20 chapters
4 hour read
Selected Chapters
20 chapters
CHAPTER I ENTERING THE NAVY
CHAPTER I ENTERING THE NAVY
Born in April 1841, I was about six months more than twelve years old when I joined the Royal Navy. My father was the seventh Earl of Sandwich; my mother, a daughter of the Marquis of Anglesea, who commanded cavalry at Waterloo, and lost his leg by one of the last shots fired on that eventful day. It is said that when Lord Anglesea’s thigh was struck he happened to be riding by the side of the Duke of Wellington, and exclaimed, suddenly, “O the Devil! my leg is hit!” The Duke turned round, looke
7 minute read
CHAPTER II THE “PRINCESS ROYAL”
CHAPTER II THE “PRINCESS ROYAL”
I joined the Princess Royal , commanded by my uncle, Lord Clarence Paget, and found that beautiful 91-gun line-of-battle ship lying at Spithead, preparing for sea. The family butler was deputed to see me safely on board and report on his return. He had been long a servant of my father—I believe he had been his valet at Cambridge;—and many were the hours he had spent with my brothers and myself ferreting and hunting with terriers; and we were all much attached to him. It was blowing a fresh gale
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CHAPTER III WAR WITH RUSSIA DECLARED
CHAPTER III WAR WITH RUSSIA DECLARED
On the 14th of April, lying in this same bay, we suddenly saw a mass of bunting flying on board the Duke of Wellington . The signal, indeed, gave us great joy. It announced that “War was declared with Russia.” I shall never forget officers and men all rushing on deck helter-skelter. The blue-jackets were up the rigging in a jiffy, and cheer after cheer echoed through the Fleet. I believe the actual date of the Declaration was the 15th of March, just three weeks previously. I shall not attempt to
9 minute read
CHAPTER IV THE CRIMEA
CHAPTER IV THE CRIMEA
Our ships had some experience of attacking forts (in the Black Sea) on the 17th of October 1854. We did not damage the forts. On the other hand, we received a good dose in return: wooden walls and granite forts are different things. Then, again, the combined Fleets must indeed have paralysed the Russian Fleet, which was so much inferior. But it was a pity that when we sailed for the Baltic (and still more so when we got there) we were led to think of mighty deeds in store for us. When our medals
31 minute read
CHAPTER V PUNISHMENTS IN THE NAVY
CHAPTER V PUNISHMENTS IN THE NAVY
The new Captain was a horrid speculation to us juniors. When it was announced that he was Sir Lewis Tobias Jones, dread ran through us. He was what we called a “taut hand”: an officer with a stern sense of duty, which was all he lived for on board ship. That was his reputation. We were agreeably surprised after a very short time. For myself, I had great admiration for his character, and none could question his great abilities. I was soon made his A.D.C., and got on swimmingly. I recollect his ru
6 minute read
CHAPTER VI RUSSIA COLLAPSES
CHAPTER VI RUSSIA COLLAPSES
Early in September 1855 it was generally known that the game was nearly up with the Russians. Sebastopol could not hold out much longer. The bombarding had been very heavy and constant for some days. On the 7th of that month the combined Fleets made all preparations to attack the forts in conjunction with the land batteries. We prepared for action, got all our upper masts down, unrove a deal of rope, placed shot about the deck, and demolished all bulkheads; and when once the splinter nettings we
6 minute read
CHAPTER VII LEISURE HOURS
CHAPTER VII LEISURE HOURS
We stayed a few days at Constantinople en passant . I enjoyed as many hours as possible ashore at the Embassy with the kind Lord Stratford de Redcliffe and his charming family. Then we cruised, spending a few days at the lovely Princes Islands, in the Sea of Marmora; then on to Smyrna. Smyrna was a charming place to lie at. The merchants and the Levantines were hospitable. After their work hours, I used to drive out to their country bungalows, and dine and stay the night; and, by my wig, what pr
9 minute read
CHAPTER VIII SOME DISTINGUISHED SAILORS
CHAPTER VIII SOME DISTINGUISHED SAILORS
Within a month of the letter from Captain Keppel to my father, I was appointed to the Raleigh , sailing frigate of 50 guns, then fitting out for the East Indies and China stations. I recall vividly the honour I felt at the idea of serving under that Captain. I had been thrown in with him all through the Baltic and the Crimean campaigns. I did not serve in the Naval Brigade ashore; but he was the constant companion of my uncle when opportunities offered, and in that way I saw a deal of him. Throu
9 minute read
CHAPTER IX PLAY ON BOARD; AND SOME DUTIES
CHAPTER IX PLAY ON BOARD; AND SOME DUTIES
One day was much like another, though, I am sure, we middies enjoyed the whole business. There was constant interest in watching the good ship speeding along, driving great bow waves in front of her, the foam churning up along her sides as she passed swiftly through the water. Occasionally some studding-sail-boom would carry away, or ropes attached to it would break; and we watched the degrees of seamanship exercised by the various officers in getting sails reset as speedily as possible. This ca
6 minute read
CHAPTER X PIRATE-HUNTING; AND A DINNER PARTY
CHAPTER X PIRATE-HUNTING; AND A DINNER PARTY
The only time I can recollect being in comparatively abject terror, knowing that I must be killed to a certainty, and among the first to die, was when I was employed pirate-hunting on the coast of Asia Minor, in the Foxhound sloop, commanded by the late Hobart Pasha. I was sent away cruising for a fortnight at a time on the south coast of Asia Minor in a 10-oared cutter. I used to lie in some creek on the coast. Sometimes we slept in any old hovel, in any cover, we could find near the shore, but
4 minute read
CHAPTER XI WAR WITH CHINA DECLARED
CHAPTER XI WAR WITH CHINA DECLARED
After leaving the Cape we steered a southerly course for some days, so as to get hold of the south-east trade winds, which took us north to the line, making a poor passage of it; but from the line to Penang, by the north end of Sumatra, we made a tedious voyage. We were becalmed near the line for several days, in the doldrums. There was no dependence on a breeze when it sprang up. It was generally accompanied by strong wet squalls, which blew hard for a short time from all directions, and left y
4 minute read
CHAPTER XII THE “RALEIGH” WRECKED
CHAPTER XII THE “RALEIGH” WRECKED
On the 14th of April 1857 we were sailing along close-hauled on a lovely day. A nice, gentle breeze was blowing; land and islands were all round us; and we had got within thirty miles of our destination, Hong-Kong, when suddenly, at one o’clock, while the ship’s company were at dinner, the good ship struck a rock. Her bow lifted right up; but not for a moment did it deaden her way. She heaved, and passed on. In an instant all hands rushed on deck, and the consternation was simply appalling. We a
26 minute read
From Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour.
From Rear-Admiral Sir Michael Seymour.
Sir ,—I had the satisfaction of communicating yesterday to the squadron generally my high sense of the zeal and gallantry displayed by the officers and men in the decisive action against the Chinese war junks in Fatshan Creek on the 1st inst., but I feel it is further incumbent on me to express personally my admiration of the cool courage and good judgment with which you led the attack, first in the gun-boats until they grounded, and afterwards in the ships’ boats up the Fatshan branch, when in
6 minute read
CHAPTER XIV MORE PIRATE HUNTING
CHAPTER XIV MORE PIRATE HUNTING
After Fatshan actual war operations were more or less over; but we had a deal of pirate hunting. All the trading-junks were more or less pirates if occasion offered: the whole country was demoralised. One day, lying at anchor in the Hong-Kong , we saw on the other side of the river, two or three miles away, a piratical junk chasing two others laden with salt. In less than no time Keppel ordered me to man a cutter of twelve men and go after him. The pirate did not show fight when I got near. He r
7 minute read
CHAPTER XV THE INDIAN MUTINY
CHAPTER XV THE INDIAN MUTINY
The Mutiny was at its height. Regiments bound to China had been stopped at the Cape or at Singapore, and sent on to India. The Shannon , a 51-gun frigate, was told off for duties similar to our own; and we started together next day. If I recollect aright, I was not very keen on this change of scene. How little a boy foresees! I was, most probably, weary, and sorry not to have a few days more at the charming bungalow. (My letters rather implied this.) Then, I had no idea of what was in store. I t
9 minute read
CHAPTER XVI THE NAVAL BRIGADE AT WORK
CHAPTER XVI THE NAVAL BRIGADE AT WORK
In describing what I saw of the Mutiny I shall not be able to give a very correct account of the places we went to, more especially as to the names. I must be pardoned for mistakes. It is somewhat curious that I do not retain in my memory many incidents of the campaign that might prove interesting to read. I say curious, because I find I remember matters of much more antiquated dates quite easily in comparison with those which occurred between October 1857 and February 1859, during the time I wa
10 minute read
CHAPTER XVII INCIDENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN
CHAPTER XVII INCIDENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN
From this period—the end of December 1857 until the 10th of February 1858—our work consisted in sending out detachments to destroy villages and the houses of rebel Rajahs. On one occasion a Sikh discovered 30,000 rupees (belonging to some Rajah) hidden in the wall of a cow-house. Needless to say, this money was handed over to the Government: much to our dissatisfaction, as we rather anticipated having our respective shares doled out to us. Occasionally our camping-ground was changed, so as to ke
12 minute read
CHAPTER XVIII A TOUCH-AND-GO ENGAGEMENT
CHAPTER XVIII A TOUCH-AND-GO ENGAGEMENT
All the 4th of March we were busy strengthening our entrenchments, filling up tumbrils and ammunition hackeries: in short, preparing. Information had arrived that the enemy were going to attack us on the 5th, and would bring a very strong force to the task. Several of the swell rebel Rajahs were to be present. All was in readiness by dark on the evening of the 4th; and at 2 A.M. on the morning of the 5th the alarm was sounded. The force moved out of its entrenchments, and formed up a mile or so
14 minute read
CHAPTER XIX COMPLIMENTS TO THE NAVAL BRIGADE
CHAPTER XIX COMPLIMENTS TO THE NAVAL BRIGADE
It was a pretty sight when we marched away. All our old comrades cheered us; the Ghoorkas, the Bengal Yeomanry Cavalry, and the 13th Foot, who had been our companions during the greater part of the eighteen months we were landed, followed us out of camp; and the bands played for a goodly distance along the road. Hand-shaking and leave-taking followed, and Brigadier-General Rowcroft made us a most complimentary speech. He was very much cut up (no wonder, considering all we had gone through togeth
5 minute read
CHAPTER XX HOME AGAIN
CHAPTER XX HOME AGAIN
The Pearl arrived at Spithead early in June, and was immediately paid off. Our Lieutenants were all promoted, and the midshipmen were to have their Lieutenants’ commissions when duly qualified after examination. Besides, we received the great honour of being voted the thanks of both Houses of Parliament for our services during the mutiny. After two months’ leave I was appointed to the Algiers , then in the Channel Fleet. I had to wait until the following spring to complete my six years as a mid
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