Part 6

It falls not within my scope to enlarge upon the wide and mingled events of this year. A partial affair in the month of May, occurred in the Mediterranean, in which the party of Marines disembarked from the Essex signalized themselves. That ship being on a cruize, gained sight of twenty-six Xebeques and Settees, bound to Antibes, from whence they were to carry troops to Italy. The former were a convoy to the latter, which were laden with powder, cannon, ordnance stores, and provisions. Thirteen having taken refuge in the Creek of Cassi, the Marines were landed in order to co-operate with the boats, and to repel any enemy that might appear to retard their progress. They were soon attacked by a body of Spaniards, whom they beat back, and thus effected the object on which they were employed. Eleven vessels were burnt and two captured, which was a material loss in its consequences.

Nothing further, that properly falls within my notice, appears within the period of this year: our numerous cruizers were peculiarly successful, and although few traits of achievement appear on the face of our public transactions during this limited era, still both the nation and the individual felt the benefit and the incitement that resulted from the liberal sacrifice recently made by their Sovereign, which, while it promoted a general activity and zeal amongst every class of his subjects, struck deep also into the commercial vitals of our enemies.

The ten Regiments of Marines, by order of the Secretary at War, were directed to recruit with expedition, and in order to render them speedily effective, a number of impressed men were allotted to each. This expedient was also adopted with regard to many Regiments of Infantry.

In the Bill for the more easily recruiting his Majesty's Land Forces and Marines, a clause was inserted, that every one who should enter voluntarily would be entitled to a bounty of four pounds, and might require his discharge from the service at the expiration of three years.

The Parliament met upon the 27th of November, and granted a vote of £206,253 15 0 to support an establishment of eleven thousand five hundred and fifty Marines during the ensuing twelve months.

CHAP. XIV.

Some inferior attacks having been made, during the last year, by the Governor of Cape Breton upon Canso and Annapolis, in Nova Scotia, the former of which places was burnt by the French, the Northern Colonies of British America became alarmed for their safety. Roused by the representations and the united patriotism of Mr. Achmuty, Judge of the Admiralty Court, in New England, and Mr. Vaughan, an individual of great fortune and public spirit, they commenced preparations for an expedition against Louisburg. Accordingly considerable levies were begun, and a co-operating naval force was requested by Governor Shirley, of Massachusetts Bay, from his Majesty's Ministers.

At this time Commodore Warren commanded upon the West India station, who was ordered to repair to Canso with that view. A meritorious secrecy prevailed throughout, which half secured the success of an attempt that, considering the strong means of defence possessed by the enemy, and the inexperienced troops employed against them, was extremely doubtful. The activity of the Americans upon this occasion, was fully equal to the important interests they had at stake.

Upon the 4th of April the levies from New England reached Canso, and were encamped there, where they were improved in their discipline until the arrival of the other troops from the different Provinces, while the ships of war upon the coast, and some stout privateers, continued off the harbour of Louisburg, in order to cut off all supplies, as well as intelligence of the projected enterprize.

Upon the 23d of April, Commodore Warren arrived at Canso, and against the 29th all the land forces were embarked, when they proceeded for Gabarus Bay, about four miles from the capital of Cape Breton.

Upon the 30th two thousand men were landed at noon, who beat back a respectable force which was detached to prevent their descent. Upon that and the following day the rest were disembarked along with nearly three hundred Seamen, and five hundred Marines, under cover of the privateers and some smaller vessels ranged along the shore. The whole was under the command of General Pepperel, a native of Piscataway.

The French, proudly conscious of their strength, were exposed to surprise from this cause. It is but justice to an enemy, and it affords an impressive example to the military servants of every State, to remark an instance of fidelity in the private Soldiery of the garrison, at this critical moment. Long employed in carrying on the extensive works of Louisburg, without any recompence, which, however, was granted by their Government, but alienated from them by their Officers, they had been in a state of insubordination and discontent, little short of mutiny, nearly six months, until the appearance of our forces, when Patriotism cancelled all inferior grievances, and these brave men now only recognized the duties of zeal and allegiance to their Sovereign and their Country. In a body they requested to be led against the invaders, but suspicion and distrust restrained their superiors from availing themselves of the tender. The spirit was allowed to subside, and perhaps an occasion was lost of averting their approaching destinies.

After the disembarkation of our troops, they were pushed on and formed two separate encampments; one on the southern part of the harbour to attack the City, and the other upon the northern side against the Grand Battery.

Upon the night of the 1st of May our outscouts, in the latter direction, set fire to some storehouses full of combustibles, which burnt so awfully that the French within this important post became panic struck, and conceiving that the whole British force was advancing, retreated precipitately into the City. The works were possessed in the morning by only thirteen men, who were soon reinforced, when an unavailing attack was made by the enemy to recover them.

They had done their utmost to render all the cannon unserviceable, which required some time before they could be drilled and fit for use; during which a most tremendous fire was opened upon this spot from the guns and mortars upon the Island Battery, and the Town, but with little success. Within a few days they both experienced the effects of this post being in our hands, in the loss of men, and the demolition of houses.

The force on the north side of the harbour were not idle, but had pushed their approaches within two hundred yards of the City, by the 12th of May, which they continued to cannonade, with great vigour and success, from some heavy guns planted on an eminence called the Green Hill, and a fascine battery of twenty eight.

The business of the siege was carried on under the greatest difficulties, with an unsurpassed alacrity by all. No class could here claim any pre-eminent merit, for every one was guided by one uniform impulse.

The walls and embrasures of what the French entitled the Circular Battery, were soon destroyed, and every thing went on well. Some important captures, which accelerated the fall of Cape Breton, were made by our blockading squadron.

It being necessary to push matters as quickly as possible, an attempt upon the Island Battery was ordered, as it very materially incommoded our operations on the north side, and prevented the entrance of our ships into the harbour.

A force of two hundred Marines, and three hundred Americans, was appointed for this service, and about twelve at night, on the 23d of May, the whole proceeded on that duty. Soon after a heavy fog came on that prevented their landing from the whale boats, and which obliged them to draw off; although they were not unheard by the enemy's garrison, which then consisted of only fourteen men, to whom this afforded a timely hint for their reinforcing so material a post with three hundred and fifty.

Upon the 27th, at two in the morning, this enterprize was renewed by one hundred and fifty Marines and nearly two hundred Provincials. The French, discovering their approach, fired grapeshot from their heavy guns, which destroyed some boats with the soldiers, when our troops gallantly pushed ashore.

Until sunrise they persevered in the daring but unequal contest; when at last, reduced numbers, and walls which they in vain attempted to scale, obliged them to call for quarter.

By indefatigable labour, however, on the night of the 1st of June, a commanding situation upon the cliff, which swept the platform of the Island Battery, and the entrance into the harbour, was completed, and cannon were planted in it. Things now drew to a crisis; every subordinate event combined to prosper an undertaking founded in a judicious policy, and conducted with an unanimous zeal. After forty-nine days of unrelaxed exertion, Louisburg capitulated, and with it the whole Dependency of Cape Breton.--This object was accomplished with the loss of little more than one hundred men, while that of the French exceeded three hundred. The greater part fell on the Marines in the attempt upon the Island Battery, who shared in the success and glory of that expedition, and in the general tribute of applause which was so justly conferred upon all--by their Country.

The domestic events of the present year were marked by so peculiar an interest, that I cannot pass them without notice.--The adverse circumstances which occurred early in 1744 had only suspended, but did not annihilate the hopes of Prince Charles Edward, the eldest son of the Pretender, to re-ascend the throne of his ancestors.

Guided by desperate and designing men, urged on by the wily politics of France, which wished him success, but would not afford the means of it, and personally sanguine in his disposition, he readily listened to every representation that flattered his views. He accordingly embarked his destinies in a stile little adequate to the extent of his designs, which were to dethrone a beloved Sovereign, and to overturn the Constitution of a brave and a free People.

It is not for me to follow him in the range of his efforts, or to detail the successes which for a while attended his steps.

Britons, little accustomed to hear the sound of war at their own gates, were at first alarmed at the novelty, but they soon evinced both loyalty and union in sustaining the fixed rights of their Monarch, and in defending their own liberties.--Party became dumb, while addresses, backed by associations were the tenders daily made to their King.

It was reserved for a branch of that House which he came to destroy, to vindicate its claims and its honor. His Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, by the Battle of Culloden, not only put a close to the Rebellion, but for ever ended the aspiring hopes of the family of the Stuarts; the remains of which have survived to exist upon the bounty of a Prince whose throne they had striven to subvert.

The events of a short day transformed Charles from an imaginary Monarch to a humble beggar, and he would fain have quickly retraced his steps to that shore, upon which he had landed with such elated prospects. But many sufferings and hardships were yet in store; an interval which has immortalized the character of those poor but virtuous natives amongst whom he flew for refuge.

Although a reward £30,000 was the boon offered for his person, and he constantly within the power of the meanest, still an Iscariot, was not to be found. Adversity, that hour in which true friends can best be recognized, shewed him human nature in its most exalted form, in a people, though depressed by penury, that would not sacrifice either him or his cause.--Every loyal man, while he must deprecate _the aim_, will still applaud _the principle_ of their actions. The illiterate tenants of the Hebrides have transmitted an example of fidelity and allegiance worthy of being known and imitated by the subjects of every realm. The unfortunate Prince found his way to France, and while time has extinguished his family, it has also subverted prejudices, and has incorporated all his adherents with the united strength of the Empire.

Although the incidents to which I have thus recurred have no connexion with my subject, still the _inferences_ that arise from them, as well as the critical occasion, I trust, will sanction their insertion and this digression.

The following was the list and effective strength of the Marine Regiments in 1745:

_Regiments._ _Number of effective Men._ _Wanting to complete._ Churchill's 878 122 Frazer's 864 136 Lowther's 848 152 Byng's 797 203 Cochran's 945 55 Cotterell's 843 157 Cornwall's 845 155 Duncombe's 784 216 Powlett's 916 84 Jeffrey's 882 11 ----- ----- 8,602 1,398 ===== =====

Besides 1,550 Commissioned and Non-commissioned Officers.

At this time, and indeed since their institution in 1739, Commissions were purchased and sold in the Regiments of Marines, although they always bore an inferior value to these in Old Corps. A perquisite frequently arose to the Colonels from the disposal of Second Lieutenancies, when his Majesty was pleased to accept of their recommendation. Such usually produced from £250 to £280, while Ensigncies in the Line sometimes yielded £400.

Nothing worthy of further notice occurred within the transactions of this year.

CHAP. XV.

Early in 1746, a Committee was appointed to investigate the state and grievances of the Land Forces and Marines. A considerable increase of expence had accrued in the maintenance of both, which was one of the objects of this inquiry. Such as affected the Marine Regiments I have already detailed, and assigned the causes of the additional charges in this establishment since the peace of Utrecht. The same are applicable to the Army at large, in the allowance which was made to Commission-Officers in lieu of servants, in 1713, in a similar indulgence granted to the Quartermasters in marching Regiments in 1718, and the annuities to Officers Widows, to Colonels for clothing lost by deserters, to Captains for recruiting, and to the Agents of Corps, which were all the newly-adopted establishments of the latter year.

These additional grants, while they meliorated the situation of the Officer, cost the Nation but little.

It appears, in the course of this inquiry, that the perquisites of a Colonel, in clothing a Marine Regiment, exceeded those of the Foot, from the comparative superiority in their numbers, and the articles being of an inferior quality.

The grievances which had existed, and were _peculiar_ to those Regiments, appeared conspicuous in the course of this public research.

"Upon the whole business, witnesses were examined by the Committee who deposed that the Marines, while on the West India expedition, were paid according to the returns of effective men made monthly to the Commander in Chief, and the account of the _off-reckonings_ was kept by the Pay-Office; and that the Officers _clearings_ of the first raised six Regiments had been paid _only_ to the 25th of December, 1740, and of the other four to the 24th of June, 1741, _of which_ the Pay-Master cannot _now_ make any demand, till muster-rolls are delivered into his office, which he must compute, and then certify a state of the Regiment's account to the Secretary at War, who lays it before the King; in consequence of which, _warrants_ for _clearing_ the Regiment are issued to the Pay-master, who then makes out _debentures_, pursuant to which a _warrant_ is drawn for the payment of the money, and that by this was to be understood _clearing_ the Regiment. It further appeared, that by the usage of the Army, Regiments could not be _cleared_ with till muster-rolls were made out, but that the Marines had never been regularly mustered, (owing to their being detached and employed in every quarter of the globe) to which circumstance is owing their not having been cleared with, which has been a sad inconvenience to many of the Officers who were obliged to assign their arrears at a prodigious discount."

One of the Agents, upon his evidence, suggested to the Committee an expedient, by which to remedy this evil, which was, that muster-rolls might be made up from the books of the Men of War already come home, and from the muster-rolls of the men now at quarters. He additionally submitted it as his opinion, that it was the _duty_ of the _Commissary_ to make up this account, and _within his instructions_, to accept of such books as immediate vouchers. This Gentleman farther certified, that the _off reckonings_ were regularly paid, but that the _clearings_ were not, and that the Colonel usually saved near £1,000 out the _off reckonings_, after clothing a Marine Regiment; and he conceived, that the Officers _clearings_ might also be paid by a _warrant_ from the King to the Secretary at War; more particularly as there was no deficiency of Officers, though there might be of Private men; and the returns made being strictly upon honor, might supply the want of muster-rolls.

From another witness it was obvious, that no account had ever been settled with the Captains of Marines for their Companies, the Agents always alleging, that it could not be done without muster-rolls; and that though the Marines, when in the West Indies, were mustered and paid in the same manner as the marching Regiments were; and though the latter were cleared when they came home, _yet the former were not_.

That in the summer of 1745, indeed, a warranty countersigned by the Secretary at War, was sent to the Pay-Master for _clearing_ the four last raised Regiments of Marines, notwithstanding the want of muster-rolls; but not being signed by the Lords of the Treasury, it was not attended to.

This hardship was _peculiar_ to the Marine Regiments, as it became evident to the Gentlemen forming the Committee of Inquiry, that the different Corps of Foot employed upon the same service had been _cleared_ by such authority countersigned by the Secretary at War alone, without any objection, though the pay had been issued in the same manner to them, and the want of muster-rolls equally their case.

Marine Officers, it appeared, were not allowed to take their servants, when ordered to embark.

At this period, there was a sum of £101,551 3 4 in the hands of the Pay-Master of Marines; the amount of the above-mentioned claims, whose character and motives, however, were clearly exculpated from any blame; but it was not so with his Deputy or Cashier, who had appropriated near £90,000, bearing interest upon land-tax tallies, East India Bonds, and clothing assignments, _without the knowledge of his Superior_, who had been informed, and till this investigation took place, always understood that the whole had been deposited in the Bank of England.

Another Subordinate, the Accountant of the Pay-Master, shared in the annual profits of these investments, which were derived from the invaded rights of the injured Officer.--After having divided the spoils during some years, and having made a restitution of the principal, they were both deprived of their situations.

Such a scene of grievance appeared through the whole of this scrutiny, that the Committee emphatically closed their report, by the ingenuous avowal, that the _facts_ which appeared called for public notice, and highly deserved the attention of Parliament.

It ought to be related, to the honour of these suffering Corps, that during the long period of nearly six years they suppressed their feelings until the present occasion, of which they very properly availed themselves.

They now submitted their wrongs to a Board, instituted by legislative sanction, and for the express purpose of redress, as well as of inquiry; the following are the terms in which the Memorial of one of the Marine Regiments were couched:

To the Gentlemen of the Committee, and which may be considered as engrossing the general sentiments of the whole that were employed in the Expedition to the West Indies.

1st. "That in the month of August, 1740, when _this_ regiment was one of those embarked for the expedition to the West Indies, the Captains were obliged by _order_, out of their own pockets, to provide and lay in a stock of sugar, tobacco, snuff, shirts, shoes, stockings, jackets, trowzers, and other sea stores, for the use of their Companies; and were considerable losers in the waste and weighing, and in the division of the several species to the men; that farther, if any man died (which was frequently the case,) who had not lived long enough to pay the charge of their slops, the Captain was the only sufferer, as he received his mens' subsistence _according to the effective monthly returns only_, by order of the General; nay, the ordinary allowance of the two Warrant Men, paid in Great Britain and Ireland monthly to the Captains, with their subsistence, was here deducted, notwithstanding they embarked complete.

2dly. "The exchange of money between England and Jamaica, at that time was 40 per cent. and money enough to be had at that exchange for the payment of the Army; nevertheless the Officers and Private Men on that expedition were obliged to receive their pay at 20 per cent. for some time: indeed, upon a general murmur made by the army upon that occasion, there was 5 per cent. more added; so here was still a deduction of 15 per cent. A noted instance of this severity at the end.

3dly. "The Agents _now_ deny making up their accounts with the Captains of Marines, in the same manner that other Captains are accounted with; and in short deny giving any accounts at all. By this means a good deal of that martial dependence a Soldier ought to have on his Officer is withdrawn, as he finds the Agent is his factotum in affairs of money, and his executor in case he dies. The Agents, in order to support these their unjust proceedings, endeavour to screen themselves under some wrested paragraphs in the Mutiny Act; for (as we apprehend), from the Legislatures designed intent, and quite contrary to the King's Order in his Articles of War, _which must always be consequent to the above act_, as by the said act it is, that his Majesty is empowered to make such orders or articles.

4thly. "The Officers of Marines are by the same terms of chicanery kept from receiving their arrears, there being five years and a half due the 24th of June of the present year (1746), notwithstanding the other parts of the Army receive them punctually, though in no part of the service ought the arrears to be quicker paid than in the Marines, where Officers are put to certain and immediate necessary expences on every embarkation.

5thly. "It is plainly evident that no Officer in the Marine service (whilst dealt and accounted with in this manner), enjoys the same privileges with the other Officers of the Army, which must of consequence create heart-burnings, to the detriment of the service. Seeing, therefore, that these Officers have (notwithstanding their cruel usage) on all occasions and at all times been most ready with their lives and abilities to devote themselves to the service of their King and Country, we humbly beg that this their situation may be inquired into."

The instance which was referred to from the 2d article is as follow: