Reformer, or as any one holding popular opinions was called in those
days, a “Radical,” _i. e._ a member of a political class holding views
not half so extreme as those which form the parliamentary capital of
reformers in the present day, and even less democratic than were the
measures brought in during the last session of parliament by a Tory
Government, whose predecessors consigned to gaol all who, fifty years
ago, ventured to express opinions conferring political rights on the
people.
It is strange that, after having suffered more for my political faith
than any man now living, I should have survived to see former Radical
yearnings become modern Tory doctrines. Stranger still, they should now
form stepping-stones to place and power, instead of to the bar of a
criminal court, where even the counsel defending those who were
prosecuted for holding them became marked men.
Still it is something worth living for—even with the remembrance of my
own bitter sufferings, for no greater offence than the advocacy of
popular rights, and the abolition of naval abuses.
CHAP. XI.
SERVICES IN THE _PALLAS_ CONTINUED.
SERVICES IN THE PALLAS.—THE PALLAS AT HALIFAX.—CLAMOUR OF
SHIPOWNERS.—SAIL FROM THE DOWNS.—CAPTURE A VESSEL.—THE POMONE SENT
TO ENGLAND.—CAPTURE OF THE TAPAGEUSE.—THE FRENCH RUN ASHORE.—CHASE
OF THE CORVETTES.—OFF CHASSERON.—COLD APPROVAL OF LORD ST.
VINCENT.—CRUISE OF THE PALLAS.—SIGHT THE FRENCH SQUADRON.—FRENCH
SIGNAL HOUSES.—THE ISLE OF AIX.—ENGAGE THE FRENCH SQUADRON.—JOINED
BY THE KINGFISHER.—DETAILS OF THE ACTION.—CONSTRUCTION OF KITES.
On the 28th of May 1805, the _Pallas_ again sailed from Portsmouth in
charge of a convoy for Quebec. On this voyage little occurred worthy of
note, beyond the fact that when we made the American coast we were, from
a cause presently to be mentioned, no less than thirteen degrees and a
half out in our _dead reckoning_! The reader must not imagine that we
were 800 miles out of our course, for that was corrected whenever
observations of the sun or stars could be obtained; but as these might
at any time be rendered uncertain from the fogs prevalent on the banks,
the most vigilant care was necessary to prevent the ship and convoy from
being wrecked.
In my former voyage in the _Thetis_ we had the advantage of a very
clever man on board—a Mr. Garrard—who not being able to subsist on his
salary as assistant astronomer and calculator at Greenwich, was glad to
accept the berth of schoolmaster on board my uncle’s frigate. From the
instructions of this gentleman, I had formerly profited considerably,
and was not a little pleased when he applied to me for a similar berth
on board the _Pallas_. With so skilful an observer, there could be no
mistake about the error just mentioned; which arose from this
circumstance, that for the sake of economy, the Navy Board or the
dockyard authorities had surrounded the binnacle of the _Pallas_ with
iron instead of copper bolts; so that the compass was not to be depended
upon. Fortunately the atmosphere was tolerably clear, so that no danger
was incurred.
As, however, I had no inclination to risk either the ship or my own
reputation amongst the fogs of Canada for the sake of false economy, the
course of the _Pallas_ and her convoy was directed to Halifax, there to
free the compass from the attraction of iron. On demanding copper bolts
from the dockyard officers, they were refused, on the ground that
permission must be first obtained from the authorities in London! To
this I replied, that if such were the case, the _Pallas_ should wait
with the convoy at Halifax whilst they communicated with the Admiralty
in England! for that on no account should she enter the Gulf of St.
Lawrence till our compass was right. The absurdity of detaining a convoy
for six months, on account of a hundred weight of copper bolts was too
much even for dockyard routine, and the demand was with some difficulty
conceded.
It would be wearisome to detail the uninteresting routine of attending
the convoy to Quebec, or of my taking charge of another for the homeward
voyage; further than to state, that from the defect of having no proper
lights for the guidance of the convoy by night, the whole lost sight of
us before reaching the Lizard; where we arrived with only one vessel,
and that in tow.
The carelessness of merchant captains when following a convoy can only
be estimated by those who have to deal with them. Not only was this
manifested by day, but at night their stern cabins glittered with
lights, equally intense with the convoy light, which therefore was not
distinguishable. The separation of the convoy on the following day was
thus rather a matter of course than of surprise.
This want of proper distinguishing lights, and the consequent dispersion
of convoys, were thus frequent causes of the capture of our merchantmen,
and to remedy this I constructed a lamp powerful enough to serve as a
guide in following the protecting frigate by night. The Admiralty,
however, neglected its application, or even to inspect my plan.
Some few years afterwards, the clamour of shipowners compelled the Board
to direct its attention to the subject, and, passing over my
communications, they offered a reward of fifty pounds to the inventor of
the most suitable lamp for the purpose. On this I directed my agent, Mr.
Brooks, to offer my lamp _in his own name_, feeling convinced that my
connection with it would, if known, ensure its rejection. He did so, and
after repeated trials against others at Sheerness, Spithead, and St.
Helen’s, the fifty pound prize was adjudged to Mr. Brooks _for my
lamp_!! The fact afterwards becoming known, _not a lamp was ever
ordered_, and the merchantmen were left to the mercy of privateers as
before. I do not relate this anecdote as telling against the _directing_
powers of the Admiralty, but with the _administrative_ powers, it was
then and afterwards clearly a fixed rule that no invention of mine
should be carried into effect.
On our way home, we one day made an experiment which even now I believe
might occasionally be turned to account; viz. the construction of
gigantic kites to give additional impetus to ships. With this view a
studdingsailboom was lashed across a spare flying jibboom to form the
framework, and over this a large spread of canvass was sewn in the usual
boy’s fashion. My spars were, however, of unequal dimensions throughout,
and this and our launching the kite caused it to roll greatly. Possibly
too I might not have been sufficiently experienced in the mysteries of
“wings and tail,” for though the kite pulled with a will, it made such
occasional lurches as gave reason to fear for the too sudden expenditure
of His Majesty’s stores. The power of such machines, properly
constructed, would be very great; and in the case of a constant wind,
might be useful. The experiment, however, showed that kites of smaller
dimensions would have answered better.
On our return to England in December, the _Pallas_ was ordered to join
the squadron of Admiral Thornborough, appointed to operate on the French
and Spanish coasts. Instructions were, however, given to cruise for a
few days off Boulogne before finally proceeding to Plymouth.
We sailed from the Downs on the 23rd of January 1806, and on the 31st
seeing a French merchant vessel at anchor near the mouth of the river
Somme, the boats were sent inshore to cut her out. On nearing her, a
battery opened fire on them, when we wore and engaged the battery,
whilst the boats brought off the vessel, with which we anchored in Dover
roads on the following morning.
On the 8th of February, the _Pallas_ sailed from Dover, and stood over
towards the French coast, where we captured a fast sailing lugger,
having on board a number of letters addressed to various persons in
London. Shortly after this we were ordered to join the Admiral.
On the 22nd the _Pallas_ sailed with Vice Admiral Thornborough’s
squadron from Plymouth, and remained in company till the 24th of March,
when seeing some vessels off Isle Dieu, the boats went in chase, and
returned with seven French fishing smacks; to the surprise of whose
crews we bought their fish, and let them go.
From information communicated by the fishing boats the _Pallas_ ran off
shore, and in the night following, returned and captured a vessel
freighted with wine, which was taken on board the frigate. The next
night the boats again went in, and brought off another vessel similarly
laden. On the following morning we made sail with our two prizes, but
observing a brig at anchor off Sable d’Olonne, ran in again after dark,
and sent the boats to cut her out. A fire being opened on the boats from
the town, we discharged several broadsides, on which the townspeople
desisted, and the brig was brought off. Whilst engaged in this
operation, another brig was seen to run ashore for safety. On the
morning of the 28th, the boats were again despatched to get her off,
when, the people mustering along shore to attack them, we fired several
shotted guns to warn them from interfering, and the brig was safely
brought out.
This propensity of French crews thus to run their vessels ashore—on
being chased by boats—was principally caused by a galley which had been
constructed at my own expense by the Deal boatbuilders, and shipped on
board the _Pallas_. She rowed double banked, and required eighteen hands
at the oars, and this together with her beautiful build rendered her
perhaps the fastest boat afloat. Escape from such a craft being
hopeless, she became so notorious, that the enemy’s coasters ran their
vessels ashore, and jumping into their boats, thus saved themselves from
being made prisoners.
On the 29th, we manned the largest prize, the _Pomone_, and sent her to
England in charge of the others. On the same day we fell in with the
admiral, and supplied the squadron with prize wine, of which a large
quantity had been taken, most of the vessels captured being laden with
wine of fine quality, on its way to Havre for the Parisian market.
On quitting the squadron, we proceeded to the southward in chase of a
convoy, one of which we captured, and on the 5th of April ran for the
Garonne, having received intelligence that some French corvettes were
lurking in the river and its vicinity, one of which vessels was reported
to be lying some miles up the river as a guardship. Keeping out of sight
for the remainder of the day, I determined on making an attempt to cut
her out on the following night.
After dark the _Pallas_ came to an anchor off the Cordovan lighthouse,
and the boats, manned with the whole crew of the frigate, except about
forty men, pulled for the corvette, under the command of their gallant
First Lieutenant Haswell, who found her at 3 A.M. on the morning of the
6th, anchored near two batteries. As the weather was thick when the
attack was made, the boats came upon the enemy unawares, and after a
short but gallant resistance, the corvette was carried, proving to be
the _Tapageuse_ of 14 guns.
No sooner was this effected, than two others, whose presence was
unexpected, came to her rescue. Lieutenant Haswell, however, promptly
manned the guns of the captured vessel, and beat off his assailants, the
tide rendering it imprudent for the prize or the boats to follow in
pursuit.
Whilst this was going on, the _Pallas_ remained at single anchor waiting
for the boats, and soon after daylight three strange sail appeared to
windward, making for the river. As the private signal was unanswered,
there could be no doubt but that they were enemies, to oppose whom we
had only forty hands on board, the remainder of the crew, as previously
stated, being in the prize brig.
There was no time to be lost, and as it was of the first importance to
make a show of strength, though we possessed none, I immediately set the
few hands we had to fasten the furled sails with rope yarns; the object
being to cut the yarns all at once, let fall the sails, and thus impress
the enemy with an idea that from such celerity in making sail we had a
numerous and highly disciplined crew.
The manœuvre succeeded to a marvel. No sooner was our cloud of canvass
thus suddenly let fall than the approaching vessels hauled the wind, and
ran off along shore, with the _Pallas_ in chase, our handful of men
straining every nerve to sheet home, though it is surprising that the
French officers did not observe the necessary slowness of the operation.
By superior sailing we were soon well up with one of them, and commenced
firing our bow guns—the only guns, in fact, we were able to man.
Scarcely had we fired half a dozen shots, when the French captain
deliberately ran his ship ashore as the only way of saving himself and
crew. The corvette was dismasted by the shock and immediately abandoned
by the crew, who got ashore in their boats; though had they pulled on
board the _Pallas_ instead, we were literally incapable of resistance.
After the crew had abandoned the wreck, we ran nearly close, and fired
several broadsides into her hull, to prevent her floating again with the
tide. Whilst thus engaged, the other corvettes, which had previously run
out of sight, again made their appearance to the S. S. W. under a press
of sail, evidently coming up fast to the assistance of their consort.
As it was necessary once more to take the initiative, we quitted the
wreck, ran up our colours, and gave chase, firing our bow guns at the
nearest, which soon afterwards followed the example of the first, and
ran ashore too,—with the same result of being dismasted—the crew
escaping as in the case of the other.
Of the remaining corvette we for a time took no notice, and made sail
towards the mouth of the Garonne to pick up our crew, which had
necessarily been left on board the vessel captured on the river. As the
_Pallas_ neared the Cordovan lighthouse, we observed the third corvette
making for the river. Finding herself intercepted she also ran on shore,
and was abandoned in like manner.
The chase of these corvettes forms one of my most singular
recollections, all three being deliberately abandoned and wrecked in
presence of a British frigate with only forty men on board! Had any one
of the three known our real condition, or had we not put a bold face on
the matter, we might have been taken. The mere semblance of strength
saved us, and the panic thereby inspired destroyed the enemy.
Having joined our prize—the _Tapageuse_—the prisoners were shifted on
board the _Pallas_, which made sail in quest of the squadron, rejoining
it on the 10th, when, by order of Admiral Thornborough, the prisoners
were distributed among different ships.
The subjoined despatches will afford further explanation of the events
just narrated.
“_Pallas_, off Chasseron, 8th April, 1806.
“SIR,—Having received information—which proved correct—of the
situation of the corvettes in the river of Bordeaux, a little after
dark on the evening of the 5th, the _Pallas_ was anchored close to the
shoal of Cordovan, and it gives me satisfaction to state that about 3
o’clock on the following morning the French national corvette, _La
Tapageuse_, of 14 long 12-pounders and 95 men, who had the guard, was
boarded, carried, and cut out, about twenty miles above the shoal, and
within two heavy batteries, in spite of all resistance, by the first
lieutenant of the _Pallas_, Mr. Haswell, the master, Mr. Sutherland,
Messrs. Perkyns, Crawford, and Thompson, together with the
quartermasters and such of the seamen and crew as were fortunate
enough to find places in the boats.
“The tide of flood ran strong at daylight. _La Tapageuse_ made sail. A
general alarm was given. A sloop-of-war followed, and an action
continued—often within hail—till by the same bravery by which the
_Tapageuse_ was carried, the sloop-of-war, which before had been saved
by the rapidity of the current alone, was compelled to sheer off,
having suffered as much in the hull as the _Tapageuse_ in the rigging.
“The conduct of the officers and men will be justly appreciated. With
confidence I shall now beg leave to recommend them to the notice of
the Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty.
“It is necessary to add, that the same morning, when at anchor waiting
for the boats (which, by the by, did not return till this morning),
three ships were observed bearing down towards the _Pallas_, making
many signals, and were soon perceived to be enemies. In a few minutes
the anchor of the _Pallas_ was weighed, and with the remainder of the
officers and crew we chased, drove on shore, and wrecked one national
24-gun ship, one of 22 guns, and the _Malicieuse_, a beautiful
corvette of 18 guns. Their masts went by the board, and they were
involved in a sheet of spray.
“All in this ship showed great zeal for his Majesty’s service. The
warrant officers and Mr. Tattnall, midshipman, supplied the place of
commissioned officers. The absence of Lieutenant Mapleton is much to
be regretted. He would have gloried in the expedition with the boats.
The assistance rendered by Mr. Drummond of the Royal Marines was such
as might have been expected. Subjoined is the list of wounded,
together with that of vessels captured and destroyed since the 26th
ult.
“I am, &c. &c. COCHRANE.
“To Vice-Admiral Thornborough.”
“_Prince of Wales_, off Rochefort, 9th April, 1806.
“MY LORD,—I have the honour to transmit to your lordship a copy of a
letter I have this day received from Captain Lord Cochrane of H. M. S.
_Pallas_, under my orders. It will not be necessary for me, my Lord,
to comment on the intrepidity and good conduct displayed by Lord
Cochrane, his officers and men, in the execution of a very hazardous
enterprise in the Garonne, a river, the most difficult, perhaps, in
its navigation, of any on the coast. The complete success that
attended the enterprise, as well as the destruction of the vessels of
war mentioned in the said letter on the coast of Arcasson, speaks
their merits more fully than is in my power to do. To which may be
fairly added, that nothing can show more clearly the high state of
discipline of the crew of the _Pallas_ than the humanity shown by them
in the conflict.
“I have the honour, &c. &c.
“EDWARD THORNBOROUGH.
“The Right Hon. the Earl St. Vincent.”
“_Hibernia_, off Ushant, April 14th, 1806.
“SIR,—I yesterday received from Admiral Thornborough a letter with its
enclosure from Captain Lord Cochrane, of which copies are herewith
transmitted for the information of my Lord Commissioner of the
Admiralty.
“The gallant and successful exertions of the _Pallas_ therein
detailed, reflect very high honour on her captain, officers and crew,
and call for my warmest approbation.
“I am, &c. &c. ST. VINCENT.
“W. Marsden, Esq.”
The cold, reluctant praise bestowed by this letter, was no doubt
intended by Lord St. Vincent as a wet blanket on the whole affair, and
contrasts strongly with the warm-hearted sailor-like frankness of
Admiral Thornborough. It had its full effect; not a word of approbation
did I receive from the Admiralty. The _Tapageuse_ was not bought into
the navy, though a similar vessel, subsequently captured by another
officer at the same place, was purchased. My First Lieutenant, Haswell,
was not promoted. In short, if we had done something worthy of
disapprobation, it could scarcely have been more marked. On this subject
further comment will presently become necessary.
To return to our cruise. On the 14th of April we again quitted the
squadron, and made for the corvettes run on shore on the 7th. The French
had erected a battery for the protection of one of them which was still
sound in the hull; but we silenced the battery and set fire to the
corvette. After this the _Pallas_ proceeded towards the wreck of the
northermost vessel stranded, but as strong breezes came on, and she was
evidently breaking up in the surf, we deemed it prudent to work off
shore, and in so doing captured another vessel, which turned out to be a
French packet.
On the 20th the _Pallas_ ran down abreast of the remaining corvette, and
out boats for the purpose of burning her; but these being exposed to the
fire of another battery which had been thrown up to protect the wreck,
and the _Pallas_ not being able, on account of the shoaliness of the
water, to get near enough to fire with effect, we desisted from the
attempt, and again made sail.
On the 23rd we came to an anchor off the Malmaison passage, and on the
following day reconnoitred the French squadron inside Isle Rhe. Whilst
thus engaged, the British squadron appeared to windward, and shortly
afterwards came to an anchor.
On the 24th we worked up to windward to join the admiral, and on the
following day stood into Basque Roads to reconnoitre the enemy’s
squadron. On approaching within gunshot, a frigate and three brigs got
under weigh, and we made sail to meet them, endeavouring to bring them
to action by firing several broadsides at them. On this they tacked
after returning the fire, and stood in under their batteries. Having
completed our reconnoissance, we beat out again and rejoined the
admiral, to whom I made the annexed report.
“H. M. S. _Pallas_, off Isle d’Aix, April 25th, 1806.
“SIR,—Having stood within gunshot of the French squadron this morning,
I find it to consist of the following vessels.
“One of three decks, 16 ports below; one of 80 guns, 15 ports; three
of 74, 14 ports; two heavy frigates, of 40 guns; three light frigates,
13 ports on main-deck, and three brigs of from 14 to 16 guns.
“The _Calcutta_[31] is not among them. Neither are there any
corvettes, unless a very clumsy 20-gun ship can be called one. The
ships of the line have all their topmasts struck and topgallant yards
across. They are all very deep, more so than vessels are in general
for common voyages.
“They may be easily burned, or they may be taken by sending here eight
or ten thousand men, as if intended for the Mediterranean. If people
at home would hold their tongues about it[32], possession might thus
be gained of the Isle d’Oleron, upon which all the enemy’s vessels may
be driven by sending fire vessels to the eastward of Isle d’Aix.
“A frigate and the three brigs were ordered to get under weigh. These
stood towards the _Pallas_ and exchanged a few broadsides. After
waiting from ten o’clock till past two, close to Isle d’Aix, we were
obliged to come out no better than we went in. They could not be
persuaded to stand from under their batteries.
“I have the honour, &c. &c.
“COCHRANE.
“Edw. Thornborough, Esq.,
“Vice-Admiral of the Blue.”
-----
Footnote 31:
An Indiaman, recently captured by the French off St. Helena.
Footnote 32:
It is a curious fact, that there being no such thing as confidence or
secrecy in official quarters in England, the French were as well
advised as to our movements as were our own commanders, and were
consequently prepared at all points.
-----
Having found by experience that the French had organised a system of
signal-houses, by means of which they were able to indicate the exact
position of an enemy, so as to warn their coasters from impending
danger, I resolved on destroying one of their principal stations on Isle
Rhe, at the town of St. Martin. The result will be gathered from the
subjoined despatch to Admiral Thornborough.
“_Pallas_, St. Martin’s Road, Isle Rhe, May 10th, 1806.
“SIR,—The French trade having been kept in port of late, in a great
measure by their knowledge of the exact position of his Majesty’s
cruisers, constantly announced at the signal-posts; it appeared to me
to be some object, as there was nothing better to do, to endeavour to
stop this practice.
“Accordingly, the two posts at Point Delaroche were demolished, next
that of Caliola. Then two in L’Anse de Repos, one of which Lieutenant
Haswell and Mr. Hillier the gunner took in a neat style from upwards
of 100 militia. The marines and boats’ crews behaved exceedingly well.
All the flags have been brought off, and the houses built by
government burnt to the ground.