THE FIRST VOLUME.

xix

CHAP. VI.

CRUISE OF THE SPEEDY CONTINUED.

The Speedy sent to Algiers.-Interview with the Dey.-Speedy returns

to Minorca.-Attack on Oropesa.-Enemy's Vessels destroyed.-Letter

of Thanks from Lord Keith.-Speedy sent in Convoy of a Packet. —

Captured by three French line-of-battle Ships, and taken to Algesiras.

-Attack by Sir J. Saumarez's Squadron.-Loss of the Hannibal.-Cap-

ture of Dockyard Artificers.-Gallantry of Captain Keats -

Page 118

CHAP. VII.

ADMIRALTY RELUCTANCE TO PROMOTE ME.

Letter from Sir Alexander Cochrane.-Second Letter from Sir Alexander.

-Both written unknown to me.-Reluctance of Lord St. Vincent to

promote me.-Letter from my Father to Lord St. Vincent, urging my

right to promotion.-Lord St. Vincent's Reply.-Its Fallacy.-His

Lordship's Reasoning a Subterfuge.-Promotion of my First Lieutenant

refused. My imprudent Remark to Lord St. Vincent, who becomes

my Enemy.-Further Effort to promote Lieutenant Parker. — Ad-

miralty Refusal also.-Lieutenant Parker's eventual Promotion, and

subsequent shameful Treatment

-

135

CHAP. VIII.

NAVAL ADMINISTRATION SIXTY YEARS AGO.

Political Favouritism. —Refusal of further Employment.-Naval Cor-

ruption.-Dockyard Practices.-Shameful Treatment of Prisoners of

War.
Economy the Remedy. — Results of Medical Economy.

Empty Physic Bottles.-Seamen's Aversion to the Service.-A Post

Captain at College

-

152

CHAP. IX.

EMPLOYMENT IN THE ARAB.

Appointment to the Arab.-Projected Invasion by Napoleon.-the Arab

ordered to watch the French Coast.-Then to cruise in the North Sea.

-Retirement of Lord St. Vincent

165

XX

CONTENTS OF

CHAP. X.

CRUISE OF THE PALLAS.

Orders of the Pallas embargoed.-Capture of the Carolina. -Arrival of

the Prizes.-Capture of Papal Bulls.-A Chase. —Admiral Young.-

Election for Honiton.-Novel Election Tactics. - Become a Reformer.

-Painful Results

Page 171

CHAP. XI.

SERVICES IN THE PALLAS CONTINUED.

Services in the Pallas.-The Pallas at Halifax.-Clamour of Shipowners.

-Sail from the Downs.-Capture a Vessel.-The Pomone sent to En-

gland.-Capture of the Tapageuse.-The French run ashore.-Chase of

the Corvettes.-Off Chasseron.-Cold Approval of Lord St. Vincent.—

Cruise of the Pallas.-Sight the French Squadron.-French Signal

Houses.-The Isle of Aix.-Engage the French Squadron.―Joined by

the Kingfisher.-Details of the Action.-Construction of Kites

-

183

CHAP. XII.

MY ENTRANCE INTO PARLIAMENT.

My Entrance into Parliament. Enthusiastic Reception.-Seek Promo-

tion for Haswell.-Cutting out Le Cæsar.-Gross Instance of Partiality.

-Claret against Small Beer.-Story of Mr. Croker.-Mr. Croker's

Revenge.-Command the Impérieuse.-Drift towards Ushant.—Join

the Squadron in the Basque Roads. —Anchor off Cordovan.—Supply

the Atalante

-

202

CHAP. XIII.

DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT.

Dissolution of Parliament.—Westminster Election.-Reply to Mr. She-

ridan. I am elected. — Virulent Recriminations. — Opening of the

House.-Move for an Account of Sinecures.-Opposition to the Mo-

tion.—Mr. Perceval's Proposition.—My Motion evaded.-Naval Abuses.

-Details of Abuses. -Naval Hospitals. -Speech in the Commons. -

Join Lord Collingwood's Fleet

215

THE FIRST VOLUME.

xxi

CHAP. XIV.

CRUISE OF THE IMPÉRIEUSE.

Cruise of the Impérieuse.—Engagement with the King George.-Off

Toulon.-Fall in with Thirteen Merchantmen.-Am recalled by Lord

Collingwood.-Russian Declaration of War.-Capture a Vessel from

Corfu.-Run into Valencia.-Clear for Action. - Death of Lieut. Caul-

field. - Chase round Cape Negretti.-Blow up a Tower at Minorca.—

Capture of Spanish Wine.-Fall in with the Leonidas.-Capture a

Xebec. — Chase three Ships.—Capture a Xebec.-Cape Palos. -Gale

at Sea. -Joseph proclaimed King of Spain. -Spain declares War

against France

Page 234

-

-

CHAP. XV.

CRUISE OF THE IMPÉRIEUSE CONTINUED.

Assist the Spaniards.-Off Barcelona.-Spanish Kindness.-The French

in Mataro. -Cruise on the Spanish Coast.-Embark the Enemies'

Guns. Give the Spaniards a Lesson.-Siege of Gerona. -Contest at

Mongat. — Irritation of the Spaniards. -Excesses of the French.-

Spirit of the Catalans. —Anchor off St. Philou.-Guerilla Troops.—

Fortress of Figueras.-Chase two Vessels.-Anchor in Gulf Dumet.-

Destroy a Signal Station.-Storming a Battery.-The Tables turned.

255

CHAP. XVI.

CRUISE OF THE IMPÉRIEUSE CONTINUED.

-

The French Fleet. -The Mole of Ciotat.-The Gulf of Foz.-Take

Possession of the Battery.-Silence other Batteries.-Anchor off Cette.

-Despatch the Prizes.-How we obtained Fresh Water.-Demolish a

Telegraph.—Frigates to leeward.—Ordered to Gibraltar. — Ingratitude

of Government.-Letter of Lord Collingwood.- Letter of Lord

Cochrane

275

-

CHAP. XVII.

CRUISE OF THE IMPÉRIEUSE CONTINUED.

Capture a Settee.-Get under Sail.-Fight between the Patriots and

French. Make sail for Rosas.-Fort Trinidad.-Gallantry of Captain

West.-Bravery of the Catalans.-Repulse of the French.-Attack of

the Impérieuse.-The French redouble their efforts.-Occupation of

Catalonia.-The Castle of Trinidad.-Nature of our Position.-Nature

of our Operations.—Manufacture of a Man-trap.-Lose my Nose.-The

French assault Rosas.-Practice of the French.-Presentiment.-The

French Attack.—The Attack repulsed.-Bravery of a French Soldier.—

-Heavy Gale of Wind.-Unfortunate Accident.-Evacuate the Fortress.

-Stand towards Scalla.-Letter from Lord Collingwood. - Despatch

to Lord Collingwood. - Letter to the Admiralty. - Testimony of the

Spaniards. Sir Walter Scott.-Official Gratitude

Page 290

CHAP. XVIII.

CRUISE OF THE IMPÉRIEUSE CONTINUED.

Defeat of the Spaniards.-Attack some French Vessels.-French Opera-

tions.-Letter of Lord Cochrane.-Lord Collingwood.-Operations of

the Enemy.-Fall in with the Cyrene.-Sail for Minorca.-Apply for

Leave.-Motives for leaving.-Apathy of the Government.-Reproached

for Service. Neglect of the Admiralty

323

CHAP. XIX.

APPOINTMENT TO COMMAND FIRE-SHIPS IN BASQUE ROADS.

Undertaking against Rochefort.-Hopes excited.-Present myself at

the Admiralty.-Am consulted by Lord Mulgrave.-Lord Gambier's

Statement.-Anxiety of Government.-My Plan of Action.-Decline

the Command.-The Command pressed upon me. -Return to the

Impérieuse. - Preparations for Attack.-Lord Gambier obtains the

Laurels, but dissuades the Attack.-The Isle d'Aix.-Lord Gambier's

Statement
338

CHAP. XX.

Sail for the Basque Roads.-My awkward Position.-Ill-humour of the

Fleet.-Admiral Harvey. — Imprudence of Admiral Harvey.-Com-

plains of Lord Gambier. Inaccurate Soundings. Lord Gambier's

Tracts.-Cobbett's Comments on the Tracts.-Dissensions in the Fleet.

-Letter to Lord Mulgrave.-My Principles of Warfare.-Night-work.

-My Principles of Action.-The Isle d'Aix.-Explosion Vessels 354

THE FIRST VOLUME.

xxiii

CHAP. XXI.

Press for an Attack.-Results of Delay. -The French Preparations.— French Admiral's Account.-Insult to the English Fleet.-State of Preparations.—Start for the Attack.—The Attack.—The Explosion.— Failure of the Attack.-Terror of the French.-The French aground.Apathy of Lord Gambier.-The Aix Roads.-The French Fleet permitted to escape.-Drift towards the Enemy.-Attack the French Fleet. The Calcutta strikes.-The Attack.-Failure of Fireships.— Singular Incident.-Signal of Recall.-Captain Seymour.-Lord Gambier's Evasiveness.-Am recalled.-Remonstrate with Lord Gambier. -Am sent Home.-Lord Gambier's Despatch.-The French Despatch. -Destruction of the Boom.-The Mediator

Page 370

CHAP. XXII.

ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND.

Intended Vote of Thanks to Lord Gambier.-Resolve to oppose it.- Interview with Lord Mulgrave. -Lord Gambier demands a Courtmartial.—He is directed to make a fresh Report of the Action in Basque Roads. - Injustice of this second Despatch. - Attempt to entrap me into the Position of Prosecutor. —Composition and Proceedings of the Court-martial. The Admiral's Point of Justification. — Disposed of by Captain Broughton's Evidence, and by that of Captains Malcolm, Newcombe, and Seymour. Sir Harry Neale's Evidence stopped by Admiral Young 403

CHAP. XXIII.

LORD GAMBIER'S DESPATCH.

Its Omissions and Suppressions. - Motive for Lord Gambier's Misstatements. — Mr. Fairfax reports that the Mediator went in fifth, not first. - Reason of the contrary Assertion. – Napoleon attributes the Escape of his Fleet to the Imbecility of Lord Gambier. Mismanagement of the Fire-ships. - Lord Gambier's Delay and Misdirection. - His Perversion of Fact. His misplaced Praise. — The Despatch fails to satisfy the Public.— Criticised by the Press. Admiral Gravière's Account of the Termination of the Action 416