Author . 
 
 Title 
 
 Imprint. 
 
 10 — 47372-2 OPO 
 
0^y. 
 
"Life and C.':c:. .•;;• of Admbal CkilMngwood." 
 
 LECTURE 
 
 DKLIVEREn BT 
 
 NINIAN PINKNEY, 1. D., 
 
 SURGEON U. S. navy; 
 
 IN TflE \AVAL CnAPEL, AT AN\AP0LISJ1(1„ BEFORE THE "LAWREXCE LITERARY SOCETIV 
 
 (^M 
 
 OCTOBER 30, 1S.5S. 
 
 ANNAPOLIS: 
 
 THOMAS J. WILSON 
 
 1858. 
 
 6-^ 
 
LECTURE 
 
 nr.T/IVETtTCTI BT 
 
 OTMAN PmOEY, M. D. 
 
 SURGEON U. S. navy; 
 
 IN THE NAVAL CHAPEl, AT ANNAPOLIS, MD., BEFORE THE "LAWRENCE LITERARY SOCIETY.' 
 
 OCTOBER 30, 1858. 
 
 ANNAPOLIS: 
 
 THOMAS J. WILSON 
 1858. 
 
^ ho 
 
 #. 
 
 # 
 
 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 V, 
 
 /^ U. S. Naval Academy, 
 
 (>^ November 25th, 1858. 
 
 ■^^ Dear Sir: — Tlie uudorsigned hare been appointed by the "LawreBce Lit.rarv 
 
 ^ Society," to tender j-ou the thanks of its members, individually and collectively, for 
 
 ^J the interesting and able address which you delivered before them in the Ohapel of thi.< 
 
 Academy on the 30th of last month. The Society has unanimously instructed us to 
 request a copy of your address for print; and we hope that you will consent to their 
 wishes, in order that those who could not hear it, may read it and derive as mucli 
 pleasure and benefit from its perusal, as your audience did from its deliver3-. 
 
 Wishing- you a long career of usefulness and happiness in our country's service, 
 we are AVith great respect, 
 
 Your obedient servants, 
 
 S. W. AVERETT. 
 S. BACKUS, Coftimittee. 
 
 E. A. WALKER, 
 To Surgeon N1NIA.N Finknkv, Li. S. Xavy. 
 
 U. S. Naval Hospital, 
 
 Portsmouth, Va., Dec. 16th, 1858. 
 Gentlemen : — Agreeably to 3'our request, I respectfully transmit for publication, 
 the Lecture on the Life and Character of Admiral Collingwood. For this compli- 
 ment I am indebted to your too partial kindness. 
 Very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 NINIAN PINKNEY. 
 
 M«SSrS. S. W. AVERETT, 
 
 E. A. Walker, 
 S. Backus. 
 
LEOTTJIIE. 
 
 Gentlemen of the 
 
 ' ' Lawrence Literari/ Society : ' ' 
 
 The life of Admiral Collingwood, is the theme I have 
 chosen for the 'lecture this Evening. It is eminently sugges- 
 tive, rich in incident and sublinre in morals. Born in the 
 most eventful era of the world's history, the contemporary 
 and warm bosom friend of Nelson^ the proudest name known- 
 to the Naval history of the world, unless we except his «wn, 
 which we hope to he able to prove, all things considered, was 
 second to none; he filled up the measure of his country's 
 glory, and proved himself more than equal to the exciting 
 and thrilling exigencies of the times. 
 
 He was born on the 26th of September^ 1750. At the ttsnder 
 age of eleven, he entered the Britiih Navy, under the care of 
 Admirals Brathwaite and Eoddam, officers who felt the mag- 
 nitude and responsibiUty of their charge, and fondly cherished 
 the boyhood, whose . manhood was destined to illustrate so 
 gloriously England's heroism on the seas. It is somewhat 
 remarkable, my countrymen, that when the thunders of our 
 gallant little army, undisciplined in war, poorly clad and but 
 illy equipped, were making their first echoes on the bloody 
 plains of Lexington, and when Bunker Hill shook beneath 
 the tread of freemen, who spurned the despot's chain, Col- 
 LiNGWOOD was raised to the rank of Lieutenant, within sight 
 of the curling smoke and sound of the muttering cannon. 
 
It is with interest we note the fact, that England's noble 
 hero was with Admiral Graves, at Boston in 1T94, and that 
 on the day the battle of Bunker Hill was fought, he took the 
 first step in that line of promotion, which he ever after so 
 rapidly and steadily pursued. 
 
 In 17i^3, he was api)ointed Captain of the Prince, the flag 
 ship of Rear-Admiral Bovvyer, with whom he served in the 
 Barfleur, until he, the Admiral, was wounded in the memo- 
 rable engagement of the first of June, 1794. Itwas^his good 
 fortune to bear a part, and a distinguished part, too, in that 
 engagement. And although from a strange oversight on the 
 part of Lord Howe, which bore on its front the impress of 
 wilful and deliberate design, to notice the admirable conduct 
 of CoLLiNQWOOD, he did not receive the medal that was his 
 due. Yet he received that generous and noble burst of ap- 
 plause from his associates in arms, which is of far higher 
 worth than golden medal or laurel wreath. Bowyer stood 
 by him in that trying hour of capricious distributiim of re- 
 wards, and left on the entablature of history his solemn decla- 
 ration, that "a more brave, capable, or a better officer than 
 CoLLiNowooD was not known to him.'" He told Lord Chat- 
 ham that if ever he had to look out for a first Captain to a 
 Commander-in-chief, he pledged himself that he would not 
 find a better than Collingwood. Captain Packenham, of the 
 Invincible, ^?i\<i "if Collingwoou has not deserved a medal 
 neither have I; fjr we were together the whole day." Col- 
 lingwood says, '''observing the ship opposed to us in the 
 enemy's line to be much crippled in her masts and rigging, 
 and the Invincible having been severely engaged, we made 
 the signal to change places with her, that she might take the 
 crippled 8hip_, and we might have a fresh one. The Invinci- 
 ble stuck 80 close to us in going down, and during the whole 
 action, as if she had been lashed to us, sometimes having her 
 jib'boom over our taff'rail. ' ' This explains what is stated by 
 Captain Packenham, of the Invincible, and reflects credit 
 upon that officer for his honest and manly declaration in 
 liehalf of Collingwood. In this engagement the signal wa*< 
 
 J 
 
•T 
 
 made for each ship to engage lier opponent, and bring hef to 
 close action ; and then, as Collinowood says, ''down they went 
 under a crowd of canvass, and in a manner that would have 
 animated the coldest heart and struck terror into the most 
 intrepid. The ship we were to engage was two ahead of the 
 French Admiral, so that we had to go through his fire and 
 that of two ships next him, and received all their broadsides 
 two or three times before we fired a gun. It was then near ten 
 o'clock." *'I observed," said Collingwood, to the Admiral, 
 ''that about that time our wives were going to church, but that 
 I thought the peal we should ring about the Frenchman's 
 ears, would outdo their parish bells. We got very near 
 indeed, and then began such a fire as would have done you 
 good to have heard. In ten minutes the Admiral, (Bowyer,) 
 was wounded ; and I caught him in my arms before he fell, 
 the first Lieutenant was slightly wounded by the same shot, 
 and I thought I was in a fair way of being left on deck by 
 myself; but the Lieutenant got his head dressed and came 
 up again. Soon after they called from the forecastle that the 
 Frenchman was sinking ; at which the men started up and 
 gave three cheers. I saw the French ship dismasted, and on 
 her broadside, but in an instant she was clouded with smoke, 
 and I do not know whether she sunk or not." 
 
 Now whatever was the motiveof Lord Howe's silence, he wott 
 no laurel in this depreciation of his companion in arms, and 
 must continue to sufier in the elevated heroism of Nelson and 
 Collingwood, which loathed jealousy as beneath the dignity 
 of an English sailor. The reward due to Collingwoo©, wa« 
 only delayed three short years ; for it came at last, and the 
 imputation of ingratitude was wiped from the proud escutchedto 
 of England. 
 
 On the 14th day of February, 1797, (St. Valentine's day,) 
 he contributed largely to the glory of the British navy, in 
 the memorable battle oflf Cape St. Vincent. It is full as won- 
 derful to witness the rare modesty with which he so graphi- 
 cally describes the exploits of that day, as it is to re-call to 
 mind the splendor of the part ho himself enacted. It waa in 
 
many respects a most signal achievement. "Wc were cruis- 
 ing" says CoLLiNGwooD, ''off Cape St. Vincent, with fifteen sail 
 of the line, when the Admiral first received information that 
 the Spanish fleet, of twenty-dght sail of the line_, were coming 
 down the Mediterranean, and a day or two after that twenty- 
 seven sail were in our neighborhood, one being left at Grib- 
 ralter with ten or twelve frigates, making in all thirty-eight 
 or forty sail. We were fifteen and four frigates. Sir John 
 Jarvis, (Commander-in-chief,) determined to attack them. 
 On the night of the 13th, the leather being fine but, thick 
 and hazy, we heard their' signal guns, which announced 
 their vicinity, and soon after daylight we were a compact 
 little body." 
 
 The odds against which British valor fought that day, 
 were fearful. Fifteen sail of the line and four frigates were 
 all the force the English Admiral could marshal. There was 
 no hesitation, no timid counselling, no careful computation 
 of relative strength. It was to see them and then be at them, 
 that nerved the hearts of British Admirals in that day, when 
 the British Lion waved over the ocean's of the world. ''We 
 ■flew at them" says Collingwood, "like a "hawk at his prey, 
 passed through them, separated them , into two parts and then 
 tacked upon their largest division. The CiiUoden, and Cap- 
 tain Commodore Nelson's ship, were the first that brought 
 them to close action. I by chance became the Admiral's 
 leader, (for the circumstances were such as would admit of 
 no regular order,) and had the good fortune to get very early 
 into action." The first ship Collingwood encountered, was 
 the San Salvador del Mundo, 112 guns. Soon her colors 
 came down and her fire ceased. Not waiting to secure the 
 prize, he pushed on and came up so close alongside the San 
 Ysidro, (74,) that a man might have jumped from one ship 
 to the other. In ten minutes her colors ' were hauled down. 
 GiVmg the San NicJiolas (80,) and the San Josef (112,) a 
 touch of the same old tune, and causing their broad ribs to 
 quake beneath the thunder of his fire, he passed on to the 
 Santissima Trihidada Cordovas ship of 132 guns, and four 
 
complete decks. Such a ship as he tells us he had never seen 
 hefore. Crippled as he was by the desperate fighting he had 
 just passed through, he did not hesitate what to do. For one 
 whole hour he kept up the contest. To use his own words "he 
 trimmed her well, until she was a complete wreck." Take 
 it altogether, this was the most brilliant victory at that time 
 on record. The conflict with an enemy nearly double, who 
 were themselves no strangers to hard fighting, as their shat- 
 tered fleet fully showed, when the pean of triumph was being 
 wafted on the breeze. It is beautiful to contemplate the bear- 
 ing of Nelson and GoLLmGWOOD toward each other, in this the 
 proudest moment of their lives, when they were panting in a 
 noble spirit of emulation for still higher distinction in devo- 
 tion to their country's glory. The chaplet they wove around 
 their brows, in the letters that passed between them on the 
 loth, the day after the battle, in which the strife seemed to 
 be which should excel the other in high toned, generous ad- 
 miration, will be found to be full as enduring as the brightest 
 chaplet ever woven and worn by concjueror. It is wonder- 
 ful to contemplate a friendship so disinterestedly noble. No 
 two men were ever more brilliantly connected in so grand a 
 transaction. The Spaniards always take their patron saint 
 to sea with them, says Collingwood, and we may add that 
 Nelson and himself, to borrow still further from his classic 
 pen, gave Saint Ysidro a berth in their cabin. No other 
 country has presented so sublime a picture of loyalty to friend- 
 ship) — no other heroes, so sublime a victory over self. And 
 here again we are compelled to notice with regret the seem- 
 ing slowness on the part of Lord St. Vincent, to do full and 
 ample justice to our hero. Nelson and Collingwood passed 
 mutual compliments to each other's valor and skillful conduct, 
 which doubless operated as a stimulus to the sluggish Admi- 
 ral in command. For in a private letter to the chief of the 
 Admiralty, (Lord Spencer,) he makes mention of Nelson and 
 Collingwood with one or two others, assigning as his reason 
 for not having done so in his Public Despatches, *^'because" he 
 says, "I am confident that had those who were least in action 
 been in the situation of the favorite few, their behavior would 
 not have been less meritorious." In our narrative of iloM 
 "battle, the part that Collingwodd enacted stands out with 
 S 
 
10 
 
 wonderful brillianc}'", and ono is lost in the feelings of admira- 
 tion excited, and the only surprise is that the chief could have 
 supposed that especial mention was not imperatively required. 
 For none could have done what Collingwood and Nelson 
 did, and but for them the day would not have closed so glo- 
 riously to England's arms. 
 
 Collingwood seems to have dreaded inactivity. His desire 
 was "to keep his place in the front of the battle." A place 
 which none knew better how to fill up — a place, too, which 
 both Nelson and his country seemed to be equally ambitious 
 to assign him. 
 
 As early as 1803, he saw through the designs that were 
 floating through the brain of Napoleon— his invasion of Eng- 
 land. For in his letter to his wife he gives expression to his 
 fears. His letter to Nelson, dated July 21st, 1805, is almost 
 a transcript of Napleon's despatch to his Minister of Marine, 
 so profoundly had he penetrated the scheme of the Emperor^ 
 Even Nelson was to a certain extent decoyed by the brilliant 
 stratagem of Buonaparte. This clear foresight of Colling- 
 wood, and deep })enetration into the favorite scheme of Napo- 
 leon is wonderful. For whatever might have been the nature 
 of his designs in the speculations of men at that day and sub- 
 sequently, we have now the lights of history to guide us, and 
 those lights develop a most extraordina-r}' combination, each 
 link of which was laid in the most masterly spirit of that first 
 of conquerors and rarest of diplomatists. We have his own 
 declaration of his purpose to attempt the invasion of the soil 
 of England. Confirmation of it is to be found in his publish- 
 ed correspondence with M. Dacres, Minister of Marine, by 
 Count Dumas. Marshal Ney in his memoirs, tells us that 
 400 gun-boats covered the coast, that these were designed as 
 a ruse de guerre. The fleets were to be assembled, draw 
 after them to the West Indies the British squadron, and 
 return rapidly on their steps, and present themselves in the 
 Channel before the English were aware they had crossed the 
 line. !So perfectlyhad the Marshal adjusted the plan of pro- 
 ceeding, that in ten minutes and a half, infantry, cavalry, 
 artillery, consisting of 25;,000 out 150,000 men were em- 
 barked, and in thirteen minutes from the time when the sol- 
 diers were on board, they were arranged in battle array on 
 
n 
 
 the shore. Allison says, *'when we recollect that Lord 
 Nelson fell into the snare, and actually pursued the combined 
 fleets to the West Indies; that in pursuance of Napoleon's de- 
 sign, Yilleneuve reached Fenol, and that it was in consequence 
 only of his unsuccessful action with Sir Robert Calder, that he 
 was induced to fall back to Cadiz, and thereby cause the whole 
 plan to mis-carry; it is evident that the fate of Britain then 
 hung upon a thread. ' ' Villeneuve was unequal to his mission. 
 His heart failed him and Napoleon found that his dependence 
 was upon a broken reed. Allison in his miscellaneous essays 
 on Marshal Ney, commits two very great blunders, which the 
 truth of history requires us to correct. He affirmsthat the G-ov- 
 ernment were compelled to bring Admiral Cialder to a courtmar- 
 tial; and that he was dismissed the service. The truth of the 
 matter is, Calder himself demanded an investigation, and upon 
 the finding of the court was severely reprimanded. More was 
 expected of him than he accomplished. Censure, not reward 
 was meted out to him, but not the censure of dismissal from 
 the service. It cannot be doubted that the judgment of the 
 world has reversed the decision of that court martial, and that 
 Sir Robert Calder, in daring to offer battle off Cape Finisterre, 
 on the 22nd of July, 1805, to a force far superior to his own 
 in numbers, and compelling them to seek safety in port, fully 
 sustained the reputation or his country, and rendered her the 
 most important and timely service. Nelson and Colling- 
 WOOD both expressed their sympathy for their ill-used comrade, 
 and with a superiority to the petty jealousy that sometimes 
 overclouds superior minds, spurned an honor that was ten- 
 dered them at the expense of another. Calder' s noble heart, 
 well nigh crushed by the furious outcry, that branded his 
 name with reproach, sunk within him. But the world now 
 sees and feels that the bold encounter of a fleet of twenty- 
 seven ships, by a force of fifteen, which rescued England from 
 the fangs of the destroyer, is not a fit subject of reproach ; they 
 have therefore embalmed his memory, and awarded to him a 
 laurel wreath. It must be borne in mind that but for his 
 timely intervention, Napoleon with 150^000 thoroughly dis- 
 ciplined troops, with facilities for embarkation in one hour 
 and upwards, covered by a fleet of 60 ships of the line, would 
 
12 
 
 have made his descent upon the coast of Britain, prepared to 
 strike a fatal blow, with the concentrated vigor that "would 
 have struck terror to the heart of the hravest. 
 
 On the 21st of October, 1805, the last great and decisive 
 battle of Trafalgar was fought^ which to use the strong lan- 
 guage of Nej, ''postponed the conquest of England to another 
 age," and crushed iSTapoleon's hopes on the seas. 
 
 Of this the greatest of naval victories, it is not necessary 
 to speak in detail. It is familiar to us all — an heir loom of 
 glory that has been handed down to all after ages. Upon its 
 fate hung the destinies of the world. Nelson and Colling- 
 wooD, were again the bright stars that drew all eyes upon 
 them in wondering gaze. Collingwood, in one of those 
 beautiful requiems he sung so plaintively over the shade of 
 his departed friend, tells us that "in this affair nothing was 
 done without his counsel ; we made our line of battle together, 
 and concerted the mode of attack, which was put in execution 
 in the most admirable style." 
 
 With a magnanimity worthy of all praise, Nelson gave to 
 CoLLiNGWOOD the lead of the lee column of thirteen ships, 
 while he himself on board of the Victory, took the lead of the 
 weather column of fourteen ships. The deportment of both 
 was marked throughout with rare coolness and deliberation. 
 There was. a striking resemblance in their personal bearing, 
 as there was in their mental and professional endowments. 
 Carefully dressed for the occasion, they sought to inspire the 
 crew with the same cool deliberation. Nelson's motto was 
 ' ' England expects every man to do his duty . ' ' Collingwood's 
 to his own particular ship, was " gentlemen let us do some- 
 thing to-day which the world may talk of hereafter. ' ' Nelson 
 broke out in a burst of admiration, which it thrills one to read 
 now, "see how that noble fellow Collingwood carries his ship 
 into action!" and the very breeze that wafted these words of 
 commendation to the ears of British sailors, brought back the 
 not less noble words of Collingwood, "what would Nelson 
 give to be here?" Collingwood took the lead. Passing the 
 Santa Anna,- the Royal Sovereign gave her a broad side and a 
 half into her stern, tearing it down and wounding and killing 
 400 men and dismantling 14 guns. For fifteen or twenty 
 minutes the Boyal Sovereign presented the sublime spectacle of 
 
13 
 
 sustaining single-handed the fight, and filling the conflicting 
 fleets with admiration of her princely courage and destructive 
 power. She was exposed to the incessant fire of the Fougeux 
 (74,) Indomptahle (80,) Sun Justo (74,) and yS'aw Leandro 
 (64.) Thus she was exposed to the fire of as great a number 
 of ships as could fire at a single ship without injury to each 
 other. The Santa Anna struck at half past two, P. M. 
 
 Nelson received his death wound at half past one o'clock, 
 and was carried below. He desired an interview with Hardy, 
 and in those earnest words "will no one bring Hardy to me?" 
 manifested his impatience to see him. In his life it is record- 
 ed "that many messages were sent to Captain Hardy, by the 
 Surgeon, requesting his attendance on his Lordship ; the 
 captain's aid-de-camp, Mr. Bulkeley, came below, and stated 
 that circumstances respecting the fleet required Captain 
 Hardy's presence on deck, but that he would avail himself 
 of the first favorable moment to visit his Lordship. An hour 
 and ten minutes elapsed before Captain Hardy's first inter- 
 view with Nelson." Now it must be borne in mind that 
 one hour and ten minutes passed, before Nelson's order was 
 obeyed. The reason ofiicially assigned was that circumstan- 
 ces respecting, not the particular ship, on the quarter deck of 
 which Hardy was manfully fighting for his country's glory, 
 but the fleet required it. What had Hardy to do with the 
 fleet? He was not second in command. Nelson was below, 
 unable to observe what was going on. Nelson was not even 
 in close and constant converse with Hardy. For one hour 
 and ten minutes he was denied the privilege of even a con- 
 ference. The command of the fleet was properly in charge 
 of somebody. The admiral was disabled and could not exer- 
 cise it, and did not, for Hardy saw nothing of Nelson, and 
 received no orders from him, but the summons which he did 
 not obey. Hardy was not second in command and could not 
 therefore concern himself with the fleet, as that was in charge 
 of CoLLiNGwooD, the moment the chief was incapacitated for 
 the duty. That first interview ended, in which no order was 
 issued; Hardy went on deck, and after fifty minutes, just on 
 the eve of again going into the presence of his Lordship, 
 he sends Lieutenant Hills to acquaint Admiral Collingwood 
 of Nelson's wound. Collingwood himself says, in his cones- 
 
14 
 
 pondence, 'Hhat an officer was sent to him to inform him of 
 the fact, and before the action was over Captain Hardy brought 
 the melancholy news of Nelson's death," As soon as the 
 tidings of Nelson's wound reached him, Collingwood called 
 the Euryalus to make the necessary signals. Nelson fought 
 like a hero. He covered his name with glory. All that 
 human valor and skill could do, he did, until the fatal shot 
 laid him low on the quarter deck of the Vi.tory. Even when 
 borne below, and writhing in the agonies of death, his 
 thoughts were only of his country. But when Nelson fell his 
 mantle rested on worthy shoulders. Collingwood's name 
 was a tower of strength in all that heaving fleet. He was 
 second in command by his country's verdict. He had led the 
 one grand division, and fought it at his own discretion. He 
 had struck, terror and consternation into the heart of the 
 heroic foe, and turned their hopes of victory into the bitter- 
 ness of anticipated defeat. Standing on the deck of the Royal 
 Sovej^eign, like the genius of war, he frowned defiance 
 upon the pride of the Franco-Spanish fleet, and helped to 
 pluck the standard of England from their fatal grasp. The 
 battle still raged furiously, and his was the guiding genius 
 of the conflict. Taking as we do the view of impartial his- 
 tory, we hold that during that one hour and ten minutes, 
 Hardy's conduct was inexplicable and unjustifiable. For he 
 disobeyed the command of Nelson, to visit him in the cock- 
 pit, assigning as the reason " circumstances respecting the 
 Jleet," which did not appertain to him as Captain of the Vic- 
 tory, when virtually and in fact separated from his chief. 
 And what makes the subject still clearer. Hardy himself, 
 before the second interview, sends the messenger to Colling- 
 wooD, and shows his own deep impressions breathed into 
 Nelson's dying ear, "I suppose that Admiral Collingwood, 
 will now take upon himself the direction of affairs. ' ' A most 
 natural and proper supposition, for the messenger was already 
 despatched. Nelson was incapacitated, and Hardy knew it, 
 and the proprieties and laws of the service, required that it 
 should be made known to the second in command. And yet 
 it is obvious that Nelson was not a whit more incapacitated 
 in the second, then in the first interview. The sending the 
 messenger when he did, and the admitted supposition, that 
 
16 
 
 "■'woiy the command 2i;ozi?(i (?e^'oZye o?i Collingwood," proves 
 that the messenger should have been at once despatched. 
 One thing is incontrovertible, there was no one actually in 
 command of the fleet from the time Nelson was carried 
 below, until Collingwood sent forth his signals from the 
 Eurijalus. For Collingwood was kept in ignorance of Nelson' s 
 condition. Hardy was acting without orders and in actual 
 disobedience of them. It is not my purpose to say aught 
 needlessly to the disparagement of that sturdy old veteran, in 
 adverting to this anomalous fact, and the acknowledged laws 
 of the service. It is to vindicate the truth of history. The 
 moment the incapacity to rule occurs, that moment must the 
 command cease. When Nelson left the deck and was borne 
 below, tlie responsibility of the second in command began. 
 The keeping of CoLLixawooD in ignorance of the fact, that for 
 one hour and upwards Nelson's rule was virtually suspended, 
 wa,s a wrong to the British arms, and if made a precedent 
 would result in fearful consequences. Concede the principle, 
 and the most anomalous and disastrous results must follow. 
 To cheer the dying heart of his beloved chief, Hardy tells him 
 the victory was won. Nelson caught at the thrilling news ; 
 and with an energy, the last struggle of expiring nature for 
 command, at once natural and touching, he says in response 
 to the assertion, "that Collingwood would now take upon 
 himself the direction of affairs," "not while I live, I hope 
 Hardy. Do you anchor, for if I live I'll anchor. ' ' The com- 
 mand to anchor Avas unquestionably the result of the tidings 
 that the victory was won. It was to give expression to the 
 fact that the work was finished. True the battle raged on 
 and Collingwood was the master spirit of the light. His 
 signals were afloat on the breeze. Had Nelson's order been 
 obeyed, given as it was and must have been, under the disad- 
 vantages of not knowing the precise condition of the fleet, in 
 the judgment of some of the ripest seamen of that day, the 
 fleet instead of being preserved as it was, would have perished 
 on the shoals of Trafalgar. Gollingwood's conduct when the 
 battle ceased, was not less commendable than his couraj^e and 
 skill v,dnle the tide of war roiled on. But for his judgrhent 
 and skill, for a better practical seamen never walked the deck 
 of a man-of-war, but few ships if any would have been left 
 
16 
 
 to tell tlie tale of the splendor of England's valor on that day 
 of mighty issues. He has himself declared that he would 
 sooner fight another battle, than pass through the horrors of 
 such a week. Collingwood gloried in the lead of such a man 
 as Nelson, and Nelson in so consummate a supporter as 
 
 COLLINGWOOD. 
 
 I do not place them in antagonism to each other. They 
 were above all petty jealousies through the whole of their 
 eventful lives, and it is not in me to create a rivalship over 
 their honored graves, which they sublimely repudiated when 
 alive. The error of Hardy, for error I am compelled to pro- 
 nounce it, was all his own ; and that too may be permitted, 
 now that it is rectified, to pass under the effulgence of Tra- 
 falgar, which gave Nelson his winding sheet, and Colling- 
 wooD the epitaph of '^having in the solemn judgment of his 
 country completed the most, glorious and decisive victory 
 which is recorded on the naval annals of the world." If any- 
 thing touches the chords of feeling in the human heart more 
 powerfully than another, in all this grand transaction, it is 
 the womanly tenderness with which Collingwood deplores the 
 loss of Nelson, and the glowing tribute he pays to his incom- 
 parable worth. ''Oh! had Nelson lived, how complete had 
 been my happiness ! how perfect my joy ! ' ' The thunders of ap- 
 plause which greeted his ear, were lost in the stillness of Nel- 
 son's grave. The pleasure of victory was abated, because the 
 loving glance of his comrade's eye was not there to greet him. 
 "Oh! had Nelson lived, how complete had been my happi- 
 ness ! how perfect my joy ! " Golden letters these, but seldom 
 found inscribed on the entablature of a frail human heart at 
 such a moment. Too free from the taint of selfishness for 
 inscription often on so corrupt a mould. 
 
 Without disparagement to the hero of the Nile we may be 
 allowed injustice to the hero of our theme, to press upon your 
 notice, the fact that Collingwood, by his consummate blockad- 
 ing of the squadron in Cadiz, where no provision was made for 
 the supply of the 'fleets and his cutting off of the supplies that 
 were subsequently forwarded, forced the Franco-Spanish fleet 
 to put to sea, and thus brought on the battle of Trafalgar. 
 By his inimitable onslaught in the very beginning of the en- 
 gagement, he struck dismay into the opposing foe, and wrung 
 
17 
 
 even from Admiral Villenenve, the sad confession that all 
 was lost. By his inimitable concUict, when A-ictory perched 
 on the Lion standard of England, he wrnng from the King 
 the warmest approval, and the strongest testimonial of con- 
 Bummate seamanship. So that all things considered, no 
 Becond place can he properly assigned him. 
 
 •We have traced along the brilliant and eventful life of 
 Admiral Collingwooi), from the first naval engagement in 
 which he gave promise of what he was destined to become, to 
 the battle of Trafalgar, when he put the topmost stone "upon 
 the vast pyramid of his fame. ' ' His subsequent career was 
 marked by his skill in diplomacy, in which he won, by the 
 ready power of his pen, a reputation only second to the tro- 
 phies of his sword. It was conceeded by his compeers, that 
 for simplicity, beauty, purity, elegance, and nerve of style, he 
 was not excelled as a writer by any diplomat of his day. In 
 this he stood head and shoulders above any naval hero of 
 whom we have a record. And the secret of his success is 
 worthy of imitation by you gentlemen, who are now in 
 training for the profession which he made so honorable in 
 the eyes of the world. He was a diligent student. His 
 leisure moments were apx^lied to the cultivation of his mind. 
 History and Geography were examined with philosophic pre- 
 cision. The best writers of the past and present were his boon 
 companions. When off duty^ he sought his recreation in 
 study — and when on ship-board, he did not relax his efforts 
 at self-culture. The prominent traits of his character, were 
 devotion to duty and attention to the minutiae of professional 
 obligations. Everything yielded to the former, and nothing 
 escaped the observation of the latter. No man was more blessed 
 in the endearments of the homestead. Happily married, with 
 two daughters that grew up as polished stones in the temple 
 of that consecrated spot, his home, he was much to be envied. 
 With a heart susceptible to all that was tender and gentle 
 and lovely, in that charmed sphere of the affections, he was 
 above all other men fitted to diffuse the genial sunshine of quiet 
 happiness on all around him. His correspondence exhibits a 
 rare cluster of the sweet and gentle gaces, that make home 
 the fairest spot in creation. And yet he cheerfully resigned 
 all in devotion to duty to his country's flag. For months 
 3 
 
18 
 
 never toucliing land — forty odd years of the fifty spent in the 
 navy constantly occupiedwith the momentous business entrust- 
 ed to his care J he stood at his post bidding adieu to home wife and 
 and children. There is the highest moral sublimity in this 
 unmurmuring devotion, in one whose bosom yearned for the 
 pleasures he was denied_, without parallel, that I remember 
 anywhere among men. And then nothing escaped his notice. 
 Attention to the most seemingly insignificant things, his pre- 
 sence every where, this it was which gave the finishing touch 
 to the perfection of his character. His ship was consef[uently 
 at all times in the best possible order. Economy in his ad- 
 ministration passed as a sort of proverb throughout the fleet ; 
 and yet his economy never degenerated into meanness. Noth- 
 ing was wasted And if anything more beautifully set forth 
 his admirable conduct as a naval officer, than another, it was 
 his solicitude for the sick sailor, his nursing care and close 
 personal inspection of his comforts. He identified himself with 
 his crew. Their health and happiness were ever near his heart. 
 Debasing punishments were as much as possible removed from 
 the disciplne of his ships ; and it is somewhat remarkable that 
 both he and Nelson at that early day instituted for the lash 
 other more befitting instruments of rule. His appeal was to 
 the pride of the British sailor ; and rewards judiciously dis- 
 tributed and penances sternly administered, where the case re- 
 quired it, did more to secure the loyal obedience of the crew, 
 than aught else beside. Collingwood, was therefore, well 
 nigh idolized by the private seamen. He had their love and 
 confidence, and when the storm of battle raged most furiously, 
 they fought not more in devotion to their country's flag, than 
 in love for their venerated leader. Nor was his solicitude 
 wholly expended upon the private seamen. He felt that the 
 power of the British navy, and the honor of her flag, rested 
 upon the young men, who were in training for the difficult 
 and delicate post of command. A friend of the young he was. 
 His earnest counsel breathes in every syllable a most jealous 
 concern for their future welfare and their professional useful- 
 ness. "Let it be your ambition " says this illustrious Admi- 
 ral, *'to be foremost in all duty. Do not be a nice observer 
 of turns, but forever show yourself ready for every duty." 
 Here, gentlemen, we have the key note to full and complete 
 
success. No discriminatiou can be exercised wken duty calls 
 to service. All duty demands attention, and where all duty 
 is at stake, nothing can be safety or with honor overlooked. 
 Young men are peculiarly liable to temptation on this point, 
 and particularly in the junior grades of the profession. They 
 are prone to discriminate between the comparative magnitude 
 of the work assigned them. Whereas the only question that 
 should be asked, is, does duty call? and the only desire, that 
 should be for a moment cherished, is, its instant and thorough 
 performance. CoLLiNfiwooD goes on to add: "Were a man 
 as wise as Solomon, and as brave as Achilles, he would still be 
 unworthy of trust if he addicted himself to grog. He maybe 
 a drudge, but a respectable officer he can never be." Truer 
 words never fell from human lips. Let them be the polar 
 star of the young men of the profession. Still further he 
 adds: " Let your companions be such as yourself, or supe- 
 rior, for the worth of a man will always be ruled by that of 
 his company." Here, again my countrymen, we have the 
 power of association, the most masterly moulding power in 
 the universe. "Read," he says, "let met charge you to read. 
 Study books that treat of your profession and history. Wis- 
 dom does not come by instinct, but will be found Avhen dili- 
 gently sought for : seek her, she will be a friend that will 
 never fail you. Nature has sown in man the seeds of 
 knowledge; but they must be cultivated to produce fruit." 
 If the young men of our profession are careful to observe this 
 wise counselling, and reduce to practice these noble maxims, 
 (and it is to be confidently hoped they will, nurtured as they 
 now are by the Government whose flag waves over them,) 
 the navy will command the respect and admiration of the 
 world. Our flag will never droop, upheld by their stalwart 
 arms, our country's confidence will not be misplaced or for- 
 feited in their keeping. Loyalty, and intelligent apprecia- 
 tion of the responsibilities of command, will be our sheet 
 anchor ; a home in the hearts of our countrymen will be our 
 anchorage. 
 
 Thus lived the man who, all things considered, was second 
 to none of the gallant men "whose home was on the moun- 
 tain wave." I shall not dwell upon the touching beauty of 
 his death. To Captain Thomas, he said "lam dying; and 
 
20 
 
 I am sure it must be consolatory to you, and all who love me, 
 to see how comfortably I am coming to my end." Devout- 
 ly pious, his end was as peaceful as the setting sun, with 
 not a cloud to obscure its declining glory. Just in all his 
 dealings ; resolute of will to meet every call of duty ; full of 
 the tenderness of real sympathy — above the reach of envy; 
 as loyal to those above him in rank, as he was considerate to 
 those below him, he was every inch a hero. Always in the 
 thickest of the light, subordinate in command until the day 
 that Nelson fell, but never second in brilliant achievement 
 and bold daring ; he was without a wound, almost miracu- 
 ously preserved. Passing from the blood stained decks to the 
 heated arena of political strife, he maintained liis supremacy, 
 and stood the acknowleged head of diplomats, the best writer 
 and calmest statesman known to tlie service abroad. His re- 
 mains now repose in St. Paul's Cathedral, by the side of 
 Nelson, the spot that Nelson chose, dear to the memory of 
 heroes, and embalmed in the tears of all succeeding ages. 
 His country's flig the winding sheet that wraps him round! 
 his native soil his resting place ! May he rest in peace! His 
 life and character, the pride and boast of all the navies of the 
 world, may they become the study of the young men of the 
 profession! 
 
 We have stated that it was a singular coincidence, that 
 Collingwood's eye met the glare of the first cannon that woke 
 its echoes on the heights of Boston, in the proud era of our revo- 
 lutionary struggle, a not less singular coincidence it was, that 
 two years or more after his sun had set in glory, and the 
 world was gazing in rapt astonishment, as the last rays of the 
 wondrous orb were fast fading from the view, our little navy 
 should have met in unequal contest the proudest navy in the 
 world, fresh from Trafalgar, and successfully disputed the 
 supremacy of the seas. Dacres, the follower of Lord St. Vin- 
 cent, struck to Hull, and one after another bowed before this 
 upstart stripling, and the fable of the '"flying Dutchman" 
 ceased to be the marvel of the seas. 
 
 My countrymen, the navy of 1812, deserves well of the 
 country. Its laiirels are the brightest that are woven in her 
 crown of glory. But has the navy received the patronage, 
 and nursing care, that well befit so august an arm of the 
 
21 
 
 national defence. Much lias been clone for it, ^^'^l^ich deserves 
 especial commendation. The establishment in the time hon- 
 ored capital of old Maryland, a spot well calculated for the 
 training of heroes and statesmen. I repeat, the establishment 
 of an Academy, like that at West Point, where our young 
 men can learn all that concerns their noble profession, and 
 go forth thoroughly equipped for service, is of itself alone a 
 gift worthy of all praise. I have seen in the Mediterranean, 
 where it was my privilege last to cruise, the most unequivocal 
 proof of the Avisdom of that establishment. Wisely governed 
 and most ably and efficiently conducted in every department, 
 whether literary, scientific or strictly professional, it deserves 
 to be the pride of the country, and the pet child of Grovern- 
 ment. But still the navy is not what the navy should be. 
 It is neither equal to the national defence, nor the commer- 
 cial necessities of the land. Somehow or other, politicians 
 have a sort of jealousy of the navy, which militates stronglj 
 against any policy at all proportionate to the magnitude of 
 its sphere. Let any man cast his eye over the extended area 
 of our empire — compute the tonnage of our commerce, and 
 then tell me if our present navy is competent to guard and 
 protect it. It is below the dignity of such a G-overnment t& 
 be dependent for the protection of her commerce, on anj 
 other power on earth; and yet who does not know, that the 
 courtesy of other nations, gracefully rendered though it be, 
 often secures our commerce from the aggression which cer- 
 tainly ought to be always rendered from the port-holes of our 
 own ships of war. Make the the navy what it should be, and 
 you have more than a Gibralter security against foreign ag- 
 gression and insult. Make it what it should be, and no power 
 Avill dare dishonor our flag. It becomes a nation like ours, to 
 be ready for war, while it studiously counsels the things that 
 make for peace. Moreover it is due to the navy itself. Should 
 the country be suddenlj'- plunged into the horrors of war ; 
 desperately as your navy would struggle for victory, her hero- 
 ism could avail nothing against the overpowering force arrayed 
 against her ; and with no colors struck, who need be told 
 that nothing would remain but a wreck to tell to after ages 
 what American seamen can do for a country, which consigned 
 them an inferiority of numbers, that left no alternative but ft 
 
22 
 
 grave beneath the billows or defeat. Every thing conspires 
 to render a strong navy the wisest policy for a country like 
 ours. The immense area of our Territory — the vast wealth 
 and extent of our commerce — the well nigh settled fact that, 
 with such a navy, the only war that can be waged against us, 
 will be fought upon tlie seas — all conspire to urge upon Con- 
 gress the policy I advocate. True, the nation might recover, 
 after years of toil and privation and loss, from a Avar in her pre- 
 sent naval weakness, but what wise statesman, will be Avilling 
 to inflict upon his countrymen, even the hazards of such a 
 privation and loss? Why, by present niggardly economy, 
 subject her to so fearful future risk ? The science of war has 
 progressed and is still progressing — and woe betide the power 
 that shall dare depend on raw recruits and boastful ignorance. 
 Our duty is linked Avith the steady progress of skill and 
 enterprise. Peace is the element of our most real life as a 
 nation. Do Avhat you can to guard it. Show yourselves ready 
 to defend it — and no poAver on earth Avill touch you. Res- 
 pecting the rights of others, you Avill be respected in your OAvn. 
 There is I have intimated, an unfortunate jealousy of the 
 navy that has crept into the Legislative halls, and influenced 
 injuriously the deliberations of our laAvmakers. It exhibits 
 itself not only in the size of the navy, but the very grades 
 that are to distinguisli it among the other poAvers of the Avorld. 
 Admirals are sounds dear to British sailors and landsmen. 
 But talk of an Admiral in this noble Republic, and at once 
 our taste is offended and our Republican nerves are shocked. 
 We can have Lieutenant Generals in our army, and no 
 one is disturbed. But Flag Oflicer, (Avhicli is nothing but 
 Captain,) is the nearest approach we have made to that of 
 Admiral. Why sirs, the A'ery cheeks of our gallant officers 
 have been made to tingle on foreign shores, because a rank 
 knoAvn to the whole civilized Avorld is denied them ; and our 
 Captains in command of squadrons, have ridden at anchor by 
 the side of Englisli Admirals, Avho struck to them their colors 
 in the last Avar. It is said the rank is nothing. Granted ! 
 But if so why deny it to our officers, that they may escape 
 the odium of a sort of nondescript on the seas? Establish the 
 grade of Admiral Avith the corresponding pay, and at once 
 you remove the only disturbing cause that noAV rankles in the 
 
23 
 
 •bosom, the dispute of rank and the heart hurnings that in- 
 evitably follow it. 
 
 England is a land of heroes, and we honor her. She cher- 
 ishes as the apple of her eye her navy, and the world respects 
 her. She is careful of their reputation when living, and just 
 to their memories when dead. Her pension list is the brightest 
 scroll she has unrolled, and to her honor be it said no crippled 
 sailor is denied the sympathy and support he craves. We 
 trust that no cause of war may arise to disturb the happy friend- 
 ship that subsists between us. I know the feeling of Eng- 
 land toward us. I was myself prejudiced against her^ until 
 I touched her soil, sat at the festive board in company with 
 her distinguished statesmen, saw her commonalty, walked 
 through her manufactories, and looked out upon her splendid 
 tillage. Then it was, that I every where met with assurances 
 of good feeling and good neighborhood — admiration of our 
 wonderful progress and development as a nation, our institu- 
 tions of learning, literature, science and art. I trust the 
 amity will continue. Whatever be the fate of that wondrous 
 cable that has already transmitted one message of mutual 
 good feeling, I hope that the cable of mutual interest, mutual 
 honor, mutual principles and mutual language, will never 
 fail to transmit its intelligible speech through ocean's depths 
 to either shore. The navies of England and the United 
 States, their real cable of strength, will I trust, henceforth, 
 be contented with a peaceful rivalry, in the as yet unexplored 
 oceans of science — and serve as the solid links of the chain 
 that is to bind the two countries, now and forever. They 
 hold out the brightest lights of civilization and Christianity 
 to the gaze oi the world. Magna Charta was the grand 
 reservoir from which many of our most revered maxims of 
 political jurisprudence were drawn. And from the genius of 
 her institutions, have many of our well nigh extinct princi- 
 ples been quickened into life. Sad would be the day, when 
 forgetful of the fact that they seemed to be destined to the 
 completion and perfection of each other's glory, they should 
 strike a blow at each other's prosperity. May the wisdom 
 and moderation, the good sense and just sentiment, of both 
 countries unite to avert it. 
 
k--".