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THE
SURRENDER OF NAPOLEON
BEING THE
NARRATIVE OF THE SURRENDER OF BUONAPARTE, AND
OF HIS RESIDENCE ON BOARD H.M.S. BELLEROPHON,
WITH A DETAIL OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS THAT
OCCURRED IN THAT SHIP BETWEEN THE 24th OF MAY
AND THE 8th OF AUGUST 1815
BY
REAR-ADMIRAL SIR FREDERICK LEWIS MAITLAND, K.C.B.
_A NEW EDITION EDITED, WITH A MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR, BY_
WILLIAM KIRK DICKSON
WILLIAM BLACKWOOD AND SONS
EDINBURGH AND LONDON
MCMIV
_All Rights reserved_
NOTE.
After Sir Frederick Maitland's death in 1839 his papers passed into
the hands of Lady Maitland, who liferented his property of Lindores in
Fife until her death in 1865. They then passed with the property to
Sir Frederick's nephew, Captain James Maitland, R.N., and on his death
to his brother, Rear-Admiral Lewis Maitland, my father, from whom they
came to me.
The preparation of the present volume has been undertaken by Mr.
Dickson at my request.
FREDERICK LEWIS MAITLAND.
LINDORES, _December 9, 1903_.
PREFACE.
"You are publishing a great and interesting national document.... The
whole narrative is as fine, manly, and explicit an account as ever was
given of so interesting a transaction." So wrote Sir Walter Scott to
Captain Maitland after reading the manuscript of his _Narrative of the
Surrender of Buonaparte_. It is undoubtedly a historical document of
the first importance, not only as a record of "words by an eyewitness"
of an ever-memorable event, but as a vindication of the good faith of
the British Government in its conduct towards Napoleon.
In his Preface to the original edition, published by Henry Colburn in
1826, Sir Frederick Maitland wrote:--
"Immediately after the extraordinary and interesting events took place
which are here recorded, I was, by the earnest solicitations of my
friends, induced to throw together the notes and memoranda in my
possession, of the proceedings in which I bore so prominent a part. I
was further led to undertake this task, so foreign to my usual
occupations, in consequence of the many misrepresentations that
appeared at that time, respecting the conduct of Buonaparte while on
board the ship I commanded, as well as my treatment of him.
"The following Narrative was then written solely for the private
perusal of my friends, and not with a view to publication, many
reasons combining, at that time, in my opinion, to render such a
measure inexpedient.
"I made it my study to state events exactly as they occurred, and, in
doing so, to avoid, as much as possible, all prejudice, either
against or in favour of the extraordinary man whom it was my fortune
to secure and bring to this country. It may appear surprising that a
possibility could exist of a British officer being prejudiced in
favour of one who had caused so many calamities to his country; but to
such an extent did he possess the power of pleasing, that there are
few people who could have sat at the same table with him for nearly a
month, as I did, without feeling a sensation of pity, allied perhaps
to regret, that a man possessed of so many fascinating qualities, and
who had held so high a station in life, should be reduced to the
situation in which I saw him.
"Although many of the causes for withholding my Narrative from the
public eye have long been removed, I had no intention of bringing it
forward, until by accident it fell into the hands of a most celebrated
literary character [Sir Walter Scott]. He did me the honour, on
returning it, to express an opinion which I was not at all prepared to
expect, and so strongly to recommend its being published, that however
averse to appearing as an author, I have been induced, under the
sanction of such high authority, to present it to the public."
* * * * *
The text and notes of the edition of 1826 have been reprinted
verbatim.
Sir Walter Scott's notes on the MS. of the Narrative are among the
papers at Lindores. They consist chiefly of verbal criticisms on Sir
Frederick's original rough draft. Unfortunately it is no longer in
existence, and most of Sir Walter's notes cannot be followed without
it. A few of his comments are printed as footnotes, in square
brackets, and a portion of his MS. is reproduced in facsimile at page
230.
A sketch of Sir Frederick's life, chiefly based on the journals at
Lindores, has been prefixed to the Narrative.
The Appendix of the original edition has been printed, with an
additional Appendix, consisting of (1) a list of the officers serving
on board the _Bellerophon_ in July 1815, supplied by the courtesy of
the Secretary to the Admiralty; (2) an unpublished letter from one of
the assistant-surgeons of the _Bellerophon_, giving an account of
Napoleon's surrender, recently acquired by the British Museum; and (3)
several extracts from _Memoirs of an Aristocrat, by a Midshipman of
the Bellerophon_. This extraordinary book, published in 1838, was
written by George Home, son of Lieutenant A. Home, R.N., who on the
death of the last Earl of Marchmont claimed the Marchmont peerage. It
contained violent attacks on various persons connected with the family
of Home of Wedderburn, and in particular on Admiral Sir David Milne of
Milne-Graden and Lady Milne. An action was raised against the author
and publishers, and damages were awarded against the former. The book
was withdrawn from circulation, and is now extremely scarce. Home
served as a midshipman on board the _Bellerophon_, and his
"hair-brained narrative," as he calls it, adds some interesting
details to his captain's record.
The frontispiece is from a portrait of Sir Frederick, painted by
Samuel Woodford, R.A., and engraved by Henry Meyer. The original is
now at Lindores.
The portrait of Lady Maitland at page lxviii is from a miniature at
Lindores. This is the miniature which hung in the cabin of the
_Bellerophon_, and which was seen and commented on by Napoleon.
The chart at page 1 is a slightly reduced copy of that in the original
edition.
The portrait of Napoleon at page 68 is from a sketch made on board the
_Bellerophon_ by Colonel Planat, _officier d'ordonnance_ to the
Emperor, and given by him to Captain Maitland.
Mr Orchardson's well-known picture is reproduced at page 108, by
permission of the Fine Art Company. It contains portraits of most of
the chief personages of the story.
The picture of the _Bellerophon_ at Plymouth at page 132 is
reproduced, by permission of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty,
from the original by J. J. Chalon, R.A., now in the Painted Hall at
Greenwich.
As is mentioned at page 202 of the Narrative, Napoleon desired to
present Captain Maitland with a box containing his portrait set in
diamonds. On Maitland's declining, in the circumstances, to accept any
present of value, the Emperor begged him to keep as a souvenir a
tumbler from his travelling case, bearing the crown and cipher of the
Empress Josephine. This relic is still preserved at Lindores. A
photograph of it is given at page 202.
W. K. D.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
MEMOIR OF SIR FREDERICK MAITLAND xxv
NARRATIVE.
[_The summary of the contents of the Narrative given here is
that prefixed to the original edition. Sir Walter Scott's
notes are printed at pp. 70, 84, 155, 165, 208, 223, 225, and
229._]
Captain Maitland sets sail in the _Bellerophon_, with sealed
instructions 1
He arrives off l'Isle Dieu. Proceeds off Rochefort 2
Reconnoitres the French ships of war under l'Isle d'Aix 3
Is joined by the _Cephalus_ 4
Captain Maitland hears of the victory of Waterloo. On June 30
receives a communication, sent from Bourdeaux within a quill,
respecting the probable flight of Buonaparte by sea 4, 5
Blockades Rochefort, Bourdeaux, and la Teste d'Arcasson 8
Destroys his prizes 9
A man and boy in a flat punt saved 10
Captain Maitland watches the frigates at l'Isle d'Aix closely 11
Receives Sir Henry Hotham's instructions 12, 13, 14, 16
The _Mouche_ schooner, with Savary and Las Cases with a flag
of truce, approaches the _Bellerophon_ 21
Secret orders from Sir Henry Hotham 21, 22, 24
Letter of Count Bertrand, announcing Napoleon's intention of
sailing to North America 26
The captain's answer to Bertrand 29
Conversation with Savary and Las Cases 31
Receives private information by a row-boat 35
Captain Maitland guards the Mamusson passage 36
The white flag is hoisted at Rochelle 37, 38
The _Bellerophon_ fires a royal salute 37
The French frigates appear ready to put to sea 38
English guard-boats continue to row near the frigates 38
British flag of truce, its colour 39
The _Mouche_ schooner, with Las Cases and General Lallemand,
returns to the _Bellerophon_ 39, 40
Communication delivered from Napoleon 42
Captain Maitland's reply 42
Buonaparte stated to be at Rochefort, but is at l'Isle d'Aix 44
Design for effecting the escape of Buonaparte in a cask on
board of a Danish vessel 45
Las Cases, with General Gourgaud, returns to the _Bellerophon_ 46
They bring an important letter from Bertrand 47
List of Napoleon's suite 51
The Emperor's letter to H.R.H. the Prince Regent 54
Captain Maitland promises to receive Buonaparte 56
Captain Sartorius is despatched to England, with a letter from
Captain Maitland, and with General Gourgaud 58
Advice of Buonaparte's wish to escape repeatedly given 62
July 15, Napoleon reaches the _Bellerophon_, in the barge of
that ship. He comes on board. His uniform described 67, 68
Napoleon cheered by the crew of _l'Epervier_ 69
His address to Captain Maitland 69
The ship's officers are introduced to him 71
His small knowledge of English 72
He examines the _Bellerophon_ 72
Conversations between Napoleon and Captain Maitland
73, 74, 75, 76, 90, 95, 106
Buonaparte's naval opinions 73, 74, 77
Breakfast on board the _Bellerophon_ 78
Rear-Admiral Sir Henry Hotham arrives off Rochefort. His
conference with Captain Maitland 79, 80
The Admiral comes on board the _Bellerophon_ 81
Conversation at dinner 83
Buonaparte's portable library and camp bed 82, 84
He breakfasts on board the Admiral's ship 85, 91
Attachment for him evinced by the officers of his suite 92, 228
The _Bellerophon_ sets sail for Torbay 93, 96
Buonaparte speaks of Sir Sydney Smith 96
The passage to England described 98, 105, 107
Card-parties 99
The captain's despatch to Lord Keith 100
His conversation with Countess Bertrand relative to a portrait
of Napoleon 103
Speaks with the _Swiftsure_, Captain Webley 104
Count Las Cases 107
English coast in sight 107
The _Bellerophon_ anchors in Torbay 108
Buonaparte's exclamation on viewing the shore 108
Admiral Lord Keith's orders 109
English newspapers read by Napoleon 112
Observations of Madame Bertrand 114, 120
Persons refused admission on board the _Bellerophon_ 115
Lord Keith's approval of Captain Maitland's line of conduct 116, 117
Concourse of spectators in boats 115, 118
Remarks of Buonaparte respecting the fishermen 119
The ships sail for Plymouth 119
Observations on the breakwater 121
Communications of civility interchanged between Buonaparte and
Lord Keith 117, 122
Lord Keith's precautions 123, 125
Buonaparte complains of the guard-ships 127
The Lords of the Admiralty approve of Captain Maitland's
proceedings 128
Napoleon's letter to the Regent is forwarded 129
He is considered as a general officer 130
Orders received from the Admiralty 130
Sir Richard and Lady Strachan come alongside the ship 131
Napoleon's compliment on seeing Mrs Maitland 132
Admiral Lord Keith is introduced to Napoleon 134
Repugnance of the prisoners to their banishment to St Helena
129, 134
Crowd of boats round the ship 135
Buonaparte's habits on board ship 136
Bertrand, Savary, and Lallemand fear proscription 137, 140, 142
Buonaparte informed that he was to be sent to St Helena 139
Sir Henry Bunbury visits him 140
He complains bitterly 141
He writes again to the Regent 142
Captain Maitland's letter favourable to Savary and Lallemand
145, 152
Buonaparte shows himself on deck 147
Countess Bertrand much agitated at the thoughts of her husband
going to St Helena 149
Lallemand is reproved by Captain Maitland 150
Buonaparte's assertion that "he would not go to St Helena"
148, 151, 164
Extravagant conversation of the attendant generals 151
Mr O'Meara 153
Countess Bertrand attempts to cast herself into the sea 153
Her retrospect of Buonaparte's conduct 154, 156
Her impatience. She writes to Lord Keith 155
She is overheard by the generals 157
Buonaparte's inquiries as to St Helena 158
Report of an attempt to escape 159
Rumour of an intention of serving a Habeas Corpus to bring
Buonaparte ashore 162
Ship prepared for sea 162
The _Northumberland_ ordered to convey Buonaparte 162
The _Bellerophon_ weighs anchor 164
Service of a subpoena on Buonaparte frustrated by keeping the
lawyer at bay 165
Note respecting writs of Habeas Corpus and subpoenas 165
Buonaparte again writes to the Regent 168
He keeps entirely to the cabin; prepares a protest 169
Buonaparte's protest 170
He declares himself to be the guest of England, and no
prisoner 171
Captain Maitland's observations thereon 174
Conversation on this subject with Count Las Cases 176
Buonaparte speaks of the Army of the Loire, and of his party 178
Mr O'Meara requested by Buonaparte to become his surgeon 179
The _Northumberland_ in sight 180
Arms required to be delivered up 181
Lists of articles essential for the Trench officers and ladies
forwarded to Plymouth 182
Sir George Cockburn is introduced to Buonaparte 182
Buonaparte permitted to wear his sword 183
He requests an interview with Captain Maitland 183
He expresses his wish of living on a small estate in England 185
He speaks in favour of Savary and Lallemand 185
Captain Maitland's letter to Count Bertrand 186
Lord Keith's order to the captain to deliver up General
Buonaparte and others 187
General Gourgaud 190
Countess Bertrand's remonstrances 192
A misunderstanding and reconciliation 193
Napoleon returns thanks to Captain Maitland 194
He speaks with regard of Count Bertrand 195
Search of the baggage 196
The box of money temporarily taken charge of 197
Parting of Buonaparte with the captain 200
Buonaparte, accompanying Admiral Lord Keith, quits the
_Bellerophon_ 200
Count Montholon's polite intimation to Captain Maitland 201
The captain declines the present of a portrait 202
Savary and Lallemand; their affecting parting with Napoleon in
the presence of Captain Maitland 203
The _Northumberland_ sails for St Helena 204
Description of Napoleon Buonaparte 205
His manners and conversation 206
Anecdotes 207, 210, 215, 216
He speaks of his wife and his son 211
Their pictures 211, 212
Conversation respecting Kleber and Dessaix 213
Napoleon's resources in money 214
The midshipmen act plays 217
Buonaparte's observations on the British cavalry, and relative
to the Duke of Wellington 218, 219
Character of Count Bertrand 222
Countess Bertrand, a daughter of General Dillon 222
Savary, Duke of Rovigo, described 224
Savary, Lallemand, and Planat are sent to Malta, and allowed
to go to Smyrna 225
Character of Lallemand 225
Count and Countess Montholon 226
Count Las Cases and his son 227
APPENDIX.
On what terms Captain Maitland received Buonaparte on board
his ship; and documents relating thereto 231
ADDITIONAL APPENDIX.
1. List of officers borne on the books of H.M.S. _Bellerophon_
in July 1815 241
2. Letter from Ephraim Graebke, assistant-surgeon on board the
_Bellerophon_, to his mother, giving an account of Napoleon's
surrender, dated July 30, 1815 242
3. Extracts from _Memoirs of an Aristocrat, by a Midshipman of
the Bellerophon_ [George Home] 246
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PORTRAIT OF SIR FREDERICK MAITLAND _Frontispiece_
From an engraving by Henry Meyer, after Samuel Woodford, R.A.
PORTRAIT OF LADY MAITLAND _At p._ lxviii
From a miniature at Lindores.
CHART OF THE BASQUE ROADS " 1
PORTRAIT OF NAPOLEON " 68
From a sketch taken on board the _Bellerophon_ by Colonel
Planat.
NAPOLEON ON BOARD THE BELLEROPHON " 108
From the picture by W. Q. Orchardson, R.A., in the Tate
Gallery.
H.M.S. BELLEROPHON AT PLYMOUTH " 132
From the picture by J. J. Chalon, R.A., in the Painted Hall at
Greenwich.
TUMBLER GIVEN TO CAPTAIN MAITLAND BY NAPOLEON " 202
Photograph from the original at Lindores.
FACSIMILE OF PART OF SIR WALTER SCOTT'S NOTES ON THE
"NARRATIVE" " 230
Photograph from the original at Lindores.
MEMOIR
OF
SIR FREDERICK LEWIS MAITLAND.
The name of Sir Frederick Lewis Maitland has found a permanent place
in history as that of the captor of Napoleon. Apart from the rare
piece of good fortune which befell him in the Basque Roads in July
1815, his distinguished career of public service entitles him to an
honourable place in the records of the British Navy.
He was the third son of Captain the Hon. Frederick Lewis Maitland,
R.N., and was born at Rankeilour in Fife on September 7, 1777. His
father, Captain Maitland, was the sixth son of Charles, sixth Earl of
Lauderdale, grand-nephew of Charles II.'s famous minister, and was
godson to Frederick Lewis, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of George
II. He held various naval commands with distinction, served under
Rodney in 1782, and between 1763 and 1775 commanded the royal yacht.
He died in 1786, having been promoted rear-admiral just before his
death. Maitland's mother, Margaret Dick, was the heiress of the family
of Makgill of Rankeilour. The estates of that family were ultimately
inherited by her eldest son, Charles Maitland.
Young Maitland entered his father's profession at a very early age. He
served as a midshipman, first under Captain George Duff in the
_Martin_ sloop-of-war, and afterwards with the Hon. Robert Forbes in
the _Southampton_ frigate, in which he was present at Lord Howe's
great victory off Ushant on June 1, 1794,--the "glorious First of
June." On April 5, 1795, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant,
and appointed to the _Andromeda_, of 32 guns. From the _Andromeda_ he
was removed to the _Venerable_, the flagship of Admiral Duncan in the
North Sea. In April 1797 he went out to the Mediterranean to join Lord
St Vincent.
St Vincent had been a friend of his father's, and had promised to
promote him as opportunity should occur. The flagship had her full
complement of officers, so Maitland was appointed first lieutenant of
the _Kingfisher_, a brig mounting 18 six-pounders and commanded by the
Hon. Charles Herbert Pierrepont, afterwards Earl Manvers. In her he
was present at the capture of four French privateers. With one of
these, the _Betsey_, of 16 guns, a severe action was fought. When the
prize-money for her capture was distributed, the crew of the
_Kingfisher_ subscribed L50 to present Maitland with a sword in
recognition of his conduct.
Pierrepont was promoted to post rank in December 1798, and appointed
to the _Spartiate_, one of Nelson's prizes taken at the Nile. A few
days after his departure the _Kingfisher_, under Maitland's command,
was leaving the Tagus, when she grounded on Lisbon bar and became a
total wreck. Maitland was tried by court-martial at Gibraltar, and
acquitted of all blame in connection with her loss. Immediately after
his trial he was appointed flag-lieutenant to Lord St Vincent.
On June 23, 1799, the French and Spanish fleets effected a junction
at Cartagena, and in the following month they retired from the
Mediterranean and took refuge in Brest. They passed the Straits of
Gibraltar on July 7, when Maitland had an adventure which is described
in Tucker's _Memoirs of Earl St Vincent_.
"It is," he says, "an as yet untold anecdote of the presence of mind
and courage of one of the highest-minded characters that ever adorned
the British Navy, the late Rear-Admiral Sir Frederick Maitland.
"At this period that gallant officer was Lord St Vincent's
flag-lieutenant; and when the fleets were first descried, Johnny
Gilpin, as his lordship used to call him, was sent to order the
_Penelope_, a little hired cutter, to go, count, and dodge them. The
lieutenant commanding the cutter was found too ill to utter an order.
But Mr Maitland, well knowing his Chief, and that this was service
which must be done, at once assumed the command, and got the vessel
under weigh. He stood over to Ceuta. The night was so pitchy dark and
so calm that the cutter was unperceived by the enemy, and yet so close
among them that the words of command in French and Spanish could be
distinctly heard. At daybreak she was about gunshot distance from the
whole Spanish fleet. When they saw her their admiral signalled a
number of launches to tow a brig of 14 guns to attack her, but on
their arrival within shot from the little _Penelope_, the reception
she astonished them with was so spirited that the enemy dropped astern
again and retired; and a faint hope of escape appeared, for, there
being no wind, the cutter's boats were kept ahead all the forenoon,
towing to the southward. Then every ship in that mighty fleet, except
one frigate, actually turned their heads to the southward to give
chase to the cutter. But the frigate stood to the northward, and as
the afternoon's westerly breeze got up, it brought her down under
studding-sails near the _Penelope_, before the air had reached her.
When she was within cable's length, the frigate opened her broadside
fire. Mr Maitland told the cutter's crew to lie down upon the deck
till the frigate had discharged all her guns. The men lay down very
smartly; but when ordered to rise, splice the top-sail braces, and get
the vessel's head about, not a man of them would stir. 'Fighting,'
they said, 'was not their employ; they were not hired for it, and,
should they lose a limb, there was no provision for them;' and thus
the frigate now renewing her fire, the little _Penelope_ was taken.
"To the honour of the Spanish admiral it must be added, that, having
witnessed this bravery and heard that it was Lord St Vincent's
flag-lieutenant that had displayed it, he sent Mr Maitland in a cartel
to Gibraltar, declaring him free without exchange."
Tucker, who wrote in 1844, was not quite correct in saying that the
anecdote was "as yet untold." It had been given long before in
Marshall's _Naval Biography_. Marshall mentions, among other details,
that "the _Penelope_ had on board a sum of money intended for Minorca,
which it was not deemed advisable to remove, under the pressing
urgency for her immediate departure from Gibraltar. When her crew
found there was no chance of escape from the combined fleets, they
made an attempt to plunder the treasure, which Lieutenant Maitland
most honourably and successfully resisted, alleging that as public
property it was the lawful prize of the captors."
Lord St Vincent returned to England in August 1799, accompanied by
Maitland. On reaching Portsmouth he heard of an explosion of shells
which had taken place in May on board the _Theseus_, 74, resulting in
the death of her commander, Captain Ralph Willet Miller. A vacancy had
thus occurred in the Mediterranean before the admiral quitted that
station. He used his privilege as commander-in-chief and promoted
Maitland to the rank of commander in the _Cameleon_ sloop-of-war, the
promotion to date from June 14. Maitland at once went out to join his
new ship, which was then on the coast of Egypt under Sir Sidney Smith.
After the signing of the convention of El Arish he was sent home with
despatches. He returned and regained his ship, in which he made
several captures.
On December 10, 1800, he was appointed by Lord Keith to the
_Wassenaar_, 64. As she was then lying at Malta unfit for service, he
obtained permission to accompany Sir Ralph Abercromby's expedition to
Egypt.
The fleet anchored in Aboukir Bay on the 2nd of March 1801. On the
8th, Abercromby effected a landing in face of a large and strongly
posted French force. To Maitland fell the duty of commanding the armed
launches employed to cover the landing. The enemy were driven from
their positions, and retired towards Alexandria with the loss of seven
guns. Abercromby at once followed them up, and advanced on the neck of
sand lying between the sea and the Lake of Aboukir, leaving a distance
of about four miles between the English and French camps. On the 13th
he again attacked the French, and forced them back upon their lines
before Alexandria. The right flank of the British force rested on the
sea, the left on the Lake of Aboukir, and the flanks were covered by a
naval flotilla, the boats on the sea being under Maitland's command,
and those on the lake under that of Captain James Hillyar. Seven days
later Sir Sidney Smith, who commanded the naval battalion serving on
shore, received from a friendly Arab sheikh a letter informing him
that it was General Menou's intention to attack the British camp next
morning. The news was thought too good to be true, as in a few days
Abercromby would have been compelled to attack the lines of Alexandria
under every tactical disadvantage. It was, however, confirmed, and on
the 21st of March the battle of Alexandria was fought, the fate of
Egypt was decided, and Abercromby received his death-wound. Maitland
again covered the British right flank from the sea. In the detailed
plan of the battle given in Sir Robert Wilson's _History of the
British Expedition to Egypt_, Maitland's flotilla is shown a little to
the west of the ruins of Nicopolis, in a position to enfilade the
French attack. For his services on the 8th, 13th, and 21st Maitland
received the thanks of the naval and military commanders-in-chief, and
on March 22, the day after the battle, Sir Sidney Smith wrote to Lord
Keith warmly commending Maitland's conduct.
Maitland's post commission was confirmed by the Admiralty on the day
of the battle of Alexandria. In the ensuing month he was appointed to
the _Dragon_, 74, and shortly afterwards to the _Carrere_, a French
40-gun frigate taken near Elba. He remained in command of her in the
Mediterranean till the Peace of Amiens.
The _Carrere_ was paid off on October 4, 1802. Eleven days afterwards
Maitland was appointed by Lord St Vincent to the _Loire_, a fine
46-gun frigate. War broke out again on May 18, 1803, and the _Loire_
started on a brilliant career of captures,[1] which included the
10-gun brig _Venteux_, cut out from under the Isle of Bas by two of
the _Loire's_ boats, the _Braave_ privateer, and the 30-gun frigate
_Blonde_, captured in August 1804 after a pursuit of twenty hours and
a desperate running fight.
[Footnote 1: They are fully detailed in Marshall's _Naval
Biography_, vol. ii. part 1, pp. 387 _et seq._]
An official letter written by Maitland in June 1805, gives us a vivid
glimpse of frigate service in the old days:--
_Captain Maitland to Rear-Admiral Drury, Cork._
LOIRE, MUROS ROAD, SPAIN,
_June 4, 1805._
SIR,--Being informed that there was a French privateer of 26 guns
fitting out at Muros, and nearly ready for sea, it struck me, from my
recollection of the bay (having been in it formerly, when lieutenant
of the _Kingfisher_), as being practicable either to bring her out or
destroy her with the ship I have the honour to command. I accordingly
prepared yesterday evening for engaging at anchor, and appointed Mr
Yeo, with Lieutenants Mallock and Douglas, of the marines, and Mr
Clinch, master's-mate, to head the boarders and marines, amounting,
officers included, to 50 men (being all that could be spared from
anchoring the ship and working the guns), in landing and storming the
fort, though I then had no idea its strength was so great as it has
proved. At nine this morning, on the sea-breeze setting in, I stood
for the bay in the ship, the men previously prepared, being in the
boats ready to shove off. On hauling close round the point of the
road, a small battery of 2 guns opened a fire on the ship; a few shot
were returned; but perceiving it would annoy us considerably, from its
situation, I desired Mr Yeo to push on shore and spike the guns;
reminding the men of its being the anniversary of their Sovereign's
birth, and that, for his sake, as well as their own credit, their
utmost exertions must be used. Though such an injunction was
unnecessary, it had a great effect in animating and raising the
spirits of the people. As the ship drew in, and more fully opened the
bay, I perceived a very long corvette, of 26 ports, apparently nearly
ready for sea, and a large brig of 20 ports, in a state of fitting;
but neither of them firing, led me to conclude they had not their guns
on board, and left no other object to occupy my attention but a heavy
fort, which at this moment opened to our view, within less than a
quarter of a mile, and began a wonderfully well-directed fire, almost
every shot taking place in the hull. Perceiving that, by standing
further on, more guns would be brought to bear upon us, without our
being enabled to near the fort so much as I wished, I ordered the helm
to be put down; and when, from the way she had, we had gained an
advantageous position, anchored with a spring, and commenced firing.
Although I have but little doubt that, before long, we should have
silenced the fort, yet, from the specimen they gave us, and being
completely embrasured, it must have cost us many lives, and caused
great injury to the ship, had not Mr Yeo's gallantry and good conduct
soon put an end to their fire.
I must now revert to him and the party under his command. Having
landed under the small battery on the point, it was instantly
abandoned; but hardly had he time to spike the guns, when, at the
distance of a quarter of a mile, he perceived a regular fort, ditched,
and with a gate, which the enemy (fortunately never suspecting our
landing) had neglected to secure, open a fire upon the ship. Without
waiting for orders he pushed forward, and was opposed at the inner
gate by the Governor, with such troops as were in the town, and the
crews of the French privateers. From the testimony of the prisoners as
well as our own men, it appears that Mr Yeo was the first who entered
the fort, with one blow laid the Governor dead at his feet, and broke
his own sabre in two. The other officers were despatched by such
officers and men of ours as were most advanced, and the narrowness of
the gate would permit to push forward. The remainder instantly fled
to the further end of the fort, and from the ship we could perceive
many of them leap from the embrasures upon the rocks, a height of
above 25 feet. Such as laid down their arms received quarter....
The instant the Union was displayed at the fort, I sent and took
possession of the enemies' vessels in the Road, consisting of the
_Confiance_, French ship privateer, pierced for 26 twelves and nines,
none of which, however, were on board; the _Belier_, French privateer
brig, pierced for 20 eighteen-pounder carronades; and a Spanish
merchant brig in ballast. I then hoisted a flag of truce, and sent to
inform the inhabitants of the town, that if they would deliver up such
stores of the ship as were on shore, there would be no further
molestation. The proposal was thankfully agreed to. I did not,
however, think it advisable to allow the people to remain long enough
to embark the guns, there being a large body of troops in the
vicinity. A great many small vessels are in the bay, and hauled up on
the beach. None of them having cargoes of any value, I conceive it an
act of inhumanity to deprive the poorer inhabitants of the means of
gaining their livelihood, and shall not molest them. On inspecting the
brig, as she had only the lower rigging overhead, and was not in a
state of forwardness, I found it impracticable to bring her away, and
therefore set fire to her: she is now burnt to the water's edge. I
cannot conclude my letter without giving the portion of credit that is
their due to the officers and men on board the ship. They conducted
themselves with the greatest steadiness and coolness; and although
under a heavy fire, pointed their guns with the utmost precision,
there being hardly a shot that did not take effect.... It is but fair
at the same time to state that, much to the credit of the ship's
company, the Bishop and one of the principal inhabitants of the town
came off to express their gratitude for the orderly behaviour of the
people, there not being one instance of pillage; and to make offer of
every refreshment the place affords.
I am now waiting for the land breeze to carry us out, having already
recalled the officers and men from the fort, the guns being spiked
and thrown over the parapet, the carriages rendered unserviceable, and
the embrasures, with part of the fort, blown up.
I have the honour to be, &c.,
FRED. L. MAITLAND.
On June 27, 1805, the Common Council of the City of London voted him
their thanks for his distinguished conduct in Muros Bay. The Committee
of the Patriotic Fund at Lloyd's presented him with a sword, and on
October 18 he received the freedom of the city of Cork in recognition
of his exertions for the protection of Irish trade.
In the following winter the _Loire_ had a narrow escape. Marshall thus
describes the incident:--
"On the 13th Dec. 1805, the _Loire_, accompanied by the _Alcmene_
frigate, fell in with the Rochefort squadron, consisting of six sail
of the line, three frigates, and three corvettes. Maitland immediately
sent the _Alcmene_ to the fleet off Brest, himself keeping company
with the Frenchmen. Being to leeward, and desirous of obtaining the
weather-gage, as the safest situation for his own ship, he carried a
heavy press of sail, and in the night of the 14th, having stretched
on, as he thought, sufficiently for that purpose, put the _Loire_ on
the same tack as they were. About two A.M., it being then exceedingly
dark, he found himself so near one of the largest ships as to hear the
officer of the watch giving his orders. As the noise of putting about
would have discovered the _Loire's_ situation, Captain Maitland very
prudently abstained from doing so, until, by slacking the lee braces
and luffing his ship to the wind, the enemy had drawn sufficiently
ahead. At daylight he had the satisfaction to observe them four or
five miles to leeward; and although he was chased both on that and the
following day by a detachment from the enemy's squadron, he returned
each evening and took his station on the French admiral's
weather-beam, sufficiently near to keep sight of them till the
morning. During the night between the 16th and 17th, several large
ships were seen to windward running down, and which, on perceiving the
_Loire_ and those to leeward of her, made such signals as proved them
also to be enemies. Captain Maitland had now no alternative but to
make sail in order to get from between those two squadrons, the latter
of which afterwards proved to be from Brest."
On November 28, 1806, Maitland was appointed to the _Emerald_, a
36-gun frigate. During the whole of her commission he cruised with
ceaseless activity and made a very great number of captures. He was
present with Lord Gambier's fleet outside Aix Roads in April 1809,
when Cochrane made his famous fire-ship attack on the French fleet.
The _Emerald_ was one of the few ships which, on the 12th, were sent
by Gambier, much against his will, to support Cochrane in the
_Imperieuse_. One can well imagine that her gallant commander shared
Cochrane's indignation at seeing so daring an enterprise shorn of its
fruits by the weakness and irresolution of their chief.
Maitland's next appointment, dated June 3, 1813, was to the _Goliath_,
a cut-down 74. He commanded her for twelve months on the Halifax and
West India stations. Having been found seriously defective, she was
paid off at Chatham in October 1814. In the following month Maitland
was appointed to the _Boyne_, then fitting at Portsmouth for the flag
of Sir Alexander Cochrane, commander-in-chief on the coast of America.
In January 1815 he was at Cork, and had collected a large fleet of
transports and merchant vessels bound for America. The fleet was ready
to sail, but was detained at Cove by a succession of strong westerly
winds. Before the wind changed the news came that Napoleon had escaped
from Elba.
Maitland's orders were at once countermanded, and he was removed to
the ship with which his name will always be associated, the
_Bellerophon_, 74. This famous old ship had fought on the First of
June, at the Nile, and at Trafalgar; she was now once more to render a
conspicuous service to the country.
She sailed from Plymouth with Sir Henry Hotham's squadron on May 24,
1815. Her commander's record of the memorable events which took place
on board her during the following weeks is in the reader's hands, and
nothing more need be said of them here. Let it suffice to note that
the controversies which have raged around the story of Napoleon's
exile, and which have tarnished so many reputations, have left
Maitland's without a stain. "My reception in England," said Napoleon
himself to Maitland, as he bade him farewell in the cabin of the
_Bellerophon_, "has been very different from what I expected; but it
gives me much satisfaction to assure you, that I feel your conduct to
me throughout has been that of a gentleman and a man of honour."
* * * * *
Up to this point the materials for Maitland's biography are somewhat
scanty. After this his journal, preserved at Lindores, gives us a very
full record of his services.
In October 1818 he was appointed to the _Vengeur_, 74. She had been
intended to bear the flag of Rear-Admiral Otway on the Leith station.
In June 1819, however, she was ordered to join the squadron destined
for South America under the command of Sir Thomas Hardy--Nelson's
Hardy. The squadron left Spithead on September 9, having on board Mr
Thornton, H.B.M.'s minister to Brazil.
The following year was spent on the South American coast. In the
disturbed political condition of the Continent, the duties of the
British naval officers on the station were sometimes difficult and
delicate, as British ships and British subjects frequently got into
trouble with the forces of the revolted Spanish colonies. Maitland's
time was spent chiefly at Rio de Janeiro. In 1807, when Napoleon's
troops first appeared in the Tagus, the Portuguese Court had emigrated
to Brazil and had been there ever since. Maitland's journal contains
many amusing notes--not always printable--about King John VI. and his
disreputable family. "The king is very fond," he writes, "of comparing
himself to the Regent of Great Britain, and does it as follows: 'His
father is mad, so was my mother. I was Regent, so is he. I am very
fat, so is he. I hate my wife, so does he.'" One anecdote which he
tells of the king "must," he thinks, "raise him in the opinion of
every British subject. When the Count de la Rocca was Spanish
Ambassador at the Brazils, upon a rejoicing day the Portuguese ships
were dressed with the national flag at the main, the British colours
at the fore, and Spanish at the mizzen. The Count being at Court,
drew the (then) Prince to a window which commanded a view of the
harbour, and said to him, 'I have to ask your Royal Highness to look
at those ships. The British colours are at the fore and my master's at
the mizzen topmast-head. Were it only occasionally or alternately I
should not complain, but it is never otherwise, and I feel it my duty,
considering the close family connection that subsists between H.M. the
King of Spain and your Royal Highness, to represent it to you, as it
hurts my feelings in a manner I cannot express.' The King of Portugal
tapped him gently on the shoulder and said to him, 'I'll tell you
what, my friend, had it not been for that flag and the nation to whom
it belongs, neither your master nor I would have had a flag to hoist
at all.'"
That was true enough; still, the Portuguese were getting a little
tired of the British flag. The Peninsular War had made Portugal almost
a British dependency. Lord Beresford remained in command of the
Portuguese army after the peace, and many other important appointments
were held by English officers. The old monopoly of trade with Brazil
had been broken down in favour of the English, to the ruin of not a
few Portuguese merchants. These grievances, the continued absence of
the Court in Brazil, and the general misgovernment of the country, had
caused widespread discontent. Matters became critical after the
outbreak of the Spanish revolution in January 1820. In the spring of
that year Beresford went out to Brazil to lay the state of affairs
before the king, and to try to induce him to return to Portugal. The
king would neither go himself nor allow his son to go. On August 13,
Beresford sailed from Rio for Lisbon in Maitland's ship, the
_Vengeur_.
While she was crossing the Atlantic, revolution broke out in Portugal.
A military rising took place at Oporto on the 24th of August, and when
the _Vengeur_ reached Lisbon on October 10, Maitland found that the
Regency had been deposed and a provisional Junta installed in the
capital. Beresford was absolutely forbidden to land, even as a private
individual, and was requested to leave the port without delay. The
provisional Government told him plainly that in the existing state of
public feeling they could not be responsible for his safety if he came
on shore. After remaining for nearly a week on board the _Vengeur_ in
the Tagus, he went on to England in a packet-boat.
Maitland had expected to return to England, but at Lisbon he received
orders to proceed immediately to the Mediterranean on secret service.
On October 27 he reached the Bay of Naples, where he found a British
squadron of five ships under Sir Graham Moore.
Serious political trouble had arisen in Naples. After the fall of
Murat, Ferdinand IV. had been restored to his throne by the Congress
of Vienna, and in 1816 had assumed the title of King of the Two
Sicilies. Under the restored monarchy discontent had been steadily
growing. There had been no violent counter-revolution, but the
interests of the country had been sacrificed without scruple to those
of the king's friends, the swarm of courtiers who had shared his
ignoble exile at Palermo. The revolutionary society of the Carbonari
spread rapidly, alike in the army and in civil society. In Naples, as
in Portugal, the Spanish revolution brought things to a crisis. On
July 2, 1820, a military outbreak took place at Nola. This was
followed by a general demand for a Constitution, which the king was
powerless to resist. On July 13 he took the oath to the Constitution
before the altar in the royal chapel.
A revolution in Naples would in all probability be followed by similar
uprisings in the Papal States. Metternich was seriously alarmed. A
conference of sovereigns and ministers to consider the affairs of
Naples was arranged to be held at Troppau, in Moravia, in October
1820. England and France stood aloof from action, and the matter
remained in the hands of the Emperor of Austria, the Czar, and the
King of Prussia. It was resolved to invite King Ferdinand to meet his
brother sovereigns at Laibach, in the Austrian province of Carniola,
and through him to address a summons to the Neapolitans, requiring
them, in the name of the three Powers and under threat of invasion, to
abandon their Constitution.
Ferdinand could not leave the country without the consent of the
Legislature. This was only given on his swearing to maintain the
existing Constitution. He did so with effusions of patriotism, and on
December 13 he embarked on board the _Vengeur_, Maitland's ship, which
conveyed him to Leghorn. On reaching Leghorn he addressed a letter to
the sovereigns of the Great Powers repudiating all his recent acts. He
reached Laibach in due course; and the Congress which took place there
in January 1821 resulted in the restoration of absolutism at Naples
and the occupation of the country by the Austrians.
It was a curious coincidence that Maitland should within a few years
have had two sovereigns as passengers,--one the central figure of
modern European history, the other the good-natured elderly buffoon
who in this country is chiefly remembered as the husband of the friend
of Lady Hamilton. Maitland thus records the voyage:--
_Naples Bay, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 1820._--A good deal of rain during
the night; in the morning the wind to the east. A general order came
on board for the captains to attend the admiral in their barges, for
the purpose of attending the King of Naples off to the _Vengeur_,
dressed in full uniform, with boots and pantaloons; a note, likewise,
from the admiral telling me he intended to get the squadron under way
and see the King out of the bay, the _Revolutionnaire_ forming astern
of the _Vengeur_, and he, with the five ships in line of battle,
taking a position on our weather quarter; and when he takes his leave
each ship is to pass under our stern, and there and then salute. The
yards are to be manned and the ships to salute, beginning when the
_Vengeur_ fires her second gun. It is the intention of the French
squadron to weigh also and stand out. At three P.M. the King of Naples
came on board in Sir Graham Moore's barge, attended by the admiral and
all the captains of the squadron except myself (as I stayed on board
to receive him), and all the captains of the French squadron. He was
saluted and cheered by all the ships except the Neapolitan, one of
which manned her rigging, but no salute was given. As soon as the
King was on board, unmoored, as did _Revolutionnaire_ and _Duchesse de
Berri_. Employed beating out. At about ten P.M. the _Revolutionnaire_
was on our weather-bow when a thick heavy squall came on which blew
the main top-sail away. When the squall cleared away a little, I saw
the _Revolutionnaire_ close to us on our lee-bow, off the wind and
stemming for us, and so near it was impossible the ships could clear
each other. It therefore became necessary to adopt the measure which
would soften the first blow as much as possible, and I ordered the
helm to be put down. When the ship came head to wind she struck the
_Revolutionnaire_ just before the mainmast, slewed our cut-water right
across, carried away the jib-boom, spritsail yard, &c., and then
backed clear of her. A lad fell overboard from the _Revolutionnaire_
and made a great noise, which enabled us to send a boat and pick him
up, he having got upon one of our life-buoys. Got the runners up and
the messenger through the hawse-holes, and set them up with the top
tackles, which enabled us soon to make sail. Saw the _Duchesse de
Berri_ working out.
* * * * *