1778 to 1782.
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.--Mr. 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 Russell.
After the destruction of his little vessel, the Spitfire, Lieutenant
Saumarez was attached to the division of sailors under Commodore
Brisbane, to whom he became aide-de-camp. This division consisted of
the crews of the frigates and other vessels which had been destroyed,
on the following day in the southern passage, to prevent their falling
into the hands of the enemy. The vessels destroyed, in addition to
those mentioned in the last chapter, were, the Juno, Lark, Orpheus,
and Flora of thirty-two guns, and the Cerberus of twenty-eight.
The artillery and stores had been in part landed, and mounted in
various positions on the island; while the seamen and officers,
amounting to above a thousand men, were actively employed there during
the whole of the siege. Lieutenant Saumarez was stationed latterly in
command of one of the advanced posts, and had several opportunities of
distinguishing himself in repulsing the repeated assaults of the
enemy, and in attacking them in return.
The plans of the French for the reduction of Rhode Island having
failed, and their fleet having been dispersed in a storm, during which
some were disabled, and others captured, and finally the appearance of
Lord Howe with a reinforced but still inferior squadron, induced them
to abandon the project, and, after refitting at Boston, to steer for
the West Indies.
The officers and seamen, being now no longer wanted, were ordered a
passage home in the Leviathan of fifty guns, on board which ship
Lieutenant Saumarez embarked, in company with Captains Dalrymple,
Smith, Hudson, Brisbane, Symons, and Graeme, whose ships had also been
destroyed. As she was approaching the English Channel, the Leviathan
was overtaken by a violent storm, and most providentially saved from
shipwreck by the clearing up of a thick fog just in time to avoid the
danger, when they found the ship close to the Rocks of Scilly, near to
the spot where Sir Cloudesley Shovel was lost. This circumstance has
been attributed to a strong northerly current, but it was probably
from the position of these dangerous islands being inaccurately laid
down in the charts; it is indeed an extraordinary fact, that an error
of no less than three leagues in their situation was first discovered
by the Swedish surveyor, Nordenanker, about the commencement of last
war. The Leviathan, nevertheless, arrived safely at Portsmouth about
the beginning of the year 1779, when Lieutenant Saumarez had again an
opportunity of visiting his family and friends in Guernsey.
He had, however, resided there but a short time, when he was appointed
first lieutenant of the Edgar of seventy-four guns, then fitting at
Woolwich for the broad pendant of Commodore Elliot. After receiving
his letter of appointment, he was obliged to wait some time for an
opportunity to cross the channel; but at length availed himself of the
Ambuscade, which touched at Guernsey. Having arrived at the Isle of
Wight, Captain Phipps, her commander, ascertained that the squadron
under Admiral Drake, to which he belonged, had sailed from Spithead;
therefore without touching at Portsmouth to land Lieutenant Saumarez,
he proceeded to join the Channel fleet, which he found twenty leagues
to the westward of Scilly, having on the way retaken the Helena sloop
of war; to command which Sir John Warren, then first lieutenant of the
Victory, was appointed, and Mr. Saumarez was ordered in his stead to
join the Victory, then bearing the flag of Sir Charles Hardy, at whose
request he was continued in that ship, where he was third lieutenant
in seniority, but supernumerary on the books. Besides the
commander-in-chief of the Channel fleet, Rear-Admiral Kempenfelt, as
first, and Captain Collings, as second captain, were both on board the
Victory detached to cruise off Brest, commencing in June 1779, and
returning occasionally to port until May 31st, 1780. After the death
of Sir Charles Hardy, which took place on the 9th May 1780, Admiral
Geary, and then Sir Francis Drake, succeeded to the command, with
Captain Clayton as captain.
The Victory continued on the same service until the spring of 1781,
when Admiral Hyde Parker hoisted his flag, and Mr. Saumarez now became
first lieutenant. He had been so zealously attentive to his duty, that
for several months he never went on shore, till at length he yielded
to the persuasion of his messmates. On arriving at Point Beach,
Portsmouth, he was accosted by a person in French, who demanded the
way to the admiral's house, and at the same time informed him that he
had just landed with the intelligence that Jersey had been attacked
by the French. Mr. Saumarez immediately went with the messenger to
the admiral, who despatched him as a courier to town, and he returned
in a remarkably short time with orders respecting it. In short, his
diligence and zeal were so manifest in every service on which he was
employed, that he soon gained the esteem and friendship of
Vice-admiral Hyde Parker, who, in June 1781, was appointed to the
command in the North Seas, and shifted his flag into the Fortitude,
Captain Robertson. The squadron in those seas, when under command of
Commodore Keith Stewart, was of inconsiderable strength, but had now
risen to a force of five ships of the line, besides one fifty, one
forty-four, and three frigates. Notwithstanding the desire of Lord
Sandwich, then first lord of the admiralty, to provide for his own
friends, the admiral succeeded in carrying with him, from the Victory,
Lieutenants Waghorne and Saumarez. On the 3rd of June they sailed from
Spithead to Sheerness, and, after refitting and touching at Leith,
sailed to bring home the Baltic convoy from Elsineur, about the
beginning of July.
The squadron, which might have been made much stronger, consisted of
the Fortitude, seventy-four, Captain Robertson; the Princess Amelia,
eighty, Captain Macartney; the Berwick, seventy-four, Captain
Fergusson; the Bienfaisant, sixty-four, Captain Braithwaite; the
Buffalo, sixty, Captain Truscott; the Preston, fifty, Captain Graeme;
the Dolphin, forty-four, Captain Blair; the Latona, thirty-eight, Sir
Hyde Parker (the admiral's son); the Belle Poule, thirty-six, Captain
Patton; the Cleopatra, thirty-two, Captain Murray; and the Surprise,
cutter, Lieutenant Rivett.
The Dutch by this time had declared war, and, being perfectly aware of
the force of Admiral Parker's squadron, sailed with a large convoy for
the Baltic, under command of Admiral Zoutman, whose squadron was one
ship of the line superior; it became, therefore, necessary to take the
Dolphin, of forty-four guns, into the line, although she had only
eighteen-pounders on the lower deck.
But before entering into the details of the action which took place on
the 5th of August 1781, it is proper to give some of the particulars
of each squadron. That of Admiral Parker was totally unfit for the
line of battle; the ships had been but a short time together, and had
only two or three times practised the usual manoeuvres of forming
the line, &c. The Fortitude was a small seventy-four, but well manned.
The Princess Amelia was an old eighty-gun ship, with reduced metal and
masts. The Berwick was a good ship, and, in addition to her metal, had
two sixty-eight-pounder carronades on the poop; but next to her was
the Dolphin, forty-four, with only twenty twelve-pounders on the
lower-deck, which could not be expected to make any impression on a
sixty-four. The Buffalo was formerly the Captain, of seventy guns;
but, in the commencement of hostilities, not being thought efficient
as a ship of war, she was fitted up as a mast-ship and her name
changed; but, probably for want of vessels, she was again equipped for
war with sixty guns, but only with eighteen-pounders on the lower
deck. The Preston was a good fifty-gun ship, with her proper metal,
twenty-four-pounders on the lower, and twelve-pounders on the upper
deck. The Bienfaisant had the metal on her lower deck reduced. The
Artois, which afterwards joined the squadron, was the finest frigate
then known; had twenty-eight, eighteen-pounders on her main deck,
with, in addition to her complement of guns, heavy carronades on the
quarter-deck and forecastle; she was manned with three hundred
men. The Latona was a fine thirty-eight gun frigate, with
eighteen-pounders; the Belle Poule and Tartar were excellent of their
class.
The Dutch squadron consisted of one seventy-four, one sixty-eight, one
sixty-four, and five fifty-fours. In the action there were five
frigates, the other five having gone off with the convoy; the list of
both will be found in the Appendix to this volume, with that of the
killed and wounded.
The Dutch squadron and convoy, which were bound to the Baltic, were
discovered at four o'clock in the morning about six leagues to
leeward; and there being a fine commanding breeze and smooth water,
everything was favourable, as well for detaching the convoy, which was
immediately done by signal to the Tartar, as for making dispositions
to attack the enemy. The admiral seeing that they had their own port
(the Texel) directly to leeward, and being doubtful that they would
run in there for shelter, or at least go nearer to the shore, made the
signal to chase at thirty-five minutes past four, which obliged every
ship to make sail instead of preparing for action with a superior
enemy. At five, Admiral Zoutman hoisted Dutch colours, and his
men-of-war drew out from the convoy, which took their station under
the lee to await the event. At half-past five, the admiral made the
Tartar's signal to stay by, and part company with the convoy, which
then hauled their wind, made sail to the south-west, and was soon out
of sight and danger.
At ten minutes past six, the signal for the line of battle abreast was
made, which allowed the headmost ships to take in small sails; and
immediately after another signal was given for the Dolphin and Preston
to change stations; this was a serious mistake, as it led our squadron
to believe that the admiral meant to engage the ship ahead of the
Dutch admiral, and not that of the latter, which was actually his
intention. This unfortunately placed the Dolphin in opposition to one
of the largest of the enemy's vessels; and while it left the rear-ship
(the Bienfaisant) for some time without an opponent, the van-ship
Berwick and the Dolphin had to engage three of the enemy.
In the mean time, the Dutch were regularly drawn up in a line of
battle ahead, on the larboard tack, the ships being about a cable's
length apart, and keeping a point from the wind, with their sails well
proportioned to each other. They appeared in excellent order, their
hammocks stowed, and marines drawn up on the poop.
At fifty-six minutes past seven, the signal for close action was made,
and, to the astonishment of our squadron, the enemy never fired a
shot, although they might have done considerable damage to our ships
had they opened their fire on them as they approached end on to them,
on their weather beam. Not a gun was fired on either side until within
half-musket shot, when the red flag was hoisted on both ships. Up to
that moment all was silent, and it is scarcely possible to conceive a
silence more solemn and impressive! At the same instant, they saw the
signal go to the mast-head of Zoutman's ship. The dreadful silence was
now broken by the tremendous roar of cannon when within pistol-shot,
and the battle raged with the utmost fury for three hours and forty
minutes.
At ten o'clock, the signal for close action which had been made, was
repeated. The Berwick, having forced the van-ship of the enemy to
edge off, fell to leeward of the line, and was consequently obliged to
make sail, tack, and regain her station in support of the Dolphin,
which had then two ships on her, and was also thrown to leeward. The
admiral, having now slackened the Dutch admiral's fire, passed ahead
of the Buffalo, on which the ships astern closed up to the Buffalo;
and the Berwick took the station ahead of the admiral. At thirty-five
minutes past eleven, the ships became unmanageable; and, the Dutch
dropping to leeward, the action ceased.
By some it has been affirmed that Admiral Parker should have renewed
the action: Lieutenant Saumarez says, it was certainly his intention
to do so; but the state of his own ship, and the reports he received
from others, rendered it quite impossible.[3]
[3] When the action had ceased, Sir Hyde Parker,
captain of the Latona and son of the admiral, bore down on the
Fortitude, and affectionately inquired for his brave parent, of
whose gallantry he had been an anxious eye-witness. The admiral,
with equal warmth, assured his son of his personal safety, and
spoke of his mortification at being unable, from the state of
his own ship, and from the reports he had received of the other
ships, to pursue the advantage he had gained, in the manner he
most ardently desired.
The Dutch convoy had about the middle of the conflict bore up for the
Texel. The protection of them was no longer an object, and Admiral
Zoutman, as soon as he could possibly get his ships collected and put
before the wind, made the best of his way into the port; but during
the night the Hollandia, Dutch seventy-four, was seen sunk in
twenty-two fathoms water, and her pendant was hauled down by Captain
Patton, of the Belle Poule, and brought to the admiral. As no ship was
taken, both claimed the victory: but, the convoy being sent back into
port and one ship sunk, should certainly decide it to Admiral Parker;
and had the English admiral not inadvertently rendered his van too
weak by the mistake in the signal which also extended his line beyond
their rear, thereby rendering one ship for a time useless, he would
have obtained a decisive victory.
While Admiral Zoutman must be admired for his cool intrepidity, it
must be admitted that he was much to blame in forbearing to avail
himself of the opportunity of attacking and disabling the approaching
fleet, which he might have done with great effect. After the Fortitude
had been put into a condition to make sail, Lieutenant Saumarez was
sent to conduct the Preston, one of the disabled ships, into port; her
commander, Captain Graeme, having lost his arm in the action. When
Admiral Parker arrived at the Nore, his Majesty paid the squadron a
visit; but the veteran commander, indignant at the conduct of
ministers, who, he conceived, ought to have reinforced his squadron
instead of allowing some fine ships to lie idle in port, received the
King with that rough _hauteur_ peculiar to himself, observing, "I wish
your Majesty better ships and younger officers. As for myself, I am
now too old for the service."
On this occasion Lieut. Saumarez was presented to George III. The King
inquired if he was related to the captains of the same name one of
whom had circumnavigated the globe with Anson, and who had fallen
gloriously in the service of their country: the admiral replied in the
affirmative, saying, "Yes, please your Majesty; he is their nephew,
and as brave and as good an officer as either of them."
In consequence of the bravery and skill he displayed in this action,
Lieut. Saumarez was promoted to the rank of commander, although only
second lieutenant; the first being wounded early in the action, the
duty had fallen on our hero: and he was immediately appointed to the
Tisiphone, a fire-ship constructed on a new plan, and armed with
carronades, which was then fitting at Sheerness; his commission as
"master and commander," bearing date for that ship, the 23rd August
1781.
When lieutenant of the Fortitude, with Admiral Sir Hyde Parker,--who,
from his acerbity of temper, was distinguished from others of the same
name by the sobriquet of "Vinegar Parker,"--the old admiral betrayed
his ill-humour by unwarrantably finding fault with him one morning
when Mr. Saumarez commanded the watch; but soon after, probably to
make amends for such hasty and unguarded conduct towards an officer
for whom he had the greatest regard, he sent to invite him to dinner,
an honour which the young lieutenant declined in terms sufficiently
strong to indicate that his feelings had been hurt. On this, the
admiral sent for him and exclaimed, "What! can't you put up with the
fractious disposition of an old man?" The admiral, who could not bear
to be, even for a day, at variance with Lieutenant Saumarez, would do
anything to serve him; and, when he obtained the command on the East
India station, offered to take him with him in the Cato, which sailed,
and was supposed to have foundered off the Cape of Good Hope, as she
was never afterwards heard of; and he happily escaped sharing the fate
of that gallant chief and unfortunate crew.
The Tisiphone having been fitted out at Sheerness, and the complement
of men having been filled up by supernumeraries from the Conquestadore
at the Nore, Captain Saumarez, by order from Admiral Roddam, placed
himself under the command of Captain Allen, of the Sceptre, on the 6th
September 1781, from whom he received the following order:
You are hereby required and directed to put yourself under my
command, and to follow all such orders and directions as you
shall from time to time receive from me for his Majesty's
service, and to hold yourself in constant readiness to sail at a
moment's warning; and in case of separation by any unavoidable
accident, you are to make the best of your way without loss of
time to Torbay, and put yourself under the command of Admiral
Darby.
(Mem.) In case of your parting company with his Majesty's ship
Sceptre, and falling in with any ships or vessels belonging to
France or French subjects, Spain or Spanish subjects, the States
General of the United Provinces, or to his Majesty's rebellious
subjects in the colonies of North America, that you can cope
with, you are to use your best endeavours to take, seize, sink,
burn, or destroy the same: giving me an account of your arrival
at Torbay, and of anything you may have so taken or destroyed.
Signed.
WM. ALLEN.
In pursuance of these orders Captain Saumarez sailed from the Nore,
and, arriving at Torbay on the 17th, found that Admiral Darby had
sailed in the Britannia on the 15th, after having left orders for the
Tisiphone to cruise a week off the Lizard. Here he was directed to
proceed for Plymouth, where he arrived on the 1st of October; and
having received further orders to repair to Spithead without loss of
time, he arrived there on the 13th October, to fit for Channel
service. He now joined the fleet under Lord Howe, and, after a cruise
off Brest, returned to Portsmouth on the 21st of November: his ship
was found to sail extremely well.
Captain Saumarez was now ordered to place himself under the command of
Admiral Kempenfelt, who, with a detachment of twelve sail of the
line, was destined to intercept Count de Guichen, who had put to sea
from Brest, after having returned from his last severe campaign. The
count had been ordered to use every exertion to refit and prepare the
French fleet for sea, notwithstanding the lateness of the season. The
objects in view could be accomplished only by extreme diligence and
the most profound secrecy, as it was absolutely necessary to reinforce
Count de Grasse, with both ships and troops in the West Indies, as
also M. Des Ornes and Admiral Suffrein in the East. It was evident
that De Grasse, after his hard service on the coast of North America
during the preceding campaign, must stand in need of a vast supply of
naval and military stores; and the service he was about to undertake
in the West Indies would increase the want of provisions, and almost
every necessary of life and of warfare: neither was the demand for
naval and military stores in the East Indies less urgent. Accordingly,
a numerous convoy of transports, store-ships, and victuallers were
prepared and equipped at the same time as the fleet, which was now
extended to such a number of men-of-war as was considered sufficient
for the protection of the convoys until fairly out of reach. This part
of the service, as well as the charge of the whole expedition, was, as
we have stated, confided to Count Guichen; and the command of the
squadron and fleet destined to the West Indies, to M. de Vaudreuil.
The Tisiphone was the look-out ship of the squadron, which sailed from
Spithead at the end of November.
At day-break on the 12th December, Captain Saumarez, being the first
to discover the enemy, made known his situation to the admiral; which
was, that the men-of-war were too far ahead and too much to leeward of
the convoy to afford any protection to it. The admiral, with that
decision and professional skill by which he was so eminently
distinguished, determined to profit by their situation, and boldly
pushed between the convoy and the greater part of the enemy's
line-of-battle ships, and succeeded in capturing twenty sail. In this
affair Captain Saumarez had a noble opportunity of distinguishing
himself, by attacking the ship of war, of thirty-six guns, which was
bringing up the rear of the convoy, and capturing her after an action
of twenty minutes.
Besides those captured, many others had struck; but, the weather at
this time becoming thick and squally, the admiral discontinued the
chase of those which had been cut off, and which made sail in every
direction, that he might collect his squadron before dark, many of his
ships being at a great distance astern with the prizes. At daylight
next morning, the enemy's ships of war, twenty-one sail of the line,
were seen formed to leeward; but their force was so much superior,
that the admiral did not think it advisable to risk an action. The
captured ships consisted of twenty-one sail of transports, having on
board eleven thousand troops, besides their crews of seven thousand
seamen; the greatest part of which were taken by this squadron, and
the Agamemnon, which picked up five or six more.
It was now evident that the force under Count Guichen, destined to
assist Count de Grasse in the capture of the valuable island of
Jamaica; was much greater than had been supposed by the English
government; and, consequently, it became of the utmost importance to
give the earliest information of the approach of such a formidable
enemy to Sir Samuel Hood. Accordingly, Captain Saumarez, whose gallant
conduct and zeal had been so manifest, was selected for this service.
His men were returned to the Tisiphone from the captured ships; and he
was detached with orders to push past the French fleet, and make the
best of his way to Barbadoes, (see Appendix) where he arrived on the
28th of January; and finding the Pegasus, Captain John Stanhope, he
delivered his despatches, and received the following orders from that
officer:
You are hereby required and directed to proceed (without a
moment's loss of time) to the island of Antigua, where, on your
arrival off English Harbour, you are to send a boat in for
intelligence respecting Sir Samuel Hood and the fleet under his
command; which having received from the senior officer in that
port, you will proceed in search of the commander-in-chief, and
deliver him the despatches you are charged with from
Rear-admiral Kempenfelt, as also those you will receive
herewith.
Given on board his Majesty's ship Pegasus,
Carlisle Bay, this 28th Jan. 1782.
(Mem.) I recommend that particular attention may be paid to
keep well to windward of the French islands.
Signed JOHN STANHOPE.
To Captain Saumarez, H.M. fire-ship Tisiphone.
In pursuance of these orders, Captain Saumarez sailed from Barbadoes
on the 28th of January. In the mean time, the Comte de Grasse, who had
been beating to windward for some days with the intention of attacking
Barbadoes, but without gaining ground, had abandoned his plan, and
bore away for St. Kitts. On his arrival there, he landed eight
thousand men, and took possession of greater part of the island:
General Frazer, with a small party of six hundred men, was obliged to
retire to Brimstone Hill Fort.
Sir Samuel Hood, notwithstanding the superiority of the enemy,
(twenty-nine sail of the line,) resolved on a sudden and unusually
bold manoeuvre, namely, to sail and attack the enemy's fleet at
anchor. It was for this purpose that he had put to sea with twenty-two
sail of the line, and proceeded to Antigua, where he took in
provisions, and embarked the twenty-eighth and two companies of the
thirteenth regiment, under command of General Prescott.
Captain Saumarez, according to the orders he had received, proceeded
for Antigua, and keeping "well to windward," as he had been directed
to do, fell in with the Triumphante and Terrible, two French
line-of-battle ships, of the squadron which had been attacked by
Admiral Kempenfelt on the 12th December, and which had been detached
by Comte de Guichen to Martinique. These ships immediately gave chase;
but, night coming on, Captain Saumarez had recourse to stratagem in
order to effect his escape, which would otherwise have been impossible
in consequence of the Tisiphone having carried away her fore-top-mast
in a squall, an accident which was fortunately not observed by his
pursuers: he now made night-signals by hoisting lights and burning
false fires; which having led the enemy to suppose he was
communicating with an English squadron, they abandoned the pursuit
after a chase of half-an-hour.
At the moment the fore-top-mast was carried away, Mr. Robb, one of the
midshipmen, who was looking out at the fore-top-gallant-mast-head,
fell on the forecastle without receiving any injury. This young
gentleman was an _eleve_ of Captain Saumarez, continued with him to
the end of that war, and embarked with him on board the Crescent in
1793. After the capture of _La Reunion_, he was promoted to the rank
of lieutenant.
The fore-top-mast of the Tisiphone was soon replaced; and next day, on
reaching English Harbour, he learned that Sir Samuel Hood, with his
squadron was at anchor in Basseterre Roads, St. Kitts, where he had
three times repulsed the enemy of a much superior force, but which had
now taken up such a position as rendered it impossible for him to
communicate with the admiral; for, unless he would venture to push
through the intricate channel between Nevis and St. Kitts, he would
run the greatest risk of being captured. Undismayed, however, at the
danger of navigating an unknown passage, he fearlessly proceeded where
no ship had ever before ventured; and by sounding as he advanced, and
by the dexterous management of his ship, he succeeded in carrying the
Tisiphone to the anchorage at St. Kitts in safety; and delivered his
despatches to Sir Samuel Hood, who informed him that the intelligence
was of such importance, that it was necessary it should be immediately
sent on to Sir Peter Parker at Jamaica. But when the admiral proposed
to send the Tisiphone on with it, Captain Saumarez, desirous of
remaining at the seat of warlike operations, represented to him that
the Tisiphone was a fine fast-sailing ship on a new construction, that
in the existing state of affairs she might be useful, and that he
should be happy to contribute by his own personal exertions to the
promotion of the public service; whereas any vessel could run down
with the trade-wind to Jamaica. Sir Samuel, no less pleased with the
proposal, and the manner in which it was made, than convinced of the
advantage he would derive from having with him a fast-sailing vessel
commanded by so zealous an officer, whose tact and intrepidity had
already been manifested, determined to keep the Tisiphone with his
squadron, and send a less useful vessel with the intelligence to
Jamaica. The admiral soon reaped the advantage of this decision.
Captain Saumarez, during the time the fleet remained there and at
Antigua, was the most active in harassing the enemy. He commanded
several boat expeditions, and cut out a vessel in a most gallant style
from Basseterre Roads and several other small vessels from the back of
the island.
The time, however, had now arrived when it was absolutely necessary to
send another despatch to England; and the admiral had no other small
vessel remaining but the Tisiphone. On the 7th February 1782, the
signal was made for an opportunity of sending letters to England, and
subsequently for the captain of the Tisiphone: Captain Saumarez had
been dining with his friend, Captain Charrington, on board the Ajax,
and it was some time before he reached the Barfleur; when he found to
his dismay and mortification that he was ordered home! In a short
time the despatches were ready, and he had taken his leave. He
described this interesting circumstance, on which it may be said his
fortune was founded, in the following manner to us, and we cannot do
better than give it in his own words.
"I was," says he, "in my own boat, with the despatches in my hand; and
with a heavy heart had ordered the bow-man to shove off, when Captain
Stanhope, of the Russell, came alongside, and seeing me called:
'Hollo! Saumarez, where are you going?'--'To _England_', said I, 'I am
sorry to tell you!'--'Sorry,' replied Stanhope; 'I wish I was in your
place; I want to go home on account of my health; and, if I had known,
I would have exchanged with you.'--'Perhaps it is not too late,' said
I.--'Hold on then,' said he, 'till I speak to the admiral, since I
have your leave.'"
By this time the Russell's boat was alongside the admiral's ship; and
at the word "Hold on!" which was emphatically repeated by Saumarez,
the bow-man hooked the quarter of the Russell's barge, and he remained
but a few minutes in breathless suspense; after which Captain Stanhope
appeared at the gangway, and called, "Come up, Saumarez." He was on
deck in an instant, and found that, on Captain Jackson being asked to
submit the proposal to the admiral, he said, "Let Captain Saumarez do
it himself, he is the fittest person."
When Sir Samuel Hood heard the application, he was silent, and after
reflecting for a few minutes he said, "Captain Saumarez, you know not
how much I wish to serve you; Captain Stanhope shall go home as he
desires, and you shall have command of the Russell." Accordingly,
before the close of that day, Captain Stanhope was on board the
Tisiphone on his way to England; while her late commander was in
possession of his post-rank, and captain of one of his Majesty's ships
of the line of seventy-four guns; and all this effected in less than
two hours!
We cannot forbear making honourable mention of a trait of attachment
manifested on this occasion by the first lieutenant, a Scotch baronet
of an ancient family, who had not been at sea for twenty-two years,
when he was appointed to the Tisiphone. The conflict of this officer's
feelings between joy for his captain's promotion and regret at losing
so excellent a friend was far beyond description; but, as the moment
of parting approached, he selected what he considered most valuable,
and so earnestly did he press Captain Saumarez to accept some
testimonial of his esteem, that, finding a refusal would deeply wound
his feelings, he accepted a silver ladle marked with his initials,
which has ever since been carefully preserved in memory of its former
owner.
The same night Captain Saumarez took command of the Russell, he had
cause to find that promotion and honours bring cares. A report was
made to him that the ship was in a state of mutiny, and that a shot
had been thrown at one of the officers. He soon found, indeed, that he
had a most disorderly ship's company; but the firm, prompt, and
judicious regulations which Captain Saumarez immediately established,
brought the crew so effectually into order, that two months after, at
the memorable battle of the 12th April 1782, no ship was in a higher
state of discipline than the Russell.