COLLINGWOOD.

423

CHAPTER XVI.

Temporary disagreement between Earl St. Vincent and Captain Collingwood-Collingwood's observations on Nelson's appointment to the Nile - His unwilling obedience - His remarks on the state of Ireland, and the Irish mutineer-Lord St. Vincent's letter to Lady Spencer-Commented on by the Editor of Collingwood's MemoirsReply to those remarks Justification of Lord St. Vincent's conduct -Necessity shown of leaving the choice of officers in the hands of the executive power-Officers may claim their rank by seniority, but cannot claim employment-The Articles of War, particularly the 19th and 22d, apply to all classes in the service - Comparison between the Lord High Admiral and Earl St. Vincent- None but the executive power should call a commander-in-chief to accountCollingwood's letter to J. E. Blackett- Unfair to the character and memory of Earl St. Vincent - Pigsties and blankets"-The mutineer of the Romulus sent to Collingwood-Improper threat of punishment - Necessity of showing that such was not the practice of our service - Danger of their being believed-Teong's account of punishments in the reign of Queen Elizabeth Collingwood's punishments mild, even to a fault-Reasons for Lord St. Vincent's being popular with the seamen — Anecdotes of the olden times of the navy.

LORD St. Vincent, from concurring testimony, appears to have had a high opinion of Collingwood, and probably not higher than he deserved; but the learned Editor of the Memoirs of Collingwood offers a curious instance" of his demanding and receiving from his superiors" that respect which, it seems, he was not inclined

to show to them in return. "On one occasion,”. says Mr. Collingwood (p. 56), "the Excellent was directed to weigh, when off Cadiz, and to close with the admiral's ship, and, in running down, the signal was made five or six times for altering the course, first on one side, and then on the other, and at length for a lieutenant. Captain Collingwood, who had been observing this in silence, ordered his boat to be manned, as he would go too. On his arrival on board he desired the lieutenant, when the order was copied, to bring it to him, and he read it while he was walking the quarter-deck with Lord St. Vincent and Sir Robert Calder. It was merely an order for the Excellent to receive on board two bags of onions for the use of the sick; and on seeing it he exclaimed, Bless me ! is this the service, my lord? Is this the service, Sir Robert? Has the Excellent's signal been made five or six times for two bags of onions? Man my boat, sir, and let us go on board again;' and though repeatedly pressed by Lord St. Vincent to stay dinner, he refused to do so, and retired."

This was peevish, to say the least of it, and a violation of the 22d Article of War, to make the most of it, and what Collingwood himself would have resented from any other man inferior to himself in rank. Lord St. Vincent cared as little for the bags of onions as the captain

of the Excellent, with whom he probably only wished to converse in a friendly manner at his table; and I do not think any rational officer, who knows the service, would justify the refusal of the kind invitation. It appears to me: to have been a misunderstanding upon a very trivial point. Resentment shown on such occa sions is a breach of discipline, and often leads to very serious consequences. Collingwood's theories and his practice seem to have been at variance. Here was an ebullition of temper, and want of respect to his superior officer, which ought never to be allowed to pass unnoticed, by those who have the least regard to the naval service.

But I have not yet done with the admiral, who, by the injudicious zeal of his learned relative, has been thrust into a prominent position, and somewhat offensively to the memory of Earl St. Vincent. I copy the words, as given by his biographer, in Lord Collingwood's let

ters:

"This appointment of Admiral Nelson to a service where so much honour was to be, acquired, has given great offence to the senior admirals of the fleet. Sir William Parker, who is a very excellent officer, and as gallant a man as any in the navy, and Sir John Orde, who on all occasions of service has acquitted himself: with great honour, are both feeling much hurt

at a junior officer of the same fleet having so marked a preference over them, and have written to Lord Spencer, complaining of this neglect of them. The fleet is, in consequence, in a most unpleasant state; and now all that intercourse of friendship, which was the only thing like comfort which was left to us, is forbidden; for the admirals and captains are desired not to entertain, even at dinner, any who do not belong to their ships. They all complain that they are appointed to many unworthy services, and I have my share with the rest. But I place myself beyond the reach of such matters; for I do them with all the exactness in my power, as if they were things of the utmost importance; though I do not conceal what I think of them. In short, I do what every body else does wish myself at home very much.

"The accounts from Ireland give me great uneasiness. One of the mutineers, who lately suffered death in the Princess Royal, was a member of a seditious society in England, and communicated to his confessor the United Irishman's oath. Nothing could be drawn up in stronger terms."*

The Editor then proceeds to say, that though Lord Collingwood was ever eager to bear testimony to the merit of all who were connected

This man was the pretended ideot, of whom I have spoken in another place.

FACTIOUS SPIRIT.

427

with him on service, there are very few instances in his Correspondence in which he censures the conduct of others; and he (the Editor) "would have omitted some passages in the preceding letters, if it had not been for the publication of one of Lord St. Vincent's letters, in which he says, 'I pride myself in maintaining strict discipline, when surrounded by factious spirits in the lower orders, and discontent among the higher classes.' That distinguished commander was doubtless convinced, that these times demanded from him an unusual severity of discipline; yet, in justice to the higher classes in that fleet, it may surely be said, that the circumstances detailed in the above letter furnished some ground for the discontent which prevailed."

As this paragraph contains a charge both against Lord St. Vincent and myself, I shall meet it on the fullest and fairest grounds; and, first, I deny that the letter to Lady Spencer, above referred to, published in the first edition of my Naval History, vol. ii., p. 351, was intended by me to apply specifically to Lord Collingwood, or to any other officer in the fleet; and those who have so applied it must take the consequences upon themselves. If the friends of Lord Collingwood are offended, they have no one to blame but his biographer, who has fitted the charge to his relative in such a pal