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CHAPTER XVIII.

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Earl St. Vincent, on the Rock of Gibraltar, endeavours to get the better of the wine-house nuisance - Fails, as did his Royal Highness the Duke of Kent at a subsequent period Remarks on Spanish gun-boats from Algeziras — Attacking our trade- Anecdote of a patron - Letter from Earl St. Vincent to Earl Spencer -To the same, on the abuses on the Rock and in the dock-yard-— Corrected by Commissioner Inglefield — To the same, on the injustice done to Captain Newhouse — To Mr. Nepean, on the scarcity of stores in the dock-yard-To Earl Spencer, in favour of Mr. Morrison - To the same, on the improvements on the Rock, with respect to storehouses and tanks, &c. - Corfu surrendered to the Turks and Russians To Earl Spencer, on the demands of the Sicilian court for assistance, and the impossibility of granting more than had been afforded - On the discontent of Nelson and Trowbridge-Obser vations on that subject - Letter from Lord St. Vincent to Mr. Nepean, on Mr. Baynes's claims - To Earl Spencer, on the dockyard at Mahon Observations on the importance of that island -Letter to Earl Spencer, on the defective state of the ships on the Mediterranean station-To Mr. Nepean, on the Portuguese squadron being withdrawn from the blockade of Malta Admiral Gambier, on the promotion of Captain Newhouse - To Earl Spencer, on the affairs of Sicily - On Duckworth's services and claims for a baronetcy-To the same, on the request of the Spanish government for a British frigate to bring home their treasures - To Mr. Nepean, on the trial of mutineers To Earl Spencer, on the flag promotion

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DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER.

Portrait of Earl St. Vincent

Plymouth Breakwater

Frontispiece, Vol. I.

Frontispiece, Vol. II.

LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE

OF THE

EARL ST. VINCENT.

CHAPTER I.

Preliminary Observations - Origin of these Memoirs

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Genealogy of Earl St. Vincent-Early Life- Education Removed to Greenwich School - Is diverted from the Law by the advice of his Father's Coachman- Determines to go to sea Runs away from School and conceals himself on shipboard — Distress of his Mother and SistersHe obtains the consent of his Parents, and is introduced to Lady Burlington - By her to Commodore Townshend - Joins the Gloucester, and sails for Jamaica - His bill Protested - His Resolution -He is Promoted to the Rank of Lieutenant-Serves at Quebec with General Wolfe and Sir Charles Saunders, and is made Commander -He obtains Post rank-Is appointed to the Alarm, the first coppered frigate-She is nearly lost at Marseilles-Is appointed to the Foudroyant-Is in Lord Keppel's Action - Observations on that affair.

As the present work owes its origin to my intimate personal acquaintance with the noble and distinguished individual who is the subject of it, I think it well at the outset to make a brief allusion to the circumstances which afforded me the honour and advantage of that acquaintance,

VOL. I.

B

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and which ultimately led to the commencement and completion of the present undertaking.

The connection of my family with the Earl of St. Vincent was owing to one of those fortuitous circumstances which are so frequent in the naval service. My brother, the present RearAdmiral Sir Jahleel Brenton, had been appointed first lieutenant of the Alliance storeship, bound to the Mediterranean with supplies for the fleet on that station; but. just before she sailed, he received a private letter informing him that he was appointed first lieutenant of the Diamond, a very fine frigate, at that time commanded by his friend Sir Sidney Smith.

Delighted with this piece of good fortune, my brother immediately made it known to his captain, the late worthy and gallant ViceAdmiral Cumming; but that officer told him, that, situated as he then was, on the eve of sailing with so important a charge, he could not allow him to quit the ship until his successor had joined. That successor, fortunately, as it turned out, did not join, and the ship proceeded to Gibraltar, and thence to Corsica. At the latter place, my brother, through the kindness of his captain, represented his situation to Sir John Jervis, who sent for him, inquired into his private history, and then said to him, “ I have

appointed you first lieutenant of the Gibraltar, of eighty guns. Go to Calder, and he will tell you more about it."

After the Gibraltar had received so much damage on the Pearl Rock in 1796, (her escape from which danger was altogether miraculous— see Naval History) she was ordered to England. Sir John Jervis removed my brother into the Barfleur, and, after the glorious termination of the battle of the 14th February, took him into the Ville de Paris. He then inquired if he had any brothers; -"for," said he, "I will do the best I can for the sons of officers." On being informed that my youngest brother was in the Romney, with his godfather, Sir James Wallace, on the Newfoundland station, he sent for him, and as soon as he had served his time, made him a lieutenant in the Petterel sloop of war. * The admiral then inquired for me, and, being informed that I was with Vice-Admiral the Honourable William Waldegrave, he said he could not do better for me at that time. As soon, however, as the Vice-Admiral was succeeded on the Newfoundland station by Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Pole, Lord St. Vincent, who had, in the

He was subsequently, after some very successful cruises, and having made many valuable captures, mortally wounded in hoarding a French letter of marque off Barcelona.

mean time, come to the head of the Admiralty, wrote to him, and asked him to promote me. Sir Charles never had a vacancy as long as I was with him; but I was instantly removed from sixth to be first lieutenant of the Agincourt, his flag ship. In the following year, I was removed to go out in the Theseus to the East Indies, with my friend Admiral Waldegrave, afterwards Lord Radstock. But this arrangement was not effected, his lordship never having hoisted his flag again; and the Theseus was sent out to the West Indies, with the squadron under the orders of the late Admiral Sir George Campbell.

On our arrival at Jamaica, I was appointed commander of the Lark sloop of war. This was the act of Lord St. Vincent, who, being First Lord of the Admiralty, had included me in the promotion of the 29th of April, 1802.

His kindness followed me to the day of his death; being, as he said, "the son of an officer, and having had a brother killed in the service."

On my return home in the Lark, in August, 1802, I paid off my ship at Woolwich, and waited on his lordship at the Admiralty. He received me very kindly; and, in the following year, on the renewal of the war, he gave me the

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