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CHAPTER XIII
1801
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.
On the 1st of January 1801, a promotion of flag-officers took place, in order, it was said, to include the name of Sir James Saumarez; and this flattering compliment was immediately followed by a further honour, in his being ordered forthwith to hoist his flag on board his old ship, the Cæsar; while Lieutenant Henryson, who was senior in that ship, was promoted to the rank of commander. Sir James being ordered to fit for the same service in which he had lately been so successfully employed, Captain Jahleel Brenton, who had been recommended by Earl St. Vincent, and who had been a volunteer during the last cruise, was appointed to the Cæsar as his captain.
On the 6th of January the ship came out of harbour, and having received her guns, and her stores and provisions for six months, the flag of Rear-admiral Sir James Saumarez was hoisted on the 24th; and on the 25th of February he sailed to resume the command of the in-shore squadron off Brest, but joined the Channel fleet at Torbay on the way thither. On the 7th March he arrived off the Black Rocks, where he relieved Admiral Thornbrough, and soon afterwards reconnoitred the harbour of Brest. On the 20th, the severe equinoctial gale forced the squadron into Douvarnenez Bay, where the ships anchored in eighteen fathoms, just out of reach of the enemy's shot. Here they remained, as much at their ease in the enemy's harbour as they would have been at Spithead, and were never molested. On the 25th March, after two attempts to work out of the bay, the squadron resumed their station at the Black Rocks.
The following is extracted from a letter from one of the officers of the Cæsar, dated 26th March:
Our advanced squadron of the Channel fleet, commanded by Sir James Saumarez, never quitted the French coast during the late stormy weather. We anchored during the late violent gales in Douvarnenez Bay, which is, in my opinion, one of the finest in the universe. It is sheltered from every wind but those from W. 1/2 N. to W. 1/2 S.; and even that opening is protected by a reef of rocks. Although the height of the gale was in the worst direction it could have been, yet, having no very considerable sea, we rode it out remarkably well. We lay, much to the disappointment of the enemy, just out of gun-shot of the forts. They favoured us, however, with some shells. We found, upon our re-appearance off Brest, that six Spaniards had equiped themselves, in addition to six Frenchmen, probably with a design to attack us.
The Government having been relieved from their anxiety for the safety of the in-shore squadron by a despatch from Sir James, Earl St. Vincent, who was now First Lord of the Admiralty, wrote to him the following letter of approbation:
Admiralty, 1st April 1801.
My dear Admiral,
The manner in which you have conducted the advanced squadron calls upon me to repeat my admiration of it. Your taking the anchorage in Douvarnenez Bay during the late equinoctial gales has been of the utmost importance, and prevented the crippling of one or more of your squadron. I heartily hope you continue in good health, for which and every other blessing you have the fervent wishes of
Your very sincere and obedient servant,St. Vincent.
To R. A. Sir James Saumarez.
During the whole of this month, Sir James kept his squadron generally within three or four miles of the entrance of Brest, from which it was never further than as many leagues. In this situation, and by frequently reconnoitring in his own ship, he was enabled to watch the preparations of the enemy, and to frustrate their designs to attack his squadron with a superior force; while he so completely blockaded their port that, as when he formerly commanded, no square-rigged vessel ever entered it, thereby preventing the necessary supplies of stores and provisions from reaching the depôt of their navy. Nor did a single vessel escape the unwearied vigilance and perseverance of the advanced squadron during the whole time it was under his command.
Early in May, letters reached him from Guernsey, intimating the great apprehension his countrymen were under of invasion by the enemy; when he wrote to Sir Thomas Troubridge, then one of the Lords of the Admiralty, who sent the following answer:
Admiralty, 17th May 1801.
My dear Sir James,
Many thanks for your kind letter of the 6th instant. I am sorry our French friends do not come out, that you may teach them English. The Gazette 26 will show you that our soldiers are getting into the habits of fighting.
We heard of the miscreants' intentions on the islands; and I have sent over several gun-brigs, gun-barges, frigates, sloops, &c. and a few additional troops. There are 5,000 regulars at Jersey, and some more going soon, so that I think they have little chance of success if they make the attempt; but it appears to me that the different powers cannot look on without interfering, and stopping the progress of the villains. In short, I hope to see them soon weighed down in a congress.
Lord St. Vincent's cough is better, and the warm weather will re-establish him. I beg you to give my best compliments to Brenton. Believe me
Yours most faithfully,Thomas Troubridge.
To Sir James Saumarez.
Thus released from the painful anxiety for the safety of the Channel islands, where so many of his dearest connexions resided, he wrote the following letter to his brother, Sir Thomas Saumarez, who was at that time in command of the local force in Guernsey:
Cæsar, off Ushant, 30th May 1801.
I have received your kind letter of the 17th, and am happy to hear that a considerable force has been sent for the protection of Guernsey and the other islands. They cannot be too well taken care of, when we consider the infinite mischief they would do to Great Britain, should they fall into the enemy's hands.
I am in daily expectation of being relieved by Admiral Thornbrough, after a fourteen weeks' cruise, which is rather a longer period than the Earl intended when I sailed from Spithead. Brenton is everything that can be desired. I have found in him a most excellent officer and a most agreeable companion.
It appears by his journal, that on the following day he received the welcome orders which put an end to his long and harassing cruise; also a private letter of importance from Earl Spencer: and, being relieved by Admiral Thornbrough on the 1st of June, he arrived on the 2nd at Cawsand Bay. Having reported the return of the Cæsar, he received in answer the following letters from Earl St. Vincent and Mr. Nepean:
Admiralty, 4th June 1801.
My dear Sir,
I am glad the Cæsar is in Cawsand Bay, because you will be the sooner informed of his Majesty's most gracious intentions towards you, in which I have greater pleasure than I can express, as you are to be placed at the head of a detached squadron destined for a very important service, at no great distance from home. I hope the Cæsar will not be long in fitting up.
Yours most truly,St. Vincent.
To Rear-admiral Sir James Saumarez.
Admiralty Office, 4th June 1801.
Sir,
I have received, and communicated to my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, your letter to me of the 2nd instant, acquainting me, for their lordships' information, of your arrival in H.M.S. Cæsar, in Cawsand Bay, in pursuance of orders from Admiral Cornwallis, a copy of which you have enclosed: and I have their lordships' commands to signify their directions to you to use every exertion in completing the stores and provisions of the said ship, as also of the Spencer; and, having so done, remain with the said ships in Cawsand Bay, in constant readiness to proceed on service, when you shall receive their lordships' orders for that purpose.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,Evan Nepean.
To Rear-admiral Sir James Saumarez.
The following is the reply to Earl St. Vincent's letter of the 4th June, dated
Cæsar, Cawsand Bay, 6th June.
My Lord,
Previously to receiving the honour of your lordship's letter, I had been informed by Earl Spencer of his Majesty's gracious intentions; and I beg to express my sincere acknowledgments for the part your lordship has taken in obtaining for me this mark of the royal favour.
I am much flattered by the communication your lordship has the goodness to make of having nominated me for the command of a squadron to be employed on a very particular service; and I beg your lordship will be assured of my most zealous exertions for the promotion of every part of it. I have the honour to be, &c.
Jas. Saumarez.
On the 7th of June, Sir James received the following communication from the Lords of the Admiralty, which could not fail to afford him the highest gratification.
Most secret.
By the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, &c
Whereas we have received information that a squadron consisting of five Spanish ships of the line, which lately sailed from Ferrol, have arrived at Cadiz; and that great exertions are now making at the last-mentioned place for the equipment of a further naval force, for the purpose (it is alleged) of an attack upon Portugal; we send you herewith copies of the several letters containing the information mentioned: and do hereby direct you, on the arrival of the Hannibal, Audacious, and Thames, at Plymouth, to take them under your command, (their captains being directed to follow your orders,) as also the Spencer, and either the Juste, Pompée, or Courageux, now in Cawsand Bay, whichever may first be ready, and proceed with them and the Cæsar, with as little delay as possible, off Cadiz, where you may expect to be joined by the Venerable and Superb, which ships you are also to take under your command; and use your best endeavours to prevent the enemy's ships at that port from putting to sea, or to take or destroy them should they sail from thence.
In the event of the enemy's squadron getting out of Cadiz undiscovered, either before or after your arrival off that place, you are to follow it, according to any well-grounded intelligence you may be able to obtain of it; but you are not to proceed in quest of it to any distant station, unless you should receive such information as shall leave no doubt of the certainty of the enemy's destination. If you should not be able to obtain any information of the enemy's squadron so as to enable you to follow it, you are in that case to repair with the ships under your command off the Straits, and send into Tangier and Gibraltar, and, finding that it has proceeded up the Mediterranean, to follow it; but, not gaining any intelligence of it, you are to resume your station off Cadiz, and remain there until you shall receive some information whereby your proceedings may be regulated.
And whereas it has been represented to us that three Portuguese ships of the line are now fitting out in the Tagus for the purpose of joining you and serving under your orders, you are, on the arrival of the said ships, to take them under your command, and employ them in such manner as you may judge most advisable in carrying these, or any other orders you may receive from us or from Admiral Lord Keith, (under whose command you are to consider yourself,) into execution. And whereas we have directed Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley to order one of the hired brigs, and either a cutter or lugger, to follow your orders; you are to take the commanders of these vessels under your command, and, on your repairing to your station, you are to send one of them into the Tagus for the purpose of apprizing his Majesty's minister there of your situation, and for obtaining from him such intelligence as he may have to give you.
Whilst you remain on this service, you are to send occasionally to Lisbon for intelligence, and to keep a good look-out for any French squadron which may attempt either to join the Spanish ships at Cadiz, or to pass through the Straits; and to use your best endeavours to intercept, and to take or destroy it, if the force you may have with you should be sufficient to enable you to do so; taking care to avoid it in time, if the enemy's force should be so superior to that under your command as to render it improper for you to attack it; in which case it is left to your discretion to act as circumstances shall require: using, however, every possible exertion to join the commander-in-chief of his Majesty's ships in the Mediterranean, or to fall in with the same detachment of his Majesty's ships; and, so soon as you shall have collected such a force as may be sufficient to enable you to attack the enemy's squadron, you are to proceed in quest of it, and, upon falling in with it, to bring it to action.
In case you should get sight of a French squadron, or should obtain certain information that such squadron has passed the Straits, you are no longer to attend to the Spanish ships in Cadiz, but to consider the capture or destruction of the French squadron as the principal object to which your exertions are to be directed; and, in the event of your following any squadron into the Mediterranean, you are to send an account thereof to our secretary, as well as to Admiral Lord Keith, with as little delay as possible; and you are also to transmit to him and the said admiral, by every proper opportunity that may offer, accounts of your proceedings, and of every information you may be able to obtain of the movements and intentions of the enemy.
Given under our hands, 6th day of June 1801.St. Vincent.St. Vincent.J. Markham.
To Sir James Saumarez, Bart.
Rear-admiral of the Blue,
Plymouth.
By command of their Lordships,
Evan Nepean.
The following is the copy of information transmitted to Sir James with the above letter:
No. 1
Dated Lisbon, 15th May 1801.
My Lord,
It appears, from the report of an American captain arrived here from Bilboa, that a French corps had passed within a few miles of that place, on their way to Vittoria, on the 21st and 22nd ultimo. It consisted in the whole of 7,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry, well armed and mounted; and had reached their place of encampment, supposed to be Burgos, according to the accounts which had arrived at Bilboa, on the 30th day, when the vessel sailed. It appeared evident that no other troops had passed the frontier at that time, though it was uniformly reported that a body of no less than 22,000 men were collected at Bayonne.
The Spanish army on the south side of the Tagus, between Badajos and Alcantara, amounts to 21,000 men; of which 10,000 are encamped at Badajos, 8,000 at Albuquerque, and the remainder between Vincenti and Alcantara. The Prince of Peace was daily expected at head-quarters. His aides-de-camp were already arrived, and a train of 700 mules had been collected for the conveyance of his baggage. The French detachment was destined to join the army of Castile, which I already mentioned to your lordship has returned from its movements towards the northern provinces, and taken a position to the southward of Ciudad Rodrigo. Its numbers and distribution are not so accurately known, but it is stated to be equal to the army of Estremadura, with the addition of the French auxiliaries.
I have the honour to be, &c.J.H.Frere.
No. 2
My Lord,
By intelligence which arrived from Cadiz, in date of the second of this month, it appears that there were in that port five Spanish ships of the line, which had pushed out from Ferrol, conformably to the report which I mentioned to your lordship in my last despatch. There was at the same time (in Cadiz) an additional force of eight or ten sail preparing for sea; four of them of the line, and the remainder frigates. This equipment was however retarded by the want of naval stores, particularly sailcloth and cables, which was occasioned by the late fire which has taken place in the arsenal, as well as by the total want of money, which was such that many of the officers were actually reduced to subsist on charity.
The informant, whose authority may be depended on, adds that a squadron from Brest was expected to join them. It was supposed that the whole armament would be directed against Portugal; and this supposition was not weakened by a report which was given out industriously that the object of the intended expedition was to make a landing on the coast of Barbary, in order to force the Emperor of Morocco to shut his ports against the English. The ships from Ferrol have the French and Spanish colours united in the same flag. It was understood that the ships now arming in Cadiz were to be commanded by French officers. They were victualled only for a very short voyage.
Respecting the danger to which this capital would be exposed by a coup-de-main, which might be attempted in spite of the batteries at the entrance of the river, as well as the possibility of effecting a landing a few miles off Cascaes, your lordship has at hand the means of information so much superior to any which I could presume to offer, or collect from professional persons here, that I shall only presume to solicit your lordship's attention to the consideration of this subject, and to the necessity which may arise out of it, for employing a naval force upon this station. Don Rodrigo has informed me that the three Portuguese ships of the line, which I mentioned to your lordship as preparing for service, will be ready within three weeks to form a junction with any force which his Majesty might be pleased to detach, for the defence of Portugal; and that two more would be prepared to follow them within a short time after.
It appears by a letter from Viana, that the master of an English vessel, who had been captured on the 10th ultimo by Le Telegraph privateer, and carried into Corunna on the 23rd, had found there two large French frigates, which had arrived immediately before him in eight days from Cherbourg, laden with some ammunition, and destined (as they reported) for Cadiz. The master of Le Telegraph had avoided putting into any of his own ports from the apprehension of being detained, as it was reported that other privateers had been stopped, and stripped of their men, on account of a secret expedition which was fitting out in the French ports.
I have the honour to be, &c.J.H. Frere.
The Right Honourable Lord Hawkesbury, &c. &c. &c.
No. 3
Intelligence arrived from General O'Hara, at Gibraltar.
Arrived by land the crew of the Fortune privateer, consisting of twelve men. They report that last Saturday, between three and four p.m. they saw two three-deckers and three seventy-fours arrive at Cadiz from Ferrol; that the Santissima Trinidad, another Spanish three-decker, is completed and ready in that harbour; and that they are fitting out five other line-of-battle ships at Cadiz, which have their lower-masts in; that, in order to man the said ships, they are detaining all the crews of the French privateers; that those eleven ships are to be commanded by French officers; and they say the five ships in the Caraccas will soon be ready,—that they observed a number of seamen rigging them.—Gibraltar, 29th April 1801.
List of the armament fitting out at Cadiz
The above ships are commanded by French officers, and probably, therefore, are those which are alluded to as having been ceded to France.
27 24-pounders each.
Cæsar, Cawsand Bay, 9th June 1801.
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of their lordships' secret orders, dated 6th instant; and, in compliance therewith, I have directed Captain Stirling, of his Majesty's ship Pompée, to put himself under my command.
Be pleased to inform their lordships that Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley has acquainted me that there is no hired armed brig at this port except the Louisa, and has placed the Joseph, hired cutter, only under my orders.
I am, sir,Your most obedient servant,James Saumarez.
To Evan Nepean, Esq. &c. &c. &c.
We need scarcely add that every possible exertion was made on the part of the admiral, the captains, officers, and crews of the respective ships, to get the squadron ready for sea; and in eight days the equipment was completed.
Before we record a circumstance which, in rewarding the merits of the new commander-in-chief, afforded great and universal satisfaction to the royal navy, we take occasion to introduce a correspondence, which, in order to avoid interruption of the narrative, has been omitted, and which will now be found more interesting.
Royal George, between Ushant and the Black Rocks, 26th July 1800.
My dear Lord,
I need not describe to your lordship the merit of Sir James Saumarez, which cannot be surpassed. In a conversation I accidentally had with him last evening, I learned that his ambition had been much disappointed in not being created a baronet; and he thought I was wanting, in not pointing to this object in the letter I had the honour to write your lordship by him, after the battle of the Nile, where he was second in command; and he also conceives that your lordship led him to hope this mark of approbation of his services would have been conferred upon him. May I therefore trespass upon your indulgence, to request you will bring it about, if possible, as nothing can gratify me more, than that officers, who have signalised themselves under my auspices, should be amply rewarded.
Yours, most faithfully,St. Vincent.
To the Right Hon. Earl Spencer.
A copy of the preceding having been sent by Earl St. Vincent to Sir James, produced the following answer:—
My Lord,
Permit me to express my sincere acknowledgments for the very handsome letter you have done me the favour to write on a certain subject to Lord Spencer. Whether it meets with the expected success, or otherwise, I shall ever feel grateful for your obliging intentions towards me: at the same time, I am persuaded your lordship must coincide with my feelings, when I observe that the boon now pointed out was no more than the services I had the good fortune to be employed upon, gave me reason to expect long before this.
That health, and every possible success may ever attend your lordship, is the fervent wish of
My dear lord,Your much obliged,and faithful humble servant,Jas. Saumarez.
Cæsar, 29th July 1800.
On the 13th of June, his Majesty, having taken into consideration the meritorious services of Sir James Saumarez, was pleased to create him a Baronet of the United Kingdom; and, as an additional mark of the royal favour, permission was granted under the King's sign manual to wear the supporters to the arms of his family (which had been registered in the Heralds' office since the reign of Charles the Second); a privilege to which no commoner is entitled without a dispensation from the Crown. Of these honours Sir James was informed by Earl St. Vincent, at that time First Lord of the Admiralty, at the moment the Cæsar and squadron were about to proceed on one of the most interesting, and, as it turned out, one of the most glorious expeditions that ever left the shores of Great Britain.
