Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord de Saumarez Volume II Part 1

Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord de Saumarez.

Vol II.

by Sir John Ross.

CHAPTER I.

1801.

News of the Battles of the 6th and 12th of July reach England.--Rejoicings on the occasion, particularly described in a letter from Mrs. Saumarez.--Promotion of Lieutenant Dumaresq.--Letters from Earl St. Vincent, Mr. Tucker, and others.--Remarks on the conduct of the Governor and Garrison at Gibraltar.--State of the crew of the Caesar.--Ship refitted.--Appointments of officers to the St. Antoine, and other vacancies.--Correspondence with the Spanish Governor at Cadiz on the subject of red-hot b.a.l.l.s.--Accusation refuted.--Letters from Lord Keith, Sir John Warren, and Captain Dixon.--Squadron off Cadiz reinforced.--Sir James resumes the blockade of Cadiz.--His proceedings.--Remarks on the result of the two Actions.

The news of the splendid victory of the 12th of July was received in England with enthusiasm. After it became known that the squadron under Sir James Saumarez had been so materially damaged at Algeziras, it was thought impossible that the ships could have been prepared to meet the enemy in so short a time. The Admiral's despatches, subsequently to the first battle, stated that an overwhelming force had been sent to Algeziras from Cadiz; and, consequently, the news of his subsequent triumph over so great a superiority of force struck every person with astonishment.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The Louisa brig, Lieutenant Truscott, having on board Lieutenant Dumaresq, arrived off Mount's Bay on the 30th July. This officer landed with Sir James's despatches, and immediately proceeded to London. He was received at the Admiralty by Earl St. Vincent in the most gratifying manner. Mr. Addington, then prime minister, sent an express to Sir James's youngest brother at Brighton, requesting his presence in London; and, on his arrival, he in the handsomest manner presented him with a situation of trust and importance in the island of Ceylon, with a salary of two thousand pounds per annum. Lieutenants Dumaresq of the Caesar, Jackson of the Superb, and Lillic.r.a.p of the Venerable, were promoted to the rank of commanders.

The extraordinary public sensation which this important and unexpected victory created, is described in the following letter from Mrs.

Saumarez of Newington, (Sir James's sister-in-law,) to whom Lieutenant Dumaresq paid a visit on leaving the Admiralty.

London, 5th August 1801.

MY DEAR SIR JAMES,

It is impossible to express the admiration and enthusiasm which your late despatches have excited in the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of all ranks of people. You are now the theme of every conversation, the toast of every table, the hero of every woman, and the boast of every Englishman. When Dumaresq waited on Lord St. Vincent, his lordship squeezed his hand in the greatest rapture, exclaiming, "I knew it,--I knew it,--I knew the man,--I knew what he could do! It is the most daring thing that has been done this war. It is the first thing.--I knew it would be so!" He then gave Dumaresq his commission, and wrote a letter of congratulation to Lady Saumarez, which he charged Phil. Dumaresq to deliver with his own hand. I trust they are now both together; and, after staying there one day, Phil. is to return to town.

Lord St. Vincent also sent Dumaresq to Mr. Addington, who received him in the most gracious manner. He told Phil.

everything that man could say in terms of approbation; and justly added, that, however the mult.i.tude might estimate and admire the last action, yet the first, in his own mind, and in the minds of men who understood the matter, was equally deserving of praise, and would have fixed their approbation of Sir James's conduct, even though he had failed in his second attempt. At the same time he owned, that the exertions made by the men after the first action, in order to meet the second, were beyond conception or example. Indeed, they must surpa.s.s Mr. Addington's conception, since even Lord St. Vincent told Dumaresq that it was far beyond what he himself could imagine.

In short, my dear Sir James, you have been achieving a deed that has held you up to the contemplation of mankind, and that secures you the grat.i.tude of your country.

You will, no doubt, soon receive very distinguished marks of the royal and the national favour. In the mean time you will be delighted, equally with ourselves, to find that the stream of prosperity, beginning to flow towards you, has already involved your brother Nicholas, who was sent for yesterday from Brighton, in order to wait on Mr. Addington to-morrow morning.

It can be for no other purpose than to make his fortune. G.o.d knows the poor fellow has suffered enough on your account! for we had the rascally French despatches full ten days before we received yours; and, when we did receive the first account, your brother Richard was not satisfied. He feared the business was not done, and his mind dwelt upon it with anxiety. At last, on the 1st of August, and not before, all our fears were removed; and yesterday we received the news that Mr. Addington had sent for Nicholas.

Indeed, Sir James, you have electrified your whole circle of friends in a masterly manner; for the very great success you experienced at last, came with double effect upon those who had greatly feared for you at the first: and, let me add, that not only your actions, but your letters also, are very much admired, and, I think, most deservedly.

Dumaresq is just like yourself,--una.s.suming and unaffected. He had been with us an hour with his commission in his pocket, without telling us of it; and it was only accidentally that we discovered he had been promoted.

And now, my dear Sir James, let me speak like an _old woman_. I tremble for you. Had you only dangers and difficulties to encounter, I should not fear; but now you are going to be overwhelmed with wealth, t.i.tles, fame, adulation, and distinction; with everything, in short, that can make a man forget himself;

"And Satan, wiser than he was of yore, Now tempts by making rich, not making poor!"

Now, if in such a situation you can retain the two pillars of your Christian faith, namely, humility and patience, you will then be the first of human characters. Alas! how seldom it is that we see the characters of the hero and the philosopher blended in one! When the head monopolises the spirits, the heart often wants courage; and, if the heart is strong, the head is weak. But, as no part of you has yet betrayed signs of weakness, endeavour to preserve yourself the same in future as you have been in the past, however your fortunes may alter.

G.o.d bless you, my dear brother! and G.o.d bless also Captain Brenton, and all the heroes that are with you, and bring you safe back again to enjoy the favours of your grateful country!

M---- is here very happy. She sent to the Bank yesterday for money, and requested to have cash instead of notes. She was refused of course, at first; but when Mr. Brock said, that, upon his honour, the money was for Sir James Saumarez's _sister_, the guineas made their appearance immediately. I give you this as a specimen of what people think of you. Two engravers have called on us for your picture; and I have written to Lady Saumarez to let them have it. I hope her ladyship and Captain Dumaresq are now in high chat.

I remain, dear brother, Ever truly yours, M.S.

P.S. Richard desires his love; but you have deprived him of sleep.

As you could think on Mrs. Pope at the time you were undertaking the most desperate attempt that ever was made, you may probably find time to inquire for Horace T. who is now at Gibraltar hospital mending two broken thighs. He is the son of Mrs. T. whom you have met at our house. She keeps a ladies'

school next door to us; and, could you serve her son, you would help the widow and the fatherless, and please me at the same time.

The following letters from Earl St. Vincent, and his secretary Mr.

Tucker, will demonstrate the high estimation in which the victory of the 12th of July was held at the Admiralty.

Admiralty, 5th August 1801.

MY DEAR SIR,

I have to acknowledge your letters of the 30th June, 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, 13th July, and to congratulate you most heartily on the career of glory you and your gallant squadron have run in the course of those periods. The hardy enterprise of the 6th merited complete success; but all who know the baffling winds in the Bay of Gibraltar can readily account for the event of it. The astonishing efforts made to refit the crippled ships in Gibraltar Mole surpa.s.ses everything of the kind within my experience; and the final success in making so great an impression on the very superior force of the enemy crowns the whole. I have great satisfaction in reporting to you that I have received the most gracious and full approbation of his Majesty this morning of your whole conduct, and that of every officer and man under your command, and I hear nothing but praise and admiration from every quarter.

We wait impatiently the arrival of Vice-admiral Pole from the Baltic to detach a powerful reinforcement to you, and we are not without hopes that four ships of the line are on their pa.s.sage from Cork to join you before Cadiz, or at Gibraltar.

Having, from the moment of your departure, felt the most perfect confidence that everything would be performed for the honour and success of his Majesty's arms within the reach of human power, I have only to add my anxious wish that another opportunity will present itself, ere long, for a further display of that talent and intrepidity from which the country has, upon so many occasions, received important benefits.

I have the honour to be, With the most perfect regard and esteem, Very sincerely yours, ST. VINCENT.

To Sir James Saumarez.

Admiralty, 10th August 1801.

DEAR SIR,

I congratulate you from my heart and soul, and a.s.sure you that I rejoice most sincerely in the glorious events you have achieved. I but feebly express what I feel on this occasion. It has been your good fortune, sir, to bear so large a part in accomplishing the most glorious actions of this eventful war, that you can scarcely have had an opportunity of witnessing their immediate effect on the public mind; but, be a.s.sured, in no instance has there been more lively admiration expressed of the intrepidity and indefatigable zeal of our navy, than has been shown by all ranks, of your most gallant enterprises, even before the account of your first action was received; and I am sure you will excuse me for adding the tribute my n.o.ble lord paid on that occasion, who, when he read the French account that they had taken the Hannibal, exclaimed, "We may have lost a ship, but I well know the man and the men who are there, and I'll pledge my life the nation has lost no honour!" The instant despatch of the ships from Ireland will prove that it was not conceived possible for you to have so soon refitted the squadron, which has been the subject of great admiration and surprise.

The n.o.ble and liberal conduct of the squadron in admitting the Pompee and Hannibal to partake of their prize-money is an honourable and beautiful contrast to the bickerings which have arisen lately respecting joint captures, and must ensure success to every claim that can be made out; but I am afraid we shall not be able to find a precedent for anything beyond head-money being given for ships which have been blown up in action.

B. TUCKER.

We shall now return to the proceedings at Gibraltar, where we left the squadron of Sir James Saumarez, after the glorious battle of the 12th July.

The extreme degree of excitement and enthusiasm, sharpened by revenge, which supported the gallant crew of the Caesar, and enabled them to perform such prodigious labour during the last seven days, had now subsided. The incessant fatigue which they had endured, both of body and mind, their long abstinence from their natural sleep, and the sudden change from bustle to inactivity, threw the whole of the men into such a state of languor and debility, that they were found lying on the bare planks of the deck, having sunk exhausted, and incapable of making any exertion. This state of stupor continued several hours; some days, indeed, elapsed before many of them regained their usual strength and spirits. At length, however, the men again began to refit the ship, and prepare for resuming the blockade of Cadiz.

Nothing could surpa.s.s the attention, kindness, and hospitality of the governor and garrison of Gibraltar, who were, by the signal defeat of the combined squadron, happily relieved from a state of siege.

Invitations from every quarter were given; but Sir James, who was averse to adulation, declined all except those of the governor, which he considered it his duty not to refuse. No time was lost in sending the men who were saved from the unfortunate Real Carlos to Algeziras; and Sir James entered into a correspondence with the governor, and subsequently with the commander-in-chief at Cadiz, for an exchange of prisoners, which, as the circ.u.mstances were now different from those which lately existed, was acceded to without waiting for the permission of the Minister of Marine at Paris. Consequently the whole of the Hannibal's men were sent to Gibraltar, in exchange for the crew of the San Antonio, which ship was surveyed, taken into the service, and commissioned. On this occasion the following promotions took place.

Commander the Hon. Geo. H.L. Dundas, of the Calpe, was appointed captain of the San Antonio, now called the St. Antoine; Lieut.

Lamburn, first of the Caesar, to command the Calpe; Mr. Beard, master's mate of the Caesar, to be lieutenant of the St. Antoine, to which ship the purser and warrant officers of the Thames, also, were appointed.

Mr. Champion, secretary to Sir James, was made purser of the Thames, while warrant officers were selected from the cla.s.s of petty officers in the Caesar; Mr. John Brenton was appointed to fill the vacancy of lieutenant in the Caesar; Lieutenant Janvrin was made first lieutenant of the St. Antoine; and the other vacancies for lieutenants were filled up from the other ships, viz. Messrs. Curry and Hillier of the Pompee, T. Dowel of the Venerable, E. Donovan of the Superb, and Mr.

J. Crawfurd, master of the El Carmen, were made acting lieutenants to the said ships; while the marine officers of the Hannibal, Lieutenant (now Colonel) Connolly, and Lieutenant Dunford, were also transferred with the marines of that ship to the prize. All these appointments were transmitted to, but not confirmed by, the Admiralty, excepting Captain Dundas, and Captain Dumaresq, who was subsequently appointed to the Calpe.

As the correspondence between Sir James and the Spanish commander-in-chief is highly creditable to both, and as it clears up a doubt which may still exist, we give an exact copy from the original letters, which were exchanged by a flag of truce.

H.M.S. Caesar, off Cadiz, 17th August 1801.

Having been informed that reports were circulated in Spain, ascribing the destruction of the two first-rates, Real Carlos and San Hermenegildo, in the engagement of the 12th July last, to red-hot b.a.l.l.s from his Majesty's ships under my command, I take this present opportunity to contradict, in the most positive and formal manner, a report so injurious to the characteristic humanity of the British nation, and to a.s.sure your Excellency that nothing was more void of truth. This I request you will be pleased to signify in the most public way possible. To a.s.suage, as far as lay in my power, the miseries that must necessarily result from a state of warfare, has ever been my strenuous endeavour, and such will be the rule of my conduct in carrying on the blockade of Cadiz, or any other service committed to my charge.