Part 1

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A LETTER TO A Gentleman in the Country, FROM His Friend in LONDON: Giving an Authentick and circumstantial Account of the Confinement, Behaviour, and Death of ADMIRAL BYNG, As attested by the Gentlemen who were present.

_Mens conscia Recti._

LONDON:

Printed for and sold by J. LACY, the Corner of St. Martin's-Court, St. Martin's-Lane, near Leicester-Fields. MDCCLVII.

[Price One Shilling.]

_Just published, and sold by_ J. Lacy, _at the Corner of_ St. Martin's-Court, St. Martin's-Lane, _near_ Leicester-Fields.

I. Further Particulars in Relation to the Case of Admiral Byng, from original Papers, by a Gentleman of Oxford. Price one Shilling.

II. A Collection of several Pamphlets very little known: Some suppressed Letters, and sundry detached Pieces, relative to the Case of Admiral Byng. Price one Shilling and Six-pence.

III. A further Address to the Publick; containing genuine Copies of all the Letters which passed between Admiral Byng and the S------y of the Ad----ty, from the Time of his Suspension to the 25th of October last. Price one Shilling.

IV. The whole and genuine Trial of Admiral Byng, two Volumes Octavo. N. B. For the better understanding of which, five curious Prints are added, which exhibit the different Positions of both Fleets, before, at, and after the Engagement. Price five Shillings.

V. Admiral Byng's Defence as presented by him, and read in the Court Martial, on Board his Majesty's Ship St. George in Portsmouth-Harbour, January, 18. 1757. Price Six-pence.

N. B. Most Money for any Library or Parcel of Books; Books elegantly bound; and Gentlemen's Libraries gilt, or lettered, methodiz'd, and Catalogues written either in Town or Country.

A LETTER TO A Gentleman in the Country, FROM His Friend in LONDON, _&c._

DEAR SIR,

Agreeable to your request, I have taken great pains to collect all the particulars, relating to the behaviour and death of the unfortunate ADMIRAL BYNG.

You know me sufficiently, to be satisfied that I have never had any biass in his favour, or against him. But as the whole affair has been laid before the publick, sufficiently plain for every man of common sense, not prejudiced, to understand it; excepting some _inexplicable_ Circumstances relating to the _Court Martial_; I may be allowed to judge for myself, and yield to truths which I think can admit of no farther controversy.

It is true, there are yet _sophisters_, who want to _impose_ upon us; but I think their designs are easily seen through. It is impossible that any impartial man should fail to observe the almost incredible pains taken to misrepresent and blacken his publick and private character. Even now, after he has paid the forfeit of his _life_, for _crimes_, at most, only _disputably so_, there are a great number of emissaries, who seem to make it their business to go from one coffee-house to another, spreading the most scandalous reports with regard to his death. _Dying Speeches_, containing the most _infamous absurdities_, have been imposed upon the publick, with several booksellers names prefixed in the title-page, in order to give them the air of authenticity.

For what end and purposes all these measures have been taken, they can best tell, who have always been, and still continue so indefatigably industrious. But I must confess they greatly raise my indignation; and I am at last fully persuaded, _hidden political machinery_ has been employed against this unfortunate gentleman. Our friend _D----_ says, _cunning heads, black hearts, and long purses_. Indeed, I think it appears very evident, that some persons are very active and solicitous to _load him_ with ignominious crimes, with a view _to exculpate themselves_, or others; to render him odious in the eyes of the people, that his fall may be unlamented. But can a generous nation, like this, where understanding abounds, accept of his blood for the crimes of any other? surely, it cannot be.

I believe you will agree with me in thinking, that the Admiral's behaviour before and at the time of his death; his observations and conversation with his friends; together with the paper containing his thoughts on the occasion, wrote by himself, and signed, which he gave to the Marshal of the Admiralty, immediately before the sentence passed upon him was put in execution; must hereafter be his best APOLOGY, EXCULPATION, and ENCOMIUM; must reflect honour upon his family, and be an _indelible reproach to some of our cotemporaries_; who have practised every _wicked artifice, to deceive and spirit up the people_, and to throw a mist over the whole of this transaction.

Without any farther preamble, I shall proceed to give you a relation of the particulars, as they are ascertained to me, by the concurring testimony of gentlemen who were upon the spot; whose veracity cannot be doubted, and whose authority to vouch them again, may be easily obtained.

As you have critically perused the trial and sentence, I presume you will be pleased with some particulars as far back as the time of passing the sentence.

On _Thursday_ the 27th of _January_, when the Admiral was sent for on board the _St. George_ to receive his sentence, he declared to some of his friends, that he expected to be reprimanded, and that he possibly might be cashiered; "_because_, said he, _there must have been several controverted points; the Court Martial has been shut up a long time; and almost all the questions proposed by the Court have tended much more to pick out faults in my conduct, than to get at a true state of the circumstances; but I profess, I cannot conceive what they will fix upon_."

Soon after he got on board, and was in the cabbin upon the quarter-deck, a member of the _Court Martial_ came out, and told one of his relations, he had the Court's leave to inform him, they had found the Admiral capitally guilty; in order that he might prepare him to receive the sentence. The gentleman went up to him immediately; but was so surprised, he could not tell how to inform him. The Admiral observing his countenance, said to him, "_What is the matter? Have they broke me?_" The gentleman hesitating in his reply, with some confusion of countenance, he added, "_Well, I understand--If nothing but my Blood will satisfy, let them take it_." Immediately after this, he was sent for into Court, where he continued to be the only man that did not appear moved, while the sentence was reading by the Judge-advocate; and went ashore afterwards with the same air and composure that he came on board.

A gentleman afterwards endeavoured to give him consolation, by representing to him, that a _sentence without guilt could be no stain_; that it was highly improbable such a sentence would be put in execution, considering the extraordinary circumstances attending it; and that there was the greatest probability of a pardon. He replied, "_What will that signify to me? What satisfaction can I receive from the liberty to crawl a few years longer on the earth, with the infamous load of a Pardon at my back? I despise life upon such terms, and would rather have them take it_."

The gentleman then remarked to him, that his pardon must proceed from justice rather than mercy; and must be more an acknowlegment of his innocence, than a forgiveness of guilt: with that distinction he seemed better satisfied, and reconciled to the thought.

Some days after the sentence was passed, he was conveyed on board the _Monarque_, and confined in the captain's cabbin upon the quarter-deck. And as soon as the warrant for his death arrived at _Portsmouth_, all his friends who came to see him, were obliged to leave him before it was dark, and go on shore. An additional number of marine officers and marines were ordered on board that ship. An officer regularly mounted guard, and a great number of centinels were placed, _viz._ two upon the fore-castle, one over each side in the chains, two at the cabbin-door, two upon the poop, two in a boat under the ship's stern, and, for some part of the time, two in the stern-gallery; besides a guard-boat constantly rowing round the ship during the night. These centinels had orders to call aloud to each other, _all is well_, every five minutes throughout the night; by which means, almost as soon as the last centinel had answered, it was time for the first to begin again, and there was a perpetual round of, _all is well_. This circumstance almost totally depriving the Admiral of sleep, because the centinels were mostly close to him where he lay, made him frequently say, "_I did hope for leave to sleep, and apprehend I might be sufficiently guarded and taken care of, without so frequent a repetition of this noisy ceremony close to my ear_."

At length the lieutenants of the ship had orders to watch in the great cabbin, relieving each other every four hours, as is customary at sea: so that there was always one of them in the cabbin with him day and night, who delivered up the charge of the Admiral's person to the next officer, keeping a journal, in which was minuted down every person's name who came to him, the time when he came, and the time of his going away; and the order to the centinels for calling out every five minutes, was then omitted.

When captain _Montague_ waited upon him, to inform him that the warrant from the Admiralty was come, for putting the sentence passed upon him in execution, he received the news with the same cool composure, that he had received the sentence; without discovering the smallest emotion, depression of spirits, or alteration in his behaviour.

The same gentleman waited upon him again, on the 27th of _February_, being the day before that which was appointed for his execution, and, in Admiral _Boscawen_'s name, acquainted him that a respite was arrived for fourteen days. He composedly desired his compliments to Admiral _Boscawen_, with thanks for his intelligence, without appearing in the smallest degree elevated, or even pleased beyond his usual. His friends, on that occasion, represented to him what had passed in the House of Commons, magnified and dwelt upon every favourable circumstance; and, giving themselves up to joy, congratulated him on the certainty of an honourable pardon, which they imagined must follow. He calmly replied, "_I am glad you think so, because it makes you easy and happy; but I think it is now become an affair merely_ political, _without any farther relation to_ right or wrong, justice or injustice; _and therefore I differ in opinion from you_."

During all the time of his confinement, his comportment was uniformly the same; almost always chearful, sometimes, with decency, facetious. This gave rise to a rumour that he expected a pardon, or meditated an escape; which was most industriously propagated, to lessen the merit of his behaviour, by the same instruments that had been always made use of to wrest every circumstance to his disadvantage, and asperse him. Some of those _wretches_ were employed, during his trial, to send up to town, for the newspapers, _false minutes_ of the evidence; and to pick out such passages as could be made to bear a harsh construction, or, by _sophistical_ comments, be brought to carry the appearance of _guilt_, in order to inflame the people, already prepossessed by similar practices. The unwary were prejudiced by these arts, and joined in the cry against him; but he defeated the further designs of his enemies, by preserving the same equanimity to the last.

The nearer approach of death made no change in his manner. He had divine service performed in the morning by the chaplain of the _Monarque_, and usually spent the remainder of the day in conversation with his friends; and sometimes in regulating his private family-affairs, when any thing occurred to his memory as not properly settled agreeable to his intention.

On _Saturday_ the 12th of _March_, in the evening, when his friends were going on shore as usual, he took leave of his two nephews in a tender manner, and desired they would not come on board to him again, lest any immoderate grief in them should soften him.

On _Sunday_ morning captain _Montague_, having received a warrant from Admiral _Boscawen_ for his execution next day, gave it to the Marshal to read to him; which he calmly heard read over, and then remarked, with some warmth, that the place appointed by the warrant was upon the fore-castle. "_Is not this_," said he, addressing himself to his friends, "_putting me upon the footing of a common seaman, condemned to be shot? Is not this an indignity to my birth, to my family, and to my rank in the service? I think I have not been treated like an officer in any instance since I was disgraced, excepting in that of being ordered to be shot_." He appeared much disturbed at this circumstance, and looked upon it as a considerable grievance. His friends, fearing it could not be altered, because the warrant was expresly worded so, represented to him, that it appeared to them an impropriety; but they hoped he would think the place immaterial, a circumstance beneath his notice, and not let any such consideration break in upon his tranquillity of mind. He then composed himself again, and replied, "_It is very true, the place or manner is of no great importance to me; but I think living Admirals should consult the dignity of the rank, for their own sakes. I cannot plead a precedent: there is no precedent of an Admiral, or a General Officer in the Army, being shot. They make a precedent of me, such as Admirals hereafter may feel the Effects of_."

After this he appeared calm again; and in the forenoon heard prayers read by the chaplain of the _Monarque_, and received the sacrament in a very decent devout manner, with some of his relations and friends.

At dinner he was chearful as usual, very politely helped his friends, and drank their healths; but did not sit long at table. In the afternoon he frequently turned the conversation upon the place and manner of his execution next day, at times expressing some uneasiness that the place appointed should be the fore-castle: and perceiving that his friends avoided the subject out of complaisance to him, sometimes telling him they thought it improper, "_I like to talk upon the subject_," said he: "_It is not to be supposed I do not think of it; why then should it be more improper to talk of it?_"

He frequently observed how the wind was, and wished it might continue westerly long enough for the members of his Court Martial, who were upon the point of sailing, to be present at the time the sentence passed upon him was put in execution.

About six he ordered tea, as usual, for himself and his company; and remarking that his friends took notice of his easy manner and conversation, "_I have observed_, said he, _that persons condemned to die, have generally had something to be sorry for, that they have expressed concern for having committed; and though I do not pretend to have been exempt from human frailties, yet it is my consolation to have no remorse for any transaction in my publick character, during the whole series of my long services_."

One of his friends observed to him, that no man was exempt from human frailties; that what came under that denomination were not crimes cognisable here, or supposed to be so hereafter. He replied, "_I am conscious of no crimes; and am particularly happy in not dying the mean, despicable, ignominious wretch, my enemies would have had the world believe me. I hope I am not supposed so now; the Court Martial has acquitted me of every thing criminal or ignominious_." One of his friends assured him, that none called or thought him so, but obstinately prejudiced persons, and his enemies, interested to deceive the world still; neither of whom would ever own themselves convinced by reasons: at which he seemed much pleased.

In this manner he passed the day, generally walking about the cabbin, as is customary on board a ship, to supply the place of exercise; and retiring for a few minutes into the state-room[1], sometimes with one friend, sometimes with another, when he had any thing particular to say to them.

In the evening his friends, desirous to be with him a little longer that night than had been permitted before, on purpose to entertain him, and enjoy his conversation for a last time, sent to Admiral _Boscawen_, requesting that indulgence; which was granted for as long as they pleased; but he himself desired they would not exceed the hour of eight, being then about seven: and added, that as they would be so obliging as to pass the evening with him, he must ask them to drink a glass with him. He then ordered a small bowl of punch to be made; and when all were seated round the table, he obligingly helped every one, and taking his own glass with a little punch in it, "_My friends_, said he, _here is all your healths, and God bless you all: I am pleased to find I have some friends still, notwithstanding my misfortunes_." When he had drank, and set his glass down, he added, "_I am to die to-morrow; and as my country requires my blood, I am ready to resign it, though I do not as yet know what my crime is. I think my judges, in justice to posterity, to officers who come after us, should have explained my crime a little more, and pointed out the way to avoid falling into the same errors I did. As the sentence and resolutions stand now, I am persuaded no Admiral will be wiser hereafter by them, or know better how to conduct himself on the like occasion_." Observing one of the company who had his eyes attentively fixed upon him, while he was speaking, "_My friend_," said he, "_I understand reproof in that grave look. It is a long time since I have spoke so much upon the subject, and you now think I say too much: perhaps I do so_." "Far from presuming to mean any reproof," answered the gentleman, "I am all attention to what you say, Sir; and though all of us here are satisfied of these truths, yet we must be pleased to hear you make them plainer." "_Be it so_," replied he; "_but I shall only add one remark more. I am supposed not to have relieved and assisted the van: who then did assist the van, and relieve the three disabled ships, who were upon the brink of being attacked by the body of the enemy? Though the enemy did fire upon them[2], there is but one witness who says they received damage at that time. May not that one witness be mistaken, who was on board the ship considerably the farthest removed from the enemy of the three, and who had dropt there out of her station, by being disabled before? And why did the enemy bear away from these ships, if it was not because my division was under sail close after them, in a regular line of battle?_"

Here the Admiral stopt; and the conversation for a few minutes turning upon other subjects, he desired to be particularly remembered to several absent friends. The time he appointed for his friends to go ashore drawing near, he got up, and withdrew into the state-room with one of them at a time; and thanking each in a very pathetick manner, for their acts of friendship and services, he embraced them, and took his leave; with intention, as he told them, to spare them the disagreeable and painful office, as his friends, of seeing him next day. But they intreating leave to pay their last respects and services to him in the morning, he consented. One of them observing the Admiral softened into tears upon the occasion, said to him, "Pray, Sir, don't suffer yourself to be discomposed." He replied, "_I have not a heart of stone; I am a man, and must feel at parting with my friends; but you will not see me discomposed to-morrow_." He then dismissed them all, wished them a good night, and desired they would come to him next day at nine; chusing to have the morning to himself.

He carefully avoided desiring any thing himself, that could look like a favour; but one of his relations waited upon Admiral _Boscawen_ that evening, and represented to him, that appointing the fore-castle for the place of execution was an indignity to Admiral _Byng_'s rank, and hoped that he would change the place to the quarter-deck. Admiral _Boscawen_ said, the order from the admiralty expresly appointed it so; but if it was his request, he would consider of it, and do what lay in his power. The gentleman replied, _I do make it my request, Sir_; and Admiral _Boscawen_, after considering a little, promised to give directions that the quarter-deck should be the place; which was done accordingly.

When the officers, who watched in the great cabbin with the Admiral, relieved each other in the night, the officer who was relieved, always made it a rule, at twelve at night, and at four in the morning, to go into the state-room with the other, to show that the Admiral was there, and deliver over his charge. They seldom found him awake at these hours; but that last night, in particular, they found him both times in a profound sleep.

It was his custom to rise early, and to banter the Marshal for being seldom up so early as him. He was up on _Monday_ morning about five; and as soon as he saw the Marshal, about six, "_Well_," said he, "_Marshal, I think I have beat you at rising this morning_." Soon after, when he was shifting, as he constantly did every morning betimes, "_Here_," said he to his valet, "_take these sleeve-buttons, and wear them for my sake; your's will do to be buried with_." Having directed that he should be put into his coffin with his cloaths as he died: recollecting himself, he added, "_But hold--as these buttons are gold, my giving them to you may be doubted, and you may be drawn into a scrape_." Then desired the Marshal, and one of his servants, might be called to witness the exchange.

He spent a considerable part of the morning in the state-room by himself: then came out, and sat down with the Marshal, and breakfasted composedly, as usual. His dress was a plain cloth suit, a light grey mixture, such as he had always wore after he received his order of suspension in _Gibraltar_-bay; having stripped off his uniform, which he immediately threw into the sea, as soon as he had read that order.

At nine, when his friends came on board, in a familiar easy manner, he took each by the hand, and obligingly inquired after their health: and being informed that the quarter-deck was now the place appointed for his execution, in consideration of his rank, he was greatly pleased at it. He then spoke about an erasement in his will, which he had recollected; mentioning the sheet, the number of the line from the top, and the words erased. He expressed some uneasiness at that circumstance, and said, that though he did not apprehend such a circumstance would occasion any dispute amongst his relations, yet believing that erasement not mentioned as is customary upon the will, he thought it proper something should be drawn up, as an acknowlegment that the erasement was agreeable to his intention; which being done in the manner he desired, he copied it himself, signed it, and desired three gentlemen present to witness it.

After this the Admiral appeared satisfied, as if he had no farther concerns to think of; and had the morning-service performed by the chaplain of the _Monarque_.

The rest of his time was mostly spent in walking across the cabbin, conversing sometimes with one friend, sometimes with another. He had always declared that he would die with his face uncovered, and would give the word of command to the platoon of marines himself; saying, "_As it is my fate, I can look at it, and receive it_."