Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord De Saumarez, Vol. I

CHAPTER II.. Commencement of His Career.--His Education.--Visit of the Duke of

Commencement of his Career.--His Education.--Visit of the Duke of Gloucester to Guernsey.--Decides for the Navy.--Is put on the Solebay's books.--School at London.--Embarks in the Montreal.--Winchelsea, Pembroke, Levant.--Smyrna.--Returns home.--Passes for Lieutenant.--Embarks in the Bristol.--Proposal to leave the Navy.--Attack on Fort Sullivan.--Gallant Conduct.--Is made Lieutenant.--Bristol, Chatham, Lady Parker.--Commands the Spitfire.--Rhode Island.--Many Engagements.--War with France.--Appearance of the French Fleet under D'Estaing.--Spitfire burnt.--Appearance of Lord Howe. Page 14

CHAPTER III.

Serves ashore.--Returns to England in the Leviathan.--Providential escape from shipwreck.--Visits Guernsey.--Joins the Victory.--A journey to London.--Joins the Fortitude.--Battle off the Dogger Bank.--Anecdotes of Admiral Parker.--Lieut. Saumarez promoted to the rank of Master and Commander.--Appointed to the Tisiphone.--Sails for the West Indies with Admiral Kempenfelt.--Action with Comte de Guichen.--Captures a French ship of thirty-six guns.--Is despatched to Sir Samuel Hood.--Arrives at Barbadoes.--Escapes from two French men-of-war.--Passes through an intricate channel.--Joins Sir Samuel Hood.--Gallant conduct in cutting out a vessel.--Tisiphone ordered home.--Fortunate exchange with Captain Stanhope.--Takes command of the Russel. Page 41

CHAPTER IV.. Situation of the Hostile Fleets.--Surrender of Brimstone

Situation of the Hostile Fleets.--Surrender of Brimstone Hill.--Junction of the Fleets.--Antigua.--St. Lucia.--Sailing of the French Fleet under Comte de Grasse.--Action of the 9th of April.--12th of April.--Gallant conduct of the Russel.--Captain Saumarez returns to Jamaica.--Comes to England with Convoy.--Is paid off at Chatham, and confirmed a Post-captain. Page 65

CHAPTER V.

Captain Saumarez returns to Guernsey.--His exemplary Conduct.--Visits Cherbourg.--Is introduced to the French King.--Returns.--Changes at Guernsey.--Prince William Henry visits the Island twice.--His Reception.--Appearance of Hostilities in 1787.--Captain Saumarez is appointed to the Ambuscade, and pays her off.--His Letter on his Marriage.--Remarks thereon.--Armament of 1790.--Saumarez commissions and pays off the Raisonable.--War of 1793.--Appointed to command the Crescent.--First Cruise; takes a prize and saves Alderney.--Second Cruise; captures a cutter.--Third Cruise.--Return.--Crescent docked and refitted. Page 84

CHAPTER VI.

Crescent refitted.--Sails for the Channel Islands.--Falls in with the French frigate La Réunion.--Particular account of the action.--Letters from Captain Saumarez to his brother.--Brings his prize to Portsmouth.--Official letters.--Letters from various persons.--Ship refitting.--Captain Saumarez obtains leave of absence.--Is knighted for his gallant conduct. Page 99

CHAPTER VII.

Sir James Saumarez is placed under the orders of Admiral McBride.--Is detached, and attacks an Enemy's squadron.--Narrow Escape from Shipwreck.--Off Havre.--Cherbourg.--Private letters relating the particulars of several Cruises on the French coast.--Gallant Action with a French squadron of superior force off Guernsey. Page 119

CHAPTER VIII.

Sir James commands a Squadron of Frigates, in the Channel.--Visit to Weymouth.--Joins the Channel Fleet.--Black Rocks.--Private Letters and Instructions.--Appointed to the Orion.--Crescent's Officers and Crew volunteer to follow him.--Appointed to the Marlborough (pro tempore).--Commands a detached Squadron.--Returns to the Orion, attached to the Channel Fleet.--Private Letters.--Lord Bridport's Action.--Orion, the headmost Ship, begins the battle.--Official Letter.--Two private Accounts.--Returns to Portsmouth.--Expedition to Isle Dieu.--Returns to Spithead. Page 143

CHAPTER IX.. Orion Taken Into Dock.--Is Refitted, and Joins the Channel

Orion taken into dock.--Is refitted, and joins the Channel Fleet.--Detached on a particular service.--Returns.--Proceeds to reinforce Sir John Jervis.--List of his fleet.--Battle with Spanish Fleet off Cape St. Vincent described in a private letter.--Conduct of Saumarez in the action.--Salvador del Mundo strikes to the Orion, and is taken possession of by her Lieutenant.--Engages the Santissima Trinidada.--She strikes to the Orion.--Remarks on that occasion.--Lagos Bay.--Lisbon.--Sir James sails on a cruise with Admiral Sir H. Nelson.--Returns.--Commands the advanced squadron.--Several private letters.--Commands the advanced squadron off Cadiz.--Mutiny in the fleet.--Anecdote and remarks thereon. Page 164

CHAPTER X.. Sir Horatio Nelson Resumes the Command of the Advanced

Sir Horatio Nelson resumes the command of the advanced squadron.--Bombardment of Cadiz.--Nelson sails for Teneriffe.--Saumarez resumes the command.--Escorts a convoy to Gibraltar.--Refits at Lisbon, and returns.--Conducts the negotiation for exchange of prisoners.--Sir W. Parker relieves Sir James.--He arrives at Gibraltar.--Is attached to Nelson's squadron.--Proceeds off Toulon.--A storm.--Vanguard dismasted.--Great exertions of the Orion and Alexander in refitting the Vanguard at St. Pierre.--Sailing of the Toulon fleet.--Nelson reinforced by ten sail of the line.--Pursues the enemy unsuccessfully.--Proceedings of the fleet in a journal addressed by Sir James to his family.--French fleet discovered in Aboukir Bay.--Battle of the Nile.--Diagram of ditto.--Conduct of the Orion.--Saumarez wounded.--Writes to Nelson.--Goes on board the Vanguard.--Occurrences there.--Remarks on the name of the second in command being left out in Nelson's despatches.--On the mode of attack.--Various letters and orders.--Sir James's account of the battle, in a letter to Lady Saumarez. Page 189

CHAPTER XI.

Fleet repair damages.--Sir James receives orders to take a detachment of six ships of the line, and five prizes, under his command.--Sails for Gibraltar.--Journal of his tedious voyage.--Arrives off Candia.--Decides to pass through a perilous passage, 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 passage.--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. Page 231

CHAPTER XII.

Sir James writes to Earl Spencer.--Is appointed to the Cæsar, of 84 guns.--Joins the Channel fleet.--The Brest fleet having escaped, proceeds to the Mediterranean.--English fleet at Bantry Bay.--Return of the French fleet.--Cæsar at Lisbon.--Sir James returns to Spithead.--Rejoins the Channel fleet.--Earl St. Vincent takes the command.--Appoints Sir James to command the advanced squadron.--Black Rocks.--Earl St. Vincent's letter of approbation.--Douvarnenez Bay.--Various letters.--Complete success of the blockade.--Enemy's fleet laid up.--Sir James returns to Spithead.--Conclusion of 1800. Page 287

CHAPTER XIII.

Sir James Saumarez is promoted to the rank of Rear-admiral.--Appointed to command the advanced squadron.--Proceedings at the Black Rocks.--Douvarnenez Bay.--Returns to England.--Appointed to command a squadron on a very particular service.--His secret orders, &c. and letter of approbation.--Ready for sea.--Is created a Baronet of the United Kingdom. Page 321

CHAPTER XIV.

Sir James sails from England in command of a squadron of six sail of the line on a particular service.--Arrives off Cadiz.--Attacks a French squadron at Algeziras.--Captain Brenton's account of the battle.--Loss of the Hannibal.--Colonel Connolly's statements.--Logs of the Cæsar and ships of the squadron.--Sir James proceeds to Gibraltar.--Remarks.--Flag of truce sent to Algeziras.--Correspondence with Linois.--Squadron refit at Gibraltar. Page 337

CHAPTER XV.

Observations on the Battle of Algeziras.--Copies of the Journals of the Spencer, Audacious, and Venerable.--Remarks on them.--Further particulars.--The Spanish account.--The French account.--Bulletin from the Moniteur.--Anecdote of an occurrence at St. Malo.--Sword presented to Linois.--Lines on the occasion.--His improvement of Naval tactics.--Epigram.--Anecdote of the intrepidity of one of the Cæsar's men. Page 363

CHAPTER XVI.. Mole of Gibraltar.--Negotiation for the Exchange of Prisoners

Mole of Gibraltar.--Negotiation for the exchange of prisoners unsuccessful.--Captain Ferris and the officers of the Hannibal return on parole.--They sail for England in the Plymouth lugger, which carries home despatches and private letters.--Despatch sent to Lord Keith.--Admiral Saumarez shifts his flag to the Audacious.--Extraordinary exertions of the crew of the Cæsar.--Their admirable conduct.--Captain Brenton and the garrison.--Arrival of the Spanish squadron at Algeziras.--Increased exertions of the crews of the squadron.--Private letters.--Preparations to attack the enemy.

Page 383

CHAPTER XVII.

Occurrences at Gibraltar.--Determination of Sir James to attack the combined squadron.--Cæsar rehoists the Admiral's flag.--Sir J. Brenton's description of that interesting scene.--His account of the battle.--Destruction of two Spanish three-deckers.--Capture of the St. Antonio.--Action between the Venerable and Formidable.--Public letters.--Private letters.--French details of the battle.--Spanish ditto.--Orders of sailing.--Remarks. Page 401

LIST OF PLATES.

Portrait of Rear-admiral Sir James Saumarez, taken after the battle of the 12th July 1801 Frontispiece.

Action with the Crescent and Réunion taken at the time the latter surrendered Page 103

Commencement of the action between the Crescent and her squadron, with the French squadron of superior force off Guernsey 131

Close of the action when the Crescent retreated among the rocks at Guernsey 134

Chart of the island of Guernsey, showing the positions of the English and French squadrons 135

Diagram of Algeziras and Gibraltar Bay 346

ERRATA.

Page 86, l. 26, for "present" read "late."

142, l. 4,--"ninety-second" read "ninety-two."

166, l. 23,--"Towny" read "Towry."

198, l. 19,--"Marcon" read "Marcou."

215, l. 14,--"Collossus" read "Culloden."

ADVERTISEMENT.

In perusing the following Memoir, the reader must not be surprised if he finds that the accounts of the several battles in which the illustrious Saumarez was engaged, differ in some degree from those previously given to the public. Every circumstance connected with them has been carefully examined, and whatever statements are now advanced can be borne out by documentary evidence. The career of Saumarez was a long and eventful one: he entered the Navy while the nation was at peace; he subsequently served during the American War of independence, and throughout the late continental war, in both of which he was in more engagements with the enemy than any other officer. He was the last of the heroes of the 12th of April 1782.

THE LIFE

LORD DE SAUMAREZ.

CHAPTER I.. Genealogy of the Family of Saumarez.--Curious Record.--Branches

Genealogy of the family of Saumarez.--Curious Record.--Branches of the late family.--Marriage of the late Lord de Saumarez.

Admiral the Right Honourable James Lord de Saumarez, of Guernsey, was born, on the 11th March 1757, in the parish of St. Peter-Port, the principal town of that romantic island. The family, whose original name was De Sausmarez, is of Norman extraction, and of great antiquity in the island of Guernsey, where their lineage can be traced almost to the Norman conquest.

Their remote ancestor received from the Dukes of Normandy a fief of the district of Jerbourg, and was appointed hereditary captain (or chatelain) of the castle of that name, which lies within the limits of the fief, and is situated in the parish of St. Martin.

Among the records of the island, we find the following interesting particulars:--In the twenty-seventh year of the reign of Edward the First, at a court of chief pleas held at Guernsey, in the presence of the judges of assize, Matthew de Sausmarez made homage for his fief; which appears to have been acknowledged by an act of Edward the Second in the year 1313: and in the reign of Edward the Third, in the year 1331, an application was made by Matthew de Sausmarez for a confirmation of his rights and prerogatives, as formerly enjoyed by his ancestors.

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