VOL. XXVIII.
ADMIRAL JOHN MARKHAM
ADMIRAL JOHN MARKHAM.
SELECTIONS
FROM
THE CORRESPONDENCE
OF
DURING THE YEARS
1 80 1— 4 AND 1 806-7
EDITED BY
SIR CLEMENTS MARKHAM, K.C.B.
LIBRARY
7°
A I
AVAILABLE
THE COUNCIL
OF THE
NAVY RECORDS SOCIETY
1904-1905
PATRON H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES, K.G., K.T., K.P.
PRESIDENT EARL SPENCER, K.G.
VICE-PRESIDENTS
BRIDGE, ADMIRAL SIR CYPRIAN PROTHERO,
A. G., G.C.B. LL-D-
HAWKESBURY, LORD.
ATKINSON, C. T.
G. W., Litt. D.,
YORKE, SIR HENRY, K.C.B.
COUNCILLORS
LORAINE, REAR-ADMIRAL SIR
BATTENBERG, PRINCE Louis OF,
G.C.B. BEAUMONT, VICE-ADMIRAL SIR
LEWIS, K.C.B., K.C.M.G.
CLARKE, COL. SIR GEORGE S.,
K.C.M.G.
CORBETT, JULIAN S. DESART, THE EARL OF, K.C.B. DRURY, REAR-ADMIRAL SIR
CHARLES, K. C.S.I. FIRTH, PROFESSOR C. H., LL.D. GINSBURG, B. W., LL.D. GODLEY, SIR ARTHUR, K.C.B. HAMILTON, ADMIRAL SIR R.
VESEY, G.C.B. KIPLING, RUDYARD.
LAMBTON, BART. LYALL, SIR ALFRED C., K.C.B. MARKHAM, SIR CLEMENTS R., . K.C.B., F.R.S. MARSDEN, R. G. NEWBOLT, HENRY. NORTHBROOK, EARL OF, G. C.S.I. PARR, REAR-ADMIRAL A. C. SLADE, CAPTAIN EDMOND J. W.,
R.N.
TANNER, J. R. THURSFIELD, J. R. TRACEY, ADMIRAL SIR RICHARD,
K.C.B. WATTS, PHILIP, F.R.S.
SECRETARY
PROFESSOR J. K. LAUGHTON, D.Litt., King's College, London, W.C.
t
TREASURER W. GRAHAM GREENE, C.B., Admiralty, S.W.
The COUNCIL of the NAVY RECORDS SOCIETY wish it to be distinctly understood that they are not answer- able for any opinions or observations that may appear in the Society's publications. For these the responsi- bility rests entirely with the Editors of the several works.
INTRODUCTION
THE letters which form the present volume were written by flag officers and captains on active service in the early part of the nineteenth century to Admiral John Markham, who was a lord of the admiralty during the administrations of Mr. Addington and Lord Grenville. Their interest consists in the expressions of private views on service matters written confidentially. An interval of a century justifies their publication, for the way in which they had been preserved and docketed shows that a future use of their contents was contemplated. Ever since the admiral's death his papers have been in a chest, now in the possession of his descendants at Morland in Westmoreland.
Lord St. Vincent accepted the office of first lord of the admiralty in Mr. Addington's adminis- tration, and there never was a time when a naval officer of energy and experience was more needed as first lord, owing to the gross jobbery and mal-
viii INTRODUCTION
versation in the navy civil departments. Reforms could only be carried out by a perfectly fearless and resolute naval officer such as Lord St. Vincent, who was intimately acquainted with all the ins and outs of navy board and dockyard robbery.
Lord St. Vincent selected his two sea lords from among the officers who had served under him. Sir Thomas Troubridge, his first sea lord, was the intimate and trusted friend of Nelson, and was Lord St. Vincent's captain of the fleet during the blockade of Brest. John Markham, the second son of Dr. William Markham, Archbishop of York, was born in 1761 and entered the service in 1776, under the auspices of the Honourable George Keith Elphinstone, afterwards Lord Keith, who continued his friend through life. He was at the taking of Martinique under Sir John Jervis in 1794, and served under him, when Lord St. Vincent, in the Mediterranean and at the blockade of Brest. Trou- bridge and Markham were the two officers of Lord St. Vincent's choice, the civilians on the board being Sir Philip Stephens, Bart., who had been secretary for many years, the Honourable William Eliot,1 Mr. James Adams, and Mr. Garthshore. Mr. Evan Nepean was secretary, and Mr. Tucker private secretary to the first lord. The new board first met on February i8th, 1801.
On November I2th, 1801, Captain John Mark- ham was elected member for Portsmouth, and
1 Afterwards Earl of St. Germans. He retired in January 1804, when Sir Harry Burrard Neale, Bart., was appointed as a 3rd naval lord, and Mr. John Lemon as another civil lord in place of Mr. Garthshore.
INTRODUCTION ix
he became a rear-admiral on April 23rd, 1804. The first board on which he served lasted from February i8th, 1801, to May i5th, 1804, a period of three years and four months.
The first work of the new admiralty was the equipment and despatch of the Baltic expedition. Then came Lord Keith's successes on the coast of Egypt, and Lord Nelson's proceedings at Boulogne. But the Peace of Amiens was signed on the 26th of March, 1802.
The board was then able to give its undivided attention to the condition of the civil departments of the navy. After having received much evidence, Lord St. Vincent and Admiral Markham proceeded to make a thorough personal investigation at all the dockyards in August and September 1802. Their conclusion was that the evils to be cured were so gigantic in their proportions as to be beyond the unaided powers of the admiralty. A parliamentary commission would be necessary to enquire into the whole naval civil branch.
Admiral Markham had the important duty of introducing a bill with this object and managing its passage through the House of Commons. He had the help of distinguished naval officers, such as Sir Edward Pellew and Sir Charles Pole, and the sup- port of Mr. Tierney and Mr. Sheridan. But he was opposed by the followers of Mr. Pitt and by the whole army of jobbers. The commissioners were nominated in the Act,1 with Admiral Sir Charles
1 Admiral Sir Charles Morice Pole, Bart. ; Hugh Leycester, Esq., of Toft ; Ewan Law, Esq. ; John Ford, Esq. ; Captain Nicholls, R.N.
x INTRODUCTION
Pole as chairman ; the bill was read a third time, and on December 2Oth, 1802, Admiral Markham, with several other members, brought it up to the House of Lords. It was there introduced and explained by Lord Pelham, and Lord Nelson gave it his cordial support The work of the commission was commenced with great diligence in February 1803.
There were twelve reports and a supplementary one. ' This was justly pronounced to have been one of the most able, acute, and laborious investi- gations ever undertaken. It shook corruption to its very foundations, and traced the sources of peculation to their most secret recesses.' It re- flected the highest credit on the commissioners, and also on the board of admiralty, which resolutely insisted on the investigations, and had supported the commissioners regardless of clamour, abuse, misrepresentation, and the host of rancorous enemies their lordships made for themselves. On the 2nd of May, 1805, *he thanks of the House of Commons were voted to the commissioners.
The other great parliamentary work of Admiral Markham was the defence of his illustrious old chief.
The war broke out again on May i6th, 1803, and the board of admiralty was not found unpre- pared. Within forty-eight hours Admiral Corn- wallis was blockading Brest with ten or twelve sail of the line ; Lord Nelson hoisted his flag on board the Victory and proceeded to the blockade of Toulon ; while Lord Keith took command in the Downs to watch Boulogne and the Dutch coast.
When Mr. Addington took office, Mr. Pitt
INTRODUCTION xi
' pledged himself to advise and support Mr. Adding- ton's ministry, and he considered this pledge as solemnly binding, not redeemable by any lapse of time, nor ever to be cancelled without the express consent of Mr. Addington.'1 But on March I5th, 1804, Mr. Pitt moved for papers relating to the naval defences ; the object being to attack the ad- ministration of Lord St. Vincent by comparing the number of ships in commission in 1793 and 1803, and in other ways. The papers were refused because the motion implied a censure on the ad- miralty. Pitt's attack was vehement, and Lord St. Vincent never forgave it. Mr.Tierney, Mr. Sheridan, Sir E. Pellew, Sir C. Pole replied, and Admiral Markham proved that both Mr. Pitt's facts and figures were wrong, and that his inferences were misleading. The motion was defeated by a ma- jority of seventy-one. Two months afterwards, on May 1 5th, 1804, tne Addington ministry resigned, and Mr. Pitt formed his second administration.
The attacks on Lord St. Vincent continued, and a Mr. Jeffrey, a follower of Mr. Pitt, was put up to continue a very discreditable business. Admiral Markham undertook the defence. This Jeffrey was a tool of the navy board and the contractors. He had a bad case, and he was no match in debate for Lord Howick and Admiral Markham. Jeffrey per- sisted from May 1805 to May 1806, when the House of Commons unanimously passed a vote ' that the conduct of the Earl of St. Vincent in his naval administration has added an additional lustre to his
1 Mr. Canning to the Earl of Malmesbury, October zoth, 1802.
Xll
INTRODUCTION
exalted character, and is entitled to the approbation of this House.'
Admiral Markham's two great parliamentary ser- vices were the conducting of the Act for creating a commission of naval enquiry through the House ; and his successful defence of his glorious old chief.
On January 28th, 1806, the government of 'All the Talents ' was formed, with Lord Grenville as prime minister, Mr. Fox as secretary of state for foreign affairs, and the Honourable Charles Grey, afterwards Lord Ho wick, as first lord of the admiralty. Mr. Grey selected Admiral Markham to be first sea lord, Admiral Sir Charles Pole and Captain Sir Harry Neale, Bart, as the other two sea lords ; Lord William Russell, Lord Kensington, and Sir Philip Stephens as civil lords. Mr. Marsden and Mr. Tucker were secretaries. Earl St. Vincent, at the age of seventy-one, hoisted his flag on board the Hibernia, to command the fleet off Brest.
The death of Mr. Fox on September i3th, 1806, necessitated changes. Lord Howick succeeded as secretary of state for foreign affairs ; and Mr. Thomas Grenville became first lord of the ad- miralty. He hesitated about retaining Admiral Markham. On October 4th he wrote, ' I am still quite at a loss for a sheet anchor, and wish Markham had not made so many enemies, for in zeal and quickness of resource he seems to me to have great merit.'1 On the nth he wrote to Lord Grenville, 1 I have at length made up my mind to keep Mark-
1 Grenville Memoir -s, iv. p. 83.
INTRODUCTION xiii
ham, and have told him so, and we are now estab- lished in perfect confidence.' Sir Charles Pole was succeeded by Captain Thomas F. Fremantle, R.N. Sir Harry Neale remained, with Lord Kensington, Mr. Frankland, and Lord William Russell.
Lord St. Vincent wrote to Mr. T. Grenville, ' You will find in Markham firmness and integrity to the backbone, happily combined with ability, diligence, and zeal.'
Admiral Markham, when the River Plate expe- dition had been forced on the government by Sir Home Popham, made the necessary arrangements expeditiously and well. He supplied all the means for securing success. The failure was with the generals on the spot. An insight into the nume- rous difficulties and the proceedings generally will be found in the letters from Sir George Murray.
Lord Grenville's government went out on March 4th, 1807, and Lord St. Vincent at once resigned the command of the fleet off Brest. He wrote to Mr. T. Grenville : ' The support I have received from the board under your auspices has enabled me to restore the fleet to the vigour in which I left it seven years ago.'
Admiral Markham was first sea lord from January 1806 to March 1807, under Lord Howick and Mr. T. Grenville. Altogether he was a lord of the admiralty for four and a half years. He was member for Portsmouth, the last naval member, from 1801 to 1826, when he retired. He died at Naples on February i6th, 1827, in his sixty-eighth year.
We gather from the correspondence that Admiral
xiv INTRODUCTION
Markham's administration secured him the approval of his brother officers. Lords St. Vincent and Col- Hngwood;1 Duckworth, Saumarez,2 Keith, Strachan,3 Russell,4 all write with expressions of confidence and appreciation ; as do Sir George Murray and others. Captain T. Hamilton expresses himself in still stronger terms.5 When Admiral Markham finally left the admiralty, Sir George Grey wrote,6 ' I am outrageous to hear you are going, but it is a great satisfaction to hear from all quarters that you are regretted, and which from my heart I believe to be the case with the generality of the service.'
Mrs. Markham, to whom there are messages or remembrances in nearly every letter, was the Hon. Maria Rice, sister of Lord Dynevor, who was married to Captain John Markham on Novem- ber 2ist, 1796. She died at her brother's house, in Dover Street, in December 1810. The sons, who also have messages sent to them in many of the letters, were John, born at the admiralty in 1801, died unmarried in 1883 ; Rice, born at the ad- miralty in 1803, vicar of Morland in Westmoreland, died in 1877, leaving a daughter Maria ; and Frede- rick, born at Ades in 1805, lieutenant-general, C.B., died unmarried, 1855. The admiral also had a daughter, Maria,7 who was born at Eastbourne in 1806, and died unmarried in 1836.
In May 1811 Admiral Markham sat for his picture to Sir William Beechey, for Lord St. Vin- cent. He is in uniform, and holds the bill for a
1 P. 70. 2 P. 75. 3 P. 412. 4 Pp. 184, 187. 5 P. 329. G P. 396. 7 P. 394.
INTRODUCTION xv
commission of naval enquiry in his hand. The portrait is now at Morland.
If the admiral had lived three years longer he would have seen all the reforms, he had recom- mended, carried out ; and his services would have received due recognition from his colleague, the Lord Howick of 1806, who, as Earl Grey, in 1830 became prime minister.
Half the letters from Lord St. Vincent are dated from Rochetts, when he was too unwell to attend at the admiralty. Several of these relate to the com- mission of naval enquiry and its composition. In one l his lordship praises the way in which Admiral Markham prepared the motion for a commission by giving full credit to Lord Spencer's administration. .The other half consists of interesting letters from Lord St. Vincent when in command of the fleet blockading Brest.2
The two letters from Lord Collingwood, and four from Sir James Saumarez are interesting, especially Lord Collingwood's objections to his affairs being taken up in the House by Mr. Spencer Stanhope without his knowledge. The eighteen letters from Sir John Duckworth, from the West Indies and Mediterranean, are very characteristic.
Lord Keith was commander-in-chief on our eastern coasts at the time that Napoleon meditated a descent from Boulogne. He was surrounded by difficulties of all kinds : ambitious subordinates wanting to work independently, like Sir Sidney
1 P. 13-
2 Some of these letters have already been published by Bren- ton, but not from the originals .
xvi INTRODUCTION
Smith and Captain Wright ; intelligence hard to obtain, examinations of spies and doubtful characters ; the management and distribution of the fleet, and of numerous hired small craft, and a thousand other details. Lord Keith's letters give us an insight into all these matters. The letters from Admirals Rowley and Russell relate to the same kind of service. Those from Admiral Vashon are on the subject of raising men in Scotland.
Admiral George Murray's correspondence, with the letters from Admiral Stirling and Captain Corbet, furnish much detailed information, from the naval point of view, respecting the unfortunate expedition to the River Plate in 1807.
The letters from Captain Thomas Hamilton are of two kinds. The first contains information re- specting Holland collected in a visit during the short lull after the Peace of Amiens, a letter from Paris, and a key to a cypher. The second part of Captain Hamilton's correspondence is devoted to questions of construction.
The letters from Sir Samuel Hood and Sir Alexander Cochrane will be found to be of interest. Those from Sir Thomas Troubridge and the last from Sir Edward Pellew were written just before the catastrophe, which lost to the service ' the ablest adviser and best executive officer in the navy, with honour and courage bright as his sword/ as Lord St. Vincent described him.
The letters from Admiral Montagu and Sir George Grey chiefly relate to Portsmouth and the work in the dockyard.
A scurrilous pamphlet, signed ' Aristides,' is the
INTRODUCTION xvii
subject of letters from Captain T. Byam Martin and Commissioner Fanshawe. The friendly interchange of letters between Captain the Hon. Robert Stop ford and Admiral Markham has reference to a court- martial that the board, to which Admiral Markham belonged, deemed it their duty to order on Captain Stopford for disobedience of orders.
The letters from Sir Richard Strachan are not without interest, and those from Sir Isaac Coffin are exceedingly amusing. Among the few single letters at the end of the volume, there is one from the well- known Captain Philip Beaver, suggesting leather shields to be fixed on the boarding pikes of the Sea- Fencibles. The concluding letters are from Captain Croft, of the Crofts of Stillington. This young officer was a midshipman in the Centaur, under Captain Markham, who ever afterwards watched over his advancement in the service.
My thanks are due to my cousin, Miss Mabel Markham, great-granddaughter of the admiral, who arranged, calendared, and transcribed the letters with admirable judgment and care. Without her aid the volume could not have been produced. I have also to thank our secretary, Mr. Laughton, for many valuable suggestions and for much assist- ance, and Mr. Cyril Longhurst for his help in making the Index.
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
PAGE
vii
431 LETTERS
40 From the Earl of St. Vincent, 1801-1804 .
38 From the Earl of St. Vincent, 1806-1807
i Memorandum by Lord Howick . . . .
1 From Sir Charles Pole
2 From Lord Collingwood, 1806 .
4 From Sir James Saumarez .... 1 8 From Sir John Duckworth .
116 From Lord Keith, 1801-1804
6 From Admiral B. S. Rowley .
5 From Admiral T. M. Russell, 1806-1807
10 From Admiral Vashon, 1806 .
57 From Rear- Admiral George Murray, 1806-1807
i From Mr. Thomas Grenville .
5 From Admiral Charles Stirling
i From Captain Robert Corbet .
52 From Captain Thomas Hamilton .
11 From Sir Samuel Hood, 1803 and 1806 .
8 From Sir Alexander Cochrane, 1802-1807 .
I From Sir Thomas Troubridge, 1806 .
6 From Sir Edward Pellew ....
6 From Admiral Stanhope, 1806 .
i
36 68 69 70
75 79 1 02 177 184 188
201 299 300 306 310 35<> 363 370 37'
377
xx CONTENTS
4 From Captain John Sutton, 1801 . . . . . . 381
6 From Admiral George Montagu, 1806 387
6 From Captain the Hon. George Grey, 1806 . . . . 393
3 From Captain Thomas Byam Martin .... 399
i From Commissioner Fanshawe, 1805 402
i From Captain Littlehales, 1801 404
i From Captain the Hon. R. Stopford 406
i With Admiral Markham's reply, 1807 .... 407
4 From Sir Richard Strachan 408
5 From Sir Isaac Coffin 414
i From Sir Roger Curtis .418
i An anonymous letter to Admiral Gambier . . . 419
i From Lord Garlics 422
i From Sir Thomas Graves to Sir John Colpoys . . 424
i From Mr. Joshua Rowley, 1801 426
i From Captain George Martin 427
i From Captain Philip Beaver 428
3 From Captain William Croft 431
INDEX
435
ILLUSTRATION
Admiral John Markham, from a pencil drawing after the painting
by Sir William Beechey Frontispiece
THE CORRESPONDENCE
OF
ADMIRAL JOHN MARKHAM
1801-1807
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT
Tor Abbey, Sunday evening, nth January, 1801. My dear Sir, — In my public letter of this day to the admiralty, I have named Captains Cuming and Bowen as fit men to command ships of the line, by order, both resident within an easy distance from Tor Bay. Captain Vashon has asked leave of absence for the recovery of his health, as I hope you will do, by to-morrow's post. I don't know a man more likely to fulfil all your wishes in the Centaur than Bowen ; I name him to you as a very fit person to command the Centaur in your most necessary absence. Don't answer this note to-night, but allow me to call upon you to-morrow morning. With our best wishes to Mrs. Markham, believe me to be, Yours most truly,
ST. VlNCENT.1
1 This letter was written when Lord St. Vincent was still in command of the Brest? fleet, and Captain Markham still in the Centaur.
B
2 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
Rochetts, 27th December, 1801.
My dear Sir, — Let Lord Keith's conduct touch- ing refreshments for the sick of the squadron be- fore Alexandria have been ever so inattentive, the captains in question proceeded improperly, and the board could do no less than express a disapproba- tion of it ; nor do I think the letters in the box require any other answer than a mere acknowledg- ment in the usual manner, for one of them will continue the discussion ad infinitum if we do not put a stop to it.
Mr. Marsden has sent me Dr. Blane's protest, which is very reprehensible, for I have no doubt it is circulated through all the naval hospitals, and must do a great deal of mischief. It is notorious that the practice he recommends has been the occasion of the loss of many lives, by the absence of every medical and surgical assistant and the plunder of the dispensaries, where private practice has obtained. Scandalous in the highest degree, the doctor's principles if acted upon to this extent will open such scenes of abuse and corruption as never yet appeared in any of our establishments. Upon reading this paper over again, his attack is made upon his own board, with an oblique reflection upon ours.
In endeavouring to get the better of one of my complaints I have reduced myself rather too low, but Dr. Pitcairn has put me in a way to come right again.
Rochetts, 1 5th April, 1802.
My dear Sir, — Captain Capel will look to a higher rate than the Aurora ; she will do for Captain Wolfe, Lord Spencer's friend, who I wish very much to employ. I don't know the character of Captain Bass, but the Woolwich will require a handy, bustling seaman, and should he be of that description you
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 3
cannot do better than place him in her. Captain Fane has been very strenuously recommended for employment ; he being an honourable, his fitness for a storeship is doubtful, therefore you had best put him in one of the vacant sloops.
Your old shipmate, Captain Richbell, is a fair candidate for employment, and perhaps would like to be in one of the storeships ; of this you are a better judge than your very sincere and obedient servant,
ST. VINCENT.
I see Mr. Sheridan has touched upon the lieu- tenants' half pay. I expect to see George Parker here to-morrow, who will be of great use in arrang- ing my long list, for my head has not been in a state to digest it.
There is a Captain Lavie, low on the post list, I wish to employ in a small ship.
Rochetts, i6th April, 1802.
My dear Sir, — I heartily hope the place you have heard of in Sussex will suit, and that you will have a pleasant trip. If the Naiad is ready to be commissioned, Captain Williams should be appointed, unless Sir Philip should prefer the Hussar or Dryad, both better ships I believe. If Lieutenant Thompson is promoted, your friends at Portsmouth must be content, and not expect any more patronage of that size, with the exception of Mr. J. Carter, who has recommended a relation for post. Captains Bradley and Garrett are upon the spot, and will be glad of the trips to Newfoundland and Halifax; those two large frigates will probably be paid off on their return, both of them having been well worked must require repair. You will see by
B 2
4 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
the enclosed that Captain Drummond wants to come ashore, and the sooner you supersede him the better. Young Mundy asked for the Carysfort, but I gave him no answer. You say Nepean is gone down to the committee supported by Doctors Lynn and Trotter ; am I to infer that N. has altered his opinion of the nitrous acid, what I conceived he was an advocate for? I am totally ignorant of both these inventions, but I do not like to see them carried so much in the way of a job. It is inconceivable what can have become of the Namur, but after the loss of the Assistance one ought not to be surprised at anything. The Duke of Kent interests himself about the purser of the last mentioned ship, whose name is Bignel, and he solicits the promotion of David St. Clair, who passed his examination last Wednesday sevennight, which I will thank you to comply with.
Our best wishes attend Mrs. M., you, and the little boy, and I am most truly yours, &c.
I have run over the courts- martial on the San Esperanza's officers, and am of opinion she should be paid off and all the parties got rid of.
Rochetts, 5th November, 1802.
My dear Sir, — It will be monstrous in the navy board to introduce a new clerk while there is one fit to be placed on the establishment among the extra clerks ; we took measures to this effect while on our tour, as far as related to the dockyards, and I see no impropriety in making it a standing regulation at all the boards under our control ; it should be extended to them all, under the same Jate. Sir Thomas's paper, which I return, quite Chocks me, and I much fear the worthy gentlemen !iave the benefit in meal or in malt at this moment ;
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 5
the sooner such an abominable practice can be cut up by the roots the better.
Lady St. Vincent, who desires to be kindly remembered to you and yours, rejoices with me in the good accounts you give of the archbishop, to whom I beg you will make my best respects, and wishing you a happy meeting with Mrs, Markham to-morrow, believe me to be very sincerely yours, &c.
Why is not the Centaur in Cawsand Bay ?
[Private.'] Admiralty, Rochetts, December i, 1802.
My dear Sir, — When I wrote you yesterday I was not aware that Mr. Addington and you might have had communication upon the subject of Mr. Law,1 who I hope will not decline the task ; of this you probably are at a certainty, one way or the other. I have great doubts of the wisdom of reducing our naval force in the West Indies until some explanation between our court and that of France is come to, for our intelligence of the destination of the squadrons which frequently sail from the ports of the latter is so vague, we know not where to detach after them, and upon the most trifling alarm the admiralty is called upon to answer for the safety of every colony, so that it is absolutely necessary, at the present period, to have the king's commands signified to us through Lord Hobart before any diminution is made, especially as we are not well informed of the naval force France actually has in St. Domingo. This must be between Trou- bridge, you, and me.
As you are to proceed upon the bill to authorise the commission to enquire into abuses, it may not be
1 Mr. Law had been asked to become a member of the commission to investigate abuses and frauds in the naval depart- ments.
6 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
amiss to enter upon the regulation of the Chest at Chatham at the same time, and I will thank you to moot the subject with Mr. Bragge, who as treasurer of the navy will have to carry that wholesome and necessary measure into execution, and from his habits of business in the House of Commons will be very useful in carrying it through. I do not recollect whether I have had any conversation with Mr. Adding- ton about the frauds and abuses in the conduct of the Chest, but he is so solicitous for the redress of such evils, I am sure he will join heartily in it. The powers of the commissioners must be very extensive, so as to reach the victualling, sick and wounded, and every other branch of the civil department of the navy, to examine contractors, their clerks, agents, &c., and upon oath. Tucker I fancy is well prepared to give information of all that is necessary. I shall not be surprised if some one rises to oppose the enquiry, and demands to know on what grounds it is instituted ; in this event I hope Sir T. Troubridge will be guarded should a sudden impulse make him start up to reply, and that he will not show too much warmth.
I remember Mr. Ottley's case, and thought it invited attention, therefore do him right. Admiral Cornwallis seems by his letter to expect something will be done for Mr. Read, who has saved the lives of two citizens at the risk of his own ; whatever the board advises I shall approve. The prayer of Lieutenant Summers's petition deserves considera- tion ; if he was actually wounded in the manner described by the blast on board the Theseus, he seems entitled to a pension. Mr. Henslow cannot be committed to prison unless the informers swear to the charges they have stated in their letter to Mr. Bicknell, and I think it a necessary precaution that they should be well examined by him before they
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 7
go before a magistrate, as a failure of evidence would bring on us a charge of intemperance, bordering upon persecution. Mr. Jervis will be ready and willing to give us sense on this, and every other subject of the kind, without a view to fees.
All here join in every kind wish to you and co. ; with your very sincere, &c.
Rochetts, 2nd December, 1802.
My dear Sir, — I tremble at the doubts Mr. Law expressed to you and Sir Thomas, as I really do not know where to look for another so well qualified in all respects for the undertaking. Lord Ellen- borough is likely to consult Commissioner Towry l on the subject, who, I think, will not advise against it. Captain Hill, of the Camilla, is a candidate for a larger frigate, founded upon his seeing several junior captains in the command of them I conclude. When the trumpet of war ceases to sound you will probably have applications from some of these to come ashore (as I observe they are marrying at a great rate), and may be able to make an arrange- ment in favour of Hill. Captain Honyman is to have the first frigate we have occasion to com- mission, and I have a notion Sir Thomas, in your absence, had intended he should succeed to one at Portsmouth, and sent la Topaze there for the purpose of fitting her out. We rejoice in the good accounts you give of Mrs. Markham and the little boy, and with our best wishes for the health and happiness of you all, believe me to be, &c.
Rochetts, 3rd December, 1802.
My dear Sir, — I despatch the messenger without being able to run over the debates. I observe, however, that you very properly stated that Marshall
1 His father-in-law.
8 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
was dismissed, on a report, from a committee of the navy board, of a gross neglect of an important part of his duty. I am glad the attack was made, because it will prevent any resistance to the motion for a commission.
I enclose a letter to Mr. Law, which, if you approve, I will thank you to send. I wish you had conveyed Sir Thomas Troubridge's and your own opinion whether any measure should be taken about Captain Ferrier. I have signified to Nepean that the clerk's letters should be sent to him.
I differ totally with Tucker about the sea officer, and the one he is anxious about would not do, for obvious reasons.
Rochetts, 4th December, 1802.
My dear Sir, — You cannot entertain a doubt of my receiving everything which is offered by Sir Thomas or you in the way it is meant, and I thank you very much for the suggestion of a fourth com- missioner, and no man can be less objectionable than Vice- Admiral Pole, if he will undertake it : I should never have thought of Tucker had he not possessed a degree of knowledge upon the subject, without which no progress could have been made. I will write to Mr. Addington in the morning, and send the letter by Tucker. I very much approve your proposition in favour of the Vols. pr. order who have served three years, and with our best wishes to you all, believe me to be yours most truly, &c.
I am glad we are daccord on the subject of Captain Ferrier.
Something should be done for the masters and surgeons.
Rochetts, 5th December, 1802.
My dear Sir, — The proposition for imposing a stamp upon the publication of the army and navy
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 9
lists would come better from Mr. Vansittart, as a matter of revenue, than from the secretary of war ; a much smaller duty than ten shillings will knock them both up. I feel as you do, that those publica- tions having (very improperly in my judgment) been permitted during such a war as the last, the putting them down in the manner proposed by Mr. Yorke would furnish the Grenvilles and Co. with a sarcastic argument against the measure.
I have received a very obliging letter from Mr. Law.
Rochetts, 7th December, 1802.
My dear Sir, — I rejoice in the completion of the board of commissioners, lamenting that I am not likely to contribute much to the good work, I rather imagine that all the commissioners of the navy are on the list of half pay, like the officers in Greenwich Hospital, and that the amount, with the exception of the half pay of the comptroller, is applied to the benefit of the public ; in any event it would be an unseemly thing for us to undo what was done by the late administration. I am therefore of opinion we had better not meddle with it.
My cough is gone, and I sleep much better than I did. I am nevertheless afraid to return to the admiralty until entirely free from other symptoms, which show that there is still a disposition to the grand disorder.
Lady St. Vincent joins in every good wish to your house and the opposite with, my dear sir, &c.
Rochetts, gth December, 1802.
My dear Sir, — That the messenger may return in time, I shall confine myself entirely to the grand object. There can be no objection to your moving for the minutes of our proceedings on the visitation ;
io LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
on the contrary, they appear to me a necessary preparative for what is to follow. I write to Sir Evan Nepean by the messenger, desiring he will immediately give directions to the solicitor of the admiralty to prepare a bill, as you propose.
I am much better.
Rochetts, December io, 1802.
My dear Sir, — Your plan for the yachts, and scheme for the masters, mates, mids. and volunteers of the first class are very advisable, but you must add to the complements of the ships in proportion to the number of extra midshipmen and volunteers, or they will not have a sufficient number of men to navigate them properly. I am of opinion that the surgeons and masters should have other encourage- ment, besides that of a better superannuation. I mean that a much greater number of them should be entitled to half pay, not from their standing on the list, but from the number of years they have been employed in active service ; and that after the death of those in receipt of the highest half pay, none should be entitled to it who had not served so many years, and so on in succession to the lowest class ; five years for a master and nine years for a surgeon appear to me periods of service much too short to entitle them to four and five shillings a day, for it certainly tends to evasion of service rather than a perseverance in it. Supposing the masters were required to serve eight years and the surgeons twelve, and to descend in proportion, and the num- bers in each class increased in the manner those of the captains and lieutenants were, the expense to the public would not be very great, while the stimulus to the active service of the masters and surgeons would be highly beneficial. You are so much more master of this subject than I am, that
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT n
these remarks are only furnished to give an outline, which the consideration you have given to the subject will readily reduce to some system.
I conclude that Mr. Fox moved an amendment to the motion of last night, with a view to reduce the number of troops proposed for the ensuing year, which no doubt gave room for ample scope of debate. I can readily imagine that Sheridan exercised much sarcastic wit at the conduct of all sides.
Rochetts, 1 2th December, 1802.
My dear Sir, — I have made several additions to the draft of the bill, but whether those relative to the transport board should stand I am not quite clear, because the commissioners are amenable to other departments. The Chest at Chatham and the dues to Greenwich Hospital are absolutely necessary to be included, the abuses in the former, and the frauds in the receipt of forfeited prize money and the sixpences to Greenwich Hospital, having arisen to such a pitch that some strong measures must be taken or those funds will sink to nothing. I under- stand from Tucker that Sir Charles Pole wishes to see me before he gives his answer to Mr. Addington. There does not seem the smallest occasion for his taking the trouble to come down here, as you can explain all the objects we have in view full as well as I can ; but if it will give him the smallest degree of satisfaction I shall certainly be very happy to see him.
Rochetts, 1 3th December, 1802.
My dear Sir, — My principal objection will be removed by the master of the Abundance continuing in charge of the stores, which are always better preserved and delivered by such trusty men as he is allowed to be than by commanders or lieutenants
12 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
who are not of the same stamp. I fear much delay will be occasioned and expense incurred by fitting up cabins, &c., for the accommodation of the officers who are to form the establishments ; and after all, if she is the sort of ship I apprehend her to be, you must give her convoy, for the Barbary cruisers will disregard the pennant should she carry the appear- ance of a merchant ship, and in that event visit her ; the stores are so much wanted that everything should give way to despatch.
I am very sorry to have failed in respect and attention to Sir Charles Pole, but I relied so much on Mr. Addington sounding him upon the subject, that out of delicacy I did not write to him, or men- tion the thing beyond our own circle. I rejoice, however, to find Sir Charles does not object, and I will thank you to convey the happiness I feel in the addition of his respectable name. After Pelly is mounted, I shall have very great pleasure in put- ting Captain Neville into a good sloop. Pray tell your brother so, and with our best wishes to Mrs. Markham, the little boy, you, and co., believe me to be, &c.
I do not recollect Sir A. Hamond saying what you relate about Tucker's brother, but the fact is certainly so, and I have no doubt it is known to all the navy board.
Rochetts, i4th December, 1802.
My dear Sir, — Nothing could be better done than your manner of prefacing the motion of last night. Lord Spencer is justly entitled to all you stated, and every opportunity should be taken to do him justice. Sir Evan Nepean has always maintained that the admiralty was competent to regulate ; but no man surely will contend that powers
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 13
are vested in that board to investigate, detect, and expose the numberless frauds and abuses which have existed, and do exist, in every branch of the civil de- partment of the navy. Whoever holds this language is ignorant, or wishes that the ruinous system the country is staggering under should continue ; Lord Gardner is a perfectly honest man, but his judgment must be necessarily warped on this occasion. Sir A. Hamond has no ground to complain of inatten- tion, for I communicated the positive necessity of a commission to him before I mentioned it even to you and Troubridge. He asked me whether it was to be a commission under the privy seal or par- liament, and I rather inclined to the former, but upon further enquiry and consideration I decided for the latter.
I really do not know how to advise upon General Bentham's proposition. He has not told us of what use the chemist is, but having stated one as neces- sary when his establishment was first formed, he must continue for it now.
Mr. Sheffield we cannot do without, and, should no objection be made by any of the members of the board, the best way will be to put the matter into the hands of Bentham, subject, after he shall have paved the way with the two chemists, to our ulti- mate decision.
Lady St. Vincent desires me to say everything kind to your house and the opposite, for her, and I ever am yours most truly, &c.
The Bittern is a very proper convoy for the Abundance.
Rochetts, i yth December, 1802.
My dear Sir, — I have taken a little time to reflect upon the events of last night before I ventured
14
to answer your letter, as far as relates to myself, personally. I rejoice at my name having been left out of the commission ; how far the effect intended by the omission of it I am not competent to judge until I see in what manner the persons who are to form the board proceed, and until then it will become us to be perfectly silent and composed ; but the moment a disposition appears to render the operation nugatory, we have only one line to take. Nicholls is the fitter man of the two you name, if he applies to the business heartily. It has been observed by some people of discernment, that since the mutiny he has shown a considerable degree of indifference to the public service, and a proneness to let things stand as they are ; perhaps he may resume his former nerve and principle when he finds himself so eminently placed ; and as Sir Charles Pole, who is now at the head, prefers him, I really think it will be wise to accede. The same impropriety which attached to Tucker certainly reaches me, but it did not strike Mr. Addington when you asked whether he saw any objection. I rather incline to the opinion you formed last night of the cause which produced it, which is a sad yoke upon the neck of administration.
Do all you can to calm Sir Thomas Troubridge ; we shall find channels to convey information to some one or more of the commissioners, who will, I hope, make choice of a man for their secretary who is intelligent upon the subject of the civil department of the navy. Should this Act touch upon the admiralty office, we who have called for it cannot complain, or in truth now recall any part of the powers ; for what was necessary when I was spoke of as head of the commission is doubly so now. Tell Tucker I wish to see him on Sunday, and in the meanwhile Sir Thomas and you will discuss with
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 15
him what occurs from change of circumstances with him, that I may be master of all your ideas upon the subject.
Mr. Addington will be the sufferer should this great object for the public good be frustrated.
Rochetts, 1 7th December, 1802.
My dear Sir, — Upon more mature reflection I am of opinion that the admiralty cannot, unless I am in the commission, be made amenable to it, and that the enquiry must be confined to the subordinate offices. I have a bad headache, and am otherwise unwell, or I would go to town immediately. Mr. Addington will see the propriety of this alteration from the change he has judged it right to make in the nomination of commissioners. I wish this may reach you in time to prevent us from being reproached with lowering the high office we compose a material part of. It would be better to put the business off until after the recess, or lose the bill, than to go on with it in the way it now stands. In the latter event our road is plain and cannot be mistaken.
Rochetts, 23rd December, 1802.
My dear Sir, — The chancellor's mind has been perverted by the artful insinuations of those most guilty, which they have contrived to convey to him through the most respectable channel, and one that does, and ought to, govern his opinion in many and important cases, which the numerous occupations he has do not admit of his attending to minutely. I see by the papers that Lord Ellenborough was of essential use in the committee, and I rather think with you that the Duke of Clarence has done much more good than harm to the great object we have in
1 6 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
view. You may rely that every unguarded expres- sion which has fallen from Sir Thomas and you has been circulated, and I have no doubt that the Lords Eldon,1 Chatham,2 Pelham,3 and Hobart4 have been operated upon to a certain degree, from a variety of quarters ; but they will soon suspect that their informants are not quite free from suspicion of corruption, which, in truth, their late conduct has stamped in such legible characters that all unpreju- diced minds must see the drift of the practices they have used to defeat or cripple the bill. Nicholls's letter is a true type of his character. The fraud upon the public committed by the navy and trans- port boards, with the profligate percentage on the contracts and the more criminal retrospect, in some instances, of the latter, should be brought forward. Dunstanville will not deny what he has acknow- ledged of the premiums he gave to Taylor, although he is not compellable. Whenever a gross refusal to declare a fact comes out, the commissioners will no doubt remark upon it, in order to show the necessity of further powers.
Rochetts, 24th December, 1802.
My dear Sir, — In my hurry to despatch the messenger back yesterday, I omitted to mention my full approbation of giving post commissions to the Captains Vashon and Malcolm in the way you pro- pose— Captain V. to take rank from the dismission of Captain Mackellar. In respect to the Pigmy, I am not quite clear that I have not given Lieutenant Shepheard who commanded her with credit before, some encouragement to expect a reappointment to her. Tucker can inform you, either he or George Parker having answered Mr. Shepheard's letter.
1 Lord chancellor . 2 Master general of the ordnance.
3 Home secretary. 4 Colonial secretary.
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 17
Should it prove otherwise, and Lord de Dunstan- ville's friend, Lieutenant Smith, is placed in a gun brig, the Pigmy may be devoted to the borough of Portsmouth. The chancellor has given a severe wound to the present administration. While the treasury is pursuing the defaulters of the army through all the regions of the earth and sea, the admiralty is refused the same powers, with which the former is furnished, to examine into the mal- practices of persons in this department, who have amassed greater wealth by far than the army pay- masters and commissaries, although their appoint- ments have been less by two-thirds or more, with- out any authority to charge contingencies. If Mr. Addington is not aware of what will be said and written upon this subject, he will soon feel it. I am more concerned for him than I can express, because I know his intentions are for the public good, and that no man in his situation ever showed less attention to his personal interests, or aggrandisement, in any way. I fear the bill cannot be ready to receive the royal assent to-day unless great despatch was used, when it was sent back with the amendments to the Commons, and in all probability they will create some discussion.
With our best wishes of the season to you all, including your vis-a-vis, believe me to be, &c.
Mr. Clive has written strongly in favour of the enclosed ; if my memory does not fail, this young man, or his mother for him, told an abominable lie, upon the discovery of which his commission was cancelled. I have taken the liberty to refer Mr. C. to you for an explanation.
Rochetts, zyth December, 1802.
My dear Sir, — As Tucker was here yesterday, and undertook to answer the points in your last
c
i8 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
letter, I did not trouble you with one ; Mr. Tierney,1 in the conversation you had with him on Friday, showed a thorough knowledge of the intrigues carrying on by certain persons, which I have a notion existed in Lord Spencer's time, and it is probable that Admiral Young, who is connected with Tierney by intermarriage, has given the latter information upon the subject. Unless corruption has crept into our office, I cannot see the policy of this intervention ; for one of the party, having very weighty obligations to me, one should think would not lightly take the side he is supposed to have done, and indeed avowed in some sort, although not to me.
Lady St. Vincent joins in every kind wish to Mrs. M, and the little boy, with, &c.
Remember us to Sir Thos. T. and Co.
Rochetts, 28th December, 1802.
My dear Sir, — I cannot express the sense I feel of your kindness to me throughout the discussion of the abused bill, which would certainly have occa- sioned much more anxiety on my part but for your attention in explaining, and reasoning upon it. The thing to be most regretted is the appearance of disunion in the members of government, and a person very near us has much to answer for on that subject ; had he given an opinion in the House of Commons adverse to the measure, either he or I must have gone out of office the day following, and should he utter a sentence of this sort in my presence or hearing the like must happen.
Mr. Addington and I have conversed more than once upon the possibility of obtaining a reinforce-
1 Treasurer of the navy.
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 19
ment from the old opposition bench, and I have not failed to introduce the name of Sheridan, which he probably has been informed of by Charles Grey.1 Mrs. Sheridan is related both to the Greys and to Lady St. Vincent and me, and I have always shown a degree of attention to him on the score of his talents. I can no otherwise account for his going an inch out of his way to give support to a measure we are so much interested in. He and Tierney are certainly right in their suggestion, that the com- missioners should apply for an enlargement of their powers before they are gravelled. How are they to get at Mr. Dick's malpractices — those which so much pains have been taken to conceal relative to the state of prison ships at Jamaica, what has passed in the East Indies, and various other distant scenes, or in truth any of the intricate delinquencies at home ? Can you by any unalarming means discover and ascertain the expense of marine clothing while it was carried on by the admiralty ? I suspect a friend of yours is shy upon that point, and with greater reason than upon some others.
The navy estimate was duly sent to me, and I recollect having doubts whether Sir William Scott's additional salary ended with the war, or was continued for a limited time after the peace, on account of arrears of business ; if my memory does not fail, the 5OO/. to him was written in pencil at the top of the paper, as if it had been left out by accident. Should the Speaker be correct, as I dare- say he is, some explanation will be required, but Mr. Addington must be previously apprised of the error. It is very probable the proposition from the navy board of fixing permanent clerks for the drawing up of contracts may have come down in the box, and escaped my observation, for in general
1 Afterwards Lord Ho wick and first lord, 1806.
C2
20 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
it has been well stuffed. I have considered the subject a good deal since you was here, and the result is that, having expressed our astonishment at the loose manner this important branch of business has been conducted in pretty strong terms, we shall not be justified in slighting the remedy. I think, however, that a salary of 3OO/. per annum will be ample for the principal, and 1 5o/. for the assistant at present ; the salary of the first named, or of both, to be increased to the amount of what is proposed by the commissioners of the navy three years hence. Moot this directly.
Pray go down to your farm, and look after the main chance. I heartily hope you will find every- thing right ; and with Lady St. Vincent's and my kind regards to Mrs. M., you, and the little boy, believe me to be, &c.
Tucker has got all Nepean's notes to me, and will tell you whether anything has been written about Sir William Scott, and what.
Rochetts, ioth January, 1803.
My dear Sir, — I return you many thanks for the trouble you have taken in considering these volu- minous minutes with so much attention. Your remarks are judicious, some of which did not escape me in the cursory reading I gave to the minutes, more particularly the conduct of the deputy judge- advocate, and the admission of hearing evidences, which was done in several instances. The bias of Sir P. and Sir E. I was not aware of. Laying that aside, and every other consideration excepting the hissing on parade (for I do not lay much stress upon the subalterns avoiding Lieutenant Hill, or sending him to Coventry), I do think that was an outrage of the most dangerous tendency and ought
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 21
not to have gone unpunished. Unfortunately those who framed the charges have defeated that object.
I conclude the sentence has been confirmed and the court dissolved, because Sir Evan in his letter to me says that, in the opinion of the board, the observations, or rather a copy of them, should be sent to Lieutenant-General Innes without any comment. That the general should be removed from his situation there can be no manner of doubt ; and the contempt Colonel Duncan Campbell is held in makes his removal necessary also, and Lieutenant- Colonel Berkeley may be placed in another division, at a convenient time ; but upon what pretence Lieutenant Hill is to be dismissed I really do not know, for we have not the minutes of the proceedings of the court of enquiry before us, or at least I have never seen or heard of them. Captain Lodington's evidence is the only ground we can take, and it would be a strong, if not a harsh, measure to run down Hill, who is upheld by all the officers of the rank in the division with the exception of Captain Lodington. What I now write is influenced by policy, not by feeling. What do you think of laying the proceedings on Captain Lee's court-martial and those on Lieutenant Bunce's before the law officers of the crown, and taking their opinion upon the legality of them, more particularly the propriety of mixing criminality in the acquittal of the latter, and the censure passed on Lieutenant Hand in the former ? With such an intrigue against us we can- not be too cautious. I return your observations on the minutes, but if you have no objection, I will thank you to let Tucker take a copy of them.
Lady St. Vincent joins in every kind wish to Mrs. M., you, and co., and I am, &c.
What answer was sent to the court when the
2 2 LE TTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
remonstrance against the subalterns for withholding evidence was sent to the board ? I rather wonder that it was not inserted in the minutes.
Captain Lee does not positively assert in his evidence that Lieutenant Taylor was in the group ; his words are, I think he was, but can't be positive.
Rochetts, 1 3th January, 1803.
My dear Sir, — It appears to me that Sir Richard Bickerton's letter of the 7th calls for the enquiry we have in contemplation ; why he did not institute it I am at a loss to guess. In forming the order to enquire into what happened in the mole, the precise words made use of by Captain Aylmer and Captain White, in their letters No. 2, 4, and 12, should be inserted, or the letters referred to, taking care not to state more than will be borne out by them. It is certainly a proper prelude to the other charges to begin with this, and I cannot suggest a better mode of proceeding than that proposed in your letter, unless any doubt should arise of the legality of Sir Richard Bickerton's sitting as president. This may be ascertained by turning to the articles of war. I think Sir Richard has received no ap- pointment as commander-in-chief. The sooner the order can be prepared the better.
I enclose a letter to Mr. Villiers, in which I have referred him to you, until my health enables me to confer with him. With the best wishes of all here to your whole colony, believe me to be, &c.
All the papers which relate to Gibraltar are returned to Sir E. Nepean by post.
If we appoint a judge-advocate for the corps of marines, he should be a lawyer of spirit and character.
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 23
Rochetts, 1 6th January, 1803.
My dear Sir, — I am very much surprised at the renewal of the subject of the New South Wales corps being relieved by the Royal Marines, because Lord Hobart assured me he would concoct another plan with the Duke of York, and I should hear no more of it. Should the measure be again seriously agitated it can only be done in the way I proposed, which is by an estimate of the expense (in which the supplying ships to convey the convicts must be included) being laid before the House of Commons and voted separately, for I never can consent to the expense of that consuming colony becoming a part of the estimate of the naval force of the country, nor in the present state of politics shall we be justified in furnishing more than fifty marines for the new establishment. The privates of the New South Wales corps were for the most part felons, and I have understood are among the most abandoned of the colony. I therefore strongly object to our having anything to do with them, and should you see Mr. Sullivan, have the goodness to say that I rely on Lord Hobart's engagement to release me from any further application upon the subject. General Grinfield's application, carrying Commodore Stop- ford's approbation by his signature, gave it great weight : a 44-gun ship for the conveyance of troops from one island to another, either for the purpose of change or reinforcement, may be of the utmost importance to the defence of our numerous colonies, situated as they are in the vicinity of French colonies, but she must not be under the orders of General Grinfield. The naval commanding officer should be instructed to give directions to the com- mander of her as well as to the captains of all other ships under his command, to comply with any re- quest made by the general for the employment of
24 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
her in the conveyance of troops ; as to the transports required we can give no opinion, nor take any part whatever therein. If Captain Bass does not justify himself to the satisfaction of the board, the Gannet must be reserved for Lord William Fitzroy ; at the same time I feel much disappointed that Captain Dumaresq will be so much longer without a sloop. In all probability some others of the newly married commanders will soon be tired of their sloops, and you will have an opportunity of placing him in one, tolerably well manned. Your reasons for retaining the words are sound, and I should not have made any alteration, had I referred to the letters. Lieu- tenant Whorwood and all others who can give information of what passed on the mole should be ordered to attend the court-martial, and if the Active is still at Gibraltar she should be ordered up for that purpose. The navy board must be in- formed of the intention of making all the blocks necessary for his majesty's navy in the dockyards, and directions given them to provide materials accordingly ; at the same time the pleasure of the admiralty board touching the purchase of the lignum vitse offered by Mr. Taylor should be sig- nified, and his last proposition appears to me fair. Tucker has informed me of the imprudence of Captain Aylmer in directing the naval storekeeper to receive the spars from the American squadron, which must be noticed, and Sir Richard Bickerton instructed to forbid the captains under his orders interfering with the duty of the naval officers, who will have directions to complete their stores from their abstract, and not to furnish any extra, without the special order of the commander-in-chief, on whose strict economy the board will rely. Tucker will communicate my opinion respecting the purchase of timber.
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 25
Rochetts, Tuesday night.
My dear Sir, — I have taken the liberty to cut off a part of the first report upon the navy board by inserting instead of, ' was not had,' &c., ' which upon further investigation their lordships have discovered was totally unfounded.' In reprobating their con- duct regard must be had to our own dignity, and some consideration shown to a board which, though inferior, ought not to be too much let down. I very much approve the substituting marines for the miserable warders and watchmen in Deptford and Woolwich yards, but the difficulties which Colonel Campbell seemed prepared to make will I fear occasion more discussion than we can well brook. The sooner Bentham can give in his plan for the rope house at Woolwich the better ; he should also get on with Plymouth.
Lady St. Vincent sends her best wishes to you, &c., and I am, &c.
MR. OSBORNE MARKHAM TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
Bishopthorpe, July 20, 1803.
My dear Jack, — If you think me properly quali- fied, and that I can learn the duties of the office by attention, I should not hesitate a moment in accepting it. Of course I should give up the whole line of professional business (which at present brings in little, but puts me, in travelling, to great expense) except my ecclesiastical preferment, which you know I can leave to my deputy as heretofore. Before
26 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
I accept it, however (if offered), would it not be right to consult Lord Ellenborough, who has always been so great a friend ? My father thinks it would be right, and if you do, may I beg of you to speak to him on the subject ? If I was to remain in the pro- fession for a dozen or twenty years to come I should, at the end of that time, think myself most fortunate in having such an offer, and therefore do not hesitate now in sending you this answer. My father is wonderfully well, and Willie very stout. All the rest are well. I hope that the trouble and vexation of Maria's weaning is now well over. With truest thanks for your kindness, I am, dear Jack, &c.
LORD ST. VINCENT TO MR. OSBORNE MARKHAM
Rochetts, August 24, 1803.
In selecting you for a seat at the navy board, I am governed by zeal for the good of the public, and I feel confident that you will discharge the functions of the office in a manner honourable to yourself and beneficial to your country ; happy at the same time that the choice fell upon the member of a family for which I entertain the highest esteem.1
1 In a speech in the House of Lords, in May 1804, Lord St. Vincent said that, with the exception of Mr. Osbome Markham, there was not one member of the navy board who did his duty to the public or was competent to his office. This led to an attack on Osborne Markham on a change of ministry by his colleagues. They wrote to the new first lord, on October 29, 1804, complaining that Mr. Markham used expressions conveying strong reflections on the conduct of the navy board, and refused to sign papers. They also complained that he kept a book in which he noted what they said, which they thought irregular and dangerous. Mr. Markham replied that he differed in opinion with the rest of the board on various points, and explained that
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 27
Rochetts, 1 8th August, 1803.
My dear Sir, — Many thanks for the sketch of an answer to Sir William Scott, which Tucker has sent me. It is a little too peppery, and, I think, rather inclines to make me a party ; I will, however, avail myself of some of the information it contains.
I hope you will meet Mrs. Markham and the children in good health ; pray remember me kindly to them, and believe me to be, &c.
Rochetts, 26th August, 1803.
My dear Sir, — We must send Lord William Fitzroy to some foreign station where he may be likely to obtain promotion ; the sooner the better, as his Grace of Grafton is very exigeant.
My friend Sir A. Mitchell is playing the whole game in respect to Lieutenant Compton, having removed him into the Driver, although I desired Lieutenant Lisle might have an order to command her in case Captain Oughton found it absolutely necessary to quit the Leander, so that when Captain Macdonnell joins the Lily he will supersede Mr. Lisle instead of Mr. Compton ; it therefore becomes neces- sary to anticipate this by giving a commission to Lisle to command the Driver, which will set it all right. It should bear the same date as Francis Fane's com- mission for the Leander. Sir E. Nepean has sent me Lord Hobart's letter, and the intelligence which occasioned it. Lord Keith has acted wisely in
his memorandum book merely contained the grounds on which he had acted on various occasions, with notes to aid his memory, that it never left the board room, and was kept in a locked drawer. On September i, 1805, Lord Barham removed Mr. Mark- ham from the board and offered him another appointment, which he declined.
In 1821 Mr. Osborne Markham married Lord St. Vincent's niece, Martha Ricketts, and they inherited Rochetts on the earl's death. Mr. Markham died at Rochetts in 1827.
28 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
directing Rear-Admiral Thornbrough to carry the measure into effect if he judges it feasible. I don't know who Mr. Sullivan's correspondent is, but I fear he will bring some disgrace upon his Majesty's arms, for every unsuccessful attempt we make will produce that effect
I hope you feel no further inconvenience from your gout. It comes rather too early in life, yet I hope will act more as a preventive of other dis- orders than a troublesome one in itself.
Mr. Kent, purser of the Salvador del Mundo, is, I believe, a fair candidate for the stewardship of the Naval Hospital at Plymouth ; and if you or Sir T. Troubridge do not see or hear anything to the con- trary, let him be appointed.
I have a very handsome letter from your brother on his appointment to the navy board, where I conclude he has taken his seat.
Say everything kind for us to Mrs. M. when you write, and, with our best wishes to you and Sir Thomas, believe me to be, &c.
It may not be amiss to appoint another lieutenant to the district between Swansea and Bristol, that the Duke of Cumberland may have him to play with. If you know any suitable person, fix him to the spot at or near headquarters.
George Parker1 is just arrived with your letter. If the lord lieutenant asks for Sea Fencibles he must have them, but I do not know that it is necessary to name them in Whitshed's instructions.
Rochetts, 1 5th September, 1803.
My dear Sir, — Captain Bligh's conduct was cer- tainly very injudicious. It is astonishing to me that Duckworth has not gone up to St. Domingo and 1 Lord St. Vincent's nephew, and private secretary.
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 29
directed the operations against the French in per- son. The cabinet must be consulted upon the instructions necessary to be given respecting the conduct he ought to observe towards the blacks, and I will be in town to-morrow morning with a view to consult Lord Hobart upon it, and to settle the answer to be given to his letter about the defence of the Firth of Forth.
Lady St. Vincent is much the same as to health, but her spirits somewhat recovered by my sojourn here. She joins me in every kind wish to you and yours and to the Troubridges, and I am, &c.
Rochetts, 1 3th October, 1803.
My dear Sir, — Many thanks for your letter. The flag officer for Leith must not be a man con- nected with the country. Hamilton therefore is out of the question, for he would be readily drawn in to approve any suggestion from the party, which I have long observed to be influenced more by politics than the defence of the capital of Scotland. I am not sufficiently acquainted with Admiral Russell to decide upon him ; but I remember the time when I should have considered Admiral Bligh as well qualified for the employment. We must prepare an additional force for the defence of Ireland, for the first attempt will be made in that quarter. Eight ships of the line, if we can furnish them, should be attached to Lord Gardner. Will Sir T. Graves do to command under him ? If he will, the Foudroyant might be immediately appro- priated to his flag.
The precautions about Dungeness and the oars are very wise ; and I shall be glad when arrange- ments are made for anchoring the cruisers within the Flemish banks, for that coast cannot be vigi- lantly watched by ships under sail.
30 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
Lady St. Vincent has had a tolerable night, and I shall certainly be with you in the morning.
Rochetts, 2nd November, 1803.
My dear Sir, — You have my best thanks for demurring upon the appointment of Captain Thomas Drury to the Courageux, and I hope the service has suffered no injury by the delay. Captain Thomas Bertie I only know by reputation, which is very much in his favour.
These hospital ships should be fitted up under the direction of Baird or Weir, or they will be filled with cabins, whereby the public will be put to much needless expense and the sick rooms reduced in size and convenience. It will be necessary also for the sick and wounded board to name a naval surgeon or surgeon's mate to be assistant to the surgeon of Plymouth yard, or that appointment will be made a borough job, as it always has been ; and we must take care that they do not select a man of the place, or his whole time will be devoted to private practice.
Lady St. Vincent is rather better to-day, and with many thanks for the kind solicitude you express about her, I ever am, &c.
Rochetts, 3rd November, 1803.
My dear Sir, — I am not surprised that Mr. A. was a little fidgety when it blew so strong from the eastward, but if Admiral Cornwallis makes short tacks he cannot be driven to the westward, the flood tide making so many hours longer than the ebb between Ushant and the Saints.
You have determined wisely to reinforce the Ferrol and Irish squadrons, and the latter should have a flag officer to direct it. I hope Sir Robert Calder will have more confidence than when he
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 31
served with me ; his dread of approaching the shore at that time was truly ridiculous, and I was under the necessity of instructing the master not to pay the smallest regard to his influence, when called upon to give an opinion. Have the goodness to inform Sir Thomas Troubridge that I agree with him in his opinion that the Neptune should precede the Prince in being sent to sea.
I enclose some communications from Mr. Rose, and I wish Jackson to be instructed to go to Christ Church after he has finished at Southampton.
We are better to-day, and I will be in town on Monday, or sooner if any event arises to make my presence necessary.
With my best wishes to you all, believe me to be, &c.
Rochetts, 3rd December, 1803.
My dear Sir, — My head is too bad to write to Sir E. Nepean, but I will thank you to desire he will send me a copy of all the directions he has given to Rear-Admiral Montagu by Mr. Tucker to- morrow. I wrote one letter to the rear-admiral at the request of Lord Hawkesbury, signified to me by Mr. Hammond, desiring he would furnish one or more vessels to Captain Wright as occasion might require on a very urgent mission. It is absolutely neces- sary that the whole of this dark business should be cleared up.
Rochetts, 26th December, 1803.
My dear Sir, — It will be best not to show Lord Keith's letters to Mr, Hammond, but to relate to him what may be proper. I did not know that Paddy Russell was initiated in these mysteries. I send you a letter from Charles Grey about a New- castle-Shields man, which you will act upon as you think fit. He is a man I wish to keep well with for
32 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
a variety of reasons ; in any event, I will thank you to furnish me with an ostensible answer.
Charles Paget wants a Lieutenant Watson to be allowed to go to the hospital and to return to the Endymion when cured — at least so I understand his letter.
Our best wishes of the season attend Mrs. M., you, and the children, and I always am, &c.
I observe that Tucker has given you the certifi- cate about the Shields man, therefore do not trouble you with Mr. Grey's letter.
Rochetts, zyth December, 1803.
My dear Sir, — Reflecting on Captain Essington's letter, which probably was written in concert, it may be proper to embark the carronades and shot on board the fitted boats and vessels, the masters of which will undertake the care of them without charge to the public. The powder and match would become unserviceable in a few days by the damp, at this season, if not made away with ; besides the hazard of blowing up the boats, and the arms would be ruined. As to medical aid, I see no resource but inviting the practitioners in the towns upon the coast to attach themselves to the corps of Sea Fencibles in the manner they do to the volunteer corps, where the most eminent men serve without fee or reward. While upon the subject — it seems to me that a vast expense is incurred by the trans- port board in the appointment of persons to afford medical aid to the prisoners on parole, and I think Sir R. George 1 will acknowledge that much abuse grows out of this system ; when it commenced I know not. I am clearly of opinion, however, that they should defray this expense out of their own
1 First commissioner for transport service.
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 33
pockets or be sent on board the prison ships, where reasonable accommodation may be afforded to in- ferior officers on parole who protest their inability to defray the expense of medical assistance when required. A measure of this kind cannot be got rid of without carrying the transport board with us, and perhaps it may be as well to talk to Captain Hamilton upon the subject before Sir R. George is spoken to.
I think Captain Essington should have consulted Lord Keith about arming the boats in the first instance ; he has long been contending for indepen- dence, therefore a reference to Lord Keith may not be amiss upon all the representations he makes which relate to floating defence.
I concur in opinion with you and Sir T. Trou- bridge that the leaning of the attorney-general to former habits and attachments has operated on his mind in the suggestion that it is beneath the dignity of government to prosecute for flagitious libel ; and when I recollect that the ' True Briton ' and ' Sun ' were under the immediate protection of the late treasury, and transferred to the present, who very honourably discontinued all intercourse with them when they perceived the virulent attacks upon the admiralty, I cannot entertain a doubt that Mr. Perceval wishes to avoid filing the information. I hope he will leave the whole to Erskine & Co. as he did in the case of the Hedges, and thereby escape the silent reproach of his old political friends.
Rochetts, 28th December, 1803.
My dear Sir, — I am glad you have ordered some more fishing vessels to be fitted at Leith, and I very much approve the directions proposed to be given to Vice- Admiral Bligh about the Isle of May.
D
34 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
Mr. Whidbey1 is wrongly informed about Skaite Bay. The number of shipwrecks annually in that quarter is frightful ; and when the ships are caught with an easterly wind their only chance of preserving the lives of the crews is to run them on the beach a little before high water.
I am sorry to learn that the pilots are again troublesome. As the late parliamentary measure originated with the lord warden, it becomes his duty either to enforce it or to bring in another bill of a more efficacious tendency, and I hope Lord Keith will torment him until he does the one or the other, the whole depending upon him. The Dover pilot who gave us the false intelligence relative to the equipments in the Texel should be looked after. I return Mr. Gillitt's papers to Sir Thomas Trou- bridge, and advise his seeing him again with a view to obtain information touching the construction of frigates at Bengal, and whatever may facilitate the supply of large timber to form the frame of the ship of the line at Bombay.
The wind has suddenly shifted to the NW, and I augur will soon be at NE, with frost and snow. I fear Admiral Cornwallis is too bare of two-decked ships to be able to detach one to Bantry Bay. Those lately arrived at Plymouth should be pushed out again with the utmost despatch ; the Montagu at Portsmouth will I hope soon be ready. Sup- posing you order the Prince to join Sir R. Calder, will there be a sufficient number of three-deckers off Brest ?
Rochetts, Qth January, 1804.
My dear Sir, — I have written to Mr. Addington and related everything that passed between Mr. Marsden and me, including the prize office ; and I
1 Master attendant of Woolwich yard.
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 35
have distinctly told Mr. A. that on the most ma- ture consideration of the various qualifications for a secretary of the admiralty, which I enumerated, Mr. Tucker is the only person I know who is fit for the office ; that in him they are all combined, and I am not afraid of a comparison between him and any predecessor, excepting in the graces. As it is possible you may see the Speaker, I put you in possession of this, although he probably will receive it from Mr. Addington. I have the happiness to find Lady St. Vincent less agitated than I expected, but much shook. She joins in every kind wish to Mrs. M., you and yours, and to the Troubridges, and I am, &c.
[Secret.} Rochetts, nth January, 1804.
My dear Sir, — A messenger from the treasury has brought an answer from Mr. A. which accords with the judgment I at first formed, that it would not be seemly to bring Tucker into the first office at once ; but where the man is to be found in any degree of comparison capable of filling it I know not, and I am persuaded that in the ranks of the official departments no such person exists. I will thank you not to impart beyond the Speaker my having suggested Tucker.
I will write to Lord Moira by post, and also to Vice-Admiral Bligh, and state that all the armed boats must be placed under the orders of Captain Clements, and the men protected in like manner with all other fencible corps. The map you have sent down will enable me to answer Sir J. St. Clair Erskine's reveries.
We must be very cautious in our strictures upon Lord Gardner, who will seek protection from the Castle of Dublin, which is a ticklish quarter. He is a nervous man, and I daresay thinks he shall be
D 2
36 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
seized on in his bed by the ragamuffins at Cove. The only notice I can advise being taken of his correspondence with Mr. Wickham is to direct him to communicate to the secretary, with as little delay as possible, any representations he may have made, or shall have occasion to make, to the chief secretary, or other member of the Government of Ireland. His number of frigates should be kept up, and I think the Euryalus may now be spared, as Captains Vesey and Elphinstone must be in a state to join Lord Keith. Sir Thomas Troubridge had best suggest to Admiral Thornbrough the hoisting of his flag on board the Defence or any other 74 that happens to be with him when the Dutch squadron comes out, pro tempore, and we will give him the first 74 that is vacant. The Illustrious should be placed under the orders of Lord Keith, and sent to Yarmouth.
Lady St. Vincent is better.
Rochetts, i yth February, 1806.
My dear Markham, — I omitted to mention to you yesterday that George Murray had called upon me with his little boy and expressed a very great desire to serve under my orders, and of all the other candidates he is by far the most acceptable to, &c.
Hibernia, St. Helen's, i2th March, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — Old Wallis is walking about town and telling every one he meets that the Mar- quis of Bucks says he must not accept of anything but a commissionership of the navy, for which he is less fit than old James at the bottom of the admiralty stairs. Pray tell Mr. Grey this from me, that his conscience may not be surprised.
We are getting under way with the Ville de
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 37
Paris, the Mars not having got out from S pithead last evening. Orders are despatched to Captain Oliver to join us off Ushant, looking into Torbay, should the wind come to the westward before he reaches the Berry Head.
Hibernia, in Cawsand Bay, i5th March, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — I can readily imagine the quandary poor Marsden was in upon the rumour of the Dutch squadron being out. He will be most happy to retire, if a good provision is made for him. I never expect answers to my letters, knowing as I <lo that you will act for the best.
The picture I sent you of the total want of vigour, discipline, and subordination at Portsmouth is much heightened at this port, where nothing is thought of but contrivance to delay equipment and to frustrate the orders issued by superiors. The moment a ship arrives she is stripped, and her pre- tended defects coloured in a way that makes me sick. I could not avoid giving the captain of the Windsor Castle a lick for the absurdity of his when he came on board last night. Captain Lawford was once a good fellow, but since he has got rich he is to the full as dilatory and negligent as any man I have seen, insomuch I have desired Admiral Young to order him into Cawsand Bay immediately, other- wise every man belonging to the Impe'tueux would be in the hospital. She has been out of the ship- wrights' hands some days ; nevertheless Captain Lawford was of opinion yesterday she could not come out of Hamoaze before the latter end of the month.
Mr. Jeffrey is in such desperate circumstances, in every point of view, that he will go the whole length. It is strongly suspected that Sir Andrew Hamond is in collusion with him, and has given
38 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
him a lucrative contract, drawn up in the name of Lenthorn, a creature of his. Nicholls will probably be able to sift this.
Captain Oliver, of the Mars, deserves praise for having got through the buoys on Wednesday, and for stopping in Torbay to set up his rigging. I hear Sir John Gore has made woeful complaints to Sir Charles Cotton by telegraph of the inadequacy of his ship's company and slackness of rigging, &c. In short, I hear of nothing but grievances, trouble, difficulties, and impossibilities all round me, and I fancy Admiral Young is wearied out and contents himself with giving orders, for I have already had enough of stay-tape and buckram from him.
Without a squadron of good two-deck ships constantly kept off the Black Rocks, under an able officer, the French may go in and out of Brest with impunity.
I learn from disinterested men, inhabitants of Plymouth, that the mock enquiry made by Weir has done incredible mischief in the Hospital, which is going to the devil as fast as possible, every man who wishes it being invalided.
Hibernia, Falmouth Harbour, i6th March, 1806. My dear Admiral, — Sir Charles Cotton informs me that the squadron has lost twenty men or more by desertion, and that the temptations are so great that the evil will increase. The sending ashore for fresh beef is stated as the principal cause ; I have therefore directed the contractor to send it off, as in Torbay and other ports, and I will by to-morrow's post write a public letter to Mr. Marsden on the subject. In the meanwhile I will thank you to talk to Mr. Marsh upon the subject, that no obstacle
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 39
to this essential measure may be started at the victualling board when the admiralty refers to it.
I find Sir John Gore in better mood than I expected, and I hope you will be able to give him a few good seamen soon, for by every account I have received, the Revenge is very much undermanned.
An abominable, ill-contrived cabin stove has very nearly blinded and choked me ; I have therefore come to a resolution to burn no more fires there, and must clothe accordingly.
You will get no good out of the Windsor Castle, which ship ought to be paid off and her men dis- tributed.
Hibernia, in Falmouth Harbour, i8th March, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — Upon enquiry I find Captain Norway has an order from the admiralty to give assistance to the master attendant when called upon ; but he acts the important to such a degree as to impede rather than forward the service, which would be much better performed by a lieutenant than by an officer of higher rank ; for the surgeon is turned out of his apartment to give the captain the whole accommodation, and the hospital deck incom- moded by making room for the surgeon and other officers. The Experiment storeship should have a master to command her instead of a lieutenant, which would make room for Mr. Black ; but you must place a better boatswain in the sheer hulk than the present one, who is wholly incompetent.
The ward-room of the Barfleur is, by Sir Joseph Yorke's account, a scene of licentiousness and pro- fligacy, and he states that the removal of one of the marine lieutenants would in his opinion operate powerfully to set matters right. He is gone on board to ascertain the division to which he belongs,
40 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
and I much wish for an order to discharge him to quarters ; and if the board should judge fit to issue it, I will state the reason to the commanding officer of the division.
FROM JOHN PARKER FOR LORD ST. VINCEN1
Hibernia, Falmouth Harbour, igth March, 1806.
Dear Sir, — Lord St. Vincent (who I am sorry to say has coughed very much to-day) has directed me to forward the enclosed copies of letters as the full account of the transaction to which he alluded in his letter of yesterday. I am
Yours very truly,
JOHN PARKER.
[Copy.]
H.M.S. Barfleur, March igth, 1806.
My Lord, — Lieutenant Edmd. A. Charteris, of the Portsmouth division of Royal Marines, em- barked on board H.M. ship under my command, having on the evening of the i7th instant in the ward-room behaved to Lieutenant R. Alcock, his superior officer, in a manner highly dishonourable to the feelings of that gentleman and in direct violation of the 23rd Article of War ; and it appearing by many accounts that this is by no means the first time that the decency and good order of that mess place has been disturbed by similar scenes :
I take leave to enclose Lieutenant Alcock's letter to me on the occasion, submitting to your lordships' wisdom for the best remedy that can be provided against a recurrence of similar licentiousness.
I have further to remark that Lieutenant De Rippe, of the navy, though strongly implicated in
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 41
the proceedings alluded to, is very young and I trust has been misled. I have the honour to be very respectfully,
Your lordship's devoted servant,
(Signed) JOSEPH YORKE.
The Right Honourable Earl St. Vincent, Admiral of the Fleet.
Letter alluded to in the above.
Sir, — The conduct of Lieutenant De Rippe of the navy, and Lieutenant Charteris of the marines, serv- ing on board H.M.S. Barfleur under your command, being highly unofficer-like and personally insulting to me, 'in direct violation of the 23rd Article of War,' on the evening of Sunday last, between the hours of seven and eight :
I have to request you will take the necessary steps, and afford me that redress which the service directs.
I have the honour to remain,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) R. ALCOCK.
To Sir Joseph Sidney Yorke, Kt, M.P., Captain of H.M. ship the Barfleur, Falmouth Harbour.
Hibernia, off Ushant, zyth March, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — You have, enclosed, a precis of our own order for establishing the comple- ment of this ship, and you may guess my surprise and disappointment on viewing forty-five of the most filthy creatures that ever were embarked ; there
42 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
must be something radically wrong in the Salvador del Mundo, originating in that animal Dilkes, and continued under his successor, for the skins of these poor creatures were coated with dirt and could not have been washed — no, not even their hands and faces — for a length of time, insomuch I tremble for the health of this ship's crew ; for we had fourscore upon the sick list owing to the sloppy and blowing weather we have experienced since sailing from St. Helen's, before the receipt of this germ of disease. While upon the subject of health let me call your attention to the deplorable state the hulks at Ply- mouth are in, and to request that they may alter- nately be cleared of their ballast, the limbers and wells cleaned and purified, and the masters attendant required to inspect them frequently, and to report through the commissioner to the admiralty whether the commanders of the ships, whose crews are on board them, do their duty in preserving the same cleanliness and economy observed on board their proper ships.
No provisions but what are absolutely necessary for the people should be removed into them, and the holds shut up in such a manner that no filth or dead animals can be thrown into it. The crews of the Imp6tueux and Centaur, with those of other ships, I have no doubt have been ruined by diseases generated from these causes.
This poor young man, Frederick, son of Sir John, will go into a galloping consumption if not sent to a warmer and drier climate. William Hen- derson, appointed to act in his room, is nephew to the gallant Wilmot slain on the walls of Acre.
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 43
Hibernia, off the Black Rocks, 28th March, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — Everything being compro- mised on board the Barfleur, no retrospect can take place.
The Tromp was armed and placed by us as the defence of the entrance of Falmouth Harbour ; she is now disarmed and moored in St. Just Pool as an hospital ship, her guns removed and the gun-deck turned into an hospital chamber, and every other part berthed up.
In the winter months Cawsand Bay is a very unsafe place for large ships to resort to — dangerous in the extreme, and such a swell that five days out of seven nothing can lay alongside of them. Several have been put to the utmost hazard of knocking their bottoms out. The captains are ashore, and the lieutenants will not turn out in the night to strike the yards and topmasts and veer cable in time. The vigilance of Penn has preserved some from inevitable destruction. Plymouth Sound is become shoaler than it was, and if the embankments forming above Catwater are not put an immediate stop to, and the tide suffered to flow as formerly, not only Catwater will be ruined, but the Sound too — Messrs. Rennie and Co. will explain this in their report — and I see no other chance of resisting the insatiable ambition of the ruler of France but making Plymouth Sound a secure mole at any ex- pense, for the difficulty of getting out of Falmouth Harbour in winter time is so great it cannot be depended upon ; in other respects much may be made of it.
I conclude Admiral Eliab Harvey is to go to the Mediterranean after his cruise is out. I therefore intend to give him the command of the detachment which is to cover Ferrol and Vigo.
44 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
Hibernia, close under Ushant, 2gth March, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — Captain Bowen informs me an order of council of recent date admits of meri- torious masters being made lieutenants. When Captain Rathborne joins I shall be better informed ; in the meanwhile, should you fall in with any of the other captains quoted in the enclosed, have the goodness to inquire into the merits of the writer.
I cannot conceive what is become of Sir Charles Cotton and the ships we expect from Plymouth and Portsmouth.
We gibe between Ushant and the Black Rocks in the day, stand off at night, and in at four o'clock in the morning. Mars anchored off the Black Rocks ; Diamond, 1'Aigle, and small craft off the Parquette ; and the Crescent looks out to the north- ward of Ushant. I cannot approve the rendez- vous of my predecessor ' seven leagues SW of Ushant/ and intend to change it for ' well in with Ushant ' during an easterly wind. Upon conversing with an intelligent midshipman of this ship, who was in the Amethyst when Sir J. Duckworth fell in with the French squadron off the Canaries, I am convinced it has gone to the southward, destined either for the Cape of Good Hope or to do us as much mischief as possible about St. Helena and Ascension ; should Sir J. Warren proceed to the Cape de Verds he will probably get some scent of that squadron, which could not be the one Duck- worth smote at St. Domingo. I send you the young man's observations during the two days they were in sight of the French squadron because they do him much credit ; his name is Pitt, and he has lately passed his examination for a lieutenant, and was a shipmate of mine in the Argo.
We have this moment discovered three ships of the line and a cutter, which gives me hopes the
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 45
whole will join soon ; it is very hazy and we cannot see at a greater distance than two or three leagues.
[Private.]
Hibernia, near Ushant, gth April, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — Many thanks for your letter of the 4th. A despatch from Lord Gardner has enabled me to anticipate the necessary communica- tion of the probable approach of Linois to the admirals commanding the four detached squadrons, and you will perceive that I have lost no time in doing the same respecting the Prussians, an addi- tional rose to the bed of Lord Castlereagh. What animals this offal of Pitt is composed of ! Signal after signal with guns, which has been almost inces- sant ever since my arrival on this station, having produced no effect, I yesterday gave out a strong injunction both to this and the inshore squadron, a copy of which is enclosed, and we are pretty well dressed this morning.
There are several lieutenants wanting in different ships, and I am applied to for them, but unless there is a chance of a commission I am cautious of giving acting orders ; first, that you may not think I am greedy, and next, that my young men have no money and these appointments create expense.
I hope and trust you will not give occasion to postpone the motion of Mr. Jeffrey against me, for it is not pleasant to read of this fellow's impertinence.
Say everything kind to Mrs. Markham and her boys for your very steady friend, &c.
Remember me to the Archbishop, Mrs. Mark- ham, your sisters, and Osborne.
46 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
Extract of a Letter from Admiral Young, dated Plymouth Dock, 30 March, 1806
' Four other ships are in Cawsand Bay, which have within these few days been put under your lordship's orders ; they are perfectly ready for sea, but [not] knowing for what service you may intend them, and not having received any directions about them, I do not venture to send them to you.'
Hibernia, near Ushant, loth April, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — The Gibraltar has joined, but the two ships of the line lately come down from the arsenal are getting on so fast I cannot detach any more of my number, and I expect to see three or four more of the enemy's ships appear in the course of this month or early in May, being per- suaded they have given a temporary repair to their very old ships. Captain Lawford reported to me this morning that he observed one ship of the line under sail yesterday, probably to shift her berth, and a brig came into Camaret Bay. The whole appear upon the qui vive, therefore send me some frigates to watch them, for I have now the Diamond only, and you know what a dull dog Elphinstone is. When the Latona rejoins I shall nail my Master Wood there, and the Penelope is destined to relieve Captain Rathborne, for those who loiter in port must have Siberia.1
Pray state to Lord Howick the merit of young Mosse, clerk of the rope yard at Portsmouth, who has been the protector of his mother and family ever since his father was killed at Copenhagen.2 Had I gone again to the admiralty he would have filled the first vacant office of clerk of the survey.
1 The inshore station by the Black Rocks.
2 Captain of the Monarch at Copenhagen.
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 47
Hibernia, near Ushant, nth April, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — After my letter of yesterday was closed, to be ready for the pilchard schooner, the Gibraltar exhibited such a proof of the ignorance of the late navy board as was quite shocking ; our five ships of three decks were as steady and quiet as in Portsmouth harbour, and the launches were sent to the Gibraltar for bullocks and such stores as she had brought out for the squadron, when lo! she rolled so deep (her upper deck ports in the water) that the launch of this ship could not lay alongside, and in attempting to get our bullocks out, one was killed and the others bruised in a horrid manner ; and after three hours consumed in this fruitless attempt the other launches returned to their ships, re infectd. Had the late system 'continued much longer our whole navy would have been ruined, and unless Lord Ho wick can get rid of all the old leaven at every one of the subordinate boards, Nicholls will be traversed, all his objects frustrated, and he will resign in dudgeon.
These are not times to practise managements, for the extraordinary character who governs France may build 200 sail of the line in four years. The forests he succeeds to on the borders of the Adriatic are a porUe to the magnificent arsenal at Venice, that wonders may be achieved in it. What our navy board has been about in neglecting to bring the trees which were fallen away I know not ; for there were at Malta and other parts of the Mediter- ranean abundance of large copper-bottomed trans- ports with raft ports doing nothing.
Hibernia, within the Black Rocks, i4th April, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — Did you ever read such a madly arrogant paragraph as that in Lord Cochrane's
48 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
public letter, where he lugs in Lieutenant Parker for the avowed purpose of attacking me, his com- mander-in-chief ? Pray explain it to Lord Howick.
I am sure the French squadron in Brest will attempt to put to sea the first favourable oppor- tunity, or they would have lowered their yards and topmasts in the very strong gale we had last night and this morning.
I pant for the Belleisle ; with her and 1'Im- petueux anchored at the Black Rocks I shall be more at ease. There should always be two good frigates stationed before Port L'Orient, where the entree and sortie have no interruption at present.
Hibernia, near Ushant, 4th May, 1806. My dear Admiral, — Many thanks for both your letters. The best thing we can do is to keep a good look-out and continue the squadron as they are now placed, until we receive certain intelli- gence of the squadron under Willaumez and Jerome Bonaparte.
Hibernia, close to Ushant, yth May, 1806. My dear Admiral, — For God's sake put Lord Howick upon his guard against the artful and pre- sumptuous proceedings of Tom Wolley, who thinks he sees his way to the top of the navy office, or some other important situation. He is the meanest thief in the whole profession, abounding as it still does with Cape Bar men.
You must take some strong means against the manner in which Harness appoints the surgeons.
Hibernia, near Ushant, 8th May, 1806. My dear Admiral, — I trouble you with the en- closed, not as a suitor, but as a matter of justice
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 49
to the writers. I wish Mr. Windham would show a little attention to Sir Joseph Banks. Show his answer to Captain Short to Lord Howick, who will communicate his feelings to Mr. Windham.
Hibernia, near Ushant, i6th May, 1806. My dear Admiral, — My plans are not a little deranged by the measure of sending Sir Richard Strachan and his squadron off the Canaries, which is certainly a very wise one. I had proposed to relieve the Revenge, Dragon, and Warrior, part of Admiral Stirling's squadron ; the Malta and Achille, which have been some time in course of pay ; part of Admiral Thornbrough's and the Princess Royal, under the same circumstances ; one of Rear-Admiral Harvey's ; and to have added the other ship to my own squadron, which would have brought me within one of the force of the enemy. From a long know- ledge of Sir John Warren, I am of opinion he will cruise as long as his stock of water and provisions will last, the more especially if he should by accident learn of the success which the Fame and her asso- ciates met with by the range they took after stop- ping at Madeira. Sir John Gore, who has a most impatient spirit, will be very restless and clamorous on account of the corporal of marines he has in con- finement, and the absurd conduct of his captain of marines ; and I propose to send the St. George to relieve the Revenge — the more necessary because she left Fal mouth fifty tons short of her quantity of water, and must have been some time on her ground tier. Both ships of the line and frigates stay a much longer time in port than they did when I commanded the fleet six years ago ; and I under- stand if they send a report of their progress to Admiral Young at nine o'clock every morning no questions are asked. Any failure in this ceremony
E
50 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
is sure to provoke a sharp rebuke, however diligent the captain may be in essentials. The said admiral is, like Lord Barham and Admiral Gambier, a com- pound of paper and packthread.
I can readily account for the employment of my unworthy Jleve, from his connection with the Mar- quis of Bucks and Mr, Fox. He has no pretensions to any marks of favour beyond those of Edwin Stanhope or Billy Douglas. Happily for the coun- try, he is appointed to a command whereon it is not probable he will have an opportunity to dis- grace it ; and he is up to the Americans in lie, trick, and evasion.
Ignorant that Rear- Admiral Louis would be on the way to relieve poor Thornbrough, in case of Sir J. Warren not arriving in due time, I named Sir Samuel Hood to Lord Howick, who cannot fix on a fitter man, and if you make a promotion it will be better still. Sir J. Warren will intrigue for a chief command on the coast of Portugal, with the circuit of the Azores, Canaries, and Cape de Verd. He wants money, and will not be contented with the small pittance likely to be the lot of a puisne flag officer in this fleet.
I hope you have disposed of Mr. Jeffrey and me, and that you will not have occasion to attend the House of Commons longer than to make a House to get through the remaining business of the session ; for the constant hard work at the admiralty, when the board performs its duty, is quite enough, and in truth much more than is done at any other public office.
You say nothing of Osborne, who, I trust, is not to be abandoned. Whenever you judge my inter- position upon his subject necessary, pray let me know.
With my kind love to Mrs. Markham and the
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 51
boys, and most friendly remembrances in South Audley Street, believe me to be, &c.
Hibernia, near Ushant, zyth May, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — In my last letter to Tucker I mooted my going into port when the Hibernia should come in course of payment, and I proposed running up to Spithead in a frigate. Upon reflec- tion I think it will be better to proceed thither in the Hibernia at once, as by that means I may get back to her by the time she is filled up and paid.
Although the example I set six years ago in the best mode of cruising upon Brest has not been fol- lowed by any of my successors, and the inshore squadron has most shamefully abandoned the station assigned to it, as I will explain when we meet, I think the system is now established upon such prin- ciples it cannot be departed from, the more especially as Sir Charles Cotton (who is described as a very timid man touching rocks, shoals, &c.) has been witness to the certainty of keeping hold of Ushant in any wind or weather, by taking shelter under that island in an easterly gale, and profiting of the tides (which are so advantageous as about Scilly) in other circumstances.
The squadron before Rochfort may be supplied with water and provisions from Plymouth until the approach of the autumnal equinox. The two con- voys which have been recently sent will make them hold out the month of July, before which time it will be no longer necessary to continue the squad- rons off Cape Finisterre and west of Belleisle. In my judgment the squadron before Rochfort should be strengthened, for it is possible that ships may get into the Pertuis d'Antioche malgrd the efforts of our squadron, and the tables turned upon it. These are the reveries of, &c.
E 2
52 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
I am sorry to find by the report of the master shipwright at Plymouth that the Centaur will not be out of his hands before the latter end of the month, so that Hood cannot be relied on to relieve poor Thornbrough. If you do not push the Windsor Castle she will not be here these six weeks.
Hibernia, near Ushant, igth May, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — I thank you kindly for the support you gave to my fair fame in the House of Commons. Garlics is a sneaking cur.1 I had much rather that he had taken the line that Canning and Perceval did, who seem to have been inoculated with the malignant venom of Pitt. I hope Lord Howick will sweep all the spiders from the navy board, or it will not do.
Hibernia, under Ushant, 22nd May, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — This captain of the Latona might have been a good commander of a Guinea ship, although he is neither seaman nor soldier. He told Bowen that he was sounding with his master the day before yesterday on the very rocks he run upon. I hope you will turn his ship's company over to the Lavinia, and when the Latona is repaired and manned send her to the coast of Guinea, for he is fit for nothing else. Not that I think Captain Law- ford free from blame for making the Latona's signal to reconnoitre Brest in such hazy weather that the long marks could not be seen ; this arose from a
1 This is merely a strong way of expressing his dislike of Lord Garlies's speech, which appears to have been the speech of one who seemed inclined to turn. They were really very good friends, and had been since the Martinique days. The friendship remained unbroken, and Lord Garlics (then Earl of Galloway) was visiting at Rochetts as late as 1817.
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 53
gossip between him and Captain Lukin, who stayed near three hours with him when he ought to have returned to me immediately, his launch and two rowing boats having been left here to assist in getting one hundred tons of water out of the Ville de Paris, which we achieved in four hours to a minute. I was much at a loss to account for the Ville de Paris having carried away her foreyard, and we learned from the lieutenants of her yester- day that it was actually done by keeping the lee fore-brace fast on tacking, and broke short by the force of the men on the weather brace in tacking. She is now shifting a fore topmast, and how the one she is lowering has been sprung is unaccountable, for we had very moderate weather and smooth water ever since she joined. The Egyptienne carried out five topmasts to Admiral Harvey's squadron the other day, and if we continue to throw away top- masts at this rate the forests of the north will not furnish an adequate supply. There is a great lack of seamanship in the service, and the young people now coming up are for the most part frippery and gimcrack. I wish we could revive the old school.
You must take some strong measure about Pellew, who is going the whole game at Madras. The whole race of Pellews is bad in grain ; some very bad traits of the family have lately come to my knowledge.
I have ordered the Diamond to return as soon as she has seen the Latona into Falmouth or some other safe port. She sails worse than anything I ever saw, and must be new coppered when I can send her in for that purpose. Her captain is below par, and ought to go to sleep.
54 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
Hibernia, near the Black Rocks, zyd May, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — I believe the writer of the enclosed to be a good master, and a much injured man. You will know it has of late become a maxim in naval courts-martial that the captain can do no wrong, and the onus is always laid on the master or pilot. In the case of Mr. Jenkins, he was influenced by his captain to attempt to carry the ship into St. Helen's when she ought to have kept the sea until morning, and the leadsman made a mistake in the soundings. I believe Rear-Admiral Faulknor will acknowledge this. The man is now only an acting master, although according to the best judg- ment I can form he ought to be restored to the place he formerly filled on the list of masters.
Hibernia, near Ushant, 26th May, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — In the mood Duckworth is he will be of no use to me, especially as I have given him my opinion that he is not entitled to a British peerage ; nor is there any other officer in the service, excepting Bowen, that I can reconcile.
I see the difficulty Lord Howick is in ; but a delay until I see him, the latter end of next month, cannot be of serious import.
Admiral Young must not interfere with the ships under my orders. He is a Jesuit of the first order, and, as I observed to you before, composed of paper and packthread, stay tape and buckram.
Hibernia, off Ushant, 4th June, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — There must be a great con- sumption of men in Admiral Young's department by desertion and the shameful manner in which the men get invalided from that infamously conducted hospital, or the Windsor Castle would have been
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 55
with me long ago. A letter goes to your secretary of this day's date requesting she and the London may be hurried ; and, if you give me the Superb and Spencer, I may be able to keep up the four squadrons, malgrt the counteractions of the captains in contriving to keep their ships in port double the time prescribed.
Pray deliver me from Captain Athol Wood, who is a very dangerous man, and I shrewdly suspect the diabolic report of the capture of the inshore squadron and my having been killed originated with him.
If an arrangement cannot be made for the con- tinuance of old Bowen, without prejudice to him as commissioner of the transport board, I will dispense altogether with a fresh captain. My nephew is become a very competent secretary, and the parties I have to select from are swollen into such high and mighty characters I cannot and will not submit to the caprice of any of them. The decision made by Sir J. Duckworth is a great deliverance.
Hibernia, near Ushant, 8 June, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — I am well aware of the jealousy and circumvention which surrounds you, but I entreat you not to make any resolve until we meet, which will happen about the 26th instant, if my leave of absence is lodged at Portsmouth.
Hibernia, near the Black Rocks, i5th June, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — I was sure Sir J. Warren would play you a trick. He never would serve but in the best parage, and yet you have paid court to him by promoting out of the Foudroyant, to the entire neglect of the officers of the Hibernia, and thereby subjected me to the scorn and derision of
56 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
the whole fleet. The decision you have come to, of ordering him home and giving the command to Cochrane, is highly creditable, and I think he should never be employed again. Lord Howick should make a promotion to the flag, to include Stopford, by which means he will obtain three admirals much more efficient than the gentleman in question, viz. Hood, Nicholls, and Keats. Stopford is as good as Sir John.
I shall see you so very soon that I will not trespass longer upon your time than to repeat how truly I am, &c.
I expect to see Sir Charles Cotton to-morrow, and after putting him in full possession of the arrangements I have in contemplation, I shall pro- ceed to Spithead directly.
Rochetts, 26th June, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — George Murray is the flag officer, of all others, I wish should succeed Rear- Admiral Stirling. I have many and insuperable objections to Rear- Admiral Louis, more of a private than a public nature. The Dragon is, I hope, with Stirling ; and, if so, the Glory is on her passage to Cawsand Bay to replenish and be paid. I conclude the board will give the necessary orders to Rear- Admiral Murray ; if not, let Tucker instruct John Parker, and direct him to send the orders here immediately to be signed.
You have done wisely to recall Popham, after his mbnstrous conduct
Have the goodness to cause an order to be sent to the victualling office to supply the Hibernia with all wine, in lieu of spirits.
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 57
Hibernia, near Ushant, i3th July, 1806. My dear Markham, — Should you not give broad pennants to Hood and Keats, or make your pro- motion to the flag (including Stopford) the moment parliament is up ?
Hibernia, near Ushant, i6th July, 1806. My dear Admiral, — If Lord Howick does not get rid of this vile institution of sub-lieutenants, all the youth of the service will be contaminated. The commanders of gun-brigs lord it over them, and they are soon driven out of his mess and mixed with the warrant officers, by which means they soon become professed drunkards. George Grey gave me a dreadful account of those in the North Sea, but they appear to be worse to the westward.
Hibernia, near Ushant, i8th July, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — Amidst the various occupa- tions I have had in this busy scene — for I found the fleet in such a disorderly state that my whole time has been employed in correcting abuses and negli- gent slovenly habits — I have omitted to write you an account of the schooners, which are no more like Bermudian vessels than they are like Indian Praams ; and if any more are built, Surveyor Rule must have nothing to do with them, but the Mudian l builders left to their own discretion ; in fact, they are a plague and bother to all who have them under their orders.
Captain Scott, of the Dragon, has in a very satisfactory manner accounted for the deficiency of water stated in her weekly account — the clerk had omitted twenty-five tons of beer — and since her docking at Portsmouth after being on the Shambles she has stowed twenty tons less than before owing
1 Bermudian.
58 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
to the spars they put into her. I wish Captain King, of 1'Achille, may be as successful in the justification of his officers, who, it appears by the commanding officer's report at South Down, turned away two or three barges without taking out what would have supplied all her deficiencies. Captain Buller l has much to answer for on this subject, and Admiral Thornbrough ought to have put him under arrest for the language he held in his presence. Admiral Young has observed a profound silence, and con- tented himself with the bare acknowledgment of the dates of my letter.
Captain Keats has already approved himself eminently qualified for the command of a squadron and fully justified the appointment. Hood and he should have broad pennants with captains or be pro- moted to the flag ; the latter in my judgment is fittest on all accounts, for such a barren list I never beheld. I am glad you have had a little recess at Ades 2 after all your fag, where I hope you found Mrs. Markham and the trio in good health.
Hibernia, near Ushant, ist August, 1806. My dear Admiral, — Scarce a week passes with- out my hearing of the ruin of one or more valu- able young men, sub-lieutenants of gun-brigs. Mr. Simpson, of the Growler, who was day mate in the San Josef, and made sub-lieutenant into the Growler, is a recent instance of it ; for such a wretched, squalid creature I never beheld, and Captain Ricketts assures me that a finer and better young man never existed while he served in the San Josef. You should give four boys of the second class to each gun-brig in addition to her complement ; they would very soon become good seamen.
1 Edward Buller, captain of the Malta. For a quaint anecdote about him, see N.jR.S. xxiv. 93.
2 Admiral Markham's place in Sussex.
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 59
Pray give the command of a gun-brig to Lieu- tenant Price the 2nd, sur le champ ; it will oblige Nicholls, and add very much to my satisfaction.
Hibernia, in the Tagus, 3151 August, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — Your first love, Mrs. Kant- zow,1 is naturally very anxious for the promotion of her near relation, Captain Grosett, who has suffered long enough for the foolish and highly impolitic union he formed with a Portsmouth miss of low extraction. I have informed her of the pledge I am under to Lord Ho wick. I nevertheless hope that between us he may obtain the rank of post captain.
With my kind love to Mrs. J. Markham and her flock, believe me to be, &c.
Hibernia, off Ushant, 1 4th October, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — I am quite astonished at the occurrences at the admiralty since the death of Mr. Fox ; but I very much approve all you and Tucker have said and done, both respecting yourselves and me. I am very impatient to get into port, and as the copper sheathing of the Hibernia is in a state that will require her to go into Hamoaze, I shall have to re- flect on, and digest as much as may be necessary, what has been done, and is doing, to the two men most attached to me, and whom I never will abandon.
Pray say everything kind and proper for me at Bishopthorpe, for I have such a dreadful pain in my head it is with great difficulty I am able to write this ditty, and John Parker is so much occupied in preparing the necessary orders and documents for the detached ships and your office that he must wait
1 Miss Lucy Grosett, a first love of John Markham at Lisbon when he commanded the Sphinx in 1785. She married Mr. de Kantzow, Swedish Charge" d' Affaires at Lisbon in February 1787. In 1809 Mrs. de Kantzow came home from Lisbon and settled at Bath.
6o LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
another opportunity to express the grateful sense he feels for the archbishop's kindness to him.
Pray say everything affectionate to Mrs. Mark- ham, the boys, and infanta for, &c.
Hibernia, very near Ushant, i8th October, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — The enclosed letter from Keats confirms me in the opinion I had formed that Prince Jerome is indebted to the recall of that squa- dron for his escape ; it is by far the best position that could be fixed upon, for a squadron of six sail of the line, with a proper accompaniment of frigates, sloops, &c., will always spread the parallel of the Glenmore and Belleisle, which is the line of march of all French ships of war from the other side of the Atlantic, and I can hardly think it possible that any sea officer of experience can differ in opinion from me on this subject. A cabinet composed of lands- men may.
Let me know whether you hold on, or cut and run, for my decision will very much depend thereon.
Hibernia, in Cawsand Bay, 26th October, 1806. My dear Admiral, — I have long been of opinion — that is to say since Captain Hurd's^ accurate survey — that the arsenal should be transferred from Halifax to Bermuda. Churchill is the fittest man you have for master shipwright, but you must give him good appointments or you deprive him of a better thing. Whidbey is the properest person I know to direct the new works of Plymouth Sound. Sir J. Warren is a mere partisan, preferring prize money to the public good at all times. Provisions in the greatest abund- ance to be had in Virginia.
Berkeley is at his old tricks.
1 Hydrographer from 1808 to 1826.
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 61
Formidable, in Cawsand Bay, ist November, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — The enclosed very sensible letter from Captain Keats merits every attention. You really should either promote to the flag or give a captain to him and to Hood, or you will do them up before the winter is passed.
Remember me kindly to Mrs. Markham and her flock, and believe me to be, &c.
I hope the archbishop and family are safe landed and in good health.
Rame House, 2ist November, 1806.
My dear Markham, — The comptroller of the navy is a very weak and vain man, and you may depend upon it that Sir William Rule, who is very artful, has contrived to poison his mind against you, the Tuckers, Peake, and all who have contributed to expose the ignorance and impudence of Sir William.
Go on and prosper, and do not give a thought towards me, excepting when you have tranquil leisure.
Mr. Skottowe is so ill-tempered that the officers cannot endure him, and he is besides a very super- ficial, presuming man, and I will thank you kindly to remove him from the Hibernia and let Mr. Hendry succeed, who was in no fault for not joining the Hibernia, Captain Gardner having kept him against his will with a view to get an officer appointed in his room who was out of the way when the Hero sailed with Sir John Warren.
As you say nothing to the contrary, I flatter myself all is well in South Audley Street,1 and at your house in the admiralty. With my kind regards to all of them, believe me to be, &c.
1 The Archbishop of York's house.
62 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
Rame House, 2 6th November, 1806.
My dear Admiral, — I had a good deal of con- versation with Mr. Tucker yesterday upon the state of the navy, and I very much wish that you would hear him patiently upon this subject when he arrives in town, and the best way will be either to ask him to dine with you or meet him at Ben Tucker's, for I am sure you cannot spare time or give attention to his interesting relation in a morning on account of the load of business you have to go through. He is decidedly of opinion that the Namur should not be sent to cruise in the western ocean at this season of the year, but that she may be safely employed about the Downs, Boulogne, or the Flemish banks. I shall therefore continue my flag on board of her in Cawsand Bay until I have the final determination of this board.
I enclose a comparative statement of the wear and tear of masts, yards, and spars between the Hibernia and 1'Egyptienne, and have to remark that the spritsail yard, expended as a fore topsail yard, and one of the jibbooms of the Hibernia were carried away by a Danish merchant ship coming athwart hawse of us while we were moored in the Tagus, and the hand mast was spared to one of our 74's (I think the Colossus) to make a cross- jack yard. L'Egyptienne has been equally expen- sive during the time Captain Fleeming commanded her, and she has performed very little service ; nearly half the time she has been in commission has passed in port. You shall have a comparative state- ment of the expenditure of sails and cordage soon.
It has blown too strong for the Formidable and Monarch to get round. They made an attempt on Sunday, but were obliged to bear up again for Torbay. I look for the Princess Royal every mo- ment ; when she has got a new fore yard I will
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 63
direct Sir Charles Cotton to send the St. George to S pithead.
Charles Mansfield is done up and becomes good for nothing, and in my opinion ought to be put to rest. I think my Master Codrington will be very glad to get rid of his Orion, for he hates the thing, and took ship a la maniere d? acquit, as many others have done.
I very much want to push la Sybille before L'Orient, for Captain Durham has not means to watch that port and Concarneau.1 If you will send an order to old Conn 2 he will be off in a tangent.
I am very anxious for a little moderate weather to get the Fame and Foudroyant out, for the bay will be too much crowded when the Formidable and Monarch arrive. The Ramillies ought also to pro- ceed to Cork with a westerly wind and moderate weather. It does not appear to me that Admiral Young is aware of the hazard too great a num- ber of ships in Cawsand Bay put the whole to. He has been too long a theorist to retain much practical sea knowledge — if he ever possessed it, which I very much doubt ; but he is by far the best port admiral I ever saw.
Rame House, Qth March, 1807.
My dear Admiral, — Here is the Kent come in with a defect in her fore body, which, by Captain Rogers's description, will I fear require her going into a harbour ; he is of opinion another breast hook will be necessary. None of the late contract- built ships appear to have had their fastenings properly driven and secured, which, while the over- seers are selected by the surveyors upon the principle
1 It is written ' Conquerner.'
2 Captain John Conn. He commanded the Dreadnought at Trafalgar.
64 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
of patronage and favouritism, cannot be provided against. As the San Josef and St. George will occupy the artificers of Plymouth Yard, will it not be advisable to send the Kent to Portsmouth ? Captain Rogers being an excellent man, who governs his ship with temper and judgment, consequently less liable to the ills of that port than many others. Upon enquiry I find that several of the persons in Vice-Admiral Thornbrough's long list of discharges from the Kent into the Royal Sovereign compose a reserve for Captain Garrett, who is in expectation of being appointed to a large frigate. What en- couragement he may have received I know not, but I understand that his admiral and he are not likely to continue long together.
This bitter blast keeps me back sadly, and I am much worse than when you saw me last. Keep this to yourself, for if my poor wife gets hold of it she will be distracted.
Sir Charles Cotton's first lieutenant, who com- manded the Atalanta by his orders, is said to be a steady careful officer, but I do not like his account of that sloop being left in the hands of the gunner and French pilot in so critical a situation as the Pertuis d'Antioche, even though one lieutenant was sick and the other had been made a prisoner, boat fighting.
I have a sad account of the management of the Nile cutter ; Lieutenant Lloyd always in his cabin — sea sick, I suppose, for his former services were in the Dart, and he throws all the blame upon the master; in point of fact she has been of no manner of use to Commodore Keats, nor will be to any one, unless an officer who is a cutter sailor has the direction of her. Little Simmons of Plymouth would do it well.
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT 65
Rame House, 2ist March, 1807.
My dear Admiral, — The sooner both you and I are out of harness the better. I only wait the appointment of your new board to take my depar- ture. Mr. Grenville will probably communicate my letter of yesterday to you, in which you will find stronger ground of disbelief of the escape of the three ships of the line and frigate from Brest.
As I hope to see you very soon I will defer the account to our meeting.
Rame House, lyth March, 1807.
My dear Admiral, — The new order of things will occasion such a delay in the refitment of ships which come in from the Channel fleet, that it will be no longer necessary for your board to refuse leave of absence to the captains, and thereby incur a considerable degree of unpopularity — I might say obloquy — in these licentious times. I state this be- cause the Renown is coming in, and it is more than probable that Captain Durham, who has acquitted himself very well, will apply. You will have to calculate upon each ship requiring from a month to six weeks to perform the business which used to be done in eight days ; for every block is sent to the rigging house, and the distance between Cawsand Bay and the yard is so great that the best part of the day is taken up in going backwards and for- wards ; disease and desertion will accumulate, and the longer the ships remain in port the more reluc- tant both officers and men are to leave it. From these circumstances another important question arises, which is, the many additional ships necessary to keep up your detachments ; as, for example, during the last summer, when, had not the squadron west from Belleisle been withdrawn, the three ships which escaped would in all human probability have
66 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
been captured. Unless the Irish Catholics are appeased I look forward to a descent in that quar- ter, for I have no doubt that emissaries are at this moment employed in working up the passions of that savage people, and although I admit the diffi- culty to be great, we see this tiger attempting what, at any other period of history, would have been thought impossibilities, and succeeding in them too.
The wind having shifted, and the guns for your Baltic ships at this port said not to be arrived, would it not be advisable to order the ships to the eastward to meet the guns, as in all probability the Sound will be navigable very soon, and our allies will derive great encouragement from the early appearance of a British naval force ?
Mortimer Street, i3th May, 1807.
My dear Admiral, — I was extremely happy to learn that you had no trouble at Portsmouth. The present ministers have, to do them justice, taken every advantage of the popular cry, now fast de- clining ; but unless they are bold enough to shut out certain of the members of the late committee of finance in the one to be proposed, all will not do. Banks is said to have been dealt with — the reward a peerage ; Canning is said to be quite desperate, and ready to undertake anything.
Marquis Wellesley and Lord Melville are spoken of as persons to be placed at the head of the trea- sury— one or other of them.
The Duke of Bedford brings Lord Hy. Petty into parliament, and several of the best informed members of the committee of finance will be returned.
I saw your brother Osborne yesterday, who gives a good account of the family in South
FROM LORD ST. VINCENT
67
Audley Street, and is himself well and in good spirits.
My cough continues, and Lady St. Vincent very nervous, although her general health is improving. We rejoice to learn that Mrs. Markham is well and the children doing well, and with our kindest wishes to you all, believe me to be, &c.
The Saltash election took place yesterday, and Tucker embarks in the mail coach, for London, this evening. If he is not too sanguine, the two Fremantles are returned.
F 2
68 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
MEMO BY LORD HOWICK
1806.
Admiral Markham and Sir Charles Pole will be so good as to examine the papers received to-day from Sir Sidney Smith, and communicate to me their opinion upon them.
The first thing to be ascertained seems to be whether the office furnishes any documents to show the object and details of the service allotted to Sir Sidney Smith. If there is nothing of this sort to assist our judgment, and the plan was only concocted between Lord Nelson and Sir Sidney Smith, it seems to me that Sir Sidney being now under Lord Collingwood's command, nothing can with propriety be done till Sir S. has had an opportunity of explaining his views to Lord C., and the board has received his opinion upon them.
69
FROM SIR CHARLES POLE1
[Most private,] January 1806.
Dear Markham, — You will of course know that Mr. Grey2 hath just made a proposal to me to take a seat at the board of which you are to be one. I need not say how satisfactory that would be to me if it were at all compatible in my situation to take a place below Sir Harry Neale, being a captain, if your oracle declares that to be the rule. 1 cannot detain the messenger, but to assure you how happy I should be to sit thus, Markham, Pole and Neale.
Yours sincerely,
C. M. POLE.
I think Sir Philip 3 did say on Colpoys' coming to the board that the rule of always following the patent was not unalterable.
1 Sir Charles Pole married a Miss Goddard, first cousin of Admiral Markham.
2 He became Lord Howick in April 1806.
3 Sir Philip Stephens, Bart., long Secretary to the Admiralty, on the Board 1801 and 1806.
70 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
FROM LORD COLLINGWOOD
Queen, off the Straights, April i6th, 1806.
My dear Sir, — I congratulate you on your return to the admiralty, where, with the abilities of your first lord l we have everything good to hope for ; for although he had not been in the actual exercise of naval direction, there is, I believe, no man more perfectly informed on every subject on which the greatness of the state depends.
The convoy arrived here yesterday, and Captain Stewart2 has taken the command of the Seahorse, which was (luckily for him) stationed off the light- house, and without doubt has taken your young gentleman, Hatton, with him ; when the Seahorse comes to me I will enquire about the youngster and be kind to him. I cannot help being sorry that Captain Corbet 3 was not confirmed ; for, though I disapproved of his conduct in leaving his station, he certainly is an excellent officer in his general duty, and kept his ship in most excellent order ; and I am disposed to believe that one who takes such an interest in his general duty would not have taken such a measure but from the idea that by it he was
1 The Honourable Charles Grey, then Lord Howick, after- wards Earl Grey, first lord in the Grenville Ministry from January to September 1806, when he was succeeded by Mr. Thomas Grenville.
2 Captain John Stewart, of the Seahorse, fought a very gallant action with the Turks in July 1808, and captured a 52-gun frigate.
3 Robert Corbet was a gallant but very harsh and severe officer. When in command of the Africaine he was mortally wounded in an action with two French frigates near Mauritius, in 1810.
FROM LORD COLLINGWOOD 71
best promoting the public good, and I hope it will not stand as a bar to the favour of the admiralty.
Sir S. Smith is, I dare say, a very clever man — bold and enterprising — but I confess I wish you could have found employment for him in the Channel ; his talent (from the little conversation I have had with him) seems to turn more on boats and bombs, and fire-vessels, than on the arrange- ment of a squadron of men-of-war — and in such employment I shall have the ships unmanned and unfit for service ; but I have given him my senti- ments very fully on those subjects. I suppose the admiralty will think it proper to send me some other flag officer, for at present I assure you I con- sider myself but indifferently off.1 Admiral Knight at Gibraltar is not of much aid to me, but is con- stantly embarrassing us with the Moors. If they did not esteem the English more than any people they would have made it a quarrel, for they had provoca- tion. Yet he is better there than in the fleet at sea.
I beg my best respects to Mrs. Markham, who I hope is very well.
I was four months without hearing from England, so that I knew nothing that was going on relative to myself, and now I find his Majesty has been gra- ciously pleased to settle on me a pension for the support of that dignity he has raised me to, for which I am truly grateful. I receive his Majesty's bounty to me, in the manner he is pleased to bestow it, as a high honour ; but, in settling this affair in parliament, I hear that Mr. Spencer Stanhope2 took
1 Lord Collingwood, at the date of this letter, detached Sir Sidney Smith in the Pompee to assist the King of Naples, and in 1807 Sir Sidney was in Duckworth's squadron at the forcing of the Dardanelles. In November 1807 he was sent to the Tagus in command of a squadron.
2 Mr. Walter Spencer Stanhope, of Cannon Hall, in Yorkshire, was a well-known man in his day. He was forty years in the
72 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
great pains in having it settled (as he would call it) for the benefit of my family, for which I am not obliged to him. He was not authorised by me to higgle in parliament for a better bargain. Every man in the House could judge of my service as well as he could, and he has taken from me what I held most honourable to me, viz. to receive his Majesty's and my country's liberality to me, such as they offered it ; and I have heard he did it upon the ground that, of his knowledge, my family would be left in distress at my death. In that, too, he is mistaken, because I apprehend my family are as well provided for as his own, and I think he ought not to have taken so much trouble without asking how far it might be agreeable to me. If Lord Barham had been kind enough to inform me what was the inten- tion of his Majesty, I should have been thankful to him, and if any option was left to me perhaps I should have decided in the way it now is. But, pleading my cause without a brief, I cannot say I feel that high obligation that he may think due for it. I wish you health, my dear sir, and am, with great truth,
Your faithful, humble servant,
COLLINGWOOD.
House of Commons, with a very hospitable house in Grosvenor Square, and was a man of literary tastes as well as a master of hounds. He is one of a group of members of the Dilettanti Club in the picture painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Lord Collingwood's letter reads as if he were unacquainted with Mr. Spencer Stanhope, but this was far from being the case. Mr. Stanhope's wife was a Miss Pulleine, an heiress, whose mother, Winifred Collingwood, was a third cousin of Lord Collingwood, and inherited Collingwood property at Dissington, in Northum- berland. This property descended to her second grandson, who took the name of Collingwood. A few days after Trafalgar, Lord Collingwood wrote an account of the battle to Mr. Spencer Stanhope. One of the young Stanhopes, who afterwards took the name of Roddam, served in Lord Collingwood's ship, and was very kindly treated, as a relative, by the admiral.
FROM LORD COLLINGWOOD 73
I have been sadly off in the miscarriage of my letters. I will be obliged to you if you will order enquiry to be made in the admiralty office for a great many stray letters.
Ocean, June 2 8th, 1806.
My dear Sir, — I cannot sufficiently thank you for your kind letter, enclosing one from Lady Colling- wood and your offer to her to forward to me such as she may send. We were formerly but ill off in this respect, until Admiral Young was so good as to give a hint of the length of time we had been without hearing from England, while the cutters, &c., were' knocking their sides together in Stonehouse Pool. Young Haultain,1 I am told, is one of the best boys in the world, but he is a boy, and has not been kept so strictly to his duty as he should have been ; he is going on extremely well with Lechmere in the Prince, and daily improving. It is a great satis- faction to me that I have got Admiral Purvis with me, who you know is an intelligent, steady officer. I was not at Gibraltar myself, but from everybody I heard of the difficulties they had to encounter there. Besides, the defence of the bay was not attended to as I think it should have been, because Admiral Knight sent the gunboats, which were there for its defence, to cruise, which they were totally unfit for and twice picked up at sea in distress, their provisions gone, and unable to reach a port.
As for the Knight of the Sword 2 I hope he is going on well, but since he went into the Mediterra- nean I am totally ignorant of everything going on there. I have not had a line from him since he left
1 Charles Haultain did good service, in 1813, in Captain Farquhar's squadron in the Elbe.
2 Sir Sidney Smith.
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Gibraltar, nor has any ship returned to me that has been sent with despatches or with convoys to Malta or Sicily. I have heard from Gibraltar a report that Captain Schomberg, who was the captain of the guardship at Malta, a sort of port officer, collected the returns of the ships and is sending them to me. I have heard this gentleman is taken from his ship and station to command a flotilla — but I hope it is not so, as there has been no communication with me on the subject ; that he has written to the Bey of Oran, and directed Mr. Filey (a sort of deputy- consul there) to proceed in some measures with the Algerines. I am not without apprehension that he will embroil us there and open a sore newly healed. On the whole I most sincerely wish he was at Boulogne, where he might prepare paragraphs for the newspaper every day. I have expected the Endymion down this month, the Excellent this two months, but hear nothing of them. Capel is at Gibraltar, waiting impatiently.
Jerome's squadron must come to Europe soon ; they will have nothing but distress in the West Indies, and this is the point most likely for them to attempt. It is in the Mediterranean they want a squadron more than anywhere, and I shall keep the best possible look out for them, and happy day will it be.
This Ocean is a remarkable fine ship ; in light winds sails remarkably well, in strong winds she is like other ships. I beg you will offer my best respects to Mrs. Markham, and believe that I ever am, with great regard, my dear sir,
Your obedient and most faithful servant,
COLLINGWOOD.
75
FROM SIR JAMES SAUMAREZ^
Charwell,2 Guernsey Road, 24th February, 1806.
My dear Sir, — In consequence of the vacancy on board the Cerberus3 occasioned by the death of Lieutenant Baker, I have given an acting order to Mr. Henry Maingy to serve as junior lieutenant on board of her. He is a young man of respectable connections in the island, and served with me on board the Crescent and Orion in the late war ; and I shall be extremely obliged if Mr. Grey will allow the appointment to be confirmed.
Permit me to take this opportunity of most sincerely congratulating you on having assumed your seat at the admiralty board, which that you may long retain with every possible advantage and benefit to the country is my most fervent wish.
Believe me, with sincere esteem,
Yours ever most truly,
J. A. SAUMAREZ.
Guernsey, 25th August, 1806.
My dear Sir, — I hope you will do me the justice to believe that I am incapable of throwing any obstacle in the way of the public service, or of wrongfully doing or saying anything to the prejudice
1 These letters were written in the years immediately preceding the despatch of Sir James Saumarez to the Baltic in command of a squadron in May 1808.
2 The Charwell was Commander Philip Dumaresq's ship.
3 Sir James Saumarez had his flag in the Cerberus.
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of any person whatever ; but the conduct of Mr. Lockwood has been such that it is not possible for me to pass it over without having it more par- ticularly investigated, or that some mark of dis- approbation shall be signified to him from the board before he is again employed upon this station. His notorious ill-treatment of Mr. Kelly, in confining him under the charge of a sergeant in a common guard-house, and the letter he addressed thereon to Mr. Marsden l containing in the grossest terms the most ill-founded complaints against me personally, and charges of negligence in the squadron, are of too serious a nature to be lightly passed over. The survey on which Mr. Lockwood was employed I felt particularly interested in, and upon every occa- sion I afforded him every assistance in my power, which he has acknowledged to me in frequent instances, and I believe he has stated the same in most of his letters. What I have to request is that Captains Dickson, Shepheard, and Dumaresq, on board whose respective ships my flag was flying, may be called upon as to the boats and other assistance supplied to Mr. Lockwood ; and Captain Dickson and Mr. Kelly (who alone were present in the con- versation I had with him relative to the confinement of the latter) to testify what passed on that occasion ; and, should it appear to the board that all M r. Lock- wood's charges prove unfounded, that some mark of censure and disapprobation may be signified to him before he can be permitted to resume his employ- ment here. I send this by Captain Hancock, for whose promotion I feel most thankful, and as he has been employed under my flag from my first coming here I shall be glad you will take the trouble to question him on the subject of this letter.
1 Secretary of the admiralty, 1804 to 1807.
FROM SIR JAMES SAUMAREZ 77
Guernsey, 6th November, 1806.
My dear Sir, — Captain Forbes has been inti- mated that his presence in London is required in order to undergo a second examination of his wound previous to the pension being granted him which he has been recommended to apply for to his Majesty in council ; but is apprehensive that he would run the risk of being superseded from the Racehorse was he to apply for leave officially to the board. May I therefore request you will have the good- ness to cause my being permitted to allow him a fortnight's leave of absence, or to inform me if he may apply without the fear of being superseded ? He appears a very deserving officer, and he tells me is well known to you.
I am happy to find the late changes have not occasioned your leaving your seat at the admiralty,1 and I remain with great regard, &c
San Josef, loth March, 1807.
My dear Sir, — The squadron has experienced the severest eastern gales for the last three weeks with scarcely any intermission, which has rendered it impossible to keep the station off Brest, although the squadron has seldom exceeded the distance of twenty leagues to the south-west of Ushant. Last Sunday I was enabled to have communication with the inshore ships, and was extremely concerned to find that three ships and a frigate were missing from their anchorage that morning, and must have escaped, according to Captain Malcolm's report, since Friday, having been seen by the Narcissus on that day at the usual anchorage. One of them has a rear-admiral's flag, and was seen on the 27th under sail off Bertheaume, but returned in the
1 Mr. T. Grenville succeeding Lord Howick as first lord.
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harbour on the appearance of the squadron. The weather continues most boisterous, and notwith- standing every effort, renders it impossible to regain the station off the enemy's port.
I am sorry to say that the leak in the San Josef has increased from fourteen to sixteen inches an hour, and will require being inspected on her return to port.
I thought it best to give you these few lines in case the official despatches to Earl St. Vincent should not reach London so soon from Plymouth, the vessel charged with them being directed to land them at the first port.
There remain ready for sea three ships of three decks and six two-deckers.
79
FROM SIR JOHN DUCKWORTH
Leviathan, Port Royal, May 8, 1796. Dear Markham,1 — Encouraged by your short letter of the 4th of January to expect a long detail of events, and what was likely to be our lot, it was an additional stimulus to the friendship I bear you to look with avidity for the February and March packets, but, alas ! they bring no tidings ; but as I cannot divest myself of the idea that you feel in- terested about those who had the pleasure of living in intimacy with you here, I take the pen to inform you that things wear nearly the same appearance as when you left us, for after having cruised above 12 weeks in hourly expectation of reinforcements, and the arrangements all laid out for landing as soon as they arrived, and Isabella Bay to wind- ward of Monte Christi settled for the rendezvous to apportion each corps their duty, we received information that the elements had been so un- propitious to our views that nothing could be at present expected, and all our dependence to fill up the vacuum of the deceased were 2,000 men under Major-General Bowyer from Gibraltar, which arrived in excellent health, when the scheming and chaste Sir C. W. suggested an idea of directly attacking Leogane, which was to surrender the moment we appeared ; however the admiral dissenting, this
1 Captain Markham had been in command of the Hannibal in the West Indies until November 1795, when he was invalided.
8o LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
scheme was for a while laid aside, and General Forbes saw the absurdity of it, till he had communicated with his predecessor, when in three days he was made a convert, and the expedition was so highly requisite, and the conquest to be so easily made, that the admiral 1 was again called upon for naval aid, which, to avoid any charge of not promoting the service, he accorded with, though with a full avowal of disapprobation. However on it went, and I first arrived at Port au Prince the day intended for its setting forth, and off we moved, with about 1,000 British under Major-General Bowyer, and 1,500 Provincials under Baron Montalembert, and on the 2ist of March they were all landed without opposition, and began to move to take up their ground against the town, when the Africa's and Leviathan's signals were made to anchor, and cannonade a mud fort of 26 feet bank, and garrison entirely under cover, and which in my opinion, had it been reducible, would not have in any degree facilitated the progress of the attack of the town. However we got well placed and much within two cables' lengths, where we battered for three hours and a half, in which time the Leviathan fired 224 barrels of powder ; but no impression appearing to be made, and my ship particularly cut up — viz. five men killed and 22 wounded,2 my mainmast and ditto topmast shot through, my foremast, fore and main yards badly wounded, booms and boats shot to pieces, and hull much damaged — the admiral sent directions to haul off at dusk, which was effected, leaving two bowers and a stern cable behind us. The next morning the army discovered the place was too strong and the garrison too numerous to expect any success but at a risk greater than the object, and therefore it was decided to re-embark 1 Rear-Admiral William Parker. 2 James says 12.
FROM SIR JOHN DUCKWORTH 81
them, which was performed without any annoyance, and we returned to Port au Prince to mood l upon our absurd indigested and blundering plan, from whence, alas ! my evils were to be increased by coming here to repair my damages ; which I am grieved to say in sickness and desertion are become dreadful, having lost by the former 1 5 and the latter 20, and my mainmast will not be ready to come off this week. Oh, Markham ! well you know how to participate in the dread calamity, and will even more so when I tell you that the flower of my flock, that charming youth, dear Edward Baker, is among the dead. Good God ! taken off in 24 hours ! Indeed my heart is rent in pieces, and each re- turning day adds to my calamity. As Mr. Scott, my first lieutenant, is so ill, I fear I shall lose him, but most probably his fate will be decided before this is sealed. As I see the patriotic and virtuous General McLeod shudders at the human race being hunted down by blood-hounds, and as it seems to operate upon the feeling minds at home, I hope you who know the character of the Maroons endeavour to do away the odium, as the fact has proved it to be one of the most judicious steps possible, and has put a stop to the effusion of human blood and the total annihilation of the white race ; as the great merit of the dogs were to trace out the footsteps and lead the whites to penetrate into the almost inaccessible parts of the mountains, without being destroyed by ambuscades ; and when the blacks found it effected this they were glad to come to terms, and they are all at present embarked on board the Dover, 4o-gun ship in the transport service, and two others, I under- stand to be transported to some other part of the
1 This seems to be a verb of Sir John Duckworth's coinage.
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82 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
world, but where is the rub, and the governor and assembly are quite at a loss about it, and there is an idea of keeping them embarked at Port Royal till his majesty's pleasure is known ; if so, I fear it will ultimately terminate in a way more to shock humanity than the blood-hounds. Boyles is at the Mole,1 and well, as is Lewis. The admiral sailed from here yesterday, tolerable in health but has two sore legs. He was only here a fortnight to overhaul his rigging, and give orders respecting the convoy, which sails the first week in June under the com- mand of Captain Hume, in the Africa, with the Iphigenia ; and Gardner wants to change with Carpenter (who is at the Mole) if it can be effected in time. Adieu, my dear sir ; may every good attend you is the cordial wish of your faithful friend and humble servant,
J. T. DUCKWORTH.
Poor Scott yet alive, thank God ! Ever yours, J. T. D.
Leviathan, Martinique, November ioth, 1801. My dear Markham, — Your short letter express- ing the satisfaction you derived from the promo- tion of Fanshawe, and the pleasure produced in that amiable family, encouraged me to expect some longer epistle by the Magicienne ; but as she pro- ceeded on to Jamaica without leaving such token of your remembrance (which I attribute to your multiplicity of avocations), I have only to say you are well aware that a letter from those we hold in estimation acts as a cordial upon the spirits in this detestable climate and renovates the whole frame ; therefore if your time will allow you to indulge me now and then with such a letter I shall deem it a strong proof of friendship. Could I administer similar 1 St. Nicholas Mole in St. Domingo.
FROM SIR JOHN DUCKWORTH 83
comfort, you might rely upon it I shouldn't spare my pen, but the public letters contain all that is moving herei and of late that has been little interesting. At Guadaloupe you will find there has been a recent revolution in which the people of colour have taken the lead, and by the account of Captain-General La Crope and his four aides-de- camp (who I send home with this convoy, being turned off the island in a Dane, and stopped by the Tamar) the extirpation of the whites is the order of the day ; but this we must take cum grano salts, though I fear it is ultimately big with evil to all West India possessions. The kind interest you take in my reconciliation with my son 1 feel in its full force ; but, my dear Markham, if parents are to reap no more from a university education and some thousands expense than I have done, they would avoid it as Scylla and Charybdis ; and if George is saved from being wrecked, it is by his being removed as he was ; and had it been to any other climate I should have rejoiced at his even being a soldier ; but here, poor fellow ! I am in continual agitation, though, thank God ! he has combated the sickly season without the least indisposition ; but the sad scenes that harrow up the feelings every day must produce alarm. Governor Bentinck having written me to get his plate and books conveyed in a man-of-war, I have got Captain Taylor to take charge of them ; but as the governor only dates from London I fear my letter may not reach him, and venture to put it under your care to forward. God bless you, my dear Markham ! and believe me,
&c.
Leviathan, Martinique, November 12, 1801.
Dear Markham, — Unwilling to make any request derogatory to your consequence, yet anxious to mark the estimation in which I hold you, on receiving a
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84 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
letter from the genealogist of the Order of the Bath to name three gentlemen as esquires, I signified through Mr. Baker my desire to be supported by you if consistent, and as I was ignorant how far propriety might be attached to such a request, I sought information from him.1 I therefore cannot but feel mortified that he should so far have led me astray as to propose in my name to bring you improperly forward in the field of knight errantry, but I draw consolation from the proposal having produced laughter when you was suffering on the bed of pain, as I anxiously hope it assisted in your recovery, and that I may offer my congratulations on that interesting subject. Though we did not expect the pleasing news of peace, I rejoice most truly at the event, considering that the Marquis of Cornwallis would not be instrumental in negotiating any treaty that would diminish the honour of our country. The convoy being off St. Pierre's must plead rny excuse for a hasty scrawl, and I will beg you to believe, my dear Markham, that I am, &c.
George desires his respects.
Leviathan, Port Royal, March 5th, 1802. My dear Markham, — As far as the human mind is flattered by being honoured with a command that is deemed important by my king and country, I, of course, who aspire to such approbation, must feel flattered by the confidence reposed in me ; but, my
1 By the statutes of the Order of the Bath of 1725 each knight must have two esquires, gentlemen of blood and of coat armour, experienced in matters of chivalry. They were entitled esquires- governors. Admiral Markham, as a lord of the admiralty, could not well undertake this office for Sir John Duckworth. But his ancestor Robert Markham, then aged 17, was esquire-governor to Lord Lumley in 1553, at the coronation of Queen Mary, and wore the beautiful costume prescribed by the statutes.
FROM SIR JOHN DUCKWORTH 85
friend, as I am not arrived to the pitch of Gil Bias's archbishop to believe my homilies improve as I grow older, I fear lest I should (though uninten- tionally) betray the judgment of those who have done me the honour to repose such confidence in me ; and certainly I cannot say I am one who would have volunteered such an undertaking, but whilst in it my duty and inclination will stimulate me to do my best. But as many of my brethren covet this command, and those who have a friendship for me at the admiralty will allow my mind has been long enough upon the stretch, I trust they will view me, in time of peace, solicitous to perform those duties by my family which I have unavoidably neglected. Besides, Markham, entre nous, this command with a fleet of 17 sail of the line, and seven more hourly expected, must, at the enormous expense every article of life is, be ruinous to a small fortune. As I shall rejoice at the events which promote your happiness, let me beg you to accept of my sincere congratulations on the birth of your son, and also on your possessing a seat in the senate.1 Believe me, you have my warmest wishes to enjoy health to .^ee the boy brought up, and to employ your talents for our country's weal. Whether I shall ever have the pleasure to participate of the hospitalities of your fireside at the country villa you are in pursuit of, time only can develop. You will, I am con- vinced, be sorry to see by my public letter of this date that the seeds of mutiny are not eradicated from the British fleet, and that in consequence I have had a painful task to go through, which I hope will have the desired effect. As the squadron your board has put under my command calls forth all my attention, I have as yet visited the pen but once,
1 Elected member for Portsmouth on November izth, 1801.
86 LETTERS TO ADMIRAL MARKHAM
and paid my money, 8oo/. sterling, for furniture, carriages, &c. I shall therefore thank you, when any admiral is appointed to relieve me, if you will acquaint them that, except a close carriage, harness, saddles, bridles, bed, and table linen, with glass and crockery ware (to make up for breakage), nothing will be wanting. As you will know officially all I can collect about the movements of the French at St. Domingo, I will only add my cordial good wishes for your health and happiness, begging you to believe that I am, with real regard, dear Mark- ham, &c.
Assure Troubridge of my regard. Ever yours, J. T. D.
Leviathan, Jamaica, May isth, 1802.
My dear Markham, — Your friend Colonel Leth- bridge presented me with your kind introductory letter, and though I knew him a little before, I think when you next meet you will then know that any person you are interested about must have a place near my heart. Your letter of the 28th of March covering one to Captain Otway reached me yester- day, and as the Edgar had been previously de- tached from the squadron for England, I return it through you, and as for Sir John Colpoys' friend Mr. Martin, he is unluckily returned also, otherwise either of you taking any interest about him would have ensured him my best endeavours. It affords me pleasure to find my daughter has such perfection in your eyes ; and as my beauty is on the wane, I am gratified to find you think I shall leave a sample of what I was. I am obliged by your enquiries for George ; he is General Nugent's aide- de-camp, and I believe, now moved from that sink of iniquity, the university, he will resume his former
FROM SIR JOHN DUCKWORTH 87
good character.1 Villaret's correspondence and my reply you will have officially seen, and I trust approve ; I think St. Domingo will afford some amusement for 50,000 or 60,000 of Bonaparte's Invincibles, and will not be quickly terminated. At present the weather is hotter than I can describe ; everything burnt up, and not a drop of rain since I arrived. God bless you ! I hope your sweet little boy is likely to be the image of his father, and Mrs. Markham in a state to make another, and I am, my dear Markham, &c.
Leviathan, Jamaica, October 2nd.
My dear Markham, — As there is no pleasure in exile equal to the knowing our friends are in the enjoyment of the blessings of this life, your kind letter of the 25th of July therefore proved highly grateful to my feelings, and as you have entered into the purchase of a place, and hold what I call a large farm for a gentleman in your hands, I hope from my heart your agricultural abilities may be productive of bringing profit, and health. Probably I may here- after ask you for a lesson, though I fear I should not sufficiently emerge from sea ideas to prove worthy of being your pupil ; but if not, I may make some interest with you and Mrs. Markham by being a good playfellow for your boy, who I trust will grow up to promote both your happinesses. The friendly concern you express about my son I am truly sensible of ; unluckily he was left to be his own master at a period when he was not sufficiently ballasted to keep him upright. However, with all his foibles, I have good ground to think his heart is not perverted, which encourages me in the hope that all may yet go right. When you are spoke of
1 He was killed at the battle of Albuera.
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he is certainly not unmindful of the friendship you have conferred on him, and always begs his respectful regards may occupy a part of my paper. As in my official detail of public news you have the pith of my knowledge and information, I shan't enter into repetition, as it was ever a dull day at school. But I will tell you what will make you stare, and me poor — that upon summing up the 8 months' expenses in this island, the house of Willis and Waterhouse have made clear to me I have spent 2,1547. sterling, not including the purchase of any liquors ; therefore ruin must ensue, my friend, and mum seems to be so much your text that you don't even hint when you expect we may meet in old England ; but whenever anybody is named for my successor I shall be obliged to you if you will find out whether he will take my beds, chairs, tables, horses, chaises, &c., &c., &c., at an appraisement ; if not, I should like to take time by the forelock and sell all before his arrival. As poor Mr. Bonie's state has for some time been a melancholy picture of what the finest talents may be reduced to, I don't think his death is to be lamented, and in the disposal of his property I give him credit for having died as he lived, acting wisely. As I don't know where to address my pleasant second, George Campbell, I shall cover his letter under your public situation, and beg you to forward them. It affords me real pleasure to find Lord St. Vincent's health so much mended ; if it keeps pace with my wishes it will soon be perfect, and long continue so. If you men- tion me to Mrs. Markham, you may assure her of my regard, believing me, my dear Markham, &c.
P.S. — Lethbridge dined with me yesterday, and requested me to remember him to you. Yours ever, J. T. D.
FROM SIR JOHN DUCKWORTH 89
Echo, Port Royal, July 2nd, 1803. My dear Markham, — Before I received your letter of the 25th of April, the die was, alas ! cast for war ; I therefore fear that you will be excluded even from your Sunday's walk, and find more opposition to set afloat the bile than could arise in peace ; but honours, my friend, we are aware, are not exempted from the assassin's tongue ; you must therefore shield yourself under conscious rectitude, and bid defiance to slander. This is the maxim I now
adopt, and when the heat of this d d climate
will allow me to sleep I do it very comfortably ; how much more ought you to do it, my friend, encircled with every domestic comfort, which I have been long precluded from, but this wound I trust you will never experience. My public letter of this date will tell you we have commenced seizing and detaining, and in la Mignonne I assure you we have apparently the finest corvette I ever saw, originally built to carry long 24-pounders, but on her coming out to St. Domingo the captain informs me he requested to have eighteens, ten of which are mounted, and eight she left at Aux-Cayes. I have ordered her to be surveyed and valued, when I have no doubt she will be thought worthy of purchase, and I hope we shall soon have more to offer at that market ; though the movements of the French stagger me, as they must either go to Cape Fra^ois for the purpose of eva- cuating, or to wait reinforcements to strike some great blow. But as our squadron is off there it must soon be developed, and whatever may be the intention of that diabolical nation, we will do all in our power to counteract them, for in such a game who would not endeavour to play their best ? The Cumber- land being expected every hour, I will take care to fulfil your present wishes about Mr. Wade, though in looking over your letters, and my book of those
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recommended for promotion, I don't find him men- tioned with that view. Adieu ! Accept every kind wish for a continuance of Mrs. Markham' s and your two boys' good health, believing me, &c.
Shark, Port Royal, December 21, 1803.
My dear Markham, — Environed by French prisoners, and persecuted by the insolence of two overbearing generals, Rochambeau and Brunette, who out- Herod Herod, you must allow it to plead my excuse for referring you to my public letters for the events of this last month. I have delivered McDonald his letter under your cover, and put him to act as captain of the Port Mahon. Lieutenant Croft also I have removed from the Camel to Hercules ; and when I have their lordships' permission to take the prizes into the service, of course one you are interested about cannot be forgot. Though I feel confident what must be the result of the threatened invasion, yet that cannot lull to sleep the anxiety for all that is dear to an Englishman ; therefore I am looking for the November packet with avidity. Should this country be free from alarms, and it would be consistent in war to visit my native clime, I should rejoice to be there in summer ; but if the Spaniards are lugged into the scrape, the abund- ance of Frenchmen settled on Cuba will make it a dangerous neighbour, and I must be content with remaining as long as my constitution can hold out, which has ample at present to give it a shake. I hope Mrs. Markham and your children enjoy health, and that they may long live to be blessing to you. My son is just recovered from the fever ; this, alas ! has been a trying moment. Remember me with great regard to Thomas Troubridge, and believe me, my dear Markham, &c.
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Shark, Jamaica, March 25th, 1804. My dear Markham, — I wrote you by the packet of the 1 2th instant that I had availed myself of the first vacancy, after Lieutenant Croft l returned into port from our unsuccessful attempt on Cura9oa, to place him in a situation as commander of the Vigi- lant, a charming brig, where I have little doubt you will be able to secure him. Le Duquesne sailed from hence on the 22nd, with 20 sail under convoy, and I understand they were yesterday as high as the east end, but took shelter under Rocky Point in consequence of a fresh north. I will thank you to forward the enclosed, and with every good wish for Mrs. Markham and your children, I am, my dear friend, &c.
Shark, Jamaica, June i6th, 1804.
My dear Markham, — The French commodore Barre having conducted himself with much propriety as a prisoner since his arrival from the Cape, and being mentioned as an opponent to all Rochambeau's cruel proceedings, I feel interested that he should not be confined in the same place with that general, and I shall be thankful, when an exchange takes place, if you will direct he may have the advantages of it among the first, and be shown every attention that can be consistently with his situation. You will have heard by our friend Captain McDonald the melancholy event that has befallen my valuable friend Baker's charming youth ; what will be the effect of it upon his parents God only knows ! My heart bleeds
1 William Croft, of the Crofts of Stillington, in Yorkshire, was born April and, 1782. He was a midshipman in the Centaur with Captain Markham, who continued to watch over his career and further his interests for many years afterwards. He was over- joyed at getting command of the Vigilant, and wrote a most grateful letter to Captain Markham. He was not employed after 1815, became a retired admiral, and died in 1871 at Stillington.
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for them ; and I am unpleasantly unhinged, which will plead my excuse for brevity, and with every good wish for Mrs. Markham and your dear little ones, I am, my dear Markham, &c.
Superb, near Cadiz, May ist, 1806. My dear Markham, — Having painfully felt for some years that the friendship which I had hoped would cease only with our existence had most un- accountably vanished, the renewal of it by your truly friendly letters of the 23rd of March and iQth ulto., taking a kind interest in my success1 and mis- fortune, has revived in me the expectation of a con- tinuance of it, and I can confidently assert, however the error may have arisen, the removal of it has been truly gratifying to me, and a great relief in my present misery, private and public, as I must acknow- ledge I was not prepared to meet either of them, and the accident of my beloved George's required all my powers to support with manliness, without the addition of being degraded by his Majesty's ministers, and my feelings wounded beyond descrip- tion, that I am now qualified only for retirement. As I trust it will not be long ere we meet, when I shall feel comfort in the opportunity of assuring you that my regard and friendship towards you never has, nor never will, vary, but you will always, my dear Markham, find me, &c.
P.S. — I am just anchored, and always sincerely yours, J. T. D.
Superb, May i8th, 1806.
Dear Markham, — Just as I was moving on shore released from my imprisonment, her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales did me the honour to let me
1 Duckworth's successful action off St. Domingo was fought on February 6th, 1806.
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know she was at breakfast on board the Centaur, where I went and continued till six o'clock ; therefore had not your kind letter of the I5th till I got to my cottage, which will account for my not answering it by the same post, and as I shall see you I hope on Wednesday, though I entirely lose this day by her Royal Highness having signified her intention of visiting the Superb, which prevents me from doing any of my own business here, and will plead an apology for hastily saying God bless you !
My son and daughter kindly thank you for your obliging recollection.
Stoke, June 20, 1806.
Dear Markham, — Having come post via Bath, and stopped at my house near Exeter for two days, I did not reach home till Wednesday, when of course my attention was soon called to Royal George, where, alas ! my disappointment was great in finding that out of the Britannia's ship's company only 150 men of all descriptions were turned over, and that not even a sailmaker or any of those essential petty officers from the establishment of a ship are among those. I therefore rely upon your friendship in having something good in store, and that of course you will give me the men of the Britannia, which I understand are lent to the prizes that Lord Northesk brought home, and am told they are now to the eastward. The marines also are very essential, and most particularly so in a flagship. I conse- quently am to request you will allow the small party which were disembarked from the Britannia to make a part of the Royal George's, to enable us to get on with the raw and inexperienced recruits ; and as Lord Howick said he would lay a good foundation from that ship, though I could not have all her
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crew, I trust to your kindness to take care of me, and as you are well acquainted with all that is need- ful to effect that object, I shall only say that I shall be much obliged, and you will not find me unmindful of any attention you may favour me with. It is with pleasure I inform you that my son is now so nearly recovered that I think there can be no apprehension of any latent evil from the accident. He, with Mrs. King, beg to unite in best compliments to you and Mrs. Markham, with every good wish for your dear children, and I am, dear Markham, with real regard for you and yours, &c.
Plymouth Dock, June 22nd, 1806. Dear Markham, — Having already written you of my mortification respecting the few of the Bri- tannia's people discharged into the Royal George, 1 should not again enter upon a similar subject till I had been favoured with your sentiments, had not Admiral Young informed me he was directed to give the preference to the Sampson and Lavinia, and that 90 landsmen which had been lent from the Salvador must be sent to those ships ; thus are we deprived of the little assistance we had received, and add to this the few old marines of the Britannia, in number about 40, will go to those ships, and I shall have nothing but recruits who never mounted a yard. I consequently hope from your friendship that that will not be admitted to take place. I also beg to point out to you that there are in the Alex- ander a boat's crew which I indulged Captain Impey with, and I should thank you to let it be turned over to the Royal George when that ship is cleared. The same thing applies to the seven men named in the enclosed list which were in the Brave1 with Captain Bowyer, and are now in the Donegal, if you 1 A French prize taken in the action of February 1806.
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can allow me to have them. Having only a moment to save post, you will excuse a hasty scrawl, and believe me, dear Markham, faithfully and sincerely yours, &c.
Stoke, June 25th, 1806.
Dear Markham, — From the present state in which the Royal George is armed she is not equal in number of guns to any of the 98*3, and the builder assures me that in point of strength she is equal to any ship in the navy ; and as most, or all, of our first- rates have carronades upon the poop (the utility of which I have so recently experienced), I cannot help being much mortified at the negative the admiralty have put to my request to allow that ship to be fitted for them ; but as I am not inclined to enter into reasoning with the board after such a determi- nation, as it may appear improper, I therefore should be obliged to you if you could alter this resolution. As at present, her poop will be entirely useless in point of defence, for I am sorry to say the marines recently embarked are recruits which know not the use of a musket ; therefore I am convinced you will admit of the necessity and propriety of carronades, should circumstances enable an enemy to place him- self on the quarter. I am to thank you for your letter of 22nd, but, alas! Salvador del Mundo has none of the petty officers of the description you allude to, and however Admiral Young may be in- clined to assist me, he is very delicate in disposing of a single man without its being pointed out by the board ; therefore if you can't aid me, I must submit to the same lot as a private captain, whilst, my friend, I can see junior admirals placed in first-rates fully manned, and glad should I have been to have taken Thornbrough's 1 leavings ; for well you know what 1 Admiral Sir Edward Thornbrough.
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a labour it is to organise a ship full of landsmen recruits, and that the utmost exertions cannot effect it so as to enable her to do justice to the country and an officer's character within a year; but as a word to the wise is sufficient, I will not further intrude upon your time, but beg you will believe me to be, with real regard, dear Markham, &c.
Royal George, Cawsand Bay, September i2th, 1806. Dear Markham, — Having with the indulgence of Admiral Young been at Lord Eliot's, I received your letter too late to avail myself of yesterday's post, but I should feel myself very remiss was I to omit expressing the sense I have of your attention in communicating what is probably to be my lot, and what still heightens that attention in my feelings is that I have not been recently accustomed to it. I am, dear Markham, &c.
Royal George, at Sea, January i6th, Dear Markham, — As the admiralty despatches from Lord Collingwood received previous to the departure of the squadron from Plymouth on the first of this year will have freed you from the embarrassment you allude to in your obliging letter of the 2istof November respecting his lordship's movements, it did not become my department to see the instructions of your board, which arrived by it
1 In November 1806 the quarrel of the Porte with Russia and England commenced, and Lord Collingwood sent Sir Thomas Louis, in the Canopus, and the Endymion (Captain Bladen Capel) to Constantinople to bring away British subjects. Louis returned to Tenedos, leaving the Endymion at the disposal of Mr. Arbuth- not, the British ambassador. Sir John Duckworth was given command of a squadron to attack Constantinople and bring the Turks to terms. He found Lord Collingwood off Cadiz, left him on January i2th, and this letter was written the day before he arrived at Gibraltar.
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on the 1 2th instant, but before the close of yester- day I was put in possession of his lordship's orders drawn upon them ; and upon perusal they appear to combine most momentous and arduous service, to execute which every exertion of mine will be used, and if the head is able, the heart is correct. But the magnitude of the undertaking may eventually require abilities which my vanity won't allow me to attach to myself ; yet I will endeavour to make up by honest zeal, and what can be done shall be done for the good and honour of our best of monarchs and the country. Yet to a friend I may say, did I not repose great confidence in the exalted mind of Mr. Grenville, I should fear that my subordinate situation (with want of interest) may be urged again as a pretext for my not receiving that remunera- tion which has been uniformly, since the ist of June, bestowed upon my brethren, frequently for far inferior services ; but, alas ! this is a sore subject which has produced many a restless night, though I endeavour to draw consolation in having deserved better from those in power.
On the subject of the Orion's being sent home, I did not know the intention till within four hours of her leaving the squadron, and the only reason I have ever heard assigned, and that from common report, was that her stern and stern-post were com- pletely rotten, besides being so weakened by the action as to render her unsafe at sea.
As I never can feel higher gratification than in economising for the good of our to be admired country, I shall have pleasure to contribute my mite in the investigation you desire as to the means of procuring and the prices of naval stores in the Medi- terranean, and whether they are to be got at all, the result of which you shall know. The Ajax having just completed her fitting at Gibraltar, and the
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Windsor Castle and Repulse having preceded me for the same purpose, and to complete provisions, I expect to find them nearly ready on my arrival there to-morrow, and as there is no water in the tanks I shall not be long in doing all I have to do, when I am to proceed to Palermo and take Sir Sidney Smith — I hope without delay, as I shall despatch the Ajax to prepare him for my arrival. I am then to water at Malta, having 180 tun now empty, and I shall after push on with ardour for the goal. Lord Collingwood having informed me the Thunder bomb is in too feeble a state to throw shells, I much wish the bomb you mentioned as coming may arrive to-morrow, as I think she may be very es- sential for our operations. Many thanks for your intentions to communicate to Duckworth and his Penelope at Guernsey the opportunity that was likely to offer for writing. They both speak of the kindness, and, as young folks ought to be, appear to be among the happiest of the happy. I am, dear Markham, &c.
Royal George, off Candia, April 4th, iSoy.1 Dear Markham, — In consequence of your sug- gestion that it might probably tend to economise for the public if a depot of naval stores could be pro- vided within the Mediterranean, I have not failed to give it my consideration, and to make every possible enquiry on the subject. But the fact is the orders you placed me under, though I had arrived at Con- stantinople, as therein inferred, without molestation, were the preparation for shutting the door of such
1 Duckworth entered the Dardanelles with his squadron on February lyth, returning after suffering heavy loss from the forts in the Dardanelles on March 3rd. Meanwhile troops in thirty-three transports, under General Fraser, had been sent from Messina and took Alexandria on February 2ist. Duckworth, with part of his squadron, arrived there on the 22nd of March.
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sources, as the Black Sea is the chief situation from which they can be drawn to any extent for men-of- war. Few, I understand, might have been got in the Adriatic and Gulf of Venice, but the Russians have an armament in those neighbourhoods which swal- lows up all that, and they are repeatedly making applications for stores, naval and military, from our arsenals at Malta ; but not having received any directions from the commander-in-chief on that head, I shall have no hesitation in courteously negativing such applications till they arrive ; for I conceive in your official situation you have had proofs of the rapacity of the Russians when an opening of that nature is given, and our supplies are so scanty at Malta, that I hear much of distress for a variety of articles among ourselves ; but as I trust you have not forgot the good of the king's service is my polar star, I endeavour to soften real evils, and to draw forth all the resources we have amongst us, which, since our two actions in forcing the Dardanelles, have been fully employed. And truly may I assert never have my feelings had such trials as under my recent instructions, evidently drawn out upon information in which a war between Russia and the Porte, brought on impolitically — I might almost say madly — by the former, and the necessity of our minister's removal from Constantinople, could not have been in contemplation ; for the most fortu- nate event that could have arisen under such circum- stances, with a whole empire prepared, would have been to have negotiated the dismissal of that type of his infernal master, Sebastiani ; but in this the elements combined against me. I therefore, though chagrined at not commanding success, rejoice at my good fortune in having a squadron still so effective, as much I think will be required of it this summer ; however, having called at Alexandria, where our
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troops had, in consequence of my letter to General Fox, preceded me five days, and got possession, I thought it right to leave Sir Thomas Louis l with half my force to see the army completely established, and to assist with the boats of the ships to take Rosetta, which the general repre- sented to me as indispensably necessary to obtain supplies. As I think it likely Sebastiani may em- ploy his ingenuity in fabricating some story to pass on to India upon the unfortunate burning of the Ajax,2 as also upon Bonaparte's successes, which he made them believe in Constantinople had hap- pened in Poland, I have desired Sir Sidney Smith to write to his acquaintance, Mr. Barker, consul- general, and agent for the India Company, at Aleppo ; and to send him a bulletin of the glorious battle of the 26th of December near Pultusk,3 also of our being at Alexandria, &c., &c., and to request he will forward the news to India. I also conclude from my conversation with Major-General Mackenzie Fraser4 that he will have caused Major Missett, our India agent, to convey the same news from Alex- andria. Now my greatest solicitude is for Sicily, where I am hastening under a pressure of canvas with Royal George, Pompee and Repulse, to counter- act the intrigue of the French party at that vicious court, and I trust all will go right. But when I
1 Sir T. Louis died on board the Canopus on May 17, 1807.
2 A fire broke out in her cockpit on February 14, 1807, off Cape Janissary, the flames spread, she drifted on shore on Tene- dos and blew up. Of 633 souls on board only 381 saved them- selves by swimming. The captain, Blackwood, was saved.
3 In this battle Napoleon defeated the Russians and forced them to retreat behind the Pregel. A different version seems to have reached Sir John Duckworth.
4 General Fraser was killed soon afterwards in an attack on Rosetta, which was repulsed. The troops then evacuated Egypt, in September 1807.
FROM SIR JOHN DUCKWORTH 101
view what I have had to do, and what the present state of affairs in the Archipelago, Adriatic, &c., &c., require, it is not in nature for any officer acting a secondary part to proceed with the necessary energy, and it can only be done by the man in chief command, who has the power to reward and punish, and on whom the merit or demerit of the service must wholly fall.
If I can execute anything for you in this country you will signify it, and with best wishes for Mrs. Markham and your family, believe me to be, dear Markham, &c.
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FROM LORD KEITH
At anchor off Alexandria, June i3th, 1801.
My dear Markham, — I give you many thanks for your letter by the Spider, and am very happy such a man is where you are ; God grant you health to hold it, and do the duties required. I rejoice your excellent father is so well. I must ever regard, and deeply so, all the family ; pray remember me to them. This expedition is a mill- stone about my neck ; it is so spun out, and indeed I see no end to it. This fleet is in a wretched way for ships and men — all short, and scarcely half British. I am, with great truth,
Dear Markham, yours,
KEITH.
I have fallen under the displeasure of your friend Captain Martin, who, I am told, thinks I am concerned in peculation ; but as it is not so, I endeavour to console myself.
Sheerness, May 24th, 1803.
Dear Markham, — Lord St. Vincent with me seemed to think a little three-decker like the Bar- fleur a more handy ship, and drew less water than the Kent or many of the 74-gun ships, but any ship which is most convenient to your board will answer me. The Monarch's apartments are very small indeed, which is a consideration. I have been
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examining men and charts, and think when the outfit is a little over I must go to Westgate Bay, where I shall be in the way of receiving your orders near the enemies' coast and in the mouth of the Thames. It appears the best situation, being near the Downs, until the Dutch get a fleet ready ; then perhaps Yarmouth may become more essential ; in the meantime from the Swale to Beachy seems highly important. I am very sincerely, &c.
Sheerness, June 6th, 1803.
Dear Markham, — I am now ready with the plan for fixing the block ships, gun-brigs, &c., and when you send me the signals established last war between the ships and signal posts, I will add any I think requisite and send up. There are no cutter's sig- nals here, and you know nothing under the rank of commander gets signal books, so pray make them send some. I am much, &c.
There was not water to let the Utrecht out of dock to-day. Cerberus has got the men and orders ; 1'Egyptienne is quite ready for orders. Lapwing in two days will be off.
22nd June.
Dear Markham, — I send this by Lieutenant Murray, who inclines to get into a frigate to the West Indies or Mediterranean ; perhaps you can recommend him to the commander-in-chief or put him into the ship of him who may go to the East or West Indies to command-in-chief ; but if nothing can be done I will take him with pleasure, and you may give him a commission ; the family are much to be lamented. . I thank you for the pursers ; I had written to Durham about them, and am, &c.
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26th June.
I am very glad young Murray seems in a way to get on ; I respect the family much and I fear they are ill-off. I hope Lake will soon be promoted, the prince is very desirous he should. His father went to the prince at the time the archbishop did, and is now the oldest servant he has. I have sent him to the Blanche. Orders are out to waylay the convoy, which I hope will be productive.
Dear Markham, — I am much obliged by the appointment of Mr. Fernandes to the Speedwell, which is not a name well adapted to this place, where we seem to do but little in the repair way. I hardly know what to think of this 70 sail off Shetland, unless they are fishers. I have letters from Thornbrough ; he describes things just as they were in the ports. I have a terrible account of the Monarch — sails dreadfully, and leaky as a sieve. The Ruby is out, and shall go to Thornbrough to let in some of the unpaid.
6th July.
In answer to the express the orders are given. Sir Neil may not be correct, but we must give him credit. I have presumed to add the Seine to the number because I do not know the force of the enemy, real or supposed, and I shall put something in her place until she can return. The Melpomene is in sight, Penelope in Yarmouth Roads. Pray, my dear friend, do something about the cutters ; they give much trouble about men, and as we look after them they do not choose to come here to be examined.
Sheerness, July 7th, 1803.
Dear Markham, — Defence is full manned and well, all but marines ; of such we have none — that
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is, she has 50. Monarch is equally ready and has 30 marines ; wants one day's job to the rudder. Le Seine is ready, they only wait being paid. The clerks are at Chatham paying the yard. The Dutch flag of truce says De Winter was expected in Holland by way of Paris. L'Africaine has not returned ; Leda is still with Thornbrough ; Amelia went to Yarmouth for her men, sent in the Dutch hoys, so I have in fact nothing off Helvoet, and have sent the Ambuscade there, and the Gelijk- heid from the Downs. It is our business to be in a state of preparation, but I see no possibility of the French being able to remove a number of men capable of alarming this country for some time to come. Nothing you write me shall at any time transpire.
It is only two days since a fleet started for the Baltic, and here is another call upon me, near thirty sail, and nothing large enough here but the Seine or Defence. Convoys should be ordered to collect here or at Yarmouth, and when all gathered then sail.
27th July, 1803.
Dear Markham, — I am again applied to by Sir D. Dundas and Sir James Craig about the additional signals of communication. The latter writes me from the Horse Guards, and says they have not yet been sent to the Duke of York or I should have heard of them here. He proposes I should meet him at Chelmsford or Colchester on Thursday. Thornbrough has been long out and has nothing on board. I think he may come to Yarmouth in a frigate and leave the command to Hope ; Gardner would not do well. A resident officer at Yarmouth is much wanted. I have received, by express, orders to block the Weser. Only two printed copies ; pray
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tell the clerks on such occasions to send more printed copies, it takes an infernal time to make out so many manuscripts. No lieutenant for the Flirt cutter.
I think the substance of Lieutenant Sibrell's information of the way in which the French treat the Dutch is worth making public.
6th August, 1803.
Dear Markham, — I have a letter from Fleeming saying he has an acting purser, Mr. Jennings, who he is very desirous of serving, and wishes him appointed to the ship if the present purser is re- moved. If it can be done, he and I will be obliged to you.
What a pity Bonaparte was not taken in the brig !
gth August, 1803.
Dear Markham, — It seems odd that Craig should write that the coast was ill defended. I gave him a list of the vessels and stations, with which he appeared perfectly satisfied, and what passed respecting gun-boats is before the board on my report on returning from the visitation of the coast. A greater number of row-barges might be of use in calms, but how are they to be protected and manned ? I do not know how the purser of 1'Egyptienne came absent, but I imagine Jennings to be his clerk who is doing the duty, but this is surmise only.
I do not believe any of them have got to wind- ward of me in number or quality. I believe some are better off than they pretended to be at starting.
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I am almost certain Captain Mackenzie is right and Cheyne wrong, because his three last returns corre- spond. I cannot get weekly returns from Sir Sidney nor official answers to any letters. I have written very sharply on the subject. I have written Lord St. Vincent in behalf of that imprudent man New- house, and consider Captain Seater not a whit better for permitting his absence.
I think the York very slack and the Camel too.
1 2th August.
Dear Markham, — The exact orders I have received to-day respecting the destruction of the Frenchmen had been given, but not as a published order, but which I think highly proper, and will of course circulate instantly. I write you respecting barges in Essex, which has the means of defence far beyond any other part of the kingdom within itself, which is not the case on the Kentish coast. Thus I think the army will be satisfied. I am not of opinion that [it] is requisite to defend more than the mouths of the rivers, but if the barges belonging to the rivers are ready to