CHAPTER XXIV

THE "WINDSOR CASTLE" PACKET

One of the most brilliant instances of the defence of a packet is that of the encounter of the _Windsor Castle_ with the French privateer _Jeune Richard_. The packet was outward bound to the West Indies, and fell in with the privateer not far from Barbadoes, about half-past eight on the morning of October 1st, 1807. The privateer immediately gave chase, being probably well aware of the class of vessel she would encounter, and confident in her very great superiority in numbers. The packet, commanded by acting-Captain W. Rogers, cracked on sail, as in duty bound, to escape; but the big privateer schooner of those days was among the fastest craft afloat, and it was speedily apparent that some fighting would have to be done. Rogers had only twenty-eight in his crew, all told, men and boys--sufficient to work the brig fairly well, but not, one would imagine, to fight her against a schooner crowded with men. However, he beat to quarters and made all his arrangements, not forgetting to place some responsible persons in charge of the mails, to shift them about to a place of safety as required, and, in the last resort, to sink them. This, of course, reduced his little fighting force still further.

The privateer was within gunshot at noon, and, hoisting French colours, opened fire, the packet returning it with her stern-chasers. Arriving within hail, the French captain, who appears to have been sadly deficient in that politeness which is characteristic of his countrymen, demanded, in rude and contemptuous terms, the lowering of the British colours. He could very plainly see, by this time, how scanty was the crew of the packet compared with his own, and, upon Rogers declining to surrender, he immediately ran aboard the _Windsor Castle_, intending to finish the affair off at once by sheer weight of numbers--for he mustered no less than ninety-two, against the British modest twenty-eight, minus the mail-tenders.

However, they did not get on board; so sharp and stubborn was the resistance offered, that they were glad to return to their own decks, eight or ten short in their number, and immediately cut the grappling-ropes to get clear. The vessels, however, had got locked by their spars, and a desperate encounter ensued. The men in charge of the mails, upon whom the captain, in spite of the fighting, contrived always to keep an eye, were running about from one place to another with them; but they did not prematurely sink them, though matters must have looked hopeless enough.

About three o'clock, seeing the enemy about to attempt boarding again, Rogers crammed one of his 6-pounder carronades with grape, canister, and a bagful of musket-balls, and let drive just as the Frenchmen commenced their rush. The result was tremendous, a great number being killed and wounded. "Soon after this," says Captain Rogers, in the most matter-of-fact style, as though it were quite an ordinary kind of affair, "I embraced the opportunity of boarding, in turn, with five men, and succeeded in driving the enemy from his quarters, and about four o'clock the schooner was completely in our possession. She is named the _Jeune Richard_, mounting six 6-pounders and one long 18-pounder, having on board at the commencement of the action ninety-two men, of whom twenty-one were found dead upon her decks, and thirty-three wounded. From the very superior number of the enemy still remaining, it was necessary to use every precaution in securing the prisoners. I was obliged to order them up from below, one by one, and place them in their own irons as they came up, as three of our little crew were killed, and ten severely wounded, the mizzen-mast and mainyard carried away, and the rigging fore and aft much damaged. It is my duty to mention to you, sir, that the crew of the packet, amounting at first to only twenty-eight men and boys, supported me with the greatest gallantry during the whole of this arduous contest."

So runs the bare narration, in a service letter to Rear-Admiral the Hon. Sir Alexander Cochrane, who, in forwarding it to the Admiralty, remarks: "It is such an instance of bravery and persevering courage, combined with great presence of mind, as was scarcely ever exceeded."

No one will feel disposed to quarrel with this verdict. Rogers would have done well, if, against such odds, he had beaten off his opponent, and saved the mails; the boarding and carrying of the privateer by six men was certainly something outside the bargain!

THE "CATHERINE"

The _Naval Chronicle_ for December 1808 contains a copy of a letter from the mate of an armed ship, the _Catherine_, the property of Messrs. Hogg & Co., of London, giving an account of a severe action with a French privateer. The mate--whose name was Robertson--writes very simply and convincingly, and shall tell his own story:

MALTA, _September 26th, 1808_.

"GENTLEMEN,

"I do myself the honour to inform you of the safe arrival of the ship _Catherine_ in this port from Gibraltar, which place she left on the 8th instant; but I am sorry to add that Captain Fenn was very badly wounded, on the 13th inst., in latitude 38 deg. 35 min. N., longitude 3 deg. 20 E.,[22] by a shot in an action with a French privateer. On that day a sail hove in sight on the larboard bow, on a wind, standing for us. We hoisted ensign and pendant, and fired a gun. She showed St. George's flag and pendant, and stood on until she got into our wake, then bore up directly for us. We prepared everything for action, being suspicious of her; and as soon as it was possible to be understood, by Captain Fenn's order, I hailed and asked from whence she came? She answered, from Gibraltar, and was in distress for water. I ordered her to haul her wind immediately, or we should fire into her. She still cried out, 'Water! water!' and came on, when I immediately pointed one of the stern guns, and ordered fire. I then jumped to the opposite gun, pointed it, and ordered fire. This order was countermanded, in consequence of her crying 'Mercy!' and 'Water!' But as soon as the smoke of the first gun cleared away, Captain Fenn saw with his glass that they were getting ready to change their colours, and were pointing their bow-guns. He called out, 'It is a Frenchman, fire away!' He no sooner spoke than he got the contents of the second; but before our guns could be fired again he grappled, and commenced a heavy fire with grape and musketry. I immediately seized a musket and shot the captain, who was going to give orders through his trumpet. I sung out, 'I have shot the captain! Victory, my boys!' and we gave him three cheers to advance. They returned the same, and came on bravely; when poor Fenn, with his boarding-pike in his hand, was shot through the body. He addressed himself to me: 'I am shot; but fight on, my dear fellow.' I encouraged my men, and soon repelled the boarders with very great slaughter.

"In about half an hour, like savages, they sang out and came on again; but were again repulsed with considerable loss. This caused such great confusion among them that they got their grapplings unhooked and took a broad sheer off; which I improved immediately by sheering likewise, and got two of the great guns into him before he could get to again. This, no doubt, damped their courage; but they again boarded, with three cheers, and several succeeded in getting over our nettings into the poop; but our men, like heroes, made a bold push, and either killed or wounded every man who made his appearance; and those poor devils who had the impudence to come on the poop were all shoved overboard with the pikes fast in their bodies. This was the sickening job, for they made a terrible noise, and got their grapplings unhooked; when I ordered the man at the wheel to luff the ship to give a broadside. Unfortunately, the ship was unmanageable, her sails and running rigging flying in all directions; but, as a substitute, we gave them the stern-chasers, entirely loaded with grape, as long as it could be of service. I then gave all the hands a good glass of grog, and, like smart fellows, they soon got the vessel on her course again. This being done, I ran to the captain and dressed his wounds. He was then apparently dying; but, through a miracle, we have preserved his life. He is in a tolerably fair way, and on shore, under the doctor's charge.

"The privateer was a fine, lateen-rigged vessel, carrying two large sails, and her decks as full of men as possible--we judge from seventy to eighty. We must have killed a great number, as a great quantity of blood rose on the water. It appeared to me a miracle that none of our men were killed, as the grape and musket-balls came in like hail. We had only two men slightly wounded, one of whom was at the wheel."

Little comment is necessary to supplement this narrative, except that the _Catherine's_ loss was very trivial for so severe an action. It is impossible to explain these things, which so frequently crop up in the reports of battles, both by land and sea. A whole company or a ship's crew comes almost unscathed out of a "hail of lead and iron." Well, either the "hail" was not quite as thick as was imagined in the heat of action or the balls found every gap between the men. The _Catherine_ would not, of course, have more than about five-and-thirty hands, if as many, and they would be scattered about at the guns until the Frenchmen endeavoured to board. Mr. Robertson's graphic and circumstantial story is quite worthy of credence, and he was certainly an able second in command.

Another spirited incident of a similar description is the defence of the _Fortune_, armed ship, Captain Hodgson, against a French privateer, on April 13th, 1811. The odds were, as usual on such occasions, very greatly in favour of the privateer, which was a brig, carrying 16 guns and about 120 men; while the _Fortune_, which was not intended for aggression, had 8 small guns and 2 swivels, and 19 persons on board, all told.

The action took place in the Atlantic some distance west of Ireland, and lasted for an hour and twenty minutes. The Frenchman, as usual, hoisted English colours at first, and, getting within hail, desired Captain Hodgson to send his boat on board. This was too stale a trick to meet with any success: "If you have any business with me, send your boat here," was the reply.

Failing in his ruse, the privateer captain immediately hoisted French colours and fired, first a single shot between the _Fortune's_ masts and then a broadside, which was promptly returned with 100 per cent. interest. Then the enemy, very naturally, sought to bring matters to a conclusion by boarding; but, in spite of their numbers, they could not obtain any footing on the _Fortune's_ deck. Eight of them managed to get into the jolly-boat, which hung from the stern--a very convenient method of boarding, provided that no one happens to be handy with a sharp knife. Unluckily for the eight Frenchmen, an English seaman with a cool head and a keen knife happened to be close by--possibly he was steering--and in a moment the jolly-boat's tackles were cut, and she disappeared with her freight. On the forecastle, however, a considerable number had got on board at one moment, but Hodgson, nothing daunted, ordered a volley and led a charge with such impetuosity that the enemy was driven from the deck--mostly overboard.

The _Fortune's_ colours were shot away twice, and, after the second time, were nailed to the gaff by a young lad, who, of course, immediately became a mark for the enemy's small-arms; but it is said that he very coolly completed his operations, encouraging the Frenchmen to "fire away." This is very probably true; it is just the kind of thing an English boy delights in doing--more readily, perhaps, than one of more experience.

The _Fortune_, however, in spite of the sustained and courageous resistance of her company, was soon in a bad way: her sails riddled, her rigging cut to pieces, and too large a proportion of her crew wounded or killed, it seemed inevitable that she must surrender; but a lucky shot--or rather, let us say, a skilful shot, and give the gunner the credit, instead of "luck"--brought down the privateer's foretopmast. The "Fortunes" raised a hearty cheer, and the enemy, hampered by the wreck, sheered off, receiving a parting kick in the shape of a broadside. Hodgson and his men hurried up to repair damages, expecting a renewal of the attack; but the privateers had had what is known in sporting circles as a "bellyful," and did not come up to the scratch again. Out of her small ship's company, the _Fortune_ had four killed and six wounded--which only leaves nine to fight!

THE "THREE SISTERS"

Captain George Thompson, of the merchant ship _Three Sisters_, addressed the following letter to his owners on September 18th, 1811, being then off the Isle of Wight:

"I have to acquaint you with a desperate engagement I have had with a French privateer, Le Fevre, mounting 10 guns--six long sixes, and four 12-pound carronades--with swivels and small arms, manned with 58 men, out from Brest fourteen days, in which time she captured the _Friends_ schooner, from Lisbon, belonging to Plymouth, and a large sloop from Scilly, with codfish and sundries, for Falmouth. On the 11th, at nine p.m., we observed her on the larboard bow; we were then steering N.N.E. about ten leagues from Scilly, and nearly calm.

"I immediately set my royals, fore steering-sails, and made all clear for action. At two a.m., when all my endeavours to escape were useless, she being within musket-shot, I addressed my crew, and represented the hardships they would undergo as prisoners, and the honour and happiness of being with their wives and families. This had the desired effect, and I immediately ordered the action to commence, and endeavoured to keep a good offing; but which he prevented by running alongside, and immediately attempted to board, with a machine I never before observed, which was three long ladders, with points at the end, that served to grapple us to them. They made three desperate attempts, with about twelve men at each ladder, but were received with such a determination that they were all driven back with great slaughter, and formed a heap for the others to ascend with greater facility.

"Finding us so desperate, they immediately, on their last charge failing, knocked off their ladders, one of which they were unable to unhook from our side, and left it with me, and sheered off; but, I am sorry to say, without my being able to injure them, as they had shot away part of my rudder before they boarded me, and I am sorry to say wounded several of my masts and yards, for it seemed to be their aim to carry away some of my masts, but which, happily, they did not effect. The most painful part of my narrative is the loss of two men and a boy killed, and four wounded; but the wounded are doing well. Our whole crew amounted, officers and men, to twenty-six men and four boys, and deserve the highest applause that can be bestowed upon them. I arrived off here this afternoon, and, as it is fine weather, I have no doubt of reaching London in safety, as I have but little damage in my hull."

CONCLUSION

With this brilliant little incident this account must come to a close.

Are there to be any privateering actions in future naval warfare? The Declaration of Paris, in 1856, at the close of the Crimean War, lays down that "Privateering is and remains abolished"; but will this dictum be accounted as holding good, if it should suit any naval power to resort to the practice?

It cannot be expected that this will be so. The days of the raking, fast-sailing brig or schooner are, indeed, over; but there remain the swift ocean "greyhounds," admirably adapted, if armed with a few long-ranged, quick-firing guns, for running down and capturing merchant vessels, and showing a clean pair of heels on the appearance of a cruiser. Can it be doubted that some of them will be utilised for the purpose?

At the recent International Conference it was distinctly suggested that fast merchant vessels may be converted into men-of-war, on the high seas; and though the British delegates refused to recognise the principle, it was not negatived, and remains open.

If a merchant skipper has instructions, upon learning of the declaration of war, to hoist up the guns from his hold and act as a cruiser against the enemy's commerce, the margin between this and privateering is an exceedingly narrow one: moreover, we have had numerous instances lately of the treatment of international treaties and declarations as so much piecrust; so we must not be surprised if the Declaration of Paris shares the same fate. We may, in fact, in this twentieth century, hark back to the dictum of that shrewd old Admiralty judge, Sir Leoline Jenkins, previously quoted: privateers will probably remain, as "a sort of people that will always be found fault with, but still made use of."

[Footnote 22: That is, a little south of the island of Majorca.]

INDEX

_Achilles_, 305, 306

Actions (in order of relation): _Lion_ (Andrew Barton) and _Jenny Pirwin_ and two English ships, 22-24; _Amity_ and two Spaniards, 29-32; _Duke_ (Captain Rogers) and Panama ship, 63; _Duke_ and _Duchess_ and Manila ship, 71; _Speedwell_ and Spanish ship, 85-87; _Alexander_ and _Solebay_, 95, 96; _Antigallican_ and _Duc de Penthievre_, 99, 100; _Terrible_ and _Vengeance_, 106-111; _Mentor_ and _Carnatic_, 113, 114; _Fame_ (Capt. Moor) and five French ships, 115-117; _Ellen_ and _Santa Anna Gratia_, 118-120; _St. George_ (Capt. Wright) and French privateer, 137-139; _Duke_ (Capt. Morecock) and _Prince Frederick_ and three French ships, 150; _Mars_ (Capt. Walker) and _Boscawen_ and French man-of-war, 157; _Mars_ and French men-of-war, 158-160; _Mars_ and _Sheerness_ and eight French ships, 165-169; French ship and boats of George Walker's squadron, 177, 178; George Walker's squadron and Spanish treasure-ship, 179-185; _Anglesea_ and _Apollon_, 191-195; _Lion_ (Capt. Brett) and _Elizabeth_, 195, 196; _Palme_ (French) and _Neptune_ (Dutch), 202, 203; _Dauphin_ and _Sherdam_ (Dutch), 204; _Trinite_ (French) and _Concorde_ (Dutch) 210; _Diligente_ and six English men-of-war, 214-216; _Francois_ and two English ships, 220, 221; _St. Jacques_ and four consorts (French) and three Dutch ships, 224, 225; _Jason_ (French) and English squadron, 226-228; _St. William_ (French) and Dutch ship, 232, 233; Cassard's squadron and two English ships, 235-238; _Centurion_ and _Diomede_ (English) and French Squadron, 246; _Cartier_ (French) and _Triton_, 251-255; _Confiance_ and _Kent_, 258-260; _Argo_ (American) and _King George_, 275, 276; _Argo_ and _Dragon_, 277, 278; _Argo_ and _Saratoga_ and _Dublin_, 278-280; _Pomona_ (American) and _Rosebud_, 283-285; _Hyder Ali_ (American) and _General Monk_, 299-303; _General Pickering_ (American) and _Golden Eagle_, 304, 305; _General Pickering_ and _Achilles_, 305, 306; _Comet_ (American) and four English ships convoyed by Portuguese war-ship, 309-311; _Chasseur_ (American) and _St. Lawrence_, 312-316; _General Armstrong_ (American) and _Carnation_, 317-324; _Princess Royal_ packet and _Aventurier_, 330-333; _Chance_ (colonial privateer) and Spanish ship, 334, 335; _Chance_ and Spanish war-ship, 335, 336; _Rover_ (colonial privateer) and five French ships, 337, 338; _Rover_ and three Spanish ships, 338-340; _Bonaparte_ and _Hippomenes_, 341, 342; _Bonaparte_ and three English ships, 342-353; _Windsor Castle_ packet and _Jeune Richard_, 354-357; _Catherine_ and French privateer, 357-360; _Fortune_ and French privateer, 360, 362; _Three Sisters_ and French privateer, 362-364

Admiralty, High Court of, 11

_Adventure_, 214, 215, 228

Aigle, Captain de l', 235

Albatross, The, 80, 81

Albemarle, Lord, Admiral, 200

_Alexander_, 95

_Alexandre le Grande_, 106

Algiers, 117

America Cup, The, 325

American War of Secession, 112

_Amiable Maria_, 335, 336

_Amity_ and the Spaniards, 28-32

"Ancient Mariner, The," 81

_Anglesea_, 192

Anne, Queen, 48

Anson, Admiral Lord, 98

_Antelope_, 147

_Antigallican_, 97-99, 103, 104

Antigallicans, Society of, 96-99, 103, 105

Antigua, 239

_Apollon_, 192, 195

_Ardent_, 286, 289, 290 _n._

_Arethusa_, 264

_Argo_, 275-277, 280

Arica, 83

Aristocrats, French Naval; their hatred of privateersmen, 205, 224

Armed merchant vessels, Distinction of, 12

Articles of War, 193, 198

_Augusta_, 192

_Auguste_, 226

_Aurora_, 241, 242, 244

Austrian Succession, War of the, 47

_Aventurier_, 332

Azores, The, 149, 171, 172, 317

Backwoodsmen as Marines, 301, 302

Bahamas, The, 72

Baker, Mr. Peter, 111-115

Balasore Roads, 251

Ballet, John, 44

Barbadoes, Island of, 155, 342, 343, 349, 354

Barbary, 142

Barkley, Lieutenant, 237, 238

Barney, Joshua; captured in a trader, 282; first officer of _Pomona_, 282; sails for Bordeaux, 282; fights English privateer, 283; a marvellous 3-pounder, 284; reaches Bordeaux, 285; captures an English privateer, 285; is a prisoner of war, 285; kindly treated by Admiral Byron, 286; accused of incendiarism, 286, 287; sent to England in _Yarmouth_, 287; alleged cruel treatment, 287-289; sent to Mill Prison, 289; his ruse to escape, 293, 294; his escape, 294, 295; gets off in a fishing smack, 296; brought back to England, 296; escapes to Plymouth, 297, 298; gets away to Holland, 298; arrives in America, commands _Hyder Ali_, 299; his action with _General Monk_, 299-303; conflicting accounts of action, 303; commands _General Washington_ (late _General Monk_), 304; revisits Plymouth, 304; other reference, 325

Barney, Mary (probably daughter of Joshua), 290, 291, 292

Bart, Jean, famous French privateer captain, romantic stories about, 196, 206; his origin, 197; boy on board a smuggler, 197; mate on board _Cochon Gras_, 197; wanton brutality of captain, 197; witnesses application of the Judgments of Oleron, 198-200; pilots French nobles to Harwich, 200; joins the Dutch navy, 201; returns to France and commands a small privateer, 201; captures a States-General war-ship, 201; is admonished for ransoming prizes, 202; captures eight armed ships, 202; his desperate fight with a Dutchman, 202, 203; receives a gold chain from the king, 203; his continued success, 204; takes another Dutch ship after a bloody encounter, 204, 205; gallantry of the Dutch captain, 205; he is badly wounded, and his ship destroyed, 205; returns to Dunkirk after peace is declared, 205; accepts a commission in the Navy, 205; is snubbed by the aristocrats, 205; the cask of gunpowder fable, 206, 207; chiefly remembered as a privateer, 207

Barton, Andrew; a leader of men, 20; suppresses Flemish pirates, 21; sends their heads to the king, 21; his exploits under letter of marque, 21; accused of piracy, 21; two ships sent to take him, 22; his fight with Howard, 23; his gallantry and death, 23; surrender of the _Lion_, 24; the crew imprisoned, 24; released on certain conditions, 25; redress for his death refused by Henry VIII., 25; "Ballad of Sir," 25, 26, 27; the incident a true one, 27; not a knight, 27; no proof of his piracy, 28; other reference, 203

Barton, John, father of Andrew, 19

Barton, Robert, brother of Andrew, 20

_Batchelor_, 72

Bath, William, 53

Bayonne, 6

_Beginning_, 61

Bengal, Bay of, 250, 251, 258, 261

Bentham, Com. George, 318

Bergen, 206

Bermuda, 314

Betagh, William, 76, 77, 78, 80, 82, 86, 87, 92

Betsy, 280

_Bienfaisant_, 195

_Bienvenue_, 243

Bizerta, 233

Blaize, Mlle. Marie, who marries Robert Surcouf, 255, 261

Blanco, Cape (South America), 338

_Bloodhound_, 308

Blundell, Captain (of Liverpool Regiment), 118

_Bonaparte_, 342-353

Bordeaux, 264, 282, 285, 286, 333

Borrowdale, Captain James, 117-120

_Boscawen_, 157, 158, 160, 164, 166, 167, 176

Boston, 220

Boulogne, 266

Bousfield, Captain Daniel, 350

Boyle, Captain Thomas, commands the _Comet_, 308; runs blockade of Chesapeake, 308; encounter with Portuguese war-ship and four English ships, 308-311; captures one, 311; his success in _Comet_, 312; commands _Chasseur_, 312; successful action with English man-of-war schooner _St. Lawrence_, 312-16; discrepancies in accounts of action, 314, 315; posts "Proclamation of Blockade" at Lloyd's, 316; other reference, 325

Brazil, 52, 80

Brehat, Island of, 212, 219

Brest, 158, 162, 231

Bridgetown (Barbadoes), 343

_Brilliant_, 86

Bristol, 41, 43, 150, 169, 177, 298

Bristol Channel, 213

Brittany, Sir John of, 6

Bromedge, Captain Hugh, 177

Brook, John, 82, 83

Bruce, Sophia, 74

Bucaille, Baron, 262

Buccaneers, 14, 36, 39, 65, 73

Buchanan, George, Scotch historian, 24, 25, 27

Bulls, The Pope's traffic in, 29

Burnaby, Captain Sir William, 140

Byron, Vice-Admiral the Hon. John, 286; wild chronology with regard to, 289, 290

Cadiz, 100, 101, 102, 180, 241

Caen, 209

Cagliari, 141

Calais, 200

Caldwell, Captain, 290

Campo Florida, Prince of, 132

Canary Islands, 76, 77

Cancer, Tropic of, 48

Candis, Mrs. (who married Alexander Selkirk), 74

Cape May (Delaware), 300

Cape May Roads, 300

Cape Verde Islands, 50, 239

Caper, 4

_Captain_, 161

Caramania, 129

Cardigan, 271

_Carnatic_, 114

_Carnation_, 318, 319, 322

Carolina, North, 155

Carolina, South, 154

Caroline, Queen (of George II.), 195

Carronade, 9-pounder, 299, 303

Carroway, Captain, 307

Carthagena (South America), 229, 230, 231

_Cartier_, 251, 252, 255

Cassard, Jacques, French privateersman, his origin, 229; joins expedition against Carthagena, 229; gallantry and resource in attack, 230; his suppression of pillage, etc., 230, 231; appointed naval lieutenant, 231; but goes privateering, 231; desperate and successful action with a Dutchman, 232, 233; admonished for ransoming prizes, 233; convoys grain-ships to Marseilles, 234; is cheated by the merchants, 234; convoys more grain-ships, 235; his desperate fight with two English war-ships, 236-238; he captures both, 238; supervises military works at Toulon, 238; commands a squadron and makes various conquests, 239; jealousy of aristocrats and his own imprudence land him in prison, where he dies, 239

_Catharina_, 169

_Catherine_, 357-360

Causand Bay (Devon), 296

_Centaur_, 348

_Centurion_, 246

_Ceres_, 342, 343, 344, 347, 349, 350, 352

_Chance_, 334-336

Charles, Archduke of Austria, 47

Charles II., King, 8, 11

Charles VI., Emperor, 75

Charnley, Captain John, 342, 346, 347, 350, 351, 352

_Charon_, 195

_Chasseur_, 312-316

_Chatham_, 226

Chesapeake Bay, 308

Chesapeake River, 282

Chiloe, 81

_Cicero_, 298

_Cinque Ports_, 37, 38, 39, 59, 61

Civil War (American), 13

_Clarisse_, 255, 256, 257

Clipperton, John, commands _Success_, with _Speedy_ as consort (Captain Shelvocke), 76; ill-will between them, 76; separates from Shelvocke, 77; leaves record at Juan Fernandez, 87; has trouble with his crew, 88; takes some prizes, 88; one of them recaptured, 88, 89; captures rich prize, 89; she is recaptured by Spanish war-ships, 89; takes to drink, 89; some of his crew desert, 90; encounters Shelvocke, 90; they disagree and part, 91; sails for China, 91; returns home in an Indiaman, 91; his death, 91; other reference, 38

Clowes, Sir W. Laird, naval historian, 12 _n._, 313, 314

_Cochon Gras_, 197

Cochrane, Rear-Admiral the Hon. Alexander, 356

_Coetquen_, 212

Coggleshall, George, American seaman and writer, 270, 314, 325

Colbert, French Minister of State, 204

Coldsea, Mr., 85

Coleridge, Samuel T., the poet, 81

_Comet_, 308, 310, 311, 312

_Comte d'Artois_, 195

Concepcion (Chili), 81

_Concepcion_, 91

_Concorde_, 210

Confederate States of America, 13

_Confiance_, 257, 258-260

Connelly, Mr., 66

Constable, Captain Charles, 235, 236, 237

Cooke, Edward, 51, 61

_Cora_, 308

Cork, 42, 43, 45

Corunna, 99, 104

Cosby, Captain, 281

_Courier_, 246

Courtney, Captain Stephen, 45, 60, 61

Courts-Martial: Captain Charles Constable, of the _Falcon_, 238 Captain William Dampier, of the _Roebuck_, 36 Lieutenant James E. Gordon, of the _St. Lawrence_, 314, 315 Captain Thomas Griffin, of the _Captain_, 161 Captain Savage Mostyn, of the _Hampton Court_, 162 Lieutenant Baker Phillips, of the _Anglesea_, 193, 194 Captain Edward Rumsey, of the _Pembroke_, 238 Captain Matthew Smith, of the _Diomede_, 246 Surviving officers of the _Nonsuch_, 221

_Creole_, 247

Crow, Captain Hugh, 12, 13

Curacao, 239, 340

Curtis, Vice-Admiral Sir Roger, 334

_Cybele_, 246, 247

Cyclones of the Indian Ocean, 242

Dampier, William, circumnavigator and privateer, served in the Navy, 35; a buccaneer, 36; commands a man-of-war, 36; is tried by Court-Martial and dismissed, 36; commands _St. George_, privateer, with _Cinque Ports_ as consort, 37; South Sea voyage a failure, 37; discontent, mutiny, and desertions, 37; futile action with French ships, 37; captures a large Spanish provision ship, 37; parts from _Cinque Ports_, 38; men desert with mate and steward, 38; takes a brigantine and sails for East Indies, 38; imprisoned in Dutch factory, 38; arrives in England, 38; controversy as to account of voyage, 38; other references, 41, 44, 55, 58, 59, 64, 65, 73, 75

Dana, Richard, 83

Danes, The, 5

Daniel, Captain James, 82

_Danycan_, 211, 212

Dartmoor Prison, 281

Dartmouth, 157

_Dartmouth_, 185

_Dash_, 307

_Dauphin_, 204, 205

Dawson, Captain John, 112, 113, 114

Death, Captain, of the _Terrible_, 106, 109, 110, 111

_Defiance_, 98

Defoe, Daniel, 40, 57

Delaware Bay, 300

Delaware River, 300

_Delft_, 224, 225

Demerara, 341

Denham, Captain Robert, 177

_Dentelle_, 195, 196

De Pointis, 229, 231

De Ruyter, Dutch Admiral, 200

_Deux Freres_, 116

_Diana_, 251, 252, 254

Digby, Admiral, 296

Dinan, 240, 241

Dighton, Mass., 274

_Diligente_, 214, 215

_Diomede_, 246

Dominica, Island of, 350

D'Ongressill, Bernard, 6, 7, 8, 179

_Doris_, 323

Dottin, Captain Edward, 177, 183, 184, 185

Dover, Thomas, 43, 44, 55, 56, 58, 62, 65, 66, 71, 72

_Dragon_ man-of-war, 214, 215

_Dragon_ privateer, 277

_Dreadnought_, 161, 162

Dublin, 115

_Dublin_, 278-280

Du Cange, French archaeologist, 7 _n._

Du Casse, Governor of St. Domingo, 229, 230

_Duc de Penthievre_, 99, 100, 102-104

_Duchess_, 42, 44, 46, 53, 54, 60, 62, 65, 71

Du Haies, Captain, 235

_Duke_ (Rogers's ship), 42, 44, 46, 53, 59, 60, 61, 62, 65

_Duke_ (Jas. Talbot's ship), 149, 150, 177, 179, 183, 185

_Duke of Bedford_, 171

_Duke William_, 154, 155

Duncan, Captain, 285

Dunkirk, 197, 201, 203, 204, 205, 207

_Eclatant_, 233

Edward the Confessor, King, 5

Edward I., King, 6

_Elizabeth_, 195

Elizabeth, Queen, 25

_Ellen_, 117-119

Elton, Captain Jacob, 192, 193

_Emilie_, 249-251

_Endymion_, 324

_Esperance_, 201

_Eurydice_, 149

Exeter, 298

_Fair American_, 300

_Falcon_, armed ship, captured by Du Guay Trouin, 220, 221

_Falcon_, man-of-war, captured by Jacques Cassard, 235, 236

_Faluere_, 225

_Fame_ (Captain Moor), 115-117

_Fame_ (Captain Wright), 128-131, 135, 142

Faussett, Lieutenant Robert, 322

Fayal, Azores, 317, 318, 322

Fenn, Captain, 357, 358

Ferrol, 180, 186

Feuquieres, M. de, 234, 236, 237

Fisher, Lieutenant, 36

_Flamborough_, 97

_Fleuron_, 158-160, 162, 163, 234

Fleury, Cardinal, 239

Flodden Field, Battle of, 19

Florence, 125

Fly-boat, 30

Forteventura, Island of, 47

_Fortune_, 360-362

Foster, Captain William, 97, 98, 101, 104

Fourmentin, Denis, 262, 263

_Francois_, 219, 221

Frio, Cape, 77, 92

Funnell, William, 38

Gabriel, John, 68

Galapagos Islands, 68, 69, 73, 89

_General Armstrong_, 319-324

_General Monk_, 299-303; conflicting accounts of action, 303

_General Pickering_, 304-306

_General Washington_ (Silas Talbot's ship), 280

_General Washington_ (afterwards _General Monk_, then recaptured), 299

Genoa, Gulf of, 234

_George_, 169

George II., King, 132

George III., King, 55, 246 _n._

Gibraltar, 100, 102, 104, 154, 357

Gibraltar, Strait of, 29

_Glorioso_, 181, 182

Godfrey, Captain, 337, 340

Godwin, Earl, 5

_Golden Eagle_, 304-306

Goldsworthy, Mr., Consul at Cadiz, 101

Good Hope, Cape of, 334

Gordon, Lieutenant James Edward, 314, 315

Grain-ships, French, 233-238

Green, Mr. John, 178

_Grenedan_, 211

Griffin, Captain Thomas, 161

Guadaloupe, Island of, 350

Guam, 70

Guano, 83

Guayaquil, 61, 63, 64, 69, 73, 88, 335, 336

Hall, Edward, Chronicler, 24, 25, 27

_Hampton Court_, 161, 162

Hampton Roads (America), 307

Haraden, Captain Jonathan, of Salem; his skill and coolness under fire, 304, 306; captures _Golden Eagle_ by an almost incredible ruse, 304, 305; captures _Achilles_, 305, 306; doubtful story of capture of an English packet, 306; other reference, 325

Harrison, John, maker of first chronometer, 55

Harwich, 200

Hatley, Simon, 69, 76, 78-81

_Havre de Grace_, 69

Hazard, Captain, 276

Henry III., King, 5, 8

Henry VIII., King, 9, 21, 24, 25, 27

_Hercule_, 213

_Heron_, 241

_Hippomenes_, 341

_Hirondelle_, 234

Hodgson, Captain, 360-362

Hood, Commodore, 349

Hope, Captain Henry, 324

Hopkins, Samuel, 44

Horn, Cape, 35, 37, 53, 80

Hotham, Captain Henry, 264

Howard, Lord Charles, 26

Howard, Lord Edward, 22, 24

Howard, Thomas, Earl of Surrey, 22

Howard, Lord Thomas, 22, 23, 26

Hull, 9

_Hussar_, 111

Hutchinson, William, 128, 134, 145-148

_Hyder Ali_, 299-303; conflicting accounts of action, 303

_Immortalite_ (British), 263, 264

_Invention_, 263-266

Iquique (South America), 83

_Isis_, 140

Isle Grande (Brazil), 52, 53

Isle de Rhe, 95 _n._, 96

Isle of Wight, 149

Jamaica, 13, 97, 118, 120

James II., King, 212

James III., of Scotland, 19, 20

James IV., of Scotland, 19, 20, 25

_Jane_, 257

_Jason_, 226, 228

_Jean Bart_, 246

Jenkins, Sir Leoline, 11, 365

_Jenny Pirwin_, 22, 24, 27

_Jersey_, 140

_Jersey_, prison ship at New York, 281

_Jesu Maria_, 90

_Jeune Richard_, 354-357

"John Crow" bird, 62

Jones, Paul, 13

Jonquiere, M. de la, 80

Juan Fernandez, Island of, 37, 39, 40, 54, 55, 60, 66, 74, 82, 83, 87, 88, 89, 90

Katharine of Aragon, Queen, 27

_Kent_, 258-260

_King David_, 201

_King George_, 177, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 185, 186

_King George_ (of Rhode Island), 275, 276, 277

King's Road, Bristol, 169

Kinsale, 37, 150, 192

Knights of St. John, 129

Ladrone Islands, 71

Lagos (Portugal), 6, 179

Lambert, Captain de, 235

Lanoix, a Huguenot seaman, 198-200

_Lansdowne_, 257

_Lark_, 140

La Rochelle, 261

Laughton, Sir John, 181

_Le Fevre_, 362-364

Leghorn, 127, 133, 134, 135, 137, 139, 140, 141

Le Mair, Strait of (South America), 80

_Lenore_, 224

Leslie, Bishop John, Scottish historian, 20, 22, 24, 27

Leslie, R.C., 72

Letters of marque; abuse of term, 4; instance in 1295, 6; may be issued in time of peace, 8

Lima, 61, 62, 76, 83, 335

_Limeno_, 336

Limerick, 211

_Lion_ (Andrew Barton's ship), 22, 23, 27

_Lion_, British man-of-war, 195, 196

Lisbon, 6, 7, 98, 100, 178, 186, 311

Liverpool, 12, 111, 112, 124

Liverpool (Nova Scotia), 336, 337, 340

_Liverpool_, 146

Lloyd, Captain Robert, 318, 320, 321

Lobos, Island of, 61, 89

L'Orient, 104, 243

_Louis Erasme_, 150

Louis XIV., King of France, 47

Louis XVI., King of France, 246

_Lowestoft_, 134

Lucca, 125, 127

Lundy Island, 213

Lutwidge, Captain Skeffington, 289; his log and letter about American prisoners, etc., 295, 296

Maclay, Mr. E.S., American naval writer, 270, 271, 272, 280, 284, 286, 287, 290, 292, 293, 297, 299, 305, 313, 314, 321, 322

Madagascar, 103

Madeira, 99, 171, 337

Madison, John, President of United States, 325

Madrid, 102, 105

Magee, W., 87

Magellan, Strait of, 87

Mahon (Corsica), 238

Majorca, Island of, 357 _n._

Malaga, 208, 209

Malartic, General, Governor of Mauritius, 258

_Malartic_, 258

Malo, M. Henri, 207, 262

Malta, 129, 130, 136, 140, 142, 143, 233, 357

Mann, Sir Horace, 125, 127, 138, 141

_Manship_, 257

Marcare, meaning of, 7 _n._

_Maria Theresa_, 99

_Marquis_, 69

_Marquis d'Antin_, 150

Marryat, Captain Frederick (the novelist), 262

_Mars_, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 164, 165

_Mars_ (French), 205

Marseilles, 115, 130, 132, 137, 138, 233

Martens, Von, 11

Mason, Captain, 300

Mauritius, Island of, 242, 243, 245, 246, 247, 249, 251, 255

Maxey, Lieutenant, 307

Maximilian, Emperor, 19

McBride, Captain, 195

McKenzie, Captain Kenneth, 341, 342

_Mentor_, 111-115

_Mercury_, 81, 86

Mersey, River, 114

Messina, 129

Midshipman Easy, 185, 198

Miller, Captain, 140

Mill Prison, Plymouth, 289; diet, etc., of American prisoners in, 293

Mill Prison, Barney's escape from, 293-295; a very slack prison, 296, 298

_Monk_, 215, 216

Montserrat (West Indies), 239

Moor, Captain Edward, 115-117

Morecock, Captain, 149

Morocco, 177

Mostyn, Captain Savage, 161, 162

Mount-Edgecumbe, Lord, 297, 304

Mozambique, 242

Munroe, Captain, 278, 279

_Nancy_, 116

Nantes, 229, 239

Nantucket, 324

Naples, 132

_Naval Chronicle, The_, 265

_Navigator_, 243

Navy Board, The, 265

Nelson, Lord, 12, 51

_Neptune_, 159

_Neptune_ (Dutch), 202-204

Newcastle, 9

Newfoundland, Banks of, 115, 149

New York, 274, 281, 285, 286, 289, 290 _n._, 307

Nicolas, Sir Harris, 7 _n._

_Nonsuch_ (alias _Sanspareil_), 220-224, 226

Norman, Mr. C.B., 200, 217, 233 _n._, 235, 238

_Notre Dame de Deliverance_, 150

Nova Scotia, 336

Oleron, Judgments of, 198, 199, 200

Onslow, Captain, 290

Oppenheim, Mr. M., 29

Oran, 142

Orissa (India), 252

Orotava (Teneriffe), 47

Osborn, Captain, 246

Ostend, 75, 76

Oughton, Captain (in Marryatt's novel), 262

Packets, description of, 329

Page, Mr., 51, 52

Painpeny, French captain, 352

_Palme_, 202, 204

Panama, 62, 63

Panama, Gulf of, 35

_Parfait_, 235, 236

Paris, Declaration of, 364

Parker, Admiral Sir Hyde, 51

Parker, John, 44

Parnell, Captain, 165

Payta, 84

_Pembroke_, 235-238

_Penelope_, 342, 343, 344, 347, 348, 349, 350, 352

_Peregrine_, 86

Pernambuco, 308

Peru, 61, 68, 69, 89, 334

Philadelphia, 299

Phillips, Lieutenant Baker, 193; his tragic end, 194, 195

Phillips, Captain, 95, 96

_Phoenix_, 235, 236

Pickering, Captain, 37

Piece of Eight, The value of, 67

Pirates, 1; confused with privateers, 1, 14, 72; Flemish, 20, 21; Mediterranean, 153

Pitt, Mr. William, Minister, 103, 105

_Plantagenet_, 318, 321, 323

Plymouth, 76, 106, 216, 264, 296, 297

_Pomona_, 282-284; inaccurate accounts of her capture, 285, 286, 287, 290

Pondicherry, 242

Port Louis, Mauritius, 256

Port Royal, Jamaica, 120

Portsmouth, 99, 195

Portugal, King of, 6, 7 _n._, 8

Portuguese mate; his hatred of Surcouf, 244, 245

"Pretty shop-girl," Du Guay Trouin's friend, 216-219

Powell, Commodore, 74

_Prince de Neufchatel_, 324

_Prince Edward_, 178, 179

_Prince Eugene_, 75

_Prince Frederick_, 149, 177, 179, 180, 183, 184, 185

_Prince George_ (Jas. Talbot's ship), 149

_Prince George_ (Geo. Walker's tender), 178, 179

_Prince of Orange_, 214, 217

_Princess Amelia_, 177, 178, 179

_Princess Royal_ (Admiral Byron's flagship), 290 _n._

_Princess Royal_ packet, 330-333

Prisoners of war, alleged cruel treatment of American, 271, 287-289

Privateering, origin of, 4, 5; only applicable to a state of war, 6; value of, 9; when fully recognised, 9; success in 16th century, 9; drawbacks of, 10, 11, 12; against Spanish treasure-ships in South Seas, 35; French men-of-war lent for, 192; future of, 364, 365

Privateers, number employed in French and American wars, 10; Scotch, 11; some fine men among commanders, 12; diversity of opinion about, 11, 12, 269, 270, 271, 273; exaggerated accounts of actions by, 271; an American, and Welsh prize, 271, 272; humanity of American, 272, 273; exploits of two colonial, 333-340

Private vessels employed as men-of-war, 5

_Profound_, 213

_Prudente_, 246

Puna, Island of (South America), 63, 64, 66, 68, 335

Quakers, 41, 43

Quebec, 300

Querangal, Lieutenant Francois de, 103

Quibo, Island of, 90

Ranc, Captain (Dutch), 204

Rangoon, 250

Ransoming prizes forbidden, 202, 233

Reid, Captain Samuel C., 317, 318, 319, 321, 322

Rennes, 209

_Revenant_ (the _Ghost_), Surcouf's last ship, 261

Rhode Island, 275, 281

Richardson, Captain, 349

Riddle, Mr., 178

Rio Janeiro, 52, 256

Robertson, Mr., 357, 360

Robinson Crusoe, 40, 57

Robinson, Captain Isaiah, 282-286

_Robuste_, 281

Rochefort, 219

Rodney, Admiral Lord, 287

_Roebuck_, 36, 37

Rogers, John, 45, 63

Rogers, Com. Josias, 299, 300, 301, 303

Rogers, Acting Captain W. (of _Windsor Castle_ packet), 354-357

Rogers, Woodes; wrongly alluded to as a pirate, 14, 72; his birth and parentage, 41; proposes expedition to South Seas, 41; some Quakers among his owners, 41; his lucid account of his voyage, 42; sails in _Duke_ with _Duchess_, 42; puts into Cork, 42; constitution of council, 43; staff of the two ships, 43, 44; Dampier sailing master, 44; mixed crews, 45; "continually marrying," 45, 46; condition of the ships, 46; sails for Madeira, 46; refuses demand of crew, who mutiny, 46; "breaking unlawful friendships," 47; captures Spanish vessel off Teneriffe, 47; his amenities with his prisoners, 47; dispute about his prize, 48; crossing the Tropic, 48, 49; his rules about plunder, 49; loses his linguist at St. Vincent, 50; frequent exchange of visits at sea, 50, 51; more mutiny; his firmness, 51, 52; he has prayers read daily, 52; refits ships at Isle Grande, 52, 53; "logs" Mr. Carleton Vanbrugh, and sends him to _Duchess_, 53; celebrates New Year's Day, 53; a mishap to _Duchess_, 54; goes far South, and doubles Cape Horn, 54; arrives off Juan Fernandez, 55; finds Alexander Selkirk and makes him a mate, 56-59; leaves Juan Fernandez, 60; Vanbrugh received on board again, 60; more rules about plunder, 60, 61; converts two small prizes to his own uses, 61, 62; Vanbrugh again in trouble, 62; captures two prizes; his brother killed in action, 63; arrives in Gulf of Guayaquil, 63; captures Governor of Puna, 63; disquieting news, 64; sends boats to attack Guayaquil, 64; finds people alert, 65; cautious counsels, 65; lands and attacks successfully, 66; disappointed of treasure, 66; the "modesty" of his crew, 67; agrees upon ransom, 67; returns on board, 68; leaves Guayaquil, 68; sickness and lack of water, 69; trouble over plunder, 69, 70; trials of a privateer captain, 70; captures a rich Manila ship, and loses another, 71; is severely wounded, 71; dispute about Dr. Dover, 72; returns home by way of the East Indies, 72; is made Governor of the Bahamas, 72; his death, 72; other references, 75, 76, 77, 80, 88

Roosevelt, Mr. Theodore (late President United States), 270

_Rosario_, 88, 89

_Rosebud_, 285

_Rota_, 318, 321

_Rover_, 336, 337

_Royale_, 201, 202

"Royal Family" privateers, 177, 178, 185

Rumsey, Captain Edward, 235-238

_Russell_, 183, 185, 186

Russo-Japanese War, 28

Safia, 177

Sailing ships, American and British, 325

_Saint Aaron_, 212

St. Antonio (Cape Verde Islands), 50

St. Catherine, Island of (Brazil), 80

St. Denis (Isle of Bourbon), 247

St. Domingo (West Indies), 229

St. Eustatia (West Indies), 239

_St. Fermin_, 82

_St. Francisco_, 28-32

_St. George_ (Dampier's ship), 37, 83

_St. George_ (Wright's ship), 135, 136, 138, 141

St. Iago (Cape Verde Islands), 239

St. Ives, 176

_St. Jacques des Victoires_, 224, 225

St. Malo, 106, 150, 210, 211, 212, 219, 224, 231, 239, 255, 261

St. Martin's Road (Isle de Rhe), 95

_St. Mary_, 6

St. Mary, Island of (Madagascar), 103

St. Paul's Bay (Isle of Bourbon), 247

St. Pol, M. de (French mate), 242

_St. Peter_, 28-32

St. Vincent, Cape, 182

_St. William_, 231, 232

Sandy Hook, 278, 281

_Sanspareil_ (_alias Nonsuch_), 220-224, 226

_Santa Anna Gratia_, 119

_Santa Familia_, 91, 92

_Santa Rita_, 339

_Saratoga_ (American man-of-war), 290

_Saratoga_ (American privateer), ridiculous story about, 278, 279

Sardinia, 141

Sauret, Antoine, 197, 198, 199, 201

Scarborough, 9

Schomberg, Captain (Naval chronicler), 237

Scilly Isles, 214, 228

Scottish Rebellion of '45, 151

Selcraig (original name of Selkirk), 74

Selim, a young Turk, 142-144

Selkirk, Alexander; sailing master in _Cinque Ports_, 38; been with buccaneers, 39; his hatred of Captain Stradling, 39; determines to desert at Juan Fernandez, 39; he is landed there, 39; the prototype of Robinson Crusoe, 40; is rescued by Woodes Rogers, 56; describes his adventures, 57, 58; is reluctant to sail with Dampier, 58, 59; made a mate on board _Duke_, 59; returns to Scotland, but laments his island, 73; elopes with Sophia Bruce, 74; marries Mrs. Candis, 74; dies in the Royal Navy, 74; other references, 62, 66

Semmes, Captain Raphael (of the _Alabama_), 13

_Serieux_, 233, 235-237

Seychelles Islands, 249, 250

Shannon, River, 211

_Sheerness_, 165-167

Shelvocke, George; commands two privateers under a foreign commission, 75; goes to Ostend, 75; commissions altered to English, 76; commands _Speedwell_ under Clipperton in _Success_, 76; his hatred of Clipperton, 76; sails from Plymouth, 76; they separate in a gale, 77; he robs a Portuguese ship, 77-80; alleged mutiny, 80; runs far south, 80; his officer shoots an albatross, 81; Coleridge's albatross, 81; rounds Cape Horn and sights Chili, 81; lingers on the coast, 81; captures two small prizes, 81; his men are ambushed, 82; burns a prize, 82; sails for Juan Fernandez, 82; finds there record of Clipperton, 82; his disingenuousness, 83; takes two guano ships, 83; fires the town of Payta, 84; action with a large Spanish ship, 84-86; his officer's account of the action, 86, 87; is wrecked on Juan Fernandez, 89; builds a small ship, captures and exchanges into a prize, 90; unpleasant meeting with Clipperton, 90; they part on bad terms, 91; exchanges into another prize, 91; Spanish Governor announces peace, and demands return of prize, 91; he disregards, and quits, 91; in difficulties, contemplates surrender, but eventually sails for China in another prize, 91; his suspicious conduct at Whampoa, 92; returns home in an Indiaman, and is arrested for piracy, 92; proofs failing, is imprisoned for fraud, 92; escapes and leaves England, 92; writes an account of his voyage, 92; his officer writes a very different one, 92

_Sherdam_, 204

_Sibylle_ (British frigate), 256

Skinner, Captain John, 330-332

Slave Trade, English, 12, 13

Slave Trade, French, 242, 243, 247, 248

Smith, Captain Matthew, 246

Smith, William, 97

Smollett, Tobias, historian, 124

Smyrna, 234

_Solebay_, 95, 96

Somerville, Captain Philip, 318

Sonson (Sumatra), 256

Spanish Succession, War of, 47

Spanish treasure-ships, 35

_Speedwell_, 75, 76, 81, 84-87, 90

_Staremberg_, 75

_Stendard_, 234

Stradling, Captain, 37, 39, 40, 61

Stretton, Mr., 72

Stuart, Charles Edward (the young Pretender), 195

_Success_, 75, 78, 82, 88

Sumatra, 250, 256

_Sunderland_, 161

Surcouf, Nicholas (brother of Robert), 255

Surcouf, Robert, famous French privateer captain; his origin, 240; destined for the Church, 240; sent to a seminary, 240; resents chastisement, and runs away, 241; ships on a brig, 241; volunteer on _Aurora_, 241; behaves well in a storm, 242; wreck of the slave ship, 242; his zeal and courage afterwards, 243; returns home, 243; back to Indian seas, 243; mate in a trading vessel, 243; enmity of the chief officer, 244; nearly dies in a fit, 244; episode at death-bed of chief officer, 245; joins a colonial war-ship, 245; in an action with English war-ships, 246; is commended, 247; commands a slave brig, 247; episode with the Health Committee, 247-249; offered command of a privateer, 249; commission refused, 249; sails as an armed trader, 249; narrowly escapes capture, 250; determines to act as a privateer, 250; captures several ships, and exchanges into one, 250, 251; captures the _Triton_ Indiaman, 252-254; his brig is captured, 255; arrives at Mauritius and finds his actions condemned, 255; he appeals home successfully, and pockets his unlawful gains, 255; becomes engaged to Marie Blaize, 255; goes to sea again, makes a prize, and arrives at Mauritius, 256; narrow escape from an English frigate, 256; captures an American ship, 257; the Governor prevents him from fighting a duel, 258; his capture of the _Kent_ East Indiaman, 258-260; returns home and is married, 261; his last ship, the _Ghost_, 261; complaint of merchants and East India company, 261; settles down at St. Malo; his death, 261; other references, 207, 262

Surcouf, Robert (great-nephew and biographer of the privateersman), 248, 251, 252, 256, 258

Syracuse, 234, 235

Talbot, Captain James, 149, 150, 151

Talbot, Captain (or Colonel) Silas; his birth, 274; ships as cabin-boy, 274; captain in U.S. army, 274; commands a fireship, 274; captures an English vessel at Rhode Island, 275; commands the _Argo_, a small privateer, 275; captures a Rhode Island privateer, 276; action with the _Dragon_ and marvellous escapes, 277; in company with _Saratoga_ captures a Dublin privateer, 278; ridiculous story, 278, 279; encounters an honest Scotchman, and takes his ship, 280; commands _General Washington_, but is soon captured, 280; his alleged ungenerous treatment by a "Scotch lord," 281; imprisoned at New York, 281; sent to England and imprisoned at Dartmoor, 281; vainly attempts to escape, is eventually liberated and returns to America, 281; his death, 281

Taylor, Captain, 165

Tea, recipe for making at sea, 148

_Temeraire_, 234

Teneriffe, 47

_Terrible_, 106-111

_Thetis_, 342, 343, 344, 347, 348, 350, 351, 352

Thibaut, Captain, 264, 265

_Three Sisters_, 362-364

Thurot, Emile, successful French privateer captain, 262

_Times, The_, strong comment on American successes by, 324

_Topaze_, 74

Torrington, Mr. (an "Antigallican"), 97

Toulon, 238

Toulouse, 234, 235

Trinidad, Island of (off Brazil coast), 52

_Trinity_, 88

_Triton_, 251-255, 256, 257

Trouin, Luc (father of Rene Du Guay), 208, 209

Trouin, Rene, uncle of Rene Du Guay, 208, 209

Trouin, Rene Du Guay, famous French privateer captain; his origin, 208; destined for the Church, 209; sent to a seminary, 209; elects to study law, 209; but learns nothing except fencing, 209; dissipating in Paris, encounters the head of the family, 209; his family sends him to sea in a privateer, 209; distinguishes himself in action, 210; takes part in capture of convoy, 211; takes command of a privateer at eighteen, 211; pillages in Ireland, 211; gets a better ship, 212; with a consort captures a convoy and two English sloops-of-war, 212; escapes at great risk from an English squadron, 212; his skilful navigation, 212, 213; narrow escape in Bristol Channel, 213; has some bad luck, 213; sickness, short food, and mutiny, 213; his dream comes true, 214; sails round the _Prince of Orange_, 214; fires at her under English colours, 214; chased by six men-of-war, 214; his desperate scheme, 215; holds out, though surrounded, 216; his crew shirk and fire breaks out, 216; brings his men up with grenades, 216; is badly wounded and surrenders, 216; kindness of the English captain, 216; on parole at Plymouth, 216; his "pretty shop-girl," 217; is recognised by captain of _Prince of Orange_, who denounces him as a pirate, 218; imprisoned pending decision, 218; allowed to receive friends, pretty shop-girl included, 218; plans escape with her assistance, 218, 219; a love-sick young Frenchman, 219; buys a boat from a Swede and is completely successful, 219; returns to France, and finds a ship ready for him, 219; captures two large English ships, 220, 221; his king presents him with a sword of honour, 221; with a consort captures three Indiamen, cargoes valued at one million sterling, 222; commands one of his prizes, and captures two Dutch ships off Vigo, 222; falls in with English fleet, 222; his bold and successful ruse, 222, 223; his ill-treatment by a French naval aristocrat, 224; with four consorts engages three Dutch war-ships with convoy, 224; desperate action with Dutch commodore's ship, 224, 225; gallantry of the commodore, 225; he captures all three, with heavy loss on both sides, 225; an anxious night, 225; he brings in his prizes, 226; is made a commander in the navy, 226; his marvellous escape from an English squadron, 226-228; his death, 228; other references, 229, 239, 240

Tuckerman, H.T. (biographer of Silas Talbot), 281

Turkey Company, The, 132, 133

Twiss, Sir Travers, 15

Underwood, George, 44

_Univers_, 116

Valbue, Jerome, 197, 198, 199

Vanbrugh, Mr. Carleton, 48, 53, 62, 70

_Vengeance_, 106, 109, 111

Vernon, Admiral, 11

_Vestale_, 234

Vigo, 222

Vigor, John, 44

Villeneuve, M.E. de, 103

_Virginia_, 290

Walker, George, a great English privateer captain; eulogised by naval historian, 152; enthusiasm of his biographer, 152, 153; his modesty, 153; served in Dutch navy, 153; commands _Duke William_, 154; frightens a Spanish privateer by a ruse, 154; clears Carolina coast of Spanish privateers, 155; sails for England with three traders, 155; in peril in storm, 155; intervenes from sick bed to save ship, 155, 156; his ruse to obtain assistance, 156; arrives in England to find that he is ruined, 156; trades to the Baltic, 156; again escapes capture by a ruse, 156; sails in _Mars_ with _Boscawen_, 157; fights a French war-ship, 157; "prudence" of _Boscawen's_ captain, 157; falls in with two French treasure-ships, 157; _Boscawen_ runs away, 158; surrenders _Mars_ to two French ships, 159; French and English politeness, 159; unusual projectiles, 160; four English war-ships give chase, 160; _Mars_ recaptured, 161; incapacity of English captains, 161, 162; arrives at Brest and is liberated on parole, 162, 163; _Fleuron_ is blown up, 163; his tact and courage, 164; arrives in England, 164; commands _Boscawen_ with _Mars_ in company, 164; _Boscawen_ a "slopped" ship, 165; outwits an Exeter privateer captain, 165; sails and meets _Sheerness_, 166; sights eight armed French ships, 166; his admirable speech to his officers, 166; sinks one and captures six, 167; his device for protection of his men, 168; rigs out an old lady prisoner, 168; her tragic account of the action, 168, 169; acknowledgment of his services by Admiralty, 169; captures and buys a vessel as tender, 169; his dealings with mutineers, 169, 170; a foolish joke, 171; his perilous voyage home and heroic conduct, 173-176; wrecked in St. Ives, crew saved, 176; his owner's eulogy, 176; commands the "Royal Family" privateers, 177; loses one ship, 177; chased by French, escapes; one ship parts, 177; cuts out a French ship at Safia, 177; his dealings with his officers, 178; makes a tender of his prize, 178; puts into Lisbon with much gain and no loss of men, 178; buys a ship at Lisbon, 178; but loses her by an extraordinary accident, 179; chases and engages a 74-gun Spanish ship alone, 180; an extraordinary engagement, 180-182; Spaniards' poor gunnery, 182; his courage and self-possession, 182; Spaniard desists and retires, 183; _Russell_ joins in chase, 183; _Dartmouth_ joins and is blown up, 184, 185; Lieut. O'Brien's apology, 185; Spaniard captured, but treasure already landed, 186; ungenerous conduct of his owners, 186; deprived of his ship, 186; goes home in packet, 186; saves her from a pirate, 187; is imprisoned for debt, 187; his integrity, 187; his death, 187; other references, 96, 116, 117, 194, 280

Waller, Edmund, the poet, 153

Walpole, Horace, 125

Wapping, 46

Warren, Captain, 216

Warren, Sir Peter, 98

_Warwick_, 98

Wassenaer, Baron de, 225

Welbe, George, 38

Welch, an Irish captain of a French privateer, 212

Wentworth, Sir John (Governor of Nova Scotia), 337

Weymouth, 164

_Weymouth_, 74

Whampoa, 91

White, Captain William, 334, 336

_Whiting_, 307

Whittaker, Admiral Sir Edward, 238

Whyte, Captain Thomas, 28-32

Williamson, Secretary, 11

Wilson, Captain William, 323

Winchester, Bishop of, 24, 25

_Windsor Castle_ packet, 354-357

_Worcester_, 226, 228

Wordsworth, William, the poet, 81

Wright, Fortunatus, a great English privateer captain; his father, 123; his epitaph, 124; allusion by Smollett, 124; settles in Liverpool, 125; retires and lives abroad, 125; his adventures at Lucca, 125-127; settles at Leghorn, 127; war with France, 127; depredations of French privateers, 127; commands the _Fame_ privateer, 127, 128; his plan of cruising, 128, 129; captures a large French privateer, 129; his success causes bitter feeling against him at Malta, 129, 130; a vessel specially fitted out to take him, 130; captures and brings her into Malta, 131; his sense of humour, 131; captures a ship under safe-conduct from George II., 132; submits to the Admiral's judgment and restores her, 132; seizes two French ships with Turkish cargoes, 133; action of the Turkey Company, 133; refuses to refund prize-money, 133; imprisoned in Italy, 133, 134; gives bail to answer the charge, 134; emerges triumphant--his dignified reply, 134; engages in commerce with William Hutchinson, 134; war being imminent, builds a vessel at Leghorn, 135; vigilance of Italian authorities, 135, 136; his plan to outwit them, 136; rewards offered for his capture, 137; fights a large French privateer sent out to waylay him, 137-139; disables her and returns with convoy to Leghorn, 139; is detained there by force, 139; liberated by two English war-ships, 140; his unfair treatment at Malta, 140; sails round a big French privateer, 140; refused admission to Leghorn, 141; unaccountably disappears, 141; suggestion of political intrigue, 141; the romantic story of Selim and Zaida, 142-144; "unhappily exiled" from England, 144; other references, 117, 152

_Yarmouth_, 281; treatment of American prisoners on board, 287-289

York, Bishop of, 24

Zaida, a Moorish maiden, 142-144

_Zephyr_, 116

_Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury._

End of Project Gutenberg's Privateers and Privateering, by E. P. Statham