mess. He was cursed surly and disagreeable, but I believe meant well;
only [he had] an ugly way of showing his kindness. When in good temper
(which was seldom) he would say ‘My son,’ when he addressed any of us;
but generally, ‘I’ll split your ear.’ This man drew a very long bow and
would frequently tell the most unaccountable stories. I have heard him
relate that the ghost of Commodore Walsingham[37] (who he had served
under, and who was lost in the Thunderer, 74, in the West Indies, in the
hurricane of 1780) appeared to him when he was a slave on the coast of
Barbary, where he was chained by the leg for upwards of a twelvemonth,
and after undergoing innumerable hardships he was released by a Moorish
lady who fell in love with him and paid his ransom to a considerable
amount. This was too much to swallow from a fellow as ugly as the old
Diligente’s [figure-] head.
When at Spithead and in the harbour, our ship’s company had a violent
quarrel with the crew of the Grampus 50, commanded by Ned Thompson[38]
the poet, who had the Coast of Guinea station, and several battles were
fought with various success. The quarrel originated in some of our
fellows saying they of the Grampus, when on the coast, lived chiefly on
monkey soup, except on Sundays, and then they were regaled on roast
parrots. For this they swore to murder every snow-eating son of a bitch
belonging to the Salisbury whenever they could catch them. One of the
mates of the Grampus had the impudence, while we were in harbour, to
drop under our bows with a launch-load of his people who had been for
stores to the dockyard, and challenge ours to fight; for which he had
very near been brought to a court martial.
Our quarrelsome blades had another row with the riggers; and when the
latter would pass the ship in their launches, our fellows would thrust
their heads out of the ports and sing out—‘I say, Mortimer, drop in the
launch, make fast a hawser to the NW buoy, take three round turns and a
half hitch, seize the end back and come on board with the launch.’ This
occasioned many a battle, and the riggers generally got the worst of it;
for we had some from that land which produces the finest peasantry in
the world on board, and woe betide those who came in contact with them.
We had the O’Ryans, the O’Gallaghers, the Macartys, the O’Donovans, the
Murphys, the O’Flahertys, the O’Tooles and the O’Flanagans, and great
part of the ship’s company were Irish and very quiet when not disturbed.
One of those fellows—Darby Collins, who had the dog that I have
mentioned at the hospital—did positively beat at the back of the Point,
Portsmouth, eleven men by cracking their heads at single-stick one after
the other. He was a tall, raw-boned Irishman, a Garry-owen boy that
stood up manfully for the honour of his country.
The following are the names of the officers belonging to the Salisbury:—
JOHN CAMPBELL, F.R.S., Vice-Admiral.
Dead [1790]. An admiral; a most able officer and great astronomer.
He was captain of the fleet on board the Royal George with Admiral
Hawke when he defeated the French under Conflans.—[_D.N.B._]
JAMES BRADBY, Esq., Captain.
Dead. A retired rear-admiral.
HENRY DEACON, 1st Lieutenant.
Dead. He was the senior commander on the list; had the out-pension
of Greenwich Hospital. A good seaman, but satirical, and too fond
of mastheading.
RICHARD RUDSDALE, 2nd Lieutenant.
Dead. A commander; a fine-looking fellow and the best officer in
the ship.
JOSEPH LORING, 3rd Lieutenant.
Dead. A good sailor, very passionate, and swore like the devil.
JOHN STILES, 4th Lieutenant.
Dead. A rear-admiral of the white. Fond of mastheading for little
or nothing. More of him when I come to the Edgar.
[GEORGE] TREMLETT, Master.
Dead. A quiet, good man. [William Henry Brown Tremlett (captain,
1802), his servant].
[JAMES] PIERCE, Captain of Marines.
Dead. A strange fish.
[WILLIAM] GOULD, Lieutenant of Marines.
Dead. A good officer.
THE PARSON (I forget his name).
Dead. Had no dislike to grog.
[JAMES] COCKERELL, Purser.
Drowned. Took care of his eights.[39]
[EDMUND] PETERSON, Surgeon.
Dead. Crabbed as the devil.
AARON GRAHAM, Admiral’s Secretary.
Dead. A very clever fellow; was magistrate at Bow Street.
[CHARLES] SMITH, Gunner.
Dead. Fractious from long illness. [D.D. in pay-book: no date.]
D—— (I forget his name) [EDWARD DOWDALL], Gunner.
Dead. Lethargic; always dozing on the forecastle; a sleepy, good
man.
[SIMEON] BROWN, Carpenter.
Dead. A quiet, good man; clever in his profession.
[JAMES] HALL, Boatswain.
Dead. An infernal tyrant; a good sailor; a sycophant, a Hun, a
Goth, a Vandal; a fellow that was made too much of by those who
ought to have kept him at proper distance.
[JOHN] MCCURDY, 1st Assistant Surgeon.
Dead. A surgeon at St. John’s; a very excellent fellow, and clever
in his profession.
ANDREW REARDON, 2nd Assistant Surgeon.
Dead. A surgeon, R.N. A very worthy fellow, who loved his glass of
grog.
DODWELL BROWN, Master’s Mate.
Dead. A lieutenant; a gentleman very much respected.
[SAMUEL] SCOTT, Master’s Mate.
Uncertain. A tyrant who I well remember, although it is upwards of
fifty years since I saw the blustering, swaggering bully.
ROBERT LAURIE, Midshipman.
Vice-admiral of the white; a baronet and K.C.B. A most excellent
officer, seaman, and gentleman. [Admiral, 1846; died
1848.—O’Byrne.]
CHARLES BISSET, Midshipman.
Dead. Wild and thoughtless, but a good-natured, harmless fellow.
[HENRY] POTTS, Midshipman [afterwards A.B.].
Dead. A tyrannical fellow and member of the Hell-fire Club.
[JOHN] SANDFORD, Midshipman [afterwards A.B.].
Dead. A member of the Hell-fire Club; a dandy and droll fellow.
[RICHARD] HERBERT, Midshipman. [A.B.].
Uncertain. A noisy, tyrannical fellow; member of the Hell-fire
Club; nicknamed Hawbuck.
[THOMAS JAMES] SKERRET, Midshipman. [A.B.]
Uncertain. This fellow wanted to be a tyrant, but was too great a
fool.
[CAMPBELL] MARJORIBANKS, Midshipman.
East India House.
[THOMAS] MERCHANT, Midshipman.
Uncertain. A good fellow; called Old Siolto.
[JOHN WENTWORTH] HOLLAND, Midshipman. [A.B.]
A post captain; played the violin well. [Died 1841.]
ROBERT MANNING, Midshipman.
Dead. A commander. Bob was a good fellow.
R. B. VINCENT, Midshipman.
Dead [1831]. A post captain; C.B.; fought well; called Don Diego
Del Vinsanti Hispaniola Whiskerando. More of him when I come to
the Victory.—[_D.N.B._]
PHILIP BROCK, Midshipman.
Dead. A loss to the service.
BORROMY BRADBY, Midshipman, son of the captain. [A.B.]
Dead. A commander; a very worthy character. [Two other
(presumably) sons of the captain, Matthew Barton and Daniel, were
rated captain’s servants.]
CHARLES GARNIER, Midshipman.
This gentleman was Captain of the Aurora, 32, and was
unfortunately drowned in Yarmouth Roads, Isle of Wight, going off
to his ship in the evening [1796].
JAMES MACFARLAND, Midshipman.
A commander; good-natured and droll. [Captain (retired), 1840;
died 1852.—O’Byrne.]
R. B. LITTLEHALES, Midshipman.
A retired rear-admiral. [Vice-admiral, 1840: died 1847.—O’Byrne.]
JOHN TYRWHITT, Midshipman.
Marshal at Gibraltar.
BENJAMIN MORGAN, Midshipman.
Dead. A lieutenant. Poor Ben! you and I have spent many an hour at
the masthead for little or nothing.
HENRY BATT, Midshipman.
Dead. A lieutenant. An old schoolfellow of mine. Harry was
passionately fond of grog, which made him an ungrateful return by
taking him out of this world before it was agreeable. Nicknamed
Ram, Cat, Batt, and Rammon the Butcher.
WILLIAM GARRETT, Midshipman.
Dead. A lieutenant. A very good fellow and good sailor, but fond
of grog and boasting.
NORBORNE THOMPSON, Midshipman.
A rear-admiral. [Died 1844.—Marshall, iii. 294.]
INCE, Midshipman.
Dead. A worthy fellow; a loss to the service.
RICHARD STILES TREMLETT, Midshipman.
Killed in a duel with Lord Camelford.
GEO. N[EATE] TREMLETT, Midshipman.
A commander. Brother of the above; a very good fellow. [Died
1865.—O’Byrne.]
ANDREW DUFF, Midshipman.
Dead. A drunken Hun.
FRANCIS GIBBON, Midshipman.
Dead. A lieutenant; wonderfully great, in his own opinion.
[WILLIAM] ELLIOT, Midshipman.
Dead. A commander, sickly and proud.
LORD AMELIUS BEAUCLERK, Midshipman.
An admiral, G.C.B. and G.C.H.; chief naval aide-de-camp to the
king. [Died 1846.—_D.N.B._]
SMITH, Midshipman.
Uncertain. Remember little of him, and that no good.
J. A. GARDNER, Midshipman. [Entered Dec. 12, 1783.]
A commander.
WILLIAM PYE, Schoolmaster.
Dead. A purser; Fit Pye, Fit man.
JOHN ALCOT, Captain’s Clerk.
A purser and retired storekeeper of Portsmouth yard.
HENRY ROLAND HARLEY, Admiral’s Office.
Was a purser in the navy but resigned the situation; a most worthy
fellow. We were in four ships together.
[WILLIAM] WILLCOCKS, Admiral’s Office. [A.B.]
Uncertain. A very droll and noisy fellow.
[THOMAS] LANDSEER, Admiral’s Office. [Admiral’s servant.]
Dead. A purser; a very satirical gentleman.
CRISP, Admiral’s Office.
Dead. A purser; another noisy, droll fellow.
NEWNHAM, Admiral’s Office.
Uncertain. A quiet, easy, poor fellow; made a butt of.
[THOMAS] STACK, used to keep the forecastle watch as Midshipman
Uncertain. Made a gunner; I have mentioned him before with his
long bow.
ORESTES, 18.
I joined the son of Agamemnon early in 1786, fitting in Portsmouth
Harbour for Channel service, to cruise after smugglers from Dunnose to
the Start; Manley Dixon, Esq., commander.
This brig was considered the finest in the service. She measured 32 ft.
9 in. on the beam, and drew 17 ft. 4 in. abaft, 13 ft. 4 in. forward,
and [was] nearly 450 tons, mounting 18 long nines, and pierced for 26.
She and the Pylades (called the Hercules and Mars) were taken from the
Dutch by Macbride in the Artois, 44.[40] She sailed remarkably well, but
was a wet soul, shipping seas over the bows and washing the men at the
wheel. She would never condescend to rise to a sea, but dash right
through. After a few cruises, when off the Isle of Purbeck we observed
two large Hogboats[41] among the rocks, and several people on horseback
upon the cliffs above the spot. Sent our boats to examine, and found
them to be smugglers with seven hundred tubs of liquor, which we seized,
and landed the smugglers at Swanage. After landing our tubs at the
Custom House, Portsmouth, we anchored at Yarmouth, in the Isle of Wight,
our place of rendezvous, where we remained a short time, and then
resumed our cruising; sometimes in company with the Hebe, 36, on the
same station; and then put into Guernsey, where we stayed but a short
time and ran out in a gale of wind. Caught fire in the master’s cabin
over the magazine, by the candles rolling against his curtains. It
created great alarm, but was soon got under. During the time, it
occasioned the utmost terrors among the ship’s company. Several of them
got into the forechains, the head, and on the bowsprit, ready to jump
overboard. However, they seemed to have as much dread of water as they
had of the fire and remained stationary. It was ludicrous to see the
captain with a speaking trumpet, exerting himself to keep order, and the
carpenter’s wife catching him round the legs, and while he was calling
for Water, she was screaming out Fire.
When our cruise was over we returned to Yarmouth, where our surgeon
turned mad and cut some unaccountable capers. One morning early, he came
upon deck and gave some orders to the officers of the watch, who paid no
attention to them. Upon this he got hold of a crow[42] that was in the
becket over one of the guns, and began to run a-muck,[43] and cleared
the deck in a moment. Sentries and all took to their heels, and it was
some time before an opportunity offered to get him below. At last he was
got to his cabin in the gunroom, with four marines and a midshipman to
guard him; but he soon made a start from his den and made no more of the
marines than if they were sparrows. He first caught hold of two and
knocked their heads together, and then punished the others, who from
fear, made little resistance. He next attacked Patterson, the master,
and swore he should stand auctioneer as it was his intention to sell his
effects. I never saw a more ludicrous scene when the master, to humour
him, began to put his things up to auction and we, outside (for we were
afraid to go in) the gunroom, bidding for them. After the sale was over,
he made Patterson put on two of his coats—one of them the Windsor
uniform[44]—and then upset him and rolled him about the gunroom,
swearing he was a beer cask. Then rushing out, he belaboured all that he
met with, and went upon deck and remained cock of the walk until he came
down of his own accord, and went to bed, saying, ‘You shall hear from me
presently.’ However, good care was taken to secure him, and he was soon
after sent to sick quarters, being a dangerous subject, and glad enough
we were to get rid of him.
There was at Yarmouth a truly hospitable gentleman, a Captain Urry[45]
of the Royal Navy, well known to officers in the service, who kept open
house and gave large parties. He was the life and soul of Yarmouth,
which place has never been worth going to since his death. On one of
these parties, our barge (for we had a barge) was ordered to attend and
tow a sloop full of company (it being calm) from Yarmouth to Lymington,
and I was the midshipman sent, and had directions to land them, and to
take orders from a captain in the navy, who was one of the party. This
being done, a half-guinea was given to the men to drink, and I was
desired to let them go on shore for that purpose. After they had their
grog I missed the strokesman of the barge, a tall Irishman named
McCarthy, who was nowhere to be found; in fact he had deserted. On my
return I reported this to Lieutenant Jeynes who abused me and said he
would write against me to the captain (who lived on shore) for suffering
this tall Paddy to run away. The next morning he was as good as his
word, and sent me with the letter. The captain, on reading it, gave me a
severe reprimand, and sent me on board in a hurry, saying I should hear
more of it very shortly. In a day or two after he came on board and we
left Yarmouth for Spithead. I was in hourly expectation of some terrible
explosion, as my friend the lieutenant was constantly reminding me of
the subject. After the ship was moored the captain went on shore, and
Jeynes soon followed. The master being commanding officer, I asked him
permission to go and see my friends, which he granted, and I never
joined the Orestes after.
I was but a youngster then. Had I known as much as I did soon after, I
would have demanded a court martial on myself, and would have brought
Lieutenant Jeynes to another for tyranny and oppression, which he was
guilty of in many instances and had laid himself open to anyone who
might think proper to bring the charges forward. He was obliged to leave
the Orestes soon after. He had formerly (as I have understood) been a
purser, and was broken by court martial; but having served his time as
midshipman, got to be made a lieutenant, and died a retired commander.
Whenever the Orestes came in I used to keep out of the way. I lived at
Gosport and was always on the watch, and when she came into Spithead I
had timely notice and would set off for the country. After returning
from one of those excursions, I was hiding behind a screen in our
parlour; on the other side sitting by the fire was an old schoolfellow
of mine and a young lady in earnest conversation about me. The former
among other remarks said he believed I had made away with myself. This
observation I could not brook, and catching hold of a large family Bible
that was on a table near me (and which I have at this moment) I hove it
over the screen and hit my friend on the jaw and knocked him down as
flat as a flounder. I set off as fast as I could, leaving them in the
utmost consternation; and he told me a long time after that he thought
it was the devil that had felled him, until he saw the Bible. Captain
Dixon, I believe, was aware that Lieutenant Jeynes had blamed me
wrongfully, as he sent me my prize money and gave me a good certificate,
and offered to take me again, for which he has my most grateful thanks,
and I hope to live to see him admiral of the fleet.[46]
He was a very smart officer, and did everything in his power to teach
the midshipmen their duty. We used to take helm and lead, and reef the
main topsail; also pull in the boats upon particular occasions, such as
going along shore in the night after smugglers, &c. When we were at
Guernsey, the captain in the kindest manner allowed the petty officers a
moderate quantity of liquor in each of their messes; but the sergeant of
marines, not content with this indulgence, smuggled twenty kegs into the
ship. When this was told the captain, he ordered all the kegs to be
brought on deck and stove. The sergeant stood, like Niobe, in tears for
his loss. It was a most laughable sight, as the liquor was running out
mixed with salt water (for the ship rolled a great deal), to see the
fellows laying down like beasts on the deck and licking up, while the
boatswain’s mates were thrashing them to no purpose. The sergeant, I
believe, was reduced to the ranks.
I shall mention a few strange fellows we had on board, and first Mr.
Quinton the mate. This gentleman was a good sailor, and was very fond of
gin grog, and used to say it agreed with him so well and made his flesh
so firm. It was determined one day to count how many glasses he drank
from morning until evening; and, if I remember correctly, twenty-six
tumblers of good Hollands and water made the number; for in the good old
times we never sported Cockney gin. I must in justice declare that Mr.
Quinton was no drunkard; I never saw him disguised with liquor the whole
time I belonged to the ship. The next was Mr. Stevens, who went by the
nickname of Tommy Bowline, a rough knot; full of wise saws and strange
dry sayings, but rather slack in his movements, and was what we call a
hard officer and droll middy. When belonging to a guard-ship commanded
by Sir Roger Curtis, while lying at Spithead the mizen topsail was
ordered to be loosed, to swing the ship the right way. Tommy Bowline was
the first to go aloft and was highly complimented by Sir Roger for his
activity, saying ‘You are a fine fellow, Mr. Stevens; a most active
officer, Mr. Stevens; you are a wonder, Mr. Stevens.’ Now it
unfortunately happened that Tommy was left behind by the other
midshipmen and was last on the yard. Sir Roger observing this called out
‘I recall all my compliments, Mr. Stevens; you are a damned lubber, Mr.
Stevens; a blockhead, Mr. Stevens; come down, Mr. Stevens.’ This poor
Tommy never heard the last of.
Our gunner (McKinnon) was another strange hand. He was troubled with
sore eyes and would sit in his cabin damning them from morning till
night. Two of our men having deserted while in Yarmouth Roads, our boat,
manned by midshipmen with Lieutenant Jeynes, left the ship in the
evening and pulled for Cowes, where we arrived about eleven at night.
Mr. Jeynes having received some information respecting the deserters,
set off in the boat for Ryde, leaving me at Cowes with two marines to go
round by land and meet him there. I had no money to get any refreshment,
and never shall I forget the fatigue I went through that night. After
pulling in the boat thirteen miles, I had to walk seven miles on a wild
goose chase, for we never heard anything more of the runaways; and the
wind shifting, we had to pull all the way back to Yarmouth. Before I
close my account of the Orestes, I must say a word or two respecting
Lieutenant Jeynes (letting the law of Solon sleep for a day). He was
without exception the most cold-blooded and bad fellow I ever met with.
I have seen him thrash the men with the end of a rope in the most
unfeeling manner, until he was tired, making use of the most abusive
language; and for his tyranny was obliged to quit the ship; but, to give
the devil his due, [he] was what we call a bit of a sailor, and if he
pleased (which was seldom) could make himself agreeable. In the year
1793, the Orestes was lost in the Indian Seas and every soul perished.
NAMES OF OFFICERS
MANLEY DIXON, Esq., Captain.
An admiral and K.C.B. He commanded the Lion, 64, when the William
Tell, 84, was taken. The Foudroyant, 80, and Penelope, 36, in
company. He was also port admiral at Plymouth. Since
dead.—[Marshall, i. 375.]
THOS. JEYNES, Lieutenant.
Dead. I have said enough of him. A commander on the retired list.
[GEORGE] PATTERSON, Master.
Uncertain. Was master attendant abroad.
DUSAUTOY, Lieutenant of Marines.
A barrack-master.
[JAMES] STREET, Purser.
Took care of his eights.
WALLIS, Surgeon.
Uncertain. Mad from drink.
[ALEXANDER] PROCTOR, Surgeon’s Assistant.
A surgeon. Proud as the devil.
[HUGH] LAND, Clerk.
Uncertain. A clever little pedant.
[JOHN] HILL, Boatswain.
Uncertain. A good sailor.
[TIMOTHY] SCRIVEN, Carpenter.
Uncertain. A good man, and good bread-and-cheese carpenter.
[PETER] MCKINNON, Gunner.
Uncertain. A good sailor, but used to damn his poor eyes so.
[JOHN] QUINTON, Mate.
Dead. A good sailor; fond of gin grog.
D. HAMLIN,} Brothers, Midshipmen.
HAMLIN,}
Dead. Good young men.
[CHRISTOPHER] GULLET, Midshipman.
Dead. A lieutenant. See Queen.
STEVENS, Midshipman.
Tommy Bowline. Was made a gunner.
WM. MOUNSEY, Midshipman.
Dead [1830]. A captain, C.B.; a very good fellow.—[Marshall, vi.
20.]
ALEX. GILMOUR, Midshipman.
A commander; a good old sailor.—[Died 1853.—O’Byrne].
NICHOLA, Midshipman.
Dead from insanity.
MAUNDRELL, Midshipman.
Dead. A lieutenant. Was broke for tyranny, which he richly
deserved. Afterwards restored to his rank. Nicknamed Mantrap, from
taking up deserters.
J. A. GARDNER, Midshipman.
A commander.
EDGAR, 74
Early in 1787 I joined the Edgar, a guard-ship in Portsmouth
Harbour—Charles Thompson, Esq., captain, formerly of the Boreas; and
soon after went to Spithead and hoisted the broad pennant of the
Honorable John Leveson Gower as commodore of the squadron of
observation; but the Dutch armament taking place prevented their
sailing. Several ships of the line assembled at Spithead, and others
fitting in the harbour; but to no purpose, as the business was soon
settled, and the ships returned to their stations, and those fitting
were paid off. Next spring we were again ordered to Spithead, and a
promotion of flags having taken place, we hoisted the flag (blue at
the mizen) of Rear-Admiral the Hon. John Leveson Gower, as
commander-in-chief of the fleet of observation, consisting of the
following men of war:
Edgar 74 {Rear-Admiral Honorable John Leveson Gower.[47]
{Captain Charles Thompson.[47]
Colossus 74 Captain Hugh Cloberry Christian.[47]
Magnificent 74 Captain Hon. Geo. C. Berkeley.[47]
Culloden 74 Captain Sir Thomas Rich, [Bart.][48]
Crown 74 Captain Charles Morice Pole.[47]
Scipio 64 Captain Skeffington Lutwidge.[49]
Hebe 36 Captain Edward Thornbrough.[50]
Andromeda 32 Captain H.R.H. Prince William Henry.[50]
Trimmer 18 Captain Charles Tyler.[50]
Sailed with the squadron to the westward of Scilly, and off the Irish
coast for nearly two months, putting in occasionally to Cawsand Bay and
Torbay, and then returned to our station as guard-ship on Portsmouth
Harbour. We were very glad to get rid of our admiral. He was what we
call a tight hand of the watch; one that would make a fellow jump where
there was no stile. He used to play hell and turn up Jack, and would
spare nobody. He had an ugly trick of getting up as early as three and
sometimes before it in the morning, and would walk the quarter deck in a
flannel jacket, and most of the time without a hat, until breakfast was
ready; a happy dog of a midshipman walking between two of the quarter
deck guns with a signal book, which ever and anon he would call for in
the voice of Stentor—
Stentor the strong, endued with brazen lungs,
Whose throat surpassed the force of fifty tongues.