The Life of Thomas, Lord Cochrane, Tenth Earl of Dundonald, Vol. I

CHAPTER I.. [1775-1814.]

Introduction.—Lord Cochrane's Ancestry.—His First Occupations in the Navy.—His Cruise in the Speedy and Capture of the Gamo.—His Exploits in the Pallas.—The beginning of his Parliamentary Life.—His two Elections as Member for Honiton.—His Election for Westminster.—Further Seamanship.—The Basque Roads Affair.—The Court-Martial on Lord Gambier, and its injurious effects on Lord Cochrane's Naval Career.—His Parliamentary Occupations.—His Visit to Malta and its Issues.—The Antecedents and Consequences of the Stock Exchange Trial - 1

CHAPTER II.. [1814.]

The Issue of the Stock Exchange Trial.—Lord Cochrane's Committal to the King's Bench Prison.—The Debate upon his Case in the House of Commons, and his Speech on that Occasion.—His Expulsion from the House, and Re-election as Member for Westminster.—The Withdrawal of his Sentence to the Pillory.—The Removal of his Insignia as a Knight of the Bath - 35

CHAPTER III.. [1814-1815.]

Lord Cochrane's Bearing in the King's Bench Prison.—His Street Lamps.—His Escape, and the Motives for it.—His Capture in the House of Commons, and subsequent Treatment.—His Confinement in the Strong Room of the King's Bench Prison.—His Release - 48

CHAPTER IV.. [1815-1816.]

Lord Cochrane's Return to the House of Commons.—His Share in the Refusal of the Duke of Cumberland's Marriage Pension.—His Charges against Lord Ellenborough, and their Rejection by the House.—His Popularity.—The Part taken by him in Public Meetings for the Relief of the People.—The London Tavern Meeting.—His further Prosecution, Trial at Guildford, and subsequent Imprisonment.—The Payment of his Fines by a Penny Subscription.—The Congratulations of his Westminster Constituents - 74

CHAPTER V.. [1817-1818.]

The State of Politics in England in 1817 and 1818, and Lord Cochrane's Share in them.—His Work as a Radical in and out of Parliament.—His futile Efforts to obtain the Prize Money due for his Services at Basque Roads.—The Holly Hill Siege.—The Preparations for his Enterprise in South America.—His last Speech in Parliament - 109

CHAPTER VI.. [1810-1817.]

The Antecedents of Lord Cochrane's Employments in South America.—The War of Independence in the Spanish Colonies.—Mexico.—Venezuela.—Colombia.—Chili.—The first Chilian Insurrection.—The Carreras and O'Higgins.—The Battle of Rancagua.—O'Higgins's Successes.—The Establishment of the Chilian Republic.—Lord Cochrane invited to enter the Chilian Service - 137

CHAPTER VII.. [1818-1820.]

Lord Cochrane's Voyage to Chili.—His Reception at Valparaiso and Santiago.—The Disorganization of the Chilian Fleet.—First Signs of Disaffection.—The Naval Forces of the Chilians and the Spaniards.—Lord Cochrane's first Expedition to Peru.—His Attack on Callao.—"Drake the Dragon" and "Cochrane the Devil."—Lord Cochrane's Successes in Overawing the Spaniards, in Treasure-taking, and in Encouragement of the Peruvians to join in the War of Independence.—His Plan for another Attack on Callao.—His Difficulties in Equipping the Expedition.—The Failure of the Attempt.—His Plan for Storming Valdivia.—Its Successful Accomplishment - 148

CHAPTER VIII.. [1820-1822.]

Lord Cochrane's Return to Valparaiso.—His Relations with the Chilian Senate.—The third Expedition to Peru.—General San Martin.—The Capture of the Esmeralda, and its Issue.—Lord Cochrane's subsequent Work.—San Martin's Treachery.—His Assumption of the Protectorate of Peru.—His Base Proposals to Lord Cochrane.—Lord Cochrane's Condemnation of them.—The Troubles of the Chilian Squadron.—Lord Cochrane's Seizure of Treasure at Ancon, and Employment of it in Paying his Officers and Men.—His Stay at Guayaquil.—The Advantages of Free Trade.—Lord Cochrane's Cruise along the Mexican Coast in Search of the remaining Spanish Frigates.—Their Annexation by Peru.—Lord Cochrane's last Visit to Callao - 177

CHAPTER IX.. [1822-1823.]

Lord Cochrane's Return to Valparaiso,—The Conduct of the Chilian Government towards him.—His Resignation of Chilian Employment, and Acceptance of Employment under the Emperor of Brazil.—His subsequent Correspondence with the Government of Chili.—The Results of his Chilian Service. - 208

CHAPTER X.. [1823.]

The Antecedents of Brazilian Independence.—Pedro I.'s Accession.—The Internal and External Troubles of the New Empire.—Lord Cochrane's Invitation to Brazil.—His Arrival at Rio de Janeiro, and Acceptance of Brazilian Service.—His first Occupations.—The bad condition of the Squadron, and the consequent Failure of his first Attack on the Portuguese off Bahia.—His Plans for Improving the Fleet, and their Success.—His Night Visit to Bahia, and the consequent Flight of the Enemy.—Lord Cochrane's Pursuit of them.—His Visit to Maranham, and Annexation of that Province and of Para.—His Return to Rio de Janeiro.—The Honours conferred upon him. - 223

CHAPTER XI.. [1823-1824.]

The Nature of the Rewards bestowed on Lord Cochrane for his first Services to Brazil.—Pedro I. and the Portuguese Faction.—Lord Cochrane's Advice to the Emperor.—The Troubles brought upon him by it.—The Conduct of the Government towards him and the Fleet.—The withholding of Prize-money and Pay.—Personal Indignities to Lord Cochrane.—An Amusing Episode.—Lord Cochrane's Threat of Resignation, and its Effect.—Sir James Mackintosh's Allusion to him in the House of Commons - 246

CHAPTER XII.. [1824-1825.]

The Insurrection in Pernambuco.—Lord Cochrane's Expedition to suppress it.—The Success of his Work.—His Stay at Maranham.—The Disorganized State of Affairs in that Province.—Lord Cochrane's efforts to restore Order and good Government.—Their result in further Trouble to himself.—His Cruise in the Piranga, and Return to England.—His Treatment there.—His Retirement from Brazilian Service.—His Letter to the Emperor Pedro I.—The End of his South American Employments - 266

CHAPTER XIII.. [1820-1825.]

The Greek Revolution and its Antecedents.—The Modern Greeks.—The Friendly Society.—Sultan Mahmud and Ali Pasha's Rebellion.—The Beginning of the Greek Insurrection.—Count John Capodistrias.—Prince Alexander Hypsilantes.—The Revolution in the Morca.—Theodore Kolokotrones.—The Revolution in the Islands.—The Greek Navy and its Character.—The Excesses of the Greeks.—Their bad Government.—Prince Alexander Mavrocordatos.—The Progress of the Revolution.—The Spoliation of Chios.—English Philhellenes; Thomas Gordon, Frank Abney Hastings, Lord Byron.—The first Greek Loan, and the bad uses to which it was put.—Reverses of the Greeks.—Ibrahim and his Successes.—Mavrocordatos's Letter to Lord Cochrane - 286

CHAPTER XIV.. [1825-1826.]

Lord Cochrane's Dismissal from Brazilian Service, and his Acceptance of Employment as Chief Admiral of the Greeks.—The Greek Committee and the Greek Deputies in London.—The Terms of Lord Cochrane's Agreement, and the consequent Preparations.—His Visit to Scotland.—Sir Walter Scott's Verses on Lady Cochrane.—Lord Cochrane's forced Retirement to Boulogne, and thence to Brussels.—The Delays in fitting out the Greek Armament.—Captain Hastings, Mr. Hobhouse, and Sir Francis Burdett.—Captain Hastings's Memoir on the Greek Leaders and their Characters.—The first Consequences of Lord Cochrane's new Enterprise.—The Duke of Wellington's Message to Lord Cochrane.—The Greek Deputies' Proposal to Lord Cochrane and his Answer.—The Final Arrangements for his Departure.—The Messiah of the Greeks. - 318

CHAPTER XV.. [1826-1827.]

Lord Cochrane's Departure for Greece.—His Visit to London and Voyage to the Mediterranean.—His Stay at Messina, and afterwards at Marseilles.—The Delays in Completing the Steamships, and the consequent Injury to the Greek Cause, and serious Embarrassment to Lord Cochrane.—His Correspondence with Messrs. J. and S. Ricardo.—His Letter to the Greek Government.—Chevalíer Eynard, and the Continental Philhellenes.—Lord Cochrane's Final Departure and Arrival in Greece. - 355

CHAPTER XVI.. [1826-1827.]

The Progress of Affairs in Greece.—The Siege of Missolonghi.—Its Fall.—The Bad Government and Mismanagement of the Greeks.—General Ponsonby's Account of them.—The Effect of Lord Cochrane's Promised Assistance.—The Fears of the Turks, as shown in their Correspondence with Mr. Canning.—The Arrival of Captain Hastings in Greece, with the Karteria.—His Opinion of Greek Captains and Sailors.—The Frigate Hellas,—Letters to Lord Cochrane from Admiral Miaoulis and the Governing Commission of Greece. - 368

APPENDIX.

I. (Page 22.)—"Resumé of the Services of the late Earl of Dundonald, none of which have been Requited or Officially Recognised," by Thomas, Eleventh Earl of Dundonald. - 389

II. (Page 23.)—Part of a Speech delivered by Lord Cochrane in the House of Commons, on the 11th of May, 1809, on Naval Abuses. - 397

III. (Page 258.)—A Letter written by Lord Cochrane to the Secretary of State of Brazil on the 3rd of May, 1824. - 400

THE LIFE OF THOMAS, TENTH EARL OF DUNDONALD.

CHAPTER I.. Introduction.—Lord Cochrane's Ancestry.—His First Occupations in

INTRODUCTION.—LORD COCHRANE'S ANCESTRY.—HIS FIRST OCCUPATIONS IN THE NAVY.—HIS CRUISE IN THE "SPEEDY" AND CAPTURE OF THE "GAMO."—HIS EXPLOITS IN THE "PALLAS."—THE BEGINNING OF HIS PARLIAMENTARY LIFE.—HIS TWO ELECTIONS AS MEMBER FOR HONITON.—HIS ELECTION FOR WESTMINSTER.—FURTHER SEAMANSHIP.—THE BASQUE ROADS AFFAIR.—THE COURT-MARTIAL ON LORD GAMBIER, AND ITS INJURIOUS EFFECTS ON LORD COCHRANE'S NAVAL CAREER.—HIS PARLIAMENTARY OCCUPATIONS.—HIS VISIT TO MALTA AND ITS ISSUES.—THE ANTECEDENTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF THE STOCK EXCHANGE TRIAL.

Thomas, Loud Cochrane, tenth Earl of Dundonald, was born at Annsfield, in Lanark, on the 14th of December, 1775, and died in London on the 31st of October, 1860. Shortly before his death he wrote two volumes, styled "The Autobiography of a Seaman," which set forth his history down to 1814, the fortieth year of his age. To those volumes the present work, recounting his career during the ensuing six-and-forty years, is intended to serve as a sequel. Before entering upon the later narrative, however, it will be necessary briefly to recapitulate the incidents that have been already detailed.

The Earl of Dundonald was descended from a long line of knights and barons, chiefly resident in Renfrew and Ayr, many of whom were men of mark in Scottish history during the thirteenth and following centuries. Robert Cochran was the especial favourite and foremost counsellor of James III., who made him Earl of Mar; but the favours heaped upon him, and perhaps a certain arrogance in the use of those favours, led to so much opposition from his peers and rivals that he was assassinated by them in 1480.

Lord Cochrane—as the subject of these memoirs was styled in courtesy until his accession to the peerage in 1831—was intended by his father for the army, in which he received a captain's commission. But his own predilections were in favour of a seaman's life, and accordingly, after brief schooling, he joined the Hind, as a midshipman, in June, 1793, when he was nearly eighteen years of age.

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