The Childers Brig

The Childers brig was lying in dock at Portsmouth.

The First Lieutenant, George Goldsmith, had been serving in the Madagascar frigate, under that distinguished officer, the Hon. Sir Robert Spencer, who was succeeded by another equally good Captain, Edmund Lyons.

The Second Lieutenant, Grey Skipwith, was just promoted out of the Royal George yacht—a smart fellow in every way, son of a grand old sporting baronet, who lived at Newbold Hall, Warwickshire.

Jonas Coaker, my old shipmate in the Tweed, was Master; a finer seaman never broke a biscuit.

Goldsmith and I found the brig in dock, but not afloat. A small staff, with a yard and a half of narrow bunting, was secured to the taffrail, and H.M.S. Childers declared to be in commission.

Reported the auspicious event to the Commander-in-Chief, Admiral Sir Thomas Williams, G.C.B., and afterwards to Sir F. L. Maitland, K.C.B., Admiral Superintendent.

The next step was a pole, with the Union Jack suspended out of the first-floor window of the Bedford-in-Chase, on the Hard.

“His Majesty’s ship Childers’ Rendezvous.”

Lost no time in issuing hand-bills to the following effect:—

These were posted at all the large seaports.

I secured lodgings on the “Hard”; feeding was accomplished at the “Keppel’s Head.”

The Admiral Superintendent took great interest in the fitting-out, and kindly acceded to all my fancies. He selected the Topaze for use as a hulk, and substituted a tiller for the wheel. The brig was of great beam, giving spread for her rigging and stability to her spars. The figure-head was that of a horse, apparently with his lower jaw broken. This I gilded over, and on the bows of the boats had a representation of a horse winning the Derby. The ship was painted white inside, with green rails to hammock netting, port-cells black. My means of fitting out were small, but what worried me most was the average pound a day I had to pay for postage, while there was a ridiculous idea that persons would take offence if letters were prepaid. Crossing the Border cost an extra sixpence. My letters were chiefly from anxious parents.

Lord Yarborough, President of the Royal Yacht Squadron, took great interest in our fitting, and passed many an hour on board giving me useful hints. On Saturdays all Captains fitting-out were invited to his beautiful place at Apple-de-Coombe, in the Isle of Wight, to remain over Sunday. After church we went to his son’s (Dudley Pelham) lovely place, St. Lawrence, on the South Coast.

Lord Yarborough kindly put my name down for ballot as an honorary member of the Yacht Squadron Club, on which list I may now boast of being the senior member. We were well and quickly manned.

Captain Charles Napier arrived at Spithead as a Portuguese Admiral, flying his flag in the Duchess of Braganza. Commander William Holt was ordered a passage to join Scout.

11.30 A.M.—Cast off from hulk and worked out to Spithead; saluted flag of Sir Frederick Maitland.

Weighed, and stood out of St. Helens.

Came to in Plymouth Sound 10 P.M.; saluted flag of Admiral Sir William Hargood.

5 A.M.—Weighed and made sail. My cabin was 9 feet from bulkhead to bulkhead, not leaving much room for the swing of cots.

Crossing the bay we were pitching, and, to make my guest more comfortable, I had the fore-topgallant sail taken in. However, every now and then his cot struck both bulkheads.

I was thinking of shortening sail, when the sentry’s bell rang: Holt sent for the officer of the watch, and ordered the main-topgallant sail to be taken in. But before the officer was clear of the door, I told him to keep fast the main, and to set the fore-topgallant sail, at which my Childers began to jump and plunge in a manner that caused me to think both bulkheads must be battened down.

If I have any shore-going readers, I should explain, though Holt was my senior by ten years, having no pennant flying, he could not dictate to me. When I was satisfied he was aware who commanded, I shortened sail. We were always good friends after.

Exchanged numbers with Stag, 46, commanded by Nicholas Lockyer, a character.

Arrived in Tangiers Roads, the dominion of the Emperor of Morocco, where I delivered despatches to the Consul-General, Mr. Edward Drummond, and then proceeded to Gibraltar, seeing for the first time the great fortified rock, of whose power one is unaware until exploring the numerous galleries and recesses containing heavy guns, most of them not seen from the sea. My time was so short that I was only able to write my name in the book of General, Earl of Chatham, at the Convent.

Arrived at Malta 2 A.M., and, profiting by Goldsmith’s experience, made fast to a buoy off the dockyard; on no occasion did we let go an anchor in that harbour.

Saluted the flag of Admiral Superintendent Sir Thomas Briggs. Later on, passing my glass round the harbour, I descried, on a projecting balcony, the fair forms of Emma and Emily Hunn, now just out of their teens, their father, my earliest chief, being Port Captain. On landing I was received with a kind and hearty welcome.

I was soon sent on to join the Commander-in-Chief, and sailed September 2.

On the 12th we rounded Cape Karabonu. Not finding the fleet, ran on for Smyrna, where I found Endymion, Sir Samuel Roberts; Mastiff, Beacon, and the Hind cutter, which latter, being a slow sailer, was commonly called “The Behind.”

At Smyrna communicated with Sir Samuel Roberts, who ordered me back to Vourla.

On the morning of the 13th the fleet hove in sight. We saluted the flag of that gallant and distinguished man, Vice-Admiral Sir Josias Rowley, Bart., flying on board the Caledonia, 120, Captain T. Brown.

With the flag were five ships of the line the commissions of whose Captains were dated before I was born: The Edinburgh, 74, Captain Richard Dacres (January 1806); Caledonia, 120, Captain Thomas Brown (January 1802); Thunderer, 84, W. Wise (May 1806); Canopus, 84, Hon. Jos. Percy (September 1806); Talavera, 74, E. Chetham (October 1807). Of these, Caledonia, three-decker, was the most imposing. Canopus was a French ship, by far the handsomest, as well as the fastest sailer. She carried a glass star above the truck, which on a sunshiny day could be seen long before a vestige of the fleet. The Edinburgh was a fine ship. Thunderer, a finer, but last from England, and likely to be second to none. Talavera, not much to look at, but improving. Malabar, 74, Captain Sir William Montague, was away to the westward, a most comfortable and happy ship. The Vernon, 38, finest frigate in the world, and exceeding in beam any of the line-of-battle ships built by Sir William Symonds. Tribune, 24, razéed frigate. I did not think much of her or her Captain. Volage, 24, donkey frigate, with George Martin, the best of good fellows, as Captain. There were Tyne, 28, a good fellow as Captain, Lord Ingestre (was much with him later, on coast of Spain), and six smaller vessels, of which Childers was one, constantly on the move.

While lying here I was joined by a very smart youngster from the Naval College, Edward Rice.

While with the flag we were not allowed to be idle, and continued trials of rates of sailing on a wind. We held our own, as the Childers was quick in stays. This was great fun for a while. But we all knew that there was scarcely a bush on shore that did not hold a woodcock.

Of course, there was rivalry throughout. Caledonia had the advantage of being chief, and knowing what next would be done. Canopus followed our style of paint, and looked perfection, but on our returning from a sea-voyage, Edinburgh and Thunderer were the first to hoist boom-boats out, and fill us smaller craft with stores, water, and provisions. Weighed and made sail, Madagascar in company. We beat her in short tacks working out of the bay.

Came to in Lante Bay.

A fresh steamer, the Spitfire, arrived with despatches; we sailed to rejoin the Admiral.

Weighed at daylight, and worked for Vourla Bay. 1.30 P.M.—Came to in 11 fathoms in centre of the fleet.

Weighed at daylight with Scout, Columbine, and Medea to try rates of sailing. Scout bound to Alexandria; being senior, and not able to keep up, gave us permission to part company at sunset.

Just before sunset, coming on to blow from the northward, stood in between Augusta and Green Islands until jib-boom was over the land, and let go the anchor in 4 fathoms.

Columbine, following close, let go her anchor close on our starboard quarter, without finding bottom, and so drifted out to sea and deep water for the night, with bower cable out to the clinch to heave in.

Weighed at daylight and joined the Columbine, who had been all night recovering her anchor.

Came to in Vourla Bay, with a few days’ comparative rest.

Weighed in company with Caledonia, Medea, and Columbine, to try rate of sailing.

Returned to Vourla Bay, and came to in 8 fathoms. Arrived Malabar, 74, Captain Sir William Montague.

It being necessary for me to write to the Admiral, found I could not avail myself of the services of the clerk, he having both his eyes stopped up by a promising young master’s assistant, one William King Hall, called by his messmates Jacko. Accidents will happen in the best regulated families.

About this time some of the ships were short of the junior class of officers.

The Talavera had no midshipmen. I explained this little accident of my clerk’s eyes to Captain Chetham, and with the consent of the kind chief, my friend Jacko was transferred to the Talavera with the superior rank of midshipman. From that position he raised himself to the highest rank. We were friends until his untimely end, and he has left two sons in the service who do credit to a parent, and a pretty, now married, daughter.

After joining flag, we had a week’s quiet in Vourla Bay, which gave me an opportunity of improving my acquaintance with the Captains of the fleet, to say nothing of shooting. Plenty of hares and woodcock were to be found.

Sailed from Vourla Bay, charged with despatches.

Arrived at Malta Harbour. We were not long there, being sent with stores and provisions for the Favourite. After men’s dinner slipped from buoy, and the following afternoon came to in Tripoli Roads. In addition to Favourite, found French, Turkish, and Neapolitan ships of war. At sunset I had to follow the motions of my senior officer, and struck lower yards and topmasts.

Next morning found civil affairs on shore not quite right. The late Pasha “Youssuf” Corromanli, who had obtained possession of the Government by murdering his elder brother, and now, to save his own head, abdicated in favour of his son Ali, as great a scoundrel as himself, the rightful and legitimate heir being a son of an older brother of Ali’s (since dead).

The majority of the people had chosen a fine fellow—one Emhammud—to be their Sovereign. While Ali held possession of the town, Emhammud had the country round, and the forts that flanked the roads.

Each party declared the other in a state of blockade, and expended much powder. Emhammud liked the English; Ali preferred the French. I visited both pretenders. The English Consul, Colonel Warrington, had two houses, one in the country. The town-house had had a shell burst inside it, and the roof was afterwards made bomb-proof.

Having been informed by my friend Mundy that his gig, with flag flying, which had preceded me, was sufficient protection from both sides, I landed in my gig at a rickety pier to visit the Consul, when a round shot from the outside party cut the body of an honest trader in two. He was landing some innocent bit of cargo within five yards of where I stood. The victim was one of Ali’s party, and his death caused much howling and lamentation from the top of the minarets.

Saluted Colonel Warrington on his visiting the ship. Of my friend Mundy, as a whip, I did not think much; but when clear of the town the desert sands were level, and the date-fruit ripe. I took one of my smallest mids, Comber, with us to fill, or rather occupy, the back seat. On returning to the town, Mundy not allowing room enough, the off wheel caught the corner of a wall, bringing the whole affair to grief. My middy, being light, cleared the opposite walk, and was landed in a seraglio garden while the ladies were taking their evening exercise.

Warrington had a wife and daughter, and was much respected; Comber was released without coming to further grief.

Having received verbal orders to return immediately, I had a boat anchored on the only outer rock that could interfere with Childers, although aware of the kind hospitality of our Consul, who had a small brass band to add to the hilarity of the evening. Safe of a land breeze, I sloped off in the middle watch without being seen. The senior officer, next morning, found no vessel to “follow motions.”

Light winds. It took us two days to reach Malta.

Slipped and made sail from buoy to rejoin fleet. Deck loaded with stores for the different messes.

Weighed at daylight from Cape Colonna and made sail with topgallant masts on deck. Hugged the land. Passed between English Island and the main, and got through the Douro passage without a tack. The islands and Negro Point covered with snow to the water’s edge.

Came to in Vourla Bay.