Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord de Saumarez Volume II Part 37

Although in the above logs, and in several others which we have examined at the depot, by permission from the Lords of the Admiralty, it does appear that the Canada was engaged with the Ville de Paris, yet we have no doubt of the fact, having the testimonies of Sir L.

Halsted and Admiral Giffard, who were in the Canada on the 12th of April, extracts of whose letters we subjoin, which also prove that the Canada was not the s.h.i.+p that was engaging the Ville de Paris when the Barfleur came up, and when the French Admiral struck his colours. Sir Lawrence Halsted, in his letter to us, after giving a brief account of the capture of the Hector, and of the Canada's previous and subsequent attack on the Ville de Paris, relates, that the Canada, on seeing some s.h.i.+ps bearing down on the Ville de Paris, of which, he believes, one was the Russell, "bore up in pursuit of a French Rear-admiral in the Triomphant 84;" and he concludes, "I trust that that part in Lord de Saumarez' letter is satisfactorily answered, as it is quite clear that the Canada was not near the Ville de Paris at the time she surrendered." Admiral Giffard, in answer to our application, says,

"I am of opinion the Canada was engaged with the Ville de Paris earlier in the day than the Russell."

Extract of a letter from Capt. G.W.H. Knight, R.N., son of the late Admiral Sir John Knight, K.C.B., who was captain of the Barfleur on the 12th April, 1782.

"I have never been able to lay my hand on my father's letter, wherein he gave me some account of the 12th of April 1782, but this I recollect quite well, that he said, 'he accompanied Sir Samuel (afterwards Lord Hood) on board Lord Rodney's s.h.i.+p the day before the battle of the 9th of April, (my father being captain of the Barfleur, Sir Samuel's flag s.h.i.+p,) and on that occasion not one word was said, or order given, for any attempt to break through the enemy's line in the expected engagement, nor was any order afterwards given previous to the 12th of April. That on the 9th, the van squadron, commanded by Sir S. Hood, which was most engaged, made no attempt to break the line, nor did the van or centre (the line being inverted) on the 12th make any such attempt; and my father attributed the Formidable, and those that followed her, getting through, to the circ.u.mstance of a change of wind, which brought those s.h.i.+ps up with the rest of the rear of the British fleet, while it broke off the s.h.i.+ps in the French line, and consequently left openings.' He further said, 'that from the density of the smoke they could see nothing, and that the first intimation they had (the Barfleur) of pa.s.sing through the enemy's line was, from receiving fire on both sides.' He gave another reason for supposing it was altogether accidental, which was, that no attempt was made or order given by signal to double on the enemy, and that the advantage gained by pa.s.sing through the line was never made use of when my father took possession of the Ville de Paris, and received Count de Gra.s.se's sword, and afterward conveyed him to his Admiral; no remark was made upon any circ.u.mstance having taken place different from the usual practice. These are the heads of what I recollect."

APPENDIX G.

_List of the English squadron, commanded by Vice-admiral Sir J.

Saumarez, off Port Baltic, 1st September 1803._

Capt. B. Martin, 1 Capt.

s.h.i.+ps. Guns. Captains.

Victory 100 {Dumaresq.

{Sir S. Hood.

Centaur 74 Webley.

Implacable 74 Pipon.

Goliath 74 Puget.

Mars 74 Lukin.

Africa 64 Barrett.

Salsette 32 Bathurst.

Ariel 18 T. White.

Rose 18 T. Mansell.

Cruiser 18 McKenzie.

Erebus 18.

Baltic 10.

Thunder Bomb.

_List of the Swedish fleet, commanded by Rear-admiral Nauckhoff._

s.h.i.+ps. Guns.

Gustaf IV. Adolf 78 Adolf Frederick 74 Manligheten 74 Dristigheten 74 Tapperheten 74 Forsigtigheten 74 Gustaf den Tredje 74 Faderneslandet 74 Uladesloff 74 Frederick Adolf 64 Bellona 40 Camilla 40 Euridice 40 Yarramus 32 Wanta Litet 18 Komma Straxt 18

_Russian Fleet._

s.h.i.+ps. Guns. Commanders.

Blagadod. 110 Admiral Henikoff.

Angel Gabriel 100 Rear-admiral Muller.

s.h.i.+ps. Guns.

Amgallen 74 Boreas 74 Eagle 74 Michael 74 North Star 74 Sewolod (taken) 74 Argus, Hero, and Rapid 50

APPENDIX H.

_List of the French Fleet opposed to the English, 23rd June 1795._

s.h.i.+ps. Guns.

Le Peuple 120 Le Nestor 80 Le Redoubtable 80 Le Mucius 80 Le Tigre (taken) 80 Le Fougueux 80 Le Zele 74 Le Formidable (taken) 74 Le Jean Bart 74 Les droits de l'homme 74 L'Alexandre (taken) 74 Name unknown 74 Le Brave, rase 56 Le Scaevola, rase 56

_Frigates._

La Virgine 44 La Fidelle 44 L'Insurgente 44 La Fort.i.tude 44 La Regenere 44 La Naute 44 La Fraternite 44 La Proserpine 36 La Cocade 36 La Dryade 36 Le Renard 36

_Corvettes._

La Constance 22 La Talente 18 La Senseure 22 La Papillion 18

_List of the Fleet under the command of Admiral Lord Bridport, June 23rd 1795, with the number of killed and wounded._

s.h.i.+ps. Guns. Killed. Wound.

{Lord Bridport, Admiral} Royal George 110 {of the White. } -- 7 {Captain Domett. } Queen Charlotte 110 Capt. Sir A.S. Douglas 4 32 London. 98 " E. Griffiths -- 3

Queen. 98 {Sir A Gardner, Bt. Vice Admiral of {the White: Captain Wm. Bedford

Prince of Wales. 98 Capt. J. Bazely.

Prince George. 98 " W. Edge.

Barfleur 98 " J. Richard Dawes.

Prince 98 " C.P. Hamilton

{Lord Hugh Seymour, } Sans Pareil 80 { Rear Adm. of the Blue. } { Capt. H. Browell } 10

Orion 74 Capt. Sir James Saumarez. 6 18 Valiant. 74 " Jos. Larcom (acting).

Killed. Wounded.

Orion 6 18 Irresistible 3 11 Queen Charlotte 4 32 Sans Pareil 10 2 Colossus 6 30 Russell 3 10 London 0 3 Royal George 0 7 -- --- Total 31 113

The above statement shows the total numerical loss sustained by each of the s.h.i.+ps that were so fortunate as to get into action.