THE _CHILDERS_ BRIG
[Sidenote: 1834. May.]
The _Childers_ brig was lying in dock at Portsmouth.
The First Lieutenant, George Goldsmith, had been serving in the
_Madagascar_ frigate, under that distinguished officer, the Hon. Sir
Robert Spencer, who was succeeded by another equally good Captain,
Edmund Lyons.
The Second Lieutenant, Grey Skipwith, was just promoted out of the
_Royal George_ yacht--a smart fellow in every way, son of a grand old
sporting baronet, who lived at Newbold Hall, Warwickshire.
Jonas Coaker, my old shipmate in the _Tweed_, was Master; a finer
seaman never broke a biscuit.
Goldsmith and I found the brig in dock, but not afloat. A small staff,
with a yard and a half of narrow bunting, was secured to the taffrail,
and H.M.S. _Childers_ declared to be in commission.
Reported the auspicious event to the Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir
Thomas Williams, G.C.B., and afterwards to Sir F. L. Maitland, K.C.B.,
Admiral Superintendent.
The next step was a pole, with the Union Jack suspended out of the
first-floor window of the Bedford-in-Chase, on the Hard.
“His Majesty’s ship _Childers’_ Rendezvous.”
Lost no time in issuing hand-bills to the following effect:--
“Wanted, Petty Officers and Able Seamen for
His Majesty’s ship _Childers_.
COMMANDER HENRY KEPPEL.
Now fitting for the Mediterranean Station.
_N.B._--None but the RIGHT SORT need apply.”
These were posted at all the large seaports.
I secured lodgings on the “Hard”; feeding was accomplished at the
“Keppel’s Head.”
The Admiral Superintendent took great interest in the fitting-out, and
kindly acceded to all my fancies. He selected the _Topaze_ for use as
a hulk, and substituted a tiller for the wheel. The brig was of great
beam, giving spread for her rigging and stability to her spars. The
figure-head was that of a horse, apparently with his lower jaw broken.
This I gilded over, and on the bows of the boats had a representation
of a horse winning the Derby. The ship was painted white inside, with
green rails to hammock netting, port-cells black. My means of fitting
out were small, but what worried me most was the average pound a day I
had to pay for postage, while there was a ridiculous idea that persons
would take offence if letters were prepaid. Crossing the Border cost an
extra sixpence. My letters were chiefly from anxious parents.
[Sidenote: June.]
Lord Yarborough, President of the Royal Yacht Squadron, took great
interest in our fitting, and passed many an hour on board giving me
useful hints. On Saturdays all Captains fitting-out were invited to his
beautiful place at Apple-de-Coombe, in the Isle of Wight, to remain
over Sunday. After church we went to his son’s (Dudley Pelham) lovely
place, St. Lawrence, on the South Coast.
Lord Yarborough kindly put my name down for ballot as an honorary
member of the Yacht Squadron Club, on which list I may now boast of
being the senior member. We were well and quickly manned.
[Sidenote: July 10.]
Captain Charles Napier arrived at Spithead as a Portuguese Admiral,
flying his flag in the _Duchess of Braganza_. Commander William Holt
was ordered a passage to join _Scout_.
[Sidenote: July 28.]
11.30 A.M.--Cast off from hulk and worked out to Spithead; saluted flag
of Sir Frederick Maitland.
[Sidenote: July 30.]
Weighed, and stood out of St. Helens.
[Sidenote: July 31.]
Came to in Plymouth Sound 10 P.M.; saluted flag of Admiral Sir William
Hargood.
[Sidenote: August 2.]
5 A.M.--Weighed and made sail. My cabin was 9 feet from bulkhead to
bulkhead, not leaving much room for the swing of cots.
Crossing the bay we were pitching, and, to make my guest more
comfortable, I had the fore-topgallant sail taken in. However, every
now and then his cot struck both bulkheads.
I was thinking of shortening sail, when the sentry’s bell rang: Holt
sent for the officer of the watch, and ordered the main-topgallant sail
to be taken in. But before the officer was clear of the door, I told
him to keep fast the main, and to set the fore-topgallant sail, at
which my _Childers_ began to jump and plunge in a manner that caused me
to think both bulkheads must be battened down.
If I have any shore-going readers, I should explain, though Holt was my
senior by ten years, having no pennant flying, he could not dictate to
me. When I was satisfied he was aware who commanded, I shortened sail.
We were always good friends after.
[Sidenote: August 5.]
Exchanged numbers with _Stag_, 46, commanded by Nicholas Lockyer, a
character.
[Sidenote: Aug. 12.]
Arrived in Tangiers Roads, the dominion of the Emperor of Morocco,
where I delivered despatches to the Consul-General, Mr. Edward
Drummond, and then proceeded to Gibraltar, seeing for the first time
the great fortified rock, of whose power one is unaware until exploring
the numerous galleries and recesses containing heavy guns, most of them
not seen from the sea. My time was so short that I was only able to
write my name in the book of General, Earl of Chatham, at the Convent.
[Sidenote: Aug. 28.]
Arrived at Malta 2 A.M., and, profiting by Goldsmith’s experience, made
fast to a buoy off the dockyard; on no occasion did we let go an anchor
in that harbour.
[Sidenote: Aug. 29.]
Saluted the flag of Admiral Superintendent Sir Thomas Briggs. Later
on, passing my glass round the harbour, I descried, on a projecting
balcony, the fair forms of Emma and Emily Hunn, now just out of their
teens, their father, my earliest chief, being Port Captain. On landing
I was received with a kind and hearty welcome.
[Sidenote: Sept. 2.]
I was soon sent on to join the Commander-in-Chief, and sailed September
2.
[Sidenote: Sept. 12.]
On the 12th we rounded Cape Karabonu. Not finding the fleet, ran on
for Smyrna, where I found _Endymion_, Sir Samuel Roberts; _Mastiff_,
_Beacon_, and the _Hind_ cutter, which latter, being a slow sailer, was
commonly called “The Behind.”
At Smyrna communicated with Sir Samuel Roberts, who ordered me back to
Vourla.
[Sidenote: Sept. 13.]
On the morning of the 13th the fleet hove in sight. We saluted the flag
of that gallant and distinguished man, Vice-Admiral Sir Josias Rowley,
Bart., flying on board the _Caledonia_, 120, Captain T. Brown.
With the flag were five ships of the line the commissions of whose
Captains were dated before I was born: The _Edinburgh_, 74, Captain
Richard Dacres (January 1806); _Caledonia_, 120, Captain Thomas Brown
(January 1802); _Thunderer_, 84, W. Wise (May 1806); _Canopus_, 84,
Hon. Jos. Percy (September 1806); _Talavera_, 74, E. Chetham (October
1807). Of these, _Caledonia_, three-decker, was the most imposing.
_Canopus_ was a French ship, by far the handsomest, as well as the
fastest sailer. She carried a glass star above the truck, which on a
sunshiny day could be seen long before a vestige of the fleet. The
_Edinburgh_ was a fine ship. _Thunderer_, a finer, but last from
England, and likely to be second to none. _Talavera_, not much to look
at, but improving. _Malabar_, 74, Captain Sir William Montague, was
away to the westward, a most comfortable and happy ship. The _Vernon_,
38, finest frigate in the world, and exceeding in beam any of the
line-of-battle ships built by Sir William Symonds. _Tribune_, 24,
razéed frigate. I did not think much of her or her Captain. _Volage_,
24, donkey frigate, with George Martin, the best of good fellows, as
Captain. There were _Tyne_, 28, a good fellow as Captain, Lord Ingestre
(was much with him later, on coast of Spain), and six smaller vessels,
of which _Childers_ was one, constantly on the move.
While lying here I was joined by a very smart youngster from the Naval
College, Edward Rice.
While with the flag we were not allowed to be idle, and continued
trials of rates of sailing on a wind. We held our own, as the
_Childers_ was quick in stays. This was great fun for a while. But we
all knew that there was scarcely a bush on shore that did not hold a
woodcock.
[Sidenote: October.]
Of course, there was rivalry throughout. _Caledonia_ had the advantage
of being chief, and knowing what next would be done. _Canopus_ followed
our style of paint, and looked perfection, but on our returning from
a sea-voyage, _Edinburgh_ and _Thunderer_ were the first to hoist
boom-boats out, and fill us smaller craft with stores, water, and
provisions. Weighed and made sail, _Madagascar_ in company. We beat her
in short tacks working out of the bay.
[Sidenote: Oct. 15.]
Came to in Lante Bay.
[Sidenote: Oct. 19.]
A fresh steamer, the _Spitfire_, arrived with despatches; we sailed to
rejoin the Admiral.
[Sidenote: Oct. 24.]
Weighed at daylight, and worked for Vourla Bay. 1.30 P.M.--Came to in
11 fathoms in centre of the fleet.
[Sidenote: Nov. 5.]
Weighed at daylight with _Scout_, _Columbine_, and _Medea_ to try rates
of sailing. _Scout_ bound to Alexandria; being senior, and not able to
keep up, gave us permission to part company at sunset.
[Sidenote: Nov. 6.]
Just before sunset, coming on to blow from the northward, stood in
between Augusta and Green Islands until jib-boom was over the land, and
let go the anchor in 4 fathoms.
_Columbine_, following close, let go her anchor close on our starboard
quarter, without finding bottom, and so drifted out to sea and deep
water for the night, with bower cable out to the clinch to heave in.
[Sidenote: Nov. 7.]
Weighed at daylight and joined the _Columbine_, who had been all night
recovering her anchor.
[Sidenote: Nov. 8.]
Came to in Vourla Bay, with a few days’ comparative rest.
[Sidenote: Nov. 10.]
Weighed in company with _Caledonia_, _Medea_, and _Columbine_, to try
rate of sailing.
[Sidenote: Nov. 27.]
Returned to Vourla Bay, and came to in 8 fathoms. Arrived _Malabar_,
74, Captain Sir William Montague.
It being necessary for me to write to the Admiral, found I could not
avail myself of the services of the clerk, he having both his eyes
stopped up by a promising young master’s assistant, one William King
Hall, called by his messmates Jacko. Accidents will happen in the best
regulated families.
About this time some of the ships were short of the junior class of
officers.
The _Talavera_ had no midshipmen. I explained this little accident of
my clerk’s eyes to Captain Chetham, and with the consent of the kind
chief, my friend Jacko was transferred to the _Talavera_ with the
superior rank of midshipman. From that position he raised himself to
the highest rank. We were friends until his untimely end, and he has
left two sons in the service who do credit to a parent, and a pretty,
now married, daughter.
After joining flag, we had a week’s quiet in Vourla Bay, which gave me
an opportunity of improving my acquaintance with the Captains of the
fleet, to say nothing of shooting. Plenty of hares and woodcock were to
be found.
[Sidenote: Nov. 29.]
Sailed from Vourla Bay, charged with despatches.
[Sidenote: Dec. 8.]
Arrived at Malta Harbour. We were not long there, being sent with
stores and provisions for the _Favourite_. After men’s dinner slipped
from buoy, and the following afternoon came to in Tripoli Roads. In
addition to _Favourite_, found French, Turkish, and Neapolitan ships of
war. At sunset I had to follow the motions of my senior officer, and
struck lower yards and topmasts.
[Sidenote: Dec. 8.]
Next morning found civil affairs on shore not quite right. The late
Pasha “Youssuf” Corromanli, who had obtained possession of the
Government by murdering his elder brother, and now, to save his own
head, abdicated in favour of his son Ali, as great a scoundrel as
himself, the rightful and legitimate heir being a son of an older
brother of Ali’s (since dead).
The majority of the people had chosen a fine fellow--one Emhammud--to
be their Sovereign. While Ali held possession of the town, Emhammud had
the country round, and the forts that flanked the roads.
Each party declared the other in a state of blockade, and expended much
powder. Emhammud liked the English; Ali preferred the French. I visited
both pretenders. The English Consul, Colonel Warrington, had two
houses, one in the country. The town-house had had a shell burst inside
it, and the roof was afterwards made bomb-proof.
[Sidenote: Dec. 10.]
Having been informed by my friend Mundy that his gig, with flag flying,
which had preceded me, was sufficient protection from both sides, I
landed in my gig at a rickety pier to visit the Consul, when a round
shot from the outside party cut the body of an honest trader in two.
He was landing some innocent bit of cargo within five yards of where
I stood. The victim was one of Ali’s party, and his death caused much
howling and lamentation from the top of the minarets.
[Sidenote: Dec. 12.]
Saluted Colonel Warrington on his visiting the ship. Of my friend
Mundy, as a whip, I did not think much; but when clear of the town
the desert sands were level, and the date-fruit ripe. I took one of
my smallest mids, Comber, with us to fill, or rather occupy, the back
seat. On returning to the town, Mundy not allowing room enough, the
off wheel caught the corner of a wall, bringing the whole affair
to grief. My middy, being light, cleared the opposite walk, and was
landed in a seraglio garden while the ladies were taking their evening
exercise.
[Sidenote: Dec. 13.]
Warrington had a wife and daughter, and was much respected; Comber was
released without coming to further grief.
[Sidenote: Dec. 14.]
Having received verbal orders to return immediately, I had a boat
anchored on the only outer rock that could interfere with _Childers_,
although aware of the kind hospitality of our Consul, who had a
small brass band to add to the hilarity of the evening. Safe of a
land breeze, I sloped off in the middle watch without being seen. The
senior officer, next morning, found no vessel to “follow motions.”
[Sidenote: Dec. 17.]
Light winds. It took us two days to reach Malta.
[Sidenote: Dec. 20.]
Slipped and made sail from buoy to rejoin fleet. Deck loaded with
stores for the different messes.
[Sidenote: Dec. 25.]
Weighed at daylight from Cape Colonna and made sail with topgallant
masts on deck. Hugged the land. Passed between English Island and the
main, and got through the Douro passage without a tack. The islands and
Negro Point covered with snow to the water’s edge.
[Sidenote: Dec. 27.]
Came to in Vourla Bay.