Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord de Saumarez Volume II Part 2

I have to acknowledge the receipt of the various enclosures in your letters of the 19th July; and approve of the exertions to resume the station before Cadiz with the s.h.i.+ps of your squadron, which, I have reason to believe, has been seasonably reinforced by the Genereux.

The Honourable Captain Dundas shall receive an appointment for the San Antonio, which, I have no doubt, the repeated meritorious conduct of that young officer will induce their lords.h.i.+ps to confirm; and I shall have pleasure in paying attention to the other officers, to whom you have given acting orders, when a compliance with their lords.h.i.+ps' commands, and an attention to prior engagements, shall enable me so to do.

I have the honour to be your obedient servant, KEITH.

To Rear-admiral Sir James Saumarez, Bart.

&c. &c. &c.

Sir James, at the same time, received the usual order, dated 3rd August, to place himself under the orders of Lord Keith; by which it was supposed that his lords.h.i.+p had no right to share, as commander-in-chief, for the prizes antecedently taken by the squadron.

This question, however, was decided in favour of his lords.h.i.+p.

The Bellona, Penelope, and Mermaid successively joined the squadron; and the latter, having a convoy from Lisbon, was despatched with it to Malta. The Audacious and Bellona were sent to Gibraltar to refit; and subsequently the Penelope, to be hove down. Sir James received letters from Mr. Frere, at Lisbon, by the Phaeton, Captain Morris, informing him of the conclusion of peace between Portugal and France; and of a report that some of the enemy's s.h.i.+ps had escaped from Brest, which was however contradicted by despatches of later date from the Channel fleet, and from England. The enemy's designs had been completely frustrated, and vessels employed in the commerce of Great Britain proceeded to their various destinations without molestation. The Phaeton was also despatched up the Mediterranean with a convoy, and with information of importance for Lord Keith, from Mr. Frere. By the return of the Thames, Sir James received from Sir John Warren, whose absence from Toulon had permitted Admiral Linois' squadron to escape, the following letter, dated,

Renown, Port Mahon, 18th August, 1801.

SIR,

I have the honour of informing you of my arrival here with the squadron under my command, being ordered by the commander-in-chief on this part of the station, and to a.s.sist and communicate with anything stationed without the Straits'

mouth.

I received, with much satisfaction, the intelligence of your zealous and gallant efforts with the squadron under your orders in the several actions you have had with the enemy, the result of which has proved so successful and honourable to all who a.s.sisted in them.

I therefore beg leave, sincerely, to offer you my congratulations on this occasion; and trust you have received the stores sent from this dockyard, and the supernumeraries which were conveyed in the Mermaid.

I am sorry to add that the Swiftsure was captured by Gantheaume in her pa.s.sage with some merchantmen, on the coast of Barbary; and that the enemy were fortunate enough to carry her into Toulon.

I have the honour to remain, Your obedient humble servant, J.B. WARREN.

To Rear-admiral Sir James Saumarez, Bart.

&c. &c. &c.

The ports of Cadiz and St. Lucar were now declared to be in strict blockade, which was rigidly enforced, in order to prevent supplies being thrown in for the repairs of the damaged fleet; and serious disputes frequently took place between the French and Spaniards in these harbours.

Although the battles of the 6th and 12th of July were not in magnitude to be compared to those of the Nile and Valentine's day, they were to the nation actually of no less importance, by having put an end to the well-laid plan of Buonaparte for the destruction of our commerce and the reinforcement of his army in Egypt, which Gantheaume had unsuccessfully attempted.

Peace having been made between France and Spain, it was agreed that the fleet of the latter nation, partly manned with French crews and officers, should be joined by Linois' squadron from Toulon, and then proceed off Lisbon, which they were to sack, and destroy or capture the British merchant-s.h.i.+ps lying there with rich cargoes; then, being reinforced by the Brest fleet, they were to pa.s.s the Straits of Gibraltar, and with an overwhelming force steer direct for Alexandria, where they were to land such a body of troops as would raise the siege, and drive the English out of Egypt. This would certainly have succeeded had the squadron under Linois not encountered that of Sir James, which led to the total defeat of their combined fleets, and to the abandonment of the grand plan: events which may be said to have brought about the conclusion of peace, first, with Portugal, and subsequently with Great Britain, as it was found impossible to relieve, or reinforce, the French army in Egypt before the capitulation of Alexandria, and the final expulsion of that army. But the reader will be surprised to find that the meritorious services of Sir James, although fully acknowledged, were not so fully rewarded.

CHAPTER II.

1801.

Despatches arrive from England.--Sir James superseded by Sir Charles Morice Pole.--Remarks and correspondence on the subject.--The St. George and four sail of the line arrive.--Blockade of Cadiz.--Sir James continues as second in command.--His appointments not confirmed.--Injustice of his treatment.--Letters from various persons.--The Caesar arrives at Gibraltar.

Since the signal defeat of the French and Spanish combined squadrons on the 12th of July, Sir James had pa.s.sed seven most anxious weeks without having received any communication from England.[1] His sufferings on that account, and his impatience for letters, as well from his family as from the Admiralty, were, according to his own admission, more intolerable than he had ever experienced.

[1] The letters, which have already appeared, were received on the 31st of August.

The enemy's force at Cadiz being now so inferior, even to the squadron he at first commanded, he was enabled to send the Audacious and Bellona to refit at Gibraltar; while he detached the Warrior and the Phoebe to cruise off Lisbon, and other smaller vessels in different directions. He never doubted that he should be continued in the chief command; and his hopes of the pleasing intelligence had been raised to the highest pitch, when the long-expected despatches arrived. His surprise and mortification, therefore, may be imagined, when, on opening the very first letter from the Admiralty, he found himself superseded by a senior officer, on a plea which had no just foundation, namely, _the increase of the enemy's force at Cadiz_!

whereas, on the contrary, that force had not only been decreased by the loss of two of its largest s.h.i.+ps, but _all_ the rest had been so materially damaged in the late actions as to be rendered for the present unserviceable.

As might be expected, Sir James felt so indignant at this, to say the least of it, ill-timed arrangement, that he considered it a duty he owed to his character to express his feelings strongly in a respectful answer to this communication, both to the Board, and to Earl St.

Vincent; which produced an explanation, in which it appeared that the Admiralty, having determined to make Cadiz a separate command from that of the Mediterranean, it became necessary to employ two flag-officers. Sir James being the last on the list, none could be found junior; and they were, therefore, under the necessity of appointing a senior officer.

As it could not be disputed that the Admiralty had a right to make the dispositions for which they alone were responsible, the correspondence in which Sir James's services were acknowledged, and wherein regret was expressed by their lords.h.i.+ps at the necessity they had been under of appointing a senior officer, ended in a satisfactory manner; and Sir James was contented to remain as second in command under Vice-admiral Pole, who arrived on the 31st August, in the St. George, to a.s.sume the chief command of the squadron.

Two of the letters which Sir James received on this occasion have been given in the preceding chapter, in order to show the reception which the intelligence of his victory met with in England. The following are copies of the official letters alluded to, and also of some private letters, which express his feelings on the occasion.

Admiralty, 2nd August 1801.

SIR,

I received, yesterday, by Captain Ferris, and immediately communicated to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, your letters of the 5th, 6th, 9th, and 10th instant, acquainting me, for their lords.h.i.+ps' information, that, having received intelligence of three French line-of-battle s.h.i.+ps and a frigate having anch.o.r.ed off Algeziras, you had proceeded through the Straits, with the squadron under your orders, for the purpose of attacking them, which you had accordingly done on the morning of the 6th; but that the Hannibal having unfortunately taken the ground, and all the endeavours you had exerted with the Caesar and Audacious having proved ineffectual, you had been compelled to withdraw from the attack, and to leave the Hannibal in possession of the enemy; transmitting, at the same time, a list of the killed and wounded, with a copy of a letter you had received from Captain Ferris, giving an account of his proceedings: and, in answer thereto, I have received their lords.h.i.+ps' commands to acquaint you that, although your endeavours to destroy the enemy's s.h.i.+ps, above-mentioned, were unsuccessful, they cannot too much applaud the spirit and activity with which the attack was conducted; and that, however they may regret the loss of the Hannibal to his Majesty, their lords.h.i.+ps have the satisfaction of knowing that you, and all the officers and men employed under your command, have faithfully and zealously discharged your duty, and although by unfortunate circ.u.mstances a s.h.i.+p has been lost, as well as the lives of many gallant officers and men, the national character has in no degree suffered from the disaster.

Their lords.h.i.+ps have the fullest confidence that every exertion will be made for repairing the damage which the s.h.i.+ps now with you have sustained; and have commanded me to inform you that you may rely on their taking measures immediately for reinforcing you, and for sending such supplies of stores as the squadron may be likely to require.

I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant, EVAN NEPEAN.

To Sir James Saumarez, Bart.

Admiralty Office, 4th August 1801.

SIR,

After I had closed my despatch of the 2nd instant, Lieutenant Dumaresq arrived, and delivered to me your letters of the 13th and 14th of last month: the former, giving information that the three French s.h.i.+ps of the line and, a frigate, at Algeziras, having been joined by five Spanish and one French sail of the line, with other smaller vessels, had sailed on the morning of the 12th with his Majesty's late s.h.i.+p Hannibal, for Cadiz; that, by the great exertions of the officers and men of the squadron, you had been able to proceed to sea at the same time, with all the s.h.i.+ps under your orders, except the Pompee, in pursuit of the enemy; and that, after a partial action, two Spanish s.h.i.+ps of a hundred and twelve guns had been blown up, and one French s.h.i.+p of seventy-four guns had been taken by his Majesty's s.h.i.+p Superb: the latter transmitting a letter which you had received from Captain Keats, of the last-mentioned s.h.i.+p, containing an account of his proceedings on that occasion.

I lost no time in laying your said despatches before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty; and I have received their lords.h.i.+ps' commands to express to you their highest approbation of the gallantry and good conduct which were displayed by you, and the captains, officers, and men under your orders, in engaging and defeating so superior a force of the enemy; and to desire that you will signify to them, particularly to Captains Hood and Keats, in the strongest terms, the sense their lords.h.i.+ps are pleased to entertain of their meritorious services on this important occasion.

Their lords.h.i.+ps have commanded me further to inform you that, in consequence of the favourable mention you have made of the services of the Honourable Captain Dundas and Lieutenant Dumaresq, they have been pleased to promote the former to the rank of post-captain, and the latter to command the Calpe.

I am, sir, your obedient humble servant, EVAN NEPEAN.

To Rear-admiral Sir James Saumarez, Bart. &c. &c. &c.

Admiralty Office, 14th August 1801.

SIR,

My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having judged it necessary, from the present circ.u.mstances of the war, and preparations now making by the enemy in Cadiz, to augment the squadron serving on the coasts of Portugal and Spain bordering on the Atlantic, and to place the s.h.i.+ps and vessels on that station under the command of Vice-admiral Pole, I have received their commands to acquaint you of this arrangement, and to enclose their orders to you, to put yourself, and the s.h.i.+ps with you, under the Vice-admiral's command.

So many objections occur to the allowing a force of the extent necessary to be so employed, with only one flag-officer, that their lords.h.i.+ps have felt themselves reduced to the necessity, from your standing on the list, of sending a senior officer to you; which, on considering the proofs you have given of your zeal and ability, and the advantage which the public has so recently derived from your very distinguished services, they would, if possible, have avoided.

I am, sir, your most obedient humble servant, Evan Nepean.