, 
Madras  Roads,  September  24,  1806. 

T  have  the  honour  to  enclose  a  letter  from  Captain  Cramer.,  of  His  JMajes- 
ty's  ship  Concorde,  stating  the  cnpture  of  a  small  French  brig  pnvateer,  at 
Muscat,  mounting  two  eightecn-pounders. 

1  have  the  honour  to  be,  &C. 

E.  PELLEW. 


KAVAL   IlISTOKY    OF   TUE   PRESENT   YEAR,    1807.  281 

His  Mujesifs  Ship  Concorde,  Muscat f 
SIR,  JulijUl,  180G. 

1  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  that  on  my  arrival  ar  this  place  I  found 
a  Frcncii  privai<j(;r  lirii;  lyiiii  in  the  Cove,  hsivinti  been  there  nearly  five 
wc-eics,  ami  re  ritting  for  a  cruise.  I  immediately  represented  to  the  Sultan 
how  wroD!^  it  wa  ■  to  allow  Frencli  privateers  to  come  into  his  port,  and 
to  retit  their  vessels  to  cruise  against  tlie  Euiilibh,  and  requested  he  \v<^uli 
send  her  out:  after  remaiuiug  there  three  days  lie  promised,  if  I  would  <^o 
out  of  sjoht  for  twenty-four  haurs,  he  would  send  her  out,  which  I  accord- 
inply  did;  but  in  ttie  dn-k  of  the  evenin;;  sent  all  luy  boats  in,  under  the 
orders  of  Lieutenant  Hideout,  who  fell  in  with  her  at  daylis^ht,  wlien  sha 
hauled  down  her  colours.  She  is  called  tlie  Vigilant,  mounting  two  ei^hreen- 
pomiders;  has  been  cruising  five  months  in  the  Arabian  Gulf,  and  hul 
captured  one  vessel,  belonging  to  Surat. 

1  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

J.  CR.IMEH, 
Jlcar-Admiral  Sir  Edward  PtUciCj 

Bart.,  <.yc.  SiC  ^x. 

31mpfrial  p^arliammt. 

HOUSE  OF  L0RT3S,  Fjiiday,  MAncir  13. 

THE  Thames  Polire  Bill,  and  the  Sierra  Leone  Transfer  Bill,  ivcreroatS 
a  tliird  time  and  passed.  Tlie  latter  of  tliese  Bills,  on  being  scat 
back  to  tlie  Commons,  was  throv.n  out,  on  account  of  some  alterations 
made  in  it  by  tlie  Lords.     A  new  Bill  has  since  been  brought  in. 

TtESDAY,    MARCH    17^ 

The  Marine  Mutiny  Bill  was  read  a  third  time  and  passed;  and  the  Royal 
Assent,  by  Commissiun,  was  given  to  the  Newfoundland  Fishery  Bill,  ami 
the  South  Sea  Navigation  Bill. 

HOUSE  OF  COMMONS,  Tuesday,  Fed.  24. 
The'  Royal  Naval  Asylum  Bill  was  read  a  first  time. 

MOiNDAY,    MARCH    2. 

MESSAGE  FROM  IJIS  MA.7ESTY. 
Lord  HoKick  presented  a  Message  from  the  King,  which  was  read  by  tbe 
Speaktc,  and  which  was  as  follows: — 

"C.    R. 

"  His  Majesty  thinks  proper  to  acquaint  the  House  of  Commons,  that  a 
Treaty  of  Peace  has  been  concluded  between  His  Majesty  and  the  King  of 
Pru>sia;  a  copy  of  which,  as  soon  as  the  ratilical  ions  have  been  exchangc'd, 
shall  lie  comriumcatcd  to  the  House;  and  His  Majesty  also  thinks  iit  fur- 
ther to  apprise  the  House,  that  His  Majesty's  Minister,  by  whom  the  Treaty 
was  signed,  in  consecpience  of  authority  from  His  Majesty,  and  the  urgency 
of  atVairs  on  the  Coiuiucnt,  has  taken  on  hiniselt  to  advance  to  the  Pnissiaii 
Government  a  sum  of  money  amounting  to  about  (30,000/.,  which  advance 
His  Majesty  1ms  been  pleased  to  ajjprovc;  and  His  Majesty  trusts,  that  tbe 
House  will  enable  him  to  make  good  the  same." 

On  the  motion  of  Lord  Hmoick,  His  Majesty's  Message  was  ordered  to  ba 
referred  to  the  Committee  of  Supply. 

WEDNESDAY,    MARCH    4. 

Lord  Iloa-ick,  in  a  Committee  on  the  Slave  Trade  Abolition  Bill,  brouglit 
up  several  Rcioiutions  for  gianting  bounties  for  the  captuj-c  ol'  slave  sinps 


252  NATAL    HISTOHY    of    the   rUES'VT    YEAH,    1807. 

after  the  periods  sho!)!d  expire  when  that  trnfSc  shall  end;  viz.  to  the 
caotws  of  such  ships  the  sum  of  40/. ;  for  every  male  slave  30/  ;  for  every 
ieuiale  slave  20/.;  and  for  every  child  under  fourteen  years  of  age,  found  in 
such  ships,  10/.  For  die  conviction  of  persoiis  dealing  in  that  trntlic,  on 
the  coa>t  of  Africa,  for  every  male,  13/.;  every  female,  10/.;  and  every 
child,  i)/.  For  every  person  in  the  colonies  so  dealin<!;  after  the  period  slipu-t 
iated,  20/.  for  each  male,  16/.  for  each  fem  de,  and  o/.  for  every  child. — • 
i\gre€;d  to. 

TUURSRAY,   MARCH    5. 

Lord  Honic'k  brought  in  a  Bill,  the  object  of  whicli  was,  to  allow  all  per- 
sons who  proi'e-s  tlic-  Roman  Catholic  Religion  to  serve  iiis  lUajcscy  m  the 
Kavy  and  Army,  with  the  free  exercise  of  that  rcli>;ion. 

Mr.  Pcrcival  opposed  the  measure,  a5  it  would  operate  as  a  partial  repeal 
of  the  Te-t  x\r,\ — The  Hill,  honcver,  was  road  a  first  time,  and  hxcd  f(n-  a 
second  reading;  but  it  is  understood,  that,  in  consequence  of  the  decided 
opposition  wliich  tiie  measure  l»as  experienced  from  Iiis  Majesty,  it  has 
since  been  j^iveil  up. 

MONDAY,    MARCH    9. 

The  R'larine  iVIutiny  Bill  was  read  a  first  time. 

On  the  motion  of  Lord  Ttnri/c,  a  Eill  for  regulating  tlie  Sourh  Sea  Fishery 
was  ordered,  couforiuaLly  to  the  ilesolutioirs  submitted  and  a(j;reed  to  m 
the  Committee. 

On  the  report  of  the  Comniittec,  on  the  SUue  Trade  Abolition  being 
brougtit  up,  !.,ord  Howick  stated,  thai  as  several  Gentlemen  considered 
sonic  parts  of  the  premnhle  very  obnoxious,  thouii,h  friendly  to  the  remain- 
der, he  had  thouj^ht  it  expedient  to  alter  that  preamble,  and  remove  those 
expressions  from  it  which  seemed  to  give  such  cause  of  complaint.  He 
therefore  introrluced  the  iiew  preamble,  excluding  the  terms  so  obnoxious, 
viz.  "  founded  on  principles  contrary  to  justice,  humanity,  and  sound 
policy,"  and  using  others  of  a  more  moderate  tendency. — H;s  Lofdship  also 
hrou;;:ht  up  some  clauses  for  preventing  black  soldiers  and  apprentices  from 
becoming  burthensome  to  their  respective  islaiKh;,  which  were  agreed  to. 

MONDAY,    MAP.CII     16. 

Sir  Ilnmc  Pophrvri  took  the  usual  oaths  and  his  seat. 

The  8iave  Trade  Abolition  Bill  was  read  a  third  time  and  passed,  without 
a  division,  and  sent  back  to  the  Lords. ' 

ttj'esd.ay,    march   17. 

Earl  Pern/,  concei\ing  that  the  abolition  of  the  Slave  Trade  could  not  he 
complete,,  without  the  ultimate  einancip-.ttion  of  the  Negroes,  moved  for 
k-.ne  to  bring  in  a  ?)ill,  t"ur  what  he  termed  the  gradual  abolition  of  the 
Slave  Trade  in  the  TV'est  Indies. 

Lord  Henri/  Petty  expressed  a  hope,  that  the  nolde  Earl  would  not  press 
the  matter  to  a  discussion.  The  Al)olition  of  the  Slave  Trade,  and  the 
P.muncipation  of  the  Negroes,  were  difterent  things;  and  the  latter  such  as 
he  considered  not  within  the  power  of  the  House  to  le»i->late  upon  safely  at 
this  juncture. 

Earl  Percy,  however,  would  not  consent  to  withdraw  his  motion;  in  con- 
sequence of  which  the  previous  qnesiion  was  put;  and,  after  the  House 
liad  remained  for  some  time  in  debate,  it  being  discovered  that  there  were 
not  40  Members  present,  an  adjournment  took  place. 

WEDXr.SDAY,    KAPCH    18. 

A  Bill,  for  the  better  regulation  of  Pilots^  was  brouglit  in  and  read  a  first 
time. 


NATAL    HISTORY    OF    TUB    PRESENT    YEAR,    1807.  563 

TRIDAV,    MA'UCII    '20. 

Mr.  Sherk'an,  pursuant  to  noiice,  brou^^ht  in  a  Bi'l  Lr  the  farther  recru- 
lation  of  tlie  office  of  Treasurer  of  His  Majesty's  Navy. 

IProtnotions  ann  appointmenw*     . 

Captain  W.  Croft  is  appointed  to  the  Alacrity;  and  Captain  G.  Lan<T- 
ford  to  the  Sappho. 

Ilis  Majesty  lias  been  pleased  to  promote  Lirnre'iant  Peebles,  (senior 
ofticer,)  of  tlie  Koyal.  Marines,  to  the  brevet-rank  of  a  Captain,  as  a  testi- 
mony of  Iiis  approbation  of  the  brave  conduct  of  that  corps  in  the  capture 
of  Curacoa. 

Mr.  Wood  is  appointed  Surgeon  of  ei  Corfu;  Mr.  James  AVilkcs,  to 
tlie  Mary  Yachf ;.  Mr.  Snook^  assisting  Surgeon  ;it  Haslar  Hospital,  to  he 
X)ispenser  at  Mill  Prison. 

Captain  Cumberland  is  appointed  to  the  I.evden  ;  Captain  G.  Scott  to 
.the  Inflexible  ;  Captain  C.  Stuart  to  the  St.  Alban's. 

Lieutenant  Love,  of  the  Hon.  Admiral  Berkeley's  flag-ship,  is  promoted 
to  be  a  Commander,  and  appointed  to  the  Obsorvator. 

Captain  G.  J.  Honey  is  appointed  to  the  Heron,  wee  Edgecombe,  iiL 

Mr.  T.  Young,  Purser  of  the  Nemesis,  is  appointed  to  the  Stately;  and 

Mr.     Guy   is  appointed   to   the  Nemesis.       Lieutenant   \Y.  C.   Hart  is 

appointed  to  the  Nemesis. 

Captain  C.  White  is  appointed  Conunissioncr  of  the  Naval  dock-yard  at 
Antigua,  vice  Lane. 

Captain  Acklom  is  appointed  to  the  Recruit  sloop. 

MARRIAGES. 

At  Chatham  Church,  H.  H.  Spence.  Captain  in  the  Royal  Navy,  to  J.Iisa 
Lowry,  daughter  of  C.  Lowry,  Esq.,  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Giorv. 

JMarch  11,  Captain  Surridgc,  of  the  Rt)yal  Navy,  to  Miss  Varlo,  of 
Southvvicki 

OBITUARY. 

Suddenly,  about  the  middle  of  the  month  of  I\Iarch,  at  Lon^don  IlaJl, 
near  Wimbury,  Devon,  Charles  Holmes  Kveritt  Cuhnady,  E-^q.,  Admiral  of 
tlie  Blue  Squadron,  Tiiis  gentleman  was  made  a  I'ost  (Captain  on  tlie  Tth 
of  September,  1777;  a  Rear-Admira!  on  the  2.1d  of  October,  1791 ;  a  Vice- 
Admiral  on  the  l-lth  of  February,  1790;  and  an  Admiral  on  the  I'Sd  of 
April,  1804. — As  we  are  not  accurately  acquainted  with  the  professional 
services  of  Admiral  Calmady,  we  sli.dl  feel  ourselves  obliged  to  any 
Correspondent,  wlio  can  lavoui'  us  with  an  account  of  them. 

March  the  16th,  at  his  house,  Great  Cumberland  Place,  Sirllvde  Parker, 
Knt.,  Admiral  of  the  Red  Squadron.— Sir  Ky(.\e  was  the  second  son  of  tlje 
hite  unfortunate  Vice-Admiral  Sir  Hyde  Parker,  Bart,  supposed  to  have 
perished  at  sea  in  the  year  1733,  by  Sarah,  daughter  of  Hugh  Smitlison, 
Esq.  He  was  born  in  the  year  1739.  and  marric!,  iirst,  Anne,  daughter 
of  .Totin  Pulmtr  Botcler,  Esq.,  of  Henley,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons, 
Hyde,  John,  and  Harrv.  He  married,  secondly,  a  daughter  of  Admiral  Sir 
Richard  Onslow. — Sii'   Hyde  entered  very  youri!,  iijtu  tha  Navy,  ijf  ^ 


201  NAVAL    HISTOriY    OT    THE   rilEsENT    TEAR,    1307. 

Lively  frifrate,  under  his  father;  served  as  Midshipman,  or  Mate,  on  boar(} 
the  .Squirrel,  in  1757  ;  was  made  a  Lieutenant  in  1768;  was  present  at  the 
reduction  of  ^»Jani!ia;  and  was  afterward^  er.-awed  in  the  pursuit  and  c^'^p- 
tnre  of  the  Spanish  Acapulco  ship.  On  the  18th  of  July,  17(5^,  he  wa* 
made  Post;  acquitted  himself  with  L'rcat  ^aHantry  and  '^ood  conduct,  ia 
Various  services,  during  the  Americui  war,  for  whicli  he  recei^'ed  the  liouour 
of  knighthood  ;  was  fir&t  Captain  to  the  fleet,  in  the  Mediterranean,  under 
Lord  Hood,  in  1793;  at  which  time  he  was  made  a  Rear- Admiral  ;  after- 
wards commanded  a  division  of  that  fleet;  was  made  a  \'ice- Admiral  in 
1794;  commanded  at  Jamaica  in  1796;  was  made  an  Admiral  jn  1?99; 
Citnie  home  in  1800,  and  was  appointed  second  in  command  of  the  Channel 
fleet;  in  18ul,  he  commanded  the  fleet  in  the  Baltic;  at  the  pftack  of 
Copenhaiien  ;  and  in  May,  the  same  year,  he  resigned  the  command.  Sir 
Hyde  Parker  was  formerly  a  Colonel  of  Marines. — For  a  detailed  account 
cf  the  professional  services  of  this  officer,  rlie  reader  is  referred  to  the 
tifih  Volume  of  the  Naval  Chronicle,  pa<;e  UQl, 

J.  Slade,  Esq.,  Cashier  of  Ilis  Majesty's  Navv. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  Mr.  Marr,  Boatswain  of  His  ]MajC;ty's  dock-yard  at 

Plymouth. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  at  his  father's  house  at  Peckhnm,  Mr.  Richard 
Sause,  son  of  Captain  Sause,  wfio  commanded  la  Sensihie,  under  Sir  Ilomft 
Popham,  in  the  Red  Sea.  He  was  the  only  officer  woimdc-d  in  the  Orion, 
in  the  dorious  battle  of  Trafalgar  ;  since  which  time  he  has  lingered  of  his 
wound.  He  was  a  most  e.xcelleat  otiicer,  and  died  in  ttie  20Ui  year  of  his 
ago,  greatly  regietted. 

Lately,  in.  the  W-est  Indies,  of  the  yellow  fever,  Mr.  'A".  3Larshall,  late 
Captain's  Clerk  of  His  Majesty's  sliip  Wolie,  and  foi meriy  one  of  the  jjupils 
of  the  Benevolent  Society  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Hocomhe.  The  rising 
abilities  of  this  youth  appeared  to  he  an  honour  to  that  institution,  when, 
alas!  he  was  early  snatched  to  the  silent  tomb. 

Lately,  Lieutenant  P.  Helprnan,  (1st)  of  the  Royal  Navy. 

At  Boston,  America,  Mr.  Thomas  Parker,  aged  oO,  an  active  N^aval 
Ofiicer  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  hi.s 
i>jg-book: — Fi.'if.  part  of  the  voyage,  pleasa.it,  with  fine  breezes  and  free 
winds — all  sads  set— spoke  many  vessels  in  want  of  provisions' — supplieU 
them  freely. — Middle  /3«s.*rf^'f— weather  variable—  short  of  provisions- 
spoke  several' of  the  above  ves'sels  our  supply  had  enabled  to  refit — made 
signals  of  (hstrcss — they  lip  helm,  and  bore  away. — Z,(/^/cr/?w7-^— boisterous, 
with  contrary  winds.  Current  of  advei'sity  setting  hard  to  leeward. 
Towards  the  end  of  the  passage  cleared  up,  with  the  quadrant  of  honest  ij, 
and  an  elscrvation  corrected  arid  made  up  my  reckoning,  and,  after  a  passage 
of  lit'ty  vears,  came  to  m  MortitUfi/  lload,  with  a  calm  unruflled  surface  of 
the  ocean  of  eternity  in  view. 

Lately,  at  p.dinburgh,  John  In.^is,  Esq.,  Vice-Admiral  of  the  Blue 
Squadron.  This  gentleman  was  made  a  post  Captain  on  tlie  23d  of  August, 
1781;  and  distinguished  li.m^elf;  as  Commander  of  the  Belliqueux,  which 
ship  sustaiised  a  loss  of  25  killed,  and  78  wounded,  in  the  celebrated  battle 
of  Camperdown,  in  1797.  He  was  made  a  Rear-Admiral  on  the  1st  of 
Januaiy,  1801;  and  a  Vice-Admiral  on  the  9th  of  November,  1803, — Vice- 
Admiral  Inglis,  we  believe,  was  a  relation,  probably  a  son,  of  Rear-Admiral 
Charles  iugiis,  who  died  at  Sumiyside,  in  October,  1791. 

Late!}',  at  sea,  as  he  was  comingHiome  sick  to  the  Royal  Naval  Hospital 
at  Plymouth,  Lieutenant  Lloyd,  of  the  Nile  cutler.— liis  remains  were 
coiuiuiued  to  the  deep,  with  uuliLary  honours. 


Ws.c^jf't^'f- 


JhiUthtd .pnl  OOiBoy.  b%-  J.&cU  lC>:>.S/u>e Lane. Fleet  Street. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  MEMOIR  OF 

CAPTAIN   RICHARD   BLDD   VINCEX'i', 

THE     GALLANT    COMMANDER.    OF    THE    ARROW* 
SLOOP    OF    WAU,    1805. 


**  C-'iptains  of  ahips  deserve  more  praise  for  any  particular  detached 
fiction  with  tlie  enemy,  than  those  Captains  who  are  ijerving  in  a  fleet,  and 
only  obey  the  orders  and  signals  of  their  superior  officer." 

(General  Smithes  Speech  in  the  House  of  Cmmnons, 
April  4, 1795.— iVta-.  Chron.  VulXVI,p.  43.) 

'nr^IIIS  gentleman,  who  had  the  honour  of  serving  unvkr  Lord 
Nelson,  is  a  native  of  Newbury,  in  Berkshire,  "where  iiis 
father  is  a  Banker.  Having  when  very  young  shown  a  predi- 
lection for  the  British  Navy,  his  father  indulged  his  son's  wish, 
by  entering  him,  in  the  year  1781,  on  board  the  Britannia,  of 
lOOgiuis,  Vice-Admiral  Barrington,  Captain  Benjamin  Hill ;  in 
which  ship  he  remained  nearly  two  years,  and  had  an  early  oppor- 
tunity- of  seeing  service,  when  the  grand  fleet  under  Lord  Howe 
engaged  the  combined  fleet  of  the  enemy,  after  the  memorable 
siege  and  relief  of  Gibraltar. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  war  in  1733,  we  find  him  on  board 
the  Salisbury,  of  50  guns,  Vice-Admiral  Campbell,  Captain 
James  Bradby,  on  the  Newfoundland  station  ;  and  also  during 
the  peace,  in  the  Trimmer  sloop,  on  the  coast  of  Wales  ;  and  in 
the  Pegase  and  Carnatic  guard-ships. 

L^pon  the  armament  taking  place  against  Spaiii  in  1 790,  Mr. 
Vmcent  joined  the  Prince,  of  98  gmis,  Rear-Admiral  Jervis, 
Captain  Josias  Rogers ;  from  which  ship  lie  was  promoted, 
on  November  the  3d,  in  the  same  year,  to  the  rank  of 
Lieutenant ;  and  was  appointed  to  the  Wasp  sloop.  Captain 
Thomas  Lee,  in  the  Channel. 

In  the  year  179-^  '^^  was  appointed  third  Lieutenant  of  the 
Terrible,  74  guns.  Captain  Skefllngton  Lutwidge,  then  fitting 
at  Chatham  for  the  Mediterranean,  whither  she  proceeded,  with 


*  Vide  Naval  Chronicle,  Vol.  XIII.  page  222, 
fSar^.  CtJTon.  iHoI.XVIJ.  m  n 


265 


piocuArnicAi.  ]«t:moiii  op 


the  squadron  under  Vice-Adniiial  CosIjv,  inlMay  1793.  In  this 
ship  he  was  at  the  takins;  posscssior.,  and  evacuation,  of  Toidon, 
and  various  services  attending  the  siege  of  Consica ;  during  Mhich 
time  he  rose  to  be  lirst  Lieutenant  of  iier.  The  Commander 
in  Chief,  Lord  Hood,  soon  after  returning  to  Eiiglaiid,  fell  in 
v\ith  the  Terrible  in  his  passage  down  the  Mediterranean;  and 
was  induced  to  remo\e  Lieutenant  Vincent  into  his  own  ship, 
the  V'ictory,  for  promotion,  and  bron;;hl  him  home.  Li  the  fol- 
lowing spring,  howe\cr,  in  consequence  of  his  Lordship's  flag 
being  une'spectcdly  struck  at  Spithcad,  jMr.  Vincent,  as  being 
rated  10th  Lieutenant,  was  discharged  ;  and  lost  thereby  that  pro- 
spect of  promotion,  which,  had  the  Victory  with  his  Lordship's 
flag  returned  to  h.er  station,  lie  liad  every  reason  to  expect. 

It  nevertheless  appears  that  he  was  not  long  unemployed; 
being  soon  afterwards  appointed  second  Lieutenant  of  the 
Triumph,  of  74  guns,  Captain  Sir  Erasmus  Gower;  and  was 
present  in  her  at  the  celebrated  retreat  of  Admiral  Cornwallis 
from  the  French  fieet  off  Belieisle,  on  the  17th  of  June,  1795. 
1  he  I'iiumph  was  afterwards  employed  on  a  cruise  oil  the 
\Vestcin  I.^les,  and  in  the  Nosth  Seas,  attached  to  a  squadron 
under  l.,ord  Hugh  Seymour. 

Diu-ing  the  mutiny  in  1797,  tlie  Triumph  was  for  some  time 
entirely  under  his  charge;  during  Mliich  he  considerably 
repressed  the  spirit  of  insubordination  tliat  prevailed.  Lieute- 
nant Vincent  was  unfortunate  in  leavhig  the  Triumph  (being 
then  senior  Lieuter.ant)  only  a  fev>-  days  previous  to  Lord  Dun- 
can's engagement  with,  ajid  signal  victory  over,  the  Dutch  fleet 
on  the  11th  of  October,  1797:  for  having  removed  to  the 
Zealand,  Captain  T.  Parr,  at  tlie  Isore,  at  the  particular  appli- 
cation of  Admiral  Lutwidge,  Lieut.  Vincent  lost  both  the  honour 
or  sharing  in  the  glory  of  that  celebrated  aiu!  important  victory, 
as  well  as  in  the  promotion  that  succeeded.  A  circumstance, 
however,  soon  after  seemed  to  promise  him  a  recompense 
for  this  disappointment  :  for  being  sei.'.or  Lieuienant  of  the 
Zealand,  then  the  tiaj;-sliify  at  the  Nore,  at  the  time  Ilis 
Tvjajesly  expressed  his  intention  of  visiting  tlie  Dutch  prizes  at 
Shccrness  ;   he  was  tialiertd  with  the  e\|  eaatiou  of  llmt  pre- 


CAPTAIN'    niniAUD    ET'DD    VtXCrNT.  '207 

ferment,  wliich  had  bteil  i!suolon  such  occnsioDs  :  Initliere  again 
his  hopes  were  destroyeil  by  a  gale  oi'  wind,  wliich  came  on  at 
E.N.E,,  and  bk)wing  right  up  the  Thames,  rendered  it  totally 
impracticable  for  His  Majesty  to  fuliil  his  intention  on  the  day 
appointed:  the  Visit  was  accordingly  relinquish"  d,  and  thus 
Lieutenant  Vincent  had  the  mortitication  to  experience  a  second 
disappointment. 

Admiral  Lutwidge  being  after  this  removed  to  tlie  Downs 
station,  lieutenant  Vincenf:  lelt  the  Zealand,  and  followed  him 
to  his  fiag-ship  the  Overyssel!,  and  sailed  in  her  on  the  expedi- 
tion to  Holland ;  where  another  instance  of  precarious  hope 
occurred,  arising  from  an  expected  engagement  with  the  Dutch 
fleet  in  the  Texei  ;  but  the  enemy  surrendering  at  tiie  very 
moment  of  actioii,  no  promotion  took  place. — The  Overyssell 
resuming  her  station  in  the  Downs,  Lieutenant  V'incent  continued 
in  her,  until  she  vas  paid  off  in  January,  IBO'i;  and  ailerwards 
followed  Admiral  Liitwidge's  tlag  to  the  Amazon,  and  St. 
Alban's,  until  the  conclusion  of  ih.e  war. 

In  the  iiavill  promotion   which    took    place   on    the    Peace, 
Lieutenant  Vincent  was  made  JMaster  and  Commandci-,   April 
Qf),  1802;  and  on  the  i'/th  of  May  following,  he  was  appointed 
to  the  command  of  the  Arrow  sloop,  at  Sheeruess,  to  cruise  in 
the  Channel,  and  was  stationed  on  the  coasts  of  Dorsetshire  and 
Devonshire,  under  the  orders  of  Captain  O.  Maysfield,  of  the 
Alalante,  for  the  purpose  of  suppre^smg  smuggling,  Sic.     But 
tiie  peculiar  construction  of  the  Arr(AV  m  her  external  Hpi)eav- 
ance,  soon  became  an  object  of  caution  to  smuggleis,  \\ho  ea^ily 
recogmsed  her  at  u  distance.      He  was  then  appouiled  to  the 
Downs  statK  n_,  but  una'jie  to  cruise  for  want  or"  men,   the  p-e- 
judices  of  seamen  preventing  then-eiueriiigon  boani  a  si',!!):  v. ! 
bore  an   appearance  vmhke  everv  other  vessel  ;  n 
her   interior   construction,    which  was  novel    ih' 
Tebruary,  1B03,  she  was  sent  to  Portsmouth  and  : 

On  the    fst  of   March   following,  Cuptai: 
appointed  to  the  Arrow;    but  she  not  bemg  a  .^  . 
volunteers,   he  obtained  pernnssiou  from   Lofl 


268  BIOGRAPmCAL    MEMOIR    OF 

Port  Admiral,  to  send  his  officers  out  in  the  offing,  in  Revenue 
cutters,  to  procure  men  ;   by  which  he  picked  up  some  ser- 
viceable hands.     He  was  then  sent  by  his  Lordship  m  ith  a  con- 
voy to  Guernsey  and  Jersey,  and  afterwards  to  cruise  in  the  Chan- 
nel to  complete  his  complement  of  men  ;   but  without  success. 
In  July  he  received  orders  to  refit  for  foreign  service,  and  was 
completely  manned  for  that  purpose.      He    sailed   the   same 
month,   in   company   with  the  Seahorse,   commanded  by  the 
Honourable   Captain    Courtnay    Boyle,    and    Wasp,    by    the 
Honourable  Captain  Aylmer,  for  the  Mediterranean,  with  the 
Trade  bound  to  Oporto,  Lisbon,  Gibraltai",  8cc.,  and  arrived  at 
Malta  in  September.     He  ^^  as  then  dispatched  with  the  Trade 
bound  up  the  Adriatic,  where  particular   services  detained  him 
till  December,  during  which  time  he  visited  Trieste,  Venice, 
Corfu,  and  Fiume ;  which  gave  him  an  opportunity  of  carrying 
from  the  latter  place  Prince  Luis  Lichstenstein  and  suite,  to 
visit  Pola  and  the  Istrian  shore ;  also  of  landing  at  Corfu  Mr. 
W.  R.  VVrif^lit,  from  Trieste,  who  had  been  appointed  Consul 
to  the  Seven  Islands.     After  returning  a  second  time  to  Malta, 
where  the  Arrow  was  refitted,  and  the  damages  she  sustained  by 
the  bad  weather  she  experienced  in  the  Adriatic  being  repaired, 
(particularly  the  tanks  she  was  fitted  with  for  holding  water,)  he 
sailed  for  Palermo,  and  returned  from  thence  to  Malta  with  a 
convoy,  the  COlh  of  January,  1804.     He  then  went  to  Naples 
with   a   convoy ;    and   from  thence,   at  the  requisition  of  the 
British  Minister,  to  Cagliari  in  Sardinia,  w  ith  an  officer  charged 
with  dispatches  to  the  Commander  in  Chief,  and  returned  to 
Malta  on  the  7th  of  February.     In  the  same  month  he  proceeded 
with  a  large  convoy  under  his  charge,  bound  to  Constantinople. 
On  his  entrance  into  the  Dardanelles,  the  Turkish  Castle  on  the 
European  shore  fired  several  shot  at  the  Arrow  and  convoy. 
It  blowhig  very  strong  at  the  time,  it  was  impossible  for  Captain 
Vincent  to  fend  to  the  Governor,  to  demand  an  explanation  of 
the  insult  oft'ered  to  the  British  flag ;  but  on  his  arrival  at  Cim- 
stantinople   he    represented  the   circumstance   to   the    English 
Charg^  d'Atfaires,   iSir.  Straiten,  who  laid  his  representation 


CAPTAIN    niCHARD    BUDD    VINCENT.  269 

before  the   Divan  ;   by  whom  the  Governor  was  mulcted  in  a 
very  considerable  sum  for  his  misconduct. 

The  folh)wing  letters  from  Lord  Nelson  to  Captain  Vincent, 
will  further  illustrate  this  part  of  his  iife_,  and  impart  aa  addi- 
tional interest  to  the  narrative  :— 

sm,  Victory,  at  Sea,  January  21,  1804. 

BY  the  Termagant  I  recelrcd  your  letter  of  the  19th  iilf., 
giving  me  an  account  of  your  proceedings  with  the  Trade  fro.n 
JMalta  i;p  the  Adriatic,  and  the  protection  allordcd  them  from 
thence  to  Valette  harbour.  Also  transmitting  me  coi)ies  of  the 
several  leffcrs,  &c.  therein  referred  to,  together  with  a  log  of  your 
proco?dirigs,  and  a  list  of  the  convoy  under  }«iir  charge.  In 
answei'  to  which,  I  very  much  approve  of  the  whole  of  your  con- 
duct on  fhis  occasion;  and  am  much  pleased  with  your  attention 
to  the  Government  concerns  up  the  Adriatic,  under  the  direction 
of  i\ir.  Leard.  who  has  communicated  to  me  the  object  of  his 
being  there;  and  transmitted  bills  of  lading  of  tlie  stores  sent  in 
the  Mentor  Giuro,  and  Imperial  schooner  Hungary,  which  last 
mentioned  vessel  I  hope  may  arrive  at  Malta  safe;  as  the  stores 
she  has  on  board  are  more  particularly  wanted  than  any  of  the 
others.  1  am,  Sir, 

Your  most  obedient  humble  Servant, 

NELSO.N  &  BilONTE. 

Jl.  B.  Vincent,  Kfq.,  Commander  (yf 
His  Majestys  Sloo^j  Arrow, 

SIR,  Victory,  ojjTonhn,  June  8,  1804-. 

I  HAVE  received  your  letter  of  the  Gth  of  April  last,  acquaint- 
ing me  with  your  return  from  Smyrna  on  the  5th  of  that  month, 
with  such  Trade  as  were  ready  to  accompany  you  to  Malta  ;  and 
that  you  were  about  to  proceed  again  to  Smyrna,  with  two  English 
vessels  and  transports,  under  the  charge  of  Lieutenant  Woodman, 
which  you  mean  to  escort  into  the  Dardanelles,  and  afterwards  bring 
the  Trade  from  Smyrna  to  Valette  harbour.  In  answer  to  v,  Idch^ 
I  approve  of  the  line  of  conduct  you  mean  to  pnrsue  in  the 
e\'^cuiiou  of  your  orders  ;  and  also  of  your  correspondence  with 
his  Excelh^ricy,  Mr.  Stratton,  our  Minister  at  Constantinople, 
relcitive  to  the  conduct  of  the  Governor  of  the  Castle  on  the 
European  side,  on  entering  the  Dardaiiclles  ;  and  make  no  doubt 
that  the  Ottoman  Government  will  snilieitntly  account  for  the 
conduct  of  the  Castle's  tiring  upon  the  Arrow  and  convoy,  and 
juake  the  necessary  reparation  to  our   Miiiistcr   for  the  insalt. 


2*0  BlOGRAPlIlCAr.    MEMOIR    OF 

The  two  letters,  Szc.  from  Mr.  Thomas  M'Gill,  mpntlor,c(l  in  yonrs 
of  the  6th  April,  have  also  been  received,  and  1  observe  with  some 
degree  of  surprise,  the  protection  aiforded  the  French  at  Ancona, 
contrary  to  the  laws  of  neutrality.  You  have  done  perfectly  rig'iit 
in  ciiC'.'.hiting  the  information  of  the  privateers  and  corn  vessels  to 
all  the  Captains  on  your  station,  and  hope  they  may  be  inter- 
cepted. I  have  also  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
the  7th  April,  Avith  the  list  of  vessels  captured  and  detained,  as 
therein  mentioned. 

I  am,  Sir, 
Your  most  obedient  humble  Servant, 

NELSON  &  13U0NTE. 
JR.  B.  Vincenty  Esq.^  Commander  of 
His  Majesty's  Sloop  Arrou; 

Sli?,  Victor]/,  off'T<'iiIoJi,Jiine8,  1304, 

I  HAVE  received  your  letter  of  the  Uth  ult.,  addressed  to 
Ciiptain  Cracraft,  of  the  Anson,  together  witu  the  defects  of  His 
Majesty's  sloop  Arrow,  under  your  command.  And  I  must  desire, 
en  your  return  into  Valette  harbour,  that  you  will  pat  her  in  a 
state  for  being  hove  down,  or  otherwise  as  the  builders  may  think 
necessary,  to  repair  her  defects.  If  the  tanks  cannot  be  repaired, 
water  casks  must  be  substituted  in  their  room.  I  have  sent  an 
order  to  the  master  shipvright  for  this  purpose,  and  must  desire 
that  every  exertion  which  depends  upon  you  to  facilitate  her 
cqiiipment,  mi\y  be  used;  that  the  service  of  this  country  may  not 
be  deprived  of  so  fine  a  vctsel  but  for  as  short  a  time  as  possible. 
I  am,  Sir, 
Your  most  obedient  humble  Servant, 

NELSON  k  BRONTE. 
J?.  B.  Vincent,  Fsq.,  Corjimander  of 
His  Majesty s  Siuop  Arrou:. 

In  his  passage  through  the  White  Sea^  Captain  Vincent  met 
V  ith  a  heavy  gale  of  wind,  with  snow^  which  dispersed  his  con- 
voy ;  and  tJie  Arrow,  after  being  nearly  lost,  obtained  an  anchor- 
age under  the  island  of  Coutali  alone  ;  however,  all  the  Trade 
arrived  safe  at  their  place  of  destination.  During  his  stay  at 
Constantinople  he  was  visited  by  the  Capitau  Pacha,  and  all  the 
naval  oflicers  there;  the  |)eculiur  constiuctiou  of  the  Arrow 
being  an  object  of  general  curiosity  at  all  llic  foreign  ports  at 


CAPTAIN    RICIl-VRD    BUDD    VIXCEXT.  271 

which  he  touched.  The  Capitan  Pacha  sliowed  him  much 
tlatterlng  attention,  and  presented  him  with  an  elegant  sabre,  in. 
Jctuni  for  a  pair  of  pistols;  whicl),  from  the  admiration  ihey 
attracted,  were  given  to  His  Highness^  who  allowed  Captain 
'\  incent  to  visit  the  Arsenal,  and  men  of  war  in  t!  e  port.  On 
his  return  to  Malta  he  called  at  Smyrna^  and  took  a  convoy 
from  thence.  After  which  he  was  again  sent  to  Smyrna  wilh 
tlie  Trade  recently  arrived  from  England^  and  returned  to  iialia 
with  another  convoy. 

Having  been  placed  under  the  orders  of  Giptain  Cracraft, 
of  His  Majesty's  ship  Anson_,  Captain  Vincent  was  directed 
l^-  that  otiicer  to  cruise  from  the  mouths  of  the  Archipelago 
along  the  Adriatic^  as  far  as  Ancona,  to  keep  the  Adriatic 
open  to  the  trade  of  His  Majesty's  subjects^  and  to  prevent 
the  enemy  sending  in  their  cruisers,  or  conveying  troops  across ; 
and  also  to  keep  off  the  coast  of  Calabria,  as  senior  oificer 
of  the  division  of  cruisers,  during  the  absence  of  the  Anson, 
w'hich  was  to  be  docked  at  Constantinople.  In  this  cruise 
he  visited  the  islands  of  Zante  and  Corfu  ;  and  at  the  latter  place 
received  a  requisition  from  the  British  resident  Ivlinister,  Zvlr. 
Forestij  to  follow  to  Valona  a  Turkish  squadron,  under  the 
command  of  Capitan  Seremet  Bey,  which  had  not  many  hours 
left  Corfu  ;  and  demand  from  him  the  restitutir.n  of  the  cargo  of 
an  English  brig,  which  had  been  stranded  in  the  neighbourhood, 
as  well  as  two  seamen,  who  had  deserted  from  a  transport  at 
Corfu,  and  iled  to  the  coast  of  Albania,  and  were  reported  to  be 
in  tlie  district  of  Berratt.  On  the  'Silh  of  May  he  oves  took  ti-e 
Turkish  Admiral,  geneniUy  called  Patrona  Bey,  at  Valona,  and 
went  on  board  his  ship,  who  promised  to  obtain  for  him  the 
objects  of  his  demand,  which  was  made  in  strong  terms.  Kot 
being  able  to  see  the  Vizier  of  Berratt,  who  vs as  in  the  interior,  he 
w  cut  oft"  Otranto,  with  the  Arrow,  to  reconnoitre  that  port ;  and 
on  his  return  to  Valona  Bay,  found  that  the  V'izier  had  informed 
Seremet  Bey  that  the  vessel  was  stranded  in  the  district  of 
Durazzo,  under  the  govenunent  of  Ibrahim  Bev ;  that  the 
deseiters  had  been  converted  to  Mahometism,  and  were  in  uie 


272  BtOffRAPHICAT,   MEMOIR    0? 

same  district :  lie  was  never  enabled  to  gain  any  furtlier 
intelligence  of  them,  although  the  Admiral  as8ured  him  that 
they,  as  well  as  such  materials  of  the  brig  as  could  be  recovered, 
should  be  conveyed  to  Corfu. 

I'he  following  Letterj  fiora  Lord  Nelson,  is  dated  Victory, 
at  Sea,  G8th  July,  1804. 

SIR. 

I  YESTERDAY  received  your  letter  of  the  13th  ult.,  acquaint- 
ing me  with  your  proceedings,  in  consequence  of  the  letters  3'ou 
received  from  Captain  Cracraft,  of  His  Majesty's  sliip  Anson. 
That  you  had  visited  Zante,  Corfu,  Valona,  and  Otranto, 
agreeable  to  his  directions;  and  that  on  your  arrival  at  Corfu,  you 
had  received  a  letter,  with  an  enclosure  from  Mr.  Foresti,  acquaint- 
ing you  with  the  loss  of  the  Merchant  brig,  General  Moore,  near 
Valona,  011  (he  ISth  of  November  last;  and  also  with  the  treat- 
ment the  Master  and  crew  of  the  said  vessel  had  received  from  the 
Bey  and  Vizier  of  Berratt-  In  answer  thereto,  I  am  very  much 
pleased  with  the  whole  of  your  conduct,  and  hope  that  your 
remonstrances  will  not  only  induce  the  Vizief  to  deliver  up  the 
English  subjects,  but  also  make  sufficient  reparation  for  his  treat- 
ment to  the  Master  and  crew  of  the  said  vessel,  as  well  as  for 
having  detained  them  and  others  of  His  Majesty's  subjects.  I  am 
very  much  obbged  for  your  communication  of  the  different  circum- 
stances that  are  passing  in  the  Adriatic,  mentioned  in  your  said 
letter  and  log  book,  which  have  been  received,  together  with 
copies  of  Mr.  Foresti's  letter,  and  the  paper  which  accompanied 
it,  also  the  list  of  vessels  boarded  by  the  Arrow,  as  stated 
therein. 

I  am.   Sir, 
Your  most  obedient  humble  Servant, 

NEJ.SON  &  BRONTE. 

3?.  B.  Vincent,  Esq.,  Co7nmandir  of 
His  ALiJcsfj/s  Sluop  Arrow. 

»  On  leaving  Valona,  ^t  was  Captain  Vincent's  intention  to  go 
off  Tarento,  nud  ascertain  the  state  of  that  place,  but  it  blowing 
strong  at  N.N.W.,  he  could  not  beat  into  the  Gulf,  therefore 
bore  up  for  Cape  Spartivento  :  in  his  way  thither  he  received 
intelligence  of  a  French  privateer  cruising  off  Cape  St.  Mary'si; 
in  consequence  of  which  he  pursued  her  to  the  island  of  Fano, 
where  he  destroyed  her,  as  described  in  his  letter  to  Admiral 
Lord  Nelson,  the  Commander  in  Chief. 


fcAPTAIN    KICIIARD    BUDD   VINCENT,  273 

llis  Majcstt/s  Sloop  Arrozc,  at  Sea, 
aiY   LORD,  June  5,  1804, 

Having   heard  by  an  Imperial  vessel  wliich  I  examined  off 
"Cape  Stillo  the  1st  instant,  that  she  had  been  boarded  tlie  evening 
before  by  a  French  privateer,  off  Cape  St.  Mary's,  monritinir  six 
guns,  with  about  70  men,  and  rowing  24  oais;    I  imn^eJ  ateiy 
determined  to  look  out  for  her,  and  in  my  course  to  the  eastward 
got  intelligence  from  a  P.agusian  brig,  that  she  liad  seen  the  above 
vessel  at  anchor  under  the  island   of  Fano.      The  same  evening  I 
made  that  island,  Avith  a  strong  wind  at  N.  by  \V.,  but  haviog 
sprung  my  fore-top-sail-yard,   I   stood  otf  to  shift  it  ;  and  ow  ttie 
morning  of  the  3d  rounded  the  island  to  the  eastward,  and  at  half- 
past  nine  saw  her  at  an  anchor  in  a  cove  to  the  southward.     Ou 
her  perceiving  us  she  trippi-d  her  anchor,  and  began  moving  round 
the  wcathermost  point  of  the  cove;  her  crew,  who  appeared  to  be 
numerous,   and  mostly  on  shore,   getting  on  board  in  her  boat  as 
fast  as  possible.     As  soon  as  she  got  round  the  point,  she  palled 
direct  to  the  northward  and  windvvard,  and  at  half-past  ten  made 
sail  on  the  starboard  tack  to  the  westward,  being  then  about  two 
miles  to  Avindward  of  the  Arrow.     As  soon  as  she  was  at  a  sufiicient 
distance  from  the  island  to  prevent  a  breach  of  neutrality,  I  fired 
two  shot  toAvards  her  to  oblige  her  to  show  her  colours,  but  with- 
out ellect.     About  11  she  tacked,  and  1  expected  she  would  wea- 
ther the  island  :  but  as  soon  as  she  got  in  shore,  she  bore  up  close 
along  the  rocks,   and  anchored  in  the  same  cove  about  noon.      I 
kept  plying  the  Arrow  to  windward;   and  as  I  closed  the  island, 
observed  a  great  number  of  her  crew  on  shore  upon   the  cliffs,  all 
with  muskets,   and  others  carrying  arms  aud  ammunition  from  the 
vessel  to  the  shore  :   the  privateer  being  hauled  close  to  the  beach, 
under  a  cliff,  with  colours  and  pendant  flying,  moor. d  with  throe 
anchors,  and  a  hawser  from  the  mast-head  to  the  cliff  above  her, 
and  her  guns  pointed  to  the  sea.     This  disposition  induced  me  to 
attempt  cutting  her  out;    conceiving  the  olleusive  arrangements 
made  by  the  enemy  to"  be  a  sufficient  indication  that  thoy  meant  not 
to  claim  the  neutrality  of  the  island,    but  had    by  their  present 
operations  grossly  violated  it.     About  half-past  two  I  biought  the 
Arrow  to  an  anchor  within  gun-shcit,  and  sprung  her  broadside  to 
the    shore;     then   sent  the   boats    armed    under  the  direction   of 
Lieutenant  Cuthbert  Fcathcrston   Daly,   with  orders  to  bring  her 
out :  but  very  soon,  after  the  boats  put  off  from  the  sliip,  gi;.i)e  and 
musket  shot  were  fired  at  them  from  the  privatcerj  and  shore.     I 

m^t),  €|jron.  ©oI.XVII,  n  n 


274  BioGnApmc.vr.  memoir  o? 

then  supported  the  boats  by  a  brisk  fire  from  the  Arrovr,  and 
Jyieutenant  Diily  succeeded  in  boarding  the  privateer,  cut  her 
adrift,  and  would  have  brought  Iscr  out,  but  her  rudder  being 
imhunsc  and  ashore,  she  soon  after  grounded,  within  pistol  shot  of 
the  beach.  I  judged  it  therefore  expedient  to  set  her  on  fire,  by 
which  she  was  totally  destroyed.  Not  having  made  any  of  her 
crew  j.risoners,  I  did  not  learn  hor  r.ame,  but  have  sinre  heard  she 
was  called  the  Rachalc,  Biaggio  MarccHione,  Master,  a  Corsican  ; 
she  was  a  tartar,  mounting  4  long  guns,  having  about  74  men, 
rowing  24  oars,  anew  vesssel,  fitted  out  at  Leghorn,  and  had  done 
some  mischief. 

I  cannot  but  express  to  your  Lordship  the  very  high  sense  I 
entertain  of  the  conduct  of  Lit-utenant  Daly,  the  ofiirers,  and  men 
employed  in  the  boats  on  this  occasion,  for  their  spirited  resolution 
in  boarding  the  privateer,  amidst  a  heavy  cross  fire  from  the  priva- 
teer, cliffs,  beach,  and  houses.  I  have  to  lament  the  loss  of  Mr. 
Thomas  Patterson,  Master's  Mate,  a  fine  promising  young  man, 
and  one  seaman  killed,  and  several  wounded,  one  of  which  is  since 
dead. 

I  beg  leave  to  enclose  your  Lordship  a  paper  saved  from  the 
privateer  ;  it  is  part  of  a  Code  of  Instructions ;  and  shows  how 
ready  the  Vice-Consuls  of  Spain  are  to  become  agents  of  the 
French  Republic. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be, 

My  Lord,  &c.  t&c.  Sec. 

R.  B.   VINCENT. 

To  the  Right  Honourable  Lord  Vkcount 
Nelson,  K.  B.,  Commander  in  Chief\ 
SfC.  ^c.^c,  Mediterranean. 

In  executing  this  service,  an  instaJice  of  determined  intrepi- 
dity occurred,  too  hojiouruble  to  the  cliaracter  of  British  tars 
to  be  passed  unnoticed.  When  the  French  privateer  had  been 
driven  close  under  the  island  of  Fano,  her  crew,  expecting  an 
attempt  would  be  made  to  cut  her  out,  had  secured  her  by 
anchors  and  warps,  and  by  an  hawser  from  her  mast  head  to  the 
cliffs,  that  towered  above  the  vessel,  on  which  the  enemy  w  as 
stationed  with  musketry.  Being  boarded  by  the  Arrow's  boats, 
,  t«iie  was  cut  adrift;  but  on  finding  she  was  still  lield  by  the  liaw- 
ser,  a  sailor,  named  Mordecai  Betty,  climbed  with  the  greatest 
coolness  to  the  mast  head  ;  where,  amidst  a  shower  of  shot,  he 


CAPTAIN     RTCIIARn    BliDD    VISCCNT.  275 

deliberately  drew  out  his  knife,  cut  the  hawser,  aiid  descended 
unhurt.     The  privaleer  was  then  brought  ofi*  and  burnt. 

The  following  is  the  answer  which  Lord  Nelson  sent  to  the 
above  letter  from  Captain  V^incent : — 

SIR,  Victory,  al  Sea,  28th  Ju/j/,  1C04. 

I  IIA  V^E  received  ynnr  Ictfer  of  the  .5th  June_>  giving  an  account 
of  your  hauiig,  on  the  3(1  of  that  nion^th,  destroyed  and  set  fire  to 
a  P'rench  privateer,  undur  the  island  of  Fano.  The  destruction  of 
the  enemy's  privateers,  (which  are  so  numerous  in  these  seas,  and,, 
contrary  to  all  known  laws  of  neutrality,  shelter  themselves,  and 
make  a  convenience  of  the  neutral  territory  of  the  powers  in  amity 
with  Great  Britain,  from  whence  they  commit  the  most  un- 
warrantable depredations  on  our  commerce.)  becomes  an  object  of 
serious  consideration,  and  certainly  justifies  an  attack  upon  these 
pirates.  1  therefore  feel  pleasure  at  your  conduct  in  the  de- 
struction of  the  privateer  before  mentioned,  and  shall  write  to 
Mr.  F'oresti,  His  IMajcsty's  Minister  at  Corfu,  (if  necessary,)  to 
remonstrate  against  the  conduct  of  those  unprecedented  and 
sanctioned  pirates,  as  I  did  in  the  instance  of  the  Thisbe  :  for  cer- 
tainly the  neutral  territory  that  does  not  afford  protection,  cannot 
be  allowed  to  give  it  to  the  original  breaker  of  tiie  neutrality  ;  and 
therefore  from  the  offensive  state  of  the  privateer  in  question,  and 
her  firing  upon  the  Arrow's  boats,  I  cannot  but  approve  of  your 
having  destroyed  her  ;  but  I  must  beg  to  be  perfectly  understood, 
that  1  would  on  no  account  have  the  neutralify  broken  or  dis- 
turbed, hy  His  Majesty's  ships  or  vessels  under  my  command  firing 
upon  any  of  the  enemy's  privateers,  or  endeavouring  to  d  stroy 
them  under  the  protection  of  a  neutral  port;  unless  such  privateer 
shall  first  use  offensive  measures,  and  fire  upon  His  Majesty's  sub- 
jects, in  which  case  they  forfeit  the  protection  of  the  neutral  port, 
and  ought  to  be  destroyed  if  possible.  I  am  sorry  for  the  Arrow's 
loss  in  killed  and  wounded  on  the  occasion,  as  stated  in  the  list 
which  accompanied  your  said  letter.  The  p^jpor  of  instructions 
saved  from  the  privateer  before  alluded  to,  has  also  beeu  received. 

I  am,    Sir, 
Your  most  obedient  humble  Servant, 

iSELSOxX  &  BRONTE. 

JR.  B.  Vincent,  Efq.,  Captain  o/ 
Jits  Majesty^  Sloop  Arvua:. 

From  the  island  of  Fano  Captain  Vincent  put  into  Svracuse 
to  get  refreshments  for  his  wounded  raeU;  and  returned  to  IMaila 


276  BiOGUArincAL  memoir  of 

the  13lh  of  June.  In  his  way  thither  he  fell  in  with  three  Nea-. 
politan  frigates,  off  C  ;pe  Spartivento,  cruising  against  the  Al- 
gerines ;  and,  though  every  signal  was  made  to  them,  they  did 
not  show  their  colours,  but  chased  the  Arrow  until  they  hauled 
ailci  a  vessel  under  English  colours,  which  they  brought  to.  In 
this  ciujse  he  obtained  !i)t<  li. genre  that  there  were  no  French 
troops  at  Ancona  or  Urindisi,  and  that  their  head  quarters  were 
at  Capua.  After  having  landed  his  wounded  men,  and  refitted, 
he  sailed  again  on  the  IQlh  on  a  cruise,  taking  under  his  charge  a 
convoy  bound  to  Constantinople,  and  Charles  Lock,  Esq.,  Con- 
sul General  of  Egypt,  who  having  occasion  to  visit  Constanti- 
nople, requested  to  be  forwarded  in  the  Arrow.  On  the  2d  of 
July,  Captain  Vincent  anchored  in  the  Dardanelles,  under  the 
old  European  castle,  where  he  left  the  convoy  in  safety,  as  his 
instructions  did  not  allow  him  to  proceed  further;  Mr.  Lock 
^vas  forwarded  the  same  day  in  a  Turkish  boat,  procured  from 
the  Governor  of  the  castle  for  that  pinpose.  Captain  Vincent 
then  cruised  off  the  Morea,  and  arrived  at  Zante  on  the  l'2th, 
where  he  rendered  some  assistance  to  Mr.  Wright,  the  British 
Consul,  who  had  been  treated  with  disrespect  by  the  Pritano  or 
Governor.  It  is  customary  when  a  Consul  displays  the  flag  of 
his  nation,  to  have  it  complimented  by  tlie  government  of  the 
place  looting  its  own  standard:  Mr.  Wright  found  that  this  had 
been  duly  observed  by  the  Pritano  in  compliment  to  the  French 
Consul,  an  hoisting  the  flag  of  his  republic.  On  the  2d  of  June 
he  informed  the  Pritano  that  he  intended  to  display  the  English 
flag  on  the  4th  of  .Tune,  at  his  consular  residence,  and  expected- 
the  compliment  of  the  colours  being  hoisted  at  the  castle  and. 
fortress  ;  but  noUvith.-itauding  they  had  been  flying  three  succes- 
sive days  before,  they  w  eve  on  that  day  discontinued  to  be  shown : 
Mr.  Wright  waited  upon  bini  to  complain  of  this  marked  disre- 
spect, and  to  insist  upon  some  reparation  :  Ynany  trifling  excuses 
were  made,  and  a  promise  to  comply  with  these  observances 
upon  another  occasion.  This  ofl'ertd  when  the  Arro'A'  arrived, 
and  the  morning  after  was  appointed  for  the  display  of  the  Bri- 
tish flag,  which  was  saluted  by  the  Arrow,  but  continued  unno- 
ticed^  bv  the  Governor^  and  the  remonstrances  that  were  mact^ 


CAPTAIN    RlCllAno    nUDD    VINCENT.  !i7? 

proved  unavailing.  On  the  19th  Captain  Vincent  andiored  at 
Corfu,  where  he  laid  a  representation  of  the  conduct  of  the  Go- 
vernor of  Zante  before  Mr.  Foresti,  His  Britannic  ^Majesty's 
Minister  to  the  Seven  Islands,  that  an  exposition  of  tlie  trans- 
action might  be  made  to  the  Settinsular  Senate.  Captain  Vin- 
cent heard  at  Corfu,  that  nothing  had  been  accomplished  re- 
specting the  deserters,  that  Seremet  Bay  had  promised  if  pos- 
sible to  procure ;  and  also  that  the  name  of  the  privateer  he  de- 
stroyed at  Fano  w  as  I'Active,  and  not  Rachalc,  and  that  five  of 
her  crew  v,ere  killed  and  several  wounded.  At  the  requisition 
of  Mr.  Foresti,  he  proceeded  to  Venice  with  a  Russian  courier 
for  St.  Petersburgh,  and  with  dispatches  .for  the  British  Minis- 
ter at  Vienna.  Having  set  on  shore  the  Courier  at  Venice,  he 
sailed  for  Trieste  to  land  his  dispatches,  but  in  his  way  fell  in 
with  His  ISIajesty's  brig  Morgiana  and  a  large  convoy  from  the 
latter  place.  Captain  Raynsford  having  represented  to  him  that 
several  French  privateers  were  said  to  be  looking  out  to  attack 
this  convoy.  Captain  Vincent  took  charge  of  it,  and  sent  the 
Morgiana  back  to  Trieste  with  the  dispatches,  and  orders  to 
rejoin  as  soon  as  possible :  but  no  privateers  were  seen  in  his 
passage  down  the  Adriatic.  Daring  this  trip  he  had  ascertahied 
that  there  were  no  French  troops  at  Ancona,  nor  any  vessels 
collected  for  embarkation,  as  had  been  reported.  On  quitting 
the  Adriatic  he  sent  the  Morgiana  with  the  trade  bound  to 
Malta,  taking  with  him  the  vessels  for  Zante  and  Cephalonia^ 
after  which  he  proceeded  to  Corfu,  in  consequence  of  intelli- 
gence of  die  enemy  having  laid  an  embargo  upon  all  vessels  on 
the  coast  of  Puglia ;  where  he  was  informed  that  no  such  event 
had  taken  place.  He  then  returned  to  Malta  for  provisions, 
where  he  received  the  Commander  in  Chief's  directions  to  heave 
down  the  Arrow  if  necessary ;  but  she  was  found  so  w  cak  from 
the  bad  weather  she  had  frequently  met  with,  that  on  consulting 
the  Builder,  it  was  declared  not  advisable  ;  that  nothing  service- 
able could  be  done  to  her  for  want  of  materials,  and  it  was  re- 
commended to  send  her  to  England  to  be  docked.  Several  of 
the  tanks  for  water  were  removed,  by  which  many  interior  parts 
i)f  the  ship  were  discovered  to  be  so  rotten  and  defective,  that 


27S  BIOGRAPIIICAI.   MEMOIR   OP 

»he  was  reported,  upon  a  survey  of  carpenters,  to  be  sea-wortliy  a 
few  months  only :  however,  every  thing  was  done  to  her  that 
her  state  and  construction  admitted  of. 

JLord  Nelson,  in  the  following  letter,  notices  the  manner  in 
M'hich  the  Laws  of  Neutrality  continued  to  be  violated  by  the 
privateers  of  the  enemy;  and  the  conduct  which  he,  in  conse- 
cjuence,  wished  his  officers  to  adopt : — 

SIR  Victor)/  at  Sea,  Qd  of  September,  lfiQ4. 

I  have  received  your  letter  of  the  8th  of  August  last,  Avith  the 
several  enclosures  therein  mentioned,  and  very  highly  approve  of 
your  complying  with  Mr.  Foresti's  request  in  conveying  his  dis- 
patches (o  Venice,  and  landing  the  Russian  Courier  at  that  place. 
1  am  very  much  obliged  by  the  information  contained  in  your  said 
letter  and  enclosures;  and  particularly  satisfied  with  the  whole  of 
yoiir'proc^^edings,  with  respect  to  the  line  of  conduct  necessary  to 
ha  observed  in  the  destruction  of  the  enemy's  privateers.  I  must 
I>cg  to  remark  to  you  the  same  as  I  have  done  to  Captain  Rayns- 
ford,  viz.  "  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  name  any  precise  mode  of 
proceeding;  for  if  the  Laws  of  Neutrality  are  not  adhered  to  and 
enforced  by  the  powers  in  amity  M'ith  ail  the  Morld,  it  will  I  fear, 
if  remonstrances  are  not  attended  to  by  those  powers,  become  ne- 
cessary to  destroy  the  enemy's  privateers,  wherever  they  may  be 
faunil  ;  but  this  measure  must  not  be  resorted  to,  until  proofs  of 
misconduct  on  the  part  of  our  enemies  have  been  made  manifest. 
In  that  case,  I  am  clearly  of  opinion,  that  on  the  spot  where  the 
breach  of  neutrality  has  been  committed  by  the  JVench,  that  the 
enemy  has  no  right  to  claim  the  protection  of  neutrality,  if  ho 
should  be  overpowered.  I  am  sure  it  is  the  furthest  from  the  wish 
of  our  government  to  break  the  neutrality  of  any  state,  although 
the  French  may ;  but  it  is  no  longer  a  neutral  spot,  if  the  French 
are  permitted  to  commit  hostilities  against  us." 

I  am.   Sir, 
Your  most  obedient  humble  Servant, 

NELSON  &  BROxNTE. 

jR.  B.  Vincent,  Esq.,  Coitnander  of 
His  MoJLsli/'s  Sloop  Arrow. 

On  the  17th  of  September,  Captain  Vincent  proceeded  on  a 
cruise,  and  reconnoitred  the  ports  of  Otranto,  and  Tarento,  and 
the  coast  of  Calabria  ;  he  visited  also  Valona  and  Messina.  On 
the  18lh  of  October,  being  at  sea.  Cape  Spartivento  bearing 


CAPTAIN    RICHARD    BUDD    VINCENT.  27S 

N.  W.  six  leagues,  tlie  Arrow  was  surrounded  by  heavy  dark 
clouds,  whence  torrents  of  rain  fell,  accompanied  with  dreadful 
thunder  and  lightning ;  the  latter  struck  the  main-mast,  which 
with  the  top-mast  and  top-gallant-mast  was  shivered  to  pieces ; 
tlie  sails  being  clewed  up  and  wef,  did  not  take  fire,  and  very  for- 
tunately not  a  sail  was  hurt,  although  die  top-mast,  8cc.  came  by 
the  board.  The  lightniisg  was  found  to  have  gone  through  the 
launch's  bottom  on  the  booms,  and  to  have  escaped  by  one  of 
the  ports.  He  arrived  in  Malta  harbour  the  next  day  in  a 
very  crippled  state,  where  he  got  a  new  mast,  and  refitted.  He 
then  proceeded  to  Palermo  and  Gergenti  in  Sicily,  and  returned 
to  Malta  with  a  convoy  from  those  places,  the  17th  of  Novem- 
ber. After  this  he  was  dispatched  on  secret  service  to  Messitia, 
Palermo,  and  Naples ;  and,  while  at  the  latter  place,  he  received 
orders  from  the  senior  officer  at  ^lalta,  to  repair  to  that  island 
immediately,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  charge  of  a  British  con- 
voy bound  to  England.  He  left  Naples  on  the  ]  Cd)  of  De- 
cember, 1804,  and  arrived  at  Malta  on  the  20th,  where  he  re- 
ceived from  Captain  Schomberg  the  Commander  in  Chief's 
order,  to  take  under  his  charge  the  convoy  collected  for  England, 
but  to  wait  the  arrival  of  the  trade  from  Smyrna ;  also  to  take 
mider  his' orders  His  Majesty's  bomb  Acheron,  Captain  Arthur 
Farquhar,  to  act  under  his  directions  for  protecting  die  trade 
during  the  passage. 

Captain  Vincent,  during  bis  continuance  in  the  ^leSiterra- 
nean,  had  the  satisfaction  of  having  his  conduct  fully  approved 
of  by  the  Commander  in  Chief.  Tlie  following  extract  from  a 
letter  of  Lord  Nelson's  to  him,  may  serve  as  a  testimony  of  his 
Lordship's  honourable  consideration  of  him  : — *'  I  take  this  op- 
portunity to  convey  to  you  my  full  approbation  of  your  zealous 
activity  in  the  various  services  performed  by  His  Majesty's  sloop 
under  your  command,  and  am  sorry  that  the  state  of  that  ves- 
sel deprives  the  station  for  the  present  of  your  further  ser- 
vices. 

On  the  2d  of  January,  1 805,  the  Jalouse  brig  arrived  at  Malta, 
wldi  the  Smyrna  trade.  On  the  4th  the  i\rrow  sailed  for  Eng- 
land, accompanied  by  the  Acheron;  and  His  Majety's  brig  Ja- 


±80  BIOGRAPHICAL   MEMOIR   01^ 

louse,  which  was  directed  to  see  the  convoy  to  the  westward  bf 
Sicily. 

On  the  7th  the  Jalouse  parted  company.  Captain  Vincent 
finding  several  brigs  of  the  convoy  to  be  very  bad  sailers,  made  a 
disposition  for  their  being  taken  in  tow,  and  attended  to  by  the 
fast  sailing  ships ;  and  some  further  regulations  were  adopted  for 
the  better  conduct  of  the  convoy.  On  the  14th,  a  ^Maltese  brig 
bound  to  Gibraltar,  which  had  sailed  with  the  convoy,  parted 
company  ;  it  blowing  strong  at  W.  S.  W;  On  the  l6th  Minorca 
Was  seen,  on  the  17th  Cabrera  and  Majorca.  It  blew  strong 
from  the  W.  S.  W.,  and  two  of  the  convoy  sprung  a  lower  mast 
each ;  but  at  noon  all  the  convoy  were  in  company.  On  the 
<21st  it  blew  hard  from  the  S.  W. ;  they  saw  P'ormentera,  and 
stood  with  the  convoy  to  the  southward ;  at  nine  A.M.  it  blew 
almost  a  hurricane,  but  at  10  the  wind  nearly  died  away,  and 
shifted  to  the  northward,  the  sea  breaking  in  every  direction. 
They  now  saw  the  land  about  Cape  St.  Martin's,  and  Alicant 
N.  by  W.  to  N.  W.  by  W.  At  noon,  only  19  sail  were  in  com- 
pany. On  the  'i2d  the  wind  drew  round  to  the  W.  N.  VV.  blow- 
ing hard ;  another  of  the  convoy  sprung  a  lower  mast ;  they  this 
day  stood  to  the  northward,  with  18  sail  in  company;  among  the 
missing  vessels  n\  as  the  Acheron.  On  the  23d,  they  saw  several 
sail  to  the  eastward,  which  proved  to  be  the  above  ship  and  the 
missing  part  of  the  convoy ;  on  their  joining,  found  that  two  brigs 
had  separated  during  the  gale,  and  that  many  had  suftered  da- 
mage :  the  land  about  Cape  St.  Martin's  was  in  sight.  On  the 
morning  of  the  :jOth,  the  ]Master  of  the  brig  Sally  informed  Cap- 
tain V^incent  he  had  seen  a  brig  of  the  convoy  on  her  beam  ends, 
which  foundered  in  a  squall  during  the  night ;  discovered  the 
ship  Dutchess  of  Rutland  and  the  brig  Union  to  be  missing ;  and 
as  the  latter  was  not  seen  afterwards,  she  was  concluded  to  be  the 
vessel  that  foundered.  On  the  Cd  Feb.  fell  in  with  the  Spanish 
ship  Gravina,  prize  to  His  Majesty  s  ship  Amazon,  bound  to  !Mal- 
ta ;  but  directed  by  Captain  Parker  to  take  benefit  of  convoy  to 
England,  in  case  of  falling  in  with  such.  Captain  Vincent  gave 
the  officer  instructions,  and  took  lier  under  charge. — Having  thus 
briefly  related  the  circumstances  which  occurred  to  the  convoy 


CAPTAIN    UICIIARD    nUDD    VIXCEN'T.  281 

up  to  tlie  morning  in  which  the  enemy's  ships  appeared  in  sight. 
The  subsequent  events,  and  the  account  of  tlie  action,  will  be 
best  detailed  by  a  copy  of  the  narrative  which  Captain  Vincent 
road,  at  the  Court  Martial  held  on  board  His  Majesty's  ship 
Gladiator,  17th  of  June,  1805. 

GF.NTLEMEX, 

In  detailing  the  proccc(rm";s  relative  to  the  capture  of  His  Ma- 
jesty's late  sloop  Arrow  under  my  command,  I  beg  leave  to  pre- 
face, that  in  pursuance  to  an  order  from  the  Right  IIoiioiiral)le 
Lord  Viscount  Nelson,  K.  B.,  to  take  under  my  charge  the  trade 
bound  from  Malta  to  the  United  Kingdom  of  Cireat  ikitaiu  and 
Ireland;  I  sailed  from  that  island  on  the  4th  of  January  last,  with 
a  convoy  of  thirty-four  sail,  having  under  my  orders  His  IMajesty's 
bomb  Acheron,  and  His  Majesty's  brig  Jalouse,  directed  by  the 
senior  oflicer  at  Malta  to  see  me  to  the  westward  of  the  island  of 
Maritimo. 

The  first  part  of  our  passage  was  favourable  until  we  reached 
the  westward  of  the  island  of  Ivica,  when  we  met  with  strong 
westcrl}'  winds,  and  a  series  of  bad  weather,  by  which  the  convoy 
sufl'ered  some  damage;  one  vessel  was  supposed  to  have  foundered, 
and  two  others  separated;  but  as  the  dauiage  sustained  was  not  of 
serious  consequence  to  delay  the  convoy,  I  was  urged  to  jnir'^ue 
the  voyage,  with  the  anxious  hope  of  soon  having  an  easterly  wind 
to  carry  us  through  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  3d  of  Februar}-,  per  log,  the 
Dutchess  of  Rutland  transport,  which  had  been  missing  some 
days,  joined.  The  weather  was  then  quite  moderate,  with  light 
breezes  from  the  N.  E.  At  8  A.  M.  1  made  the  signal  for  the 
convoy  to  steer  W.  by  N. ;  Cape  Caxine  in  sight,  bearing  south ; 
the  Acheron  and  32  sail  in  company.  At  half  past,  altered  course 
to  W.  N.  W.,  being  well  to  the  southward,  and  made  the  signal  for 
the  sternmost  ships  to  make  more  sail.  Two  sail  !iad  been  ob- 
served drawing  up  astern,  bearing  E,  S.  E. ;  I  had  hopes  tliey  were 
the  missing  vessels,  but  soon  perceived  they  were  large.  At  half 
past  ten  I  asked  the  Acheron  (who  had  been  enforcing  the  above 
signal,  and  was  then  the  sternmost  ship)  per  ttrlegrapli,  "  wliat 
they  were?''  on  answering  my  signal,  she  immediately  wore,  stood 
toAvards  them,  and  made  the  private  signal ;  which  not  b^'ing  an- 
swered, she  told  me  "  they  were  suspicious."  At  a  (piarter  past 
11,1  made  the  signal  for  the  vessels  of  the  convoy  on  each  quarter 
to  close;  the  Arrow  then  leading  the  convoy  with  the  brig  Adven* 

a^ai?*  eri;ron.  aiobXVII.  o  o 


282  BIOGRAPHICAI.   MEMOIR  OF 

ture  in  tow.  This  vessel  was  leaky  and  her  rudder  shaken  almost 
to  pieces;  wc  were  heaving  part  of  her  cargo  overboard  in  the 
hope  of  stopping  her  leaks,  and  if  possible,  by  lightening  her,  to 
unship  her  rudder  and  repair  it  on  board  the  Arrow.  At  fifty 
minutes  past,  she  made  the  signal  "  they  were  frigates."  At  noon 
Cape  Albatel  bore  S.  by  W.  f  VV.  ten  or  eleven  leagues. 

On  the  4th,  at  2  minutes  past  noon,  I  slipped  the  Adventure, 
wore,  and  hauled  the  wind  on  the  larboard  tack,  for  the  purpose 
of  joining  the  Acheron,  which  had  wore,  and  was  returning  to  the 
convoy  under  all  sail  with  light  winds.  At  ten  minutes  past,  made 
the  Dutchess  of  Rutland's  signal  "  to  lead  the  convoy,  steering 
the  same  course,  &c."  and  "  the^convoy  to  follow  her  motions, 
though  the  men  of  war  acted  otherwise."  At  a  quarter  past,  made 
the. signal  "  for  the  convoy  to  make  all  sail  possible."  About 
one,  I  tacked  to  the  northward,  and  shortened  sail  fpr  the  Acheron 
to  close  rtic.  At  a  quarter  past  she  made  the  signal  "  the  strange 
ships  were  enemies;"  ditto,  made  the  signal  to  the  convoy  "  that 
an  enemy  was  in  sight,  to  make  all  possible  sail,  and  proceed  to 
the  appointed  rendezvous ;"  which  was  enforced  by  several  guns 
at  different  times,  and  repeated  by  the  Acheron  in  the  same  man- 
ner; also  by  Lieutenant  Coggan,  Agent  of  transports,  in  the  Triad 
brig  bomb  tender,  which  remained  v.ith  the  convoy.  At  2,  the 
Acheron  closing  but  slowly,  brought  to  for  her,  tlic  frigates  con- 
tinuing their  course  about  W.  N.  V{.  under  all  sail  with  light  winds. 
About  4  the  Acheron  joined  me,  and  Captain  Farquhar  came  on 
board  the  Arrow.  I  consulted  with  him  the  best  means  to  protect 
the  convoy,  and  we  determined  to  keep  between  them  a,nd  the  ene- 
my, (which  had  not  siiOAvn  any  colours,  nor  altered  their  course  to 
chase  the  Acheron  when  reconiioitring  them,')  for  the  purpose  of  col- 
lecting the  vessels  oi  the  convoy,  having  guns  on  board,  a,nd  to  form 
a  line  of  battle  as  soon  as  possible,  agreeable  to  an  order  and  form 
previously  given  out  to  the  farmed  vessels  of  the  convoy.  At  this 
time  the  enemy  were  about  five  miles  from  us.  At  5,  the  convoy 
all  becalmed,  bearing  N.  W.  by  W.  three  miles,  the  land  between 
Cape  Albatel  and  Cape  Tennis  S.  S.  W.  |-  W.  eleven  leagues.  From 
this  time  until  10,  light  airs  and  calms;  the  ship's  head  round  the 
compass,  w  hen  it  sprang  up  a  light  breeze  from  the  S.  W.,  the  ijody 
of  the  convoy  W.  N.  W.  four  miies  ;  the  frigates  N.  N.  E.  three 
miles,  steered  for  the  convoy,  but  the  Acheron  having  increased 
her  distance  to  the  southward,  I  tacked  to  close  her,  and  at  half 
past  tacked  again  ciose  to  her,  and  hnikd  Captain  Farquhar  to  keep 
close  to  the  Arrow,  and  shortened  sail  to  her  rate  of  sailing.     At 


CAPTAIN    niCllAUD    BUDD    TINCENT,  283 

aldnight  light  breezes  from  the  S.  W.  steering  W.  N.  W.  but  broke 
off  gradually  to  north.  About  3  A.M.  passed  the  two  sternmost 
brigs  of  the  convoy,  to  leeward  of  which  tljc  enemy  had  passed 
without  firing  at,  or  taking  any  notice  ot"  them.  Three  quarters 
past,  perceived  that  one  of  the  frigates  had  tacked,  and  was  Hear- 
ing us  on  the  starboard  tack.  About  a  quarter  past  4  one  of  thom 
hailed  me  in  English,  when  I  asked  "  what  ship  it  was?"  and  was 
answered  by  desiring  me  to  h.ohA  my  boat  out,  and  come  on  boaid. 
A  few  minutes  after  she  was  hailed-by  the  Acheron,  when  the  fri- 
gate opened  her  lire  upon  her,  which  was  immediately  returned  by 
the  Arrow  and  Acheron,  until  she  passed  ;  the  other  frigate  by  the 
light  baffling  winds  had  been  somewhat  separated,  but  soon  closed, 
passed  under  our  lee  and  went  ahead  of  us  :  however,  the  Acheron 
lired  several  guns  at  one  ol'  them  with  eli'ect.  About  this  time 
two  brigs  of  the  convoy  passed  through  the  men  of  v,ar  to  the 
northward.  As  the  night  had  been  very  dark,  I  was  anxioiis  for 
daylight  to  ascertain  the  general  position  of  the  convoy,  that  I 
might  act  in  the  best  manner  for  its  defence;  seeing  the  action  was 
inevitable,  without  being  able  to  get  to  my  assistance  the  aitned 
vessels  as  intended.  The  frigates  stood  from  us  to  the  westward, 
and  at  dawn  of  day  the  wind  being  light  and  variable,  their  heads 
to  the  southward,  I  observed  the  headmost  with  French  colours  up, 
and  she  soon  after  hoisted  a  broad  pendant  at  the  main.  At  6  I 
made  the  Dutchess  of  Rutland's  signal  '•'for  action;"  and  the 
Acheron's  "  to  close."  The  former  being  the  most  effective  ship  of 
the  convoy,  probably  would  have  been  of  service,  had  she  immedi- 
ately obeyed  the  signal  and  bore  up,  by  the  very  appearance  only 
of  coming  to  my  assistance ;  but  she  did  not  even  answer  it.  I 
then  made  sail  on  the  starboard  tack,  to  get  between  the  enemy 
and  protect  the  rear  of  the  convoy  ;  the  former  were  to  the  east- 
ward, andliaulcd  on  the  larboard  tack,  apparently  with  the  inten- 
tion of  engaging  us  to  leeward.  Bent  and  set  the  spanker,  to  keep 
the  ship  to,  the  wind  being  very  light,  to  prevent  their  passing 
ahead  and  raking  us.  About  seven,  the  headmost  in  passing  us  to 
leeward  gave  us  her  broadside,  when  t!>e  action  conuncnctd :  at 
this  time  the  Acheron  was  close  on  our  starboard  quarter,  and  the 
body  of  the  convoy  to  windward,  bearing  N.  VV.  four  miles,  mostly 
on  the  larboard  tack,  much  scattered  and  making  all  sail  to  the 
westward.  As  the  enemy  passed,  the  action  was  kept  up  on  both 
sides  at  the  distance  of  half  a  cable's  length,  when  they  wore  and 
give  me  the  opportunity  of  raking  them,  and  the  action  continued ; 
but  the.  wind  borame  so  light,  the  Arrow  would  not  steer,   which 


281  BIOGRAPHICAL    MEMOin    O? 

li't't  nic  much  oxposed  in  dilfercnt  positions  to  their  joint  fire. 
i\boat  tliis  time  the  Acheron  passeil  under  our  stern,  and  Captain 
Farquhar  hailed  me,  but  it  was  iin possible  to  make  out  what  he 
said.  Soon  after  she  passed,  the  larp;cst  frigate  hauled  after  her, 
but  not  until  we  had  received  much  of  her  fire  in  our  starboard 
quarter.  Wc  were  then  left  to  the  ather  frigate,  which  I  continued 
to  enc;ai::e  closely  for  some  time:  but  our  running  rigging  being 
cut  to  pieces;  the  impossibility  of  managing  the  ship;  the  lower 
masts  being  badly  wounded  ;  the  standing  rigging,  yards  and  sails 
being  much  cut;  many  shot  between  wind  and  water;  four  guns 
dismounted  (Hi  the  starboard  side;  the  rudder  machinery  being 
disabled  ;  thirteen  men  killed  and  twenty-seven  wounded  ;  induced 
me  to  cause  the  colours  to  be  struck  about  half  past  8,  after  an  ac- 
tion of  an  hour  and  twenty  minutes,  to  the  French  national  frigate 
rlncorruptibIe,jMonsicurBilliet,CapitainedeFregate,  Commander, 
of  42  guns  and  GoO  men  on  board,  including  troops:  conceiving 
from  the  above  disabled  state,  that  further  resistance  would  only 
increase  the  loss  of  lives,  without  tlie  hope  of  saving  His  Majesty's 
sloop  from  such  superior  force ;  particularly  as  she  was  making 
considerable  water,  and  before  the  surviving  officers  and  crew 
could  scarcely  be  removed  from  her,  she  settled  on  her  beam  ends 
and  slink. 

When  I  Avas  under  the  painful  necessity  of  thus  yielding  to  Tin- 
corruptible,  the  Acheron  was  standing  to  the  southward  towards 
the  land  under  all  sail,  the  large  frigate  I'Hortense  in  chase ;  and  I 
cherished  the  hope  that  if  the  breeze  had  freshened,  she  w  ould  be 
able  to  outsail  the  enemy  and  draw  him  to  a  considerable  distance, 
or  get  in  with  the  land  so  as  to  defeat  her  falling  into  his  hands : 
Imt  she  M'as  obliged  to  submit  to  the  same  fate  as  the  Arrow,  and 
was  afterwards  burnt.  At  this  time  the  convoy  were  considerably 
to  the  westward,  and  windwardj  eliecting  their  escape  on  dilierent 
tacks. 

I  cannot  conclnde  this  narrative  without  rendering  Captain  Far- 
quhar my  fulK'st  approbation  for  his  able  and  steady  support;  and 
particularly  for  his  leading  away  THortense  in  a  direction  from 
the  convoy.  Nor  can  1  omit  this  opportunity  to  give  my  public 
testimony  of  the  good  conduct  and  bravery  displayed  by  the  offi- 
cers, crew,  and  passengers,  on  board  the  Arrow;  who  by  their  ex- 
ertions on  this  occasion  surprised  the  enemv  bv  a  resistance  which 
}  appriihend  was  but  little  expected  :  aiid  though  His  Majesty's 
sliips  felfa  sacrifice  to  superior  furce,  1  liave  no  hesitation  in  be- 
lieving the  damage  and  delay  caused  lo  the  enemy  by  tliis  eveatj 


CAPTAIN    RICHARD    BUDl)    VINCENT.  2S5 

afforded  the  greater  part  of  my  charjjc  time  to  effect  their  escape. 
And  when  I  reflect  that  three  vessels  only  were  captured  by  them 
out  of  thirty-t^¥"0  sail,  I  cannot  but  express  my  admiration  and 
thanks  to  the  officers,  crews,  and  passengers  of  llis  Majesty's  ships 
Arrow  and  Acheron,  for  their  zeal  and  courage  in  so  unequal  a 
contest;  and  attribute  the  preservation  of  the  convoy  to  their  man- 
ly and  united  efforts,  by  which  the  ultimate  object  of  my  wishes  has 
been  fnl  tilled. 

R.  B.  VINCENT 

The  last  person  who  quitted  the  Arrow,  was  !Mr.  Edward 
Elers,  the  second  Lieutenant*;  who  was  since  on  board  the 
Orion,  in  the  memorable  victory  oft  Trafalgar,  as  one  of 
her  ofticers.  These  Trench  frigates  formed  part  of  a  squa- 
dron which  had  sailed  from  Toulon,  with  troops  on  board, 
bound  to  the  westward ;  and  in  the  rough  weather  that 
had  prevailed  previous  to  the  action,  they  had  separated 
from  the  other  ships,  which  returned  to  port.  They  were 
extiemely  large  ships ;  I'llortense  carrying  48  guns,  and  I'lncor- 
ruptible  42.  The  Arrow  had  28  short  carronades,  and  a  crew 
of  about  120  men;  which,  with  some  officers  and  men  return- 
ing home  as  passengers,  made  up  a  complement  of  132  men  at 

*  Lieutenant  Edward  Elers,  second  of  the  Arrow,  joined  her  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  present  war,  and  after  distinguishing  himself  in  the  above 
action,  happened  to  be  one  of  the  last  ofticers  who  left  the  ship.  In  the 
harry  of  gettingintoone  of  the  French  frigate's  boats,  lie  fell  overboard,  but 
was  providentially  saved  by  the  presence  of  mind  of  an  English  sailor.  This 
efficer,  who  has  been  thirteen  years  in  the  service,  had  the  satisfaction  also 
of  sharing  in  the  glorious  action  of  the  14th  of  February,  1797;  and 
served  as  third  Lieutenant  on  board  the  Orion,  Captain  Codrington,  in  the 
more  recent  victory  otf  Trafalgar. — Tlie  names  of  the  other  olVicers  and 
passengers  were — C.  F.  Daly,  ist  Lieutenant;  Nathaniel  llanicd,  Master; 
John  Shaw,  Surgeon ;  John  V.".  Meadows,  Purser;  Richard  Godden,  Gnn- 
ner;  JohnNicholasandTliomusIlobins,  Midshipmen;  Thomas  Everitt,  Boat- 
swain;   Gray,  Carpenter;  John  Shepheard,  Master's  Mate;  Thomas 

Watson,  Assistant  Surgeon.  Passengers— Captain  John  Parry,  Royal  Ma- 
rines ;  Lieutenant  Samuel  Simpson,  R.  N. ;  Henry  Lewis  and  Charles  Green, 
Midsliipmen. — After  tlic  Court  ^Martial  for  the  loss  of  the  Arrow,  Lieutiv 
nant  Daly  was  appointed  to  the  Diadem,  and  went  out  to  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope  as  first  Lieutenant.  Wlien  the  Cape  wns  in  o>u-  possession.  Sir 
Home  Popham  sent  him  to  England  with  dispatches,  and  he  '.vas  in  conse- 
quence made  Conimanuer. 


286  BTOGRArillCAI,   MEMOIR    OP 

quarters.  The  Acheron  carried  8  guns,  and  had  67  men  at 
quarters.  After  the  iirst  broadside  or  t\vo,  the  Arrow  had  the 
fire  of  both  the  frigates,  until  the  larger  hauled  off  after  the 
Acheron,  which  led  her  a'uay  from  the  convoy.  Tlie  Arrow 
spreading  aloft,  and  the  muzzles  of  her  guns  not  projecting, 
caused  her  to  be  set  on  lire  two  or  three  times  during  the  action^ 
but  it  was  each  time  immediately  extinguished.  Both  ships 
were  greatly  amioycd  by  small  arms,  in  which  the  enemy  were 
very  strong,  from  the  great  number  of  troops  they  had  on  board. 
The  Acheron,  after  ha\irig  d'awn  off  THortense  to  some  dis- 
tance, was  compelled  to  surrender  to  the  very  great  superiority 
of  force ;  and  tl(e  French  having  taken  out  the  survivors,  burnt 
her,  as  she  was  much  damaged  5d  the  action.  The  boats  of  the 
Arrovv'  being  destroyed,  I'lncorruptible  sent  those  belonging  to 
ber,  to  take  out  the  people  from  their  sinking  ship ;  which  was 
going  down  so  fast,  that  there  m  as  barely  time  to  get  out  the 
wounded  ;  and  except  one  chest,  and  a  few  smaller  things  that 
were  put  into  the  boat,  nothing  was  saved  from  her,  and  the 
officers  and  crew  were  left  only  the  clothes  which  they  had  on 
their  backs.  Nor  did  their  loss  entirely  arise  from  the  sinking 
of  iheir  ship  :  for  the  French  officers,  who  were  sent  to  bring 
away  the  people  of  the  Arrow,  no  sooner  got  on  board,  than 
they  rummaged  the  cabins,  and  seized  whatever  things  of  value 
they  could  carry  away  in  tlieir  hands ;  witliout  the  least  respect 
to  private  property,  which  on  these  occasions  the  law  of  nations 
considers  as  inviolable  ;  so  that  even  watches  and  other  per- 
sonal property,  were  the  objects  of  plunder.  Notwithstanding 
the  l}astc  with  which  Captain  Vincent  was  obliged  to  quit  his  ship, 
he  did  not  forget  the  valuable  scimitar  that  had  been  presented 
to  him  by  the  Capitan  Pacha,  when  at  Constantinople :  he 
mar.aged  to  take  it  out  of  the  ship  with  him,  and  when  in  the 
boat,  put  it  into  the  hands  of  one  of  his  men  to  take  Care  off; 
from  whom  it  was  secured,  under  a  feigned  pretence,  by  one  of 
the  Fiench  oihicers,  and  never  after  seen  by  Captain  Vincent ; 
although  he  made  tlie  strongest  representations  to  the  Captain 
of  the  frigate,  and  insisted  that  an  inquiry  should  be  made 
for  its  restitution.     Redress  uas  not  to  be  had  of  people  who 


CATTAIN    RICHARD    BUDD    VINCENT.  287 

respected  no  principles  of  honour.  L'Incoriuptible  was  so  full 
of  troops,  that  Captain  Vincent  found  it  extremely  difilcult  to 
get  his  wounded  people  accommodated  in  a  manner  at  all 
suitable  to  their  situation ;  and  the  whole  of  the  English  liad 
many  inconveniences  to  submit  to,  particularly  a  Lady,  >\  itli  her 
infant  and  female  attendant,  to  whose  solicitations  Captain  Vin- 
cent had  yielded,  to  allow  them  a  passage  from  Malta  to 
England,  in  tiie  Arrow. — When  the  Arrow's  people  were  put 
under  the  hatches,  upon  their  getting  on  board  tiie  French  fri- 
gate^ a  circumstance  occurred  v\hich  is  so  truly  characteristic  of 
a  British  sailor,  as  to  deserve  being  recorded.  Tlie  French 
officer,  who  was  employed  in  seeing  them  secured,  spoke 
English ;  which  acquisition  he  made  use  of  in  uttering  the  most 
opp- obrious  terms  in  abuse  of  our  countrymen :  and  amou"^st 
other  things  swore,  that  the  French  would  sweep  the  seas  of 
Jhe  English.  '"'  Not  so  fast  now"  said  a  brave  fellow  who  had 
acted  as  Cook  in  the  Arrow,  "for  by  St.  Patrick^  you  have 
not  yet  got  the  Broom." 

Captam  Vincent  could  never  obtain  any  information  of  the 
loss  which  the  French  received  in  the  action,  but  many 
circumstances  concurred  to  convii»ce  him  it  v.as  very  oieat. 
Their  dead  were  thrown  overboard  before  he  entered  ihe  fri- 
gate ;  and  he  never  could  obtain  any  account  of  the  woundtd. 
He  also  remarked  the  great  care  of  the  French  in  concealin<» 
the  injury  their  ships  had  received ;  and  observed  that  manv  a 
shot  hole  was  attempted  to  be  concealed,  by  hanging  a  lantern, 
or  some  other  such  thing,  over  it.  The  French  took  the 
Dutchess  of  Rutland  and  another  vessel  of  the  convoy,  which 
they  destroyed,  after  having  taken  out  the  people :  the  former 
ship  did  not  seem  to  avail  herself  of  the  opportunity  afforded  of 
escaping  ;  and  in  addition  to  the  neglect  which  the  Master  of 
her  paid  to  the  signals  of  the  Arrow  during  the  engagement, 
Captain  Vincent  had  to  complain  of  his  unpardonable  omission 
in  not  destroying  the  Convoy  Signal  Book,  ^^hich  the  French 
got  into  tljeir  hands ;  and  a  few  days  after  made  use  of  it,  in 
order  to  decoy  a  sail  that  appeared  in  sigiit,  but  which  luckily 
proA  ed  a  neutral. 


288  BIOGRAPHICAL    MEMOIR.    OF 

When  we  contemplate  the  disproportion  of  the  force ;  the 
Arrow  mounting  only  28  guns,  with  132  men,  and  the  Acheron, 
8  guns  only,  and  65  men,  opposed  to  the  great  superiority  of 
that  of  the  enemy,  and  who  had  on  board,  together,  600  troops  of 
the  line,  with  musketry  :  when  we  consider  the  almost  impossi- 
bility of  escaping  certain  destruction,  superseded  by  the  deter- 
mined perseverance  of  protecting  the  convoy,  we  cannot  too 
much  admire  the  gallantry  shown  in  this  action,  and  the 
obstinate  resistance,  and  intrepid  defence  made  by  the  respective 
Commanders  ;  and  it  is  with  pleasure  we  observe,  that  the 
object  they  had  in  view,  they  had  the  satisfaction  of  securing  : 
the  convoy  having,  during  the  action,  gained  such  distance,  as  to 
insure  the  safety  of  the  greatest  part  of  them. 

L'Incorruptible  French  frigate,  having  on  board  the  officers, 
crew,  and  passengers  of  the  Arrow,  anchored  in  the  road  of  Car- 
thagena*^,  February  8.  She  was  immediately  put  under  quarantine, 
inconsequence  of  containing  people  from  Malta.  In  the  evening 
the  other  French  frigate  was  seen  in  the  offing  from  the  mast 
head.  The  next  day  it  was  discovered,  that  the  French  had 
thrown  overboard  one  of  the  wounded  English,  who  had  died  in 
the  passage,  without  taking  any  notice.  This  day  the  Captain's 
Steward  died,  who  was  veiy  badly  wounded  by  the  same  shot 
that  killed  the  Captain's  Clerk. — ^The  ship  now  refitting,  and 
being  excessively  crowded,  the  being  detained  on  board  was 
much  dreaded  by  the  English,  as  the  weather  was  very  hot.  On 
the  JOtli,  however,  the  seamen  were  sent  on  shore,  to  a  folt  on 
a  mountain ;  and  the  wounded  and  sick  were  conveyed  to  the 
hospital,  whom  Captain  Vincent  had  the  consolation  of  hearing 
were  well  attended. 

Tuesday,  February  1 1,  Captain  Vincent,  with  his  officers.  Sec, 
were  disembarked.  He  found  the  house  allotted  for  them 
.situated  on  the  Line  wall,  but  so  very  small,  that  he  applied  to 
Mons.  Dougot,  the  French  Commissary,  to  procure  another, 
and  fixed  uj)on   one  in  the  Muralia;  where  he  assembled  his 

*  See  also  a  letter  in  Naval  Chkomcle,  from  an  officer  on  board  His 
Slajesty's  ship  Arrow,  dated  Carlbagcna,  Feb.  26,  loOo.  (Vol.  XIII, 
page  iiai.) 


CAPTAlX    KICKARD    BUDD   >IJiCEXT.  289 

officers^  and  arranged  the  distribution  of  apartments  for  the 
whole  number,  being  19,  including  two  ladies,  Mrs.  ISIiller  and 
Mrs.  Green.  He  here  received  a  visit  from  the  ofTicer  of  a 
Portuguese  brig  of  war,  King  in  tlie  roads,  who  made  many 
professions  of  kindness.  A  frigate  was  discovered  in  the  ofHng, 
which  he  knew  to  be  English,  and  supposed  her  to  bo  the 
Phcebe.  The  next  day  Captain  Vincent  accompanied  the 
French  Commissary  to  the  Governor's,  (who  rose  to  his  present 
station  from  an  inferior  office,  in  consequence  of  the  fever,)  antt 
returned  him  his  best  thanks  for  tlie  attention  paid  to  the 
wounded ;  and  assured  the  Governor,  he  w  ould  consider  himself 
answerable  for  the  good  conduct  of  the  prisoners  of  war 
admitted  to  parole,  with  ptrmission  to  walk  in  d-e  precincts  of 
the  city;  and  would  attend  to  the  behaviour  of  the  seamen  and 
marines,  who  were  removed  from  the  fort  to  a  prison  at  one  of 
the  city  gates.  He  afterwards  visited  the  prison  and  hospital, 
and  found  tlie  w'ounded  doing  well.  On  his  return,  he  received 
a  visit  from  the  Captain,  and  some  cfficers  of  I'lncorruptible. 

Thursday,  14th,  he  heard  tliere  were  two  frigates  in  the  otSng, 
supposed  to  be  English.  We  got  the  rooms  white-washed  ;  they 
being  much  troubled  with  muskitoes  and  other  predatory  insects. 
The  15th,  the  Boatswain  died  in  the  hospital  of  the  wounds 
he  had  received.  Captain  Vincent  now  got  money  for  some  bills, 
and  supplied  his  officers.  The  18th,  the  second  Lieutenant  of 
I'lncorruptible  paid  a  visit  to  the  party,  and  took  leave,  as  the 
frigate  was  to  sail  in  the  evening.  The  19di,  I'lncorruptible  Mas 
still  in  the  harbour,  as  it  was  said  that  an  English  frigate  v  a.'J  in 
th^e  offing.  The  house  the  English  inhabited  (for  which  .'ley 
paid  twelve  hard  dollars  a  month)  was  pleasantly  situated  on  the 
jSIuralia,  commanding  a  view  of  the  harbour,  and  part  of  the 
arsenal.  W  ithhi  a  few  yards  of  it  a  superb  edifice  was  building, 
called  the  Admiralia,  intended  as  an  academy  for  naval  and 
military  cadets.  It  was  projected  many  years  ago,  but  occa- 
sional want  of  money  had  impeded  its  advancement.  It  fronted 
the  harbour's  mouth,  and  is  a  conspicuous  object  at  sea. 

Cartbagena  exhibited  a  very  dull  appearance  for  a  large  city  ; 


■^90  BlOGP-AFKiCAr,    MEMOIR    01' 

but  the  contagious  fever  had  reduced  the  inhabitants  to  ahuost 
a  third  of  their  number,,  iiaving  carried  off  twenty-five  thousand 
persons  in  that  part  of  Spain.  There  v.as  a  theatre,  where 
comedies  had  been  performed,  but  the  performers  were  all 
dead ;  also  an  amphitheatre  for  bull-fights,  in  a  very  ruinous 
condition.  In  consequence  of  the  mortality  that  had  lately 
taken  place,  no  sort  of  diversion  was  allowed.  The  20thj  Cap- 
tain Vincent  got  his  Gunner,  and  Carpenter,  with  the  Masters  of 
the  two  captured  merchantmen  of  his  convoy,  released  from 
prison  on  their  parole.  A  Spanish  Commissary  mustered  the 
officers  and  people,  and  gave  them  hopes  of  being  speedily  sent 
to  Gibraltar.  The  next  day  the  men  in  the  prison  got  per- 
mission to  walk,  a  few  at  a  time,  in  the  town  to  purchase 
necessaries.  L'Incorruptible  had  not  yet  sailed,  but  it  was  said, 
that  in  order  to  avoid  English  cruisers,  she  was  to  sail  in  the 
ni^rht.  Several  of  her  crew  had  deserted.  She  was,  however, 
still  at  anchor  in  the  harbour's  mouth  the  following  morning. 
And  on  the  23d  was  still  fast,  with  the  intention  of  escaping  when 
tlie  coast  was  clear.  Captain  Vincent  had  asked  Mons.  Billiet 
a  few  days  before,  why  he  did  not  go  out  and  fight  the  English 
frigate  which  appeared  in  the  offing  ?  he  replied,  he  was  not 
ready.  His  present  caution  showed  his  intention  of  slipping  off 
unperceivcd,  if  possible  ;  and  it  was  reported  that  an  officer  from 
her  Mas  continually  on  the  look  out  upon  a  neighbouring  moun- 
tain.    She  however  sailed  early  the  next  morning. 

The  24th,  being  Sunday,  the  1-^nglish  party  walked  on  the 
Almcria,  which  is  a  Mall  about  a  mile  long,  extending  from 
the  Madrid  Gate,  with  trees  on  each  side :  a  great  deal 
of  company  w'as  assembled  there.  There  were  some  handsome 
Spanish  ladies  present,  having  fine  complexions,  black  eyes,  and 
arc/lied  eyebrows,  but  not  well  made ;  being  short,  and  having 
thick  ankles ;  which  were  shown  by  the  shortness  of  their  dress-. 
They  liave  a  peculiar  gait,  and  walk  very  bad,  with  a  shuffling  pace. 
The  26th,  a  man  of  \\  ar  appeared  in  tlie  offing,  which  proved 
to  be  a  Portuguese  line  of  battle  ship,  intending  to  convoy  the 
brijT  down  the  Straits,  to  protect  her  from  the  Algerine  cruisers. 
The  ComuiHuder  of  the  latter  visited  Captain  \'incenlj  and 


CAPTAIN    IllClIARD    DUDD    YINriNT.  201 

offered  to  take  letters  to  Gibraltar  aiul  Lisbon^  which  was  an 
offer  very  thauklully  received.  The  second  day  aflerward:-;,  he 
sent  word  that  he  vould  certainly  see  Captain  Vincent  before 
he  sailed,,  to  take  his  contidential  letters ;  having  previously  cau- 
tioned hiin  not  to  send  letters  by  land;,  as  he  su.spectcd  ihey 
would  be  opened.  The  28i.h,  money  was  procLired  lor  bills  on 
England  from  M.  Douget,  who  \\as  very  strenuous  to  assist  the 
Knglish.  It  was  reported  in  the  morning  that  ^n  English  mau 
of  war  was  otf  the  port. 

Friday,  March  1st;,  the  Portuguese  brig  sailed  to  the  west- 
ward. Captain  Guiilard  disappointed  Captain  Vincent  in  nut 
calling  for  his  dispatches  and  letters ;  which,  however,  he  was 
convinced  did  not  proceed  from  want  of  inclination,  but  from 
the  jealousy  of  the  Spaniards,  who  did  not  like  his  visiting  the 
Knglish.  It  was  this  day  reported,  that  the  widow  of  the  late 
English  Consul,  Mr.  Price,  at  this  place,  who  died  of  llie  i'cvcr, 
was  arrived  in  the  city  from  the  country,  with  her  daughter,  but  the 
Spaniards  were  so  jealous  of  any  communication,  that  she  did 
not  dare  to  visit  the  ladies.  It  was  reported  on  the  4th,  that  some 
fresh  cases  of  fever  had  occurred  in  the  town,  llie  party  was 
now  become  very  anxious  for  an  exchange,  and  looked  forward 
with  eagerness  to  the  arrival  of  the  courier  every  Tuesday  and 
Saturday,  from  Madrid  ;  with  the  expectation  of  receiving  some 
information  of  their  removal :  but  all  hopes  liad  hitherto  been 
disappointed.  On  the  7th,  Captain  Vincent  heard  that  a  great 
many  of  his  convoy  had  effected  their  escape  ;  atid  tlutt  the 
Acheron's  crew  had  been  exchanged  at  (Jibraltar.  Ilie  next 
day  he  was  informed  by  the  Master  of  a  Swedish  vessel  just 
arrived,  that  an  English  lirje  of  battle  ship  was  off  the  place. 
He  this  day  met  jSIrs.  Price,  and  her  daughter,  but  did  not 
speak  to  them. 

Tuesday,  12th,  the  Pratique  people  fumigated  the  house  of 
the  English  ;  which  they  were  disposed  to  do  in  a  very  careless 
way,  had  they  not  been  looked  after.  Tliey  generally  set  f  re  to 
the  ingredients,  and  walk  off,  without  waiting  to  see  iha 
business  completed  :  and  it  frequtntly  happened  thut  the  inh:i- 
VJlaots,  as  soon  as  they  had  Utt  t-hc  houie,  threw  the  materiiil*^ 


292  EioGRArmcAL  memoir  of 

8vo.  out  of  windows.  It  was  now  said  that  the  fever  had  broken 
out  at  Malaga  again  ;  which  was  conlirmed  a  day  or  two  after- 
wards. Tl)e  Commissary  tohi  Captain  Vincent  that  he  had  the 
Governor's  permission  to  remove  the  EngUsh  into  the  country, 
should  the  fever  break  out  again.  They  were  informed  on  the 
I4th_,  that  the  Toulon  fleets  consisting  of  twenty-two  sail,  were  at 
Algeziras,  A  Spanish  Sub-Lieutenant  of  ihe  marine,  who  spoke 
a  little  English,  paid  them  a  visit.  The  15th  the  English  wit- 
nessed the  operation  of  shearing  mules  and  asses,  which  is  pecu- 
liar to  Spain  :  the  hair  is  clipped  off  as  'close  to  the  hide  as 
possible,  except  in  particular  parts.  A  few  horses  were 
trimmed  in  tlie  same  manner.  Captain  Vincent  was  informed 
on  the  l6lh  by  the  Commissary,  that  no  intelligence  had  arrived 
from  Madrid  concerning  the  English,  who  now  began  to  find  a 
difficulty  of  getting  i>i«;ney.  Captain  Vinceut  also  became  ac- 
quainted v/ith  a  Genoese  gentleman,  who,  visiting  Spain  in  his 
travels,  was  detained  at  Carthagena  in  consequence  of  the  fever : 
he  was  a  very  intelligent  man;  and  was  a  great  acquisition, 
by  his  society,  and  by  lending  books  to  the  party.  They  had 
also  frequent  visits  from  the  young  Spanish  officer,  and  the 
Chaplain  of  a  German  regiment  stationed  at  Carthagena ; 
the  sormer  of  whom  took  pleasure  in  giving  an  account  of 
the  principal  ladies  of  the  place,  of  whom  Donna  Dolores 
Pmson,  the  Town  Major's  daughter,  was  considered  the  greatest 
beauty :  this  officer  was  usually  dressed  in  a  very  rich  uniform, 
but  was  very  dirty  in  his  person.  The  Chaplain  was  often 
accomjianied  by  a  Gorman  officer^  Avho  seemed  very  much 
dissatislif  d  under  the  Spanish  government,  being  badly  paid.  The 
regiment  had  been  taken  prisoners  by  the  French  in  Italy,  and 
uiade  over  to  Spain  at  four  dollars  a  nian,  as  it  was  reported. 
Oil  the  20th  Captain  Vincent  was  informed  that  one  of  his  men 
had  made  his  escape  out  of  the  prison.  The  '24th,  the  Genoese 
gentleman  took  leave,  having  obtained  permission  to  proceed  to 
Cadiz.  No  news  had  arrived  from  Madrid  respecting  the 
English  prisoners  on  the  26th  ;  when  Captain  Vincent  was 
advised  to  send  a  Memorial  to  the  French  Ambassador,  General 
Bournonvillc  ;  which  he  drevv    up,  and  had  signed  by  all  the 


CAPTAIN  RICHARD  3UDD  TINCEN'T.  293 

officers,  8cc.,  aiul  sent  it  off.  A  Spauish  General  arrived  on  the 
27th,  to  take  the  command  of  the  squadron  of  men  of  war 
fitting  out  at  tliis  place,  which  they  said  was  to  go  to  sea  soon. 
Oa  the  29th  two  three-decked,  and  two  tsvo-deeked  men  of 
war  were  warped  out  of  the  arsenal  into  the  road,  ^vithout  any 
sails  bent.  At  ten  o'clock  Rear-Admiral  Salzeda's  flag  was 
hoisted  on  board  Reiiie  Louize,  the  largest  ship,  which  tiied  a 
falute.  And  the  next  day  two  more  were  warpetl  into  the 
road.  They  appeared  to  be  fine  ships,  but  had  very  few  mea 
on  board.  The  31st,  Captain  Vincent  sent  a  request  to  the 
Governor,  to  allow  his  Surgeon,  Mr.  Shaw,  to  attejid  the 
wounded  in  the  Hospital,  who  complained  of  the  Spanish  treat- 
merit  :  but  it  was  not  granted. 

April  1st,  Captain  Vincent  was  informed  by  the  Commissary, 
that  the  Governor  had  received  directions  to  send  the  English 
on  parole  six  miles  into  the  country ;  a;id  on  the  :jd,  he  was 
acquainted  that  they  would  be  moved  on  the  morrow.  He  was 
that  day  informed  that  several  of  the  seamen  had  escaped  some 
nights  ago,  of  whom  one  had  been  taken.  The  4th,  six  caliscs  an4 
six  carts  were  appointed  to  convey  the  English  and  their  baggage 
to  Poso  Estrecho,  a  village  about  seven  miles  off.  They  were 
attended  by  the  French  and  Spanish  Commissaries,  and  a  Cap- 
tain's guard  of  the  German  regiment.  Captain  Vincent  went 
forward  with  Signior  Bourbon,  to  see  the  houses,  and  arrange 
the  distribution  of  the  party.  Though  situated  in  a  delightful 
and  extensive  plain,  it  vv'as  a  most  miserable  place,  and  the 
houses  allotted  for  the  English  were  mere  1,  a^,  in  a  wretched 
condition,  and  hardly  fit  for  stables,  neither  wind  nor  weather 
tight.  After  seeing  the  houses,  he  fixed  on  the  best  of  those 
shown  him  in  the  village,  for  the  w  arrant  and  petty  officers  ;  and 
another  about  half  a  mile  from  it,  for  himself,  the  ladies,  and 
superior  officers ;  this  had  been  a  farm  house,  but  was  then  in  a 
state  of  dilapidation.  He  immediately  wrute  to  the  Governor 
of  Carthagena,  representing  the  very  bad  accommodations,  and 
expressing  strongly  his  displeasure  at  being  treated  with  such 
inattention.  He  invited  the  olHcer  of  tiie  guard  to  dinner,  who 
was  to  remain  in  the  village  with  his  party,  to  protect  the 


^4  BIOCRAPniCAL  MEMOIR  or 

JEnglish  from  the  country  people,  who  bore  a  very  bad  charac-^ 
i«*r.  The  six  sail  of  the  hne  were  moored  in  the  road,  opposite 
the  residence  of  the  English,  the  day  before  their  removal; 
which  step  was  taken  to  prevent  their  observing  the  progress  of 
the  equipment.  It  was  reported  that  the  w  ant  of  me©  was  to 
be  siipplied  from  Catalonia. 

On  the  Cith,  the  Masters  of  t\yo  Danish  vessels  paid  a  visit  to 
the  inferior  officers,  and  informed  them  Lord  Nelson  was  off 
Cape  Palos.  Captain  Vincent  and  his  companions  had  now 
become  very  anxious  to  hear  something  of  the  result  of  their 
nieraorial,  and  looked  forward  with  impatience  to  the  arrival  of 
every  courier  from  Madrid ;  but  as  yet  nothing  had  transpired. 
On  the  7th,  letters  were  received  from  Mr.  Vaughan,  expressing 
his  assurances  of  promoting  their  exchange.  They  were  met 
in  their  afternoon  walk  by  a  party  of  Spanish  ladies  and  gentle- 
men going  to  make  a  festa,  and  were  invited  to  join  the  com- 
pany ;  which  they  did,  and  accompanied  them  to  a  farm-housq, 
near  which  they  all  sat  down  upon  the  grass ;  and  then  the  re- 
freshments Avere  produced,  consisting  of  pasties  of  various  kinds, 
sausages,  cheese,  bread,  honey-comb,  oranges,  and  wine.  The 
party  was  very  merry,  and  the  pic-nic  scramble,  which  was 
called  supper,  though  it  was  only  6  o'clock,  w  as  soon  consumed, 
without  knives,  forks,  plates,  spoons,  or  dishes.  There  w^as  of 
course  a  priest  in  the  party,  but  his  presence  was  no  restraint 
to  the  general  hilarity.  The  Spanish  ladies  were  very  civil,  and 
in  good  spirits  ;  they  most  curiously  examined,  and  greatly  ad- 
mired the  dress  of  th^  English  lady  who  as  as  present ;  which 
bore  a  great  contrast  to  the  sombre  appearance  of  their  black 
muntella.  llie  English  met  with  much  civility  from  the  coun- 
try gentry,  by  whom  they  were  invited  to  their  gardens,  and. 
vi.sitt'd;  and  frequently  joined  their  fcstas :  these  little  parties 
were  formed  only  on  a  Sunday.  But  at  Cai  thagcna  no  notice, 
'Aas  taken  of  them  by  the  inhabitants. 

On  the  1 1th,  Captain  Vincent  heard  tha,t  tha  French  Toulon 
fieet  had  passed  Carthagena  on  Sunday  last  to  the  westward, 
con^stJng  of  eleven  sail  of  the  line,  six  frigates,  two  corvettes, 
and  four  brig<?.     He  desired  Signior  Bourbon  to  wait  upon  the 


CAPTAIN    RICHARD    BUDl)    VIKCtNT.  29S 

(jrovernor  in  his  name,  and  represent  the  bad  state  in  which  the 
English  were  accommodated.  On  the  l'2tii  a  dispute  took  place 
in  the  village  between  some  of  the  English  and  some  peasants, 
in  which  the  latter  drew  their  knives ;  but  the  guard  being  sent 
for,  one  of  the  Spaniards  was  taken  into  custody,  and  carried 
before  the  Alguazil.  It  arose  from  an  imposition  the  peasant? 
wished  to  practise,  in  the  sale  of  a  sheep.  In  the  evening  the 
officer  of  the  guard  waited  upon  Captain  Vincent,  to  know 
w  hat  kind  of  satisfaction  he  wished  to  have ;  who  desired  him  to 
inform  the  Alguazil,  and  to  explain  to  the  culprit  and  villagers, 
that  if  they  menaced  or  molested  the  English,  they  would  be 
ready  to  defend  themselves ;  but  if  the  villagers  kept  themselves 
quiet,  they  would  give  them  no  annoyance ;  and  he  requested 
the  prisoner  might  be  released.  In  this  affair  the  Spaniards 
showed  themselves  to  be  dastardly  cowards :  their  intention 
was  to  overreach  the  English,  whom  they  knew  to  hayc 
money  ;  in  the  circulation  of  which  they  derived  every 
advantage. 

Ou  the  1 3th,  Captain  Vincent  was  informed  that  an  English 
squadron,  of  eight  sail  of  the  line,  with  several  frigates,  was  oti 
the  port ;  supposed  to  be  in  search  of  the  French  fleet.  He 
this  day  received  a  letter  from  Siguier  Guillard,  Captain  of  the 
Portuguese  brig  formerly  mentioned,  Nvlio  acquainted  him  witli 
having  forv\arded  the  letters  entrusted  to  him,  from  Lisbon;  but 
he  did  not  name  the  reason  of  his  not  having  called  for  the  dis- 
patches; which  he  was,  doubtlessly,  prevented  doing.  The  14th. 
being  Sunday,  the  two  Commissaries  came  from  Carthagena  to 
dine  with  the  English,  but  brought  no  intelligence  of  their 
exchange.  They  informed  them  that  the  English  squadron  seen 
oft*  the  port,  consisted  of  only  hve  sail  of  men  of  war.  After 
dinner  they  were  visited  by  several  Spanish  ladies  and  gentle- 
men, and  joined  them  to  a  festa.  On  the  iSih,  CaptMiu  Vin- 
cent drew  up  a  Memorial  to  the  Prince  of  the  P«;ace,  and  got  it 
signed  by  all  the  ofticers ;  intending  to  send  it  next  day  to  the 
Governor  of  Carthagena,  by  whom  he  had  been  recommended  to 
ilraw  it  up.  The  object  of  it  was,  to  get  the  Minister  to  inter- 
cede with  the  French  Ambassador  j(?r  a  release  on  parole  of  the 


296  BIOGRAPHICAL   MEMOI&    OP 

English.  It  rained  vei y  hard  this  night,  by  which  the  party  ">TaS 
almost  dro\vned_,  as  no  part  of  the  house  was  properly  covered;^ 
and  there  was  not  a  pane  of  glass  in  the  windows. 

On  the  20th,  the  Captain  w as  gratified  with  receiving  a  letter 
from  M.  Douget,  to  acquaint  him  that  he  had  orders  to  permit 
the  English  to  embark  for  Gibraltar.  This  news  afforded  the 
most  sincere  pleasure  to  the  whole  party.  In  the  night  there 
was  a  storm  of  thunder,  lightning,  an«l  rain,  which  again 
drenched  the  inhabitants  of  the  crazy  hovel.  On  the  21st  Cap- 
tain Vincent  received  a  copy  of  General  Bournonville's  letter, 
permitting  the  departure  of  the  English;  also  letters  from  Mr. 
Vaughan,  at  iVIadrid,  and  Mr.  Hunter,  at  Lisbon.  The  2oth, 
he  arranged  with  jNI.  Douget  the  mode  of  embarkation,  having 
taken  up  and  begun  to  victual  a  vessel  for  that  purpose  ;  but 
was  informed,  that  tlie  Governor  of  Carthagena  would  not  per- 
mit this  to  take  place,  till  he  had  received  orders  from  his  Court 
to  that  effect.  Sunday,  the  G8th,  he  heard  that  the  Spanish 
squadron  had  sailed  oii  Friday  moining  from  Carthagena  to  the 
eastward.  He  was  now  become  very  uneasy  at  their  detention  ; 
and  all  the  party  were  the  more  anxious  to  depart,  as  it  was 
reported  thai  the  cordon  would  soon  be  removed,  and  they 
would  then  be  proljably  marched  into  the  interior  of  France, 
notwithstanding  they  had  the  French  Ambassador's  leave  to 
depart.  The  30th,  Captain  Vincent  received  letters  from  Mr. 
Vaughan,  at  jNIadrid,  and  Mr.  Hunter,  at  Lisbon  ;  the  former 
acquainting  him  that  he  had  at  last  effected  an  exchange  :  but 
the  Prince  of  Peace  not  having  given  any  directions  relative  to 
the  English,  he  had  sent  a  Memorial  to  the  Governor  of  Car- 
thagena, requesting  him  to  allow  them  to  depart  according  to  the 
permission  of  the  Ambas  -fidor.  Capt.  Vincent  heard  this  day  that 
the  Spanish  squadron  was  returned  to  port ;  the  two  three-deckers 
having  received  damage  by  running  foul  of  each  other,  Friday, 
May  3d,  he  was  informed  that  the  Governor  of  Carthagena,  in 
reply  to  the  ^lemorial,  was  sorry  he  could  not  permit  the 
English  to  remove  from  Spain,  until  he  had  directions  to  that 
purpose  from  the  Prince  of  the  Peace.  Saturday,  4th,  Capt. 
\  iucent  was  mortified  on  rcceivujg  information  that  the  courier  had 


CAPTAIN    RICHARD    EUDD    VINCEXT.  297 

brought  no  orders  to  the  Governor  from  Madrid  respecting 
the  Enghsh  ;  a  fortnight  having  elapspd  since  they  had  the  French 
Ambassador's  permission  to  go  to  Gibraltar  :  They  had  now 
been  prisoners  three  mouths.  Captain  Vincent  however  was 
awakened  at  midnight  by  the  Commissary's  servant,  with  a 
letter  from  his  Master,  enclosing  one  from  Commissioner 
Otway  at  Gibraltar,  sent  by  a  cartel  brig,  which  had  arrived 
about  four  hours  before  at  Carthagena ;  which  mentioned  that 
the  cartel  was  sent  by  order  of  the  Commander  in  Chief,  Lord 
Nelson,  expressly  for  the  English.  The  Commissary  added, 
that  the  Governor  of  Carthagena  had  given  his  consent  th^t  the 
English  should  embark  in  the  cartel,  and  desired  that  they  should 
be  ready  to  quit  the  village  by  the  next  evening,  or  Monday 
morning.  This  intelligence  excited  the  most  lively  joy  in  the 
whole  party,  and  the  next  day  the  house  was  in  great  confusion 
as  they  were  looking  for  the  arrival  of  the  carriages,  8cc.  to  fetch 
them,  with  vast  impatience.  They  did  not  fail  to  pay  their 
respects,  and  take  leave  of  the  Alguazil,  and  the  Spanish  ladies, 
from  whom  ihey  had  received  attention. 

Poso  Estrecho  is  situated  in  a  beautiful  plain,  extending  near 
thirty  miles  in  a  northern  direction  ;  and  the  farm  house,  occu- 
pied by  the  English,  was  built  in  a  pleasant  spot.  The  soil 
appeared  fertile ;  and  had  the  cultivation  been  better,  the  crops 
would  have  been  abundant.  The  management  of  estates  is  left 
to  agents,  who  o})prcss  the  tenants,  and  give  them  little  incli- 
nation or  means  to  improve  the  ordinary  system  of  tillage. 
Wheat  and  barley  are  the  principal  corn,  with  some  patches  oi 
beans  and  lucerne.  Tlie  barley,  which  was  turning  fast  in  the 
begitining  of  April,  was  very  thin,  and  choked  with  weeds. 
The  cattle  were  fed  upon  barley  and  lucerne ;  and  beans  w  ere 
generally  eaten  raw  by  the  })eople,  and  considered  as  a  dainty 
and  wcie  often  presented  to  the  English  as  such.  The  peasants 
were  in  extreme  poverty,  and  lived  in  a  very  miserable  manner ; 
they  seldom  got  meat ;  and  their  houses  were  mere  huts. 
The  women  employ  themselves  in  spinning  cotton,  weaving 
coarse  stuffs,  and  knitting  stocking,'*,  whilst  the  men  are  at  work 

/^at.  efjiton.  ©oUXVU.  «  <a 


298  BIOGUAPHICAL    MEMOIR    OF 

in  the  fields.     They  seldom  wear  stockhigs,  and  sandals  made  of 
straw  supply  the  place  ol"  shoes.     A  white  flannel  mantella,  and 
red,  white,  and  green  striped  stuff  basanio,  compose  the  dress  of 
the  women.     The  Spaniards  invariably  sleep  in  the  middle  of 
the   da}' ;    and    the   shops  are    shut   at   noon   for   two   hours. 
Although   it  was   early   in  the  spring  when  the  English  first 
landed,  yet  they  found  it  very  warm  ;    and  towards  the  end  of 
their  stay  it  began  to    be  very   oppressive,  and  the  flies  be- 
came very   troublesome.      In  the  night  the  dews    are    heavy 
and  pernicious,  and  the  ground  always  appeared  wet  in  the 
morning.     The  people  are  very  indolent,  and  in  general  proud 
and  vindictive.     The  peasants  sometimes  amused  themselves  of 
an  evening  dancing  the  fandango  and  bellaro  dances.     There 
was  a  carpenter's  shop  in  the  village,  and  also  a  blacksmith's, 
but. their  work  was  very  coarse,  and  their  implements  rude. 
There  was  also  an  Apothecary,  but  his  appearance  and  ignorance 
bespoke  the    abject   s*ate   of  the   medical    art  in  Spain:    his 
poverty  was  so  great,  that  he  wotild  willingly  have  sold  all  the 
furniture  in  his  house  for  a  few  dollars.     ISIoney  was  very  scarce> 
and  the  presence  of  the  Englisli  put  it  in  circulation  in  a  degree 
they  but  little  experienced  before ;    for  the  villagers  contrived 
to   bring  something  to  sell  to  them  every  day»     There  was  a 
cordon  of  troops  about  a  mile  off,  to   prevent  communicatiou 
with    the  interior.     Th.e   people    collected   there  to  purchase 
provisions,  though  no  conniiunicatlon  was  allowed  with  the  par- 
ties.    It   is  conuiion  in  this  part  of  die  country  to  rear  silk 
■worms,   which  are  regularly  fed   ^ith   mulberry  leaves  twice  SL 
day,  with  due  attention  to  guarding  them   from  the  sun.     The 
consumption  of  these  leaves  is  very  great,  which  are  used  fresh 
from  the  trees.     The   worms  are  equally  fond  of  pomegranate 
leaves ;  and  these  trees  arc  cultivated  near  th.e  farm  houses  for 
this  purpose. 

On  the  6th  of  INIay,  iSI.  Douget  went  to  the  village  to  ac- 
quaint the  English  that  they  were  to  embark  in  the  cartel  sent 
for  tliem :  but  that  she  w  as  not  permitted  to  lay  at  Carthagena, 
and  was  ordered  round  to  Porto  Cambreras,  diree  leagues  to 
the  eastward,  because  tlie  Governor  would  not  aiiow  them  to 


CAPTAIN    RICHARD    BUDD    VINCENT.  299 

enter  tlie  city.  About  noon  they  left  their  ruinous  dwelling 
at  Poso  Estrecho,  being  accommodated  with  callises  and  carts 
for  themselves  and  their  baggage ;  and  reached  Santa  Lucia, 
where  they  were  to  embark,  about  six  o'clock  :  but  no  boats 
were  ready  to  receive  them ;  and  it  being  six  miles  over  tlie 
mountains  to  the  place  where  the  cartel  lay,  they  were  obliged 
to  wait  further  orders.  At  7  o'clock  the  messenger  returned, 
bringing  orders  to  press  all  the  fishing  boats,  in  which  they 
embarked,  and  by  midiiight  all  the  officers  and  baggage  were  on 
board.  The  next  day  all  the  men,  except  some  of  the  wounded, 
were  sent  on  board.  And  on  the  8th,  the  wounded  from  the 
hospital,  except  two,  whom  it  was  dangerous  to  remove,  were 
conveyed  on  board ;  after  which  they  weighed,  and  made  sail, 
Tbe  English  oflicers  were  deeply  impressed  with  the  great 
attention  they  experienced  from  M.  Douget,  thti  French 
Commissary ;  who,  on  their  landing,  visited  them  every  day  to 
learn  their  wishes;  lending  them  furniture,  and  negociating  their 
bills  at  his  own  risk,  when  they  could  not  get  money  froin 
others.  He  also  paid  great  attention  to  the  men  in  prison,  and 
the  wounded  in  the  hospital.  He  appeared  much  hurt  ^hen 
he  was  directed  by  the  Govcinor  to  discontinue  his  visits  to 
them,  in  consequence  of  the  crew  of  a  French  privateer 
acquainting  the  Governor,  through  jealousy,  that  his  attentions 
were  too  particular  to  the  English. 

On  the  14th  the  cartel  arrived  at  Gibraltar,  and  was  put 
under  quarantine  ;  and  on  the  17th  received  pratique. 

Whilst  at  Gibraltar,  Captain  Vincent  was  shown  the  following 
Address,  which  the  Masters  of  the  vessels  of  his  convoy,  \vh(> 
had  escaped  to  this  place,  had  drawn  up  and  published :— i 

TO   THE    CAPTAINS    VINCENT    ANU    FAUQUHAK. 

Gibndtur  March  J 7,  IZF'S. 
WE,  the  undersigned  jMasters,  ^hich  departed  from  JMalta 
under  convoy  of  His  Majesty's  sloop  Arrow, .  Captain  Vincent, 
and  Acheron  bomb,  Captain  Farquhar,  prompted  by  the  truest 
sense  of  gratitude,  ofler  them  our  sincere  thanks,  for  their  unre- 
mitting and  assiduous  care  of  our  ships,  during  a  passage  of  pcrpetu- 
^  and  tremendous  gales ;  and  for  their  exertion,  imLting  with  their 


300  BIOCUAPIUCAL   MEMOm    O? 

abilities,  ■which  constantly  liept  the  Hcct  in  order,  until  the  un- 
fortunate morning  of  th«  4th  of  February,  when  two  heavy 
French  frigates  attacked  the  convoy. 

The  annals  of  history  never  yet  produced,  m-b  conceive,  a  con- 
test more  unequal,  shill  and  activity  more  exerted,  nor  magnani- 
mity more  displayed,  than  in  that  evejut.  Captains  Vincent  and 
Farquhar's  manner  of  attack,  and  drawing  the  enemy  to  leeward  of 
the  fleet,  merit  great  praise,  as  the  only  possible  means  of  saving  us. 
The  well  directed  fire  from  both  the  Arrow  and  Acheron  must 
have  done  considerable  execution  to  the  enemy ;  whose  superior 
force,  after  a  long  and  severe  battle,  compelled  Captains  Vincent 
and  Farquhar  to  yield  a  victory,  by  the  enemy  as  dearly  bought, 
as  by  them  unwillingly  resigned.  An  engagement  thus  com- 
menced, and  supported  for  the  honour  of  our  country,  for  the 
protection  and  interest  of  its  commerce,  cannot  fail  to  merit 
enthusiastic  admiration  from  their  fellow  subjects,  and  become  a 
memorial  of  their  bravery,  enrolling  their  names  in  the  list  of 
Bkitish  IIf.uoEj. 

Captain  Vincent  and  his  officers  embarked  in  the  Camel 
store-ship  for  England,  on  the  2Sth  of  May,  and  arrived  at  St. 
Helen's  on  the  4th  of  June,  1805. 

On  the  17th  of  June  a  Court  Martial  assembled  on  board 
His  Majesty's  ship  Gladiator,  in  Portsmouth  harbour.  Captain 
Oakes  Hardy,  President ;  for  the  purpose  of  trying  Captain  Vin- 
cent, bis  officers,  and  ship's  cCmpany,  for  the  loss  of  His  Majes- 
ty's sloop  Arrow;  arid  after  a  minute  inquiry  into  all  the  circum- 
stances previous  to,  and  during  the  action,  and  an  impartial 
hearing  of  t!ie  evidence  of  the  officers  and  men,  the  follonin"- 
Sentence  was  read  : — ■ 

At  a  Court  M.-^rtial  assembled  on  board  His  Majesty's 

siiip  Gladiator,  in  Portsmouth  harbour,  on  the  17th 

of  June,  1805.     Present, 

JoHS-  Oakes  Hardy,  Esq.,  Captain  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Zea- 

lous,  2d   officer  in   the  command  of  His  Majesty's  ships  ami 

vesc-els  at  Portsmouth  and  Spitbead,  President. 

Captain  G.  Kopr.  1  Captain  Ed.  Codrington. 


N.  D.' Oliver. 
J.  Stilks. 
R.  Hacl. 

F.  S.J.MEUVII.I.E. 


J.  Irvi.v. 
A.  Drlmmonu. 
U.  Hill. 
J.  Dick. 


J.  Wai-nwiught. C.  \V,  TayloRo 


CAPTAIN   RICHARD   BUDD   VISCENt.  301 

Pursuant  to  an  order  from  the  Right  Honourable  Lords  Com. 
taissioncrs  of  the  Admiralty,  dated  the  16th  June  inst.,  and  di- 
rected to  the  President,  setting  forth  that  Captain  Sir  R.  Strachan, 
Commander  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Renown,  had  transmitted  to 
their  Lordships  a  letter,  dated  Carthagcna,  26th  February  last, 
which  he  had  received  from  Captain  R.  13.  Vincent,  Commander  of 
His  Majesty's  sloop  Arrow  ;  accjuainting  him  with  the  capture  of 
the  said  sloop  on  the  •^Ith  of  the  said  month,  off  Cape  Caxine,  by 
I'Hortense  and  I'lncorruptible,  French  frigates,  after  an  action  of 
one  hour  and  twenty  minutes.  And  that  their  Lordships  thought 
fit  that  Captain  Vincent,  his  officers  and  ship's  company,  should  be 
tried  by  a  Court  Martial  for  the  loss  of  the  said  sloop  Arrow,  and 
for  their  conduct  on  that  occasion  ;  the  Court  proceeded  to  try  the 
said  Captain  R.  B.  Vincent,  his  officers  and  ship's  company,  for 
their  coiiduct  respecting  the  capture  of  His  Majesty's  said  sloop 
Arrow :  and  having  heard  the  evidence  produced,  and  completed  the 
inquiry ;  and  having  maturely  and  deliberately  weighed  and  con- 
sidered the  whole,  the  Court  is  of  opinion,  that  the  loss  of  His 
Majesty's  sl«op  Arrow  was  occasioned  by  her  falling  in  with  a  \CTy 
superior  force  of  the  enemy,  as  before  mentioned  ;  and  being  under 
the  necessity  of  surrendering  her,  after  a  brave,  determined, 
and  well-fought  action  of  nearly  an  hour  and  a  half,  soon  after 
■which  she  sunk  from  the  injuries  she  received  ia  the  action.  And 
that  the  conduct  of  Captain  R.  B.  Vincent,  his  officers  and  ship's 
company,  as  well  as  of  the  passengers,  was  highly  meritorious  and 
praise-worthy  during  the  action  ;  and  particularly  that  of  Captain 
Vincent,  by  the  judicious  arrangements  he  made  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  convoy  under  his  charge,  both  previous  to,  and  during 
the  action  ;  by  Avhich  nearly  the  Avhole  of  them  were  prevented 
from  ftilling  into  the  hands  of  a  superior  force  :  and  doth  adjudge 
them  to  be  most  honourably  acquitted  ;  and  the  said  Captain 
R.  B.  Vincent,  his  officers  and  ship's  company,  are  hereby 
jnost  honourably  acquitted  accordingly. 

Signed  by  all  the  Members. 

After  delivering  this  Sentence,  the  President,  on  returning  the 
sword  to  Captain  Vincent,  expressed  his  sentiments  in  terms  as 
grateful  to  the  feelings,  as  they  were  honourable  to  the  charac- 
ttu-  of  the  gallant  Captain  :  and  the  second  day  after  his  trial,  he 
JKad  an  official  notice  of  his  having  been  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  Post  Captain, 


302'  BIOGfRA?HICAt,   MEMOTR   OF 

He  also  received  directions  from  the  Committee  for  managing 
the  Patriotic  Fund,  to  furnish  them  with  particulars  of  the  late 
action,  and  a  li.-t  of  the  killed  and  wounded;  and  on  the  3d  of 
July  the  following  resolutions  were  communicated  to  him : — 

RESOLVDB, 

That  a  sword,  of  the  value  of  100/.,  and  a  piece  of  plate  of  the 
value  of  100/.,  with  an  appropriate  inscription,  or  that  sura  in 
money,  at  his  option,  be  prescnttd  to  Captain  R.  B.  Vincent, 
acting  as  Commodore  on  the  occasion,  for  so  nobly  supporting  the 
honour  of  the  British  flag,  and  successfully  protecting  the  convoy 
under  his  care.  I'hat  the  following  sums  be  given  to  the  oihcers 
and  men  wounded , . 

Here  followeol  a  list  of  sums  apportioned  to  the  different  injuries 
whicii  the  wounded  had  sustained,  to  the  amount  of  545/. 

The  following  letter  was  also  transmitted  to  John  Turnbullj, 
Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Merchants  trading  to  the  South  of 
Europe : — 

SIR,  Lloyd's,  July  3,  1805. 

The  very  gallant  conduct  of  Captains  Vincent  and  Farquhar, 
and  the  officers  and  crews  of  His  Majesty's  sloop  Arrow,  and  bomb 
Acheron,  entitles  them  tc^every  possible  testimony  of  gratitude  from 
their  countrymen  at  large  ;  but  more  particularly  from  the  Mer- 
chanls  and  Underwriters  interested  in  the  convoy  under  their  care; 
which  was  so  nobly  and  successfully  protected,  by  the  unequal 
conflict  they  maintained  with  the  French  friga,tes  i'Hoxtense  and 
I'Incorruptible,  of  44  guns  each. 

The  Committee  of  the  Patriotic  Fund  have  voted  honorary 
rewards  to  the  commanding  officers  ;  given  donations  to,  the 
wounded,  and  made  provision  for  the  families  of  those  who  fell  in 
thus  supporting  the  honour  of  the  l^ritish  flag.  But  the  rules  of 
that  InsUiution  extend  no  farther  ;  and  it  is  a  tril)ute  still  due  ta 
those  brave  men  who  have  lost  thiir  own  property  in  so  resolutely 
defending  that  of  others  ;  to  provide,  that  on  their  return  from 
imprisonment,  they  should  at  least  be  furnished  with  necessaries  t©. 
equip  them  for  His  ^Majesfy's  service. 

Vs''n\\  this  view  we  address  ourselves  to  you,  Sir,  as  Chairman  o,t 
the  Merchants  trading  to  the  Mediterranean,  that  you  may 
recommend  the  subject  to  their  consideration.      Wf  shall  be  happy 


CAPTAIN    RiCH.iHD    BUDD    V1.\'CENT.  303 

to  learn  that  it  nieefs  their  concurrence,  and  to  join  tliem  In  such 
ineasures  as  shall  appear  best  calculated  to  carry  it  into  efl'ect. 
We  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

J.  ANGEllSTELV, 
R.  SHEDDOiV, 
J.  MARllYAT. 

August  126th,  1805,  the  following  communication  waS 
made : — 

jNIr.  Turubull  presents  his  compliments  to  Captain  Vincent,  and 
has  the  pleasure  to  enclose  him  a  statement  of  the  proportioned 
donations  Avhich  the  Committee  have  been  enabled  to  raise,  in 
ordei  to  replace  the  loss  of  the  clothes  and  necessaries  which  the 
officers  and  crew  of  iiis  INlajesty's  sloop  Arrow  may  have  sus- 
tained in  consequence  of  their  gallant  action  in  the  Mediterranean. 
The  amount  in  all  being  477/.  lO.v.,  Captain  Vincent  will  be 
pleased  to  draw  for  it,  at  ten  days'  sight,  on  Joseph  Marriot,  Esq., 
and  distribute  it  according  to  the  list  herewith.  Exactly  the  same 
donations  have  been  made  to  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  Acheron. 
And  it  gives  Mr.  Turubull  much  pleasure  to  have  had  the  oppor- 
tunity on  this  occasion  of  contributing  to  establish  a  j)reoedent,  for 
iudemnifying  those  brave  racn,  who  may  have  lust  their  little  pro- 
perty in  tlie  service  of  their  country. 

The  sums  were  thus  proportioned  :  — to  Captain  Vincent,  50/.  ; 
to  the  Lieutenants,  Master,  and  Captain  of  marines,  a  passenger, 
20/.  each:  to  the  Surgeon,  Purser,  Carpenter,  Gunner,  Master's 
Mate,  10/.  each  ;  to  the  Midshipmen,  Surgeon's  Mate,  and  Tetfy 
OlUcers,  51.  each ;  to  the  Seamen,  2/.  10a»  each* 

Since  Captalti  Vincent's  return,  he  v.'as  employed  in  the 
Brilliant  frigate,  on  the  Irish  station;  but  is  at  pref;ent  on 
half  pay  :  we  have  no  doubt,  that  when  he  has  again  an  oppor- 
tunity, he  will  manifest  the  same  intrepidity  which  has  so 
honourably  distinguished  his  professional  character. 

The  information  which  we  have  received  fi  oni  the  officers  of 
the  Arrow,  enables  us  to  subjoin  the  foUowiijg  very  honourable 
testimony  to  Captain  Vincent's  professional  character  : — Captain 
Vincent  is  a  most  pleasant,  mild,  gentleman-like  Commandcrji 
yet  at  the  same  time  a  strict  officer  ;  one  of  the  bust  and  abkst 


304  NAVAL   ANECDOtES^ 

in  the  British  Navy.     It  is  needless  to  mention  his  courage ; 
that  has  ah-eady  spoken  for  itself. 


*^*  Two  beautiful  drawings  of  the  gallant  action  which  the 
Arrow  sustained,  hav-e  been  made  by  N.  PococK,  Esq.,  from 
sketches  furnished  by  her  gallant  second  Lieutenant,  Mr.  E.  Elers; 
for  W.  Tennantj  Esq. 


NAVAL  ANECDOTES, 


COMMERCL\L  HINTS,  RECOLLECTIONS,  &c. 

NANTES    IN    GURGITE    VASTO. 


CAPTURE    OF    LE    LYNX. 

nr^HE  following  interesting  detail  of  the  extraordinary  capture 
of  the  enemy's  brig  le  Lynx,  is  taken  from  a  copy  of  Lieu- 
tenant Coombe's  log,  of  the  proceedings  of  the  boats  of  His 
Majesty*s  frigate  Galatea,  from  their  first  setting  out,  till  their 
arrival  with  the  prize  at  Antigua : — 

Wcdncsdin/,  Jan.  21,  1807,  iwo  P.M. 
In  pursuance  of  orders  from  George  Sayer,  Esq.,  Captain  o^ 
His  Majesty's  ship  Galatea,  I  put  olf  from  the  ship  with  the 
following  boats  manned  and  armed,  under  my  command,  and  in 
the  following  order,  each  boat  taking  the  other  in  tow  :  Short 
gig,  long  ditto.  Green  (Master's  Mate);  green  cutter.  Lieute- 
nant Gibson ;  pinnace,  Lieutenant  Walker  :  barge,  Lieutenant 
Coombe ;  and  launch,  Mr.  Sarsfield,  Master's  Mate.  In  this 
order  proceeded  to  chase  a  suspicious  brig  to  the  eastward  of  Cape 
Codera,  the  Cape  bearing  from  us  about  S.E.,  3  or  4  leagues. 
At  three,  finding  the  boats  gained  very  little  on  the  chase,  ordered 
them  to  separate,  to  make  the  best  of  their  way,  but  no  boat  to 
row  a-head  of  the  barge :  at  six,  the  chase  E.S.E.  about  four 
leagues;  ordered  Mr.  Green  in  the  long  gig  to  reconnoitre,  by 
all  means  to  ke->'p  sight  of  the  brig,  and,  on  the  event  of  its  coming 
dark,  to  hoist  a  light ;  8.  30.  within  musket  shot  of  the  chase ; 
lay  to  on  our  oars,  in  order  to  arm,  and  give  the  stcrnmost  boats 
time  to  come  up.  The  long  gig  joined  with  the  following  intelli- 
gence :— Every  appearance  of  an  armed  enemy's  brig,  under  all 
■sail,  and  her  sweeps  out.     8,  40.  the  sternmost  boats  having  eoms 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  305 

tjp,  ordered  thorn  to  arm,  and  prepare  for  boarding  in  two  lines. 
Lee  line — the  barf:;e  to  lead  the  van  ;  pinnace.  Lieutenant  Walker; 
and  long  gig,  Mr.  Green,  to  board  on  the  s<^arboard  quarter, 
steering  in  close  between  the  sweeps  and  brig's  sid<>.  Weather 
line — green  cutter.  Lieutenant  Gibson  ;  Liuncli,  Mr  Sarsfield 
(short  gig  separated)  ;  pass-word,  Sayer,  Death  or  Victory  ;  and 
to  board  on  the  larboard  quarter.  8.  50.  being  within  pistol  shot, 
hailed  twice  ;  received  no  answer,  but  heard  her  crew  jabbering 
French ;  gave  her  three  cheers,  and  at  8.  55.  alongside,  received 
the  fire  of  several  carronades,  and  a  shower  of  musketry.  Made 
two  attempts  to  board,  but  vrere  repulsed,  myself  wounded  by  a 
musket  ball  passing  through  the  muscular  part  of  my  left  thigh  ia 
the  first  attack.  Being  determined  to  take  the  brig  or  die  in  the 
attempt,  made  a  third  attack ;  the  brave  Walker  fell  in  the  moment 
of  victory.  We  gained  the  deck,  when,  after  a  most  malicious 
fight,  in  about  five  minutes  the  French  were  all  driven  oH'  the 
deck.  Thus  was  captured  in  15  minutes,  after  a  chase  of  forty 
miles  in  open  boats,  the  Imperial  brig  le  Lynx,  of  14  thirty-two 
pounder  carronades,  English  calibre,  and  161  men,  from  Marti- 
nique, bound  to  la  Guira,  with  dispatches. — Found  the  Captaia 
wounded;  second  ditto,  M'ounded;  late  Captain  of  the  Buona- 
parte killed,  with  others  of  the  officers  killed  and  wounded. 
Having  secured  some  private  signals,  and  the  magazine,  proceeded 
to  get  the  wounded  off  the  d-eck,  the  dead  hove  overboard,  and  to 
haul  down  the  studding  sails ;  got  in  the  sweeps,  and  veered  the 
boats  astern  ;  a  light  breeze  springing  up  from  the  S.  W.,  stood  to 
the  northward,  in  hopes  of  falling  in  Mith  the  ship  ;  hoisted  two 
lights  vertical  at  the  mast  head,  and  fired  several  blue  lights  to 
show  where  we  were  ;  at  twelve,  standing  to  the  northward,  ship 
not  in  sight ;  short  gig  joined  a  few  minutes  after  the  action.— 
A.M.  January  22d,  light  breezes  from  the  S.W.,  still  standing  to 
the  northward  ;  at  two,  ship  in  sight,  bearing  N.N.W'.  Showed 
three  blue  lights,  two  vertical  at  the  mast  head,  one  on  the  sprit- 
sail-yard  ;  at  three,  sent  Lieutenant  Gibson  in  the  green  cutter, 
with  private  signals,  and  intelligence  of  our  having  captured  the 
brig;  at  five,  joined  company  with  the  Galatea. 

REMARKABLE    ESCAPE    FROM    DROWNING. 

THE  following  extraordinary  instance  of  preservation 
occurred  on  the  coast  of  India^  in  the  month  of  October, 
1S04:— 

A.  seaman,  belonging  to  His  Majesty's  ship  CaroliaCj  was  in  the 


306  NAVAt    ANECDOTES, 

main-chains,  endeavouring  to  set  up  one  of  the  back-stay?,  v,hen 
a  tremendous  sea  washed  him  clean  ororboard!  The  ship  was 
then  going  between  nine  and  ten  knots  nearly  before  the  w  ind,  and 
before  she  could  be  hove  to,  he  was  not  less  than  three  quarters  of 
a  mile  astern. 

He  was  distinctly  seen,  however,  froui  the  mizen-top  on  the 
rise  of  every  sea,  swimming  very  high  out  of  the  water,  and 
seemingly  with  great  strength.  Four  men  and  two  officers  jumped 
into  the  jolly  boat,  which  -was  Io»vered  down  from  the  stern,  at  the 
imminent  risk  of  all  their  lives,  and  tliey  succeedad  in  unhooking 
the  tackles,  and  getting  clear  from  the  ship  without  accident. 
An  officer  from  the  mizen-top  directed  their  route,  by  pointing 
with  a  spy-glass  towards  the  man  in  the  water,  and  in  about  half 
an  hour  they  succeeded  in  finding  him!  He  was  swimming  with 
the  utmost  composure,  his  face  still  directed  to  the  ship,  which  he 
said  he  could  plainly  see  from  the  summit  of  every  wave;  and 
knowing  by  the  sails  that  she  w'as  hove  to,  he  had  no  doubt  but 
that  the  boat  was  coming  to  pick  him  up.  Tlie  greatest  diihculty, 
how'ever,  still  remained,  and  tliat  was  the  getting  on  board ;  the 
ship  was  plunging  and  rolling  in  such  a  manner,  that  it  was  very 
dangerous  to  approach  her  :  at  length,  during  a  momentary  lull, 
they  attempted  to  hook  the  tackles,  but  unfortunately  only  suc- 
ceeded with  one  of  them,  the  consequence  of  which  was,  that  the 
ship  in  plunging  forward  dragged  the  jolly  boat  clean  out  of  the 
water,  with  her  stern  uppermost ;  of  course  the  men  and  oars  were 
all  thrown  out  of  her  into  the  sea. 

Their  situation  at  this  moment  was  truly  alarming;  no  boat 
could  be  got  off  the  booms  in  time,  as  they  had  all  been  firmly 
lashed  during  the  gale.  The  tackle  being  instantly  cut  that  hung 
the  boat,  she  luckily  fell  on  her  bottom,  but  was  as  quickly 
swamped  by  a  sea  that  rolled  into  her.  The  officers  and  men, 
however,  who  were  floating  about,  made  shift  to  get  to  the  boat, 
which,  though  full  of  water,  was  still  sufficient  to  keep  them  from 
sinking;  and  it  was  something  remarkable,  that  the  seaman  who 
had  been  so  long  overboard,  was  the  Jirxi  who  regained  the  boat 
this  time  ! 

By  giving  the  ship  stern  way,  she  got  so  close  to  them  as  to  be 
enabled  to  heave  them  ropes,  by  which  means  they  got  under  the 
lee  quarter  and  were  all  saved. 

NAVAL    ARCHITECTURE, 

A  Mr.  Newman,  of  Dartmouth,  has  recently  obtained  a  patent 
for  an  improvement   in  the  form  and  construction   of  ships  aud 


COMMF.RCIAL    HINT?,    KECOLLECTIOXS,    &C.  307 

Tessels  of  war,  Sec.  This  improvenient  consists  in,  and  extends  to^ 
the  following  matters  : — first,  an  apparatus  or  helm,  containing 
two  rudders,  formed  and  worked  in  the  direction  of  the  sides,  in 
lieu  of  one  placed  in  the  centre  line  of  the  vessel,  by  which  bodies 
of  the  gn  at  st  capacity  may  be  governed,  guided,  or  steered,  wore 
and  stayed  witu  greater  certainty,  ease,  and  safety  :  secondly,  in 
a  concave  or  hollow  form  of  side  and  bottom,  that  will  make 
vessels  of  a  light  draught  of  water  keep  a  better  wind,  carry  more 
saiL  and  roll  less  :  thirdly,  in  an  inverted  reduction  of  capacity 
to.-  rd  ihe  stern,  commonly  called  (he  run,  by  which  the  resistance 
is  k!-;sened,  without  the  siabiiity  or  power  ol'  carrying  sail  being 
diminished  by  external  destruction. 

The  Patontee  has  exhibited  in  dravvings,  attached  to  his  speci- 
fication, the  ordinary  rudder  in  its  usual  situation,  where  it 
recjuirc^  a  magnitude  that  renders  it  both  incommodious  and  dan- 
gerous, and  even  inadequate  to  its  purpose  ;  and  also  one  which, 
if  di.it-rently  placed,  might  be  reduced  to  one  half,  or  even  one 
fourtli  part  of  its  prestiit  dimensions,  with  increased  eilect,  its 
power  being  not  on!)  greater  by  projecting  into  more  active  water, 
and  meeting  the  current  in  its  undirected  course,  but  also  increased 
by  its  relative  distauce  from  the  centre  line  of  the  vessel's 
progress. 

The  manner  of  Avorking  a  helm  of  this  description  must  depend 
on  the  natur-.-,  size,  and  service  of  the  vessel.  It  may  act  outwards 
or  either  way,  be  without  or  enclosed  within  the  stern  and  side, 
above  or  below  the  deck,  and  moved  by  one  wheel,  winch,  or 
othe;-  engine,  placed  amid-ships,  or  elsewhere,  and  connected  by 
chains  or  ropes,  in  the  ordinary  way,  with  a  short  iron  lever  pro- 
jecting from  each  rudder,  the  length  of  which  need  not  exi  ced  the 
sixth  part  of  the  tiller  required  for  the  common  rudder.  "  In  this 
manner,"  says  Mr.  N.,  "  I  found  by  an  experiment  tried  on  a 
temporary  fotra,  of  not  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  tons  bur- 
then, constructed  by  me  for  the  purpose  about  four  years  since, 
that  a  single  man  or  boy  could  not  only  steer  with  the  greatest 
case,  but  manage  at- (he  same  time  the  largest  sail  of  the  vessel  in 
an  open  and  rough  sea."  In  one  of  the  figures  attached  to  the 
specification,  is  a  representation  of  the  traverse  section  of  a  vessel, 
whose  sides  and  bottom  arc  an  inversion  of  the  ordinary  form, 
curving  outwards,  and  extending  down  to  a  level  with  the  under 
part  of  her  keel,  opposing  by  their  extent  and  shape  the  greatest 
resistance  to  a  lee  course,  with  less  tendency  to  roll  or  upset,  and 
presenting  at  the  same  time  a  stronger  surface  to  the  pressure  of 


308  NATAL    ANECDOTES, 

tiie  cargo  or  weight  within  the  ship.  Resistance  to  lee  way  may 
aiso,  we  are  told,  be  increased,  by  ribbing  or  iadenting  the  coat  of 
the  sides,  Avith  projecting  or  binding  planks,  that  obstruct  in  a 
side  direction  only,  while  they  strengthen  the  vessel  and  protect 
the  caulking. 

THE    SOVEREIGN    OF    THE    SEAS. 

BEFORE  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War,  King  Charles 
the  1st  built  a  ship  called  the  Sovereign  of  the  Seas;  the 
following  description  of  which  is  taken  from  a  publication  of 
that  time,  by  Thomas  Hey  wood,  addressed  to  the  King : — • 

This  famous  vessel  was  built  at  Woohrich  in  1637. — She  was 
in  length  by  the  keel  128  feet,  or  thereabout,  within  some  few- 
inches  ;  her  main  breadth  48  feet;  in  length,  from  the  fore-end  of 
the  beak-head  to  the  after-end  of  the  stern,  a  prora  ad piippim, 
232  feet;  and  in  height,  from  the  bottom  of  her  keel  to  the  top 
of  her  lanthorn,  76  feet :  bore  iive  lanthorns,  the  biggest  of  which 
•would  liold  ien  persons  upright;  had  three  flush  decks,  a  fore- 
castle, half-deck,  quarter-deck,  and  round-house, — Her  lower  tier 
had  30  ports  for  cannon  and  demi-cannon  ;  middle  tier,  30  for 
culverines,  and  demi  ditto;  third  tier,  20  for  other  ordnance; 
forecastle,  12;  and  two  half-decks  having  13  or  14  ports  more 
within-boai-d,  for  murdering  pieces,  besides  ten  pieces  of  chase 
ordnance  forward,  and  ten  right  aft,  and  many  loop-holes  in  the 
cabins  for  musket-shot. — She  had  eleven  anchors,  one  of  44CO 
pounds  weight.  She  was  of  the  burthen  of  16S7  tons.  She  was 
built  by  Peter  Pett,  Esq.,  under  the  direction  of  his  father,  Cap- 
tain Phineas  Pett,  one  of  the  principal  officers  of  the  Navy.  She 
hath  two  gallics  besides,  and  all  of  most  curious  carved  work,  and 
ail  the  sides  of  the  ship  carved  with  trophies  of  artillery,  and  typos 
«f  honour,  as  well  belonging  to  sea  and  land,  with  symbols  apper- 
taining to  navigation ;  also  their  two  sacred  Majesties'  badges  of 
honour  ;  arms  Avith  several  aiigels  holding  their  letters  in  compart- 
ments, all  which  works  are  gilded  over,  and  no  other  colour  but 
gold  and  black. — One  tree,  or  oak,  made  four  of  the  principal 
beams,  wliich  was  44  feet,  of  strong  serviceable  timber,  in  length, 
3  feet  in  diameter  at  the  top,  and  10  feet  at  the  stub  or  bottom. 

Upon  the  stern-head  a  Cupid,  or  child  bridling  a  lion ;  upon  the 
bulk-head,  right  forward,  stand  six  statues,  in  sundry  postures; 
these  figures  represent  Concilium,  Cura,  Conamen,  Vis,  Virtus, 
Victoria. — Upon  the  haraers  of  the  water  are  four  figures,  Jupiter, 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    RECOL J.ECTlOKSj    &A  509 

Mars,  Neptune,  and  Eolus  ;  on  the  stern,  Victory,  in  the  midst  of 
\a  frontispiece  ;  upon  the  beak-heai  sitteth  King  Edgar,  on  horse- 
back, trampling  on  seven  Kings, 

The  Sovereign  of  the  Seas  was  the  largest  ship  that  ha(3  ever 
been  buih  in  England^  and  is  said  to  have  been  designed  only 
for  splendour  and  magnjticence ;  but,  being  taken  down  a  deck 
lower,  she  became,  according  to  report,  one  of  the  best  men  of 
war  in  the  w  orld.  She  was  in  almost  all  the  great  engagements 
that  were  fought  between  England  and  Holland.  She  was  re- 
built in  the  year  1684,  and  called  the  Royal  Sovereign;  and, 
on  the  27th  of  January,  1696^  being  iaid  up  at  Chatham,  in 
prder  to  be  re-built  a  second  time,  she  accidentally  tookfuc,  and 
was  totally  consumed. 

FEMALE    TOM    BOWLING. 

AT  the  Public  Office,  Queen  Square,  an  old  woman,  generally 
known  by  the  name  of  Tom  Bowling,  was  lately  brought  before 
the  Magistrate,  foi  sleeping  all  night  in  the  street ;  and  was  com- 
mitted as  a  rogue  and  vagabond,  and  passed  to  her  parish.  She 
served  as  Boatswain's  Mate  on  board  a  man  of  war  for  upwards  of 
20  years,  and  lias  a  pension  from  Chatham  Chest.  When  waked 
fit  midnight  by  the  watchman  in  the  street,  covered  with  snow, 
she  cried,  "  Where  the  devil  zcould yon  have  me  sleep  ?"  She  has 
generally  slept  in  this  way,  and  dresses  like  a  man  ;  and  is  so 
tardy  at  a  very  advanced  age,  that  she  nevcy  catches  coI(^. 


PLATE  CCXXIX. 

nnlllS  View  of  the  Faro  di  Messina  is  from  tJie  accurate  pencil 
•'*■    of  Mr.  PoGOck,  and  represents  Lord  Nelson's  fleet,  with  a 
correct  portrait  of  his  ilag-ship,  standing  through  that  celebrated 
Strait. 

This  passage,  which  is  so  named  from  the  Faro,  or  Light-house 
on  Cape  Faro,  and  its  vicinity  to  Messina,  is  remarkal-Io  for 
baving  the  tide  ebb  and  How  every  six  hours  with  great  rapidity, 
though  it  is  but  seven  miles  over. 

The  Greeks  always  called  it  Messcne;  the  Romans  Messana,  to 
distinguish  it  from  Messcne  of  Peloponnesus :  and  yet  the  Sicilian 
pains  bear   Messanieis,    or  Mess^ncnses   for  the   people  ;     an4 


^10  TIXXT.    CCXXIX. 

Damagetus,  in  a  Greek  Epigram,  calls  the  city  Messana. — It  was 
in  a  still  earlier  period  called  Zancle,  from  King  Zauclus ;  or  from 
the  Sicilian  term  Zancloii,  denoting  a  sickle,  alluding  to  the  curve 
of  the  coast.  The  Strait  was  also  called  Frctuni  Sicahun,  and  \vas 
imagined,  by  both  Pliny  and  Or  id,  to  have  been  formed  b\'  an 
earthquake  breaking  the  Isthmus,  which  joined  Sicily  -with  the 
main  laud. 

On  tiie  side  of  Italy  is  the  celebrated  rock  called  Scylla,  and  on 
the  side  of  Sicily  was  fixed  the  dangerous  whirlpool  Charybdis, 
respecting  the  exact  situation  of  which  our  learned  men  liave  not 
agreed.  The  ancient  Poets  represented  them  as  nearly  opposite  : 
and  hence  their  proverb,  "  Incidit  in  Scyllam^  dian  vnlt  vitare 
Chari/bdim.'" — ''  He  is  driven,  or  strikes  on  Scylla,  whilst  he  is 
endeavouring  to  ^void  Charybdis."  It  is  S;o  dlQicult  to  navigate 
through  the  entrance  of  the  Faro,  that  pilots  are  always  ready  to 
put  to  sea,  as  soon  as  a  vessel  is  seen  in  the  offing.  Charybdis  is 
supposed  by  Mr.  Swinburne  fo  have  been  at  the  Isthmus  of  Cape 
Peloro,  several  miles  north  of  .Messina  ;  where  it  is  commonly  sup- 
posed to  have  been  by  Strabo,  and  where  there  is  still  a  kind  of 
whirlpool,  although  no  wise  answering  to  the  description  given  of 
Charybdis  by  the  ancients. 

Mr.  Clarke,  in  his  laborious  and  extensive  work  on  Maritime 
Discovery,  informs  us,  that  Sc}  11a  was  one  of  the  sacred  Maritime 
Temples,  or  Fire  Tov/ers,  that  were  constructed  by  the  Cuthites, 
or  Amonians,  as  sea  marks  by  day,  and  light-houses  by  night; 
■where  charts  of  the  coast  Mere  deposited,  and  the  votive  oftl rings 
of  mariners  Mere  received.  The  dogs  with  Mhich  the  Greeks  sur~ 
rounded  Scylla,  were  its  Cahen,  or  J'riests  of  its  Temple.  Great 
cruelties,  and  the  most  savage  rites.  Mere  exercised  in  these  light- 
houses, which  then  greatly  added  to  the  horror  of  passirtg  this 
Faro.  The  seamen  w^ho  came  to  these  places  for  assistance,  M'ere 
often  obliged  to  wrestle  in  the  area  before  the  light-house,  as  Mr. 
Clarke  informs  us,  with  an  athletic  Priest,  trained  to,  the  exercise, 
and  skilled  in  the  M'ork  of  death.  It  is  believed  that  hui^an  ficsh 
M'as  eaten  by  the  Pagans  in  those  places ;  and  accordingly  Ulysses^ 
when  entering  the  dangerous  pass  of  Rhegiiim,  had  six  of  his  com- 
panions seized  by  Scylla,  and  lost  the  same  number  in  the  cavern 
of  the  Cyclops.  The  Furies,  or  Furia;,  and  the  Harpies,  were 
originally  their  Priests  of  Fire*. 

Its  interest,  M-hich  at  present  is  so  deservedly  attached  to  the 
Island  of  Sicily,  as  it  induced  us  to  publish  this  Plate,  ^^^U  also  be 

*  See  an  Eniii'-aving  of  the  Temples  iii  Claike's  Fi•ogrc:^^  of  JMaritime 
Discovery,  '^'ol,  I,  Introduction;  pn,ge  xci. 


PLATE    CCXXIX.  ^  3lt 

the  cause  of  onr  paying  a  greater  attention  to  our  account  of  it, 
than  we  shonld  otherwise  have  clone. — It  may  be  of  service  to  many 
of  our  naval  readers,  who  arc  now  stationed  in  the  adjacent  sea, 
to  be  i  formed,  that  an  excellent  Vui)(fj;c  Fillorcsque  dcs  hlca  de 
Siciie,  Maltc.  et  de  Lipari,  was  published  many  years  since  by 
M.  Houcl :  the  part  relative  to  Messina  appeared  about  the  year 
1785.  The  73d  plate  of  the  13th  number  gives  a  view  of  the 
Pharos  and  Straits,  and  tlie  coast  of  Calabria.  The  74th  plate 
contains  a  plan  of  the  Straits.  In  the  14th  number  are  six  beau- 
tiful views  of  ?vlessina,  as  it  appeared  before  the  dreadful  earth- 
ijuakes  in  1783  :  and  this  number  is  terminated  by  au  account  of 
that  remarkable  aerial  pha?nomenon,  called  the  Fata  Morg-^JiS,  or 
Fairy  Morgana,  which  is  sometimes  observed  from  the  harbour  of 
Messina,  and  adjacent  places,  at  a  certain  height  in  the  atmos- 
phere. 

*'  lit  fine  summer  days,"  says  ]\I.  Houel,  ''when  the  weather  is 
calm,  there  rises  above  the  great  current,  a  vapour,  which  acquires 
a  certain  density,  so  as  to  form  in  the  atmosphere  horizontal  prisms, 
whose  sides  are  disposed  in  such  a  manner,  that  when  they  are 
come  to  their  proper  degree  of  perfection,  they  reflect  and  repre- 
sent successively,  for  some  time,  like  a  moveable  mirror,  the 
objects  on  the  coast,  or  in  the  adjacent  country;  they  exhibit  by 
turns  the  city  and  suburbs  of  INIessina,  trees,  animals,  men  and 
mountains  ;  they  are  really  beautiful  atrial  moving  pictures.  There 
are,  sometimes,  two  or  three  priems,  equally  perfect,  and  they 
continue  in  this  state  eight  or  ici\  minutes  :  after  this,  shining 
inequalities  are  observed  upon  the  surfaces  of  the  prism,  Avhich 
render  confused  to  the  eye -the  objects  that  had  been  before  so 
accurately  represented,  and  the  picture  vanishes.  The  vapour 
forms  other  combinations,  and  is  dispersed  in  air.  Diliercnt 
accounts  have  been  given  of  this  singular  appearance." 

An  engraving  of  this  singular  scene,  with  a  further  account  of 
the  Fata  Morgana,  was  given  by  Mr.  W.  Nicholson,  in  the  5th 
number  of  the  first  volume  of  his  Journal  of  Natural  Philo- 
fiophy,  (page  225.)  lie  informs  us  that  the  account  was  taken 
for  Minasi's  Dissertation  on  the  Fata  Morgana,  printed  at  Rome 
in  1773.  This  singular  appearance  is  also  noticed  by  Brydoue, 
and  Swinburne,  and  many  other  writers.  Minasi  distinguishes 
three  sorts  of  Fairy  ^lorgana  in  the  Straits  of  jMes;ina.— First, 
that  which  appears  on  the. surface  of  the  sea,  which  he  calls  tlie 
Marine  Morgana;  the  second,  in  the  air,  called  Aerial  Morgana ; 
and  the  third,  only  at  the  surface  of  the  sea,  which  he  calls,  the 
Morgana  fringed  with  prismatic  colours. 


31$ 
CORRESPONDENCE. 


journal  of  the  Proceedings  of  a  Squadron  *  of  His  Majesf^'^s  Ships^ 
umler  the  Command  of  Sir  John  Jervis,  K.B.^  emplojjed  in 
rxmjunciion  rciih  a  Body  of  Troops,  under  the  Command  of  Sir 
Charles  Gkey,  K.B.^  to  reduce  the  French  Colonies  in  the 
Xieexcard  Islands,  1794 +,  and  1795. 

[rrom  the  IVISS.  ofa  Naval  Officer.] 

AFTER  waiting  nearly  a  month  beyond  the  time  expected  for 
the  fleet's  sailing,  we  put  to  sea  from  St.  Helen's,  having  left 
several  of  the  ordnance  vosiels  behind,  with   the  Quebec  frigate, 


Basse  Terre. 
Cone  to  Mariagalante. 


Ships. 
*  Boj-ne  ... 
Irresistible  . . 


Guns. 
.  99 
7i 


n-i 


Veteran 64 

Roebuck 44 

Assurance 40 

Vvoolwich 40 

Blanche  '. 32 


5  Vv^i 


ncliclsea 


32 


Commanders. 
ce-Admiral  Sir  John  Jervi*. 
aptain  G.  Grey. 
J.  Heriry. 
C.  E.  Nugent. 
A.  Christie. 
V.  C.  Berkley. 
J.  Parker. 
R.  Faulknor. 

Lord  Viscount  Garlics. 


Fort  Royal. 


Point  Petre. 


Terpsichore 32 

Rose £8 

Reprisal 18 

Inspector,  sloop       18 
C^Bulldog,  do 18 

j  Vengeance 74 

I  Asia    64 

i  Dromedary 44 

I  Undaunted 28 

j  Avenger  .  .^....  18 

t.Nautilus,  sloop..  18 

5  Experiment  ....  40 


S.  Edwards. 

W.  H.  Scott. 

Young. 

Briger. 

E.  Browne. 

',  Rear-Adiniral  C.  Thompson. 
Captain  C.  Sawyer. 
■■  J.  Brown. 

■ S.  Tatham. 

J.  Carpenter. 

. Griffiths. 

I  Bowen. 

— S.  Miller. 

E.  Riou. 


'.  Beaulieu    40 

■With  Rocharabeau.     -^  Vesuvius,   bomb.     8 
fSpiteful. 

Gun -boats,  with  one  24-  I  Y''""™- 

pounder.  <  ^P''^''^' 

*■  I  leaser. 

^Tickler. 

Goaewith  Expresses  to  S  f°?,'^°  'l ?« 

Endand.  JRatllesnake  ....   18 

(Sea  J  lower   ....  14 

<  Quebec 32 

^  Ceres 32 

t  The  Squadron  sailed  from  St.  Helen's,   November  27,   1794;    and 
landed    at  St.  Anne's  Bay,  February  5.     Pidgeon  Island   surrendered 


England. 


To  St.  Thomas's. 


J.  Markham. 
D.  Preston. 
AV.  Pierrepoint. 

J.  Rogers. 
R.  Incledon. 


'C0RnESP6NDE:5icE.  313 

Captain  Rogcr$,  who  had  orders  to  bring  them  out  to  join  the 
squadron,  with  all  possible  dispatch. 

One  cause,  among  others,  which  apparently  stopped  the  early 
sailing  of  our  squadron,  was  the  expedition  then  on  foot,  and  at 
that  time  ready  to  sail,  under  the  command  of  Admiral  M'tJiide 
and  Lord  Moira,  against  the  coast  of  France.  Eight  regiments, 
destined  for  the  West  India  p]xpedition,  were  taken  from  the 
command  of  Sir  Charles  Grey,  and  sent  upon  that  fruitless  enter* 
prize,  so  contrary  to  the  known  interests  of  our  country,  according 
to  the  opinion  of  those  persons  who  have  known  them  best;  and 
so  constantly  deprecated  by  the  worthiest  and  wisest  of  the  king^ 
dom,  who  have  had  sense  enough  to  perceive,  that  our  genius  and 
our  situation  were  not  fitted  to  Continental  Wars,  where  the  num- 
bers of  the  enemy  must  always  carry  success  v.  ith  them  ;  and  that 
small  expeditions  against  a  country  so  peopli^d,  and  so  warlike, 
must,  according  to  all  rational  calculation,  turn  out  to  our  disad- 
f^antage. 

In  our  passage  down  Channel,  we  met  Commodore  Paisley  in 
the  Bellerophon,  with  two  other  ships  of  the  line,  who  gave  us 
intelligence  that  Lord  Howe,  with  the  British  licet,  was  to  the 
westward;  and  that  they  had  made  an  unsuccessful  cha^e  after  four 
or  five  line  of  battle  ships  of  the  enemy,  who  had  got  into  Brest, 
notwithstanding  all  his  Lordship's  exertions  to  prevent  it,  being 
favoured  by  the  darkness  of  the  night,  and  the  wind. 

When  off  Madeira,  having  foul  winds,  blowing  very  hard  ;  Sir 
J.  Jervis,  «vith  the  Boyne,  and  several  of  the  forty-gun  ships,  left; 
lis  with  the  convoy  under  the  command  of  Commodore  Thompson, 
(who  then  hoisted  a  broad  pend.-mt,)  to  make  our  passage,  by  con- 
stautly  standing  to  the  westward,  whiUt  he  stood  to  the  eastward. 
On  our  ai-rival  at  Barbadoes,  the  IQtii  day  of  January,  1791,  wa 
found  Sir  J.  Jervis  had  arrived  a  few  days  before.  Two  or  three 
days  afterwards  came  in  the  irresistible,  with  transports  from  Ire- 
laud  :  dilierent  frigates  were  dispatched  to  Tobago,  and  the  other 
Islands,   to   collect  all  the  troO[)s  which  could  be  spared.     The 

*: ^,^^ : > ^, , > . 

four  or  five  days  ?.fterwards;  St,  Pierre's  taken,  February  17;  took 
possession  of  the  heights  of  Soab line,  Feb.  19  j  Fort  Royal  stormeJ,  March 
20;  landed  at  St.  Lucia,  April  2;  anchored  at  the  Cozier,  Uuadaloupe, 
April  10 ;  Fleur  d'Ep^e  stormed,  April  12;  landing  of  the  troojts  and 
sailors  at  tiic  Ance  de  vieu.\  Habitants,  April  15  ;  taking  of  Morne  Ilijel, 
April  19  ;  capitulation  of  Fort  Churlcs,  April  2^;  sailed  from  Guadalo-ipa 
in  the  Santa  Margareua,  April  -2-1. 

/5a^.  (3:|)ron.  ©ol.XVU.  s  s 


314  coiinr=po.\Di,Ncit;. 

Vet.  ran,  Captain  C.  E.  Nugent,  ^ras  ordered  to  bring  up  the  Oih. 
Tt-^^imont  from  Grenada,  and  St.  Kitt's  :  on  their  arrival  at  Gre- 
nada, the  UIvssps  had  jiist  landed  a  part  of  the  9th,  and  was  going 
to  join  Sir  J.  Jcrvis,  with  a  part  of  another  rcpment,  which  they 
had  relieved.  The  Thetis,  and  another  transport,  brought  down 
the  56th  regiment,  very  sickly,  nnder  convoy  of  the  Veteran,  with 
orders  to  leave  part  at  Grenada,  and  part  at  Rt.  Kitt's.  Having 
embarked  that  part  of  the  9th  brouglit  by  the  Ulysses,  we  returned 
agoin  to  join  Sir  John  Jervis,  and  looked  into  Caz  Navires  13ay, 
Martinico,  and  into  Gros  Islet,  St.  Lucia,  that  we  might  join  thfr 
feqnadron  as  soon  as  possible,  if  they  Merc  already  arrived  there; 
and  finding  they  were  in  neither  of  those  places,  we  hauled  our 
wind  for  Barbadoes. 

Next  morning,  then  sixteen  leagues  to  leeward  of  that  island, 
we  spoke  a  brig,  and  found  that  the  fleet  Averc  already  sailed. 
We  then  made  sail  again  for  Martinico;  and,  not  meeting  with 
the  squadron,  in  the  evening  made  all  the  sail  we  could  for  Barba- 
does; and  to  our  great  joy,  in  the  night,  about  12  o'clock,  wc 
saw  the  Admiral's  light,  and  soon  after  the  fleet :  but  not  being 
certain  that  it  was  our  own,  as  they  had  been  from  Barbadoes 
already  t\Vo  days,  we  hauled  in  for  St.  Anne's  Bay  until  day-light; 
and  then  found  our  fleet  standing  in  for  the  land.  All  the  next 
day  wc  were  v/orking  into  the  bay  ;  and  did  not  land  the  troops 
until  late  in  the  night  of  that  day,  being  the  7th  of  February. 

The  9th,  under  the  command  of  Major  Baillee,  were  landed 
earlier,  to  spike  the  guns  of  a  battery  wliich  was  very  troublesome  ; 
and  re-etnbarkcd  in  the  V^eteran  as  soon  as  that  service  was  over. 
The  troops  nnder  Sir  Charles  Grey  marched  along  shore  tlic  next 
morning,  to  the  Bourg  de  la  Riviere  Salec,  and  a  laige  body 
invested  Pidgeon  Inland,  Avhich  surrendered  two  days  afterwards, 
i'lir  John  then  went  with  the  Boyne  to  the  Grande  Ance  d'Arlet^ 
for  the  sake  of  keiping  up  a  more  certain  communication  with  the 
army  ;  and  the  frigates,  Mith  the  Irresistible,  landed  a  iaigc  body 
of  troops  at  Caz  Navires. 

Whilst  these  operations  were  going  on,  General  Dundas,  with 

Commodore  'i'hompson,  went  round  to  * at  the  back  of 

the  island,  and  laiidcd  a  large  body  of  troops ;  m  hich,  after  taking 
the  posts   and   ports   adjacent,   marched  and    took   possession  of 

*  Ilcre  jhe  MS.  cannot  be  (ieciplieied,  but  a  reference  to  our  map  of 
jN'tartiuico,  (Vol.  XIU,  page  474,'j  points  out  Gallion  Bay  as  the  place  where 
Ge!i«ral  DfiMda?  liuidfd. 


tOKflKSFONDENCE.  3}  5 

Gfos  IMornc.  General  Dundas  then  marched  to  Port  Ic  IMartre, 
to  complete  the  investiture  of  Fort  Bourbon  ;  ^vhilst  Sir  Charli-s 
CrTcy  marched  round  the  bay  ol'  Fort  lloyal,  and  Sir  Charles  Gor- 
don from  Caz  Navires  invested  it  on  the  other  side.  The  Ucet 
then  pushed  into  Fort  lloyal  Bay,  and  tiie  seamen  were  landed, 
part  at  Caz  A'avircs,  and  part  at  the  Gul  de  Sac  de  Cohe,  to  get 
the  cannons  and  mortars  up  the  heights,  meaning  to  besiege  that 
important  post. 

Whilst  these  operations  were  carrying  on,  the  Veteran,  with  the 
transports,  <icc.  from  St.  Annc\s  Bir>',  anived.  Captain  Xuj^ent 
■»vas  immediately  ordered,  with  the  liatt!(;snake,  Zebra,  and  Roe- 
buck, to  run  down  to  St.  Pierre  ;  and  there  take  into  the  squa- 
dron, the  Blonde  and  iN'autilus,  i'or  the  purpose  ol"  co-operating 
with  General  Duiidas  in  the  reduction  of  (tiat  place :  the  Vesuvius 
bomb  was  also  sent  with  this  detachment.  Tlie  first  {lay  we  were 
employed  in  cruising  olV  the  port,  to  prevent  a- y  of  the  vessels  of 
the  enemy  from  attempting  to  escape  ;  and  the  next  day  passed  iu 
the  same  way.  The  s({uadron  was  soon  reinforced  by  the  Asia, 
Captain  Brown ;  and  in  the  evening  Colonel  Symms  came  on 
board,  who  was  to  have  the  command  of  tiie  troops,  and  seamen, 
intended  for  an  attack  to  the  westward  of  the  town,  to  assist  iu 
drawing  off  the  attention  of  the  enemy  from  the  ports,  which  were 
to  be  forced  by  (jeneral  Duiidas  in  his  niaich  towards  St.  i^ierre's ; 
another  body  of  men  were  also  expected,  under  Sir  C.  Gordon, 
from  the  eastward. 

The  Veteran,  on  going  in  to  reconnoitre  the  enemy's  batteries, 
received  a  hre  from  two  batteries  in  tiie  town,  on  the  east  side ; 
one  on  the  right;  the  other,  called  Corbet,  was  a  gun  and  mortar 
battery,  at  some  small  distance  from  the  town,  to  the  eastward. 
She  also  reconnoitred  a  landing  place  to  the  westward,  near  the 
bed  of  a  river,  defended  by  a  small  ])attery,  with  two  guns  only, 
out  of  reach  of  point  blank  shot  from  Fort  St.  Marc,  and  also 
from  a  battery  to  the  westward  ;  and,  besides,  sufiicicntly  secure 
for  the  landing  of  the  troops,  as  was  intend-d  during  the  night. 

On  the  night  of  the  16th,  the  troops  having  embarked  in  the 
ilat-bottomcd  boats,  the  Vesuvius  l)ymb  was  orderetl  in  to  bombard 
the  town,  under  cover  of  the  Blomle,  and  tlie  Santa  Margarctta; 
which  service  was  performed  by  Captain  Sawyer,  as  well  as  the 
nature  of  it  would  allow  :  it  being  impossible  to  api)roachthe  town 
sufiicicntly,  or  to  come  to  an  anchor  near  it,  without  great  danger 
irom  tlie  forts  and  batteries  that  lined  the   UdVy   whose  cross  tire 


316  CORUESPONDENCE. 

would  soon  have  obliged  her  to  sheer  off.  The  Captain  of  the 
Vesuvius  was  thus  obliged  to  direct  his  fire  as  well  as  he  could 
under  sail,  and  as  near  as  possible  without  the  point  blank  range 
of  their  shot. 

The  three  sloops  of  war,  the  Zebra,  Nautilus,  and  Rattlesnake, 
\rere  to  cover  the  landing  of  the  troops,  at  four  o'clock,  when  the 
thrco-gun  battery  was  silenced ;  b.ut  from  some  delay,  they  did 
not  land  until  five.  The  Veteran,  Captain  Nugent,  had  silenced 
this  battery  early  in  the  night  j  and  soon  after,  being  close  off  the 
west  end  of  the  town,  the  batteries  ceased  their  fire,  and  a  flag  of 
truce  Avas  sent  off  for  the  purpose  of  capitulation  ;  but  the  Veteran 
unluckily  haying  fired  several  shot  into  the  town,  from  her  lower 
deck,  the  flag  of  truce  returned,  and  did  not  come  off  again  until 
the  morning;  wheri  the  Veteran  and  Asia  came  to,  close  within 
pistol  shot  of  the  town.  An  officer  was  sent  to  Fort  St.  Marc,  and 
la  Boutolle,  to  strike  the  French  colours,  and  hoist  English.  It 
•was  spme  hours  l^efqre  Colonel  Synims  got  into  the  town  with  the 
troops  under  his  command.  General  Dundas  did  not  arrive  until 
the  evening;  and  Sir  C.  Gordon  not  until  neit  day. 

A  ludicrous  incident  occurred  on  this  service. — As  I  was  goin^ 
from  the  municipality  to  visit  the  town,  and  the  batteries  to  the 
westM ard,  a  flag  of  truce  from  General  Dundas  came  in ;  and  I 
■was  much  astonished  to  find  that  the  ships  bad  anchored  there  five 
hours  before.  I  forgot  to  mention,  that  the  flag  of  truce  which 
was  sent  off  at  day-break  from  the  town,  broughf  a  letter  to  the 
commaiiding  olficcr  of  the  Navy,  desiring  to  capitulate  ;  which  was 
answered  by  saying,  that  they  must  surrender  at  discretion. 

The  Veteran,  Captain  Nugent,  after  remaining  some  time  at 
this  place,  to  regulate  the  business  of  the  prizes,  and  the  prisoners, 
returned  to  Fort  Royal  with  the  Blonde,  carrying  five  hundred 
men,  under  General  Dundas,  to  reinforce  the  besieging  army  under 
Sir  Charles  Grey :  or  rather  to  take  post  on  the  heights  towards 
Mount  Tartenson.  It  is  impossible  to  do  justice  to  the  perse- 
verance, and  ind'.sstry,  of  the  troops  and  seamen,  on  this  attack  of 
Fort  Bourbon,  which  lasted  about  six  v/eeks.  The  seamen  under 
the  command  of  Captains  Nugent  and  Rogers,  were  of  so  mucU 
use,  in  all  the  heavy  work  of  dragging  up  cannon  and  mortars, 
through  roads  deemed  before  that  event  totally  impracticable;  that 
jt  has  been  frequently  ouned  by  the  Commander  in  Chief,  that  ij; 
would  have  been  iinpossihle  to  succeed  without  their  exertions. 
iJut  great  as  those  exertions  were^  it  is  doubtful  what  the  event  cf 


CORRESPONDENCE.  Si7 

this  siege  would  have  been,  but  for  the  change  which  latterly  took 
place  in  the  mode  of  attack  ;  as,  during  the  'vhole  of  the  siese, 
notwithstanding  the  fire  constantly  kept  up  fiom  all  our  batteries, 
very  little  impression  had  been  made  on  the  fori.  They  had  lost, 
it  is  true,  between  three  and  tour  hundred  men,  before  tha  storm 
of  Fort  Royal ;  but  as  long  a«  they  kept  up  the  communication 
between  Fort  Bourbon  and  the  town  of  Fort  Royal,  they  had 
such  constant  supplies  of  arms  and  ammunition,  of  men  atid  pro- 
visions, added  to  the  advantage  of  casements,  onl)'  open  to  (ire 
from  Fort  Louis  ;  that  little  success  could  ba  expected,  Avithout 
first  cutting  off  the  supplies  which  they  obtained  from  this  place. 
The  event  proves  the  truth  of  this  conjecture;  for  as  soon  as  our 
seamen  got  possession  of  Fort  Royal,  they  sent  out  a  Hag  of  truce 
to  capitulate :  though,  on  marching  out,  they  araouated  to  nine 
hundred  men,  who  laid  down  their  arms. 

Monsieur  de  Sansi  (a  great  friend  of  tlie  INIarquis  de  BouelH, 
who  had  had  the  merit  of  superintending  the  plan  formed  by  that 
able  General  in  the  attack  of  this  isiand)  was  the  first  mover  of  the 
detail  of  this  latter  attack.  A  battery  was  formed  under  his 
direction,  by  the  seamen,  in  which  were  mounted  two  24-pounders; 
and  another  close  to  it,  of  one  24,  and  one  eight  inch  howitzer. 
These  two  batteries  having  dismounted  all  the  guns  on  this  iront 
of  attack  of  Fort  Louis,  and  another  battery  being  raised  in 
Mount  Tartenson,  of  five  ^I's;  and  another  close  by  the  Prince's* 
quarters,  which  dismounted  all  the  guns  upon  the  +.-..atFort 
Louis,  and  the  upper  batteries  of  that  Fort;  the  Asia  and  Zebra 
were  ordered  to  prepare  to  enter  the  harbour,  or  careenage,  close 
under  the  walls  of  the  Fort,  to  cover  the  boats  which  were  already 
prepared  to  storm  the  place. 

[To  be  continued.] 


*  His  Royal  Highness  Prince  Edward,  ?fIajor-General,  since  creafed 
Duke  of  Kent,  who  L-roatly  distinguished  hirauelf.  The  towu  uf  Fort  iioj-id 
was  changed  to  fort  Edward,  in  honour  of  this  PrinCe. 


t  Not  made  out  '^  the  MS.. 


318 


CORRECT  RELATION  OF  SHIPWRECKS. 

[Continued  from  page  140.] 

j;5o.  XVI. 

Again  the  dismal  prospect  opens  round, 
The  wreck,  the  shore,  the  dying,  and  the  drown'd. 
^  Falconer. 

LOSS  OF  THE  BLANCHE  FRIGATE. 

ni^HE  following"  ii'iteresting  particulars,  relating  to  the  loss  of 
-^    the  Blanche,  are  extracted  from  a  letter  from  Sir  Tliomas 
Lavie,  her  late  Commander : — ■ 

Brat,  March  9,  1807. 
We  sailed  from  Portsmouth  on  the  3d,  as  you  may  rein^rabcr. 
At  two  o'clock  the  next  morning  we  made  Portland  Lights,  distant 
about  four  leagues ;  we  afterwards  steered  a  west  course  until  eight 
o'clock,  then  west  by  south  half  south.  At  eight  at  night  it  began 
to  blow  hard  ;  and,  from  being  under  all  sail,  we  reduced  to  close- 
reefed  fore  and  main  top-sails,  and  got  down  top-gallant  yards  ; 
Ushant  at  this  time,  by  our  reckoning,  bore  S.  S.  W.  half  W. 
16  leagues.  I  left  orders  in  writing  to  haul  to  the  northward,  the 
■wind  being  E.  N,  E.,  when  i}\e.  ship  had  run  ten  leagues,  which  I 
thought  a  good  position  to  join  Admiral  Sir  James  Saumarez  in  the 
morning.  At  elevcu  Lieutenant  Apreece  awoke  me,  to  say  that 
it  blew  harder,  on  which  I  ordered  the  ship  to  be  brought  to  the 
wind  on  the  starboard  tack,  and  the  forc-iop-sail  to  be  taken  in  ; 
he  had  hardly  got  out  of  the  cabin  before  she  struck  ;  every  body 
was  on  deck  in  an  instant,  sails  Avere  clewed  up,  and  the  anchors 
■were  let  go  ;  we  rode  a  little  while,  until  she  parted  from  her  an- 
chors, and  was  driven  on  the  rocks.  The  night  was  dreadfully 
dark  and  cold,  and  there  was  no  possibility  of  discriminating 
■whether  the  rocks  were  distant  from  the  land  or  connected,  with 
the  shore;  however,  happily  it  proved  the  latter.  I  immedi- 
ately ordered  the  masts  to  be  cut  away,  and  recommended  the  offi- 
cers and  men  to  stay  by  me  and  the  ship  to  the  last;  a  few  hands 
got  into  the  quarter  boats,  and  they  were  no  sooner  on  the  water 
than  they  were  dashed  to  pieces  ;  it  was  about  high  Avater,  and 
•while  the  tide  flowed,  the  ship  lay  tolerably  easy,  until  it  began 
to  fall,  when  most  tremoiulous  breakers  covered  us.  I  remainctl 
by  the  wheel  until  she  divided  amidships  and  fell  over  seaward. 
The  crew  were  all  on  the  side,  and  hauled  me  up  to  them  3  it  was 


COURFCT    REr.ATIOX    OF    SIIIPVy-KECKS.  31^ 

pleasing  to  observe  the  attention  they  paid  me  to  the. last,  and  now 
they  caressed  me  as  their  father:  we  lay  in  this  state  about  three 
hours,  when  the  water  left  the  wreck  sufficient  for  us  to  attempt  a 
landing,  and,  with  the  exception  of  a  few,  got  safe  on  shore,  and 
assembled  under  a  rock,  when  three  cheers  were  given  to  the  re- 
mains of  the  poor  dear  Blanche.  At  day-light,  not  two  pieces  of 
"wood  were  left  together,  and  the  masts  were  shattered  into  shivers. 
Nothing  was  saved,  and  v»e  make  a  most  shabby  appearance.  A 
cask  of  rum  was  the  only  thing  found  on  the  shore,  which,  after 
I  was  carried  to  a  cottage,  some  were  so  imprijdent  as  to  broach, 
by  which  about  fifteen  died :  it  is  not  possible  to  ascertain  our 
exact  loss,  but  should  think  forty-live,  twenty  of  whom  were 
marines.  All  the  officers  are  saved.  Mr.  Goodhew,  passenger, 
died  through  fear.  AVe  landed  on  a  shocking  cuast,  but  every 
attention  possible  was  paid  to  us.  We  have  already  boen  marched 
about  thirty  miles,  and  arc  now  at  Brest,  w  hich  is  a  heaven  to  all 
liands,  as  they  are  most  comfortably  lodged  and  fed  in  the  Navy 
Hospital.  I  am  at  present  at  the  house  of  the  Commander  in  Chief, 
M.  Ccflorelli,  a  perfect  gentleman.  Our  destination  is  fixed  for 
Verdun,  and  I  would  not  leave  my  people,  were  freedom  offered 
me.  Gregg  is  quite  well.  It  is  my  intention  t(\  put  all  the 
boys  to  school,  and  to  secure  their  maintenance  while  they  con- 
tinue in  France.  Excepting  a  few  bruises,  my  people  are  quite 
well. 

The  Officers  saved  are  : — Sir  Thomas  Lavie,  Captain  ;  Robert 
Basten,  first  Lieutenant  ;  William  Apreece,  second  ditto  ;  James 
Alton,  third  ditto  ;  Roger  Taylor,  Master;  J.  T.  Wilcock,  Pur- 
ser ;  James  Brenan,  Surgeon ;  James  Campbell,  Lieutenant  of 
marines;  T.  J.  P.  Masters,  James  Lyall,  John  Rooks,  Henry- 
Stanhope,  AV,  J.  AVilliams,  Robert  ilay,  George  Gordon,  J.  T. 
Secretan,  Thomas  Gregg,  Charles  Street,  and  F.  E.  S.  A^inccnt, 
Midshipmen  ;  Joseph  Slingsby,  JMasler's  Mate  ;  John  Moissey, 
ditto  ;  J.  C.  G.  Moreatt,  Clerk  ;  John  Patterson,  Assistant  Sur- 
geon ;  John  Carr,  Gunner;  William  Lonmlii,  Boatswain;  and 
John  Parro,  Carpenter.— ISO  seamen,  and  25  marines. 


LOSS  OF  THE  AJAX. 

IF  N  the  absence  of  official  accounls,  respecting  the  unfor- 
•^  tunate  loss  of  His  Majesty's  sliip  Ajax,  by  iiiej  we  submit 
die  followiDg  extract  of  a  Idler  from  an  officer  in  the  squadion 


320  CORJIECT    REtATION    OF   SHIPWRECKS. 

under  Sir  J.  T.  Duckworth^  as  containing  some  interesting  par- 
ticulars : — 

Our  force  has  lately  experjeficed  a  diminution  from  an  event 
which  I  now  with  grief  relate  to  you.  Valentine's  day  was,  in- 
deed, a  sad  one  for  the  unfortunate  Ajax.  At  half  past  nine  on 
the  evening  of  that  day,  the  Ajax  took  fire  in  the  bread-room, 
and  in  tin  minutes  she  was  in  a  general  blaze  from  stem  to  stern; 
the  wind  blew  fresh  from  the  N.  E.  which  prevented  the  boats  of 
the  ships  to  leeward  from  rendering  any  assistance :  but  from  those 
to  windward,  and  near  her,  she  was  well  enough  supplied  to  saveup- 
ward  of -JOO  of  her  people !  and  those  may  consider  themselves  as  most 
providentially  preserved  ;  as  it  had  blown  a  gale  all  the  day,  and 
for  two  or  three  days  before,  and  fell  moderate  towards  the  even- 
ing— a  continuance  of  the  gale  would  probably  have  rendered  all 
assistance  impossible.  The  fire,  it  appears,  had  been  for  some 
time  (comparatively  speaking,)  alight  in  the  bread  room  before 
the  alarm  w;is  given ;  for  when  the  first  Lieutenant,  and  many 
others,  broke  open  the  door  of  the  Surgeon's  cabin,  the  after 
bulk-bead  was  bnrst  down  by  the  accumulated  flames  and  smoke 
abaft  it,  and  t^o  rapidly  made  its  progress  through  the  cockpit,  that 
it  was  with  difficulty  he  could  regain  the  ladder,  and  most  of  those 
who  accompanied  him  were  suffocated  in  the  attempt.  On  reach^ 
ing  the  quarter-deck  he  found-the  fire  had  out-run  him,  and  Cap- 
tain Blackwood  agreeing  with  him  that  she  was  past  all  remedy, 
they  both  ran  forward  where  the  majority  of  the  people  were 
assembled,  calling  most  piteously  on  their  God  for  that  help  they 
despairt'd  of  getting,  although  many  boats  were  approaching  them, 
so  rapidly  did  the  fire  work  its  way  forward,  and  leapt  from  the 
sprit-sail-yard,  when  the  Canopus's  boat  fortunately  picked  them 
up.  At  this  time  the  boats  were  assembling  under  the  ship's  bows, 
aud  saved  most  who  still  clung  to  them  ;  though  many,  naked, 
benumbed  with  cold,  and  pressed  on  by  others,  let  go  their  hold 
and  perished,  as  did  every  one  who  imprudently  on  the  first  alarm 
jumped  overboard.  The  boats,  however,  cleared  her  bows, 
though  many  of  them  were  in  imminent  danger  of  swamping,  from 
the  number  of  the  poor  creatures  who  were  clinging  to  the  gun» 
■wales,  and  Mho  were  obliged  to  be  forced  off,  and  left  to  perish, 
for  the  safety  of  the  rest.  The  ship  burnt  all  night,  and  drifted 
on  the  island  of  Tenedos,  where  she  blew  up  at  five  next  morning, 
with  a  most  awful  explosion. 

The  unhappy  sufferers  of  her  ward-room  are.  Lieutenant  Rowe, 


CORRFCT    UELATION'    OF    SHIPWRECKS.  321 

Lieutenant  Sibthorpt',  Captain  Boyd,  of  the  Royal  Marines;  !Mr. 
Ovpen,  Surgeon  ;  and  Mr.  Donaldson,  Master.  The  Gunner,  unhap- 
py father  !  had  thrown  one  child  overboard,  which  was  saved  ;  but, 
going  down  for  another,  perished  in  the  flames.  Of  forty-five 
Midshipmen  of  every  dcscrip'jon,  about  twenty  are  saved  ;  a  soa 
and  a  nephew  of  the  late  Captain  Dull',  and  who  were  with  hitn  in 
the  Mars  when  he  gloriously  fell  in  the  action  otl  Trafalgar,  aie 
among  the  survivors.  Three  ^Merchants  of  Constantinople  were  on 
board,  two  perished  ;  ai?o  a  Greek  Pilot.  One  woman,  out  of  three, 
saved  herself  by  follow  ing  her  husband  with  a  child  in  his  arms  down 
a  rope  from  the  jib-boom-end.  The  Purser's  Steward  and  his  Mate, 
and  the  Cooper,  are  missing.  The  occasion  of  the  accident  can- 
not, indeed,  be  exactly  ascertained;  but  that  there  was  a  light  ia 
the  bread-room  when  there  ought  not  to  have  been  one,  is  certain. 
Several  of  the  people  died  after  they  were  got  on  board  the  dilier- 
ent  ships,  the  rest  are  distributed  among  the  squadron. 


ACCOUNT  OF  THE  LOSS  OF  THE  BETSEY  SCHOONER, 

ANn   OK  THE  SUKSLQUENT  SUFFERINGS  OF  JU.R  CRKW. 

/0\N  the  10th  of  November,  1S05,  the  Betsey  schooner,  burdoa 
^^^  about  75  tons,  left  Macoa,  bound  for  New  South  Wales  ; 
the  crew  consisted  of  William  Brooks,  Commander ;  Edward 
LfUttrell,  Mate  ;  one  Portuguese  sea-cunnic,  three  Manilla,  and 
four  Chinese  Lascars.  From  the  10th  of  Novenibcr  to  ilie  20th, 
nothing  particular  happened  ;  but  on  the  21st,  at  half  past  two 
A.  M.,  the  vessel  struck  upon  a  reef,  going  seven  and  a  half  knots ; 
instantly  lowered  down  the  boat,  and  sent  a  small  anchor  astern  ; 
but,  on  heaving,  parted  with  the  cable;  they  then  began  to  make 
a  raft  of  the  water-casks,  but  the  swell  was  so  great  that  it  was 
impossible  to  effect  it ;  at  day-break  found  the  vessel  had  forged 
upon  the  reef  four  or  five  miles,  not  having  more  than  two  feet 
water;  the  reef  extending  to  the  S.  nine  or  ten  miles,  E.  and  W. 
four  or  five.  During  three  days  and  nights  every  exertion  was 
nied  to  get  her  off,  but  to  no  effect ;  and  the  crew  were  so  weak- 
ened, that  they  could  hardly  be  persuaded  to  construct  a  raft,  the 
vessel  at  thi<  time  being  bulged  on  the  starboard  sivle.  On  the 
24th  made  a  raft,  and  left  the  vessel,  the  jolly-boat  in  company, 
steering  for  Balambungan  ;  Captain  Brooks,  the  Mate,  Gunner, 
and  two  sea-cunuies,  were  in  the  jolly-boat,  provided  only  with 
six  bottles  of  water,  and  a  small  bag  of  biscuit :  on  ihj  raft  wore 

/9atj,  erijwn,  aoi.xvir.  i  t 


322  CORRECT    RELATION    OF    SHIPWRECKS. 

one   Portuguese,  four   Chinese,  and  three    Malays,  much  better 
provided  ;   they   parted   coir.p.iny  the  same  day,   it  counn^  on    to 
blow  a  brisk  f^ale  from  the  N.VV'.,  and  the  raft  was  seen  no  more. 
As  the  islarid  of  Borneo  bore  S.E.,  there  is  a  probability  of  its 
having  drifted  upon  it.     Fr  m   the   21th,   until   the  'iSth,   it  con- 
tinued blowing  hard  from  the  N.  W.  with  a  mountainous  sea,  and 
then  fell  calm  ;   (he  water  Avas,   by  this  time,  entirely  expended, 
and  the  remainder  of  (he  biscuit   wet  with  salt  water.     At  day- 
break, on  (he  29th,  saw  land,  which  they  supposed  to  be  Cala- 
bac,   the   people  nearly  exhausted  \viLli  pniling,  it  being  a  perfect 
calm,  and    ^nder  a  binning  sun  ;  added  to  w  liich,  they  were  obliged 
to  drink  their  own  urine.     At  night  it  blew  so  hard  from  the  N.  E, 
that  they  were  obliged  (o  bear  up  for  Pianguey,   the  N.  W.   point 
of  which   they   discovered  af   day-break   next  morning,  and  in- 
stantly went  in  search  of  water,  which  they  soon  discovered,  and 
drank  to  excess.     Being  in  search  of  fruit  ran>bling  in  the  woods, 
they  were  met  by  two  Malays,  to  whom  they  made  signs  that  they 
were   in   want  of  food  ;   this  being  ra.derstood,   the  Malays  went 
away,  and  in  the  aUernoon  returned  with  two  cocoa-nuts  and  a 
few  sweet  potatoes,  vvLich  they  gave  in  exchange  for  a  silver  spoon. 
At  night  went  on  board  the  boat ;  next  morning  five  Malays  made 
their  appearance,  aud  brought  some  Indian  corn  and  pofatoes,  for 
which  they  received  spoons ;   these  people  pointed  to    Balamban- 
gan  ;  gave  them  to  understand  that  the  English  had  quitted  it  some 
lime;  they  then  returned  on  board  with  tiieir  little  stock,  and  at- 
tended next  morning  to  receive  a  promised  supply  ;  eleven  Malays 
appeared  on  the  beach  ;   at  th.-ir  landing,  and  after  a  little  conyer- 
sation,  one  of  them   threw  a  spear  at  Captain  Brooks,  which  hit 
him  in  the  belly:   another  ras.le  a  cut  at  Mr,  Luttrell,   who  being 
armt  d  with  a  cutlass,  parried  it  oft",  and  ran   to  the  boat ;   Capt. 
Brooks  withdrew  the  pike,   and  ran  to  a  short  distance,  but  they 
followed  him,  and  cut  off  both  his  legs ;  the  Gunner  was  likewi>c 
severely  wounded,  and  reached  the  boat  covered  with  blood;  at 
this  time  they  saw  the  Malays  stripping  (he  dead  body  of  Captain 
Brooks  ;  the  Gu.iner  expired  in  about  fifteen  minutes. 

They  immeJiately  made  sail,  and  on  examining  their  stock  of 
provisions,  found  it  con -isted  of  ten  cn'js  of  Iridian  corn,  three 
pumpkins,  and  two  bottles  of  water  :  with  which,  trusting  to  the 
mercy  of  Providence,  they  determined  upun  shaphig  their  course 
for  the  Straits  of  Malacca. 

From  the  4th  of  December  nu(i!  the  l-1th,  nothing  particular 
occurred;  they  had  been  forturiatcly"  supplied  with  v.atcr  by  fre- 


CORRECT    RELATION    OF    SHIPWRECKS.  323 

qiicnt  showers,  but  were  nearly  exhausted  by  constant  watching 
and  hi4n<;ci-. 

On  the  1:5th  they  fell  in  with  a  group  of  islands,  in  hit.  3°  N., 
long,  about  KjO'  E.  In  a]3proaching  the  sphere  they  were  descried 
by  three  Malay  prows,  which  inuncdiatcly  attacked  them,  and  in 
the  pursuit  oue  oi'  the  sca-cuniues  was  speared,  and  died  instantly  ; 
the  other  was  wounded.  Mr.  Luttrell  had  a  very  narrow  escape, 
a  spear  having  passed  through  his  hat.  Thus  overpowered,  the 
Malays  took  possession  of  the  boat,  and  immediately  deprived 
them  of  their  property,  the  sextant,  the  log-book,  some  plate, 
and  clothes,  keeping  them  in  a  prow,  exposed  to  a  burning  sun, 
without  any  covering,  and  with  only  a  Email  quantity  of  sago, 
during  tiirce  days  ;  alter  which  they  were  taken  on  shore,  to  the 
house  of  a  llajah,  on  an  island  named  Sube,  where  they  re- 
mained in  a  state  of  slavery,  entir-'Iy  naked,  and  subsis  ing  on 
sago,  until  the  'iOth  April,  on  which  day  the  Kajah  sailed  in  a 
prow  for  Rhio,  taking  with  him  Mr.  Luttrell  and  the  tuc  sea- 
cunnies.  Tiiey  arrived  at  that  place  after  a  tedious  passage  of  23 
days,  nearly  famished. 

Their  distresses,  however,  were  here  alleviated  by  Mr.  Koek, 
of  Malacca,  who  treated  them  in  the  kindest  manner;  and  the 
ship  Kandree,  Captain  Williamson,  arriving  the  foJIowing  day, 
bound  for  Malacca,   (hey  obtained  a  passage  i'or  that  ])ort. 

The  Belsy  was  lost  in  hit.  9.  -48.    X.,  long.  11  1.  1 1.  E. 


NAVAL  LITERATURE. 

■^ccounis  and  Paperx^  prcyevlcd  to  Ihe  lluitsc  of  Commonly 
relativg  to  Ships  uf  Har,  ^c- — Ordered  lu  be  prinU'd  ISih 
M,'nj,  1805. 

^WV.  series  of  papers  which  \\t  are  about  to  notice,  is  not 
of  a  nature  to  rc(]nire  much  couimcnt  from  us;  but,  from 
the  inipoitant  iiifurnuitioii  wliich  it  exhibits,  the  substance 
thereof  will  be  found  iatcrcstuig,  both  al  the  present,  and  at  a 
future  period. 

From  No.  1,  we  learn  that,  between  the  1st  of  January,  17S'.*, 
and  the  ilst  of  December,  179'2,  87  ships  of  the  line,  and  friga'es, 
were  launched  ;  of  which.  3  of  100  g-ins,  ()  of  (.(S  and  iJO,  3  of  74, 
3  of  60,  and  1  of  32,  were  built  in  the  King's  Yards ;  and  24  of 


324  XAVAL    LITEftATC'Ur. 

74  guns,  G  of  64,  13  of  4  J,  G  of  36^  13  of  32,  and  8  of  28,  were 
built  in  the  Merchants'  Yards, 

By  No.  2,  %ve  perceive  that,  on  the  1st  of  January,  1793,  there 
■were  in  commission,  and  in  ordinary,  at  the  several  dock-yards, 
176  ships  of  the  line,  and  201  frigates ;  making  a  total  of  377  ;  of 
which  14  were  buihling. 

On  tlie  1st  of  January,  1794,  according  to  No.  3,  there  were 
in  commission,  not  including  those  for  harbour  service,  83  ships  of 
the  line,  and  104  frigates. 

No.  4  is  an  account  of  the  number  of  line  of  battle  ships  and 
frigates  of  each  rate,  launched  from  the  King's  and  Merchants' 
Yards,  between  the  1st  of  January,  1793,  and  the  18th  of 
February,  180!  ;  showing  the  number  added  to  the  Navy  by 
purchase  or  capture  ;  also  the  number  that  had  been  sold,  taken 
to  pieces,  captured  by  the  enemy,  or  lost  out  of  the  service. 
From  this  it  appears,  that,  in  1793,  2  ships  ol  the  line,  and  one 
frigate,  were  launched  in  the  King's  Yards ;  1  ship  of  the  line, 
and  7  frigates,  were  optured  from  the  enemy;  1  frigate  was  sold 
out  of  the  service;  1  was  taken  to  pieces  ;  and  I  was  captured  by 
the  enemy:  in  1794,  2  ships  of  the  line,  and  I  frigate,  were 
launched  in  the  King's  Yards  ;  11  frigates  were  launched  in  the 
Merchants'  Yards  ;  6  ships  of  the  line,  and  9  frigates,  were  cap- 
tured from  the  enemy  ;  1  frigate  was  sold  out  of  the  service;  I 
ship  of  the  line,  and  4  frigates,  were  ta'Kcn  to  pieces ;  1  ship  of  the 
line,  and  1  frigate,  were  captured  by  the  enemy;  and  1  ship  of 
the  line,  and  1  frigate,  were  lost;  in  1795,  1  ship  of  the  line,  and 
1  frigate,  were  launched  in  the  King's  Yards  ;  6  frigates  were 
launched  in  the  Merchants'  Yards  ;  3  ships  of  the  line,  and  5  fri- 
gates, Mere  captured  from  the  enemy  ;  5  ships  of  the  line,  and  9 
frigates,  were  brought  into  the  service,  while  building;  1  frigate 
was  sold  out  of  the  service  ;  I  ship  of  the  line  was  taken  to  pieces; 
1  ship  of  the  line  was  captured  by  the  enemy  ;  and  2  sliips  of  the 
line,  and  2  frigates,  were  lost  :  in  1786,  5  frigates  were  lanuclied 
5n  the  King's  Yards;  1  frigate  was  launched  in  the  Merchants' 
Y^ards;  4  ships  of  the  line,  and  16  frigates,  were  captured  from 
the  enemy  ;  1  ship  of  the  line,  and  1  frigate,  were  taken  to  pieces  ; 
1  frigate  was  captured  by  the  enemy  ;  and  2  ships  of  the  line, 
and  7  frigates,  were  lost :  in  1797,  2  ships  of  the  line  were  launched 
in  the  King's  Yards  ;  8  frigates  were  launched  in  the  Merchants' 
Y'ards ;  14  ships  of  the  line,  and  3  frigates,  were  captured  frorn 
the  enemy;  1  frigate  was  sold  out  of  the  service;  1  ship  of  the 
line,  and  1  frigate,  were  taken  to  pieces  j    and  5  frigates  v-evc 


NATAJ.    LITERVTUUE.  32S 

l.'jst  :  in  1798,  2  ships  of  the  line,  and  1  frigate,  ivere  lannchcd  ia 
the  King's  Yards  ;  7  ships  of  the  line,  and  1  frigates,  were  launched 
in  the  Merchants'  Yards;  7  ships  of  the  line,  and  8  frigates,  were 
captured  from  the  enemy  ;  I  ship  of  the  line,  and  1  frigate,  were 
taken  to  pieces ;  2  frigates  were  cay)tiired  by  the  enemy  ;  and  1 
ship  of  the  line,  apd  10  frigates,  were  lost :  in  1799,  5  frigates 
•were  launched  in  the  King's  Yards  ;  5  ships  of  the  line,  and  11 
frigates,  were  captured  from  the  enemy  ;  1  ship  of  the  line,  and  I 
fi  iH,at8,  were  taken  to  pieces ;  and  3  ships  of  the  line,  and  7  fri- 
gates, were  lost;  in  1800,  1  ship  of  the  line,  and  1  frigate,  were 
iaiinched  in  the  King's  Yards  ;  1  ship  of  the  line,  and  3  frigafe<:, 
were  jaiinched  in  the  Merchants'  Yards  ;  3  ships  of  the  line,  and  6 
frigates,  were  captured  from  the  enemy  ;  and  3  ships  of  the  line, 
and  "-i  frigates,  were  lost :  between  the  1st  of  January,  and  the 
ISth  of  February,  IKOl,  1  frigate  was  captured  from  the  enemy  ; 
1  shi])  of  the  line  was  taken  to  pieces;  and  I  frigate  was  captured 
by  the  enemy. — Thus,  within  the  stated  period,  64  ships  and  fri- 
gates were  launehcd ;  119  were  captured  from  the  enemy;  14 
wore  purchased  inlo  the  service ;  4  were  sold  out  of  the  serTicc; 
16  were  taken  to  pieces  ;  8  were  captured  by  the  enemy  ;  and  46 
were  lost;  so  that  the  total  number  of  ships  added  to  the  Navy, 
was  197;  and  Vac.  number  taken  from  the  Navy,  was  74. 

No.  5  is  a  similar  account,  between  the  19th  of  p^cbruary, 
1801,  and  the  29th  of  April,  1802;  during  which  period,  2  ships 
of  thii  line,  and  2  frigates,  were  launched  in  the  King's  Yards ;  1 
ship  o^  the  line,  and  5  frigates,  were  launched  in  the  Merchants' 
Yards;  3  ships  of  the  line,  and  5  frigates,  were  captured  from  the 
enemy  ;  4  frigates  were  sold  out  of  the  seryice ;  1  ship  of  the 
line,  and  1  frigate,  wore  taken  to  pieces  ;  2  ships  of  the  line,  and 
1  frigate.  Mere  captured  by  the  enemy  ;  and  1  ship  of  the  line, 
and  7  frigates,  were  lost. 

i\o.  6  is  a  similar  account,  between  the  30th  of  April,  1802, 
and  the  8th  of  March,  1803  ;  during  which  period,  2  frigates  were 
launched  in  the  King's  Yards  ;  2  ships  of  the  line  were  launched 
in  the  Merchants'  Yards  ;  7  frigates  were  sold  out  of  the  service ; 
and  I  was  taken  to  pieces. 

rvo.  7  is  a  similar  account,  between  the  9th  of  March,  1803, 
and  the  15th  of  May,  1804  ;  during  which  period,  1  ship  of  the 
jine  was  launched  in  the  King's  Yards ;  4  ships  of  the  line,  and  3 
frigates,  were  launched  in  the  Merchants'  Yards  ;  1  ship  of  the 
Jine,  and  3  frigates,  were  captured  from  the  enemy;  1  ship  of  the 
}ine,  and  3  frigates,  were  taken  to  pieces ;  and  2  ships  of  the  line, 
and  (J  frigates,  were  lost. 


528  NAVAL    LITERATL'RE. 

No.  8  is  a  similar  account,  b'.'tween  the  16th  of  riiav,  1804,  and 
the  30th  of  April,  1805;  during  which  period,  2  bhips  of  the  line, 
and  5  frigates,  were  launched  in  the  Kinjl's  Yards ;  1  ship  of  the 
line,  and  1  frigate,  were  launched  in  the  Merchants'  Yards;  2  fri- 
gates were  captured  from  the  enemy;  6  frigati;s  were  purchased 
into  the  service  ;  1  ship  of  the  line,  and  1  frigate,  were  taken  to 
pieces;  and  I  ship  of  the  line,  and  2  frigates,   were  lost. 

From  No.  9  we  derive  the  following  information  : — That,  on 
the  ,31st  of  December,  1791,  there  wore  '210  ships  and  frigates 
in  commission,  exclusive  of  ti'osc  for  harbour  service;  on  the 
3  l=;t  of  December,  1795,  2U;  on  the  31st  of  December,  1796, 
243;  on  the  31st  of  December,  1797,  '242;  on  the  31st  of  De- 
cember,  1798,  262;  on  the  18th  of  February,  1801,  2S5 :  on 
the  29th  of  April,  1802,  194:  on  the  Sth  of  Afarch,  1803,  181; 
on  the  15th  of  May,  1801,  226;  and  on  the  30th  of  April, 
1805,  2J4. 

No.  10  shoM's,  that  of  26  ships  and  frigates,  which  were  build- 
ing on  the  18th  of  February,  1801,  23  had  been  launched  be- 
fore the  21st  of  May,   1805. 

No.  1 1  is  a  li>t  of  ships  and  friga+es  building,  or  ordered  to  be 
built,  on  the  15th  of  May,  ISOi;  the  number  of  which  was  41. 
Of  these,  9  in  the  King's  Yards  had  not  been  taken  in  hand ; 
and  only  eight  had  been  launched.  The  reasons  why  those  ships 
had  not  been  taken  in  hand.  Mere  said  to  be — •"  The  great  want 
of  timber  which  has  been  experienced  since  the  ships  were  or- 
dered:— and  nearly  the  whole  strength  of  the  Yards  (which  is 
at  every  port  less  than  it  was  during  the  greater  part  of  the  last 
war)  being  required  for  the  refit  and  repair  of  the  fleets,  and  the 
current  works  of  the  port;  which  always  in  time  of  war,  parti- 
cularly at  the  most  important  ports,  very  greatly  protract  the 
building  of  ships  in  the  King's  Yards." 

No.  12  is  an  account  of  the  number  of  building  slips  in  the  dif- 
ferent Dock  Yards,  and  how  they  were  occupied  on  the  15th  of 
May,  1804. 

No.  ISshows,  that  on  the  21st  of  May,  1S05,  there  were  112 
ships  and  frigates  in  commission,  built  in  the  Merchants'  Yards, 
and  60  captured  from  the  enemy ;  besides  11  commissioned  for 
harbour  duty. 

No.  14  exhibits  copies  of  correspondence  between  the  Admiralty 
and  the  Navy  Board  on  the  subject  of  building  74  gun  ships, 
in  January,  1803;  also  copies  of  tenders  for  building  74  gwn- 
ships,  received  at  that  tinie.     The  tenders — nont  of  which^  hu«'- 


KAVA'L    LITEKATURE.  3'X7 

ever,  were  accepted — varied  from  .^28  to  j£25  per  ton,  for 
a  74  gun  sliip:  and  from  ^8'25  to  ^GlO  per  ton,  r,r  frigates. 
The  last  price  wliich  had  hecn  given  for.biiiluing  a  74  gun--.hip, 
was  o€21.  10,v.  per  ton;  and  for  a  frigate,  <£lf).  iGi.  per  ton. 

No.  15  consists  of  copi>:s  of  the  correspondence  between  the 
Admiralty  and  the  Navy  Board,  ou  the  sul)ject  of  building  74  gun 
ships,  in  1805  ;  from  which  it  appears,  that,  owing  to  the  advanced 
price  of  materials,  kc.  ^  JO  per  ton  was  the  lowest  price  at  which 
(Tovernmeiu  conld  induce  the  Alcreliant  builders  to  contract  for; 
and,  on  those  terms,   ten  7i's  wer*;  ordered  to  be  built. 

No.  :G  isan  account  of  ships  and  vess^ds  ordered  to  be  built  in 
tlie  King's  and  Merchants'  Yards,  between  the  18th  of  February, 
1801,  and  the  15th  of  May,  1805;  stating  the  time  when  or- 
dered; Ai hen  taken  in  hand;  and  when  completed,  or  expected 
to  be  completed.  The  total  number  is,  8  ships  of  the  lin^^,  and 
103  frigates,  sloops,  g,Hn-brigs,   &c. 

No.  17  is  a  similar  account,  between  the  15th  of  May,  1801, 
and  tlie  30th  of  April,  1805.  The  total  number  is  75  ;  of  which 
I0are74's.  Two  of  these  are  to  bo  launched  in  August,  1808; 
and  the  remaining  8  in  the  month  follow  ing.  Nine  are  small  fri- 
gates, 16  brigs,  36  gun-brigs,  2  mortar  vessels,  1  sloop,  and  I 
armed  schooner. 

No.  18  relates  to  the  quantity  of  tia^ber  in  store  in  His  Majes- 
ty's Dock-yards,   between  ^larrh  ISOJ,  and  May  or  Jiinc   18U4. 

No.  19  relates  to  the  quality  of  the  timber  ia. ported  from  the 
Continent  in  1802. 

rVo.  20isan  account  of  the  principal  articles  of  naval  stores 
in  the  King's  Yards,  in  February  1801,  March  1S03,  Maj 
ISOi,  and  April  iSOo. 

No.  21,  the  last  of  the  present  series,  is  an  account  of  the 
additional  naval  force  ordered  to  bo  provided  between  the  loth 
and  oOlhofMay  1804,  as  follows.  To  be  purchased: — 6  East 
India  ships,  built  in  India,  of  teak,  to  mount  from  44  to  60  guns; 
10  Merchant  ships  to  serve  as  sloops  of  wa^-,  to  carry  16  car- 
ronades,  24-pounders,  ar.d2guns;  10  vessels,  to  serve  as  gun- 
brigs  ;  4  vessels,  to  serve  as  fire-vessels ;  2  packets,  in  the  ser- 
vice of  tire  East  India  Company,  to  be  employed  as  sloops  of 
war  ;  six  ships,  to  be  purchased  by  Vice-Admiral  Rainier  in  the 
E;ist  Indies,  to  carry  from  36  to  40  guns.  To  be  buiit:  — 6  Fir 
brig  sloops  of  war ;  4  20-gun  ships  of  small  draught  of  water; 
2  mortar  vessels^  of  ditto;    aiid  20  guu-brigs. 


328 


ilabal  pcctr\?. 


The  heart's  remote  recesses  to  explore, 

AaJ  l«mch  its  Springs,  wlicn  Frose  avaii'd  u»  mure. 

F^tCONIH. 


WILLIAM  AXD  NANCY. 

A    B.\.LL.\.l). 

'Tounded  upon  an  interesting;  incident  which  took  place  on  the  embarkalioa 
wf  tLe  asth  regiment  tor  Holiaud,  at  llam>gHte,  August  10>  \799. 

AS  on  the  transport's  dusky  side 
Young  William  stood  with  folded  arms, 
SiUnt  he  watcii'd  the  rising  tide, 

The  loud  wind  llU'd  him  m  ith  alarms. 

Not  for  himself  he  knew  to  fear. 

But  for  one  dearer  far  than  life  ; 
Nancy,  ia  parting  doubly  dear, 

Kis  tender  bride,  his  faithful  wife. 

She  still  had  hop'd  to  share  his  fate. 

To  sooth  him  in  affliction's  hour  ; 
On  all  his  wand'ring  steps  to  wait, 

And  give  the  comfort  in  her  power. 

But  chance  denied  the  wish'd-for  prize^ 

The  envied  lot  another  drew  ; 
Now  sorrow  dim'd  her  sleepless  eyes, 

And  to  despair  her  sorrow  grew. 

But  when  the  shouting  seamen  strove 

To  tow  the  vessel  on  its  way, 
Wak'd  from  despair  by  anxious  love, 

She  rush'd  along  the  crowded  quay. 

The  sails  unfurl'd,  as  gliding  round. 

The  parting  cheers  still  louder  grew, 
She  flew,  and  M'ith  a  fearful  bound, 

Drop'd  in  her  Wiliiam's  arms  below. 


KAVAL    POETRY.  329 


A  MERMAID  SOXG. 


"TVTOW  the  dancing  sunbeams  plaj 
-^  ^  On  the  green  and  glassy  sea  ; 
Come  and  I  will  lead  the  way, 

VVhere  the  pearly  treasures  be. 
Come  with  me,  and  we  will  go 
Where  the  rocks  of  coral  grow  ; 

Follow,  fo'Jow,  follow  me. 

Come,  behold  what  trearures  lie 
Deep  beiov?  the  rolling  waves. 

Riches  hid  from  human  eye 
Dimly  sliiiie  in  ocean's  caves ; 

Stormy  winds  art^  far  away, 

Elbiog  tides  brool<  no  de'ay; 
Follow,  follow,  follow  me. 


NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1807. 

(March — April. ) 
RETROSPECTR^E  AND  MISCELLANEOUS. 

rTF^HEKE  is  an  old  proverb  in  the  Spanish  language,  that  Three 
Changes  are  equal  to  a  Fire.  Another,  and  a  most  suddea 
change,  has  again  taken  plate  at  the  Admiralty  ;  and  the  plans  which 
the  cool  judgment  of  Mr.  Grenvillk  had  begun  to  mature,  must  give 
■way  to  new  men,  and  other  projects.  We  have  often  lamented  the 
injury  which  the  best  mterests  of  the  State  must  sustain,  from  the  un- 
certain tenure  by  which  the  station  of  the  First  Lord  is  held  :  and 
anxiously  wish,  that  an  equal  degree  of  stability  was  given  to  this  situa- 
tion, as  appears  in  the  War  Department:  but  every  thing  belonging  to 
our  naval  interests  does  not  seem  to  rest  on  so  secure  and  Lxcd  a  basis 
as  our  military. 

In  our  last,  we  early  marked  our  astonishment  at  the  Bill  which  Lord 
IIowicK  deemed  it  right  to  bring  forward:  but  though  we  dreaded  the 
consequences  of  such  a  measure,  little  did  we  expect,  that  so  complete  a 
revolution  would  thus  be  brought  about  in  the  political  world. 

The  ingenious  Mr,  Bap  row,  who  is  well  and  universally  respected, 
hris  been  re-appointed  to  the  situation  of  Second  Secretary  to  the  Admi- 
raliy. 

Lord  Mui.r.RAVE,  who  at  present  presides  at  the  Board,  is  the  brother 
^f  the  celebrated  Navigator,  who,  in  1773,  sailed  to  explore  the  \orth 
Polar  Seas,  (Nav.  Cbron,,  Vol.  V  ill,  p.  89,)  aud  wLy>  on  the  4th  of 

JiiSab.  <a:{)tcn.  ajo[,XVII.  V  u 


.^■^O         KATAT,    HISTORY    OV    TUT.    rRr.$i:NT    TEAR,    1807. 

December,  ITTT,  was  npnoinlod  one  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the 
j^dmiralfy.  He  ^as  an.  early  and  steady  patron  of  the  late  Lord  Nelson. 
The  present  I-ord,  who  was  J^ccretary  of  State  for  the  Foreign  Depart- 
ment in  1796,  is  a  Lieutenant-Geucral,  and  Colonel  of  the  91st  regiment 
of  foot:  and  particularly  distinguished  himself  at  the  siege  of  Toulon. 
The  Rifht  Hon.  George  Rose,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Sheridan  as  Treasurer 
of  the  >avy,  has  been  long  known  and  respected  for  his  abilities  and 
experience,  particularly  in  every  thing  that  relates  to  the  trade  and 
commerce  of  his  country.  It  is  but  doing  justice  to  the  humanity  of 
Mr.  Sheridan  to  remark,  that  before  he  left  the  situation  of  Treasurer, 
the  sole  request  that  he  made,  was  a  petition  to  His  Majesty,  which 
secured  a  very  old  man,  who  had  been  fifty-seven  years  in  the  Navy 
Office,  a  considerable  independence  for  life. 


SHIP  LAUNCH. 

On  Thursday,  the  23d  of  April,  the  Bulwark,  of  74  guns,  Teas 
launched  at  Portsmouth  Dock-vard. — This  sight  is  at  all  times  a  pecu- 
liarly grand  and  pleasing  one:  but  the  fineness  of  the  day,  the  vast 
asscmhlage  of  the  most  respectable  people,  and  the  strength  and  deco- 
rated beauty  of  the  ship,  all  contributed  to  increase  this  occasion  to  a 
superemiuent  degree  of  pleasure.  Mr.  Diddams,  the  builder,  added  a 
wreath  to  his  acknowledged  high  professional  character.  She  went  off 
in  a  peculiarly  fine  stile,  at  twenty  minutes  past  eleven,  being  christened 
by  .Adiniral  Montagu.  Nothing  like  an  accident  or  oversight  appeared  : 
she  went  otf  amidst  the  shouts,  and  the  mixed  feelings  of  awe  and  plea- 
sure, of  a  greaier  number  of  persons  than  was  ever  known  to  have 
attsndod  a  similar  occasion.  The  nobility  and  gentry  from  all  parts  of 
this  and  the  neighbouring  cou;i!,;.?s  were  there.  The  Officers  of  the 
Ward-room  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Dragon  gave  an  elegant  dinner,  ball, 
tfid  supper,  on  the  occasion,  on  board  that  ship  in  the  harbour.  Up- 
wards of  100  persons  sat  down  to  dinner,  of  which  there  were  nearly  50 
fcuijps.  Yesterday  she  wasi  taken  into  dock  to  be  coppered,  after  having 
taken  in  her  masts. 


Imprricil  parliament 

HDITSE  OF  LORDS,  Monday,  March  23. 

rTflHE  Marine  Mutiny  Bill  received  the  Roval  .\sscnr,  by  Commission  j 
1^*     a:id   tlie  .Shive    Trade  Abolition  Hill,   with  the  ameudiuents  of  the 
Commuus,  w;uj  agreed  to. 

TiTt;nsDA.Y,  April  16. 

On  the  motion  of  I^ord  Mulgruve,  the  Thanks  of  the  House  were  voted 
to  Hear- Admiral  Siiilinp;,  and  to  the  Officers,  Seamen,  and  Marines,  under 
bus  roinmand,  for  their  services  at  the  capture  of  .Monte  Video. 

Lord  Aui  khmd,  on  this  occ:L-%i-Dn,  spoke  in  warm  terras  of  praise,  of  the 
recent  Ciipture  of  the  Lyns  hy  the  boats  of  the  Galatea. 

Tuesday,  April  21. 
l.OTii  Muira  moved,  "That  aa.  Address  he   prci-emcd   f.o  His  Majestr* 
firasjing,  tkit  fee  would  be  pleased  to  order  the  pro^jer  oiacer  to  lay  before 


NAVAL    HlsrOUV    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAJl,     lS(/7.  331 

tlie  House  an  account  of  the  quantity  of  ammunition  embarked  by  order  of 
the  Ordnance  UtHce,  on  hoard  of  the  vesiels  which  sailed  on  the  Expedition 
witii  Sir  Sanjuel  Aucliuiuty,  and  a  comparison  of  the  same  with  the  quaiititjr 
UMially  shipped  for  Expeditions  oi  a  £ji,uhtr  ileocnpuoa.'' 

ilia  Lordsliip  ohseived,  that  the  producticjii  of  this  paper  would  do  away 
the  effect  of  a  siranjie  misapprehension  whicli  had  guiiu  forth,  respectin'4  a 
passage  in  the  dispatch  of  Sir  Samuel  Auclunut^.  it  liud  been  supposed  that 
too  small  a  provision  of  ammunition  had  been  made  for  the  expeditioa 
under  tlsat  officer,  whei-eas  the  quantity  was  more  than  sutiieient  for  the 
object  on  which  the  expedition  was  sent  out,  and  more  than  is  usually 
shipped  on  foreign  expeditions  of  the  s'.ime  sort. — ^Tiie  motion  was  put  and 
agreed  to. 

The  Bill  for  remdating  the  Office  of  Treasurer  of  the  Navy  was  read  a 
third  time  and  passed. 

Thursday,  Apkil  23. 

Lord  Auckland,  in  addressing  the  House,  on  tlie  I,oan  Bill,  vvhicli  stood 
for  a  Committee,  deprecated  the  narrow  principles  introduced  by  His 
Majesty's  present  Ministers,  with  regard  to  what  they  emphatically  denomi- 
nated «  fOHsJc^er^i/jc^/i  1)/  the  shipping  uittrest ;  and  attempted  to  show, 
that  they  defeated  the  object  which  they  had  in  view,  by  the  clauses 
which  they  had  introduced  into  the  Bill. 

The  Duke  oi'  Uluntivse  observed,  that  the  petition  from  the  shipping 
interest  stated  very  strong  grievances  ;  and  he  appealed  to  tiieir  Lordships, 
whether  their  solicitations  should  be  disregarded,  or  whether  any  set 
of  Ministers  could  conscientiously  hear  their  complaints,  and  not  attend 
to  them?  This  His  Majesty's  present  Ministers  had  done  by  the  clauses 
which  they  had  introduced  into  the  Bill;  and  they  had  done  it  without 
affecting,  in  the  .smallest  degree,  the  financial  welfare  of  the  country. 

Lord  Sahi.uuih,  and  Loi:d  GrcnviUe,  spoke  in  favour  of  the  Bill  in  its 
original  state. 

Loril  HuuJ:ciburi/  contended,  that,  by  the  new  provisions,  the  faith 
of  the  pulilic  was  not  only  preserved,  but  the  shipping  interest  was  inaJu- 
tumed  and  improved;  and,  above  all,  the  great  nursery  for  our  seamen 
wai  protected  and  encouraged. 

The  Bill  was  at  length  conunitted  and  reported,  without  amendment 

Saturday,  April  25. 

The  Royal  Assent  was  given,  by  Commission,  to  the  Bill  for  rei?ulating 
the  Office  of  Treasmer  of  iJis  .Majesty's  Navy,  to  the  Royal  Jsaval  As}luni 
Bill,  and  to  a  Biii  for  regtdating  and  improving  the  fisheries  on  the  nver 
Tweed. 

MuMDAY,  AruiL  27. 

The  Earl  of  Cfl/ncZf «,  Lord  Haukesburi/,  and   the   Lord  Chancellor,   sat 
as  Commissioners;  and,   the  Commons   being   in  attendance  at   the   Bar, 
a  Commission  from  His  Majesty,  for  proroguing  the  P.irliainent,  was  read; 
us  Wits  His  Majesty's  most  gracious  Speech,  in  the  following  terms: — 
My  Lords  and  Gentlemen, 

We  have  it  in  coiuuiand  Iroiu  His  IMnjest}'  to  iuform  you,  thfet  His  Majesty  has 
thought  fit  to  a  vuil  liiiiiself  of  the  first  nioiin-ut  which  wjuld  adtr.it  of  tlie  init-rrup-' 
tionottlie  sitting  ol  I'ailiain'iiit,  witlioul  iiiaieridl  intunvemeiice  10  the  pubucbiiii- 
nc-.t,  to  close  the  present  Session;  and  thai  iln  ;M-.ijjst)  has  theretore  been  ^leajed 
lo  cilUbfr  a  Comunssiou  lo  bt  iiwaed,  undci  ths(ir<Mit  Hcitl,  for  prorcguiajj  FarLa* 


3?2  KATAI,    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRT.S]  XT    YEAR,     1807. 

y»  e  art^  further  cornmanded  to  stale  lo  you,  tliat  His  !\rajes'y  is  anxious  to  rernr 
to  the  sfiise  ot  his  Pco[ile,  while  tde  evciKs  winch  nave  icceatly  taken  plai;e  are 
jei  fri'bh  ni  their  recollection. 

His  Majesty  feels, tliat  in  ri  sorting  to  this  measure,  under  the  present  <  ircamslances, 
he  at  once  deinousirntf?,  m  the  most  nui'qanocal  aiaiiner,  his  o,\n  couscienliijas 
persnasion  of  the  rectitude  of  those  motives  upon  which  he  has  acted,  and  atfords 
to  his  People  the  best  oppoi  tiinity  of  lesufyui^  their  <leleriiiiualiuu  to  si-.ppirt  hiai 
in  every  exi^rcise  of  the  prerogatives  of  his  Crown,  wliich  is  coiifonuabie  to  ihe 
sacred  obligation'-  under  ivhicli  ihey  are  held,  and  cuD  iucive  to  the  ■\velfar-"  of  his 
kmedoii,  and  to  the  sccnrit3'  of  the  Constitution.  , 

His  JMajes-ty  directs  us  t'l  express  his  entire  conviction,  th^t  after  so  long  a  H'i;'!!, 
marked  by  a  series  of  indulgences  to  his  Honiaii  (Jatnolic  Subjects,  they,  m  coiuiuou 
with  every  other  class  ol  his  People,  must  feel  assured  oi  his  attachment  ;o  the 
principles  of  a  just  and  eniigiiteued  tolerauon,  aiid  of  lis  anxioys  desire  lo  pro- 
tect equally,  aud  proixjote  unpartmlly,  tiie  happiness  of  all  destnplioiis  of  his  sub- 
jects. 

Gentlemen  of  the  Hou^e  of  Commons, 

His  Majesty  has  couiniaadBd  us  lo  thank  you,  in  His  Majesty's  nama,  for  the 
Supplies  winch  yon  have  lurnished  for  tlie  public  service. 

He  has  seen  wiih  gieatsaiisfaction  liiat  you  have  been  able  to  find  the  means  of 
detrawng,  in  the  present  year,  tiiosc  lar-^e  but  necessary  expenses  tor  virhicli  you 
liave  provided,  without  imposing  upon  his  People  the  inimedtate  burthen  of  addi- 
tional ta.\es. 

His  Maiesiy  has  observed  with  no  less  satisfaction  the  inquiries  which  yon  have 
insiitiiled  into  snhji'cts connected  ^\  ith  public economj' ;  and, lie  trusts  thkt  the  eariy 
attention  of  a  new  Parlianioni,  whicl;  he  will  forthwith  direct  to  be  calfed,  will  be 
applied  lo  the  prosecution  of  these  iniportant  objects. 

My  I  ords  and  Gentlemen, 

His  .Majesty  has  directed  us  most  earnestly  to  recommend  to  you,  that  you 
should  cultivate,  by  all  nioaui  in  your  power,  a  spirit  of  u.uoa,  liaruioiiy,  aiid  good 
will,  amongst  all  classes  and  descriptions  of  Ins  People. 

His  Afajesty  trusts  that  the  divisions  naturally  and  unavoidably  excited  by  the 
late  uiiloruinate  and  uncalled  for  agitation  of  a  question  so  lutcrestiiiL;  to  the  feel- 
ings and  opinions  of  his  People,  will  speedily  pass  away  ;  and  that  the  prevailing 
sense  and  determination  of  all  his  subjects  to  exert  their  united  eftorts  in  the  cause 
of  liieir  Coinitrv,  will  enable  His  ^laj  sty  to  conduct  to  an  IiououruLle  and  secure 
tcfiuinatioa  the' great  contest  m  wnich  he  is  engaged. 

The  Lord  Chancellor  then,  in  His  ]Majesty's  name,  and  with  the  usual 
formiilities,  prorogued  the  Parliament  to  the  13thoi'i\iay  next. 

HOUSE  OF  COMMONS,  Tuesday,' Makch  3. 

A  Bill  for  the  better  rei!;uktion  of  Pilots,  and  pilotage  of  vrsse!'^  navi- 
gating the  Fntish  Seas,  was,  accordinsr  to  order,  read  a  second  time,  And 
comniitted  to  a  Committee  of  the  whole  House;  ard  the  sa'd  Hill,  m 
jiinended,  was  ordered  to  be  printed.  We  can  only  insert  tlie  following 
marginal  notes : — 

1.  Vessels  sailing  up  or  down  the  river  ThaTiie*  and  Medwav,  between 
Orf  irdiiL'SS  and  London  Bridge  and  Portsrnouch,  and  the  South  Foreland, 
shall  be  conducted  by  Pilots  licensed  by  the  Corporation  of  the  Tnnity 
Hou^e 

9.  Penalty  on  Masters  of  vessels  navigating  within  limits  without 
Pilots. 

3.  Exemption  in  cas?s  where  no  Pilot  can  be  procured. 

4.  Per.alty  on  persons  actinji  as  Pilots  witlioiit  license. 

3.  Penalty  on  knowingly  jEpi'p'.oying  unlicensed  iJcrsons,  or  out  of  proper 
iinuts.  "  ....  w- 

5.  Penalties  not  to  extend  to  persons  assisting  vessels  in  distress. 


NAVAL    mSTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    fEAR,    1807.  331 

■  7.  Trinity  House  may  atpoiiit  perions  at  the  outports  to  examiae 
Pilots. 

8.  Authority  of  the  'I'riiiity  House  not  to  extend  to  any  ports  or  places, 
the  pilotage  whereof  is  i  emulated  by  any  special  Acts  of  Parliament. 

9.  No  person  to  be  licensed  as  a  Pilot  in  the  Thames,  who  has  not  com- 
manded vessels,  or  served  apprenticeship. 

10.  Piluts  not  hiiviiig  served  tlirce  years,  not  to  take  cha-'^ge  of  liwge 
vessels. 

,     11.  Licensed  persons  mav  supersede  unliconsed  persons. 

12.  Directions  that  Pilots  keeping  pulilic  houses,  or  concerned  ia  prac- 
tices ai;ainst  Revenue,  &c.  to  forfeit  their  licenses. 

13.  No  Cinque  Port  Pilot  to  be  compelled  to  biing  any  vessel  above 
Gravesend. 

14.  Allowing  the  Trinity  House  to  license  proper  Pilot  vessels. 

15.  Pilot  vessels  running  before  vessels  to  direct  their  course,  the  owners 
of  such  vessels  entitled  to  Pilot  rates. 

16.  Corporation  of  Trinity  House  to  establish  rate  of  pilotage. 

17.  Allowing  an  appetd  to  the  Privy  Council. 

18.  Pilots  to  be  subject  to  the  governuieni  of  tlie  Corporation,  who  mar 
make  b^'e  laws. 

19.  Copies  of  bye  laws  to  be  put  up  in  the  Custom  House. 
no.   Regulating  the  rates  of  pilotage  at  the  iiut-p<jrts. 

21.  Pilots  to  execute  a  bond  to  conlorin  to  bye  laws. 

'■it.  Qaar  intine  \  esacL  carried  to  Stand^aie  Creek  to  pay  the  full  pilotage 
to  London. 

as.   Pilot  boats  to  carry  disMnguishing  flags. 

24.  Penalty  on  Pilots  refusing  to  ta!:e  charge  of  vessels,  or  exacting  feeSj 
or  not  completing  their  service. 

i?o.  Pilots,  or  persons  assisting  vessels,  not  to  have  greater  sums  thafi 
settled  by  Trinity  House. 

'2ti.  Pilots  taken  to  sea  entitled  to  pav  and  compensation, 

27.  Owners  of  foreign  ships  to  pay  pilotage,  on  oath  that  theCaptain  Las 
iiot  paid  it. 

28.  For  recovery  of  pilotage  money. 

29.  Penalty  on  giving  false  account  of  draught  of  wate.'-,  and  on  alteria' 
■watermarks  or  stern  posts.  - 

3(1,  Captains  of  ships,  on  entering  inwards,  or  clearing  outwards,  to  give 
the  Pilot's  name. 

31.  Lists  and  registers  of  Pilots  at  out-ports  to  be  transmitted  to  Tx-inity 
House. 

32.  Lighted  vessels  to  be  protected. 

£3.  Penalty  of  running  foul  of  Trinity  House  buoys. 

34.  Certain  penalties  to  be  recovered  before  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

35    Other  penalties — how  to  be  recovered. 

36.  Witnesses  summoned,  and  refusing  to  attend — tbepunishmcut, 

27.  Application  of  penalties. 

38.  Persons  escaping  into  other  countries  mav  be  followed. 

39.  Distress  not  unlawful  for  want  of  form. 

40.  Conviction  of  otfenders. 

41.  Appeal. 

4'i.  Limitatioa  of  acti'jns. 

Tuesday,  April  14. 
The  Royal  Naval  Asylum  Bill  was  read  a  tliird  time  and  passed. 

^    Thursday,  Aprtl  16. 
On  the  motioa  of  Lord  CMtlereagh,  a  Resolution  was  passed,  that  tlJ* 


334  NAVAL   HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1S07. 

House  does  acknowledge  and  highly  approve  the  diligence  and  skill  mani- 
fested by  Rear-Adniiral  Stirling,  in  landing  the  troops,  6:c.  at  the  capture 
ot"  Monte  Video. — Motions  of  thanks  to  the  Officers,  Seamen,  and  Marines, 
imder  the  command  of  Rear-Admiral  Stirling,  were  also  passed. 

Tuesday,  April  21. 

The  New  Sierra  T-eone  Transfer  Bill  was  read  a  third  time  and  passed. 
The  consideration  of  the  report,  on  the  Pilots'  Regulation  Bill,  was  post- 
poned till  the  28th  of  April.  ^ 

Wednesday,  Apkil  S2. 

Colonel  Wood  moved,  that  an  Address  be  presented  to  His  Majesty, 
praying  that  he  would  he  graciously  pleased  to  direct,  tliat  there  be  laid 
tefore  the  House  copies  of  the  letters  that  passed  between  the  General 
and  other  officers  commanding  in  the  West  Indies,  and  Government,  re- 
specting the  appointment  of  a  Governor  of  the  island  of  Curacoa. — His 
motive  was  to  know,  why  Captain  Brisbane,  who  had  the  tcmporniy  com- 
mand of  that  island,  was  not  continued  therein,  and  why  another  was 
appointed  in  liis  room  ? 

Mr.  Windham  observed,  that  it  had  always  been  customary  to  give,  pr« 
iempure,  the  Government  of  any  conquered  place  to  the  officer  commanding 
at  such  conquest.  In  due  time  the  sign  manual  appointed  another;  for, 
without  prejudice  to  the  conqueror,  who  might  be  every  way  quahfied 
for  all  military  service,  he  might  not  be  fit  to  conduct  the  civil  affairs  of  such 
a  place.  This  had  frequently  happened  of  late,  and  no  person  was  ever 
known  to  complain  of  it.  It  frequently  happened,  that  in  giving  such  an 
appointment  to  Commanders,  tliey  would  not  think  the  gift  worth  accep- 
tance, and  many  of  them  would  prefer  the  command  of  a  iittle  Govern- 
ment called  a  frigate,  in  preference  of  that  of  an  island.  This  might  have 
been  Captain  Brisbane's  case.  He  certainly  deserved  well  of  his  country; 
but  allowing  him  every  thing  which  belonged  to  courage,  and  the  highest 
sense  of  honour,  he  might  not  have  those  qualiticatious,  wliich  rendered 
him  an  eligible  person  to  manage  and  conduct  the  civil  atfairs  of  a  new 
colony. 

)  Colonel   Woody    after   a  few   explanatory   observations,    withdrew   his 
amotion. 


%nux&  en  ^rrtirc, 

Copied  verbatim  from  the  London  Gazette. 

[Continued  from  page  261.] 

ADMIRALTY  OFFICE,  MARCH  28,  1807, 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Rear-Admiral  Sir  Akiundtr  Cochrane,  K.  B.',  Com- 
niander  in  Chit  f  if  His  Mujcstfs  Shiph  and  Fessels  at  the  Leeward  Lland-i, 
to  William  Mursden,  Est].;  dated  ua  board  the  Northumberland,  at  Bar- 
badoes,  the  22d  Janumy,  1S07. 

SIR, 

TlT^OR  the  information  of  the  T-ords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  X. 
Jr  beg  to  enclose  t!ic  copy  of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Matson,  of  llis  Ma- 
jesty's ship  Venus,  accjuaiuting  ine  witli  the  capture  of  the  Determinec,  a 


KAVAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   PUHSEXT   YEAR,    1807.  335 

line  brig  privateer  from  Guadalniipe,  pierced  for  twenty  guns,  liaving  four- 
teen mounted,  and  one  hundred  and  eis^ht  men  on  board. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

ALEX.  COCHRANE. 

His  Majesties  Ship  Venus,  Carlisle  Bay, 
SIR,  Bailadoes,  January  18,  1807. 

"With  great  pleasure  I  report  to  you  the  capture,  l>y  His  ^lajesty's  sliip 
under  my  conmiand,  of  the  French  privateer  brii;  Determinec,  from  Ouii- 
daloupe,  mounting  fourtecui  guns,  with  a  complement  of  one  hundred  and 
eijiht  men.  We  saw  her  from  our  niast-hca(l,  on  the  forenoon  of  the  16th 
instant,  about  a  hundred  leagues  east  of  Barbadoes,  and  she  gave  us  a  chase 
of  sixteen  hours.  The  Deterniinee  is  nearly  new  (being  on  her  fourth  cruise 
only),  and  a  renvarkable  fine  vessel,  coppered  and  copper-fastened,  out  six- 
teen days,  and  had  not  taken  any  thing. 

I  have,  &c.  HENRY  MATSON. 

*rhe  Honourable  Sir  Alex.  Cochrane,  Rear- 
Admiral  of  the  White,  &,c.  ^c.  SfC. 

Copy  of  another  Letter  from  Rear-Admiral  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane,  dated 
at  Barbadoes,  January  22,  1807. 

SIR, 

The  enclosed  copies  of  letters  from  Captains  Selby  and  Sayer,  of  His 
Majesty's  ships  Cerberus  and  Galatea;  from  Captain  Hodge,  of  His  Ma- 
jesty's sloop  St.  Christopher's;  and  from  Lieutenant  Dean,  commaiKhng 
His  Majesty's  armed  brig  Dominica,  I  request  you  will  be  pleased  to  laj 
before  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty.  Tliey  give  me  an  ac- 
count of  the  capture  of  two  small  privateers,  a  letter  of  marque,  and  two 
other  vessels.  Considerable  spirit  and  gallantry  were  displayed  hy  the  otS- 
cers  and  men  in  the  boats  of  the  Calatea  and  Cerberus;  the  loss  in  the  lat- 
ter ship  has  been  rather  great,  and  I  am  sorry  to  add,  that  Lieutenant 
Coote's  wound  is  of  a  very  severe  and  dangerous  nature. 

The  Creole  privateer  schooner,  of  one  gun  and  twenty-eight  men,  cap- 
tured by  the  Circe  on  the  .Sd  instant,  is  also  arrived  in  this  Bay. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

ALEX.  COCHRANE. 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Cerberus,  off"  Mar"    ■.  ■ 
SIR,  tinique,  January  3,  1807. 

I  beg  leave  to  acquaint  you,  that  in  pursuance  of  your  orders  to  me  by 
Captain  Pigot,  I  reconnoitred  the  ports  of  Guadaloupe  and  the  Saints; 
rtftcr  having  so  done,  and  percejvins;  no  force  of  any  consequence,  except  a 
brig,  of  sixteen  guns,  lying  in  tlie  Saints,  I  left  Captain  Pigot,  of  the  Circe, 
off  that  port,  and  wa's  proceeding  to  my  former  station  in  further  pursuance 
of  your  directions,  uht-n  on  the  'Jd  ii!Stant,  as  I  was  beating  to  windward 
between  Martinique  and  Dominique,  I  observed  a  privateer  schooner,  with 
a  schooner  and  a  sloop  in  company,  standing  for  St.  Pierre 's  with  French 
colouis  flying;  I  ga\e  cha.-e  and  prevented  them  from  reaching  ftiat  port, 
upon  which  they  all  tlu-ee  anciiored  under  a  battery  to  the  northward,  near 
to  the  Pearl  Patck,  and  \ery  close  to  the  shore. 

It  houcvcr  appeared  to  me  practicable  to  cut  them  out  in  tlie  night.  I 
consulted  Lieutenant  Cootc  on  tlw?  occasion,  who,  with  Lieurenant  Bligh, 
volunteered  the  attack;  when  about  eight  o'clock,  they  very  srallantlj 
boarded  two  of  the  vessels,  nudtr  a  most  tremcnd(jus  fire  of  canncm  and 
liuiskttry  from  tiie  shore,  and  brought  them  out,  nutwithstauding  the  ene- 
jny  liad  taken  the  precaution  to  unbend  their  sails. 

Our  ipss,  however,  upou  this  occasion,  has,  I  am  concerned  to  say,  been 


335  NATAt.   HISTORY    OF  THE   PRESENT    TEAR,    1807, 

considerable.  Lieutenant  Coote  has  received  a  most  desperate  wound  in 
the  head,  which  has  depri'-ed  hitn  of  his  eye-sij;ht,  and  I  very  much  appre- 
hend will,  eventually,  his  life.  One  Midshipman  was  wounded  by  a  musket- 
irall  in  the  leg.  T^vo  men  were  killed,  and  eight  more  were  wounded ;  a 
list  of  which  r  herewith  enclose. 

r  cannot  close  this  account  without  expressing  in  the  highest  terms  my 
entire  satisfaction  of  the  gallant  condur^t  of  Lieutenants  Coote  and  Bligb, 
togetlirr  wit!)  Mr.  Hall,  blaster's  Mate,  Mr.  Sayer,  Mr.  Carlewis,  and 
Mr.  Selby,  Midshipmen,  wliose  bravpry  on  this  occa=iion  could  not  be  ex« 
ceeded;  and  which  I  feo\  a'^sured  will  be  the  means  of  procuring  them  yorlV 
approbation.  Messrs.  Horopka  and  Ratcove,  RuS'.ian  young  gentlemen, 
sert'ing  as  Midshipmen,  and  iMr.  Collins,  Boatswain,  are  also  entitled  to  my 
warm  praise. 

The  privateer  made  her  escape  with  her  sweeps  under  cover  of  the  dark- 
ness of  the  night.  I  heipwith  enclose  you  a  list  of  the  vessels  captured 
(one  schooner,  one  sloop,  French) ;  and  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

W.  SELBY. 

T^e  Honourable  Sir  Alexander  Coch- 
.rane,  K.  B.,  Commander  in  Chiefs 
4"C.  4'f-  4"C.  Barhudoe^. 

A  IJst  of  Officers  and  Men  Killed  and  Wounded  on  board  His  %M^jesty''s 
Ship  Cerberus. 

Killed. 
William  Torbuct,  ordinary  seaman ;  William  Townsend,  marine. 

Wounded, 

William  Coote,  second  Lieutenant,  dangerous;  George  Snyiu:,  Mid?hip- 
r«»n,  not  bad  ;  Peter  I'lpoii,  ordmary,  since  dead;  VVilliam  Smith,  land- 
man, not  dangerous;  .loljn  Burke,  Quarter  Gunner,  ditto;  John  Tucker, 
landman,  dangerous;  John  Tesdale,  Corporal  of  marines,  ditto;  Antliony 
jWlarlej,  ordinary,  slightly;  Stephen  Old,  able,  ditto. 

His  Majesti/'s  Ship  Galafea.  off"  Guudaloupep 
SIR,  ,  November  1*2,  1806. 

This  morning  I  gave  chase  to  a  suspicious  schooner  in  the  N.  W.,  and, 
after  a  few  hours,  got  near  enough  to  him,  when  it  moderated  by  degrees  to 
a  <r;ilm,  and  our  boats  were  dispatched  under  Lieutenants  Gittens  and  Wal- 
\rr;  in  a  few  minute'^  after  thoy  reached  near  enough  torchirn  his  fire  with 
irtuskptry,  and  were  on  the  point  of  boarding,  when  his  Fi-cnch  colours  were 
sfriick,  and  proved  to  be  the  Reunion,  a  fine  new  vessel  of  trn  guns,fpierced 
for  fourteen,)  copper  bottom,  from  la  Guira,  bound  to  Martmique  with  a 
fargo;  she  obtained  some  dispatciies  for  the  French  General  in  Cb:cf,  from 
the  Span. sh  Government  at  the  Carraccas;  not  a  man  of  ours  was  hurt, 
■p-'hicb  1  attribute  to  Lieutenant  Gitten's  judicious  disposition  of  the  boats, 
while  under  the  entniy's  tire.  Our  men  confirmed  me  in  the  good  opinion 
J  have  so  frequently  had  occasion  to  have  of  them. 
1  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

GEO.  SAYER. 
Rear-Ad.. iral  Sir  A.  Coihrane,  S^c. 

His  MqjesTy's  Sloop,  St.  Christopher  x,  Basseterre 
STR,  Road,  St.  Kin's,  Jannari/  3.  J  807. 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you,  that  at  dny-bght,  on  the  morning  of 
the  ?d  instant,  Sr.  Bartholomew's  bearing  N.  VV.,  distance  about  three 
miles,  I  fell  in  v/ith  thiee  French  privateers,  all  to  leeward  of  us  j   I  ju» 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   PKESEJJT    YKAR,    1S07.  337 

jTar.tly  gare  chase,  but  as  they  separated,  we  liad  only  the  gnod  fortune 
vo  capture  one  of  them,  the  other  t^vo  having  escaped  into  Great  Bay,  St. 
ilartin's. 

TIad  they  united,  T  am  happy  to  assure  you,  from  the  spirit  and  alacrity 
of  the  otiicers  and  ship's  company,  we  should  either  have  taken  or  destroyed 
the  whole  of  them. 

Tlie  Tessel  I  have  captured  is  the  Entreprenante  French  sloop,  of  on» 
small  guu  and  seventeen  men. 

I  have  the  hanour  tJ  be,  &c. 


Hear- Admiral  the  Hon.  Sir  A.  Cochrane, 
K.  B.,  4"f-  fyc.  6)C. 


A.  HODGE. 


His  Majcxti/.s  armed  Bri^  Dominica,  off 
SI  R,  Kosscau,  Nijv.  28,  1806. 

I  have  tlic  lionour  to  inform  yon,  that  I  yesterday  captured,  to  wind- 
ward of  Mariegalante,  the  Basilisk  lugger.ri;j;<^ed  French  rovv-bo;it  priva- 
teer, arnied  with  one  brass  tiiree-]JOunder,  and  sixteen  men;  she  was  re- 
turning to  Ponit-a.-1'etrfc,  from  a  three  months'  eruise,  and  had  mads  three 
captures. 

I  have  Uic  honour  to  be,  &c. 

^^^  beax. 

To  the  Hon.  Sir  J.  Cochrane,  K.  B., 
ifc,  <§c.  4"C. 

List  ofCfrpfures  made  bi/  the  Ships  of  His  Majesfr/s  Squadron  in  the  East 
Indies,  under  Cwnmaitd  nf  Rear-Adiniral'Sir  Edward  VcLlczi;,  Bart.,  since 
last  Return,  per  Ti'emcndous,  February  12,  1B06. 

French  sloop  Entli  le  Pincon,  of  .10  tons,  from  Madaii^aKcar  to  Port 
N.W. ;  taken  oh' St.  Dennis,  October  1 1,  1805,  by  the  Duncan,  Lieutenant 
Sneyd,  Commander,  anri  destroyed  at  sea. 

French  brii^  la  Courier,  of  280  tons,  fitted  for  slaves,  from  Seychelles; 
taken  off  Seychelles,  November  9,  1805,  by  the  same  ship,  and  tlie  same 
Commander. 

iM-ench  brig  la  Slrins,  of  80  tons,  laden  with  gum,  rosin,  and  plank,  bound 
to  Port  N.  \N'.;  t;iken  oft" Seychelles,  same  date,  by  the  same  ship  and  Com- 
mander, and  destroyed. 

A  French  brig,  (name  unknown,)  of  90  ton-:;  taken  same  date,  by  the 
same  ship  and  Commander,  and  set  on  fire. 

French  schooner  la  Cacottc,  havino;  4  guns,  but  pierced  for  8,  and  70 
tons,  laden  willi  cocoa  nuts;  takea  off  Diego  Garcia,  November  27,  1805, 
by  tiie  same  shijj  and  Coumiandcr. 

A  French  bri|i,  (name  unknown,)  of  80  tons,  from  Port  Louis  to  Bour- 
bon;  taken  off  the  Mauritius,  .ianuary  14,  1806,  by  tljo  Pitt,  W.  Bathurst, 
Commander,  and  destroyed,  haviii'ji;  b:de  sioods  and  military  clothing. 

French  ship  privateer  la  llenriette,  of  20  t!;Mns  and    135  men;    taken  , 
off  Friar's  Hood,  June   1.3,  180b,  by  ll.e  Po\veri'ul,   11.  Piampin,   Com- 
mander. 

French  brier  privateer  I'lsle  de  France,  of  8  guns  and  71  men;  taken 
at  sea,  April  8,  1806,  by  llie  Duncan,  Lord  G.  Sluart,  Commander,  de- 
stroyed. 

French  ship  privateer  la  Bellone,  irt"  30  l'uus  and  194  men;  taken  "ff 
Basses,  July  12,  18!)d,  by  the  Pcjwcrful,  Ft.  Piampin,  Commander,  and  the 
Hattksnake,  J.  Bastard,  Connnandcr. 

French  sloop  packet  Alcxaiidriane,  from  Bourbon  to  France;  taken  at 
sea,  March  28,  1800,  by  the  Psyche,  W.  \Vooldrid^e,  Cummauder. 

/2ab.  Cpion.  ©oltXVlI.  i  x 


538  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1807. 

French  schooner  la  Celestine,  laden  wiih  plank,  corn,  and  cloves;  taken 
at  sea.  May  20,  1806,  by  the  same  ship  and  Commander. 

A  French  brig,  (name  unknown;)  taken  May  26,  1B06,  by  the  same 
sliip  and  Commander,  and  run  on  shore,  and  wrecked  under  the  batteries  of 
St.  Gilles. 

Fienc'ii  hig<:,er  I'Uranie,  laden  with  rice;  taken  at  sea,  same  date,  by  the 
same  ship  and  C'ommander. 

trench  lupgcr  la  Sophie,  laden  witli  rice;  taken  and  burnt  at  sea,  cargo 
taken  out.  saine  date,  by  the  same  ship  and  Conminuder. 

French  brig;  la  Paque  Bot,  laden  willi  "um  and  rice ;  taken  at  sea,  June  1, 
1806,  by  the  same  ship  and  Commander. 

French  scliooner  I'Etoilc,  laden  with  ric*^;  taken  at  sea  and  scuttled, 
cargo  taken  out,  June  2,  iy06,  by  the  same  ship  and  Commander. 

French  briu;  la  Corjuette,  hiden  with  rice  ;  taken  at  sea,  June  10,  1806, 
by  the  same  ship  and  Conmiander. 

French  luizger  la  Grange,  taken  and  scuttled  at  sea,  same  date,  by  the 
same  ship  and  Conmiander. 

Spanish  brig  Piovidentiay  laden  with  sundries,  from  Manilla  to  the  Mau- 
ritius; taken  at  sea,  June  11,  1800,  by  the  Sir  Francis  Drake,  P.  B.  Pellevr, 
Commander. 

French  bri";  Fxpedition,  laden  with  slaves  and  cotton  ;  taken  off  the  Isle 
of  France,  July  3,  1806,  by  the  Pitt,  W.  Batluirst,  Commander. 

French  brig  pri\ateer  Vigilante,  of  "2  eigliteen-pounders;  taken  at  Muscat, 
July  21,  1806,  by  the  Concorde,  J.  Cramer,  Commander. 

French  ketch  le  Charles,  of '2  guns,  16  men,  and  H5  tons;  taken  at  Ro- 
drigue,  July  15,  1806,  by  the  Sea  Flower,  Lieutenant  Owen,  Com- 
mander. 

French  ship  privateer  I'Emilien,  of  18  guns  and  160  men;  taken  at 
sea,  September  23,  1806,  by  the  Cullodcu,  Christopher  Cole,  Com- 
mander. 

EDW,  PELLEW. 

APRTt    4. 

Cnpy  of  a  Letter  from  Sir  Thomas  Troubridgc,  Bart.,  Rear -Admiral  of  thr 
Whitt,  &c.,  to  WiUiam  Manden,  Es(j.;  dated  on  board  His Majestj/'i  Ship 
the  Blenheim,  Fort  C'or?iualiis,  Auguat  20,  1806. 

SIR, 

I  enclose  to  you,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the 
Admiralty,  the  copy  of  a  letter  which  I  have  received  from  Captain  EI- 
phinstone,  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Greyliound,  in  the  Java  Seas,  dated  the 
27th  July  last,  containing  an  account  of  some  successful  operations  against 
t'lc  enemy,  performed  by  tiiat  ship,  in  company  with  His  JMajesty's  sloop 
Harrier;  and  of  his  having,  on  the  25th  of  that  month,  fallen  in  with  the 
Dutch  Kepublican  frii^atc  Pallas,  of  thirty-six  guns,  and  two  hundred  and 
seventeen  men,  and  the  William  Corvette,  of  twenty  guns  and  one  himdred 
and  ten  men,  having  under  convoy  the  two  large  armed  ships  named  in  th* 
margin*,  laden  with  spices,  the  produce  of  the  Moluccas;  that  after  a 
smart  action  of  about  foity-five  minutes,  the  Pallas  nnd  iier  convoy  struck 
to  liis  Majesty *s  ships.  The  conette  taking  the  advantage  of  the  crippled 
stal:e  of  the  Greyhound  and  Harrier,  effected  her  escape. 

Ihe  encomiums  bestowed  by  Captain  Elphinstone  on  ail  his  officers,  petty 
officers,  seamen,  and  marines,  and  also  upon  Captain  Troubridge,  the  offi- 
cers, and  men  of  the  Harrier,  render  any  observation  I  might  be  induced 
to  malie,  unnecessary. 

I  am  happy  further  to  acquaint  you,  that  the  Greyhound,  Harrier,  and 
prizes,  arrived  yesterday  at  Port  Cornwallis. 

*  Victoria  and  Battavia. 


NATAL  HISTORY    OF   THE   PRESENT   YF.IR,    1807.  339 

I  enclose  Captaia  Elpbinstoiie's  return  of  the  killed  and  wounded. 
I  am,  &c. 

T.  TROUBRIDGE. 

His  Ma/csti/s  S/iip  G reyhozmd,  Jc.va 
SIR,  'Sea,  27th  Ju/j,'l806. 

I  have  the  honour  to  Inform  you,  that  His  Majesty's  ships  Greyhound  and 
Harrier,  after  destroying,  on  tlie  4th  uf  July,  under  the  Fort  of  Manado,  the 
Dutch  Company's  brig  Christian  Elizabeth,  aniied  wiUi  ei^lit  guns,  and 
having  a  complement  of  eit;hty  oicn,  stood  cicross  the  Molucca  Sea  t.^  tlie 
Ihland  of  Tidoa,  when  they  cajjtured,  on  the  Oth,  another  of  the  enemy's 
cruizers  called  the  Belgica,  armed  vviih  twelve  guns,  and  manned  with  thirty- 
two  men;  from  thence  proceedin;^  to  the  westward,  on  the  evening  of  the 
25th  of  July,  four  sail  of  ships  were  descried  passing  through  tiiC  Straits  of 
Salayer;  immediate  chase  was  given  to  them;  and,  by  nine,  I  had  the  satis- 
faction of  seeing  them  lying  to  betwfen  the  small  Dutch  Posts  of  Bonthean 
and  Balacomba,  at  about  seven  miles'  distance  from  the  shore.  I  easily 
made  out  one  of  them  to  be  a  frigate,  and  another  a  corvette ;  but  a  third 
had  so  much  the  appearance  of  a  line  of  battle  ship,  that  both  Captain 
Trouhridge  and  myself  deemed  it  prudent  to  wait  till  daylight  before  we  ex- 
amined them.  We  accordingly  lay-to  during  the  night,  at  two  miles'  dis- 
tance to  windward.  As  the  day  broke,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  finding  the 
ship  which  had  forced  us  on  cautionary  measures,  was  a  Jarge  two-decked 
bhip,  resembling  an  English  Iiidiaman. 

The  enemy  (for  they  proved  to  be  a  Dutch  squadron)  immediately  drew 
out  in  order  of  battle  on  the  larboard  tack  under  their  topsail.^;  the  frigate 
taking  her  station  in  the  van,  an  armed  ship  abtern  of  her,  the  large  ship  in 
the  centre,  and  the  corvette  in  the  rear.  Fortunately  for  us  the  frigate,  by 
fore-reaching  upon  her  second  astern,  caused  a  small  opetiing  in  their  line.- 
It  was  suggested  to  me  by  Mr.  Martin,  Master  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Grey- 
hound, that  if  we  could  close  with  the  enemy  whilst  in  that  position,  our  at- 
tack might  be  made  to  advantage;  accordingly,  under  French  colours,  we 
bore  up,  as  if  with  an  intention  to  speak  the  frigate;  and  when  within  hail, 
all  further  disguise  being  unnecessary,  we  shifted  our  colours,  and  com- 
menced tiring,  which  was  instantly  returned  with  a  smartness  and  spirit 
that  evinced  they  were  fully  prepared  for  the  contest.  The  Harrier,  who 
had  kept  close  astern  of  the  Greyhound,  on  seeing  her  engaged,  bore  round 
up,  and  passing  between  the  frigate  and  her  second  astern,  raked  them  both, 
(the  latter  with  such  effect,)  that  they  bore  up  in  succession  to  return  her 
fire,  thus  leaving  the  frigate  sepai'ated  from  them.  Being  resolved  to  avail 
myself  of  this  advantage,  and  being  anxious  to  be  in  a  position  for  support- 
ing the  Harrier,  now  engaged  in  the  centre  of  the  enemy's  line,  I  wore  close 
round  the  frigate's  bows,  raking  her  severely  whde  passing;  and  when  on 
the  starboard  bow,  by  throwing  our  sails  aback,  we  fed  into  the  desired  po- 
sition. The  cannonade  from  the  Greyhound  was  now  admirable,  while  that 
of  the  frigate  visibly  slackened ;  and  at  last,  after  an  action  of  forty  mi- 
nutes, wholly  ceased.  On  hailing  to  know  if  they  had  struck,  they  answer- 
ed they  had,  and  Lieutenant  Home  took  immediate  possession  of  her.  On 
directing  her  fire  on  the  5hi[)S  astern,  they  all  followed  her  example,  except 
the  corvette,  who,  from  being  in  the  rear,  had  suffered  litile  from  the  ac- 
tion, and  now  made  off  towards  the  shore.  Captain  Troubridge  iuimeJi- 
atE'ly  wore  in  pursuit  of  her,  sending,  at  the  same  time,  a  boat  to  take  pos- 
Bcssion  of  the  large  ship,  (\vhose  fire  he  had  nearly  silenced  early  in  the  ac- 
tion.) Perceiving  the  corvette  sailed  remaikal>ly  well,  and  tliat  she  could 
spread  more  canvass  than  the  Harrier,  her  mast  and  rigging  being  entire,  I 
recalled  the  latter  from  a  chase  which  was  likely  to  be  fruitless. 


340  NAVAI,   HISTOUY    OF    THE    I'R¥:SE\-T    TEAR,    1807. 

The  prizes  proved  to  be  the  Dutch  Republican  frigate  Pallas,  of  thirty- 
■  six  guns,  commandecl  hy  X.  S.  Aalbers,  a  Captain  in  the  Dutch  Navy;  the 
Victoria,  a  two-decked  ship,  of  about  eight  luuidred  tons,  commanded  by 
Klaas  Kenkin,  senior  Captain  in  the  Dutcli  Company's  service;  and  the 
Battavia,  a  ship  of  about  five  hundred  tons,  commanded  by  Williani 
JLeVal,  a  Captain  in  the  same  service;  both  the  Company's  ships  are 
armed  tor  the  purpose  of  war,  and  richly  ladeu  with  the  produce  of  the 
^Inlirccas. 

The  ship  which  escaped,  I  lenrn  from  our  prisoners,  was  the  Republican 
corvette  ^Vil^ialn,  mounting  twenty  twenty-four  pounders,  and  nianued  with 
one  hundred  and  ten  men. 

The  support  and  assistance  T  have  received  from  Captain  Troubridge  on 
every  other  occasion,  (through  a  difficult  and  perilous  navigation,)  [  attribute 
to  the  same  talents,  abihty,  and  zeal,  which  he  so  nobly  displayed  on  this 
one. 

I  feel  happy  in  an  opportunity  for  recommending  Mr.  Purvis  Home,  first 
Lieutenant  of  the  Greyliound,  a  deserving  good  officer,  who  proved  that 
innate  courage  was  to  be  assisted  by  experience,  and  I  reaped  the  benefit  of 
that  which  he  had  acquired  at  Copenhagen,  by  tlie  advice  and  assistance 
■which  he  gave  me.  T!ie  fire  from  the  main  decks  and  the  consequences  of 
■it<is  the  best  encomium  on  Lieutenants  Andoe  and  Whitehead  ;  but  I  beg 
leave  to  add,  that  their  conduct  has  been  as  good  and  exemplary  on  every 
Other  occasion.  I  have,  had  cause  to  speak  of  Mr.  Martin  in  the  body 
of  this  letter;  I  can  only  add,  that  he  is  a  credit  to  the  profesiion  to  which 
he  belongs.  The  beliavjour  of  the  Warrant  Officers  and  Midshipmen  was 
highly  hocnming;  from  among  the  latter  1  beg  leave  to  recommend  Messrs. 
Harris,  Bray,  Giace,  and  Majoribanks,  as  young  ofiicers  deserving  of  pro- 
mo!-i<jn. 

The  cooInc5«,  bravery,  and  good  conduct  of  the  Petty  Officers  and  ship's 
company,  was  such  as  would  make  it  tedious,  difficult,  and  perhaps  invi- 
dious, to  attempt  to  particularize  iheir  individual  merits;  they  have  long, 
by  iheir  excellent  behaviour,  had  a  claim  on  my  gratitude,  and  they 
now  have  one  on  my  admiration ;  suffice  it  then  to  say,  that  an  enthusias- 
tic courage  reigned  throughout  tiie  ship  ;  such  as  I  fancy  belongs  to  Britons 
alone. 

Captain  Troubridge  speaks  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  Harrier;  he  has 
requested  me  to  make  known  the  great  assistance  he  received  fi-om  Mr. 
j^Iitcliell,  the  first  Lieutenant,  and  the  very  exemplar}'  conduct  of  acting 
Lieutenant  C,  Hole,  and  Mr.  R.  Quulst,  the  Master.  In  expressing  his  ap- 
probation of  the  conduct  of  the  Warrant  and  Petty  Officers,  lie  mentions 
[Messrs.  Coffin  and  Mitford,  Jvlidshipmen,  especially  :  and  I  take  the  liberty 
<)f  adding,  that  both  of  the-ti  have  served  their  time. 

Lor  all  other  particulars  I  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  llie  enclosed  reports, 
from  the  perusal  of  which  you  wilt  perceive  how  much  His  IMajesty's  ships 
have  suffered  m  their  masts  and  rig':ring;  but  you  will  participate  in  the  joy 
which  I  fieeJ,  that  our  loss  has  been  triHing  when  compared  with  that  of  the 
enemy.  I  I'.iive,  6cc. 

E.  ELPHINSTONE, 

Sir  Thcmas  Traufiridge,  Barf.,  Ticar-Jdmiral 
■    of  Ihe  White,  SfC.  Sfc.^c. 

iist  qfXitlrct  and  Wmaded  ori  hoard  Hi'!  Majestifs  Ships,  in  Action  uit,h  d 
Dutch  S:j2ir.droti  nn  the  '2bth  of  Julij,  18ut;,  off  Macassar.  '  '* 

(^reykotini — 1  killed  and  B  wofinded. 

}iikrricr—'6  wounded. — ■lotal,  1  killed  and  H  wounded.. 


KAVAL    HISTORV    OF    THE   JUrSENT    YEAR,    1807.  341 

Officers  slightly  wounded. 
.    Greyhound — James  Wood,  Boatswain;    George  ZVIajoriHank?,  Master's 
Mate;  atui  John  JBradfurd,  Clerk. 

last  of  Killed  and  Wounded  an  hoard  the  T.nemy^s  Skips,  in  Action  on-thc 
Itth  of  July,  laCO,  of  Macassar. 

Pallas — 8  killed  and  32  wounded. — (The  Captaiu,  Pilot,  and  four  sea- 
men, bitice  dead.) 

Victoria — 2  killed. 

Battuvia — -2  killed  and  seven  wounded. — (The  Lieutenant  and  one  sea- 
men, since  dead.j — Total,  12  killed,  CJ9  wounded. 

Officers  hilled. 

'Pallas — Jan  Hendrick  Resen,  Boatswain. 
Jbattavia — P.  Hulsenbos,  first  Lieuten;uit. 

Officers  zcounded. 

Pa//as— N.  S.  Aalbers,  Captain,  since  dead ;  W,  Slander,  second  Lieate- 
nant;  E.  C.  Herson,  fifth  Lieutenant;  B.  V'alk,  Pilot,  since  dead;  A.  An- 
drisse,  second  Pilot;  P.  V'ander  Wagtz,  third  Pilot;  A.  Edetz, Midshipman; 
T.  Animban,  Clerk. 

Battalia — F,  H.  Mammael,  Lieutenant;  Cenit  Fredericks,  ditto,  since 
dead. 

E.  ELPHLS'STONE. 

LONDON  GAZETTE  EXTRAOKDIXARY. 

■•  APRIL    12. 

Captain  Donelly,  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Ardent,  arrived  this  morning 
vith  dispatches  from  Rear-Admirai  Stirling,  commanding  a  squadron  of 
His  Majesty's  ships  in  the  Rio  de  la  Plata,  of  which  tlie  following  are 
copies. 

SIR,  Diadem,  off'Montc  Video,  fjth  Feb.  1807. 

I  have  peculiar  satisfaction  in  couirratulating  my  Lords  (Commissioners  of 
the  Admiralty  on  tlie  capture  of  Monte  Video,  as  well  from  tlie  impoitance 
of  the  conquest,  as  from  the  honour  wiiich  has  thereby  been  acquired  by 
His  Majesty's  arms. 

Immediately  on  the  arrival  of  Brijadier-General  Sir  Samuel  Auchmuty,  at 
Maldonado,  it  was  determined  tj  invest  this  place,  and  having  assembied 
our  force  off  the  Island  of  Tlores,  a  descent  was  elfected  on  the  lOtti  ult. 
near  Carreta  Point,  which  is  about  seven  miles  to  the  eascward  of  the  town. 
'J'he  enemy  had  assembled  in  considerable  numbers,  and  with  several  pieces 
of  artillery  seemed  determined  to  oppose  our  progress. 

Tlic  navij:ation  of  the  Pcio  de  la  Plata,  with  the  strong  breezes  which  we 
have  experienced  for  several  wet.-i;5,  rendered  tlie  landing  of  troops,  and 
assisting  their  operations,  very  difticult,  but  the  place  chosen  was  happily 
adaptetl  to  allow  the  covering  vessels,  under  the  direction  of  Captain  llar- 
dyman,  to  approacii  so  close  as  to  command  the  beach,  and  notwithstand- 
ing the  weather  threatoned,  and  was  unfavour.able,  the  soldiers  got  all  on 
shore  without  a  siiigle  accident  of  any  kind,  and  were  in  possession  of  tlie 
heights  before  six  o'clock,  with  such  things  as  the  General  wanted. 

Ou  the  i9th  the  army  moved  forwurds,  and  as  an  attempt  to  harass 
the  rear  was  expected,  1  diieclcd  boats  to  proceed  clo^e  along  shore  to 
iook  out  for  and  bring  otV  any  wounded  men,  whilst  the  covrring  vessels 
were  placeil  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  giving  annoyance,  and  i  iiad  tha 
tiappiiK'Ss  tu  hear  that  all  the  sutierers  were  brought  oif,  iu  despite  of  well 


342     NAVAL  HISTORY  OP  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1807. 

directed  efforts  to  destroy  them.  In  the  evening  T  dropped,  with  the  fleet, 
«li'  Chico  Bay,  near  winch  tlie  army  encamped,  within  two  miles  of  the 
citj.  _  '     . 

I  had  landed  about  eight  hundred  seamen  and  royal  marines,  under  the 
orders  of  Captain  Donnelly,  to  act  with  the  trf)ops;  and,  as  I  saw  no 
advantage  could  icbtik  from  any  eftorc  of  ships  against  a  strong  fortress,  well 
defended  at  all  points,  and  wiiich,  from  the  shallowness  of  the  water,  could 
not  be  approached  within  a  distance  to  allow  shot  to  be  of  any  use,  I  dis- 
posed the  squadron  so  as  to  prevent  any  escape  from  the  harbour,  as  well 
as  Co  impede  a  conimuuicatioii  between  Colonna  and  Buenos  Ayres,  and 
CDofined  my  whole  attcntioa  to  give  every  possible  assistance  in  forwarding 
thesfege,  by  landing  jjuns  from  the  line  of  battle  ships,  with  ammunition, 
sJores,  provisions,  and  every  tiling  required  by  the  Commander  of  the 
forces. 

The  distance  which  the  ships  lay  from  the  shore,  with  the  almost  constant 
iizh  v/itid*  and  swell  we  lutd,  and  the  great  way  every  thing  was  to  be 
dnfsgtd  by  the  seamen,  op  a  heavy  sandy  road,  made  the  duty  excessively 
laVxjrions.  The  squadFon  had  almost  daily  fourteen  hundred  men  on  shore, 
Mm\  this  shi[>  was  ofttn  left  with  only  thirty  men  on  board. 

The  dc'fente  made  by  the  enemy  protracted  the  siege  longer  than  was  ex- 
pected,, and  reduci.-*!  our  stock  of  powder  so  1(jw,  that  the  King's  ships, 
with  aPf  the  tranj.ports,  and  what  a  fleet  of  merchantmen  had  for  sale, 
C(«u!d  HOC  h,»ve  fuinished  a  further  consumption  for  more  tlian  two  davs, 
wfwn  a  praciicaUe  breach  was  iortuiiatt'ly  made,  and  on  the  od  instant, 
eavly  m  the  morni'ig,  the  town  and  citadel  were  most  galliuuly  carried  by 
storm, 

in  a  conversation  with  the  General  on  the  precedii:^  day,  I  had  made 
such  di&fK>sit;ioii  of  t\w.  smaller  vessels  and  armed  boats,  as  appeared  most 
likely  to  answer  a  dcbircd  purpose;  and  so  soon  as  Fort  Saint  Philip  was  in 
possession  of  the  British  troops.  Lieutenant  William  Milne,  with  the  armed 
launches,  {ook  poss^'ssion  ot  the  island  of  Rattones,  mounting  ten  guns  and 
g:>rri50ued  bv  seventy  men,  which  suirendered  without  any  resistance,  al-> 
»hongh  it  IS  well  adapted  for  defence,  and  might  liave  given  considerable 
unnoyance,  A  veiy  tine  frigate  mounting  twenty-eight  guns  was  set  fire 
to  by  Iser  new,  and  blew  up  with  an  awful  explosion;  as  also  three  gun- 
l»oats,  but  the  other  vc^seL  in  the  harbour  were  saved  by  the  exertion  uf 
our  j>eople. 

It  has  been  much  the  ( ustom  to  speak  slightly  of  the  resistance  to  be  ex- 
pectetl  from  the  Spaniards  in  this  country;  and  with  confidence  of  the  faci- 
lity vbich  has  been  given  to  naval  operations,  by  a  prior  knowledge  of  the 
river;  but  the  battics  lately  founht  prove  the  former  opinion  to  be  erroneous; 
and  experier>ce  evinces  that  all  the  informatiun  hitherto  acquired  has  not 
prevented  tlie  most  formidable  dithcultics. 

The  conduct  of  the  Captains,  officers,  seamen  and  royal  marines  of  the 
ships  and  vessels,  which  I  kept  with  me  for  tliis  service,  has  met  with  my 
entire  approbation:  and  I  teel  persuaded  that  I  should  have  had  occasion  to 
express  n)y  satisfaction  wjiii  the  exertions  of  t!ic  oliiccrs  and  crews  of  the 
Djomede  and  Protector,  if  I  had  not  been  obliged  to  detach  thenj  on  other 
service.  '  '       ■■•■■■-  ^ 

I  am  miich  indebted  to  the  able  assistance  which  Captain  Warren  has 
afforded  me;  and  I  admire  the  zeal,  the  patience,  and  diligence  of  every 
individual  in  the  ileet  dtu'ing  the  incessant  fatigue  which  1  have  daily  wit- 
nessed. 

Captain  Donnelly  will  have  the  honour  to  deliver  this  dispatch,  and  is 
fully  aUle  to  give  their  Lorrlships  furiiicr  particulars. 

Enclosed  is  a  list  uf  men  behniging  to  the  Navy,  who  were  killed  oi 


NAVAL  insTonY  or  tut:  presen't  year,   1S07.         343 

woundnd  in  tlic  batteries;  and  al^o  a  list  of  tl;e  enemy's  ships  and  vessels 
found  in  t]'.e  haibom-,  v\ith  a  reluin  of  ordnance,  &c.  on  the  island  of 
Ilattoncs. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c, 

CHARLES  STIRLING. 

A  List  of  the  Seainen  and  Marimsbclungiug  to  theSgtcadrv7i,ufiOiiere  killed 
and  zcoundcd  at  the  Capture  of  Monte  Video,  FtbrituryZ,  1807. 

Diadem. — Ralph  Blair,  seaman,  killed;  John  Francis,  seaman,  ditto; 
Thorr.ton  Purke,  seaman,  badly  wounded;  John  C'raJiy,,  marine,  slightly 
wounded, 

Raisonabk,- — Michael  IMiller,  seaman,  badly  wounded ;  Edward  Roach, 
seaman,  slightly  wounded. 

Ardent. — Honourable  C.  L.  Trhy,  Midshipman,  slightly  w(^unded;  Joha 
Doak,  seaman,  slightly  wounded  ;  Michael  Btirne,  seaman,  ditto;  Joh» 
Levan,  bcaman,  ditto;  William  .Icffji,  seaman,  daiigerousiy  wounded;  Wil- 
liam Hart,  seaman,  missing;  James  \\'ebster,  seaman,  ditto;  Lawrence 
Plunket,  seaman,  killed. 

U/Hcorn. — John  James,  ordinary,  badly  wounded;  Henry  Smith,  Mid- 
shipman, ditto. 

Mtdusa. — William  Garey,  able,  dangerously  wounded. 
Lancuiler. — Josiah  Smith,  ordinary,  slightly  woimded;  Andrew  Swedea,  ~ 
able,  ditto. 

Daphne. — Timothy  Conner,  landman,  slightly  wounded. 
Houe. — William  M'Cromick,  landman,  missing;  \^'illiam  Burges,  land- 
inun,  slightly  wounded;  George  Markham,  Captain  of  the  forecastle,  ditto  ^ 
Edward  Hill,  ordinary,  ditto;  ^''raucis  Bonifast,  able,  ditto. 

Charuell. —  Oliver  Luke,  seaman,  killed  ;  Joim  Murphy,  missing. 
I'heusant. — None  killed  or  wounded. 
Encounter. — Richard  ^lann,  able,  badly  wounded. 

Slaunek. — George  Stewart,  Sub- Lieutenant,  slightly  wounded;  Thomas 
Start,  alias  Joseph  Dickins,  Umdman,  killed  ;  John  Fryar,  Captain  of  the 
foretop,  slightly  wounded;  Patrick  ^Niooney,  landman,  ditto;  Thomas  II. 
(Jlden,  able,  ditto;  Richard  Walker,  ordinary,  killed;  I'eter  iiees,  Ca}jt;iin  ■ 
of  the  forecastle,  slightly  wounded;  John  Morrison,  Midshipman,  ditto; 
David  Miller,  ordinary,  ditto ;  John  Moore,  landman,  ditto. — Total,  6  kdled 
28  wounded,  4  missing. 

CHARLES  STIRLING. 

List  of  Prizes  taken  at  Monte  Video,  3d  of  Februuri/,  1807. 

La  Paula,  a  King's  ship,  of  Q'2  guns,  very  old,  and  badly  ston-d. 

El  Principe  de  la  Paz,  an  Indiaman,  mounting '20  guns,  very  old,  unrigged, 
has  a  few  stores.     Fit  for  a  prison  ship.     650  ions. 

J./a  Princessa,  an  Indianum,  of  6y0  tons,  pierced  ibr  £0  guns,  no  riggiug 
over  head. 

La  Fuerte,  a  King's  ship,  pierced  for  23  guiis,  about  6  years  old,  has  be«a 
hove  down  on  one  side,  and  is  ready  to  be  hove  do\\a  on  the  other,  toler- 
ably well  found. 

Le  Hero,  a  brig  of  war,  of  20  guns,  about  6  vcait  old,  well  fitted,  and  in 
tolerable  good  condition,  tier  sails  and  rigging  on  shore, 

Los  Dolores,  a  King's  schooner,  pierced  for  10  guus,  is  about  5  years  old, 
and  tolerably  well  fnund. 

La  Paz,  a  King's  schooner,  pierced  for  10  siius,  about  3  years  old,  sails 
on  shore,  is  coppered,  and  pretty  well  fiiund. 

Name  unknown,  a  merchant  snow,  about  300  tons. 

Name  unknown,  a  merchant  brig   about  180  tons. 

Nelly,  a  ship  of  about  400  tons,  nearly  new. 

Jolly  Tar,  a  brig  of  war,  pierced  for  14  guns. 


344  KAYAL    HISTOllY    OF   THE    PRESEXT  YEAR,  18G7. 

Name  unknown,  stout  built  snow,  of  about  "200  tons,  laden  with  salt. 

Merchant  schooner,  new,  of  about  60  tons,  laden  with  spirits  and  sundry 
merchandise. 

Name  unknown,  ship  of '^2  guns,  hgw,  of  about  400  tons. 

Name  unknown,  ship  of  24  suns,  of"  about  350  tons. 

Name  unknown,  ship  of  about  350  tons,  3  years  old,  well  found. 

Prince  of  JManilla,  ship  of  alwut  1000  tons,  very  old. 

La  rior  del  Mayo,  merchant  ship,  about  270  tons. 

La  Mana  Paula,  ship  of  about  280  tons. 

Name  unknown,  merchant  ship  of  about  270  tons. 

Name  unknown,  ship  about  200  tons. 

Name  unknoNyn,  a  brig  of  160  tons,  5  or  6  years  old. 

Ansan  Jose  de  Bilhas,  ship  of  about  240  tons,  new,  and  well  found. 

Name  unknown,  ship  about  3uO  tons,  S  or  6  yeais  old,  well  found  ir. 
sails  and  rigL'ing. 

La  Reyna  Louisa,  man  of  war  sloop,  pierced  for  26  guns,  well  found,  a 
good  ship,  with  brass  12  pounders. 

Minerva,  ship,  6  years  old,  about  180  tons. 

Name  unknown,  brig,  about  180  tous,  about  10  years  old. 

A  ship  sunk. 

Smack  of  120  tons. 

El  Pilar,  sunk,  of  about  120  tons. 

Name  unknown,  brig,  about  180  tons,  very  good. 

Santa  Louisa  Polana,  ship  of  loO  tons,  very  good. 

Name  unknown,  ship  almost  new,  350  tons,  well  found. 

Name  unknown,  ship,  very  good,  of  300  tons. 

Polacca  ship,  very  good,  of  100  tons. 

Name  unknown,  ship  of  350  tons,  quite  new. 

Name  unknown,  a  ship  of  460  tons. 

Name  unknown,  a  ship  of  350  tons,  about  6  years  old,  a  fine  ship. 

Santissima  Trinidada,  very  fine  ship,  vvell  found,  of  210  tons. 

La  Providencia,  a  ship  of  200  tons,  in  good  condition. 

Name  unknown,  ship  of  IBO  tons,  about  10  years  old,  with  new  sails  an<£ 
riggino-. 

Name  unknown,  ship  of  about  230  tons,  good  state. 

Santa  Rosa,  a  ship  of  3  years  old,  of  about  200  tons.    * 

Neptuno  brig,  a  brig  of  2C)0  tons,  good  state,  well  found. 

Name  unknown,  brig,  quite  new,  of  150  tons. 

Name  unknown,  ship,  very  old,  of  150  tons. 

La  Virgin  de  la  \'illa,  ship  of  170  tons,  in  good  condition,  well  found. 

L'liamtas,  polacca  brig  of  220  tons,  a  good  vessel. 

Name  unknown,  a  brig  of  150  tons,  a  good  vessel,  well  found  in  sails  and 
riggmg. 

La  Maria  Antonia,  a  ship  of  about  200  tons,  good  vessel. 

Ntime  unknown,  a  ship  of  300  tous,  new  and  well  found. 

Name  unknown,  a  bri-:  of  150  tons,  a  good  vessel,  well  found. 

Name   unknown,  a  ship  of  2i0  tons,  well  found  in  rigging,  spars  on 
board. 

Name  unknown,  ship  of  16  guns,  almost  new,  well  found  in  rigging,  cop- 
pered, about  260  tons. 

Name  unknown,   a  brig  of  about  220  tons,  good  vessel,  well  found,  some 
bides  and  tallow  on  board. 

Name  unknown,  a  brig,  of  about  120  tons,,  coppered  and  good. 

Name  unknown,  polacca  brig,  of  lUO  tons,  old. — Total,  57. 

Fifteen  sloop-rigiiod  gun-boats, 

bix  row-boats  with  guns.  ,  ^ 

CUAPvLES  STIRLING. . 


KAVAr,    lIISTOIi'S-    OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1807.  315 

A  Return  itf  Ordna7ice,  HjC,  found  on  and  near  the  Isle  of  Ra'.iones,  F&- 
briiary  3,  180r. 

Loiij:;  guns — 4  tweiity'four-pounders,  '6  cightecn-pouiulcrs,  3  twelve- 
pounders. 

1  gun-boat  long  twenty-rour-poundor. 

2  laiiiiclies  witli  twelve-poundcr  carronade?. 
I  launch  with  a  long  brass  six-poundcr. 

1  pinnuce  fitted  for  swivel  guns, 

1  lar<;c  drckeci  launch. 

5  unarnicil  luunclici. 

25  small  boats, 

60  powder  barrels,  stove,  with  side  arms,  &c.  &c. 

7 1  prisoners. 

CHARLES  STIRLIXG. 

APRIL    14. 

Ciipj/ofa  Letter  from  Vkc-AdTviral  Dacrex,  Coimncmdcr  in  Chief  of  Ills 
Majcslifii  Ships  iind  Vesnels  ut  Jamaica,  to  William  Mursden,  Esq.}  dated 
at  Port  Rot/al,  Junuuri/  15,  1807. 

SIR, 

I  enclose  you,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Ad- 
miralty, the  copy  of  a  letter  I  have  received  from  Captain  Briggs,  of  the 
HJrphens,  acqnamtinc  me  wiih  the  capture  of  the  Spanish  man  of  war  schoo- 
ner Dolores,  by  the  boats  of  that  ship.         I  am,  &c. 

J.  R.  DACRES. 

His  Majeatt/s  Ship  Orpheus,  at  Sea, 
SIR,  November  21,  ISuCi. 

I  be<^  to  inform  yon,  that  Lieutenant  Geor^fe  B.  Vine  did.  ort  the  night  of 
tlie  2Uch  inst.,  in  the  liar};c  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Orpheus,  very  gallantly 
board  and  carry  the  Spanisli  man  of  war  schooner  Dolores,  mounting  one 
lon^  nine,  two  ibur-poundcr  cuns,  and  four  swi\  els,  with  a  complement  of 
thirty-four  men,  in  Campeachy  Biiy;  which  schooner  was  ient  out  for  the 
express  purpose  of  aitackiuij;  the  Orpheus's  boats. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

IIIOMAS  BRIGGS, 
To  James  Richard  Dacres,  Esq.,  Commander 
in  Chief,  &c. 

Copt/ of  another  Letter  from   Vice- Admiral  Dacrcs,  to  William  MandeUf 
Esq.;  dated  at  Fort  Rot/al,  February  7,  18U7. 

SIR, 

It  gives  me  much  pleasure  to  enclose  yon  the  copy  of  a  letter  I  have  re- 
ceived from  Captain  Inglctield,  of  the  Hunter,  aCqnainimg  me  of  the  cap- 
ture of  a  Spanish  privateer,  fitted  out  to  cruise  H<^Uli^l  ttie  trade  of  this 
Inland.  1  am,  &c. 

J.  R,  DACRES. 

His  Mitjesttfs  Shop  Hunter,  S:dith  Negri, 
Jiitnuicu,  S.  E.  liu  leagues,  ijth  cj  Ju' 
SIR,  nvari/,  1807. 

It  is  with  much  pleasure  I  have  t!ic  lif)nonr  of  informing  vou,  that  Hi* 
Majesty's  sloop  under  my  command  fell  in  with  rhis  morninir  and  captured, 
w.fter  a  cliase  of  eight  liours,  and  nmch  labour  at  the  iweops,  the  IJabelia 

i?9ato.  CJiron.  Sol. XVII.  r  v 


346  KAVAL  nisroRif  of  inc  present  year,  1807. 

"Spanish  schooner  privateer,  Don  Juan  Antonio  Parodi,  Captain,  manned 
■with  sixty-four  men,  mounting  a  loot;  nine-pounder  on  midships,  and  twcr 
four-pounders,  with  tliirty  muskets,  and  otherwise  well  armed  and  stored 
for  a  lonij  cruise.  She  is  from  Carthagena  fifteen  days;  and  I  am  happy  to- 
add  has  not  captured  any  thing,  bat  was  on  the  point  of  taking  asloop  w'hen 
•we  fortunately  fell  in  with  her. 

I  have  the  hoilour  to  be,  &c. 

H.  S.  INGLEFIELD. 
James  Ricftard  Dacres,  F^?q.,  Yice-Ad- 
yniral  of  the  White,  Commander  in 
Chief,  4 Ci  ($c.  SfC. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Hear- Admlrat  Sir  Ale.Tnnder  Cochrane,  K.  B.,  Co'~ 
mander  in  Chief  of  Hia  Mnjcs^t^'x  Ships  and  Vesse/s  at  the  Lecuard  hlands^ 
to  William  Murndcn.  Esq.;  dated  on  board  the  ^Northumberland,  at  Sea, 
th-e  2d  February,  iiiOl . 

I  have  the  honour  to  enclose,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords  Commis- 
sioners of  the  Adinir.ilty,  the  copy  of  a  leuer  from  Captain  Saver,  of  Ilis 
Majesty's  ship  Galatea,  giving  an  account  of  the  capture  of  the  French 
national  corvette  T yix,  /"one  of  tliose  which  escaped  from  Sir  Sanuui 
Hood's  squadron,)  by  the  boats  of  that  ship,  under  the  command  of  Lieute- 
nant Cocmbe. 

When  it  is  tal<en  into  consideration  the  fatigue  of  so  long  a  row  as  the 
"boats'  crews  !iad  before  they  came  up  with  the  enemy,  their  great  disparity 
in  numbers,  their  huving  to  attack  a  man  of  war  under  sail,  completely  pre- 
pared for  their  reception,  and  their  perseverance  in  the  attack,  without  a 
chance  of  support  from  the  ship,  afrer  being  twice  repulsed,  I  may  safely 
ray  that  more  ('etrnnined  bravery  has  not  been  shown  during  the  war. 
Wliile  I  admire  their  gallantry,  I  must  sympathize  with  the  friends  of  those 
■who  fell  in  the  action.  In  the  death  of  Lieutenant  Henry  Walker,  who 
was  some  time  ago  promoted  from  this  ship,  the  service  has  lost  a  most 
promising  officer.  Lieutenant  Coonibc's  conduct  speaks  for  itself;  al- 
though he  had  before  lost  a  leg,  his  activity  in  the  execution  of  his  duty 
has  always  been  remarked ;  in  this  action  he  received  a  severe,  and  1 
fear  a  dangerous  wound,  in  the  thigh,  above  the  former  amputation; 
I  therefore  feel  assured  their  Lordships  will  judge  him  deserving  theii 
protection. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

ALEX.  COCHRANE. 

His  MafeSti/'s  Ship  Galafca,  Coast  of 
STBj  Caraccas,  Junuary  22,  1807. 

Yesterday  morning  we  discovered,  from  the  mast-head,  a  sail  in  the  S.  E.j 
steering  lor  la  Guira,  and  i>oon  compelled  her  to  another  course  lor  Barce- 
lona; about  noon  it  was  mostly  cahn,  when  she  appeared  to  be  a  man  of 
war,  and,  by  her  manojuvre,  an  enemy;  she  had  now  the  advantage  of  us 
by  a  breeze,  and  with  her  lofty  flying  sails,  and  sweeps,  was  leaving  us  fait. 
At  two  o'clock  her  top-gallant-s.iils  were  scarcely  above  the  horizon,  but  in 
a  situation  between  the  ship  and  the  coast  that  still  afforded  me  hopes  of 
her,  by  co-operation  of  ihe  boats;  they  pushed  off,  under  the  direction  of 
the  first  Lieutenant  William  Coonibe,  manned  with  five  ofhcers,  fifty  sea- 
men, and  twenty  marines;  and,  after  rowing  about  twelve  leagues  in  eight 
hours,  (part  of  the  time  under  a  burning  sun,)  they  came  up  with  her,  going, 
with  a  light  land  breeze,  about  two  knot.~;  having  first  hailed  fier,  our  brave 
fellows  instantly  attempted  to  board  on  both  quarters,  but  by  the  fire  of  her 


NAYAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PHESEVT    YEAR,    1807.  347 

guns,  which  had  been  all  trained  aft  in  readiness,  and  havir,-;  to  combat,  under 
every  disadvantage,  with  more  than  double  their  numbers,  were  twice  re- 
pulsed by  them.  The  boats  now  dropped,  and  poured  through  her  stern 
and  quarter-ports  a  destructive  fire  of  musqnetoons  and  small  arms,  thsit 
cleared  the  deck  of  many  of  the  enemy,  who  were  all  crouded  aft;  v.lien, 
after  an  arduous  struggle,  (a  third  time,)  for  a  footing,  our  men  rnslied 
?.-board,  and  in  a  few  minutes  drove  all  before  them;  the  bowsprit  and  jib- 
boom  were  covered;  some  flcvv  aloft,  and  others  below;  the  Captain  and 
most  of  his  officers  were  lying  woanded  on  the  decks,  leaving  the  remainder 
of  this  handful  of  men  in  proud  possession  of  the  I'rench  Imperial  corvette, 
ie  Lynx,  of  fourteen  twentv-four  pounders,  carronrcdes,  and  two  long  nine- 
pounders,  chasers,  pierced  for  eigliteen  guns,  and  manned  with  one  hundred 
and  sixty-one  men,  commanded  by  Monsieur  Jean  M.  Yarquost,  with  dis- 
patches from  Guadaioupe  for  theCaraccas;  she  is  two  years  old,  and  a 
well-equipped  tine  vessel,  in  all  respects,  for  His  Majesty's  service. 

At  the  head  of  our  invaluable  men's  names,  who  fell  in  this  quarter  of  an 
hour's  sharp  contest,  stands  that  of  the  second  Lieutenant  Harry  \V«1« 
ker,  of  his  third  wound;  of  the  oficers  commanding  our  live  boats, 
only  lieutenant  Gibson  was  unhurt.  It  may  be  unnecessary  to  add  Lieu- 
tenant Coombe's  report,  that  every  man  did  his  duty — I  am  satisfied  they 
did.  I  am.  Sir,  &c. 

GEO.  SAYER. 

To  R^ar-Adniiral  the  Hon.  Sir  AkxandtT 
Cochrcne,  K.  £.,  Commander  in  Chief. 
(5c.  S>;c.  tVc 

A  List  of  killed  and  icounded  Decern,  Seamen,  and  Marinss.,  on  hoard  the 
Gal-uteu  uitd  le  Lxpii. 

Killed  on  board  the  Galatea. 
Harry  Walker,  second  Lieutenant;  George  Vincent,  seaman;  John  Mil-' 
dron,  ditto;  Thomas  Whetcridge,  ditto     Robert  M'Cann,  ditto;  Frederick 
Plank,  ditto;  James  Mason,  Sergeant  of  Huiriues;  William  Cooper,  private 
of  marines;  J3avid  ISicholis,  ditto. 

Severely  zcoundcd  on  board  the  Galatea. 
William  Coombe,  first  Lieutenant;  Barry  Sarsfield,  P'lasterV  ^latc;  Ro- 
bert Jbbbin,  Pi  tty  Otticer;  William  Cock,  seaman;  John  FoX;  ditto;  Wil- 
liam West,  ditto;  Robert  liaynes,  ditto;  William  Mills,  ditto;  Richard 
Bartlein,  pri\atc  of  marines;  Henry  Thompson,  ditto;  David  Jones, 
ditto. 

Slightlij  ramnded  on  board  the  Galatea. 
John  Grc-en,  Master's  ?/Iate;  R.  Berry,  Petty  Officer;  Robert  Bailey, 
seaiaiiu;  Tlioinus  Wluiaker,  ditto  ;  George  Grilhths,  ditto ;  Thomas  Jones, 
ditto;  Janit.s  Bog,  ditto;  John  Ciiapinan,  ditto;  John  IS  orris,  ditto;  John 
Lewis,  ditto;  Ibomas  Guidon,  piivate  of  marines. — Total,  9  killed  and 'ii 
bounded — oi. 

Killed  on  board  le  Lynx. 
The  third  Lieutenant,  13  Petty  Officers,  seamen,  and  soldiers. 
Wonnded  on  boiird  le  Lynx. 

The  Commander,  Moh*.  M.  Yarquest,  and  the  first  Lieutenant,  (both 
fcadly,)  4  <iiriccr>^,  and  14  seamen  and  soldiers.— Total,  14  killed  and  ii!0 
wounded  (must  of  tlieiu  badivj— 34. 

'  '       '  GEO..  SAYER. 


54S  NAVAt     HISTORY    OF    THE    PRr,S£.\f    YEAR,     1S07. 

Copy  of  another  iMter  from  Rear-Admiral  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane,  K.B., 
to  William  Mar^dr.n,  Esq.;  dated  on  board  the  Northumberland,  Carlisle 
,  Bay,  Barbadoes,  February  5,  1807. 

SIR, 

I  have  grent  pleasure  in  acquainting  you,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords 
Cominissiuners  of  tlie  Admiralty,  with  our  having  again  possession  of  His 
Majesty's  late  sh")op  Favourite.  She  was  raptured  by  the  Jason  on  the 
coast  of  Guayana;  and  I  enclose  a  copy  of  t'aptain  Cochranc's  letter,  giving 
an  account  thereof. 

I  am  in  great  hopes  he  will  also  fall  in  with  her  consort,  from  having  dis- 
covered her  orders  and  rcnriezvous. 

I  have  the  iionour  to  bo,  tkc. 

A  I. EX.  COCriRANF. 

His  Majesli/.i  Ship  Jaxon,  at  Sea, 
SIK,  January  28,  1807. 

Having  received  your  orders  by  His  Majesty's  sloop  Osprey,  I  proceeded 
towards  Maroney  river,  and  yesterday  morning  at  day-light,  Soiauiine  river 
bearing  south  by  east  twenty-six  miles,  discovered  u  ship  and  brig  nearly 
six  miles  on  the  weather  beam,  apparently  men  of  war;  and  from  tiie  in- 
formation I  received  a  few  days  before,  conceived  them  to  be  the  vessels  of 
which  we  were  in  search;  and  about  a  quarter  before  ten,  succeeded  in 
bringing  the  ship  to  action  within  pistol-shot,  who  sliortly  after  struck,  and 
proved  to  be  la  Favorite,  (formerly  in  His  Majesty's  service,)  mounting 
sixteen  long  sixes  and  thirteen  twelve-pounder  carronades,  liaving  on  hoard 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  and  commanded  by  Mons.  Le  Murant  Daniel, 
Lieutenant  de  Vaissean.  The  brig,  from  her  sailing  superior  to  the  Favorite, 
and  in  consequeiiCe  of  signals  from  her,  kept  above  gun-shot  to  windward, 
and  I  am  sorry  to  say,  from  the  time  it  took  to  exchange  the  prisoners, 
^nd  being  favoured  by  the  wind,  she  has  made  her  escape;  she  mounts 
fourteen  brtss  eight-pounders,  (English  nines,;  and  one  hundred  and  twenty 
men. 

I  am  happy  to  add,  we  had  only  one  man  wounded;  the  P'avorito  had 
one  killed  aud  one  wounded,  and  was  very  much  cut  up  in  her  sails  and 
rigging. 

I  cannot  conclude  without  returning  thanks  to  Lieutenant  Prinde,  first  of 
tjiis  ship,  for  his  active  conduct  on  this,  as  well  as  every  occasion,  and  aiu 
only  sorry  that  this  affair  did  not'afFord  him  a  greater  opportunity  of  distin- 
guishing himself. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Szc. 

T.  COCHRANE. 

Rear-Admiral  Cochrane,  K.  B.,  ^-c. 

APRIL   C5. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  Earl  of  St.  Vincent,  K.  B.,  Admiral  and  dnnmandcr 
in  Chief  (if  Hix  Majiatyx  Fitet  employed  in  the  Channel,  Soundings,  4c. ,  to 
William  Mursden,  Esq.;  dated  in  Torcn,  the  Hth  Instant. 

.'^IIi, 

I  enclose,  for  the  informatiou  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admi- 
ralty, a  letter  which  I  have  received  fiom  Captain  Maitland,  of  [lis  Maiesty's 
ship  Emerald,  giving  an  account  of  the  capture  oi  the  Austcrliiz  French 
Pfivateer.  I  am,  tuc. 

ST.  VINCENT. 

JIY  LORD,  Emerald  at  Sea,  April  .4,  l'M7. 

I  beg  to  inform  you  that  His  Majesty's  ship  under  my  command,  yester- 
day captured  a  Spanish  polacca  ship  from  la  Cuira,  loaded  with  cocoa. 


NAVAL   HISTORY    OF  THE   mrSENT    YEAR,    1807.  349 

lark,  indigo,  &c.,  vvhicii  I  was  convoying  as  far  as  the  limits  of  my  station, 
■when  a  report  bein^^  m<ide  of  a  sail  on  tlie  "catlier  bow  this  iiioniini^  at  day- 
liglit,  I  gave  cliase,  and  after  a  very  liard  ran  of  ten  hours,  had  the  good  for- 
tune to  capture  ib.e  Austerlitz  of  Nantes,  «  jwivflteer  brig,  carrying  fourteen 
iiine-pounders,  and  ninety-six  men.  She  is  quite  new,  appears  to  sail  ex- 
tremely fast,  and  is  in  my  opinion  perfectly  adapted  for  His  Majesty's  ser- 
vice. The  Austerlitz  was  titled  for  a  five  months'  cruise,  and  had  beta  out 
eight  days  from  Naiites  witliout  making;  any  capture, 
I  have  tiie  honour  to  be,  6:c. 

F.  Z,  ]\IAITLAND. 
The  Earl  of  St.  Vincent,  K.  B.,  &-c.  S)X.  .^c. 

Cojji/qfa  Lei ter  from  Flee- Admiral  Dacres,  Commander  in  Chkf  of  Hli 
Majesfi^^s  Ships  and  Vessels  at  Jamuua,  to  William  Marxden,  Ei^q.; 
fluted  on  board  His  Mujesti/s  Ship  Veteran,  at  Fort  Ituj/al,  March  12, 
1807. 

SIR, 

Tt  is  with  much  satisfaction  I  enclose  you,  for  the  information  oftheLord^ 
•Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  the  copies  of  two  letters  I  have  received 
from  Captain  Dacres,  of  the  Bacchante,  acquainting  me  of  the  capture  of 
the  French  national  schooner  Dauphin,  and  of  the  destruction  of  the  fcjrt, 
&c.  at  Samana,  the  nest  t'rom  whence  tlio  privateers  are  fitted  out  that  are 
■constantly  cruising  about  St.  Domingo  aud  Porto  Rico,  by  that  ship  and  the 
Mediator. 

I  trust  their  Lordships  will  approve  of  the  enterprise,  which  has  been  so 
completely  successful.  1  am,  &c. 

J.  R.  DACRES. 

Ilk  Majcst(/'s  Ship  Bacchante,  at  Sea, 
SIR,  Febnuuy  Iti,  J 807. 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Bacchante  under 
my  command  (Mediator  in  company)  iiaving  captured, on  the  14th  inst.,  otf 
Cape  Raphael,  the  French  national  !^cllooner  Dauphin,  after  achuseof  teu 
hours.  She  mounted  one  long  twelve  and  two  four  pounders,  but  the  two 
latter  she  hove  overboard  in  the  chase;  ami  IkiiI  on  board  seventy-one 
men. 

I  am  extremely  happy  in  havini^  captured  this  vessel,  as  she  has  done 
much  mischief  to  our  trade,  and  was  returning  from  a  successful  cruise  tu 
J?t.  Domingo. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

J,  It.  DACRES,  jun. 
To  J.  R.  Dacres,  Esq.,   Vice-Admiral 
of  the  White,  Commander  in  Chief, 
^■c.  ^c.  &iC. 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Bacchante,  at  Sea, 
SIR,  Febritary  'Zii,  1807. 

Having  captured  the  French  national  schooner  as  mentioned  in  my  letter 
•f  the  KJth  instant,  which  I  found  was  well  known  in  Samana, (that  nest  for 
privateer;*,)  and  havini:  constdtcd  with  Captain  Wise,  of  the  Mediator, 
wliora  I  fell  in  with  off  the  Mona,  under  similar  orders  to  myself,  crnismg 
for  tiie  annoyance  of  the  enemy,  (whose  vessels  are  principally  privateers 
in  these  seas,)  I  took  him  under  my  orders,  auii  arrived  at  a  (ktcnnination 
to  send  the  captured  vessel  in,  under  her  lormer  colours,  to  disiiuibe  tliis 
s!iip  as  a  prize,  and  the  Mediator  as  a  neutral;  which  strat.ij^em  so  com- 
pletely deceived  them,  that  we  got  tiM'0Uj;h  the  intricate  navigation  of  the 
harbour,  and  anchored  within  half  a  mile  of  tlie  fort,  before  tlie  enemy  dis- 
covered their  mistake,  and  opened  liicir  iisc  upon  us  from  tiic  fort,  wiiicb 


330  NAVAE   HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT-  YlARj    1807. 

3  have  thepFeasare  to  acquaint  yon,  Sir,  after  a  heavy  cannonade  of  four 
iiours  from  the  sliips,  was  carried  by  storm,  by  the  semnen  and  marines  of 
hoth  ships,  landed  under  the  comnaflnd  of  Captain  Wise,  assifted  by  Lieu- 
tenants Baker,  Norton,  and  Shaw.  We  found  in  the  harbour  an  American 
sliip,  and  an  English  schooner,  prizes  to  the  vessels  aforemetitioned,  and  two 
Piench  schooners  then  fitting  for  sea  as  cruisers.  T  a:n  concerned  to  say, 
the  Mediator  suffered  considerably ;  the  fire  of  tlie  enemy  being  chiefly  di- 
rected against  her,  but  not  so  much  as  might  be  expected  from  the  com.- 
manding  situation  of  the  fort,  which  was  manned  principally  by  the  crews 
of  the  privateers.  The  behaviour  of  the  otficers  and  men  of  both  ships^  was 
5tich  as  always  distinguislies  Bfitish  seamen,  and  great  credit  is  due  to  the 
Masters  for  carrying  the  siiips  through  so  ditSculta  navigation,  which  caused 
this  enterprise  to  be  so  completely  successful. 

*The  fort  and  cannon  were  destroyed  by  Lieutenant  Gould,  when  we  eva- 
cuated the  place  on  the  21st  instant.  The  enemy's  loss  must  have  been 
considerable,  though  we  could  not  ascertain  the  number,  from  their  retreat- 
mg  to  the  woods. 

Enclosed  is  the  return  of  killed  and  wounded. 

I  am,^  &c.  J.  R.  NACRES,  jun. 

To  Vice-Admiral  Dacres,  S(C.  SfC.  S(C. 

A  List  ef  Killed  and  Woundtd. 

Bacchante. — Mr.  T.  H.  M'Kenzie,  Master's  Mate,  slight!;/  wounded; 
■WiUiam  Acton,  seaman,  wounded;  William  Snow,  seaman,  ditto;  James 
Keid,  seaman,  ditto. 

Mcdialor. — William  Barker,  seaman,  killed;  M.  Wilson,  sr'aman,  ditto; 
Jasper  Hanson,  seaman,  wounded;  William  French, seaman, ditto;  F.Nash, 
seaman,  ditto ;  Wiliifim  Jewson,  seaman,  ditto;  William  Gordon,  seaman, 
ditto;  James  Simpson,  seaman,  ditto;  Edward  Faulkner,  searaaji,  ditto; 
Edward  Collins,  seaman,  ditto;  Edward  Wilkins,  seaman,  ditto;  John 
Lewis,  seaman,  ditto;  T.  Forster,  seaman,  ditto;  Samuel  Deer,  marine, 
ditto. — Total.  2  killed,  16  woundetL 

J,  R.  DACRES,jun.. 

C(^y  of  a  Letter  frovi  the  H&rteurabfe  Rear-Jdmiral  Sir  Alexander 
Cochrane,  K.  B.,  Commander  in  Chief  of  His  Majesty  s  Ships  and  Vessels 
at  the  Leeward  Islands,  to  WiUiam  Marsden,  Esq. ;  dated  on  board 
His  Majesty's  Ship  Northumberland,  Carlisle  Bay,  Barbadoe9,  I'eb. 
22,  180T. 

SIR, 
The  enclosed  copy  of  a  letter  from  Captain  Matson,  of  His  Majesty's  ship 
Venus,  acquainting  me  with  the  capture  of  a  French  privateer,  I  request  yol^ 
to  lay  before  tlte  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty  for  their  Lordships''  - 
iniformation. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

A.  C0CHR.4NE. 

His  Majesty  s  Skip  VcmiR,  Carlisle  Bay, 
SIR,  Barhadoes,  Februa7-i/  22,  1807. 

I  have  the  satisfaction  of  naaking  you  acquainted  with  my  having  cap- 
tured in  His  Majebty's  ship  under  my  command,  on  the  20th  instant,  about 
eight  leagues  east  of  Barbadoes,  the  French  privatctr  schooner  I'Etoile, 
of  six  guns,  (two  of  which  were  throvai  overboard,)  and  fifty-four  men, 
helonging  to  Guadaloupe,  but  last  from  Cayenne,  which  she  left  on  the 
17th  instant;  during  our  chase  after  this  vessel,  the  Cygnet  hove  in 
sight  to  windward,  which  made  her  bear  up,  and  greatly  shortened  the 
ptirsuit. 


NAVAL   HISTORY   OF   THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1S07.  35i 

The  Merchant  brig,  Volunteer,  from  Cork  to  Barbadocs,  was  taken  hj 
her  on  the  1st  of  tliis  month. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c- 

HENRY  MATSOX. 
^ke  Hon.  Sir  A.  Cochrane,  K.B.,  Rear- 
Admiral  <jf  the,  White,  ^c- 


Promotions  anH  appointments. 

WHITEHALL,    APRIL    4,    1807. 

Tlie  Kins  has  been  pleased  to  constitute  and  appoint  tne  Et^liS/ 
Jjonniirable  Henry  Eruoii  IMulprave,  James  Gamhier,  Esq.,  Admiral  of  the 
fihae  Squadron  of  His  jMajesty's  fleet ;  Sir  Richard  Biclcer'.on,  Ri^it.,  V:ce-« 
Admiral  of  the  WUUo  Squadron  of  His  Majesty's  fleet ;  William  Johnstone 
Hope,  and  Robert  Ward,  Esqrs.;  the  Rii:ht  Honourable  Henry  John  Vis- 
Count  Palnierston,  and  James  Buller,  Esq.,  to  be  His  Majesty's  Cotn- 
niissioners  for  executin;;  tlie  Office  of  His;h  Admiral  of  the  United  King- 
dom of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  the  dominions,  islands,  and  teriito- 
ries  thereunto  belonging. 

The  Lords  of  the  Admiralty  have  appointed  Sir  Home  Popham  to  tl-e 
command  of  a  small  squkdron,  to  cruise  off  the  Continent,  in  the  Rivers, 
&c.,  uith  a  Roving  Commission. 

Mr.  Smith  is  appointed  by  Mr.  Rose  Paymaster  of  due  Navy,  2«« 
Henry  Scutt,  Esq. 

Captain  Sir  C.  Hamilton,  Bart.,  to  iho  Temeraire,  98. 

■ Hon.  C.  Elphinstone  Hemiug,  to  the  Buivvafk,  ?4, 

Hon.  T.  Colville,  to  tlie  Hercule,  74. 

•' E.  D.  King,  to  the  Monmouth,  64. 

G.  R.  Coliicr,  to  the  Surveillaiite,  38, 

C.  Shipley,  to  the  Nymph,  3G, 

Hon.  H.  Duncan,  to  the  Poicupine,  24-, 

Edward  Hawkins,  from  the  hall-pay  list,  to  tlie  command  of  ibe 

Minerva. 

Lieutenant  Samuel  John  Pechell,  of  the  Foudroya?>t,  to  the  command  of 
the  Ferret  sloop  oi'  war,  with  the  rank  of  Master  and  Commander. 

Vice-Adrairal  Holloway,  to  the  Newfoundland  j  Vicc-Admiral  Rowley, 
to  the  Downs,  zi/ce  Admiral  Holiuway;  Vice-Admind  Stanhope,  to  Slicer* 
ness,  vice  Rowley  j  Itear-Admiral  T.  Wells,  to  Woolwich,  vice  Stanhop*;; 
Captain  Freemantie,  lu  the  William  and  Mary  yacht;  Captain  MaxweJl,  txt 
the  Alceste,  of  38  guns ;  Captain  WaiUs,  to  the  Sea  Fencibles  at  Harwich; 
Captain  Dighy,  to  the  Cossack  frigate. 

Captain  J.  Bligh  is  ap])ointeJ  to  the  Alfred;  Captain  Duff  to  thcMuros; 
Captain  J.  Evans  to  the  Valorous;  Captain  Davis  to  the  Sapphire;  Caj»- 
tain  Hollingsworth  to  the  Minstrel. 

Lieutenant  Bowker,  of  the  San  Joseph,  is  proinotod  to  a  Comma:) dor, 
and  appointed  to  the  Epervier;  Lieutenant  Rauiage,  of  llie  HiSernia,  n 
promoted  to  a  Commander;  ]\Ir.  Munro,  Purser  of  tlie  EmuLui,  to  the 
FraAJchise. 


Sb2  NAVAL   HISTORY   Ot    THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1807. 

Captain  .Tames  Young,  to  the  V.iliant;  Captain  Halliday,  to  the  Gibral* 
tar ;  Captain  Austen,  to  the  St.  Albans  ;  Captain  Wolley,  to  the  Sen 
Fencibles  at  Lynn ;  Captain  Cracraft,  to  the  Sea  Fencibles  at  Margate'; 
Captain  11.  Lloyd,  to  the  Hussar ;  Captain  Lye,  to  the  Bombay  frigate; 
Captain  Rastarii,  to  the  RelloJia  frigate;  Capiain  F.  Peiiew,  to  the  Kattie- 
snake;  Captain  Troubridi^e,  to  the  Macas^ac  (late  Pallas)  ;  CaptainGreen, 
to  the  Foxhoinid;  Captain  Syraonds,  to  the  Tweed  (at  Portsmouth)  ;  Cap- 
tain Ilickey,  to  the  Atalante:  Lieutennnt  VVilbraiiana,  to  be  a  Commander, 
and  to  command  the  Harrier  ;  Captain  Hyde  Parker,  to  the  Prometheus, 
at  Portsmouth  ;   Captain  C.Claridge,  to  the  Daiver. 

Captain  G.  Harris  is  appointed  to  the  Prospero;  Lieutenant  J.  Browne 
is  appointed  Agent  for  transports  at  .famaica. 

Lord  Gardner  is  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Channel  fleet;  Ad- 
miral VV'hitshed  succeeds  Lord  Gardner  as  Commander  in  Chief  at  Cork  ; 
and  Vicc-Adiiiiral  G.  Bowen  is  to  superintend  the  Sea  Fencible  service  in 
Ireland,  in  the  room  of  Admiral  ^^'hitbhed. 

Captain  Be resford  is  appointed  to  the  Illustrious,  of74  2;uns,  off"  Cadiz. 

Lieutenant  Coombe,  for  his  g;reat  gallantry  in  the  boats  of  the  Galatea, 
IS  promoted  to  be  a  Commander. 

BIr.  Ireland  is  appointed  Boatswain  of  Plymouth  Dock-yard,  in  the  room 
of  the  late  Mr.  Marr. 

OBITUARY. 

On  tlie  19th  of  .Tuly  last,  when  on  a  cruise  in  the  East  Indies,  Captain 
J.  B.  Bogue,  of  His  ^lajesty's  ship  Terpsichore;  lie  was  a  good  and  active 
officer,  was  of  a  generous  mind,  and  much  respected. 

On  the -1th  March,  onboard  His  Majesty's  ship  Diamond,  off  Ilavre-de- 
Grace,  aged  2,),  by  the  consequences  of  a  cold,  Percy  Currcr  Dodgson, 
second  Lieutenant  of  that  ship,  son  of  the  late  Bishop  Dodgson.  He  was 
an  amiable  young  man,  and  a  good  othccr.  He  was  interred  with  miiitarv 
honours,  off  that  port,  with  the  sincere  regret  of  Captain  Argles,  and  his 
brother  officers. 

Lately,  at  Cntlsfield,  after  a  lingering  illness,  which  slic  bore  with  ex- 
emplary fortitiule  and  resignation,  Mrs.  O'Bryen,  the  lady  of  Edward 
O'Bryen,  Esq.,  Hear- .Idmiral  of- the  Blue. 

A  few  montlis  since,  Mr.  Thomas  Ross,  eldest  son  of  Mr.  Charles 
Iloss,  Purser  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Maida,  a  prisoner  on  tl;e  Island  of 
Cuba,  where  he  had. ucen  a  long  time;  he  was  Sub-Lieutenant  of  the 
"Baracoetta  schooner,  wrecked  off  that  Island  on  the  morning  of  the  2d 
October,  1805,  and  taken  prisoner  with  the  rest  of  the  crew. 

BIFtTH. 

At  Plymouth  Dock,  the  wife  of  Captain  H.  Garrett,  of  the  Navy,  of 
a  son. 

MARRIAGES. 

April  4,  at  Alverstokc,  by  the  Rev.  F.  Clifton,  IMr.  W.  Slade,  of  U;e 
Royal  iSavy,  to  Miss  S.  White,  daughter  of  the  late  Captain  R.  White,  of 
Arundel. 

22.  At  Kingston,  lieutenant  Collier,  of  tlie  Royal  Navy,  to  ]Mi«f  F. 
Pinhorn,  ofPortsea. 


'^"^'--^^.J.-y^feri-^^ 


CAPTAIP^^  JlJOHN  COOKE 


mOCnAPHlCAL  MEMOm 

OF   THE    LATE 

CAPTAIN   JOHN    COOKE, 

WHO    FELL    IN    THE  ACTIOX   OFF   TRAFALGAR. 


"  WEEPING  Pity  b.adf.  her  sorrows  tell 


iiow    GALLANT    CoOKE    A^JD    DuFF    I  ^'    BATTLE    FELL  ! 
LaSIENTED   CHIFFS  !     whose    fate    too. EARLY    prov'd. 

They  died  regretted,  as  thiy  liv'd  belov'd!" 

Dr    Halloras's  Battle  t^ Trafalgar. 

?lflO  the  distinguished  names  of  Nelson  and  Duff,  heroes  who 
fought  and  fell  in  the  ever-memorable  Battle  of  Trafalgar, 
We  now  add  that  of  Cooke,  another  of  those  lamented  officers, 
whose  fame  will  be  cherished  and  revered,  ''  while  memory 
shall  hold  her  seat  on  this  distracted  globe." 

Captain  John  Cooke  was  the  second  son  of  Francis  Cooke, 
Esq.,  Cashier  of  His  Majesty's. Navy.  At  the  early  age  of 
eleven  years  he  embarked  on-  board  the  Greyhound  cutter, 
commanded  by  Lieutenant  (now  Admiral)  Bazely*.  From  this 
first  introduction  into  his  profession,  he,  however,  soon  returned 
to  Mr.  Braken's  celebrated  naval  academy  at  Greenwich,  that  no 
time  might  be  lost  for  acquiring  thoroughly  the  first  elements  of 
nautical  science  and  military  tactics. 

It  was  during  his  lesidence  at  this  seminary,  that  he  first 
received  that  patronage  from  Sir  Alexander  Hood,  (now  Lord 
Bridport,)  which  was  never  withdrawn  through  life.  By  his 
favour  and  kindness,  he  was  borne  on  one  of  the  King's  yachts* 
books,  and  thus  obtained  the  double  advantage  of  prosecuting  his 
naval  studies,  and  reckoning  his  time  as .  though  in  actual 
service. 

He  was  placed  in  a  more  active  situation  at  the  age  of  thirteen, 
by  accompanying  Lord  Howe  to  America,  in  the  Eagle,  of  64; 

*  A  portrait  and  biographical  memoir  of  this  officer  are  given  in  tlie  XI\'tli 
Vuhirae  of  our  Chronicle,  page  177.  Captain  Cooke's  entrance  into  the 
naval  service  must  have  been  about  the  year  1774. 

£9ato»  erj?ron»  CloI»XVir.  z  z 


Sbi  BIOGUAPIlICAl,   MEMOIR    OF    tllZ   L AtE 

guns*".  His  exertions  and  activity  at  the  attack  of  Rhode  Island^ 
where  he  particularly  distinguished  himself,  and  was  one  of  the 
first  who  entered  the  Fort,  procured  him  tlie  favour  and  appro- 
bation of  his  Commander ;  as  a  proof  of  which,  it  may  be  men- 
tioned that,  on  his  return  home  in  the  Eagle,  whilst  busily 
employed  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  his  juvenile  modesty  was 
startled  by  Lord  Howe's  clapping  him  on  the  back,  in  his  abrupt 
manner,  and  saying  to  him  in  the  presence  of  many  persons, 
"  Why,  young  man,  you  wish  to  become  a  Lieutenant  before 
you  are  of  sufficient  age." 

During  the  station  of  the  Eagle  on  the  American  coast,  in 
order  to  see  more  active  service  than  in  a  flag-ship-  he  served  as 
a  supernumerary  ]Midshipman  on  board  the  Liverpool  frigate, 
mider  Captains  Bellew  and  Christian.  On  the  arrival  of  the 
Eagle  in  England  f ,  he  w  as  made  a  Lieutenant^  and  appointed 
to  the  Worcester. 

In  this  ship  he  went  to  the  East  Indies  with  Sir  Edward 
Hughes  J,  whose  fortunes  he  followed,  until  his  active  services 
atTVincomale  and  Seringapatam  so  much  affected  his  health,  that 
lie  was  under  the  necessity  of  returning  home  in  the  Nymph 
sloop,  Captuin  Sutton.  This  step,  however  indispensable  at  the 
time,  lost  him  his  promotion  for  some  years,  being  the  next  on 
Sir  E.  Hughes's  list,  who  was  his  sincere  friend  upon  all  occa- 
sions, and  never  evinced  it  more  than  by  sending  him  back  to  liis 
native  country  at  that  period. 

His  stay  in  England  was  about  two  years,  during  which  time 
his  health  was  fully  re-established,  though  all  hope  of  promotion 
at  home  was  next  to  impossible,  as  even  to  get  employed  in  a 
profound  peace  required  the  greatest  interest.  At  this  time,  for 
the  puipose  of  improving  in  the  French  language,  so  useful  in 
his  proftssioii,  he  Merit  to  France,     His  stay  was  nearly  a  year, 

*'Thc  Eajile  arrived  ott  TIalifiix  on  I'tie  Ist  of  July,  1776.  Vide  biogra^ 
phical  memoir  of  Lord  Howe,  NaX'al  Ciipomcle,  Vol.  I,  page  15. 

t  The  Eaiilc  arrived  in  Eiisilaiid  in  the  winter  of  1778. 

t  For  a  detailed  aecoiint  ot"  the  bervices  of  .Sir  Edward  Hughes  in  the 
East  Indies,  see  the  hio<:ra[ihictil  memoir  oj"  that  oirlccr,  jS.'iVAL  CuRO:*  ic:.t:, 
Vol.  IXj  [jagc  b8,  el  sej. 


c.vrXAiv  JOHN  cooler.  '  35^ 

when  he  was  unexpectedly  appointed  to  go  wllh  Admiral  (now 
Lord)  Gardner  to  the  West  Indies*.  He  soon  became  his  first 
Lieutenant;  and  fortune,  during  three  years,  seemed  to  promise 
certain  promotion.  His  conduct  as  an  individual,  and  as  an 
officer,  soon  gained  him  the  hearts  and  good  opinion  of  his 
superiors,  as  well  as  of  those  under  his  authority,  who  have 
always  admitted,  that  although  he  strictly  exacted  of  every  man, 
over  whom  he  had  power,  the  performance  of  his  duty,  he 
never  was  known  in  the  most  trivial  instance  to  omit  dischai^ging 
his  own  with  the  most  scrupulous  attention. 

At  the  expiration  of  nearly  three  years,  he  had  a  severe  fall 
while  employed  in  the  active  performance  of  his  duty  on  board 
the  flag-ship,  Europa,  by  which  accident  he  was  wholly  confined 
to  his  bed,  and  the  Singeoas  declared  that  a  longer  continuance 
in  the  West  Indies  would  bring  on  complaints  the  most  dan- 
gerous. He  was  therefore  immediately  sent  home  by  his  Com- 
modore, widi  a  ccrtiticate  to  the  Admiralty,  stating  that  his  return 
to  that  cHmate  must  at  any  future  period  prove  fatal  to  him. 
In  England  his  natural  strength  of  constitution  prevailed,  and  he 
recovered  his  usual  health  in  the  course  of  a  year. 

About  this  lime  an  armament  took  pkice,  and  he  was 
appointed,  by  his  respected  friend  and  patron.  Lord  Bridport, 
his  third  Lieutenant,  on  board  the  London  f.  Before  he  joined 
his  ship,  however,  he  married  t,he  4th  daughter  of  Mr.  Hardy, 
His  Majesty's  Consul  at  Cadiz-,  and  niege  to  the  late  Sir  Charles 
Hardy,  who  died  when  connnanding  the  Channel  fleet.  In 
about  seven  months  this  armament  was  dispersed,  and  he  returned 
to  iiis  cottage  in  Esjjex,  to  enjoy  the  comforts  of  domestic 
life. 

After  flfieen  months'  residence  in   this  place,  he  was  again 

*  Captaii)  Giirdiicr  was  appuiiitc«i  to  the  Duke,  of  98  auiis,  at  the  liUttT 
cud  of  the  yeur  1781  ;  and  he  joined  the  licet  of  Sir  George  llodiicy,  in  the 
West  Indies,  previously  to  the  12th  of  April,  17y'2.  Conbequently  Mr. 
Cooke  had  the  satisfaction  of  sharing  in  the  perils  and  glories  of  that  inemn- 
m\)\e  day.     Vide  Naval  Chromplf,  Vol.  VIII,  j.age  1;J1  ;    and  VqI.  T, 

t  About  the  month  of  May,  U9% 


355  BIOGRAPHICAL   MEMOIR   OF   THE    LATE 

called  from  his  retreat  by  the  breaking  out  of  the  French 
Revolution.  His  character  and  abilities  procured  him  an  imme- 
diate appointment.  Lord  Bridport  nominated  him  one  of  the 
first  to  his  own  ship,  as  first  Lieutenant  of  the  Royal  George  *. 
He  now  enjoyed  every  flattering  mark  of  approbation  from  his 
Admiral,  and  also  his  Captain,  (Domett,)f  an  ofHcer  of  great  pro- 
fessional ability,  as  well  as  amiable  character. 

At  the  end  of  the  year,  through  the  good  offices  of  Lord 
Bridport,  he  was  made  a  Commander,  and  appointed  to  the 
Incendiary  fire-ship.     Whilst  she  was  fitting  at  Plymouth,  an 
accident   happened   to   the  Captain   of  tlie    Monarch,   which 
obliged  him  to  come  on  shore,  and  Captain  Cooke  was  appointed 
to  supersede  him.     Here  Lord  Bridport  again  interposed  his 
kind  services,  and  got  this  appointment  confirmed,  by  V\hich  he 
was  at  once  made  a  Post  Captain,  without  ever  going  to  sea  as 
a  Commander.     The  Monarch  was  appointed  to  carry  the  flag 
of  Sir  James  Wallace  to  Newfoundland;  and,  after  the  summer 
spent  on  that  station,  returned  to  England  I,  when  he  being  too 
young  a  Captain  to  keep  a  74  at  home,  resigned  his  command. 
He  put  in  his  claim  however  for  a  frigate,  and  after  some  montlis 
was  appointed  to  the  Tourterelle.     She  was  fitted  at  Plymouth^ 
and  then  ordered  to  the  West  Lidies;  but  upon  proper  repre- 
sentation to  the  Board,  Lord  Gardener's  certificate  was  proved 
to  have  full  weight,  and  Lord  Spencer,  with  his  usual  candour^ 
superseded  him  with  a  promise  of  another  early  appointment. 
This  was  punctually  fulfilled,  by  his  being  named  the  spring 
following  to  la  Nymphe  frigate,  of  SG  guns.     By  the  month  of 
August  following,  she  was  ready  for  sea,  and  ordered  to  attend 
the  King  at  Weymouth,  togedier  with  the  St.  Fiorenzo,  com- 
manded  by  his   particular  friend.    Sir  Harry  Burrard  Neale. 
After  the  usual  period  at  Weymouth,  they  were  ordered  together 
to  join  the  Channel  fleet,  at  that  time  uncler  the  command  of 

*  InPebruary,  1793. 

t  A  biogrnphical  memoir  of  this  officer  is  given  at  the  commencement, 
of  our  XVth  Volume. 
I  In  1195, 


CAPTAIN    JOHN    COOKE,  357 

Lord  Bridport;  who,  always  ready  to  compliment  Captain 
Cooke  by  particular  marks  of  his  favour,  sent  him,  together  with 
Sir  H.  ]3.  Neale,  on  some  particular  observation  close  in  on  the 
coast  of  France  ;  after  which,  on  their  return  to  the  fleet,  they 
fell  in  with  two  French  frigates,  on  their  way  from  the  Welsh 
coast,  where  they  had  succeeded  in  diseinbarking  the  troops 
M'ith  whom  they  had  been  freighted.  After  a  smart  action  they 
were  both  taken  and  brought  into  Plymouth*'. 

La  Nymphe,  after  this,  had  a  choice  cruise  given  her,  as  a 
mark  of  the  approbation  of  the  Board  of  Admiralty ;  but  although 
thrown  into  fortune's  way,  she  returned  after  many  weeks 
without  bringing  with  her  a  single  prize. 

During  the  unfortunate  mutiny  in  the  Navy,  which  broke  out 
about  this  time.  Captain  Cooke  Mas  one  of  the  greatest  sufferers. 
The  complaints  preferred  against  him,  like  those  against  other 
officers,  were  without  foundation,  and  frivolous.  He  treated 
them  therefore  with  the  contempt  which  they  deserved,  and 
resolutely  determined  never  to  give  up  his  ship  till  compelled  to 
do  it.  He  remained  for  some  days  under  circumstances  the 
most  painful  and  distressing  to  a  British  officer,  till  sent  on  shore 
by  the  mutineers ;  but  his  cool  steadiness  and  dignified  behaviour 
always  commanded   personal   civility.     A  few  days  after  this, 

*  This  capture  was  made  on  the  9th  of  August,  1797.  The  two  French 
frigates,  -when  discovered  by  tlie  St.  Fiorenzo  and  la  JS'ymphe,  were  .stand- 
ing in  for  the  huid.  The  wind  being  at  this  time  offshore,  and  the  French 
fleet  in  sight,  in  Brest  lloud,  it  was  necessary  to  make  as  decided  and 
prompt  an  attack  as  possible  ;  for  which  purpose  Captain  Cooke  and  Sif 
H.  B.  Neale  bore  down  on  the  largest  and  headmost  of  the  French  siiips, 
which  they  attacked  so  warmly,  that,  after  a  short  resistance,  she  struck. 
By  this  time  the  smaller  frigate  came  up,  and  being  instantly  attacked  in 
the  same  manner,  soon  also  surrendered.  The  former  proved  to  be  la 
Resistance,  of  48  guns,  IB-poundcrs  on  her  main  deck,  comniantled  by  M. 
iMontagne,  and  manned  witii  3-15  men,  10  of  whom  were  killed,  and  the 
fu'st  Lieutenant  and  8  men  wounded  :  the  latter  was  la  Constance,  com- 
manded by  M.  Desauney,  of  24  nine-pouudcrs,  and  139  men;  of  whom  8 
^vore  killed,  and  6  wounded.  '  Neither  la  Nymphe,  nor  the  St.  Fiorenzo, 
sustained  any  loss. — La  Resistance,  and  la  Constance,  were  taken  into  the 
service;  and,  in  consequence  of  their  having  been  two  of  the  French 
squadron  which  had  landed  the  troops  in  Fisgard  Bay,  the  foiiner  had  iier 
pcvme  changed  to  the  Fisgard. 


358  BIOGRAPHICAL   MEMOIR   OF   THE    LATE 

thqy  requested  his  return  to  the  ship^  which  he  thought  it  right 
to  comply  with.  But  when  the  violent  measures  were  pursued 
against  Admiral  Sir  John  Colpoys,  la  Nymphe,,  as  she  lay  next 
ship  to  the  Londou,  supported  as  long  as  her  Captain  had  power, 
those  on  board  that  ship  who  were  on  the  side  of  Government*. 
For  this  proper  couductj  however,  with  many  other  officers 
under  similar  circumstances,  he  was  sent  on  shore,  and  of  course 
returned  no  more  to  that  ship  -f. 

Being  again,  after  a^ittle  time,  a  candidate  for  employment,  he 
was  appointed  to  the  Amethyst  frigate.  His  first  voyage  in  her 
was  to  carry  the  Duke  of  York  and  his  suite  to  Holland,  when 
His  Royal  Highness  commanded  the  expedition  in  October, 
1799+'  He  was  some  time  after  employed  in  the  North  Seas, 
and  from  thence  v>as  ordered  to  join  the  Channel  fleet,  in  which 
he  continued  two  years.  Whilst  Lord  Bridport  commanded  the 
fleet  he  had  two  or  three  successful  cruises  ^,  his  zealous  and 
respected  friend  and  patron  always  selecting  him  for  the  post  of 
honour  or  profit ;  nor  \^  ere  such  distinguished  marks  of  favour 
and  attention  ever  forgotten  by  Captam  Cooke,  who  through 
life  gloried  in  asserting,  that  whatever  credit  or  success  he  had 

*  Yifie  biographical  memoir  of  Sir  John  Colpoys,  Naval  Chronicle, 
Vol,  XI,  page  261). 

t  Amongst  these  officers  were  the  Captains,  Griffiths,  Holloway,  A.  Hood, 
"WelU,  Cunxpbell,  and  Bligh. 

:*;  For  the  particulars  of  this  Expedition,  vid?  Letters  on  Service,  Navat. 
CiiRONici.r,  Vol.  HI;  and  biographic.d  nieinoir  of  Sir  Andrew  Mitchell, 
Vol.  XVI,  page  9«. 

■i  Amongst,  the  captures  which  lie  made,  was  that  of  rArcnture,  French 
ferit;  privateer,  of  1-1  guns,  and  7o  men,  belonging  to  I'Orient,  on  the  29th 
or"  December,  1799;  le  Vaillant  French  cutter  privateer,  of  Bourdeaux, 
oarrying  one  long  18-pounder,  two  long  1'2-pounders,  and  twelve  six- 
j>ound€r?,  and  manned  with  131  men,  on  the  l5th  of  February,  1800;  and 
\hi:  .Mars,  Freiich  ship  privateer,  of  Bourdeaux,  mounting  twenty  12- 
jjounders,  and  two  S6-ponnd  carronades,  and  manned  with  180  men,  on  the 
'Mat  of  March,  1800.  Fic/e.  Naval  Cuiionicle,  Vol.  Ill,  pages  SIS,  318, 
itnd  404. — On  the  '26th  oi  January,  1801,  the  Amethyst  was  in  company 
with  I'Oiseau,  Captain  Lin^ee,  when  that  ship  captured  the  .Spanish  letter  of 
raarque  Charlotta,  from  Feryol  to  Curacoa;  but,  from  unfavourable  winds, 
^he  was  unable  to  get  up  befone  the  Charlotta  had  struck.  Vide  Xava^ 
C!iI'.o^'l|CLF,  V'sl.  V,  page  lt>V<. 


CAPTAIN    JOHN    COOKE.  35^ 

Itttained  in  the  service,  he  omoiI  it  all  to  the  example  and 
predilection  of  his  noble  friend,  whose  picture,  given  him  by 
LiOrd  Bridport  himself,  was  ever  after  the  proudest  ornament  of 
his  house  in  Wiltshire. 

At  the  peace  of  1802,  Captain  Cooke  of  course  gave  up  his 
ship,  to  the  sincere  regret  of  every  one  on  board,  and  by  none 
more  than  the  young  men  he  had  taken  under  his  care.  He  was 
not  only  their  Commander,  but  then'  real  friend  and  adviser ;  he 
was  most  rigidly  attentive  to  their  morals,  and  whilst  they  feared 
they  loved  him.  A  due  sense  of  religion,  to  him,  as  to  many 
others  of  his  profession,  a  primary  object,  he  ever  inculcated  iu 
them.  The  boys  on  Sundays  read  their  bibles  to  him  in  hii 
own  cabin;  and  when  the  weather  permitted,  having  no  Chap- 
lain, he  himself  performed  the  service. 

With  the  assistance  of  Bath  and  Ha:rowgate,  his  health,  which 
liad  suffered  much  during  die  last  winter  on  the  coast  of  France, 
was,  after  a  little  time,  perfectly  restored  ;  and,  in  the  course  of 
the  year,  he  attained  his  long  wished  for  object,  a  settled  home, 
in  a  desirable  sporting  country.  An  estate  left  him  by  an  uncle, 
added  to  some  success  in  his  profession,  enabled  him  to  make  a 
purchase  in  the  south*  of  W^illshire,  agreeable  to  his  utmost 
wishes.  Here,  in  a  country  peculiarly  romantic  and  beautiful, 
he  was  agreeably  employed  in  laying  out  the  land  around  him ; 
an  amusement  particularly  suited  to  his  taste  and  inclinations. 
Captain  Cooke  lived  in  this  liappy  retreat  the  most  enviable  of 
human  beings;  esteemed  at^d  respected  by  a  new  neighbour- 
hood ;  the  acknowledged  friend  of  the  poor  around  him  ;  and 
enjoying  a  perfect  state  of  domestic  happiness. 

At  the  end  of  sixteen  months,  w  hile  residing  at  Doiihcad,  iji 
October,  1804,  Admiral  Young,  who  commanded  at  Plymouth, 
long  an  acquaintance  and  friend  of  Captain  Cooke,  wrote  to 
cfter  him  the  command  of  his  ship.  It  was  a  situation  of  some 
emolument ;  he  was  to  live  on  shore,  and  of  course  Ins  family 
could  be  with  him  ;    but  it  was  a  sinecure   little  suited  to  his 

*  Lower  Doiihead. 


360  BIOGRAPHICAL    MEMOIR    OP   THE    LATE 

active  mind  ;  and,  although  he  accepted  the  proffered  honour 
from  the  hand  of  friendship,  he  fully  determined  to  resign  it^ 
whenever  he  might  be  able  to  make  an  exchange  adequate  to  hi^ 
rank  in  more  active  service.  The  command  of  a  guard-ship  ill 
accorded  with  the  noble  feelings  of  him  who  had  been  long  held 
up  as  superior  in  his  profession_,  and  whose  gallant  spirit  ever 
recoiled  at  any  thoughts  of  selfish  considerations^  when  his 
country  called.  It  was  not  likely  therefore  that  Captain  Cook 
should  remain  a  spectator  only  of  the  busy  scenes  before  him. 
In  about  six  months  after,  being  at  Plymouth,  an  opportunity 
offered  for  an  exchange ;  he  applied  to  the  Board  of  Admiralty, 
and  was  appointed  to  the  Bellerophon.  She  was  immediately 
ordered  to  fit  for  foreign  service,  and  Captain  Cooke  prepared 
for  his  new  station  with  all  that  energy  and  promptitude  which 
marked  his  character ;  never  lukewarm  in  what  he  had  under- 
taken from  principle,  few  circumstances  could  induce  him  to 
relinquish  his  purpose. 

In  the  beginning  of  October,  1 805,  the  Bellerophon  joined 
the  blockading  squadron  off  Cadiz.  It  is  singular,  that  it  had 
ever  been  Captain  Cooke's  strongest  wish,  even  when  he  had  no 
thought  of  employment,  to  be  once  under  the  command  of  Lord 
I\  elson :  to  be  in  a  general  engagement  with  Lord  Nelson, 
would,  he  used  to  say,  crown  all  his  military  ambition.  By  the 
concurrence  of  events,  this  actually  happened,  and  they  were 
both  doomed  to  fall  at  the  same  moment,  and  almost  in  the 
same  manner. 

His  letters  from  this  station  expressed  the  general  opinion  of 
the  fleet ;  anxiously  hoping  the  enemy  might  face  them,  certain 
if  they  did,  they  would  soon  receive,  to  use  his  own  words,  their 
*'  jinal  blow."  Lord  Nelson,  whose  universal  attention  and 
ci\ility  to  his  officers,  gained  him  the  esteem  of  all  hearts,  soon 
distinguished  the  character  of  Captain  Cooke,  and  selected  him 
as  one  in  whom  he  could  safely  place  his  most  secret  confidence. 
He  was  often  summoned  to  attend  his  Lordship,  during  the 
three  weeks  previous  to  the  action;  and  was,  together  with  the 
friend  of  his  earliest  youth,  Captain  Duff,  chosen  as  part  of  that 


CAPTAIN   JOHN   COOKE.  361 

division  which  were  to  commence  the  attack  *.  The  undaunted 
manner  in  which  the  Bellerophon  bore  down  upon  and  broke 
the  enemy's  line,  which  was  deemed  almost  inipi  egnable,  is  well 
known  to  a  grateful  public  ;  and  the  fall  of  these  mutual 
friends  must  bear  ample  testimony  to  the  danger  of  the 
enterpi  ize  f . 

Immediately  previous  to  the  Battle  off  Tiafalgar,  Captain 
Cooke  went  down  below,  and  exhorted  his  men  on  every  deck, 
most  earnestly  entreating  them  to  remember  the  words  of  their 
gallant  Atlmiral  just  conmiunicated  by  signal — "  England 
expects  that  every  Man  Ziill  do  his  Diitij.'"  He  was  cheered 
on  his  return  upward  by  the  whole  ship's  company,  w^io  wrote 
on  their  guns  in  chalk,  "  Bellerophon  !  Death  or  Glory .'" 
He  had  appointed  his  orders  to  be  given  by  the  sound  of  a  bugle 
horn ;  but  unfortunately,  just  as  the  Bellerophon  was  bearing 
down,  an  unforeseen  accident  hap[)ened,  which  afterwards 
materially  affected  lier.  In  the  bustle  of  preparation,  one  of 
the  Midshipmen  inadvertently  trod  upon  a  rope,  which,  com- 
municating with  the  lock  of  a  gun,  let  it  off.  The  enemy  imme- 
diately took  this  for  a  signal,  and  conceived  that  she  was  the 
fiag-ship;  a  circumstance  which,  in  a  great  measure,  accounts 
for  the  Bellerophon's  being  so  much  overpowered  by  numbers 
afterwards.  Having  broken  the  line,  and  taken  the  Monarcha, 
of  74.  guns,  she  was  immediately  surrounded  by  fear  line  of 
battle  ships,  I'^'vigle,  Swiftsine,  Bahama,  and  another. 

L'Aigle's  main-mast  aiid  the  Bellerophon's  fore-mart  came  in 
close  contact ;  and  the  foi  mer  being  a  lofty  ship>  her  men  sta- 
tioned aloft  fned  into  the  latter  to  great  advantage.  The  men 
on  the  poop  fell  so  fast,  that  Captain  Cooke  m  as  obliged  to  tall 
them  down  on  his  quarter-deck.  The  Master's  leg  was  taken 
off,  and  another  man  wounded,  as  he  was  speaking  to  them; 
till  at  last  only  his  first  Lieutenant  and  a  Midshipman  were  left 

*  Vide  biographical  memoir  of  Caplalu  Duff,  INaval  Chiiomcll,  V'ol. 
XV,  page  271. 

t  For  tlie  official  dispatches  rclviting  to  the  Buttle  off  Trafalgar,  die  readev 
li  referred  to  tlie  XI\  th  Volume  of  the  Naval  Chronicle,  p^'^cs  42^, 
429. 

H^dM,  <Ji;j)ron.  (K0I.XVII.  AAA 


5r)2  BIOGRAPHICAL   MEMOIR   OF   THE   LATK 

on  deck.  It  \vas  now  noticed  by  his  Lieutenant  to  Captain 
Cookc^  that  he  had  his  epaulets  on,  and  that  he  was  marked 
out  by  the  men  in  the  tops.  His  reply  was,  "  It  is  nozc  too 
late  to  take  them  off]  I  see  nu/  situation.  But  I  zcill  die  like 
a  man"  His  last  orders  to  his  first  Lieutenant  were,  to  go 
down  and  order  the  coins  to  be  taken  out  of  the  guns  to  raise 
them,  in  order  to  force  the  decks  of  TAigle.  This  had  the 
desired  effect,  for  she  disengaged  herself  immediately,  and  m  ent 
off,  receiving  under  her  counter  three  broadsides  from  the 
Bellerophon.  It  was  during  the  Lieutenant's  absence  that  Cap- 
tain Cooke  fell.  He  had  discharged  his  pistols  very  frequently 
at  the  enemy,  who  as  often  attempted  to  board,  and  he  had 
killed  a  French  officer  on  his  own  quarter-deck.  He  was  in  the 
act  of  re-loading  bis  pistols,  (and  upon  the  very  same  plank 
where  Captain  Pasley  lost  his  leg  on  the  1st  of  June,J  when  he 
received  two  musket  balls  in  his  breast.  He  immediately  fell ; 
and  upon  the  Quarter-master's  going  up,  and  asking  him 
if  he  should  take  him  down  below,  his  answer  was,  "  Ay,  let 
me  lie  quietli/  one  minute,  tell  Lieutenant  Cunibi/  never  to 
atrike.'' 

Thus  falling  in  the  glorious  cause  of  his  King  and  Country, 
died  Captain  John  Cooke,  in  the  43d  year  of  his  age.  To  his 
professional  talents,  and  personal  conduct  as  an  officer,  the  fore- 
going particulars  will  bear  ample  testimony.  It  is  almost  super- 
fluous to  say,  that,  in  the  more  contracted  sphere  of  private 
life,  the  same  strong  mind  and  striking  good  sense  were  as 
eminently  conspicuous.  To  the  polished  manners  of  a  perfect 
gentleman,  he  added  a  sort  of  generous  frankness,  and  open 
hearted  honest  candour,  which  j)eculiarly  distinguished  him. 
He  always  fairly  gave  his  real  opinion  on  whatever  subject, 
without  that  cautious  reserve,  which  is  so  often  observable  in 
less  ingenuous  minds.  To  these  qualities,  perhaps,  added  to  a 
noble  elevation  of  sentiment,  and  the  strongest  regard  to  prin»- 
ciple,  may  be  attributed  that  universal  predilection  for  his  com- 
pany, which  was  expressed  in  all  societies.  Naturally  of  a 
aocial  temper  himself,  his  cheerful  good  humour  was  commu- 
nicated to  all  around  hiuij  noi  peihaps  was  any  stranger  courted 


CAPTAIN    JOHN    COOKE.  363 

in  a  more  marked  and  flattering  manner  by  each  new  neighbour- 
hood where  he  happened  to  reside. 

But  it  is  in  the  more  tender  and  dearer  relations  of  husband, 
father,  and  friend,  that  the  good  qualities  of  Captain  Cookq 
were  more  eminently  conspicuous.  To  his  only  daughter,  about 
eight  years  of  dge,  he  was  attached  with  more  than  parental 
fondness.  In  a  letter  addressed  to  his  unhappy  wife,  six  days 
before  his  death,  he  expressed  himself  more  than  usually  anxious 
that  the  education  of  his  dajling  child  should  tend  to  "  the  one 
thing  needful ; "  and  that  all  other  elegant  accompli.-jhments 
should  always  be  subservieiit  and  secondary  to  this  consideration. 
Early  impressed  himself  with  the  true  value  of  religious  senli- 
)ucnts,  by  the  best  of  fathers,  he  never  lost  sight  of  them  through 
li'c.  iVmidst  the  active  duties  of  his  profesbion,  or  the  calm 
retirement  of  })rivate  life,  they  equally  formed  his  luling  prin- 
ciple. Carrying  with  him  into  his  retreat  those  ideas  of  good 
order  so  peculiar  to  military  men,  he  was  ever  most  scrupu- 
lous in  enforcing  an  observance  of  the  outward  forms  of  religion, 
as  far  as  his  iritluence  extended.  His  exact  observance  of  the 
Sabbath,  and  attendance  at  Divine  Worship,  were  regular  and 
exemplary  ;  nor  w  ould  he  ever  sufttr  sacred  subjects  in  the 
course  of  conversation  to  be  lightly  spoken  of,  without  a  good 
humoured,  though  impressive  leproof,  wliich  startled  and 
si'enced  the  thoughtless  or  ignorant.  It  \\  as  under  the  influence 
of  such  principles,  acting  on  a  humane  and  generous  disposition, 
that  he  was  taught  to  p:ty  and  relieve  the  necessities  of  those 
around  him,  in  an  inferior  condition  of  life.  It  was  ever  one  of 
his  most  anxious  wishes  to  enlarge  his  sphere  of  doing  good. 
The  beneficial  effects  which  his  liberality  produced  amongst  the 
poor  at  Doiihcad,  and  their  unfeigned  sorrow  at  the  death  of 
their  benefactor  and  friend,  bore  honourable  testimony  to  his 
Christian  Benevolence  *.  To  his  afflicted  widow  and  orphan 
liis  loss  is  indeed  irreparable.  To  his  widow,  it  is  the  dissolu- 
tion of  all  earthly  comfort.     Sacred  be  then  her  sorrows,  and 

,    •  Although  Captain  Cooke  had  lived  only  sixteen  months  amOBgst  them  , 
kil  the  parish,  to  tb.c  bsst  of  their  ability,  put  on  moiu-uiiig. 


364  BIOGRAPUICAL    MEMOIR   Ol    THE    tAXF 

may  the  gradual  lapse  of  time,  and  the  soothing  dictates  of 
relJijion,  afford  her  that  relief  which  no  human  consolation  can 
ever  supply. 

Certain  it  is,  that  never  did  a  single  individual  fall  more 
deeply  lamented  by  all  who  knew  him,  than  Captain  Cooke. 
Amongst  the  extraordinary  exertions  recorded  of  him,  on  that 
eventful  day  which  was  his  last,  and  the  praises  which  they  have 
drawn  forth  from  those  who  witnessed  them,  a  very  young 
officer  has  said,  "  No  man  could  be  a  coward  on  board  the 
Bellerophon,  for  words  want  force  to  express  the  noble  and 
manly  e>ar.iple  Captain  Cooke  set  us,  and  which  at  once  infused 
through  the  whole  ship's  company  a  confidence  in  his  superior 
abilities." 


The  following  Epitaph,  written  by  the  Rev,  William  Lisle 
Bowles,  is  placed  in  the  Clmrch  at  Donhead,  over  the  famil? 

pew : — 

Sacred 

To  the  Memory  of 

JOHN   COOKE,  Esq, 

Late  Captain  of  His  Majesty's  Ship 

BlLI-EROrjlON; 

Who, 
In  the  most  eventful  Battle 

off  Trafal  ar, 

On  the  21st  October,  1805, 

Having  evinced  the  most  consummate  Skill 

and  Bravery 

in  the  Conflict  of  that  Day, 

FtLI., 

In  a  Baonicnt  gloriotis  inj^ecd 

to  his  Country, 

Bat  marked  by  the  individual  Tears 

of  all  who  knew  him. 

His  disconsolate  Widow, 

Who  most  deeply  feels  her  loss^j 

Places  this  Tab  It  to  record 

His  Virtues, 

And  hjs  FatCj 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  COOKF.  365 

Near  the  Spot  which  he  had  chosen 

as  his  faTO'irite  retirement; 

And  to  which, 

Having  left  it  at  the  call  of  his  Connfiy, 

He  returned  no  more. 


Be  mcrcifnl  to  her,  O  Gwl !  who  bends 
And  mourns  the  best  of  Husbands,  Fathers,  Friends, 
O  whr'n  '•  she  vvakes  at  midnight."  but  to  shed 
Fresh  tears  of  angaish  on  her  lonely  bed, 
Thinking  on  him  "  who  is  not,"  then  sustain 
Her  spirit,  and  her  better  thoughts  restraic. 
I'Mlhcr  of  Mercies  t  she  remembers  hi'QA 
Thy  chastening  Hand,  and  io  thy  Sovereign  Will 
Bows  silent;  but  not  hopeless,  for  her  eye 
She  fixes  on  a  bright  futurity, 
Aad  trusts  in  better  Worlds  thou  ivilt  restore 
The  happiness  she  here  can  meet  no  more. 


Tlie  following  Lines^  written  by  a  yoong  Friend^  on  the  ^e&\k 
of  Captain  Cooke,  have  been  thought  worthy  of  insertion  : — 

On  ihe  Death  of  Cavt Am  Cooke,  of  tJte  Bellerophon^  zclio  teas 
killed  in  the  memorable  Battle  off  Trafalgar. 

As  'mid  the  splendonr  of  the  noon-day  beams, 
The  star  unheeded  darts  its  beauteous  gleams; 
So  when  a  Nation  iBOurns  her  lie ro  dead, 
Few  public  tears  for  others'  fate  are  shed. 

Nelson,  to  thy  franscendant  worth  is  due. 
All  that  a  Nat'on's  gratitude  can  shew, 
For  to  thy  conquests  o'er  thy  Country's  foes, 
She,  under  God,  her  brightest  laurels  owes. 
Thy  mighty  deeds  to  time's  remotest  age 
Shall  grace  the  records  of  her  History's  page; 
To  thee  her  Bards  shall  tune  their  sweetest  lay. 
And  thy  fair  fame  in  fairest  form  display. 

But  when  Britannia's  triuotphs  are  pTodaim'd, 
Wljen  the  great  dajr  of  Tiafalgv  is  nam'dj 


366  LINES    OS    THE    DF.iVTH    OI'    CAPTAIN    COOKE. 

liCt  not  to  Cooke  some  tribute  be  denied, 

Who  fought,  so  bravely  fought,  so  nobJy  died. 

Finn  on  thy  deck,  Belleropfion,  he  stood  ; 

When  first  his  eye  the  hostile  squadrons  vicw'd. 

High  beat  with  patriot  fire  hi:;  manly  breast, 

P'uli  on  his  brow  true  courage  stood  confest. 

When  with  a  voice,  that  link'd  all  hearts  in  one, 

lie  urg'd  the  Fame  thy  former  feats  had  won:* 

And  with  thy  gallant  crew  exchang'd  the  vow, 

To  die,  or  add  fresh  honours  to  thy  brow. 

Dauntless  he  dar'd  the  hottest  of  the  fight, 

When  every  ship  appear'd  one  blaze  of  light : 

And  what  from  skill  or  valour  could  proceed, 

Shone  forth  conspicuous  in  his  every  deed, 

But,  ere  the  meed  of  Victory  crown'd  the  day, 

Through  his  brave  heart  the  death-shot  wing'd  its  way  , 

Prostrate  he  fell,  and  in  a  copious  flood 

Pour'd  forth  in  Britain's  cause  his  gallant  blood. 

Eager  as  fdial  love  would  rush  to  save. 

Heroes  around,  their  tenderest  succour  gave; 

But  ah  !  in  vain — soon  did  life's  current  ceasCj 

He  only  ntter'd — "  Let  we  die  in  peace." 

Approving  conscience  bless'd  his  latest  breath, 

And  bade  him  smile  within  the  arms  of  death. 

Grief  at  his  loss  fill'd  every  generous  mind. 

When  to  the  deep  his  body  was  consign'd. 

There  shall  it  wait  the  summons  of  its  God, 

To  join  his  Spirit  in  its  blest  abode  ; 

For  with  a  patriot's  zeal,  a  warrior's  fire, 

He  had  the  virtues  Christian  truths  inspire. 

To  thee,  fair  mourner,  relict  of  his  choice, 
Who  would  not  offer  consolation's  voice  ? 
But  who  can  hope  to  hush  thy  Moe  to  rest, 
Or  still  the  throbbings  of  thy  sorrowing  breast? 
Thy  pious  Soul  instructs  thee,  whence  artone 
Can  all  the  comfort  that  thou  need'st  be  drawn. 


*  The  Bellerophon  was  in  Lord  Howe's  engagement,  aiul  in  the  Battle  of 
the  Nile,  in  both  of  which  she  greatly  distinguished  herself. 


?C7 


NAVAL  ANECDOTES, 
COMMERCIAL  IHNTS,  RECOLLECTIONS,  &-c. 

KAXTES    IN    GURGITE    VA8T0, 

HUMANITY    Of    ADMIRAL    VINCENT. 

A  remarkable  Inatunce  of  the  Lives  of  four  Men  being  providen- 
tially saved. 

)N  the  7th  of  March,  1778,  between  five  and  six  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  His  Majesty's  ship  Yainiouth,  Captain  (now 
Admiral)  Vincent,  being  on  a  cruise  in  the  latitude  of  the  island  of 
Barbailoes,  and  about  sixty  leagues  io  the  eastward  of  it,  the  man 
at  the  mast-head  called  out  that  he  saw  several  sail  to  leeward, 
near  each  other.  Soon  after,  there  were  discovered  from  the 
quarter-deck  six  sail — two  ships,  three  brigs,  and  a  scheoner,  on 
the  starboard  tack,  all  sails  set,  and  close  to  the  wind,  then  about 
N.E.  The  Captain  and  the  officers  of  the  Yarmouth  had  not  the 
least  doubt  of  their  being  American  privateers  ;  for  even  a  single 
merchant  ship,  which   had  not  a  letter  of  marque,   was,   perhaps,  I 

never  seen  upon  a  wind  in  the  latitude  of  Barbadoes,  and  forty  or  f 

fifty  leagues  to  the  eastward  of  it,  and  the  wind  easterly.  The 
Yarmouth  accordingly  bore  down  upon  them,  and  about  nine 
o'clock  got  very  near  to  the  largest  of  the  two  ships,  Mhich 
began  to  fire  on  the  Yarmouth,  before  the  Yarmouth  did  on  her. 
In  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  she  blew  up ;  being  then  on 
the  Yarmouth's  lee  beam,  and  not  above  three  or  four  ships* 
length  distant.  The  rest  of  their  squadron  immediately  disperscd- 
The  damage  the  Yarmouth  received  in  her  masts,  sails,  and  rigging, 
was  prodigious,  and  she  had  five  men  killed,  and  twelve  wounded. 
A  great  variety  of  articles  were  thrown  into  htr — one  an  entire 
American  ensign,  which  was  not  even  singed  or  torn. 

Thlr,  happened  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock  on  Saturday  night. 
On  the  Thursday  following,  the  Yarmouth  being  in  chase  of  a 
ship,  steering  about  west  (the  wind  in  the  N.E.  quartc^r),  the  man 
at  the  mast-head  called  down  to  the  otficcr  on  the  quarfor-deck, 
that  he  saw  semething  on  the  water,  abaft  the  beam  (the  star- 
board), but  could  not  tell  what  to  make  of  it.  A  qnestiyn  imme- 
diately arose,  what  was  to  be  done  ?  If  the  Yarmouth  hauled  upv 
to  see  M  hat  it  was,  there  would  be  little  or  no  chance  of  coming 
up  with  the  chase  before  dark.  Humanity,  however,  pleaded  for 
it,  and  prevailed.     Accordingly  she  hauled  htr  wiud.   and  by  th«i 


368  NAVAL   ANECDOTES, 

help  of  a  spy-glass,  discovered  four  men,  that  seemed  fo  be  stand- 
ing on  the  water  ;  for  "vvhat  supported  them  was  not  at  first  visible. 
In  two  or  three  hours  she  got  up  to  the  iitlle  fioiit  on  which  they 
stood,  and  brought  them  on  board.  The  Captain  and  officers 
were  greatly  surprised  to  find  they  belonged  to  the  ship  that  was 
blown  up  the  preceding  Saturday.  So  that  they  had  been  five 
•whole  nights,  and  nearly  as  many  days,  floating  on  the  waves,  and 
buried  alive,  as  it  were,  under  the  vault  of  heaven.  Being  young 
and  hardv,  they  did  not  appear  much  discomposed  when  they  came 
upon  the  quarter-deck.  They  said  they  were  not  hungry,  although 
they  had  not  eaten  any  thing,  but  thirsty  and  very  sleepy.  A 
bason  of  tea,  however,  and  a  hammock  to  each,  perfectly  restored 
them  in  some  hours.  When  they  arosi!,  the  only  complaint  they 
had,  was  that  of  their  feet  being  greatly  swoln,  by  having  been  so 
long  in  the  water. 

The  account  they  gave  of  themselves  was  only  this — that  they 
were  quartered  in  th-  Captain's  cabin,  and  thrown  into  the  water 
-without  receiving  any  hurt.  But  they  could  give  no  account  by 
what  accident  the  ship  blew  up. 

Being  good  swimmers,  they  got  hold  of  some  spars  and  rope, 
with  which  they  made  the  raft  on  which  they  were  found.  And, 
providentially  for  them,  they  picked  up  a  blanket,  which  served 
them  as  a  reservoir  of  water;  for  during  the  time  they  were  on  the 
raft,  there  foil  a  few  showers  of  rain,  of  which  they  saved  as  much 
as  they  could  in  their  blanket,  sucking  it  from  time  to  time  ;  which, 
no  doubt,  preserved  a!l  their  lives. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  Yarmouth  two  days  after,  at  Barbadoes, 
proper  officers  came  on  board,  in  order  to  take  the  depositions  of 
those  four  men,  respecting  the  blowing  up  of  the  ship,  &:c.,  and 
particularly  as  to  the  number  of  men  on  board  her  when  the  action 
began.  For  without  a  certificate  to  this  purpose,  the  Treasurer 
of  the  Navy  has  no  authority  to  pay  the  head-money  allowed  by 
Government,  which  is  five  pounds  a  head;  and  which,  on  this 
occasion,  came  to  fifteen  hundred  and  seventy-five  pounds.  Thus 
this  little  act  of  humanity  seems  to  have  been  rewarded*. 

They  deposed,  that  the  ship  which  blew  up  was  called  the  Ran- 
dolph, of  36  guns,  twenty-six  of  which  were  twelve-pounders,  and 

*  No  prize  was  lost.  The  ship  the  Yarmouth  hauled  ofi'  from  was  a 
West  India  merchantman,  bound  to  Barbadoes.  Tiie  Master  of  her  came 
«n  board  the  Yarmouth  after  her  arrival  tliere  ;  she  had  a  letter  of  marque, 
and  was  upoa  »ffind  when  the  Yarmouth  ihn  ^au-  iier. 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,    &C.  359 

t»er  complcint'nt  of  men  three  hundred  and  fifteen.  The  other 
ship  was  called  the  General  Moutray  ;  but  the  ninubi-r  of  her 
guns,  or  her  complement  of  men,  or  of  the  force  of  the  three' 
brigs,  Admiral  Vincent  told  the  writer  of  this  account,  he  could 
Hot  precisely  ascertain.     The  schooner  was  a  prize. 

The  Captain  of  the  Randolph  was  the  Conunodorc  of  this  llt(l6 
squadron,  which  had  sailed  just  a  month  from  Charles-town, 
South  Carolina,  where  it  was  fitted  out,  with  the  design  of  a! tack- 
ing the  island  of  Tobago,  for  which  they  were  steering  when  they 
first  saw  the  Yarmouth. 

CAPTDEES    AND    RECArTURES. 

FROM  the  yea^r  1793  to  1800,  both  inclusive,  it  appears,  from 
Lloyd's  Lists,  that  43  44  British  ships  were  captured  by  the 
enemy  ;  out  of  which,  705  were  recaptured  ;  so  that  the  total 
loss  sustained  by  the  shipping  interest  within  that  period,  from 
capture,  was  3639  ships. 

LOSSES     BY     SEA. 

FROM  the  same  source  wc  learn,  that  from  1793  to  1800, 
both  years  inclusive,  2385  ships  were  lost;  and  652  were  driven 
on  shore ;  out  of  which  70  were  got  off:  so  that  the  total  loss,  by 
perils  of  the  sea,  was  29G7. 

BISCOVERY    OF    A    COMMUNICATION    BETWEEN    THE    MIS- 
SISSIPPI   AND    THE    PACIFIC    OCEAN. 

IN  the  year  1805,  after  the  cession  of  Louisiana  to  America, 
sn  expedition  was  fitted  out  by  the  American  Government,  for 
exploring  the  countries  west  of  the  Mississippi^  and  endeavour- 
ing to  discover  a  passage  by  tlic  Missomi,  and  some  of  the 
streams,  which  it  was  conjectured  might  Ije  found  running 
westward,  near  the  source  of  that  river,  into  the  Pacific  Ocean. 
The  command  of  the  expedition  was  entrusted  to  Captain 
Lewis ;  and  it  will  be  seen  by  the  following  interesting  letter 
from  Captain  Clark  (who  was  second  in  conmiand,)  to  his  bro- 
ther General  Clark,  that  tliey  completely  succeeded  in  pene- 
tiating  through  that  vast  continent;  and  after  wintering  on  the- 
shores  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  returned  in  safety  to  the 
Mississippi. 

/2at).  *a;j)tcn.  ©ol.XVIL  ebb 


370  >AVAL    ANECDOTES, 

St.  Louis,  September  23,  1806. 
;     Wc  arrived  at  tliis  place  at  twelve  o'clock  to-day,   from  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  M'here  we  remained  during  the  last  Avintor,  near  the 
entrance  of  the  Columbia  River.     This  station  we  lol't  on  the  27th 
of  iMarch  last,  and  should  have  reached  St.  Louis  early  in  August, 
had  we  not  been  detained  by  the  snow,  Avhich  barred  our  passage 
across  the  Rocky  Mountains  until  tlie  24th  of  June.     In  returning 
through  those  mountains,  we  divided  ourselves  into  several  parties, 
digressing   from   the  route  l)y  which  we  went  out,  in  order  the 
more  eiiectually  to  explore  the  country,   and  discover  the  most 
practicable  route  w  hich  does  exist  across  the  Continent  by  the  way 
of  the  Missouri  and  Columbia  rivers.     In  this  we  were  completely 
successful,  and  have  therefore  no  hesitation  in  declaring,  that  such 
as  nature  has  permitted,   we  have  discovered  the  best  route  which 
does  exist  across  the  Continent  of  North  America  in  that  direction. 
Such  is  that  by  way  of  the  Missouri  to  the  rapids  below  the  great 
falls   of*that  river,   a  distance  of  2575  miles  ;    thence  by  land, 
passing  by  the  Rocky   Mountains,   to   a  Havigable  part  of  the 
Kooskooske,  340 ;   and  with   the  Kooskooske  73  miles ;  Lewis's 
River   154  miles;    and  the   Columbia  413  miles,   to  the   Pacific 
Ocean;    making   the  total  distance  from  the  confliience  of  tha. 
Missouri  and  Mississippi,  to  the  discharge  of  the  Columbia  into  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  3554  miles.     The  navigation  of  the  Missouri  may 
be  deemed  good — its  difliculties  arise  from  its  falling  banks,  timber 
embedded  in  the  mud  of  its  channels,  its  sand-bars,  and  steady  ra- 
pidity of  its  current;  all  which  may  be  overcome  with  a  great  degree 
of  certainty,  by  using  the  necessary  precautions.     The  passage  by 
land  of  340  miles  from  the  falls  of  the  Missouri  to  the  Kooskooske, 
is  the  most  formidable  part  of  the  tract  proposed  across  the  Con- 
tinent.    Of  this  distance,  200  miles  is  along  a  good  road,  and  140 
miles  over  tremendous  mountains,  which  for  60  miles  are  covered 
with  eternal  snows.     A  passage  over  these  mountains  is,  however, 
practicable  from  the  latter  part  of  J  une  to  the  last  of  September ; 
and  the   cheap  rate  at  whicli   horses  are  to  be  obtained  from  the 
Indians  of  the  Rocky  IMountains,  and  west  of  them,  reduces  the 
.expenses  of  transportation  over  this  portage  to  a  m.ere  trifle.    The 
navigation  of  the  Kooskooske,  f.ev.is's  River,  and  the  Columbia,  is 
feufe  and  good  from   the  1st  of  April  to  the  middle  of  August,  by 
making   three  portages  on   the  krtter  river;  the  first  of  which,  in 
descending,   is  12U0  paces  at  the  falls  of  Columbia,  20 1  miles  up 
that  river  ;  the  second  of  two  miles,  at  the  long  narrows  six  nwles 
below  the  falls  ;  and  a  third,  also  of  two  miles,  at  the  great  rapida, 


COMMERCIAL    IIIXT*;,    UECOLLECTIOXS,    &C.  371 

€5  miles  still  lower  down.  The  tide  flows  up  the  Columbia  IH3 
miles,  and  within  seven  miles  of  the  great  rapids.  Large  sloops 
may  with  safety  ascend  as  high  as  tide  water ;  and  vessels,  of  SOU 
tons  burtiien,  reach  the  cTifrance  of  the  Multnomah  river,  a  large 
southern  branch  of  the  Columbia,  which  takes  its  rise  on  tiic  con. 
fines  of  Ntiw  Mexico,  with  the  Cailerado  and  Apostle's  rivirs,  di>- 
charging  itself  into  the  Columbia,  125  niilos  from  its  entrance  info 
the  Pacific  Ocean.  I  consic4er  this  tract  across  the  Continent  of 
immense  advantage  to  the  fur  trade,  as  all  the  furs  collected  in  nine- 
tenths  of  the  most  valuable  fur  country  in  America,  may  be  con- 
veyed to  the  mouth  of  the  CoUinibia,  and  shipped  from  thence  to 
the  East  Indies,  by  the  1st  of  August  in  each  year;  and  will  of 
course  reach  Canton  earlier  than  the  furs  which  are  annually 
exported  from  Montreal,  and  arrive  in  Great  Britain. 

In  our  outward-bound  voyage,  we  ascended  to  the  foot  of  the 
rapids  below  the  great  falls  of  the  Missouri,  where  we  arrived  on 
the  14th  of  June,  1805.  Not  having  met  with  any  of  the  natives 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  we  were,  of  course,  ignorant  of  the 
passes  by  land  which  existed  through  these  mountyins  to  tlie 
Columbia  river;  and  had  we  even  known  the  route,  we  were  des- 
titute of  horses,  which  would  have  been  indispensably  necessary  to 
enable  us  to  transport  the  requisiie  quantity  of  ammunition  and 
other  stores  to  ensure  the  remaining  part  of  our  voyage  down  the 
Columbia;  we  therefore  determined  to  navigate  the  Missouri  as 
far  as  it  was  practicable,  or  unless  we  met  with  some  of  the  natives 
from  whom  we  could  obtain  horses,  and  information  of  the  coun- 
try. Accordingly  wc  took  a  most  laborious  portage  at  the  full  of 
Missouri,  of  18  miles,  which  Me  elFected  with  our  canoes  and 
baggage  by  the  3d  of  July.  From  thence,  ascending  the  Missouri, 
we  penetrated  the  Rocky  Mountains  at  the  distance  of  71  miles 
above  the  upper  part  of  the  portage,  ajid  jjonetrated  as  far  as  fho 
three  forks  of  that  river,  a  distance  of  180  miles  farther,  ilerc 
the  Missouri  divides  into  three  nearly  equal  branch.  *  at  the  same 
point ;  the  two  largest  branches  are  so  nearly  of  the  same  (li<;uity, 
that  we  did  not  conceive  that  either  of  them  could,  AviUi  pro])riefv, 
retain  the  name  of  the  JNlissouri :  and  therefore  called  these  streams 
Jefferson's,  Maddison's,  and  Gallatin's  rivers.  The  continence  of 
these  rivers  is  3848  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri  by  the 
meanders  of  that  river.  We  arrived  at  the  three  forks  of  the 
Missouri  tlic  27th  of  July.  Nof"  haviiig  yvt  been  so  fortunate  as 
t©  meet  with  the  natives,  although  1  had  previously  made  several 
exertions  for  that  purpose,  we  were  compelled  to  continue  our 
route  by  water. 


372  NAVAL    ANECDOTES, 

TIic  most  northerly  of  the  three  forlss,  that  to  which  wc  have 
given  the  name  of  Jefferson's  river,  was  deemed  the  most  proper 
for  our  purposes,  and  we  accordingly  ascended  it  248  mites,  to  the 
tipper  forks,  and  its  extreme  navigable  point.  On  the  morning  of 
the  iVth  of  August,  1805,  I  arrived  at  the  forks  of  Jeiferson's 
river,  Avhere  I  met  Captain  Lewis,  who  had  previously  penetrated 
with  a  party  of  three  men  to  the  waters  of  the  Columbia,  dis- 
covered a  band  of  the  Shoshone  nation,  and  found  means  to  induce 
S5  of  their  chiefs  and  warriors  to  accompany  him  to  that  place. 
From  these  people  we  learned,  that  the  river  on  which  they 
resided  was  not  navigable,  and  that  a  passage  through  the  moun- 
tains in  that  direction  was  impracticable.  Being  unwilling  to  con- 
fide in  this  unfavourable  account  of  the  natives,  it  was  concerted. 
l)jt\veen  Captain  l^ewis  and  myself,  that  ojie  of  us  should  go  for- 
ward immediately  with  a  small  party,  and  explore  the  river;  while 
the  other,  in  tire  interim,  would  lay  up  the  canoes  at  that  place, 
and  engage  the  natives  with  theiy  horses  to  assist  in  transporting 
our  stores  and  baggage  to  tht'ir  camp.  Accordingly  I  set  out  the 
jiext  day,  passed  the  dividing  mountains  between  the  waters  of  the 
Missouri  and  Columbia,  and  descended  the  river,  which  I  have 
since  called  the  East  Fork  of  Louis's  river,  about  70  miles. 
Finding  that  the  Indian's  account  of  the  country  in  the  direction 
of  that  river  was  correct,  I  returned  and  joined  Captain  Lewis,  on 
August  '29th,  at  the  Shoshone  camp,  excessively  fatigued,  as  you 
may  suppose  ;  having  passed  mountains  almost  inaccessible,  and 
being  compelled  to  subsist  on  berries  during  the  greater  part  of  my 
route.  We  now  purchased  seventeen  horses  of  the  Indians,  and 
hired  a  guide,  who  assured  us  that  he  could  in  fifteen  days  take  us 
to  a  large  river,  in  an  open  country,  west  of  these  mountains,  by 
a  route  some  distance  to  the  north  of  the  river  on  which  they  lived, 
and  that  by  which  the  natives  west  of  the  mountains  visit  the  plain 
of  the  Missouri,  for  the  purpose  of  liunting  the  bufi'alo.  Every 
preparation  b;ing  mads,  we  set  forward  with  our  guide  on  the  3Ist 
of  August,  through  these  tremendous  mountains,  in  which  we  con- 
tinued until  the  22d  of  September,  before  we  reached  the  lower 
country  beyond  them.  On  our  way  we  met  with  the  Olelachshook, 
a  band  of  the  Tuchapiks,  from  Avhom  we  obtained  an  accession  of 
seven  iiorses,  and  exchanged  eight  or  ten  others  :  this  proved  of 
infinite  service  to  i!s,  as  we  were  compelled  to  subsist  on  horse 
beef  about  eight  days  before  we  reached  the  Kooskooske.  During 
otir  passage  over  these  mountains,  we  sutTcred  every  thing  which 
iiiiugcr,  cold,  and  fatigue,  could  impose  ;  nor  did  our  diriicultics 


COMMERCIAL  niN'TS,    KECOtLECTIOX^,    &C.  375 

terminate  on  our  arrival  at  the  Kooskooske  ;  for  although  the 
Pollotepallors,  a  numerous  nation  inhabiting  that  country,  were 
extremely  hospitable,  and,  for  a  few  trilling  articles  furnished  us 
•with  an  abundance  of  roots  and  dried  salmon,  the  food  to  Mhich 
tliey  were  accustomed,  we  found  that  we  could  not  subsist  on  these 
articles,  and  almost  all  of  us  grew  sick  on  eating  them;  we  were 
obliged  therefore  to  have  recourse  to  the  flesh  of  horses  and  dogs, 
as  food  to  supply  the  deficiency  of  our  muskets,  which  produced  but 
little  meat,  as  game  was  scarce  in  the  vicinity  ot  our  camp  on  the 
Kooskooske,  where  Tve  were  compelled  to  remain  in  order  to  con- 
struct our  peiogues  to  descend  the  river.  At  this  season  the  sal- 
mon are  meagre,  and  form  but  inditferent  food.  \Vhile  we 
remained  here,  I  was  myself  sick  for  several  days,  and  my  friend 
Captain  Lewis  suffered  a  severe  indisposition. 

Having  completed  four  perogues  and  a  small  canoe,  we  gave  our 
horses  in  charge  to  the  Pollotepallors  until  we  returned,  and  on  the 
7th  of  October  re-embarked  for  the  Pacific  Ocean.  We  descended 
by  the  route  I  have  already  mentioned.  The  Avater  of  the  river 
being  Ioav  at  this  season,  we  experienced  much  difficulty  in  descend- 
ing: we  found  it  obstructed  by  a  great  number  of  difficult  and 
dangerous  rapids,  in  passing  of  which  our  perogues  several  tioics 
filled,  and  the  men  escaped  narrowly  with  their  lives.  However, 
this  difficulty  does  not  exist  in  high  water,  which  happens  ^vithia 
the  period  which  I  have  previously  mentioned.  ^V'e  found  the 
natives  extremely  numerous,  and  generally  friendly,  though  we 
have  op  several  occasions  owed  our  lives  and  the  fate  of  the  expe- 
dition to  our  number,  which  consisted  of  thirty-one  men.  On  the 
17th  of  November  we  reached  the  ocean,  where  various  consi- 
derations induced  us  to  spend  the  winter ;  we  therefore  searched 
for  an  eligible  situation  for  that  purpose ;  and  selected  a  spot  on 
the  south  side  of  a  little  river,  called  by  the  natives  Xetat,  whiclv 
discharges  itself  at  a  small  bar  on  the  south  side  of  the  Columbia, 
and  14  miles  within  point  Adams.  Here  we  constructed  some  i(yg^ 
houses,  and  defended  them  with  a  common  stockade  work;  this 
place  we  called  Fort  Clatsop,  after  a  nation  of  that  name  who 
were  our  nearest  neighbours.  In  this  country  we  found  an  abun- 
dance of  elk,  on  which  we  subsisted  principally  during  the  last 
winter.  We  left  Fort  Clatsop  on  the  27th  of  March.  On  our 
homeward-bouud  voyage,  being  much  better  acquainted  with  the 
country,  we  were  enabled  to  take  such  precautions  as  in  a  great 
measure  secured  us  from  the  want  of  provision  at  any  time,  and 
greatly  lessened  our  fatigues,  when  compared  with  those  to  which 


274  NATAL    AKECDOIES, 

"we  were  compelled  to  submit  in  our  outward. bound  journey,  "\V«; 
have  not  lost  a  man  since  we  left  the  Mandians,  a  circuuTstance 
■which  I  assure  you  is  a  pleasing  consideration  to  me.  As  i  shall 
shortly  be  with  you,  and  the  post  is  noAv  waiting,  I  deem  it  unne- 
cessary here  to  attempt  minutely  to  detail  the  occurrences  of  the 
last  eighteen  months. 

ESTABLISHMENT    OF    DOCK-YARDS. 

WOOLWICH  Dock-yard,  called  by  Camden  the  mother 
dock,  was  established  early  in  the  reign  of  Henry  theVIIIth; 
Deptford,  and  Portsmouth,  also  early  in  the  reign  of  Henry  the 
Vlllth.  As  late  as  1650,  there  was  no  mast-house,  or  dry  dock, 
at  Portsmouth,  nor  above  one  hundred  shipwrights.  There  was 
no  dry  dock  until  Jamaica  was  taken,  in  1655.  The  first  Com- 
missioner's house  was  begun  in  1664,  and  finished  in  1666. — 
Chatham  dock-yard  was  founded  by  Queen  Elizabeth,  where  the 
gun-wharf  now  is.  It  was  then  only  a  small  dock  ;  and  the  spot 
being  too  confined,  the  present  dock  was  constructed  about  the 
year  1629.  Sheerness  dock  was  founded  in  the  reign  of  Charles 
the  lid,  the  fort  having  been  built  by  that  Monarch ;  and  Ply- 
mouth dock  was  founded  in  1691;  previously  to  which  period, 
the  master  shipwright  and  artificers  were  borne  on  board  one  of 
His  Majesty's  ships,  fitted  for  their  reception.  In  1663,  money 
■was  voted  by  the  House  of  Commons  for  completing  the  dock. 

merchants'    service    AND    COASTING    TRADE. 

BY  an  account  recently  published,  of  the  number  of  ships  and 
Tessels  building  for  the  IMerchants'  Service  and  Coasting  Trade,  at 
the  ditferent  ports  of  Great  Britain,  in  the  months  of  April  and 
May,  1806,  it  appears  that  there  were  50,  comprising  89S1  tons, 
on  contract ;  and  124,  comprising  21,337  tons,  on  speculation; 
added  to  which,  there  were  22  new  ships,  comprising  4725  tons, 
which  had  been  launched,  for  sale. — In  May  1806,  there  were  77 
ships,  comprising  17,969  tons,  broomed  for  sale  in  the  pert  of 
London. 

MONUMENT    TO    THE    MEMORY    OF    LORD    NELSON. 

A  SPLENDID  Naval  Monument,  to  the  memory  of  the  late 
Lord  Nelson,  will  shortly  be  erected  at  Liverpool,  by  public  subscrip- 
tion. It  is  to  be  executed  by  Mr.  George  Bullock,  Sculptor,  o^ 
tUat  placcj  for  8000/.  j  in  artificial  stone,  (a  composition  of  different 


COMMERCIAL   HINTS,    RECOtLECTIONS,    &C,  S7S 

vitrified  substances,)  which  unitts  the  beauty  of  marble  with  the 
durability  of  bronze.  Mi.  Bullock  has  published  the  fallowing 
description  of  the  model,  which  has  been  approved  of  by  the  com- 
mittee: — "  In  the  sta  ue  of  Lord  Nelson,  1  hare  endeavoured  to 
express  thiit  calm  and  digniiied  composure  for  which  he  wa  so  pre- 
eminently distinguished  in  the  hour  of  danger  ;  his  efligy  is,  there- 
fore, plain  and  simple,  placed  in  a  firm  and  decided  attitude  ;  the 
tinion  flag  and  anchor  are  introduced  as  the  distinguishing  marks 
of  his  professional  rank,  at  the  same  time  pointing  out  the  means 
by  which  his  fame  and  glory  were  obtained.  The  pedestal  on 
which  the  Hero  stands,  is  encircled  with  a  double  coil  of  British 
cable  resting  on  the  plinth,  and  enriched  by  the  representation  of 
his  four  principal  engagements,  viz.  St.  Vincent,  the  A^ilc,  Copen- 
hagen, and  'J'rafalgar  ;  four  figures  of  Victory,  whose  hands  are 
united  by  crowns  of  laurel,  suspended  over  each  battle,  are  the 
supporters  of  this  column,  representing  an  unbroken  chain  of 
splendid  victories.  The  cornice  of  the  column  is  composed  of 
leaves  of  British  oak.  On  the  sub-plinth  are  seated  four  nautical 
figures,  emblematical  of  the  four  great  battles  fought ;  the  figures 
do  not  convey  any  idea  of  captivity  more  than  is  absolutely 
necessary  to  show  defeat :  the  body  of  the  sub-plinth  is  enriched 
with  the  heads  of  the  four  ships  in  which  these  brilliant  exploits 
"Were  atchievcd,  at  once  perpetuating  the  glory  of  the  British 
Navy,  and  the  ships  by  which  his  glory  was  confirmed.  The 
heads  of  the  men  of  war  are  to  be  fac-simi!ics  of  the  respec'ire 
ships  as  in  action,  conveying  to  posterity  tlie  identity  of  the  indi- 
vidual vessels  which  contributed  to  fix  its  fame  on  an  immutable 
base.  The  whole  is  erected  on  a  mural  base,  guarded  by  four 
iions  couchant,  emblematical  of  the  indigenous  and  naval  valour  of 
Great  Britain,  forming  the  grand  bulwark  to  the  whole,  and 
intimating,  that  courage  is  the  surest  guide  to  naval  glory. 

"  On  the  projecting  sides  of  the  mural  base,  in  raised  bronze 
letters,  appears  a  description  of  each  battle,  and  of  every  ship 
engaged,  together  with  that  of  its  opponent,  and  on  the  front  the 
sum  total  of  the  vessels  taken  and  destroyed,  by  which  each  Cap- 
tain's name  becomes  enrolled  with  that  of  his  ship,  and  is  handed 
down  to  future  ages,  together  with  his  beloved  and  lamented  Chief. 
This  monument,  the  grateful  elTusion  of  liberality  to  British  valour 
and  departed  excellence,  rises  from  an  encircled  quadrangle,  contain- 
ing 1500  feet  of  water,  to  be  supplied  w  ith  the  pipes  already  fixed, 
and  which  can  easily  be  brought  to  feed  the  reservoir,  appearing 
1o  i>9iie  from  four  heads  placed  in  the  intermediate  spaces  of  the 


378  NAVAL    ANECDOTESj 

mural  base,  representing  the  four  great  and  principal  rirers  of 
England,  Ireland,  Scotland,  and  Wales,  as  contributing  to  com- 
merce, and  promoting  that  naval  exertion,  the  cultivation  of  which 
has  so  firmly  cemented  the  maritime  interest  and  power  of  this 
proud  and  happy  island.  The  circle  is  encompassed  by  a  correct 
imitation  of  boarding  nets,  illuminated  by  ship-lanthorns,  the 
whole  forming  an  enriched  naval  pillar,  of  an  order  almost  new^ 
strictly  conforming  to  the  rules  of  Corinthian  architecture  in  all 
its  dimensions,  and  possessing  the  peculiar  recommendation  of 
being  indebted  to  no  foreign  or  advctifidoti^  ornament  for  its 
support :  no  heathen  mijthology  is  here  introduced,  nor  any  foreign 
attribute  ;  as  it  has  been  my  principal  ambition  to  erect  such  a 
nautical  monument  with  British  r}iuterials-)  as  shall  at  once  tell  the 
history  of  that  Ilcro,  whom  Britons  still  lament,  and  convey  to 
posterity  the  plain  unvarnished  tale  of  British  courage,  Jortitude^ 
and  glory. ''^ 

COMMERCIAL    IMPORTANCE    OF    SHIP    BUILDING, 

THE  following  sketch  of  the  numerous  classes  of  His  Ma- 
jesty's subjects,  wliose  trades  are  connected  with,  and  in  some 
degree  dependant  On,  the  building,  equipment,  and  emplovmcnt 
of  British  shipping,  m  ill  not  prove  uninteresting  : — 

A  ship-owner,  in  order  to  build  a  ship,  must  necessarily  employ 
the  ship-builder,  who  derives  his  knowledge  from  the  arts  and 
sciences,  and  who,  in  the  construction  of  the  ship,  gives  employ- 
ment to  the  shipwright,  the  sawyer,  the  caulker,  the  joiner,  and 
the  blacksmith  ;  to  the  Baltic  merchant,  for  tar,  pitch,  iron,  and 
other  stores  imported  from  abroad  ;  to  the  Canada  merchant,  for 
timber.  Sec. ;  to  the  copper  merchant,  and  copper  smith,  for  copper, 
bolts,  kc. ;  to  the  iron  master,  for  iron  knees,  &c.  ;  to  the  dealers 
in  old  rope,  for  oakum,  (\vhich  is  generally  made  by  infirm  and 
old  persons  who  are  incapable  of  laborious  employment;)  and  to 
the  landed  interest,  for  timber,  &c. 

The  mast  and  block-maker  gives  employment  to  the  Baltic  mer- 
chant, for  masts,  &c. ;  to  the  West  India  merchant,  for  lignum 
vita2,  (S:c. ;  to  the  landed  interest,  for  elm  for  pumps,  &c. ;  to 
the  manufacturers  of  varnish^  &c.  j  and  to  the  journeymen 
block-makers. 

The  sail-maker  gives  employment  to  the  sail-cloth  manufac- 
toriesj   for  canvass ;    to   the  rope-maker,  for  bolt-rope ;    to  the 


CO!*MERCIAL    HINTS,    RrXOLLECTrOXS,    ScC.  3?7 

twhvf-spiiincr,   for  twine,  lines,  cVc.  ;   to  tlie  Baltic  merchant,  for 
tai-;  flax,  hi-mp,  Szc, ;   and  to  the  jounifynien  sail-maki-rs. 

The  rope-maker  gives  en)j)lojnieut  to  the  Baltic  merchant,  for 
ierap,  (ar,  kc;  to  the  blacksmith,  for  iron  impleraen's;  tcj  the 
iron  wheel-maker,  for  wheels  ;  to  the  carpenter,  for  sledges  ;  and 
to  the  journeymen  rope-makers. 

The  ship-chandler  irives  employment  to  the  manufacturers  of 
ivory  black,  white  lead,  &c. ;  to  the  brush-maker,  for  brushes, 
A:c. ;  to  the  turner,  for  bowls,  platters,  spoons,  &c. ;  to  the 
broom-maker,  for  brooms;  to  the  manufacturers  of  horn,  kc.  ; 
to  the  hardsvareman,  for  shovels,  &c.;  to  the  twine-spiuner ;  to' 
the  needle-maker;  to  the  wire-maker;  to  the  pottqr;  to  the 
scale-maker,  for  scales,  and  steel-yards  ;  to  the  lead-merchants, 
for  sounding  leads,  sheet  lead,  &c. ;  to  the  lamp-maker,  to  the 
time-glass  maker ;  to  the  tinman,  for  lanthorns,  speaking  trum- 
pets, copper  pumps,  &c.  ;  to  the  iron-foundt;r,  for  cannon  and 
shot ;  to  the  gunpowder-maker  ;  to  the  gunsmith,  for  muskets, 
pistols,  Sec:  to  the  locksmith;  to  the  sword-cutler ;  to  the 
matiiematical  instrument  maker,  for  compasses,  quadrants,  teles- 
copes, sextants,  &;c,  ;  to  the  manufacturer  of  bunting  colours,  &c.  ; 
to  the  ironmonger,  for  fish-hooks,  nails,  pump-tacks,  &c.  ;  to  the 
Icad-shot  maker,  for  bullets;  to  the  leather-seller,  for  sheep-skins, 
hides,  kc.  ;  to  the  ironmonger  and  hardwareman,  for  marline- 
ypikes,  &c.  ;  and  to  the  Baltic  merchant,  for  pitch,  tar, 
rosin,   ^:c. 

The  boat-builder  gives  rmpiO}mcnt  to  the  Baltic  merchant,  for 
wainscot,  tar,  and  pitch  ;  and  to  the  land- holder,  for  oak, 
elm,  kc. 

The  plumber,  glazier,  and  painter,  give  employment  to  the 
load  merchant,  for  lead ;  to  the  glass-manutacUirer,  for  glass  :  to 
the  oil-manuracturcr,  for  oil  ;  and  to  the  colour-maker,  for 
colours,  kc. 

'J'he  cooper  gives  employment  to  the  Baltic  merchant,  for  staves 
and  iron  ;  to  the  Canada  merchaut,  for  uuod  :  and  to  the  hoop- 
bender,  for  wood,  hoops,  &c. 

The  tallow-chaudlir  gives  emplovmcnt  to  the  Baltic  merchant, 
for  tallow  :  to  tiie  tallow-melter,  fur  melting  ;  and  to  the  West 
India  merchant,  for  cotton. 

The  grocer  gives  employment  to  the  sugar-baker  ;  and  to  the 
West  India,  Jleditctranean,  and  Portuguese  merchants. 

The  coal  merchaut  gives  employment  to  the  pia)prietori  of  coal 
niiues  ;  and  to  lightermen,  bai;gemeii,  kc. 

f'^at.  Cljton.  <Iio(,XVIL  c  c  c 


378  JJAVAI-    ANECDurtS, 

The  batcher  gives  einployiucnt  to  the  larmer,  grazier,  and  hui^* 
bandiniin. 

The  baker  g'tvcs  employment  to  the  miller,  for  flour,  &c.;  ajiii 
to  (he  farmer,  for  peas,  kc. 

The  cheesemonger  gives  employment  to  the  farmer,  for  butter 
and  cheese. 

The  brewer  gives  employment  (o  the  malstcr,  to  the  hop-mer- 
chant, to  the  back  maker,  to  the  coo|)er,  and  to  tlie  coppersmith, 
&c.  ;  and 

The  brazier  gives  emplojqncnt  to  the  coppersmith,  for  copper, 
Sec. 

CAPTAIN    BLACKW(?ODj    AND    LOSS    OF    THE    AJAX*. 

THE  Proceedings  of  a  Board  of  Inquiry^  held  on  board  His 
^Majesty's  ship  Canopus,  by  order  of  Vice-Adniiral  Sir  John 
Thomas  Duckworth,  K.B.,  and  a  Court  Martial  held  on  board 
His  Majesty's  ship  Royal  Sovereign,  per  order  of  the  Right 
Honourable  Lord  Collingvvood. 

At  a  Court  Martial  held  on  board  His  Majesty's  ship  Carnopus, 
by  order  of  Vice-Admiral  Sir  John  Thomas  Dnckworth,  Iv.B., 
dated  10th  February,  1807,  and  directed  to  Hear- Admiral  Sir  T. 
Louis,  Bart.,  for  inquiring  into  the  cause,  and  strictly  investigating 
into  the  circumstances  of  the  fire  by  which  His  IMajesty's  ship 
Ajax  was  entirely  destroyed,  on  the  night  of  the  14th  inst. 

Present, 
Rear-Admiral  Thomas    Louis,    Bart.,   President. 
Rear-Adm.  Sir  W.  Sid  ey  Smith,  I  Hon.  Captain  A.  K.  LcggCj 


Captain  Charles  Boyles, 


Captain  Richard  Dacrcs. 


Read  the  Order  of  V'ice-Admiral  Sir  J.  T.  Duckworth,  for  tlu 
inquiry. 

The  Hon.  Captain  Blackwood,  of  His  Majesty's  late  ship  Ajax, 
appeared  before  the  Court,  and  addressed  them  as  follows : — 

"  I  beg  leave  to  staitc  to  the  Court,  that  from  an  earnest  desire 
to  have  the  fullest  and  earliest  possible  information  of  the  cause  of 
the  loss  of  His  M.ijesty's  late  ship  Ajax,  under  ray  command,  as 
Meil  us  the  nuans  used  to  save  her,  and  that  evidence  should  be 
heard  on  oath,  and  as  coiichisive  a  sentence  given  as  possible,  so 
that  in  the  event  (v.liich  1  trust  would  be  the  case)  of  myself, 
ofticers,   and   crew, .being  acquitted,    I   might  agaiji  be  placed  in 

*  i^te  u.i'.-e  V>i9. 


coMMr.RFiAr,  HINTS,  nr.for.r.r.cTioxSj  &:c.  379 

acfive  SPrvicp,  from  which,  at  i)ri'scnt,  %vc  are  iioco-ssarily  with- 
drawn, I  have  earnestly  soikited  \  icc-Aiimiral  Sir  John  I'homas 
Duckworth,  KB.,  (o  order  a  Court  JMartial ;  and  finding  from 
the  Right  Honourable  FiOrd  Collint^wood's  orders  to  him,  that  he 
is  not  authorized  to  direct  a  Court  Marfial  to  be  lield  on  the 
ofliccrs  and  crews  of  ships  lost,  l)«t  to  send  thctn  to  join  the 
squadron  with  the  said  Commander  in  Cliief  for  trial,  which  I 
consider  so  contrary  to  the  custom  of  the  service  and  the  Act  of 
Parliament,  that  for  the  following  reasons  I  consider  myself,  my 
officers,  and  my  ship's  company,  most  severely  ajrgrieved,  as  it  de- 
j)rives  us  ntterly  of  the  advatitage  which  we  should  otherwise  have 
derived  from  the  full  eifect  in  the  clause  of  the  Act  of  Parliament 
22d  of  Geo.  II.  as  follows  :-^'  And  it  is  hereby  further  enacted, 
that  from  and  after  the  25th  of  December,  1740,  in  case  any 
Commander  in  Chief  of  any  fleet  or  squadron  of  Nis  Majesty's 
ships  or  vessels  of  war  in  foreign  parts  shall  detach  anv  part  of 
such  llex't  or  squadron,  every  Commander  in  Chief  shall,  and  is 
herei)y  authorized  and  required,  by  writing  under  his  hand,  to 
empower  the  chief  Commander  of  the  squadron  or  detachment  so 
ordered  on  separate  service,  and  in  case  of  his  death  or  removal, 
the  otlicer  to  whom  the  command  of  such  separate  squadron  or 
detachment,  shall  belong,  to  hold  a  Court  ^Martial  during  the  time 
of  such  separate  service,  or  until  the  Commander  of  tiie  said 
squadron  or  detachment  for  the  time  being  shall  come  under  the 
command  of  any  of  his  superior  oilicers,  or  return  to  Great  Uri- 
tiin  or  Ireland.' 

"  1st,  Because  it  is  an  open  and  direct  violation  ol^  the  fore- 
going Act  of  Parliament. 

"  tidJy.  Because,  from  the  service  the  Commander  in  Chief\  is 
upon,  watching  the  enemy's  s(]n;uliO!i,  it  is  probable  he  may  not 
he  found  olf  Cadiz;  consequenlly  the  serviei'  is  much  protracted, 
aiul  myself,  officers,  ai«d  ship's  company,  thrown  out  of  it  for  an 
indefinite  period. 

"  .'kllv-  Because  tlie  Con\mander  of  the  squadron,  Vico- Admiral 
Sir  John  Thomas  Duckworth,  has  the  fullest  means,  l)v  a 
sufficiency  of  ships,  to  comply  wiMi  tl;e  Act  of  Parlianieiit, 
departing  fio.ni  which  becomes  a  most  cruel  hardship  to  individuals, 
and  extremely  injurious  to  the  service. 

"  4thly.  That  were  it  not  for  the  sense  that  Vice-Admiral  Sir 
John  Thomas  Duckworth  has  of  the  peculiarity  of  the  case,  being 
kindly  ])leascd  to  adopt  a  middle  course,  by  ordering  a  Court  to 
ijiquirv  into  the  cau^'-  of  the  lo.ss  of  His  Majesty's  late  ship  Ajaxj^ 


3S0-  NAVAI,    .^NI.COOTr.S^ 

it  Avould  be  impossible  for  us  to  volunteer  our  services  on  the 
expedition  before  us.  vvhicii  I  do  now  for  myself  and  officers, 
hoping  that  the  service  at  large,  from  the  inquiry  that  lias  taken 
])Iace  this  day  before  five  such  liighiy  distinguished  and  respecta- 
ble members,  will,  in  the  event  of  our  falling  in  battle,  consider 
the  opinion  given  as  conclusive,  tliat  not  only  the  fire  was  such  as 
it  was  scarcely  possible  to  guard  against,  but  also  that  it  was  more 
rapid  tlian  any  ever  witnessed,  and  that  every  exertion  was  used  to 
extinguish  it,  (hongh  without  effect. 

"  At, nine  o'clock  P.M.  on  the  1 4th  Feb.  1S07,  at  anchor  oflF 
the  moulh  of  the  Dardanolles,  in  company  with  the  sq-uadrou  un- 
der Vice-Admiral  Sir  J.  T.  Duckworih,  K.B.,  just  as  I  had  gone 
to  btd,  the  oiliccr  af  the  watch  ran  into  mv  cabin,  and  acquainted 
nio  there  was  a  great  alarm  of  fire  in  the  after  part  of  the  ship  :  I 
immediately  ordered  the  drummer  to  beat  to  quarters,  which  was 
eSbctt'd;  and  instantly,  as  I  came  out  of  my  cabin,  I  directed  the 
signal  Xo.  12  to  l)c  made  ;  r.hich  was  made,  and  repeatedly 
eriforced  by  gur.s  at  intervals  ;  I  called  some  of  the  senior  officers 
of  the  shipj  Avho  wcttt  down  with  me  to  the  after  cock-pit,  and 
the  lower  dock,  from  'whence  the  smoke  issued;  I  immediately 
ordered  as  much  Avater  as  possible  to  be  thrown  down,  and  ilitt 
cock  to  be  turned,  which  I  found  had  been  previously  done. 
AVhen  I  made  tiie  signal  No.  12,  I  ordered  a  boat,  with 
Lieutenant  A^-  ood,  a  Midshipman,  and  a  boat's  crew,  to  go  and 
inform  ail  the  ships  mar  us  of  the  unfortunate  situation  of  the 
Ajax.  I  had  scarcf^ly  been  three  minutes  on  the  lower  deck, 
w  hen  I  found  the  impossibility  of  any  officer  or  man  remaining  in 
tile  cock-pit,  to  endeavaur  to  extinguish  the  fii'e  ;  perceiving,  from 
tho  quantify  and  thickness  of  the  smoke,  that  several  men  fell 
dovrn-vvitii  Iiuckc's  in  their  hands,  from  suffocation. 

"  To  obviate  this,  1  desired  the  lower-deck  porfs  to  bo  hauled 
njy  to  give  air;  but  very  soon  finding  (he  harm  it  produccnl,  I 
directed  them  to  be  lowered  down,  and  the  after-hatchway  to  be 
covered  up,  in  order  to  gain  time,  by  stopping  tho  vent  of  the 
.'moke,  for  tlie  boats  to  be  hoisted ;  wliith  measure  I  was  induced 
to  adopt,  firuliftg  that  the  fire  was  of  that  nature  that  the  ship  mu<>t 
fcoou  be  in  llimes.  Owing  to  there  not  being  any  cock  leading  to 
the  aftor  magazine,  I  ordered  the  Carpenter  with  his  screw  to 
scuttle  tiie  after  part  of  t]\c  ship  ;  but  by  this  time  (a  period  from 
the  commencement  of  not  more  than  ten  minutes,  as  near  as  I  cm 
judj;e).  the  smoke,  though  endeavoured  to  be  sfifled.  had  gained  so. 
much,   th^t^    thuugh  it  v,a,s  bright  moonlight^    wc  could  only  dis- 


COMMERCIAL    IIIN'TS,    RKCOI-I-rCTIONS,    &-C.  381 

tinguish  each  other,  oven  on  deck,  by  spiakina;  or  feeling,  conse- 
quently all  attempts  to  hoist  the  boats  out  uere  ineflectual,  except 
in  tlie  case  of  the  jolly  boat,  which  began  to  take  up  tlic  men  who 
had  jumped  overboard.  Immediately  as  the  tiames  burst  up  the 
main  hatchway,  which  divided  the  fore  from  the  after  part  of  flie 
ship,  I  called  to  every  body  to  go  to  the  foremost  part  of  the 
ship,  as  all  hoi)cs  were  at  an  end  of  saving  her  ;  I  desired  eycry 
one  to  save  himself  as  fast  as  he  could.  I  had  scarcely  reached  the 
forecastle,  when  I  saw  all  parts,  from  the  centre  of  the  booms  aft 
in  a  raging  flame.  When  the  fire  had  reached  the  other  part  of 
tlie  forecaiitle,  after  exhorting  the  officers  and  ship's  company,  to 
the  amount  of  100,  who  were  on  the  forecastle,  and  about  the 
bowsprit,  to  be  cool,  and  depend  on  the  bouts ;  and  also  seeing 
all  hojjcs  of  saving  the  ship  wc  e  in  vain,  I  jumped  overboard, 
from  the  sprit-sail-yard,  and  being  about  hidf  an  hour  in  the  water, 
I  was  picked  up  by  one  of  the  boats  of  tiic  Canopus,  and  taken  on 
board  that  ship  much  exhausted. 

*'  In  the  execution  of  the  duty  which  dL'volved  on  me,  as  Cap- 
tain of  the  ship,  in  such  a  situation,  1  derivt  rl  m;ich  assistance  from 
all  the  officers,  but  particularly  from  J>ieutenants  Proctor,  Drown, 
^Mitchell,  and  Sibthorp,  and  also  the  Master  aiid  Capfain  of 
Marines;  and  with  respect  to  the  ship's  comp;iny,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances of  fire,  (more  rapid  than  I  believe  was  ever  before 
knoun,)  with  hammocks  below — under  the  impression  of  terror, 
w'hich  fire  at  any  time  creates,  but  particularly  Mhen  men  are  just 
out  of  their  beds — no  people  conM  have  behaved  with  more  cool- 
ness or  perseverance  than  they  did. 

"  In  pursuance  of  the  standing  orders,  I  had  received  the  report 
from  the  first  Lieutenant  of  his  having  visited  all  parts  of  the  ship, 
with  the  Warrant  Officers  and  ]\Iaster  at  Arms,  which  he  had 
found  clear  and  safe;  I  had  also  received  the  pariicular  report  of 
the  Master  at  Arms,  but  not  that  of  the  Lieutenant  of  the  Marina 
Guard,  who  was  accustomed  to  \i>it  all  below,  and  report^o  me  at 
nine  o'clock,  at  which  hour  tliis  unfortunate  event  took  pljce." 

Captain  Blackwood's  narrative  here  closed,  and  several 
evidences  being  called  into  Court,  were  examined:  the  Court 
having  deliberated  on  the  same,  formed  their  opinion  accordingly, 
Avhich  Avas,  unanimously  acquitting  Caplaiu  Blackwood,  his 
officers,  and  crew. 

A  similar  honourable  acquittal  vvas  pronounced  by  the  Mem- 
bers of  a  Court  JMartial  held  off  Cadiz,  by  order  of  Lord 
Colliugwood. 


$8'^  touRr-spoNnr.Nri;. 

LORD    EODNEY. 

MONDAY  (t!ip  12th  of  April  bcina;  on  Sunday)  the  Jamaica 
Planters  and  Merchants  held  their  usual  Annual  Dinner  at  the 
British  Coflee-house,  in  coinmcmoration  of  the  glorious  victory 
obtained  by  the  late  Lord  Rodney,  the  saver  of  Jamaica,  over  the 
French  fleet,  conunauded  by  le  Comtc  de  Grassc,  on  the  12th  of 
April,  1782;  and  what  contributed  much  to  the  pleasure  of  the 
meeting,  arose  from  the  introduction,  by  ]Mr.  D.varris,  of  the 
Hon.  Captain  Rodney,  of  the  Navy,  one  of  the  sons  of  their  late 
favourite  gallant  Admiral. 

BRITISH    GEN'F.ROSITY. 

IX  an  hour  after  the  reducHon  of  IMontc  Video,  hy  sform,  a 
nival  olVicer  of  rank  hiippened  to  l)e  passing  a  jjrocer'ii  shop,  in 
which  heot)scrvcd  a  British  .suklier,  of  the  40tii  regiment.  Fearing 
that  so  immediately  after  an  assault^  tlic  soldier  miglit  be  about  toi 
commit  some  exaction  from  the  grocer,  curiosity  induced  him  to 
wait,  unpcrcch-ed^  until  he  should  ascertain  the  man's  intentions; 
•when,  to  his  great  astonishment  and  satisfaction,  he  saw  tlie  grocer 
deliver  a  quantity  of  sugar  to  the  soldier,  who,  taking  out  a  dollar, 
deb>ired  liim  to  pay  himself,  and  on  receiving  the  change,  put  it 
iiito  ])is  pockctj  >vilh  tliis  remaik  only  : — *■'  \\'ell,  dear  enough 
too." 

Kovv  would  a  foreign  force,  and  particularly  French  soldierSj 
have  acted  on  such  an  occasion  ? — Mirahilc  diciu  ! 


COR  RES  PON  DENXE. 

MR.  nmroK, 
(OOMI'  montlis  since  I  transmitter!  you  a  Paper  on  Xautlral 

Iniprovfiiient,  which  you  did   nie  the  favour  to  insert  in 

vDur  CiiRfiMCLii,  among  other  vaUiable   docmncnts   on   the 

same    su'oject,    tiiat    so    highly    merit    being    preserved    and 

1;ausmitted  to   posteiity*.      1  now  beg   leave   to   transmit   to 

vou  a  second  proposal^  from  the  same  ingenious  Correspondent, 

( Mr.  Charles  C.  CrookCj)  which  I  think  no  less  interesting  than 

the  former. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be^  $ic. 

J.  c. 

*  ^e(B  Aaval  Uuromcle,  \'o1.  XVI,  pu|^e  51!,  et  siq. 


COKllESPONDENC*:.  383 

An  Abslraci  Cop^j  of  a  Lctfcr  to  Lord  St.  Vixcxcnt,  dated  the 
2\U  of  September.^  1803. 

MY    I.ORO, 

TJlOL'CiII  Avc  have  liail  so  many  ins<anccs  of  ships  foundcTiiig 
after  'Having  been  dismasted  in  storms  of  wind,  aiul  thoir  crcv, 5  (00 
frequently  pcrisliing  ;  yet,  when  any  of  the  crew  have  been  jnovi- 
ilciitialiy  saved,  Ave  have  never  heard  of  any  effort  beinit  made  lf> 
avert  the  calamity,  except  throwing  a  fevv  guns  overboard;  hut 
that  the  crews  have  resigned  themselves  to  the  mercy  of  ruthless 
^vaves,  and  to  sliarc  the  fate  of  the  wreck ;  a  resignation  in  conse- 
quence of  a  torpor,  produced  by  tliat  generally  received  opinion 
%vhieh  I  am  about  to  explode,  of  ail  human  exertions  being  useless 
in  sucli  hapless  situations. 

I  Mill  therefori'  ofier  con\iction  to  your  Lnruiliip,  and  to  every 
inti'lligent  seaman,  that  eli'cctual  means  can  be,  though  never  yet 
liave  been,  used  for  the  preservation  of  dismasted  ships  and  their 
crews  :  and  also,  that  every  ship,  wliich  shall  go  to  sea  prepared 
for  the  disaster,  may,  in  a  few  hours  after  it  happcj;s,  bo  laid 
quietly  bowing  the  sea,  and  the  crew  in  perfect  safetv,  if  they 
have  but  sea  room  when  the  masts  are  lost. 

jVor  is  this  idea  new  to  me  ;  but  my  thoughts  ^\c^'t  always  con- 
fined to  such  means  of  preservation,  as  the  pull  m  onld  most  pro- 
bably supply  :  therefore,  the  occurrence  of  preparation  against  the 
calamity  of  foundering,  fortunately  removes  the  uncertainty  of  nia- 
tcrials  for  preservation  ;  nor  will  the  preparatory  expense,  for  a 
ship  of  the  line,  exceed  one  hundred  pounds  ;  but  if  the  materials 
are  not  used,  and  returned  into  store,  the  c?ipetise  will  scarcely  be 
one  hundred  shiiliiigs. 

For  a  ship  of  the  line,  I  jjropose  to  have  a  piece  of  made  tim- 
ber, in  two  jjarts,  thirty  feet  long  aial  two  feet  scjuare,  Avhich  can 
be  separated,  and  hur.g  i;p  over  the  capstan  under  the  liail'-dec.k 
or  put  down  betv,een  the  decks,  and  which  1  shall  call  a  dra^^  • 
and  the  drag  must  be  fated  v.ith  five  iron  span  shackles,  easily 
taken  olV  and  put  on,  with  ring-bolts  through  the  end  and  the 
middle  shackles,  that  the  tliree  logs  of  a  span,  eaoli  of  >i\.  inch 
hawser,  and  fii'teon  fathoms  long,  may  be  clenciied  to  those  rino-- 
bolts,  Avhich  are  to  bj  well  securc-d  with  nut-sv;r.  ws  and  fore!ock>  ; 
the  shackles  between  the  end  and  middle  s!iat:kles,  are  to  b:>  sim- 
ply bolted,  as  they  arc  for  the  greater  security  of  the  two  parts  of 
timber,  when  the  drag  is  lobe  u,ed,  and  through  wliich  then- mu>t 
fcc  inan-ropeji  lived  fo;  couveniciicy^  a.^  lor  use  :  ami 


384  COnRESPONOEXCE. 

On  the  bight  of  the  span  must  be  formed  an  eye,  to  which  th& 
Stream  cable,  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  fathoms  long,  -will  occa- 
sionally be  bent:  then  from  the  span,  at  four  fathoms' distance 
from  each  other,  must  be  lashed  to  the  stream  cable,  twenty-five 
empty  slung  butts',  tight  bunged,  to  buoy  up  the  cable  ;  and  to 
each  of  the  span  legs,  at  one  fathom's  distance  from  each  other, 
must  be  lashed  empty  slung  butts  with  their  bungs  out,  to  fill  and 
to  create  weight  and  resistance;  also  to  the  man-ropes  on  each 
side  of  the  drag,  must  be  lashed  empty  slung  butts,  chime  to 
chime,  with  the  bungs  out,  to  fill  and  to  create  weight  and 
resistance. 

And  as  every  butt  will  be  slung  with  prepared  slings,  they  must 
be  lashed  to  the  stream  cable,  and  to  the  span  legs,  with  the 
running  part  of  the  slings,  and  with  two  cross  turns,  over  the  cable 
or  span  leg,  and  under  the  bight  of  the  slings,  to  prevent  the  butts 
slewing,  being  short  sluug,  and  to  keep  them  at  right  angles 
athwart,  and  under  the  cable  or  span  legs,  that  the  greatest  possible 
resistance  may  be  preserved. 

But  the  whole  extraordinaries  for  this  most  important  service, 
•will  only  be  a  piece  of  madj  timber,  thirty  feet  long  and  two  feet 
square,  for  a  drag  ;  also  forty  fathoms  of  cable,  to  lengthen  the 
ordinary  stream  cable  ;  also  forty-five  fathoms  of  sis-inch  hawser, 
for  span  legs  ;  and  also  one  hundred  pair  of  stout  butt  slings,  of 
cast  rope,  with  a  thimble  fixed  at  one  end  :  and  thus  prepared 
A^ith  fitted  slings,  a  butt  \>ill  be  laslied  to  the  cable  in  five  minutes; 
and  as  more  than  one  butt  \nll  be  slinging  and  lashing  to  the  cable 
at  the  same  time,  I  may  be  justified  in  supposing,  my  drag  will  be 
launched  for  service,  in  almost  as  short  time  as  usually  taken  to 
reef  and  to  set  the  courses. 

For  instance,  my  Lord,  our  ma^ts  are  ail  gone  by  the  board, 
and  the  forecastle  is  a  clear  stage  ;  turn  to,  and  get  the  parts  of 
the  drag  on  the  forecastle,  and  let  the  Carpenters  fix  the  span 
shackles,  and  the  forecastlcmen  pass  and  fix  the  man-ropes  through 
the  drag  ;  then  place  and  SL'cure  it  on  the  gunwale  next  to  the  sea, 
between  the  par-buckles  for  the  drag  ;  as  there  must  be  four  eyc- 
bolts  fixed,  two  without  and  tuo  within  the  gunwale,  on  each  side 
of  the  forecastle,  for  the  use  of  par-buckles  on  these  perilous 
occasions  :  then  hand  up  the  span,  the  coils  of  slings,  and  the  cud 
of  tiie  stream  cable,  and  begin  to  whip  np  empty  casks  out  of  the 
after  hold,  as  the  other  hatchways  are  battened  doAvn  ;  but  if  tht; 
casks  in  the  hold  are  not  empty,  start  them  and  set  the  pumps  to 
work :  then 


CCF.P.rSPO^BENCE.  tS5 

Pass  flic  cnt!  of  tho  stream  cable  over  the  forecastle,  abaft,  and 
tiuder  the  cathead  next  to  the  sea,  and  in  at  the  head  door  ;  then 
rouse  round  the  stump  of  the  foremast  twenty  fathoms  of  cable 
■with  three  turns,  for  occasionally  "veering  away,  or  freshening  the 
tiip  in  the  liead  door,  %vhere  there  should  always  be  fixed  pci-pen- 
dicHlar  rollers  ;  and  then  coil  away  the  cable  athwart  the 
forecastle,  or  in  the  w  aist,  unshipping  the  gang-boards ;  and  at 
liiirfy  fathoms'  dis^tance  of  cable  from  the  head  door,  begin  to  lash 
on  casks,  for  many  must  now  be  on  the  forecastle ;  the  span  legs 
•will  be  clenched  to  the  ring-bolts  of  the  drag,  and  supplied  with 
casks,  also  the  man-ropes  will  be  supplied  on  each  side  o£the  dragj 
and  the  cable  must  have  been  supplied  almost  as  fust  as  it  Was 
roused  np;  then,  whilst  the  last  casks  are  lashing  to  the  cable^ 
bring  its  Avagging  end  to  the  eye  of  the  span  and  bend  it,  then 
par-lmckle  the  drag  down  the  bow,  and  pay  away  cable  and  casks, 
for  what  cannot  seamen  on  board  of  a  man  of  war  do,  when  they 
have  the  means  of  doing  it,  particuliirly  for  self-preservation,  which 
must  ever  be  a  spur  to  exertion,  and  give  execution  to  what  many 
may  suppose  a  dreaming  theory. 

And  now,  my  Lord,  my  life  to  a  post  ship,  the  ptill  will  bow^ 
the  sea  in  safety  ;  for,  including  the  span,  we  shall  have  out  one 
hundred  and  forty-five  fathoms  of  cable,  to  a  drag  thirty  feet  long, 
and  two  feet  square,  which,  with  the  span,  will  contain  thirty  tons 
"Weight,  besides  the  resistance  of  the  bodies  containing  that  weighty 
to  hold  the  pull  drifting,  and  safely  bowing  the  sea;  and  by  keep- 
ing the  helm  a-weather,  whith  many  would  put  a-lee,  the  back  o£ 
the  rudder  will  assist  in  keeping  the  pull  to,  and  ease  the  straiji 
on  the  cable,  which  will  form  an  angle,  uith  the  pull,  of  ]-JC|  de* 
grces,  or  more,  if  the  pull  is  brought  within  loss  than  three  points 
of  the  Svitid  ;  but  the  drifting  of  the  pull  will  be  so  very  easy  and 
quiet,  that  the  erection  of  jury-masts  may  be  set  about. 

But  now  let  seamen,  for  they  only  can  well  conceive  what  3 
change  here  would  be  ;  now  w  alkiug  on  dry  decks,  and  every 
thing  round  them  sate  and  quiet;  f.ro  in  the  galloy :  hatchways 
fore  and  aft  open  ;  a  dry  'tween  decks  ;  and  even  the  lee  quartei^ 
ports  hauled  up  for  fresh  air  :  or,  wallowing  in  the  trough  of  a 
heavy  raging  sea;  decks  fail  of  water  J  hatchways  fore  and  affc 
battened  down  ;  suffurating  below  frorrt.  the  want  of  air,  and 
poisoned  with  a  stench  from  putrid  moisture ;  and  perhaps  the  bo-» 
dies  of  drowned  men,  and  the  carcasses  of  sheepj  and  of  pigs>' 
floating  all  together  in  the  waist ;  pull  straining  and  opening  at 
every  seam,  at  every  joint;  and  at  every  roil  approaching  to  disso* 


S86  C0KRE3POSDESCE. 

lufion  !  tremendous  situation!  thus  to  Avar  against  the  cTemcrt  ft! 
but,  under  ProTidcncc,  the  drag  will  now  l)c  the  seaman's  hope. 

And  though  my  mode  of  preservation  of  ships,  and  of  lives,  is  3 
certainty,  in  these  much  to-  be  pitied  cases,  arid  which  seamen  may, 
from  experience  and  conviction,  hereafter  acknoAVledge ;  yet, 
experiment  mu'st  apportion  such  like  means  as  I  have  used,  and 
adapt  them  to  every  class  of  ships,  -vvliich  can  easily  be  done ; 
experiment  will  also-  enable  us  better  to  judge,^  ^hcn  and  oa 
■nhat  occasions  the  drag  may  be  resorted  to  ;  for 

In  my  mind's  eye,  there  are  some  material  and  dangerous  situa- 
tions, when  it  may  be  used  with  the  masts  standing,  and  the  sails 
furled,  with  the  best  possible  effect ;  particularly  when  the  service 
may  have  hurried  ships  to  sea,  with  new  and  unstretchcd  rigging, 
then  cncoustering  sudden  gales  of  wind,  the  rigging  becomes  so 
very  slack,  that  the  masts  must  hiovitably  go  over  the  side,  if  a  pull 
cannot  be  taken  at  the  shrouds ;  or,  shouM  it  fait  little  wind,  m  itb 
a  high  o-r  chopping  sea  running,  and  the  rigging  slack ;  in  such 
cases  the  drag  would  be  a  happy  resort,  as  it  will  keep  the  ship  so* 
near  the  wind,  and  bowing  the  sea,  that  even  the  catharping  legs, 
if  still  in  use,  may  be  cast  off  to-  get  a  thorough  good  pull  at 
the  shronds  ;  and  sure  I  am,  experience  will  confirm  this 
©pinion. 

But  under  the  circumstance  of  being  hurried  out  of  port,  with 
new  unstretched  rigging;  in  If 59  I  twice  witnessed  the  Hero, 
Captain  Edgecombe,  a  wreck,  without  mast  or  bowsprit  standing; 
and  had  not  the  Hero  been  perfectly  a  new  ship,  and  tfic  summer 
storms  of  short  duration,  the  ship  must  certainly  have  foundered, 
and  probably  every  soul  rsust  have  perished. 

And  should  it  be  found,  but  which  I  hardly  think  possible,  that 
my  pcnvers  of  resistance  are  not  suiJicJeiit  to  keep  the  pull  bowing 
the  sea,  we  have  then  only  to  splice  a  bower  cable  to  the  stream 
ca:ble,  and- veer  away  round  the  foremast,  to  lay  the  pnll  at  plea- 
sure: but,  as  the  pull  -*ill  drift  easier,  Avith  the  whid  a  poiirt  or 
two  upon  the  hovj  taan  with  it  right  a-hcad,  and  should  the 
resisting  power  of  the  drag  bring  the  wind  a-head,  a  spring  theiy 
passed  through  the  bow  port,  and  clapped  on  the  cable  Avithout  the 
head  door,  then  veer  away  round  the-  foremast,  until  the  spring 
bears,  and  lay  the  pull  as  you  Avish. 

Though  I  am  more  inclin-ed  to  think,  that  in  dragging,  the  poAT- 
crs  of  resistance  wilf  be  found  so  great,  as  to  admit  of  a  reduction 
in  all  the  parts  constituting  those  powers  ;  and  that  a  tcii-incb 
i«awserj  with  proportiouable  span  leg;s,  mil  be  saSicieat  for  a  shit? 


of  tfie  tine  to  drag  by ;  and  if  so,  the  use  of  the  smaller  rope  will 
accelerate  the  process  of  bringing  the  pull's  bow  to  the  sea ; 
besides, 

By  the  swdl  of  the  sea,  the  drag  must  continually  set  home  ta> 
the  pull,  therefore  the  cable  must  be  so  perfectly  elastic,  that  it 
can  never  be  made  a  strait  cable,  and  never  will  part ;  the  casks 
also  may  admit  of  a  reduction  in  number,  and  to  be  placed  at 
greater  distances  from  each  other,  which  will  shorten  much  the 
process  of  bringing  the  huli's  bpw  to  the  sea;  but  this,  experiment 
tnust  also  determine. 

Therefore,  in  every  point  of  view,  the  resort  here  offered,  for 
the  preservation  of  dismasted  ships,  aud  of  their  crews,  will  be 
found  a  certainty  to  be  relied  on;  but  1  am  firmly  of  opinion, 
after  an  experiment  has  been  made,  of  dragging  with  the  masts 
standing,  and  the  sails  furled,  it  will  be  found  easier  and  safer  to 
drag,  in  hard  gales  of  wind,  than  to  lay  to,  as  the  ship  will  be 
brought  a  point  or  two  nearer  the  wind,  and  bowing  the  sea 
steadily,  without  any  falling  oif,  therefore  less  lee  way  Mill  be 
made,  and  the  crew  devoid  of  all  solicitude,  for  the  safet}-  of  the 
masts,  or  splitting  of  sails  ;  and  when  no  sail  can  be  carried,  to 
clew  otf  a  lee  shore,  the  drag  will  be  a  resort  of  some  comfort,  to 
procrastinate  the  danger  apprehended,  and  thereby  bettering  the 
chance  of  the  weather  moderating;  and  should  it  then  be  wanted, 
p.  good  pull  may  be  taken  of  the  shrouds. 

Eut  if  there  were  not  sea  room,  when  the  masts  were  lost,  the 
drifting  of  the  pull  will  be  so  much  retarded  by  the  drag,  as  to 
enlarge  the  hope  of  a  change  in  the  weather,  before  the  pull  drifts 
into  shoal  water,  when  it  may  be  brought  up  by  its  anchors  :  but, 
should  the  pull  drift  on  shore,  the  drag  will  do  the  same,  and 
nearer  the  high  water  mark  ;  so  that  those  who  could  not  swim, 
might  be  saved,  as  sailors  on  a  buoyed  up  rope  will  go  hand  over 
hand. 

And  when  once  our  trading  ships,  particularly  East  Indiamen, 
of  which  class  of  ships  no  less  than  twenty-three  perished  between 
17G3  and  1783,  have  got  the  idea  of  the  drag,  which  is  all  seamen 
want  to  improve  upon,  they  will  devise  the  means  to  effect  it, 
cither  with  a  spare  topmast,  yard,  d,avit,  or  even  an  old  anchor 
stock,  for  a  drag,  with  some  gang-casks  lashed  to  a  span,  and 
perhaps  a  five,  or  a  three-inch  hawser  to.  drag  by;  and  small 
vessels  dragging  by  a  towline,  with  handspikes,  oars,  &c.  seized  on 
here  and  there  to  create  some  resistance,  as  a  slight  check  in  tli^- 
drifting  of  any  vessel  will  brin^  its  bow  t^Q  the  sesk. 


38$  OORRtsrOSpES^CE. 

But  by  such  simple  means,  -what  has  been  thought  almost  9^ 
moral  impossibility,  may  be  brought  into  general  use,  and  dis- 
masted ships  will  be  preserved  from  foundering,  and  probably 
thousands  of  souls  from  watery  graves ;  besides,  the  immense 
amounts  of  property  which  wfll  be  saved,  for  the  benefit  of  mer- 
chants, ship-owners,  and  underwriters. 

Therefore,  considering  the  little  expense,  the  little  trouble,  but 
the  great  consequence  of  ships,  men  of  war  particularly,  being^ 
always  prepared  against  the  dire  calamity  of  foundering,  after 
being  dismasted,  should  such  a  disaster  ever  more  be  heard  ofj  ife 
will  bo  a  most  melancholy  rejlcction, : 

I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
My  Lord, 

Your  Lordship's 
Most  obedient  and  very  humble  Servant, 

CHARLES  C.  CROOKE. 


journal  of  the  Proceedings  of  a  Squadron  of  His  Majsst}j''s  ShipSy 
under  the  Command  of  Sir  John  Jervis,  K.B.y  employed  in 
conjimction  zcith  a  Body  of  Troops^  under  the  Command  of  Sir 
Charles  Grey,  K.B.y  to  reduce  the  French  Colonies  in  thf} 
JLtec:zard  Islands y  1794,  and  1795. 

[From  the  MSS.  of  a  Naval  Officer.] 

^Conllnued  from  pnge  317.3 

^•J^OMMODORE  THOMPSON  had  the  direction  of  this  attact, 
"^-^  The  Asia*,  frona  unaccountable  accidents,  could  not  get  in  : 
but  the  Zebra  performed  her  part  of  the  plan  with  great  gallantry 
and  judgment:  and  having  placed  herself  under  the  wall,  within 
pistol-shot  ;  having  first  borne  the  fire  from  two  or  three  guns  be- 
fore she  went  in  ;  she  covered  the  landing  of  the  boats,  com- 
manded by  Captains  Nugent  and  Riou  ;  which  having  for  some 
time  received  the  fire  of  grape,  and  round  shot,  from  the  Fort,^ 
before  the  Zebra  +  got  in,  pushed  across  the  Careenage,  stormed 

*  Accordiog  to  Schomberg,  the  Asia  failed  of  success,  owiiig  to  the 
cir-dtvani  Lieateoiinf.  of  the  Port,  M.  de  Tourelles,  who  had  undertaken  to 
p>tot  oer  inu.    See  fUso  our  menjoir  of  Captaia  Faulkner, — Editor. 

i  Sir  John.  Jervrs,  in  his  public  Letter,  mentions  Captain  Faulkner  having, 
lakeir  possession,  of  Fort  Royal.  It  is  true  his  sloop  was  the  tirst  which  rai% 
Ki-.a  the  hucbour,  w^ii.  served  as  a  cover  tothe  boats  j  but  Captains  Nugenc" 


caaur.svoNDEN'CE,  Jgg 

tUe  Fort,  and  took  possession  ;  Captain  Nugent,  with  the  Veteran's 
people,  hauled  down  the  French  colours',  and  hoisted  the  English. 
The  Admiral  did  Captain  Nugent  the  honour  to  appoint  him,  with 
the  consent  of  the  General,  to  the  command  of  the  Fort;  and 
Captain  Nngent  eaiployed  himself  in  preparing  two  mortar- 
batteries,  of  three  thirteen-inch  mortals  each,  in  case  the  Genera^ 
should  not  agree  to  the  terms  of  capitulation,  to  play  into  their 
casements,  ^vhi('.Il  were  only  open  to  that  point  of  attack, — Thre« 
or  four  days  after  the  capture  of  Fort  Royal,  the  capitulation 
being  signed,  which  gave  the  garrison  the  honours  of  war,  and  a 
passage  to  Europe ;  and  to  llochanibeau  a  p,-issage  to  Rhode 
l*<landin  America ;  the  garrison  marched  out  between  a  file  of  tlic 
troops,  and  seamen,  which  iinrd  all  tlie  way  from  the  Fort  to  the 
Parade,  at  Fort  Royal.  Captain  Nugent  had  the  houour  of 
hoisting  the  English  colours  at  Fort  Bourbon,  witii  General 
Whyte  ;  as  he  had  that  of  hoisting  them  himself  at  Fort  Royal,  vr 
Fort  Louis.  The  Veteran's  seamen  were  placed  next  to  the  gate, 
and  had  the  honour  of  taking  possession  of  the  Fort,  with  the 
sixth  regiment:  this  Fort  was  taUen  possession  of  three  days  after 
the  capture  of  Fort  Royal,  which  was  on  the  20th  day  of 
.March,   J 781. 

The  prisoners  being  embarked  in  three  transports,  and  sent  off 
for  Old  France  ;  and  R.oci;ambeau  being  sent  olf  in  the  Vesuvius 
bomb,  M'hich  had  landed  her  mortars  ;  and  the  light  infantry  and 
grenadrsrs  being  embarked  in  the  ships  of  war,  the  transports  not 
being  thought  capable  of  getting  to  windward  suliiciently  to  fetch 
Gros  Iilet,  opposite  which  was  ni'vint  lu  make  the  iirst  landing  ; 
(General  Prescot  being  left  vrlfh  the  cliief  command  of  the  island 
of  Martinique,  and  a  suillclent  garrison  for  the  defence  of  the  chi<'£ 
forts  of  tiiat  island  ;)  we  set  sail  on  the  Iirst  of  April,  and  on  tlm 
second  made  several  landings  on  St.  Eucia :  one  under  General 
Dundas  near  Gros  islet:  another  near  the  islet  du  Choc,  to  wind- 

^ '    '  'n-  ^  ' — — 

5111(1  lliou  bturrneii  the  Fort  with  nearly  tiveive  hundred  men  in  boats,  and 
they  took  possession  of  the  Fort. — This  is  directly  cootrary  to  received 
opinion.  Capt^iin  Schoiubcrg,  iti  his  Chronology,  says,  "  tliat  Captain 
Faulknor  took  the  Fort  at  tht;  head  of  hi?  ship's  company,  before  the  boati 
could  get  on  shore,  tliough  they  rowed  with  all  the  force  nnd  aiiuimrion, 
which  characterize  British  seamen  in  the  face  of  nn  c-ne\ny."' — We,  however, 
feci  it  our  duty  not  to  deviate  from  the  MS.,  or  to  omit  this  passage;  owiiu; 
to  the  very  respectable  quarter  wiieuco  it  came  to  us.  lii  the  munioir  of 
Admiral  Nugent  (Vol.  X,  page  -Jtii)  it  is  athrmeii,  that  Ca[;tain  Fauiknur 
v/as  dw  first  person  on  the  walls,  and  Captain  Nugent  the  second,  and  ihut 
the  Liputcuiuit  of  the  cutter  hauled  down,  the  coiomi.— Editor. 


Sr^G  cottREsroNDnxcE; 

ward  of  the  Careenage  ;  and  another  under  the  Prince,  at  the  C^l 
cje  Sac  des  Roscanx.  I'he  same  night  another  landing  took  place 
under  Colonel  Coote,  at  the  Grand  Cul  de  Sac ;  into  which  harbour 
the  ships  anchored  next  day.  The  next  nigat  Colonel  Cootc 
attacked  a  iledonbt  close  to  the  Fort ;  and  having  spiked  the 
guns,  and  put  all  the  guard,  to  the  amount  of  forty  men,  to  the 
bayonet,  retired  to  the  post  which  he  had  occupied  near  the  Grand. 
Cul  de  Sac.  A  suaunons  was  then  sent  to  General  Ricard,  saying 
that  it  was  meant  to  storn;  Mount  Fortune  that  night,  and  to  de- 
sire him  to  deliver  up  the  Fort.  The  General,  as  Governor  of  the 
Island,  refused  tliis ;  and  answered.  That  he  zca^  determined  to 
die  in  the  defence  of  his  Post,  and  that  all  his  Garrison  rcas 
equalli/  determined.  The  seamen  were  then  ordered  to  be  landed 
from  the  fleet,  with  the  scaling  ladders,  which  had  been  brought  in 
the  Veteran  from  Martinique  :  but  the  old  Gctieral  sent  a  flag  of 
t.uce  in  the  evening,  to  say,  that  his  garrison  had  deserted  him  5 
and  to  demand  what  terms  the  Commanders  in  Chief  would  give 
io  an  old  man.,  icho  had  served  his  King  faithfalli/  nearlij  forty 
years  :  ichose  troops  had  deserted  him,  and  icho  then  Iciij  at  their 
mercy.  As  this  old  respectable  man  had  an  universal  good  cha- 
racter, had  been  z  Marechal  dii  Camp  in  the  ancient  Government  ; 
and  was  respected  by  every  class,  to  whom  he  had  taken  every 
opportunity  of  being  kind  ;  as  he  had  prevented  all  sorts  of  licen- 
tious conduct  whilst  he  had  been  Governor,  and  had  equally  pro- 
tected all  parties;  had  borne  himself  with  uncommon  moderation 
in  every  p:irticuiar  ;  the  Commanders  in  Chief  were  melted  by  his 
message,  and  gave  him,  and  the  small  remnant  of  his  garrisou 
"which  had  remained  with  him,  all  the  honours  of  war  ;  and  leave 
for  him  to  remain  in  the  island,  and  even  to  go  to  England,  if  he 
chose;  where  the  General  promised  to  recom.mend him  io  the  pro- 
tecdon  of  the  ministry. 

Sir  Charles  Gordon  being  left  with  the  6th  and  9th,  as  Governor 
of  St.  Lucia;  the  Admiral  embarked  the  troops,  and  returned  to 
Martinique,  to  put  thent  into  the  transports,  and  to  take  with  him, 
for  the  attack  of  Guadalonpe,  some  howitzers,  and  other  light 
artillery,  Avhich  probably  raight  be  found  useful  in  the  attack, 
ilerc  the  Commodore  remained  \Yith  the  Vengeance  and  the  Asia  ; 
and  the  rest  of  the  fleet,  transports,  &c.  sailed  for  Guadiiloupe. 
The  Quebec,  VVinchelsea,  and  Blanche,  were  set  to  attack  the 
^iaints*;  and  in  tlie  morning,  as  we  passed,  we  found  they  had 
got  possession.     On  these  islands  were  two  forts  commanding  the 

*  Isle  d'^c^.untes.    See  M<'-p  of  Guadaloupe,  Vol,  XV,  page  13^. 


C0RftrsrOKDE\CE,  JStfi 

ancTjorrage,  which  is  very  good  undvT  the  Ice  of  them  ;  and  which 
i;vas  essential  to  possess,  to  shelter  any  transports,  that  in  the 
passage  from  MaiiMiiii([uc  might  not  be  able  to  fetch  to  windward 
of  them,  as  the  currents  run  very  strong  at  times  here  ;  and  tliey 
ivoiild  in  such  cases,  without  that  anchoragCj  be  drawn  totally  to 
leeward  of  the  Island  of  Guadafoupe. 

The  Boyne  and  Veteran  fetched  into  an  anchor,  with  some 
Otliers,  chiefly  forty-fours,  very  near  the  (jozier;  where  was  3 
small  Fort  of  two  guns.  The  Winchelsca  being  ordered  to  bring- 
to  before  this  Fort,  to  cover  the  landing,  Lord  Garlics  performed 
this  service  in  a  most  masterly  manner  :  vmder  the  cover  of  whose 
fire,  Me  landed  the  troops  upon  a  small  piece  of  sand,  on  which 
there  was  such  a  surf,  that  it  was  with  some  difficulty  we  could 
preserve  the  boats  from  being  stove  to  pieces.  The  Veteran's 
pinnace,  or  barge,  was  totally  lost:  and  a  long  boat  and  several 
of  the  flat  boats  were  much  damaged  ;  but  the  landing  was  cllcctcd 
Avithout  any  other  loss.  The  enemy  had  s;r!ked  the  guns  in  the 
Gozior  battery  before  we  got  into  it  ;  and  the  principal  inhabi- 
tants of  the  village  had  got  off  into  the  country.  Our  people  were 
quartered  in  the  town  the  whole  of  that  night  and  the  next  day; 
and  on  the  night  following  we  marched  against  Fleur  d'Epec. 

But  before  I  enter  into  a  detail  of  this,  I  must  make  some 
remarks  on  the  utility  of  the  ilaunci  clothing  to  the  troops,  and  the 
sailors,  on  this  expedition;  so  contrary  to  the  ideas  of  most,  who 
have  not  been  much  acquainted  v/ith  a  warm  climate.  It  preserves 
from  cold,  and  fever,  a!.d  is  the  most  beneiicial  clothing  that  can 
btf  jirovided  for  troops  intended  for  expeditions  against  any  p'aces 
situated  in  a  warm  climate.  TJie  ilux  is  kept  off  by  it,  and  the 
rains  are  not  so  prejudicial,  as  they  otherwise  would  be  to  the 
constitution.  1  must  also  make  another  remark  before  I  go  on; 
which  is  with  respect  to  tlie  very  j)ernicious  way  of  dealing  out 
?nedicinc  to  the  seamen  of  liis  Majesty's  lleet*.  The  Surgeon  of 
the  ship  pays  for  his  medicines,  and  deals  them  out  in  scanty  pro- 
portions to  the  sick  under  his  care.  We  had  lifty  sick  on  board 
of  the  V'eteran  in  fevers,  and  had  it  not  been  that  the  Captain  had 
iuckily  made  a  large  provision  of  bark  before  he  set  oif  from 
Fngland,  many  of  those  poor  fellows  would  hav(;  died  for  want  of 
medicine.  Often  has  an  application  been  made,  for  a  small  pro- 
portion of  that  bark  bought  by  Government,  to  be  dealt  out  to  the 
sick  of  the  Veteran,   but  no  attention  Mas  paid  to  our  Mishes  oil 

*  This  is  altered  at  presejit,  as  the  Surgeons  luc  ulio\.cd  meditiftcs  by 
€»overumeat, 


592  cottUESPGLNiiENbE. 

that  point.  Another  subject  of  complaint  is,  that  tlie  oITiccrs  '.v'\ydi 
serve  on  sliorc  have  not  the  same  advantages  which  tlie  olhccrs  of 
the  army  have  on  sitch  occasions.  Beer  or  forage  money,  always 
given  to  the  army  on  these  occasions,  has  been  tefased  to  the 
Navy  ;    only  because  no   precedcitt  could  be  pointed  out  for  it. 

This  is  also  a  service  which  occasions  an  additions!  expense  to  the 
sailor :  his  shoes  are  ^vorn  out  in  a  few  days,  which  otherwise 
would  last  hiiii  many  months :  the  fatigue  is  great,  and  the  service 
is  new;  and  as  he  performs  it  with  cheerfulness,  some  little  addi- 
tional gratification  should  be  given  to  him  on  such  occasions,  that 
he  might  not  have  reason  to  repine. 

About  twelvco'clock  that  night,  being,  £ts  far  as  I  remember,  the 
nth  of  April,  General  Dundas  with  the  light  infantry,  joiiird  by 
Captain  Neville's  fifty  marines,  and  two  hundred  seamen  from  the 
Veteran  and  the  ^V'inchelsea,  marched  off  in  one  column  by  the 
road  which  leads  through  the  post,  under  which  we  had  recon- 
noitred the  preceding  day,  in  order  by  day-light  to  got  under  the 
I'leur  d'Epee  ;  Avith  two  other  column^  one  under  Colonel  Symm.s, 
and  the  other  under  the  Prince:  the  former  marching  by  a  road 
nearer  to  the  sea  coast,  and  the  lalfer  taking  partly  the  road  of 
one  column,  and  turning  oft'  miilway  by  another  road  between  the 
two.  On  approaching  the  first  ])ost,  the  centinel  alarmed  the 
guard,  and  they  were  ready  to  receive  lis,  as  we  advanced.  The 
inc-n  had  all  the  flints  out  of  their  muskets,  and  most  of  our  sea- 
men having  notliing  but  pikes,  there  Avas  no  fear  of  giving  too. 
«arly  an  alarm;  and  they  were  soon  upon  the  enemy,  and  iti 
possessio-n  of  their  post ;  advancing  in  silence  dead  as  the  night, 
amidst  a  shower  of  musketry,  *into  the  batlery.  We  lost  fourteen 
or  fifteen  men^  killed  and  woUnded  ;  but  the  enemy  milking  olf  in 
good  time,  only  three  were  taken.  The  order,  discipline,  silence, 
and  perfect  obedience  of  the  men,  never' were  more  exemplified 
than  in  this  little  attack.  iN'ot  a  whimper  was  heard  along  the  line 
of  march  :  but  every  mati  watched  his  second,  in  order  to  keep 
close  up;  that  they  might,  in  case  of  need,  be  ready  to  succour 
those,  who,  from  their  situation  in  the  column,  "vvcre  naturally  the 
first  in  the  attack.  I  never  passed  through  such  defiles  ;  stich  a 
country  so  capable  of  defence  ;  in  which  alt  owned,  that  fifty  good 
and  true  men  might  Jiave  destroyed  our  little  army  on  its  march, 
Jong  before  they  could  have  reached  thia  post.  Lieutenant 
"^Vhitlock  was  left  with  the  marines,  and  one  company  of  scamea, 
to  guard  thisjx>st]  and  vvc  pushed  ou  with  the  GeneraU  and  l)\e 


CORRESPONDENCE.  893 

rest  of  the  columnj  to  our  destination  under  Fleur  d'Epc'e.  Jnst 
as  we  arrived  there,  and  the  day  dawned,  the  storm  began,  amidst 
a  most  tremendous  shower  of  musketry  ;  some  parts  were  more 
easy  of  ascent  than  others,  but  the  part  allotted  to  the  seamea 
was  scarcely  practicable. 

About  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  were  killed  and  wounded, 
in  the  storm  ;  most  of  them  killed  ;  their  retreat  being  cut  off  by 
the  fort's  having  been  attacked  in  so  many  quarters :  one  man, 
apparently  an  officer,  I  shall  ever  remember ;  he  seemed  to  have 
smiled  as  he  died  ;  to  have  had  an  infinite  satisfaction  in  dying  for 
his  country,  and  his  principles ;  'twas  dreadful  that  such  bravery, 
and  resolution,  were  not  employed  in  a  better  cause.  Strange  as  it 
may  appear,  all  the  features  of  this  corpse  had  a  smile  upon  them. 
I  was  mentioning  this  circumstance  to  Sansi ;  and  Grand  Pre,  who 
was  with  us  the  whole  of  this  campaign  ever  since  the  taking  of 
Fort  Royal,  told  me  he  had  remarked  the  same  thing  of  a  corpse, 
and  that  it  had  fixed  him  to  the  spot  some  time  as  it  were  with 
admiration  :  this  effect  it  had  very  strongly.  I  was  lost  in 
amazement  for  some  minutes. 

This  was  perhaps  a  very  necessary  piece  of  severity,  with  a  view 
to  the  future  conduct  of  the  enemy  which  we  had  to  encounter,  in 
the  other  part  of  this  double  island  :  as  they  had,  knowing  the 
natural  clemency  and  mildness  of  the  English,  defended  themselves 
always  to  the  last,  with  the  hope  of  being  able  to  save  their  lives 
at  the  very  last  extremity.  We  had  thus  a  probability,  by  this 
example,  of  intimidating  them,  and  preventing  them  from  holding 
out ;  as  the  shortening  of  a  business  of  this  nature,  prevents  our 
own  people  from  dropping  off  by  sickness,  which  a  much  longer 
continuance  of  this  campaign  would  have  endangered.  The  ships* 
crews  and  troops  were  falling  even  at  this  time,  the  healthiest  part 
of  the  year :  and  this  may  show  what  they  had  reason  to  expect 
in  a  later  season  of  the  rains. 

[To  be  continued.] 


PLATE  CCXXXl. 

1171  VERY  nautical  reader  is  aware,  that  the  Sound,  or,  as  the 
■''  ^  Dutch  call  it,  Ore  Sidui,  is  a  strait,  or  narrow  sea,  between 
Denmark  and  Sweden,  through  which  vessels  pass  out  of  the  North 
Sea  into  the  Baltic,  and  return  by  the  same  channel.  This  strait 
.stretches  fifty  miles,  from  north-west  to  south-east ;  is  about  fifteen 
miles  over  at  its  greatest  breadth  ;  but,  between  Elsineur  and 
Croncnburg,  it  is  not  above  a  league  in  width.  On  passing  the 
m&X),  m^ton,  CJof^XVII.  KEF 


394  PLATE   CCXXXI. 

Sound,  all  ships,  of  whatever  nation  or  description,  pay  a  (oil  to 
the  Kina;  of  Denmark*. 

In  the  distance  of  (he  annexed  plate  appears  the  town  of 
Elsiiieiir,  (by  the  Danes  termed  Hel.sj;^nor,)  situated  on  the  east 
coast  of  the  Island  of  Zealand,  near  the  month  of  the  Sound,  and 
opposite  to  the  Swedish  town  of  Helsinborg.  Elsineur,  in  the 
year  1311,  was  laid  waste  and  plundered  by  the  iniiabitanti  of 
llostock  and  Wismar  ;  and,  in  1552,  it  was  sacked  by  the  com- 
bined Jleet  of  the  Ilanse  Towns.  Christian  the  Second  would  have 
given  it  up  to  the  Dutch,  but  the  inhabitants  opposed  it ;  on  which 
account  they  incurred  (hat  Monarch's  displeasure,  and  the  toll,  or 
custcro-house,  was  removed  to  Copenhagen ;  where,  however,  it 
did  not  long  remain.  Elsineur  commands  a  safe  and  excellent 
road;  and,  from  an  humble  village,  inhabited  by  only  a  few 
fishermen,  it  has  become  the  second  town  of  Denmark  t. 

Towards  the  front  of  the  picture  is  a  portrait  of  a  large  Dutch 
merchantman. 

The  centre  object  of  the  view  is  Cronenburgh  Castle  ;  a  plate, 
and  descriptive  account  of  which,  we  have  already  given,  with  sailing 
directions  for  passing  the  Sound,  iS:c.  t — This  castle,  or  fortress, 
in  which  the  unfortunate  Queen  Matilda  was  imprisoned,  before 
her  removal  to  Zell,  was  built  by  Frederick  the  Second,  King  of 
Denmark,  in  1577,  on  piles  of  oak,  strengthened  by  stone.  It  is 
situated  on  a  point  of  land  a  little  to  the  east  of  Elsineur. — Cro- 
nenburgh  Castle  was  taken  by  the  King  of  Sweden,  in  1658,  after 
a  siege  of  a  month,  but  restored  to  Denmark  in  1660. 

Until  the  Baltic  expedition  of  ISOl,  when  Lord  Nelson 
dissolved  the  Northern  Confederacy  before  the  w'alls  of  Copen- 
hagen §,  it  had  been  a  received  opinion  in  Europe,  that  the 
possession  of  Cronenburgh  Castle  gave  to  the  Danes  an  uncon- 
trouled  command  of  the  passage  of  the  Sound.  That  opinion  has, 
of  course,  ceased  to  prevail. 

*  A  Cimrt  of  the  Sound,  Copenhagen,  &c.  appears  in  llie  Fifth  Volume 
o^  The  Naval  Chrjnici.e,  page  312. — A  view  of  the  city  ot' Copenhagen, 
by  Trancis  Gibson,  Escf,,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  tlie  annexed  design, 
is  also  given  in  the  Eighth  Volume  of  The  Naval  Chronicle,  page  209; 
accompanied  by  an  historical  and  descriptive  account  of  that  city,  with 
sailing  directions,  (Sfc. 

t  Some  hirthcr  particulars  respecting  Elsineur  are  given  in  the  Fifth 
Volume  of  T/ie  Navai,  Cuuonicle,  page  SOB. 

^  Vide  Vol,  V,  page  308. — The  view  of  Cronenburgh  Castle,  there  given, 
is  from  the  opposite  siiofc. 

^  Fu/e  Naval  Curoxicle,  Vol.  VI,  page  117,  and  several  other  part^r 
of  the  same  Volume. 


PLATE   ccxxxi.  ^  S95 

The  fortress  of  which  wc  are  speaking  is  thus  described  by 
Kuttner,  a  modern  traveller  of  deserved  celebrity  ; — 

"  The   finest   object  at  Elsineur  is  the  fortress  called  Cronen- 
burgh,  which  is,  in  fact,  nothing  more  than  a  royal  palace  strongly 
fortified.     They  have,   indeed,  given   it  the  appearance  of  a  fort, 
guarding   the   entrance  of  the  Sound,    and    defending    Elsineur. 
This  seems   to  me  extremely  ridiculous  ;    for  the  castle  is  built  in 
snch  a  manner,   that  a  few  men  of  war  would,  in  a  short  time, 
level  it  with  the  ground,  in  spite  of  its  fortifications  and  batteries 
toward  the  sea.      It  is  very  lofty,  and  every  where  presents  level 
surfaces,  which  would  make  little  resistance  to  bombs,  or  even  to 
cannon-balls.     It  is  constructed  entirely  of  free  stone;  and  is  one 
of  the  linest  and  most  magnificent  Gothic  buildings  that  1  have  any 
where  seen.     It  was  erected  in  the  sixteenth  century  ;  and  yet  the 
ornaments,  though  they  bear  the  stamp  of  their  style  and  age,  are 
elegant,  and  by  no  means  overloaded,   as  is  generally  tlie  case  in 
this  species  of  architecture.     The  whole  is  kept  in  good  repair, 
and  has  a  more  agreeable  and  cleanly  appearance  than  any  struc- 
ture of  the  kind  that  1  have  seen  in  Denmark.     Besides  the  royal 
apartments,  which  are  insignificant,  it  contains  the  residence  of  the 
commandant,  a  church,  a  corn  magazine,  and  the  other  accom- 
paniments of  a  small  fortress. — In  one  part  of  the  castle  is  a  plat- 
furBi,     This   and   the  court   of  the    castle,    wliich  is   completely 
enclosed  hy  the  four  sides   of  the  pi'incipal  structure,  were  the 
only  places  where  Queen  Matilda  was  permitted  to  take  th(;  air. 
The  walk  round  the  castle,  within  the  fortifications,  is  very  plea- 
sant;    but  from  that  indulgence  she  was  debarred.       The   view 
from  the  platform  is  delightful.     The  eye  follows  the  Swedish 
coast  towards  the  north  for  many  miles,   perhaps  forty  or  fifty  ; 
while,  towards  the  south,  it  can  discern  the  steeples  of  Copenlia- 
gen.     The   liveliness   of  this   scene   is   greatly  augmented   by  the 
numerous  vessels   which  are  almost  always  lying   in  the  Sound, 
waiting  for  a  favourable  wind  ;  for  the  w  ind  with  which  some  sail 
in,  detains  those  which  are  going  out,  and  so  vica  versa,"- 

It  is  deserving  of  remark,  that,  adjoining  to  the  new  royal 
palace  of  Marienlust,  abont  half  a  mile  from  the  ca-.tle,  is  a  gar- 
den, called  HaiideCs  Garden.^  siippo^sd  to  be  the  spot  where  the 
murder  of  that  Prince's  lather  was  committed. 

The  only  remaining  object  of  importance,  in  the  present  V  iew, 
is  an  English  frigate;  which,  having  come  to  an  anchor  otf  the 
Castle  of  Cronenburgh,  is  in  the  act  of  lowering  her  sails,  and 
firing  a  salute,  agreeably  to  the  usual  practice  on  passing  that 
fortress. 


396 


CORRECT  RELATIOIV  OF  SHIPWRECKS. 

[Continued  from  page  323.] 
Jl9o.  XVII. 

Again  the  dismal  prospect  opens  round, 

The  wreck,  the  shore,  the  dying,  and  the  drown'd, 

Falconbr. 

NARRATIVE  OF  THE  VOYAGE  AND  LOSS 

OF 

THE  DUKE  WILLIAM,  TRANSPORT, 

WHICH  FOUNDERED  AT  SEA,  WITH  UPWARDS  OF  THREE  UUN« 
DRED  FRENCH  PRISONERS  ON  BOARD,  IN  THE  \EAK  176b  J 
AND    Of    THE    ESCAPE    OF    HER    CREW,    IN    OPEN    BOATS. 

Now  first  published, 

From  the  original  Manuscript  of  Captain  Nicholis,  her 
Commander*^ 

IN  1758  I  fitted  out  the  Duke  William  with  all  expedition  ; 
took  in  King's  stores,  and  lay  at  Spithead,  to  wait  for  orders. 
At  length  I  was  ordered  to  Cork,  under  convoy  of  the  York  man 
of  war,  Captain  Hugh  Pigott,  to  take  in  soldiers  for  America. 
Just  before  we  came  near  the  Irish  coast,  it  came  on  a  thick  fog, 
by  which  we  lost  the  man  of  war  and  the  other  ships.  I  stood  ij» 
as  near  as  prudence  would  let  me.  As  the  man  of  war  had 
shortened  sail  in  the  fog,  he  was  the  longer  in  standing  in,  and 
just  as  he  came  near  the  land  it  cleared  up,  and  the  wind  blew  ofi' 
the  land,  so  that  I  was  a  long  way  to  leeward.  In  the  morning, 
as  soon  as  I  saw  the  man  of  war  and  the  fleet  to  windward,  I  made 
all  the  sail  the  ship  could  carry  ;  and,  as  she  went  very  fast, 
just  as  the  man  of  war  had  got  his  Pilot  on  board,  we  had  gained 
so  much,  that  the  pilot  boat  came  directly  to  me,  and  put  a  Pilot 
onboard;  but  the  flood  tide  being  come  away,  I- could  not  wea- 
ther Powerhead,  the  entrance  of  the  harbour.     It  came  to  blow  in 

the  night  at  ,  so  that  we  were  driven  as  far  as  Bellerottcn 

island.     The  next  day,  it  blowing  very  hard,  I  was  obliged  to  bear 
away  for  Waterford.     When   we   came  ofl"  Credenhead,   I  tired 


•  Captain  Nicholis  afterwards  coniinauded  oue  of  the  foreign  ])atket*, 
from  raimouth. 


CORRECT   RELATION    OF   SinPWUECKS.  357 

several  guns  for  a  Pilot;  but  none  coming  ofl\  arul  not  being 
acquainted  with  the  harbour,  we  brought  the  shi])  up,  though  the 
sea  was  very  high.  At  last  a  pilot  boat  came  ofl",  and  we  took  an 
old  maa  out  of  her.  The  boat  went  on  shore  immediately.  We 
went  to  work  to  get  the  anchor,  and  got  just  a  peak  when  the 
rial  broke,  and  she  ran  away,  Avith  all  the  cable,  before  we  could 
prevent  it;  and,  by  the  time  we  could  heave  it  in  again,  and  get 
the  ship  under  sail,  it  was  almost  dark.  The  Pilot  said,  if  I  would 
mind  the  ship,  and  do  as  he  should  tell  me,  he  would  carry  her  iu 
in  safety.  1  ran  under  the  fore-top-sail  treble  reefed,  and  got  a 
range  of  the  sheet  cable  overhauled.  We  ran  for  some  lime,  and 
could  just  see  the  land.  I  asked  him  several  times,  if  1  should 
bring  the  ship  up:  he  said,  no,  till  1  found  the  water  shoaling  very 
fast.  I  then  made  all  clear  to  bring  up  ;  bat  at  the  same  time 
asked  him  which  side  was  the  deepest  water.  He  confessed  he  did 
not  know,  and  1  then  brought  up  ;  and,  when  day-light  appeared, 
It)  my  great  surprise,  I  found  high  rocks  astern  of  us,  and  very- 
near;  so  that  for  our  lives  we  could  not  veer  away  a  cable.  VV'e 
had  let  the  sheet  anchor  go  in  tlie  night,  and  as  we  had  wore  away 
wpoii  the  best  bower,  that  it  might  bear  likewise,  it  was,  thauk 
God,  the  means  of  our  preservation.  We  got  down  yards  aud 
top-masts,  hoisted  the  signal  of  distress,  and  fired  a  great  many 
guns.  At  last  we  saw  a  large  boat  coming  from  the  windwaid. 
As  soon  as  he  came  near  enough,  we  hove  him  a  rope,  and  woic 
the  boat  clear  of  the  counter.  A  man  in  the  boat  said,  if  1  would 
give  him  fifty  pounds,  he  would  come  on  board.  1  told  him  I 
would  give  it.  lie  then  came  up  the  stern  ladder;  but,  as  soon  as 
he  found  that  we  were  so  near  the  rocks,  heMeclarc'd,  that,  for  all 
the  ship  was  worth,  he  would  not  stay  on  board.  1  told  him  he 
came  off  as  a  Pilot,  acquainted  with  the  harbour,  and  he  should 
stay.  I  then  called  to  the  people  iu  the  boat,  to  hoist  their  sails, 
for  1  was  goiug  to  cut  the  boat  adrift,  which  1  did  immediately. 
The  Pilot  was  in  the  greatest  confusioiJ.  1  said  it  was  in  vaiu  to 
complain,  and  if  by  cutting  or  slipping  the  cables  he  could  carry 
the  ship  into  a  place  of  safety,  1  was  ready  to  do  it.  He  said  he 
could  not  take  charge  of  her,  nor  could  venture  to  carry  her  in, 
for  he  was  afraid  that  she  would  be  on  shore,  and  all  to  pi«;es 
against  the  rocks,  before  she  would  veer  ;  and  if  she  did  veer, 
there  had  been  a  large  French  Kast  Indiaiuau  lost  upon  the  liar, 
which  made  tiic  Channel  very  narrow,  and  he  did  not  know  the 
mai'ks  to  carry  her  clear  of  tlie  \v  icck.  The  slup  rode  very  hard  ; 
itud.  it  being  Sunday  J   there  was  a  great  nauibcr  of  peo^.lc  leady 


398  CORRECT   RELATIO??    of   S!IIP\rRECK3. 

to  plunder  her,  should  she  strike.  As  she  pitched  so  much,  I  wa§ 
greatly  afraid  that  at  low  water  she  would  strike.  There  were  two 
English  frigates  in  the  harbour,  which,  as  soon  as  the  weather 
came  more  moderate,  sent  their  boats  to  assist  us.  The  Custom- 
house smack  also  came  to  our  assistance,  and  put  his  Mate  on  board 
as  a  Pilot,  and  being  a  man  well  acquainted  with  the  harbour,  he 
confessed  it  was  a  very  narrow  escape. 

We  lay  there  three  weeks  before  we  could  get  out  to  proceed 
for  Cork  ;  during  which  time  I  had  several  threatening  letters 
from  Captain  Pigott,  that  he  would  write  to  the  Navy  Board 
against  me,  and  would  put  another  Master  on  board  to  command 
the  Duke  William,  as  soon  as  I  should  arrive  at  Cork.  He  several 
times  declared  that  he  would  fight  me  the  first  opportunity.  Some 
of  the  Masters  wrote  to  me  of  this,  that  I  might  be  upon  my 
guard.  I  had  certificates  signed,  by  the  two  Masters  of  the  man 
of  war,  of  our  distress  ;  likewise  by  the  Captain  of  the  Custom, 
house  smack,  and  by  several  Pilots,  that  the  whole  time  I  had  lain 
there  it  had  been  impossible  to  get  out  of  the  harbour.  At  last 
Captain  Pigott  sent  Captain  Adam  Drake  (who  commanded  a  ten- 
der at  Cork)  to  see  what  I  was  doing.  He  told  me  that  Captain 
Pigott  had  ordered  him  to  acquaint  me,  that  I  must  not  go  into 
Cork  "harbour,  but  if  possible  cruise  oiF  and  on  till  he  came  out, 
and  he  would  put  all  the  soldiers  on  board  the  other  transports, 
that  I  was  to  carry  to  America,  and  they  were  to  put  them  ou 
board  of  me.  I  got  oif  Cork  in  the  evening,  and  it  being  fine 
weather,  came  to  an  anchor.  In  the  morning,  the  York,  with  the 
transports,  came  out  and  put  the  soldiers  on  board  me. 

Dissatisfied  with  Captain  Pigott's  message,  I  dressed  myself,  and 
went  on  board  his  ship.  He,  seeing  me  coming,  ordered  his  men 
not  to  man  the  side,  nor  to  put  any  ropes  over,  as  is  customary. 
Not  paying  any  regard  to  this,  I  sprang  up  the  ship's  side. 
Coming  on  the  quarter-deck,  I  asked  for  Captain  Pigott,  and  was 
told  that  that  was  him  walking  on  the  larboard  side,  with  Lord 
Howe,  (who  was  going  out  to  America  Colonel  of  the  Black 
Cuifs,  General  Anstruther's  regiment).  I  immediatfly  went  up  to 
him,  and  told  him  1  had  taken  the  liberty  of  waitiJig  on  him,  to 
know  rthat  were  his  commands.  He  asked  me  if  J  commanded 
the  Duke  William  ?  and,  upon  my  replying  in  the  affirmative,  he 
flew  into  a  violent  passion,  called  me  several  names,  assured  me 
that  he  had  written  to  the  Navy  Board  against  me,  and  that  he 
would  put  a  better  and  a  more  capable  man  in  my  room.  J  replied, 
that  I  had  waited  on  him,  thinking  it  my  duty  so  to  do  ;  but  bis. 


eORHECT   RELATION    OF   SHIPWRECKS.  399 

thrcatcnings  I  despised,  as  I  was  conscious  that  I  had  behaved  as  I 
ought;  that  I  had  commanded  some  years,  and  was  esteemed  a 
capable  man  ;  and  that  I  \vas  greatly  of  the  opinion,  without 
vanity,  that  he  had  not  a  better  seaman  on  board  :  if  he  had,  I 
sJjould  be  glad  to  see  him  ;  but  he  should  put  no  man  over  me  ia 
my  own  property.  He  had  a  rattan  in  his  hand,  which  he  shook 
over  me,  and  trembled  with  extreme  passion.  1  told  him,  that  if 
be  struck  me,  let  the  consequence  be  what  it  would,  I  should 
return  it.  I  then  went  towards  the  side,  to  go  into  t!ie  boat,  wheu 
he  ordered  an  officer  to  call  the  rascally  fellow  back.  I  replied, 
that  I  was  an  honest  man,  and  he  certainly  could  not  mean  me* 
Seeing  me  still  advancing  towards  the  boat,  he  desired  the  same  offi- 
cer to  call  the  Master  back  ;  at  Avhich  1  returned  for  his  commands. 
He  asked  me,  whether  I  had  an  inventory  of  my  provisions  ?  I 
said,  no  :  upon  which  he  told  me  to  go  on  board  and  get  one,  And 
immediately  orderod  the  side  to  be  manned.  As  soon  as  I  got  an 
account  of  my  provisions,  I  returned  on  board  the  Vork.  When 
the  Lieutenant  informed  Captain  Pigott  that  I  was  come,  he 
desired  me  very  civilly  to  walk  into  the  cabin,  and  behaved  quite 
genteelly. 

AV'e  sailed  the  day  after,  and  saw  two  ships,  the  America,  of  64 
guns,  and  a  frigate,  cruising  off  Cape  Clear.  Upon  the  York's 
making  signal  for  them  to  come  between  us,  they  stood  directly 
towards  us ;  but,  through  a  mistake  of  the  helm,  the  York  ran  on 
board  the  America,  his  sprit-sail  taking  her  main-shrouds,  and  his 
bowsprit  carrying  all  her  weather  shrouds  away.  Before  she 
could  get  clear,  she  had  her  main-mast  pulled  awa}',  witlj  the  fore- 
top-niast  and  mizon-top-mast,  having  nothing  left  but  the  fore-sail, 
though  the  moment  before  she  had  three  top-gallant-sails  set,  and 
every  stay-sail.     The  York  got  a  little  damage  ia  her  head. 

We  proceeded  to  Halifax,  where  we  arrived  safe;  and  from 
thence  went  to  besiege  Louisbourg.  After  wc  had  landed  the 
troops,  the  transports  and  some  of  the  men  of  war  went  into  I 
Gabarus  Bay.  Our  people  falling  sickly,  Ave  petitioned  Admiral 
Boscawen  to  let  us  have  a  small  Peninsula,  to  put  them  on  shore, 
and  we  would  defend  it,  which  he  granted.  Accordingly  all  the 
Masters  of  the  transports  armed  themselves,  and  people,  and  went 
on  shore  together,  where  Captain  James  Wilson  was  appointed 
our  General;  C.  Price,  Ben.  Sugget,  Samuel  Hurry,  and  myself, 
Captains;  each  having  a  Lieutenant  under  him.  We  had  two 
small  woods  of  trees  between  us  and  the  main  wood,  which  it  was 
^igreed  to  cut  and  burn  down,  to  prevent  the  Indians  from  lying  in 


400  CORRECT    RELATION    OP   SHIPWRECKS. 

ambush  there.  We  then  drew  lots,  -which  was  to  have  the  first 
guard.  It  fell  to  rae;  and^  with  Captain  George  Hurry,  who  was 
my  Lientenant,  and  a  party  of  forty  sailors,  all  armed,  I  posted 
myself  between  tlie  large  wood  and  the  small  ones,  where  tho 
sailors  were  cutting  down  the  trees.  We  staid  two  hours,  when  I 
was  relieved  by  Captain  S.  Hurry  and  another  party  of  sailors. 
At  night,  having  completed  our  work,  we  returned  on  board, 
having  met  with  no  obstruction  from  the  Indians,  who  we  were 
certain  were  in  some  parts  of  the  wood,  as  they  h<ul  taken  Captain 
Golden,  of  London,  Mr.  Ilutchins,  his  IVIate,  and  three  or  four 
others,  a  day  or  two  before,  and  carried  them  off.  In  the  morn- 
ing, by  a  signal  from  General  Wihon''s  ship,  we  manned  onr 
boats,  arming  ourselves  and  people.  We  carried  iron  crows,  sho- 
vels, axes,  &c.  I  believe  between  four  and  five  hundred  of  us 
■went  to  work,  and  cut  a  ditch,  six  feet  wide  and  four  feet  deep^ 
from  one  part  of  the  Peninsula  to  the  other,  as  a  guard  against  the 
Indians.  By  having  cleared  away  the  two  small  woods,  we  had  a 
prospect  of  about  a  mile,  from  our  trench  to  the  main  wood.  We. 
planted  cannon,  and  several  swivels,  which  we  pntnpon  the  stumps 
«)f  trees  cut  down  for  that  purpose.  At  our  head  quarters  we 
horsted  the  English  flag. 

Admiral  Doscawen,  and  some  Captains  of  men  of  war,  came 
xTown  with  our  Agent,  to  see  what  we  had  done  for  our  defence. 
He  was  much  pleased  with  our  performance,  and  made  us  an  offer 
of  some  pignets,  and  cheveaux  de  frise,  which  were  accepted. 
He  then  gave  our  Agent  orders  to  send  on  board  the  Anna  Maria, 
Captain  Rodorick  Wilson,  for  as  much  as  was  necessary.  In  a 
short  time  we  got  them  driven  ;  placed  chevcaux  de  frise  to  hinder 
any  surprize;  and  got  our  sick  men  on  shore.  The  next  day  the 
Admiral  ordered  a  Lieutenant  of  marines,  and  thirty  men,  to 
remaiT)  constantly  as  a  guard  to  protect  us  ;  which  we  thought  very 
kind,  as  the  sailors  were  in  general  sickly. 

M'alking  about  the  island,  I  saw  a  convenient  place  for  an 
arbour  to  shelter  myself  and  people.  1  ,'ent  on  board  for  a  dozen 
men,  and  a  Carpenter,  who  brought  with  him  a  saw,  axe,  &c. 
With  shovels  and  croM's  we  cleared  away  the  rubbish  and  briars; 
and  having  cut  down  several  small  spruce  trees,  of  which  there  Avas 
a  prodigious  quantity,  I  marked  out  with  them,  fronting  my 
arbour,  a  large  space  of  ground  as  my  property.  The  other  Mas- 
ters, seeing  what  I  had  dune,  followed  my  example ;  so  that,  in  a 
short  time,  the  whole  island  was  converted  into  arbours.  The 
Captains,  Collins  and  Spry,  sent  tlieir  gardeners,  with  seeds,  ^^c. 


CORRECT    RELATION    OF   SHIPWRECKS.  401 

1  made  my  arbour  very  complete,  having  set  it  round  thick  with 
spruce  trees  ;  and,  driving  down  stakes  in  the  middle,  and  lashing 
pieces  to  them,  I  wove  all  the  top  over  with  spruce  boughs.  I  had 
a  table,  and  half  a  dozen  seats,  made  after  the  same  manner.  I 
made  likewise  a  fine  walk  from  the  arbour  to  the  gate,  with  small 
pebbles,  which  the  people  got  from  the  beach  ;  and  planted  a  row 
of  trees  on  each  side  of  the  walk,  which  was  upwards  of  twenty 
yards  in  length,  and  the  breadth  as  wide  as  the  garden.  I  stuck 
trees  in  the  manner  of  a  little  shrubbery  ;  and,  as  it  was  allowed 
to  be  \cry  pretty,  and  the  first  ever  attempted  to  be  made  on  that 
island,  it  was  called  the  Garden  of  Eden.  There  were  several 
Yarmouth  Captains  there ;  and,  being  all  in  a  mess,  we  built 
another  house,  pretty  large,  to  dine  in,  which  we  called  Munsley 
Barn,  after  a  large  barn  near  Cromer,  on  the  Norfolk  coast.  Our 
people  recovered  surprisingly  :  some  of  them  by  a  ground  sweat ; 
which  is  by  digging  a  hole  in  the  ground,  as  high  as  their  chins, 
and  after  stripping  them,  and  putting  them  in,  throwing  the  earth 
over  them  for  a  few  minutes.  For  a  little  while  the  earth  seems 
very  cold ;  but  it  soon  brings  them  into  a  gentle  perspiration, 
which  carries  oflFthe  disorder.  There  was  not  one  died  that  was 
served  in  that  manner. 

[To  be  continued.] 


NARRATIVE  OF  THE  WRECK 

OF 

HIS  MAJESTY'S  SHIP  PORPOISE, 

LIEUTENANT    ROBERT    FOWLER,    COMMANDER, 

ON    A    REEF    OF    CORAL    IN. THE    PACIFIC    OCEAN,    AUGUST    IZtII,    1803, 

And  the  subsequent  Proceedings  till  the  Arrival  of  the  Crew  at 
Canton  ;  with  a  little  extflaneous  Matter  relative  to  the  Colojiy 
0f  Neio  South  Wales. 

BY  ONE  OF  THE  CREW. 

Ille  salutiferani  porrexit  ab  aetliere  dextram, 
Et  me  derapidis  percunteni  sustiilit  undis. 

A  rSALJIIS  BUCHAN. 

[Continued  from  page  HO.] 

THE  features  and  colour  of  the  American,  and  New  Hollander, 
are  the  same,  or  nearly  so,  in  every  part  of  these  coutinents, 
which  certainly  comprise  every  range  of  latitude  ;  and  they  both 
seem  a  pure  and  unmixed  race.     V/ilh  a  vicwj  however,  to  coq- 

/5ab.  Cfjron.  dtoI.XVII.  f  f  f 


402  CORRECT    REt-ATION'    OF    SHIPWRECKS. 

fating  the  absurdity  of  the  sun  being  the  cause  of  colour,  it  may 
be  just  worth  while  to  remark,  that  the  naties  of  Van  Dreman's 
land,  close  upon  the  44th  degree  of  south  lat.,  are  darker  than, 
those  about  Port  Jackson  ;  while  the  people  of  New  Guinea,  and 
the  adjacent  islands,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Equator,  have  their 
complexions  of  a  bright  copper.  We  thus  see  the  fallacy  of  laying 
down  rules  to  account  for  the  diversity  of  colour,  feature,  and 
shape,  in  the  human  species ;  and  are  equally  at  a  loss  to  compre- 
hend the  cause  of  this  variety,  as  to  adjudge  where  the  standard  of 
originality  belongs. 

About  noon  on  the  17th  we  came  in  sight  of  Tinian,  Saypan, 
and  the  other  islands  ;  betwixt  the  former  of  which  we  passed  in 
the  evening,  deeply  regretling  the  impractirability  of  visiting 
Tinian. — Lunar  observation  on  the  21st,  in  lat.  18°  37'  N.,  made 
the  longitude  136°  51'  E.,  and  29'  to  the  westward  of  the 
reckoning;  and  on  the  24fh,  by  distances  with  ^Idebarran,  in  lat. 
20"  59'  N. ;  131°  14'  E.  long,  was  deduced,  or  3'  to  the  westward 
of  that,  by  account:  subseque»t  observations  showed  a  current 
westerly,  in  compliance  with  the  iiiipulse  of  the  strong  trad'>  wind  ; 
bet  it  was  much  smaller  than  we  could  have  expected,  for  it 
averaged  not  more  than  5'  per  day,  in  the  run  between  Tinian  and 
Formosa.  This  island  we  passed  on  the  S'ith,  with  a  strong  N.E. 
gale,  after  a  very  narrow  bmsh  from  a  water  spout.  On  the  pre- 
ceding evening,  we  had  distances  with  Alphariotis  west,  and 
Regulus  east,  of  the  moon,  which,  brought  forward  to  iioon,  gave 
the  long,  of  120^  59'  E.;  when  we  had,  bearing  north  of  n?,  the 
southern  extreme  of  Formosa.  On  the  3d  of  December  we  saw 
Pedro  Blanco,  and  on  the  following  day  anchored  in  Macao 
Roads.  Here  we  tarried  till  matters  were  arranged  at  Cajiton  for 
our  passing  the  Bocca  Tigris,  or  entrance  of  the  river  Canton,  and 
iraking  Whampoa;  where,  on  our  arrival,  the  men  were  put  on 
board  the  different  Indiamcn,  and  the  officers  invited  to  the  English 
Factory.  Nothing  could  surpass  the  very  kind  and  polite  atten- 
tion of  .Mr.  Drummond,  chief  of  the  Company's  affairs  in  that 
quarter,  and  the  rest  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  establishment : 
su^ce  it  to  say,  that  it  was  far  beyond  the  limits  of  our  expecta- 
tions, and  equal  to  our  most  sanguine  hopes,  and  wishes.  The 
hospitality  and  kindness  m%  experienced,  have  made  a  lasting 
impression  on  ail  of  us,  which  will  never  be  forgotten.  You  have 
beard  so  much  of  the  Chinese,  that  I  shall  trouble  you  with  very 
little  on  that  score;  I  have  only  to  remark,  that  I  think  they  have 
bee,n  malijjtiied  more  than  they  deserve.     At  Canton  we  have  to 


CORRECT    RELATIOrr    OT   SHIPWRECKS.  403 

deal  with  the  Popellus  alone,  and  we  draw  all  our  inferences 
therefrom,  which  is  unfair  :  were  we  to  take  the  inhabitants  of 
St.  Giles's,  and  Billingsgate,  for  a  sanr,)!e  of  the  English  nation, 
■we  should  have  a  caricature,  and  by  no  means  a  favourable  one,  of 
John  Bull.  Instead  of  that  independence  of  mind,  that  open 
sincerity,  and  generous  spirit,  for  Avhich  he  is  so  conspicuous,  we 
should  have  a  substitution  of  intolerable  insolence,  scurrilous  abuse, 
vile  rapacify,  and  what  we  have  no  term  for  without  a  solecism  in 
language,  but,  what  they  call— ^up  to  every  thing.  We  are  only- 
permitted  the  range  of  the  suburbs  of  Canton,  and,  as  yet,  know 
not  enough  of  the  Chinese,  to  pronounce  on  their  general  charac- 
ter. Their  acufeness,  and  industry,  are  above  all  praise,  and  they 
imitate,  with  surprising  facility,  the  various  articles  of  Europeaa 
manufacture.  Their  roguery  seems  to  me  to  be  European,  merely 
vamped  in  tiie  Chinese  fa.>hion  ;  for  where  you  treat  a  man  as  a 
sccundre],  he  has.an  undeniable  right  to  reciprocate  ;  aad  it  must 
be  acknowledged  they  have,  greatly  to  their  credit,  practised  with 
consummate  address,  those  arts  they  have  learned  from  ourselves. 
But  the  season  was  now  far  advanced  for  leaving  China,  and  though 
there  was  no  convoy  to  protect  us  from  the  French  squadron 
cruising  in  the  China  seas,  it  was  determined  to  sail  early  in 
February  ;  and  we  left  Marao  accordingly,  on  the  6th  of  that 
month,  lSO-1.  The  fleet  weighing  in  the  night,  the  R-oUa,  in 
which  I  happened  to  be,  with  the  CumbL-rland,  VV'arren  Hastings, 
and  Carron,  country  ship,  owing  to  mistaking  the  signal  to  weigh^ 
were  left  behind.  In.  the  morning  we  made  sail,  and  stood  to  sea 
with  a  gentle  breeze,  but  the  wind  increasing  in  the  night,  and  we 
sailing  very  heavy,  found  ourselves  alone  the  following  morning. 
Nothing  material  occurred  till  the  9th,  when  a  little  before  noon 
we  saw  land  ;  which,  by  the  dead  reckoning,  we  took  to  be  the 
Paracells;  for  we  had  unfortunately  ko  time-keeper  on  board,  and 
the  weather  was  unfavourable  for  lunar  ob'jervation.  Resolving 
to  comply  with  our  instructions,  which  ordered  us  to  keep  the 
coast  of  Cochin  China  on  board,  by  way  of  evading  Linois,  we 
stood  to  the  N.  \V.,  but  still  found  obstruction  from  islands.  In 
this  way  were  we  bandied  about  till  the  16th,  when,  by  observa- 
tion, we  found  ourselves  in  106°  37'  E.,  arid  to  have  been  in  a 
short  run  of  three  days,  upwards  of  two  degrees  ahead  of  our 
reckoning.  Aware  that  we  v.erc  now,  and  had  always  been,  on 
the  coast  of  Cochin  China,  it  became  evident  that  the  islands  we 
had  seen  were  the  Cham  Calao's,  and  Pulo  Canton  ;  and  we  shaped 
our  j^ursc  along  the  coast,  makirig  Cape  A'ord,  or,  as  it  is  souie- 


401  CORRECT    RELATION    OF   SHIPWRECKS. 

times  called,  Turon,  the  following  day.  Light  breezes  retarded 
our  progress,  and  prevented  us  from  getting  abreast  of  the  land 
first  made  by  us,  before  the  20th.  On  the  day  following  we  had 
distances  of  the  sun  and  moon,  which,  carried  back  to  Pulo  Can- 
ton, gave  its  longitude  lOS"  48'  E. :  the  latitude  of  it's  centre 
from  cross  bearings  we  made  15°  28'  N.  On  the  23d,  when  a 
little  to  the  northward  of  Cape  Varella,  the  wind  came  away  from 
the  southward  in  heavy  squalls,  and  continued  so  till  the  1st  of 
March;  but  was  then  followed  by  the  regular  trade.  While  we 
"were  beating  about  off  this  Cape,  we  sometimes  stood  a  long  way 
to  the  eastward,  in  hopes  of  seeing  the  Paracells ;  but  in  vain. 
If  they  do  exist,  they  are  in  all  charts  erroneously  laid  down  ;  for 
we  have  been  rn  the  Holla  where  they  are  usually  placed,  and  we 
saw  no  indications  of  them.  On  the  3d,  we  passed  Pulo  Cecir  de 
Mere,  a  small  low  island,  with  a  remarkable  insulated  rock  on  it's 
western  side.  This  small  island  seemed  steril,  and  by  no  means 
inviting  ;  we  could  just  discern,  at  noon  of  the  5th,  bearing  N.  W., 
the  high  tops  of  Pulo  Condore ;  our  latitude  then  was  8o  7'  N., 
which  made  its  distance  at  least  15  or  16  leagues;  and  lunar 
observation,  while  in  sight  of  it,  made  the  longitude  of  this  island 
107°  20'  E.,  or  nearly  a  degree  farther  east  than  it  is  always  laid 
down.  We  were  at  first  disposed  to  doubt  our  observations,  but 
a  succession  of  them  for  three  days  following,  in  the  most 
favourable  weather,  inclined  us  to  believe,  that  the  position  of  this 
island  may  be  farther  to  the  eastward  than  is  commonly  supposed, 
though  not  so  much  as  shown  by  our  observations. 

The  high  and  curious  shaped  land  of  Pulo  Timsan,  was  visible 
on  the  9th,  which  accorded  exactly  with  our  reckoning.  We 
passed  Pulo  Aone  on  the  day  following,  and  on  the  11th  entered 
the  Straits  of  Sincapore.  Our  passage  down  the  China  seas,  along 
the  coast  of  Cochin  China,  though  tedious,  was  never  attended 
with  any  danger  :  we  were  deceived  by  the  immense  current,  and 
unable  to  extricate  ourselves  till  our  exact  situation  was  ascer- 
tained. The  idea  of  the  Paracells,  with  the  numerous  islands  laid 
down  in  charts  towards  their  northern  extreme,  is  truly  ridiculous  ; 
our  track  happened  to  be  directly  over  them,  and  we  saw  nothing 
to  create  even  any  suspicion  that  we  were  even  in  shoal  water. 
I  should  think  that  in  point  of  safety,  for  ships  bound  to,  and 
from  China,  this  track  is  greatly  preferable  to  keeping  the  middle 
of  the  sea,  which  is  full  of  shoals;  whereas  here  we  have  no  dan- 
gers but  what  seem  perfectly  know^n ;  for  though  the  latitude  and 
longitude  of  the  coast  are  far  from  correct,  yet  the  bearings  and 


CORRECT    RELATION    OF   SHIPWRECE3.  40J 

distances  of  the  most  remarkable  headlands,  with  the  line  of  trend- 
ing, are  accurate.  We  anchored  at  Malacca  on  the  14th,  and 
learned  with  satisfaction,  that  Admiral  Linois  had  been  foiled  in  an 
attack  on  one  of  the  richest  convoys  of  merchantmen  that  ever 
left  China.  People  are  apt  to  censure  the  Admiral  for  what  I 
conceive  an  act  of  the  highest  magnajiimity  since  the  days  ot 
Alexander  the  Great :  the  Macedonian  refused  to  run,  leap,  box, 
wrestle,  and  drive  carts,  at  the  Olympic  games,  because  he  had  not 
Kings  to  Contend  with ;  and  might  not,  in  like  manner,  the  high 
minded  Frenchman  disdain  to  enter  the  lists  with  a  parcel  of  mer- 
chantmen? We  have  so  many  proofs  daily,  of  their  honour,  jus- 
tice, moderation,  lenity,  candour,  and  generosity,  that  we  are 
warranted  in  this  suggestion. 

On  the  lOth  of  March  we  weighed,  and  stood  up  the  Straits  of 
Malacca,  with  a  beating  wind,  which  did  not  cease  to  blow  in  o«r 
teeth  till  the  18th  of  April,  when,  by  observation,  we  found  our- 
selves in  3°  53'  N.,  and  91"  20'  E. 

[To  be  concluded  in  our  nest  ] 


PHILOSOPHICAL  PAPERS. 

ANTIgUITY    OF    THE    MARINER's    COMPASS. 

T  is  stated,  in  a  preceding  part  of  this  Volume*,  that  M^ 
-■  Azune,  a  French  author,  has  published  a  dissertation  ou  the 
origin  of  the  compass,  in  order  to  prove  that  the  French  were  the 
first  who  made  use  of  it.  We  find  that,  in  1795,  M.  Aznne  pub- 
lished, at  Florence,  a  dissertation  on  the  same  subject,  in  Italian  ; 
of  which  the  present  is  an  enlargement,  in  consequence  of  new 
researches.  The  greater  part  of  modern  writers  acknowledge 
Flavio  Gioia,  otherwise  called  Flavio  of  AmalU,  a  Neapolitan,  as 
the  inventor ;  and  they  fix  the  epoch  of  its  use  to  the  year  ISC'?, 
Others  thluk^  that  Marcus  Paulus,  the  Veneti:i:),  who  travelled 
iuto  China,  brought  this  invention  with  him  in  I'zGO.  The  latter 
supposition  seems  to  be  confirmed  by  the  manner  in  Avhich  the 
compass  was  at  first  used  in  Italy  ;  which  was  exactly  that  of  the 
Chinese,  who  let  it  float  at  liberty  in  a  small  bason  of  water 
wherein  it  is  kept  buoyant  by  a  piece  of  coik.     The  Chinese  alsu 

divide  their  compass  into  twenty. four  points ;  so  lli:\t  they  do  not 

(  ' ^ 

^  VI Jc  page  Q<»0. 


40s  fHitosopnrcAt  papers. 

appear  to  have  recoived  it  from  the  Kuropeans,  who  din^'e  their 
instrument  into  thirty-two  points.  The  Chinese  afSrm  that  it  wa* 
Isnown  to  their  Emperor  Chiningius  \  \  20  years  ante  anno  Domi?2i. 
M.  Azune  does  not  forget  to  quote  the  poem  of  Gnyot  de  PrO" 
vence  about  A.D.  1200,  which  soems  to  describe  tlie  compass 
under  the  term  mai  itieile,  or  inariiu-r''s  stone :  this  is  100  years 
before  i\iQ  time  of  Fiavio  Gioia.  He  also  thinks  that  Cardinal 
Vi(ry,  who  lived  about  A.D.  I'iGO,  has  mentioned  this  instrument, 
Tinder  its  then  imperfect  construction,  in  his  History  of  the  Cru- 
saders, and  their  voyages  to  the  Holy  Land.  M.  Azune  finds 
traces  of  the  same  invention  in  othLr  authors,  who  refer  it  to  1244  j 
but  Vincent  de  Beauvais,  and  Albert  Ic  Grand,  before  l^JO,  fur- 
nish him  with  additional  testimonies,  of  a  still  earlier  date  ;  so 
that,  on  the  whole,  he  gives  the  honour  of  this  important  discovery 
to  France,  though  he  thinks  it  was  improved  and  perfected  by 
others. 

Wo  do  not  discover  much  weight  in  ihc  circumstance  of  thejleur 
de  lis,  with  which  the  compass  is  ornamented,  being  the  arms  of 
France ;  since  the  qirestion  concerns  the  invention,  not  the 
embeliisliment ;  and,  as  Dr.  Wallis  has  observed,  the  English  name, 
compass,  by  which  it  is  generally  kno\<  n — though  the  Italian 
name,  bussola^  prevails  very  much  in  the  east,  and  among  the 
Arabs  and  Chinese — is  a  much  stronger  argument  in  favour  of 
England. 

It  is  certain  that  the  Crusades  had  a  considerable  influence  in 
forr.iing  the  English  Navy.  It  is  also  certain,  that  English  vessels, 
in  sailing  to,  or  from,  the  Holy  Land,  would  much  more  need  the 
assistance  of  the  compass,  than  French  or  Italian  vessels  wouldj 
since  the  route  was  not  only  more  extensive,  but  less  direct,  and 
exposed  to  greater  dangers.  As  it  is  the  character  of  the  English 
nation,  to  adopt  the.  ideas  of  others,  and  to  add  considerable 
improvements  of  it's  own,  we  could  wish  that  what  histories  are 
extant  of  the  sliarc  taken  by  Englishmen  in  the  crusades,  prior  to 
the  adventures  of  our  King  Richard  in  them,  were  consulted,  in 
order  to  determine  the  state  of  nautical  science  at  the  time; 
including  also  the  means  by  which  ships  were  enabled  to  perform 
that  voyage.  We  should  not  be  surprised,  if  it  were  to  prove  that 
the  compass  was  then  in  use  among  us  ;  bwt  that,  with  the  custo- 
mary negligence  of  our  countrymen,  nobody  thought  of  recording 
any  thing  about  it. 

On  the  whole,  it  appears,  that  we  may  conclude  the  compass  to 
have  been   known  before  the  time  of  Fiavio  Gioia:  probably  he 


piiiLosopiiicAL  papers;  407 

improved  it ;  and,  possibly,  be  mls;ht  adapt  it  to  the  cardinal 
points,  and  their  divisions  :  he  mis;ht  also  contrive  the  method  of 
balancing  it,  &c.,  and  hence  have  been  honoured  with  the  title  of 
inventor.  Hitherto,  however,  the  English  haTC  enjoyed  the  credit 
of  the  latter  improvement. 

It  is  by  no  means  our  wish  to  lessen  the  fame  of  any  individual 
or  nation;  but  wc  cannot  consider  the  argnmcnts  of  M.  Aziine  as 
conclusive  :  and  we  think  it  not  altogether  improbable,  that,  some 
time  or  other,  such  a  clue  may  be  furnished,  as  will  lead  to  the 
establishment  of  the  fact,  that  the  English,  though  not  the  inventors 
of  the  compiss,  were  at  least  the  first  European  nation  amongst 
whom  it  was  ia  use. 


TO    TAKE    THE     DRAUGHT     OF    PART    OF    A    COAST    IN 
SAILING    ALOJNG    IT. 

irTrAVING  brought  the  ship  to  a  convenient  place,  from 
■ii-ii-  which  the  principal  points  of  the  coast  or  bay  may  ba 
seen,  either  cast  anchor,  if  convenient,  or  lie  to,  as  steady  as 
possible ;  or  if  the  coast  is  too  shoal,  let  the  observations  and 
measures  be  done  in  a  boat.  Then  while  the  vessel  is  stationary  in 
that  situation,  take  the  bearings  in  degrees  of  such  points  of  the 
coast,  as  form  the  most  material  projections,  or  hollows,  with  the 
azimuth  compass  ;  write  down  these  bearings,  and  make  a  rough 
sketch  of  the  appearance  of  the  coa.st,  observing  carefully  to  mark 
the  points,  the  bearings  of  which  had  been  taken,  with  letters,  for 
the  sake  of  reference. 

2d.  Then  let  the  ship  or  boat  run  in  a  direct  line,  which  must 
be  very  carefully  measured  by  the  log,  or  otherwise,  one,  two,  or 
three  miles,  more  or  less,  until  she  comes  into  a  situation  from 
which  the  same  points  before  observed  can  be  seen  again.  There 
let  the  vessel  lie  steady,  as  at  the  foregoing  station,  and  observe 
again  the  respective  bea-ings  in  degrees  of  the  same  points,  which 
are  also  to  be  written  down  ;  and  a  rough  sketch  of  the  coast 
should  also  be  taken  from  t!;is  station.  But  while  the  vessel  is 
running  the  base  line  from  station  to  station,  a  more  accurate 
drawing  of  the  appeirance  of  the  coast  should  b^  made. 

3d.  To  map  these  observations. — In  some  convenient  part  of  a 
sheet  of  paper  describe  a  circle,  draw  the  magnetic  meridian,  lay 
off  the  several  hearings  taken  from  the  first  station,  andletthem  hs 
numbered,  1,  2,  3,  SiC.  on  the  outside  of  the  circle;  lay  down  also 
^hfi  several  bearings  taken  frqra  the  second  station,  let  these  be 


40»  JH1I.OS0PHICAL    PAPERS. 

numbercii,  1,  2,  3,  &c.  on  the  inside  of  the  circle,  observing  that 
the  bearings  of  the  same  points  are  numbered  with  the  same 
figures. 

4th.  Draw  a  line  to  express  the  ship's  run,  both  in  length  antl 
course;  and  from  that  end  of  the  line  expressing  the  first  station, 
draw  lines  parallel  to  the  respective  bearings  taken  from  that  end, 
and  marked  on  the  outside  of  the  circle:  also  from  the  other  end 
draw  lines  parallel  to  the  bearings  taken  at  that  end,  and  noted  ou 
the  inside  of  the  circle  :  mark  the  intersection  of  each  pair  of  lines, 
directed  to  the  same  point,  with  the  number  annexed  to  their 
bearing;  and  through  the  intersections,  so  marked,  draw,  bj 
hand,  a  curved  line,  obscrring  to  wave  the  line  in  and  out,  as  near 
as  can  be  like  the  bending  of  the  coast  itself.  Lastly,  set  off  the 
Tariation  of  the  compass  from  the  north  end  of  the  magnetic 
meridian  toward  the  right  hand,  if  it  be  east,  or  toward  the  left 
band  if  it  be  west,  and  draw  the  true  meridian  through  that  point 
and  the  centre  of  the  circle. 

5.  Against  each  part  draw  the  appearance  of  the  elevated  or  low 
ground  as  marked  in  the  sketches,  distinguishing  rocks,  cliffs, 
high-lands,  low-land,  sand-hills,  &c.  If  there  are  any  currents  or 
eddies,  express  them  in  their  proper  place  by  darts  or  arrows,  the 
points  being  turned  that  way  the  current  sets.  Put  in  the  several 
soundings  at  low  water  in  small  figures,  distinguishing  whether  they 
are  fathoms  or  feet ;  show  the  time  of  high  water  on  the  full,  and 
change  days,  hy  Roman  figures,  and  tell  the  rise  in  feet.  Put  in  a 
compass,  and  a  scale  of  miles  or  leagues,  such  as  the  vessel's  run 
was  laid  down  hy ;  add  the  name  of  the  place,  the  coast,  and  the 
latitude  or  longitude,  as  true  as  can  be  obtained. 

().  If  there  are  shoals  or  sands  on  the  coast,  let  them  be  taken 
by  a  boat  sailing  round  them,  and  keeping  an  account  of  the 
•  ourses,  distances,  and  soundings.  But  to  put  thera  in  the  draught, 
the  boat  must  fake  the  bearings  of  two  points  on  the  coast,  the 
bearings  of  which  have  been  taken  from  the  siiip,  from  some  part 
of  each  sand  or  shoal  so  sailed  round.  Or,  the  bearing  of  the 
boat  at  some  part  of  the  shoal,  or  of  some  beacon  in  that  place, 
must  be  taken  by  the  ship  at  each  of  the  stations  where  she  took 
the  bearings  of  the  shore  ;  for  by  either  of  these  means  one  point 
of  the  sand  being  obtained,  the  rest  of  it  can  be  laid  down  from  the 
boat's  account. 

7th.  If  the  coast  to  be  surveyed  is  a  bay  or  harbour,  winding  in 
such  a  manner  that  all  its  principal  points  cannot  be  seen  at  two 
stations,  kt  as  many  bascs^  or  lines,  be  run  and  measured  exactly 


PHILOSOPHICAL    PAPER3.  409 

as  may  be  found  necessary ;  observing  that  these  several  bases 
join  to  one  another,  in  the  nature  of  a  traverse,  and  tliat  each  new 
set  of  objects,  or  points  observed,  be  taken  from  two  stations  at 
the  end  of  a  known  distance.  Or  look  out  for  three  or  more 
remarkable  objects  on  shore,  which  lie  as  far  out  of  a  right  line  as 
possible,  and  may  be  seoa  from  every  part  of  the  bay  or  harbour 
which  is  to  be  surveyed.  From  ar.y  convenient  station  let  the 
bearing  of  one  of  these  objects  be  taken  with  the  compass,  and  the 
angles  which  are  suspended  by  this  and  each  of  the  others,  be 
observed  with  Hadley's  quadrant.  Let  the  ship  run  from  this  sta- 
tion in  a  direct  line,  as  far  as  the  nature  of  the  place  will  admit  of, 
measuring  the  distance  run  by  the  log.  Bring  the  ship  to,  or  come 
to  an  anchor,  and  let  the  angles  which  these  objects  subtend  be 
again  measured  with  the  quadrant,  and  the  beariny;  of  that  object 
be  set  with  the  compass,  which  Avas  set  before.  By  these  means, 
the  situations  of  the  objects  on  shore  will  be  had  with  respect  to 
one  another,  and  to  the  base  line  ;  after  which  the  position  of  any 
point  may  be  obtained,  by  measuring  the  angles  subtended  at  that 
point,  by  any  two  pairs  of  them,  with  Hadley's  quadrant. 

8th,  If  any  particular  parts  of  the  harbour  cannot  be  conve- 
niently seen  from  either  of  the  stations,  take  the  boat  into  these 
places,  and  having  well  examined  them,  make  sketches  of  them, 
estimating  the  lengths  and  breadths  of  the  several  inlets,  either  by 
the  rowing  or  sailing  of  the  boat,  taking  as  "many  bearings,  sound- 
ings, ami  other  notes,  as  maybe  thought  necessary;  then  annex 
these  particular  views  in  their  proper  places  in  the  general 
draught. 

9th,  If  there  are  any  dangerous  sands,  or  rocks,  besides 
inserting  them  in  their  proper  places,  there  should  be  a  double  line 
drawn  through  that  point,  and  one  or  more  objects  ashore  ;  and 
for  this  purpose  choose  a  cliurch,  mill,  liouse,  noted  tree,  a  clilf, 
or  any  other  remarkable  thing  that  can  be  distinctly  sc«mi  at  sea, 
and  which  can  be  brought  to  bear  in  the  same  right  line  with  the 
point  to  be  avoided.  But  if  that  point  is  under  water,  th  re  must 
be  two  land  marks  brougl\t  to  bear  with  the  danger  in  the  same 
right  line;  and  also  two  others  which  arc  in  a  direction  as  nearly 
at  right  angles  as  can  be  to  the  former  two  ;  and  that  those  land- 
marks may  be  put  down  in  their  proper  places  in  the  chart,  their 
bearings  must  also  be  taken  fiom  two  of  the  ship's  stations. 

lOth.  It  should  be  remarivcd  in  tlie  draught  which  places  are 
nnfit  for  anchorage,  and  what  are  fit,  by  writing  rock}  ground* 
foul  anchorage,  good  anchorage,  kc;  and  in  the  latter  to  draw  the 

ZtJaU.  €^tm.  (aoI.XVII.  c  g  a 


410  NAVAL    LrrrilATURE. 

figure  of  an  anchor.  Also  if  there  is  any  j)arliciilar  channel  more 
convcni.nt  to  sail  through  than  another,  it  is  to  be  pointed  out,  by 
lines  drawn  to  its  entrance,  from  two  or  more  noted  marks 
ashore. 

The  foregoing  method  of  surveying  a  coast  supposes  in  general 
that  it  is  taken  by  a  ship  in  her  passage  along,  not  having  an 
opportunity  of  going  ashore.  Bnt  when  the  circumstances  will 
permit  the  measures  and  observations  to  be  made  on  land,  the  sur- 
rey can  be  taken  more  accurately  than  on  the  water. 


NAVAL  LITERATURE. 

Accounts  and  Papers,  prcycntcd  to  the  House  of  Common!', 
relating  to  Ships  of  IVur,  the  Dock  Yards,  4'c.  Ordered  to  be 
printed  2bth  June,  1803. 

E  shall  proceed  to  notice  the  present  scries  of  official 
papers,-  in  a  manner  similar  to  that  \vlucli  we  adopted 
in  a  preceding  part  of  this  Volume,  for  those  which  were 
ordered  to  be  printed  on  the  G8th  of  May,  18J5*. 

No.  1  is  an  account,  showing  the  number  of  months  which  the 
hemp,  and  spars  for  masts  and  top-masts,  in  store  on  the  15th  of 
May,  1804,  would  last,  according  to  the  average  consumption 
during  the  late  war.  Of  spars,  from  38  inches  down  to  31,  both 
inclusive,  there  were  none  on  hand  :  the  others  varied,  from  a 
stock  of  4  months  and  a  half,  to  47  months.  Of  hemp,  9S68  tons 
were  on  hand,  forming  a  stock  for  10  months. 

No.  2  is  an  account,  showing  what  hemj),  and  spars  for  masts 
and  top-masts,  were  due  on  contract,  on  tlie  15th  of  May,  1S04, 
and  how  many  months  the  same  would  last,  according  to  the 
average  consumption  during  tiie  late  war.  Of  hemp,  a  supply  for 
10  montlis,  or  9702  tons,  was  due  ;  of  spars,  the  quantities  were 
various,  from  for  less  than  a  month,  to  18  months. 

No.  3  is  an  extract  from  the  Repoit  of  the  Commissioners  of  the 
Navy,  who  iiispected  Chatham  Dock-yard  in  1785.  'i'he  Com. 
missioners  say  : — "  The  number  of  ships  which  have  been  built  by 
pontract  in  the  Merchants'  Yards  during  tlie  v,  ar,  and  the  great 

*  Vide  p$!ger.'.'3. 


NAVAL    LITEUATURE.  411 

■demands  of  timber  in  consequence  of  it,  was  much  fu'lt  at  (Lis  yard', 
as  well  as  the  yards  of  Dipti'ord  and  NVoohvicl!,  and  prevented 
many  oHers  of  tim!)cr  which  would  liave  been  otherwise  niadu. 
There  is  no  doubt,  however,  of  our  being  able  in  due  time  to 
replenish  the  established  quantity  ;  and  some  progress  has  already 
been  made  towards  it." 

Nos.  4  and  5  consist  of  copies  of  reports  made  by  the  Purveyors 
of  Sherwood  Forest,  dated  Nov.  18,  1797,  and  Dec.  4;^  ISO'i;  of 
applications  IVoni  the  Navy  ijoard  to  ilie  Treasury,  for  the  fall  of 
such  trees  as  wore  felled  in  the  said  forest  after  the  18th  of  Novem- 
ber, 17D7  ;  and  of  an  account,  corresponding  to  those  applications. 
From  these  it  a-ppears,  that,  in  1802,  eight  hundred  and  four  oak 
trees  were  felled  in  Sherwood  Forest;  and,  in  1803,  two  hundr.d 
and  eleven  more.  In  the  Forest  of  Dean  there  were,  in  1802, 
1601  oak  (rees,  amounting  to  3111  loads,  which  had  done  grow- 
ing, and  required  to  be  cut. 

No.  6  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  the  Nary  Board,  dated  Nov. 
20,1,97,  declining  an  ofler  of  timber,  made  by  Mr.  Sha«  e,  of 
Trowell. 

No.  7  is  an  account  of  the  lowest  meetings  and  size  of  oak  tim- 
ber allowed  to  be  received  into  His  Majesty's  Dock-yards,  on  the 
established  contracts,  since  1776,  and  the  lowest  meetings  and  size 
of  timber  which  are  applicable  to  the  building  of  frigates  and  sloops 
of  war. 

No.  8  consists  of  aji  account,  showing  the  quantity  of  sided 
timber  converted  in  Deptford  \ard  in  October,  November,  and 
December,  1801,  and  October,  INovember,  and  December.  1803, 
distinguishing  the  sound  from  the  defective,  in  each  moiith  ;  and 
of  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  t!ie  olhcers  of  Deptford  Yard  to  the 
jVavy  Board,  dated  June  8,  1805,  explaining  the  said  account. 

From  No.  9  we  learn,  tliat  in  tiie  months  of  August  and  Sep- 
tember, 1804,  the  sum  of  20,000/.  was  advanced  I)y  the  Navy 
Board  to  Mr.  Larking ;  and  between  the  3d  of  August  and  the 
'27th  of  December,  in  the  same  year,  1.5,000/.  to  Mr.  Bowsher,  to 
enable  those  timber  merchants  to  purchase  an  add  tional  quantity 
of  oak  timber,  to  be  delivered  into  iiie  King's  ]3ock-yards  at  the 
contract  j)rices :  the  sums  advanced  to  lie  repaid  in  18  months 
from  the  day  of  issue,  with  .i  per  cent  interest. —  Between  the  Igt 
of  January  and  the  30th  of  xMay,  1805,  the  sum  of  25,000/.  was 
advanced  to  Mr.  Larking,  at  an  interest  of  5  per  cent,  to  enable 
him  to  purchase  .60,000  loads  of  foreign  oak  tinil)er,  to  bo 
jjejjvered  in  a  sided  stjite  (iucludiog  8  or  J 0.000  loads  of  thick* 


412  NAVAL    tITERATURE. 

stuff,  plank,  aftd  knees,)  in  five  years,  from  the  5th  of  March 3 
1S05.     ' 

No.  10  is  a  copy  of  a  Report  of  the  Surveyors  of  the  Navy  on 
foreign  timber  imported  by  Mr.  Larking  in  1802;  in  which  an 
opinion  is  expressed,  that  the  foreign  oak  timber  so  imported  is 
much  inferior  to  the  British  ;  but  that,  in  consequence  of  the 
Fcarcity  and  dcarncss  of  the  latter,  and  \vi(h  a  view  to  preserve  it, 
it  might  be  advisable  to  obtain  a  large  supply  of  the  foreign  tim- 
ber, for  the  repairs  of  large  ships  ;  and  also,  that  one  or  two  large 
ships  should  be  built  wholly  with  it,  for  tlie  purpose  of  experiment, 
as  to  its  durability. 

No.  II,  dated  June  17,  1805,  is  an  account,  showing  the  num- 
ber of  ships  and  vessels  of  each  class  in  the  Royal  Navy,  and  their 
fpnnage;  distinguishing  the  foreign  built  ships,  and  those  built  in 
Merchants'  Yards,  from  those  built  in  the  King's  Yards.  From 
this  it  appears,  that  the  total  number  of  ships  Avas  843  ;  of  tons, 
613, 8G3.  The  number  of  these,  built  in  the  King's  Yards,  was, 
of  the  line,  61;  under  the  line,  93:  built  in  Merchants'  Yards, 
of  the  line,  5S  ;.  under  the  line,  433  :  foreign  built,  of  the  line^ 
41;  undeY  the  line,  157. 

No.  12  is  composed  of  a  very  long  correspondence  between  the 
Admiralty  and  Navy  Boards,  and  between  those  Boards  and  the 
Master  Shipwrights  of  the  King's  Yards,  in  1803  and  1804,  on  the 
subject  of  shoaling  the  shipAvrignts,  occupying  33  folio  pages. 
The  principal  points  of  this  correspondence  appear  to  be  as 
follow  : — The  Plymouth  officers  propose,  "  that,  at  the  ensuing 
shoal,  the  men  be  divided  into  three  classes,  viz.  very  good,  good, 
and  middling,  by  which  means  the  earnings  of  the  men  Avill  be 
equal  to  thtiir  exertions;  more  work  will  be  done;  and  the  ablest 
men  encouraged  by  receiving  wages  in  proportion  to  their  merits, 
and  the  whole  be  employed  to  advantage."  To  this,  the  Navy 
Board,  in  a  letter  to  the  Admiralty  Board,  answers  : — "  the  Sur- 
veyors are  of  opinion,  that  if  the  men  were  shoaled,  as  therein  re- 
commended, more  work  would  not  be  performed  by  the  whole 
body  of  the  workmen,  although  the  best  Avorkmen,  if  selected, 
■would  individually  perform  more  than  they  at  present  appear  to 
do ;  but  it  is  to  bn  considered  how  much  less  would  be  done  by  the 
indifferent  workmen,  when  dcprised  of  the  abilities  and  exertions 
of  those  men  who  are  proposed  to  be  taken  from  among  them, 
■whose  example  cannot  fail  of  acting  as  a  stimulus  to  the  others  of 
inferior  abilities  :  ar.d  it  has  been  proved  by  experience,  (the  best 
proof  which  canbe  obtained.)  that  when  too  great  a  number  of  task 


KATAL    LITEKATURE.  413 

companies  have  been  formed,  the  day  companies,  by  being  deprived 
of  their  leading  men,  have  been  thereby  rendered  very  inefficient." 
Mr.  J.  Tucker,  the  Master  Shipwright  at  Plymouth  Dock-yard, 
replies  to  this  : — "  By  shoaling  the  mt-n  as  1  have  proposed,  I  shall, 
at  all  times,  have  the  means  of  npplying  such  abilities  and  strength 
to  each  particular  vrork,  as  taat  work  may  require,  and  be  able  to 
expedite,  in  the  shortest  possible  time,  any  works  that  may  press, 
or  demand  extraordinary  exertion  ;  whilst  by  the  present  mode  of 
shoaling,  in  order  to  get  the  ability  and  strength  of  any  given  num- 
ber of  good  men,  I  am  compelled  to  employ  also  a  great  number 
of  indiifcrent  workmen,  consequently  so  much  work  cannot  be 
performed  on  any  pressing  exigency,  as  the  number  that  appear  to 
be  employed  by  tht  progress  would  jisstify  the  expectation  of ;  an.l 
I  am  himibiy  of  opinion,  if  any  thing  can,  from  time  to  time,  sti- 
mulate the  middling  and  bad  workmen  to  industry  and  exertion, 
it  will  be  the  hope  of  being  selected  in  the  next  shoal  by  the  best 
workmen,  and  thereby  enjoy  the  credit  and  advantage  that  will 
and  ought  to  attach  to  them ;  added  to  whichj  the  Master  Ship- 
wright will  have  the  means  of  punishing  any  man  for  neglect  or 
inattention,  by  reducing  him  to  the  class  below  that  in  which  he 
may  have  been  shoaled." 

No.  1 3  consists  of  correspondence  between  the  Navy  Board  and 
the  Masters  of  the  several  Dock-yards,  subsequently  to  the  1st  of 
June,  1804,  respecting  the  time  which  the  ships  which  had  beea 
ordered  to  be  built  in  His  Majcst}'s  Yards  could  be  completed. 
At  Chatham  Yard,  it  was  expected  that  the  Revenge,  and  the  fir 
frigate,  would  be  ready  about  the  month  Ol  February,  1805;  the 
INlelcager,  and  Iphigenia,  in  September  and  October  following  ; 
the  ^^'ar^pite,  in  July  1806  ;  and  the  Impregnable  in  the  succeed- 
ing November.  At  Portsmouth,  the  New  Fir  frigate,  of  3'2 
guns,  was  expected  ro  be  complete  by  April,  1805;  the  Brazen. 
sloop,  by  the  December  following  ;  the  Scipio,  of  74  guns,  in 
May,  1806;  and  the  Boyne,  of  98  guns,  in  July,  1809.  At 
Deptford,  two  32  gun  ships,  of  fir,  were  expected  to  be  ready  by 
December,  180 1;  the  Fame,  of*  74  guns,  in  October,  1805;  the 
Bombay,  ditto,  in  August,  1806;  and  the  Queen  Charlotte,  of 
100  guns,  in  July,  1807. 

No.  14  states,  that  "the  sum  allowed  to  shipwrights,  by  the 
scheme  of  task,  for  building  a  74  gun  ship  of  1730  tons,  for  the 
workmanship  expressed  in  such  scheme,  is  54.y.  per  ton,  or  4671/., 
which  sum  would  be  earned  by  U  men  in  313  working  days,  or 
one   hvclvemonth,    being   paid   it   iha   rate  of  7i\   3d.  per  day  ; 


414  TJAVAL   LITCRATURE. 

therefore  -11  men,  paid  at  this  rate,  sHould  complete  in  a  twelve- 
month all  the  workmanship  expressed  in  the  scheme  of  task  for 
building  a  74  gun  ship  of  1730  tons." 

From  No.  lf>  it  appears,  that,  accordinj^  to  the  number  of 
shipwrights  employed  in  all  the  Yards,  and  the  sums  of  money- 
paid  to  them  for  wages,  from  1793  to  1804,  both  years  inclusive, 
664  seventy-four  gun  ships,  of  1730  tons  each,  might  have  been 
built ;  being,  on  an  average,  something  more  than  55  such  sliips  in 
a  year. 

From  No.  16  we  learn  that  the  following  number  of  ships  was 
launched,  from  the  King's  Yards,  between  the  1st  of  January, 
1793,  and  the  31st  of  December,  1804  :— 2,  of  110  gnns  ;  4,  of 
98  ;  2,  of  80  ;  6,  of  74  ;  3,  of  50  ;  7,  of  38  ;  4,  of  36  ;  10,  of 
32;   1,  of  16  ;   3  sloops  :   1  gun-brig;  and  1  yacht. 

No.  17  contains  an  offer  from  Messrs.  Brindley,  at  Frinsbury 
Yard,  to  build  a  74  gun  ship  at  21/.  per  ton,  and  a  frigate  at  16/. 
per  ton. 

No.  IS  is  a  list  of  persons  who  had  been  employed  as  overseers 
to  ships  and  vessels  building  by  contract,  subsequently  to  the  1st 
of  January,  1783;  the  names  of  the  ships  and  vessels  building, 
and  by  whom,  and  which  each  man  had  to  inspect,  in  each 
year. 

No.  19  consists  of  copies  of  additional  clauses  made  to  the  con- 
tracts for  building  ships  since  the  15th  of  May,  1804.  One  of 
these  clauses  provides,  that,  in  building  brigs  and  gun-vessels,  the 
contractors  are  to  receive  a  premium  of  5s.  per  ton  for  every  week 
that  they  may  be  finished  within  the  specified  period  of  thi-ee 
months. 

No.  20  relates  to  the  defects  of  the  Ardent,  and  to  the  number 
of  short  bolts  found  in  that  ship. 

No.  21  is  a  schedule  of  the  prices  for  workmanship  and 
materials,  which  the  Navy  Board  agreed  to  pay  the  Merchant 
Builders  for  ships  ordered  to  be  repaired  by  them  subsequently  to 
the  1st  of  June,  1804:  against  each  article  is  stated  the  sum 
which  it  costs  tlie  public  in  Deptford  Yard. 

No.  22  states,  that  there  were  317  ships  and  frigates  in 
commission,  on  the  1st  of  October,  ISOl,  exclusive  of  those  for 
harbour  service. 

No.  23  is  an  account,  showing  the  number  of  building  slips  in 
each  Dock-yard,  stating  the  highest  rate  ship  that  each  is  capable 
of  receiving,  how  occupied  on  the  15th  of  i\lay,  1804,  and  the  Igt 
of  January,  1805.  and  from  what  period  so  occupied. 


NAVAL    POETRY. 


415 


No.  2J,  -which  occupies  95  folio  pages,  contains  copies  of  all 
letters  or  representations  from  the  Navy  Board  to  tlie  Admiralty, 
between  October  1,  1801,  and  March  20,  1803;  r»>conimcnding 
or  submitting  that  any  of  His  Majesty's  ships  or  vessels  should  be 
sold  or  broken  up.  This  number  exhibits  surveys  of  several  ships, 
and  contains  much  information  in  detail. 

No.  25,  the  last  of  this  series,  is  an  account  of  the  oak  timber 
in  store  in  the  several  Yards  on  the  31st  of  December,  1800,  1801, 
1802,  and  1803;  distinguishing  the  sided  from  the  rough,  and 
the  Foreign  from  the  English. 


The  heart's  remote  recesses  to  explore, 

And  touch  its  Springs,  when  Prose  avail'cl  no  more. 

Falconer. 


EXTEMPORE  LINES, 

To  the  Memory  of  W.  II.  Jervis,  Esq.,  Captain  of  Ilis  Miijesty's  ship 
Tonnant ;  who  was  unfortunately  drowned  at  sea,  (while  passing  in  his  boat 
to  the  Commander  in  Chiefs  ship,  with  intelligence  respecting  the  enemy's 
fleet,)  2jth  January,  1805. 

(From  Dr.  IIalloran's  Poems.) 

"  Cut  oil' from  Glory's  race. 


Which  never  Mortal  was  more  fond  to  run." 

WHILE  patriot  zeal  his  bosom  warms, 
Each  sense  of  fear  the  Hero  braves ; 
Views,  unappall'd,  the  wintry  storms, 
And,  dauntless,  rides  the  billoMy  waves! 

Yet  oft,  alas !  M'ho  greatly  dares, 

Solicits  an  untimely  doom  ; 
And  v»ayward  Fate  the  coward  spares. 

To  give  the  brave  man  to  the  tomb  I 


Such,  the  lamented  scene  of  late, 

The  Muso,  reluctant,  mournM  to  (el!  ; 

While  every  seaman  wept  his  fate, 
As  Pjty  sigh'd;  how  Ji;uvi?  U-M  ! 


416  JTAVAt    POETRY. 

Jervis  ! — a  nams  to  Britons  dear  ! 

And,  oh !   could  worth,  could  courage  sar©  ; 
Cut  oti  in  Glory's  mid  career, 

He  had  not  met  a  wat'ry  grave  ! 

-  Yet  Ocean,  on  whose  stormy  bed 
The  gallant  spirit  found  repose, 
The  glories  of  his  name  shall  spread, 
Far  as  his  liquid  empire  flows  ! 

But  who,  alas  !  thy  tragic  end 

A  Sister's  sorrowing  heart  shall  tell ; 

Where  all  the  social  virtues  blend, 

And  Nature's  tenderest  feelings  dwell  ? 

Yet  sympathisinii  kindness  near, 

And  kindred  love,  shall  comfort  speak  ; 

While  Pity,  and  Affection's  tear, 

Shall  grace  the  Veteran  fVan  ior''s  cheek  / 

And,  if  a  brave  and  generous  mind 
A  claim  to  just  esteem  can  give  ; 

In  every  British  heart  enshrin'd, 
Jeuvis,  thy  memory  shall  live! 

While,  rescued  from  th'  unpitying  surge^ 
If  Friendship's  wish  can  'wrest  thy  name 

The  Muse,  to  fiine's  remotest  verge, 

Shall  with  St.  Vincent's  blend  thy  fame  I 


THE  SONG  AT  MARIA'S  GRAVE. 

IN     TWO     PARTS. 

lO^tlE,  gentle  maidens,  gather  round, 
Bring  sprigs  of  rosemary  and  rue, 
Strew  virgin  lilies  an  the  ground, 
And  the  Avild  rose  embalm'd  in  dew. 

Em1)1em  of  hope,  upon  the  thorn 

Their  transient  beauties  bloom  ar.d  die: 

While  yet  their  sweets  perfume  the  morn. 
They  oa  Maria's  grave  shall  lie  : 


NAVAL    POETRY.  417 

For  she  was  fair  as  fairest  flower. 

And  gentle  as  the  breath  of  peace; 
But  now  her  charms  exist  no  more. 

And  soon  their  memory  shall  cease. 

I  raise  the  song,  a  name  so  dear 

From  cold  oblivion's  power  to  save ; 
Come,  gentle  maidens,  round,  and  hear 

The  mournful  story  at  her  grave. 

Methinks  I  sec  her  on  the  beach, 

Jler  ryes  still  hx'd  upon  the  sea ; 
Her  thoughts  beyond  the  ocean  reach  ; 

O,  Henry  !  they  were  hx'd  on  thee. 

Above  her  sex's  little  arts. 

Their  feign'd  contempt,  or  proud  disdain, 
(she  own'd  the  sympathy  of  hearts. 

She  lov'd  and  was  belov'd  again. 

Tint  glory's  voice  young  Henry  heard, 

Fortune  and  honours  wait  the  brave  j 
The  youth  Maria's  heart  preferr'd, 

llcsolv'd  to  dare  the  liostile  wave. 

Dauntless  to  seek  his  country's  foes, 

And  bravely  guard  her  injur'd  rights; 
Warm  from  the  heart  his  courage  flows, 

For  love  and  honour  Henry  lights. 

But  who  can  paint  the  anxious  days, 

The  ling'ring,  long,  and  heavy  hours, 
The  silent  tears  allection  pays. 

The  sad  forebodings  love  endures  ? 

The  rushing  "v^inds  at  dead  of  night, 

Which  shake  her  casement's  slender  frame. 

Pisturb  her  rest  with  wild  affright. 
For  evils  yet  without  a  name. 

In  dismal  dreams  they  meet  again. 

Again  she  hears  his  parting  sighs ; 
The  sails  are  spread,  he  skims  the  main, 

And  far  the  bounding  vessel  flies. 

/2a\).  IlixQn,  CioI.XVn.  w  h  a 


418  NAVAL    POETRY. 

She  ■W'akes,  and  to  the  sounding  shore 
At  early  dawn  her  steps  would  move, 

Counting  the  days  of  absence  o'er  ; 
How  slow  their  pace  appears  to  love ! 

I  see  her  standing  on  the  beach, 
Her  eyes  still  fix'd  iipun  the  sea ; 

Her  though  s  beyond  the  ocean  reach  ; 
O,  Henry  !  they  were  fix'd  on  thee. 

Long  absent  on  the  wat'ry  waste, 

In  Britain's  cause  his  sword  he  drew  ; 

And  vanquish'd  foes  liis  fame  iiicreas'd, 
While  with  his  fame  his  fortuju;  grow. 

!Nor  glory's  pride,  nor  fiercest  war, 
Maria  from  his  thoughts  could  part. 

Though  absent  lung,  and  distant  far, 
She  still  was  nearest  to  his  heart. 

P'rom  ev'ry  port,  with  anxious  care, 
His  kind  attentive  fondness  wrote  j 

His  love  would  still  some  gift  prepare, 
As  witness  to  his  constant  thought. 

The  last  remembrance  she  receiv'd, 
Her  check  with  rosy  blushes  spread  ; 

A  trembling  hope  her  soul  deceived, 

While  these  soft  words  she  fault' ring  read 

''  To  thee,  Maria,  thee  alone, 

Each  tender  thought  delights  to  f^y  ; 

This  constaut  heart  is  all  thy  o\vn, 
For  thee  I  live,  for  thee  I  die, 

i^  For  thy  dear  sake  I  still  pursue 

Unceasing  toils,  and  think  them  sweet; 

Far  now  the  time  appears  in  view, 
When  we  again  in  joy  shall  meet. 

*<  Fly  fast,  ye  honrs !   with  winged  haste, 
Propitious  gales,  come  waft  me  o'er  I 

Swift  \A  me  cross  the  wat'ry  waste. 

To  meet  my  love  !  and  part  no  more  I'* 


NAVAL    POETttf.  419 

PART    II. 

I  iaw  Maria  on  the  beach. 

Her  eyes  were  fix'd  upon  the  sea; 
Her  thoughts  beyond  the  waters  reach; 

O,  Henry !  she  expected  thee. 

Expected  thee,  her  hand  to  claim, 

Thy  faithful  passion's  sacred  right; 
Hope  saw  thee  c;own'd  with  wealth  and  fame. 

And  love  exulted  in  the  sight. 

Gay,  flatt'ring  hope!  how  bright  you  seem,, 

Gilding  some  joy  beyond  the  hour  ! 
A  painted  cloud,  a  fairy  dream, 

A  rainbow  in  a  summer's  shower. 

Sudden  distracting  terrors  rise, 

Unthought-of  ills  their  hopes  assail; 
A  dark  and  dreadful  rumour  flics, 

And  time  confirms  the  horrid  tale. 

The  demon  of  the  trembling  west 

With  ruthless  fury  rears  his  head 
From  the  Atlantic's  troubled  breast, 

And  dire  destruction  round  is  spread. 

He  rises  on  the  water's  roar, 

And  death  and  desolation  brings  ; 
The  boiling  sea,  the  burning  shore, 

lie  sweeps  with  unrelenting  wings. 

The  warring  elements  at  strife, 
Seem  wild  with  rage,  and  mad  with  power; 

And  thousands  sunk  from  light  and  life, 
The  victims  of  that  fatal  hour. 

Brave  Henry's  gallant  vessel  lay, 

111  starr'd  !  near  that  devoted  coast, 
How  shall  I  tell,  nor  need  I  say, 

That  he  and  all  his  hopes  were  lost. 

He  fell  by  no  proud  conqu'ring  foe, 

That  thought  was  sure  in  mercy  giv'a; 
And  patience  must  support  the  blow 

Inflicted  by  the  kand  of  heaven. 


420  NAVAL   POETRY. 

I  saw  her  seated  on  the  beach, 
Her  eyes  were  fix'd  upon  the  sea, 

Her  thoughts  the  depths  of  ocean  reach  ; 
O,  Henry  !  still  they  follow'd  thee. 

No  loud  complaints  were  heard  to  rise, 
'Twas  Tast  unutterable  woe  ! 

Silent  her  tongue,  and  from  her  eyes 
The  dews  of  sorrow  ceas'd  to  flow. 

The  lustre  of  her  eye  was  gone, 
The  roses  of  her  cheek  were  dead; 

The  faded  lily  reign'd  alone. 
And  all  the  charm  of  youth  was  fled. 

Pining  in  thought,  a  swift  decay 

Pervaded  ev'ry  vital  part; 
The  bloom  of  beauty  dropt  away, 

The  canker-worm  was  in  her  heart. 

Still  I  lament  thee,  gentle  shade, 
Though  thy  sad  pilgrimage  is  o'er  ; 

Still  shall  I  weep  for  thee,  sweet  maid. 
Though  thy  dim  eyes  can  weep  no  more. 

And  oft,  at  dewy  fall  of  night, 

I  seek  the  church-way  path  alone. 

And,  by  the  moon's  pale  trembling  light, 
Read  thy  loy'd  name  on  this  white  stone. 


This  Ballad  was  founded  on  a  true  Story.  The  event  took" 
place  in  1785,  or  near  about  that  time,  Maria  was  a  native  of 
Cornwall,  where  she  died  in  1786, 


421 


NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  THE  PRESENT  YEAR,  1807. 
(April — May. ) 

RETROSPECTR'E  AND  IMISCELLAXEOUS. 

TTflHE  bustle,  and  viruloiiC  ahnse,  whicli  iipvcr  fail  to  be  awakened  by  n 
general  electiun  ;  the  fuilui-e  of  Aduiir:il  Duckworth's  cxjiedition  ;  the 
capture  of  Aioxandria  ;  and  the  sailini;  of  diUcrcnt  secret  ex|i(;diti()i)S  ;  arc 
the  principal  events  that  have  lately  occupied  the  public  attention. 

Of  late  years  our  naval  officers  have  frccpiently  appeared  as  successful 
candidates  for  a  seat  in  Parhanient,  Not  oidy  Admirals,  but  ninny  Po-jt 
Captains  are  now  seen  on  the  bench  of  the  House  of  Commons,  frequently 
taking  an  animated  part  in  the  debates  of  that  house.  How  far  the  plain 
honest  character  of  a  'Britisli  seaman  may  be  adapted  to  cope  with  the  wiles 
and  windings  of  politicians,  we  will  not  undertake  to  dcterriune.  The 
noble  character  of  many  a  gallant  otlicer  has  often  sutTered  by  his  becomiu" 
a  politician  ;  and  it  has  always  been  tlie  wisli  of  our  best  and  ablest  scaniea 
(however  ineffectual  that  wish  may  have  proved)  that  the  Board  of  Admi- 
ralty, and  all  that  depends  upon  it,  should  as  much  as  pos:?ible  be  detached 
from  the  intrigues  and  cabal  of  politicks. 

Amidst  those  officers  who  have  thus  come  forward,  the  conduct  and 
speeches  of  Lord  Cochrane,  who  has  been  returned  for  Westminster,  are 
principally  worthy  of  our  notice.  Tlie  following  is  an  extract  from  hit 
address  to  the  electors  : 

"  I  shall  be  as  brief  as  possible  in  the  declaration  of  my  principles.  Mea- 
sures favourable  to  the  interests  of  ray  country  I  will  support,  let  them  be 
brou*ght  forward  by  whom  they  may;  tliose  hostile,  or  urged  by  factious 
motives,!  will  oppose,  without  any  view  to  advantage,  or  dread  of  injury. 

"  I  am  not  one  of  those  who  are  of  opinion  that  persons  should  with- 
draw from  the  service  of  their  country  in  despair.  Men  actuated  by  the 
dictates  of  conscience,  wlio  scorn  to  be  ranked  among  the  great  paupers  of 
the  nation,  and  by  sinecures  and  unmerited  pensions  to  drain  the  re-iourcci 
of  their  country,  may  do  much  good  even  if  their  abilities  are  small.  So- 
phistry is  not  required  to  prove  a  truth  :  subtle  arguments  may  be  used  to 
establish  the  reverse.  Is  it  absolutely  impracticable  that  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Commons  can  pursue  a  hne  of  conduct  wholly  independent?  It 
has  been  said,  that  a  man  who  does  not  link  himself  to  the  chains  of  some 
party,  is  a  mere  cipher  in  that  house  :  that  the  measures  he  may  propose 
(however  beneficial)  w  ill  be  rejected  by  both,  because  they  do  not  origi- 
nate with  either.     Let  us  hope  that  this  is  not  the  case. 

"  An  important  appeal  is  at  this  crisis  made  to  the  country,  and  the 
whole  body  of  electors  of  the  United  Kingdom  must  decide.  On  a  late 
occasion  I  gave  a  vote  agniiict  an  abstract  proposition,  because  I  viewed  it 
in  its  coiisoquences.  It  tended  to  throw  a  blame  where  no  blame  was  due. 
It  was  connected  with  an  approval  of  the  Catholic  13111,  whichsl  cmisidered 
nut  only  inadequate  to  its  purpose,  but  productive  of  religious  disieujij'.w 


422  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    Pr.EST;NT    YEAR,    1807. 

in  the  naval  service,  to  which  my  attention  has  been  devoted.  What  would 
be  the  situation  of  our  country  with  a  Catliolic  disposer  of  our  cummissions 
p.ncl  ren-ai'ds?  ReIi'j,ious  motives  are  r.iore  powerful  than  other  motives.— 
Judging  from  what  has  passed,  I  did  dread  the-  future.  These,  gentlemen, 
were  tho  reasons  for  the  conduct  I  pursued,  not  a  deficiency  of  zeal  for 
6ur  fellow  subjects  of  the  catholic  persuasion. 

".Gentlemen,  T  unequivocally  avow  my  intention  to  stand  unconnected 
v.ith  anv  of  the  candidates  who  have  declared  themselves.  It  is  not  a  se:it 
in  Pailiajif-Dt  thivt  I  aui  desirous  to  obtain:  it  is  the  distinguished  honour 
a.^'rqircsentin^  vour  pilfiulous  city,  elected  hy  the  votes  of  unbiassed  free- 
nion>  having  conlidence  iu  the  man  they  send  to  Parliament. 

"  Mv  professioiwl  life  mav  be  knovn  to  some  of  you  ;  and  I  am  aware 
that  it  has  been  objected,  that  a  n:«.val  ofucer,  liable  to  be  called  from  his 
coo-tituen!s,  is  unfit  to  atVerul  to  their  interests,  and  to  perform  his  duty 
in  l^uliameuc.  To  this  I  answer,  .that  it  is  rtcjuisite  tiiere  should  be  in 
the  House  of  •  Commons  professional  men  as  well  as  others,  in  order  that 
infoinrjation  may  be  given  on  matters  fioquetitly  the  subject  of  discusion, 
bv  those  who  from  actual  service,  and  recent  impres^icMiS,  can  give  correct 
intelligeace:  and  I  answei-  also,  th.at  one  zeaiou.-.  in  the  performance  of 
his  d;ity,  may  be  of  more  real  service  to  his  country,  than  a  member  who 
(thon;;h  always  on  the  spot)  is  devoted  to  his  private  occupations." 

In  the  course  of  Ins  speeches  t'roni  tlie  hustings,  Lord  Cochrane  seems 
to  have  t!ioa;;ht  it  rij^ht  to  harangue  the  populace  on  what  he  considered 
to  have  been  abuses  iu  oar  uaval  department ;  and,  as  his  lordship  has 
pled;.;ed  hi;nsclf  to  bring  tliis  subject  forward  in  anotlier  place,  it  is  ne- 
cessary to  state  what  passed  in  this- respect  between  hna  and  JMr.  Sheridan 
at  the  hustiiii^s  on  the  sixth  day  of  the  poll. 

Mr.  Sheridan  in  the  course  of  his  speech  observed,  "  That  they  had  heard 
a  crreat  deal  of  abuses  in  the  Navy.  He  had  always  been  the  decided  friend 
of  the  Navy  of  England.  There  were  many  abuses  in  the  Navy,  whicJi  were 
not  to  be  corrected  by  parliamentary  measares,  but  by  applicatiun  to  Go- 
vernment. If  he  had  continued  in  the  otHce  of  Treasurer  of  the  Navy,  ai« 
otlice,  which  many  amongst  them  considered  a  blot  in  his  character,  but 
which,  with  the  house,  &c.  he  found  convenient  to  his  circumstances,  (a 
/augh,  and  applause)  ;  he  had  it  in  contemplation  to  bring  forward  bills  for 
the  advantage  of  the  Navy,  and  if  he  should  meet  the  Noble  Lord  in  Par- 
liament, he  should  heartily  co-operate  with  him  in  any  measures  for  the 
redrcbs,  the  honour,  or  the  support  of  these  gallant  men,  who  weie  the  best 
and  surest  defence  of  their  country. — ( Applauses.)—  Oa^.  of  the  abuses  in 
the  Navy,  which  was  not  to  be  corrected  by  legislative  means,  but  bv  an 
application  to  (jovernment,  was  the  practice  of  sending  persons,  »vho  were 
brought  before  the  police  IMagistrates  accused  of  crimes,  on  board  the 
fl.eet,  as  fit  persons  to  serve  His  Majesty  in  the  Navy.  This  practice  was 
the  cause  of  any  disposition  to  seduction  and  mutiny  which  might  havf 
occurred  in  the  Navy.  Such  persons  might  be  saiil  to  be  fit  persons  to 
serve  His  Iilajesty  as  Custom  and  Excise  Otliccrs,  as  Clerks  of  the  Treasury, 
«r  even  as  IMagistrates,  but  they  were  tiot  ft  to  serve  amongst  British  sea- 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    TE.'vR,     iS07.  -J^S 

men,  whose  hearts  and  principles  should  he  sound  as  the  oak  that  consti- 
tuted the  main  titnhers  of  the  ships  they  manned.  — CLcwrf  and  repeated 
Applitiis  .)  —He  liad  one  observation  more  to  make  on  what  h-ad  tiillen  from 
tire  N.)ble  Lord  near  hhu  yosCLniav-  That  Nohle  Lord  had  bc2;jei  their 
attention  to  some  se.ioiis  observations,  after  the  facetious  speech,  fis  h<i 
termed  it,  that  tney  had  licard  from  ium.  He  was  sure  the  Noble  Lord 
would  agree  with  biin,  liiat  ihi'^  coiite>t  shouLl  \>c  ci>ndiicted  on  all  sides  ia 
the  most  trentlemanly  manner,  therefore  begged  that  Noble  I-ord's  atten- 
tion t )  a  few  serious  words  on  the  subject  of  the  charires  he  had  made 
since  the  commencement  of  the  election.  He  ^ave  credit  to  the  Noble 
Lord's  sincerity,  and  was  convinced  that  tie  believed  every  fact  he  had  as- 
serted, but  he  appealed  to  his  niac^nanimity  as  a  military  man  and  a  gentle- 
man, whether  it  was  ;ust.fiahle  to  urge  ciiar^cs  uf  such  a  niittire  against 
an  dd  meritorious  and  distinguished  officer,  when  there  whs  no  Naval  man 
present  to  enter  into  details  \a  his  defence;  whether  it  was  consis'cnt  with 
the  gallantry  of  a  hcaman,  or  the  principles  of  bntisb  justice,  to  accuse  an 
absent  man,  wit..out  an  oppoitunity  of  defending  hiniseif?  Me  gave  credit 
to  the  Noble  Lord  for  his  belief  of  the  truth  of  what  he  had  asserted,  hut 
lie  was  informed  by  an  authority  winch  he  must  credit,  tlv,it  the*  Noble 
Lord  was  misled  in  the  statements  he  made,  for  he  acquitted  the  Noble 
Lord  of  any  intention  to  mislead  others.  The  sloop  Alal.intii,  to  which  ttiu 
Noble  Lord  alluded,  had  been  lost  in  far  dufLrent  circumstances  fnjin  those 
lie  stated,  and  not  one  of  the  crew  had  perished.  —  (^ip:,laiiSt.-s,  anJ  a  iri/ 
of  Fclic Jro/u  the  frienJs  of  Lord  Cochrane).  The  detail  he  was  not  com* 
petcnt  to  enter  into,  hut  an  inr|uiry  had  been  proposed,  under  the  auspices 
of  Mr.  Pitt's  Aduiinistr;ition,  into  the  Naval  Aduiinistraiion  of  tlie  Noble 
Person,  against  whom  the  charges  v.ere  urged  and  rejected  in  Parliameat, 
If  tile  Noble  Lord  could  substantiate  tne  charges  he  made,  he  could  assure 
him  that  nw  partiality  for  the  late  Administration,  no  private  friend.^hip  for 
that  Noble  Person,  should  prevent  him  from  supporting  the  Noble  Lord  iri 
moving  for  an  inquiry  in  Parliament.     (Loud  applause.) 

Lord  Cochrane  then  came  forward,  and  said,  "  That  it  was  not  his  inten- 
tion then  to  detain  the  Electors  by  dwelling  upon  the  abuses  in  the  Navy  ; 
nothing  he  had  heard  however  went  to  refute  any  of  the  siateinents  he  had 
made.  The  Alalanta  sloop  had  been  sent  to  sea  when  she  was  making  20 
inches  water,  and  had  many  of  her  masts  and  yards  sprung.  ( Applauses.  ) 
His  reason  for  stating  tiie  abuses  in  the  Navy,  was  to  show  that  it  was  ne- 
cessary to  have  persons  in  Parliament  who  could  bring  them  tonvard,  and 
that  none  of  the  other  candidates  could  do  so.  He  had  said,  that  all  classes 
of  the  community  ought  to  he  repre?cntsd  in  Parliament,  because  if  the 
House  of  Commons  were  to  be  conipo->etl  solely  of  pcrsims  in  tlie  civil  re- 
lations of  life,  it  would  be  mncii  less  well  informed  upon  such  subjects 
when  brought  before  it.  He  had  never  sain  that  the  crew  of  the  Atnlant.'i 
]jad  been  lost,  it  was  the  crew  of  the  Felix  that  he  had  said  went  down  in 
lier,  and  perished,  all  but  one  man,  and  amongst  tiieni  was  lost  one  of  the 
best  seamen  he  had  ever  known  in  the  ser^  ice.  But  this  subject  he  pro- 
posed to  bring  forward  tor  discasiioa  ia  th.e  |;iropcr  place.:     It  was  lut  his 


424         XAVAr.  irisTOR"i'   of  the  present  tear,  1S07. 

intention  on  that  occasion  to  dwell  upon  the  causes  that  had  brought  him 
before  the  Electors  of  Westminster,  when  he  might,  by  means  which  they 
all  knew,  command  the  two  seats  from  whence  he  came  to  Westminster. 
(Applause.)  When  he  had  presented  himself  to  that  Borouj^h,  he  was  not 
aware  of  the  corruption  that  prevailed  in  the  Borough  svsteni.  For  seven- 
teen years  he  had  been  excluded  from  any  acquaiiilauce  witli  the  situation 
of  the  country.  But  he  had  read  the  history  of  this  country,  and  of  other 
countries,  and  his  opinions  were  formed  upon  times  past,  not  upon  the  au- 
thority of  any  of  the  present  men. — (  JppUiuse.) — He  thought  the  constitu- 
tion ouglit  to  be  reduced  to  its  original  purity,  and  the  task  did  not  appear 
to  hun  very  dltlicult.  The  late  Administration,  wlio  alVfCted  reform,  should 
have  revived  the  old  law  excluding  placemen  and  pensioners,  who  would 
vote  with  the  Minister,  whether  right  or  wrong,  from  Parliament. — (Ap- 
phixisc.) — They  ought  to  have  extinguished  the  otiice  of  Clerk  of  the  Pells, 
and  others;  but,  instead  of  that,  they  had  added  to  them — (upplause) — ^and 
had  suffered  the  Commander  in-Chief  of  the  Channel  fleet,  on  the  plea  of 
ill  health,  to  remain  in  London,  deriving  a  large  revenue  from  the  labour 
and  blood  of  the  active  citizens  on  board  tiie  fleet. —  (Applause). — Another 
Minister  might  hereafter  on  this  principle  send  a  fool  or  a  child  to  command 
the  fleet,  if  such  should  be  his  pleasure.  He  did  not  sav,  that  the  Noble 
Person  in  whose  defence  they  had  heard  so  much,  had  not  employed  gallant 
Admirals  under  him  that  his  revenue  might  be  the  greater,  because  he  was 
sure  that  such  a  considention  could  not  be  entertained  by  him.  But 
what  seldom  happened,  Captains  were  employed  at  the  head  of  seven  sail 
of  the  line,  and  as  many  frigates.  In  bringing  forward  these  statements,  it 
could  not  be  his' object  to  get  into  the  situation  of  that  Noble  Lord,  because 
many  years  must  elapse  before  he  could  attain  the  rank  of  Admiral,  and  he 
would  disdain  to  reach  it  out  of  the  regular  order.  He  had  at  present,  as  a 
Post  Captain,  an  income  of  1S3I.  per  annum,  whicli  would  not  be  likely  to 
influence  his  vote  in  Parliament ;  and  he  would  never  take  any  office  for 
which  he  should  not  perform  a  duty.  If  any  connection  of  his  should  accept 
any  sinecure  place,  from  that  moment  he  would  cut  with  him.  (Applauses.) 
He  despised  those  who  had  large  fortunes  and  took  the  emoluments  of 
oflice,  when  they  ought  to  serve  their  country  for  notliing."  (Applausts.) 

The  following  is  an  official  list  of  the  Commission,  Warrant,  and  Petty- 
Oflicers,  with  the  number  of  Seamen  and  Marines,  saved  from  the  Ajax,  on 
the  night  of  the  I4th  of  February,  1807  : — 

Captain  the  Honourable  H.  Blackwood  ;  Peter  Proctor,  first  Lieutenant; 
Jeremiah  Brown,  second;  Charles  Wood,  fourth;  Henry  Howe,  fifth; 
Arthur  J.  Hamilton,  seventh;  Mr.  J.  Bullcr,  Purser:  Samuel  l-Lllis,  Lieu- 
tenant of  Marines;  Joseph  Cinnamond,  ditto;  John  Turner,  Boatswain  ; 
Bejamin  Rone,  Carpenter;  Launcclot  Armstrong:,  Surgeon's  Mate;  Wil- 
liam Dalrymple,  School  i\Iaster;  Samuel  Armstrong,  Clerk;  Francisco 
Michello,  Pilot ;  .Fohn  Call;tm,  Master's  Mate;  Norwich  DutT,  Thomas 
Dufl:',  Piohert  iMackworth,  Theobald  Jones,  Thomas  liawlins,  Peter  Stark, 
Benjamin  J.  Rundell,  James  Waring,  Philip  Phips,  John  Gordon,  Thomas 
Smith,  .Fohn  JMoore,  William  Walpole  William  Henry  Bruc*-,  Charles  Green, 
and  William  Trotter,  Midshipmen;  Ji^hn  Dunford,  acting  Boatswain;  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Palmer,  left,  behind  at  Gibraltar ;  and  60  of  the  Royal  Marine^ 
including  Serjeaut  William  Bellman,  and  239  Seamen. 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1807.  425 

^  Vice  Admiral  Sir  .T.  T.  Duckworth  is  arrived  in  town;  and  reports  are 
very  prevalent,  th.it  the  hue  proceedings  before  Constantinople  will  be  in- 
vestigated hy  a  Court  iVlariiul ;  hut  whether  at  the  instigation  of  Govern- 
ment, or  of  Sir  J.  T,  Duckworth,  is  not  known. 

The  .Marlborough,  of  74  guns,  will  be  sliortly  launclied  from  Deptford 
Dock-yard. 

The  Princess  Royal  of  98  guns,  at  Chatliam,  is  to  he  cut  down  to  a  74. 

Admiral  Martin  is  going  ro  the  Mediterranean,  and  Commodore  Keates  is 
about  to  sail  witii  a  squadi'on  from  Porfsmoutli. 

Lord  Keith  has  been  ordert'd  lo  strike  his  flag,  the  Admiralty  having  re- 
solved to  divide  the  command  into  three  separate  ones. 

The  town  and  fortress  of  Alexandria,  with  two  Turkish  frigates  and  a 
corvette,  surrendered  to  His  Majesty's  Arms  on  t!ie  20th  of  March.  Major 
General  F'raser,  who  was  detached  on  this  service  from  Messina,  by  his 
Excellency  General  Fox,  thus  speaks  of  the  assistance  of  Captain  Hallowell, 
in  his  public  letter  .-: — 

To  Captain  Ilallowell,  and  the  officers  and  seamen  of  His  Majesty's  ship 
Tigre,  I  cannot  suftlcieiuly  express  uiy  ii.'knouli-(ij;,uei;ts  for  tiie  assistance 
they  a(iH)rded  iiu',  and  for  the  i-eadiiiess  with  which  they  stood  forward  on 
all  occasions.  Captain  llaliowc  I  landed  and  nu'.-ched  with  me  to  the  attack 
of  the  enemy's  entrenchments,  and  to  tne  very  gates  of  the  citv,  and 
remained  on  shore  until  the  place  surrendered  ;  from  hi>  advice  and  local 
knowledge  I  derived  much  useful  mformatiou^.  Captain  W^ithers  of  tne 
Royal  iS'avy,  Agent  of  transpijrts,  is  also  entitled  to  praise,  for  his  activity  in 
landing  the  troops,  aiid  for  the  exertions  he  aiieraards  made  for  supplying 
them  v.ith  provisions.  I  send  yon  herewith  a  return  of  the  killed,  wound- 
ed, and  missing,  together  with  the  returns  of  prisoners  made,  and  of  the 
public  stores  of  ditfcrent  descriptions,  found  in  tiie  several  batteries  and 
magaiiines.  I  iiave  the  honour  to  lie^  &c. 

A.  M.  FR.'^SER,  Maj.  Gen. 

P.  S.  The  Apollo,  with  10  missing  transports,  came  to  anchor  in  Alionkir- 
Bay  on  the  morning  of  the  '20Lh,  and  Sir  J.  Duckworth's  squadron  arrived 
here  on  the  I'M. 

Letters  have  been  received  at  Plymouth,  from  the  Melampns,  dated  off" the 
Chesapeak  in  March,  at  winch  time  she  was  watching  a  large  French  fri- 
gate of  AS  guns,  full  manned,  with  an  addition  of  the  civw  of  the  J'rench  34, 
gun  ship,  which  was  driven  oa  shore  and  wrecked  some  mouths  a^o.  The 
enemy,  however,  made  no  appearance  of  com  ing  out. 


%mtvs  on  ^citifc, 

Copied  verbatim  Jruin  the  LoMiON  Gazette, 

[Conthiued  from  page  3jl.] 

ADMIRALTY  OFFICE,  M.\Y  4,   1807, 

Extracts  of  a  Lettci-  and  its  EncUxuics,  uhich  have  been  received  at  tills 
OfJUe  f/oin  I'll  €-Adiiiii-ti!  LorJ  Col  ingwuod,  Cui.tiiiu^id-.r  in  i'liH-.t'  oj  His 
Ahijcsn/'s  Shi^  a  and  Vessels  iu  t/u  Mtdilemiiuun,  addressed  lo  IViitiain 
Mursden,  Es<j.;  diUed  oa  board  His  Majesty s  Hfiip  Ocean,  off'  Cadiz,  Itie 
8t/i  of  A^ril,  lauf. 

SIR, 

MIS  Majesty's  sloop  I'Espnir  has  joined  me  to-day,  bringing  dispatches 
from  \'ice-.'vdniiial  ^^lr  John  1'.  Uuckwoitli  and  .ilr.  Ariaithnot. 
Copies  of  the  Vice-.Vdmirars  letters  to  me,  detailing  tiie  [.roccediiig>  of  the 
squadron  m  passing  and  repaiMiig  the  Dardancllcii,  the  burninsj  tlio  lurkiah 

Jiaatj.  <Ii)ron.  a:iol.X  VII.  1 1 1 


426  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   TUF.    PRESENT    YEAR,     1807, 

sliips  which  lav  off  Point  Pesqnies,  with  li'^ts  ot'tlic  Uillod  and  wouiuled  on 
the  19tii  and  27lh  rebru;irv,  and  M  .Murcli,  are  liere^vitii  transyiittcd. 

lam,  tSrc.  COLLIN  GWOOD. 

llvi/al  Ceorze,   ni'.hoiit  the  DardantlUs,' 
Mv  LOTiD,  '  March  G,  1807. 

l()g€lher  "ith  tin.-,  letter,  T  trans-nit  to  your  Lord-.!iij!  two  letters  of  tlie 
2lst  and  2Mtli  idti'n:);  tlic  former  of  vvliicli  will  have  informed  vou  of  mv 
arrival  witji  the  sniiadnm  near  Coii3tantino]>le ;  and  tlie  latter  of  an  un- 
lucky attempt,  in  uhicli  tl.e  marines  and  iioat.V  crews  of  the  Canopus, 
Royal  (Teori;e,  Windsor  Castle,  and  iMandard,  had  heen  enu;ai;ed.  ' 

It  !S  now  my  duty  t.)  acijuaint  your  l.Drdsliip  with  the  result  of  the  reso- 
lution which,  for  the  rcasnns  1  liave  already  detailed,  I  had  adopted  of 
ibrcinii  the  passable  of  the  Dardanelles.  My  letter  of  the  2l5t  is  dated  at 
an  anchor  eii;lit  nides  from  Constanti'.iOiJe,  (lie  wind  not  adniittin;;;  of  a 
nearer  approach  j  but  tlie  Endymion,  which  had  been  sent  a-hcad  with  a 
flau  of  truce,  at  the  request  of  the  Ambassador,  was  enabled  to  anchor 
withi;;  four  miles.  Had  it  been  then  in  our  power  we  should  h.ave  then 
taken  our  station  off  the  town  immediately,  but  as  that  could  not  be  done 
from  the  rapidity  of  the  current,  f  wa^  rather  pleased  than  otherwise  with 
the  position  ^^e  had  been  forced  to  take,  for  m  tl;e  conferences  between  His 
Majesty's  .Minister,.  Xir^  .■\rbuthiiot,  and  the  Captain  Pacha,  of  the  particu- 
lars of  which  your  Lordship  is  in  possession,  it  was  promised  bv  iMr.  Ar- 
Ivuthnot,  that  even  when  tlio  equudron  had  arrived  before  Ci;nstantinopJe, 
the  door  to  pacification  sliould  remain  open,  and  that  he  would  be  v\illini' 
to  neiiociatc  on  terms  of  equality  and  justice.  In  consideration  of  this  pro- 
mise, and  as  it  would  convince  the  Porte  of  Ilis  ]\Liiestv's  earnest  desii-e  to 
preserve  peace,  as  well  as  possess  her  ministers  witli  a  confidence  of  the 
sincerity  of  our  professions,  it  was  tiie  opinion  of  .Mr.  Arbuthnot,  in  wliich 
I  con<:urred,  that  it  was  fortunate  we  had  anchoied  at  a  little  distance  from 
the  capital,  as  a  nearer  approach  mi«jht  have  sjiven  cause  for  suspicion  and 
alarm,  and  liavc  cut  off  the  prospect  of  an  amicable  adjustment  of  the  di!- 
fcrences  whicii  had  arisen. 

At  noon  of  the  ''Ist,  V-ak  Bey,  a  minister  o:"  the  Porte,  came  off;  from 
whose  expressions  Mr.  Art)Uthii<jt  thouiiht  it  impossible  not  to  bilieve  that, 
in  the  head  of  the  Government  (for  in  the  present  instance  every  circum- 
stance proved,  that  between  him  and  tUe  armed  populace  a  great  distinc- 
tion is  to  be  made)  there  really  existed  a  sincere  desire  tor  peace;  anri  the 
ne;:ociation  was  c  Tried  <  n,  as  will  appear  by  the  documents  transmitted  to 
your  Lordship,  till  the  y7th;  but  from  the  moment  of  our  anchoi-aLe  tiil 
we  weighed,  on  the  murinng  of  tiie  Ist  of  Maicli,  ^ueh  \Vas  the  unfortunattf 
state  of  the  vveather,  that  it  v/as  nut  at  any  tune  in  uuv  power  to  have  oc- 
cupied a  situation  \vhicii|  would  have  enabied  the  squadron  to  commence 
offensive  operations  against  Cousiuntino[)le.  On  Sunday  the  "22(1  alone, 
for  a  few  hours,  tne  breeze  was  sutticii'iit  tu  have  stemmed  tiie  current 
where  "C  ^\ere  pl-.-.ced;  but  such  was  tiie  rapidity  on  shore  where  tiie  En- 
dymion was  at  anchor,  that  Captain  Capel  thought  it  very  doubtful  whe- 
ther the  bijuad.-on  could  have  obtained  an  ar.chorage,  tiioiieh  it  had  been 
held  in  piejiaratiAC  readiness,  by  sii;nal,  from  dav-break;  but  the  peculi- 
arly unsettled  slate  of  the  weather,  and  the  Minister's  desire  that  I  should 
give  a  few  hours  f  )r  an  answer  to  his  letter,  t-iroui^h  Vsak  Bev,  prevented 
me  from  trying.  Before  hve  o'clofk  P.  AI.  it  was  nearly  c.ilin;  and  in  r!ie 
evenmii  the  wind  wa>  eaiirely  from  the  castwarc!,  and  continued  lii:,!it  airs 
or  culm  till  the  evenint  of  tiie  28th,  v.  hen  it  blew  IVlsIi  from  the  N.  E. 
and  ruido;-e;l  it  i;iu>.)-bible  to  chani;e  oar  posruo*^. 

'I'\<. o  davs  aft ^'r  our  arrwui  near  Constantiuoplp,  the  ,\mbassador  found 
hinjseif  iadi-posed,  and  ha.^  oeen  extr  ^mce  conhneJ  w;'h  a  lit  of  illness, 
sj  severs  us  tj  prcveoi  hnn  from  alteinlinj,  to  business.     Under  tlnse  cir- 


NAVAL    HISTORY    Of    TilE    PRESENT    VlAlt,     1807.  427 

cumstanccs  lie  Iiad  delivered  on  ihe  22ri  to  the  Turkish  Minister  a  projct, 
as  the  basis  on  which  pcui:e  iniijht  hi;  [jresen  ed,  and  at  his  dt-sire  the  sub- 
sequent part  of  the  iiegociatioii  was  carried  on  in  iiiv  name,  with  his  advice 
and  assistance  ;  and  whAe  I  lament  most  deejjly  that  it  has  not  ended  in 
tlie  re-estabhshincut  of  |K'ace,  I  derive  coiisolation  from  tlic  reflection, 
that  no  effort  has  been  wanting  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Arbnthnot  and  myself 
to  (jbtain  such  a  result,  which  was  soon  seen  trt)ni  the  state  of  the  prepa- 
rations at  Constantinople  couhl  he  etfected  by  ncgociiti  »u  only,  as  me 
sireujith  of  the  current  from  the  Uosphorus,  uith  the  circuitous  eddies  of 
the  part,  rendered  it  impracticable  to  place  s'lij  s  for  an  attack  without  a 
commandinu;  breeze ;  which,  during  the  ten  days  I  was  off  the  town,  it 
was  not  my  good  tbrtune  to  meet  witfi. 

I  now  come  to  the  point  of  explainintj  to  your  Lordship  the  motives 
which  fixed  me  to  decide  in  re|!assinj,  ttie  channel  of  the  Dardanelies,  and 
relinquishint;  every  idea  of  attacking  llie  capital,  and  I  feel  coaJideiit  it 
will  require  no  argument  to  convince  yoin*  J^cjrdship  of  the  utter  impracti- 
cability of  our  force  having  made  any  impression,  a»  at  this  titne  tise' 
whole  line  of  the  coast  presented  a  chain  of  batteries;  that  twelve  'lurkisli 
line  oi' battle  ships,  two  of  them  three  deckers,  with  mne  frigates,  were 
^^lth  their  sails  bent,  and  apparently  in  readiness,  tilled  with  troops  ; 
add  to  tiiis,  near  two  hundred  thousand  were  said  to  be  in  Constantnjople, 
to  march  a^ainst  the  Russians  ;  besides,  there  were  an  innumerable  quan- 
tity of  small  craft,  with  boac^  ;  and  fire  ve^els  had  bc^eii  prepared  to  act 
against  us.  W'itli  the  batteries  alone  we  mig'it  have  coped,  or  with  the 
shijjs,  could  we  have  got  them  out  of  tlieir  strong  iioid  ;  but  your  Lordship 
will  be  aware,  that  after  combatting  the  opi'ositi'U  which  the  resources  of 
an  emp  re  had  been  many  weeks  employed  in  preparing;,  we  sliouid  have 
been  in  no  state  to  have  defended  our.ielves  against  them  as  described,  and 
then  repass  tlie  Dardanelles.  I  know  it  \\as  my  duty,  in  obedience  to  your 
J.onlship's  orders,  to  attempt  every  thing  ("governed  by  the  opinion  of  the 
Ambassador)  that  appeared  within  the  compass  of  possibility  ;  but  wheti 
the  unavoidable  s-acnhcc  of  l!ie  squadron  committed  to  my  charge  (which 
must  have  arisen,  had  I  waited  hn-  a  wind  to  have  enabled  me  to  canno- 
I'ade  the  town,  unattended  by  the  remotest  chance  of  obtaining,  any  advan- 
tage for  His  Majesty's  service)  nuist  have  been  the  consequence  of  pursu- 
ing tiiat  object,  it  at  once  Injcame  iny  positive  duty,  however  wonnded  m 
pride  and  ambition,  to  reliucjuish  it ;  and  if  I  had  not  been  ahea<ly  sat.s- 
iied  on  the  subject,  the  increased  opposition  in  tlie  Dard melles  would  have 
convinced  ine  i  [aid  diiue  right,  wlien.  I  resoUfd  on  the  meahure  as  indis- 
pensably neces-^aiv.  I  therefore  wc'g'.ied  with  tlie  squadron  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  first;  and  as  it  bad  been  rep.jrted  that  tiie  Turkish  fleet  de>^igne(^ 
to  make  an  erVort  against  us;  to  give  them  an  opportunity,  f  such  wiis  really 
their  i;itentio;i,  I  continued  to  stand  on  and  oif  itnrlng  tlie  day,  but  they 
showed  no  disposition  to  iiK/ve. 

1  therefore,  as  everv  hour  vvas  of  importance,  bore  up  at  dusk  with  the 
squadron;  wt  arrived  off  Point  Pesqaies  towanb  the  eviiiing  of  the  'Zd  iii- 
st.mt,  but  the  daylight  v.onid  not  athiut  of  our  attem|)ti,ng  to  pass  the 
castles,  and  the  squadron  caiHie  tu  anchor  for  the  ir.ghi ;  wc  weig*:e(l  lu  the 
IT!  truing;  and  wheH  i  add,  that  every  sliip  was  in  safety  outside  ol  the  pus- 
sage  about  noon,  it  is  not  without  tlie  most  ir. ely  sense  of  the  gooil  for- 
tuiie  that  lias  attended  us. 

The  lurks  had  been  occupied  unceasingly  in  adding  to  llic  duiuIkt  of 
tieir  forts;  some  liad  1  ecu  already  coi»piettd,  and  others  were  in  a  tor- 
ward  state.  The  fire  of  the  two  inner  ca-ties  had,  u:i  out  going  up,  beeu 
severe,  but,  lam  sorry  to  say,  tlic  etftcts  they  have  had  on  our  shi^  s  re- 
turning, has  proved  dicuitu  ';je  doublv  I'osiiiidAhlc ;  iu  sli.,rt,  had  tl:*rj  been 


428  VAVAt    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    TEAK,     1807. 

allowed  another  week  to  complete  their  defences  throughout  the  channel,  it 
vould  have  heen  a  very  dou^iti'ul  point,  whether  a  return  lay  open  to  us  at 
all.  Tlie  manner  in  o  liich  they  employed  the  interval  of  our  absence  has 
proved  their  assiduity.  I  transmit  your  Lordship  an  account  of  the  damac^es 
sustained  hv  the  respective  ships;  as  also  their  loss  in  killed  and  wounded, 
which  your  L(jrdship  will  perceive  is  far  from  trifling.  The  main-mast  of 
the  Windsor  Castle  being  more  than  three  quarters  cut  through  by  a  granite 
shot  of  eight  hundred  weight,  we  have  found  great  difficulty  in  saving  it. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Ike. 

J.  T.  DUCKWORTH. 
Right  Honourable  Lord  CoHingzcood,  <5t.  4"f-  ^'C 

P.  S.  I  am  soi-ry  to  observe  that,  in  the  course  of  this  letter  to  your 
Lordship,  I  have  omitted  to  mention,  that  having  placed  the  Honourable 
Capt  ijn  Capcl  in  the  Endymion,  which  had  heen  advanced  in  the  stream 
of"  the  Bosphorus,  for  the  purptjse  of  ascertaining  when  the  squadron 
could  stem  the  current,  and  for  a  watchful  observation  of  the  movements 
of  the  Turks,  as  wcW  as  to  facilitate  communication  with  the  Porte,  I  feel 
myself  indebted  to  that  oti^icer  tor  Ins  zealous  attention  and  assiduity  dur- 
ing the  time  he  was  placed  in  that  arduous  situation. 

J.  T.  D. 

Royal  George,  off" Constantinople, 
MY  LOKD,  February  21,  1807. 

T  had  the  honour  of  transmitting  to  your  Lordship,  by  the  late  first  Lieu- 
tenant of  the  Ajax,  the  various  details  relating  to  the  transactions  of  the 
squadron  till  the  I7th  ultimo.  Your  Lordship  wdl  from  thence  have  been 
in  formei  of  my  resolution  of  passing  the  Dardanelles  the  first  fair  wind. 
A  fine  >vind  from  the  southward  permitted  me  to  carry  it  into  effect  on 
the  morning  of  the  IPth. 

Information  had  been  iriveu  me  by  H  s  Majesty's  Minister,  Mr.  Arbuth- 
not,  and  Sir  J'hf)mas  Louis,  that  the  Turki-h  squadron,  consisting  of  a  sixty- 
four  oun  ship,  four  frigates,  and  several  corvettes,  had  been  for  some  time 
at  anciior  v.itliiu  the  Inner  Casile  ;  and  conceiving  it  p(jssible  they  might 
ha\e  rtmai^'icd  ll'ero,  I  had  given  orders  to  Kear-Adiuiral  Sir  Svdncy 
Smith  to  bring  up  witii  the  Thunderer,  Standard,  and  Active,  and  destroy 
them,  should  our  passa^ft  be  opposed. 

At  a  quarter  before  nine  o'olock  the  whole  of  the  squadron  had  passed 
the  outer  castlts,  v.irhout  having  returned  a  shot  to  their  fire  (which  occa- 
sioned but  little  injury).  This  forbearance  was  produced  by  the  de.Mre  of 
His  i\Jajesry's  Minister,  expressed  to  preserve  every  appearance  of  amity, 
that  he  might  negociate  with  tlie  strongest  proof  of  the  pacific  disposition 
of  our  Soverei,  n  towards  the  Porte:  a  second  b;\ttery,  on  the  Europeaa 
side,  tired  also  with  as  little  etfccf.  At  halt  past  nine  o'clock,  tlie  Canopus, 
which,  on  account  of  Sir  I'homas  Louie's  kno'\  ledge  or  tlie  channel,  joined 
to  the  steady  gallantry  \\hich  I  had  before  experienced,  had  been  ap[>oiiited 
to  lead,  eiitercd  the  nnri-ow  passaue  of  Sestos  and  Abydos,  and  su-iainod 
a  ^'ery  hea- y  cimnonade  from  both  ca-tlcs,  within  point-blank  shot  of  each. 
They  .'peiiec!  their  fire  upon  our  ships  as  they  continued  to  pass  in  succes- 
sion. alti!'>!  ;:!!  1  was  happy  in  oljcerving  tliat  tf)f  very  spirited  return  it 
met  with  Ind  so  considerably  diminished  its  foice,  that  the  effect  on  the 
sternmost  shios  could  not  have  been  so  severe. 

Immediately  to  ilie  N.  f^  of  the  castle-,  and  between  them  and  Point 
Pcsr;'  ies,  ii  whicli  i  formidable  battery  had  been  newlv  erected,  the  small 
squadron  wiiich  1  have  already  alluded  to  were  at  anchor.  Tiie  van  divi- 
sion of  our  squadron  gave  them  tiieir  broadsides  as  they  passed,  and  Sir  Syd- 
ney Smith,  with  his  division,  closed  hito  the  midst,  and  the  effect  of  the 


NAVAt,   HISTORY    OF   THE    PRKStNT    YEAR,    1807.  >  429 

fire  was  such  that  in  half  an  hour  the  Turks  had  all  cut  their  cables  to  run 
rtn  sliorr.  Ttie  cbject  of  tiie  Rear-Admiral  was  tlicn  to  destroy  tiiem,  whicU 
was  most  rapidly  effected;  as  in  less  than  fovir  hours  the  wliole  of  theni 
had  exploded,  except  a  small  corvette  and  a  gun-boat,  which  it  was  thought 
proper  to  preserve.  I  enclose  to  your  LonKhip  a  statement  of  their  num- 
ber ;  and  when  1  add  also  an  account  of  the  loss  His  Majesty's  ships  have 
sustained,  I  cannot  help  exprcssio<:  my  satisfaction  that  we  have  suffered 
so  slif^htlv  ;  as,  had  any  of  their  stone  shot,  some  of  which  exceed  eight 
hinidred  weijfht,  made  such  a  breach  betvxeen  wind  and  water,  as  they  have 
done  in  our  sides,  the  ship  most  have  sunk  ;  or  had  they  stru<,k  a  lower 
mast  in  the  centre,  it  must  evidently  have  been  cut  in  two;  in  the  rigging 
too,  no  accident  occurred  that  was  not  perfectly  arran<;ed  in  the  course 
of  the  next  day.  The  sprit-sail-yard  of  the  Iloyal  (jeorL'c,  thegaftofthe 
Canopus,  and  the  maintop-sail-yard  of  the  standard,  are  the  only  spars  that 
were  injin-ed. 

It  is  with  peculiar  pleasure  that  I  embrace  the  opportunity,  which  lias 
been  at  this  time  afforded, of  beaiing  testimony  to  the  zeal  and  distinguished 
ability  of  8ir  Sydney  Smith;  tlie  manner  in  which  he  executed  the  service 
entrusted  t(j  him  was  worthy  of  the  reputation  which  he  has  long  since  so 
justly  and  generally  estai3lis.lic(i.  'J  lie  terms  of  approbation  in  which  the 
E,ear-Admiral  relates  the  conduct  of  Captains  Dacres,  Talbot,  Harvey,  and 
Moubray,  which,  from  my  being  under  the  necessity  of  passing  tlie  Point 
of  Pcsquics  before  the  van  could  anchor,  he  had  a  greater  opportunity  of 
fibserving  than  I  could,  cannot  but  be  higlily  flattering  ;  but  I  was  a  more 
innni  diate  witness  to  tlie  able  and  otlicer-bke  conduct  which  Captain  Mou- 
bray displ  lyed  in  obedience  to  my  signal,  by  destroying  a  frigate  with 
which  he  had  been  more  particularly  engaged,  having  driven  her  on  shore 
on  the  European  side,  after  she  had  been  forced  to  cut  her  cables,  from 
juider  the  fire  of  the  Pompce  and  Thunderer.  The  sixty-foiu"  havmg  run 
on  shore  on  Pesquies  Point,  I  ordered  the  Repulse  to  work  up  and  destroy 
her  ;  which  Cajitain  Legge,  in  conjunction  uith  the  boats  of  the  Pompee, 
executed  with  great  promptitude  and  judgment.  'I'he  battery  on  the  ptjint, 
of  more  tlian  thirty  guns,  ivliich,  had  it  been  completely  finished,  was  in 
a  position  to  have  annoyed  the  squudron  most  severely  in  passing,  was  taken 
possession  of  by  tiie  li(jyal  Marines  atid  boats'  crews  of  the  rear  division, 
the  Turks  having  retiied  at  their  approach,  and  the  guns  were  immediately 
spiked.  This  service  was  performed  under  the  direction  of  Captain  j\i- 
cholls,  of  the  Standard's  marines,  whose  spirit  and  ent(.rpribe  can  never 
be  doubted;  but  as  circumstances  rendered  it  impracticatjle  to  eti'ect  the 
entire  destruction  of  the  redoulit,  orders  were  given  by  Sir  Sydney  Smith 
to  Captain  Moubray,  whicli  I  tuUy  appr<jved,  to  remain  at  anchor  near  the 
I'esquics,  and  to  employ  Lieutenants  Carrol  and  Arubin,  of  the  Pompee, 
and  Lieutenant  Laurie,  of  the  marines,  to  complete  the  demolition  of  the 
redoubt  and  guns,  which  when  performed,  the  Acti\e  was  to  contiime  in 
the  passage  of  the  Dardanelles  till  further  orders. 

At  a  quarter  past  five  P.  M.  the  scjuadron  wa^  enabled  to  make  sail ;  and 
on  the  evening  of  the  next  day,  the  'JOth,  came  to  an  anchor,  at  ten  o'clock, 
near  tlie  Prince's  I?lauds,  about  eight  miles  from  Constautinii(!le,  when  I 
dispatched  Captain  Cupel,  in  the  Kndymion,  to  ancljor  near  the  to^vn,  if 
the  wind,  which  vvas  li^lit,  would  permit  the  ship  to  •5ten»  t!ie  current,  to 
convey  the  Ambasssidor's  dispatclics  to  the  Sublime  I'orte  in  the  morning 
by  a  flag  of  truce  ;  but  he  foi.iuj  it  impracticable  to  get  witi.iii  four  jniles, 
and  consequently  anchored  at  half  past  eleven  P.  M. 

I  have  now  the  highest  satisfaction  to  add,  that  the  conduct  of  the  ofljcers 
and  ships'  companies  of  the  squadron  under  my  command  has  fully  sup- 
ported the  character  of  the  British  Navy,  and  is  deserving  of  my  warmest 
eulogiuin. 


430  NAVAL    HISTORY    OT    THE    PRESENT    YEATl,    1807, 

Having  endeavoured  to  pay  just  tribute  to  those  whose  duty  necessarily 
called  them  into  tliis  service,  I  should  feel  myself  very  deficient  if  I  omit- 
ted to  mention  that  liis  Majesty's  Minister,  Mr.  Arbuthuot,  and  Lord 
Burghersh,  fwho  had  requested  to  take  a  cruise  with  me,)  were  among  the 
most  animated  in  the  combat.  To  Captain  Blackwood,  who  after  the  un- 
fortunate loss  of  the  A jax,  \oIunteered  to  ser\e  in  the  Royal  George,  great 
praise  is  due  for  his  able  assistance  in  regulating  the  fire  of  the  middle  and 
lower  decks;  and  when  the  Royal  George  anchored,  he  most  readily  offered 
his  services  to  coaivey  a  message  to  the  Endymion,  of  great  moment,  lier 
Pilot  having  refused  to  take  charge  of  the  sljip.  From  thence  he  gave  his 
assistance  toarrange  tlie  iandmg  of  the  troops  from  tlie  sixty,  and  setting 
her  on  fire  ;  indeed  where  active  service  was  to  perform,  there  was  his 
anxious  desire  to  be  placed,  fiis  othcers  too  requested  to  serve  in  the 
squadron  ;  and  their  services,  in  passing  through  the  Dardanelles,  met  with 
approbation.     • 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

J.  T.  DUCKWORTH. 

A  List  of  Turkhh  Ships  and  Vesseh  taken   and  deatmijed  hy  the  Squadron, 
■under  the  Cammund  of  Viie-Admiral  Sir  J^dm  T/iomus  Duckworth,  K.  B., 
at  anchor  off'  Point  Fesfpiies,  the  19th  February  1307,   within  the  Forts 
of' the  Daidanelles. 

Biiryit. 
I  Line   of  battle   ship,  64  guns;    4  frigates;    3  corvettes;     1  brig;    2 
gun-boats. 

Taken  possession   of'. 
1  Corvette ;  1  gun-boat. 

J.  T.  DUCKWORTH. 

Royal  George,  at  anchor  off"  Princess  Islands, 
MY  LORi>,  February  '28,    180?. 

I  have  to  inform  your  Lordship,  that  it  was  perceived  at  nine  o'clock 
yesterday  morning,  that  the  Turks  had  landed  on  the  island  of  Prota,  near 
vhich  the  squadron  was  anchored,  and  were  erecting  a  battery  in  a  posi- 
tion to  annoy  us:  I  immediately  ordered  the  marines  of  the  squadron  to  be 
prepared  for  landing,  and  tlie  boats  to  be  manned  and  armed;  and  the  Re- 
pulse, with  the  Lucifer,  having  been  directed  to  cover  them,  they  proceeded 
towards  the  island.  'J'lie  Turks,  on  the  ships  firing  a  few  grape  to  scour 
the  beach,  quitted  the  island  in  their  boats,  when  all  but  one  boat  with 
eleven  men  escaped  ;  the  which,  with  two  guns  they  had  intended  to  mount,, 
fell  into  our  possession. 

At  half  after  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  Sir  Thomas  Louis  sent  to  In- 
form me,  that  he  had  received  intelligence  of  a  small  number  of  Turks  be- 
ing still  on  the  island,  and  requesting  permission  to  send  marines  to  take 
them;  my  reply  was,  that  no  risk  whatever  must  be  run,  but  if  it  could  be^ 
effected  without  hazardini;  the  people,  it  might;  and  a  party  of  the  Cano- 
pus's  marines  was  immediately  sent  on  shore  in  consequence,  with  the  most 
positive  orders  to  Captain  Kent,  from  Sir  Thomas  Louis,  not  to  pursue  the 
object  if  he  found  it  attended  with  any  hazard.  At  four  o'clock  the  party 
Oi)  jhore  made  the  signal  for  assistance,  and  the  marines  and  boats  manned 
and  armed  were  directly  ordered  away  from  the  Royal  George,  Windsor 
Castle,  and  Standard,  with  particular  directions  to  bnuij  off"  the  Canopus's 
people,  but  to  avoid  being  drawn  into  danger.  A  little  before  sun-set  an 
otiicer  was  dispatched  with  orders  for  the  whole  to  return  on  board. 

On  the  return  of  the  boats,  which  was  not  till  after  dark,  I  heard  with, 
the  deepest  regret  of  tii^  loss  we  had.  sustained  ;  a  list  of  which  I  herewith 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PREST.XT    Yr.AR,    1807.  431 

transmit,  and  do  most  particularly  lament  Lieutenant  Belli,  a  yonng  officer 
of  the  fairest  promise,  who  had  never  served  but  with  myself.  To  account 
in  some  degree  for  this  unlucky  affair,  it  appears  that  the  information  of 
a  few  Turks  only  havin-:  remained  on  the  inland  was  entirely  false,  as  nearly 
an  hundred  of  them  had  retired  to  an  old  convent,  from  loop-holes  in  the 
walls  of  which,  they  defended  themselves  with  musketry.  The  people  of 
the  Canopus  had  in  the  rst  instance  advan-td  close  under  the  walls,  and 
in  endeavouring  to  relieve  them  from  their  unpleasant  situation,  the  others 
suffered. 

lu  order,  if  possible,  to  prevent  the  retreat  of  tlie  Turks  from  this 
island,  the  launches  of  tlie  squadron,  armed  with  their  carronades,  were 
ordered  to  row  ^nard  durins:  tfie  nijilil,  umler  the  direction  of  Captain  El- 
liot, of  the  Lucifer ;  but  notwithstanding  every  possible  viirilancc,  they  are 
supposed  to  have  escaped  in  the  night,  as  the  next  morning  it  was  repre- 
sented to  ine  that  only  se\tn  Greek  inhabitants  of  the  place  were  remain- 
ing. I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

J.  T.  DUCKWORTH. 

7o  Vice-Admiral  Lord  Colllngwood,  SfC. 

Abstract  of  the  killed  and  aoundcd  on  board  His  Majeifj/s  Ships  under  the 
Orders  of  Vict-Admiral  Sir  John  Thomas  Duckworth,  K.  B.,  in  forcing 
the  Passage  of  the  Durdurielles,  on  the  i9!h  of  Fcbruarij  ;  tit  the  Attack 
of  the  Fro' a,  the'}.!  tk;  and  oh  returning  ihrough  the  Dardaiiel/es,  on 
the  3d  of  March,  1307. 

191  h  of  Febriiarj/. 

Hoyal  George — 2  seamen,  killed  ;  2  petty  officers,  22  seamen,  wounded 
— 1  private  of  marines,  killed  ;  5  privates  of  mannes,  wounded. 

Canopus — 3  seamen,  killed;  1  petty  oiiicer,  8  seamen,  wounded — 3  pri- 
vai(S  of  marines,  wounded. 

jfo//ipee — !)  seaujen,  wounded. 

Windsor  Caste — 7  seamen,  wounded. 

Kepul.se — 1  petty  officer,  -2  seamen,  wounded. 

Thunderer — 3  seamen,  killed;  1  ofiicer,  9  seamen,  wounded— 1  private 
of  mannes,  killed  ;  4  prnatcs  of  murines,  wounded. 

Standard — 1  officer,  5  seamen,  wounded. 

ICndi/wion — 1  private  of  marines,  wounded. 

Active — None  killed  or  wounded. 

Meteor — !Noue  killed  or  wounded. 

27  th  of  February/. 

Koyal  George — i  officer,  2  seamen,  killed  ;  1  officer,  2  petty  officers,  1 
seaman,  wounded  —  1  private  of  marines,  wounded. 

Canopus — 1  seaman,  killed  ;  1  pilot,  1  petty  otficer^  4  seamen,  wounded 
—1  officer,  1  private  of  marinti;,  killed;  1  non-commissioned  officer,  4  pri- 
vates of  marines,  wounded. 

Foil. pee — None  killed  or  wounded. 

Windsor  Castle — 1  seaman,  killed. 

Repulse — 1  private  of  marines,  woimdcd, 

Thunderer — None  killed  or  wounded. 

Standard — 1  officer,  1  non-com mi-sioned  officer  of  marines,  wounded. 

End'./ntioa — None  kiiltiJ  jr  wounded. 

Active— ^pne  killed  or  wounded. 

Meteor — No;.e  killed  or  wounded. 

'6d  of  March. 
Roi/al  George — 2  seamen,  killed;   i  otiicers.  1  petty  officer,    22  seamenr. 
wouxided— I  private  of  marines,  killed ;   2  privates  of  marines,  wounded. 


432  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE   PKESEyT    YEAR,    1807. 

Canopus — 3  seamen,  wounoed. 

PompiC — None  killed  or  wounded.  j» 

Wutdsor  Casttle — 3  stamen,  kilUd  ;  1  petty  officer,  12  seamen,  wounded. 

Repulse-  7  seamen,  killed;  3  teamen,  wounded — 3  privates  of  marines, 
killed  ;   1  officer,  6  privates  of  marines,  woiinde  J. 

Thunderer — 'i  seamen,  killed  ;  1  otiicer,  1  petty  officer,  10  seamen, 
vrounded — '2  privates  of  marines,  wounded. 

S'andard — 4  seamen,  killed ;  1  officer,  3  petty  ofiicers,  37  seamen, 
svounded;  4  seamen,  misbinn — G  piivates  of  marines,  wounded. 

Endi/tnion — 3  seamen,  killed  ;  I  officer,  8  seamen,  wounded. 

Active — 1  officer,  4  seamen,  wounded — 3  [irivates  of  marines,  wounded. 

Meteor — 7  seamen,  woiuuled — 1  officer  of  marines,  wounded. 

Total — 1  officer,  33  seamen,  killed;  10  officers,  13  petty  officers,  169 
seamen,  wounded ;  4  seamen  missing  from  the  Standard  -  I  officer,  7  pri- 
vates of  marines,  killed  ;  3  officers,  2  nou-commissioned  oJlicers,  38  pri- 
vates of  mariues,  wounded. 

Heturn  of  killed  and  ununded  on  board  Hln  Miijes'ya  Ships  under  the  Orders 
of  Vice- Admiral  Sir  John  Thontus  Duckworth,  K.  B.,  in  forcing  the  Pas- 
sage of  the  DurdanclU'S,  on  the  19(7;  of  Februnri/ ;  n'  th':  Attack  of  Prnta^ 
the  27th  ;  and  on  returning  through  the  Dardanelles,  on  the  3d  of' 
March,  1807. 

Roj/al  George — Lieutenant  George  Lawrence  Belli,  6  seamen,  and  2 
marines,  killed;  Mr.  .Folin  Forbes,  first  Lieutenant,  sli^hdy  wounded. 
Lieutenant  N.  .f.  \\'illouti,hby,  badly  wounded ;  Mr.  Geor^ie  Ilolbrook, 
sliiihtlv  wounded;  Mr.  Furncaux,  Midshipman,  badly  wnuiuied  ;  iMr.  Dal- 
rymple,  Midsliipman,  ditto;  Mr.  Joiin  Alexander,  3Iidshipman,  ditto;  Mr. 
Rouse,  iNIidsliipman,  ditt(j;  Mr.  Cotes.vorCh,  Mitishipman,  ditto; 
43  seamen  and  eight  marines,  wounded. 

Canopus—  Captain  Kent,  of  the  marines,  4  seamen,  and  1  marine,  killed  ; 
Mr.  John  Niciiols,  Master's  ixlate,  badly  wounded;  Mr.  George  Wray, 
Midshipman,  ditto;  Mr.  George  Moore,  Pilot,  ditto;  15  seamen  and  8 
marines,  wounded,  1  since  dead. 

Pompce — 3  seamen,  wounded. 

Windsor  Castle — i  teamen  killed  ;  Mr.  William  Jones,  Master's  Mate, 
slightly  wounded;   19  seamen  wounded. 

Repulse — 10  seamen,  killed;  M.  Jos.  Alagui,  Ma-rer*^^  Mate,  slightlj 
v.-ounded ;  Lieutenant  Marshall,  of  the  marines,  dangerously  wounded  ; 
4  sp?aiien  and  8  marines,  wounried. 

Thunderer — 5  seamen  and  1  marine,  killed  ;  Lieutenant  John  Waller, 
badly  wounded  ;  Lieutenant  Colby,  slightly  w(;imded  ;  Mr.  Moore,  Mid- 
shipman, dttio;  19  seamen  and  6  marines,  wounded 

SlaJidard — 4  seamen  killed,  and  4  seamen  nussing;  Lieutenant  D.  Har- 
rington, bad'y  wounded ;  Lieutenant  Fynmore,  of  the  maiines,  ditto;  Mr. 
Wm.  Shorbridge,  Boatswain,  slightly  wounded;  Mr.  John  Haines,  Master's 
Mate,  ditto;  Mr.  William  Smith,  Midshipman,  badly  wounded;  Mr. 
Charles  Jay,  Midshipnian,  slightly;  ^2  seamen,  and  7  marines,  wounded. 

Active — None  killed  ;  Mr.  Mark  Pahiier,  Boatswain,  badly  wounded  ; 
4  seamen  and  3  marines,  \\()undfcd. 

Endj^nnon — 3  seamen,  killed  ;  Lieutetiaut  John  Langdon,  badly  wound- 
ed ;  8  seamen  and  1  marine,  wounded. 

Meteor — None  killed  ;  Leutenant  G.  E.  Ballchild,  of  the  marine  Artil- 
lery, badly  wounded ;  Andrew  Foley,  Gunner,  ditto;  Thomas  Coombcs, 
(}unner,  ditto;  Jo!m  Brown,  Artillery  Gunner,  slightly  v\ounded;  4  sea- 
Ben,  wounded 

To  ci — 42  killed,  235  wounded,  and  4  misiing. 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRKSEXT    YEAR,     1807.  433 

MAY  9. 

ILxtrcfl  cff  a  Letter  from  Virc-Achniriil  Lord  Collingzcood,  Cormonder  in 
Cintfof  His  M(ije!iti:^s  Shipxund  Vessels  la  the  Mediterranean,  to  Wil/uim 
Mar.iJcn,  E^q.;    dultd  on  board  Iht  Oican,  ojf  Cadiz,  the  27th  of  Aprils 
1307. 

The  Delijiht  sloop  joined  mc  lust  ni'jjht,  having  left  Alexandria  on  tlie 
28th  hist,  and  brought  an  account  of  the  surrender  of  that  city  and  its  for- 
trc&ses,  to  His  Mijesty's  forces,  l)y  capitulation,  on  tlie  20tli  ult.  A  copy 
of  Captain  Hallnwcil's  letter,  r<;latin<^  the  circumsrancos  of  this  capture,  I 
enclose  for  the  information  of  llie  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty, 
in  which  tiieir  Lordships  will  (Ind  an  example  of  great  zeal  and  ability  in 
conducting  this  enterprizc,  by  the  commanders  of  the  sea  and  land  forces, 
wliere  they  acted  witli  a  promptitude  and  judsinient  whicli  pi'e\cnted  resist- 
ance. Two  frigittes  anrl  a  corvette  were  found  in  the  western  harbour,  and 
surrendered  by  the  capitulation. 

His  M-ijesti/s  Ship  Tigre,  off  Alexandria, 
SIR,  March24,   1807. 

I  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  you,  that,  in  obedience  to  your  orders,  ad- 
dressed to  U  e  senior  officer  at . Sicily,  T  sailed  from  Messina,  on  the  Gih 
instant,  with  the  troops  imder  the  coinmand  of  Major-General  Fraser,  des- 
tined to  take  possession  of  Alexandria. 

On  the  15th  we  reached  the  Arabs'  tower  with  fourteen  snil  of  the  con- 
voy, nineteen  having  parted  on  the  night  of  the  7th  in  a  heavy  squall  and 
thick  weatlier.  With  so  small  a  proportion  of  the  army  the  (general  did  not 
think  it  prudent  to  show  the  transports,  until  he  had  received  some  infor- 
mation of  the  enemy's  force.  I  therefore  stood  in  wiili  the  Tigre  on  the 
16th.  having  ilajor-General  Fraser  o;i  board,  (leaving  the  convoy  in  the 
offing,)  hoping  to  ascertain  from  filajor  Mi?sct,  the  British  Resident,  and 
Mr.  Briggs,  the  ^'ice-Consul,  (wli-im  we  expected  to  find  in  tlie  Wizard 
brig,  which  had  been  previtjusly  dotac  lied  to  receive  them  on  board,)  the 
strength  and  disposition  of  the  garrison  and  inhabitants  of  the  place.  On 
the  evening  of  the  same  day,  liaving  received  most  satisfactory  accounts 
train  Major  Missefc  and  Mr.  Briags,  of  the  friendly  disposition  of  tlie  inha- 
bitants towards  us,  and  tlie  little  ()rospeci  there  was  of  meeting  any  oppo- 
sition on  our  landing,  the  transports  were  call«;d  in,  and  we  ail  anchored 
off  the  %vestern  harbour.  A  surainons  was  immediately  sent,  demanding 
possession  of  the  tbrtresses,  and  promising  protection  to  the  persons  and 
private  property  of  every  individual;  but,  C(Mitrary  to  our  expectations, 
the  officers  who  had  been  seiU  with  the  summons  returned  the  moniiug 
after,  with  a  declaration  iVoin  tiie  Governor  that  lie  would  defend  the  place 
to  the  last  extremity. 

As  our  intentions  were  now  known  to  the  enemy,  every  delay  on  our 
part  would  have  afTuvded  them  an  opportunity  of  strengthfiiing  their  posi- 
tion. The  General  therefore  determined  on  landing  immediately  with  the 
force  he  had  %vith  him,  and  on  ilie  evening  of  the  17th,  berween  six  antl 
seven  Inmdred  troop-,  witii  five  field  jiieces,  and  tifty-six  stairien  under  Lieu- 
tenant Boxer,  were  put  on  shore  near  the  Ravine,  from  Lake  Mariotis  to 
the  sea,  without  o(>position;  but  from  the  ht.avy  surf  wliich  got  up  during 
the  night,  it-%vas  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  following  day,  before  the  re- 
mainder could  be  HOt  on  siioro.  As  soon  as  the  whole  were  C(/l!ccted  and 
formed,  they  moved  forward  and  attacked  the  enemv's  adva  ced  works, 
which  were  carried  with  little  los<.  And  as  we  had  been  informed  that  a 
number  of  Allianians  were  expected  from  Roictta  uiid  CaiiJ,  to  reiut'urce 

/2ati.  er^ron.  OloLXVII.         k  k  k 


"'AT'Ar    nSTOHY    OF    THE    PRKSENT    YE  Ml,     ISC7c 

th-  ,iurr'Son,  the  anny  to-olc  up  a  position  fo  the  eastward  of  Alexandria?,, 
occiipvinc;  the  cjt  on  t\\t-  cair.il,  by  which  all  communication  was  cut  otT 
betuepii  /McAanrlria  and  Rosetta. 

On  the  19'h  the  Apnllo  and  rrnTainrler  of  the  convoy  appeared  in  the 
ofiiiig,  and  ha\inir  joined,  she  proceeded  with  all  the  ti-ansports  to  Aboukir 
b;iy,  where  liiey  be!:;;an  on  the  20th  to  land  their  troops,  (the  castle  of  Abou- 
kir having  been  previously  occu|)ierl  by  us  previous  to  their  anchorinii.) 
The  appearance  of  such  a  reinforcement  induced  tiie  Govcruor  to  offer* 
terms  of  capitulation,  similar  to  tho:-e  wiiich  we  at  first  pi-o|)0'3cd ;  which 
^vere  accepted  on  the  20tii  in  the  afternoon,  and  possessioo  laiien  of  the 
lieiolils  af  CaiYknllie  and  Cretin,  at  two  o'clock  on  the  morning  uf  the 
twenty-first. 

As  the  (Jeneral  did  me  the  honour  to  express  a  wish  thnt  I  should  re- 
main on  shore  from  the  titne  of  our  first  diseinliarkation,  I  left  the  Tiijfre  iu 
charge  of  Mr.  Fowell,  first  Lieutenant ;  and  to  him,  and  Captain  Withers, 
(principal  Agent  for  the  transports,)  and  all  the  officers  and  men  of  the 
Tigre  and  transports,  I  feel  much  indebted  for  liveir  exertions,  which  was 
i\  most  arduous  service  frmn  the  great  distance  tliey  had  to  row,  and  the 
lieavy  s«rf  they  had  to  encounter  on  the  beach. 

As  the  (General  directed  all  the  movements  of  the  armv  in  person,  it  do^s 
not  become  me  to  enter  into  any  farther  details  ;  i. shall  only  oteerve,  that 
the  utmost  harmony  prevailed  duriui^  the  whole  of  our  operations. 

r  have  the  honour  to  enclose  you  a  copy  of  the  articles  of  capituiatioa*, 
which  has  put  us  in  possession  of  the  foitresses  and  harbour ;  and  beg  to 
oifer  my  congratulations  on  its  being  accomjslishcd  with  so  little  loss. 

In  t!>e  Old  or  \N'estern  Port  we  have  taken  two  Turkish  frigates  and  a 
corvette,  all  mounting  brass  guns ;  one  carrying  tvvent\'-eight  cighteeii- 
])ounders  on  fier  main-deck,  six  eighteen  pound  carronades,  and  four  long 
liine-pounders  on  her  quarter-deck,  and  two  nine-pounflers  ou  the  fore- 
castle;  the  uyibcr,  twenty-six  twelve-pouuders  on  tiic  main  deck,  and  eigiit 
six-poimders  on  the  quartcr-decfv  :  the  cui\  etlc,  fourteen  six-poinidcrs  and 
two  cighteen-poundcrs,  long  guns. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

h\LS.  !IALLO\Yr,L.L. 
Vlce-Admlral  Sir  J.  Duckworth,  K.  B. 

iJopy  of  a  Lcltcr  from  Vkc-Adiidrul  the  I^ifsjit  Hmiourdlle  Lord  CoVing- 
uood,  Coiinnavder  in  Chiif  of  His  Majesty's  S/ups  and  Vrxsds  in  ihe  Mvdi- 
Urranmn,  io  Wil/itnn  Mur<ide.n,  Esq. ;  dated  on  board  His  Majesty's  Ship 
Ocean,  off' Cadi:,  i\Iarch  31,  lo(J7. 

SIR, 

I  transmit  to  vou,  for  the  Information  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the 
Admiralty,  tlie  copy  of  a  letter  from  Captain  Kaitt,  of  His  Majesty's  sloop 
llie  Scout,  giving  an  account  of  his  haxing,  on  the  '27th  iust.,  driven  on  siioro 
on  the  coast  of  Spain,  wheie  she  was  riestroyed,  one  of  t!ie  largest  of  tiie 
enemy's  privateers  which  infest  the  Straits  ol"  Gibraltar. 

Captain  Raitc  has  since  been  informed  the  priiati?:r  was  named  the  Ad- 
miral of  Tarifta,  co.m.nanded  by  Sebastian  Boraha,  mounting  two  tweiity- 
four-poundcrs,  and  two  eigiuetn-pounders,  long  guns,  and  six  twebe- 
pouuder  carronudes,  with  ouc  hundred  men. 

I  have  tlic  honour  to  be,  &c. 

COL'.LX'GWOOD. 


*l'or  t!)''  iirnck"^  of  capitulation,  -c'/t/d  Major-Geucral  Fruser's  Ui.-.patek 
n\  the  .'..oiiijoa  Gaxetie. 


NAVAI,    HISTORY    OF    TJin    rUESENT    YKAR,     1807.  43:! 


His  jT/c/yVi/j/'s  Sloop  Scout,  at  Sea, 
MY  LORD,  March  30,  1807. 

I  beg  lenve  to  iuforin  your  !ordship,  that,  on  the  Q7fh  instant,  at  half  past 
|Icven  A.  ]\I.  [  ohservcei  a  Spani-^h  ftiliicca  privateer  to  wnulwMrt,!,  with 
top-sail  yards  anri  top-truUanl  yards  across.  At  half  past  twelve,  I  obs'jrved 
him  to  anchor  under  Cape  ['lata;  made  all  sail  to  windward  in  chase;  but 
owing  to  lii2;ht  variable  winds,  and  the  tide  «•  tting  to  the  westward,  was  not 
able  to  get  within  giui-shot  of  liim  before  five  P.  M.  At  th;it  time  ho  hacl 
his  vessel  moored  with  sprin<!;!-  on  his  cables,  anrl  a  stream  anchor  on  shore, 
that  kept  him  end  on;  he  luui  two  long  twenty-four-pounders  in  hi.s.  bow, 
^I'hich  went  over  and  over  us  as  we  were  workiuij;  in  shore.  .U.  half  past 
five  opened  oui'  fiie  on  him,  and  iii  ten  minutes  forced  him  to  cnt  his  caMe.^, 
and  run  on  shore.  I  think  that  some  of  our  shot  must  have  struck  him  be- 
tween wind  and  water,  as  she  was  not  two  minutes  on  sb.ore  before  she  was 
lull  of  water,  and  fell  on  her  broadside  ;  at  that  time  our  grape  s'lot  was 
going  over  him.  ^he  was  one  of  the  largest  privateers  on  the  station;  I 
am  informerl  mounted  ten  guns,  two  long  twciity-«f<iur-pounders,  and  two 
long  six-poundcrs,  and  six  twelve-pounder  carronad<  s ;,  said  to  have  Ije- 
twixt  nijicty  and  one  hundred  men  on  board,  of  whicli  he  must  have  lost  ;i 
great  number,  as  the  surf  was  high  on  the  beach,  which  prevented  me 
trom  sending  my  boats  in  to  cut  av,-ay  his  masts,  which  was  the  only  thuic; 
that  could  be  done,  as  the  s<;a  was  going  half  mast  up  on  board  of  him  ; 
they  brought  n  heavy  gun  down  on  shore  to  bear  on  us,  hut  I  am  happy 
to  inforui  your  lordship  did  us  ne  damage:  I  have  no  person  hurt  on  hoard. 
On  the  '-.'8ch,  I  stood  into  tlie  bay  to  see  what  was  become  of  liini ;  found 
him  a  complete  wreck,  with  his  mizen-mast  over  the  side. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c, 

W.  RAITT.  ' 
To  tlte  m^ht  Hon.  l^ord  Collini^roood,  Co/nmandtr 
in  Chlif,   6iC..  6, c.  L^-c. 

Cop>/-of  ano/.hcr  Letter  fron   Vicc-A'hiilral  Lord  Colungrcond,   to  Wil/ia/n 
Marsden,  Esq.  ;    dated  on  hoard  the  Ocean,  off  Cadiz,  April  8,  18u7. 

SIR, 

I  enclose  to  you  a  letter  from  Captain  Scccombe,  of  Ills  jMajestv's  ship 
the.  Glattoi),  informing  me,  that  the  boats  of  that  ship,  u{)der  the  orders  of 
Lieutenant  Watson,  had  attacked  and  captured  aTui'kish  ship  of  ten  guns, 
Iving  in  the  port  of  .Sjgri.  1  am  sorry  to  add  Lieutenant  Watson  and  four 
marines  were  killed  in  this  attack,  and  nine  men  wounded;  a  list  of  them 
1  enclose;  and  am,  bir,  lvc.  ike.  ike. 

COLLIXG^^■OOD. 

His  Majcslv^a  S/iii)   GLi/fon,  off  'Tcnedoa, 
SIR,  "      " 5t/i  March,  1807, 

I  liavc  the  honour  to  acquaint  you,  that,  from  information  I  had  obtnined 
of  one  of  the  annual  Turkish  ships  from  Alexandria,  bound  to  (!oi)St;inti- 
nople, being  at  ;in  anchor  in  the  port  of  Sigri,I  felt  it  my  duty  to  detach,  on 
the  1st  instant,  the  boats  of  His  .Majesty's  ship  Glatton,  under  the  ordea";  of 
Lieutenant  EdwartI  Watson,  for  the  purpose  of  surprising  and  capturing 
her,  covered  by  iiis  r\laje>ty's  bri^  rUnonJclle,  in  which  I  have  the  satis- 
faction to  inform  you  they  completely  succeeded,  and  have,  this  evening, 
brouirht  her  to  au  anchorage  oil  Tencdos. 


436  NAVAL   HISTOllY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1807. 

On  this  occasion  I  am  sorry  to  aid  the  service  has  to  lament  the  loss  of 
Lieutenant  Watson,  who  coniinanfied  the  boaniing  party,  together  with 
that  of  one  Serjeant,  one  corporal,  and  two  private  marines,  killed ;  and 
four  seamen  and  tive  marines,  wounded. 

For  your  fuller  niformalion  1  iiave  to  state,  she  proves  to  be  a  vessel 
that  had  formerly  been  a  French  corvette,  of  eighteen  guns,  ten  of  which 
were  mounted. 

The  conduct  of  Lieutenant  Skinner,  of  His  Ma,jesty's  brig  rilirondelle, 
as  also  tiiat  of  Lieutenant  frusson  and  Sandwith,  of  the  royal  marines,  and 
of  the  seamen  and  marines  composing  this  detachment,  has  been  such  as  to 
merit  the  higliest  comnjendation. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

THOMAS  SECCOMBE, 
Vke-Admiral  Sir  J.  T.  Buckixorlh,  K.  B. 
^■c.  ^-c.  S)-c. 

Heturn  of  Of^:crs,  Seumen,  and  JUarines,  killed  and  wounded  in  the  Ser- 
vice of  cutting  out  a  T-rkijh  Ship  in  the  Port  ofSigri. 

Edward  Watson,  Lieutenant,  killed  ;  William  Wright,  serjcant  of  marines, 
ditto;  Joiin  Meredith,  corporal  of  marines,  ditto;  C!:arles  White,  private 
of  marines,  ditto;  John  Norwood,  private  of  marines,  ditto;  Isaac  Hamil- 
ton, seaman,  w(/unded  ;  William  Williams  ('21,  seaman,  ditto;  W'iiliani 
Leigh,  seaman,  ditto;  William  Jackson,  seaman,  ditto;  Robert  Scale,  pri- 
vate of  marines,  ditto;  Isaac  liolbrook,  private  of  marines,  ditto;  James 
Olflige,  private  of  marines,  ditto;  John  Brown,  private  of  marines,  ditto; 
Thos.  Battle,  private  of  marines,  ditto. — Total,."}  killed  and  9  wounded — 14. 

THO.viAS  SECCOMBE,  Captain. 

His  Majesty s  Ship  Glatlon,  March  B,  1807. 

Copy  of  a  Lc'fer  from  Canfain  M' Kinky,  of  His  Mnjestfs  Ship  the  Lively^ 
to    William  Marsden,  Esq. ;  da.ed  in  the  Tagus,  the  24ih  April,  1307. 

SIR, 

Be  pleased  to  inform  my  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  that, 
having  received  information  of  a  small  Spanish  privateer  phmderinga  Dane 
off  the  Burlings,  I  directed  Lieutenant  ilemings,  of  tlie  Richmond  gun- 
brig,  to  proceed  olf  there,  and  endeavour  to  take  and  destroy  iier.  And  I 
have  much  pleasure  in  enclosing  a  copy  of  Lieutenant  llemings's  letter  to 
me  of  tiie  20Lh  instant,  informing  me  of  his  haviucr  done  so  ;  and  much  cre- 
dit is  due  to  his  Sub^-Lieutenant,  Mr.  Bush,  for  his  gallant  conduct  in  ef- 
fecting it,  against  a  superiority  of  force  opposed  to,  and  ready  to  receive^ 
him. 

I  have  sent  eleven  of  the  prisoners  on  hoard  the  Fortune?,  to  be  sent  to 
England  by  the  tirst  conveyance;  the  other,  being  badly  wounded,  remains 
on  board  this  siiip. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &r. 

GEORGE  M'KINLEY. 

His  Majes!l:ys  Brig  Richmond, 
sJI't  Apiil  20,  18U7. 

Agreeable  to  your  order  of  the  12th,  I  lost  no  time  in  proceeding  off  the 
Burlings;  but  the  wind  blowing  hard,  with  a  heavy  sea  from  the  north- 
ward, i  did  not  reach  them  before  the  16th.  I  continued  to  beat  to  the 
northward,  towards  Cape  Mandigo,  till  the  19th,  when,  seeing  a  hisiger  with 
Spanish  colours  flying,  at  anchor  in  a  little  bay,  (not  laid  down  m  any  of 


NAVAI,   HISTORY    OP  THE   PRESENT    YEAR,    1807.  437 

my  charts,)  about  six  leas,ues  to  the  northward  of  Peruclie,  I  immediately 
be2;an  prepanitious  tor  destroying  her;  and  having  ordered  the  gig  and 
jolly  boat  to  be  got  ready,  as  sooa  as  it  was  dark  I  sent  tlieni  away,  and 
about  ten  o'clock  the  boats  returned  with  the  lus:2;cr.  i\Ir.  Bush,  my  Sub- 
Xieutenant,  and  Ebenezer  Lyons,  my  Uoatssvain's-mate,  who  commanded 
the  boats,  informed  me  that  the  verjsel  was  perfectly  prepared,  and  that  she 
discharged  four  large  guns  at  them  as  soon  as  she  perceived  they  were  within 
her  reach  ;  by  which,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  three  of  our  men  were  wounded; 
one,  I  fear,  dangerously. 

I  must  beg  leave  to  recommend  the  forbearance  of  the  officers  and  men  on 
this  occasion ;  who,  notwitlistandinii  the  litavy  guns  that  were  opposed  to 
them,  carried  her  sword  in  hand.  She  liad  thirty-six  men  on  board,  all  of 
whom  jumped  overfjoard,  or  were  otherwise  dispcised  of,  except  twelve, 
■which  are  made  prisoners;  some  of  them  are  badly  wounded.  She  proves 
to  be  the  Galiiard  of  \'igo,  four  four-pounders,  and  thirty-six  men  ;  has 
been  cruising  on  this  station  two  months,  and  is  no  doubt  the  vessel  that 
has  conunittcd  so  many  depredations  on  the  trade  of  England,  as  well  as 
other  nations.     Her  Captain  is  a  prisoner,  and  among  tiie  wounded. 

According  to  your  orders  I  destroyed  her  as  soon  as  I  possibly  could 
after  possession. 

I  have  the  honour  to  he,  &c. 

S.  8.  lii-MINGS. 
George  M'Kinley,  Esq.,  Captain  of  His  Majesty  s 
Ship  Lively. 

List  of  Men  wounded  in  the  Boats  of  His  Majesti/s  Guti-Brig  Richmond. 
Ricliard  Hiscnck,  marine,  badly  wounded  in  the  thigh  ;  William  James, 
seaman,  wounded  in  the  shoulder  with  ball ;  Robert  Cooke,  seaman,  sligtitly 
wounded  in  the  thigh  with  ball;  Am.  Peter,  seaman,  slightly  wounded  ia 
the  foot  with  a  sword;  John  Sampson,  seaman,  slightly  wounded  in  the 
foot  with  a  sword. 

MAY    10. 
Cop//  of  a  Letter  from  Admiral  Lord  Gardner,  Commander  in  Chief  of  His 
Majesty's  Ships  and  Vessels  employed  in  the  Channel,  Soundings,S,c.,  to 
William  Marsden,  Esq.;  dated  the  loth  instant. 

SIR, 

Vice-Admiral  Sir  James  Saumarez  having  transmitted  to  me  the  enclosed 
letter  t'l  om  Captiin  Jliller,  of  t'ne  Pallas,  giving  an  account  of  the  capture, 
by  that  ship,  on  the  8th  of  this  mo:.th,  of  the  Alerte  Frencli  privateer,  I  de- 
sire you  win  be  pleased  to  lay  the  same  before  tha  Lox'ds  Commissioners  of 
the  Adiuiraky. 

I  Iiave  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

GARDNER. 

His  Majesty's  Ship  Pallas,  at  Sea^ 
SIR,  May  8,   1R07. 

His  Majesty's  ship  under  my  command,  on  the  morning  of  the  8th,  Cape 
Ortesal  bearing  N.  '^0  deij.  W.  distant  66  miles,  captured  I'Alerte  French 
privateer  of  fourteen  s^uns  and  eiglity-fivc  men;  sailed  from  Bourdeaux  the 
6th  of  March  :  had  ca()tured  the  brig  London,  of  London,  bound  to  Que- 
bec, on  the  29lh  of  March. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

GEORGE  MILLER. 
To  Sir  James  Saumarez,  Bart.^  Vice-Admiral 
of  the  Blue,  <^c. 


438  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THL    PRESENT    YEAR,    1807. 

("opy  of  a  Letter  from  Rear-.4dmiral  Sir  Aleravder  Coclircne,  K.B., 
Commander  in  Chief  of  His  Majesty  s  Ships  and  I'esneh  at  the  Leeivard 
Islands,  to  tViUinm  Alarsden,  Esq.;  dated  on  board  the  Northum- 
berland, off  Martinique,   VZth  April,  1807. 

SIR, 
I  enclose,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admi- 
ralty,  the  copy  of^  a  letter   from  Captain  Picjot  of  His   Majesty's   ship 
Circe,  acquaintins:  me  with  the  capture  of  a  fine  brig  privateer,  of  eighteen 
guiis  aud  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  men. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &t. 

ALEX.  COCHRANE. 

His  Majcsti/s  Ship  Circe,  Carlisle  Bui/, 
stR,  Burbadoes,  5th  April,  1807. 

T  have  the  pleasure  to  acquaint  yon  with  the  capture  of  the  French  pri- 
vateer brig  I'Austerlitz,  of  eighteen  six-pounders,  and  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  men,  by  His  iMajesty's  ship  under  my  command,  after  a  chase 
of  eighteen  hours,  in  latitude  14  de^.  50  min.  north,  longitude  58  deg. 
west. 

This  vessel  has  done  more  mischief  to  the  trade  than  anv  other  frorn 
Guadaloupe  during:;  the  war,  and  iia.T  been  chased  by  several  of  our  frigates 
before,  but  from  her  superior  sailing  always  escaped  ;  and  had  she  not 
sprung  her  main-top-sail-yard,  and  fore-top-gailaut-mast,  during  our  chase, 
^e  should  have  had  no  chance  of  coming!;  up  with  her.  She  appears  to  be 
in  good  order,  and  v.-eil  adapted  for  His  Majesty's  service. 
I  have  the  lionour  to  be,  &c. 

HUGH  PIGOT. 
Kcar-Admiral  Sir  Alexander  Cochrane,  K.  B.,  ^-c. 


iPromottons  an!i  9:ppointmcnt0, 

Commissioner  Lohb  is  appointed  to  the  Dock-yard  at  Haliiax ;  and 
Captain  Siiield  is  appointed  Commissioner  at  Malta, 

Captam  Jolui  Bradley  is  appointed  to  the  Lord  Eidon  ;  and  Captain  G. 
B.  Whinyales  to  the  Bergere. 

The  Hon.  Captain  Paget  is  appointed  to  the  Cambrian  frigate,  at  Ports- 
mouth. 

Lord  Gardner  has  siven  up  the  command  of  the  Cork  station  to  Admi- 
ral ^^  Lushed,  and  will  hoist  his  flag  on  board  the  Hibernia,  as  Commander 
iu  Cliief  of  tne  Channel  fleet. 

Admiral  Bertie  will  shortly  hoist  his  flag  on  board  the  P'oudroyant,  at 
Plymouth. 

1  he  Honourable  Captain  A.  Gardner  is  appointed  Captain  of  the  Chan- 
nel fleet;  and  Captain  Bedford  is  appointed  to  command  the  Hibernia.— 
Captaui  J,  ilal5tead(of  Gosport),  is  appointed  Agent  for  Transports;  Lieu- 
tenant G.  F.  Somerville,  (son  of  Captain  Sqmerville,  of  the  Nejnesis,)  is 
appointed  to  tiie  Kussar. 

Captain  G.  Harris,  wlio  is  appointed  to  command  tlie- Prospero,  is  come 
home  pash.enger  in  ihe  Delight,  from  the  ^Mediterranean. 

Captain  Edgcombe  is  promoted  to  be  a  Post  Captain,  and  appointed  ts 
the  Blanche,  a  new  frigate,  ni  the  East  Indies. 

Captain  Norborn  Thompson  is  appointed  to  the  Foudroyant,  the  fla? 
ship  of  Admiral  Bertie);  and  LicuteiuuU  W.  Vs'ebb  (1st)  is  appointed  Agent 
of  Transports. 


NAVAL    HISTOKY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAU,     1807.  439 

Captain  T.  B.  J\IurUn  is  appointed  to  the  Prince  of  Wales ;  Captain 
Berebford,  to  tho  Hero  :  Captain  Robenha{jeu,  to  the  Volage  ;  Capluiu 
Slieplieard,  to  the  Ijaatcr. 

BIRTHS. 

On  Friday  the  24tli  April,  at  Sheerness,  Mrs.  Coddard,  w'tC-i  of  IMr. 
Thomas  Goddard,  Purser  of  His  Alajesry's  ship  Excellent,  of  a  tow  and 
daughter. 

On  Saturday  the  9th  of  Mav,  at  Hill  Lodge,  near  Southampton,  the  Lady 
of  Captain  Walker,  of  His  ^lajesty's  ship  Thalia,  of  a  daughter. 

Early  in  INIay,  at  her  brother's  house,  Vauxhall,  the  Lady  of  Wilson 
RatliboHQ,  Esq.,  Captain  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Santa  Zvlargarita,  of  a  son 
and  heir. 

MARRLYGE. 

At  Stoke  Damerel,  R.  Palk,  Esq.  of  Plymouth  Dock,  to  Mrs.  Hill,  of 
the  same  place,  relict  of  R.  Hill,  Esq.  late  Captain  in  the  Royal  Xavy. 

OBITUARY. 

On  the  5th  of  January  last,  Joseph  Worth,  a<ied  21  years,  son  of  Wil- 
liam Worth,  i'^sq.  of  Hameford,  in  iSlorfolk,  hrst  Lieutenant  of  His  Ma- 
jesty's sloop  Nautilus,  and  one  of  the  unhappy  nuinber  lost  in  the  wreck 
of  tiiat  ship  offtlie  inland  of  Cerigotto  in  the  Archipelaiio.  He  commenced 
his  Naval  life  at  an  early  age,  as  cadet,  under  the  Honourable  Captain 
Blackwood,  in  the  BnlUant  and  Penelope  frigates;  and  .-successively  served 
in  diiferent  ships  as  Mid-hipman.  Whilst  in  tiij  Beaulicu,  Captain  Poyntz, 
he  volunteered  in  the  command  of  one  of  the  boats  of  tl)at  ship,  under 
Lieutenant  (nowCaptaia)  Keith  Maxwell*,  at  die  cutting  out  and  bringing 
off  tiie  Chevrette,  in  Caaiaret  Bay,  near  Brest.  Tie  was  then  too  youn^;  to 
be  rewarded  (as  otiiers  were  for  this  service,)  by  promotion.  But  after 
having  sometime  duly  passeil  examination,  he  was  in  May,  1804,  received 
as  Mitishipinan  on  board  the  \'illc  de  Paris,  and  in  a  few  days  had  tfie  ho- 
nour to  be  prtsented  with  a  Lieutenant's  co>nmission  by  the  Honourable 
Admiral  Cornwallis,  Commander  in  Chief,  vvliich  w;is  directlv  followed  by 
the  ill  fated  appointineut  to  the  Nautilus.  He  was  a  young  otHcer  of  much 
promise,  and  his  untimely  end  is  greatly  lamented  by  his  fricuils. 

Captain  R.  Kent,  of  the  Royal  Marines,  belonging  to  His  Majesty's  sliir* 
the  Canopns,  (who,  at  the  head  of  a  small  detaclnnetit  of^that  cen'p;^,  fell,  on 
the  evening  of  the 'i7th  of  l-'cbruary  last,  in  an  uns-.'Ccessfid  attack  upon 
a  strong  hold  in  possession  of  the  Turks,  on  the  island  of  Prota,  near  Con- 
stantinople,) was  the  second  son  of  Sober  Kent,  Esq.  late  Mayor  of  Cork. 
He  entered  into  the  marine  corps  at  an  early  period  of  liis  lii'e,  in  whicii  he 
served  with  credit  for  '26  years.  Durinsi  the  late  war,  he  served  on  board 
la  Pomone,  under  Sir  J.  B^  Warren,  fiart.,  and  was  with  him  on  the  Qui- 
beron  expedition.  He  afterwards  was  ajlpointed  Adjutant  U)  this  divi^ion 
of  marines,  and  served  in  that  situation  until  the  conclusion  of  the  war. — 
In  the  present  coii  test  he  served  as  Captain  of  mariiK.'s  on  board  the  Ve- 
nerable, of  74  guns,  under  the  command  of  Captam  Joliu  Hunter  ;  and 
on  the  night  of  the  24tU  of  November,  1804,  was  shipwrecked  in  her  on 
the  rocks  in  Torbay.     During  that  tremendous   night  ho  never  quitted  his 


*  The  united  enterprize  was  commanded  by  Lieutenant  Losack,  of  the 
ViUe  de  Paris.r-r/t/t  Nav.  Caiic.N.  Vol.  VL 


440  NAYAL   HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT  YEAR,  1807. 

Commander,  but  stood  alongside  of  him  on  the  broadside  of  the  ship,  with 
the  sea  breaking  over  them  until  the  wfiole  of  the  crew  were  saved.  After 
quitting;  the  wreck,  that  part  of  it  on  which  they  stood  was  soon  separated 
from  the  remainder,  liuried  in  the  surf,  and  never  more  seen,  tie  was 
then  ordered  to  Ireland  upon  the  recrnitini;  service;  and  on  his  return  was 
embarked  on  board  the  Canopus.  In  landing  upon  the  island  of  Prota,  he 
advanced  with  his  party  towards  an  old  monastery,  seated  upon  an  emi- 
nence, in  which  it  was  supposed  there  were  only  a  few  Turks  ;  but  in  that 
he  was  deceived ;  for  upon  his  arriving  ut  the  foot  of  the  hill  on  which  it 
stood,  he  received  a  heavy  fire  from  all  parts  of  the  building — through  the 
windows,  loop-holes,  tkc.  Several  of  Lis  people  fell ;  but  he  rushed  up 
the  hill  at  the  head  of  his  brave  companions,  and  set  fire  to  the  gate  of 
the  monastery.  Finding  his  force  very  inferior  to  that  of  the  enemy,  he 
directed  a  siiiiial  to  be  made  for  assistance.  A  severe  conflict  ensued,  in 
which  he  continued  animating  iiis  men,  until  he  received  a  ball  througli 
his  head,  which  instantly  deprived  him  of  life. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  at  her  house  at  Gillincham,  Kent,  Mrs.  Roby, 
wife  of  Captain  Fasham  Roby,  of  His  Alajesty's  ship  Fawn. 

Oil  the  19th  of  Aprd,  after  a  severe  illness,  of  four  months'  duration^ 
Mrs.  Collet,  widow  of  the  late  Pitt  CoUett,  Esq.,  Commander  of  the  Hon. 
East  India  Company's  ship  llillsboroug-ii. 

Lately,  at  Jersey,  Captain  Le  Gros,  of  the  Ptoyal  Navy. 

The  body  of  a  man  has  been  picked  up  floating  in  Emsworth  harbour, 
supposed  to  have  been  a  fisherman,  and  dix»u  ned  about  two  months.  He 
was  dressed  in  a  blue  jacket,  Guernsey  frock,  blue  trowsers,  and  boots. 
The  body  was  not  owned  previous  to  its  mterment,  which  was  decently 
performed   in  Warblington  churchyard. 

Aprd  30.  Sincerely  regretted,  at  Kingston,  Sun  y,  Mrs.  Pierce,  relict 
of  the  late  Captain  Pierce,  of  the  Halsewell  East  Indiaman. 

The  same  day  died  at  Portsea,  Mrs.  Canes,  relict  of  the  late  CaptaiR 
E.  J.  Canes,  who  was  lost  in  His  ^lajesty  s  ship  Utile. 

At  her  house.  Upper  Charlotte-street,  aged  79,  Mrs.  Hill,  relict  of  the 
late  Admiral  Hill. 

May  2.     Near  Gosport,  Lieutenant  W,  Ilawford,  of  the  Navy. 

Lately,  Captain  Couch,  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Epervier,  on  the  Barba- 
does  station. 

May  16.  John  Charnock,  Esq.  F.  A.  S.,  formerly  of  the  Royal  Navy. 
This  worthy  gentleman  was  one  of  the  early  patrons  of  the  Naval  Cniio- 
KiCLE,  which  contains  a  variety  of  useful  and  interesting  articles,  trans-^ 
mitted  from  time  to  time  by  him.  Mr.  Charnock  was  Editor  of  the  Bio- 
graohia  Navaiia,  and  History  of  Marine  Architecture;  and  had  nearly 
completed,  at  the  time  of  his  dissolution,  a  new  edition  of  Faulkner's 
Marine  Dictionary,  for  Messrs.  Cadeil  and  Davies,  of  tlie  Strand.  ?Jr. 
Charnock  has  left  a  widow,  who,  we  understand,  it  w-as  not  in  his  power 
to  make  the  least  provision  for;  but  as  the  father  of  Mr.  C.  is  yet  livintr, 
and  possessed  of  considerable  property,  it  is  to  be  hoped  he  will  grant  to 
the  widow  of  his  only  son  and  relation,  such  an  annuity  as  will  enable 
her  to  pass  tlie  remainder  of  her  days  in  quietness. 

]\[ai/  12.  At  Portsea,  the  Lady  of  Major  Timins,  of  tlie  Royal  Marines. 
She  died  of  a  decline,  occasioned  by  a  cold,  which  settled  on  her  lung-^ 
leaving  six  female  children,  (the  youngest  of  whom  is  liot  three  xuoatLa 
old,)  and  many  sincere  friends  to  lament  her  loss. 


T  m  o  MA  s   M 


RFSSEILIL  E5^^ 


rvlWit^:W'h4lmlj6ct^}nJ.bvld.ie3.Sh(>eLan^JTxftS-tr-ea. 


BJOGIiAPHlCAL  MEMOIR  OF 

THOMAS  MACNAMARA  RUSSELL,  Es^. 

VICE-ADMIRAL    OF    THE    BLUE   SQUADRONc 


"  Thuough  the  vrii.t  wavfs,  as  t^ey  roar. 
With  watchful  eye,  and  dauntless  Mttw, 
Tkv  sriiADsr  t;ounsE  of  honour  keep." 

Gray. 

N  the  follo\X'l«g  memoir  of  Vice- Admiral  Russell,  we  shall 
submit  to  our  readers  such  truly  seamau-like  traits  of  cha- 
racter, as  caimot  fail  to  obtain  their  approbation. 

This  brave  oificer  is  descended,  on  both  sides,  from  respec- 
table and  once  opdeut  families.  His  father,  (an  Englishman,) 
went  over  to  Ireland,  where  he  married  a  lady  of  that  country, 
and  settled.  Mr.  Russell  was  born,  we  believe,  abou^  the  year 
1743.  His  Christian  name>  ^lacnaraara,  is  derived  from  his 
paternal  grandmother*.  At  the  early  age  of  five  years  he  had 
the  misfortune  of  losing  his  father ;  and,  through  either  the 
fraud,  or  mism-a;iagi'mcnt  of  his  guardians,  all  the  fortune  which 
liad  been  lett  him  was  dissipated  by  the  time  that  he  reached 
fourteen. 

Having  received  such  an  education  as  v/as  judged  requisite,  he 
entered  the  naval  service  at  an  early  period  of  life  Tht*<irst 
account  that  we  have  received  of  huii,  hov. ever,  is  whilst  he  was 
LieulLuant  (if  the  Albany,  in  America,  during  the  war  widi  that 
country.  In  this  shi^,  several  instances  of  his  intrepidity  and 
skill  occurred.  The  Pilot  once  ran  the  i;\lbany  upon  a  rock,  at 
some  distance  from  the  land,  to  the  v^estward  of  the  Bay  of 
Fundy.  On  tins  occasion.  Lieutenant  Russell  requested,  and 
obtained  from  his  Commander,  the  Albany's  buats,  armed  with, 
volunteers,  to  cruise  for  vessels  lo  lighten  and  gc^  her  off;  or. 


*  Sir  Jo  n  LVlacurtiVKiia  llaye';,  Bart.  iM.l).  is  related  to  Vdmiral  Russell. 
This  weiideman,  wiio  was  Physician  to  His  Majesty's  forces  in  North 
America,  Juiiut;  ihe  wliuic  of  the  American  war,  now  enjoys  an  exteasiv» 
practice  in  Londoii. 


442  niOGRAPIIICAL   MEMOIR    OF 

should  that  be  impracticable,  to  save  '  <  r  store?,  and  to  cover 
their  own  retreat  to  Halifax.  In  the  course  of  seven  or  eight 
hours  he  returned,  with  no  fewer  than  four  tine  sloops  and 
schooners,  some  laden  and  some  in  ballast,  whir  h  he  had  cut 
out  from  under  a  very  heavy  five  from  the  shore. — The  estima- 
tion in  which  Lieutenant  Russell  was  at  this  ti->ip  holdeu,  will 
be  evident  from  the  fo'lowin;^  anecdote,  recording  a  noble 
example  of  British  gaHantry  and  friendship  : — 

Whenever  Mr.  George  Harris,  the  Purser  ,of  the  Albany, 
X\'ho  was  one  of  the  volunteers,  saw  fh(^  enemy  present,  in  act  to 
fire,  he  stepped  between  them  and  Russell,  Avho  twice  kindly 
reproved  him  ;  but,  the  third  time,  rather  indignantly  charged 
him,  "at  his  peril  never  to  do  so  again  !" — adding  : — "  Sir!  do 
you  mean  to  rob  me  of  my  honourT' — '^  A^o,  my  dear  Sir," 
said  Harris  ;  "  but  ijyou  are  taken  off,  zee  shall  never  get  out 
of  this  scrape ! " 

Soon  after  this,  a  boy  of  about  fifteen  (Mr.  James  Moore, 
now  Gunner  of  the  Ramilies,)  said  : — ''  Sir,  I  beg  y cur  pardon, 
hut  zee  cant  hit  them,  they  dodge  behind  the  rocks  so;  hadn't 
we  best  cut  the  cables,  make  sail,  and  get  out  of  the  hai^bour'^" 
With  this  Lieutenant  Russell  acquiesced,  and  ordered  his  people 
to  "  dodge  and  couch  too,"  whilst  under  the  enemy's  fire. 

From  the  Albany,  Mr.  Russell  was  removed  to  the  command, 
as  Lieutenant,  of  the  Diligent  brig,  of  8  three-poundcrs.  In 
this  ship,  whilst  cruising  off  the  Chesapeak,  he  engaged  and  took 
the  Lady  Washington,  letter  of  marque,  of  l6  six  pounders, 
richly  laden,  from  France.  The  Lady  Washington  was  well 
fought,  until  she  saw  the  Diligent  closing  to  board  her ;  when, 
on  hearing  her  CommanHer^L-ali  out — '^  Stand  by  to  board  her !" 
she  cried  for  quarter,  and  surrendered.  This  prize,  which  sold 
for  2ri,000/.,  \\as  manned  by  Americans  and  French. 

Some  time  after,  the  Diligent  chased  two  large  armed  brigs, 
of  18  guns  each,  having  a  numerous  convoy  under  their  protec- 
tion. They  wore,  stood  for,  and,  in  the  act  of  passing  her  on  the 
different  tacks,  under  Englisih  colours,  hailed,  to  ask  hoK'  Cap- 
tain Russell  did.  ''  This  is  the  Rose-in- June,  Captain  Dun- 
can;"   said  the  first,  and  instantly  pouied  in  her  broadside. 


THOMAS    MACNAMAUA    RUSSELL,    ESQ.  4  J3 

The  second  followed  her  example,  and  both  of  them  made  all 
the  sail  that  they  could  crowd.  The  Diligent,  unequal  as  was 
her  force,  gave  chase ;  but  a  dark  night  came  on  ;  and,  in  all 
probability,  prevented  a  severe  contlict.  Lieutenant  Ruscell, 
however,  succeeded  in  taking  one  of  the  convoy,  laden  with  flour 
and  tobacco,  which  he  sent  into  New  York ;  making  eight  rich 
j'rizes  in  about  five  weeks. 

Mr.  Russell  was  removed  from  the  Diligent,  to  be  first 
Lieutenant  of  the  Raleigh,  commanded  by  Captain  (now  Admiral) 
Gambler.  In  this  ship  he  was  engaged  in  repelling  the  French 
attempt  upon  Jersey  (under  the  command  of  Captain  Ford  and 
Sir  James  Wallace)  in  1779. 

After  this  service.  Lord  SiiuKlham,  who  was  then  Port 
Admiral  at  Plymouth,  honoured  Lieutenant  Russell  with  the 
command  of  Drake's  Island,  with  two  or  three  hundred  seamen 
and  murines.  Ills  Lordship  flatteringly  termed  this  the  Post  of 
Honour;  it  being,  as  he  observed,  the  advanced  Post  of  Great 
Jjritain,  whilst  the  combined  tleets  kept  the  Channel. 

Lieutenant  Russell  next  served  in  the  Raleigh,  at  the  siege  of 
Charlestown  ;  on  the  reduction  of  which,  (May  11,  1780,)  Vice- 
Admlral  Arbathnot,  the  Naval  Commander  in  Chief,  promoted 
-him  to  the  rank  of  Master  and  Commander,  in  the  Beaumont 
sloop. 

From  the  Beaiimont,  which,  with  another  sloop,  then  com- 
manded by  Captain  Russell's  friend,  the  present  Sir  Rupert 
George,  was  under  repair  at  New  York,  the  Commanders  of 
those  vessels  solicited  and  obtained  Admiral  Arbuthnot's  per- 
mission to  serve,  with  tiieir  ships'  companies,  in  his  fleet,  which 
\Aas  then  going  to  relieve  General  Arnold,  at  the  Chesapeak ; 
that  ofKcer  being  threatened  by  the  American  army  bv  land,  and 
by  a  French  fleet  by  sea.  There  was  nothmg  very  remarkable 
in  this  application  itself;  but  it  is  well  deserving  of  notice,  that, 
in  their  application  to  serve,  these  two  Commanders  stipulated, 
"  that  it  must  be  in  the  characters  of  Midshipmen ;  with  an 
absolute  renunciation  of  ani/  promotion  incidental  to  the 
expected  battle  ;  leaving,  as  a  just  claim,  all  such  advantages  to 
the  otKcers  properly  belonging  to  the  fleet," 


444  BlOGRAPHICAt,   MEMOIR   O? 

Sir  Henry  Clinton,  the  military  Commander,  having  requested 
that  they  would  sail  with  the  troops,  which  he  likewise  sent;; 
under  the  command  of  General  Philips,  to  re'ieve  Arnold^  their 
progress  to  the  Chesapeak  was  retarded  ;  a  circumstance  which j^ 
by  one  day,  lo^it  them  the  honour  of  serving  in  the  battle.  The 
engagement^  indeed,  did  not  prove  so  decisive  as  was  expected ;, 
yet  It  was  of  vast  importance,  as  it  enabled  Admiral  Arbuthnot 
to  relieve  Arnold,  to  take,  and  keep  possession  of  the 
Chesapeak,  and  to  put  the  French  fleet  hors  de  combat  for  the 
remainder  of  the  campaign.  The  loss  of  the  French  amounted 
to  about  4000  killed,  and  a  proportionate  number  of  ^vntinded. 

The  intended  reniforcement,  under  the  command  of  General 
^Philips  and  the  aupennlending  charge  of  our  two  Commanders, 
heard  of  this  battle,  wiiilst  off  the  Chesapeak,  but  not  of  its 
result.  "  V\  hat's  to  be  doue  :"  said  Uussell;  "  if  we  h^ve  been 
worsted,  and  the  French  aie  m  possession  of  the  Chesapeak, 
they  will  hoist  English  colours,  and  decoy  us  into  their  clutches. 
The  transports  must  lie-to  here,  out  of  sight  of  land; — we  will 
form  a  line  of  small  craft  from  them  to  the  Chesapeak  :  I  shaU 
lead  it,  in  a  small  fast  sailer,  and  board  the  fleet  there-  if  our 
own,  Fll  pass  you  a  signal  along  the  line  to  come  in  ;  if  that  of 
the  enemy,  I  shall  make  none  ;  on  which  you  are,  at  sun-set,  to 
retreat  to  New  York,  report  what  you  know,  and  conclude  that 
I  am  a  prisoner." — This  proposal  was  approved,  and  executed : 
all  was  found  safe,  and  Captain  Russell  received  the  most 
flattering  public  thanks  from  Sir  Henry  (J!)linton,  General 
Philips,  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  and  many  other  officers  of  dis- 
tinction. 

From  the  Beaumont  sloop.  Captain  Russell  was  made  Post 
in  the  Bedford,  of  74  guns,  then  bearing  the  broad  pendant  of 
Commodore  Affleck*.  He  soon  after  removed  into  the  Hussar^ 
of  20  guns;  in  which  ship  he  cruised  successfully  against  the 
enemy,  by  taking  and  destroying  a  large  frigate  near  Boston^ 

*  It  was  on  the  20th  of  May,  llQl,  that  the  Commodore  hoisted  his 
pendant  in  the  Bedford  ;  but  Captain  Ilusseli's  commission  was  dated  on 
^e  llih  uf  ihaL  mouth. 


THOMAS    MACN'AMARA    RUSSELL,    ESQ.  445 

laden  with  masts  and  naval  stores,  for  tlie  French  fleet;  a  large 
brig  privateer,  of  18  guns;  a  letter  of  marque,  of  nearly  tlie 
same  force ;  and  several  smaller  prizes,  beside  the  Sybille  fri- 
gate, the  caj)tnre  of  whith  demands  more  particular  notice. — 
Schomberg,  in  his  '*  Naval  Chkonology,"  tints  records  the 
circumstance : — 

In  fehniary,  17H3,  Captain  iVfacnamara  Russoll,  in  the  Hussar, 
of  '28  guns,  and  200  men,  being  on  a  cruise,  discovered  a  large 
ship  undiT  jury-masts  ;  and  judging,  from  h  r  iioisting  British 
colours,  that  it  was  one  of  His  Majesty's  cniistrs,  instantly  bore 
down  to  her  assistance.  Unt  to  his  astonishnunt,  when  he  had 
approached  wilhin  pistol-shot,  she  fired  a  broadside  into  the 
Hussar,  and  djd  not  change  her  colours  till  some  time  after  the 
engagemen  commenced;  which  \^as  majn'ained  with  great  bravery 
on  the  part  of  Captain  Hussell  ;  at  length  he  compt^Ued  his  anta- 
gonist to  strike  :  she  proved  to  be  la  S^  bille,  French  frigate,  of 
36  guns,  and  300  men,  many  of  whom  were  killed  and  wounded, 
'J'he  Hussar  had  two  men  killed  and  six  wounded.  The  Sybille 
had  lost  her  masts  in  a  severe  actioi  on  the  17th  of  l^st  month 
(January)  with  the  Ma^icienne  frigate. 

On  this  occasion,  Schomberg,  as  will  presently  be  seen,  i3 
incorrect  in  several  of  his  statements.  The  Hussar,  instead  of 
having  '28  guns,  and  200  men,  h.^d  pnly  GO  gnns,  and  ll6  men, 
13  of  whom  were  on  the  sick  list;  but  la  Sybille,  instead  of  36 
guns,  and  300  men,  had  38  guns,  and  3jO  men ;  circumstances 
Mhich  lendered  the  odds  far  greater  m  favour  of  the  French- 
man ;  and  which,  consequently,  contributed  to  place  the  bravery 
and  skill  of  Captam  Russell  in  a  more  conspicuous  point  of 
view.  The  loss  of  the  Hussar  was,  three  killed,  and /a'e  slightly 
wounded ;  that  of  la  S)biile,  torty-tvvo  killed,,  and  eleven 
wounded. 

From  the  circumstance  of  peace  taking  place  just  at  this 
period,  Captam  Russell's  official  letter  to  Admiral  Digby,  who 
then  commanded  on  the  i\merican  station,  ainiouncing  the  cap- 
ture of  la  Sybille,  was  never  published.  Perhaps,  also,  from 
motives  of  conciliation  on  the  part  of  Britam,  it  was  thought 
politic  not  to  give  it  to  the  world,  as  it  certainly  bore  extremely 
hard  upon  the  French  Commander,     At  the  pressing  solicitu- 


446  BIOGRAPHICAL    MEMOIK    OF 

tion,  however,  of  several  brother  officers^  to  one  h(  whom  we 
are  highly  indebted  on  the  present  occasion.  Admiral  Russell 
has  at  times  parted  witli  copies  of  this  letter ;  by  w  hich  means, 
one  of  them,  together  with  several  other  documents,  and  much 
interesting  information,  contained  in  this  memoir,  have  fallen  into 
our  possession.  As  an  original  paper,  whicti  has  never  yet  met 
the  public  eye,  we  have  therefore  the  pleasure  of  submitting  it 
lo  our  readers  ;  which  we  trust  may  be  done  \vithout  offending 
the  delicacy  of  its  author — an  officer  who  has  always  been  averse 
from  standing  forward  as  the  trumpeter  of  his  own  fame. 

SIR  ffussar,  off  Sandij  Hook.  6th  Fchrnai-j/,  1783. 

ON  the  223  of  last  month,  in  a  fresh  gale  and  hazy  weather, 
lat.  36°  20'  in  soinuliiigs,  I  chased  a  sail  standing  to  the  westward, 
with  the  starboard  tacks  on  board,  wind  N.N.AV. — On' my 
approach,  she  displayed  an  English  ensign  reversed  in  her  main 
shrouds,  and  English  colours  over  French  at  the  ensign  staif. 
Having  likewise  discovered  that  she  was  under  very  good  jury- 
masts,  had  some  shot-holes  in  her  quarter,  and  not  supposing  that 
French  tactics  contained  a  I'use  de  guerre  of  so  black  a  tint,  I 
took  her  to  be  what  her  colours  intimated — a  distressed  prize  to 
some  of  His  Majesty's  ships  : — every  hostile  idea  vanished  ;  my 
mind  was  employed  in  devising  means  to  succour  and  protect  Iicr ; 
I  declined  the  privilege  of  my  supposed  rank,  and  stood  under  his 
lee  to  hail.  At  that  moment  (by  a  pre-concerted  and  rapid 
movement)  he  put  up  his  helm,  aimed  at  laying  me  athwart  hawse, 
carrying  away  my  bowsprit,  raking,  and  then  boarding  me*. — 
I  telt  the  error  of  my  credulity  ;  —  ordered  our  helm  hard-a  wca-. 
ther — shivered,  and  shortened  the  after-sails  +.  The  iiussar 
obeyed  it — saved  me  from  the  murdering  reflection  of  a  surprise- 
baffled  in  part  the  enemy's  intention,   and    received  only  a  half- 

*  The  French  officers,  when  prisoners,  confessed  that  it  was  their  inten-> 
tion  to  put  the  crew  of  the  Hussar  to  the  sword,  /or  daring  to  chase  than  in 
so  conteinptihle  a  skip  !  So  much  for  the  boasted  honour  and  magnuniniitif 
of  Frenchmen.  This  is  one  of  the  innumerable  instances,  which  prove  the 
natural  predominance  of  the  tj/^er,  m  the  disposition  of  the  French,  under 
whatsoever  farm  of  Government  they  may  act. 

■}■  At  this  moment,  Captain  Russell  was  pouring  cold  shot,  by  hand, 
amongst  the  enemy ;  by  one  of  which  the  Frencii  Commander's  siiouldcr 
was  grazed.  Another  killed  one  of  the  boarders,  and  broke  a  leg  of  a 
second.  The  boarders  fled.  Sixty  of  them,  with  helmets,  iSrc.  were  dis- 
persed by  the  above-mentioned  coltl  shot,  and  the  marine  musketry. 


THOMAS   MACNAMARA    RUSSEr.r,    ESQ.  447 

raklnj;  fire  ;  whioli,  however,  lore  me  to  pieces  forward,  and  killed 
me  two  men.  By  this  time  both  ships  were  by  the  lee  forward^ 
aqd  almost  aboard  each  other.  I  called  loud,  to  stand  by  to  board 
him.  It  had  the  desired  cftect — he  put  iip  his  helm — wore  off — 
the  Iluisar  closed  him — and  a  fair  cntraf^ement  commenced  before 
the  wind.  He  yawt;d  frequcnti}  :  the  litissar  kept  as  close  and 
as  parallel  to  him  as  possible  :  in  about  forty  minutes  his  situation 
api)ear.'d  disagree,:blc  to  him  ;  his  fire  ^rpw.less  frequent,  and  soon 
after  contemptible.  At  the  hour's  end  his  fire  ceased  ;  and,  under 
cover  of  our  srnoke,  he  extended  his  distance,  put  liis  helrft 
a-starboard,  got  his  larboard  tacks  on  board,  and  lied  to  w  iiid- 
ward.  To  avoid  a  raking,  to  jam  him  up  against  the  wmd,  and 
bring  our  larboard  g'ins  to  play,  (two  of  the  other  side  having  been 
rendered  unserviceable,)  I  followed  his  .lOtions,  exchanged  a  few 
shot  with  him  on  that  side;  but,  to  my  great  mortification,  found 
my  foremast  and  bowsprit  tottering,  and  no  head  sail  to  govern  the 
ship  by,  as  you  will  see  by  my  enclosed  defects.  However,  we 
chased  and  refitted  as  well  as  we  could,  and  found  we  gained  on 
the  enemy,  it  having  fallen  less  wind. 

The  haze  dispersed,  and  a  large  ship,  which  we  first  took  for  an 
enemy,  but  afterwards  found  to  be  the  Centurion,  appeared  to 
windward,  and  astern  withal; — and,  to  leeward,  a  sloop,  which  by 
signal  I  knew  to  be  ours. — After  about  two  hours'  chase,  the 
Hussar  got  up  abreast  of  the  enemy,  gave  him  one  broadside,  which 
he  returned  with  two  guns,  and  struck  his  colours  :  the  Centu- 
rion then  about  long  random  slwt  astern,  and  the  Terrier  sloop 
about  four  or  five  miles  to  leeward,  under  a  pressure  of  ^ail,  which 
docs  honour  to  Captain  Morris. 

The  prize  is  la  Sybille,  a  French  frigale  of  38  guns,  (twelve  of 
which  he  hove  overboard  when  he  (irst  tied,)  and  3*50  men,  coui- 
manded  by  Monsieur  le  Comte  de  Krergarou  de  Soemaria. 

In  -ustice  even  to  the  Captain  of  the  Svbille,  it  must  be  owned 
that  all  his  evolutions  (as  far  as  my  little  ability  enables  me  to 
judge)  were  masterly;  and,  in  one  instance,  bordering  on  a  noble 
enthusiastic  rashness.  Nor  did  he  fly,  until  the  men  in  his  maga- 
zine were  breast  high  in  water,  a-.d  all  his  posvder  drowned,  by- 
some  low  shot  which  he  received  early  in  (he  actii)n. — It  is,  there- 
fore, Sir,  wi:h  great  pain  ar.d  rehiciaiice,  that  1  miorm  )0U  that 
this  ofiicer,  (commanding  a  ship  of  more  tiian  double  the  Hussar's 
force*,    in    perfect  order  of  bittle;   for,    undir  the  then  circi;:'- 

*  At  tlie  time  wntii  she  wus  taivcn,  la  .Sybille  was  considered  as  the 
finest  frigate  in  the  world.     In  addition  to  lier  very  select  crew,  she  hid 


4-i8  BIOGRAPHICAL   MEMOIR    OF 

stances  of  wind  and  sea,  he  derived  great  and  obviotiS  advantages 
from  being  under  jurj'-masts) — an  officer  of  family  and  long  rank, 
adorned  with  military  honours,  conferred  by  his  Sovereign,  for 
former  brilliant  services,  has  sullied  his  reputation,  and,  in  the  eye 
of  Europe,  disgraced  the  French  flag,  by  descending  to  fight  me 
for  above  ihirfif  7nhiufes^  under  the  English  Colours,  and 
StcNAL  OF  Distress,  above  described  :  for  which  act  of  base 
treachery,  and  flagrant  violation  of  the  law  of  nations*,  I  have 
confined  him  as  a  state  prisoner,  until,  through  your  mediation, 
justice  and  the  King's  service  are  satisfied. 

I  am  ashamed  of  the  excessive  length  of  this  letter,  but  thought 
the  subject  matter  of  the  last  paragraph  constituted  the  necessity 
of  a  minute  detail. — I  beg,  Sir,  your  indulgence  a  little  longer, 
while  I  recommend  to  your  notice  and  favour  the  guardians  of  my 
honour  : — J/j/  Lieutenant,  Griffin  ;  Mr.  Gunn,  Master  ;  J-ieut. 
Hemline,  of  marines ;  jMr.  M'Xeil,  the  Pilot;  my  young  gentle- 
men, Warrant  Ollicers,  and  Ship's  Company;  not  so  much  for 
having  fought  their  ship  in  such  a  manner  as  would  give  you  heart- 
felt joy  to  see — that  was  their  duty  and  their  disposition — but  for 
their  having  retained  so  perfect  a  possession  of  themselves  under 
the  trying  circumstances  of  the  first  treacherous  and  unexpected 
attack  ;  and  their  almost  incredible  exertions,  in  fishing  the  fore- 
mast  and  bowsprit,  gammoning  the  latter,  &c.  to  renew  the 
action  ;  and  their  declared  resolution,  before  any  friend  hove  in 
sightj  never  with  life  to  quit  so  unfair  an  enemy. 
I  am,  Sir,  with  great  respect, 

Your  most  obedient  humble  Servant, 

T.  M.  RUSSELL. 

Jleor-Admiial  Digirf,  &jc.  ^c.  &;c. 

As  it  was  intended  that  this  letter  should  appear  at  the  Court 
of  France,  as  a  charge  against  Count  Kieigarou,  it  became 
requisite  to  have  it  legally  authenticated ;  which  was  accordingly 
done,  by  the  following 

thirty-three  Americans  on  board,  as  passengers  and  supernumeraries.  La 
Sybille  was  in  the  Turkish  service  so  Lite  as  trie  year  1^95. 

•  See  Vattel  on  the  Luxo  of  Nations,  book  iii,  ciiap.  10,  page  69,  oa 
Stratagems. 


XHO^fAS    MACXAMARA    RUSSELL,    ESQ.  443 

AFFIDAVIT. 

Ciiy  of  )  Personally  came  and  appeared  before;  me, 
New  York  >  David  Mathews,  Esq.,  Mayor  of  the  said  City; 
Thomas  Macnamara  Russell,  Esq.,  Commander  of 
IJis  Majesty's  ship  the  Hussar;  John  Gritnn,  Esq., 
Lieutenant;  John  Gunn,  Master;  Daniel  M'iNeil, 
Pilot;  Thomas  Skitt,  and  William  Brown,  Master's 
Mates;  and,  being  duly  sworn  on  the  Evangelist-  of 
Almighty  God,  did  severally  depose  to  the  truth  of 
the  matters  set  forth  in  the  aforegoing  letter. 

rV.  M.  RUSSELL, 

bworn  tlus  l."t;li  nay  ot  t/xtivf  /^■TT\n\.T 
i  ebiuarv,  llHo,  be-  <  r^  .  ,,  i,t(v  i.ir 
toreme,D.-»iaCliews.     |   i-.j^i^i^^j^  SKI  IT, 

L  VV ILLI  AM  "  BIIOWN. 

We  sluill  now  proceed  to  relate  some  circumstances,  which, 
though  not  of  a  nature  to  be  inserted  in  an  official  letter^  are 
highly  interesting. 

When  the  Ciiptaln  of  la  Syhille  delivered  his  sword  to  Cap- 
tain Russell  on  llie  Hussar's  quarter  deck,  he  commenced  a 
speech,  with  uuich  pomposity  of  style  and  manner,  saying : — 
"  Accept,  Sir,  of  a  sword,  which  was  never  before  surrtndeied. 
Conceive  my  feeling,  on  being  reduced  to  it  by  a  ship  of  less 
than  half  my  force  : — but  such  a  ship !  such  a  constant  and  con- 
tinued tremendous  fire! — "  Captain  Russell  answered: — "  Sir, 
I  must  here  humbly  beg  leave  to  decline  any  compliments  to 
this  ship,  her  officers,  or  comj^any,  as  I  cannot  rctiun  them. 
She  is  indeed  no  more  than  a  British  ship  of  her  clas?  should 
be.  She  had  not  fair  play:  but  Almighty  God  has  saved  her 
from  the  most  foul  snare  of  the  most  perfidious  enen)y. — Had 
you.  Sir,  fought  me  fairly,  I  should,  if  I  know  ray  own  heart, 
receive  your  sword  with  a  tear  of  symi)alhy.  Fiom  vou.  Sir,  I 
receive  it  with  the  most  inexpressibltt  contempt.  And  now, 
Sir,  you  will  please  to  observe,  that,  lest  this  .sword  should  ever 
defile  the  hand  of  any  honest  Frenclf^or  English  officer,  I  here, 
in  the  most  formal  and  public  mnnner,  break  it." — Flere, 
-Sticking  its  point  in  the  deck.  Captain  HusscU  bent  it  double,, 

Jl^atj.  erjiron.  aor»XVII.  M  M  M 


450  BIOGRAPHTCAL    MEMOIR.    OF 

broke  it,  and  threw  it  from  him,  as  a  degraded  thing ;  then, 
tujning  to  his  officers,  said  : — "  This  is  not  meant  as  an  example 
ior you; — you  will  ever  be  British  officers;  heroes  in  every  vir- 
tue, as  well  as  in  the  valour  with  which  you  have  supported  me 
on  this  occasion.  Accept  my  grateful  thanks,  my /^ear(y  thanks, 
for  your  glorious  support  1 " 

At  this  moment,  a  strong  box,  containing  about  500/.,  was 
brought  on  board  the  Hussar;  and  another,  filled  with  plate, 
&c.  Tlie  French  officers,  in  a  body,  declared  that  the  money 
was  their  private  property,  and  that  the  plate  belonged  to  the 
Caj>tain. — "'  Gentlemen,"  said  Captain  Russell,  "  it  shall  con- 
tinue yours :  whatever  your  Captain  may  think,  British  officers 
do  not  fight  for  tnoney*." 

The  money,  plate,  &c.  was  accordingly  secured  for  the 
respective  claimants. — The  Captain  had  two  officeis'  cabins 
thrown  into  one,  for  his  accommodation  ;  he  had  his  own  ser- 
vants to  attend  him  ;  a  bill  of  fare  was  daily  sent  to  him;  an" 
account  of  the  contents  of  the  store-ioom  was  laid  before  him  ; 
Captain  Russell's  dinner  was  always  laid  first  upon  his  table ;  he 
called  freely  for  what  he  liked ;  and  had  liberty  to  walk  the 
quarter-deck  as  often  as  he  pleased ; — on  which  occasion,  from 
feelings  of  delicacy.  Captain  Russell  always  quitted  it  for  the 
time.  The  French  officers  were  also  treated  with  all  possible 
kindness  ;  yet,  in  proportion  to  the  solicitude  which  every  one 
showed  to  please  them,  and  to  alleviate  the  irksomeness  of  cap- 
tivity, they  appeared  sullen  and  dissatisfied.  Attempts  \\  ere  at 
length  made,  to  bribe  Captain  Russell  to  release  the  Count : 
the  English  Commander,  of  course,  revolted  at  the  insulting 
offer,  and  severely  reproved  the  bearer.  In  a  few  days  after,  le 
Chevalier  d'Ecures,  the  second  Captain  of  la  Sybille,  requested 
to  speak  in  private  with  Captain  Russell.  When  in  the  cabin, 
he  began  by  assuring  him,  that  the  Count  was  so  great  a  favour- 
ite at  the  French  Court,   that  whatever  ship  Captain  Russell 


*  Some  time  previously  to  t!ic  capture  of"  la  Syhilie,  this  unfortunate 
gascouacler  had  published  a  challenge,  in  an  American  newspaper,  to  all 
Captains  of  15i-itish  frigates,  to  I^rht  him  for  honour,  not  for  monei/,  which 
be  impudently  ai-scrtcd  was  their  only  stimulus  to  action. 


THOMAS    MACXAMAR.V    RUSSEIL,    ESQ.  451 

might  have,  the  Count  would  get  a  better,  and  cruise  for  him 
wherever  he  was  stationed ;  —then,  should  he  in  liis  tarn  take 
him,  what  would  the  consequence  be  ? — Captain  Russell 
answered— '^  Sir  .'  his  ship  was  three  times  stronger  liian  mine 
now,  with  350  Frenchmen,  and  3S  Americans  on  board  :  but. 
Monsieur  le  Chevalier,  this  war  is,  1  believe,  nearly  at  an  end  ; 
and  of  course  he  can  have  no  hope  to  retaliate/' — "  Sir!  "  replied 
the  Chevalier, ^e/ve/y;,  "  he'll  bring  you  to  a  personal  account  T' 
— "  On  that.  Sir,"  rejoined  Captain  Russell,  "  1  must  paiise. 
Am  I  presumptuously  to  set  up  as  the  champion  of  the  law  of 
nations  ?  1  shall^  however^  consider  of  it,  and  give  you  my 
answer.'' 

In  the  course  of  six  or  seven  days  after  this  conversation. 
Captain  Russell,  in  the  presence  of  the  French  Captain,  recapi- 
tulated to  the  Chevalier  what  had  passed ;  adding : — "  Sir,  I 
have  considered  your  challenge  maturely.  Homer  said,  '  How 
could'st  thou  injure  whom  thou  daredst  not  light  r' — I  now  tell 
you,  that  when  your  Captain  is  acquitted,  1  will  light  him,  by 
land  or  by  water,  on  foot  or  on  horseback,  in  any  part  of  this 
globe  that  he  pleases,  low  will,  I  suppose,  be  his  second; 
and  I  shall  be  attended  by  a  friend  worthy  of  your  sword." — 
From  this  period,  the  tone  of  the  Frenchmen  was  considerably 
lowered. 

The  congratulations  and  applause  which  Captain  Russell 
received,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  on  his  brave  and  skilful  con- 
duct, in  the  capture  of  the  Sybille,  must  have  been  highly 
grateful  to  his  feelings.  The  capture  was  indeed  of  great 
importance ;  as,  in  consequence  thereof,  the  greater  part  of  the 
Sybille's  convoy  fell  into  our  hands  ;  and  prizes,  to  the  amount  of 
more  than  half  a  million  sterling,  were  carried  into  New  York 
in  the  short  space  of  about  three  months.  Admiral  Di;^by 
expressed  his  concern,  that  he  was  forbidden  to  purcliase  any 
ship  or  vessel  into  the  service;  as,  otherwise,  he  would  have  been 
truly  happy  in  giving  Captain  Russell  the  command  of  his  well- 
earned  prize. 

The  oflicers  and  men  of  tiic  Hussar  merited  every  praise  for 
their  determined  and  unshaken  bravery,  in  contending  with  a 


432  BiOGRAPHiCAL    MEMOIR    OV 

force  po  far  superior  to  their  own.  Tliirteen  of  the  Hussar's 
crew,  as  we  have  already  stated,  were  upon  the  sick  list ;  not- 
withstanding which,  they  roused  up,  half-dead,  half-naked ; 
fought  and  worked  for  three  hours  ;  after  which  they  slept  long 
and  soundly ;  und,  what  was  not  a  little  extraordinary,  in  two 
days  they  were  perfectly  recovered*. 

A  circumstance  attending  the  arrival  of  la  Sybille  in  port,  is 
here  deserving  of  notide  :  — A  Seijeant,  who,  amongst  the 
thousands  that  stood  rejoicing  at  the  sight  of  seeing  the  /ittle 
Hussar  tow  in  the  Q^reat  frigate  through  the  drift-ice  then  in  the 
Hudson's  and  East  Rivers,  was  so  overcome  with  joy,  as  to  be 
serior.sly  ill  for  several  days  after  ! 

On  his  return  to.  EngU^nd,  Captain  Russell,  for  his  various 
services,  but  particularly  that  of  capturing  the  Sybille,  was 
offered  the  honour  of  knighthood  ;  an  honour  which  he  modestly 
declined,  as  not  possessing  a  sufincient  fortune.  Some  of  his 
friends  thought  that  this  refusal  might  disoblige  Lord  Keppel; 
but,  that  it  did  not,  was  evident  from  his  Lordship's  continued 
friendship  towards  him  whilst  he  lived. 

After  the  conclusion  of  peace.  Captain  Russell,  having  been 
informed  that  Count  Krergarou  had  been  tried,  and  sliamefuUy 
acquitted,  obtained  leave  from  the  Admiralty  to  go  to  France. 
Admiral  Arbnthiiot,  not  in  the  least  suspecting  his  business  there, 
cxcliilmed — ■"  I'll  go  to  Paris  too!"  and  accordingly  went  over 
vith  his  friend.  At  Dessin's  Hotel,  m  Calais,  Colonel  Cosmo 
Gordon  gJiCfiiicd  at,  and  informed  Admiral  Arbuthnot  of  Captain 
Russell's  intentions.  The  Admiral  rebuked  our  officer  severely; 
and  insisted,  for  many  strong  reasons — and  urged  a  point  of  de- 
licacy to  him,  as  a  British  Athmral — thiU,  ii  he  loved  or  respected 
him,  he  should  return  to  England.  Just  at  this  time.  Captain 
Russell  received  a  letter -frora  Count  Krergarou,  expressive  of 
his  gratitude  for  the  humane  treatment  which  his  officers  and 
men  had   experienced,   &c. ;    and   concluding  with   the  inform 


*  Lord  K'^jipel,  then  fii.-t  Lord  oi'  the  Admiralty,  would  have  made 
Lieutrnant  Grirtin,  whom  r^nt-nin  Riissoil  so  warmly  noticed  in  his  public 
dispatich,  a  Capta'n  ;  but,  u^ifortunattly,  the  young  man  did  not  long  siaviy^ 
Jiis  return  to  i.ngland. 


THOMAS    MACNAMARA    RUSSELL,    ESQ.  453 

mation,  that  he  was  gohig  mi  dela  des  Pyrrenes,  four  la 
gucnson  de  ses  hlessures ;  but  without  stating  to  zohat  part.  In 
the  course  of  sf;veritecu  hours,  Captain  Russell  received  two 
more  iu<:!i  letters;  which  had  evif^ently  been  left  ready  for  him^ 
should  he  arrive.  Admiral  Aibuthnot,  however,  contended  that 
these  letters  furnished  additional  r  as,on,  why  Captain  Russell 
should  return ;  to  which,  after  much  persuasion,  he  agreed. 

Thus  terniinaied  this  extraordinary  business ;  on  which  we 
have  dwelt  at  such  length,  as  the  breaking  of  Count  Krergarou*i( 
swerd  has  been  much  mi  !ej)resented.  We  have  heard  it  said, 
that  Ca})tai!i  Ru?seil  broke  ihe,  s.  rd  over  tha;  Count's  head ; 
wliic  h,  barbarous  as  it  woi!!d  have  "'leen,  is  not  only  in  general 
beUeved,  btii  is  by  many  admired,  as  an  act  of  justice.  The 
present,  Iiov\evcr,  is  ^ha  first  and  only  correct  statement  of  the 
affair  that  has  app'^ared.  Admiral  Russell  has  unquestionably 
too  much  of  the  genuine  hero  in  his  composition,  to  descend  to 
the  commissiou  of  an  act  that  would  be  worthy  only  of  an 
untutored  savage,  or  of  a  revolutionary  Frenchman.  He  was 
much  blamed,  by  some  of  his  brother  officers,  for  saying  a  word 
in  favour  oi  *.\:\s  C^'unt  in  his  official  letter  ;  but  he  could  not 
resist  the  earm.st  request  of  his  prisoner,  that  he  would  speak 
favourably  of  his  courage  ;  and,  indeed,  Captam  llusse]!  always 
imputed  to  the  second  Captain  of  la  Sybille  the  odium  of  light- 
ing under  false  colours,  &c. 

During  the  peace,  in  the  course  of  the  year  17f)l,  Captain 
Russell  was  appointed  to  command  the  Diana,  on  the  Jamaica 
station  ;  where,  for  his  conduct  during  the  apprehension  of  a 
rising  among  the  negroes,  he  was  twice  honoured  with  the  pub- 
lic thanks  of  the  inhabitants. 

We  shall  here  subjoin  the  following  documents,  relative 
theretOj,  without  any  connnent. 

Committee  ofSafif^,  Sf.  James,  Montego Bay^ 

SIR  Novcmicr  \,  ITOi. 

THE  Committee  of  Safety,  conceiving  that  it  niay  be  of  material 

benefit  to  the  public,  in  the  present  situation  of  affairs,  to  announce 

the  arrival  of  one  of  His  Majesty's  ships  in  Montego  Bay;  propose 

to  salute  the  frigate  under  your  commandj  soon  after  her  coming 


454  BiaGRAPIITCAL    MEMOIR    OF 

to  anchor,  with  21  guns ;  and  rpque^r  joii  -will  return  the  samf", 
with  as  many  as  the  rules  of  the  service,  in  sucii  cases,  will 
admit. 

The  salute  from  the  town  wi!l  be  by  small  field  pieces  ;  bnt  the 
guns  of  the  frigate  will  be  heard  uU  over  the  parish,  and  will  give 
great  satisfaction  to  the  white  inhal)itants ;  whilst,  at  the  same 
time,  it  may  deter  those  of  a  different  description,  from  attempts 
to  disturb  the  public  peace. 

The  Committee  being  in  hourly  expectation  of  500  stand  of 
arms  from  town,  request  to  know  if  they  be  on  board  your 
frigate. 

I  am,  Sir,  respectfully, 

On  behalf  of  the  Committee, 

J.  L.   VVINJ^, 
Chairman  Com.  Safety,  St.  James. 
Commander  of  Jib  Majestii'R  frigate 
now  in  the  Ojjiiig. 

Committee  ofSufcly  and  Secrecjj,  St.  James,  MontegoBay., 
siRj  Dexember  2,  1791. 

THE  alacrity  with  which  you  hare  acquiesced  in  measures 
suggested  to  you  for  the  public  good,  demand  the  warmest 
acknowhdgments  of  this  Community. 

The  Committee  gratify  their  own  feelings  in  presenting  to  you, 
on  behalf  of  their  fellow  citizens,  the  grateful  acknowledgments 
and  sincere  thanks  of  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  St» 
James. 

The  knowledge  of  your  being  to  continue  on  this  coast,  which 
you  have  obligingly  communicated  to  us,  whilst  it  evinces  the  con- 
siderate attention  of  Admiral  AfScck  to  the  public  safety,  tlatters 
US  with  the  hope  of  enjoying  many  opportunities  or  testifying 
The  esteem  and  respect  with  which  we  are, 
Sir, 
Your  obliged  and  obedient  Servants, 

On  behalf  of  the  Committee, 

J.  L.  WLNN, 

Chairman  Com.  Safety  ix.  Secrecy,  St.  Jame?. 

T.  M-  Iiuxi;el},  Esi].,  Commander  of 
His  JSlaJesti/'s  Ship  Dinna. 

Present, 


THOMAS    MACNAMAKA    RUSSELL,    ESQ.  455 

DEAR  SIR,  Mnnlci^o  Buy,  Decetitler  2,  17PI. 

THK  iilcrtness*  of  tlie  Diana  having  prevented  the  gentlemen, 
tlepiihil  by  tho  Commitfee,  from  waiting  on  you  yesterday  niorn- 
iii;:^^  with  thc'y  Letter  of  Ackiiowledgments  and  Thanks,  I  have 
the  iionoiir  to  transmit  it,  tojrether  with  the  Cornwall  Chronicle  of 
this  day,  in  which  it  is  published. 

I  am,  dear  Sir,  with  great  respect, 
J.  L.  WINiV, 
Cliairinan Com.  Secrecy  and  Safety,  St.  James. 

T.  M.  Unssell,  Ksq,,  Commander  of 
His  Majtsti/a  Slap  Diana. 

Lucea. 

Cornmiitce  Room,  Lucea,  Decernber  19,  1791, 

2^0  Tlioinas  Macnamara  livsaell,  Esq. 

SIR, 

YOUR  snggesting  the  business  of  uniting  the  naval  and  regular 
forces  with  the  militia  of  this,  parisli,  deserve  our  warmest 
acknowledgments. 

We,  the  Coinmittee  of  Safety,  on  behalf  of  ourselves  and  the 
inhabitants,  return  you  our  sincere  and  hearty  thanks,  for  your 
attention,  and  the  military  address  shown  by  you  and  your 
officers  on  Sunday  last,  which  we  hope  will  make  the  wished-for 
impression. 

I  am,  Sir,  on  behalf  of  the  Committee, 
With  the  highest  respect. 

Your  obedi.'nt  h;Hnblc  Scr'"ant, 
RICHARD  HaUGHTON  REiD, 

Chairmiiu  Com.  S:if. 

The  conduct  of  C:iptaln  Russell  in  opposing  the  Governor  of 
the  Havannah,  Mho  in.^isted  on  putting  a  Spanish  guard  on 
board  of  His  Majesty's  ship  under  his  command,  was  such  aS 
actually  drew  tears  of  joy  from  one  of  his  ofKcers^  M'hen  relatmg 
it.  The  Spanish  Governor  himself,  De  Las  Casas,  was  heard 
to  say  : — "  If  this  Macnamara  Russell  were  any  thing  but  the 
Captain  of  a  British  frigate,  vioiatnig  and  opposing  the  orders 
of  my  Sovereign,  I  never  knew  a  man  whom  I  would  sooner 

*  The  alertness  liere  noticed,  relates,  we  believe,  to  the  circumstance  ol' 
Captain  RusstU's  clias>jng  sunie,  pirates  tovviird  llie  inland  of  Cuba. 


436  BIOGRAPHICAL    MEMOIR    OF 

call  my  filend.'* — A  testimony  so  truly  disinterested,  reflects 
the  highest  honour  upon  Captain  Russell.  We  regret  extremely, 
that  we  cannot  here  communicate  his  correspondence  with  Las 
Casas ;  as  we  have  been  assured  that  it  was  in  the  genuine 
spirit  of  a  British  officer,  and  correctly  founded  on  the  principles 
of  the  law  of  nations.  We  know  that  Captain  Russell 
peremptorily  refused  to  accept  of  any  thing,  to  supply  the  real 
■wants  of  his  ship ;  saying — he  would  not  lay  his  Sovereign 
wnder  the  least  obligation  to  a  nation,  that  dared,  for  a  moment, 
to  think  of  putting  a  foreign  guard  on  l)oard  his  ship ! 

It  was  during  the  time  that  Captain  Russell  was  on  the 
Jamaica  station,  that  he  was  sent,  by  Admiral  Affleck,  to  convoy 
a  cargo  of  provisions,  as  an  act  of  perfect  charity,  from  the 
government  and  principal  inhabitants  of  Jamaica,  to  the  white 
people  of  St.  Domingo,  who  were  then  severely  suffering  from 
the  depredations  of  the  people  of  colour.  They  received  him, 
of  course,  with  joy  and  gratitude;  as  a  token  of  which,  he  was 
presented  with  a  letter  of  thanks  from  the  Provincial  Assembly 
at  Anx  Caves,  of  which  the  following  is  a 

TRANSLATION.  ' 

Ctiijes,  February  17,  1792. 
The    President    of   the    provisionaUy   administrative    Colonial 
Assemblfj  for   the  South  of  St.  Domingo,   to  Captain  RusaeU^ 
Commander  of  the  Engliih  Frigate,  Diana. 

SIR, 

IT  would  no(  have  been  possible  fo  execute  the  orders,  wlucli 
you  had  received  from  the  Admiral,  at  Jamaica,  in  a  manner  more 
gratifying  to  us:  you  have  inspired  u.-.  with  the  wish  to  be  still 
farther  indebted,  by  bogging  of  you  to  perform  an  act  of  huma- 
nity, to  aiford  us  the  still  more  exalted  satisfaction,  of  repeating 
the  thanks  which  are  your  due  ;  as  we  conceive  that  your  naval 
force  is  sufficiently  powerful  for  the  occasion.  After  your  orders, 
and  obliging  offtrs,  the  desire  which  you  have  indicated,  of  return- 
ing to  the  service  of  your  country,  can  be  founded  only  in  the 
knowledge  which  you  possess,  as  to  the  suthciency  of  tiiat 
force. 

Go  then,  Sir;  and,  at  your  return  to  Jamaica,  state  how 
extremely  unfor^nate  we  are.      I  regret,   that  the  tumultuous 


TIIOBIAS    MACNAMAKA    RUSSELi,    ESQ.  437 

events  by  ■which  we  are  agitated  should  have  prevented  us  from 
showing  more  satisfactory  proofs  of  our  gratitude. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be 
Your  most  humble  atid  obedient  Servant, 

BILL  All  D,  President. 

Tlie  required  assistance,  alluded  to  in  the  above  letter,  is  spe- 
cified in  the  following  note  z — 

TRANSLATIOIiri 

Fcbruarj/  17,  1792,  n,idnli;ht. 
CAPTAIN  RUSSELL  will   perceive,  by  the  freedom  of  this 
short  note,    that  I  wish  him  to  foci  perfectly  at   liberty  on   the 
Question  which  I  have  the  honour  to  propose  to  hiixl. 

Will  he  assist  us  with  his  marirtes,  in  a  sortie  which  we  ai^e 
about  to  make  in  an  hour  or  two  against  the  brigands  ?■ — !  r-  peat, 
he  is  at  full  liberty  in  his  answer.  Our  forces  are  at  present  fir 
from  numerous ;  and  though  each  is  anxious  to  exert  himself,  we 
"want  strength. 

Answer  immediately  ;   pardon  for  the   intcrrnptioh   of  ilecp. — 

In  this  case.  Captain  Russell  would  not  (Ind  it  prejudicial  to  lend 

Kuglishmen,    to   combat    a   horde    that  niight   some    day   disturb 

Jamaica.      The   Provincial  Assembly  will   request  it  of  him  iSx 

-form. 

I  have  the  honour  to  wisli  him  a  good  night, 

And  to  be  his  very  humble  Servant, 

BILLARD. 

It  will  occur  to  every  intelligent  reader,  that  this  (which  we 
Jiave  heard  termed  a  ''  d — d  77iodest  request")  could  not  be  com- 
plied with.  Captuin  Russell,  who  appears  to  have  knoxMi  his 
tlutv  much  better  than  the  French  President,  iniinediatelv /e/^ 
fibmelf  perfectly  at  Ubcrfjj  to  retitrn  the  followiiig  answer  to 
Monsieur's  note  :— 

B'mnc,  Aui  Cii/cs,  I7(h  Tthruaty,  1?9C, 
SIR,  li'jif-jiast  12  at  ?ii./it. 

FJiW  things  would  give  me  more  pleasure  than  a  prompt  com- 
pliance witli  all  your  desires,  i  feel  a  proportion.! te  degree  of 
pain,  that,  in  the  prvseut  instance,  i  cannot,  consistently  with  my 
duty  as  t  British  oHicer,  comply  M'ith  your  request.  It  would  be 
a  most  Cagrant  violation  cf  the  laws  of  nations  to  employ  His  Bri* 

^atJ.€{jrcn.  aioI.XVIL  y  a  >• 


45S  BlOGltAFfilCAL    MfiMOlR    OP 

tannic  Majesty's  forces  in  an  hostile  manner  a;gainst  any  descrlp^lorJ 
of  the  subjects  of  France. 

I  am.  Sir,  with  great  respect, 

Your  obedient  humble  Sertant, 

T.  M.  RUSSELL, 

To  M.  BiUarrly  President  of  the 
Colunial  Assembly. 

At  a  public  dinner,  which  was  given  on  sbore,  by  the 
Colonial  Assembly,  in  compliment  to  Captain  Russell,  ouj" 
officer  represented  to  the  Assembly,  that  tliere  was  a  Lieutenant 
Perkins,  of  the  Royal  Navy,  cruelly  contined  in  a  dungeon,  at 
Jeremie,  on  the  otfier  side  of  the  island,  under  the  pretext  of 
having  supplied  tlie  people  of  colour  with  arms ;  bnt,  in  facty 
through  malice,  for  his  activity  against  the  trade  of  that  part  of 
St.  Domingo,  in  the  American  war.  Captain  Russell  stated^ 
that,  before  he  had  Ventured  to  plead  his  cause,  he  had  satisfied 
himself  of  his  absolute  innocence;  that  he  had  undergone  nothing 
like  a  legal  process — a  thing  impossible,  from  the  suspension  of 
their  ordinary  courts  of  justice,  owing  to  the  divided  and  dis-^ 
tracted  state  of  the  colony;  and  yet,  horrible  to  relate  I  he  lay 
under  sentence  of  death !  **  (irant  him,"'  exclaimed  Captain 
Russell,  "  grant  me  his  life !  Do  not  suffer  these  people  to  be 
guilty  of  the  niiu-der  of  an  innocent  man,  ]>y  which  they  would 
drag  Biitish  vengeance  upon  the  Mhole  islaiul!" 

So  forcible  was  this  appeal,  that  the  Assembly,  in  the  most 
hearty  and  unequivocal  manner,  promised  that  an  order  should 
be  instantly  transmitted,  for  him  to  be  delivered  up  imme' 
diatelif. 

On  the  following  day.  Captain  Ru>;sell  sent  a  very  accom- 
plished young  gentleman,  Mr.  (now  Captain)  Pipon,  to  receive 
the  order  for  Lieutenant  Perkins's  pardon  and  delivery.  In  a 
short  time  he  returned,  reporting  that  much  prevarication  had 
been  used,  and  that  lie  had  not  obtained  the  order.  The  day 
after.  Captain  Russell  sent  him  again,  from  I'lsle  de  Vache, 
where  the  Diana  lay,  and  Mr.  Pipon  returned  with  a  downright? 
refusal  ;  ''  for,  as  it  zcas  a  promise  made  after  dinner,  theij  did 
not  think  it  binding." 


THOMAS    MACNAMAUA    RUSSr.LL,    ESQ.  459 

Almost  at  the  moment  of  Mr.  Pipon's  return,  the  Ferret 
sloop,  Captain  Nowell,  hove  in  sight.  Sjie  had  been  at  Jeremie, 
with  dispatclies  containing  the  requests  of  Lord  Effingham  and 
Admiral  Affleck,  that  Lieutenant  Perkins  might  be  delivered 
up;  which  the  Assembly  there,  by  the  following  official  com- 
munication, absolutely  refused;  verbally  adding,  x\\?it  the  impe-^ 
rious  voice  of  the  laze  called  for  his  execution  : — 

7^he  Council  of  Commons  of  Jcrcrme,  to  Captain  N'vzcell,  Commanm 
dcr  of  His  Britannic  Majesty'' s  Brig  ihs  Ferret. 

HOWSOEVER   agreeable   it   has   been   for  us   to  have  you 

amongst  ufi, 

Our  desire  would  have  been  not  to  retard  your  voyage  to  the 

Cayes ; 

Our  occupations  alone  have  been  the  cause  of  your  staying  her« 

24  hours  longer  than  you  intended. 

The  law  imperiously  commands  us  to  retain  Mr.  Perkins,  and  tQ 

send  him  to  the  Colonial  Assembly. 

We  are 

Your  obedient  and  most  humble  Servants, 

PLICQUE, 

President  du  Conseil. 
Jtremie,  Fcbruari/  16,  1792. 

No  sooner  was  Captain  Russell  apprised  of  this  state  of  the 
business,  than  he  declared  that  he  would  sacri^ce  as  many 
Frenchmen  as  there  were  hairs  on  Perkins's  head,  if  they  mur- 
dered him.  His  determination  was  soon  known  amongst  the 
officers  and  people ;  Captain  Nowell  was  dehghted  at  what  he 
heard;  the  anchor  was  up,  sail  crowded,  and,  the  wind  favouring 
them  in  an  uncommon  manner,  the  frigate  and  sloop  appeared 
oft"  Jeremie  in  a  portion  of  time  astonishingly  short.  Both  of 
the  ships  hove-to  close  to  the  harbour,  aud  prepared  for  battle ; 
every  soul  on  board  of  them  panting  for  vengeance,  should 
Perkhis  be  murdered.  Looking  anxiously  toward  the  shore, 
some  of  the  men  even  imagined  that  they  heard  him  o^roan. 

Captain  Nowell  was  sent  on  shore,  with  the  following  letter, 
to  demand  him  iustantli/ ;  and  with  verbal  instructions  for  his 
conduct,  should  they  hesitate ;    a  mission  which  he  performed 


460  .  BIOSRAPHICAL    MtMOTU    oy 

with  the  intrepidity  and  sound  sense  which  he  has  frequently 
displayed : — 

His  Britamilc  Majesty^a  Ship  the  Diana,  off'Jej-emie, 
SIR,  the  14th  of  February,  nm. 

I  APPLIED  to  the  Provincial  Assembly  at  Aiix  Cayos  for  the 
liberation  of  Lieutenant  Jolin  Perkins,  of  His  Britannic  Majesty's 
Royal  Navy;  and  my  application  was  immediateli)  and  oj  course 
complied  with,  "M.  Billard,  (he  President,  promised  mean  order 
to  your  Assembly,  to  deliver  him  up  to  me.  That  order  had  not 
arrived  at  I'LsIe  de  Vache,  where  I  lay,  bcforti  1  sailed,  which 
must  be  no  impediment  to  your  sending  him  off  to  mc  in  safety 
immediately. 

If,  however,  it  should  unforfunaielj/  he  otherwise,  let  it  be 
remembered,  t!iat  I  do  hereby,  in  thp  most  formal  q,nd  solemn 
planner,  demand  him.  Captain  Nowell  knows  Kiy  resolution, 
iu  case  of  the  least  hesitation. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
Sir, 
Your  obedient  humble  Servant, 

T.    M.    RUSSELL, 
Captain  of  the  Diana. 
To  .V.  PUcqiic,  President  qfth 
Council  at  Jeremie, 

Captciin  Nowell,  on  landing,  was  surrounded  by  a  ntiob.  The 
President  read  the  letter,  and  said-—"  Sir,  suppose  I  do  notf " 
— "  In  that  case/'  replied  Cuptain  Nowell,  '*  you  draw  down  a 
destruction  which  you  are  little  aware  of.  I  know  Captain 
Russell ;  I  know  his  resolution  ;  beware,  if  you  value  your  town, 
and  the  lives  of  thousands :  he  has  given  me  sixty  minutes  to 
decide :  you  see,  Sir^  that  thirty  of  chem  are  elapsed." — The 
mob  now  grew  outrageous.  "  You  shall  have  him,"  exclaimed 
one  of  them,  "  but  it  shall  be  m  qudrters!"  Captain  Nowell 
instantly  drew  a  very  formidable  sabre  ;  and,  sternly  looking  at 
the  President,  said : — "  Sir !  order  that  fellow  out  of  my  sight, 
or  he  dies!"  The  President  did  so;  and,  after  a  few  more 
threats  from  Captain  Nowell,  that  he  would  return  without  him, 
poor  Perkins  w  as  led  from  his  dungeon,  at  the  door  of  which, 
and  in  his  sight,  was  planted  the  rack  on  which  it  had  beeo 
intended  tliat  he  should  be  tortured  the  very  next  morning. 


THOMAS    MACNAMAR.V    RUSSELL,    FSQ.  461 

Captain  Russell  saw  him  led  into  the  Ferret's  boat ;  then 
M'ore,  with  the  ships'  heads  oft'  the  land ;  secured  his  guns ;  and 
carried  a  most  adventurous  and  enterprising  officer,  and  good 
man,  in  triumph  to  the  Commander  in  Chief  in  Jamaica,  to 
whose  prayers  the  sanguinary  democrats  of  the  new  French 
regime  had  lefused  him. — It  is,  indeed,  not  unhKely,  that  Cap- 
tain Russell's  refusal  to  comply  with  the  request  of  M.  Billard — 
a  request  so  characteristically  French — was  one  of  their  motives 
for  retracting  the  promise  of  Perkins's  life;  which,  it  appears, 
nothing  but  the  act  uf  violence  to  which  he  felt  himself  com- 
pelled to  resort,  could  have  saved. 

\Ve  may  here  be  permitted  to  observe,  at  passant,  that 
discretionary  power,  in  a  naval  officer,  is  of  some  value,  and  that 
it  may  at  times  be  found  serviceable. 

Some  time  after  the  termination  of  this  adventure.  Captain 
Russell,  and  his  friend  Nowell,  were  engaged  in  another.  In  a 
large  company,  on  shore,  they  were  one  day  informed,  that  half 
a  dozen  gentlemen  of  the  island  had,  lor  the  recovery  of  their 
health,  taken  a  trip  to  sea  in  a  pleasure  yacht  belonging  to  CMie 
of  the  party;  that  the  yacht  had  been  seized,  in  a  piratical 
manner,  by  a  Spanish  guarda  costa ;  that  she  had  been  seen, 
two  days  before,  steering  for  the  east  end  of  Cuba  ;  and  that  the 
families  of  the  gentlemen  were  in  the  utmost  distress.  Admiral 
Affleck  having  expressed  his  apprehension,  that  they  must  remain 
in  captivity,  until  our  Government  should  seek  redress  from  that 
of  Spain.  To  this  statement  Captain  Russell  made  no  reply ; 
but,  some  time  after,  when  the  subject  had  been  dropped,  he 
whispered  to  Captain  Nowell,  and  they  walked  out  together. 
*'  iNowell,  my  boy/'  said  Russell,  "■  I've  been  working  this 
fellow's  bearings  :  we  are  to  windward  of  him :  we'll  vveirh 
instantly,  before  sun  sets ;  and  we  shall  see  him  about  nine  to- 
inorrow  morning." — The  intention  was  put  into  execution 
almost  as  soon  as  it  was  formed ;  and,  about  the  expected  time 
the  Pirate  appeared  in  sight.  The  English  chased ;  the  Spa- 
niard fied,  for  three  or  four  hours ;  at  length  anchored,  not  far 
flFpm  St.  Jago  de  Cuba,  and  lired  sharply  at  our  boats ;  which 
they^  by  order^  did  not  returnj  but  closed^  intending  to  board. 


462  BiOGRArincAL  memoir  or 

Tlie  villains  fled  on  shore ;  when  a  IMidshipman,  from  the  Diana, 
followed,  and  causht  one  of  the  Spaniards  ;  in  consequence  of 
which  the  yacht  was  returned  to  Jamaica  on  the  following  morn-* 
ing,  to  the  great  joy  and  surprise  of  the  inhabitants. 

This  was  an  act  of  laudable  and  disinterested  exertion ;  but 
such  is  the  generosity,  and  liberality  of  conduct,  of  the  mhabi- 
tants  of  Jamaica,  that  British  officers  seldom  seem  to  think 
themselves  capable  of  overpaying  their  attentions. 

Having  remained  the  usual  time  on  the  Jamaica  station,  the 
Diana  returned  to  England,  and  was  paid  off ;  after  which, 
Captain  Russell  was  appointed  to  command  the  St.  Albans,  and 
brought  home  four  or  five  East  Indiamen  from  St.  Helena. 

On  the  11th  of  January,  1796,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
Vengeance,  of  74  guns  ;  in  which  he  served  in  the  West  Indies, 
under  Rear-Admiral  Harvey,  at  tlie  captures  of  St.  Lucia  and 
Trinidad,  and  at  the  subsequent  unsuccessful  siege  of  Porto 
Jlico. 

On  this  station,  by  participating  in  numerous  valuable  cap- 
tuv^^j  Captain  RusstU  had  the  satisfaction  of  making,  the  second 
time  in  his  life,  an  ample  fortune  ;  but  we  regret  to  add,  that  in 
this  instance,  as  well  as  in  the  former,  by  an  unlimited  confi- 
dence in  the  integrity  of  others,  his  golden  treasures  have 
vanished.  Few,  indeed,  have  sustained  such  heavy  pecuniary 
losses,  by  guardians,  agents,  8cc.,  as  the  subject  of  this  memoir; 
yet,  from  a  happy  turn  of  mind,  a  cheerfulness  of  disposition,  a 
conviction  of  the  paucity  of  his  wants,  being  very  temperate^ 
and  a  slave  to  no  vice,  he  has  never  been  known  to  sufter  even 
u  momentary  depression  of  spirits. 

Shortly  after  Captain  Russell's  return  to  England,  he  joined 
the  Channel  fleet,  then  under  the  orders  of  Earl  St.  Vincent. 
Having  remained  for  some  time  in  that  service,  his  old  ship,  the 
Vengeance,  being  much  out  of  repair,  was  paid  off";  and,  on  the 
iilSd  of  April,  1800,  Captain  Russell  was  appointed  to  the  Prin- 
cess Royal.  On  the  1st  of  January,  1801,  he  was  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  Rear-Admiral  of  the  White  Squadron  ;  on  the  23d  of 
April,  1804,  he  was  made  Rear-Admiral  of  iha  Red  ;  and  on  the 
91I1  of  November,  180j,  Vice?Admiial  of  the  Blue, 


THOMAS    MACNAMARA    RUSSELL,    E3Q.  463 

On  the  28th  of  October,  1803,  soon  after  the  commencement 
of  the  present  war.  Admiral  Russell  hoisted  his  flag  on  board 
the  Dictator,  at  Yarmouth,  as  Commander  of  a  division  of  the 
North  Sea  Fleet.  His  duty  on  this  station  has  been  close  and 
unremitted ;  but,  from  the  rigid  cautions  which  the  Dutch  squa- 
drons iiave  observed,  no  opportunity  has  hitherto  occurred  for  him 
to  display  that  heroic  and  determined  spirit  which  he  is  well 
known  to  possess. — Rumour  some  time  ago  selected  him  for  a 
command  in  the  Baltic ;  but,  since  the  late  change  in  Administra- 
tion, he  has  been  made  Commander  in  Chief  in  the  North  Seas. 

In  the  exercise  of  this  command  we  wish  him  all  the  success 
which  his  talents  and  exertions  merit ;  confident^  that  wherever 
his  country  may  demand  his  services,  they  will  be  cheerfully  given, 
and  the, honour  of  the  British  flag  will  be  ably  supported. 

We  have  only  to  add,  that  Admiral  Russell  was  married^ 
about  the  year  1793,  to  a  lady  of  the  name  of  Phillips;  by 
whoni>  however,  he  has  no  children. 

The  portrait  of  the  Admiral,  which  is  prefixed  to  this 
memoir,  in  the  old  Post  Captjiin's  uniform,  has  been  engraven 
from  an  original  painting,  now  in  the  possefsion  of  his  relation, 
Sir  John  Hayes,  executed  upward.;  of  twenty  years  ago ;  notwith- 
standing which,  it  is  still  considered  as  an  admirably  conect  and 
spirited  likeness. 


NAVAL  ANECDOTES, 
COMMEJICIAL  HINTS,  RECOLLECTIONS,  Sec. 

HAXTtS    I>"    CVRGITE    V.VSTO. 

PASSAGE    OF    THE    DARDANELLES. 

J'nfltiE  following  extracts  of  letters  will  be  found  to  throw  some 
additional  light  upon  the  late  passage  of  the  Dardanelles,' 
by  Sir  J.  T.  Duckworth's  squadron.  Such  articles  are  worthy 
t)f  preservation,  as  tendmg  materially  to  assist  the  labours  of  the 
future  historian. 

The  first  of  the  succeedinsc  communications  is  transcribed 


4C4  KAVAL    AN'fiCDOtES, 

from  a  letterj  by  an  officer  of  the  Caiiopus ;  \vhicli,  after  giting 
an  account  of  the  Ajax^  Captain  Blackwood,  previoitsiy  t9 
passing  the  Dardanelles,  proceeds  as  follows : — 

This  unfortunate  accident  threw  a  damp  upon  the  spirits  of  the 
■whole  squadron  ;  at  any  time  the  lo>s  of  such  a  ship,  and  such  a 
number  of  brave  fellows,  M-ouId  have  been  severely  felt ;  but  it  was 
doubly  di&trcasing  to  our  little  squadron  at  such  a  time,  as  it 
weakened  us  greatly.  To  add  to  our  chagrin,  the  wind  was 
against  us,  which  prevented  us  getting  up  the  Dardanelles,  and 
gave  the  Turks  an  opportunity  of  getting  additional  guns  to  their 
forts  and  batterios,  and  erecting  new  ones.  It  was  not  until  the 
19th  we  had  a  wind  to  go  up.  We  then  had  a  fine  breeze,  and 
got  under  Aveigh  at  day-light.  The  Canopus  led  the  van,  and,  as 
the  sailors  call  it,  took  olf  the  fiery  edge :  the  entrance  is  pretty 
■^vide,  therefore  the  shots  from  the  first  forts,  which  are  very  strong 
ones,  did  little  or  no  execution;  an4  in  passing,  the  bombs  threw 
in  a  few  shells,  which  we  have  reason  to  imagine  did  a  good  deal 
of  mischief.  These  forts  arc,  one  on  the  Asiatic  side,  and  one  on 
the  European  ;  but  still  we  had  to  pass  two  tremendous  ones  at  a 
very  narrow  part,  exactl}'  opposite  to  each  other,  that  on  the 
Asiatic  side  called  Abydos,  and  on  the  European  Sestos,  besides 
several  small  mud  batteries,  and  one  Turkish  two-decker,  five  fri- 
gates, four  corvettes,  two  gun-boats,  and  other  small  craft,  that 
were  moored  a  little  above  the  Castles.  It  is  sa'f)  that  we  did  not 
mean  to  commence  hostilities.  As  our  Ambassador  went  up  in  the 
Royal  George,  we  wished  to  bring  theni  to  the  tarms  he  had  for- 
merly proposed  to  them,  but  they  fired  at  us,  and  compelled  us  to 
act  on  the  defensive ;  the  fire  from  the  forts  was  very  heavy,  and 
very  much  cut  us  up  in  the  rigging-way  ;  but,  thank  God,  not 
half  so  bad  as  we  expected.  The  shipping  also  kept  up  a  very 
good  fire,  but  we  soon  silenced  them  ;  and  Sir  Sidney  Smith,  with 
the  sternmost  ships,  set  fire  to  them,  and  destroyed  the  whole,  but 
one  corvette,  which  we  kept  possession  of,  but  left  behind  when 
we  came  down.  In  this  aflair  we  had  but  three  killed,  and  nine- 
teen  wounded,  some  badly  ;  this  we  considered  as  trifling,  con- 
sidering what  we  had  to  contend  with.  You  will  be  astonished, 
my  dear  Mary,  to  hear  what  unmerciful  stone  shot  they  fire  from 
their  forts  ;  had  I  not  witnessed  it  myself,  I  could  not  have  given 
credit  to  it.  We  received  one  shot,  which  is  now  in  my  store- 
room, that  weighs  5-46  lbs.,  is  23  inches  diameter,  or  five  feet  nine 
inches  in  circumference.  Another  of  the  same  size  broke  in  the 
forecastk :  we  have  got  some  others  something  smaller ;  and  soiuf 


coMMEiiciVL  iiixr?,   tircor.trcTTovs.  S:c.  465 

of  the  ships  have  got  those  of  a  larger  size.  In  coming  down,  the 
Windsor  Castle  received  one  which  has  v/ounded  her  main-mast  so 
badly,  that  it  will  cause  her  to  leave  this  place  ;  it  is  better  than 
seven  feet  round,  and  weighs,  I  am  told,  upwards  of  SCOlbs.  I 
forgot  to  tell  you  the  Glutton  remained  at  Tencdos  to  protect  son»s 
vessels  that  came  with;  the  factory  from  Smyrna,  and  also  we 
suppose  to  give  intelligence  of  our  proceedings  to  any  English 
vessel  tliat  niigh.t  arrive.  On  the  20th,  wc  anchored  close  to  a 
groupe  of  islands,  within  four  miles  of  Constantinople  ;  the  next 
day  flags  of  truce  passed  from  Constantinople  to  the  Admiral,  and 
we  were  led  to  imagine  that  matters  would  be  amicably  settled ; 
but  the  wind  setting  out  right  against  us,  gave  them  another 
opportunity  of  increasing  tlieir  fortifications,  and  throwing  up 
•works  in  every  direction;  so  that  in  five  or  six  days  the  entrance 
of  the  harbour  was  so  very  formidably  fortified,  that,  in  my 
ripinion,  it  would  have  been  madness  to  attempt  to  enter  it. — 
Their  shipping  were  also  not  to  be  despised.  It  is  said,  that  It 
sail  of  the  line  were  completely  ready  to  come  out,  with  nine 
frigates,  six  fire-ships,  and  near  200  sail  of  small  vessels,  manned 
■with  volunteers,  to  board  us  dtiring  the  action.  Had  this  been  the 
case,  it  would  have  been  a  dreadlnl  scene  ;  for  the  Turks  are  not 
accustomed  to  give  or  take  quarter  :  still  oar  lads  were  in  as  good 
spirits  as  if  they  were  in  Jlamoa'/.e.  On  the  23.'h,  we  perceived 
ttiey  were  making  some  movements  on  the  island  close  to  us,  called 
Prote.  Boats  Avcre  coming  from  the  Mam  frequently  with  num- 
bers of  men;  and,  to  all  appearance,  they  were  going  to  fdrfifv  the 
island.  As  they  would  have  annoyed  us  greatly  had  thi'y  been 
suffered  to  proceed,  on  the  27th  the  Admiral  ordered  the  Repulse 
and  a  bomb,  with  the  boats  of  the  squadron,  manned  and  armed, 
to  go  and  scour  the  inland  :  they  sent  a  few  shot  and  shells  on 
shore,  took  two  small  fitkl  pieces,  and  stopped  a  couple  of  boats 
with  some  Turks  and  Greeks,  and  then  returned  on  board  ;  but  in 
the  evening  we  learned  from  a  Greek,  who  voluntarily  came  on 
board,  that  a  number  of  Turks  were  yet  on  tlie  island,  and  had 
taken  refuge  in  a  monastery — a  large  square  stone  building.  Our 
own  boats  were  sent  to  dislodge  them,  but  they  soon  found  they 
were  not  in  force  sufficient  to  effect  it ;  their  position  was  very 
strong,  and  they  hail  a  much  greater  number  of  rnon  than  wc  were 
told  of.  They  lired  at  our  poor  fellows  out  of  loop-holes  and 
windows,,  as  they  ascended  the  hill,  and  some  were  killed  and 
wounded  in  a  very  few  minutes;  still  our  people  were  not /lis- 
mayed,  but  boldly  pushed  up  to  die  door,  and  srt  it  ou  fire.     The 

..    Bit),  C{?von.  aioLXVIL  o  o  o 


466  NAVAt    AN£CDOTES, 

boats  from  the  other  ships  were  then  sent  to  assist.  Their  people 
likewise  suffered  a  good  deal  on  first  going  up;  but  night  coming 
on,  they  had  orders  to  leave  the  island,  and  get  on  board  their 
respective  ships,  without  effecting  any  thing.  Captain  Kent,  of 
the  marines,  one  seaman,  and  two  marines,  were  killed ;  ten 
badly  wounded,  two  of  whom  are  since  dead  ;  and  I  am  truly 
sorry  to  say,  that  James  Reiley,  my  Mate,  was  one  of  those  two  : 
he  had  a  dreadful  wound  in  the  belly,  but  remained  perfectly 
sensible.  He  expired  the  following  evening,  much  lamented  by 
every  body,  as  he  was  a  very  valuable  man.  I  don't  exactly  know 
the  number  of  killed  and  wounded  of  the  other  ships— this  you 
will  see  by  the  public  accounts.  Mr.  Rouse,  of  the  Royal  George, 
son  to  Mr.  Rouse,  the  rope-maker,  is  amongst  the  latter  ;  but  I 
am  happy  to  add,  it  is  only  a  flesh  wound  in  the  leg,  and  he  is 
now  doing  well.  Previous  to  this  affair  of  the  island,  the 
Endymion's  jolly-boat,  with  a  Midshipman,  son  to  Mr.  Harwell, 
Carpenter  of  the  R.oyal  George,  and  four  young  lads,  were  sent 
fo  the  island  to  purchase  something,  as  we  were  in  the  habit  of 
getting  fish  and  vegetables  from  the  Greeks.  A  boat  with  Turks 
from  the  Main  was  seen  to  board  her  and  take  the  boj  s  out. 
What  is  become  of  them  is  not  yet  known  to  a  certainly.  The 
Greeks'  report  is,  that  two  of  their  throats  were  cut  immediately  ; 
but  that  we  hope  is  unfounded.  I  just  now  heard  that  Mr.  Har- 
■wcU  has  been  assured  by  the  Admiral,  that  his  son  is  safe  in  Con- 
stantinople, and  will  be  taken  care  of.  I  wish  it  may  be  the  case; 
but  I  should  be  sorry  to  have  any  friend  of  mine  in  their  clutches. 
As  all  negociation  Avas  at  an  end,  I  suppose  the  Admiral  thought 
it  imprudent  to  remain  any  longer  wiih  the  small  force  we  Iiad,  as, 
had  any  ship  been  disabled  or  driven  on  shore,  the  consequence 
■would  have  been  very  serious.  On  the  1st  iiist.  we  got  under 
weigh,  and  on  the  3d  we  once  more  passed  the  castle  and  batteries, 
and  found  them,  I  think,  much  warmer  than  they  were  before. 
We  again  led  the  van— we  had  many  more  shot  struck  us  than  we 
had  in  going  up. 

The  ^following  is  an  extract  of  a  letter  from  an  officer 
belonging  to  the  jVcliv-c- ftigate,  dated  oft  Lemnos,  March  6 : — 

'We  oj;ily  lay  t>«rec  days  at  Malta,  two  of  which  we  were  under 
quarantine  ;  froiK  Malta  to  Lemnos  we  had  eight  days'  passage. 
On  the  I4th,  i\.t  nine  P.M.,  the  Ajax,  of  74  guns,  was  discovere4 
to  Tn;  on  fire.  The  flames  played  over  our  mast  heads  ;  we  cut  our 
cables  ;  and,  what  is  singular,  this  very  serious  accident  happened 
directly  opposite  to  Ajax's  Tomb. 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,    Scc.  467 

On  the  19th  wc  proceeded  for  the  Dardanelles,  passed  six 
powerful  batteries,  and  attacked  a  Turkish  squadron  ;  buriud  one 
64,  six  frigates,  two  corvettes,  a  brig,  and  a  gun-boat;  and  had 
not  a  man  hurt.  We  engaged  two  frigates,  and  gave  the  line  of 
battle  ship  two  broadsides,  our  shot  enfilading  her  fore  and  aft: 
our  damages  were  trifling,  only  in  our  rigging.  The  rest  of  our 
fleet  continued  their  course  for  Constantinople,  leaving  us  to 
destroy  a  fort ;  which  service  we  performed  on  the  2lst,  having 
only  two  men  wounded.  In  the  frigate  that  we  burned,  there 
were  no  less  than  200  killed  and  wounded,  and  the  deck  so  strewed 
with  heads  and  limbs  in  diiferent  places,  that  our  people  could  not 
walk  or  stand  among  the  blood  on  deck;  their  scuppers  issuing 
abundantly  the  blood  of  the  slain. 

During  the  time  our  fleet  lay  opposite  to  Constantinople,  the 
Turks  threw  up  a  mud  battery,  on  which  they  mounted  150  guns. 
Our  fleet  left  their  anchorage  oflf  the  City,  and  on  the  2d  of  March 
arrived  and  anchored  in  the  Bay  we  lay  in.  The  next  morning  we 
got  under  weigh,  and  saluted  the  batteries,  to  see  whether  they 
were  inclined  to  come  to  terms  with  us.  They  returned  the  salute 
with  ball ;  which  example  we  followed ;  and  came  throiigli  the 
Dardanelles,  after  sustaining  a  very  heavy  fire  from  all  the 
batteries. 

OBSERVATIONS     ON    THE    CHARACTER    OF    SAILORS^    BY 
THE    LATE    JAMES    PETTIT    ANDREV,  S. 

THE  race  of  sailors  are  so  truly  eccentric,  that  notwithstanding 
the  numberless  anecdotes  with  which  they  supply  conversation, 
there  are  many  interesting  circumstances  relative  to  their  very 
peculiar  character,  yet  left  untold.  Like  other  arts,  that  of  navi- 
gation possesses  a  number  of  technical  terms  peculiar  to  itself. 
The  sailor  forms  these  into  a  language,  and  introduces  them, 
without  hesitation,  into  all  companies,  on  all  occasions,  and, 
generally,  with  brilliant  success,  as  nautical  expressions  arc 
pointed,  humorous,  and  easily  adapted  to  the  situations  of  com, 
mon  life. 

Inured  to  hardships,  to  dangers,  and  to  a  perpetual  change  of 
companions,  the  seaman  contracts  a  species  of  Stoicism  which 
might  raise  the  envy  even  of  a  Diogenes.  "  Avast  there!"  cried 
a  sailor  to  his  comrade,  who  was  busied  in  heaving  overboard  tlic 
lower  division  of  a  messmate,  just  cut  in  halves  by  a  ch.aJn  shot  ; 
"  avast !  let  us  first  sec  if  he  have  uot  the  key  of  our  mess-chest 
in  his  pocket! " 


40S  NAVAr,    AKECDOIE?,^ 

Two  of  rhe  brightest  points  in  the  character  of  a  seaman  seem  to 
be,  intrepidity,  and  presence  of  mind.  Without  partiality,  Ave 
may  say,  that  it  is  in  the  British  mariner,  particularly,  that  these 
qualities  are  to  be  observed.  In  the  hour  of  extreme  danger,  he 
does  net,  like  llie  Portuguese,  the  Italian,  or  the  Rusi,  either 
ask  assistance  from,  or  denounce  vengeance  against,  his  patron- 
saint.  No,  he  trusts  to  his  own  agility  and  resolution  for  safety  ; 
!and  if  he  imprecates  curses  on  any  head,  it  is  on  his  o\\n,  or  oa 
that  of  some  lubber^  who  is  not  as  active  as  himself  in  the  general 
work  of  preservation .. ..... 

A  species  of  ready  wit  is  often  connected  with  the  character  of 
a  sailor;  and  as  whatever  he  conceives  he  always  thinks  himself 
at  liberty  to  express,  let  the  company,  the  place,  the  time,  be  what 
it  will,  he  has,  of  consequence,  vast  advantages  over  the  more 
bashful  bel  esprit!  A  couple  of  sailors,  some  years  ago,  went 
ashore  at  Charles  Town,  in  Carolina;  they  naturally  advanced 
towards  a  crowd  which  had  gathered  round  the  celebrated  Whit- 
field, who  was  preaching  with  infinite  vehemence  against  the  sins 
of  his  audience.  They  arrived  just  time  enough  to  hear  him  say, 
with  his  utmost  exertion  of  voice  and  gesture,  "  and  I,  your 
pastor^  your  teacher,  shall  be  forced  to  bear  witness  against  you 
at  the  awful  day  of  judgment." — "  Hollo,  Jack  ! "  cried  one  of 
the  tars  Avhom  the  crowd  had  divided  from  his  comrade,  "  d— a 
my  eyes!  if  that  is  not  just  as  it  goes  at  the  Old  Bailey.  The 
greafes't  rogue  always  turns  King's  evidence." 

I3ut  the  sailor's  character  must  not,  be  dismissed  without  some 
notice  being  taken  of  that  fraternal  regard  vvliich  reigns  among 
ihem  allji  let  the  outsidos  of  soinc  be  ever  so  rugged.  No  tie  of 
free  masonry,  no  oath,  no  bond  of  society,  can  unite  any 
denomination  of  mankind  together  as  sailors  are  united.  It  is  in 
the  most  trying  situations  of  life  (hat  the  effects  of  this  union  are 
most  seen.  If  a  sea  officer  dies,  leaving  a  family  behind  him 
unjirovided  fi)r,  his  son;  become  the  children  of  his  fraternity,  and 
are  handed  up  in  life  by  their  father's  friends,  from  one  station  to 
another  in  the  service,  until  they  are  enabled  to  provide  for  them, 
selves.  A?  a  proof  of  this  emanation  of  general  philanthropy, 
amongst  this  gallant  race  of  men,  the  following  circumstance  may 
be  properly  brought  forward  : — Not  many  years  pa?t,  an  unknown 
b.'uefactor  gave  three  hundred  ponnds  per  annum,  to  be  divided 
among  thirty  sea  officers'  widows.  In  order  to  appreciate  the 
merit  of  th«  competitors,  each  who  applies  brings  in  a  list  of  her 


COMMERCIAL    HINTS,    RECOLLECTIOVS,    &C.  469 

children,  and  how  they  are  provided  for.  And  the  Editor,  who 
has  the  honour  of  being  one  of  the  distributors  of  this  excellent 
donation,  has  with  pleasure  remarked,  that  there  is  scarcely  the 
name  of  one  male,  among  the  numerous  offspring  of  thirty  mothers, 
but  what  has  some  provision  in  the  ZS'avy,  and  is,  at  least,  in  the 
right  road  to  an  honourable  competence. 

Copied  from  Antient  and  Modern  Anecdotes,  by  J.  P.  Andrews, 
published  1789. 

amiable  and  honourable  conduct  of  captain  db 
l'angle_,  of  the  dursley  galley^  toavards  some 
spanish   prisoners. 

THE  following  anecdote  redounds  so  highly  to  the  honour 
of  this  brave  and  worthy  man,  that,  to  omit  it,  would  be  unpar- 
donable. The  circumstance  which  it  records  took  place  in  the 
year  1742,  and  is  thus  related  in  a  letter  w'hich  was  subse- 
quently written  : — 

A  year  or  two  since,  His  Majesty's  ship,  the  Dursley  galley,  of 
20  guns,  Captain  de  I' Angle,  Commander,  cruising  to  the  east-, 
ward  of  Alicant  Bay,  made  a  small  sail,  to  which  she  gave  chase. 
Coming  up  with  it  towards  evening,  and  firing  a  gun,  the  bark 
struck  ;  and  the  boat  going  off  to  take  possession  of  her,  found 
lier  a  small  zebeque,  bound  from  Malaga  to  Yvica,  with  provisions 
and  passengers  of  both  sexes,  whom  our  soldiers  without  much 
ceremony  plundered  of  what  money  or  things  of  value  they  had  on 
board.  The  Surgeon  of  the  man  of  war  (from  whom  1  have  tliis 
narrative,)  soonafter  going  on  board  the  prize,  it  being  almost 
dark,  could  just  perceive  a  Romish  clergyman  (for  such  he  appeared 
by  his  dress)  leaning  in  a  disconsolate  manner  over  the  side  of  (ho 
vessel,  with  a  young  girl  with  him  all  in  tears.  On  seeing  this,  he 
took  occasion  to  speak  with  him  in  Latin,  which  brougliton  a  con- 
versation  in  that  language,  by  which  he  understood  that  tlii>:  Pre- 
late was  Bishop  of  Yvica,  on  his  passage  from  Spain  to  that  island, 
and  that  tlie  young  girl  was  a  rtlation  left  under  his  care.  'J  he 
Surgeon,  after  a  few  compliments  of  condolemcnt,  returned  to  hi? 
ship,  and  gave  Captain  de  TAngle  an  account  of  what  had  pai.<t'd. 
This  worthy  Commander  immediately  sent  his  pin-iace  for  tlie 
Bishopand  liis  fairkinswoman,  for  whom  he  had  provided  an  elegant 
sujiper ;  during  which,  being  placed  at  the  head  of  the  (a'jle,  they 
vfcrc  treated  by  hioi  and  his  oliicex  with  the  politeness  and  rc-ipee; 


470  >;avai,  anecdotes, 

due  to  tbcir  rank  and  quality  :  in  the  mean  while  the  Captain  had 
taken  such  proper  measures,  that,  as  soon  as  the  supper  was  ended, 
he  caused  to  be  restored  to  these  distressed  prisoners  all  the  little 
money,  jewels,  plate,  clothes,  &c.  which  they  had  lost,  excepting 
a  silver  chalice,  which  could  not  be  recovered.  Imagine,  Sir,  to 
yourself,  the  sentiments  of  this  honest  Prelate,  at  such  unexpected 
treatment  from  those  whom^  no  doubt,  he  had  been  taught  to 
regard  as  heretics,  and  from  whom  he  had  probably  apprehended 
the  worst  usage  for  himself  and  his  young  relation.  The  simplicity 
and  the  goodness  of  his  heart  discovered  itself  by  a  flood  of  tears, 
more  expressive  than  the  rhetoric  of  a  Jesuit,  or  the  wit  of  a  Car- 
dinal.  Captain  de  1' Angle,  pleased  with  the  sincerity  of  his  joy, 
assured  him  of  his  being  safe  as  well  as  free,  and  the  next  morning 
he  should  be  at  full  liberty  to  pursue  his  voyage  without  any  fears 
of  future  danger.  Accordingly,  after  an  agreeable  breakfast,  he 
■was  re-conducted  on  board  his  own  bark,  and  arrived  soon  after 
safe  at  Yvica. 

CAPTAIN    BYNO,     OF     HIS     MAJESTy's    SHIP    BELLIQUEUX. 

THE  subjoined  is  an  extract  from  The  Government  Gazette, 
at  Madras,  dated  May  1,  I8O6  :— 

We  have  much  pleasure  in  inserting  the  following  Address  from 
the  Commanders  of  the  Hon.  Company's  ships  lately  arrived  at 
this  Presidency,  to  Captain  Byng,  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Belli, 
queux,  expressing  the  sense  they  entertain  of  his  conduct  during 
the  period  they  have  served  under  his  orders,  together  with  that 
officer's  reply  : — 

To  Georcje  Byng,   f^^q-i  Captain  of  His  Majesty's  Ship  Belli-' 
qucux,  Madras  Roads. 

SIR, 

WE  feel  it  our  indispensable  duty,  at  as  early  a  period  as  possible, 
to  ofier  you  our  sincere  congratula,tions  upon  the  ?afe  arrival  of 
the  whole  of  the  ships  under  convoy  of  His  Majesty's  ship 
Belliqueux  at  this  port. 

Permit  us  to  return  you  our  most  sincere  thank?  for  the  con- 
stant and  unremitting  attention  we  have  ever  experienced  from 
you,  since  we  had  the  honour  to  be  placed  under  your  orders. 

As  a  testimony  of  the  respect  we  entertain  in  consequence,  we 
beg  1  javc  to  solicit  your  acceptance  of  a  Piece  of  Plate,  value  100/., 
the  contemplation  of  which  may  hereafter  renew  the  pleasing 
reiiection  of  your  eminent  services  in  the  late  successful  Expcditioa 


COMMERCIAI,   HINTS,    RECOLLECTIONS,    &C,  471 

against  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  remind  you  of  the  sincere 
regard  of  those  who  have  the  honour  to  subscribe  themselves. 

Sir, 
Your  most  obedient  and  humble  Servants, 

William  Eomeades, 
Com.  H.  C.  Ship  William  Pitt. 
John  Dale, 
Com.  H.  C.  Ship  Streatham. 
John  Cameron, 
Com.  H.  C.  Ship  Jane,  Duchess  of  Gordon. 
H.   Beaver, 
,  Com.  H.  C.  E.  Ship  Glory. 

R.  Barker, 
Com.  H.  C.  E.  Ship  Northa'upton, 
J.  Mering, 
Com.  H.  C.  E,  Comet. 
J.  Mackesin, 
Com.  H.  C.  E.  Ship,  Sarah  Christiana- 
J.  Fairfax, 
Fort  George,  April  23,  1806.  Com.  H.  C.  E.  Ship  Union. 

His  Majesty  s  Ship  Belliqueux,  Madras  Roads, 

GENTLEMEN,  Jpril  24,  1806. 

I  HASTEN  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
yesterday's  date,  and  to  express  the  great  pleasure  on  finding  that 
the  conduct  observed  by  me,  during  the  period  you  have  beea 
placed  under  my  orders,  has  afforded  you  that  satisfaction  it  has, 
and  ever  will  be,  my  study  to  endeavour  to  experience  on  similar 
occasions. 

I  accept  with  pleasure  the  Piece  of  Plate  offered  in  your  letter; 
and  be  assured,  that  when  it  reminds  me  of  the  events  mentioned 
by  you  in  so  flattering  a  manner,  it  will  call  to  my  remembrance 
the  services  of  those  among  you  who  were  placed  under  my  com- 
mand on  that  occasion,  and  the  general  attention  evinced  by  the 
whole,  during  the  period  your  several  ships  were  under  the  coavoj 
of  Jlis  Majesty's  ship  Belliqueux. 

1  have  the  honour  to  be, 
Gentlemen, 
Your  most  obedient  Servant, 

C.  B\XG. 

Tu  ike  Commanders  of  the  Honourable  Com~  ^ 

pan^s  ShijiH,  Willium  Pitt,  Streulfiam, 
June  Duchess  of'  Gordon,  Glory,  No7'i- 
fhamplon,  Comet,  Surah  ChriUiana^ 
Union, 


472  NAVAL   ANECDOTES,  &C. 

ESTIMATED    VALUE    OF    NEW    SHIPS. 

THE  following  is  an  abstract  of  an  estimate  of  the  expense  of 
building  ships  in  the  King's  Yards,  including  coppering  and  copper 
bolting,  and  providing  them  "vvith  masts,  yards,  rigging,  sails, 
anchors,  cables,  and  all  other  Boatswain's  and  Carpenter's  stores, 
to  an  eight  months'  proportion,  according  to  the  prices  paid  for 
timber,  hemp,  and  other  naval  stores,  in  the  month  of  August, 
1789:-- 

For  a  ship  of  100  guns,  67,600/. ;  a  98  gun'ship,  57,120/. ;  an 
80,  of  the  new  construction,  53,120/.;  a  74,  43,820/. ;  a  64, 
35,920/. ;  a  50,  25,720/. ;  a  44,  21,400/. ;  a  38,  20,830/.  ;^  36, 
of  the  new  construction,  19,070/. ;  a  32,  16,080/.  ;  a  28,  12,420/.; 
a  24,  10,550/.;  a  20,  9,100/.;  and  a  sloop,  of  300  tons, 
«,200/. 

,•  "WEAR    AND    TEAR    OF    THE    NAVY. 

AX  alteration  was  adopted  in  1798,  with  respect  to  the  money 
annually  voted  under  this  head  of  service  ;  the  reason  for  which  is 
explained  by  the  following  extract  from  a  publication  of  one  of 
the  then  Secretaries  of  the  Treasury  : — "  In  order  to  the  comjjlete 
attainment  of  the  object,  of  preventing  any  debt  being  incurred  for 
the  Navy  in  future,  (he  practice  which  had  prevailed  ever  since  the 
middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  with  trifling  deviations  in 
King  William's  time,  of  voting  4/.  a  man  per  month,  to  cover  the 
ordinary  services  of  the  Navy,  (without  regard  to  the  increasing 
price  of  all  articles  in  the  course  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  years,) 
■was  departed  from  in  the  beginning  of  1798 :  a  calculation  was 
then,  for  the  first  time,  made,  of  what  would  cover  the  actual 
charge,  exclusive  of  ordinary  buildings  and  repairs  ;  and  a  sum 
equal  to  71.  a  man  per  month  was  voted." 

This  71.  a  man  per  month  is  thus  divided  :— • 

Wa'TOs 1  17  0 

Wear  and  tear  of  ships  in  com- 
, mission,   and  of  their  furniture 

and  stores ^ ,   3  0  0 

Victualling    1  18  0 

Ordnance . 0  5  0 

,700 


473 
CORRESPONDENCE. 


Journal  of  the  Proceedings  of  a  Squadron  of  His  Majcsfj/\9  Shfps^ 
under  ihe  Command  of  Sir  John  Jervis,  K.B.,  employed  i7i 
conjunction  with  a  Body  of  Troops^  under  the  Command  of  Sir 
Charles  Grey,  K.B.,  to  reduce  the  French  Colonies  in  ihe 
Leezcard  Islands.)  1794,  and  1795. 

[From  the  MSS.  of  a  Naval  OiTicer.] 

\_Con!hiuedfroin  pi'ge  393.] 

-COLONEL  SYMMS,  just  after  the  Fleur  d'Epce  Avas  taken, 
went  to  drive  the  enemy  from  the  town  of  Point  a  Petre, 
a!)outfoiir  miles  from  the  Fort;  and  also  from  that,  quite  out  of 
this  part  of  the  Island,  called  Grande  Terre,  over  the  canal  which 
separates  it  from  Cabes  Terre  ;  and  found  hiiii  with  one  of  the 
Veteran's  companies  under  Lieutenant  Conolly,  and  with  the  other 
under  Lieutenant  Cashman*,  following  at  some  distance.  We 
pushed  on  to  the  town  without  any  opposition.  On  arriving,  I 
savv  forty  or  fifty  of  the  enemy  in  arms  ;  pushing  on,  as  I  thought, 
to  get  into  a  battery  commanding  the  town,  of  t  vo  or  three  guns: 
and  then,  having  ofsly  twelve  or  fourteen  men  with  me,  1  was 
forced  to  make  the  best  of  it,  and  hastening  after  them,  we  took 
possession  of  the  battery,  and  drove  them  entirely  out  of  that  part 

of  the  town - - - 

Colonel  Symms  and  myself,  imraLdiately  after  this,  collecting 
what  few  men  we  could,  forced  them  dov/n  the  road,  where  they 
had  spiked  two  small  fiel.l  pieces,  and  drove  them  entirely  out  of 
the  Island.  On  both  sides  of  this  road  is  a  raorass  almost 
impassable  ;  though  some  I  imagine  had  attempted  to  pass  it,  as  we 
found  a  horse,  belonging  to  some  officer,  sticking  in  the  mud, 
though  so  deep,  that  with  all  our  endeavours  we  could  not  extricate 
him.  The  enemy  had  just  crossed  the  canal  that  separates  the 
two  Islands,  as  we  arrived;  so  that  we  had  nothing  to  do  but  to 
return  to  Point  a  Pctre,  where  v.e  had  a  dinner  with  Sir  Charles 
(rrey,  the  Prince,  Colonel  Symms,  and  the  whole  corps.  .\Ir. 
Herbert,  of  the  Veteran,  brought  me  the  colours  of  the  second 
battalion,  the  regiment  de  Guadaloupe,   and  which  [  gave  to  Sir 

*  This  name  perhaps  not  correct^  being  written  very  unintelligibly  ia 
the  MS. 

^ati.  ^Tfcron.  (aof.XVII.  p  p  p 


474  CORRESPOKTCENCE. 

Charles  Grey  :  they  were  taken  in  the  battery,  which  I  mentioned 
before,  by  IMr.  Herbert.  Our  seamen  were  re-embarked  that 
nislit;  and  fhe  day  afterwardj,  the  Veteran,  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Harvey,  with  the  Irresistible,  and  some  frigates,  with  the 
light  infantry  in  transports,  under  General  Dimdas,  proceeded 
towards  t'Ance  des  Vienx  Habitants  in  iiasse  Terre;  and  on  ;he 
night  of  the  15th  of  April,  landed  them,  without  opjicsition, 
between  thii  place  and  le  BailHe  ;  the  ships  being  previously 
placed  within  pistol  shot  of  the  beach  to  protect  the  landing. 
The  Prince,  Sir  Charles  (irey,  and  Colonel  Sjnims,  had  landed  cue 
day  before  t!ii»  at  the  Petit  Boiirg  ;  and  luckily  huTing  marched 
along  the  coast  to  Troichien,  a  post  cjpablo  of  being  defended  by 
one  hundred  men  againat  the  whoU'  army,  they  found  it  evacuated, 
and  got  an  entrance  into  Basse  Terre.  In  the  mean  while  General 
Dimdas,  with  a  large  body  of  seam.cn  and  mariuts,  under  the 
orders  of  ("aptain  Nugent,  \\ho  con'.manded  the  brigade  of  seamen, 
landed  upon  this  expedition  ;  by  very  fadguing  long  marches,  got 
possession  of  the  great  and  little  Parks ;  whilst  a  battalion  of 
infantry,  de'ached  the  first  night  of  our  landing,  had  secured  the 
bridge,  and  the  passes,  which  1  .d  to  the  Park,  a  po:  t  of  as  much 
consr-quence,  and  perhaps  stronger,  than  the  Palmiste  ;  though 
not  thought  so  by  those  who  were  then  ia  the  situation  of  defend- 
ing the  Island. 

The  enemy  had  made  abalth  in  every  ravine  at  the  pas?:ige  over 
every  river. — Two  hundred  men,  with  a  good  Commander,  might 
have  rendered  impassable  many  of  the  ravines  in  this  march;  aud 
it  would  have  been  impossible  even  for  Ge  xral  Dundas,  who  is 
reckoned  the  best  officer  we  had  on  the  service,  to  have  fouyd  his 
■way,  with  the  small  number  of  men  he  had  under  his  command. 

The  only  posts  nO'W  remaining,  were  Morne  Hoel,  within  half  gun 
thai  of  the  post  we  now  occupied,  arrd  some  posts  on  the  Palmiste  ; 
which,  when  taken,  it  was  supposed  the  Governor,  who  wa'  now 
in  Fort  Charles,  would  capitulate.  It  grieved  us  much  to  see,  as 
soon  as  we  had  surrounded  the  heights  whkh  commanded  this 
Fort  and  Basse  Terre,  thait  part  of  the  town  was  set  on  fire ;  it 
contin  led  to  burn  some  time,  and  much  of  it  was  destroyed.  We 
were  led  to  believe  that  some  ntgroes  had  done  this ;  and  it  is  true, 
that  in  passing  through  the  town,  soon  aft  r  its  surrender,  I  found 
some  negioes^lying  in  the  street,  who  it  was  said  had  been  shot* 
for  having  burnt  the  town  :  the  Governor  however  was  much  sus- 


*  By  tlie  inhabitants. 


COURESTONDENCE.  475 

pcctcd  in  this  business.  The  night  of  April  the  l&fh,  1794,  the 
attack  of  Morne  JIool  was  dt'tprmin^d.  Colonel  Bliindell  was  to 
lead  one  column,  and  Captain  Nugent  was  to  command  (he  other  : 
^  the  roids  throngh  which  the  troops  and  seame^J  marched,  were 
very  rugged,  fyli  of  ravines,  and  in  some  parts  almost  iuiprac- 
tioaljle:  down  one  ravine  particularly,  thirty  feet  steep  at  least, 
and  up  anoiher  hill,  which  they  were  forced  to  climb  up  by  the 
roots  of  trees  for  a  grent  distance*.  The  battery  I'Anglois  was 
taken  by  Sir  Charles  Grey's  column  the  niglit  after  the  taking  of 
Morne  iioil ;  and  the  next  day  all  the  Forts  upon  the  Palmiste,  and 
Fort  Charles,  capitulated.  On  the  2'2d  of  April,  1794,  the.troops 
laying  down  their  arms  on  !h  •  Glacis,  the  Admiral,  with  the 
squadron,  went  into  the  road  of  Basse  Terre;  and  Captain  Angent 
having  joined  his  ship,  reu^oved  ail  his  goods  and  ciiatteis  into  the. 
Santa  Margaretta,  destined  to  go  home  uitii  those  who  carried  the- 
expresses,  fie  vv'as  superceded  in  the  V  eti  ran  by  a  Lieutenant 
from  the  Royne,  who  had  a'l  acting  order  as  Capiai»i.  We  took 
leave  of  our  ofSc.rs  and  ship's  corapapiy  with  much  regret;  went 
on  board  the  Boyne  to  receive  orders  from  the  Adnsiral,  and  imme- 
diately sailed  for  England,   witn   the  di«:pafches , 

It  was  recomra!  iided  by  thoHv".  most  convoi-sant  with  the  siciation 
of  the  French  Colonies,  to  endeavour  to  complete  the  reducli  n  of 
those  to  windward,  by  the  red'iction  of  Cayenne;  so  that  if  the 
French  should  endeavour  at  any  future  period  to  arm  against  our 
new  conqu  sts,  they  would  hjv3  no  place  of  rendezvous  for  their 
squadrons:  and  another  advan'^age,  arising  froai  this  conquest, 
was  the  destroyiiiff  a  great  nest  of  privati'ers,  which  would 
otherwise  have  been  a  great  detrim-nt  to  the  fr.i  ie  of  these,  and 
tho  rest  of  our  stigir  colonies.  Whether  it  was  too  late  in  ihe. 
year,  ant]  that  there  wer-.'  but  troops  suthcieiit  to  settle  these  con- 
quests 'f  the  three  Islaiids  of  Guadaioupe,  St.  jjueia,  and  Aiarti- 
niq  le,  and  to  garttson  them  iift.rwanis  ;  as  indeed  i  bc^'iieve  is 
nearly  the  truth,  the  expedition  was  given  up.  at  !ei>t.  1  was  made 
so  to  undeistiind.      St.  Domingo  f  also  wuald  iuive  b.-e;i  euibiuced 


*  Co!oi;el  BUiiufcll  look  possession  of  die  Fort  .u  d-iviijiiit. 

+  A'ter  the  reduction  of  these  Islnuds,  General  Vv'bite  ^^as  ?ent,  u-ita  a 
body  of  troops,  to  assist  in  the  couipicsc  of  St.  Dtimiii,o:  vvhicti  wiis  lu  a 
preat  rheasure  the  cau^e  of  the  re-capture  of  Guadaioupe  by  tiie  Ireiich 
s^  it  left,  so  few  troops  togurriseii  that  Isinud. 


475  CGRRKSPONDENCE. 

in  the  scheme  of  conquests,  had  there  been  any  body  of  troops  to 
be  spared  from  these  Islands.  In  my  mind,  two  rules  should 
have  been  laid  down  for  our  conduct  there  : — first,  to  adrait 
none  as  Emigrants,  unless  they  could  giv5  a  perfect  and  satisfac- 
tory account  of  the  nature  of  their  emigraHon  ;  of  their  prin- 
ciples before  they  were  driven  off,  and  that  they  had  at  least  some 
small  property  in  the  place :  as  many  were  driven  off,  not  on 
account  of  their  principles,  which  are  as  bad  and  as  violent  as 
those  who  remained  ;  but  from  other  motives  totally  unconnected 
■with  the  great  quarrel.  The  Noblesse  of  these  Islands  owed  a 
great  deal  of  money  to  the  Bourgeoisie,  whence  originate!  the 
quarrel  between  the  two  ;  and  this  eiuLd  in  those  Noblesse  being 
driven  out.  Another  rule  should  have  been  adopted  to  drive  out 
of  these  Islands  all  those  who  had  taken  any  active  part:  as  the 
principles  of  their  conduct  arc  so  rooted  iu  their  minds,  that  it  is 
impossible  that  the  mildest  govcrnux-nt  will  ever  eradicate  them  : 
and  they  will  remain  lurking  in  their  haurits,  ready  to  blaze  forth, 
■whenever  the  first  spark  of  any  future  discord  shall  show 
itself. 

The  Mulattoes  are  the  most  dangerous  of  all  ;  and  the  GoTcrn- 
laent  will  never  be  at  peace,  until  they  are  totally  driven  out  of  the 
captured  Islands.  The  Governuicnt  have  full  powers  to  do  this, 
notwithstanding  the  tenor  of  the  manifesto,  as  very  few  came  in 
jiefore  all  their  posts  had  been  stormed  ;  except  the  small  garrisons 

■who  capitulated  at  two  or  three  inferior  posts,. , 

To  dwell  on  the  scenes  of  horror  that  have  been  before  us  for 
four  years  in  these  islands,  would  require  hearts  as  unfeeling  as 
those  which  occasioned  them  :  but  I  trust  that  the  Legislature  will 
drain  these  conquests  thoroughly  of  all  the  Muuvais  Si/Jcfs ;  and 
that  it  will,  by  this  means,  root  up  the  seeds  of  all  future  dissen- 
sions, and  diminish  the  expenses  Oi  the  Government,  by  making  it 
less  necessary  to  leave  large  garrisons,  \7hich  we  can  but  ill  allbrd 
for  their  protection. 

Another  thing  should  ako  be  recom.mended  in  all  these  Islands, 
as  far  as  their  situation  might  make  it  politic,  or  practicable  : 
■which  is,  to  make  a  free  port;  and  that  should  be  as  near  the  strong 
defences  of  the  Inlands  as  it  is  possible;  that,  if  attacked,  the  greac 
mart,  and  all  the  richest  magazines,  might  be  within  the  protectiou 
Cif  the  strong  posts.  For  instance,  St.  Pierre's  was  a  free,  port, 
and  it  owes  its  consequence  to  that  circumstance  ;  whereas  it  v/ould 
I;ave  been  a  much  wiser  policy,  and  wiil  be  so  in  us,  to  destroy 
that  free  port,  and  inJsc  a  free  port  of  i'ort  Kovalj  wkich  is  pro-. 


CORRESPOXDENCE.  477 

« 

iected  by  Forts  Bourbon  and  Louis.  Thus,  in  case  of  invasion, 
when  it  would  be  necessary  to  concentre  the  forces  of  the  Island  ; 
and  it  would  be  convenieot  to  liave  only  one  port  to  defend, 
instead  of  two,  very  much  detached  from  each  other  ;  (the  com- 
munication from  which,  to  each  other,  might  be  very  easily  cut  oflf 
by  an  invading  enemy;)  less,  much  Ics  would  be  sacrificed  of  tlia 
riches  of  the  Island,  by  withdrawing  the  troops  from  St.  Pierre's  ; 
which  would,  it  Fort  Royal  were  a  free  port,  dwindle  into  little 
more  than  a  large  village.  At  St.  Lucie,  Cartier*  seems  to  be  the 
town  fitted  for  a  free  port  most  of  all  others,  being  under  the 
defence  of  Mont  Fortune,  a  post  stronger  by  the  nature  of  the 
ground  than  Fort  Bpurbon,  being  more  difficult  of  approach; 
indeed  scarcely  to  be  approached  at  all  :  but  on  which  there  is 
pow  nothing  but  an  unfinished  redoubt ;  which  indeed,  if  finished, 
would  have  been  still  the  most  miserable  performance  which  the 
"woist  Engineer  pver  devised;  having  no  fiank,  or  any  line  of 
defence,  through  the  whole  of  it.  And  it  seems  to  me,  that  no 
idea  of  throw  ng  up  defences  in  either  Island  ever  entered  into 
their  heads,  until  the  alarm  of  Fort  Bourbon  being  besieged  took 
place  in  the  rest  of  the  Islands  :  as  wp  four^d  that  post,  Fleur 
(i'Epee,  at  Guadaloupe,  and  almost  all  the  others,  in  every  part 
unfinished,  and  so  ill  planned,  that  they  seemed  to  have  been 
recently  formed  by  some  Engineer  in  a  panic. 

At  Guadaloupe,  Basse  Terre  is  certainly  a  very  proper  place 
in  which  to  concentre  the  riches  of  that  Island  :  as  the  posts  of  the 
Palmiste,  of  Morne  Hoel,  and  the  Park,  with  the  subordinate 
posts  commanded  by  them,  are  near  enough  to  command  the  town, 
and  defend  all  the  approaches  to  it :  if  also  possessed  of  a  pass 
leading  from  Cabes  Terre  to  Basse  Terre,  without  which  an  army 
can  scarcely  pa^s  from  one  to  the  other  ;  and  which  may  be 
defended  by  a  very  small  party,  against  a  large  army  :  these,  with 
Xvlorue  Hoel,  form  the  impracticable  posts  which  defend  Basse 
Terre :  the  Fleur  d'Epee  defends  Grande  Terre,  and  the  approaches 
to  Point  a  Petre :  but  an  army  might  leave  it  behind,  and  burn 
that  town,  by  proceeding  through  roads  and  passes,  somewhat 
difficult ;  which  may  be  pass'  d,  if  we  may  judge  from  what  we 
performed  ourselves  ;  but  which  certainly  might  be  defended  by  a 
very  small  detachment  of  men,  if  they  were  conducted  by  able 
officers,  against  any  numbers. 

But  certainly  these  posts  are  very,  very  much  less  capable  of 
(Jefence,  than  those  of  Basse  Terre  :  so  that  I  should  choose,  (to 

•  Not  plain  in  MS. 


4^8,  GaRR^:sr-o?JEEMCE. 

put  it  into  the  power  of  a  small  force  to  defend  thcTriseTres,  and 
as  gre;it  a  part  of  the  riches  of  the  Island  as  possibl-e,  and  as  much 
of  the  uiagHzirios,  (Sfc.)  to  make  Basse  Terre  also  a  free  port;  or 
to  give  that  town  some  essential  advantages  over  ail  the  others  in 
this  Island,  to  make  it  the  interest  of  Merchants  to  liuck  thither 
to  establish  their  magazines. 

I  must  also  add,  that  on  our  passage  to  Barbadoes,  and  during 
the  whole  course  of  this  Expt'dilion,  we  found  that  tlie  people 
"were  much  healthier,  when  they  were  served  with  wine,  than  when 
^vo■  gave  them  t'leir  allowance  of  spirits  ;  which  heated  them,  and 
ina.dc  them  mucli  more  liable  to  colds,  and  ftjvcrs,  during  the  time 
they  served  in  dragging  tip  the  guns ;  a  very  heavy  work  in  the 
midst  of  frequent  rains,  which  were  very  common  during  the  siege 
of  Fort  Bourbon  ;  contrary  to  the  general  observations  which  I 
have  had  the  opportuTiiiy  of  making  of  the  weather,  during  five 
years  I  pas,scd  in  the  West  Indies.  At  this  season  of  the  year,  ail 
the  time  of  the  rest  of  their  service,  we  found  that  they  endured 
much  more  fatigue,  and  were  less  liable  to  sickness,  when  served 
V»"ith  wine,  than  grog  :  and  double  allowance  of  wine  was  generally 
given  thim  dysnng  their  heavy  labours.  We  had  a  very  good 
opportunity  on  our  passage  out,  of  ob-erving  the  difference 
between  the  wine  and  the  spirits  ;  having  received  orders  to  servs 
alternately  v/ine  and  rum,  a  fortnight  each.  During  the  time  the 
wine  was  served,  the  ship's  compiny  was  in  perfect  good  order, 
peaceable  and  laborious ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  when  we  served  the 
rum,  they  were  riotous  and  lazy  ;  and  punishment  was  necessary 
to  keep  them  in  good  order.  VVhereas,  it  was  unusual  wirh  us  at 
other  times  to  chastize  any  of  them.  'ihe  sick  li-t,  also, 
evidently  increased  on  such  occasions  ;  and  feverish  complaint:^, 
and  colds,  were  much  more  frequent  :  so  much  was  this  the  case, 
that  I  broke  through  the  order.  The  experience  of  the  rest  of  the 
squadron  justifies  me  in  making  this  assertion;  and  1  am  well  con- 
vinced, that  Government  would  do  well  to  order  wine  sufficient 
for  the  compaaies  of  the  difierent  ships  of  the  tl-.ei,  to  be  used 
instead  of  any  thing  else.  If  inducenicnts  may  be  wanting  of  the 
CEConomical  kind,  one  might  be  alleged,  that  fewer  njen  would  be 
sent  to  the  Hospitals,  and  this  savii-.g  would  overbalance  the  addi^ 
tionai  expense  :  and  now  1  am  upon  this  subject,  1  must  also  say, 
thatj  according  to  my  ideas,  a  small  c^uantity  of  strong  beer  woul4 
be  much  more  salutary  to  the  people,  than  the  immense  quantity 
of  bad  small  beer  issued  to  the  men  on  Channel  service.  And  the 
same  inducements  might  bring  Goyernment  into  the  measure  :  for 


CORRESPONftEIfGi:*  479 

I  am  wdl  convinced,  that  the  small  beer  i-iSued  to  the  meti  is  vcrj 
unhealthy,  and  particuiarly  in  cold  vveatherj  when  the)'  require 
something  sfroiigcr  to  suj)i)ort  themselves. 

The  companies  of  the  ships  of  tlu  squa;lron  were  also,  whilst  in 
the  West  i'ldies,  served  with  cocoa  and  sugar,  which  made  thtm  a, 
•very  comfortable  breakfast,  and  must  have  conduced  very  much  to 
the  heaUi)  of  the  people,  as  sugar  is  known  to  be  a  very  great 
antiscorbiilic.  This  was  served  (hem  instead  of  butter  atid 
cheese;  bolh  which  are  very  unwholesome  in  (hose  hot  climates, 
in  the  state  in  which  they  are  served  to  the  men,  b.ing  generally 
very  rancid  and  putrid:  whereas  the  other  both  nouri^hts  and 
dilutes,  which  is  very  necessary  in  the  West  Im'.ies,  where  the 
heats  are  so  excessive,  and  where  the  or.ly  safety  is  to  keep  up  the 
perspiration. 

The  abilities  of  the  French  Engineers  appeared  much  greater, 
and  more  conspicuous,  than  our  own  :  chiefly  at  Fort  Bourbon, 
where  they  were  most  cirsploj'ed.  And  this  occasion  grati^es  nie 
much,  as  it  recalls   to  n.y  memory  n-.y   v.ry   ih:w  friend  Sansi, 

■whom  I  shall  never  forj-ct _ 

The  Commanders  in  Chief  liave  cvQry  rjjLi,()n  to  recommend  them 
to  the  Government :  Sir  Jolin  Jcrvis  has  told  me  often,  that  they 
meant  to  do  so.  Sansi*  was  the  first  mover  of  the  Escalade  of 
Fort  Royal;  and  by  thus  changing  the  nature  of  the  attack, 
which  had  been  made  originally  in  the  nature  of.  the  siege  of  Fort 
Bourbon,  on  which  no  impression  had  been  made,  though  they  had 
battered  it  for  a  month  or  nearly  ;  and  on  which  no  impression 
would  have  been  made,  had  they  continued  the  fire  from  the 
batteries  till  now.  He,  as  I  saiij  before,  tlius  changing  the  nature 
of  the  attack,  obliged  P^ort  Bourbon  to  capitulate  a  day  or  two 
afterwards.  His  measures  were  bold  beyond  description,  and  full 
of  energy. .,. 

[To  be  concluded  in  our  next.] 


*  Sansi  had  a  responsible  siiuation  given  iiim  in  die-Island,  as  Superin- 
tendant  of  the  Works :  but  it  was  takea  away  shortly  afterwards,  by  the 
change  of  the  Coinmandsr  iu  Chief. 


4sa 

CORRECT  RELATION  OF  SHIPWRECKS. 

[Continued  from  page  405.] 

^/itJo.  XVII. 

Again  the  dismal  prospect  opens  round, 

The  wreck >  the  shore,  the  dying,  andthe  drown'd. 

Falconer. 

NARRATIVE  OF  THE  VOYAGE  AND  LOSS 

OF 

THE  DUKE  WILLIAM,  TRANSPORT, 

WHICH  FOUNDERED  AT  SEA,  WITH  UPWARDS  OF  THREE  HUN- 
DRED FRENCH  PRISONERS  ON  BOARD,  IN  THE  YEAR  1758  j 
AND    OF    THE    ESCAPE    OF    HER    CREW,    IN    OPEN    BOATS. 

Now  first  published, 

From  the  original  Manuscript  of  Captain  Nicholls^  her 
I  Commander. 

[Continued  froth  page  401.] 

'E  all  enjoyed  this  pleasing  spot  during  most  part  of  the 
siege  of  Louisboiirg ;  when  Captain  Schoniberg,  of  the 
Diana  frigate,  sent  his  Lieutenant  and  Doctor  on  shore,  with  his 
sick  people,  of  whom  he  had  a  great  number,  several  with  the 
spotted  fever.  He  ordered  his  Doctor  to  take  possession  of  my 
arbour,  as  he  imagined  that,  on  his  bringing  the  sick  people  on 
shore,  I  would  quit  it.  I  being  at  dinner  at  t!ie  large  house,  my 
servant,  who  was  then  sentry,  came  and  acquainted  me  with  what 
was  going  forward.  I  went  immediately,  and  finding  the  Lieutenant 
and  Doctor  there,  and  the  iewi  building  close  by  my  garden,  I  ex- 
postidated  with  them  ;  telling  them,  that  as  Admiral  Boscawcn  had 
granted  us  the  favour  of  the  Island,  and  as  we  had  been  at  much 
pains  to  bring  it  to  the  state  it  was  in,  and  as  there  were  many 
other  places,  remote  from  our  habitations,  where  the  sick  would 
not  infect  us,  begged  they  would  pitch  their  tents  there.  The 
Doctor  said  mine  was  a  very  proper  place:  he  liked  it  vastly;  and 
as  he  had  Captain  Schoraberg's  orders  for  coming  there,  he  would 
stay.  1  told  them,  that  as  the  Admiral  had  often  made  choice  of 
this  place  to  retire  in,  I  knew  it  would  disoblige  him.  They  still, 
however,  persisted  in  taking  it  from  me :  and,  finding  it  in  vain  to 
argue  about  it  any  more,  I  assured  them  they  should  reap  no 


CORUECT    RFXATION    OF    SIlirWRECKS.  481 

Jixlvaiitago  fioiii  their  ill  nature,  as  I  would  cut  down  tlie  trees,  and 
destroy  the  arbour  and  garden,  and  I  know  every  one  who  had  a 
little  habitation  \\ou!d  do  iht;  s;'.me.  1  bade  the  lad  clap  the  axe  to 
the  trees,  which  they  dared  hiai  to  do.  I  then  took  the  axe 
myself,  and  declared  if  they  oit'erod  to  prevent  me  I  avouM  cleave 
thera  down.  I  sent  on  board  for  my  peopk',  and  pulled  all  the 
inclosures  up,  and  wliat  I  did  not  think  proper  to  remove  I  set  on 
fire;  and  every  one,  finding  he  could  not  come  on  shore  without 
running  the  hazard  of  getting  sick,  followed  my  example.  Thus  every 
house  was  destroyed,  and  the  Island  v.  as  in  a  blaze  from  one  end 
to  the  other.  'Use  fire  being  seen  on  board  the  licet,  the  Adn>i.al 
sent  his  barge  on  shore  to  know  what  was  the  matter,  tor  he  was 
learful  that  the  Indians  had  come  down  among  us.  V\  hen  he 
learnt  the  truth  of  the  atfair,  he  was  angry  with  Captain  Schom- 
berg ;  but,  as  he  was  a  favourite,  it  was  overlooked. 

Louisbourg  being  taken  a  short  time  after  the  destroying  of  our 
houses,  it  was  no  great  loss  to  us.  On  the  reduction  of  that  place, 
the  Island  St.  John,  in  the  entrance  to  the  gulf  of  Lawrence,  fell 
by  capitulation,  and  the  inhabitants  were  to  be  sent  to  Old  France. 
Lord  Rollo,  with  a  large  party,  were  sent  on  board  the  transports, 
which  were  ordered  thither  for  that  purpose.  The  transports  were 
nine  in  number,  of  which  the  Duke  William,  the  ship  I  coain.anded, 
"Was  one.  We  proceeded,  under  convoy  of  the  Hind  sloop  o;  war, 
Captain  Bond  ;  but  meeting  with  contrary  v,inds,  and  bad  wea- 
ther, had  a  long  passage.  Having  brought  the  fleet  up  otTa  Cape, 
called  St.  Louis,  nine  leagues  distant  from  the  Gut  of  Causo,  and 
it  blowing  strong  in  the  flight,  my  cable  parted.  In  the  njorning, 
the  man  of  war  made  a  signal  to  bear  away  for  the  Gut  again.  I 
came  to  a  resolution  to  stay,  and  try  whether  I  could  not  get  my 
anchor  and  cable  again.  The  ships  all  left  me  riding,  and  the 
next  day  it  fell  fine  weather.  I  weighed,  and  dropped  the  ship  at 
the  buoy,  and  unbent  him  ;  took  tlie  buoy  rope  into  the  hawser, 
and  hove  the  anchor  up  :  but,  by  (he  time  we  had  got  the  anchor 
into  the  bows,  it  came  on  very  bad  weather;  wind,  hail,  and  rain, 
with  terrible  claps  of  thunder,  and  severe  lightning.  A  long 
winter's  night  was  approaching  ;  and,  as  wc  were  on  an  unknown 
coast,  (for  our  drafts  were  very  erroneous,)  our  situation  was 
extremely  uupl^Tsant.  The  fleet  were  much  afraid  that  some  n  is- 
fortune  had  befallen  us  ;  for  though  they  had  bad  leather,  thoy 
had  it  not  so  severe  as  us.  Captain  Bond,  in  the  morning,  made 
a  signal  for  all  Masters  of  transports,  and  desired  they  would  man 
their  boats,  as  he  thought  he  had  heard  several  guns  ftred  in  tlie  night. 
He  fancied  that  they  were  fired  by  mc  iu  distress,  and  was  tearful 

il2at5.  erijron.  aiol.XYII.  a  q  a 


4S2  counixT  uelation  of  siiipwuecks. 

that  we  uerc  on  shore;  and  if  so,  were  in  course  scalped  by  the 
Indiaiis,  Accordin!::;?y5  Avhen  their  boats  were  manned,  tlicy  were 
desired  to  row  as  far  as  it  was  prudent  to  venture.  As  the  wea- 
ther Avas  still  bad,  and  they  could  sec  nothing  of  us,  they  returned, 
giving  us  over  for  lost.  But  Providence  ordered  it  otherwise.  I 
kept  the  ship  under  a  pair  of  coarses  all  night,  and  in  the  morning 
bore  away  :  but,  it  coniiug  on  very  thick,  was  obliged  to  lie-to; 
■and  as  it  did  not  clear  till  late  in  the  aflernoon,  I  had  a  narrow 
escape  in  getting  in,  as  the  Gut  is  very  narrow,  and  by  reason  of 
the  trees  very  difficult  (o  find.  ^Vc  shortl}'  after  sailed  out  of  the 
Gut,  and  got  to  St.  John's.  In  the  passage,  Captain  S.  Hurry, 
in  the  Yarmouth,  was  run  ashore  by  the  ignorance  of  his  Pilot, 
and  was  near  being  lost,  but  his  ship  got  otF  without  any  damage. 
On  our  coming  to  St.  John'^s,  Captain  Bond  sent  us  an  order,  not 
to  go  on  shore  upon  any  account  whatever,  but  at  the  watering 
place;  which,  as  soon  as  we  received,  we  waited  upon  him  in  a 
*  body,  letting  him  know,  that  by  the  long  passage  we  had  had  Me 
were  in  want  of  provisions,  and  that  we  could  not  proceed  without 
them.  He  refund  to  come  upon  deck,  but  sent  us  word  by  his 
Lieutenant,  at  our  peril  to  do  otherwise  than  follow  his  instruc- 
tions. We  then  agreed  among  ourselves,  to  go  up  the  river 
armed,  and  as  I  spoke  the  language,  we  needed  no  interpreter. 
Accordingly,  the  next  morning  we  set  forward  with  all  the  yachts 
and  long  boats  in  the  fleet,  well  manned  and  armed.  As  soon  av 
Captain  Bond  was  informed  that  we  were  gone,  he  made  a  signal 
for  all  Masters  to  come  on  board  ;  which,  when  the  Mates  saw, 
as  several  of  the  large  transports  had  jolly  boats,  they  went  and 
fetched  the  Mates  of  those  ships  whi&h  had  none,  and  went  on 
board  the  Hind  for  orders.  Kte  inquired  why  their  Masters  did 
not  come;  they  replied,  that  they  were  gone  on  shore  to  buy  pro. 
visions.  He  then  went  on  shore,  and  told  Lord  Rollo,  that  wc 
were  gone  to  rob  the  French,  and  hoped  when  we  came  down  that 
he  would  punish  us.. 

We  proceeded  up  the  river,  and,  to  our  surprise,  found  a  large 
schooner  riding,  ■with  ensign,  jack,  and  pendant,  which,  wiicn  we 
came  near,  we  found  had  been  sent  by  Captain  Bond,  to  buy  pro- 
visions, to  sell  again  at  Louisbourg.  The  Purser  told  us  that  he 
had  orders  from  him,  in  case  we  shouW  come  up,  to  hinder  us  from 
buying  any  tiing  ;  and,  if  we  did  buy,  he  was  to  take  it  from 
us.  We  told  him  it  was  not  in  his  power,  nor  would  we  sulfer 
ourselves  to  be  ill  treated;  arid,  as  we  should  pay  for  what  avc 
boiiglit,  vfe  would  not  permit  him  to  rob  us.  I  asked  him  what 
he  paid  a  head  for  cattle  ;  he  said  two  dollars,  and  so  in  propor- 


CORRKCT    RELATION    OF    SIITPWHECKS.  483 

tion  for  other  stock.  I  told  liim  wc  would  not  spoil  his  market, 
but  would  go  in  search  of  other  villa;5cs,  hi^lirr  up  the  countr\ . 
We  proceeded,  and  found  a  large  farm-house,  Avherc  we  bouglit 
several  live  cattle  at  three  dollars  a  piece ;  and  hogs  and  sheep  for 
a  shillins;  each;  lor  as  the  inhabitants  knew  they  were  to  be  sent 
to  Old  France,  every  shilling  which  they  made  was  -o  much  clear 
gain.  After  two  days'  searching,  we  procured  as  much  provision 
as  the  boats  would  carry.  Wc  thought  proper  to  make  it  night 
before  wc  would  come  near  the  schooner.  However,  they  kept  a 
good  look-out,  and  perceived  us.  They  hailed,  and  told  >is  they 
had  orders  to  seize  all  our  stock.  'Wc  bade  the  sailors  row  on. 
They  threatened  to  fire;  and  at  last  wc  rowed  alongside,  and  asked 
thorn  what  they  wanted.  The  Lieutenant  replied,  all  our  stock. 
V>  e  said  avc  v.ould  not  agree  to  any  such  terms  ;  and  being  strong 
enough  for  them,  would  not  tamely  submit  to  see  our.sclves  robbed 
of  Mdiat  we  had  fairly  bought.  lie  confessed  that  it  was  hard; 
and,  scping  us  determined  not  to  be  plundered,  desisted.  As  it 
was  a  cold  night,  he  invited  vi^  on  board  the  schooner  to  drink  a 
glass  of  wine,  which  wc  complied  with,  the  boats  making  the  best 
of  their  way  ;  but.  not  being  able  to  get  on  board  before  daylight, 
they  were  perceived  by  the  men  of  w  ar  and  pco])le,  who  acquainted 
their  Captain  with  it.  lie  imaiediatel}  came  and  seized  upon  two 
of  them,  (both  belonging  to  Captain  .Moore,  of  Lynn  ;)  the  others 
got  safe,  and  put  the  cattle  on  board  my  ship.  The  Masters  were 
severely  reprimanded  by  Captain  Bond,  who  threatened  to  write  to 
J.ord  Hollo.  Fearful  tliat  he  Mould  misrepresent  the  affair,  we 
all  went  to  dine  with  his  Lordship  the  next  day;  where  we  met 
with  Captain  Bond,  who  had  accused  us  of  breach  of  orders.  Oa 
lading  the  case  before  his  Lordship,  however,  he  thought  that  we 
were  not  in  the  wrong,  and  gave  us  leave  to,  go  up  tlie  couritry 
and  buy  what  we  pleased. 

Things  remained  in  this  situation,  when  a  large  party  of  soldiers 
were  ordered  up  the  conntvy,  to  bring  the  inhabitants  down  on 
board  the  diflercTit  transports  ;  and  as  mine  was  the  largest  ship, 
the  Missionary  Priest,  (who  was  the  head  man  of  the  country,) 
with  the  principal  inhabitants,  were  ordered  by  Lord  Hollo  to  go 
to  France  with  me.  On  his  arrival,  he  requested  the  favour  that 
the  people  might  come  on  board  to  mass,  and  to  be  married.  -I 
told  him  I  had  no  objection  ;  but  that  I  must  have  a  fee  of  every 
bride.  He  asked  me  what  that  was  :  I  replied,  the  first  kiss  after 
she  was  married.  Being  a  facetious  man,  he  complied.  We  had 
a  great  many  marriages,  as  a  notiiin  prevailed  amongst  the  people, 
that  all  the  siniile  men  must   be  made  soldiers.     Before  wc  came 


4S4  CORRECT    RELATION    OF    SHIPWRECKS. 

away,  we  got  a  great  abundance  of  stock.  We  all  sailed  from  St. 
John's  together ;  Ca{)tain  WiLon,  Avith  Lord  Rollo  and  some 
soldiers  on  board;  and  Captain  Moore,  v.ith  soldiers,  iinder  con- 
voy of  the  Hind :  the  rest,  being  cartels,  had  no  occasion  for  con- 
voy. Captain  Moore's  vessel  was  lost  going  through  the  Gut,  by 
striking  npon  a  rock  under  Avater,  and  the  soldiers  were  put  on 
board  Captain  Wilson,  bound  to  Lonisbourg.  Captain  Moore,  his 
Son,  Mate,  and  Carpenter,  took  their  passage  in  my  ship.  As  the 
ivind  was  contrary,  we  lay  in  the  Gut  of  Canso  some  time.  The 
French  used  freqviently  to  go  on  shove,  and  remain  there  all  night, 
making  fires  in  the  wood  to  keep  themselves  warm.  Some  of  them 
dfrsired  that  they  might  be  allowed  muskets  to  shoot  some  game,  as 
they  were  not  afraid  of  meeting  with  the  Indians,  which  I  granted. 
About  three  liours  after  they  were  gone,  one  of  them  came  running, 
and  begged  for  God's  sake  that  1  would,  with  my  people,  imine- 
diately  go  on  board,  as  they  had  met  with  a  party  of  Indians,  who 
were  coming  down  to  scalp  us. 

I,  with  the  other  Masters  and  sailors,  went  off  immediately  ;  and 
vvf;  had  but  just  got  on  board  before  the  Indians  came  down  ; 
but,  finding  only  Frenchmen,  they  went  away  directly.  It  will  be 
seen  by  this,  how  near  we  were  being  nuirdered  and  scalped,  had 
not  the  French  been  faithful,  and  kind  Providence  interposed. 

I  should  have  mentioned  before,  the  narrow  escape  Avhich  the 
whole  fleet  had  from  being  lost  in  going  to  Canso.  The  night 
being  very  fine,  some  of  the  transports  worked  into  the  mouth  of 
the  Gut,  and  brought  up;  T,  and  Captain  Johnson,  in  a  ship 
called  the  Parnds«us,  brought  up  witliout  the  Gut.  In  the  night 
came  on  a  very  hard  gale  at  S.  E.,  and  blew  so  violently,  that 
Johnson  let  go  three  anchors.  I  rode  just  outside  him,  found  our 
ship  drive  with  a  cable  and  half;  and  not  being  willing  to  let  go 
another  anchor,  I  let  her  drive  some  time  before  i  would  give  her 
any  more  cable  ;  as  I  was  fearful,  being  so  near  the  Gut's  mouth, 
that,  if  the  wind  increased,  1  should  be  obliged  to  cut  my  cable. 
About  two  P.M.  the  weather  came  quite  serene,  not  a  cloud  to  be 
seen.  The  people  v/ent  to  work  to  get  their  anchors  up,  and  to 
run  into  the  Gut,  to  a  place  whereVc  had  always  anchored,. and 
which  I  had  named  English  Harbour.  I  had  hove  ia  all  my  cable  to 
about  30  fathoms,  m  hen  a  most  violent  gale  came  on  at  N.W. 
Our  ship  drove,  but  1  was  determined,  if  possible,  to  save  ray 
anchor  and  cable.  I  loosed  the  foresail,  kept  her  hanging  on  the 
trails,  with  my  mizen-stay-sail,  and  kept  backing  and  fiiiing  till 
1  got  my  anchor.  As  I  kept  the  Gut  open,  I  knew  if  the  ship 
irould  b'.i-t  veer  I  was  in  no  danger  j   which  she  did;  and  I  saved 


CDRTIF.CT    RELATION    OF    SHIPWIirCKS.  4S5 

my  anc'ior  and  cable.  The  Parnassus,  (and  Ave  had  got  ahead  of 
her,)  had  let  go  three  anchors,  and  driven  ashore.  Tlie  Agent's 
ship,  Captain  Siittie,  parted  iVom  her  anchors  likewise,  and  was 
obliged  to  run  ashore  ;  most  of  the  other  transports  broke  or  lost 
theirs ;  but  no  ship,  except  the  two  mentioned,  got  any  material 
damage.  As  soon  as  the  weather  was  moderate,  I  was  sc-nt  down 
by  Ca])tain  Hay,  (who  was  our  Agent,  aiid  a  very  worthy  man,) 
to  see  hovv  it  fared  with  the  poor  Parnassus :  the  French  were  all 
got  ashore  :  and,  it  being  cold  showery  weather,  had  made  them- 
selves large  fires  in  the  woods,  I  ran  a  great  risk  to  get  to  them, 
as  it  was  very  dark,  and  undoubtedly  there  wore  Indians  about. 
I  told  them  the  boats  would  fetch  them  as  soon  as  possible,  at 
■which  they  seemed  quite  rejoiced.  I  tlicn  went  oji  board  the 
Narcisxiis,  and  found  her  very  much  bulged,  and  that  it  was 
impossible  ever  io  f:.et  her  oif.  I  returned  tlu-.  next  morning  with 
as  many  people  as  the  boat  could  carry,  and  informed  the  Agent 
of  the  situation  she  was  in.  lie  ordered  mc  to  send  for  the  remain- 
der, which  I  did,  and  distributed  them  amongst  the  difierent 
tjansports.  SVe  then  endeavoured  to  get  the  Agent's  shi|)  olF,  it 
Ijeiiig  a  due  sandy  bay,  and  she  had  received  no  damage- in  her  hulk 
By  lightening  her  of  ail  her  stores  and  materials,  we  accomplished 
it;  after  which,  everything  that  was  worth  saving  we  took  out  of 
the  Parnassus.  One  of  the  pumps  I  kept  for  the  ship's  use,  ia 
case  of  emergency,  and  which  too  soon  I  had  the  misfartune  to 
have  occasion  for. 

[To  be  continued.] 

NARRATRE  OF  THE  WRECK 

OF 

HIS  .MAJESTY'S  SHIP  PORPOISE, 

LIEUTENANT    ROBERT    FOWLER^    COMMANDER, 

ON    A    REEF    OF    COHAL    IN    TUJi    PACUIC    OOIiAN,    AVpUST    17x11,    1803, 

J/id  the  .subsequent  Procccdiiiga  till  the  Arrival  of  the  Crcio  at 
Canton  ;  icit/i  a  little  extraneous  Matter  rclatfvc  io  the  Colonj 
of  Neic  South  I  Vales. 

BY  ONE  OF  THE  CREW. 

Illc  saliilifcrani  porrexit  ab  cpthere  dextram, 
Et  me  tie  rapidis  per  cuntcni  sustulit  un.dis. 

A  I'SAI.MIS  CCCIIAN. 

[C'oiichideJ  frum  page  105.] 

OUR  passage  up  the  Straits,  and  for  the  first  week  after  getting 
intathe  Indian  Ocean,   was  not  only  tedious,  but  at  times 
excessively  bQislerous.     Nothing  cau  exceed  the  beauty  and  rich- 


48S  CORRECT    RELATION    OF    SHIP'WRECKS. 

ness  of  verdure  of  the  different  Islands  in  these  Straits  ;  those 
even  of  the  smallest  circumference,  were  thickly  covered  with  trees 
to  the  water's  edge,  and  had  an  enchanting  appearance.  The 
southern  extreme  of  the  Malay  peninsula,  (though  there  are 
several  high  hills,  as  Ophir,  Parcelor,  kc.)  is  inclined  to  be  low, 
but  extremely  fertile.  When  you  near  Pinay,  it  begins  to  be 
lofty;  and  the  high  land  of  Queda  presents  a  very  noble  aspect. 
We  found  the  weather,  while  in  the  Straits,  and  as  we  were 
entering  the  Indian  Ocean,  capricious,  but  of  a  perfect  uniformity. 
From  a  dead  calra  iu  the  aliernoon,  a  fro-  •  breeze  sprung  up ; 
increasing  c.radually  till  sun  down,  when  lightning  and  dark  black 
clouds  were  perceived  to  rise  at  a  very  great  distance  in  the  N.  W., 
which,  with  s(jualls,  ard  rain  alternately,  kept  constantly  approach- 
ing, unii!  about  two  or  three  in  the  morning  they  broke  overhead 
in  heavy  thunder  claps,  Avith  deluges  of  rain,  and  terrible  gusts  of 
wind:  as  soon  as  this  took  place  we  had  calm  weather,  which  con- 
tinued so  till  noon.  The  weather  w^as  very  possibly  influenced  a 
good  deal  by  the  approach  of  the-  north-west  monsoon.  From  the 
18th  of  April,  to  the  11th  of  May,  we  had  calms,  and  variable 
winds,  with  clear  sky,  and  scorching  sun.  We  were  now  in  8"  S., 
and  91°  E.,  when  we  got  a  fine  fresh  trade  wind  ;  before  which, 
we  stood  to  the  S.W.  by  S. ;  distances  of  sun  and  moon,  in 
12°  7'  S.,  gave  the  longitude  of  86°  41'  E.,  at  noon  of  the  I4th, 
and  37'  west  of  the  dead  reckoning.  On  the  20th,  by  distances  of 
moon,  and  stars,  Artares  and  ilcgulus,  in  19°  44'  S.,  the  longitude 
was  73°  2'  E.,  and  1°  32'  to  tlic  westward  of  the  reckoning;  a  na- 
tural consequent  of  the  heavy  following  sea.  The  Albatross,  Pin^ 
tada  bird,  and  the  other  tribe  of  oceanics,  met  us  on  the  28th,  in 
lat.  21°  S.,  when  the  winds  began  to  be  variable.  By  observations 
of  sun  and  moon,  in  28°  56'  S.,  we  found  the  long.  46*^  2'  E.,  or 
1°  Jlf  ahead  of  the  dead  reckoning.  We  experienced  the  first 
^ale  of  wind  on  the  12th  of  June  ;  which  being  at  N.W.,  we  were 
obliged  to  bring  to  under  stay-sails.  On  the  17tb,  in  lat. 
3j°  37'  S.,  we,  by  observation  of  the  moon,  with  sun  and  star  on 
opposite  sides,  found  the  longitude  26'^  48'  E.,  or  3°  10'  to  the 
eastward  of  our  reckoning;  which  not  a  little  surprised  us,  as  this 
was  the  first  instance  of  the  kind  since  our  meeting  the  trade  wind ; 
and  besides,  we  had  been  led  to  expect  a  strong  set  westerly,  from 
the  influx  of  the  sea  carried  before  the  wind  on  the  African  shore, 
and  thence  down  the  INIozambique  channel.  When  we  reflect, 
however,  that  this  passage  is  funnel  shaped  at  it's  south  entrance, 
we  ought  to  consider,  that  one  part  of  the  water,  driven  forcibly 
into  it  by  the  trade  wind,  may  take  an  eastern  direction  along  the 


CORRECT    UELATIOM    OF   SHIPWRECKS.  487 

shore  of  Madagascar,  in  like  manner  as  the  other  is  known  to 
sweep  the  skirls  of  the  Agullas  bank  ;  more  especially  at  this  sea- 
son of  the  year,  when  the  very  strong  north-west  winds  prevail. 
It  must  have  been  on  our  opening,  or  indeed  a  little  before  we 
opened  the  Mozambique,  that  we  experienced  the  heavy  current 
easterly.  A  most  satisfactory  proof  of  the  strength  and  direction 
of  the  current  on  the  African  side,  was  exhibited  on  the  28th,  and 
shows  how  completely  the  western  current  is  guided  by  the 
AgulJas  bank.  The  day  previous,  we  had  sfruck  soundings, 
which,  from  the  latitude,  we  knew  must  have  been  on  the  very 
edge  of  the  bank.  Soon  after,  it  came  to  blow  excessively  hard  at 
iV.W.,  in  consequence  of  which  we  were  obliged  to  heave  to  on 
the  starboard  tack.  In  this  position  we  lay  all  night,  and  till 
nearly  the  following  noon,  drifting  bodily  ?i  leeward  as  we 
supposed,  "but  were  agreeably  surprised  to  fird,  by  meridional 
altitude  of  the  sun,  that  instead  of  losing  groifnd,  we  w^re  7  miles 
to  the  northward  of  the  former  day. 

By  observation  of  sun  and  moon  on  the  1st  of  July,  in  31^  4o'  S., 
we  found  the  old  westerly  set,  for  the  long.  14°  17'  E.,  was  26' 
ahead  of  the  dead  reckoning.  A  strong  breeze  springing  up  at 
S.S.W.  on  the  3d,  with  rain  and  dark  wt'a^ther,  we  rolled  along 
before  it,  and  on  the  -Tth  it  shii'ud  to  S.S.E.,  becoming  iixed  on  the 
following  dayatS.E.,  and  continuing  to  blow  from  that  quarter 
without  a  moment's  cessation,  till  wc  made  the  Island  of  St< 
Helena.  By  distances  of  sun  and  moon  on  the  10th,  in  19'  27' S., 
we  found  the  longitude  1^  41'  W. ;  being  jnst  50'  to  the  westward 
of  our  reckoning.  Next  day  proved  favouraOie,  and  we  had  a  few 
more  distances,  which  gave  the  longitude  3"  47'  \V.  From  the 
perfect  agreement  with  tise  ol)servatioiis  of  the  preceding  day,  we 
felt  a  confidence  in  our  situation,  ^^hich  induced  us  to  steer  direct 
for  the  Island  ;  and  wc  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  high  land  at 
daylight  of  the  12th,  on  the  lee  bow,  agreeable  to  our  expec- 
tations. 

As  we  approached  the  land,  the  wind  died  away,  which  hindered 
us  from  getting  to  our  anchorage  till  tlie  following  day.  We  found 
riding  abreast  of  James's  town,  a  fleet  of  Indiamen  from  Bengal, 
and  learned  tiiat  the  China  ilect  had  sailed  for  England  some  weeks 
before  our  arrival,  under  convoy  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Planta- 
genet.  I  was  now  become  so  well  acquainted  with  disappoint- 
ment, that  I  began  to  be  reconciled  to  it ;  and  I  had  some  solace 
left,  in  the  tlioughts  of  beiiig  able  to  escape  the  privateers  in  the 
Channel,  by  keeping  sompany  with  the  Indiamen.     We  had  every 


488  CORRECT    REr..iTJON*    OF    SIIIPYv-RECKS. 

reason  to  expect  the  Coiirageiiv,  but  were  not  altogether  ccrfaln. 
On  the  day  liowever  that  the  ^^  indham  (who  was  to  stand  Com- 
modore to  England)  made  the  signal  for  sailing,  a  signal  from  the 
heights  announced  three  sail  of  ships,  which  we  "knew  must  be  the 
Couragenx,  with  the  store-ships  for  the  Island.  Immediately  on 
the  anchoring  of  the  ships,  I  waited  on  Captain  Eoyl.s,  and 
requested  a  passage  in  his  ship  home  :  for  I  had  determined  to 
trust  no  longer  to  the  chance  of  parting  company,  when  I  should 
fall  in  with  a  man  of  war. 

The  Island  of  St.  Helena  is  high,  aiul  barren,  but  intersected 
Tvith  deep  vallics,  down  which  gargle  streams  of  excellent  water, 
and  iawhich  there  are  some  delightful,  fertile  spots,  where  one  given 
to  solitude  nvight  pass  away  his  days  in  tranquillity,  and  plca-irsgly 
devote  his  attention  to  agriculture  and  books.  He  has  here  neither 
mollia  prcda,  nor  nemora,  to  diversify  the  scenery  ;  but  he  has  the 
gelidi  f antes ^  which  he  can  supercilio  clivosi  tramitis  elicere,  and 
enjoy  the  raucuin  per  Icvvia  murinar  saxa,  as  well  as  the  frigus 
opacurn^  in  the  very  warmest  season  of  the  year  ;  v,-hile  he  scatcbris 
urcntia  ttmperat  area.  This  Island  is  so  high,  and  abrupt  in  its 
whole  circumference,  that  it  may  be  safely  pronounced  impreg- 
nable. Strong  batteries  are  placed  on  the  summits  of  the  hills,  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  those  vallies  where  alone  a  landing  could  be 
eflTectcd,' which  are  so  elevated,  that,  without  reach  of  d.inger 
themselves,  they  could  fire  down  upon  an  assailing  ship,  in  that 
oblique  direction,  which  would  send  her  to  the  bottom.  Granite 
is  the  base  of  this  island,  and  we  have  indubitable  marks  of  its 
having  been  thrown  up  by  fire,  for  on  the  highest  eminences  we 
meet  every  where  Avith  granitous  matter,  partly  in  the  original 
state,  and  partly  in  tliat  cellular  form,  characteristic  of  lava. 

The  Courageux  haviug  completed  her  water,  Ave  weighed  on  the 
13th  of  August,  with  a  fine  breeze,  which  carried  iis  into  north 
latitude  on  the  23d,  witliout  any  thing  remarkable  occurring,  save 
our  old  westerly  set,  amounting,  at  an  average,  to  about  11  miles 
daily.  Soon  after  crossing  the  Equator,  we  were  met  by  winds  from 
the  W.S.VV.,  which  blew  with  some  steadiness  from  that  unexpected 
quarter  till  the  6th  of  September,  w licii  we  got  the  regular  north- 
cast  trade  wind.  These  strange  winds  carried  us  close  to  the 
Cape  Verd  Islands  ;  a  thing  rather  unusual  for  homeward-bound 
shijis.  On  the  '27th,  in  lat.  39"  13'  N.,  it  came  to  blow  strong  at 
N.  W.,  when  we  were  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Acores,  and  so  near  to 
Flores,  and  Corvo,  that  Ave  could  have  no  hope  in  weathering 
them.     Though  the  weather  Avas  boisterous,  the  >ky  was  clear,  by 


PLATE   CCXXXIII.  489 

V,  liich  ever}  sliip  Jiad  i(  in  her  power  to  ascertain,  by  lunar  observa- 
tion, her  exact  sitiiation  ;  arid  so  precisely  did  the  loiir^itude  of 
each  agree,  that  Captain  Boylcs,  after  coiiferring  by  telegraph 
wit'j  the  diffierent  Capfains  of  the  Indiaraen  on  the  subject,  made 
the  bignal  to  bear  up,  and  \v6  went:,  during  the  night,  between  the 
two  Islands  before  mentioned,  and  Fagal. 

On  the  7th  of  October,  Avhen  in  the  chops  ol*  the  Channel,  it 
blew  very  strong,  with  thick  weather  in  the  forenoon,  but,  on 
clearing  towards  evening,  we  got  sight  of  t!ic  Lizard.  About  dusk 
of  the  9th,  we  anchored  in  the  Downs,  which  completed  my  A'oy- 
age,  after  arf  absence  of  three  years,  and  nearly  as  many  months, 
from  Englai«d.  The  joy  1  felt  on  landing  was  far  from  enviable  : 
when  I  rccc^lectcd,  that  during  the  whole  of  the  voyage  I  had 
never  leceivi^d  a  scrap  from  one  of  you,  there  were  numberless 
mixed  emotibns  felt  by  me,  repugnant  to  chieerfulness,  which  your 
letter  has  nojiw  done  Jiway  ;  asd  i  will  henceforth  look  back  on  the 
voyage  i)i  ti^  Investigator,  with  its  appendix  in  the  Porpoise,  with 
feelings  of  a|loration,  gratitude,  and  delighi. 


PLATE  CCXXXIII. 

THE  HYDROGRAPHER,  (Xo.  5.) 

FROM  the  circunistance  of  Alexandria  having  again  fallen  into 
the  possession  of  the  British,  we  have  been  induced  to  pre- 
sent the  annexed  map  of  the  old  and  new  towns,  ports,  &c.  ;  and 
also  of  the  IJay  of  Aboukir,  the  scene  of  one  of  Lord  Nelson's 
most  splendid  victories. 

In  a  former  part  of  our  work,  (Vol.,  VIII,  page  32.)  we  have 
presented  a  View  ol' Alexandria,  accompanied  by  an  historical  and 
topographical  description  of  that  ancient  city.  At  present,  there- 
fore, added  to  the  illustrations  in' the  plate,  it  is  only  necessary  to 
observe,  that  Alexandria  is  a  city  in  Lower  Egypt,  situated  on  the 
Mediterranean,  twelve  miles  west  of  that  branch  of  the  Nile  called 
Canopicum^  and  lying  in  30°  19'  east  longitude,  and  in  latitude 
31**  10'  north.  Alexandria  lies  about  700  paces  from  the  sea,  and 
has  two  harbours,  called  the  New  and  the  Old  Port,  separated  by 
a  point  of  land  in  form  of  a  mole,  which  is  defended  by  tsso 
castles,  erected  by  the  Turks.  The  entrance  to  (he  havbour  is 
dangerous  becauseK)f  the  shelves  ;  and  the  trade  of  the  city,  the 
climate  of  which  is  extremely  uuwholesomej  is  much  decayed  since 


490  PIATF.    CCXXXIII. 

the  Eisropt'ar.s  foiuul  out  a  Mar  to  the  East  Iiidips  bj  the  Capr  of 
Good  Hope.  Still,  however,  many  vessels  arc  sent  thither 
annually,  for  Levant  stuffs,  spices,  ostrich  feathers,  senna,  nut- 
megs, SiC. 

Alexandria  is  famous  for  its  antiquity,  was  the  most  con- 
siderable town  in  Africa,  next  to  Carthage,  and  is  supposed  to 
have  been  the  Po  of  the  Hebrews ;  but  is  now  aheap  of  ruins,  and 
poorly  inhabited.  The  Turks  call  it  Scanderia.  It  was  for  a  long 
time  the  capital  of  Egypt;  and  the  walls  which  were  built  by 
Alexander  the  Great,  who  is  supposed  to  have  been  its  founder, 
are  still  to  be  seen. 

The  foundation  of  Alexandria,  by  that  conqueror,  is  computed 
to  have  taken  place  soon  after  the  overthrow  of  Tyre,  about  333 
years  before  the  Christian  era.  Ptolomy,  surnamed  Soter,  or 
Lagus,  one  of  Alexander's  Generals,  having  been  appointed 
Governor  of  Egypt,  soon  after  assumed  the  title  of  King,  and  took 
up  bis  residence  at  Alexandria  about  322  years  before  Christ. 
The  Ptolomies  held  the  government  293  years,  and  were  as 
follow: — Ptolomy  Soter,  reigned  30  years,  died  285  A. C.  Pto- 
lomy Philadelphus,  reigned  39  years,  died  246  A.C.  Ptolomy 
Evergetes,  reigned  25  years,  died  221  A.C.  Ptolomy  Philopater, 
reigned  17  years,  died  201  A.C.  Ptolomy  f^pijjhanes,  reigned  24 
years,  died  180  A.C.  Ptolomy  Philometor,  reigned  34  years, 
died  146  A.C.  Ptolomy  Physcon,  reigned  30  years,  died  116 
A.C.  Ptolomy  Lathyrus,  reigned  10  years,  deposed  106  A.C. 
Ptolomy  Alexander,  reigned  IS  years,  deposed  8S  A.C.  Ptolomy 
Lathyrus  restored,  reigned  8  years,  died  80  A.C.  Berenice,  or 
Cleopatra,  reigned  alone  one  year,  till  79  A.C.  Berenice  and 
Alexander  IL  reigned  6  years,  deposed  73  A  C.  Ptolomy  Notlios, 
or  Auletes,  reigned  15  years,  died  58  A.C.  Berenice  restored, 
reigned  7  years,  died  51  A.C.  Ptolomy  Dionysius,  and  Cleopa- 
tra his  sister,  reigned  7  years ;  Cleopatra  reigned  alone  14  years, 
deposed  30  A.C— A.M.  3-974.  Alexandria  having  passed  under 
the  Roman  yoke,  it  was  held  subject  to  that  empire  till  about  t!ie 
middle  of  the  sixth  century,  when  it  was  taken  by  storm,  after  a 
siege  of  fourteen  months,  by  Amrou  Ebn  al  Aas,  General  of  the 
Caliph  Omar.  It  continued  under  the  dominion  of  the  Caliphs 
until  the  year  924,  when  it  was  taken  by  the  Magrebians,  who 
abandoned  it  in  923.  The  Caliphs  again  took  possession,  and  it 
remained  with  them  till  the  13th  century,  when  it  fell  under  the 
dominion  of  the  Turks,  in  whose  hands  it  continued  until  July 
.I798j  when  it  was  taken  by  storm,  by  the  troops  of  the  P'rencb 


PLATE     CCXYXUI.  491 

Republic,  commanded  by  Buonaparte*.  By  the  superior  pro^>-es<? 
oi  jiritain,  it  was  wrested  from  the  Freiicli  in  the  autumn  of  1801, 
at  the  mi'Jiiorable  battle  of  Alexandria,  in  which  the  gallant 
Abercrombie  lell.  After  it  had  been  evacuated  by  the  French,  it 
■was  the  sccnj  of  much  coutention  between  the  Turks  and  the 
]Mameluke  Beys.  The  latter,  however,  retained  possession  of  it 
until  the  21.st  of  March,  in  the  present  year,  when  it  surrendered, 
by  capitulation,  to  the  British  forces,  under  the  command  of 
r\Iajor-Geneial  Eraser,  and  Captain  Hallowell^  of  liis  Majesty'3 
ship  Tij;re  +. 

it  was  on  the  15th  of  March,  that  the  Tigre,  (with  Major*" 
General  Fraser  on  board,)  and  fourteen  sail  of  transports,  out  of 
thirty  three,  arrived  oif  Alexandria,  and  came  to  an  anchor,  to  the 
westward  of  the  town,  on  the  16th.  On  the  evening  of  the  17th 
the  Crcneral  landed  witJi  part  of  the  troops,  to  the  eastward  of 
Marebout,  wfiere  he  took  np  his  position  for  the  night;  and,  on 
the  folio \ving  morning,  the  reuiaiiidur  of  the  troop>  were,  with 
much  ditlicuUy,  disembarked.  Finding  his  situation  extremely 
precarious,  botli  with  respect  to  getting  provisions  or  stores  on 
shore,  and  communicating  with  the  transports,  General  Fraser 
detenni'.ied  to  fovcc  liis  way  to  the  western  side,  where  he  could 
receive  supplies  from  Aboukir  Bay.  It  was  also  his  intention,  in 
pa-si  ig,  to  e-.'.deavour  to  get  into  the  town  ;  and,  if  possible,  to 
push  his  way  into  the  forts  by  which  it  was  commanded;  apian 
which,  he  had  reasun  to  believe,  would  not  be  very  difficult  to 
accomplish,  ile  accordingly  moved  forward,  about  eight  o'clock 
in  the  ev'i'.iing  of  the  18th,  and  in  his  way  forced  a  pallisaded 
entrenchment,  Avitli  a  deep  ditch  in  front  cf  it,  (which  had  been 
thrown  up  by  the^Turks,  as  a  def.nce  against  the  Alamchikcs  and 
Arabs,  on  the  western  side,)  stretching  from  Fort  des  Bains  to 
Lake  Mareotis,  strengthened  by  three  batteries,  mounting  eight 
guns,  exclusive  of  Fort  des  Bains  on  its  right  Hank,  mounting  13 
guns. — This  w<),s  effected  with  very  little  loss,  though  under  a 
heavy  fire  of  cannon  and  musketry  ;  alter  which  the  troops  pro- 
ceeded within  a  lew  }  aids  of  Ponqiey's  (iate,    where   they  found 

*  For  a  full  and  accurate  description  of  the  glorious  battle  and  victory 
©f  Aboukir,  achieved  by  the  gallant  and  ever-to-bc-regretted  Nelson,  iii 
August  1798,  we  must  refer  tlie  reader  to  the  former  volumes  of  our  work. 
Vide  Navai.  Cuuo.mcle,  \'o1.  I,  page  43,  et  sej.,  and  page  S?!;  where 
also  there  is  a  correct  Chart  of  the  Bay  of  Aboukir,  sketched  by  Mr, 
Pocock,  from  the  drawing  of  a  French  otKcer  in  Admiral  de  Braey's  fleet; 
and  Vol.  Ill,  page  181. 

t  Vide  Gazette  Letters,  page  d33  of  the  present  volun)o. 


492  jio.vtt;  vid^o, 

the  garrison  prepared  to  receive  them,  the  gate  barricaded,  and  the 
■walls  lint'tl  with  troops  and  armed  inhabitants.  This,  added  to  the 
small n.\fs  of  General  Frascr's  force,  (not  exceeding  1000  men  of 
all  d^scrii)tions.) .  led  him  to  think  the  risk  too  ereat,  and  he 
deteraiinvd  to  proceed  to  the  westward,  as  he  originally  intended. 
He  arrived  there  ia  the  morning  of  the  !9th,  and  immediately  sent 
detachments  to  take  possession  of  Aboukir  (.'astle,  .and  the  cut 
betwttn  the  Lakes  Maadie  aiid  Mareotis  :  by  which  communica- 
tion, a  reinforcement  of  Albanians  was  expected  in  Alexandria. 
Both  of  these  attempts  succeeded.  On  the  following  day,  General 
Fraser  sent  in  a  manifesto,  warning  the  inhabitants  of  the  danger 
of  an  assault,  and  urging  them  to  force  the  Governor  to  capitulate. 
This  had  the  disired  elfect ;  a  flag  of  truce  was  s-nt  out;  a  capi- 
tulation was  signed  ;  and  the  place  was  surrendered  ;  witli  a  loss, 
on  the  part  of  die  Biiash,  of  only  7  killed,  and  nine  woundeii*'. 

In  former  times,  Alexandria  had  so  many  columns,  obelisks,  and 
noble  palaces,  that  it  was  reckoned  the  second  rity  of  the  llomaii 
empire.  Its  circumference  was  about  twelve  miles.  The  Pharos, 
built  by  Piolomy  Philadelphus,  was  considered  to  be  one  of  the 
most  stately  piles  that  ever  was  seen  ;  but  it  lias  been  long  demo- 
lished, anda  tower,  called  Pliaril'on,  {vide  the  annexed  engiaving.) 
has  been  erected  in  its  stead. 


MONTE  VIDEO. 

MR.   EDITOR,  Rio  de  hi  Plata,  March  21,  lUOr. 

S  1  have  seen  several  accounts  of  !Monte  Video,  none  of 
wliich  are  correct,  I  have  sent  you  a  few  remarks  for  your 
ps;:ful  and  tntertaining  Chronicle.  F. 

i:*ioaie  Video  is  situated  on  a  Penins'.da,  and  is  remarkably  well 
fortified  on  the  iand  as  well  as  the  sea  side;  besides  its  natural 
defince  of  shoal  water,  Avhich  prevents  even  a  sloop  of  war  from 
getting  near  enough  to  attack  the  batteries  with  effect.  -The  har- 
bour is  large,  but  exposed  to  the  winds  most  prevalent  in  the  w in- 
ter ;  and  is  shoal,  having  only  from  11  to  18  feet  water,  according 
to  the  rise  of  the  tide,  which  is  extremely  irregular,  and  mostly 
influenced  by  the  winds.  Pn  the  v.' est  side  of  the  harbour  is  a, 
high  mount,   on   which  is  a  light-honso;   but  the  mount  does  not 

*  We  relict  co  state,  that,  sinse  this  article  was  prepared  for  the  prc;s, 
advices  have  been  received,  announcing  some  serious  reverses  jii  Egypt; 
the  reiuit  of  which,  if.  is  feared,  may  be  Uie  abandonment  of  Alexandria. 


MONTE    YIDEO.  453 

command  the  town.  The  houses  of  ]Montc  Video  hare  but  aa 
indilForont  exterior  appearance,  but  some  of  them  are  handsome 
inside.  There  is  a  large  Church  nearly  finished,  in  the  square 
where  tlic  market  place  is  ;  and  ther^  is  a  smaller  one,  besides 
otiier  jjlaces  of  worship.  The  Citadel  is  strongly  built,  and  well 
situated  :  there  are  plenty  of  guns  and  mortars  in  it,  many  of 
which  are  very  handsome.  There  is  no  place  outside  the  town 
that  commands  it,  but  the  large  church  1  have  mentioned  does. 
The  market  is  well  supplied  with  beef  and  mutton,  the  former 
about  a  farthing  a  pound,  the  latter  very  cheap,  but  both  ia 
general  poor.  Poultry  is  scarce  and  dear.  The  vegetables  ar? 
good  ;  such  as  grc;'ns,  cabbages,  lettuces,  cucumbers,  onions, 
radishes,  &c. ;  the  latter  are  extremely  large,  but  well  tasted.  The 
fruits  are,  apples,  pears,  peaches,  grapes,  melons,  &c.  ;  but  the 
natives  are  too  lazy  to  cultivate  them  ;  consequently  they  have  not 
been  brought  to  any  pirfoction. 

I  can  tell  you  but  little  of  t!ie  inhabitants :  the  customs  of  t'le 
Spanish  1  believe  resemble  tliose  of  Old  r^pain.  They  dine  early, 
and  take  their  siesta^  but  1  understand  are  by  no  means  sociable 
among  themselves.  They  live  remarkably  well.  The  natives  are 
a  stout  hardy  race  of  peasantry,  who  travel  always  on  horseback; 
for  horses  are  so  plentiful,  as  scarcely  to  be  considered  private  pro- 
perty. They  live  entirely  on  roasted  meat,  which  they  eat  without 
cither  bread  or  salt,  both  of  whicii  are  very  dear;  though,  if  they 
cultivated  the  land,  they  nii^iht  have  plenty  of  cori.  1  believe  mojt 
of  the  "Spaniards  of  the  town  carry  on  trade  :  the  richest  havethwr 
carriages  and  country  houses.  The  natives  are  a  brutal,  ferocious, 
and  deceitful  race,  much  addicted  to  assassination.  They  ride 
■with  great  speed,  and  carry  a  long  leathern  tisoug,  which  they  con- 
trive to  throw  round  a  man's  neck,  and  then  drag  him  along; 
tiiey  callit  ilaisej/.  Several  of  our  dragoons  were  carried  off  at 
Maldonado  :  and  a  soldier  of  the  87th  WuS  found  two  days  back: 
put  to  pieces,  with  one  round  his  n,  ck. 

The  revenue  that  Spain  derived  from  thjs  phicc  was  very  small. 
From  the  immense  speculations  of  our  -Merchants,  the  Custom- 
House  has  received,  since  the  capture,  4p,G00/.  in  a  month.  A 
great  njany  vessels  used  to  lie  here,  and  have  their  cargoes  sent 
down  from  Buenos  Ayres.  All  ranks  of  people  are  anxious  to 
throw  otf  the  Spanish  yoke  here,  as  well  as  at  Buenos  Ayres,  but 
they  do  not  wish  for  any  other  Master  ;  they  want  an  in  ie pend- 
ent Government,  similar  to  that  of  North  America  ;  and  to  be 
protected  iu  it  for  a  few  years  by  Great  Britain.     If  wecomply 


491  MONTi;  vinr.o. 

■with  their  wishes,  I  believe  they  wotild  grant  us  great  commercial 
advantages;  otherwise  there  is  no  stratagem  they  ■will  not  put  in 
force  to  get  rid  of  -i^.  At  present  the  populace  detest  the  English  ; 
and  I  bcHeve  the  higher  classes  at  Buenos  A3  res  only  wish  for  us 
to  defend  them  in  case  the  populace  (who  now  carry  every  tiling) 
should  proceed  to  extremities.  la  fact,  the  difference  of  religion 
■«i!l  always  be  our  invincible  obstacle  to  real  conciliation  ;  and  ■we 
sho'ild  perhaps  derive  greater  commercial  advantages  by  guaran- 
teeing their  independence.  The  higher  classes  alone  are  favourably 
inclined  to  us  :  but  all  ranks  wish  to  throw  off  the  Spanish  yoke, 
iince  they  are  burthened  with  taxes  by  the  Mother  Country, 
■»vithout  receiving  any  assistance,  if  the  General  had  the  power 
of  declaring  them  independent,  th:y  would  be  happy  to  put  them- 
selves under  the  protection  of  our  G«vcrnmcnt.  This,  as  I  ob- 
served before,  Honld  certainly  enable  us  to  make  an  advantageous 
treaty  of  commerce  ;  and  be,  perhaps,  the  best  policy.  By  taking 
possession  of  it,  we  might  be  obliged  to  give  it  up  by  treaty,  and 
might  probably  be  excluded  from  trading  here  as  formerly.  And 
although  our  Merchants,  from  having  speculated  too  largely,  would 
suflfer,  yet  this  country  eventually  must  open  a  great  vent  for 
English  manufactures.  The  possession  of  the  Plata,  and  Pro- 
vince of  Buenos  Ayres,  would  doubtless  lead  to  that  of  all  the 
country  from  hence  to  Lima,  and  thence  as  far  southn'ard  as  WG 
yvhh.  It  would  also  be  a  great  advantage  to  our  Whale  Fishery  ; 
and  even  in  this  river  a  very  lucrative  Seal  Fishery  might  be 
established.  We  should  be  obliged  to  keep  up  a  respectable  force 
at  first;  but,  by  encouraging  colonization,  that  necessity  would  soon 
cease  to  exist;  and  the  troops  in  the  mean  time  would  be  sub- 
sisted at  a  trilling  expense.  But  whether  we  keep  it,  or  declare 
the  people  independent,  the  advantages  resulting  to  our  commerce 
and  navigation  must  be  very  great,  from  Mic  cpiaiitity  of  English 
shipping  it  will  require  to  bring  out  our  manufactures. 

At  present  most  of  the  English  trade  is  carried  on  in  Jineriran 
Bottoms^  which  causes  a  constant  drain  of  English  s^-amen  to 
America  ;  who  in  a  few-  years  become  naturalized  Americans,  and 
are  lost  to  England.  This  is  the  natural  consef£uence  of  the 
decrease  of  our  Merchant  Shipping  :  and,  for  want  of  a  nursery  of 
seamen,  continually  adds  to  the  diificulty  we  find  in  manning  our 
Navy.  The  trade  to  this  country  would  check  that  very 
much. 

I  am  afraid,  if  we  do  not  take  Buenos  Ayres  before  the  winter 
sets  iu,  that  many  of  the  Merchant  ships  will  be  lost  in  the  har« 


MARINE  scExrnY.  495 

bour.  The  climate  of  iliis  country  h  called  a  ^ood  one,  as  the 
name  of  the  Province  imports  :  but  there  has  been  a  great  ("eal  of 
Sickness  both  in  (he  NaT)-  and  Army,  with  dysentery  and  fevers. 
If  tlic  jjaticnt  takes  cold  in  the  former  complaint,  or  the  Jinx  con- 
f nines  so  long  as  to  debilitate  him,  it  is  apt  to  attack  the  lungs,  and 
become  fatal.  It  is  also  a  bad  climate  for  wounds,  which  arc 
extremely  apt  to  mortify.  The  climate  is  likewise  very  changeable  : 
the  transitions  in  the  course  of  the  day  are  great  and  sudden. 
The  rains  are  extremely  heavy,  and  there  is  a  vast  deal  of 
thunder  and  lightning  :  forked  lightning  generally  precedes  a 
southerly  gale,  and  is  at  times  truly  awful. 

You  will  have  rejoiced  that  General  Beresford  has  effected  his 
escape,  just  as  they  had  begun  to  march  him  900  miles  up  the 
country.  It  must  have  been  by  connivance  ;  as  both  the  General 
and  Colonel  Pack  were  escorted  back  there  by  two  Spanish 
officers,  who  al-o  accompanied  them  to  Monte  Video  in  the  Char- 
well,  which  fell  in  with  the  Portuguese  boat  they  had  got  on  board 
of.  I  am  sorrv  he  is  going  to  England,  for  I  think  if  he  had 
remained  he  would  have  attacked  Buenos  Ayres  with  the  troops 
■we  have,  which  Sir  S.  Auchmuty  will  not  do  :  not  that  he  has  any 
doubt  of  being  able  to  take  it;  but  he  thinks  he  should  not  be 
aljle  to  keep  it  against  a  population  of  70,000,  which  it  is  said  to 
consist  of.  lie  will  not  therefore  attack  it  until  he  gets  reia- 
forcements. 


MARINE  SCEXERY. 


THE  APPROACH  TO  CALCUTTA. 


AT  Garden  Reach  the  most  striking  and  beautiful  prospect  pre. 
sents  itself  to  the  view.  The  banks  of  the  Hoogly,  which  is 
here  abont  twice  the  breadth  of  the  Thames,  at  London,  are 
covered  with  a  verdant  carpet  to  the  water's  edge,  and  decorated 
with  numerous  elegant  villas,  or  rather  palaces,  each  surrounded 
with  groves  and  lawns,  forming  a  succession  of  very  interesting 
objects.  The  river  itself,  too,  claims  no  small  share  of  attention: 
from  ships  of  a  thousand  tons,  fraught  with  merchandise,  down  to 
the  slender  snake-boat,  which  seems  to  liy  along  the  surface  of  the 
water,  the  eye  wanders  with  a  mixture  of  pleasure  and  surprise 
over  the  various  intermediate  links  :  the  elegant  budgerows  and 
pleasure  boats,  conveying  whole  families  of  Europeans  to  and 
from  their  country  scats,   contrasting  finely  with  the  rude,  vet 


496  MARINE   SCtXERT. 

fcurioiisly  constructed  vessels  of  the  nalives  ;  forming  altogether  a 
scene  the  most  picturesque  and  engaging  that  can  be  imagined,  and 
in  the  contemplation  of  which  the  stranger  is  generally  so  much 
absorbed,  that  he  does  not  perceive  the  lapse  of  time,  until  he  is 
unexpectedly  roused  by  the  sight  of  Fort  William,  and  a  little  farther 
on  by  the  city  of  Calcutta  itself. — The  Fort  is  situated  on  the 
eastern  bank,  about  a  quarter  of  a  niile  from  the  town,  and  makes 
a  very  good  appcarauca  from  the  river.  It  is  an  extensive  and 
Strong  fortress,  laid  out  in  squares  and  regular  buildings,  inter- 
spersed with  groves  of  trees,  which  afford  a  comfortable  shelter 
from  the  noon-tide  heat  ;  and  presenting,  in  the  interior,  a  great 
likeness  to  a  pleasant  wing  of  a  city.  Between  this  and  the  town 
a  level  space  intervenes,  called  the  Esplanade,  which,  evenings  and 
mornings,  is  crowded  with  all  ranks  and  descriptions  of  people, 
who  resort  there  fdr  air,  exercise,  or  conversation.  The  Govern- 
ment House,  and  Charinga  Road,  a  line  of  detached  buildings, 
which  bound  the  Esplanade  on  one  side,  are  very  iii|Bies ting  objects 
from  this  part  of  the  river. 

The  European  part  of  the  town  of  Calcutta  lies  next  the  Fott, 
and  the  houses  there  are  far  more  elegant  than  those  at  Madras,  the 
garden-houses  at  the  latter  place  excepted.  The  reason  of  this  is 
evitlent :  at  Fort  St.  George,  the  houses  are  used  only  as  olVices, 
or  as  warehouses,  the  gentlemen  invariably  retiring'to  their  garden- 
houses  in  the  evening;  whereas,  at  Calcutta,  most  of  the  Merchants 
ha;e  their  offices  attached  to  their  dwelling-houses,  and  of  course 
both  are  kept  in  good  order.  The  chunam,  with  Avhich  they  are 
faced,  when  kept  clean  and  entire,  rivals  the  Parian  marble  itself; 
but  when  it  becomes  tarnished,  or  is  suffered  to  drop  off  here  and 
there,  discovering  the  bricks  beneath,  nothing  can  have  a  more 
motley  or  beggarly  appearance.  This  is  frequently  the  case  at 
Madras,  both  in  the  Fort  and  Black-town,  where  the  houses 
remind  us  of  so  many  Portuguese,  with  flaming  swords  and  cocked 
hats,  over  shabby  coats,  and  dirry  linen:  complete  emblems  of 
poverty  and  pride  united  ! 

The  great  body  of  the  native  or  Black  town  stretches  farther  up 
along  the  river  side,  and  is  of  considerable  extent.  Abreast  of 
this,  the  groves  of  masts  which  present  themselves,  bearing  the 
flags  of  various  nations,  but  chicily  of  England,  afford  some  idea 
of  the  commerce  which  must  be  carried  on  in  this  metropolis  of 
India., 


4«7 
NAVAL  LITERATURE. 


Further  Papers  and  Accoiintx^  presented  to  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, relating  to  Ships  of  War,  Timber,  Visitation  of  the 
Dock  Yards,  Sfc.     Ordered  to  be  printed  '^bth  June ^  1805. 

THE  papers  which  compose  the  present  series  arc  not  num- 
bered; but  the  first  of  them  is  a  copy  of  an  order  from  the 
Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty  to  the  Navy  Board,  dated 
January  26,  1776,  for  keeping  a  three  years'  stock  of  timber  ia 
the  Dock  Yards.  Tiiis  document  is  the  subject  of  much  animad- 
version in  the  Nero  Key  to  the  Proceedings  of  a  late  Naval 
Administration  ;  the  author  of  which  states,  that  it  has  "  hitherto 
been  found  impossible,  notwithstanding  (he  contant  and  strenuous 
exertions  of  the  Navy  Board,  to  provide  a  supply  of  timber  ade- 
quate io  three  years'  consumption.  The  difficulty,"  says  he, 
*'  of  procuring  a  great  stock  (as  expressed  in  Sir  Andrew 
Hamond's  letter  to  Lord  St.  Vincent,  23d  March,  1802,)  arises 
from  the  scarcity  of  large  oak  timber  in  the  country;  the  increased 
demand  for  it  in  the  Merchants'  yards,  for  building  large  mer- 
chantmen, especially  the  East  India  Company's  China  ships  ;  and 
its  general  use  for  country  purposes  since  the  extraordinary  rise  of 
fir  timber.'' 

The  second  article  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Captain  Winthorp, 
stating  that  a  number  of  short  bolts  had  worked  out  of  His  Majes- 
ty's ship  Ardent,  during  a  gale  of  wind. 

Next  follows  an  Admiralty  slatement  of  the  number  of  ships  in 
commission  on  the  1st  of  October,  1801  ;  which  were,  121  of  the 
lino,  and  195  frigates  ;  making  a  total  of  316. 

^y  the  fourth  article  we  learn,  that  in  the  Merchants'  yards  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland  there  were,  in  April  1804,  8P28  ship- 
wrights employed ;  of  whom  736  were  above  fifty  years  of  age, 
4364  under  fifty  years  of  age,  and  3828  apprentices.  Besides 
which  there  were  540  caulkers  ;  of  whom  50  were  above  fifty 
years  of  age,  337  under  fifty  years  of  age,  and  153  apprentices. 

The  remainder  of  this  series  consists  of  Minutes  of  the  Pro- 
ceedings of  a  Board  of  Admiralty,  which  inspected  the  different 
Dock  Yards,  and  Victualling  Department,  in  the  months  of  July, 
August,  September,  and  October,  ISO'^.  The  result  of  these  pro- 
ceedings is  best  seen  by  the  Commissioners'  Report  relating 
thereto. 

i^atj,  ^Ijjron.  ©oI.XVIT.  fss 


4'&S  NATAL   tlTERATUnE. 

Further  Accounts  and  Papers  presented  to  the  House  of  Ccmmo7tSj 
relating  to  Ships  of  tVar,  Timber  in  the  King's  Yards,  SfC. 
Ordered  to  be  printed  3d  Jidij,  1805. 

No.  1  is  an  account  of  sums  received  by  the  sale  of  droits  of 
Admiralty,  from  the  1st  of  January,  1793,  to  the  5th  of  April, 
1805,  and  of  the  application  of  the  said  sums;  distinguishing  the 
payments  made  to  persons  concerned  in  the  capture  of  ships  or 
goods  adjudged  to  be  droits  of  Admiralty,  from  the  payments  made 
under  other  heads. 

No.  2  is  an  account  of  the  number  of  Riga  sticks,  nf  22  inches 
and  upwanis,  for  making  topmasts  for  ships  of  1st  and  2d  rates, 
and  74's,  which  were  in  store  in  His  IMajcsty's  Dock  Yards,  from 
the  25th  of  March,  17S5,  to  the  2oth  of  March,  1805  ;  dis- 
tinguishing each  year. 

No.  3  consists  of  copies  of  reports  made  to  the  Navy  Board,  by 
the  officers  of  the  Dock  Yards,  on  examining  the  Stctin  timber, 
■which  was  imported  and  used  about  thirtj-  years  ago,  by  way  of 
experiment,  to  ascertain  its  durability.  These  reports  contain 
nothing  satisfactory.  Considerable  information,  respecting  timber 
in  general,  and  foreign  timber  in  particular,  ■will  be  found  in  the 
<'  Nezo  7u;y,"  &c. 

No.  4  is  an  account  of  sums  paid  for  repairs  of  different  ships, 
showing  to  whom  such  sums  were  paid,  and  the  years  in  which 
paid  ;  together  with  the  price  which  each  of  the  ships  would  have 
cost,  if  built  by  contract,  at  the  respective  periods.  From  this 
paper  it  appears,  that  the  expense  of  repairing  a  ship  is  frequently 
more  by  nearly  three  fourths  than  that  of  her  prime  cost.  For 
instance,  the  Boston,  of  676  tons,  would  have  cost,  at  the  rate  of 
11/.  \5s,  per  ton,  7,943/.;  and  her  repairs  cost  12,392/.  9s.  9d. 
The  author  of  the  ^^  Neia  Kcj/'^  thus  adverts  to  this  subject: — 
*'  To  account  satisfactorily  for  the  magnitude  of  these  charges 
will  require  some  detail ;  for  we  are  not  disposed  to  resort  to  the 
abrupt  solution  of  the  friends  of  Lord  St.  Vincent's  Admiralty, 
that  the  whole  is  a  system  of  fraud.  An  excess  in  the  charge  of 
repairs  above  the  prime  cost,  occurs  frequently  in  the  service  of 
the  East  India  Company,  and  even  in  the  careful  and  economical 
arrangements  of  private  Merchants.  AVill  any  intelligent  man 
believe,  that  the  Merchants  and  Ship-owners  of  Great  Britain 
would  submit,  year  after  year,  to  a  system  of  fraud,  in  so  exten- 
sive a  branch  of  business  as  the  repair  of  their  shipping  ?  The 
fact  IS)  that  the  labour  of  repairs  may  often  be  greater  and  more 
intricate  than  that  of  the  original  construction.     To  determine  at 


NAVAL    UTEUATUfiE.  499 

first  to  what  extent  repairs  should  go,  is  in  many  instances 
irapossfble  ;  and  cases  may  occur,  in  which,  aftt-r  having  made  a 
certain  progress  in  repair,  additional  defects  arc  discovered,  and  the 
new  work  must  be  undone,  to  re-commencc  upon  a  Itirgcr  scale. 
A  very  recent  instance  of  expensive  repair  in  a  merchant  vessel  has 
occurred  in  one  of  243  tons,  (belonging  to  Mr.  Calvert,  of  Lon- 
don;) the  repairs  of  which,  at  Bristol,  are  said  to  have  amounted  to 
20/.  13s.  6d.  per  ton,  or  nearly  twice  the  original  cost.— That 
such  excess  of  repairs  above  prime  cost,  does  not  often  occur 
among  Merchants  and  Ship-owners,  is  owing  to  no  other  cause, 
than  that  these  persons  are  not,  like  Government,  reduced  to 
exigencies  which  admit  of  no  alternative.  The  Merchant  and 
Ship-owners  have  a  market  open  to  their  purchases,  and  may 
either  buy  new  vessels  or  repair  the  old,  as  appears  most  advan- 
tageous. Government,  having  no  such  market,  cannot,  at  a  period 
of  danger,  delay  preparation  until  new  ships  shall  be  built,  or 
break  up  old  ships  capable  of  being  refitted,  because  such 
refitment  is  expensive.  In  such  emergencies  the  question  is  not  to 
effect  a  partial  saving,  but  to  ensure  the  safety  of  the  empire." 

Nos.  5,  6,  and  7,  relate  to  the  prices  of  timber,  its  qualifica- 
tions, &c. 

No.  8  is  a  list  of  such  ships  of  the  line,  and  frigates,  as  were 
paid  off  between  the  1st  of  October,  1801,  and  the  8th  of  iNIarch, 
1803  ;  showing  the  nature  of  the  repair  each  required^  to  be  put 
into  condition  for  permanent  service. 

No.  9  is  a  list  of  such  ships  of  the  line  and  frigates  as  were 
repaired  between  the  1st  of  October,  1801,  and  the  loth  of  May, 
1804 ;  showing  the  time  when  each  was  completed  ;  the  nature  of 
the  repair  each  required  when  taken  in  hand  to  be  put  into  con- 
dition for  permanent  service  ;  and  the  nature  of  the  repair  actually 
given. 

Nos.  10  and  11  relate  to  the  quantity  of  English  oak  timber  in 
store,  and  received  into  store,  at  different  periods,  from  1793  to 
1805,  both  years  inclusive.  It  appears  that  a  larger  supply  Mas 
received  in  1798,  than  in  either  of  the  other  specified  years;  and 
that  a  greater  quantity  was  in  store  iu  1805,  than  had  been  at  any 
time  since  1793. 

No.  12,  the  last  in  the  series,  is  composed  of  copies  of 
correspondence  between  the  Admiralty  and  Navy  Boards, 
respecting  the  supplies  of  oak  timber,  fronj  the  1st  of  January  to 
the  15th  of  May,  1804;  omitting  the  names  of  places  and  per- 
sons, where  the  same  cannot  be  dibclosed  without  inconvenience  t^ 
the  public  service. 


500 


The  "heart's  remote  recesses  to  explore, 

And  touch  Its  Springs,  when  Prose  avail'd  no  mor«. 


ON  THE  DEPARTURE  OF  CAPTAIN 


BELENTLESS  duty  hastens  on  the  day, 
When  swelling  sails  must  bear  thee  far  away, 
Far  o'er  the  world  of  waters  vast  and  wide, 
Where  Britain's  Navy  fearlessly  preside. 
Queen  of  the  Flood  !  behold  the  vaunting  Gaul 
Before  thy  Sons  in  wild  disorder  fall  I 
The  parent  Stork,  who  has  its  young  one  rear'd, 
In  helpless  age  is  by  that  young  one  cheer'd : 
He,  nature-taught,  is  ever  hov'rine:  nigh. 
Anxious  her  wants  and  wishes  to  supply; 
So,  when  Britannia's  cries  invoke  their  aid, 
Her  gen'rons  youth  desert  the  'ranquil  shade, 
Leave  weeping  friends  and  relatives  behind, 
And  dare  the  fury  of  (he  waves  and  wind. 
Yet  from  their  social  joys  though  forc'd  to  part, 
Their  memory  lives  entwin'd  around  the  heart. 
Fame  shouts  their  enterprising  courage  o'er. 
Who  hurl  destruction  on  an  hostile  shore ; 
A  nation's  voice  triumphantly  proclaims, 
With  tributary  praise,  their  honour'd  names: 
But  when  we  hear,  that,  merciful  as  brave, 
They  fly  to  conquer,  and  they  fly  to  save  j 
Eager  a  vanquish'd  enemy  to  spare, 
Ev'n  watchful  to  prevent  the  sufferer's  pray*r ; 
Oh  I  then  ouy  bosoms  thrill  with  rapture's  glow. 
And  tears  of  sweet  delight  resistless  flow. 
Celestial  Mercy,  sicred  gift  of  Heav'n  ! 
To  erring  highly-favoui-'d  mortals  giv'n  ; 
Though  frail  our  conduct,  and  our  efforts  wealk^ 
When  Virtue's  lofty  arduous  path  we  seek  ; 
Yet,  when  illum'd  by  Thee,  the  human  mind 
Beams  from  the  Deity  with  light  reSn'd, 
An  emanation  from  the  God  of  Love, 
A  foretaste  of  the  happiness  abovca 


NAVAL    POETRY,  ifjil 

Snch  sentiments  as  these  thy  soul  inspire, 
And  such  the  glory  that  th.-  good  desire. 
May  Victory  exulting  nerve  thine  arm, 
And  shield  her  Hero  safe  from  ev'ry  harm  ; 
Again  her  laurel-crown  adorn  his  head, 
Gemm'd  with  the  drops  by  soft  compassion  shed; 
Thtis  virtuous  triumph  on  thy  manly  brow,' 
Shall  heart-felt  pleasure  jn  each  friend  besto"W. 
When  Sol  is  hid  by  angry  clouds  from  view^ 
All  nature  mourns  in  tints  of  sombre  hue  ; 
But  soon  his  glories  o'er  the  gloom  prevail, 
And  lust'rous  gild  the  smiling  Hill  and  Vale, 
May  Thou,  thus  visiting  thy  native  clirae, 
Once  more  return'd, — in  mental  radiance  shine, 
IVobly  supporting  God's,  and  Reason's  plan, 
A  gallant  Patriot,  and  "  An  honest  Man." 

Greenwich  Road,  April  22,  1807.  ANNA. 

ONE. 

(by    MR.    DIBDir^.) 
i. 

TTTP  the  Me-dite-ra-nin, 
^*-'    One  day  was  explaining 
The  Chaplain,  and  I,  about  Poets  and  Bards : 
For  I'm  pretty  discerning, 
And  loves  about  learning 
To  know,  and  all  notions  as  such  things  regards. 

Then  to  hear  him  sing  out  'bout  the  Islands  around ; 
Tell  their  outlandish  namis,  call'd  them  all  classic  ground, 
Where  the  old  anrient  Poets  all  formerly  niess'd. 
And  wrote  about  love,  and  the  girls  they  caress'd; 
Swore  they  thought  'em  all  Goddesses,  creatures  divine  : 
I  thinks  that  he  said  each  old  Gemman  had  nine. 

Cried  I,  well  said  old  Ones, 

These  Poets  were  bold  ones : 

But  ev'ry  thing's  vanity  under  the  Sun; 

Jjove's  as  good  sport  as  any, 

But  Nine's  eight  too  many, 

I've  One  wortli  their  Nincj  and  my  Nancy's  that  90^ 


602  KATAL    rO£TnY. 

11. 

Then  we  read,  for  their  wishes, 

They  turn'd  to  queer  fishes, 

To  cocks,  and  to  bulls,  in  some  verses  they  call 

Ovid  Metaramorphus; 

And  Gue  IMr.  Orfus 

Went  to  Hell  for  his  wife  j  but  that's  nothing  at  ail. 

Some  figary  each  hour  set  these  codgers  agog, 
Old  Nackron  swigg'd  off  his  allowance  of  grog  : 
Master  Jove  had  his  fancies  and  fine  falderals, 
What  a  devil  that  god  was  for  following  the  girls  ! 
But  what  makes  the  curisest  part  of  their  lives, 
They  were  always  a  chasing  of  other  men's  wives, 

What  nonsense  and  folly  j 

Tis  quite  melancholy, 

That  a  man  can't  be  blest  till  his  neighbour's  undone  3 

Why  'tis  wicked  to  ax  um. 

Take  the  world,  that's  my  maxum, 

So  One  be  left  mc,   and  niv  Nancy  that  one. 

HI. 

Then  we'd  hot  work  between  us, 

'Bout  the  Poets  and  Wcnus, 

With  their  fine  red  and  white,  and  their  eyes  full  of  darts  | 

To  be  sure  pretty  faces 

Be  well  in  their  places, 

But,  your  Reverence,  in  love  there  be  such  things  as  hearts^ 

'Tis  unmanly  to  chatter  behind  people's  back. 

But  'tis  pretty  well  known  that  the  lady's  a  crack  j 

Besides,  if  these  things  about  beauty  be  true. 

That  there  is  but  one  Wenus,  why  I  say  there's  two  : 

Say  there  is  but  one  Nancy,  you'll  then  not  mistake, 

For  she's  mine,  and  I'd  sail  the  world  round  for  her  sate, 

Then  no  further  norations. 

Or  chatterfications 

'Bout  Wenus,  and  graces,  and  such  pretty  furj. 

That  so  runs  in  your  fancy; 

Just  see  but  my  Nancy, 

You'll  find  all  their  charms  spliced  together  in  One. 


SAYAL   POETRY.  503 

T.in.  i:niTou, 

IT  AM  not  acquainted  with  tlie  aiitlior  of  the  following  Song: 

but  its'  celebrity  in   all    the  fa$hiouahle  circles,  renders  it 

worthy  of  a  place  in  your  Chronicle. 

S.  S, 
I. 

BILLY  TAYLOR'S  a  brisk  young  fellow, 

Full  of  mirth  and  f\iil  of  glee, 
And  he  did  his  mind  discover 

To  a  Lady  fair  and  free. 

IL 

Four  and  twenty  dashing  sailors, 

Drcst  they  vas  in  rich  array, 
They  cumm'd  and  they  took  bould  Billy  Taylor. 

Frcst  he  vas,  and  he  vent  to  sea. 

in. 

His  true  Love  soon  follow'd  a'ter, 

Under  the  name  of  Richard  Carr  ; 
And  she  all  bcdaub'd  her  ands  and  face,  Sir, 

Vith  their  nasty  pitch  and  tar. 

IV. 

Now  begun  the  first  ingagement, 

Bould  she  fit  amung  the  rest, 
And  the  vind  it  blew  her  jacket  aside. 

And  all  discover'd  her  lilly  vite  breast. 

V. 

Ven  the  Captain  he  cumm'd  for  to  view  it, 
He  ax'd  her  vat  vind  did  blow  her  that  vay: 

*'  Kind  Sir,  I've  cum  for  to  seek  my  true  Love, 
Vhom  you've  prcss'd  and  sent  to  sea." 

VL 

If  you've  cum  for  to  seek  your  true  Lote, 

Tell  unto  me  his  name  I  pray  ; 
*'  Kind  Sir,  his  name  is  Billy  Taylor, 

Prest  he  vas,  and  he  vent  to  sea." 

VIL 

If  your  true  Love's  Billy  Taylor, 

He's  both  cruel  and  severe  _: 
And  if  you'll  rise  in  the  morning  early, 

You'll  see  him  with  his  Lady  fair. 


501  UAVAr.  yoTTRV, 

VIII. 

She  rose  hurly  in  the  morning, 

Long  before  the  break  of  day, 
And  there  saw  false  Billy  Taylor 

A  valking  with  his  Lady  gay. 

IX. 

Then  she  callM  for  a  sword  and  a  pisfol, 
Both  they  cumm'd  at  her  command, 

And  she  went  a  shooting  of  Billy  Taylor, 
Vith  his  Lady  in  his  liand. 

X. 

Ven  the  Captain  he  cr.mm'd  for  to  know  it, 

He  very  much  applauded  her  for  vat  she  had  done. 

And  straightway  he  made  her  the  first  Lieutenant 
Of  the  gallant  TiiuNOER  Bomb. 


ODE  FOR  HIS  MAJESTY'S  BIRTH  DAY,  1807. 

BY    HENRY    JAMKS    PYE,    ESQ.    P.  r,. 

STILL  does  the  trumpet's  brazen  throat 
Pour  forth  a  martial  sound, 
Still  do  the  notes  of  battle  float 

In  warlike  clangour  round  ; 
Nor  rural  pipe,  nor  past'ral  lay, 
In  peaceful  descant  hail  the  day 

To  grateful  Britain  ever  dear; 
The  thunder  of  embattled  plains, 
And  shouting  conquesi's  choral  strains, 

Burst  on  the  listening  ear. 

Yet  while  Bellona's  iron  car 

Whirls  o'er  th'  ensanguin'd  plains, 
*Mid  Hyperborean  climes  afar 

Stern  war  terrific  reigns ; 
While,  with  colossal  power  endow'd, 
The  ruthless  minister  of  blood 

Calls  to  his  scatter'd  naval  host, 
Go  forth,  and  bid  the  bolts  of  fate 
On  Britain's  trembling  harbours  wait, 

Shut  commerce  from  her  coast : 


NAVAL    POETRY.  505 


Behold,  the  sovereign  Queen  of  Isles, 

The  Empress  of  the  Waves, 
Meeting  the  vauut  with  scornful  smiles, 

The  empty  menace  braves ; 
And  see  on  Plata's  sea-broad  stream 
Her  banners  wave,  her  bright  arms  gleam ; 

While,  ploughing  seas  of  classic  fame, 
T^filc  yields  once  more  to  Albion's  powers, 
And  Alexandria  vails  her  towers 

To  Geouge's  mightier  name. 

Firm  are  the  sons  that  Britain  leads 

To  combat  on  the  main, 
And  firm  her  hardy  race  that  treads 

In  steady  march  the  plain  : 
And  proudly  may  her  Bards  record 
The  victor  arm,  the  victor  sword, 

That  drives  the  foe  from  Ocean's  tide* 
And  loudly  too,  with  fond  acclaim, 
Chant  trophiod  Maida's  deathless  fame 

With  military  pride. 

Be  hush'd  awhile  each  ruder  sound. 

While  Britain's  grateful  voice 
Bids  all  her  echoing  vales  resound 

The  Monarcli  of  her  choice. 
Though  round  the  tyrant's  hated  throne 
Arm'd  legions  form  an  iron  zone, 

They  cannot  blunt  guilt's  scorpion  sling; 
While  Virtue's  sacred  shield  is  spread 
O'er  George's  heav'n-protected  head, 

The  Parent  and  the  King. 


PROPOSED    IXSCKIPTION    FOR    THE    MONUMENT    OF 

LORD  NELSON, 

To  be  erected  in  St.  Paufs  Cathedral. 

INGLAND,  thy  sons  beneath  this  solemn  dome 
In  mournful  triumph  pil'd  their  Nelson's  tomb; 
Groans  from  assembled  thousands  here  arose. 
And  a  whole  nation  liymn'd  him  to  repose. 

Fall'n  on  those  times,  when,  torn  by  Rapine's  lust, 
Pale  Europe  wept  her  honours  in  the  dust', 

Jl2ati.  C^ron.  aJoI.XVII.  t  t  x 


50S  NAVAL     ITKTORY    OF    THE    FUESEXT    YEAU,    1807. 

First  of  the  brave  he  mingled  in  the  strife, 
And  for  his  country's  freedom  pare  his  life. 

Not  this  his  monument  — the  seas  that  roll 
From  Nile's  hot  region  to  each  frc*ezinj:j  po'Cj 
The  dread  of  foes  who  crouch'd  beneath  his  power, 
The  tears  of  friends  that  [jrac'd  his  dying  hour, 
Navies  that  lied  the  terrors  of  his  name, 
And  nations  sav'd,  the  glorious  Chief  procirnn. 

Here  first  the  musing  Briton  shall  aspire 
To  patriot  deeds,  and  emulate  his  fire; 
The  storm  of  seas  and  battles  wish  to  brave, 
And  catch  a  kindred  virtue  from  his  grave. 


NAVAL  HISTORY  OF  'illK  PRESENT  YEAR,  1807. 

(Maij — June.) 

RETROSPECTR'E  AXD  .MTSCKI.T.AXEOrS. 

ip)Y  the  oflicial  report  of  tlie  distribution  of  the  British  Naval  Force, 
douii  to  this  d;iy,  it  appears,  thiit  tliere  arc  now  at  sea,,  S;j  sail  of  the 
line,  seven  ships  from  50  to  44  guns,  121  t'rii;;ates,  14-i  sloops,  and  168  <;uii- 
brigs,  &ic. ;  makiiii;  a  total  of  523  ships  of  war,  exclusive  of  tho^e  in  ordi- 
jiai'v,  l)uil(Jing,  repairin<i,  &c. 

We  lament  in  common  with  all  tlie  rest  of  our  countrymen,  that  nq  ac- 
count has  yet  arrived  respecting  the  safety  of  the  Java,  and  His  Majesty's 
ship  Blenheim,  bearing  the  flag  of  Admiral  SirT.  Troubridgc.  On  inquiry 
ive  find  that  some  faint  hopes  of  their  safety  are  still  entertained  by  the 
Admiralty,  According  to  a  letter  from  an  olYicer  on  board  the  Harrier  sloop 
at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  dated  Table  Bay,  ]\Iarch  13;  they  lost  sight 
of  the  Blenheim  and  Java  in  the  afternoon  of  the  first  of  that  month,  during 
a  hard  gale  off  Mauritius  in  long.  64°  11'  and  lat.  20°  21'.  Tlie  night  was 
dreadful  beyond  description;  it  blew  a  perfect  hurricane,  v. itii  a  most  tre- 
mendous sea.  The  Blenheim  was  in  a  very  decayed  state,  and  was  particu- 
larly bad  in  her  hull.  The  Java  was  badly  manned,  un'd  extremely  crank* 
The  principal  hope  is,  that  they  have  got  into  some  harbour  in  the  island 
cf  Madagascar. 

The  re-capture  of  Buenos  Ayres  was  strongly  reported  when  this  sheet 
went  to  press. 

The  following  is  an  extract  of  a  letter  from  Rear-Admiral  Stirling,  dated 
Diadem,  off  Monte  Video,  8th  March,  to  W.  Marsden,  Esq.,  Admiralty, 
transmitted  to  Lloyd's  : — 

"  I  understand  from  Buenos  Ayres  that  five  English  ships  liave  got  in 
since  the  rc-capture ;  and  I  am  of  opinion,  the  Undcrwiitei s  ought  to 
inquire  into  the  circunjstances  of  their  going  there  before  they  make  pay- 
ment, as  well  as  into  the  particulars  of  the  loss  of  the  Aineritiin  thip  Bci*- 
gal,  which  ran  on  shore  on  the  Island  of  Uurreiu." 


KAVAL    IIISTOftY    OF    THE    PUF.SF.NT    YFAU,     1807. 


507 


SJIII'S    BUILDING 


AM)    OIUJEllF.n    TO    BF.    BUU/r, 
AND    MKRCHANtS'    VARUS. 


IN    HIS    MAJESTV  S 


[TJiose  inarhcii  t/iux  *  fuire  hcfn  launched  since  the  \st  of  January ;  and  those 
ruarked  ihusf  an  expected  to  be  launched  zcithi/i  the  year.'] 


IS    HIS    MAJF.STY  S    YAUUS. 


DErrFono. 

CHAT 

ham. 

Rate. 

UUMS. 

Rate. 

Guns. 

y     I,aIIoe:ue 

7-n 

2     Iniprcjinahle          yH") 

5     Seiuiraiiiis 

3(3  iOid. 

3      Waispitet 

74  >Budd. 

Sloop 

J 

5     Iphigeniat 

36  J 

1     Queen  Charlotte  100  ■» 

SHF.ERNESS. 

3     Bomba^'t 

^-^  I  Rui 

,1. 

5     La  Forte 

^"}Ord. 

Blake 

Sloop  Mew 

Yacht  William  &  ^lary  +     ) 

rORTSMOUTH. 

WOOLWICH. 

3     Vindictive 

^^}Ord. 

1     Nt'isou 

IWT 

Sloop  Bra/eiit 

3     Kedouhtahle 

74  }.Ord. 

•2     Boyne 

?^}Bmld. 

3     Manilla 

3()  J 

3     Bulwark 

3     St.  Domingo 

74^ 

PI.YMOVTII. 

3     Iiivincible+ 

7  4  >  Build. 

1     St.  \'inccnt 

i^Olord. 

5     Uudaoiiteilf 

38  J 

Sloop  Is  ew 

CHAlilAM. 

1     Caledonia 

-^}Bu.Id. 

1     Howe 

100  T  ^    , 

9     Union 

2     'iiatalgar 

IN     THE 

vir.uc 

Hants'  yauds. 

THIRD 

RATE. 

§QueenMab*sIp. 

Iliver  Thames 

Valiant* 

74 

Little  Hampton 

Tweed*          do. 

Elizabetii* 

74 

Dartmouth 

Hespiet          do. 

Cumbeilaiidf 

74 

Isorth  Star     do. 

\'etu'r;ible 

74 

Partridge        do. 

i\Iarlb()iouL;h* 

74 

Topshain 

Pawn*            do. 

York+ 

74 

Biddeford 

Myrtlet         do. 

iSultaiit 

71    ■ 

\ 

Acornt           do. 

Royal  Oak 

74 

Bridpurt 

Minstrel*       do. 

Finshiirv 

7\boukirt 

74 

J-2genat          do. 

Buckiershard 

ilanuibal 

74 

Rast  Teignmouth 

Talbott           do. 

A  irtonous 

71 

l"remin;it(jn 

Ran<ier+         do. 

Bombay 

I^iindoM 

74 

iiermuda 

Martin             do. 

Fllill 

FATE. 

Atalanre         do. 

rriiishurv 

l.eonidasf 

38 

Brii^htlini^^ca 

Eclairf          hrig 

Buckleishard 

H«is.sar* 

3J! 

Sandwich 

Rovahst*        do. 

Bur.sledoii 

llurnrio* 

3li 

Mistleylhorn 

Clio*              do. 

Nortliam 

Statiruf 

3» 

Yarmouth 

Cephalus*      do. 

Itcliinor 

Pyramu«+ 

3() 

Bersvick 

Rovert            do. 

Dartmouth 

Dartmoutli 

,';b 

Biddeford 

Carnationt     do. 

Creole 

3t> 

I'owey 

Prim  rose  t      do. 

South  Shif  Ids 

Curticliat 

32 

Turncliapel 

Derwcnt*      do. 

Is'ereus 

2,2 

St)uthamptoa 

Prometheus*fi.p. 

Paul,  near  Hull 

Prosfriiinc+ 

3 'J 

Topsliam 

Erebust          do. 

Newcastle 

Bucepliahis 

3'.' 

Biddctord 

Comet*          do. 

Hull 

llyperiout 

3y 

Bermuda 

Aestat       cutter 

SIXTH 

UAIK. 

Bream  +   cchoon. 

Snutli  Shields 

Banter* 

22 

Chubt             do. 

'iopsiiam 

Porcupine* 

'i-i 

Cuttlet           do. 

Siddet'ord 

Garland* 

'11 

WuUett          do. 

\  ola;;e* 

22 

Portiev*          do. 

Riiiginore 

Perseus 

'i'Z 

Tan-*             do. 

Yarmouth 

Racoon     sloopf 

Halifax 

plumper  gun-bg. 

South  Siiields 

Rosamond* 

do. 

§  She  has  since  bien  named  Coquette. 


508 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT     YEAR,     1807. 


SHIPS    CONTRACTED    FOR,    BUT  NOT    TAKEN    IN    HAND,    JANUAllY  1, 

1807. 

[Those  marked  thus  *  have  commenced  huUding  since,  and  are  expected  to  he 
launched  within  they  ear  i\ 


THIRD    RATE. 

Frinsbury 

Cressey 

74 

Northam 

Conquestadore 

74 

Turnchapel 

New  Armada 

74 

Medway 

Poictiers 

74 

Rochester 

New  Vigo 

FIFTH    RATE, 

74 

South  ShieWs 

New  Saldanha 

36 

Paul,  near  Hull 

Nev-  Owen  Gicndower  36 

Itchenor 

New  Curafoa 

36 

Rini^inore 

Anncreon 

Sloop 

BriiiiitlJngsea 

Sparrowhawk* 

Brig 

DoVe.- 

Eclipse* 

do. 

Mistky  thorn 

Nautilus* 

do. 

Northam 

r  Pilot*     \ 

\  Magnet*  / 

do. 

Ipswich 

Barracouta* 

do. 

Dartmouth 

Havannah 

36 

Lynn 

Zenoliia* 

do. 

Buisledon 

Permian 

do. 

Hotspur 

36 

AN    ACCOUNT,    SHOWING    THE    N 
majesty's    navy    on    THE 


Ships  of  the  1st  Rate 

From  120  to  100  suns 


Second  Rate 
Third  Rate 


84  to 
78  to 


Fourth  Rate 
Fifth  Rate 


98  do. 

80  do. 

70,  do. 

64  do. 

60  do. 

50  do. 


No. 

13 
20 
15 
119 
44 
1 
23 
15 
4 
62 
49 


UMBER    OF    SHIPS    COMPOSING    HIS 
1st    OF    JANUARY,    1807. 

f 


56  to 

44  guns 

40   do. 

58   do. 

36   do, 

34  h)   32   do.        S 
Sixth  Rate  28  to  24  do.      5i8 

22  guns  17 

20   do.  7 

Sloops,  ship-ris£ged  127 

do,    brig-rigged  '  99 

do.  the  nature  of  their  rigging 

not  yet  ascertained  5 

Yachts  1 1 

Brigs  20 

Advice  Boats  3 

Surveying  Vessel  1 


Bomb  Vessels 
Mortar  Vessel 
Fire  Ships  and  Vessels 
Store  Ships 
Armed  Brigs 

Vessels 

1 Galliot 

Tenders 

Cutters 
Schooners 
Luggers 
Prison  Ships 
Hospital  Ships 
Gun-brigs 
Receiving  Ships 
Hulks 

Other  small  Vessels,  Transports, 
&c.  65 

Ships  &  Vessels  under  the  Line    821 
Ships  of  the  Line  211 

Total  of  the  Royal  Navy         1,03^ 


No. 

18 

1 

27 

10 

3 

8 

1 

2 

32 

58 

2 

5, 

6 

123 

14 

U 


KAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,     1807.  609 

We  arc  happy  to  have  it  in  our  power,  from  an  authentic  source,  to 
state  the  piuticuliirs  of  a  gallant  enterprise,  which  was  performed  by  the 
Sally  hired  armed  ship.  1  oe  Captain  perceiving  that  the  French  had  nut 
possession  of  a  fort  Ijchind  a  narrow  neck  of  land  at  the  nioutli  of  the 
Vistula,  where  they  appeared  in  considerable  numbers,  disguised  the 
Sally  as  a  nierchaut  ship,  and  scood  into  the  river,  but  unfortunately  got 
agrounri ;  she,  however,  was  soon  got  off  again,  but  not  before  the  French- 
men discovered  her  to  he  a  ship  of  force,  and  liad  time  to  prepare  f(jr  her 
reception.  She  siiled  bold.y  up  to  tlie  fort,  and  opened  such  a  volley 
of  grape  from  her  carronadcs,  assisted  vvitii  musketry,  tiiat  she  soon  swept 
tiie  fort,  and  killed  from  three  to  four  hundred  Freuclnnen.  Our  loss 
in  this  daring  enterprise  did  not  exceed  fourteen  or  lifceen  ni'ju. 

SHIP  LAUNCH. 

On  the  22d  June,  1807,  was  launched  fioni  Messrs.  Barnard  and  Cos. 
Yard,  Dcptford,  His  Majesty's  sliip -Marlborough,  of  74  giri'-.  She  begao 
buihiing  (by  contract,)  ia  August,  1805,  and  is  one  of  live  constructed 
by  that  most  worthy  and  able  servant  of  tlie  public,  Sir  John  Henslow, 
late  Chief  Surveyor  of  His  Majesty's  Navy. 

Her  principal  ilimensions  are  as  follow : 

Feet.  Inches. 
Length  of  the    Gun-deck      I  To         6 

Keel  for  Tonnage ..      Fi4         4 

Breadth  extreme ..        47  9 

Depth 20         6 

Burthen  in  ions 1754         0 

Feet.        Inches, 

Her  light  Draught  of  Water  is,  |  "^  ^^^^f     ^^  g 

On  th.e  7th  of  next  month,  will  be  launclied  from  i\Iessr>.  Brent's.  Yard, 
at  llotherhithe.  His  Ma.jesty's  ship  York,  a  new  74  gun-ship,  of  similar 
construction  to  the  Mtirlborough,  and  which  began  buiidnig  about  the 
same  time. 


31mperial  parliament. 

HOUSE  OF  LORDS,  Friday,  June  26. 

AFTER  the  usual  preliminary  forms  had  been  gone   through,  the   fol. 
lowing  Speech  was  read  by  connnission: — 
Ml)  Lords  and  Gentlemen, 

We  have  it  in  cominand  from  His  Majesty  to  state  to  yon,  that  having  dernicd 
it  expedient  to  recur  to  tlie  sense  of  his  Ptople,  His  r^iujcsty,  in  contorniiiy  to 
his  declared  inttution,  has  lost  no  time  in  causing  the  present  i*arhameni  lu  be 
assembled. 

His  Majesty  has  great  satisfaction  in  acquainting  you,  that  since  the  events 
■which  led  to  the  Dissolution  of  the  last,  Parliament,  tin  Majesty  has  received, 
in  numerous  Addresses  lioiu  his  Subjects,  tlic  warmest  assurances  of  their 
affectionate  attachment  to  his  Person  and  Goverumen:,  and  of  iheir  linn  resolu- 
tion to  support  him,  in  maintaining  the  just  rights  ot  his  Cr.own,  and  the  true 
principles  of  the  Constitution ;  and  he  comiuands  us  to  express  bis  cntn-e 
tonlidence,  that  he  shall  experience  in  all  your  deliberations  a  determiuatic.i 
to  afford  him  an  equally  loyal,  zealous,  and  atfectiunate  support,  under  all  the 
9;di^ou$  circHo^taiives  gf  the  present  tu^ie. 


610  NAVAL   HISTORY    OF    THE    PnrSENT    YF.AK,     1807, 

V>'c  are  commanded  by  His  IWajestv  to  inform  yon,  that  His  MH)V<.t\'5 
endeavours  have  been  most  anxiously  eiuplo\ed  lor  the  purpose  of  drinving 
closer  tlie  tics  by  which  ilis  Majesty  is  connected  wilh  the  Powers  of  the 
Continent ;  of  assisting  tlie  efforts  of  those  Powers  agantst  the  amliition  and 
oppressions  of  France;  of  iorniing  such  engagcinrnts  as  may  enbure  their 
continued  co-operation  ;  and  of  cstal)lishing  thai  miitiial  confidence  and  concert, 
so  essential,  under  any  course  of  events,  to  the  restoration  of  a.  solid  and 
permanent  Peace  in  Europe. 

It  would  have  ati'orded  His  JMajesfy  the  greatest  pleasure  tn  have  been 
enabled  to  jiiiorm  you,  that  the  mediation  undertaken  by  His  ^Jajeslv  for  the 
purpose  of  preserving  Peace  between  His  Majesty's  Ally,  the  Kmperor  of  Pussia, 
and  the  Sublime  Porte,  had  proved  elfpclual  Jor  that  important  oliject.  His 
Majesty  deeply  regrets  the  failure  o(  tl)at  mediation  ;  accompanied  as  it  was  by 
the  disappointment  of  the  efforts  ol  His  INIajesty's  squadron  m  the  sea  of  IMarniora, 
and  followed  as  it  has  since  been  by  the  losses  whicli  have  been  sustained  by  his 
gallant  troops  in  Egypt. 

His  Majesty  could  not  but  lament  the  extension  of  hostilitieji  in  any  quarter, 
which  shoiiKl  create  a  diversion  in  the  \\e.r,  so  favourable  to  the  views  of  Iraiicf  ; 
but  lamenting  it  especially  in  the  instance  of  a  power  wilh  which  His  AJaje.-ly 
has  been  so  closely  connected,  anrl  which  has  been  so  recently  indebted  Jor  its 
protection  ag-inst  llie  encroachments  of  France  to  the  signal  and  successlui  inter- 
position of  His  j\Jiijest\'s  arms. 

His  Majesty  has  directed  us  to  acquaint  you,  (hat  he  has  tJiought  it  right  to 
adopt  such  measures  as  might  be^t  eiialile  hini,  in  concert  with  the  EiupiTor  of 
Russia,  to  take  ad\atitage  of  any  favourable  opportunity  for  bringing  the  hostili- 
ties m  which  they  are  engaged  against  the  Siihliiue  Porte,  to  a  conclusioji,  con- 
sistent with  His  j\Jajcsiy"s  honour,  an<]  the  luleicsts  ol  his  Ally. 

(jentlemen  of  the  House  of  Commons, 

His  Jlajcsty  has  ordered  the  Estimates  for  the  current  year  to  be  laid  before 
you,  and  he  relies  on  tlie  lri<  d  loyally  and  zeal  of  his  lairhliil  Commons,  to  make 
eucli  provision  for  the  Public  Scrvu c,  as  well  as  for  the  lurtlier  application  of  tlie 
sums  which  were  granted  in  the  last  Parliament,  as  may  appear  to  be  neces- 
sary. 

And  His  i\Iajesty  bearing  constantly  in  mind  the  necessity  of  a  careful  and 
economical  administration  of  the  pecuniary  roources  of  the  cuuMry,  has 
directed  us  to  express  his  hopes,  that  _\oii  will  proceed  without  delay  in  tlie  pur- 
suit of  those  inquirifs,  connected  willi  the  public  economy,  which  en;;9ged  ilia 
attention  of  the  last  I*arliament. 

Jij/  Lords  and  Gentlemen, 
His  IVlajesty  cf  nm.ands  us  to  slate  to  you,  that  he  is  deeply  imprrssfd  with 
the  peculiar  importance,  at  the  present  moment,  of  cherishing  a  spirit  of  ii«ion  ami 
harmony  amongst  his  people.  Siu  h  a  spirit  will  most  eflVcl!!ail\'  promote  the 
prosperity  ol  the  country  at  home,  gl^e  vigour  anrt  etiicacy  to  its  councils  and 
its  arii:s  abroad  :  and  can  alone  enable  His  Majesty,  qnaer  the  ble.>siiig  ()f 
Providonce,  to  carry  on  siiccesst'uliy  the  great  contest  in  which  be  is  eML;:igt<t,  or 
finally  to  conduct  it  to  that  lermination  whicii  His  Majesty's  niorkralion  and 
jusiice  have  ever  led  ban  to  seek  :  a  J'eaee,  in  vbicli  the  honour  and  mfe/ests  of 
bis  Kingdom  can  be  secure,  and  in  whicli  Lnrope  and  llie  World  may  liope  jor 
independence  and  repose. 

Lord  Mansfic/d  moved  an  AddresE,  wliich,  as  usual,  was  an  eclio  of 
the  Speech. 

Lord  Forteycue  moved  an  amcndtTiCnt.  After  the  House  hud  con- 
tinued in  debate  till  nearly  four  o'clocj;  on  Saturday  morning,  the  i+ous© 
divided : — 

For  the  Original  .Address. .  . .       IfjO 

Fur  the  Atncndineut 6T 

Majority  in  favour  of  Jilinisters       93 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    TIIH    PRF.SENT    YEAR,     1807,  61! 


HOUSE  OF  co.vnioxs,  ruiDAv,  Jt  nf.  q6. 

An  Address  to  Tlis  Majesty  on  his  ino-r.  gracious  Speech,  was  moved 
by  \'iscou(it  Neicuik-,  and  sccuiided  \>y  Mr.  Huil. 

^Vnumeiidmeut  was  moved  by  I.orfl  Hmrick;  and,  after  a  di-'cu^sion, 
wiiich  lasted  till  six  o'clock  on  Saturday  aiorning,  a  division  took,  ulace^ 
when  the  uuinbers  appeared  : 

For  the  Original  Address 350 

For   the   Amendment 1J5 

Majority     195 


i;^a\)al  Courts  partial. 

PORTSMOUTH,    Isr     JUNE,     1807. 

THIS  day  a  Conrt  IMartia!  was  held  on  board  the  Gladiator,  on  Lieute- 
nants Alcuck  and  Bates,  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Barfleur,  for  conniviiig 
at  the  escape  of  a  prisoner,  who  was  under  an  ;irrest.  Lieut.  A.  whs  ac- 
quitted; Lieut.  Bates  was  reprimanded  and  dismissed  the  BariLjur.  On 
Tuesday,  Lieut.  W.  Penriynran  .Stevenson,  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Malabar, 
was  tried  lor  neglect  of  duty.  Ttie  charge  was  pro\od,  and  he  was  sen- 
tenced to  be  disuiissed  fro(n  the  Navy.     Connnodore  Keats,  President, 

Ifj.  A  Court  i\fartial  was  held  this  day  on  J.  Graves,  marine  of  His  Ma- 
jesty's ship  Niobe,  for  dest  rtioii ;  he  wa^  proved  guilty,  and  was  seatcnctd 
150  iashcs.     Admiral  HolJuway,  President. 


Ilfcttrg  on  ^frticr, 

Copied  verbatim  from  the  London  Gazette. 

[Continued  from  page  438.] 

ADMIRALTY  OFFICE,  lUXE  2,  1807. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  Admiral  Lord  Gardner,  to  William  Marsden,  Esq.  ; 
dtitcd  III  Town,  ^Olk  ISLiij,  1807. 
SIR, 

IDESniF.  you  will  please  to  lay  before  their  Lordships  the  enclosed  let- 
ter, which  I  received  by  this  post,  from  Captain  Druinnijnd,  of  the 
Dryad,  (addressed  to  me  as  Commander  in  Chief  an  the  Irisli  station,) 
givii-iz;  an  account  of  the  ca|tture,  bv  His  Majesty's  ship  Amethyst,  uith  the 
Drvad  and  Plover  sluup  in  company,  of  the  French  schooner  privateer  Jo- 
sephine. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

GAPcDXER. 

MY  LOUD,  Drt/ad,  at  Sra^  Ma     15    18t  7. 

Being  in  c nnpany  with  His  Majesty's  ships  \mcthvst  and  l^lover.  Scil'y 
bearing  E.  \.  E.  twenty  leai^ues,  I  made  the  former  ship's  signal  to  ex  miine 
a  strange  sail  in  the  N.  W.,  which  slic  captured,  and  pjovcd  to  be  the  Jose- 


^12  NAVAr,    HISTORY    OF   THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1807. 

phlne,  French  schooner  privateer,  mounting!;  four  two-pounders,  and  a  pro- 
portion of  small  arms,  manned  with  forty-tive  men,  ten  of  which  were  put 
on  board  the  Jaiieof  (jreenock,  from  Lisbon,  the  only  capture  slie  had  made. 
She  sailed  I'rom  the  Isle  des  Bas  oa  the  23  th  of  April. 

I  am,  &c. 

ADAM  DRUM:\I0ND. 

To  the  Right  Hon.  Admiral  Lord  Gardtjer, 
Co  '  maiukr  in  Chief,  S;c.  6,c.  6,-c.,  at  Cove 
of'  Cork. 

Copi/ of  a  Letter  from  Captain  Edward  Chetham,  Commander  of  His  Ma' 
jexty's  Armed  Ship  Salry,  to  Wiili'tm  Marsden,  Esq.  ;  dated  in  the  Fair 
^IVaier,  near  D.i.dzic,  April  20,  1807. 

SIR, 

I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  you,  for  the  information  of  the  Lords  Com- 
missioners of  the  Admiralty,  a  copy  of  a  letter  I  have  transmitted  to  Admi- 
ral Lord  Keith,  respectinif  my  proceedings  since  quitting  Elsineur,  which  1 
hope  will  meet  their  Lordships'  apjirobation. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

E.  CHETnAM,  Commander. 

Ilis  Majestifs  Armed  Ship  Sally,  Fair  Water, 
MY  LORD,  near  IJontsic,  April  20,  1807 . 

I  have  the  honour  to  inform  you  of  my  arrival  here  with  Ilis  Majesty's 
armed  ship  Cliarlcs,  Captain  Clephane,  on  the  12th  instant,  the  Falcon  sloop 
of  war  having  joined  us  on  the  sanie  day.  Ilis  Excellency  General  Kal- 
kreuth  suspecting  that  tiic  enemy  would  be  supplied  with  provisions  by  sea, 
I  ordered  tlie  Charles  to  cruise  between  Rose  Hind  and  Uantzic  Bay,  to  in- 
tercept any  such  vessels.  Having  susisested  to  His  Excellency  the  Go- 
vernor, the  utility  of  having  a  ship  in  tlie  Fair  Water,  a  place  of  consi- 
derable importance,  and  wiiich  had  been  frequently  attacked  by  the  enemy, 
it  met  his  warmest  approbation,  and  I  \^as  honoured  with  his  thanks  for 
having  anticipated  his  wish  on  this  occasion.  I  accordingly  brought  my  ship 
in  the  Fair  Water  on  the  Itith,  and  moored  her  in  a  Hanking  position  on  an 
isthmus,  which  the  enemy  would  be  obliged  to  pass  in  order  to  make  an  at- 
tack thereon.  On  the  following  day,  finding  the  communication  slopped 
between  Fair  Water  and  the  city  of  Dantzic,  the  enemy  having  posted  them- 
selves on  the  left  bank  of  the  river  A'istula,  cidled  the  Nehrung,  I  deter- 
mined to  endeavour  to  force  a  communication,  and  by  great  exertions  on 
the  part  of  my  officers  and  ship's  company,  I  got  the  ship  lightened  that 
evening  so  as  to  enable  her  to  heave  through  the  Sluice,  the  mouth  of  the 
river  V'istula. 

At  half  past  six  P.  M.  on  the  same  day,  I  commenced  action  with  the 
enemy  at  the  Great  Hollandu,  on  the  Nelirung,  who  opposed  to  us  a  very 
strong  force  of  musketry,  supposed  to  be  about  two  or  three  thousand  men, 
in  their  intrenchments,  and  sheltered  by  the  unius  of  houses  lately  burnt, 
with  three  pieces  of  artillery,  assisted  by  a  small  battery  on  the  right  bank 
of  the  river  called  the  Legan.  The  action  continued  witFiin  pistol  shot  until 
nine  o'clock,  when  several  of  our  gun-breechings  being  shot  and  carried 
away,  and  having  no  wind  to  maintain  our  position,  I  endeavoured  to  get 
the  starboard  broadside  to  bear  upon  the  enemy,  but  witiiout  etfect,  the 
current  setting  down.  I  then  hauled  down  the  ri\:f;r  to  resume  my  position 
at  the  Fair  Water.  The  gallant  conduct  of  my  officers  and  seamen  was 
such  as  ever  characterizes  British  seamen  ;  and  though  ray  effi>rts  were  not 
completely  successful,  from  the  wind  failing  us,  I  have  the  satisfaction  of 


NAVAL    HISTORY    OF   THE    PUE3KNT    YEAR,    1S07,  513 

saying,  tli;\t  it  appears  to  li:>ve  a  ^doJ  efffct  in  iii?pirin^  the  itiijabitant?  here, 
niid  iU  i)ic  city,  wilii  Mdditionul  eueri^y  ami  coiihtlonce  in  llu'  ciuise  wii.cti 
ue  arc  eiijaepd  in  ;  nml  I  hiivc  l)cen  lioiim.rcd  witli  :i  very  IraiiiKuui  •  .iiid 
flatteriiii!;  luttcr  tVoiu  his  Excellency  Oenenil  Ivulkrcull),  Croveirior  (jf  O^nL- 
7,ic,  Oil  this  occasion,  in  svliicli  I  am  happy  V)  have  aiitictipattd  his  \icw.s,  I 
uin  sorry  to  add,  that  my  l(jss  has  bucn  considerable,  having  i:iv  Irrst  Lieute- 
nant and  nearly  li;Ut  my  ship's  cunipany  wuundcd  by  tli'j  incessant  lire  of 
inusketry,  niizen-niast  shot  thi'ons;li,  sails  and  rigging  much  cut,  and  upuardi 
(jt"a  thousand  musket  shot  in  the  hull. 

The  loss  of  the  enemy,  by  every  information  we  can  obtain,  between 
four  and  tive  hundred  mea  in  killed  and  wounded,  beside-  one  piece  of 
artillery  completely  dismounted,  which  was  also  observed  from  toe  ram- 
parts. 

I  must  beg  leave  to  mention  the  names  of  iny  olficfrs  whose  conduct 
give  nie  much  satisfaction.  Lieutenant  Eastman,  who  was  woimded; 
I.ieuteiiunt  Young,  Mr.  Eilsworlh,  the  blaster,  Mr.  Elphinstoiie,  a  vo- 
iimicer,  who,  on  every  occasitjii,  has  afforded  me  much  assir^tancc.  C;iptain 
t*!. aiders,  Mr.  Oldiield,  iirst  Lieutenant,  and  Mr.  .leininott,  Purser  of  iiis 
Majesty's  sloop  Falcon,  handsomely  volunieered  tiieir  services  on  this  oc- 
ca■^ioll,  I 

I  Iia\'e  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

E.  i;HRTJL\M, 
His  'siajLSty's  armed  ship  S.tlly. 

List  of  the  WounJc.l. 

Jiadit/,  hut  ?wt  f/.7/;gfrf.'!ts. -^Lieutenant  Eastman;  7i[r.  Eldf^r;  Thimas 
CheesHjan,  Thomas  Hobinst»n,  Daniel  (Jailap,  James  Johnstone,  iiugli  iiUiS, 
William  Robson,  ()li\(;r  Walter,  and  Cluirics  Gerrard. 

Dtingerounh/. — NVilliam  Bell,  James  IVascr,  ana  James  Eubnii. 

.S'//<;//^/y.— 'Mr.  Patton,  llalph  Gregory,  Ihomas  Wright,  Thomas  Criaier, 
and  John  Salkirk. 

■Jo  the  RigU^  Hon.  Lord  Kclih,^-':. 

JINK    6. 

r.xtravt  of  a  Letter  from  Jicnr-Admiral  H  irlh^g,  to  WiUuim  Mtirsden,  Esq.; 
dated  on  Lourd  llie  Diiukm,  cff'Jyivnic  Video,  March  19,  1Q07. 
sii;, 
I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  a  letter'  from  C'aptnin  Palmer,  of  Ilis  ■\'[a- 
jesty's  sloop  Plie:i>anl,  acpiaiming  me  with  adelachmc.it  of  the  ariiiv  under 
l.ieutenuuL-Coluiiel   Pack,   ii.uing  taken   possesiion  lA'  Colonia   del  Sacra- 
mento. 

'I'he   trofips  had  embarked  for   the  expedition  on   the  Dtli  instant;   but 
owing  to  blowing  weather,  the  loss  of  one  of  tiie  transportN,  and  foul  winds, 
the  squadron  under  Captain  Palmer  could  imt  -ail  untd  the  13th. 
1  have  the  honour  lo  be,  tkc. 

c;iL\iiLES  STIPtLIXG. 

His  Mnjcxffs  Sloop  Piiea^a.  I.  Co'onii 
SIR,  Harbour,  Much  Id,  IVA)7 . 

It  was  not  before  yesterday  afternoi.n  that  the  ves-els  yo  i  put  under  luy 
directions  were  able  to  reach  this  anchorage,  ov.mg  to  b.ifiimg  wincl-^,  and 
some  times  heavy  squalls  with  rain.  A  llag  of  truce  was  sent  oj  s;iorc  pre- 
V10U.S  to  the  disembarkation  of  the  troops,  announcing  the  senlimc.iis  of 
your's  and  Sir  Samuel  Auchmaty's  prochunation  to  the  inhaiut.iuts  at 
iltiiite  \  ideo  ;  and  about  ludf-pait  five  the   detacbintint  uf  the  y^th  were 

Jr^atj.  erjiron.  (Hol.XVlI.  a  v  u 


514  NAVAL    HISTORY    OF    THE    PRESENT    YEAR,    1807. 

landed;  the  weather  at  that  time  was  so  unfavourable  with  heavy  rain,  that 
Colonel  Pack  deferred  landing  the  remainder  till  this  day,  as  not  a  sin^^Ie 
gun,  nor  any  force,  was  here  to  oppose  him  ;  and  t!ie  rest  of  the  li^ht 
brigade,  with  the  artillerv,  were  landed  thi'^  morning;.  The  Commandant 
of  the  town,  and  a  Captain  of  the  militia,  the  only  military  here,  escaped 
before  the  troops  landed  ;  they  were  both  natives  of  this  town. 
I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

J.  PALMER. 
To  Charlex  SHrlin^,   T-.s'].,  Urnr-A'I'tiiral 
of  the  White,  and  Commander  in  Chief', 
River  Plate. 

Jt'NE  9. 

Copy  of  n  T^etler  from  Commodore  Sir  Samuel  TJood,  K.B.,  fo  IViUtam  Marti- 
den,  Esq.;  dated  on  hoard  His  Majesty  s^ Ship  Centaur,  at  Sea,  March  16, 
1807. 

SIR, 

I  beg  leave  to  enclose  you,  for  the  information  of  the  Lord-;  Commi<5si- 
oners  of  the  Admiralty,  a  copy  of  a  letter  I  have  received  from  Captain 
Shipley,  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Comus,  stating  the  capture  of  ei^jlit  of  the 
enemy's  vessels;  v.hich  service  appears  to  have  been  planned  and  executed 
witli  good  judgment  and  enrrLjv. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

SAMUEL  HOOD. 

Hii  Majesties  Ship   Comiis, 
SIR,  March  i 51  h,  1807. 

I  have  the  honour  to  report,  for  your  information,  the  capture  of  six  of 
the  enemy's  vessels,  (described  in  the  mari^in*,)  by  the  boats  of  His  IMajes- 
tv's  ship  under  my  command,  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenants  G.  E, 
Wiitts  and  Hood  Knij^ht,  and  Lieurenant  G.  Campbell,  of  the  Royal  Marines, 
with  a  detachment  of  petty  olficers,  seamen,  and  marines.  They  were  moored 
in  the  Puerto  de  Haz,  Grand  Canaria,  and  defended  by  the  cross  fire  of 
three  batteries;  Lieutenant  Campbell  was  the  only  person  wounded  on  the 
occasion. 

Since  your  orders  of  the  1st  instant.  His  Majesty's  ship  has  also  captured 
two  Sjianish  brig-,  St.  Phiiip,  with  salt  fish,  and  Nostra  Senora  de  los  Rc- 
luedios,  with  a  mixed  careo  of  merchandiye. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  (kc. 

CONWAY  SHIPLEY. 
Commodore  Sir  S.  Hood,  K.B.  ^-c.  SfC.  <Sc. 

Copy  nf  another  Letter  from  Commodore  Sir  Satnuel  Hood,  K.  B.,  to  Wdllum 
Marsden,  Fjxq. ;  dated  on  hoard  His  Majesij/'s  Ship  Centaur,  Funchal  Bat/, 
Madeira,  Mui/  18,  1807. 

SIR, 

His  Majesty's  ship  Comus  has  just  anchored,  and  I  have  the  honour  to 


J.  Spanish  bri^,  five  guns,  loaHed  wiili  !.nit  pork. 

2.  Sj)anish  brig,  loaded  with  wine  and  I'ruit. 

3.  Spanish  brig,  loaded  with  salt  fish. 

4.  Spanish  brig,  in  ballast. 
,5.  Spanish  biii^,  m  ballast. 
6.  Spanish  brii>,  in  ballast. 


NAVAL    IIISTOUY    OF    THE    PUESENT    YEAR,     1 807.  ,515 

enclose  you  a  copy  of  a  letter  from  Captain  Shipley,  detauing  a  gallant  ex- 
jploit  effected  by  the  boats  of  that  ship. 

1  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

SAMUEL  HOOD. 

P.  S.  Enclosed  is  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  in  the  boats  of  the 
<^'oinus. 

His  Majesfj/'s  Ship  Comns,  off" C anuria, 
SIR,  ^  Jfrtj/  9,  ^807. 

I  have  the  honour  to  relate  to  you  the  particulars  of  a  gallant  exploit  per- 
formed last  night  iby  the  boats  of  ilis  Ma.;esty's  ship,  under  tlie  direction  of 
Lieutenant  George  Edward  Watts,  and  assisted  by  Lieutenant  Hood  Kniglit, 
and  Mr.  Jeaffrcsuii  Miles,  Master's  Mate,  witli  a  party  of  petty  oflicers,  sea- 
men, and  royal  marines,  in  the  Port  of  Grand  Canaria. 

A  large  armed  felucca,  with  His  Catholic  Majesty's  colours  flving,  had 
been  for  the  three  last  days  lying  under  the  prtjtection  of  a  strong  Ibrt,  and 
two-batteries,  and  the  aind  yesterday  evening  proving  favourable,  she  was 
boarded  by  Lieutenant  Watts  in  the  large  cutter,  under  a  severe  fire  of 
musketry  fro:n  between  thirty  and  forty  soldiers,  sent  to  assist  in  her  defence; 
and  he  had  nearly  cleared  her  deck  when  the  two  oiher  boats,  whicli  did  not 
row  so  well,  arrived,  and  fully  accomplished  the  business. 

Her  cables  were  now  cut,  and  the  boats  took  her  in  tow,  (the  enemy 
having  had  the  precaution  to  send  her  sails  and  rudder  on  shore,)  when  a 
hawser,  fast  under  water  a-stern,  was  manned  in  the  fort,  and  the  vessel 
dragged  nearly  under  the  muzzles  of  the  guns  before  it  could  be  cut,  upon 
vvhicli  an  exceeding  heavy  fire  from  all  the  batteries  was  commenced,. and 
continued  until  she  was  out  of  sight. 

She  proves  to  be  the  St.  Pedro  Spanish  packet,  having  a  cargo  of  bale 
goods,  &c.  from  Cadiz,  bound  to  Buenos  Ayres. 

This  was  effected  wiUi  the  loss  of  one  man  kdled  and  five  wounded,  as  per 
enclosed  list.  Mr.  Watts  has  several  woundi,  but  none  of  them  dangerous; 
and  I  feel  convinced  his  gallant  conduct,  with  tlie  exertions  of  every  otlicor 
and  man  employed  on  this  service,  will  meet  your  approbation.  . 

Twenty-one  of  the  enemy's  troops  were  made  prisoners,  eighteen  of  whom 
are  wounded;  the  rest,  excepting  a  few  who  swam  on  shore,  were  killed,  as 
was  her  Captain  and  some  of  her  crew. 

She  had  captured,  since  her  departure  from  Cadiz,  the  Lord  Keith,  bound 
from  London  to  Mogador. 

His  Majesty's  ship  has  taken  aiul  destroyed,  since  the  1st  instant,  the  St. 
Francisco  Spanish  lugger,  vviih  wheat  and  salt;  and  la  Louisa  schooner,  in 
ballast  J  the  latter  perfectly  new. 

I  am,  &c. 

COXWAY  SHIPLEY. 

To  Commodore  Sir  S.  Hood,  K.B.,  Sc. 
Ctntuur. 

A  Lis'  of  t}ic  Killed  and  Wounded  in  the  Boats  of  His  Majestfs  Ship  ComuSy 
off  Canaria,  on  the  8th  Mu^,  1807. 

Robert  Noble,  private  marine,  killed  ;  Lieutenant  Watts,  severely  wound- 
ed ;  John  Robinson,  private  marine,  diito;  Edward  Evans,  seaman,  ditto; 
James  'i'rimble,  seaman,  ditto;  Richard  Tully,  private  marine,  diuigero'usly 
wounded. 

Given  on  board  the  Centaur,  Funchal  Bay,  Madeira,  13th  May.  1007. 

CONWAY  iliiPLLY. 


516  NAVAL    HISTOUY    OF    THE    PRi:SENT  YEAR,   1807. 

JUNE    13. 

Copif  of  a  Leiicrfrom  Vke'Admird  Dacres,  Cvnwanclcr  in  Chief  of  H'n 
Mujrshfit  S/ii^  s  mid  Vmseh  at  Ju.naica,  to  William  Alarsdcn,  Esq.;  dated 
at  toft  Roj/ul,  March  25,  1307. 

sill, 

I  enclose  to  you,  for  the  information  of  flie  Lords  Commissioners  of  the 
/.drairalty,  the  cojjy  of  a  letter  I  have  received  horn  Captain  Nicholas,  of 
t!)e  JLark,  detailiiii;  the  particulars  of  the  destructiuu  of  boiue  gun-boats  aiul 
small  crafc  when  on  a  cruis^  on  the  Spanish  main. 

I  am,  6ic. 

J.  R.  D  ACRES. 

His  Miijeafu'.'i  Sloop  Lnrk,  at  Sea, 
SIR,  '  Mitrc/i  10,  1807. 

I  have  the  honour  to  report  you  the  proceedings  of  His  Majesty's  sloop  I 
cojumaud  durina;  her  late  crui.^^e. 

On  the  IPth  of  January  we  fell  in  with  and  chased  an  enemy's  schooner, 
which  carrving  a  \e!-y  hoa\  v  |l)■e^s  of  sail  to  e^^cai^K'  from  us,  was  overset  in 
a  scuall,  when  the  whole  of  her  crew  perished  before  the  Lark  reached  the 
spot. 

On  the  2oth,  late  in  the  evening,  we  discovered  two  gnarda  costa  schoo- 
ners under  the  land,  a'ld  by  steering  a  suitable  cour.-e  to  cut  them  ofY 
'  from  Porto  Bcllo,  we,  after  fourteen  hours  chusing,  on  the  27th  captured 
them  both;  they  were  el  Postilion,  of  one  twelve-pounder,  two  six- 
pounders,  and  seventy-six  men,  and  el  Carmen,  of  one  twelve-ponnder, 
f)ur  six-pounders,  and.  seventy-two  men,  both  commanded  by  Lieu- 
tenants of  tiie  Spanish  Navy,  and  were  from  Carthagciu  bound  to  Porto 
Bello. 

With  these  vessels  in  company,  on  the  1st  of  February,  a  convoy  of  mar- 
Ivet-boats,  protected  by  two  ^im-boats  and  an  arnied  schooner,  were  falleu 
in  with;  tl.e  former  were  driven  on  siiore,  but  the  latter  took  refniie  in  a 
rrcek  of  Zispata  Bav,  protf  ctod  by  a  four  gnu'  battery.  I  followed  them  into 
the  bav,  and  in  a  ^iiort  time  silenced  the  fort;  but  not  being  able  to  get  at 
the  Ljun-boats  with  the  ship,  the  J, ark  was  anchored  at  acouveni'Mit  distance, 
and  'vith  the  whole  of  oar  crew,  (twenty  men  excepted,  oq  board  the  prizes,) 
I  proceeded  to  attack  them. 

The  Spaniards  rowed  out  to  meet  us,  and  keeping  np  a  resolute  fire,  ap- 
proached, unt't  we  closed,  when  they  fled;  this  moment  was  seized  to  board, 
the  stcrnmost  of  the  enemy,  carrying  a  long  twenty-four  pounder  and  two 
six-pouuders;  s!)e  ran  on  shore,  but  was  carriefl  after  a  desperate  rcsistr 
ance,  in  whicti,  of  sixteen  men,  three  were  disabled,  and  myself  wounded. 
But  liere  our  success  cndefl,  fur  in  following  the  others  up  the  creek,  the 
Pilot  inissed  the  channel,  and  ran  thq  schooners  on  shore,  without  any  pros- 
pect i)f  getting  them  off;  the  acti  ♦n  «as  therefore  contiuued  in  this  situ- 
ation until  five  o'clock,  when  Mr.  Pound,  (the  Pur«tr,)  and  two  more  men, 
being  added  to  tlie  list  of  wouridcd,  I  gave  up  the  attempt,  directing  Licutc^ 
nant  Bull  to  set  the  schooner^  on  tire,  and  to  cover  the  retreat.  The  Carmen 
})lew  up,  and  the  Posti|!<u>  was  in  fiaines,  and  oiherwise  so  much  disabled, 
that  she  nuijt  be  lost  to  the  enemy. 

The  good  conduct  of  the  Lark's  officers  and  crew  entitle  them  to  ))iy 
thanks,  and  1  trust  tlieir  exeriJons  may  l)e  reuarded  by  better  fortune  on  a 
future  occasion.  I  a\n,  (S:c. 

ROBERT  NICHOLAS. 
2'o  James  Hii  hard  Dacres,  S^g.,  VicC' 

^dmirul  of  the  White,  S^-c.  .S-c.  ^\, 


HAVAT,    HISTORY    OF    THE    TIIKSENT    YEAR,     1S07.  517 

JUNE    IG. 

Cop}/  of  a  Letter  f I  orn  Cupiain  JUibtrt  Winthrnp,  nf  His  Miijes't/s  S/tip  %- 
bille,  to  WUliam  Muisdcn,  Esq.;  daUd  at  S^ithcud,  Ju/u-  12,  i8u7. 

SIR, 

tiiclosed  you  will  receive,  for  the  information  of  my  Lonls  Commis- 
fcioiK'is  of  liie  Adiuiinlty,  a  copy  of  my  letter  to  Coi):iiiodore  Sir  Samuei 
Hood,  K.  B.,  of  this  day's  date.         I  am,  .Sir,  bcc. 

ROBERT  WINTMROP. 

His  Majesty s  Ship  Sijbille,  Spi.hmd, 
STR,  Junt  12,  1807. 

I  liavc  the  honour  to  infornn  you,  tliat  on  the  3d  of  May  last,  in  latitude 
33  dcg.  50  min.  N.,  anrl  Juiijiitnrle  20  dei^rees  VV.,  after  a  lonii  clia.se,  ills 
IVJajetty's  i^hip  .Sybille  under  uiy  command,  captured  the  1  rench  schooner 
rOiseau,  letter  of  marijuc,  niountinir  four  Ion}/;  six-purnacrs,  fourteen 
days  from  Bourdeaux,  bouiifl  to  Cayenne.  .Slie  h.ui  :  i  le  one  cap- 
ture, the  Perseverance,  iJarLer,  iMaster,  from  ist.  iUic'utei's,  boiuid  to 
Jjondcjn. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  5cc. 

il.  WINTHROP. 
To  Commodore  Sir  S.  Hood,  K.  B. 

jc.vr.  20, 
^opi/  of  a  Letter  frvm  Admlrid  Lord  Gardner,  Commauihr  in  Chief  of  His 
Majesty's  Ships  una  Vessels  emp/oj/ed  in  the  ChanneL  SuunJu!L,s,i^x.,  ia 
Williaru  AlursdcJi,  Escj.  ;  dated  the  I9th  inslunt, 

MR, 

I  desire  you  will  be  pleased  to  lay  before  their  Lordships  the  enclosed 
letter,  which  1  have  received  tl)is  morninji;  from  Rear-.Aduiiral  Sir  Richard 
Strachaii,  accompauying  one  to  the  Rear-Adniiral  from  Captain  Barric.  of 
the  i'omone,  givinj^  an  account  of  liis  iuuiug  taken  and  destroyed  part  of  a 
convoy  of  the  enemy,  from  Najitz  bound  to  Rocht'ort,  laden  with  naval  stores, 
i^c. ;  in  ivhich  ad'air  gicat  credit  is  derived  by  Captain  Barric,  as  uell  U's  the 
VliiCKf?  and  nan  employefl  on  thi^  occasion. 

1  have  the  honour  tu  be,  (S:c. 

GAHnXER. 
Ciesar,  off  the  Fsstuis  d'Anti-jchc, 
MY  LORD,  June  7,  13u7. 

I  enclose   a  letter  from  Captain  Barric,  givin;.i  an  account  of  his  having 
talven    part  of  a   ccuivoy    of  the   enemy,    from    Nantz    bound    to    Roch- 
fort,  laden  with  various  articles  and  naval  stores.     Cap'taiii   Barrie*.s  zea- . 
lous  conduct,  as  veil '^is  that  of  his  othccrs  and  sliip's  compunv,  js  hinhiy 
pievitoriuus, 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Ike. 

R.  J.  STRACIIAN'. 

Jiight  Hovoiirahle  Lord  Gard77er,  Admiral 
oj  the  White,  6,e.  Lye.  6ii:. 

siKf  Poinonc,Junr6,\?,C)7. 

I  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  you,  that  ycstcrdav,  when  workiuii  up  to 
viin<ivvard,  in  order  lo  gan\  tbe  station  you  had  pointed  out  to  me  bv  si'Mial 
at  about  lialf  past  se\en  o"cjock.  A.  M.  three  ves.sels  were  reported  tVoui  the 
mast-head,  bearing  rs;.E.;  these  we  soon  in.uie  out  lo  be  armed  ve>sel3 
(brigs^.  As  tlje  tiistancc  of  the  squadron  rendered  it  impossible  for  me 
to  connnmiicate  this  circnnislauce  lo  yuu,  1  look  upon  uivs»df  to  uive  cha;o 
to  these  brigs,  conceiving  il  my  duty  to  do  so,  as  1  thought  1  couhl  cut  them 
off  before  they  could  get  mlj  the  babies  d  oioune.     As  we  approached  liie 


518  KAVAt    HISTORY    GF   TUE    PlltSEyt    YEAR,    1807. 

shore,  a  convoy  was  observed  under  escort  of  the  brigs.  At  about  nine 
o'clock  we  got  within  random-shot  of  one  of  the  brigs,  when  the  breeze  un- 
fortunately failed  us,  and  I  had  the  mortification  to  observe  that  we  should 
not  be  able  (in  the  sinp)  to  cut  of  the  brigs,  especially  as  we  were  obliged  to 
inake  a  tack  to  clear  the  barges,  which  were  only  about  two  cables'  length 
from  us.  Some  of  our  shot  reached  the  convoy,  two  of  which  (supposed  to 
be  naval  transports)  ran  on  shore  ;  a  tiiird  (a  br.g)  was  deserted  by  her 
crew;  I  therefore  dispatched  Lieutenant  Jones,  in  the  six-oared  cutter,  to 
take  possession  of  the  deserted  brig,  and  of  any  otners  of  the  convoy  that 
were  not  close  to  the  shore.  This  service  Lieutenant  Jones  performed  with 
great  judgment  and  gallantry,  and  fortunately  without  Ios.n  tiiough  the  grape 
from  the  shore  and  gun-brigs  passed  through  and  through  his  boat.  One  of 
the  gun-brigs  making  a  show  of  pulling  out  witli  her  sweeps,  I  sent  Lieute- 
nant J.  W.  Gabriel,  first  of  this  ship,  with  three  boats,  to  meet  him;  but  as 
the  brig  retreated  under  the  protection  of  the  batteries  nn  shore,  and  also 
within  musket-shot  of  the  numerous  soldiery  which  Imed  the  beach,  I  would 
not  allow  my  gallant  friend  to  make  the  attack  under  such  great  disadvan- 
tat^e,  but  directed  him  to  proceed  with  the  boats  towards  St.  Gilles's,  where 
several  vessels  were  observed  nearly  becalmed.  At  about  half-past  eleven 
o'clock  the  boats  got  up  with  the  easternmost  brig,  and  by  half-past  two 
they  were  all  (fourteen  in  number)  in  our  possession,  except  one,  which 
drove  on  shore  and  was  lost.  The  crews  of  the  enemy's  vessels  took  to  their 
boats;  but  I  fear,  as  the  sea  ran  very  high,  some  of  them  were  drowned  in  at- 
tempting to  laud.  Had  the  breeze  fortunately  continued,  I  have  no  doubt 
but  we  should  have  taken  and  destroyed  the  whole  convoy,  which,  exclusive 
of  the  gun-brigs,  appears  to  consist  of  about  twenty-seven  sail  of  brigs, 
sloops,  and  chasse  marees.  I  have  the  pleasure  to  add,  that  the  otRcers  and 
seamen  emplo\ed  on  this  service,  performed  it  to  ray  satisfaction  and  to  their 
own  credit.  Enclosed  is  a  list  of  the  vessels  taken  and  destroyed,  with  their 
carjiLies,  &;c. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 

ROBERT  BARRIE. 
To  Kear-Adinlral  Sir  Richard  John  Straclian, 

A  List  of  Vessels  captured  and  destroyed  bi/  His  Majesty's  Ship  Pomone,  Ro- 
bert JBarrie,  Esq.,  Captain,  between  the  'Zlst  Day  of  April  and  the  7  th  of 
June,  1807. 
French  lugger  la  Marie,  from  Bourdeaux  bound  to  Brest,  laden  with  wine 

and  brandy;  cut  out  of  the  harbour  of  Oyle,  Isle  Rh",  by  the  boats  of  the 

Pomone  aiid  Hazard,  May  7,  J807,  and  destroyed. 

A  French  luager,  name   unknown,  bound  to  Brest,  laden  with  canvass 

and  sundries ;    cut  out  of  the  same  harbour,  by   the  boats  of  the  same 

ships,  the  same  date,  and  sunk  by  the  enemy's  shot  after  in  our  pos- 
session. 

A  French  lugger,  name  unknown,  from  Bourdeaux  bound  to  Brest,  laden 

xvith  wine  ;  cut  out  of  the  same  harbour,  by  the  boats  of  the  same  ships,  the 

same  date,  and  destroyed. 

A  French  luiiger,  name  unknown,  from  Bourdeaux  bound  to  Brest,  laden 

with  wine ;  cut  out  of  the  same  harbour,  by  the  boats  of  the  same  ships,  thg 

same  date,  and  destroyed. 

A  French  bri^',  name  unknown,    from  Nantz,  ladrn  with  provisions  and 

wheat;  cut  out  from  St.  Gilles  by  the  boaia  of  the  Ppmrne,  June  5,  1807, 

and  sent  to  Plymouth. 

A  French  brig,  name  unknown,  from  Nantz,  laden  with  provisions  and 

wheat ;  cut  out  from  the  same  place,  by  the  boats  of  the  same  ship,  the  same 

dale,  and  sent  to  Plymuutii. 


NAVAL    HISTOKY    OF    THE    PRESEXT    YEAR,     1807.  519 

A  French  brie;,  name  unknown,  from  Nant/,,  laden  with  flour;  cut  out 
from  the  same  phicc,  by  tlie  boats  of  the  same  sliip,  the  same  date,  and  sent 
to  Plymouth. 

A  French  brig,  name  unknown,  fromNantz,  laden  with  flour,  wheat,  and 
iron;  cut  out  from  the  same  place,  by  the  boats  of  the  same  ship,  the  same 
date,  and  sent  to  Plymoutli. 

A  Frencl)  brig,  name  unknown,  from  Nantz,  laden  with  flour  and  wheat ; 
cut  out  from  les  Sables  d'Oionne,  by  the  boats  of  the  Poraone,  June  5,  1807, 
and  sent  to  Plymoutii. 

A  French  dogs^er,  with  an  anchor,  from  Nantz,  supposed  bound  to  Roch- 
fort,  laden  with  large  oak  timber;  cutout  from  the  same  place,  by  the  boats 
of  tlie  same  sliip,  the  same  date,  and  sent  to  Plymouth. 

A  French  brig,  name  unknown,  from  Nantz,  laden  with  flour,  wheat,  and 
iron  ;  cut  out  from  St.  Gilles,  by  the  boats  of  the  Eomone,  June  5,  1807, 
and  sent  to  Plymouth. 

A  French  brig,  name  unknovvn,  from  Nantz,  laden  with  flour  and  wheat; 
cut  out  from  the  same  place,  by  the  boats  of  tlie  same  ship,  the  same  date, 
and  sent  to  Plymouth. 

A  French  sloop,  name  unknown,  from  Nantz, laden  with  flour  and  wheat; 
cut  out  from  the  same  place,  by  the  boats  of  the  same  ship,  the  same  date, 
and  sent  to  Plymouth. 

A  French  sloop,  name  unknown, from  Nantz,  laden  with  flour  and  wheat; 
cut  out  from  the  same  place,  by  the  boats  of  the  same  ship,  the  same  date, 
and  sent  to  Plymouth. 

A  French  sloop,  name  unknown,  fromNantz,  laden  with  flour  and  wheat; 
cut  out  from  the  same  place,  by  the  boats  of  the  same  ship,  the  same  date, 
and  sent  to  Plymoutli. 

A  French  sloop,  name  unknown,  from  Nantz,  laden  with  flour  and  wheat ; 
cut  out  from  the  same  place,  by  the  boats  of  the  same  ship,  the  same  date, 
and  sent  to  Plymouth. 

A  French  sloop,  name  unknown,  from  Nantz,  laden  witli  flour  and 
wheat;  cut  out  from  the  same  place,  by  the  boats  of  the  same  ship,  the 
same  date,  and  sent  to  Plymouth.   . 

A  French  chasse  maree,  name  unknovvn,  from  Nantz,  laden  with  flour  and 
wheat;  cut  out  from  tlie  same  place,  by  the  boats  of  the  same  ship,  the  same 
date,  and  sent  to  Plymouth. 

A  French  brig,  name  unknown,  from  Nantz,  supposed  bound  to  Rochfort, 
supj)Osed  laden  with  naval  stores;  ran  on  shore  and  was  bilged  on  the  rocks 
near  the  Sables  d'Oionne,  June  5,  1807. 

A  French  brig,  name  unknown,  from  Nantz,  supposed  bouKd  to  Rochfort, 
supposed  laden  with  naval  stores;  ran  on  shore  and  was  bilged  on  the  rocks 
near  the  Sables  d'Oionne,  the  same  date. 

A  French  schooner,  name  unknovvn,  from  Nantz  supposed  bound  to 
Rochfort,  laden  with  wheat;  ran  on  shore  and  was  bilged  near  St.  Giiles, 
tlu;  same  date. 

ROBERT  BARRIE,  Captain. 

Memorandum. — The  brig  Mr.  Cave  Gregory  was  in  was  run  down  by  the 
Spartiate,  in  the  night  of  the  6th  inst.  and  lost,  all  the  crew  saved. 


IPromotiono  anti  3ppointmcnt0» 

The  Hon.  William  Wellesley  Pole  is  appointed  Secretary   to  the  Admi- 
rally  in  the  room  of  William  Marsden,  Esq.,  resigned. 

Captain  Bedford  is  appointed  to  the  Ville  de  Paris  (Lord  Gardner's  fla* 
<liipl ;  Captain  Conn,  to  the  liibernia  ;  Captain  M'Namara,  to  the  Edgar; 


S%0  NAVAL    inSTOnY    OF    THE    PflESK5T    YEAR,    1807. 

Cnptain  D.  Campbell,  to  the  Dictator;  Captain  Jackson,  to  tlie  Toxel  i 
Captain  A.  limes,  to  the  Goshawk;  Captain  lloarc,  to  ifie  Amsterdam; 
Mr.  Williamson,  to  be  Purser  ot"  the  Royal  William;  Mr.  Godl'rev,  to  be 
Purber  of  the  Isis. 

Admiral  Holloway  wns  presented  to  Her  Majesty  at  Court,  on  the  Kin'^'s 
birth- day,  by  Earl  Morton,  upon  his  appointment  of  Governor  and  Com- 
mander in  Chief  of  Xewtoundland. 

The  lion.  Captain  Pakenliam  is  promoted  to  a  Post  Captain,  and  ap- 
pointed to  the  Mocasser  frii^ate. 

Sii'T.  Williams  is  nppoinfed  to  the  Xeptune,  at  Portsmouth;  Captain  T. 
"Wolley,  to  the  Salvador  del  3.Iuiido;  Captain  J.  Lorinjj,  to  conunaud  tlio 
i>ea  Feucibles,  at  Portsmouth  district;  Hon.  CajJlain  Curzon,  to  the  Kli- 
aabeth ;  Captain  G.  Scott,  to  the  Horatio;  and  Captain  Godfrey,  to  the 
Etna. 

Captain  Lnkin,  of  the  Mars,  of  74  srims,  is  appointed  Governor  of  tlie  Is- 
land of  Dominica,  and  intends  sliortly  to  proceed  thither. 

Captain  Fancourt  is  appointed  to  the  Zealand  ;  Captain  Forbes,  to  the 
Coquette,  the  finest  and  largest  sloop  in  the  British  Navy;  Captain  Fisher, 
to  the  liacehors.';  Mr.  Rurrell,  Purser  of  the  Mwtine,  to  the  Batavier;  and 
Captain  Gordon  to  the  Mercury,  vice  Pelly,  ill. 

BIRTH. 

On  the  lull  of  June,  the  Lady  of  Captain  T,  Searle,  Royal  Xavy,  of  a 
son. 

MARRIAGES. 

On  the  loth  of  June,  Mr,  Mottiey,  of  the  Customs,  to  Miss  Cowie, 
dau;j,hter  of  the  late  W.  G.  Cowie,  Esq.  Lieutenaiu  of  tiie  Royal  Navy. 

On  the  7th  of  June,  by  the  Rev.  W.  Bussell,  Mr.  Joseph  Chase,  of  the 
dock-yard  at  Portsmouth,  to  Miss  Mary  llaj-ter  of  Gosport. 

Last  week  was  married.  Lieutenant  Britton,  of  the  Uoyal  31arlnes,  to  IMisS 
Sheldon,  of  Portsmoutli. 

OBITUARY. 

On  t1ie  I.Sih  of  Mfirrh  last,  died  of  bis  wounds  in  liis  16th  year,  on  board 
of  His  Majesty's  siiip  llepulse,  Lieut.  E.  Marsludl,  Royal  Marines,  second 
son  to  Captain  Marshall,  Royal  Navy :  lie  received  his  mortal  wound  on  the 
3d  of  the  same  month,  by  a  granite  sliot,  in  their  retreat  throu-^h  the  Darda- 
nelles; the  sh(jt  weiifhed  upwards  of  ;".UOIb.,  killed  and  wounded  '21  men. 
lie  was  a  youth  beloved  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him,  and  died  with 
the  resignation  of  a  gOv)d  Christian,, tighung  for  his  Ivaig  and  Country  :  and 
is  an  irreparable  loss  to  his  friend^i 

On  the  -<:5th  of  i\Iay,  at  Gosport,  much  respected^  P.  Le  Vesconte,  I'sq., 
Purser  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Royal  William. 

On  the  1st  of  June,  Mrs.  Bailey,  wife  of  3Jr.  Bailey,  of  the  Royal  Xavid 
Academy,  at  Porf-moutli, 

Lieutenant  A.  Wlstinghausen,  of  the  Navy  of  His  Imperial  Majesty  of 
Russia,  and  a  volunteer  m  the  British  Navy,  in  his  28tb  ytar.  .At  Cardmg- 
ton,  near  Bedt'onI,  Captain  J.  Barfoot,  many  years  in  the  sea  service  (jf  the 
Hon.  East  India  Company. 

On  the  15th  of  June,  Mr.  Duncan  Grant,  a  foreman  of  the  boat- 
builders,  in  tlie  ducl.-yard,  Portsmoutl,  fell  dyw.-i  ia  a  fit  and  ••■^- 
pired. 


INDEX 


TO    THE 


MEMOIRS,   HINTS,  PHILOSOPHICAL  PAPERS,  MEDICAL 
FACTS,  NAVAL  LITKRA.TURE,  POETRY,  REMARKABLE 
.  INCIDENTS,  4c.    IN  VOL.  XVIL 


A. 

ACCOUNTS  nncl  Papers,  presented  to 
the  House  of  Commons,  review  of, 
323,  410,  49T,  498. 

Actions: — Letween  the  boatsof  the  Gala- 
tea, and  the  French  brii;  le  Lynx,  304. 

Admirals  in  Commission,  list  of,  iCO. 

AjA\,  loss  of  the,  319,  378,  424. 

Alexandria,  map  and  descriptive  aecount 
of,  489. 

AsTREA  frigate,  danger  of  tlie,  42. 

Athenienne,  shipwreck  of  the,  57. 


B. 


Betsey,  shipwreck  of  the,  321. 

Blackvvood,  the  Hon.  Capt.,  proceedings 
of  a  Board  of  Inquiry,  respecting  his  loss 
of  the  Ajax,  378. 

Blanche,  shipwreck  of  the,  318. 

BoA  rswAiN,  curious  anecdote  of  a,  121. 

Bowling,  account  of  a  female  Tom,  309. 

Buenos  Ayhes,  letter  from  Rear-Admiral 
Stirling  at,  50G. 

Bulwark,  launch  of  the,  330. 

Buonaparte',  proceedings  of  Prince  Je- 
rome, in  tiie  Veteran,  40. 

BvNC,  address  and  piece  of  phUe  presented 
to  v^laptairi,  by  certain  East  India  Cap- 
tains, 470.    His  answer  thereto,  471. 


c. 


Calcutta,  description  of  the  approach  to, 
495. 

Calder,  Sir  RoBEnx;  portrait  and  biogra- 
phical memoir  of,  89.  Partic  t'.ars  of  his 
family,  90.  His  birth  and  education.  91. 
Enters  the  service,  52.  -M  ide  a  Post 
Captain,  95.  Marries,  ib.  C^ouimarjds 
in  the  Thalia,  the  SJtatelv,  the.  :  >uke,  the 
Theseus,  and   the   Victory,   96.     Com- 


mands, as  Sir  John  Jervis's  First  Capt. 
in  the  buttle  of  tiie  14-h  of  P~et)ruary, 
brings  home  the  Commander  in  Chief's 
dispatches,  receives  thi^  honours  of 
knighthood  and  baronetage,  is  made  a 
Re.-.r  Admiral,  and  hoists  his  flag  in  the 
Prince  of  Wales,  97.  Sails  in  pursuit  of 
Rear-Admiral  Uanthcaume,  goes  to  the 
West  Indies,  returns  to  England,  and  is 
made  Vice-.\dmiral,  98.  Blockades 
Ferrol  and  Cunmna,  99.  Falls  in  with 
the  combined  fleet,  and  captures  two 
ships,  100.  Demands  an  inquiry  into 
his  conduct,  102.  Tried  by  a  Court 
Martial,  103.  Pronounced  guilty  of  an 
error  in  judgment,  and  .severely  repri- 
manded, 109.  Strictures  on  his  conduct, 
by  a  Naval  Ofllcer,  110.  Ditto,  by  Dr. 
Halloran,  113.  Heraldic  particulars, 
114. 

Captures  and  recaptures,  369. 

Catholu  ■.  remarks  on  their  holdintj  com- 
missions  in  the  Navy  and  .irii'.y,  251. 

Coast,  b  >w  to  take  tlje  draught  of  part  of 
a,  in  sailing  along  it.  407. 

CocHRA.NE,  Speeches  of  Lord,  at  the  West- 
minster Electioti,  42  i . 

Cooke,  tiie  late  Cnpt.  John  ;  portrait  and 
biographical  memoir  of,  353.  His  edu- 
cation, and  entrance  mio  the  service,  ib, 
Accompanies  Lord  Howe  to  .America,  ib. 
Made  Lieutenant  in  the  Worcvster,  354. 
Goes  to  the  East  Indies  with  6u-  F-dward 
Hughes,  returns  to  England,  mi'^es  his 
promotion,  and  goes  to  I  raixe,  ib.  .Ac- 
compu.iics  Lord  Gardner  to  tlie  West 
Indies,  meets  with  an  accident  there, 
and  is  obliged  to  return.  3c5.  .Ap- 
pointed third  Ijeutenant  in  the  London, 
ii>.  Marries,  ib.  Appi'nted  first  Lieu- 
tenant in  the  Royal  Geori;e,  made  (Com- 
mander in  the  Incendiary  nre-ship,  i'lid 
Post  Captain  in  the  Wuiiarcli,  ?56. 
Goes  to  N>--.  foundland,  retur:;s  fin.i  re- 
signs his  command,  is  successively  ap- 


J!3atJ.<3:j;ton.<HoUXVn. 


X  X  X 


INDEXl 


pniutecl  to  llie  Tourterclle  and  Nymphe 
frigates,  and  attends  tlic  Kint!;  at  Wey- 
mouth, if).  Joins  the  Chiinnel  flert,  and 
assists  in  the  capture  of  two  Frencii 
frigates,  ?57.  Sent  ashore  by  the  muti- 
neers, ib.  Appointed  to  the  Amethyst 
frigate,  carries  the  Duke  of  York  to  Hol- 
land, and  makes  several  captures,  3")8. 
Accepts  the  command  at  PIvmouth,  35!.>. 
Appointed  to  tlie  Bellerojihon,  '3Go  Ex- 
horts hi?  men,  previously  to  the  Battle  of 
Trafal.irar.  361.  Kdled,  362.  Sketch 
of  his  character,  ib.  His  epitaph,  364. 
Lines  to  liis  memory,  3C5. 

Compass,  account  of  a  French  Dissertation 
on  the  Mariner's,  200,  405. 

CoRivwALLis,  additional  biographical  par- 
ticulars of  Admiral,  202. 

CoRRESPOXDLNCE,  45,  124,  312,  382,  473. 

CouKTS  Makiial,  Naval;  proceedings  of, 
in  the  trial  of  Jonathan  Armstrong,  alias 
Wilham  Anderson,  one  of  the  crew  of 
the  Leander,  153.  Of  Mr.  John  Hall, 
Boatswain  of  the  Crocodile,  154.  Of 
Capl.  J.  Brenton,  for  tlie  loss  of  la  Mi- 
iicrve,  ib.  Of  Cupt.  E.  Hawkins,  for 
cruelty,  oppression,  &c.  ib.  Of  Lieut. 
Alex.  Day,  for  disobedience  of  orders, 
&c,  158.  Of  Geo.  Mclvin,  of  the  Ante- 
lope, for  desertion,  ib.  Of  Capt.  Sir  H. 
Pophani,  for  withdrawing  tlie  naval  force 
fron  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  cVc.  209. 
Of  Capt.  Blackwood,  for  the  loss  of  the 
Ajax,  3/8.  Of  Lieutenants  Alcock  and 
Bates,  511.     Of  J.  Graves,  ib. 


D. 


Dardanelles,  extracts  of  letters,  relating 
to  the  passage  of  the,  463. 

De  L'Angle,  amiable  and  honourable  con- 
duct of  Captain,  460.* 

Derrick's  Memoirs  of  the  Rise  and  Pro- 
gress of  the  Royal  Navy,  review  of, 
140. 

Devokshiue,  Naval  Officers  born  or  edu- 
cated in,  200. 

Dock-yards,  establishment  of,  374. 

Drowning,  remarkable  escape  from,  305. 

Duke  Wilt  iam,  transport,  voyage  and  loss 
of  the,  396,480. 

Di'Rand's  Vovage  to  Senegal,  review  of, 
65. 


F. 


Faulkner,  the  late  Capt.  George,  some 
account  of,  94. 

Flvmborough  Light-house,  oration  deli- 
vered on  its  opening,  117, 


FouxnERrKG  at  sea,  means  to  prevent, 
383.  ' 


G. 


Geary,  the  late  Sir  Fraxcis:  portrait  and 
bioL'ranhical  memoir  of,  177.  Enters 
the  service  as  a  \'olunteer,  ib.  Made 
Post  Captain,  takes  some  rich  prizes, 
and  divides  his  shares  of  them  with  a 
friend,  178.  Commands  the  Dolphin, 
and  the  Chester,  and  makes  several  cap- 
tures, 179.  Sails  for  Louisburg,  180. 
Appointed  to  the  Culloden,  under  Rear- 
Adniiral  Hawke,  ib.  Made  Commodore 
and  Commander  in  C'liief  in  the  Med- 
way,  ih.  Marries,  ib.  Appointed  to  the 
Somerset,  goes  to  America  under  Admi- 
ral Fioscaweu,  returns  to  England,  joins 
the  Channel  fleet,  sits  on  the  trial  of  Ad- 
miral Bynsr.  commands  the  Lenox,  and 
the  Resolution,  and  sails  with  Sir  Ed- 
waifl  Hawke's  fleet,  181.  Made  a  Eear- 
Admiral,  and  serves  in  the  Channel  fleet, 
182.  Made  Port  Admiral  at  Spithead, 
and  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Vice-Ad- 
miral,  184.  Receives  the  thanks  of  Par- 
liaincnt,  1!15.  Has  a  dispute  with  Rear- 
Admiial  Elphinstone,  ib.  Made  an  Ad- 
miral, and  appointed  to  the  chief  com- 
niatid  of  the  Channel  fleet,  186.  Re- 
ceives a  letter  from  Lord  Hav\ke,  187. 
Captures  part  of  a  valuable  convoy,  189. 
Returns  .to  port,  and  receives  another 
letter  from  Lord  Hawke,  190.  Resigns 
his  comiiiand,  and  dies,  191.  Anecdote, 
illustrative  of  the  high  estimation  in 
which  he  was  holden  by  the  seamen,  192. 
Heraldic  particulars,  ib. 

Generosity,  instance  of  British,  382. 

Giant's  Causeway,  view  and  descriptive 
account  of,  128. 


H. 


Haddock's,  Sir  Richard,  account  of  his 
engagement  on  the  28th  of  May,  1672, 
121. 

ILalloran's  Battle  of  Trafalgar,  review  of, 
243. 

Hallowell,  Capt.  his  callant  conduct  at 
the  taking  of  Alexandria,  425. 

Harrison's,  the  late  Admiral,  Memorial 
to  Lord  Onslow,  115. 

Hood,  Commodore  Sir  .Samuel;  portrait 
and  biographical  memoir  of,  1.  Parti- 
culars of  his  family,  2.  Enters  into  the 
service,  //>.  Made  Commander  in  the 
Renard  sloop,  4.  Serves  as  a  volunteer 
on   board  tlie    Barfieur,    ib.     Goes    to 


INDKX, 


Halifax  in  the  Weazcl  sloop,  5.  Made 
Post  Captain  in  the  Tliisbe  frigate,  id. 
Appointed  to  the  Juno,  on  tfie  Jamaica 
station,  where  he  intrepidly  rescues  three 
men  IVom  a  wreck  at  sea,  iO.  Particu- 
lars of  that  circumstance  from  the  Kiiisj;- 
6ton  Daily  Advertiser,  (5.  Presented 
with  the  thanks  of  the  House  of  i^ssem- 
V)ly,  at  Jamaica,  accompanied  by  a  sword, 
7.  Returns  to  Enghmd,  ib.  Receives 
the  tliankb  of  the  Humane  Society  of  Ja- 
maica, 8.  Attends  their  IVJajcstics  at 
%Vcymoutli,  9.  Reappointed  t<j  the  Juno, 
■^b.  iS'arrovvly  escapes  being  taken  by  the 
enemy,  in  I'oulon  harbour,  10.  His  let- 
ter to  L(nd  Hood,  \vith  ix/'ac-simiie  of  his 
})and-writiiig,  enclosing  an  account  of  ttie 
particulars  uf  that  circumstance,  ih.  As- 
sists in  the  debarkation  of  some  trooos 
in  the  Gulf  of  St.  Fiorenzo,  lii.  Em- 
ployed in  the  attack  of  i\Iortcllo  tower, 
14.  Serves  in  I'Aigle  frigate,  at  the  cap- 
ture of  Calvi,  15.  Commands  a  squa- 
dron in  the  /iixhipelago,  ib.  Rece-vcs 
the  thanks  of  the  Levant  Company,  ib. 
Receives  the  thanks  of  the  Rritish  Fac- 
tory at  Smyrna,  16.  Appointed  to  the 
Zealots,  under  Sir  J.  Jcrvis,  1».  Effects 
the  return  of  the  British  troops  and  sea- 
men from  the  disastrous  attack  of  I'enc- 
riffe,  19.  Blockades  Rochfort,  20.  Dis- 
covers the  iTcnch  tleet  in  tiie  Bay  of 
Aboukir,  ib.  Captures  Ic  Gueirier,  and 
alone  engages  four  French  slups,  21, 
Receives  ttie  tiiaiiks  of  Parliament,  and 
is  presented  vvith  a  sword  by  the  City 
of  London,  ib.  Blockades  Alexandria, 
and  receives  rich  presents  from  tlie 
Grand  Seignior,  22.  Joins  Lord  >ielsoii 
at  Palermo,  and  assists  in  driving  the 
French  out  of  >iaples,  ib.  Is  presented 
■with  a  snuff-box  by  HisSicihan  Maicsty, 
who  confers  on  iiini  the  Order  of  bt. 
Ferdinand  and  of  Merit,  23.  Appointed 
to  the  Courageux,  in  the  Channel  lleet, 
21-  Removes  into  the  V'cneralde,  and 
assists  in  the  attack  upon  the  eijeniv's 
fleet  in  Algeziras  Bay,  25.  JMigai^es  the 
Formidable,  2ti.  Receives  the  thanks  of 
Sir  J.  Saumarez,  and  of  the  Adnnralty, 
27.  Appointeil  .(oinl  Governor  of  Tri- 
nidad, and  Conunaiider  m  Chief  On  the 
Barbadoes  and  Leeward  Island  station, 
ib.  Captures  the  Islands  of  St.  Lucia 
and  Tobago,  ib.  Ako,  Demerara,  Itsi  - 
quibo,  Berbice,  Surmam,  and  a  great 
number  of  privateers,  215.  Receives  va- 
rious addresses  and  presents  for  these 
services,  ib.  Appointed  to  the  Centaur, 
%vith  the  command  of  seven  sail  of  the 
line,  ib.     Cajitures  four  French  frigates 


off  Rochfort,  loses  his  right  arm,  and  ob» 
tains  a  pension,  29.  Memorid  of  his 
services,  ib.  Fac-simi/c  of  his  liaiid- 
writing,  after  the  loss  of  his  arm,  34. 
Wounded  in  the  leg,  ib.  Elected  M.  P. 
for  Westminster,  ?j5.  Sails  with  a  squa- 
dron to  the  Baltic,  30.  Marries,  i57. 
Accident  of  Lady  Hood,  ib.  Invested 
with  tlie  Order  of  the  Bath,  200. 

Hughes,  the  late  Rcar-Admiral  Robert, 
some  account  of,  91. 

HuiiuicANE,  account  of  a,  at  Jamaica, 
124. 

HVDROGRAPUER,  tlic  (Xo.  5.)  489. 


J. 


Jervxs,  Journal  of  the  proceedings  of 'a 
squadron  under  Sir  John,  at  the  Leeward 
Islands,  312,  388,  47  J. 


K. 

Kerr,  gallant  exploit  of  Lieut.,  Sfo 


Letter,  to  the  Editor,  respecting  Lord 
Howick's  allusions  to  Sir  IIoiu.c  Popham 
and  tiie  Patriotic  Fnnd,  45. 

fruin    the  Rev.   JMr.  ,  de- 


scribing the  proceedings  of  Commodore 
Keats's  squadron,  off  Rochfort,  47. 

-,  to  the  Editor,  enclosing  an  account 


of  a  hurricane  at  Jamaica,  124. 

to   the  Editor,    enclosing    some 


particulars    respecting    Admiral    Corn- 
waUis,  202. 

-,  from  l\Jr.  Crooke  to  Lord  St.  \''in- 


ccnt,  suggesting  means  to  prevent  ships 

from  foundering  at  sea,  38;>. 
LivKKi'ooL,  view  and  descriptive  account 

of  France's  warehouse  at,  205. 
Losses  by  sea,  309. 
Loc'is  XIV  and  the  Etiysione  Light-housej 

anecdote  respecting,  120. 
LvA.\,  capture  of  the,  304. 


M. 

MARiyps  bravery  of  a  Serjeant  of,  123. 
M.iRiM:  Scenery,  495. 
Maulijokoi  gh,  launcli  of  liie,  509. 
Martha,  I'Aimatile,  sliipwreck  ol  tlie,  59- 
MisfiiNA,  vieu  and  descriptive  accounts  of 

tlie  Strait  of,  309. 
MoM£  Video,  account  of,  492. 


INDEX, 


Mississippi  and  Pacific  Ocean,  disco-vcrv 
of  a  commuiJication  between  the,  369. 


N. 


Navy,  wear  and  tear  of  the,  472- 

NaVAI,    i\:>ECDOTE-,    CuMMLiOAL    HiNTP, 

Rf.collectiuss,  6lc.,31,  115,  19S,  504, 

367,  403. 
— Akchiti-CTuPcE,  improvements  in, 

306. 
—  Events  ;    chronological  sketch  ot 

the  most  remarkable  in  tlie  ^ear  180C^ 

70. 

History  of  tub  Present  Year, 


74,  130,  iiol,  329  421,  506 

. LiiEP.AiiKE,  65,    140,  243,  S2S, 

410. 

-—- ; PoEiiiY;  Pves  Ode   for  the  New 

Year,  67.  Extract  from  an  Ode  oi. 
BamboruUiih  Castle  bv  the  Re\.  J 
Hicliard.s,  09.  Song,  \\riUfcii  bv  Richard 
Xovat,  in  memory  of  the  engu^eiuenr 
\sith  the  Ire-ch,  on  the  4th  of  March, 
146.  Mary  Marten,  a  Ballad,  149. 
Lines,  I'rom  the  translations  irom  the 
Greek  Antholoir_\,  247.  T  he  Naval  Su- 
baltern; or,  v\h<)'s. afraid.?  248.  A  S<ii- 
lor's  Description  o^' the  IJouse  of  Com- 
mons. '24".  William  and  I\ancy,  a  Bal- 
lad, 328.  A  Mermaid  ^ong,  S'49.  Ex- 
tempore lines  t<j  the  Memory  of  Capt. 
W.  H.  .fervis,  by  Dr.  Halloran,  4j'6. 
The  Song  ac  Marui's  Gra\  e,  416.   On  tl:C 

departure   of  Captiin    :-,  5Li/. 

One,  b)  Mr.  Dibdin,  ool.  Billy  Tay 
lor,  5U3.  Pye'fe  Birth-Day  Ode!!  504. 
Proposed  Inscriptiun  for  the  Monument 
of  I  ovfi  "Nelson,  505. 

Nelson,  Beatty's  narrative  of  the  death  o! 
Lord.  193. 

•— — — ,  Moniimert    to   the  memory  of 
Lord,  at  Liverpoal,  374. 


P. 


Parliament,  Imperial;  Debates  in,  171, 
261,  330.  Speech  of  the  Lord  Chan- 
cellor, on  closing  it  bv  Comniiision, 
331.  Speech  made  by  tise  Lord  Chan- 
cellor on  opening  tlie  new,  509. 

Philosophical  Papers,  129,  40o- 

PiEOTS,  particulars  of  the  bill  for  regu- 
lating, 532. 

PopiiAM,  Sir  Home,  account  of  hjs~ trial  by 
a  Coiirc  iNlartial,  209. 

Porpoise,  shipwreck  of  the,  52,  134,  401, 

-''485.  ■     ' 


B. 


Rodney,  dinner  in  comraenioralion  of  the 
late  Lord's  viciorv,  382. 

Rrs^EL,  Thomas  Macnamara,  Esq. ;  por- 
trait and  biograpliical  memoir  of,  441. 
Particulars  of  his  family,  it.  Made 
Lieutenant  of  the  Albmiy,  ih.  Anec- 
dotes respecting  Messrs.  Harris  and 
Moore,  442.  C  ommands  the  Diligent, 
ib.  Serves  in  the  Raleigh,  at  Jersey, 
Drake's  Island,  and  Charlestown,  443. 
INlade  Master  and  Commander  in  the 
BeaunK)nt,  iO.  Volunteers  fur  the  relief 
ofGeii.  Aruold,i6.  llisjudicious  con- 
duct at  rhe  Che siipeak,  444.  Made  Post 
in  the  Bedford.  :;nd  removed  into  the 
Hussar,  it.  C  ujnures  the  Sybiile.  ib. 
Official  leLter,  relative  to  that  Cii-rum- 
.scance,  446.  <K\liidavit,  and  additional 
particulars,  449.  Refuses  the  honour 
of  Kniglithood,  452.  Goes  to  France,  to 
meet  Count  Kreigarou,  ib.  Commands 
the  Diana,  at  .Jamaica,  and  receives  the 
thanks  of  the  inhabitants,  453.  Opposes 
the  Governor  of  the  Havannau,  455. 
Sent  to  Domingo,  where  he  receives  the 
thanks  (/f  the  Provincial  Assenibly,  456. 
Correspondence  with  the  President.  Bil- 
lard,  457.  Demands  the  liberation  of 
Lieutenant  Perkins,  45J?.  Chases  a  pira- 
tical Spanish  guait  a  costa,  and  liberates 
half  a  do/en  English  aentlemen  on  board, 
461.  Returns  to  England,  and  com- 
mands the  St.  Albans,  462.  Commands 
the  Vengeance  in  the  West  Indies;  re- 
turns to  England,  commands  ihe  Prin- 
cess Royal,  and  is  made  Re  ar- Admiral, 
ib.  Made  Vice-Adrairal,  and  appointed 
to  a  commaiid  in  the  North  Sea,  463. 
Made  Commander  in  Chief  on  that  sta- 
tion, ib.     Marries,  ib. 


Saitohs, observations  on  the  characters  of, 

467. 
Sawyer,  the 'late  Admiral  Hereejrt,  some 

account  of,  92.  - 

Ship    Bljibikg,    disquisitions    on,    "121. 

Commercial  importance  of.  376. 
Shipwrecks,  correct  relation  of,  52,  134, 

318,396,  4S0. 
Ships  in  cummi.ssion,  number  of,  150. 
in  the  merchants'  service  and  ccast= 

ing  trade,  374. 
,  number  composing  His  Majesty's 

ISavy   on  the    1st  of    J^iiuary,    180?, 

603. 


INDEX. 


Ships,  estimated  value  of  new,  472. 

Ships  building  and  ordered  to  be  built  in 
His  Majest)^'s  and  Merchants'  Yards, 
507. 

Sound,  from  above  Elsineur,  view  and  de- 
scriptive account  of,  393. 

SovEKErcx  of  the  seas,  description  of  the, 
308. 

STRACn\N,Sir  Richard,  distress  of  his  squa- 
dron, 38. 


Teak  tree,  observations  on  the  introduction 
of  the,  into  barbadoes,  129. 


Vincent,  Capt.  Richard  Budd;  portrait 
and  biographical  memoir  of,  2ti5.  Mado 
Lieutenant,  ib.  Serves,  nt  tiie  takiiig 
posaession,  and  evacuation  of  fouion, 
266.  Sails  in  the  expedition  against 
Holland,  267.  Made  Master  and  Com- 
mander in  the  Arrow  sloop,  ib.  Carries 
Prince  Louis  Liclistenstein  and  ;uite  from 
Fiume  to  Pola,  and  lands  Mr.  Wriglit, 
the  Con/iul,  at  Corfu,  268.  Is  fired  al 
on  entering  the  Dard melles,  ib.  Re- 
ceives several  letters  from  Lord  Nelson, 
approving  his  conduct,  269.  V^isited  by 
the  Capitan  Pacha,  at  Constantinople, 
270.  Receives  an  elegant  sabre,  in  re- 
turn for  a  pair  of  pistols,  from  tiiat  otti- 
cer,  271.  Receives  another  flatteriuL' 
letter  from  Lord  Nelson,  respectiiig  hib 
conduct  in  demanding  the  cre>v  of  an 
LngUsli  brig,  which  had  been  stranded 


near  Corfu,  272.  Official  account  of 
his  destroying  a  French  privateer,  under 
the  island  of  Fano,  273.  Lord  Nelson's 
approving  answer  to  the  above-men- 
tioned otiicial  account,  275.  Lodges  a 
complaint  against  the  Governor  of  Zante, 
277.  Receives  another  letter  from  Lord 
Nelson,  278.  Encounters  a  stonn  at 
sea,  279.  Is  complimented  by  Lord 
Nelson,  ib.  Narrative  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  Arrow,  previously  to  her  cap- 
ture by  rincorruptible,  231.  .Additional 
particulars,  235.  Capt.  Vincent  is  landed 
at  Carthagena,  288.  iNliscellaneous  oc- 
currences on  shore,  ib.  Embarks  in  a 
cartel,  and  arrives  at  Gibraltar,  299.  Re- 
ceives an  address  of  thanks  from  the 
Masters  of  the  vessels  of  his  convov,  ib. 
Sails  for  England,  and  is  tried  by  a  Court 
Martial,  for  tiie  loss  of  the  Arrow,  300. 
Honourably  acquitted,  30l.  Presented 
with  a  sword,  and  a  piece  of  plate,  by 
the  Patriotic  Fund,  302.  Receives  pre- 
sents for  himself,  othcers,  and  crew,  from 
the  Society  of  Mediterranean  iMerchants. 
303.  Is  employed  in  the  Brilliant  fri- 
gate, ib.  His  professional  character,  ib. 
Vi.NCENT,  Admiral,  humanity  of,  367. 


W. 


Westminster  Election,  Speeches  of  Lord 
Cochrane  and  Mr.  Sheridan  at  the, 
42L 

Windsor  C  vstle,  view  and  descriptive  ac- 
-count  of,  60. 

Withers,  Capt ,  his  exertion  £.t  the  taking 
of  Alexandria,  425. 


IXPEJI^ 


INDEX  to  the  Gazetttl  Letters  m  Vol.  XVII;  containing 
Accounts  of  the  Captures,  Frocecdings,  S^c.  bjj  and  of  the 
nndeniientioned  Of/icers  and  Ships. 


A  YSCOUGII,Capt.J.  164 
•^^  Backhouse,  Lieut.  Cui. 

79,  81 
Barric,  Capt.  R.  518,  519 
Beresford,  Major-Gcu.  85 
Biiscs,  Capt.  T,  Jti-'i,  34.3 
Erisb;iiip,  Capt.  J.  79,  169, 

170,  171 
Brown,  Capt.  P.  77 
Callawav,  j.ieut.  D.  76 
Campbell,  Capt.  D.  165 
Carteret,  Capt.  P.  256 
Chetliain,  Capt.  E.  513 
Cochrane,  Capt.  Lord,  167 
-    '  ,  Rear-Admiral  Sir 

Alexander,  33o,  o46,  348, 

350,  438 

-,  Capt.  T.  313 


Collingwood,    \ice- Admiral 

Lord,  78,  159,  4^6,  433, 

434,  436 
Corbet,  Capt.  R.  166 
Cramer,  Capt.  J.  '261 
Dacrcs,   Vice-Adm.    J.    R. 

162,  163,  168,  25^,  256, 

345,  349 
. ,    Capt.   J.  R.  349, 

350 
Dean,  Lieut.  W.  337 
Duckworth,  Vice-Adm.  Sir 

J.  T.  428,4.10,431 
Eiphinstone,  Capt.  E.  340, 

341 


FarquIiar.Capt.  A.  257 
Foi  l■e!^,  Major,  86 
Gaidner,  Admiral  Lord,  79, 

S5o,  437 
Ilallouell,  Capt.  B.  434 
Hemin>;s,  Lieut.  8-  S.  437 
Hodge,  Capt,  A.  3.17 
Honyuian,  Capt.  R.  160 
Iloud,  Comm.  .Sir  .Samuel, 

514,515 
Ingleficid,  Capt.  TL  S.  346 
James,  Capt.  .L  165 
Keats,    Couiniodore    R.    G. 

167 
Keith,    Admiral    Lord,    75, 

161, 257 
Kini',  Capt.  W.  159 
Lavie,  Capt.  .Sir  T.  164 
iM  ait  land,  Capt.  F.  Z.  349 
Malinc,  Capt.  .1.  T.  258 
Matson,  Capt.  iJ.  335,  351 
.Miller,  Capt.  G.  437 
M'Kinley,  Capt.  G.  4.^:6 
^Nicholas,  Capt.  R.  516 
Owen,  Comm.  E.  \\'.  C,  R. 

75 
Palmer,  Capt.  .T.  513 
Parrv,  Lieut.  R.  7  6 
Pearse,  Capt.  11.  W.  79 
Pellcw,  Rear-Adm.  Sir  Ed. 

258,  263,  338 
Pigot,  Capt.  H.  4.';3 
Plampin,  Capt.  U.  259 


Popham,    Capt,  Sir  IL  8i, 

87,  88,  159,  160 
Raitr,  Capt.  NV.  435 
Ramsey,  Lieut.  R.  257 
Riclian,  Capt.  W.  165 
Ross,  Capt.  C.  b.  U.   163, 

163 
Russell,  Vice-Adm.  T.  M. 

161 
Sayer,  Capt.  G.  336,  347 
.•^tccombo,  Capi.  T.  436 
Selby,  Capt.  VV.  lim 
Shipley, Capt.  Conuay,  514, 

5  i5 
Stiriins;,  Rear-Adm.  C.  343, 

34.%  513 
Stoddart,  Capt.  P.  77,  161 
Sto])t'ord,  Capt.  U.  166 
Straciian,  Rear-Adnnrai  Sir 

R.  .1.  517 
Stuart,  Capt.  Lord,  260    • 
Tracey,  Lieut.  J.  162 
Trotter,  Major,  81,  82 
Troubridiie,  Rcar-Adiu,  Sir 

T.  339" 
Vincent,  Adm.  Earl  St.  104, 

166, 348 
Waldegiave,   Cajit.    G.    G. 

159 
Watson,  Capt.  A.  82 
Winthrop,  Capt.  R.  517 
YounL',  Admiral  \V.  76,  77, 

256 


INDEX  to  the  Promotions  rt/^J  Appointments, 


ACKLOM,  Capt.  263 
Austen,  Capt.  352 
Banks,  Mr.  W.  IL  175 
Bastarn,  Capt.  352 


Bcazlev,  Capt.  175 
RcdfopJ   Cap:.  k;8,  519 
Beresford,  Capr.  352,  439 
Bertie,  Admiral,  4;5d 


Bligh,  Capt,  .L351 
DicUerton,  Vicc-Adnj.  Sir  I\. 

351 
Bower,  Capt.  T.  175 


i>fDr..x. 


Bower,  Vice-Ad'i!.  O.  f!o2 
Buwker,  LIfiit.  .'ial 
B/adley,  C:i|jr.  J.  4;;3 

BiT'iitoti,  Ciipt.  ir.'j 

Browne,  Lieut.  .(.  352 
Buller,  J.  Esq.  iJnl 
Burr^il,  .Mr.  .')20 
Cainjjl.ell,  Capt.  D.  5?0 
CurpcDter,  Lieur.  1).  1^5 
CiaridiTc,  Capf.  C.  3j'2 
Collier,  Capt.  G.  It,  3jl 
Colville,  Capf.  T.  331 
Conn,  t'sipr.  .")!!,) 
Cooailje,  Lieut.  352 
Cracrafr,  Caut.  35'! 
Croft,  Capt.  \y.  203 
Cuinljerlaiul,  Capt.  263 
Curzoii,  the  lion,  Capt.  520 
Davis,  Capt.  ..51 
Dij;by,  Caor.  351 
Duff,  Capt.  361 
Duncan,  Capt.  H.  351 
l^dgcninlie,  C;i(it.  433 
Elphinstone,  Capt.  C.351 
Evans,  Capt.  J,  351 
Fancourt,  Ca;>t.  520 
Fisher,  Capt.  520 
Forhes,  Capt.  520 
Eraser,  C.ipt.  A.  175 
Freemaatlc,  Capt,  35 1 
Crainbier,  Aclmiral  J.  351 
Gardner,  Admiral  Lord, 352, 
438 

,  Capt.  A.  438 

Gilbert,  \V.  Esq.  175 
Godfrey,  Capt.  520 

'-,  Mr.  520. 

Gordon,  Capt.  520 
Green,  Capt.  352 
Guv,  Mr.  2G3 
llailidav,  Capt.  35  2 
liuUtead,  C;lpt.  J,  438 
Haiaillon,  Capt.  Sir  C.  351 
Harris,  Capt,  G.  352,  43S 


Hart,  Lieut.  W.  €.  '203 
lia\vkin<-,  Capt.  i>.  351 
llickey,  Ca|)t.  352 
I  lo.ire,  Capt.  520 
lii)lhnj,s\vort(i,  Capt.  351 
Ilolloway,  \'ice-Adni.    351, 

520 
lioncy,  Capt.  G.  .F.  203 
Hood,    Conmiodorc   Sir    S. 

175 
Hope,  W.J.  Esq.  351 
JiMiCs,  Ca|>t.  A.  520 
Ireland,  Mr.  352 
Jackson,  Capt.  520 
Kin^,  Capt.  JE.  D.  351 
Lake,  Capi.  175 
Langford,  Capt.  G.  203 
Lloyd,  Capt.  11.  352 
i,obb,  Coniniissioner,  438 
Lorinir,  Capt.  J.  520 
Love,  Lieu..  203 
Lukin,  Capt.  520 
Lye,  Capt.  3o'i 
.\Iaiinvarin:;,  Capt.  175 
Martii!,  Capi.  'J\  U.  438 
Mavuell,  Capt.  351 
.M'Kenzie,  Capt.  K.  175 
.M'Leod,  Cvtpr.  175 
.M'Naniara,  Capt.  519 
-Muigrave,  Lord,  351 
Munro,  Mr.  35  I 
Nelson,  Earl,  175 

.J.  \V.  Esq.  ib. 

Pa^;et,  Capt.  438 
Pakenhani^  the  Hon.   Capt. 

520 
PahnerstO;),  Lord  IL  J.  35 J 
Parker,  Capt.  IL  352 
Payne,  Lieut.  175 
Peake,  Capt.  W.  175 
Peeble--,  Lieut.  203 
Perheil,  Lieut.  S.  J.  351 
PelLw,  C  ipt.  F.  352 
Pigot,  Capt.  G.  175 


Pole,,  the  Hon.  W.  Welles- 
ley,  5Z  9 

Popliau),  C  Jinmodore  Sir  H. 
351 

Puget,  Capt.  P.  175 

Iluigetc,  Capt.  175 

Ituinage,  Lieur.  351 

Rose,  Capt.  175 

,  Lieut.  iO. 

Roseidiagen,  Capt.  439 

Rowley,  V-^ice-.Adin.  351 

>choinl)erg,  Capf,  175 

Scott,  J.  Esq.  175 

,  Ca{)t.  G.  203 

Siiepheard,  Capt,  439 

shield,  Capt,  438 

Shipley,  Capt.  C.  351 

Smith,  Mr.  351 

SoinerviUe,  Lieut.  G.  F 
438 

Snook,  Mr.  263 

Stanhope,  V'ice-.Adm.  351 

^tnart,  Capt.  C.  'Jtj3 

Symond-;,  Capt.  352 

I'honipson,  Capt.  X.  433 

Trafalgar,  X'i.-scount,  175 

Troiibridge,  Capt.  352 

\Valli«,  Capt.  351 

Ward,  11.  Esq.  351, 

Webb,  Lieut,  W.  438. 

WelU,  Reur-Adm.  T.  351 

West,  Capt.  .1.  175. 

Whinvittes,  Ca'.r.  '.i.  R.  433 

White,  Capt.  C.  203 

Whltshed,"  Adinjrai,  352 

Wilbraham,  Lieur.  352 

Wilkes,  Mr.  J.  203 

Williams,  Sir  T.  520 

Williamson,  Mr.  520 

\VoUey,  Capt.  352,  520 

Wood",  Mr.  2o3 

Young,  .Mr.  T.  203 

,  Capr.  J.  352 


INDEX  to  the  Births. 


"DREXrOX,  Mrs.  176 
-^    I'oote,  Mrs.  176 
Garrett,  Mrs.  352 


Goddard,  Mrs.  431 
Searle,  the  L~xh-  of  Capt.  T. 


520 


Rathbo.ap,  Mr-.4S? 
W.Jkcr,  Mrs.  439  ' 


INDEX, 


INDEX  to  the  Marriages. 


pJlSHOP,  Lieut.  176 
-*-'  Brittoii,  Lieut.  520 
Chase,  Mr.  J.  5^0 
Collin,  Lieut.  352 


Elers,  Lieut.  176 
MoLtlev,  Mr.  520 
Palk,  Mr.  R.  439 


Slade,  l\Ir.  W.  352 
Speiice,  Capt.  H.  H.  263 
Suiridge,  Capt.  263 


INDEX  to  the  Obituary. 


T)ATLEY,Mr?.  520 
-*-'  Bar  foot,  Capt.  J.  520 
Bojiie,  Capt.  J.  B.  352 
Calmady,   Adm.   C.  iL   E. 

263 
Campbell,  Mr.  176 
Canes  Mrs.  440 
Chariioci;,  John,  Esq.  440 
Collet,  Mrs.  440 
Concli,  Capt.  440 
Dodiison,  Lieut.  P.  C.  352 
Dufferin,and  Claneboye,  the 

Right  Hon.  Baroness,  176 
Grant,  Mr.  D.  520 


Havvford,  Lieut.  W.  440 
Haynum,  J.  176 
Flelpman,  Lieut.  P.  264 
IIiIl,.Mrs.  440 
Inglis,  Vicc-Adm.  J.  261 
Kent,  ('apt.  R.  439 
Larmour,  Capt.  J.  176 
Llovd,  Lieut.  264 
Le  Gros,  Capt.  440 
Le  Vesconte,  P.  Esq.  520 
IMarr,  Mr.  264 
Marshall,  Lieut.  E.  520 
Marshall,  Mr.  W.  264 
Montagu,  Miss  A.  176 


O'Brj-en,  j\lrs.  352 
Parker,  Admiral  Sir  H.  263 

■ ,  Mr.  T.  264 

Pierce,  Mrs.  440 
Roby,  Mrs.  440 
Ross,  Mr.  T.  352 
Sause,  Mr.  R.  264 
Slade,  J.  Esq.  i>64 
Swaifield,  J.  Esq.  176 
Timing,  Mrs;  440 
Wistinghausen,    Lieut.    A, 

520 
Worth,  Mr.  J.  439 


.lOtCE  COLD,   PRINTER,   103,  SHOE-L.VNE,   FLEEl-STItEX:! 


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