Admiral Vernon And The Navy

Front matter

“ADMIRAL VERNON.

From the Painting by Gz ough in the National Portrait Galler

(Frontispiece.

CHAPTER II A naval retrospect—Bantry Bay—Battle of Beachy Head

Lord Torrington disgraced—British victory in battle of La Hogue—Edward Vernon among the sailors—Nick-

~ named “ The Admiral”—“ Coached ” by Sir Isaac Newton

—London in Vernon’s boyhood—The City and the Navy —Covent Garden and its associations—Evelyn and Pepys at Portsmouth—Corruption at the Admiralty—Jack ashore —Vernon enters the Navy—The ordeal of a midshipman .

CHAPTER III After La Hogue—“ Honest Benbow”—Death of William

III.—Queen Anne—Her Lord High Admiral—Battle of Vigo Bay—Vernon’s baptism of fire—Thackeray’s account in “ Esmond ”—Results of the victory—Maritime trade in time of war—Vernon present at capture of Gibraltar— Services of the Marines—Vernon in the battle of Malaga —Admiral Rooke’s political enemies—Patriotic addresses to Queen Anne—Rooke’s retirement and death—Vernon and other officers receive royal rewards . xill

II

Pig. SCS See al Rye ee a era Semen pean ey Set ne EE

CHAPTER IV 5 Peter the Great and the Navy—Speech when self-made a Vice- 5 Admiral—Vernon serves in the Baltic—Protection of shipping—Blockading the Russian ports—Further service e under Sir Cloudesley Shovel—The etiquette of the Flag— British sovereignty of the sea—Van Tromp and the Union Jack—Treaty with the Dutch—Admirals’ flags in Vernon’s time—Sailing ships in action—Difficulty in manning our ships—The great storm of 1703—-Vernon shipwrecked with Sir Cloudesley Shovel in the storm of 1707—Honour paid to the Admiral’s memory—Sir John Leake—Defoe’s naval project—The press-gang and the law—Renewed trouble in the West Indies—Government employment of Captain Kidd—Kidd’s piracies—Parliamentary attack on the King and his Ministers—Kidd at the Bar of the House of Commons—Kidd convicted at the Old Bailey and hanged—France and our American Colonies — French attack defeated at Charlestown—Commodore Wager’s expedition—Spanish treasure-ships— Vernon appointed captain of the ¥ersey—Makes important captures—Proclamation of peace—Naval scandals in 1711—Bishop Burnet as critic—Dean Swift on our bargain with Portugal—Death of Queen Anne F : : : : Pee)

Chapter V

King George I. arrives in England—the “‘ Maypole” and the “ Elephant "—Dean Swift and his friends out of favour— £100,000 offered for the apprehension of the Pretender —A schoolmaster flogged—A futile fleet in the North— Captain Vernon and the expedition to the Baltic—The Czar as admiral—Captain Delgarno and the pirate ship— Quarrel with Sweden—Byng’s squadron in the Mediterranean—Fight off Cape Passaro—Spanish ships captured by Captain Walton—Spain retaliates—Intended invasion of Britain—The Quadruple Alliance—Russia’s oppression of the Swedes—British squadron sent to the Baltic— Vernon commands a fifty-gun ship—Pirate squadron in the West Indies—Successful stratagem of Captain Ogle— Fifty-two pirates executed—Captain Vernon enters Parliament—Effect of the South Sea Bubble—Law and the gh pl : in Hanover—His dats foal for more seamen— g Na aval demonstration against Russia—Spaniards _ besiege — Sibriter= Death OF Geers PS aE or

Chapter VI

Erapein Vernon re-elected for Penryn—Serves before Gibraltar under Sir Charles Wager—Vote towards the debt for seamen’s wages—Royal names for royal ships—Proposal - for registration of seamen—Spanish attacks upon British shipping — Vernon and Sir Robert Walpole — Fleet assembled—A patched-up peace—Inquiry into naval finances refused by Ministers—England and Spain—A farcical subsidy—Convention of Prado—British captain mutilated by Spaniards — Excitement in England — Vernon’s speeches in the House—Treaties and trade— Spain claims a British colony— Figures and fleets— , Conference at the Admiralty—Parliamentary Reports in , embryo — Vernon and the people — Walpole’s sinister revenge — Vernon’s advocacy of warlike measures— Appointed Vice-Admiral of the Blue—Received by the King—Squadron placed under his command—No marines on board—The Admiral’s troops—A Ministry of mean expedients—Squadron reaches Jamaica—The King and the nation—His Majesty’s quarrel with the Prince of Wales . : : : ‘ 3 “ “220

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Chapter VII

Strength of Porto-Bello—Arrival of British Fleet—Attack opened—Town captured—Terms of capitulation—Vernon removes guns and destroys fortifications — Address in Parliament—Rejoicings in England—Lord Chesterfield’s tribute to Vernon—Walpole’s position—Debates in Parliament—Defeat of the Ministry—Was Walpole a traitor ?— Vernon’s success the cause of his fall—Auxiliary fleet sails to join the Admiral—Death of the Military Commander— Dangers from hostile fleets 3 F : Pile Kr:

xvi ADMIRAL VERNON AND THE NAVY

Chapter VIII

Admiral Vernon bombards Carthagena—Forts silenced and troops landed—Spanish flag-ship captured—Failure of General Wentworth’s operations—Sickness among the troops—Story of the siege in “ Roderick Random”—What i the fleet accomplished—Hospital ships of the period— Sufferings of the men—Lines by Thomson in “The Seasons”’—Lawrence Washington serves under Vernon— George Washington contemplates entering the Royal Navy—His estate named “ Mount Vernon” in honour of the Admiral—[Tree planted there by Archbishop of Canterbury in 1904]—Return of the fleet to Jamaica— Plan for attacking Cuba—Troops landed to surprise Santiago—Wentworth fails—Vernon’s captures—Return to England—Reception at Bristol—Receives the Freedom of the City of London—Takes his seat in House of Commons as member for Ipswich . ; ; . 152

Chapter IX

Vernon’s association with Portsmouth—Episodes in the history of the naval capital—Henry VIII. and the Marye Rose— The wreck of the Royal George—Murder of the Duke of Buckingham—Honours paid to Charles I.—Siege, and entry of the Cromwellians—Marriage of Charles I1.—The Duchess of Portsmouth—Visit of William III. to Portsmouth—Pepys at Portsmouth—Old Portsmouth inns— Scene of Nelson’s last embarkation—The fleet intended to support Admiral Vernon in 1740—James Wolfe to join the expedition—Wolfe’s letters from Portsmouth—His opinion of the inhabitants—Sailors and soldiers of the period— Wolfe’s final embarkation—The Royal William brings his body back to Portsmouth—Other naval functions at Portsmouth and Spithead . g : : Hee

Chapter X

Vernon completes forty years’ service—The Admiralty ask his advice on the manning and arming of the Navy—His trenchant criticism—“ My Lords” resent his candour —Unjust removal of his name from Navy List—He

CONTENTS blames Lord Winchelsea—On change of Government he is reinstated—Gazetted Admiral of the White—Recalled to active service when England threatened with invasion— Hoists his flag at Portsmouth [where H.M.S. Vernon still commemorates him]—The young Pretender puts to sea— H.M.S. Lion attacks the convoy—Jacobite force in the North—Retreat from Derby and defeat at Culloden—How Vernon checkmated the French in the Channel—Rodney’s early achievement—The Kentish smugglers— Vernon hunted out of his command—Entick’s tribute to his services—Horace Walpole’s reluctant praise—Disparagement by other critics—Our defenceless coast in 1745—

_ Vernon’s letter to the Duke of Bedford—Why the sailors nicknamed the Admiral “ Old Grog’”’

CHAPTER XI Scare of invasion in 1755—France rides the high horse

England’s reply—Captain Cockburn’s gallant exploits— Hessians in England again — Uniform of the period —French designs on Minorca—Byng’s failure—Surrender of British garrison—Indignation in England — Feeling against Byng — Lampoons and epigrams— Memorable court martial—The question at issue—Stern requirements of the law—Naval discipline in ancient times—The law codified in George II.’s reign—Byng recommended to mercy—Proceedings in Parliament—Sentence of death confirmed—The Admiral’s courage at the last—Executed on the Monarque in Portsmouth harbour .

CHAPTER XII Court-martial law under the Georges—Debates in Parliament

—Part taken by Vernon and other naval officers—General Wolfe’s criticism of the failure of the fleet off Minorca— Jingoes of the period—Dearth of able commanders on sea and land—“ Old Blakeney ”—Walpole on the generals— Lord Loudoun—“ Popgun” Hopson—“ Hangman” Hawley —Made Governor of Portsmouth—Rise of Wolfe and Howe—Political appointments in the Navy—Trumped-up charge against Admiral Keppel—Popular feeling against xvii ADMIRAL VERNON AND THE NAVY

PAGE Admiral Palliser — His flight from Portsmouth — The 3 London mob in Pall Mall—Charles Fox on the scene— Honours for Keppel—Court resentment against him . 235