Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord de Saumarez Volume I Part 19

The loss sustained has been considerable in some of the s.h.i.+ps. I have to regret the loss of poor Miells, and of Mr. Baird, my clerk, and of several good men. I received a contusion in the side, which, though at first painful, is doing as well as possible, and does not even prevent my going on with the usual duty of the s.h.i.+p. Poor Captain Westcott is killed, and several other officers.

The enemy have now obtained the just chastis.e.m.e.nt of their past crimes, and Sir Horatio Nelson has the happiness of being the fortunate instrument of inflicting their just punishment; in which happiness all his squadron partakes. Fourteen of the Frenchmen, who had the good fortune to swim on board the Orion from the L'Orient after she was on fire, report that their army were all landed three weeks since, and are at present in possession of Grand Cairo; and that they have frequent severe skirmishes with the Turks.

Our worthy friend Mr. Le Cras will lament with me the loss of Mr. Miells. A better young man I think never existed. He lived until this evening, and was the whole time perfectly resigned to his fate, saying, "he died in a good cause." Mr. Richardson is also badly wounded, and my servant John Lewis, who you recollect waited on us at Portsmouth; but I hope they will both recover.

I should observe that the Culloden, not having been able to get to us before night, unfortunately ran aground; by which accident we were deprived of the a.s.sistance of so fine a s.h.i.+p, and of the exertions of Captain Troubridge.

CHAPTER XI.

1798.

Fleet repair damages.--Sir James receives orders to take a detachment of six s.h.i.+ps of the line, and five prizes, under his command.--Sails for Gibraltar.--Journal of his tedious voyage.--Arrives off Candia.--Decides to pa.s.s through a perilous pa.s.sage, and escapes the dangers.--Falls in with the Marquis of Nisa, and summons the French garrison at Malta.--Puts into Port Auguste, in Sicily.--Sails from thence.--Tedious pa.s.sage.--Letters from Earl St. Vincent and Nelson.--Arrives at Gibraltar.--Reception there from the Admiral, Governor, &c.--Sails thence.--Arrives at Lisbon.--Sails thence.--Arrives at Spithead.--Paid off at Plymouth.--Remarks on his treatment, and explanation of it.

The fleet was employed in repairing the damages it had received, and in fitting the prizes that were deemed worthy of being sent to England. This occupied the whole week after the battle. On the 5th, the Leander, having on board Captain Berry with the Rear-admiral's despatches, sailed for England; and, on the 12th, the Emerald, Alcmene, and Bonne Citoyenne arrived. On the same day Sir James received the following order:

(1st Order.) By Sir Horatio Nelson, K.B. &c. &c. &c.

You are hereby required and directed to take the s.h.i.+ps named on the margin[16] under your command, their captains having orders for that purpose; and to proceed with them with all possible despatch down the Mediterranean. On your arrival near Europa Point, you will send a boat on sh.o.r.e to the Commissioners'

office to receive any orders that may be lodged there for your further proceedings. In case you find no orders at Gibraltar, and learn that the commander-in-chief is off Cadiz, or at Lisbon, you will join him at either place with all possible expedition.

To Sir James Saumarez, &c. &c. &c.

[16] The captains of his Majesty's s.h.i.+ps to take charge of the prizes as under:

Orion to take charge of Le Souverain Peuple.

Bellerophon do.} Majestic do.} Le Spartiate.

Minotaur do. Aquilon.

Defence do. Franklin.

Audacious do. Conquerant.

Theseus do. Tonnant.

To the captains of above-mentioned s.h.i.+ps. H.N.

(2nd Order.) By Sir Horatio Nelson, K.B. &c. &c. &c.

You are hereby required and directed to take charge of the prize s.h.i.+ps; putting a sufficient number of men on board each to navigate the said prize, with six weeks' provisions. You are never to separate from her without orders in writing from the officer under whose command you are for the time being; and you are hereby required and directed to put yourself and the prize under the command of Captain Sir James Saumarez; and follow all such orders and instructions as you may receive from him from time to time for his Majesty' service.

Given on board H.M.S. Vanguard, Mouth of the Nile, 12th August 1798.

By command of the Rear-admiral.

J. CAMPBELL.

Thus were Sir James's wishes and antic.i.p.ations, mentioned in his journal of the 10th June, completely realized. After a distinguished share in effecting the destruction of the enemy's fleet, he is returning home triumphant with the hard-earned fruits of his labours; which were, however, not yet at an end, as will be seen by the following journal of his tedious and hazardous voyage:

"Orion, at sea, 18th August 1798.

"After having so well completed the journal I sent by Captain Berry, you will not doubt the great pleasure I must feel in beginning the present, particularly when situation and many other circ.u.mstances combine to render it so interesting. But I have more to relate than you are aware of; and in which I have been most particularly favoured, as you will see, when it comes in its proper place to be mentioned.

"First, I sailed from Bequir Road last Tuesday morning, with seven sail of the line and six of our prizes; leaving the Admiral with the Culloden, Alexander, Zealous, Goliath, and Swiftsure, and the three remaining French s.h.i.+ps, which it was intended to destroy after taking out their stores and landing the prisoners. The Alcmene, Emerald, and Bonne Citoyenne had at last joined us. As, however, they had not been with the fleet, but had remained all the time in search of us, we were disappointed of our letters, and _they_ at finding themselves 'the day after the fair.'

"In falling light winds, we came again to an anchor, Tuesday noon, about five miles from the squadron; which gave the s.h.i.+ps an opportunity to get completed for sea, and afforded a night's repose to the men. At eleven I was waked from a sound sleep with the account that a brig which joined the Admiral in the afternoon was from Tunis, and had on board a hundred men belonging to L'Aigle, which had been lost some time before on her way to join the squadron; and it was added, 'there is a large packet of letters for the different s.h.i.+ps.' I soon had them sorted, and out of about twenty for myself I selected four from you, which were read with an avidity you will better conceive than I can describe; before I had finished a page of one I flew to another, and so for near an hour, till at last I found their date, and endeavoured to read them regularly; but it was not till daylight that I could bring myself to a sufficient degree of composure. Never were letters more welcome--never did any yield greater joy and comfort; they have since formed my chief happiness, and will continue so to do until the end of our voyage. Had we unfortunately sailed one day sooner, I should have lost these precious letters: judge then how fortunate I think myself, particularly so at their having been preserved from the wreck of the poor L'Aigle; as I find that several packages, &c. for this squadron, with the good things you sent me, shared the fate of the poor s.h.i.+p; Captain Hay having written to me from Gibraltar that they were put on board her.

"Sir Horatio Nelson wrote to me that he had not heard from his family; but, as Captain Nisbet came in the brig, he will give him accounts from Lady Nelson.

"I now come to the sequel of our voyage, having accounted for my being so _unseasonably_ disturbed from a sound sleep."

Sir James now received the following letters.

August 15th, 1798.

MY DEAR SIR JAMES,

I am not very anxious to receive any persons of the description you mention; they will all eat our meat, and drink. As they choose to serve the French, there let them remain. I have not a line from home, all lost in L'Aigle. You will get off in good time, I dare say. I am sure you will not lose a moment off Cape Bronte; the shoal extends six miles. If you favour me with a line, direct it for Naples, where I am going to join the Portuguese squadron. Zealous, Swiftsure, and the two frigates, I have kept here as long as possible. Nisbet thanks you for your inquiries. I send you a copy of my letter intended to be sent to Mr. Nepean; keep it quiet till you get off. Wis.h.i.+ng you health, and good pa.s.sage,

Believe me ever, Your obliged, HORATIO NELSON.

To Sir James Saumarez.

I hope Lady S. and all the little ones are well.

(Copy.)

Secret, for Sir James.

SIR,

Six of the prizes sailed yesterday with Sir James Saumarez; three others, viz. Guerrier, Heureux, and Mercure are in the act of repairing. In this state I received last evening Earl St.

Vincent's most secret orders, and most secret and confidential letters. Thus situated, it became an important part of my duty to do justice between my King and country, and the brave officers and men who captured those s.h.i.+ps at the Battle of the Nile. It would have taken one month at least to fit those s.h.i.+ps for a pa.s.sage to Gibraltar, and not at a great expense to government, but with the loss to the service of at least two sail of the line. I therefore feel confident that the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty will, under the present circ.u.mstances, direct that a fair value shall be paid for those s.h.i.+ps. I have farther thought it my duty to tell the squadron the necessity I am under, for the benefit of the King's service, to order their property to be destroyed; but that I had no doubt but that government would make a liberal allowance. I have therefore directed such stores as could, without taking too much time, be saved from them, and ordered the hulls to be burned.

I have the honour to be, &c.

HORATIO NELSON.

To Evan Nepean, Esq.

The journal of Sir James is thus resumed:

"We again weighed anchor, Wednesday noon; and although with a contrary wind, and s.h.i.+ps in a crippled state, we had the good fortune to clear the land in the night without accident, and next day lost sight of our s.h.i.+ps in the Nile. Since that period we have not made any great progress; but we have no reason to complain, and I trust a favourable wind will in due time waft us down the Mediterranean.

"_A present, un pet.i.t mot sur ma sante._ In the first place, too great exertion for two or three days after being under sail, certainly r.e.t.a.r.ded my perfect recovery, and, added to the excessive heat of the weather, threw me into a sort of languor that required the three last days' rest and composure to shake off. I am now, thank G.o.d! as well as ever; and when I consider that every day shortens my distance from you, my happiness is daily increasing. I have much more to say, _mais en voila a.s.sez pour le present_; and as there is abundance of time before this can be despatched, _il faut le remettre pour un autre jour: ainsi adieu_!

"Sunday, August 19th.--I was indeed surprised to find Lyme the place fixed for your residence; and, on reflection, approve of it highly, as I believe it is a very healthy place; but more particularly as I hope to send you a line in going up Channel, and possibly take you to Spithead. Judge, therefore, the _selfish_ motives by which I am actuated, and scold me if you can.

"I was happy our dear boy had reached home before the close of your last letter, and am charmed with your account of him. Having understood that there is a good school in Dorsets.h.i.+re,--I think at Sherborne,--I shall not be surprised if you have placed him there for the summer, and shall not think it a bad plan to have him nearer to you. I am glad to find my letters from Gibraltar reached you, and hope that one or two stragglers will also have come to hand before those from the Nile arrive. These last will induce you to believe our cruise less unpleasant than you seemed to apprehend,--more particularly when you find it the means of bringing the Orion to England.