1813 to 1831.
State of the Continent after the defeat of Buonaparte.--Sir
James's services in the Baltic no longer required.--Retires
from service, but not from public life.--His various
occupations.--His claims for a Peerage
disregarded.--Correspondence and observations thereon.--His
residence in Guernsey.--Visit to Oxford.--Letter from Lord
Nelson.--Captain Miller's monument.--Political
opinions.--Letter from Earl St. Vincent.--Is appointed to the
command at Plymouth.--Speech of Earl Grey.--Receives a visit
from Lord Exmouth.--Strikes his flag.--Claims for a Peerage
again disregarded.--Returns to Guernsey.--His reception
there.--Death of George IV.--Accession of William IV.--Is
created Baron de Saumarez.--Letter from Lady de Saumarez.--His
reception at the Island of Guernsey, and rejoicings there.
The defeat of Buonaparte and the disastrous retreat of his army
released the countries which surround the Baltic from the oppression
to which they had been subject, and an English fleet was no longer
necessary in that sea. The enemy indeed had still possession of
Dantzig, and Denmark held out during the year 1813; but a small
squadron under Rear-admiral Sir George Hope acting now in conjunction
with Sweden, the co-operation of Russia was all that was wanted to
carry on the blockade in the Belt, and to protect the commerce.
The services of a full admiral not being required, Sir James remained
at home, chiefly in his native island. The command in the
Mediterranean, which he would have had, had he not been requested to
continue on the command in the Baltic, was occupied by Sir Edward
Pellew, which, as will be hereafter seen, was an unfortunate
circumstance.
Although retired from active warfare, it cannot be said that Sir James
had retired from public life;--he was the patron of every useful
institution, not by mere nominal sanction, but also by very munificent
pecuniary contributions. He was one of the oldest members (I believe,
President) of the Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, having
become a subscriber to that institution in the year 1789; he was also
president of the Royal Naval Charitable Institution, and of the Naval
and Military Bible Society, as well as a large contributor. He was,
moreover, vice-president of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and
of the Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews; patron of
the National Schools of the Bethel Union; the Provident Society; the
Church of England Sunday School; the Church of England Missionary
Society, &c. His mind and his time, therefore, were employed in a
manner no less honourable and useful than it had been in his
Majesty's service; and it does not appear that he had taken any notice
of the manifest neglect of his claims until the peace of 1814, when,
at the conclusion of the war, peerages were conferred on those
officers of the army and navy who had most highly distinguished
themselves. He now found his name omitted; while Sir Edward Pellew, an
officer junior to him on the list of admirals, who had never commanded
a ship in a general action, and who was not even a Knight of the Bath,
was raised to the dignity of baron.
Sir James could not but consider this circumstance as an injustice to
his superior claims; and we know that Sir Edward Pellew, then created
Baron Exmouth, admitted that Sir James's claims for that high honour
were far greater than his own. We may add, that every officer of his
Majesty's navy was of the same opinion. Feeling himself bound to
remonstrate, a correspondence took place between Sir James and some of
his Majesty's ministers on the subject, but without effect; and we
believe that the only reason given by them for his having been passed
over, was simply "that Sir James's flag was not flying at the
conclusion of the war," while that of Sir E. Pellew was hoisted in the
Mediterranean, where indeed Sir James _ought_ to have been, and where
he would certainly have been had he not accepted the command in the
Baltic at the request of ministers, on the especial understanding
that it was not to be prejudicial to his claims. The fact was,
however, that he had _no friends_ in power at that time; while Sir
Edward Pellew had many claims on ministers for the support he gave
them in Parliament.
It is needless to revert to the ungracious treatment he received,
which can only be accounted for by his having refused a seat in
Parliament, coupled with conditions to which his conscience would not
allow him to accede, and from his diffidence in not putting forward
his claims at an earlier period; too often the case with men who are
truly brave, but which is injurious to the service, inasmuch as it
induces a belief among the rising generation that even manifestly just
claims may be entirely neglected.
On the 4th of June 1814, when the general promotion took place, Sir
James was advanced to Admiral of the Blue, at which time his name on
the list of the navy was the fourth above Lord Exmouth.
The following is the extract of a letter from Sir James to one of the
family on the subject of the Peerage.
London, 16th May 1814.
"You will have seen that a Peerage has been conferred on Sir
Edward Pellew; you may suppose that Sir John Duckworth and
myself have taken the proper means with Lord Melville for our
services being taken into consideration, for a similar mark of
distinction, and there is every reason to believe we shall not
be disregarded. I had a long interview with Lord Melville, who
gave me to understand that he laid the subject as favourably as
possible before Lord Liverpool. It is, I fear, very doubtful,
but I cannot persuade myself so much injustice will be done to
my services; and such is the opinion of all I meet."
Subsequently to this, Sir James received a letter from Lord Liverpool,
which need not be inserted, as the substance is given in Sir James's
answer, which we subjoin.
Date not exactly known, 1814.
MY LORD,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your lordship's
letter of this date, signifying that you have had an
opportunity of communicating to his Royal Highness the Prince
Regent my request for the honour of the Peerage, as well as
some other applications for the same honour from several
distinguished officers of the navy and army, and that your
lordship was commanded by the Prince Regent to acquaint me that
his Royal Highness does full justice to my services on the
occasions to which I refer; but he feels it, nevertheless,
quite impossible, under all the circumstances, to comply with
my request, and that he has directed your lordship to return
the same answer to those who have made similar applications to
him upon the present occasion. Without presuming to inquire
into the merits of those distinguished officers with whom your
lordship may have been pleased to blend my services, your
lordship will permit me to observe, that the grounds upon which
I found my application for the Peerage, were not confined to my
services during the whole period of the late and American war;
but also to my services during the five years that I had the
honour to command his Majesty's fleet upon the Baltic station
with the fullest approbation of Government, particularly for my
uniform conduct respecting Sweden, which prevented that nation
from joining the common enemy against this country, and also in
having detached a timely force to Riga under the order of
Rear-admiral Martin, which proved the means of preventing that
city from falling into the hands of the French, and also,
through the exertions of that zealous and able officer,
succeeded in checking an important branch of the enemy's army
from penetrating towards St. Petersburg, for which important
services I have been honoured with the thanks of his Imperial
Majesty, communicated to me by his ambassador at this court. As
your lordship may not have laid those interesting particulars
regarding my services before the Prince Regent, I now most
earnestly request you will be pleased to render me that
justice. I owe it to myself, to my family, as well as to the
naval service, to which I have had the honour to belong upwards
of forty-four years, to take the proper means, with every due
respect, that my long and most faithful services are laid
before his Royal Highness, in the fullest confidence that they
will be found deserving the same mark of distinction that has
been conferred upon an officer junior to me in the list of
admirals. I beg leave to express my unfeigned acknowledgments
to your lordship for the polite manner in which you have been
pleased to convey to me the sentiments of his Royal Highness.
I have the honour to be,
With the greatest respect,
My Lord,
Your most obedient and humble servant,
JAMES SAUMAREZ.
To the Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool,
&c. &c. &c.
On Sir James's return to Guernsey, after his unsuccessful application to
ministers for a Peerage, he resumed the works of charity and benevolence
which had already done so much good to his native island. The ground on
which Sir James's church stands was his property; he made a free gift of
it to the building committee, and subscribed one thousand pounds towards
the construction of that place of public worship. He assisted in
improving the salaries of the masters and mistresses of the parochial
schools, and was principally instrumental in establishing the Sunday
school in the town parish. He founded an exhibition in Elizabeth
College, for the best classical and theological scholar. He gave three
hundred pounds in the Catel parish, where his country seat was situate,
for the payment of a salary to the mistress of the girls' school. He
distributed at Christmas, every year, warm clothing to the poor of every
parish in the island, and, conjointly with the late dean, the Rev. Mr.
Durand, succeeded, after many fruitless attempts, in establishing a
national school at St. Peter Port. It has been justly said that he
considered the great wealth he possessed as "trust money," for which he
would have to account to that Being who had confided it to his care.
Sir James's residence being in Guernsey, where he possessed both a town
and country house, and considerable landed property, and where he found
himself surrounded by the relations both of Lady Saumarez and himself,
he was induced to visit England but seldom. After the hundred days' war,
when the Continental Sovereigns came to London, he accompanied the
Prince Regent and his august allies to Oxford, and assisted in the
ceremonies observed on that memorable visit. Had hostilities continued,
there can be no doubt that he would have had the command of the Channel
fleet, and it is worthy of remark that he was told, on making
application for the Victory as his flag-ship, that four or five
admirals, who had sought employment, had applied also for that favourite
ship, notwithstanding the Howe, Nelson, and St. Vincent, new ships of
one hundred and twenty guns, were ready for commission. Sir James having
been second lieutenant of the _same_ Victory forty-seven years before he
hoisted his flag in her, and being well aware of her excellent sailing
qualities, will account for his desire for that ship to bear his flag,
although it cannot be denied, that, having only one hundred guns, and
her metal reduced to eighteen pounders on the middle deck, she was much
inferior in force to those we have mentioned. The glorious victory of
Waterloo, however, put an end to all speculations on that subject; and
Sir James, having failed in an application for a similar reward to that
conferred on others for his meritorious services, retired again to his
native island. After Sir James and Lord Nelson had returned from the
Mediterranean subsequently to the melancholy death of Captain Miller,
they met at Sir Peter Parker's at dinner, when Sir James proposed that a
subscription for a monument to Captain Miller's memory should be raised
among the Captains who fought with his lordship at the Nile. This
proposition was immediately adopted by Nelson, who volunteered to
promote it; and the following is a letter on the subject from Nelson to
Saumarez, which we insert here because it did not come to our hands
until after the first volume had been printed.
MY DEAR SIR JAMES,--I have written so fully to Sir Edward Berry
on the subject of dear Miller's monument, that I can only
repeat my words. Sir E. Berry thought that a plain monument
would cost only 200_l._ and be sufficient to mark our esteem,
to which I am ready to agree, provided we are to have the
honour to ourselves. I mean we, who fought with him on the 1st
of August 1798; but if it is judged better to admit those who
fought with him on the 14th February 1797, then I think that a
less sum than 500_l._ would be highly improper for such a body
to lay out on a monument. Flaxman is to be the artist employed,
and Mr. Davison, if he will take the trouble, the manager of
the whole business; for permission must be obtained from the
Chapter of St. Paul's, &c. &c.
I wish we had all been off Brest when the squadron sailed; we
might have had the good fortune to have seen them. The San
Josef appears to answer very well; indeed, as far as we can
judge at present, she is, take her altogether, the finest
three-decker in this country. I am going, as you know, into the
St. George, but I wish our Northern matters could be
accommodated; however, we must face all our enemies, and, I
trust, make them ashamed of themselves.
I know you have a lad of the name of Bate on board; if you wish
to part from him, I am bound to take him.
With my best compliments to Lady Saumarez, believe me ever, my
dear Sir James,
Your most obliged and affectionate,
NELSON AND BRONTE.
To Rear-admiral Saumarez.
Although this letter has no date, it is clear that it must have been
written just before the battle with the Danish fleet at Copenhagen in
1801; and it is evident that the merit of proposing a monument to the
brave Captain Miller is due to Sir James Saumarez.
He seldom ventured an opinion on political subjects: considering
himself a "friend to the King," it did not much concern him who his
Majesty's ministers were, and his refusal to support either side was
no detriment to his advancement during war, when his high character
and skill as a naval officer ensured him an important command; but
when peace came, and his services were no longer required, he was,
like many other meritorious officers, thrown completely on the shelf.
His son, the present lord, writes thus:--
Although Sir James was more than once offered a seat in
Parliament, he always steadily declined it, from the idea that
he could render better service to his country by remaining free
from politics; or if ever the time did arrive when he might
become a senator, he was resolved that whichever house he
entered he would be free and unshackled.
On this subject Sir James writes a few lines to his brother when in
the temporary command of the Channel fleet:
What you hint of a seat in Parliament has often occurred to me,
but hitherto I should have found it an encumbrance. At some
future period it may, perhaps, be more advisable; but you may
rely on it that I never wish to have one without maintaining my
independence, and being perfectly free and unbiassed by any
party.
We are well assured that Sir James was decidedly against the Catholic
Emancipation, although after he obtained a peerage he voted for the
Reform Bill, being clearly of opinion that some reform of acknowledged
and flagrant abuses was necessary. He did not, however, intend to go
so far as many of his friends; he may be said to have nearly followed
the politics of Earl Grey, after the retirement of whom he took no
part in the affairs of the nation.
At every change which occurred in the Ministry, he sent a memorial of
his services and claims, but without effect; and it is well known that
he had a very unfruitful correspondence with the Duke of Wellington
and other cabinet ministers. It was at this period that he suffered
another indignity in being passed over, when the Major-generalship of
Marines became vacant.
The following extracts from letters from Earl St. Vincent will show
his lordship's opinions on this subject. The first is to a friend.
Rochetts, 8th May 1821.
I feel very much for Sir James Saumarez. I have lost no
opportunity of stating his high pretensions, which in my
judgment are very far superior to any other upon the list of
flag-officers. When I gain a little more strength I shall be
glad to see him.
The second is to Sir James,
MY DEAR SIR,--I cannot too highly appreciate the interest you
take in a late event, and happy shall I be to greet you upon
the reward due to your exalted and unrivalled services, a
manifestation of which has on no occasion been let slip by your
old and sincere friend,
ST. VINCENT.
On the 4th of April 1824, Sir James, then Admiral of the White,
hoisted his flag on board the Britannia as Port Admiral at Plymouth.
It was during his period of command that Earl Grey, who was fully
sensible of the unhandsome and ungrateful manner in which he had been
treated, visited Plymouth, and when his health was proposed by Sir
James at the Royal Naval Club openly announced his sentiments in the
following words:
I rise to offer my best thanks for the manner in which the
president (Sir James Saumarez) has been pleased to propose my
health, and for the assent which the gentlemen present have given
to the gallant Admiral's favourable view of me as a public
character. I cannot but remind those about me of the merits of my
noble friend--[then correcting himself, Earl Grey went on]--I
wish I could call him my _noble_ friend (_noble_, I mean, in
rank, as he is already _noble_ in mind)--I wish I could see him
ennobled by his Sovereign, as his services entitle him to be; for
who would deny him that honour, who recollects the career which
he has run from Rodney's glorious day, the battles off Cape St.
Vincent and the Nile, down to his own brilliant exploits in the
Crescent and as commander-in-chief at Algeziras, and not say,
that if ever a name should or would have graced the peerage, it
should have been that of Saumarez?
Ralfe, in his Naval Biography, after alluding to the above speech,
justly remarks,--
Were it a matter of importance to adduce further proof of the
high opinion entertained of Sir James's abilities, we believe
we might name nearly the whole list of Admirals; for we never
yet conversed with a single officer who was not loud in his
praise, and who did not think the service neglected in his
person.
At Plymouth, Sir James received a visit from Lord Exmouth, with whom
he had had no personal communication since the time when they both
commanded frigates on the Plymouth station.
Sir James struck his flag for the last time on the 10th of May 1827,
after a most glorious career of nearly sixty years. His reiterated
claims were still disregarded.
We have now arrived at the period when the great revolution in the
affairs of the state brought Earl Grey into power, previously to
which, his late Majesty William IV. had ascended the throne; and one
of the first and most popular acts of the "Sailor King," who well knew
the merits of Sir James, was to wipe off that slur on the national
gratitude, by raising him to the peerage.
Sir James having arrived in London, had communication with Sir James
Graham, then first Lord of the Admiralty, after which he wrote as
follows:
London, 9th September 1831.
This morning, I had a long interview with Sir James Graham,
who, I must say, is most favourably inclined towards me, and
assures me that Earl Grey, with whom he has had frequent
conversations, is equally so. I have an appointment with the
latter to-morrow, but I do not anticipate any favourable
result, and can only say, "God's will be done."
We need scarcely add, that his application was successful; Sir James
was raised to the long-expected and well-merited dignity of a Baron on
the first of October 1831. The following extract of a letter from Lady
Saumarez to her son, describing the arrival of the first
intelligence, we are sure will be perused with interest.
Saumarez, 4th October 1831.
I also remember, my dear James, that October is an eventful
month to us all; that to-morrow is your wedding day, and Sunday
is your birth-day,--and you may be sure we shall not fail to
keep them both in remembrance, in our prayers and warmest
wishes, that they may ever be numbered among those marked
_blessed_. Our register has now to unroll a brilliant page,
which, I trust, the same divine hand that inscribed it, will
seal with that _stamp_.
Wonderful it is yet to me--so suddenly, so unexpectedly, did it
come at last! I admit there is no excuse for my incredulity,
except that of thinking your dear father had been so strangely
deprived of his well-earned reward through the injustice of
_man_ on so many occasions, _because_, far better things than
_man_ could give were in store for him. And although I did not
doubt, if any naval Peers were created at the coronation, he
would be one, I did not allow my thoughts to dwell upon it; and
when the Gazette arrived without his name, I gave it up
altogether. You may therefore judge my surprise on Wednesday
morning, when a tap at my door announced Betty Williams, who,
in breathless agitation, came to my bedside to say, Mr. C.
Lefebvre was below, to inform me "Sir James was made a lord!"
When I joined him at breakfast, an hour after, he gave me so
many interesting particulars which he had heard, that the
account could not be disbelieved; but the entrance of two
letters removed every shadow of doubt. The accounts from
England of the reception of this event everywhere, from all
classes and parties, have no parallel; and it seems to me as
if the dignity had been deferred to prepare it for greater
glory and additional lustre. We must indeed, as you say, be
more than mortals if we could be unmoved at such things; they
are so great that we have need to pray for a humble spirit to
keep us from being "exalted above measure,"--and to make us
remember that this donation is an additional "talent," which we
are bound to use by our influence and example, in the cause of
"whatever is holy, just, and of good report."
When the intelligence was known to the inhabitants of Guernsey, that
the Admiral had been raised to the peerage, by the title of "Baron de
Saumarez of Guernsey," all classes of the community fully manifested
the pleasure they enjoyed at this signal honour; he being the first
native of that island who had taken his seat in the House of Lords. On
the 6th October, 1831, the bailiff officially announced the joyful
news in his Billet d'Etat, in the following words:
LORD DE SAUMAREZ.
The elevation of one of our citizens to one of the highest
dignities of the kingdom, cannot fail to inspire us with the
most lively gratification. His Majesty has rewarded, with the
most distinguished honour, the eminent services which he has
rendered to the country. Guernsey, which, besides the public
man, recognises in him all the virtues which adorn a private
station, ought, on this happy occasion, to testify how
sincerely she honours his character. To mark our esteem, the
authorities of the Bailiwick, at the head of the whole
population, ought to crowd around him at his return and
proffer their congratulations. I should fail in my duty to the
States, were I to neglect affording them this opportunity.
In reply to this address, the States unanimously agreed to meet at the
court-house on the day after the arrival of Lord de Saumarez, at
eleven o'clock in the morning, and thence to repair to the residence
of their noble fellow-citizen, and felicitate him on his elevation to
the peerage.
Lord de Saumarez, after a tedious and stormy passage across the
channel, arrived at Guernsey late in the evening of Tuesday, the 25th
of October; but, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour, the pier
was crowded with people, who cheered him as he landed, and who
attended him with every demonstration of joy to the carriage which was
in waiting for him; and it was with much difficulty the people could
be prevented taking out the horses. He was very much fatigued, having
embarked at Southampton on Friday evening in the packet. On Saturday
morning, when in sight of Alderney, a gale overtook the vessel, and
the captain was obliged to bear up for Weymouth roads, where he
remained till Monday; but his lordship had not recovered the effects
of the storm: a night's rest, however, completely restored him.
On the following morning (26th October) the States assembled at the
court-house, and as soon as the names of the members were called
over, the bailiff read the address, which he had prepared, and which
was unanimously agreed to. And, after having ascertained that his
lordship was ready to receive them, the States proceeded to his
residence, where the address was delivered to him, surrounded by Lady
de Saumarez and the members of his family then in the island.