RETURN TO ENGLAND
[Sidenote: 1861. May 28.]
9 P.M.--Came to in Rio Harbour. Found _Leopard_, with flag of
Rear-Admiral Sir Stephen Lushington, K.C.B., waiting to be relieved.
Also the old _Madagascar_, Captain White; _Curlew_, Captain Shaw;
_Spy_, Lieutenant Tabuteau; and _Pylades_, Captain de Courcy, on his
way home from the Pacific. Found also notice from their Lordships of
their intention to supersede me with Rear-Admiral Warren, whom I might
expect in the _Emerald_, to which ship I was to transfer my flag and
return to England.
This step was taken by their Lordships in reply to a request I had
made in a private letter to the First Lord to be allowed to return to
England in the _Forte_, that inquiry might be made into my conduct.
Moreover, in reply to an official application I had made most
respectfully, requesting their Lordships would be good enough to state
reasons for having removed me from the Cape to an inferior command,
I received an answer that their Lordships “were not in the habit of
giving any reasons for the orders they may think proper to give.”
[Sidenote: June 16.]
Arrived _Emerald_, with flag of Rear-Admiral Warren; exchanged salutes.
Transferred my flag to the _Emerald_ commanded by my gallant friend
Captain Arthur Cumming. Off this coast on Sept. 6, 1843, to the
southward, he did as smart a thing as any sailor could wish. He was a
lieutenant in charge of a twelve-oared cutter, searching for slavers.
He disguised himself, his crew and his boat, as fishermen, painting the
cutter after Brazilian fashion. A strange, rakish-looking brig nearing,
Cumming steered towards her as if wishing to sell fish. Without a word
he was on board, shot the helmsman, put the slaver up in the wind, to
the consternation of her crew. His own men joined him. It was indeed a
brilliant feat!
* * * * *
By the mail received the following press cutting--from what paper I
know not, nor from whom I received it; but so struck am I by its truth
and justice, it is herewith inserted:--
THE KEPPEL SCANDAL
The report to which we gave currency last week, relative to the
return of Sir Henry Keppel, has since been confirmed; and we
understand another flag officer has been nominated successor to
Sir Stephen Lushington on the Brazil Station. On the return of the
gallant Admiral, the scandal with which his name has been associated
will be fully investigated, and the danger of acting upon an _ex
parte_ statement will probably receive another proof. Had Sir Henry
Keppel tamely submitted to the sentence of removal from the Cape
Station he would have been pleading guilty to a charge of a serious
nature, and we give him full credit, therefore, for having declined
to accept the South American command under such circumstances. This
treatment of a British flag officer shows to what a miserable ebb
the Navy has fallen. Had a general officer been complained of by a
Colonial Government he would not have been summarily dismissed or
transferred to another command unheard or untried. But, alas! the
Navy has no _Head_, able or willing to maintain the independence
of its officers. Any paltry complaint against a naval officer,
when urged by a civilian, or coming from the Horse Guards or Home
Office, assumes a degree of importance which it takes a deal of
correspondence and explanations to lessen or set aside. The naval
officer is often condemned on the shallowest of pretexts, and has no
Court of Appeal. With respect to the alleged scene or scenes on board
the _Forte_, we have heard so many different versions that we decline
to offer any decided opinion; but we contend on behalf of the service
for that measure of justice which is never denied to the veriest
criminal--a fair and full trial before condemnation. It may turn out
that Sir George Grey acted with unbecoming and causeless impetuosity,
and that a British Admiral was moved from a valuable appointment at
the request of the Home Secretary, because an irascible civilian
Governor chose to pick a quarrel. We demand on the part of the Navy
fair play. We ask no more, and we are satisfied that if it is not
freely accorded by the Board of Admiralty, there are champions of
justice enough in the House of Commons to take up the cudgels.
[Sidenote: June 26.]
H.M. Minister, Mr. Christie, embarked on board _Emerald_. Sunset,
resigned command of South American station to Warren, and shifted flag
to _Emerald_, embarking with suite at same time. Was informed that
during the night between fifty and sixty of the _Forte’s_ crew deserted.
[Sidenote: June 27.]
10 P.M.--Weighed. Although at that late hour, the crew of _Forte_
voluntarily waited up to greet their old Admiral and Captain with a
succession of parting cheers. Blue lights were burned as we steamed
round and stood out of Rio Harbour. Thirty-seven years since I first
entered it!
[Sidenote: July 2.]
7 A.M.--Came to off St. Salvador in the famous Bahia Bay. Found
_Curlew_. Exchanged salutes with Brazilian flag. Noon, Royal salute in
commemoration of Brazilian independence.
[Sidenote: July 3.]
Ship visited by President to see our Minister and Armstrong guns.
[Sidenote: July 4.]
Weighed and steamed out of Bahia.
[Sidenote: July 11.]
Crossed the Equator for the last time!
[Sidenote: Aug. 4.]
Made the Eddystone Lighthouse.
[Sidenote: Aug. 5.]
After passing Cowes, furled sails, squared yards, rounded to, manned
yards, and saluted Royal standard. Made sail, came to at Spithead.
[Sidenote: Aug. 6.]
Struck flag. Visited friend, George Gray, now Rear-Admiral
Superintendent of the Dockyard. After luncheon, accompanied him towards
the King’s Stairs, where he expected the Prince Consort to embark for
Osborne, H.R.H. having been to inspect works in progress at Portsdown.
[Sidenote: Portsmouth, Aug. 6.]
On the Prince’s appearing in sight, I retired; however, His Royal
Highness having spotted me, came direct and gave me a kind and cordial
“welcome back.” I was much pleased and gratified at this--but still
sore at the silence preserved at the Admiralty as to the cause of my
removal from the Cape Station. Governor Sir George Grey had sent a
message that “if I did not (on our second leaving Rio for the Cape)
write home what had occurred, he would not.”
Having since found out how little regard he had for speaking the truth,
I believed that he had access by writing to some person near the Court,
which would account for the mystery at the Admiralty. The kindness of
the Prince Consort somewhat dispelled this idea. I proceeded to London.
My brother-in-law, clever and truest friend, was no more! I tried to
forget my Service troubles, and the notice I more than once received
that I need not expect further employment. Sir Frederick Grey, First
Sea Lord, was then the only person who, if not deceived, knew what had
occurred on board the _Forte_.
[Sidenote: Aug. to Sept.]
On 5th December 1860, the First Lord wrote me a private letter,
which I only received after my arrival in England stating, “Upon
consideration, he thought it expedient to transfer me to another
station.” A more just and honourable man than the Duke of Somerset
there could not be. By whom had His Grace been misled? There are now
living proofs in London of what did occur! Sir George Grey and myself
are both old men, living within an hour’s walk. We must shortly be
called to our full account.
_P.S._--Poor fellow! since writing the above I find that Sir George
Grey (born _Gray_) rests under the same roof as Nelson and Wellington!