CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

GEORGE THE THIRD--FROM WAR WITH REPUBLICAN FRANCE, A.D. 1792, TO END OF

A.D. 1802.

We will briefly run over a few events which occurred previous to the

breaking out of the first revolutionary war.

On May the 29th, 1782, the _Royal George_, of 100 guns, being heeled

over at Spithead to repair a pipe which led under water, the lower-deck

guns having been run out, the water rushed with such rapidity in at the

port-holes that she filled and sank--Rear-Admiral Kempenfeldt, with more

than half his officers, and four hundred persons, perishing, many of

them the wives and children of the seamen and marines on board.

We are apt to consider that the uniform of the navy differed greatly

from the army; but in an order dated the 11th of January, 1783,

admirals, vice-admirals, and rear-admirals were directed to wear coats

very similar to those worn by generals, lieutenant-generals, and

major-generals respectively, in the army, with the exception of the

crown and anchor buttons.

In the month of June, 1785, his Royal Highness Prince William Henry, who

had now served his time as a midshipman, passed his examination, and was

appointed third lieutenant of the _Hebe_ frigate, of 40 guns.

In 1785 a debate arose in the House of Commons on the propriety of

repairing the old 64-gun ships, and also suffering ships of war to

remain in ordinary with the copper on their bottoms. Captain Macbride

thought that the 64-gun ships should be either broken up or sold, and

recommended in future none less than seventy-fours to be built for the

line of battle. He also pointed out the mischievous effects that might

ensue in suffering ships to be laid up with their copper on, alleging

that the copper would in time corrode the bolts; in consequence of which

the ships' bottoms might drop out. He had examined a coppered ship

under repair, and found the bolts corroded and eaten away. Ships had,

however, before this time, been fastened with copper bolts, and probably

those seen by Captain Macbride were either iron bolts cased only with

copper or composition.

The supplies granted by Parliament for the sea-service for the year 1789

amounted to 2,328,570 pounds.

On the 24th of November, 1787, the _Bounty_, of 215 tons, commanded by

Lieutenant William Bligh, sailed from Spithead, for the Pacific Ocean,

to obtain a supply of the bread-fruit tree. On the 28th of April, 1789,

some of his officers and crew mutinied, and took possession of the ship,

casting the commander and those who remained firm to him adrift in an

open boat. The hardihood and judgment he displayed in conducting his

boat's crew across the Pacific to Batavia are well known.

Many useful contrivances have been invented by inferior officers of the

navy. Among others, Mr Hill, the carpenter of the _Active_, invented a

machine for drawing bolts out of ships' sides. He also invented a

method for stopping shot-holes.

In 1791 some experiments were made on board a ship in Portsmouth

Harbour, when he stopped a shot-hole on the outside of the ship, four

feet under water, in the space of one minute, without the assistance of

any person out of the vessel. He stopped in the same manner a space in

the ship's side, four feet under water, of four feet by four inches, in

two minutes and a-half. During the time of effectually curing both

leaks, the ship made only ten inches water in the well.

He also invented a wheel to work the chain-pump, which was much safer

and less liable to get out of order than that before in use.

The French Revolution broke out in 1792. On the 21st of the following

January, the French beheaded their king, Louis the Sixteenth; in

consequence of which the French ambassador at the court of London was

ordered to quit England. A short time before this the new Republic had

exhibited its hostile spirit against England, and on the 2nd of January

a shot had been fired from one of the batteries near Brest on the

British 16-gun brig-sloop _Childers_. Though a 48-pounder shot struck

her, no one was hurt.

On the 1st of February the National Convention declared war against

Great Britain and the United Netherlands.

England at this time possessed nominally 135 ships of war in commission,

and 169 in ordinary or under repair; 21 building or ordering to be

built, and 86 harbour-ships; making in all 411 ships of 402,555 tons.

Of these there was one of 100 guns, 12-pounders, of 2091 tons, in

commission; two of 100 guns, 18-pounders, under repair; and two of 100

guns, 12-pounders, under repair. Of second-rates there were four 98-gun

ships in commission, and eleven under repair; of 90-gun ships there was

one under repair. Of two-deckers third-rate there was one 80-gun ship

in commission and one under repair. Of seventy-fours there were 19 in

commission and 61 under repair. Of sixty-fours there were only two in

commission and 30 under repair, making a total of 113 line-of-battle

ships. There were 75 frigates either in commission or under repair; but

23 of these carried 28 guns only. Of the most useless class of ships in

the service, the 24 and 20 gun post-ships, there were 12 in commission

or under repair. Of 18-gun ship-sloops and gun brigs there were

altogether 40. Besides these there were 25 bomb fire-ships and cutters,

either in commission or under repair, making a total of 304 vessels,

exclusive of those building; but of these probably some were

unseaworthy, and of those building or ordered to be built, many were not

in a state to be launched for two or more years. However, in

consequence of the expected rupture between Spain and Russia, in the

previous two or three years upwards of 60 line-of-battle ships were in a

condition speedily to go to sea, while the dockyards were well-stocked

with imperishable stores. Thus, in a few weeks, 200 cruisers were

commissioned and fit for use.

At that time we had admirals 17, vice-admirals 19, rear-admirals 19,

post-captains 446, commanders 136, lieutenants 1417, and masters 197.

The number of seamen and marines, including officers of all ranks, voted

by Parliament for the service of the current year, was 45,000.

Portugal and Naples, who joined England, had the first six ships of the

line and four frigates, and the latter four 74-gun ships.

The Spanish navy amounted to 204 vessels, 76 of which were of the line,

carrying from 112 to 60 guns.

The Dutch navy at this time, though amounting nominally to 119 vessels,

from a 74-gun ship to the smallest armed cutter, was of little use to

England, a large number of the ships lying rotting in the different

harbours, and those able to put to sea being of comparatively small

size, and carrying but light guns.

The navy of France amounted to 250 vessels, of which 82 were of the

line, nearly three-fourths in a serviceable state; and immediately on

the outbreak of war, 71 new ships were laid down, including 25 of the

line, and orders given to cast 400 brass 36-pounder carronades, the

first guns of the kind employed by the French. One of the former was to

mount 130 guns, and several old small-class seventy-fours were cut-down

and converted into the most formidable frigates that had hitherto been

seen.

Such was the French navy, with which the fleet of England was about to

contend, not only for the dominion of the seas, but to protect the

hearths and homes of the people from foreign invasion. Such, from the

aggressive character of the French people, was the danger, it was soon

seen, most to be apprehended. Never had the royal dockyards been so

busy. Squadrons had to be sent off to reinforce stations at a distance

from home, and to protect our colonies. Some months, therefore, elapsed

before a fleet could be got ready to cope with the enemy. As soon as

the ships could be fitted out, they were placed under the command of

Admiral Lord Howe, who, on the 24th of July, set sail from Spithead with

15 ships of the line and a few frigates and sloops. For some weeks he

cruised about in search of the French fleet, being joined in the

meantime by more ships, till he had upwards of 30 under his command.

He, however, was compelled to return to Spithead without meeting them.

In the meantime Lord Hood had proceeded to the Mediterranean and taken

possession of Toulon. Before, however, we describe the events which

took place there, we will follow Lord Howe, who, on the following May,

received information that a valuable French convoy was expected from the

West Indies, and guessing that the enemy's fleet would sail out for

their protection, put to sea in the hopes of intercepting them. His

force now consisted of 26 sail of the line and 13 frigates and sloops.

On the morning of the 28th, being about 140 leagues west of Ushant, the

enemy were discovered at some distance to windward. On their perceiving

the British fleet, they bore down in loose order, but soon after hauled

again to the wind, and began to form in order of battle. Several of the

British ships, at a considerable distance to windward of the fleet,

approached the enemy's rear. Lord Howe then made the signal for a

general chase, and to engage the enemy. Rear-Admiral Pasley, of the

_Bellerophon_, towards the close of the day, got up with the rear-ship

of the enemy's line, a three-decker, on which he commenced a firm and

resolute attack, supported occasionally by the ships in his division.

The _Bellerophon_, being soon disabled, fell to leeward. The

_Audacious_ came up just at that time, and continued to engage the same

ship for two hours without intermission, when the enemy's mizen-mast

fell overboard, her lower yards and main-topsail yards shot away, and

otherwise much shattered. The _Audacious_, however, having her rigging

and sails cut to pieces, and the ship being for some time unmanageable,

was unable to follow the Frenchman, who put before the wind and escaped.

The night being dark, Captain Parker lost sight of the fleet, and being

in too disabled a state to rejoin, was compelled to bear away for the

channel. The next day a partial engagement took place between the two

hostile fleets, which resulted in the British obtaining the

weather-gage.

On the morning of the 1st of June, both fleets being drawn up in order

of battle, at half-past seven Lord Howe made the signal for both fleets

to bear up, and for each ship to engage her opponent in the enemy's

line. In a short time a tremendous cannonade commenced from van to

rear, which raged with unceasing fury for about an hour. The enemy's

line having been forced through in many places, they began to give way,

and their admiral, vigorously attacked by the _Queen Charlotte_, bore

up, and was followed by all those of his ships that were able to carry

sail, leaving the rest, which were dismasted and crippled, at the mercy

of their enemies. Upon the clearing up of the smoke, eight or ten

French ships were seen, some totally dismasted and others with only one

mast standing, endeavouring to make off under their sprit-sails. Seven

of these were taken possession of; one, _Le Vengeur_, sank before the

whole of her crew could be taken out, not more than 280 being saved. A

distant and irregular firing was continued at intervals between the

fugitive and British ships till about four in the afternoon, when the

French admiral, having collected most of his remaining ships, steered

off to the eastward. The _Queen Charlotte_ had lost both her topmasts,

the _Marlborough_ and _Defence_ were wholly dismasted, and many of the

other ships materially damaged. Earl Howe, therefore, brought to, in

order to secure the prizes and collect his ships before dark. The loss

sustained by the British in this action amounted to 281 killed and 788

wounded. Among the first was Captain James Montague of the _Montague_,

while three admirals and four captains were severely wounded. The

killed on board the enemy's ships that were captured amounted to 690,

and 580 wounded, exclusive of 320 lost in _Le Vengeur_ when she sank,

the greater number of whom were wounded.

So important was this action considered, that on the return of the fleet

to Spithead, the king himself came down to Portsmouth and personally

presented Lord Howe with a sword; while various honours were bestowed

upon the principal officers engaged, gold medals being struck to

commemorate the glorious victory of the 1st of June; a liberal

subscription being opened likewise for the relief of the wounded

officers, seamen, and marines, and also the widows and children of those

who fell in the action.

This victory early in the war was of the greatest consequence, as it

raised the spirits and confidence of the British, while it

proportionably depressed the enemy, and proved the prelude of that

succession of victories which at length crushed the power of France and

secured the safety of England.

After the English had held Toulon for some time, in consequence of the

large force of republicans collected round the city, it was found

impossible to retain it. Several thousand French royalists having been

embarked, it was resolved to destroy the arsenal and ships of war. This

dangerous task was undertaken by Sir Sidney Smith, having under his

command three English and three Spanish gunboats and a tender, with the

_Vulcan_ fire-ship. He proceeded into the harbour at dark; the

fire-ship was first placed across the outer men-of-war in such a

position that she was certain to do effectual execution. Scarcely had

the signal been made for setting the trains on fire, than the flames

rose in all directions; a magazine, filled with pitch, tar, tallow, oil,

and hemp, was quickly in a blaze; while the guns of the fire-ship went

off in the direction the enemy were approaching. The destruction would

have been more complete had not the Spaniards set fire to two ships

laden with powder, which they had been directed to sink; on board one of

them, the _Isis_ frigate, there were some thousand barrels. In a few

moments the explosion took place; the air was filled with masses of

burning timber, which fell in all directions, and two of the British

boats were destroyed. The crew of one was taken up, but in the other,

Lieutenant Young, with three men, perished, and many were badly wounded.

Notwithstanding this, Sir Sidney and his brave companions destroyed ten

of the enemy's ships of the line in the arsenal, with the mast-house,

the great storehouse and other buildings.

After this, Lord Hood proceeded to Hieres Bay, leaving a small squadron

to cruise before Toulon. Unfortunately, the _Moselle_, Captain Bennet,

on her return from Gibraltar, passed through them, and not knowing that

the place was evacuated, entered the harbour and was captured.

Some time after this, Captain Samuel Hood, in the _Juno_ frigate of 32

guns, who had been sent to Malta for supernumeraries for the fleet--

having been detained by a succession of foul winds--also ignorant of

what had occurred, at ten in the evening stood into the outer road; not

perceiving the fleet at anchor there, and concluding that they had taken

shelter within the new harbour from a strong easterly gale which had

lately been blowing, steered for it. Having no pilot on board, two

midshipmen were stationed at each cathead to look out. Soon after,

several lights were seen, which were supposed to be those of the fleet.

The _Juno_ accordingly stood on under her topsails till she made out a

brig which lay off Point Grandtour, when the captain, finding that he

could not weather her, set more sail. The brig, as he approached,

hailed; but no one understood what was said. Captain Hood, in reply,

gave the name and nation of his ship, upon which the people on board the

brig shouted "Viva!" and soon after some one cried out "Luff." The

_Juno's_ helm on this was put a-lee, but before the ship came head to

wind, she took the ground. Directly afterwards, a boat was observed to

pull from the brig towards the town, but even then her object was not

suspected. Happily, while the _Juno's_ people were still on the yards,

a sudden flaw of wind taking the ship, drove her astern. To help her

off, the driver and mizen-staysail were hoisted, and directly the ship

lost her way, an anchor was let go, but she still touched the ground

abaft. Accordingly, to get her off, the launch and cutter were ordered

to carry out a kedge-anchor ahead. While the boats were still away, a

boat from the shore came alongside, out of which several officers

hurried on board. One of them informed Captain Hood that it was the

commanding officer's orders that the ship should go into another branch

of the harbour to perform ten days' quarantine. From some of the

remarks now made, suspicions were aroused, and they were confirmed when,

on a midshipman exclaiming, "Why, those are the national cockades," the

captain, looking at the Frenchmen's hats, discovered by the light of the

moon the tricolours of the republicans. The captain again asking where

Lord Hood's squadron lay, one of the French officers replied, "Soyez

tranquilles. Les Anglais sont des braves gens; nous les traiterons

bien. L'Amiral Anglais est sorti il y a quelque temps."

"Be calm. The English are brave people; we will treat them well. The

English admiral sailed some time ago."

It may easily be conceived what were Captain Hood's feelings on hearing

this. The alarming intelligence ran through the ship; some of the

officers hurried aft to inquire if it were true. Happily, at this

moment a flaw of wind came down the harbour, when Mr Welby, the third

lieutenant, said to Captain Hood, "I believe, sir, that we shall be able

to fetch out if we can get under sail." Captain Hood at once determined

to try what could be done, and with great presence of mind immediately

ordered the crew to their respective stations, and directed that the

Frenchmen should be taken below. They at first began to bluster, but

the marines appearing with their half-pikes, soon forced them down

below. Such was the alacrity of the officers and crew, that in less

than three minutes every sail in the ship was set, and the yards braced

for casting. The cable, being hove short, was cut, the head sails

filled, and the ship glided forward down the harbour. At the same time,

her own boats and that of the Frenchmen were cut adrift, that they might

not impede her progress. A favourable flaw of wind now coming, she got

good way. The instant the brig saw the _Juno_ under sail, she and one

of the forts began to fire on her, and presently all the other forts, as

their guns could be brought to bear, opened fire. Still the frigate

stood undauntedly on; as she approached Cape Serpet, it was feared that

she would not be able to weather it without making a tack, but the wind

shifting so as to admit her lying up two points, she scraped clear of

the cape, under a heavy fire from the batteries. As soon as Captain

Hood was able to keep the ship away, he opened a brisk fire on the

enemy, which he kept up till half-past twelve, when, being out of shot,

he ceased firing.

Notwithstanding the heavy cannonade the _Juno_ had passed through, not a

man on board her was hurt; and though two 36-pound shot had struck her,

no material damage had been inflicted, nor had her rigging and sails

suffered much injury. Two days afterwards the _Juno_ joined Lord Hood's

fleet in the Bay of Hieres. The coolness and presence of mind which

have been so often exhibited by British naval officers was signally

displayed on this occasion; and when we recollect that the _Juno_ was

actually within the enemy's port, full of armed vessels, with formidable

batteries on either side of her, we must acknowledge that the feat she

accomplished is unsurpassed in naval annals.

We must pass over the numerous gallant actions between small squadrons

and single ships. Great difficulties were experienced at this time in

manning the navy; even the press-gangs failed to obtain a sufficient

number of men. An Act was passed, therefore, on the 15th of March,

1795, for raising 10,000 men in the several counties of England, and on

the 16th of April another was passed for procuring a supply from the

several ports of Great Britain; and the more effectually to enforce the

Act, an embargo was laid on all British shipping until the quota of men

was raised. To encourage men to come forward, enormous bounties were

offered by many of the counties and sea-ports, sometimes exceeding 30

pounds for each able seaman. An Act was also passed to enable those who

came forward voluntarily to allot part of their pay to the maintenance

of their wives and families. Seamen also were allowed to forward

letters home on the payment only of a penny; half-pay officers and

widows of officers were enabled to obtain their pay or pensions free of

charge.

Early in January of the next year Sir Sidney Smith, while in command of

the _Diamond_ frigate, performed one of those exploits which made his

name notorious. While attached to the squadron of Sir John Borlase

Warren, he stood close into Brest, where he ascertained that the French

fleet were at sea. As he was standing off, a corvette which was coming

out of the harbour hove to and made a signal, which not being answered

by the _Diamond_, she hauled her wind and worked in. Soon after this

Sir Sidney passed within hail of a line-of-battle ship at anchor. She

appeared to have no upper-deck guns mounted, and to be very leaky. He

asked her commander in French if she wanted any assistance; to which he

answered, "No, that he had been dismasted in a heavy gale, and had

parted with the French fleet three days ago." Some other conversation

passed, after which, Sir Sidney crowded sail and stood out to sea. So

completely had he disguised his ship, that the Frenchman had not the

slightest suspicion of her being an English man-of-war.

The following year, however, being on a cruise off Havre-de-Grace, he

discovered a lugger in the outer road. Having taken her with the boats

of his squadron, he attempted to tow her off, but the flood-tide setting

strong in, he was compelled to anchor. In the night the cable either

parted or was cut by one of the prisoners, when the lugger, driving a

considerable way up the Seine, was attacked by several gunboats and

other armed vessels; and Sir Sidney, after making a gallant resistance,

was compelled to surrender. He was carried to Paris, and for long shut

up in the Temple; but, with the aid of friends, he effected his escape

from prison, and reaching Havre-de-Grace, put off in an open boat, when

he was picked up by the _Argo_ frigate, and landed safe in Portsmouth on

the 5th of March, 1798.

On the 1st of June, 1795, an alteration was made in the uniform of naval

officers, which continued for many years afterwards. Those who can

remember it can scarcely fail to consider it the most becoming worn at

any time in the service. The rank of officers was now distinguished by

epaulettes. An admiral wore two gold epaulettes, with three silver

stars on each; a vice-admiral had two stars, and a rear-admiral one; a

post-captain of above three years standing wore two gold epaulettes,

under three years, one on the right shoulder, a master and commander,

one on the left shoulder, captains wore blue lapels and cuffs, with lace

as before, but on the undress coat neither lace nor embroidery.

On the 4th of June his majesty appointed seven superannuated or disabled

lieutenants of the navy to be poor knights of Windsor. This institution

was founded by Samuel Travers, who, in 1724, left a residuary estate in

trust for building or buying a house for their reception near the castle

of Windsor, bequeathing to each knight 60 pounds per annum, 26 pounds of

which is to be applied only for keeping them a constant table. The

first knight was William Hogarth, whose commission bore the date of

1757, so that he had been nearly forty years a lieutenant; while the

next three had been thirty years lieutenants.

In the same year the masters in the navy received an increase of

half-pay, and their position was otherwise improved.

Towards the end of the year an improved system of telegraph, the

invention of Lord George Murray, was introduced on several heights

leading from the coast to London.

Post-captains were appointed as governors to the royal hospitals of

Haslar and Plymouth, and lieutenants to those of Deal and Great

Yarmouth.

One of the most gallant actions of the war was fought at the

commencement of this year in the West Indies. The _Blanche_, a 32-gun

12-pounder frigate, commanded by Captain Robert Faulkner, was cruising

in the neighbourhood of Guadaloupe, when she chased a French armed

schooner, under a fort within a bay in the island of Desirade. The

schooner brought up with springs to her cables; but, notwithstanding the

fire of the fort and some troops on shore, Captain Faulkner cut the

schooner out with his boats, and triumphantly carried her off. Manning

his prize, he sent her away to an English port, and was next day joined

by the _Quebec_ frigate, which, however, parted company. On the 4th at

daybreak Captain Faulkner discovered the French 32-gun frigate _Pique_,

lying at anchor just outside the harbour of Pointe-a-Petre in

Guadaloupe. Finding the French frigate, however, did not appear

inclined to come out from under the protection of the batteries, the

_Blanche_ made sail towards a schooner, which she captured and took in

tow. She then stood over for Dominico with her prize. Late in the

evening, however, the French frigate was seen about two leagues astern,

upon which, Captain Faulkner, casting off the schooner, tacked and made

sail to meet her. At a quarter-past twelve the _Blanche_ tacked and

came up with her. When within musket-shot the enemy wore; Captain

Faulkner seeing his intention was to rake him, wore also, when the two

frigates closely engaged broadside to broadside. A fierce action now

ensued for an hour and a-half, when, as the _Blanche_, shooting ahead,

was in the act of luffing up to rake the _Pique_, her main and

mizen-masts fell over the side. Directly after this, the _Pique_

running foul of the _Blanche_ on her larboard quarter, the French made

several attempts to board. They were, however, gallantly repulsed by

the British crew, and the larboard quarter-deck guns and such of those

on the main-deck as could be brought to bear, were fired into the

_Pique's_ starboard bow, she answering in return with musketry from her

tops, as also from some of her quarter-deck guns, which had been run in

amidships fore and aft. The bowsprit of the _Pique_ passing over the

starboard-quarter of the _Blanche_, Captain Faulkner, aided by his

second lieutenant and two others of his crew, was in the act of lashing

the _Pique's_ bowsprit to her capstern, when he was shot by a

musket-ball through the heart. Soon after this the lashings broke

loose, when the _Pique_, as she was crossing the stern of the _Blanche_,

which began to pay off for want of after-sail, again fell on board on

the starboard-quarter, her hawser having just before been got on deck,

the _Pique's_ bowsprit was lashed to the stump of the _Blanche's_

main-mast. The first lieutenant, Mr Frederick Watkins, now took

command, and kept the _Blanche_ before the wind, towing her opponent,

while a hot fire was kept up by the British marines on the French seamen

who attempted to cut away the second lashing. This was returned from

the forecastle and tops of the _Pique_, as well as from the latter's

quarter-deck guns pointed forward. The _Blanche_ having no stern-ports

on the main-deck could only return the fire by two quarter-deck

6-pounders. Lieutenant Watkins accordingly resolved to venture on the

somewhat hazardous experiment of blowing away part of the stern to allow

a couple of guns to be run out. The firemen were called with their

buckets ready to extinguish the flames should they burst out, and two

12-pounders being pointed astern in the cabin, soon made a clear breach,

through which a tremendous fire was opened on the _Pique's_ decks. The

French frigate had already lost her fore and mizen-mast, and about three

hours and a quarter after midnight, her main-mast fell over the side.

Thus the _Blanche_ continued towing along her antagonist, which,

notwithstanding the raking fire to which she was exposed, held out two

hours longer; when at length some of the French seamen who had climbed

on to the bowsprit cried out that they had struck. Neither of the

frigates being able to put a boat in the water, Mr David Milne, the

second lieutenant, and ten men, endeavoured to gain the prize by means

of a hawser still attached to her. Their weight, however, bringing it

down, they were compelled to swim on board. When the _Blanche_

commenced the action, she had but 198 men and boys on board; of these,

besides her gallant commander, she lost a midshipman, 5 seamen, and I

marine killed, and I midshipman, 4 petty officers, and 12 seamen, and 4

marines wounded. The _Pique_ had 279 men on board, of whom she lost 76

officers and men killed and 110 wounded, her brave captain, who soon

afterwards died from his hurts, being among the number. The _Blanche_

measured 710 tons and the _Pique_ 906, while the weight of her guns was

slightly in excess of that of the victor. The _Pique_ was added to the

British Navy, and Lieutenants Watkins and Milne were deservedly

promoted. About a quarter-of-an-hour after the action had ceased, just

after daylight, a 64-gun ship, the _Veteran_, was seen approaching, and

the French officers afterwards refused to sign the usual head-money

certificate unless the _Veteran_ was named as one of their captors,

though they afterwards withdrew their objections, which were absurd,

considering that though she had seen the flashes of their guns, she had

not caught sight of the combatants until the _Pique_ was in possession

of her captors.

The change which had some time before been proposed in the armament of

British ships of war had now taken place, though at first, as has been

the case with other improvements, carronades were objected to on various

grounds, there were now few ships in the navy without them. A whole

class of ships, carrying 44 guns, were armed on the main-deck with

32-pounder carronades, instead of the long 6-pounders which they would

otherwise have carried. A considerable increase was also made in the

size of ships. The largest launched at this date, the _Ville de Paris_,

to carry 110 guns, was somewhat smaller, however, than the French 80-gun

ships. Fourteen ships of the line had been commissioned, and ten had

been purchased from the East India Company and armed with 54 guns, but,

though well fitted for merchantmen, were unsuitable for men-of-war.

With one of them, however, one of the most gallant actions on record was

fought, about the middle of this year, 1796. The _Glatton_, one of the

purchased Indiamen, of 1256 tons, commanded by Captain Henry Trollope,

and fitted on the main-deck with 28 carronades, 68-pounders, the rest of

her guns being 32-pounders, making altogether 54 guns; but, as the ports

were too small to allow the larger guns to traverse properly, and she

had no bow or stern chasers, they could only be pointed right abeam.

Having been appointed to reinforce the North Sea Fleet, under Admiral

Duncan, she proceeded from Sheerness to Yarmouth Roads, whence, on the

14th of July, she was directed to sail to join a squadron of two sail of

the line and some frigates, under the command of Captain Savage, of the

_Albion_ 64, cruising off the Texel. At one in the afternoon of the

16th, being about four or five leagues from Helvaetsluis, Captain

Trollope discovered a squadron of ships of war, consisting of six large

frigates, a brig, and a cutter. One of these, as far as could be made

out, mounted 50 guns, two 36, and the other three 28. He was soon

convinced, from the way in which they manoeuvred, and from not answering

the private signal, that they were enemies. Not intimidated, however,

by their vast superiority, he at once cleared for action, and bore down

resolutely to attack them. The strangers on this shortened sail,

backing their mizen-topsails, in order to keep their stations. At 10

p.m. Captain Trollope having got alongside of the third ship in the

enemy's line, hailed her, and finding that she was French, ordered her

commander to strike his colours. Instead of doing so, he immediately

fired a broadside, on which the _Glatton_ poured into her antagonist, at

a distance of thirty yards, such a shower of shot as perhaps no ship had

ever before received. Her crew being insufficient to man her guns on

both sides, the allotment to each gun was divided into gangs. One of

these having loaded and run out the gun, left the most experienced hands

to point and fire it, while they ran across and loaded and ran out the

gun on the opposite side. The two headmost French ships then tacked,

one placing herself alongside to windward, and the other on the

_Glatton's_ bow, while the other ships engaged her on her lee-quarter

and stern. A fierce cannonade was kept up, the _Glatton_ engaging on

both sides so near, that her yard-arms were nearly touching those of the

enemy; the shrieks and cries which arose from them showing the terrible

effect of the _Glatton's_ shot--though the French commodore, at all

events, exhibited no want of courage in the way he fought his ship.

Close to leeward was the Brill shoal, on which the van-ship of the

French, now tacking, endeavoured to drive the _Glatton_. The French

commodore, with whom Captain Trollope had at first engaged, was still on

his lee bow, when the pilot exclaimed, that unless the _Glatton_ tacked

she would be on the Brill. "When the Frenchman strikes the ground, do

you put the helm a-lee," was the answer. Directly afterwards the

commodore tacked, when, while he was in stays, the _Glatton_ poured in a

heavy raking fire, and then endeavoured to come about, but so damaged

was she in her sails and rigging, that it was not without difficulty she

could do so. Notwithstanding that her topmasts and yards were wounded,

her crew, when ordered to shorten sail, flew aloft with alacrity,

executing their task, in spite of the shot flying round them from the

nearest of the Frenchmen able to continue the action. During this

interval the _Glatton's_ fire had ceased, and one of the French ships

stood towards her, in the hopes, probably, of making her their prize,

but the British crew hurrying to their guns, soon undeceived them, and

compelled their still remaining antagonists to follow their consorts.

In attempting to wear after them, Captain Trollope found his masts,

rigging, and sails so much injured that all his efforts were

ineffectual, or his gallantry would probably have been rewarded by a

complete victory. The remainder of the night was spent in strengthening

masts and yards, and in bending fresh sails, and by seven o'clock the

next morning the ship was in a fit state to renew the action. The enemy

were at this time seen steering for Flushing; Captain Trollope continued

to follow them till nine o'clock, when, as he had no hopes of being

joined by any other ships, and the wind was blowing fresh on shore, he

was compelled to haul off and steer for Yarmouth Roads, where he arrived

on the 21st. It was afterwards discovered that the French ships had

all, more or less, suffered, some of those that had taken the chief part

in the action being tremendously knocked about, their decks being ripped

up by the _Glatton's_ shot; one of them, indeed, sank on reaching

Flushing harbour. The largest, with which the _Glutton_ was chiefly

engaged, was supposed to be the _Brutus_, armed with 46 24-pounders on

the main-deck, and several 36-pounders on the quarter-deck and

forecastle, while she was fully 300 tons larger than the _Glatton_.

Though Captain Trollope might have relied on the weight of metal his

ship carried, yet his courage and decision in sailing into the midst of

six powerfully-armed opponents is worthy of all admiration, and justly

entitled him to the honour of knighthood, which was conferred on him

soon afterwards by the king, while the merchants of London presented him

with a handsome piece of plate, to show their appreciation of his

courage.

In September of this year, the _Amphion_ frigate, of 32 guns, commanded

by Captain Pellew, lay refitting at Plymouth. Her captain and two other

officers were in the cabin at dinner, when a rumbling noise was heard.

The captain, followed by his lieutenant, rushed into the

quarter-gallery--the instant afterwards the ship blew up; the greater

number of persons on board, amounting to nearly 300, perished, they and

forty others only escaping with their lives, many of them being severely

injured. Great as was the explosion, it had but a trifling effect on

the ships near her. Her masts (excepting the mizen-mast) were shivered

to pieces and forced out of the ship; four of her main-deck guns were

cast upon the deck of the hulk alongside which she lay; and several

bodies, pieces of the wreck, etcetera, were thrown as high as her

main-topgallant mast-head.

Another gallant action was fought on the 13th of October by the

_Terpsichore_ frigate, of 32 guns and 215 men, commanded by Captain

Richard Bowen. The _Terpsichore_ having left thirty men at the

hospital, the greater number being still dangerously ill on board, was

cruising off Carthagena, when at daylight Captain Bowen discovered a

large frigate to windward, apparently in chase of him. Though so near

an enemy's port, that even in the event of a victory he could scarcely

hope to carry off his prize, trusting to his well-tried crew, he

determined to meet the foe. At half-past nine the stranger came within

hail, and hauled up on the _Terpsichore's_ weather-beam. A fierce

action now ensued, and continued on both sides for an hour and twenty

minutes, when the enemy's fire began to slacken, and she attempted to

make off; but the superior skill of Captain Bowen frustrated the

attempt, and in less than twenty minutes compelled her to surrender.

When taken possession of she proved to be the _Mahonesa_, a Spanish

frigate of 36 guns, besides cohorns and snivels, manned with a crew of

275 men. She was completely disabled, her main-deck guns were rendered

entirely useless, the booms having fallen down upon them, while her

standing and running rigging was cut to pieces, she having also lost

thirty men killed and as many more wounded. The _Terpsichore_ had only

the boatswain and three seamen wounded. Captain Bowen spoke of the

gallant way in which the Spanish captain, Don Thomas Ayaldi, had fought

his ship, having held out as long as he had the slightest prospect of

victory. Notwithstanding her crippled condition, Captain Bowen

succeeded in carrying his prize to Lisbon, but she was considered too

much battered to be worth the cost of a thorough repair.

Soon afterwards, Captain Bowen captured a French 36-gun frigate, _La

Vestale_, all her masts and her bowsprit being knocked away, and a large

proportion of her crew killed and wounded. Being close to the shoals

that lie between Cape Trafalgar and Cadiz, the prize, with the

_Terpsichore's_ master, one midshipman, and seven seamen, it having been

impossible to remove the French crew, drifted towards the shore, where

the master at length brought her up, and during the darkness the

_Terpsichore_ lost sight of her prize. While attempting to tow her off

the next day, the towrope got foul of a rock and was cut. Soon after

this the Frenchmen rose on the prize-crew and again anchored close

inshore. The next morning, when Captain Bowen stood in to look for her,

he had the mortification to see her standing in to Cadiz, some Spanish

boats having come off and taken possession of her. _La Vestale_ was,

however, captured in the year 1799 by the gallant Captain Cunningham, of

the _Clyde_.

Passing over many interesting events, we come to one which cannot be

omitted in the history of the British Navy. English seamen had long

undoubtedly been subjected to much ill-treatment. A large proportion of

a ship's company consisted of pressed men, compelled to serve against

their will. They were often harshly treated by their officers; they

were badly fed, and but poorly paid, and often punished; while their

necessaries were embezzled, and they were cheated in a variety of ways.

Towards the end of February, 1797, while Lord Howe was on shore, several

petitions were sent up from the seamen at Portsmouth, asking for an

advance of wages. They were forwarded to Earl Spencer, First Lord of

the Admiralty, but as they were looked upon as forgeries, no notice was

taken of them. Lord Howe being unable from sickness to go afloat, Lord

Bridport took command of the fleet, when the seamen, supposing their

complaints to be disregarded, refused to put to sea. On the 17th of

March, every man in the fleet having sworn to support the cause, the

mutiny broke out. Ropes were reeved at the foreyard-arms of the _Queen

Charlotte_, and the mutineers were about to hang the first lieutenant of

the ship, when Lord Bridport saved him. They, however, turned all the

officers out of the fleet who had behaved in any way to offend them.

Two delegates were appointed from each ship to represent the whole

fleet, and the admiral's cabin in the _Queen Charlotte_ was fixed upon

as the place for their deliberations. On the 21st Admirals Gardner,

Colpoys, and Pole went on board the _Queen Charlotte_ in order to confer

with the delegates. These men assured the admirals that no arrangement

would be considered as satisfactory till it should be sanctioned by the

king and parliament, and guaranteed by a proclamation for a general

pardon. So irritated did Admiral Gardner become on hearing this, that

he seized one of the delegates and swore that he would have them all

hanged with every fifth man throughout the fleet. This so exasperated

the crew that it was with difficulty Admiral Gardner escaped with his

life from the ship. The red or bloody flag was now seen flying from the

_Royal George_, and that of Lord Bridport was struck. The mutineers

also loaded all the guns, keeping a watch the same as at sea; every

officer being detained on board his respective ship. In a few days,

however, the seamen, hearing that their petitions were likely to be

attended to, returned to their duty. Admiral Bridport rehoisted his

flag on board the _Royal George_, and informed the seamen that he had

brought with him the redress of their grievances and his majesty's

pardon for the offenders. It was now hoped that all matters in dispute

were settled; but the seamen, fancying that notwithstanding the

admiral's assurances, they were to be neglected, again refused when

ordered to weigh anchor. Admiral Golpoys, on this, ordered the marines

to prevent the delegates from coming on board. The latter attempted to

force their way, when the marines fired, and five seamen were killed and

one of their officers wounded. On this the crew of the _London_ turned

the guns in the fore-part of the ship aft, and threatened to blow the

officers, and all who stood by them, into the water. Seeing that

resistance was hopeless, the officers surrendered, and the admiral and

captain were confined in their cabins. Happily, on the 8th of May, a

resolution of the House of Commons was passed, and the king's free

pardon being communicated to the seamen, they became satisfied, the red

flag was struck, the officers were reinstated in their commands, and the

whole fleet put to sea the next day to look out for the enemy. Lord

Bridport had been ordered to keep at sea as much as possible, and only

to return when necessary to refit or revictual. This plan succeeded,

and the seamen generally obeyed their officers and conducted themselves

properly.

At Plymouth the ships' companies exhibited a mutinous disposition, but,

after a time, they accepted the terms offered to the seamen at

Portsmouth, and tranquillity was restored.

While these things were occurring at home, Sir John Jervis, with about

15 sail of the line, 4 frigates, 2 sloops of war, and a cutter, after

putting into the Tagus, was cruising off Cape Saint Vincent. While

there, a Spanish fleet of 25 sail of the line, 11 frigates, and a brig,

came through the Straits of Gibraltar, bound for Cadiz. On the 14th of

February, before dawn, a Portuguese frigate brought intelligence to the

admiral that a Spanish fleet was about five leagues to windward. The

English fleet was formed in two compact divisions; in one of them was

the _Captain_, with the broad pendant of Horatio Nelson. It appeared

that the Spaniards had at first supposed that the fleet in sight was

part of a convoy. Some days before an American, which had passed

through the British fleet before Admiral Sir Hyde Parker had joined with

five ships of the line, while another, the _Culloden_, was absent in

chase, had given the information that the English admiral had only nine

sail of the line. The morning broke dark and hazy, and the Spaniards

obtaining but a partial view of the British fleet, were fully confirmed

in their mistake, and believed that they should surround the whole

British squadron and carry them in triumph into Cadiz. Notwithstanding

the more just estimate that Sir John Jervis had of his opponents, he

lost no time in endeavouring to bring them to action. The main body of

the Spanish fleet came down under all sail, with the wind on the

starboard-quarter, while the ships to leeward, close-hauled on the same

tack, were endeavouring to join them there. Admiral Jervis formed his

line close-hauled on the starboard tack, steering straight for the

opening between the two divisions of the Spanish fleet. The _Culloden_,

the leading ship, commanded by Captain Troubridge, had the honour of

commencing the battle about half-past eleven; the other British ships

following, effectually cut off a part of the Spanish fleet from the main

body, and compelled them to form on the larboard tack, with the

intention of passing through or to leeward of the British line; but they

were met with so warm a reception from the centre of the British that

they were obliged to tack, and were unable again to get into action till

towards the close of the day. Admiral Jervis now devoted all his

attention to the main body of the enemy's fleet to windward, which was

reduced at this time, by the separation of the ships to leeward, to

eighteen sail of the line. A little after twelve o'clock the signal was

made for the British fleet to tack in succession, and soon after the

signal for again passing the enemy's line; while the Spanish admiral's

design appeared to be to join the ships to leeward by wearing round to

the rear of the British line. The intention of the enemy was, however,

soon perceived by Commodore Nelson, who, being in the rear, had an

opportunity of observing this manoeuvre. In order to frustrate the

design, he had no sooner passed the Spanish rear than he wore and stood

on the other tack towards the enemy. In executing this bold and

decisive manoeuvre, the commodore found himself alongside of the Spanish

admiral in the _Santissima Trinidad_, of 136 guns. Notwithstanding this

immense disparity, Nelson was not the man to shrink from the contest,

though the Spaniard was ably supported by her two seconds ahead and

astern, each of which was a three-decker. While Nelson sustained this

unequal conflict, Troubridge in the _Culloden_, and Captain Frederick in

the _Blenheim_, were coming to his assistance. Sir John Jervis had

ordered Captain Collingwood in the _Excellent_ to bear up, while he

passed to leeward of the rearmost ships of the enemy. As he did so, he

gave the _San Ysidro_ so effectual a broadside that she was compelled to

submit. Captain Collingwood then passed on to the relief of Nelson, but

before he arrived, the Spaniard's mizen-mast fell overboard and she got

entangled with her second, the _San Nicolas_, a ship of guns. On this,

Nelson determined to board the _San Nicolas_, and the _Captain_ was so

judiciously placed by Captain Miller, her commander, that he laid her

aboard on the starboard-quarter of the Spanish 84, her spritsail-yard

passing over the enemy's poop, and hooking in her mizen-shrouds.

Nothing can surpass Nelson's own description of what now took place.

Calling for the boarders, he ordered them on board:--"The soldiers of

the 69th regiment, with an alacrity which will ever do them credit, and

Lieutenant Pearson of the same regiment, were almost the foremost on

this service. The first man who jumped into the enemy's mizen-chains

was Captain Berry, late my first lieutenant (Captain Miller was in the

very act of going also, but I directed him to remain). A soldier of the

69th regiment having broken the upper-quarter-gallery window, jumped in,

followed by myself and others as fast as possible. I found the cabin

doors fastened, and some Spanish officers fired their pistols at us

through the windows; but having burst open the doors, the soldiers

fired, and the Spanish brigadier (or commodore) fell as he was

retreating to the quarter-deck. I found Captain Berry in possession of

the poop, and the Spanish ensign hauling down. I passed with my people

and Lieutenant Pearson along the larboard gangway to the forecastle,

where I met several Spanish officers prisoners to my seamen, and they

delivered me their swords. At this moment, a fire of pistols or muskets

opening from the admiral's stern-gallery in the _San Josef_, I directed

the soldiers to fire into her stern. Our seamen by this time were in

full possession of every part of the ship. About seven of my men were

killed, and some few wounded, and about twenty Spaniards. Having placed

sentinels at the different ladders, and calling to Captain Miller,

ordering him to send more men into the _San Nicolas_, I directed my

brave fellows to board the first-rate, the _San Josef_, which was done

in an instant, Captain Berry assisting me into the main-chains.

"At this moment a Spanish officer looked over the quarter-deck rail, and

said they surrendered. From this most welcome intelligence, it was not

long before I was on the quarter-deck, when the Spanish captain, with

bended knee, presented me his sword, and told me the admiral was dying

of his wounds below. I asked him on his honour if the ship had

surrendered. He declared she had; on which I gave him my hand, and

desired him to call his officers and ship's company and tell them of it,

which he did; and on the quarter-deck of a Spanish first-rate,

extravagant as the story may seem, did I receive the swords of

vanquished Spaniards, which, as I received, I gave to William Fearney,

one of my barge-men, who tucked them, with the greatest _sang-froid_,

under his arm."

Immediately on Nelson's return on board the _Captain_, he made the

signal for boats to assist in disengaging her from the prizes, and as

she was rendered incapable of further service until refitted, he hoisted

his pennant for the moment on board the _Minerve_ frigate. In the

meantime Admiral Jervis ordered the _Victory_ to be placed on the

lee-quarter of the rearmost ship of the enemy, the _Salvador del Mundo_,

and threw in so effectual a broadside that the Spanish commander, seeing

the _Barfleur_ bear down to second the _Victory_, struck his flag. He

was very nearly capturing the _Santissana Trinidad_, but the rest of the

Spanish fleet, hitherto uninjured, coming down, he found it necessary to

secure his prizes and bring to. All these ships did was to open an

ineffectual fire, and then to sail away, leaving the British to carry

off their prizes in triumph. The English ships lost in killed and

wounded only 300 men, while on board the ships captured the Spanish

killed and wounded amounted to 697. Just honours were showered on the

victorious admirals and captains; Sir John Jervis was created a peer of

Great Britain, under the titles of Baron Jervis of Meaford and Earl

Saint Vincent; and among others, Commodore Nelson, who had just before

been made a vice-admiral, received the insignia of the Bath.

It had been believed that the mutinous spirit of the seamen had been

quelled by the concessions made to them, but such, it was soon found,

was not the case. On the 20th of May most of the ships lying at the

Nore, and nearly all of those belonging to the North Sea Fleet, hoisted

the red flag. The mutineers at Sheerness, like those at Spithead, had

chosen two delegates from every ship, and had appointed as a president

over them a man of the name of Richard Parker; while on board each ship

was a committee of twelve men, who decided on all the affairs relative

to its internal management. They declared themselves dissatisfied with

the terms accepted by the seamen of Portsmouth, and demanded a more just

division of prize-money, more regular and frequent payment of wages, and

also permission to go on shore when in port, with several other

conditions. This statement they required Vice-Admiral Buckner, whose

flag was flying on board the _Sandwich_, of 90 guns, to transmit without

delay to the Admiralty, and they declared that only when its conditions

were complied with would they return to their duty. So bold did they

become that they went on shore without interruption, parading Sheerness

with music and flags, inviting the crews of other ships to join them;

while they had their headquarters in a public-house, above which a red

flag was hoisted. To put a stop to this, some regiments were sent for,

when they thought it prudent to keep to their ships. All communication

with the shore being stopped, the mutineers supplied themselves with

water and provisions from the merchant-vessels which they brought to,

while they allowed none to proceed up to London, completely blockading

the port. Throughout the whole of the mutiny the seamen behaved

respectfully to their superior officers, while the strictest discipline

was kept up on board all the ships. On the king's birthday the seamen

even exhibited their loyalty by firing a grand salute from all the

ships, which were decorated in the manner usual on festive occasions.

Conciliatory measures for inducing the seamen to return to their duty

were tried in vain. The Government, however, would not yield to any of

their demands, and the seamen on board most of the ships at length

finding their cause hopeless, hauled down the red flag. Some had

previously made their escape from their midst. Ultimately, the crew of

the _Sandwich_ carried their ship under the guns of Sheerness, when a

guard of soldiers coming on board, Parker, their ringleader, was

delivered up. He, with the chief culprits, was tried, convicted, and

executed; others were flogged through the fleet, and many were

imprisoned for certain periods, a general pardon being granted to the

seamen who had been misled by them.

Wide as was the spread of the mutiny, whole ships' companies remained

true to their colours. Among these crews who remained loyal, that of

the _Saint Fiorenzo_ deserves especially to be mentioned, and an account

written by the late Admiral Mitford, who was then a midshipman on board

her, cannot fail to prove interesting. "She was," says Admiral Mitford,

"the favourite frigate of his majesty George the Third, who, from his

courtesy and kind manner towards the ship's company, had endeared

himself to them. This may in some degree account for the loyalty of the

men, strengthened by their unbounded attachment to one of the most

humane, brave, and zealous commanders that ever walked a deck--one to

whom every man looked up as a father, the late Admiral Sir Harry Burrard

Neale. A better lesson cannot be given to a young officer to show that

by kindness and firmness that desirable object may be attained which was

so eminently proved during one of the most eventful periods of this

country. The _Saint Fiorenzo_ was at Spithead when the first mutiny

broke out, and the red flag was hoisted on board the _Queen Charlotte_.

The day before that event the men came and informed Sir Harry of what

was to take place, but that he might rely on their loyalty, and as far

as was consistent with prudence, that they would obey every order from

the officers, to which resolution they most scrupulously adhered. While

such was the state of affairs, the _Saint Fiorenzo_ having received

orders to proceed to Sheerness for the purpose of fitting out to carry

over the Princess Royal, then Duchess of Hesse-Homburg, to Cuxhaven,

after her marriage, the mutineers allowed her to sail without attempting

to stop her. Their demands having been acceded to by the Government,

the men, just as we were sailing, returned to their duty.

Notwithstanding the loyalty of our crew, two of the delegates,

thoroughly trustworthy men, had been chosen, with Sir Harry's

permission, who regularly brought him all the information they could

obtain. On our arrival at Sheerness, we found the red flag still flying

on board the _Sandwich_ guard-ship, and supposing that her crew had not

been informed of what had taken place at Spithead, our delegates went on

board to explain, and were surprised and disgusted to find that fresh

demands had been made by the North Sea Fleet, and of so frivolous a

nature, that from some remarks made by our men, perhaps not very

courteous, their zeal in the cause was suspected, and consequently the

mutineers were very jealous of our crew. On returning on board, our

delegates immediately communicated with the _Clyde_, an old

fellow-cruiser, commanded by Captain Cunningham, who also enjoying the

confidence of his ship's company, an agreement took place between the

respective captains and their crews, that should the disaffection of the

mutineers continue, they would leave them and run under cover of the

forts at Sheerness. I should say that I believe a very small proportion

of the men were disaffected, and, as on most public outbreaks, the

majority were dictated to by a few desperate and disappointed men.

Parker had been shipmate with a considerable number of the _Saint

Fiorenzo's_ crew, and they had a great contempt for him. He had been

acting-lieutenant in some ship with them, and was dismissed for

drunkenness. If a little energy had been used on some of the

opportunities that offered, the whole affair might have been quashed.

"Having got leave to go on shore from the delegates of our ship, I

landed and passed through the dockyard, followed by the whole of the

delegates of the fleet, Parker and Davis walking together in procession.

When outside the gates, they saw the Lancashire fencibles coming to

strengthen the garrison, to whom they offered every insult they could

devise. On this the officer in command halted his men, and coming up to

the admiral and commissioner, who were standing opposite the gates,

asked, so I understood him, whether he might be permitted to surround

the delegates, complaining of the insults offered to himself and his

men. On this I involuntarily exclaimed, `Now's the time;' when the

admiral asked me what I meant, and how I dared to speak? I said, `These

are all the delegates,' pointing out to them Parker and Davis and

others. The fellows overheard me, and I have no doubt I became a marked

man. I may congratulate myself on the event which carried us away from

the fleet, otherwise I might have suffered what others did, and been

yard-armed, tarred, and feathered; but I feel justified in saying that,

had my suggestion been acted upon, there would have been an end of the

mutiny at the Nore. Returning on board I found that every arrangement

had been made, and the _Clyde_ being the inshore ship, was to move

first, which she did, and ran under the batteries; when, either from

incompetency or fear, our pilot refused to take charge of the ship, and

the tide being on the turn to ebb, Sir Harry Neale thought it advisable

to wait for a more favourable opportunity. In the meantime we were

visited by the delegates of some of the leading ships, who abused our

crew for permitting the _Clyde_ to escape without our firing upon her.

So incensed did the men become at this, that one of the quartermasters,

John Ainslie, came aft, and asked the first lieutenant whether they

might not throw the blackguards overboard, which, I doubt not, a nod of

assent would have effected.

"The mutineers now gave orders to our crew to place the frigate between

the _Inflexible_ and _Director_, to send our gunpowder on board the

_Sandwich_, Admiral Parker as he was called, and to unbend our sails,

with which orders our people agreed to comply. Sir Harry was

immediately acquainted with the circumstances, and he at once arranged

that the ship, instead of doing so, should run into Sheerness. When all

was prepared, with springs to our cables to cast inshore, and we were

ready to cut, in heaving the spring broke, and we cast outward. Sir

Harry, whose presence of mind never forsook him, on this directed the

quartermaster to take the command and he would dictate to him. All was

sheeted home in a moment, and we stood in between the two line-of-battle

ships, which had their guns double-shotted, their crews being all ready

with lanyards in hand to fire upon us. The ship by that time had got

good way, when Sir Harry gave the order to let fly all the sheets, which

took the mutineers by surprise, and supposing that the ship was coming

to an anchor, they did not fire. Sir Harry then ordered the helm to be

put hard a-port, which caused the ship to shoot ahead of the

_Inflexible_. He now came on deck and took the command, crying out to

the ship's company, `Well done, my lads!' when a loud murmur of applause

was heard fore and aft; but we had no time to cheer. `Now, clear away

the bulkheads, and mount the guns,' he cried. By this time the whole

fleet of 82 sail had opened their fire upon us. The shot fell like

hail, but, whether intentionally or not, few struck our hull. It was

reported that the _Director_ fired blank cartridges or she might have

done us more injury; but I believe that her crew, struck with awe at the

idea of firing on their countrymen, and also with admiration of their

bravery, fired wide. In little more than two hours the bulkheads were

cleared away from the cabin door to the break of the quarter-deck, the

whole space having been fitted up with cabins for the suite of her royal

highness, the guns on both sides being also down in the hold. The guns

were mounted and we were ready for action. The men now came aft and

begged that, should the mutineers come after them, they might go down

with the ship rather than return to the fleet at the Nore. Our master,

although a good pilot, did not feel himself justified in taking charge

of the ship within the boundaries of a branch pilot. We were therefore

on the look-out for a pilot-vessel, when a lugger was discovered on the

lee bow, and we were on the point of bearing down on her, when we saw

the North Sea Fleet coming with the red flag flying, having left their

station in a state of mutiny, the admiral and all the officers being

under arrest. A frigate bore down to us, when Sir Harry gave the

speaking-trumpet to the quartermaster Stanley, and when she hailed as to

what we were doing there, he replied that we were looking out to stop

the ships with provisions for the fleet. She then proceeded, and joined

the fleet again, and we made sail after the lugger. The necessary

signals were made, but not being answered, we gave chase, and, after a

run of four hours, captured the _Castor and Pollux_, a French vessel of

16 guns. We were proceeding to Portsmouth with our prize, when she,

being to windward, spoke a brig, who informed us that the mutiny had

again broken out at Spithead. Sir Harry on this thought it prudent to

anchor under Dungeness until he could communicate with the Admiralty.

During the night, as we lay there, a ship was seen bearing down towards

us, which, however, answered the private signals; but that could not be

depended upon, as it was probable that the mutineers would have

possessed themselves of them. We accordingly beat to quarters. The men

again repeated their request to sink rather than surrender to the

mutineers. The stranger appeared high out of the water, and we could

not be certain whether she might not be a line-of-battle ship. The wind

being very light, she closed slowly. The suspense was awful. The

springs were hove on to keep our broadside to bear. Sir Harry hailed,

and her answer was, `The _Hussar_ frigate, Lord Garlies, from the West

Indies.' Having come from a long voyage, her appearance was accounted

for. Seeing the lights at all our port-holes, those on board the

frigate could not understand the necessity of such extreme precautions,

being, of course, ignorant of the mutiny. When her men wore acquainted

with our situation, they were so struck with the bravery and

determination of the _Saint Fiorenzo's_ ship's company that they

immediately said, should any ship be sent to bring us back, they would

share our fate. None, however, came, and in a few days we heard that

the mutiny was at an end, and we sailed, I think, for Plymouth, and

another ship was ordered to take over the Princess of Hesse-Homburg."

By the daring and determination of another captain, Sir Henry Trollope,

he prevented his ship's company from joining the mutineers. He had been

removed from the _Glutton_ to the _Russell_, 74, one of the North Sea

Fleet, which lay in Yarmouth Roads. On hearing that his crew were about

to join the mutineers, he came to the resolution of compelling them, by

a proceeding of the most desperate character, to obey his orders.

Providing himself with provisions and water, a compass and a chart, and

a brace of pistols, he secretly entered the powder-magazine. Besides

the door at the entrance, there was a grate, through which he could look

into the outer apartment. Seating himself with his pistols in his hand,

he sent for the delegates, and ordered them at once to get the ship

under way, to carry her out to sea. "You know me, my lads," he said,

calmly; "we have been ordered to proceed to the Texel, and these orders

must be obeyed. Sooner than have her name disgraced, I will blow her

and all on board up into the air. Return on deck and attend to your

duty."

The mutineers looked aghast, but they knew their captain, and of what he

was capable, too well to disobey him. They could not have molested him,

even had they dared. The crew, obeying their officers, while the

captain sat far below in the magazine, their guiding spirit, got the

ship under way, and stood out to sea--the rest of the ships, either not

aware of what she was about, or not venturing to interfere with her. In

a short time she joined Admiral Duncan, who, with his flag flying on

board the _Venerable_, was blockading the Texel. He had been left with

only his own ship and the _Adamant_, keeping in check a Dutch fleet of

15 sail of the line, under Admiral de Winter. In order to prevent the

Dutch from coming out, Admiral Duncan made use of a ruse, frequently

repeating signals, as if communicating with the main body of his fleet

in the offing. At length he was joined by other line-of-battle ships,

but his fleet, severely battered by bad weather, and being short of

provisions, had to put back into Yarmouth Roads, while Captain Trollope

remained with a small squadron to watch the enemy. He continued there

till the 9th of October, when information was brought that the Dutch

fleet was at sea. He immediately sailed, and having looked into the

Texel, on the 11th the _Russell_ and other ships were seen with the

signal flying at their mast-heads that the enemy was in sight to

leeward. The Dutch fleet stood away, however, towards the coast of

Suffolk, when, finding that the English admiral was within seven leagues

of him, he sailed back towards Camperdown, followed by the English

look-out frigates. De Winter now formed a close line of battle, and

resolutely awaited Admiral Duncan. The British fleet on this bore down

on the enemy, with the signal flying for close action. The _Monarch_,

leading the larboard division of the British fleet, first cut the Dutch

line, pouring in well-directed broadsides on the ships on either side of

her. The action soon became general; one after the other the Dutch

ships were compelled to strike. One of them, the _Hercules_, catching

fire, the crew threw overboard their powder, and were therefore obliged

to surrender their ship. The Dutch admiral's ship, the _Vryheid_, held

out gallantly to the last, but was at length compelled to yield, when

the rest of the ships which had not yet struck their colours, did their

best to make off. By this time the English were in possession of two

seventy-fours, five sixty-fours, two fifties, and two frigates. The

escaping enemy could not be pursued, for the land was close aboard, and

the fleet in nine fathoms water. All the victors could do, therefore,

was to secure their prizes, and to endeavour to get clear of the shore

before nightfall. The Dutchmen had fought gallantly, aiming at the

hulls of the British ships, which were fearfully shattered, and in all

of them numerous shots were found sticking; though the masts and rigging

were but comparatively little injured. The English lost 228 killed and

812 wounded, including many officers, and the Dutch 540 killed and 620

wounded. Of the whole Dutch fleet seven only escaped, and five of these

were afterwards captured. With regard to the number of their guns, the

two fleets were almost equal--the English ships carrying altogether 1150

guns, and the Dutch 1034; besides which, the latter had some corvettes

and brigs which took part in the action, and greatly annoyed their

opponents, though their guns were not counted. The victory of

Camperdown was gained by the very men who had taken part in the mutiny.

On the news reaching England, all those still under sentence were

pardoned.

During this year occurred the unfortunate attack on Santa Cruz, in the

island of Teneriffe, when, in attempting to land on the mole, Nelson

lost an arm, and the gallant Captain Bowen, with several lieutenants,

was killed, many of the boats being sunk and their crews perishing.

In the year 1798 the French made three attempts to land armies in

Ireland, but on each occasion their fleets were driven back, and many of

their ships were captured. A previous attempt had been made in 1796,

when they were scattered and discomfited by the weather. The second

succeeded in landing a body of troops; the greater number were killed,

and the survivors were made prisoners. In the third, the _Hoche_, under

the command of Commodore Bompart, was captured, as were several frigates

of his squadron; while the fourth, finding the warm reception the troops

would meet with should they attempt to land, put back into port.

At this time there were no less than 30,000 French prisoners in England,

and by an agreement with their own government, which was to support

them, it was arranged they should reside at Portsmouth, Plymouth, Norman

Cross, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Chatham, and Stapleton. Arrangements were

made towards the end of the war for the exchange of prisoners, but it

was found that there were only 2800 English in France. The French

Directory now issued a decree declaring that all persons natives of, or

originally belonging to, neutral countries, or countries in alliance

with France, serving on board any English ship, should be tried as

pirates. The English Government, in retaliation, threatened to treat

all subjects of the French Republic in the same manner, should the

savage order be carried out. This threat had the desired effect.

Bonaparte had been for some time planning a campaign in Egypt. Sailing

with a large fleet from Toulon, he first captured Malta, and then

proceeded to Alexandria, wonderfully escaping Earl Saint Vincent and

Vice-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson. Napoleon having landed, his fleet,

under Admiral Brueys, brought up in Aboukir Bay. Here Nelson found the

French on the 8th of August, drawn up at anchor in order of battle, and

at 3 p.m. he threw out the signal to prepare for the fight, followed an

hour afterwards with orders to anchor by the stern with springs to their

cables. Another signal was shortly afterwards made to signify that the

admiral meant to attack the enemy's van and centre. At 6 p.m. Nelson

signalised to the fleet to fill and stand on, which they did in

admirable order, the _Goliath_ leading; when, soon afterwards hoisting

their colours, with the Union Jack in several parts of the rigging, the

British ships took up the stations allotted to them. At 6:20 p.m. the

_Conquirant_, followed by the _Guerrier_, opened her fire upon the

_Goliath_ and _Zealous_, which was quickly answered by those ships; but

the sun had already sunk into the ocean before any other British ship

had fired a shot. Loud cheers now burst from every ship of the English

fleet, when the men, flying to their guns, opened their broadsides with

a spirit which soon knocked away the masts and spars of their opponents,

and spread death and destruction on board their ships. The action had

continued for two hours, several French ships having struck, when a fire

was perceived on board the _Orient_, which in an hour afterwards blew up

with a tremendous explosion, the burning wreck falling far and wide

around, and setting fire to several ships, friends and foes, in the

neighbourhood. So awful was the effect, that for ten minutes not a gun

was fired on either side. Thus the battle raged all night long, till

soon after dawn the French frigate _Artemise_, after striking her

colours, also caught fire, and with a terrific explosion blew up.

In the morning the enemy's ships still in a condition to make sail got

under way and endeavoured to escape. Of the thirteen French ships of

the line, by this time, one had blown up, eight had surrendered, and two

had escaped. Of the remaining two, one, the _Timoleon_, was on shore,

with her colours flying; the other, the _Tonnant_, lay about two miles

from her, a mere wreck, but also with her colours up. On the approach,

however, of the _Theseus_ and _Leander_, she hauled them down; while the

crew of the _Timoleon_ set her on fire, and she soon afterwards blew up.

Thus, in the memorable "Battle of the Nile," the French lost eleven

line-of-battle ships, besides frigates. In this action the British lost

218 killed and 678 wounded. Among the latter was Horatio Nelson, who

was struck above his already darkened eye by a splinter; while all the

ships were considerably cut up. On board the _Orient_ fell the

Commodore Casa Bianca, as well as his gallant young son, who had refused

to quit his post; and the French commander-in-chief, Brueys, who, after

receiving two severe wounds, was nearly cut in two by a shot. While

still breathing, he desired not to be carried below, but to be left to

die upon deck, exclaiming in a firm voice, "Un amiral Francais doit

mourir sur son banc de quart."

"A French admiral ought to die on his quarter-deck."

While the ship was in flames, the boats of the British ships put off to

save the hapless crew, seventy of whom were thus rescued. The heroic

conduct of the captain of the _Tonnant_, Du Petit Thonars, deserves to

be recorded. He first lost both his arms, and then one of his legs;

even then, still able to speak, he gave his dying commands to his crew

not to surrender the ship. Of the English fleet, the _Culloden_

unhappily got on shore while going into action, and only by great

exertions did she get off, after the battle was over. That the French

fought with the utmost gallantry is acknowledged by all, while we must

rank the victory of the Nile among the most brilliant achievements of

the British Navy.

After the battle every effort was made to repair the damages the ships

had received, and to fit the prizes for the voyage to England. Nelson

sent the prisoners taken on board them on shore in a cartel, on their

parole not to serve again during the war; but Napoleon, with his usual

disregard for treaties, formed them into a battalion, which he called

the "nautic." Three of the prizes, being in too shattered a condition

to be refitted, were burnt; another, the _Peuple-Souverain_, being

considered unfit to proceed farther than Gibraltar, was there turned

into a guard-ship. The five remaining vessels arrived safely at

Plymouth; three of them being new and magnificent ships, the _Tonnant,

Franklin_, and _Spartiate_, were added to the British Navy, the name of

the former being changed to _Canopus_. Rewards were liberally bestowed

upon the victors; Sir Horatio Nelson was created a peer of Great Britain

by the title of Baron Nelson of the Nile and of Burnham Thorpe, while a

pension was settled on him of 2000 pounds a-year by the English

Parliament, and 1000 pounds a-year by the Irish; the East India Company

presenting him with 10,000 pounds.

After the defeat of his fleet at Aboukir, Napoleon determined to invade

Syria. His plans, however, were thwarted by Sir Sidney Smith, who

having captured the fleet which was bringing the battering-cannon and

ammunition from Damietta for the siege of Saint Jean d'Acre, made use of

it to fortify that town, into which, with a small body of seamen and a

few officers, he threw himself, and put it into a state of defence,

while he organised the Turkish troops who formed its garrison.

Napoleon, obtaining fresh guns, in a short time laid siege to Acre.

Though he made several desperate attempts to storm it, they were on each

occasion repulsed by the valour of the Turks, aided by the fire from the

English and sultan's ships. During one of the many engagements the

_Theseus_ frigate caught fire, and the poop and after-part of the ship

was almost blown to pieces, several of her officers and men being

killed. The fire was put out by the courage of the surviving officers

and crew.

Napoleon, enraged at his defeat, made every effort to destroy Sir Sidney

Smith. Two attempts to assassinate him, however, happily failed. At

length an Arab dervish appeared with a letter to the pacha, proposing a

cessation of arms for the purpose of burying the dead bodies, which in

vast numbers were piled up under the ramparts. While this proposal was

under consideration, with unexampled treachery, Napoleon attempted to

storm the town; but the garrison were on the alert, and the assailants

were driven back with great slaughter. The Arab tribes having been

induced to cut off the supply of provisions for the French army, on the

20th of May Napoleon raised the siege, and leaving his guns behind him,

precipitately retreated towards Egypt. Such is a brief outline of one

of the most daring exploits ever performed by a naval man.

Of a very different character, though one in which consummate bravery

was displayed, was the cutting-out of the _Hermione_ frigate. She had

been in the year 1799 under the command of Captain Hugh Pigot, one of

those tyrant commanders who are truly said to make their ships "hells

afloat." While cruising off Porto Rico, as the crew were reefing

top-sails, the captain shouted that he would flog the last man off the

mizen-topsail yard. Two, in their attempt to spring over their

comrades' backs, missing their hold, fell on the quarter-deck and were

killed. The captain, it is said, on seeing it, merely observed, "Throw

the lubbers overboard." The crew, who were probably a bad lot to begin

with, for such a captain could not have obtained a good ship's company,

from a long succession of tyrannical acts, had become infinitely worse.

The next day they rose on their officers, murdered the greater number,

including the captain, and carried the ship into La Guayra, a port of

the Spanish Main. Hearing that the _Hermione_, which had been fitted

out by the Spaniards and strongly armed, was lying in the harbour of

Puerto Cabello, Captain Hamilton, commanding the _Surprise_, a 28-gun

frigate, determined to cut her out. Coming off the port on the 21st of

October, he discovered her moored head and stern between two strong

batteries on either side of the harbour, with her sails bent and ready

for sea. After waiting off the port till the 24th without mentioning

his intentions, he addressed his crew, reminding them of many

enterprises they had undertaken, and pointing out to them that unless

they should at once attempt the capture of the frigate, some more

fortunate vessel would carry off the prize. Three hearty cheers showed

him that he might depend on his crew. "I shall lead you myself," he

added. "Here are the orders for the six boats to be employed, with the

names of the officers and men to be engaged on the service."

Every arrangement had been judiciously made. The crew were to be

dressed in blue; the password was Britannia, the answer Ireland. The

boarders were to take the first spell at the oars; then, as they neared

the _Hermione_, they were to be relieved by the regular crews. The

expedition was to proceed in two divisions, the one to board on the

starboard, the other on the larboard bow, gangway, and quarter. Sharp

axes were provided for those who were to cut the bower cable, while

others were told off to cut the stern cable, and certain men were to go

aloft to loose the sails. In the event of their reaching the ship

undiscovered, the boarders only were to board, while the boats' crews

were to take the ship in tow directly the cables were cut; but should

they be discovered, the crews of each boat were to board and all aid in

the enterprise. The rendezvous was to be on the _Hermione's_

quarter-deck. At half-past seven the boats were hoisted out, the crews

mustered, and away they pulled from the _Surprise_. As it happened,

within a mile of the _Hermione_ the expedition was discovered by two

gunboats, and the alarm being given, firing commenced. Captain Hamilton

on this pushed for the frigate, believing that all his boats would do

the same, but some, misunderstanding his orders, engaged the gunboats.

On approaching, lights were seen at every port, with the ship's company

at quarters. Captain Hamilton pushed for the bows, and climbing up, his

foot slipped and his pistol went off; but he soon succeeded in gaining a

footing on the forecastle, and those who had been ordered to loose the

sails immediately got the foresail ready for bending and hauling out to

the yard-arms, thus forming a screen to themselves, for not a Spaniard

was there to interfere with them. On looking down from the forecastle,

they saw the crew of the _Hermione_ at quarters on the main-deck, firing

away into the darkness, utterly unconscious that the enemy were on

board. Captain Hamilton, with the gunner and fourteen men, now made his

way to the quarter-deck--part of them, however, under the gunner, being

driven back by the Spaniards, who gained possession of the forecastle.

Another party of English also neglecting to rendezvous on the

quarter-deck, the captain was left for some minutes to defend himself

against the attack of four Spaniards, one of whom stunned him, when he

fell. Happily, some of his men came to the rescue, and a party of

marines climbing over the larboard gangway, now gave a favourable turn

to affairs. The rest of the boats coming up, the marines formed, fired

a volley, and ran down with fixed bayonets on the main-deck. About

sixty Spaniards retreated to the cabin, and surrendered. For some time,

however, fighting continued on the main-deck and under the forecastle.

The cables were cut, the sails were loosed, while the gunner and two

men, though severely wounded, standing at the helm, the boats took the

frigate in tow, and she stood out of Puerto Cabello. The batteries

immediately opened, and a Portuguese reported that he heard the Spanish

prisoners threatening to blow up the frigate. A few muskets fired down

the hatchway restored order, and in less than an hour after Captain

Hamilton was on board, all opposition had ceased, and the _Hermione_ was

his prize. By 2 p.m. the ship was out of gunshot of the batteries, the

towing-boats were called alongside, and her crews came on board. In

this wonderful enterprise the British had only 12 wounded, while the

Spaniards, out of a crew of 365, lost 119 killed and 97 wounded, most of

them dangerously. The cutting-out of the _Hermione_ may well be

considered one of the most desperate services ever performed, and no man

was ever more deserving of the knighthood he received than Captain

Hamilton, who had planned every detail, and personally led the bold

attack. He himself was among the most severely wounded; besides a blow

on his head, he received a sabre wound on the left thigh, another by a

pike in his right thigh, and a contusion on the shin-bone by grape-shot;

one of his fingers was badly cut, and he was also much bruised.

For some time previously to this, detectives, if they may be so-called,

were stationed at each of the ports to discover the members of the crew

who had been on board the _Hermione_ at the time of the mutiny. No

mercy was shown to those who had taken part in it. A large number were

hung; it used to be said, indeed, that more suffered than actually then

belonged to her, though they might have done so at some former period.

Sir Edward Hamilton long lived to enjoy his honours.

The days when fabulous amounts of prize-money were to be picked up had

not yet passed by, although the rich Spanish galleons which went to sea

in the times of Drake were seldom to be found. In October of this year,

1799, fortune smiled on the officers and ships' companies of two British

frigates. The _Naiad_, of 38 guns, Captain Pierrepoint, while cruising

in latitude 44 degrees 1 minute north, and longitude 12 degrees 35

minutes west, came in sight of two frigates, to which, notwithstanding

the disparity of force, he gave chase. They proved to be the Spanish

34-gun frigates _Santa Brigida_ and _Thetis_, from Vera Cruz, bound to

Spain. He followed them all night, when, early in the morning of the

16th, another ship was seen in the south-west, which hoisting her number

showed herself to be the 38-gun frigate _Ethalion_, Captain James Young;

and soon afterwards two other 32-gun frigates, the _Alcmene_, Captain

Digby, and the _Triton_, Captain J. Gore appeared. The Spaniards,

hoping to escape, steered different courses, but each were pursued by

two British frigates, which, before long coming up with them, compelled

them to haul down their colours. Fortunately, a breeze coming off the

land, the captors with their prizes were enabled to stand off the coast,

just in time to save themselves from being attacked by four large ships,

which came out of Vigo. While the English frigates were preparing to

receive the enemy, the four ships put back into port. The prizes were

found to have on board a cargo of specie, besides other merchandise, to

an amount which gave each captain upwards of 40,000 pounds, each

lieutenant 5000 pounds, each warrant officer upwards of 2000 pounds,

each midshipman nearly 800 pounds, each seaman and marine 182 pounds.

Even the seamen and marines might have been well contented with the gold

pieces they had to chink in their pockets; though in too many instances

they were probably all dissipated before they had been many days on

shore. Yet complaints were general of the uneven way in which

prize-money was distributed. It was a common saying among sailors, that

when the pay-clerk went on board ships to pay prize-money, he clambered

with his money-bags into the main-top and showered down the money at

random; all which remained upon the splinter-netting (a coarse rope

netting spread as a kind of awning) was for the men, and all that went

through for the officers. The captain of a ship not under the admiral's

flag received three-eighths of the net proceeds. In this instance the

three-eighths were divided among the four captains who assisted in the

capture of the two Spanish frigates. On the treasure being landed, it

was escorted in sixty-three artillery waggons, by horse and foot

soldiers, and armed seamen and marines, attended by bands of music, and

a vast multitude, to the dungeons of the citadel of Plymouth, whence it

was afterwards removed, much in the same style, and deposited in the

Bank of England.

Still more fortunate, a few years later, was Lord Cochrane, when, in

command of the _Pallas_, he captured three rich prizes in succession, of

which the value could not have been far short of 300,000 pounds. As,

however, he only took one fourth, his share amounted to about 75,000

pounds. As it was, however, he nearly lost not only a large portion of

his booty, but his liberty, as, while returning home after he had taken

the last prize, three of the enemy's line-of-battle ships were seen.

The wind freshening to half a gale, the _Pallas_ was standing on,

carrying all the sail she could, when it was found that the enemy were

gaining on her. In this desperate emergency Lord Cochrane ordered every

stitch of sail to be suddenly taken in, and the three ships of the

enemy, one being on the weather, another on the lee beam, and the third

nearly on the weather quarter, unable to get their canvas off and haul

to the wind, shot miles away to leeward. The _Pallas_ on this wore

round and made sail on the opposite tack. The enemy, however, were soon

again in chase, but night coming on, a lantern in a cask was put

overboard, and the _Pallas_, altering her course, got clear of her

pursuers, and reached Plymouth in safety. As he sailed up the harbour

Lord Cochrane had a gold candlestick, five feet in height, fixed to the

mast-head, and, as may be supposed, he never after this had any

difficulty in manning his ship, when gold candlesticks were to be picked

up, in addition to "pewter" and "cobs," the nickname given by seamen to

silver and dollars. They have always been found ready to volunteer on

board dashing frigates sent to stations where such prizes were supposed

to abound.

The last important action was that known as the Battle of the Baltic.

Napoleon had induced the Northern powers of Denmark, Sweden, and Russia

to form a league, denominated an armed neutrality, for the French being

unable to keep the sea, he hoped under their flags to obtain provisions

and ammunition for his armies. To counteract this formidable

confederacy, the English sent a fleet of 18 sail of the line, with a few

frigates, and a number of bomb-vessels and gunboats, in the first place

to attack the Danish fleet, and then to take in hand the other two

confederates. After many delays, and attempts to induce the Danes to

come to terms, on the 2nd of April, 1801, a portion of the fleet, which

had been intrusted by Sir Hyde Parker to Lord Nelson, appeared before

Copenhagen, and commenced an attack on the floating batteries and forts

prepared by the Danes for the defence of their city. There is not space

to give the details of the battle. The Danes fought heroically, their

floating batteries being remanned over and over again from the shore.

After three hours' cannonading, from which both parties suffered

severely, Sir Hyde Parker, understanding that two of the British

line-of-battle ships were in distress, threw out a signal for

discontinuing the action. On its being reported to Nelson, he shrugged

his shoulders, repeating the words, "Leave off action? Now, damn me if

I do. You know, Foley, I have only one eye--I have a right to be blind

sometimes;" then putting the glass to his blind eye, in that mood of

mind which sports with bitterness, he exclaimed, "I really do not see

the signal--keep mine for closer battle flying! That's the way I answer

such signals. Nail mine to the mast."

At 1:30 p.m. the Danish fire slackened, and at 2 p.m. ceased along

nearly the whole of the line. Among the British officers who fell was

the gallant Captain Riou, who was cut in two while carrying his frigate,

the _Amazon_, into action. After the flags of all the chief batteries

had been struck, some of the lighter vessels that had got adrift fired

on the boats which approached to take possession of them. Nelson

prepared a letter to send to the Crown Prince of Denmark, threatening to

destroy the prizes unless this proceeding was put a stop to. He

concluded his letter, "The brave Danes are the brothers and should never

be the enemies of England." A wafer was then given him, but he ordered

a candle to be brought from the cock-pit, and sealed the letter with

wax, affixing a larger seal than is ordinarily used, remarking as he did

so, "This is no time to appear hurried and informal."

The remainder of the batteries having at length ceased firing, a flag of

truce arrived from the shore, when the action, which had continued for

five hours, was brought to a close, the total loss of killed being 255,

and of wounded 688. The Danish loss amounted to between 1600 and 1800.

The result of the victory was the secession of Denmark from the league,

and the Emperor of Russia dying soon afterwards, the armed neutrality

was dissolved.

Napoleon now began to hope more ardently than ever that he should ere

long land his victorious legions on British ground. To carry them over,

he had collected a large flotilla, chiefly at Boulogne. By Lord

Nelson's orders, a desperate attempt was made by the boats of the

squadron to destroy them. Some were gun brigs of between 200 and 250

tons; others were flats, vessels capable of carrying a crew of 30 men

and 150 soldiers, with either a mortar or a long 24-pounder, as well as

swivels and small-arms. Though some few were captured, all attempts at

their destruction failed. The British cruisers, however, kept too good

a watch to allow them to put to sea.

Numerous cutting-out expeditions took place during the war, in which

both officers and men displayed the greatest possible amount of courage

and determination. One of the most daring and successful on record was

the capture of the French 20-gun ship-corvette _Chevrette_, while lying

under some batteries in Camaret Bay, by the boats of the _Doris_,

_Beaulieu_, and _Uremic_, forming part of the Channel Fleet under

Admiral Cornwallis, stationed off Brest Harbour. At the first attempt

the boats were discovered, and the _Chevrette_ ran a mile and a-half

farther up the bay, and took on board a party of soldiers.

Notwithstanding this, the next night, the 21st, the boats of the three

frigates, joined by the barge and pinnace of the _Robust_, 74, amounting

in all to 15, and containing about 280 officers and men, under the

command of Lieutenant Losack, the second in command being Lieutenant

Keith Maxwell of the _Beaulieu_, left their ships at 9:30 p.m. As they

were pulling into the bay, Lieutenant Losack, with six boats, went in

chase of a boat supposed to be sent as a look-out from the _Chevrette_,

and as he did not return, Lieutenant Maxwell proceeded on without him.

About 1 a.m. the flotilla coming in sight of the _Chevrette_, she opened

a heavy fire on them of grape and musketry, and at the same time they

were assailed by a fire of musketry from the shore. Undaunted by this,

the British boarded the ship, some on the starboard bow and quarter, and

others on the larboard bow, bravely opposed by the Frenchmen, who were

armed with muskets and pistols, sabres, tomahawks, and pikes. Some,

indeed, attempted to enter the boats, but were driven back by the

British, who, having lost their pistols and muskets, made their way

cutlass in hand. Some who had been directed to loose the sails, fought

their way on to the corvette's yards. Here they found the foot-ropes

strapped up, but, notwithstanding every obstacle, the sails were let

fall in less than three minutes after the boarders had gained the deck.

The cable having, in the meantime, been cut outside, a light breeze

blowing from the land, and the quartermaster of the _Beaulieu_, Henry

Wallis, fighting his way to the helm, and though bleeding from his

wounds, taking charge of the wheel, the ship drifted out of the bay. On

seeing the canvas loose, some of the Frenchmen leaped overboard, and

others sprang down the hatchways, thus allowing the British to gain

possession of the quarter-deck and forecastle, now nearly covered with

the bodies of the slain. For some time, however, the Frenchmen who had

fled below kept up a sharp fire of musketry, but the English, firing

down in return, compelled them to yield. On her way out the prize was

exposed to a heavy fire of round and grape from the batteries, but, the

wind increasing, she got out of grape-shot. Not till then did

Lieutenant Losack and his companions get on board. Two officers were

killed, one of whom was Lieutenant Sinclair of the marines, while

defending Mr Crofton, a midshipman, who had been severely wounded while

boarding. The other, Robert Warren, a midshipman. Another, Lieutenant

Waller Burke, was mortally wounded. Altogether, 11 were killed and 57

wounded, and I marine drowned in the _Beaulieu's_ barge, which was sunk

by a shot from the corvette. The gallantry of the boatswain of the

_Beaulieu_, Mr John Brown, was also conspicuous. After attempting to

force his way in to the _Chevrette's_ fore-quarter-gallery, he climbed

up over the taffrail, when standing up for some time exposed to the

enemy's fire, waving his cutlass, he shouted out, "Make a lane there;"

then, gallantly dashing among the Frenchmen, he fought his way to the

forecastle. Here he continued driving back the French, who attempted to

regain the post, all the time carrying out the orders he received from

the quarter-deck, while he assisted in casting the ship and making sail

as coolly as if he had been carrying on duty under ordinary

circumstances.

During the war, which ended at the peace of Amiens, on the 27th of

March, 1802, England had captured 80 sail of the line, and numberless

other ships, besides various islands in the West Indies and other parts

of the world, from the French, Spaniards, and Dutch. Though most of the

latter were given up, the navy of England had gained a renown which can

never be obliterated.