It appears by the log-books of the ships and vessels under the command
of Admiral Lord Gambier, in Basque Roads, on the 11th and 12th of
April, 1809, and also by his Lordship’s official letter to the
Admiralty, and by the Minutes of Evidence on his Lordship’s
court-martial, that, in consequence of an attack made on the evening
of the 11th upon the French fleet, then lying at anchor in the Roads
of Aix, by explosion vessels and fireships, under the command of Lord
Cochrane, the greater part of the French ships cut or slipped their
cables and ran on shore.
It further appears that Lord Cochrane in the _Impérieuse_ frigate
remained in an advanced position during the night, and that at
daylight the following morning he made the signal by telegraph to Lord
Gambier (who remained with the fleet at its anchorage in Basque Roads,
at the distance of about six miles from the enemy) that seven of the
enemy’s ships were on shore and might be destroyed.
It further appears that, in consequence of the above-mentioned signal,
or of subsequent signals of a similar or nearly similar purport, Lord
Gambier caused the fleet to unmoor and weigh, either immediately after
the first signal, according to his Lordship’s aforesaid official
letter, or after an interval of some time, according to the evidence
of some of the witnesses on his Lordship’s court-martial: but that he
again caused the fleet to come to an anchor at a distance of more than
three miles from the enemy.
It also appears that Lord Cochrane, in the _Impérieuse_, _without
assistance and without orders_, proceeded to the attack; and that it
was not till after his Lordship had made the signal that the enemy was
superior, which is coupled with the signal of distress, that Lord
Gambier sent in _a part_ of the fleet to his assistance; and it
further appears by his Lordship’s aforesaid official letter, and by a
due comparison of the minutes of evidence on the aforesaid
court-martial, that the _Calcutta_ had surrendered to the _Impérieuse_
before any of the vessels ordered to her assistance had joined.
And it further appears that the ships and vessels which were ordered
to join the _Impérieuse_, in consequence of the last-mentioned signal,
or, according to a further official letter of Lord Gambier, in
consequence of the _Impérieuse_ being observed to advance, did arrive
shortly after the surrender of the _Calcutta_, and joined in the
attack on such others of the enemy’s ships as had not had time to
effect their escape; and it further appears that, in consequence of
such attack by a part of the fleet only, the _Aquilon_ and _Ville de
Varsovie_ were captured and destroyed, and the _Tonnerre_ set on fire
by the enemy.
And, lastly, it appears that the only ships participating in the
attack were the following:—
The _Impérieuse_,
The _Valiant_,
The _Revenge_,
The _Indefatigable_,
The _Unicorn_,
The _Aigle_,
The _Emerald_,
The _Pallas_,
The _Beagle_,
The _Etna_ bomb, and
The _Insolent_, }
_Conflict_, }
_Encounter_, } Gun-Brigs.
_Fervent_, }
_Growler_, }
and that the _Caledonia_, Admiral Lord Gambier,
the _Cæsar_, Rear-Admiral Stopford,
and the _Donegal_,
_Resolution_,
_Theseus_,
_Gibraltar_,
_Illustrious_, and
_Bellona_
remained at anchor with the commander-in-chief, and were _in no
respect_ aiding or assisting in the attack upon the enemy’s ships, or
accessary to their capture or destruction.
_L’Aigle._
[Sidenote: April 12.]
Captain’s log erroneous, and date of the
_Calcutta’s_ striking altered.
_Emerald._
[Sidenote: Captain’s log.]
At 12·30 saw the _Impérieuse_ and _Etna_ bomb open
fire upon the enemy. At 1·30 answered signal 236.
(_Note._—By the _Caledonia’s_ signal, log 336): one
hundred having been added to the numbers that day.
_Growler._
[Sidenote: Ship’s log]
10·30 answered signal 314. Commander went on board
the Admiral. (_Note._—No notice is taken of the
fleet weighing.)
_Conflict._
[Sidenote: Ship’s log.]
Weighed at 11 A.M.
P.M. at 1 made sail for the anchorage of Isle d’Aix.
At 3 came to, and commenced action with the enemy’s
ships on shore. At 4·30 answered signal as per
margin[105] made by _Imp_ \. At 5 observed four of
the enemy’s ships on fire! left off action.
(_Note._—Two of which were not burnt till next day.)
_Indefatigable._
[Sidenote: Captain’s log.]
At 11·40 weighed for signal in company with the
squadron.
[Sidenote: No ship’s or master’s log from March 15 1809!]]
At 12·15 shortened sail to let go the anchor. At 2
P.M. answered signals No. 166 and 366, with compass
signal south. Weighed and made sail in for Isle
d’Aix Roads, to assist H.M.S. _Impérieuse_. _Then
engaged with the enemy’s line-of-battle ships._ At
3·30 shortened sail and came to in seven fathoms
with a spring on the cable, and commenced firing on
the enemy.
_Insolent._
[Sidenote: April 12, Ship’s log.]
At 11·30 weighed for order of the Admiral. At 2 P.M.
anchored in six fathoms. At 3 weighed and _observed
Calcutta had struck_.
_Pallas._
At 12·15 anchored H.M.S. _Caledonia_.
_Revenge._
No Master’s or ship’s log.
No Captain’s log.
Lieut. Garland, who had sent in previous logs has
furnished no account of the proceedings in April
1809 until the 24th, and the date of the
commencement of the said log is obviously altered,
as will clearly appear both as to the month and the
day.
Lieut. Millon, also of the _Revenge_, ends his log
on the 31st of March 1809; although on the
title-page he states it to contain the transactions
of that ship between the 18th of July 1808, and the
19th of July 1809! And the Captain’s certificate
annexed, is dated the 17th of July 1809!
The logs of the other Lieutenants do not appear.
_Etna._
At 11 A.M. the Captain went on board the Admiral’s
ship. Weighed and made sail by signal, as did the
fleet to the southward. At 12, fleet anchored about
three miles from the Isle d’Aix. At 1 the Captain
came on board, steered in for the enemy’s fleet.
_Beagle._
At 11 A.M. starboard and larboard division weighed
with with fleet—standing off and on. Fleet anchored;
the _Impérieuse_ and _Etna_ bore up for the enemy.
At 2·15 _Impérieuse_ made signal to Admiral and
anchored with springs and opened her fire. At 2·30
Admiral made sign to frigates _Pallas_, _L’Aigle_,
_Emerald_, _Unicorn_, _Indefatigable_, _Growler_,
_Encounter_, _Insolent_ and _Conflict_ to anchor in
Charente River.
-----
Footnote 105:
No signal marked on the margin.
-----
--------------
_Extract from the Log-book of H.M.S. Gun-brig Insolent._
April 12th, 1809, P.M.
At 3, weighed and observed _Calcutta_ had struck.
--------------
_Extract from the Signal-book of H.M.S. Caledonia._
April 12th, 1809, P.M.
2·50, _Impérieuse_—General, 208. [Being the signal to close, in
consequence of which, the _Insolent_ weighed as appears by her
log-book at 3 o’clock.]
AFFIDAVIT MADE BY ME, DISCLOSING DE BERENGER AS THE VISITOR TO MY
HOUSE ON THE 21ST OF FEBRUARY 1814.
Having obtained leave of absence to come to Town, in consequence of
scandalous paragraphs in the public papers, and in consequence of
having learnt that hand-bills had been affixed in the streets, in
which (I have since seen) it is asserted that a person came to my
house, No. 13 Green Street, on the 21st day of February, in open day,
and in the dress in which he had committed a fraud, I feel it due to
myself to make the following deposition, that the public may know the
truth relative to the only person seen by me in military uniform at my
house on that day.