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 ''iiiiiii'
 
 THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 GEORGE LORD ANSON, 
 
 ADMIRAL OF THK FLEET ; VICE-ADMIRAL OK GREAT DIMTAIN ; 
 
 AND FIRST LORD COMMISSIONER OF THE ADMIHAI.TY, 
 
 PREVIOUS TO, AND DURlNCi, THE 
 
 seven-years' WAR. 
 
 BY 
 
 SIR JOHN BARROW, Bart., F.R.S. 
 
 AUTHOK OF 
 
 THE "LIFE OF ADMIRAL LORD HOWE." 
 
 LONDON: 
 JOHN IMURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 
 
 MDCCC.\XXlX.
 
 I/INDON: 
 
 HrINTE!: HY V>'ll,LIAM Cl.OW KS A NI) SoNS, 
 
 Siamfiird Slieet. 
 
 • • • • 
 
 
 • • i , 
 
 • • •
 
 J3A 
 
 I PREFACE. 
 
 M 
 
 en 
 
 UJ 
 C/0 
 
 ^ 
 
 The Life of Lord Anson, though wholly spent in 
 the civil and military services of the navy, is cer- 
 
 22 tainly less generally known than that of such an 
 officer ought to be, who, by character and conduct, 
 Avorked his way to the very top of his profession, 
 to the head of the naval administration, and to a 
 peerage ; and to whom was intrusted the principal 
 direction of the fleets of Great Britain, during the 
 two French and Spanish wars which occurred in the 
 reign of George II. Every body has heard of, and 
 ^ multitudes have read, " Anson's Voyage round the 
 
 S World ;" many are acquainted with the fact of his 
 having been, for a long time, First Lord of the 
 Admiralty, and many in the profession may also 
 know, that he fought a great action, took six ships of 
 war, and defeated two important expeditions ; but 
 it may be doubted whether the great majority of 
 readers, even those in the naval service, know nmch 
 more about him than these few particulars. The 
 recollection of His late IMajesty even (than whom 
 few were better read in naval history, or better 
 acquainted with the characters of naval officers, or 
 whose memory was more retentive), failed him on 
 one remarkable occasion with regard to Anson., the 
 
 a 2
 
 IV PREFACE. 
 
 omission of whoso name, in the eulogy he bestowed 
 on other officers, drew from him an expression ot 
 regret, and at the same time of the high opinion he 
 entertained of Anson.* 
 
 It is true, as the King said, Anson was not a bril- 
 liant character : lie was not one who had the faculty 
 of shining in conversation or in writing, nor can his 
 biographer give a detail of lieroic deeds, such as the 
 life of a Nelson or a "Wellington affords, but no man's 
 moral courage was put to a more severe test than that 
 of Anson. Pie was no boaster ; I have somewhere 
 seen it observed that he was too modest ever to speak 
 of his very unequal combat with the Acapulco ga- 
 leon, or of the victory he gained oft' Cape Finisterre. 
 
 * The occasion was this. His Majesty, on the anniversary of the 
 battle of Camperdown faUing on a Sunday, attended by the Board of 
 Admiralty and certain naval ofHcers, heard divine service in the 
 chapel of Greenwich Hospital, and afterwards dined at St. .James's. 
 When the queen and the ladies were about to retire, the king re- 
 quested they would stay, as he had a few words to say regarding the 
 British navy. He began with the landing of Julius Ctesar in Britain, 
 A\ Inch, he said, must have proved to the natives the necessity of a 
 naval force to prevent and repel foreign invasion ; and he went over 
 the main features of all the great battles that had been fought down 
 to that of Trafalgar. 
 
 Assembled in the drawing-room, after dinner, he beckoned me to 
 liim, and said, " I fear I forgot to mention the name of Anson, and 
 the action he fought off Cape Finisterre : I am not sure I know the 
 details correctly ; pray send me an account of it to-morrow." He 
 added, ".Vnson was a good man, and knew his business well ; though 
 not brilliant, he was an excellent First Lord, improved the build of our 
 ships, made more good olficers, and brought others forward in the 
 Seven-Years' War, than any of his predecessors had done. Howe, 
 Ki'ppel, Saunders, and many others, were of his making."
 
 PREFACE. V 
 
 111 tliis kind of feeling Howe and St. Vincent parti- 
 (•ij)ated. The former never talked of tlie glorious 
 1st of June, nor did the latter of the 14th of Feb- 
 ruary ; it is said indeed he always discouraged that 
 topic being brought into conversation. I think it was 
 Lord St. Vincent who once made the observation, 
 that it was that man only who had performed one 
 little exploit who Avas for ever talking about it. 
 
 But if the Life of Anson affords not scope for 
 recording many brilliant deeds of his own, he had 
 the great merit of preparing fleets, selecting, appoint- 
 ing and making officers to command them, by which 
 and by AAhom the British navy was never more tri- 
 umphant, nor that of France more humbled and 
 reduced, than in the Seven- Years' War, when Anson 
 may be said to have had the whole direction of the 
 naval department. No one ever formed a juster esti- 
 mate of naval characters ; and it is worthy of remark 
 that the officers Avho served under him, in his cele- 
 brated voyage, were those who highly distinguished 
 themselves in the said war — Saunders, Keppel, 
 Brett, Denis, &c. 
 
 The fate of Admiral Byng is too intimately con- 
 nected with the administration in \y\ikh Anson held 
 a prominent position, too deeply aftecting the naval 
 character, and too painfully impressive, to be omitted 
 or slightly passed over in a work like this. AVhat 
 individual share Anson had in this deep tragedy, I 
 have not been able to discover ; he had however his
 
 VI PREFACE. 
 
 share of responsibility, as First Lord of the Admi- 
 ralty, for the harsh and severe measures taken against 
 the unfortunate admiral in the hrst instance, which, 
 in fact, led to all the rest ; but no blame attaches to 
 him for the selection of this officer, who, being a full 
 admiral in the actual command of the Channel fleet, 
 and no complaint appearing against him, could not 
 have been superseded, without casting a stain on his 
 character. 
 
 In writing the Life of Anson, it Avould have been 
 unpardonable not to give an outline of the voyage 
 round the world, the second performed by any 
 Englishman, that of Drake being the first. The 
 narrative of this voyage is cleverly draAvn up, but it 
 does not give the sentiments and feelings of the Com- 
 modore, under the many distressing incidents and 
 the melancholy occurrences that befel him and his 
 companions. This is a fault inseparable from a nar- 
 rative of personal adventures, drawn up ])y a second 
 hand, not concerned in them. It is generally under- 
 stood that, although it bears the name of Mr. ^^^alter, 
 the chaplain, the account of the voyage was written 
 by Mr. Robins, an engineer officer of great talent 
 and celebrity ; but the widow of Walter claimed the 
 work as that of her husband. Lady Anson, in a 
 letter to Dr. }5ircli, asks, " Pray is Mr. Robins' se- 
 cond volume almost ready for President Montes- 
 quieu's approbation ?" — impl\ ing his authorship of 
 the first. And a letter of J^ord Anson makes a
 
 PREFACE. Vll 
 
 similar inquiry. This second volume would have 
 furnished an interesting document, as showing the 
 real state and extent of nautical science when this 
 voyage was performed, whicli we know only, very 
 partially, from Pascoe Thomas^ the schoolmaster; 
 but its loss, in other respects, is not much to be 
 regretted. Major Rennell observes, in a letter to 
 his friend, " I forgot to say, in defence of Anson's 
 voyage, that a second volume, containing the nau- 
 tical observations, was written, and approved by 
 Anson ; but Colonel Robins, being hurried off to 
 India (as Engineer General), took the manuscript 
 with him, to revise and correct, very contrary to 
 Anson's desire. Robins died not long after at Fort 
 St. David, and the manuscript could never be found." 
 But with regard to the writer of the first volume, 
 the matter appears to be set at rest by what follows. 
 
 In 1761, Dr. James Wilson, a particular friend of 
 Mr. Robins, published his " Mathematical Tracts," 
 in the preface of which he satisfactorily decides the 
 question whether ]\Ir. Walter, the chaplain to the 
 Centurion, whose name it bears, or ]\Ir. Rolnns, the 
 engineer officer, to whom it has generally been given, 
 be the real author of that celebrated work ; or 
 whether, which I have always thought most pro- 
 bable, both these gentlemen did not participate in it. 
 Dr. Wilson says, 
 
 " Of this voyage the public had for some time been 
 in expectation of seeing an account composed under
 
 Vlll PREFACE. 
 
 his Lordship's own inspection. For this purpose the 
 JRev. IMr. Richard ^^^alter Avas employed, as having 
 heen chapLain aboard the Centurion for the greatest 
 part of the expedition. ]Mr. WaUer had accordingly 
 almost finished his task, having brought it down to 
 his own departure from IMacao for England, when he 
 proposed to print his work by subscription. Then 
 Mr. Robins being recommended as a proper person 
 for reviewing it, on examination it was resolved that 
 the w^hole should be written entirely by Mr. Robins ; 
 what Mr. Walter had done, being, as Mr. Robins 
 informed me, almost all taken verbatim from the 
 Journals, and was to serve as materials only. And, 
 upon a strict perusal of both performances, I find 
 Mr. Robins' to contain about as much matter again 
 as that of IMr. Walter ; and indeed the introduction 
 entire, Avith many dissertations in the body of the 
 book, were composed by JMr. Robins, without having 
 received the least hint from ]\f r. "Walter's manuscript ; 
 and what he had thence transcribed regarded chiefly 
 the wind and the weather, the currents, courses, bear- 
 ings, distances, offings, soundings, moorings, and the 
 cjualities of the ground they anchored on, with such 
 particulars as generally fill up a sailor's account. So 
 this famous voyage was composed, in the person of 
 the Centurion's chaplain, by Mr. Robins in his own 
 style and manner." 
 
 If however the description of Mr. ^\\'ilter's pro- 
 duction be correct, Mr. Robins must have been not
 
 PREFACE. IX 
 
 a little indebted to tlie " Journal of the Voyage," pub- 
 lished three years before, namely, in 1745, by " Pascoe 
 Thomas, teacher of the mathematics on board the Cen- 
 turion," a very respectable work, containing nearly all 
 that is found in Robins', and, in some respects, unne- 
 cessarily, more. To corroborate the statement made 
 by Doctor Wilson as to Robins' share in the work, he 
 further states that INIr. Robins' friends, Mr. Glover 
 and Ml'. Ockenden, with himself, compared the 
 printed book with Mr. Walter's manuscript. The 
 fact then appears to be simply this — that Walter 
 drew the cold and naked skeleton, and that Robins 
 clothed it with flesh and muscles, and, by the warmth 
 of his imagination (chalcur (Timagmation, as a 
 French writer says), caused the blood to circulate 
 through the veins, giving a colour and freshness to 
 the portrait. 
 
 An observation was made by some one (I think in 
 Nicholl's Literary Anecdotes) that there is not a 
 single expression in the book that could lead a 
 stranger to suppose it had been written by a Chris- 
 tian (much less by a clergyman) or suited for the 
 reading of Christians ; and this accords with a 
 remark made by the late IMajor Rennell, that in the 
 whole narrative of such dangers, distresses, and 
 calamities, as rarely, if ever, occurred in any voyage, 
 before or since, the Avord Providence is not to be 
 found. Perhaps not ; but the finding of a compass 
 on Tinean, when the Centurion had been driven to
 
 X PREFACE. 
 
 sea, is stated to be one of those " providential 
 interpositions of very improbable events " (p. 327) — 
 an event, however, that can hardly be considered 
 dignus vindice nodus to call for such interposition — 
 but the inference is, that the work could not be that 
 of the chaplain. 
 
 On every consideration it appeared to nie desir- 
 able, that the name of Anson should no longer want 
 a place in the naval biography of Great Britain ; and, 
 having ascertained that materials, to a certain extent, 
 were to be found for the purpose, I ventured to un- 
 dertake it ; and I am not sure that in doing so the 
 similarity, real or fancied, between the circumstances 
 and characters of Anson and Howe, might not have 
 had its share in stimulating me to the attempt. The 
 parallel might run thus: — each of those distin- 
 o-uished officers entered the naval service without a 
 prospect of early promotion from any great interest or 
 hope of patronage ; the success of both appears to 
 have been owing to constant service and strict at- 
 tention to their duties, Avhicli rarely fail ; at the 
 period in (piestion, when the lists were not so swelled 
 as now, young men like these ^vere sure to succeed. 
 Howe rose to the flag at the age of forty-five ; Anson 
 at forty-seven. Both attained to the highest honours 
 of the profession ; both were raised to the peerage ; 
 and both Avere placed at the head of th(^ naval ;id- 
 ministration. And it may here be noticed, as one 
 amonu- the numerous instances of Anson's discri-
 
 PREFACE. XI 
 
 minatiug faculty in the character of naval officers, 
 that to him, and his recommendation to Mr. Pitt, 
 Howe, while a captain, was indebted for tlie distin- 
 guished command of the expeditions to the coast of 
 France in the Seven-Years' War. 
 
 The moral and physical character of these two 
 officers was very similar. The same personal qua- 
 lities and constitution of mind were common to each ; 
 resolution, with undaunted courage, united with pa- 
 tience, perseverance, and indefatigable attention to 
 their professional duties ; modesty and diffidence 
 were the characteristics of both. Howe, on one or 
 two occasions only, spoke in Parliament — Anson 
 never. Howe has been represented as silent as a 
 rock ; Anson is called, by the same writer, the silent 
 son-in-law of the chancellor. Howe was a family 
 man, and seldom appeared in society ; Anson was 
 said to have been " round the world, but never in it." 
 Howe's character was strongly marked by bene- 
 volence, humanity, and generosity ; and Anson's was 
 not less so. Both were firmly attached to the naval 
 service ; and it is so far remarkable that both should 
 have had the opportunity of giving the first blow to 
 the French navy, by each having gained the first 
 victory in two several wars. 
 
 The comparison might be carried further ; but in 
 one respect there appears to be a great contrast : the 
 one was fond of writing, the other appears to have 
 abhorred it ; and this leads me to speak of the mate-
 
 Xll PREFACE. 
 
 rials I have collected for the IMemoir of Anson. 
 In the case of Lord Howe I had upwards of four 
 hundred letters, all written by the noble Earl to one 
 individual, which proved a habit of writing ; but, 
 unfortunately, the rest of his correspondence had 
 perished. In the case of Anson I have between five 
 and six hundred letters, none of them written by, l)ut 
 all of them addressed to, the noble Lord, by a great 
 variety of correspondents, in and out of the pro- 
 fession ; all carefully bound up in three large vo- 
 lumes, alphabetically arranged under tlie names of 
 the writers, so as to afford an easy reference. 
 
 From several of these letters it appears that 
 Anson, unlike Howe, was as sparing of his pen as 
 of his tongue. Of whatever letters he may have 
 written, not purely official, few have been found ; 
 and, I understand that those I have spoken of 
 from his correspondents were scattered al)out the 
 house, until collected ])y the old house-steward, 
 Jenkins, who had been in his younger days a boy 
 under Lord Anson's cook, and wlio lived in the 
 Anson family until his death, in 1824; and that 
 these letters owe their present collective form to the 
 care of JMr. Upcott, a gentleman well known in the 
 literary circle for his valuable collection of curious 
 manuscripts, which, for their novelty and variety, 
 ouijlit to have a ])lacc in the British Museum, whose 
 library is certainly not overstocked with IMSS. 
 
 For the use of the IMS. letters above mentioned,
 
 PREFACE. Xlll 
 
 I am indebted to the kindness and liberality of the 
 Earl of Lichfield, Avho most readily placed them 
 in my hands, and to whom I take this opportnnity 
 of expressing my thanks. In addition to these 
 I have another volume of letters, addressed by the 
 Lord Chancellor Hardwicke, Mr. Pelhani, Chief 
 Baron Clarke, Lord Anson, and some others, to 
 Lord Sandwich, at the time chiefly when his Lord- 
 ship was negociating a peace at Aix-la-CIiapelle. 
 For these I am indebted to the Earl of Sandwich, 
 Avho, with the greatest kindness, brought them up 
 from Hinchinbrook for my use, and for Avhich I am 
 desirous to express my acknowledgments. The State 
 Paper Othce afforded but few materials ; but, what- 
 ever there might be. Lord John Russell had the ci- 
 vility to order every facility to be given for availing 
 myself of them ; and it is due to Mr. Lechmere, De- 
 puty Keeper of State Papers, to say, I found him ever 
 willing to comply with my w'ishes. To the records 
 of the Admiralty of a professional nature I had, of 
 course, ready access ; to these, and a few casual let- 
 ters and notices, the present little work owes its 
 existence. What follows has only relation to a 
 former volume. 
 
 I had hoped, in my " Life of Lord Howe," to 
 have steered clear of giving offence to any one ; but 
 I regret to say that, in this respect, I have been 
 mistaken ; and I avail myself of this opportunity to
 
 XIV PREFACE. 
 
 make an explanation to the few from whom I have 
 received remonstrance or friendly hints. The head 
 and front of my offending comes from Vice- Admiral 
 Sir Thomas Harvey, who thinks I have thrown a 
 slur on the character of his late father, Admiral Sir 
 Henry Harvey, hy inchiding the RamillieSj of which 
 he was captain, in the only eight seventy-four-gun 
 ships that were in a condition to go down and oppose 
 the collected ships of the French, after the battle of 
 the 1st of June. The paragraph which has given 
 offence is in part from a MS. Memoir of Captain 
 Thomas White, on the battle of the 1st June, who 
 states that "the British Admiral had left only the 
 Impregnable, ninety, the Gibraltar, eighty, and eight 
 seventy-fours, to combat one ship of one hundred and 
 twenty, three of eighty-four, and eight of seventy- 
 four ouns, rather less damaged than those remaining at 
 Lord Howe's disposal — that is ten to twelve;" and 
 I added, " what confidence could Lord Howe have in 
 his eight seventy-fours, which had contributed little 
 or nothiuii: to the victory — such as the Thunder, that 
 had not a man killed or wounded ; the Alfred, none 
 killed and eight wounded ; the Tremendous, Culloden, 
 INIajestic, Ramillies, and Valiant, all of which had 
 little share in the action ; — was a second l)attle to be 
 intrusted 1o such ships?" 
 
 A\'hile I do not hesitate to answer my own ques- 
 tion by saying a second battle Avas 7iot to be intrusted 
 to such ships, 1 freely admit that the vaptain of the 
 Kamillies, Henry Harvey, was not in my contem-
 
 PREFACE. XV 
 
 plation when I included his ship; it was a pure 
 inadvertence, and, I may acknowledge, entirely in- 
 compatible with what I have said elsewhere of the . 
 gallant officer in question. 1. I had included the 
 name of Henry Harvey among the officers having 
 " particular claim to Lord Howe's attention," p. '237. 
 2. In describing the gallant conduct of the Bruns- 
 wick, and her falling alongside the Vengeur, I said, 
 " In this situation, being observed by Captain Henry 
 Harvey, the brother of the commander of the Bruns- 
 wick, who afterwards fell on that day, he stood to 
 their relief in the Ramillies, and poured such a de- 
 structive and tremendous fire into the Vengeur, that 
 just after the conclusion of the battle she went to the 
 bottom," p. 276. 3. On the same occasion I have 
 inserted what Lady Mary Howe says : — " His poor 
 brother, who commanded the Ramillies, seeing the 
 Brunswick Avitli three ships upon him at the same 
 time, had twice borne down between the enemy and 
 his brother, to take the lire in his stead:" p. 284. 
 If Sir Thomas Harvey will cast his eye over these 
 passages, I think he will acquit me of any intention 
 to throw reproach on his father's character. 
 
 The next is a kind remonstrance from my much- 
 respected friend. Vice- Admiral Sir EdAvard Owen, 
 in behalf of the late Sir John Colpoys, who thinks 
 that a passage in the Memoir of Earl Howe 
 " sounds harshly, as regards his memory, and seems 
 calculated to narrow that high ground of general
 
 XVI PREFACE. 
 
 estiiiKition in winch his character and conduct placed 
 him in public and private life." Sir Edward, I am 
 sure, knows that it is impossible for any human 
 being, who had any acquaintance with Sir John 
 Colpoys, and one in j)articular who sat daily with 
 him for many months in the same room, not to vene- 
 rate his character and admire his conduct in all 
 the relations of his life, public and private. I had 
 occasion to know him well, and to be witness to liis 
 kind and cheerful disposition, his general bene- 
 volence, and extensive charities. But to the charge. 
 Among the many manuscript slips of paper placed in 
 my hands, one without name stated that " Sir John 
 Colpoys wfis appointed to hoist his flag in the North- 
 umberland (Sir Edward Owen his captain). This 
 was suddenly changed, without Colpoys being aware 
 of it ; and, on the Admiral asking for some expla- 
 nation. Lord Spencer told him a letter from Lord 
 Bridport stated that there were murnun-s in the 
 fleet, it being a breach of promise to the service that 
 Colpoys should be employed again." The memo- 
 randum then goes on to say that Lord Spencer 
 sent down Lord Hugh Seymour, to ask Lord Howe 
 if after the nmtiny lie had made such promise, &c. 
 
 On this T observed, that the Lords of the Ad- 
 miralty had no occasion to ask any such (juestion ; 
 that no restriction respecting the employment of 
 orticers was ever conceded to, or asked l)y, the mu- 
 tineers; and I added what follows.
 
 PREFACE. XVll 
 
 " In fact the whole story (contained in the Memo- 
 randum) is a fabrication. Sir John Colpoys was 
 never named for the Northumberhind, nor for any 
 other ship, until appointed by Lord St. Vincent 
 port-admiral at Plymouth in 1803. The Northum- 
 berland was never ordered to be fitted as a flag-ship, 
 and Captain (now Admiral) Sir Edward Owen, was 
 only first made into that ship a few weeks before." 
 It will be obvious that I coukl only have made this 
 statement after examining all that could be collected 
 from official documents ; and I am compelled to de- 
 clare, that, on a close re-examination, what I stated 
 is correctly true. It seems, however^ that, with all 
 this, I am still in error by Sir Edward's account, and 
 I most readily give him the benefit of it in his own 
 words : — 
 
 " I venture to assure you that I was promoted and 
 appointed to the Northumberland, at the vice-admi- 
 ral's especial request, as his flag-captain ; that the 
 Northumberland Avas fitted out in all respects as a 
 flag-ship, the captain's cabin being (as is usual in such 
 cases) in the ward-room. I can likewise assure you 
 that his officers, collected from the other ships they 
 had been serving in, were appointed to, and had 
 joined her ; I will add, that his name was used in 
 my various applications to the public boards, was 
 always blended with the consideration of her equip- 
 ments, his flag was fitted and ready, his coxswain 
 even and his boat's-crew named." 
 
 b
 
 XVlll PREFACE. 
 
 I cannot for a moment doubt that Sir Edward's as- 
 surances are strictly correct, and all that can be said 
 is, what has sometimes happened, that the communi- 
 cation WHS jwiv at ell/ made by the First Lord of the 
 Admiralty of his intention, wdio very probably desired 
 him to act upon it ; but I can assure him the flag was 
 never ordered to be hoisted ; the Northumberland 
 was never ordered to fit for a flag, but in the usual 
 way for Channel service, not at Sheerness, as Sir 
 Edward thinks, but at Woolwich ; and I am obliged 
 to Sir Edward Owen for putting me in possession 
 of the real cause (I consider, a very unworthy one) of 
 the intention l)eing abandoned, as it proves to me 
 that, at least, the part of the Memorandum which re- 
 lated to Lord Hugh Seymour's mission to Lord Howe 
 was " a fabrication." 
 
 It appears that a correspondence on the subject 
 took place in the year 1825, by Sir Griffith Colpoys, 
 the nephew of the admiral, with Sir Byam JMartin, 
 in ^v]lich it is stated that "two seamen in the lower 
 deck of the Bellona were overheard conversing in 
 their hammocks about the return of A(hniral Col- 
 poys to the fleet, and expressing their regret at it, as 
 it would remind them of the ' bad times,' or some 
 such exj)ression that had passed. This circumstance 
 having l)een reported to the flag-ship, more import- 
 ance was attached to it then, than in the opinion of 
 many it apjteared to deserve. It was considered to 
 imply a disposition in the seamen of the fleet to resist
 
 PREFACE. XIX 
 
 the admiral's return, and witli this colouring it was 
 sent up to the Admiralty. Admiral Colpoys was 
 sent for by the Board, and was asked whether he 
 had heard any news from Portsmouth ; and, on his 
 answering in the negative, the intelligence alluded to 
 was communicated to him, and it was put to him 
 what he meant to do. His answer was to this effect 
 — that it was for the Board to decide ; that, on his 
 part, he was ready to act ; and he had only to entreat 
 that, in coming to a decision, they would lay all con- 
 sideration for him out of the question, and do what 
 they might judge best for the welfare of the country, 
 and the interests of the service. It was decided that 
 he was not to hoist his flag." — And I cannot avoid 
 saying, a very cruel decision it was. 
 
 3. Connected with the subject of the mutiny, I 
 had rather a curious application from a gentle- 
 man who siffns "Robert Bover Hinchliffe," and 
 who says he seeks at my hands an act of justice to 
 " a naval officer. Lieutenant Peter Bover, who served 
 on board the London, and was the officer who shot 
 the mutineer;" and he complains that, "in all ac- 
 counts of the transaction (as if purposely), his name 
 has ever been withheld from the page of history;" 
 and that "this has been a source of great regret to 
 his few remaining relations ;" and he requests me, if 
 an opportunity should occur, to take a little more 
 notice of Lieutenant Bover, and that, if so, he will 
 send me some letters and memoranda for the purpose. 
 
 62
 
 XX PREFACE. 
 
 I liave received them, and most readily avail myself 
 of this occasion to communicate to the public the 
 interesting story of Lieutenant Bover. 
 
 Sir John Colpoys, in a long letter relating the in- 
 cidents of the mutiny in the London — a letter that 
 does him the highest honour for manly feelings, for- 
 titude, and courage — touches upon that part which 
 concerns Lieutenant Bover. " I can now solemnly 
 declare," says Sir John, " and mean to do at my 
 latest moments, should the poor misguided men, who 
 are to be my judges, allow me to say as much to 
 them, and which I am inclined to think they wdll, as 
 they really paid unexpected attention to me, even at 
 a moment that one could have little expected any 
 attention from them, but what was produced iVom 
 over-boiling rage and fury, at seeing several of their 
 wounded and dying shipmates weltering in their 
 blood. — Even then, I say, though armed with all 
 manner of missive weapons, they gave me a hearing, 
 and Avliich certainly saved Lieutenant Bover's life, 
 though the rope was about his neck, and indeed, 
 Avhen taken from his, I ex])ected it would have been 
 j)laced about mine." He then proceeds to state the 
 violent proceedings of the men, who were pointing 
 the guns aft, and forcing themselves up the hatch- 
 ways, wIhmi tlie officers called out to know if they 
 were to he ])revented by firing on them; Sir John 
 said, " Yes, certainly: they nuist not be allowed to 
 come uji." Several were killed and wounded by the
 
 PREFACE. XXI 
 
 firing; : the niarlnes threw aAvay their muskets — the 
 men rushed up — the general cry Avas for poor Bover, 
 whom they seized, carried off to the forecastle, got a 
 rope round his neck, but were prevailed on by the 
 surgeon to hear what the admiral had to say. W^hat 
 he said was — that, if any one was culpable, it was 
 he, and he only, and that Mr. Bover only obeyed his 
 orders. 
 
 The state of anxiety in ]\Ir. Bover's femily, on the 
 circumstances being made known to them, will easily 
 be conceived. The following is a letter from one of 
 his sisters : — 
 
 " My dearest Sisters, 
 
 " Thank you both for your kind and flattering 
 letters. I deserve no praise ; but I rejoice that I had some 
 recollection left, because it contributed to alleviate in some 
 little degree the greatest misery wretches ever endured. I 
 shall not act so wise a part in relating some of the dreadful 
 circumstances which were yesterday sent me by Lady Howe. 
 She begged a friend of hers to call and tell me that my 
 brother's name and person were idolised, and that his life 
 was saved, by one of the very delegates fired upon. They 
 seized our dearest Peter, and were in the act of completing 
 his destruction, when Joyce ran, clasped him by the neck, 
 and called out to his party, "If you hang this young man, 
 you shall hang me ; for I will never quit him." The recol- 
 lection of hoAv near it was, makes me shudder every time I 
 think of it, and I have a horror beyond conception of being 
 alone. I secure myself at night by swallowing camphoretted 
 julep, which puts me to sleep; I beg you will get some," &c.
 
 Xxii PREFACE. 
 
 Well did Lord Howe understand the real charac- 
 ter of British seamen when he "had to quiet the 
 most suspicious, but most generous minds, he thinks, 
 he ever met with in the same class of men." Read the 
 followinir letter written the day after the blood of the 
 writer's messmates had been shed, and then say, whe- 
 ther such men as Joyce and Fleming, delegates as 
 they -were, and mutineers if you will, are not an 
 honour to human nature ; and who will doubt that 
 there are thousands among our brave seamen pos- 
 sessing kindred feelings ? 
 
 " To the Delegates of the Fleet at St. Helen x. 
 
 " You have, I presume, read the address of the ship's 
 
 company, of which I am a member, to you, recommending; 
 
 me as their representative in future. They have further 
 
 given me the most flattering proofs of their opinion of my 
 
 abiUties to act as a man and a Christian ought to do. 
 
 Under these circumstances, I flatter myself you will hear 
 
 me with patience, as I am partly convinced that your own 
 
 sentiments, when compared with mine, will join me in 
 
 saving a deserving character from ruin and destruction. I 
 
 shall not dwell on the particulars of yesterday, they,< I am 
 
 confident, are still warm in your memory; but only recall 
 
 your attention to the behaviour, of our brother Valentine 
 
 Joyce — his intrepid beh.aviour, in rescuing the unfortunate 
 
 gentleman from the hands of an enraged multitude, will, I 
 
 am sure, make a deep impression on your minds, and will 
 
 I hope influence you to act in a manner worthy of the 
 
 character of Christians and British seamen. 
 
 " Tliis much, my brethren, for ])reface. Permit me
 
 PREFACE. XXlll 
 
 now to speak for that ship's company whose confidence I 
 enjoy. In the first place^ had they followed the momentary 
 impulse of passion, and wreaked their vengeance on that 
 mifortunate gentleman, a few minutes would have brought 
 to their recollection the amiable character he always bore 
 among them, and I am confident would have embittered 
 the latest moments of their lives. Now, my brethren, your 
 general cry is ' Blood for blood ! ' Do you mean that as a 
 compliment to us, to assist us in following error after error ? 
 If so, it is a poor compliment to us indeed. Do you (let 
 me ask you) think it justice? I hope not: if you do, pray 
 from whence did you derive that authority to sit as a court 
 over the life of even the meanest of subjects? The only 
 answer you can give me is, you are authorised by your 
 respective ship's companies ; but is that authority sufficient 
 to quiet your consciences for taking the life even of a cri- 
 minal, much more that of a deserving and worthy gentle- 
 man, who is an ornament to his profession in every respect ? 
 I can almost safely say you will say no. But if you are to 
 be influenced by your ship's companies, in spite of your 
 own opinion — I am but a single individual among you — 
 and before this arm of mine shall subscribe the name of 
 Fleming to anything that may in the least tend to that 
 gentleman's prejudice, much more to his life, I will undergo 
 your utmost violence;, and meet death with him hand-in- 
 hand. 
 
 " I am nevertheless as unanimous as any member in the 
 fleet for a redress of our grievances — will maintain thtit 
 point hand-in-hand with you all, so long as you are con- 
 tented with your original demands ; but, that moment I 
 hear you deviate from those principles, that instant I become 
 your most inveterate enemy. You see, brethren, I act
 
 Xxiv PREFACE. 
 
 openly, and am determined to support it, as I Mill never 
 form a part to do injustice to my country; and, for the 
 future, shall expect that whatever comes before us shall be 
 only conducive to the much-wanted and desirable end of 
 restoring this fleet to the confidence of an injured country. 
 Let these be your aims, and depend on every support from 
 me and this ship's company; and be assured that the life 
 and character of Mr. Bover shall always remain inviolate 
 in our hands ; and we think any step taken to the contrary, 
 highly injurious to ourselves as brothers of your com- 
 munity. 
 
 " We expect your answer this night ; and beg leave to 
 remain yours, most sincerely, 
 
 (Signed) " JoHxN Fleming. 
 
 ** Per desire of the London's 
 ship's company.'' 
 
 But these deluded men of the London did more : 
 when Lieutenant Bover was taken on shore, to abide 
 the result of a coroner's jury, the crew expressed 
 their unwillingness to give him up, but he promised 
 them he would return to the ship; the verdict being 
 " justifialih' homicide,"' liis friends wished to prevail 
 on him not to return, and put himself in their ])Gwer, 
 Init he persisted in rejoining his ship, as he had pro- 
 mised ; he was received on board \\\\\\ three cheers, 
 requested that he would not leave them, to Avliich he 
 assented, and continued to serve in the London till 
 made commander, on the 14th February, 1798; in 
 the mean time Lord Spencer liad written to his sister 
 a kind letter, (*f which the following is a copy: —
 
 PREFACE. XXV 
 
 " Madam, 
 
 " Your brother's conduct on this unhappy occasion, 
 as well as upon former ones of a less unpleasant nature, has 
 deserved so well of his country and the service, that you 
 may depend upon my not suffering it to pass unnoticed; 
 there are, however, some reasons of discretion, which will 
 obviously occur to you, that may make it advisable to defer, 
 at least for a short time, anything to be done in his favour. 
 " I have the honour to be. Madam, 
 
 " Your very obedient humble servant, 
 
 (Signed) ''Spencer. 
 *' Admiralty, 13th May, 1797. 
 " Miss Maria Bover." 
 
 On the 11th August, 1800, he was made captain ; 
 and died about the end of 1802. It is hoped the 
 notice here taken will prove satisfactory to Mr. 
 Bover HinclilifFe and the surviving family of tliis 
 brave young officer. 
 
 4. There is no part of the IMemoir on Lord 
 Howe's life that I regret more than that which, for 
 want of explanation, has given pain to a most amiable 
 and highly-respected gentleman, Sir George Seymour, 
 son of the late Lord Hugh Seymour ; and which he 
 has pointed out to me in the most kind and friendly 
 manner. It is an extract of a letter from Lord HoAve 
 to Sir Roger Curtis, and is as follows : — 
 
 " The conditions meant to be exacted by the 
 crews of Lord Hugh Seymour's ships is a very un- 
 pleasant circumstance ; and, by pretensions of a si- 
 milar kind in the frigate detachments, it appears
 
 XXvi PREFACE. 
 
 that the assumed right of rejecting their officers, un- 
 heard in their defence, will go through the fleet, at 
 home and ah road. I am glad you have convinced 
 Lord Hugh of the high degree of impropriety, in 
 my opinion, when commanders, not so compelled, 
 assume a liherty to quit their ships." 
 
 This paragraph, unexplained, does certainly Avear 
 the appearance of an indirect rebuke to Lord Hugh 
 Seymour; but, considering the high estimation in 
 whicli Lord Hugh's character stood in the navy, and, 
 on all occasions, in the mind of the noble commander- 
 in-chief, from his activity displayed in the Latona, 
 at the relief of Gibraltar, to the time he finally struck 
 his flag, it is utterly impossible he could have meant 
 it as such ; and I am vexed it did not occur to me, 
 at the time, to examine the official reports, to enable 
 me to explain the circumstance that gave rise to 
 it. It was simply tliis : Lord Howe, the late com- 
 mander-in-chief, had struck his flag, and was on 
 ^hore ; Sir Roger Curtis had a squadron placed 
 under his orders for a cruise, having under him Rear- 
 Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour, in the Sans Pareil. 
 ^^'hen at St. Helen's, Sir Erasnms Gower, of the 
 Triumph, and Sir Jose})!! Yorke, of the Stag, dis- 
 gusted with the conduct of the seamen, wrote a 
 letter to Lord Hugh, under \vliose orders they 
 were, desiring to be superseded or alloued to go on 
 shore ; wliicli Lord Hugh, as was his duty, trans- 
 mitted to Sir Roger Curtis, and the latter of course
 
 PREFACE. XXVU 
 
 to Lord Bridport, the commander-in-chief. His let- 
 ter to Lord Howe, which drew from him the ob- 
 servation above alhided to, was a private one. 
 
 Whatever blame may be attached to the captain 
 and crews of other ships, it is due to Lord Hugh and 
 the Sans Pareil to say that she ought to have been 
 an example to the rest; her crew never joined in 
 the mutiny, nor demanded the removal of any officer. 
 The Sans Pareil was considered and mentioned by 
 the members of the Board of Admiralty as a gratify- 
 ing exception from the evil that was raghig in the 
 ships-of-the-line ; and her crew were looked upon as 
 so trustworthy, that she was sent to the North Sea, 
 though ill adapted from her draft of water, to join 
 Admiral Duncan, left with the Venerable and Ada- 
 mant off the Texel, where she remained until the 
 fleet at the No re returned to their allegiance. 
 
 Tlie conduct of Lord Hugh Seymour in the battle of 
 the 1st of June is too well known to make any com- 
 ments thereon necessary; and, though he is not one of 
 the five captains who, at once, broke through the ene- 
 my's line, yet he was one of those *' who were able to 
 secure their adversaries by close action to wind- 
 ward," and one who was particularly distinguished 
 by Lord Howe ; and on the 29th May, when the 
 Charlotte broke through the enemy's line, she was 
 folloAved, in the most gallant manner, by the Levia- 
 than (Lord Hugh's ship) and Bellerophon, both of 
 which were most conspicuously engaged, the former
 
 XXviii PREFACE. 
 
 having her foremast crippled and in danger of falling, 
 when Lord Howe, observing tliis^ instantly stood to 
 her rescue. The beautiful manner in which Lord 
 Hugh expresses, in his journal, his grateful tribute 
 of admiration for this timely assistance, I have tran- 
 scril)ed in the Memoir (p. 266). 
 
 It will afford me much pleasure if the explanations 
 here given prove satisfactory to the several parties 
 concerned. 
 
 I
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHArTER I.— ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. . p. l 
 
 Genealogy of the Anson family— Mistake respecting his education — 
 Rises in the service by his own exertions and good conduct — First 
 found serving in the fleet under Sir John Norris— English, Russian, 
 and Danish fleets in the Baltic— Anson appointed to the Hamp- 
 shire—to the Montague— in Lord Torrington's engagement— Made 
 Commander— Captain of the Scarborough— Sent to South Carolina 
 —Peace with Spain— Returns to England— A great favourite with 
 the settlers of Carohna— Testimony of Mr. Killpatrick— His cha- 
 racter by Mrs. Hutchinson— Appointed to the Squirrel, and sent to 
 Georgia and Carolina— Spanish depredations in the West Indies- 
 Spanish inhumanity— Inquiry of a Committee of the House of 
 Commons— Case of Captain Jenkins— a doubtful one— Spanish 
 retaliation — Declaration of War— Anson appointed to the Centu- 
 rion, and sent to the coast of Africa— then to Barbadoes— Recalled 
 for a special service — Two expeditions proposed— Anson's squad- 
 ron appointed — The second expedition abandoned — Instructions to 
 Anson of 3 1st January not delivered till the 28th June— Invalids 
 embarked in lieu of seamen and marines — Impolicy and inhu- 
 manity — Remonstrance of no avail — Various delays — Sails — 
 Spanish squadron — disasters of— Character of Sir Charles Wager — 
 Anecdote — Anson's instructions. 
 
 Ch.\p. II. -THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. . p. 38 
 
 Expedition sails and arrives at Madeira — Early appearance of sick- 
 ness— St. Catharine's— St. Julian— Strait of Magellan— Tremen- 
 dous storm — Scurvy— Socoro — Juan Fernandez — Arrival of the 
 Tryal and Gloucester — Beauty of the island— Recovery of the sur- 
 viving part of the crews — Number dreadfully reduced — Several 
 prizes taken — Arrives off Paita — Attacks and burns the town — 
 Anson's conduct towards his prisoners — to some young ladies — 
 Good result of it — Anson's generosity — Proceeds to the coast of
 
 XXX CONTENTS. 
 
 California— Measures to intercept the Acapulco ship — Bad condi- 
 tion of the Gloucester— Removes her men and stores, and sets fire 
 to her— Dreadful condition of Centurion from scurvy — The island 
 Tinian— Beauty and fertility of— Centurion driven out to sea- 
 Transactions thereupon — Returns— Men healthy — Proceed to Ma- 
 cao—Ship refitted— Sails to look out for the Galeon— Meets, fights, 
 and captures her — Carries her into China — Transactions there- 
 Parallel of Anson's voyage with Drake's — Some remarks on scurvy, 
 and on the defective state of nautical science — Shipwreck of the 
 "Wager — Disasters which befel the commander and officers— and 
 also those of the mutinous crew — Act to continue the crews of 
 ships wrecked. Sec, on full pay and under martial law. 
 
 Chap. III.— WAR WITH FRANCE AND SPAIN ; AND THE 
 SCOTCH REBELLION p. 97 
 
 Receipt of intelligence from Anson— His arrival— His first request 
 refused — Mr. Corbett's advice to him— Declines his promotion to 
 the flag— Change of Administration — Appointed to the Admiralty 
 —Character of the Duke of Bedford, Lord Sandwich, and Mr. An- 
 son — Preparations for commencing hostilities — French fleet in the 
 Channel— Sir John Norris sent to oppose it— A storm and its 
 effects— Action of Lion and Elizabeth— The young Pretender em- 
 barks for Scotland— Intelligence of the Rebels from Mr. T. Anson 
 —Anson left alone in the Admiralty— Bedford and Sandwich both 
 ill— Singular complaint ef the latter— Dangerous interference of 
 the Crown with the jurisdiction of the Admiralty, by commanding 
 a court-martial— Result of that court-martial — A writ oi capias 
 issued against the members — Their resolutions against Judge 
 Willes — He demands and obtains an apology — His character — 
 Activity of cruisers— Capture of Louisburg~The case of Admiral 
 Vernon — is ordered to strike his Hag— is summoned to attend the 
 Admiralty- is struck off the list— Proceedings on this transaction- 
 Satirical letter of Mr. Legge— Several brilliant actions between 
 single ships. 
 
 Chap. IV.-BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. p. 142 
 
 Order in Council for improving the building of Ships— Mode 
 of promoting Admirals— Situiition of old Captains— Orders in 
 Ciuncilfor their relier, by api ointing them retired Rear-Admirals
 
 CONTENTS. XXXI 
 
 — Objectionable clause in the order — First established uniform — 
 The year 174 7 glorious for the British Navy — Duke of Bedford's 
 opinion regarding the distribution of the fleet — Lord Sandwich's — 
 Lord Anson's disposition of it — his information of two squadrons of 
 the enemy about to sail — Makes preparations to intercept them — 
 Determines to hoist his flag — Selects Rear-Admiral Warren for 
 his second — Letter of the Duchess of Bedford — Falls in with, at- 
 tacks, and takes six French ships of war — Admiral Warren pur- 
 sues the rest — Great rejoicings on this first victory — Congratulations 
 from Duke of Bedford and Lord Sandwich — Fox's squadron falls 
 in with and captures a large portion of the St. Domingo fleet — 
 Rear-Admiral Hawke appointed to command a squadron to inter- 
 cept that of M. Letendeur — Engages and takes five sail-of-the-line 
 and one fifty out of the eight — His account of the action — Captain 
 Fox's conduct brought before a court-martial — is dismissed his 
 ship, and never after employed — Numerous captures made, and 
 several single actions fought — M. de Conflans taken by Captain 
 Shirley — his unfounded charges against that ofBcer — Captain 
 Shirley's exposure of them — Relative ranks of army and navy 
 settled — Boscawen sent to India with a large force of ships and 
 troops — Unsuccessful attempt on Pondicherry — Hears of the peace, 
 and returns to England. 
 
 Chap. V.-CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. . p. 194 
 
 The duties of First Lord executed by Anson — Lord Vere's interfer- 
 ence and incapacity— Rules of precedence at the Board — Change 
 of the Board in consequence of Lord Chesterfield resigning the 
 seals, the Duke of Bedford accepting them, and Lord Sandwich's 
 appointment as First Lord — Correspondence of the Duke, the Earl, 
 and Lord Anson on the occasion— Lord Sandwich's pressing letters, 
 desiring Anson to consider himself, in all respects, as in his place — 
 Anson's marriage with the Lord Chancellor's daughter — Lord 
 Hardwicke's letters to him on the occasion — His anxiety and affec- 
 tion for Lady Anson, on the score of her health — Difficulties of 
 Lord Sandwich at Aix-la-Chapelle— Suggestion of the Duke of 
 Cumberland with regard to the establishment of a Marine Corps- 
 Conclusion of the war — Lord Vere, in the absence of Sand- 
 wich and Anson, appoints a commander-in-chief- He resigns both 
 the Admiralty and Navy— The first visitation of the dock-yards by
 
 XXxii CONTENTS. 
 
 the Board— unsatisfactory state of— An act passed for consolidating 
 the laws relating to the Navy— apparent severity of— Question re- 
 specting a sentence of transportation — legal opinion of— Lord Bar- 
 rington's motion for providing seamen for the Navy dropped— Old 
 Horace Walpole's story— Change in the Board of Admiralty, Lord 
 Sandwich dismissed by Newcastle's intrigues, and Lord Anson 
 appointed First Lord. 
 
 Chap. VL— THE SEVEN-YEARS' WAR. . p. 2.10 
 
 Vigorous preparations for war— Duplicity of the French— Establish- 
 ment of a Marine Corps under the immediate command of the 
 Admiralty— The late King's address to the marines— A fleet under 
 Boscawen sent to America— French fleet puts to sea— Two of their 
 ships taken by Howe and Andrews— Remonstrance of the French 
 —Their ambassador recalled— A fleet prepared and placed under 
 the command of Sir Edward Hawke— Duke of Cumberland and 
 Anson visit the fleet- latter hoists his Hag in the Prince— Discus- 
 sion in the Cabinet as to Hawke's instructions— Copy of instruc- 
 tions from the Lords Justices— Sails and captures many of the 
 enemy's ships— Secret information from the King at Hanover- 
 Threats of invasion by the French— march down troops to the 
 coast— Howe sent to protect Guernsey and Jersey — attacks and 
 takes Chaussc— War at length proclaimed by England— then by 
 France— Admiral Byng sent with a fleet for the relief of Minorca- 
 engages Galissonniere, and retreats to Gibraltar— Public clamour 
 against him— recalled— sent a prisoner to Greenwich Hospital — 
 Change in the administration— Pamphlets for and against Byng— 
 for, by Dr. Johnson, and against, by Mallet, assisted by Lord 
 ILudwicke — is sent to Portsmouth — tried and condemned to deatli 
 —Mistaken proceedings to obtain the King's mercy— Voltaire and 
 Richlicus letters— Opinion of the Judges decides Byng's fate — 
 His gallant behaviour previous to and at his execution — Inscrip- 
 tion on his tomb. 
 
 Chap. VH.-EXPEDITIONS TO THE COAST OF 
 
 FRANCE p. 281 
 
 Resignation of the ministers — The King lor two or three months his 
 own minister— Various applications — One made to Anson — Lord 
 Hardwicke's advice upon it — Various parties applied to — Duke of
 
 CONTENTS. XXXIU 
 
 Newcastle, Fox, Lord Mansfield, Lord AValdegrave— The King's 
 observations to the latter — Lord Hardwioke sent for— Succeeds, and 
 relates his proceedings to Lord Anson — Commanders appointed to 
 the Channel fleet— Mr. Pitt's plans of annoying the French coasts 
 —First expedition against Rochefort fails— Boscawen sent to North 
 America — Retakes Louisbnrg and Cape Breton— Sir Edward 
 Hawke defeats an intended expedition of the enemy — Several 
 expeditions against the French coast — Lord Anson hoists his flag, 
 and takes command of the grand fleet— Howe and the Duke of 
 Marlborough's proceedings against St. Maloes — Third expedition- 
 Destruction of Cherbourg— Fourth expedition— Disastrous result 
 at the Bay of St. Cus— BriUiant single actions. 
 
 Chai>. VIIL— SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. . p. 320 
 
 Preparations for the campaign of 1759- Threats of the invasion of 
 England, Scotland, and Ireland— iMeasures taken to meet it — 
 Thurot escapes from Dunkirk — takes Carrickfergus — is met by 
 Elliot, who captures his three frigates — Thurot killed in the ac- 
 tion — Rodney attacks Havre — Anecdote of Rodney— Boscawen's 
 action with the fleet under M. de la Clue — defeats it — De la Clue 
 wounded, and dies — The glorious defeat of Conflans' fleet by the 
 gallant Sir Edward Hawke — Extract of his letter to the Due d'Ai- 
 guillon — Joy of the nation — Hawke receives the thanks of the King, 
 and a pension of 2000/. a-year on the Irish Establishment— Re- 
 ceives also the thanks of Parliament — Hawke no friend to the line- 
 of-battle — Expedition against Quebec — Sir Charles Saunders ap- 
 pointed to command the fleet, and General Wolfe the army — 
 Jealousy of the army on the appointment of the latter — Operations 
 on the St. Lawrence — Quebec taken — Wolfe killed— Noble con- 
 duct of Saunders on reaching England — Praise of Wolfe by Pitt 
 in proposing a public monument — also of Saunders by Pitt and 
 Walpole— Rewards to officers, by appointing generals and colonels 
 of marines— Capture of Martinique — Gallant conduct of Admiral 
 Pocock in the East Indies. 
 
 Chap. IX.— CONCLUSION OF THE SEVEN-YEARS' WAR- 
 DEATH OF GEORGE IL, AND OF LORD ANSON, p. 3G0 
 
 The disposition of the fleet for the year 17f)0 — High state of the 
 navy as to ships, officers, and men — The several flag-officers era-
 
 XXxiv CONTENTS. 
 
 ployed— Hawke and Boscawen relieve each other— Death of Bos- 
 cawen, and character —Capture of the Island Dumet — Anson's 
 mstructions toHawke respecting Belleisle— Death of George II.— 
 Keppel's expedition against that island — its capture — Affairs of 
 North America— Byron sent to demolish the works of Louishurg 
 
 Chevalier de Levis appears before Quebec — General Murray goes 
 
 out to attack him— is obliged to retreat — The fleet arrives, and 
 Levis raises the siege— Montreal taken by General Amherst— 
 French power annihilated in Canada — Overture of peace from 
 France— treacherous intrigue of, with Spain— Mr. Pitt's noble con- 
 duf-t—resigns in disgust — Declaration of war against Spain — The 
 ■war prosecuted with vigour against these combined powers — Dis- 
 astrous war for Spain — Her register ships taken— The Havannah 
 taken, with fourteen sail-of-the-line— Manilla taken, and ransomed 
 — Disasters of the French, in the capture of Martinique, and seve- 
 ral frigates, privateers, and merchant-ships— Both powers humbled 
 and sue for peace— Preliniiiuiries signed in November, 1702, and 
 proclaimed in London in February, 1763— Death of Lord Anson— 
 Letter of the Duke of Newcastle on this occasion. 
 
 Chap. X.-AN SONS CHARACTER ILLUSTRATED, p. 392 
 
 Professional character— Conduct in the civil department of the Navy 
 —Improvements in the 7nai!meZ of the Navy — Moral character 
 resembled that of Lord Howe— Peculiar habits— Character illus- 
 trated by his correspondents. Captains Bennet, Piercy Brett, 
 Cheap, Denis, Philip Saumurez : Mr. Legge, M. Hardenberg, 
 Lord Sandwich, Lord Chatham— The late King's mark of attention 
 to Lord Anson's memory. 
 
 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 Introduction \). -ill 
 
 Section 1. Navies of England, France, Russia, United 
 
 States, &.(• p. 'I '25 
 
 Section 2. Manning the Navy p. 45 7 
 
 Sections. Health of the Navy p. 171
 
 THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 GEORGE LORD ANSON. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 
 
 Genealogy of the Anson family— Mistake respecting his education- 
 Rises in the service by his own exertions and good conduct — iMrst 
 found serving in the fleet under Sir John Norris— English, Russian, 
 and Danish fleets in the Baltic— Anson appointed to the Hamp- 
 shire—to the Montague— in Lord Torrington's engagement— Made 
 Commander— Captain of the Scarborough— Sent to South Carolina 
 —Peace with Spain— Returns to England— A great favourite with 
 the settlers of Carolina— Testimony of Mr. KiUpatrick— His cha- 
 racter by Mrs. Hutchinson— Appointed to the Squirrel, and sent to 
 Georgia and Carolina— Spanish depredations in the West Indies- 
 Spanish inhumanity— Inquiry of a Committee of the House of 
 Commons— Case of Captain Jenkins— a doubtful one— Spanish 
 retaliation— Declaration of War— Anson appointed to the Centu- 
 rion, and sent to the coast of Africa— then to Barbadoes— Recalled 
 for a special service— Two expeditions proposed— Anson's squad- 
 ron appointed— The second expedition abandoned— Instructions to 
 Anson of 31st January not delivered till the 28th June— Invalids 
 embarked in lieu of seamen and marines — Impolicy and inhu- 
 manity—Remonstrance of no avail — Various delays — Sails- 
 Spanish squadron— disasters of— Character of Sir Charles Wager- 
 Anecdote — Anson's instructions. 
 
 1697 to 1740. 
 
 William Anson, Esq., of Lincoln's Inn, an eminent 
 Ijarrister in the rei^-n of James I., purcliased the 
 mansion of Shughorough in the comity of Stafford. 
 
 B
 
 2 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. I. 
 
 To him succeeded his son William, and subsequently 
 his grandson, William Anson, Es([., who died in 
 1720, leaving two sons and a daughter, namely — 
 
 1. Thomas, his successor at Shugborough, who 
 died without issue, in 1773. 
 
 2. George, the celebrated circumnavigator, who, 
 lor his services, was created, in 1747, Baron Anson, 
 a title that became extinct at his death, which hap- 
 pened on the 6th June, 1762 : he was united to Eli- 
 zabeth, daughter of Philip first Earl of Hardwicke, 
 but had no issue. 
 
 3. Janetta, died in 1771, having married Sam- 
 brooke Adams, Esq., of Sand)rooke in the county of 
 Stafford. The only surviving issue of this marriage 
 was George Adams, Es(|., who, inheriting the pro- 
 perty of both his maternal uncles, assumed the 
 name and arms of Anson. Thomas, his eldest son 
 and heir, was created, in 1 806, Viscount Anson of 
 Shugl)orough and Orgrave in the county of Stafford, 
 and ]3aron Soberton of Soberton in the county of 
 Hants; he died 31st July, 1818, and was succeeded 
 by his eldest son, Thomas A\^illiam, the third viscount, 
 who, in 1831, was advanced to the dignity of Earl 
 of Lichfield, the present possessor of that title. 
 
 George Anson, the second son of AVilliam Anson, 
 th(! subject of this memoir, was born in the parish of 
 Colwich the 23rd A])ril, 1697; but where he re- 
 ceived his education, in what shi]> he first went to 
 sea, and under what captain, none of the existing
 
 1697.] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 3 
 
 generation of his family appear to have any know- 
 ledge. In tlie biographical dictionaries it is stated 
 that he received his nautical instruction on board 
 some ship of war, from ]\Ir. William Jones, the 
 father of the celebrated Sir William Jones, who 
 was a schoolmaster in the navy ; and Sir John Shore 
 (afterwards Lord Teignmouth) repeats this in his 
 "Life of Sir William Jones." Speaking of the 
 father, his lordship says, " From his earliest years 
 Mr. Jones discovered a propensity for mathema- 
 tical studies, and, having cuhivated them with 
 assiduity, he began his career in life by teaching 
 mathematics on board a man-of-war ; and in this 
 situation attracted the notice and obtained the friend- 
 ship of Lord (Mr.) Anson. In his twenty-second 
 year IMr. Jones published a treatise on the art of 
 navigation, which was received with great approba- 
 tion. He was present at the capture of Vigo, in 
 1702, and, having joined his comrades in quest of 
 pillage, he eagerly fixed upon a bookseller's shop 
 as the object of his depredation ; but, finding in it no 
 literary treasures, which were the sole plunder that 
 he coveted, he contented himself with a pair of 
 scissors, which he frequently exhibited to his friends 
 as a trophy of his military success, relating the anec- 
 dote by which he gained it. He returned Avith the 
 fleet to England, and immediately afterwards esta- 
 blished himself as a teacher of mathematics in Lon- 
 don, where, at the age of tAventy-six, he published 
 
 b2
 
 4 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. I. 
 
 liis Sj/nopsh- Palmeriorum Matheseos — a decisive 
 proof of liis early and consummate proficiency in his 
 favourite science." 
 
 Tiiis may be all correct as to IMr. Jones, but is 
 impossible to be so as regards jMr. Anson ; and it is 
 rather surprising that Lord Teignmouth should not 
 have seen this. Mr. Jones was born in 1 680, and con- 
 secpiently had left the navy and was settled in Lon- 
 don in 1706, when George Anson was only nine 
 years of age ; Ijut, as he immediately established him- 
 self in London on the return of the fleet from Vigo, 
 Anson could then have been no more than five or six. 
 It is always desirable, where it can be done, to trace 
 back to early youtli the education and character 
 of every one w ho, like Anson, may have had the good 
 fortune to rise to the highest eminence in liis profes- 
 sion ; for it has generally been found, that traits of 
 tlic future admiral are observable in the character of 
 the ini<lshipman ; — the inclination of the tree from the 
 l^ending of the twig. No record was formerly ke})t 
 in the Admiralty of the services of young gentlemen, 
 who entered the navy, until they had served the re- 
 quired time and passed the necessary examinations, 
 to render tliem eligible for a lieutenant's connnission.* 
 
 * After a (lilifTcnt search nt Somerset House, it appcnrs that the 
 name of Guorsje Alison is first found, as vohinleor, in the books of 
 the Rul)y, in January I 71 -J; Iroiu the Ruby to the Monmouth, and 
 Worn this to the Hampshire, where he received his anting order as 
 heutenant. As Captain Peter ChamberUiin commanded all these 
 ships (the Ruby from 170G to 1712), it is extremely probable that An-
 
 1715,] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 5 
 
 But, ^\hatever Anson's education may have been, and 
 under whomsoever brought up, he rose by his own 
 exertions and good conduct, like St. Vincent and 
 Howe, to the height of his profession — Admiral of 
 the Fleet, First Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty, 
 a Privy Counsellor, and a peer of the realm. That 
 he did so rise, appears from various quarters, and re- 
 ceives coniirmation from a memorandum on the first 
 commission he ever received, written by George 
 Parker, Esq., youngest son of the Chief Baron Parker, 
 which was put into the hands of his son William 
 (the present Sir William Parker) on his first enter- 
 ing the navy. It is as follows : " Lord Anson, our 
 relation by marriage, set out without the least patron- 
 age, and worked his own way to a peerage and the 
 First Commissioner of the Admiralty, — an example 
 of encouragement worthy of your attention." 
 
 It appears that Anson, in his nineteenth or twen- 
 tieth year, had qualified himself and passed the neces- 
 sary examinations to render him eligible, for a lieu- 
 tenant's commission, and was serving in the Hamp- 
 shire, a frigate in the Baltic fleet, under the command 
 of Admiral Sir John Norris. This fleet had been 
 augmented to eighteen sail of the line, besides frigates 
 and small vessels, in consequence of the Swedes, then 
 at war with Russia, having threatened to capture, 
 and having actually captured, the merchant-vessels 
 
 son entered the service under lliis officer, who, in 1720, was wrecked 
 in the Milford frigate, off the coast of Cuba, when he and nearly the 
 whole of the crew perished.
 
 6 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. I. 
 
 of England and Holland trading to St. Petersburgh, 
 under pretext of their carrying to that port warlike 
 stores and ammunition. The Swedes at this time 
 had twenty-four sail of the line, two of them 
 three-deckers of 110 guns each. Charles XII., 
 whose courage and resolution might properly be 
 termed rashness, and his military measures indiscre- 
 tion, had found the means, on his return from his 
 signal defeat, imprisonment, and romantic adventures, 
 to keep up this fleet, so wholly disproportionate, in 
 every respect, to the resources of his country ; \^'hose 
 low ebb, however, did not prevent liim from obtain- 
 ing whatever money he wanted from his exhausted 
 subjects ; as Voltaire says, " he was blamed, admired, 
 and assisted." It seems never to have occurred to 
 him, that such a fleet was an unnatural excrescence — 
 a fungus -without root ; that " ships, colonies, and 
 conmierce," of the first two of Avhich he had few, and 
 of tlie last little or none, were the mutual support 
 of each other ; and that, witht)ut them, a duraljle 
 naval force could not be kept up. The lapse of a 
 few years fully ])roved this ; and Sweden has now 
 some four or live rotten hulks of 74 i»'nns, none of 
 Avhich are ever likely to go to sea ; a frigate or two, 
 one steam-vessel, and some eighteen or twenty gun- 
 boats. 
 
 To put down these depredations, on the part ot 
 Sweden, on neutral commerce, Sir Jolm Norris pro- 
 ceeded to the Jjaltic. In July, 1710, he fell in with 
 and joined a Muscovite s(j[uadron of seven sail of ships
 
 1716.] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 7 
 
 of Aviir, off the Island of Dago ; and next day found 
 himself in company with the whole fleet of nineteen 
 sail, commanded by Admiral Count Apraxin, under 
 whom was serving the Tzar Peter, with his flag 
 flying, as Vice- Admiral of the Blue. The combined 
 fleets of England and Russia entered Revel ; Sir 
 John asked permission to wait on the Tzar, who re- 
 ceived him in the flag-ship of the admiral. " I made 
 him," says Sir John, " what compliments I could, 
 and was received Avith great civilities. He has since 
 been pleased to come on board my ship, where we re- 
 ceived him with such salutes as the fleet has always 
 paid to princes. He is pleased to be very curious in 
 his inquiries, and there is not a part of our ships he 
 is not desirous of examining. The improvements he 
 has made, by the help of English builders, are such 
 as a seaman would think almost impossible for a 
 nation so lately used to the sea. They have built 
 three sixty-gun ships, which are every way equal to 
 the best of that rank in our country." 
 
 The two fleets were here joined by the Danish 
 squadron, and all three put to sea, forming a line of 
 battle, as well as they could in the then low state of 
 naval tactics and signals, even in our own navy. The 
 compliment of placing the Russians in the centre 
 was paid to Peter the Great, the English taking the 
 van and the Danish the rear, while a few Dutch 
 ships of war, and a portion of the English, were de- 
 spatched for the protection of the trade up the Baltic.
 
 8 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. I. 
 
 The Swedes, on hearing Avhat was taking i)lace, made 
 the best of their way to Carlscrona; and the Swedish 
 monarch was apprized that if an English sliip was 
 molested the admiral would immediately order re- 
 prisals to be made. 
 
 It was a fortunate circumstance for a young man 
 in Anson's situation to have had so favourable an 
 opportunity of taking a part in these transactions, 
 though he mi^-ht not have learned much in naval 
 manoeuvres ; but he was still more fortunate in an- 
 other respect : an invaliding vacancy occurred for a 
 lieutenant's commission in the Hampshire frigate, in 
 which he was serving, and into which Sir John 
 Norris cave Anson an actinc; order which was 
 confirmed at home. In 1717 he was appointed 
 lieutenant of the JMontague, in which ship he had the 
 good fortune to share in the action of Sir George IJyng 
 (afterwards Viscount Torrington) with the Spanish 
 fleet of twenty-seven ships of war, besides a nundier of 
 bombs and fire-ships, commanded by Don Antonio 
 Castancta, with four rear-admirals under him. Sir 
 George fell in with and chased them all day and 
 through the night. The Spaniards having detached six 
 of the fleet, Sir George ordered Captain Walton of 
 the Canterbury, with five sail, to pursue them. The 
 laconic account of his proceedings is admirable. 
 " Sir, Ave have taken and destroyed all the Spanish 
 ships and vessels Avliich were upon the coast, the 
 number as per margin. I am. Sec. G. ^^^'llton." Sir
 
 1724.] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 9 
 
 George Byng, in coming up with the rest of the 
 Spanish fleet off Cape Passaro, commenced a vigor- 
 ous attack on the Spanish admiral, Avhoni he captured, 
 tofjether with a rear-admiral and five sail of the line 
 and two frigates. The Spanish admiral's ship, the 
 Royal Philip, of 74 guns and 650 men, soon after 
 the arrival of the prizes in PortMahon, hlew up, and 
 every soul on board perished. Thirteen ships escaped, 
 of which three were either taken, sunk, or wrecked. 
 
 Anson remained in the IMontague until he was 
 made commander into the Weazle sloop on the 19th 
 of June, 1722, in which ship he was actively and 
 successfully employed the remainder of that year in 
 the North Sea, capturing a number of smugglers 
 from the ports of Holland, laden chiefly with brandy 
 and other contraband s-oods. From tlie Weazle 
 he became captain of the Scarborough on the 1st 
 February, 1723, and was ordered to fit her for im- 
 mediate service at sea. 
 
 In the month of March, 1723-4, the Scarbo- 
 rough was ordered to South Carolina, with instruc- 
 tions to protect the trade generally against pirates, 
 who were committing depredations on the coast 
 of tliat new settlement, to grant convoys to and 
 from the Bahamas, and to prevent all illicit com- 
 merce Avith the young colony. He was also to 
 communicate with the governor, and to assist when 
 necessary in the protection of the settlement, keeping 
 a vigilant look-out on fSpanish cruisers, who were
 
 10 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. L 
 
 directed, by the neigh])ouring governments, to mo- 
 lest and impede the progress of our several establish- 
 ments on that part of the coast of America, of which 
 Spain was exceedingly jealous, more especially with 
 regard to Georgia, which bordered on their posses- 
 sions in Florida. In the commencement of the 
 year 1726, matters had assumed the appearance of 
 direct hostilities on the part of Spain ; and her con- 
 duct went so far that, although in the peace of 1721, 
 Spain had made an absolute cession of (libraltar and 
 ]\'Iinorca to Great Britain, it was ascertained that, in 
 1725, a private engagement had been entered into 
 between Spain and the Emperor of Germany, in 
 which the recovery of those two places, by force of 
 arms, had l)een stipulated, in case the King of Eng- 
 land should refuse to restore them amicably, accord- 
 ing to a solemn promise, which it was asserted had 
 been made by George I. to the Spanish ambassador 
 in London. The parliament, however, was too sen- 
 sibly alive to the importance of the fortress of Gib- 
 raltar, to listen for a moment, when the thing was 
 mentioned, to its abandonment on any terms. On the 
 contrary, the ministry sent out innnediately a squad- 
 ron under Sir Charles Wager, to join the ships that 
 were already tliere under Admiral Hopson. The 
 junction was effected just in time, when the Conde 
 de las Torres, with an army of fifteen to twenty 
 thousand men, was encam])ing on the plain before 
 St. Koch, with an intention of taking it by storm.
 
 1728.] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 11 
 
 The reinforcement thrown in by this fleet rendered 
 such ail attempt hopeless, and the Count, after a 
 few months' ineffectual siege, entered into preli- 
 minaries with the governor ; and the following year 
 a general peace ensued. In this futile attempt the 
 Spaniards are said to have lost 3000 men, killed 
 and wounded ; the English about 300. That strange 
 madman, the Duke of Wharton, had joined the 
 Conde on this service. 
 
 " Wharton, the scorn and wonder of our days, 
 Whose ruling passion was a lust of praise.'' 
 
 This man, having wasted a large estate, turned 
 papist, attached himself to the Pretender, and, in one 
 of his mad frolics, had joined the army under de las 
 Torres. 
 
 While these transactions were going on in Europe, 
 Anson received orders, on the coast of Carolina, to 
 burn, sink, and destroy all Spanish ships ; but it does 
 not appear that any of tliem came within his station ; 
 and the only assistance, he was called upon by the pre- 
 sident of the province to afford him, was that of 
 being instrumental, by means of his boats, in seizing 
 a rebel of the name of Smith, who was instigating 
 the settlers to assemble in a riotous and tumultuous 
 manner, with the design of subverting the govern- 
 ment. He delivered this man to the judicial autho- 
 rities, and tranquillity was immediately restored. 
 
 A vacancy having occurred in the Guarland frigate 
 by the death of the captain, Anson removed himself 
 into her, and sent home the Scarborough, which was
 
 12 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. L 
 
 in want of repair. In the year 1728 Captain War- 
 ren, Avho had been sent in the Solebay to the West 
 Indies with the preliminaries of peace, called, on 
 his return, at Carolina ; and here commenced that 
 friendship l)etween him and Anson wliich ceased only 
 with the death of AVarren in the year 1752. ThouG;h 
 peace was concluded, it was not before the 5th July, 
 1730, that Anson received orders to return to Eng- 
 land. 
 
 His popularity among the settlers of South Caro- 
 lina was very great. They gave his name to districts, 
 towns, and mines; and we still find, on our maps, 
 Anson County — Anson Ville — Anson's Mines. It 
 is not improbable that while on this station he may 
 have possessed some property, either by purchase or 
 by grant. A letter addressed to him in London, 
 3rd October, 1747, when he was a member of the 
 Board of Admiralty, by a JiMr. Killpatrick, proves 
 Avith what affectionate regard he was considered by 
 the inhabit.'mts of Carolina. The writer asks for no- 
 thing, but merely sends the translation of some work 
 for his Ijrother, Thomas Anson, Esq. 
 
 "The ])resent intrusion of which I am guilty, and 
 Avliich your Lordship's goodness will pardon, is en- 
 tirely owing to my being one of the many witnesses 
 of your mo.st benevolent and amiable disposition in 
 America, l^efore your merit had attained that just 
 elevation, which all good men Avho truly know you, 
 unfeignedly rejoice in. I cannot deny that ihere 
 is some appearance of confidence in this address, but
 
 17'29.] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 13 
 
 your Lordship's justice will acquit me of any ex- 
 cessive assurance, Iroui a recollection that, where your 
 condescension and affability made you very generally 
 accessible, my reserve prevented me from testifying- 
 that high esteem in person^ which, upon my integrity, 
 I ever consciously preserved for your just, honour- 
 able, and amiable demeanour among us. This, my 
 Lord, cannot be the language of adulation ; it was 
 the incontestable sense of a province, 
 
 " Your Lordship will observe how I have disposed 
 of some of my many too-frequent disengagements 
 from a more profitable employment," &c. &;c. : and he 
 concludes by an assurance that " My greatest plea- 
 sure and ambition will be always to approve myself, 
 with the utmost respect and deference, 
 
 " Your Lordship's, &c. 
 (Signed) " Jas. Killpatrick." 
 
 But the following character, given by a lady (Mrs. 
 Hutchinson) of South Carolina, and extracted from 
 a long letter written to her sister in London, and 
 afterwards printed, proves the favourable light in 
 which he Avas viewed by the settlers in that colony. 
 At this period he must have been about thirty-two 
 years of age : — 
 
 " Mr. Anson is not one of those handsome men, 
 whose persons alone may recommend them to the 
 generality of our sex, though they be destitute of sense, 
 good nature, or good manners ; but, nevertheless, I 
 think his person is what you would call very agreeable.
 
 14 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. I. 
 
 He has good sense, good nature, is polite and well- 
 bred ; free from that troublesome ceremoniousness 
 wliich often renders many people^ who may perhaps 
 rank themselves among the most accomplished, ex- 
 tremely disagreeable. He is generous without pro- 
 fusion, elegant without ostentation ; and, above all, 
 of a most tender, humane disposition. His benevo- 
 lence is extensive, even to his own detriment. At 
 balls, plays, concerts, &c., I have often the pleasure of 
 seeing, and sometimes of conversing with, Mr. Anson, 
 who, I assure you, is far from being an anchorite, 
 though not what we call a modern pretty fellow, 
 because he is really so old-fashioned as to make some 
 profession of religion : moreover, he never dances, 
 nor swears, nor talks nonsense. As he greatly ad- 
 mires a fine woman, so he is passionately fond of 
 music ; which is enough, you will say, to recommend 
 him to my esteem ; for you know I never Avould allow 
 that a character could be complete without a taste 
 for that sweet science. 
 
 " i\Ir. Anson's modesty, inoffensive easy temper, 
 good nature, humanity, and great probity, doubtless 
 are the antidotes that preserve him from the poison- 
 ous breath of calunmy ; for, amidst all the scandalous 
 warfare that is perj)etually nourished here, he main- 
 tains a strict neutrality, and, attacking no party, is 
 himself attacked by none. 
 
 " But I would convince you that all I have already 
 said, or shall li(?reafter say, of Mr. Anson, is not 
 merely paiu'gyrical. I will give you an account of
 
 1733.] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 15 
 
 his faults, too, as well as of his virtues ; for I have 
 nowhere said he is an angel. In short, it is averred, 
 that he loves his bottle and his friend so well, that 
 he will not be very soon tired of their company, espe- 
 cially when they happened to be perfectly to his taste, 
 which is pretty nice as to both : moreover, if fame 
 says true, he is very far from being a woman-hater, 
 and that now and then his mistress may come in for 
 a share of him. 
 
 *' ' His heart, his mistress, and his friend did share ; 
 His time, the Muse, the witty, and the fair.' '' 
 
 Such was Captain Anson in his younger days. 
 On his return from America he was not suffered 
 long to remain idle. The Guarland (so spelt) being 
 ordered to be paid off, he received a commission, in 
 February, 1731, to command the Squirrel, in which 
 he was employed on the home station ; and, in 
 August of the same year, was removed from her into 
 the Diamond, a ship of 40 guns, which, soon after the 
 signing of the treaty of peace, between Great Britain 
 and Spain, concluded at Seville, was also paid off. 
 He was reappointed to the Squirrel in the spring of 
 1733, and ordered to prepare forthwith for sea, intel- 
 ligence having 1)een received from Georgia of the 
 intention of the Spaniards to attack that province. 
 His instructions were to proceed to South Carolina 
 for information, and, if the intelligence were true, to 
 call to his assistance the ships stationed at Virginia, 
 New York, and New England. In August, ] 734,
 
 16 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. I. 
 
 he reports his having cruised along the coast of 
 Georo-ia, caUine- at the several settlements as he 
 ])asse(l along, and found the inhal)itants under no 
 jipprehension of being disturbed by the Spaniards. 
 In the month of June, 1735, he arrived at Spithead, 
 and paid off the Squirrel ; when, for the first time, 
 during nineteen years since he received his first com- 
 mission, he was allowed to remain between two and 
 three years on shore. 
 
 The ])eace, however, which was concluded with 
 Spain, might be considered as little better than a hol- 
 low truce. The depredations and insults, which the 
 Spanish Guarda Costas had long been in the habit of 
 committino- on our trade in the West Indies, were 
 still continued, and, as might naturally be expected, 
 retaliation was resorted to by the commanders of 
 British ships, whenever an ecpiality of force encou- 
 raged it. This state of things went on for several 
 years, and the Spaniards, not satisfied by plundering 
 our connnercial vessels, were loudly accused of mal- 
 treating the crews. Every arrival from that cpuirter 
 brought complaints of atrocities committed by the 
 Spaniards against I5ritish subjects, some of which 
 were revolting to humanity. A general feeling of 
 indiirnation was roused in the ])ul)lic mind, and peti- 
 tions from the merchants were poured into the House 
 of Commons. Representations were made to the 
 Court of Madrid, which affected to scud out such 
 orders to the West Indies, as would i)ut a stop to the
 
 1738.] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 17 
 
 grievances coiiipluiiied of; but there was little sin- 
 cerity in that Court, and accounts continued to be re- 
 ceived of the Spaniards persisting to search British 
 ships, under pretext of having on board contraband 
 jToods, and of treating the men in a cruel and barbar- 
 ous manner. At length the British Government 
 ordered four ships of 20 guns, and two sloops, 
 to the West Indies, to be employed solely in the 
 protection of our trade. It would not appear, how- 
 ever, that this small force was at all adequate to pre- 
 vent the Spanish depredations in those seas, on the 
 Spanish IMain, and on the eastern coast of America. 
 They continued to the year 1738, when the House of 
 Commons determined to investigate the matter of com- 
 plaint minutely, and to ascertain the exact number 
 of British ships that had Ijeen seized and plundered, 
 from the Treaty of Seville up to that time, specifying 
 the names of tlie ships and masters, their estimated 
 value, from whence trading, and where taken; stating 
 also the extent and nature of the barbarous treat- 
 ment practised against their niasters and crews. 
 
 A circumstance was brought to light in the exa- 
 minations that took place before the committee of the 
 House of Commons, appointed to inquire into the 
 Spanish abuses, which created a deep feeling of in- 
 dignation in the country. Captain Jenkins, master 
 of the brio- Rebecca of Glasgow, stated that, after 
 the people of the Spanish Guarda Costa had mal- 
 treiited his crew, they wantonly and brutally cut off 
 
 c
 
 18 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. I. 
 
 one of his ears, the captain of which put it into his 
 hands, and tokl him in the most insolent manner to 
 take it home and make a present of it to the king 
 his master, whom, if he had him there, he wouhl 
 treat in the same manner. In addition to this savage 
 act he was tortured in the most cruel manner, and 
 threatened with immediate death. Being asked in 
 the committee what his thoughts were in finding 
 himself in the hands of such harbarians, he replied, 
 '' I recommended my soul to God, and my cause to 
 my country." This representation made by Jenkins, 
 the sight of the ear, which he produced, and his 
 account of the indignity which, in his person, had 
 been insolently offered to the sovereign of Great 
 Britain and the whole nation, filled the House witli 
 horror and indignation. Whether Jenkins's story 
 was true or false, it was entertained by the House of 
 Commons, and the report of it was received with uni- 
 versal indignation l)y the people of Great Britain. 
 Jenkins certainly brought his ear home and exhi- 
 bited it. Coxe,* however, is induced to l)elieve, with 
 Tindal, that " Jenkins lost his ear, or part of his ear, 
 on another occasion, and pretended it had been cut 
 off ]jy a Guarda Costa." What(^ver the case may 
 liave been, it occurred so long back as the year 1731, 
 and was only brought forward in Parliament, in the 
 year 1738, on occasion of these proceedings relating to 
 the Spanish depredations ; it seems therefore to have 
 
 * Memoirs of Sir Robert Walpole.
 
 1739.] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY, 19 
 
 made no impression at the time when it was stated 
 to have been committed. Burke called it " the fable 
 of Jenkins's ears," and Pope thus alludes to it — 
 
 " The Spaniards own they did a waggish thing, 
 Who cropp'd our ears, and sent them to the king." 
 
 The Spaniards, however, were not behind-hand 
 with us in making their people believe an equally in- 
 credible story against our English captains. " An 
 English captain, after having, by an act of perfidy, 
 invited two Spanish gentlemen on board his ship, 
 kept them two days fasting, to extort from them a 
 ransom ; but this expedient not succeeding, he cut 
 off the ears and nose of one of them, and compelled 
 him, with a knife at his throat, to swallow them, — a 
 story which the Spaniards had a right to make use 
 of by way of retaliation, and they did make use of it 
 to some purpose." 
 
 These excesses, true or false, and the discussions 
 in parliament respecting them, but more especially 
 the breach by Spain of a convention which had been 
 agreed upon, raised such a flame in the nation, that 
 the result was, the issue of letters of marque and re- 
 prisal on the 21st July by the Admiralty; and on 
 the 19th October, 1739, war was declared in due 
 form against Spain. The declaration of war 'Svas 
 received l)y all ranks and distinctions of men with a 
 degree of enthusiasm and joy, which announced the 
 general frenzy of the nation," 
 
 Previous to this event, but not before a strong 
 
 c 2
 
 20 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. I. 
 
 probability of its speedy occurrence, Captain Anson, 
 on the 9tli December, 1737, Avas appointed to the 
 command of the Centurion, a ship of 60 guns, and 
 sent to the coast of Africa, with instructions to pro- 
 tect our merchants engaged in the gum-trade at 
 Portendic from the constant interruptions and em- 
 barrassments thrown in their way by the Frencli ; 
 and which are continued periodically and frequently 
 to this day ; and here he prevented the slaughter of 
 some native Mahomedans by a French ship of war, 
 just as she was commencing a fire upon them. lie 
 was also instructed to visit the several tradini*- sta- 
 tions and forts along the coast ; and, having so done, 
 to proceed to Barbadoes, where he might expect to 
 receive further orders. These orders Avere to recall 
 him forthwith. The Ministry had resolved, at once 
 to strike a blow against Spain, both at home and in 
 her foreign possessions ; and, as that nation was known 
 to draAV its princi]tal resources, for enabling its go- 
 vernment to carry on the war, from their several 
 settlements in the West Indies, the South Seas, and 
 Manilla, the administration decided on sending out 
 two expeditions, to annoy the enemy at the same time 
 in their South American possessions, and at Manilla, 
 which Avere not only considered as of tlie first import- 
 ance, but also the most vulnerable. For this purpose 
 tAvo otlicers Avere selected, A\'ho Avere deemed most 
 competent for th(; eOicient execution of tins duty, 
 to take command of the naval jiart of th(!se expedi-
 
 1739.J ADVANCE3IENT IN THE NAVY. 21 
 
 tions ; the one was Captain George Anson, the other 
 Captain James Cornwall — both highly-esteemed offi- 
 cers, and the latter of whom, Avhen subsequently com- 
 manding the JMarlborough in the year 1743, gal- 
 lantly fell, having had both his legs shot off. 
 
 The first of these projected expeditions was in- 
 tended to be under the command of Anson, who 
 arrived opportunely at SjHthead on the 10th Novem- 
 ber, 1739, Avhere he found a letter addressed to him 
 by Admiral Sir Charles Wager, ordering him 
 to proceed immediately to the Admiralty, He was 
 there told that the squadron, to the command of 
 which he would be appointed, was to take on 
 board three independent companies of one hundred 
 men each, and Bland's regiment of foot, the colonel 
 of which would himself embark wdth it ; — that the 
 object was to attack and carry Manilla; — that 
 a second squadron was intended to be sent round 
 Cape Horn, into the South Seas, range along the 
 western coast of South America, attacking the enemy 
 in those parts, and attempting to take or destroy the 
 Spanish settlements on that coast ; then to cross the 
 Pacific, and form a junction with the former squa- 
 dron at or near Manilla; refresh and refit, and wait 
 further orders. It is difficult to suppose that Sir 
 Charles Wager could have been any party to so 
 absurd a scheme — absurd even in our time, much 
 more so when, after Magellan, one man only, the 
 renowned Drake, had passed into and crossed the
 
 22 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. 1. 
 
 Pacific Ocean. In the course of a week Anson re- 
 ceived an order to take under his connnaud the fol- 
 lowing ships : — 
 
 Shiiis. Guns. Men. Comraauders. 
 
 The Centurion CO 400 George Anson. 
 
 Argyle (changed for Gloucester) 50 300 Richard Norris. 
 
 Severn 50 300 Hon. E. Legge. 
 
 Pearl 40 250 Matt. Mitchel. 
 
 Wager 28 160 Dandy Kidd. 
 
 Tryal sloop 8 100 Hon. J. Murray. 
 
 Two pinks, as victuallers. 
 
 This squadron Anson was ordered to victual and 
 ])repare for sea ; but in January following he was again 
 sent for to the Admiralty, and told by Sir Charles 
 Wager, that the expedition to r>Ianilla was laid aside. 
 Anson, as may be conceived, was mortified exces- 
 sively at this intelligence, until Sir Charles further 
 acquainted him, that the other part of the plan was to 
 go forward, and that he and the squadron which had 
 been intended for the eastern, should be employed on 
 the western expedition. 
 
 On the 10th January, 1740, he received his com- 
 mission a])pointing him commodore of the squadron 
 above mentioned, but he was not to Avear a hrumi 
 pendant, nor to have a captain under him. Delighted 
 with this command, he forlhAvith set about its e(|uij)- 
 ment, the victualling and manning of the ships, with 
 the greatest alacrity ; and \vas in a very short time 
 so far advanced that, with the exception of a i^w 
 seamen, and the marines or soldiers to be embarked, 
 he was ready to put to sea the moment he should
 
 1740.] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 23 
 
 receive his final orders. These orders, which, as it 
 afterwards appeared, were dated the 31st January, 
 Avere not delivered to him till the 28th June. They 
 were given by the Duke of Newcastle, Secretary of 
 State, signed by the King, and accompanied with an 
 additional instruction, dated 19th June, from the 
 Lords Justices, the King having departed for Ha- 
 nover; and, as Sir Charles Wager had informed 
 him, that an order Avas despatched to Sir John Nor- 
 ris, to spare him, from the fleet under his command, 
 the number of seamen he was short in the squadron, 
 amounting altogether to nearly three hundred, he 
 had no doubt of jjeing able to put to sea forthwith. 
 
 With this view he proceeded to Portsmouth, Avhere, 
 to his surprise, he was told by Sir John Norris 
 that he could not have a single man, as he was in 
 want of men for his own fleet. The order was re- 
 peated to Admiral Balchen, who had succeeded Sir 
 John Norris, who said he could spare him only one 
 hundred and seventy ; and of these thirty-two were 
 received out of the hospital ; thirty-seven, with three 
 oflicers, from Lowther's regiment ; and ninety- eight 
 were soldier-marines ; and these were all he ever got 
 toAvards completing his squadron. Moreover, instead 
 of Bland's regiment, with three independent compa- 
 nies of one hundred men each, as land forces, it was 
 noAv announced that five hundred invalids would be 
 sent to him, collected from the out-pensioners of Chel- 
 sea College. It Avas in vain to remonstrate against
 
 24 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. I. 
 
 this change, to represent the impolicy and inhumanity 
 of sending such men on such an expedition, who, from 
 their age, wounds, or other infirmities, were utterly 
 unfit to bear the rigours of a passage round Cape Horn. 
 Sir Charles Wager readily joined in the opinion, that 
 invalids were in no way proper for the intended ser- 
 vice, and solicited strenuously to have them changed ; 
 hut he was told that persons, who were supposed to 
 he better judges of soldiers than he or ]\Ir. Anson 
 could be, thought them the fittest men that could be 
 employed on this occasion. The feelings of these 
 excellent judges are not to be envied, when they 
 were afterwards made acquainted Avitli the fact, that 
 not one of these unfortunate individuals, who went 
 on the voyage, survived to reach their native land — 
 every man had perished. 
 
 It Avas not till the 5th August that these unfortu- 
 nate beings were collected at Portsmouth, and ordered 
 to embark ; but, instead of 500, no more than 259 
 made their appearance on board ; " for all those'' 
 (says the writer of the voyage) " who had limbs and 
 strenirth to walk out of Portsmouth, deserted, leavin<r 
 behind them only such as were literally invalids, most 
 of them being- sixty years of age, and some of them 
 upwards of seventy." " Indeed," he says, "it is 
 diihcult to conceive a more moving scene than the 
 embarkation of these unhapj»y veterans : they were 
 themselves extremely averse to the service they were 
 engaged in, and fully ai)prize(l of all the disasters
 
 1740.] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 25 
 
 they were afterwards exposed to ; the apprehensions 
 of which were strongly marked by the concern that 
 appeared on their countenances^ which was mixed 
 with no small degree of indignation, to be thus hur- 
 ried from their repose into a fatiguing employ, to 
 which neither the strength of their bodies nor the 
 vigour of their minds, AA^ere any way proportioned ; 
 and where, without seeing the face of an enemy, or 
 in the least promoting the success of the enterprise 
 they were engaged in, they would in all pro])ability 
 uselessly perish by lingering and painful diseases ; 
 and this, too, after they had spent the activity and 
 strength of their youth in their country's service."* 
 
 By imposing these decrepit and miserable objects 
 on the commander of such an expedition, Anson 
 must have felt himself extremely ill-used, and nothing 
 but that feeling of duty and propriety in an officer 
 not to decline any service, to which he has been ap- 
 pointed, could have prevailed on him to continue in 
 it under such circumstances. But other mortifica- 
 tions were in reserve. To supply the place of the 
 240 invalids who had deserted, there were ordered 
 on board his ships 210 marines detached from differ- 
 ent regiments, all raw and undisciplined men just 
 raised, with nothing more of the soldier about them 
 than their regimentals, nor even so far trained as to 
 be permitted to fire ; and still less were they ac- 
 quainted with the miseries and inconveniences of a 
 
 * Anson's Voyage round the Vv'^orld,
 
 26 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. I. 
 
 landsman's life at sea. The last of these embarked 
 on the 8th of August, and on the 10th the squadron 
 (h'opped down to St. Helen's, ready for a start the 
 moment the Avind was fair. Here, however, another 
 cause of delay occurred ; the squadron was ordered 
 to put to sea with Admiral Balchen's fleet, consisting 
 of sixteen ships of war and one hundred and twenty 
 sail of merchantmen and transports ; but, on the 9th 
 September, Anson was directed to proceed with his 
 own squadron only; and again, on the 12th, he re- 
 (leived further orders to take the St. Alban's and 
 Turkey fleet, the Straits and i\merican traders, at 
 Torbay and Plymouth, and proceed with them as far 
 as their several courses lay together. At length, on 
 llie 18th September, he weighed, and was fortunate 
 .;nough to clear the Channel in four days. 
 
 These vexatious and prejudicial delays, both with 
 regard to the manning of the ships and their subse- 
 <|uent detention, were in no Avay attributable to the 
 Achniralty. Sir Charles Wager was equally eager 
 witli Anson to expedite the departure of the squad- 
 ron, Avell knowing, as it afterwards appeared, that the 
 particulars of its strength and destination had reached 
 the S})anish settlements on the Avestern coast of 
 America, even before it left St. Helen's. The Spa- 
 nish Government, as might have been foreseen, had 
 provided and sent out a strong squadron of six ships 
 of war under Admiral Pizarro, four of them of the 
 line, to intercept Anson on his passage to Cape 
 Horn ; but the fate of this squadron was almost as
 
 1740.] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 27 
 
 disastrous as that of Anson. In attempting to double 
 Cape Horn, they were driven by a storm to the 
 eastward, and dispersed altogether; three of them 
 reached La Plata after many perils ; two, with the 
 loss of half their crews, and the third, the Esperanza 
 of 50 guns, and 450 men, of which only 58 remained 
 alive, while a whole regiment of foot she had on 
 board perished except 60 men. One of the five was 
 never heard of, and supposed to have foundered at 
 sea ; and one was wrecked on the coast of Brazil. 
 
 The calamities that attended Anson's squadron, 
 after passing through the Straits of Magellan at an 
 improper season of the year, Avere unquestionably 
 owing, in a great degree, to the delay in leaving 
 England ; but many of them would have been 
 avoided, had this passage then been as well under- 
 stood as now, when the smallest ships of war, mer- 
 chantmen, and whalers go round the Cape or throuo-h 
 the Straits, at all seasons of the year. The ships of 
 Anson were, however, most wretchedly Uianned ; and 
 Sir Charles Wager, an excellent seaman, and a man 
 of good sound sense, could not contend with the Se- 
 cretary of State and their Excellencies the Lords 
 Justices, who appear to have taken entirely upon 
 themselves the setting forth of this expedition. An- 
 son, when at Spithead, ventured to send on shore two 
 invalid officers, who from age and infirmity declared 
 themselves incapable of doing any duty : he imme 
 diately received an order, by direction of the Lords
 
 28 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. I. 
 
 Justices, that they should again be received on board, 
 and that no more should be dismissed. 
 
 Had Sir Charles Wager been a younger man, 
 and possessed of that energy and vigour that is re- 
 quired from the head of so large and important a 
 department, he might have succeeded in taking the 
 equipment of the squadron out of the hands of their 
 Excellencies, who could not be supposed to know 
 much of the details of sea affairs ; but, being in the 
 seventy-sixth year of his age, that firmness of cha- 
 racter, which he once possessed, he could hardly be 
 expected to retain. He had served at sea upwards 
 of fifty years, was fifteen years a Lord of the Ad- 
 miralty, and nine years First Lord, having, in 1733, 
 succeeded Lord Viscount Torrington in that situation. 
 He died in 1743, leaving behind him the reputation 
 of an excellent officer and an honest man, who, with- 
 out having had the opportunity of performing any 
 brilliant exploit, had done much good, been employed 
 on varied services, and risen to the top of his pro- 
 fession solely and entirely by his own merits, unas- 
 sisted by any ])owerful influence. A curious instance 
 is mentioned by Walpole of his inflexible character, 
 Avliich he maintained to the very close of his ex- 
 istence. 
 
 "The day before the Vreslminster petition, Sir 
 Charles "Wager gave his son a ship, and the next 
 day the father came down and voted against him. 
 The son has since been cast away, but they concealed
 
 1740.] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 29 
 
 it from the father, that he might not absent himself. 
 However, as we have our good-natured men too on 
 our side, onfe of his ow-n countrymen went and tohl 
 him of it in the House. The ohl man, who looked 
 like Lazarus after his resuscitation, bore it Avith 
 great resohition, and said, "he knew tvhy he was 
 tohl of it ; hut wdien he thought liis country in danger 
 he would not go away ;" and Walpole adds, with one 
 of his usual sneers, " It is unlucky for him not to 
 have lived when such insensibility would have been 
 a Roman virtue."* 
 
 The following instructions, signed by the King, 
 ought to have been printed at the head of the authen- 
 tic account of the voyage, especially as it was said 
 by some that Anson had exceeded his instructions in 
 burning Payta, and by others that he had failed in 
 the execution of part of them. They are here given 
 from the originals in the State Paper Office^ not 
 being found in the records of the Admiralty. 
 
 (Signed) " George R. 
 
 " Instructions for our trusty and luell-beloved George Anson, 
 Esq., Commander in Chief of our Ships desicjned to be 
 sent into the South Seas in America. Given at our 
 Court at St. James's the 31st day of January, 1739-40, 
 in the thirteenth year of our reign. 
 
 " Whereas we have thought proper to declare war against 
 the King of Spain, for the several injuries and indignities 
 
 * Walpolu's Letters to Sir- Horace Mann, vol. i. p. 87.
 
 30 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. I. 
 
 pfFcred to our crown and people, which are more particu- 
 larly set forth in our declaration of war ; and whereas, 
 in pursuance thereof, we are determined to distress and 
 annoy the said King of Spain and his subjects, in such 
 manner and in such places as can be done with the greatest 
 prospect of success, and the most to the advantage of our 
 own subjects ; we have thought fit to direct that you, taking 
 under your command our ships hereafter mentioned, viz. : 
 the Centurion, the Argyle, the Severn, the Pearl, the Wa- 
 ger, and the Tryal sloop, should proceed with them accord- 
 ing to the following instructions. 
 
 " You are to receive on board our said ships five hundred 
 of our land-forces, and to proceed forthwith to the Cape 
 de Verde Islands, and to supply your ships with water and 
 such refreshments as are to be procured there ; and you are 
 from thence to make the best of your way to the Island of 
 St. Catherine, on the coast of Brazil, or such other place on 
 that coast as you may be advised is more proper, where you 
 are again to supply your ships with water and any other 
 necessaries you may want that can be had there. And when 
 you have so done, you are to proceed with our ships under 
 your command into the South Sea, either round Cape Horn 
 or through the Straits of Magellan, as you shall judge 
 most proper, and according as the season of the year and 
 ^vinds and weather shall best permit. 
 
 " When you shall arrive on the Spanish coast of the South 
 Sea, you are to use your l^est endeavours to annoy and dis- 
 tress the Spaniards, cither at sea or land, to the utmost of 
 your power, by taking, sinking, burning, or otherwise de- 
 stroying all their ships and vessels that you shall meet with, 
 and particularly their boats, and all embarkations whatsoever, 
 that they may not be able to send any intelligence by sea 
 along the coast of your ))eing in those parts.
 
 1740.] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 31 
 
 " In case you shall find it practicable to seize, surprise, 
 or take any of the towns or places belonging to the Spaniards 
 on the coast, that you may judge worthy of making such an 
 enterprise upon, you are to attempt it ; for which purpose 
 we have not only ordered the land-forces above mentioned, 
 but have also thought proper to direct that an additional 
 numljer of small arms be put on board the ships under your 
 command, to be used, as occasion may require, by the crews 
 of the said ships, or otherwise, as you shall find most for our 
 service. And you are, on such occasions, to take the opi- 
 nion of the captains of our ships under your command at 
 a council of war ; of which council of war, in case of any 
 attack or enterprise by land, the commander of our land- 
 forces shall also be one ; which said land-forces shall, upon 
 such occasions, be landed according to the determination 
 of the said council of war ; and, when on shore, shall be 
 under the direction and conduct of the commanding officer 
 of our land-forces, subject, however, to be recalled on board 
 by any future determination of a council of war. And, as it 
 will be absolutely necessary for you to be supplied with pro- 
 visions and water when and where they can be had, you will 
 inform yourself of the places where that can be most conve- 
 niently done ; and, as we have been informed that the coasts 
 of Chili, and particularly the island of Cliiloe, do abound 
 with provisions and necessaries of all sorts, you are to call 
 there for that purpose. 
 
 " As it has been represented unto us that the number of 
 native Indians on the coast of Chili greatly exceeds that of 
 the Spaniards, and that there is reason to believe that the 
 said Indians may not be averse to join with you against the 
 Spaniards, in order to recover their freedom, you are to 
 endeavour to cultivate a good understanding with such In-
 
 32 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. I. 
 
 dians as shall be willing to join and assist you in any attempt 
 that you may think proper to make against the Spaniards 
 that are established there. 
 
 " You are to continue your voyage along the coast of Peru, 
 and to get the best information you can whether there be 
 any place, before you come to Lima, that may be worthy 
 your attention, so as to make it advisable to stop at it ; but 
 if there be no place where any considerable advantage can 
 be expected, you are then to go along the coast till you 
 come to CalaO;, which is the port of Lima, taking or destroy- 
 ing all embarkations whatsoever that you shall meet with. 
 
 " As soon as you shall arrive at Calao you shall consider 
 whether it may be practicable to inake an attempt upon that 
 place or not; and if it shall be judged practicable by a 
 council of war, to be held for that purpose, with the strength 
 you have with you, to make an attack U])on that port, you 
 are accordingly to do it ; and if it shall please God to bless 
 our arms with success, you are then to endeavour to turn it 
 to the best advantage possible for our service. 
 
 '• And whereas there is some reason to believe, from pri- 
 vate intelligence, that the Spaniards in the kingdom of Peru, 
 and especially in that part of it which is near Lima, have 
 long had an inclination to revolt from their obedience to the 
 King of Spain (on account of the great oppressions and 
 tyrannies exercised by the Spanish viceroys and governors) 
 in favour of some considerabh; ])erson amongst themselves, 
 you are, if yt)u should find that there is any foundation for 
 these reports, by all j)ossiblc means to encourage and assist 
 such a design in the best manner you shall l)e able : and in 
 case of any revolution or revolt from the obedience of the 
 King of Spain, either amongst the Spaniards or the Indians 
 in those parts, and of any new government being erected by
 
 1740.] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 33 
 
 tliem, you are to insist upon the most advantageous condi- 
 tions for the commerce of our subjects to be carried on with 
 such government so to be erected ; for which purpose you 
 shall make provisional agreements, subject to our future 
 approbation and confirmation. 
 
 "But, in case you should not think proper to attack 
 Calao, or should miscarry in any attempt you may make 
 against that place, you are then to proceed to the northward 
 as far as Panama ; but, as there are many places along the 
 coast which are considerable, and where the Spanish ships, 
 in their passage between Panama and Lima, do usually stop, 
 it will be proper for you to look into those places, and to annoy 
 the Spaniards there as much as it shall be in your power. 
 And, if you shall meet with the Spanish men-of-war that 
 carry the treasure from Lima to Panama, you are to endea- 
 vour to make yourself master of them. 
 
 " When you are arrived at Panama, you will probably have 
 an opportunity to take or destroy such embarkations as you 
 shall find there ; and, as the town itself is represented not to 
 be very strong, you are, if you shall think you have sufficient 
 force for that purpose, to make an attempt upon that town, 
 and endeavour to take it, or burn and destroy it, as you shall 
 think most for our service. 
 
 " And, as you may possil)Iy find an opportunity to send 
 privately, overland, to Portobello or Darien, you are by that 
 means to endeavour to transmit to any of our ships or forces 
 that shall be on that coast an account of what you have done 
 or intend to do. And lest any such intelligence should fall 
 into the hands of the Spaniards, we have ordered you to be 
 furnished with a cipher, in which manner only you are to 
 correspond with our admiral or the commander-in-chief of 
 
 D
 
 34 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. I. 
 
 any of our sliips that may be in the northern seas of Ame- 
 rica, or the commander-in-chief of our land-forces. 
 
 *' As we have determined to send a large body of troops 
 from hence as early as possil)le in the spring, to make a de- 
 scent on some part of the Spanish West Indies ; and as we 
 shall have a very considerable fleet in those seas, in case it 
 should be thought proper that any part of those ships or 
 troops should go to Portobello or Darien vnih a design to 
 send the said troops overland to Panama or Santa Maria, 
 you are then to make the best disposition to assist them by 
 all the means that you shall be able in making a secure set- 
 tlement, either at Panama or any other place that shall be 
 thought proper ; and you are, in such case, to supply them 
 with cannon from the ships under your command (if neces- 
 sary), or with anything else that can be spared without too 
 much weakening the squadron ; and if the land-forces on 
 board our said ships should be wanted to reinforce those that 
 may come overland to the coast of the South Sea, you may 
 cause them to go on shore for that purpose, with the appro- 
 bation of the proper officers. 
 
 '" When you shall have proceeded thus far, it must, in a 
 great measure, be left to your discretion, and that of a coun- 
 cil of war (when, upon any difficulty you shall think fit to 
 call them together), to consider whether you shall go farther 
 to tlio northward, or remain longer at Panama, in case the 
 place should have been taken by our forces, or you can any 
 way hear that any of our forces may be expected on that 
 side from the north side. But you will always take parti- 
 cular care to consider of a proper place for careening of the 
 shijis, and for suppl_ying them with pro\'isions either for their 
 voyage homeward or for their continuing longer abroad.
 
 1740.] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 35 
 
 " In case you shall be so happy as to meet with success, 
 you shall take the first opportunity, by sending a ship on 
 purpose, or otherwise, to acquaint us with it, and with every 
 particular that may be necessary for us to be informed of, 
 that we may take the proper measures thereupon. 
 
 "■ If you shall find no occasion for your staying longer in 
 those seas, and shall judge it best to go to the northward as 
 far as Acapulco, or to look out for the Acapulco ship, which 
 sails from that place for Manilla at a certain time of the 
 year, and generally returns at a certain time also, you may 
 possibly, in that case, think it most advisable to return home 
 by the way of China, which you are hereby authorized to do, 
 or to return home by Cape Horn, as you shall think best 
 for our service, and for the preservation of the ships and 
 the men on boai'd them. 
 
 " Whenever you shall judge it necessary for our service 
 to return with our squadron to England, you may, if you 
 shall think it proper, leave one or two of our ships in the 
 South Sea for the security of any of the acquisitions you may 
 have been able to make, or for the protection of the trade 
 which any of our subjects may be carrying on in those 
 parts." 
 
 D-2
 
 36 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. I. 
 
 Hardwicke, C. by the LORDS JUSTICES. 
 
 Wilmington, P. 
 
 Dorset. ^71.. , r • r r^ 
 
 T> T Additional Jastructums for Georqe 
 
 Richmond, Lennox, •' -^ 
 
 and AuHiGNw Anson, Esq., Commandcr-ia-Ch'iofof 
 
 Montagu. His Majesfijs Ships to be sent into 
 
 Devonshire. the South Seas in America. Given 
 
 HoLLEs Newcastle. „^ Whitehall the UJth day of June, 
 
 1 740, in the fourteenth year of His 
 
 R. Walpole. Majesty s reiyn. 
 Cha. Wager, 
 
 " Whereas His Majesty was pleased to sign certain in- 
 structions, bearing date the 3 1 st day of .January, 1739-40, 
 directed to you, we have ordered the same to be herewith 
 delivered to you, and have thought fit also to give you these 
 additional instructions for your conduct. 
 
 " His Majesty having been pleased to suspend your sailing 
 from England till this time, when the season of tlie year 
 will permit you to make your intended voyage directly to 
 the South Seas in America (which at some ])articular sea- 
 sons is extremely difficult, if not impracticable), you are now 
 to proceed forthwitli, with His Majesty's ships under your 
 command, directly to the South Seas, either by going round 
 Capo Horn or through the Straits of Magellan, and to act 
 according to the directions contained in His Majesty's in- 
 structions to you. Hut you arc to regard that part of the 
 said instructions whereby you were ordered (in case you 
 shniild be too late for your passage to the South Seas) to 
 proceed directly to the River Plata, and there to remain till 
 the season of the year sliould permit you to go with safety 
 to the South Seas, to be at present out of the question, and 
 of no force. And whereas you arc directed Ijy His Ma-
 
 1740.] ADVANCEMENT IN THE NAVY. 37 
 
 jesty's instructions to cause the land-forces, which arc to go 
 on board His Majesty's ships under your command, to be 
 put on shore, on one particular occasion, with the approba- 
 tion of the proper officers, you are to understand it to be 
 His Majesty's intention that the said land-forces are in no 
 case to be put on shore, unless it shall be previously ap- 
 proved by a council of war to be held for that purpose. 
 
 " Whereas a letter written by the Governor of Panama to 
 the King of Spain has fallen into the hands of some of his 
 Majesty's officers, which letter contains very material ad- 
 vices relating to the situation of the Spaniards, and to the 
 keeping of their treasure in those parts, a copy of the same 
 will, by our order, be herewith put into your hands ; and 
 you are to have a regard to the intelligence therein con- 
 tained in the execution of the orders given you in his Ma- 
 jesty's instructions. 
 
 " In case of your inability, by sickness or otherwise, to 
 execute his Majesty's orders, the officer next to you in rank 
 is hereby authorized and directed to take upon him the 
 command of his Majesty's ships that are to go with you ; 
 and to execute the orders contained in your instructions, as 
 if they were directed to himself." 

 
 38 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 
 
 Expedition sails and arrives at Madeira — Early appearance of sick- 
 ness — St. Catharine's — St. Julian — Strait of Magellan — Tremen- 
 dous storm — Scurvy — Socoro — Juan Fernandez — Arrival of the 
 Tryal and Gloucester — Beauty of the island — Recovery of the sur- 
 viving part of the crews — Number dreadfully reduced — Several 
 prizes taken — Arrives off Paita — Attacks and burns the town — 
 Anson's conduct towards his prisoners — to some young ladies — 
 Good result of it — Anson's generosity — Proceeds to the coast of 
 California — Measures to intercept the Acapulco ship — Bad condi- 
 tion of the Gloucester — Removes her men and stores, and sets fire 
 to her — Dreadful condition of Centm-ion from scurvy — The island 
 Tinian — Beauty and fertility of — Centurion driven out to sea — 
 Transactions thereupon — Returns — Men healthy — Proceed to Ma- 
 cao — Ship refitted — Sails to look out for the Galeon — Meets, fights, 
 and captures her — Carries her into China — Transactions there — 
 Parallel of Anson's voyage with Drake's — Some remarks on scurvy, 
 and on the defective state of nautical science — Shipwreck of the 
 Wager — Disa^jters which befel the commander and oflicers— and 
 also those of the mutinous crew — Act to continue the crews of 
 ships wrecked, Sec, on full pay and under martial law. 
 
 1740 to 1744. 
 
 By liaviniL^- charge of the convoys, and owing to the 
 long continuance of contrary Avinds, the passage to 
 Madeira Avas prolonged to forty days, which is usually 
 made in ten or tAvelve. At this island iVnson re- 
 mained aljout a week, taking in wine and other re- 
 freshments ; and here Captain Norris re(|uested per- 
 mission to resiirn the connnand of the Gloucester, 
 and return to England for the recovery of his health.
 
 1740.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 89 
 
 which gave a remove to the rest of the captains, and 
 the command of the Tryal to Lieutenant Cheap. 
 On the 3rd November Anson left JMadeira, and on 
 the 16th discharged one of the Pinks, at the request 
 of the master, who stated that the time of the charter- 
 party Avas arrived. On the 20th of that month the 
 first mention occurs of that dreadful sickness, of the 
 continuance and fatal effects of ^vhich there is no pa- 
 rallel in the annals of navigation. It is stated that 
 " the captains of the squadron represented to the 
 commodore that their ships' companies were very 
 sickly, and that it was their own opinion, as well as 
 their surgeons', that it would lead to the preservation 
 of the men to let in more air between decks ; for their 
 ships were so deep, that they could not possibly open 
 their lower ports. On this representation the com- 
 modore ordered six air-scuttles to be cut in each 
 ship, in such places where they would least weaken 
 it." On the 21st December they reached tlie island 
 of St. Catharine's on the coast of Brazil. On their 
 passage thither a number of men died of fever and 
 dysentery, and eighty sick were landed there from 
 the Centurion alone ; and as many, in proportion, 
 from the rest of the squadron. The ships were 
 all now smoked, cleansed, and washed with vine- 
 gar, their sides and decks caulked, and new stand- 
 ing-rigging set up. These operations, with wood-^ 
 ing and watering, occupied a month. A melancholy 
 proof of the unhealthiness of this anchorage, or
 
 40 LIFE OF LORD ANSON, [CH. II. 
 
 perhaps of the rapid progress of a disease already 
 caught, ^^'as afforded on ascertaining, when the tents 
 were struck, that no less than twenty-eight of tlie 
 Centurion's men had died, and the number of sick, in 
 the same interval, increased from eighty to ninety- 
 six ; but it is too obvious that the seeds of the disease 
 had been sown, from the day that the miserable in- 
 valids had inhumanly been forced into a service, for 
 wliicli they were utterly unfitted. 
 
 Port St. Julian was appointed as the first rendez- 
 vous, in the passage to which the Pearl parted company 
 in a violent gale of wind, and the Tryal lost her 
 mainmast. On the 18th January the Pearl joined, 
 and the commodore learned from the commandini; 
 officer that he had buried Captain Kidd on the 31st 
 of the preceding" month ; that he had seen, on the 
 10th, off Pepys' Island, five large ships, and, thinking 
 them to be those of Anson, ran within gun-shot 
 before he discovered his mistake, Avhen he stood away 
 and Avas chased the '^^•llole day, but towards evening 
 they hauled to the southward. This was afterwards 
 ascertained to be Pizarro's S(juadron. 
 
 On the 19th they reached St. JuHan's, and tlie 
 commodore despatched an officer to examine and re- 
 ])ort on the salt-pond described by Sir John Nar- 
 borough : he jjrought bark a very bad sample; and 
 all ihat the boats could procure during their stay 
 was about forty bushels. It was here decided, at a 
 council of war, in the first place to attack Valdivia ;
 
 1741.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 41 
 
 that the rendezvous was to be off the island of So- 
 coro, each ship to continue cruising off the south end 
 of that island fourteen days, and, if not joined by the 
 rest of the squadron, to make the best of her way to 
 the island of Juan Fernandez. " On the 7tli March,' 
 says Anson (in Iiis official report), '^I entered the 
 Straits La IMaire with a favourable gale and fine 
 weather ; but had no sooner got through the Straits 
 than I met very hard gales of wind from the high 
 lands of Terra del Fuego; insomuch, that I was 
 obliged to reef my courses, which continued reefed 
 fifty-eight days." 
 
 This is all that Anson says in his 'report' of pro- 
 ceedings ; but Mr. Robins dwells on the fine wea- 
 ther of the Straits and the open sea before them "till 
 we arrived [should arrive] on those opulent coasts 
 where all our hopes and wishes centered; and Ave 
 could not help flattering ourselves, that the greatest 
 difficulty of our passage was now at an end, and that 
 our most sanguine dreams were upon the point of 
 beini]j realised; and hence we indulo-ed our imairina- 
 tions in those romantic schemes, which the fancied 
 possession of the Chilian gold and Peruvian silver 
 might be conceived to inspire." *** " Thus animated by 
 these delusions, we traversed these memorable Straits, 
 ignorant of the dreadful calamities that were then 
 impending, and just ready to break upon us; igno- 
 rant that the time drew near when the squadron 
 Avoukl be separated never to unite again, and that
 
 42 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 this day of our passage was the last cheerful day that 
 the greatest part of us would ever live to enjoy." 
 
 The description of the storm, which kept the Cen- 
 turion's courses reefed for " fifty-eight days," is 
 wrought up to the highest pitch of the subhnie and 
 terrific. Even Mr. Pascoe Thomas, the schoolmaster, 
 ^vho is not gifted with much power of imagination, 
 says, tliat until the 25th May " we had nothing but 
 the most terrible and dreadful storms that I believe 
 it is possible for the mind of man to conceive, and 
 far beyond my capacity to describe in such a lively 
 manner as might seem to render them present to the 
 view of the reader in their true colours. . . . The ship 
 rolled almost gunnel to continually ; the sails were 
 almost always splitting and blowing from the yards ; 
 the yards themselves frequently breaking ; the shrouds 
 and other rigging cracking and flying in pieces con- 
 tinually ; and, what added to our misery amidst those 
 amazing and terrifying scenes, we made very little 
 Avay to the Avestward and northward."* In these 
 tremendous gales of wind, accompanied ^v'lih sleet 
 and snow, driven sometimes to the southward, and in 
 all directions except the right one, the Centurion lost 
 sight of the Gloucester, Wager, Tryal, and Pink ; 
 the Severn and Pearl, having parted in the middle of 
 these gales, were never seen again, which was also 
 the case of the Wager. The wreck of this ship, 
 
 * " Voyage to the South Seas, and round the World."
 
 1741.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 43 
 
 and the varied adventures and misfortunes of her 
 crew, form a distressing and interesting episode, and 
 are in perfect unison Avith those that befel the Centu- 
 rion and the rest of the squadron ; but further notice 
 of these missing ships will be taken hereafter. 
 
 Anson, in his report of 31st March, mentions, for 
 the first time, his '' men falling down every day with 
 scorbutic complaints ;" but on the 8th IMay, he says, 
 " he had not men able to keep the deck, sufficient to 
 take in a topsail, all being violently afflicted Avith the 
 scurvy, and every day lessening our number by six, 
 eight, and ten." In the narrative of the voyage it is 
 stated that " m the month of JMay our sufferings 
 rose to a much higher pitch than they had ever yet 
 done, whether we consider the violence of the storms, 
 the shattering of our sails and rigging, or the dimi- 
 nishinii' or Aveakening of our crcAV by deaths and 
 sickness, and the probable prospect of our total de- 
 struction." It is then stated that, in the month of 
 April, no less than forty-three of the creAV died of the 
 scurvy on board the Centurion ; and that, in the 
 month of I\lay, there perished nearly double that 
 number; " and," the narrative continues, " as Ave did 
 not get to land till the middle of June, the mortality 
 Avent on increasing, and the disease extended itself 
 so prodigiously, that, after the loss of aboA^e tAA^o hun- 
 dred men, we could not at last muster more than six 
 foremast-men in a Avatch capable of duty." 
 
 Commodore Ansoii, or rather I\Ir. Robins, de-
 
 44 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. U* 
 
 scribes tlie general symptoms of scurvy to be, large 
 discoloured spots dispersed over tlie whole surface of 
 the body, swelled legs, putrid gums and, above all, 
 an extraordinary lassitude of the whole body, espe- 
 cially after any exercise, however inconsiderable; 
 and this lassitude at last degenerates into a prone- 
 ness to swoon on the least exertion of strength, or 
 even on the least motion. He says also that this 
 disease is usually attended with a strange dejection 
 of the spirits and Avith sliiverings, treml)lings, and 
 a disposition to be seized with the most dreadful 
 terrors on the slightest accident ; that whatever dis- 
 couraged the people or damped their hopes added 
 vigour to the distemper and usually killed those Avho 
 were in the last stages of it. " So that it seemed 
 as if alacrity of mind and sanguine thoughts were 
 no contemptible preservatives from its fatal ma- 
 lignity." It was observed that wounds, which had 
 been healed many years, broke out afresh by this 
 dreadful disease. A remarkable instance occurred 
 in one of the invjilids, who had been wounded more 
 than fifty years before at the battle of the Boyne ; 
 his Avounds assumed the appearance of never having 
 been cured, and, what is more iistonishing, the cal- 
 lous of a liroken bone, which had been com})letely 
 formed for a long time, v.as found to be dissolved ! 
 He mentions others who, though confined to their 
 hammocks, would eat and drink lieartily, were 
 cheerful and talked with seeming vigour, and yet^
 
 1741.] THE VOYAGE HOUND THE WORLD. 45 
 
 on being the least moved, even in their hammocks, 
 have immediately expired : some, confiding in their 
 apparent strength, died in the act of getting out of 
 their hammocks ; several who were able to do some 
 trifling duty dropped down instantly while in the 
 execution of it, many having perished in this manner 
 during the course of the voyage. 
 
 On the 8th JMay Anson arrived off the ishmd of 
 Socoro, the first rendezvous, where he hoped to have 
 fallen in with some of his dispersed squadron, but, 
 after cruising for many days, and none of them 
 appearing, the gloomy suggestion occurred to him 
 that they had all perished. The land Avore a tre- 
 mendous aspect ; the Cordilleras of the Andes Avero 
 covered with snoAV ; the coast rocky and barren, and 
 being utterly unknown to them, and the Avesterly 
 gales prevailing, they continued for a fortnight in 
 imiiiinent peril of the loss of the ship and of their 
 lives. By this time the scurvy had destroyed a great 
 part of the crew, and almost all the remaining part 
 were so much affected with it, that they could aa ith 
 great difficulty Avork the ship. All the various dis- 
 asters, fatigues, and terrors that here befell them, 
 continued to increase till the 22nd May, Avhen the 
 fury of all the storms seemed to combine in one tre- 
 mendous hurricane, that threatened instant destruc- 
 tion to the ship ; but this Avas the last effort of this 
 stormy climate. Anson having in vain spent a fort- 
 night in expectation of the other ships, the deplor-
 
 46 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 able situation of his own left no further room for de- 
 liberation, and he determined therefore to steer for 
 the island of Juan Fernandez. 
 
 It was resolved, he says, if possil)le, " to hit the 
 island on a meridian." Being nearly on the parallel 
 on the 28th May, they expected to see it. Anson 
 himself was strongly persuaded that he did see it on 
 the morning of that day ; but the officers, believing 
 it to be only a cloud, and that they were too far to 
 the westAvard, it was decided, after consultation, to 
 stand to the eastward in the parallel of the island ; 
 the consequence Avas that, in two days, they made 
 the high land of the Cordilleras of Chili, covered 
 with snow, just at the moment they ex])ected to see 
 the island of Juan Fernandez. This mistake was 
 attended with a most fatal result, "for," says the 
 narrative, " the mortality amongst us was now in- 
 creased to a most dreadful degree, and those who 
 remained alive were utterly dispirited by this new 
 disappointment, and the prospect of their longer con- 
 tinuance at sea." They were in fact nine days in 
 regaining the westerly distance which they had run 
 down in two. " In this desponding condition, with 
 a crazy ship, a great scarcity of fresh water, and a 
 crew so universally diseased, that tlu^re were not 
 above ten foremast-men hi a watch capable of doing 
 duty, and even some of these lame and unable to go 
 aloft — under these disheartening circumstances we 
 stood to the westward ; and on the 9th June, at day-
 
 1741.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 47 
 
 break, we at last discovered tlie long-wished-for 
 island of Juan Fernandez. In consequence of the 
 error of standing east instead of west " we lost," 
 says the narrator, " between seventy and eighty of 
 our men, whom we should doubtless have saved, had 
 we made the island that day (28th May), which, had 
 we kept on our course a few hours longer, we could 
 not have failed to have done." 
 
 On making this island, we are told that, " out of 
 two hundred and odd men, which remained alive, 
 we could not, taking all our watches together, muster 
 hands enough to work the ship on an emergency, 
 though we included the officers, their servants, and 
 the boys. In wearing the ship in the middle watch, 
 we had a melancholy instance of the almost int;re- 
 dible debility of our people ; for the lieutenant could 
 muster no more than two quartermasters and six 
 foremast-men capable of working, so that, without 
 the assistance of the officers, servants, and the boys, 
 it might have proved impossible for us to have 
 reached the island, after we had got sight of it — to 
 so wretched a condition was a sixty-gun ship re- 
 duced, which had passed the Straits La Maire but 
 three months before with between four and five hun- 
 dred men, ahnost all of them in health and vigour." 
 As they approached the island and discovered the 
 hills crowned with woods, and between them the 
 finest valleys, clothed with most beautiful verdure, 
 and watered with numerous streams and cascades,
 
 ^.8 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 it is not difficult to imagine with wliat eagerness 
 and transport the suffering crew viewed the shore. 
 " Those only," says ]\Ir. Ro])ins, " who have en- 
 dured a long series of thirst, and who can readily 
 recall the desire and agitation which the ideas alone 
 of springs and brooks have at that time raised in 
 them, can judge of the emotion with which we eyed 
 a large cascade of the most transparent water, which 
 poured itself from a rock near a hundred feet high 
 into the sea, at a small distance from the ship. Even 
 those amonir the diseased who were not in the last 
 stages of the distemper, though they had been long 
 confined to their hammocks, exerted the small re- 
 mains of strength that was left them, and crawled up 
 to the deck to feast themselves with tliis revivinir 
 prospect." 
 
 The Centurion had scarcely dropped anchor Avlien 
 the Tryal sloop made her appearance. A few men 
 were sent to assist her to an ancliorao;e. Captain 
 Saunders, her commander (who had su'eceeded Com- 
 mander Kidd), waiting on the Connnodore, informed 
 him that, out of his small complement of one hundred 
 men, he had buried thirty-four ; and those that re- 
 mained were so universally alUicted with the scurvy, 
 that only hhnself, his lieutenant, and three of his 
 men, were able to stand by the sails. It was the 
 16th before the tents on shore could l)e prepared for 
 the reception of the sick, Init on that and two follow- 
 ing days they were all on shore, amounting to a
 
 1741.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 49 
 
 liuiidred and sixty-seven persons, besides at least a 
 dozen who died in the boats on their being exposed 
 to the fresli air. To carry these poor creatures in 
 their liammocks to the tents, over a stony beach, 
 was a work of great fatigue, in which Anson, with 
 his accustomed humanity, not only assisted with his 
 own Labour^ but obliged his officers, without distinc- 
 tion, to lend their helping hands. 
 
 Twenty days elapsed, notwithstanding all the re- 
 freshments of vegetables of various kinds, tish, and 
 fresh meat of goats, whicli abounded on the island, 
 before the mortality had tolerably ceased ; and, " for 
 the first ten or twelve days, we buried rarely less 
 than six each day, and many of those Avho survived 
 recovered by very slow and insensible degrees." On 
 the 21st June a ship was discovered from the heights, 
 Avliich turned out to be the Gloucester. The Com- 
 modore immediately ordered his boat to her assist- 
 ance, laden with fresh water, fish, and vegetables, 
 which Droved a most seasonable relief, for her crew 
 were reduced to a most distressful situation. " They 
 had already thrown overboard two-thirds of their 
 complement, and of those that remained alive scarcely 
 any were capable of doing duty, except the officers 
 and their servants." The situation of this ship was 
 most deplorable : with all the assistance that Anson 
 could afford her in provisions and ^vater, by boats 
 and men, and all the attempts that were made, she 
 could not be brought into the bay for a whole fort- 
 
 £
 
 50 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 night. Even after this, she disappeared for the 
 space of a week, and every hope of her safety va- 
 nished : however, she again approached, and the 
 Centurion's long-boat was again sent off with a supply 
 of water and provisions. " Had it not been for this 
 last supply by our long-boat, both the healthy and 
 diseased must have all perished together for want of 
 water ; and these calamities were the more terrifying, 
 as they appeared to be without remedy ; for the 
 Gloucester had already spent a month in her endea- 
 vours to fetch the bay, and she was now no further 
 advanced tlian at the first moment she made the 
 island." In siiort, she once more disappeared, and 
 did not get to an anchor till the 23rd July. Her 
 crew were now reduced to less than fourscore. 
 
 On the 16th August they were joined by the 
 Anna pink, the crew generally in good health, the 
 mystery of which was soon solved on its being made 
 knoAvn that she had been in harbour since the middle 
 of INIay, within the ishmd of Incliin, Avhere, by re- 
 cruiting the people with vegetables and fresh provi- 
 sions, the survivors were soon restored to perfect 
 health. The bread and other articles of food, which 
 had been put into the Anna pink, were of the greatest 
 possible use to the three ships which were now col- 
 lected at Juan Fernandez. 
 
 To men who, by their sufierings, had been reduced 
 to the verge of death, and who had not set foot on 
 land for the space of more than one hundred days,
 
 1741.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 51' 
 
 Juan Fernandez appeared like, — what it has been 
 described — an earthly paradise. The woods, the 
 groves, the aromatic shrubs, the limpid streams, the 
 great variety of vegetable productions, of indigenous 
 growth, as well as the remains of cultivation, all 
 conspired to make the crew not only forget their 
 long suffering, but to instill into the minds of the 
 most reduced a hope of speedy recovery. Thomas 
 indeed speaks of the appearance of the island 
 and its productions in terms of unqualified rap- 
 ture, and thinks " there can scarce anywhere be 
 found a more happy seat for the IVIuses, and the 
 flights of fancy, or pleasures of the imagination ;" 
 so that poor Selkirk did not find it to be that 
 barren and desolate abode which has been supposed 
 and described. From the detailed description which 
 the narrative of the voyage, as well as Pascoe Tho- 
 mas, gives of the plants and animals fit for the suste- 
 nance of man, Selkirk must have lived in a state of 
 luxury. In addition to the numerous fruits and 
 vegetables, seals and sea-lions abound, the flesh of 
 which is good and palatable, and that of the goats, 
 Avhich were numerous, is described as excellent. 
 Selkirk says that, when he caught more of these ani- 
 mals than he wanted, he slit their ears and let them 
 go ; and it is stated in the narrative that the first 
 goat killed by Anson's people had his ears slit, which 
 made them conclude that, " although thirty-two 
 years must have passed over his head, he had once 
 
 E 2
 
 52 LIFE OF LOUD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 been in Selkirk's liunds." " It was indeed an animal 
 of a most venerable aspect, dignified with an exceed- 
 ing majestic beard, and with many other symptoms 
 of antiquity."* 
 
 About the beginning of September, after a resi- 
 dence on the island of 104 days, the exact number 
 the Centurion had previously been at sea from St. 
 Julian, the ships were ready to proceed, the sickness 
 had entirely ceased, and those men that remained 
 alive had recovered their usual health and strength ; 
 but they Avere a lamentable fraction only of the ori- 
 ginal crews which had left England. The Centu- 
 rion had buried two hundred and ninety-two, and 
 had now left two hundred and fourteen. The Glou- 
 cester had lost the same number as the Centurion, 
 and had only eighty -two remaining alive. The Tryal 
 had buried forty-two, and had thirty-nine remaining 
 alive. " The havoc of this disease had fallen still 
 severer on the invalids and marines, than on the 
 sailors ; for on board the Centurion, out of fifty in- 
 valids and seventy-nine marines, there remained only 
 four invalids, including officers, and eleven marines ; 
 and on board the Gloucester, every invalid had pe- 
 rished ; and out of forty-eight marines only two 
 escaped. From this account it appears that the 
 three ships together departed from England with nine 
 hundred and sixtv-one men on board, of whom six 
 
 * Byron, on liis voyaj^o vouiul the world, foiuul numerous goats on 
 the adjacent island ol Massaiucro, ■with slit cars.
 
 1741.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. ^3 
 
 hundred and twenty-six were dead before tliis 
 time." 
 
 A man, less gifted with the equanimity and 
 steady perseverance which strongly distinguished 
 the character of Anson, must have quailed at the 
 reflection, that the whole of the surviving crews, 
 which were now to be distributed among three ships, 
 amounted to no more than three hundred and 
 thirty-five men and boys, a number l^arely sufficient 
 for the mere navigation of the three, with the utmost 
 exertion of their strength and vigour ; and that he 
 might have to encounter the whole or part of Pi- 
 zarro's squadron, Avith Avhose disasters he was yet 
 unacquainted. As to attacking any of the Spanish 
 possessions, that was now wholly out of the question, 
 and even the Acapulco ship might be found too 
 powerful for his reduced and nearly helpless squa- 
 dron. To reflect on these matters must have griev- 
 ously distressed the mind of such a man as Anson ; 
 to return home, without effecting any part of his 
 instructions, would be still more grievous ; but the 
 cup of bitterness was full to the brim, when the 
 thought occurred of "leaving our enemies to tri- 
 umph on the inconsiderable mischief they had re- 
 ceived from a squadron, whose equipment had filled 
 them with such dreadful apprehensions ; though 
 the causes of our disappointment, and their security, 
 were neither to be sought for in their valour nor our 
 misconduct."
 
 .54 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 Under painful reflections of this kind, unaccompa- 
 nied however with anything like despondency, pre- 
 parations were made for leaving Juan Fernandez, 
 under the following disposition — the Tryal to pro- 
 ceed off Valparaiso ; the Gloucester to cruise off the 
 hish land of Paita, where, at a certain fixed time, she 
 would be joined by the Centurion and the Tryal. 
 This latter ship fell in with, and captured, the Nues- 
 tra Senhora del Monti Carmel, with twenty-five 
 passengers on board. The Centurion on her cruise 
 fell in with another prize of the Tryal, called the 
 Arranzuga, of 600 tons l)urthen ; and, as the 
 Tryal herself, on joining, was found to have sprung 
 all her masts, and was in so leaky a state as with 
 difficulty to be kept afloat, Anson ordered her stores, 
 guns, and ammunition to be put into her prize, and 
 commissioned the latter as a frigate in his Majesty's 
 navy, under the name of the Tryal's Prize ; and, the 
 crew being transferred to her, the Tryal was scuttled 
 and sunk. The Centurion chased and captured an- 
 other Spanish ship of 300 tons, called Santa Theresa 
 de Jesus, with forty-five hands, and ten passengers, 
 four men and three women, born of Spanish parents, 
 and three black female slaves attending them ; the 
 ladies were a mother and two daughters, the eldest 
 about 21, the youngest about 14. Not knowing 
 but that they had fallen into the hands of some Buc- 
 caneers, whom they had been taught to consider as 
 the most terrijjle and brutal of human kind, these
 
 1741.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 55 
 
 ladies became excessively alarmed. The singular 
 beauty of the youngest served to increase their alarm. 
 On being boarded by an officer, they concealed 
 themselves, and Avith difficulty Avere prevailed upon 
 to appear before him, who assured them they had 
 nothing to fear ; that they would experience the most 
 honourable treatment from the Commodore. 
 
 As soon as Mv. Anson was made acquainted with 
 the circumstance, he gave immediate directions that 
 these ladies should remain on board their own ship, 
 with every convenience they had hitherto enjoyed, 
 without the slightest molestation from any quarter ; 
 that the pilot, the second in command, should stay 
 with them as their guardian and protector. Beau- 
 tiful as the youngest lady \viis described to him, Iiq 
 declined seeing her, but desired that they would rest 
 assured of his protection, and that so long as they 
 remained in his custody all their wants should be 
 supplied. " By this compassionate and indulgent 
 behaviour of the Commodore, the consternation of 
 our female prisoners entirely subsided, and they con- 
 tinued easy and cheerful during the whole time they 
 were with us." 
 
 In proceeding to join the other two ships off Paita, 
 the Centurion fell in with a ship, which was chased 
 by the boats, and taken possession of. She was 
 called the Nuestra Senhora del Carmin, manned with 
 forty-three seamen, and had on board a valuable 
 cargo, Avhich, with the ship, Avas estimated at 400,000.
 
 56 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IL 
 
 dollars. She had left Paita the preceding day, and, 
 from the information obtained, Anson determined to 
 attack that town, and take it by surprise ; — to 
 demand from the governor a ransom for the public 
 j)roperty deposited there, which he knew from his 
 prisoners to be considerable, and to spare the poor 
 inhabitants the distress that an attack must occasion 
 them. The idea of returning to Europe, with the 
 pitiful spoils of a few merchant-vessels, was too 
 humiliating to ])e endured for a moment ; and, re- 
 duced as his scpiadron was in ships, and infinitely 
 more in men, he fully resolved on attempting some- 
 thing, that might justify the government for having 
 fitted out so large a squadron, though so inadequately 
 manned, even if disease had not thinned their ranks. 
 Lieutenant Brett was appointed to command this 
 enterprise, for which the eighteen-oared barge and 
 two pinnaces, with fifty-eight picked men, Avere de- 
 spatched, Avell provided with arms and ammunition. 
 Landing in the darkness of the night, the shouts, and 
 clamours, and huzzas of threescore British seamen, 
 on shore for the first time in an enemy's country, 
 joined by the noise of their drums, and favoured I)y 
 the night, had augmented their numbers, in the opi- 
 nion of the enemy, to at least three hundred men. 
 The first step was to surround the governor's house, 
 in order, if possible, to secure him, conformably with 
 Anson's instructions, while Lieutenant Brett marched 
 to the fort, \vhich, after two or three random shots.
 
 1741.] THE VOYAGE HOUND THE WORLD. 57 
 
 was already abandoned ; he then proceeded to the 
 custom-house, to get possession of the treasure which 
 was lodged there. The inhabitants, being in bed 
 Avhen the place was surprised, had mostly run away 
 without giving themselves time to put on their clothes. 
 " In this precipitate rout the governor was not the 
 last to secure himself; for he fled betimes, half- 
 naked, leaving his wife, a young lady of about seven- 
 teen years of age, to whom he had been married but 
 three or four days, behind him; though she too was 
 afterwards carried off in her shift by a couple of sen- 
 tinels, just as the detachment ordered to invest the 
 house arrived before it." 
 
 In the morning, as the Centurion approached the 
 bay, Anson had the pleasure of seeing the English 
 flag flying in the fort, and soon after one of the boats 
 came off laden with dollars and church-plate. While 
 the collecting and shipping of treasure and other valu- 
 ables were going on, the enemy, with some two hun- 
 dred horse, were collected on a hill contiguous to the 
 town, apparently well trained, being furnished with 
 trumpets, drums, and standards, but they never once 
 ventured to leave the crest of the hill, Anson sent 
 several messages to the governor by those few inha- 
 bitants who had remained in the town, desiring him 
 to come and treat for the ransom of the town and 
 merchandise, intimating that, in order not to distress 
 the inhabitants, he would be satisfied with a supply 
 of live cattle and a few necessaries for the use of the
 
 58 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 squadron ; but he remained stubborn, and refused to 
 send any answer ; so that at length Anson caused 
 him to be informed that, if he would not condescend 
 to treat for the ransom of a place, fully in his posses- 
 sion, he should set fire to the town. On the third 
 morning the boats were employed in l)ringing off the 
 most valuable part of the effects that remained, when 
 the Commodore sent orders to Lieutenant Brett to 
 set the town on fire, with the exception of two 
 churches situated at a short distance, after which to 
 come on l)oard with all hands. This order was forth- 
 with executed, and Paita, with all its treasures that 
 could not be carried off, was consumed and left a 
 heap of ruins. The narrative says, "The wrought 
 plate, dollars, and other coin, which fell into our 
 hand, amounted to upwards of 30,000/. sterling, 
 besides several rings, bracelets, and jewels, whose 
 intrinsic value we could not determine." It was 
 afterAvards stated at IMadrid, that the value of the 
 merclian(]ise destroyed was estimated at a million 
 and a half of dollars. 
 
 Among the prisoners taken in the Centurion's 
 prizes were some persons of considerable distinction, 
 particularly a youth of about seventeen years of age, 
 son of the vice-president of the council of Cliili. The 
 barbarity of the Buccaneers had filled the minds of 
 all these people with the most terrible ideas of Eng- 
 lish crueUy,and they were at first dejected and under 
 great horror and anxiety. This youth in particular,
 
 1741.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 59 
 
 having never before been from home, lamented his 
 captivity in the most moving manner, the loss of 
 his parents, his brothers, his sisters, and his native 
 land, of all of which he Avas fully persuaded he 
 had taken his last farewell. Anson, with that 
 kindly disposition so conspicuous in his character, 
 exerted his best endeavours to efface these inhuman 
 impressions the prisoners had conceived of them ; 
 " always taking care that as many of the principal 
 people among them, as there was room for, should 
 dine at his table by turns ; and giving the strictest 
 orders too that they should at all times, and in 
 every circumstance, be treated with the utmost de- 
 cency and humanity. The youth above mentioned, 
 having been nearly two months on board, had so far 
 conquered his melancholy surmises, and had con- 
 ceived so strong an affection for Mr. Anson, that it 
 seemed doubtful whether he would not have preferred 
 a voyage to England in the Centurion to being set 
 on shore at Paita." 
 
 But the p-ratitude of the mother and the vounsr 
 ladies taken in the Maria Theresa was most marked. 
 Though the two daughters were esteemed handsome, 
 and the youngest celebrated for her uncommon 
 beauty, Anson abstained from visiting them, perhaps 
 not venturing to trust himself within the influence of 
 such charms, after a period of ten months, during 
 which he had not set eyes upon a female face. But 
 it appears he had another and more generous mo-
 
 60 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IL 
 
 tive — to prevent the breath of slander from their own 
 coiintrjanen affecting the character of these ladies, he 
 resolved on prohibiting all intercourse ^^ith them, 
 either by himself or his officers. This behaviour to 
 the Avomen was considered, by a Jesuit prisoner of 
 some distinction, to be so extraordinary, and so ex- 
 tremely honourable, that he doubted whether the 
 reijard due to his own ecclesiastical character would 
 be sufficient to render it credible. The ladies, how- 
 ever, Avere so sensible of the obligations they owed 
 Anson, for the care and attention with Avhich he 
 had protected them, that they absolutely refused to 
 go on shore till they had been permitted to wait on 
 him, on board the Centurion, to return their thanks 
 in person- We have heard a great deal of the con- 
 tinence of Scipio Africanus, when that conqueror of 
 Spain refused to see a beautiful princess that had 
 fallen into his power. If Anson, under the circum- 
 stances of the times and country, be denied the meed 
 of praise bestowed on the Roman general, as an 
 example of stern Roman virtue, he was amply repaid 
 for his generosity and humanity to his prisoners, by 
 their cordial and ijrateful remembrance of his treat- 
 ment, which Avas applauded and circulated through 
 every corner of Spanish America. Nothing could 
 surpass the kindness and attention bestowed by the 
 Spaniards on the shipwrecked officers of the Wager, 
 — Captain Cheap, the Hon. George Byron, and Lieu- 
 tenant Hamilton. — All their necessities were cheer-
 
 1741.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 61 
 
 fully supplied, and whatever money tliey stood in 
 need of was advanced to them ; and even to this day 
 the name of Anson is held in the highest respect in 
 the Spanish provinces of America, while the fate of 
 Paita is forgotten, or, if remembered^ is so chiefly to 
 reprobate the obstinacy of its governor. 
 
 Scarcely had the Centurion left Paita to proceed 
 to the westward, when jealousy and angry feelings 
 broke out between that part of the crew whicli re- 
 mained on board, and those Avho were engaged in 
 the attack upon that town ; the one claiming 
 the plunder, on account of the fatigues and dangers 
 they had undergone ; the other urging that they 
 would have been equally ready to have taken an 
 active part, had it been left to their choice. Plere 
 again we have an instance of the extreme generosity 
 of Anson. On being informed of this dispute, he or- 
 dered all hands on deck, told them that, however 
 praiseworthy the conduct of those on shore had been, 
 yet they must be aware that, without the presence of 
 the ship to convey them thither and receive them 
 afterwards, they could have done nothing, and that the 
 plunder must therefore be impartially divided among 
 the whole crew, in proportion to each man's rank and 
 commission •, " And," says he, " to prevent those who 
 had been in possession of the plunder from mur- 
 muring at this diminution of their share, and as an 
 encouragement to others who may hereafter be em-
 
 62 LIFE OF LOED ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 ployed on like services, I give my entire share to be 
 distributed among those who have been detached for 
 the attack on the place." 
 
 The next day (18th November) the Centurion fell 
 in with the Gloucester, who had taken two small 
 prizes, the one containing treasure to the amount of 
 12,000/., the other of 7000/. From one of the 
 prizes, information was obtained that an attack had 
 been made on Carthagena, and had failed, which 
 rendered the project of co-operating with the forces 
 on the other side of the isthmus of Panama_, as 
 directed by the instructions, unavailable. It was 
 resolved therefore to proceed to the coast of Cali- 
 fornia, to cruise for the IManilla galeon, which was 
 bound to the port of Acapulco. The two ships pro- 
 ceeded to Quibo, near Panama, to take in Avater, 
 having first emptied the two prizes, the Solidad and 
 San Theresa, and set fire to them. Two others were 
 still preserved, which, with the Centurion, Gloucester, 
 and Tryal, made up a squadron of five ships, with very 
 inadequate crews, it is true, but all in good health. 
 At Quiljo they got an abundant sup[)ly of turtle, suf- 
 ficient to last the crews of all the ships four months ; 
 and it is ol)serve(l that, in the seven months from 
 their leaving Juan Fernandez to their anchoring in 
 the liarbour of Checiuetan, they buried no more, in 
 the whole squadron, than two men — '"a most incon- 
 testabl<3 proof," says the narrator, " that the turtle
 
 1742.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 63 
 
 on which Ave fed for the last four months of this term, 
 was at least innocent, if not something more." 
 
 It is unnecessary to dwell on the anxious watch- 
 ings, the judicious measures, and the incessant atten- 
 tion of every one in this little squadron to discover 
 and attack the Acapulco galeon on her putting to 
 sea ; but four months having passed away from the 
 time of leaving Qui1)o, there remained but six days' 
 water on board ; they therefore put into the harbour 
 of Chequetan, about thirty leagues to the westward 
 of Acapulco. Here they obtained both wood and 
 water, and such provisions of fish, guanacos, and 
 whatever else the country afforded, that by the end of 
 April they were prepared for the prosecution of their 
 voyage across the Pacific; first, however, having 
 cleared the three prizes, the Carmel, the Carmin, and 
 the Tryal Prize, which being rather an encumbrance 
 than of any probable utility, all three were scuttled ; 
 and, on the 28th April, the Centurion and the Glou- 
 cester proceeded on their voyage to the westward, 
 having first landed their prisoners near Acapulco, 
 amounting to fifty-seven persons. 
 
 " On the 15th June," says the Commodore, in his 
 official report, " the Gloucester found her mainmast 
 sprung at the head, which, upon examination, was dis- 
 covered to be entirely rotten. On the 29th July, the 
 Gloucester carried away her foretopmast, and fore- 
 yard. My ship's company are now miserably afflicted 
 with the scurvy, the ship very leaky, the men and
 
 64 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 officers tliat were well being only able to make one 
 spell at the pinnp." This is all that Anson says of 
 the second attack of this afflicting malady, but, coming 
 from the Commodore, it speaks volumes. The nar- 
 rative enters more into detail. The ships' crews 
 had, from the time of leaving Juan Fernandez till 
 their departure from the coast of IMexico, enjoyed an 
 uninterrupted state of health ; but they appear to 
 have been fully aware that nothing but a short 
 passage across the Pacific could secure the greater 
 part of their remaining crews from perishing by the 
 return of the horrible disease. And as, after seven 
 weeks at sea, they were still no nearer the trade-wind 
 than when they first set out, they had but too much 
 reason to conclude that the passage would prove at least 
 three times as long as they at first expected; "and 
 consequently we have the melancholy prospect either 
 of dying by the scurvy, or perishing with the ship 
 for want of hands to navic;ate her." On the 2Glh 
 July, after the disasters of the Gloucester's masts, 
 Captain jMitchell hailed the Commodore, to say the 
 ship had no less than seven feet water in the hold. 
 A Ijoat was sent on board, when it appeared, from 
 the report of the officer, that, considering the leaky 
 state of the ship, and the distresses of her people, 
 nothiuii- was left but to remove the whole of her 
 crew into the Centurion, and to destroy the Glou- 
 cester. Of that crew, in fact, there remained alive 
 no more than seventy-seven men, eighteen boys,
 
 1742.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 
 
 05 
 
 and two prisoners, officers included; and that, of 
 this whole number, only sixteen men and eleven boys 
 were capable of keeping the deck, and several of these 
 very infirm. 
 
 The removal of these poor people, and of such of 
 the stores as could most easily be got at, gave full 
 employment for two days. Three or four of the sick 
 died while in the act of hoisting them into the Cen- 
 turion. To prevent the ship from falling into the 
 hands of the enemy, on being abandoned, Captain 
 Mitchell set fire to her; she burned fiercely the 
 whole night, and about six the following morning a 
 black pillar of smoke was observed, which shot into 
 the air to a very considerable height ; a small report 
 Avas heard at the same time, and she blew up and 
 disappeared. Thus perished his Majesty's ship the 
 Gloucester. Anson's squadron, of five ships when it 
 left the coast of Mexico, was now reduced to a single 
 ship, containing the crews of the whole. Tiie storm 
 that had proved so fatal to the Gloucester, it was 
 found, had driven the Centurion four degrees to the 
 northward of her course ; several days of calm suc- 
 ceeded, and they were entirely ignorant whether they 
 were to windward or leeward of the Ladrone Islands. 
 The number of deaths had now become extremely 
 alarming, no day passing in which they did not bury 
 eight or ten and sometimes twelve of the crew. 
 Pascoe Tiiomas gives a most melancholy picture of 
 their condition, aggravated by the additional number 
 
 F
 
 66 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 of the diseased men received from the Gloucester. 
 "The dirt, naiiseousness, and stench ahiiost every- 
 where intolerable, more people daily disa])led by the 
 disease, no sign of land, very little wind, and that not 
 fair, very bad provisions and water, and the ship very 
 leaky."* The appearance of an island afforded a 
 momentary consolation, and a boat was speedily sent 
 to examine it : all was barren, a dreadful disap- 
 ])ointment to the sick, tending to destroy their hopes, 
 and increase the horrors of the disease. 
 
 At length, on the 28th August, they approached 
 Tinian, one of the Ladrone Islands. A proa being 
 observed, the pinnace was sent towards the shore 
 with Spanish colours flying, on which the proa made 
 towards her ; the latter had on board a Spanish Ser- 
 jeant and four Indians. From this officer they 
 learned that the island produced various kinds of 
 vegetables and fruits, sweet and sour oranges, lemons, 
 limes, cocoa-nuts, and the bread-fruit ; that there 
 was plenty of water, and a vast number of cattle, 
 hogs, and poultry running wild; that it served, in 
 fact, as a kind of provision-store for the Spanish 
 garrison at the neighbouring island of Guam. Such 
 an account was of course received with inexpressible 
 joy. Some Indians on shore were employed in 
 jerking beef, and a bark was at anchor to receive it. 
 The Indians, however, decamped, but their huts and 
 a large storehouse were taken ])ossession of, which 
 
 * Voyage to the South Seas.
 
 1742.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 67 
 
 spared the Centurion's people tlie time and trouble 
 of erecting tents. The store was converted into 
 an hospital for the sick, who now amounted to 
 one hundred and twenty-eight; many of them so 
 very helpless as to require being carried from the 
 boats on the shoulders of the less infirm to the hos- 
 pital, " in which humane employment the Commo- 
 dore himself, and every one of his officers, were en- 
 gaged, without distinction ; and, notwithstanding the 
 great debility and the dying aspects of the greatest 
 part of our sick, it is almost incredible how soon they 
 began to feel the salutary influence of the land ; for 
 though we buried twenty-one men on this and the 
 preceding day, yet we did not lose above ten men 
 more, during our whole two months' stay here ; and 
 in general our diseased received so much benefit 
 from the fruits of the island, particularly the fruits of 
 the acid kind, that, in a week's time^ there were but 
 few who were not so far recovered as to be able to 
 move about without help." That this public and 
 strong testimony to the infallible cure of scurvy, by 
 the use of vegetable acids, should have Iain dormant 
 for thirty years, till revived by Cook, is indeed a la- 
 mentable proof, among many others, of the tardy 
 adoption of useful discoveries. 
 
 Towards the middle of September, the convales- 
 cents were sent on board the ship ; but the Commo- 
 dore, who was himself ill of the scurvy, had a tent 
 erected for him on shore, where he meant to stay 
 
 F 2
 
 68 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IT. 
 
 a few days for the recovery of his health. On the 
 23rd September, a furious storm drove the Centurion 
 from her anchors, and forced her out to sea, while 
 ]Mr. Anson, many of the officers, and a great part of 
 the crew, amounting in the whole to one hundred 
 and thirteen persons, were left behind on the island. 
 This catastrophe appeared to forbode equal destruc- 
 tion to those left on shore, without the means of es- 
 caping, and to those on board the Centurion, utterly 
 unprepared as they were to struggle against the fury 
 of the seas and winds. 
 
 The gloomy reflections which must have occupied 
 the thoughts of all left on this island, unfrequented 
 as it was by European shipping will readily be ima- 
 gined. The melancholy prospect of spending the re- 
 mainder of their days there, or still worse, the possi- 
 Ijility of the governor of Guam overpowering them, 
 and removing theui to that island, as prisoners for 
 life, could not be concealed : and the worst of all was, 
 that the want of connnissions, or any document to 
 show who they were (all the papers being in the Cen- 
 turion), would afford the Spaniards a sufficient i)re- 
 text for treating them as they did that gallant old 
 seaman, John Oxenham (the contemporai-y and rival 
 oF Sir Francis J^rake) and his conn-ades, whom 
 they hanged as pirates. Anson, with all his coolness 
 and fortitude, no doubt had his share of uneasiness, 
 on account of the precarious situation in which they 
 were placed, but, it is stated, he always kept uj) his
 
 1742.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 69 
 
 usual composure and steadiness. He had, in fact, 
 from the moment the ship was driven to sea, con- 
 ceived a project by which, let the worst happen, they 
 would he liberated. His plan was to lengthen the 
 Spanish bark he had detained, about twelve feet, 
 whicli would give her tonnage and capacity enough to 
 carry them all to China. He told the people that, in 
 the execution of this, he should share the fatiirue and 
 labour Avith them, and that he should expect no more 
 from any man, than Avhat lie himself was ready to 
 submit to ; Ijut that no time was to be lost. They 
 accordingly set about the task, and, in the progress 
 of the Avork the ingenuity of the carpenters, smiths, 
 sailmasters, &c., was put in requisition to supj)ly 
 those necessary articles that were canied out to sea 
 in the Centurion. 
 
 While thus employed, an incident occurred that, 
 for the first time, shook the firm nerves and over- 
 whelmed the steady mind of Anson with poignant 
 grief. One day some of the people suddenly called 
 out, '•'A sail!" Every one immediately, elated 
 with joy, concluded it to be the Centurion, just 
 emerging above the horizon ; a second sail was an- 
 nounced ; this destroyed their first conjecture. Anson, 
 eagerly turning his glass towards the spot, saw at 
 once they were only two sailing-boats: the thought 
 immediately occurred to him that the Centurion was 
 gone to the bottom, and that these were her two 
 boats^ bringing back the surviving part of her crew; 
 and this sudden thought acted so powerfully on his
 
 70 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH, II. 
 
 feelings, that, in order to conceal liis emotion, it is 
 stated, he instantly, and without speaking a word to 
 any one, retired to his tent, where he passed some 
 bitter moments in an agony of grief; firmly believing 
 that the ship was lost, that most of the people had pe- 
 rished, and that every hope had vanishea, which, until 
 now, he had continued to cherish — that he should yet 
 do something which might contribute to his own ho- 
 nour and his country's service. He found himself, in 
 some respects, like his predecessor Drake, of whom 
 it is said, after his failure in Panama, that " He saw 
 that all the good which he had done, in this voyage, 
 consisted in the evil he had done the Spaniards, afar 
 off, whereof he could present but small visible fruits 
 in England." 
 
 They were soon however discovered to be two of 
 the country boats pursuing their course to one of the 
 islands ; and the work was resumed and went on with- 
 out further interruption. A difficulty, however, pre- 
 sented itself, when the vessel was nearly completed, 
 that had not occurred to any of them before. Little 
 at this time was known of the geography or hydro- 
 gra])hy of this })art of the Pacific, and the dishearten- 
 ing discovery was made, that they neither had qua- 
 drant nor compass on shore. Lieutenant Brett had 
 borrowed the Commodore's pocket-compass, and it 
 had gone with him in the Centurion. However, in 
 runnnaging a chest belonging to the Spanish vessel, 
 a miserable small compass was found, and, a few 
 days alter, a quadrant turned up among some lumber
 
 1742.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 71 
 
 that had been thrown overboard belonginf^ to the 
 dead; but, having no vanes, it was useless. Here 
 again fortune was favourable ; in the drawer of an 
 old table were discovered some vanes that could be 
 adapted to it. Thus, then, they were furnished with 
 the means of ascertaining their latitude and regu- 
 lating their course, which put an end to anxiety on 
 that score. 
 
 Nineteen days had now elapsed since the depar- 
 ture of the ship, when, on the 11th October, one of 
 the men from a hill discovered and recognised the 
 Centurion at a distance, on which he hallooed out 
 with great ecstasy to his comrades. The ship, the 
 ship I which being rapidly passed to the Commo- 
 dore, who was busily employed, he, "on hearing 
 this happy and unexpected news, threw down his 
 axe with which he was then at work, and, by his joy, 
 broke through, for the first time, the equable and 
 unvaried character which he had hitherto preserved. 
 The others who were with him instantly ran down 
 to the sea-side, in a kind of frenzy, eager to feast 
 themselves with a sight they had so ardently wished 
 for, and of which they had now for a considerable 
 time despaired." 
 
 The ship being now refitted, and water and pro- 
 visions, Avith fruits and refreshments of all kinds, 
 which abounded on the island of Tinian, taken on 
 board, they put to sea on the 21st October, and 
 steered the proper course for Macao, where they ar- 
 rived on the 12th November, after a voyage of above
 
 72 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 two years, more productive of disastrous events, and 
 of human misery with loss of life — of disappointed 
 hopes, endured with patience, firmness and perse- 
 verance — than any naval expedition ever encoun- 
 tered, either hefore or since this memorahle one of 
 Commodore Anson. 
 
 It would be out of place here to notice (what was 
 not then so generally known as noio) the account 
 given of the proneness to falsehood, the duplicity and 
 knavery, of the Chinese, which not only pervade 
 eveiy department of the government, but also, na- 
 turally enough, infect the people generally. These 
 are the ruHng vices of this extraordinary people, 
 the offspring of excessive timidity, progressively 
 descending from the Great Emperor himself down- 
 wards to the very lowest official, who wears a badge 
 of the government. Yet this great empire, equal in 
 extent to all Europe, and far exceeding all Europe 
 in its myriads of population, has, with all its vices 
 and defects, survived all ancient dynasties, has cer- 
 tainly continued some 4000 years unchanged, (pro- 
 bably many more.) and is likely, if not disturbed and 
 convulsed by foreign interference, to remain in its 
 unchanged state for as many years to come. By the 
 novelty of a British ship-ol-war, by the firmness of 
 her captain, by a judicious display of her ])ower, 
 mixed occasionally with a few threats of the probable 
 necessity of having recourse to the use of it, and 
 moreover by an early insight into the real character 
 of the people, Anson succeeded in procuring the
 
 1743.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 73 
 
 means for the refitment of his ship, for replenishing 
 his stores and provisions, and, in short, for obtainin:^ 
 everything that he required. He also succeeded in 
 getting a small reinforcement of his crew, having en- 
 tered twenty-three men, a few of them Dutch, and 
 the rest Lascars. 
 
 On the 19th April the Centurion left JMacao roads, 
 ostensibly for Batavia, on her way to England, but 
 in reality to endeavour to intercept the Acapulco 
 ship, expected to arrive about this time at IManilla. 
 There never perhaps was a stronger instance of 
 firmness of purpose, on the part of the commander, 
 coupled with a conviction of the reliance to be placed 
 on the bravery and fidelity of British seamen, than 
 that displayed in the resolution here taken by Anson, 
 who thus gives, in his report to the Admiralty, the 
 actual state of his crew. " The number of men I 
 liave now borne is two hundred and one, amongst 
 which are included all the officers and boys which I 
 had out of the Gloucester, Tryal Prize, and Anna 
 pink, so that I have not before the mast more than 
 forty-jive able seamen." But these forty-five were 
 a host against five or six hundred Spaniards, known 
 to be about the usual number of the crew of one of 
 their galeons, — and they proved themselves worthy 
 to be thought so ; — for, not to deceive his men, An- 
 son, on gaining the sea, considered it right to as- 
 semble and address the crew, and to tell them plainly 
 that he meant to cruise off Manilla for the tivo 
 galeons, which he knew would speedily arrive there.
 
 74 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 He told them he should choose a station where he 
 could not fail of meeting Avith them ; and, though 
 they were stout ships and fully manned, yet, if his 
 own people behaved with their accustomed spirit, he 
 was certain he should prove too hard for them both, 
 and that one of them, at least, could not fail of be- 
 coming his prize. This plain address of the Commo- 
 dore was received with extreme delight, and. accord- 
 ing to the custom of British seamen, was expressed 
 by three strenuous cheers, with a declaration from all, 
 that they were resolved to succeed or perish, when- 
 ever the opportunity presented itself. After all the 
 miseries sustained by these brave men — after they 
 had seen so many hundreds of their companions pe- 
 rish — can moral fortitude surpass this ? 
 
 On the last day of J\Iay the Centurion arrived on 
 the cruising-ground, and the people were daily look- 
 ing out, with anxious expectation, for the approaching 
 crisis, till the 20th June, when they were relieved 
 from this state of suspense, by the appearance of a 
 large ship standing towards them. It was the galeon 
 with Spanish colours flying, and the standard of 
 Spain hoisted at the main-top gallant mast-head. 
 Anson in his official report says, " On the 20th 
 June I got sight of her and gave chase, she bearing 
 down upon me before the Avind ; when she came 
 witiun two miles she brought to, to fight me. After 
 engaging her an hour and a half within less than 
 pistol-shot, the admiral struck his flag at the main- 
 top-mast head ; she was called the Nuestra Senhora
 
 1743.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 75 
 
 del Caba Donga, Don Geronimo Montero, admiral ; 
 had forty-two guns, seventeen of which were brass, 
 and twenty-eight pateraroes ; five hundred and fifty 
 men, fifty-eight of whom were slain, and eighty- 
 three wounded. Her masts and rigging were shot 
 to pieces, and one hundred and fifty shot passed 
 through her hull, many of which were between wind 
 and water, which occasioned her to be very leaky. 
 The greatest damage I received was by my fore- 
 mast, mainmast, and bowsprit being wounded, and 
 my rigging shot to pieces, having received only fifteen 
 shot through my hull, which killed sixteen men and 
 wounded fifteen. I was under great difiiculty in na- 
 vigating two such large ships, in a dangerous and 
 unknown sea, and to guard four hundred and ninety- 
 two prisoners." 
 
 Thus fell to the Centurion this rich prize, amount- 
 ing in value to nearly a million and half of dollars. 
 The transport of joy is not to be described on havino- 
 at last, after so many disasters and disappointments, 
 accomplished one great object of their wishes — but 
 that joy had nearly been damped by an incident of a 
 most fearful character. Scarcely had the galeon 
 struck, when one of the lieutenants came hastily to 
 Anson, and, whispering in his ear, told him that the 
 Centurion was dangerously on fire near the powder- 
 room. This appalling intelligence was received by 
 Anson (just as a similar incident was, afterwards, by 
 Lord HoAve in the Princess Amelia,) without any ap- 
 parent emotion, and he gave his directions with the
 
 76 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 greatest composure, desiring that care should he taken 
 not to alarm the people, or throw them into a state 
 of confusion; and hy this judicious conduct and the 
 proper orders forthwith given, the means taken for 
 extinguishing the flames happily succeeded. It ap- 
 peared some cartridges had hlown up, and set fire to 
 a quantity of oakum, the smoke and smother of which 
 gave the apprehension of a more extended and mis- 
 chievous fire than it really was. 
 
 The circumstance of the prisoners heing consi- 
 derahly more than douhle the numher of his own 
 people^ gave Anson some uneasiness as to the dis- 
 posal of them ; the only secure means appeared to he 
 that of putting them down into the hold, which was 
 carried innnediately into effect, with regard to all 
 except the officers and the wounded, every precaution 
 heing taken, at the same time, that the hatchways 
 should he left open to admit as much fresh air as 
 possihle. To each man was allowed a pint of water 
 a-day, \vhich was all that could he spared lor the 
 voyage to Canton. The narrative says these poor 
 fellows " Avere strangely metamorphosed hy the heat 
 of the hold ; for, when they were first taken, they 
 were sii>htlv rohust felloM's ; but when, after above a 
 month's imprisonment, they were discharged in the 
 river of Canton, they were reduced to mere skeletons; 
 and their air and looks corresponded nuich more to 
 the conception formed of ghosts and spectres, than to 
 the figure and appearance of real men." 
 
 The second visit of the Commodore with his prize
 
 1743.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WOULD. 77 
 
 puzzled the Chinese not a little. They did not un- 
 derstand on what principle a ship-of-war went round 
 the world, seeking ships of other nations in order 
 to seize them. Unacquainted as they were with in- 
 ternational law, their own laws and sense of jus- 
 tice admitted of no such license. Anson's own ac- 
 count of his proceedings is as follows : — " Finding 
 I could not obtain the provisions and stores to enable 
 me to proceed to Europe, I was under the necessity 
 of visiting the vice-king, notwithstanding the Eu- 
 ropeans were of opinion that the emperor's duties 
 would be insisted upon, and that my refusing to pay 
 them would embarrass the trade of the East India 
 Company ; not knowing what means they might 
 make use of, when they had me in their power, I 
 gave orders to Captain Brett, whom upon this occa- 
 sion I liad appointed captain under me, that, if he 
 found me detained, he should destroy the galeon, (out 
 of which I had removed all the treasure, amounting 
 to one million three hundred and thirteen thousand 
 eight hundred and forty-three pieces of eight, and 
 thirty-five thousand six hundred and eighty-two 
 ounces of virgin silver and plate,) and proceed with 
 the Centurion without the river's mouth, out of gun- 
 shot of the two forts. 
 
 " Contrary to the general opinion of the Europeans, 
 tlie vice-king received me with great civility and po- 
 liteness, having ten thousand soldiers drawn up, and 
 his council of Mandarins attending the audience, and
 
 78 LIFE OP LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 granted me everything I desired. I had great reason 
 to be satisfied with the success of my visit, having 
 obtained tlie principal point I had in view, which 
 was establishing a precedent upon record that the 
 emperor's duties and measurage had not been de- 
 manded from me, by which means His Majesty's 
 ships will be under no difficulties in entering into 
 any of the Emperor of China's ports for the future."* 
 
 Anson here contents himself with giving merely 
 the result of his visit ; he says nothing of the many 
 excuses, lies, and evasions he was subject to, and that, 
 after all, it was the incident of a fire, which threatened 
 to destroy a great part of the city, being stopped by 
 the exertions of the Commodore and his boat's crew, 
 who pulled down the contiguous houses, that procured 
 him an interview for which he had hitherto striven in 
 vain. He was received with great pomp and nmch 
 civility, but his many grievances were listened to in 
 silence ; and when Anson told him ho waited only 
 for a license to ship his provisions and stores, to en- 
 able him to leave the river, and make the best of his 
 way to England, the viceroy replied, that the license 
 should be issued forthwith, and everything was or- 
 dered on board the following day. 
 
 When all was ready, and the merchants of Macao 
 had concluded their bargain for the galeon, at the 
 j)rice of six thousand dollars, on the 15th December 
 1743, the Centurion got under weigh on her return 
 
 * Anson's Official Report,
 
 1744.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 79 
 
 to England, and, having wooded and watered in the 
 Strait of Sunda, touched at the Cape of Good Hope, 
 and on the 15th June, 1744, came safe to an anchor 
 at Spithead. Fortunately for Anson he escaped the 
 last of the many perils which had so frequently beset 
 him, by favour of a fog, having run through a French 
 fleet cruising in the chops of the Channel. " Thus," 
 says the narrator, " was this expedition finished, 
 when it had lasted three years and nine months, 
 after having, by its event, strongly evinced this im- 
 portant truth — that, though prudence, intrepidity, and 
 perseverance united, are not exempted from the blows 
 of adverse fortune, yet, in a long series of transactions, 
 they usually rise superior to its power, and in the 
 end rarely fail of proving successful." This remark 
 is certainly just, and no parallel is to be found, in the 
 history of navigation, to the voyage of Anson, unless 
 it be that of Sir Francis Drake, which comes nearest 
 to it, and in some respects is perhaps still more ex- 
 traordinary. He left England with five ships, his 
 OAvn the Hind of 100 tons, the second 80, the third 30, 
 a fly-boat 50, and a pinnace of 15 tons. He lost, or 
 broke up, or left behind hini, all but his own ; plun- 
 dered the Spaniards on the western coast, proceeded 
 nearly to 50° N. to look out for a north-east passage 
 into the Atlantic, crossed the Pacific, proceeded round 
 the Cape of Good Hope, and, after an absence of two 
 years and ten months, reached England with only his 
 own ship and about 50 men out of 160.
 
 80 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 Tliougli it is pleasing to reflect tliat many of the 
 painful incidents recorded in this memorable voyage 
 can never again occur, yet it may not be deemed irre- 
 levant to offer a few observations on two of the main 
 points which fall Avithin its scope. The first is, on 
 the extraordinary mortality of the seamen and the 
 cause thereof; the second, on the defective state of 
 navigation and nautical science recorded therein. 
 
 1. As this extraordinary mortality occurred in 
 every one of Anson's ships, (even in the Severn and 
 Pearl that were driven back to Rio de Janeiro,) it is 
 obvious that the cause of the disease was general, 
 and that it was less owing to any defect in the ships, 
 their condition, or the regulations observed in each, 
 than to the unfortunate and, it must be added, the inhu- 
 man circumstance of putting on board such a number 
 of invalids, pensioners of Chelsea Hospital, every one 
 of Avhom perished in the course of the voyage. Dis- 
 eased, old, and infirm, at the very commencement of 
 the voyage, these poor creatures were obliged to re- 
 main l)elow, with the ports shut in, with little or no 
 fresh air, and what there was infected and polluted by 
 their own lireath — their food salt provisions, their 
 beverage spirituous li(|uors, a scanty su])ply of water, 
 and less of vegetable matter — no wonder that fever and 
 dysentery should have made a dreadful havoc among 
 them even before their arrival at St. Catharine's. 
 Here however every precaution was taken to abate the 
 sickness — decks scraped, ships thoroughly cleaned.
 
 1744.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 81 
 
 smoked between decks, and every part well washed 
 with vinegar — " for correcting," as the narrative 
 says, " the noisome stench on board, and destroying 
 the vermin ; for, from the number of our men, and 
 the heat of the climate, both these nuisances had in- 
 creased upon us to a very loathsome degree." 
 
 Thus early was laid the foundation of that more 
 horrible disease, the scurvy, which first made its ap- 
 pearance in April, when otf Cape Horn, where the 
 highly heated atmosphere was suddenly changed to 
 severe cold, by the foggy, snowy, and tempestuous 
 weather which they met with off that cape, and which 
 increased the sickness to a frightful degree. Leaving 
 the mild and pleasant weather met with in the Strait 
 Le JMaire, the general opinion was that the re- 
 mainder of the voyage, within the Tropics and 
 across the Pacific, would be free from any further 
 attack of scurvy. The surgeon Avho, Mr. Pascoe 
 Thomas says, Avas vain and pragmatical, pronounced 
 the scurvy to be owing to the coldness of the climate, 
 having destroyed the tone of the blood and made it 
 unfit for circulation. Unfortunately however for his 
 theory, it was afterwards found that, in the warm 
 climate, the symptoms were more alarming, and 
 the progress of the disease more rapid and fatal ; on 
 which the doctor came to the more rational conclu- 
 sion, that the grand cause was long continuance at 
 sea, and that the shore only could effect a cure. 
 It is well known that the very sight of land affords 
 
 G
 
 82 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 a momentary relief to the sufferer in scurvy. One 
 of Captain Back's men, reduced to the last extre- 
 mity, fancied that if a piece of earth could be pro- 
 cured, the odour of it would be of benefit: with 
 some difficulty a clod of frozen moss was obtained 
 from Southampton island, and the poor fellow died 
 in the belief that it did him good. It is on record 
 that when the Raisonable, Captain Fitzherbert, was 
 removed from Halifax to Barbadoes in 1779, the 
 crew being dreadfully afflicted with scurvy, of which 
 numbers died, one of the men, who had suffered 
 from it severely a long time, requested he might be 
 buried up to the neck in fresh earth ; his wish was 
 complied with, and he not only felt instantaneous 
 relief, but, to the surprise of all, very quickly reco- 
 vered. 
 
 But to return to Mr. Robins, who seems to think 
 that this disease has no cure. He says, that " al- 
 though uncommon pains were taken in cleansing and 
 sweetening the ships, yet neither the progress nor 
 the virulence of the disease were thereby sensibly 
 abated," and he therefore comes to the conclusion, 
 " that in some cases both the cure and prevention of 
 this disease is impossible to be effected by any ma- 
 nagement, or by the application of any remedies 
 which can be made use of at sea." 
 
 Fortunately however the fallacy of this general 
 conclusion was proved, some thirty years afterwards, 
 by the wise and judicious precautions of the cele-
 
 1744.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 83 
 
 brated Cook ; but several years more were suffered to 
 elapse before this dreadful disease disappeared ; be- 
 ing at length not only prevented, but effectually cured, 
 by the general introduction of citric acid, or lemon 
 juice, into the navy, which has in all cases of its 
 occurrence proved to be an universal specific. 
 
 This voyage estal^lished the fact, which future voy- 
 ages have abundantly confirmed, that the scurvy re- 
 gards not climate, and that it is equally common and 
 fatal in the frigid as the torrid zones. Back's people, 
 officers and men, shut up for many months in "thick- 
 ribbed ice," with all the means and appliances to boot, 
 suffered most dreadfully from this fearful scourge ; 
 and Captain Legge of the Severn, who just looked 
 at Cape Horn and was driven back to Rio de Ja- 
 neiro, says, " I had not above thirty men, myself, 
 lieutenants, officers, and servants included, that were 
 able to assist in working the ship ; all of us so weak 
 as hardly able to walk the deck."* Pie left Eng- 
 land, he says, with 430 men; he since buried 291 ; 
 among whom were the captain, lieutenant, and en- 
 sign of invalids ; and of 144 living on his reaching 
 Rio de Janeiro, 114 were sick and unable to stir. 
 
 2. With regard to the second point, Anson was 
 considered fully competent to all the practical parts 
 of nautical science, and to the use of all the instru- 
 ments then in use, with which he had taken care 
 
 * Official Report. 
 
 g2
 
 84 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [cH. II. 
 
 to provide himself. The Honourable Edward Legge 
 too, captain of the Severn, was an able and intelligent 
 officer, of superior education ; and yet the narrative 
 affords many instances of singular mistakes in the 
 position of the ships, which could hardly happen, 
 at the present day, to the most ordinary masters of 
 merchant ships. The Centurion, for instance, hav- 
 ing passed the most w^estern part of Terra del Fuego, 
 and proceeded, as was supposed, as far as ten de- 
 grees to the westward of it, the Pink made a sig- 
 nal of seeing land a-head, at two miles' distance, to 
 the imminent peril of losing the whole squadron 
 on Cape Noir; "so that," it is said, "in running 
 down by our account about nineteen degrees of 
 longitude, we had not really advanced above half 
 that distance/' 
 
 Again, the Centurion in standing for the island of 
 Juan Fernandez, in order to save time, steered a 
 course " to hit it upon a meridian," but not finding 
 it, the next thing was " to make it on a parallel of 
 latitude ;" and to this end, the course steered was 
 direct east, which brought her to the coast of Chili, 
 and by this unfortunate mistake eleven days were 
 lost in getting ])ack to the island, and, what was 
 more deplorable, " betAveen seventy and eighty men" 
 perished. Captain Legge also, after doubling Cape 
 ITorn, steered as he thought for the island of Chiloe ; 
 but, to his astonishment, found himself on the wrong 
 side of South AnuTJca, having the high land of Pa-
 
 1744.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 85 
 
 tagonia to the westward of him, and being twelve 
 degrees out of his longitude. 
 
 For the errors in the reckonings of the Centu- 
 rion and the Severn, some allowance is due to the 
 long continuance of boisterous weather, the irregu- 
 Larity of the currents, and the foggy and clouded 
 atmosphere in the neighbourhood of Cape Horn. 
 The reflecting quadrant of Hadley had been in use 
 ten years, but the limb had not l)een extended to 
 the sextant; chronometers were not known. Tlie 
 lunar tables of Meyer and the theory of the moon 
 by Newton, Haliey, and Flamstead, Avere familiar to 
 astronomers, but had not been practically applied to 
 the purposes of navigation. To the Rev. Doctor 
 IMaskelyne, the astronomer royal, a most excellent 
 and economical public servant, the seaman is in- 
 debted for the " Requisite Tables" and various rules 
 and examples for deducing the longitude froiri the 
 distance of the sun and moon, or of the moon and a 
 fixed star, commonly known under the name of 
 Lunar Observations. ]\Iany years however elapsed 
 before the method, thus made easy, became generally 
 practised. The captains of ships trading to the 
 East Indies were among the first to adopt it. The 
 officers of the navy were slow to follow the ex- 
 ample.* 
 
 * The Lion of 64 guns, ^vhich carried Lord Macartney's embassy 
 to the Court of Pekin in 1792, may be quoted as an instance of this.
 
 86 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II 
 
 Now, however, with the assistance of chronometers 
 and of lunar observations, the navigator of the pre- 
 sent day can never mistake his position : there is no 
 excuse left for ignorance. Every midshipman in the 
 navy must indeed now make himself acquainted with 
 both, before he is qualified to receive a lieutenant's 
 commission ; but as it is generally many years, after 
 his examination, that he is fortunate enough to ob- 
 tain a commission, and as young men are but too 
 frequently apt to throw behind them the knowledge 
 they acquired for a particular purpose, it would be 
 well if they were required to show, at the time when 
 the commission was to be received, that they had not 
 forgotten what they once learned ; and it would be 
 no disparagement to the lieutenant, were he required 
 to give proof of his competency to conduct the navi- 
 gation of a ship, before he is advanced to the rank of 
 commander, and not, as Lord Howe judiciously re- 
 marked on the case of Captain Williamson, to leave 
 the navigation of the ship " to the errors in his 
 
 Sir Erasmus Gowerwas an officer of high and deserved rcinitation in 
 the service. He had the choice of his four Heutenants, and two if 
 not three midshipmen were made acting-Ueutenants in the course of 
 the voyage ; he had a master of distinguished skill in navigation, and 
 twenty midshipmen. It was a time of profound peace, and yet there 
 was not an oflicer in this ship, save one, Mr. David Atkins, the 
 third heutenaiit (who nobly sacrificed himself in the North Sea, to 
 save his admiral, when the St. George and Defence were lost), capable 
 of taking and working a lunar distance. There are four admirals now 
 living (then midshipmen), Ommanney, Warren, Lord MarkKer, and 
 Sir Robert Bromley, who can attest this statement.
 
 1744.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 87 
 
 Maaters reckoning," — " a minute," says his Lord- 
 ship, " of admonitory benefit for young captains, who 
 often think that point of their examinations, when 
 passing for a lieutenancy, is no longer to be regarded 
 after obtaining independent commands." 
 
 But something more is required from a naval offi- 
 cer in command, whether of a fleet, a squadron, or 
 single ship, than the recollection of the scanty know- 
 ledge put in requisition at his passing for a lieute- 
 nant. It is not enough that he should make him- 
 self acquainted thoroughly Avith the theory and 
 practice of navigation : the various situations into 
 which he must be thrown, in his intercourse Avith 
 foreign nations, render it highly expedient he should 
 possess a knowledge of their maritime laws, customs, 
 and language. The French language in particular, 
 being so generally spoken, ought to form a part of 
 tlie studies of every midshipman, and also of an exa- 
 mination, when he passes for a lieutenant's commis- 
 sion. The laws and usages, the best system of dis- 
 cipline, and the code of instructions in the British 
 navy, should be familiar to him as household words. 
 An admhable system of gunnery, of the laws of pro- 
 jectiles, of mechanic powers, and a course of mathe- 
 matics, are now taught on board the Excellent in 
 Portsmouth harbour ; and the limited few, who are 
 fortunate enough to be admitted to the benefit of 
 such instruction, ought not to receive any promo- 
 tion unless they afford satisfactory proof that it has
 
 88 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 not been thrown away upon them. If such a ship 
 as the Excellent, ^ritli her establishment, was afloat, 
 and made a sea-going ship, it might probably be 
 considered as an improvement of the plan, more 
 particularly in all that relates to gunnery, which, 
 both as to theory and practice, is every day rising 
 more and more in importance, and in the know- 
 ledge of Avhicli we ought at least to keep pace with 
 other nations. 
 
 Having touched, in another place, on the propriety 
 of refreshing the knowledge acquired as a midship- 
 man, at a future period, it has been objected by some, 
 (probably not of the wisest) that an examination 
 into the qualification of a lieutenant, or commander, 
 would be derogatory to officers of those ranks in the 
 service. It was not thought so however in the earlier 
 periods of our naval history. In a series of ancient 
 records in the Admiralty, called *' The King's Col- 
 lection," it appears that in 1674, when Prince Ru- 
 pert was lord high admiral, a resolution Avas taken 
 that all captains should, before appointed to the com- 
 mand of sixth-rates, be examined by the Trinity 
 House touching their qualifications as masters, and 
 briuix from them certificates of their being able to 
 take the charcje of them as masters, and this notwith- 
 standing they had the command of ships of bigger 
 rate before, &c. 
 
 In 1G92, when the Earl of Pembroke was at the 
 head of the Admiralty, the rule was renewed, that
 
 1744.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 89 
 
 all commanders of sixth- rates should first pass then' 
 examination as masters; and in 1697 when the Earl 
 of Orford was first Lord of the Admiralty, masters 
 were abolished from fire-ships and sixth-rates, and 
 lieutenants allo^red in their room, and the captains' 
 commissions were masters and commanders ; and 
 by minute of 4th February, 1697, it was resolved, 
 *' That, for the future, all commanders of fire-ships 
 and sixth-rates have their commissions as onasters 
 and commanders, and have no masters." These 
 commissions, after maintaining their ground near 
 a hundred years, were changed to commanders 
 only. 
 
 The shipwreck of the Wager, the last of Anson's 
 missing ships, and commanded by Captain Cheap, is 
 an episode in the voyage, which differs from the 
 calamities of the other ships, by uniting crime Avith 
 misfortune. This ship, in steering a course for Val- 
 divia, the first place marked out for attack, struck 
 on a sunken rock, and soon after bilged ; her com- 
 mander, in his exertions to get clear of it, fell down 
 the after ladder, and dislocated his shoulder : she 
 drifted near the shore, and the crew were saved. 
 Several, however, persisted in remaining on board, 
 got to the spirit-room, and made themselves so drunk, 
 that some of them tumbled down between decks 
 and were drowned. The boats were sent to brins: 
 them off, but no efforts could prevail on these deluded 
 people to quit. They Avantonly fired two shot from
 
 90 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 a four-pounder, pointed at the tent in which they 
 knew their commander resided. At last, as the ship 
 was going to pieces, the refractory part of the crew 
 landed ; but the ship being lost, the authority of the 
 officers was at an end, the people were nuitinous, 
 frauds and thefts were committed, feuds and con- 
 tests prevailed. 
 
 In this state of insubordination, the captain pro-' 
 posed to fit up the boats and to leave this desolate 
 shore, proceeding to the northward to Chiloe ; but 
 the majority were resolved to take the contrary 
 direction, to lengthen the long-boat, to pass through 
 the Strait of Magellan, and along the coast of Ame- 
 rica to the Brazils. The captain adhered to his own 
 plan, but acquiesced in lengthening the long-boat. A 
 great part of the crew were very much embittered 
 against him, and their hostile feeling was aggravated 
 by an unhappy accident. A midshipman of the name 
 of Couzens, the foremost in all the refractory proceed- 
 ings of the crew, was constantly in brawls with thC: 
 officers, and had treated the caj>taiii hiiuiself Avilh 
 great insolence. Among others he insulted the 
 purser \vhile delivering out provisions near the cap- 
 tain's tent ; the purser, enraged at his scurrility, 
 called out " 3Iutmi/ !'' adding, '^ The dog Jiaa pis- 
 tola ;" and then he fired a pistol at Couzens. The 
 captain on this rushed out of his tent ; and, not 
 doubting that Couzens had fired the })istol, as the 
 commencement of a nmtiny, shot iiim instantly in
 
 1744.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 91, 
 
 the head, and he died of the wound a few days after- 
 wards. 
 
 Tlie long-boat was completed about the middle of 
 October, when the crew, suspecting it to be the inten- 
 tion of the commander to defeat their favourite pro- 
 ject of passing the Strait, made use of the death of 
 Couzens as a ground for depriving him of his com- 
 mand, under pretence of carrying him a prisoner to 
 England, to be tried for nmrder. When all was 
 ready, however, to put to sea, they released him from 
 custody, gave him, and those who chose to take their 
 fortunes with him, the yawl and the barge. The 
 Wager left England Avith a crew of one hundred and 
 sixty men, besides her share of invalids, of whom 
 there remained alive near one hundred and thirty at 
 the time of the wreck ; above thirty had since died 
 at this place ; and the number that went off in the 
 long-boat and cutter amounted to near eighty ; so 
 that there remained lA'ith the captain nineteen per- 
 sons, which were as many as the yawl and the barge 
 could well carry. 
 
 It was on the IStli October, five months after the 
 shipwreck, that the long-boat, converted into a 
 schooner, weighed and stood to the southward, giving 
 to the captain, the lieutenant of marines, and surgeon^ 
 who were standing on the beach, three cheers at 
 their departure. On the 29th January following 
 they reached Rio Grande on the coast of Brazil ; 
 and having, by various accidents, left about twenty of
 
 92 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. II. 
 
 their people on shore at the different places where 
 they touched, and having lost a greater number Ijy 
 hunger during the course of their navigation, there 
 were no more than thirty of them left, Avhen they 
 arrived at the port above mentioned. It was two 
 months subsequent to the departure of the mutineers 
 before the captain and his party could put to sea in 
 the barge and yawl, on account of the extreme violence 
 of the Aveather, during which time they received a 
 great part of their support from a straggling canoe 
 or two of Indians, which now and then brought them 
 a supply of lish. 
 
 On the 14th December, Captain Cheap and his 
 people embarked in the two boats, and proceeded to 
 the northward ; but the wind soon began to blow 
 hard, and the sea to run so high, as to oblige tliem 
 to throw the greatest part of their provisions over- 
 board to avoid immediate destruction. A fortniirht 
 after this another dreadful accident l}efel them, 
 the yawl having sunk at an anchor, and one of the 
 men being drowned. The barge was incapable of 
 carrying the whole party, -when, melancholy to relate, 
 they were reduced to the hard necessity of leaving 
 four marines behind them on that desolate shore. 
 They struggled on with various disasters, obliged to 
 seek a precarious subsistence on the shore, till about 
 the end of .January, when, after three unsuccessful 
 attempts to double a headland called Cape Tres 
 Monies, they resolved to return to Wager Island,
 
 1744,] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 93 
 
 where tliey arrived about the middle of February, 
 quite disheartened and dejected by reiterated disap- 
 pointments, and ahnost perishing with hunger and 
 fatigue. 
 
 Here they met with a seasonable relief, by finding 
 several pieces of salt beef that had been washed out 
 of tlie ship ; and very shortly two canoes of Indians 
 came to the spot, among whom was a native of 
 Chiloe, who agreed to convey the captain and his 
 people in the barge to that island, in consideration of 
 having her and all that belonged to her for his pains. 
 Accordingly, on the 6th March, the eleven persons, 
 to which the party was now reduced, embarked in 
 the barge on this new expedition ; but a few days 
 after this, the captain and four of his officers being 
 on shore, the six men who, together Avith an Indian, 
 remained in the barge, carried her off to sea, and 
 never returned. Thus were left on shore Captain 
 Cheap, IMr. Hamilton, lieutenant of marines, the 
 Hon. Mr. Byron and JMr. Campbell, midshipmen, and 
 Mr. Elliot, the surgeon. " One would have thought," 
 says the narrative, " that their distresses had, long 
 before this time, been incapable of augmentation; 
 but they found, on reflection, that their present situa- 
 tion was much more dismaying than anything they 
 had yet gone through, being left on a desolate coast 
 without any provision or the means of procuring 
 any ; for their arms, ammunition, and every conve- 
 niency they were masters of, except the tattered
 
 94 LIFE OF LORD ANSON, [CH. II. 
 
 habits they had on, were all carried away in the 
 barge." 
 
 In the midst of their despondency the canoe of the 
 Indian, who had been fishing, and who had under- 
 taken to carry them toChiloe, returned ; but this man, 
 on finding the barge gone and his companion with 
 her, took it into his head that his countryman had 
 been murdered ; and it required some time before 
 he couhl be convinced of the truth of their story. 
 Being once satisfied, he procured several canoes from 
 his neighbours, and they again set out for Chiloe. 
 Soon after their departure, Mr. Elliot, the surgeon, 
 died, so that their number was now reduced to four. 
 These, after a complicated passage by land and water, 
 arrived in the beginning of June on the island of 
 Chiloe, where they were received by the Spaniards 
 with great humanity. " Thus," says the narrative, 
 " above a twelvemonth after the loss of the Wager, 
 ended this fatiguing peregrination, Avhich, by a variety 
 of misfortunes, had diminished the company from 
 twenty to no more than four, and those too brought 
 so low that, had their distresses continued ])ut a few 
 days longer, in all probability none of them would 
 have survived." They were first sent to Valparaiso, 
 thence to St. Jago, where they continued above a 
 year, when they were exchanged and sent to Europe 
 in a French ship. 
 
 Captain Cheap, on his arrival at Landernau in 
 France, writes to Anson, the 12th December, 1745,
 
 1744.] THE VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. 95 
 
 in very indignant terms, at the conduct of his men, 
 Avhom he upbraids as poltroons.* He says, " Some 
 time before we left Chili, the Jesuits offered us what 
 money we wanted, and said it was by order of their 
 general at Rome. I do not know from what quarter 
 the credit came : however, we took no more than 
 we wanted to pay off a debt we had contracted with 
 one of the supercargoes of the ship, which was nine 
 hundred pieces of eight."f 
 
 Thus, then, in this disastrous expedition, the de- 
 struction of human life in the Wager greatly exceeded 
 that in any other ship of the squadron ; one hun- 
 dred and twenty-six men having fallen victims in a 
 crew of a hundred and sixty, without taking into 
 account the number of invalids that were put on 
 board in addition to her complement ; all of whom 
 perished in every ship which composed Anson's 
 
 * It was in consequence of the mutinous and bad conduct of the 
 shipwrecked seamen of the Wager, that Anson, in 1 748, when he had 
 the management of the Admiralty, in the absence of the Duke of 
 Bedford and Lord Sandwich, got an act passed (21 Geo. II.) for "ex- 
 tending the discipline of the navy to the crews of his Majesty's ships, 
 wrecked, lost, or taken, and continuing to them their wages upon cer- 
 tain conditions." 
 
 t Byron relates, that two or three days after their arrival at St. 
 Jago, Campbell and he were invited by the president to dine with 
 him, and to meet Admiral Pizarro and all his officers, and, though 
 without proper clothing, they could not refuse. The next day the 
 first lieutenant of the admiral's ship came and offered them two 
 thousand dollars, with a compassionate feeling, and without any 
 view of ever being repaid : they accepted from this noble and gene- 
 rous Spaniard six hundred, and insisted on his taking their draft on 
 the English consul at Lisbon.
 
 96 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IL 
 
 squadron. Amidst so few survivors, it is remark- 
 able enough that one of tlie seamen, l)y name 
 George Gregory, lived to the age of 109 years, 
 liaving died at Kingston the 13th February, 1804, 
 without liaving known a day's illness since he went 
 to sea in 1714.
 
 1744.] FRENCH WAR — SCOTCH REBELLION. 97 
 
 I CHAFfER III. 
 
 WAR WITH FRANCE AND SPAIN; AND THE SCOTCH 
 
 REBELLION. 
 
 Receipt of intelligence from Anson — His arrival — His first request 
 refused — Mr. Corbett's advice to him — Declines his promotion to 
 the flag— Change of Administration — Appointed to the Admiralty 
 — Character of the Duke of Bedford, Lord Sandwich, and Mr. An- 
 son — Preparations for commencing hostilities — French fleet in the 
 Channel — Sir John Norris sent to oppose it— A storm and its 
 etfects — Action of Lion and Elizabeth — The young Pretender em- 
 barks for Scotland — Intelligence of the Rebels from Mr. T. Anson 
 ^Anson left alone in the iVdmiralty — Bedford and Sandwich both 
 ill — Singular complaint of the latter — Dangerous interference of 
 the Crown with the jurisdiction of the Admiralty, by commanding 
 a court martial — Result of that court martial — A writ of capias 
 issued against the members — Their resolutions against Judge 
 Willes — He demands and obtains an apology — His character* — 
 Activity of cruisers— Capture of Louisburg—Tlie case of Admiral 
 Vernon — is ordered to strike his flag — is summoned to attend the 
 Admiralty — is struck off the list— Proceedings on this transaction — 
 Satirical letter of Mr. Legge— Several brilliant actions between 
 single ships. 
 
 1744 to 1746. 
 
 The anxiety felt by the family of Anson, during the 
 long time in which no tidings of him had reached 
 England, was relieved by the arrival of Captain Saun- 
 ders and some of the other officers whose ships had 
 been destroyed, and w^ho had taken their passage in a 
 Swedish vessel from Canton. Mr. Thomas Anson, 
 
 H
 
 9Q LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH.III. 
 
 liis brother, acknowledges the receipt of his letters, 
 with the view of their meeting him on his passage 
 home. "They give us," he says, "infinite delight, 
 though they abound wath very just complaints of 
 disasters and disappointments. The public had 
 given you immense w^ealth, and seems concerned to 
 find the recompense falls so short of the dangers, 
 toils, and merits of the service.* But if you can 
 content yourself with the nobler rew^ard of reputation 
 and fame, rest assured, my dear commodore, of as 
 large a share as you can wish or imagine to yourself. 
 The captains of your squadron have been sought for, 
 and pointed out in public places as a spectacle ; most 
 graciously received at the Admiralty, and promised 
 what ships they would ask for ; Lord Winchelsea, 
 who is at the head of it (your friend Corbett secre- 
 tary), declaring that they w^ould confirm whatever 
 Anson did. This I mention that, in case you have 
 a mind to make any new ofiicers, or advance any that 
 are made, the least pretence may probably suffice." 
 
 Whether Mr. Thomas Anson mistook Captain 
 Saunders, or this officer, as naval officers sometimes 
 do, considered as promises what were only meant as 
 expressions of approbation, it is certain that Commo- 
 dore Anson, on his arrival, did not find matters at 
 the Admiralty wearing so smiling an aspect as his 
 brother had described. In reply to his letter of the 
 
 * Anson had not captured the Spanish galleon when his letters 
 wore written from Canton.
 
 1744.] FRENCH WAR SCOTCH REBELLION. 99 
 
 14tli June, from St. Helens, announcing his arrival, 
 and transmitting an account of the transactions at 
 Canton, including that of the capture of the Acapulco 
 ship, the secretary coolly acknowledges the receipt, 
 adding that he had communicated it to their lord- 
 ships, " and I take" (the secretary takes !) " the 
 opportunity of wishing you joy on your arrival in 
 England." And this was all, — chilling enough it 
 must be admitted, — in reply to a man who, for four 
 years nearly, had suffered more hardships than had 
 fallen to the lot of almost any human being; but 
 Anson was not a man of nuich punctilio, and wrote, 
 in a quiet manner, another letter " to their Lord- 
 ships," stating the circumstances under which he had 
 made his first lieutenant, Brett, acting captain of the 
 Centurion, in his absence to wait upon, and arrange 
 important matters with, the viceroy of Canton, and 
 requested his commission might be confirmed. He 
 was told he had no power to make such an appoint- 
 ment, and of course that it could not be confirmed. 
 
 Just at this time (the 19th June) a promotion of 
 three rear-admirals was made, of whom Anson was 
 one ; and he was informed by letter^ which enclosed 
 his commission, that the king had been pleased to 
 raise him to the rank of rear-admiral of the blue. 
 As no further notice had been taken in favour of his 
 lieutenant and friend, Brett, he at once returned the 
 commission of rear-admiral of the blue, expressing 
 his concern to find himself under the necessity of 
 
 H 2
 
 100 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. III. 
 
 declining that mark of regard, which his Majesty 
 had been pleased to bestow ii}3on him, and which 
 he found he could not accept with honour. 
 
 This high feeling will perhaps be considered to 
 have led him rather too hastily to adopt, and to act 
 upon, such a resolution ; but it brings to one's recol- 
 lection a somewhat similar proceeding on the part of 
 Sir George Rooke, when Prince George of Den- 
 mark, the Lord High Admiral, refused to promote 
 his captain, Wishart ; with this difference, however, 
 in the two cases, that Rooke only threatened to retire 
 from the service, unless he carried his point (which 
 he did), whereas Anson sent back his commission at 
 once, which the board did not condescend to restore 
 to him, though, at the very same moment, they pro- 
 moted Brett to be a captain, without taking the least 
 notice of it to Anson. Nay, on the very day that 
 Brett's commission was dated, Anson received the 
 following letter from I\lr. Corbett, the secretary of 
 the Admiralty, full of good sense and of friendly 
 counsel, no doubt ; but it came too late. 
 
 " Dear Sir, 
 
 " Though the ffivins: advice is tlic most hazardous 
 office of friendship, it is (in proper season) the sincerest proof 
 of it. It is from that motive I address this letter to you — 
 the first occasion you have ever given me for it in a course 
 of more than twenty years' happiness of your acquaintance. 
 "The conduct you have shown in a late perilous expedi- 
 tion — the happy completion of it villi so much judgment
 
 1744.] FRENCH WAR — SCOTCH REBELLION. 101 
 
 and resolution — has distinguished your character in an un- 
 common manner^ and make you regarded as one of the 
 ablest to serve and support your country. 
 
 " Is it possible for one of such excellent endowments to 
 justify so tenaciously an act, irregular, unnecessary, unpre- 
 cedented, as to make the confirmation of it a condition of 
 your continuance in the service, and of your acceptance of 
 the late mark of his Majesty's regard for you? 
 
 " The reason you urge for insisting on the commission 
 you gave, constituting a captain under you in the Centurion, 
 is, ' that it has ever been your opinion, a person entrusted 
 with command may and ought to exceed his orders, and 
 dispense with the common rule of proceedings, when extra- 
 ordinary occasions require it.' 
 
 " Your opinion is very just. When a commander finds 
 his orders or instructions insufficient, and he can do liis 
 country better service by violating or exceeding them, it 
 indicates a great mind to judge and make a successful use 
 of such occasions. 
 
 "But the application of this rule does not avail here. 
 You are named to go with a squadron upon a distant expe- 
 dition, without any captain under you in your own ship. You 
 accept the command on those terms, and serve all the time 
 accordingly. But after the Avhole expedition is at an end, 
 and not one ship left with you but your own, nor any other 
 service to be performed, but to return home, you appoint a 
 captain under you. 
 
 " Do any of those extraordinary occasions appear here, 
 wherein common rules of proceedings should be dispensed 
 with ? Does a journey of a few hours to an audience of the 
 vice-king at Canton come up to it ? The precaution you 
 took, before setting out, to secure the king's ship, and the 
 treasure, in case any accident happened to your person, was a
 
 102 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. III. 
 
 prudent and necessary measure ; but the trust was condi- 
 tional, and to take place upon an inability to act yourself, 
 which did not happen. 
 
 "If what I have been saying, dear sir, has any tone of 
 conviction, you will no longer insist on an act your good 
 sense must condemn, when you consider that the Lords of 
 the Admiralty have a true regard for you, are much con- 
 cerned for the temper you are in with them, and would 
 gratify you in anything that consisted with reason and the 
 rules of their office. They have given you proofs of it. You 
 took the galleon into the king's service, and they have con- 
 firmed the officers you appointed to her; and yet there 
 seemed as much reason to commission any common mer- 
 chant ship ; for she never was to serve as a man of war 
 against the enemy, which is the only reason of putting prizes 
 into commission. I am well assured that the captain you 
 contend for would be provided for to his satisfaction, as well 
 as others who have served with you in the voyage, and are 
 under your protection. 
 
 " In the present case the Lords of the Admiralty had no 
 precedent — would you make one ? It cannot be defended. 
 The moment it is admitted, the Admiralty is no longer 
 master of any rule or order, but every commodore who goes 
 abroad without a captain may appoint one as soon as he is 
 clear of the land of England, and insist upon it from the 
 precedent. 
 
 " An admiral of great rank in the Mediterranean wanted 
 a- second captain : his reasons were specious ; he had a very 
 large fleet under his command, and the assistance only of 
 one flag-officer, who was infirm ; himself was next in post 
 to the only admiral who is allowed two captains. But as 
 the establishment did not allow it, it was not granted, and 
 not being granted, was not assumed.
 
 1744.] FRENCH WAU — SCOTCH REBELLION. 103 
 
 " The late Lord Torrington, under whom we both served, 
 and now revere his memory, in his expedition to Sicily, gave 
 a commission to a person to be a lieutenant, contrary to 
 rule. Lord Berkeley, being then at the head of the Admi- 
 ralty, would not confirm it. In ten years after. Lord Tor- 
 rington coming to the head of the Admiralty, and being 
 solicited to continue the commission, refused it, saying, he 
 would never ratify any act of his own, which he was con- 
 vinced to be wrong. This is one of the many things I have 
 admired in him: moderation and obedience to laws and 
 rules of government are truer characteristics of a great mad 
 than defending singular opinions. 
 
 " I will trouble you no more, but to leave it to your consi? 
 deration which is most praiseworthy — to give up a hasty 
 resolution which (as far as I can hear) all your brothejr 
 officers condemn, as all must who deal sincerely with you ; 
 or, in a sullen fit, to fly in his Majesty's face, give matters 
 for pleasure to his enemies, and throw yourself out of a 
 service you have been bred to, and in which you have so 
 well succeeded, 
 
 " I am, with, most sincere regard and esteem, 
 
 '' Dear Sir, 
 " Your most obedient and most humble servant, 
 
 (Signed) " Thos. Corbett.* 
 
 "Admiralty Office, 25th June, 1774." 
 "George Anson, Esq." 
 
 It would appear that the Board of Admiralty, 
 however, took sufficient time to determine in what 
 manner to act ; for it was not till eight days after 
 
 * Anson's Collection of M.S. Letters, No. 152.
 
 104 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. III. 
 
 Anson had returned his commission, that they came 
 to the resolution to accept, or rather to cancel, 
 it. This bold and novel proceeding of cancelling a 
 commission, which the king had been pleased to 
 order, is thus entered on the minute-hook of the Ad- 
 miralty : "Saturday, the 30th June, 1744. — The 
 Eight Honourable the Earl of Winchelsea, Mr. 
 Cockburn, Dr. Lee, Sir Charles Hardy, IMr. Phil- 
 lipson. A letter from Admiral Anson, dated the 
 22nd instant, was read, enclosing his commission of 
 rear-admiral of the blue, and representing his con- 
 cern to find himself under the necessity of resigning 
 the same, because a commission he had given to 
 Captain Brett, to command the Centurion under him, 
 was not confirmed. Resolved, that the said com- 
 mission be cancelled." 
 
 Lord Winchelsea had the reputation of being a 
 very upright and honest man ; but he certainly did 
 not act towards Anson with that generosity which, 
 if not guided, as in all probability he was, by the ad- 
 vice of a set of incapables, he Avould in this case have 
 shown to such a man, under such circumstances. He 
 had only two naval officers at the Board, Sir Archi- 
 bald Hamilton and Sir Charles Hardy (the elder), 
 men of little or no experience, and of as little re- 
 putation in the service, but both respectable men, 
 the latter of whom died in the Admiralty the same 
 year, before the end of which he would have licen 
 turned out ; and as to the la?/ lords, Mr. Cock-
 
 1744.] FRENCH WAR— SCOTCH REBELLION. 105 
 
 burn, Dr. Lee, Lord Baltimore, and Mr. Phillip- 
 son, who ever knew anything about them? By 
 such a set, however, was a gallant officer sacrificed, 
 and actually placed on half-pay as a captain, who 
 had performed a voyage of nearly four years' dura- 
 tion, whose unparalleled perseverance and sufferings, 
 whose courage and constancy in meeting and over- 
 coming difficulties, had gained him the applause 
 and admiration not only of his countrymen, but of 
 all Europe. 
 
 But a better feeling was evinced towards this ill- 
 used officer by the secretary of state, to whom also, 
 as having through him received his instructions from 
 the king, he had reported his proceedings. The 
 Duke of Newcastle, in acknowledging the receipt of 
 them, says : 
 
 " Whitehall, June 15, 1744. 
 "" Captain Anson — Siu, 
 
 " I received this morning, by Lieutenant Dennis, 
 the favour of your letter of yesterday's date, with the agree- 
 able news of your success in taking the great Acapulco ship, 
 and of your safe arrival at Spithead, after the many fatigues 
 and dangers that you have gone through in the course of 
 your expedition. 
 
 " I laid it immediately before the king ; and have the 
 satisfaction to acquaint you that his Majesty was pleased to 
 express his great approbation of your conduct ; and to give 
 you leave to come immediately to town as you desire. As 
 I hope very soon to have the pleasure of seeing you, I shall
 
 106 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IIL 
 
 only add the assurances of my being, with the greatest truth 
 
 and regard. Sir, &c. 
 
 " HoLLES Newcastle. 
 
 " P.S. — I am extremely obliged to you for your goodness 
 to Mr. Keppel and Mr. Carpenter. 
 
 " I will not fail to mention to his Majesty your recom- 
 mendation of your lieutenant, Mr. Dennis, whom I will also 
 recommend to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. 
 
 " Give me leave very particularly to assure you, that I 
 take a great part in the good fortune and in the honour you 
 have acquired for yourself, and the service you have done to 
 your country."* 
 
 There were others, also, who knew how to appre- 
 ciate the merits of Anson. Winchelsea and his 
 board were turned out in the month of December, 
 1744. The Duke of Bedford succeeded to the ad- 
 ministration of naval affairs, and this distinguished 
 circumnavigator was selected by his grace to become 
 a member of his board ; and, to make amends for the 
 injustice done to him by a former Board, on the 20th 
 April in the following year, Mr. Anson obtained two 
 steps of rank at once, by being appointed Rear-admi- 
 ral of the JFhite. Lord Sandwich was selected by 
 the duke as second to himself, being an intimate 
 friend, and a clever intelligent man. The other two 
 naval officers were the Rear-Admirals Lord Vere 
 Beauclerc and Lord Archibald Hamilton. The 
 former had seen very little service as a captain, and 
 had been one of the members of Sir Charles Wager's 
 
 * AduiiruUy Record^;.
 
 1744.] FRENCH WAR — SCOTCH REBELLION. 107 
 
 board ; the latter, a member of the last board, had 
 seen just as little, and was upwards of seventy years 
 of age. Tlie remaining two lay members were Legge 
 and Grenville, both men of considerable ability, par- 
 ticularly the former, and both competent to undertake 
 the civil department, and to transact the business, of 
 the Admiralty in the House of Commons. Anson 
 might therefore be considered a great acquisition, as 
 he very soon proved himself to be, to the Duke of 
 Bedford's administration. The characters of the three 
 leaders have been drawn, but with no friendly hand, 
 by their contemporary, Horace Walpole, whose in- 
 consistency, dishonest partiality, and proneness to 
 sarcasm, render his otherwise pleasant writings liable 
 to be viewed with suspicion, and to be taken with 
 great allowance. 
 
 *' The Duke of Bedford was a man of inflexible 
 honesty, and good- will to his country : his great eco- 
 nomy was called avarice : if it was so, it was blended 
 with more generosity and goodness than that passion 
 will commonly unite with. His parts were certainly 
 far from shining, and yet he spoke readily, and, upon 
 trade, well : his foible was speaking on every sub- 
 ject, and imagining he understood it, as he must 
 have done by inspiration. He was always governed ; 
 generally by the duchess, though unmeasuraljly ob- 
 stinate when once he had formed or had an opinion 
 instilled into him. His manner was impetuous, ot 
 which he A\'as so little sensible that, being told Lord
 
 108 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. III. 
 
 Halifax was to succeed him, he said, 'He is too 
 warm and overbearing ; the king will never endure 
 him.' If the Duke of Bedford could have thought 
 less Avell of himself, the world would probably have 
 thou2;ht better of him." 
 
 " His friend. Lord Sandwich, was of a very dif- 
 ferent character ; in nothing more than in the flexi- 
 bility of his honesty. The Duke of Bedford loved 
 money to use it sensibly, and with kindness to others : 
 Lord Sandwich was rapacious, but extravagant when 
 it was to promote his own designs. His industry to 
 carry any point he had in view was so remarkable, 
 that for a long time the world mistook it for abilities ; 
 but as his manner was most awkward and unpolished, 
 so his talents were but slight, when it was necessary 
 to exert them in any higher light than in art and 
 intrigue. The king had never forgiven his indecent 
 reflections U})on the electorate,* when he was in 
 opposition, and as soon as ever he found his ministers 
 would permit him to show his resentment, he took 
 all occasions to pay his court to them by treating 
 Lord Sandwich ill, particularly by talking to Lord 
 Anson before him on all matters relating to the 
 
 * His indecent reflections were these. On the debate in the 
 House of Lords on the Hanover troops, he made a comparison be- 
 tween taking the Hanoverians into the pay of En<;land, and the 
 French taking the troops of the Duke John Frederic into their pay 
 in 167'2; and used these words— "That little prince would have 
 duped Louis XIV. ; but he treated him hkc a little prince, and would 
 not accept his troops but upon his own terms."
 
 1744.] FRENCH WAR — SCOTCH REBELLION. 109 
 
 fleet."* And yet, be it observed, Lord Sandwich 
 alone negociated and signed the treaty of peace at 
 Aix-la-Chapelle. The present Lord HoUand, the 
 editor of the " I\Iemoirs," observes, in a note, that 
 he (Lord Sandwich) was first lord of the Admiralty 
 in Lord North's administration,! and says — " Our 
 author disparages his abilities : he was a lively, sen- 
 sible man, attentive to business, and not a bad speaker 
 in Parliament." His lordship might have added, 
 his voyage round the IMediterranean proved him to 
 be a scholar, a man of just observation, cultivated 
 intellect, and vigorous mind. 
 
 ''Lord Anson," says Waipole, "was reserved and 
 proud, and so ignorant of the world that Sir Charles 
 Williams said, he had been round it, but never in it. 
 He had been strictly united with the Duke of Bed- 
 ford and Lord SandAvich, but not having the same 
 command of his ambition that he had of his other 
 passions, he had not been able to refuse the offer of 
 the chancellor's (Hardwicke) daughter, nor the di- 
 rection of the Admiralty." He admits that " Lord 
 Anson, attentive to, and generally expert in maritime 
 details, selected with great care the best officers, and 
 assured the king that, in the approaching war, he 
 should at least hear of no courts-martial." 
 
 Mv. Anson was " reserved," it is true, but not 
 " proud." Every part of his conduct towards his 
 
 * Walpole's Memoirs of the last Years of George II. 
 
 t He was First Lord of the Admiralty three different times.
 
 110 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. III. 
 
 equals and inferiors, and of theirs towards him, 
 strongly contradict his being proud ; and the bon mot, 
 as it was considered to be, of Sir Charles Hanbury 
 Williams, was a greater compliment to the admiral 
 than proljably was intended : his life had been passed 
 in his profession, and not in what is usually called 
 '* the world." With regard to Lord SandAvich, 
 Walpole had a feeling of rooted and bitter dislike. 
 " Lord Sandwich," he says, " had been hoisted to 
 the head of the Admiralty by the weight of the Duke 
 of Bedford, into whose affection he had worked him- 
 self by intrigues, cricket-matches, and acting plays." 
 ..." When the court was at Hanover, Lord Sandwich 
 had drawn a great concourse of the young men of 
 fasliion to Huntingdon races, and then carried them 
 to Woburn to cricket-matches made there for the 
 entertainment of the duke." 
 
 It might have suggested itself to a candid man, 
 that cricket-matches, and races, and plays, are not, 
 in a moral point of view, more reprehensible, per- 
 haps much less so, than the secret employment of 
 writing libels and lampoons in a solitary closet, to 
 be sealed up in a chest till the death of the author 
 of them shall shield him from personal responsibility. 
 It is well known that Lord Sandwich was a man of 
 elegant manners, passionately fond of music, and 
 that the parties, which were held twice a year at 
 Hinchingbrook, were chiefly entcrtaini.'d with musical 
 recreations, scenes from operas, and oratorios, at
 
 1744.] FRENCH WAR — SCOTCH REBELLION. Ill 
 
 which the most approved artistes of the day were 
 eiip-ased to assist ; but to which elegant amusements 
 Walpole does not appear to have been invited ; and 
 this alone was quite enough for such a cynic, first to 
 misrepresent, and then to condemn them. 
 
 When, in his posthumous memoirs, he sometimes 
 condescends to bestow on Anson " faint praise," it 
 is ahvays accompanied with a sneer ; to hate him it 
 was enough that he was the friend of Sandwich ; but 
 there was another and a 2;raver cause of his dislike 
 and abuse of him, which never ceased until, nor even 
 after, his death. This great intriguer is said to 
 have laid a scheme for marrying Anson to one of the 
 Duke of Bedford's daughters, in which he was dis- 
 appointed by the noble lord choosing for himself, 
 and taking to wife the chancellor's daughter, an 
 union that brought down on ])oth families the venom 
 of his libellous pen — as keen and satirical as that of 
 Voltaire, and in humble imitation of it ; but Vol- 
 taire had the manliness to face the public in his 
 satires, while living, which Walpole was afraid to 
 do, and hoarded them up till after his death.* 
 
 * His letters addressed to George IMontagu, nephew of the second 
 Earl of Halifax, a young man about town with two or three sinecures, 
 published only in the year 1818, are so scurrilous and indecent, re- 
 specting Anson, Lord and Lady Hardwicke, and many other public 
 characters, that it may be said of him (barring the opprobrious epi- 
 thets) what Dr. Johnson said of Bolingbrooke — "Sir, he was a scoun- 
 drel and a coward ; a scoundrel for charging a blunderbuss against 
 religion and morality ; a coward because he had not resolution to 
 fire it off, himself,;^but left half a crown to a beggarly Scotchman to
 
 112 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. III. 
 
 The time was most important, and the situation of 
 public affairs most serious, when the formation of the 
 new Board of Admiralty was established. France 
 was then busily employed in negociating a new family 
 compact with Spain, in which an alliance with that 
 power, offensive and defensive, was stipulated to be 
 perpetual ; and one of the articles of the treaty was, 
 that no peace should be concluded wdth England 
 until Gibraltar should be restored to the crown of 
 Spain. The treaty was signed at Fontainbleau ; 
 war Avas declared, and active preparations made by 
 the two allied powers to equip such a navy as would 
 infallibly, in their opinion, give them the uncontrolled 
 command of the JMediterranean. Considerable fleets 
 of French ships of war were, at the same time, pre- 
 paring in the ports of Brest and Rochfort ; and the 
 grand olyect of these two allied powers seemed to be 
 nothing less than to wrest from England her che- 
 rished tenure of the " sovereignty of the seas." 
 
 But they had also another object in view, and this 
 was the re-establishment of the exiled family of the 
 Stuarts on the throne of Great Britain. An active 
 correspondence was carried on with the Scotcli and 
 English, the Jacobites being very numerous among 
 the former, and more so than they were expected to 
 be found in the hitter. One part of the plan was to 
 
 draw the trigtrer after liis death." Any one desirous of sceinf^ Wul- 
 pole's character laid bare and stripped to the very skin, will find it in 
 the Quarterly Review, vol. xxvii.
 
 1745.] FRENCH WAR — SCOTCH REBELLION. 113 
 
 throw a French army into England, from Dunkirk, 
 to be escorted across the Channel by the united fleets 
 of Brest and Rochfort, on the supposition that, from 
 the number of our squadrons employed in the Medi- 
 terranean, the West Indies, and other foreign sta- 
 tions, we had no force at home equivalent to theirs, or 
 capable of obstructing their passage. The Pretender 
 was of an age which unfitted him to join in the 
 enterprise ; but he sent an instruction for his son 
 Charles Edward to hasten from Rome to Paris_, and 
 proceed from thence, as his substitute, on this mo- 
 mentous expedition. Twenty thousand men were 
 j-eported to have encamped at Dunkirk, commanded 
 by Count Saxe : and the English people of that day 
 looked towards Dunkirk with the same kind of 
 anxious feeling as that with which, more than sixty 
 years afterwards, they regarded the army encamped 
 at Boulogne, and the boasted flotilla under Napo- 
 leon Buonaparte, both of which proved to be equally 
 impotent, and, as such, they equally failed. 
 
 The French fleet, of about twenty sail-of-tlie-line, 
 was under the conmiand of M. de Roquefeuille, an 
 old and experienced oflicer, and that of England, 
 amounting nearly to tlie same number, was com- 
 manded by Sir John Norris, an able and active 
 admiral, who had under him the Rear-Admirals 
 Sir Charles Hardy and Martin. Sir John was or- 
 dered to repair to the Downs, for the purpose of 
 drawing the French fleet into the narrow part of 
 
 I
 
 114 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. III. 
 
 the Channel, this being the best station to prevent 
 them passing to the northward unobserved in thick 
 weather, as they might be able to do lower down 
 to the westward. In the early part of Feljruary 
 the French fleet was seen off Plymouth, standing 
 up Channel, and vast preparations were imme- 
 diately made, along the coasts of Kent and Essex, 
 to oppose any attempt to land in those counties. 
 Indeed one burst of loyalty seemed to pervade the 
 whole kingdom, and addresses poured in from all 
 quarters, professing attachment to the throne and the 
 Protestant succession. 
 
 M. de Roquefeuille, having first sent his cruisers 
 to look into the English ports, and finding no ships 
 of war either at St. Helen's or Spithead, stood boldly 
 up Channel and came to anchor t)ff Dungeness. On 
 this being reported to Sir John Norris, he imme- 
 diately got his fleet under way, and worked down 
 Channel, against a westerly wind, till within two 
 leagues of the French fleet ; but, the tide setting 
 stron"' aii'ainst him, he was oblii>'ed to anchor. The 
 French showed no disposition to engage ; on the 
 contrary, having made preparations, in order to take 
 advantage of the turn of the tide in their favour, 
 a signal was thrown out for every ship to make the 
 best of her way to Brest; and to cut or slip tlieir 
 cables in order to lose no time in getting under 
 sail. A gale of wind shortly sprung up from the 
 north-west, increasing to a storm, by \\hich the
 
 1745.] FRENCH WAR — SCOTCH REBELLION. 115 
 
 enemy's ships were dispersed, many of them reach- 
 ing Brest in a very shattered condition. Sir John 
 Norris, finding it impossible to come up with any of 
 the enemy's ships, Avhich invariably outsailed ours, 
 and considering it not only useless, but inexpe- 
 dient, to expose his fleet to the storm, returned to 
 the Downs. 
 
 The violence of the tempest reached Dunkirk, 
 where many of the transports with troops already on 
 board, and others Avith stores and ammunition, foun- 
 dered at their anchors in the road, and a great number 
 of lives were lost. So calamitous, indeed, were the 
 disasters sustained, that the camp broke up, the young 
 Pretender returned to Paris, and the dread of an inva- 
 sion at once ceased. The French, too, noAv seemed 
 to have abandoned the cause of the young adventurer, 
 at least to have withdrawn the encouragement they 
 had before given to the project ; but Prince Charles 
 was determined, at all events, to try his fortune ; he 
 w^rote letters to his friends in Scotland, explaining 
 his design, and appointing the place at which it was 
 his intention to land. An Irishman of the name of 
 Walsh, a mercliant at Nantz, furnished for this object 
 a small armed vessel, and raised for the Pretender's 
 use about 2000/., besides arms for a couple of thou- 
 sand men. The old Scotch Marquis of Tullibardine, 
 who called himself the Duke of Athol, Sir Thomas 
 Sheridan, and a few others, embarked with the young 
 Pretender ; and this pigmy expedition set sail on the 
 
 i2
 
 116 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IIL 
 
 4tli July, 1745. They were joined off Belleisle by 
 the Elizabeth, a French ship of war of sixty-four 
 guns, the captain of which had orders to escort them 
 to the Western Islands of Scotland ; and this was 
 the only naval assistance given to this bold and en- 
 terprising young man. 
 
 Anson, being now one of the Commissioners of the 
 Admiralty, had interest enough to get his old lieu- 
 tenant, Piercy Brett (now a captain, though he had 
 failed in making him so), appointed to the Lion, of 
 lifty-eight guns and four hundred and forty men. 
 Havino- the o-ood fortune to fall in with this escort. 
 Captain Brett ran his ship close alongside the Eliza- 
 beth, and conmienced the attack within pistol-shot. 
 The engagement, however, lasted five hours, by 
 which time the Lion's rigging was cut to pieces, her 
 mizen-mast shot away, and all her lower and top- 
 masts wounded ; and in this state she lay as a log- 
 on the water. The Elizabeth, having suffered less in 
 her rigging, was able to set sail enough to carry her 
 off, l)ut her hull was so shattered, and she was alto- 
 gether so much damaged as with difliculty to reach 
 Brest. A smaller vessel, in which the young Pre- 
 tender AA^as, attempted at first to rake the Lion, but 
 was soon beaten off by her stern-chasers ; and towards 
 the close of the action she made off with all the sail 
 she could carry. This gallant encounter cost the 
 Lion iifty-five men killed, and one hundred and seven 
 wounded, seven of whom died siiortly after the action.
 
 1745.] FRENCH WAR — SCOTCH REBELLION. 117 
 
 Captain Brett and all his lieutenants were wounded, 
 and the master had his right arm shot off. It was 
 iifterwards ascertained that the captain and sixty-four 
 men of the Elizabeth were killed, and one hundred 
 and forty wounded. The frigate pursued her voyage, 
 and Prince Charles reached the coast of Lochaber, 
 ^vhere he and his attendants were landed. 
 
 The young Pretender was strongly advised by his 
 adherents in Scotland to relinquish his enterprise for 
 the present ; but he was self-willed, and resolved at 
 once to carry his plans into execution. Accordingly 
 he hoisted his standard on the 12th August, to which 
 many of the disaffected clans repaired. On this in- 
 telligence reaching London, the most vigorous mea- 
 sures were put in execution to stay the rebellion, and 
 at all events to prevent its extending to England ; of 
 ■which the government had great fear, more espe- 
 cially after the unexpected defeat of the British 
 forces at Prestonpans. Admiral Vernon, who had 
 gained such general and deserved reputation at Porto 
 Bello, was appointed to command in the Downs, 
 with a powerful squadron, to watch the motions of 
 the French at Dunkirk and Calais, and to send de- 
 tachments into the North Sea to intercept any supplies 
 that might be sent for the use of the rebels in Scot- 
 land. The frio;ates and smaller vessels thus detached 
 were very active, capturing and destroying transports 
 that were conveying succours to the young Pre- 
 tender's partisans in the north. It was here that
 
 118 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. III. 
 
 Howe was first brought into notice. He commanded 
 the Baltimore sloop, and, in company with the 
 Greyhound frigate, had a smart action Avith two 
 French frigates, in which he received a wound in the 
 head that at first was supposed to be fatal ; but he 
 was only stunned, or, as Captain Noel, who went on 
 board the Baltimore to see him, says in his despatch, 
 " he was a little disordered." Our two ships, whose 
 masts were wounded, and their sails and rigging cut 
 to pieces, were unable to follow the enemy, who, as 
 usual, took advantage of their crippled state, and 
 went off. With regard to the proceedings of these 
 rebels after they had the temerity to enter England, 
 Admiral Anson was duly apprised by his brother, 
 Mr. Thomas Anson. Extracts of his last three let- 
 ters will here sufhce : 
 
 Ith December. — " I fancy there has been a general panic 
 about London, upon the rebels seeming to make a point 
 that way ; but it appears that they understand their business 
 better, and yesterday morning, about eight o'clock, marched 
 out of Derby and lay at Ashburn and the adjacent villages, 
 A person I sent to reconnoitre brought an account, that 
 about ten this morning he saw, at three-quarters of a mile's 
 distance, the whole body pass along a valley at the other 
 side of Weaver Hills, the road to Newcastle or Leek, for 
 they might turn either way. All the most credible accounts 
 agree that the number of the rebels does exceed seven thou- 
 sand — three or four thousand good troops, the rest rabble 
 and boys. The Pretender's son, who Avas generally in the 
 rear, before the army was so near them, has since inarched
 
 1745.] FRENCH WAR — SCOTCH REBELLION. 119 
 
 at the head. He is something under six feet high^ wears a 
 plaid^ walks well^, a good person enough, but a melancholy 
 aspect, speaks little, and was never seen to smile — so much 
 for rebels and armies ! My situation is still the same — 
 between two fires — and the prospect, I fear, does not mend 
 upon us." 
 
 9^^ December. — "Your letter, which I have just received, 
 would have been a seasonable consolation if I had not been 
 all this day in good spirits upon finding that we are now 
 fairly quit of the rebels, without any apprehensions of their re- 
 turn. They marched out of Leek yesterday morning for Con- 
 gleton and Macclesfield, and are probably returning by the 
 same route they came. The duke, I am told, has put himself 
 a leur trousses with three thousand foot and five regunents of 
 horse and dragoons, and will take up his quarters at Will 
 Mills, at Leek to-night, as the Pretender did two nights ago. 
 
 " The rebels were greatly exasperated at their reception 
 in Derby ; their leader was observed to be much more 
 gloomy than usual ; their ladies wept ; and their whole body 
 marched out with visible dejection and despair. Their be- 
 haviour since has been much fiercer, and at Ashburn, and 
 on their way to Leek they have plundered and ravaged, 
 murdered two or three people, and wounded others, so that 
 their name is in horror and detestation. Their cruelty will 
 probably increase, if they have time to exert it, which I 
 fancy the Duke will not give them ; and perhaps some of 
 Mr. Wade's troops are within reach. What this gang of 
 rapparees, by no means formidable in themselves, but from 
 the panic they have spread, have already done, I need not 
 observe : but it will surely be lasting matter of wonder and 
 of reproach." 
 
 iMh December. — •' I have just received a letter from
 
 120 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. III. 
 
 Jones, the postmaster of Stone, dated this day, 5 o'clock, 
 in which he says they had, at that minute, an account that 
 the rebels marched out of Preston yesterday, and that our 
 horse marched in that afternoon, and it was thought would 
 he up with them by noon to-day. He encloses a letter from 
 Will Mills to me, which is as follows : — 
 
 " ' I hope we shall hear no more of the rebels in these 
 parts. The duke and his army were at Wigan last night. 
 The rebels are in the utmost distress, have neither shoes 
 nor stockings, nor any hope of getting any, not able to 
 march, and dwindling aAvay every day. A detachment of 
 light horse and some hussars are pursuing them at the head 
 of the duke's army. On Thursday an aide-de-camp of 
 Wade's came to the duke, at Macclesfield, to inform him 
 that Wade had detached a large body of horse to intercept 
 them towards Lancaster, and that Oglethorpe, with another 
 body of horse and the royal hunters, were at their heels 
 pursuing them. I hope they will soon give a good account 
 of them, for they were greatly dispirited on their return to 
 this place.' * 
 
 " Leek, Saiiirday Morning.'' 
 
 This letter concludes IMr, Anson's correspondence 
 on the subject. It is well known that the cavalry 
 of the Duke of Cumberland got up with the enemy's 
 rear-o-uard at the villaiie of Clifton, near Penrith, and 
 after a skirmish compelled them to retire. At Car- 
 lisle they left a garrison and most of their cannon, 
 the main body entering Scotland in two columns. 
 Tlie duke, as soon as his battering-train could be 
 
 ♦ Anson's Collection of MS. Letters, Nos. 21, 22, and 23.
 
 1745.] FRENCH WAR — SCOTCH REBELLION. 121 
 
 brought up, bombarded the city, and soon silenced 
 the fire of the rebels, who, on tlie 30th December, 
 were glad to surrender at discretion. 
 
 Just at this important period, Admiral Anson was 
 left almost alone in the charge of the Admiralty. 
 The Duke of Bedford was laid up with the gout, and 
 Lord Sandwich was taken dangerously ill in Bir- 
 mingham, where he was visited by Lord Halifax, 
 who writes to JMr. Anson, " that his fcA^er had left 
 him, but with great weakness and lowness of spirits ; 
 strength and spirits, he doubted not, would return 
 soon, but he had been dangerously ill, almost beyond 
 hope." " I am extremely concerned," says Mr. An- 
 son to his brother, " both in public and private re- 
 spects, that the Board is so indisposed at sucli a 
 juncture. Heaven restore and preserve it ! " 
 
 The effect of this illness on the mind and spirits 
 of Lord Sand\^'ich, as described in a letter from Lord 
 Halifax to Admiral Anson, is so extraordinary, in a 
 man of such powerful intellect and bodily strength, 
 as to deserve recording. It is dated Birmingham, 
 13th December, 1745:— 
 
 " I came here in great haste (before my last march to 
 Stafford), having been informed my good friend Lord Sand- 
 wich lay dangerously ill of a fever here ; and indeed I found 
 him very much out of order. He was once blooded, and 
 they hoped the complaint was removed, but I was sensible 
 it lay heavy on his spirits. When I returned here two days 
 afterwards, the fever was entirely removed; but still his
 
 122 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. III. 
 
 spirits were as low as ever, nor has it been in my power, by 
 any means, to recover them, though I think I have used all • 
 and if anybody could have given him ease, he told me it 
 would have been myself. The concern I undergo upon this 
 occasion is beyond what I can express, and the long and 
 uninterrupted course of our friendship makes it impossible 
 for one man to feel more for another than I do for him. 
 The terrible lowness of his spirits makes him take such 
 strange notions into his head as are not to be accounted for, 
 and by force of reason impossible to be removed. He fan- 
 cies that the expense attending his new commission, though 
 not amounting to 200/., has utterly ruined him, and that he 
 is undone in his circumstances, though, even by his own 
 account, they appear noways unpaired. These ill-founded 
 notions are continually preying upon him ; he figures to 
 himself the miseries of poverty and distress, and his disposi- 
 tion is as much affected by them as if they really existed. 
 No weakness of mind, no want of judgment, appears in his 
 conversation on any point, but that single one of his circum- 
 stances, which possesses him in such a manner as harasses 
 him to death. Though he has draughts upon the bank and 
 draughts upon his agent, he expresses himself in the most 
 extreme want of money, and lie has had from me all the 
 cash I could spare ; but nothing alleviates his complaint. 
 
 ..." Lady Sandwich is here with my lord. I was in 
 hopes her company might in some degree relieve him ; but 
 I do not find it to be the case. The physicians prescribe 
 nothing at jircsent, unless it Ije a little bark, and seem to 
 think that time alone can give strength and cure. I am 
 sure I need not hint to you that it is proper you should keep 
 secret the exact state of my poor lord's health. Tiiis weak- 
 ness is, I dare say, the effect of the fever ; but I should be
 
 1745.] FRENCH WAR — SCOTCH REBELLION. 123 
 
 sorry anybody but yourself should know to what excess it is 
 carried. God grant that I may be soon able to give you a 
 better account of him ! I ought to make many excuses for 
 this letter. &c. &c. 
 
 (Signed) "Dunk Halifax."* 
 
 Though everything was going on well, as far as 
 the Admiralty was concerned, though the navy had 
 not as yet any great exploit to boast of either at 
 home or abroad, yet this illness of the second on the 
 list of the Lords Commissioners, and the absence of 
 the first lord at Woburn, threw a heavy responsibility 
 on Anson, though the junior lord, except one, of the 
 Board ; and so tenacious were some of the others of 
 their authority, as seniors, that Anson frequently 
 found himself thwarted in the measures which he 
 conceived best to be pursued for the king's service, 
 and which he was desired by the Duke of Bedford to 
 pursue ; he was in fact the only efficient naval 
 member of the Board. Lord Sandwich, however, 
 speedily recovered, but found it advisable to remain 
 for a while at Hinchingbrook, from whence, in a 
 letter of 25th ]\Iay, 1746, addressed to Admiral 
 Anson, is the following passage, relating to a most 
 important subject : — 
 
 '' I like the Duke of Newcastle's letter about the 
 court-martial very well, and imagine you Avill take 
 care to be constantly putting liim in mind that his 
 Majesty has promised that proper methods will be 
 
 * Ansons Collection, No. 184.
 
 124 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [cH. III. 
 
 taken for preventinc^ anything of the like nature for 
 the future ; for, if this opportunity to establish our 
 jurisdiction is not made use of, I fear it may be a 
 long time before another will offer." 
 
 This mention of the court-martial, and the pre- 
 servation of the jurisdiction of the Admiralty, allude 
 to a matter of some delicacy, in which Anson ac- 
 rjuitted himself with great judgment, and. as one well 
 versed in the powers and authorities vested in the 
 Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. On these 
 powers and authorities he rightly conceived that the 
 king, on the prayer of the House of Commons, had 
 encroached. The nation, always jealous of the honour 
 and character of the British navy, were clamorous 
 against the Admirals Lestock and Matthews for their 
 failure in the engagement of the French fleet off Tou- 
 lon. As such occasions always supply matter for some 
 member or other of the House of Commons to move for 
 immediate inquiry, without giving time to the proper 
 department to take such steps as the subject may re- 
 quire, so, in the present instance, a motion was nuide 
 for certain officers being examined at the bar of the 
 House, relative to the conduct of these two admirals, 
 and of others in the fleet ; in consequence of which, 
 the House came to the resolution of addressing his 
 Majesty on the subject, praying that he would be 
 graciously pleased to give directions that a court- 
 martial should be held, in the most sjieedy and solemn 
 manner, to inquire into the conduct, &:c. &c. ; to
 
 1745.] FRENCH WAR — SCOTCH REBELLION. 125 
 
 Avhicli his Majesty gave a gracious reply, and issued 
 his commands to the Board of Admiralty, to order a 
 court-martial to be assembled accordingly. 
 
 This proceeding, though so very unusual, and 
 striking at once at the authority of the Admiralty, in 
 whom alone the power was vested, was nevertheless 
 complied with ; but Admiral Anson felt it his duty 
 to wait on the Duke of Newcastle, and humbly to 
 remonstrate against such interference on the part of 
 his jMajesty, and to request he would submit to the 
 king the injurious consequences that would result to 
 his Majesty's naval service, should so unusual a stretch 
 of authority unhappily be brought into a precedent. 
 The king and his minister could not but see at once 
 how necessary it was to maintain inviolate the juris- 
 diction of the Admiralty, as by law established, and 
 by royal patent confirmed ; and no instance of such 
 interference has ever since occurred. 
 
 The result of this trial is well known. Admiral 
 ]\Iatthews was cashiered and rendered incapable of 
 any farther employ in his Majesty's service ; and 
 Vice-Admiral Lestock was acquitted of all and every 
 part of the charge. Eleven captains were tried, of 
 whom two only were acquitted ; three others were 
 cashiered, but restored to the service; two were 
 dismissed, and declared unfit for further employment ; 
 one cashiered and mulcted of a year's pay, but re- 
 stored ; one dismissed and placed on half- pay ; one 
 died on his passage home ; and one deserted into 
 Spain, and v»'as no more heard oh
 
 126 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. III. 
 
 A very extraordinary circumstance occurred with 
 regard to the meml^ers of this court-martial, which 
 shows that it is not the Lords of the Admiralty alone 
 who are tenacious of their privileges. While the 
 court was sitting, the president was arrested by virtue 
 of a writ of capias, issued from the Court of Common 
 Pleas, in consequence of a verdict obtained by Lieu- 
 tenant George Fry of the marines, against Sir Cha- 
 loner Ogle, Perry JMayne, and others, for alleged 
 false imprisonment and ill-treatment in the West 
 Indies, by means of an illegal sentence passed by a 
 court-martial, of which they were members. The 
 court, now sitting, highly indignant that their pre- 
 sident. Perry Mayne, should, at such a moment, 
 be arrested, entered into certain resolutions, con- 
 taining disrespectful language against the Lord Chief 
 Justice Willes, which were submitted to the Lords 
 of the Admiralty. Their proceedings were sent by 
 the Admiralty to the minister, accompanied with a 
 request that they might be laid before the king, and 
 received in reply a notification "that his Majesty 
 expressed great displeasure at the insult offered to 
 the court-martial, l)y which the military discipline of 
 the navy is so much affected ; and his Majesty will 
 consider what steps it may be advisable to take on 
 the occasion," 
 
 Chief Justice Willes was not a man to suffer the 
 dignity of his court to be thus infringed, and his au- 
 thority called in question ; and no sooner did he 
 hear of the resolutions that had been sent to the
 
 1745.] FRENCH WAR SCOTCH REBELLION. 127 
 
 kino-, than lie caused warrants to be issued to take 
 each individual member of the court-martial into 
 custody ; determined, as he said, to assert and maintain 
 the authority of his office. The members, being 
 advised of the strict legality of this proceeding of 
 the judge, and that, from his character, he was likely 
 to carry it to the utmost extent, thought it best to 
 send him a submissive apology, which was drawn 
 up in the following terms, and signed by the pre- 
 sident and all the members : — 
 
 " As nothing is more becoming a gentleman than to ac- 
 knowledge himself to be in the wrong, as soon as he is sen- 
 sible he is so, and to be ready to make satisfaction to any 
 person he has injured ; we, therefore, whose names are 
 underwritten, being thoroughly convinced that we were 
 entirely mistaken in the opinion we had conceived of Lord 
 Chief Justice Willes, think ourselves obliged in honour, as 
 well as justice, to make him satisfaction as far as it is in our 
 power. And, as the injury we did him was of a public 
 nature, we do in this public manner declare, that we are now 
 satisfied the reflections cast upon him in our resolutions of 
 the 14th and 21st May last were unjust, unwarrantable, and 
 without any foundation whatsoever ; and we do ask pardon 
 of his lordship, and of the Court of Common Pleas, for the 
 indignity offered both to him and the court." 
 
 r „. It may be doubted whether, at this day^ any chief 
 justice of the Court of Common Pleas would, for 
 such an offence, unintentional probably, and at any 
 rate provoked, have exacted such an apology, or that 
 any body of naval officers, assembled to perform a
 
 128 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IIL 
 
 public duty, would have submitted to make one of 
 so humiliating a nature ; more especially to such 
 a man as Judge Willes, whose moral character 
 and conduct were very far from being spotless. 
 " He was not wont to disguise any of his pas- 
 sions. That for gaming was notorious ; for women 
 unbounded. There "was a remarkable story current 
 of a grave person's coming to reprove the scandal he 
 gave, and to tell him that the world talked of one of 
 his maid-servants beine" with child. Willes said, 
 'What is that to meV The monitor answered, 
 ' Oh ! but they say it is by your Lordship.' ' And 
 what is that to you?' "* 
 
 But, after all, was it legal to issue a warrant to 
 take into custody judges, that were actually sitting on 
 a trial affecting the lives of several persons? If so, 
 would it not have been equally legal to arrest Chief 
 Justice Willes while sitting on the judgment-seat, 
 and in the midst of a trial, in virtue of a writ of 
 capias issued by the Court of King's Bench ? The 
 same protection surely is due to the judges, forming 
 a court-martial, and trying a prisoner, as to a judge 
 of the Court of Common Pleas ; but it is a question 
 that is not likely to be mooted in our days, the judges 
 being more prudent and better mannered than Judge 
 Willes appears to have been. 
 
 In the year 1745, while the land-forces of Great 
 Britain were employed in putting down the RebelHon, 
 
 * Walpolc's Monioirs.
 
 1745.] FRENCH AND SPANISH WAR. 129 
 
 which had created a greater degree of alarm among 
 the people, than the ])uny efforts of the few followers 
 of the young adventurer might have been expected 
 to produce, the navy was by no means inactive. 
 The exertions of its officers and men were ge- 
 nerally crowned Vvdth success, not only in the North 
 Sea and the Channel, but along the whole coast of 
 France, the Mediterranean, the West Indies, and 
 America, and though no general actions were fought, 
 the enemy's fleet not daring to show themselves out 
 of their ports, yet several single and well-fought 
 engagements took place, many convoys were dis- 
 persed, and numerous ships of immense value cap- 
 tured, to say nothing of the brilliant exploits of pri- 
 vateers, who brought into the kingdom a great ac- 
 cession of wealth. Lord Anson had, moreover, the 
 gratification of receiving from his friend, Commodore 
 Warren, an account of his successful attack on Fort 
 Louisbourg, the garrison of which surrendered by 
 capitulation, after a short resistance, on the 27th of 
 June. The French colours being hoisted on the 
 fortress as a decoy, whenever a sail appeared in the 
 offing, were the means of enticing many valuable 
 prizes into the harbour, and others were taken in 
 those seas by his Majesty's cruisers and privateers, 
 whose united caro-oes are said to have amounted in 
 value to more than one million sterling ; that alone 
 of one single ship, the Notre Dame de Delivrauce, 
 was estimated at 600,000/. 
 
 K
 
 -\ 
 
 130 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. III. 
 
 The news of the reduction of the hnportant position 
 of Louisbourg, which may be said to command the 
 gulf and entrance into the River St. Lawrence, 
 occasioned universal joy in England. It was on this 
 occasion that the Duke of Newcastle is reported to 
 have run to the king, not merely to announce to him 
 the acquisition of this important fortress by his vic- 
 torious arms, but also to give him information of a 
 geographical discovery he had made, that Cape Breton 
 was an island. Commodore ^^'^arren had been as- 
 sisted by detachments of troops from the colonies 
 under Governor Shirley and William Pepperell, esq. ; 
 and his Majesty was so well pleased with their 
 conduct, that he conferred on each the command of 
 a regiment, with the rank of colonel, and created 
 the latter a baronet of Great Britain. Commodore 
 Warren was promoted to the rank of Rear- Admiral 
 of the Blue. 
 
 A circumstance occurred in the early part of 1746, 
 which must have occasioned much pain to Anson : 
 the part he had in it, or the advice he gave on the 
 occasion, cannot be known, nor is it of any conse- 
 quence it should, as an act of the Board of Admiralty 
 is always considered to be the act of each individual 
 member. The affair alluded to is one of great 
 harshness, and indeed of injustice, for it can be 
 looked upon in no other light, inflicted on a brave 
 officer, for such Admiral Vernon undoubtedly was. 
 He had just been promoted to the rank of Admiral
 
 1745.] FRENCH AND SPANISH WAR. 131 
 
 of the White, and was ordered to hoist his flag on the 
 2nd August, 1745 ; to repair to the Downs, and take 
 the command of that part of the Channel and of the 
 North Sea, where he was indefatigable in making his 
 arrangements, which were approved by the Admiralty. 
 His correspondence with the Board, and with the 
 officers of all ranks under his command, was however 
 generally peevish and querulous ; indeed, he appears to 
 have been of a very unhappy temper, not only dissatis- 
 fied with every one about him, but with himself, and he 
 frequently hinted to the Board an intention to resign. 
 At length, without any apparent reason, he writes to 
 the first lord of the Admiralty, to desire he may be 
 relieved in his command ; and the Board, on the day 
 following, the 26th December, sent down hy express 
 the following not very usual order to strike his flag 
 and come on shore. 
 
 " Whereas you have been appointed by us to command 
 a squadron of his Majesty's ships in the Downs, in order to 
 observe and watch the preparations and motions of the enemy 
 at Dunkirk, and the neighbouring^ ports of Flanders and 
 France, and to prevent their sending any succours from 
 thence to his Majesty's rebellious subjects in Scotland; as 
 also to guard the coasts of this kingdom from any attempts of 
 the enemy to land there with an armed force ; and whereas 
 since our appointment of you to the command of that ser- 
 vice, you have in several letters expressed to us your dislike 
 and dissatisfaction %vith the situation you are placed in, and 
 an inclination to resign your command, which uneasiness and 
 desire of resigning you have again repeated to us, in your 
 
 k2
 
 132 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. III. 
 
 letter of yesterday's date, we have taken the same into our 
 consideration, and do, in regard to your so often-mentioned 
 desire of laying down your command, and that there is an 
 experienced officer upon the spot to succeed you in it, sig- 
 nify hereby our consent thereto, and therefore do require and 
 direct you to deliver up the command of all his Majesty's 
 ships, and also of all other ships and vessels employed in his 
 Majesty's service, and that are under your orders, to Vice- 
 Admiral Martin, and to give him either such original orders 
 as are in your hands unexecuted, or else attested copies of 
 the same ; and having so done^ you are to strike your flag, 
 and come ashore, for which this shall be your warrant. 
 
 Given, &;c., 2Gth Dec, 1745. 
 
 To Admiral Vernon, Bedford, 
 
 Downs. Sandwich, 
 
 Anson, &c. 
 Per express at i past 8 o'clock P.M. 
 
 That they should remove liim from his command 
 is by no means surprising. His sell-conceit, his 
 querulous disposition, his want of temper, and his 
 abusive language, addressed through the secretarj^ 
 rendered him unfit for such a connnand ; and as all 
 this ^vas known to the Board, by his own publication of 
 his quarrels and litigious conduct in the West Indies, 
 the surju'ise is that they ever thought of a])pointing 
 Inm. The extraordinary letter he addressed to the 
 secretary of the Admiralty in June, 1744, might 1)0 
 deemed (juite sufficient to disqualify him for such 
 an olhce of trust and confidence. He says in this 
 letter, " Your First Commissioner must either have
 
 1745.] FREiNCH AND SPANISH WAR. 133 
 
 informed his IMajesty that I was dead, or have htid 
 something to my charge ;" and he concludes it thus : 
 *' I have thought proper to remind their lordships I 
 am living, and have, I thank God, the same honest 
 zeal reigning in my breast, that has animated me on 
 all occasions, to approve myself a faithful and zealous 
 subject and servant to my Royal JMaster ; and if the 
 First Lord Commissioner has represented me in any 
 other liglit to my Royal ]\laster, he has acted with a 
 degeneracy imbecoming the descendant from a noble 
 father, whose memory I reverence and esteem, though 
 I have no compliments to make to the judgment or 
 conduct of the son." His appointment, after this, 
 bespeaks at least the good nature and forbearance of 
 the son, the Duke of Bedford. 
 
 That unfortunate irritability, which was the ul- 
 timate ruin of this brave officer, would not allow 
 him to remain quiet on the present occasion. Plis 
 propensity for writing and indulging in intemperate 
 and abusive lano;uae:e ag-ainst the Board seemed to be 
 
 Coo 
 
 more congenial with his feelings ; nor did he stop 
 here. To give the greater publicity to his grievances, 
 and at the same time a vent to his angry and im- 
 petuous temper, he published two anonymous pam- 
 phlets, in which were inserted the official letters he 
 had received from the Secretary of State, as well as 
 those from the Lords of the Admiralty, together with 
 his own voluminous correspondence, in which he 
 goes out of his way to combat their opinions, passing
 
 134 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. Ill* 
 
 strictures on tlieir acts, and giving liis own notions in 
 opposition to theirs, on matters that had no relation 
 to his command. This seems to have been con- 
 sidered so outrageous a breach of confidence, that the 
 Board directed their secretary to call upon him to 
 avow or disavow his being the author of the said 
 pamphlets. The letter of Mr. Cleveland was cer- 
 tainly not couched in such courteous terms, as Avere 
 calculated to soothe the irritable feelings of this gallant 
 officer, who saidrhe disdained to answer a question 
 that no one had any right to put to him, and that he 
 should answer it, if at all, to the Board of Admiralty. 
 He was accordingly summoned to appear before the 
 Board, which he immediately did ; and in con- 
 sequence thereof the following proceeding took place. 
 
 " At a meeting at the Admiralty-office, the 10th of April, 
 
 1746, in the evening, 
 
 " Present — His Grace the Duke of Bedford ; Earl of 
 Sandwich; Rear- Admiral Anson; Mr. Grenville; Mr, 
 Legge ; Lord Barrington. 
 
 " Admiral Vernon attending, was called in ; and his 
 Grace the Duke of Bedford acquainted him, that the Lords 
 had taken notice of some things that had passed, and, as 
 First Lord, he spoke to hun as the mouth of the Board, 
 who represented the Lord High Admiral. That, upon 
 seeing two pamphlets published in print, called ' A Speci- 
 men of naked Truth, from a British Sailor,' and ' Some sea- 
 sonable Advice from an honest Sailor to whom it might have 
 
 concerned, for the service of the C n and C y,' they 
 
 had ordered their secretary to write to him, to know Avhcther
 
 1746.] FRENCH AND SPANISH WAR. 135 
 
 he was the publisher of them, or knew anything of their 
 publication ; and, as he had given no negative answer thereto, 
 they now demanded from him a plain and categorical an- 
 swer, whether he was the publisher of those pamphlets, or 
 whether they were committed to the press by his direction, 
 consent, or knowledge ? Mr. Vernon replied, that he had 
 always a great honour and veneration for his Grace ; allowed 
 his Grace was right in saying he represented the Lord High 
 Admiral, but that he was mightily surprised at such ques- 
 tions, which were upon a matter of a private nature ; and 
 that, as he thought he had the liberty of a subject, he did 
 not look upon himself obliged to answer them ; that he had 
 pleasure in saying he had always served as a faithful servant 
 of the crown, and, as an officer, was always ready to obey 
 their Lordships' commands. 
 
 " Upon which his Grace replied that he was sent for as 
 an officer, and that he spoke to him the sense of the Board 
 in telling liim that, as he did not deny the questions put to 
 him, wth relation to the publication of the aforesaid pam- 
 phlets, they could not but look upon him as the publisher 
 of them. To which Mr. Vernon replied, that he was sur- 
 prised his Grace should ask such a question, and then with- 
 diew. 
 
 "Friday, 1 Ith April, 1746. 
 " Present — The same Board as on the preceding day. 
 
 " His Grace the Duke of Bedford acquainted the Lords, 
 that he had attended the King this morning, and had in- 
 formed his Majesty of what had passed between them and 
 Admiral Vernon, with relation to the publication of two 
 pamphlets, entitled ' A Specimen of naked Truth, from a 
 British Sailor,' and ' Some seasonable Advice from an honest
 
 136 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. III. 
 
 Sailor, to Avliom it might have concerned, for the service of 
 the C n and C y/ and what had passed at his attend- 
 ance here last night thereupon, and signified his Majesty's 
 pleasure that the said Vice- Admiral Vernon* should be struck 
 ofT the list of flag-officers. 
 
 " Resolved^ that the same be done."! 
 
 Strict justice may have required that such conduct 
 should not be passed over without some severe cen- 
 sure, reprimand, or a resolution never to be again 
 employed, such as a court-martial would probably 
 have inflicted, if one could have been held. Some- 
 thing of this kind might have answered every pur- 
 pose, without adopting so harsh and severe a punish- 
 ment as that of removing his name from the list. 
 The Board might have left him to the effect of that 
 clever and biting "' Letter," occasioned by his " Spe- 
 cimen of Naked Truth,'" supposed to have been 
 written by Mr. Legge, one of the Lords of the Ad- 
 miralty, which, together with his conduct while in 
 the DoAvns, completely demolished that pretension 
 to popularity which the affair of Porto Bello had 
 conferred on him. "The brave conqueror of Porto 
 Bello" (says the letter-writer) " Avith sLr ships only ; 
 he that had destroyed the forts of Carthagena, and 
 given us a holiday for an affair tliat, 1)y the next ex- 
 press, put us all in mourning, we could not think sub- 
 
 * He was promoted to the rank oi Admiral in April, 1745. 
 t " Minute Book" of the Admiralty.
 
 1746.] FRENCH AND SPANISH WAR. 137 
 
 ject to any meanness either of heart or temper. In 
 short, we could hardly alloAv you the common imper- 
 iections of human nature. At the last general elec- 
 tion, you might have been member, I believe, for 
 almost half the boroughs in England. It was a kind 
 of petty treason to give ear to the least insinuation to 
 your disadvantage, which would, at that time, have 
 been more severely resented in most public compa- 
 nies than disaffected expressions against his Majesty 
 liimself. You cannot be insensible, Sir, that Ave 
 carried you in our pockets upon medals ; that we had 
 you chased on the heads of our canes ; that a print of 
 you, either from copper or wood, was seen in every 
 liouse ; that we formed societies in your name, and 
 that even the ladies wore you in their fans and snuff- 
 boxes : nay, we had like to have made an annual fes- 
 tival on your birthday, equal to Gunpowder Treason, 
 or King Charles' Restoration ; and we were one year 
 so zealous in the affair, that we kept two days, upon 
 a presumption that we were wrong in the first of 
 them. All these are matters, I doubt not, concern- 
 ing which you have taken care to have good informa- 
 tion." 
 
 After this sarcastic display, which is nevertheless 
 true, the letter-writer goes on to show him how the 
 mighty are fallen — how his vanity, his ostentation_, his 
 bad temper, his rigour both to officers and seamen in 
 the West Indies, his general rough behaviour, had 
 alienated men's minds ; and that the king's service had
 
 138 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. III. 
 
 been more than once retarded, and a general odium 
 brouglit upon those engaged in it, through the 
 haughty and insulting carriage of him who ought to 
 have conciliated all parties. He tells him the Duke 
 of Bedford was willing, perhaps, to see if his merit 
 would at last shine without his foible ; " but if, upon 
 this trial, you appeared again haughty, self-sufficient, 
 uncommunicative, irregular, did it become the dig- 
 nity of the honourable Board to continue you in com- 
 mand ?" But, towards the conclusion, he says : " I 
 can with pleasure reflect, after all, that JMr. Vernon, 
 notwithstanding his weaknesses, cannot fail of making 
 a consideral)le figure in English history : yes, the 
 inflexible patriot, the undaunted, unwearied officer, 
 the blunt honest man, will be remembered with 
 honour, in spite of those frailties that were a bar to 
 his being always employed." 
 
 This brave descendant of the ancient and honour- 
 able iiimily of the Vernons, after his disgrace, lived 
 generally in great retirement, very rarely attending 
 his duty in the House of Commons, where he had 
 made himself exceedingly disliked, as "a silly 
 brawling admiral." It does not appear that he made 
 any attempt, by submitting his case to the king, to 
 be restored to the service, but retired to his seat at 
 Nacton, in Suffolk, where he died at an advanced 
 age, on the 30th October, 1757. 
 
 Though the French gave our brave fellows no 
 opportunity, in the course of the year 1746, to dis-
 
 1746.] FRENCH AND SPANISH WAR. 139 
 
 tinguisli themselves in any general action, yet, in 
 single engagements, both by king's ships and pri- 
 vateers, several gallant exploits were performed. 
 Among others Mr. Legge mentions two in a private 
 letter to Anson, of the 1st May. "The king," he 
 says, " has been spoken to in relation to Captain 
 Phillips, w4io retook the Solebay, and is so well satis- 
 fied with his behaviour, that he gives us leave to 
 reward him as we think proper. He cut the Solebay 
 out of St. Martin's Road ; there were on board her 
 two hundred and forty men, and he had but one 
 hundred and thirty himself, with fifty of whom he 
 boarded her, and brought her out ; and, in all re- 
 spects, the action seems to be as gallant as one need 
 wish to see in a summer's day. Phillips himself is very 
 desirous to be made a captain in the king's service. 
 But this, we suppose, you wall have great objection 
 to, as well as we have. Medals and money, we 
 think, should be given liberally, and should be glad 
 of your thoughts, and his Grace's, if with you, upon 
 this subject." The recommendation of the duke and 
 Anson was, that a purse of 500 guineas should 
 be given, and a gold medal of the value of 200 
 guineas, Avhich the king immediately sanctioned. 
 
 In the same year, however, JMr. Brown, the master 
 of the Shoreham, having been placed in the com- 
 mand of a small privateer of two guns and twelve 
 swivels, engaged for five or six hours a privateer of 
 Bilboa, of ten guns, eighteen swivels, and seventy-
 
 140 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. III. 
 
 eiglit men, of whom forty-six were killed; all his 
 ammunition being spent, he took her by hoarding. 
 Mr. Brown, for his gallant behaviour, vras promoted 
 to the rank of commander, and appointed to command 
 a sloop of war. 
 
 The other action which ]\Ir. Legge mentions in 
 the same letter is a remarkable one. "Captain 
 Molineux Shuldham (afterwards Lord Shuldham), 
 who was taken in the Blast bomb, is just re- 
 turned from Spain, and has been at the Board this 
 morning. Nothing certainly was ever braver than 
 his own and his men's behaviour. He was attacked 
 by two privateers, each of which had more men than 
 himself. His own complement was one hundred and 
 eio-hteen, out of which forty-five were killed, and 
 only twenty-two left unwounded. He received three 
 M'ounds himself, and was left for dead upon the 
 (piarter-deck. He was cruelly used by the captains 
 of the privateers, kept naked in the sun for two days, 
 though covered with wounds, in hopes it would kill 
 him ; and indeed the governor of the Havanna seemed 
 so sensible of this brutality, tluit, as Sbuldham says, 
 he did his utmost to make amends by his treatment ; 
 lie sent for the captains of the privateers into Shuld- 
 ham's presence, and offered to inflict any punishment 
 u])on them he should name. But Sliuldham had so 
 much generosity as to desire none. Upon all these 
 accounts (and, into the bargain, he being a clever 
 fellow), we hold him worthy of a post-ship, and pro-
 
 1746.] FRENCH AND SPANISH WAR. 141 
 
 pose to take the first opportunity of giving liini one, 
 if the duke and you approve.'"* 
 
 The duke and Anson did approve, and ordered a 
 captain's commission to he forth^vith made out for 
 him. 
 
 In this year several actions were fought singly 
 and successiidly by his Majesty's ships of war with 
 those of the enemy of suj)erior force in guns and men, 
 in which the great disparity in the numhers of killed 
 and wounded, in flivour of the British, clearly pointed 
 out the superior skill of the Latter in gunnery and 
 seamanship. The Defiance, for instance, captured the 
 Ambuscade, of forty guns and three hundred men, 
 having killed and wounded twenty-six of the enemy ; 
 the Defiance had one killed and three wounded. 
 
 The Portland, Captain Stevens, of fifty guns, after 
 a close engagement of two hours, captured L'Au- 
 guste, of fifty guns and four hundred and seventy 
 men ; killed fifty and wounded ninety-four. The 
 Portland had five killed and thirteen wounded. 
 
 The Nottingham, Captain P. Saumarez, of sixty 
 guns and four hundred men, had an obstinate engage- 
 ment of two hours with the IMars, of sixty-four guns 
 and five hundred men ; killed twenty-three men and 
 wounded nineteen, having only three killed and nine 
 wounded. ^lany other similar instances occurred in 
 the course of the year 1746. 
 
 * Anson's Collections, No. 2 70. He adds in a P.S., ''I have just 
 lieanl Ihc Duke of Newcastle say, it is a shame if Phillips is not made 
 captain of the Solebay. So probably the king is inclined that way."
 
 142 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 
 
 Order in Council for improving the building of Ships— Mode 
 of promoting Admirals — Situation of old Captains — Orders in 
 Council for their relief, by appointing them retired Rear- Admirals 
 — Objectionable clause in the order — First established uniform — 
 The year 1747 glorious for the British Navy — Duke of Bedford's 
 opinion regarding the distribution of the fleet — Lord Sandwich's — 
 Lord Anson's disposition of it — his information of two squadrons of 
 the enemy about to sail — Makes preparations to intercept them — 
 Determines to hoist his flag — Selects Rear-Admiral Warren for 
 his second — Letter of the Duchess of Bedford — Falls in with, at- 
 tacks, and takes six French ships of war — Admiral Warren pur- 
 sues the rest — Great rejoicings on this first victory — Congratulations 
 from Duke of Bedford and Lord Sandwich — Fox's squadron falls 
 in with and captures a large portion of the St. Domingo fleet — 
 Rear- Admiral Hawke appointed to command a squadron to inter- 
 cept that of M. Letendeur — Engages and takes five sail of the line 
 and one fifty out of the eight — His account of the action — Captain 
 Fox's conduct brought befoi-e a court-martial — is dismissed his 
 ship, and never after employed — Numerous captures made, and 
 several single actions fought — M. de Conflans taken by Captain 
 Shirley — his unfounded charges against that officer — Captain 
 Shirley's exposure of them — Relative ranks of army and navy 
 settled — Boscawen sent to India with a large force of ships and 
 troops — Unsuccessful attempt on Pondicherry — Hears of the peace, 
 and returns to England. 
 
 1746 to 1749. 
 
 Anson's active measures for preparing the fleet 
 for sea, and his great desire for introducing an im- 
 proved class of ships, and also for bettering the 
 condition of the old captains of the navy, soon 
 showed themselves by two important Orders in coun- 
 cil^ both of which could only have emanated from him.
 
 J746.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 143 
 
 whom experience had taught to feel the evils which he 
 was anxious to remove. The first memorial of the 
 Board relates to the building of ships. It states that, 
 on examining the methods of building ships of the 
 royal navy, the Lords of the Admiralty found that no 
 establishment or regulation had been made since the 
 year 1719, and that those regulations had been long 
 since discontinued, and, instead thereof, ships had 
 been built according to particular schemes or propo- 
 sitions, without any standard or uniformity, those of 
 the same rate being often of unequal dimensions, so 
 that the stores and furniture of one would not fit an- 
 other of the same class, a matter of infinite inconve- 
 nience in point of service,* as well as the occasion of 
 extravagance in point of expense ; that they likewise 
 found several complaints that the scantlings of the 
 ships are not so large and strong as they should 
 be, and that the ships themselves are crank, and heel 
 so much in blowing weather, as not to be able to 
 open their lee-ports, at the same time that ships of 
 other nations go upright, with all their batteries open, 
 and ready for action. It states that, 
 
 *' These and other defects showed the necessity of 
 establishing a fixed standard for building the ships 
 of the royal navy, and that, thereupon, they gave 
 orders to Sir Jacob Acworth, surveyor of the navy, 
 and also to the masters shipwrights of his Majesty's 
 
 * Lord Nelson most deeply felt, and frequently complained of this 
 great inconvenience.
 
 144 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 dock-yards, and likewise to some eminent ship- 
 buiklers on the river Thames, to take this matter 
 into their consideration, and to propose and kay be- 
 fore the Lords Commissioners their several opinions 
 in writing, of such a system or establishment lor 
 building a ship of each rate, as might amend and 
 rectify the present mistakes and errors therein, and 
 contribute towards obtaining all the proper advan- 
 tages and qualities that are essential to the making 
 them good ships of war; which they having ac- 
 cordingly done, the said Lords Commissioners thought 
 it proper, in the next place, to refer all the said re- 
 ports to Sir John Norris, admiral of his IMajesty's 
 fleet, directing him to summon such of the flag-offi- 
 cers as were not in service at sea, such commissioners 
 of the navy as have been commanders at sea, such 
 captains as have served as commodores, and such 
 other senior captains as should be thought fit, and to 
 meet togetlier and examine the said reports, as ^vell 
 as some other propositions of the same nature." 
 
 It then goes on to state, that "having finished 
 their deliberations with great judgment and exact- 
 ness," they submitted several propositions to the 
 Board, which are not here necessary to enumerate 
 or detail. The propositions were approved, and, in 
 consequence of this business-like memorial, a better 
 class of ships Avere introduced into the navy, but still 
 imperfect, as the first, that were built and ready four 
 years afterwards, were discovered to be, representa-
 
 1746.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 145 
 
 tions having been made by several captains that they 
 did not steer so easy nor sail so well as was ex- 
 pected ; and therefore, on the 5th July, 1750, another 
 memorial from tlie Board was presented to the Lords 
 Justices (the king then in Hanover), stating that, 
 being on the point of ordering three ninety-gun 
 ships, one eighty, one seventy, and two of sixty 
 guns, they pray to be allowed to make such varia- 
 tions in the scheme of 1746 as may be thought ne- 
 cessary to improve them as ships of war. 
 
 The second memorial to the King in Council re- 
 garded promotion and retirement of flag-oflicers. It 
 was intended to be an act of grace and favour in be- 
 half of the veteran captains of the navy, who had 
 long suffered, both in point of honour and emolument, 
 by being passed over in the promotion of flag-officers ; 
 while their names were kept at the head of the effi- 
 cient list of captains, with the scanty allowance of the 
 half-pay then established, which, to the seniors, was 
 10*. a day. At that time brevet promotions of flag- 
 officers appear to have been unknown, and seniority 
 wholly disregarded.* When one or two admirals 
 were required to be added to the list of flag-officers, 
 the Board looked down the list until they arrived 
 at one whom they considered the best entitled to 
 receive the rank, and who was accordingly selected ; 
 undoubtedly the most effectual mode to obtain good 
 
 * The edition of the printed instructions brought out this year 
 (1747) says, "No brevet commission shall be allowed." 
 
 L
 
 146 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 and efficient flag-officers. Thus, for instance, a pro- 
 motion of three rear-admirals took place in 1744, 
 when Isaac Townsend, with fifty captains standing- 
 above him on the list, was selected, Henry Medley 
 with fifty-one, and George Anson with fifty-five 
 above him; the last, however, did not then take 
 place, as has been seen.* 
 
 It will readily be supposed that so great a number 
 of officers thus passed over, and left to subsist on the 
 miserable pittance of half-pay, and, (what was far 
 more grating and offensive to their feelings,) all hope 
 of advancement cut off, with a mark, as it were, set 
 upon their names, could not remain tranquil and in- 
 different under their grievances, but that frequent 
 memorials and remonstrances must have been sub- 
 mitted to the favourable consideration of the Lords 
 of the Admiralty, though hitherto, as it would appear, 
 without success. Now, however, that a flag-officer 
 of higli reputation in the service had become an influ- 
 
 * At this time the total number of flag-officers on the list was so 
 small that selection was indispensable. They were— 
 
 1 Admiral of the Fleet. 
 
 3 Admirals of the White. 
 3 Admirals of the Blue. 
 
 2 Vice- Admirals of the Red. 
 
 2 Vice- Admirals of the White. 
 
 1 Vice- Admiral of the Blue (the unfortunate Bynp;). 
 
 9 Rear- Admirals, 3 of each colour. 
 
 — Making a total of 
 
 21 
 The number of captains on the list was 209, so that about one- 
 fovu-th of Ihe whole had been sot aside at the time of the above-men- 
 tioned promotions.
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 147 
 
 ential member of the Board, it may be supposed that 
 Anson must have received, both in person and in 
 writing, many touching appeals to his humanity, his 
 justice, and love of the service, and many pressing 
 entreaties for his powerful interest in their behalf. 
 Be this as it may, the interference, from whatever 
 quarter it proceeded, was successfully employed to 
 a certain extent, as will appear from the following 
 order in council : 
 
 " At the court at Kensington, the 3rd day of June, 1 747, 
 " Present — The King's most excellent Majesty in Council. 
 " Wliereas the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty 
 have represented to his Majesty at this Board, that, upon the 
 promotion of admirals, it hath frequently happened that 
 several old captains have been superseded by junior captains 
 being made flag-officers over their heads, and though there 
 hath not been any particular charge of misbehaviour or 
 neglect of duty against the said old captains whilst in service, 
 yet, from their great age and other infirmities, it hath been 
 judged proper for his Majesty's service to promote junior 
 captains to the rank of admirals, as being more active and 
 capable of discharging the great trust reposed in them; 
 that, as this has been the occasion of great discontent and 
 complaint amongst such old captains, who think some regard 
 ought to have been paid to the length of their services, and 
 who only desire that, if they are not thought proper to be 
 put into actual service with fleets under their command, 
 they may, however, retire with honour, and have a competent 
 subsistence in their old age, — the said Lords Com- 
 missioners therefore thought it proper to take the case of 
 the said old captains into their consideration, and have 
 
 l2
 
 148 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [cil. IV. 
 
 thereupon prepared and laid before his Majesty a proposal 
 for removinj^ the grounds of all such discontents and com- 
 plaints amongst the said captains, and for preventing the 
 same for the future ; and whereas the Lords of the Com- 
 mittee of Council (to whom his Majesty had referred the 
 consideration of the said proposal) have this day made their 
 report to his Majesty upon the same : — His Majesty was 
 thereupon pleased, by and with the advice of his Privy 
 Council, to order, as it is hereby ordered, that, at the next 
 promotion of flag-officers, such captains in the navy, who, 
 notwithstanding their seniority, shall happen to be set aside 
 l)y such promotion, as well as those who have been already set 
 aside by any former promotions, as also those who shall at any 
 time or times hereafter be set aside by future promotions, be 
 appointed by commissions from the Lords Commissioners of 
 the Admiralty to be rear-admirals in general terms, without 
 expressing any squadron or division of colours used in the 
 fleet ; and that they shall be esteemed as superannuated 
 sea-ofiicers, and placed for the rest of their lives on the 
 ordinary estimate of the navy, with a pension equal to the 
 half-pay of a rear-admiral ; provided that all such captains 
 shall have served at sea since the commencement of the 
 present war with Spain, and that they do make application 
 to the said Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, by 
 petition for such commission t)r pension ; but in case they, 
 or any of them, shall not think fit to make such applications, 
 that they shall, nevertheless, continue to receive half-pay as 
 captains according to their seniority; and provided also, that 
 no captains who have civil employment, or are upon the 
 establishment of Greenwich Hospital, or command any oi 
 his Majesty's yachts, shall have the benefit of this estal)lish- 
 ment, but shall be considered as to their right to half-pay
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 149 
 
 wlien they are out of employment as captains only accortlinjj^ 
 to their seniority. And the said Lords Commissioners of 
 the Admiralty arc to take care that his Majesty's pleasure 
 hereby signified be duly complied with. 
 
 (Signed) W, SnARrE. 
 
 Tliis generous and munificent act, as it no doubt mis 
 intended to be, contains within it the same kind of 
 vicious restriction which has affected all future orders 
 in council on brevet promotions. The exception made 
 in the present instance excluded more than one- 
 half of those for whose benefit it appeared at first 
 sight to be intended — " His Majesty is pleased to 
 order that, at the next promotion of flag-officers, 
 such captains of the navy, Avho, notwithstanding 
 their seniority, shall happen to be set aside by such 
 promotion, as well as those avIio have been already 
 set aside by any former promotions, and also those 
 who sliall at any time or times hereafter be set aside 
 by future promotions, shall be appointed, by com- 
 mission, rear-admirals in general terms." Nothing 
 could be more liberal or gracious than this ; hut the 
 deadly clause which follows withers the apparent 
 liberal intention : — "provided that all such captains 
 shall have served at sea since the commencement of the 
 present war with Spain." The effect of this will be 
 apparent from the very next promotion of flag- 
 officers, which took place the same year, when nine * 
 
 * This is a very unusual number, but none had been made for three 
 years, and they were wanted, as six of the nine were immediately em- 
 ployed. In these six were Hawke, Knowles, Forbes, and Boscawen.
 
 150 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 captains were promoted to active flags, and nineteen 
 only made retired rear-admirals, out of upwards of 
 fifty standing on the list of captains. 
 
 It appears from a letter of Legge, one of the 
 junior lords of the Admiralty, to ]Mr. Anson, that 
 the obnoxious clause was inserted by him. He says, 
 " Nothing is yet finished with regard to your scheme 
 of the superannuation, though the whole is fixed and 
 waits only one council to execute. I have, with 
 much difficulty, so far got the better of our noble 
 friend's implicit tenderness (which I think highly 
 commendable in him) to length of service, or, in 
 other words, to seniority of inexpei'ience, as to limit 
 the retrospect of that plan to those who have served 
 since the commencement of the war with Spain, and 
 to carry the prospect of it as low down as the taking 
 in of Boscawen."* 
 
 About the same time the Board of Admiralty 
 decided to give an established uniform to naval 
 officers ; one account says, blue with white collars, 
 cuffs, and facings, selected by the king, and taken 
 from the Duchess of Bedford's riding-habit. But no 
 order in council was issued, as has since been usual, nor 
 was it gazetted ; and there is some reason to believe 
 that the general adoption of it was confined, or 
 nearly so, for some time afterwards, to flag-officers 
 and ca})tains. It is stated, on what appears good au- 
 thority, that when it had reached the wardroom, there 
 
 * Anson's Collection, No. 280.
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 151 
 
 was but one uniform coat to be put on by any of the 
 lieutenants, when sent on duty to other ships, or on 
 shore : that the colour of the breeclies was still left 
 to the f^mcy of each, and Avas generally black or 
 scarlet. JMajor Rennell, in a letter to a friend, says, 
 " Before Anson's time (it is said) the lieutenants of 
 the navy on the Mediterranean station purchased 
 the soldiers' old coats at Gibraltar and IMahon^ and, 
 trinuning them Avith Hack, Avore them as a uniform. 
 Sixty-tAVO years ago (in the year 1759) I saAV a 
 master of a man-of-AA^ar, aa^Iio Avore a red coat so 
 trimmed, and thought himself very smart. Perhaps it 
 was one of the lieutenants' old coats, as they then 
 wore blue uniforms." 
 
 Another account seems to upset the story of the 
 
 Duchess of Bedford's riding-habit, and that the 
 
 uniform originated in the foUoAving manner. In a 
 
 letter from Captain Keppel to Captain P. Saumarez, 
 
 dated London, 25th August, 1747, is the folloAving 
 
 passage : — " Tim Brett tells me you have made a 
 
 uniform coat, &c., after your OAvn fancy ; my Lord 
 
 Anson is desirous that many of us should make coats 
 
 after our own tastes, and then that a choice should 
 
 be made of one to be general, and if you AviU appear 
 
 in it here, he says he Avill be ansAverable your taste 
 
 Avill not be amongst the worst." What the uniform 
 
 selected Avas does not appear, nor can any order in 
 
 council be found either in the Council Office, or in 
 
 the Admiralty.
 
 152 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 Tlie year 1747 was the most glorious for the 
 character of the British navy that had occurred since 
 the commencement of the war in 1744. In fact, no 
 brilliant achievement had been performed, and the 
 few opportunities that occurred were neither satis- 
 factory to the nation, nor honourable to the parties 
 engaged ; for instance, the disgraceful affair of 
 Matthews and Lestock, of which the only good 
 result was bringing forward one of the bravest, tlie 
 most active, and distinguished officers in the king's 
 service. Captain (afterwards Sir Edward) Hawke. 
 Lestock's subsequent failure before L'Orient had cast 
 a gloom over the nation, and still more so the cowardly 
 conduct of Commodore Mitchell, who, with four sail- 
 of-the-line and a large frigate, actually ran away from 
 M. de Conflans, with two ships-of-the-line, a 54 and 
 44 gun ship, having besides with him a convoy of 60 
 sail of merchant-ships. It was small satisfaction to 
 the country that he was rendered incapable, by court- 
 martial, of ever serving again. Equally disgraceful 
 was the conduct of Conmiodore Peyton in the East 
 Indies, who declined meeting M. La Bourdonnais, 
 and suffered him to blockade Madras, and to exact 
 from the inhabitants a ransom ofabouthalf a million 
 sterling. These unfortunate failures, Avith some minor 
 captures of our convoys, tended to dispirit and to 
 Aveaken, in the puldic mind^, that confidence which 
 had hitherto been placed in the navy. 
 
 A brighter view, however, opened upon the nation
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 153 
 
 in 1747. The disasters of one set of officers had 
 stimulated others to wipe off the national disgrace. 
 Besides, a few years' practice at sea had improved 
 both officers and seamen in their professional duties ; 
 and the encouragement given to the one by pro- 
 motion^ and to the other by the Large sums of prize- 
 money they looked to receive, particularly from 
 captures of Spanish ships, quickened their zeal, and 
 witli it their love for the service. Most of the 
 officers who were Avith Lord Anson round the 
 world had been promoted, were employed in the 
 command of ships, and had distinguished themselves, 
 which, in the situation he now held, must have been 
 peculiarly gratifying, and the more so, as to him 
 had been consigned the responsibility and the 
 labouring oar at the Board, the Duke of Bedford 
 being confined at Woburn Abbey, and Lord Sand- 
 wich at Aix-la-Chapelle, whither he had been sent 
 to negociate, on the part of England, a general peace. 
 But as, in the mean while, one more campaign at 
 the very least might be expected. Lord Anson Avas 
 naturally anxious to ascertain, from his two absent 
 colleagues, tlieir respective opinions regarding the 
 disposition of the fleet, more particularly on the home 
 station. The following letter explains the views of 
 the Duke of Bedford on this subject: — 
 
 " Dear Sir — I am very glad to find that, when you 
 waited upon the king, to receive his pleasure about the de- 
 serters, he gave you an opportunity of discoursing with him
 
 154 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 with relation to our naval strength at home ; and I entirely 
 agree with you in what you said to his Majesty on that subject. 
 You know my opinion has long been that we ought to unite all 
 the ships cruising to the westward, whether in the Bay, off 
 the Isle of Bas and St. Malo's, or off Cape Clear, into one 
 squadron ; and I am the more strongly confirmed in that 
 opinion at present, because, by the sending away so great a 
 force to America as is now designed to be put under the 
 command of Admiral Lestock, we are incapacitated from 
 dividing our force to the westward, which, when collected 
 toe-ether, is not more than sufficient to withstand the Brest 
 and Rochfort fleets, if united with that of Ferrol. I am, 
 moreover, confident that these are the sentunents of his 
 Majesty, as well as of the ministers, who, I think, very 
 justly agree that no little agreements oi making prizes on the 
 enemy ought in any measure to be put in competition with 
 the keeping an ascendancy over them in the Channel. 
 
 " Dear Sir, yours, &c. 
 (Signed) " Bedford."* 
 
 Lord Sandwich writes as follows : — 
 
 " You desire my opinion with relation to the recalling the 
 ships that are now out to refit and recruit their men. I 
 must own that till I hear of the arrival of the St. Domingo 
 fleet I shall not be entirely easy without we have a sufficient 
 force cruising to intercept them ; nor do I think the time 
 that it will be necessary for Mr. Boscawento remain on that 
 service so great, that it can in any material degree delay the 
 refitting the ships, as he will probably not be able to keep 
 the sea much longer than till the ships now in hand arc 
 despatched. I think, indeed (if it was practicable for our 
 
 * Anson's Collection, No. 70.
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 155 
 
 orders to take place, which I greatly doubt), it might be a 
 prudent measure for Mr. Boscawen to send Lord George 
 Graham with the Nottingham, Eagle, Maidstone, and two 
 or three of the cleanest of his squadron, on this service, and 
 return with the remainder himself to Spithead ; but, as I 
 have already said, I think the intercepting the Domingo 
 fleet too great an object not to be very seriously attended to, 
 as I can never think there is any danger of an insult in our 
 Channel, notwithstanding the present division of our force. 
 There are at least eleven ships-of-the-line ready for im- 
 mediate service, exclusive of four ninety-gun ships, which 
 might be manned out of the frigates upon any alarm. 
 Other things will be dropping in every day ; the Sunderland 
 and Falkland particularly may be expected every hour ; and 
 as this strength is in reality a force of eighteen or twenty sail 
 of ships, and the enemy must see it greater, as they cannot 
 know the direct condition of some of our ships, which, though 
 we reckon nothing, must appear to them in a different light 
 (I mean such as the Royal Sovereign, Sandwich, Princess 
 Royal), I cannot conceive the enemy will ever think of an 
 attempt in this part of the world, or that it can be dangerous 
 to leave some ships out to perform this important service, 
 particularly as it must, in my opinion, be over, one way or 
 other, in ten days or a fortnight ; and, by immediately re- 
 calling them, we shall fall into the same trap which has, 
 during the whole war, been so successfully laid for us, o^ 
 giving way to every sudden alarm, and by that means have 
 missed every advantage fortune would have thrown in our 
 way. This is my real opinion of our present situation ; but 
 I am so little positive or confident of my own judgment, that 
 if, on considering this matter more fully, you and the Duke 
 of Bedford are of a different sentiment, and think it will be
 
 156 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH, IV. 
 
 right to recall our force from the westward immediately, I 
 shall have no difficulty to give up my opinion to those who, 
 I am sure, must know much better than myself ; and I shall 
 never intimate to any person whatever that I was of another 
 sentiment, because I think every act of this consequence, 
 one way or other, ought to be considered as the act of the 
 whole ; and you may be assured, however you determine, it 
 will have all the support I am able to give it. 
 
 " I am, &c. 
 
 " Sandwich."* 
 
 Anson, on the receipt of these two opinions, de- 
 cided on steering a middle course, by calling in a 
 portion of the western cruisers to watch the ports of 
 Brest and Rochfort, leaving a suflScient number to 
 intercept the expected convoy. In the expediency of 
 this measure he was further confirmed, in the early 
 part of 1747, by intelligence that the French, not- 
 withstandino- the ill success which had attended 
 D'Anville's expedition to North America the pre- 
 ceding year, were fitting out a s(|uadron to reinforce 
 that which remained there, Avith a view to recover, if 
 possible. Cape Breton, the key to their settlements on 
 the river St. Lawrence. It was also understood that 
 a second squadron was in readiness to proceed as a 
 reinforcement to M. Dupleix, whose success in the 
 East Indies had inspired the French with hopes that, 
 by sending out a strong detachment of ships, troops, 
 and stores, he would be enabled to complete the con- 
 * Anson's Collection, No. 345.
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 157 
 
 quest of the whole of the British settlements on the 
 coast of Coroniandel. The command of the first 
 squadron was given to M. de la Jonquiere, Chef 
 d'Eacadre, and of the second to M. de St. George. 
 The ministry had also received information that, in 
 order to ensure their safety and that of their convoys 
 as far to the southward as Cape St. Vincent, the two 
 squadrons would sail together, calculating that, from 
 their knowledge of the weakness of our naval force on 
 the home station, they would he superior to anything 
 that could be sent out to intercept them. It was 
 considered of the greatest possible importance to 
 defeat these two objects of the enemy, intended to 
 reinforce their squadrons on two distinct stations, 
 where they were already more than equal to ours. 
 Anson resolved, therefore, to fit out a fieet forth- 
 with, the connnand of which, with the approba- 
 tion and desire of the Duke of Bedford, was to be 
 taken by himself; and he appointed his friend. 
 Rear- Admiral Warren, as his second. Among the 
 ships called in from their cruising-ground, to be 
 employed on this service, were the Defiance, of 
 sixty guns, commanded by Captain F. Grenvillc, the 
 brother of Geori>-e Grenville, one of the Lords of the 
 Admiralty, and the Bristol, of fifty guns, commanded 
 by the Hon. W. Montagu, brother of Lord Sand- 
 wich. Whether it was owing to the repugnance 
 felt by these gentlemen to serve in a fleet, instead of 
 cruising alone, or whether, froni the mistaken zeal
 
 158 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 and undue interference of their friends at the Board 
 of Admiralty unsought for, does not appear, but an 
 intrigue was discovered to be carrying on by certain 
 members of that Board, with the view of preventing 
 these two ships from joining Anson's squadron, the 
 more absurd, as it coukl not escape detection, and couhl 
 not, by any possibility, be carried into effect. The 
 following letter, which Lord Anson received, when 
 his flag was flying at Plymouth, from the Duchess of 
 Bedford, fully develops this intrigue : — 
 
 « Sir, 
 
 " As the Duke of Bedford cannot write himself, and has 
 an affair of some consequence to impart, that he does not 
 care to trust to any other secretary, I am obliged to 
 trouble you with this letter. 
 
 " The night after you left London Mr. Gremille came 
 to the Duke, and after some other discourse brought in the 
 Defiance and Bristol being put under your command, and 
 seemed uneasy lest his brother should be baulked of the 
 favourite voyage by your detaining him in the western squad- 
 ron, and likewise seemed fearful that, if he proceeded on it, 
 detached from you, the admiral's eighth share might (in 
 case of any accidents happening to you) be claimed by your 
 representatives. The next morning Lord Vere came to him, 
 and mentioned, with some concern, Mr. Grenville's un- 
 easiness, and very fairly owned to him that he had advised 
 you to take them under your command. The Duke desired 
 him to explain this matter, and satisfy Mr. Grenvillc, wliich, 
 he thought, would have put an end to the whole affair ; Ijut, 
 contrary to his expectations, Lord Barrington came to him 
 just before dinner, and told him that, notwithstanding all
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 159 
 
 Lord Vere had said, Mr. Grenville was still uneasy, to which 
 the Duke answered that no alteration could be made ; in 
 consequence of which, before Lord Vere left the Board, an 
 order was directed for putting the ships under your com- 
 mand. Lord Barrington returned in the afternoon, and, 
 without communicating anything to Lord Vere, brought an 
 order in his pocket, which he desired the duke to sign, to 
 put the ships under your command, with an injunction, not 
 to keep them above seven days after you were out of the 
 Channel. This order was treated with the contempt it 
 deserved, and absolutely refused to be signed, as highly in- 
 jurious to you, and what they should deserve to be hanged 
 for, if it was done. Upon this Lord Barrington produces the 
 order you will have received. This, together with another 
 transaction that has happened since, convinces the duke of 
 the combination Mr. Grenville and Lord Barrington are in, 
 to carry their favourite points by any means whatsoever, by 
 endeavouring to trepan him to sign an order, which none of 
 his friends could have justified him for doing. 
 
 " I am very much yours, &c. 
 " Saturday night." " G. Bedford.* 
 
 This extraordinary proceeding on the part of the 
 junior members of the Board of Admiralty, in the 
 absence of the three principal ones, is such as 
 could not be tolerated for a moment ; and the 
 Duke of Bedford was not tardy in marking the 
 indignity put upon himself and his Board, for 
 in two months after the transaction a new patent 
 came out, in which the name of Wellbore Ellis, 
 Esq., was substituted for that of George Grenville. 
 * Anson's Collection, No. 72.
 
 160 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 Captain IMontagiie, of the Bristol, after Anson's action, 
 was found at Madeira by Rear-Admiral Boscawen 
 on his way to India, from whence he thus writes to 
 Lord Anson : — 
 
 " Captain Montague of the Bristol joined me the day 
 before I anchored here. I have had much trouble with him, 
 and been obliged to confine him, at the desire of the go- 
 vernor of this place,, he having put up a paper at the Custom- 
 house that he would beat one of the captains of the Indiamen 
 wherever he met him ; and, at the same time, telling every- 
 body he would put him to death ; and, upon inquiry, I 
 found the captain of the Indiaman to blame in nothing but 
 want of spirit, for suffering himself to be insulted without 
 haviner in the least ofl'ended."* 
 
 This extraordinary conduct, and the numerous 
 complaints made against him, appear to have es- 
 tranged Lord Sandwich from him altogether, Avho 
 writes as follows to Lord Anson : — 
 
 " My brother's general behaviour, and his particular con- 
 duct to me, affects me so much that I cannot write upon it 
 with any degree of connexion. I find that mild treatment 
 will not save him, and indeed I think, at the same time, that 
 nothing will. Thank God, the world can have no reproach 
 to throw upon me on his account, and, what is still a more 
 sensible satisfaction to me, I have nothing on that score to 
 reproach myself with ; and it is with great grief I add, I fear 
 it will not be long before that will be my only satisfaction 
 as to what regards him. ... I cannot conclude this disa- 
 greeable subject without returning my most sincere thanks 
 * Anson's Collection, No. 88.
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 161 
 
 for the many acts of friendship 1 have received from you, as 
 well as for your favours to my brother, which I am sure were 
 upon my account, as I know you are too good a judge of 
 mankind to have done them on his.' * 
 
 On the 9th April, 
 sailed from Plymouth 
 under his orders : — 
 
 1747, Vice-Admiral Anson 
 with the following s(|uaclron 
 
 Commanders. 
 
 f Vice-Admiral Geo. Anson. 
 ICaptain Bentley. 
 ( Rear- Admiral P. AVarren. 
 t Captain West. 
 
 Hon. Captain Boscawen. 
 Captain Watson. 
 Captain Harrison. 
 Captain Norris. 
 Captain Grenville. 
 Captain Saumarez. 
 Captain Brett. 
 Captain Hanway. 
 Captain Barradel. 
 Captain Denis. 
 Hon. W. Montagu. 
 Captain Finclier. 
 Captain J. Montagu. 
 
 * Mad as this unfortunate young officer was, and by which epithet 
 he was known in the service, it is but justice to add that, in the ac- 
 tion about to be mentioned, he conducted himself with great gallantry 
 and zeal. When the Bristol, of fifty guns, bore down upon and began 
 to engage the Invincible, of seventy-four guns, Captain Fincher of 
 the Pembroke hailed the Bristol, and requested Montagu to put his 
 helm a starboard, or the Pembroke would run foul of him—" Run 
 
 foul of me," says Montagu, " and le d d ! neither you nor any 
 
 man breathing shall come between me and my enemy." He next 
 
 M 
 
 Ships. 
 
 
 Guus. 
 
 Men. 
 
 Prince George 
 
 ■ ' 
 
 . 90 
 
 770 
 
 Devonshire 
 
 • 
 
 . 60 
 
 535 
 
 Namur . . 
 
 . 
 
 . 74 
 
 650 
 
 Princess Louisa 
 
 . CO 
 
 400 
 
 Monmouth . 
 
 . 
 
 . 64 
 
 480 
 
 Prince Frederick 
 
 . 64 
 
 480 
 
 Defiance 
 
 
 . 60 
 
 4 00 
 
 Nottingham 
 
 
 . CO 
 
 400 
 
 Yarmouth . 
 
 
 . 64 
 
 480 
 
 Windsor 
 
 
 . 60 
 
 480 
 
 Falkland . 
 
 
 . 50 
 
 300 
 
 Centurioii . 
 
 
 . 50 
 
 375 
 
 Bristol . 
 
 
 . 50 
 
 300 
 
 Pembroke . 
 
 
 . CO 
 
 400 
 
 Ambuscade 
 
 
 . 40 
 
 250 
 
 Falcon sloop. 
 
 
 
 
 Vulcan fire-ship. 
 

 
 162 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 On the 16tli May, Captain Denis, of his Majesty's 
 ship Centurion, arrived at the Admiralty, with the 
 following despatch from Vice- Admiral Anson, giving 
 an account of his having, on the 3rd May, fallen in 
 with and engaged the combined squadrons. 
 
 " In my former letter," the admiral says, " of the 2nd 
 instant, I observed to you that I had sent the Inverness and 
 Falcon sloop to cruise off Rochefort to watch the motions of 
 the enemy, and that I had directed their commanders, if they 
 met the French fleet in their way thither, or should discover 
 them comings out of the harbour, to inform themselves of the 
 course they were steering, and then return immediately to 
 acquaint me with it, falling in with me separately, the one in 
 latitude 44° 30', and the other in that of 45° 20'. 
 
 " The next morning at day-break I made the signal for 
 the fleet to spread in a line abreast, each. ship keeping at the 
 distance of a mile from the other, that there might not re- 
 main the least probability for the enemy to pass by us undis- 
 covered. At seven o'clock Captain Gwyn of the Falcon 
 sloop returned, and informed me that he had seen the French 
 fleet the day before, at four o'clock, bearing S.E. by S. four 
 or five leagues from him ; that it consisted of thirty-eight 
 sail, nine of which were large ships, and had the appearance 
 of men-of-war, the rest merchant-men under their convoy, 
 and that they were all steering to the westward. 
 
 " Upon this intelligence I put abroad the signal for calling 
 in all cruizers, and made sail immediately for the S.W. in 
 order to cut them off. At half an hour after nine, the 
 
 engaged the Diamant, of sixty-six guns, and, after an action of more 
 than an hour, completely dismasted her, when she struck. The 
 slau<^htcr in this ship was immense.
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 163 
 
 Namur made a signal for seeing a fleet in the S.W., which 
 was also seen soon after by the man at the Prince George's 
 mast-head bearing S.W. by S., Cape Finisterre at the same 
 time bearing S. J E., distant twenty-four leagues. I then 
 made the signal to chase with the whole fleet, and by noon 
 plainly discerned the chase to be a French fleet ; that nine 
 of the ships had shortened sail, and were drawing into a line 
 of battle a-head, three of which appeared to be smaller than 
 the others, and that the rest of the fleet, whom I judged to 
 be under their convoy, were stretching to the westward with 
 all the sail they could set. 
 
 " At one o'clock I made the signal for the line of battle 
 abreast, and in half an hour afterwards for the line a-head. 
 About three I made the signal for the ship in the van to 
 lead more large, in order to come to a close engagement 
 with the enemy ; who, getting their fore-tacks on board, and 
 loosing their top-gallant-sails, convinced me that their sole 
 aim was to gain time, and endeavour to make their escape 
 under favour of the night, finding themselves deceived in our 
 strength ; upon which I made a signal for the whole fleet 
 to pursue the enemy, and attack them, without having any 
 regard to the line of battle. 
 
 " The Centurion having got up with the sternmost ship of 
 the enemy about four o'clock, began to engage her, upon 
 which two of the largest of the enemy's ships bore down to 
 her assistance. The Namur, Defiance, and Windsor, being 
 the headmost ships, soon entered into the action, and after 
 having disabled those ships in such a manner that the ships 
 astein must come up with them, they made sail a-head to 
 prevent the van of the enemy making an escape, as did also 
 several other ships of the fleet. 
 
 " The Yarmouth and Devonshire having got up and en- 
 
 M 2
 
 164 
 
 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. 
 
 [CH. IV. 
 
 gaged the enemy, and the Prince George being near the 
 Invincible, and going to fire into her, all the ships in the 
 enemy's rear struck their colours between six and seven 
 o'clock ; as did all those that were in the line before night. 
 I brought to at seven, having ordered the Monmouth, Yar- 
 mouth, and Nottingham to pursue the convoy, who then 
 bore W. by S. at the distance only of four or five leagues, so 
 that I am in hopes of having a very good account of them. 
 
 " The Falcon sloop (which I had sent after the convoy 
 during the action, with orders to make signals to the other 
 ships) returned to the fleet the next day with the Dartmouth 
 Indiaman. I have taken in all six men-of-war and four In- 
 diameUj of which are the particulars as under : — 
 
 Guns. 
 
 M. le Jonquiere, chef 
 
 d'Escadre, 
 M. Hoguart, 
 M. M'Curty, 
 M. Salesse 
 M. St. George, 
 M. Beeard, 
 M. Cellie, 
 
 M. de Santons, ( India- 
 M. Macon, 
 M. Pinoche, 
 
 Le Serieux . 
 
 . 6G 
 
 Le Diamant . 
 
 . 6G 
 
 Le Rubis 
 
 . 52 
 
 La Gloire 
 
 . 44 
 
 L'Invincible . 
 
 . 74 
 
 Le Jason . 
 
 . 54 
 
 Le Philibert . 
 
 . 30 
 
 L'Apollon 
 
 . 30 
 
 La Thetis . 
 
 . 20 
 
 Le Dartmouth 
 
 . 18 
 
 Bound to Quebec. 
 
 men. 
 
 Bound to the 
 East Indies. 
 
 " The Ruby had struck several of her guns into the hold, 
 having all the guns and stores on board for a new frigate at 
 Quebec. I have put the prizes into a condition to proceed 
 with me to Spithead, and am in hopes that I shall arrive 
 there in a few days ; but it has taken up so much of our 
 time, together with shifting and distributing our prisoners, 
 that I have not hitherto been able to get a perfect .iccount 
 of the killed and wounded on cither side. Our loss is not
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 165 
 
 very considerable, except that of Captain Grenvillc, who 
 was an excellent officer and is a great loss to the service in 
 "•eneral. Captain Boscawen was wounded in the shoulder 
 by a musket-ball, but is almost recovered. 
 
 "To do justice to the French officers, they did their duty 
 well, and lost their ships with honour ; scarcely any of them 
 striking their colours till their ships were dismasted. M. 
 St. George kept his colours flying some time after the 
 General had struck. The Serieux and Diamant were with 
 great difficulty kept from sinking, which could not have been 
 prevented without throwing great part of their guns over- 
 board, as well as many chests of small arms intended for the 
 expedition. The French general, M. de la Jonquiere, is 
 wounded in two places, the captain of the Gloire killed, and 
 the second captain of the Invincible had his leg shot off. 
 
 " I am, &c. 
 
 (Signed) "Anson."* 
 
 The French in this unequal combat fought most 
 gallantly. Their loss, as afterwards ascertained, 
 was about seven hundred in killed and wounded^ 
 that of the British about five hundred and twenty. 
 No one could doubt the issue, with so great a supe- 
 riority over the enemy both in ships and men ; but 
 the neat manner, in which the Avhole Avere swept 
 into the toils, reflects credit on the seamanship 
 and discipline of the British ships ; and great merit 
 is due to Anson for so promptly annulling the signal 
 for the line a-head, the moment he observed the 
 French making sail, and for throwing out that for a 
 general attack, without regard to the line of battle. 
 
 * Admiralty Records.
 
 166 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 When the commander of the Invincible, which 
 struck to the Prince George, came on board that ship, 
 the manner in which he approached the vice-admiral, 
 to deliver up his sword, made a favourable impression 
 on Anson and his officers. He said, with a placid 
 and undisturbed countenance, " IMonsieur, vouz avez 
 vaincu V Invincible et la Gloire vous suit ;"* an 
 epigrammatic compliment, as true as it is pointed, 
 and said in a manner highly characteristic of this 
 brave and gentlemanly officer, between whom and 
 Anson commenced a friendship and an intimacy, alike 
 honourable to both, which ceased only with the death 
 of Anson. 
 
 Anson must have felt a high gratification in seeing 
 liis old ship the Centurion, now commanded by her 
 former lieutenailt, lead to the attack, and bravely fol- 
 lowed up by his two old proteges, Piercy Brett and 
 Philip Saumarez, ably assisted by his friend Rear- 
 Admiral Warren. The detached ships, under the 
 last officer, picked up three of the enemy's ships of 
 war, the Vigilante and Modeste, of 22 guns each, and 
 the Dartmouth, of 18 guns ; besides capturing the 
 remainder of the India squadron that were not in the 
 action. They also captured six others of the con- 
 voy. The treasure found in the squadron amounted 
 to about 300,000/., besides stores of all kinds, of 
 
 * Most of the accounts give this address to M. La Jonquiere, but 
 the wounds of this officer prevented him from going on board the 
 Prince George.
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 167 
 
 very great value. The money, on the arrival of the 
 ships at Portsmouth, was put into twenty waggons, 
 conveyed to London, and taken in grand military 
 procession through the streets of the city to the 
 Bank, amidst the acclamations of many thousand 
 persons. The houses were illuminated, and bonfires 
 in every street. The Duke of Bedford says, " You 
 will easily believe no one in this town did with 
 greater joy receive tlie news of your great success 
 against the French than myself; and universal, I 
 may say it is, as I am just come home through 
 illuminated streets and bonfires. The king told me 
 this morning at his levee that I had given him the 
 best breakfast he had had this long time, and I think 
 I never saw him more pleased in my life. He has 
 ordered Captain Denis a reward of 500/. for bringing 
 this welcome news."* 
 
 Lord Sandwich from the Hague, says, " Dear Sir, 
 though I am in hopes in a very few days to have 
 the great satisfaction of seeing you in England, yet 
 I cannot think of losing a moment to express my 
 joy on account of your success, which I have so much 
 cause to be pleased with, for the service it will do to 
 the public ; though I cannot help owning that I 
 almost feel that to be an inferior consideration, and 
 that my chief happiness arises from the credit you 
 will have done yourself in this glorious affair. No- 
 body can be more clear than I am in opinion that 
 
 * Anson's Collection, No. 73.
 
 168 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 there is no mark of distinction that you have not long 
 
 ago merited."* 
 
 Some of the writers on naval history observe that, 
 considering the disparity of force, it was not an event 
 that called for bonfires and illmninations ; but the 
 circumstances of the time fully justified these re- 
 joicings. The navy had as yet done nothing effect- 
 ually in the war, and, as before observed, the 
 unfortunate affair of Matthews and Lestock had cast 
 a gloom and despondency over the nation. There is 
 in the character of Englishmen however an elasticity 
 that easily elevates, and as easily depresses, their 
 spirits. The army under the Duke of Cumberland 
 mie:ht be beaten, as it sometimes was, without 
 affecting the nation generally, or extending be- 
 yond political parties; but any disaster or failure 
 befalling the navy, Avas always productive of intense 
 national feeling. No wonder then, that, after the 
 failure of the Mediterranean fleet, the capture by 
 Anson of a Avhole squadron, and the complete defeat 
 of two expeditions, should call forth an ebullition of 
 public joy. It was the first general action, except that 
 of Matthews and Lestock, and the first victory gained 
 in the war ; and it is an old saying, that the first 
 blow is half the battle. Like the first victory of Lord 
 Howe, it inspired the navy, and animated the nation. 
 Whim the vice-admiral Availed on the King, he 
 met Avith the most cordial reception, and his INIajesty 
 
 * Anson's Collection, No. 350.
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 169 
 
 said to him, in the most gracious manner, " Sir, you 
 have done a great service. I thank you ; and desire 
 you to thank, in my name, all the officers and private 
 men for their bravery and conduct, with which I am 
 well pleased." On the 13th June his Majesty was 
 further pleased to create Vice-Admiral Anson a peer 
 of Great Britain, by the title of Lord Anson, Baron 
 of Soberton, in the county of Hants ; and Rear- 
 Admiral Warren was honoured with the military 
 Order of the Bath. 
 
 Captain Fox of the Kent, of seventy-four guns, 
 with a squadron consisting of one sixty-four, two 
 sixties, one fifty, one forty-four, and the Pluto and 
 Dolphin, fire-ships, which had been prepared by 
 Anson for the express purpose of intercepting the 
 San Domingo convoy, received information that it 
 had left the West Indies under a convoy of four ships 
 of war, commanded by M. Bois'de la IMothe. On 
 the 20th June, when in lat. 47° 18' N., about sunrise. 
 Fox got sight of the convoy he had been so long 
 cruising for, consisting of at least one hundred and 
 twenty ships. Captain Fox crowded all sail he could 
 carry, and stood directly for the ships of war, which, 
 as it afterwards appeared, consisted of one of seventy- 
 four guns, one of sixty-four, one of fifty-four, and one 
 of thirty-six guns. Our ships, being foul, sailed so ill, 
 that night was approaching before Fox could get with- 
 in two leagues of M. du Bois de la Mothe's squadron, 
 which guarded the rear of his convoy. The next day
 
 170 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 the chase was renewed, and a favourable breeze 
 springing up about five in the evening, Fox was 
 fast coming up with the enemy, which, being per- 
 ceived, they set all sail, and made off, leaving the fleet 
 of merchant ships to shift for themselves. They 
 therefore dispersed, and had not the weather become 
 thick, the greater part of them would, in all pro- 
 bability, have been taken. As it was, the number 
 captured by Fox's squadron was forty-five, and the 
 ships left with Rear-Admiral (now Sir Peter) 
 Warren picked up four: the rest got into the 
 different ports on the coast of France, and De la 
 Mothe and his squadron arrived safe in Brest. This 
 valuable capture was laden with sugar, indigo, 
 cotton, coffee, and hides, their aggregate tonnage 
 being estimated at 16,051, and manned with 1197 
 seamen ; the loss of which to France, with other 
 captures made by the detached squadron of Anson, 
 under Admiral Warren, could not have been less 
 than a million sterling.* 
 
 Soon after the return of Admiral (now Lord) 
 Anson, information was received at the Admiralty of 
 a large fleet of merchant ships, pi-eparing to sail 
 from Basque Roads for the West Indies, under 
 convoy of a strong squadron of ships of war, com- 
 
 * The net sum to be divided among the captors, as appears by an 
 account (in the Anson Papers) kept by Mr. (afterwards Sir Philip) 
 Stephens, is 755,896/., of which the eighth is 94,487/., and of this sum 
 Anson's account is credited with 62,991/.. apd Warren's with 31,496/,
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 171 
 
 manded by M. de Letendeur. Orders were imme- 
 diately issued to prepare a sufficient force to inter- 
 cept this convoy, and that active and gallant officer. 
 Rear- Admiral Hawke, was directed to hoist his flag 
 in the Devonshire, of sixty-six guns, and take the 
 command of the squadron, which consisted of four- 
 teen sail of the line, besides frigates. Hawke at 
 this time was an officer not much known, and from 
 the year 1734, when he was made captain, had chiefly 
 remained on shore until, in 1743, he was appointed 
 to the Berwick, of seventy-four guns, and ordered 
 to join Admiral Matthews. It therefore occasioned 
 a good deal of surprise in the service, that so important 
 a command should be given to so young a flag-officer, 
 and one who had so little distinguished himself; 
 but Anson had noted the character and conduct of 
 the man, though the public had not, for his gallant 
 bearing and brilliant success in the action of Matthews 
 and Lestock, in 1744, in which so many officers were 
 disgraced. In the course of that action the El 
 Poder, a Spanish ship, of sixty-four, had driven one 
 of our ships out of the line, which Hawke, in the 
 Berwick, perceiving, bore down upon her within 
 pistol-shot, poured into her a broadside with such 
 effect, that in a few minutes afterwards she struck, 
 and was taken possession of by the Berwick, in the 
 face of both the fleets, — the only capture that was 
 made on that day ; but a melancholy fate attended the 
 El Poder. Being dismasted, and unable to follow the 
 Britibli fleet when they wore, she was retaken by the
 
 172 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 French squadron, while she had on board a lieutenant 
 and twenty-three men, belonging to the Berwick : to 
 prevent her falling again into the hands of the 
 English, the French set her on fire, and abandoned 
 her; and she blew up in the night. In the first 
 Supplement to the Gazette no mention is made of 
 the Berwick, or of the name of Hawke ; it stated 
 only that a ship of Navarre, of sixty-six guns, was 
 obliged to surrender ; and that of 900 men, only the 
 captain and 200 were saved, when she was ordered to 
 be burnt. In the subsequent Gazette, containing 
 IMatthews' despatch, nothing more is said of the 
 Poder, except that Captain Hawke, of the Berwick, 
 left her, but could not get his lieutenant and twenty- 
 three men out of her ; his first lieutenant having done 
 all he could to persuade the men to quit her, but in 
 vain. 
 
 If, for the moment, Anson caused some displeasure 
 in the appointment of such a man, he obtained great 
 credit for having got together this powerful squadron 
 in so short a time, it being completely fitted and ready 
 for sea the first week in August. On the 9th of 
 that month, the rear-admiral put to sea from Ply- 
 mouth, and lost no time in getting into a position, 
 which appeared to him best calculated to intercept 
 the enemy's fleet, which, however, did not leave 
 Rochelle Road until the 8th October. Tliere is in 
 Hawke's narrative of his rencontre with the enemy, 
 something so nuich more clear and circumstantial, 
 than is usually the case in the description of naval
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 173 
 
 battles, that no abridgment could be made without 
 destroying in some degree its interest ; and no apo- 
 logy therefore is necessary for giving it m extenso. 
 
 " At seven in the morning of the 14th October, being in 
 the latitude of 47° 49' N. longitude, from Cape Finisterre 
 r 2' W., the Edinburgh made the signal for seven sail in 
 the south-east quarter. I immediately made the signal for 
 all the fleet to chase. About eight we saw a great number 
 of ships, but so crowded together, that we could not count 
 them. At ten made the signal for the line-of-battle a-head. 
 The Louisa, being the headmost and weathermost ship, made 
 the signal for discovering eleven sail of the enemy's line-of- 
 battle ships. Half an hour after. Captain Fox in the Kent 
 hailed us, and said they counted twelve very large ships. 
 Soon after 1 perceived the enemy's convoy to crowd away 
 with all the sail they could set, while their ships of war 
 were endeavouring to form in a line astern of them, and 
 hauled near the wind, under their topsails and foresails, and 
 some with top-gallant sails set. Finding we lost time in 
 forming our line, while the enemy was standing away from 
 us, at eleven made the signal for the whole squadron to chase : 
 half an hour after, observing our headmost ships to be within 
 a proper distance, I made the signal to engage, which was 
 immediately obeyed. The Lion and Princess Louisa began 
 the engagement, and were followed by the rest of the 
 squadron as they could come up, and went from rear to van. 
 The enemy having the weather-gage of us, and a smart 
 and constant fire being kept on both sides, the smoke 
 prevented my seeing the number of the enemy, or what 
 happened on either side for some time. In passing on to 
 the first ship we could get near, we received many fires at 
 a distance, till we came close to the Sevcrne, of fifty guns, 
 which we soon silenced, and left to be taken up by the
 
 174 , LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 frigates astern. Then perceiving the Eagle and Edinburgh 
 (who had lost her fore-topmast) engaged, we kept our wind 
 as close as possible, in order to assist them. This attempt 
 of ours was frustrated by the Eagle's falling twice on board 
 us, having had her wheel shot to pieces, and all the men at 
 it killed, and all her braces and bowlines gone. This drove 
 us to leeward, and prevented our attacking Le Monarche, 
 of seventy-four, and the Tonnant, of eighty guns, within any 
 distance to do execution. However, we attempted both, 
 especially the latter. While we were engaged with her, the 
 breechings of all our lower-deck guns broke, and the guns 
 flew fore and aft, which obliged us to shoot a-head, for our 
 upper and quarter-deck guns could not reach her. Captain 
 Harland in the Tilbury, observing that she fired single guns 
 at us, in order to dismast us, stood on the other tack, be- 
 tween her and the Devonshire, and gave her a very smart 
 fire. By the time the new breechings were all seized I 
 was got almost alongside the Trident, of sixty-four guns, 
 whom I engaged as soon as possible, and silenced by as 
 brisk a fire as I could make. Just before I attacked her, 
 observing the Kent, which seemed to have little or no 
 damage, at some distance astern of the Tonnant, I flung 
 out Captain Fox's pendant, to make sail a-head to engage 
 her, as I saw it was in her power to get close up with her, 
 she being somewhat disabled, having lost her main-topmast. 
 Seeing some of our ships at that time not so closely engaged 
 as I could have wished, and not being well able to distin- 
 guish who they were, I flung out the signal for coming to a 
 closer engagement. Soon after I got alongside, within 
 musket-shot of the Terrible, of seventy-four guns, and 700 
 men. Near seven at night she called out for quarter. 
 
 " Thus far I have been particular with regard to the share 
 the Devonshire bore in the action of that day. As to the
 
 1747.1 BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 175 
 
 other ships, as far as fell within my notice, their commanders, 
 officers, and companies behaved with the greatest spirit and 
 resolution, in every respect like Englishmen. Only I am 
 sorry to acquaint their Lordships that I must except Captam 
 Fox, whose conduct on that day I beg they would give di- 
 rections for inquiring into at a court-martial. 
 
 "Having observed that sis of the enemy's ships had 
 struck, and it being very dark, and our own ships dispersed, 
 I thought it best to bring to for that night ; and seeing a 
 great firing a long way a-stern of me, I was in hopes to have 
 seen more of the enemy's ships taken in the morning ; but 
 instead of that,. I received the melancholy account of Cap- 
 tain Saumarez being killed, and that the Tonnant had 
 escaped in the night by the assistance of the Intrepide, 
 which, by having the wind of our ships, had received no 
 damage that I could perceive. Immediately I called a 
 council of war. 
 
 " As to the French convoys escaping, it was not possible 
 for me to detach any ships after them at first, or during the 
 action, except the frigates, and that, I thought, would have 
 been imprudent, as I observed several large ships of war 
 among them ; and, to confirm me in this opinion, I have 
 since learned that they had the Content of sixty-four guns, 
 and many frigates from thirty-six guns downwards ; however, 
 I took a step which seemed to me the most probable to in- 
 tercept them ; for, as soon as I could man and victual the 
 Weazel sloop, 1 detached her with an express to Commo- 
 dore Legge (Leeward Islands). 
 
 " As the enemy's ships were large, except the Severne, 
 they took a great deal of drubbing, and lost all their masts, 
 excepting two, who had their foremasts left : this has 
 obliged me to lay by these two days past, in order to put
 
 176 
 
 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. 
 
 [CH. IV. 
 
 them into a condition to be brought into port, as well as our 
 own, which have suffered greatly. 
 
 " I have sent this express by Captain Moore of the De- 
 vonshire, in the Hector; and it would be doing great injus- 
 tice to merit not to say that he signalised himself greatly in 
 the action." 
 
 The following are the lists of the two squadrons 
 engaged in the action : — 
 
 Devonshire . . . 
 
 ENGLISH. 
 
 ( Rear-Admiral Hawkel 
 (Captain Moore J 
 
 Men. 
 550 
 
 Guns. 
 60 
 
 Kent .... 
 
 Captain Fox . 
 
 
 . 480 
 
 64 
 
 Edinburgh . . . . 
 
 Captain Cotes 
 
 
 . 480 
 
 70 
 
 Yarmouth . 
 
 Captain Saunders 
 
 
 . 500 
 
 64 
 
 Monmouth . 
 
 Captain Harrison 
 
 
 . 4S0 
 
 70 
 
 Princess Louisa . 
 
 Captain Watson . 
 
 
 . 400 
 
 GO 
 
 Windsor . . . - 
 
 Captain Han way . 
 
 
 . 400 
 
 60 
 
 Lion .... 
 
 . Captain Scott . 
 
 
 . 400 
 
 60 
 
 Tilbury .... 
 
 , Captain Harland . 
 
 
 . 400 
 
 60 
 
 Nottingham . . 
 
 . Captain Sauraarez 
 
 
 . 4 00 
 
 60 
 
 Defiance 
 
 . Captain Bentley . 
 
 
 . 400 
 
 60 
 
 Eagie .... 
 
 Captain Rodney . 
 
 
 . 400 
 
 60 
 
 Gloucester . 
 
 . Captain Durell 
 
 
 . 300 
 
 50 
 
 Portland . . . 
 
 , Captain Steevens 
 FRENCH. 
 
 
 . 300 
 
 50 
 
 
 5890 
 
 854 
 
 Le Ton n ant . . 
 L'Intrcpidc . 
 
 Jlen, Oiins. 
 . . . . 822 801 
 
 . . . , G86 74! 
 
 , Escaped. 
 
 
 Le Terrible . . 
 
 . . . . C86 
 
 74^ 
 
 
 
 Le Monarchc 
 
 . . . . 686 
 
 74 
 
 
 
 Le Neptune . 
 Le Trident . . 
 
 . ... 686 
 . . . . 6j0 
 
 74 
 64 
 
 . Tal;cn. 
 
 
 T^p T*(in(^piix . 
 
 . . . . 650 
 
 64 
 50 
 
 
 
 Lc Severnc . 
 
 . . . . 550 
 
 
 554
 
 r^^ 
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 177 
 
 The loss sustained by the enemy was said to 
 amount to nearly eight hundred men in killed and 
 wounded, and Captain de la Fromentiere of the 
 Neptune was killed. Our loss was one hundred and 
 fifty-four men killed, among whom fell the gallant 
 Captain Saumarez of the Nottingham, an officer most 
 deservedly lamented, and 1)y none more so than by Lord 
 Anson, whose lieutenant he was in the Centurion ; the 
 number wounded amounted to five hundred and fifty- 
 eight. " It reflects the highest honour," says one his- 
 torian, " on that nobleman, that all the officers formed 
 under his example, and raised by his influence, ap- 
 proved themselves, in all respects, worthy of the 
 conmiands to which they were preferred ; and it is 
 not a little remarkable that, of the fourteen captains 
 commanding the line-of-battle ships in this action, 
 two were in succession made conmiissioners of the 
 dock-yard at Chatham, and ten arrived at the rank of 
 admirals " — a rank, as it has been observed, which, in 
 those days, was conferred generally by selection, and 
 for meritorious conduct and good service. 
 
 On the 31st October Rear- Admiral Hawke, with 
 his squadron and prizes, arrived at Portsmouth. He 
 was honoured by the King with the military order of 
 the Bath, and when he waited on his ]\Iajesty, he 
 met with a most gracious reception, and high com- 
 mendations for his gallant conduct.* 
 
 * An amusing circumstance occurred when Lord Chesterfield read 
 Hawke's despatch to the King, At that passage where it is said. 
 
 N
 
 178 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 Lord Sandwich, on sending to Anson his congra- 
 tulations on Hawke's success, says — "You may 
 easily believe me when I tell you it is with the 
 utmost pleasure that I congratulate you upon the 
 fresh success of our fleet under the command of Rear- 
 Admiral Hawke ; besides the advantage this great 
 stroke will give to us in our pubhc affairs, the credit 
 and reputation it will give to our marine cannot but 
 afford me a most thorough satisfaction ; for it is 
 impossible for any one to have the prosperity of a 
 profession more sincerely at heart than I have of that 
 of which you are so deservedly considered as the 
 chief director ; and to Avhose knowledge and ability 
 the world is very ready to attribute the different 
 figure that the English fleet has made in the last 
 years from what it did in the beginning of the war."* 
 
 In a subsequent letter, he says—" I am sorry to 
 hear of Captain Fox's acquittal : surely Admiral 
 Hawke could never have accused him so publicly 
 without reason ; and I can easily see, if he was guilty, 
 that his going off unpunished will do mucli hurt to 
 
 *' As the enemy's ships were large they took a great deal of drubbinf^,'' 
 the King stopped him, and asked what was the meaning of the word 
 drubbing ? Just then, the Duke of Bedfurd entering the closet, the 
 earl begged to refer his Majesty to his Grace, who understood it per- 
 fectly. The reason of the reference being explained, the Kinglaushod 
 most heartily, and said he now knew very well what driMing meant. 
 The Duke, but a little time before, had ^fracas on the race-course at 
 Lichfield, in which he was roughly handled, but rescued by the timely 
 interference of Mr. Rigby. 
 
 Anson's Collection, No. 357.
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 179 
 
 the service, which always gives me concern ; for I 
 can very sincerely declare, that the prosperity of your 
 profession is, and always has heen, my favourite 
 object." 
 
 Admiral Lord Anson, equally alive to the honour 
 of the profession, had ordered a court-martial on 
 Captain Fox, which sat on the 25th November to try 
 him on a charge, " That lie did not come properly into 
 the fight, nor do his utmost to engage, distress, and 
 damage the enemy ; nor assist his Majesty's ships 
 which did." The fact was proved ; but his defence 
 was, that his first lieutenant and master asserted that 
 the Kent's signal was out to come to the admiral's 
 assistance ; and on this he left the Tonnant, the ship 
 he was then engaging. The signal was, in fact, for 
 close engagement, but the officers of the Kent might 
 have mistaken it, which was no unusual case at this 
 time from the defective state of our signals.* The 
 court were of opinion that the charges Avere proved ; 
 that he was guilty of having backed hi« mizen-top- 
 sail : they acquitted him of cowardice ; but because 
 he paid too much regard to the advice of his officers, 
 contrary to his own better judgment, they sentenced 
 him to be dismissed from the present command of the 
 Kent. Though he had always maintained the cha- 
 racter of a good and brave officer, he was never after- 
 
 * Keppel, however, who was on the court-martial, in a private let- 
 ter to Anson, says, he believes the first lieutenant and the master to 
 be great scoundrels, and did all they could to ruin Fox, who, he fur- 
 ther says, *' was in the hands of two damned bad fellows, I really 
 heheve." 
 
 n2
 
 180 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 wards employed, and died a superannuated rear- 
 admiral in the year 1763. 
 
 The year 1747 closed with the arrival in the Eng- 
 lish ports of several captured ships of war, sloops 
 cliiefly, numerous privateers, and merchantmen of 
 the enemy. The Russel and Dartmouth fell in with 
 and captured a large Spanish ship, the Glorioso, of 
 seventy guns and seven hundred men, his own crew 
 heing only four hundred, of whom twenty were on 
 the sick list, and unable to come to quarters. 
 
 Sir Edward HaAvke w^as again despatched^ in 
 January, 1747-8, with a squadron consisting of two 
 ships of seventy-four guns, three of sixty, and four of 
 fifty guns. On the 31st January, two of them, the 
 Nottingham of sixty, and the Portland of fifty guns, 
 were sent by the rear-admiral to chase a large ship, 
 the former of which came up Avith her, and began a 
 close and running engagement, wdiich lasted nearly 
 six hours, "when, after the Portland got up, she struck 
 her colours. She proved to be the IMagnanime of 
 seventy-four guns and six hundred and eighty-six 
 men, forty-five of Avhoni were killed and one hun- 
 dred and five wounded. The number killed in the 
 Nottingham was sixteen, and wounded eighteen; in 
 the Portland four were Avounded. This noble prize 
 Avas added to the British navy, and became the 
 favourite ship of Lord Howe, under Avhose command 
 much valuable service AA^as rendered to the country in 
 the seven years' Avar. 
 
 In April of this year, another isquadron Avas sent
 
 1748.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 181 
 
 out, ill Avliicli were six sail-of-tlie-line of Dutch ships, 
 stipuhited for by Lord Sandwich, and ordered to join 
 ours intended for the western squadron, under the 
 command of Sir Peter Warren ; but, shortly after their 
 leaving the port, his Majesty having informed his Par- 
 liament that preliminary articles for a general peace 
 had been signed at Aix la Chapelle, a vessel of war 
 Avas fortlnvith despatched, with directions for Rear- 
 Admirals Hawke and Warren to return into port. 
 
 On foreign stations the British flag had no rival, 
 and our colonies were everywhere free from insult. 
 The Company's settlements in India must, however, 
 be excepted. Here, sometimes from a superiority of 
 force, sometimes from ill management on our part, 
 the French were either triumphant, or contrived to 
 neutralise our exertions. Sir George Pococke was 
 sent Avith a squadron to the East Indies, where 
 he did nothing. Peyton having left IMadras to the 
 mercy of the enemy, was superseded and sent 
 home with disgrace by Commodore Griffin. This 
 officer, immediately on his arrival, blockaded Poii- 
 dicherry ; the reduction of this settlement being the 
 principal object which his armament, joined to the 
 ships left by Peyton_, was intended to accomplish ; 
 it failed, however, and all he could do was to protect 
 the British settlements from falling into the hands of 
 the French. On reaching England, in 1748, he 
 was brought to a court-martial for misconduct before 
 Pondicherry ; and for not endeavouring to do his
 
 182 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV* 
 
 utmost to bring the French squadron to action off 
 the coast of Coromandel ; sentenced to be suspended 
 from his rank and employment as a flag-officer (being 
 now vice-admiral of the Blue) during his Majesty's 
 pleasure ; but was soon after restored. 
 
 Lord Anson therefore, towards the end of 1747, 
 on consultation with the Duke of Bedford, resolved 
 to prepare and send out to India an expedition of 
 such magnitude, as should insure a preponderating 
 influence over any enemy in that quarter, regain 
 Madras, and drive the French out of Pondicherry. 
 In the choice of an officer, to be recommended to the 
 King for the command of the expedition, he could not 
 for a moment hesitate. It fell on one, of Avhose gallant 
 conduct and vigorous exertions Anson had himself 
 ocular proof, Avlien the former was in command of the 
 Namur in the action oif Cape Finisterre. This officer 
 was Rear- Admiral the Hon. Edward Boscawen ; yet, 
 in appointing him, the shaft of malice was levelled at 
 Anson in secret, for it never saw the light till two ge- 
 nerations had passed away, when it appeared in the 
 IVIemoirs of Horace Walpole. This caustic and not 
 very scrupulous Avriter states, that, in 1751, when 
 Anson was first lord of the Admiralty, ** Admiral Bos- 
 cawen was on the very worst terms with him, who had 
 carried off all the glory of the victory at Cape Finis- 
 terre, though Boscawen had done the service, and 
 whom he suspected of having sent him on the im- 
 practiculjle expedition to Pondicherry on purpose to
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 183 
 
 ruin him." It is hardly necessary to say that this 
 sarcastic sentence is wholly unfounded, and contains 
 as many lies as lines. An armament of six sail-of- 
 the-line, four of tifty guns, and five or six smaller 
 vessels, as a reinforcement, with above five thousand 
 land-forces, under the command of a young rear- 
 admiral, was a signal mark of distinction, and was so 
 considered. But ignorance, coupled with malevolence, 
 is always ready to pervert the best intentions. 
 
 It is not necessary here to enter into any particu- 
 lars of the unsuccessful result of this expedition. No 
 blame whatever Avas imputed to the admiral ; on the 
 contrary, having landed at the head of the troops and 
 trained seamen, he is said to have shown himself as 
 skilful a general as lie had before proved himself an 
 able sea ofiicer. When compelled to retreat, from 
 circumstances he could not have foreseen, he brought 
 off his people so ably, that the enemy, numerous as 
 they Avere, never endeavoured to molest them. The 
 fact Avas, that having fought his Avay Avithin a mile of 
 the place, it Avas found to have been insulated by an 
 inundation that rendered a nearer approach impos- 
 sible ; and the harbour Avas too shallow to admit of 
 the squadron bombarding the town Avith any effect. 
 The sieg-e lasted for tAvo months, during Avhich time 
 
 "& 
 
 the loss of the British land-forces amounted to 757 
 soldiers, 43 artillery, and 265 seamen. 
 
 Soon after this event, intelligence was brought to 
 India of the general peace Avliich had been concluded
 
 184 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 at Aix la Cliapc41e ; in consequence of wliich Fort St. 
 George at IMadras Avas delivered up, and taken pos- 
 session of by Mr. Boscawen, who remained to see 
 every other stipulation on the part of the enemy 
 complied with according to the articles of the treaty. 
 This delay, hoAvever, was the cause of a most melan- 
 choly disaster. On the 13th April, 1749, a tre- 
 mendous hurricane was experienced on the coast of 
 Coromandel. The Namur was at anchor in the 
 road of Fort St. David when it commenced ; at seven 
 in the evening she put to sea, and, unable to resist 
 the storm, foundered, and went down in nine fathoms 
 water. The admiral himself was fortunately on 
 shore, and about twenty of her crew sick in the 
 hospital. Captain Marshall, the third lieutenant, the 
 captain of marines, the surgeon, purser, chaplain, 
 boatsAvain, and about forty seamen, Avere all that 
 Avere saA'^ed out of a crew of nearly six hundred men. 
 The Pembroke and the Apollo, hospital-ship, AA'ere 
 lost the folloAving day, Avith the greater part of their 
 creAVS. The admiral, having concluded his arrange- 
 ments, embarked for England on the 9tli October, 
 1749, and arrived at St. Helen's on tlie 14tli April 
 folloAvina', Avhen he Avas ordered to strike his Hair 
 and come on shore ; and, in 1751, Avhen Lord Anson 
 Avas appointed first lord of the Admiralty, he selected 
 him as one of the naval members of his Board. 
 
 Among the numerous captures made by single 
 ships in the year 1747, was one that occasioned more
 
 1747.] DRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 185 
 
 trouble and consideration than the subject connected 
 with it required. The Dover, commanded by Cap- 
 tain Shirley, when bet^veen Ushant and Belleisle, 
 fell in with the Renommee, of thirty- two guns, and 
 three hundred men, having lost her fore-topmast, 
 sprung her mainmast, and much of her rigging cut 
 by the Amazon, (which had engaged her the day 
 before,) and after a short action wdtli the Dover, 
 he struck, having sixteen men killed, and between 
 thirty and forty wounded, besides losing four killed 
 and eight wounded in the action with the Amazon ; 
 the Dover had one killed and eight wounded. In 
 this ship was M. de Conflans, going out as governor 
 of St. Domingo. The conduct of this person, who 
 figured in the future w^ar as a naval officer, afforded, 
 on the present occasion, a most unfavourable contrast 
 with that amiable and brave man, St. George. 
 Though the capture of the squadron which this gallant 
 officer commanded, had blighted his prospects, de- 
 stroyed his hopes, and ruined his fortunes, or, as he 
 says in his letters to Anson, " Ayant tout perdu hormis 
 I'honneur," he bore his misfortune bravely, never 
 murmured at his fate, but made himself so agreeable 
 to Anson and all the officers of the Prince George, 
 while he remained a prisoner on board, that every one 
 took an interest in him. " Pour moi," he writes, 
 " qui y perds plus que personne au monde, et c\ qui il 
 ne reste que I'honneur, j'avoueray a toute I'Europe 
 que j'ay trouve dans IM. L'Amiral Anson, le vain-
 
 186 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 queur la plus genereux, le plus compatissant et I'amy 
 le plus respectable et le plus sensible." 
 
 When Anson had obtained leave for him to 
 return to France, on his parole, he urged in such 
 strong terms his wish to see London, that the noble 
 Lord obtained permission for him to do so, introduced 
 him to his colleagues at the Admiralty, to the 
 ministers, to the club at White's, and even procured 
 for him an interview with the King ; in short, every 
 body was delighted with M. St. George, and he was 
 not unirrateful. His account of the treatment he had 
 met with, and that of the French prisoners generally, 
 of the good feeling of the English towards France, 
 and the great desire that the negotiations then 
 pending might be successfid, tended very much to do 
 away a suspicion, which lurked in the cabinet of Ver- 
 sailles, that England was not in earnest. Sir Joseph 
 Yorke, and Mr. Thomas Anson, who met with him at 
 that court, had strong proofs of this. Long after tlie 
 peace he was anxious that Lord Anson should visit 
 Paris, that he might have the opportunity of showing 
 him the same kind of civility Avliich he had received 
 in London.* 
 
 * One of his letters, written in English, announcing his intention 
 of re-visiting London, is here given as a curiosity. 
 
 " My Lord, 
 
 " 1 am in great hopes, and in greater desire of crossing the sea in 
 the beginning of May, expressing, first, to pay my most humble 
 respects to my Lady Anson, and to have the honour of getting ac- 
 quainted with the respectable consort of the dearest of my friends, 
 and most generous of conquerors. Second, to give due thanks to your
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 187 
 
 To return to M. Conflans. This officer thoup-lit 
 fit to bring a charge of ungentlemanlike treatment, 
 and something worse, against Captain Shirley, which 
 
 Lordship for so many proofs of generosity, and to cultivate that happy 
 friendship that begun so far from om- native countries, and that will 
 be certainly evei'lasting. Third, to pay a very agreeable visit, of 
 which I am, with all my heart, in debt with your beloved and dear 
 brother, Mr. Anson, or on the Thames, or on the Trent borders, also 
 to your very gentile and amiable nephew, my Lord Parker, and to 
 your good friend, Mr. Mytton. 
 
 " These are indeed three very agreeable objects for my crossing 
 the sea with pleasure ; to which I will add, to see so many lords, 
 that your friendship have procured me the honour of knowing in my 
 little stay at London, namely, your brethren, Lords Duncannon and 
 Barrington, and those which I had the honour of seeing in the famous 
 and respectable club of Weight (White's). 
 
 " But I hope principally that under the happy auspices of your 
 charming brother-in-law (now I may say my friend, Mr. Le Colonel 
 York, an able statesman, and as busy in his great mmisterial em- 
 ployments, as he is amiable in the society of the ladies), I will have 
 the honour of presenting my most humble respects to ray Lord Hio-h 
 Chancellor. 
 
 " I dare not say that, in my heart, a very flattering aim would be, 
 if by your friendly assistance I may have the honour of bowing 
 myself again before one of the greatest and the most gracious mo- 
 narchs in the world, to give his Majesty my most humble thanks for 
 the great honour that he bestowed upon (I dare not say) me, but upon 
 the friends and the prisoner of the valiant and generous Lord Ad- 
 miral Anson, his beloved subject, and the man that gives most 
 honour by sea to his glorious reign. Adieu, my Lord. I hope that 
 your Lordship will understand my English, because my letter is the 
 expression of the heart, and the heart's tongue is to be understood 
 well everywhere, but mostly by so good and so generous friends. The 
 dear Colonel wrote for getting me a room in the Pall Mall, the nearest 
 to my Lady Anson and your Lordship. I am in expectation of seeing 
 you, and with great respect to you both, 
 
 " M> Lord, your most humble servant, 
 " and everlasting friend, 
 " Paris, 18th Avril, 1749." " St. George.* 
 
 * Anson's Collection, No. 418.
 
 188 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 he transmitted to the Duke of Bedford. The Duke 
 writes from Woburn the following letter to Lord 
 Anson, dated 7th October, 1747 :— 
 
 " My dear Lord, 
 
 " I send you enclosed (which I desire you will com- 
 municate to the Board) the copy of a letter I have received 
 by this post from the Chevaher de Conflans, who was taken 
 prisoner by Captain Shirley in the Dover, and brought into 
 Plymouth. The rank and character of M. de Conflans in the 
 French navy is so well known, that I own it gives me infinite 
 concern to receive a complaint from a man of his figure, against 
 a man of quahty, a captain of one of the king's ships, for un- 
 gentlemanlike behaviour to him and the rest of the French 
 officers after they were taken prisoners. I beg this affair may 
 be inquired thoroughly into, in order, not only to make all 
 possible reparation to M. de Conflans, but also to clear the 
 officers of the navy, and the nation in general, from any 
 aspersions, that the brutal and unofficerlike behaviour of 
 this man might otherwise cast upon them. I will write by 
 to-morrow's post to the Duke of Newcastle, to beg the 
 favour of him to apply to the king for M. de Conflans, 
 his equipage, and the commission officers of the frigate, 
 having leave to return to France upon their parole. I 
 think the behaviour of the French to the Captains Keppel 
 and Lisle, and the rest of the officers of the Maidstone and 
 Severn, very justly entide their officers to a like return of 
 civility and politeness from us. I will by the first oppor- 
 tunity acquaint M. Conflans with what I have done, and I 
 doubt not but that, in the mean time, the Board will indulge 
 him in everything that is reasonable an officer of his rank 
 should ask. I believe the First Lieutenant of the Dover is
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OP THE NAVY. 189 
 
 one Mr. Thomas Lempriere^ of whom I have always heard 
 a very good character, and who may possibly be able to 
 g-ive some light into this affair."* 
 
 The Duke of Bedford lias in this letter expressed 
 a pro})er feeling towards the treatment of officers of the 
 enemy, who have been unfortunate like M. de Con- 
 flans ; but he appears at the same time to have been 
 a little too severe, as well as too hasty, in passing 
 condemnation on Captain Shirley. Lord Anson had 
 already called upon this officer to ex2)laintlie conduct 
 imputed to him by M. de Conflans, and received from 
 him the following account, which proves how very un- 
 worthy the Frenchman was of the favour which the 
 Duke had obtained for him. Captain Shirley says ; — 
 
 " Dover, Plymouth, 11th October, 1747. 
 " Your Lordship's generosity and goodness, which were 
 so beautifully expressed in your favour of the 6th instant, 
 gave me the utmost astonishment and joy. Your friend- 
 ship, my Lord, in giving me an opportunity of vindicating 
 my character (which was so basely aspersed), shall be always 
 acknowledged with the utmost gratitude and thanks. 
 Neither could I before be in the least insensible of your 
 Lordship's esteem for our family, having already so bounti- 
 fully bestowed it on me, and can only wish it may be in my 
 power to merit a continuance, since it is impossible I should 
 ever be able to repay it. I must now beg your Lordship's 
 patience, and leave, to trouble you with a detail of the usage 
 M. Conflans met with (which he calls ill-treatment), and 
 which, I assure you, on my honour, is fact. 
 
 * Anson's Collection, No, 81.
 
 190 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 " When the Renommee struck, they called out to us that 
 she was sinking, and desired us to hasten our boats on board, 
 which we did. The first boat brought on board M. Con- 
 flans, the captain of the ship, and his brother, with two or 
 three more officers, when M. Conflans complained of a 
 wound that he had received in the hip. I immediately led 
 him aft to the lieutenant's cabin ; and as soon as I could 
 get my own cabin up, and things a little to rights below, 
 got all the officers and him down into my cabin, and put 
 M. Conflans into my own bed, where he lay till we came in 
 here. All the time he was on board he never would eat at 
 my table, where all the other officers did, but ate always in 
 the state-room. His own cook dressed his dinner, which 
 consisted of soups, and which he chose, on account of his 
 wound : this was dressed chiefly by his own surgeon, though 
 once my surgeon was called on a consultation, who assured 
 me that the skin was not raised, and that he had often seen 
 a greater contusion from a blow at cudgels. I ordered my 
 servants to supply his cook with everything he asked for, 
 and when the fowls grew short, I ordered that none should 
 be killed but for his use. 
 
 " I should first have mentioned to your Lordship that we 
 had no sooner shifted our prisoners than the wind began to 
 blow very hard, which continued for some days. We 
 separated from the prize, and had not an opportunity of 
 sending for his clothes ; but as soon as we joined her again, 
 I got them all on board the Dover, and sent the officers on 
 l)()ard the prize to search for whatever belonged to them. 
 They found the greatest part; but, before we had taken 
 possession, their own people had broken open and plundered 
 their chests, and as their number was greater than ours 
 considerably, we had not an oi)portunity of searching them
 
 1747.] BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 191 
 
 till they were going on shore, being obliged to put them all 
 down in the hold; and then, Avhat we found belonging to 
 the officers, distributed amongst them. In short, I believe 
 I may venture to say, that less plunder (in regard to clothes) 
 was never known than in this ship. Nay, every ounce of 
 plate belonging to M. Conflans, &c., I took care to secure 
 for him ; and I must beg leave to say that I don't believe 
 he lost sixpence, except the merchandise he was carrying 
 abroad as a venture, which I looked upon as the ship's 
 cargo. The captain and other officers, whom he told your 
 Lordship were also robbed and ill used, are so far from 
 thinking so, that when I acquainted them with what M. 
 Conflans had reported to your Lordship, they were as much 
 surprised as myself. Had I treated him even as he repre- 
 sented, I could hardly think myself culpable, as he was 
 never genteel enough to show me his commission, nor pro- 
 duce it, though I often asked for it. That your Lordsliip 
 may have an idea of M. Conflans' honour and integrity, I 
 must beg leave to mention, that the evening he came on shore 
 here;, I provided him lodgings and everything necessary for 
 his reception. He at first, indeed, made a little bustle 
 against my officers, who, he said, wanted to search his chests 
 and trunks when coming on shore ; but on my assuring him 
 they would come on shore unmolested, he thanked me, 
 embraced me, and begged my friendship ; and the very next 
 day, or the day after (as I suppose) wrote to your Lordship 
 a downright falsehood. 
 
 " I am sorry I have not the honour of being better known 
 to your Lordship, but I flatter myself, if your Lordship vnW 
 be kind enough to inquire into my character, you will find 
 me at least a charitable man, and above a mean and base 
 action. I am afraid I have already intruded too long on
 
 192 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IV. 
 
 your Lordship's patience, and shall therefore only beg leave 
 to add, that I am, with the greatest respect, &c. 
 
 (Signed) " W. Shirley."* 
 
 Thus the Duke's interposition in fjxvour of an un- 
 deserving object was premature and ill bestowed. On 
 his departure he wrote a letter of thanks to Lord 
 Anson for the civilities he had received ; in it he ob- 
 serves — " La fa^on noble et genereuse, my lord, avec 
 laquelle vous pensez, me fait oublie entierement les 
 procedez du Capitain Shirley, que j'attribue asa jeu- 
 nesse et a son pen d'experience." M. de Conflans was 
 doomed, however, twice afterwards, to suffer the mor- 
 tification of being annoyed by the British navy — once 
 in being stopped on the high seas by Captain P. Denis, 
 of the Centurion, when carrying out intelligence to 
 the French colonies of the cessation of arms, and a 
 second time, by suffering a complete defeat, in 1759, 
 when Hawke drove him to take shelter among the 
 rocks, and destroyed half his fleet. 
 
 Lord Sandwich estimated more correctly the posi- 
 tion of this chevalier. 
 
 ''Hague, 28th November, 1747. 
 "My dear Lord — I have heard by accident that the 
 French demand the release of" M. Conilans, in virtue of the 
 cartel of Frankfort, as he is a lieutenant-general in the King 
 of France's service. As I have always at heart everything 
 that concerns the interest of your profession, I cannot hut 
 express my apprehension lest jou should not consider that 
 
 * Anson's Collection, No. 397.
 
 1748.1 BRILLIANT EXPLOITS OF THE NAVY. 193 
 
 affair with sufficient attention ; for if you yield the point, I 
 think we should, for the future, be obliged to restore, 
 upon the footino; of the cartel, all officers in the French 
 fleet of any rank ; for it is, I believe, certain, that M. Con- 
 flans' rank as lieutenant-general is either a consequence of 
 his rank in the fleet (which in France, you know, is ascer- 
 tained with the land-service, as I hope it will be with us), 
 or of his being governor of St. Dontiingo, which is the same 
 thing, those governments being always given to sea- 
 officers."* 
 
 Speaking, in another letter, of comparative rank 
 in the two services, he says : — " I hope that mat- 
 ter does not sleep, as I am sure it will do great 
 good to the service, and I think this is the time we 
 ought to push any of our purposes, as I flatter myself 
 we are generally in favour, and consequently more 
 likely to succeed now than hereafter." It may here 
 be mentioned that Anson had this point settled by 
 Order in Council of 10th February, 1747, and it 
 still continues without alteration ; the Order, howr 
 ever, was not published till the 5th March, 1748. 
 
 '^ Anson's Collection, No. 359. 
 
 O
 
 194 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 
 
 The duties of First Lord executed by Anson — Lord Vere's interfer- 
 ence and incapacity^ — Rules of precedence at the Board — Change 
 of the Board in consequence of Lord Chesterfield resigning the 
 seals, the Duke of Bedford accepting them, and Lord Sandwich's 
 appointment as First Lord — Correspondence of the Duke, the Earl, 
 and Lord Anson on the occasion — Lord Sandwich's pressing letters, 
 desiring Anson to consider himself, in all respects, as in his place — 
 Anson's marriage with the Lord Chancellor's daughter — Lord 
 Hardwicke's letters to him on the occasion — His anxiety and affec- 
 tion for Lady Anson, on the score of her health — Difficulties of 
 Lord Sandwich at Aix-la-Chapelle — Suggestion of the Duke of 
 Cumberland with regard to the establishment of a Marine Corps — 
 Conclusion of the war — Lord Vere, in the absence of Sand- 
 wich and Anson, appoints a commander-in-chief — He resigns both 
 the Admiralty and Navy — The first visitation of the dock-yards by 
 the Board — unsatisfactory state of — An act passed for consolidating 
 the laws relating to the Navy — apparent severity of — Question re- 
 specting a sentence of transportation — legal opinion of — Lord Bar- 
 rington's motion for providing seamen for the Navy dropped — Old 
 Horace Walpole's story — Change in the Board of Admiralty, Lord 
 Sandwich dismissed by Newcastle's intrigues, and Lord Anson 
 appointed First Lord. 
 
 1748 to 1755. 
 
 In the frequent al)sence of the Duke of Bedford, from 
 indisposition, and of Lord Sandwich, first at the 
 Hague and then at Aix-hi-Chapelle, negociating a 
 general peace, it has ])een seen that Lord Anson was 
 obliged to take upon himself nearly the sole charge
 
 1748.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 195 
 
 and responsibility of the duties of the Admiralty, 
 thoiip'h his name stood below that of Lord Vere Beau- 
 clerc in the patent; but he was particularly and 
 frequently requested to do so, both by the noble duke 
 and the earl. There was indeed good reason why it 
 should be so. Lord Vere had seen little or no ser- 
 vice since he was made a captain, at twenty-one 
 years of age, and probably in the whole course of his 
 life never saw a shot fired in anger. It is true he 
 commanded a frigate in the Mediterranean station 
 for three or four years, but appears to have been 
 employed chiefly in carrying despatches from Lisbon 
 to the Mediterranean, and from the latter to the former, 
 or wherever they were required to be sent ; and, 
 being one of the squadron under Sir Charles Wager, 
 he was once sent with that admiral's compliments of 
 excuse to the Grand Duke of Florence, for not 
 having waited on him himself. 
 
 Whether he was for this, or some similar service, 
 placed as a junior lord of the Admiralty, when 
 Sir Charles Wager was at the head of the board 
 in 1738, his naval biographer has not stated ; but 
 he resigned his situation in 1742, and was re- 
 appointed, under the Duke of Bedford, in 1744. 
 In 1745 he was raised to the rank of Rear- Admiral 
 of the Blue, and, in 1749, threw up his situation 
 at the Admiralty, and, at the same time, or shortly 
 after, his commission in the navy, when he was 
 created a peer of Great Britain. It is probable, 
 
 o 2
 
 19C LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH.V. 
 
 tlierefore, that lie owed his advancement rather to 
 his heing the son of the Duke of St, Alban's, than 
 to any service he had performed in the navy. 
 
 It is evident, however, from the corresjjondence of 
 Lord Sandwich with Anson, that the latter was very 
 materially interfered with by Lord Vere, who pre- 
 sumed on his seniority at the Board. It was of no 
 avail that Anson was selected as the advising naval 
 lord ; or that, in the civil department of the service, 
 seniority at that time went for nothing; the seats at 
 the Board were taken according as the names stood 
 in the patent, which continued to he the rule until 
 the Whig administration, under Lord Grey, adopted 
 a new one, which gave to the first lord of the Ad- 
 miralty the privilege, if necessary, to settle the pre- 
 cedence at the Board ; and this probably is the right 
 course, as the principal or advising naval lord must 
 necessarily be next the first, Avhatever his rank may 
 be.* 
 
 * We have a memorable illustratiou of the old rule when Sir 
 George Cockburn was appointed to the Admiralty : coming in with 
 two others, he stood, as a matter of course, nearly the last in the 
 patent — in fact, all but the junior lord — whereas Sir George War- 
 render, having remained at the Board till he had seen out all his old 
 colleagues, stood at the head ; but Sir George Cockburn was the first 
 or advising lord. When Sir James Graham came to the Admiralty, 
 he wished to keep Sir Henry Hotham, who, under the old rule, would 
 have stood second in the patent, or immediately after the first lord ; 
 but, on being told that Lord Grey had recommended Sir Thomas 
 Hardy, junior to him, to stand first, Sir Henry, being a high-minded 
 but rather punctilious officer, |dcclined a seat at the Board. Thus 
 Anson, though junior to all but one, was considered, in fact, after 
 Lord Itundwich, as the leading member of the ]]o:ud.
 
 J 748.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 197 
 
 On the 8th Februaiy, 1748, an event occurred 
 which caused a change in the Board of Admiralty, 
 somewhat, tliough not materially, affecting the po- 
 sition of Lord Anson. The Earl of Chesterfield 
 suddenly and unexpectedly notified to the minis- 
 ter his intention of resigning the seals as secretary 
 of state. " The whole affair," Avrites Baron Clarke 
 to Lord Sandwich, " occasions great confusion, and 
 many people have been talked of to succeed, though 
 no one to any purpose but your lordship and Mr. 
 Fox ; and, it is said, the Duke of Bedford is fixed 
 upon as one who will prevent any mischief from de- 
 termining in favour of either of the competitors ;" and 
 he adds, " I don't apprehend anything in favour of 
 Lord Anson in prejudice to you on this occasion ; but, 
 if you are not immediately declared the head of the 
 Board, the world will think you are neglected ; and 
 who knows what may happen in a month or two?"* 
 I\Ir. Fox Avas not supposed to have any chance. 
 Lord Anson tells Lord Sandwich that " the Wal- 
 polean party, who gain strength daily, neither love 
 him nor you ; and I think ]\Ir. Fox, whose ability 
 and credit in the House of Commons are great, will, 
 in my private opinion, push both the brothers (Duke 
 of Newcastle and Pelham) whenever he sees a fair 
 opportunity, for he does not Avant ambition, nor any 
 qualities that are necessary to raise a man in this 
 country to the height of power." f 
 
 * Lord Sandwich's Collection. t lb.
 
 198 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. V- 
 
 To which Lord Sandwich replies — " I agree with 
 you in what you say about this gentleman, that he 
 does not want ambition or any qualities to raise a 
 man in our government ; but that is not enough, as 
 I am sure he wants many qualities necessary to main- 
 tain himself after his rise^ so that it would be much 
 more easy for him to pull down than to build : how- 
 ever, I hope we shall put ourselves out of his reach."* 
 
 Lord Sandwich was no less in disesteem than Fox 
 with the Pelliams. His friend, Baron Clarke, tells 
 him in plain terms he must always bear this in view : 
 " You are looked upon as a man of too much weight 
 and consequence to be left at liberty near the throne. 
 This is no flattery of mine, as will be obvious when I 
 tell you that, of late, it has been the echo from their 
 dependants and table-deckers, that Lord Sandwich is 
 a great young man, and no doubt will make a great 
 figure in the government; but it seems rather too 
 soon for him to be setting up for himself, and making- 
 parties of his own."'!' 
 
 The acceptance of the seals by the Duke of Bed- 
 ford put an end to the expectations of all the candi- 
 dates. His Grace, on the 12th February, kissed 
 hands as secretary of state, and a new patent was 
 ordered, appointing Lord Sandwich first lord commis- 
 sioner of the Admiralty. On the same day his Grace 
 acquainted Anson with what had taken place. " The 
 
 * Lord Sandwich's Collection of MS. Letters, 
 t Lord Sandwich's Collection.
 
 1748.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 199 
 
 die," he says, "is at last thrown, and I have this 
 morning kissed the king's liand in the closet for the 
 seals, and the king puts Lord Sandwich in my place 
 at this Board. The tiling was going, I was afraid, 
 to take so wrong a turn with regard to Lord Sand- 
 wich, that I began to be afraid lest he should be 
 passed over in the change Lord Chesterfield's resig- 
 nation must have occasioned. I was called in unex- 
 pectedly into the king's closet, and, I can assure you, 
 was under no small concern at the task his IMajesty 
 has ordered me to undertake. But I hope, Avhen the 
 peace is made, to have as good success in getting 
 Lord Sandwich appointed my successor for the seals, 
 as I have now the satisfaction to see him established 
 at the head of this Board."* 
 
 On the 14th Lord Anson Avrites to Lord Sandwich 
 as follows : — 
 
 " Of Lord Chesterfield's resignation, and what has hap- 
 pened since, the particulars you will have from Legge, to 
 whose friendly aid you are much obliged, although you have 
 not attained the office your friends wish to see you in. It 
 was owing in a great measure to the Duke of Bedford's 
 firmness and Legge's management that a disagreement did 
 not happen in the administration, which, at this time, might 
 have been fatal to this country. The dispositions of people 
 in general here are much changed since you left us ; all now 
 seem inclined for peace : indeed the raising of eleven mil- 
 lions for next year is greatly dreaded, as it will shoAv to 
 the whole world how near this nation is of becoming bank- 
 
 * Anson's Collection of MS. Letters, No. 84.
 
 200 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. Y. 
 
 rupt ; and the citizens, being likely to be losers by the pre- 
 sent loan to the government, have changed their note from 
 war to peace. I therefore hope that, when you have got 
 your troops in the field, and have put on your whiskers, some 
 good occasion will happen of treating for a peace in earnest : 
 it is certainly the thing wished for universally ; and if it is 
 not brought about I fear there will be much ill blood in 
 Parliament next session, 
 
 " Your Lordship will easily conceive how disagreeable my 
 situation must be, upon the Duke of Bedford's removal and 
 your Lordship's absence, to act under Lord Vere, who, I 
 find, is determined to continue at the Board, and seemed to 
 be pleased with the change, as he imagines your continuance 
 there will not be long. Be assured, my dear Lord, that, 
 except in ceremony and correspondence, at both of which I 
 am extremely awkward, no man living can be more sincerely 
 your friend. (Signed) "Anson."* 
 
 His Lordship, however, having acted a part in tlie 
 drama, of which Lord Sandwich seems not to be 
 aware, gave to his friend, on the following day, a 
 full and particular account, showing how matters of 
 this kind Avere then managed. 
 
 " Fehniary 15, 1748. 
 " My dear Lord — As your Lordship is now in posses- 
 sion of the Admiralty, where no man can wish you more 
 satisfaction than I do, nor bo more desirous of being an 
 assistant to you, you will permit me to talk very freely with 
 you upon the subject of it, and explain to you the disagree- 
 able situation your absence places me in, as I find, from 
 
 * Lord Sandwich's Collection of MS. Letters.
 
 1748.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 201 
 
 talkinjT with Lord Vere, that he Intends to continue till you 
 return to take possession ; and indeed I think he will then 
 quit it with a much better grace than he would leave it with 
 now ; besides that, in the mean time, he may make his conti- 
 nuance at the Board serve many good purposes of his own, 
 and make as much a cipher of me as he pleases, which you 
 will easily imagine must be very disagreeable to me, after 
 the share the Duke of Bedford has allowed me in the direc- 
 tion of affairs afloat, and the success which has attended his 
 Grace's administration of naval affairs in every branch of the 
 department. Besides, I think the world will see me in a 
 very disadvantageous light, and think me acting out of cha- 
 racter. 
 
 " I don't mention this to place any difficulties in your 
 Lordship's way, but that you may give me your advice and 
 assistance, which I never stood more in need of than at pre- 
 sent, for I had not the least idea that Lord Vere would con- 
 tinue when the Duke of Bedford left the Board, from many 
 hints that he himself at times has let drop ; but the appre- 
 hensions of losing a shilling will quiet his resentment or his 
 ambition. He has been in my way ever since I came into 
 the world. Two years ago I endeavoured to shove him be- 
 fore me, but there was no moving him from the earth to 
 his proper element ; and to continue now In his rear, both at 
 land and sea, I own I cannot well endure." * 
 
 His Lordship then proceeds, in the same letter, to 
 relate the manner in Avhich the new arrangement 
 was brought about. 
 
 " It was not known that Lord Chesterfield Intended to 
 quit the seals, with any certainty, until the Thursday before 
 
 * Lord Sandwich's Collection.
 
 202 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. V. 
 
 it happened, when he declared he would resign on Saturday 
 morning. The Duke of Newcastle had invited the Duke 
 of Bedford and myself to dine with him upon the Thursday, 
 when he announced what had passed between him and Lord 
 Chesterfield, and that the king had declared he would not 
 have your Lordship, nor Mr. Pitt, nor the solicitor-general, 
 as secretary of state. What operations had occasioned this 
 extraordinary declaration I am entirely ignorant ; but some 
 of your enemies had been busy at work : that the seals were 
 not designed for you appeared clearly. 
 
 " I staid till the Duke of Bedford was gone, when, being 
 left alone with the Duke of Newcastle, I told his Grace I 
 thought you would have great reason to complain of all your 
 friends, if you were passed by on this occasion, and therefore 
 proposed, if you could not get the seals, that they should be 
 given to the Duke of Bedford, and your Lordship to take his 
 place at the Admiralty. He asked me, very earnestly, whe- 
 ther the Duke of Bedford had said anything to me upon it. 
 I told him, ' No.' He then asked me if I thought the Duke 
 of Bedford would accept the seals. I then declared that it 
 was my opinion his Grace would decline no trouble, how- 
 ever disagreeable to him, that would serve you, and show 
 the friendship he had for you. 
 
 " I was obliged, on account of my health, to go for Bath 
 the next morning ; but I thought it very proper in me to let 
 the Duke of Bedford know all that had passed between the 
 Duke of Newcastle and myself, and pressed him very ear- 
 nestly not to suffer your opponents to triumph over you. 
 So the affair stood when I left London, and the success of 
 it cannot give you more pleasure than it has done me, — 
 bemg, my dear Lord, «Scc. " Anson."* 
 
 * Lord Sandwich's Collection oi' MS. Letters.
 
 1748.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 203 
 
 On the 5th IMarch Lord Sandwich writes thus to 
 Lord Anson, from the Hague : — 
 
 "My dear Lord — You will easily conceive my satisfac- 
 tion on the receipt of the news contained in the last three 
 mails from England. I am sensible how much I am obliged 
 to your Lordship for the great weight of your friendship, 
 and I readily perceive how much your support has contri- 
 buted to make the way easy to the height of good fortune to 
 which I am arrived, which I shall never forget to the last 
 hour of my life. 
 
 " I have very little time to write by this post, but I would 
 not lose a moment to desire that you would consider yourself 
 as in effect at the head of the Admiralty ; that you would not 
 only write to me your sentiments, as to any measures you 
 would wish to have executed, and when my assistance is 
 necessary, but that you would always make use of my name 
 whenever it may be necessary ; and, if you would have any- 
 thing deferred, desire time to write to me about it, and you 
 may always depend upon the decision that you tell me is 
 agreeable to your opinion. I must beg you will suffer every- 
 thing I do to go through your hands, as it is my meaning to 
 throw my share of the power, and the direction of the whole, 
 as much as possible, into your hands."* 
 
 This expression of unbounded confidence from the 
 first lord of the Admiralty could not but be highly 
 ijratifying to Lord Anson, which is repeated, in still 
 stronger terms, if possible, in the following extract 
 from his reply to his lordship's letter of February 15th, 
 sent from Aix-la-Chapelle, to Avhich place he liad 
 
 * Anson's Collection of MS. Letters, No. 369.
 
 204 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [ CH. V. 
 
 Leeu removed to carry on the negociations with the 
 representatives of the several powers ; and this will 
 account for the delay in answering it. 
 
 " Aix-la-Chapelle, March 19, 1748. 
 " I am sorry Lord Vere remains at the Board, if that 
 is any way disagreeable to you ; liut I think that, so far from 
 his being able to make a cipher of you, that you must put 
 him absolutely in that situation himself. I always told you 
 that, whenever I got to the head of the Admiralty, it should, 
 except in the name and show of it, be the same thing as if 
 you were there yourself ; and I beg of you to consider my 
 being there singly as an addition to your power. In one of 
 my last letters to the Duke of Newcastle, I have told him 
 that, in Admiralty business, he must consider you as one and 
 the same thing with me, and that I intend to depend entirely 
 upon your Lordship, and to throw the direction of the whole, 
 as much as possible, into your hands ; and the next time I 
 write to Mr. Pelham I will say the same thing. As to 
 Lord Vere's taking advantage of my absence to forward any 
 of his purposes, if they are such as are disagreeable to you, 
 it is very easy to prevent them, by desiring first to know my 
 opinion ; and if you choose to have anything done that you 
 had rather not appear in, let me know it privately, and I will 
 write directly to Corbett (the secretary) to recommend it, as 
 from myself; but you may be assured I will do no act what- 
 ever but directly through your hands, which will plainly 
 show people where the power centres, and, I think, indis- 
 putably fix you in the entire management of affairs, which 
 has been always my view, as I am sure it is what is most for 
 ihe advantage of the service."* 
 
 * Anson's Collection of MS. Letters, No. 370.
 
 1748.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 205 
 
 Notliiiif^ could be more satisfactory to Lord An- 
 son than this letter of Lord Sandwich; it set his 
 mind at ease on tlie eve of a very important event 
 to himself, — namely, his marriage with Lady Eli- 
 zabeth, daughter of the Lord Chancellor Hard- 
 wicke. Anson being one of those quiet plodding men 
 who look only to their own particular occupations, 
 and his hands being sufficiently full Avith Admiralty 
 business, the Chancellor, having "been in the Avorld" 
 (in which the other was said never to have been), 
 seems to have thought it right to remind him of two or 
 tln-ee trifling matters, connected with his intended 
 new situation in life, which might otherwise have 
 escaped his notice or his recollection. To prevent, 
 and also to correct, mistakes, he writes him the fol- 
 lowing rather curious letter, considering from whom 
 it proceeds : — 
 
 " Poivis House, April 21s^, 1748. 
 '• My dear Lord — I saw the Archbishop of Canterbury 
 to-day. who expressed himself extremely concerned that he 
 had not the pleasure of seeing your lordship when you did 
 him the honour of calling; upon him yesterday morning. I 
 have desired the favour of his grace to be here on Monday 
 at seven o'clock, and must desire that your lordship would 
 be so good as to let me know the names of any of your 
 friends, whom I should invite on that occasion. I find by 
 Mr. Perkins that Saturday evening is fixed for the execution 
 of the deeds, and hope eight o'clock will be a convenient 
 hour for you. It is proper and usual that the trustees should 
 be present, to execute at the same time ; and I must beg 
 the favour of your lordship to make the appointment with
 
 206 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. V. 
 
 my Lord Parker, my Lord Chief Baron, and your brother. 
 The whole portion shall be paid either in bank-notes, or 
 in my draft upon the Bank, as you like best. 
 
 " I desired Mr. Perkins to mention to your lordship a 
 mistake which the coach-painter has made in painting the 
 arms, in which, I fear, he was misled by something that 
 fell from my wife, I have inquired of the heralds, and also 
 of the Duke of Dorset, who is very skilful in matters of that 
 nature ; and they all agree that, upon the marriage of the 
 daughter of a peer of any rank, one of her father's support- 
 ers is always put on the woman's side, that is, the sinister 
 side, of the scutcheon. This is the invariable usage ; and 
 if the lady's father's supporters differ, as mine do, then the 
 dexter supporter is always taken. The consequence of this 
 is, that I must entreat your lordship to give directions to the 
 painter to turn the sinister supporter into the lion, which I 
 bear, and at the same time ask your pardon for troubling 
 you about such a trifle. 
 
 " I am, with the most affectionate respect, 
 
 " My dear lord, &c., Hardwicke."* 
 
 There is a great deal of honest and quiet sim- 
 plicity in Anson's reply, towards the end of a long 
 letter on other subjects, to the congratulations of his 
 friend Lord Sandwich. " I shall say nothing of my 
 marriage, because all people in that state, at first, 
 think themselves extremely happy. I own I do, and 
 therefore think I make you some sacrifice in staying 
 so long in Holland as I intend ; for I propose to 
 make my visit tim days, in which time you will hear 
 all I have to say to you, and deliver me your com- 
 
 * Anson's Collection of MS. letters, No. 186.
 
 1748.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 207 
 
 mands." And he goes on to say, — " Indeed, you 
 have almost brought the Admiralty to be a sinecure, 
 for all our last orders are sent, so that there remains 
 nothing but to dismantle our ships — a grievous affair 
 to me, for I shall never live to see so well-disciplined 
 and complete a squadron as we have to the west- 
 ward."* He did live, however, not only to see, but 
 to exercise authority over, a far superior one, mainly 
 of his own creating. 
 
 There is so much real and anxious parental 
 feeling expressed in the following letter from the 
 great and good Chancellor to Lord Anson^ that no 
 apology will be required for its insertion here, in- 
 timately connected as it is, though not officially, nor 
 professionally, with the main subject of this Memoir. 
 
 " Powis House, Aug. 30th, 1748. 
 " My dear Lord — After having; so lately given your lord- 
 ship the trouble of a letter, I should not have repeated it 
 now, were it not for a piece of intelligence relating to dear 
 Lady Anson, which we received on Sunday night from 
 Wrest. It gives me and her mother much concern to hear 
 that, when Mr. Yorke left her on Tuesday last, she had a 
 feverish disorder upon her ; and, though that was somewhat 
 relieved by the account Mr. Anson was so kind as to send 
 by Wednesday's post, that she had no return of it, yet we 
 cannot help being apprehensive that it might afterwards 
 return, and prove an intermitting fever. Your lordship will 
 excuse the trouble, which the anxiety of a father gives you, 
 to be informed particularly how she now is ; and it will 
 
 * Lord Sandwich's Collection of MS. letters.
 
 208 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. V. 
 
 rejoice me much to hear good news of you both. I must 
 beg a Uttle more of your indulgence, which my knowledge 
 of her from her childhood induces me to presume upon. 
 She has great spirits, rather superior to her strength, and is 
 always inclined to make the best of her case. It is therefore 
 necessary on such occasions to look a little beyond her own 
 representations, especially at this time, when she is certainly 
 mortified at any interruption of the pleasure she had pro- 
 mised herself in attending your lordship at the Staffordshire 
 diversions, and may be inclined to exert herself to partake 
 of them, though at some hazard. I must therefore entreat 
 your lordship to make use of your authority with her, as I 
 should without scruple have done mine, to keep her from 
 going to Lichfield races, in case she should not be perfectly 
 recovered ; or, if she should appear to be so, to prevail with 
 her at least not to dance, and to redouble every caution, 
 both as to hours and the avoiding taking cold. Any fresh 
 cold caught, heating of her blood, or new flutter of spirits^ 
 may be of very bad consequence, especially as her constitu- 
 tion seems to have had a disposition that way for some months 
 past. I know your lordship's good nature and regard for 
 her will induce you to forgive this freedom, which proceeds 
 not from the least imagination that all possible care would 
 not be taken, but from a persuasion that you would like to 
 be informed from those who have been longest acquainted 
 with her, and also to be able to make use of my opinion and 
 influence. 
 
 " My wife desires to second this adnce, and joins in our 
 most affectionate wishes to you both, and in best compli- 
 ments to Mr. Anson and all friends. 
 
 " I am always, &c. 
 
 " Lord Anson." " Hahdwickk.* 
 
 * Anson's Collection of MS. lotloi*?, No. 1 68.
 
 1748.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 209 
 
 The important and harassing business on which 
 a greater part of Lord Sandwich's time must have 
 been occupied, the anxiety of mind perpetually preying 
 upon him, not only to meet the wishes and views of 
 his employers, but to give to the nation that satisfac- 
 tion whi^li, divided as parties were for peace and 
 war, he could scarcely promise himself to be able to 
 do : — surrounded, moreover, by spies and intriguers, 
 watching every word that fell from his mouth, and 
 every act of his life ; — knowing, too, that he had the 
 most jealous and suspicious minister to serve, and a 
 sovereign that had taken a dislike to him, for having 
 uttered, perhaps inconsiderately, an expression of 
 slight towards one of the little potentates of Germany ; 
 notwithstanding all these drawbacks on his time and 
 attention, it is but justice to say that his lordship's 
 mind was constantly and deeply intent upon the 
 concerns of the Admiralty. Almost every letter 
 (and they are numerous) addressed to Lord Anson, 
 contains somethinii; that regards the naval service. 
 The following embraces an important suggestion, 
 Avhich, emanating from a very high, though not a 
 naval, quarter, Avas so enforced on Anson's mind, 
 that, at the proper time, he did not fail to bring it 
 forward, and to carry it successfully into opera- 
 tion, in such a manner as to establish it on that 
 permanent footing, which made it " impracticable for 
 .any ministry afterwards to change it" — it was the 
 establishment of that excellent and most useful corps, 
 
 P
 
 210 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. V. 
 
 the Royal Marines, as it now stands, in lieu of those 
 
 soldier-marines with which the fleet had hitherto 
 
 heen supplied. 
 
 " Aix, August 7th, 1748. 
 
 " My dear Lord — I have received your two obliging 
 letters, enclosing a plan for the present disposition of ou/ 
 fleet, which, I am sure, has my entire approbation, as every 
 thing your lordship judges for the good of the sendee always 
 will. It is unnecessary for me to trouble you with any 
 recommendation of my friends, as I see you take the same 
 care of them as if I myself was upon the spot. 
 
 " You don't tell me whether the marines are to be con- 
 tinued or not. I should think it will be proposed to break 
 them, at least the greatest part. The Duke of Cumberland 
 dropped something, when I was at the army, that makes 
 me think so ; and he added that one reason why he thought 
 it would be right to do so was, that they were upon a 
 bad footing, and neither sea nor land forces ; that whenever 
 they were appointed again, the establishment should be 
 changed, and the marines be entirely in our jurisdiction. 
 Would it be impossible to get that matter settled before the 
 present regiments are broken ? I should tliink that might 
 be done, as the object of a few independent companies for 
 the sliips that are still to remain in pay would not be ma- 
 terial ; and if once you get the establishment (for however 
 small a number it be) settled as you would have it, it will 
 be impracticable for any ministry afterwards to change it. 
 In things of this sort, the first step is in a manner the whole 
 of the business, and an opportunity ought never to be lost ; 
 though I am far from saying, with any degree of certainty, 
 whether an opportunity offers at present or not."* 
 
 * Anson's Collection of MS. letters, No. 382.
 
 1748.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 211 
 
 It will be obvious that tlie formation of a new 
 establishment of this important nature would require, 
 in the first instance, to be discussed in the cabinet ; 
 and, in the second place, to obtain the sanction of the 
 king's order in council. Lord Anson, therefore, 
 considering that the termination of the war was 
 approaching, did not think the present moment 
 favourable for augmenting the permanent establish- 
 ment of a naval force, though he entirely concurred 
 in the propriety of the measure. He had abundant 
 reason to know the inefficiency of the present system ; 
 and with regard to the breaking the marine regi- 
 ments, he submitted the proposition to Mr. Fox, 
 then Secretary-at-War, and received from him an 
 answer, of which the following is a copy : — 
 
 " I beheve that the preparing and signing of the warrants 
 to break the marines is looked upon as a prerogative of the 
 AdmiraUy of more consequence than I unagined. I assure 
 your lordship that I have not any the least objection to it 
 either in form or substance. And therefore recommending, 
 for the sake of economy, despatch to your lordship, I beg 
 leave to resign that task to the Admiralty, and to discharge 
 myself of it. 
 
 " I am, with the greatest respect, &c. 
 " Holland House, 25th Oct. 1748." " H. Fox.* 
 
 The peace being now concluded, Lord Anson had 
 the satisfaction of knowing it from Lord Sandwich's 
 letter to him of the 19th October, 1748. 
 
 * Ansons Collection of MS. letters, No. 164. 
 
 p2
 
 212 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. V. 
 
 " Give me leave to congratulate you, as I do most sincerely, 
 upon the news that will be brought to England by our friend 
 Leveson. I dare say it will please the public ; and I know 
 your partiality to me is such, that it will be an additional 
 reason for you to think favourably of the work, by reason of 
 the share I have had in it. I hope it will not be now many 
 weeks before I shall have the happiness of seeing you, as I 
 have leave to be in England by the meeting of Parliament. 
 God knows it will be a happy day when I can once more sit 
 down among my friends, and get a little respite from the 
 hurry and confusion I have been concerned in for these 
 three years past."* 
 
 His lordship however did not take his seat at the 
 Board till the early part of the year 1749, nor before 
 his colleague, Lord Vere, had actually, in the 
 ahsence of both Sandwich and Anson (the latter heing 
 engaged in conveying his Majesty to Holland), ap- 
 pointed a commander-in-chief to Barhadoes (Sir 
 George Pococke), an appointment which was never 
 intended to be made in time of peace. Lord Sand- 
 wich says, " I am vexed at the account you give me 
 of the nomination of the connnander-in-chief at Bar- 
 hadoes : there would be a certain way of preventing 
 any such advantage being taken in your absence, if 
 you were to desire that, whenever any such materiiil 
 connnissions as those of commander-in-chief were to 
 be disposed of, IMr. Corbett might be directed to write 
 to me, to knovv' whether I had any person to recom- 
 
 * Anson'a Collection of MS. letters. No. SSC,
 
 1748.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 213 
 
 iiieiid; in which Ciise I e^hoiild certainly mention, in 
 answer, -whomsoever you thought tlie fittest person. 
 However, I hope tliis will soon be at an end, and 
 that I shall have the happiness of being Avith you in 
 a short time in England, where -we vi'ill take care to 
 settle things at the Board upon sucli a footing, as to 
 leave no room there for anything to be done contrary 
 to our incUnation."* Lord Vere left tlie ]>oard in 
 the course of the year, and his place w^as supplied by 
 Granville Leveson, Viscount Trentham. 
 
 This long Avar, Avith all the continental subsidies, 
 increased the public debt by about seventy millions. 
 Tlie nation, how^ever, Avas sufficiently tired of it, 
 and became at last clamorous for peace ; and, though 
 the main advantage gained to the country by the pro- 
 secution of it had been purely naval, and the result 
 of it, that of reducing the fleets of France and 
 Spain, the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, notwithstanding, 
 met Avith almost general approbation. The basis of 
 that treaty Avas a mutual restitution of all conquests 
 made since the beginning of the Avar, Avith a release 
 of all prisoners Avithout ransom. 
 
 The king, in his speech, on opening the session in 
 November, 1748, says, " Whatever the events of 
 Avar may have been, the bravery of my troops has 
 distinguished itself, on every occasion, to their lasting 
 honour ; and our signal successes at sea must ever be 
 
 * Anson's Collection of MS. letkn-s, No. 387.
 
 214 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. V. 
 
 remembered, to the glory of the British fleet, and 
 entitle it to the particular attention and support of 
 this nation. You will further consider that those 
 brave men who have served well by sea or land, and 
 cannot now be employed, justly deserve to be the 
 objects of your favour and protection." Though 
 there was some slight opposition in the Commons to 
 the address of thanks, it was carried, as originally 
 moved for, without a division, and, in the Lords also, 
 unanimously. 
 
 In the early part of 1749 Lord Sandwich took his 
 seat at the Board ; and one of his first measures was 
 a visitation of all the dock-yards and other naviil 
 establishments, which, for many years before, had 
 been entirely neglected. Indeed there is nothing on 
 record to show that they had ever been officially 
 visited by any preceding Board of Admiralty ;* or 
 even by the Commissioners of the Navy, under 
 whose control they were more immediately placed : 
 yet these establishments occasion the great portion 
 of the expense annually voted by Parliament on the 
 navy estimates. The object of this first visitation, 
 by the proper and responsible authority, is fully stated 
 in the following minute of the Board : — 
 
 * Sir Edward Hawke, in 1770 (then first lord of the Admiralty), 
 being dissatisfied with the reports he received from the surveyor of 
 the navy and the dock-yards, procured an Order in Council which 
 directed that, in future, his Majesty's ships and dock-yards should be 
 inspected by the Board of Admiralty once every two years — they are 
 now visited annually.
 
 1749.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 215 
 
 " Friday, 9th June, 1749- 
 " Present — Earl of Sandwich, Lord Vere Beauclerc, Lord 
 
 Anson, &c. 
 •^'The Lords, taking into consideration tlie number of 
 men borne in the several dock and rope -yards, the great ex- 
 pense attending the same, and that the works are not carried 
 on with the expedition that might be expected from them, 
 which must arise from the remissness of the officers 
 or insufficiency of the workmen, or both, and being deter- 
 mined, as far as in them lies, to remedy the same, do 
 judge it expedient forthwith to visit all his Majesty's dock 
 and rope-yards, to examine into the ability and conduct of 
 the officers, the sufficiency of the workmen, the condition of 
 the ships and magazines, together with what works are car- 
 rying on, that such reformation may be made as shall be 
 found needful to prevent any unnecessary expenditure of the 
 public money, to see that the several rules and orders for 
 the government of the yards are duly carried into execution, 
 that the ships of the royal navy be kept in constant condi- 
 tion for service, and that the money granted for keeping up 
 the same be frugally expended, and that the comptroller of 
 the navy do attend them in their visitation." 
 
 In the minutes of their proceedings it appears, that 
 they found the men generally idle, the officers igno- 
 rant, the stores ill arranged, abuses of all kinds over- 
 looked, the timber ill assorted, that which was longest 
 in store being undermost, the standing orders ne- 
 glected, the ships in ordinary in a very dirty and bad 
 condition, filled with women and children, and that 
 the officers of the yard had not visited them, which it 
 was their duty to do ; that men were found, borne
 
 216 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. V- 
 
 and paid as officers, who liad never done duty as 
 such, for Vvhich their Lordships reprimanded the 
 Navy Board through the comptroller ; that the store- 
 keeper's accounts were many years in arrear, and, 
 what was most extraordinary, that the Navy Board 
 had never required them ; in short, gross negligence, 
 irregularities, waste, and emhezzlement were so pal- 
 pable, that their Lordships ordered an advertisement 
 to be set up in various parts of all the yards, offering 
 encouragement and protection to such as should dis- 
 cover any misdemeanors, committed either by the 
 officers or workmen, particularly in employing work- 
 men or labourers on their private affiiirs, or any 
 other abuse whatever.* 
 
 Everything, in short, appeared to be left to the 
 resident commissioner, who, on his part, left all 
 matters to the principal, and they to the inferior, 
 officers. The members of the Navy Board seem to 
 have given themselves no trouble about the dock- 
 yards. Captain (afterwards Admiral) Savage Mostyn, 
 the comptroller of the navy, nnist have felt himself 
 in rather an awkward position while the inquiry Avas 
 going on, and at the public notice above mentioned 
 being stuck up in the yards. In future years, when 
 Lord Sandwich was again First Lord of the Admi- 
 ralty, he cau'sed frequent visitations to be made, and 
 left a record of them in the Admiralty-office, as an 
 inducement for subsequent Boards to pursue the same 
 
 * Minutes of Lord Sandwich's Visitation.
 
 1749.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 217 
 
 practice, which ^^'as partially followed by Lord HoAve, 
 Lord Spencer, Lord St. Vincent, and is continued to 
 the present time. From these visitations much good 
 has resulted, many abuses have been corrected, and a 
 vast expenditure of money and stores saved to the 
 public. 
 
 The first business in the House of Commons, after 
 the address of thanks on the Kinji-'s speech, was a 
 motion for papers relating to the treaty of Aix-la- 
 Chapelle, which, after a long debate, was lost by 181 
 against 120. The next question that came before 
 the Uvo houses of Parliament was of the greatest 
 importance to the army and navy ; — that of the 
 IMutiny Bill, brought in by ]Mr. Fox, Secretary-at- 
 War. Several new clauses were introduced which 
 met with great opposition ; some of them were car- 
 ried and others not. On this subject Horace Wal- 
 pole indulges in a tirade of keen severity. " When 
 the Duke (of Cumberland) had set himself to restore 
 the discipline of the army, and bring it nearer to the 
 standard of German severity, he found it necessary 
 to reform the military code, that whatever despotism 
 he had a mind to establish might at least be grounded 
 in an appearance of law. The Secretary-at-War, with 
 a few general officers, Avere ordered to revise the 
 IMutiny Bill, and (if one may judge by their execu- 
 tion of this commission) to double the rigour of it. 
 The penalty of death came over as often as the curses 
 in the Commination on Ash-'Wednesday ; oaths of 
 secrecy were imposed on courts-martial ; and even
 
 218 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. V. 
 
 officers on half-pay were for the future to be subject 
 to all the jurisdiction of military law. My Lord An- 
 son, who governed at the Admiralty Board, was 
 struck with so amiable a pattern, and would have 
 chained down his tars to a like oar ; but it raised 
 such a ferment in that boisterous profession, that the 
 ministry were forced to drop several of the strongest 
 articles, to quiet the tempest that this innovation had 
 caused."* 
 
 Walpole always exaggerates. The navy has no 
 Mutiny Bill except for the marines on shore — a corps 
 not then regularly established — and which, when they 
 Avere so, is in accordance with that of the army. The 
 discipline of the navy is maintained by various acts 
 of Parliament ; and Lord Sandwich and Lord Anson 
 thought it the proper time, now that the war was 
 at an end, to have them consolidated into one act 
 (22 Geo. II.) by a bill which was brought into the 
 Commons by Lord Barrington, a member of the 
 Board of Admiralty. It was entitled " A Bill for 
 amending, explaining, and reducing into one Act of 
 Parliament, the Laws relating to the Navy," a most 
 deskable and highly useful measure, which has con- 
 tinued in full force to the present day, with an 
 exception to be noticed presently. The principal, 
 and indeed almost the only, novelties attempted to be 
 introduced were, first, that of subjecting lialf-})ay 
 officers to courts-martial, which, after much oppo- 
 
 Wulpole's Memoirs.
 
 1749.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 219 
 
 sition, and a debate which appears to have lasted 
 ten or twelve days, was thrown out ; the second was 
 the administration of an oath of secrecy to the mem- 
 bers, which was carried, and continues to the pre- 
 sent time. 
 
 With regard to the " ferment in the boisterous pro- 
 fession," it exploded, if there was any "tempest" to 
 " quiet," in a single petition, presented to tlie house 
 by Sir John Norris, signed by three admirals and 
 forty-seven captains, in which it was alleged that, 
 if certain clauses were passed, they would greatly 
 tend to the injury and dishonour of the petitioners 
 and aU other officers of his INIajesty's navy, as also 
 to the detriment of his JMajesty's service. It was 
 strongly contended in the Lords, that courts-martial 
 should not have the power to inflict any punishment 
 extending to life and limb — that mutiny even should 
 be made liable to, and punishable by, the civil magis- 
 trate. This was a step far beyond that in the petition 
 of the " three admirals and forty-seven captains," and 
 speaks not much in favour of the good sense of the 
 lords who espoused it. 
 
 The bill, on which the articles of war are founded, 
 for the government of the navy, passed, and has not 
 undergone any alteration in the last ninety years, 
 with the exception of a modification of two articles, 
 occasioned by the trial and execution of the unfortu- 
 nate Admiral Byng. These articles, the twelfth and 
 thirteenth, which inflict the penalty of death, were 
 then and afterwards considered so severe that, thirty
 
 220 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. V. 
 
 years after the passing of the act, and twenty-two 
 after Byng's execution, there was added, in the act 
 of 19 Geo. III. (1779), after the word "death," the 
 words, " or such other punishment as the nature and 
 degree of the offence shall he found to deserve." 
 
 With regard to the *' penalty of death coming over 
 as often as the curses in the Commination on Ash- 
 Wednesday," there is some appearance of truth as 
 relates to the penal code of the navy, but they were 
 not first introduced at the time in question. Of the 
 thirty-six articles of war, nine award the punishment 
 of death, unqualified by any species of connnutation, 
 and admittinii' of no mitig-ation ; and twelve with 
 *' death," qualified by the words, " or such other pu- 
 nishment as the offence, by a court-martial, shall be 
 judged to deserve." But_, as happens in the civil 
 code, the apparent severity is softened down in prac- 
 tice to a greater degree of leniency, than if a milder 
 punishment had been aAvarded. 
 
 An opinion has sometimes been held by naval 
 officers that, in those articles which award the pu- 
 nishment of death, " or such other punishment as the 
 court shall deem the offence to deserve, or as a court- 
 martial shall think fit to inflict," a sentence of trans- 
 portation maybe considered as included; but a mo- 
 ment's reflection will show that such a sentence 
 Avould be perfectly illegal. At the time the act was 
 passed, and until long after, there were no penal esta- 
 blishments in existence, and the act itself has under- 
 gone no alteration except that above mentioned ;
 
 1749.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 221 
 
 the comnmtation, therefore, or a sentence of banish- 
 ment, as the law now stands, would be illegal and of 
 no effect. This was so decided by the law-officers 
 of the crown in 1808, in the case of a court-martial 
 on the officers and crew of the Carnation, for striking 
 their colours to the enemy, and something like it 
 has very recently been ruled. 
 
 As a state of peace is the best time for considering 
 and maturing any plan that may be proposed for that 
 most important object — the manning of the fleet — 
 Lord Barrington submitted a motion to the House 
 for leave to bring in a bill for providing seamen for 
 his Majesty's navy, without distressing trade. His 
 Lordship set out by endeavouring to show that we 
 ought never, in time of peace, to have less than 
 20,000 able and expert seamen in pay for the service 
 of the navy, but that it was not necessary to keep in 
 commission as many ships as would require that 
 number : the expedient thought of, he said, was to 
 keep a less number than 20,000 in /z^// pay, and give 
 the rest such an allowance as should be thouglit pro- 
 l)er ; that the intention of his bill was only to have 
 3000 supernumeraries kei)t in pay for the next year, at 
 the rate of 10/. per man per annum ; for, as 17,000 
 Avere voted for the ensuing year, 3000 would just 
 make up the 20,000 ; and, as these 3000 would only 
 cost the nation 30,000/. a-year, instead of 156,000/., 
 the sum if these men were actually employed, he 
 thought the expedient, which saves the nation 126,000/.
 
 222 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. V. 
 
 a-year, whilst it gives her 3000 seamen, was one that 
 deserved the approbation of every gentleman who 
 wished well to his country. 
 
 In this, however, his Lordship miscalculated. Lord 
 Egmont was rather severe on this new expedient. 
 *' Sir, if one could be allowed, in this age, to borrow 
 anything from the Bible, I should observe that, when 
 the devil has a mind to deceive, he always puts on 
 the appearance of an angel of light ; so, when any 
 scheme is formed for the introduction of arbitrary 
 power, the projectors always assume the appearance 
 of patriots, and affect a serious concern for the safety 
 of the nation, or for the encouragement of our trade 
 and navigation." He thought there was a secret 
 design in the present project ; that these 3000 men 
 were meant as an addition to the number of the go- 
 vernment slaves, and as a new number of pensioners, 
 who were hereafter to be made use of for gaining an 
 influence in the few remaining cities or boroughs, that 
 still continue refractory to a minister's conge, d'elire ; 
 ''for," says his Lordship, "we may depend upon it, 
 that no seaman will be adndtted upon this pension, 
 who has not a vote in some city or borough ; and 
 before a new war breaks out, unless it happens very 
 soon, as it probaldy may, we shall find that, of these 
 3000 pensioners, there is not so much as one good 
 seaman amongst them." 
 
 Old Horace Walpole (not the memoir-writer) said 
 that, since and before he was a meniber of that
 
 1749.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 223 
 
 august assembly, he made this general observation, 
 that, either our constitution, our church, or our 
 liberties being in danger, was the constant cry of 
 those who were disobliged by, and consequently op- 
 posed, the administration ; but the cry, he said, at 
 present, was so void of all foundation, that it was 
 hardly possible to treat it in a serious manner. " I 
 shall therefore," said he, " only tell you a story : — 
 
 "In King William's time, there was a famous 
 member of this house, whom you have all heard of, 
 John How by name, who, having been refused some- 
 thing which he had not, or, at least, which that wise 
 prince thought he had not, any title to ask, took it 
 into his head to set up for a patriot, and to become 
 a violent opposer of the administration. From 
 that time this gentleman's continual cry was, ' Our 
 liberties are in danger, our constitution is to be over- 
 turned !' and with such exclamations he was always 
 endeavouring, by his pretended fears, to raise real 
 apprehensions in the minds of some of the weak men 
 of that age. At last he was silenced by a story 
 told to the House by Sir Thomas Lyttleton, which 
 was this : ' A gentleman of my acquaintance,' says 
 Sir Thomas, ' was lately travelling in a coach Avith 
 two ladies who were sisters. One sat very quiet, 
 without being in the least disturbed ; but the other 
 was, upon every little jolt, in a fright, and always 
 crying out, ' O Lord, Sir, we shall be overturned ! 
 for God's sake tell the coachman to drive softly !'
 
 224 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. V. 
 
 ' What is the matter, Madam V says tlie gentleman ; 
 *why are you in such a friglit? We have a firm, 
 easy coach, a plain good road, and a careful, cautious 
 coachman : tliere is not the least danger.' But all 
 signified nothing : the lady continued as before. At 
 last the gentleman asks the other lady — ' What ails 
 your sister, Madam ? is she usually of such a fearful 
 temper?' To which the other answered, 'Do not 
 mind her. Sir ; my sister is really in no fright, only 
 she thinks she has a very pretty voice, and therefore 
 takes great delight in hearing herself speak.' " 
 
 This stoiy (not altogether inapplicable to the pre- 
 sent time), Walpole 'said, put the zealous patriot so 
 much out of countenance, that, for some days, he was 
 quite silent as to the danger of our liberties. Lord 
 Barrington's motion was put an end to by the 
 Speaker's hinting to him, that, as money was to l.te 
 granted, it ought to have been first resolved on in the 
 connnittee of supply. And thus ended this singular 
 "expedient." 
 
 After this, very little occurred in either House 
 of Parliament that could strictly be called Admi- 
 ralty-business. The usual routine, in time of 
 peace, consists in preserving the fleet in an ethcient 
 state, building and repairing ships, keeping up a 
 due proportion of naval stores, seeing that those 
 wharfs, jetties, docks, and slips be kept in order, 
 Avhich nuist always deteriorate in consequence of 
 other and more pressing kind of labour being de-
 
 1751.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 225 
 
 maufled pending a long- \var. In the midst of these 
 ordinary proceedings an event took place, in June, 
 1751, which appears to have been wholly unex- 
 pected. This was nothing less than a partial change 
 in the administration, which extended to the Board 
 of Admiralty, and deprived it of the able assist- 
 ance of Lord Sandwich; but placed, at the same 
 time. Lord Anson at the head, with two new mem- 
 bers, William Rowley, Esq., and the Hon. Edward 
 Boscavi^en, in the room of Lord Sandwich and 
 Granville Leveson Gower. 
 
 Horace Walpole, in liis ]\Iemoirs, never omits an 
 opportunity of venting his malice against Lord Sand- 
 wich, and this seems to have afforded him one. 
 Whether the account he gives, absurd as it is, was 
 the real cause of Lord Sandwich leaving the Admi- 
 ralty, it would not now be easy to determine ; but 
 there is reason to believe it was not. " An incident," 
 he says, " contributed to give to the King a new 
 handle to use Lord Sandwich with indignity : the 
 Bedfords had transacted a marriage between one of 
 the duchess's sisters (Lady Elizabeth Leveson Gower) 
 and Colonel Waldegrave, against the consent of her 
 lather, Lord Gower ; and Lord Sandwich liad been 
 so imprudent as to let the ceremony be performed at 
 his apartments at the Admiralty. The Pelhams, 
 who always inoculated private quarrels on affairs of 
 state, despatched my Lord Gower to ask a formal 
 audience of the King, and com])lain of Lord Sand- 
 
 Q
 
 226 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. V. 
 
 wich's contributing to steal his daughter. Lord 
 Gower was a comely man of form, had never had any 
 sense, and was now superannuated. . . . The King- 
 entered into his quarrel ; and the Pelhanis, l)y this 
 artifice, detached him from his family, and persuaded 
 him that to resign with them would he sacrificing 
 himself in the cause of Lord Sandwich, who had 
 offered him such an indignity. 
 
 " When Lord Sandwich found his disgrace una- 
 voidable, and had even got intelligence of the day on 
 which he was to be dismissed, he endeavoured by his 
 own solicitations, and ])y the interposition of the 
 Duke (of Cumberland) to prevail on the Duke of 
 Bedford to throw up the seals first. This finesse, 
 which did not succeed, was calculated to prevent the 
 appearance of the Duke of Bedford's resignation upon 
 his account, and consequently the new obligations 
 to be laid upon him by that measure ; governing that 
 Duke no longer, he chose to be no longer connected 
 with him ; but Bedford now would neither stay in 
 nor 2:0 out 1)V his advice. 
 
 "On June 13th the Duke of Newcastle wrote to 
 Lord Sandwich that the King had no further occasion 
 for his services ; and in the evening sent Mr. Legge to 
 acquaint the Duke of Bedford witli the dismission of 
 his friend. . . . Legge having shuffled for some 
 time between Mr. Pelliam, Pitt, the Duke of Bed- 
 ford, and Lord Sandwich, and wriggled through the 
 interest of all into the Treasury, and then to the
 
 r 
 
 1751.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 227 
 
 treasurership of the navy, he submitted to break his 
 connexions with the two latter, by being the indecent 
 messenger of Lord Sandwich's disgrace. . . . 
 
 " The Duke of Bedford demanded an audience of the 
 King, and, among other grievances, spoke warmly 
 on the dismission of his friend Lord Sandwich, and on 
 all the treacheries of the Duke of Newcastle, which 
 he recapitulated, and he concluded by telling the 
 King that their (Pelham and his brother) persecu- 
 tions of him and Lord Sandwich arose solely from 
 their attachment to his son, the Duke (of Cumber- 
 land) . The King was struck and pleased with this 
 emonstrance ; agreed to all he had said of the Duke 
 of Newcastle ; doubted of the facts charged on Mr. 
 Pelham ; and, with regard to Lord Sandwich, only 
 said, ' I don't know how it is, but he has very few 
 friends.' "* 
 
 The Duke of Bedford was offered by the King to 
 be president of the council ; but he declined, and re- 
 signed the seals. Lord Anson was appointed First 
 Lord of the Admiralty, and the Admirals Boscawen 
 and Rowley Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty — 
 " the latter," says Walpole, " attached to Lord 
 Granville, the other to nothing but his own opi- 
 nion." 
 
 A great part of this is no doubt true ; but whether 
 the incident of the marriage had any connexion with 
 
 * Walpole's Memoirs. 
 
 Q 2
 
 228 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CII. V. 
 
 the dismissal of Lord Saudwicli is very dovibtlul — 
 what shoiihl the King care about Lord Gower's 
 daughter ? It Avouhl appear rather to have been the 
 sole contrivance of the Duke of Newcastle to accom- 
 plish the removal of the Duke of Bedford, which he 
 had in vain striven for some months to effect through 
 the Duchess of Yarmouth, who, with himself, was 
 with the Kinp- at Hanover. He was afraid of moviui!^ 
 the King directly, knowing how desirous he Avas to 
 have about the throne the hi"hest nobles of the land. 
 The Duchess was to tell the King of the Duke's 
 unfitness ; tliat the Duke of Newcastle had declared 
 he could not go on with him ; that he did not transact 
 any business — "it is all jollity, boyishness, and 
 vanity : he persuades himself that riding post from 
 London to AA^oburn and back again once a-week or 
 fortnio'ht is doine; a p-reat deal of business." The 
 King, however, turned a deaf ear to all this ; and, 
 as the last resort, Newcastle made up his mind to 
 ask the Kinu' himself to dismiss Sandwich, well 
 knouino- that the Duke of Bedford would follow 
 his friend. All this ;uid a great deal more of in- 
 trigue appears in the Duke of Newcastle's letters 
 to his brother, J\Ir. IVdham, as publislied by Coxe. 
 
 No naval ofhcer could have been chosen more 
 fitted for the vacant situation than Lord Anson ; lie 
 having, in fact, carried on the duties of first lord 
 during tiie preceding live years. In ])oint of talent 
 and energy, he might perhaj)s be considered iiil'erior
 
 ITjL] conclusion of the war. 229 
 
 to Lord Sandwich, but by much his superior in profes- 
 sional kno\v']edge and sound judgment in naval con- 
 cerns, as frequently acknowledged by his lordsliip. 
 As the name of this noble earl will no more appear in 
 the course of this Memoir, it may be right to say that 
 both Mr. Pitt and Lord North were so well satis- 
 fied of his fitness and great ability to fill the situation 
 of First Lord of the Admiralty, that, in the reign 
 of George IIL, he was twice appointed to the head 
 of the naval administration ; and that on the second 
 occasion he remained as First Lord of the Admiralty 
 from tlie 12th of January, 1771, to the 30th of 
 March, 1782, a period of more than eleven years.
 
 230 , LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 
 
 Vigorous preparations for war — Duplicity of the Frencli — Establish- 
 ment of a marine corps under the immediate command of the 
 Admiralty — The late King's address to the marines — A fleet under 
 Boscawen sent to America — French fleet puts to sea — Two of their 
 ships taken by Howe and Andrews — Remonstrance of the French 
 — Their ambassador recalled — A fleet prepared and placed under 
 the command of Sir Edward Hawke — Duke of Cumberland and 
 Anson visit the fleet — latter hoists his flag in the Prince — Discus- 
 sion in the Cabinet as to Hawke's instructions — Copy of instruc- 
 tions from the Lords Justices — Sails and captures many of the 
 enemy's ships — Secret information from the King at Hanover — 
 Threats of invasion by the French — march down troops to the 
 coast — Howe sent to protect Guernsey and Jersey — attacks and 
 takes Chausse — War at length proclaimed by England — then by 
 France — Admiral Byng sent with a fleet for the relief of Minorca — 
 engages Galissonniere, and retreats to Gibraltar — Public clamour 
 against him — recalled — sent a prisoner to Greenwich Hospital — 
 Change in the administration — Pamphlets for and against Byng — 
 for, by Dr. Johnson, and against, by Mallet, assisted by Lord 
 Hardwicke — is sent to Portsmouth — tried and condemned to death 
 ^Mistaken proceedings to obtain tbo King's mercy — Voltaire and 
 Richlieu's letters — Opinion of the judges decides Byng's fate — 
 His gallant behaviour previous to and at his execution — Inscrip- 
 tion on his tomb. 
 
 1755 to 175G. 
 
 In the year 1755 a fevensli j)eace of seven years 
 was succeeded l^y the coniinencenient of a seven 
 years' war, a name by A\'hich it is distinguished in 
 the history of this country. No sooner had the 
 King's message been brought beibre the two houses
 
 1755.] THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 231 
 
 of Parliament, stating the necessity of an augmenta- 
 tion of his forces by sea and land, and of taking such 
 other measures as might best tend to the general 
 peace of Europe, than the most vigorous preparations 
 for war were set on foot. A number of ships were 
 forthwith ordered to be put in commission, press- 
 warrants, the certain precursors of hostilities, Avere 
 issued, Avith the usual proclamation for granting 
 bounties to volunteer seamen ; and subscriptions were 
 raised in most of the considerable towns and cities for 
 bestowing premiums on such seamen and soldiers as 
 would voluntarily enlist. In fact it was soon disco- 
 vered that no more time was to be lost in makiuir 
 every preparation, as the French, with all their sin- 
 cerity and professions of good faith, with every 
 solemn assurance of no intention nor desire on their 
 part to disturb the general peace of Europe, which 
 had been so happily concluded, were actually strength- 
 ening themselves, in all their foreign possessions, 
 and intriguing at home, to embroil us in hostilities. 
 It was also well ascertained that ships were pre- 
 paring and troops assembling ready to embark both 
 at Brest and Roclifort. For some time past they 
 had been making encroachments on our settlements 
 of Nova Scotia, and various complaints of tlieir con- 
 duct had reached England from that quarter. 
 
 In this state of things Lord Anson, bearing in 
 mind the suggestion of the Duke of Cumberland, 
 conveyed to him by Lord iSandwich in his letter from
 
 232 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 Aix-la-Cliapelle in 1748 (already noticed intlie pre- 
 ceding chapter), deemed the proper and convenient 
 time to have now arrived, for phicing, on a fixed 
 and permanent establishment, a corps of marines to 
 serve on board his Majesty's ships in lien of those 
 marine regiments -v^liicli had been dismissed or 
 broken, as it was termed, at the conclusion of the 
 last war. It is unnecessary to add that the ])lan suc- 
 ceeded to admiration, and has undergone no essential 
 change in the principle up to the present time. 
 
 His late ]Majesty, William IV., who Avas himself 
 a good soldier as well as sailor, had the highest pos- 
 sible opinion of the good service of the corps of 
 marines, whether employed by sea or land ; and, on 
 his visitations of the dock-yards and other naval esta- 
 blishments, he always had them out to be inspected 
 by himself. His Majesty was known to possess an 
 extraordinary recollection of naval and military events, 
 and of many of the details and circumstances attend- 
 ing them. On one of his inspections of the royal 
 marines at AVoolwich, A\hen Lord High Adnnral, 
 after complimenting the corps on their soldier-like 
 appearance, and the correct manner in Avhich they 
 went through the various evolutions in the field, he 
 said it Avas a great satisfaction to him to reflect that, 
 on all occasions, the royal marines had particularly 
 distinguished themselves, and on none more than on 
 that which he Avould take the liberty to mention to 
 them, and Avith Avhich, prolaldy, very fcAV of the ofii-
 
 1755.] THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 233 
 
 ceis whom he was then addressing were acquainted. 
 It was that of the capture of Gibraltar by Sir George 
 Rooke, in 1704, to which 1800 marines, landed on 
 the isthmus under the Prince of Hesse, mainly con- 
 tributed; and who, after the capitulation, were left to 
 garrison this important fortress. He further observed, 
 as a remarkable circumstance, that, in the same Ga- 
 zette (the lO'ili August, 1704) in which the capture 
 of Gibraltar was announced, was also contained the 
 first intimation of the victory gained by the Duke of 
 Marlborough at the battle of Blenheim, comprised in 
 a short epistle from the Duke, addressed " To my 
 Lady Ducliess, Avritten on horseback with a lead 
 pencil."* 
 
 The Lord High Admiral was quite correct as to 
 the Gazette and the marines, wherein they are so 
 called ; but those who landed at, and afterwards garri- 
 soned, that important fortress, were the soldier-ma- 
 rines, or regiments already spoken of, and placed in our 
 ships of war, to be instructed in seamanship, to make 
 use of the musket and bayonet in time of battle, and 
 to assist in operations on shore. These kind of regi- 
 ments were likewise considered to be, and a motion 
 
 * This note was brief, but to the purpose : — " I have not time to say 
 more than to beg of you to present my humble duty to the Queen, and 
 to let her Majesty know that her army has had a glorious victory ; Mon- 
 sieur ToUard and two other generals are in my coach, and I am follow- 
 ingthe rest. Thebearer, ray aide-de-camp, Colonel Park, Avill give her 
 Majesty an account of what has passed ; I shall do it in a day or two 
 by another more at large." — Gazette.
 
 234 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 to that effect was made in Parliament, one of the 
 means of manning the navy, by their becoming in a 
 little time fond of the sea-service, and volunteering 
 to serve as seamen. There were, however, serious 
 objections to men of this description, who, on disman- 
 tling the fleet, or paying off a ship, were sent adrift, 
 as being, according to the Duke of Cumberland's 
 expression, " neither sea nor land forces." 
 
 Lord Anson therefore considered the time now 
 come for placing the marines on a different and better 
 footing ; and, with this view, he matured a plan lor 
 the establishment of this excellent body of men as a 
 separate corps, entirely distinct from the army, to act 
 Avith the navy, when afloat, and to be regulated by a 
 Marine JMutiny Act, when on shore, simihir in its 
 provisions to that for the army, and, like that, to be 
 annually submitted to Parliament by the Admiralty ; 
 in whom all promotion was to rest, and by whom 
 they were to be governed and distrilnited, being 
 placed, as expressed in the King's Order in Council, 
 "under the entire and innnediate command of the 
 Lord High Admiral." 
 
 This order, signed l)y the twenty-four Lords Jus- 
 tices at the Council Board, is dated 3rd April, 1755 ; 
 it authorizes a corps of 5000 marines to be raised 
 and formed into fifty companies, to which officers 
 and non-commissioned officers aie to be a[)pointed 
 from other corps, making in the whole 5700, to be 
 established, as their head-(iuarters, at Portsmouth,
 
 1755.] THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 235 
 
 Plymouth, and Chatham. On the 20th November 
 of the same year, as ships of war were brought for- 
 ward for service, thirty additional companies were 
 ordered to be raised ; and on the 7th July, 1756, to 
 keep pace with the increasing strength of the navy, 
 twenty more companies, making one hundred ; and 
 again, on the 1st March, 1757, the navy still increas- 
 ing, thirty more companies were added ; and on the 3rd 
 March, 1759, tliey Avere still further augmented by 
 one lieutenant, one serjeant, one corporal, one drum- 
 mer, and twenty-three private men to each company, 
 making, on the whole, a corps of about 18,000 marines. 
 The preparations for war went on rapidly. By 
 the end of April the Admiralty had eleven sail-of- 
 the-line, fully manned and equipped, which were 
 put under the command of Admiral Boscawen, one 
 of the Lords of the Admiralty. He repaired to Ply- 
 mouth, where he received on board two regiments, and 
 on the 27th April put to sea, Avith the intention of 
 taking up a station near the southern point of New- 
 foundland for the purpose of watching the motions of 
 the enemy, who, it was no longer doubted, had a squad- 
 ron ready to proceed to that quarter. Scarcely, indeed, 
 had he sailed when certain intelliii'ence was received 
 that a French fleet, consisting of twenty-live ships-of- 
 the-line^ besides frigates and transports with warlike 
 stores on board, and four thousand regular troops 
 under the command of Baron Dieskau, were on the 
 eve of departure. Every exertion was made to get
 
 236 LIFE OF LOPD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 ready and despatch Admiral Hol])ourne, with six sail- 
 of~the-line and a frigate, to reinforce Boscawen. 
 
 Early in May the French Heet put to sea from 
 Brest, under the command of Admiral Macnamara, 
 Avho proceeded only as far as Scilly, and returned to 
 Brest with nine sail-of-the-line, leaving the rest of 
 the fleet under the orders of M. Bois de la IMotlie. 
 Boscawen had not been many days off Cape Race, 
 the southern point of Newfoundland, when he Avas 
 informed that the French fleet had separated, part 
 having gone up the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the 
 rest through the Straits of Belleisle, the thick fogs 
 that prevail here having kept the former division 
 from his sight, though it must have passed at no 
 great distance from him. Two ships, however, that 
 had parted from the French fleet in the fog, happened 
 to fall in with Captain Howe of the Dunkirk and 
 Captain Andrews of the Defiance, who were detached 
 to look out for the enemy's squadron. One of these 
 was the Alcide of 64 guns and 4S0 men, the other the 
 Lys, pierced for 54 guns, but mounting only 22. 
 
 Captain Howe made for the Alcide ; and when 
 Avitliin pistol-shot, having hailed her, he recpiested that 
 her commander would accompany him to the admi- 
 ral, tlien in si<j;ht at no creat distance. The French 
 captain asked him if it was war. Howe repeated his 
 recpiest, having, it would seem, no positive orders from 
 the admiral to attack. Boscawen, imagining that 
 some parley Avas going on, threu' out the signal to
 
 1755.] THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 237 
 
 eno-aire. The decks of the Alcide were crowded with 
 military officers, and among them Avere several ladies. 
 Howe took off his hat and requested they would go 
 below, as his orders were to fire; and, as soon as the 
 decks were cleared of the non-coml)atants, he poured in 
 a broadside, which was returned, but in a short time 
 Captain Houquart struck his colours. The Lys also 
 struck to Captain Andrews ; she had eight compa- 
 nies of soldiers on board and about 8000/. in money. 
 The account of this action is given by Boscawen 
 in a very vague and unsatisfactory manner, and Howe 
 scarcely notices it in his log. It would also appear 
 that the admiral's private account to Lord Anson was 
 not more intelligible, for, having sent it to his father- 
 in-law, the chancellor, he returned it with the follow- 
 ing letter, quite in the doubting style of a lord chan- 
 cellor : " I return your lordship a thousand thanks 
 for the communication of the enclosed private letter 
 from ^Ir. Boscawen. It gives me much concern 
 that so little has been done, since anything has been 
 done at all. I apprehend that only two French 
 ships have been taken, namely, I'Alcide and the 
 Lys ; but to me the account is so confused that I 
 cannot say I quite take the detail of it. I hope the 
 public letter is more clear. What is become of the 
 rest of the French men-of-war that sailed from 
 Europe ? for it seems to me the number that Bos- 
 cawen met, together with those he saw in Louis- 
 burgh harl)our, do by no means come uj) to the
 
 238 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 number tliat went on to America when Macnaniara 
 left them." * 
 
 The capture of these two ships undoubtedly fell 
 far short of what the public expected from the 
 character of Boscawen, and the force he had with 
 him ; and yet it was hailed with great joy, as the 
 certain commencement of hostilities, and as an act 
 that had fairly committed us with the perfidious go- 
 vernment of France. When news of this action 
 reached France, they affected great astonishment at 
 so unexpected an event, complained loudly of the 
 attack on their ships-of-war, as a breach of national 
 faith, called us robbers and pirates ; and, after the 
 usual ebullition of abuse, their ambassador^ JM. de 
 Mirepoix, was recalled from London^ and M. de 
 Bussy from Hanover, where he had just arrived, to 
 attend George II. in a public character. Yet no 
 declaration of war was issued either on the part of 
 France or England. An order, however, was given 
 on our part to stop all French merchant-vessels, and 
 bring them into port; and it was extended to Ame- 
 rica. Still it was clear that, for some particular 
 reason, the French were desirous of avoiding a war 
 with England. Probably their system of encroach- 
 ments on our North American settlements, and 
 their grand plan of uniting Canada and the Mi- 
 sissii)pi by a line of forts, were not yet sufficiently in 
 progress to secure them against attack. 
 
 * Anson's Collection.
 
 1755.] THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 239 
 
 The English government, however, were quite 
 satisfied that the present position of the two coun- 
 tries could lead only to war ; and eighteen sail-of- 
 the-line were, by the extraordinary exertions of 
 Anson and the officers selected by hhn, manned and 
 fully equipped in a very short time, and placed under 
 the orders of Sir Edward Hawke,* who put to sea 
 towards the end of July, with the view of intercept- 
 ing any French ships-of-war that might leave the 
 ports of the Channel, or the squadron of Bois de 
 la Mothe, should it return to Europe. It would 
 appear, however, that England was still doubtful as 
 to the line to be taken ; for a discussion was held in 
 the cabinet, as to the nature of the instructions to be 
 given to Hawke. Lord Waldegrave says the ques- 
 
 * In the month of June, on the anniversary of the accession of 
 George II., Anson went down to Portsmoutli to inspect the fleet 
 under Sir Edward Hawke, and hoisted his flag in the Prince, of 
 ninety guns and 700 men, commanded by his friend Captain 
 Saunders. In this ship a splendid entertainment was given, at which 
 his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, and great numbers of 
 the nobility and gentry, with their ladies, were present. A letter of 
 Lady Anson to the Marchioness Grey is so far valuable, as it leads us 
 to infer in what a high state of discipline was that gallant command- 
 er's ship, which he had only commissioned in the preceding March. 
 She says, " The whole passed a merveille ; the admiration high (and 
 tve have the vanity to think, _;m60- Our guest had seen ships before, 
 indeed, but never till now saw a. fleet ; the condition of the ships — the 
 discipline, men, officers, all so totally diiferent, so military, &c., and, 
 above all things, astonished at the quietness (a circumstance I have 
 a notion to have heard was very diff'erent when we were on board Sir 
 John Norris's ship) at the time of the dinner on board the Prince, 
 where there must have been above twelve hundred people on board. 
 No private house, the best ordered, could have been quieter."
 
 240 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VL 
 
 tioii was left to a select committee, and gives the 
 Ibllowiiio- account of their proceedings. He tells us 
 that " the preparations for war and all mihtary 
 operations Avere chiefly conducted by the Duke oi 
 Cumberland, Fox, and Lord Anson. An affair just 
 now came under their consideration, of the greatest 
 importance. A powerful fleet was ready to sail 
 under the comnumd of Sir Edward Hawlve, and 
 the King trusted to his regency to prepare proper 
 instructions. Was liawke to have hostile orders ? 
 If hostile orders were given, must they he unli- 
 mited ? Ouiiht war to he declared when the fleet 
 sailed, or were we to commence hostilities with- 
 out any declaration ? The Duke of Cumberland, 
 naturally inclined to vigorous measures, seeing the 
 nation impatient for war, it being also the general 
 opinion that the enemy Avas yet unprepared, thought 
 it advisable to strike the blow Avhilst our fury was at 
 the greatest height : at the same time he was very 
 sensible that, notwithstanding our very formidable 
 fleet, we Avere not ourselves in such perfect readiness 
 as many peojde imagined. 
 
 " On the other hand, the Duke of NcAVcastle, Avho 
 was not fond of danger at a distance, and seldom 
 grew l;older on its nearer approach, Avas for keeping 
 off the storm as long as possil)le, and gave his 
 opinion that HaAvke should take a turn in the 
 Channel, to exercise the fleet, Avithout having any 
 instructions Avhatsocver.
 
 1755.] THE SEVEN YEARS* WAR. 241 
 
 " The Chancellor had more courage tlian the 
 Duke of Newcastle ; but, agreeable to the common 
 practice of the law, was against bringing the cause 
 to an immediate decision. 
 
 " Lord Anson, as usual, said little ; but, as an 
 admiral, and first lord of the Admiralty, thought it 
 became him to seem rather inclined to the spirited 
 side of the question. 
 
 " After mature deliberation, it was resolved, tJiat 
 Haivke should sail icith hostile orders ; hut war ivas 
 not to be declared. Either extreme," continues Lord 
 Waldegrave, " had been better than this compromise ; 
 for it w^as in our power to have remained quiet till we 
 had been thoroughly prepared for action ; or, if we 
 were inclined to more vigorous measures, Hawke's 
 departure might have been deferred a iew days, the 
 King might have been entreated to return to Eng- 
 land, and war might have been immediately pro- 
 claimed on his Majesty's arrival. 
 
 " In which case, even our enemies must have 
 allow^ed that we had acted fairly, and like men of 
 spirit, who would not bear ill usage. 
 
 " Whereas, on the contrary, without previous 
 notice, we at once commence hostilities ; Hawke, in 
 pursuance of orders, seizes every trading-vessel 
 which has the misfortune to meet him ; whereby a 
 foundation is laid for much dispute and cavilling, 
 perhaps, also, for a considerable retribution, if the 
 war should prove unprosperous : and in the mean 
 time we are called robbers and pirates.*" 
 
 Lord Waldegruve's Memoir: 
 
 R
 
 242 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VL 
 
 Such was the situation of affairs in July, 1755, 
 when Hawke sailed, under instructions signed by the 
 Lords Justices, which directed him to intercept and 
 bring into Portsmouth or Plymouth any ships of war 
 or merchant-ships he may fall in with ; but, if he hears 
 that the French have committed hostilities by their 
 ships of war, or have commissioned privateers, he is 
 then also to commit hostility against the French, to 
 take, sink, destroy, &c. 
 
 Among the great number of merchant-ships and 
 privateers that Sir Edward stopped and sent into 
 port, he captured a French brig from Louisburgh, 
 having a missionary on board, who had been very 
 active in fomenting the disturbances in America, on 
 which account a })rice had been set upon his head 
 by the English. By this capture many important dis- 
 coveries of the proceedings of the French, in that 
 quarter, appeared from the papers which had been 
 throAvn overboard ; but which, by the weight at- 
 tached to them having fallen off, were picked up 
 by one of Sir Edward's ships. One great object 
 of Hawke was to intercept a strong scpiadron of 
 French ships of war that had ijeen sent to the West 
 India colonies in the early part of the year ; but this 
 squadron having put into Cadiz, and there learned 
 that the British fleet was looking out for it, that 
 object was defeated, and Sir Edward Hawke returned 
 to S]»itliead. 
 
 The command of a detachment of this fleet was now 
 given to Admiral the Hon. John Byng, who hoisted
 
 1755.] THE SEVEN years' WAR. 243 
 
 his flfig on board the Ramillies, having under him 
 Rear- Admiral West in the Buckingham. They 
 sailed from Spithead on the 14th of October, and on 
 the 14th November fell in with the Esperance, a 
 French ship of seventy-four guns, which was attacked 
 by the Orford, and afterwards by the Revenge, when 
 she surrendered. She proved to be one of Perrier 
 Salvert's squadron, commanded by the Comte de 
 Bouvet, was returning from Louisburgh, and had 
 only three hundred men on board, of whom thirty 
 were killed, and nearly double that number wounded. 
 
 The Esperance being an old ship, and the weather 
 becoming extremely boisterous, Admiral Byng, as 
 soon as it moderated, withdrew her men, and set her 
 on fire. The fleet returned to Spithead on the 21st 
 November. 
 
 W^hile matters thus remained in doubt and suspi- 
 cion as to their issue, and no declaration of war pro- 
 mulgated on either side. Lord Anson received in- 
 telligence of the secret negociations, carrying on by the 
 French, from a quarter he perhaps least suspected. 
 Having sent, as in duty bound, the state and disposi- 
 tion of the fleet to the King, Avho was then in Hanover, 
 he received in return the following letter from Lord 
 Holdernesse, secretary of state, then with his Ma- 
 jesty :— 
 
 "Hanomer, August 3, 1755. 
 
 " My dear Lord — I am greatly obliged to your Lord- 
 ship for the honour of your letter of the 25th past, enclosing, 
 for his Majesty's information, copies of the names, numbers, 
 
 r2
 
 244 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 and stations of his Majesty's ships at home, and under the 
 command of Sir Edward Hawke, or under orders for other 
 necessary services. The King has never deviated in his 
 approbation of the wise measures taken by the Admiralty, 
 under your Lordship's direction, and expressed himself par- 
 ticularly satisfied that every branch of service was now so 
 well provided for by the attention and foresight of the Lords 
 of the Admiralty. 
 
 " I have the King's leave to acquaint your Lordship with 
 some intelligence of consequence his Majesty has lately re- 
 ceived : the first is, that the French are endeavouring to 
 persuade the Danes to fit out a squadron, under pretence of 
 covering their trade from the insults of the English ; but in 
 reality to protect French effects under Danish colours ; 
 whatever may be the reason of it, it is certain the Danes 
 have augmented the ordinary number of their seamen. 
 France has likewise been tempting the Swedes to enter into 
 their maritime views ; and, besides a proposal of the same 
 sort with that made to Denmark, they are contracting in 
 Sweden for vast quantities of timber and other materials for 
 building ships, as also for guns of all sizes and sorts, both 
 iron and brass. As soon as I learn any further particulars 
 I shall not fail to send your Lordship notice ; in the mean 
 time you will })lease to acquaint Sir Thomas Robinson and 
 the Duke of Newcastle with the substance of this letter. . . 
 I ever am, &c. &c. 
 
 (Signed) "Holdernesse."* 
 
 When the court of Versailles had satisfied itself 
 that Eii^-laml was not to be cajoled by their profes- 
 sions of a desire to come to an amicable arrangement ; 
 that the meaning of their courteous conduct towards 
 J\Ir. Lytlleton, governor of Soutii Carolina, who liad 
 * Ansuu's Collection, No. 213.
 
 1755.] THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 245 
 
 been captured in his Majesty's ship Blandford, of 20 
 guns, by a French squadron, and both ship and go- 
 vernor ordered to be released, was well understood ; 
 when the French, in short, discovered that England 
 was not to be duped, she changed her tone, and pub- 
 licly gave out that, if England did not make proper 
 satisfaction for the taking of his ships, the King of 
 France would send, early next spring, an army of 
 two hundred thousand men to invade the electorate of 
 Hanover. Nay, they Avent beyond this, and caused it 
 to be announced that the most vigorous exertions 
 should innnediately be put in practice, and the most 
 ample preparations made, not only for the purpose of 
 taking possession of his Majesty's electoral dominions, 
 but, at the same time, for the invasion of Great Bri- 
 tain and Ireland. 
 
 The British ministry took this threat as intended in 
 good earnest, and issued a public notice that, in case the 
 French attempted to make an hostile invasion of this 
 country, the inhabitants should cause all horses, oxen, 
 and cattle to be driven, and removed at least twenty 
 miles from that part of the coast, Avhere any such 
 attempt should be made. The King's message, on the 
 23rd March, 1756, confirmed the notion of invasion 
 entertained by his ministers. His Majesty informed 
 the Lords that " the great preparation of land-forces, 
 ships, artillery, and warlike stores, now notoriously 
 making in the ports of France opposite to the British 
 coast, together with the language held by the French
 
 246 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 ministers in some foreign courts, left no room to doubt 
 of such a design." It was supposed, however, by 
 some, that the French were prompted to these threat- 
 ening measures, from the supposed weakness of the 
 British ministry, and the well-known timidity of the 
 Duke of Newcastle, then at the head of it. It ap- 
 peared they were right, and the effect, which the 
 enemy had calculated upon, was soon obviously pro- 
 duced. The ministry did not disguise their alarm, the 
 nation seemed panic-struck, and a general despond- 
 ency prevailed. There was nothing wanting, however, 
 to rouse the dormant spirit of the people but a 
 fonnal declaration of war ; and this was at length is- 
 sued against France on the 18th May, and followed 
 by a similar declaration, on the part of France, on 
 the 18th June following. 
 
 In the mean time the French actually marched down 
 troops to various ports in the Channel, were it only to 
 show to England that their threat of invasion Avas in 
 earnest ; they made, at the same time, ostensible pre- 
 parations for an invasion of Guernsey and Jersey. 
 The British government sent reinforcements of troops 
 to these islands, and the French abandoned the at- 
 tempt. It Avas determined also that an expedition of 
 ships and troops, on a small scale, should be sent to 
 that part of the coast of France, to be employed in 
 the protection of, and to give countenance as well as 
 assistance to, those Channel islands ; to harass the 
 enemy's coast and trade ; and to take possession of
 
 1756.] THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 247 
 
 Chaussee and its islets, on which was stationed an 
 Irish brigade in the service of France. Lord Anson, 
 ever watchful overtlie character and conduct of officers, 
 selected Howe to be employed on this service, to 
 which he was appointed in June, 1756. He hoisted 
 a broad pendant in the Dunkirk frigate, and Avith 
 seven smaller vessels under his orders, and four trans- 
 ports for the conveyance of troops, immediately put 
 to sea. Having taken on board some troops at Jersey, 
 he proceeded to the island of Chaussee, summoned the 
 fort to surrender, which the commandant immediately 
 complied with, on permission to Ije allowed to retire 
 with military honours to Granville. To save the ex- 
 pense of putting the works in repair, and leaving a 
 large garrison for its defence, Howe blew up the for- 
 tifications, and, finding that the French had moved 
 off their troops towards. Brest and the more western 
 ports, and had abandoned any design they might have 
 had on our Channel Islands, he returned to Plymouth, 
 leaving part of his squadron to capture and annoy the 
 enemy's coasting-trade. 
 
 Ample supplies were now granted Ijy Parliament ; 
 50,000 seamen, including 9000 marines, were voted ; 
 the greatest exertions were used in the dock-yards, and 
 large bounties were offered for volunteer seamen. The 
 army was considerably augmented, and a regiment, 
 chiefly of foreigners, was raised to be sent to North 
 America. But that which tended mostly to revive 
 the spirit of the nation was the change of administra- 
 tion, that took place towards the end of November,
 
 248 LIFE OF LORD ANSON, [CH. VI. 
 
 when the general dissatisfaction, loudly expressed 
 against the existing ministers, Avas at its height, oc- 
 casioned chiefly by for their not having taken timely 
 steps to prevent the invasion of the island of Minorca, 
 of the preparations for which at Toulon they had 
 received early information. They had, it is true, 
 sent Admiral Byng and Rear- Admiral West^ with 
 ten sail-of-the-line, part of the western squadron in 
 the command of which both these flag-officers were, 
 to the Mediterranean, which sailed from St. Helen's 
 on the 10th April, 1756. The Admiral had been de- 
 layed just one month after receiving his appointment, 
 on account of his ships being generally short of their 
 complements of men. He complained, previous to 
 his sailing, of his force being unequal to that of the 
 enemy; but, as there was a small squadron under 
 Captain Edgecumbe, already in the IMediterranean, 
 Avhich, Avlien united with that from England, would 
 make him equal, if not superior, to anything the French 
 could have at sea in that quarter, it was not deemed 
 necessary to increase it at home, where the alarm 
 of invasion Avas still kept u\) by the ministers. 
 Byng Avas ordered to call at Gibraltar for a detach- 
 nient of troops equal to a battalion, for the relief of 
 INIinorca. The engineers there gave it as their opi- 
 nion, that, " all circumstances considered, it Avould 
 be extremely djmgerous, if not impracticable, to 
 throAV succours into Fort St. Phili})." Governor 
 FoAvke called a council of Avar, A\hich resolved "that 
 the sending such a detachment \^•ould evidently
 
 1756.] THE SEVEN YEARS* WAR. 249 
 
 weaken the garrison of Gibraltar, and be noways 
 effectual to the relief of JMinorca." But, as IMr. 
 Edgecumbe's squadron had left its marines at Fort 
 Philip, the governor gave 232 officers and privates 
 to act as marines. 
 
 Byng wrote a complaining letter, of the 4th JMay, 
 from Gibraltar to the Secretary of the Admiralty, al- 
 most anticipating defeat, from the superior strength of 
 the French ships at Toulon ; in this letter he says, " If I 
 should fail in the relief of Port Mahon, I shall look on 
 the security and protection of Gibraltar as my next ob- 
 ject, and shall repair down here Avith my squadron." 
 Being joined by the ships under Captain Edgecumbe, 
 he sailed from Gibraltar on the 8th ]\Iay ; on the 19th 
 got sight of Minorca ; and on the 20th, the two fleets 
 formed each their line of battle, the Eng'lish having 
 the weather- gage. As much has been said of the 
 inferiority of the British force, it may be right, before 
 proceeding further, to give their comparative strength, 
 with the result of the action as to killed and wounded. 
 
 BRITISH LINE OF BATTLE. 
 
 (Division.) — The Hon. J. Byng, Admiral. 
 
 
 
 Guns. 
 
 Men. ■ 
 
 Commanders. 
 
 Killed. 
 
 Wounded,* 
 
 Kingston 
 
 
 60 
 
 400 
 
 Capt. W. Parry 
 
 • 
 
 
 
 
 
 Deptford 
 
 
 50 
 
 300 
 
 — J. Amherst . 
 
 • 
 
 
 
 
 
 CuUoden 
 
 
 74 
 
 600 
 
 — W. Ward . 
 
 • 
 
 
 
 
 
 Ramillies 
 
 
 90 
 
 750 
 
 jHon. J. Byng 
 [Capt. A. Gardinei 
 
 •} 
 
 
 
 
 
 Trident . 
 
 
 64 
 
 500 
 
 — Ph. Durell . 
 
 , 
 
 
 
 
 
 Princess Louisa 
 
 60 
 
 400 
 
 — Hon. T. Noel 
 
 • 
 
 4 
 
 13 
 
 Revenge 
 
 • • 
 
 64 
 
 500 
 
 — F. Cornwall . 
 
 , 
 
 
 

 
 250 
 
 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. 
 
 [CH. VI. 
 
 (Division.) — Temple West, Esq., Rear-Admiral. 
 
 Intrepid 
 
 Guns. 
 . 64 
 
 Men. 
 500 
 
 Captain . 
 
 , 64 
 
 500 
 
 Buckingham 
 
 . 68 
 
 535 
 
 Lancaster . 
 
 . 66 
 
 520 
 
 Portland 
 
 . 50 
 
 300 
 
 Defiance 
 
 . 60 
 
 400 
 
 Commanders. 
 
 Capt. J. Young . 9 
 
 ~ Ch. Catford . . 6 
 
 f Rear- Adm. West 1 „ 
 tCapt.Everitt ' "^ 
 
 — Hon.G.Edgecumbe 1 
 
 — P. Baird . . 6 
 
 — T. Andrews . .14 
 
 Killed. Wounded. 
 39 
 
 Total 834 6205 
 
 Guns. 
 
 FRIGATES. 
 
 Chesterfield 40 
 
 Phoenix 20 
 
 Fortune 14 
 
 Experiment 20 
 
 Dolphin 20 
 
 43 
 
 Men. 
 250 
 
 160 
 
 100 
 
 160 
 
 160 
 
 FRENCH LINE OF BATTLE. 
 
 Foudroyant 
 
 Couronne 
 
 Le Redoutable 
 
 Le Guerrier 
 
 Le Tcmcraire 
 
 Le Triton 
 Le Lion . 
 
 Le Content 
 
 Le Sage 
 
 L'OrphCe 
 
 Le Fier 
 
 L'ilippopotame 50 550 
 
 84 
 74 
 74 
 
 74 
 
 74 
 
 64 
 64 
 
 64 
 
 64 
 64 
 50 
 
 950 
 
 80O 
 800 
 
 800 
 
 800 
 
 600 
 600 
 
 600 
 
 600 
 600 
 550 
 
 fM.( 
 
 ICar 
 
 .deGalissoniere,! 
 Lieut.-Gen. ) 
 ipt. L'Aiguille I 
 
 (M. delaClue 1 
 
 (Capt. de Gabanous J 
 
 !M. de Glendeves j 
 Capt. de Marion- ( 
 ville J 
 
 r— Villar de la 1 
 I Brosse, J 
 
 i — de Beaumont ] 
 I de Matrc J 
 
 ■ — de Mercier . 
 
 — de St. Aignan . 
 
 ( — de SalienGram-j 
 I raont. J 
 
 — de Revert 
 
 — de Raimondis . 
 
 — de Hervillce. 
 
 — de Rochnicre 
 
 12 
 
 Total 800 8250 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 
 
 o 
 41 
 
 30 
 
 7 
 
 14 
 
 20 
 45 
 
 168 
 
 10 
 
 3 
 
 39 
 
 43 
 
 15 
 
 14 
 
 7 
 
 19 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 4 
 
 10 
 
 181
 
 1756.] THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 251 
 
 FRIGATES. 
 
 Guns. Men. 
 
 La Jimon 46 300 
 
 La Rose 32 250 
 
 La Gracieuse 42 250 
 
 La Topaze 28 250 
 
 LaNymphe 28 250 
 
 The French ships always have been, and still con- 
 tinue to be, better manned, as to numbers, than ours, 
 and their metal is generally heavier ; but the small 
 disparity between the two fleets, above enumerated, is 
 only just as much as a gallant English admiral would 
 rather wish it to be than otherwise. The clamour 
 therefore raised against the Admiralty, for sending 
 out so inferior a force, was far beyond what it 
 merited. The Admiral's account of the action is 
 very long, and one of his complaints was that it had 
 been garbled, and a great part of it omitted in the 
 Gazette. That which explains the rencontre is as 
 follows : — 
 
 " As soon as I judged the rear of our fleet the length of 
 their van, we tacked altogether, and immediately made the 
 signal for the ships that led, to lead large, and for the Dept- 
 ford to quit the line, that ours might become equal to theirs. 
 At two I made the signal to engage : I found it was the 
 surest method of ordering every ship to close down on the 
 one that fell to their lot; and here I must express my 
 great satisfaction at the very gallant manner in which the 
 rear-admiral set the van the example, by instantly bearing 
 down on the ship he was to engage wiih. his second, and 
 who occasioned one of the French ships to begin the en-
 
 252 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 gagement, which they did by raking ours as they went down. 
 The Intrepid, unfortunately, in the very beginning, had her 
 fore-topmast shot away ; and, as that hung on her fore-top- 
 sail, and backed it, he had no command of his ship, his fore- 
 tack and all his braces being cut at the same time ; so that 
 he drove on the next ship to him (the Revenge), and obliged 
 that and the ship a-head of me to throw all aback." [These 
 Avere the Princess Louisa and Trident.] " This obliged me 
 to do also for a few minutes, to avoid their falling on board 
 me, though not before we had drove our adversary out of the 
 line, who put before the wind, and had several shot fired at 
 him from his own admiral. This not only caused the enemy's 
 centre to be unattacked, but the rear-admiral's division to 
 be uncovered for some little time. I sent and called to the 
 ships ahead of me to make sail and go down on the enemy, 
 and ordered the Chesterfield to lay by the Intrepid, and the 
 Deptford to supply the Intrepid's place. I found the enemy 
 edged away constantly ; and, as they went three feet to our 
 one, they would never permit our closing with them, but 
 took the advantage of destroying our rigging ; for, though I 
 closed the rear-admiral fast, I found I could not gain close 
 to the enemy, whose van was fairly drove from their line ; 
 but their admiral was joining them, by bearing away." 
 
 This, it must be confessed, is not a very intelli- 
 gible account, but it shows no want of nerve in Byni^ 
 by detaching one of his ships from the line, because 
 he had one more in number tlum the enemy ; for, 
 though the old fighting instructions very cavalierly 
 enjoin this, yet it was tilways on the understanding 
 that the combatants should be pretty nearly ship for 
 ship, on an equality of strength, which was not the
 
 1756.] THE SEVEN YEAUS' WAR. 253 
 
 case here. His order for each ship to bear down 
 and engage her opponent is precisely what Howe 
 did near forty years after, when this brave officer 
 had brought his signals to that degree of perfection 
 which enabled him at any time to change the order 
 of the fleet, if found necessary ; whereas it is clear 
 that Byng, amidst that disaster which paralysed his 
 own and the efforts of three other ships for a time, 
 had no other means of making his communications 
 than by calling in and despatching a frigate or 
 frigates with verbal orders, which caused the delay, 
 and thereby prevented him from " doing his utmost." 
 It' was owing to this short delay, and Admiral West's 
 division having driven the enemy's opposing division 
 out of the line, which gave to the French fleet the 
 opportunity of making the best of their way unmo- 
 lested into the harbour of Port JMahon ; — and Fort 
 Philip, after the determination of Byng to proceed 
 with his fleet to Gibraltar, and a brave resistance, 
 fell into the hands of the enemy. 
 
 The first intelligence that reached England of the 
 failure of Byng's expedition was the copy of a letter 
 from the Spanish minister at Paris to M. D'Abreu, 
 the Spanish resident in England, which had been 
 received from Galissoniere, the French admiral ; it 
 stated that the English seemed unwilling to fight 
 him ; that the engagement had not been general, for 
 the English kept trop serrts ; that two or three 
 English ships had sheered off; that night separated 
 the fleets; that he (GaUssoniere) had lost thirty-
 
 254 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 eight men, and had nine officers wounded ; that he 
 had taken no English ship, but had prevented their 
 throwing succours into Mahon ; that he had expected 
 to have been attacked again the next day, but, to his 
 great surprise, found the English had disappeared. 
 It can scarcely be believed, if it was not an official 
 and historical fact, that immediately, on the strength 
 of this vapouring account from the enemy's admiral 
 (for no other intelligence had reached England), the 
 ministry despatched Sir Edward Hawke and Admiral 
 Saunders in the Antelope frigate to supersede Ad- 
 mirals Byng and West, and to arrest and bring them 
 prisoners to England. This feverish and unusual 
 expedition was at once Byng's condemnation, and it 
 had that effect on the public mind. In this frigate 
 was also sent a little cargo of courage, as it was 
 called, in the persons of Lord Tyrawley, the actual 
 governor of Minorca, where he ought to have been 
 on the first appearance of hostilities, and Lord Pan- 
 mure to supersede General Fowke at Gibraltar. 
 
 Public indignation w^as roused at the receipt and 
 publication of the letter of the French admiral ; but, 
 on the arrival of Admiral Byng's own despatch_, 
 which, it is true, as he says, was garbled before it 
 went to the Gazette, the rage of the people rose to the 
 greatest height. Poor Byng was burnt in effigy in 
 all the great towns ; his seat and park in Hertfordshire 
 were assaulted by the mob, and with difficulty saved. 
 The streets and sho})s swarmed Avith injurious ballads, 
 libels, and caricature prints, in some of which was
 
 1756. J THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 255 
 
 mingled a little justice on the ministers, who were 
 accused of neglect in not despatching a fleet sooner, 
 and an inefficient one when they did. "But," says 
 Walpole, "if the clamours of the people rose on 
 the confirmation of this misfortune, so did the 
 terrors of the administration. The very first ejfifects 
 of their fear showed that, if they had neglected 
 ]Minorca, they were at least prepared to transfer 
 the guilt to others. They descended even to ad- 
 vertise in the Gazette that orders were sent to 
 every port to arrest Admiral Byng in case he 
 should not have been met by Sir Edward Hawke. 
 All the little attorneys on the circuit contributed 
 to blow up the flame against the admiral, at the 
 same time directing its light from the original cri- 
 minals." 
 
 On the 26tli July the prisoners arrived at Ports- 
 mouth. Admiral Byng was immediately committed 
 to close confinement, and doomed suddenly to ex- 
 perience a most melancholy incident. His younger 
 brother, who had hastened down to meet him, was so 
 struck with the abuse he found wherever he passed, 
 that he fell alarmingly ill on the first sight of the ad- 
 miral, and died the following day in convulsions. 
 " What a cruel star", (says Lady Torrington, his sister- 
 in-law, in a private note from Southill) " presides over 
 this family at present. Last Friday night an express 
 came from Admiral Byng at Portsmouth, to acquaint 
 me with the melancholy account of Col. E. Byng's
 
 256 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 death, and to desire my leave for liis body to be brought 
 to Southill, and interred in the family vault. It is some 
 consolation to hear the admiral makes not the least 
 doubt but that he shall be able to show, that he has 
 acted in every respect like an officer. It must have 
 been a shocking incident to have his brother come to 
 him on Wednesday and die on Thursday morning." 
 Byng, however, on recovering from this shock, 
 expressed no other emotion but that of surprise at the 
 rigorous reception he had met with, and persisted in 
 declaring that he had Ijeaten the French, and made 
 them retire to their port. West, to whose gallantry 
 Byng had testified, and which was generally reported, 
 being left at large, proceeded to London, and was 
 carried to court by Lord Anson. The King said to 
 West, " I am glad to hear you have done your duty so 
 well; Iwisli everybody else had." From Portsmouth 
 Byng, strictly guarded, at once to secure him from the 
 mob, and inflame their resentment, was transferred to 
 Greenwich Hospital.* It would appear however that 
 there was another motive, though a weak one, for his 
 being so guarded. By a note in Lord Anson's writing, 
 without date, without place, without address, evi- 
 dently written in great haste, in answer to a question 
 put to him (probably by Mr. Fox), it would aj)pear 
 they were apprehensive he might escape. — "Dear 
 
 * The brutal governor of the hospital, Townsend, on his arrival at 
 night, caused him to bo placed in one of the garrets, in an unfurnished 
 chamber, save a deal table and a chair, the window barred with iron, 
 and, it is said, an iron bur across the chimney, to i)revent his escape.
 
 1756.] THE SEVEN YEARS* WAR. 257 
 
 Sir," writes Anson, " I am entirely of your opinion 
 with regard to the securing Admiral Byng in the 
 Tower, for I do think (from his former situation in 
 the fleet) he might have a chance to esca])e, if he has 
 any such intention. A letter is wrote to the Secretary 
 of War for a strong guard to hring him to town from 
 Portsmouth." Fowke, in the meiin time, was tried 
 by court-martial for disobedience of orders in refusing 
 to send the regiment from Gibraltar, and his sentence 
 was suspension for one year, for having mistaken his 
 orders ; but the mol> and the ministers required a 
 victim, and therefore Fowke was broken Ijy order of 
 the King. 
 
 Next came an address to the King from Dorsetshire, 
 which was followed by others from seven or eight coun- 
 ties and great towns, demanding an inquiry into the loss 
 of jMinorca, and justice on the culpable. But the most 
 dictatorial was that from the city of London, ' ' to which," 
 says Walpole, " the trembling ministers persuaded 
 the King to pledge his royal word, that he would save 
 no delinquent from justice, — a most inhuman pledge, 
 and too religiously kept." Walpole further says, 
 that " the Duke of Newcastle, with a volubility of 
 timorous folly, when a deputation from the city had 
 made re})resentations to him against the Jidmiral, 
 blustered out, ' Oh, indeed, he shall be tried innne- 
 diately, he shall be hanged directly.' " Newcastle was 
 in the habit of uttering foolish things, but Walpole 
 himself, or some of his city friends, must have said 
 this for him. 
 
 S
 
 258 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 A quarrel l3etvveen Fox and Newcastle broiiglit 
 the ministry, already unpopular enough, into a totter- 
 ing and precarious state. The quarrel was increased 
 by a prevailing opinion that Mr. Pitt was likely to be 
 taken into administration. But the King disliked 
 Pitt for the same reason that he disliked Sandwich. 
 He had not only spoken disrespectfully of Hanover, 
 but opposed supplies for that country, which made 
 the king say_, " I am sure Pitt will not do my 
 business." So unpopular, indeed, had the present 
 ministry become, that Fox was clear-sighted enough 
 to discover it could not stand nnich longer, and had 
 therefore been laying his ground for a retreat, or 
 at least for a change of situation. There is a note 
 from him to Lord Anson, which must luive caused 
 the latter some little uneasiness, in guessing what 
 was meant therein. It runs thus : — 
 
 " My DEAR Lord — When can I see your lordship half 
 an hour, to tell you a very unpleasant story, which I did not 
 mention before, because I knew it would not please, and 
 might embarrass you ? I do assure your lordship I am in all 
 situations as much at your service, and as affectionately so 
 as any man in England. 
 " Whitehall, Oct. 19, 175G." "Yours ever, H. Fox. 
 
 Lord Anson could not long be kept in the dark 
 respecting this " very unpleasant story," even had 
 he not seen Fox speedily. He would soon have 
 been informed that Fox, the preceding day, had 
 sought and obtained an audience of the King. " That
 
 1756.] THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 259 
 
 moment the King was sour, but endeavoured to keep 
 his temper, yet made no concessions, no request to the 
 retiring minister to slay." After a great deal of ne- 
 gociation, scheming, and intriguing by those goingout, 
 as well as those who wished to come in, the ministers, 
 finding matters grow worse, decided on retreating, and 
 the Duke of Newcastle and the Chancellor resigned 
 on the 19th November ; others scon folloAved, and the 
 new appointments stood thus : — The Duke of Devon- 
 shire took the phxce of Newcastle, as First Lord of the 
 Treasury; the Great Seal was put in commission; 
 Mr. Pitt was Secretary of State in the room of Mr. 
 Fox ; Mr. Legge Chancellor of the Exchequer ; Lord 
 Temple, First Lord of the Admiralty ; and Admirals 
 Boscawen, West, and Forbes, with Dr. Hay, Elliot, 
 and Orby Hunter, Lords of the Admiralty. 
 
 The change of administration produced two 
 parties, not only in Parliament, but in the country, — 
 for and against Admiral Byng. The friends of the 
 old ministers were clamorous against him, and those 
 of the new ones equally so against their predecessors, 
 for having sent him out w\\\\ an inferior force, — for 
 employing, on such an occasion, an untried admiral 
 (whose cause they nevertheless affected to espouse), 
 — and for their delay and gross neglect of sending 
 succours to Minorca. The press readily caught the 
 infection, and squibs and pamphlets were written on 
 both sides. Among others, Doctor Johnson entered 
 the lists. " The generosity," says Boswell, " with 
 which he pleads the cause of Admiral Byng is highly 
 
 s 2
 
 260 . LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 to the honour of his heart and spirit. Though Voltaire 
 affects to be witty upon the fate of that unfortunate 
 officer, observing that he was shot, ^ pour encourager 
 les autrefi,'' * the nation has long been satisfied 
 that liis life was sacrificed to the political fervour of 
 the times." The acute editor of Boswell's " Life of 
 Johnson " does not entirely agree to this. He says, 
 " Nothing can be more unfounded than the assertion 
 that Byng fell a martyr io j)oUtical part y . It is im- 
 possible to read the trial without being convinced that 
 he had misconducted himself ; and the extraordinary 
 proceedings in botli houses of Parliament subsequent 
 to his trial, prove at once the zeal of his friends to 
 invalidate the finding of the court-martial, and the 
 absence of all reason for doing so. By a strange 
 coincidence of circumstances, it happened that there 
 was a total change of ministry between his condem- 
 nation and his death ; so that one party presided at 
 liis trial, and another at his execution : there can be 
 no stronger proof that he was not a political martyr."!^ 
 If this were so, what sort of proof would such a cir- 
 cumstance furnish? But the fact is not quite as 
 stated. The ministry '\\'as changed the 19th No- 
 vember, the trial commenced on the SSth December, 
 the sentence (his condemnation) was not passed till 
 the 27tli January, and the execution took place on the 
 
 * Boswell is mistaken ; the wit was meant as a satire upon the 
 English people, not on the admiral's fate — a fate which did encourage, 
 by rousing naval ollicers to a higher sense of responsibility, and to that 
 spirit and enterprise, revived under an indignant feeling of the sacrifice 
 made to popular clamour, 
 t Boswell says the sacrifice was to the " political fervour of the times."
 
 1756.] THE SEVEN years' WAR. 261 
 
 14th ]\Iarch ; so tliat one party (the new ministrj^) 
 presided at his trial, his condemnation, and his execu- 
 tion. 
 
 IMallet, -who was said to he always ready at all 
 kinds of vrork, whether verse or prose, took the 
 other side of the question. " Johnson," says Boswell, 
 " spoke of him with no great respect," called him " a 
 beggarly Scotchman, ready for any dirty job," said 
 " he had wrote against Byng at the instigation of the 
 (old) ministry, and was equally ready to write foi' 
 him, provided he found his account in it." In his 
 ' Lives of the Poets,' hoAvever, Johnson is rather more 
 gentle with Mallet. " In the beginning of the last 
 war," he says, " when the nation was exasperated by 
 ill success, he AA'as employed to turn the public 
 vengeance upon Byng, and wrote a letter of accusa- 
 tion under the character of a °' Plain Man."" The 
 paper was with great industry circulated and dis- 
 persed ; and he, for his seasonable intervention, had 
 a considerable pension bestowed upon him, which he 
 retained to his death." 
 
 This is not probable : the party for Avhom he was 
 Avriting, being outof office, were, consequently, out of 
 poAver, and therefore had not the means of granting 
 pensions. But he may not be far from the truth in 
 his assertion about jMallet being employed by the old 
 ministry. There is a letter of the ex-chancellor 
 HardAvicke to Lord Anson, AAliich connects him Avith 
 Mallet and his pamphlet. It is as follows : —
 
 262 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VL 
 
 « Wimpole, Oct. lOth, 1756. 
 
 '' My dear Lord — I have taken the opportunity of the 
 
 Marquess of Rockingham's doing me the honour of a visit, 
 
 to return (by his servant) to Mr. Cleveland the manuscript 
 
 of Mr. Mallet's pamphlet. I had read it quite through, 
 
 and, upon the whole, cannot find much fault with it, though 
 
 I must own I am not much enamoured with it. But this 
 
 entre nous, for authors of this kind must not be discouraged 
 
 by too much criticism. However, I have ventured to put 
 
 down in the enclosed sheet of paper some remarks and 
 
 queries, which I desire your lordship will take the trouble 
 
 to peruse, and to consider whether you think any of them 
 
 improper, especially in what relates to maritime affairs and 
 
 dispositions. Whatever you shall disapprove in this paper 
 
 of mine, I desire you will strike out, and then deliver it to 
 
 Mr. Cleveland, with my request to him to copy it over fair, 
 
 and forthwith send such copy to Mr. Mallet, keeping my 
 
 original. My reason (which I will tell your lordship) for 
 
 taking this method is, that I am not fond of giving a handle 
 
 to be named as a joint author with this gentleman ; but I 
 
 have writ him a very civil letter, wherein I have informed 
 
 him that he will very soon receive such a paper from Mr. 
 
 Cleveland. I have also modestly suggested to him to add 
 
 something further, by way of observation and argument, 
 
 upon the points of conduct chiefly objected to, for in that 
 
 part I suspect the performance to be chiefly deficient. 
 
 " Ever yours, 
 
 " Hardwicke."* 
 
 As cin inquiry into the loss of JMinorcii was called 
 for in the House of Commons, in which the co'iduct 
 
 * Anson's Collection, No, 345.
 
 1756.] THE SEVEN YEAES' WAR. 263 
 
 of the Admiralty avouW be investigated, it was natural 
 enough that Lord Hard"\idcke as former Lord Chan- 
 cellor, and Anson as late First Lord of the Admiralty, 
 should interest themselves in preparing for their justi- 
 fication. That they were busily so employed, appears 
 from several letters of Lord Hardwicke. Li one he 
 says, the papers he has perused are long, " but they 
 show the several intelligences and facts in a clear 
 light, being divided methodically, and applied to the 
 different (pestions ; so that they appear to me to 
 make a complete justification. But," he adds, "it 
 is necessary that they should be carefully read over 
 to your lordship, especially to have two or three 
 things more fully explained relative to the metier of 
 the Admiralty." 
 
 As the time for the debate on the inquiry ap- 
 proached. Lord Hardwicke thus writes, on 2nd 
 February, to Lord Anson : — " As Mr. Townshend 
 has given notice to make his motion the next week, 
 and, I presume, will do so, if the gout and the frost 
 will permit ]\lr. Pitt to come doAvn, I take the 
 liberty of reminding your lordship forthwith to consult 
 with Mr. Cleveland about the ansAvers to be j^iven 
 to any objections or observations that may be thrown 
 out by our adversaries, as to the practicability of 
 sending part of the western squadron to the ]\Ie- 
 diterranean in March last. 'Tis possible that tliey 
 may not hit upon it ; but it is necessary to be pre- 
 pared with the proper answers."
 
 264 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 It appears, however, that neither the gout nor the 
 frost prevented Pitt from going down. " Pretend- 
 ing," says Walpole, " to Avave the care of a broken 
 constitution, when his country denumded his service, 
 and_, as a pledge of his sincerity in the scrutiny, he 
 came to the discussion in all the apparatus of a 
 theatric valetudinarian. The Aveather was unseason- 
 ably Avarm ; yet he Avas dressed in an old coat and 
 Avaistcoat of beaver, laced Avith gold ; over that a red 
 surtout, the right arm lined Avith fur, and appendant 
 Avith many black ribands, to indicate his inability of 
 draAvintr it OA^er his ri^ht arm, which hunir in a 
 crape sling, but Avliich. in the Avarmth of speaking, 
 he drcAV out Avith unlucky activity, and lu-andished 
 as usual ; on his legs Avere riding stockings. In 
 short, no aspiring Cardinal ever coughed for the Tiara 
 with more specious debility. This munnnery Avas 
 covered over Avith candour ; he acquiesced in every 
 softening term proposed by the advocates of the late 
 criminals ; his justice shrunk behind the Jipprehen- 
 sionsof personality ; moderation Avas the sole virtue of 
 a censor. The loss of IMinorca, he avowed, he 
 meant to charge on the Avhole government ; for the 
 whole government could not be punished."* 
 
 The issue of this long threatened inquiiy turned 
 out, in fact, to l)e neither more nor less than a 
 conqdele justification of the old ministry. Several 
 
 * Walpolc's Memoirs.
 
 1757.] THE SEVEN YEARS* WAR. 265 
 
 resolutions were proposed, the drift of wliieli was to 
 show that the former ministers had p-rounds for 
 believing in the threatened invasion of Great 
 Britain, rather than a desig-n on IMinorca ; and " the 
 courtiers," says Walpole, " having, on the last day 
 of the committee, moved a resolution that no greater 
 force could have been sent to the IMediterranean 
 under IMr. Byng, triumph itself blushed at so 
 palpable a falsehood ; and the victorious majority 
 shrunk to seventy-eight, many retiring, and many of 
 the more independent sort joining the minority ; 
 and," he adds, sneeringly^ " the late cabinet, to 
 their great disappointment, were forced to sit down 
 contented, Avithout receiving the thanks of the House 
 of Commons for the loss of Minorca." 
 
 Thirteen years after this (in 1770), when the 
 Spaniards attempted to bully this country, on the 
 subject of the Falkland Islands, the great Lord 
 Chatham, in his splendid speech on that occasion, 
 said, " Consult the returns that were laid before 
 Parliament in the year 1756. I was one of those 
 who urged a Parliamentary inquiry into the conduct 
 of the ministry. That ministry, my lords, in the 
 midst of universal censure and reproach, had honour 
 and virtue enough to promote the inquiry themselves. 
 They scorned to evade it by the mean expedient of 
 putting a previous question. Upon the strictest 
 inquiry it appeared that the diligence tliey had used 
 in sending a squadron to the IMediterranean, and in
 
 266 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 their other naval preparations, was beyond all ex- 
 ample." 
 
 Thns this part of the business was settled in fa- 
 vour of Anson and his colleagues ; but not so 
 the fate of the unhappy Byng. After a long and 
 close confinement, under pretence that he might es- 
 cape, a step which it was most unlikely he should 
 ever have thought of attempting, he was brought 
 before a court-martial assemljled on board his IMa- 
 jesty's ship St. George, in Portsmouth harbour, on 
 the 28th December, 1756, and held every day after- 
 wards, Sundays excepted, till the 27th January, 
 1757, inclusive. The Court, consisting of Thomas 
 Smith, Esq., Vice- Admiral of the Red, President, 
 three rear-admirals, and nine captains, having agreed 
 to thirty-seven resolutions, (the last five of wdiich 
 imputed Ijlame to Admiral Byng,) by the fifth and 
 final one, adjudged him to be shot to death. These 
 five, being the most important, were as follow : — 
 
 " 33. Unanimously. The Court are of opinion that Ad- 
 miral Byng (lid not do his utmost to relieve St. Philip's 
 Castle, in the island of Minorca, then besieged by the forces 
 of the French Iving. 
 
 " 34. Unanimously. The Court are of opinion that Ad- 
 miral Byng, during the engagement l)etween his Majesty's 
 fleet under his command, and the fleet of the French king, 
 on the 20th May last, did not do his utmost to take, seize, 
 and destroy the ships of the French king, which it was his 
 duty to have engaged, and to assist such of his Majesty's
 
 1757.] THE SEVEN years' WAR. 267 
 
 ships as were ens^aged in fight with the French ships, Avhicli 
 it Avas his duty to have assisted. 
 
 " 35. Unanimously. It appears by the evidence of 
 Lord Robert Bertie, Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, Captain 
 Gardiner, and by other officers of the ship, who were near 
 the person of the Admiral, that they did not perceive any 
 backwardness in the Admiral during the action, or any 
 marks of fear or confusion, either from his countenance or 
 behaviour, but that he seemed to give his orders coolly and 
 distinctly, and did not seem wanting in personal courage. 
 
 " 36. Unanimously. Resolved, that the Admiral appears 
 to fall under the following part of the 12th article of the 
 Articles of War^ to wit : * Or shall not do his utmost to 
 take or destroy every ship which it shall be his duty to 
 engage ; and to assist and relieve all and every of his 
 Majesty's ships which it shall be his duty to assist and 
 relieve.' 
 
 " 37. Resolved, as that article positively prescribes death, 
 without any alternative left to the discretion of the Court, 
 under any variation of circumstances, that he be adjudged 
 to be shot to death at such time, and on board such ship as 
 the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty shall direct. 
 But as it appears by the evidence of Lord Robert Bertie, 
 Lieutenant- Colonel Smith, Captain Gardiner, and other 
 officers of the ship, who were near the person of the 
 Admiral, that they did not perceive any backwardness in 
 him during the action, or any marks of fear or confusion, 
 either from his countenance or behaviour, but that he seemed 
 to give his orders coolly and distinctly, and did not seem 
 wanting in personal courage, and, from other circumstances, 
 the Court do not believe that his misconduct arose either 
 from cowardice or disaffection ; and do therefore unanimously
 
 268 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 think it their duty most earnestly to recommend him as a 
 proper object of mercy. The sentence was therefore drawn 
 up and passed accordingly." 
 
 The Court, however, with a proper feelino- of 
 clemency towards the unfortunate prisoner, and as a 
 relief to their own consciences, addressed a letter to 
 the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, of which 
 the following is a copy : — 
 
 ^' We, the underwritten, the president, and members of 
 the court-martial, assembled for the trial of Admiral Byng, 
 believe it unnecessary to inform ycur lordships that, in the 
 whole course of this long trial, we have done our utmost 
 endeavours to come at truths, and to do the strictest justice 
 to our country and the prisoner ; but Ave cannot help laying 
 the distresses of our minds before your lordships on this 
 occasion, in finding ourselves under a necessity of condemn- 
 ing a man to death, from the great severity of the Tith 
 article of war, part of which he falls under, and aaIucIi 
 admits of no mitigation, even if the crime should be com- 
 mitted by an error in judgment only, and, therefore, for our 
 own conscience's sakes, as Avell as in justice to the prisoner, 
 we pray your lordships in the most earnest manner to re- 
 commend him to his Majesty's clemency. 
 
 The only course for the Lords of the Admiralty to 
 pursue was such as one might suppose could not 
 have heen mistaken ; yet, unha])pily, it was so. It 
 might not have occurred to Lord Temple, or the 
 other new lords of the Admiralty, hut it ought 
 not to have been overlooked by Boscawen, avIio, 
 having had a seat at Anson's Board, and continuing
 
 1757.] THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 269 
 
 under Temple, ought to have known the usual course 
 of proceeding*. The sentence pronounced on Admiral 
 Byng was not from a conviction of its justice, but one 
 that inevitable necessity com})elled the Court to give ; 
 and all that remained for them to do, under such 
 unhappy circumstances, and what they did, was to 
 endeavour to palliate that sentence by entreating their 
 lordships, in the most earnest manner, to recommend 
 him to the mercy of his IMajesty. Such a recommend- 
 ation, from such a (juarter, is seldom disregarded, 
 and, when suj)ported by the Admiralty to the 
 throne, never. There was indeed one instance, a 
 few years back, in which the sovereign resisted the 
 recommendation of the Lords of the Admiralty to 
 commute the sentence of death for one of transport- 
 ation for life ; but, on its being represented to him, 
 by his ministers, that a refusal of the royal clemency 
 in such a case was unusual, and would be highly un- 
 popular, he immediately signed the submisssion for 
 mercy. But the Admiralty, in the case of Byng, 
 did not proceed in this manner. They wrote a long 
 letter to the King, enclosing a copy of the charge de- 
 livered to Admiral Byng, of the thirty-seven resolu- 
 tions of the court-martial, and of the sentence, Avith 
 various other documents ; and they stated to his 
 Majesty, " that doubts having arisen with regard to 
 the legality of the sentence, particularly whether the 
 crime of negligence, which is not expressed in any 
 part of the proceedings, can, in this case, be supplied
 
 270 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 by implication ; we find ourselves obliged most 
 humbly to beseech your Majesty that the opinion of 
 the judges maybe taken whether the said sentence 
 is legal." 
 
 This unfortunate step, quite unprecedented, but 
 taken with the best intentions, was unquestionably the 
 cause of the admiral undergoing the extreme sen- 
 tence of the law. The court-martial expressed no 
 doubts of the legality of the sentence ; they never 
 once hinted at the "crime of negligence;" their only 
 and earnest request was, that, feeling the severity of 
 a sentence which they were compelled to give, their 
 lordships should recommend the prisoner to mercy. 
 But in the application of the Lords of the Admiralty 
 to the King, the royal prerogative of mercy Avas never 
 once alluded to ; and all that his Majesty was re- 
 quested to do, was to submit the case to the twelve 
 judges, whether the sentence was legal. 
 
 It is difficult to conceive why the Lords of the Admi- 
 ralty should have had the least doubt as to its legality, 
 or why they adverted to the word " negligence," 
 which, as they themselves say, was not expressed in 
 any part of the proceedings. Being fully acquitted 
 of cowardice and backwardness, there remained only 
 '' not dointr his utmost," and for that he was condemned 
 to suffer death. And why did he not do his utmost? 
 The Court itself has answered the question in their 
 twenty-fifth resolution. " Unanimously. The Court 
 are of oi)inion, that while the liamillies was firing, in
 
 1757.] THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 271 
 
 going down, the Trident, and ships innnediately or a- 
 head of the Ramillies, proved -dn hnpedimejit to the 
 Ramillies continuing to go down.'' This impediment 
 is fully admitted in Resolutions 92, 23, and 24, and 
 stated as matters of fact. Here then was an opening for 
 a very different sentence. By an accident over which 
 the admiral had no control, he was delayed in getting 
 down close to the enemy, and, in the mean time, as the 
 enemy had moved off, he was therefore prevented from 
 " doing his utmost ;" and if, by some mistake or mis- 
 management, the delay was prolonged a few minutes, 
 humanity, if no other motive, might have construed 
 it into an error of judgment, and thus have saved 
 his life ; and this line would probably have been 
 taken, had not the Court fully relied on the efficiency 
 of their earnest recommendation. 
 
 The letter from the Admiralty to the King ^ras 
 dated the 9th February ; on the 16th the King's 
 Order in Council, with a copy of the opinion of the 
 twelve judges, dated the 14tli of that month, was 
 transmitted to the Lords Commissioners of the Ad- 
 miralty. It was briefly this — "We have considered 
 the said sentence, together with the 12th article 
 therein referred to, and are unanimously of opinion 
 that it is a legal sentence." Signed by the twelve 
 judges. 
 
 This put an end to all further application to the 
 King from the Lords of the Admiralty, and they w^ere 
 left to the full benefit of their doubts by the judges.
 
 272 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 who did not condescend to answer the question, 
 whether, in this case, the " crime of negUgence" 
 couhl be supplied Ijy implication ? 
 
 On the same day, the 16th February, Lord Temple, 
 George Hay, Thomas Orby Hunter, and Gilbert 
 Elliot, signed a warrant for carrying the sentence 
 on Admiral Byng into execution on the 28lli 
 February. Admiral Forbes peremptorily refused 
 to sign it. A strong impression was created in 
 the minds of naval officers of the cruelty of the sen- 
 tence. Admiral West loudly demanded a revision of 
 the 12th article ; and though he said he would not 
 decline immediate service, to which he Avas appointed, 
 he declared his resolution of resigning unless that 
 article was abrogated. Mr. Pitt reprobated the 12tli 
 article for its unjust severity; he called it the mortal 
 12th article; and yet it had its defenders in the 
 House of Commons, and was only mitigated twenty- 
 two years afterwards,* by the addition, after the word 
 "death," — ^' or to hijlict audi otJier 2)i'-'i^i-d'^''i^€nt as 
 the nature and degree of the offence ahall he found 
 to deserve." 
 
 An unfortunate series of blunders seem to have at- 
 tended the case of poor Byng. There is one of no mean 
 importance, which, however, a])pears to have been 
 wholly overlooked or disregarded ; at least it was 
 never once adverted to. His court-martial was com- 
 posed Avholly of officers who wnvo. not only junior to 
 
 * By 19 Geo. III.
 
 1757.] THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 273 
 
 liimseir, but of inferior rank. A full admiral, now- 
 a-days, would remonstrate on having a vice-admiral as 
 president of liis court-martial: there is no law against 
 it, but custom, strong as law, gives him a right to 
 expect one of a rank at least equal to his own. Every- 
 body knows there is no such thing as packing a naval 
 court-martial, but the Lords oF the Admiralty can, 
 and do, address their warrant for trial to whomsoever 
 they please, taking care he be of a proper rank. 
 Thus, on the trial of Admiral Cornwallis, Lord Howe 
 Avas ordered from his residence on shore.* 
 
 "^Miile Mr. Eyng," says Walpole, "was thus 
 pursued or given up by his countrymen, our enemies 
 acted a very different part. Voltaire, hearing of the 
 admiral's trial, sent from Switzerland to the court- 
 martial a letter Avhicli he had casually received some 
 time before from Marshal Kichlieu, in which the 
 latter spoke with encomiums on the behaviour of the 
 
 * In the case of Byng no such cave was taken. Mr. Smith, the 
 second in command, may have been, and is represented as, a good 
 man ; but the miserable figure he made before the Lords shows 
 him to have been a weak man, and one unfit to preside on so 
 important a trial, the issue of which was life or death. Every one 
 knows the value of an able and sensible president to guide the infe- 
 rior members rightly, which Smith was obviously not the man to 
 do. It is true there happened to be but a scanty choice of admirals 
 at the time. Sir William Rowley was objectionable as having been 
 one of the Lonls of the Admiralty when Byng was appointed; and 
 Isaac Townsend was equally objectionable, as the goaler of Byng and 
 governor of Greenwich Hospital ; there remained then but Admiral 
 James Stewart, admiral of the fleet, the Hon. Geo. Clinton, and Wra. 
 Martin,
 
 274 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 English commander; but they who had been so 
 ready to censure Mr. Byng on the despatch of his 
 antagonist. La Galissoniere, were far from being 
 equally forward to give any weight to Richlieu's 
 testimonial in his favom*." 
 
 That copies of these documents fell into the hands 
 of those who were by no means friendly to Byng, 
 the following letter of Lord Hardwicke clearly 
 proves. It is dated the 26th January, when the 
 court-martial was still sitting : — 
 
 " I return your Lordship the enclosed most extraordinary 
 papers, lest, for want of other copies, you should want them. 
 If you have other copies, 1 beg they may be returned, for 
 they are curiosities. I look upon the paper, called Mare- 
 chal Richlieu's letter, not to be a copy, but an extract only. 
 It begins abruptly, and, if the beginning had been added, it 
 would have appeared to be an answer to something, and 
 to have been solicited, as it certainly was. The words 
 Je vms assure have the air of an answer. 1 beg your Lord- 
 ship would get two facts ascertained — 1. Whether these 
 letters were shown to the King before they were sent back 
 to Portsmouth? 2. Whether these letters were sent back 
 to the president of the court-martial open, so that he might 
 read them and show them ; or sent to him sealed up, di- 
 rected to Mr. Byng, and only to be delivered to him ?" * 
 
 This is ingenious on the part of the late lord 
 chancellor ; but, whatever the case may have been, 
 it is certain that Mr. Byng derived no benefit from 
 this act of generosity on the part of an enemy. 
 
 * Anson's Collection, No. 195.
 
 1757.] THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 275 
 
 The following are copies of the letters in question. 
 That from Voltaire was written in English : — 
 
 " Aux Delices, pres de Geneve. 
 
 " Sir — Though I am almost unknown to you, I think 'tis 
 my duty to send you the copy of the letter which I have just 
 received from the Marishal Duke of Richlieu : honour, 
 humanity, and equity order me to convey it into your hands. 
 This noble and unexpected testimony from one of the most 
 candid as well as the most generous of my countrymen, 
 makes me presume your judges will do you the same jus- 
 tice. I am, with respect. Sir, &c. 
 
 "Voltaire. 
 
 " To the Hon. J. Byng, Esq." 
 
 Enclosed Avith this was tlie following : — 
 
 " Sir — I am very sensibly concerned for Admiral Byng ; 
 I do assure you, whatever I have seen or heard of him does 
 him honour. After having done all that man could reason- 
 ably expect from him, he ought not to be censured for suf- 
 fering a defeat. When two commanders contend for victory, 
 though both are equally men of honour, yet one must neces- 
 sarily be worsted ; and there is nothing against Mr. Byng 
 but his being worsted ; for his whole conduct was that of an 
 able seaman, and is justly worthy of admiration. The 
 strength of the two fleets was at least equal ; the English 
 had thirteen ships and we twelve, mmh better furnished and 
 much cleaner. Fortune, that presides over all battles, and 
 especially those that are fought at sea, was more favourable 
 to us than to our adversaries, by sending our balls into their 
 ships with greater execution. I am persuaded, and it is the 
 generally received opinion, that, if the English had obstinately 
 
 T 2
 
 276 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 continued the enoajjement, their whole fleet woukl have been 
 destroyed. 
 
 " In short, there can be no higher act of injustice than 
 what is now attempted against Admiral Byng, and all men 
 of honour, and all gentlemen of the army, are particularly 
 interested in the event. 
 
 ''RiCHLIEU." 
 
 [Under which is the following note of Voltaire.] 
 
 " I received this original letter from Manshal D. de Rich - 
 lieu the 1st January, 1757, in witness of which I have signed 
 my name. "Voltaire." 
 
 Two questions naturally occur on the perusal of 
 these letters ; the first is — how came Lord Anson to 
 get possession of the originals or copies of these let- 
 ters ? the second — did they ever reach ]\Ir. Byng .^ 
 It is surmised, in one of the numerous publications 
 at the time, that they were intercepted and opened 
 by Lord Holdernesse. They do not, however, appear 
 either in the Secretary of State's or in the State 
 Paper Oflices. With regard to the second question, 
 did they ever reach the person to whom they Avere 
 addressed? the probability is, they did not. Iftliey 
 had, something would have been said of them in the 
 course of the trial. They are not found in any of the 
 papers in the Byng fiimily. 
 
 On the day after the condemnation, ]\Ir. Orby 
 Hunter notified to the House of Commons the sen- 
 tence pronounced against one. of its members. Tlic 
 Speaker produced a multitude of precedents for
 
 1757.] THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 277 
 
 expelling a criminal before execution, lest his dis- 
 o-race should reflect on the House. This occasioned 
 a debate, in which it was strongly recommended that 
 an application should be made to the throne for 
 mercy. Mv. Pitt was in favour of that measure ; 
 mentioned with disdain anonymous letters that he 
 had received, threatening him as a favourer of JMr. 
 Bvno-. ]\Ir. Fox, as one of the old ministry, took a 
 less amiable part. 
 
 It is unnecessary now to go into the long debates 
 in consequence of Captain Keppel's application in 
 behalf of himself and some other members of the 
 court-martial, to be released from the oath of secrecy 
 which they had taken, representing that the sentence 
 of death laid heavily on their consciences. On the 
 26th, Pitt waited on the King, who sent down a 
 message to the Commons to say, that his Majesty had 
 respited. the sentence, until he should be informed 
 what it was, that the member had declared he had 
 of Aveiglit to say, and which it was proper his 
 IMajesty should know. After much debating, a bill 
 was brouirht in to release the members of the court- 
 martial from their oaths, which was carried by 153 
 against 23. 
 
 On the 1st March it was sent to the Lords, where, 
 on all occasions, matters are more gravely and tem- 
 perately discussed, and inquired into in a more busi- 
 ness-like manner than in the Commons. They com- 
 menced by a resolution to examine the members of 
 the court-martial, by putting certain questions to each
 
 278 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VI. 
 
 separately, the purport of which was — ''Whether 
 they knew any matter, previous to the sentence, 
 which woukl show it to be unjust, or procured l)y 
 any unlawful means? and whether they thought 
 themselves restrained by their oath from disclosing 
 such matter?" In short it appeared that not one of 
 them, not even Keppel, the original mover, had any 
 desire for the bill, which was of course rejected with 
 some expressions of indignation, and after some 
 cutting reflections on the House of Commons. 
 
 After such a termination the friends of Byng 
 could no longer hope for any mercy. The strange 
 conduct of the members of the court-martial served 
 only to strengthen the validity of their sentence, to 
 nullify their earnest recommendation for mercy, and 
 to exclude all further solicitation of the King for par- 
 don. The 14th March was the day appointed for 
 execution ; and when the fatal morning arrived it was 
 met by the admiral with more of cheerfulness than 
 reluctance. For more than seven months he had 
 suffered all manner of indignities, close imprisonment, 
 protracted anxiety, and the doubtful issue of life or 
 death. Now that his fate was decided, he received it 
 with cahn and dignified composure. Of his approach- 
 ing death he talked with indifference, and frequently 
 said he would not suffer a handkerchief over his face, 
 that it might be seen whether he betrayed any 
 symi)tom of fear ; and when the moment arrived he 
 adhered to his purpose. 
 
 " He took an easy leave of his friends, detained
 
 1757.] THE SEVEN YEARS' WAR. 279 
 
 the officers not a moment, went directly to the deck, 
 and placed himself in a chair with neither ceremony 
 nor lightness. Some of the more humane officers 
 represented to him that his face being uncovered 
 mififht throw reluctance into the executioners, and 
 besought him to suffi^r a handkerchief. He replied, 
 with the same unconcern, ' If it will frighten them, 
 let it be done : they would not frighten me.' His 
 eyes were bound, and he fell at once." 
 
 Lord Holland, the editor of Walpole's Memoirs, 
 gives in a note the following interesting account of 
 the execution, which, he says, is from the author's 
 private correspondence in MS. — " March 17, 1757. 
 — Admiral Byng's tragedy was completed on Mon- 
 day — a perfect tragedy ; for there were variety of 
 incidents, — villany, murder, and a hero. His suf- 
 ferings, persecutions, aspersions, disturbances, — nay, 
 the revolutions of his fate, — had not in the least un- 
 hinged his mind ; his whole behaviour was natural 
 and firm. A few days before, one of his friends 
 standing by him said, ' Which of us is tallest V He 
 replied, ' Why this ceremony ? I know what it 
 means ; let the man come and measure me for my 
 coffin.' He said, that, being acquitted of cowardice, 
 and being persuaded, on the coolest reflection, that 
 he had acted for the best, and should act so again, 
 he was not unwilling to suffer. He desired to be shot 
 on the quarter-deck, not wdiere common malefactors 
 are ; — came out at twelve — sat down in a chair, for
 
 280 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [cH. VI. 
 
 he Avoiild not kneel, and refused to have his face 
 covered, that his countenance might show whether 
 he feared death ; hut, heing told it might frighten his 
 executioners, he suhmitted^ — gave the signal fit once — 
 received one shot through the head, another through 
 the heart, and felL" 
 
 Thus died a martyr to public clamour, excited l)y 
 a timid ministry, and to one false step taken by the 
 party Avho professed to be, and actually meant to 
 he, friendly to him ; whose death can be considered 
 in no other light than as a judicial murder. On a 
 monumental tablet over the vault belonging to the 
 Torrington family, in the church of Southill, in Bed- 
 fordshire, is the following inscription : — 
 
 TO THE PERPETUAL DISGRACE 
 OF PUBLIC JUSTICE, 
 
 THE HONOURABLE JOHN BYNG, 
 
 ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE, 
 
 FELL A MARTYR TO POLITICAL PERSECUTION, 
 MARCH 14, IN THE YEAR 17^7, 
 
 AT A TIME 
 WHEN BRAVERY AND LOYALTY AVERE INSUFFICIENT 
 SECURITIES FOR THE LIFE AND HONOUR 
 OF A NAVAL OFFICER.
 
 1757.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 281 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 EXPEDITIONS TO THE COAST OF FRANCE." 
 
 Resignation of the ministers — The King for two or three months his 
 own minister — Various applications — One made to Anson — Lord 
 Hardwicke's advice upon it — Various parties applied to — Duke of 
 Newcastle, Fox, Lord Mansfield, Lord "VValdegrave — The King's 
 observations to the latter — Lord Hardwicke sent for — Succeeds, and 
 relates his proceedings to Lord Anson — Commanders appointed to 
 the Channel Ueet — Mr. Pitt's plans of annoying the French coasts 
 — First expedition against Rochefort fails — Boscawen sent to North 
 America— 'Retakes Louisbiirgh and Capo Breton— Sir Edward 
 Hawke defeats an intended expedition of the enemy — Several 
 expeditions against the French coast — Lord Anson hoists his ilag, 
 and takes command of the grand fleet — Howe and the Duke of 
 Marlborough's proceedings against St. Maloes — Third expedition — 
 Destruction of Cherbourg— Fourth expedition — Disastrous result 
 
 ■ at the bay of St. Cus — Brilliant single actions. 
 
 1757 to 1758. 
 
 In the early part of the year 1757 the war Avas 
 about to recoiiiiiience on the continent of Europe. 
 The French had made an irruption into Gerniany, 
 and threatened Hanover. The Duke of Cumberland 
 Avas entreated by the King to try his fortune once 
 more on that broad field ; l)ut he disliked to Ije in 
 any shape under the control of IMr. Pitt, who Avould 
 never suffer himself to be controlled. The Duke of 
 Newcastle, the most unhappy niiin in the world when 
 not breathing the air of St. James's, assumed this
 
 282 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIL 
 
 dislike as a fair ground to intrigue witii Fox for the 
 dismissal of Pitt ; but the latter stood too firmly 
 rooted in popular estimation, both out of doors and in 
 Parliament, to be easily removed. Plowever, both he 
 and the ministry, shortly after this, either resigned or 
 were dismissed ; and, " as if to show," says Walpole, 
 " how long a great nation can carry on itself without 
 any government, there were no ministers, even amidst 
 a formidable war, but those baby politicians, the 
 Duke of Devonshire and Lord Holdernesse." 
 
 It required not the assistance even of those " baby 
 politicians " to enable Great Britain " to carry on 
 itself." This wonderful and well-organised machine, 
 the British Constitution, in ordinary times and under 
 ordinary circumstances, moves on without the ne- 
 cessity of the constant superintending care of any 
 ministry; its wheels and springs are so well adapted, 
 its movements so well adjusted, that, if left to itself, 
 there is no danger of its stopping : it is damaged only 
 Avhen some experimental bungler, under pretence of 
 improving it, undertakes to introduce some new 
 movement that does not fit, or the displacement of 
 some old one, which was essential to its regularity. 
 But as the most perfect machinery, like all other 
 complicated bodies, is subject to the wear and tear 
 of time, so the British constitution may occasionally 
 require the repair of some of its parts, which, how- 
 ever, is not to l)e intrusted to ;iny rude and inexpe- 
 rienced hand that may offer itself.
 
 1757.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 283 
 
 The King", for two or three months, appears to 
 have been his ou'n minister. Lord JMansheld as the 
 Chief Commissioner of the Great Seal, and Legge 
 the Chancellor of the Exchequer, were the moving 
 powers, and were for some time engaged in their 
 endeavours to form an administration. Among 
 others. Lord Anson had been applied to, indirectlj^, 
 and submitted, as he was wont to do, the overture he 
 had received from Legge to his fiither-in-law, Lord 
 Plardwicke, "who sent him in return the following- 
 letter : — 
 
 " Wimpole, April 9tli, 1757. 
 
 " My Dear Lord — I think myself much honom-ed by 
 your confidential and material letter of yesterday ; for such 
 I was sure it must be upon opening it, since nothing else 
 could have drawn so much writing from your lordship. 
 You have stated the case very clearly, and I apprehend no 
 difficulty in the only part which your lordship can take 
 upon the overture that has been made to you. But I 
 cannot help being a little diverted at their having found out 
 their great mistake at last ; which, to me, who confess 
 myself but a poor politician, was as obvious in theory, when 
 they committed it, as it is now in the event. This made me 
 say those last words to Mr. Pitt, with which I left him, — 
 * that, as he was disjyosed to come into the kings service, 
 and, as a man of sense, if he tcished the end, must natu- 
 rally icish the means, why would he then make it imprac- 
 ticable ?' And impracticable he has found it in five 
 months' time. It is also diverting to see them casting the 
 blame upon one another ; but I believe there is some truth 
 in what Mr. Legge insinuated to your lordship, that it was
 
 284 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH, VII. 
 
 principally owing to tlie visionary notions of Mr. Pitt; and 
 I think those visionary notions much consisted in the sup- 
 port with which he had flattered himself from the tories. 
 But an opportunity, like time, when once lost, cannot be 
 recalled ; and the question is, what ought to l^e done, and 
 can be done in the present circumstances? Charles,* 
 who came hither last night, tells me that Dr. Warbur- 
 ton called upon him on Wednesday, and talked the like 
 style, though without any higher authority than IVIr. Potter. 
 The Duke of Newcastle, from whom I had a des])atch this 
 morning by a messenger, informs me that he has had a 
 letter from Lord Halifax, representing, in very strong terms, 
 the like overture from Mr. Legge, as has been made to 
 your lordship. His grace is embarrassed w-hat to do upon 
 it, and asks my advice. I own the case is difficult and 
 delicate. The King is certainly angry with him at present 
 for not joining in this hopeful new scheme, to which there 
 were a thousand objections. Plis Majesty also suspects him 
 of beins: iii some kind of negociation with Mr. Pitt and 
 Leicester-House, for which I am sure there is no ground; 
 and he has assured the King by a private channel that he 
 is in no such negociation, nor Mould be in any without his 
 Majesty's privity. But such assurances restrain nobody 
 from hearing ; and I think he is at present inclined to see 
 Legge in such a manner as may be most secure against 
 transpiring ; and I shall, in my answer, encourage him to 
 it. I shall at the same time acquaint his grace with as much 
 as is proper of your lordship's letter ; for I sec no use in 
 making a secret of your having communicated it to me, and 
 it will have the greater appearance of openness. I therefore 
 approve entirely of your lordship's thought of going over 
 
 * The Lord Chancellor's son.
 
 1757.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 285 
 
 to Claremont, and acciuainting the duke with the whoU; that 
 was said to you, which, I am sure, he will take very kindly ; 
 and this is all which you need do, without going farther, 
 unless he asks any opinion, or desires you to send, or give 
 some answer to Mr. Leggc. 
 
 " The whole plan of the new administration is manifestly 
 the creation of Mr. Fox, and, I am credibly informed, is 
 extremely unpopular in the city. Lord Egremont is, I 
 know, talked of for Secretary of State. He is a man of 
 sense, but that adds no strength in the House of Commons ; 
 and the hastening his going out of town does not look like 
 a present disposition to accept. 
 
 " One of the most remarkable parts of your letter is the 
 discourse which your lordship heard from some of the 
 duke's (Cumberland) servants. It will be a cm-ious addition 
 to the extraordinary events of the times, if, after the im- 
 mediate necessity of the duke's journey has been made the 
 pretence for accelerating this change, his Highness should 
 not go at all. I have no notion of any difficulty in getting 
 to the German army ; but if there are difficulties in forming 
 it, I mean in making it strong enough, one of the first 
 mill -stones which this new ministry must take about their 
 necks must be to make it stronger. 
 
 " Most affectionately yours, 
 
 " Hardwicke."* 
 
 During the long interval, in which negociations for 
 forming an administration were c^irrying on, the 
 King's patience was abundantly tried. He sent for 
 the Duke of Newcastle, who wished to have every- 
 thing his own way — for Fox, wdio would liaye Pitt 
 
 * Anson's Collection, No. iOS.
 
 286 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VII. 
 
 and Temple dismissed — for Lord Mansfield, wlio 
 could make no progress — for Lord Waldegrave, who 
 consented to accept the treasury temporarily, whose 
 opinion was taken, and who gave the King the best 
 advice; recommended Pitt, and told his Majesty that, 
 though he disliked Hanover, lie would be tractable. 
 His account of his audience is curious. " His 
 IMajesty heard everything I said with great patience, 
 and answered Avith some cheerfulness, that, according 
 to my description, liis situation was not to be envied ; 
 but he could answer me, it was infinitely more dis- 
 agreeable than I represented it; that he believed 
 few princes had been exposed to such treatment ; 
 that we were angry, because he was partial to his 
 electorate, though he desired nothing more to be 
 done for Hanover than what we were bound in 
 honour and justice to do for any country whatsoever, 
 when it was exposed to danger entirely on our 
 account. 
 
 " That we were, indeed, a very extraordinary 
 people, continually talking of our constitution, laws, 
 and liberty ; that, as to constitution, he allowed it 
 to be a good one, and defied any man to produce a 
 single instance wherein he had exceeded his proper 
 limits ; that he never meant to screen or protect any 
 servant who had done amiss ; but still he had a right 
 to choose those who were to serve him, thougli, at 
 present, so far from having an option, he was not 
 even allowed a negative.
 
 1757.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 287 
 
 '' ' " That, as to our laws, we passed near a Imndred 
 every session, which seemed made for no other pur- 
 pose but to afford us the pleasure of breaking them ; 
 and, as to our zeal for liberty, it was in itself highly 
 commendable; but our notions must be somewhat 
 singular, -when the chief of the nobility chose rather 
 to be the dependents and followers of a Duke of 
 Newcastle, than to be the friends and counsellors of 
 their sovereign." 
 
 The King regretted much the loss of Lord Hard- 
 wicke, who had made up his mind never again to 
 take office. " Lord Hard wicke/' says Lord Walde- 
 grave^ " resigned the Great Seal, much to the regret 
 of all dispassionate men, and, indeed, of the nation in 
 general. He had been Chancellor near twenty years, 
 and was inferior to few who had gone before him, 
 having executed that high office with integrity, 
 diligence, and uncommon abilities." 
 
 To Lord Temple the King had the strongest 
 aversion, his lordship having a pert familiarity, which 
 is not always agreeable to majesty ; besides, in the 
 affair of Admiral Byng, he had used some insolent 
 expressions, which the King would never forgive. 
 " He went so far," says Walpole, "as to sketch out 
 some parallel between the monarch himself and the 
 admiral, in which the advantage did not lie on the 
 side of the battle of Oudenarde." He expressed 
 his dislike to Pitt and Lord Temple in very strong 
 terms, the su])stance of which was, that " the secretary
 
 288 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VII. 
 
 made liim long speeches, which possibly might be 
 very fine, bi>t were greatly beyond his comprehension, 
 and that his letters were affected, formal, and pe- 
 dantic." 
 
 " That, as to Temple, he was so disagreeable a 
 fellow, there was no bearing him ; that, wlien he at- 
 tempted to argue, he was pert, and sometimes 
 insolent ; that, Avhen he meant to be civil, he was 
 exceeding troublesome, and that in the business of 
 his office he was totally ignorant." 
 
 " He made use of a strong expression : ' Tell him 
 (the Duke of Newcastle) I do not look upon niyself 
 as king, whilst I am in the hands of these scoun- 
 drels.' "* 
 
 At length Lord Ilardwicke, being called in, suc- 
 ceeded in forming an administration, of wdiich Wal- 
 pole, after giving the heads of it, says — " Fox ac- 
 cepted the Pay-othce, professing great content, and 
 that he should offend neither in thought, word, or deed. 
 Both Newcastle and Pitt acted wisely in permitting 
 him to enjoy this place ; he was tied up from giving 
 them any trouble ; and, while serving for interest 
 under Pitt, how much did it exalt the latter ! Yet 
 the latter, too, took care to deserve his share of the 
 reproach. Adjusting their list with Lord Ilard- 
 wicke, Pitt said he missed a very respectable name 
 there, which he hoped to be placed, greatly : it was 
 
 * Lord Wuldegravc's Memoirs.
 
 1757.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 289 
 
 Lord Anson's ; and he was restored to the Admi- 
 ralty — whether with more opprobrium to himself, 
 who returned to that Board with Pitt's set, aljandon- 
 ing his own, who had been disgraced with him, or to 
 Pitt, who restored so incapable an object to a trust 
 so wretchedly executed, I am in doubt to deter- 
 mine." 
 
 This consistent writer of Memoirs, just two years 
 before, in 1755, thus records his opinion of the cha- 
 racter of this incapable object of 1757 — "Lord An- 
 son, attentive to, and in general expert in, maritime 
 details, selected with great care the best officers, and 
 assured the King, that, in the approaching war, he 
 should at least hear of no courts-martial." And 
 again, in the same year, he says — " By the beginning 
 of February, our fleet of thirty ships of the line had 
 been fitted out with equal spirit and expedition. 
 Lord Anson had great merit in that province, 
 where he presided." — So utterly worthless is his tes- 
 timony. 
 
 Walpoie, however, contrived to get general inform- 
 ation of what was going on in the political world ; but, 
 in the present instance, it is not necessary to have 
 recourse to him, as the Ex- Chancellor Hardwicke, 
 who was sent for by the King, and had the full 
 arrangement of the new administration, has ac- 
 quainted Lord Anson with the details of the transac- 
 tion. 
 
 u
 
 290 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VII. 
 
 "Fowls House, June 18, 1757. 
 "My dear Lord, Saturday night, 11 dcloch. 
 
 " You will probalily be surprised at receiving this 
 letter from me by the King's messenger ; but it will make 
 me more happy than ever I was in my life, if the subject of 
 it shall be as agreeable to your Lordship as it is to me. 
 You have heard how the administration projected under Mr. 
 Fox failed this day se'ennight, in the very moment it was to 
 have been carried into execution, and he was just going into 
 the closet to receive the Exchequer- seal. On Tuesday 
 night the King, by the Duke of Devonshire, ordered me 
 to attend him on Wednesday morning. T have since had 
 the honour of several audiences of his Majesty; some of 
 them most uneasy and painful ones, though without any 
 anger towards me. My first orders were, for the Duke of 
 Newcastle and myself to negociate some settlement of an 
 administration with Mr. Pitt and his friends, under certain 
 restrictions, from which his Majesty declared he would never 
 depart. In the course of my audience, I told his Majesty 
 that I could take no part at all, unless some honourable re- 
 gard was shown to your Lordship, though I could not just 
 then point out the particular thing; that I had told the 
 gentlemen with whom we had conferred the same thing, and 
 had previously humbly conveyed it to his Majesty. 
 
 "In his subsequent discourse the King, in aggravating 
 the inconveniences that would arise from this new plan, told 
 me Avith warmth, that resignations had been talked of; that, 
 in the way we were going, there would be resignations 
 enough ; that my Lord Winchelsea was in the next room, in 
 order now to come into the closet to resign. The conve- 
 nience of this struck mc, but I reserved myself. Some
 
 1757.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 291 
 
 minutes afterwards the King read over my list in lieat — ob- 
 jected to Mr. Legge being made a peer and first lord of the 
 Admiralty — was determined not to do two great things for 
 one man at the same time ; and in this he was peremptory. 
 I then threw your Lordship in his way^ but that I was far 
 from knowing what the other persons would say to it. His 
 Majesty answered quick — ' / shall like it extremely.' 
 
 "When I stated this to the Duke of Newcastle it made 
 him most happy ; and I reported it at the meeting of all 
 four in the evening ; I stated it, as it was in reality, the 
 King's option. My Lord Bute and Mr. Pitt received it 
 with the greatest politeness. Lord Bute first broke the ice ; 
 declared his particular respect for your Lordship, and did 
 great justice to your character, and merit in your profession; 
 and declared that he knew those to be the sentiments of the 
 place to which he belonged. Mr. Pitt said he only waited 
 to hear what Lord Bute would say, and most readily con- 
 curred in the same sentiments. In short, it ended so that 
 all the four plenipotentiaries agreed that your Lordship 
 should be again at the head of the Admiralty, if the King 
 continued in the same mind ; and Mr. Legge has his old 
 office of Chancellor of the Exchequer, which he had pro- 
 fessed to like better than any other place. 
 
 " I have been negociating ever since upon other points, 
 and have led a most fatiguing life. However at last the 
 whole was settled, and I carried the King the plan in writing 
 X this day at noon. The three things which the King had 
 made his sine qua non were — 1. That he would perform his 
 promise to make Mr. Fox paymaster. 2. That there should 
 be no change in the Secretary-at-War. 3. That Lord An- 
 son should be at the head of the Admiralty. When I told 
 his Majesty that we had carried all this for him, and that all 
 
 u2
 
 292 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VII. 
 
 those points were most dutifully yielded up to his pleasure, 
 I never saw such a change in man. He said at once, 
 with a gracious smile — ' Then this thing is done ; and, 
 my Lord, I thank you heartily.' He is in haste to carry it 
 into execution immediately, and indeed it must he in a few 
 days. 
 
 " I can't send your Lordship the plan, for the King kept 
 the original, and I have yet no copy. The great lines are — 
 Mr. Pitt, Secretary of State ; Lord Temple to have a Cabi- 
 net Council place; the Duke of Newcastle, First Lord of 
 the Treasury; and Mr. Fox, Paymaster, Thus your Lord- 
 ship is once more called to this great office by the King's 
 earnest desire, the united voice of all parties, and the 
 concurrence of Saville House — though that must not be 
 talked of. In other circumstances you might possibly not 
 so well like the company you are to sit with, which are those 
 who were turned out at Easter. You know that Mr. Pitt 
 and friends always made restitution their point, and wanted to 
 provide for those friends who were of that Board, so there 
 was no possibility of altering that. But I hope, in the present 
 situation, you will make no difficulty or hesitation about it. 
 Indeed, my dear Lord, this unexpected event, which I have 
 used some honest dexterity in bringing about, is the greatest 
 thing for the King's honour, for the credit of his old admi- 
 nistration, and for your own honour. It does, by their own 
 admission, give the lie to all the calumnies that have been 
 raised ; it contradicts all that had been said upon the in- 
 quiry ; and confirms the issue of that inquiry to be a total 
 justification. The King sees it in that light, and therefore 
 is prodigiously pleased with it. 'J'his is the true light 
 wherein it is to be seen ; and the unanimity of the Royal 
 family upon it is a most happy and inviting circumstance;
 
 1757.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 293 
 
 and will, I am confident, induce your Lordship to overlook 
 all other circumstances, which a little time and opportunity 
 will correct. I have privately laid in with Lcrd j3ute and 
 Mr. Pitt that some one of their people may be changed upon 
 being otherwise provided for, and they have agreed to the 
 reasonableness of this. You know the Duke of Newcastle 
 had formerly promised Mr. Stanley, who may be useful to 
 you in the House of Commons ; so will Elliot, who, I dare 
 say, will in six weeks be as much yours as theirs. Besides, 
 I am told that Admiral Forbes is likely not to accept, and, 
 if so, it will mnke room for Sir Edward Hawke, or any 
 other man we shall like. 
 
 " This is the state of the case, and when I look back I 
 stand amazed at the sudden change. All our friends are in 
 raptures with it ; the court in general pleased, and the town 
 more so. It is looked upon as the strongest administration 
 that has been formed many years, and, by good conduct, may 
 become so. 
 
 " I am glad to hear that the waters have agreed with your 
 Lordship, but you must interrupt them for a few days ; and, 
 in obedience to his Majesty's commands, set out immediately, 
 and be in town as soon as you can without hurting your 
 health in this hot weather. I am to see the King on Mon- 
 day, who will ask me if I have sent for you. 
 
 "The Duke of Newcastle sends your Lordship his most 
 cordial compliments and congratulations. Both his Grace 
 and I, and all your friends, entreat your Lordship to miake 
 no difficulties, and to let us see you as soon as you can, in 
 health. The messenger waits, and will bring you a letter 
 from dear Lady Anson, who knew not one word of this 
 matter till I had settled it finally with the King this day. 
 "' Adieu, my dear Lord, &c., &c. 
 
 " Hardwicke."
 
 294 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VII. 
 
 Thus, then, in July, 1757, we have Lord Anson 
 restored to his seat at the Board of Admiralty, after 
 the short administration of less than five months by 
 Earl Temple, and of three months by the Earl of 
 Winchelsea. 
 
 In the spring and summer of this year, as in the 
 last. Admirals Boscawen, West, and Brodrick had 
 the command of the Channel fleet alternately, to 
 cruise off Brest and in soundings, to watch the 
 enemy's movements, distress his trade, and to inter- 
 cept any supplies or reinforcements that might be 
 sent out from Brest to the colonies. Their navy had 
 been very nmch reduced by the preceding war, and 
 their ships in commission and ready in the western 
 ports were barely sufficient to escort their convoys ; 
 but it did so happen, that our cruising squadrons 
 could not, Avitli all their vigilance, prevent M. Bois 
 de la Mothe from slipping out of Brest with a squad- 
 ron of ships of war and transports, carrying rein- 
 forcements and supplies for Louisbourg, where he 
 arrived in safety. 
 
 A reinforcement of four ships of the line was im- 
 mediately sent out to Admiral Holborne at Halifax. 
 His fleet, now consisting of nineteen sail-of-the-line, 
 two of fifty guns, and some frigates, proceeded to 
 block up the French in the harbour of Louisbourg, but 
 having arrived twenty leagues from the port, on the 
 night of the 24th September, it blew a perfect hurri- 
 cane, which continued to the middle of the following
 
 1757.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 295 
 
 day, when, most fortunately, it veered round to the 
 north, or the whole fleet^ then close in with the rocky 
 shore of Cape Breton, would in all probability have 
 been doomed to destruction. As it was, the Tilbury 
 was Avrecked, and the captain and most of her crew 
 perished. Many of them were obliged to throw their 
 guns overboard, and in others, some of the seamen 
 were lost. Twelve or thirteen ships of the line were 
 dismasted, and otherwise so disabled that the admiral, 
 after collecting his shattered squadron and ascertain- 
 ing their damages, sent those that were in the 
 worst condition to England under Sir Charles Hardy 
 and Commodore Holmes, and repaired with the rest 
 to Halifax. The French did not escape the effects 
 of the storm. Several of them suffered so severely 
 as to make it necessary to send them home, and such 
 as escaped capture by our cruisers arrived at Brest in 
 a very shattered state. 
 
 Mr. Pitt, however, nothing daunted by this disaster, 
 though the nation was dissatisfied as if the admiral had 
 been the cause of them, desired Anson to get the ships 
 speedily repaired, and others brought forward, to be 
 employed in active operations at home, it being his in- 
 tention that, in conjunction with the army, they should 
 direct their united forces against the ports and towns 
 of the French coast. The plan proposed had a double 
 object in view : the one was to demolish the enemy's 
 naval arsenals, by blowing up the fortifications, 
 docks, basins, and other public works, and to destroy
 
 296 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIL 
 
 or capture his shipping, and by so doing put an end 
 to the vapouring threat of their invasion of England 
 or Ireland by this retaliation on his own coast. The 
 other, to create a diversion in favour of the King 
 of Prussia and the Duke of Cumberland, by alarm- 
 ing the French for the safety of their coast and 
 harbours, and thereby inducing them to AvithdraAv 
 a portion of their continental army for the more im- 
 portant service of protecting their own shores, or at 
 least to prevent them from sending reinforcements. 
 He concluded with an earnest desire, that Lord 
 Anson would have a sufficient fleet ready at Spithead, 
 with the least possible delay, and recommend an 
 officer to command the naval part of the expedition, 
 whom he considered most eligible for such a service. 
 He at once named Sir Edward Hawke, and forth- 
 with put him in communication with Mr. Pitt. 
 Vice-Admiral Knowles and Rear-Admiral Brodrick 
 were placed under his command. The fleet consisted 
 of sixteen sail of the line, two frigates, five sloops, 
 two bombs, two fire-ships, and a number of trans- 
 ports, having on board about 7000 land forces, the 
 command of which was given to Sir John IMordaunt. 
 Under him was General Conway, second in com- 
 mand, then Cornwallis, Howard, and Lieutenant- 
 Colonel \^^olfe, Avho contracted a friendship with 
 Howe, the captain of the IMagniinime, which AVal- 
 pole describes as " like the union of cannon and gun- 
 powder."
 
 1757.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 297 
 
 A joint instruction from ]\Ir. Secretary Pitt to Sir 
 Edward Hawke and Sir John IMordaunt directed 
 them to '' attempt, as for as shall be found practica])le, 
 a descent on the French coast, at or near Rochefort, 
 in order to attack, and if practicable^ by a vigorous 
 impression, force that place ; to burn and destroy, 
 to the utmost of their power, all shipping, docks, ma- 
 gazines, and arsenals that shall be found there, and 
 exert such other efforts as shall be judged most pro- 
 per for annoying the enemy." The fleet left Spit- 
 liead on the 8th September, and on the 22nd an- 
 chored in Basque Roads. On the folloAving day a 
 detachment under Vice-Admiral Knowles, in the 
 Neptune, Avith the IMagnanime, Barfleur, America, 
 Barford, Royal William, and Alcide, together with the 
 transports, were ordered to attack and get possession 
 of the Isle d'Aix, as a stepping-stone to Rochefort. 
 The IMagnanime was selected to lead. Howe stood 
 direct for the fort, reserving his fire till he came 
 within forty yards of it, when he l)rought up Avitli a 
 spring on his cable, and opened so tremendous and 
 well-directed a fire, that in less than half an hour 
 the enemy were driven from their guns and surren- 
 dered at discretion. 
 
 The next step taken by Sir Edward Hawke was to 
 cause the coast of the mainland to be reconnoitred, 
 and soundings taken, in order to secure a safe land- 
 ing and protection for the troops ; and, after maturel}^ 
 considering their report, " I was of opinion," says
 
 298 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH.VIL 
 
 the admiral, " that they might land." A discussion, 
 hoAvever, arose as to the expediency of landing at the 
 fort of Fouras, and marching thence upon Rochefort. 
 As some difference of opinion seemed to prevail, Sir 
 John JMordaunt proposed a council of war to assemble 
 and determine it. In the mean time, while this was 
 going on, the French were assembling a force at 
 Rochefort and making preparations for receiving the 
 attack. The council decided that the landing could 
 be effected. The fort of Fouras, however, was stated 
 as a formidable object, and that large ships could not 
 approach sufficiently near for their cannon to reach 
 it. The French pilot, Thierri, who had carried the 
 Magnanime close to the walls of Aix, said the ap- 
 proach was practicable, and volunteered to take the 
 same ship before Fouras : he was told he might have 
 the Barfleur, which drew less Avater, but he persisted 
 in going in with the IMagnanime. Being asked 
 why, he replied, " Parceque le Capitaine Howe est 
 jeune et brave.'' When the expedition was given 
 up by tlie commander of the troops, to the great 
 surprise of Sir Edward Hawke, it was attempted to 
 throw discredit on Thierri s proposal, and to accuse 
 him of ignorance ; but Sir Edward, in his letter to 
 Mr. Pitt, says, "The pilot of the Magnanime has 
 behaved like a man of bravery and skill, and as such 
 I beg leave to recommend him to you." 
 
 The following private letter to Lord Anson from 
 Sir Edward llawke, enclosing a coi)y of minutes of
 
 1757.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 299 
 
 the council of war, fully explains that gallant officer's 
 opinion and feelings on this mortifying failure : — 
 
 " Ramillies, Basque Roads, 
 " My Lord, SOth September, 1757. 
 
 " The Viper sloop joined me within the entrance of 
 this place, just before we came to an anchor, Mr. Knowles' 
 division having brought to some little time before. I have 
 kept her all this time, flattering myself with the daily hopes 
 that the land-officers would come to a determination to 
 land the troops, to try what was possible to be done for 
 their country, notwithstanding they were of opinion it was 
 impracticable to take the town of Rochefort by escalade. 
 If there is faith in man, my Lord, you may believe that I 
 have urged this to them continually, painting the absolute 
 necessity of it in the strongest terms that I could possibly 
 think of. But I am infinitely concerned to tell your Lord- 
 ship that you will see by their result that all this has availed 
 nothing. I made no hesitation in attempting to remove 
 every obstacle out of their way that was in my power, in 
 which I happily succeeded, and wanted no council of war, 
 nor never would have had any, if they had not been de- 
 manded, to confirm me in my opinion that it was right I 
 should use my utmost endeavours for my king and country." 
 
 Sir Edward adds in a postscript — 
 
 "The pilot of the Magnanime has behaved extremely 
 well, and is truly deserving of your Lordship's favour and 
 protection." 
 
 '' Minutes of a Council of War assembled on board his 
 Majesty's ship Ramillies, Basque Road, 28th September, 
 1757. 
 " Sir Edward Hawke, K. C, &c., President, Sec. &c.
 
 300 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VII. 
 
 " The Council, in order to determine whether forts leading 
 to, and upon the mouth of, the Charente were open, and 
 capable of being attacked by land, proceeded to examine — 
 " 1. Lieutenant- Colonel Wolfe, who declares that, Avith 
 regard to Fort Fouras, it is his opinion that it is not a 
 strong place, seeming to be principally fortified towards the 
 sea ; yet he saw people at work on the land-side. That, if 
 our troops could come at the Barbette battery by it, it 
 might be of great use in taking the fort, provided there was 
 proper ammunition for that purpose. He further gives it 
 as his opinion that Fort Fouras cannot be taken but by ar- 
 tillery and escalade. 
 
 " 2. Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke. Knows nothing but 
 what he saw through a telescope. 
 
 " 3. A French prisoner said Fort Fouras was circular — 
 had no ditch ; that Fort la Pointe is also circular, like 
 Fouras ; that the best landing-place is in the bay of Chati- 
 lailon ; that, from hence, along the Rochefort Road, is a fine 
 open country ; that on Friday last he was on Fouras ; that 
 there were but twenty-two or twenty-four guns in it, and 
 not above fifty men ; that there are much the same on Fort 
 la Pointe, and that both forts are enclosed by a wall on the 
 land-side. 
 
 " The council having maturely considered the evidence. 
 Sir John Mordaunt declared he was of opinion that some- 
 thing further should be attempted, and that he would give 
 his orders accordingly that moment, if any (meaning the 
 general officer of the troops) Avould say it m as advisable. 
 
 " Vice- Admiral Knowles declared he had received great 
 light from the persons examined, and therefore thought 
 something ought to be attempted. 
 
 " Major- General Conway declared for the attempt, 
 merely from his own opinion, without regard to the evidence.
 
 1757.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 
 
 301 
 
 " Sir Edward Hawke, appealing to every member of the 
 council for the truth of what he said, declared that he was 
 now of the same opinion which he had given both before and 
 at the council of war on the 2Dih—that the landing conld 
 be effected — that the troops ought to be landed for some 
 further attempt, which was alone matter of consideration 
 Avith the general officers of the troops, he not taking upon 
 him to be judge of land operations; but would, from his 
 confidence in their abilities and skill in their own profession, 
 readily assent to any resolution they should come to, and 
 assist them to the utmost of his power. This being settled, 
 after some debate. Sir Edward Hawke, Vice-Admiral 
 Knowles, Rear-Admiral Brodrick, and Captain Rodney, 
 withdrew. 
 
 " The Council of War being re-assembled, and the 
 question put, 
 
 " ' Whether it is advisable to land the troops to attack the 
 forts leading to and upon the mouth of the river Charente ?' 
 
 " Yes. "No. 
 
 " Colonel Geo. Howard. " The Hon. Edward Corn- 
 
 " Captain Geo. Bridges wallis, but afterwards ac- 
 Rodney. quiesced with the majority." 
 
 " Rear- Admiral Brodrick, 
 
 *' Right Hon. H Seymour 
 Conway. 
 
 " Vice- Admiral Knowles. 
 
 " Sir John Mordaunt. 
 
 " Sir Edward Hav.ke. 
 
 Sir Edward adds : " The debates at the council 
 of war of the 25th were so various, tedious, and 
 unconnected, that it was impossible to take minutes."
 
 302 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [cH. VII. 
 
 Tiie one he sent may be taken as a sufficient specimen 
 of such an assembly. 
 
 Sir Edward Havvke lost not a moment in ordering 
 every disposition to be made for landing the troops , 
 and part of them were actually in the boats, when 
 Rear- Admiral Brodrick reported to him, " that the 
 Generals had come to a resolution not to land that 
 night." And on the following day Sir Edward re- 
 ceived a laconic epistle from the General, couched as 
 follows ; — 
 
 " Sir — Upon the receipt of your letter I talked it over 
 with the other land-officers, who were of our council of 
 war, and we all agree in returning directly to England. 
 
 " I have, Sir, &c. 
 
 " J. MORDAUNT." 
 
 It may easily he, supposed with what astonishment 
 and mortitication the gallant Sir Edward, and, in- 
 deed, the whole navy, received such a notification on 
 the part of the military officers. Sir Edward, in 
 reporting his proceedings to Mr. Pitt, says, " I beg 
 leave to assure you, Sir^ I have discharged my duty 
 to my king and country with fidelity, diligence, and 
 integrity, and wish more could have been done for 
 the good of the service." In point of fact, nothing 
 whatever was done, except the demolition of the works 
 on Isle d'Aix by Howe alone. Of this we have the 
 high testimony of Wolfe, the bravest of the brave, 
 whom all loved, and all delighted to follow. In 
 a private letter to his father, dated Hade des
 
 1757.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 303 
 
 Basques, SOtli September, 1757, he says, " By the 
 Viper sloop I have the displeasure to inform you 
 that our operations here are at an end. ^Ve lost the 
 luchy moment in war, and are not able to recover it. 
 The whole of this expedition has not cost the nation 
 ten men : nor has any man been able to distin2:uish 
 himself in the service of his country, except Mr. 
 Howe, who was an example to us all." 
 
 A general, but temporary gloom, was cast over 
 the public mind in consequence of the signal failure 
 of this grand expedition ; but it operated, as might 
 be expected, in a manner altogether the reverse on the 
 feelings of the enemy. Nothing but rejoicing was 
 heard alono- the whole line of coast, as if some sfreat 
 victory had been gained ; and, as if to show how 
 little they were dispirited by the attempts of England 
 to molest their coasts, they boasted, as usual, that in 
 the spring of the following year an army would 
 assemble at St. INIalo^s, of sufficient forcet o turn the 
 tables on their enemy by an invasion of Jersey and 
 Guernsey. Another piece of good fortune tended 
 to elevate the spirits of this volatile people. In- 
 tellig-ence being received in England of the sailing of 
 a laro'e fleet from Louisbouro' under ^I. Bois de la 
 Mothe, which had escaped our cruisers when outward 
 bound, Sir Edward Hawke, which had scarcely 
 reached Spithead from Basque Roads, was ordered 
 to proceed to sea with a strong squadron, in which 
 was Vice- Admiral Boscawen, one of the lords of the
 
 304 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VII. 
 
 i\(lmiralty, with the view of intercepting it. The 
 squadron sailed from Spithead on the 22nd October 
 to cruise off Brest, but encountered a violent gale of 
 wind, which dispersed and drove the British fleet 
 from their station, and, before they could join and 
 reassume their cruising-ground, M. Bois de la Mothe 
 had the good fortune, a second time, to escape 
 Avith great part of his convoy into Brest, having 
 suffered severely in the same gale of wind, in which 
 most of his ships were crippled. Two of his frigates, 
 however, and several of his convoy, were captured. 
 Indeed, the cruising frigates were most actively 
 employed, and with great success. Captain Lock- 
 hart, of the Tartar, took no less than four stout 
 privateers and three frigates in the course of the 
 year, and received from the merchants of London a 
 piece of plate, value two hundred guineas, and 
 another from Bristol, of one hundred guineas. Se- 
 veral other ships of war and strong privateers fell 
 into the hands of our cruisers, generally after severe 
 actions. 
 
 The greatest exertions were made in the naval 
 department for the service of the year 1758. The 
 numljer of seamen voted was G0,000, including 14,845 
 marines. For the greater encouragement of seamen 
 to enter the naval service, the Admiralty brought 
 into Parliament a bill for a more regular and fre- 
 quent payment of their wages, and to enable them 
 when out of the kinirdom to make remittances for the
 
 75S.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 305 
 
 support of their wives and families, which w^as, some 
 years afterwards, simplified by the system of allowing 
 seamen, on signifying their wish to the captain, to 
 assign over a portion of their pay for tlie use of their 
 families. 
 
 The two flag-officers on whom Anson, and, it may 
 be said, the nation generally, placed the greatest 
 confidence, were Sir Edward Hawke and Boscawen ; 
 and both were immediately put in requisition. The 
 latter, as early as February, left St. Helen's for 
 North America with twenty-three sail-of-the-line, 
 six frigates^ and several sloops and smaller vessels, 
 havino; under his command Rear- Admiral Sir Charles 
 Hardy and Commodore Durell, and arrived at Ha- 
 lifax early in May. The ol)ject was to recover 
 Cape Breton and Louisburgh, which had been re- 
 stored to the French at the peace, and which Ad- 
 miral Holburne had failed to effect, the preceding 
 year, in consequence of the disabled state of his ships, 
 by a tremendous hurricane, which overtook them 
 Avhen just off the harbour. The fleet now under 
 Boscawen assembled in Gabarus Bay. Seven fri- 
 gates were appointed by the admiral to cover the 
 debarkation of the troops, which was effected with 
 the greatest order and regularity, under Brigadier- 
 General Wolfe, in the face of a heavy fire of cannon 
 and musketry from the enemy, who fled and aban- 
 doned their works, leaving behind them several 
 cannon and mortars. The enemy next sunk a ship- 
 
 X
 
 306 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VII. 
 
 of-tlie-line, a frigate, and two corvettes, across the 
 mouth of the harbour of Louisburgh. Another ship- 
 of-the-line took fire, and was consumed, together with 
 two other vessels. Two of the line still remained 
 in the harbour, which the admiral was determined 
 either to take or destroy ; and for this purpose six 
 hundred seamen were sent in boats in the night, 
 under Commanders Laforey and Balfour, and, amidst 
 the fire of the ships and batteries, burnt one of 
 them that got aground, and towed the other off. 
 All the ships being thus destroyed, Boscawen in- 
 formed the French General that he should send his 
 fleet into the harbour next morning ; but he replied 
 by desiring to capitulate, and terms were inmie- 
 diately agreed upon. Admiral Boscawen returned 
 to England, arrived at Spithead on the 1st November, 
 and very shortly afterwards received the thanks of 
 Parliament. 
 
 The French, apparently not aware of the destina- 
 tion of Boscawen's fleet, and ignorant as they must 
 have ])een of his success, had fitted out at Rochfort 
 a considerable squadron of ships-of-the-line and 
 frigates, with forty or fifty transports, to convey 
 troops and stores, as reinforcements for their North 
 American colonies. The Admiralty had early in- 
 timation of this, and of its assembling in Basque 
 Roads, near the Isle d'Aix. Anson was fully alive 
 to the importance of preventing the sailing of this 
 armament, and a})pointed Sir Edward Hawke, who
 
 1758.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 307 
 
 was always ready for any service, to command a 
 squadron of seven sail-of-the-line and three frigates, 
 for the purpose of watching the motions of the enemy. 
 With these ships he left Spithead on the 11th 
 March, and early in the morning of the 4th April was 
 opposite the entrance of Basque Roads. On proceed- 
 ing towards the anchorage, he observed five sail-of- 
 the-line lying off the isle of Aix, besides six or seven 
 frigates and forty merchant-ships, having on board, 
 as he afterwards learnt, three thousand troops. The 
 enemy, on perceiving Hawke's squadron, began to cut 
 and slip their cables, and to run in the greatest con- 
 fusion towards the bottom of the roads, with the view 
 of getting into the river Charente. Many of their 
 ships stuck in the mud ; but, night coming on, the 
 admiral, aware of the danger of our ships getting on 
 shore, from the shallowness of the water, made the 
 signal to anchor off the Isle d'Aix. 
 
 In the morning the enemy's ships-of-war were 
 seen four or five miles off, all aground and almost 
 dry, some of them and the transports laying on their 
 broadsides ; but there was no possibility of getting 
 within gun-shot of them. Launches were sent down 
 from Rochfort to carry out warps, and drag the ships 
 through the mud ; guns, great quantities of stores, and 
 ballast, were thrown overboard ; and, in the course 
 of the day, they gained the mouth of the Charente, 
 leaving about eighty buoys over their anchors, guns, 
 and other articles which hud been thrown overboard, 
 
 x2
 
 308 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VII 
 
 and which our frigates and boats cut away. Sir 
 Edward sent a large party of marines ashore on the 
 Isle d'Aix, who completely destroyed the new works 
 which the French had there erected ; and thus was 
 this powerful armament in effect totally destroyed for 
 the present year, while the unexpected visit fully 
 answered the purpose which Mr. Pitt had in view, — 
 that of harassing the enemy along his coasts, of em- 
 ploying the French troops in the protection of their 
 several ports, and thus preventing them sending 
 reinforcements to the armies on the Continent, which 
 they otherwise might be disposed to do. 
 
 Mr. Pitt was not a minister to be disheartened by 
 a first failure when he had in view the accomplish- 
 ment of a great object. He conceived that a measure 
 calculated to throw obstructions in the way of the 
 enemy, desirous of recruiting his forces on the Con- 
 tinent, was the best policy to be pursued by this 
 country. Conformably with this idea, and notwith- 
 standing the little success of the former expedition 
 against Rochfort, he resolved to follow up the plan of 
 creating alarm, by attacking and destroying his har- 
 bours, defences, magazines, and shipping, together 
 with all kind of buildings of a public nature. This 
 he considered the surest way of keeping their troops 
 employed at home, and perhaps of compelling them 
 to recall a part of those already with the continental 
 armies. In addition to these motives, there was an- 
 otlicr, though of minor importance, llie French,
 
 1758.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 309 
 
 elated at our former failure, announced, as they had 
 done before, that vast preparations were making ])y 
 them at St. Maloes and other parts of the coast for 
 the invasion of Jersey and Guernsey. 
 
 IMr. Pitt communicated verbally to Lord Anson his 
 view of the naval forces that would be required, 
 and when they ought to be in readiness to proceed, 
 giving him to understand, that he expected no delay 
 would take place, nor any avoidable obstruction to 
 their departure at the time specified. Every exertion 
 was made to comply with the ministers' wishes ; and 
 on the 27tli May the whole of the naval force was 
 assembled at Spitliead. It consisted of two separate 
 fleets, or squadrons, the one composed of twenty-two 
 sail-of-the-line and nine frigates, the command of 
 which, at the particular desire of IMr. Pitt, Avas 
 taken by Lord Anson himself, who hoisted his flag 
 in the Royal George, of one hundred guns. Of 
 this fleet he appointed Sir Edward Hawke second in 
 command. The other squadron consisted of one 
 ship-of-the-line, four of fifty guns, ten frigates, five 
 sloops, two fire-ships, and two bomb-ketches, the 
 command of which was conferred on the Hon. Cap- 
 tain Howe, the only man, according to \^^olfe, who 
 distinguished himself on the former occasion, and 
 "was an example to all." Such a man was not likely 
 to be passed over either by Pitt or Lord Anson. 
 The latter, indeed, might consider him as one of his 
 own, though the storm ofl" Cape Horn prevented him 
 from sharing in his fortunes.
 
 310 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VII. 
 
 The intention of the grand fleet was to cruise off 
 Brest, and to cover the squadron under Commodore 
 Howe, so that the enemy might not he able to 
 interrupt or disturb his operations, on whom, in fact, 
 depended the accomplishment of the main object of 
 the expedition. To Howe was intrusted the charge 
 of embarkation and management of the wliole mili- 
 tary preparations. The army consisted of fourteen 
 thousand men, divided into five brigades, each under 
 the orders of a major-general. The command of this 
 sreat force Avas conferred on Lieutenant-General the 
 Duke of Marlborouo-h, under whom were Lieutenant- 
 Generals Lord George Sackville and the Earl of 
 Ancram, Major-Generals Waldegrave, Mostyn, 
 Drury, Boscawen, and Granville Elliot (afterwards 
 Lord Heathfield). 
 
 On the 1st June Lord Anson made the signal 
 to weigh, and steered down Channel ; shortly after 
 Commodore Howe's squadron also weighed, and 
 stood directly across the Channel. On the morning 
 of the 2nd, Howe's squadron was off Cape la Hogue, 
 but the weather being stormy, and the tides rapid in 
 this part of the coast, it was the 5th before he reached 
 Concale Bay, Avhere it was intended to land tJie 
 troops. Howe had his broad pendant in the Essex, 
 as being more adapted for the kind of navigation he 
 had to encounter ; but, finding she drew too much 
 Avater, he shifted it into the Success, and Avitli three 
 sloops stood in close to the shore, to cover the troops 
 on their disenibarldng, to scour the beach, and silence
 
 1758.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 311 
 
 a battery that was meant to defend it. The enemy 
 immediately fled, and the inhabitants deserted their 
 houses. Hence the Duke ordered his forces to march 
 to St. Maloes, in the neighbourhood of wliich they 
 encamped ; but, having reconnoitred the works of 
 the town, it was stated that they were capable of 
 standing a siege for a month ; and, as intelligence was 
 received of a vast number of troops pouring down to 
 the coast, the Duke of Marlborough contented him- 
 self with destroying the ships, the public buildings, 
 and magazines filled with naval stores of all descrip- 
 tions, at the two suburbs of St. Servaud and Solidore, 
 by setting fire to them, which caused a tremendous 
 conflagration, that lasted the whole night. 
 
 The property destroyed consisted of thirteen or 
 fourteen ships-of-war, about seventy merchant-vessels, 
 a large number of small craft, an inmiense quantity 
 of pitch, oil, hemp, cordage, plank, and every species 
 of naval stores ; the value of the whole consumed 
 being estimated at something not far short of a million 
 sterling. From the strength of St. Maloes, and the 
 assemblage of the enemy's forces, it was deemed 
 expedient to return to Concale Bay, where the troops 
 were reimbarked ; and hence, after several unsuccess- 
 ful attempts to get out to sea, on account of the 
 wind and bad weather, they at length, on the 21st 
 June, were able to proceed off Havre ; but here they 
 found the enemy so well prepared, that they bore 
 away for Cherburg. Arrangements were speedily
 
 312 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VII. 
 
 made for landing ; but, when everything was ready 
 for a descent, a gale of wind sprung up, blowing 
 directly upon the shore, and making so great a surf, 
 that it was deemed impracticable, and the transports, 
 with the utmost difficulty, were got safe out of the 
 roadstead. 
 
 On the return of the expedition, the forces were 
 landed on the Isle of Wight. ]\Ir. Pitt, so far from 
 expressing any disappointment, was quite satisfied 
 at the alarm which it had occasioned, and the di- 
 version which had been made of the French land- 
 forces. Howe was sent for to town, and the result 
 was, to prepare, without loss of time, as the summer 
 was but just set in, for another descent on the coast 
 of France, that the enemy might have no respite from 
 that state of alarm, which these hostile visits had 
 spread over the country, and which were not a little in- 
 creased by the fleet of Anson hovering along the coast 
 from Brest to Rochfort. The Duke of JMarlborough, 
 Lord George Sackville, and the other general officers, 
 had no great taste for this species of maritime war- 
 fare, and volunteered to take reinforcements for the 
 allied army in Germany, Lieutenant- General Bligh 
 was recalled from Ireland, and appointed to the 
 command of the land-forces to be emj)loyed on the 
 new expedition. He was a man advanced in life, 
 had seen good service, but was considered too old 
 for the severe duties that were now likely to be re- 
 quired of him. The troops were speedily endjarked :
 
 1758.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 313 
 
 on the 1st August the expedition sailed from St. 
 Helen's ; and on the 6th came to anchor in Cher- 
 burg Road. The Commodore, with General Bligh, 
 and the other general officers, having reconnoitred the 
 shore, found the place much strengthened since 
 the last visit, and a large body of the enemy assem- 
 bled. Howe therefore moved the fleet to Marais 
 Bay, drove them out of their entrenchments, landed 
 the troops, who, after having scoured the country 
 before them, marched in two columns direct for 
 Cherburg, which the General entered without oppo- 
 sition, the enemy retiring from the town, and aban- 
 doning the villages and works along the coast as he 
 advanced. 
 
 The fort and the several works being secured, the 
 General gave orders to the engineers to demolish the 
 piers, which formed the entrance into the harbour, 
 the walls of the basin, the slips and docks, magazines 
 and storehouses. Upwards of one hundred and sixty 
 iron guns and some mortars were rendered useless, 
 or thrown over the batteries into the basin, and the 
 batteries destroyed. Twenty-two brass cannon and 
 two mortars were embarked in one of the enemy's 
 ships taken in the harbour, and sent to England. 
 From twenty to thirty vessels of different kinds were 
 carried off, or sunk in the entrance of the harbour ; 
 and, after the undisturbed process of demolition was 
 completed, conformably with the instructions of the 
 Secretary of State, on the 17th the fleet crossed over 
 to Portland Roads to refit and refresh.
 
 314 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VII. 
 
 The brass cannon, after being exhibited to the public 
 some time in Hyde Park, were drawn through the city 
 in pompous procession, amidst the joyful acclamations 
 of the people, and lodged in the Tower. The success 
 of this expedition was favourably considered by Mr. 
 Pitt, and generally by the public, after the failure 
 before Rochfort. Lady Anson, however, appears to 
 be rather jocose on the subject, "To be sure," she 
 says, "war has its advantages, particularly in the 
 fine sights its triumphs afford, of which to-day has 
 seen one, in the noble procession of nearly three hun- 
 dred dray-horses with the twenty Cherburg cannon, 
 which all the Johns and Joans in town, who have 
 kept Hyde Park like a fliir for some days, are con- 
 vinced must be the first brass ones that ever were seen 
 in England. I had a great mind to have them sent to 
 Woolwich, where there lies near two hundred, which 
 my Lord took and never showed to anybody." Li 
 another letter, written after the failure of the next 
 and last expedition, she says — " This unhappy news 
 arrived just in time to set off by reflection the pro- 
 cession of dray-horses on Saturday. I never under- 
 stood, till since, the reason of its Iraving been so long 
 delayed, nor why they were carried through the 
 Horse Guards and over Westminster J5ridge ; but it 
 seems Saturday was the day of the Southwark fair, 
 and, as the colours were sent to delight the city, 
 these were intended to charm the borough. 
 
 No time Avas lost in the prc})aration for completing 
 the minister's instructions, which Averc to consider
 
 1758.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 315 
 
 Granville as the next object of attack ; but, as Cher- 
 burg required no longer any of the enemy's forces, 
 and intelligence was received that 10,000 of their 
 troops were assembled in its neighbourhood, the 
 attack on Granville was given up, and also that on 
 Morlaix, advices having been sent to them from Eng- 
 land, that the French, in consequence of Anson's 
 appearance before Brest, had assembled a large army 
 in that neighbourhood. On consultation, therefore, 
 it Avas decided that the landing should be effected in 
 the bay of St. Lunaire, thence to march upon St. 
 JMaloes, being about two leagues to the eastward ; 
 but the fleet, experiencing stormy Aveather, was 
 obliged to take refuge in Weymouth Roads_, from 
 Avhence, on its moderating, they again proceeded, 
 on the 3rd September, and anchored in St. Lunaire 
 Bay, where, on the following day, the troops were 
 landed without opposition. The General, Commo- 
 dore Howe, and Prince Edward (Duke of York), 
 proceeded to a village about three miles from St. 
 JMaloes to reconnoitre the position intended to be 
 taken up. They were fired at from a neighbouring 
 fort, and a shot fell close to the Prince's feet. The 
 boisterous state of the weather made it dang-erous 
 for the fleet to remain in St. Lunaire, and the Com- 
 modore thought it right to inform the General that, if 
 the westerly gales continued, it would not be possible 
 to reimbark the troops at that place ; and that, for 
 this purpose, it would be expedient the ships and
 
 316 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIL 
 
 transports should move round to the hay of St. Cas, 
 where there was good shelter and a sandy heach. 
 
 The intended attack on St. Maloes was therefore 
 given up, and the troops began their march across the 
 country to St. Cas. In this march they were ha- 
 rassed by parties of men concealed in the woods and 
 villages. At Martignan the General received inform- 
 ation from some deserters, that the French were in 
 great force between that place and St. Cas. It after- 
 wards appeared that an army of 10,000 men had 
 been collected, under the command of the Due 
 d'Aiguillon. In the mean time Commodore Howe 
 anchored his squadron and transports in the bay of 
 St. Cas. The troops made their appearance, and 
 immediately afterwards the French were seen on the 
 heights, but refrained from molesting the embarka- 
 tion, until the rear-guard only were left on the beach. 
 They then brought their field-pieces to bear, and a 
 dreadful slaughter ensued, both on the beach and in 
 the boats, though they were covered by an incessant 
 fire from the frigates, sloops, and bombs. About 700 
 men were missing, of whom near 500 were prisoners, 
 and the rest killed. Among the latter were General 
 Drurv and several other officers, and of the former 
 Lord Frederick Cavendish of the Guards, and Cap- 
 tains Rowley, Mapleden, Paston, Elphinstone, and 
 Duff, of the navy. 
 
 Such Avas the unfortunate termination of these 
 shore expeditions, but which, hoAvever, had the effi^ct
 
 1758.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 317 
 
 that Mr. Pitt expected. Lord Anson, with the 
 squadron under his command, had continued to block 
 up the harl)our of Brest, during the first land ex- 
 pedition. Soon after his arrival on his station, Sir 
 Edward Hawke was seized with a fever and obliged 
 to return to England. The Admiral therefore 
 formed his fleet into three divisions, and appointed 
 Captains Cornish and Geary commodores. These 
 and his smaller cruisers cleared the sea of the enemy's 
 trading vessels, which amounted to few, but mostly 
 coasters. The Admiral returned to Plymouth Sound 
 on the 19tli July, where the third littoral expedi- 
 tion was fitting out ; and, having taken in water and 
 provisions, he sailed again on the 22nd, having been 
 joined by Rear-Admiral Holmes, who hoisted his 
 flag in the Ramillies, and, about the end of August, 
 by Rear-Admiral Saunders with his flag in the Nep- 
 tune. The three Admirals continued cruising till the 
 middle of September, Avhen Commodore Howe had 
 finished his campaigns on the coast of France. Lord 
 Anson and Rear-Admiral Holmes, with the greater 
 part of the squadron, then returned to England, 
 leaving the rest, under Admiral Saunders, to block 
 up Brest, and to endeavour to fall in with and inter- 
 cept the French squadron expected to be on its re- 
 turn from Quebec. Having continued on this ser- 
 vice till the middle of December, he returned with 
 his squadron to Portsmouth. 
 
 The cruising ships in the Channel and to the west-
 
 318 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VII. 
 
 ward made great havoc among the privateers of the 
 enemy, two or three of which were such fine and 
 powerful ships, that they were purchased into the 
 navy ; several large and valuable merchantmen from 
 the West Indies and America also fell into the hands 
 of our cruisers. Captain Denis of the Dorsetshire, 
 one of Anson's former lieutenants, had the good for- 
 tune, after a close engagement of nearly two hours, 
 to capture the Raisonable, a French ship-of-war of 
 64 guns and 630 men, commanded by the Prince de 
 Mombazon, Chevalier de Rohan, who had 61 men 
 killed and 100 wounded in the action ; the Dorset- 
 shire 15 killed and 20 wounded. She was a fine 
 new ship, was purchased by the government, and 
 added to the list of the navy under her own name. 
 She struck to the Achilles, Captain Barrington, on 
 his coming up and firing a few shot. 
 
 A brilliant action was fought in the Mediterranean 
 between the Monmouth of 64 guns, Captain Arthur 
 Gardiner, and the Foudroyant of 84 guns and 800 
 men, commanded by M. du Quesne, chef d'escadre. 
 Captain Gardiner was wounded in the arm by the 
 first broadside, and soon after, when encouracinir his 
 men to exert themselves in the unequal contest, was 
 shot dead by a ball striking his forehead. Lieutenant 
 Casket maintained the contest most gallantly, when, 
 at the end of about four hours, the enemy being a 
 complete wreck, her decks a scene of dreadful car- 
 nage, and her fire nearly silenced, on the Swiftsiire
 
 1758.] EXPEDITIONS TO FRENCH COAST. 319 
 
 and Hampton Court coming up, she struck her 
 colours, having 100 men killed and 90 wounded. 
 The IMonmouth had 28 killed and 79 wounded. The 
 Foudroyant was the favourite ship so long com- 
 manded by Sir John Jervis, and in which he captured 
 Le Pegase.
 
 320 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIII. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 
 
 Preparations for the campaign of 1759 — Threats of the invasion of 
 England, Scotland, and Ireland— Measures taken to meet it — 
 Thurot escapes from Dunkirk — takes Carrickfergus — is met by 
 Elliot, who captures his three frigates — Thurot killed in the ac- 
 tion — Rodney attacks Havre — Anecdote of Rodney— Boscaw6n's 
 action with the fleet under M. de la Clue— defeats it— De la Clue 
 wounded, and dies — The glorious defeat of Conttans' fleet by the 
 gallant Sir Edward Hawke— Extract of his letter to the Due d'Ai- 
 guillon — Joy of the nation — Hawke receives the thanks of the King, 
 and a pension of 2000/. a-year on the Irish Establishment — Re- 
 ceives also the thanks of Parliament— Hawke no friend to the line- 
 of-battle— Expedition against Quebec— Sir Charles Saunders ap- 
 pointed to command the tleet, and General Wolfe the army — 
 Jealousy of the army on the appointment of the latter — Operations 
 on the St. Lawrence— Quebec taken — Wolfe killed— Noble con- 
 duct of Saunders on reaching England— Praise of Wolfe by Pitt 
 in proposing a public monument — also of Saunders by Pitt and 
 Walpole— Rewards to officers, by appointing generals and colonels 
 of marines— Capture of Martinique— Gallant conduct of Admiral 
 Pocock in the East Indies. 
 
 During the whole of this year, the war agamst 
 France was prosecuted with the greatest vigour hy 
 tlie navy hoth at home and ahroad ; Parhanient 
 having voted for the sea-service 60,000 men, includ- 
 ing 14,845 marines. Anson was indefatigable in 
 getting the fleet and squadrons well e(|uipj)ed, offi- 
 cered, and manned, and he selected the choicest 
 flag-ollicers to connnand them — Sir Edward Hawke,
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 3*21 
 
 the Hon. Edward Boscuwen, Sir Charles Saunders, 
 Sir Charles Hardy; tlie Vice-Admirals Brodrick, 
 Cotes, and Pocock ; and the Rear- Admirals Rodney, 
 Geary, Holmes, Durell, and Stevens, being all em- 
 ployed. To these may also be added, Commodore 
 Sir Piercy Brett, Captains Denis, Howe, Keppel, 
 and Byron, associates with Anson in the South Seas ; 
 and it must have been most gratifying to the noble 
 lord, as well as to themselves, that all of these 
 old companions were selected by the gallant Hawke 
 to serve under his immediate eye, in the centre divi- 
 sion of the Channel fleet, consisting of twenty-seven 
 sail-of-tlie-line and thirteen frigates. IMost of his 
 other captains were such as had opportunities of 
 distinpuishino- themselves in the course of the last 
 three years of the present, as they since did in future 
 wars. 
 
 The judicious choice of commanders, together with 
 the excellent condition of the fleet, which Hawke 
 was appointed to command, added to the high re- 
 putation Anson had acquired, as head of the naval 
 department, and, above all, the energetic and decisive 
 part which ^Mr. Pitt took, as Secretary of State, 
 had inspired confidence into the public mind, 
 raised the spirit of the nation, and enabled the 
 government, without nmch opposition in Parliament, 
 to send assistance to our continental allies ; at 
 the same time ample protection was afforded to our 
 colonies in every part of the world, and some of the 
 
 Y
 
 322 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [cH. VIII- 
 
 most important and valuable ones of the enemy fell 
 into our possession. On the other hand, the French, 
 having succeeded, in the year 1756, by their threats of 
 invasion, in intimidating the government of that day, 
 and induce it to keep a larger naval force at home than 
 was required, began, early in the present year, again 
 to put in practice the same kind of artifice, and to 
 promulgate their intention of invading England, 
 Scotland, and Ireland at the same time. To give 
 more effect to this oft repeated threat, active pre- 
 parations were carrying on in their several ports for 
 the execution of this avowed purpose : but Mr. Pitt 
 was not a man to be disheartened by threats or de- 
 monstrations, both of which were liberally resorted 
 to ; and to add strength to the sincerity of their in- 
 tentions, a large body of troops was assembled at 
 Vannes in Lower Brittany, under the command of 
 the Due d'Aiguillon, and a multitude of transports 
 assembled in the Morbihan to convey them to their 
 destination, A squadron of ships of war, under the 
 command of JVI. de la Clue, was likewise api)ointed to 
 join another assembled at Brest, and conunanded by 
 M. de Conflans. These cond)ined squadrons were 
 specially appointed to escort the fleet of trans])orts, 
 crowded with troops, to the shores of Ireland. 
 
 For the invasion of England, an army was assem- 
 bled on the coast of Normandy, and vast prepara- 
 tions made for its embarkation at Havre de Grace, 
 in vessels draAving little water, and capable each of
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 323 
 
 conveying across the Channel from three to four 
 hundred men — a sort of praams, not unlike those 
 prepared in after-times by Buonaparte at Boulogne ; 
 and they seem to have been looked upon, pretty nmch 
 as they were in our time, with considerable alarm by 
 some, but treated with ridicule by others, especially 
 by naval men. The projectors of this "mosquito 
 fleet " calculated on slipping them out, and crossing 
 the Channel in the absence of our ships of war ; and 
 the government of France expressed their sanguine 
 expectations that, by this project, they Avould succeed 
 in retaliating on our recent attacks on their shores, 
 and with far better success. 
 
 To create an alarm in Scotland, and with the view, 
 at the same time, of drawing off the attention of Eng- 
 land from the other more formidable preparations, a 
 small armament was fitted out in the port of Dun- 
 kirk, consisting of land-forces, from fifteen hundred 
 to tAVO thousand men, to be escorted by a small 
 squadron of five frigates, under the command of M. 
 Thurot, a man not regularly brought up to the naval 
 service, but one who had greatly distinguished him- 
 self as master of a privateer. He was of an active 
 and enterprising turn of mind, and well acquainted 
 with the ports of the North Sea and Ireland, on 
 which he had been successful in capturing the coast- 
 ing trade, and had rendered himself well known — 
 in short, a kind of prototype of Paul Jones. 
 
 To Lord Anson and his Board was of course in- 
 
 y2
 
 324 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [cH. VIIL 
 
 trusted the charge of preparing and makhig a proper 
 distribution of the naval force, so as to meet, and, if 
 possible, defeat, these several formidable projects, 
 which the enemy had planned for the invasion of 
 Eno-land, Scotland and Ireland at the same time ; 
 with the view, no doubt, of inflicting on each part of 
 the United Kinmlom as much distress and destruction 
 as their successful landing might enable them to do. 
 To Rear- Admiral Rodney was given the command 
 of a squadron consisting of one sixty-gun ship, four 
 of fifty guns, and six frigates, with five or six bondj- 
 ketches, to watch the motions of that portion of the 
 enemy's ships and transj)orts in Havre de Grace 
 destined for the invasion of England. Commodore 
 Boys was employed to block up the port of Dunkirk 
 with a squadron consisting of two fifty-gun ships, 
 two forty-six gun frigates, and two sloops ; but 
 the sagacious Thurot found means to slip out with five 
 frigates, on the 12tli October, when the Connnodore 
 was forced from his station. Finding he had proceeded 
 to the northward. Commodore Boys closely pursued 
 him ; but he had the good fortune to reach the port 
 of Gottenl)urg 1)efore he was overtaken. Here he re- 
 mained for the Avinter, and his absence put an end to 
 the projected expedition from Dunkirk. 
 
 Thurot, however, was of too bold and enterprising 
 a character to be thus defeated. He therefore, in 
 the early part of the following year, 1760, left Got- 
 tenburg, and proceeded for the coast of Ireland ; but
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 325 
 
 after encounterini:^ boisterous weather and severe 
 gales of wind, Avliicli reduced his five frigates to three, 
 he appeared before the town of Carrickfergus on the 
 20th February, which, after a resolute defence by a 
 few invalids, under Lieutenant-Colonel Jennings, 
 was obliged to surrender to this daring adventurer. 
 Having replenished his ships and refreshed their creAVS, 
 he levied contributions on the town, spiked the few 
 guns on the fort, and tlien took his departure. Cap- 
 tain Jolin Elliot of the ^olus, with two other frigates, 
 the Pallas and Brilliant, having received intelligence 
 at Kinsale of Thurot's visit to Carrickfergus, put to 
 sea in quest of him. He fortunately fell in with him 
 on the morning of the 28th oft' the Isle of IMan, 
 brought him to close action, which continued with 
 great bravery on both sides for an hour and a half, 
 when the three French frigates, the Marishal de 
 Belleisle of forty-four, Le Blonde of thirty-six, and 
 La Terpsichore of twenty-four, struck their colours. 
 The brave Thurot, for brave he unquestionably was, 
 fell in the action, with a great number of men. His 
 ownship was so much shattered that it was with diffi- 
 she could be kept afloat till Elliot with his prizes 
 readied Ramsay Bay in the Isle of IMan, when, having 
 refitted his now doubled squadron, he proceeded to 
 England, where shortly after he and his captains 
 received the thanks of Parliament for the important 
 service they had performed. 
 
 The following extract of Elliot's letter to his 
 brother, gives an account of the action briefly, in a
 
 326 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIIL 
 
 plain, seamanlike style : — " On the 28th he came 
 out Avith his three ships, and we were fortunate 
 enough to fall in with him at daylight in the morn- 
 ing coming towards us ; he afterwards ran for it, and 
 we followed. Ahout nine o'clock we got up with 
 the Marishal Belleisle, and ran him directly on 
 board, which carried his bowsprit away. The Bril- 
 liant and Pallas were just at hand; and I was no 
 sooner clear than they both gave him a broadside or 
 two a-piece, and went on to the two fresh sliips, 
 leaving the JMarishal to me. I ran him alongside 
 airain, and after that boarded him a second time, and 
 Forbes went on board, and struck her colours. The 
 Blonde fell on board me at the same time : however, 
 to make short, we took them all in an hour and a 
 half, with very little loss — six killed, and between 
 twenty and thirty Avounded. The enemy lost their 
 Commander Thurot, and between two and three 
 hundred wounded." 
 
 This action, and many others in the course of the 
 Avar, shoAv that bravery alone is not sufficient, but 
 rerpiires to be aided by skill, good seamanship, and 
 that undaunted and resolute courage, inherent iji Bri- 
 tish seamen, but Avhich, in French sailors, generally 
 gives Avay Avhen closely pressed — always Avhen 
 boarded. 
 
 When the fleet of praams in Havre de Grace had 
 assumed the appearance of readiness, the Admi- 
 ralty ordered Rear-Admiral Rodney (j)romoted to 
 that rank in th<i early part of this year) to proceed
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 327 
 
 with liis little squadron and bomb-ketches to bom- 
 bard that port, and use every means in his power to 
 destroy them, together with the magazines. On the 
 3rd July he anchored in the road, and, having ar- 
 ranged the bomb-ketches at the proper distance, 
 began the same evening to throw shells into the town 
 and among the flotilla in the basin. The result of 
 this service is best explained by the gallant Admiral's 
 othcial letter : — 
 
 "Achilles, off Havre de Grace, 
 "Sir, JulyQ,\15Q. 
 
 "His Majesty's ships and bombs under my command 
 sailed from St. Helen's on the morning of the 2nd instant, 
 and, with a favourable wind and moderate weather, anchored 
 the day following in the Great Road of Havre; when, 
 having made the dispositions to put their Lordships' orders 
 in execution, the bombs proceeded to place themselves in 
 the narrow channel of the river leading to Honfleur, it 
 being the most proper and only place to do execution from. 
 About seven in the evening two of the bombs were stationed, 
 as were all the rest early next morning, and continued to 
 bombard for fifty-two hours without intermission, with such 
 success, that the town was several times in flames, and their 
 magazines of stores for the flat-bottomed boats burnt with 
 great fury for upwards of six hours, notwithstanding the con- 
 tinual efforts of several hundred men to extinguish it. Many 
 of the boats were overturned and damaged by the explosion 
 of the shells. During the attack the enemy's troops ap- 
 peared very numerous, were continually erecting new bat- 
 teries, and throwing up intrenchments. Their consternation 
 was so great that all the inhabitants forsook the town.
 
 328 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIII. 
 
 " Notwithstanding this smart bombardment, I have the 
 pleasure to acquaint you that the damage done us by the 
 enemy has been ^ very inconsiderable, though numbers of 
 their shot and shells fell and burst among the bombs and 
 boats. I am, &c. 
 
 "S. Rodney." 
 
 After this the Admiral continued to blockade the 
 port of Havre for the remainder of the year, and made 
 numerous captures of neutral ships going to that 
 port with naval and military stores. Thus ended 
 the second part of the enemy's invading project. They 
 hauled their damaged praams up the river, far beyond 
 the reach of our attack, and gave up all further design 
 from this quarter. 
 
 A circumstance has been brought to light, by the 
 inquiries that took place on the late committee on the 
 Pension List, which deserves to be universally known, 
 as it laid the foundation of Rodney's future success 
 and reputation ; part of the story is mentioned in 
 General Mundy's Life of Rodney. On the list of 
 pensions were the nieces of the Mareschal Due de 
 Biron. The committee in their report say — "The 
 circumstances which led to this pension are peculiar 
 and most interesting. The ladies who are now en- 
 titled to receive this pension are the nieces of the 
 late Mareschal Due de Biron. At the beginning of 
 the American war, Lord Rodney, being at Paris, 
 was unable to quit that city in consequence of debts 
 Avliich he had contracted. Under these circumstances
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 329 
 
 the late IMaresclial Due de Biron voluntarily came 
 forward, and advanced a sufficient sum to dischari^e 
 those engagements, and set Lord Rodney free ; 
 feeling, as was stated, ' a loyal indignation that any 
 individuals of the French nation should seem to take 
 advantage of the absence of one of their adversary's 
 best and most valiant commanders, in consequence of 
 the circumstances in which he was unfortunately 
 placed.' Lord Rodney returned to London, and Avas 
 appointed conniiander-in-chief on the Leeward Island 
 station in 1779. It is stated in the Life of Lord 
 Rodney, that, after the victory of the 12th April 
 (1782), the population of Paris exhibited the utmost 
 resentment and indignation against the Mareschal 
 Due de Biron, vehemently reproaching him for 
 having brought the calamity upon his country, and 
 even proceeding to threats of personal violence; 
 to Avhicli the Mareschal replied, that he gloried in the 
 man whose liberty he had effected, and in the victory 
 which he had so nobly won. 
 
 *•' Many years afterwards, the nieces of the Due de 
 Biron being at Windsor, his late Majesty, King 
 George III., commanded that they should be intro- 
 duced to him, and personally conferred this pension 
 upon them ; wishing, as he stated, by such means, to 
 pay the debt of gratitude which England owed to the 
 family of the Mareschal Due de Biron." 
 
 If this pension had been taken aAvay, as one or two 
 members of the committee wished it to be, this coun-
 
 330 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [OH. VIH. 
 
 try would have stood disgraced in the eyes of all 
 Europe ; but, thanks to the honest and right-minded 
 feeling of a great majority of the committee, such 
 a disgrace has happily been avoided. 
 
 After the destruction of the preparations at Havre 
 by Rodney, the next step was, as a matter of the first 
 importance, to prevent the junction of the Toulon 
 fleet, under M. de la Clue, with that at Brest under 
 M. Conflans. For this purpose, Vice-Admiral 
 Brodrick was ordered with a squadron to proceed off 
 Toulon, where he was joined, on the 16th May, by 
 Admiral Boscawen, whose fleet then amounted to 
 thirteen sail-of-the-line, two fifties, and ten or twelve 
 frigates. Having kept this station till the beginning 
 of July, and seeing no prospect of the French fleet 
 coming out while he remained before Toulon, he pro- 
 ceeded to Salo bay to water and refresh the crews, 
 after which he retired to Gibraltar, placing a ship on 
 each side of the eastern entrance of the Strait, to give 
 notice of the approach of the enemy, should he venture 
 out. On the 17th August the Gibraltar discovered 
 the French fleet close to the Barbary coast, consisting 
 of eleven sail-of-the-line, two fifties, and two frigates. 
 At seven the next morning Boscawen got sight of 
 seven of the enemy's ships to the westward, and made 
 the signal for a general chase. Our ships came up 
 fast with the enemy, and at two in the afternoon the 
 headmost commenced a close action ; soon after the 
 ena-airement became ireneral. Admiral Boscawen in
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 331 
 
 the Namur attacked M. de la Clue in the Ocean ; but 
 the Namur, after about half an hour's engagement 
 had her mizenmast and both topsail-yards shot away, 
 and thus disal)led, was thrown out of the action. 
 When De La Chie perceived this, he made an 
 attempt to get away, with liis squadron, setting 
 all the sail they couhl carry ; the Centaur, however, 
 having lost her fore and main-topmasts, was obliged 
 to strike, after standing the brunt of the battle. 
 The moment that the Namur fell astern, Boscawen 
 got into his barge and rowed with all possible haste 
 on board the Newark, hoisted his flag in her, and 
 pursued the enemy, till he lost sight of them in 
 the night. In the morning four sail only were 
 visible. On coming up with them, the Ocean ran 
 amono; the breakers; and the Admiral sent the 
 American and Intrepid to destroy her. M. de la 
 Clue, Avith one leo- broken and the other wounded, 
 had been carried on shore, and soon after died of his 
 wounds : the Ocean was set on fire. The Warspite 
 was ordered to proceed against the Temeraire, at 
 anchor, and brought her off. Vice- Admiral Brodrick 
 and his division engaged two other ships, and captured 
 the IModeste of sixty-four guns. The Redoubtable 
 of seventy-four guns, being bilged, was set on fire. 
 Our loss amounted to fifty-six men killed and one hun- 
 dred and ninety-six wounded. 
 
 The result then of this running fight was, three 
 line-of-battle ships captured, the Centaur, Temeraire,
 
 332 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIII. 
 
 and Modeste, and two destroyed, the Ocean and Re- 
 doubtable. Boscawen used every possible exertion 
 to bring the whole of De la Clue's fleet to action, and 
 Avas not well pleased that the conduct of some of the 
 captains did not correspond with his own. He was 
 heard to say, the day after the battle, " It is well, 
 but it might have been a great deal better." He 
 sent his captain, Buckle, home with an account of 
 his success. He was most graciously received by 
 the King, who ordered him a present of 500/. to buy 
 a sword. The Admiral soon followed, leaving a 
 great part of the squadron under Vice-Admiral 
 Brodrick, who, conformably with his orders, repaired 
 oft the port of Cadiz to block up that portion of De 
 la Clue's squadron that had taken shelter there. The 
 King Avas highly pleased with the conduct of Bos- , 
 cawen, and showed him many tokens of his regard. 
 He was sworn in of the most honourable Privy 
 Council, and the three prizes were added to the 
 royal navy by their proper names. 
 
 But the greatest blow of all, and that which anni- 
 liiL'ited the grand project, and extinguished the 
 hopes of the enemy, in their view of retaliation, was 
 struck by the gallant Sir Edward HaAvke. This 
 excellent officer, while he blockaded ]3rest, detached 
 Kmall s(|uadrons from his fleet to ^^•atcll the })roceed- 
 ings of the French in the several ports along the 
 western coast, and prevent their ships-of-war from ven- 
 turing out*; the trading ships that did so, and many of
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 333 
 
 those returning from abroad, were sure to be captured. 
 A squadron under Commodore DufF closely blocked 
 up the ships and transports in the Morbihan ; a 
 powerful detachment under Commodore Keppel was 
 sent to Basque Roads; and another, under Com- 
 modore Sir Piercy Brett, was stationed in the Downs 
 to watch the movements of the enemy, which, how- 
 ever, by the able disposition of Sir Edward Hawke's 
 fleet, and the vigilance of his officers, they never once 
 attempted to make. 
 
 On the 9th November a violent gale of wind from 
 the westAvard compelled Sir Edward Hawke to quit 
 his station, and take refuge in Torbay. During his 
 absence M. de Bompart, with his returning squadron 
 and convoy, got safe into Brest, instead of falling into 
 our hands, as lie certainly would have done, had the 
 British fleet been able to keep its station a few days 
 longer. The blockade of Brest has always been at- 
 tended with this advantage in fiivour of the French : — 
 the same wind that forces the blockading squadron 
 to retire from the coast, is a fair Avind for carrying 
 the enemy's fleets in ; and, on the contrary, when the 
 blockading squadron is driven from the coast, or 
 obliged to seek shelter in Torbay, the blockaded fleet 
 can slip out the moment the weather moderates, and 
 before ours can resume their station. As usual, it so 
 happened on the present occasion. M. de Conflans, 
 judging, from the violence of the gale, that the Bri- 
 tish fleet had been forced to seek shelter, ventured out
 
 334 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIII. 
 
 from his long confinenient, on the 14th November ; 
 and on the same clay Sir Edward Hawke put to sea 
 from Torbay. 
 
 On the following morning, having fallen in with the 
 Gibraltar, Sir Edward was informed that the French 
 fleet had sailed, and were seen steering S. E., in the 
 direction of the island of Belleisle : he immediately 
 crowded all sail, and stood in the same direction, not 
 doubting that the object of Conflans was to release 
 the ships in the Morbihan, blockaded by Commodore 
 Duff. Contrary winds retarded his progress till the 
 19th, when, on becoming fair, he ordered two frigates 
 to go a-head of the fleet, and to keep a good look-out, 
 one on the starboard, the other on the larboard 
 quarter. On the morning of the 20th he sent the 
 Mao-nanime, Captain Lord Howe, a-head to make the 
 land. A little after eight, the IMaidstone made the 
 sio-nal for a fleet in sii>;ht, and soon after the Mao-- 
 nanime signalled that they Avere enemies. Of the 
 conflict that followed, many and various details have 
 been pubhshed, but Sir Edward Hawke's official 
 despatch is so clear, that the whole transaction is 
 brouo-ht under the eye of the reader. An abstract 
 will here suffice. 
 
 Conflans, on discovering the English fleet, after 
 some confusion endeavoured to form a line, but, 
 finding seven of the British ships advancing, he 
 made off"; these were the IMagnanime, Revenge, 
 Torbay, Montague, Resolution, Swiftsure, and De-
 
 .1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 335 
 
 fiance. At half past two these seven ships engaged 
 the rear of Conflans' fleet. About four the For- 
 midable, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral M. de 
 Verger, struck to the Resolution ; soon after the 
 Thesee, engaged with the Magnanime, and after- 
 wards by the Torbay, sunk ; the Superlje also went 
 to the bottom, both it was supposed by persevering 
 to keep open their lower-deck ports. The crews of 
 both perished, with the exception of some twenty or 
 thirty men, picked up the next morning on the spars 
 of the wreck. The Heros struck to the IMagnanime, 
 but the weather was so bad she could not be taken 
 possession of, and both she and the Soleil Royal, 
 Conflans' flag-ship, ran on shore in the night ; the 
 Essex and Resolution, in following them, also got on 
 shore, and, being irrecoverably lost, were set fire to 
 by the Admiral's order. The Soleil Royal was also 
 set on fire by the French, and the Heros shared the 
 same fate by our own people. In the night the 
 enemy's fleet dispersed, some standing away to the 
 southward, and seven of their ships, after lightening 
 themselves by throwing guns and heavy articles over- 
 board, got into the river Villaine, over the bar, and too 
 high up to be reached either by shot from bombs, or 
 by fire-ships ; but three of them only ever got out, the 
 rest, being much damaged and lying on shore, were 
 broken up. Sir Edward observes that the loss of the 
 two ships (Essex and Resolution) has been owing to the 
 weather, not the enemy. " Our loss," he says, " by the
 
 336 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIII. 
 
 enemy, is not considerable, for in the ships that are 
 now with me, I find only one lieutenant and thirty-nine 
 seamen and marines killed, and about two hundred and 
 two wounded. When I consider the season of the year, 
 the hard gales of wind on the day of action, a flying 
 enemy, the shortness of the day, and the coast we 
 were on, I can boldly affirm that all, that could possibly 
 be done, has been done. As to the loss we have sus- 
 tained, let it be placed to the account of the necessity 
 I was under of running all risks to break this strong 
 force of the enemy. Had we had two hours more 
 daylight, the whole had been totally destroyed or 
 taken, for we were almost up with their van when 
 night overtook us." 
 
 The enemy's ship Le Heros having struck to Lord 
 Howe, Sir Edward sent his lordship with a letter to 
 the Due d'Aiguillon, in which he says, " I there- 
 fore claim the officers and men as prisoners, and 
 expect, from your Grace's known honour, that they 
 will be immediately delivered up to me." They had 
 all got on shore, and the duke seemed not disposed 
 to give them up. Sir Edward in his second letter 
 therefore says, " I can only assure your Grace that, 
 had a captain of a British man-of-war under my 
 command begged quarter, and surrendered to the 
 French, and afterwards run away with his ship, in 
 open l)reach of the rules of war, I would immediately 
 have delivered up the connnander to have been 
 treated as the forfeiture of his honour deserved. The
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 337 
 
 same I should have expected from the Due d'Ai- 
 guilloii, if I did not consider him as the suhject of a 
 state in which the will of the monarch constitutes 
 right and wrong." 
 
 Sir Edward Hawke sent his captain, Campbell, 
 with tlie news of this discomfiture of Conflans' fleet. 
 The joy of the nation on the receipt of it was at its 
 height. The idea of invasion, if any still remained in 
 the public mind, now entirely vanished, and nothing 
 but bonfires, illuminations, and general rejoicings, 
 were exhibited in every part of the kingdom. The 
 King received Captain Campbell most graciously, 
 and ordered 500/. for a sword to be given to him for 
 bringing the joyful intelligence.* On Sir EdAvard 
 Hawke's return to England, the first day he at- 
 tended in his place in the House of Commons, the 
 
 * The following anecdote is related of this honest Scotchman : — 
 Lord Anson, when taking him in his carriage to the King, said. 
 " Campbell, the King will certainly knight you, if you think proper.'' 
 " Ti'oth, my Lord," said the ciptain, who retained his Scotch dialect 
 as long as he lived, " I ken nae use that will be to me." " But your 
 lady may like it," replied his lordship. " Weel, then," rejoined Camp- 
 bell, " his Majesty may knight her, if she pleases." He afterwards 
 acted as first captain to Keppel, who was much attached to him, in 
 the action of 1770"; attained the rank of Vice-Admiral of the Ked in 
 1787; and died in December, 1 790. " He preserved," says Charnock, 
 " his original simplicity of manners till his death, notwithstanding he 
 lived among, and mixed with, the first people in the kingdom; but 
 he had, withal, a dry, sarcastic mode of expression, as well as manner, 
 which approached so near to that in which Mr. Macklin played the 
 character of Sir Archy M'Sarcasm, that I have often thought that 
 excellent actor must have seen and copied him." 
 
 This Campbell has frequently been mistaken for the midshipman 
 Alexander Campbell, of the Wager, wrecked in the Pacific. 
 
 Z
 
 338 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIII. 
 
 Speaker thus addressed liim in the following neat 
 and most appropriate speech : — 
 
 " Sir Edward Hawke, The House has unanimously 
 resolved that their thanks be given to you for the late signal 
 victory obtained by you over the French fleet. 
 
 " You are now. Sir, happily returned to your country, 
 after a long, but most important service, and returned vic- 
 torious and triumphant, and full of honour. You meet the 
 applause of your countrymen in their minds and hearts, and 
 which they had manifested before, in all outward demonstra- 
 tions of public joy and congratulation. 
 
 " Your expedition was for the nearest and most affecting 
 concern to us — the immediate defence of his Majesty's 
 kingdoms against an enraged and disappointed enemy, me- 
 ditating, in their revenge our destruction at once. Your 
 trust, therefore. Sir, was of the highest nature ; but to which 
 your characters of courage, fidelity, vigilance, and abilities 
 were known to be equal. You soon freed us from our fears ; 
 and having answered all our hopes, that bravery and conduct 
 could give, or turbulent seas and seasons admit of — even the 
 last did not disturb or diminish your spirit and vigour. You 
 have overawed the enemy in their ports, in their chief naval 
 force; till shame, perhaps, or desperation brought them 
 forth, at last you fought them, subdued them, and in their 
 confusion and dismay, made those, who would escape, to 
 seek their security in flight and disgrace. 
 
 " Thus their long preparing invasion was then broken 
 and dispelled ; and which cannot but bring to our remem- 
 brance the design and the fate of another armada, in a for- 
 mer age of glory, whose defeat was at that time the safety of 
 England, and the lasting renown of the English navy. 
 
 " These, Sir, are your late eminent services to your
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 339 
 
 king and country, and have been now enumerated, not 
 from any imagination that they are unknown anywhere, or 
 can ever be forgotten, but that your presence with us makes 
 them to rise, with their first strength, in our thoughts, as the 
 recounting of them must give us a fresh spirit of joy in our 
 acknowledgements of them. Our acknowledgements, then. 
 Sir, you have for these past services : permit us to add to our 
 expectations, too, of what may be your future merit, in 
 defence of the rights and honour of your country, wherever 
 you shall again command. 
 
 " It is a very pleasing office to rne to convey these thanks 
 of the House to you ; and I do give you, in the name of 
 the Commons of Great Britain, their thanks for the late 
 signal victory obtained by you over the French fleet." 
 
 To this most gracious speech Sir Edward replied 
 briefly, and witli much modesty observed, " I own 
 myself greatly at a loss, as to the proper manner 
 of acknowledging the great honour conferred on me 
 by this august House, in their distinguished approba- 
 tion of my conduct on the 20th November last. In 
 doing my utmost, I only did the duty I owed to my 
 king and country, which ever has been, and shall be, 
 my greatest ambition to perform faithfully and ho- 
 nestly, to the best of my ability." 
 
 For this signal service the king bestowed on him 
 a pension of 2000/. on the Irish establishment, for his 
 own life, and that of his sons ; and when he waited 
 on his Majesty he was received with the most 
 distinguished marks of favour, and with thanks 
 for the great service he had done for his country. 
 
 z 2
 
 340 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIII. 
 
 During the long blockade of Brest and the ports 
 of the Channel, supplies of fresh provisions and 
 vegetables had been sent out to the fleet ; but the 
 bad weather, and gales of wind, which succeeded 
 the defeat of Conflans, made it impossible to con- 
 tinue them with the same regularity as before, and 
 the men were obliged to be put on short allowance. 
 All this was taken in good humour, as the occasion 
 of it was well understood by the seamen ; but it gave 
 rise to the following witty epigram : — 
 
 Ere Hawke did bang 
 Monsieur Conllans, 
 
 You sent us beef and beer : 
 Now Monsieur's beat, 
 We've nought to eat, 
 
 Since you have nought to fear. 
 
 Sir Edward Hawke had no p*reat affection for 
 fighting in line of battle, and he was probably right. 
 There never was, and, perhaps, never Avill be, a decisive 
 battle fought where the line on both sides is pre- 
 served, or attempted to be preserved. Such a 
 battle is little more than a sort of field-day : the 
 two lines proceed parallel to each other at a cer- 
 tain distance, within cannon-shot, fire at each otiier 
 in passing, tack or wear, or wheel round, going 
 through the same process, consuming daylight in 
 their several manoeuvres, and separating, each their 
 own way in the evening. It is absolutely necessary 
 that a large fleet should form the line, in order to 
 keep the ships together, and each in its own divi-
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 341 
 
 sioii, that tlie Commander-in-Chief may know where 
 to find them ; but Hawke, like Nelson, thought 
 only of attacking the first ship of his opponent 
 he might be able to come up with. The plan of 
 Rodney, Howe, St. Vincent, and Nelson, dashing 
 through the enemy's line, and throwing it into con- 
 fusion, and then attacking ship to ship, is the sure way 
 of arriving at a decisive result. IMr. Charles Dupin, 
 Avho knows more of naval matters than most of the 
 French officers, and is now' in the department of the 
 minister of marine, successfully ridicules what he 
 terms *^ the pious respect of his countrymen for the 
 sacred order of the line of battle," to which he'^says, 
 " the combined fleets were sacrificed at Trafalgar." 
 While Nelson advanced in two close columns, to over- 
 whelm the centre of this " sacred line," the two wings 
 remained immovable : they were " in line," (he says,) 
 " and that was enough ; and in this position they 
 looked on, ' avec une effrayante impassibilite,' until 
 the centre was destroyed — then, and not till then, 
 forgetting all respect for the sacred order of the line, 
 they thought, not of seeking to remedy any part of 
 the evil, but of making their escape." 
 
 Rear-Admiral Durell, who, after the reduction of 
 Louisburg, retired with his scpiadron to Halifax, put 
 to sea in the spring of the year, with the view of 
 intercepting any supplies which the French might 
 send out for the garrison of Quebec. Rear-Admiral 
 Holmes was sent from England, early in the spring, 
 with a reinforcement to join Rear-Admiral DiireJl ;
 
 342 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIII. 
 
 and as the enemy had been so completely subdued 
 at home, the government determined to strike a blow 
 at their foreign possessions ; and with this view 
 Admiral Sir Charles Saunders was despatched from 
 England in the Neptune, of ninety guns, to take 
 command of the fleet in North America ; and, in 
 conjunction with the land-forces under Major-Ge- 
 neral Wolfe, who embarked with him, to lay siege 
 to Quebec. Having touched at Louisburg, and the 
 General and troops having re -embarked, a junction 
 was formed ^vith the ships assembled, under the 
 command of Rear- Admiral Durell, ^^dien the com- 
 bined fleets amounted to twenty sail-of-the-line, two 
 fifties, and thirteen frigates, besides sloops, bombs, 
 and fire-ships. 
 
 The appointment by Air. Pitt of so young a 
 major-general as Wolfe, to command the land-forces, 
 caused much the same kind of jealousy and dis- 
 pleasure in the army, as was felt by the navy 
 when Anson first gave the command of a powerful 
 squadron to Hawke ; but the result proved how well 
 the two ministers knew the men they selected for 
 their respective commands. The same thing hap- 
 pened afterwards, when Lord St. Vincent gave to 
 Nelson the Mediterranean command. Sir John 
 Orde was indignant at being passed over, and wrote 
 a remonstrance to Lord Spencer, sending, very pro- 
 perly, a co})y of it to Lord St. Vincent. The Earl 
 told him in reply, " that those who are responsible 
 fur measures have an undoubted right to appoint
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 343 
 
 tlie men they prefer to carry them into execution." 
 It may here be noticed that, in February, 1755, 
 Mr. Jervis received his first commission as lieu- 
 tenant from Lord Anson, who also placed him on 
 the present occasion in the Neptune. 
 
 On the 1st June the expedition left Louisburg, 
 and on tlie 23rd the whole fleet got up to the Island 
 of Codre, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, where they 
 found Rear- Admiral Durell and his squadron. Sir 
 Charles hoisted his flag in the Stirling Castle, and, 
 with the fleet and troops, proceeded higher up the 
 Gulf, and on the 26th anchored off the Island of 
 Orleans. General Monckton took up a post at Point 
 Levi, to dislodge the enemy from thence, who, on the 
 1st July, sent down from Quebec three floating bat- 
 teries, with which they cannonaded this post, till 
 driven away by Captain Lindsay of the Trent. 
 General Wolfe visited Levi, and caused batteries to 
 be erected for cannonading Quebec across the river. 
 Returning to Orleans, he embarked the army on the 
 9th July, and early in the morning made a descent 
 on the north shore, below the falls of JMontmorenci, 
 under cover of the Porcupine sloop and Boscawen 
 armed ship. Sir Charles had appointed Lieut, Jervis 
 (afterwards Lord St. Vincent) to command the Por- 
 cupine, and here commenced a friendship between 
 Wolfe and him, two congenial spirits, which was, 
 alas ! too soon destined to cease. 
 
 The detail of the operations are clearly and dis-
 
 344 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIII. 
 
 tinctly stated by General Wolfe, in a letter to Mv, 
 Pitt, of the 3rd September ; and those of the navy 
 equally so by Sir Charles Saunders to the same 
 minister. A few extracts from the latter Avill suffice. 
 Having mentioned that, on the 2Sth June, at mid- 
 night, the enemy sent down from Quebec seven fire- 
 ships, he observes, that though our ships and trans- 
 ports were so numerous, and necessarily spread over 
 so great apart of the Channel, they were all towed 
 clear, and ran aground, without any part of the fleet re- 
 ceiving the least damage from them ; and on the 20th 
 July lie adds, — " At midnight the enemy sent down 
 a raft of fire-stages, of near a hundred radeaux, Avhich 
 succeeded no better than their fire-ships." 
 
 On the 5th August, in the night, the admiral des- 
 patched twenty flat-boats up the river, to embark 
 twelve hundred and sixty of the troops, with Brigadier- 
 General IMurray ; and also sent up Admiral Holmes 
 to act in concert with him, who was ordered to 
 use his best endeavours to get at and destroy the 
 enemy's ships above the town. " The enemy," Sir 
 Charles says, "appears to be numerous, and to be 
 strongly posted ; but let the event be what it will, 
 we shall remain here as long as the season of the 
 year will permit, in order to prevent their detaching 
 troops from hence against General Andierst. The 
 town of Quebec is not habitable, being almost en- 
 tirely burnt and destroyed. I sliould have written to 
 you sooner fr()in hence ; but A\hile my despatches
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 315 
 
 were preparing, General Wolfe Avas taken very ill : 
 he lias been better since, but is still greatly out of 
 order." 
 
 This sickness of Wolfe created, among the 
 troops, as great uneasiness as that which was occa- 
 sioned, in the public mind at home, by the receipt 
 of the despatches, in which the dijfficulties and 
 delay A^ere described as far beyond what had 
 been anticipated. On his return to the camp a 
 universal joy was felt in the whole army ; and the 
 General formed his plan, in concert with the Ad- 
 miral, for striking the decisive blow. On the 12th 
 September, all being ready, Wolfe issued a general 
 order to the troops, which thus concludes : — " The 
 officers and men will remember what their country 
 expects from them, and what a determined body of 
 soldiers, inured to war, is capable of doing against 
 five weak French battalions, mingled Avith disorderly 
 peasantry. The soldiers must be attentive and 
 obedient to their officers, and resolute in the execu- 
 tion of their duty." It AAould be out of place here to 
 enter upon a detail of the landing, and the disposition 
 of the troops, and of the several regiments that com- 
 posed tlie two lines and the reserve : it is sufficient to 
 state that, on the morning of the I3th, the tAvo 
 armies under Wolfe and Montcalm, respectively, 
 Avere in motion : the French having advanced briskly 
 Avithin musket-shot, began to fire, but the British 
 troops reserved theirs until the enemy had approached 
 Avithin thirty yards. They then kept up their fire
 
 346 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIII. 
 
 with such effect, that the enemy gave way, and our 
 men, under cover of the smoke, pursued and 
 charged them Avith fixed bayonets. At this time 
 General Wolfe, exerting himself at the head of the 
 Louisbure: Grenadiers, received his mortal wound ; 
 and M. de Montcalm was also mortally wounded, 
 and carried off the field. The command now devolved 
 on Briii-adier Townsend. Sir Charles Saunders had 
 already brought up his large ships with the intention 
 of attacking the town, which being perceived by the 
 governor of Quebec, he sent out, on the 17th, a fiag 
 of truce, with offers to surrender ; and terms of 
 capitulation were soon agreed upon. 
 
 General Townsend, in his letter to Mr. Secretary 
 Pitt, says — " I should not do justice to the admirals 
 and the naval service, if I neglected this occasion of 
 acknowledging how much we are indebted for our 
 success to the constant assistance and support re- 
 ceived from them, and the perfect harmony and cor- 
 respondence which have prevailed throughout all our 
 operations ; — in the uncommon difficulties which the 
 nature of this country, in particular, presents to mili- 
 tary operations of a great extent, and which no army 
 of itself can solely supply ; the immense labour in 
 artillery, stores, and provisions ; the long watchings 
 and attendance in boats ; the drawing up our artillery 
 by the seamen, even in the heat of action. It is my 
 duty, short as my command has been, to acknowledge, 
 for that time, how great a share the navy has had in 
 this successful campaign."
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 347 
 
 Vice- Admiral Saunders sent home Captain James 
 Douglas, accompanied by Brigadier- General Towns- 
 end and Lieutenant-Colonel Hale, with the news of 
 this important conquest. His Ivlajesty received them 
 most graciously, and, according to his custom, ordered 
 that each of them should be presented with 500/. to 
 purchase a sword. Captain Douglas was also knighted, 
 and Colonel Hale had a regiment of dragoons given 
 to him. His Majesty received addresses from the 
 city of London, and various other corporations, con- 
 gratulating him on this important victory. 
 
 The season drawing near to a close, Sir Charles 
 Saunders sent home the ships of the line under 
 Rear- Admirals Holmes and Durell ; and, on the 18th 
 October, followed them in the Somerset, taking with 
 him the Devonshire and Vanguard, leaving Lord 
 Colville in the command of his Majesty's naval forces 
 in America. The gallant admiral, on his arrival in 
 the chops of the Channel, hearing that the French 
 fleet, under M. de Conflans, had put to sea in great 
 force, and that Sir Edward Hawke was in pursuit of 
 it, instantly directed his course, with his three ships 
 of the line, to Quiberon Bay, as a reinforcement to 
 Sir Edward Hawke ; but soon after, hearing of the 
 defeat of the French, steered for Portsmouth. 
 
 When Parliament met, Mr. Secretary Pitt, in a 
 most eloquent speech, set forth in glowing terms 
 the various and brilliant successes of the late cam- 
 p:ugn, and the very great merit of the naval
 
 348 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIII, 
 
 and military officers by whom they were accom- 
 plished. The panegyric he passed on the immortal 
 Wolfe convinced his audience that what he said 
 came from the heart ; but when he attempted to snm 
 up his virtues, and the loss which the country had 
 sustained in the death of so brave and accomplished 
 an officer, a burst of sympathy was manifested such 
 as rarely occurs in that House. He concluded by 
 moving an address to his Majesty, praying that he 
 would be pleased to order a monument to be erected 
 in Westminster Abbey to the memory of Major- 
 General James Wolfe. After which, thanks were 
 returned to the surviving generals and admirals, who 
 had been employed in the glorious and successful 
 expedition against Quebec. 
 
 AValpole will not admit that Pitt made any im- 
 pression on the House. He says the parallels Avhich 
 he drew from Greek and Roman story did but flatten 
 the pathetic of the topic ; but that ]\Ir. Pitt himself 
 had done more for Britain than any orator for Rome. 
 '•'The horror of the night, the precipice scaled by 
 AVolfe, the emjure he, with a handful of men, added 
 to England, and the glorious catastrophe of con- 
 tentedly terminating life where his fame began — 
 ancient story may be ransacked and ostentatious 
 philosophy thrown into the account, before an episode 
 can be found to rank Avith AA^dfe's." — " Pitt then 
 moved," he continues, " in general Avords, for thanks 
 to the generals and admirals ; mentioned them all,
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 349 
 
 particularly Admiral Saunders, whose merits, he 
 said, had equalled those who have beaten armadas — 
 ' IMay I anticipate V cried he — ' those who will heat 
 armadas I'"* 
 
 Walpole, for once, has given a most faithful and 
 well-deserved panegyric of one of the best and 
 bravest men that ever adorned the annals of the 
 British navy. "Mr. Pitt's anticipation," he says, 
 " of Saunders' renown teas prophetic. That admiral 
 was a pattern of most steady bravery, united with the 
 most unaffected modesty. No man said less or de- 
 served more. Simplicity in his manners, generosity 
 and good-nature adorned his genuine love of his 
 country. His services at Quebec had been eminent. 
 ReturninsT thence he heard that M. Conflans had 
 taken the opportunity of Sir Edward Hawke's re- 
 tirinjj to Gibraltar to refit, and had sailed out of 
 Brest. Saunders, who heard the news at Plymouth, 
 far from thinking he had done enough, turned back 
 instantaneously, and sailed to assist Hawke. His 
 patriotism dictated that step, and would not wait for 
 other orders. He arrived too late ; but a moment so 
 embraced could not be accounted lost." t 
 
 Nothing can be more true or more just than 
 this panegyric. No two men were ever found in 
 manners, sentiments, and habits more congenial than 
 Anson and Saunders. But it is provoking enough 
 
 * Walpole's Memoirs of the last Ten Years of George II. t lb.
 
 350 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIII. 
 
 that, tlioiigli in constant correspondence Avitli each 
 other, there is scarcely a scrap of writing to be 
 found of either ; tliey exchanged portraits, and these 
 are the only memorials left in the two families to re- 
 mind them of their early and lasting friendship. To 
 Saunders' protection Anson committed the Earl of St. 
 Vincent, after giving him, as already stated, his first 
 commission ; he was with him at the siege of Quebec ; 
 was appointed by acting order to a sloop ; confirmed 
 by Anson, who shortly after gave him his captain's 
 commission ; and thus was the navy indebted to 
 Anson for one of its greatest and best officers. 
 
 Lord Anson, being most desirous that some dis- 
 tinguished mark of approbation should be conferred 
 on those brave officers, who had rendered to the state 
 such brilliant services ; and the Admiralty, having 
 no other means of rewarding such services but by the 
 ordinary routine of promotion, which was very much 
 circumscribed in those days, Anson, on consultation 
 witli the Duke of Newcastle and Blr. Pitt, obtained 
 their ready assent to a measure by which a mark of dis- 
 tinction, as well as an office of emolument, would be 
 bestowed on a very small number of officers, who 
 should be deemed worthy of it. The following ex- 
 tract from the Order in Council, authorising the 
 appointments in question will best explain their na- 
 ture. Tlie memorial states, that — 
 
 "^ Having taken into our consideration the present state of 
 the marine forces, which your Majesty has been pleased to
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 351 
 
 commit to our management, we beg leave humbly to observe, 
 that since the first establishment of fifty companies of one 
 hundred private men each, they are now augmented, by your 
 Majesty's several Orders in Council, to one hundred and 
 thirty companies of one hundred and twenty-three private 
 men in each, and at present amount in the whole to eighteen 
 thousand and ninety- two men, commission and non- commis- 
 sion officers included, of which there are only ten field- 
 officers — viz., one colonel, three lieutenant- colonels, and six 
 majors. This great increase of the number, we apprehend, 
 will make it necessary, in order to preserve discipline and 
 regularity amongst so great a body of men, that we should 
 have some officers of rank in the navy to assist us therein, 
 who may frequently review them both afloat and ashore, to 
 see they are kept in constant order for service, and regularly 
 provided with clothing, arms, and accoutrements ; likewise 
 to inquire into the conduct and behaviour of the officers, and 
 make their report to us, that we may be enabled to lay the 
 same before your Majesty whenever there may be occasion. 
 We do, therefore, most humbly propose, that your Ma- 
 jesty will be graciously pleased, for the aforesaid purposes, 
 to authorise and empower the Lord High Admiral of Great 
 Britain, or the Commissioners for executing the office of 
 Lord High Admiral, now, and for the time being, to appoint 
 two of the flag-officers of your Majesty's fleet to be general 
 officers of your marine-forces, in the following manner — 
 viz., one general of the marines, with the pay of 5l, a-day, 
 and one lieutenant-general at 4/." * 
 
 And, Oil the 1st February, 1760, a further memorial 
 was presented to the King in Council, stating — 
 
 * Older in Council of <Jth November, 1759.
 
 352 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIIL 
 
 " This great body of marine forces^ amounting to upwards 
 of eighteen thousand men, are directed to be quartered, when 
 on shore, at the established head-quarters at Portsmouth, 
 Plymouth, and Chatham, or in the neighbourhood of those 
 places ; and though we apprehend that the proper direction 
 and superintendence of those head-quarters are of the greatest 
 importance to the discipline and good government of those 
 forces, yet, from the present low establishment of field- 
 officers, each of those stations can only be put under the 
 immediate care of an officer of no higher rank than a lieu- 
 tenant-colonel ; we therefore humbly submit to your Ma- 
 jesty, whether, instead of having one colonel of marines re- 
 sident in London, as at present, it will not be for the advan- 
 tage of the service to have three colonels of marines with the 
 pay of forty shillings a-day to each, in lieu of all other pro- 
 fits or allowances, and to allot to them severally the care, 
 inspection, and command of the three established head- 
 quarters. 
 
 " And if your Majesty should be pleased to appoint 
 officers of the rank and authority of colonels, we also beg 
 leave to suggest, that it appears from the ancient establish- 
 ment of marine forces, and particularly from certain regu- 
 lations made in Council soon after the Revolution, that the 
 colonels, but none other of the officers, might be sea-com- 
 manders : we therefore humbly submit to your Majesty, 
 whether it may not be for the advantage of your maritime 
 service, and likewise a just and well-timed encouragement 
 to your sea-officers, so far to revive the ancient establishment 
 as to appoint three captains in your ]\Iajesty navy to be colo- 
 nels of marines, at the before-mentioned established head- 
 quarters ; and that, whenever the said three captains, or 
 either of them, may be promoted to the rank of flag-officers.
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 353 
 
 other captains in your navy be appointed colonels of marines 
 in their room ; and the said flag-officers not to be permitted 
 to continue in this station after such their promotion, but to 
 act in their superior rank of admirals." 
 
 The additional division of marines at Woolwich 
 was established by his IMajesty's Order in Conncil 
 of 15th August, 1805, upon an augmentation often 
 men to each company of tlie marine corps ; upon 
 which occasion an additional naval Colonel of marines 
 Avas appointed. 
 
 In consequence of the order in council first men- 
 tioned, the Board of Admiralty, to mark and reward 
 the services of certain meritorious officers, appointed 
 Admiral Boscawen, General of Marines ; Vice-Ad- 
 miral Sir C. Saunders, Lieutenant- General ; and Sir 
 Piercy Brett, the Hon, Augustus Keppel, and Lord 
 Viscount Howe, Colonels of Marines. 
 
 It was not untilJuly, 1794, that a Major-General 
 was added to the marines, and Vice-Admiral Sir 
 Alan Gardner was the flag-ofl&cer appointed. 
 
 As these appointments were, in their origin, realhj, 
 and clearly understood to be, though not ostenaiblj/, 
 the rewards of great public service, in a profes- 
 sion where, generally speaking, pecuniary emolu- 
 ments are small and their augmentation purely inci- 
 dental, and that there are no regiments nor go- 
 vernments, nor any other little sinecures to give 
 auay, as in the army, the wisdom, or the policy, 
 of abolishing these seven marine appointments seems 
 
 2 a
 
 354 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIII. 
 
 very questionable, wlien it is considered that the 
 very salvation of Great Britain and her dominions 
 depends on the navy. There was no pretence what- 
 ever of any abuse or favouritism in the distribu- 
 tion of those rewards ; not a single undeserving or 
 objectionable officer had been selected for the seventy 
 years and upwards that the boon had been in exist- 
 ence ; but they were smemires, and the sacrifice was 
 made to the name, but fell on the navy, to stifle a 
 clamour for economy/ — a word much abused, and 
 sometimes very ill applied. It is true the emolu- 
 ments of these marine appointments have been re- 
 served to the navy, and spread over a larger surface, 
 under the name of " Good Service Pensions." The 
 number of course is increased, and if confined within 
 a certain seniority, so will be the difficulty of select- 
 ing the most proper objects. 
 
 The selection made by Lord Anson merited and 
 received high approbation, and served as an example 
 for future Boards of Admiralty to follow, and it is but 
 justice to say, they did follow it. 
 
 The brilliant successes of the campaign of 1759 
 were not confined to America, nor to the western 
 fleet. Commodore Moore, who commanded a squa- 
 dron of frigates on the Leeward Island station, 
 having received a reinforcement from England, with 
 a liody of troops under the conmiand of JMajor- 
 General Hopson, it was resolved to make a joint 
 expedition against the island of Martinique, which,
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 355 
 
 however, proved too strong for them. They therefore 
 proceeded against Guadaloupe, and this island, after a 
 brave and gallant resistance on the part of the enemy, 
 of more than three months' duration, capitulated ; and 
 the islands of Marigalante, the Saints, Descada, and 
 Petite-Terre, soon followed its example. In the 
 East Indies, Admiral Pocock, with nine ships of the 
 line, one of them, the Cumberland (a weak ship, 
 reduced from sixty-six to fifty-eight guns) attacked 
 JM. D'Ache, the best officer that had appeared in the 
 Indian seas, with eleven sail-of-the-line, all of them 
 superior, not only in guns and men, but also in size 
 of ships and weight of metal. The engagement was 
 long, and gallantly fouglit on both sides : the British 
 ships suffered much, chiefly in masts and yards, 
 against which the aim of the French is always di- 
 rected ; and the battle ended by M. D'Ache retreat- 
 ing, and leaving Pocock in possession of the field 
 only, no captures having been made. The severity 
 of the action may be judged of by the killed and 
 wounded, which, in the British fleet, amounted to 
 five hundred and sixty-nine, and in that of the enemy 
 to nearly fifteen hundred. Two of our captains were 
 killed, and two wounded, and in the list were se- 
 veral inferior officers. The Governor and council of 
 IMadras, in their letter to the Admiral, say, " The 
 warm fire you sustained for two hours Avith seven 
 ships against eleven, and obliging them, at last, to 
 make their retreat, will do immortal honour to you 
 
 •J A 2
 
 356 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIII. 
 
 and to Mr. (Rear-Admiral) Stevens and all the 
 brave officers who had the happiness to serve 
 under voii." It has been remarked as an extra- 
 ordinary circumstance, and one that shows the sin- 
 gular talents of each of these commanders-in-chief, 
 *' that they had fought three pitched battles in the 
 course of eighteen months, without the loss of a ship 
 on either side." On Pocock reachino; home the fol- 
 lowing year, he was honoured wdth the military 
 Order of the Bath, and promoted to the rank of Ad- 
 miral of the Blue. 
 
 In closing the brief narrative of the bustling- and 
 glorious events of this year, a letter from Lord 
 Hardwicke may here be introduced — the last in 
 date of the series in Anson's collection — it is curious, 
 as showing how well a shrew^d and clever man, like 
 the ex-chancellor, knows how to manage a tardy and 
 timid prime minister, and frighten him into a com- 
 pliance with his Avishes. The immediate agent to be 
 employed was Anson. 
 
 " Grosvenor Square, November 14M, 1759. 
 " My dear Lord — I have been reflectino; upon what 
 passed between your lordship and me last night, and I have 
 j udged it necessary to give you this trouble. I wish you 
 could make it convenient to you to see the Duke of New- 
 castle this forenoon, either at Newcastle House (which 
 would be best) or else at court, before the House of Lords 
 comes with their address. I lieg further that you would 
 tell him something of what passed between us two last
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 357 
 
 night, and tell him as many of the strong things, which I 
 said, as you can recollect ; the stronger you represent them 
 the better ; that, from what his grace said to your lordship, 
 I feared his various occupations had not allowed him time 
 to consider my letter from Wimpole of the first of this 
 month by Barnesley ; that, as to what is passed, I was only 
 confirmed in the same opinion, which is tliere expressed at 
 large. But my desire is to look foricards, which, in 
 general, must depend upon events ; that, for the present, 
 my resolution is — that, until this unhcqjj^i/ affair of Joe^ is 
 set right, I will not set my foot within the House of Lords. 
 I will not come near the court, nor hear one word upon any 
 public business; that, from this resolution, the King's 
 civil list shall not move me. 
 
 " I think this will alarm his grace ; and the first thing 
 he Avill think of will be to come to me, either as he comes 
 from St. James's to-day or at night. Both these I would 
 avoid. The first would hurt me in my present state, by 
 keeping me from my dinner ; the last, by keeping me up till 
 midnight. I therefore beg your lordship would, in a kind, 
 confidential way, say to his grace, "You had better let 
 Charlesy and me talk to him before you see him. I found 
 his mind was much agitated and heated ; and he owned it 
 was this hindered his sleeping. We will see him this 
 evening : you need not suspect our blowing him up, — we 
 will only calm and make him more easy. 
 
 * Sir Joseph Yorke, the Earl's thh-cl son. In 1749 he was secre- 
 tary to Lord Albemarle's embassy to Paris; in 17al minister to the 
 Hague, where he remained twenty-nine years without removal ; but 
 his rank was changed in 1761 for that of ambassador. 
 
 f Charles Yorke, the second son, who, in the year 1770, was ap- 
 pointed Lord Chancellor, and created Baron of Morden, but died sud- 
 denly, while the patent was making out.
 
 358 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. VIII. 
 
 " If I know his grace, he Avill he thankful for this^ and it 
 will brinjr it to what I have wanted ever since I came to 
 town, to have a full conversation with your lordship, Roys- 
 ton,* and Charles (whom I consider as part of myself, and 
 on whom I can rely), to settle what is fit to be done for my 
 honour and Joe's interest before I talk with anybody else on 
 the subject. I desire this for two reasons, 1st, the thing is 
 rightest in itself; 2nd, I own I dare not trust myself to an 
 impetuous conversation with the Duke of Newcastle in my 
 present state. I should be in danger of losing my temper, 
 and of hurting the cause, or myself, or both. 
 
 " If this scheme takes place, I wish your lordship could be 
 here between seven and eight this evening, or as much earlier 
 as you please. Let me know if you can, and I will appoint 
 Charles. He may got away early from the Serjeant's feast. 
 If this meeting cannot be to-night, I shall like it as well 
 to-morrow, provided the Duke of Newcastle can be decently 
 kept off in the mean time. Be so good as to let me hear a 
 word from you ; forgive this trouble, and, 
 
 " Believe me, &c. &c. 
 
 " Lord Anson." " Hardwicke.-j- 
 
 The history of this weighty affair seems to be this : 
 On the 30th October, 1759, Sir Joseph, then minister 
 at the Hague, writes to his father, to state that Lord 
 Holdernesse, the secretary of state, in Avliose depart- 
 ment he was, had taken umbrage at a kind of private 
 correspondence, Avhicli Sir Joseph kept up with 
 
 * Philip, the eldest son of Lord Hardwicke, and second earl, who 
 married the Marchioness Grey, grand-daughter and heiress of Henry 
 Duke of Kent. 
 
 t Anson's Collection, No. 202.
 
 1759.] SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN OF 1759. 359 
 
 the Duke of Newcastle, and which enabled the 
 Duke sometmies to anticipate to the King the se- 
 cretary's official communications. On this provoca- 
 tion, Lord Holdernesse wrote Sir Joseph so sharp a 
 reprimand, that he felt himself to be in danger, and, 
 at all events, greatly insulted : and the whole house 
 of Yorke, and all their allies, were put into motion to 
 induce the Duke of Newcastle to come forward 
 boldly, and defend " poor Joe," whose only crime was 
 obedience to his grace's commands. The affair at 
 this distance of time seems trifling, but to the parties 
 it was serious, particularly as it was suspected that 
 Mr. Pitt egg'd on Lord Holdernesse, and that the 
 blow was really at the Duke himself, more than at 
 Sir Joseph.
 
 360 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IX. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 CONCLUSION OF THE SEVEN-YEARS' WAR— DEATH 
 OF GEORGE IL, AND OF LORD ANSON. 
 
 The disposition of the fleet for the year 1760 — High state of the 
 navy as to ships, officers, and men — The several flag-oflicers era- 
 ployed — Hawke and Boscawen reUeve each other — Death of Bos- 
 cawen, and character — Capture of the Island Dumet — Anson's 
 instructions to Hawke respecting Belleisle — Death of George II. — 
 Keppel's expedition against that island — its capture — Affairs of 
 North America — Byron sent to demolish the works of Louisburg 
 
 . Chevalier de Levis appears before Quebec — General Murray goes 
 
 out to attack him— is obliged to retreat— The fleet arrives, and 
 Levis raises the siege— Montreal taken by General Amherst — 
 French power annihilated in Canada — Overture of peace from 
 France — treacherous intrigue of with Spain — Mr. Pitt's noble con- 
 duct—resigns in disgust — Declaration of war against Spain — The 
 war prosecuted with vigour against these combined powers — Dis- 
 astrous war for Spain — Her register ships taken— The Havannah 
 taken, with fourteen sail-of-the-line— Manilla taken, and ransomed 
 Disasters of the French, in the capture of Martinique, and seve- 
 ral frigates, privateers, and merchant-ships— Both powers humbled 
 and sue for peace— Preliminaries signed in November, 1762, and 
 proclaimed in London in February, 1763— Death of Lord Anson— 
 Letter of the Duke of Newcastle on this occasion. 
 
 1760 to 1763. 
 
 The spirit and energy displayed by that great states- 
 man, J\lr. Pitt, infused u congenial feeling into the 
 administration, who resolved to follow up the success- 
 ful blow struck at the enemy both by sea and land. 
 To carry this purpose into effect, it was resolved
 
 1760.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 361 
 
 tliat tlie vote of seamen for the service of tins vcar 
 should be seventy thousand men, inchiding eighteen 
 thousand three hundred and lifty-five marines. 
 There Avas sound policy in taking this step ; For 
 although the victories of Hawke and Boscawen had 
 so much disabled and disheartened the French, as to 
 make it more than probable they woukl not ven- 
 ture to meet our fleets on the home stations, they 
 might yet endeavour to send out by stealth small 
 squadrons and troops to the East and "^Vest Indies, 
 and particularly to Canada, with the hope of regain- 
 ing possession of the capital and fortress of Quebec. 
 The navy, under the able and vigilant superintend- 
 ence of Anson, was in its " most high and palmy 
 state," as to ships, officers, and men ; all ready for 
 any service that might be required of them. The 
 disposition made of the officers in command was as 
 follows — Admirals Hawke and Boscawen to the 
 Channel fleet, to relieve each other as might be ne- 
 cessary ; to take up a station in Quiberon Bay, as a 
 sort of head-quarters ; to l^lock up the enemy's ships 
 in the river Vilaine, whicli had sought refuge there 
 after Conflans' defeat, and to detach squadrons off 
 Brest, L' Orient, and Rochfort, to watch these 
 ports ; Sir James Douglas to relieve Connno- 
 dore IMoore at the Leeward Islands ; Rear- Admiral 
 Holmes to relieve Vice-Admiral Cotes at Jamaica ; 
 and Rear- Admiral Cornish to proceed to the East 
 Indies to reinforce Vice-Admiral Stevens with six
 
 362 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IX. 
 
 sail-of-tlie-liiie. Admiral Rodney to continue to 
 blockade Havre de Grace, and watch the eastern part 
 of the Channel ; and Sir Piercy Brett to command in 
 the Downs. 
 
 On the 6th February Admiral Boscawen sailed 
 from Plymouth, with his flag in the Royal William, 
 taking with him Rear- Admiral Geary in the Sand- 
 wich, and having under his orders the Ramillies, St. 
 George, Princess Amelia, and Orford. This little 
 squadron was proceeding to relieve Sir Edward Hawke 
 in Quiberon Bay, when a violent gale of wind dis- 
 persed the ships, in which the Ramillies, Captain 
 Taylor, in trying to make Plymouth, the weather 
 being thick and hazy, unfortunately passed the port, 
 and got embayed near the Bolt-head, which, mis- 
 takinsf for the Ram -head, she was unable to weather. 
 In this situation the captain ordered the masts 
 to be cut away, and came to anchor ; but the wind 
 was so furious, and the sea ran so high, that the 
 cables parted, the ship was driven among the breakers 
 and dashed to pieces. The whole crew, with the 
 exception of a midshipman and twenty-five men 
 perished. The admiral with the rest of the squadron 
 returned into port in a disabled state. 
 
 On the 9tli March Admiral Boscawen again sailed 
 for Quiberon Bay, having shifted his flag to the 
 Namur. His fleet now amounted to fourteen sail- 
 of-the-line and nine frigates. Five of these and two 
 frigates were detached by the admiral, under the
 
 1760.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 363 
 
 command of Sir John Bentley, to proceed off the 
 mouth of the river Vilaine, in order to prevent the 
 enemy's ships there from making their escape. 
 Admiral Boscawen himself lay at anchor, with a part 
 of his fleet, in Quiberon Bay, detaching, as occasion 
 required, small squadrons to reconnoitre Basque 
 Roads, Brest, and L'Orient ; and such was the vigi- 
 lance of our cruisers, that no attempt was yet made 
 on the part of the French to send out squadrons or 
 vessels to carry supplies to their colonies, nor while 
 Boscawen remained on the station •, on which he 
 continued till the end of August, when he was re- 
 lieved by Sir Edward Hawke in the Royal George, 
 havino- under his command Vice-Admiral Sir Charles 
 Hardy, and a fleet of twenty-five sail-of-the-line and 
 twelve frigates ; his instructions were similar to those 
 under which Admiral Boscawen had been acting. 
 
 The appointment which had just expired was the 
 last service which this gallant officer and accom- 
 plished seaman had an opportunity of rendering to his 
 king and country. He returned from it in an im- 
 paired state of health, and died at his seat of Hatch- 
 land, near Guildford, of a fever, on the 10th January, 
 1761, in the fiftieth year of his age, universally re- 
 gretted by his brother ofiicers and the public at large. 
 He was a thorough seaman, strongly attached to his 
 profession, and always ready to quit a life of compa- 
 rative ease at the Admiralty (of which he continued 
 till his death as one of the Lords Commissioners),
 
 364 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IX* 
 
 and to engage with alacrity in any service that his 
 colleagues at the Board might require him to under- 
 take. A man of a warm temper, he was extremely 
 benevolent, and, though a strict disciplinarian, was 
 kind and indulgent to the officers and seamen placed 
 under his command. Or, as the monumental inscrip- 
 tion by his " once happy wife " informs the reader — 
 
 •' With the highest exertions of mihtary greatness, 
 
 He united the gentlest offices of humanity. 
 
 His concern for the interest, and unwearied 
 
 Attention to the health of all under 
 
 His command, 
 
 Softened the necessary exactions of duty, 
 
 And the rigours of discipline. 
 
 By the care of a guardian and the tenderness 
 
 Of a father." 
 
 He gave a strong proof of this during his last 
 command, by taking possession of a small island in 
 Quiberon Bay, near the mouth of the Vannes, which 
 he caused to be cultivated with vegetables for the 
 use of the men afilicted Avith scorbutic disorders. 
 
 In this year Anson was doomed to experience one 
 of the heaviest aliliclions Avhich a domestic man is 
 liable to suffer — the death of Lady Anson — a most 
 amialjle and accomplished Avoman, Avho expired sud- 
 denly, on the 1st June, 1760, as Avould appear by Avhat 
 follows : — 
 
 "AdmiraUij, the 3] st May, 1760. 
 
 '• 1 liavo the greatest satisfaction in acquainting your 
 Lonlbhip that Lady Anson is quite out of danger, and though
 
 1760.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 365 
 
 her rash is not all out, she is easier, and to a degree has 
 recovered her sleep and spiritS;, and desires me to make her 
 dutiful acknowledgments and thanks for your Lordship's 
 very kind and affectionate wishes ; and she promises to be 
 very careful of herself for the future. . . . Since I began 
 this letter. Dr. Wilmot thinks Lady Anson has rather more 
 fever than she had in the morningi which, he says, is usual 
 in these cases in the evening, and imagines there is more 
 rash to come out. I don't understand their jargon, and 
 always feel, when I have any of them in the house, as I 
 always did when I had a pilot ; being ignorant myself, I 
 always doubted whether my pilot knew as much as he ought 
 to do ; but, in both cases, there is nothing else to trust to. 
 I am, my dear Lord, your ever faithful and affectionate ser- 
 vant, "Anson." 
 
 Lady Anson died next day ; and, on this letter, 
 Philip, the second Lord Hardwicke, has written the 
 following notes : — 
 
 " N.B? This was a very unhappy affair, and a loss which 
 could not be replaced. We thought Dr. Wilmot had not 
 shown his usual sagacity in the illness. " H. ' 
 
 " Till the death of this poor lady, our family had gone on 
 in an uninterrupted flow of worldly prosperity ; since that 
 era we have had our share of private disasters. God's will 
 be done. " II- 
 
 Sir Edward Hawke followed up the plan of his 
 predecessor in stationing his cruising squadrons, by 
 which the French ports were completely sealed, and 
 many of their trading ships and privateers cap-
 
 366 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IX. 
 
 tured. As the Channel fleet was frequently deficient 
 in a supply of fresh water, wdiich was mostly sent 
 from England, and the small island of Dumet, near 
 Quiberon Bay, was known to have plenty of that 
 indispensable article, Sir Edward appointed a small 
 squadron, consisting of the Magnanime, Prince Fre- 
 derick, and Bedford, under the command of Lord 
 Howe, to get possession of that island, which soon 
 surrendered, on two of the ships being placed against 
 the fort, and firing a few shot. The little garrison 
 was composed of one company of the regiment of 
 Bourhon, consisting of fifty-five men, of whom two 
 were killed and six wounded. This capture proved 
 of great service to the fleet on this station during the 
 remainder of the war. 
 
 Sir Edward having detached the Hon. Augustus 
 Keppel to make observations on the island of Belle- 
 isle, conformably with an instruction from Lord 
 Anson, and that officer having been sent with his 
 report to the noble lord, it was transmitted to Mr. 
 Pitt; and as this able minister still cherished his 
 fiivourite scheme of harassing the French coast as 
 much as ])ossible, being, as he always maintained, 
 the surest means of preventing the enemy from sup- 
 plying the continental army Avith reinforcements, by 
 keeping them in a constant state of alarm, he readily 
 entered into the plan of making an attack on that 
 island. Anson, however, bearing in mind the dis- 
 asters of St. Cas, and desirous of obtaining the best
 
 1760.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 367 
 
 possible information before risking the ships and 
 troops, submitted to ]Mr. Pitt that Sir Edward Hawke 
 shoukl first be desired, confidentially, to examine the 
 shores of the island himself, to make a detailed report 
 of the accessible points, and the strength of its seve- 
 ral defences. 
 
 The following is a copy of the memorandum sent 
 by Anson to the gallant admiral: — 
 
 " The situation of the King's affairs in Germany requiring 
 a diversion to be made on the enemy's coasts, his Majesty's 
 servants have considered which may be the properest place 
 for that purpose, and examined Mr. Keppel, who, having 
 been lately in the bay, had an opportunity of making the 
 observations, that I send herewith, on part of the coast of 
 the isle of Belleisle, which it is thought may be attacked 
 Avith the best prospect of success ; and the King, as well as 
 his servants, reposing great confidence in you, I have it in 
 command to let you know that a very considerable body of 
 troops, with a train of artillery, are collecting together, and 
 transports getting ready to embark them, whenever it shall 
 be thought proper. 
 
 " Wherefore you are desired to use every means in your 
 power to inform yourself how near ships can lie to batter the 
 several works in the sandy bays of Belleisle mentioned by 
 Mr. Keppel, and what depth of water there is close in to 
 the shore, and to ascertain the distance of the citadel from 
 the said sandy bays. 
 
 " You will also inform yourself whether troops can be 
 landed at Lomarie or any other parts of the island besides 
 these described in Mr. Keppel's paper, and how far they 
 may be from the citadel.
 
 368 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IX. 
 
 ^ " You will likewise please to learn, whetliei* the enemy's 
 ships in the river Vilane are disarmed, and, if so, whether 
 their artillery, ammunition, and stores have been sent to 
 Pain-boeuf, or how disposed of. 
 
 " It will also be necessary to know what number of regu- 
 lar troops and militia there may be in the island, and if the 
 town of Palais is fortified ; to come at which knowledge I 
 would recommend to you to cause some coasting or fishing 
 vessels belonging to the enemy to be taken, and by every 
 proper means to get the best intelligence you can from 
 them. 
 
 " When you have satisfied yourself with all that is neces- 
 sary to be known, I must desire you will send me your an- 
 swer by a good sailing frigate to the first port she can make 
 in England, and to forward the same by express. 
 
 " I hope it is needless for me to repeat the confidence that 
 is reposed in you on this occasion, and the necessity there is 
 for the strictest secrecy. 
 "^ Sir Edward Hawke, "Anson.* 
 
 "dth October, 176O." 
 
 Sir Edward Hawke found the report of Keppel to 
 be correct, and that the ishmd was attackable from 
 several phices. The expedition was accordingly has- 
 tened ; a bodj^ of troops collected at Portsmouth, 
 under the command of Major-General Kingsby, and 
 a scjuadron under the Hon. Augustus Kep],)el was 
 aj>pointed to receive them. The expedition was ge- 
 nerally supposed to be intended for an attack on the 
 islands of Bourbon and IMauritius. The troops were 
 
 * Anson's Collection.
 
 1760.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 369 
 
 all embarked, and the fleet ready to put to sea, when 
 the sudden and unexpected death of George II. put 
 an end for the present to its proceeding. His death 
 took place at his palace of Kensington on the 27th 
 October, 1760, in the seventy-seventh year of his 
 age and thirty- third of his reign.* 
 
 The only naval and military operations of much 
 importance were confined to North America, where 
 the successes of the preceding year determined the 
 government to follow u}) the blow by an attack on 
 Montreal, which, with Quebec, would throw the 
 whole of Canada into our possession. With this 
 view Commodore Swanton, Avith a considerable naval 
 force, and transports to convey stores and provisions, 
 was despatched early in the spring to reinforce the 
 squadron at Halifax. At the same time another 
 small squadron, under the command of Captain 
 
 * The account given by Horace Walpole to George Montague is 
 nearly correct, but heartless and indecent, coming from a man who, 
 through Sir Robert Walpole, owed everything he had in the world to 
 the King. " He went to bed," he says, " well last night, rose at six 
 this morning as usual, looked, I suppose, if all his money was in his 
 purse, and called for his chocolate. A little after seven he went into 
 the water-closet ; the German valet-de-chambre heard a noise, list- 
 ened, heard something like a groan, ran in, and found the hero of 
 Oudenarde and Dettingeu on the floor, with a gash on his right temple, 
 by falling against the corner of a bureau ; he tried to speak, could not, 
 and expired. In another letter he speaks of the vast sums of money 
 left by the King, which turned out to be nothing equal to what 
 Sir Robert Walpole left; but it was the slander of the day; just 
 as, in our time, similar allegations were made against the late 
 excellent Queen Charlotte, who literally left nothing, having bestowed 
 nearly the whole of her allowance in charitable uses. 
 
 2b
 
 370 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IX. 
 
 Byron, was sent to Cape Breton, Avitli orders to de- 
 stroy the fortifications of Louisburo", and to convey 
 the greater part of the garrison to join General 
 Murray at Quebec. Byron hearing of a small 
 French squadron of three ships of war, Avith about 
 twenty transports, laden with stores and ammunition 
 for the French army in Canada, having arrived in the 
 bay of Chaleur, proceeded thither, and on entering 
 the bay to attack them, two of them were burnt by 
 their own people, and the third by ours ; he silenced 
 the batteries and destroyed them, together with the 
 whole of the transports. After this he returned to 
 England, on finding that General Murray had been 
 reinforced. 
 
 In the mean time the Chevalier de Levis, the suc- 
 cessor of M. IMontcalm, taking advantage of the 
 absence of the ships of war, on account of the ice in 
 the St. Lawrence, made his appearance before the 
 town with an army composed of regulars, colonial 
 troops, and Canadian militia, amounting altogether 
 to between fourteen and fifteen thousand men. Ge- 
 neral IMurray resolved, imprudently as it was thought 
 and turned out to be, to march out to meet him, with 
 about three thousand men, the flower of his garrison, 
 and twenty field-pieces. But it is stated that, by 
 some fatal mistake, the connnanding officer of the 
 artillery placed his guns in a hollow where they 
 could 1)0 of no use, and that, by a most unpardonable 
 l)lunder, the shot brought with the guns AA'ould not
 
 760.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 371 
 
 fit them, being for nine instead of six-pounders, and 
 therefore of no use. The infantry, left thus without 
 support, were compelled, after a brave resistance, to 
 fall back with considerable loss within the walls. 
 Here the General immediately began to repair and 
 strengthen the Avorks, and in a short time had one 
 hundred and fifty cannon mounted on the ramparts. 
 On the arrival of the fleet the Chevalier de Levis 
 raised the siege, leaving behind him a quantity of 
 baggage, stores of ammunition and j)rovisions, his 
 battering cannon, mortars, and field-pieces. 
 
 General IMurray now left Quebec to join the army 
 under Lord Amherst, Avho, after various operations 
 both on the shore and the river, and negociations with 
 the ]\Iarquis de Vaudreuil, Montreal, and with it all 
 Canada, surrendered to General Amherst, on the 
 8th September, on such terms as he thought proper 
 to dictate to the JMarquis. The French power being 
 thus annihilated in North America, Lord Colville, 
 who connnanded the naval forces, ordered such of his 
 squadron as might be Avanted to proceed to the West 
 Indies, and the rest to England. 
 
 The accession of George IIL A\as not immediately 
 foUoAved by any change in the administration, nor in 
 the measures intended to be pursued. The same 
 number of seamen and marines Avere voted for the 
 year 1761 as in the preceding. The Channel fleet, 
 under the command of Sir EdAvard HaAvke, kept its 
 station through the Avinter in Quiberon Bay, and 
 
 2 b2
 
 372 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IX. 
 
 continued successfully to block up the enemy's ships 
 in the river Vilaine until the 2nd January, 1761, 
 when by the favour of a very dark night and blowing 
 weather, they took the opportunity to slip out, and, 
 though closely pursued by Captain Gambler, ef- 
 fected their escape into Brest. Sir Edward Hawke, 
 therefore, considering so large a fleet no longer ne- 
 cessary in Quiberon Bay, returned to England early 
 in JVIarch, leaving a sufficient number of ships to 
 watch the enemy's motions along the ports of the 
 western coast. 
 
 The secret expedition, which had been postponed 
 by the King's death, was now ready to proceed ; and 
 on the 29th March the Hon. Commodore Keppel, 
 with a squadron of ten sail-of-the-line, eight frigates 
 and smaller vessels, and with transports conveying 
 about ten thousand men, under Major-General Hodg- 
 son, put to sea, and on the 6tli April came in sight of 
 the island of Belleisle, against which they were 
 designed to act. They found, on approaching the 
 coast, that intrenchments and batteries had been 
 raised, since the commodore's former visit, at every 
 place where a landing was thought practicable ; and 
 a strong garrison was placed in the fort of Palais, 
 under the connnand of the Chevalier de St. Croix, a 
 very gallant and skilful officer. Having fixed on 
 three several landing-places, the troops destined to 
 act at each of them, covered by the lire kept up 
 incessantly from the ships of war, made good their
 
 1761.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 373 
 
 landing, und a part of them maintained themselves 
 on the island, while others were compelled by supe- 
 rior numbers to retreat. At length, after much 
 fighting, and the English gaining post by post, the 
 Chevalier, by lighting a fire on the top of the hill, 
 summoned all the inhabitants capable of bearing 
 arms to repair into the citadel of Palais, which he 
 resolved to defend to the last. 
 
 It was the 2nd JMay before our batteries opened 
 upon the tOAvn of Palais, and on the 7th June, A^hen 
 General Hodgson was prepared to storm the place, the 
 Chevalier de St. Croix sent out a flag of truce to 
 offer a capitulation. In consideration of the gallant 
 defence made by the garrison, they were allowed all 
 the honours of war, and to be sent to France. This 
 siege cost the enemy 922 men killed and Avounded ; 
 and to the British the loss was 13 officers and 300 
 men killed, with 21 officers and about 480 men 
 wounded. After this the commodore detached a 
 small squadron of ships of the line to Basque Roads, 
 to attack any of the enemy's ships that might be 
 there, and to demolish the fortifications on the Isle 
 d'Aix. 
 
 In the IMediterranean the cruisers under Sir Charles 
 Saunders Avere particularly active. The Isis, after a 
 smart action, took L'Orifiannne, of fifty guns, and 
 three hundred and seventy men ; but Captain Whee- 
 ler, a midshipman, and quartermaster, Avere killed in 
 the early part of the engagement. The Thunderer,
 
 374 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IX. 
 
 Captain Proby, engaged L'Acliille, of sixty-four 
 guns, and six hundred men, which, after a gallant 
 resistance of half an hour, struck. The Thetis 
 engaged L'Achille's companion, Le Bouffon, of 
 thirty-two guns, and two hundred and ten men, 
 which also struck. A number of merchant ships 
 and small armed vessels were captured in the course 
 of the year, but nothing like a fleet or squadron 
 ventured to show itself upon the sea. In the 
 Leeward Islands, Commodore Sir James Douglas, 
 being joined by four sail of-the-line and three frigates, 
 with a body of troops from North America, under 
 the command of Lord Rollo, proceeded on the 4th 
 June to attack the island of Dominica, which, after a 
 short resistance, surrendered. On the Jamaica 
 station several captures were made, and, among 
 others, the St. Anne, a new sixty-four gun-ship, 
 with a valuable cargo of indigo ; she was puchased 
 into the British navy. In the East Indies, after an 
 eight months' siege and blockade, by Rear- Admiral 
 Stevens and Rear- Admiral Cornish, Pondiclierry 
 surrendered, and was delivered up to the British 
 
 troops. 
 
 Several brilliant single actions occurred during 
 this year in various parts of the workl. On the 
 Jamaica station, the Hampshire, Boreas, and Lively, 
 fell in with a convoy under Ave French frigates. 
 The Boreas, being a-liead, came up with the Sirenne, 
 but the latter, after a close action of t\\'enty minutes.
 
 1761.] CONLCUSION OF THE WAR. 375 
 
 shot a-head, and made off. The Boreas pursued ; 
 but it was the middle of next day before she came up 
 with her, and renewed the action for two hours nearly, 
 when the Sirenne struck, having eighty men killed and 
 wounded. The Boreas had one man killed and one 
 wounded. Being only a twenty-eight gun-frigate, and 
 that of the enemy thirty-two, with eighty men more 
 than the former, tliis is one of the many instances 
 where superior seamanship, added to superior gunnery, 
 have given the victory. The Lively, of twenty guns, 
 came up with her equal, the Valeur, engaged her in 
 close action, took her, having killed a lieutenant and 
 thirty-seven men, her captain, master, and twenty- 
 three men wounded. The Lively had two men 
 killed. Two of the French frigates were destroyed 
 by the Hampshire, and one escaped into Port au 
 Paix. 
 
 In the course of this year two great events oc- 
 curred — an overture of peace from France, and the 
 resignation of IMr. Pitt — which latter threatened ma- 
 terially to affect the successful progress of affairs, at 
 least in public opinion ; and, as a third, may be 
 added, the discovery of an intrigue of France with 
 the Spanish court, at the very moment she Avas making 
 professions of a desire for peace. 
 
 As soon as it came to the knowledge of JMr. Pitt 
 that the Due de Choiseul had signified his master's 
 wish to terminate the war, and feeling that our posi- 
 tion with regard to the successes of our navy at home
 
 376 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IX. 
 
 and abroad, and of the allied army on the Continent, 
 were favourable for entertaining such an overture, 
 and, moreover, that the enormous expense of the 
 war pressed heavily on the national resources and 
 the patience of the public, he appointed, early in 
 May, Hans Stanley, Esq., to proceed as envoy extra- 
 ordinary to the court of Versailles, and I\l. Bussy 
 was sent over in the same character to the court of 
 London. The terms were very soon nearly adjusted, 
 and agreed to l)y the negociators, and the periods 
 settled when the preliminary articles should be 
 signed and ratified. But, just at this time, M. 
 Bussy, by desire of the king of Spain, thought fit to 
 present a private memorial, proposing that his Ca- 
 tholic majesty should be invited to guarantee the 
 treaty between the two crowns ; and it also insi- 
 duously introduced into the memorial, that, at the 
 same time, the settlement of three great points in 
 dispute between Great Britain and Spain might he 
 arranged. These three points were — the restitution 
 of some Spanish ships, or ships under Spanish 
 colours, taken in the course of the war — liberty of 
 iishing on the banks of Newfoundland — and the 
 demolition of certain settlements made by the log- 
 w^ood cutters in the bay of Honduras. 
 
 Mr. Pitt ex})ressed great indignation at so highly 
 improper an interference, which, he told M. Bussy, 
 he would not suffer to be mentioned, or to enter in any 
 shape into the present negotiation, and that he would
 
 1761.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 377 
 
 not allow France to interpose in any disputes Great 
 Britain might have, either with Spain or any other 
 power. He saw at once the drift of France in 
 making such a proposal ; that, if accepted, time 
 would be gained ; if refused, Spain might be induced 
 to take part against us ; for, humbled as she had 
 been, her fleets nearly destroyed, her colonies taken, 
 and her finances in a state of bankruptcy, France 
 still flattered herself that, if she could draw Spain 
 into the contest, their united forces might give a 
 more favourable turn to the war. 
 
 It soon appeared that I\lr. Pitt was correct in the 
 view he took of the memorial presented by M. 
 Bussy. The communications received from the Earl 
 of Bristol, our ambassador at the court of IMadrid, 
 made the design still more evident, and tended to 
 confirm Mr. Pitt of the hostile intentions of Spain. 
 Having called a cabinet council, he laid before his 
 colleagues the conduct of Spain, said that he had 
 required the Spanish minister to disavow the pro- 
 positions being made through M. Bussy, with the 
 knowledge of his court ; instead of which, the 
 Spanish ambassador had not only avowed, but jus- 
 tified, the step taken by M. Bussy^ as coinciding 
 entirely Avith the sentiments of the king, his master. 
 This conduct of Spain, Mr. Pitt said, could be 
 considered in no other light than as a refusal of 
 satisfaction, and that refusal as a declaration of war ; 
 that it had become necessary to give a lesson to his
 
 378 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IX. 
 
 Catholic majesty, and to all Europe, how dangerous it 
 is to presume to dictate in the affairs of Great Britain. 
 The cabinet affected moderation, inclined to think that 
 we should wait, and that it would be time enough 
 to declare war, if Spain should actually be gained 
 over by France, in which case we should then have 
 all Europe with us. But Mr. Pitt had made himself 
 well acquainted with the intrigues that were carrying 
 on between the two powers ; he had good intelligence 
 that the " family compact " had been secretly signed ; 
 and he persisted in the policy of adopting immediate 
 and decisive measures, which, if not assented to, he 
 declared his intention of sending in his resignation 
 forthwith. " I was called," he said, " to the admi- 
 nistration of affairs by the voice of the people : to 
 them I have always considered myself accountable 
 for my conduct, and cannot therefore continue in a 
 situation, which makes me responsible for measures 
 I am no longer allowed to 2;uide." 
 
 The threatened resignation of this able minister 
 was considered as one of the greatest calamities that 
 could befal the nation, and excited a degree of alarm 
 not usual on the retirement of a minister. The 
 confidence placed by the country on the judgment and 
 energy with which all his measures were conducted^ 
 and which he was wont to inspire into the councils 
 of the nation, could not be transferred to a successor, 
 who would, in all probability, be under the influence 
 of those who had refused their support to the pro-
 
 1761.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 379 
 
 position of ]\Ir. Pitt. It was supposed that most of the 
 members of the cabinet were not at all sorry to hear 
 such a declaration : they found themselves eclipsed 
 by liis superior splendour ; they therefore persevered 
 in opposing his views ; and, on a division, only he 
 and his brother-in-law. Earl Temple, were in favour 
 of an immediate declaration of war against Spain. 
 Nothing now remained for Mr. Pitt but to resign 
 the seals into his IMajesty's hand, which he did on 
 the 5th October, and which the King accepted,* The 
 treachery of France Avas now made manifest : they 
 exulted at the resignation of a minister who had 
 inspired them with terror, and now openly boasted of 
 the family compact they had contrived to bring about, 
 the effect of which would be, not only to retrieve 
 their affairs, but to humble the pride of Great Bri- 
 tain. The remains of the old cabinet, with the Earl 
 of Egmont as successor to ]\Ir. Pitt, pursued exactly 
 
 * The Edinburgh Review, in magnifying the ascendancy of Lord 
 Chatham (Mr. Pitt) over his colleagues, observes—" So absolutely 
 was he determined to have the control of those measures of which he 
 knew the responsibility rested upon him alone, that he insisted upon 
 the First Lord of the Admiralty not having the correspondence of his 
 own department, and no less eminent a naval character than Lord 
 Anson, with his junior lords, were obliged to sign the orders issued by 
 Mr. Pitt, while the writing was covered over from their eyes." 
 
 The reviewer might have informed himself better of the manner in 
 which the business of the Admiralty was and is transacted. The Secre- 
 tary of State, in conjoint expeditions, gives instructions in the Sove- 
 reign's name to both services, and sometimes, but rarely, when diplo- 
 matic communications are to be held with foreign powers. That he 
 should repeat the stale joke made some years ago on the lay lords, 
 in so grave a manner, is too ridiculous to gain belief.
 
 380 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IX. 
 
 tlie measures of the latter, wliicli they had rejected 
 when lie was at their Iiead ; and on the 4th January, 
 1762, war was prochiimed against Spain at London, 
 and on the 18th Spain did the same at ]\Iadrid against 
 Great Britain. 
 
 On the 8th July, 1761, his Majesty, George III., 
 had made known to the Privy Council his most 
 gracious intentions of demanding in marriiige the 
 Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a prin- 
 cess distino-nished for eminent virtues and amiable 
 endowments ; and, by his JMajesty's command. Lord 
 Anson was ordered to prepare a squadron of ships 
 of war, and to proceed with them under his flag to 
 Stade, to receive and to escort the Princess to 
 England. The Royal Caroline yacht was prepared 
 and newly decorated, and her name changed to that 
 of Royal Charlotte, in honour of the future Queen of 
 England ; and the command of her on this occasion 
 was conferred on Captain Peter Denis, one of the 
 old lieutenants of Anson, who, having in the course of 
 this month been made admiral of the fleet, hoisted 
 the union flag on board the Royal Charlotte. The 
 squadron, consisting of all the other royal yachts ; 
 the Winchester, of fifty, Nottingham, sixty, Minerva, 
 thirty-two, Tartar, twenty-eight, and two sloops 
 of fourteen guns each, sailed from IIar\Aicli on 
 the 8th Auirust. On the embarkation of her JMa- 
 jesty, on the 24th, the Royal Charlotte was dressed 
 in the several colours of all nations, Avhich, on her
 
 1761.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 381 
 
 coming on board, were instantly struck, and the 
 royal standard hoisted at the main-top-g-allant mast- 
 head, the admiralty flag at the fore, and the union 
 at the mizen. After a very stormy passage, which, 
 it is stated in Anson's Journal, the Princess bore 
 remarkably well, they arrived at Harwich on the 6th 
 September. The Queen set off for London, Lord 
 Anson struck his flag, and the squadron dispersed. 
 This was the last occasion of Lord Anson having 
 had his flag flying. 
 
 The King in his speech from the throne declared 
 it to be his fixed resolution, with the concurrence and 
 support of the Commons, to carry on the war in the 
 most effectual manner, for the interest and advantage 
 of his kingdoms, and to maintain, to the utmost of 
 his power, the good faith and honour of his crown, by 
 adhering firmly to the engagements entered into 
 with his allies. The ministry, with the accession of 
 Lord Bute as First Commissioner of the Treasury, 
 in the room of the Duke of Newcastle, resolved to 
 push the war with vigour. They voted inmiediately 
 seventy thousand seamen, the same as in the pre- 
 ceding year. They had a fleet at their disposal in 
 high order, well manned and disciplined, and com- 
 manded by the choicest officers in the service. In 
 this respect Lord Anson was always most fortunate, 
 because he never attended to private solicitations, 
 nor allowed any one to interfere in his appointments. 
 In reply to an officer who complained of being ne-
 
 382 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IX. 
 
 glected, though a nobleman high in the government 
 had applied in his helialf, Anson merely replied that, 
 as he considered himself responsible for the officers 
 he employed for particular stations^ he never would 
 allow himself to be dictated to by any one in that 
 respect. 
 
 Several very splendid actions between single ships 
 were fought in the course of the year 1761. It will 
 suffice to mention one between two seventy-four-gun 
 ships, the Bellona, Captain Faulkner, and the Cou- 
 rageux, M. L'Ambert. Scarcely had the action 
 begun, before the mizen-masts of both ships fell over- 
 board, when Captain Faulkner, with great skill and 
 presence of mind, wore under the stern of the enemy 
 and brought her to close action on the other side ; 
 the result was, that in half an hour she struck, her 
 captain mortally wounded, 240 men killed, and 110 
 wounded. The Bellona had 6 killed and 28 wounded. 
 This is another of the many instances in which nau- 
 tical skill and masterly seamanship proved, in their 
 results, manifestly superior to the French. 
 
 The appointments made, or continued, on the 
 Spanish declaration of war, were Sir Edward Ilawke 
 to the coasts of Spain and Portugal, Avith Vice- 
 Admiral Sir Charles Hardy and Rear-Admiral his 
 Royal Highness the Duke of York under him ; Sir 
 Charles Saunders and Commodore Sir Piercy Brett, 
 to the Mediterranean ; Conmiodores Lord Howe and 
 Denis in Basque Roads ; in the Leeward Islands,
 
 1762.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 383 
 
 Rear-Admiral Rodney and Commodore Swanton. 
 On the Jamaica station Sir George Pocock, Commo- 
 dore Sir James Douglas, and the Hon. Augustus 
 Keppel. In North America, Commodore Lord Col- 
 ville ; and in the East Indies Vice- Admiral Cornish. 
 
 The first and early disaster which befel Spain was 
 the capture of the Hermione, a large register ship 
 from Lima, off Cadiz, on the 21st JMay, 1762, hy the 
 Active frigate and the Favourite sloop, two of Sir 
 Edward Hawke's cruisers. The net proceeds of 
 this ship, after the payment of all charges, was 
 519,-705/. 10*., of which the flag share amounted to 
 64,963/., and each of the captains to the same sum ; 
 the lieutenants 13,000/. ; and each seaman and marine 
 485/. About the same time another cruiser captured 
 a rich Spanish ship from Barcelona having on board 
 specie to the amount of 100,000 dollars. 
 
 These, however, were but the commencement of 
 misfortunes which Spain had brought upon herself 
 by the unwise step taken by that nation. It 
 was determined by the government that an attack 
 should be made on the Havannali, and the necessary 
 instructions were given immediately to Sir George 
 Pocock to that effect, and at the same time, the com- 
 mand of the troops to be employed was conferred on 
 Lieutenant-General the Earl of Albemarle. The 
 troops being embarked without loss of time, these 
 two gallant officers, with five sail-of-the-line, and a 
 fleet of transports, sailed from Spithead on the 5th
 
 384 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IX. 
 
 Marcli. The army destined for tliis service, when 
 the several forces from England, from the West 
 Indies, and from North America, were collected, 
 amounted to between fifteen and sixteen thousand 
 men ; and the fleet under Sir G. Pocock consisted of 
 seventeen sail-of-tlie-line, five of sixty guns, four of 
 fifty, and a great number of frigates and sloops, 
 besides cutters, bombs, and other kinds of small 
 craft. 
 
 With this overwhelming force, the tAVO com- 
 manders-in-chief sailed from Martinique on the 6th 
 May, and after the necessary preparations for tlie 
 siege, a regular attack on tlie Moro Castle com- 
 menced on the 1st July, and on the 30th of that 
 month a practicable breach was made on this strong 
 fortress, when, on the same day, it was resolutely 
 carried by storm, with the inconsiderable loss of two 
 officers and thirty men. On the lltli August the 
 Spaniards hung out flags of truce from the town, 
 from the fort Le Puntal, and the admiral's ship in 
 the harbour. On the IStli the capitulation was 
 signed, and on the following day the Britisli troops 
 were put in possession of the Havannah. The trea- 
 sure, the valuable merchandise, and naval stores 
 found in the town and arsenal, amounted to very 
 nearly three millions sterling. 
 
 The Spanish authorities struggled hard to save 
 their sliips of war that were in the harbour, Init 
 without success. They consisted of nine sail-of-the-
 
 1762.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. SS5 
 
 line fitted for sea, and two of the line on the stocks 
 were hiirnt by our seamen ; three had been sunk 
 at the entrance of the harbour, with a large galleon 
 — making fourteen sail-of-the-line, besides smaller 
 armed ships and a number of merchant vessels. 
 The capture of this place was of the utmost im- 
 portance to us, a death-blow to the Spaniards 
 in the West Indies, and the possession of a fleet, 
 equal in the result to a great naval victory. Lord 
 Albemarle, in his despatch to the secretary of state, 
 says — " Sir George Pocock and Commodore Keppel 
 have exerted themselves in a most particular man- 
 ner ; and I may venture to say, that there never was 
 a joint undertaking carried on with more harmony 
 and zeal on both sides, which greatly contrijjuted to 
 the success of it." 
 
 But the Spanish disasters did not end with the loss 
 of the Havannah. The Argo frigate was despatched 
 from England to the East Indies, immediately after 
 the declaration of hostilities, carrying out orders from 
 the Admiralty to Vice- Admiral Cornish, and similar 
 orders from the secretary of state to Colonel (after- 
 wards Sir William) Draper, for a conjoint expedition 
 against Manilla. Sir William had gallantly distin- 
 guished himself at the siege of Madras in 1759, and, 
 being in England, was selected for this new service. 
 The Argo, in which he proceeded, arrived at Madras 
 early in June ; and as soon as the two commanders 
 had collected the troops and transports, the fleet, 
 
 2c
 
 386 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IX. 
 
 consistino' of nine sail-of-tlie-line and a few frigates, 
 assembled at Malacca on tlie 19th August, and on 
 the 23rd September arrived in INIanilla Bay, to the 
 great dismay and confusion of the Spaniards, who 
 had not even heard of the war, and were therefore 
 but ill prepared for resistance. They did, however, 
 resist manfully, and resolutely defended the place ; 
 and, owing to their exertions, the difiiculty of our 
 large ships in approaching near enough, and a violent 
 storm which lasted two days, it was the 5tli October 
 before a practicable breach was made in the enemy's 
 works ; after which, on the following morning, the 
 fort was carried by storm. Tlie governor and prin- 
 cipal officers retired into the citadel, but were soon 
 obliged to surrender. To save the city from being 
 pillaged, the governor and inhabitants entered into 
 an airreement to ransom it for four millions of dollars, 
 the greater portion of which was never paid ; the 
 'history of this ransom has been a subject of long 
 discussion, but never satisfactorily explained. All 
 the large ships found in the harbour were seized, 
 as well as a great quantity of naval and military 
 stores. 
 
 The colours taken at Manilla were sent to Cam- 
 bridge, at the request of Colonel Draper, and hung 
 up in the chapel of the college of which he was a 
 member. His JVIajesty conferred on him the honour 
 of the military order of the Bath, and Admiral 
 Cornish Avas created a baronet of Great Britain;
 
 1762.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 387 
 
 they also received the thanks of both Houses of Par- 
 liament. 
 
 With regard to France, the disasters of the pre 
 ceding year, whicli had induced her to make an over- 
 ture of peace, were not in any way redeemed, but 
 rather augmented in 1762, notwithstanding the 
 assistance she expected from her alliance witli Spain. 
 On the 5tli January of this year, Rear-Admiral 
 Rodney sailed from Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes, Avith 
 his squadron and a large fleet of transports, having 
 on board about fourteen thousand troops, under the 
 connnand of Major-General Monckton, with tlie in- 
 tention of attacking IMarlinique ; at the same time, 
 the rear-admiral detached live sail-of-the-line, under 
 Commodore Swanton, to proceed to Fort Royal Bay 
 to attack and destroy the enemy's batteries, while 
 Rodney sailed for St. Anne's Bay, where a large 
 body of troops w^ere landed, and batteries for their 
 protection erected. Finding, however, that this 
 position was not favourable for the speedy reduction 
 of the island, the troops were re-embarked and con- 
 veyed to Fort Royal Bay, where they were again 
 landed on the 16th^ together with a detachment of 
 seamen, to assist in drawing the heavy artillery over 
 the rugged ground, frequently under a galling fire 
 from the enemy's batteries. The siege of Fort Royal 
 continued till the 4th February, when it surrendered ; 
 and on the 16th the whole island was in possession 
 of the British forces. Very soon after this the 
 
 2c2
 
 388 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CII. IX. 
 
 islands of St. Lucia, Granada, and St. Vincent 
 were captured by the squadron under Commodore 
 S wanton. 
 
 A French squadron with 1500 troops on board, 
 under M. de Fernay, which had escaped from Brest 
 during a thick fog, towards the end of April, made 
 its appearance on the 24th June before the har- 
 bour of St. John's in Newfoundland, into which they 
 entered without opposition, and landed the 1500 
 men, who were under the orders of M. de Hausson- 
 ville. Lord Colville, on hearing this, proceeded from 
 Halifax with his squadron off St. John's harbour, and 
 blocked up M. de Fernay. On the 16th September 
 a strong westerly gale, attended by a thick fog, forced 
 Lord Colville from his station, of which M. de Fer- 
 nay availed himself, slipped his cables, and stood out 
 to sea. Tbe French general, finding himself deserted 
 by the squadron, and that it was impossible to hold 
 out long, otiered terms of capitulation, which, being 
 accepted, the French troops became prisoners of 
 war; and, on the 18th, the Avliole island fell again 
 into the possession of the English. 
 
 The two parties to the family compact being thus 
 humbled by the loss of their possessions — their navies 
 — and their connuerce — Avere glad to sue for peace, 
 and preliminaries were signed at Fontainbleau in 
 Novend^er, 1762, which were ratified on the lOtli and 
 proclaimed in London on the 22n(l February, 1763; 
 and thus ended, gloriously for England, "the Seven-
 
 1762.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAK. ob'J 
 
 Years' War," during which it may safely be asserted, 
 the British navy, at no former j)eriod, arrived at a 
 higher state of discipline, exhibited a greater de- 
 gree of perfection in seamanship, or performed more 
 noble deeds of valour, than were accomplished under 
 the direction and guidance of the noble lord at the 
 head of the naval department. 
 
 Lord Anson, however, did not live to receive the 
 gratification of being witness to all the glorious ex- 
 ploits which led to the termination of the war; but he 
 lived long enough to be made acquainted with many 
 of them in the early part of this last campaign, owing 
 to his judicious appointments and arrangements; 
 for which the country was not less indebted to the 
 memory of the man who planned than to those gal- 
 lant men who executed them. His Lordship, soon 
 after his arrival in England with the Queen, finding 
 his state of health much impaired, was advised by his 
 physician to try the Bath waters, from which he was 
 thought to have received benefit ; but soon after his 
 return to his seat of Moore Park he was suddenly 
 seized, while walking in his garden, went home, com- 
 plained of being ill, and laying himself down on his 
 bed, expired without a struggle, on the 6th June, 
 1762. His remains were interred in the family vault 
 at Colwich, in the county of Stafix)rd. By his will 
 a great part of his fortune devolved on his sister's 
 son, George Adams, Esq.
 
 390 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. IX. 
 
 The survivino' friends of Anson and his numerous 
 and faithful followers had every reason to he proud 
 of his memory. His amiable and beloved Avife, a 
 lady of very superior acquirements, had gone before 
 him two years — a loss which was to him irreparable ; 
 both were fond of rural life, and enjoyed the pleasure 
 of floriculture and planting. For the introduction of 
 that finest specimen of apricot, known by the name 
 of the Moore-Park apricot, the subsequent proprie- 
 tors of this noble place were indebted to Anson. He 
 is said also to have taken peculiar pleasure in culti- 
 vating a species of lathyrus, which his cook picked 
 up in the Straits of ]\'Iagellan, and was there consi- 
 dered a great luxury ; but here the " Anson pea," as 
 an esculent, may be considered the very worst of the 
 whole tribe : it is, however, a pretty addition to the 
 flower-bed. Anson left no children to bewail his 
 loss ; and his brother Thomas appears to have been 
 the only remaining near relation. To this brother, 
 the Duke of Newcastle, who, under all the fluc- 
 tuating circumstances of two wars, had ever looked 
 up to Anson for his opinion and advice in naval con- 
 cerns, addressed the following letter : — 
 
 " Claremont, i)th June, 1762. 
 
 "Sir — The very great regard which I had for my Lord 
 
 Anson, and the friendship witli which he honoured me for 
 
 many years, will, I hope, be my excuse for the Hberty I take 
 
 in most sincerely condoling with you for his loss — a loss
 
 1762.] CONCLUSION OF THE WAR. 391 
 
 which the public will feel as well as his friends ; for there 
 never was a more able, a more upright, or a more useful 
 servant to his King- and country, or a more sincere or valu- 
 able friend. Nobody can be more sensible of his loss than 
 I am, or more desirous to show all possible respect and re- 
 gard to his memory. 
 
 " I have the honour to be, with great truth and respect, 
 " Your most obedient humble servant, 
 
 "HoLLEs Newcastle. 
 
 " Thomas Anson, Esq."
 
 392 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. X, 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 ANSON'S CHARACTER ILLUSTRATED. 
 
 Professional characlei- — Conduct in the civil department of the Navy 
 — Iraproveraents in the materiel of the Navy — Moral character — 
 resembled that of Lord Howe — Peculiar habits — Character illus- 
 trated by his correspondents — Captains Bennet, Piercy Brett, 
 Cheap, Denis, Philip Saumarcz ; Mr. Legge, M, Hardenberg, 
 Lord Sandwich, Lord Chatham — The late King's mark of atten- 
 tion to Lord Anson's memory. 
 
 A NA"VAL historian of very considerable merit, in 
 recording the death of Lord Anson, says, '*' Now that 
 the rage and malevolence of party spirit has liad 
 time to subside, this great man appears in very 
 shining colours ; and although born of an ancient 
 family, yet it was his merit alone that raised him to 
 the high honours Avhich he attained. TJie fame 
 which he acquired in his voyage round the world, in 
 which he showed an equanimity of mind equal to the 
 numberless perils and dangers which he encountered, 
 will, while the English language lasts, never cease to 
 be remembered ; and on this voyage, the prudence, 
 perseverance, good conduct, humanity, and courage, 
 which he displayed, would alone have been sufHcient 
 to have made his fortune, and raised him to a great 
 degree of eminence in the naval annals of Great
 
 CH. X.] anson's character illustrated. 393 
 Britain, if no other circumstance had come to his 
 
 aia. * 
 
 This is certainly just ; and in the case supposed, 
 the name of Anson Avouhl have ranked high amona: 
 those early navigators, ]\Iagelhaens, Drake, Caven- 
 dish, Dampier, and other celebrated men previous to 
 his time ; but much more than this is due to his me- 
 mory. To say that Anson was a perfect seaman 
 Avould be no great compliment to an officer who, like 
 him, had spent the tirst thirty years at least, after 
 leaving home, in the various duties of the profession ; 
 and iew men had more painful experience of the 
 dangers, the difficulties, and the melancholy disas- 
 ters, to which a seaman's life is exposed, than he had 
 in those which fell to his lot to encounter in his 
 enterprising voyage round the world. In that voy- 
 age he gave ample proof that he w^as a truly brave 
 man — morally and physically brave — a man of firm 
 nerves, and of great resources in time of need — for 
 the exercise of which, occasions were neither slight 
 nor few. To say he was so is no special praise. 
 All the world knows that a naval officer is and must 
 be brave ; it is a virtue common to the whole pro- 
 fession ; they are instructed from their earliest youth 
 to be so, and it is a plant that grows "with their 
 growth ; but like other qualities it has its degrees, 
 and requires occasions to bring it forth. 
 
 '* Naval and Military Memoirs of Great Britain ; by Robert 
 Beatson, Esq., L.L.D.
 
 394 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. X. 
 
 It did not happen to fall to the lot of Anson to 
 distinguish himself particularly in action with the 
 enemy. His engagement with the great Acapulco 
 ship, with his reduced and feeble crew, just one-half 
 in number to the enemy, was liighly creditable to 
 him, his officers, and ship's company ; and perhaps 
 still more so, after all their sufferings, cheerfully 
 to go forth with the true undaunted spirit of British 
 seamen to seek and meet the enemy. Nor was it 
 a less strono' feature in the character of Anson, 
 that, soon after taking his seat at the Board of Ad- 
 miralty, at a time when the public were dissatisfied 
 at nothing having been done for the first two years 
 of the war, he volunteered to hoist his flag, and 
 assume the command of a fleet for the purpose of in- 
 tercepting two combined squadrons of the enemy, of 
 which he had received certain information ; a step 
 that could only have been taken on public grounds, 
 united with a desire to do something that might dis- 
 tinguish him, and render him worthy of the situation 
 he held in the public service. 
 
 But Anson's character is to be looked at more 
 closely in the civil department of the navy, in which 
 it has been seen he acquitted himself with great 
 ability, diligence, and impartiality. Under his 
 administration, many years before and during the 
 Seven-Years' war, the British navy attained a pitch of 
 power and pre-eminence to which it had never before 
 arrived: while the Heets of France and Spain were
 
 CH. X.] anson's character illustrated. 395 
 
 completely humbled, and almost annihilated ; the 
 remaining portion of them being mostly shut up in 
 their ports during the last three years of the war. 
 
 Nothing can speak more strongly in favour of 
 Anson's character than the confidence placed in him 
 by the Duke of Bedford and Lord Sandwich, both 
 of Avhom, before he had been two years as a junior 
 member of the Board, entrusted him with the manage- 
 ment of the affairs of the Admiralty, and urgently 
 desired him to take into his hands the whole direc- 
 tion of the naval department ; assured him they 
 should consider his acts as their own, and were ready 
 and willing to take upon themselves the responsi- 
 bility of them : all which is so clearly and so dis- 
 tinctly stated in their correspondence, when absent 
 from the Board, which was of frequent occurrence, 
 and is so strongly expressed by Lord Sandwich, after 
 he became the head of the Board, and was confined to 
 his post at Aix-la-Chapelle, as to leave no doubt on the 
 subject, that Anson was, while a junior member, in 
 all respects but in name. First Lord of the Admiralty. 
 
 Anson's attention was not merely confined to the 
 ordinary routine of the civil and military duty ; he 
 had seen and sufficiently experienced the misera- 
 ble kind of ships ours were, as compared with 
 those of other nations, not to take advantage of his 
 situation for their improvement. He knew^ that the 
 old system of building ships, on the ))lan established 
 by order in council of the year 1719, was deplorably
 
 396 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [ciL X. 
 
 had, and that the ships hiiilt after it had not one 
 good quality ; yet it would have been little short 
 of treason to l)reak through it. Anson, however, 
 had not heen two years in the Board when, in 
 1746, he prevailed on tlie Duke of Bedford and 
 Lord Sandwich to obtain a revision of the faulty 
 system, and if possible to establish a better. The 
 mode adopted to bring this about has been 
 shown in the IMemoir ; and the whole proceeding 
 proves the business-like manner in which it was 
 accomplished. The defects of ships of the line at 
 this time were stated to be, that they were narroAv 
 for their length, lean in the bows, and so deficient in 
 bearing, forward, that their pitching, rolling, and 
 labouring, in a heavy sea, always endaPigered the loss 
 of their masts. In short, they were inferior in sail- 
 ing, and in every other good quality, to those of the 
 French. 
 
 The fifty and sixty gun ships formed a very ])rin- 
 cipal part of the line when Anson came into the 
 Admiralty; but, in the course of the Seven-Years' 
 war, when he was at the head of the Jioard, he caused 
 great number of seventy-fours to be laid down, to 
 take the place of the sixties ; and at the time of his 
 death, just before the conclusion of the war, he had 
 built and launched not fewer than four or five first 
 and second rates, and other shi})s of the line, of 
 which not fewer than twenty-nine were seventy- 
 fours, together with ten sixty-fours and sixties. These
 
 CH. X.] anson's character illustrated. 307 
 
 improvements in building ships of the navy were of 
 essential importance, but had been totally neglected 
 by his predecessors. In his time, and long l)efore it, 
 the bottoms of the ships became so foul as to make 
 it necessary, after any short cruise, to have them 
 cleaned and scrubbed with soap and water, or some 
 other lotion, to remove the filth which prevented their 
 speed. IMr. Secretary Pepys had long deplored this 
 great defect, and h;ul in vain wished that the sur- 
 veyors of the navy, a conceited set, would try what 
 a covering of lead would do, but he was never able 
 to succeed in getting the experiment tried. Anson, 
 however, either from his own suggestion or that of 
 some other, ordered the Alarm frigate, in 1761, to 
 be sheathed with copper, the first that was ever so 
 covered ; but, like all new inventions, it took from 
 twenty to thirty years before it became general. 
 
 Anson was not only thus a great benefactor to the 
 materiel of the navy, but equally so to its oflicers, 
 whose claims had not been listened to with that atten- 
 tion nhicli they had a right to expect from one of their 
 own corps, usually placed at the head of the naval 
 department. The number of captains passed over in 
 promotion of admirals was very great for so small a 
 list, but at the same time may have been expedient ; 
 the grievance complained of was, the neglect and 
 injustice of leaving their names at the head of the list 
 of captains, though never intended to be employed, 
 and continuing tliem there on the scanty pittance
 
 398 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. X. 
 
 of lialf-pay. Anson, wlio had passed over a great 
 many on his own promotion_, could not but ieel 
 for their situation ; and that he did so is more than 
 probable, by the order in council which was passed for 
 their relief in the first year after he went to the Board. 
 He was a man of great modesty and simplicity of 
 manners, and so reserved in general society as to give 
 some truth to the point of Williams's hon mot, that 
 " he had been round the world, but never in it :" 
 Walpole, also, is not far from the truth in calling him 
 " the silent son-in-law of the chancellor." His silence 
 and reserve, however, were not the offspring of any 
 deficiency of knowledge or want of ability, either on 
 general or professional acquirements, but from that 
 natural diffidence of his own merit, and a reluctance 
 of speaking in public, which very many men of con- 
 siderable talents have not been able to overcome ; 
 while others, with a parsimony of intellect, are by 
 no means deficient in volubility of speech. As a 
 representative in the House of Commons, and subse- 
 quently as a peer of the realm — as a member of the 
 Board of Admiralty, hokling for many years the 
 high and responsible situation of First Lord — it does 
 not appear, from the parliamentary history, that he 
 ever spoke on any subject, professional or otherwise, 
 although many naval questions of considerable im- 
 portance, in both houses, were brought into discus- 
 sion ; but there were always able civilians in the 
 Board to represent his sentiments. In the records
 
 CH. X.] anson's chaeacter illitsteated. 390 
 
 of the Admiralty there is abundant evidence of his 
 constant and unremittino- attention to the various 
 duties of that department, and of the large share he 
 had in them. 
 
 Anson stood high in public estimation previous to, 
 and after, the unfortunate affair of Byng and the loss 
 of IMinorca, which drove him for a short time, with 
 IMr. Fox, the Duke of Newcastle, Lord HardAvicke, 
 and others, from the administration. Lord Walde- 
 grave, a very honest and competent judge, says, 
 " Lord Anson was also dismissed from the Admi- 
 ralty, a violent clamour having been made against 
 him, of which he was no more deserving than of the 
 high reputation which preceded it. He was in reality 
 a good sea-officer, and had gained a considerable 
 victory over the French in the last war ; but nature 
 had not endowed him with those extraordinary abili- 
 ties which had been so liberally granted him by the 
 whole nation. Now, on the contrary, he is to be al- 
 lowed no merit whatever ; the loss of Minorca is to be 
 imputed to his misconduct, though many were equally, 
 some infinitely more, blameable ; his slowness in 
 ])usiness is to be called negligence, and his silence 
 and reserve, which formerly passed for wisdom, 
 take the name of dulness and of Avant of capacity."* 
 " There never was," says the Duke of Newcastle, " a 
 more able, a more upright, or a more useful servant 
 to his king and country, or a more sincere and va- 
 luable friend." 
 
 * The Earl of Waldegrave's Memoirs.
 
 400 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. X. 
 
 The fleets that he fitted out, with a rapidity never 
 before known, afford no ground for the imputation of 
 slowness ; tlie truth appears to be, that he was slow 
 to decide, but (juick to execute. He was not certainly 
 possessed of shining abilities, but a plain, straightfor- 
 ward, nmtter-of-fact man, attentive to the duties of 
 his office, well acquainted with the practical part of 
 his profession, and — what is perhaps equally import- 
 ant — with the character of the officers belonoinp; to 
 it, which he closely looked at and thoroughly under, 
 stood — the more necessary in his time, as selection 
 for promotion to the flag was almost exclusively the 
 rule. " Anson was remarkable," says JMajor Ken- 
 nel, " for having brought forward such a number of 
 fine officers, who figured as captains and admirals 
 during the ' Seven -Years' war' — Saunders, Sir 
 Piercy Brett, Dogger-bank Parker, Saumarez, Kep- 
 pel, Denis, &c., all of whom served in his ship, or 
 in the South Sea squadron. I knew many of them. 
 The lieutenants and midshipmen of his ship and 
 squadron were the admirals of the Seven Years' and 
 the American Wars. His judgment was great, and 
 lie improved and gave a spur to the navy."* 
 
 If Anson was frugal of his speecli, he appears to 
 
 * MS. letter from Major Rcnnel to a friend. 
 
 It is worthy of notice that three of those (lieutenants and midship- 
 men) who were in Anson's squadron, Howe, Keppel, and Saunders, 
 became First Lords of the Admiralty — that Sir Piercy Brett, Sir 
 Peter Denis, the Hon. John Byron, Sir Hyde Parker, all attained 
 the rank of Admiral, and commanded Uects, the first of them a Lord 
 of the Admiralty. Poor Captain Cheap of the AVager died of fatigue 
 and sufifcring soon after reaching EngUuul.
 
 cn. X.] Anson's character illustrated. 401 
 
 have been no less so of his pen. The Lord Chan- 
 cellor, in acknowledging a longer letter than usual 
 from him, says, " I was sure it must be material upon 
 opening it, since nothing else could have drawn so 
 much writing from your Lordship." In a letter 
 to Lord Sandwich, he himself admits his deficiency 
 thus: "My dear Lord, be assured that, except in 
 ceremony and. correspondence, at both of which 
 I am extremely awkward, nobody living can be 
 more sincerelj'," &c. In fact he had no notion of 
 making a display; but he had the sterling good sense 
 to preserve silence, rather than to show his want of 
 what passes in the world and in society for conversa- 
 tional tact. It appears, indeed, evidently enough 
 from the little he did write, that his education had 
 been defective, and that he was neither more nor 
 less than the plain honest seaman, altogether self- 
 educated. The consequence was, that of all human 
 beings placed in the proud situation in which he stood, 
 he was the least ostentatious. IModesty and reserve 
 were the true characteristics of Anson. In this and 
 many other respects he strongly resembled Lord 
 Howe, of whom a gallant admiral, now living, ob- 
 served, in the words of Isaiah, which are equally ap- 
 plicable to Lord Anson, " He did not kindle a fire to 
 compass himself about with sparks, or walk in the sight 
 of that fire and in the sparks which he had kindled." 
 There were indeed many points of resemblance be- 
 tween these two great and good men. Benevolence 
 
 2d
 
 402 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. X. 
 
 and generosity were tlie distingnisliing characters of 
 each. Howe, when on shore, spontaneously gave up 
 his share of prize-money to those engaged in making 
 it, and his generous acts in many other respects 
 have been put on record. Anson also distributed his 
 share of the whole rich plunder of Paita among his 
 companions concerned in taking it. And we have 
 the voluntary testimony of the lady of South Carolina, 
 who describes his character when there "that he 
 was generous without profusion, elegant without 
 ostentation ; and, above all, of a most tender, humane 
 disposition ; and his benevolence extensive even to 
 his own detriment." This was in the early part of 
 his career, and it remained with him to the last. 
 
 But these acts of kindness and benevolence were 
 perhaps most conspicuous in the relief he was always 
 ready to bestow on those most in need of it — the un- 
 fortunate prisoners of war. His humane treatment 
 of those in the South Sea was acknowledged with 
 gratitude l)y all whom the fortune of war had 
 thrown into his hands. The people of Spanish 
 America, enemies as they Avere, extolled his generous 
 conduct ; and the followers of Anson, who had the 
 misfortune of suffering shipwreck on the coast of that 
 country, were treated with the greatest humanity, 
 and had money offered to supply tlieir wants, because 
 they liad belonged to Anson. A most remarkable 
 instance of the durable reminiscence of benevolence 
 is mentioned by Captain Basil Hall. He says :
 
 CH. x.] axson's character illustrated. 403 
 
 " Lord Anson's proceedings, we were surprised to 
 find, are still traditionally known at Paita; and it 
 furnishes a curious instance of the effect of manners 
 in the opinions of mankind, to observe, that the 
 kindness Avith which that sagacious ofl&cer treated 
 his prisoners is, at the distance of eighty years, better 
 known and more dwelt upon by the inhabitants of 
 Paita, than the capture and destruction of that 
 town."* The French admitted that their prisoners 
 in England were better taken care of under Anson's 
 administration than usual, and they acknowledged 
 it in their negociations for peace : and well they 
 might ; for when their agent avowed that his go- 
 vernment, being in a state of bankruptcy, could no 
 longer support their prisoners in England, Anson 
 prevailed on the English government to contribute 
 to their support, and succeeded in levying private 
 contributions to afford them sustenance. 
 
 That part of Anson's epistolary correspondence, 
 which has escaped destruction, consists of letters ad- 
 dressed to, Avith very few from, him ; a chasm that 
 leaves a sad deficiency in the development of his sen- 
 timents and opinions on particular subjects. Though 
 an indifferent scribe — and that he admits himself to 
 be — his Order Book on the South Sea expedition 
 might serve as a model for any commander-in-chief; 
 it is a pattern of laborious detail and minute regis- 
 
 * Truvels in South America, by Captain Basil Hall. 
 
 2d2
 
 404 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. X. 
 
 tration in all matters pertaining to the public service : 
 his instructions are written with great clearness ; 
 nothing is slurred over; every circumstance is stated 
 with precision. Every name of every Spanish pri- 
 soner is noted down in a list ; every disposition 
 of them accounted for ; so is every spar and every 
 rope-yarn ; in short, that extraordinary book is a do- 
 cument which establishes the character of Anson, as 
 a clear-headed man, and a correct, honest, and faithful 
 servant of the public. 
 
 There is reason to believe that a private journal 
 existed during his long and interesting voyage, in 
 which his feelings were no doubt fully and frequently 
 expressed ; but it has disappeared, having, it is sup- 
 posed, been lent to some one who forgot to return it. 
 We may, however, })retty well gatlier from the letters 
 of his numerous correspondents, Avhich by good 
 chance have been preserved, what their sentiments 
 were with regard to him, and extracts from them will 
 afford the best illustration we have of his character. 
 It is an old saying, " Show me the company a man 
 keeps, and I will tell you liis character." Why not, 
 on a similar principle, say, **Sho\v me the corre- 
 spondence which a man receives, and I will show 
 you what manner of man he is." 
 
 For want, therefore, of his own letters, it may not 
 be amiss to give a few specimens of those of his 
 corresj)ondents, from which some estimate of his 
 character may be formed.
 
 CH. X.] AlS son's character ILLUSTRATED. 405 
 
 The first is from Captain Barnett, of the navy, who 
 writes to Lord Anson a long and very sensible letter 
 from Fort St. David, of which the folloAving is an 
 extract: — "As I cannot snppose that riches and 
 honours have made any alteration in Mr. Anson^ I 
 presume still to address him as my friend, though he 
 is one of my masters. I heartily wish the navy had 
 many of your great capacity and happy temper and 
 disposition: but where are they to be found? and 
 how seldom have we had one man at the Admiralty 
 who really did, or endeavoured to do, anything in 
 support of the corps of sea-othcers, or made the im- 
 provement of the discipline any part of his care ? 
 Ministerial jobs have too often taken up their whole 
 attention, or the care of their own interest and the 
 promotion of their family's. You, Sir, have nothing 
 to risk, and less to fear ; I therefore expect a great 
 deal from you ; and if I am deceived will never again 
 hope to see the grievances of the sea-officers redressed, 
 or any real improvements made, but conclude we 
 are to go on in the ohl stupid tracks of our prede- 
 cessors, leave all to chance, and blunder on ad injl- 
 nitum, without any regular system of discipline. I 
 am stupid enough to think that we are worse officers, 
 thoup-h better seamen, than our neiirhbours : our 
 young men get wrong notions early, and are led to 
 imagine that lie is the greatest officer who has the 
 least blocks in his rigging. I hope you will give 
 another turn to our all'airs, and form a society for the
 
 406 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. X. 
 
 propagation of sea-military knowledge. I think you 
 had formerly such a scheme."* 
 
 From those who had served with Anson the ex- 
 pressions of gratitude and kind feeling are univer- 
 sal. His old lieutenant, Piercy Brett, says, " On my 
 arrival yesterday, I was favoured with your friendly, 
 obliging letter. I heartily wish you joy of your pro- 
 motion, and do assure you the compliment you pay 
 me in making choice of me for your captain gives me 
 the greatest pleasure imaginable, and I shall ever 
 look upon it as a mark of your esteem." f 
 
 From another of his South Sea companions, Cap- 
 tain Cheap, one of the greatest sufferers, where all 
 had to suffer, l^y the additional misfortune of the 
 loss of his ship, and by having to deal with a muti- 
 nous crew, Anson receives the first account of his 
 safety, in a letter dated Landernau, in France, the 
 12tli December, 1745: "I should be unpardonable if 
 I let slip this opportunity, which is the first I have 
 had, of congratulating you on your safe arrival in 
 your native country, after so tedious and fatiguing 
 a voyage, and your having obtained the preferment 
 you so justly deserve in the opinion of all mankind ; 
 even your enemies speak well of you — I mean the 
 enemies of Great Britain, for I believe you have no 
 personal ones ; and, at the same time, I take the 
 liberty to assure you that no man on earth wishes 
 your prosperity with a warmer heart than I do."| 
 * Anson's Collection, No. 60. t lb. No. 90. % lb. No. 110.
 
 CH. X.] anson's character illustrated. 407 
 
 Captain Denis, of the Centurion, one of his South 
 Sea lieutenants, fell in with and captured iive or six 
 rich prizes. In his letter to Anson, he says, with 
 great naivete, " What I have done to deserve all this 
 good fortune I know not ; but thus far shall I be 
 ever sensible of — that the spring of all my success 
 took its rise from your Lordship's friendship, and 
 one of my greatest pleasures is, that of acknowledging 
 it." And Boscawen, Avhom A\^alpole had the inso- 
 lence to say Anson sent on a hopeless expedition to 
 India, out of jealousy to get rid of him, thus Avrites 
 from Madeira: "I hope to be joined by the ships 
 that have parted company, otherwise I am afraid it 
 will be impossible for me to execute the Avhole of the 
 scheme proposed in my instructions ; but I will do 
 all in my power, that I may convince you I am not 
 unworthy the many friendships 1 have received from 
 you." 
 
 Captain Philip Saumarez, another of his South 
 Sea companions, Avrites thus : '* As we are now on 
 the point of sailing, I cannot possibly leave this place 
 without letting you know what part I take in the 
 honours and titles Avliich are preparing for you ; the 
 inward satisfaction they give me is much easier con- 
 ceived than expressed. It is an assemblage of events 
 which rarely happens, that the judgment of the sove- 
 reign and the suffrages and applause of a nation, 
 should so solemnly confirm and unanimously approve
 
 40S LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [cil. X. 
 
 of whatever disliiig-viisliino- marks of honour are to be 
 conferred on you."* 
 
 The Hon. Hem-y Legge, once Anson's colleague, 
 and sent afterwards on special business to the court of 
 Berlin, writes to him some beautiful and sometimes 
 amusing letters. The one dated 4th Sept. 1748, 
 from Berlin, is interesting : — 
 
 " The account of your naval exploits has pene- 
 trated even into tliis inland country, where, though 
 every man one meets is a soldier, they are all ready 
 to allow the merits of a mariner, and able to discern 
 how much more merit one of the profession may have 
 than another. All people here who have the least 
 smattering of English (and many have) are at work 
 with grammars and dictionaries to read over your 
 South Sea voyage ; and as I am kno^-i'n to have been 
 formerly a mariner, great resort is had to me for the 
 explanation of such technical terms as are not to be 
 found in dictionaries. However the work itself may 
 suffer by such a commentator, the author's character 
 certainly A\ill not ; for unless somel)ody here should 
 have malice enough to make me declare, upon my 
 conscience, Avliat sort of a correspondent you are, I 
 think, in all other respects, my reports will not be 
 nuicli to your disadvantage. 
 
 " You may imagine I am not the only dealer in 
 English here Avho has not read it. I have borrowed 
 "^ Anson's CoUecliun, No. 394.
 
 CII. X.] ANSO^'s CHAHACTER ILLUSTRATED. 40'J 
 
 and read it with the greatest satisfaction. Though 
 it is a Avork which, as an Englishman, I am proud of, 
 and, as a mariner, I think will be of perpetual use to 
 tlie faculty ; yet self-interest and private passions can 
 always find something to appropriate to themselves, 
 out of benefits of the most general influence ; and 
 therefore I feel myself most shamefully inclined to 
 thank you, more, for having done honour to my bro- 
 ther, than to your own country. The kind, and, I 
 may say, just paragraph (for otherwise I am sure 
 you would never have admitted it) which relates to 
 him, "will always have authority enough to protect 
 his memory against coffee-house censurers, and the 
 cavils of those children of ease who sit at home and, 
 without risking themselves, blame every man's con- 
 duct they do not and cannot understand. You knew 
 my affection to poor Ned* — measure my obligations 
 to you by it ; and I will dwell no longer upon a sub- 
 ject which always makes me unhappy." ■(• 
 
 The following may serve as a specimen of the 
 lively manner in Avhicli his friend Legge writes. 
 It is dated Berlin : — 
 
 " Dear Anson, 
 
 " Wherever this epistle finds you on this side the 
 water, I hope it will prevail upon you to proceed further, 
 even into Berlin. Whilst you were a sinsrle man vou enter- 
 
 * The Hon. Ed. Legge, who commanded the Severn, in the South 
 Sea voyage, and died when commodore of the Leeward Islands 
 station. 
 
 ••• Anson's Collection, Xo. 'J88.
 
 410 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. X. 
 
 tained notions of this sort^, and gave me room to liope ; I 
 dare say you had not one virtue as a bachelor that has not 
 received improvement and addition by the accession of a 
 good wife, and I am very desirous to rank every kind inten- 
 tion towards your humble servant among the number of 
 your virtues. I know if I can once get them received in 
 that light, they will have the most stable foundation in your 
 own heart; and Lady Anson cannot but applaud and en- 
 courage them. Believe me it is a virtue worthy to enter 
 into the most Christian catalogue, to visit and comfort one's 
 friends and countrymen whilst they are sojourning amongst 
 strangers in a foreign land. You will find it so written in 
 Beveridge, or Nelson, or Jeremy Taylor, or some good 
 book or another ; and though I cannot exactly name to you 
 the chapter and verse, yet I dare say Lady Anson could. 
 The way hither is very good, and not very long ; besides, I 
 am a little pawned in honour to produce you, if possible, for 
 I could not help bragging one day to his Prussian Majesty 
 of the long acquaintance and friendship I had with you, and 
 hinting that I thought it not impossible but you might see 
 Berlin ; at which he intimated, with great vivacity, a strong 
 curiosity to see you. In short, if you come we will treat 
 you with great kindness and cordiality ; if you do not, I will 
 only tell the king, that though you make nothing of going 
 round the world, you grudge the trouble of visiting his 
 capital. I am, dear Anson, behave how you will, most 
 affectionately, &c. " H. Legge." * 
 
 The praise of Anson was not confined to his com- 
 pagnoHS dii voyage and countrymen, it extended to 
 forei<ijners, and, among others, to those whom he had 
 reduced to the state of prisoners. The sentiments 
 
 * Anson's Collection, No. 'J85.
 
 CH. X.] anson's character illustrated. 411 
 
 and the conduct of M. St. George, who commanded 
 the Invincible, and taken by Anson, have been con- 
 trasted with the vapouring M. de Conflans. The 
 friendship which Avas estabhshed between the former 
 gallant officer and Anson — the victor and the van- 
 quished — w^as of the noblest character, and higbly 
 honourable to both. While yet in the Prince George 
 he sent some packet of letters to request Anson 
 to forward them to France, in justification of his 
 conduct to his government, in which he expressed 
 himself, as in his whole correspondence, full of grati- 
 tude and affection. 
 
 The following letter, with a copy of verses, from 
 M. Hardenberg, is highly flattering : — 
 
 "Au Gardenherg, le 4me Juillet, 1747. 
 
 "Monsieur — Permettez que je vous temoigne ma joie, et 
 que je vous febcite de tout mon coeur sur la gloire que vous 
 vous etes si dignement acquire dans votre dernier expedition. 
 Jugez de I'efFet de I'amitie ; elle m'a fait poete en votre fa- 
 veur, moi, qui de ma vie n'ai songe a faire des vers ; ils sont 
 destines pour etre mis sous votre portrait, si vous n'en ren- 
 contrez pas de meilleurs. J'ai fait allusion sur votre visage 
 modeste, malgre lequel vous entreprenez les choses du monde 
 les plus dangereuses, et jai taclie d'y rassemblir en racourci 
 toutes vos belles actions. Faites je vous prie bien des ami- 
 ties de ma part a Mr. H. Legge, et a my Lord Delawar, et 
 me croiez avec autant de sincerite que d'attachement pen- 
 dant tout ma vie. 
 
 " Votre tres humble, &c. " Hardenberg."* 
 
 * Anson's Collection, No. ISJ.
 
 412 LIFE OF LORD A^"SON. [CH. X. 
 
 " Sic vultus hostes inter mortesque serenos. 
 Qua patet oceanus, circum Maria omnia ^cssit. 
 Hcros, cura patria; rccidivum attolleie laudem 
 Natus, ihesauros devicto extorsit Ibero, 
 Foedifragi Hesperium mare Galli sanguine tinxit. 
 Hosquoties salsis stupuit Neptunis in undis 
 Hos adamant nautce, cives, niirabitur Orbis."' 
 
 To this complimentary letter, and its accompani- 
 ment, Anson replies in tolerable good French — 
 
 " Monsieur — Je demande mille pardons d'avoir deffere si 
 long terns de vous remercier de votre belle lettre, et de la 
 part que vous mefaites I'honneur de prendre a ce que inar- 
 rive d'avantageuse. Je de\Toi peut etre me pleindre que 
 vous mettcz tout en oeuvre pour me reduire^ et m»e rendre le 
 plus vain de tous les liommes. Les connoisseurs ont peine 
 a croire que ce n'est que d'aujourd'hui que vous etes poete ; 
 ils trouvent vos vers extremeraent beaux^ et assurement il 
 n'y manque que le sujet. En tout cas je suis plus flatte de 
 Tamitie qui en est la cause que de tous les eloges du monde. 
 Trop glorieux de I'avoir merite, j'en desire avec ardeur la 
 continuation, et je serai toute ma vie avec I'estime et I'at- 
 tachement le plus vrai, votre tres obeissant, &;c. 
 
 '• Anson." 
 
 No one could Ijc more devoted to another than 
 Lord Sandwich Avas to Lord Anson. He was to 
 him a I\Iectcnas in more than naval matters. This 
 has appeared in so many parts of the narrative, that 
 nothinjx further ^vould be necessary; thoui>li a i'^w 
 brief extracts from his correspondence may here be 
 added. Captain Gascoigne had solicited Anson for 
 a particular aj)|)oiutment, and had ;qiplicd to Lord
 
 cii. X.] Anson's character illustrated. 413 
 
 Sandwich, who was inclined to serve him. On this 
 occasion lie says to Anson, " I could not help com- 
 plying with his request in Avriting this to you, though 
 I shall take no otl.ier step in it, nor in this, nor in 
 any other ti-ansaction, act any part that I luive not 
 first concerted with you, and am persuaded is agree- 
 able to your inclination. I can make no other return 
 than this for the many remarkable acts of friendship 
 wliich you have shown to me, and which no thne nor 
 circumstances can ever efface out of my mind." 
 
 At the close of a long letter, fully explaining the 
 ditliculty of his situation at the Hague, and evincing 
 an anxiety that Anson should be satisfied of the recti- 
 tude of the principles by which his actions were regu- 
 lated, he says : " I assure you the thing on -which, in 
 private, as well as in public life, I most sincerely pride 
 myself, is the having been able, with the short ac- 
 quaintance I have had with you, to recommend myself 
 to the being considered by you as your Lordship's most 
 sincere friend," &c. Indeed he loses no occasion of 
 complimenting Anson on his management of the navy. 
 
 " You may easily believe me," he says, "when I 
 tell you it is with the utmost pleasure tliat I congra- 
 tulate you upon the fresh success of our fleet, under 
 the command of Rear- Admiral Ilawke. Besides the 
 advantage this great stroke will give to us in our 
 public afiiiirs, the credit and reputation it will give 
 to our mariners cannot but afibrd a most tliorough 
 satisfaction ; as it is inq)ossible for any one to have 
 the prosperity of a profession more sincerely at heart
 
 414 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. X. 
 
 than I have of that of which you are so deservedly 
 considered as the chief director, and to whose know- 
 ledge and ahility the world is very ready to attribute 
 the different figure that the English fleet has made 
 in the last years, from what it did at the beginning 
 of the war." * 
 
 Anson, having carried over the km^ to Holland, 
 took that opportunity of making a hasty visit to 
 his friend Lord Sandwich, at Aix-la-Chapelle. The 
 latter writes to him after his departure thus : — " As 
 I am in hopes that you are by this time safely arrived 
 in England, give me leave to return you my most 
 sincere thanks for your friendly visit at this place ; 
 every day gives me fresh reason to acknowledge my 
 obligations to your Lordship, of which, in no cir- 
 cumstance of my life, I shall ever be unmindful." 
 
 Lord Sandwich had, very innocently and unde- 
 servedly, roused the jealousy of the Duke of New- 
 castle, the most suspicious, aiul at the same time 
 timid, of public men, explains openly the whole 
 of the circumstances to Anson, and thus concludes: — 
 " You see, my dear Lord, that I write to you as I 
 speak to myself; these things are not proper to be 
 mentioned, but to those one can trust with that entire 
 confidence ; and there is no other man in the world 
 but you to whom I would venture to say half what I 
 now do ; but I have so many proofs of your friend- 
 ship for me, that from you I can conceal nothing." 
 Writino- on the same subject, the conclusion of his 
 
 * Anson's Collection, No. 357.
 
 CH. X.] ANSON'S CHAEACTER ILLUSTRATED. 415 
 
 letter shows not only the confidence lie placed in 
 Anson, but the good opinion he entertained of his 
 judgment: — " I write this letter to you in the ful- 
 ness of my heart, so that I dare say I need not enjoin 
 you to keep it entirely to yourself; as I luwe already 
 said, there is nothing will go so far towards making 
 me think I am in the wrong, as my knowing that you 
 are of a different opinion ; and, if that is the case, I 
 flatter myself you will not conceal it from me." 
 When Anson communicated to him his nomination as 
 First Lord of the Admiralty, he says, — " You will 
 easily conceive my satisfaction on the receipt of the 
 news contained in the last three mails from England. 
 I am sensible how much I am obliged to your Lord- 
 ship for the great weight of your friendship ; and I 
 easily perceive how much your support has contributed 
 to make the way easy to the height of good fortune to 
 which I am arrived, and which I shall never forget to 
 the last hour of my life." And when Lord Sandwich 
 had completed the arduous task of settling the peace, 
 he writes, — "As it will be so soon that I shall have 
 the happiness of being with you, I will say nothing to 
 you at present upon public affairs, any further than 
 to return yon thanks for your constant kindness to me, 
 and for the friendly advice you gave me in your seve- 
 ral letters ; to which, you maybe assured, I shall pay 
 the strictest attention, as there is no one living of 
 whose friendship I am more convinced than I am of 
 yours, or for whose opinion I have greater deference."
 
 416 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. X. 
 
 From the collection of upwards of live hundred 
 letters addressed to Anson, many more extracts might 
 here be added, some of them expressing* gratitude for 
 benefits received, others for attentions bestowed, and 
 others again complimentary, laudatory, or teeming 
 with effusions of pure regard and friendship. 
 
 The specimens here given, expressive of esteem 
 and affection for Anson, from various individuals, may 
 serve to evince an amiable character and disposition 
 in him to whom the letters are addressed. It does 
 not appear, indeed, that he had any enemies, except a 
 few and very few political ones, such as Walpole, 
 whose praise or censure is equally valueless from his 
 tergiversations and constant self-contradictions. 
 
 Dr. Johnson is said not to have liked Anson ; 
 how should he, after w^'iting against him in his de- 
 fence of Byng ? Besides, he was a Whig, and the 
 o'reat moralist had a rooted dislike to Whio-crisni 
 Avhich he said " was a negation of all principle ; " 
 and he once blustered out to Boswell, that " the devil 
 was the first AVhig." Boswell tells us, that one day 
 a lank honey figure, witli short black hair, came to 
 Johnson with an " Ode to the warlike Genius of 
 Britain;" and, in going over it, Johnson, in a tone 
 of displeasure, asked him, " Why do you praise An- 
 son ?" On this passage the editor of Boswell has the 
 followinir note from Piozzi's anecdotes: — "He dis- 
 liked Lord Anson probably from local politics. On 
 one occasion he visited Lord Anson's seat (I\Ioor
 
 CH. X.] anson's character illustrated. 417 
 
 Park), and although, as he confessed, ' well re- 
 ceived and kindly treated, he, with tlie true grati- 
 tude of a wit, ridiculed the master of the house be- 
 fore he had left it half an hour.' In the grounds 
 there is a temple of the winds, on Avhich he made 
 the following epigram : — 
 
 ' Gratum animum lauclo : Qui debuit omnia ventis, 
 Quam bene ventorura, surgere templa jubet.'" * 
 
 Lord Chatham, however, was a more competent 
 judge of Anson's merit than Dr. Johnson. In the 
 dispute with Spain, in 1770, respecting the Falk- 
 land Islands, Johnson wrote a long paper against 
 their establishment. "It was he" (Lord Anson), 
 said Lord Chatham,— "it was he avIio first pointed 
 out the advantages that might accrue to Great Britain 
 from establishing a regular colony upon them. In 
 accordance with his suggestions the English Go- 
 vernment, soon after the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, 
 determined to send ships to extend the discoveries 
 in the South Seas, and particularly to examine 
 into the condition of the Falkland Islands." He 
 added, — " The second naval object with an English 
 minister should be to maintain, at all times, a power- 
 ful western squadron. In the profoundest peace it 
 should be respectable ; in war it should be for- 
 midable ; without it, the colonies, the commerce, the 
 navigation of Great Britain, lie at the mercy of the 
 house of Bourbon. While I had the honour of act- 
 
 * Croker's Boswell's Life of Johnson. 
 
 2e
 
 418 LIFE OF LORD ANSON. [CH. X. 
 
 mg with Lord Anson, that able officer never ceased 
 to inculcate upon the minds of his Majesty's ser- 
 vants the necessity of constantly maintaining a strong- 
 western squadron ; and I must vouch for him, that 
 while he was at the head of the marine it was never 
 neglected." 
 
 This from Mr. Pitt, with whom and against whom 
 it had been Anson's fortune to act, spoken eight years 
 after his death, is a testimony so favourable to his 
 professional character, as to require little more to be 
 said on that subject. 
 
 One thing, however, is rather surprising, that to 
 the memory of such a man no statue, nor monu- 
 ment, nor inscribed tablet, public or private, has been 
 raised. Nothing, even in his own parish-church of 
 Colwich, beyond the dry fact, on the lid of his coffin, 
 of where he was born and Avhere died. " I always 
 feel ashamed," writes an amiable lady of the present 
 family, " when I think that neither private affection 
 nor public gratitude has ever raised a monument to 
 one who has shed such lustre on the name of Anson, 
 while some of the humbler companions of liis voyage 
 have their deeds recorded on marble, in the venerable 
 fane of Westminster." 
 
 There is, however, a memorial of him preserved, 
 of a perishable; nature it is true, but most a])})ro- 
 priately disposed of. When the old Centurion was 
 broken up, her head, a celebrated carved lion, i-am- 
 pant, Avas sent to George III., who presented it to
 
 CH. X.] anson's charactek illustrated. 419 
 
 Charles Duke of Richmond, then JMaster-General 
 of the Ordnance ; the Duke placed it on a pedestal at 
 AVaterbeech, near Goodwood, where it served as a 
 sign to the public-house. The late king, AVilliam IV., 
 saw and admired this venerable relic, and beeoed it 
 of the present Duke of Richmond. It was sent to 
 Windsor, where the King had it placed at the head of 
 the grand staircase; but, on being persuaded, by 
 some of the gentlemen of taste, that it was out of 
 character where it stood, his JMajesty said he would 
 send it where he was sure it would be in character ; 
 ordered it to Greenwich Hospital, with directions 
 to place it in one of the wards, which he desired 
 should be called the " Anson ward ;" and there this 
 bold and well-sculptured royal animal stands, with 
 his head erect, in a rampant posture, measuring just 
 sixteen feet from the ground. On the pedestal were 
 inscribed the foUowine- lines : — 
 
 '' Stay, traveller, awhile, and view 
 One who has travell'd more than you : 
 Quite round the glo})e, through each degree, 
 Anson and I have plough'd the sea ; 
 Torrid and frigid zones have past^ 
 And — safe ashore arrived at last — 
 In ease with dignity appear. 
 He in the House of Lords, / here." 
 
 Many an old sailor of this ward will doubtless 
 have acquired the history of the Centurion's lion, 
 
 * 2 E 2
 
 420 LIFE OF LOUD ANSON. [CH. X. 
 
 and be a])le to narrate the ])rincipal adventures and 
 events of " The Voyage round the Workl." * 
 
 If the deeds of Anson are not to be " recorded on 
 marble," nor any memorial of them, why then, for 
 want of something better, — 
 
 Illi sit monumentum candid'as iste hbellus. 
 
 * The old Centurion must have been a favourite ship ; there is a 
 drawing of her stern by Serres, beautifully carved, a copy of which 
 was kindly sent to me by Robert Cole, Esq., which came too late, or 
 I should have engraved it, together with the head. She was also a 
 o-ood ship, having been more than thirty years in commission, almost 
 constantly at sea.
 
 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 421 
 
 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It had been my intention to confine myself, in the 
 following chapter, to a few observations on tAVo im- 
 portant points — '^Manning the Navy," and "Pre- 
 servation of the Health of Seamen ;" Init there has 
 recently been so much abuse of the Admiralty, and 
 so many misrepresentations with regard to the state 
 of our navy, compared with that of foreign powers, 
 bandied aljout in party pamphlets, newspapers, and 
 after-dinner speeches, that I deem it right, and even 
 feel it a duty, to disabuse the public, by shoAving that 
 the oft-repeated charges of the neglected and reduced 
 condition of the British navy are wholly unfounded 
 in fact. I had, for other purposes, collected from 
 authentic infornuition, and arranged in two tables, 
 the actual state of all the navies in Europe and Ame- 
 rica. With this information before me, as an old 
 servant of more than thirty years in this department, 
 and as one who has been an humble instrument 
 under eleven different naval administrations — Whig 
 and Tory- — and professing myself moreover, as far as 
 my official character is concerned, of no political 
 party (my only parly being the Nax'y), I claim
 
 422 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 the privilege of endeavouring to remove that false 
 impression, which the misrepresentations in question 
 are calculated to make on the British public, and 
 (which is still more to be deprecated) on foreign 
 powers — that the navy of Great Britain is neg- 
 lected, and in a 'progressive state of decay — a gra- 
 tuitous falsehood, the fact being the very reverse. 
 
 For the facts and ol)servations I have ventured to 
 state, I hold myself wholly and solely responsible, 
 having, advisedly, communicated Avith no one, not 
 even with a single member of the Board of Admi- 
 ralty. I have no other object in view but that of 
 letting the truth be known ; by which test I am 
 willing to abide. 
 
 J. B. 
 
 Admiralty, \st December, 1838.
 
 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 423 
 
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 424 
 
 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
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 NAVIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, &C. 425 
 
 § l.-NAVIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, &c. 
 
 Mr. H. W. Craufunl, a young connnaiidcr in the British 
 navy, being at Petersburg, was introduced to, and met Avilh 
 a most gracious reception froin. His Imperial Majesty of 
 all the Russias. He was also allowed to take a cruise of 
 observation in a corvette, fitted and manned for the occasion, 
 to accompany the Russian fleet to sea, on their accustomed 
 annual exercise. He came home so enraptured with the 
 reception he had met with, so astonished at the number, force, 
 and equipment of this fleet, that he could not resist the tempta- 
 tion of publishing a pamphlet, with " Remarks,'' as he prints 
 in large capitals on its first page, " intended to draiv atten- 
 tion to the danger of Icavimj our naxy in its present ex- 
 tremely REDUCED state.'' And he patriotically thus 
 conclude : — " My remarks have not been directed against 
 Russia or her Jieet, in which I was received with kindness 
 and hospitality, but ao-at/ij'^ my own country; to reproach 
 her for the injurious economy, the parsimony, which has 
 led to the present reduced state of her navy." There is an 
 old homely proverb that says, " It is an ill bird that fouls 
 its own nest." If Mr. Craufurd had drawn the attention 
 of the department, under which he holds his commission, 
 instead of the clubs and the newspapers, to any remarks or 
 observations he had to communicate, he might probably 
 have learned that he was at least quite as ignorant of " the 
 present extremely reduced state of our navy " as he is 
 mistaken with regard to the iucreaicd state of that of 
 Russia.
 
 426 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 If he means, as it may be supposed he does, that the 
 number of ships in commission, and of the men borne, in the 
 British navy, have been in a reduced state since the con- 
 clusion of the revolutionary war, the following brief account 
 of them, taken at three nearly equidistant periods, will show 
 him how much he is mistaken : — 
 
 In the year 1820 there were in commission — 14 sail-of-the- 
 line ; and men voted, 23,000 seamen, including marines. 
 
 In the year 1830 — 18 sail-of-the-line ; men voted, 29,000 
 seamen, including marines. 
 
 In the year 1838 — 21 sail-of-the-line; men voted, 34,000 
 seamen, including marines, and 2000 boys. 
 
 And, if he wishes to go back to the year 1792, antecedent 
 to the revolutionary war, he will find that twelve sail of the 
 line were in commission, and 1G,000 men voted, of whom 
 about 12,000 only were borne for a great part of the year. 
 I mention this here, to show how incorrect all those are who 
 speak of the neglected and reduced state of our navy. If 
 the commander means the actual state of the whole navy, 
 he will find himself equally mistaken, liy referring to the 
 Table No. 1. 
 
 It is charitable to suppose that the young commander was 
 really ignorant of both; but his pamphlet of 1837 has had 
 the effect, loose as its statements are, of being the ground- 
 work of all the misrepresentations that have since gone 
 abroad on the suliject. When he " ventures to affirm that 
 we have not at the present moment the superiority upon the 
 seas ; and that it would require some time, and the greatest 
 exertions, to give it to us again ;" one would really supi)ose 
 we were at war, and had suffered defeat in some great ge- 
 neral engagement, which had decided our fate and our fall.
 
 NAVIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, &C. 427 
 
 This silly opinion of a youthful commander may be taken for 
 what it is worth, and no more ; but he would have done well 
 in being less indiscreet in inviting, as it were, " a neiglibour- 
 ing power " to pay us a visit, with " an overwhelming force, 
 within a week's sail of our shores." 
 
 Any imputation of the neglect of, or any slight cast upon, 
 the navy, makes the blood thrill through the veins of every 
 true Englishman, who regards the honour, the welfare, and 
 the salvation of the country ; knowing that, on it, rests the 
 defence of the three kingdoms — the preservation of our colo- 
 nies — the protection of our commerce — the power of repel- 
 ling and avenging insult ; in short, that it is the navy which 
 contributes mostly to make the name of Britain honoured 
 and respected among nations. It is not therefore surprising 
 that the people of these islands, thus tenacious of the ho- 
 nour and reputation of their navy, should feel indignant 
 at the appearance even of neglect, on the part of those to 
 whom the management of its concerns have been intrusted ; 
 and the more so when, by a constant repetition and reiteration 
 of such charges, the misrepresentations at last obtain a 
 sort of general belief. Nor does the mischief end here ; 
 they create among foreign powers a doubt and distrust of 
 the boasted naval power of Great Britain, which never 
 before entered their thoughts. Even France, which, of all 
 others, has hitherto had most reason to acknowledge Eng- 
 land as the mistress of the sea— France, through one of the 
 acknowledged government organs, for so it is said to be, has 
 launched an uncalled-for and rather impertinent observa- 
 tion, regarding the British navy : — 
 
 " The French navy," says the paragraph writer, " pos- 
 sesses at present a materiel which does not fear a compari- 
 son with that of any other nation in the world ; for if we 
 strike out of the pompous list of the British navy, published
 
 428 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 by the British Admiralty, the vessels unfit ft)r se<% we shall 
 find that Great Britain herself, the Queen of the Ocean, 
 cannot muster a greater number of vessels than France." 
 He "-oes on to say, "With these admirable ships — the 
 scientific proportions and perfect armament of which are 
 the envy of all other nations — we have a personel of officers 
 who unite to French valour, knowledge, experience, and 
 discipline," 
 
 We can have no objection to the high qualifications of 
 their personel : . if these be as represented, our personel will 
 have the more honour in beating them, as we have done m 
 all former wars, notwithstanding their larger vessels, heavier 
 metal, and superior numbers, j/enero//y of ships, and a/zfaj/.s- 
 of men. No one ever doubted the valour of the French, 
 nor can it be supposed that the writer meant to dispa- 
 rage that of the English. But if his other object be, as it 
 would appear, to depreciate the materiel of the British 
 navy, it may be as well to assure him that no pomposity is 
 meant by the list in the little blue book, published by Mr. 
 Murray, but convenience merely, in numbering the five or 
 six hundred vessels, of all descriptions, from a three-decker 
 to a ten-o-un briff — from a first-rate to a convict-hulk. He 
 will find our actual force in Table No. 1. 
 
 There is little wonder, however, in the French dispa- 
 raging our navy, Avhen they have so many examples of the 
 kind at home, and from quarters where least to have been 
 expected. Among others, we find a political pamphlet writer, 
 Mr. Montague Gore, stating boldly " that the navies of 
 France and Russia are singly equal to that of Great Bri- 
 tain." This is sheer ignorance ; indeed it so happens that 
 our naval strength in ships-of-the-line is nearly double to 
 either ; or. in other words, superior to both combined. The 
 two pegs on which Mr. Gore hangs his vituperative misre-
 
 NAVIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, &C. 429 
 
 presentation of the government, and the admiralty in par- 
 ticular, are, first, the young commander's discovery of the 
 rapid progress of the Russian navy in the Baltic, and the 
 reduced state of our own ; and, secondly, the fallacious 
 statements of the French journalist. Let us see, however, 
 what these charges really amount to, that are so bountifully 
 bestowed on the naval administration, that they may be 
 answered in something like detail. The three following 
 heads will probably embrace them all : — • 
 
 1. That Old- ships of war, particularly those of the line, 
 are not equal in number, size, or armament, to those of 
 other maritime powers, France and Russia more espe- 
 cially. 
 
 2. That ships-of-the-line are sent to sea without their 
 loicer-deck guns, and with a reduced and inadequate com- 
 plement of men. 
 
 3. That, from the reduced state of naval stores in the 
 dock-yards, and of the number of shipwrights, a fleet, such 
 as a u-ar would require, could not be sent to sea. 
 
 First, I know of no better mode of giving, at a single 
 glance, a brief comparative statement, as to the classes and 
 numbers, of all the navies of the western world, than by 
 exhibiting them, as 1 have done, in two tables. They are 
 constructed from authentic documents, and I have every 
 reason to believe may be relied on as accurate — within a 
 ship or two at most. To the first table I could wish to 
 draw the attention of Mr. Montague Gore, that he may cor- 
 rect his erroneous assertion ; and also to the editor of the 
 Journal de Debafs. The English navy is not, in the table 
 referred to, exhibited as a jjompous list, and it will answer 
 triumphantly that part of the first charge, Avhich relates to 
 its reduction as to numbers. Many of the seventy-four-gun 
 ships are, no doubt, too small to be engaged singly with the
 
 430 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 second class ships of France and America, but they are 
 precisely such as are best adapted for the North Sea and 
 Baltic ; and, in all respects most fit to meet, and defeat too, 
 the twenty sail of Russians of the same class, which we are 
 confidently told are to invade us next summer. 
 
 In frigates, however, especially in those of the first class, 
 it must be admitted we are, as we always have been, some- 
 what deficient : however, with eight of fifty-two guns, and 
 twelve of fifty, carrying thirty-two -pounders ; and forty-two 
 of forty-six guns, also so armed, and equally prepared for 
 throwing shot or shells — in all, sixty-two powerful frigates — 
 we have nothing to apprehend from the sixty-gun frigates 
 so bepraised by a soi-disant Flag-Officer, who shall be 
 noticed presently. We too might add eight or ten guns to 
 our frigates, to give the appearance of increased force ; but 
 a British officer would only consider them as an incum- 
 brance. 
 
 It may become a question whether some of the numerous 
 thirty-six-gun frigates may not be available for very im- 
 portant services; som.e of the best converted into troop- 
 ships, or even if necessary into steamers. Such frigates, 
 besides, must always be useful as auxiliaries to fleets, and 
 to assist in convoys. We should have been glad of them in 
 the last war. Nelson was left so bare of this class of 
 vessels, and so frequently called for more, that ho said he 
 was sure the word frigate would be found, after his death, 
 imprinted on his heart. 
 
 With regard to armed steam-ships, England has no 
 occasion to feel any anxiety on that score. We have the 
 means at all times to arm and bring forward vessels of that 
 description, whenever required. There are none of our fo- 
 reign packet-steamers into which may not be placed a couple 
 of sixty-eight-pouudcr guns, cither for shot or shells, or both.
 
 NAVIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, &C. 431 
 
 or even eighty-four-pounders, these two species of ordnance 
 being accounted as the best kind of armament for steamers ; 
 and we may rest assured that, within two months., or less, 
 after a declaration of war, the British Channel, from Scilly 
 Islands to the North Foreland, will swarm with English 
 armed steam-vessels. It would indeed be disgraceful, if 
 the country that supplies both France and Russia with 
 engines, engineers, and most of the necessary machinery, 
 should not be able to compete with either or both of these 
 nations in this class of ships. The best of those of France 
 are fitted with English machinery ; the rest have very little 
 to boast of. 
 
 The second Table cannot be glanced at without a feeling 
 of melancholy, on reflecting what the navies of Sweden, 
 Denmark, and Holland in particular, once were, and to 
 what a humiliating condition they are now reduced — all 
 sacrificed, at various periods, to their alliance with France. 
 And then as to Spain ! — what a deplorable figure does the 
 remnant of her once proud navy here exhibit ! We well 
 know what became of those noble three-deckers the Sal- 
 vador del Mundo, the San Josef, the Hei-manegildo, and 
 Real Carlos; but where are the Santissima Trinidada, 
 Purissima Concepcion, Princesa del Asturias, and the 
 numerous magnificent ships mounting from eighty to ninety- 
 six guns, and composing a splendid fleet of sixty-eight sail- 
 of-the-line, eight of which were of three decks ? Some of 
 them were reserved to fall with the loss of her American 
 colonies, but the greater part were the victims of French 
 alliance at the battle of Trafalgar I 
 
 When Commander Craufurd talks of the progress made 
 in the Russian navy, he is ignorant of the fact, that a 
 Russian fleet in the Baltic has been a sort of hobby
 
 432 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 since the davs of Peter the Great, who had not less than 
 twenty to tlnrty sail-of-the-line, small^ it is true, in com- 
 parison with the present ; and, with regard to the vaunted 
 increase at the present time, what is the fact? The Rus- 
 sians have not a single sliip-of-the-line in the Baltic, nor 
 in the Black Sea, more than they had fifteen years ago, 
 except those now on the stocks, intended to replace the old 
 ones; so little has Russia increased her fleet! If young 
 officers would take the trouble to read what their seniors and 
 superiors have seen and said ; — if Mr. Craufurd had done 
 this, he would have found that, in the year 18'23, an intelli- 
 gent old captain of the British navy saw at Cronstadt twenty- 
 seven sail-of-the-line, anchnanij of them of the largest class 
 of three-deckers — that he was on board one of the latter, the 
 Leipsic, and says, " she appeared to me, as did inost of 
 the ships, to be hogged, for, when standing on the after- 
 part of the lower deck, it was impossible to see more than 
 one-third forward."* This ship has long since disappeared 
 from the list. The Russian ships in fact last but a few years ; 
 they are built either of Casan oak, or larch, both of which 
 species of timber are of short duration. If Mr. Crauiurd 
 will look still further back, he will find y that, in the year 
 1801, Russia had sixty-one sail-of-the-line, thirty of which 
 were in commission in the Baltic, three of them carrying 
 each one hundred and ten guns ; fourteen in the Black Sea ; 
 the remainder building or in ordinary. Captain Jones also 
 visited Sebastopol, where he found the exact number of ships 
 that are now there, with the exception of those building — 
 fifteen sail — three of them carrying one hundred and twenty 
 guns, and the rest eighty-four. It is certain, however, that, 
 
 * TniVfls in Russia, Sec, by Cajjiain .Tones, R.N. 
 t Schomberg's Naval Chronology, App.
 
 NAVIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, &C. 433 
 
 as the old ones break down, new ones of a superior class 
 are built.* 
 
 Just as this sheet was going to press, a " Flag- Officer of 
 her Majesty's Fleet" comes forward with "A Letter," in 
 the shape of a pamphlet, -' to his Grace the Duke of Wel- 
 lington, K.G., upon the actual Crisis of the Country in 
 respect to the State of the Navy." Very formidable ! Tlw. 
 Duke of Wellington and a Flag-Officer ! — the noblest of 
 names coupled with one assinning an honourable designation 
 but without a name, and both apparently employed as mere 
 "springes to catch woodcocks ;" and a few gulls at least will, 
 no doubt, be caught by the trick. He calls the Duke's at- 
 tention to certain "remarks and facts." As regards both the 
 one and the other, it may be stated briefly, that the whole 
 drift of this letter is to degrade and depreciate the British 
 navy ; and, at its expense, to elevate those of France, Russia, 
 and the United States ; to persuade his readers that these 
 nations are all ready to make war upon us : in short, his " re- 
 marks'" are so disgraceful, impertinent, frivolous, but withal 
 mischievous, as to make it next to impossible any flag-officer 
 
 * As a proof of this, it may be stated that, in the autumn of this 
 year, were launched at Nicolayef — ■ 
 
 Tri SvetiteU— 120 guns, to carry 14G guns. 
 Tii Hierarchi — 84 guns. 
 And a third. 
 To supply the places of — 
 
 The Warsaw of 120 guns, their crack ship, and 
 The Pimen, both rotten and unseawovthy ; also 
 The Ivan Ilalaoust, 74 guns, rotten, and condemned. 
 In short, every ship launched in and before 1830 is slated, by 
 good authority, to be unfit for anything but carrying troops within the 
 Black Sea; and that the fleet in this sea is " neither in its ships or 
 its equipments, officers or seamen, of a character to raise Russia to a 
 high rank among maritime nations." 
 
 2f
 
 434 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 could have written tliem : his "facts," however, must be 
 dealt with somewhat at large. 
 
 His first fact is a fiction. He says that, " before the war 
 of 1 793 (that is, in 1 792), there were sixteen sail-of-the-linie 
 as guard-ships." Here he only mistakes w?ew for -y///J9.y. The 
 vote was for 1 6,000 men; the largest number borne was 
 about 14,000 — generally about 12,000. The number of 
 guard-ships Avere eleven sail-of-the-line, of which two were 
 second-rates, and nine third-rates, bearing 4439 men ; there 
 were, besides, one of the line and twenty frigates on differ- 
 ent stations. "This force," he says (that is, his own erro- 
 neous one), " was a nucleus for a navy, and, upon the sudden 
 breaking out of the war in 1 793, we v/ere speedily prepared ;" 
 but he wisely forbears to expose his ignorance by saying in 
 what manner. I will tell him : Lord Howe was appointed 
 commander-in-chief of the Channel fleet in December, 
 1 792, and in the first three months of the following year 
 15,000 men were raised in the usual way by voluntary entry 
 and by impressment — whereas, now, instead of being " speed- 
 ily prepared," he asks, "has England ever before been found 
 in such a situation ?" The answer is, certainly never — on 
 no former occasion — never, in the whole course of her naval 
 history — could England boast of twenty-one sail-of-the-line 
 in commission, and a vote of 34,000 seamen, including ma- 
 rines and boys, in a time of profound peace. What does this 
 sapient "Flag-Officer" think of this for a "nucleus?" — what 
 does he think when I tell him, and will presently prove to 
 him, that, exclusive of marines and boys, three-fourths of 
 the rest now afloat are able seamen ? 
 
 As he leads us to expect that war will very soon be de- 
 clared by Russia, France, and the United States, if not 
 already done by one of them at least — as he considers all of 
 them ready to become enemies, and names Russia as having
 
 NAVIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, &C. 435 
 
 passed the threshold; he very patriotically tells all these 
 powers what each of them may, with the utmost ease, effect 
 against us. Russia, for instance, he says, has about forty- 
 five sail-of-the-line (she has Ji_fty, twenty of which are small 
 seventy and seventy-fours) ; " she has forty frigates, nine of 
 them equal to line-of-battle ships" (she has twenty-five, 
 twenty-one of which are of thirty-six to fifty guns). " This 
 enormous Russian fleet in the Baltic is intended to in- 
 vade this country, and may next summer (sic) desolate 
 England, ruin her commerce, and blockade her shores, 
 unless England is roused from her stupor." But he says 
 further, the silly people in the interior have " no idea that 
 we are not in a perfect state of defence ;" and that no- 
 thing will awaken them from their "stupefaction but the 
 fact that hordes of Cossacks are landing to plunder London 
 or Brighton." This is pretty well to begin with, but it is 
 not all that Russia has to do for us. She has only, " in the 
 summer or autumn, to take on board troops, and, giving us 
 perhaps not two days' notice of their approach, burn Sheer- 
 ness dock-yard, and our ships, our towns on the coast, and 
 perhaps London itself." He seems aware of the fleet that 
 is to perform this, for he tells us it is to consist of " thirty 
 sail-of-the-line, twenty frigates, and steamers." 
 
 The hardihood with which this letter-writer utters things 
 that are wholly destitute of truth is quite surprising ; he 
 asserts, for instance, that Russia has " an overpowering, well- 
 exercised fleet, which has been increasing for several 
 years:" — pithy, but false; it has been shown that it has not 
 been increasing ; and his text- book of Craufurd would 
 have told him, that their well-exercised fleet is out two or 
 three of the summer months. It went to sea, and took 
 this commander with it : the emperor who, this soi-disanl 
 
 * 2 F 2
 
 436 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 Flag-Officer says, " was exercising it during the equinoc- 
 tial gales," actually joined it on the fourth day, and on the 
 sixth, when a breeze of wind sprang up, it ran back to 
 Cronstadt. 
 
 Let us next see what force France has, and how she is to 
 employ it effectually against us. " She has completely out- 
 built us in her navy ; and not only produced a fleet of the 
 largest ships (being superior to most of ours), but has 
 adopted a method, by a registration of all her seamen, of 
 manning it in a very short time." 
 
 These two misrepresentations require contradiction. We 
 have the most precise statement, by the Baron Tupinier, 
 Membre du Conseil cV Amir ante, of the ships and men com- 
 posing the French navy, as they now stand, and as they are 
 intended to be kept up. " The ordnance," he says, " esta- 
 blished in 1 824, and confirmed in 1 83^, fixes the navy at forty 
 sail-of-the-line, and fifty frigates ; that, however, there are 
 actually twenty-seven sail-of-the-line and twenty-four frigates 
 on the stocks, and twenty-two of the line and thirty-six frigates 
 afloat ; making forty-nine sail-of-the-line and sixty frigates." 
 These numbers are intended to be gradually reduced 
 to — 
 
 20 sail-of-the-line, and 25 frigates, afloat. 
 
 20 sail-of-the-line, and 25 frigates, on the stocks. 
 
 And it may here be observed that, in the year 1815, France 
 had seventy-three ships-of-the-line, and consequently twenty- 
 four of-the-line have been broken up, one each year on an 
 average. But the impudent assertion, which follows, is 
 enough to make the blood boil of every British officer and 
 seaman — "France has at this time a naval force equal to 
 more than a hundred sail-of-the-line of our ships!' There
 
 NAVIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, &C. 437 
 
 was a time when a British officer would not have shrunk from 
 engaging a French ship of superior size, of more guns, of 
 heavier metal, and with a greater number of men, which he 
 generally captured with a slaughter five, ay, frequently ten, 
 times greater than in his own ship : the " Flag-Officer" may 
 be ignorant of this, as he appears to be of most things con- 
 nected with the navy ; but he is the first man of the rank 
 he pretends to hold, who has thus ventured to depreciate the 
 British navy, by publishing to the world that a hundred sail- 
 of- the- line are necessary to engage fifty of the French — that 
 is, two British ships of Avar of the same class are required to 
 fight one of the French. With such feelings, it is to be hoped 
 that his bit of bunting may never fly at the masthead of any 
 of her Majesty's ships — "let no such man be trusted." 
 
 " The ships of France," we are told, "are swarming over 
 the ocean, while ours are scarcely anywhere to be found." 
 The swarm is not very large ; for she has actually no more 
 than ten sail-of-the-line and sixteen frigates in commission ; 
 eight of the line and twelve frigates are the peace establish- 
 ment ; the excess being called for by the affairs of Tunis, 
 Mexico, and Ancona. England has twenty-one sail-of- 
 the-line and nine frigates in commission, besides a whole 
 "swarm " of smaller ships. But, as he not only persists in 
 magnifying the size and number of the French ships-of- 
 the-line, the latter of which he raises from forty-nine (the 
 actual number) to fifty-seven, it may be as well to compare 
 the different classes and numbers as found in Table No. I. 
 
 Of the 1st class, from 100 guns and upwards, France has 
 
 6 afloat, and l6 Iniilding. 
 Of the same class, England has l6 afloat, and 3 building. 
 France therefore has 22, and England 19, of this class. 
 Of the 2nd class, from 80 to 100 guns, France has 7 afloat^ 
 
 and 1 1 building.
 
 438 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 Of the same class, England has 17 afloat, and 7 building. 
 
 Making French, 18— English 24. 
 
 Of the 3rd class, from 70 to 80 guns, France has 7 afloat, 
 
 and £ building. 
 Of the same class, England has 45 afloat, and 2 building. 
 Total— English 90; French 49- 
 
 But, to give the appearance of extreme accuracy, the 
 " Flag-Officer" has a list of French ships-of-the-line, with 
 the names of his fifty-seven, from which I shall take the 
 liberty to strike out eight. 
 1st Class— L'Austerlitz, Le Wagram, broken up; Le 
 
 Trocadero, burnt. 
 2nd Class — Le Foudroyant, Le Duquesne, Le Magnifique, 
 
 broken up. 
 3rd Class — Le Breslau, broken up ; Le Superbe, lost. 
 
 These are all gone, or condemned to go, to the tomb of 
 all the Capulets. Of the remaining forty-nine there are 
 three hulks, Le Tourville, Le Veteran, Le Jean-Bart, and 
 a school-ship, L' Orion, which would reduce their line-of- 
 battle ships to forty-five; but there are four building to 
 supply their places, of which the " Flag-Officer" knows no- 
 thing — Le Valmy, Le Sceptre, Le Castiglione, and L' Argo- 
 naut — still making, as in Table L, forty-nine. There is no 
 end, however, to his blundering fads and unfounded asser- 
 tions : thus, "the French," he says, "have gone on building 
 and launching;" utterly ignorant that, since the year 1815, 
 with all their building and launching, twenty-four ships-of- 
 the-line, as before observed, have disappeared. He talks 
 loosely and absurdly of " France and Russia having sixty or 
 seventy sail of heavy ships in cominissio7>y Now, taking the 
 whole twenty-seven sail-of-t^c-line in the Baltic, for a few 
 months or days in commission, and the ten usually so in the
 
 NAVIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, &C. 439 
 
 Black Sea, and the ten of the French in commission, the 
 whole will amount only to forty-seven sail-of-the-line ; but 
 the truth is, he mistakes en commission, which signifies ships 
 pretty much in the same state as our twelve (foolishly named 
 demonstration ships), for ships actually in commission, which 
 in France is armes ; those not in commission are desarmes. 
 He concludes his enumeration of the tremendous force of the 
 French by an amusing instance of the bathos — " A French 
 frigate entered Sydney in New South Wales!" — and "is 
 this," he asks, "to preserve peace?" Another specimen of 
 the ludicrous is that of Marshal Soult's visit to Sheerness, 
 to dine with Sn- Robert Otway, on which occasion he gravely 
 tells us, the gallant old soldier acted the part of a spy, for 
 "he no doubt well reconnoitred Sheerness ! ' 
 
 With regard to that excellent mode of registration of sea- 
 men, by which France, in a very short time, can man her 
 navy, M. Tupinier will perhaps best satisfy him, that he 
 knows nothing of the matter, or he would have been aware 
 that France has the greatest difficulty in manning her fleet at 
 all. "It becomes a question," says the Baron, "whether 
 forty sail-of-the-line and fifty frigates are not too great a force 
 for the resources of Vinscription maritime to man and 
 afford also the means of recruiting their crews, which might 
 require 57,000 men;" "but," he adds, "it never entered 
 into the mind of any one, that it was intended to put this 
 force in commission at once." "The total number of sea- 
 men inscribed," he says, " amounts to 90,000 — 
 
 But from this number, he also says, must be deducted — 
 Captains, mastei's, and pilots . . 10,000 
 
 Les novices (landsmen) . . • 15,000 
 
 Les mousses (apprentice-boys) . . l'i,000 
 
 37,000
 
 440 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 leaving 5.'3,000, out of wliicli tlie fleet is to be manned. 
 But he further observes, that of those 53,000, there are only 
 34,000 or 35,000, from the age of twenty to forty, fit for the 
 service {hons an service) ; and that the number of men kept 
 in actual service of the fleet does not exceed 1 8,000. 
 
 If the authority were not above question, it would scarcely 
 be credited, that the commercial marine employs only, in 
 long voyages, in the great fisheries, and the great coasting 
 trade (grand cabotage), about 27,000 seamen, exclusive of 
 23,000 others, engaged in the small coasting craft (petit 
 cabotage). From the first number, he says, recruits are 
 taken from the navy, but only under extraordinary circum- 
 stances, more extraordinary still from the second ; and he 
 concludes by saying, that the real active portion of the 7iiari- 
 time iascrijJtiorc is at least 45,000 men. 
 
 Already employed in ships of war . . 18,000 
 
 " " in ships of commerce 27,000 
 
 45,000 
 
 Such are the resources from which France has the power 
 " of manning her fleet in a short time.'' 
 
 And now for the last enemy — that either is or is to be — 
 the United States, who, he finds, "have sent a formidable 
 squadron to South America, of seven men-of-war, all perfect 
 of their kind, a part of which would be sufficient to take pos- 
 session of the whole of our contemptible squadrons there, 
 at the Cape, and in India, with our three admirals command- 
 ing them, and carry them to New York." This is mere 
 impertinence. The United States make no secret of their 
 naval force or of its disposition. They have two ships- 
 of-the-line and six frigates in commission, and one of these, 
 and one frigate, with some smaller vessels, constitute their 
 force in the Pacific, which is to take our three admirals, on
 
 NAVIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, &C. 441 
 
 that station, at tlie Cape of Good Hope, and in India ! They 
 have two of the second chiss and three of the third in or- 
 dinary, and eight on the stocks, making in the whole fifteen 
 of the hne. The Americans are, moreover, kindly informed 
 that " a few of their powerful ships with troops might run into 
 Halifax harbour, and all Nova Scotia would be in their power ;" 
 nay, more, much more — " they might at any time take posses- 
 sion of Cape Breton, establish themselves in Louisburg, and 
 l^ew Brunswick would soon folloAv." Crossing the Atlan- 
 tic, " The inhabitants of Brighton and all our undefended 
 sea-coasts would not be safe in their houses; neither can it 
 be said that London would be secure from being plundered 
 and burnt ;" and, to remove all doubt of the lamentable 
 state to which we are reduced, we are assured that the Baltic 
 fleet will be '' all ready in the summer to pass over into 
 England;" that they may "anchor at St. Helen's, take the 
 Isle of Wight, and establish themselves there." 
 
 Does this "Flag-Officer" know — it may charitably be 
 supposed he does not — that were lie afloat, and we in the 
 position he would place us, with regard to France, Russia, and 
 the United States (that is, at war), the pains and penalties 
 of the 3rd Article of War, which are not slight, would very 
 nearly, if not entirely, attach to him ? As it is, his crime goes 
 somethina: beyond frightening old women and children, from 
 Leith to the Land's End ; he is using his best endeavours 
 to stir up friendly nations against us, and to inflame the 
 minds of the Queen's subjects against them ; but, however 
 it may vex him, he will learn from the President's speech, 
 that " the most amicable dispositions continue to be exhi- 
 bited by all the nations with whom the government and citi- 
 zens of the L^nited States have an habitual intercourse." — 
 And Louis Philippe says — "My relations with foreign 
 powers are as satisfactory as ever. France occupies the
 
 442 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 rank which belongs to her in the esteem of her allies and of 
 the world." 
 
 Taking this letter altogether, I repeat, it appears impos- 
 sible that any British flag-officer can be the author of so 
 disgraceful and mischievous a production ; and my reasons 
 for this belief are, — 
 
 1. Because a British flag-officer, in possession of informa- 
 tion, hostile or injurious to the Queen's government and 
 the nation, would feel it to be his bounden duty to make it 
 known to her Majesty's ministers, instead of conveying it to 
 the enemy, or those whom he treats throughout as enemies. 
 
 2. Because a British flag-officer would not, by word or 
 writing, endeavour to excite friendly nations against his own ; 
 nor, by exposing what he describes to be '' the nakedness of 
 the land," earnestly and repeatedly invite them to invade us, 
 and assure them of success. 
 
 3. Because a British flag-officer would disdain to pub- 
 lish to all the world the alleged, but false, degradation of his 
 own navy, and extol the superior strength and condition of 
 those he considers as already, or on the eve of becoming, 
 enemies; one of whom he proclaims as " an overpowering 
 enemy, that may be said to be at our doors." 
 
 4. Because a high-minded British flag-officer would not 
 anonymously, covertly, and factiously, prefer grave accusa- 
 tions against his own department, to which he is subordinate 
 and amenable, whether afloat or on shore, without giving his 
 name, and notice, to the accused, of his intention to do so. 
 
 There was a time when this " flag-officer " might have 
 incurred some danger of suffering the penalty inflicted on 
 the gallant Admiral Vernon, for a very similar, though much 
 less culpable proceeding : but, for his own credit, be he who 
 he may, he would act wisely by throwing aside his pen, and 
 leaving England, France, Russia, and America, in that
 
 NAVIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, &C. 443 
 
 state of repose which, it is to be hoped, neither he nor 
 those he has copied, nor those who laud his performance, 
 will succeed in disturbing. 
 
 From the prudence hitherto displayed by Louis Philippe, 
 it may be augured that, as far as depends on him, he has no 
 disposition to quarrel with England. He and his ministers 
 must be well aware that a war between England and France, 
 at this time, would inflict a great and general curse on every 
 nation of Europe — and for what purpose ? — What could 
 either party expect to gain, while both must infallibly incur 
 loss by war ? The French ministers are too wise not to 
 know that a war must deprive France immediately of the 
 whole of her slave colonies — Martinique, Guadaloupe, 
 Guiana, Bourbon, &c. ; that, let but the negyo emancipation 
 flag be unfurled, and all of them would at once follow the 
 example of San Domingo ; that the pet conquest of 
 Algeria, blockaded by sea, and pressed upon from within, 
 could not long hold out. Nor is it certain that the position 
 of the present dynasty might not be seriously affected. 
 Louis Philippe has not yet, notwithstanding all his sagacity, 
 prudence, and good conduct, acquired any of those prestiges 
 which blazed like a glory around the crown of Napoleon. 
 France, therefore, notwithstanding what the '* Flag-Oflicer " 
 says, will no doubt deprecate war as well as England. 
 
 But Russia? This power is undoubtedly the least of all 
 others to be trusted, because war or peace is, in that nation, 
 actually the prerogative of one man ; and her motions ought 
 therefore to be more closely watched : it is not, however, be- 
 cause she has two large fleets, that she makes herself an 
 object of jealousy to England ; but it is her warlike indica- 
 tions in keeping them constantly manned, and, as we are 
 told, provisioned for four months, ready at a moment's notice 
 to put to sea ; — it is this state of naval preparation, enabling
 
 444 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 her to commence hostilities at once^ that shoukl keep us on 
 our guard against a surprise. She has neither cok)nies nor 
 commerce to protect : is it not then a fair question to be 
 asked^ by Austria, France, or England, for what purpose is 
 a naval armament, in such a state, kept on foot? It may 
 be against England, or Turkey, or both — in either case, it 
 behoves us to be prepared ; for if Nicholas be, as he is 
 represented, ambitious, restless, vindictive, and unforgiving, 
 and wholly independent of the opinion of his subjects, he can 
 never want a pretext for going to war. But, from the ele- 
 vated position he holds among European nations, he ought to 
 be esteemed a man of honour, cautious of acting the part of 
 a barbarian and a midnight robber, whose object is to invade 
 the shores, burn the houses, plunder and maltreat the inha- 
 bitants —as the "Flag-Officer" takes great pains to persuade 
 us he is prepared to do next snmmer ; if war be his object, 
 there must be discussions, negociations, manifestoes, previous 
 to actual war, as customary among civilized nations. He is 
 moreover said to be a calculating monarch ; and if so, it will 
 be difficult to conjecture by what process he will arrive at the 
 conclusion, that a war with England would be gain to Russia. 
 The hirelings of the German press, who are well paid for 
 depreciating England and extolling Russia, may flatter him, 
 as one of them has done, with the idea of his dictating a peace 
 to Eno-land from the palace of Calcutta; but they carefully 
 abstain from hinting that England, by a blockade of the Gulf 
 of Finland, and the occupation of Petersburg, may dictate 
 to Russia from the capital of Peter the Great— the one is 
 about as likely to happen as the other.* 
 
 * An able pamphlet, published by Murray, under the title of 
 " Pro'n-ess and Present Position ot'Rui-sia in the East," shows what 
 have been, what art-, and what will be, the views of this overgrown 
 despotic power, which, if not soon checked, will prove an overwhelming
 
 NAVIES OF GRExVT BRITAIN, FRANCE, &C. 445 
 
 Taking leave of this Flag-Officer for tlie present, the 
 next point to be considered is that of the size of ships in 
 the several naWes, which appears to be carried by all 
 the maritime powers, in imitation of each other, to a pre- 
 posterous extent. The United States, being a young and 
 ambitious naval power, and perhaps a little puffed up 
 by having in the last short conflict obtained a superiority 
 by large and fully-manned ships over those of a very infe- 
 rior class, conceived the proud notion of outdoing the rest of 
 the world, by building a ship of enormous magnitude — pro- 
 bably on the principle of the builders of the tower of Babel 
 — to "make themselves known." It was a kind of boast, 
 that the Pennsylvania, of 3000 tons, was the largest ship in 
 the world. We seem determined, however, to outdo her by 
 building four ships of 3100 tons each — the Royal Frederick, 
 the Royal Sovereign, the Victoria, and the Algiers ; and 
 when to these we add the Howe, Britannia, St. Vincent, 
 Caledonia, Royal William, Nelson, Prince Regent, Water- 
 loo, Hibernia, Neptune, Royal George, St. George, and 
 Trafalgar — thirteen ships of 120 guns each ; besides two of 
 1 10 guns, three of 10-i guns, one of 92 guns, ten of 84, and 
 four of 80, making twenty of these fine ships, it requires no 
 small degree of impudence to proclaim the British navy in 
 a state of decay, and her ships inferior to those of other naval 
 powers. But where, it may be asked, is the wisdom of this 
 competition in attempting to outbuild each other in the 
 
 power. Its acquisitions, marked on tbe chart which accompanies 
 this pamphlet, are so scattered over, and indented into, the several 
 states of Europe, looking Uke so many plague-spots, that must sooner 
 or later be dispersed or burst : but, in the mean time, what arc all the 
 powers of Europe, exposed to the infection, about? Let them look 
 seriously on this chart, and, if its spotted blisters will not arouse them, 
 nothing will.
 
 446 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 size of ships? Would not the battle be just as well and as 
 honourably fought and decided between fleets composed of 
 seventy-fours, sixty-fours, or any other class of ships, as by 
 such monsters as these ? — except indeed it be considered an 
 advantage to incur additional expense in the building, fitting, 
 and manning such ships, and an enormous additional ex- 
 penditure of human life, increased to an incalculable extent, 
 if shell-guns should be found to answer the purpose contem- 
 plated by M. Paixhans : we shall, in that case, have a naval 
 war of extermination — but it will probably be short, and in 
 the end so far advantageous, as to teach nations and indivi- 
 duals to arrive at that point of wisdom, which may realise the 
 poet's hypothesis, where he says — 
 
 " War is a game that, were their subjects wise, 
 Kings would not play at." 
 
 The Russians, too, must build their large three-deckers ; 
 but little need be thought of them, till they are better 
 manned and better managed. There is not an officer in 
 our service, commanding one , of our first-class ships, that 
 would not be delighted to be laid alongside the Warsaw,* 
 said to mount one hundred and thirty-six guns, thirty-six- 
 pounders, with four on the lower deck sLxty-eight-pounders ; 
 or even that mighty eighty- four-gun ship that. Commander 
 Craufurd tells us, and the " Flag-Officer " repeats, " has a 
 large gun which throws a shell of one hundred and 
 twenty pounds, Avhose weight is six tons and three-quarters, 
 and whose charge is sixteen pounds of powder ; which is 
 worked bv sixteen men, and requires six minutes between 
 each rouild ;" so that, for each shot, she would receive six 
 from every one of our sixty-eight-pounders. When Paixhans 
 proposed these shell-guns, he boasted that he had invented a 
 
 "" Recently found to be rotten.
 
 NAVIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, &C. 447 
 
 machine that would avenge the French for the disasters of 
 her navy, caused by the English in the revolutionary war, 
 and make the next more murderous — a weapon of vengeance 
 and massacre ! — would not even-handed justice require him 
 to be the first victim of his own infernal machine ? 
 
 We must of course follow, and are rapidly following, the 
 example set by others ; indeed, six years ago, experiments 
 were made with the long sixty- eight-pounder gun, and at the 
 same time the long twenty-four-pounder guns were bored up 
 to thirty-two-pounders, which are now, and will be hereafter, 
 universally used wherever they can : but it may be a matter 
 of doubt how long the practice of throwing shells from these 
 two species of guns will continue. The experiments that 
 have been made by that intelligent and indefatigable officer. 
 Captain Hastings, are highly satisfactory, as to their destruc- 
 tive effects ; but every body must see there is a great 
 difference between firing from one fixed object to another, 
 also fixed, and in an action at sea. There, no one seems 
 to know precisely what the effect will be ; but it is not 
 difficult to foresee the disadvantages — such as the diffi- 
 culty of adjusting the length of the fuse to the varying dis- 
 tance of the object — the charge of powder according to that 
 distance — so as to bury the shell in the ship's side, where it is 
 intended to explode — the chance of its remaining thus buried, 
 and not exploding at all — the difficulty and time required for 
 placing the shell in the gun as it ought to be — the additional 
 weight of the gun and shells on the ship — the additional 
 number of men required for loading, bringing up the shells, 
 and running out the gun — the delay of some minutes in 
 firing each round ; — these and other draAvbacks will pro- 
 bably be found incidental to shell-guns on board ships. 
 England, however, Avill not be left behind, and her seamen
 
 448 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 will soon learn and manfully do their duty at these guns, 
 as they have ever done with others. They go to work 
 quietly, v/ithout hustle or blustering ; and the nation is 
 neither in a state of " stupefaction/' as the Flag-Officer 
 impudently asserts, nor does it see any occasion for "■ un- 
 chaining and unmuzzling the British Lion," as he most 
 valiantly recommends in concluding his rodomontade. 
 
 The French are fond of elevating their guns and firing 
 at a distance, aiming rather to dismast a ship than to hull 
 her ; but of this we may be certain, that our captains will 
 not attempt to throw a shell, until they come within point 
 blank distance, when, even should it miss explosion, it 
 will do the business of a sixty-eight-pound shot, by going 
 through. The ten-inch shell-gun, eighty-four-pounder, is 
 considered best adapted as a pivot or slide-gun for steamers. 
 
 Paixhans is, however, proud of his invention, which, by 
 the way, is none.* He says " the English boast that a ship- 
 of-the-line speaks all languages; and truly enough they 
 carry orders that are understood by all nations; but we 
 hope to be able to prove that a ship-of-war, he she what 
 she may, speaks not so loud but that another may speak 
 still louder, and put her to silence." This nonsense was 
 uttered many years ago, but it has only arrested the atten- 
 tion of the French government recently, and the results of 
 the experiments made with his shell-guns induced it to 
 adopt this murderous species of warfare. 
 
 While on the subject of building and px'eserving the fleet, 
 it may be stated that, not many years ago, the attention of 
 
 ■''■ The little treatise, of Captain Simmons, R.A., containing the 
 history, practice, and results of hollow shot and loaded shells, directed 
 against ships-of-war, should be read and studied by every oilicei- of 
 the British navy.
 
 NAVIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, &C. 449 
 
 the Board of Admiralty was drawn to the great number of 
 new ships building, and with such rapidity, that they were 
 launched, not from any want of ships, but apparently as if for 
 no other purpose than to rot at their moorings in ordinary. 
 In the year 1832, when matters of this kind were closely 
 looked into, it appeared that the Nelson, of one hundred and 
 twenty guns, launched in 1814, (eighteen years before.) 
 the Vindictive, seventy-four, (nineteen years before,) the 
 Pitt, seventy-four, (sixteen years before,) Bellerophon, 
 eighty, (fourteen years,) had not one of them ever been at 
 sea ; and that other ships-of-the-line, in the several ordinaries, 
 to the number of sixteen, were in the same predicament. 
 This waste of ships and public money arose entirely from 
 the want of some system, in bringing the oldest sea- 
 worthy ships forward for service, in some sort of succession, 
 in time of peace. Something of this kind might be done — ■ 
 suppose, for instance, by way of illustration, that the esta- 
 blishment of the fleet to be kept up be sixty sail-of- 
 the-line ; that on a very moderate estimation the duration of 
 a well-built and well-seasoned ship, carefully looked after, 
 may be taken at fifteen years, requiring only slight, if 
 any, repair. Let twelve be the number employed on the 
 peace establishment, (exclusive of guard-ships,) and each 
 of them be kept in commission three years, and, when paid 
 off, singly or together as may happen, twelve others be 
 brought forward to replace them. At the end of fifteen 
 years the whole sixty will have had their tour of service, and 
 be put into a state of repair as they come m. 
 
 But as ships will wear out and accidents happen, suppose 
 four ships a-year (two new ones and two old ones repaired) 
 to be provided ; this number annually brought forward would 
 always keep up the number to sixty; and a reserve in case 
 
 2g
 
 450 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 of war, that every new sliip, on an improved construction, 
 had its duplicate prepared in frame and placed under cover, 
 to be set up as occasion might require, we should thus be 
 provided with the necessary war establishment. 
 
 Every one conversant with the subject must be aware 
 that no perfect uniformity of this kind can be strictly 
 adhered to, but something of the sort might be adopted, to 
 prevent ships from rotting at their moorings, as in various 
 instances has been the case ; for, it has been supposed that 
 a ship in commission (barring accidents), will last longer 
 than a ship in ordinary, because, in the former case, she is 
 better looked after, and more interest is felt in keeping her 
 in a state of repair, than in the latter. 
 
 While on this subject, it is to be hoped that we shall have 
 no more tampering with dry-rot doctors and their nostrums 
 for the preservation of Her Majesty's ships. The steeping 
 of large logs of timber in solutions of any kind is perfectly 
 useless ; the solution penetrates only skin deep, whereas the 
 real dry-rot commences at the centre, where the fibres, 
 being the oldest, first give way, as is the case in the standing 
 tree. The only plausible and promising preservative of tim- 
 ber is the gas of the kerasote, procured from the distillation 
 of coal or vegetable tar, which, when driven off" in the 
 shape of gas, will penetrate every part of the largest logs, 
 and render the wood almost as hard as iron, so hard, 
 indeed, as not easily to be worked. It is understood that 
 in Belgium they are using it as blocks for the railroads. 
 The worm (teredo navalis), as proved at Sheerness, will not 
 touch it, while pieces of the same wood, steeped in corrosive 
 sublimate, sulphureous acid, and other active solutions, were 
 bored through and through. Let our ships be built of good 
 sound English oak, as they formerly were, well seasoned, 
 under cover, and left on the stocks as long as they conve-
 
 NAVIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE. &C, 451 
 
 niently can be allowed^ and we shall hear no more of dry-rot 
 or wet either.* 
 
 2. The second charge brought against the Admiralty is 
 that ships-of'the-line are sent to sea without their lower- 
 deck guns in, and with areduced complement of men. It is 
 quite true that three, of the twenty-one in commission, have 
 been so sent, as a temporary accommodation to three ad- 
 mirals, whose flags they bore, and their retinue. It was 
 thought that such accommodation, in a time of profound 
 peace, was a courtesy that might be allowed, when asked for, 
 without the slightest inconvenience to the service, and without 
 any additional expense. The Board well knew that a very 
 short delay would occur in remounting them ; and accord- 
 ingly one of the three, the Cornwallis, has now her com- 
 plete armament of guns; and the Wellesley has hers on 
 the spot. Three other ships-of-the-line, employed on a 
 pressing emergency to convey regiments to Halifax and 
 Quebec, struck their lower-deck guns into the hold, 
 for the greater convenience and comfort of the troops 
 and seamen; and every reasonable man, instead of cen- 
 suring, will applaud the Admiralty for adopting a m,ea- 
 sure by which several regiments have been conveyed to 
 their destination, with that rapidity and in that good state of 
 health, so essentially necessary for the service they were sent 
 upon. The Hercules carried three regiments, and made 
 three trips to Halifax, without her lower-deck guns : the 
 Russell has lain idle seven months in the Tagus, with her 
 guns — which ship has been most usefully employed ? This 
 charge can only be regarded as factious and frivolous. 
 
 * The Royal William carried a Hag as guard-ship, when nearly 
 a century old; the Sovereign of the Seas was burnt when half 
 a century old ; and Anson's Centurion, always in service, was broken 
 up when nearly forty years old ; yet none of these, nor many hundred 
 old ships, were steeped in any quack nostrums. 
 
 (O G -w
 
 452 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 But then our sliips-of-war are sent to sea with short com- 
 plements of men ; that is to say, with their lieace comple- 
 ments, which, taken broadly, may be said to average one- 
 eighth less than the war complements. It is quite true they 
 are so sent, according to ancient practice (varied only as to 
 the numbers), ever since the navy existed as a navy ; but 
 now-a-days that goes for nothing — •*' old things have passed 
 away; behold, all things are become new." It is quite 
 unnecessary therefore to attempt any justification of the 
 practice on the ground of ancient precedent ; it is indeed a 
 pure naval question, on which it is not for me to give an opi- 
 nion : I shall therefore only observe, that the present peace 
 establishment is taken from that of war, as settled by a com- 
 mittee of naval officers in the year 1 8 1 G, revised in the year 
 ] 828, and altered from time to time, as ships of different 
 classes and dimensions were brought forward, and is now 
 undergoing a revision, required by the change in the arma- 
 ment and rating of ships. 
 
 As compared with the war complements, one woidd 
 imagine the present peace establishment to be ample. For 
 instance, that of a seventy-four, in war, being only 590, is 
 now 570 ; of the former, the number of able seamen was then 
 limited to one-third, the ordinary one-third, and landsmen 
 one-third; now the able seamen are estimated at seventy- 
 five per cent.* First class boys, during war, were admitted 
 from fourteen to seventeen years of age; now they arc 
 required to be from seventeen to twenty. The fact seems 
 to be that, in war, officers thought only of seeking and 
 fighting the enemy; in peace, very pi'operly, of keeping 
 their ships in the highest possible order, to compete with, 
 
 * On examining the books of 1834, of six sliips-of-the-line and 
 eij^hteon frigates, it appears that the average proportions then were, 
 seventy able, twenty-six ordinary, and four landsmen /jer cent. They 
 are known to bear now more in iavour of able seamen than then.
 
 NAVIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, &C. 453 
 
 and excel in smartness, such full-manned French ships they 
 may meet with, in manoeuvring, Avithout calling all hands for 
 that purpose. The battle of the Nile was fought with twelve 
 seventy-four-gun ships, whose average complements did not. 
 exceed 560, and among whom were several foreigners — 
 Portuguese, Maltese, and Neapolitans.* The force of the 
 enemy consisted of thirteen ships, one of one hundred and 
 twenty guns and 1010 men, three of eighty guns and 800 
 men each, and nine of seventy-four with 700 men each ; yet 
 of this fleet eleven were taken, sunk, or destroyed ; and the 
 remaining two afterwards captured — but Nelson commanded 
 — and he was a "flag-officer." 
 
 The question of peace and war complements would seem 
 to turn upon this : — which is most desirable, in peace, to have 
 fewer ships with full war complements, or a greater number 
 with peace complements? — which of the two would be most 
 advantageous on the breaking out of war ? If a large fleet 
 were required to be got ready at a short notice, undoubtedly 
 the latter — the deficiency of an eighth would readily be sup- 
 plied, or even if the ships wanted a fourth, provided those 
 already on board were, as they now are, active and able 
 seamen — the rest might be made up of the crews of various 
 small craft, of the ordinary, by marines, or, if necessary, by 
 the entry of landsmen, together with impressment, essentially 
 necessary on the breaking out of war, unless our merchants 
 will quietly see their ships Avith return cargoes swept away into 
 French ports. Another reason for the preference of peace com- 
 plements is, that the more ships in commission during peace, 
 the greater number of officers of all ranks will be employed, 
 and thus be enabled to keep up their practice, Avhich it will 
 be admitted is also essential for the efficiency of the fleet. 
 
 "■ The Orion ^Y■JS short sixty-six men, and the Autlacioiis, fifty-six; 
 several others to the extent of twenty-two and twenty-four.
 
 454 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 We are now, however, clamorously called upon to change 
 the long-established system, to increase indefinitely our fleet, 
 and to keep it full manned on a war establishment. We had 
 much better at once be at war, a result to which such a 
 measure as that recommended would be likely enough to lead. 
 Whenever the necessity for it shall actually exist, of which 
 the Government may be presumed the best judge, let Par- 
 liament vote 50,000 men, and the Admiralty will find no diffi- 
 culty in adding thirty sail-of-the-line, of as fine ships as any in 
 the world, to the twenty-one already in commission ; for which 
 additional thirty, masts, sails, yards, and every necessary 
 article of gear are in complete readiness in our (neglected) 
 dock-yards — and it can hardly be doubted that those persons, 
 so clamorous for war, will be among the first cheerfully to 
 submit to a war tax in time of peace. 
 
 3. The last charge is that, from the reduced state of 
 stores in the dock-yard, and of shipwrights, a fleet such as 
 a war would require, could not be sent to sea. This would 
 be indeed a serious charge if true. As there is no effect 
 without a cause, so the cause of this alleged deficiency is 
 rather a curious one. A Noble Marquis, one day in want of 
 a Riga spar for his yacht, was told there was not one in 
 the yard where he inquired ; and all the newspapers in the 
 United Kingdom echoed the cry, that a Riga spar was not 
 to be found in any of Her Majesty's dock-yards ; nay more, 
 by a figure of speech called amplification, neither masts, 
 spars, nor yards were to be had even for the supply of ships 
 on the peace establishment. But the story of the deficiency 
 of such a spar as the Noble Lord wanted is quite true ; 
 and it is also true that there are none of that kind in any of 
 the yards, and the reason is this : the purchase of Riga spars 
 has been discontinued for the last three-and-twenty years, 
 that is, since the conclusion of the war, because the prices
 
 NAVIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, &C. 455 
 
 demanded became so enormous, and their place could 
 be supplied so advantageously by the substitution of Vir- 
 ginia, red pine, and New Zealand coudie spars — all of 
 them equally good and much cheaper than, and the last 
 superior in toughness and strength to, Riga spars. In the 
 year 1833 a member of the then Board of Admiralty, who 
 in ancient times had heard, like the Noble Lord in question, 
 of the superior qualities of Riga spars, made an attempt to 
 procure a supply by public contract, but the prices asked 
 were so enormous, that the Board declined accepting any of 
 the tenders. We are not singular, however, in the deficiency 
 of these kind of spars. Le Baron Tupinier says that the 
 northern market is closed against them, and that no more 
 Riga spars are to be got; and, what makes the matter 
 worse, they have not been able to supply their wants with 
 Virginia spars ; that in consequence they are reduced to the 
 necessity of making their topmasts of several pieces (hnne 
 de V assemblage ;) fishing, 1 believe we should call it, all 
 round the mast, throughout the whole length. On inquiry 
 I find that the reason for their not getting Virginia spars 
 is, that the French, in their naval estimates, put down 
 the "prices at which contracts are taken. The American 
 timber-merchants are soon informed of these, and raise 
 their demands accordingly. The British public, however, 
 may rest satisfied with the assurance that there are in 
 the several dock-yards, not only made-masts, main, fore, 
 mizen-masts, and bow-sprits, for thirty sail-of-the-line, as 
 already stated, but as many more in comj)onent parts, ready 
 for putting together, with all the necessary stores for the 
 equipment of a fleet to the extent of fifty sail-of-the-line ; and 
 with regard to topmasts, for the want of which the French 
 are so much distressed, it appears we have upwards of three 
 hundred spars, sufficient for all the topmasts of one hundred
 
 456 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 sail-of-the-line. The details of the principal stores could be 
 given, if necessary, or expedient, which, for obvious reasons, 
 it is not. Many of the most important, and of foreign growth, 
 are in store for three, four, five, and even six years' con- 
 sumption — but I have already occupied more space than 
 the subject may be thought to deserve. I shall, therefore, 
 only remark that, with regard to the number of shipwrights, 
 if any judgment may be formed from a comparison of what 
 they were in the height of the war, with what they now are, 
 it will be said that they are amply sufficient for all the work 
 required of them. In the year 1813, when 148,000 men 
 were voted, the number of shipwrights employed was about 
 5000, including other artificers immediately connected with 
 ship-building; at the present time, when 34,000 men are 
 voted, the number employed is 2360 ; the proportion being, 
 that the latter number, in this view, would be sufficient for 
 60,000 men serving in the fleet ; but of course the number 
 to be employed must depend on the nature and quantity of 
 the work to be performed. 
 
 In conclusion: I cannot hesitate to affirm, and I do so 
 neither rashly nor vauntingly, nor without due research, that, 
 if any confidence is to be placed on official statements and 
 returns, at no former period of profound peace, in the whole 
 history of Great Britain, was her navy in so efficient a state, 
 as to the number, condition, and equipment of the ships in 
 commission, and the number and superior qualities of the 
 petty officers and effective seamen borne on their books : 
 nor were the number, the dimensions, and the condition of 
 the ships in ordinary, and the preparations and stores in the 
 dock-yards for increasing the active and efficient force of the 
 fleet, at any time more satisfactory, thnn at the present 
 moment — the commencement of the year 1839.
 
 MANNING THE NAVY. 457 
 
 § 2. MANNING THE NAVY. 
 Notwithstanding all the clamour that has been raised, there 
 is not the slightest ground of apprehension regarding the 
 efficiency of our ships of war ; but the case is different with 
 respect to the manning of them. It is here where the shoe is 
 likely to pinch. We may crowd into our harbours of Ha- 
 moaze, Portsmouth, the Thames and Medway, as many as we 
 please of those " moveable fortresses," those " stupendous 
 masses," there to repose on their shadows, but without men 
 they will not, to pursue Mr. Canning's metaphor, " ruffle 
 their plumage and start into life and animation." The im- 
 portant question then is, what means are to be adopted 
 equal to the manning of the fleet on the breaking out 
 of hostilities? It has been asserted that the whole of 
 the seamen in the United Kingdom would not be sufficient 
 to man the navy in time of war, without distressing the 
 merchant service. Though there can be little doubt that 
 the number of seamen, in the coasting trade, has been 
 somewhat on the decline ; and one of the causes is the 
 multitude of steam -vessels, still rapidly increasing, which 
 swarm in the Thames and other rivers, and along the coasts 
 of the United Kingdom ; which have had the same effect, as 
 to the diminution of sailors, that the railroads have on post- 
 horses. It is to be hoped, however, that a sufficient number 
 will yet be found available for the naval service, without 
 having recourse to means that would distress the mercantile 
 marine, the main source indeed from which they must spring ; 
 and I think, it may be shown, that there are seamen enough 
 
 for both. 
 
 That on the first breaking out of hostilities, recourse must 
 be had to the legal and constitutional measure of impress- 
 ment, no doubt can be entertained by any unprejudiced man ;
 
 458 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 without it the ships-of-war for a long time must continue to 
 " repose on their shadows," while those of the enemy are reap- 
 ing a rich harvest undisturbed. That it is both legal and con- 
 stitutional has been so clearly shown by that able lawyer. 
 Judge Foster, as not to be controverted. Even that powerful 
 champion for the rights and liberties of Englishmen, Junius, 
 in speaking of the impress, says, " I never can doubt that 
 the community has a right to command, as well as to jmr- 
 chase, the service of its members. I see that right founded 
 originally upon a necessity which supersedes argument. I 
 see it established by usage immemorial, and admitted by 
 more than a tacit assent of the legislature. I conclude 
 there is no remedy in the nature of things, for the grievance 
 complained of; for if there were, it must long since have 
 been redressed." And he further observes that, "with 
 regard to the press for seamen, it does not follow that the 
 symptoms may not be softened, although the distemper 
 cannot be cured." 
 
 There is no doubt that the mode of carrying impress- 
 ment into effect may be so modified, as to remove a 
 great deal of that odium which has generally been attached 
 to it. It may be confined to the pressing of seamen afloat ; 
 no pressgangs need parade the streets, enter houses in 
 search of poor fellows just returned from long voyages, to 
 tear them away from their parents, their wives, and their 
 children : these are the things that make impressment 
 hateful. Pei'haps it would be desirable that no general 
 press-warrants should be issued, l)y which the protected 
 and unprotected, the aged and infirm, the landsmen as well 
 as seamen, are indis(;riminately swept away to the rendezvous, 
 huddled together in a confined room, till regulated, as it is 
 termed, wh(;n probably not one in five arc found fit or
 
 MANNING THE NAVY. 459 
 
 liable to serve. A rendezvous at the principal ports of the 
 United Kingdom may be necessary for the reception of 
 volunteers, but not for impressment ; this species of forced 
 service should be limited to men serving afloat. Every 
 thinking man, however, must be fully sensible of the absolute 
 necessity of having recourse to impressment on the first 
 breaking out of war, if we wish to protect our shores from 
 insult, our colonies from capture, our commerce from 
 plunder ; all other modes can only be slow and progressive ; 
 and the party who strikes the first decisive blow has made a 
 great stride in winning the battle. The " Inscription Ma- 
 ritime " of the French, which has much failed them of late, 
 is a kind of militia. We, too, have a militia for the land 
 service, to which all classes of landsmen within certain 
 ages, with a few exceptions, are liable, but from which 
 seamen are exempt. If we are to give up the usual 
 and efficient means of manning the fleet, why not esta- 
 blish a maritime militia? why not say to every mari- 
 time province of the United Kingdom, You must furnish 
 so many seafaring men for the navy — according to the regis- 
 tered number in your county — and the rest shall be free 
 from impress, from the moment that the stipulated con- 
 tingent has been supplied ? Why is a seaman to be exempt 
 from serving his country, on that rude element, where alone 
 he can be of essential service ? 
 
 Every encouragement, however, should be given for 
 voluntary enlistment ; and nothing, perhaps, would hold out 
 greater encouragement to good seamen, and be more pro- 
 ductive, than a well-appointed frigate, or sloop, with a 
 sensible and discreet commander, stationed at each of the 
 principal ports of the United Kingdom, for the voluntary 
 entry of seamen. The Act of 5 and (J of William IV.,
 
 460 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 cap. 24, brought in b}' Sir James Graham, seems to be 
 well calculated for this end. It is entitled " An Act for 
 the Encouragement of the Voluntary Enlistment of Seamen^ 
 and to make regulations for the more effectually manning 
 His Majesty's Navy." It limits the naval service to volun- 
 teers for five years. If abroad, the admiral under some 
 special emergency may detain him six months longer, with 
 one-fourth increase of pay ; after five years he may be 
 discharged with certificates, on which protections will be 
 granted. On entry at any rendezvous, or on board ship, he 
 will be entitled to double the ordinary bounty ; seamen 
 already serving when the proclamation shall be issued, not 
 to be discharged, but continue to serve, if required, five 
 years, and will receive the ordinary bounty. Any seaman 
 who shall, at the expiration of five years, signify to his com- 
 manding officer his desire to continue in the service for 
 another period of five years, shall be entitled to receive the 
 single bounty offered by the Royal proclamation. In ad- 
 dition to these encouragements, pensioners, who may be 
 fit, and volunteer, will be allowed to receive their pensions 
 while serving, in addition to their pay. And, lastly, seamen 
 wishing their discharge before the expiration of five years, 
 will be permitted to find a substitute of one able seaman 
 or two able-bodied landsmen ; and will be entitled to the 
 same protection as if he had completed his five years 
 himself. It may here be observed that, if able-bodied 
 pensioners were now allowed to receive their pensions along 
 with their pay, many valualjle men would be preserved to 
 the service, say from one hundred and fifty to two hundred 
 a-year of choice seamen. No additional expense would l)e 
 incurred by his receiving both, as, if ho does not re-enter, 
 another, probably not half so good, must take his place.
 
 MANNING THE NAVV. 40 1 
 
 Coupling these great benefits, secured to volunteers by 
 Act of Parliament, with the encouragement which of late 
 years has been given to seamen serving in the fleet, and 
 very recently the increase of pay to that important class of 
 men, the seamen-gunners, which will, no doubt, be extended 
 to those valuable men rated as petty officers, it can hardly be 
 doubted that, on the breaking out of war, these great advan- 
 tages will induce seamen to volunteer for that service, in 
 which they know they are better treated than in any other. 
 With regard to the petty officers generally, it is the opi- 
 nion of a great many able and experienced captains, that 
 it would be considered a great encouragement for these 
 most useful men, and induce many to enter the sernce, if 
 their pay were made equal in all rates ; and it seems rea- 
 sonable it should be so, as the labour, the drudgery, and 
 the attention, in the lower, are as great, and frequently 
 much more so, than in the higher rates. Others, however, 
 are disposed to consider the step from a lower to a higher 
 rate to operate as an encouragement ; that there is a great 
 difference between having three or four men to look after 
 and thirty or forty, and that the share of prize-money is 
 many times greater in small than in large ships. 
 
 Prize-money, it is true, is much looked up to by seamen ; 
 and it certainly ought to bear a much larger proportion to 
 that of the officers than it does. Sir James Graham, 
 satisfied of the propriety of this, took a little, ami but a 
 little, from the admirals and captains, and gave It to the 
 able seamen : but it met with opposition from both classes of 
 
 officers from the captains with some show of reason— from 
 
 the flag-officers, none. A captain is liable to all the expenses 
 of liti'^ation in the case of a doubtful detention, and must 
 himself indemnify the owners for an illegal capture ; their
 
 462 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 plea then was this — if our share is to be reduced, at least 
 bear us harmless; if we, in the prosecution of our duty, 
 are led by plausible circumstances to commit an error, 
 let us be indemnified, on the certificate of the judge, that 
 appearances justified the detention. Nothing would appear 
 more reasonable ; and it is much to be hoped that, on war 
 breaking out, a very considerable increase of prize-money 
 will be granted to petty ofhcers and seamen of the fleet.* 
 
 After all a great deal must depend on the character of 
 the captain, or commanding officer, in the successful man- 
 ning of his ship : the seamen are made so well acquainted 
 with this, that a favourite officer will man his ship in one- 
 fifth part of the time that another will. Lord Howe never 
 wanted men for the ships he commanded, because he was 
 known in the navy as the " Seaman's friend." 
 
 The other Act of Sir James Graham, 5 and 6 William 
 IV., cap. 19, for forming and maintaining a register of all 
 merchant seamen of the United Kingdom, and for amending 
 and consolidating the laws relating to them, is of the great- 
 est importance to the commercial interests, and of mutual 
 benefit to the owners and masters of ships, and to the 
 seamen. Every one knows how many ineffectual attempts 
 have been made to establish a general register of the ma- 
 riners and seafaring men, on an idle supposition that it was 
 an invasion of the liberty of the subject, and with the 
 ulterior view of facilitating impressment. It required, there- 
 fore, no little tact to subdue this prejudice. An office is 
 established at the Custom-house, in London; a registrar, 
 
 * Even without these important advantages, and contrary to the 
 assertion of the " Flag-Officer," that the men are disgusted and will 
 not enter the service, it is a fact that, from the moment bills were 
 issued, and a few lieutenants appointed to receive volunteers, more 
 than a thousiuul men have entered in the month of December.
 
 MANNING THE NAVY. 463 
 
 with a proper number of clerks appointed, who corresponds 
 with the customs at the out-ports, and makes periodical re- 
 turns to the Admiralty, of the number of seamen registered. 
 By a return called for by the House of Commons, dated the 
 9th of June, 1838, the total number of registered seamen, 
 up to that date, was 156,872; * but among these is mixed 
 a certain portion of river and coasting trade, the latter of 
 which, by a Parliamentary return, is stated to consist of the 
 enormous number of about half a million, f 
 
 But, perhaps, the most important part of this bill, is that 
 which relates to parish boys and others being put appren- 
 tices to the sea service, and the number of apprentices which 
 every ship is compelled to take, according to her tonnage. 
 All former Acts on this subject were evaded ; but the regu- 
 lations now in force, and the penalties attached to any defi- 
 ciency in the numbers, bid fair to introduce into the mer- 
 chant service a very considerable increase of seafaring men. 
 By the same return as that above mentioned, there Avere in 
 the merchant service, on the 31st July, 1835, when the Act 
 passed, 5429 apprenticed seamen. Of this number, on the 
 9th June, 1838, there remained still under indentures 1740. 
 
 From the passing of the Act to the same 
 
 date, the indentures registered were . . 1 9,367 
 To which add 1^740 
 
 Total number of apprentices . . . 21, 107 J 
 Some regulations would still appear wanting, with regard 
 
 * Increased in September to 167,013. 
 
 t This return of 1829 for 1828, signed by the Registrar-General of 
 the Custom-house, is thus stated :— " Coasting trade, inwards, 51 2,000, 
 outwards, 517,000 men ;" a return, not worth the value of the paper. 
 The same vessel and the same crew may have arrived and sailed 
 inwards and outwards a dozen times in the year. 
 
 % Increased in September to 21,450,
 
 464 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 to the seamen apprentices. Since the establishment of 
 docks, all hands are sent ashore, from the time the ship 
 is ready to enter one. If the apprentice has no home to go 
 to — which is generally the case — he is put into some mean 
 lodging-house in the neighbourhood of Wapping, till his old 
 ship, or some other belonging to the firm, is ready to leave 
 the dock ; where, it may be supposed, neither his morals, 
 habits, nor health, have been improved. The merchants 
 of London, at a small expense, might provide a remedy 
 for this evil. While speaking of apprentices, I may notice 
 the great advantage which the navy will receive from the 
 number of boys now introduced, and which it may be 
 prudent to increase ; they are now about ^000, and might 
 with advantage be extended to 5000. Many of these boys, 
 who enter at seventeen or eighteen years of age, return from 
 their station fit for the rating of ordinary seamen, become 
 attached to the navy, and prefer it to all other service. Too 
 much encouragement cannot be given to this class of young 
 and rising seamen. 
 
 Another source for the supply of seamen, to a certain 
 extent for the navy, has, within a few years back, been lost 
 to the naval service. The allusion here made is to the 
 Coast-guard service, as at present constituted. Why it has 
 been altered from its original establishment, when it sup- 
 plied seamen on many occasions for the navy, instead of, as 
 now, taking them away from it ; or l)y whose advice the 
 change was made, is not material. The deed has been 
 done, the concession has been made ; and the Treasury, 
 the Customs, and the Comptroller of the Coast-guard, are 
 probably satisfied that, being naval men, and under the 
 control of naval officers, they arc more efficient for the pro- 
 tection of the revenue, than any other class of men. It may 
 be so, and well-conducted enough, though not under martial
 
 MANNING THE NAVY. 465 
 
 law ; but they are lost to the navy ; their habits being 
 totally changed. No complaints of inefficiency, or want 
 of subonhnation, were made against the men when borne on 
 the books of a ship-of-war, stationed in the Downs, and 
 of another in New Haven ; and the great advantage was, 
 that on any pressure for manning a ship, forty, fifty, or 
 sixty able seamen, were always at hand, and made avail- 
 able. On one occasion of an important nature, two hun- 
 dred and forty-one seamen were withdrawn fiom the coast- 
 guard, then called blockade service, and at another time two 
 hundred and eighty-three ; and the number borne exceeded 
 three thousand men. The coast-guard has now about four 
 thousand men on shore, and nearly one thousand in the re- 
 venue cruisers. Many of the former of these are not only 
 exempt from serving in the navy, whatever may happen, but 
 are composed of the most effective able seamen drawn from 
 the navy — seamen such as are in the vigour of life, and of 
 the best characters ; without a certificate of which they can- 
 not be received into this favourite service. It was the old 
 system to have a fifty or sixty gun-ship stationed as a guard- 
 ship in the Downs ; and not a bad one, were she of no 
 other use than to show to the foreign ships of all nations, 
 passing through that anchorage, that we had at least one 
 ship-of-war on the look-out. Formerly ten or twelve sail- 
 of-the-line were kept at the three great ports, Sheerness, 
 Portsmouth, and Plymouth; but the result of the revo- 
 lutionary war, which placed Malta and the Ionian Islands 
 in our possession, was to transfer these guard-ships to the 
 Mediterranean, which from that time became the princi- 
 pal station for our fleet. Still it appears to me it would 
 impress foreigners with a higher notion of our navy on 
 visiting our ports, which they all do, if a second-class ship- 
 of-the-line were stationed at each of the ports of Ports- 
 
 2 H
 
 466 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 mouth and Plymouth, with the full peace complement, to 
 exercise the officers and men for six or seven summer 
 months, or be ready as a reinforcement wherever required. 
 Our ports at present, it must be admitted, wear but a 
 gloomy and deserted aspect. 
 
 It has been said by those who look favourably on the 
 present coast-guard system that " You will get them when 
 the war breaks out." No such thing; while their land- 
 service is allowed to tell as service at sea, why should they 
 leave so comfortable a retreat ? Should a war break out 
 to-morrow, there would not be left a man on the coast, fit 
 for service, the following day, unless specially protected. 
 Such men may be considered as lost to the naval service for 
 ever ; yet there appears to be no reason why the coast-guard 
 seamen should not be subject to martial law, as well as the 
 men serving in the ordinary, and in the packet service, 
 which is now the case in all the various branches wherein 
 seamen are employed ; why should the navy, in their instance 
 alone, be deprived of their services ? why, with such exemp- 
 tion, should their time be allowed to go for pensions? In- 
 stead of this, why not establish a maritime police, composed 
 of young and active landsmen, who would be just as much 
 under the control of commanders and lieutenants of the navy, 
 as seamen ? It must come to this in the event of war. 
 
 There is, however, another and more serious drain of 
 seamen, in time of war, by which they are protected from 
 the impress, and abstracted from the naval service ; this is 
 the privateer system, which is carried on to an enormous 
 extent. The great number of letters of marque and re- 
 prisal, granted to ships armed and manned, more for the 
 sake of getting to an early market and avoiding convoy 
 than fighting the enemy, occasion a heavy drawback from 
 the entry of men in ships-of-war. A sailor joins a regular
 
 MANNING THE NAVY. 467 
 
 privateer, in the hope, almost the certainty, of making his 
 fortune, which, however, frequently ends in disappointment ; 
 but it is a speculation that he cannot resist. If, indeed, the 
 whole system of privateering could be got rid of, by agree- 
 ment of the belligerents, it would prove the gi'eatest benefit 
 to mankind in general, as well as to those engaged in it ; 
 for it is frequently carried on in a mamier little short of 
 legalised and licensed piracy. It encourages a species of 
 gaming, by which a few acquire great fortunes, while mul- 
 titudes are ruined. The misery entailed by the system of 
 plunder exercised by privileged privateers is incalculable ; 
 and the demoralization of those engaged in it is of the worst 
 description. But we are considering it here only, as it de- 
 prives the navy of men to a very great extent, who would 
 otherwise be employed with advantage to themselves, and 
 benefit to the state. This will more satisfactorily appear 
 by a return of licences and protections issued from the Ad- 
 miralty in the following years : — 
 
 LETTERS OF MARQUE AND REPRISAL. 
 
 Vessels. Men. 
 Against the French republic from May, 1803, to 
 
 May, 1804 680 27,9C0 
 
 Ditto, Batavian republic, from June, 1803, to 
 
 June, 1804 670 28,758 
 
 Ditto, King of Spain, from January, 1805, to 
 
 January, 1806 540 25,718 
 
 Those taken out against the French and Batavians are 
 nearly for the same ships ; of those against Spain, about a 
 fourth are contained in the other two. The number of men 
 thus protected may be about47,000, which with the addition 
 of marines, landsmen, and boys, would be fully adequate to 
 man a fleet of fifty sail-of-the-line, with frigates, sloops, 
 steamers, and small craft in proportion: this is a subject 
 
 2h2
 
 468 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 which, I apprehend, will require to be more closely looked 
 at^ in the event of Avar. 
 
 Important as the manning of the fleet is, it is no less in- 
 dispensable that it should be under the direction of active, 
 able, and experienced officers — such as are generally known 
 to be so, and in whom the warrant and petty officers and 
 seamen have confidence. There is perhaps in this more 
 than is generally thought; Howe, St. Vincent, and Nel- 
 son, with many of the brave officers who served under 
 them, knew how to inspire into their men that degree of 
 confidence, which never failed them in the day of battle : 
 they exacted discipline, but never withheld indulgence, 
 when it could be granted without detriment to the service ; 
 and their people knew this. If the captain, on whom 
 the heavy responsibility rests, instead of making his men 
 comfortable, annoys and harasses them with trifles of no 
 moment — such as employing his men in rubbing, and 
 scrubbing, and polishing, when the time ought to be their 
 own, they become disgusted, get sulky and discontented, and 
 go with reluctance to the necessary work of the ship. But 
 happily such captains now are very rare; they ceased gene- 
 rally in the course of the long revolutionary war ; neither are 
 there many of those who, on the other hand, " think those," 
 as Captain Barnett says to Anson, "the best officers who 
 have the least blocks in their rigging." 
 
 It is related of the Duke of Wellington, that, " on being 
 shown over a man-of-war in which the poUshiag system was 
 established in full force, he observed that it was pretty to 
 look at, but that it lacked one thing ; for he had not seen a 
 saillc on the countenance of any one man in the ship."'""' 
 Satisfied that the Duke of Wellington never uttered or made 
 any such observation, yet being thus stated publicly in a work 
 
 * Qiiiutcrly Review, on tlic "Life of Howe,"' No. 123.
 
 MANNING THE NAVY. 469 
 
 so !»encrally read, the question was asked of his Grace, to 
 which he immediately repHed, with that courtesy so peculiar 
 to his character, and in a manner so highly complimentary 
 to the officers of the navy, that it well deserves to be re- 
 corded — 
 
 " Walmer Castle, September 29- 
 " My dear Sir — I have received your letter of the 27th. 
 I have no recollection of having used the expression to which 
 you refer. I have sailed in many ships of war of all sizes 
 and descriptions, probably more than some officers of the 
 navy of my time of life ; certainly more than any officer of 
 the army. The captains of all these ships were the most 
 distinsruished men of their rank at the time. I do not recol- 
 lect to have had occasion to make such a remark upon any 
 of them, or on the discipline maintained by any of them. 
 
 " That which I always felt was, admiration for the pro- 
 fessional science and seamanship displayed by all the officers, 
 without exception, in every ship in which I ever sailed. I 
 firmly believe, and I have frequently stated my conviction, 
 that I had not seen one, who could not at any time lay his 
 ship in any situation, which he might be ordered to take in 
 
 relation to any other ship, be the strength (jf the wind or 
 the violence of the sea what it might ; and I have founded, 
 
 upon this superior knowledge and seamanship of our officers, 
 
 the confidence that the naval superiority of this country 
 
 would be permanent. . . . 
 
 " Entertaining this opinion, I might have made remarks 
 
 upon other matters. But I certainly do not recollect that I 
 
 ever had occasion to make such a remark on the discipline 
 
 of any ship in which I have sailed. 
 
 " Believe me, &:c. tScc. 
 
 " Wellington."
 
 470 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 This is a splendid testimony to the merit of the com- 
 manders of ships of war; but still the question will be 
 asked, how do we stand with regard to the officers in gene- 
 ral who are to take command ? Are there among the two 
 to three thousand commissioned officers on the list such a 
 number of young, active, vigorous, and experienced officers, 
 as are worthy of being intrusted to meet the boasted per- 
 sonel of the French navy, which has challenged the whole 
 world ? We may safely and most assuredly answer. There 
 are. But then they must not be taken from what Mr. Legge 
 calls "the seniority of inexperience." We have captains and 
 commanders in abundance, fit and ready for any service, and 
 not, as the "Flag-Officer" gratuitously says, "dispirited, 
 and only expecting to be blockaded in their own ports " — a 
 slanderous imputation on " our best officers." 
 
 It must be admitted, however, that the list of flag-officers 
 is not a promising one. Age and infirmities have invaded 
 its ranks ; and if the present system be continued (contrary 
 to the recommendation of a committee of the House of 
 Commons), of promoting in masses, or, as is usually called, 
 by brevet, it unquestionably will not improve. Why then 
 not make it efficient, as it soon would be, by applying the 
 wholesome rule, to this class of officers, of promoting one 
 in three ? — a question that has often been asked, and no other 
 reason assigned for its not being so, except that it would 
 be altering the old system. In these days of innovation, that 
 would not seem to be a valid objection. Two parties are to 
 be considered in this question — the public and the individual 
 — first, for the public : if, on every three admirals going off 
 the list, a vice-admiral, of any colour, should be selected to 
 take his place ; if three vice-admirals, a rear-admiral, of any 
 colour ; if three rear-admirals, a young and efficient cap-
 
 PRESERVATION OF HEALTH OF THE NAVY. 471 
 
 tain promoted to be rear-admiral — in ten years the public 
 would have an efficient list of flag-officers. For the second, 
 justice and national gratitude would demand, that the old 
 captains should be properly provided for, by giving them 
 retired rank and pay. But those are matters which, no 
 doubt, the committee now sitting will not fail to bring 
 under their consideration. 
 
 The following abstract will show what is suggested in 
 this section : — 
 
 1. Mitigation of the impress. 
 
 2. Voluntary enlistment. 
 
 3. A maritime militia. 
 
 4. Partial increase of pay. 
 
 5. Pay and pension while serving. 
 
 5". Equalization of pay to petty officers in all classes of 
 ships. 
 
 7. Increase of prize-money. 
 
 8. Entry of boys extended. 
 
 9- Resumption of coast blockade. 
 10. Restriction in granting letters of marque. 
 
 § 3. PRESERVATION OF THE HEALTH OF THE NAVY. 
 
 It is not enough that every possible means should be taken 
 for manning and keeping up the efficiency of the navy, it is 
 the imperative duty of the naval administration to promote 
 and establish such regulations, respecting ventilation, clean- 
 liness, and discipline ; and of the medical department to exa- 
 mine and recommend such professional officers, and to pro- 
 vide such supply of proper drugs and instruments, as may 
 promote and preserve the health of the seamen. The means 
 of attaining this most desirable end are now so well ascer-
 
 472 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 tained, and so easily acquired, that no officer of the navy, in 
 the command of a ship of war, can have any excuse for being 
 ignorant of them. It shoukl be clearly understood that, 
 although every king's ship is supplied with one or more 
 medical officers, generally well educated and skilled in their 
 professional duties, yet, without the hearty co-operation of 
 the commanding officer, the medical gentlemen can do little 
 towards the preservation of the general health of the crew. 
 The responsibility of this rests much more — and a heavy re- 
 sponsibility it is — on the captain than on the surgeon. He 
 must not conceive all that concerns the health of the men is 
 solely the business of the latter. To this officer, however, is 
 committed the charge and cure of the sick ; but the pre- 
 vention of disease must very much depend on the captain — 
 on his judgment, attention, and enforcement of all such 
 regulations as are established, or such as, from circumstances, 
 he may find necessary to establish, for the general good dis- 
 cipline of the ship, a proper degree of ventilation to secure 
 fresh air, and a rigid attention to cleanliness. The following 
 truth cannot be too forcibly impressed on the mind of every 
 commanding officer of a ship of war. 
 
 " There can be no situation in which there is more room 
 for genuine virtue, praiseworthy conduct, and address; — 
 none to which there attaches more grave and solemn respon- 
 sibility ; none on which there is a more imperious claim on 
 the conscientious discharge of duty, than that of a naval 
 commander. The men are cast on his humanity and dis- 
 cerning judgment, under various aspects : a ship in the 
 middle of the ocean is a little workl within itself, at the ar- 
 Ijitrary disposal of an individual. Seamen and marines are 
 subjected by martial law to a more despotic exercise of 
 power than the constitution of the state authovizes, or even 
 in the army : naval officers can, at their single arbitrary dis-
 
 PRESERVATION OF HEALTH OF THE NAVY. 473 
 
 cretion, inflict such a summary and severe punishment as 
 cannot be inflicted in the army without the solemnity of a 
 court-martial : Englishmen surrendering, from considera- 
 tions of public expediency, what they hold most dear, and 
 that of which they are most jealous — their liberty — and be- 
 coming thereby the greater objects of grave decision and 
 considerate feelings. All seafaring people, especially 
 those employed in war, are exposed to peculiar and unavoid 
 able privations, hardships, and dangers, which ought to be 
 mitigated, as far as is practicable, by those at whose absolute 
 will they place their lives and limbs ; it is in their character 
 to be unthinking and careless of their own welfare and in- 
 terest, requiring to be tended like children, and, like chil- 
 dren, are entitled to a jKirental tenderness from the country 
 they protect and the officers they obey." 
 
 Sir Gilbert Blane further observes, what is very true, 
 that, " since mankind have learnt to traverse oceans, evils 
 unknown to our ancestors have arisen, more hostile to hu- 
 man life than rocks, shoals, and storms ; for, since the 
 invention of the compass, more seamen have perished by 
 the scurvy and fevers than by all other causes inseparable 
 from practicable navigation." There are on record too many 
 lamentable proofs to admit any doubt of this. To go no 
 further back than to that disastrous instance of Admiral 
 Hosier's expedition to the West Indies, in the year 172(i, 
 for the purpose of capturing the Spanish galleons. Twice 
 he appeared before Porto Bello and Carthagena — twice 
 replenished his crews at Jamaica — and twice his crews of 
 six ships-of-Avar almost all perished of fever and scurvy ; 
 and from these losses, and the insults and derision of the 
 Spaniards, poor Hosier is said to have died of a broken 
 heart. The squadron under Admiral Vernon, in the year 
 1740, in the same places, was little less calamitous.
 
 474 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 We have seen the dreadful ravaa^es made in Anson's 
 squadron by fever and scurvy — the former, to all appear- 
 ance, either carried on board or generated immediately 1 
 after sailing, by the manner in which the ships were encum- 
 bered with the unfortunate Chelsea pensioners, who, from 
 age and infirmity, were inhumanly and most improperly 1 
 forced on board ; not one man of whom lived to return to 
 his native country. 
 
 Pascoe Thomas says that, of the 510 persons who left " 
 
 England in the Centurion, in September, 1740, the num- 
 ber of deaths, up to the end of September, 1 74 1 , in one 
 year, was 292 ; leaving no more than 218 alive at that time ; 
 and those on her arrival in England, in 1744, were further 
 reduced to 130; giving a total of the number of deaths in 
 the Centurion alone, during the voyage, of 380 — being equal 
 to 75 per cent., or three-fourths : and the other ships, he 
 says, did not suffer less. 
 
 Even down to the year 1758 very little progress seems 
 to have been made in subduing the scurvy. Lady Anson, 
 in a letter of the 27th of August of that year, says, " I find 
 a letter in town from my Lord, who complains that his 
 squadron is in general very bad with the scurvy, so that he 
 had been obliged to send in three large ships, with a great 
 number of sick men, collected out of the fleet ; most, if not 
 all of them, would have been dead and thrown overboard 
 in the course of ten days : he has kept his own ship healthy 
 by dint of expense, he says; I imagine in greens and fresh 
 provisions from Plymouth." 
 
 We have, however, at length obtained a specific remedy, 
 which, except in some very extraordinary circumstances, pre- 
 vents, and rapidly subdues, that dreadful malady the scurvy ; 
 but hitherto the malignant fevers of tropical climates seem 
 to have resisted all specifics ; however, they may be pre-
 
 PRESERVATION OF HEALTH OF THE NAVY. 475 
 
 vented, and the spreading of infection guarded against and 
 counteracted, by attention to those regulations which are 
 now so well known, and which were first put in practice by 
 a man, whose name is so justly held in universal veneration 
 — the immortal Cook, The conduct which he pursued, 
 with such happy success, and which he has so briefly but 
 clearly described in his letter to Sir John Pringle* (dated 
 ath March, 1776), ought to be known, and the precepts 
 it contains followed, by every commanding officer of the 
 navy : — 
 
 " We had on board," he says, " a large quantity of malt, 
 of which was made sweet-wort, and given (not only to those 
 men who had manifest symptoms of the scurvy, but to such 
 also as were, from circumstances, judged to be most liable 
 to that disorder), from one to two or three pints a-day to 
 each man, or in such proportion as the surgeon thought 
 necessary ; which sometimes amounted to three quarts in 
 the twenty-four hours. This is, without doubt, one of the 
 best anti-scorbutic sea-medicines yet found out ; and, if 
 given in time, will, with proper attention to other things, I 
 am persuaded, prevent the scurvy from making any great 
 progress for a considerable time : but I am not altogether 
 of opinion that it will cure it in an advanced state at sea. 
 
 " Sour-crout, of which we had also a large provision, is 
 not only a wholesome vegetable food, but, in my judgment, 
 highly anti-scorbutic ; and spoils not by keeping. A pound 
 of it was served to each man, when at sea, twice a-week, 
 or oftener when it was thought necessary. 
 
 " Portable soup or broth was another essential article, of 
 which we had likewise a liberal supply. An ounce of this 
 to each man, or such other proportion as was thought ne- 
 
 * Philosophical Tnuisactions.
 
 476 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 cessary, was boiled with their pease three times a-Aveek ; 
 and when we were in places where fresh vegetables could 
 be procured, it was boiled Avith them, and with wheat or 
 oatmeal, every morning for breakfast ; and also with dried 
 pease and fresh vegetables for dinner. It enabled us to 
 make several nourishing and wholesome messes, and was 
 the means of making the people eat a greater quantity of 
 greens than they would have done otherwise. 
 
 " Further, we were provided with rob of lemons and 
 oranges, which the surgeon found useful in several cases. 
 
 " Among: other articles of victualling we were furnished 
 with sugar, in the room of oil ; and with wheat, instead of 
 much oatmeal ; and were certainly gainers by the exchange. 
 Sugar, I imagine, is a very good anti-scorbutic ; whereas 
 oil, such at least as is usually given to the navy, I appre- 
 hend has the contrary effect. But the introduction of the 
 most salutary articles, either as provisions or medicines, will 
 generally prove unsuccessful, unless supported by certain 
 rules of living." 
 
 He then goes on to say, — " The crew were at three 
 watches, except upon some extraordinary occasicms. By 
 this means they Avere not so much exposed to the weather 
 as if they had been at Avatch and Avatch ; and they had ge- 
 nerally dry clothes to shift themselves Avhen they happened 
 to get Avet. Care Avas also taken to expose them as little as 
 possible. Proper methods Avere employed to keep their 
 persons, hammocks, bedding, clothes, &c., constantly clean 
 and dry. Equal pains Avere taken to keep the ship clean 
 and dry betAveen decks. Once or tAvice a-Aveek she Avas 
 aired Avith fires ; and Avhen this could not be done, she Avas 
 smoked Avith gunpoAvder moistened Avith vinegar or Avater. 
 I had also freciuonliv n fire made in an iron pot at the bot- 
 tom of the AVfll, which greatly purified the air in the loAver
 
 PRESERVATION OF HEALTH OF THE NAVY. 4< < 
 
 parts of the ship. To this and cleanliness, as well in the 
 ship as amongst the people, too great attention cannot be 
 paid ; the least neglect occasions a putrid, offensive smell 
 below, which nothing but fires will remove ; and if these 
 be not used in time, those smells will be attended with bad 
 consequences. Proper care was taken of the ship's cop- 
 pers, so that they Mere kept constantly clean. The fat 
 which boiled out of the salt beef and pork I never suffered 
 to be given to the people, as is customary ; being of opinion 
 that it promotes the scurvy. 
 
 " I never failed to take in water wherever it was to be 
 procured, even when we did not seem to want it ; because 
 I look upon fresh water from the shore to be much more 
 wholesome than that which has been kept some time on 
 board. Of this essential article we were never at an allow- 
 ance, but had always abundance for every necessary pur- 
 pose. I am convinced that, with plenty of fresh water, and 
 a close attention to cleanliness, a ship's company will seldom 
 be much afflicted with the scurvy, though they should not 
 be provided with any of the anti-scorbutics before men- 
 tioned. 
 
 " We came to few places where either the art of man or 
 nature did not affcn-d some sort of refreshment or other, 
 either of the animal or vegetable kind. It was my first care 
 to procure what could be met with of either, by every 
 means in my power, and to oblige our people to make use 
 thereof, both by my example and authority ; but the benefits 
 arising from such refreshments soon became so obvious, that 
 I had little occasion to employ either the one or the other. 
 
 " These, Sir, were the methods, under the care of Pro- 
 vidence, by which the Resolution performed a voyage of 
 three years and eighteen days, through all the climates
 
 478 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 from 52^ north to 71° south, with the loss of one man only 
 by disease, and who died of a complicated and lingering 
 illness, without any mixture of scurvy. Two others were 
 unfortunately drowned, and one killed by a fall ; so that, of 
 the whole number with which we set out from England, I 
 lost only four. 
 
 " I am. Sec. 
 
 (Signed) " James Cook." 
 
 Thus did this excellent officer and seaman, by care, atten- 
 tion, and the exercise of a sound judgment, preserve his crew 
 mainly by his own resources. The sweet-wort, sour-crout, 
 portable soup, rob of lemons or oranges, all excellent in 
 themselves, are no longer of absolute necessity for warding 
 off that most horrible of all diseases the scurvy. Happily a 
 complete specific has been found in citric acid, or lemon- 
 juice, which perhaps (except in one case to be mentioned) 
 has never failed. But, for the preservation of the general 
 health of the crew, little need be added to the precepts and 
 Valuable methods pursued by Captain Cook. One article, 
 however, which aids most materially to that of cleanliness, has 
 been suggested and strongly urged by Sir Gilbert Blane, and 
 that is soap. Too much indeed cannot be said in favour of 
 supplying ships-of-war with this article in the greatest 
 abundance. The expense would be trifling; but what 
 indeed is expense when compared with the health of a ship's 
 company ? What is it when compared with a sickly crew, 
 reciuiring two or three hundred men to be sent to the hos- 
 pital .'' — what, in time of war, to the rendering a ship's com- 
 pany inefficient, from disease, when perhaps her services 
 are most wanted ? Sound policy, as well as humanity, rc- 
 f^uires that every possible means should be employed for the
 
 PRESERVATION OF HEALTH OF THE NAVY. 479 
 
 presentation of the health of our seamen ; it is on them we 
 must depend in the day of need — in the hour of danger. 
 The only objection against supplying soap is the great 
 quantity of water required to make it of avail, and this is 
 obviated to a considerable degree by the supply afforded from 
 the cooking-hearths, which distil fresh water (at least fresh 
 enough for washing) with the same fire that prepares the 
 men's dinner. 
 
 And now to look on the bright side of the picture : let us 
 see what has been the beneficial effect of adopting generally 
 in the service dryness, cleanliness, ventilation, and salutary 
 food, as recommended by Cook, and of that most valuable 
 prevention and cure of scurvy, an abundant supply of lemon- 
 juice. In the latter disease may also be recommended as a 
 certain palliative, cheerfulness, or such means as can be 
 resorted to, in order to raise the spirits of the invalid. '* It is 
 related," says Sir Gilbert Blane, "that when the fleet under 
 Admiral Mathews, in the year 1744, was off Toulon, in the 
 daily expectation of engaging the combined fleets of France 
 and Spain, there was a general suspension of the progress 
 of sickness, particularly of the scurvy, from the influence of 
 that generous flow of spirits, with which the prospect of battle 
 inspires British seamen." He says indeed that, even the 
 invalids at the hospital (on hearing of Rodney's victory) 
 manifested their joy by twisting shreds of coloured cloth on 
 their crutches. On the contrary, it is well known that a 
 depression of mind and low spirits are favourable to the 
 invasion of disease in every form, and most apt to produce 
 a tendency to sea-scurvy. An increase of this disorder, to 
 a great extent, was immediately the consequence of the Cen- 
 turion falling in with the snowy mountains of South America, 
 when the sick were expecting to see the enamelled verdure
 
 4b0 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 of Juan Fernandez. There is another point which officers 
 in command should never lose sight of. The separation of 
 those affected by fevers from those in health, by means of a 
 commodious sick-berth, is of the greatest importance to 
 check the progress of disease. 
 
 It was not till the year 1793 that lemon-juice was first 
 issued to the ships under Rear-Admiral Gardner, at his 
 request, for the purpose of serving it out to the men, made 
 into punch; after which, but not till the year 1797, it was 
 ordered to be generally supplied to the navy by the Board 
 for the care of sick and wounded seamen. The result was 
 most gratifying. When Lord St. Vincent commanded the 
 fleet, which blockaded Brest from the 27th May to the G8th 
 September, 1800 (one hundred and twenty-four days), con- 
 sisting of twenty-four ships-of-the-line and smaller vessels, 
 the crews amounting to about sixteen thousand men, none of 
 them during that time entered a port, none of the crew had 
 a fresh meal, and the number of hospital cases are stated to 
 have been incredibly small. From documents in the Admi- 
 ralty, some curious results appear of the progressive dimmu- 
 tion of sickness and death in the naval service. The following 
 table is calculated on the number of one hundred thousand 
 
 men : — 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Year. 
 
 Sent 
 
 sick to IIos 
 
 liit;\l. 
 
 
 Deaths. 
 
 
 Ill 1770 . 
 
 
 40,815 
 
 • 
 
 
 2,654 
 
 
 1782 . 
 
 
 31,617 
 
 • 
 
 
 o ooo 
 
 
 179-J . 
 
 
 25,027 
 
 • 
 
 
 1,164 
 
 
 1S04 . 
 
 
 11,978 
 
 • 
 
 
 l.OOG 
 
 
 1813 . 
 
 
 9,330 
 
 • 
 
 
 098 
 
 Tlius it appears that the diminution of sick and of deaths 
 between the years 1779 and 181J was in the proportion of 
 four to one nearly. 
 
 In order to ascertain the actual loss in men sustained by
 
 PRESERVATION OF HEALTH OF THE NAVY. 481 
 
 the British fleet in each yefii% commencinQ^ with 1810 and 
 carried on to 1812, every captain and coinmandinf:^ officer 
 was directed to transmit to the Admiralty a list, made up to 
 the 1st of January of each preceding year, of all the deaths 
 that had taken place, by disease, accident, or in battle. 
 The result was as follows : — 
 
 Years. 
 
 No. employed. 
 
 Deaths. 
 
 1810 . 
 
 . 138,581 . 
 
 . 5,183 
 
 1811 . 
 
 . 136,758 . 
 
 . 4,265 
 
 1812 . 
 
 . 138,324 . 
 
 . 4,211 
 
 About one-half of the above numbers died of disease, the 
 other half in fight, by accidents in landing, boats upsetting, 
 shipwrecks, &c., the numbers of each separately specified in 
 the returns : ^it follows then that, in the three years above 
 mentioned, the proportion of deaths in 100,000 men, em- 
 ployed afloat, was 3S0'2 annually ; and if to this number 
 be added the number of seamen who died in hospitals in the 
 following year 1813, namely, 698, the total loss of life in 
 that year, out of somewhat more than 100,000 men, may 
 be estimated at 4000 men, or a twenty- fifth part, or 4 per 
 cent, or, by disease, the small proportion of '2 per cent per 
 per annum. 
 
 By a return of the sick and deaths in the squadrons on 
 the South American and West India stations, it appears, 
 
 that in 
 
 The West Indies, on the average of seven years, ending 
 with the year 1836, mean strength being 33G'2, the deaths 
 were 6l, being 1 • 83 per cent. 
 
 South America, mean strength 246.5, deaths 1<J, being 
 • 8, or less than 1 per cent. 
 
 The only station, on which the loss of life is enormous, is 
 that of the African coast, where the mortality is frightful. 
 
 2i
 
 482 
 
 SUPPLEMENTAL CHAPTER. 
 
 We have seen, from Anson's voyage, that liability to 
 scurvy does not depend on climate, its attacks having been 
 equally felt within the tropics and the high latitude of Cape 
 Horn. Those ships that have passed one, two, and even 
 three winters, in the polar seasj by wise precautions as to 
 dryness, ventilation, and cleanliness, and the adoption of 
 measures for keeping up the spirits of the men, together 
 with a proper use of lemon-juice, have succeeded in repel- 
 ling all approaches to scurvy, and have returned to England 
 without the loss of a man. We must notice however one 
 solitary exception, in the Terror, commanded by Captain 
 (now Sir George) Back. This gallant officer ascribes the 
 disease to the failure of his heating apparatus, the tubes of 
 which were choaked up : the consequence was, they were 
 compelled to exclude ventilation to obtain a bearable tem- 
 perature, and to live in an atmosphere polluted by their own 
 breath, Avhile, owing to the excessive cold without, differing 
 sometimes from a hundred to a hundred and twenty degrees 
 from that within, streams of water were constantly running 
 down the sides of the ship and in the cabins. When, how- 
 ever, by placing canvas tubes leading to the deck, they 
 procured a thorough ventilation, the sickness gradually dimi- 
 nished. This case of the Terror proved that anti-scorbutics, 
 without thorough ventilation, are not sufficient either as 
 curative or preventive. Tliere is every reason to believe 
 that neither the dreadful mortality, that took place in 
 Anson's squadron, nor that degree of disease, which pre- 
 vailed in the Terror, would have occurred, if a thorough 
 ventilation, affording a supply of fresh air, could have been 
 
 procured. 
 
 We have now, I believe, for the first time, the means of 
 giving a full supply of fresh air, and of getting rid of the foul.
 
 PRESERVATION OF HEALTH OF THE NAVY. 483 
 
 whether in ships, or mines, or prisons, or wherever crowds ai'o 
 pent up in confined situations. A machine, invented by Cap- 
 tain Warrington of the East India Company's service, pro- 
 duces a constant and complete ventilation ; it is on the prin- 
 ciple of an air-pump, and the vacuum is produced by one 
 man turning a windlass, by which the foul air rushes out with 
 a blast as strong as that from the waste-pipe or safety-valve 
 of a cylindrical bellows in a foi'ge or smithy. The simplicity 
 and efficiency of this machine are its great recommendations. 
 With the exception of the iron chamber, in which the vacuum 
 is produced, the I'est can be made by any common carpenter. 
 Its efficiency might be implied from the principle of its con- 
 struction alone, but it has been proved, by a trial on board 
 the Ganymede, convict ship, at Woolwich, and Captain 
 Superintendent Hornby says, " Tlie trial of his (Captain 
 Warrington's) machine is, to my mind, perfectly satisfactory, 
 and I consider it to be an invention likely to be very bene- 
 ficial to the health and comfort of seamen in tropical 
 climates." Mr. Brunell has adopted it in the Tunnel, and 
 says, " it has not ceased to work for eighteen months at least, 
 and we find it very beneficial. It draws from a distance of 
 800 feet, where the shield is completely ventilated. The 
 number of men sent to the hospital affected by the delete- 
 rious gases has greatly diminished." There can indeed be 
 little doubt that, when better known, it will supersede all the 
 safety-lamps now in use in mines, for, worked at the mouth 
 of the shaft, and the wooden tube, or trunk, carried to the 
 very extent of the mine, be the distance what it may, all the 
 foul air of every kind must immediately rush out. What a 
 blessing must such a machine be in ships of war and troop- 
 ships, crowded Avith regiments on board, when within the 
 tropics, in the West Indies, or on the coast of Africa I How 
 
 2i2
 
 484 SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. 
 
 much more so to the miserable negroes crammed together 
 into the captured and accursed slave-ships ! 
 
 Had every ship in Anson's South-Sea squadron been fur- 
 nished with one of these foul-air pumps, the melancholy 
 and disastrous results never could have occurred, to the 
 frightful extent to which they did, among their ill-fated 
 crews. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 I'rintfU by Wim.iam ("i.owks aiul Sons, Stamford Stroot.
 
 ;SITY OF CAlIFUi. 
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