parrot, which was Jack Larmour’s aversion, from the exactness with which
the bird had learned to imitate the calls of the boatswain’s whistle.
Sometimes the parrot would pipe an order so correctly as to throw the
ship into momentary confusion, and the first lieutenant into a volley of
imprecations, consigning Poll to a warmer latitude than his native
tropical forests. Indeed, it was only by my uncle’s countenance that the
bird was tolerated.
One day a party of ladies paid us a visit aboard, and several had been
hoisted on deck by the usual means of a “whip” on the mainyard. The
chair had descended for another “whip,” but scarcely had its fair
freight been lifted out of the boat alongside, than the unlucky parrot
piped “_Let go!_” The order being instantly obeyed, the unfortunate
lady, instead of being comfortably seated on deck, as had been those who
preceded her, was soused overhead in the sea! Luckily for Poll, Jack
Larmour was on shore at the time, or this unseasonable assumption of the
boatswain’s functions might have ended tragically.
On the return of the _Hind_ from Norway, my uncle was appointed to the
_Thetis_, a more powerful frigate; for though the _Hind_ carried 28
guns, they were only 9-pounders; an armament truly ridiculous as
compared with that of frigates of the present day. It may almost be
said, that the use of such an armament consisted in rendering it
necessary to resort to the cutlass and boarding-pike—weapons to be
relied on. Had such been the object of the Board of Admiralty as
regarded the smaller class of frigates, it could not have been better
carried out. The lighter class of vessels were even worse provided for.
Seven years later a sloop was placed under my command, armed with
4-pounders only. One day, by way of burlesque on such an equipment, I
walked the quarter-deck with a whole broadside of shot in my coat
pockets.
The _Thetis_ was ordered to equip at Sheerness, and knowing that her
first lieutenant, instead of indulging himself ashore, would pursue his
customary relaxation of working hard aboard, I begged permission to
remain and profit by his example. This was graciously conceded, on
condition that, like himself, I would put off the officer and assume the
garb of a seaman. Nothing could be more to my taste; so, with knife in
belt and marlinspike in hand, the captain of the forecastle undertook my
improvement in the arts of knotting and splicing; Larmour himself taking
charge of gammoning and rigging the bowsprit, which, as the frigate lay
in dock, overhung the common highway. So little attention was then paid
to the niceties of dockyard arrangement.
Dockyards in those days were secondary objects. At Sheerness the people
lived, like rabbits in a warren, in old hulks, hauled up high and dry;
yet everything was well done, and the supervision perfect. It would be
folly to advocate the continuance of such a state of things, yet it may
be doubted whether the naval efficiency of the present day keeps pace
with the enormous outlay on modern dockyards, almost (as it appears to
me) to ignoring the training of men. I would rather see a mistake in the
opposite extreme—men before dockyard conveniences; and am confident that
had such been our practice, we should not have recently heard
humiliating explanations, that we were without adequate naval
protection, and that our national safety depended on the forbearance of
a neighbouring state.
Precision in stone and mortar is no more naval efficiency, than are the
absurd coast fortifications (to which there is an evident leaning)
national safety. The true fortification of England is, always to be in a
position to strike the first blow at sea the moment it may become
necessary. To wait for it would, under any circumstances, be folly—to be
unprepared for it, national suicide.
The service now seems to savour too much of the dockyard, and too little
of the seaman. Formerly, both officers and men had to lend a hand in
everything, and few were the operations which, unaided by artificers,
they could not perfectly accomplish. On two occasions my own personal
skill at pump-work has saved ships and crews when other assistance was
not available.
The modern practice is to place ships in commission, with everything
perfect to the hands of the officers and crew, little being required of
them beyond keeping the ship in order whilst at sea. The practice is to
a certain extent praiseworthy; but it has the disadvantage of impressing
officers with the belief that handicraft skill on their part is
unnecessary, though in the absence of practically acquired knowledge it
is impossible even to direct any operation efficiently.
Without a certain amount of this skill, as forming an important part of
training, no man can become an efficient naval officer. It would be
gratifying to me should these remarks lead to inquiry on the subject. I
must confess my inability to peruse the accounts of inexperience in the
fleet at the outbreak of the late war with Russia, without grave
misgivings that the supervision of the navy in the present day is not
that of old time.
CHAP. III.
THE VOYAGE OF THE _THETIS_.
VOYAGE IN THE THETIS.—ICEBERGS.—I AM MADE ACTING LIEUTENANT.—I AM
ORDERED TO JOIN THE THETIS.—PASS EXAMINATION FOR LIEUTENANT.—CAPT.
COCHRANE’S CAPTURE OF FRENCH STORE-SHIPS.—MY APPOINTMENT TO THE
RESOLUTION.—ADMIRAL WINTERS IN THE CHESAPEAKE.—AN UNDIGNIFIED
ENCOUNTER.—A DINNER ASHORE.—HARSH TREATMENT OF THE AMERICANS.—THEIR
COMPLAINTS.—RETURN OF THE THETIS TO ENGLAND.
As soon as the _Thetis_ had obtained her complement, she was ordered to
join the squadron of Admiral Murray, which was being fitted out for
North America; whither, soon after the declaration of war against
England by the French Convention, the Government had despatched orders
to seize the islands of St. Pierre and Miguilon, previously captured
from the French in 1778, but restored at the termination of the American
war.
It was in order to regain these islands, and for the protection of our
commerce and fisheries generally, that a stronger force on the Nova
Scotia station was deemed essential. The conduct of the American people
was doubtful, as, from the assistance rendered by the French in the War
of Independence, and still more from the democratic institutions
recently established in France, little doubt existed that their leaning
would be upon the side of the enemy. The United States Government,
however, did all in its power to preserve neutrality by proclamations
and addresses, but as its authority was little more than nominal
throughout the various states, a disposition on the part of American
shipowners to assist the French in providing stores of every kind was
manifested very soon after the declaration of war. On our return from
Leith to Plymouth to join the admiral, we detained several American
vessels laden with corn and other provisions for French ports; one of
the objects of Admiral Murray’s squadron being to intercept traffic of
this nature.
The squadron sailed from Plymouth; and when about midway across the
Atlantic an incident occurred worth relating, as bearing upon a
conjecture made a few years ago, by the master and passengers of a
merchant vessel, regarding some vessels, supposed, though erroneously,
to form part of Sir John Franklin’s expedition.
One night, finding the temperature of the atmosphere rapidly decreasing,
the squadron was proceeding under easy sail, with a vigilant look-out
for icebergs. At dawn we were close to a block of these, extending right
across our path as far as the eye could reach. The only alternative was
to alter our course and pass to leeward of the group, to which, from the
unwonted sublimity of the sight, we approached as nearly as seemed
consistent with safety. The appearance of icebergs is now so well known
that it would be superfluous to describe them. I shall only remark that
on passing one field of great extent we were astonished at discovering
on its sides three vessels, the one nearest to us being a polacca-rigged
ship, elevated at least a hundred feet; the berg having rolled round or
been lightened by melting, so that the vessel had the appearance of
being on a hill forming the southern portion of the floe. The story of
two vessels answering the description of Sir John Franklin’s ships
having a few years ago been seen on an iceberg was scarcely credited at
the time, but may receive corroboration from the above incident.
Nothing can exceed the extraordinary aspect of these floating islands of
ice, either as regards variety of form, or the wonderful display of
reflected light which they present. But, however they may attract
curiosity, ships should always give them a wide berth, the in-draught of
water on their weather side being very dangerous. A singular effect was
experienced as we passed to leeward of the field; first, the intense
cold of the wind passing over it, and occasionally, the heat caused by
the reflection of the sun’s rays from the ice whenever the ship came
within the angle of incidence.
On our arrival at Halifax we found many American vessels which had been
detained, laden with corn and provisions. These had been seized by our
predecessors on the station, the act by no means tending to increase our
popularity on subsequent visits along the United States coast. Another
practice which was pursued has always appeared to me a questionable
stretch of authority towards a neutral nation, viz. the forcible
detention of English seamen whenever found navigating American ships. Of
this the Government of the United States justly complained, as
inflicting severe losses on their citizens, whose vessels were thus
delayed or imperilled for want of hands.
The practice was defended by the British Government, but on what grounds
I am not jurist enough to comprehend. Certain it is, that should another
Continental war arise, such a course would be impracticable; for as
American ships, whether of war or commerce, are now for the most part
manned by British seamen, driven from the service of their country by an
unwise abrogation of that portion of the navigation laws which fostered
our own nursery for the Navy—the effect of such an order would be to
unman American ships; and it is questionable whether the United States
Government would submit to such a regulation, even if we were inclined
to put it in execution.
On the 14th of January 1795, Admiral Murray appointed me acting third
lieutenant of the _Thetis_, though not eighteen months had elapsed since
my entrance into the service. Thanks to my worthy friend Jack Larmour,
and to my own industry, it may be stated, without vanity, that I was not
incompetent to fill the station to which the admiral had promoted me.
This unlooked-for reward redoubled my zeal, and on the 13th of April
following, I was made acting lieutenant of the _Africa_, Captain Rodham
Home, who applied to the admiral for my services. This additional
promotion was followed on the 6th of July by a provisional commission
confirming my rank.
The _Africa_ was sent to scour the seaboard of the States in search of
enemy’s vessels, but not falling in with any, we ran on to Florida, with
similar ill-success. An accident here occurred to me which left its mark
through life. I had contrived a ball of lead studded with barbed prongs,
for the purpose of catching porpoises. One day the doctor laid me a
wager against hurling the missile to a certain distance, and in the
attempt a hook nearly tore off the fore-finger of my right hand. A
perhaps not very judicious course of reading had at that time led me to
imbibe the notion of a current spurious philosophy, that there was no
such thing as pain, and few opportunities were lost of parading
arguments on the subject. As the doctor was dressing my hand, the pain
was so intense that my crotchet was sadly scandalised by an involuntary
exclamation of agony. “What!” said the doctor, “I thought there was no
such thing as pain!” Not liking to have a favourite theory so palpably
demolished, the ready reply was that “my exclamation was not one of
pain, but mental only, arising from the sight of my own blood!” He
laughed, whilst I writhed on, but the lesson knocked some foolish
notions out of my head.
On the 5th of January 1796, the first lieutenant of the _Thetis_ having
been promoted, an order was transmitted for me to quit the _Africa_, and
rejoin my uncle’s ship, which I did in the _Lynx_, Captain Skene. An
incident occurred during the passage worth relating.
The _Lynx_ one day overhauled an American vessel from France to New
York, professedly in ballast. At first, nothing was found to warrant her
detention, but a more minute search brought to light from amongst the
shingle ballast, a number of casks filled with costly church plate; this
being amongst the means adopted by the French Convention to raise
supplies, an intention in this case thwarted by the vigilance of Captain
Skene.
The sagacity of Captain Skene was exemplified in another instance.
Observing one day a quantity of stable litter on the surface of the sea,
it was obvious that it could only arise from the transport of animals.
Tracking the refuse to the southward, we overtook and captured a vessel
laden with mules for the use of one of the French possessions.
The period having arrived at which the Admiralty regulations permitted
young officers to offer themselves for examination—on rejoining the
_Thetis_ I was ordered up, and passed for lieutenant accordingly; my
time as a midshipman being made up from my nominal rating on board the
_Vesuvius_, &c., as narrated in a former chapter.
The mention of this practice will, perhaps, shock the purists of the
present day, who may further regard me as a stickler for corruption, for
pronouncing its effect to have been beneficial. First, because—from the
scarcity of lieutenants—encouragement was often necessary; secondly,
because it gave an admiral a power which he does not now possess, viz.
that of selecting for commissions those who exerted themselves, and on
whom he could rely, in place of having forced upon him young men
appointed by parliamentary or other influence; of whom he could know
nothing, except that they did not owe their commissions to practical
merit.
In my own subsequent career as captain of a man-of-war, there never was
the slightest difficulty as regarded men; yet no commander could, in
this respect, be more particular; but of many officers furnished to me
through parliamentary influence, it can only be said that they were
seldom trusted, as I considered it preferable, on pressing occasions, to
do their duty myself; and this, as some of them had powerful influence,
no doubt made me many enemies amongst their patrons. It is all very well
to talk of the inordinate power exercised by commanding officers in
former times, but whilst the Admiralty, even in our day, appears to
extend a system in which influence has everything and experience nothing
to do, the so-called corruption of old, which was never made use of but
to promote merit, had its advantages; no instance in which the power
then indirectly pertaining to admirals commanding having, to my
knowledge, been abused.[24]
-----
Footnote 24:
This adoption, for political purposes, of a baneful system may, in an
unforeseen emergency, tend to the overthrow of the state; and nothing,
in my opinion, can be more injurious to the Navy than the usurpation
of all distributive power by a ministry in exchange for parliamentary
votes. In civil offices this may be merely obstructive—in the Navy it
is destructive. Systems like these are such as no state can long exist
under securely, and history warns us that from perversion of patronage
great states have fallen.
-----
During my absence in the _Africa_, I lost the chance of participating in
a gallant attack made by the Hon. Captain Cochrane, in the _Thetis_, and
Captain Beresford, in the _Hussar_, on five French ships, which they had
been watching near the mouth of the Chesapeake. These ships were fallen
in with at sea off Cape Henry, and on the approach of the _Thetis_ and
_Hussar_ formed in line to receive them. The _Hussar_, being the smaller
vessel, encountered the two leading ships, whilst the _Thetis_ opened
her broadside on the centre vessel, and the two in the rear. In half an
hour, the French commodore and the second in the line gave up the
combat, and made sail, leaving the others to the mercy of the two
English frigates, which in another half hour compelled them to
surrender, one of them, however, contriving to escape. Two, the
_Prévoyant_, 36, and the _Raison_, 18, were secured and taken to
Halifax, where they were fitted out as cruisers, and afterwards returned
with the squadron to England. This action was the only one of any
importance which occurred during the dreary five years that we were
employed on the North American coast, and is here mentioned because it
has been said I was present, which was not the case.
In the year 1797, Admiral Murray was succeeded in the command by Admiral
Vandeput, who, on the 21st of June, appointed me lieutenant in his
flag-ship, the _Resolution_. On joining this ship a few days afterwards,
my reception was anything but encouraging.
Being seated near the admiral at dinner, he inquired what dish was
before me. Mentioning its nature, I asked if he would permit me to help
him. The uncourteous reply was—that whenever he wished for anything he
was in the habit of asking for it. Not knowing what to make of a rebuff
of this nature, it was met by an inquiry if he would allow me the honour
of taking wine with him. “I never take wine with any man, my lord,” was
the unexpected reply, from which it struck me that my lot was cast among
Goths, if no worse.
Never were first impressions more ill-founded. Admiral Vandeput had
merely a habit of showing his worst features first, or rather of
assuming those which were contrary to his nature. A very short time
developed his true character,—that of a perfect gentleman, and one of
the kindest commanders living. In place of the hornet’s nest figured to
my imagination, there was not a happier ship afloat, nor one in which
officers lived in more perfect harmony.
The only drawback was that of wanting something better to do than cruise
among the fogs of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia,—an inglorious pursuit,
the more severely felt, from the fact that each succeeding packet
brought accounts of brilliant naval victories achieved in European
waters. The French, after my uncle’s capture of their store-ships, gave
up all attempts to get supplies from America by means of their own
vessels; and the United States Government concluded a treaty with
England, in which both sides disclaimed all wish to pass the bounds
observed by neutral nations, so that the squadron was without beneficial
employment.
Tired of the monotony of Halifax, Admiral Vandeput determined to winter
in the Chesapeake, where he resided ashore. As it was his practice to
invite his officers by turns to remain a week with him, our time was
agreeably spent, the more so that there were several families in the
vicinity which retained their affection for England, her habits, and
customs. Even the innkeeper of the place contrived to muster a tolerable
pack of hounds which, if not brought under the perfect discipline of
their British progenitors, often led us into more danger than is
encountered in an English field, in consequence of our runs frequently
taking us amongst thick forests, the overhanging branches of which
compelled us to lay ourselves flat on the horses’ backs, in order to
avoid the fate intended for the objects of the chase.
Another of our amusements was shooting; and one day a circumstance took
place of which I did not for a long time hear the last. Being invited to
pass a week with the admiral, who was about to give a dinner to his
neighbours, it was my wish to add a delicacy to his table; and having
heard that a particular locality abounded with wild hogs, it seemed
practicable that a boar’s head might grace the feast. On reaching the
forest, nearly the first object encountered was a huge wild-looking sow
with a farrow of young pigs, and as the transition from boar’s head to
sucking pig was not great, a shot from my rifle speedily placed one in a
preliminary condition for roasting. But porcine maternal affection had
not entered into my calculations. The sow charged me with such ferocity
that prompt retreat, however undignified, became necessary, for my
weapon was now harmless. In short, so vigorous was the onslaught of the
enemy, that it became necessary to shelter myself in the fork of a tree,
my gun being of necessity left at the bottom. The enraged animal mounted
guard, and for at least a couple of hours waited for my descent; when,
finding no symptoms of unconditional surrender, she at length moved
slowly off with the remainder of her family. As the coast was now clear,
I came down and shouldered the defunct pig, hoping to be in time to add
it to the admiral’s table, for which, however, it was too late.
Having told the story with great simplicity, I found myself at dinner
roasted instead of the pig; the changes on this theme being rung till it
became rather annoying. By way of variation the admiral asked me for a
toast, and on my pleading ignorance of such customs insisted on my
giving a sentiment; whereupon I gave “the Misses Tabbs,”—the point
consisting in the fact that these ladies were each over six feet high,
and in the gossip of the place were understood to be favourites of the
admiral. For a moment Admiral Vandeput looked grave, but thinking, no
doubt, the retort a fair one, he joined in the laughter against himself;
though from that day he never asked me for a toast.
Those were days when even gentlemen did not consider it a demerit to
drink hard. It was then, as it is now, a boast with me never in my life
to have been inebriated, and the revenge was that my boast should be at
an end. Rapid circulation of the bottle accordingly set in; but this I
managed to evade by resting my head on my left hand, and pouring the
wine down the sleeve of my uniform coat. The trick was detected, and the
penalty of drinking off a whole bottle was about to be enforced when I
darted from the room, pursued by some of the company, who at length got
tired of the chase, and I passed the night at a farm-house.
Having paid so lengthened a visit to the United States at a period
almost immediately following their achievement of independence, a few
remarks relative to the temper and disposition of the American people at
that period may not be uninteresting. Thoroughly English in their habits
and customs, but exasperated by the contumely with which they had been
treated by former British governments, their civility to us was somewhat
constrained, yet so thoroughly English as to convince us that a little
more forbearance and common sense on the part of the home authorities
might have averted the final separation of these fine provinces from the
mother country. There is every reason to believe that the declaration of
the Confederation of the United Colonies in 1775 was sincere; viz. that
on the concession of their just demands, “the colonies are to return to
their former connections and friendship with Great Britain; but on
failure thereof this Confederation is to be perpetual.”[25]
-----
Footnote 25:
“Articles of Confederation between New Hampshire, Massachusetts,” &c.
&c., May 20th, 1775.
-----
In vain, however, did the more far-sighted of the English public
remonstrate with the Government, and in vain did the City of London by
their chief magistrate urge the wrongs and loyalty of the colonists,
even to memorialising the king to dismiss from his councils those who
were misleading him. A deaf ear was turned to all remonstrance, and a
determination to put down by force what could not at first be called
rebellion was the only reply vouchsafed; it was not till all
conciliatory means had failed that the first Congress of Philadelphia
asserted the cause and necessity of taking up arms in the defence of
freedom; the second Congress of the same place confederating the
provinces under the title of the “United States of America.”