PREFACE. I WAS intimately acquainted with the subject of these memoirs from childhood, and my near relationship to him caused me to take a great interest in every event of his life. In 1832 it was my good fortune to obtain a professional appointment in Yorkshire, and from that period, to within a few days before his decease, I had the pleasure of constantly associating with Admiral Sir Charles Richardson. In 1846 he was required by the Admiralty to furnish the dates of his various commissions and a brief account of his naval services. On that occasion Sir Charles requested me to assist him in filling up and preparing the necessary document. This of course led to many details, and gave me the foundation for collecting together the materials for this work. I had the names of the various ships and the dates of entry and discharge; then came the services performed in each vessel; and, having got thus far, it was easy to arrange a little store of anecdotes collected by me at different periods. The admiral's views of the statesmen, heroes, and incompetent commanders, who figured on the stage of life from 1787 to 1822, have formed the subject of many a pleasant evening, and his own words and opinions have been incorporated in my writing without any distinguishing marks or observations. by sea and land will be found to agree with the descriptions of the best authors, and no names have been used nor charges made that do not already exist in print. The accounts of the different actions The reader, while admiring the devoted bravery of our officers, soldiers, and sailors, will view with indignation the intrigues and abuse of patronage that placed them so often under incompetent generals and admirals. The French rulers have never been guilty of such conduct towards their men, nor the Americans, or even the most savage nations; but England is the only country that can be pointed out, in the pages of modern history, where every defeat may generally be traced to the wilful appointment of bad commanders. The alarmists about an invasion should consider that this country has now innumerable resources and means of defence which did not exist when Napoleon was dreaded. Railways weave a network round and through the island, by which troops can thread their way to any point before twenty thousand men and their artillery could be landed. Besides, where one volunteer was found before, fifty souls, ready to die for their country, would start up now; and Scotland and even Ireland could furnish thousands, where formerly only hundreds were raised. And with us at home, the unanimous shout of "Saint George and merry old England!" would ring through the hall, the cottage, and the palace, pealing the death-knell of every foeman that set foot on Britannia's virgin soil. HEMSWORTH, NEAR PONTEFRACT, June, 1854. C. E. A. CONTENTS. PAGE Sir Richard Strachan-Embassy to China-A Cape Monkey-Sharks versus Dead Sailors, and Live Sailors versus Dead Sharks-General Meadows and the Cannon Ball-Tippoo Saib in Action-The Lynch Law of an Elephant-Night Attack of the Mysoreans on the British -Narrow Escape of Charles Richardson from the Foe and Crocodiles -Desperate Action between the Phoenix and Resolue Frigates-Tip- poo's wounded Elephant-Richardson joins the Alexander, 74 guns- Reasons for leaving that Ship-Becomes Master's Mate of the Royal Lord Hood at Toulon-Cowardice and Treachery of the Spaniards-The Duke of York's First Unsuccessful Campaign in Holland-Bravery of the Coldstream Guards-The splendid Retreat of Abercromby-The Doomed Midshipman and his Death-The Glorious First of June- Deadly Fight between the Brunswick, 74, and the Vengeur, 74-Eight British Captains show the white feather-Norman method of punish- ment for Cowardly Officers-Richardson becomes Lieutenant of the |