Produced by Steven Gibbs, Helene de Mink and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Transcriber's note: Minor spelling inconsistencies, mainly hyphenated
words, have been harmonised. Obvious printer errors have been
repaired. The Latin number (i) in the text refers to a transcriber's
note at the end of this e-book.
MEMOIRS
AND CORRESPONDENCE
OF
ADMIRAL
LORD DE SAUMAREZ.
FROM
ORIGINAL PAPERS IN POSSESSION OF THE FAMILY.
BY SIR JOHN ROSS,
CAPTAIN IN THE ROYAL NAVY.
IN TWO VOLUMES.
VOL. I.
LONDON:
RICHARD BENTLEY, NEW BURLINGTON STREET,
Publisher in Ordinary to her Majesty.
1838.
LONDON: PRINTED BY SAMUEL, BENTLEY,
Dorset Street, Fleet Street.
Transcriber's note: Minor spelling inconsistencies--mainly
hyphenated words--have been harmonised. Obvious printer errors
have been corrected, but the original spelling has been
retained.
The Latin number (i) behind a word refers to the transcriber's
notes at the end of this e-book.
CONTENTS
OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
CHAPTER I.
Genealogy of the family of Saumarez.--Curious Record.--Branches of
the late family.--Marriage of the late Lord de Saumarez. Page 7
CHAPTER II.
Commencement of his Career.--His Education.--Visit of the Duke of
Gloucester to Guernsey.--Decides for the Navy.--Is put on the
Solebay's books.--School at London.--Embarks in the
Montreal.--Winchelsea, Pembroke, Levant.--Smyrna.--Returns
home.--Passes for Lieutenant.--Embarks in the Bristol.--Proposal to
leave the Navy.--Attack on Fort Sullivan.--Gallant Conduct.--Is made
Lieutenant.--Bristol, Chatham, Lady Parker.--Commands the
Spitfire.--Rhode Island.--Many Engagements.--War with
France.--Appearance of the French Fleet under D'Estaing.--Spitfire
burnt.--Appearance of Lord Howe. Page 14
CHAPTER III.
Serves ashore.--Returns to England in the Leviathan.--Providential
escape from shipwreck.--Visits Guernsey.--Joins the Victory.--A
journey to London.--Joins the Fortitude.--Battle off the Dogger
Bank.--Anecdotes of Admiral Parker.--Lieut. Saumarez promoted to the
rank of Master and Commander.--Appointed to the Tisiphone.--Sails for
the West Indies with Admiral Kempenfelt.--Action with Comte de
Guichen.--Captures a French ship of thirty-six guns.--Is despatched to
Sir Samuel Hood.--Arrives at Barbadoes.--Escapes from two French
men-of-war.--Passes through an intricate channel.--Joins Sir Samuel
Hood.--Gallant conduct in cutting out a vessel.--Tisiphone ordered
home.--Fortunate exchange with Captain Stanhope.--Takes command of the
Russel. Page 41
CHAPTER IV.
Situation of the Hostile Fleets.--Surrender of Brimstone
Hill.--Junction of the Fleets.--Antigua.--St. Lucia.--Sailing of the
French Fleet under Comte de Grasse.--Action of the 9th of April.--12th
of April.--Gallant conduct of the Russel.--Captain Saumarez returns to
Jamaica.--Comes to England with Convoy.--Is paid off at Chatham, and
confirmed a Post-captain. Page 65
CHAPTER V.
Captain Saumarez returns to Guernsey.--His exemplary Conduct.--Visits
Cherbourg.--Is introduced to the French King.--Returns.--Changes at
Guernsey.--Prince William Henry visits the Island twice.--His
Reception.--Appearance of Hostilities in 1787.--Captain Saumarez is
appointed to the Ambuscade, and pays her off.--His Letter on his
Marriage.--Remarks thereon.--Armament of 1790.--Saumarez commissions
and pays off the Raisonable.--War of 1793.--Appointed to command the
Crescent.--First Cruise; takes a prize and saves Alderney.--Second
Cruise; captures a cutter.--Third Cruise.--Return.--Crescent docked
and refitted. Page 84
CHAPTER VI.
Crescent refitted.--Sails for the Channel Islands.--Falls in with the
French frigate La Reunion.--Particular account of the action.--Letters
from Captain Saumarez to his brother.--Brings his prize to
Portsmouth.--Official letters.--Letters from various persons.--Ship
refitting.--Captain Saumarez obtains leave of absence.--Is knighted
for his gallant conduct. Page 99
CHAPTER VII.
Sir James Saumarez is placed under the orders of Admiral McBride.--Is
detached, and attacks an Enemy's squadron.--Narrow Escape from
Shipwreck.--Off Havre.--Cherbourg.--Private letters relating the
particulars of several Cruises on the French coast.--Gallant Action
with a French squadron of superior force off Guernsey. Page 119
CHAPTER VIII.
Sir James commands a Squadron of Frigates, in the Channel.--Visit to
Weymouth.--Joins the Channel Fleet.--Black Rocks.--Private Letters and
Instructions.--Appointed to the Orion.--Crescent's Officers and Crew
volunteer to follow him.--Appointed to the Marlborough (_pro
tempore_).--Commands a detached Squadron.--Returns to the Orion,
attached to the Channel Fleet.--Private Letters.--Lord Bridport's
Action.--Orion, the headmost Ship, begins the battle.--Official
Letter.--Two private Accounts.--Returns to Portsmouth.--Expedition to
Isle Dieu.--Returns to Spithead. Page 143
CHAPTER IX.
Orion taken into dock.--Is refitted, and joins the Channel
Fleet.--Detached on a particular service.--Returns.--Proceeds to
reinforce Sir John Jervis.--List of his fleet.--Battle with Spanish
Fleet off Cape St. Vincent described in a private letter.--Conduct of
Saumarez in the action.--Salvador del Mundo strikes to the Orion, and
is taken possession of by her Lieutenant.--Engages the Santissima
Trinidada.--She strikes to the Orion.--Remarks on that
occasion.--Lagos Bay.--Lisbon.--Sir James sails on a cruise with
Admiral Sir H. Nelson.--Returns.--Commands the advanced
squadron.--Several private letters.--Commands the advanced squadron
off Cadiz.--Mutiny in the fleet.--Anecdote and remarks thereon.
Page 164
CHAPTER X.
Sir Horatio Nelson resumes the command of the advanced
squadron.--Bombardment of Cadiz.--Nelson sails for
Teneriffe.--Saumarez resumes the command.--Escorts a convoy to
Gibraltar.--Refits at Lisbon, and returns.--Conducts the
negotiation for exchange of prisoners.--Sir W. Parker relieves
Sir James.--He arrives at Gibraltar.--Is attached to Nelson's
squadron.--Proceeds off Toulon.--A storm.--Vanguard
dismasted.--Great exertions of the Orion and Alexander in
refitting the Vanguard at St. Pierre.--Sailing of the Toulon
fleet.--Nelson reinforced by ten sail of the line.--Pursues the
enemy unsuccessfully.--Proceedings of the fleet in a journal
addressed by Sir James to his family.--French fleet discovered
in Aboukir Bay.--Battle of the Nile.--Diagram of ditto.--Conduct
of the Orion.--Saumarez wounded.--Writes to Nelson.--Goes on
board the Vanguard.--Occurrences there.--Remarks on the name of
the second in command being left out in Nelson's despatches.--On
the mode of attack.--Various letters and orders.--Sir James's
account of the battle, in a letter to Lady Saumarez. Page 189
CHAPTER XI.
Fleet repair damages.--Sir James receives orders to take a detachment
of six ships of the line, and five prizes, under his command.--Sails
for Gibraltar.--Journal of his tedious voyage.--Arrives off
Candia.--Decides to pass through a perilous passage, and escapes the
dangers.--Falls in with the Marquis of Nisa, and summons the French
garrison at Malta.--Puts into Port Auguste, in Sicily.--Sails from
thence.--Tedious passage.--Letters from Earl St. Vincent and
Nelson.--Arrives at Gibraltar.--Reception there from the Admiral,
Governor, &c.--Sails thence.--Arrives at Lisbon.--Sails
thence.--Arrives at Spithead.--Paid off at Plymouth.--Remarks on his
treatment, and explanation of it. Page 231
CHAPTER XII.
Sir James writes to Earl Spencer.--Is appointed to the Caesar, of 84
guns.--Joins the Channel fleet.--The Brest fleet having escaped,
proceeds to the Mediterranean.--English fleet at Bantry Bay.--Return
of the French fleet.--Caesar at Lisbon.--Sir James returns to
Spithead.--Rejoins the Channel fleet.--Earl St. Vincent takes the
command.--Appoints Sir James to command the advanced squadron.--Black
Rocks.--Earl St. Vincent's letter of approbation.--Douvarnenez
Bay.--Various letters.--Complete success of the blockade.--Enemy's
fleet laid up.--Sir James returns to Spithead.--Conclusion of 1800.
Page 287
CHAPTER XIII.
Sir James Saumarez is promoted to the rank of Rear-admiral.--Appointed
to command the advanced squadron.--Proceedings at the Black
Rocks.--Douvarnenez Bay.--Returns to England.--Appointed to command a
squadron on a very particular service.--His secret orders, &c. and
letter of approbation.--Ready for sea.--Is created a Baronet of the
United Kingdom. Page 321
CHAPTER XIV.
Sir James sails from England in command of a squadron of six sail of
the line on a particular service.--Arrives off Cadiz.--Attacks a
French squadron at Algeziras.--Captain Brenton's account of the
battle.--Loss of the Hannibal.--Colonel Connolly's statements.--Logs
of the Caesar and ships of the squadron.--Sir James proceeds to
Gibraltar.--Remarks.--Flag of truce sent to Algeziras.--Correspondence
with Linois.--Squadron refit at Gibraltar. Page 337
CHAPTER XV.
Observations on the Battle of Algeziras.--Copies of the Journals of
the Spencer, Audacious, and Venerable.--Remarks on them.--Further
particulars.--The Spanish account.--The French account.--Bulletin from
the Moniteur.--Anecdote of an occurrence at St. Malo.--Sword presented
to Linois.--Lines on the occasion.--His improvement of Naval
tactics.--Epigram.--Anecdote of the intrepidity of one of the Caesar's
men. Page 363
CHAPTER XVI.
Mole of Gibraltar.--Negotiation for the exchange of prisoners
unsuccessful.--Captain Ferris and the officers of the Hannibal
return on parole.--They sail for England in the Plymouth lugger,
which carries home despatches and private letters.--Despatch
sent to Lord Keith.--Admiral Saumarez shifts his flag to the
Audacious.--Extraordinary exertions of the crew of the
Caesar.--Their admirable conduct.--Captain Brenton and the
garrison.--Arrival of the Spanish squadron at
Algeziras.--Increased exertions of the crews of the
squadron.--Private letters.--Preparations to attack the enemy.
Page 383
CHAPTER XVII.
Occurrences at Gibraltar.--Determination of Sir James to attack the
combined squadron.--Caesar rehoists the Admiral's flag.--Sir J.
Brenton's description of that interesting scene.--His account of the
battle.--Destruction of two Spanish three-deckers.--Capture of the St.
Antonio.--Action between the Venerable and Formidable.--Public
letters.--Private letters.--French details of the battle.--Spanish
ditto.--Orders of sailing.--Remarks. Page 401
LIST OF PLATES.
Portrait of Rear-admiral Sir James Saumarez, taken after
the battle of the 12th July 1801 _Frontispiece._
Action with the Crescent and Reunion taken at the time
the latter surrendered Page 103
Commencement of the action between the Crescent and
her squadron, with the French squadron of superior
force off Guernsey 131
Close of the action when the Crescent retreated among
the rocks at Guernsey 134
Chart of the island of Guernsey, showing the positions of
the English and French squadrons 135
Diagram of Algeziras and Gibraltar Bay 346
ERRATA.
Page 86, l. 26, _for_ "present" _read_ "late."
142, l. 4,--"ninety-second" _read_ "ninety-two."
166, l. 23,--"Towny" _read_ "Towry."
198, l. 19,--"Marcon" _read_ "Marcou."
215, l. 14,--"Collossus" _read_ "Culloden."
ADVERTISEMENT.
In perusing the following Memoir, the reader must not be surprised if
he finds that the accounts of the several battles in which the
illustrious Saumarez was engaged, differ in some degree from those
previously given to the public. Every circumstance connected with them
has been carefully examined, and whatever statements are now advanced
can be borne out by documentary evidence. The career of Saumarez was a
long and eventful one: he entered the Navy while the nation was at
peace; he subsequently served during the American War of
independence, and throughout the late continental war, in both of
which he was in more engagements with the enemy than any other
officer. He was the last of the heroes of the 12th of April 1782.
THE LIFE
OF
LORD DE SAUMAREZ.
CHAPTER I.
Genealogy of the family of Saumarez.--Curious Record.--Branches
of the late family.--Marriage of the late Lord de Saumarez.
Admiral the Right Honourable James Lord de Saumarez, of Guernsey, was
born, on the 11th March 1757, in the parish of St. Peter-Port, the
principal town of that romantic island. The family, whose original
name was _De Sausmarez_, is of Norman extraction, and of great
antiquity in the island of Guernsey, where their lineage can be traced
almost to the Norman conquest.
Their remote ancestor received from the Dukes of Normandy a fief of
the district of Jerbourg, and was appointed hereditary captain (or
chatelain) of the castle of that name, which lies within the limits of
the fief, and is situated in the parish of St. Martin.
Among the records of the island, we find the following interesting
particulars:--In the twenty-seventh year of the reign of Edward the
First, at a court of chief pleas held at Guernsey, in the presence of
the judges of assize, Matthew de Sausmarez made homage for his fief;
which appears to have been acknowledged by an act of Edward the Second
in the year 1313: and in the reign of Edward the Third, in the year
1331, an application was made by Matthew de Sausmarez for a
confirmation of his rights and prerogatives, as formerly enjoyed by
his ancestors.
On receipt of this petition, his Majesty sent an order to John de
Roches, guardian of the Channel islands, to make a perquisition
thereon; authorising him to give to it his royal assent if not found
to be prejudicial to the rights of the Crown or the privileges of the
inhabitants, who had, by consent of his Majesty's father, fortified
the castle of Jerbourg as a place of retreat and protection, as also
for the security of their effects in case of invasion by the enemy.
In pursuance of his Majesty's order, the guardian appointed twelve of
the most respectable inhabitants of the island to be examined before
the bailiff or chief magistrate, who declared upon oath that the
predecessors of Matthew de Sausmarez held that appointment from the
Crown, with sundry appurtenances and privileges, which, in
consideration of their services as hereditary keepers of the castle,
had always been, and ought to be, inseparable from the fief of
Jerbourg; and they further deposed, that these were not in any respect
detrimental to the prerogative of the Crown, or injurious to the
rights of the inhabitants, who still retained the advantage and
privilege of retreating into the castle, with their effects, in every
emergency.
The following curious and interesting fact, as attached to this
ancient fief, has been also recorded in a Guernsey periodical:
"Whenever the lord had occasion to go to Jersey, his tenants were
obliged to convey him thither, for which they received a gratuity of
_three sous_, or a dinner; but they were not obliged to bring him
back." And this exemption may be thus explained:--The lord, or captain
of Jerbourg, in those days held a fief in Jersey, called by the same
name, which no longer belongs to the De Saumarez family; but formerly,
when it was possessed by the same individual, the same rights and
privileges were attached, so that when the affairs of the lord called
him to Jersey, he was conducted to that island by his Guernsey
tenants, and brought back by those of Jersey.
It is indeed certain, that, during many years after the Norman
conquest, several gentlemen possessed estates in both islands, more or
less considerable in one than in the other. The fief of Jerbourg
remained in the family of De Sausmarez till about the year 1555, when
it became the property of Mr. John Andros, in right of Judith de
Sausmarez: but it has since reverted to the descendants of the old
family, and belonged to Thomas de Sausmarez, his Majesty's late
attorney-general in the island of Guernsey, who died lately at a very
advanced age,--the father of twenty-eight children!
The genealogy of the family between the year 1481, and the birth of
the grandfather of the late Lord de Saumarez on the 4th June 1635,
will be found in the Addenda, as also that of the subsequent members
of the family who are not mentioned here; but, in proceeding, we
cannot pass over the names of Captains Philip and Thomas Saumarez,
uncles of the late lord, who were two of the bravest and most
meritorious officers of their time. The former, who was first
lieutenant with Commodore Anson, afterwards commanded the Nottingham,
sixty-four, captured the French seventy-four, Mars, and was killed in
action 1747;[1] and the latter, when in command of the Antelope, of
fifty guns, captured the French sixty-four, Belliqueux, in the
following extraordinary manner:
[1] See Addenda.
In the month of November 1758, Captain Saumarez was stationed in the
Bristol Channel for the protection of the trade, and, the wind blowing
strong from the westward, had anchored his ship, the Antelope, of
fifty guns and three hundred and fifty men, in King Road; and there
being little probability of the appearance of an enemy under such
circumstances, he had repaired to Bristol to partake of the
hospitality of his friends in that prosperous city. While sitting at
dinner, an express came from Barnstaple to inform him that a large
ship, supposed to be an enemy, had anchored under Lundy Island.
Captain Saumarez immediately repaired on board his ship, weighed
anchor, and, notwithstanding the contrary wind and fresh gale, he beat
down the channel, and in the morning saw her at anchor off Ilfracombe.
On discovering the Antelope, the enemy weighed and stood towards her,
and, on coming near, hoisted French colours and seemed prepared to
engage. As soon as the Antelope came within gun-shot, she opened her
fire, when the Frenchman immediately hauled down his colours without
returning a shot. Captain Saumarez now sent his boat with the first
lieutenant to know if she had surrendered; but finding that the boat
did not return, he bore down under her stern, and asked if they had
struck. The answer was in the affirmative, and she was immediately
taken possession of. She proved to be the Belliqueux, of sixty-four
guns and five hundred men.
When the captain came on board the Antelope, and found that he had
surrendered to a ship so much inferior in force, both in men and
weight of metal, his chagrin and mortification knew no bounds. He
exclaimed that he had been deceived, and actually proposed to Captain
Saumarez that he should allow him to return to his ship, and that he
would fight him fairly; to which the English captain replied that he
must keep possession now; that he had obtained it, but he had no
objection to his going back to France and getting another ship of the
same kind to try the fortune of war. He conducted his prize back to
King Road, and returned to Bristol with his French guest to enjoy the
hospitality and hearty welcome of his friends, after an absence of
only eighteen hours!
Matthew de Saumarez, father of Lord de Saumarez, being brought up to
the medical profession, arrived at considerable practice and high
respectability. He was remarkable for his urbanity of manners and
hospitality, particularly to strangers. He married, first, Susannah,
daughter of Thomas Dumaresq, Esq. of Jersey, and by her had Susannah
(an only child), who married Henry Brock, Esq. of Guernsey: his second
wife was Carteret, daughter of James Le Marchant, Esq. of Guernsey,
and by her he had a numerous family, who are brothers and sisters of
the late lord.[2]
[2] See Addenda.
The family of De Sausmarez, a branch of which changed the spelling of
the name to Saumarez about the year 1700, was not only one of the most
ancient and respectable, but the members of it successively held the
highest situations, and were connected with the first families
residing in the island of Guernsey, which has always been
distinguished for its loyalty and patriotism: indeed, it has not only
produced several of our bravest and greatest warriors, but its
inhabitants have ever manifested themselves to be proof against every
attempt to seduce them from their allegiance. The opinions which have
been entertained unfavourable to this fact,--arising no doubt from the
proximity of the island to the coast of France, and the general use of
the French language, but, most of all, from its having at one time
been infested by adventurers,--are totally without foundation.
Having been many years stationed at this island, we have witnessed the
loyalty and intrepidity of the natives: and could give several
instances where the Guernsey pilot was the _first_ to board the enemy.
Lord de Saumarez was married at Guernsey, on the 27th October 1788, to
Martha, only daughter and heiress of Thomas Le Marchant, Esq. by
marriage with Miss Mary Dobree, two of the most ancient and
respectable families in the island. This marriage was the consequence
of a long and mutual attachment: it need scarcely be added, that it
completed the happiness of both. They became the parents of eight
children, whose biography will be found in the Appendix.