A NAVAL STUDY—(continued).
THE EVIDENCE OF OFFICERS PRESENT IN BASQUE ROADS.—ADMIRAL AUSTEN’S
OPINIONS CONFIRMATORY OF MY STATEMENTS—FALLACY OF ALLEGED REWARDS TO
MYSELF, IN PLACE OF THESE PERSECUTIONS.—TREATMENT OF MY ELDEST SON
LORD COCHRANE.—LETTER FROM CAPT. HUTCHINSON COMFIRMATORY OF THE
ENEMY’S PANIC.—A MIDSHIPMAN NEAR TAKING THE FLAG-SHIP.—EVIDENCE OF
CAPT. SEYMOUR, CONCLUSIVE AS TO NEGLECT, WHICH WAS THE MATTER TO BE
INQUIRED INTO, IN NOT SENDING SHIPS TO ATTACK.—ATTEMPT TO WEATHER
HIS EVIDENCE.—CAPT. MALCOLM’S EVIDENCE CONFIRMATORY OF CAPT.
SEYMOUR’S.—CAPT. BROUGHTON’S TESTIMONY PROVES THE COMPLETE PANIC OF
THE ENEMY, AND THE WORTHLESSNESS OF THEIR FORTIFICATIONS.—LORD
GAMBIER DECLARES THEM EFFICIENT ON SUPPOSITION ARISING FROM
HEARSAY.—ENEMY UNABLE TO FIGHT THEIR GUNS.—THE IMAGINARY SHOAL.—A
GREAT POINT MADE OF IT.—MR. FAIRFAX’S MAP—LORD GAMBIER ON THE
EXPLOSION VESSELS.—CONTRADICTED BY MR. FAIRFAX.—CONTRAST OF THEIR
RESPECTIVE STATEMENTS.—FAIRFAX’S EVASIONS.—HIS LETTER TO THE “NAVAL
CHRONICLE.”—THESE MATTERS A WARNING TO THE SERVICE.
The matters related in the preceding chapter will appear yet more
extraordinary when contrasted with, and confirmed by, the evidence of
eminent officers present in the action of Aix Roads; that is, of such
officers commanding ships as were permitted to give their testimony, for
those who were suspected of not approving the Commander-in-chief’s
conduct, _were not summoned to give evidence before the court-martial_!
In one instance—that of Captain Maitland, of the _Bellerophon_, whose
opinions on the subject had been freely expressed—this gallant officer
was ordered to join the squadron in Ireland, so as to render his
testimony unavailable.
To a gallant officer still living, Admiral Sir Francis William Austen,
K.C.B., who was present in Basque Roads, but, like other eminent
officers, _not examined on the court-martial_, I am indebted for a
recently-expressed opinion as to the causes why the majority of the
enemy’s ships were suffered to escape beyond reach of attack, as well as
of the persecution which I afterwards underwent, in consequence of my
conscientious opposition to a vote of thanks to the Commander-in-chief.