Chapter 54

HONOURABLY ACQUITTED.

Obtain a passport after some difficulty from Prince Metternich—Start for England _viâ_ Rouen and Havre—Sail to Spithead—Amused at Englishwomen’s queer dress—Return to family—Acquitted for loss of H.M.S. _Apelles_.

The morning before my departure I waited on Lord Aberdeen, requesting a passport to England; he referred me to Prince Metternich. I reached his hotel, and had to wade through a host of long-whiskered, long-piped gentlemen, who were smoking with all their might and main, and spitting in all directions.

As I advanced, a genteel-looking young man, who was dressed in an aide-de-camp’s uniform, came to me and asked in French the purport of my visit. I informed him. He left me, and soon returned and requested I would walk into another room, where I found the German Prince, who received me very cavalierly, and asked me what I did in Paris when there were transports waiting at Bordeaux to carry over the English.

“I thank your Highness for the information, but I do not wish to go by that route. My intention is to return to England by Havre, and I shall feel obliged by your granting me a passport to that effect.”

“You should go to Lord Aberdeen for one.”

“I have already seen him, and he directed me to you, as you were in command of the capital,” I replied.

He muttered something which I could not, nor did I wish to, understand. After a pause he asked me my rank. I informed him, when he directed his secretary to make out my passport, and here ended much ado about nothing.

We started next morning, slept at Rouen, revisited its ancient cathedral, which had been struck by lightning, breakfasted, and arrived at Havre, where we remained two days, waiting for a vessel to take us across the Channel. I viewed this town with much interest, as it had saluted the vessels I had belonged to with several hundred shot.

We arrived at Spithead in the evening, but too late to go on shore. There were nine of us—men, women, and squalling children—and we had the comfort of lying on the cabin deck, there being no sleeping berths, as the vessel was only about fifty tons, and not fitted up for passengers.

When I landed next morning I appeared to tread on air, but I could not help laughing out aloud at the, I thought, ridiculous and anything but picturesque dresses of the women. Their coal-scuttle bonnets and their long waists diverted me, although I was sorry to observe in my healthy and fair countrywomen such an ignorance of good taste. I took a hasty mutton chop at the “Fountain,” and started for London by the first stage coach.

On my arrival at dear home I found all I loved in good health. My excellent wife and affectionate boys and girls clung round me, and I was as happy as an innocent sucking pig, or, if my reader thinks the simile not in place, as happy as a city alderman at a turtle feast.

A few days after my appearance at the Admiralty I was ordered to proceed to Portsmouth, to undergo my trial for the loss of the ship, which, as a son of the Emerald Isle would say, was no loss at all, as she was retaken afterwards.

My sentence was as honourable to the officers of the court martial as it was to myself. I received my sword from the President, Admiral Sir George Martin, with a high encomium.

The days of my youth have floated by like a dream, and after having been forty-five years in the Navy my remuneration is a hundred and eighty pounds a year, without any prospect of its being increased. If the generality of parents would take my advice they never would send one of their boys into the service without sufficient interest and some fortune. If they do, their child, if he behaves well, may die in his old age, possibly as a lieutenant, with scarcely an income to support himself; and if he should under these circumstances have the misfortune to have married and have children, God, I hope, will help him, for I very much fear no one else will!

Here ends my eventful but matter-of-fact history, which, if it has afforded my reader any amusement, my pains are well repaid.

APPENDIX.

NOTE A.

If the French accounts are to be credited General Rochambeau had a garrison of only 600 men, 400 of whom were militia (_cf._ “Victoires et Conquêtes,” tome iii., p. 249). At any rate, when Fort Bourbon surrendered the garrison was found to be only 200, including the wounded (_cf._ James, vol. i., p. 219).

NOTE B.

James, in his account of this brilliant feat (vol. ii., p. 360 _et seq._), gives several interesting details of the affair. “Every man was to be dressed in blue, and no white of any kind to be seen. The password was ‘Britannia’ and the answer ‘Ireland.’” The boarding party proceeded in six boats, each being instructed to effect an entrance on a particular part of the _Hermione_. “From the moment of quitting the _Surprise_ till the _Hermione_ was boarded Captain Hamilton never lost sight of her for a moment. He stood up in the pinnace with his nightglass, by the aid of which he steered a direct course towards the frigate.” When still a mile from the _Hermione_ the boats were discovered by two Spanish gunboats. Some of Hamilton’s boats disobeyed orders by attacking these gunboats instead of concentrating their attention on the _Hermione_, and thus nearly spoilt the attack.

James adds that: “In effecting this surprising capture the British sustained so comparatively slight a loss as 12 wounded, including Captain Hamilton. Of their 365 in crew the Spaniards had 119 killed and 97 wounded, most of them dangerously.”

NOTE C.

Copy of letter written by Lieutenant Hoffman to his wife immediately after the action of Trafalgar:—

“TONNANT, _Oct. 27th, 1805_. Off Cadiz.

“MY BELOVED SARAH,—It has pleased Providence once more to bless our favoured isle with astonishing success. On the 21st of the month the combined enemy’s fleet, consisting of thirty-four sail of the line, four frigates, and two brigs, were seen by us. At five minutes after twelve afternoon we broke their line and engaged them. Captain Tyler gallantly placed the _Tonnant_, and I hope we as gallantly defended her. We have lost twenty-six brave fellows and fifty wounded in our ship only. We have captured sixteen sail of the line, French and Spanish, and sunk one of the line and one blew up. We are now going for Gibraltar to refit, as we are decently maul’d. We were twenty-six of the line, three frigates, a cutter and a schooner. I am very sorry to relate Lord Nelson has gloriously fallen, covered with heroic wounds. Captain Tyler is wounded rather dangerously, but I hope he will soon recover. The French Admiral Magon, in the _Algerzaries_ (_sic_), of equal force, laid us alongside, and attempted boarding, but found it ineffectual. At the same time we were engaged by three other sail of the line. After engaging this fine fellow for about an hour he struck his flag, and we took possession of her (_sic_); in short, with this noble ship’s company we humbled three of nearly equal force. This battle, my beloved, plainly shows it is not always to the strong. An Almighty Hand fought it for us. To Him we trust in this and every future event. May He protect my Sarah.”

NOTE D.

Captain Hoffman’s report to the Admiralty of the loss of the Apelles:—

“VERDUN, FRANCE, _May 28th, 1812_.

“SIR,—Captain Boxer, of H.M.S. _Skylark_, and my senior officer, having communicated to me on the evening of the 2nd of May he had received information of a large division of the flotilla being in readiness to escape from Boulogne to Cherberg that night, he thought it necessary that his sloop the _Skylark_ and the _Apelles_, under my command, should be kept as close in shore as possible between Boulogne and Etaples in order to intercept them. But it is with feelings of regret I have to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords of the Admiralty, that on Sunday, A.M. the 3rd of May, H.M.S. _Apelles_ ran aground about eighteen miles to the westward of Boulogne, as also did H.M.S. _Skylark_. The wind at this time was moderate at N.E. with a dense fog.

“The sloop, on a wind, heads E.S.E., going about five knots an hour, the land not perceived. Shortly after it became clear enough to discern that we were about a musket shot from a battery elevated above our mastheads, which, on perceiving our situation, opened a most destructive fire on the _Apelles_, she being the nearest vessel. During this time the boats were got out, and an anchor carried astern to heave the sloop off. Guns, shot, and heavy stores, etc., were thrown overboard, from before the chest tree the water started and pumped out, in order to lighten the vessel, but without effect, as, unfortunately, the sloops had run on shore on the infant ebb spring tide, and it receded much faster than it was possible to lighten them. About half-past five the _Apelles_ fell over on her starboard side, with her decks entirely exposed to the battery, field pieces, and musketry from the beach and sandhills. At six she became a complete wreck, the shot from the enemy having cut away nearly all the standing rigging, as well as the sails to ribands. In this state Captain Boxer sent his first lieutenant on board the _Apelles_ to request I would set fire to her and abandon her without loss of time, as he thought it was impracticable to get either of the vessels off. I then called a council of the officers and pilots, who were unanimous in the positive necessity of quitting the vessels. The pilots further added that as the tide was so rapidly ebbing, the vessels would soon be left dry on the beach, and if the crews were not sent immediately away there would be no possibility of escape. I then ordered the boats to be manned, and shortly afterwards they left the _Apelles_ with the greater part of the officers, leaving on board the following in consequence of their not being able to contain more, some of them (boats) having been struck by shot:

“F. HOFFMAN, _Commander_. Mr. MANNING, _Surgeon_. Mr. HANNEY, _Purser_. Mr. TAYLOR, _Gunner_. Mr. JOHNSTON, _Mid_. WM. WHITTAKER, _Clerk_. J. THOMPSON } DAVIES } CROSBIE } _Seamen_. GEORGE } RAYMOND } Sergt. OWEN } Corp. CLEVERLY } READY } _Marines_. KING } BAXFIELD }

“On the boats of the _Apelles_ joining those of the _Skylark_ Captain Boxer, finding I remained behind, he, in a most gallant manner, pulled towards the _Apelles_ with his deeply laden boat under a heavy discharge of shot and musketry from the enemy to entreat me to go with him. This I refused, but begged him to make the best of his way with the boats to England, for as he had not room in the boats for those remaining as well as myself I could not, as a point of humanity, as well as duty, think of quitting the _Apelles_ whilst a man was compelled to remain behind. Finding he could not prevail he gave up the point. He joined the other boats, and was soon out of sight. I need not express my feelings to their Lordships, or to you, Sir, on this trying occasion; I cannot describe them. Shortly after the boats had left the sloops both masts of the _Apelles_ fell by the board, having been nearly severed in two by the shot of the enemy. At this time the _Skylark_, having grounded within hail of us, was enveloped in flame and partially exploded, some of her shot striking the _Apelles_. I now ordered a white flag to be shown by holding it up. This at length appeared to silence the enemy, who had been incessantly firing at us from the time we grounded until about seven o’clock. About twenty minutes afterwards the _Apelles_, being partly dry, was boarded by about 200 men, principally soldiers, who compelled us to leave the sloop, and almost immediately afterwards followed us, as the _Skylark_ exploded with an appalling report, setting fire to the _Apelles_. Owing to her being previously dismasted consisted her safety. The enemy soon after the explosion returned to the _Apelles_, and extinguished the fire on board her. Only a vestige of the sternpost of _Skylark_ now remained, half buried in the sand.

“Through this severe trial of more than three hours, whilst the shot were going through the sides of the _Apelles_, and destroying her masts and rigging, every officer and man behaved with that coolness inherent in British seamen, and which I trust will speak favourably of their conduct to their Lordships.

“I have now to remark that although we were under the painful necessity of lowering His Majesty’s colours, which was not done until the last extremity, the enemy did not desist from firing into us for an hour afterwards. Seeing the crippled and distressed state we were in, his motive was certainly not that of humanity. I have to add that Mr. Hanney, the purser, was wounded in the head, and Mr. Taylor, the gunner, in the shoulder and left hand, but neither dangerously. I am now happy to add their wounds are nearly healed.

“The signal books and instructions of every description were burnt in the galley fire by the Purser and myself when we saw there was no possibility of our escape.

“I have the honour to remain, Sir, “Your obedient servant, (Signed) “F. HOFFMAN, “Late Commander of H.M.S. _Apelles_. “WM. CROKER, Esq., &c., &c., &c., Admiralty.”

NOTE E.

Letter from Captain Otter respecting the establishment of a school for midshipmen at Verdun.

“VERDUN, _Oct. 26th, 1812_.

“DEAR SIR,—As I am very anxious that the establishment of a school should be supported with our utmost endeavours, it is with the greatest satisfaction I perceive you enter into the plans, and undertake the conducting of it, with all the energy I could wish. I have already spoken to Lieutenants Lambert, Brown, Thackstone, Carslake, Robins, Boyack, Bogle, and Kennicote, who have volunteered to assist you, and I have no doubt but that they will always be ready to follow such instruction as you may think proper to give them.

“It is my wish that all the young gentlemen of the age of eighteen and under attend the school, and that it may be open to those above that age who will submit to the rules, and who wish to benefit by the attending masters.

“As the intention of the school is solely for the improvement of the young gentlemen of the Navy, it is presumed they will be sufficiently sensible of the advantages they may derive from it, and by their regular attendance and strict attention when in school, both show their desire of improvement, and their respect to the gentlemen who have so kindly volunteered to attend during the school hours.

“Wishing you every success in this your laudable undertaking,

“I remain, dear Sir, “Yours truly, “C. OTTER, “Senior full-pay Captain of the Naval Department.”

NOTE F.

Testimonial from Captain Otter.

“BIDEFORD, DEVON, _Aug. 1st, 1827_.

“MY DEAR SIR,—I have sincere pleasure in acknowledging the great assistance you afforded me by your voluntarily taking the trouble of superintending, and also the able manner you conducted the school established by me, as senior naval officer of the depôt of Verdun.

“I have likewise great satisfaction in testifying to your good conduct as an officer and gentleman during the time you were a prisoner in France.

“I remain, dear Sir, “Yours very truly, “C. OTTER. “F. HOFFMAN, Esq., Commander R.N.”

FOOTNOTES

1 Plymouth Dock.

2 A pie made of pilchards with their heads peeping through the crust, hence the name “Star gazing.”

3 See note (_a_).

4 See note (b).

5 Note C.

6 See Note D.

7 See Notes E and F.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

The author’s footnotes have been moved to the end of the volume.

The following typographical errors were corrected:

page XII, “prisoners” changed to “prisoner’s” (see page 311) page 31, “mens’” changed to “men’s” page 39, missing quote added (after “in about an hour.”) page 67, “of” added (between “north side” and “St. Domingo”) page 190, “lieuteuant” changed to “lieutenant” page 192, missing quote added (after “fourpence”) page 251, “manchinel” changed to “manchineel” page 271, missing quote added (after “he became my servant.”) page 302, “Lemarois” changed to “Lemaroix” page 313, “hotel” changed to “hôtel” page 330, “window” changed to “windows”

Several unusual spellings were retained (“pigstye”, “fidgetty”), as were small errors in French quotations: “Vive le Garde Impériale!” (for “Vive la Garde Impériale”), “Presqu’ Isle” (for “Presqu’Isle”), “petit soupers” (for “petits soupers”).

The following words appear both in hyphenated and unhyphenated forms: “cocoa-nut/cocoanut”, “cray-fish/crayfish”, “fire-arms/firearms”, “fire-flies/fireflies”, “flag-ship/flagship”, “flag-staffs/flagstaffs”, “fore-mast/foremast”, “fore-yard/foreyard”, “gun-boat/gunboat”, “gun-shot/gunshot”, “main-mast/mainmast”, “main-top/maintop”, “mast-headed/mastheaded”, “mast-heading/mastheading”, “pine-apple/pineapple”, “post-chaise/postchaise”, “quarter-master/quartermaster”, “thunder-storm/thunderstorm”, “top-mast/topmast”, “top-sail/topsail”.