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Title: Recollections of James Anthony Gardner : Commander R.N. (1775–1814)
Author: Gardner, James Anthony
Language: English
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PUBLICATIONS
OF THE
NAVY RECORDS SOCIETY

VOL. XXXI.

RECOLLECTIONS
OF
JAMES ANTHONY GARDNER

RECOLLECTIONS
OF
=James Anthony Gardner=
COMMANDER R.N.
(1775–1814)

EDITED BY

SIR R. VESEY HAMILTON, G.C.B.

ADMIRAL

AND

JOHN KNOX LAUGHTON, M.A., D.LITT.

HON. FELLOW OF CAIUS COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE
PROFESSOR OF MODERN HISTORY IN KING’S COLLEGE, LONDON

[Illustration: [Logo]]

PRINTED FOR THE NAVY RECORDS SOCIETY

MDCCCCVI

THE COUNCIL

OF THE

NAVY RECORDS SOCIETY

1906–1907

PATRON

H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES, K.G., K.T., K.P.

PRESIDENT

EARL SPENCER, K.G.

VICE-PRESIDENTS

BRIDGE, ADMIRAL SIR CYPRIAN A. G., G.C.B.
DESART, THE EARL OF, K.C.B.
FIRTH, PROFESSOR C. H., LL.D.
YORKE, SIR HENRY, K.C.B.

COUNCILLORS

ATKINSON, C. T.
CLARKE, COL. SIR GEORGE S., K.C.M.G.
CORBETT, JULIAN S.
CUSTANCE, VICE-ADMIRAL SIR REGINALD N., K.C.M.G.
DARTMOUTH, THE EARL OF.
DRURY, VICE-ADMIRAL SIR CHARLES C., K.C.S.I.
FIELD, CAPTAIN A. M., R.N., F.R.S.
GINSBURG, B. W., LL.D.
GODLEY, SIR ARTHUR, K.C.B.
GORDON, THE HON. GEORGE.
GRAY, ALBERT, K.C.
LIVERPOOL, THE EARL OF.
LORAINE, REAR-ADMIRAL SIR LAMBTON, BART.
LYALL, SIR ALFRED C., G.C.I.E.
MARKHAM, ADMIRAL SIR ALBERT H., K.C.B.
NEWBOLT, HENRY.
PROTHERO, G. W., Litt.D., LL.D.
SEYMOUR, ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET SIR EDWARD H., G.C.B.
SLADE, CAPTAIN EDMOND J. W., R.N., M.V.O.
TARLETON, LIEUTENANT A. H., R.N., M.V.O.
THURSFIELD, J. R.
WATTS, SIR PHILIP, D.Sc., K.C.B., F.R.S.
WHITE, COMMANDER J. BELL, R.N.R.
WHITE, SIR WILLIAM H., K.C.B., F.R.S.

SECRETARY

PROFESSOR J. K. LAUGHTON, D.Litt., King’s College, London, W.C.

TREASURER

W. GRAHAM GREENE, C.B., Admiralty, S.W.

The COUNCIL of the NAVY RECORDS SOCIETY wish it to be distinctly
understood that they are not answerable for any opinions or observations
that may appear in the Society’s publications. For these the
responsibility rests entirely with the Editors of the several works.

INTRODUCTION

In many respects the present volume differs from the most of those which
have been issued by the Society; there is in it very little history, as
commonly understood. The author, it is true, lived in a stirring time,
and was himself an actor in some of the incidents which have shed a
glory on our naval records; but his account of these is meagre and of
little importance. The interest which attaches to his ‘Recollections’ is
entirely personal and social; we have in them sketches roughly drawn,
crude, inartistic, and perhaps on that account the more valuable, of the
life of the time; of the men who were his companions in the berth, or
the gunroom or the wardroom; on deck, in sport or in earnest.

In all this, there is perhaps little that we did not know before in an
otiose sort of way. We knew that the men of the time were often coarse
in speech, rude in action; but it may be that the reality, as portrayed
by Commander Gardner, exceeds anything that we had imagined. It seems to
carry us back to the days of Roderick Random, and to suggest that there
had been but small improvement since Smollett wrote his celebrated
description. A closer examination will correct this impression; will
convince us that there had, on the contrary, been a good deal of
improvement; that the life was less hard, the manners less rude; and if
the language does not show very much difference, it has to be considered
that Smollett was writing for the public and Gardner was not; that
Smollett’s dialogues are more or less literary, and Gardner’s are, for
the most part, in the vernacular.

Occasionally, indeed, the language has been modified, or its undue
strength merely indicated by a ——; but where oaths and expletives formed
such a large part of the conversational currency between intimates; when
‘son of a bitch’ was the usual equivalent of the modern ‘chappie’ or
‘Johnnie’ or ‘rotter’; when ‘damned’ was everywhere recognised as a most
ordinary intensitive, and ‘damn your eyes’ meant simply ‘buck up,’ it
has been felt that entirely to bowdlerise the narrative would be to
present our readers with a very imperfect picture of the life of the
day.

Independent of the language, the most striking feature of the portraits
is the universal drunkenness. It is mentioned as a thing too common to
be considered a fault, though—if carried to excess—an amiable weakness,
which no decent commanding officer would take serious notice of. Looking
down the lists of old shipmates and messmates, the eye is necessarily
caught by the frequency of such entries as ‘too fond of grog,’ ‘did not
dislike grog,’ ‘passionately fond of grog,’ ‘a drunken Hun,’ a term of
reprobation as a bully, rather than as a drunkard, ‘fond of gin grog,’
‘mad from drink,’ ‘insane from drink,’ and so on, _passim_. For the
officer of the watch to be drunk scarcely called for comment; it was
only when, in addition to being drunk, he turned the captain out at
midnight to save the ship, that he narrowly escaped being brought to a
court martial; ‘but we interceded for him, and the business was looked
over’ (p. 217).

It is, of course, familiarly known that during the later years of the
eighteenth century, such drunkenness was almost more common on shore
than afloat; and when more than half the peerage and the most
distinguished statesmen were ‘habitual drunkards,’ there was, from the
social point of view, some excuse for the many of Gardner’s messmates.
For good or ill, the navy has always been very conservative in its
customs; and at a much later date, when hard drinking was going out of
fashion on shore, except among very young men, it still continued
prevalent in the navy. Some of our older officers will remember at least
one instance in which a great public scandal was averted only in
consideration of the social connections of the principal offender; and
courts martial, bringing ruin and disgrace to the individual, long
continued to be painfully frequent. Absolute reform in this direction
was slow; but there are few things more remarkable than the change which
has come over the service during the last quarter of a century.

But in the eighteenth century this hard drinking brought in its train
not only the terribly frequent insanity, such as is recorded in so many
of Gardner’s pages; not only the gross lapses, some of which Gardner has
indicated, but also numerous irregularities, which we may suspect where
we do not know’, and of which, quarrels and free fights in the wardroom
or in the steerage—such, for instance, as brought on the series of
Phaëton courts martial (pp. 73–4)—were only one type. Coarse practical
joking among men no longer young was another characteristic of the life
which seems subversive of true discipline. Here, of course, we are met
by the great change which has everywhere taken place; and the horse-play
of Billy Culmer and his friends—stupid vulgarity as it now appears—can
scarcely be considered more childish than the pranks and hoaxes of
Theodore Hook or Grantley Berkeley twenty or thirty years later. But the
very serious objection to such practices on board ship was that—as is
now common knowledge—the most inveterate practical joker is the most
annoyed when the tables are turned and he himself is made the victim of
the joke; that quarrels are certain to arise, which, in a small society
and among armed men, are both dangerous in themselves and detrimental to
the service. It is, too, difficult to draw the line between practical
joking, ragging, or ‘hazing’ and actual bullying. There is no doubt that
they merge into each other, and, in the present state of public opinion,
could not possibly be tolerated.

Gardner himself, so far as we can judge from his own story, was a good,
capable man, who took the life around him as quite a matter of course,
without falling into its worst characteristics. He seems, too, to have
been a man of singularly equable temper; and it is worthy of special
notice that, amid much to annoy and irritate him, he has preferred to
say what is good, rather than what is bad, of his messmates and
superiors. It used to be so very much the custom to speak evil of
dignities, that it is quite refreshing to meet with a young officer to
whom his captain did not necessarily seem a bullying, tyrannical
blockhead; who could see that the senior might have a proper motive and
have formed a correct judgment, even though he did thwart the junior’s
wishes or act contrary to the junior’s opinion. Gardner had, for
instance, no particular cause to love Calder, but he could still speak
of him as ‘a brave and meritorious officer, and of first-rate abilities,
a man that had the service at heart’ (pp. 101, 107). Leveson Gower he
did not like—no subordinate did; but, though he relates several
incidents, which of themselves are sufficiently damning, he does not
seem to have set down aught in malice, nor has he made any spiteful
commentary. His worst remark is ‘I have said enough of him’ (p. 90).

First lieutenants were, of course, the natural enemies of a youngster;
but with few exceptions his comments, even on them, are good-humoured.
Of one only does he speak bitterly; it is Edward Hamilton (p. 172),
whose celebrated recapture of the Hermione might induce us to suspect
that Gardner was merely expressing the spleen roused by the loss of his
kit, did we not remember that, at this time, Hamilton was only 23, and
that he was but 30 when his active career was brought to a premature end
by a court martial dismissing him the service for cruelty and
oppression. It is true that he was specially reinstated six months
later, but he never afterwards commanded a sea-going ship, nor, as an
admiral, did he ever hoist his flag. It is indeed a remarkable fact, and
one giving much food for thought, that other young captains, whose
brilliant courage before the enemy won for them a reputation little, if
at all, inferior to that of Hamilton, were also tried by court martial
for tyrannical and excessive punishments. It is difficult to avoid the
suspicion that this was in great measure due to utter want of training
in the art of command. The way in which the ships’ companies were
raised, the vicious characters of the men, almost necessarily led to
severity which easily might and too often did degenerate into brutality.

On all this, however, Gardner offers no opinion. He took the service as
he found it, content to do his duty honestly and faithfully. The story
of his career, which is related at length in the following pages, may be
summarised from the memoir in O’Byrne’s _Naval Biographical Dictionary_,
the first draft of which was almost certainly written from information
supplied by himself.

James Anthony Gardner, son of Francis Geary Gardner, a commander in the
navy, who died at St. Lucia in September 1780, was born at Waterford in
1770–1. Francis Geary Gardner, captain of marines, was his brother. Sir
Francis Geary Gardner Lee, who began life as a midshipman (p. 202) and
died a lieutenant-colonel of marines, was a cousin. Two other
cousins—Knight and Lee—captains in the 17th regiment, are mentioned (p.
208), and yet another, ‘son of the late Alderman Bates of Waterford’ (p.
221). His grandfather, James Gardner, who died, a lieutenant in the
navy, in 1755, was, in 1747–8, a lieutenant of the Culloden, with
Captain, afterwards Admiral Sir Francis, Geary, the godfather of James’s
son, who, on 2 February, 1768, married Rachel, daughter of Anthony Lee
of Waterford, and niece of Admiral William Parry. It will be noticed
that the younger Gardner, having been born in Ireland, son of an Irish
mother, considered himself Irish, is especially Irish in his sympathies,
and that throughout his ‘Recollections’ the word ‘Irish’ is very
commonly used as denoting ‘exceptionally good.’

From 1775, when he was not more than five years old, Gardner was borne,
as his father’s servant, on the books of the Boreas, the Conqueror, and
the Ætna; and he might, according to the custom of the day, have counted
these years as part of his time at sea. As, however, when he went up for
his examination (p. 174), he had more sea time than enough, he only
counted it from his entry on board the Salisbury in December 1783 (p.
41). Really, he first went to sea in May 1782 (p. 19) in the Panther,
and in her, under—in succession—Captains Thomas Piercy and Robert
Simonton, he saw the loss of the Royal George, and was present at Howe’s
relief of Gibraltar and in the ‘rencounter’ with the combined fleets of
France and Spain off Cape Spartel on 20 October, 1782 (pp. 24, 27, 30
_seq._).

During the ensuing peace he served on the Newfoundland and Home
stations, as midshipman and master’s mate in the Salisbury, 50, flagship
of Vice-Admiral John Campbell (pp. 41–55); Orestes, 18, Captain Manley
Dixon (pp. 56–63); Edgar, 74, flagship of Rear-Admirals the Hon. John
Leveson Gower and Joseph Peyton (pp. 64–96); Barfleur, 98, bearing the
flags of Admirals Roddam, the Hon. Samuel Barrington, Sir John Jervis,
John Elliot and Jonathan Faulknor (pp. 97–120), and Queen, 98, Captain
John Hutt (pp. 121–5). After a further service, chiefly in the
Mediterranean in the Berwick, 74, Captains Sir John Collins, William
Shield. George Campbell and George Henry Towry (pp. 126–154); in the
Gorgon, 44, Captain James Wallis, for a passage to England (pp.
155–171); and in the Victory, 110, Captain John Knight, at Portsmouth
(pp. 172–7), he was promoted, 12 January 1795, to be lieutenant of the
Hind, 28, Captains Richard Lee and John Bazely (the younger), on the
North American and Irish stations, and in January 1797 was sent in to
Plymouth in charge of a prize, La Favorite privateer, of 8 guns and 60
men (pp. 178, 202).

His next appointments were—8 March 1798, to the Blonde, 32, Captain
Daniel Dobree, under whom he assisted in conveying troops to Holland in
August 1799 (pp. 203–225); 13 April, 1801, to the Brunswick, 74, Captain
George Hopewell Stephens, which, after a year in the West Indies,
returned home and was paid off in July 1802 (pp. 226–249). After a short
service as agent of transports at Portsmouth (p. 250), he was appointed,
in January 1806, in charge of the signal station at Fairlight in Sussex,
where he continued till 7 December 1814 (pp. 251–263). From that date he
remained on half pay as a lieutenant, till on 26 November 1830, he was
placed on the retired list with the rank of commander.

Reading this summary of Gardner’s service, in connection with the longer
narrative, we are naturally inclined to say: Another instance of a good
man choked out of the line of promotion by want of interest; there must
have been something radically wrong with the system that permitted want
of interest to shelve, at the age of 32, a sober, punctual and capable
officer, with a blameless record and distinguished certificates. But
would such a presentment of the case be quite correct? Gardner was
excellently well connected, and had relations or good friends—including
the comptroller himself (p. 97)—in many different departments of the
public service. He must have had remarkably good interest; and we are
forced to look elsewhere for what can only be called his failure.

The first reason for it—one, too, that has damaged many a young
officer’s prospects—was his determination to pick and choose his
service. This is apparent throughout. He wasted his interest in getting
out of what he considered disagreeable employments. He quarrelled with
Captain Calder and wearied Sir Henry Martin by his refusal to go to the
West Indies, as it ‘did not suit my inclination’ (p. 97); he scouted
McArthur’s suggestion to try his fortune on board the Victory (p. 148),
and got himself sent to the Gorgon for a passage to England, only to
find that his cleverness cost him five months’ time and the whole of his
kit (pp. 172–3). The same daintiness is to be observed throughout. But
if one thing is more certain than another in calculating the luck of the
service, it is that a whole-hearted devotion to it, a readiness to go
anywhere and to do anything, pays the best.

Later on, there was another reason for Gardner’s want of this readiness.
He married early—on 11 December 1798—and his future career does not
contravene the frequently expressed opinion of our most distinguished
admirals, from Lord St. Vincent downwards, that—as far as the service is
concerned—a young lieutenant might as well cut his throat as marry.
‘D’ye mind me,’ says the old song—

‘D’ye mind me! a sailor should be, every inch,
All as one as a piece of the ship;’

and for a young man, with a young wife at home, that is impossible. His
allegiance is divided; the wife on shore has the biggest share and
continually calls for more, till the husband gets a home appointment—a
guardo, a coast-guard, or a signal station—pleasant for the time, but
fatal to all chance of promotion. No doubt there have been exceptions.
It would not be impossible to cite names of officers who married as
lieutenants and rose to high rank; but either under peculiar conditions
of service, or because the wife has had sufficient strength of mind to
prevent her standing in the way of her husband’s profession; possibly
even she may have forwarded him in it. _Exceptio probat regulam_; but
Gardner was not one. His direct connection with the service ended with
the peace in 1814. It does not appear that he either asked for or wished
for any further employment; but spent the rest of his life in a peaceful
and contented retirement in the bosom of his family, at Peckham, where
he died on 24 September 1846, in his 76th year. He was buried in the
churchyard of St. Mary’s, Newington Butts, where a head-stone once
marked the site of the grave. But the churchyard has been turned into a
pleasure-ground, and the position of the stone or the grave is now
unknown.

The ‘Recollections’ which by the kindness of the authors grandsons,
Francis William and Henry James Gardner, we are now permitted to print,
were written in 1836, and corrected, to some small extent, in later
years. We have no information of the sources from which he composed
them. He must have had his logs; and we may suppose either that these
took the form of journals, or that he had also kept a journal with some
regularity. Certainly it is not probable that, without some register, he
could have given the lists of his shipmates, correct even—in very many
cases—to the Christian names. That their characters and the various
highly flavoured anecdotes were matters of memory is more easily
believed.

What is, in one sense, the most remarkable thing about the work is the
strong literary seasoning which it often betrays. The manuscript is a
little volume (fcap. 4to) written on both sides of the paper, in a small
neat hand. This, of itself, is evidence that Gardner—leaving school,
after six or seven broken years, at the age of twelve—did not consider,
or rather was not allowed to consider, his education finished in all
branches except in the line of his profession. Of the way in which it
was continued, we have no knowledge. It is quite possible that Macbride,
the drunken and obscene schoolmaster of the Edgar, may, in his sober
intervals, have helped to inspire him with some desire of learning. The
educational powers of Pye, the schoolmaster of the Salisbury and of the
Barfleur, can scarcely have stretched beyond the working of a lunar. In
the Berwick he was shipmates with the Rev. Alexander John Scott—in after
years chaplain of the Victory and Nelsons foreign secretary—a man of
literary aptitudes, who was ‘always going on shore to make researches
after antiquities’ (p. 150), and Gardner may sometimes have been allowed
to accompany him in his rambles.

However this may have been, it is very noteworthy that a tincture of
polite learning was shared by many of his messmates. To those whose
notions of life afloat are gathered from Roderick Random and other
descriptions of the seamy side of the service, it will seem incredible
that such should have been the case. We are not here concerned to prove
it as a general proposition. It is enough to refer to the particular
instances before us—that of Gardner and his messmates. He tells us that
Macredie, who was with him in the Edgar, and afterwards in the Barfleur,
was ‘an excellent scholar, well acquainted with Greek and Latin, ancient
history and mathematics’ (p. 80), which must mean something, even if we
allow a good deal for exaggeration. In the Edgar they were with that
disreputable but amiable and talented sinner, Macbride; and it was also
in the Edgar that the assumption of Homeric characters was a common
sport, in which Macredie figured as Ajax Telamon, Culverhouse as
Diomede, and Pringle won the name of ‘Ponderous and Huge’ (pp. 84, 93).

This does not, perhaps, go for very much; but it cannot be lost sight of
that, as concerns Gardner, it was accompanied by a readiness to apply
quotations from Popes _Iliad_ and from the _Aeneid_, sometimes in
Dryden’s version, sometimes in the original. He was certainly, also, as
familiar with _Hudibras_ as ever Alan Quatermain was with _The Ingoldsby
Legends_. Shakespeare he does not seem to have studied; and though it is
but a small thing in comparison that he should have read _Ossian_ and _A
Sentimental Journey_, his knowledge of, his familiarity with, Roman
history may be allowed as a makeweight, unless indeed—which is quite
possible—it was drilled into him by Scott on each separate occasion.
Thus, when the Berwick goes to Tunis and Porto Farino, he is reminded of
the fate of Regulus (p. 136); he connects Trapani with the destruction
of the Roman fleet under Claudius (p. 137), and knows that the
concluding battle of the first Punic war—the battle which, as Mahan has
shown, decided the result of the second Punic war—was fought off the
Egades (p. 138). Incomparably more attention is nowadays paid to the
instruction of our youngsters; but we are confident that very few of
them could note such things in their journal unless specially coached up
in them by a friendly senior.

In this, again, there have been exceptions. Until recently there has
probably always been a sprinkling of officers who kept up and increased
the knowledge of Latin they brought from Eton or Westminster[1] or other
schools of classical learning; and Hannay, the novelist, who had a
personal acquaintance with gunroom life of sixty years ago, has
represented the midshipmen and mates of his day bandying quotations from
Horace or Virgil with a freedom which many have thought ridiculous, but
which, we must admit, might sometimes be met with. We were told by an
officer who served in the Hibernia under the flag of Sir William Parker,
that it was easy to fit names to all the principal characters in
Hannay’s novelettes; and it may be assumed that what was true for the
captains was equally true for the midshipmen.

Such familiarity with the Latin poets was, of course, very exceptional
then; it has now, we fancy, entirely dropped out. The Latin which our
present youngsters bring into the service must be extremely little, and
they have no opportunity of continuing the study of it; and though
English history and naval history form part of the curriculum at Osborne
and Dartmouth, there is but little inducement to a young officer to read
more when he goes afloat. But there are certainly many of our older
officers who would say that a sound and intelligent knowledge of history
is more likely to be profitable to the average captain or admiral than
the most absolute familiarity with the processes of the differential or
integral calculus.

A considerable, and what to many will be a most interesting, part of the
volume is occupied by lists of names and thumb-nail sketches of
character. No attempt has been made to amplify these beyond filling in
dates and Christian names [in square brackets] from _Navy-lists_ and
_Pay-books_. More would generally have been impracticable, for most of
the names are unknown to history; and where otherwise, anything like
full notices would have enormously swelled the volume, without any
adequate gain. It has seemed better to add a mere reference to some
easily accessible memoir, either in the _Dictionary of National
Biography_ (_D.N.B._), Charnock’s _Biographia Navalis_, Marshall’s
_Royal Naval Biography_, or O’Byrne’s _Naval Biographical Dictionary_;
sometimes also to James’s _Naval History_, Schomberg’s _Naval
Chronology_, or to Beatson’s _Naval and Military Memoirs_—all books
which are quite common, and are or ought to be in every naval library.

It remains only for the Editors to express their grateful thanks to the
Messrs. Gardner, who not only permit them to publish the
‘Recollections,’ but supplied them with a copy of the MS., typed at
their expense; to the Very Rev. the Dean of Waterford, who has most
kindly had all the registers at Waterford searched (though vainly) in
the endeavour to determine the exact date of Commander Gardner’s birth;
and to the numerous friends and even strangers who have so kindly helped
them in answering the various queries which have presented themselves.
These are too many to name; but the Editors must, in a special degree,
mention their obligations to Commander C. N. Robinson, R.N., whose very
exceptional knowledge of the byways of naval literature has been most
generously put at their service. That some of their queries have
remained unanswered and that explanatory notes are thus sometimes
wanting will serve to emphasise the importance of the assistance
referred to. What, for instance, is the meaning of the phrase ‘My hat’s
off’ (p. 108)? Apparently ‘Not a word!’ but why? or again, what are
‘ugly podreen faces’ (p. 214)? To a mere Englishman the epithet looks as
if it might be Irish; but Irish dictionaries and three competent Irish
scholars are positive that it is not. Once more, they express their
warmest thanks for the help that has been so freely given them.

CONTENTS

PAGE
INTRODUCTION vii
PROLOGUE 1
BOREAS 3
CONQUEROR 10
ACADEMY 15
PANTHER 19
SALISBURY 41
ORESTES 56
EDGAR 64
BARFLEUR 97
QUEEN 121
BERWICK 126
GORGON 155
VICTORY 172
HIND 178
BLONDE 203
BRUNSWICK 226
TRANSPORT SERVICE 250
FAIRLIGHT SIGNAL STATION 251
APPENDIX 265
INDEX 267

NAVAL RECOLLECTIONS
IN SHREDS AND PATCHES
WITH STRANGE REFLECTIONS
ABOVE AND UNDER HATCHES.

I know nothing of grammar;
At school they never could hammer
Or beat it into my head.
The bare word made me stammer,
And turn pale as if I were dead.
And here I may as well be telling
I’m often damned out in my spelling.
And this is all the apology
I offer for my chronology,
And biographical sketches
Of mighty men, and lubberly wretches,
From seventeen hundred and seventy-seven—
Their rank, their titles, and their names are given.

_14th June 1836._

BOREAS, 28

Ye bloods of the present day!
To you I have nothing to say,
Except ye are able
To splice a chain cable
Or get a sheer hulk under way.
But to my veteran friends,
I submit here my odds and my ends.

I begin at the good old times when luxury was not known in the service,
when we were carrying on the war against the Yankees and the French. My
father, the late Captain Francis Geary Gardner, was appointed through
the interest of Admiral Francis Geary[2] (afterwards Sir Francis), and
of my mother’s uncle, Admiral William Parry,[3] to be master of the
Boreas, a new frigate of 28 guns fitting at Chatham, and commanded by
Captain Charles Thompson, with the promise of Lord Sandwich (then first
lord of the admiralty) to be promoted when opportunity offered; which
promise his lordship performed by appointing him lieutenant of the
Conqueror, 74, as will be seen hereafter.

It has pleased God to give me a good memory, and I have perfect
recollection of almost every circumstance from very early life. My
objection in writing my naval recollections is to amuse my family when I
am moored head and stern; and I shall first state for their information
that my naval ancestors held the rank from admiral of the white to that
of commander, and in the soldiering line from general to major. Having
settled this point I shall now commence by stating that, while the
Boreas was fitting, we took lodgings at the house of a cross old maid at
Brompton, named Patty Pankhurst, who I have reason to remember; for
having unfortunately cut up some carrots she had for dinner, and
upsetting her potatoes down an alley, she for this innocent amusement
never forgave me. I well recollect a ghostly story the old hussy related
about the boatswain of the Bonny Broom who was drowned going off to his
ship near Gillingham, and how he used to be seen cruising up and down
along the shore and hailing ‘Board the Bonny Broom ahoy!’ three times,
and then go to the churchyard exactly at 1 o’clock and disappear! She
would kindly tell me this at night, adding ‘Hark, don’t you hear him?’
and then I would be afraid to go to bed. This had ten times more effect
upon my nerves than the little cane she kept for active service,

With which she laid about more busily
Than the Amazonian dame Penthesile (_Hudibras_);

and if Patty would only say ‘I think I hear the boatswain,’ I would be
off without further trouble.

My father, mother, and Charley Buchan, the purser, took it into their
heads to walk to Cobham on a Sunday in very warm weather. When they got
there, it was near church time in the afternoon; they wanted to get
dinner, but nothing could be obtained at any of the houses; and when
asked if they had anything, the answer was, ‘We have ate it all up,’ and
Buchan would reply, ‘The devil choke you with it.’ He then set off to
forage while we remained at an inn. After waiting some time we heard a
shouting, and on going out saw him marching at the head of the people
who were going to church, waving a shoulder of mutton and singing a
stave from the 41st Psalm:

Happy the man whose tender care
Relieves the poor distressed.

On his coming in, the landlord took my father aside and requested to
know if the gentleman (meaning Buchan) was right in his intellect. To
keep up the joke my father told him he was subject to sudden fits of
insanity and would frequently bite people, and always took the piece
out. ‘God save us!’ said the landlord; ‘I wish his honour had gone to
some other house, for I don’t like the look of him.’ The mutton,
however, was put down to roast, and when about half done was brought in,
and the landlord, bending his eye, not on vacancy but on Buchan, said he
hoped everything was to his honour’s liking, and adding that when the
company had dined he would be glad to have the room, as it was engaged
for the evening; upon which Buchan got up and, flourishing the carving
knife, sang with a voice of thunder, ‘Farewell to Lochaber,’ which made
the landlord back out as if he had been at the levee. We soon after
relieved him from his troubles and returned to Brompton.

When the ship was fitted we sailed for Sheerness; and on paying a visit
to the Mars, 74, a guard-ship at Black Stakes (the captain being a
relation of my mother) we got swamped alongside, but luckily escaped
drowning. While at Sheerness we had an invitation to dine with a
merchant whose name was Simmers, and among the number Buchan the purser
was invited. At the table sat Mr. Simmers’ dog Pompey, with a plate laid
for him. It was laughable to hear Buchan (who was a wag) ask Pompey if
he should have the pleasure of drinking wine with him; and on taking
leave he gave the dog an invitation to dine on board with him the next
day, saying he should be most happy to see him and his father (Mr.
Simmers), and to be sure not to come without him. The old man felt the
rebuke and gave no more invitations.

After getting our powder we sailed for the Downs, and soon after
proceeded to Spithead, where we remained a short time until we received
orders to take shipwrights to Halifax from Portsmouth and Plymouth; and
when everything was ready, we got under way from St. Helen’s in the
evening; but in consequence of the man in the chains giving the wrong
soundings—the leadline being foul—the ship struck on the Dean, where the
old Invincible, 74, was lost, and after considerable damage was got off
and returned to Spithead and then to Portsmouth Harbour to refit. My
father was tried by a court martial and honourably acquitted. While in
the harbour alongside the jetty, a cat flew at the sentry on the gangway
and fixed on his shoulder, and it was with great difficulty the animal
could be removed; the sentry fell in a fit and dropped his musket
overboard and was subject to fits while he remained in the ship. The
Boreas when refitted was ordered to the West Indies, and I left the ship
for school,[4] and again joined her on her return, and sailed for
Plymouth and went into Hamoaze, when Lord Sandwich promoted my father
and appointed him fifth Lieutenant of the Conqueror, 74, fitting in the
harbour.

We took lodgings at the house of a hop merchant in North Corner Street;
he was also carpenter of a line-of-battle ship, and a very eccentric
character. His name was John Cowdray, and on his table linen was marked
in large letters Sir John Cowdray, Baronet and Knight of the Bath. His
wife was also a strange being and was perpetually calling out ‘Bet
Waters! Bet Waters!’ (the name of her servant) from morning until night,
with a voice that, sounded like a sow-gelder’s flageolet. The day before
my father left the Boreas, he gave at this house a dinner to the captain
and officers; and I remember his saying to Captain Thompson that Sir
Francis Drake taught the people of Plymouth to walk upright: before that
they went on all fours. He had hardly made the observation when the door
opened, and in came one of the servants upon all fours, having fallen
and upset a couple of roast fowls with all the contents upon Sir John
Cowdray’s fine carpet, and bespattered my father’s white lappels.
‘There,’ says Captain Thompson, ‘is a specimen of grown people taught to
walk upright by Sir Francis Drake.’

While the Boreas lay in Hamoaze, a violent quarrel took place between
her crew and that of the Foudroyant, and several hard battles were
fought, to the advantage of the former, who always came off conqueror
when not overpowered by numbers. We had a fellow by the name of Waddle
who was coxswain of the pinnace, and a noted boxer. This man fought and
beat three of the best men belonging to the Foudroyant, one after the
other, to the great satisfaction of his shipmates, who made a
subscription and handsomely rewarded their champion.

During the time this frigate was in the West Indies, and also on the
home service, she sailed superior to any of the men of war, and was one
of the first of the copper-bottomed. The following are the names of the
officers that I can recollect:—

CHARLES THOMPSON, Esq., Captain.

Dead [1799]. A baronet and vice-admiral of the red.—[_D.N.B._]

JOHN LAUGHARNE, 1st Lieutenant.

Dead [1819]. A vice-admiral; a most indefatigable first
lieutenant, and one of the best seamen in the service.

JOSEPH PEYTON, 2nd Lieutenant.

Dead [1816]. A rear-admiral [superannuated].

CHARLES HOLMES EVERITT, 2nd Lieutenant.

Dead [1807]. An admiral [took the name of Calmady].

[RICHARD] HAWFORD, 2nd Lieutenant.

He commanded the Rover sloop of war when she upset in a white
squall on the West India Station and all hands unfortunately
perished [on or about 29 October 1781].

FRANCIS GEARY GARDNER, Master.

Dead. A captain in the Royal Navy. He was considered one of the
first seamen in the navy, and also a most skilful pilot for the
coast of America.

CHARLES BUCHAN, Purser.

Dead. A most worthy gentleman.

CORREY, Surgeon. Dead. Remember little of him. I believe he
was drowned when the Royal George upset.

[WILLIAM] WILLIAMS, Lieutenant of Marines.

Dead.

J[OHN] MONKTON, Mate.

Dead [1827]. A rear-admiral. He was first lieutenant of the
Marlborough, 74, in Lord Howe’s action, June 1, 1794, and behaved
with great bravery. He was made commander and soon after got his
post rank. He commanded the Mars, 74, the flagship of Admiral
Berkeley. When the promotion of flags took place, to the
astonishment of every person, he was placed on the _retired_ list
of rear-admirals.—[Marshall, iii. 12.]

LENOX THOMPSON, Mate.

Dead [1835]. A post captain [1802]; a very good officer.

GEORGE WANGFORD, Midshipman.

Dead. See Edgar.

[JACOB] SWANSON, Gunner.

Dead. A very good man, but had a very bad wife.[5]

[THOMAS] WILSON, Surgeon’s Mate.

Uncertain. He could play a little on the flute, and used to annoy
all hands by everlastingly playing the King’s Minuet.

The above are all the officers I can recollect that belonged to the
Boreas.

CONQUEROR, 74

My Lord, you give a fight in sham,
A Spithead fight not worth a damn,
And that’s your Lordship’s epigram.

My father joined the Conqueror in December 1777 as fifth and then fourth
lieutenant, the late Admiral Thomas Lord Graves captain, fitting in
Hamoaze; and after a cruise or two the ship was ordered to Spithead to
join the fleet assembled there for the sham fight, and to be reviewed by
his Majesty King George III. Sir Thomas Pye, admiral of the white, was
port admiral and senior officer, and Admiral Keppel (blue at the main)
had his flag on board the Prince George, 98. When his Majesty went
afloat, the flag officers and captains attended in their barges, Sir
Thomas Pye leading the van. The royal standard was hoisted on board the
Prince George, and a grand salute took place from the whole of the men
of war, which was repeated several times during the day. Thousands of
boats full of spectators attended at Spithead; several of the nobility
were on board the Conqueror. The ladies didn’t much like the firing, and
one of them had a tooth knocked out by biting the frame of the
quarter-gallery window when the after gun on the main deck went off.
Soon after the review, a fleet being ordered to sail for America with
all possible dispatch, we were sent to Plymouth to join them. They
consisted of the following men of war under the command of the
Honourable John Byron, vice-admiral of the blue:—

Princess Royal 98 Flag Ship
Conqueror 74 {Commodore Graves
{Captain H. Harmood
Cornwall 74
Sultan 74
Grafton 74
Fame 74
Bedford 74
Albion 74
Culloden 74
Russell 74
Invincible 74
Royal Oak 74
Monmouth 64
Guadeloupe 32

The fleet sailed from Cawsand Bay in 1778 soon after the review and a
short time before Keppel’s action, and I left the ship for school. It is
in the remembrance of many that this fleet had a dreadful passage and
separated. The Princess Royal arrived at her destination alone, and it
was a long time before they could be collected. The Conqueror was eleven
weeks on her passage, and had three hundred of her crew in the sick
list. The Invincible put into St. John’s, Newfoundland, in distress, and
all the squadron suffered more or less. I hope it will not be
presumptuous to state that my father was considered one of the best
seamen in the service, and a very able and skilful pilot, particularly
for the coast of America; which is well known to some of the oldest
officers of the present day. In this gale he exerted himself with such
ability that when Admiral Hyde Parker hoisted his flag on board the
Conqueror, he told my father that he should remember him when
opportunity offered, which promise he performed by removing him to the
Princess Royal, his flagship, when he took the command of the fleet on
the return of Admirals Byron and Barrington to England. The rear-admiral
was a very strict officer, and from his austere disposition got the
nickname of Old Vinegar, and it was a very difficult task for an officer
to get into his good graces. When he shifted his flag (blue at the
mizen) from the Conqueror to the Princess Royal in the West Indies, he
also removed Mr. McInerheny, the master of the former (an officer and
seaman of first-rate abilities), to the flagship, and, in February 1780,
he promoted my father and appointed him Captain of the Etna, wishing him
success as a meritorious officer and deserving of promotion, and said he
would recommend him to Admiral Rodney as soon as he should take command
of the fleet. I shall just mention that Patrick Gibson,[6] who died
about four years ago, aged one hundred and eleven, was purser of the
Princess Royal and a messmate of my father’s. I shall state further
particulars of this extraordinary man when I come to the Blonde.

The following are the names of the officers.

THOS. GRAVES, Esq., Captain and then Commodore.

Dead [1802]. An admiral of the white. When made a rear-admiral he
had his flag on board the London, 98, at the Chesapeake, but
failed in preventing the Count de Grasse getting there with
succours for the American Army. Owing to this unfortunate
circumstance, Lord Cornwallis was obliged to capitulate with 5,000
men to the Americans. He had his flag on board the Ramillies when
that ship foundered in the gale of September 1782, coming home
with the West India convoy, of which he had charge, and showed
uncommon presence of mind in the dreadful situation that ship was
in. The Ramillies was lying-to under a main sail[7] (a sail that a
ship should never be laid to under) on the larboard tack with her
head to the westward, when she was taken aback, and if her mast
had not gone she must have foundered. She had six feet of water in
the hold, which increased to nine feet, and it was found
impossible to keep her free. Fortunately the gale abated for a
short time, and the ship’s company were removed to a merchantman,
the admiral being the last to quit. He did everything that an able
seaman could do to save her, in setting a good example and showing
undaunted courage in a situation that would have shaken the nerves
of the philosophers of Greece and Rome. Admiral Graves was port
admiral at Plymouth, and when the war broke out in 1793 he hoisted
his flag on board the Royal Sovereign, 110; was in the action of
the 1st of June 1794; was wounded and made a peer.—[_D.N.B._]

HARRY HARMOOD, Esq., Captain

Dead. Commissioner of the Navy.

[CHARLES] OSBORNE, 1st Lieutenant.

Dead.

[ELLIS] TROUGHTON, 2nd Lieutenant.

Dead. A commander.

[THOMAS] FLOYD, 3rd Lieutenant.

Dead. A dandy.

FRANCIS GEARY GARDNER, 4th Lieutenant [5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd.]

Dead. Captain. [James Gardner, his servant; both D. August 28,
1779, to Princess Royal.]

WILLIAMS, 5th Lieutenant.

Dead. A mad fellow.

N[ICHOLAS] MCINERHENY, Master.

Dead. An excellent officer and seaman. [William McInerheny, his
servant.]

SIR JOHN DALSTON, Baronet, Captain of Marines.

Dead.

WALTER SMITH, Lieutenant of Marines.

Dead. A colonel.

WILLIAM BARKER, Lieutenant of Marines.

Dead. A captain in the army.

[HENRY] HUTCHINS, Purser.

Dead.

[ROBERT] WHITE, Surgeon.

Dead.

[JOHN STODE] FOOTE, Chaplain.

Dead.

[THOMAS] MEARS [or MAYERS], Gunner.

Dead.

[BENJAMIN] HEARLE, Carpenter.

Dead.

RICHARD NASH, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant R.N.; was first of the Impregnable, 98, the
flagship in Hamoaze; and while standing on the gangway was killed
by a man falling on him from the mainyard.

[JOHN] NASH, Midshipman [Captain’s servant].

Dead [1824]. Captain, brother of the above.

[JAMES] NASH, Midshipman [Captain’s servant.]

Dead [1827]. Captain, brother of the above.

JOHN BLAKE, Midshipman [Captain’s servant].

Dead. A commander.

ROBERT ROLLES, Midshipman.

A vice-admiral, and a most active and able officer. [Died,
1839—Marshall, ii. 676.]

NAVAL ACADEMY, GOSPORT

In Mathematics he was greater
Than Tycho Brahe, or Erra Pater.
For he by geometric scale
Could take the size of pots of ale;
Resolve by sines and tangents straight,
If bread or butter wanted weight;
And wisely tell what hour o’ th’ day,
The clock does strike by algebra.—_Hudibras._

The name of the master of this school was Orchard, and a very good man
he was; but who the devil taught him navigation is more than I can say.
He was a great disciplinarian, and used to flourish with direful sway an
infernal horsewhip, that I have reason to remember. It was called ‘black
pudding,’ and he was no way stingy in serving it out. I recollect one of
the scholars coming very late one morning quite out of breath, and when
asked the reason by old Orchard, he replied: ‘The man said that the boy
said that the woman said that Mr. Browell said if he did not hold his
tongue he would knock him down dead.’ This set the whole school in a
roar of laughter, and I for one got three or four cuts across the
shoulder with the before-mentioned black pudding, that I have perfect
remembrance of to the present day. While at this school we used to bathe
in a lake that runs near the Horse-field on the Stoke Road. On one
occasion we drove a cow into the mud so that we could not extricate the
animal, and it was fast sinking up to the neck. A militia regiment
happened to be encamped near the spot, and it took several of the
soldiers a long time to get it out. I never shall forget the terror we
were in when the owner swore he would send the whole of us to jail; and
Buck Adams, the keeper of the Bridewell, passing near the spot by
chance, we thought he was come to seize us, and several of the party set
off and ran naked into the town covered with mud. We had to pay near
twenty shillings to make the matter up, besides treating the soldiers,
who enjoyed the fun. As I’m in a hurry to get to sea again I shall only
relate one or two circumstances that happened before I took my
departure.

I was standing on Gosport beach when the prisoners were landed from some
of the prizes taken by Rear-Admiral Kempenfelt (the ablest tactician in
the navy), who with only twelve sail of the line by a masterly manœuvre
captured most of the convoy from the French admiral, Count de Guichen,
who had nineteen sail of the line, and frustrated the expedition. A
party of soldiers assembled on the beach to escort them to Forton
prison, a lieutenant of the navy and several midshipmen also attending,
when a _posse_ of women rushed out of Rime’s ‘noted alley’ and, pointing
to the soldiers, sang the following beautiful ditty:

Don’t you see the ships a-coming?
Don’t you see them in full sail?
Don’t you see the ships a-coming
With the prizes at their tail?
Oh! my little rolling sailor,
Oh! my little rolling he;
I do love a jolly sailor,
Blithe and merry might he be.

Sailors, they get all the money,
Soldiers they get none but brass;
I do love a jolly sailor.
Soldiers they may kiss—
Oh! my little rolling sailor,
Oh! my little rolling he;
I do love a jolly sailor,
Soldiers may be damned for me.

Then, catching hold of the lieutenant and midshipmen, they began to hug
and kiss them, and it was some time before they could get out of their
clutches. They then began to pelt the soldiers, who took it very
patiently and seemed very glad when the order was given to march with
the Frenchmen.

In holiday time we used to set off to a place called Grange, about two
miles from Gosport, where the gipsies had a camp, and many a desperate
battle we have had with them. I well recollect about fourteen of us
going out, and after many manœuvres we succeeded in capturing some of
their donkeys and rode off in triumph; but the swarthy squad got a
reinforcement, with which they attacked us; and with sticks and stones,
we maintained a running fight until driven into Stoke, after abandoning
our donkeys and giving up the contest. The clergyman at Stoke (Mr.
Shield) who had witnessed the engagement, said it was the defeat of the
long-eared cavalry by the Egyptian infantry.

The following are the names of the gentlemen at this Academy:—

ORCHARD, the Master.

Dead. A very worthy and upright character.

EDWARD BINGHAM, Midshipman.

Dead. A very worthy young man.

J. BINGHAM, Midshipman.

Dead. A rear-admiral—proud enough.

ROBERT BINGHAM.

Dead. A clergyman, Royal Navy.

JOHN MERRETT.

Dead. A surgeon at Portsmouth.

J. A. GARDNER, Midshipman.

A commander.

WILLIAM VOSPER, Midshipman.

A lieutenant of the Royal Hospital at Greenwich.

WILLIAM KITTEN.

Uncertain. Like all kittens made too much of.

RICHARD NICHOLSON, Midshipman.

Dead. A commander.

W. P. NICHOLSON, Midshipman.

Dead. Unfortunate.

JOHN WILKINSON.

Dead. A lawyer at Gosport.

W. COET, Midshipman.

A commander; a very good fellow; we used to cal him Old Owl. Since
dead. [Possibly William Coote.—Marshall, x. 364.]

WILLIAM BOWLER.

Dead. A surgeon in the Royal Navy, called Squiney; a very good
fellow.

JOHN BARTON.

Dead. Sir John Barton, treasurer of the Queen’s household.

SKENE, Midshipman.

Uncertain. Called Jaw-me-dead.

SOL. SARADINE.

Dead. A droll, wicked fellow.

TAYLOR.

This unfortunate man was surgeon of H.M. ship Jamaica, and by the
sentence of a court martial was hanged at the yardarm at
Spithead.[8]

RICHARD CARTER.

Dead. A very worthy fellow.

PANTHER, 60

When I remember all
The friends so link’d together,
I’ve seen around me fall,
Like leaves in windy weather;
I feel like one
Who treads alone
Some banquet-hall deserted,
Whose lights are fled,
Whose garlands dead,
And all but me departed.
Thus in the stilly night,
Ere slumber’s chain has bound me,
Sad memory brings the light
Of other days around me.—MOORE.

When I was on board the Boreas and Conqueror with my father I had
nothing to do with the midshipmen, as I lived in the gunroom of the
former and wardroom of the latter. But in this ship I took my degrees
(not as a doctor of Oxford, thank God!) but as a midshipman in the
cockpit of H.M. ship Panther, with some of the best fellows that ever
graced the British navy. I joined her early in 1782 fitting in
Portsmouth Harbour, commanded by Captain Thomas Piercy of glorious
memory. I had eleven shillings given me by some friends in Gosport, and
I thought my fortune was made.

On my introduction to my new shipmates I was shown down to the starboard
wing berth. I had not been long seated before a rugged-muzzled
midshipman came in, and having eyed me for a short time, he sang out
with a voice of thunder: ‘Blister my tripes—where the hell did you come
from? I suppose you want to stick your grinders (for it was near
dinner-time) into some of our a la mode beef;’ and without waiting for a
reply, he sat down and sang a song that I shall remember as long as I
live. The first verse, being the most moral, I shall give:

A Duchess from Germany
Has lately made her will;
Her body she’s left to be buried,
Her soul to the devil in hell.

This gentleman’s name was Watson; and notwithstanding the song and his
blunt manner of speaking, he proved to be a very good fellow, and was
the life and soul of the mess.

I must now describe our starboard wing berth and compare it with the
manners and customs of the present day. In this ship our mess-place had
canvas screens scrubbed white, wainscot tables, well polished, Windsor
chairs, and a pantry fitted in the wing to stow our crockery and dinner
traps with safety. The holystones and hand organs,[9] in requisition
twice a week, made our orlop deck as white as the boards of any crack
drawing room, the strictest attention being paid to cleanliness; and
everything had the appearance of Spartan simplicity. We used to sit down
to a piece of salt beef, with sour krout, and dine gloriously with our
pint of black-strap[10] after, ready at all calls, and as fit for battle
as for muster. Here mark the difference. The cockpit abandoned, and my
lords and gentlemen ushered into the gunroom fitted up in luxurious
style, with window curtains, blinds, buffets, wine coolers, silver
forks, and many other appendages of that delicate nature, unknown in the
good old times; and, if I am correctly informed, a brass knocker[11]
fixed at the gunroom door, which ever and anon announces the approach of
the mighty members with as much pomp as a Roman consul with his lictors
thundering at the door for admittance. But enough of this. When war
comes we shall see.

When I joined the Panther, Mr. Price, the purser, who I knew nothing of,
furnished me with everything I stood in need of, as the ship was hurried
off to join Lord Howe and I had not time to get fitted out. When the
ship was paid, he refused to take any remuneration when I called to
repay the obligation, but said he would do the same again with pleasure.
I stand indebted to his kindness, which I shall remember for ever with
heart-felt gratitude and respect for his memory, and grieved I am that
the service should have lost so good an officer, lamented by every
person who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.

We sailed (I think) in May with the grand fleet under Lord Howe, to
cruise in the North Sea after the Dutch. On our arrival in the Downs,
Captain Piercy, from ill health, left the ship, to the great regret of
every officer and man on board, and was succeeded in the command by
Captain Robert Simonton.

Nor he unworthy to conduct the host,
Yet still they mourned their ancient leader lost.—_Iliad._

During our cruise the influenza carried off great numbers in the fleet.
Our ship’s company (a most excellent one) was turned over to the
Raisonnable, 64, and that of the Ripon, 60, sent on board of us, and we
shortly after left the fleet, and returned to the Downs to relieve the
old Dromedary, and hoisted the flag (blue at the fore) of Vice-Admiral
Sir Francis William Drake as port admiral, for about a month; when we
were relieved by the Ripon, and then proceeded to St. Helen’s, where we
remained a short time, and sailed with a flying squadron to the
westward, consisting of four sail of the line and three frigates, under
the command of Captain Reeve[12] as commodore, as follows:

Crown 64 (Captain Reeve, senior officer)
Suffolk 74 [Captain Sir George Home][13]
Vigilant 64 [Captain J. Douglas][13]
Panther 60 [Captain R. Simonton]
Monsieur 36 [Captain Hon. Seymour Finch][13]
Recovery 32 [Captain Hon. G. C. Berkeley] [13]
Cerberus 32

About the middle of July, in the Bay of Biscay we took, after a long
chase, three prizes, the Pigmy cutter, Hermione victualler, with ninety
bullocks for the combined fleet, and a brig laden with salt. A day or
two after, when blowing very hard and under a close-reefed main topsail
and foresail, on the starboard tack, a fleet was seen to leeward on the
beam and lee bow. The commodore made the private signal which was not
answered, and then the signal for an enemy and to wear and make sail on
the other tack. Wore accordingly, and set close-reefed topsails, with
fore and main tacks on board, which worked the old ship most charmingly.
In loosing the mizen topsail, and before letting it fall, I slipped my
foot from the horse[14] and fell off the yard into the top, and saved my
life by catching hold of the clewline, having fallen from the bunt of
the sail. The captain saw this and gave me a terrible rub down for not
taking more care of myself. One of the prizes (the brig with salt) was
retaken. The next morning, the weather being moderate, saw the enemy
about three leagues to leeward. Sent down one of our frigates, the
Monsieur who sailed remarkably well, to reconnoitre; in the evening they
were out of sight. Soon after, we fell in with the Sandwich, 90,
Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Parker (white at the fore), with the Count de
Grasse[15] on board a prisoner, and a large convoy from the West Indies
bound to England. Parted company from Sir Peter. Several ships of the
line joined our squadron, which proceeded to cruise off the coast of
Ireland for a short time, and then returned to Spithead, where we found
the grand fleet fitting for the relief of Gibraltar. Caught fire in the
marine storeroom near the after magazine, which damaged several
knapsacks before it could be got under. We had only one boat alongside,
the others being absent getting off the stores from the dockyard. A
quartermaster’s wife and three others jumped out of one of the
lower-deck ports into this boat, and casting off the painter pulled away
for the hospital beach as well as any bargemen, leaving their husbands
to take care of themselves.

August the 29th, one of our fleet, the Royal George, 100, Rear-Admiral
Kempenfelt (blue at the mizen), being on a careen, to the astonishment
of every person upset at Spithead, and more than two thirds of her crew
drowned, and among the number that brave and meritorious officer Admiral
Kempenfelt, a man that has never been surpassed as an able tactician. We
saved twenty-seven of her hands. One of them told a curious story. He
said he was boat-keeper of the pinnace, whose painter was fast to the
stern-ladder; and just as the ship was going over, the hairdresser took
a flying leap out of the stern gallery with a powder bag in his hand and
had nearly jumped into his boat. He was so much alarmed that he could
not cast off the painter, nor could he find his knife to cut it, and was
obliged to jump and swim for his life, when our boat picked him up. His
own boat went down with the ship. It was a sad sight to see the dead
bodies floating about Spithead by scores until we sailed. The poor
admiral and several officers were never found. Captain Waghorn (the
admiral’s captain) was saved and tried by a court martial and acquitted.
God knows who the blame ought to light on, for blame there must have
been somewhere, for never was a ship lost in such a strange and
unaccountable manner. The ship might have been weighed had proper steps
been taken. A stupid attempt was made, but failed, as well it might; for
neither officers nor men exerted themselves. The Royal William and
Diligente were placed one on each side, and would have raised her, but
energy was wanting, and there she remains, a disgrace to this day.[16]
Lord Howe having hoisted his flag (blue at the main) on board the
Victory, 110, and the fleet being ready, the signal was made on the 11th
of September to get under way, and that we were to take charge of the
convoy as commodore with a broad blue pennant, and the Buffalo, 60, to
bring up the rear. The convoy consisted of fifty sail of victuallers for
the relief, with which we went through the Needles and joined the grand
fleet at the back of the Isle of Wight, the Bristol, 50, and East India
fleet under her charge, in company. In forming the line of battle the
Goliath was to lead on the starboard tack and the Vengeance on the
larboard. The fleet consisted of thirty-four sail of the line, besides
frigates, and their names I shall give when I come to the action with
the combined fleets.[17] We had moderate weather down Channel, and the
number of convoys collected, and under the protection of the grand fleet
to a certain distance, made up several hundred sail, which cut a fine
appearance.

But, when the fleet got well into the Bay of Biscay, things began to
alter, the wind shifting to the SW, with heavy squalls, which increased
from a gale to a furious hurricane. I remember being at dinner in the
wardroom when the height of the gale came on, the ship being under a
close-reefed main topsail, and a very heavy sea running, which made her
labour prodigiously. Our third lieutenant (Montagu) came down and said:
‘Gentlemen, prepare for bad weather; the admiral has handed his main
topsail and hove to under storm staysails. Our main topsail was not
handed ten minutes before she gave a roll that beggared all description;
‘chaos seemed to have come again,’ and it appeared doubtful whether she
would right. The quarter deck guns were out of sight from this lee
lurch, and the weather roll was equally terrible. The scuttle butts[18]
broke adrift and were stove; a lower-deck gun started and with great
difficulty was secured; one of our poor fellows was lost overboard, and
serious apprehensions were entertained for the safety of the ship, who
cut such dreadful capers that we expected she would founder. I must here
mention that when the Panther came from abroad, the devil tempted the
navy board to order her proper masts to be taken out, and [a] fifty-gun
ship’s placed in their room, and this occasioned her to roll so
dreadfully. It was in this gale that the Ville de Paris, Glorieux,
Hector, Centaur, and others were lost on their passage to England from
the West Indies. It lasted a considerable time, and it was near the
middle of October before the fleet entered the Gut of Gibraltar.[19]

His lordship made the signal to prepare for battle, and while he stood
up the Straits with the fleet, we were ordered to lead in the relief. In
doing so we had near been relieved for ever, for we were taken in a
sudden squall with our lower-deck guns run out, that had nearly swamped
the ship before we could get them in and the ports down. Stood in for
the Rock, but unfortunately got black-strapped [20] with part of the
convoy, and with difficulty got them safe into Rosia Bay. Had three
cheers given us by the garrison. The enemy’s fleet, consisting of
forty-five sail of the line, at anchor at Algesiras; one of their ships,
the St. Michael, 70, a prize to the Rock; she had driven in the late
gale under the batteries near the Old Mole and was captured. A constant
cannonade kept up between the garrison and the Spanish lines; shot and
shells flying in every direction; not a house left standing in the town,
and the forts that were abreast the junk ships[21] (sunk before we
arrived) beaten down to the water’s edge; the inhabitants living in the
bomb-proof, the only place of safety; and with the exception of the old
Moorish Tower, that bid defiance to shot and shells, everything had the
appearance of desolation and ruin.

While we remained in Rosia Bay, one of the enemy’s line-of-battle ships
(a three-decker) had the temerity to stand in and attack us and the
convoy at anchor; but when within gunshot, the batteries opened such a
heavy fire that she was obliged to haul off after being severely
handled, doing us little damage—we had none killed or wounded. It was
laughable to see the convoy blaze away with their pop-guns at this great
hulk of a ship.

I have lately seen a volume [i. 106 _seq._] of Lieutenant Marshall’s
_Naval Biography_, where he mentions, in the Life of Admiral Holloway,
who commanded the Buffalo, 60, several particulars respecting the
relief. Anyone not knowing better must suppose from reading his account
that Captain Holloway had the sole charge, when, in fact, he only
brought up the rear, and was under our orders. No mention is made of the
Panther being the commodore, and leading in a great part of the
victuallers. Now, without wishing to take from the merits of Captain
Holloway (who was a most able officer) I must beg leave to state that
Captain Simonton, who was intrusted with the convoy, did his duty full
as well as Captain H., although Lieutenant Marshall takes no notice of
the Panther or her commander.

The same gentleman quotes an anonymous author[22] who reflects upon Lord
Howe, and, among other incorrect statements, says it was injudicious in
his lordship to place the Buffalo the rear ship in the action. Now I for
one flatly contradict this, and I say that the Vengeance, 74, and not
the Buffalo, was the rear ship. Lord Howe was too good an officer to
place a ship in a situation where she was likely to be cut off, and his
lordship’s character is above the animadversions of an author who was
afraid to put his name to his work. One of the convoy under charge of
the Buffalo was captured, with the baggage and soldiers’ wives, the only
loss sustained.

The enemy’s fleet having got under way on the 17th or 18th October, we
also weighed; but were obliged to anchor, the enemy having made
demonstrations to attack us. They, however, gave up the point for fear
of the batteries; and we soon after left the Bay and joined the fleet
preparing to anchor in Tetuan Bay, until his lordship was made
acquainted of the combined fleet being at sea and standing up the
Straits. The next morning, the 19th of October, the weather ‘rather
hazy, a kind of a mizzle,’ the admiral made the signal to prepare for
battle, the wind having shifted to the eastward, and the enemy in sight.
His lordship soon after made the signal to bear up and sail large
through the Gut, it not being his intention to engage until clear of the
Straits. The enemy’s fleet stood after us with every sail they could
pack. It was a very beautiful sight to observe the evolutions of the two
fleets and a fair trial of who could sail best. I well remember the
Victory, Edgar, Raisonnable, and Royal William, with their topsails on
the cap, running ahead of some with topgallant sails set. Our old ship,
once called the Flying Panther, would have out-sailed any of them, had
her masts not been altered. As we and the old Buffalo were not in the
line of battle, because we had charge of the convoy before we saw them
safe in, we imagined our station would be with the frigates to look on
and see the fun, and we were laughing to think we should have a cool
view of a battle, and one of the officers (who had read a little)
observed he should be like Scipio the Younger, who, when sent on a
mission to Africa, saw from an eminence a battle between that old
vagabond Masinissa and the poor Carthaginians that lasted from morning
until night. ‘But mortal joys, alas! are fleeting;’ for behold Lord Howe
made our signal to come within hail; and while passing under the stern
of the Victory we received directions to take our station in the line of
battle between the Ruby and the Foudroyant in the van division. Nothing
more about Scipio and Masinissa! The Buffalo was sent to the rear
between the Union, 90, and Vengeance, 74. What do you say to that,
Lieutenant Marshall, in your _Naval Biography_?

It took the fleet the whole day to clear the Gut. The next morning, off
Cape Spartel, the signal was made to form the line of battle on the
starboard tack and to prepare for action; the enemy coming down in line
of battle abreast, with light winds and every sail set, making numerous
signals, which had a very fine effect, as every ship repeated the signal
and their fleet had the appearance of being dressed in colours. Our line
was drawn up in the finest style, and so close and correct that you
could only see the ship ahead and the other astern.

So close their order, so disposed their fight,
As Pallas’ self might view with fixed delight;
Or had the God of war inclined his eyes,
The God of war had owned a just surprise.

Owing to the light winds and the enemy repeatedly hauling up and then
bearing away, it was near 6 P.M. before he formed his line. A
three-decker (supposed to be the Royal Louis) leading his van began the
action by firing into the Goliath, who led ours. The action continued
from 6 P.M. until ¾ past 10; the van and rear chiefly engaged; the
centre had little to do. The enemy’s centre extended to our rear-most
ship, so that eleven or twelve of them (the whole of their rear) never
fired a shot. We had four killed and sixteen wounded; among the former
Mr. Robert Sturges, midshipman doing duty as mate, a gentleman highly
respected and lamented by every officer and man on board. I was placed
with another youngster under his care, and he took the greatest pains to
teach us our duty. He was as brave a fellow as ever lived, and when his
thigh was nearly shot off by the hip, he cheered the men when dying. It
was a spent shot that killed him, and weighed 28 pounds; and what was
remarkable, it took off at the same time the leg of a pig in the sty
under the forecastle.[23]

I had a very narrow escape while standing on the quarter deck with
Captain Forrester of the marines. The first lieutenant (the late Admiral
Alexander Fraser) came up to us, and while speaking a shot passed
between us and stuck on the larboard side of the quarter deck. We were
very close at the time, so that it could only have been a few inches
from us. It knocked the speaking trumpet out of Fraser’s hand, and
seemed to have electrified Captain Forrester and myself. The shot was
cut out and weighed either 12 or 18 pounds—I forget which. Our rigging
fore and aft was cut to pieces; the booms and boats also, and every
timber head on the forecastle, with the sheet and spare anchor stocks,
were shot away, and the fluke of the latter. Our side, from the foremost
gun to the after, was like a riddle, and it was astonishing that we had
not more killed and wounded. Several shot-holes were under water, and
our worthy old carpenter (Mr. Cock) had very near been killed in the
wing, and was knocked down by a splinter, but not materially hurt. The
enemy set off in the night and could only be seen from the masthead in
the morning. It was supposed they went for Cadiz.

A curious circumstance took place during the action. Two of the boys who
had gone down for powder fell out in consequence of one attempting to
take the box from the other, when a regular fight took place. It was
laughable to see them boxing on the larboard side, and the ship in hot
action on the starboard. One of our poor fellows was cut in two by a
double-headed shot on the main deck, and the lining of his stomach
(about the size of a pancake) stuck on the side of the launch, which was
stowed amidships on the main deck with the sheep inside.[24] The butcher
who had the care of them, observing what was on the side of the boat,
began to scrape it off with his nails, saying, ‘Who the devil would have
thought the fellow’s paunch would have stuck so? I’m damned if I don’t
think it’s glued on!’

We had a fellow by the name of Mulligan who ran from his quarters and
positively hid in the coppers! and had put on the drummer’s jacket. When
the firing had ceased he was seen coming out, and was taken for the poor
drummer, and ran forward taking off the jacket, which he hid in the
round house; but one of the boatswain’s mates observed the transaction
and Mr. Mulligan got well flogged just as the action was over. The poor
drummer had greatly distinguished himself, and had taken off his jacket
in the heat of the action, which this fellow stole to hide his
rascality.

[Lists of the fleet, killed and wounded, of detachments to the West
Indies and the coast of Ireland, follow. They are in close agreement
with the lists given by Schomberg (_Naval Chronology_, iv. 390 _seq._)
and were probably copied from them, or the published lists which
Schomberg reproduced. In any case, they have no special authority and
are therefore omitted.

In November, on the Panther’s arriving at Plymouth, where Vice-Admiral
Lord Shuldham had his flag in the Dunkirk—]

a court martial was held on board the Dunkirk on one of our midshipmen
(Mr. Foularton) on some trifling charge brought against him by
Lieutenant Hanwell of the Dublin, on which he was fully acquitted. One
of our main-top men (Martin Anguin), in sending down the topgallant
mast, fell from the fore part of the main topmast crosstrees and pitched
on the collar of the main stay, from which he went down, astern of the
barge upon the booms, into the hold, the gratings being off. He was sent
to the hospital without a fractured limb, but much bruised about the
breast. He recovered and came on board to receive his pay on the day the
ship was paid off. Such a fall and to escape with life, I believe is not
to be found in the annals of naval history.[25] Hoisted the flag (blue
at the fore) of Vice-Admiral Milbanke as port admiral, second in
command.

The peace soon after taking place, a mutiny broke out in the men of war,
and some of the ships began to unrig without orders, and were in a high
state of insubordination, particularly the Blenheim, Crown, Standard,
Medway, and Artois. I do not remember that any examples were made, but
this I am sure of, that the ringleaders richly deserved hanging. Having
received orders we dismantled the ship and struck Admiral Milbanke’s
flag, and in a few days after the old Panther was paid off to the great
regret of every officer on board. It was like the parting of a family
who had lived long together in the strictest friendship; and while
writing this, it brings to mind many circumstances that make me bitterly
lament the inroads death has made among those worthy fellows.

The stroke of fate the bravest cannot shun:
The great Alcides, Jove’s unequall’d son,
To Juno’s hate at length resigned his breath,
And sunk the victim of all-conquering death.

Before closing my account of the Panther, I must relate a few anecdotes
that happened during the time I belonged to her. I was placed with
another youngster, by the name of Owen, under the tuition of the
captains of the fore and main top. We were both in the same watch, which
we kept first in one top and then in the other, to learn to knot and
splice and to reef a sail; and for their attention we remunerated them
with our grog. I remember the captain of the fore top (Joe Moulding), a
very droll fellow, teaching us what he called a catechism, which we were
obliged to repeat to him at two bells in every middle watch. It was as
follows:

‘So fine the Conflustions!! of old Mother Damnable, who jumped off
the fore topsail yard and filled the main topgallant sail; run
down the lee leach of the mizen and hauled the main tack on
board, that all the devils in hell could not raise it; clapped a
sheepshank on the main mast, a bowline knot on the foremast, and
an overhand knot on the mizen mast; run the keel athwart ships,
coiled the cables in the binnacle, tossed the quarter deck
overboard, and made a snug ship for that night; when up jumped
the little boy Fraser with a handspike stuck in his jaws to fend
the seas off, with which he beat them into peas porridge, and
happy was the man who had the longest spoon. AMEN!!’[26]

After repeating this rigmarole we were obliged to start up to the mast
head, if topgallant yards were across, to blow the dust out of the
topgallant clueline blocks. One night, blowing and raining like the
devil, I proposed to Owen about five bells in the middle watch to steal
down out of the top and take the raisins that were intended for the
pudding next day. When we got down to our berth we found the raisins
were mixed with the flour and we had the devil’s own job to pick them
out. After filling our pockets, one of the watch came down for grog and
found us out. We ran off as fast as we could and got in the weather main
rigging, where poor Owen was caught, seized up and made a spread eagle
of for the remainder of the watch and part of the next. I made my escape
and remained some time on the collar of the main stay, until all was
quiet. One of the watch came up, but not finding me in the top gave over
chase; but I got cobbed in the morning, and no pudding for dinner.

While in Hamoaze we had a draught of Irish Volunteers, about sixty in
number. One of them was seven feet high, and when the hands were turned
up to muster on the quarter deck, he stood like Saul the King of Israel,
with head and shoulders above the host. This man used to head his
countrymen when on shore upon leave, and was the terror of the people
about Dock,[27] particularly North Corner Street, flourishing an Irish
shillelah of enormous size, [so] that the constables when called out
would fly like chaff at the very sight of him. He was, like the rest of
his countrymen, honest and brave, and very inoffensive, but woe betide
those that insulted him. Being in the dockyard returning stores, some of
the shipwrights called him a walking flagstaff; for which compliment he
gave two or three of them a terrible beating, and then challenged to
fight twelve of the best men among them, taking two a day, but the
challenge was not accepted from so queer a customer.

The night before we were paid off our ship’s company gave a grand supper
and the lower deck was illuminated. Several female visitors were of the
party from Castlerag and other fashionable places,[28] who danced jigs
and reels the whole of the night, with plenty of grog and flip; and what
was remarkable, not a soul was drunk in the morning.

I must here mention that my shipmates, though brave as lions, were given
to superstition, as the following will show. After poor Sturges was
killed it was given out that he was often seen in the tier, and
sometimes in the cockpit. This had such an effect that not one of the
midshipmen would stay below by himself. I remember one of them (Sm.
Simmonds) falling asleep on the table in the starboard wing berth; and
the rest going on deck, he was left alone. When he awoke, he took to his
heels and ran up to the gunroom, where he fainted away and remained so a
long time. When he came to, he declared that he saw poor Sturges
standing in the berth as pale as death and looking steadfastly at him.
This story worked so much upon the minds of the others that they took
good care to have company at all times when left below. I had the shot
that killed my worthy friend, and intended to have brought it home; but
by some means it was lost or stolen on the morning of pay day.

While lying in Hamoaze our midshipmen carried on a roaring trade when
rowing guard in the middle watch. They would sometimes set off to
Catwater to visit a house where a very handsome girl lived, who would
get up at any hour to make flip for them and felt highly flattered at
their calling her Black-eyed Susan. I have sometimes been of the party
and well recollect the many escapes we have had in carrying sail to get
back in time, as the passage from Catwater to Hamoaze is rather a rough
one in blowing weather, and the boat would frequently be gunwale under,
so that I often thought my life was at stake.

I should have mentioned that our ship’s company mutinied as well as the
other ships,[29] and some of our midshipmen that were obnoxious went on
shore before the ship was paid off. A gentleman whose name I shall not
give, and who had joined us in Hamoaze, had unluckily given some umbrage
to the men, and was one of those who kept out of the way; but after the
ship was paid off some of the fellows met him at the bottom of North
Corner Street and took him on board of a collier and gave him a ducking.

After leaving the old Panther several of the officers were put on board
the Rose transport for a passage to Portsmouth; but the wind being
unfavourable for more than a fortnight, we left the Rose and her
mutinous lot of scoundrels, she being ordered somewhere else. We were
then transferred to the Hope transport, and after considerable delay we
sailed for Portsmouth with a fine breeze from the westward, which soon
after changed to the eastward, and blew like the devil. We were nine
days turning up Channel[30]; however, we had a glorious set on board,
and the master of the vessel (whose name I forget) did everything in the
most handsome manner to make us comfortable. On the tenth day we arrived
at Spithead, and on my landing at Gosport I found my poor grandmother at
the point of death. She wished much to see me before she died. I
followed her to the grave where she was interred alongside of my
grandfather, Captain James Gardner, Royal Navy.

OFFICERS’ NAMES

SIR FRANCIS W. DRAKE, Vice-Admiral.[31]

Dead. Admiral.

MARK MILBANKE, Vice-Admiral.

Dead [1805]. Admiral of the white.—[_D.N.B._]

THOS. PIERCY, Captain.

Dead. An excellent officer; he was taken prisoner[32] with Sir
Richard Pearson by Paul Jones.

ROBT. SIMONTON, Captain.

Dead. An excellent officer. After repeated applications for
employment which he could not obtain, he was made, on the
promotion of flags, a rear-admiral on the retired list. He
commanded the Superb, 74, in the East Indies (1779–81), and had
seen a great deal of service.

RICHARD DORREL, 1st Lieutenant.

A commander; a good officer.

FRANCIS BROOKS, 2nd Lieutenant.

Dead. A good officer.

MONTAGU, 3rd Lieutenant.

Dead. A good officer.

ALEXANDER FRASER, 1st Lieutenant.

Dead [1829]. A vice-admiral of the red; a very smart
officer.—[Marshall, ii. 458.]

[JAMES] MURRAY, 2nd Lieutenant.

Dead. A quiet, good fellow.

TILLMAN, Acting Lieutenant.

Uncertain.

[JOHN] WADE, Master.

Dead. A brave and meritorious officer.

[BEN.] FORRESTER, Captain of Marines.

Dead. As brave and generous a soul as ever lived, but thoughtless,
and died unfortunate.

GEO. NOBLE, Lieutenant of Marines.

Dead. A captain in the militia, a brave and generous fellow.

[ROBERT] ANDERSON, Surgeon.

Dead. Highly respected.

[JAMES] MALCOLM, Surgeon.

Dead. Highly respected. See Edgar.

[JOHN] PRICE, Purser.

Dead. I want words to express my gratitude and respect for his
memory.

[JAMES] BRANDER, Boatswain.

Dead. A worthy veteran sailor.

[THOMAS] DAWSON, Boatswain.

Dead. A good seaman, but severe.

[JAMES] FRASER, Gunner.

Dead. Much respected; kept a stationer’s shop at Plymouth Dock.

COCK, Carpenter.

Dead. A good man; no dandy.

ROBERT STURGES, Mate.

Killed in battle [20th Oct. 1782]; a most worthy gentleman.

[THOMAS] CONNELL [Quarter gunner; Mid.], Mate and Acting Lieutenant.

Dead. A brave Irishman.

[EDWARD] FORSTER, Midshipman—[aftds. Mr’s Mate].

Dead. Herculean Irishman; a terror to the dockyard maties.

[THOMAS] WATSON, Midshipman.

Dead. A glorious noisy fellow.

SAMUEL SIMMONDS, Midshipman.

Dead. Called Yellow Sam.

[JAMES] TAYLOR, Midshipman.

Dead. A smart fellow.

[JAMES] TAYLOR 2nd, Midshipman.

Dead. A pilot at Deal, called South Sands Head.

[LUKE] CAMPBELL, [Clerk, then] Midshipman doing duty as Schoolmaster.

Dead. A very clever, good fellow.

[WILLIAM] NEATE, Midshipman.

Dead. _Neat_ in his dress; a fiery, good fellow.

JOHN FOULARTON, Midshipman.

Dead. A very brave fellow, but half mad.

RICHARD DANTON, Midshipman.

Dead. A respectable pilot at Deal.

MARTIN PERT HARTLEY, Midshipman.

Uncertain. A quiet, good fellow.

[ROBERT] SKIRRET, Midshipman.

Uncertain. A good-natured Irishman.

[ALEXANDER] THOMPSON, Surgeon’s Assistant.

Uncertain. A gentleman; skilful in his profession.

[RICHARD] PICKERING, Clerk.

Dead. A worthy fellow while on board, but turned out thoughtless
and unfortunate.

FLANAGAN, Under Clerk.

A Purser. A gentleman; since dead.

J. A. GARDNER, Midshipman. [Ord., 8th Feb. 1782; A.B., 1 Oct. 1782;
Mid., 1 Jan. 1783.]

A commander.

SALISBURY, 50

Stern tyrants whom their cruelties renown.—ADDISON.

I joined this old devil of a ship, properly called the Hell Afloat, in
December 1783 in Portsmouth Harbour. James Bradby, Esq., captain, and in
June 1784 hoisted the flag, white and then red, at the fore, of
Vice-Admiral John Campbell, F.R.S., as commander-in-chief and Governor
of Newfoundland, and sailed soon after. Nothing remarkable happened on
the passage to St. John’s, where we arrived in July; the following men
of war composing the squadron:—

Salisbury 50 {Vice-Admiral Campbell.
{Captain James Bradby
Santa Leocadia 36 Captain Alexander Edgar.
Proselyte 32 Captain Jonathan Faulknor, jun.
Æolus 32 Captain
Thisbe 28 Captain
Merlin 18 Captain J. Lumsdale
Echo 18 Captain Nichols.
Thorn 18 Captain Lechmere.
Lawrence brig Lieutenant Carter, acting.

If I remember correctly it was this year that an extraordinary court
martial was held on the master of the Proselyte for cutting the lanyards
of the weather main shrouds when the people were up reefing topsails.
The charge not being proved, he was acquitted. While laying in the
harbour, a French frigate with a commodore came in, saluted the admiral,
and remained a few days. The 28th October is the time for the men of war
to sail for England; but owing to unfavourable winds, we were not able
to leave St. John’s before November. The admiral having given permission
for any person that pleased to take home a dog, 75 were actually
embarked. We took our departure with a sloop of war in company. I am not
certain whether it was this year or the next, when about 60 leagues to
the SW of Scilly we were covered in the night with a flock of crows and
caught several. When near the Channel we fell in with a vessel from the
coast of Africa in want of provisions, the crew living on parrots and
monkeys, and in great distress; supplied them with provisions and parted
company, and after a passage of near three weeks arrived at Spithead,
and then into harbour, where we remained as a half-and-half guard-ship
until May, when the admiral hoisted his flag, and we soon after sailed
for our station, in company with a sloop of war.

When on the banks of Newfoundland, in a thick fog at night, going about
three knots, a field of ice struck us on the weather bow and carried
away the starboard bumpkin and head sails, besides knocking off several
sheets of copper. On the banks we picked up a cask of brandy covered
with weeds and barnacles, and saw the yards and spars of the
line-of-battle ships that were lost on and near the banks in the gale of
September 1782 on their passage to England from the West Indies. Fell in
with several islands of ice. Arrived at St. John’s, and remained there
the usual time. We had a brewery on shore which supplied the squadron
with spruce beer.[33] I was on shore at this brewery when one of our men
unfortunately fell into the boiling coppers and died the same day in a
most deplorable condition. It was said that the beer was sent off (of
course by mistake) to the squadron, and I think some little demur was
made about drinking it and it was sent back.

On the 29th of October (1785) we left St. John’s with a thundering gale
right aft. A merchant who had never been out of St. John’s harbour took
a passage for England. We had a tremendous sea following that almost
turned his brain with horror. One sea that measured heights with the
mizen peak had a prodigious effect upon him, and with a look I cannot
describe, he called out, ‘Lord, Lord, Lord, Have mercy on me, and pray
do let go the anchor!’ His bawling out so horribly, frightened the man
at the wheel so that the ship was in danger of broaching to. This gale
lashed us on at a devil of a rate, and we had 294 and 296 knots on the
log in 24 hours. Our passage was very short as far as the Lizard, when
the wind shifted to the eastward, and I think it was nineteen days
before we arrived at Spithead, having a dish of turnips[34] all the way
up Channel. Went into Portsmouth harbour, where the old Salisbury was
paid off the latter end of 1785 or beginning of 1786.

This was the most hateful and disagreeable ship I ever had my foot on
board of—so unlike the Panther. Mastheading upon every trifling
occasion. The senior midshipmen (with the exception of a few) were
tyrants; and petty tyrants are generally the worst. The captain was a
very good man at times, but often harsh and severe in his remarks. He
once told me (and I have never forgotten it) I would never be fit for
anything but the boatswain’s storeroom. This was because I was down with
the keys in my turn, a midshipman being always sent to see that lights
are not taken into the storeroom except in a lantern, which is the
custom in every man of war. He had missed me in the watch and thought I
was skulking; and though I explained to him how it happened, it was all
to no purpose. Great men don’t like to be put right. I well remember the
cutting taunt; but I thank God his prophecy did not come to pass, as the
certificates I am proud to say I produced from some of the first
officers in the service will testify; and when I went to pass for
lieutenant at Somerset House, the commissioners told me my certificates
would get me promoted without interest. Upon this hint I transmitted
them to Earl Spencer, the first lord of the admiralty, and by return of
post he gave me a commission and appointed me second lieutenant of the
Hind, 28. This may be considered as sounding my own trumpet. It may be
so; but it is the truth. Enough of this digression, and let me return to
the old bundle of boards and relate a few circumstances.

I have positively, after keeping the first watch while in the harbour of
St. John’s, been turned out with other youngsters, to keep the morning
watch and most of the forenoon without being relieved. Had we complained
we knew what we had to expect from the overgrown tyrants, some of whom
were members of the Hell-fire Club. I remember my old messmate, Ben
Morgan (poor fellow! now dead and gone), having the lower part of his
ear detached from his head because he kicked a little at the tyranny.

Our admiral was a great astronomer and took delight in lunar
observation. One Sunday morning he sent four of us down with Pye the
schoolmaster to work a lunar. While we were below, the hands were turned
up to muster, and we were going to attend, but Pye said there was no
occasion. Presently down came the quartermaster saying Lieutenant Stiles
(who had the watch) wanted us. On going up he, in a very knowing way,
demanded why we were not up to muster, and on our acquainting him with
the reason he said it was all very well, and it would be better if we
were to step up to the masthead and look out for squalls, as it was too
thick to take a lunar. So two of us (I was one) were sent to the main
topmast head and two to the fore, where we remained some hours. This was
on the banks; a thick fog having just come on, with drops from the
topgallant rigging which wetted us through in a short time; but that was
of no consideration. On another trifling occasion, the same worthy was
going to trice me up to the mizen peak, but this he thought better of. I
could relate many more cases, but let this be sufficient. Lieutenant
Stiles lately died a rear-admiral. One of the laws of Solon says, ‘Speak
not ill of the dead; no, not if their sons offend you.’ I shall attend
to this and say no more on the subject until I come to the Edgar, and
then naught in malice.

When at St. Johns, a playhouse was got up by Graham, the admiral’s
secretary, with considerable ability, and several of the officers used
to perform. The scenery was very good and did Mr. Graham a deal of
credit. Only the favoured few could get leave to see the performance.
The kindhearted first lieutenant would send us that were not descended
from the Kings of Cappadocia and Pontus on board at sunset, for fear we
should catch cold if we stayed out late. This was making game; and I
remember some of us meeting the admiral, who kindly gave us leave to
pick fruit in his gardens for two hours, when this same Lieutenant
Deacon happened to come up at the time; and when the admiral was gone,
he started us on board, when we had not been there a quarter of an hour,
saying he was fearful the fruit would gripe us. Kind soul!—the devil
thank him. He was a most facetious gentleman, and when a seaman once
asked him for slops, he replied, ‘Certainly, my man, what slops do you
want?’ ‘A jacket, sir, if you please.’ ‘And cannot you think of
something else?’ ‘Yes, sir,’ says the man, ‘I will be glad of a shirt
and trowsers.’ ‘Very well, you shall have them. But do think of
something more that you stand in need of,’ ‘Why, sir,’ says the man, ‘If
you have no objection I should like a pair of shoes and stockings, and a
smock frock.’[35] ‘Very well, my man, you shall have them all in good
time. I expect a vessel in with some blue chalk from the Straits of
Baffleman, and then I shall chalk out all your wants; so be off, or I
shall get the boatswain’s mate to measure you with the end of the fore
brace before her arrival, which you may think rather premature.’

When asking him for leave to go on shore he would frequently say, ‘As
soon as I have time to chalk you out a barge to take you, I shall attend
to this most important business.’ Once on a rainy day he was making some
of those remarks, when his foot slipped and he fell on his bottom on the
quarter deck. One of the lieutenants said, ‘Had the deck been chalked,
sir, it would have saved your fall.’ This vexed him greatly, and seeing
us laugh he started us up to the masthead for the remainder of the
watch, saying, ‘Take care! As the rigging is not chalked you may slip
and get an ugly fall.’

I have already mentioned our bringing home 75 dogs. I messed in the main
hatchway berth on the lower deck, with four midshipmen and a scribe. We
had eight of those dogs billeted on us. One of them had the name of
Thunder. At dinner I once gave him a piece of beef with plenty of
mustard rolled up in it. The moment he tasted it, he flew at me and I
was obliged to run for it. He never forgot it, and whenever I offered
him victuals he would snap at me directly. Another of those dogs used to
sleep at the foot of Charley Bisset’s cot, and when the quartermaster
would call the watch this dog would fly at him if he came near Bisset,
who would often plead ignorance of being called, and by that means
escape going on deck for the first hour of the watch. We had a drunken
Irishman, by the name of Collins, who, when sent to the hospital at St.
John’s, contrived to get liquor in spite of all precaution to prevent
it. At last it was found out by the following circumstance. He had one
of those dogs that could do anything but speak. He used to sling a
bottle round his neck and then put a shilling in his mouth and send him
off in the evening. The dog knew well where to go, for he had been often
there with Collins. It was to a public-house, between the hospital and
St. John’s. He’d howl as soon as he got there; the landlord knew well
what he wanted, and would fill the bottle with rum. The dog would then
drop the shilling, but not before, and scamper off to return to his
master; not at the gate of the hospital—he was too cunning for that—but
like a Roman conqueror, through a hole in the wall; when one night he
was discovered by the watch going their rounds, and by that means the
business was brought to light. From the ingenuity of the master and his
dog, both escaped punishment.

Our armourer was a man who would drink like a fish, and one morning
coming to the brewery complaining of thirst, the cooper, a droll and
wicked fellow, gave him some essence of spruce, and the armourer took a
good swig before he found out his mistake. The moment he could speak he
asked what it was he had taken. The cooper said he was very sorry for
what had happened, but he thought it right to acquaint him it was some
stuff they had to poison rats. The armourer was struck dumb with terror,
but at last, in a paroxysm of rage, swore that the cooper should die
first; and drawing out a large knife, gave chase and certainly would
have put an end to his joking had he not locked himself up in the
brewery in great tribulation, as the armourer was trying all in his
power to break open the door. However, the poor fellow was at last made
sensible it was a joke, and had some double spruce given him to make
amends—which had the desired effect.

Our second assistant surgeon was another wet soul, and coming from the
play half drunk went to sleep in an empty cask that was lying on
Quigley’s Wharf, when a squall of wind rolled the cask overboard and
poor old Andrew Reardon would have been drowned, had it not been for the
boat-keeper of the cutter. Old Andrew is now dead. He dearly loved grog,
and when told that new rum was a bad article he said he didn’t care; if
it fractured the brain it was all he wanted.

With a few exceptions we had a terrible lot of wild midshipmen. Some of
them were members of the Hell-fire Club,[36] and used to dress, when
going to that place, in scarlet coats with black velvet collars and
cuffs, black waistcoat, breeches, and stockings, and hair powdered.
Those chaps would play all manner of wicked pranks on board, such as
pouring molasses under the heads of those who slept in the tier, and
others would have a hook and line with which they’d haul our quilts and
blankets off in the night, and then heave water over us, at the same
time making a squeaking noise; while others, in the secret, would say it
was the gibbering of a ghost, and that the tier was haunted; but that
they would ask the parson (a wet soul) to lay the spirit, not in the Red
Sea, but in the large pond near St. Johns. One poor fellow, a clerk
whose name was Newnham, but nicknamed Newcome, they got in the tier one
night in the dark, and swore it was the admiral’s cow that had got
adrift. It was no use for the poor fellow to say he was not that
personage; for a selvagee was clapped round him in an instant with a
hauling line made fast, with which they roused him up the hatchway in a
moment, terrified almost to death.

I must here mention the shifts my old messmate, Ben Morgan, and myself
were put to the last year we were at St. John’s. Our captain used to pay
our mess and washing bills, for which he was repaid on our return to
England. It happened one morning when the washing bill was sent in, that
he observed our towels were inserted with other articles; upon which he
sent for us, and after a severe reprimand upon our extravagance, adding
that we ought to have washed the towels ourselves, he dismissed us,
saying he should give no more money to be fooled away in that manner,
and that we deserved to be well flogged in the bargain. We were glad
enough to steer clear of him. In respect of the money he was as good as
his word; for devil a farthing more would he let us have, and we were
sadly put to it; for we had only Tom Cod (caught alongside) for
breakfast, salt beef or pork for dinner, and Tom Cod for tea in the
evening. At last we in some measure got over our difficulties by going
to the hills and gathering a weed called maidenhair, a good substitute
for tea; and with molasses instead of sugar, poor Ben and myself fared
gloriously.

While at St. John’s two of our seamen deserted and got into the woods on
their way to an out port; and they had nearly been devoured by the
wolves who attacked them in a hut, where they remained three days
without provisions, and had great difficulty and danger in coming back
to the ship, where they were treated with two dozen apiece.

Our captain to keep us in good order placed a Mr. Stack as father of our
mess. He was cursed surly and disagreeable, but I believe meant well;
only [he had] an ugly way of showing his kindness. When in good temper
(which was seldom) he would say ‘My son,’ when he addressed any of us;
but generally, ‘I’ll split your ear.’ This man drew a very long bow and
would frequently tell the most unaccountable stories. I have heard him
relate that the ghost of Commodore Walsingham[37] (who he had served
under, and who was lost in the Thunderer, 74, in the West Indies, in the
hurricane of 1780) appeared to him when he was a slave on the coast of
Barbary, where he was chained by the leg for upwards of a twelvemonth,
and after undergoing innumerable hardships he was released by a Moorish
lady who fell in love with him and paid his ransom to a considerable
amount. This was too much to swallow from a fellow as ugly as the old
Diligente’s [figure-] head.

When at Spithead and in the harbour, our ship’s company had a violent
quarrel with the crew of the Grampus 50, commanded by Ned Thompson[38]
the poet, who had the Coast of Guinea station, and several battles were
fought with various success. The quarrel originated in some of our
fellows saying they of the Grampus, when on the coast, lived chiefly on
monkey soup, except on Sundays, and then they were regaled on roast
parrots. For this they swore to murder every snow-eating son of a bitch
belonging to the Salisbury whenever they could catch them. One of the
mates of the Grampus had the impudence, while we were in harbour, to
drop under our bows with a launch-load of his people who had been for
stores to the dockyard, and challenge ours to fight; for which he had
very near been brought to a court martial.

Our quarrelsome blades had another row with the riggers; and when the
latter would pass the ship in their launches, our fellows would thrust
their heads out of the ports and sing out—‘I say, Mortimer, drop in the
launch, make fast a hawser to the NW buoy, take three round turns and a
half hitch, seize the end back and come on board with the launch.’ This
occasioned many a battle, and the riggers generally got the worst of it;
for we had some from that land which produces the finest peasantry in
the world on board, and woe betide those who came in contact with them.
We had the O’Ryans, the O’Gallaghers, the Macartys, the O’Donovans, the
Murphys, the O’Flahertys, the O’Tooles and the O’Flanagans, and great
part of the ship’s company were Irish and very quiet when not disturbed.
One of those fellows—Darby Collins, who had the dog that I have
mentioned at the hospital—did positively beat at the back of the Point,
Portsmouth, eleven men by cracking their heads at single-stick one after
the other. He was a tall, raw-boned Irishman, a Garry-owen boy that
stood up manfully for the honour of his country.

The following are the names of the officers belonging to the Salisbury:—

JOHN CAMPBELL, F.R.S., Vice-Admiral.

Dead [1790]. An admiral; a most able officer and great astronomer.
He was captain of the fleet on board the Royal George with Admiral
Hawke when he defeated the French under Conflans.—[_D.N.B._]

JAMES BRADBY, Esq., Captain.

Dead. A retired rear-admiral.

HENRY DEACON, 1st Lieutenant.

Dead. He was the senior commander on the list; had the out-pension
of Greenwich Hospital. A good seaman, but satirical, and too fond
of mastheading.

RICHARD RUDSDALE, 2nd Lieutenant.

Dead. A commander; a fine-looking fellow and the best officer in
the ship.

JOSEPH LORING, 3rd Lieutenant.

Dead. A good sailor, very passionate, and swore like the devil.

JOHN STILES, 4th Lieutenant.

Dead. A rear-admiral of the white. Fond of mastheading for little
or nothing. More of him when I come to the Edgar.

[GEORGE] TREMLETT, Master.

Dead. A quiet, good man. [William Henry Brown Tremlett (captain,
1802), his servant].

[JAMES] PIERCE, Captain of Marines.

Dead. A strange fish.

[WILLIAM] GOULD, Lieutenant of Marines.

Dead. A good officer.

THE PARSON (I forget his name).

Dead. Had no dislike to grog.

[JAMES] COCKERELL, Purser.

Drowned. Took care of his eights.[39]

[EDMUND] PETERSON, Surgeon.

Dead. Crabbed as the devil.

AARON GRAHAM, Admiral’s Secretary.

Dead. A very clever fellow; was magistrate at Bow Street.

[CHARLES] SMITH, Gunner.

Dead. Fractious from long illness. [D.D. in pay-book: no date.]

D—— (I forget his name) [EDWARD DOWDALL], Gunner.

Dead. Lethargic; always dozing on the forecastle; a sleepy, good
man.

[SIMEON] BROWN, Carpenter.

Dead. A quiet, good man; clever in his profession.

[JAMES] HALL, Boatswain.

Dead. An infernal tyrant; a good sailor; a sycophant, a Hun, a
Goth, a Vandal; a fellow that was made too much of by those who
ought to have kept him at proper distance.

[JOHN] MCCURDY, 1st Assistant Surgeon.

Dead. A surgeon at St. John’s; a very excellent fellow, and clever
in his profession.

ANDREW REARDON, 2nd Assistant Surgeon.

Dead. A surgeon, R.N. A very worthy fellow, who loved his glass of
grog.

DODWELL BROWN, Master’s Mate.

Dead. A lieutenant; a gentleman very much respected.

[SAMUEL] SCOTT, Master’s Mate.

Uncertain. A tyrant who I well remember, although it is upwards of
fifty years since I saw the blustering, swaggering bully.

ROBERT LAURIE, Midshipman.

Vice-admiral of the white; a baronet and K.C.B. A most excellent
officer, seaman, and gentleman. [Admiral, 1846; died
1848.—O’Byrne.]

CHARLES BISSET, Midshipman.

Dead. Wild and thoughtless, but a good-natured, harmless fellow.

[HENRY] POTTS, Midshipman [afterwards A.B.].

Dead. A tyrannical fellow and member of the Hell-fire Club.

[JOHN] SANDFORD, Midshipman [afterwards A.B.].

Dead. A member of the Hell-fire Club; a dandy and droll fellow.

[RICHARD] HERBERT, Midshipman. [A.B.].

Uncertain. A noisy, tyrannical fellow; member of the Hell-fire
Club; nicknamed Hawbuck.

[THOMAS JAMES] SKERRET, Midshipman. [A.B.]

Uncertain. This fellow wanted to be a tyrant, but was too great a
fool.

[CAMPBELL] MARJORIBANKS, Midshipman.

East India House.

[THOMAS] MERCHANT, Midshipman.

Uncertain. A good fellow; called Old Siolto.

[JOHN WENTWORTH] HOLLAND, Midshipman. [A.B.]

A post captain; played the violin well. [Died 1841.]

ROBERT MANNING, Midshipman.

Dead. A commander. Bob was a good fellow.

R. B. VINCENT, Midshipman.

Dead [1831]. A post captain; C.B.; fought well; called Don Diego
Del Vinsanti Hispaniola Whiskerando. More of him when I come to
the Victory.—[_D.N.B._]

PHILIP BROCK, Midshipman.

Dead. A loss to the service.

BORROMY BRADBY, Midshipman, son of the captain. [A.B.]

Dead. A commander; a very worthy character. [Two other
(presumably) sons of the captain, Matthew Barton and Daniel, were
rated captain’s servants.]

CHARLES GARNIER, Midshipman.

This gentleman was Captain of the Aurora, 32, and was
unfortunately drowned in Yarmouth Roads, Isle of Wight, going off
to his ship in the evening [1796].

JAMES MACFARLAND, Midshipman.

A commander; good-natured and droll. [Captain (retired), 1840;
died 1852.—O’Byrne.]

R. B. LITTLEHALES, Midshipman.

A retired rear-admiral. [Vice-admiral, 1840: died 1847.—O’Byrne.]

JOHN TYRWHITT, Midshipman.

Marshal at Gibraltar.

BENJAMIN MORGAN, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant. Poor Ben! you and I have spent many an hour at
the masthead for little or nothing.

HENRY BATT, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant. An old schoolfellow of mine. Harry was
passionately fond of grog, which made him an ungrateful return by
taking him out of this world before it was agreeable. Nicknamed
Ram, Cat, Batt, and Rammon the Butcher.

WILLIAM GARRETT, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant. A very good fellow and good sailor, but fond
of grog and boasting.

NORBORNE THOMPSON, Midshipman.

A rear-admiral. [Died 1844.—Marshall, iii. 294.]

INCE, Midshipman.

Dead. A worthy fellow; a loss to the service.

RICHARD STILES TREMLETT, Midshipman.

Killed in a duel with Lord Camelford.

GEO. N[EATE] TREMLETT, Midshipman.

A commander. Brother of the above; a very good fellow. [Died
1865.—O’Byrne.]

ANDREW DUFF, Midshipman.

Dead. A drunken Hun.

FRANCIS GIBBON, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; wonderfully great, in his own opinion.

[WILLIAM] ELLIOT, Midshipman.

Dead. A commander, sickly and proud.

LORD AMELIUS BEAUCLERK, Midshipman.

An admiral, G.C.B. and G.C.H.; chief naval aide-de-camp to the
king. [Died 1846.—_D.N.B._]

SMITH, Midshipman.

Uncertain. Remember little of him, and that no good.

J. A. GARDNER, Midshipman. [Entered Dec. 12, 1783.]

A commander.

WILLIAM PYE, Schoolmaster.

Dead. A purser; Fit Pye, Fit man.

JOHN ALCOT, Captain’s Clerk.

A purser and retired storekeeper of Portsmouth yard.

HENRY ROLAND HARLEY, Admiral’s Office.

Was a purser in the navy but resigned the situation; a most worthy
fellow. We were in four ships together.

[WILLIAM] WILLCOCKS, Admiral’s Office. [A.B.]

Uncertain. A very droll and noisy fellow.

[THOMAS] LANDSEER, Admiral’s Office. [Admiral’s servant.]

Dead. A purser; a very satirical gentleman.

CRISP, Admiral’s Office.

Dead. A purser; another noisy, droll fellow.

NEWNHAM, Admiral’s Office.

Uncertain. A quiet, easy, poor fellow; made a butt of.

[THOMAS] STACK, used to keep the forecastle watch as Midshipman

Uncertain. Made a gunner; I have mentioned him before with his
long bow.

ORESTES, 18.

I joined the son of Agamemnon early in 1786, fitting in Portsmouth
Harbour for Channel service, to cruise after smugglers from Dunnose to
the Start; Manley Dixon, Esq., commander.

This brig was considered the finest in the service. She measured 32 ft.
9 in. on the beam, and drew 17 ft. 4 in. abaft, 13 ft. 4 in. forward,
and [was] nearly 450 tons, mounting 18 long nines, and pierced for 26.
She and the Pylades (called the Hercules and Mars) were taken from the
Dutch by Macbride in the Artois, 44.[40] She sailed remarkably well, but
was a wet soul, shipping seas over the bows and washing the men at the
wheel. She would never condescend to rise to a sea, but dash right
through. After a few cruises, when off the Isle of Purbeck we observed
two large Hogboats[41] among the rocks, and several people on horseback
upon the cliffs above the spot. Sent our boats to examine, and found
them to be smugglers with seven hundred tubs of liquor, which we seized,
and landed the smugglers at Swanage. After landing our tubs at the
Custom House, Portsmouth, we anchored at Yarmouth, in the Isle of Wight,
our place of rendezvous, where we remained a short time, and then
resumed our cruising; sometimes in company with the Hebe, 36, on the
same station; and then put into Guernsey, where we stayed but a short
time and ran out in a gale of wind. Caught fire in the master’s cabin
over the magazine, by the candles rolling against his curtains. It
created great alarm, but was soon got under. During the time, it
occasioned the utmost terrors among the ship’s company. Several of them
got into the forechains, the head, and on the bowsprit, ready to jump
overboard. However, they seemed to have as much dread of water as they
had of the fire and remained stationary. It was ludicrous to see the
captain with a speaking trumpet, exerting himself to keep order, and the
carpenter’s wife catching him round the legs, and while he was calling
for Water, she was screaming out Fire.

When our cruise was over we returned to Yarmouth, where our surgeon
turned mad and cut some unaccountable capers. One morning early, he came
upon deck and gave some orders to the officers of the watch, who paid no
attention to them. Upon this he got hold of a crow[42] that was in the
becket over one of the guns, and began to run a-muck,[43] and cleared
the deck in a moment. Sentries and all took to their heels, and it was
some time before an opportunity offered to get him below. At last he was
got to his cabin in the gunroom, with four marines and a midshipman to
guard him; but he soon made a start from his den and made no more of the
marines than if they were sparrows. He first caught hold of two and
knocked their heads together, and then punished the others, who from
fear, made little resistance. He next attacked Patterson, the master,
and swore he should stand auctioneer as it was his intention to sell his
effects. I never saw a more ludicrous scene when the master, to humour
him, began to put his things up to auction and we, outside (for we were
afraid to go in) the gunroom, bidding for them. After the sale was over,
he made Patterson put on two of his coats—one of them the Windsor
uniform[44]—and then upset him and rolled him about the gunroom,
swearing he was a beer cask. Then rushing out, he belaboured all that he
met with, and went upon deck and remained cock of the walk until he came
down of his own accord, and went to bed, saying, ‘You shall hear from me
presently.’ However, good care was taken to secure him, and he was soon
after sent to sick quarters, being a dangerous subject, and glad enough
we were to get rid of him.

There was at Yarmouth a truly hospitable gentleman, a Captain Urry[45]
of the Royal Navy, well known to officers in the service, who kept open
house and gave large parties. He was the life and soul of Yarmouth,
which place has never been worth going to since his death. On one of
these parties, our barge (for we had a barge) was ordered to attend and
tow a sloop full of company (it being calm) from Yarmouth to Lymington,
and I was the midshipman sent, and had directions to land them, and to
take orders from a captain in the navy, who was one of the party. This
being done, a half-guinea was given to the men to drink, and I was
desired to let them go on shore for that purpose. After they had their
grog I missed the strokesman of the barge, a tall Irishman named
McCarthy, who was nowhere to be found; in fact he had deserted. On my
return I reported this to Lieutenant Jeynes who abused me and said he
would write against me to the captain (who lived on shore) for suffering
this tall Paddy to run away. The next morning he was as good as his
word, and sent me with the letter. The captain, on reading it, gave me a
severe reprimand, and sent me on board in a hurry, saying I should hear
more of it very shortly. In a day or two after he came on board and we
left Yarmouth for Spithead. I was in hourly expectation of some terrible
explosion, as my friend the lieutenant was constantly reminding me of
the subject. After the ship was moored the captain went on shore, and
Jeynes soon followed. The master being commanding officer, I asked him
permission to go and see my friends, which he granted, and I never
joined the Orestes after.

I was but a youngster then. Had I known as much as I did soon after, I
would have demanded a court martial on myself, and would have brought
Lieutenant Jeynes to another for tyranny and oppression, which he was
guilty of in many instances and had laid himself open to anyone who
might think proper to bring the charges forward. He was obliged to leave
the Orestes soon after. He had formerly (as I have understood) been a
purser, and was broken by court martial; but having served his time as
midshipman, got to be made a lieutenant, and died a retired commander.

Whenever the Orestes came in I used to keep out of the way. I lived at
Gosport and was always on the watch, and when she came into Spithead I
had timely notice and would set off for the country. After returning
from one of those excursions, I was hiding behind a screen in our
parlour; on the other side sitting by the fire was an old schoolfellow
of mine and a young lady in earnest conversation about me. The former
among other remarks said he believed I had made away with myself. This
observation I could not brook, and catching hold of a large family Bible
that was on a table near me (and which I have at this moment) I hove it
over the screen and hit my friend on the jaw and knocked him down as
flat as a flounder. I set off as fast as I could, leaving them in the
utmost consternation; and he told me a long time after that he thought
it was the devil that had felled him, until he saw the Bible. Captain
Dixon, I believe, was aware that Lieutenant Jeynes had blamed me
wrongfully, as he sent me my prize money and gave me a good certificate,
and offered to take me again, for which he has my most grateful thanks,
and I hope to live to see him admiral of the fleet.[46]

He was a very smart officer, and did everything in his power to teach
the midshipmen their duty. We used to take helm and lead, and reef the
main topsail; also pull in the boats upon particular occasions, such as
going along shore in the night after smugglers, &c. When we were at
Guernsey, the captain in the kindest manner allowed the petty officers a
moderate quantity of liquor in each of their messes; but the sergeant of
marines, not content with this indulgence, smuggled twenty kegs into the
ship. When this was told the captain, he ordered all the kegs to be
brought on deck and stove. The sergeant stood, like Niobe, in tears for
his loss. It was a most laughable sight, as the liquor was running out
mixed with salt water (for the ship rolled a great deal), to see the
fellows laying down like beasts on the deck and licking up, while the
boatswain’s mates were thrashing them to no purpose. The sergeant, I
believe, was reduced to the ranks.

I shall mention a few strange fellows we had on board, and first Mr.
Quinton the mate. This gentleman was a good sailor, and was very fond of
gin grog, and used to say it agreed with him so well and made his flesh
so firm. It was determined one day to count how many glasses he drank
from morning until evening; and, if I remember correctly, twenty-six
tumblers of good Hollands and water made the number; for in the good old
times we never sported Cockney gin. I must in justice declare that Mr.
Quinton was no drunkard; I never saw him disguised with liquor the whole
time I belonged to the ship. The next was Mr. Stevens, who went by the
nickname of Tommy Bowline, a rough knot; full of wise saws and strange
dry sayings, but rather slack in his movements, and was what we call a
hard officer and droll middy. When belonging to a guard-ship commanded
by Sir Roger Curtis, while lying at Spithead the mizen topsail was
ordered to be loosed, to swing the ship the right way. Tommy Bowline was
the first to go aloft and was highly complimented by Sir Roger for his
activity, saying ‘You are a fine fellow, Mr. Stevens; a most active
officer, Mr. Stevens; you are a wonder, Mr. Stevens.’ Now it
unfortunately happened that Tommy was left behind by the other
midshipmen and was last on the yard. Sir Roger observing this called out
‘I recall all my compliments, Mr. Stevens; you are a damned lubber, Mr.
Stevens; a blockhead, Mr. Stevens; come down, Mr. Stevens.’ This poor
Tommy never heard the last of.

Our gunner (McKinnon) was another strange hand. He was troubled with
sore eyes and would sit in his cabin damning them from morning till
night. Two of our men having deserted while in Yarmouth Roads, our boat,
manned by midshipmen with Lieutenant Jeynes, left the ship in the
evening and pulled for Cowes, where we arrived about eleven at night.
Mr. Jeynes having received some information respecting the deserters,
set off in the boat for Ryde, leaving me at Cowes with two marines to go
round by land and meet him there. I had no money to get any refreshment,
and never shall I forget the fatigue I went through that night. After
pulling in the boat thirteen miles, I had to walk seven miles on a wild
goose chase, for we never heard anything more of the runaways; and the
wind shifting, we had to pull all the way back to Yarmouth. Before I
close my account of the Orestes, I must say a word or two respecting
Lieutenant Jeynes (letting the law of Solon sleep for a day). He was
without exception the most cold-blooded and bad fellow I ever met with.
I have seen him thrash the men with the end of a rope in the most
unfeeling manner, until he was tired, making use of the most abusive
language; and for his tyranny was obliged to quit the ship; but, to give
the devil his due, [he] was what we call a bit of a sailor, and if he
pleased (which was seldom) could make himself agreeable. In the year
1793, the Orestes was lost in the Indian Seas and every soul perished.

NAMES OF OFFICERS

MANLEY DIXON, Esq., Captain.

An admiral and K.C.B. He commanded the Lion, 64, when the William
Tell, 84, was taken. The Foudroyant, 80, and Penelope, 36, in
company. He was also port admiral at Plymouth. Since
dead.—[Marshall, i. 375.]

THOS. JEYNES, Lieutenant.

Dead. I have said enough of him. A commander on the retired list.

[GEORGE] PATTERSON, Master.

Uncertain. Was master attendant abroad.

DUSAUTOY, Lieutenant of Marines.

A barrack-master.

[JAMES] STREET, Purser.

Took care of his eights.

WALLIS, Surgeon.

Uncertain. Mad from drink.

[ALEXANDER] PROCTOR, Surgeon’s Assistant.

A surgeon. Proud as the devil.

[HUGH] LAND, Clerk.

Uncertain. A clever little pedant.

[JOHN] HILL, Boatswain.

Uncertain. A good sailor.

[TIMOTHY] SCRIVEN, Carpenter.

Uncertain. A good man, and good bread-and-cheese carpenter.

[PETER] MCKINNON, Gunner.

Uncertain. A good sailor, but used to damn his poor eyes so.

[JOHN] QUINTON, Mate.

Dead. A good sailor; fond of gin grog.

D. HAMLIN,} Brothers, Midshipmen.

HAMLIN,}

Dead. Good young men.

[CHRISTOPHER] GULLET, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant. See Queen.

STEVENS, Midshipman.

Tommy Bowline. Was made a gunner.

WM. MOUNSEY, Midshipman.

Dead [1830]. A captain, C.B.; a very good fellow.—[Marshall, vi.
20.]

ALEX. GILMOUR, Midshipman.

A commander; a good old sailor.—[Died 1853.—O’Byrne].

NICHOLA, Midshipman.

Dead from insanity.

MAUNDRELL, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant. Was broke for tyranny, which he richly
deserved. Afterwards restored to his rank. Nicknamed Mantrap, from
taking up deserters.

J. A. GARDNER, Midshipman.

A commander.

EDGAR, 74

Early in 1787 I joined the Edgar, a guard-ship in Portsmouth
Harbour—Charles Thompson, Esq., captain, formerly of the Boreas; and
soon after went to Spithead and hoisted the broad pennant of the
Honorable John Leveson Gower as commodore of the squadron of
observation; but the Dutch armament taking place prevented their
sailing. Several ships of the line assembled at Spithead, and others
fitting in the harbour; but to no purpose, as the business was soon
settled, and the ships returned to their stations, and those fitting
were paid off. Next spring we were again ordered to Spithead, and a
promotion of flags having taken place, we hoisted the flag (blue at
the mizen) of Rear-Admiral the Hon. John Leveson Gower, as
commander-in-chief of the fleet of observation, consisting of the
following men of war:

Edgar 74 {Rear-Admiral Honorable John Leveson Gower.[47]
{Captain Charles Thompson.[47]
Colossus 74 Captain Hugh Cloberry Christian.[47]
Magnificent 74 Captain Hon. Geo. C. Berkeley.[47]
Culloden 74 Captain Sir Thomas Rich, [Bart.][48]
Crown 74 Captain Charles Morice Pole.[47]
Scipio 64 Captain Skeffington Lutwidge.[49]
Hebe 36 Captain Edward Thornbrough.[50]
Andromeda 32 Captain H.R.H. Prince William Henry.[50]
Trimmer 18 Captain Charles Tyler.[50]

Sailed with the squadron to the westward of Scilly, and off the Irish
coast for nearly two months, putting in occasionally to Cawsand Bay and
Torbay, and then returned to our station as guard-ship on Portsmouth
Harbour. We were very glad to get rid of our admiral. He was what we
call a tight hand of the watch; one that would make a fellow jump where
there was no stile. He used to play hell and turn up Jack, and would
spare nobody. He had an ugly trick of getting up as early as three and
sometimes before it in the morning, and would walk the quarter deck in a
flannel jacket, and most of the time without a hat, until breakfast was
ready; a happy dog of a midshipman walking between two of the quarter
deck guns with a signal book, which ever and anon he would call for in
the voice of Stentor—

Stentor the strong, endued with brazen lungs,
Whose throat surpassed the force of fifty tongues.

Coming out of his cabin early one morning in a great hurry, he fell over
a signal lantern, and was going to play hell with the lieutenant of the
watch for having lanterns upon deck at that time of day—about half-past
two in the morning. The Crown being out of her station, he was going to
make the signal for an officer from that ship, and going to the office
to write the order he could not get in, the clerk having the key; which
put him into such a rage that he swore he would flog the clerk and those
that wrote under him. However, his rage abated and he did not make the
signal, it blowing very hard; but he would not suffer the clerk or his
under-scribes to show themselves in the office while his flag was
flying.

Culverhouse was at this time signal lieutenant and was not so quick in
getting up this unlucky morning as the admiral, although a very active
and able officer. The admiral, not seeing him, roared out to me (which
made me jump a foot off the deck) ‘Where’s that little son of a bitch?
Go down for him directly.’ Down I went to the gunroom where Culverhouse
slept, and told him the news. In great tribulation he instantly got up
and came upon deck, and kept some time behind the admiral thinking to
weather the storm; but the moment he got sight of him he sang out like a
lion, ‘Go on the poop and be damned to you. Why were you not out of your
nest before?’ I must here state that, notwithstanding this, the admiral
was a great friend to Lieutenant Culverhouse, and I have been told first
took notice of him from the following circumstance. When on board the
Victory, he was on the gangway with his glass, sitting on the weather
clue of the mainsail, when the main tack suddenly gave way and threw him
into the lee clue of the sail unhurt. He was an excellent signal
officer, a good sailor, an agreeable messmate, and in every respect a
very clever fellow. He was made a post captain, but was unfortunately
drowned at the Cape of Good Hope.[51] The admiral was like Sylla the
Dictator; that is, he would go any length to serve his friends, but was
the reverse to those he had a dislike to. He appeared to be well
acquainted with the character of most of the officers in the service;
his memory in that respect was astonishing. He was an able tactician,
and in every respect a great officer, with a look ‘that withered all the
host.’

He was a mortal foe to puppyism, and one of our midshipmen going aloft
with gloves on, attracted his eye; for which he got such a rub down that
I am certain he remembers to the present day, although he is a post
captain, and as proud as the devil, without any reason. Another of his
freaks was threatening to have a bowl put upon our heads and our hair
cut round in the newest fashion by that measure. He told one of our
midshipmen (Pringle) who was a very stout man and who happened to be in
his way when looking at the compass, ‘That he was too big for a
midshipman but would do very well as a scuttle butt,’ and, Pringle
having his hands in his pockets, he was going to send for the tailor to
sew them up. When he first came on board to muster, a little before we
sailed, everyone was dressed in full uniform to receive him. He took
notice of this, and with a smile (a lurking devil in it), complimented
us on our good looks, at the same time observing, ‘You knew who was
coming; but notwithstanding your looking so well, I think I can see a
little rust on you yet which I shall endeavour to rub off.’[52]

Our captain was as gruff as the devil, and had a voice like a mastiff
whose growling would be heard superior to the storm. He was very
particular respecting dress as the following order will shew:—

_Memo._:—

If any officer shall so far forget himself as to appear when on
shore without his uniform, I shall regard it as a mark of his
being ashamed of his profession and discharge him from the ship
accordingly.

(Signed) CHARLES THOMPSON,
Captain.

He had very near caught some of us in Middle Street, Gosport, but
fortunately an alley was at no great distance through which we made a
hasty but safe retreat, and by that means prevented a few vacancies for
midshipmen taking place in the Edgar.

And now according to promise let me speak a few words about my old
mastheading friend, Lieutenant John Stiles. When the guard-ships went
out for a cruise to blow the dust off the harbour duty men, their
complement was made up of men and officers from those ships that
remained in port. It happened that my aforesaid friend was sent on board
of us. Now it so turned out that he had not so much to say on board the
old Edgar as he had when on board the Salisbury (of cruel memory). In
the latter ship he had lambs to look after; in the Edgar he had devils
to look after him. In working ship this gentleman was stationed on the
forecastle, and got the nickname from the admiral of ‘Knight of the
Belfry,’[53] because he always planted himself there when the hands were
turned up; and from being in such a conspicuous situation, when things
went slack—which was sometimes the case— the admiral, who had an eye
like a hawk, would damn him up in heaps, and the captain, as an able
assistant, would run forward like a bull-dog, and roar out the second
part of the same tune. I was also stationed on the forecastle, and when
those freaks were going on, I used to look at my old mastheading friend
and grin, and he knew damned well what I was grinning at, as the good
old times could not be forgotten. And now, John, I am done with you.

I subscribed to a concert in Gosport and one evening I went with a
messmate (the late Captain Philpot) and some girls who I gave tickets
to; we did not break up until 12 o’clock and then went on board. It
happened unfortunately to be our middle watch, and the rest of the watch
being on shore we relieved the deck; but, being tired and sleepy, we
thought it no harm to go to our hammocks instead of keeping a vile
watch; so, singing the old song:

I hate this damned watching and trudging the deck;
The most we can get, boys, at best is a check;
Sit still then, and let the lieutenants all rail,
We’ll ride out the breeze—says Commodore Gale—

we thought ourselves perfectly secure; and so we should have been, had
not a quarrel taken place between two of the quartermasters’ wives, for
which one of them was turned out of the ship; but in revenge she accused
the other of smuggling four tubs of liquor into the ship, stating the
time to the first lieutenant. Now as ill luck would have it, it proved
to be on the concert night, or rather the morning, when the transaction
took place. He then made his report to the captain, who sent for us and
with a ferocious aspect demanded the reason of our leaving the deck. We
could give none, only Philpot said, ‘The concert, sir.’ ‘The concert,
sir?’ retorted the captain; ‘What had the concert to do with liquor
getting into the ship, and officers sleeping in their watch? I have a
great mind to try you both by a court martial;’ and turning to the first
lieutenant he said, ‘Mr. Yetts, let them be prisoners for three
months’—or, in other words, not to be suffered to leave the ship, even
upon duty, during that time.

Our first lieutenant (Yetts) was a very droll and strange personage, in
dress as well as in manners. When he commissioned the Edgar he had on a
uniform coat made in days of yore, with sleeves that reached to his
hips, a very low collar, huge white lappels and cuffs, the buttons
behind at a good fighting distance, and the skirts and pockets of
enormous size. A red waistcoat, nankin breeches, and black worsted
stockings, with great yellow buckles on round-toed shoes, a hat that had
been cocked, but cut round, with a very low crown, so that he was
obliged to keep his hand to his head to prevent its blowing off in the
lightest breeze. When he came on board in this costume, the warrant
officers thought he had made his escape from a madhouse; and Grey, the
gunner, swore he was an understrapper from Bedlam that was come to take
Johnny Bone the boatswain (at that time half mad from drunkenness) to
the lunatic hospital. When this was told Johnny it brought him to his
reason, and in great tribulation he locked himself up in his storeroom
and remained there the most of the day, to the great amusement of
everyone on board.

This Johnny Bone was a devil of a fellow at Cap-a-bar,[54] and would
stick at nothing. It is related that the late Lord Duncan, when he
commanded the Edgar, once said to him, ‘Whatever you do, Mr. Bone, I
hope and trust you will not take the anchors from the bows.’

But to return to Lieutenant Yetts; he was a very active old man;
extremely passionate, and swore as well as his brother officers of the
present day; an excellent sailor, and though violent at times, would
hurt no one. He was also well read in ancient and modern history. In
asking him leave to go on shore, his answer was (if out of temper), ‘No;
damn my brains if you shall go.’ It happened one night when he went on
shore that Jack Kiel (one of the midshipmen) and myself took the
opportunity and set off on a cruise in the long boat’s punt (small
boat), and landed on Gosport beach; and having secured the boat, we took
a stroll up Middle Street, when who should pop upon us but old Yetts,
who, we thought, had gone to Portsmouth. We took to our heels and he
called after us, but was not certain (so it appeared) to our persons.
We, without loss of time, got on board and went to our hammocks. The
moment he returned, down came the quartermaster to acquaint us that Mr.
Yetts wished to see us. When we came upon deck he addressed us with ‘——,
Mr. Kiel and Mr. Gardner, who gave you leave to go on shore? and why did
you not come when I called you?’ We brazened it out that we had not been
on shore and had gone to our hammocks a considerable time, and that he
must have mistaken somebody else for us. This seemed to stagger him, but
he swore, ‘damn his brains, but it must be us.’ He then made inquiry of
the midshipmen of the watch, but we had taken devilish good care not to
come up the side but crept in through the gunroom port, so that they
could give him no information. By these means we weathered him; but for
more than a week after, whenever he saw us on deck, he greeted us with,
‘Damn my brains, but it was you.’

There was a song at this time by Storace[55]—it began as follows:

I left the country and my friends
To play on my little guitar;
It goes tang-tang-tang,
It goes tang-tang-tang,
It goes tang-tang-tang,
It goes ta— etc.

One of our midshipmen (Vosper) altered this, and used to sing with a
thundering voice the following burlesque to the same tune.

The other day I asked old Yetts
For leave to go on shore;
He said no, no, you shall not go,
He said no, no, no, he said no,
He said no no, you shall not go,
By Christ, you shall not go, etc.

I had nearly got into a second scrape about the confounded middle watch.
My friend Jack Kiel and myself relieved the deck at 12. The rest of the
watch were absent as before. The night was as dark as pitch, and blowing
and raining most furiously, when about five bells we got rather hungry
and went to our berth in the cockpit to stew beef steaks. This was done
by lighting several pieces of candle in the bottom of a lantern, and
sticking forks (not silver ones) in the table round it with a plate
resting on them over the candles (the head of the lantern being off),
which stewed the steaks remarkably well. We had scarcely finished when
old Davy Jacks, the quartermaster, came hobbling down the cockpit ladder
to inform us that the Endymion was going out of harbour, and had made
the signal for assistance (we had then the command). ‘Why, Davy,’ says
Kiel, ‘you must be mad to think of such a thing. Is that all the news
you have?’ ‘Nothing more, sir,’ says Davy; ‘only Mr. Yetts wants you.’
This was the unkindest cut of all. Away we flew upon deck, saw how
things were, and went into the wardroom to answer the bell for the
officer of the watch, and found the old man nearly dressed. ‘J—— ——,’
say he, ‘What’s the matter? and why did you not come when I rung
before?’ I told him we were looking out on the Endymion, who had broke
from her moorings and had made the signal, and that I was just coming to
acquaint him of the circumstance. This satisfied him, and we took good
care never to be off deck again.

The Phaëton, 38, having arrived from the Mediterranean and a court
martial ordered on her captain (Geo. Dawson), and also on Messrs. Wall
and Lucas, the first and second lieutenants, and likewise on a man by
the name of Wilkie, her master—Rear-Admiral J. Peyton hoisted his flag
(white at the mizen) on board of us as president of the court. The
lieutenants were tried the first, and sentenced to be dismissed from
their ship; and then the above-named Wilkie, as prosecutor, exhibited
fifteen charges against Captain Dawson. The trial lasted several days,
when twelve of the charges and part of another were brought in
Scandalous, Malicious, Ill-founded, and Derogatory to the discipline of
his Majesty’s Service; but two of the charges and part of another being
proved, he was dismissed from his Majesty’s Service.

Captain Dawson then tried Wilkie on four charges; part of which being
proved, he was sentenced to be dismissed from his ship—a sad punishment,
she being paid off the next day. The surgeon (Wardrope) had been tried
before the ship arrived and was a long time under sentence of death.[56]

Captain Dawson was an officer who had greatly distinguished himself in
the American War when he commanded the Hope [schooner]. He was captain
of the Renown, 50, when she engaged and would have taken a French
84,[57] one of the Count D’Estaing’s fleet, had she not been rescued by
some of the enemy’s ships coming to her assistance. This trial
occasioned a great party spirit among the midshipmen, some siding with
Wilkie the prosecutor, and others with Captain Dawson. I was for the
latter, because I thought there was malice prepense in the prosecution.
I hated the basilisk look of Wilkie, and wished him at the devil. A
violent altercation taking place upon this subject, my old messmate
Philpot, a strong adherent to the house of Wilkie, in the moment of
irritation threw a black jack full of beer in my face; for which
compliment I instantly knocked him down, and after a hard battle in
which he got two black eyes, I came off conqueror. Things were going to
be carried farther, but a stop was put to it and we made it up.

Like all ships we had some droll hands, and with the exception of about
half a dozen, all good and worthy fellows. One or two of the half dozen
I shall mention, and begin with Geo. Wangford, who had been in the
Boreas, and was a follower of the captain. He was an immoderate drinker,
and from his fiery countenance had the nickname of Bardolph. While in
the Edgar his mother died and left him one thousand pounds. He lived
about six months after receiving the money in one scene of debauchery;
and with the assistance of a noted prostitute, named Poll Palmer, in
that short time made away with nearly five hundred pounds. I remember
his being taken ill after a hard drinking match, and then he got
religious and requested one of the midshipmen (Patrick Flood), another
strange fish, to read the Bible to him. This Patrick readily agreed to;
but before he got through a chapter pretended to have a violent pain in
his stomach, upon which Wangford requested him to take capillaire[58]
and brandy, and that he would join him, and desired that, in mixing, two
thirds should be brandy. Flood was immediately cured, and began to read
a chapter in Job; and when he came to that part, ‘Then Job answered and
said,’ Wangford started up and roared out—‘that I am going to hell
before the wind.’ I lay close by them and heard every word. He soon
after turned to upon Hollands, his favourite beverage, and thought no
more of Job or the Bible. Soon after he was sent to the hospital, where
he remained some time and died mad. A little before his death Pringle
(one of the midshipmen) went to see him, and while sitting on the foot
of his bed he started up and seized hold of Pringle by the hair singing
out, ‘—— —— ——, catch that bird’; the other calling out for the nurse to
assist him, which was of little use for he nearly broke her arm before
others came up to secure him. Several of us attended his funeral.

Our time passed cheerfully in the harbour; plenty of fun and going on
shore. One night several of us supped in the main hatchway berth on the
orlop deck, when old Andrew Macbride, the schoolmaster (a man of
splendid abilities but unfortunately given to drinking, though the
goodness of his heart made him much respected and did away in a great
measure with that infirmity) on this occasion got so drunk that Ned
Moore (my worthy messmate) handed him a couple of tumblers of the juice
of red pickled cabbage and told him it was brandy and water, which he
drank without taking the least notice. I believe it did him good as an
aperient, for he was cruising about all night and next day, and could
not imagine what it was that affected him so.

One of our midshipmen (Millar), as worthy a fellow as ever lived, told
me the following anecdote of himself and Macbride. On his joining the
Hector, 74, a guard-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, Morgan, the first
lieutenant, came up to him and said, ‘Millar, my boy, how glad I am to
see you. You must dine with me to-day.’ Millar, who had never seen him
before, thought it rather queer that he should be so friendly at first
sight; however, he accepted the invitation. When dinner was over, Morgan
declared that he was under a great obligation to him and that he should
at all times be happy to acknowledge it. Poor Millar said he was really
at a loss to understand him. ‘Well then,’ says Morgan, ‘I’ll tell you.
It is this. I was considered the ugliest son of a bitch in the fleet
before you came on board, but you beat me dead hollow, and surely you
cannot wonder at my being sensible of the obligation.’ Millar laughed
heartily, and they were ever after on the best terms. It happened in
about three months after this, Macbride also joined the Hector. The
moment he came on board, down came the quartermaster to Millar saying
that Lieutenant Morgan wanted to see him immediately. As soon as Millar
came on the quarter deck, Morgan went up to him and wished him joy; and
pointing to Macbride observed, ‘You, Millar, are a happy dog for being
relieved so soon. I was considered the ugliest son of a bitch in the
fleet for more than a year; you then came on board and outdid me; but
there stands one that beggars all description, and if they were to rake
hell they could not find his fellow.’ Then going and shaking Macbride by
the hand, asked him and Millar to dine with him that day to celebrate
the happy relief.

Poor Andrew once made a vow that he would not get drunk, and said that
not only the taste but the smell of the liquor was so disagreeable that
he could not bear to stay where it was. He also gave Watson, the
boatswain, leave to thrash him with his cane if ever he found him drunk.
Poor fellow, he kept his promise for about three months, and then turned
to as bad as ever, and Watson did not forget to give him a lacing with
his cane, which occasioned the following song written by John Macredie:—

Of all the delights that a mortal can taste,
A bottle of liquor is surely the best;
Possessed of that treasure my hours sweetly glide,
Oh! there’s nothing like grog, says sweet Andrew Macbride.

When I sit in my school I think my time lost
Where with dry sines and tangents my temper is crossed;
But how sweetly I smile with the glass by my side:
Grog helps mathematics, says Andrew Macbride.

The boatswain, God damn him, would fain me control
With a promise when sober I made like a fool;
With his cursed rattan he so curried my hide,
That I’ll drink his damnation, says Andrew Macbride.

When the sweet powers of grog have my reason betrayed,
And free from sad care on the deck I am laid,
Then the boys black my face, and my actions deride;
The whelps may be damned, says Andrew Macbride.

From the raptures of grog shall a sage be controlled,
And a man like myself submit to be schooled?
If I’m drunk, the lieutenant and captain may chide;
But I’ll drink till I die, says sweet Andrew Macbride.

When I said the smell hurt me, the fools did believe;
Och hone! my dear friends, I did you deceive;
When the taste or smell hurts me, may hell open wide,
And I, damned there with water to drink, says Macbride.

Nothing disrespectful was intended by this song. Every officer in the
ship was a friend to poor Andrew, and Macredie would have been one of
the first to resent an insult offered to him. It is a strange
coincidence that on the day we were paid off, I saw Macbride sitting on
the taffrail reading Ossian’s poems, and looking at a fine engraving of
the Spirit of Crugal.[59] Twelve years after in Port Royal Harbour,
Jamaica, I went to answer the signal for lieutenant on board the
Leviathan, 74 (I then belonged to the Brunswick), and going on the poop
to write the order, I saw a figure sitting on the taffrail, who I
thought I knew, in deep meditation. On going up to him I recognised my
old messmate Macbride, with the identical book and the engraving of the
Spirit of Crugal in his hand. The poor fellow was most happy to see me,
but how altered! He went back with me to dinner, and I gave him some
classical books that pleased him greatly. His bones are lying at the
Palisades. He was one of the first mathematicians in Europe; an
excellent writer in prose and verse, an able disputant, and possessed a
mind remarkable for the strictest integrity. ‘Tread lightly on his
ashes, ye men of genius, for he was your kinsman.’[60]

I must here say a word about poor unfortunate Patrick Flood. When first
I knew him in the American War, he was a fine officer-like looking
fellow; but when he joined the Edgar he was sadly reduced from long
illness in the West Indies; and from domestic troubles, and
disappointment at not getting promotion, grew regardless of himself and
reckless of his character. Cynical to a degree and used to caricature us
upon every occasion, I remember his making a very ludicrous drawing of
Macbride, representing him sitting on the deck with the boys blacking
his face and a bottle and a glass alongside of him; and [underneath it,
some scurrilous verses, which Macbride answered with others still more
indecent].

When the Edgar was paid off, Captain A. J. P. Molloy[61] was appointed
to the command of her, and Flood was continued as one of the midshipmen.
Having obtained leave to go to London to try and raise friends to get
his promotion, he succeeded in getting the promise from Lord Chatham;
but unfortunately having staid a short time above his leave, Captain
Molloy, in answer to Lord Chatham’s letter respecting him, cruelly said
he considered Mr. Flood in no other light than that of a deserter. This
was the ruin of poor Flood, who died in penury, but lived long enough to
witness the downfall of his enemy. And now let me mention my worthy
messmate John Macredie, a gentleman that did honour to society and one
that was highly respected by a numerous acquaintance. He had seen a
great deal of service and was on board the Hercules, 74, in Rodney’s
action on the 12th of April 1782. He was also on board the Princess
Royal, 98, and Pégase, 74, and then joined the Edgar, and was a messmate
of mine for three years, and again in the Barfleur for upwards of a
twelvemonth. He was an excellent scholar, being well acquainted with the
Greek and Latin, and was deeply read in ancient history and nearly equal
to Macbride in mathematics. The author of many plays that were never
printed, as he would not allow them to be sent to the press, although
strongly urged by those who were competent judges of their merit. He was
also a good poet and possessed undaunted courage, and was as generous as
he was brave. At the same time he was one of the most absent [minded]
men that can be imagined. I have known him when going to answer a signal
come on deck with one boot and one shoe on; and when sent below in
consequence, come up again with his black stock with the inside turned
out. One morning when alongside of the flagship, on stepping from the
boat to the accommodation ladder he dropped the order book overboard,
and in trying to get hold of it he let go his sword, which sunk in a
moment. I have also known him walk nearly two miles out of Gosport
before he recollected that he had only to go to his tailor’s, who lived
near the beach.

I must not forget another worthy fellow and messmate of mine, the late
Lieutenant Edward Moore, at this time one of the mates. Ned was as brave
and generous a soul as ever lived; a determined enemy to tyranny, as the
following circumstance will shew. When the present Retired Rear-Admiral
Shield[62] was first lieutenant of the Saturn, 74, at Spithead in the
year 1791 or 1792, one evening in the first watch he ordered one of the
midshipmen (Mr. Leonard) on some trifling occasion to the masthead for
punishment. Mr. L. said he would go there with pleasure if it was on
duty, but not for punishment; upon which Mr. Shield had him made fast to
a girtline and triced up to the main topmast-head without a guy to keep
him clear of the top etc. This made a great stir both on board and on
shore, and Mr. Leonard was advised to commence proceedings by entering
an action against Shield; and a subscription was set on foot to defray
the expenses attending it. My friend Ned at this time belonged to the
London, 98, lying at Spithead; and he wrote letters to the midshipmen of
the other men of war to subscribe also. This coming to the knowledge of
Lord Hood, he considered it as a conspiracy injurious to the discipline
of the navy, and Moore was put under an arrest. A court of inquiry was
held, and then a court martial, where Sir Hyde Parker stood as
prosecutor; and after a long examination of witnesses, Moore was found
guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to be confined in the
Marshalsea for one month, a fortnight of which he remained on board the
guard-ship. The other charge was not proved. The late Admiral Macbride,
who commanded the Cumberland, 74, at that time, was a member of the
court, and was a friend to Moore ever after, and made him lieutenant.

One of our midshipmen, who lately died a post captain, was an infernal
tyrant. While in the Edgar, this chap one evening began his tricks by
thrashing one of the youngsters, a messmate of Ned’s, and for so doing
Ned gave him, to the great joy of all, the most severe drubbing I ever
witnessed. Ned had been a shipmate of this person’s before in the Queen,
98, when a guard-ship, and had seen some of his pranks there and now
paid him on the old score.

While lying at the Hardway moorings, about three o’clock one morning we
heard a voice halloing out ‘Come here, you sleepy-headed hounds, and
take me out of a hole that I have got into.’ It being low water, the
voice appeared to come from the mud. Two or three of us got into the
cutter (for we always kept a boat out)[63] and went in the direction of
the voice, where we found Moore up to his middle, and being a stout
fellow it was no easy matter to extricate him. Had we not gone when we
did he would have been suffocated as the tide was flowing. He had been
keeping it up and missed his way to the Hard. He was one that would part
with his last shilling to serve a friend or assist those in distress. I
recollect while lying in Torbay with the grand fleet (we belonged to the
Barfleur, 98, then), that I had not a sixpence and no opportunity of
sending home; and I wanted to go on shore, and how to raise the wind I
did not know; which coming to the ears of Ned, says he, ‘Tony, I have
got a guinea and I am determined that you shall have half of it’—which
he made me take. Would to God that he was alive and that I could shake
hands with him now, and the rest of the brave fellows that are no more.
_Sit tibi terra levis!_

We had a custom when the officers were at dinner in the wardroom, of
dividing into parties; one division was to storm the other on the poop.
In one of those attacks I succeeded in getting on the poop, when Kiel
(who I have mentioned before) attacked me with a fixed bayonet and
marked me in the thigh (all in good part). I then got hold of a musket,
put in a small quantity of powder, and as he advanced, I fired. To my
horror and amazement he fell flat on the deck, and when picked up his
face was as black as a tinker’s, with the blood running down occasioned
by some of the grains of powder sticking in. I shall never forget the
terror I was in, but thank God he soon got well; only a few blue spots
remained in his phiz, which never left him. This was the only time I
ever fired a musket and probably will be the last. They used to say in
the cockpit that he was troubled with St. Anthony’s fire (alluding to my
name).

Another time when attacking the poop, I was standing on one of the
quarter deck guns, when I received a violent blow on the face from a
broomstick, which made my nose bleed off and on for several days. It was
thrown at me by J. S. Carden (now Captain Carden[64]) and a hand swab
was thrown at him, which falling short, entered one of the office
windows, which put an end to the attack. It was laughable to see John
Macredie take the part of Ajax Telamon, with a half-port for a shield
and a boarding-pike for a lance. Culverhouse used to take the part of
Diomede, but instead of a lance would use the single-stick, with which
he was superior to anyone in the fleet. He was a very clever fellow,
full of fun and drollery, and sung humorous songs in the most comic
style. I remember a verse or two of one:

When first they impressed me and sent me to sea,
’Twas in the winter time in the making of hay,
They sent me on board of a ship called Torbay,
Oh! her white muzzle guns they did sore frighten me,
Musha tudey, etc.

Says the boatswain to Paddy, And what brought you here?
For the making of hay ’tis the wrong time of year.
By Jasus, says Paddy, I wish I was gone,
For your small wooden kingdom I don’t understand.
Musha tudey, etc.

Oh! the first thing they gave me it was a long sack,[65]
Which they tould me to get in and lay on my back;
I lay on my back till the clock struck one bell,
And the man overhead he sung out, All is well.
Musha tudey, etc.

We had a very droll midshipman who lately died an old post captain, and
was one of the best officers in the service. This gentleman was a kind
of ventriloquist, and when we sat in the officers’ seat in Gosport
chapel, and opposite to old Paul the clerk, of beer-drinking memory,
whenever this man would begin to sing, the other would go Quack, Quack,
Quack; sometimes high and sometimes low, according as the clerk would
sing the psalm. I have seen the old fellow look round with amazement,
the people whispering to one another, while others could not keep their
countenance but would hold their heads down and laugh. I remember him
coming on board late one night in a wherry from Gosport, and it being
calm we could hear him quacking a long way off. We then lay at the
Hardway moorings. When the wherry got alongside the waterman swore he
would be damned sooner than have that chap in his boat again. Had he
known as much, he would not have taken him off for any money; he
certainly was the devil or his near relation, for some hell-hound or
other had been following him on the water all the way from Burrow Castle
(near the Magazine and reported to be haunted) until he got alongside.
He said he knew that Burrow Castle was haunted and he’d take good care
to return on the other side of the harbour, and blast him if he’d ever
come that way at night. I had the watch upon deck at the time and
remember every word, and I thought I should have died a-laughing.

Our first lieutenant had an inveterate hatred to the Barfleur (the
flagship) for the following reason. The signal was made for all
midshipmen, and I had just returned in the long boat from Spithead,
where we had been fishing, and was then going to relieve the deck, it
being my watch, when Lieutenant Yetts ordered me to answer the signal.
On my asking him leave to go below and get ready, as I was certain they
would turn me back if I went in the dress I had on, ‘Mr. Gardner, will
you dictate to me?’ was his reply; ‘Go as you are, sir.’ When I got on
board the Barfleur, Lieutenant Ross (who I knew very well) was
commanding officer. The moment he saw me he came up, and with eyes of a
dog fish, asked who I was and where I came from. I could hardly help
laughing at the question. However, I explained to him the reason, but
all to no purpose, as he sent me into my boat saying, ‘Tell your officer
that I made the signal for a midshipman, and not for a fisherman, and he
ought to have known better from the length of time he had been in the
service.’

On my delivering this insolent message to Lieutenant Yetts, it put him
in a great rage and he swore, damn his brains, but he’d remember Master
Ross for his kindness, the first opportunity. This Ross was a satirist,
or would be thought so, because he wrote some poem in doggerel rhymes of
scurrilous merit, abusing some of the officers of the guard-ships and
many of the respectable people of Gosport. He also wrote a play which
was damned and hissed off the stage, and some other pieces of the same
description. Soon after this it came to our turn to have the guard, and
late in the first watch, Lieutenant Yetts sent for me and gave orders
that I should go in the cutter and row guard, and if possible get
alongside the Barfleur. Away I went round the guard-ships, and left the
Barfleur for the last. On rowing ahead I let the boat drop down with the
tide and actually got alongside her accommodation ladder without being
hailed. It is the duty of a lieutenant to row guard, so I did not think
myself justified in boarding her, which I could have done; but remained
some time alongside. At last one of the midshipmen (Mr. Holmes) hailed
from the gangway, ‘What boat is that?’ upon which I called out as loud
as I could hollo, ‘Guard boat!’ and that I had been alongside a
considerable time without being hailed—to his great astonishment, as he
informed me afterwards. On my telling this to Mr. Yetts, he rubbed his
hands and swore that everyone should know how the damned brutes were
caught napping.

In the absence of the admiral we, as senior captain, would have the
command; and when exercising sails or getting down top gallant yards
etc, if the Barfleur only showed a man’s head above deck, up would go
her signal to call her men down out of the tops and rigging, and old
Yetts would exclaim, ‘Damn my brains, no starting before us; we are
masters now.’ Mr. Nowell, our second lieutenant, was a very powerful and
active man; and though gloomy and fiery at times, was much the
gentleman. He was famous at fencing and jumping, and could, as I have
been told, jump across the gateway of Gosport works—about twenty feet.
On one occasion he sprained his ankle, when Frost (one of our
midshipmen) said in his hearing and mocking the Welsh (Nowell being a
Welshman) ‘My vather a tevil of a good shumper, shumped twenty veet,
came right down, proke his ankle, could no more shumpy.’ For this the
other gave him a look that spoke volumes.

This Frost was a complete Commodore Gale and went by the nickname of
Hard Frost. It is related that when his wife died he gave a dinner on
the day of her funeral. When the company arrived, Frost was dead drunk;
upon which some of the party laid him out, with a leg of mutton under
his head for a pillow, and a bunch of turnips under his feet. In the
early time of the guard-ships there was a board held by the midshipmen
of the Queen, 98, the flagship, where the midshipmen of the other ships
used to go to pass their examination for a blackguard. Frost, who
belonged to the Pégase, 74, went to pass, and on the occasion showed
such transcendent abilities, that the board considered him a wonder, and
requested he would take his seat as a member. I could relate many of his
sayings, but they had better sink into oblivion.

Our first lieutenant was a devil for scrubbing decks, and in the dead of
winter we frequently had to shovel the snow from the quarter deck, and
take a spell, about half-past four in the morning, with the holystone
and hand organs, while the water would freeze as soon as it was thrown
on the deck. The general order, made into rhyme by Flood [was] as
follows:

The decks, as usual, to be washed and scrubbed;
And with the holystone severely rubbed.

To show the superstition of sailors I must mention the following
anecdote. Not a hundred miles from Portsmouth lived a great nabob, who
formerly possessed a large fortune, but from gambling and other bad
management had greatly fallen off, and the neighbours used to say he had
dealings with the devil, and at night would converse with him in his
cellar. We had a raven on board that came from this neighbourhood; and
from the number of strange pranks it was in the habit of playing, was
supposed by the ship’s company not to have been one of this world; and
what strengthened this opinion was Macredie giving it out that he had
heard the raven speak, and say that he had been the nabob’s coachman,
and should resume his office as soon as the ship was paid off, and he
had got some recruits for his master. This made him be looked at with an
evil eye by the ship’s company; and one evening when the provisions were
serving out and several of the people were in the cockpit about the
steward’s room, the raven caught hold of the gunner’s mate by the
trowsers, croaking and snapping at his legs. He then flew on the
shoulder of the corporal of marines, took off his hat and hid it in the
tier. ‘I’m damned,’ says old Phillips, the quartermaster, ‘if he has not
marked you for his master.’ He had hardly said this when the raven came
hopping back and seized upon the cheese belonging to the quartermaster,
and walked off with a large piece of it, the other being afraid to
follow.

Another of his tricks I was an eye-witness to. Our sergeant of marines
had leave to go on shore, and was on the poop showing a half-guinea to
the corporal, saying ‘With this bit of gold I shall take a cruise, it
will last as long as I like to stay.’ He was holding the half-guinea
between his finger and thumb, and asked the raven, who was on the poop,
if he would take a trip with him. Ralph, ever on the watch, in an
instant snapped the half-guinea out of his hand, and flew up to the main
topmast head and remained more than an hour aloft, the sergeant all the
time in the greatest anxiety, and some of the fellows saying to him,
‘Now, don’t you believe he’s the devil?’ At last the raven flew down
upon the booms and went into the stern sheets of the barge lying there
and hid the half-guinea, which the sergeant found, but swore it was not
the same that was taken from him, while several called out ‘Sold!
Sold!’[66]

I shall now conclude the Edgar after saying a word for Davy Reed, the
master. He was what we call a hard officer, as well as a very strange
sort of fish, and had the misfortune, like many others, to lose his
teeth. I was at dinner in the wardroom when a small parcel was handed in
directed for Mr. Reed. ‘What the hell can this be?’ says Davy (who did
not like to have sixpence to pay the waterman), ‘and who gave it to
you?’ continued he. ‘Sir,’ says the waterman, ‘it was a young lady who
sent it off from Common Hard.’ As several tricks had been played with
Davy before, he was afraid to open the parcel, and begged of one of the
officers at the table to do so for him, but when opened, what was his
amazement to find a set of sheep’s teeth for David Reed, Esq., with
directions for fixing, and a box of tooth powder that, by the smell,
appeared to be a mixture of everything abominable. Poor Davy was in a
dreadful rage, and never heard the last of it. The Edgar was paid off in
January 1790, and we had a parting dinner at the India Arms, Gosport,
and kept it up until twelve that night. With the exception of the half
dozen, they were some of the best fellows I ever met with. The Edgar was
commissioned immediately after by Captain Anthony James Pye Molloy, and
some of the midshipmen rejoined her.

OFFICERS’ NAMES

HON. JOHN LEVESON GOWER, Commodore and then rear-admiral.

Dead [1792]. I have said enough of him.—[_D.N.B._]

JOSEPH PEYTON, Esq., Rear-admiral.

Dead [1804]. An admiral; a tight hand.

CHAS. THOMPSON, Esq., Captain.

Dead. See Boreas.

JOHN YETTS, 1st Lieutenant.

Dead. Out-pension. A good sailor of the old school, in many
respects better than the new.

WILLIAM NOWELL, 2nd Lieutenant.

Dead [1827]. A vice-admiral; gloomy and fiery; but a good officer
and gentleman.—[Marshall, ii. 598.]

RICHARD WELLAND, 3rd Lieutenant.

Dead. Had the out-pension, and thirteen children; proud, but a
good officer.

JOHN IRWIN,[67] 4th Lieutenant.

Dead [1812]. A post captain [1796]. A very good fellow; always
smiling.

WILLIAM BEDFORD, 5th Lieutenant.

Dead [1826]. A vice-admiral; fidgety; he once turned me out of the
gunroom because I said Andrew Macbride, our schoolmaster, was
formerly Dionysius the tyrant, and kept a school at Corinth,
according to the opinion of Pythagoras respecting the
transmigration of souls.—[Marshall, ii. 574.]

JOHN CULVERHOUSE, Mate and then flag lieutenant.

Dead. A clever fellow and good officer; a post captain; drowned at
the Cape.

JOHN STILES, Lieutenant, lent for the cruise.

Dead. See Salisbury.

HARRY DAWE, Lieutenant, lent.

Dead. A commander [1818]; so-so. [Did not die till 1841.]

DAVID REED, Master.

Dead. An odd fish.

[JOHN] ROSKRUGE, Master.

Dead. A very good man, and one that was better acquainted with
rope-yarns and bilge water than with Homer or Virgil. He said a
man’s ideas should go no further than the jib-boom end.

[JAMES] MALCOLM, Surgeon.

Dead. See Panther.

[THOMAS] TROTTER, Surgeon.

Uncertain. Formerly physician of the fleet; a most excellent
fellow with first-rate abilities, an able writer and poet. [Died
1832—_D.N.B._]

THOMAS KEIN, Surgeon; did duty as first assistant.

A very worthy fellow. Dead since writing this.

TITUS LEVY, Purser and then admiral’s secretary.

Dead. Insane before he died.

CHARLES BUCHAN, Purser.

Dead. See Boreas.

JOHN STEVENS, Mate.

Dead. A commander.

[JOHN] WATSON, Mate. Dead. A lieutenant; sickly and as crabbed as the
devil. Cato the Censor never ended a speech without saying
‘Delenda est Carthago,’ and this man never ended his without
saying ‘Damn your whistle.’

GEO. WANGFORD, Mate.

Dead. See Boreas; drank himself to death.

FRANCIS SARGENT, Mate.

Dead. Drank hard; a lieutenant.

EDWARD MOORE, Mate.

Dead. A lieutenant; well known in the navy, and highly respected
by a numerous acquaintance.

GEO. RULE BLUET, Midshipman, and then mate of the hold.

Dead. A lieutenant; a good-natured fellow with good abilities, but
drank hard. I recollect being of a party at Gosport when Bluet
wanted to make love to a young lady, but did not know how to
begin. At last he took out of his pocket a plan of the Edgar’s
hold which he begged her to accept, and hoped she would keep it
for his sake!

PATRICK FLOOD, Midshipman.

Dead. Good abilities, but thoughtless, and regardless of his
character.

CHAS. INGLIS, Midshipman.

Dead [1833]. A post captain; a most able officer.—[Marshall, iv.
699.]

MAURICE BROWN, Midshipman.

Uncertain. A dashing fellow.

TOM EDMONDS, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; a good fellow, and played the flute
delightfully.

FRANK FEARY, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; a very quiet fellow, who had taken plenty of
calomel in his time.

ANDREW JAMES THOMPSON, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; a mad fellow.

ROBERT PHILPOT, Midshipman.

Dead [1826]. A post captain [1800]; obstinate and stiff
in opinion, but quite the gentleman. Called ‘Toby
Philpot.’—[Marshall, iii. 289.]

GEO. JONES, Midshipman.

Dead [1834]. A commander [1798]; a fiery Welshman; called
‘Dog-head.’ He used to visit at Fareham, and Billy Lamb drew a
midshipman in uniform with a dog’s head, which bore a strong
resemblance of Jones, and a directing post near him with—‘To
Fareham,’ written on it.—[Marshall, x. 269.]

WILLIAM LAMB, Midshipman and mate.

Dead. A commander; my old and worthy messmate in two ships; a most
able officer and seaman.

SOLOMON KING, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; a very worthy fellow.

WILLIAM KING, his brother, Midshipman.

Dead. A commander; a very worthy fellow.

WILLIAM BROWN, Midshipman, and then mate.

A superannuated master attendant; a good sailor; called ‘Billy
Beljer,’ and ‘Hell Sweat Us.’

ROBERT ELLIOT, Midshipman.

A post captain. [Rear-admiral, 1846; died, a vice-admiral,
1854.—O’Byrne.]

JAMES SLADE, Midshipman.

A post captain; wonderfully grand. [Died 1846—O’Byrne.]

WILLIAM WILKINSON, Midshipman.

Dead [1816]. A post captain [1810]; proud without reason.

JAMES SANDERS, Midshipman.

Dead [1834]. A post captain and C.B. Black Sambo, you and I never
could agree; we hated one another most cordially: as a midshipman
you were tyrannical; as a captain, I know nothing of
you.—[Marshall, iv. 635.]

JOHN KIEL, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant. Poor Jack went mad and died.

WILLIAM PRINGLE, first a scribe, and then a midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant out-pension; nicknamed ‘Bull Rothery’ and
‘Ponderous and Huge.’ He got the name of ‘Ponderous and Huge’ from
the following circumstance. When we were storming the poop (as I
have mentioned before), I was looking at John Macredie who had a
boarding-pike for a spear, and repeating the following lines from
the Iliad:

And now he shakes his great paternal spear,
Ponderous and huge, which not a Greek could rear—

when Pringle, who was standing by, asked me who Ponderous and Huge
were, and whether they were Greeks or Trojans.[68]

TITUS ALLARDICE, Midshipman.

Dead [1832]. A commander [1831]; died insane at Haslar.

DAVIS, Mate. Dead. A lieutenant. Poor fellow, was broke by
court martial.

JOHN BULL CONOLLY, Midshipman.

A lieutenant, out-pension; a very good fellow.

ROBERT YETTS, son of the first lieutenant, midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; broke by court martial. Poor Bob with all his
faults was a worthy, generous fellow.

HENRY FOULARTON, Midshipman.

Dead. Very religious, and remarkably neat in his dress; but at
last drank very hard, and died regretting that a keg of gin (along
side of him) should see him out, which was really the case.

HENRY ALLEN, Midshipman.

This unfortunate man was captain of the Rattler sloop of war in
the West Indies and was hanged at the yardarm by the sentence of a
court martial [April 22, 1797, under the 29th Article of War].

GREGORY GRANT, Midshipman.

A commander [1810]; a very worthy fellow. Died 1839.—[Marshall, x.
403.]

WILLIAM VOSPER, Midshipman.

A lieutenant, Royal Asylum, Greenwich Hospital. A very good fellow
and seaman; we were at three schools together, and also in the
Edgar and Berwick.

RICHARD HEYCOCK, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant. Old Dick was a good sailor, but unfortunately,
as deaf as a doornail.

FRAS. ROSKRUGE, Midshipman.

Lieutenant [of Britannia], killed [at Trafalgar] in battle. A very
worthy fellow; son of the master.

FROST, Midshipman.

Dead. A master; ‘Hard Frost,’ I have mentioned you before.

MILLAR, Midshipman.

Dead. A gunner; as worthy a fellow as ever lived; called ‘Tom
Pepper.’[69]

RICHARD COLE, Midshipman.

Dead. Dicky was an easy, simple fellow.

EMANUEL SILVA, Midshipman.

A magistrate for the county of Surrey; a gentleman; very much
respected.

WM. GRANGER, Midshipman.

A vice-admiral of the blue. [Died 1848.—O’Byrne.]

HUGH DOWNMAN, Midshipman.

A vice-admiral; a very good officer. [Died, admiral,
1858—O’Byrne.]

[JOHN] HOLLINGSWORTH, Midshipman.

Killed in battle[70]; a lieutenant.

JOHN TWISDEN, Midshipman.

A commander; a droll old guardo! [Died 1853.—O’Byrne.]

JOHN MACREDIE, Midshipman.

Dead [1833]. A commander [1827]; a most worthy fellow whom I have
mentioned before.

HUGH COOK, Midshipman.

Dead [1834]. A post captain [1806]; called ‘Pot luck and what
not.’ Billy Lamb gave him this name, because one evening on shore,
when half seas over, he was asking every one in the room to come
and see him and take ‘pot luck and what not.’—[Marshall, v. 160.]

WM. HUGH DOBBIE, Midshipman.

Dead [1830]. A post captain; an excellent character.—[Marshall, v.
136.]

JOHN TRESAHAR, Midshipman.

A commander; my worthy messmate. [Died 1844.—O’Byrne.]

J. S. CARDEN, Midshipman.

A post captain. He commanded the Macedonian when she was captured
by an American frigate of superior force. [Died, a retired
rear-admiral, 1858—O’Byrne.]

EDWARD BRACE, Midshipman.

A rear-admiral and K.C.B. [Died, a vice-admiral, in
1843.—Marshall, iii. 253.]

J. A. GARDNER, Midshipman.

A commander.

DAVID SPENCE 1st, Midshipman, lent.

Dead. A lieutenant; worthy fellow.

DAVID SPENCE 2nd, Midshipman, lent.

Dead. A master; worthy fellow.

ROBERT CROSBIE, Midshipman, lent.

Dead from drink; a lieutenant not worth his salt.

JAMES IRWIN, Midshipman, lent.

Dead. A commander; much respected.

ANDREW MACBRIDE, Schoolmaster.

Dead. Splendid abilities.

CROMBEY, Assistant Surgeon.

Dead. A surgeon; a man of prodigious strength.

JOHN LIGGATT, Assistant Surgeon.

Dead. A surgeon. Poor Jack lost his leg in action.

GEO. GORDON, Assistant Surgeon.

Dead. George was not very orthodox.

DUNCAN CAMPBELL, Assistant Surgeon.

Uncertain. Much the gentleman.

MARSH, Assistant Surgeon.

Uncertain. Drank like a fish.

LAUCHLIN MACLEAN, Clerk.

Dead. A paymaster at Greenwich Hospital.

JOHN SCOTT, Clerk.

Killed in battle [at Trafalgar]. Lord Nelson’s secretary.

GARDNER, wrote in the office.

Dead. A very good little fellow; no relation of mine.

GEO. GRAY, Gunner.

Dead. Much respected.

JOHNNY BONE, Boatswain.

Dead, from drink; Cap-a-bar.

WATSON, Boatswain.

Uncertain. Broke by court martial. Said to have been boatswain
with the notorious John Paul Jones when he took Sir Richard
Pearson and my old captain (Piercy) in the American War.

DOUGLAS, Carpenter.

Dead. Builder at Antigua; much respected.

BARFLEUR, 98

When the Edgar was paid off, Commissioner Martin[71] of the dockyard at
Portsmouth, recommended me to the Barfleur, Vice-Admiral Roddam (red at
the fore) port admiral, and Robert Calder, Esq., captain. I had not been
long on board when Captain Calder took it into his head to recommend
several of us to the Solebay, 32, fitting at Spithead for the West
Indies, and I was one of the number. This did not suit my inclination,
and I requested my mother to make the circumstance known to the
commissioner, who promised her that I should not be sent out against my
will. I waited with great anxiety the result, and never shall I forget
the manner Captain Calder addressed me the moment he came on board.
‘Your mother is a fool, sir; you shall not stay in my ship; take your
hat off, sir’ (for we were always obliged to stand with our hats off
while speaking to him and I was rather slack in doffing mine); ‘I will
give you one month to provide yourself with another ship, you are
disgraced here;’ and then turning on his heel went into his cabin. With
rage and indignation at such an unwarrantable attack, I sent in to say I
would be glad to speak to him if he was at leisure. This he immediately
granted, and I was told after by Jefferys, the clerk, who was in the
cabin, that he thought I had made up my mind to go, but he was mistaken.
I told him I came to return him thanks for his kindness in allowing me
to remain in his ship for a month until I could provide myself with
another, but if he pleased I would rather have my discharge immediately.
He looked at me for some time before he made an answer; at last he
roared out in fury, ‘You shall not go at all, sir; and mind what you are
about.’ I answered that I always did mind what I was about. This
increased his rage, and turning to the first lieutenant (Dolling), who
had just come into the cabin, ‘That’s a troublesome chap, sir, take care
of him.’ Now it happened that I had leave to go on shore before Captain
C. came on board and only waited till I saw him, and was going into the
boat, when Lieutenant Dolling came waddling up to me with the
intelligence that I was under arrest, and to consider myself a prisoner
at large; and so I was for upwards of ten weeks, and the devil thank
Bobby Calder for his kindness.

The Spanish armament taking place, we were ordered to Spithead, and
hoisted the flag (blue at the main) of the Honourable Samuel Barrington,
Sir John Jervis (rear-admiral of the blue) captain of the fleet, and
Captain Calder in command of the ship. Sailed for Torbay, and took
command of the fleet assembled there, until the arrival of Lord Howe,
which took place soon after, as admiral of the fleet, the union jack
being hoisted on board the Queen Charlotte, 110.[72] His Royal Highness
the Duke of Cumberland, admiral of the white, attended by Prince William
Henry, who commanded the Valiant, 74, came on board to visit Admiral
Barrington, who had formerly sailed with the duke. Admiral Barrington
having shifted his flag to the Royal George, 110, we hoisted that of
Rear-Admiral Sir John Jervis, K.B., and sailed to the westward with the
grand fleet, and found the old Barfleur an excellent sea boat. After
cruising several weeks the fleet returned, and when off Plymouth we
struck the flag of Sir John Jervis, and proceeded to the Downs and
hoisted the flag (blue at the fore) of Vice-Admiral Elliot, and sailed
with thirteen sail of the line for Spithead, where we found Lord Howe
with the remainder of the fleet, Captain Calder having been appointed to
the Stately, 64. Captain Robert Carthew Reynolds took command of the
Barfleur as flag captain. The chief part of the midshipmen being removed
to the Stately, Captain Calder sent for me and introduced me to Captain
Reynolds, and spoke to him in the highest terms of my conduct, and among
other things said I was particularly active in going aloft, and if I
wished to leave the Barfleur he would keep a vacancy open on his books;
but that the Barfleur being a flagship and my pay better, he thought it
the most eligible of the two to remain. This was a civil way of parting
to outward appearance friends.

The Spanish business being settled we remained at Spithead but struck
our flag. Soon after a mutiny broke out in the ship, which was soon put
a stop to, and the crews of the ships at Spithead (as many as liked)
paid off. The Russian armament commencing, Lord Hood hoisted his flag on
board the Victory, 100, and took command of the fleet, consisting of
thirty-six sail of the line moored in two lines abreast, the frigates
between, which had a most beautiful appearance, and thousands from all
parts of the country came to gaze, and went back as wise as ever.
Rear-Admiral Jonathan Faulknor[73] (red at the mizen) having hoisted his
flag on board of us, that excellent officer Captain Reynolds left the
ship and was succeeded by Captain John Bourmaster, one of the best men
that ever lived. We remained a considerable time at Spithead until the
business was settled, and then went into harbour to be paid off.

I shall now relate as well as I remember a few circumstances that took
place in the Barfleur during the time I belonged to her. When we had the
command in Torbay, before the arrival of Lord Howe, we exercised great
guns and small arms every day, with loosing and furling sails, and it
was remarked by the fleet that they never looked at the Barfleur without
seeing the men crawling up the rigging ready for some manœuvre and
keeping them constantly on the alert. I have absolutely been midshipman
in the foretop when the sail has been loosed and furled nineteen times;
and long Lloyd (one of our lieutenants) calling out from the gratings on
the bowsprit, ‘Mr. Gardner, will you have your hammock sent up to
you?’—a common expression in the navy. I could not help answering, ‘I’ll
thank you, sir, for I’m damnation tired.’ He was a good fellow and only
laughed.

Our ship’s company were never surpassed. We had the pickings of the East
India men, and our waisters could take helm and lead, and certainly we
could have beaten with ease any two ships of a foreign power of our
rate, and a braver officer never stepped between stem and stern than
Bobby Calder. I had great reason to dislike him, but I will do him
justice as well as my humble abilities will allow. An error in judgment
is what every man is liable to. Even Napoleon, the greatest man the
world ever produced, was guilty of three great errors: the first in not
entirely crushing the Russian army when he had it in his power after
defeating the Emperor Alexander at Austerlitz; the second in not
reinstating the Poles; and the third in not marrying a Frenchwoman after
his divorce from Josephine. Another great general also made a few
blunders; and his retreat from a certain citadel was, I have been told,
anything but superior to that of the ten thousand under Xenophon.[74]
But to return. Sir Robert Calder was found guilty of an error in
judgment by the sentence of a court martial; but no man can deny that he
was a brave and meritorious officer, possessing the first-rate[75]
abilities of a British admiral.

To some the pow’rs of bloody war belong,
To some, sweet music and the charm of song;
To few, and wondrous few, has Jove assigned
A wise, extensive, all considering mind.

The newspapers at the time were teeming with abuse; but the braying of
those asses soon sunk, and had no other effect than to shew the
malignity of their leading articles. One of the blackguard papers was
particularly vindictive. It was edited

by wicked Daniel,
Who snaps like a cur, and fawns like a spaniel.

From the number of flag officers and captains that were in the Barfleur,
we had so many of their followers of every description that it is
difficult to remember the whole, and we had six or seven different first
lieutenants. However, I shall give as correct a list as possible, but
not exactly in rotation. But first I must relate a few anecdotes; and
with heart-felt respect for your memory, come forward my old friend
Billy Culmer. This gentleman was one of the mates and is or was so well
known in the navy that it would be superfluous to say anything
respecting him, but for a few anecdotes not generally known which may be
interesting.[76]

Billy in person was about five feet eight or nine, and stooped; hard
features marked with the smallpox; blind in an eye, and a wen nearly the
size of an egg under his cheek bone. His dress on a Sunday was a mate’s
uniform coat, with brown velvet waistcoat and breeches; boots with black
tops; a gold-laced hat, and a large hanger by his side like the sword of
John-a-Gaunt. He was proud of being the oldest midshipman in the navy
(for he had been in that capacity with Lord Hood since 1757[77]), and
looked upon young captains and lieutenants with contempt. Being on shore
at Gosport on a Sunday in the above costume, he tried to get into a
tavern when the people were at church, and was thundering at the door to
no purpose, when the late Captain N. H. Eastwood of the Royal Navy
happened to be passing at the time in plain clothes, made some
observations on his conduct, and said, ‘Mr. Culmer, you are a disgrace
to the service.’ Billy at this jumped off the steps, and with his usual
oath ‘Damn my two eyes,’—though he had but one—‘but I’ll slit your
gullet, you wa wa——,’ and with two or three desperate efforts to draw
his sword, he at last succeeded, like Hudibras, in getting it out, and
then gave chase to Eastwood, whose lean figure, moving like a ghost, had
got the start and was fortunate enough to get into his own house just as
Billy came up puffing and blowing and bellowing out, ‘Stop that lanky
son of a —— till I make a razee of him.’

In the American War Billy belonged to the Buffalo, 60. I am not certain
that he was on board at the time the Dogger Bank action was fought;
however, he used to celebrate the praises of his old ship, which bore a
distinguished part in that well-fought battle. The Dutch fleet commanded
by Admiral Zoutman had a convoy under charge, when our fleet under
Vice-Admiral Hyde Parker fell in with them on the Dogger Bank and bore
down immediately to give battle. The Dutch admiral formed his line to
windward of his convoy, and waited for our fleet, and to his honour be
it said that he never fired a gun until our admiral had formed his line
within pistol shot, when up went the colours of both nations and then
the action began. After several hours’ desperate fighting the Dutch bore
away with their convoy for the Texel, and we were so crippled that it
was impossible to follow them.

Billy would upon all occasions when sea fights were spoken of sing the
following song in honour of his old ship. It was made by a seaman of the
Princess Amelia.

’Twas on the fifth of August by dawning of the day,
We spied some lofty sail, my boys, who to leeward of us lay;
They proved to be Dutchmen, with eight sail neat and fine,
We soon bore down upon them, and then we formed the line.

Bold Admiral Hyde Parker commanded us that day,
Who in the noble Fortitude to the windward of us lay;
To engage the Dutchmen closely the signal then he made,
And at his fore topgallant mast the bloody flag displayed.

And when our ships they did engage with seven sail neat and fine,
The Buffalo being one of them, her valour it did shine;
For she engaged six glasses, her shot did on them play,
Though she had three upon her she made them bear away.

There were the noble Berwick, Preston and Dolphin too,
Likewise the Bienfaisant, my boys, who made the Dutch to rue;
The old Princess Amelia was not backward on that day,
She lost her valiant captain all in the bloody fray.

Then our ship being so disabled and our rigging shot away,
And twenty of our brave fellows killed in the bloody fray;
And sixty-four were wounded, a dreadful sight to see,
But yet the rest were willing to engage the enemy, &c.

Billy was once singing the above ditty with a voice as melodious as that
of the raven, when old Bob Perkins (a droll old guardo midshipman) began
another that annoyed him sadly; but taking great care to be in a place
where Billy could not easily get at him, says he, ‘Mr. Culmer, you never
were a midshipman before you joined the Barfleur, and it’s well
authenticated that you were cook of the celebrated Huffey so well known
in days of yore.’ He then began singing the following sonnet:—

Billy the cook got drunk,
Fell down the fore ladder,
And broke his gin bladder,
Then lived upon swipes and salt junk.

Billy the cook got drunk,
Fell into a sty,
And knocked out his eye,
Then into the sick bay he slunk.

As [Billy] had the meanest opinion of any one that would lay by for
sickness, the last line of the above threw him into such a rage that
Perkins, not finding his situation tenable, was obliged to make a hasty
retreat; but not before

he got a switch
As quick as lightning on the breech,

which hastened his way down the cockpit ladder. [Billy] was once sitting
in the gunroom cleaning a pair of huge yellow buckles, when the same
Perkins chalked on a board in large letters, ‘To be seen alive—The old
blind sea monster, cleaning buckles as large as the main hatchway.’ The
moment he got sight of the inscription, [Billy] caught hold of a cutlass
from the stand and cleared the gunroom in an instant, and had very near
given it to Perkins, whom he suspected. He had a custom, when half seas
over, of sounding a horn like a huntsman and calling the hounds, and
used to swear he would be in at the death.

When he went to pass for lieutenant, one of the midshipmen and Marr the
boatswain went up to London with him. They found it no easy matter to
keep him in order, and he once swore to have them taken up as runaway
soldiers. When he went to the navy board to undergo his examination he
asked the commissioners the meaning of the word ‘azimuth’ and told them
he could never find any wa wa that knew a word about it. Some of the
board had been shipmates with him and were well acquainted with his
ways; and when putting him right when answering a question, he would
say, ‘Go on, go on, my boy, that’s the way; you are very right,’ as if
he was passing them; and when they told him they had no more questions
to ask, he said he was glad of it and would go back to his ship like a
lark.

One night soon after his return, when he had the first watch, some of
the midshipmen reefed his blankets—this is done by making the ends fast
and forming by numerous turns the blanket into the shape of a ring very
difficult to undo. As soon as he was relieved he went to his hammock and
groping about (for he never would take a light into the tier), he was
heard to mutter, ‘What the hell have they done with the ends?’ and at
last roared out, ‘A horse’s collar, by God.’ After several fruitless
attempts to shake the reef out, he went upon deck and brought down the
ship’s corporal and quartermaster with a light, and ordered them to
clear his blankets; but they were as unable as himself, while the
midshipmen in the tier were convulsed with laughter, and Billy, foaming
with rage, drove away the corporal and quartermaster, calling them
lubberly wa wa ——s. At this time a cry was heard from a remote part of
the tier, ‘Lay out, you lubberly rascal, and shake the reef out.’ At
this Billy lost all patience, and after damning his two eyes he
unshipped the orlop gratings and got some billets of wood out of the
hold, and in less than a minute the tier was cleared. Soon after some of
the watch came down and put his bedding to rights and all was quiet. The
same compliment that Cicero paid to Cæsar may also be paid to Billy,
“that he remembered everything but an injury.” The next morning he
thought nothing of the matter.

Speaking about the Roman history respecting the battle of Actium between
Augustus and Antony, he said he was in the battle and remembered all
about it. The fact was he mistook the name and thought it was some place
where he had been in the American war. He never heard the last of this,
and when speaking of any battle where he had been present, was always
asked if it took place thirty years before Christ. Captain Calder once
sent for him to go in the launch for beer to Weevil.[78] ‘Go back,’ says
he to the quartermaster, ‘and tell Captain C. that Mr. Wood’ (meaning
Lord Hood, who he never called by his right name) ‘never sent me away at
seven bells and I shan’t go now without my dinner. As soon as I have got
that I will go like a lark—damn my two eyes.’ Of course this was not
told the captain.

While we had Admiral Roddam’s flag in the harbour, a Dutch ship of the
line anchored at Spithead and used to fire the morning and evening gun,
without our taking notice of the circumstance. However, Bobby Calder
soon found it out and came on board in a terrible rage, and gave the
commanding officer (Prowse) a severe lecture, and told us all to prepare
for a court martial for neglect in not reporting the transaction; at the
same time sending a message to the Dutchman that if he persisted in such
conduct a ship of the line would be sent alongside of him. This the
Dutchman did not relish and took himself off as quick as possible.

Captain Calder was a man that had the service at heart and was a very
strict disciplinarian. We dared not appear on deck without our full
uniform, and a round hat was never allowed; our side arms always on the
quarter deck ready for duty, and when exercising sails the midshipmen in
the tops were to be in full dress. I remember when the signal was made
for all lieutenants while lying in Torbay, that several came on board
not exactly in uniform. He, without hearing a word they had to say,
turned them out of the ship with a severe reprimand—old Lieutenant Noah
Webb (with his crossjack brace[79] eye), who commanded a cutter at the
head of them; and when the late Sir Joseph Yorke (then a lieutenant)
came on board at Spithead with strings in his shoes, Captain Calder came
running out of his cabin and desired him to quit the ship immediately;
and though Sir Joseph told him he was not on duty, it was all to no
purpose; he kept following him to the gangway saying, ‘My hat’s off,
sir; you must go out of the ship,’ which the other was obliged to do in
high dudgeon.

In working the ship no one was allowed to speak but himself, and I have
seen the Barfleur brought to an anchor and the sails furled like magic,
without a voice being heard except his own.[80]

Sedate and silent move the numerous bands;
No sound, no whisper but their chiefs commands;
These only heard, with awe the rest obey,
As if some god had snatched their voice away.—_Iliad._

No ship in the navy was in such high order. The midshipmen’s berths were
fitted up in great style (the beginning of luxury which the war soon
after put a stop to), with rules and regulations. If a candle was taken
off the table a fine of sixpence must be paid; and a shilling, if a hat
was hung up in the berth or left on the chairs. This was all very well
for the dandy aristocracy, but did not suit some of us that formerly
belonged to the old Edgar; and Dick Heycock was the first to kick, and
refused to abide by the regulations laid down by a proud and usurping
few; and we carried our point, and things went on much better when the
petty tyranny was abolished. Captain Calder would always bring the
nobility that visited the ship to see the midshipmen’s berths, and used
to say: ‘This is the place where all the admirals and captains in the
service are tried every day, and where no one escapes being hauled over
the coals.’

No man could be more attentive at his table, and he would particularly
address himself to the midshipmen, and even ask their opinion upon
different subjects, to give them confidence. Mrs. Calder was very fond
of boat-sailing, and we had a large double banked cutter in which she
would go to Spithead when blowing very fresh, and carrying sail as if in
chase until the boat’s gunwale was under, so that everyone thought she
was mad; and very few liked the trip except in fine weather, as she
would always feel offended if any attempt was made to take in sail.

Among the many first lieutenants, we had one that was very pedantic. I
shall not mention his name, but his nickname was Soap-Suds. The signal
being made for all midshipmen, the order[81] was that a preparative flag
would be hoisted before any manœuvre began, but when hauled down it was
immediately to take place. Now not content with what was written in the
order book, he addressed the midshipmen as follows: ‘The idea strikes me
thus, that when the preparative is hauled down, the evo-lu-ti-on will
most certainly commence, and this pennant is your signal.’

We had another strange first lieutenant—this was Billy Chantrell, well
known in the service. In giving his orders at night he used to say,
‘Call me at six, and don’t come bothering me about blowing and raining
and all that damned nonsense.’ I was with him in three ships and never
met with so droll and strange a fellow. In passing Fairlight, near
Hastings, on our way from the Downs to Spithead, Chantrell, pointing out
to me the cliff near the church on Fairlight Down, said, ‘Jemmy, how
would you like to be perched up there in the winter?’ Little did he
imagine that in some years after, when the war broke out and signal
stations were erected along the coast, he should be the first officer
appointed to this very spot, and I, the last; which was the fact.

We led a very lazy life at Spithead for several months, and it was
expected we should strike upon our beef bones, as we never shifted our
berth. We had nothing to do but row guard and go for fresh beef. Captain
Bourmaster lived at Tichfield, and if anything particular happened a
boat was sent with a midshipman to Hellhead or near it with the orders.
On one occasion Mr. S——s, a midshipman, was dispatched in the cutter and
took some of the boat’s crew with him to Tichfield. On their return,
passing by a farmyard, a flock of ducks and geese began to quack and
hiss at them. The midshipman considered this as a declaration of war,
and ordered his party to prepare for battle and to engage close, which
was instantly obeyed, and after a short contest the enemy took to flight
and several of the ducks were captured. Now the midshipman had read a
little of British history, and particularly remembered that part where
Richard the First in Palestine, and Henry the Fifth at Agincourt, put
their prisoners to death. He immediately followed their example, and
ordered the ducks to be slaughtered. Now the difference between those
great men was this, that Richard and Henry buried their prisoners or got
somebody else to do it, but the midshipman carried his off; and seeing
in an orchard near the farmyard a number of fruit trees heavily laden,
he thought it just that those who began the war should pay the expenses,
which was no new thing in modern warfare, and gave orders to his party
to fill their jackets with pears and apples, observing that it would
ease the trees of their burthen and the boughs would be in less danger
of breaking down. Now all this was very fair; and peace being restored,
the midshipman addressed the farmer (who had come up with the reserve,
but too late to assist the main body after their defeat): ‘I say, old
Hodge, I wish you joy to see your nose and chin come together after
being separated for so many years. But harkee, old chap, if I should
come this way again, and your feather-bed sons of —— begin their capers,
I’m damned if I don’t stop the grog of every mother’s son belonging to
you.’ So saying, he returned with his dead prisoners, and the war was
considered at an end. But the farmer, being bloody-minded, was of a
different opinion, and breathing revenge, went and made his report to
Captain Bourmaster. The captain, after coolly and deliberately weighing
and investigating the transaction, came to the following conclusion:
That Mr. S——s and his party, instead of going direct to their boat, did
go this way and that way, and every way but the right way; and on a
certain day, and in a certain lane, did kill, or did slay, or did murder
or put to death several ducks, and did keep, and did hold, and did
maintain the same, without any right law or title; and for such conduct
Mr. S——s was sentenced to be dismissed from the Barfleur, and his party
to have slops served out to them at the gangway.[82] The midshipman
thought this extremely hard, and on leaving observed that had the case
been tried before a jury he was sure they would have brought in a
verdict of justifiable duckicide.

A curious bet took place between our chaplain and one of the officers.
The wager was that the latter would bring a man who would eat eight
penny rolls and drink a gallon of beer before the parson could walk a
mile. Now the reverend gentleman was a great pedestrian, and could walk
a mile in less than a quarter of an hour. The ground being chosen, one
began to eat and the other to walk at the same moment, a gentleman being
placed at each end with watches that corresponded to a second, when the
parson to his utter amazement, after he had walked three-quarters of his
mile, met the other, who had with ease finished his rolls and beer, and
was unwilling that his reverence should have the trouble of walking the
whole mile and therefore came to meet him. The reverend gentleman, like
most clergymen, played well at whist, and once sitting at his favourite
game, our signal was made, and the order was for the chaplain to attend
a man that was to be hanged next morning. This broke up the game, when
one of the officers observed: ‘Doctor, you have lost the odd trick; but
never mind, the fellow you are going to attend has got nothing by
honours.’

OFFICERS’ NAMES

[ROBERT] RODDAM, Vice-Admiral, Port Admiral.

Dead [1808]. An admiral. Had his flag on board the old
Conquistador, 60, in the American war, as port admiral at the
Nore, at the time Mr. Fegan [_post_, p. 214] was sent
onboard.—[_D.N.B._]

HON. SAMUEL BARRINGTON, Admiral of the blue.

Dead [1800]. A great officer. See his masterly manœuvre in the
West Indies.—[_D.N.B._]

[JOHN] ELLIOT, Vice-Admiral.

Dead [1808]. This first-rate officer captured after a severe
action the French squadron off the Irish coast commanded by
Thurot, who fell in the contest. He also commanded the Edgar, 74,
in the action when Don Langara was defeated and taken by Admiral
Rodney. He commanded at Newfoundland as Governor of that island; a
great astronomer and an able sailor.—[_D.N.B._]

SIR JOHN JERVIS, K.B., Rear-Admiral.

Dead [1823]. Earl St. Vincent, admiral of the fleet; needs no
comment here.—[_D.N.B._]

JONATHAN FAULKNOR, Senr., Rear-Admiral.

Dead [1795]. A most able officer who had seen a great deal of
service, and no man understood it better.

ROBERT CALDER, Esq., Captain.

Dead [1818]. An admiral, a baronet, and K.C.B. I have already
spoken of him.—[_D.N.B._]

ROBERT CARTHEW REYNOLDS, Captain.

Dead [1811]. A rear-admiral; unfortunately lost on the coast of
Denmark, in the St. George, 98; a brave and meritorious officer.
[_D.N.B._]

JOHN BOURMASTER, Esq., Captain.

Dead [1807]. A vice-admiral; one of the best men that ever did
honour to the British navy. [Admiral.]

JOHN DOLLING [_or_ DOLING], 1st Lieutenant.

Dead [1795]. A post captain with Admiral Rainier in the East
Indies.

PADDY LEE, 2nd and then 1st Lieutenant.

Dead. A commander; a strange, droll hand.

[JOHN] MATHEWS, 3rd Lieutenant.

Dead [1798]. A post captain [1793]; a first-rate seaman.

BENJAMIN HALLOWELL [afterwards CAREW], 4th Lieutenant.

Dead [1834]. An admiral and G.C.B.; a brave and skilful
officer.—[_D.N.B._]

ROBERT SAVAGE DANIEL, 5th Lieutenant.

Killed on board the Bellerophon, 74, at the battle of the Nile; a
loss to the service.

WM. PROWSE, 2nd and then 1st Lieutenant.

Dead [1826]. A rear-admiral [1821], C.B.; a worthy man.

ROSS, Lieutenant; I forget how he stood.

Dead. A satirical gentleman and would be thought a poet because he
wrote a play that was damned, and some poems in doggerel rhymes of
scurrilous merit.

JAMES NICHOLL MORRIS, 1st Lieutenant.

Dead [1830]. A vice-admiral, K.C.B.; a very brave and meritorious
officer. He commanded the Colossus, 74, at Trafalgar.—[_D.N.B._]

GEO. GREY, 2nd Lieutenant.

Dead [1828]. Hon. Sir Geo. Grey, Bart. [1814], K.C.B.; late
commissioner at Portsmouth yard.

WM. CHANTRELL, 2nd, 3rd, and 1st Lieutenant.

Dead. A very droll and strange fellow.

[ROBERT] LLOYD, Lieutenant.

I believe a vice-admiral of the blue [1837. Died, vice-admiral of
the white, 1846.—O’Byrne].

RICHARD SIMMONDS, Lieutenant.

Dead. Was an agent of transports and lieutenant at Haslar
Hospital. Nicknamed Gentleman Jack, because he came to see us in
our berth in the cockpit, and said he was the gentleman below, but
the officer on deck.

JAMES CARPENTER, Lieutenant.

Vice-admiral of the red; since promoted to be admiral of the blue
[Jan. 10, 1837. Died, admiral of the white, 1845.—O’Byrne.]

DANIEL DOBREE, Lieutenant.

Dead. A post captain [1802]. See Blonde.

[THOMAS] BOWEN, Lieutenant.

Uncertain. I believe a post captain [1798]; fiery Welshman.
[Griffith Bowen, his servant. Died 1809.]

ANDREW BRACEY TAYLOR, Lieutenant.

Dead. A good officer.

[WILLIAM] ELLIOT, 1st Lieutenant.

Dead. A commander. See Salisbury.

PHILIP CHARLES DURHAM, 2nd Lieutenant.

Admiral of the white, G.C.B.; port admiral at Portsmouth. [Died
1845.—_D.N.B._]

NICHOLAS KEMP, Lieutenant.

Dead. A commander [1797]; a most worthy fellow.

JACKSON DOWSING, Lieutenant.

Dead. All jaw and singing from morn till night.

[EDWARD] MARSH, Lieutenant.

Dead [1813]. A post captain [1797]; steady and quiet.

IRWIN, Lieutenant.

Dead. A very funny officer.

NATHANIEL PORTLOCK, Lieutenant.

Dead [1817]. A post captain; went a voyage round the world; an
able navigator.—[_D.N.B._]

MACKEY, Lieutenant.

Dead. A commander; went a voyage round the world; came safe home;
drunk grog and died.

CHARLES MAURICE STOCKER, 1st Lieutenant.

Killed by the wind of a shot on board the Sans Pareil, 84, in Lord
Bridport’s action.

JOHN RICHARDS, Lieutenant.

Dead [1830, aged 70]. A post captain [1809]. This man belonged to
the Boreas at the time my father was on board; he was then before
the mast. When Captain Thompson was appointed to the Alcide, 74,
he took Richards with him in a low capacity, and afterwards put
him on the quarter deck; when his time was served he got made a
lieutenant. He was a good sailor, but proud, insolent, and vulgar
in his language; full of strange sayings and low wit, and
overbearing to those of inferior rank. Lieutenant Daniels once
told him to go aboard the Alcide again to his former station. He
felt the rebuke severely.—[Marshall, vi. 9.]

[THOMAS] IRELAND, 2nd Lieutenant.

Killed in battle on June 1, 1794.

SAMUEL MOTTLEY, Lieutenant.

A post captain [1802]. I never agreed with him. Since made a
retired rear-admiral. [Died, 1841.—Marshall, iv. 684.]

NORBORNE THOMPSON, Lieutenant.

A rear-admiral. See Salisbury.

CHARLES CARTER, Lieutenant.

A post captain; since promoted to be a retired rear-admiral.
[Died, a vice-admiral, 1848.—O’Byrne.]

BALDWIN, Captain of Marines.

Dead. Insane from grog.

NINIAN JEFFREYS, Master.

A quiet, good man.

[WILLIAM] MORGAN, Chaplain.

Uncertain. A very worthy gentleman.

[JAMES] KIRK, Surgeon.

Dead. Quiet and inoffensive.

[GEORGE] PURVIS, Admiral’s Secretary.

Dead.

[JOHN] DELAFONS, Purser.

Dead.

ROBERT BUSTARD, Mate.

Dead. A lieutenant; a most excellent fellow.

BILLY CULMER, Mate.

Dead. A lieutenant; everyone has heard of Billy.

JAMES ROGERS, Midshipman and mate.

A commander [1806]; since a retired captain.

JOHN TALBOT, Signal midshipman.

Hon. Sir John Talbot, K.C.B.; a vice-admiral of the red. [Died,
admiral and G.C.B., 1851.—O’Byrne.]

[RICHARD TURNER] HANCOCK, Signal midshipman.

A post captain. [Died, a rear-admiral, 1846.—O’Byrne.]

[RICHARD] BOWEN, Signal midshipman.

A brave and able officer; he was captain of the Terpsichore, and
was killed at the attack at Teneriffe when Nelson lost his arm.

LORD AMELIUS BEAUCLERK, Midshipman.

Admiral of the white, G.C.B., G.C.H.; chief naval aide-de-camp to
the king. See Salisbury.

RODDAM, Midshipman.

Uncertain. A Hun; a Goth; and a Vandal.

GALTON, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; a good sailor.

ROBERT PERKINS, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; a droll old guardo midshipman.

[STEPHEN] SKINNER, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; a smart officer.

TATHAM, Midshipman.

Uncertain. A lieutenant, but unfortunately broke by court martial;
a droll, good fellow.

HENRY RICHARDSON, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; a crabbed old fellow called Long-Belly.

PITT BURNABY GREENE, Midshipman.

A post captain; a very good officer. Since dead [1837.—Marshall,
vi. 335].

CHARLES OTTER, Midshipman.

Dead [1831]. A post captain. He commanded the Proserpine, 32,
when she was captured by some French frigates in the
Mediterranean.—[Marshall, iv. 553.]

JONATHAN CHRISTIAN, Midshipman.

Dead. A commander. One of the few in the service that I disagreed
with. I found him waspish, snappish, and disagreeable.—[Marshall,
xi. 12.]

DANIEL KIRK, Son of the surgeon; midshipman.

Dead. Unfortunate from being a dupe to women of the town. [Borne
as his father’s servant, then as A.B., then as midshipman.]

JOHN HINTON, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; crabbed as the devil.

[THOMAS] GODDARD, Midshipman.

Dead. I believe was a lieutenant and severely wounded at the
evacuation of Toulon.—[James, i. 87.]

FRANCIS JOHN NOTT, Midshipman.

A post captain; out-pension, Greenwich Hospital. Dead
[1840.—Marshall, vi. 236].

THOMAS H. TIDY, Midshipman.

Dead. A commander. Poor Tom.

Hon. DUNBAR DOUGLAS, Midshipman.

Dead. A commander; a glorious fellow. A follower of Earl St.
Vincent. When a midshipman with him in the Foudroyant, 84, he was
stationed in the foretop, and having hold of the main-top bowline
by accident when the ship was going about, he was hauled out of
the top and pitched into the main rigging without receiving the
smallest injury, having the presence of mind to hold fast by the
slack of the bowline, and by that means saved his life. This I
heard related at Lord St. Vincent’s table. Her mainsail was not
set at the time.

[JOHN] W. T. DIXON, Midshipman.

Dead. He commanded the Apollo, 36, when that ship was
unfortunately lost on the coast of Portugal with several of her
convoy, and was drowned. He was brother to Admiral Sir Manley
Dixon.

THOS. BYAM MARTIN, Midshipman.

Admiral of the white, G.C.B. [Admiral of the fleet; died 1854.
_N.R.S._, vols. xxiv., xii., xix.]

JOHN HARVEY, Midshipman.

Admiral of the blue, K.C.B.; since dead [1837.—_D.N.B._]

JACK EATON, Mate.

Dead. My worthy and lamented old messmate; a first-rate seaman. He
commanded the Marlborough, 74, in 1797, and in a fit of insanity
killed himself at the admiralty.

FRANCIS TEMPLE, Midshipman.

A post captain; since made a retired rear-admiral [1837 Died
admiral, 1863.—O’Byrne].

AUGUSTUS BRINE, Midshipman.

A post captain; since made a retired rear-admiral. [Died 1840.]

P. BROWNE, Midshipman.

A post captain. [Died 1842.—Marshall, vi. 95.]

WM. BUSH, Midshipman.

A commander.

RICHARD SIMMONDS, Midshipman.

Dead. He was made a commander, but broke by court martial, and
some years after put on the list as lieutenant. He fought well,
and that was all.

JOHN BRUCE, Midshipman.

Dead. A commander.

JAMES ROSS, Midshipman with one arm.

Dead [1810]. A post captain; son of Admiral Sir John Lockhart
Ross.

[JOHN] BULLER, Midshipman.

Uncertain.

JOHN KEY, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant. See Brunswick.

CHAS. INGLIS } Old Edgars. See Edgar.
JAS. SANDERS } „
JOHN BELL CONOLLY } „
SOL. KING } „
EDWARD MOORE } „
WM. LAMB } „
JOHN MACREDIE } „
RICHARD HEYCOCK } „
GEO. JONES } „
EMANUEL SILVA } „
J. A. GARDNER } „

JEMMY JOHNSTONE, Midshipman.

Dead [1823]. A post captain [1806]; a rigid disciplinarian, who
drank like the devil.

CHAS. GRANT, Midshipman.

Dead [1825]. Commodore at the Cape of Good Hope; C.B.; an
excellent officer.—[Marshall, iii. 300.]

WILLIAM DURBAN, Midshipman.

A post captain, LL.D.; a distinguished officer with first-rate
abilities; since promoted to be rear-admiral of the blue. Dead
[1837.—Marshall, iv. 845].

JAS. DALGLEISH, Mate.

A commander; a good old sailor. [Died, 1846.—Marshall, xi. 135.]

JACKSON, Midshipman.

Uncertain. A good-natured old squinting fellow.

MORTON.

Dead. A lieutenant, called ‘Red Muzzle’; said to have killed
himself.

GEO. CLARK, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant. When we had pudding for dinner, if any was
left and put by for next day, he used to call us up in the night
to have a blow out with the remainder. This was called
‘puddening[83] the flats.’

[WILLIAM] LAUNDER, Midshipman.

A most worthy fellow; a lieutenant, killed on board the
Bellerophon at the battle of the Nile.

CHAS. CAME, Midshipman.

Dead. A commander.

LAURIE, Midshipman.

A lieutenant; murdered at St. John’s, Newfoundland.

[ROBERT] SPICER, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant.

CHATTERTON, Midshipman.

Uncertain. All jaw and drink.

JOHN DELAFONS, Midshipman; son of the purser.

First lieutenant of Bellona at Copenhagen [1801. Died, commander,
1805].

[THOMAS] DELAFONS, Midshipman; son of the purser.

Commander. [Died 1848. Borne as purser’s servant, afterwards
A.B.—Marshall, xi. 153.]

WM. ARCHBOLD, Midshipman.

A commander. Crab-apple.

PHILIP ANSTRUTHER, Midshipman.

Dead. A commander.

CHAS. ANSTRUTHER, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant.

RICHARD CURRY, Midshipman.

The senior post captain on the list; since promoted to be
rear-admiral of the red [1837]. C.B. [1831. Died, admiral of the
blue, 1856.—O’Byrne.]

[GEORGE] JOHNSTONE, Midshipman.

A lieutenant, murdered in Five Bell Lane, near Deptford.

[JOHN] O’CONNOR, Midshipman.

Uncertain. I hated him.

JOHN MCDONALD, Mate.

A commander; a very smart officer. [Died 1845.—O’Byrne.]

CHAS. BENNET, Midshipman.

A commander; since a retired captain. [Died 1843.—Marshall, x.
411.]

JOHN CHEST, Midshipman.

Uncertain. When he joined the ship he had a very large chest, and
had not been on board above an hour when some fellow painted on
the lid in large white letters, ‘JOHN CHEST HIS BOX.’

HOWELL POWELL, 1st Assistant Surgeon.

Poor Powell was surgeon of the Babet [1801], when that ship
foundered with all hands. He was one of the best fellows I ever
met with.

JACKY MARR, Boatswain.

Dead. Jacky was as good a seaman as any in the navy, but too
severe. He was made boatswain of the sheer hulk and then promoted
to the dockyard.

JEFFRIES, Boatswain.

Dead. A good sailor, and a very worthy character.

[WILLIAM] RIVERS, Gunner.

Dead. Very much respected.

STRONG, Carpenter.

One of the oldest warrant officers living; highly respected; has
been in almost every general action since that of Keppel [1778].
Since dead.

WILLIAM PYE, Schoolmaster.

Dead. A purser. See Salisbury.

[BEN.] JEFFERYS, Clerk.

Dead. A purser; a very worthy fellow.

QUEEN, 98

Like leaves on trees the race of man is found,
Now green in youth, now with’ring on the ground;
Another race the following spring supplies,
They fall successive, and successive rise;
So generations in their course decay,
So flourish these when those are passed away.—_Iliad._

In this ship I found a new race of men, all strangers to me with the
exception of five. I was recommended to Captain Hutt, commanding the
Queen, 98, fitting in Portsmouth Harbour, by my late friend Admiral
Bourmaster, and joined her early in 1793. I had not been long on board
when I was ordered with a party of seamen to fit out the Conflagration
fireship, Lieutenant Laurie (now Sir Robert) superintending. Having
received orders to fit for foreign service, we proceeded to Spithead and
hoisted the flag (blue at the mizen) of Rear-Admiral Gardner, and having
rigged the Conflagration returned to our ship. The Queen being ordered
to the West Indies, I made (like a fool) application to Captain
Bourmaster to get me removed to the Berwick, 74, commanded by Sir John
Collins, Knight, fitting for the Mediterranean, to which place I wished
much to go. After long consideration he agreed to my request; at the
same time observing that I stood in my own light and that I would lose
promotion by taking such a step. This I well knew; but the hatred I had
for the West Indies made me blind to my own interest. When I saw Captain
Hutt I found it no easy matter to bring him to my way of thinking, and
it was a long time before he would give his consent. I remember when he
sent for me in his cabin, I fell over a small case that happened to be
in the way and broke my shins, for which he called me a damned clumsy
fellow and said I deserved what I got for wishing to leave the ship, and
that I would bitterly repent it when I found others promoted and myself
left out. However, he gave me my discharge and a very good certificate,
shook hands with me and wished me success. He was one of the strictest
officers in the navy, an excellent sailor, and woe betide those that
were slack in carrying on the duty. He had a stern look, with a
penetrating eye that would pierce through those who he questioned, and
in him the service lost an officer not easily replaced.

Our first lieutenant, old Constable, was a devil of a tyrant. When first
I asked him leave to go on shore for a few hours, he said he would see
me in hell first; and on my thanking him for his kindness, he swore if I
did so again he would try me by a court martial for my politeness. I was
once starting[84] the jolly-boat boys for being slack in getting into
the boat, when old Constable being present and observing what I was
about, ‘Damn my eyes, sir,’ says he, ‘that’s not the way; you should
take a handspike and knock their brains out.’ He was a good sailor and
an indefatigable first lieutenant, but fractious and disagreeable; yet
on shore quite the reverse. Our second lieutenant, Billy Bedford, was
very particular and fidgety, and would nig-nag all day long about
trifles. We had a very droll midshipman (George Milner) who would take
him off in the most laughable manner by jumping round a cask, grinning
most horribly and singing Nig-nig-nag and Fidgetyfidgety-fum, until the
tears would start from his eyes. This was for getting a rub down from
Bedford, who he swore was only fit to be a cooper, and to jump round a
cask.

We had many droll and good fellows among our midshipmen. I shall mention
a few; and first, Flinders (one of the mates) who I messed with in the
main hatchway berth on the lower deck. He was well acquainted with
ancient history and wrote notes on what he read with sound observations.
He was very fond of a drop, and would expatiate on the character of
Alexander the Great, and said had he been present at the drinking party,
Promachus would not have won the talent so easy, and he would have
pledged Alexander himself with a bowl they had in his family against
that of Hercules.

Jack Barrett (who commanded the Minotaur, 74, when she was lost) was
another droll hand, the life and soul of the ship. He was a most worthy
fellow and departed this life with the character of a brave and
meritorious officer, lamented by a numerous acquaintance. James
McPherson Rice, my worthy messmate, thou art also gone. A most excellent
fellow, a great mathematician, well read, and respected by everyone that
knew him. Out of the whole mess I am the only one left—Flinders, Meager,
Milner, etc., etc., etc., all gone; and of the forty-eight that were on
board, thirty-six have departed for that bourne from whence no traveller
returns, as the following list will show:—

OFFICERS’ NAMES

ALAN GARDNER, Rear-admiral.

Dead [1809]. Admiral Lord Gardner. He commanded the Duke, 98, in
Rodney’s action at the taking of the Count de Grasse, April 12,
1782, where he greatly distinguished himself. He had his flag on
board the Queen in Lord Howe’s action, June 1, 1794.—[D.N.B.]

JOHN HUTT, Esq., Captain.

Killed in the action of June, 1, 1794; one of the ablest officers
in the navy.—[_D.N.B._]

LOVE CONSTABLE, 1st Lieutenant.

Dead. A commander; an excellent sailor and an indefatigable first
lieutenant. The devil on board, but an angel on shore.

WILLIAM BEDFORD, 2nd Lieutenant.

Dead [1827]. A vice-admiral; a fidgety, good fellow. See Edgar.

JOHN MILLER, 3rd Lieutenant.

Dead [1843]. A retired post captain [1797]; an excellent officer.
[Marshall, iii. 114.]

[RICHARD] DAWES, 4th Lieutenant.

Killed on June 1, 1794. [According to James, i. 185, 200, wounded;
but his name no longer appeared in the _Navy List_.]

ROBERT LAURIE, 5th Lieutenant.

Vice-admiral Sir Robert Laurie, Bart., K.C.B.; was wounded on June
1, 1794. See Salisbury.

[ROBERT] HOPE, Surgeon.

Dead. Physician at Haslar Hospital.

[GEORGE] GRANT, Secretary and Purser.

Dead.

JAMES KELLOCH, Boatswain.

Dead. A sailor.

WILLIAM IRELAND, Gunner.

Dead. Much respected.

[FRANCIS] ADAMS, Carpenter.

Dead. Builder at Gibraltar.

THOMAS OLIVER, Mate.

A commander; ‘Jawing Tom.’ [Died 1842.—Marshall, x. 384.]

WILLIAM PADDY RUSSELL, Midshipman.

A commander; a very good fellow. [Died 1828.—Marshall, x. 369.]

CHAS. TINLING, Midshipman.

A retired rear-admiral [1830. Died 1840.—Marshall, iii. 362].

[SAMUEL] BUTCHER, Midshipman.

A post captain; since a retired rear-admiral [1840; died, a
vice-admiral, 1849.—O’Byrne].

WM. WOOLDRIDGE, Midshipman.

Dead [1820]. A post captain [1807]; a rough sailor.

[MOSES] CANNADEY, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant.

NOEL SWINEY, Midshipman.

Uncertain. Was a lieutenant, but broke by court martial and
rendered incapable of serving.

JOHN BARRETT, Midshipman.

Drowned [1810] in the Minotaur, 74, of which ship he was captain.
Brave fellow.—[_D.N.B._]

JAMES MCPHERSON RICE, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; a worthy fellow.

WILLIAM DICKINSON, Midshipman.

Dead. A quiet, good fellow. [D.D. in Queen’s pay-book; no date.]

FRANCIS DICKINSON, Midshipman.

Dead. A commander; satirical.

H. G. MORRIS, Midshipman.

A post captain. [Died, a retired rear-admiral, 1851.—O’Byrne.]

GEO. MILNER, Midshipman.

Dead. No man’s enemy but his own.

ROBERT JENNER NEVE, Midshipman.

Dead [1815]. A post captain [1806]; amazingly grand, and foolishly
proud.

[JOHN] BATT, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant.

[NICHOLAS] MEAGER, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; called ‘Mileager.’

[JOHN A.] HODGSKIN, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; a very worthy fellow; called ‘Pig Hog’ and
‘Hog’s-flesh.’

EDMUND RAYNER, Midshipman.

A commander [1831, on retired list]; as worthy a fellow as ever
lived. [Died 1846.]

[JOHN M.] SEPPINGS, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; had a pension from the Custom House.

PETER HUNT, Midshipman.

Dead [1824]. A post captain [1803]; a very droll fellow.

J. A. GARDNER, Midshipman.

A commander.

[JOHN] DAVIS [Quartermaster, afterwards Midshipman, aged 38].

Dead.

[WILLIAM] RENWICK, Midshipman, lent.

Lieutenant of Greenwich Hospital. [Died 1839.]

[WILLIAM] THOMPSON, Clerk.

Dead. A purser.

BERWICK, 74

Joined the Berwick in April 1793, Sir John Collins, Knight, captain,
fitting in Portsmouth Harbour for the Mediterranean, and in May sailed
with a division of the fleet under the Vice-Admiral Lord Hood, who had
his flag on board the Victory, 100. On the passage the squadron captured
a corvette. We arrived at Gibraltar, Vice-Admiral Hotham’s Division in
company, and having taken in our water sailed for Toulon. When off
Minorca we fell in with the Spanish fleet under Don Langara on a cruise.
To the best of my recollection our fleet consisted of twenty sail of the
line besides frigates, but several men of war joined after.

[The list of the fleet which follows has no authority, and has been
frequently printed.]

When near Toulon Lord Hood made the signal to prepare for battle, and
also the signal for a general chase which ended in the capture of the
corvette L’Éclair. Saw the enemy’s fleet at anchor in the inner and
outer roads. When sent in to reconnoitre, they would allow us to come as
near as we liked; but the moment the ship was put about their forts
would blaze away with red-hot shot; and we in the Berwick had nearly got
into an awkward situation, which I shall speak of hereafter. In July
while cruising off Toulon the fleet encountered a tremendous gale, and
the old Berwick, who always bore the name of a bad sea boat, proved it
on this occasion with a vengeance. First the bowsprit went, about two
feet before the outer gammoning; bore up, and got the runners and
tackles forward to secure the foremast. At daylight made the signal of
distress, and parted company from the fleet. The rigging being new, it
became so slack that we were obliged to set it up, with a very heavy sea
running, which was done in a seaman-like manner; but mark what follows.
After the lower rigging was set up, and while before the wind, the main
sail, of all sails in the world, was set, and the ship hove to slap at
once, by which she was nearly thrown on her beams ends. The main yard
went in the slings, the main topmast and half the main top carried away,
the fore mast sprung in two places, and the mizen mast in three; of the
main-top men of one watch, seventeen in number, one was killed, another
drowned, and several of the others severely hurt, but by falling on the
splinter netting were fortunately saved. The wreck of the main yard had
nearly knocked two ports into one on the main deck, while that of the
main topmast got under the counter, damaged the copper, and had almost
unshipped the rudder before it could be cleared, which was done with
great difficulty. It is a fact that the ship rolled sixteen or eighteen
feet of her fore yard in the water,[85] and laboured so dreadfully that
on our arrival in port the oakum was found to have worked so much out of
the seams, particularly under the counter, that it was astonishing we
succeeded in reaching Gibraltar. I must also mention that the force of
the wind was so great that it burst the lashings[86] of the jolly boat
lying on the booms, and blew the boat away like a feather. So much for
the Gulf of Lyons. I do not mean to throw blame on any one, but I cannot
help thinking that the ship was somehow or other badly handled, to say
nothing of her being a bad sea boat; and if she had not been as strong
as wood and iron could make her, must certainly have paid a visit to
Davy Jones’ locker.

We remained at Gibraltar several weeks in the New Mole, and enjoyed
ourselves by going up to the old Porter house on Scud Hill[87] of an
evening, and sometimes to the Junk Ships and the Swan; and then cruise
about the town, which is not deficient in places of amusement. It was
here I first observed the march of intellect; a fellow, whose name was
Anthony Strico and kept a wine house, had over his door in large
letters,

Tono Strico
Wino Houso.[88]

After the ship was refitted we proceeded to join the fleet at Toulon
which had surrendered to Lord Hood during our absence. While off Minorca
we were taken in a thundering squall that had almost done for the old
Berwick a second time. Next day, fell in with a Spanish frigate
dismasted; gave her some assistance which she seemed to want, as they
appeared to be deficient in nautical knowledge, or, in other words, the
vilest set of lubbers that ever were seen. They positively did not know
how to get a jury mast up. On our arrival at Toulon we found Lord Hood
with the British fleet and Don Langara with the Spanish; also some
Neapolitan men of war. Landed our soldiers, which were part of the 69th
regiment of foot doing duty as marines. Plenty of fighting going on in
every direction, the Princess Royal and some other ships keeping up a
constant fire against the enemy’s lines to prevent them throwing up
batteries. We had some pleasant trips in our launch in carrying a load
of eighteen and thirty-two pound shot to supply the Princess Royal while
she was engaging, the shot from the enemy flying more than half a mile
beyond us. Fortunately we escaped without injury. One of the lower-deck
guns on board the Princess Royal or St. George—I forget which—burst and
killed nine men and wounded twenty-seven.[89] We remained but a short
time at Toulon, and then sailed to join Commodore Linzee at Tunis.

We had a delightful passage running along the Italian shore with a fine
view of Elba, Gorgona, Pianoza, Monte Christo, Capraja, etc.

For here the muse so oft her harp has strung,
That not a mountain rears its head unsung.—_Addison._

Stood over for Sardinia and put into Cagliari, the capital, where we
found Commodore Linzee and squadron.

_October 22, 1793._—Went on shore and dined in company with the
Sardinian admiral and several great men of the island, who were very
intelligent and gave us an account of the attack made by the French
squadron, who were beaten off with loss (according to their account) of
5,000 men.[90] Visited the city, which has a university, and went to
some of the convents to purchase articles from the nuns. Found the
friars a set of jolly fellows who behaved to us with great civility, not
only in this place but in every other port in the Mediterranean that we
put into.

_October 25._—Sailed from Cagliari in quest of some French frigates, but
had not the good fortune to fall in with them. During the cruise before
we put into Cagliari and joined the commodore, we fell in with six sail
of the line who, not answering the private signal, were taken for a
French squadron. It being late in the evening we made all sail and stood
from them; they gave chase the whole of the night, but only two could
come up with us, and they took good care not to come alongside, and well
for them they did not; all our guns were loaded with round and
double-headed shot, and our 68-pounders on the forecastle were crammed
with grape and canister, and our fellows (two thirds of them Irish) were
determined to give them a lesson that would never be forgotten. This
they seemed to anticipate, as they kept hankering on the quarter until
morning, when they hoisted Spanish colours; one of them sent a boat on
board of us.

The officer seemed astonished when he saw our men at quarters, their
black silk handkerchiefs[91] tied round their heads, their shirt sleeves
tucked up, the crows and handspikes in their hands, and the boarders all
ready with their cutlasses and tomahawks, that he told Sir John Collins
they put him in mind of so many devils.

After the cruise we put into Tunis, and found lying there the Duquesne,
French 74; and higher up in the bay, near the Goletta, her convoy,
consisting of fifty sail of merchantmen with valuable cargoes; also the
Spanish squadron mentioned above. Commodore Linzee with the following
men of war anchored close to the Frenchman, and the Agamemnon near their
convoy:—

Alcide 74 Commodore Linzee; Captain Woodley
Berwick 74 Captain Sir John Collins
Illustrious 74 Captain T. L. Frederick
Agamemnon 64 Captain Horatio Nelson
Lowestoft 32 Captain Cunningham[92]
Nemesis 28 Captain Lord Amelius Beauclerk

I must here mention that the Yankee-doodle[93] James in his _Naval
History_ takes no notice of this expedition, which is to be wondered at
as the ‘Sea Serpent’ was never backward in finding fault, and here he
missed a good opportunity. The Agamemnon and Lowestoft were sent, as I
have stated, to watch the convoy, and the three seventy-fours anchored
one abreast, another on the bow, and one on the quarter of the Duquesne,
ready to bring her to action, and six sail of the line (Spanish) to
assist in this great undertaking; but all this mighty preparation came
to nothing. The cargoes were safely landed from the convoy; and the
Duquesne, after laughing at us for several weeks and singing the
Marseilles hymn morning and evening, with the English jack spread over
her round house, got under way, and arrived safe at Toulon, which had
been evacuated by the fleet and army; and all this because Tunis was a
neutral port. Now everybody knew that before the squadron sailed, and
also that Tunis was nothing less than a nest of thieves; besides, we
were out of gunshot of their forts and might have taken the whole with
the greatest ease imaginable.

We had a rugged-headed, squint-eyed boatswain’s mate, who early one
morning passed the word for all those who were quartered on the main
deck to come below and fight the lower-deck guns. He was instantly
obeyed, and the people of their own accord were absolutely going to
bring the French 74 to action, and the above boatswain’s mate as the
head of the party was in the act of setting the example, when the second
lieutenant snatched the match out of his hand just as he was going to
fire. Lord Nelson, who commanded the Agamemnon, happened to come on
board soon after, and when this was told him he seemed quite pleased:
‘For then,’ says he, ‘we must have taken them.’ If he had commanded, we
certainly should have taken them,[94] and not have stayed wasting our
time for months in the bay doing nothing.

Our squadron used to water near the Goletta, a small channel leading to
the ancient harbour of Carthage, fortified on each side and a chain
across. On the left of this channel they have a gun with marble shot of
immense size; the diameter of the bore twenty two inches and a half. On
the other side are a few wells dug in the sand, from which the squadron
got their water. On one occasion I went in the launch to fill our casks,
a messmate of mine (the present Captain Valobra) taking a trip with me;
having given directions about filling, I proposed to cross the Goletta
(which has a drawbridge over it) and take a look at the large fort they
have close by. On getting into the interior, which is a square, we saw a
door open and went into what appeared a guard room, from the number of
arms tastefully arranged about the walls, and several Turks rolled up in
blankets lying on the floor. Having examined the place we were going
away, when one of the Turks, as I approached the door, caught hold of me
by the collar and pushed me back. I did not relish this and tried to
make the blackguard understand, but all to no purpose. However, I again
made a movement to get out, when a young Turk, with a short stick that
had something round like a ball fixed to the end of it, made a blow at
my head which would certainly have done for me had I not stepped back in
time. We had left our side arms in the launch and had nothing to defend
ourselves against this ruffian. One of the Turks we heard say
‘Spagniolle!’ upon which Valobra called out ‘Angleise!’ Whether this had
the effect to liberate us I know not; but an old withered Turk came up,
and after a deal of altercation with the fellow who struck at me, he
pointed to the door and showed us the way out, and glad enough we were
of it. Having filled our casks we returned on board (the rascally Turks
pelting us with stones as long as we were in reach), and made a
complaint to Sir John Collins, who went on shore the next day to
represent the business to the commandant of the fort, and this vagabond
had the impudence to say we might think ourselves well off that we were
not sent up the country and made slaves. Went with Lieutenant Shirley to
see the ruins of Carthage.... Saw several remains of antiquity, broken
columns, underground passages, pieces of frieze, and the remarkable
arches supposed to be the stables of the elephants. I went into a room
like a cellar and got a piece of the flooring, of beautiful green and
white marble, which I brought home; but some thief in England stole it
from me—the devil do him good with it. The ground about the ruins was
covered with reptiles of almost every description, which made it
dangerous to explore. I carried a piece of frieze several miles
intending to bring it home also, but was obliged to leave it from
fatigue. As Lieutenant Shirley, who was very tired, sat on a broken
column, I observed it might have been the same that Caius Marius rested
on when in exile and from which he made this memorable reply (to show
the instability of human greatness) to him that was sent by the governor
to warn him off: ‘Go,’ says he, ‘and say that thou hast seen Caius
Marius sitting on the ruins of Carthage.’

A short time before we left Tunis the bey sent a present to the
squadron, of bullocks, butter, poultry, scented candles and some otto of
roses. We in the cockpit had some butter, poultry, and a scented candle
or two; as for the otto of roses we could smell it near the wardroom,
but not a drop could we see in the cockpit. However, we were more
regaled with the scent of a seapie, made in a pitch kettle that
contained, besides other delicacies, upwards of thirty fowls. We sat
round the cauldron in the cockpit, like the witches in ‘Macbeth,’ and
would not have exchanged this glorious mess for all the otto of roses
belonging to the bey or his ministers. At the same time, the devil thank
some people for their kindness in not paying the compliment; they might
have sent us one small bottle to counteract the bilge water; but never
mind; they, poor souls, are all dead; and most of us are alive
notwithstanding. As for the butter, it was only fit to grease the
topmasts, and for that purpose we resigned it. We had a few of the
candles, made of beeswax and scented.

The bullocks were very small, and here I must relate a droll
circumstance. Our purser’s steward was one that dearly loved grog, and
it so happened that on the day the bullocks were slaughtered, he got
beastly drunk. Some of the midshipmen seeing him in that situation in
the first watch, lying near the steward room, agreed to sew him up in
one of the bullocks’ hides, which was accordingly done. The horns being
on, were fixed to a nicety on his head and fastened under the chin, firm
as a rock. A little before twelve he came to himself and got up (for his
legs and arms were free) and tried to get into the steward room, but the
key was secured. He then began to bellow, just as the quartermaster came
down to call the watch, and was knocking his horns against the bulk
head, his tail near the cockpit ladder. The quartermaster, holding up
his lantern, looked at him for some time in amazement; at last, letting
it fall, he took to his heels, swearing that the devil was in the
cockpit; while those who slept abaft on the lower deck jumped out of
their hammocks and followed his example. ’Twas a most laughable sight;
particularly so when the officer of the watch came down to see what was
the matter and, evidently under the influence of fear, did not venture
down the cockpit ladder until one of the midshipmen came up and said it
was Colquhoun, the steward, transformed into a bullock. It had a good
effect on the steward, as he was afraid ever after to bouse his jib up;
and whenever he put his head up the cockpit ladder, those on the lower
deck would sing out, ‘What’s become of your horns?’

Left Tunis for Porto Farino to get a supply of water for the fleet. The
plague had made great ravages before our arrival, but had in some
measure abated. This place is a Turkish arsenal, and several of their
men of war were fitting out. A number of Neapolitan slaves were at work
in the different storehouses; some of them could speak English, and gave
us an interesting account of the conduct of their masters. I saw an old
Turk, upwards of seventy, with a long stick in his hand thrashing
several of the poor wretches. I could not refrain from telling him he
was a damned old scoundrel; whether he understood or not, I cannot say,
but he called out repeatedly, ‘Esau, Esau’; and Lieutenant Shirley
bawling in his ear, ‘Will you have Isaac and Jacob also?’

Porto Farino is situated near the mouth of the Bagrada,[95] where
Attilius Regulus, the Roman consul, lay encamped in the first Punic war,
when the serpent attacked and destroyed several of his soldiers who came
to the river to obtain water.... The ancient city of Utica, famous for
the death of Cato in the civil war, was at no great distance from this
port.

A short time before we sailed the Turkish governor paid a visit to the
ship, with his retinue, among whom was the Turkish admiral—a fine
looking fellow near seven feet high. We saluted the governor with eleven
guns, and he minutely inspected every part of the ship and seemed highly
delighted with the bread room, and also with the 68-pounders we had on
the forecastle. One of his attendants spoke English, and said he was in
England at the time the Foudroyant was captured by the Monmouth,[96] and
that he lived at Wapping. We suspected he was an Englishman although he
said his name was Mustapha.

Sailed from this port to cruise off the Island of Pantalaria. You that
are fond of romance are aware that in this island the famous captain of
banditti met his death; all Italy speaks of him, from the Apennines to
the Straits of Messina, and the shepherds of the Sicilian vales sing the
praises of the valoroso Capitano Rinaldini. But they did not (in this
island) sing the praises of little Tommy Yates, our purser, who went on
shore to purchase some articles, and put the whole island under
quarantine when they found out we had just left the Turkish port; and if
Tommy had gone on shore the second time he probably would have left his
bones there.

We encountered off this island the heaviest gale I ever was in;
particularly a squall that lasted from seven bells in the middle watch
until two bells in the morning watch. The storm staysails were blown
from the bolt rope, and the ship during this prodigious gust lay with
her main deck guns in the water. The sea was one white sheet, and during
the whole course of my servitude I never witnessed anything equal to it;
and many who had been in the hurricane of 1780 in the West Indies,
declared that this squall was equally terrible. After the cruise we put
into Trapani, the ancient Drepanum. It was here Aeneas landed, according
to Virgil, when the fight with the gauntlet took place between Dares and
Entellus, and it was also famous for that between Hercules and Eryx, in
which the latter was killed. It was a noted place in the first Punic war
for military events, as that of the defeat of the Roman fleet under the
Consul Claudius Pulcher, wherein (according to Valerius Maximus) the
Romans lost 90 galleys, 8,000 men killed or drowned, and 20,000 taken
prisoners by the Carthaginians without the loss of a man or a single
galley on their side.[97]

I must here relate an anecdote which will show how careful people ought
to be when joking with those whom they think don’t understand their
language. The day after we arrived at Trapani, near thirty Sicilian
clergymen came on board to see the ship, and while on the quarter deck
making their observations, Palmer, our fourth lieutenant, in a
frolicsome mood, went up to one of them and, while bowing and scraping,
said, ‘Pray, sir, were you ever knocked down with a fathom of ——?’ when,
to Palmer’s horror and amazement, the other answered in good English,
‘Never in my life, sir,’ and then addressed his companions, who cast
their eyes upon Palmer and began to laugh at his expense. This he could
not stand, and in going down the quarter deck ladder declared he would
sooner face the devil than a Trapani parson.

The islands Maretimo, Levanzo, and Faviguano are near this place; in the
last-mentioned island the Turkish prisoners are sent as slaves. We saw
several of them at work in the moat, one of them a man of prodigious
stature. These islands were the ancient Ægades, where Lutatius Catulus,
the Roman consul, defeated the Carthaginian fleet and put an end to the
first Punic War.[97]

Before we left Trapani we went to see a church, or rather cemetery,
where several rows of dead bodies were placed in niches one over the
other. They were naked, some standing up and others lying at full
length, and presenting an appearance truly horrible; we understood they
belonged to a particular order. While lying here, a mutiny took place
among the ship’s company, in consequence of some bullocks that were
anything but fat being sent for the use of the people. Now John Bull,
having more regard for fat and lean, swore he’d be damned if he’d have
anything to do with skin and bone. A survey was then held and the report
stated that as no other meat could be obtained, double allowance of this
lean kine should be served out to make up the deficiency; but all to no
purpose; and John Bull, forgetting his duty and only thinking of his
maw, broke out into open rebellion. Some of the scoundrels were put in
irons, but were immediately released by the others and the irons thrown
overboard. They then assembled on the lower deck, got the hammocks down,
and a breastwork made in the bay, with the two foremost guns pointed
aft. The officers at last prevailed on them to return to their duty,
and, Sir John Collins being an easy man, no examples were made. Sailed
for Leghorn, where we arrived in Carnival time. We were not long at an
anchor before the ship was surrounded by boats with musicians playing
fine Italian airs and women singing most delightfully.

Several men of war were in the roads; among which was the Aquilon, 32,
with Prince Augustus Frederick (now Duke of Sussex) on his travels. Got
leave with some difficulty to go on shore with two messmates, Graves and
Valobra; saw the brazen men so much spoken of, consisting of the father
and three sons (Turks) in bronze chained to the four corners of a
pedestal, with a marble statue of a Tuscan prince on the top. Visited
the Jews’ synagogue, which was well worth seeing, being a magnificent
temple; also the churches, opera house and many other places, with fine
paintings and statuary, and had glorious fun at the Carnival, where we
met our little purser, Tommy Yates, with a mask and a black domino on,
cutting such capers that Heraclitus would have wiped away his tears had
he seen him, and joined in the laugh. He was a wet little soul and
generous to a degree, and everyone respected him.

Early next morning, after a sumptuous breakfast, we set off for Pisa,
about fourteen or fifteen miles from Leghorn, in one of the gilt coaches
with horses that, had they seen the devil would not have taken fright.
We were three hours going the distance and had full time to observe the
beautiful prospect along the Vale of Arno. About ten we entered Pisa,
where they were celebrating the Carnival in a magnificent style, and we
were told that six hundred coaches were in the procession. The prince
was among the number and appeared much gratified. Pelting with sugar
plums is customary on this occasion; and one of our midshipmen pelted
Lord Hervey in his coach; and when told it was the British ambassador,
and that he looked very angry, he immediately hove another volley at
Lady Hervey, observing that she looked better tempered than his
Excellency.

We spent a very pleasant evening at the theatre, and next morning went
to the cathedral—a gorgeous fabric, with gates of bronze highly
decorated with passages from scripture in compartments in _basso
relievo_. We also saw the baptistery with a whispering gallery, and the
_campo santo_, with the paintings on the wall in _fresco_ round the
cloisters, the work of the oldest masters. One painting I well
recollect, representing the Last Judgment—the work I believe of
Buffalmaco, who in this painting drew all his friends going to heaven,
and his enemies going to the devil; the faces of all being an exact
resemblance of those of both parties. The tombs of some of the masters
are at the foot of their works.[98] The _campo santo_ is an oblong
figure, and the earth in the centre was brought from the Holy Land some
centuries ago, and people of religious celebrity are here interred.

We next visited the Observatory and Botanical Gardens, and then to the
top of the Leaning Tower, 187 feet high, and whose summit overlooks the
base fifteen feet. One of our party began ringing the bells, which
brought up a posse of friars; and Graves, pointing to one of them, a
very fat man, exclaimed, ‘I’ll be damned if that fellow is not fitted
for foreign service with six months’ provisions in his guts.’ I suppose
they did not understand him, as they behaved with great civility. Some
in this country, who I could mention, would have behaved in a different
manner. There’s an old saying

That Pisa looks ill
If you sit still.

This was not the case with us, as we were constantly on the move and saw
everything and enjoyed ourselves greatly, particularly among the masks
while parading the Lung’ Arno. The day before our departure we took a
long and delightful walk upon the banks of the Arno and were within a
few miles of the spot where Catiline and his whole army were destroyed
63 B.C., in the consulship of Marcus Tullius Cicero and Caius Antonius
Nepos.

Pisa has a university and formerly contained 100,000 inhabitants, but
has greatly fallen off and grass grows in the streets. It contains many
churches and other superb buildings, particularly the Grand Duke’s
palace in the Lung’ Arno, the Hospital, and Exchange. There are three
bridges over the Arno, one of them of marble. Several Roman antiquities
are to be seen. It was our intention to have gone to Lucca and from
thence to Florence; but all sublunary things are vain, as we were
ordered to sea sooner than was expected, and returned to Leghorn after
five days’ absence, where we dined at an excellent ordinary at one of
the best houses in the city. We had a strong party of English officers
at the dinner, some of whom got rather merry before the cloth was off
the table, and catching hold of the waiter they rolled him in the cloth
with plates and dishes, the fellow roaring out all the while to no
purpose. One midshipman took a loaf and let if fall out of the window
(we were on the second floor) upon the jaw of an Italian in the street,
which floored him, while others pelted legs and wings of fowls at those
looking out of the opposite windows; but to their kind forbearance
everything was taken as a joke and only laughed at. Would this have been
the case in England?—where every hole and corner has a board threatening
prosecution, and if you pass two or three stopping in the street, their
conversation will be about law, hanging, or trade.

Sallied out in the evening and went to a house in Scratch Alley—you that
have been at Leghorn I daresay know the place well. In the middle of
this lane lived an old woman of enormous size, who was named the
Boatswain of Scratch Alley. Saw a figure there I never shall forget—a
fellow dressed as a lady, with a fine cap trimmed with blue ribbon and a
white frock on, a face like Vulcan with a long black beard. When he came
in the room we were sitting in, he danced a fandango and cut such
astonishing capers that my old messmate Vosper said drily, ‘Gardner, if
that fellow is not the devil he must be his near relation.’ The next
evening three of us took a cruise, and, it being very late before we
returned, our lodging was shut up and with difficulty we got entrance to
a house near the Mole. The accommodations vile in the extreme; only one
bed, with sheets as if a sweep had slept in them. At this time it began
to rain with drops as big as pistol balls, which obliged us to stay
where we were. However, we sat on the chairs, but got very little sleep
for the rats and people passing and re-passing to a sewer at the end of
the room. The morning luckily turned out fine, and after clearing our
uniforms of a few bugs that thought fit to billet themselves on us
without being invited, we gladly started from this infernal hotel to
breathe the fresh air. Went to Montenero, where the learned Smelfungus
has a monument near his remains.[99]

Having received orders to sail immediately and join the squadron under
Vice-Admiral Hotham off Toulon, we first put into St. Fiorenzo for a
short time. Went to see the Mortella tower that beat off the Fortitude,
74, and Juno frigate; the former ship had upwards of sixty killed and
wounded, and was on fire in several places from the red-hot shot. This
tower had but two guns; one of them was dismounted during the attack and
defended by twenty Frenchmen, only one of whom was killed. The tower was
taken by mounting some guns on a spot that overlooked it.[100]

Sailed from St. Fiorenzo and joined the squadron. Our captain, Sir John
Collins, being ill, we had Captain William Shield acting. Sir John soon
after departed this life and was committed to the deep. Sixteen minute
guns were fired at the funeral to denote the number of years he had been
a post captain. Sir John was a well-meaning man, but fractious from long
illness. He died with the gout in his head and stomach. The ship’s
company paid respect to his memory; they divided their black silk
handkerchiefs,[101] and wore one part round their hats and the other
round their arms, and requested they might see the corpse before the
interment; which request was granted, and they walked through the cabin
in ranks and bowed to the coffin while passing, and most of them in
tears—a sight truly impressive. Billy Shield remained with us about a
month after Sir John’s death, and then George Campbell, as good a fellow
as ever lived, took command.

I have already stated our reconnoitring the enemy’s fleet in the roads.
Out of many instances I shall mention one that had nearly been of
serious consequences. Having stood in with a fine breeze, the enemy
never fired a shot until we hove in stays. At this time it fell on a
sudden a dead calm, and we were within gunshot. They then began to blaze
away from all their forts, the red-hot shot flying in every direction. I
was looking out of the gunroom port when a shot came right under our
counter, which made the water hiss and had nearly struck the rudder. At
this time things looked queer, all the boats were hoisted out and began
to tow, but still we drifted in, the shot flying full half a mile beyond
us, when luckily a breeze came off the land and saved the Berwick from
being sunk or blown up, for she never would have been taken. Fortunately
we had none killed or wounded, which was astonishing, as the shot flew
like hail. Captain Campbell soon after left the ship, being appointed to
the Terrible, 74, and Captain George Henry Towry succeeded him.

Our squadron under Admiral Hotham consisted of eight sail of the line,
two of them three-deckers (the Britannia, 100, and St. George, 98) and
two frigates; and, after several weeks’ cruise, the French fleet put to
sea from Toulon with seven sail of the line, one of them a three-decker,
and six or seven frigates or smaller vessels. Now, mark me, several of
those ships had been put down as burnt at the evacuation of Toulon, but
now had the impudence to rise from their ashes like the Phœnix,[102] or
like the snake that had slept the winter, but on the return of spring
appears renewed in youth and with new fury burns:

Qualis ubi in lucem coluber, mala gramina pastus,
Frigida sub terra tumidum quem bruma tegebat,
Nunc positis novus exuviis, nitidusque juventa,
Lubrica convolvit sublato pectore terga,
Arduus ad solem, et linguis micat ore trisulcis.—_Aeneid._

_June 1794._—We were at dinner when the drum beat to quarters, and on
going upon deck saw the ‘Resurgam Squadron’ coming out, under topsails
and foresail, on the starboard tack, in line of battle, the Sans
Culotte,[103] 136 guns, their leading ship; the wind westerly; our
squadron standing in on the larboard tack, and to the best of my
recollection about three leagues from the enemy; and, had we stood on
and tacked, we should have got in their wake. But our admiral made a
signal—it being at this time evening—that a movement would take place
after dusk. Now, what do you think this movement was? Why, to bear up
and sail large! ‘Tell it not in Gath, nor publish it in the streets of
Askalon.’ The Meleager, 32, was left behind to watch the enemy. All this
appeared strange; but the admiral, we supposed, knew

What was what and that as high
As metaphysic wit could fly.

Now we had an opinion also, and that opinion was that the French might
have been brought to action that evening; at any rate we should have
prevented them from getting back to the roads, and could have attacked
them in the morning if a night action was considered hazardous. It was
said the admiral was fearful they should escape us and throw relief into
Calvi, at that time besieged. Whatever was the reason, off we set as if
hell kicked us and joined Lord Hood—I think the next day; and then, as
brave as Hercules, crowded sail with fourteen or fifteen sail of the
line and got sight of them the day after, in the morning, working in
near Gourjean Bay,[104] where they anchored in the afternoon under the
forts. Lord Hood made every preparation to attack them, and a general
chase with some hopes of success took place. We were ordered to attack
the fort on the starboard hand until the fleet had passed, and then to
follow; and the Illustrious, 74, was ordered against the frigates in the
other quarter in shore, near the other line-of-battle ships. But all
this ended in disappointment, as towards night the wind blew strong off
the land and the attack was given up in the morning, and we were
detached with the sick to St. Fiorenzo, and then to Calvi to assist in
the siege. It was here that Lord Nelson lost his eye and Captain
Serocold his life. We remained but a short time at Calvi and then
returned to St. Fiorenzo. The Yankee historian (James) gives a very
incorrect account of this; in fact, he says little or nothing about our
squadron under Admiral Hotham when the French put to sea; which appears
strange, as this calumniator always felt happy in finding fault with
naval officers, and here he missed a good opportunity.

While cruising in the Gulf of Genoa we picked up parts of the booms
belonging to the Ardent, 64, who had been missing a long time; and from
the appearance of the spars it was evident she was blown up with all
hands,[105] as nothing has been heard of her since. It was a sad
business that we did not bring the French to action the day they left
Toulon; the disappointment was bitterly felt by those who expected prize
money and promotion, and here a glorious opportunity was thrown away in
the most unaccountable manner. For personal bravery Admiral Hotham stood
pre-eminent; but it has been said he was not fit to command in chief,
but very able as a second. In the American war he greatly distinguished
himself, particularly when he was commodore on board the Preston, 50, he
engaged and would have taken a French 84,[106] one of D’Estaing’s
squadron, which a gale of wind coming suddenly on alone prevented; and
the public accounts respecting this action say, ‘Now for the glory and
honour of the British army.’

While speaking of the honour of the British navy, I must say a word or
two more about the seamen and marines. When Lord Hood besieged Bastia he
proposed to General Dundas, who commanded the troops, to make a joint
attack; but the general thought it too hazardous. Now Lord Hood had a
different opinion,

and while General Dundas
And his eighteen manœuvres sat still on the grass

he attacked the place with the seamen and marines who covered themselves
with glory and carried all the works, and Bastia was obliged to
surrender.

Having letters of recommendation to Lord Hood and to Admiral Goodall, I
went on board the Victory and was told by the secretary (McArthur), that
several were before me on the list for promotion; but if I would take my
chance his lordship would remove me to the Victory immediately. This I
thought would be of little service; and as the Gorgon, 44, was under
orders for England I requested to be sent on board of her and try my
interest at home. My request being granted, Captain Towry in the kindest
manner recommended me to Captain Wallis of the Gorgon, which kindness I
shall always remember, and am sorry that the service has lost by his
death so good an officer. He served with his Majesty[107] in the
Andromeda and Valiant.

Before leaving the Berwick I must mention a few droll hands that
belonged to her; and first I shall bring forward old Bell, the mate of
the hold. We pressed him and several mates of merchantmen out of a
cartel from Marseilles to Gibraltar, and put them on the quarter deck.
He was a hard-drinking man and also a hard-working man. We had a set on
board full of fun; and when old Bell was half seas over, they used to
paint his face with red ochre, his eyebrows blacked, large moustache,
with a flaxen wig made from the fag ends of the tiller rope; a cocked
hat over all, tied under the chin; his shirt off and his body painted
like an ancient Briton. In this costume I have seen him chasing the
midshipmen through the tier with a drawn sword, a fit subject for a
pencil like Hogarth’s.

Next to him was old Collier, who drank like a fish, and when drunk used
to sing the Thirty-fourth Psalm and prognosticate that the ship would
founder with all hands. They used to make fast his shirt sleeves at the
wrist and then haul the shirt over his head, so that he could not clear
his hands. In this situation he would be powdered and painted, with a
red night cap on his head, and placed alongside of old Bell, while the
whole cockpit would be in a roar.

We had a little slovenly surgeon’s mate whose name was Vag. The
midshipmen annoyed him sadly by calling out Vag-Veg-Vig-Vog-Vug, while
others in a cockney cadence would sing out Wig-Wag-Wog, which enraged
him almost to madness. I happened to come into the berth where he was
sitting at a time they were calling out as above, when he, without any
provocation on my part, snatched up the snuffers and with the sharp end
stabbed me in the chest and then run a-muck after the rest, who were
glad enough to steer clear of him.

Some of our lads had a custom of taking an afternoon’s nap, particularly
Graves, who went with me to Pisa. The others, always on the watch for
mischief, would clap a spritsail yard upon his nose. This was done by
cutting a notch on the outside of a piece of hoop and bending it so as
to form a forceps and then put it on the nose like a spring. The first
time it was fixed he started up and swore lustily that a rat (for we had
hundreds of them on board) had seized him by the nose. On another
occasion some wicked fellow made a curious mark on his forehead with
caustic that remained for several weeks.

Our chaplain was a learned gentleman and always going on shore to make
researches after antiquities. When we sailed from Toulon he was left
behind; and on making his escape (so we were told) when the enemy
entered, he got upon a wall where a rope ladder was placed about ten
feet high. When he got on the top the ladder gave way and he had no
means of alighting on the other side, and was afraid to jump down. In
this predicament a party of French came up and one of them let fly a
stone, which fortunately for him first struck the wall and then hit him
on the hip, and canted him the right way; and by that means he luckily
made his escape to the boats with little hurt, but damnably frightened.
In the gale of July 1793, when we carried away our main topmast and half
the main top, an arm chest full of black pieces[108] fell out of the top
with thundering sound upon the quarter deck, and several of the muskets
stuck with their muzzles in the deck, which bent some of the barrels.
Old Billy Chantrell, our first lieutenant, taking up one of them, said
with a grin, ‘I shall take this home; it will do when I go a-shooting to
kill sparrows round a hayrick.’ When it fell it was within an inch of
his head, and he was knocked down with a piece of the chest which broke
through the netting. I passed a very happy life during the time I
belonged to the Berwick and parted with many valuable friends with deep
regret. Our first lieutenant (Chantrell), Mr. Chas. Duncan, the master,
and Tomlinson, the clerk, left the ship at the same time and joined the
Gorgon as supernumeraries for a passage to England; and also two of my
old shipmates, Yetts and Allardice, formerly of the Edgar, invalided
home, which made the Gorgon very agreeable to me. The following are the
names of the officers:—

SIR JOHN COLLINS, Knt., Captain.

Dead. A good man but fractious from severe illness; he commanded
the Ruby, 64, detached from the grand fleet at the relief of
Gibraltar, 1782, being one of eight sail of the line sent to
reinforce the fleet in the West Indies. On the passage she
captured, after a smart action, the Solitaire, a French 64, for
which Captain Collins was knighted.

WM. SHIELD, Esq., Captain.

A retired rear-admiral. [Died 1842.—Marshall, iii. 89.]

GEO. CAMPBELL, Esq., Captain.

Dead. A vice-admiral; a better fellow never existed. [As a
rear-admiral, second in command under Nelson off Toulon 1803–4.
Died, admiral and G.C.B., in 1821.]

GEO. HENRY TOWRY, Esq., Captain.

Dead [1808]. In him the service lost a most worthy officer.

WILLIAM CHANTRELL, 1st Lieutenant.

Dead. See Barfleur.

WILLIAM BULLOCK, 2nd Lieutenant.

Dead. A commander; well-meaning and droll.

CHAS. STEWART [or STUART], 3rd Lieutenant.

Dead [1814]. A post captain [1796]; gouty and proud.

NISBET PALMER, 4th Lieutenant.

Dead [1811]. He commanded the Alacrity, an 18-gun brig, in the
Mediterranean, and was captured by a French brig of the same
force. In the action Captain Palmer was wounded and died soon
after. James in his _Naval History_ [v. 248 _seq._] gives a sad
account of this. He says, ‘Capt. Palmer was only wounded in the
finger, that he ordered the colours to be struck to an enemy of
equal force, and that his death was occasioned by a locked jaw.’
In justice to the memory of Captain Palmer it must be recollected
that the Alacrity was weakly manned—a great number of her crew
being absent in prizes. The Yankee historian must have known this,
but he had not the generosity to state it. [James does state it;
but nevertheless comments very severely on the conduct of Palmer;
not unmindful, perhaps, of the fact that by the death of the
captain, he was commanding officer of the Berwick when captured on
March 7, 1795.]

THOMAS SHIRLEY, 5th Lieutenant.

Dead. Half mad, but good-natured.

CHAS. DUNCAN, Master.

A superannuated master attendant; a very good man.

[JOHN] DODGSON, Surgeon.

Dead. A worthy fellow.

THOS. L. YATES, Purser.

Dead. Generous and thoughtless.

[ALEXANDER JOHN] SCOTT, Chaplain.

A Doctor of Divinity; was with Lord Nelson on board the Victory at
Trafalgar. [Died 1840.—_D.N.B._]

[HECTOR] TAUSE, Gunner.

Dead. Crabbed.

PHILIP MYERS, Carpenter.

Dead. A droll fellow.

[JOSEPH] KEMBLE, Boatswain.

Uncertain. A snappish cur.

EDWARD HUTCHINSON, Mate.

A commander; a good officer; a good navigator; a good seaman and a
most worthy messmate. [Captain, retired, 1840; died
1851.—O’Byrne.]

ROBT. TUCKER, Mate.

A commander; a good seaman, but given to drinking. [Died, retired
captain, 1846.—O’Byrne.]

J. A. GARDNER, Mate.

A commander.

WM. VOSPER, Signal midshipman.

Lieutenant of the Royal Asylum, Greenwich Hospital. We were at
three schools together at Gosport, and in two ships; a very able
officer and seaman.

JAMES VALOBRA, Midshipman.

A commander; a very worthy fellow. [Died 1861.—O’Byrne.]

AUGUSTUS COLLINS, Midshipman; son of the captain.

Dead. I believe a commander.

JOHN GRAVES, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant. Poor Jack was a worthy fellow.

JAMES GALLOWAY, Midshipman.

A commander [1806], out-pension. [Died 1846.—Marshall, x. 345;
O’Byrne.]

JOHN LAWRENCE, Midshipman.

A post captain [1817]; C.B. [Died 1849.—Marshall, viii. 123;
O’Byrne.]

[RICHARD] SCOVELL, Midshipman.

Killed in battle.

[NICHOLAS] LE BAIR, Midshipman.

Poor fellow! was taken in the Berwick, and died in French prison.
[DD. in the pay-book, April 19, 1795. Toulon.]

ALEX. MACKENZIE, Midshipman.

Dead [1825]. A post captain. This man, when he was a midshipman,
used to sneak after the lieutenants; when made a lieutenant,
sneaking after the captains, and when made a captain, was at his
old tricks, sneaking after the admirals. Had he lived to be made a
flag officer, he would have sneaked after the devil.—[Marshall,
vii. 75.]

JOHN ROSE, Midshipman.

A commander; a good fellow.

[WILLIAM] BARBER, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; a good fellow.

[THOMAS] PITT, Midshipman.

Uncertain. I believe a master.

[THOMAS] HEWLETT, Midshipman.

A master; I believe dead.

[JOHN] BELL, Mate of the hold.

Uncertain. A droll fellow; drank hard.

[WALTER] DEMPSTER, Midshipman.

Uncertain. A quiet, good fellow.

[JOHN] COLLIER, Midshipman.

Uncertain. Good natured; drank hard.

LORD PROBY, Midshipman.

Dead [1804]. A post captain. [William Allen Proby, eldest son of
the first Earl of Carysfort.]

JOHN LAMBRICK, Midshipman.

A commander.—[O’Byrne.]

WM. MCCULLOCH, Midshipman.

Dead [1825]. A post captain [1814]; a smart officer.—[Marshall,
vii. 398.]

JOHN BRIGGS, 1st Assistant Surgeon.

A surgeon R.N.; a most worthy gentleman.

[HENRY] VAGG, 3rd Assistant Surgeon.

Uncertain. A sloven; Vig-Vag-Vog-Vug.

GORGON, 44

UPON TWO DECKS

Adieu, ye vales, that smiling peace bestow
Where Eden’s blossoms ever vernal blow,
Ye fairy scenes where fancy loves to dwell,
And young delight, for ever, oh, farewell!—_Falconer._

In July 1794 I joined the Gorgon, Captain James Wallis, at St. Fiorenzo,
and after considerable delay sailed for Gibraltar with the convoy bound
for England under Vice-Admiral P. Cosby, who had his flag on board the
Alcide, 74. The following men of war, to the best of my recollection, in
company:—

Alcide 74 Vice-Admiral Cosby
Commerce de Marseilles[109] 136
Gorgon 44
Pearl[109] 36
Topaze[109] 36
St. Fiorenzo 36
Modeste 32

We had a very pleasant passage to Gibraltar, where we remained some time
in the New Mole, and then started for Cadiz to take in money and to join
the convoy assembling there for England. On the passage we got on shore
a few leagues to the southward of Cadiz, and had very near taken up our
quarters on the shoals, and, what was remarkable, a frigate had been
sent before us for the same purpose, but got on shore in this place, and
was obliged to return, and we (being clever) after laughing at the
circumstance, were sent to repair her errors and went bump on shore on
the very spot. The America, 64, having arrived at Cadiz to take charge
of the convoy, we were put under her orders, and having got on board the
money, sailed with the convoy for Lisbon.

Farewell and adieu, ye fair Spanish Ladies,
Farewell and adieu, ye Ladies of Spain;
For we’ve received orders to sail for old England,
In hopes in short time for to see you again.—_Old Song._

After a passage of near three weeks we arrived in the Tagus, fortunately
the day before a tremendous hurricane, which blew dead upon the shore,
came on and lasted a considerable time. We remained several weeks at
Lisbon collecting the convoy. At last when everything was ready we got
under way, I think the latter end of September, the following men of war
in company:—

America 64 Hon. John Rodney, Commodore, having charge of the convoy
Gorgon 44 Captain Wallis
Pearl 36
Topaze 36
St. Fiorenzo 36 Capt. Sir C. Hamilton (?)
Modeste 32 Captain [Byam Martin]
Alert 18

We had a most dreadful passage home, blowing a gale of wind the whole
time with seldom more sail set than a close-reefed main topsail. The
French squadron that captured the Alexander, 74, had been on the
look-out for us. We had several French emigrants on board who were in
the greatest tribulation for fear of being taken; and fortunately for
them and for us the Jacobin squadron got on the wrong scent. I don’t
know how it happened, but some people kept an odd kind of reckoning, and
we had some idea of making the banks of Newfoundland instead of the
British Channel. However, at last we got to the northward and westward
of Scilly, with the wind at SW; but it must be understood, to give the
devil his due, that we had not an observation for a long time, and our
dead reckoning was not to be trusted; but at last we found out by
instinct or soundings that we were not in the right place. Now it so
happened that we were lying-to on the larboard tack, the wind, as I have
stated, at SW, under a close-reefed main topsail and storm staysails,
when in a thundering squall it shifted to NNW and took us slap aback.
Over she went, with the upper dead-eyes on the lower rigging in the
water, and we thought she never would right, but the old ship came to
herself again. She was a noble sea boat; it would have been worth any
man’s while to leave the feast, the dance, or even his wife, to have
been on board this ship in a gale of wind to witness her glorious
qualities. After standing to the southward for some time until we
thought we had got into 49° 30′ by our dead reckoning, which is the
latitude of mid-channel, we then altered our course to SEbE½E. I had a
presentiment that something bad was hanging over us, and I went on the
fore topsail yard (I think about 9 at night) to look out ahead, the ship
scudding at the rate of eleven knots, which brought to my mind the
following lines:

The fatal sisters on the surge before
Yoked their infernal horses to the prow.—_Falconer._

But in this instance they were outwitted, for lo and behold, after
running some time I saw a light right ahead, which I instantly knew to
be Scilly light, and I called to Captain Wallis, who immediately hauled
the ship off to the southward. If the weather had not cleared after the
squall before mentioned we should certainly have made the port where Sir
Clowdsiley Shovell took in his last moorings.

The gale separated the convoy, and in standing up Channel we had near
run on the Bolt Head, but hauled off just in time. At last we arrived at
Spithead, where a large fleet of men of war were assembled. Before we
came to an anchor we had nearly run foul of several ships, and I
remember the Invincible, 74, hailing us, saying, ‘You have cut my cable,
sir.’ This was not all, for we shaved off the old Royal William’s
quarter gallery, which some shipwrights were repairing—who had barely
time to save themselves. We were not allowed to anchor at Spithead, but
to proceed to the Motherbank to perform quarantine on December 4, 1794,
after the most extraordinary voyage that ever took place since the
expedition of the Argonauts. Here I left the Gorgon and joined the
Victory, who I found to my astonishment at Spithead.

But before I quit the Gorgon I must relate a few things that happened on
and before the passage home. At the time we left Corsica we had
forty-seven French prisoners on board. One of them could play the violin
remarkably well. One morning on the forecastle, this man was reading to
some of his comrades, and having his violin with him, Mr. Duncan (our
late master in the Berwick) requested him to play _Ça Ira_, which he for
some time refused, being fearful of giving offence. At last he struck up
the Marseilles hymn accompanied by his voice, which was very good, and
when he came to that part ‘Aux armes, Citoyens, formez vos bataillons,’
etc., he seemed inspired; he threw up his violin half way up the fore
mast, caught it again, pressed it to his breast, and sung out ‘Bon, Ça
Ira,’ in which he was joined by his comrades.

Fired with the song the French grew vain,
Fought all their battles o’er again,
And thrice they routed all their foes; and thrice they slew the slain;

and seemed ready and willing for any mischief. But our soldiers were
called up and the French were sent below, and not so many allowed to be
on deck at a time.

On the passage we were frequently sent as a whipper-in among the convoy.
On one occasion, a master of a merchantman was rather slack in obeying
the signal and gave tongue when hailed; upon which Captain Wallis sent
the first lieutenant and myself to take charge of his vessel. It was in
the evening, blowing fresh, with a heavy sea, and we had great
difficulty in getting on board; our boat cut as many capers as a swing
at a fair, and in returning got stove alongside. We remained all night
on board and had to prick for the softest plank. When Edgar, the first
lieutenant, awoke in the morning, it was laughable to hear him exclaim,
‘God bass ‘e’ (for he could not say ‘blast ye,’ and for this he was
nicknamed little Bassey) ‘What’s got hold of me?’ The fact was the night
was hot, and the pitch in the seams waxed warm, and when he attempted to
rise, he found his hair fastened to the deck and his nankin trowsers
also. He put me in mind of Gulliver when fastened to the ground by the
Liliputians. Captain Wallis having sent for us, we took this chap in
tow. It blew very fresh, and the wind being fair, we towed him, under
double reefed topsails and foresail, nine knots through the water, so
that his topsails were wet with the spray. The master would sometimes
run forward and hail, saying, ‘I’ll cut the hawser’; and Captain Wallis
would reply, ‘If you do, I’m damned if I don’t sink you, you skulking
son of a bitch; I mean to tow you until I work some buckets of tar out
of the hawser.’

Our admiral (Cosby) was a glorious fellow for keeping the convoy in
order, and if they did not immediately obey the signal, he would fire at
them without further ceremony. While lying at Gibraltar a Portuguese
frigate arrived, and one of our midshipmen (Jennings, a wag) was sent on
board with a message from Captain Wallis. Having stayed a long time, the
signal was made for the boat, and when she returned the captain asked
Jennings what detained him. ‘Why, sir, to tell you the truth, saving
your presence’ (for Jennings was a shrewd Irishman), ‘the commanding
officer of the frigate was so busy lousing himself on the hen-coop that
I could not get an answer before.’

When we arrived at Cadiz to join the convoy and to bring home dollars,
the merchants used to smuggle the money off to the ship to avoid paying
the duty; and for every hundred taken on board, they would give as a
premium two dollars and sometimes two and a half. It was a dangerous
traffic, but very tempting; and some of our officers while lying there
made sixty and others eighty pounds. On one occasion, my old shipmate,
Lieutenant Chantrell, fell down in the street with six hundred dollars
at his back—a moderate load—and sung out to some of the Spaniards who
were looking on, ‘Come here, you sons of ——, and help me up.’ Had they
known what he had at his back they would have helped him up to some
purpose; imprisonment and slavery would have been the punishment. The
manner they carried the dollars was this. A double piece of canvas made
to contain them in rows, fixed to the back inside the waistcoat, and
tied before. It was to an English hotel where they were sent to be
shipped. This house was kept by Mr., or rather Mrs., Young, an infernal
vixen, who would make nothing of knocking her husband down with a leg of
mutton or any other joint she had in the larder, and he fool enough to
put up with it. She used to charge us very high for our entertainment,
which is the case in all English houses abroad; and if you have a mind
to be treated fairly you must go to a house kept by a native, who will
never impose on you. Having got a load of dollars to take off, we found
our boat had left the landing place; so we hired a shore boat, and it
appeared their custom house officers had suspicions, for they gave
chase, and it was by uncommon exertion that we escaped, as they were
nearly up with us when we got alongside. And yet those very men who
would have seized us used to smuggle. I saw one of them come alongside
and throw into the lower-deck port a bag of dollars containing, as I
understood, a thousand, with a label on the bag, and then shove off his
boat to row guard and prevent smuggling!

At Cadiz there is a beautiful walk with trees, called the Alameda, much
frequented, particularly on a Sunday. It has three walks for the
different grades of people. I happened to be on shore with some of our
officers on the above day, and taking a stroll through the Alameda, we
observed several well-dressed women in a balcony of one of the large
houses that overlooked the walks. When they caught sight of us, they
beckoned, and we went, as we thought, into the house. On going up two
pairs of stairs without seeing any one, we imagined it was a trick, when
casting my eye to a door that was partly open, I saw a fellow with a
drawn stilletto ready to make a stab; upon which I called to the rest to
make their retreat as fast as possible. One of them (a Mr. Crump) was
deaf, and I was obliged to push him downstairs as I could not make him
understand. This was a warning not lost upon us.

A droll circumstance happened while at Lisbon. A party of us had been to
see the famous aqueduct over the valley of Alcantara, and on coming
back, one of them (Tomlinson, of the Berwick) to show his dexterity
jumped on the back of a donkey. He had on a round jacket and light
nankin pantaloons; the latter he split from clue to earing, and was
obliged to walk to the boat in that situation, and by way of helping a
lame dog over a stile, we took the longest way, where we had to pass by
several ladies, with his shirt sticking out and every one laughing at
him. He declared to me it was the most miserable time he ever
experienced in the whole course of his life.

We were one day accosted while walking in Black-Horse Square, by a
genteel-looking young man who, in broken English, said he would be happy
to show us about the city, which offer was accepted, though much against
my will. As we were walking through the streets, I observed the people
as they passed us to laugh and point to others and then at us. At last
we met an officer belonging to our squadron, who asked if we knew the
person we had in company, because, says he, ‘If you don’t I’ll tell you.
He is the noted pimp of Lisbon, and makes a trade of showing, not only
the city, but all the ladies of easy virtue from the lowest brothel in
Bull Bay to the highest in the upper town.’ This was quite enough, and
we told the fellow to be off, but he had the impudence to follow us to
the boat for payment, and even got upon the gang board and was coming
in, when Jennings, in his dry way, said to the bowman, ‘Don’t you see
the gentleman is dusty? Have you no way of rubbing it off?’ winking at
the time. Upon this the bowman without any ceremony pitched him
overboard up to his neck and then shoved off. We met the fellow several
times after, but he took good care to steer clear.

I went with Lieutenant Chantrell to dinner at an ordinary at Lisbon.
Among the company were several Americans. One of the dishes at the
bottom of the table occasioned a dispute that had nearly terminated in a
battle. A Yankee from the head of the table came and snatched up a
beef-steak pie that an English master of a transport (one of our convoy)
was serving out, and carried it off to his companions; upon which the
Englishman stood up and harangued his countrymen as follows: ‘I say, if
you stand this you ought to be damned, and may as well take a purser’s
shirt out of the rigging.[110] Now, I move that all you that are
Englishmen shall rise from the table and throw the Yankees out of the
window.’ This speech had the same effect as that of Nestor’s to the
Greeks, and the Yankees would for a certainty have been thrown into the
street, had not Lieutenant Chantrell requested them to forbear,
observing that abuse was innocent where men were worthless. This had the
desired effect; and the pie being restored to its place in rather a
diminished state, and the Yankee who took it away saying he only meant
it in Har-mo-ny, the war was put an end to, and the dinner ended in
peace.

One of our men having deserted, I was sent with Ducker, the boatswain,
and a couple of marines to hunt in Bull Bay, which is the Wapping of
Lisbon, and after a long search we found him and were returning to the
boat. In passing through one of their dirty streets, something which
shall be nameless was hove out of a window and fell upon the shoulder of
Ducker, about the size of a large epaulette. I wished him joy of his
promotion and told him that he looked extremely well in his new uniform.
A piece of the same material fell on his nose and stuck out like the
horn of a rhinoceros. I never saw a fellow so vexed. He was going to
break the windows, but I told him to consider, as Bull Bay was not to be
attacked too hastily. I had hardly made the observation when his foot
slipped, and he fell back in the gutter, where he lay cursing the whole
race of Portuguese. Then

Vigorous he rose; and from the effluvia strong
Imbibed new strength, and scoured and stunk along.[111]

I thought I should have died a-laughing, while he was cursing every
native he met with until he got to the boat.

As I have stated before, every ship has strange characters, and the
Gorgon had her full share. I shall begin with the captain, who was a
very good seaman and had many good qualities, but at times he appeared
half mad. He once said to me, pointing to Ducker, the boatswain, on the
forecastle, ‘I’ll hang that fellow; and you go down directly and take an
inventory of his stores.’ I could hardly keep my countenance, but went
forward, and as the captain turned his back I said to Ducker, ‘You are
going to be hanged, and I am sent for a piece of white line to tuck you
up genteelly.’ On my reporting progress, he seemed to have forgot that
he gave such an order, and, taking a pinch of snuff, merely said, ‘Let
the fellow go to hell, and say no more about him.’

The first lieutenant, Edgar, was another strange and unaccountable
being. He had sailed round the world with Cook, and was master of the
ship Captain Clerke commanded. He was a good sailor and navigator, or
rather had been, for he drank very hard, so as to entirely ruin his
constitution. He and the captain often quarrelled, particularly at
night. I have heard the captain say, ‘Edgar, I shall get another first
lieutenant.’ The other would answer, ‘Ye-ye-ye-yes, sir, another first
lieutenant.’ The captain again, ‘Edgar, you are drunk.’ ‘No, sir, bass
me if I am.’ A day or two before we left Corsica, the captain ordered
the sails to be bent and went on shore to St. Fiorenzo. On coming on
board late at night he asked Edgar if the sails were bent. This question
Edgar could not answer, his memory having failed him; and on the captain
asking him again, he said, ‘Bass me if I know, but I’ll look up,’
forgetting it was dark. ‘You need not do that,’ says the other, ‘for
damn me if you can see a hole through a grating.’ Then taking a pinch of
snuff, part of which blew into Edgar’s eye, he asked him down to supper.
This the other readily agreed to, but said, Bass him, if he could see
the way.

I must now speak of Jerry Hacker, the purser. He was a man, take him all
in all, ye ne’er will see his like again. He messed by himself in the
cockpit, and would sit in his cabin in the dark with a long stick in his
hand, calling out to everyone that came down the cockpit ladder, ‘What
strange man is that?’ He was in constant fear of being robbed or
cheated, and lived in the most miserable manner. I have known him to
corn meat in his hand-basin and in something else. He was suspicious to
a degree and always saying he should be ruined, though there was little
fear of that, as Jerry took good care to trust no one; and what he was
only charged two shillings a gallon for, he kindly offered to let me
have for five shillings, paying ready money; but I was not to be taken
in so easy. He could not bear the sight of a midshipman in the cockpit,
and did everything in his power to annoy them, and before I joined the
ship, he used to sing a verse of an old song reflecting on the
midshipmen. One morning while I was in the cockpit, he was quarrelling
with some of them, and then struck up his favourite air, not thinking
that any person knew the song but himself. However, in this he was
mistaken, and when he had finished the following verse, I struck up
another that settled him.

Tune, _The Black Joke_.

Ye salt beef squires and quarter deck beaus,
Who formerly lived upon blacking of shoes:
With your anchors a-weigh and your topsails a-trip.
If they call us by name and we don’t answer, Sir!
They start us about till not able to stir;
A lusty one and lay it well on.
If you spare them an inch you ought to be damn’d;
With your anchors a-weigh and your topsails a-trip.

Our b—— of a purser, he is very handy,
He mixes the water along with the brandy;
Your anchors a-weigh and your topsails a-trip
The bloody old thief he is very cruel;
Instead of burgoo he gives us water gruel;
A lusty one and lay it well on.
If you spare him an inch you ought to be damn’d,
With your anchors a-weigh and your topsails a-trip.

After hearing the last verse Jerry’s ‘heavenly voice was heard no more
to sing,’ and he looked with an evil eye upon me ever after.

In the gale of wind near the Channel, when we were taken aback in the
squall that I have mentioned, every article we had was broken with the
exception of the cover of a very large mess teapot. This we handed round
as a measure to one another with wine from a black jack. I remember
being at supper soon after the squall, in the midship berth in the
cockpit, the ship rolling gunwale under, when we heard a noise in the
after-hold like the rush of many waters, and it struck everyone that a
butt end had started and that we should founder in a few minutes. The
alarm was given immediately. The sick and lame left their hammocks; the
latter forgot his crutch, and leaped—not exulting—like the bounding roe.
Down came the captain and a whole posse of officers and men. The
gratings were instantly unshipped, and in rushed the carpenter and his
crew, horror-struck, with hair standing on end, like quills on the
fretful porcupine; when, behold, it was a large cask of peas that had
the head knocked out, and the peas as the ship rolled rushed along with
a noise exactly like that of water.[112]

After looking at one another for some time the following ludicrous scene
took place, which I was an eye-witness to:—

The captain shook his head, took snuff, and went upon deck.

Old Edgar, first lieutenant, followed, and said ‘God bass ‘e all.’

Billy Chantrell gave a grin, and damn’d his eyes.

The parson exclaimed ‘In the midst of life we are in death.’

The carpenter said ‘Damn and b—— the peas.’

Old Jerry Hacker, the purser, swore he was ruined, as no allowance would
be made him; and cursed the field the peas grew in; and the French
emigrant captain (Dubosc) said ‘it was as vel for him to stay at de
Toulon and be guillotined, as to come to dis place and be drowned in de
vater.’

I never shall forget this scene as long as I live. I dined with Captain
Wallis the next day, and he asked me, in a very knowing manner, if he
should help me to some peas soup.

Our gunner was one of the drollest fellows I ever met with—it was his
delight to come on the forecastle in the first watch and sing comic
songs to amuse the midshipmen assembled there. ‘Arthur O’Bradley’ was
one that he used to sing with a great deal of humour. I believe it
contained forty verses. ‘Bryan O’Lynn’ was another which I shall relate,
leaving out the lines that may not be liked by those endued with fine
feelings.

Bryan O’Lynn and his wife, and wife’s mother,
They all hid under a hedge together;
But the rain came so fast they got wet to the skin—
We shall catch a damned cold, says Bryan O’Lynn.

Bryan O’Lynn and his wife, and wife’s mother,
They went in a boat to catch sprats together;
A butt end got stove and the water rushed in—
We’re drowned, by the holy, says Bryan O’Lynn.

Bryan O’Lynn and his wife, and wife’s mother,
They all went on a bridge together;
The bridge it broke and they all fell in—
Strike out and be damned, says Bryan O’Lynn.

Bryan O’Lynn and his wife, and wife’s mother,
They all went out to chapel together;
The door it was shut and they could not get in—
It’s a hell of a misfortune, says Bryan O’Lynn.

Bryan O’Lynn and his wife, and wife’s mother,
They went with the priest to a wake together,
Where they all got drunk and thought it no sin—
It keeps out the cold, says Bryan O’Lynn.

Bryan O’Lynn and his wife, and wife’s mother,
They went to the grave with the corpse together;
The earth being loose they all fell in—
Bear a hand and jump out, says Bryan O’Lynn.

Bryan O’Lynn and his wife, and wife’s mother,
When the berring was over went home together;
In crossing a bog they got up to the chin—
I’m damned but we’re smothered, says Bryan O’Lynn.

Bryan O’Lynn and his wife, and wife’s mother,
By good luck got out of the bog together;
Then went to confess to Father O’Flinn—
We’re damnation sinners, says Bryan O’Lynn.

Bryan O’Lynn and his wife, and wife’s mother,
Resolved to lead a new life together;
And from that day to this have committed no sin—
In the calendar stands SAINT BRYAN O’LYNN.

I have left out four verses as being rather out of order. I have heard
the old gunner sing this when the sea has been beating over the
forecastle and the ship rolling gunwale under. We used to get a
tarpaulin in the weather fore rigging as a screen, and many a pleasant
hour have I passed under its lee, with a glass of grog and hearing
long-winded stories. Alas! how dead are times now. Captain Wallis
behaved very kindly to me. I used to dine with him two or three times a
week. He had, as I have stated, strange whims and few men are without
them, but his many good qualities threw them in the background, and I
have, with grateful remembrance and respect for his memory, to be
thankful for his kindness, and particularly for the certificate he gave
me on leaving the ship.

Madame Trogoff, the French admiral’s widow,[113] came to England and was
a passenger in his cabin. She was a very agreeable woman. We had several
French officers (emigrants) who had left Toulon at the evacuation. They
were in the greatest tribulation all the passage for fear of being
taken. We had also many invalids from the fleet, of very little service
had we met with an enemy; and our effective complement I think mustered
under a hundred, so that we should have stood but a poor chance had we
met with the squadron that I have already mentioned. The forty-seven
French prisoners that we had with us were left at Gibraltar, which was a
great relief to the emigrants we had on board, as they were in constant
fear of their taking the ship from us. The following are the names of
the officers:—

JAMES WALLIS, Esq., Captain.

Dead [1808]. He had strange ways, but was an able officer and
seaman. [Commander, 1794; captain, 1797. He was therefore only
acting in the Gordon.]

THOMAS EDGAR, 1st Lieutenant.

Dead. A commander; was master of Captain Clerke’s ship with Cook
round the world.

THOMAS LYNE, 2nd Lieutenant.

A commander; a very good fellow.

WM. CHANTRELL, Supy. Lieutenant.

Dead. See Barfleur and Berwick.

WM. BRETT, Supy. Lieutenant.

Dead. A commander; a good fellow.

[JOHN] CHISSELL, Master.

Dead. A strange fellow; he could speak six or seven different
languages fluently, and was well known in every part of the
Mediterranean.

JERRY HACKER, Purser.

Dead. I believe Jerry was broke. The most strange and
unaccountable fellow the world ever produced.

[WILLIAM] PHILPS, Gunner.

Dead. One of the drollest fellows I ever met with.

[JOHN] DUCKER, Boatswain.

Dead. Much respected.

[JAMES] JEZARD, Carpenter.

Uncertain. A good timber head of his own.

[WILLIAM] POOLE, Clerk.

Dead. Very good abilities, but killed by grog.

ULICK JENNINGS, Midshipman.

Dead. Was captain [commander] of the Woolwich, 44 [store-ship],
but broke by court martial [1, 2 Dec. 1803] at Jamaica, for
thrashing some of the officers of the dockyard. Said to have been
reinstated. A very droll fellow and great mimic. He was in the
Dutch action under Duncan [_cf._ James, ii. 80, 88], and blown up;
his face terribly scarred. Before that he was a very good-looking
fellow. A native of Ireland, possessing great personal courage.
[There was no thrashing, nor threat of thrashing, but much
insulting and domineering conduct. He was found guilty of
‘drunkenness and unofficer-like and irregular behaviour,’ and
dismissed the service. He was not reinstated.]

RICHARD CHISSELL, Midshipman; son of the master.

Dead. A lieutenant. [Borne as A.B.; native of Leghorn, aged 20.]

BRICKNELL, Supy. Midshipman.

Uncertain. The ugliest fellow the world ever produced. He used to
dress with gold-laced hat, silk stockings, and full uniform upon
every occasion, as if going to the queen’s drawing room.

JAMES COURAGE, Assistant Surgeon.

Uncertain. A fractious little fellow.

J. A. GARDNER, doing duty as signal officer.

A commander. See Boreas, Conqueror, etc.

VICTORY, 110.

Vides ut alta stet nive candidum
Soracte, nec jam sustineant onus
Sylvæ laborantes, geluque
Flumina constiterint acuto.

In such a season, unexampled for severity, I joined the Victory in
December 1794, in Portsmouth harbour, fitting for the Mediterranean and
to receive again the flag of Lord Hood; John Knight, Esq., captain. Had
I joined her in St. Fiorenzo Bay at the time I have before stated, I
should have been promoted, as those who were before me and many that
came after got their commissions as lieutenants; so by this I lost about
five months’ rank, and was obliged to go to London to pass my
examination, as passing abroad is of no use unless you get promotion on
the spot. On my representing to the first lieutenant (Hamilton) that I
intended to apply to Captain Knight for permission to go and pass, and
requesting him to forward my application, he in the most unhandsome
manner said he would do no such thing, and would protest against my
getting leave.

Now without flattering myself, I thought I knew the service (without
being a conjuror) as well as Lieutenant Hamilton; and although he said
it was his intention to send me on board the Commerce de Marseilles to
assist in fitting her out at Spithead (notwithstanding that my right arm
was hurt and obliged to wear it in a sling), I wrote to Captain Knight
on the subject, who immediately granted my request. On my stating this
to Lieutenant Hamilton, he said he should still oppose it, adding with a
sneer that my promotion he supposed would not be so rapid as I expected.
Without taking notice of his remarks I went on shore to take my place in
the coach, and on my return the next morning to get my things I found
that the ship had gone into dock, and that my chest, and that of another
gentleman’s who had lately joined, had not been removed to the hulk, but
left in the ship, where it was broke open, and everything I possessed,
with the exception of my quadrant, stolen. The other poor fellow
suffered the same misfortune.

This was a heart-breaking circumstance to me, as I had just fitted
myself out, and, with what I brought home, my loss was considerable. I
had nothing left but what I stood in, and most of my pay that I received
for the Berwick was expended. My messmates said they were very sorry for
the loss I had sustained. Instead of being sorry, they ought to have
been ashamed of their gross neglect. One of them had been in the
Barfleur with me, and if possible, was more to blame than the rest who
were strangers. I am not vindictive, but from that day to this I have
hated the sight of a Portsmouth dockyard man. I had little time and less
money to get fitted out again before the examination took place, which
was early in January; so up to London I went ‘with a heart rather sad.’
I had on a mate’s coat, a red waistcoat and grey trowsers, in which
costume I passed my examination. I was so down in spirits before I went
in that I made sure I should be turned back. My old and lamented friend
and messmate, the late Captain Eaton, went with me and positively pushed
me into the room where the commissioners were seated, saying, ‘Damn your
eyes,[114] Tony, what are you afraid of?’

One of the commissioners (Harmood) was an intimate friend of my
father’s; and Sir Samuel Marshall, the deputy comptroller of the navy,
was a particular friend of Admiral Parry, my mother’s uncle. To these I
was recommended; but notwithstanding I could not get the better of my
dread, until Commissioner Harmood, after a few questions had been put to
me, said, ‘I think we need not ask any more.’ Captain Clayton, another
of the commissioners, in reply said, ‘I shall merely ask one question
more. You have a close-reefed main topsail set, blowing a gale of wind;
you cannot carry it. Pray, sir, how will you take it in, without
splitting the sail?’ Having answered this, but not exactly to his
satisfaction, as I started the weather sheet first, and he the lee one,
I was told they had done with me, and glad enough I was; particularly
so, when they said the certificates I produced ought to get me a
commission without interest.

On this hint I transmitted them the next day to Earl Spencer, the first
lord of the admiralty. This was on the 9th January 1795, and I returned
to Portsmouth on the 14th; but before I went on board I took a stroll in
the dockyard, where I met two old messmates, the late Captains Lamb and
Wolridge, and on my asking them for news, they said they had just left
the commissioner’s office and had heard nothing. However I thought I
would just call at the office and take a look, and on my entering the
hall where the letters are placed on a table, the first I observed was
directed to Lieutenant J. A. Gardner, H.M. ship Victory. I looked at it
several times, rubbed my eyes and looked and looked again at what I
thought an illusion; but I found what I considered shadow to be
substance; for on opening the letter it ran thus: ‘That Earl Spencer had
received my memorial on the 11th, and that my appointment as lieutenant
had passed the board on the 12th January.’ This eased my mind of a load,
and my prospects, that were dark and dismal from the loss I had
sustained, brightened up, and with a light heart I waited on Captain
Knight to thank him for granting me leave and to show him my letter. He
wished me joy and expressed great indignation at the loss of my effects.

I must here state that, besides what I brought home from abroad, I lost
twenty new shirts, two suits of uniform, trowsers, waistcoats, boots,
etc., etc., in fact everything but my quadrant; and that no doubt would
have gone also, but my name was engraved on the brass.

On my return to the Victory to report myself, Lieutenant Hamilton was
all politeness. I was asked down to the wardroom, and Lieutenant
Vincent, who had been a midshipman with me in the Salisbury, but who had
hardly spoken to me before, forgot his pomposity and was as friendly as
in times of old; but I disdained their kindness as well as the dinner
they asked me to, and went on shore without taking leave of the men who
suffered, by base neglect, an absent messmate to be plundered by
rascally dockyard men. I was so short a time on board the Victory that I
remember but few, and a great number were on leave who I never saw. Some
of those in the mess I knew little of, and only remember the names of
four.

With the Victory ends my servitude of mate and midshipman, but I never
can forget the many happy days I passed in that capacity. It was some
time before I knew what ship I was appointed to; but on the receipt of a
letter from Mr. Harrison, Lord Spencer’s private secretary, I was
informed that it was to the Hind, 28, at Sheerness, and that I was to
come to London to be sworn in without loss of time.

LORD HOOD, Admiral of the blue.

Dead [1816]. An admiral of the white and Governor of Greenwich
Hospital; a most able tactician.—[_D.N.B._]

JOHN KNIGHT, Esq., Captain.

Dead [1831]. An admiral of the red and K.C.B.; a very able
officer; see his charts.—[Marshall, i. 154.]

EDWARD HAMILTON, 1st Lieutenant.

A vice-admiral; a baronet and K.C.B. He recaptured the Hermione.
[Died, an admiral, 1851.—_D.N.B._]

MARTIN HINTON, 2nd Lieutenant.

Dead. A commander; a good sailor.

RICHARD BUDD VINCENT, 3rd Lieutenant.

Dead. See Salisbury.

JOHN MCARTHUR, Secretary.

A very clever fellow, and one of the first swordsmen in Europe
[Died 1840.—_D.N.B._]

LAWFORD MILES, Lieutenant of Marines.

Dead. A captain; good-natured and thoughtless.

WILLIAM RIVERS, Gunner.

Dead. See Barfleur.

JOHN MARR, Boatswain.

Dead. See Barfleur.

GEO. WOLFE, Midshipman or mate.

Dead [1825]. A post captain; a worthy fellow—[Marshall, iii. 310.]

H[ENRY] VANSITTART, Midshipman.

A rear-admiral. [Died, a vice-admiral, 1843.—O’Byrne.]

G. E. HAMOND, Midshipman.

A vice-admiral, Bart., and K.C.B. [Died, an admiral and G.C.B.
1862.—_D.N.B._]

RICHARD W. SIMMONDS. Midshipman.

Dead. See Barfleur.

WILLIAM PYE, Schoolmaster.

Dead. See Salisbury and Barfleur.

J. A. GARDNER, Midshipman.

A commander.

I remember no more.

HIND, 28

After being sworn in at the admiralty,[115] I left London to join the
Hind, 28, Captain Richard Lee, at Sheerness, in January 1795. The Medway
and Thames being frozen over, there was no communication with the men of
war.[116] I proceeded on my journey by coach as far as Sittingbourne,
and then walked most of the way through deep snow to the King’s ferry,
which was also frozen over. At this time my health was very bad, and
coming from a fine climate to one noted for gloomy skies, fog, rain,
bitter cold and everything else that was damnable, I had nearly sunk
under it, and I have to acknowledge how much I was obliged to Mr.
Poulden, an officer in the navy, and brother to Captain Poulden,[117]
R.N., for his kind attention. He was a fellow traveller going also to
join his ship at Sheerness. The snow was several feet deep, and the cold
dreadful, and it was with the greatest difficulty and fatigue that we
reached the public-house near the ferry without being frost-bitten.

You who are not too young (for it’s difficult now to find an old
person), must remember the cruel winter the latter end of 1794 and
beginning of 1795.[118] To my surprise I met at the public-house an old
messmate of mine (a Mr. Simmonds) formerly of the Panther, and going
also to join his ship. We were half-starved and waited a considerable
time for our host to bring in the dinner, which he did at last. To our
horror and amazement, it consisted of a leg of pork of enormous size,
without a bit of lean, and coarse white cabbage boiled with it, and as
greasy as the devil. I shall never forget the consternation we were in;
nothing else could be had, and what made it more vexatious was the
praises the great fat fool of a John Bull landlord was passing on it. We
were obliged to swallow this greasy morsel from downright hunger, and
from its rancid taste in danger of cholera morbus.

The passage being frozen, we had no other resource than to cross the ice
on foot, which we did at great hazard, it cracking and bending all the
way. I had a small portmanteau, for which I paid a soldier to carry, as
he was going the same way; but when we had crossed, his heart failed him
and he refused to follow (for we passed over one by one), and it was a
long time before we could prevail on him to make the attempt; but by
promising him a shilling or two more he took courage until he got half
way over, when he imagined the ice was giving way, and there he stood
panic-struck. We really felt for the poor fellow, but at last he made a
desperate effort and got safe over though dreadfully frightened. After a
dismal walk we got to Sheerness, emphatically styled by the late Captain
Gunter, R.N., ‘the —— hole of the world.’

I found Captain Lee in lodgings; he seemed much surprised at seeing me
as he had no communication with the admiralty for a long time. He seemed
astonished at my walking across the ferry, which he considered a very
hazardous undertaking. After waiting a few days we forced a passage
through the ice and got on board and soon after, followed his worship,
old Stamp, the Mayor of Queenborough, as pilot, and well known as a most
respectable boroughmonger of large property and powerful interest, and
would be a pilot merely because he liked it. We soon got under way, and
in a few hours anchored in the Downs, where we found the Leopard, 50
(the flagship), and several men of war. We remained but a short time and
then proceeded to Spithead with a convoy.

We were on this service up and down Channel, and to Ireland, for several
months without anything material happening, until being off Waterford,
after seeing the convoy safe, we saw a suspicious lugger, which we gave
chase to and, after a run of forty leagues, had the good fortune to
capture—the Speedwell, smuggling lugger, pierced for eighteen guns which
she had thrown overboard, as we counted the carriages that were disposed
of soon after the guns. Her cargo consisted of spirits, tobacco, tea,
nankins, etc., with thirty-nine gigantic smugglers; one we supposed was
killed, as her muster roll had forty. We pressed the crew and took the
vessel to Belfast, where her cargo was sold. Captain Lee, who was a good
calculator, offered the first lieutenant, Hickey, and myself £58 15_s._
apiece for our prize money, which after some consideration we accepted;
but when the prize money was paid, the share of a lieutenant was only
£50, so that he lost by the spec. £17 10_s._, besides losing with the
marine officer. We kept the crew as part of our ship’s company, but they
contrived to desert at different times with the exception of four.

I well remember while lying in Dublin Bay, and being at breakfast with
Captain Lee, in course of conversation he observed that the four
remaining smugglers were the best men in the ship and that he was very
proud of them. He had hardly made the observation when the officer of
the watch reported that the jolly boat was missing; the hands were
immediately turned up to muster, when it was found that the four
worthies had set off in the boat, when or where nobody could tell. The
captain looked at us, and we at him, but no one could keep countenance.
It could not be proved in whose watch the boat was taken. We found her
at Dunleary, but never heard of the deserters.

While at Carrickfergus the assizes were held and we had an invitation to
dine with the grand jury. We passed a very pleasant day; upwards of two
hundred were present, and several excellent songs were sung by one of
the counsellors, who was considered equal to Braham or Incledon.[119]
Having proceeded to Plymouth with a convoy we remained some time in the
Sound, when the Medusa, 50, Captain James Norman, arrived with the West
India convoy, part of which had been captured by the enemy’s cruisers,
and we were put under his orders to proceed with the convoy to the
Downs.

It is well remembered by those who are not too young that the latter end
of 1795 was a very tempestuous season, and it was a long time before an
opportunity offered to sail; we once made the attempt and had nearly got
on shore near the Mewstone. In working out, our main topsail yard was
carried away in a squall, and we were obliged to anchor; but the gale
increasing, the cable was cut, and we again anchored in the Sound. On
November 3, the wind being favourable, the commodore made the signal to
get under way, and we were ordered to lead up Channel. On the night of
the 5th (it being light winds the whole of the time from our leaving the
Sound), between Beachy Head and Dungeness it came on to blow a complete
hurricane, with heavy rain at south; and on the morning of the 6th, it
blew, if possible, harder, and our situation on a lee shore dreadfully
alarming, in Rye Bay, with only storm staysails, which at last blew out
of the bolt rope; the main topsail also split to pieces from the fourth
reef, leaving not a wreck behind, and we expected the ship would upset
under bare poles.

As second lieutenant, I was stationed on the forecastle, and seeing a
light right ahead I pointed it out to Tim Coghlan, our master, who swore
it was Dungeness light and that we were all lost; at the same time
asking me for the key of the case, as he was going to step down for a
lunch, being infernally hungry and thirsty. I asked Captain Lee, who was
on deck all night—for he was an officer that never flinched, and where
there was danger he was always to be seen cool and intrepid—to take some
refreshment. ‘Why,’ says he, ‘I don’t know what to say about the eating
part of the business, but I think we shall get plenty to drink, and that
presently.’

Had the gale continued at south, nothing could have saved us. With a
tremendous sea, and breakers at no great distance, there was no chance
of reaching the Downs as we could not get round Dungeness; when in a
dreadful squall of thunder, lightning, hail and rain, the wind shifted
to north or NNW, which is off the land, and blew with the utmost
violence. But towards daylight it got more moderate and we stood for the
Downs, where we anchored with part of the convoy in a shattered
condition, the remainder coming in soon after. Two of them were lost on
the French coast when the wind shifted to the northward.

Captain Lee soon after left the ship, with the good wishes of every
officer and man on board. He was a brave, generous, and meritorious
officer, an excellent sailor and skilful pilot for the British, as well
as Irish Channels, and well deserving of the honours he now enjoys. He
was succeeded by Captain John Bazely, who was one of the best officers
in the navy for skill, activity, and high sense of honour, well read,
and possessing an excellent understanding, and his death will long be
lamented as a loss to the service and to society.

November 19th, another tremendous gale came on at SSW, which lasted the
whole of the day and most of the night. This was the gale that Admiral
Christian’s[120] fleet suffered so much in. We expected every minute to
part, and about the last quarter flood we began to drive; but before we
could let go our sheet anchor she brought up. The Glebb, 74, the
flagship of the Russian admiral (Henikoff) lying abreast of us, parted
and brought up with her last anchor within half a mile of the Break. The
Montagu, 74, under jury masts, from the westward, anchored in our
wake,[121] and run her cable out to the clinch before she brought up.
Had she parted, God knows what would have become of us, as it was the
height of the gale, with thick weather, and nothing could have prevented
her being on board of us, as all her sails were blown from the yards.
Had the gale lasted much longer it would been of serious consequence to
the ships in the Downs.

Sailed with a convoy to the westward, which service we were employed on,
cruising occasionally in the Channel and Bay, for several months. In May
1796, coming into Plymouth Sound from a cruise, and blowing hard, we
anchored astern of the Alfred, 74, who had driven without our being
aware of it, so that we found ourselves in an awkward berth without room
to moor. We then attempted to get under way, but the gale increasing
from the SW, we were unable to weather Mount Batten and came to again.
We soon after parted, and let go another anchor and brought up between
two rocks in a perilous situation, with two anchors ahead; but
fortunately it got more moderate, and, observing there was an undertow,
so that when she pitched there appeared no strain upon the cables, we
thought there was no occasion to cut away our masts; and our opinion was
right, notwithstanding the wish of the knowing ones who came down by
hundreds and chalked in large letters on the rocks—‘Cut away your
masts.’ This was dictating with a vengeance by a set of vagabond
landsmen, fellows that could rob a house easier than knot a rope yarn,
and be damned to them. A lighter with an anchor and cable came out soon
after; and the wind shifting, we got under way and anchored in a safe
berth.

Sailed to the westward and cruised in the Bay, and on our return to the
Sound received orders to proceed to Spithead and fit for foreign
service, and about the latter end of August sailed with a small convoy
for Quebec. Nothing particular happened until we got on the Banks of
Newfoundland, when we fell in with a French squadron under Admiral
Richery. It was in the forenoon watch, blowing very hard, the wind WNW
with a heavy sea, under a close-reefed main topsail and foresail, when
we observed a ship of the line to windward with her head to the SW,
under the same sail. Made the private signal, which was not answered.
Most of our convoy had parted company in the gale. Bore up and made
sail. The enemy also bore up and made all sail in chase until sunset,
when he gave over chase and hauled his wind to the northward. We hauled
our wind also, and stood to the southward. Separated from the remainder
of the convoy during the night, it blowing strong with thick weather.
There was great exultation at our outsailing the enemy, and some on
board were wishing to have another trial, and their wishes were not
disappointed; for in three days after, about six in the morning, two
line-of-battle ships were observed astern about two leagues off.

The private signal was made, but not answered. We were under
close-reefed topsails and foresail, steering WSW, the wind NW. The enemy
made sail and stood after us. We immediately let two reefs out of the
topsails, set topgallant sails and hauled the main tack on board, with
jib a third in[122] and spanker. It was neck or nothing, and those who
wished for another chase looked rather glum and had not quite so good an
opinion of our sailing on a wind as they had when before it. For my part
I expected we should upset, and it was with uncommon alacrity in making
and shortening sail between the squalls that we escaped upsetting or
being taken. The enemy knew well what he was about, for he kept rather
on our lee quarter with his fore topmast studding sail boom run out, and
the sail ready for setting in case we had kept away. At one time his
weather main topsail sheet gave way and he was only ten minutes in
setting the sail again; his jib also split, which he unbent and had
another set in twenty minutes, which did him great credit. Luckily for
us the sea was nearly abeam; had we been on the other tack we must have
been taken, as we should then have bowed[123] the sea. I remember
heaving the log and she was going ten knots. But notwithstanding our
good sailing the enemy gained on us fast, and we should have been
captured for a certainty if the Frenchman had possessed more patience.

Festina lente, not too fast;
For haste, the proverb says, makes waste.

And so it happened; for a little before six, when he was within gunshot,
the greedy fellow let another reef out of his topsails, and just as he
had them hoisted, away went his fore yard, jib-boom, fore topmast and
main topgallant mast. The other line-of-battle ship was hull down
astern. The chase lasted twelve hours, during which time we ran near
forty leagues. Shortened sail and wore ship, and as we passed to
windward, we counted fifteen ports of a side on his lower deck.

Nothing further happened, except losing a poor fellow overboard in the
Gulf of St. Lawrence, until we got to Quebec. The convoy also escaped
and came in soon after; one of them was chased, but by fixing a pole on
a tub with a lantern on the top, and steering another course in the
night, escaped. We remained at Quebec until the latter end of November,
and then sailed with a couple of fur ships for England under convoy. We
left Quebec in the evening. I had the first watch, and I never shall
forget the cold as long as I live.

Nothing remarkable happened until we got to the southward of Cape Clear,
which bore north according to our dead reckoning, and if I remember
correctly on the 23rd of December 1796, about eight in the evening we
saw a squadron of men of war, one of them with a top light, standing to
the northward, the wind about west, and at no great distance. We
immediately hauled off to the southward, put out all our lights and
hailed the two vessels under our charge to do the same. After standing
to the southward some time, we altered our course and saw no more of
them. The wind soon after shifted to the eastward and blew a heavy gale.
Lost sight of our convoy and after buffeting about for some days we were
obliged, for want of fuel, to put into Cork, where we found several men
of war preparing to sail in consequence of the French being off Bantry
Bay. All the carriages and horses that could be found were put in
requisition to take the troops to that quarter, and when we had
completed our stores and water we sailed with a squadron of frigates
under Captain Jon. Faulknor to the southward in quest of the enemy, but
they had left Bantry, where Lord Bridport was off with the grand fleet,
who we joined with our squadron. I believe this was the time that
General Grouchy with eight thousand men (before the arrival of our
fleet) anchored in the bay; but from fear, or some other cause, thought
it safer to set off than to land; and at Bantry, as well as at Waterloo,
shewed great want of judgment.[124]

We were attached to the grand fleet as a repeating frigate; and in
January 1797, we chased by signal and captured the French privateer La
Favorite, of eight guns and sixty men, out but a short time from Brest
and had taken nothing. After removing the chief part of the prisoners, I
was put on board as prize master with two midshipmen and twelve men,
with orders to stay by the fleet; but on examining her defects I found
her in a very bad condition, upon which I separated from the fleet in
the evening and stood for the Channel (being then in the Bay). We had
nearly been run down by a three-decker—I believe the Prince George,
commanded by the late Sir Joseph Yorke—in the rear of the fleet, and the
night being as black as Erebus we had a narrow escape. Portsmouth being
the place of rendezvous, we stood up Channel with the wind at SW the day
after leaving the fleet, blowing a gale, under a close-reefed main
topsail and foresail.

We had not an observation for several days before we parted from the
grand fleet, and in running up Channel we got into Portland Race. I have
been in many noted places, but this infernal race was worse than all,
and I expected every moment we should founder. The privateer being
deep-waisted, I ordered her ports to be knocked out so as to let the sea
have a clear passage through; our hatches were battened down, but we
were in danger of being washed overboard. The sea appeared like a pot
boiling, and the spray beat over our topsail yards. Hauled off to the
southward, and fortunately got safe out of one of the most damnable
places I ever was in. The Frenchmen were in the utmost terror and cursed
the hour they ever left Brest. By our account we were half way between
the Start and Portland, which was very fair considering everything.
During the night it fell calm and towards morning the wind freshened at
SE with thick weather; at daylight, stood in and sounded fifteen fathoms
near St. Alban’s Head, and, it clearing away, bore up and made sail for
Plymouth. When near the Start we hoisted the union jack over the French
at the gaff end; but the jack blowing away, and the halliards getting
foul, we could not for some time haul down the French colours, which
frightened a brig that was near, and a frigate coming from Torbay under
jury masts fired (I believe) at us but at too great a distance to take
effect. However, we got our colours to rights and I hailed the brig, who
seemed very much alarmed until I informed him we came from the grand
fleet, a prize to the Hind. In the evening we anchored in Cawsand Bay,
and next morning I waited on Sir Richard King, the port admiral, who
behaved in the kindest manner, and on my explaining my reasons for
leaving the fleet he said I did what was very proper.

As no despatches had arrived, I was ordered by Sir Richard to write an
account of what happened in the fleet from the day we joined Lord
Bridport until I left with the prize, and also to give an account of our
proceedings from the time we fell in with Richery’s squadron until our
arrival at Cork. I was put into a room and desired to take my seat at a
table with a quire of foolscap placed before me; and like a fool I
looked, for it was a long time before I knew what to write, or how to
begin. At last I took courage, and filled three or four sheets; bad
grammar, no doubt. Sir Richard read the whole and said it would do very
well—many thanks to him. He laughed heartily when I told him I got into
Portland Race and what a panic the prisoners were in.

I had sent a pilot off to take the brig into Hamoaze and walked down
with Sir Richard to Mutton Cove, as he wished to see her as she passed.
He told me he was once put prize master when a lieutenant, on board of
such another and had left the fleet as I had done and for the same
reason. This made me easy and quieted my fears. Captain Bazely’s father
was port admiral in the Downs, and I wrote to him stating our arrival
and received an answer thanking me for the information respecting his
son. We had not been long at Plymouth before the Hind left the fleet and
put into Portsmouth, and not finding me there supposed we were lost,
until Captain Bazely received a letter from his father saying he had
heard from me, and that we were all well and safe at Plymouth, and in a
few days I received the following letter from Captain Bazely:

Hind, Portsmouth, February 1797.

‘Gardner, my good fellow, I am truly happy to find you are in the land
of the living, and that it was through necessity you put into
Plymouth. We are ordered to Sheerness to dock, where I shall be
devilish glad to see you; so get on board some vessel bound to the
Downs with your party, and be sure to call on my father, who will be
very glad to see you and will send some craft to take you to the Nore.
We are all well.—Believe me to remain, with best wishes,

‘Yours most faithfully,
‘JOHN BAZELY, JUNR.’

After clearing the prize and delivering her up to Mr. Hemmings, the
master attendant at Plymouth and agent for Lord Bridport (who I have
every reason to thank for his great civility while I remained in
Hamoaze, in the many invitations I had to dine at his house, where he
made a point to introduce me to the captains who visited there) I was
put on board the Medusa, 50, commanded by my old messmate Jack Eaton,
who was to take us as far as Portsmouth. On our arrival at Spithead we
were put on board the Weasel, commanded by Captain Lewis, and sailed for
the Nore, where we soon arrived and joined our ship at Sheerness, and I
was well received by the captain and my messmates. Went into dock and
when refitted proceeded to Portsmouth, where we remained but a short
time and sailed with a convoy for Oporto. We had a very pleasant passage
and took out Captain A. Ball on his way to join his ship, who left us
off Oporto. On our return we recaptured a brig in the Bay of Biscay, and
I was put on board as prize master; but from ill health I went back to
my ship and the first lieutenant took charge of the prize in my room.

On our arrival at Spithead, the latter end of April 1797, we found the
fleet in a high state of mutiny. We had orders to fit for foreign
service, and I had directions to go with a party of seamen and marines
to the dockyard for new cables and stores. The mutiny, which in some
measure had been suppressed, broke out afresh on board the London, 98,
Vice-Admiral Colpoys, and some of the mutineers were killed; but the
officers were overpowered and the admiral’s flag struck by the
scoundrels, and the bloody flag of defiance hoisted in its room. I went
with my party to the yard in the morning and began to get off the
stores, when a marine said he would not assist in rousing the cable into
the lighter and advised the others to knock off; upon which I told him
if he did not immediately take hold of the cable with the rest I would
cut him down (which was my intention). This had the effect and he went
to work with the others. When I got on board our men were in a state of
mutiny, and every ship at Spithead and St. Helen’s the same. I had the
first watch that night, and the master relieved me at twelve, and
everything seemed quiet; but about three bells in the morning watch I
was sent for by the captain, and on my coming on deck I found the ship’s
company assembled there and the captain, in the most impressive manner,
requesting them to return to their duty, but all to no purpose. Had we
been the only ship, we should soon have driven the scoundrels to the
devil; but as we were situated, surrounded by line-of-battle ships
acting in the same disgraceful manner, it would have been of little use
to resist. About six a paper was handed up to the captain with the
following order in writing:—

‘It is the unanimous opinion of the ship’s company that Captain Bazely,
Lieutenants Hickey and Gardner, Mr. White, the purser, and Messrs.
Kinneer and Allen, midshipmen, are to quit the ship by 6, or violent
measures will be taken to enforce the order.’

Soon after 6 the barge was manned and armed; every vagabond had a
cutlass, and our trunks were handed in, with orders from the delegates
not to carry them anywhere for us. I had a brace of pistols with a
double charge which I put in my great-coat pockets in case I should want
their assistance. It was blowing a gale of wind at NE when we left the
ship, and near ten o’clock before we landed on Point beach; our things
were handed out, and I desired the bowman and one or two more, who I
knew to be great scoundrels, to take them to Turner’s (living on the
beach, and only a step from the boat) shewing them at the same time my
pistols and saying, ‘You understand me.’ They then most reluctantly took
our things to the place I directed. This was all I wanted, as I heard
some of the ringleaders say as we were quitting the ship ‘that if any of
the boat’s crew assisted in taking our things to any place after landing
they should be severely ducked on their return’; and they were as good
as their word; for those fellows got a fine ducking the moment they got
on board, the others having reported them.

We left the Hind in May 1797, but before I close my account I must
relate a few anecdotes as they come to my recollection. I shall begin
with the surgeon, who was a very worthy fellow and much respected, but
was strange, so that we thought him half cracked, and he had the name of
Benjamin Bullock the Madman (a character in some work that I forget). I
was one morning walking the deck with him when the postman came on board
and presented a letter directed to ‘Robert Anderson, Esq., or Benjamin
Bullock, Esq., Surgeon of H.M. ship Hind. With speed.’ The letter ran
thus: ‘Take care when you are going on shore, and do not on any account
pass the Devil’s Point where Bullocks are put to death daily for the use
of the fleet. So no more at present from yours to command, J. TALGOL,
Slaughter House, Devil’s Point.’

He accused me of writing the letter, but he was mistaken, and from that
day to this I know nothing of the author. He was greatly enraged and
vowed vengeance against me and my friend Harley the purser, who was the
person that gave him the name of Ben Bullock. It happened some time
after that Harley and myself were going on shore and Anderson said he
would take a passage with us. When near the Devil’s Point, which we had
to pass, I gave orders to the boat’s crew to pull with all their might,
‘Give way, my lads, give way until we pass this place.’ Anderson looked
at me and said, ‘What the hell are you afraid of now? You are always
croaking about some damned thing or other.’ ‘My good fellow,’ says I,
‘it is on your account that I am so anxious. Don’t you remember the
friendly letter you had warning you to beware of the Devil’s Point? It
is on this account that I want to pass it in such a hurry, as you may be
taken out and cut up for fresh beef.’ And what made things worse, on our
landing the first object that drew our attention was a large board over
a warehouse, with ‘Bullock and Anderson’ on it in gilt letters of
immense size, to his astonishment and vexation.

At another time, when we had a large party on board I was sitting at the
bottom of the table and Anderson at the head as caterer. I happened to
be in conversation with Harley, who in the heat of argument was
energetically moving his hand up and down; which Anderson observed, and
leaving the head of the table with a knife in each hand, he placed
himself between me and Harley, and holding a knife against our breasts
says he: ‘That’s for thee, and that’s for thou; I know well what you
meant by moving your hand up and down like a cleaver cutting up bullocks
for the fleet, and be damned to you both. Now do it again if you dare.’
After some difficulty we persuaded him to go to the head of the table
again; but those who were strangers to his whims looked on him with an
evil eye.

Our master (Coghlan) was a very droll fellow and fond of carrying sail
in a boat. Being sent from the Sound to the dockyard on duty, it came on
to blow a heavy gale of wind, and we struck yards and topmasts. In the
first watch about six bells I was walking the deck with Captain Lee, who
observed how glad he was our boat was safe, as he had no doubt Mr.
Coghlan had gone on board the flagship in the harbour. He had not long
made the observation, when I thought (it being moonlight) I saw
something in the direction of Drake’s Island and pointed it out to
Captain Lee, who said it could not be a boat, as nobody would be mad
enough to risk his life on such a night. By this time the object drew
near, when to our astonishment we were hailed by Coghlan to throw a
rope, and in a moment he flew alongside. We got the yard and stay
tackles over instantly, got the men in, and ran the boat up in safety
although a heavy sea was running. When Coghlan came upon deck, the
captain asked if he was not ashamed of himself in risking the lives of
the people in the wanton manner he had done. Tim with the greatest
simplicity said, ‘Sir, if you had seen her (meaning the boat) fly from
the top of one sea to another without stopping between, you would really
have admired her. She darted through the breakers when crossing the
Bridge (a dangerous reef of rocks between Drake’s Island and Mount
Edgcumbe) like a race horse. I never was in such a boat in my life.’
Captain Lee, vexed as he was, could not help smiling, at the same time
telling Tim if he did so again strange things would take place.
Coghlan’s name was John, but someone had written to Steel saying his
name was Timothy and it was put so on the list. Coghlan on this wrote to
say it was not his name and requested Steel to alter it; but the same
wag who had written before did so again, and when the list was printed
his name stood as John Timothy Coghlan, and remained so, and we always
called him Tim.[125] He has gone to his long home and has left behind
the character of an honest and worthy fellow. He left the Hind to be
master of the Trent, 36, going to the West Indies. I dined with him a
short time before he sailed, and he was pointing out the different
members of the mess, saying that none of them could live in such a
climate. Poor fellow, he little thought while making that remark that
they all returned and he the only one that sunk the victim of
all-conquering death.

At the time we had nearly got on shore and lost an anchor near the
Mewstone, when working out with the convoy, I was sent the next morning
to acquaint Commissioner Fanshawe[126] of the circumstance, and to
request he would order a lighter with a new cable and to weigh the
anchor we had lost. I recollect he was dressed in an old blue coat with
a red handkerchief about his neck, and in a very crabbed humour. After
staring at me for some time he roared out, ‘I shall do no such thing.
What brought you there? Go and tell your captain if he gets into a hole
he must get out of it again. I shall give him no assistance and you may
be off and tell him so.’ I told him that we were out of the hole and
that I only delivered my orders as I was directed. At the same time I
would thank him to write down the words he had just made use of, as
verbal messages were uncertain. ‘Be off, sir,’ says he, ‘and if your
memory is good enough to recollect what your captain said you cannot
forget what I have stated; so no more palaver’; and grinning at me with
a horrid set of teeth, he concluded by saying, ‘I have other things to
think of than bothering my brains about people who get into a lubberly
situation and don’t know how to get out.’ I looked at him without making
any reply, when, turning on his heel, he said, ‘Aye, you may look’;

Nor more he deigned to say,
But stern as Ajax’ spectre, strode away.

As I am not fond of making mischief, I thought it best to say nothing to
Captain Lee but merely state he refused to send the lighter. This put
the captain in a terrible rage, but the lighter being sent off the next
morning, the matter ended. Commissioner Fanshawe was one of the first
seamen in the navy, and also one of the bravest officers that ever did
honour to the service, a rigid disciplinarian, and to sum up all, a
tight hand of the watch, as the saying is.

Coming from the westward to the Downs and when round the Foreland, the
captain ordered the colours to be hoisted, when up went a swaggering
French ensign and jack, which at first was not taken notice of, but was
soon observed by the captain, who ran forward calling out to me, ‘Look
at the French jack, sir; haul it down directly.’ ‘Sir, said I, ‘the
French ensign is at the mizen peak.’ This he had not seen, and I thought
he would have gone jumping mad. However, they were hauled down; but as
if the devil would have it, instead of our own, up went Dutch colours.
Nobody could keep their countenance, and a general laugh went through
the ship and also in the men of war lying in the Downs who had observed
the transaction.

While at Carrickfergus we were on very friendly terms with the officers
of the Irish militia and dined often at the different messes. I remember
on a rejoicing day calling with some more on the officers of the Cavan
militia. On going upstairs to their messroom, we found several seated
round the fire with a half barrel of gunpowder busily employed making
fireworks for the evening amusement. Our visit was not of long duration,
and I can truly say for myself that I only made one step downstairs and
was off like a shot—

Nor cast one longing, lingering look behind.

When in Hamoaze our boatswain was tried by a court martial for repeated
drunkenness and dismissed the service. At the trial the captain of the
Tremendous, 74, was unable to attend from indisposition, and the surgeon
being sent for to attend the court and give in his report, he happened
to make some remarks that the court considered disrespectful; upon which
he was given in charge of Lieutenant Richards, first of the Cambridge,
84, on board of which ship the trial took place, until the court should
determine. He was not long kept in suspense, for on the court opening he
was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment in the Marshalsea for
contempt of court,[127] and sent off that day. People should be careful.

On the passage to Quebec, after parting from our convoy, about eight in
the evening, with little wind and going two knots, and nothing in sight,
a voice was heard astern hailing, ‘On board the Hind, ahoy!’ I must
confess I was a little staggered, and some curious remarks were made by
the seamen. One fellow said, ‘I’ll be damned if we were off the Cape but
I should think it was the Flying Dutchman.’ ‘As to that,’ says another,
‘he has got a roving commission and may cruise where he likes.’ ‘Bad
luck to me,’ says a marine, ‘if it’s not a mermaid.’ ‘And to sum up,’
says old Macarthy, the quartermaster, ‘it may be the poor fellow that
fell overboard the other day.’ However, the voice hailed again, saying,
‘Bear a hand and send the boat, for I’m damned if I can keep up much
longer.’ The jolly boat was immediately lowered down from the stern and
sent in the direction of the voice; and will it be believed that the
fellows were afraid to take into the boat one of the main topmen (who
had fallen overboard out of the main chains, being half asleep) until he
had told his name and answered several ridiculous questions?

At the time we took the privateer, it was given out by our lying
newspapers that the French were starving. On the contrary the French
officers told me that everything was abundant in France, and—if I may
judge from what was on board—their account was correct; for she had
barrels of meat of every description—alamode beef, ham, fowls, and
tongues, casks filled with eggs, coffee, tea, and sugar, all kinds of
cordial, with plenty of brandy and different wines; so that instead of
starvation, there appeared the luxury of Lucullus, when supping in the
Apollo.[128] The French officers belonged to some of the line-of-battle
ships at Brest, but had leave from the French Government to go on board
privateers for a certain time and cruise after our merchantmen. When we
arrived at Plymouth they requested me to state this to the proper
authorities in the hope of getting their parole. This I accordingly did,
but without success, as they were given to understand that being taken
in a privateer they could not be considered as officers entitled to
parole.[129]

I found them very intelligent gentlemen; one of them spoke English
remarkably well and gave a very interesting account of the revolution
and of the leading characters then in power without any partiality. The
opinion, he said, in France was that the nobles and the clergy were the
instigators of anarchy and confusion, and the people did not know how to
put a stop to it. I must here mention that one of our men who I had
placed as a sentry, fell asleep at his post, which was observed by a
French officer who, to his honour, informed me of the circumstance. I
need not say how I thanked him. When they were sent to Mill Prison I
went with them and did everything in my power in recommending them to
the officers belonging to the prison, who promised to make them as
comfortable as they possibly could. I had but little money, which I
divided among them. We shook hands at parting and they gave me their
address, saying how happy they should be to see me in France when the
war was over. One of those gentlemen had been a prisoner before in
England and had his quarters at Petersfield.

RICHARD LEE, Esq., Captain.

An admiral of the blue, K.C.B., Knight of the Tower and Sword. An
excellent officer and seaman. He commanded the Courageux, 74, when
Sir Richard Strahan captured Dumanoir’s squadron. [Died
1837.—Marshall, ii. 568.]

JOHN BAZELY, Esq., Captain.

Dead [1827]. A vice-admiral of the blue. He was one of the best
officers in the navy, and much lamented by numerous friends and
particularly by his old shipmates.

FREDERICK HICKEY, 1st Lieutenant.

A post captain and magistrate at Swansea; an excellent officer.
[Died 1839.—Marshall, vii. 227.]

JAS. A. GARDNER, 2nd Lieutenant.

A commander.

JOHN COGHLAN, Master.

Dead. A most worthy fellow.

[GEORGE] PATON, Master.

Dead. A quiet, good sailor.

CHRISTOPHER NOBLE, Lieutenant of marines.

Dead from his wounds. A major; as brave and generous a fellow as
ever lived.

GEO. WHITE, Purser.

Dead. He had many good qualities, and many bad ones.

ROBERT ANDERSON, Surgeon.

Dead. A very strange and worthy fellow.

ROBERT DUNHAM, Acting Lieutenant.

Dead. A lieutenant. He was made lieutenant in 1781, but broke and
was reinstated in 1795; a very clever fellow, but as obstinate as
the devil.

[JAMES] MOORE, Gunner.

Dead. A very good sailor.

[ARCHIBALD] FREEBURN, Gunner.

Uncertain.

FLEMMING, Boatswain.

Uncertain. Broke by court martial; a very good seaman but drank
hard.

[CHRISTOPHER] HUMPHRIES, Boatswain.

Dead. A very good seaman and much respected.

[ROBERT] BIGGERY [or BAGRIE], Carpenter.

Superannuated; a very worthy fellow.

[GEORGE] PORTER, Mate.

A commander; a smart officer.

[JOHN] NAZER, Mate.

Dead. A lieutenant; a very good and very ugly fellow.

[THOMAS] ALLEN, Midshipman.

Drowned. A fine spirited young man.

[BENJAMIN] BADCOCK, Midshipman.

Drowned. A fine spirited young man.

[JAMES JERVIS] KINNEER, Midshipman.

Drowned in the Lutine, 36; a lieutenant.

FRANCIS GEARY GARDNER LEE, Midshipman.

Sir F. G. G. Lee; a major in the royal marines and
lieutenant-colonel in the Spanish army.

CHUBB, Clerk.

Drowned in the cutter with poor Allen.

[JONAS] TOBY, Clerk.

Dead. A purser. [Purser of the Euryalus at Trafalgar; author of
the plan of the battle which was sent home to Lord Barham, and
published as a separate sheet and in the _Naval Chronicle_, vol.
xiv.]

BLONDE, 32

I was appointed first lieutenant of the Blonde, 32, Captain Daniel
Dobree, and commissioned her at Chatham early in March 1798, and soon
after got a draft of twenty-seven hands and a midshipman from the
Standard, 64, which was all I had to fit her out with, and of that
number, only five knew how to turn a dead-eye in. However, we contrived
to get her hold stowed, sails bent, and topgallant yards across, before
we had any addition of men or officers. At last our complement was
completed by a draft from the Dordrecht,[130] 64, and went to Black
Stakes, where we took in our powder and proceeded to the Downs. We had a
crack ship’s company with our last draft, and in getting topgallant
yards up the morning after we arrived, we crossed ours, sent them down
again, and then swayed away and had them ready for crossing before the
flagship and the rest of the men of war at anchor. Vice-Admiral
Peyton[131] was the port admiral, and had his flag on board the
Overyssel,[132] 64, commanded by my late worthy friend Captain John
Bazely. I expected we should have got a reprimand for being too hasty in
our movements, especially when I saw a boat coming from the flagship;
however, instead of a rub down, it proved to be a visit from Captain
Bazely, who paid us many compliments on the good order the ship appeared
to be in. He told me there was a vacancy on board the flagship for a
lieutenant and that he would apply for me if I wished it, at the same
time stating that he was on bad terms with the admiral, who was at all
times a harsh and disagreeable officer, and in the event of his getting
a frigate (which he was in expectation of) he had no doubt would prevent
me (to annoy him) leaving the flagship, and advised me to remain in the
Blonde until he had an opportunity of serving me.

Having received orders, we proceeded to Spithead and took command of a
small squadron of gun-boats and cutters to guard the Needles passage,
and anchored off Jack in the Basket, near Lymington, which service we
performed very agreeably for several weeks. The rebellion in Ireland
taking place, we were ordered with several men of war and transports to
proceed to Weymouth and embark troops for that country. The king, being
at Weymouth at the time, with the royal family, it was expected he would
review the squadron; but the news from Ireland being very serious, the
troops were embarked in a hurry, and we got under way in company with
the men of war and transports for our destination.

I must here mention that the commodore of the squadron (Captain
Hardy,[133] commanding a 64) came on board with several other captains,
and after going round the ship and mustering us at quarters, he
addressed me, saying, ‘Sir, I feel great satisfaction in stating that
the Blonde is in the best order of any ship in the squadron and the
fittest to receive his Majesty, should he go afloat; and for the short
time your ship has been in commission she does great honour to her
captain and officers.’ This he said before the rest of the captains, and
among the number was my old captain (Towry) formerly of the Berwick. In
fitting out the ship at Chatham, I did everything I could to keep on
good terms with the officers of the yard by asking them down to our mess
and paying them every little attention in my power; and by that means I
had an opportunity of getting many things done to beautify the
ship.[134] I had the head painted in colours, the quarters friezed, a
famous stand made for the arms on the quarter deck, and trophies painted
on our scuttle butts, with half circles and circles for our pistols and
cutlasses, which made the old Blonde cut a dashing appearance.

Just as we were getting under way, Captain Hardy sent me four or five
buckets of paint, with his compliments, saying I should stand in need of
it after getting rid of the soldiers, which was really the case, as on
board they were the most helpless and dirty devils I ever beheld—except
the Russians. It was impossible to get them up from between decks
without burning green wood in the stoves, which the devil himself could
not stand, the smoke was so intolerable.[135]

After a quick passage we landed the troops at Waterford, where we
remained a short time and then returned to our station, to guard the
Needles passage for a few weeks. The Europa, 50, being sent to relieve
us, got aground near Gurnet Point, and after lying there some time was
got off and returned to Portsmouth to refit. More troops being ordered
to Ireland, we were put under the orders of Captain Geo. Burdon and
sailed with a small squadron consisting of the following men of war:—

Alkmaar[136] 54 Capt. Geo. Burdon, commodore
Tromp[137] 54 Capt. Worsley
Blonde 32 Capt. Dobree
Weymouth store-ship ——

On the passage we had near got on the Seven Stones. I had the morning
watch, and soon after I relieved the deck I observed breakers upon the
lee bow and beam and at no great distance; the wind about NNW, and our
heads to the westward, blowing fresh with a chop of a sea. The Alkmaar
was ahead, on the weather bow, and the Tromp to windward, the Weymouth
astern of all. We were under double reefed topsail and foresail and no
time to be lost; immediately set topgallant sails, jib and spanker;
hauled on board the main tack, kept her rap full, and when she had fresh
way, put the helm down and she stayed like a top. We made the signal for
standing into danger, and when the Alkmaar put her helm down she missed
stays, and when they got her head round her stern was close to the
breakers. The Tromp, by being to windward and carrying a press of sail
weathered the shoals and parted company. In consequence of foul winds we
put into Scilly for a few days, and then sailed for Dublin, where we
landed the troops.

We were employed upon this service from Dublin to Cork and then to
Guernsey, and up and down Channel with convoy, until August 1799, when
we received orders to proceed to the Baltic to convey the Russian troops
to Holland. Sailed from Spithead, and having taken in pilots proceeded
to Elsinore and then to Reval, with some transports. Found lying in the
roads the Russian fleet consisting of 15 sail of the line besides
frigates, etc., under Admiral Henikoff, and several British men of war
and transports. Having embarked some thousands of the Russian guards we
left Reval for the Texel, in company with British and Russian men of war
and several transports. We had on board a Russian captain, two subs., a
surgeon, and 296 privates, all hoffs, choffs, and koffs. The captain’s
name was Peter Glebhoff, who never pulled his boots off the whole time
he was on board. The men were the most filthy I ever met with. They used
to scrape the tallow out of the bottoms of the lanterns and make it up
into balls, which they would swallow and wash down with a drink of train
oil. They had bread made on purpose, of the coarsest flour mixed with
vinegar, and their cookery it is impossible to describe; so that the
Spartan black broth must have been a luxury (however unpalatable) to
their abominable messes. I have positively seen them pick the vermin off
one another’s jackets, which they would eat without ceremony.

On our arrival at the Texel the whole were immediately landed, and were
soon after in action, and the most of those we had on board put _hors de
combat_ by the next day. Poor Peter Glebhoff, who had been sharpening
his spear at the grinding stone a few days before the landing, and
vowing to sacrifice every Frenchman he met with, was one of the first
that fell. He had been in most of the battles under Suvorof against the
Turks and Poles, and had left a wife and family at Riga to lament his
fate. He was much liked while on board of us and we all felt heartily
sorry for him. I was several times on shore and saw the numerous wagons
of wounded soldiers from the scene of action which by no means
corresponded with the accounts given in our Gazettes.... I had two
cousins, captains in the 17th regiment of foot—one of them (Knight) was
killed just as I was going to see him.

A short time before we left the Texel the Blanche, 32, Captain Ayscough,
got on shore on the Haaks—a dangerous shoal near the Texel, and some of
the boats that were sent to her assistance unfortunately upset, and
several officers and seamen perished, owing to the surf which ran very
high on and near the shoal. The Blanche got off, and returned to the New
Deep, and sunk just as she entered, but none of her crew were lost.[138]
At this time things looked rather queer, and it was found out after hard
fighting that it was not so easy to beat the French out of Holland as at
first expected; and we were ordered to take a cargo of runaway Dutchmen
on board, with their wives and families—about 400 altogether. A short
time before we sailed we saw the Lutine, 36, Captain Launcelot Skynner,
at the back of the Haaks, and, if I am correct, the evening she was
lost[139] and only one saved, who died soon after.

We left the Texel in November 1799, and in standing over to our own
coast had nearly struck by the blunder of our pilots on the Gabbard.
After escaping from this first blunder we anchored near the Shipwash,
another shoal by far more dangerous than the former. It was in the
evening that we took up our quarters in this precious situation,
intending to get under way with the morning tide. I must here mention
that we had two pilots; one of them had been a branch pilot for more
than twenty years. I had the morning watch, and on relieving the deck I
observed to this branch pilot that the weather had a very suspicious
appearance. The wind at this time was favourable for getting to sea, and
we could lay five points to windward of the tail of the shoal. I
strongly urged the pilot to get under way, pointing out the danger of
our situation should the wind get dead on the shoal, but all to no
purpose. He said there was no fear and he must remain where he was, as
he was sure the weather would be fine, and that it was only a light haze
over the moon; upon which I went to the captain and gave my opinion. He
agreed with me, but did not like to take charge out of the pilots’
hands, saying he was fearful, in getting under way, that the ship might
get on shore should she cast the wrong way. Now there was no fear of
that, as a spring on the cable would have cast her the right way, and
the loss of an anchor was of little consequence compared with the risk
of losing the ship and our lives.

Far be it from me to reflect upon Captain Dobree, who was a good officer
and seaman; and taking charge from a pilot was a great responsibility;
but when a pilot is guilty of a gross error, I should never hesitate to
take charge of the ship, if I knew I could do so with safety, which was
the case now. But it was neglected, and as I foretold, the wind soon
after backed round and blew dead upon the shoal, so that we could not
weather either end. At this time we were at single anchor about two or
three cable’s-lengths from the breakers, blowing strong, and the sea
getting up; at half cable; but let go another anchor and veered to a
whole cable on the former, and half cable on the latter, bringing two
anchors ahead. Sent topgallant masts upon deck, and struck yards and
topmasts; the wind increasing to a gale, with a hollow sea and great
strain upon the cables. There was no alternative but to cut away the
masts, which was immediately done; but owing to an error of one of the
officers, who ordered the lanyards of the main stay to be cut before the
lanyards of one side of the main rigging, the main mast, in consequence
fell aft, and carried away the mizen mast, which stove the boats on the
quarters and did considerably damage to the upper works; and some of the
rigging caught fire, from the stove in the cabin having the funnel
knocked off; but this was soon got under, and with great exertion the
wreck was cleared. ‘And now, Master Pilot,’ says I, ‘after getting us in
this damnable situation, what next is to be done?’ The son of a bitch
could make me no answer; but the junior pilot exclaimed ‘—— seize me if
we sha’n’t be on the sands.’ I could not help saying they deserved to be
hanged as drowning was too good for them.

I have already mentioned that we had Dutch troops on board with their
families, and of as much use as Castlereagh would have been with the
same number of his Lancers or Prancers.[140] The few marines we had were
worth a thousand of such live lumber. It was ludicrous to see those
Dutchmen coming upon deck with their hat boxes, boots, trunks, flutes
and music books, ready to go on shore, when the sea was running
mountains high, and a tremendous surf of prodigious height on the sands
close under our stern, and no chance whatever, if the ship parted, of a
soul being saved; which made Captain Dobree observe to me, ‘Where
ignorance is bliss ’tis folly to be wise.’

About half-past ten A.M. we parted the best bower, and let go the sheet
anchor; and at the greatest risk—it was neck or nothing—veered on the
small bower to a whole, and half cable on the sheet, which brought us
very near the shoal but there was no help for it. About twelve o’clock
we observed that the small bower was stranded; and at the moment when
nothing but a miracle could save us, in a terrific squall of thunder,
lightning, hail, and rain, the wind suddenly flew round and blew with
violence off the shoal, which saved H. M. ship Blonde from destruction.
It soon after got moderate; we had an excellent ship’s company, and in
less than three hours we had jury masts rigged and both anchors hove
up—having saved the small bower; made sail and anchored in a safer berth
to await the tide.

About eleven P.M. we were surprised by a boat coming alongside with four
hands, who stated they belonged to a galliot that had struck upon the
tail of the shoal and had beat over into smoother water, where she sunk.
The crew had taken to the boat and were six hours beating about before
they got alongside of us, and thought we were a floating light. As soon
as the morning tide would allow we got under way and followed some
merchantmen—for I am certain the pilots did not know the way without
having a leader—and arrived at Sheerness in the evening;

Ragged, and shabby, and all forlorn,
By wind and weather tattered and torn,
Occasioned by pilots who treated with scorn
The good advice that was given that morn;
For which a rope their necks should adorn,
The damnedest lubbers that ever were born.

Captain Dobree soon after left the ship to proceed with Sir Home Popham
and other captains to Russia, and I acted as captain for several weeks
until another was appointed. Having business on shore, I wrote to the
admiralty requesting to be superseded, which after a little delay was
granted, and Lieutenant Edwin James was appointed in my room. I left the
old Blonde and my worthy messmates early in 1800.

I shall now relate a few anecdotes as they come to my memory. When near
the shoal I have just mentioned, our surgeon’s mate and the ship’s cook
were almost frightened out of their senses. The former, who would fight
any man, or face the devil as soon as let it alone, was not equal to
this; and when the junior pilot said, ‘—— seize me if we shan’t be on
the sands,’ he clapped his hands and ran down to the gun room, with his
hair standing on end, crying out, ‘Lost! Lost! Lost!’—and then flew on
deck again; and when the wind shifted, he cut several capers and said
‘I’m a man again.’ As for the cook, he had saved a sum of money by
keeping shop on board and selling things to the ship’s company. At the
time the best bower parted, he was on the forecastle in the greatest
tribulation; says he, ‘Betty’ (meaning his wife, who was on board) ‘will
go to a better mansion, but I’m doubtful about myself.’ He had hardly
made the observation when the sea broke over the bows that threatened
destruction and with a faltering voice he said, ‘Liver me! Liver
me!’—meaning ‘Deliver me,’ but could not get the word out. ‘Damn your
liver, you croaking son of a bitch,’ says the captain of the forecastle.
‘Go into your coppers and be damned to you, and there you’ll be safe,
and don’t come barking here like a tanner’s dog.’ I was on the
forecastle with Captain Dobree at the time. He looked at me and for my
life I could not help laughing.

While at Sheerness we had two courts martial held on board of us[141];
one on Lieutenant Brice, on charges brought against him by Captain
Charles Brisbane while on the South American station. The charges being
proved, he was sentenced to be dismissed the service and rendered
incapable of serving his Majesty, his heirs or successors. This was most
unfortunate for Lieutenant Brice, as his commission to the rank of
commander only waited the result of his trial. The next was on Captain
George Tripp, for the loss of the Nassau, 64, on the Dutch Coast.[142]
The court having heard all the evidence came to the following
conclusion:—That H.M. ship Nassau was lost through the gross ignorance
and inattention of Captain Tripp, and that he did not set a good example
to those under his command; and for such conduct he was sentenced to be
dismissed from the service as unfit and unworthy, and rendered incapable
of serving his Majesty, his heirs or successors.

I promised (page 12) to speak of Pat Gibson when I came to the Blonde.
He was at this time (1799) purser of the Pallas, 38 (formerly the
Minerva), having given up the Princess Royal as too great an undertaking
for his age, being, as he told me, eighty. The Pallas being alongside
the same hulk, we were constant visitors. As every circumstance, however
trifling, may be interesting, I shall relate a few anecdotes. Gibson was
a tall raw-boned Irishman from the county of Tipperary; very powerful,
with an Herculean grasp, and woe betide those who got into his clutches
if roused to anger. He was a very jovial companion, droll in his manner,
full of anecdote, and sung in the Irish language, of which he was a
perfect master. He used to go on shore to bring off the drunken Irish
who had stayed above their time, and I remember his saying to me,
‘Arrah, don’t you think, my dear fellow, that it’s a hard thing that
nobody can manage those spalpeens but an ould man like me, now eighty
years of age? Och, By the Holy Father, how I knocked their heads
together, and left the mark of my fist upon their ugly podreen faces,
bad luck to them.’

He was at the taking of Quebec and was one of those that assisted in
carrying General Wolfe off the field when mortally wounded. His account
of the battle was very interesting, and in it he fought most manfully.
It was amusing to see him sitting in his cabin with his legs stretched
outside the door singing Irish songs. The steward once interrupted him,
for which he got a thump on the back that sent him the length of the
gunroom, Pat saying, ‘To hell wid you! take dat till the cows come
home.’ There was a countryman of his by the name of Fegan, who, in the
American war, was sent by Sir John Fielding (the celebrated magistrate
of Bow Street) on board the Conquistador, 60, then lying as a guard-ship
at the Nore with Admiral Roddam’s flag. This Fegan was a shrewd, keen
fellow, and made a song on being sent on board of a man of war, and
Gibson was very fond of singing it. I only remember a few verses:—

The beginning of the war they hobbled poor Fegan,
And sent him on board of the Conquistador;
That floating old gin shop, who struck upon her beef bones,
While laying as a guard-ship near the buoy of the Nore.

When first they lugged him before Justice Fielding,[143]
Fegan thus to him did say:
You may be damned, you old blind b——,
I will be back again before Christmas day.

By my sowl, Mr. Fegan, you are a fine fellow,
It’s you that have done the king much wrong;
Call Kit Jourdan, the master at arms, sir,
And put Mr. Fegan in double irons strong.

Step here, boatswain’s mate, and give him a starting;
Says the first lieutenant it’s always my way;
And you shall have many before the day of parting—
I think, Mr. Fegan, you mentioned Christmas day.

Etc., etc., etc.

When I called on him about three months before his death he told me he
was then on his last legs; that he had enjoyed an uninterrupted state of
health for upwards of ninety years; that he never had the headache,
rheumatism, toothache or spasms, and that he had nothing to do with
doctors’ bottles with collars round their necks, and look, says he, if
you can find any of that craft on my chimney-piece. Before I close I
must give another song of his:—

There was a wedding at Baltimore,
Of three score people lacking of four;
And you’re kindly welcome, welcome all,
And you’re welcome, gramachree, welcome all.

The priest of the parish got up at the dawn,
To marry brisk Flemming to sweet Susan Bawn;
And you’re kindly welcome, welcome all,
And you’re welcome, gramachree, welcome all.

There was Tyghe, and Dermot, and Madam Shevaun,
And they all rode on a long-tailed gar-ron;[144]
And you’re kindly welcome, welcome all,
And you’re welcome, gramachree, welcome all.

There was sneezing galore, with full madders[145] of ale,
Which made maidens stagger and men for to reel;
And you’re kindly welcome, welcome all,
And you’re welcome, gramachree, welcome all.

Potatoes and herrings must please the men,
But madam the bride, she must have a fat hen;
And you’re kindly welcome, welcome all,
And you’re welcome, gramachree, welcome all.

There was long kail, and pottage, with good pishochbey,[146]
And the rarest colcannon[147] that e’er you did see;
And you’re kindly welcome, welcome all,
And you’re welcome, gramachree, welcome all.

When the feasting was o’er, from the room she was led,
Where they lay head and points as if they were dead;
And you’re kindly welcome, welcome all,
And you’re welcome, gramachree, welcome all.

· · · · ·

Our master, Henry Webb, was a very worthy fellow, but had strange
fancies. When we were going from the Downs to Portsmouth, and about
three leagues to the southward of Beachy Head, he had the first watch,
and having after supper taken his drop, he dropped asleep while sitting
on the gun-carriage and had a dream that the ship was on shore. Up he
started and ran into the captain, who had gone to bed, and called out,
‘Get up, sir, we are all lost.’ The captain jumped out of bed and went
upon deck in his shirt, and ordered the hands to be turned up, and sent
for me. I flew up with only my trowsers on, found everything in
confusion, and I really thought that madness had seized the whole. ‘Put
the ship about, sir, immediately,’ says the captain. This I complied
with, and when on the other tack I asked him if anything was the matter.
‘Mr. Webb, sir,’ says he, ‘must be sent to the madhouse.’ I confess I
was not well pleased, as I had the middle watch and this happened at six
bells, so I had an hour more than I expected to trudge the deck. I
should have stated that the wind was westerly and we were beating down
Channel with a moderate breeze. The captain was much inclined to bring
Master Webb to a court martial, but we interceded for him and the
business was looked over, but he never heard the last of this, and would
frequently be greeted with the well-known words, ‘Turn out, we are all
lost’—a compliment he could well dispense with.

He gave us a droll account that when at Lisbon he missed the boat that
was to take the officers off in the evening who were on shore upon
leave, and was engaging a shore boat for that purpose; but suspecting
from something the boatmen were saying that their intention was to
murder him, he took to his heels and hid under some logs in the
neighbourhood of Bull Bay and remained there all night in the greatest
terror. When he sallied out in the morning he was covered with filth of
a yellow hue and appeared at a distance as if he had been dipped in
Pactolus! His fright was so great that he was not aware of the bed of
roses he had reposed on for so many hours, until he started in the
morning with blushing honours thick upon him.

On another occasion, coming up in a small fishing boat from Sheerness to
Chatham, he heard two of the men whispering, which he imagined was about
himself, and when making a tack and near the mud, out he jumped and
began to crawl upon his hands and knees as fast as he could for dry
land. The poor fishermen, not knowing what to make of such conduct, ran
the boat on the mud and two of them went after him, but to no purpose,
it being dark. They called repeatedly, but got no answer from Webb, who
was making off in terror and dismay; and what alarmed him more was
hearing the men say, ‘D’ye see him now? Where the hell can he be got to?
He must be hereabouts.’ At last he got out of the mud and set off for
Chatham in a nice pickle, and told his tale; but the boat had arrived
before him and the men in great tribulation had given their version,
being fearful of prosecution, expecting that Webb was smothered or
drowned; and glad enough they were when he arrived at Chatham and also
to join in the laugh against him. One of the fishermen happened to know
him by sight and where he lived, and by that means it got publicity.

In cases like this, and where ghosts were introduced, Webb’s courage
would be put to the test; but in every other respect he was as brave as
a lion. While at the Passage of Waterford, he had a dispute with our
second lieutenant, and a challenge was the consequence, and they asked
me leave to go on shore. As I had the greatest friendship for them both,
I refused their request, and went below to the gunroom. Soon after one
of the midshipmen came down and informed me they were going out of the
ship. Up I went and found them in the jolly boat just shoved off. ‘Come
back,’ says I, ‘immediately, or I’ll make the sentry fire.’ On their
return I told them if they did not make it up instantly, I would try
them by a court martial for going out of the ship contrary to orders and
taking the boat. This had the desired effect, and I had the pleasure of
making up the dispute between two as good fellows as ever lived.

The second lieutenant (Jack Derby) was a noisy droll fellow, always
keeping the mess in a roar of laughter. The first day he joined the ship
we had roast beef for dinner, and when brought to table it was little
better than half done by the neglect of our black cook. Now this cook’s
name was Jack Derby also, whom I sent for, and calling him up to the
head of the table close by Lieutenant Jack Derby, says I, ‘I am sorry,
sir, you should have such a dinner, particularly the first day of your
coming on board; but you have to thank that black son of a bitch, Jack
Derby’—an emphasis on the word—‘whose grog shall be stopped for such
neglect.’ ‘Don’t mention it, sir,’ says he laughing; ‘I shall make a
very good dinner, and suppose my name will be inserted on the ship’s
books as Jack Derby the Second.’

While lying off Lymington our launch was sent to Portsmouth yard for
stores, and Derby was sent in her. On her return, our purser (Huish)
took a passage. On leaving the harbour the weather was moderate, but
soon after came on to blow from the westward. Now the purser was very
fearful in a boat, and Derby carried more sail than he ought, on purpose
to alarm him. From the harbour to Lymington, the distance is twenty-six
miles, and the wind being dead on end they had to beat all the way.
Sometimes the boat would be gunwale under, and Huish, terrified almost
to death, would every moment rise from his seat and fall again,
exclaiming, ‘Jesus, Jenny, Jesus, Jenny’ (common words of his when
things went wrong), and cursed the hour he was fool enough to trust
himself with Derby, and if it pleased Providence to spare him now he
would never put his foot in a boat with him even in a calm. But his
troubles were not yet over, for in getting into the Fiddler’s Race near
Gurnet Point, on the Isle of Wight side, with the tide under their lee,
there was such a sea breaking that the launch was nearly swamped, and
Derby seriously repented his joke; while Huish in despair repeatedly
ejaculated, ‘Orontes’ bark, Orontes’ bark will be our fate.’ (See
_Aeneid_ [i. 117]).[148] However, they got safe on board and created
much amusement in the account Huish gave of Derby’s wickedness.

Being ordered to embark the 23rd regiment foot for Guernsey, and after
going through the Needles in the evening, it came on thick weather in
the first watch; and about eleven the wind, at SE, began to blow a
hurricane, with snow so thick that we could not see half the length of
the ship. We sent topgallant yards and topgallant masts upon deck, and
hove the ship to under storm staysails. The topsails and courses were
frozen as hard as board, and being short of complement it took nearly
the whole of the middle watch before they could be furled. One of our
main topmen was frozen and died soon after. The officers were also
aloft, and all hands suffered most dreadfully. I was speaking to the man
at the wheel when a sheet of ice fell out of the mizen top and knocked
both of us down. It gave me a severe blow on the shoulder and the other
a staggering thump on the back. I was so benumbed when I got below that
I had hardly life in me. The officers of the 23rd made me swallow hot
brandy and water, and I went to bed, where I had not been above half an
hour before all hands were called again, and I was obliged to go on
deck. The fact was the fore topsail had got loose and blew to rags, and
the main topsail was nearly following its example, but stopped in time,
and we had to bend another fore topsail in this cruel weather. Towards
morning it cleared up and got moderate. During the whole course of my
life I never suffered so much as I did on that dreadful night. However,
we got safe into Guernsey and landed our soldiers. The officers were a
glorious set of fellows, and sorry I am that I cannot find any of their
names on the list.

The last time we were at the Passage of Waterford was passed very
agreeably. I had a cousin (the son of the late Alderman Bates of
Waterford) who had an estate in the neighbourhood. He used to send
horses and a carriage for the officers of our mess, who were frequently
at his house. He was field officer of the district and kept a great deal
of company, and gave many parties in honour of the old Blonde. On one
occasion he came on board to invite us to an evening party, when he and
Jack Derby got into conversation, and at last got so drunk that it was
evening before they got sober enough to leave the ship. It was then time
to go, and off they started, Derby in full uniform. When the boat
landed, he, with all the politeness imaginable, wanted to hand Bates
out. This Bates declined. ‘Then,’ says Jack, ‘we’ll go together.’ Now
the gang board was hardly broad enough for two, and the moment they
stepped upon it over they went where the water was four feet deep and
got a fine ducking. Derby would not return to the ship, but, mounting a
horse belonging to Bates, set off in his wet clothes to meet the party,
and there Bates dressed him in regimentals, and a precious figure he
cut. We passed a very pleasant evening, there being near seventy
present. One of the ladies sung the beautiful air of ‘Eileen Aroon’ in
Irish—a translation of which I met with a few years ago and give it as
follows:—

I’ll love thee evermore,
Eileen aroon.
I’ll bless thee o’er and o’er,
Eileen aroon.
Oh, for thy sake I’ll tread
Where the plains of Mayo spread,
By hope still fondly led,
Eileen aroon.

Oh! how may I gain thee,
Eileen aroon?
Shall feasting entertain thee,
Eileen aroon?
I would range the world wide,
With love alone to guide,
To win thee for my bride,
Eileen aroon.

Then wilt thou come away,
Eileen aroon?
Oh! wilt thou come or stay,
Eileen aroon?
Oh yes! oh yes! with thee
I will wander far and free,
And thy only love shall be,
Eileen aroon.

A hundred thousand welcomes
Eileen aroon.
A hundred thousand welcomes,
Eileen aroon.
Oh! welcome evermore,
With welcomes yet in store,
Till love and life are o’er,
Eileen aroon.

We had a fidgety and crabbed commodore (Captain Stevenson of the Europa,
50) who neither enjoyed pleasure himself nor would let anyone else do
so: who kept Blue Peter flying the fortnight we remained, which said No!
to every invitation to the city.

In going from Portsmouth to the Downs we gave a passage to an assistant
surgeon, red hot from the land of cakes, who had never been on board of
a man of war, and had now an appointment to a gun vessel. Seeing that he
was a complete greenhorn, we took him into our mess that the midshipmen
should not make a butt of him, for which he was very thankful. On
leaving the ship in the Downs, he took the surgeon aside, saying, ‘You
have all been very kind to me, particularly the purser, and I would wish
to make him some acknowledgment. D’ye think if I gave him three pounds
of cheese!!! it would satisfy him?’ After he landed at Deal he put up at
the Three Kings. Captain Dobree, happening to go into the coffee room,
observed him in one of the boxes, and hearing him ask the waiter what
there was for dinner, stayed to hear the result. The bill of fare being
given him, he ordered an apple pie, which was brought him made in a
good-sized dish. This he devoured in a short time, and ordered the
fellow to bring him another, which he demolished also, and then rang the
third time and asked him if he had any more of those pies. On the waiter
saying they had, he said, ‘You may as well bring me one more,’ upon
which Captain Dobree exclaimed ‘Merciful father!’ and left him in his
glory. The captain told me this the moment he came on board, saying he
never met the fellow of him in all his peregrinations.

About six months after this a small squadron of gun vessels were ordered
from the Downs to cruise on the French coast. It happened that his
appointment was dated before the other assistant surgeons in the above
squadron, and will it be believed that he considered himself entitled to
the same rank and emoluments as physician of the fleet, and made
application for the same, and got for answer (as we were told) that the
board disapproved of the whole of his practice.

DANIEL DOBREE, Esq., [Acting] Captain.

Dead [1802]. A good officer, seaman, and gentleman. [Post captain,
April 29, 1802.]

J. A. GARDNER, 1st Lieutenant.

A commander.

JOHN WORRALL, 2nd Lieutenant.

Dead [1831]. A commander; crabbed.

JOHN DERBY, 2nd Lieutenant.

Dead. Warden at Portsmouth yard.

HENRY J. LYFORD, 2nd Lieutenant.

Dead [1830]. A post captain.—[Marshall, vii. 170.]

WM. GIBSON, 2nd Lieutenant.

Broke by court martial and rendered incapable of serving, for
going on shore without leave to fight a duel.

EDWIN JAMES, 2nd Lieutenant.

Dead [1829]. A commander.—[Marshall, xi. 156.]

HENRY WEBB, Master.

Dead. A worthy, honest fellow.

ROBERT HUISH, Purser.

Dead. A droll fellow and good mimic.

[JOHN] TUCKER, Purser.

Dead. Thoughtless and extravagant.

J[AMES] MILLIGAN, Surgeon.

Dead. A worthy fellow.

[JOHN] HARRISON, Gunner.

Dead. A very good warrant officer.

JOHN BLACKFORD, Boatswain.

Dead. A willing man, but drank.

[THOMAS] NEWPORT, Carpenter.

Dead. Broke by court martial.

[JAMES] THOMAS, Mate.

Uncertain. A good-natured Irishman.

[EDWARD] CAULFIELD, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant.

[CHARLES] DONCASTER, Midshipman.

Dead from yellow fever at Jamaica. A fine, promising young man.
[Borne as ‘boy of the 1st class’; afterwards midshipman.]

FREDERICK HOUGHTON, Midshipman.

Drowned. A lieutenant.

CHAS. HOUGHTON, Midshipman.

A lieutenant. They were sons of Major [Daniel] Houghton [_cf._
_D.N.B._], the African traveller.

DANIEL DOBREE, Midshipman; son of the captain.

Dead.

[WILLIAM] BLACKFORD, son of the boatswain.

Dead. A lieutenant; a worthy character. [Borne as ‘boy of the 3rd
class’; afterwards midshipman.]

BRUNSWICK, 74

This flat-floored tub that rolled like the devil,
Was planned by Black Dick in an hour most evil.

In April 1801 I was appointed to the Brunswick in Portsmouth harbour and
did duty as first lieutenant until the senior officer made his
appearance, which was not until I had fitted the ship out. This officer
was my old shipmate, Jack Key, formerly of the Barfleur, and one totally
unfit for the situation. In consequence, Captain George Hopewell
Stephens, who commanded the ship, was obliged to apply to the admiralty
for an officer senior to Key, and Emanuel Hungerford was appointed first
lieutenant, Captain Stephens expressing his regret at the circumstance,
observing that it was a hard case but that he would do everything in his
power to serve me. He was as good as his word, and I found him through
life a sincere friend. Hoisted the flag (red at the mizen) of Rear
Admiral John Holloway, as junior port admiral, and received orders to
proceed without loss of time to Spithead; and having struck the flag,
sailed to join the North Sea fleet under Admiral Dickson, who had his
flag (blue at the main) on board the Blenheim, 74. After cruising
several weeks and putting into Yarmouth Roads occasionally, we were next
ordered to join the grand fleet under Admiral Cornwallis (Billy Blue)
off Brest blockading the French fleet until the negotiations for peace;
when, in consequence of the French sending a squadron to the West
Indies, our admiral detached from the grand fleet five sail of the line
in October 1801 for the same destination. The squadron consisted of the
following men of war:—

Goliath 74 Captain Essington, as commodore
Captain 74 Captain C. Boyles
Elephant 74 Captain Thos. Foley
Brunswick 74 Captain Geo. Hopewell Stephens
Ganges 74 Captain Fremantle

We had a pleasant passage down the trades and made Deseada some time in
November, and had a beautiful view of the West India Islands; and in
about a week after making Deseada we arrived at Port Royal, Jamaica, and
found lying there the following men of war:—

Sans Pareil 84 Rear-Admiral Montagu—Captain Jas. Katon
Carnatic 74 Captain H. W. Bayntun
Cumberland 74 Captain Penrose
America 64 A hulk
Admiral de Vries 56 A cooperage
Abergavenny 54 A guard-ship
Vengeance 44 A French frigate: a prize
Melampus 36 Captain Thos. Le M. Gosselin, etc.

We remained about ten weeks in sweet Port Royal harbour, until the
arrival of Rear-Admiral Sir John Thomas Duckworth, K.B., as
commander-in-chief, who had his flag (red at the mizen) on board the
Leviathan, 74, and then sailed with a small squadron to cruise off the
Island of Navasa, Cape Tiburon, etc., for several weeks under
Rear-Admiral Montagu. In 1802 (I don’t remember the month) Rear-Admiral
George Campbell arrived with the fleet from England, which cut a very
fine appearance.[149] The like had not been since the days of Rodney,
viz.:—

Leviathan 74 {Rear-Admiral Duckworth, K.B.
{Captain Richard D. Dunn
Sans Pareil 84 {Rear-Admiral Montagu
{Captain Jas. Katon
Temeraire 98 {Rear-Admiral Geo. Campbell
{Captain [C. Eyles][150]
Princess Royal 98 Captain
Formidable 98 Captain [Rich. Grindall][150]
Carnatic 74 Captain
Cumberland 74 Captain Penrose
Goliath 74 Captain Essington (then Brisbane)
Spencer 74 Captain [Henry D’E. Darby][150]
Captain 74 Captain C. Boyles
Ganges 74 Captain Fremantle
Elephant 74 Captain T. Foley (then Dundas)
Brunswick 74 Captain Geo. H. Stephens
Vengeance 74 Captain Duff
Audacious 74 Captain S. Peard
Orion 74 Captain Oliver
Edgar 74 Captain Otway
Bellerophon 74 Captain Loring
Robust 74 Captain Hon. Alan H. Gardner
Resolution 74 Captain
Majestic 74 Captain D. Gould
Theseus 74 Captain John Bligh
Zealous 74 Captain S. H. Linzee
Warrior 74 Captain Chas. Tyler
Powerful 74 Captain Sir Francis Laforey, Bart.
Bellona 74 Captain Thos. Bertie
Vanguard 74 Captain Chas. Inglis
Defence 74 Captain Lord H. Paulett
Abergavenny 54 A guard-ship
America 64 A hulk
Admiral De Vries 54 A cooperage
Hindostan 54 A store-ship
Vengeance 44 A prize
Decade 36 Captain Rutherford
Melampus 36 Captain Gosselin
Trent 36 Captain Perkins
Naiad or Néréide 36 Captain Mends
Æolus 32 Captain Walker
Druid 32 Captain
Thisbe or Dido (?) 28 Captain

And other frigates I do not remember.

Pelican 18 Captain Geo. McKinlay
Calypso 18 Captain
Lark 18 Captain
Raven 18 Captain James Sanders

Came into Port Royal the Française, 36, French frigate, to purchase
different articles for Madame Le Clerc, the wife of the
commander-in-chief of the French army at St. Domingo, and sister of
Napoleon (then first consul of France). A court martial was held on
Captain Thomas New for the loss of his ship,[151] on which charge he was
acquitted. During our cruise off St. Domingo we could observe the
devastation occasioned by the war with the French and the blacks;
several plantations and villages on fire. At this time sickness began to
make its appearance in the fleet, and the Brunswick had 287 men on the
sick list, and buried a great many. The Vengeance, 44, a prize, tailed
on shore and many lost their lives in endeavouring to get her off,
particularly the party of thirty-four from the Brunswick, the greater
part of whom died; and this for an old French frigate not worth repair,
being rotten and useless.

A short time before we arrived, the Topaze, 36, on a cruise, buried all
hands except fifty-five; the captain (Church) and all the officers died,
and the ship was brought in by the gunner. Eight sail of the line having
been surveyed and ordered home, we were one of the lucky squadron. Each
ship was directed to take on board four tons of iron hoops lying at a
place called Greenwich; and our launch took several trips for this
precious cargo; the thermometer generally 112,[152] and I have to
remember many damnable roastings I got in grubbing for rusty hoops not
worth their carriage. So much for the wisdom of Sir John. What could
induce him to think of such a thing was only known to himself. Everyone
at first thought it a hoax until they took the trip. I have heard many
men say how dearly they liked the West Indies; the heat was so fine and
conducive to health. Much good may it do them; and I, for one, shall
never envy them taking up their quarters with Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego.

The day before we left Port Royal happened to be sweet May Day and I
shall never forget it. The squadron ordered home had to send as many of
their stores as they could spare to the dockyard. I had to tow our spare
topmasts and several spars, and with great fatigue got them landed and
put into store; the heat beyond description; so much so that near thirty
of the blacks belonging to the yard were taken ill and sent to the
hospital. Captain Stephens was one of those who liked the West Indies,
and coming into the yard at this time, when not a breath of air was
stirring, I pointed out to him some fowls that had taken their station
as well as myself under an archway, with their wings drooping and their
bills open gasping for breath. ‘Sir,’ says I, ‘the fowls wax warm
although indigenous, and don’t appear so comfortable in this fine
climate as might be expected.’ ‘Let us be off,’ says he, ‘for there’s no
standing this.’

As several of our men had to receive extra pay for work they had been
doing, I had to stay a considerable time in consequence of some of the
Jacks-in-office waiting to get change to settle with our men; and I had
a hot dispute with one of them (a Mr. Bull), who felt much hurt at my
saying ‘What a cow you are to keep us in this infernal oven until our
faces are the colour of your own (he was a man of colour)—bad luck to
you.’

A short time before we knew of our being ordered home I went to dine on
board the Elephant with Lyford, the first lieutenant (my old messmate in
the Blonde). They expected to be sent home, and were so sure, that
Captain Peers of the marines, and Jones, the purser, said how happy they
should be to take any letters I had to send to England, and would be
certain to call on my friends as soon as the ship arrived. Poor fellows,
little did they think that instead of going home their bones would be
left at the Palisades. I am grieved to say that out of the whole mess
only two or three returned. I was taken ill the day I dined with them,
and I can truly say that I feel the effects of the wretched climate
while I am stating this.

On the 2nd of May we left Port Royal and for two or three days were
becalmed in sight of the accursed harbour. At last we joined
Rear-Admiral Campbell off Cape Tiburon. On our sick list being shown to
the admiral he seemed astonished at the number, and when he found it was
so swelled with yellow fever patients he ordered our boat off
immediately and would not suffer any communication with our ship. We
remained cruising with the squadron for a short time, and then left the
fleet for England with the following men of war:—

Bellona 74 Captain Thos. Bertie, commodore
Powerful 74 Captain Sir Francis Laforey, Bart.
Defence 74 Captain Lord Harry Paulett
Zealous 74 Captain Samuel Hood Linzee
Brunswick 74 Captain Geo. Hopewell Stephens
Edgar 74 Captain Robert Waller Otway
Orion 74 Captain Oliver
Vengeance 74 Captain Duff

Went through the Crooked Island passage and parted company with the
commodore, who, with five sail of the line, stood to the eastward and
left the Powerful, Brunswick, and Edgar or Orion (I forget which) to get
home as they could, being bad sailers. But Sir Francis Laforey, in the
Powerful, knew well what he was about and stood to the northward. We had
dreadful weather near Bermuda for three days, but moderate after, and
when on the Banks of Newfoundland altered our course for the Channel and
got there a few hours before the flying squadron, who we joined, and
soon after arrived at Spithead after a passage of nearly two months, and
went into harbour, where the Brunswick was paid off in July 1802.

But before closing I must relate a few occurrences, beginning with the
captain. This gentleman was first lieutenant of the Janus, 44 (upon two
decks) commanded by Captain Glover in the American war, and was one of
the small squadron under the late Admiral Cornwallis, who at this time
was captain of the Lion, 64, in the action with the French under
Lamotte-Picquet,[153] who had a much superior force. As the action
commenced, Captain Glover (who had been ill some time) died, and
Lieutenant Stephens fought the ship in a manner that will do eternal
honour to his memory. He was opposed in the line to a French 74 and
fairly beat her out of her station. When the battle was over he went on
board the commodore and reported the death of Captain Glover, and that
he had died below, as the surgeon had reported his being unable to be
brought on deck. Now Captain Glover had been spoken of before as not
having exerted himself so well as was expected; and Cornwallis (who was
a friend of his) observed to Lieutenant Stephens that he ought to have
let his captain die on the quarter deck, as he well knew what had been
said of him on a former occasion; and notwithstanding the surgeon’s
report that he could not be removed from his cot, he never forgot it.
This account I had from Captain Stephens; and when we joined the grand
fleet off Brest under Admiral Cornwallis, we had not been there two
hours before he made to us the signal of disapprobation for what in fact
the ship ahead of us was to blame for. Says Captain Stephens to me,
‘Gardner, did I not tell you that Billy Blue would hold me in his kind
remembrance? See how he begins to compliment me before the whole fleet.’

Captain Stephens was a brave and meritorious officer, an excellent
sailor, and a master in naval tactics. I found him, both on board and on
shore, a sincere friend. He applied for me to go as his first lieutenant
when he was appointed to command the Captain, 74, but from ill health I
was unable to join. He died a rear-admiral of the white, lamented by
numerous friends.

I shall never forget the morning before we took our departure from the
grand fleet off the Black Rocks. The signal was made to put ourselves
under the orders of the Goliath, 74, with the ships I have already
mentioned, and we imagined it was to go into port as the first division
to be paid off. I had the middle watch and had turned in, when about
five our master thundered at my door and calling out, ‘Here’s news for
you, you ragged-headed rascal; turn out and hurrah for the back of the
Point and Capstan Square! paid off by the hokey, in a few days.’ He then
began singing:—

Jolly tars, have you heard of the news?
There’s peace both by land and by sea;
Great guns are no more to be used,
Disbanded we all are to be.

Oh! says the admiral, The wars are all over;
Says the captain, My heart it will break;
Oh! says the bloody first lieutenant,
What course of life shall I take?

He then began to cut such capers that I thought he was mad. For my own
part, I was in high spirits and got up and roused out several more who
had not heard of the good news, when unfortunately a cutter came under
our stern and sent a boat on board. When the officer came on the quarter
deck, our master, full of glee, went up to him and said, ‘If you have
any letters, give them to us and we’ll take them in for you.’ ‘The devil
you will?’ says he. ‘That would be a pretty circumbendibus, to send
letters to Portsmouth _viâ_ Jamaica. Why,’ says he, ‘you don’t laugh.’
And well he might say so, for no lame duck on change ever cut a more
rueful appearance than the master, who damned his eyes, and went below
to make his will, wishing bad luck to the fellow who brought the news.

We had to victual and get stores from the rest of the fleet, with a
heavy swell and the ship rolling like a tub. She was the worst sea boat
that ever was built, drawing less water by some feet than the other
ships of her rate, but of great breadth and superior size. She had a
trick of carrying away her main topmast close by the cap, by a
particular jerk in pitching; and as we were informed by Mr. Yelland, the
carpenter (who had been appointed to her for years before), could never
be prevented; and here she played the same game, and laboured so
dreadfully that it was with the utmost difficulty we could get the
stores on board and another main topmast rigged, so as to be ready to
join the squadron. She rolled so that the scuttle butts broke adrift,
and a poor fellow got so much injured by one of them that he died soon
after. She also held a bad wind, so that it was no easy task for an
officer to keep her in her station; and to sum up the whole of her good
qualities, on her last cruise she had nearly drowned all hands, and it
was by uncommon exertion and good luck they succeeded in getting her
into port, where they made her a powder ship, the only thing she was fit
for.[154]

Before we left the fleet, one of our lieutenants was taken ill and sent
home, and Lieutenant Hector Maclean came in his room—he was senior to me
and appointed second. This was another hardship, but Captain Stephens
told me not to mind it as he would do everything in his power to serve
me. I told him that Lord Hugh Seymour, the admiral commanding on the
Jamaica station, was an old friend and shipmate of my father’s, and I
would thank him to mention me to him when the ship arrived, which he
said I might depend on. But, unfortunately for me, Lord Hugh died before
we got out, regretted by everyone, and was succeeded in the command
(until the arrival of Sir J. T. Duckworth) by a man[155] as proud as the
mighty Prester John.

We had many strange beings in our wardroom—I shall begin with the master
and surgeon. Our first lieutenant gave the former the name of Pot Guts,
and the surgeon the cognomen of Bottle Belly. The master saved
everything he could, having a family; and for this he was considered by
some as very near. Now the surgeon was one that loved good living, and
used to eat very hearty and seemed to devour everything with his eyes on
the table. I remember his saying to the master in a satirical manner,
‘Mr. Wills, don’t you intend to purchase a black servant for your good
lady?’ ‘Why,’ says Wills, ‘I had some idea of doing so, but to tell you
the truth I am fearful you would eat him on the passage.’ The surgeon
had nothing further to say. While lying at Port Royal, Wills was caterer
of the mess and went to Kingston to purchase dollar pigs; and going into
a house he saw some people lugging a man downstairs, and on his asking
what was the matter, they told him it was only a man who had died of the
yellow fever. This gave him such a turn that to recover his spirits he
was obliged to drink seven glasses of grog before (to use his own words)
he could make his blood circulate, and for several days he was on the
look-out for the black vomit.

One of the dollar pigs he brought with him was deformed, having a head
as long as his body, and when put into the sty with the others he killed
the whole of them; and some of the seamen got it into their heads that
this pig was the devil. Now Wills was a bit of a methodist and did not
like this, and one morning he had the devil knocked on the head and hove
overboard, observing it was the last time he’d have anything to do with
a shaver like that.

Our first lieutenant used to play many tricks with Wills. Once when the
packet came in, we were looking at her out of the wardroom windows, when
up started Hungerford, who swore that Mrs. Wills and her two daughters
were in a boat under the stern and coming alongside, and that he saw
them leave the packet which had just arrived from England. Out he ran
from the wardroom to escort them, and poor Wills looked stupid with
surprise. A few minutes after the door opened and in came Hungerford
with three naked black fellows, who he introduced as Mrs. Wills and her
two daughters in the newest fashion from England. Wills, angry as he
was, could not help joining in the laugh. When the ship was in
Portsmouth harbour, I went with Hungerford to dine with Wills, who lived
at Portsea. He had on his door a large brass plate with ‘Methuselah
Wills’ engraved thereon in capital letters. When we returned, Hungerford
swore that old Wills had the following inscription on the above brass
plate:—

Methuselah Wills Esquire,
Master in the Royal Navie,
Passed for a first-rate ship of 110 guns,
Him and his wife lives here.

Poor Wills was a very good fellow; he died the senior master on the list
at the age of eighty-three, and lies, with a great many more of my old
shipmates, in Kingston churchyard, near Portsmouth. The last time I saw
him was on the day the Princess Charlotte, 100, was launched. We were in
the dockyard together and had just passed the bridge when it gave way
with the gates belonging to the dock, by which accident near twenty
people were drowned, and we escaped the same fate by about three
minutes.[156]

I must now speak of a very different kind of being—poor unfortunate Jack
Key, our third lieutenant. He had many vices, particularly hard
drinking, but more his own enemy than any others. He was sent to Port
Royal Hospital and invalided, and remained there after we sailed, in
great distress, not being able for some time to get a passage home. One
gentleman with feelings that do honour to him, took pity on the
destitute. This gentleman was Mr. Carroll, assistant surgeon belonging
to the Goliath, who, in the kindest manner, brought him on board his
ship to provide for his wants, and did everything in his power to
relieve him in his miserable situation; but the march of intellect among
the superior officers rendered the good intentions of Mr. Carroll of
little avail, as they ordered poor unhappy Jack out of the ship without
loss of time.[157] Mr. Carroll is now a surgeon in the navy of long
standing, and in extensive practice in Walworth. Key, from his dark
complexion, had the nickname of Cocoa Jack, and was always, when the
weather had the appearance of being bad, seen with a piece of wool
between his finger and thumb ready to put in his ear, which made them
say, ‘We are going to have bad weather; Jack is wool gathering.’

I once relieved Jack at 12 o’clock P.M. When I came on deck he was not
to be found. It was blowing fresh, we were on a wind, the weather
topsail braces gone, the yards fore and aft and the weather backstay
falls overhauled. Why the topmasts did not go was no fault of Jack’s. At
last I found him asleep in the lee scuppers and more than half drunk. On
another occasion, when with the grand fleet off Brest, the signal was
made for the ships to send boats to unload the victuallers, and I was
sent with the launch and an eight-oared cutter for that purpose. As
there was a great swell we had a difficult task to clear them, and it
was late in the evening before we could take our launch in tow, and then
pulled for the ship (I think about 7 P.M.), which was about a league
off. Now Cocoa Jack had the first watch, and the ship was lying-to for
the boat until the captain went to supper; when Jack, thinking we were
too far from the admiral, made sail for some time and left us to shift
for ourselves. At this time the wind freshened and the sea began to
break, and I had serious apprehensions for our safety, and we did not
appear to near the ship, whose distinguishing lights were scarcely
visible. At last after near five hours’ labouring at the oar we got
alongside. On going upon deck I found Jack had gone below without being
relieved, and seated at the wardroom table with cold beef and a bumper
of grog before him. ‘Ah, Tony,’ says he, ‘you have got on board at last?
I had almost given you up.’ Although he was my senior officer I could
not help saying, ‘Damn your old cocoa soul, did you want to drown all
hands of us? Why did you not heave to before?’ ‘Lord help you,’ says he;
‘we have been lying-to these three hours.’ Now what Jack called lying-to
was this: he let go the main-top-bowline, kept the sail shivering but
not aback, and the helm a little a-weather, so that the ship forged
ahead considerably. With all his faults he was a good-tempered fellow,
and I said no more.

Our purser was a glorious fellow for keeping it up; and after taking his
full share of Madeira would then turn to upon rum and water, and about
two or three in the morning would give his last toast, ‘A bloody war and
a sickly season!’ and then retire in a happy state. I once told him when
he had the dry belly-ache after drinking port wine, that it was likely
he’d go to the palisades (the burying ground), but that I would be happy
to do anything for him in England that lay in my power. He gave me a
look that expressed everything but thanks.

I must here relate a circumstance which took place on the evening of the
day we made Deseada. We had a dog on board that in fact belonged to no
one, but the ship’s company were very kind to the poor animal, who used
to get well fed from the different messes, and was quite at home fore
and aft. The evening was fine, with light winds, and the ship going
about three knots, when some wicked fellow (supposed to be the son of a
clergyman) threw the poor dog overboard when several sharks were round
the ship. It was naturally supposed they had made a meal of him, but
that was not the case, as they had more mercy than the ruffian who was
guilty of such cruelty. On the arrival of the squadron at Port Royal one
of our officers went on board (I think) the Captain, 74, when to his
astonishment, who should come jumping round him but the lost dog. On his
relating the circumstance to the officers, they told him that about ten
o’clock of the evening in question they were upwards of two miles astern
of us when they heard a strange noise under their bows. At first they
thought it was a man overboard until they heard the dog bark, when one
of the men went down by a rope and caught hold of the poor creature by
the neck and got him safe on board. A blanket belonging to a sailor was
towing overboard which he got hold of with his paws and held on and by
that means was rescued from a watery grave. His new shipmates wished to
keep him and with them he remained. Of the young man who threw him
overboard, if I were to pronounce an eulogy on his character I should
without flattery say:—

On Newgate steps Jack Chance was found,
And bred up in St. Giles’s pound;
He learned to curse, to swear, to fight,
Did everything but read and write;
And bawdy songs all day would sing,
And they all declared he was just the thing.

Our first lieutenant (Hungerford) was a very droll fellow but fractious
from disappointment. He was in the Trusty, 50, when the late Admiral
Walker commanded her at the time she put into Cadiz, where some of her
officers were arrested and sent to prison by the Spanish Government for
smuggling off money; for which Captain Walker was tried by a court
martial and dismissed the service. He and Hungerford were upon very bad
terms, and happening to meet in High Street, Portsmouth, Hungerford with
a cane began to strike at him, when Captain Walker in his defence,
caught hold of a hod belonging to a mason who was standing by, and made
a blow at Hungerford, which, fortunately for him, missed the mark, and
several officers coming up, a stop was put to any further proceedings.
This business hurt Hungerford in the service and made him many enemies.
Captain Walker was reinstated and died a rear-admiral.[158] He commanded
the Monmouth, 64, in the Dutch action under Duncan and behaved with
uncommon bravery. Hungerford was a very good officer and seaman and an
indefatigable first lieutenant. In watching, quartering, stationing, and
regulating the ship’s company in every respect he showed great ability.
He was a great mimic, and very droll in other respects. I remember at
Port Royal, when he was ill, his pretending to be dumb and mad, and
carrying on the joke for a whole day on purpose to annoy the surgeon. He
put on a white great coat belonging to Captain Rea of the marines, with
his sash and sword, and a large cocked hat and feather, strutting about
the wardroom and making a dead set at Fuller whenever he came in.
However, about seven in the evening he found his tongue and said to me,
‘What a damned fool I made of Bottle Belly; how easily I humbugged him.’

The day we made the east end of Jamaica I had the forenoon watch, and
was walking the deck with Captain Stephens, when Lieutenant Morgan of
the marines called out from the gangway to the gunner’s mate to get a
gun ready and fire into the ship abreast of us. On my asking him what he
meant by such extraordinary conduct, ‘Sir,’ says he, ‘I am not
accountable to you for my actions’; and going up to the captain he told
him he was no longer captain of the Brunswick, but that he would take
pity on him and suffer him to keep possession of his cabin for the
present. The captain looked at me in amazement. ‘Sir,’ says I, ‘Mr.
Morgan is certainly deranged.’ He was then sent below, and on going down
the quarter deck ladder, he roared out to the man at the wheel, ‘Put the
helm a starboard, you damned rascal.’ The captain dined with us that
day, and, after the cloth was removed, Morgan came to the table, and on
something being said to him he took up a glass of wine, part of which he
hove in the captain’s face, and the glass at Jack Key’s head; and when
we seized hold of him, he called me a damned conceited whelp, and that
he always saw a little greatness about me that he never could put up
with. This young man’s brain was turned by diving into things he did not
understand, and it may be said in truth of him:—

A little learning is a dangerous thing,
Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring.

He was invalided and sent home, and got the retirement, but never
recovered his reason.

Another of our marine officers (Augustus John Field) was a very strange
being. He was on board the Quebec, 32, in the action with the
Surveillante, French frigate, in the American war. Both ships were
dismasted after very hard fighting, when the Quebec unfortunately caught
fire. Her brave captain (Farmer) would not quit, and was blown up in his
ship. Out of the number saved Lieutenant Field was one and got a
considerable lift in his corps for his bravery. He was a very good
fellow in many respects, but drew a long bow and kept it up too much. He
had been through all the changing scenes of life, and told incredible
stories—that he was descended from the Plantagenet family and could
trace his genealogy to Henry the Second. By way of amusement I have seen
him rest the calf of one leg on the knee of the other and then drive
several pins up to the head in the calf of his leg, saying he would
leave them to the mess as a leg-a-cy.

Our ship was full of rats, and one morning he caught four which he had
baked in a pie with some pork chops. When it came to table he began
greedily to eat, saying, ‘What a treat! I shall dine like an alderman.’
One of our lieutenants (Geo. M. Bligh) got up from the table and threw
his dinner up, which made Field say, ‘I shall not offend such delicate
stomachs and shall finish my repast in my cabin,’ which he did and we
wished the devil would choke him. When he had finished, he said one of
the rats was not exactly to his taste as the flesh was black; but
whether from a bruise or from disease, he could not say, but should be
more particular in future in the post mortem examination. I never was
more sick in my life, and am so to this day when I think of it. Our
captain of marines (Rea) was a very worthy fellow. He had great
antipathy to the West Indies, and was always cursing Venables and Penn
for taking possession of Jamaica, and was sorry Oliver Cromwell did not
make them a head shorter for their pains. I have often heard him repeat
the following lines as a morning and evening hymn

Venables and Penn,
Two bloody-minded men,
In an evil hour
Those seas did explore,
And blundering about
This cursed hole found out;
And for so doing,
The devil has them stewing;
And with him they may remain
Till we come this way again,
Which we think howsomdever
(As our boatswain says) will be never;
And let all the mess say Amen!

When cruising off Cape Tiburon I was sent in our cutter to board a
Yankee about two leagues off and to purchase stock. Our surgeon by way
of pastime took the trip with me. As the Yankee had plenty for sale, and
it being a dead calm, I loaded our boat with live and dead stock until
she was pretty deep in the water. On our return, the sharks began to
muster and the live stock to ride rusty. The surgeon said it was a
damned shame to trifle with people’s lives in that manner by overloading
the boat, and cursed the hour he ever came with me; and it by no means
eased his fears when one of the boat’s crew said, ‘Please, your honour,
if we don’t cut the b——s’ throats’ (meaning the live stock) ‘their hoofs
will be through the boat’s bottom, as they are kicking like blazes, and
here’s a bloody shark close alongside us.’ However, we got safe
alongside after a long tug. The surgeon with a woeful countenance told a
lamentable tale, which made Captain Stephens and the rest laugh
heartily. He took good care never to volunteer his services with me in a
boat again. He has often put me in mind of the trip and I hope he will
live long to do so.

We had a tedious passage home, and when off Bermuda it was a gale of
wind and a calm alternately for three days and nights, with thunder and
lightning. On one of the nights I had the middle watch and was obliged
to clue down the topsails upon the cap eight or nine times, blowing a
gale of wind one moment and a calm the next. The night was as dark as
Erebus between the flashes, and then as light as broad day. Through one
flash I saw our surgeon coming on deck rolled up in a white great coat,
and I said to Captain Stephens (who was up most of the night and
standing with me on the gangway):

By the pricking of my thumbs
Something wicked this way comes.

Captain Stephens would always repeat the above when he saw Fuller come
on deck. I have often wondered that no accident happened to the ship
from the lightning, which was beyond everything of the kind I ever saw.
This was the only bad weather we had during the voyage, which was a
lucky circumstance for the Brunswick; for had a gale of wind come on for
any length of time we certainly should have foundered.

And now let me say in the language of the Romans when taking leave of
their deceased friends:—

Vale, Vale, Vale, nos te ordine, quo natura permiserit, cuncti sequemur.

OFFICERS’ NAMES

JOHN HOLLOWAY, Esq., Rear-admiral of the red.

Dead [1826]. An admiral of the red. An old messmate of my father’s
in the Princess Royal with old Vinegar (Hyde Parker), in
1779.—[Marshall, i. 101.]

GEO. HOPEWELL STEPHENS, Esq., Captain.

Dead [1819]. A rear-admiral of the white; a most excellent
officer.

EMANUEL HUNGERFORD, 1st Lieutenant.

Dead. An excellent first lieutenant; strange and droll.

HECTOR MACLEAN, 2nd Lieutenant.

Dead.

JOHN KEY, 2nd and 3rd Lieutenant.

Dead. Cocoa Jack was no man’s enemy but his own.

JAMES ANTHONY GARDNER, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 3rd Lieutenant.

A commander.

[THOMAS] LOWE, 5th Lieutenant.

Dead. A loss to the service.

GEO. MILLAR BLIGH, 7th and 6th Lieutenant.

Dead [1831]. A post captain.—[Marshall, v. 430.]

METHUSELAH WILLS, Master.

Dead. Poor old Wills was crabbed, but a good fellow.

ROBERT COOPER, Purser.

Dead. A very worthy fellow.

SMITHSON WALLER, Purser.

A very generous fellow, but kept it up too much; since dead.

WILLIAM FULLER, Surgeon.

A skilful surgeon, but crabbed as the devil at times; yet a very
good fellow, always obliging, and the first to relieve those in
distress.

[HENRY] REA, Captain of marines.

Dead. Much the gentleman.

AUGUSTUS JOHN FIELD, 1st Lieutenant of marines.

Dead. A very brave fellow, who drew a long bow, but would injure
no one.

[JAMES] HOLMES, 2nd Lieutenant of marines.

Uncertain. A good-natured fellow.

[JOHN] ROBSON, 2nd Lieutenant of marines.

Uncertain. Very quarrelsome, and appeared to be half mad.

ROSS MORGAN, 2nd Lieutenant of marines.

Dead. Invalided for insanity, sent home, and got the retirement.

[WILLIAM] WISEMAN, Gunner.

Dead.

[JOHN] FOLLIE, Boatswain.

Uncertain. Drank hard; a sailor.

[WILLIAM] YELLAND, Carpenter.

Uncertain. Very much respected.

[WILLIAM] HARRISON, Mate.

Uncertain. A very active officer.

[HENRY] EDGEWORTH, Mate.

Uncertain. A very good sailor, but unfortunately drank hard.

METHUSELAH WILLS, Midshipman and then mate; son of the

master.

A lieutenant.

PARDIEU [(?) SIMON PURDUE], Midshipman.

Dead. A commander; an officer, seaman, and gentleman. Highly
respected, but unfortunately given to drinking.

[WILLIAM] ELLIOT, Midshipman.

Killed in battle. A lieutenant; a very worthy young man.

EDWARD MEDLEY, Midshipman.

A lieutenant.

[R. A.] TAYLOR, Midshipman.

Uncertain. Wicked and wild.

[G. J.] ARCHDALE, Midshipman.

Uncertain. Much respected.

[GEORGE] ROBERTS, Midshipman.

Uncertain. A steady youth.

[JOHN] LEMON [or LAMOND], Midshipman.

Uncertain. Very steady.

WILLIAM WADE, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant.

[RICHARD] HORSLEY, Midshipman.

Dead.

[JOHN] HODGES, Midshipman.

Died of yellow fever at Jamaica.

[ROBERT] WILSON, Midshipman.

Died of yellow fever at Jamaica.

[JOHN] CONTENT, Midshipman.

Died of yellow fever at Jamaica. [Borne as coxswain. Aged 39. DD.]

[ROBERT B.] MATTHEWS, Midshipman.

Uncertain. I believe a lieutenant; he was one of those saved from
H.M. ship Apollo that was wrecked on the coast of Portugal [1
April, 1804].

ROBERT ATKINS, Midshipman.

Dead. A lieutenant; steady fellow.

[MICHAEL] GOULD, Clerk.

Uncertain. Very clever. [Midshipman; afterwards captain’s clerk.]

[J. H.] WADDLE, Wrote under the clerk.

Uncertain. This poor fellow was made a butt of and ran away from
the ship. [Borne as L.M. Aged 30.]

[ANDREW] MARSHALL, 1st Assistant Surgeon.

Uncertain. This gentleman did honour to his profession.

DANIEL QUARRIER, 2nd Assistant Surgeon.

An M.D. A surgeon in the navy, and surgeon of the division of
royal marines at Portsmouth; a magistrate for the county, and what
not.

AGENT OF TRANSPORTS

I was employed on this service but a short time in Portsmouth Harbour
and had several transports to superintend, and was in expectation of
sailing to the Mediterranean; but as ill luck would have it, our
destination was altered to that infernal bake-house, Port Royal,
Jamaica. I then thought it time to be off and I wrote to the board to be
superseded, which gave great offence to Sir Rupert George[159] (the
chairman). However, my request was granted and I left a service that I
never would accept of, had I my time to go over again, upon any
consideration. For the short time I was in it I saw enough to convince
me that if an officer did his duty, he would be like the hare with many
friends; and if he acted otherwise, he must lay himself open to any puny
whipster who might wish to take advantage of his good nature. I was
succeeded by Lieutenant Jump, who refused to take charge of the stores,
saying he had enough hanging over his head already (being, as I
understood him, in the transport service before). However, I settled
everything to my satisfaction, returning into store all the articles I
had drawn; struck my swaggering blue pennant[160] and resigned my
command to the above officer, wishing him joy and not envying him his
appointment.

SIGNAL STATION: FAIRLIGHT, NEAR HASTINGS, SUSSEX

_From January 30th, 1806, to December 7th, 1814_

As when high Jove his sharp artillery forms,
And opes his cloudy magazine of storms;
In winter’s bleak uncomfortable reign,
A snowy inundation hides the plain;
He stills the winds and bids the skies to sleep;
Then pours the silent tempest thick and deep;
And first the mountain tops are covered o’er,
Then the green fields and then the sandy shore;
Bent with the weight, the nodding groves are seen,
And one bright waste hides all the works of men;
The circling seas, alone absorbing all,
Drink the dissolving fleeces as they fall.—_Iliad._

In such a season as the above I arrived at Hastings on the 30th of
January 1806. I was appointed to the station by Lord Garlies, one of the
lords of the admiralty, who behaved to me in the kindest manner. After
waiting on Captain Isaac Schomberg, who superintended the Sea Fencibles
from Beachy Head to Dungeness, I proceeded to join my station about
three miles to the eastward of Hastings. When I got to the summit of
Fairlight Down, about 600 feet above the level of the sea, the first
object that struck me was a hut, built of turf, in a ruinous state, and
on the top a figure with a soldier’s jacket on. ‘Hallo!’ says I; ‘Is
this the signal station?’ ‘Yes, zur,’ says he. Why then, thinks I, I’m
damned if I don’t give up the appointment. ‘Where’s the midshipman?’
says I. ‘Midshipman, zur? why, there be only me and another soger, and I
expects to be relieved to-day.’ ‘By whom?’ says I. ‘Vy,’ says he, ‘by
two melishy men, and I thought you and that ere lad’ (meaning my son,
who was with me, and under six years of age) ‘was them till you comed
near.’ I could not help smiling at this, and taking a turn round the
premises I thought I would look at the interior. I did so, but backed
out again in a hurry, from filth and wretchedness. [The detailed
description of these is omitted.]

On coming out I happened to cast my eye to the SE, and there I saw
another signal station; and on making enquiry, I was informed by a
labourer that the station I had just observed was the right one, and
that this was only for the fogeys to look out from; so away I trudged
over several ploughed fields and at last arrived at my destination, in
the room of Lieutenant Francis Gibbon, deceased, who had formerly been a
messmate of mine in the Salisbury.

It would puzzle a Philadelphia lawyer to recollect everything that
happened for the eight years and ten months that I remained in this
place, and I shall merely relate a few occurrences as they come to my
recollection. I had a midshipman, two signalmen, and two dragoons, under
my superintendence; and when anything particular took place one of the
dragoons was sent off with the despatch to the nearest commanding
officer. We had the strictest orders to be on the look-out by night and
by day, in consequence of the threatened invasion, and our being so near
the French coast that on a clear day the camp at Boulogne could be seen
without a glass,[161] so that the utmost vigilance on our part was
required. Blue lights, fire beacons, etc., were in constant readiness,
and the French flotilla at Boulogne, Calais, Ambleteuse, and Vimereux
were hourly expected to make a start.

Independent of this, whenever the wind blew strong from the westward, so
as to occasion the cruisers to take shelter under Dungeness, the French
privateers were sure to come over and pick up the struggling merchantmen
before the men of war could regain their station off Beachy Head. We had
also to be constantly on the watch to give notice in case of smugglers
being on the coast, and to prevent prisoners of war making their escape
from the vicinity of our station, a signal for that purpose being made
from one post to another; so that we had no relaxation from duty except
in a thick fog, which sometimes would take place for nine or ten days
together, during which time we had only to walk round the cliffs and
along the seashore. I have heard many say that a signal station was an
easy berth, and only fit for old and worn-out officers. This I flatly
deny; and, without fear of contradiction, can safely say that I suffered
more from anxiety at this station than ever I did on board of a man of
war. In the latter, when one’s watch was over, a little rest could be
obtained; but at the station the night was worse than the day, as the
flotilla were expected to take advantage of the darkness so as to be
over in the morning, and the night signal was more anxiously watched
than that of the day. When Earl St. Vincent was first lord of the
admiralty, Lieutenant John Henry St. John Page (an old schoolfellow of
mine, who I had the following account from) applied to him for a signal
station, stating that he was unfit for active service in consequence of
a paralytic stroke which affected his arm and one of his eyes. His
lordship wrote for answer, ‘That an officer of a signal station ought to
have two eyes, and damned good eyes they ought to be.’ However, he
complied with his wishes.

From our elevated situation I have often been in dread for the safety of
the house, particularly in the SW gales, and have frequently expected
that the board would be obliged

To set a figure, to discover
If we had fled to Rye or Dover;

and I’m astonished that the house did not blow away. I well remember one
dreadful gale blowing down our chimney, which lay upon the roof without
breaking through, forming an angle of 45°, and the midshipman, crawling
out upon all fours (for we could not stand upright), declared he thought
it was our 18-pound carronade that was blown there and had taken that
position for a long shot. The fire blew out of the stoves, and the glass
out of the window frames; the night as black as Erebus, with heavy rain
which formed a river that swept everything before it; the chief part of
our garden washed or blown away, leaving nothing but the bare rock
behind, so that I wished myself in the old Bay of Biscay again.

To make up for this, the views about Hastings are remarkably fine, and
in the summer well worth visiting; particularly the fish ponds, Dripping
Well, Lovers’ Seat, Friar’s Hill, Old Roar and many other romantic
spots, one of which I must mention. About a mile to the NE of Hastings,
from a place called the Tile Kiln House, the prospect is highly
interesting; looking towards the town, is a valley with a thicket on the
left, and at the bottom a stream that runs to the sea; in front, the
west hill with the ancient castle said to be built by William the
Conqueror soon after the battle of Hastings; and on the east hill, the
remains of a Roman camp. One morning when the hounds were out, I was
walking near the above thicket when an immense boar rushed furiously on
the pack and the huntsmen had great difficulty in separating them. The
boar belonged to the farmer near the spot, and some of the dogs had
reason to remember him.

As I am better acquainted with handling a tar brush, strapping a block,
or turning in a dead-eye, than describing green groves and gravel walks,
I shall say nothing more respecting the face of the country, but begin
upon other subjects. And here I must say that during the time I had the
station, I was upon good terms with every individual from the mayor down
to the fisherman. But I regret to state that death has made sad inroads
among my worthy friends since my departure. In the summer, the cockneys
would frequently come to take a look at the French coast and Bonaparte’s
tower on a clear day; and not content with asking ridiculous questions,
would walk into the house without leave or licence, and seat themselves.
On one occasion, when I had returned from Hastings, I found seated in my
room a fellow with his coat off and reading one of my books. He took no
notice of me for some time. At last he drawled out ‘It’s werry hot
veather.’ ‘It is,’ I replied; ‘but pray what is your business?’ This
question seemed to startle him, and particularly so when I informed him
I was a man of war’s man, and never suffered myself to be taken by storm
or boarded in the smoke. He took the hint and walked off.[162]

In stating this I only allude to a set who were unacquainted with common
politeness. At the same time I have to acknowledge the civility and
attention I received from many of the respectable families that visited
Hastings.

The lower class at Hastings and in the vicinity believe in witchcraft,
and several old women that lived in All Saints’ Street were supposed to
be witches. About a mile from my station lived a poor old woman named
Hannah Weller, who was put down in the list; and many strange stories
were told respecting her—such as pigs, and sheep, and sometimes oxen,
refusing to pass her dwelling, until the drovers would go and beg of her
to let them pass quietly. On my going one morning to market at Hastings,
I bought with other articles some eggs, which I gave to Wm. Crump (one
of the signalmen), who put them at the bottom of his basket well covered
with straw so that they could not be seen. I then told him to make all
haste he could to the station, and without his knowing it I returned
before him. When I had got about a mile and a half from the town I met
Hannah Weller, who, I knew, was coming in at this time with some clothes
for the wash; and I told her, if she met Crump, to tell him to make
haste out and to be careful of the eggs he had in the bottom of his
basket, and not to say she had seen me. Now Crump stood in great dread
of Hannah, and was a firm believer in deeds of the black art. Soon after
I had seen her she met Crump, and desired him to be very careful of the
eggs and to make haste and not loiter by the way. Crump was terrified
almost out of his wits to think she should know what cargo he had charge
of; and, after wishing her good morning, strode off without looking
behind until he got about a hundred yards from her. He then took out his
knife and stuck it in the mark the ring of her patten (as he thought)
had made, and a sure way—if she looked round—to prove witchcraft; and
she, happening to look round at the same time and seeing him stopping,
called out, ‘Crump, what are you about?’ and shaking her hand, desired
him to be gone, upon which he took to his heels in amazement and arrived
at the station as pale as death, and told his woeful story to the
midshipman with many illustrations, which the midshipman believed to be
as true as holy writ.

We had a tame raven, the most sagacious creature I ever met with. He
used to go every morning with the signalman to town, for the letters and
to market, and would take his station at the butcher’s shop long before
we could get there; and when he saw us ready to return, would set off
for home in a hurry. Sometimes we could see him fighting with the crows;
and once he alighted on the head of a gentleman reading in a field; to
his consternation, until we explained to him Ralph’s tricks. Under the
Lovers’ Seat stands a house on the beach called The Govers, which was
inhabited by a wicked fellow, a cobbler by trade. This man took it into
his head to leave off his wicked ways, and went to church regularly
every Sunday, and paid great attention to the service for about three or
four months, and then relapsed to his former failings. On being asked
the reason of his apostasy he replied that he went to church until he
was tired; and seeing no use in it, he thought he might as well go back
to sin and cobble again as he could get more by it than going to church.
Early one morning this fellow was gathering sticks in the valley under
the signal station, when our raven was on the prowl. The moment Ralph
got sight of him he pitched on his neck and began to claw and tear him
most unmercifully, which alarmed him so much that he had hardly power to
defend himself. At last he got hold of the raven, and, with part of the
thong he had to bind the sticks, he began to tie Ralph’s legs, and when
he thought he had him secure he gathered up his sticks and was stooping
down to fasten them, when the raven broke loose, and seized on him a
second time, and tore his breeches to rags after clawing him severely,
and then flew away. The cobbler, dreadfully alarmed, went home without
his sticks and told everyone that he met that the devil had attacked him
and that he must alter his course of life, as he now believed something
was in it. The joke was kept up, and I think he was never told it was
our raven. Poor Ralph at last met with an untimely death. A farmer,
shooting rooks, laid him low by mistake, which he was very sorry for
when too late.

Notwithstanding the many cruisers that were on the station and the
unceasing look-out on the coast by the officers of the customs, the
smugglers contrived to make several runs. One morning in the month of
November the midshipman called me up a little before daylight, and
reported that fifteen horses were in the field near the station, with
Flushing jackets strapped on their backs, and made fast to the hedge,
without any one with them. As the day began to break, I went to the brow
of the hill, and saw on the beach between two and three hundred people,
and a boat a short way from the shore. The moment they got sight of me
they set up a shout, and made use of horrible threats. However, I went
down with the midshipman, and found some customhouse officers who had
been up to their necks in water trying to get at the boat, but all to no
purpose. The fellows on board seemed to be drunk, and held up some kegs
which they stove; and making use of language the most vile, stood to the
westward. I immediately dispatched the midshipman to give information to
the customhouse and made the signal to the next station. A galley was
soon after manned and armed, and after a long chase the smuggler was
captured with several tubs of liquor. As I returned to my station the
mob shewed their heads just above the brow of the hill, and complimented
me with three groans and then dispersed; and glad I was to see them
clear off. They appeared to be all strangers, the customhouse officers
declaring they had never seen one of them before. Some of them swore
they would be a shot in our locker the first opportunity, and we
expected they would have attacked us in the night; but we heard no more
of them.

I shall now mention a few friends; and first the Reverend Richard
Wadeson, late Vicar of Fairlight, who died since I left the station,
aged eighty-nine. He had formerly been second master at Harrow School,
when Dr. Parr was usher, and was offered to be first master at the death
or resignation of Dr. Sumner, but refused it.[163] He was one of the
best men I ever met with, and one of the first classical scholars in the
kingdom, and highly respected by his parishioners as the following
account will shew. He had, as vicar, only the small tithes; and when
requested by some of his friends to raise them he refused, saying, he
had lived on good terms in the parish with every individual for a long
time, and that he would do nothing to forfeit their esteem and would
suffer anything rather than oppress them. When this came to the
knowledge of those who paid tithes, they, as a mark of respect,
immediately made a handsome addition to his income, with a high
panegyric on his integrity. Nothing could put him out of temper except
losing at backgammon. I well remember one evening his coming to the
station and saying he was determined not to be vexed, let what would
happen. We then began to play (not for money), and he lost twenty games
running. At last he roared out, and on my asking him what was the
matter, says he, ‘He’s here.’ ‘Who, sir?’ says I. ‘Why, the devil,’ says
he, ‘is at my elbow, but he shall not make a parson swear.’ I am sorry
to say this worthy gentleman lost his sight some years before his death,
and, in addition to this misfortune, had great domestic troubles which
he bore to the last with unshaken fortitude.

I must not forget another worthy friend, the Reverend Webster Whistler,
Rector of Hastings and New-Timber, who lately died at the advanced age
of eighty-seven. He also was a first-rate scholar and a powerful
preacher; a hater of bigotry and clerical tyranny; possessing great
personal courage, and one of the finest-looking men in the kingdom; with
an athletic frame, upwards of six feet, and looked, when on horseback—as
Napoleon said of Kleber—like one of Homer’s heroes. His kindness and
attention I never shall forget. I was always welcome to his house and he
always sent me a large tithe, as he called it, of fruit and game,
whenever he had an opportunity. I could mention many acts of this kind;
but one mark of respect I cannot pass over. When my mother died, he
selected a particular spot for her grave where he knew the ground was
dry, refused all fees, and even assisted in placing the turf over her
remains. He was not one of your dandy parsons either in dress or
address; for he was not ashamed to wear a rusty black coat, or to knock
down anyone that offended him. I remember a dragoon officer addressing
him one morning with, ‘Damn me, how are you, Whistler?’ ‘If you say that
again, I will fell you to the earth,’ was his reply. Going into a boat,
and having on an old black coat and trowsers, he asked me who I thought
he was like, repeating the following lines:—

Sordid his garb, but in his looks were seen
A youthful vigour, and autumnal green.

‘Can you,’ says he, ‘with all the antiquity you smatter, find out who I
allude to?’ ‘Charon, sir,’ says I. ‘Right,’ says he, ‘I’m the man; but I
am not going on the Styx to-day. The Channel shall be my cruising ground
this morning’; and off he started with some ladies in company. On his
return he came up to the station, foaming with rage, requesting me to
inform him the name of the cutter in the offing, that he might report
her commander to the admiralty for daring to fire at him. Now the fact
was this. The cutter had fired at some boats to bring them to, as the
fishermen had frequently smuggled goods on board; and Mr. Whistler
having boarded one of them to get fish, the commander of the cutter
fired several muskets at his boat, thinking him a smuggler also, which
made the parson pull to land as fast as possible. It was out of my power
to give him the name, as I had not her number. ‘Well, then,’ says he,
‘the first time I can lay hold of him I’ll christen him in the Bourne
stream, by giving him a good ducking.’

The beginning of December 1814 the admiralty directed me to pay off the
station without loss of time, and the next day I received a letter from
the navy board to the same purpose, and further directing me to clear
the station of the stores under my charge, and to sell all unserviceable
articles. Now all this was very well, and they concluded by saying,

We are your Affectionate Friends[164]——
(Signed by three commissioners);

but on the margin of their letter was a postscript as follows:—

‘You are to discharge your midshipman and men on the receipt of this
letter; and yourself, as soon as these instructions have been complied
with.’

So by this I was to do everything myself, which was very kind, in the
dead of winter, three miles from Hastings, and a long way from the
spring where we had our water, and nothing to be had in the
neighbourhood; and upon a hill, said to be 650 feet above the level of
the sea—so that if a snowstorm came on I might remain there alone and
starve and be damned for what some people cared. However, I got a
merchant at Hastings to send his wagons out and take the stores to his
warehouse, until a vessel was sent to receive them; and after selling
the coals and fire stack, I paid off the station on the 7th of December
1814.

APPENDIX

(P. 250)

_The ‘swaggering blue pennant.’_

[As the distinctive pennants for Transport Officers when afloat were
done away with several years ago, and indeed Transport Officers afloat
are now almost unknown, we are happy in being able, by the kindness of
Vice-Admiral George T. H. Boyes, the present Director of Transports,
to give the Regulations, as they stood in 1814, ‘relative to the
pennants of distinction’ appointed to be used by transport agents when
afloat.]

The principal agent, serving on any expedition, in order to be
particularly known and distinguished, shall wear, on board the transport
wherein he is embarked, a blue ensign, together with a plain blue broad
pennant at the main topmast head, of the following dimensions, viz.
eight feet at the staff, and twenty feet long; but, for foul weather,
four feet at the staff, and ten feet long.

When there is but one agent to a division of transports, or when several
agents are not serving under the immediate orders of other agents, a
blue ensign with the common blue pennant at the main topmast head is to
be worn as the only necessary mark of distinction. The broad pennant is
never to be hoisted by any agent who has not another under him.

All inferior agents shall hoist the blue ensign and a plain blue common
pennant, two feet broad at the head, and thirty feet long. A smaller
one, at discretion, may be worn at sea.

Should transports of different expeditions meet at the same port, the
principal agents only of each expedition are to hoist broad pennants at
the main, fore, or mizen topmast heads, according to their respective
rank in his Majesty’s navy: and the inferior agents, belonging to each
expedition, are to hoist common blue pennants at the same masthead with
their principal.

At sea, should a large fleet of transports, all on the same service, be
classed in three grand divisions, the agent commanding each division may
hoist the broad pennant at the main, fore, or mizen topmast heads,
according to their rank, as aforesaid; and their inferior agents in like
manner.

INDEX

Adair, C. H., rear-admiral, commanding the reserve in the Medway, 179

Adams, Buck, jail-keeper, 16

Adams, Francis, carpenter, 124

Alcot, John, captain’s clerk, 55

Alexander, Emperor of Russia, 101

Allardice, Titus, midshipman, died insane, 93;
invalided home, 151

Allen, Henry, midshipman, 94;
commander, hanged, _ib._

Allen, Thomas, midshipman, put on shore in the mutiny, 193;
drowned, 202

Anderson, Robert, surgeon of the Panther, 39

Anderson, Robert, surgeon of the Hind, ‘Benjamin Bullock the Madman,’
194–5; 201

Anguin, Martin, seaman, falls from aloft, 32

Anstruther, Philip, midshipman, 119

Apple pies, assistant surgeon dines on, 223

Archbold, William, midshipman, 119

Archdale, G. J., midshipman, 249

Atkins, Robert, midshipman, 249

Augustus Frederick, Prince (Duke of Sussex), 139

Ayscough, captain 208

Back-strapped, 26 _n._

Badcock, Benjamin, midshipman, drowned, 202

Baldwin, captain of marines, 115

Ball, A., captain, 192

Bantry Bay, expedition to, 188 _n._

Barber, William, midshipman, 153

Barker, William, lieutenant of marines, 13

Barrett, John, midshipman, 123, 125

Barrington, the Hon. Samuel, admiral, 12, 98–9, 112

Barton, Sir John, treasurer of Queen’s household, 18

Bastia, siege and surrender of, due to seamen and marines, 148

Bates, alderman, of Waterford, 221

Bates, Gardner’s cousin, entertains the officers of the Blonde, 221

Batt, Henry, midshipman, 54

Batt, John, midshipman, 125

Bazely, John, port admiral in the Downs, 190

Bazely, John, captain, letter from, 191;
put on shore in the mutiny, 193,
184, 190, 201, 203–4

Beauclerk, Lord Amelius, midshipman, 55, 116;
captain, 131

Bedford, William, lieutenant, 91, 122–4

Beer, spruce, 42 and _n._;
man falls into copper of, 43

Belfry, Knight of the, 68 and _n._

Bell, John, mate of the hold, is painted like an ancient Briton, 149,
153

Bennet, Charles, midshipman, 119

Berkeley, the Hon. G. C., captain, 22, 64

Bertie, Thomas, captain, 229, 232

Biggery, Robert, carpenter, 202

Bingham, Edward, midshipman, 17

Bingham, J., midshipman, 17

Bingham, Robert, chaplain, 17

Bisset, Charles, midshipman, his dog, 47, 53

Blackford, John, boatswain, 224

Blackford, William, 225

Black pieces = muskets, 150

Blake, John, midshipman, 14

Bligh, George Millar, lieutenant, 245, 247

Bligh, John, captain, 229

Bluet, George Rule, midshipman, curious love token, 92

Bone, Johnny, boatswain, devil of a fellow at cap-a-bar, 70–1, 96

Bonny Broom, her ghostly boatswain, 4

Boulogne, camp at, 253 _n._

Bourmaster, John, captain, ‘an honour to the navy,’ 113;
recommends Gardner, 121, 100, 110–11

Bowen, Griffith, lieutenant’s servant, 114

Bowen, Richard, signal midshipman, 116

Bowen, Thomas, lieutenant, 114

Bowler, William, surgeon, R.N., 18

Boyes, George T. H., vice-admiral, director of transports, 265

Boyles, C., captain, 227, 229

Boys boxing during battle, 31

Brace, Edward, midshipman, 95

Bradby, Borromy, midshipman, 54

Bradby, Daniel, rated as captain’s servant, 54

Bradby, James, captain, 41, 52

Bradby, Matthew Barton, captain’s servant, 54

Braham, singer, 182 _n._

Brander, James, boatswain, 39

Brett, William, lieutenant, 170

Brice, lieutenant, court martial on, 213

Bricknell, midshipman, ugly and vain, 171

Bridport, Lord, admiral, 114, 188, 190–1

Bridsdale, Richard, lieutenant, 52

Briggs, lieutenant, encourages the seamen, 174 _n._

Briggs, John, assistant surgeon, 154

Brine, Augustus, midshipman, 117

Brisbane, Charles, captain, 213, 228

Brock, Philip, midshipman, 54

Brooks, Francis, 38

Browell, Mr., 15

Brown, Maurice, midshipman, 92

Brown, Simeon, carpenter, 53

Brown, William, midshipman, 93

Browne, P., midshipman, 117

Bruce, John, midshipman, 117

Buchan, Charles, purser, his foraging expedition, 4–5, 8, 91

Buffalmaco, painter, fresco of The Last Judgment attributed to, 140

Bull, Mr., a man of colour, 232

Buller, John, midshipman, 118

Bullock, William, lieutenant, 151

Burdon, George, captain, 206

Bush, William, midshipman, 117

Bustard, Robert, mate, 115

Butcher, Samuel, midshipman, 124

Byron, the Hon. John, vice-admiral, 11–12

Cadiz, smuggling of dollars at, 160–1;
the Alameda, 161

Calder, Mrs., fond of boat-sailing, 109

Calder, Robert, captain, his harshness, 97, 98;
his civility, 99;
a brave officer, 100;
court martial on, 101;
strict disciplinarian, 107;
ship in high order, 108;
his courtesy, 109, 113

Calvi, siege of, 147

Came, Charles, midshipman, 119

Campbell, Duncan, assistant surgeon, 96

Campbell, George, captain, 144–5;
rear-admiral with Nelson off Toulon, 151,
228, 232

Campbell, John, vice-admiral, 41, 44, 52

Campbell, Luke, midshipman, does duty as schoolmaster, 39

Campbell, Majoribanks, midshipman, 54

Cannadey, Moses, midshipman, 124

Cap-a-bar, note on, 70

Carden, J. S., midshipman, 84;
captain of the Macedonian, 95

Carpenter, James, lieutenant, 114

Carroll, assistant surgeon, 239

Carter, lieutenant, 41

Carter, Charles, lieutenant, 115

Carter, Richard, 18

Carthage, encounter with Turks at, 133;
visit to ruins of, 133–4

Castlereagh, Lord, Lancers or Prancers of, 210

Caulfield, Edward, midshipman, 225

Chantrell, William, lieutenant, his night orders, 109;
a droll fellow, 113;
a narrow escape, 150–1;
smuggles six hundred dollars, 160–1;
settles a dispute at a dinner, 163–4, 167, 170

Chaplain’s bet, 111–12

Chatham, Lord, First Lord of the Admiralty, 80

Chatterton, midshipman, 119

Chest, John, midshipman, his chest, 120

Chissell, John, master, an accomplished linguist, 171

Chissell, Richard, midshipman, 171

Christian, Sir Hugh Cloberry, rear-admiral, 64, 184

Christian, Jonathan, midshipman, 116

Chubb, clerk, drowned, 202

Church, captain, 230

Clark, George, midshipman, 118

Clayton, captain, 174

Cock, carpenter, 31, 39

Cockerell, James, purser, 52

Coet, W., midshipman, 18

Coghlan, John Timothy, master, 183, 201;
his boat-sailing, 195–6;
death, 196

Cold, severe, 178–9 and _n._, 181, 220–21

Cole, Richard, midshipman, 94

Collier, John, midshipman, pious when drunk, 149;
practical jokes on, 149, 153

Collins, Augustus, midshipman, son of Sir John, 153

Collins, Darby, drunken Irishman, his ingenious dog, 47;
fights eleven men, 51

Collins, Sir John, captain of the Berwick, 121, 126, 130–1, 133, 139;
dies, 144;
respect shown by the seamen, 144;
his knighthood, 151

Colomb, admiral, his account of the French expedition to Bantry Bay,
188 _n._

Colours, wrong, hoisted, 189, 198

Colpoys, Sir John, vice-admiral, his flag struck by the mutineers, 192

Colquhoun, steward, sewn up in a bullock’s hide, 135

Connell, Thomas, lieutenant, 39

Conolly, John Bull, midshipman, 93, 118

Constable, Love, lieutenant, ‘a devil of a tyrant,’ 122, 124

Content, John, midshipman, 249

Cook, Hugh, midshipman, 95

Cooper, Robert, purser, 248

Cornwallis, the Hon. William, admiral, 226, 233–4

Correy, surgeon, 8

Cosby, P., vice-admiral, 155, 160

Courage, James, assistant surgeon, 171

Court, contempt of, 199 _n._

Cowdray, John, carpenter, 7

Crisp, writer, 55

Crombey, assistant surgeon, 96

Cromwell, Oliver, 245

Crosbie, Robert, midshipman, 95

Crugal, Spirit of, 78 and _n_.

Crump, Mr., 162

Crump, William, signalman, believes in witchcraft, 256–7

Culmer, Billy, the oldest midshipman in the navy, 102;
description of, 102;
anecdotes of, 102–7, 115

Culverhouse, John, signal lieutenant, 66 and _n._;
as Diomede, 84;
his song, _ib._;
captain, drowned, 91

Cumberland, the Duke of, admiral, visits the Barfleur, 98

Cunningham, Charles, captain, 131 and _n._

Curry, Richard, midshipman, 119

Curtis, Sir Roger, anecdote of, 61

Daddi, Nardo, fresco by, 141 _n._

Dalgleish, James, mate, 118

Dalston, Sir John, captain of marines, 13

Daniel, Robert Savage, lieutenant, killed at the battle of the Nile,
113, 115

Danton, Richard, midshipman, pilot, 39

Darby, H. D’E., captain, 228

Davis, John, quartermaster, afterwards midshipman, 125

Davis, mate, 93

Dawe, Harry, lieutenant, 91

Dawes, Richard, lieutenant, killed 1st June, 124

Dawson, George, captain, court martial on, 73–4

Dawson, Thomas, boatswain, 39

Deacon, Henry, lieutenant, 45–6, 52

Delafons, John, purser, 115

Delafons, John, midshipman, 119

Delafons, Thomas, midshipman, 119

Dempster, Walter, midshipman, 153

Derby, John, lieutenant, a droll fellow, 219–21, 224

Derby, John, cook, 219

Deserters attacked by wolves, 50

Dickinson, Francis, midshipman, 125

Dickinson, William, midshipman, 125

Dickson, Archibald, admiral, 226

Dixon, John W. T., midshipman, 117;
captain, lost in the Apollo, 117

Dixon, Manley, captain, 56;
his character, 60;
commanded the Lion at the capture of the William Tell, 62

Dobbie, William Hugh, midshipman, 95

Dobree, Daniel, lieutenant, 114;
captain, 203, 206, 209–12, 223–4

Dobree, Daniel, midshipman, 225

Dodgson, John, surgeon, 152

Dodwell, Brown, master’s mate, 53

Dogs, seventy-five, in the Salisbury, 42;
anecdotes of, 47;
dog thrown overboard, 241–2

Dolling, John, lieutenant, 98, 113

Doncaster, Charles, midshipman, died of yellow fever at Jamaica, 225

Dorrel, Richard, lieutenant, 38

Douglas, carpenter, 96

Douglas, the Hon. Dunbar, midshipman, wonderful escape of, 117

Douglas, J., captain, 22

Dowdall, Edward, gunner, 53

Downman, Hugh, midshipman, 94

Dowsing, Jackson, lieutenant, 114

Drake, Sir Francis, taught the people of Plymouth, 7

Drake, Sir Francis Samuel, 38 _n._

Drake, Sir Francis William, vice-admiral, 22, 38 and _n._

Dubosc, French emigrant captain, 168

Ducker, John, boatswain, 164–5, 171

Ducks, attack on, 110–11

Duckworth, Sir John Thomas, rear-admiral, 228, 230–1, 237

Duff, Andrew, midshipman, 55

Duff, captain, 229

Duncan, Charles, master, 151–2

Duncan, Lord, 71

Dundas, captain, 229

Dundas, general, at Bastia, 148

Dunham, Robert, lieutenant, broke and reinstated, 202

Dunn, Richard D., captain, 228

Durban, William, midshipman, 118

Durham, Philip Charles, lieutenant, 25 _n._, 114

Dusautoy, lieutenant of marines, 62

Dutchman, cargo of runaway, 208

Eastwood, N. H., captain, chased by Billy Culmer, 102–3

Eaton, Jack, mate, 117;
cheers up Gardner at his examination, 173;
captain of Marlborough, 117;
committed suicide, 117;
captain of Medusa, 191

Edgar, Alexander, captain, 41

Edgar, Thomas, lieutenant, in charge of a merchantman, 159–60;
had sailed round the world with Cook, 163, 167–70

Edgeworth, Henry, mate, 248

Edmonds, Tom, midshipman, a delightful flute-player, 92

Elliot, John, vice-admiral, 99;
his able services, 112

Elliot, Robert, midshipman, 93

Elliot, William, midshipman, 55;
lieutenant, 114

Elliot, William, midshipman, 248

Esperanto, early example of, 128

Essington, captain, 227–8

Everitt, afterwards Calmady, Charles Holmes, lieutenant, 8

Eyles, C., captain, 228

Fairlight, signal station, 109, 251–63;
duties at, 253;
severe gales, 254;
cockney’s visit to, 255–6;
smugglers, 258–9;
Gardner’s friends there, 259 _seq._;
paid off, 263

Fanshawe, Robert, commissioner at Plymouth, 197–8

Faulknor, Jonathan, rear-admiral, 100;
most able officer, 113

Faulknor, Jonathan, jun., captain, 41, 188

Faulknor, Samuel, captain, note on, 100

Feary, Frank, midshipman, 92

Fegan, sent on board the Conquistador by the Bow Street magistrate,
112, 214;
song by 214–15

Field, Augustus John, lieutenant of marines, draws a long bow, 244;
dines off rat pie, 245, 248

Fielding, Henry, novelist, 215 _n._

Fielding, Sir John, the blind magistrate, 214–15 _n._

Finch, the Hon. Seymour, captain, 22

Fireworks, manufacture of, in front of a fire, 198

Flag, insult to the English, 131

Flanagan, clerk (afterwards purser), 40

Flemming, boatswain, broke by court martial, 202

Flinders, mate, well acquainted with ancient history, 123

Flood, Patrick, midshipman, reads the Bible, 75;
draws caricatures, 79;
is ruined by Molloy, 80;
verse by, 88, 92

Floyd, Thomas, lieutenant, 13

Flying Dutchman has a roving commission, 199

Foley, T., captain, 229

Follie, John, boatswain, 248

Foote, John Stode, chaplain, 14

Foote, Samuel, actor, 34 _n._

Forrester, Ben, captain of marines, 30, 31, 38

Forster, Edward, midshipman, a Hercules, 39

Forton prison, Frenchmen sent to, 16

Foularton, Henry, midshipman, his keg of gin, 94

Foularton, John, midshipman, court martial on, 32, 39

Fraser, Alexander, lieutenant (afterwards admiral), 31, 38

Fraser, James, gunner, 39

Frederick, T. L., captain, 131

Freeburn, Archibald, gunner, 202

Fremantle, captain, 227, 229

French officers, prisoners on board La Favorite, 200;
claim their rank in the navy, _ib._;
claim refused, _ib._;
sent to Mill Prison, _ib._;
Gardner’s generosity to, 201

French prisoners, threatened rising of, 159;
left at Gibraltar, 170

French Royalists on board Gorgon, 170

French seamanship, an instance of good, 186

Frost, ‘Hard Frost,’ midshipman, is ‘laid out,’ 87;
a ‘transcendent blackguard,’ 88, 94

Fuller, William, surgeon, 243, 248

Gale, legendary commodore, 69, 87

Galloway, James, midshipman, 153

Galton, midshipman, 116

Gardner, Alan, rear-admiral, 121;
his service, 123

Gardner, the Hon. A. H., captain, 229

Gardner, wrote in the office: no relation of the author, 96

Gardner, Francis Geary, captain, 3, 8, 10–13, 19

Gardner, James, captain, 37

Gardner, Mrs. James, death of, 37

Gardner, James Anthony, his early recollections on board the Boreas,
3–7;
and on board the Conqueror, 10–12;
at school, 15–17;
joins the Panther, 19;
his introduction to his mess, 20;
is assisted by the purser, 21;
assists in saving men of the Royal George, 24;
is in the action off Cape Spartel, 30 _seq._;
attends his grandmother’s funeral, 37;
joins the Salisbury, 41;
is mast-headed, 45;
the captain refuses to advance him any money, 49;
joins the Orestes, 56;
unjustly blamed for letting a seaman desert, 58–60;
knocks a messmate down with a Bible, 60;
joins the Edgar, 64;
goes to a concert, 69;
and afterwards to his hammock, _ib._;
his leave is stopped, 70;
gives himself leave and meets the first lieutenant on shore, 71;
stews a beef-steak in a lantern, 72;
fights with Philpot, 74;
fires a musket in a messmate’s face, 83;
gets a severe blow on the nose, 83–4;
sent to answer a signal when improperly dressed, 85;
is sent back with ‘an insolent message,’ 86;
catches the flagship ‘napping,’ 86–7;
joins the Barfleur, 97;
offends the captain, _ib._;
who stops his leave, 98;
but parts with him on good terms, 99;
joins the Queen, 121;
objects to go to the West Indies, _ib._;
and joins the Berwick, 126;
his adventure at Tunis, 132–3;
visits the ruins of Carthage, 134;
visits the arsenal at Porto Farino, 136;
takes part in the carnival at Pisa, 140;
a night’s adventure, 142–3;
refuses Hood’s offer to appoint him to the Victory, 148;
and joins the Gorgon, _ib._, 155;
dines at an ordinary at Lisbon, 163;
dispute between the English and Yankee skippers, _ib._;
joins the Victory, 172;
loses his kit, 173;
passes his examination, 174;
is promoted to be lieutenant, 175;
of the Hind, 176;
joins the Hind, 178;
in deep snow and hard frost, 178–9;
his dinner at King’s Ferry, 179;
walks across the ferry, 180;
sells his share of prize money, 181;
put on board La Favorite as prize master, 188;
gets into Portland Race, 189;
and is in considerable danger, _ib._;
is kindly received by Sir Richard King, 190;
writes to Admiral Bazely, _ib._;
is put on shore from Spithead in the mutiny, 193;
his interview with Commissioner Fanshawe, 197;
his generosity to the French prisoners, 201;
joins the Blonde, 203;
is complimented on her good order, 204–5;
his method of beautifying the ship, 205;
remonstrates with the pilots, 209;
apostrophises them in verse, 211;
is knocked down by a lump of ice falling out of the mizen top, 220;
pleasant time at Waterford, 221;
joins the Brunswick, 226;
does not like the West Indies, 231;
his difficulty in reaching the ship off Brest, 240;
in the transport service, 250;
appointed to Fairlight signal station, 251;
his life there, 252 _seq._

Garlies, Lord, a lord of the admiralty, 251

Garnier, Charles, midshipman, drowned, 54

Garrett, William, midshipman, 54

Geary, Sir Francis, admiral, 3

George III. reviews the fleet, 10

George, Sir Rupert, first commissioner of transports, 250 _n._

Gibbon, Francis, midshipman, 55;
lieutenant, 252

Gibson, Patrick, purser and centenarian, 12, 213;
was at the taking of Quebec, 214;
his songs, 214–16

Gibson, William, lieutenant, broke by court martial, 224

Gilmour, Alexander, midshipman, 63

Glebhoff, Peter, Russian captain, killed at Texel, 207

Glover, captain, death of, 233–4

Goddard, Thomas, midshipman, wounded at Toulon, 116

Goodall, admiral, 148

Gordon, George, assistant surgeon, 96

Gosport, naval academy at, 15

Gosselin, Thomas Le M., captain, 227, 229

Gould, D., captain, 229

Gould, Michael, clerk, 249

Gould, William, lieutenant of marines, 52

Gower, the Hon. John Leveson, rear-admiral, 64;
a ‘tight hand of the watch,’ 65;
used to ‘play hell and turn up Jack,’ _ib._;
to get up early, 65–6;
an able tactician, 67;
had an astonishing memory, _ib._;
hated puppyism, _ib._; 90

Graham, Aaron, admiral’s secretary, 45;
afterwards magistrate at Bow Street, 53

Granger, William, midshipman, 94

Grant, Charles, midshipman, 118

Grant, George, secretary and purser, 124

Grant, Gregory, midshipman, 94

Grasse, Count de, French commander-in-chief, prisoner, 23

Graves, John, midshipman, at Leghorn, 139;
posse of friars, 141;
his afternoon nap disturbed, 149–50, 153

Graves, Lord Thomas, admiral, 10–13

Gray, George, gunner, 96

Greene, Pitt Burnaby, midshipman, 116

Grey, George, gunner, 70

Grey, George, lieutenant, 113

Grindall, Richard, captain, 228

Grouchy, French general, in Bantry Bay, 188

Guichen, Count de, French admiral, 16

Gullet, Christopher, midshipman, 63

Gunter, captain, 180

Hacker, Jerry, the purser, messed by himself, 165;
a miser, 166;
detests midshipmen, 166–7;
curses the peas, 168;
a most unaccountable fellow, 171

Hall, James, boatswain, 53

Hallowell, afterwards Carew, Benjamin, lieutenant, 113

Hamilton, Sir C., captain, 156

Hamilton, Edward, lieutenant, 172–3, 175;
captain, recaptured the Hermione, 176

Hamlin, midshipman, 63

Hamlin, D., midshipman, 63

Hamond, G. E., midshipman, 177

Hancock, Richard Turner, signal midshipman, 116

Hand organs, 20 _n._, 88

Handkerchiefs, black silk, worn by seamen, 130 _n._, 144

Hanwell, lieutenant, 32

Hardy, James, captain, inspects and praises the Blonde, 204–5;
sends her some buckets of paint, 205

Harley, Henry Roland, clerk, 55;
purser, 194–5

Harmood, Harry, captain, 11, 13;
commissioner, 174

Harrison, Mr., private secretary to Lord Spencer, 176

Harrison, John, gunner, 224

Harrison, William, mate, 248

Hartley, Martin Pert, midshipman, 40

Hastings, points of interest near, 254–5

Hawford, Richard, lieutenant, lost in the Rover, 8

Hearle, Benjamin, carpenter, 14

Hell-fire club, 44;
members’ dress, 48–9 and _n._

Hemmings, Mr., master attendant at Plymouth, 191

Henikoff, Russian admiral, 184, 207

Herbert, Richard, midshipman, 53

Hervey, John, midshipman, 117

Hervey, Lady, pelted with sugar plums, 140

Hervey, Lord, ambassador, pelted with sugar plums, 140

Hewlett, Thomas, midshipman, 153

Heycock, Richard, midshipman, 94, 118;
refuses to pay mess fines, 108

Hickey, Frederick, lieutenant, sells his prize money, 181;
put on shore in the mutiny, 193, 201

Hill, John, boatswain, 63

Hinton, John, midshipman, 116

Hinton, Martin, lieutenant, 176

Hodges, John, midshipman, died of yellow fever, 249

Hodgskin, John A., midshipman, 125

Holland, John Wentworth, midshipman, 54

Hollingsworth, John, midshipman, killed in battle, 95 _n._

Holloway, John, rear-admiral, memoir of, criticised, 27–8, 226, 247

Holmes, midshipman, is ‘caught napping,’ 86–7

Holmes, James, lieutenant of marines, 248

Home, Sir George, captain, 22

Hood, Lord, admiral, commands the Russian armament, 99;
sails for the Mediterranean, 126;
Toulon fleet surrenders to, 128;
chases the French fleet into Gourjean Bay, 146;
siege of Bastia, 148, 145 _n._, 172, 176

Hoops, iron, taken on board, 230;
not worth their carriage, 231

Hope, Robert, surgeon, 124

Horsley, Richard, midshipman, 249

Hotham, William (afterwards Lord), vice-admiral, 126, 143;
misses a great opportunity, 145–7;
an able second in command, 147–8

Houghton, Charles, midshipman, 225

Houghton, Daniel, major, the African traveller, 225

Houghton, Frederick, midshipman, drowned, 225

Howe, Lord, admiral, 21, 25;
aspersions on, 28;
action off Cape Spartel, 29–33;
hoists the union flag, 98 _n._, 80 _n._, 99, 100

Huish, Robert, purser, his terror in a boat, 219–20, 224

Humphries, Christopher, boatswain, 202

Hungerford, Emanuel, lieutenant, an amusing fellow, 238;
strikes his former captain, 242;
a very able officer, 243, 247

Hunt, Peter, midshipman, a droll fellow, 125

Hutchins, Henry, purser, 13

Hutchinson, Edward, mate, 152

Hutt, John, captain, 121;
an excellent sailor, 122;
killed on 1st of June, 124

Ince, midshipman, 55

Incledon, Charles, the singer, 182 and _n._

Inglis, Charles, midshipman, 92, 118;
captain, 229

Ireland, rebellion in, 204

Ireland, Thomas, lieutenant, killed on 1st of June, 115

Ireland, William, gunner, 124

Irwin, John, lieutenant, 91 _n._

Irwin, J. S., midshipman, 95, 114

Jacks, Davy, quartermaster, 72

Jackson, midshipman, 118

James, Edwin, lieutenant, 212, 224

James, William, author of the _Naval History_, a Yankee-Doodle, 131
_n._, 147, 152, 155 _n._

Jeffrey, Ben, clerk, 98, 120

Jeffreys, Ninian, master, 115

Jeffries, boatswain, 120

Jennings, Ulick, midshipman, 160, 163;
commander, broke by court martial, 171

Jervis, Sir John, rear-admiral, 98–9;
Earl of St. Vincent, admiral of the fleet, 112, 117

Jeynes, Thomas, lieutenant, a tyrant, a cold-blooded bad fellow, 58–62

Jezard, James, carpenter, 71

Johnstone, George, midshipman, murdered, 119

Johnstone, Jemmy, midshipman, 118

Jones, purser, 232

Jones, George, midshipman, called ‘Dog-head,’ 92, 118

Jones, Paul, captain, U.S.N., 38

Josephine, Empress, 101

Jump, lieutenant, agent of transports, 250

Katon, James, captain, 227–8

Kein, Thomas, assistant surgeon, 91

Kelloch, James, boatswain, 124

Kemble, Joseph, boatswain, 152

Kemp, Nicholas, lieutenant, 114

Kempenfelt, rear-admiral, an able tactician, 16;
lost in the Royal George, 23, 24

Keppel, the Hon. Augustus (afterwards Lord), admiral, 10, 11

Key, John, midshipman, 118;
lieutenant, unfit to be first, 226;
sent to hospital, 239;
refused a passage home, _ib._ and _n._;
his manner of keeping watch, 240, 244, 247

Kiel, John, midshipman, went on shore without leave, 71;
off deck in his watch, 72–3;
‘troubled with St. Anthony’s fire,’ 83;
died mad, 93

King, Sir Richard, port admiral at Plymouth, 190;
approves of Gardner’s conduct, 190

King, Solomon, midshipman, 93, 118

King, William, midshipman, 93

Kinneer, James Jervis, midshipman, sent on shore in the mutiny, 193;
drowned, 202

Kirk, Daniel, midshipman, 116

Kirk, James, surgeon, 115

Kitten, William, 18

Kleber, French general, 261

Knight, captain in the army, killed in battle, 208

Knight, John, captain, 172–3, 175–6

Laforey, Sir Francis, captain, 229, 232–3

Lamb, William, midshipman and mate, 92, 118;
captain, 174

Lambrick, John, midshipman, 154

Lamotte-Picquet, French admiral, 233

Land, Hugh, clerk, 63

Landseer, Thomas, admiral’s servant, 55

Langara, Don Juan de, Spanish admiral, defeat of, 112;
off Minorca, 126;
at Toulon, 128

Laugharne, John, lieutenant, 8

Launder, William, midshipman, killed at the battle of the Nile, 119

Laurie, midshipman, murdered, 119

Laurie, Robert, midshipman (afterwards admiral), 53;
lieutenant, 121;
wounded on 1st June, 124

Lawrence, John, midshipman, 153

Le Bair, Nicholas, midshipman, died in French prison, 153

Lechmere, captain, 41

Le Clerc, Madame, sister of Napoleon, wife of commander-in-chief at St.
Domingo, 230

Lee, Francis Geary Gardner, midshipman (afterwards knighted), 202

Lee, Paddy, lieutenant, 113

Lee, Richard, captain of Hind, 178, 180;
speculates in prize money, 181;
a most meritorious officer, 182, 183, 195–6, 201

Leghorn, carnival at, 139;
convivial dinner at, 142

Lemon, John [or Lamond], midshipman, 249

Leonard, midshipman, triced up to the main topmast head, 81

Levy, Titus, purser, died mad, 91

Lewis, captain, 191

Liggatt, John, assistant surgeon, 96

Linzee, Samuel Hood, captain, 229, 233

Linzee, commodore, at Cagliari, 129;
at Tunis, 131

Liquor smuggled on board, 60, 69

Littlehales, R. B., midshipman, 54

Lloyd, Robert, lieutenant, 100, 114

Loring, captain, 229

Loring, Joseph, lieutenant, 52

Lowe, Thomas, lieutenant, 247

Lucas, John, lieutenant, court martial on, 73, 74

Lumsdale, J., captain, 41

Lutwidge, Skeffington, captain, 65

Lyford, Henry J., lieutenant, 224, 232

Lyne, Thomas, lieutenant, 170

McArthur, John, secretary, 148, 176

Macarthy, quartermaster, anecdote of man overboard, 199

Macbride, Andrew, schoolmaster, given to drink, 76;
his extreme ugliness, 76–7;
song on, 77–8;
died at Jamaica, 78;
an excellent mathematician, _ib._;
and writer, 79;
caricature of, _ib._;
splendid abilities, 95

Macbride, John, admiral, 56, 82

McCarthy, a deserter, 58

McCulloch, William, midshipman, 154

McCurdy, John, assistant surgeon, 53

McDonald, John, mate, 119

Macfarland, J. S., midshipman, 54

McInerheny, Mr., master, 12, 13

McInerheny, William, 13

Mackenzie, Alexander, midshipman, a sneak, 153

Mackey, lieutenant, 114

McKinlay, George, captain, 230

McKinnon, Peter, gunner, his sore eyes, 61, 63

Maclean, Hector, lieutenant, 236, 247

Maclean, Lauchlin, clerk, 96

Macredie, John, midshipman, his song, 77–8;
a great deal of service, 80;
an excellent scholar, _ib._;
very absent-minded, 81;
as Ajax Telamon, 84, 93;
his story of the raven, 88;
a most worthy fellow, 95;
in the Barfleur, 118

Malcolm, James, surgeon, 39, 91

Manning, Robert, midshipman, 54

Marr, Jacky, boatswain, 120, 176

Marriott, Mr., assistant secretary, Royal Meteorological Society, note
by, 179

Marsh, assistant surgeon, 96

Marsh, Edward, lieutenant, 114

Marshall, Andrew, assistant surgeon, 249

Marshall, John, lieutenant, author of the _Royal Naval Biography_, 27–9

Marshall, Sir Samuel, deputy comptroller of the navy, 174

Martin, Sir Henry, comptroller of the navy, 97

Martin, Thomas Byam, midshipman, 117;
captain, 156

Mathews, John, lieutenant, 113

Matthews, Robert B., midshipman, 249

Maundrell, midshipman, 63

Meager, Nicholas, midshipman, 123, 125

Mears, Thomas, gunner, 14

Medley, Edward, midshipman, 248

Mends, captain, 229

Merchant, Thomas, midshipman, 54

Merrett, John, surgeon, 17

Mess, ‘Spartan simplicity’ of the, 20;
contrasted with later luxury, 21

Milbanke, Mark, vice-admiral, 33, 38

Miles, Lawford, lieutenant of marines, 176

Millar, midshipman, his ugliness, 76–7;
made a gunner, 94

Miller, John, lieutenant, 124

Milligan, James, surgeon, 224

Milner, George, midshipman, 122–3, 125

Molloy, A. J. P., captain, his tyranny, 80, 90

Monkeys, crew of an African ship lived on, 42;
monkey soup, 51

Monkton, John, mate, 8

Montagu, lieutenant, 25, 38

Montagu, Robert rear-admiral, 227–8, 237

Moore, Edward, mate, his practical joke, 76;
opposed to tyranny, 81;
court martial on, 82;
his generosity, 83;
highly respected, 92, 118

Moore, James, gunner, 202

Morgan, lieutenant, his ugliness, 76–7

Morgan, Ben, midshipman, victim of bullying, 44;
his extravagance, 49, 54

Morgan, Ross, lieutenant of marines, becomes insane, 243–4, 248

Morgan, William, chaplain, 115

Morris, H. G., midshipman, 125

Morris, James Nicholl, lieutenant, at Trafalgar, 113

Mortella tower, 143–4 and _n._

Morton, lieutenant, 118

Mottley, Samuel, lieutenant, 115

Moulding, Joe, his catechism, 34

Mounsey, William, midshipman, 63

Mulligan, a seaman, flogged for cowardice, 32

Murray, James, lieutenant, 38

Mustapha, suspected of being English, 137

Mutiny at Spithead (1797), 192–3

Myers, Philip, carpenter, 152

Napoleon, his three great errors, 101;
his sister, 230, 261

Nash, John, midshipman, 14

Nash, Richard, midshipman, killed, 14

Nauticus, junior, 28 _n._

Navy Board, letter from, 262 _n._

Nazer, John, mate, 202

Neate, William, midshipman, 39

Nelson, Horatio, captain, 131;
at Tunis, 132 _n._;
his comment on the ‘Resurgam Squadron,’ 145 _n._;
loses his eye, 147

Neve, Robert Jenner, midshipman, 125

New, Thomas, captain, court martial on, 230

Newfoundland, ice field near, 42

Newnham, clerk, said to be the admiral’s cow, 49;
a butt, 55

Newport, Thomas, carpenter, broke by court martial, 224

Nichola, midshipman, insane, 63

Nichols, captain, 41

Nicholson, Richard, midshipman, 18

Nicholson, W. P., midshipman, 18

Noble, Christopher, lieutenant of marines, death from wounds, 201

Noble, George, lieutenant of marines, 38

Norman, James, captain, 182

Nott, John Francis, midshipman, 117

Nowell, William, lieutenant, a good jumper, 87, 90

O’Connor, John, midshipman, 119

Oliver, captain, 229, 233

Oliver, Thomas, mate, 124

Orchard, schoolmaster, his ‘black pudding,’ 15, 17

Osborne, Charles, lieutenant, 13

Otter, Charles, midshipman, taken prisoner, 116

Otway, R. W., captain, 229, 233

Owen, midshipman, 33–35

Palmer, Nisbet, lieutenant, 138;
killed in action, 151–2

Pankhurst, Patty, tells a ghost story, 4

Pardieu [or Purdue, Simon], midshipman, 248

Parker, Hyde, admiral, ‘Old Vinegar,’ 11, 12, 82, 103–4

Parker, Sir Peter, vice-admiral, 23

Parr, Dr., assistant master at Harrow, 259–60 and _n._

Parrots and monkeys, crew of an African ship lived on, 42;
roast parrots, 51

Parry, William, admiral, 3, 174

Paton, George, master, 201

Patterson, George, master, 57, 58, 62

Paulett, Lord H., captain, 229, 233

Peard, S., captain, 229

Pearson, Sir Richard, captain, taken prisoner, 38, 96

Peas in the after-hold, 167–8 and _n._

Peers, captain of the marines, 232

Penn, Sir William, captured Jamaica, 245

Pennants worn by transport officers, 250, 265–6

Penrose, captain, 227–8

Perkins, captain, 229

Perkins, Robert, midshipman, his song, 104;
his joke, 105, 116

Peterson, Edmund, surgeon, 53

Peyton, Joseph, rear-admiral, 73, 90;
admiral, 203

Peyton, Joseph, lieutenant, 8

Phillimore, Sir John, captain, canes James, the author of the _Naval
History_, 131 _n._

Phillips, quartermaster, his cheese stolen by the raven, 89

Philpot, midshipman, goes to a concert, 69;
quarrels with Gardner, 74;
called ‘Toby Philpot,’ 92

Philps, William, gunner, 171

Phrases:
A dish of turnips, 43
A purser’s shirt in the rigging, 163
A tight hand of the watch, 65, 198
As if hell kicked us, 146
Bowed the sea, 186
Cross-jack brace eye, 107
Damn your eyes = cheer up, 174
Don’t come barking like a tanner’s dog, 212
Easier than knot a rope yarn, 185
I say, Mortimer, 51
Jib a third in, 186
Make a fellow jump where
there was no stile, 65
My hat’s off, 108
No lame duck on change, 235
Play hell and turn up Jack, 43 _n._, 65
Puddening the flats, 119
Serve out slops at the gangway, 111
Will you have your hammock up? 100

Pickering, Richard, clerk, 40

Pierce, James, captain of marines, 52

Piercy, Thomas, captain, 19;
ill health of, 21, 22;
taken prisoner, 38, 96

Pigs on board ship in action, 30

Pisa, carnival at, 140;
public buildings and pictures of, 140–1

Pitt, Thomas, midshipman, 153

Pole, Charles Morice, captain, 64

Poole, William, clerk, 171

Popham, Sir Home, 212

Porter, George, mate, 202

Portland Race, danger of, 189

Portlock, Nathaniel, lieutenant, an able navigator, 114

Potts, Henry, midshipman, 53

Poulden, Mr., 178–80

Poulden, Richard, captain, 178

Powell, Howell, assistant surgeon, drowned in the Babet, 12

Price, Mr., purser, his generosity, 21, 39

Pringle, William, midshipman, would do for a scuttle butt, 67;
visits sick messmate, 75;
‘Ponderous and Huge,’ 93 & _n._

Proby, William Allen, Lord, midshipman, 154

Proctor, Alexander, assistant surgeon, 63

Prowse, William, lieutenant, reprimanded, 107, 113

Purser’s eights, 52 _n._

Purvis, George, admiral’s secretary, 115

Pye, Sir Thomas, admiral, 10

Pye, William, schoolmaster, 45, 55, 120, 177

Quarrier, Daniel, assistant surgeon, 249

Quinton, John, mate, fond of gin grog, 61, 63

Rainier, Peter, admiral, 113

Ralfe, J., _Naval Biography_ by, 228 _n._

Ralph (1), a raven, taken for the Devil, 88–9

Ralph (2), a raven, a ‘most sagacious creature,’ 257–8

Raven, superstitious dread of a, 88–9, 257–8

Rayner, Edmund, midshipman, 125

Rea, captain of marines, 243;
his rhymes on Jamaica, 245, 248

Reardon, Andrew, assistant surgeon, sleeps in a cask, 48, 53

Reed, Davy, master, 89–91

Reeve, Samuel, captain, 22

Renwick, William, midshipman, 125

Resurgam Squadron, 145

Reynolds, Robert Carthew, captain, 99–100;
lost in the St. George, 113

Rice, James McPherson, midshipman, a ‘great mathematician,’ 123, 125

Rich, Sir Thomas, captain, 64

Richards, lieutenant, 199

Richards, John, lieutenant, promoted from before the mast, 115

Richardson, Henry, midshipman, 116

Richery, French admiral, his squadron, 185, 190

Rinaldini, capitano, famous bandit, 137

Rivers, William, gunner, 120, 176

Roberts, George, midshipman, 249

Robson, John, lieutenant of marines, 248

Roddam, midshipman, 116

Roddam, Robert, vice-admiral, 97, 107, 112

Rodney, Sir George, admiral, 12, 112, 182, 228

Rodney, the Hon. John, commodore, 156

Rogers, James, midshipman and mate, 115

Rolles, Robert, midshipman, 14

Rollin, Mr. A., secretary to the captain superintendent at Sheerness,
note by, 179

Rose, John, midshipman, 153

Roskruge, Francis, midshipman, killed at Trafalgar, 94

Roskruge, John, master, 91

Ross, James, midshipman, one-armed, 118

Ross, lieutenant, 86, 113

Russell, William Paddy, midshipman, 124

Russian soldiers, filthy habits of, 207

Rutherford, captain, 229

Sanders, James, midshipman, 93, 118;
commander, 230

Sandford, John, midshipman, 53

Sandwich, Lord, first lord of the admiralty, 3, 6

Saradine, Sol., 18

Sargent, Francis, mate, 92

Schomberg, Isaac, captain, superintendent of Sea Fencibles, 251

Schoolmasters, naval, 79 _n._

Scott, Alexander John, chaplain, left behind at Toulon, 150;
in Victory at Trafalgar, 152

Scott, John, clerk, killed at Trafalgar, 96

Scott, Samuel, master’s mate, a blustering bully, 53

Scovell, Richard, midshipman, killed in battle, 153

Scratch Alley, the boatswain of, 142

Scriven, Timothy, carpenter, 63

Seppings, John, midshipman, 125

Serocold, captain, death of, 147

Seymour, Lord Hugh, admiral, commanding Jamaica station, 236

Shield, Mr., clergyman at Stoke, 17

Shield, William, captain, 144, 151

Ships:—
Abergavenny, guard-ship, 227, 229
Admiral de Vries, a cooperage, 227, 229
Æolus, 41, 229
Agamemnon, 131–2
Alacrity, brig, capture of 151–2
Albion, 11
Alcide, 115, 131, 155
Alert, 155–6
Alexander, 157
Alfred, 184
Alkmaar, 206 and _n._
Ambuscade, 174
America, a hulk, 156, 227, 229
Andromeda, 65, 148
Apollo, 117, 200, 249
Aquilon, 139
Ardent, loss of, 147 and _n._
Artois, 33
Audacious, 229
Aurora, 54
Babet, loss of, 120
Barfleur, Gardner’s service in, 97–120;
splendid ship’s company, 100;
officers of, 112–120, 80, 83, 151, 170, 176–7, 226
Bedford, 11
Bellerophon, 113, 119, 229
Bellona, 119, 229, 232
Berwick, Gardner’s service in, 126–54;
sailed for the Mediterranean, 126;
bad weather and phenomenal rolling, 127;
at Toulon, 127–8;
detached to Tunis, 129–36;
puts into Trapani, 137;
and Leghorn, 139;
joins Hotham off Toulon, 143;
officers of, 151–4;
captured, 152–3, 104, 121, 162, 170, 205
Bienfaisant, 104
Blanche, loss of, 208
Blenheim, 33, 226
Blonde, Gardner’s service in, 203–25;
in very good order, 205;
in great danger from the pilots’ ignorance, 208–211;
comic incidents of, 212;
south-easterly blizzard off Guernsey, 220–21;
officers of, 224–5
Bonetta, sloop, loss of, 230
Boreas, Gardner borne in, 3–9;
aground, 6;
quarrel with Foudroyant, 7;
one of the first copper-bottomed ships (1775), 8;
officers of, 8, 9, 19, 64, 75, 90, 115
Bristol, 25
Britannia, 94, 145
Brunswick, Gardner’s service in, 226–49;
with Cornwallis, off Brest, 226, 234–236;
sent to Jamaica, 227, 237;
with Howe on 1 June, 236 _n._;
ship’s dog thrown overboard, 241–2;
thunderstorm, 246–7;
officers of, 247–9
Buffalo, 25, 27–9;
in the battle on the Dogger Bank, 103;
song on, 103–4
Caledonia, 79
Calypso, 230
Cambridge, court martial held on board of, 199
Captain, 227, 229, 234, 241
Carnatic, 227–8
Centaur, lost, 26, 79
Cerberus, 22
Colossus, 64, 113
Commerce de Marseilles, 155, 170, 172
Conflagration, fireship, 121
Conqueror, Gardner borne in, 10–14;
review at Spithead, 10;
sails for North America, 10;
‘a dreadful passage’ and very large sick list, 11;
officers of, 12–14, 3, 6, 19
Conquistador, 112, 214
Cornwall, 11
Countess of Scarborough, hired ship, 38
Crown, 22, 33, 64–5
Culloden, 11, 64
Cumberland, 82, 227–8
Dauphin Royal, Fr., renamed Sans Culotte, 145
Decade, 229
Defence, 229, 233
Dictator, 203
Dido, 229
Diligente, 24, 50
Dolphin, 104
Dordrecht, 203 _n._
Dromedary, 22
Druid, 229
Duke, 123
Dunkirk, 32
Duquesne, Fr., 130–31
Echo, 41
L’Éclair, Fr. corvette, capture of, 126
Edgar, Gardner’s service in, 64–96;
court martial on board of, 73–4;
officers of, 90–6; 29, 39, 45, 52, 97, 108, 112, 118, 124, 157,
229, 233
Elephant, 227–8, 232
Endymion, 72–3
Etna, 12
Europa, 205, 222
Euryalus, 202
Fame, 11
Favorite, Fr. privateer, captured, 188;
in Portland Race, 189;
luxuries on board of, 200
Formidable, 182, 228
Fortitude, 104, 143
Foudroyant, 7, 29, 62, 117, 136
Française, Fr., 230
Ganges, 227, 229
Glebb, Russian, 184
Glorieux, French prize, lost, 26
Goliath, 25, 30, 226, 228, 234, 239
Gorgon, Gardner’s service in, 155–71;
goes ‘bump on shore,’ 156;
‘a noble sea boat,’ 157;
nearly runs on Bolt Head, 158;
runs amok at Spithead, _ib._;
officers of, 170–1
Grafton, 11
Grampus, 51
Growler, brig, capture of, 95
Guadeloupe, 11
Hebe, 57, 65
Hector, French prize, lost, 26
Hector, guard-ship, 76
Hercules, Dutch prize, renamed Orestes, 56
Hercules, 80
Hermione, French prize, victualler, 22
Hermione recaptured, 176
Hind, 44, 176;
Gardner’s service in, 178–202;
captures smuggler, 181;
presses her crew, 181;
succession of gales, 182–185;
chased by Richery’s squadron, 185–7;
captures French privateer, 188;
officers put on shore in the mutiny, 192–3;
officers of, 201–2
Hindostan, store-ship, 229
Hope, transport, 37
Hope, 74
Illustrious, 131, 146
Impregnable, 14
Invincible, the old, lost on the Dean, 6;
the new, 11
Jamaica, 18
Janus, 233
Juno, frigate, 143
Languedoc, Fr., 74
Lark, 230
Lawrence, brig, 41
Leopard, 180
Leviathan, 78, 228
Lion, 62, 233
London, 12, 81;
mutiny at Spithead, 192
Lowestoft, 131
Lutine, 202;
loss of, 208
Macedonian, capture of, 95
Magnificent, 64
Majestic, 229
Marlborough, 8, 117
Mars, Dutch prize, renamed Pylades, 56
Mars, 5, 8
Medusa, 182, 192
Medway, 33
Melampus, 227, 229
Merlin, 41
Minerve, 66
Minotaur, 123, 125
Modeste, 155–6
Monmouth, 10, 136, 197, 243
Monsieur, 22–3
Montagu, 184
Naiad, 229
Namur, 197
Nassau, loss of, 213
Nemesis, 131
Néréide, 229
Orestes, a prize from the Dutch, 56;
Gardner’s service in, 56–63;
fire on board, 57;
loss of, 62;
officers of, 62–3
Orion, 229, 233
Overyssel, 203 _n._
Pallas, formerly Minerva, 213
Panther, Gardner’s service in, 19–40;
messing on board, 20–21;
makes three prizes, 22;
in a gale, 25–6;
at Gibraltar, 27;
off C. Spartel, 29–32;
regrets at paying off, 33;
mutinous spirit of men, 37;
officers of, 38–40, 179
Pearl, 155–6
Pégase, 80, 88
Pelican, 230
Penelope, 62
Phæton, courts martial on captain and officers of, 73–4 _n._
Pigmy, cutter, prize, 22
Powerful, 229, 232–3
Preston, 104, 147
Prince George, 10, 91, 188
Princess Amelia, song by a seaman of, 103–4
Princess Charlotte, accident at the launch of, 238–9
Princess Royal, 11–13, 80, 129, 213, 228, 247
Proselyte, court martial on master of, 41
Proserpine, capture of, 116
Pylades, 56
Quebec, 244
Queen, Gardner’s service in, 121–5;
officers of, 123–5, 82, 87
Queen Charlotte, 98
Raisonnable, 21, 29
Ramillies, 12, 13
Rattler, sloop, 94
Raven, 230
Recovery, 22
Renown, 74
Resolution, 229
Ripon, 22
Robust, 229
Romney, 102
Rose, transport, 37
Rover, sloop, lost, 8
Royal George, loss of, 23–4; 8, 52, 99
Royal Louis, Fr., 30
Royal Oak, 11
Royal Sovereign, 13
Royal William, 24, 29, 158
Ruby, 29, 151
Russell, 11
Sabina, Spanish frigate, 66
St. Fiorenzo, 155–6
St. George, loss of, 113, 129, 145
St. Michael, prize, 27
Salisbury, Gardner’s service in, 41–52;
Hell afloat, 41, 75;
dogs on board, 42;
fog off Newfoundland, 42;
in a gale, 43;
logged 296 k. in 24 hours, 43;
much bullying on board, 43–6;
feud with Grampus, 50, 51;
officers of, 52–5; 68, 114–116, 120, 175–7
Sandwich, 23
Sans Culotte, Fr., renamed l’Orient, 145
Sans Pareil, 114, 227–8
Santa Leocadia, 41
Saturn, 81
Scipio, 65
Solebay, 97
Solitaire, Fr., capture of, 151
Speedwell, smuggling lugger, capture of, 181
Speedy, brig, 131
Spencer, 228
Standard, 203
Stately, 99
Suffolk, 22
Sultan, 11
Superb, 38
Surveillante, Fr., 244
Temeraire, 228
Terpsichore, 116
Terrible, 145
Theseus, 229
Thisbe, 41, 229
Thorn, 41
Thunderer, lost, 50
Tonnant, Fr., 147 _n._
Topaze, heavy death-roll, 230; 155–6
Tremendous, 198
Trent, 196, 229
Trimmer, 65
Tromp, 206 _n._
Trusty, 242
Union, 29
Unité, 131
Valiant, 98, 148
Vanguard, 229
Vengeance, 25, 28–9, 227, 229–30, 233
Victory, lost on the Casquets, 100 _n._;
carries Howe’s flag, 25, 29;
Gardner’s service in, 172–6;
officers of, 176–7; 54, 66, 99, 126, 148, 152, 158
Vigilant, 22
Ville de Paris, lost, 26
Warrior, 229
Weasel, 191
Weymouth, store-ship, 206
William Tell, 62
Woolwich, store-ship, 171
Zealous, 229, 233

Shirley, lieutenant, 133–4, 136, 152

Shirt in the rigging, 163 and _n._

Shovell, Sir Clowdisley, his last moorings, 158

Shuldham, Lord, vice-admiral, 32

Silence in working ship, 108 & _n._

Silva, Emanuel, midshipman, 94, 118

Simmers, Mr., his dog, 5–6

Simmonds, Mr., formerly of the Panther, 179

Simmonds, Richard, lieutenant, ‘Gentleman Jack,’ 114

Simmonds, Samuel, midshipman, sees ghost, 36; 39

Simmonds, Richard, midshipman, 117, 177

Simonton, Robert, captain, 21, 28, 38

Skene, midshipman, 18

Skerret, Robert, midshipman, 40, 54

Skinner, Stephen, midshipman, 116

Skynner, Launcelot, captain, his ship lost, 208

Slade, James, midshipman, 93

Slops, list of, 46;
‘served out at the gangway,’ 111 _n._

Smith, Charles, gunner, 53

Smith, Sir Sidney, burns ships at Toulon, 145 _n._

Smith, Walter, lieutenant of marines, 13

Smock frock, mention of, 46 & _n._

Smollett, his monument, 143 _n._

Snow-eaters, 51

Soap-suds, a pedantic lieutenant so called, 109

Songs and Verses:—
Prologue, 1
To my veteran friends, 3
‘Don’t you see the ships a-coming?’ 16
Commodore Gale, 69
On asking for leave, 72
‘There’s nothing like grog,’ 77
‘When first they impressed me,’ 84
On washing the decks, 88
The battle on the Dogger Bank, 103–4
‘Billy the cook got drunk,’ 104
On General Dundas, 148
Bryan O’Lynn, 168–9
On two lubberly pilots, 211
On Fegan’s impressment, 214–15
A Baltimore wedding, 215–216
Eileen Aroon, 222
‘Jolly tars, have you heard the news?’ 235
‘On Newgate Steps,’ 242
On Venables and Penn, 245

Spence, David, midshipman, 95

Spencer, Earl of, first lord of the admiralty, 44, 174–6

Spicer, Robert, midshipman, 119

Stack, Thomas, his yarns, 50; 55

Stamp, mayor of Queensborough and pilot, 180

Stephens, George Hopewell, captain, 226–7, 229, 231, 233–4, 236, 243,
246–7

Sterne, his _Sentimental Journey_, 143 _n._

Stevens, midshipman, 61, 63;
complimented by Sir Roger Curtis, 61;
made a gunner, 63

Stevens, John, mate, 91

Stevenson, captain, keeps the Blue Peter flying, 222–3

Steward sewed up in a bullock’s hide, 135

Stewart, Charles, lieutenant, 151

Stiles, John, lieutenant, 45, 52, 68–9, 91

Stocker, Charles Maurice, lieutenant, killed in action, 114

Storace, musical composer, song by, 72

Strahan, Sir Richard, captures Dumanoir’s squadron, 201

Street, James, purser, 62

Strico, Anthony, his sign, 128

Sturges, Robert, midshipman, killed in action, 30;
his ghost walks, 36; 39

Suckling, William, 132 _n._

Sumner, Dr., headmaster of Harrow, his death, 259 _n._

Surgeon of Orestes violently mad, 57–8

Susan, Black-eyed, 36

Swanson, Jacob, gunner, 9

Swiney, Noel, midshipman, 125

Talbot, John, signal midshipman, K.C.B., 115

Tatham, midshipman, 116

Tause, Hector, gunner, 152

Taylor, surgeon in the navy, hanged, 18

Taylor, Andrew Bracey, lieutenant, 114

Taylor, James, midshipman, 39

Taylor, James, midshipman, afterwards pilot at Deal, 39

Taylor, R. A., midshipman, 249

Temperature at Jamaica, 231 _n._

Temple, Francis, midshipman, 117

Test Act, 178 _n._

Thomas, James, mate, 224

Thompson, Alexander, assistant surgeon, 40

Thompson, Andrew James, midshipman, 92

Thompson, Charles, captain, ‘gruff as the devil,’ 67;
his order as to dress, 68; 3, 7, 8, 64, 90, 115

Thompson, Edward, captain, poet, 51

Thompson, Lenox, mate, 8

Thompson, Norborne, midshipman, 55;
lieutenant, 115

Thompson, William, clerk, 125

Thornbrough, Edward, captain, 65

Thurot, his squadron captured, 112

Tidy, Thomas H., midshipman, 117

Tillman, acting lieutenant, 38

Tinling, Charles, midshipman, 124

Toby, Jonas, clerk, author of the plan of Trafalgar, 202

Tomlinson, clerk, 151;
misadventure on a donkey, 162

Towry, George Henry, captain, 145, 148, 151, 205

Trapani, historical associations of, 137;
the biter bit, 138;
mummied friars, 138–9

Tremlett, George, master, 52

Tremlett, George Neate, midshipman, 55

Tremlett, Richard Stiles, midshipman, killed in a duel, 55

Tresahar, John, midshipman, 95

Tripp, George, captain, court martial on, 213 and _n._

Trogoff, French admiral, 170 _n._

Trogoff, Madame, French admiral’s widow, 170

Trotter, Thomas, surgeon, author and poet, 91

Troughton, Ellis, lieutenant, 13

Tucker, John, purser, 224

Tucker, Robert, mate, 152

Tunis, the squadron at, 131–2;
Bey of, sends presents, 134–5

Turnips, dish of, 43 _n._

Twisden, John, midshipman, 95

Tyler, Charles, captain, 65, 229

Tyrwhitt, John, midshipman, Marshal at Gibraltar, 54

Urry, John, captain, his hospitality, 58

Vagg, Henry, surgeon’s mate, runs amok with the snuffers, 149; 154

Valobra, James, midshipman, encounter with Turks, 133;
at Leghorn, 139; 153

Vansittart, Henry, midshipman, 177

Venables, his capture of Jamaica, 245

Ventriloquist, tricks of a, 84–5

Verses—_see_ Songs

Vincent, Richard Budd, midshipman, 54;
lieutenant, 175–6

Vosper, William, Gardner’s schoolfellow, midshipman, 17, 72, 94, 142,
152

Waddle, coxswain, a noted boxer, 7

Waddle, J. H., writer, 249

Wade, John, master, 38

Wade, William, midshipman, 249

Wadeson, Richard, vicar of Fairlight, 259;
his high character, 260

Waghorn, Martin, captain, court martial on, 24 and _n._

Walker, captain, 229

Walker, James, captain, broke by court martial, 242;
reinstated, _ib._

Wall, William, lieutenant, court martial on, 73–4

Waller, Smithson, purser, 248

Wallis, surgeon, runs amok, 57–8; 63

Wallis, captain, 148, 155–6, 158–160, 168–70

Walsingham, commodore, lost in the Thunderer, 50

Wangford, George, midshipman and mate, 8;
death of, 75, 92

Wardrope, David, surgeon, court martial on, 73–4

Watson, boatswain, rope’s ends the schoolmaster, 77;
boatswain with Paul Jones, 96;
broke by court martial, 96

Watson, John, mate, 91

Watson, Thomas, a rugged-muzzled midshipman, 19–20;
a glorious noisy fellow, 39

Webb, Henry, master, his strange fancies, 216–17;
his adventure at Lisbon, 217;
chased by fishermen, 217–18;
his quarrel with the second lieutenant, 218, 224

Webb, Noah, lieutenant, 107

Weevil victualling yard, 107 _n._

Welland, Richard, lieutenant, 90

Weller, Hannah, supposed witch, 256–7

Whistler, Webster, rector of Hastings and New-Timber, 260;
a militant parson, 261–2

White, George, the purser, put on shore in the mutiny, 193; 201

White, Robert, surgeon, 13

Wilkie, John, master, court martial on, 73, 74

Wilkinson, John, lawyer, 18

Wilkinson, William, midshipman, 93

Willcocks, William, clerk, 55

William Henry, H.R.H. Prince (afterwards William IV.), captain 65;
visits the Barfleur, 98;
Duke of Clarence, 148

Williams, lieutenant, 13

Williams, William, lieutenant of marines, 8

Wills, Methuselah, master, anecdotes of, 237–8, 247–8

Wilson, Robert, midshipman, died of yellow fever, 249

Wilson, Thomas, surgeon’s mate, 9

Wiseman, William, gunner, 248

Wolfe, George, midshipman and mate, 176

Wolridge, captain, 174

Wolseley, William, captain, 131 _n._

Woodley, captain, 131

Wooldridge, William, midshipman, 124

Worrall, John, lieutenant, 224

Worsley, captain, 206

Yates, Thomas L., purser, puts the island of Pantalaria into
quarantine, 137;
at the carnival, 140; 152

Yelland, William, carpenter, 236, 248

Yetts, John, lieutenant, his strange dress and manners, 70;
his character, 71;
song on, 72;
hates the Barfleur, 85–6; 90

Yetts, Robert, midshipman, 94;
invalided, 151

Yorke, Sir Joseph, strings in his shoes, 108; 189

Young, Mrs., an infernal vixen, 161

Young, Mr., keeps an hotel at Cadiz, 161

-----

Footnote 1:

It is not out of place to mention here what we were told many years
ago by an officer of the Conway, that the late Professor Montague
Burrows, when a lieutenant of the Winchester, was initiated in the
mysteries of the Greek Grammar by the late Sir Anthony Hoskins, then a
cadet fresh from Westminster. Burrows afterwards took a first class in
classics at Oxford.

Footnote 2:

_D.N.B._—In 1780, commander-in-chief in the Channel; baronet in 1782.
Died in 1796.

Footnote 3:

Charnock, v. 350. Died in 1779.

Footnote 4:

It was then, and for many years afterwards, quite usual for a
youngster to be at school while his name was on the ship’s books.
When—as in this case—the boy was his father’s servant, he might be on
board while the ship was in a home port.

Footnote 5:

The heroine of a low-class chap-book, _The Adventures of Moll Swanson
of Portsmouth_, which may still occasionally be met with.

Footnote 6:

Born in 1720; died 1830. His portrait, painted shortly before his
death, is in the Painted Hall at Greenwich. See _post_, p. 213.

Footnote 7:

This was then usual. Probably the fate of the Ramillies had a good
deal to do with putting it out of fashion, as it certainly had with
forcing seamen to consider that there was a right and a wrong tack on
which to lie to; and may thus be said to have brought about the
discovery of the Law of Storms.

Footnote 8:

There is no reason to doubt the fact; but, in the absence of Christian
name and date, the court martial cannot be traced; nor can any man of
the name be found, as surgeon, in the pay-books of the Jamaica.

Footnote 9:

Large holystones, fitted with beckets, were drawn about by two men.
The smaller ones, used in the hand, were ‘hand organs.’

Footnote 10:

Coarse red wine of any country, but very commonly Spanish or
Portuguese.

Footnote 11:

The brass knockers, when met with, were probably trophies of a night’s
foray. Such things have been known within the memory of not-very-old
men.

Footnote 12:

Samuel Reeve died a vice-admiral, in 1802. Cf. _N.R.S._ xx. 111.

Footnote 13:

The names are filled in from Beatson.

Footnote 14:

_Sc._ the foot-rope.

Footnote 15:

Commander-in-Chief of the French fleet in the battle of the 12th
April.

Footnote 16:

The very persistent way in which this story of the loss of the Royal
George was spread abroad from the first, the entire suppression of the
evidence (on oath) to the contrary, as given at the court martial, and
the fact (here and elsewhere so strongly commented on) that care was
taken to prevent the success of the proposed attempts to raise her,
all point to one conclusion from which it is difficult to escape—the
conscious guilt of some high-placed and influential officials of the
Navy Board. Cf. _Naval Miscellany_ (_N.R.S._ xx.) p. 216; and _D.N.B._
_s.nn._ Durham, Sir Philip; Kempenfelt, Richard; Waghorn, Martin.

Footnote 17:

_Sc._ of France and Spain.

Footnote 18:

A ‘scuttle’ is defined by Falconer as ‘a small hatchway cut for some
particular purpose through a ship’s deck, or through the coverings of
the hatchways’; ‘scuttling’ is ‘the act of cutting large holes through
the bottom or sides of a ship.’ A ‘scuttle butt’ was a large cask,
whose bung-hole had been cut into a small scuttle, secured on the main
deck in some convenient place, to hold water for present use. It may
be well to say that ‘scuttles’ to light the orlop deck were quite
unknown till long after the great war.

Footnote 19:

October 11th. Cf. _N.R.S._ xx. 217 _seq._

Footnote 20:

So in MS.; but the word is ‘back-strapped,’ carried by the current to
the back of Gibraltar. The writing ‘black’ shows how entirely the
meaning of the term had been lost sight of. It is so with very many of
the old nautical expressions.

Footnote 21:

More commonly known as the ‘floating batteries.’ They were burnt.

Footnote 22:

Neither Marshall nor Gardner seems to have realised the utterly
worthless character of the scurrilous book referred to—_The Naval
Atalantis_, by ‘Nauticus Junior,’ said to have been Joseph Harris,
sometime secretary to Admiral Milbanke.

Footnote 23:

The pigsty, with its inmates, ‘under the forecastle,’ when going into
action, seems indeed ‘remarkable’ on board an English ship, even in
1782.

Footnote 24:

Sixteen years later, before the battle of the Nile, the live stock was
ruthlessly thrown overboard. Cf. _Log of the Zealous_ (_N.R.S._ xviii.
12).

Footnote 25:

The statement is curious, for instances of similar escape are by no
means rare. In the days of sailing ships there can have been few
officers of any seniority who had not known of at least one.

Footnote 26:

The obsolete gibberish seems worth preserving, if only as a parallel
to the still familiar ‘So she went into the garden, &c.,’ attributed
to Samuel Foote.

Footnote 27:

Now Devonport.

Footnote 28:

_Sc._ in nautical life.

Footnote 29:

_Cf._ Barrow, _Life of Earl Howe_, p. 165 _seq._; Schomberg, _Naval
Chronology_, ii. 131.

Footnote 30:

_Cf._ _post_, p. 43.

Footnote 31:

Elder brother of Sir Francis Samuel Drake, Bart., but himself neither
baronet nor knight; and a vice-admiral at his death in 1788.

Footnote 32:

When in command of the Countess of Scarborough, hired ship.

Footnote 33:

Esteemed a good antiscorbutic. Our ships continued to brew it, up to
1840.

Footnote 34:

Possibly a pun on ‘_turn_-ing _up_ Channel’ (_cf._ _ante_, p. 37); or
a variation on the familiar ‘playing hell and turn up Jack’ = ‘making
things lively’ (_cf._ _post_, p. 65).

Footnote 35:

The list is interesting, as showing that, in 1785, a ‘smock frock’ was
in the slop-list.

Footnote 36:

This would seem to have been a mere short-lived association, with its
head quarters at St. John’s, and may, perhaps, be compared—with a
difference—to the nearly contemporary ‘Order of Marlborough,’
described in _N.R.S._ vi. 387. There are obvious geographical reasons
why it cannot have been connected with any foul club of the name
(there was a long succession of such) in London.

Footnote 37:

See Charnock, vi. 284.

Footnote 38:

Died, in command of the Grampus, 1786. See _D.N.B._

Footnote 39:

The purser ‘was allowed one-eighth for waste on all provisions
embarked.’ Provisions were thus issued at the ‘purser’s pound’ of 14
oz.—Smyth. In the mutiny at Spithead in 1797, the seamen demanded and
obtained an order that the pound should in future be of 16 oz.

Footnote 40:

December 3, 1781.—Beatson, v. 424.

Footnote 41:

Or ‘Heck-boats.’ See Smyth, _Sailors’ Word-Book_.

Footnote 42:

_Sc._ crow-bar. _Cf._ Smyth, _Sailors’ Word-Book_.

Footnote 43:

More correctly, _a-mok_—a Malay term.

Footnote 44:

The full dress is perhaps meant.

Footnote 45:

John Urry, a captain of 1768; died 1800.

Footnote 46:

He died, admiral of the red, in 1837.

Footnote 47:

_D.N.B._

Footnote 48:

Rear-admiral, 1794: died 1804.

Footnote 49:

Rear-admiral, 1794; died, admiral of the red, 1814.

Footnote 50:

_D.N.B._

Footnote 51:

John Culverhouse, 1st lieutenant of the Minerve, was made commander
for the capture of the Spanish frigate Sabina, on the special
recommendation of Nelson. Captain, 1802. Drowned when agent for
transports at the Cape of Good Hope in 1809.—Nicolas, _Nelson
Despatches_ (Index).

Footnote 52:

Byam Martin’s recollection of Leveson Gower was even more unfavourable
than Gardner’s. _Cf._ _N.R.S._ xix. 292.

Footnote 53:

The ‘Belfry’—which has long been obsolete—is defined by Smyth as ‘an
ornamental frame or shelter, under which the ship’s bell is
suspended.’ It would seem to have been commonly fixed on the break of
the forecastle, and is so shown in the models in the Museum of the
Royal United Service Institution.

Footnote 54:

Misappropriation of government stores (Smyth, _Sailors’ Word-Book_).
_Cf._ _N.R.S._ xxviii. 48. A writer in _Notes and Queries_ (X. ii.
397) refers the term to the Dutch ‘te kaap varen’ = to go
a-privateering (_N.E.D._, _s.v._ Cape); a not improbable derivation.

Footnote 55:

Musical composer, died 1796. _Cf._ _D.N.B._

Footnote 56:

See in the Record Office (_Admiralty, Sec. In Letters_, 5326), the
minutes of these curious and remarkable courts martial—on David
Wardrope, the surgeon, for drunkenness, quarrelling and beating the
lieutenants: death; on William Wall and John Lucas, lieutenants, for
permitting themselves to be beaten: dismissed the ship; on George
Dawson, captain, for tyranny, oppression, malversation, suttling and
such like: dismissed the service; and on John Wilkie, the master, for
neglect of duty, disobedience, disrespect and drunkenness: dismissed
the ship.

Footnote 57:

Le Languedoc, 80, D’Estaing’s flagship. She had been previously
dismasted in a gale. _Cf._ Beatson, iv. 348; Chevalier, i. 117.

Footnote 58:

Syrup of maidenhair, flavoured with orange-flower.

Footnote 59:

There are not so many readers of Ossian now as there were a hundred
years ago, and the description given of this Spirit may be novel.
‘Connal lay by the sound of the mountain stream, beneath the aged
tree.... At distance from the heroes he lay; the son of the sword
feared no foe. The hero beheld, in his rest, a dark-red stream of fire
rushing down from the hill. Crugal sat upon the beam, a chief who fell
in fight.... His face is like the beam of the setting moon. His robes
are of the clouds of the hill. His eyes are two decaying flames. Dark
is the wound of his breast....’—_Fingal_, ii.

Footnote 60:

Without quite being ‘one of the first mathematicians in Europe,’ it is
probable enough that Macbride was really an able man. The old
schoolmasters were of two sorts: either they were respectable,
half-educated men, who were rising in life and sometimes became
pursers, occasionally even lieutenants; or, and more commonly, they
were clever, highly educated men, ruined by drink, and on the down
grade. We may believe that Macbride was a man of this stamp. _Cf._
also Byam Martin’s experience on board the Pegasus (_N.R.S._ xxiv.
57). Some of our most distinguished captains and admirals endeavoured,
at their own expense, to remedy this utterly disgraceful state of
things:—_e.g._ Pellew in the Caledonia, Sir Samuel Hood in the
Centaur; but it was not till 1836 that the Admiralty tried to make an
entirely new departure by the institution of naval instructors.
Complete success, however, came very gradually. Some of the earlier
officers so appointed were not uncommonly put to bed by a _posse_ of
their pupils; and even less than fifty years ago, one of them—a
capable instructor and a clever writer—went on four days’ leave to his
cabin, in company with half a dozen of brandy. All might have gone
well—from his point of view—had not the supply run short after two
days, and the wretched man, in his night shirt and a state bordering
on _delirium tremens_, appeared in the ward room clamouring for drink.

Footnote 61:

Tyrannical and oppressive as a captain, but reputed a brave officer
previous to 1st June 1794. His conduct on that day led to his being
tried by court martial, and dismissed his ship—whether for cowardice,
or for Howe’s inability to make himself understood, may be doubted.

Footnote 62:

Marshall, iii. 89.

Footnote 63:

It will, of course, be remembered that all boats were then hoisted in;
boat-davits were unknown.

Footnote 64:

Marshall, iv. 1007.

Footnote 65:

‘What! put a physician in a bread bag!’ is quoted as the remark of a
newly caught surgeon’s mate, on being shown his bed.

Footnote 66:

This superstitious dread of the raven was as common on shore as afloat
(see _post_, p. 258), and is by no means extinct even now.

Footnote 67:

Captain of the Prince George in the battle of Cape St. Vincent.
Grand-uncle of the late Sir George Willes.

Footnote 68:

As the admiral compared Mr. Pringle to a scuttle butt (_ante_, p. 67),
there would seem to be another meaning in the name.

Footnote 69:

The traditional meaning of the name is a curious comment on ‘the
worthy fellow.’

Footnote 70:

Whilst in command of the Growler brig, captured by French privateers,
21st Dec 1797.

Footnote 71:

Afterwards Sir Henry Martin, Bart., Comptroller of the Navy; died
1794. See _N.R.S._, vol. xxiv. p. viii.

Footnote 72:

Howe was ordered to hoist the union jack, and considered himself as
‘brevet’ admiral of the fleet.

Footnote 73:

Son of Samuel Faulknor, captain of the Victory when she was lost on
the Casquets in 1744; uncle of Captain Robert Faulknor, the
‘Undaunted’; flag captain with Keppel in 1778. Died, admiral of the
blue, 1795.

Footnote 74:

The reference is possibly to the retreat from Burgos in November 1812.

Footnote 75:

Many did deny this, while admitting that he was ‘a brave and
meritorious officer.’

Footnote 76:

Billy Culmer is a familiar character in the gossiping memoirs of the
old war, _e.g._ _Greenwich Hospital_, by the Old Sailor (M. H.
Barker). From Gardner’s account of him, we may fairly believe that
Barker’s anecdotes are also genuine. It is noted in the Barfleur’s
pay-book, that he was born in Bridgwater, and was 35 in 1790. Of
course, this is by no means conclusive evidence of the fact.

Footnote 77:

If we are to accept the statement that he was 35 in 1790, he was two
years old in 1757. He may have been with Hood in the Romney in
1767–70.

Footnote 78:

The victualling yard, whose name was not inaptly transferred to the
biscuit-grub.

Footnote 79:

_Sc._ squinting.

Footnote 80:

Such silence was then very exceptional, and continued so till seventy
years later (1861–2), when Sir William Martin, commander-in-chief in
the Mediterranean, insisted on it.

Footnote 81:

The order which the midshipman brought from the flagship.

Footnote 82:

A periphrastic euphemism for to be flogged.

Footnote 83:

A puddening is defined as ‘a thick wreath of cordage, tapering from
the middle towards the ends’ (Falconer). The joke, such as it is,
seems to refer to the thickening in the middle.

Footnote 84:

_Sc._ with a rope’s end or a cane.

Footnote 85:

It is, perhaps, more probable that, at the extreme end of the roll,
the sea came up to the yard.

Footnote 86:

More likely they were carried away by the rolling. The wind might then
blow the boat away.

Footnote 87:

See a picture of this by Cruikshank in the Old Sailor’s _Greenwich
Hospital_.

Footnote 88:

Looks like an early form of Esperanto.

Footnote 89:

_Cf._ James, i. 78.

Footnote 90:

The story of this attack and its repulse is given by Chevalier, _Hist.
de la Marine Française sous la Première République_, pp. 41 _seq._

Footnote 91:

It has, of late years, been so persistently stated that black silk
handkerchiefs were introduced into the navy as a mark of mourning for
Nelson, that it is most refreshing to meet with this very positive
contradiction of the story.

Footnote 92:

Charles Cunningham, at this time commander of the Speedy brig, was not
a captain till some months later, and was then posted to the Unité.
The captain of the Lowestoft was William Wolseley—_Cf._ _D.N.B._

Footnote 93:

This is an allusion to the absurd story—which Gardner seems to have
believed—that James was American by birth. See _D.N.B._ In consequence
of his very free comments on the conduct of naval officers, James was
far from being a favourite in the service; and it must have been still
fresh in Gardner’s memory that he had been severely caned by Sir John
Phillimore.

Footnote 94:

Nelson wrote to his uncle, William Suckling, that, in his opinion, we
ought to have taken them—men of war and convoy; and if ‘we had given
the Bey 50,000_l._ he would have been glad to have put up with the
insult offered to his dignity.’

Footnote 95:

Bagrada is the classical name; the river is now called Mejerda.

Footnote 96:

In 1758.

Footnote 97:

For the story of these very remarkable sea fights, see Smith’s
_Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography &c._; _U.S. Mag._, Oct. 1889,
pp. 690–1.

Footnote 98:

The fresco is attributed to Nardo Daddi. See Kugler’s _Handbook of
Painting, Italian Schools_ (5th Edit), pp. 111, 112, where there is a
drawing of ‘The Last Judgment.’

Footnote 99:

Smollett, so called by Sterne in _A Sentimental Journey_. It is,
however, a much disputed point whether he was not buried at Leghorn.
See _Notes and Queries_ (1898, i.), IX. i. pp. 201, 309, 510; but it
will be noticed that the monument Gardner saw was earlier than that at
Leghorn, and his mention of the ‘remains’ at Montenero is of earlier
date than any evidence yet quoted in support of the Leghorn claim.

Footnote 100:

_Cf._ James, i. 208. The effective defence of this tower—which took
its name from the place (Mortella = Myrtle)—suggested the erection,
along our south coast, of those numerous, useless, and misnamed
Martello towers, against which the poet Campbell vainly protested.

Footnote 101:

See _ante_, p. 130, _n._

Footnote 102:

Nelson’s comment on the reappearance of these ships was not so
classical: ‘Sir Sidney Smith did not burn them all—Lord Hood mistook
the man: there is an old song, “Great talkers do the least, we see.”‘

Footnote 103:

Formerly Le Dauphin Royal, and afterwards L’Orient, burnt and blown up
at the Nile. She was really of 120 guns.

Footnote 104:

Golfe Jouan.

Footnote 105:

In April 1794. As no one was saved the details were never known. _Cf._
Brenton, _Naval History_, ii. 52.

Footnote 106:

The Tonnant, of 80 guns, already dismasted in the storm. The capture
was prevented, not by a gale coming on, but by the arrival of other
ships to her assistance. _Cf._ _ante_, p. 74.

Footnote 107:

William IV., at that time Duke of Clarence.

Footnote 108:

So in MS. The name is now entirely unknown, but it may perhaps have
some relationship to ‘brown Bess.’

Footnote 109:

French ships brought from Toulon. _Cf._ Schomberg, _Naval Chronology_,
iv. 471. It will be seen that the lists of these squadrons differ from
Schomberg’s, which are probably the more correct. The Alert, for
instance, had been captured on the coast of Ireland, in May.—James, i.
439.

Footnote 110:

A shirt in the rigging was the recognised signal from a merchantman
for a man of war boat to be sent on board.

Footnote 111:

_The Dunciad_, ii. 105. A reference to the original—of which only the
tense is here altered—will show the strict appositeness of the
quotation.

Footnote 112:

At this time peas were issued whole. Split peas were not issued till
about 1856—after the Russian war.

Footnote 113:

Rear-Admiral Trogoff, with his flag in the Commerce de Marseille, left
Toulon in company, with the English but he died within a few
months.—Chevalier, _op. cit._ pp. 90, 91.

Footnote 114:

A recognised form of encouragement. In the court martial on the
officers of the Ambuscade, captured by the French on the 14th
December, 1798 (James, ii. 273 _seq._), the boatswain was asked, ‘Did
you hear Lieut. Briggs call to the people to encourage them to come
aft and fight?’ and the answer was, ‘He called down to the waist to
come up and assist. I believe it was “Damn your eyes, come
up.”‘—_Minutes of the Court Martial._ _Cf._ Byron’s _Don Juan_, xi.
12.

Footnote 115:

It is only by the aid of such occasional and incidental notices that
we can now realise what a very real thing the Test Act of 1673 was,
and continued to be, till its repeal in 1828. It required ‘all persons
holding any office of profit or trust, civil or military, under the
crown, to take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy, receive the
sacrament of the Lord’s Supper according to the rites of the Church of
England, and subscribe the declaration against transubstantiation.’

Footnote 116:

As was the case in January, 1855.

Footnote 117:

Richard Poulden. Died, a rear-admiral, 1845.

Footnote 118:

Mr. Marriott, Assistant Secretary of the Royal Meteorological Society,
has kindly supplied the following note:—The frost began about the
middle of December 1794, was excessively severe in January, and
continued till the end of March. There were large falls of snow, and
the consequent floods were so great that nearly all the bridges in
England were injured. The greatest cold recorded was at Maidstone on
January 25, when a thermometer laid on the snow showed –14° F., and
another, five feet above the surface, –10° F. There was a thaw on
January 26–7, but on the 28th the frost returned and continued. Mr. A.
Rollin, secretary to the captain superintendent at Sheerness, has also
been so good as to send the following note, at the instance of
Rear-Admiral C. H. Adair: ‘In January 1795 King’s Ferry was frozen and
also Sheerness Harbour. People walked from ships in the harbour and
from the Little Nore to Sheerness on the ice for provisions.’ Mr.
Rollin mentions similar frosts in January 1776, and January 1789; but
has no record of the frost of January 1855, when the harbour, and
seaward as far as the eye could reach, was frozen over, forcibly
recalling Arctic memories.

Footnote 119:

Two very well-known singers. There are probably many still with us who
have heard Braham—he did not retire finally till 1852—if only in ‘The
Bay of Biscay.’ Incledon, who died in 1826, served, when a very young
man, as an ordinary seaman on board the Formidable, Rodney’s flagship
in the West Indies. According to the tradition still living 50 or 60
years ago, his talent was found out, and he used to be sent for, first
to the ward room and afterwards to the admiral’s cabin, to sing after
dinner; and when the ship paid off, he came on shore provided with
letters of introduction which made the rest of his way easy. The
details of his service in the navy, as given in the _D.N.B._, are
certainly erroneous. The Formidable did not go to the West Indies till
1782; and Cleland did not then command her.

Footnote 120:

Rear-admiral Sir Hugh Cloberry Christian. See _D.N.B._

Footnote 121:

So in MS., evidently a slip for ‘hawse.’

Footnote 122:

The tack hauled out only two thirds of the length of the jib-boom.
_Cf._ D’Arcy Lever’s _Young Sea Officer’s Sheet Anchor_ (1808), p. 84
and fig. 450. Setting the jib in this way seems to have gone out of
use in the navy with the introduction of flying jibs.

Footnote 123:

_Sc._ had the swell on the bow.

Footnote 124:

This was evidently written with very imperfect knowledge of the facts
in either case. From the naval point of view, the only good account of
this expedition to Bantry Bay is that contributed by Admiral Colomb to
the _Journal of the R.U.S. Institution_, xxxvi. 17 (Jan. 1892).

Footnote 125:

Possibly; but on joining the Hind, his name was entered John Timothy
Coghlan in the pay-book.

Footnote 126:

Captain Fanshawe commanded the Monmouth in Byron’s action at Grenada,
July 6, 1779, and the Namur on April 12, 1782. He was for many years
resident commissioner at Plymouth. _Cf._ _N.R.S._ vols. xii., xix. and
xxiv.

Footnote 127:

This power of committing for contempt belongs inherently to a court
martial, as a court of record, though it is now seldom, if ever,
called on to exercise it (Thring’s _Criminal Law of the Navy_, 2nd
edit., p. 103).

Footnote 128:

This has no meaning, unless we can suppose ‘Apollo’ to have been
written inadvertently for ‘Favorite.’

Footnote 129:

On the part of the French this was a very old contention; sometimes,
as here, with a view to obtaining better treatment as prisoners; at
other times, with a view to being exchanged on more favourable terms.
_Cf._ Laughton’s _Studies in Naval History_, pp. 258–9.

Footnote 130:

One of the Dutch ships taken at the Cape of Good Hope in August 1796.

Footnote 131:

Joseph Peyton; admiral, June 1, 1795.

Footnote 132:

Taken possession of in Cork Harbour, Aug. 22, 1795.

Footnote 133:

James Hardy, of the Dictator.

Footnote 134:

A similar method of beautifying a ship fitting out was the rule rather
than the exception till long after Gardner’s time.

Footnote 135:

In 1852 the crew of a whaler in Baffin’s Bay mutinied and struck work,
till a pan of burning sulphur ‘cleared lower deck.’

Footnote 136:

Taken at Camperdown.

Footnote 137:

Taken at the Cape.

Footnote 138:

September 28.

Footnote 139:

October 9. _Cf._ _D.N.B._

Footnote 140:

Castlereagh was at this time lieutenant-colonel of the Londonderry
militia and acting chief secretary for Ireland. The reference would
seem to be to the discreditable conduct of the militia in ‘the race of
Castlebar,’ in the previous year. Castlereagh, of course, had nothing
directly to do with it.

Footnote 141:

Gardner’s memory is here in fault. The court martial on Brice (for
‘having at different times uttered words of sedition and mutiny ...
and for behaving in a scandalous manner unbecoming the character of an
officer and a gentleman’) was held on board the Blonde on 12, 13 June
1798; that on Tripp, on 6–11 Dec. 1799, was held on board the Pallas.

Footnote 142:

October 14, 1799.

Footnote 143:

Sir John Fielding, brother of the better-known Henry Fielding the
novelist, was blind from his birth. It was said that he knew 3,000
thieves by their voice.

Footnote 144:

Nag.

Footnote 145:

Milk-pails.

Footnote 146:

The word is ‘piseachbuidhe,’ porridge made of Indian meal. A hundred
years ago, possibly peas pudding.

Footnote 147:

Potatoes stewed in butter, with cabbage or onions.

Footnote 148:

Are we to understand that Huish also was well up in his Virgil, if
only in Dryden’s version? Perhaps rather the writer thought this was
what he ought to have said.

Footnote 149:

Attention is called by Ralfe (_Naval Biography_, ii. 286) to the
remarkable fact that a fleet of 28 ships of the line should be under
the command of a rear-admiral.

Footnote 150:

The captains’ names, left blank in the MS., are filled in from
Schomberg; but it should be noted that when rapid changes are being
made, it is frequently difficult to say who commanded a ship at a
particular time. Some of the names given by Gardner do not agree with
Schomberg’s lists.

Footnote 151:

Bonetta sloop, 25th October, 1801.—James, iii. 482.

Footnote 152:

A temperature so stated has no meaning. 112° is far above the shade
temperature of Jamaica, and below the temperature in the sun. But it
seems that these parties were working during the heat of the day.

Footnote 153:

Off Monte Christo, 20–21 March 1780. See Beatson, v. 96; Chevalier, i.
193.

Footnote 154:

When writing this, Gardner seems to have forgotten that eight years
before she had carried her 74 guns with some credit in the fleet under
Lord Howe.

Footnote 155:

Rear-Admiral Robert Montagu.

Footnote 156:

15th September, 1825. See _Times_ of 16th September and following
days.

Footnote 157:

It is easy to believe that the Goliath’s officers did not consider
this man of ‘many vices’ a desirable passenger, even in the gun room;
but as he had not been found out by a court martial, it cannot but
seem curious now, that he was not ordered a passage in the mess of his
rank.

Footnote 158:

1831. _Cf._ Marshall, ii. 848, 882.

Footnote 159:

Captain, 1781; first commissioner of transport, 1796; knighted, 1804;
baronet, 1809; died, 1823.

Footnote 160:

See Appendix, p. 265.

Footnote 161:

Gardner’s memory must here have been playing him false. The distance
from Fairlight to Boulogne and the adjacent coast is fully 35 miles:
the camp had been broken up in the previous September, and the
soldiers that had formed it were far away, at Vienna or its
neighbourhood; as Gardner, at the time, must have known.

Footnote 162:

We are so accustomed to talk of ‘Arry as a product of the late
nineteenth century, railways and cheap return tickets, that it is
neither uninteresting nor socially unimportant to note that he existed
in 1806. Increase of population and excursion tickets have merely
swelled his numbers.

Footnote 163:

There is some confusion here. Wadeson and Parr were both assistant
masters when Sumner died suddenly in September, 1771. Wadeson was
certainly not offered the succession, and his name does not seem to
have been officially mentioned in connection with it. On the other
hand, Parr’s claims were strongly urged, and the refusal of the
Governors to appoint him caused a violent ‘meeting’ among the boys. It
is a very strange story, told at length in Johnstone, _Works of Samuel
Parr_, i. 55 _seq._; Thornton, _Harrow School and its Surroundings_,
Chap. viii.; _Report on the MSS. of Lady Du Cane_ (_Hist. MSS.
Comm._), 229 _seq._

Footnote 164:

At this time this was still the usual form of subscription from a
superior, whether social—as a son of the king—or official, as the navy
board (collectively)—to an inferior. Naval officers, at any rate, will
scarcely need to be reminded of the story of the eccentric Sir John
Phillimore (_cf._ _D.N.B._) who signed a letter to the navy board in
the same way; and on being censured for so doing, signed his reply ‘No
longer your affectionate friend.’

------------------------------------------------------------------------

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TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

Page Changed from Changed to

257 and shak-her hand and shaking her hand

1. Silently corrected palpable typographical errors; retained
non-standard spellings and dialect.
2. Reindexed footnotes using numbers and collected together at the end
of the last chapter.
3. Enclosed italics font in _underscores_.
4. Enclosed blackletter font in =equals=.

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