SECOND MEDITERRANEAN COMMAND.
The contest for naval supremacy was so entirely decided by the battle of
Trafalgar, that no opportunity was afterwards afforded for great
successes. But at the end of the war, when the leading Peninsular
generals were raised to the peerage, it was thought due to the service
to confer a similar distinction upon a naval officer. Sir Edward Pellew
received this mark of his sovereign's favour. He was created Baron
Exmouth, of Canonteign, a mansion and estate in the South of Devon which
he had purchased for a family property; and the pension was settled on
him which is usually granted when a peerage is conferred for eminent
public services.
He was still in the Mediterranean when the news of his elevation reached
him, and he received the first account of it from a newspaper. In
allusion to it, he writes:--"I was never more surprised than at this
event. Never was man more ignorant of its being thought of; much less
reason had I to expect it; and it has happened only by a combination of
events quite unconnected with influence or power. I had some reason to
believe a red ribbon was intended, and ---- wrote that it had been
granted; but if so, it was changed next day to what it is, which, for
the sake of our family, I hope will be useful and respectable. For
myself I am indifferent, and know it will only tend to multiply my
enemies, and increase my difficulties." ... In the course of this year,
he received a handsome compliment from the officers of the Mediterranean
fleet. It is a beautiful model of the Warwick vase, executed by Messrs.
Rundel and Bridge, at a cost of 580 guineas, and bears the following
inscription:--"Presented to the Right Honourable Admiral Lord Exmouth,
&c., &c., &c., as a mark of their respect and esteem, by the officers
who served under his Lordship's command in the Mediterranean."
At the beginning of the next year, when the order of the Bath was
extended, he was included among the knights commanders; and was
afterwards advanced on an early vacancy to be a grand cross. The former
was entirely unexpected, as he knew nothing of the intention to extend
the order. He thus begins a letter to his brother on the 5th of
January:--"I seize this moment, when the arrival of the post has brought
me the enclosed without one single line from any friend I have on earth:
possibly, it was owing to the lateness of the nomination. I had not the
most distant idea of this event, and I can only account for its coming
to me by the squabbling of parties ... to end which, it was probably
decided on giving it to the commander-in-chief. On this ground only can
I account for it, as it was by no means necessary to add this, which was
once considered due to me as a reward of sufficient magnitude, without
any other.
"6th January, 1815.--I had written the above before any gazette reached
me, which explains the whole. But as it shows my heart and mind to you
without reserve, and as I can call God to witness, that I never in my
life kept anything from you. I send it.--May God bless you."
He had remained but a few months in England, when, on the renewal of
hostilities consequent on the return of Napoleon from Elba, he was sent
back to the Mediterranean. Hoisting his flag in the _Boyne_, and again
with his brother, Sir Israel, as captain of the fleet, he hastened to
his station. His services were first required at Naples, which he was
so happy as to save from all the horrors of anarchy. Murat, that he
might create a diversion in favour of Napoleon, had rashly attacked
Austria, and thus violated the compact by which he was allowed to hold
his usurped throne. What followed scarcely deserves the name of war. His
army, not waiting for the enemy to approach, fled like sheep, and left
the Austrian commander an unresisted march to Naples. Lord Exmouth,
after having arranged with Lord W. Bentinek for the co-operation of the
forces from Sicily with the allies, had arrived on the evening of the
18th of May, at Civita Vecchia, whence, on learning the rapid advance of
the Austrians, he proceeded without delay for Naples, where he anchored
on the evening of the 20th. Madame Murat embarked the same night on
board a British seventy-four, and immediately wrote to Lord Exmouth,
requesting that he would take measures for the security and peace of the
city. No capital in Europe contains within itself more formidable
elements for popular tumult; and upon this occasion, the mob, excited by
the general confusion, and not restrained by any adequate authority,
were proceeding to the last excesses of rapine and violence. Lord
Exmouth was not slow to take the steps which such an emergency required.
On the morning after his arrival, he landed the marines, who took
possession of the forts, and the castle of St. Elmo, and conjointly with
the civic guard, restored, and maintained order. On the 23rd, the
Austrian army entered the city, and next day the forts were delivered
up, and the marines embarked. The king, Ferdinand, was unbounded in his
expressions of gratitude, and invested him on the spot with his highest
order.
After having concluded some very difficult and delicate negociations
respecting the queen and court of Murat, who were eventually sent to
Trieste, Lord Exmouth proposed to General Bianci, to embark a few
thousand men, and make a dash at Toulon. Unfortunately, the instructions
of the Austrian commander would not allow him to join in such an
expedition. The squadron therefore sailed for Leghorn, where it landed
the first division of the Austrian army, and thence proceeded to Genoa.
Accounts received on the 3rd of July of the situation of affairs on the
coast of Provence determined Lord Exmouth, in concert with Sir Hudson
Lowe, to embark 3,000 men, part of the garrison of Genoa, consisting of
the 14th, and two Italian regiments, and including 200 artillery and
cavalry, with which he sailed direct for Marseilles. Here the troops
were landed, with a body of seamen, and the marines of the squadron, and
stopped the advance of the rebel Marshal Brune, who was marching from
Toulon upon Marseilles avowedly to destroy it. The inhabitants, grateful
to their preservers, were unceasing in their attentions, both to the
fleet and army, as long as they remained in the place. Their sense of
the important services which the two commanders had rendered, as well to
their city, as to the cause of their rightful sovereign, was marked by
the present to each of a large and beautiful piece of plate, which was
executed at Paris. On the base of that presented to Lord Exmouth is a
medallion of the noble Admiral; and a view of the port of Marseilles,
with the _Boyne_, his flagship, entering in full sail. It bears the
simple and expressive inscription,--"_A l'Amiral mi Lord Exmouth, la
ville de Marseilles reconnoissante_."
The squadron wintered in Leghorn roads, being detained in the
Mediterranean for instructions, which were delayed for some time,
through the magnitude of the negotiations then in progress. At the
beginning of 1816, Lord Exmouth was ordered to proceed to the different
Barbary powers, to claim the release of all the Ionian slaves, who, by
the late political arrangements, had become British subjects: and to
make peace for Sardinia. These were to be matters of compulsion; but he
was also to make peace for any of the other states in the Mediterranean
who would authorize him to do so. Naples readily availed herself of his
offer. Unable to protect herself, it was to her an inestimable blessing
to gain security from such a dreadful scourge on the easiest terms which
the influence of the first maritime power could obtain for her. Nothing
can be conceived more horrible than the condition of the Christian
slaves, subjected as they were, in countries where no law gave
protection, to all the caprice and cruelty of masters, who hated and
despised them for their faith. Nor was it a small aggravation of their
misery, that as Roman Catholics, they were cut off from the observance
of rites which they deemed essential. To the fear and danger of being
reduced to this miserable condition was the maritime population of the
states around the Mediterranean continually exposed: while the great
naval powers, deterred from exterminating these pirates, either by more
pressing concerns, or by the failure of the different expeditions which
had attempted it, purchased a discreditable security by presents.
Lord Exmouth afterwards visited Rome; but the Pope declined the offer of
his services, perhaps from difficulties arising out of religious
scruples at confiding a formal trust to a Protestant. He received the
Admiral, however, with the utmost courtesy, and even attended to his
request upon a subject where it was scarcely to have been expected that
the interference of a Protestant would be allowed. A young Spanish lady,
who was confined in a convent at Minorca, under circumstances of an
oppressive and distressing nature, had contrived to bring her case to
the knowledge of Lord Exmouth, and to place in his hands a memorial,
which he took an opportunity to deliver personally to the Pope. A
British admiral interceding with the Pope for a Spanish nun was a novel
occurrence; but Pius VII. received the memorial very graciously, and
placed it in the hands of Gonsalvi that proper inquiries might be made.
It is satisfactory to add, that Lord Exmouth received a letter a few
months after, informing him that the poor girl's prayer to be set at
liberty had been complied with.
Before he took any steps in fulfilment of his instructions he made the
arrangements necessary for an attack, which was to be the alternative if
negotiations failed; a result much to be expected at Algiers, which had
hitherto withstood so many formidable armaments. He ordered Captain
Warde, of the _Banterer_, to proceed to Algiers, where he was carefully
to observe the town and the nature of its defences. Lord Exmouth's
instructions on this occasion, and which were written with his own hand,
afford an admirable illustration of the forethought with which he
provided for every contingency, and which was the chief secret of his
constant success.
It were injustice to Captain Warde to state how he performed this
difficult and important service in any language but that of the Admiral.
In his despatch which accompanied the treaty made with Tripoli, and
which he sent to the Admiralty when proceeding on his second visit to
Algiers, he writes:--"Previous to my leaving Leghorn, I despatched
Captain Warde in the _Banterer_ to Algiers, to make his observations on
the anchorage and sea-defences, which service he performed with entire
secresy and judgment, and highly to my satisfaction. The accompanying
plan of the works, with his remarks after visiting all the forts and
arsenal, I found correct in every respect; and when it is considered
that he had not the means of taking angles, but was compelled to pace
the distances, and trust much to his recollection, to avoid being
suspected, I think him deserving of the highest commendation. The
soundings round the mole, and the bay to the N.W. of the lighthouse,
were all made by him personally in the night without discovery; nor did
even the consul suspect the purport of his visit."
Indeed, Captain Warde played the careless idler to perfection. He
escorted the ladies of the consul's family everywhere by day, and danced
with them in the evenings, covering a keen and constant observation with
the appearance of frivolity; while at night he was silently moving
outside the port in a boat, taking the soundings with a pole.
It adds to the merit of this officer, that all the previous plans of
Algiers were so incorrect, that he was obliged to begin his own from the
outlines, as if the place were a new discovery. Lord Exmouth afterwards
declared that if he had proceeded to hostilities at his first visit,
without having been furnished with Captain Warde's plan and
observations, he should have assigned to the ships stations which they
could not have occupied. The plan in the Admiralty book of charts, among
other inaccuracies, laid down the sea-face of the city as four miles
long, instead of one; omitted the bay to the north-west of the
lighthouse; represented the pier on which the strong fortifications are
built as quite straight from the lighthouse in a southerly direction,
whereas it forms a quarter of the compass, bending round to the
south-west, or towards the city; and laid the distance between the piers
at the entrance of the mole, a mile, instead of sixty, or sixty-five
fathoms. Notwithstanding this, and his great disadvantages arising out
of the secresy he was compelled to observe, Captain Warde's observations
were so accurate and complete, that Lord Exmouth afterwards sent to the
Admiralty his original plan, to illustrate the despatches of the battle.
Thus prepared for every alternative, Lord Exmouth, on the 21st of March,
made known to the squadron the service upon which they were proceeding
in the following General Order:--
"The Commander-in-Chief embraces the earliest moment in which he
could inform the fleet of his destination, without inconvenience to
the public service.
"He has been instructed and directed by his Royal Highness the
Prince Regent, to proceed with the fleet to Algiers, and there make
certain arrangements for diminishing at least the piratical
excursions of the Barbary states by which thousands of our
fellow-creatures, innocently following their commercial pursuits,
have been dragged into the most wretched and revolting state of
slavery.
"The Commander-in-Chief is confident that this outrageous system of
piracy and slavery rouses in common the same spirit of indignation
which he himself feels; and should the government of Algiers refuse
the reasonable demands he bears from the Prince Regent, he doubts
not but the flag will be honourably and zealously supported by
every officer and man under his command, in his endeavours to
procure the acceptation of them by force; and if force must be
resorted to, we have the consolation of knowing that we fight in
the sacred cause of humanity, and cannot fail of success.
"These arrangements being made at Algiers and Tunis, the
Commander-in-Chief announces with pleasure that he is ordered to
proceed with all the ships not on the peace establishment to
Spithead without delay, except the _Bombay_, bearing the flag of
Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Penrose, which ship is to be relieved by
the _Albion_, daily expected.
(Signed) "EXMOUTH.
"N.B. This General Memorandum to be entered in the public
order-book, and communicated to the respective officers, seamen,
and marines of the fleet."
The squadron went in the first place to Algiers, where Lord Exmouth
obtained the objects of his mission without difficulty. The Ionian
slaves were freely released as British subjects; and peace was made for
Naples and Sardinia, the former paying a ransom of five hundred, the
latter of three hundred dollars a head. The fleet then sailed for Tunis,
where accident gave an entirely new character to the subsequent
proceedings. Lord Exmouth had directed the interpreter to tell the Bey,
that it would be very agreeable to the Prince Regent if slavery were
abolished; but the interpreter, by mistake, said that the Prince Regent
had determinded to abolish it. Upon this the negotiation was suspended,
and the Divan assembled. Lord Exmouth soon became aware of the mistake,
and availing himself of the important advantage which it gave him, he
allowed them two hours for deliberation, and retired to the consul's
house to await the result. Before the time expired he was sent for, and
informed that the Divan had deliberated on his proposal, and would
comply with it. Proceeding to Tripoli, he made a similar demand, and it
was there submitted to without hesitation.
In the mean time, he had received instructions to claim from Algiers the
privilege of selling prizes, and refitting privateers in that port,
which had lately been granted by treaty to America. Returning on this
errand, he took the opportunity to press, as at the other Regencies, the
abolition of Christian slavery; but here he had a more formidable power
to deal with. His demand was refused; and when he hinted at the
alternative of force, the Dey answered as a man confident in his
strength to resist it. Lord Exmouth assured him that he formed a very
inadequate idea of a British man of-war, and declared, that if
hostilities should become necessary, he would engage with five
line-of-battle ships to destroy the place. A very sharp altercation
ensued; and Lord Exmouth left the Divan, giving them two hours to
consider his proposal. When the time expired, he took Mr. M'Donell, the
consul, and walked with him towards the boat; but they were stopped at
the gate. After a communication had been made to the Dey, Lord Exmouth
was allowed to pass on, but the consul was detained, on the pretext that
money was due from Portugal, for which, as well as for England, Mr.
M'Donell was accredited. The whole party had been in the greatest
danger. The crowd who surrounded them discussed aloud the question of
putting them all to death; and the conduct of the captain of the port
was extremely suspicious. He was observed to cock his pistol, and Sir
Israel Pellew exclaiming, "At least we'll die with arms in our hands!"
attempted to draw his sword. Happily, the pressure of the throng
prevented him; for in the temper which then prevailed, the appearance of
a hostile movement would probably have been fatal. Lord Exmouth was much
irritated at this outrage; and when one of the principal officers of
state followed, and asked him, as he was just stepping into the boat, to
allow them two days to consider his proposal, he replied with warmth
"No, not two hours!" Hastening on board, he got the fleet under weigh to
attack the place immediately; but the wind was too strong to allow the
ships to take their stations, and they were obliged to anchor again.
Two British officers, Captains Pechell and Warde, had gone on shore, not
anticipating a hostile movement. They were seized by the people, who
dragged them off their horses, rifled their pockets, tied their hands
behind them, and in this state marched them through the town to the Dey.
But when they reached the palace they were immediately released; and
except some trifling articles, which could not be found, all their
property was restored. After two or three interviews with the Dey, the
object of which appeared to be to investigate the cause of a cut which
Captain Pechell had received in the hand, when he was taken off the
horse, they were allowed to go to their ships. Such conduct, at a moment
when Lord Exmouth was evidently preparing to attack the place, indicated
an irresolution which might enable him to gain his object without a
battle; and next morning, as a calm, with a heavy swell, prevented the
fleet from moving, he sent Captain Dundas, of the _Tagus_, with renewed
proposals. The result was, that Sir Israel Pellew, with Captains
Brisbane, Pechell, Dundas, Warde, and others, went on shore; and the Dey
agreed to appoint an ambassador, who should proceed first to
Constantinople for the sanction of the Porte, and thence to England to
treat on Lord Exmouth's proposal. It may be supposed that the Admiral
would not have endured this evasion, had he been authorised to act; but
he had pressed the demand without instructions, and felt that he would
not be justified in resorting to force, if it could be creditably
avoided. He was not even certain that his conduct in thus pressing the
abolition of slavery would be favourably received; for it was a common
remark, that the obstructions to the navigation of the Mediterranean,
created by the Barbary corsairs, were advantageous to British commerce.
He expressed this doubt in a letter which he sent on shore on the 23rd
of June, when the fleet had arrived in the channel:--"It is with great
delight I again bring myself nearer to you and the rest of my family,
after a longer absence than I had any reason to expect when I left
England, and which has at last ended without realizing that for which it
was said we were kept so long abroad after peace was signed. I had
anxiously hoped I should have been directed to enforce the abandonment
of their cruel system of retaining Christians who fell into their hands
(in what they term war) in slavery. I hope I have made the path easy for
the Government, having obtained by my own exertions the relinquishment
from two States, and a promise to treat on that point from the most
violent, Algiers, after discussions which did not promise sometimes
amicable terminations. But I intreat you to observe the utmost silence
on this point, as it may lead me into an awkward situation; for I have
acted solely on my own responsibility, and without orders; the causes
and reasoning on which, upon general principles, may be defensible, but
as applying to our own country, may not be borne out, the old mercantile
interest being against it."
Four days previous to the date of this letter, Mr. Brougham had moved in
the House of Commons for copies of Lord Exmouth's treaties with Algiers
for Naples and Sardinia, and for all the correspondence connected with
them. He condemned the principle upon which the treaties had been
conducted, because, by ransoming the slaves, we had virtually
acknowledged the right of these parties to commit their depredations. He
understood that the Algerines, dissatisfied with the Dey for having
limited their sphere of plunder, had been pacified only by the
assurance, that though restrained from cruising against Neapolitan
subjects, there still remained a wide field for their enterprise. The
Roman States had already felt the effect of the new direction given to
their piracies. He then described the wretched condition of the slaves.
In one case, out of three hundred prisoners, fifty had died of
ill-treatment on the first day of their arrival, and seventy during the
first fortnight. The rest were kept in the most miserable condition,
being allowed only a pound of bread a day, and subject to the lash from
morning to night. No age, no sex was spared. A Neapolitan lady of
distinction, carried off with eight children, six of whom survived, had
lately been seen by a British officer in the thirteenth year of her
captivity. That it might be seen we did not countenance such
proceedings, it was necessary to ascertain what use we had made of our
influence in the late negotiations.
The minister objected to the motion, only however on the ground that all
the documents necessary to afford complete information had not yet
arrived; and he assured the House, that the cause of humanity had been
very materially served by the proceedings of the squadron. An animated
debate followed, in which every one expressed the utmost anxiety that
the barbarians should be compelled, and by force, if necessary, to
relinquish their piracies. This unanimous display of feeling in the
House of Commons, ensured to Lord Exmouth full approval of all that he
had done, and enabled the Government to take the decisive step which
immediately after became necessary. It is, indeed, a subject for just
pride, that upon every national question, the feelings of the people
have never hesitated to throw themselves upon the side of humanity and
justice, however seemingly opposed to their own interest.
Lord Exmouth had not yet reached England, when accounts arrived which
determined the Government not to await the issue of the proposed
negotiations with Algiers, but at once to exact the most ample
satisfaction and security. On the 23rd of May, the crews of the coral
fishing-vessels at Bona had landed to attend mass, it being
Ascension-day, when they were attacked by a large body of Turkish
troops, and most barbarously massacred. Lord Exmouth was at Algiers when
this took place; but as Bona is two hundred miles to the eastward, and
he sailed as soon as he had agreed with the Dey, he did not hear of it
until he arrived in England; and thus it devolved upon the British
Government to direct the measures which such an atrocity demanded.
Justly concluding that these barbarians, so long the common enemies of
the civilized world, and whose very existence was a reproach to it, had
filled the measure of their crimes by this last bloody outrage, they
determined to exact complete submission, or to inflict the most signal
vengeance. They appointed Lord Exmouth to complete his work, and placed
at his disposal whatever force he thought necessary to effect it.