RECOLLECTIONS OF A NAVAL LIFE
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RECOLLECTIONS OF A NAVAL LIFE
C O N T E N T S:
CHAPTER I................................................................................................................................................3
CHAPTER II. .............................................................................................................................................9
CHAPTER III...........................................................................................................................................14
CHAPTER IV. ..........................................................................................................................................21
CHAPTER V.............................................................................................................................................28
CHAPTER VI. ..........................................................................................................................................35
CHAPTER VII. ........................................................................................................................................42
CHAPTER VIII. .......................................................................................................................................48
CHAPTER IX. ..........................................................................................................................................54
CHAPTER X.............................................................................................................................................59
CHAPTER XI. ..........................................................................................................................................65
CHAPTER XII. ........................................................................................................................................70
CHAPTER XIII. .......................................................................................................................................75
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RECOLLECTIONS OF A NAVAL LIFE
RECOLLECTIONS of a NAVAL LIFE.
CHAPTER I
A Phenomenon — Islands originating in Volcanic matter — Hospitality of Mr. Read — Arrival of
the Dotterel — News — Arrival at Portsmouth — Leave of Absence — Ordered a passage in the
Cleopatra — Reach Lisbon and rejoin the Barfleur — Shooting excursions — Evening amusements —
A sad Story — Gambling — Portuguese etiquette — Anecdote — The Author and his Friend are
attacked by Bravoes — Frolics.
As we approached St. Michael's we observed, to our astonishment, at a short distance from the
main land, a conspicuous islet, which was not laid down in the chart spread before us on the capstan. On
anchoring in Delgada Roads, Mr. Read, the Consul, came off, and the fancied omission was speedily
explained. It was one of the first of those phenomena which have lately astonished the world, of islands
rising out of the sea. Mr. Read had taken different views of it from the commencement of its appearance
to its highest formation: they were very interesting, and doubly so accompanied by his remarks. The
first circumstance that drew his attention to the spot, (one hundred fathoms deep,) was a column of
smoke rising from the water: this increased rapidly in space and thickness, and was succeeded by flames
rising above the surface, throwing up at the same time an immense quantity of black ashes and pumicestones.
Vast quantities of fish were cast on the neighbouring shores, boiled by the heat of the waters. In
a few days an island was discovered, which had risen from a depth of six hundred feet: every day added
to its height, till it had attained three or four hundred feet above the surface of the sea, when the
volcanic fire ceased. During the formation of the island the whole of St. Michael's was more or less
convulsed.
The Captain of His Majesty's ship Sabrina, cruising off St. Michael's, was the first person who
landed upon it; he hoisted the English ensign, and named it Sabrina Island, — an act which much
displeased the Portuguese authorities. In this state we saw it en passant, but had no opportunity of
visiting it. It remained stationary for some time, but finally, like most islands of the same nature,
gradually disappeared.
This was not the first phenomenon of that description at St. Michael's, for in the year 1638, after
an agitation of several weeks, an island, six miles round in extent, arose under similar circumstances
from the depth of one hundred and twenty feet, and was again swallowed up. Another instance occurred
in 1691, and caused much damage to the immediate neighbourhood of St. Michael's. Other submarine
eruptions in the same locality took place in 1720 and 1757, accompanied by terrible earthquakes.
There can be no doubt that the whole of this group of islands derive their origin from volcanic
matter. At St. Michael's a crust of lava from six to twelve inches thick forms the upper surface of the
earth, under which is found a rich black mould. This coating serves the purpose of building walls round
the ground brought into cultivation : if the quantity is too great, a large hole is dug, the soil from which
is scattered around, and the surplus lava buried.
The attention and hospitality of Mr. Read have been experienced by every officer who has been
at St. Michael's; it would therefore be a work of supererogation to dwell upon his kindness. It sprang
spontaneously from a warm heart, and made his guests feel they were at home, and they enjoyed
themselves accordingly. The Captain, and as many of the officers as could be spared from the duty of
the ship, visited his country-house; the surrounding scenery was truly beautiful, and the domain of the
Consul a little paradise.
It is impossible that any class of men can enjoy the beauties of nature to such an exquisite degree
of perfection as sailors, who are so frequently and so long debarred from them. After a long spell at sea,
we see points of interest, and search out subjects of delight, quite unintelligible to the satiated eyes and
senses of landsmen. Seldom have I passed a more agreeable day than this inland trip afforded me at St.
Michael's.
The arrival of the Dotterel, one of the Lisbon squadron, gave us a budget of news. Among other
intelligence we learned that his Majesty's ship Myrtle was given up as lost, and that the Admiral had
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RECOLLECTIONS OF A NAVAL LIFE
reported us missing:
this was not
to be wondered at, for Captain S—d had no opportunity of
communicating with Lisbon or England to inform him of our movements.
We quitted St. Michael's in company with the brig for Lisbon. Sailing two feet to our one, she
was in a few hours out of sight, and reached her port long before we got off the rock, when it blew so
heavy a gale of wind that we could not attempt to take the bar. The weather continued so bad that, after
having split and lost our sails, and shipped several heavy seas, we were finally obliged to bear up for
England. We fell in with an enemy's privateer in the Channel, but, from want of sails and stores, were in
such a state that she laughed at us; all we could do was to drive her over towards the French coast. On
our arrival at Portsmouth we learned with unfeigned pleasure the promotion of our commander to post
rank, and that he was to keep the Myrtle, she having at the same time received a step in the ladder of
promotion, viz. from a sloop of war to a sixth rate.
Having refitted at Spithcad, I obtained a week's leave of absence, and, landing with my black boy
and parrot, set off for the interior. The departure of Poll drew upon me the heavy displeasure of the
whole gun-room mess; they severally felt not a little inclined to quarrel with me upon the occasion. She
was a source of never-failing amusement. Had the matter been put to the vote, I think I should not have
found one out of the whole ship's company in favour of her abduction from the ship. Boatswain and Poll
were rivals in the affections of all on board. It was not altogether fair on my part; for when once an
animal or bird becomes a general favourite and pet, it is (as it has been justly observed) looked upon as
public property, and any act of the legal proprietor indicating personal right, is regarded as little less
than a gross injustice and an illegal assumption.
We started off by the night coach, occupying a seat behind. My negro boy lost his wits from fear
and astonishment at all he saw; but, as we passed through the archway under the ramparts, and over the
drawbridge, he could contain himself no longer; he screamed with fright, and grasped hold of me as if
he feared being hurled into the lower regions: he was only to be reassured and quieted as we emerged
from the dark passage.
I arrived at my friend's house late at night. When I descended the following morning, I found
Poll perched upon the sill of the window, clucking inimitably to a young brood of chickens that were
chirping below her. The anxious mother was dismayed at this usurpation of her rights, and vainly
essayed to entice her fascinated progeny away from the neighbourhood of the impostor. In the course of
the day a visitor called upon the lady, accompanied by a favourite lap-dog. Poll had mounted the
cornice of the window-curtains, where she lay perdue. The visitor called her favourite "Bijou, Bijou;"
the call was immediately repeated by Poll: she looked round and fancied she must have been mistaken,
but a repetition of her words when she again addressed the dog, left no doubt upon her mind that some
person was in the room mocking her; she was only undeceived by the bird discovering herself as she
fluttered her wings laughing most heartily. I left dear Polly here, and never saw her afterwards.
On returning to Portsmouth I had the mortification to find that my ship had been suddenly
ordered off, and I adrift. I was not long allowed to kick my heels in that most delectable of all sea-port
towns; I was promptly ordered a passage in the Cleopatra, then collecting a convoy for Portugal, at
Spithead. The ship was full of passengers, comprising red and blue coats. The friendly welcome of most
naval messes, notwithstanding the inconvenience attendant on the admission of strangers, is universally
known and acknowledged; that of the Cleopatra was not behindhand in the duties of hospitality.
I there had the pleasure of being introduced to my gallant
friend P-lk-g-e, who was first
Lieutenant of the ship: we afterwards served together against the enemy in America. I shall have
occasion to speak of this officer hereafter, and the neglect of his claims to promotion: it will serve as
evidence, that intrinsic merit may be passed over, merely from a proper display of that modest feeling
which ought to actuate every commander when he gives his official account of the success of an
expedition under his orders: whilst trifling affairs frequently secure disproportionate rewards from the
bombastic manner in which they are detailed. It is really wonderful how much a good share of brass will
accomplish, even with persons of presumed penetration and sound judgment. How frequently do we
find that characters minus claims of any description oust the man of service: the talents, gallantry, and
worth of the latter are drowned in the incessant clatter of some busy, meddling political Plap-permaul,
who by his amazing impudence succeeds in carrying off the prize from the more able candidates, in
favour of his, or of his friend's protege. Contrary winds sent us into Torbay. After a tedious passage,
which must always be the case with a convoy, we at length reached Lisbon, when I again took up my
comfortable old quarters on board the Barfleur, the Myrtle having a few days before sailed for England.
The disappointment I experienced was compensated by the enjoyment I felt
in the society of the
members composing the Barfleur's mess. The amusements were as multifarious and variable as the most
sickly fancy could well desire: horse-racing, shooting, fishing, opera, balls and parties, cum nultis aliis.
All the roses of the service were to be collected here without any of its thorns, — not a very frequent
occurrence in His Majesty's naval service during the last war.
My friend B—n was a capital shot; I frequently accompanied him on his shooting excursions on
the south side of the Tagus, in the Kinta belonging to the Royal family. Here were to be found lots of
snipes, some woodcocks, and red-legged partridges: the former game contributed principally to our
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sport, at which B— was a dead hand. Our dogs were good, but the sandy dry soil of the Kinta did away
with all scent, ana consequently few partridges decked the board; we were indemnified, however, by
signal success against the snipes, which abounded in the swampy grounds surrounding the royal
precincts.
If our game failed in the anticipated quantity, a visit to the fish-ponds in the Prince's enclosure
made up the deficiency. I did not quite comprehend B—'s remarks, when he said "Well, if we cannot
sport fowl to-day, we shall be sure of shooting some fish." The mystery was explained on arriving at the
reservoirs of water well stocked with the finny tribe. These reservoirs seldom exceeded two or three feet
in depth; some of the fish were always to be seen near the surface. By firing more or less on one side of
them, according to their depth below the surface, the shot after striking the water took a diagonal
direction upwards, and entering their bodies from underneath turned them over at once; to have aimed
directly down upon them would have ensured a failure. A Portuguese boy then waded in for them, and
in a few hours the product of our morning's sport smoked upon the ward-room table.
After the French retreated from Santarem, the islands in the Tagus above that place were visited
by the sporting part of the mess: the quantity of game sent on board after one of these excursions might
literally be termed boat-loads; comprising partridges, quails, woodcocks, snipes, hares, and rabbits: it
was the slaughter of a regular battue.
The evening's amusements were sometimes not so conducive to the health of either body or mind
as our morning exercises. Among the most notorious of the gambling-houses was one situated in the
Rua de la Pailla: there daily and nightly might be seen several of our countrymen amidst a motley crew
of foreigners; Signor Paolo presiding, assisted by his whiteheaded coadjutor the dealer of the cards,
whose keen imperturbable countenance appeared incapable of expressing any other feeling than that of
an acute observation of the cards, as he deliberately turned up the pack, right and left. Our visits to this
h-ll were too frequent. Sometimes a run of good luck, more frequently bad, attended us, till we were all
pretty well cleared out of our loose cash. A young English merchant often accompanied us, and, when
in want of a few dollars to endeavour to recover our losses, was ever good-humouredly inclined to assist
us. Fortunately, we saw the folly of persevering in this ignoble, heartless track. The majority of us
abandoned the fatal table altogether, and the remainder had sufficient prudence to visit it but seldom,
and then under certain limitations. One alone exceeded this sage resolve, and he, unhappy young man!
suffered himself to be carried away by the delusions of this blighting evil until he played a conspicuous
part in a terrible drama.
It is a sad story, fraught with misery and infamy to the subject of it, but it presents a warning too
impressive, and too awful, to be disregarded by those who would wish to inculcate upon the youthful
mind the dangers that must ever attend a gaming-table. A young officer, hitherto worthy of esteem in
every respect, had first from curiosity, and afterwards from passion, acquired the constant habit of
visiting Signor Paolo's establishment. At starting he played for trifling sums; but each succeeding visit
only increased his appetite for gambling, and his stakes became greater. He was on intimate terms with
the young merchant I have before mentioned. One fatal night, having lost all he possessed, and
afterwards far more than he had the means of paying at the moment, he left the gambling-house in
frenzied agony, and repaired to his friend's residence for the purpose of procuring more money, with
which he intended again to try his fortune. It so happened that the young merchant was absent. Knowing
where the money was kept, he went to the desk for the purpose of taking the sum he required: he had no
intention to defraud his friend, for he could have commanded double the amount had he been at home. I
believe he had obtained possession of the cash, when the Portuguese servant, entering the room,
interfered, and would not allow him to depart unless he replaced the money in the desk. The young
officer became desperate. Maddened by his previous losses and the impediment now thrown in his way,
foreseeing the opprobrium that was likely to attach to him for this last rash act, he lost all power of
control over the impetuous feelings raging in his bosom: he struggled with tlie faithful domestic for
freedom, the fever of his blood increased, and, reckless of consequences, lie drew one of his pocketpistols
and shot the man dead upon the spot. All Lisbon appeared to join in the cry of vengeance upon
the unhappy murderer. He was given up to the Portuguese authorities, tried, condemned, and
ignominiously executed.
Those who were stationed there at the time must well remember the deep sensation this unhappy
affair created. Poor —— was a young offender, and, taking into consideration the frenzied state of his
mind at the time of the deed, and the total absence of all malice prepense, together with the
circumstance of so many British officers having fallen victims to the knives of Portuguese assassins,
whose manes were yet unappeased, it was thought that no great violation of the rights of humanity
would have been committed, had he been suffered to escape, and the ignominious shedding of English
blood been prevented. The action would have carried its own bitter punishment with it into the breast of
the unhappy ——, who was formed in a mould susceptible of embodying all the finer feelings of human
nature.
The love of gambling paves the way to a labyrinth of error, vice, and crime. It is a passion, when
carried to excess, that absorbs all other feelings: it becomes the parent of drunkenness, debauchery,
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