lingwood's reflections on the critical position of the British fleet,

under Sir John Jervis - Extraordinary conduct of Rear-Admiral

Mann

224

CHAPTER X.

-

Kind disposition of Earl St Vincent - Destitution of the fleet Letter

to Vice-Admiral Vandeput Order to Captain Tyler - Desertion

to America Letter to Consul Matra - To Sir Gilbert Elliot - To

Nelson-To Lieutenant-General de Burgh-To Sir William Ha-

milton To Mr. Drake To Sir Gilbert Elliot To Captain

Stewart-To Mr. Master-To the Honourable Robert Walpole-

To the same- To the same - To the same -To General O'Hara

To the Honourable Robert Walpole-To the same - To the same

— To Mr. Lemprière — To Lord Garlies

-

-

CHAPTER XI.

-

-

268

Importance of Minorca to England at this crisis-Disasters of the Bri

tish Fleet on its way from thence to Gibraltar-The Fleet loses four

sail of the line-Loss of the Courageux, owing to the custom of keep-

ing Courts-Martial sitting in all weathers-The capture of the Neme-

sis and Sardine Violation of Neutrality-Sir John Jervis joined in the

Tagus by Sir William Parker with six sail of the line-Sails in search

of the Spanish Fleet-St. George gets on shore, and is disabled—

-Nelson joins the Admiral-Hears of the Spanish Fleet-Falls in

with them-Brings them to Action-Battle of Cape St. Vincent-

Particulars-List of the contending Fleets-Observations-Letters

to Governor Connell-To General O'Hara-Observations on Col-

lingwood's Two Medals-To General De Burgh-To Captain Fre-

mantle-To the Speaker of the House of Commons-To the Lord

Chancellor-To the Lord Mayor of London-To Captain Hope-To

Don Roderigo de Sousa-Order to Sir Thomas Thompson-To the

Hon. Robert Walpole

299

-

CHAPTER XII.

Anecdotes of Lord St. Vincent-His attention to the Health of his

People Introduction of the Sick Bay, or apartment peculiarly

adapted for the Sick on board Ship-His encouragement of zeal —

His Answer to Keats-Comparison between St. Vincent and Ver-

non-Anecdote of the latter being dismissed from the Service-Lord

St. Vincent's extensive command-His Hospitality and Munificence

to Foreigners-His polished manners--

-His dislike of ceremony-

Accused of want of sincerity-The charge common to all men in high

station-His attention to trifles- His humanity to Prisoners

-

CHAPTER XIII.

338

The mutiny at Cadiz Mr. Pitt's motion in Parliament: the question

not clearly understood, nor fairly stated— Mr. Giffard's error on the

subject of biscuit - The affair of the Kingsfisher in the Tagus-

Conduct of John Maitland-Remarks - The first symptoms of mu-

tiny in the fleet before Cadiz - Conduct of Captain Dacres, of the

Barfleur of Lord St. Vincent -- Affair of the St. George, Peard,

and Hatley - Fidelity of the marines - Court-martial-Speech of

Lord St. Vincent to the mutineers His promptitude in carrying

the sentence into effect - Divine service, execution, and action with

the enemy
- Order to Sir William Parker - Letter to Lady Spencer

Origin of the dispute with Sir John Orde― Capture of the Prince

George's launch Skirmish with the Spanish gun-boats - Unfor-

tunate results-General order - Ill-advised proceeding of Sir John

Orde

.

-

-

355

CHAPTER XIV.

-

Mutiny on board the Princess Royal — Character, trial, and execution

of the mutineers-Reflections - Anecdotes with reference to the

above-The signal for all chaplains - The Admiral's manner of

passing a sleepless night— His visit to the quarter-deck Order to

block up the entering port- - Consequences-Anecdote of Tucker

of Darby — of Coffin of Downman Lord St. Vincent fond of

-

--

--

---

-

taking charge of the watch-The mutiny on board the Romulus

-The manner of treating the crew Reply to the captain of a

frigate Letter to the Board of Ordnance on saluting and exer-

cise- Letter to Sir J. Brenton on boarding vessels on neutral

convoys

376

CHAPTER XV.

Affair of Sir John Orde, with letters to Lord Spencer and Sir Evan

Nepean, having reference to that subject.

CHAPTER XVI.

393

Temporary disagreement between Earl St Vincent and Captain Col-

lingwood-Collingwood's observations on Nelson's appointment to

the Nile - His unwilling obedience - His remarks on the state of

Ireland, and the Irish mutineer - Lord St. Vincent's letter to Lady

-

Spencer-Commented on by the Editor of Collingwood's Memoirs -

Reply to those remarks― Justification of Lord St. Vincent's conduct

- Necessity shown of leaving the choice of officers in the hands of

the executive power-Officers may claim their rank by seniority,

but cannot claim employment - The Articles of War, particularly

the 19th and 22d, apply to all classes in the service-Comparison

between the Lord High Admiral and Earl St. Vincent- None but

the executive power should call a commander-in-chief to account-

Collingwood's letter to J. E. Blackett- Unfair to the character and

memory of Earl St. Vincent -"Pigsties and blankets"-The muti-

neer of the Romulus sent to Collingwood - Improper threat of pu-

nishment - Necessity of showing that such was not the practice of

our service-Danger of their being believed - Teong's account of

punishments in the reign of Queen Elizabeth-Collingwood's pu-

nishments mild, even to a fault - -Reasons for Lord St. Vincent's

being popular with the seamen Anecdotes of the olden times of

the navy

-

-

CHAPTER XVII.

423

Anxieties of Earl St. Vincent after the battle of the 14th February-

His plans for keeping the sailors employed, and diverting their minds-

Bombardment of Cadiz-Eagerness for blood-Nelson's boat-fight off

Cadiz He is sent to Teneriffe -Is unsuccessful, and loses his arm-

Rejoins Lord St. Vincent, and returns to England-Fearful crisis for

Great Britain-Vast preparations of the enemy in Brest, Cadiz, Car-

thagena, and Toulon - Earl St. Vincent gains intelligence of their

movements-Appointment of Nelson to the command of the squadron

-Jealousy of the other officers-Management of Lord St. Vincent in

sending away the detachment-Value of insular governments in both

hemispheres― Lord St. Vincent retires to Gibraltar - His vigilance

-Reasons for keeping his lordship on the station not well founded-

Collingwood a victim to the same-Lord St. Vincent's idea of coming

at an able commander-in-chief - British admirals often too old to go

to sea-Sir Sydney Smith's appointment to the Eastern part of the

Mediterranean occasions much jealousy against him-Severe obser-

vations made on him by Earl St. Vincent, answered - Letter from

Earl St. Vincent to Earl Spencer on the appointment of Sir Sydney

Smith-Letter to Mr. Nepean - To the same - Prejudices against

Sir Sydney Smith-Justification of the government in choosing him

- His brilliant services at Acre

449

CHAPTER XVIII.

-

Earl St. Vincent, on the Rock of Gibraltar, endeavours to get the

better of the wine-house nuisance Fails, as did his Royal Highness

the Duke of Kent at a subsequent period - Remarks on - Spanish

gun-boats from Algeziras — Attacking our trade Anecdote of a

patron-Letter from Earl St. Vincent to Earl Spencer-To the

same, on the abuses on the Rock and in the dock-yard - Corrected

by Commissioner Inglefield—To the same, on the injustice done to

Captain Newhouse - To Mr. Nepean, on the scarcity of stores in

the dock-yard-To Earl Spencer, in favour of Mr. Morrison-To

the same, on the improvements on the Rock, with respect to store-

houses and tanks, &c. Corfu surrendered to the Turks and Rus-

sians-To Earl Spencer, on the demands of the Sicilian court for

assistance, and the impossibility of granting more than had been

afforded On the discontent of Nelson and Trowbridge-Obser-

vations on that subject Letter from Lord St. Vincent to Mr.

Nepean, on Mr. Baynes's claims-To Earl Spencer, on the dock-

yard at Mahon - Observations on the importance of that island

-Letter to Earl Spencer, on the defective state of the ships on

the Mediterranean station-To Mr. Nepean, on the Portuguese

squadron being withdrawn from the blockade of Malta To

Admiral Gambier, on the promotion of Captain Newhouse — To Earl

Spencer, on the affairs of Sicily-On Duckworth's services and

claims for a baronetcy To the same, on the request of the Spanish

government for a British frigate to bring home their treasures - To

Mr. Nepean, on the trial of mutineers - To Earl Spencer, on the

flag promotion

-

-

-

-

467

DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER.

Portrait of Earl St. Vincent

Frontispiece, Vol. I.

Plymouth Breakwater

Frontispiece, Vol. II,

LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE

OF THE

EARL ST. VINCENT.

CHAPTER I.

Preliminary Observations

Origin of these Memoirs

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

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

VOL. I.

B