Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord de Saumarez Volume I Part 22

"We have a continuance of fine wind, which, I trust, will carry us to Gibraltar in two days. I have been treated with the perusal of several French papers, which I intercepted on board a Danish vessel from Ma.r.s.eilles, bound to Algiers. They are dated so late as the 27th Fructidor, which answers to the 13th September; and I am happy to see, by the English news they contain, that things were going on favourably. I hope soon to have it under your hand more particularly: in the mean time it is very satisfactory to receive these news, which are near three months of later date from England than we before possessed; your dear letter of the 10th June being the latest I have seen.

"Wednesday, 10th.--I fell in with L'Espoir this morning. She left Gibraltar ten days ago. She has surprised me with the account that the Leander had not at that time reached Earl St. Vincent; and that the news of our victory was only received two days before by the Mutine, which had arrived from Naples. This account has created amongst us great uneasiness for the fate of the Leander. I have despatched L'Espoir with a letter to Earl St. Vincent, apprising him of the approach of the prizes, with the s.h.i.+ps under my command; and I hope to receive his lords.h.i.+p's orders for our proceedings when we appear off Gibraltar.

"Sat.u.r.day, 13th.--The wind has again set against us the last two days, and continues to exercise our patience. What adds to my uneasiness is, the small quant.i.ty of provisions in the squadron. We have been at short allowance these six weeks; and should it unfortunately continue to the westward a few days longer, we shall be very badly off. I now very reluctantly give up all hope of being in England during this month.

"Sunday, 14th.--The wind has again sprung up to the eastward, and I hope will this time carry us to Gibraltar.

"Monday, 15th.--The wind still continues favourable, and to-morrow I hope to anchor in Gibraltar Bay; and, as an opportunity may offer to send you this tedious journal, I hold it in readiness accordingly. It will give you some faint idea of the trial our patience has been put to; and although our progress has not been attended with the same anxiety as I described in my former journal, when we were in pursuit of the enemy, still I have not been exempt from great uneasiness on various accounts, particularly from the crippled state of most of the s.h.i.+ps, in a navigation some part of which is very hazardous, and where contrary winds so invariably prevail. I now hope in a short time to be released from so heavy a charge, and that I shall be permitted to proceed, as I have been given to expect, _immediately for England_.

"Tuesday, 16th.--We have gained sight of Gibraltar this morning; but westerly winds and the current prevent our approach to it. I hope, however, to have communication with the Rock to-morrow.

"Thursday, 18th.--I received late last evening a very flattering letter from Earl St. Vincent, in answer to mine of the 10th, which, he says, diffused universal joy to the garrison, and the little squadron with him: and his lords.h.i.+p has rejoiced my heart by informing me that so soon as the wounded and sick are landed from the squadron, and the wants of the s.h.i.+ps are supplied, I shall proceed to Lisbon with them.

He adds that, in his judgment, our action stands foremost in the page of naval history, having, beyond all dispute, achieved more than was ever done before, &c.

"We are still struggling against adverse winds, not without hope of gaining the anchorage to-morrow. I most sincerely wish it, on every account; and, although my next rendezvous is not what I exactly expected, it always brings me nearer England.

"Great is our uneasiness for the fate of the Leander. In the letter above alluded to, Lord St. Vincent thinks it probable she may have been dismasted, and have put into one of the islands of the Archipelago. I own my fears for her are great." The following is Lord St. Vincent's letter, with Sir James's answer.

Gibraltar, 16th October 1798.

SIR,

Your letter of the 10th instant, received yesterday, has diffused universal joy through the garrison and little squadron now here. I highly applaud and admire the measures taken by you and Rear-admiral the Marquis de Niza to induce the French to surrender their stronghold in Malta; and the supply of arms and ammunition you furnished the islanders with was very judicious.

Two very respectable Moorish merchants, natives of the eastern coast of Barbary, who arrived at Gibraltar from Genoa yesterday, report that advices had been received at the latter place before they left it, that the Maltese had succeeded, and put the French garrison to the sword. I have been so long accustomed to the fallacy of _pratique_ reports, that I do not give entire credit to this.

Of the Leander we know nothing; and I am rather inclined to believe that the story Sir Horatio Nelson learned from a Candia boat, is true; and that she has either been dismasted in the action, or so crippled as to be obliged to take refuge in one of the islands of the Archipelago. I never despair, and I have great confidence that she will yet turn up.

The account you give from Captain Retallick, of the near approach to Naples of the Colossus and her precious charge,--for the Alliance is full of naval stores, with all the top-masts and top-sail yards we had, and the four victuallers loaded with new provisions of every species except bread,--is a communication of the utmost consequence.

It is my anxious wish that the six prize s.h.i.+ps of war should be safe moored in the Tagus as soon as possible; and my intention that the Orion, Defence, and Theseus shall accompany them: the Bellerophon and Majestic to enter Gibraltar Mole in order to be remasted, for all the lower masts are there; and their men, after a.s.sisting in the navigation of the prizes to Lisbon, may return hither in the Santa Dorothea.

I am fitting out an expedition of great importance,--I believe, _entre nous_, against Monte Video, or Lima,--which swallows up all the transports and frigates I have, or I would send you some salt provisions and wine. Should the Levanters fail you, by working close to the Barbary sh.o.r.e you will soon reach Tetuan Bay, and find no difficulty in working round Europa with a flood-tide.

I request you will convey to your brave companions in arms, that, in my judgment, they stand foremost in the page of naval history; having, beyond all dispute, achieved more than was ever done before, and, under the critical circ.u.mstances of the times, have certainly rendered the greatest benefit to the human race at large, and to their King and country in particular, that ever was performed.

I have the honour to be, with great esteem and regard, Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant, ST. VINCENT.

To Sir James Saumarez.

P.S. Doctor Harness has prepared the naval hospital for the reception of the wounded and sick of your squadron in the best manner our means will admit; the wards have been whitewashed, and every exertion made to purify them. The moment the invalids are landed, and the wants of the s.h.i.+ps that go to Lisbon supplied, you shall proceed thither with them.

ST. VINCENT.

Orion, off Gibraltar, 18th Oct. 1798.

MY LORD,

I received late last evening the honour of your letter by L'Espoir, and shall not fail to communicate to the squadron the very handsome terms in which your lords.h.i.+p is pleased to express yourself of the action of the Nile. I am particularly happy the measures taken off Malta meet with your lords.h.i.+p's approbation; but I fear the account from Genoa is premature respecting the French garrison, as there has scarcely been time since we left the island, the 26th Sept. for the news to reach Genoa, and arrive at Gibraltar, if such an event had taken place.

Fearing that, with the s.h.i.+p I have in tow, it will not be possible to reach Rozia Bay till a late hour, I send an officer on sh.o.r.e with the despatches for your lords.h.i.+p, and the letters for the garrison.

I have the honour to be, my lord, Your lords.h.i.+p's most obedient and most humble servant, JAMES SAUMAREZ.

To the Right Hon. Earl St. Vincent.

The squadron arrived at Gibraltar on the evening of the 18th, amidst the universal and unbounded acclamations of the a.s.sembled population.

"Sunday, 21st Oct.--Last Thursday, my dear love, we all anch.o.r.ed in safety in this bay, and met with a reception we want words to express from the governor, admiral, officers, soldiers, seamen, and inhabitants. We can never do justice to the warmth of their applause, and the praises they all bestowed on our squadron.

"A ball was given last night by the governor, in honour of our victory; and we have a round of dinner invitations from the heads of the garrison. I am, however, happy to tell you that to-morrow I expect to put to sea for Lisbon, with the Theseus and prizes, which I am to leave in safety in the Tagus, and then proceed to England. I am to give a pa.s.sage to the Duc d'Havre and his suite: he is a n.o.bleman of distinction, who has resided some time in Spain, but has been expelled from that country with other _emigres_. I had an opportunity of sending you, by a cutter for Lagos, a short letter, with the above pleasing accounts, which I am persuaded will yield no less happiness to you than it has to me."

We have already mentioned the honours, the t.i.tles, the decorations, and the favours conferred on the victorious Nelson, as also the praises he had himself bestowed on some of the captains of the fleet; but we cannot refrain from reverting to the extraordinary circ.u.mstance that the second in command in that battle, which both Earl St. Vincent and Mr. Pitt declared "stands foremost in the page of naval history,"

and which (as before stated), was most highly extolled, had not that mark of distinction conferred upon him, which is usually granted on such occasions. In common, indeed, with the other captains, he received a gold medal; being only the second given to him, although he commanded a s.h.i.+p of the line in four great general actions, and served in two others.[20] We mention this, because Sir James was not aware of the extent of this neglect until many years after, when, meeting with Clarke and Mac Arthur's Life of Nelson, he discovered that Nelson's letters had influenced the Admiralty to regard him as having held no higher station in the action than any other captain in the squadron, and represented Sir Thomas Troubridge, who unfortunately had no part in the battle, as equally ent.i.tled to reward as himself: therefore he felt this deviation from the common usage less severely at the time than he would otherwise have done.

[20] The actions of Sullivan's Island, and the Dogger Bank.

We admit that it would be difficult to point out a situation of extraordinary hards.h.i.+p more peculiarly calculated, than that of Troubridge, to excite the feelings of sympathy expressed so strongly by Nelson.

But what would have been the situation,--what would have been the feelings of Sir James Saumarez, had he been sent away to make room for Sir Thomas Troubridge? We leave the reader to judge. Suffice it to say, that as soon as the Admiral had ascertained the real force of the enemy, he found the Orion could not be spared, by which fortunate circ.u.mstance Sir James was saved a mortification which would have weighed on his heart the remainder of his days.

Every admiral, captain, and officer, with whom we have conversed on the subject, has been decidedly of opinion that the name of Saumarez ought to have been honourably mentioned; and that, as second in command, some mark of distinction should have been conferred upon him.

We dwell on this subject particularly, because we know, that when a brave and meritorious officer does not obtain the reward due to his merit, it is extremely injurious to the service, as it damps that ardour after fame, and weakens that emulation, which lead to valour and enterprise. May every succeeding Nelson regard, and be able to look up to, that motto which was conferred on the hero of the Nile,--_Palmam qui meruit, ferat!_

On Sir James's arrival at Gibraltar he received the following letters from Sir Horatio Nelson, approving of his proceedings:--

Vanguard, Naples, 29th Sept. 1798.

SIR,

I have received your letter of the 17th from Augusta, as well as your despatch of the 27th, by Captain Gage.

I very much approve of your putting into Augusta to get water, and very highly so of your officer-like behaviour and conduct relative to Malta, as also of your supplying the Maltese with arms and ammunition.

I am, sir, Your most obedient servant, HORATIO NELSON.

To Sir James Saumarez.

September 29th, 1798.

MY DEAR SIR JAMES,

Captain Gage is just arrived with your letters and papers relative to Malta. I can say with truth there is no action of your life, as far as relates to me, but what must be entirely to my approbation: your summons to Malta is highly proper; and you have done as I wished in sending the arms, &c. The wind here is strong at S.E. I hope you have it, and that it will carry you through the Straits. This is a sad place for refitting, the swell sets in so heavy; never again do we come to Naples: besides the rest, we are killed with kindness. Wis.h.i.+ng you, my dear Sir James, every felicity in this world, believe me ever,

Your obliged and affectionate, HORATIO NELSON.

Sir James Saumarez.

At Gibraltar Sir James also received a letter from his gallant friend and brother-in-arms, Captain Ball, which gives so vivid a description of some of the events of this most eventful period of the war, that we are persuaded the reader will thank us for inserting it.