Part 6

It happens to be this day 40 years that I was burnt out of the Royall James in the Sole Bay fight against the Dutch. Am well pleased to find the efforts you intend to make yourselfe famous in Westminster Hall. It is like the saying of your Unckle Nichˢ, who doubted not but to be as great as Sʳ Cloudesly Shovell was; and he pushes very faire for it. Your father and family went to Wakehurst Satuarday last; tooke Betty and Fanny Clark[b] downe wᵗʰ them; gote well thither. Yoʳ Unckle Richard, the weeke past, hath bine very ill wᵗʰ a feavor and ague, wᶜʰ kept me from hence longer then I designed; is under the advice of Doctor Ratclif,[c] who gave me leave to come downe hither, promiseing his care of him; and was downe staires when came away.

With my harty prayers for yoʳ health and wellfare, I am

Yoʳ most afecᵗ grandfather,

Rᵈ. H.

* * * * *

[a] This must be a son of Sir Richard’s daughter, who married a Mr. Lydell.

[b] Children of another of Sir Richard’s daughters, who married John Clarke, of Blake Hall, in Bobbingworth, co. Essex.

[c] No doubt Dr. John Radcliffe.

CAPTAIN NICHOLAS HADDOCK TO HIS WIFE.

Grafton at sea, about 10 leagues from Cape Passaro, Aug. the 4ᵗʰ, 1718.

MY Dʳ FANNY,

The Superbe being orderd from the fleet wᵗʰ the Admirall’s letters, I send this to tell you I am well.

Five days ago we had a battle wᵗʰ the Spanish fleet off of Cape Passaro,[a] on the Island of Sicily, in wᶜʰ severall of their ships were taken and some destroyd. The Grafton had her share in that action, and the Admirall has been pleased to make me great compliments on my behaviour that day. I shall soon be orderd to be refitted at Port Mahon, the ship requiring it. I had fifty men killd and wounded. Among the former was Lᵗ Bramble, who was appointed by the intrest of Sir Cha. Wager. I’m sorry for him, he being a good officer. My Cousin Haddock[b] chased towards the shoar after part of the Spanish fleet, when they separated, wᵗʰ 4 or 5 other ships whose signalls were made for that purpose, and they are not yet come into the fleet. However, I doubt not but he is well, the ships that they were sent after being of the smaller sort.

My dʳ, pray send to Mrs. Harris to tell her her spouse is well.[c] He dined aboard me the day after the action; he was one of the ships engaged.

Just before we saild from Naples I received yʳ letter, and am glad to hear yʳself and the little boy are well. I give my love to all freinds, and remaine, my dʳ Fanny,

Yʳ most affecᵗ husband,

Nˢ. HADDOCK.

* * * * *

[a] On the 31st July, when Sir George Byng almost destroyed the Spanish fleet.

[b] Probably William Haddock. See above, p. 43, note d.

[c] Captain Barrow Harris, of the Breda.

THE SAME TO THE SAME.

Grafton, at Regio, Janʳʸ the 19ᵗʰ, O.S., 1718/9.

MY DEAR SPOUSE,

I send this to tell you I am well. I believe, before this come to you, you will have heard of my having forced ashoar on Sicily a Spanish man of war of 70 guns, wᶜʰ is overset and sunk. I recᵈ some shot from her, but without much damage. My dʳ, we are here at an anchor, in company wᵗʰ the Kent, Royˡ Oake, and Rochester, to block up Camock,[a] who is at Messina and will not venture out, his squadron being much inferiour to us. By the news we receive from England, I conjecture Spain will soon be oblidgd to accept the terms proposed to ’em; after wᶜʰ I suppose the bigger ships will be orderd home, where I shall always be glad to be, whenever it consists wᵗʰ my honour; for, indeed, my dear Fanny, I heartily love you.

Pray give my love to all freinds, and I remaine, my dʳ,

Yʳ most affect. husband,

Nˢ. HADDOCK.

P.S. This goes for Naples wᵗʰ an express that Capt. Mathews[b] sends to the Admˡ, and from thence it will be forwarded to you.

Nˢ. H.

* * * * *

[a] George Cammock, the Spanish Rear-Admiral, who had taken refuge in Messina. He slipped out in a frigate, which however he had to abandon, and escaped by boat to land. He was an Irishman who had served with distinction in the English navy under Queen Anne, but had been dismissed on account of his Jacobite tendencies. He then entered the Spanish service; and it is said that, if the Spanish Admiral had followed his advice, the battle off Cape Passaro might have had a different result.

[b] Thomas Mathews, afterwards Admiral, who commanded the blockading force.

INDEX.

Acton, Edward, Captain: at the capture of Gibraltar, 48

Aumont, Antoine d’, Marshal: attempt on Ostend, 5, 6

Babb, Anna: 44

Balasore: attacked by the English, 37-39

Barcelona: relief of, 49

Blake, Robert, Admiral: his last victory, 3

Blake, Thomas: 45

Bramble, Lieutenant: 53

Brandon, William: letter, 35

Bristol, George Digby, Earl of: 13

Burstow, William, Captain: 15

Byng, Sir George, Admiral: at the capture of Gibraltar, 46-48

Cammock, George, Spanish admiral: 54

Carter, Richard, Admiral: killed at La Hogue, 42

Charles II. of England: visits the fleet, 23, 24, 29

Chicheley, Isabella: letter, 42

Clarke, Elizabeth: 53

Clarke, Fanny: 53

Courtney, Francis, Captain: 21

Coventry, Sir William: 7

Cromwell, Oliver, Lord Protector: 2

Davenant, ----: 39

Deane, Anthony, Navy Commissioner: 21

Delaval, George, Captain: 50

Emms, Fleetwood, Captain: 45

Estrees, Jean d’, Comte, Admiral: 23, 24

Fairborne, Sir Stafford, Admiral: 45

Finch, William, Captain: 20

Foules, Thomas, Captain: 20

Frowd, Philip, Postmaster: 36

Galway, Henry de Massue de Ruvigny, Earl of: 50

Gibraltar: its capture, 46-48

Goodlad, ----: 10, 11, 12, 14

Grove, Henry: 39

Haddock, Andrew: 2

Haddock, Elizabeth: letters to, 10, 12, 14, 19, 21

Haddock, Fanny or Frances: letters to, 53, 54

Haddock, Joseph, Captain: 11, 19, 21; letter from India, 37; at attack on Balasore, 37-39

Haddock, Lydia: 3

Haddock, Nicholas, Captain: at Vigo, 43, 45; letters, 49, 50, 53, 54; at Barcelona, 49; at Cape Passaro, 53; at Messina, 54

Haddock, Richard: 4, 13, 21; his gallantry, 19

Haddock, Sir Richard, Admiral: letters, 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 14, 19, 21, 36, 43, 44, 51, 52; with squadron off Dunkirk, 3-7; declaration on the Dutch striking their flag, 9; serves against the Dutch, 10-31; account of the battle of Southwold Bay, 16-19; wounded, 18; journal, 22-31; observations on naval engagements, 31-35; reported desertion, 35, 36; claim for compensation, 51, 52

Haddock, Richard, Captain: 43, 44, 53; letter on the battle of La Hogue, 41-42

Haddock, William, Captain: letters to, 1, 3, 5, 6

Haddock, William: 3, 5, 43; at battle of Cape Passaro, 54

Hambliton [Hamilton?] Colonel: 22

Harbin, Samuel: 39

Harbord, Sir Charles, 18

Harman, Sir John, Admiral: 21, 30

Harris, Barrow, Captain: 54

Hayward, John, Captain: 21

Heath, Captain: attacks Balasore, 37-39

Heath, Thomas: gallantry at La Hogue, 41

Hesse-Darmstadt, George, Prince of: at the capture of Gibraltar, 46

Hinton, John: 39

Hodges, Captain: 44

Hogg, Christopher: 39

Hogue, La: battle of, 41-42

Johnson, Francis: 40

Jordan, Sir Joseph, Admiral: his conduct at Southwold Bay, 17, 18

Jumper, William, Captain: at the capture of Gibraltar, 47

Kelsey, Thomas, Major-General: 1

Kerr, William, Captain: 45

Lane, Samuel: 15

Lydell, ----: 52

Mathews, Thomas, Captain: 55

Mayo, Thomas, Lieutenant: 18

Ossory, Thomas Butler, Earl of: 24

Ostend: attempt on, 5, 6

Passaro, Cape: battle of, 53

Pennyman, Captain: 35

Peterborough, Charles Mordaunt, Earl of: relieves Barcelona, 49

Philip V. of Spain: 49

Poole, Sir William, Captain: 14, 15, 16

Roffey, Kerril, Captain: 48

Rooke, Sir George, Admiral: 44, 45; at the capture of Gibraltar, 47

Roxby, Henry: 40

Rupert, Prince: 23, 24, 28, 30, 31; his actions with the Dutch, 19, 20, 26-28

Sadlington, Richard, Captain: 28

Sandwich, Edward Montague, Earl of, Admiral: commanding off Dunkirk, 5; at Southwold Bay, 16-19

Sawkell, Edmond: 35

Scarlet, Charles: 39

Sharpe, Captain: 39

Shovel, Sir Cloudesley, Admiral: at La Hogue, 41, 45

Smart, John: 40

Sotherne, ----: 44

Southwold, or Sole, Bay: battle of, 16-19

Stanier, Sir Richard, Admiral: 9

Stanley, ----, Factor at Balasore: 39

Starland, ----: 39

Storm of 1703: 45

Strickland, Sir Roger, Admiral: 22

Tempest, John, Captain: 20

Thanksgiving-day: 44

Topham, ----, Serjeant-at-Arms: 52

Trepassey, in Newfoundland: action off, 43

Trevanion, Richard, Captain: 20, 21

Wasey, ----, Captain: 19

Werden, Robert, Captain: 20, 21

Whitaker, Edward, Captain: account of the capture of Gibraltar, 46-48

White, Richard, Captain: 28

Willshaw, Thomas, Navy Commissioner: 44

York, James, Duke of: account of battle of Southwold Bay addressed to, 16-19; visits the fleet, 23, 24, 29

Young, Henry, Captain: 28