UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
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 THE 
 
 LIFE AND SERVICES 
 
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 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER.
 
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 LIFE AND SERVICES 
 
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 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER, 
 
 LATE OF 
 
 HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP NISUS. 
 
 By captain W. II. SMYTH, r.n., k. s. f., 
 
 F.R.S., AND F.S.A. 
 
 Member of the Aitrtmomkal Socii^t;/ of l/indon ; ami of the Societ!/ for the 
 Ceography, Statutics, and Natural History of Tuscany, 
 
 LONDON : 
 JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET. 
 
 MDCCQXXIX.
 
 LONDON : 
 Printed by William Clowes, 
 Stainford-stieet.
 
 
 TO 
 
 THE MOST NOBLE 
 
 JOHN, DUKE OF ATHOLL, K.T. 
 
 S[c. ^c. 4c. 
 
 My Lord Duke, 
 
 The interest which your Grace has ever taken in 
 the welfare of the British Navy, would induce any writer 
 to expect your Grace's condescension in perusing the 
 memoir of a brave officer; but the repeated acts of 
 kindness which I have experienced at your hands, give 
 me the strongest grounds for hoping that the pages 
 which 1 have now the honour of dedicating to your 
 Grace, will not be looked upon with an unfavourable or 
 an indifferent eye. 
 
 It is not, however, by the liberality displayed by your 
 Grace to the merits of Naval officers, that your fame will 
 alone be perpetuated : — large tracts of land, enriched, 
 by your Grace's public spirit, with upwards of thirty 
 millions of trees, will call forth the applause of a grateful 
 people, as long as the empire shall exist! 
 
 It is a satisfaction which may cause even the blood of 
 the illustrious House of Murray to beat high, when )Our 
 Grace reflects that the forests which now shadow the once 
 naked mountains of your extensive domains — planted in 
 
 463557
 
 VI DEDICATION. 
 
 part by ihc luiiul of a i)elovecl parent, and since continued 
 on a still grander scale by yourself — may hereafter waft 
 the British thunder upon their proud tinribers, and echo 
 back the triumph to their native shades. 
 
 Ah-eady has the axe been apphed — and that fine frigate, 
 the Atholl, Avith several smaller vessels, has been highly 
 extolled, both by builders and navigators. And the 
 state of the brig " Larch," which I had the honour of 
 visiting with your Grace, on her return from a fourth 
 voyage to the Black Sea, and which was entirely con- 
 structed with the timber of Blair Atholl and Dunkeld, 
 was more satisfactory in the leading points of durability, 
 than that of any ship of her class which I ever inspected. 
 Who bnt must envy the gratifying feelings of him who 
 has stepped the deck of a vessel, the trees for the build- 
 ing of which he had himself planted ! 
 
 That your Grace may long enjoy the happiness which 
 such virtuous patriotism produces, and all other blessings 
 so well deserved by your goodness, is the sincere wish 
 and prayer of, 
 
 My Lord Duke, 
 
 Your Grace's obliged. 
 
 And obedient humble servant, 
 
 William Henry Smyth. 
 
 Crescent, Bedford, I 
 4th April, ]«2y. ■'
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 To a nation like the English, which owes so much 
 to the valour of its seamen^ the life of a Naval 
 Officer will always be acceptable. Such a narra- 
 tion seems to be but a just tribute of respect to 
 those^ whose bravery and skill have merited the 
 acknowledgment of posterity, by extending- the 
 powers and exalting- the honour of their country ; 
 and especially to him, whose exploits, without 
 offence to any of our heroes, may safely claim a 
 parallel with their most successful achievements. 
 
 A relation of the actions of individuals is at 
 once a reward and an encourag-ement to merit; 
 and the province of modern memoirs, not being- 
 restricted, as with the minstrels of yore, to the 
 vicissitudes of the great, is well adapted to pre- 
 serve deservinof characters from the noxious breath 
 of envy, and the invidious whisper of detraction. 
 In describing a personal career, the principles of
 
 Vlll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 action should be investigated and carefidly de- 
 fined, in order that g-enuine ardour may be distin- 
 guished from spurious. Love of glory supports the 
 energies drawn forth in battle ; but fortitude is, 
 perhaps,, more truly and extensively tried in lin- 
 gering blockades and pestilential climates^ in the 
 noise of many waters, and the darkness of the 
 moonless gale ; aiid^ indeed^ in most of the occur- 
 rences incidental to maritime life. But many a 
 mediocral man^ borne on the tide of ephemeral 
 success^ is decked with laurels^ while others of 
 ardent zeal and acknowledged talents pine in 
 the intricacies of service, and are scarcely lifted 
 above oblivion's surge. Thus it was with the 
 subject of this memoir, whose merits^ except in 
 the navy, were not known as they justly de- 
 served ; nor were the rewards he received at all 
 commensurate with the prosperous results of his 
 skill. It is, therefore, an imperious duty to point 
 out the claims of deserving individuals to the 
 notice of their country ; and to show that, though 
 mere chance may confer both riches and popularity, 
 abilities only can procure fame. 
 
 As Biography is, of the various kinds of writing, 
 generally admitted to be that which is most eagerly
 
 INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 read, and most easily applied to the purposes of life, 
 it may be encouraoino- to the jiuiiur oflicer to be 
 informed, that the rank which Captain Beaver ob- 
 tained was wholly acquired by his own merit. 
 
 With the sportiveness of youth, he will be found 
 to have cherished a zeal to excel ; and to have 
 cautiously meditated the path to eminence, whilst 
 he associated with the tliouohtless. And althous^h 
 the sphere of his usefulness was greatly abridged 
 by a premature death, his bright example may 
 serve as a beacon to all those who feel the glow 
 of conscious worth. 
 
 If Dr. Johnson be right, '" that there has rarely 
 passed a life^ of which a judicious and authentic 
 narrative would not be useful," it will be seen that 
 Captain Beaver's is certainly not the exception. 
 It might have been given in a better dress, by the 
 prufessed scholar, but utility was the great aim ; and 
 the whole relation being founded in tiuth, needs no 
 adventitious varnish or embellishment. 1 therefore 
 trust that if I fail of giving satisfaction, it will be 
 rather in circumstantial than essential requisites. 
 The general reader may find too many technical 
 terms for his taste, and an almost monotonous 
 succession of battles in the very outset. Yet it
 
 X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 must be remembered, that nothing- could be more 
 appropriate^ than extracts from the young mid- 
 shipman's characteristic descriptions. 
 
 The peculiar talent of the French for pointing 
 phrases, makes many an observation pass current, 
 which lias but little sterling value. " Point de 
 heros pour son valet de chambre/' is one of those 
 aphorisms which gratify the vanity of common 
 minds, by lowering the standard of human excel- 
 lence. The behaviour of Beaver in sickness, in 
 conflict, or in tempest, fully proves the fallacy of 
 the silly adage ; and displays the broad distinction 
 between magnanimity and the bombast of acted 
 heroism. Indeed, the more his springs of action 
 are investigated, the more highly must this officer 
 be appreciated by the naval community. 
 
 In no profession is a steady and determined 
 character so necessary as in that of the royal navy. 
 The first step upon deck is fraught with instruc- 
 tion, and almost before his amazement has sub- 
 sided, the stripling is both tutored into obedience, 
 and entrusted with power. Those alone become 
 skilful seamen, who commence their career from 
 childhood : we shall see how^ early and how 
 diligently our youth applied himself to attain an
 
 INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 accurate knowledge of his duty, and how solidly 
 jiidg-meiit may be streng-thened, by the natural 
 and easy process of keeping a rational journal. 
 
 Nor is it with the acquisition of the rudiments 
 of navigation alone, that the accomplished oflicer 
 will be satisfied ; for all the more elevated branches 
 of astronomy, naval architecture, and nautical 
 science, constitute a part of his knowledge, and 
 fit him more immediately for the developement of 
 prompt resources, when occasion may urgently 
 demand them. 
 
 Of courage it is scarcely necessary to speak, 
 for where is the British seaman without it ? 
 
 But so various and important are the avocations 
 of an intellio'ent commander, that it is diOicult to 
 define them. At one time, he is seen contending 
 with the fury of the troubled elements ; at another, 
 rushing w ith impetuosity upon the foe ; — now treat- 
 ing with the wily savage ; and anon, prescribing 
 terms of capitulation to the vanquished garrison. 
 Every well performed deed is its own reward ; but 
 whilst he thinks only of the glory of his countiy, 
 he may be sure that the pen of the historian is 
 silently recording his fame. 
 
 It were visionary, however^ to suppose that life
 
 XU INTRODUCTION. 
 
 in any station can pass wholly without some unde- 
 served diminution of happiness ; — our hero was a 
 man of too decided a character^ and engaged in 
 too active a scene^ not to encounter the opposition 
 of many rivals^ and the malignant jealousy of some 
 who were envious. And although it may occa- 
 sionally happen tliat_, when competition is at an 
 end_, the injured person may receive from his in- 
 vidious opponent an acknowledgment of his merit, 
 yet that w-ant of unity which tarnishes the noble 
 spirit of the navy, often miUtates against its best 
 interests ; and from such a baneful cause, the con- 
 necting bond of its members has been, though too 
 severely, stigmatized as '' a rope of sand.'' But 
 discarding all illiberal reflections, it may trium- 
 phantly be asserted, that in the loftier points of 
 patriotism, courage, and skill, and in defiance of 
 the pestilential influence of corruption, dissension, 
 and folly, the hardy sons of England's fleet will 
 ever preserve unsullied the honour and inde- 
 pendence, which arc so confidently committed to 
 their care. 
 
 It is left for the friends of this sterling- man 
 to deplore the early age at which they were de- 
 l)rived of his presence by sickness, and, with fond
 
 INTRODUCTION. Xlll 
 
 endearment, to contemplate in idea that brioht dis- 
 tinction which his j>enius would undoubtedly have 
 achieved. Faithful extracts from his journal will 
 show the extent and variety of his observations_, 
 and that true pride of soul with which he received 
 the commission of a captain, as one of the most 
 gratifying authorities which can be delegated to a 
 member of the community. 
 
 As, in the tide of battle, his intrepidity was tem- 
 pered with coolness, so in the hour of victory it 
 was chastened by the tenderest dictates of humanity. 
 And as his principles had from earliest infancy 
 been imbued with devotion^ so the whole tenor of 
 his life confirmed the happy denomination of a sin- 
 cere Christian : he aflfords an instructive instance of 
 how well a good and lofty character may be sup- 
 ported, amidst the busiest scenes of martial enter- 
 prize, and mental exertion. 
 
 I have now merely to add^ that a few papers 
 which were considered unnecessary to the narra- 
 tive, will be subjoined as an appendix^ by which 
 the reader will have an opportunity of seeing 
 Captain Beaver's varied style, from youth to mid- 
 dle age. The first is a copy of verses, dated in 
 his fifteenth year, and affords a proof;, that althougli
 
 \1V INTRODUCTION. 
 
 lie professed to slight the muses, he could not al- 
 ways resist the influence of the lyre. The second 
 article is introduced to show the ardent patriotism 
 by which he was actuated, even in circumstances of 
 the most trying nature, and exhibits a warmth of 
 feeling highly creditable to liim as an officer. The 
 letter to Sir Robert Wilson is an instance of his 
 estimation of accuracy in geography : a branch in 
 which naval and military men, by a little investi- 
 gation in the several countries they necessarily 
 visit, might add largely to the general stock of 
 knowledge, and correct the present discreditable 
 nomenclature of map -sellers. The detailed report 
 of his visit to the Caraccas will prove an interest- 
 ing historical document : it is here added, because 
 it is more carefully written in his manuscripts, than 
 it appears to be in the part published in the Me- 
 moirs of General Miller. 
 
 Captain Beaver published various strictures on 
 public afHiirs, under the names of Themistocles 
 and Juvenis ; he also printed a small pamphlet on 
 the importance of the Saints, a group of isles 
 near Guadaloupe, as a naval station. Two of his 
 papers, however, which have appeared before the 
 public, under the signatures of Nearchus and
 
 INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 Bimtiiij being corrected with his own liand, I con- 
 sidered it wonld be acceptable to reprint them. 
 This I do the more readily,, becanse I fully coin- 
 cide in the soundness of his deductions, on the 
 probable result of invading this country. But it 
 now becomes a matter of deep interest^ to watch 
 what changes may be effected in these points^ 
 from the new principles of operation to be looked 
 for, in the application of steam. This truly formi- 
 dable medium of transit, defence^ and destruction, 
 being alike independent of tide, wind, and wave, 
 may yet alter the whole system of tactics, and be- 
 come the chief element of annoyance to our shores ; 
 however unnatural it would be for the glory of 
 Great Britain to receive any check from one of her 
 own inventions.
 
 THK 
 
 LIFE 
 
 Of 
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER, R.N. 
 
 '' Ah ! who can fell how hard it is to climh 
 'Dw steep, when- Fame's proiul teniiile shines afar ; 
 Ah I who can tell how many a soul sublime 
 Has felt the iiifiiience of nialij^niant star, 
 And waijed with Fortune an unecjual war ! " 
 
 The family of Beaver came into England from the 
 Isle of Guernsey, and settled at an early period 
 in Essex ; of wbicli county Osmond Beauvoir, 
 Esq., of Downliam, was hig-h-sheriff in 1742. 
 Tliat branch from which the subject of these pages 
 was descended changed the orthography of their 
 name from Beauvoir to Beaver; and the animal 
 of the same appellation was assumed by them for 
 their crest. The former armorial bearino- was 
 also couched in a pun, it being a man looking from 
 a hioh tower. This heraldic notice mav be suffi- 
 cient to point out the Captain's family and descent; 
 it is his personal conduct which should rather be 
 
 B
 
 i 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 depicted ; lor it luis been well observed, that mere 
 pride of ancestry cheats only the rabble. 
 
 By flinging dead men's dust in idiots' eyes. 
 
 This stock belonged strictly to that middle class 
 of society which is considered as most favonrable 
 to virtue and to happiness, — a temperate region, 
 neither enervated by the blaze of prosperity, nor 
 depressed by the chilling blasts of poverty. Most 
 of the kindred were persons of education ; but 
 were more remarkable for solid talent than the 
 attainment of high rank. 
 
 It must be matter of well-founded gratification 
 to the clergy, when they contemplate the splendid 
 heroes who have emanated from their Order ; and 
 probably no other class of the community has 
 contributed so large a proportion of officers to 
 the army and navy as this respectable branch. 
 Need we mention Nelson, Hood, Bridport, Graves, 
 and Keats? though few of these were of families 
 so entirely clerical as the subject of this memoir; 
 for, with the exception of his paternal grandfather, 
 almost every one of his ancestors were divines. 
 
 .John Beaver, or Bever, was a Benedictine monk 
 of Westminster Abbey, and flourished about the 
 beginning of the fourteenth century. He was a 
 man of quick parts, and of great diligence and 
 ingenuity ; and applied himself particularly to the
 
 CAPTAIN PHI LI 1' BEAVER. 3 
 
 study of the history and antiquities of England. 
 Amongst other things, he compiled a Clironidt 
 of British and Englis-h Ajfairs, from the fabled 
 arrival of Brute to his own time, which is now pre- 
 served among the Cottoiiian manuscripts, and has 
 been commended by Hearne, Leland, and Stowe. 
 He also wrote a book Dc Rebus Cvenobii West- 
 monasteritnsis, and the several transactions relating 
 to the abbey. 
 
 There was another of the same name, a monk of 
 St. Albans, who left behind him a collection of trea- 
 tises, which are now extant in the King's library. 
 
 Thomas Beaver, an eminent scholar and civilian, 
 was born at Mortimer, in Berkshire, in 1725, and 
 educated at All Souls College, Oxford, of which 
 he became a Fellow, and obtained the degree of 
 Doctor of Law. He published The Histori/ of the 
 Legal Polity of the Roman State, a work which 
 displays deep research, and an extensive fund of 
 learning. It is much to be lamented that he did 
 not live to complete his plan ; but, by his will, he 
 expressly forbade any part of his manuscripts to 
 be printed. Dr. Coote says, that he committed 
 the sequel of this work to the llames in his last 
 illness. 
 
 The Rev. Edward Beaver settled in Hamp- 
 shire, and supported a numerous family in the 
 greatest respectability. His seventh son, Herbert^ 
 
 B 2
 
 4 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the grand fuilier of our hero^ resided at Oxford, 
 wliere his wit and urbanity are still remembered 
 by a few surviving- members of his standing in 
 that university. 
 
 James, his eldest son, was educated at Wiu- 
 chester school, from whence he proceeded to 
 Oriel College, and afterwards held a benefice in 
 Devonshire, in the gift of that society. He mar- 
 ried, in January, 1760, Jane, the only child of the 
 Rev. Thomas Skeeler, fellow of All Souls, and 
 afterwards vicar of Lewknor, a man of sound piety 
 and erudition. Mr. and Mrs. Beaver resided on 
 the curacy of Lewknor, respected and beloved by 
 their parishioners, for seventeen years, where they 
 had eight children, two of whom died in their 
 infancy. Philip, their third son, was born in this 
 quiet dwelling, on the 28th of February, 1766, 
 and, with his brothers, received the early part of 
 his education at a i-espectable school in the neigh- 
 bouring- town of Watlhioton. 
 
 In the summer of 1777, Mr. Beaver was pre- 
 sented to the living of Monk-Silver, in the county 
 of Somerset ; but, alas ! when brighter prospects 
 were opening upon his large and increasing 
 family, he was suddenly snatched away in the 
 vigour of life, and in the very act of preparing to 
 remove to his new residence ! 
 
 In the complicated misery of her situation, Mrs.
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 5 
 
 Beiiver cxpeneiiccd the tenderest synn)athy, and 
 most active kiiidness_, from all who had the plea- 
 sure of knowino- her. The late General and Mrs. 
 Caillaud, of Aston^ in Oxfordshire^, immediately 
 proposed that one of her sons should be sent to 
 sea ; and^ at their request, Captain Joshua Rowley^ 
 who then commanded the Monarch, was induced 
 to undertake the charge. 
 
 Philip, being' now eleven years of ag-e, was, 
 from his ardent predilection for a maritime life, 
 selected u})on this occasion, and his delight was 
 expressed in the most rapturous manner, although 
 he had never seen the sea, nor scarcely a boat. 
 His character, however, already began to display 
 itself — for being sent alone to take leave of several 
 families in the neighbourhood, particularly of his 
 godflither, Philip Viscount Wenman, they were 
 all strongly impressed by indications of that intel- 
 ligence and spirit for which he was afterwards so 
 remarkal)le. 
 
 The time now approached when the visions of 
 youthful fancy were to be realized, and in October, 
 1777, young Beaver commenced his naval career. 
 We need scarcely dwell on the feelings which 
 are experienced on first embarking on so grand 
 an element as the ocean. The interior of a 
 ship presents society under a phasis equally novel 
 and surprising — every one punctiliously plying in
 
 6 THE LIFE OF 
 
 his own peculiar station, and scrupulously avoid- 
 ing- any encroachment on the duties of another. 
 Thus, though the power of the captain is supreme, 
 each subordinate rank has its special theatre of 
 action ; and while the deck-officer contemplates 
 the heavens^ the solemn day-mate seldom emerges 
 from his subaqueous realms. Fortune, who 
 reig-ns, more or less, in every profession, sways 
 the destinies of sailors with the utmost despotism : 
 yet to court this virago the bonds of social life 
 and domestic felicity are dissevered, and the ri- 
 gours of martial duty and the faithless elements 
 cheerfully encountered. In the navy there is a 
 greater community of interests than in any other 
 service ; and whether tossed on the billowy wave, 
 or lying motionless on the bosom of a glassy sea — 
 whether in the face of day, or the gloom of 
 night — the business of existence is carried on with 
 a regularity, cleanliness, and comfort, inexplicable 
 to those unacquainted with maritime life. Well 
 may our wonderful floating bulwarks be the pride 
 of their country, for they have ever essentially pro- 
 moted both her glory and her inde|)endence ; and 
 a man of war performing its evolutions must 
 inspire the finest feelings of patriotism of which a 
 Briton is capable. Thus, notwithstanding the 
 harassing fatigues incident to the profession, when 
 the noble machine is once under weigh — \
 
 CAPTAIN PIirLiP REAVER. 7 
 
 She walks the waters like a thin;^ of life, 
 
 And seems to dai"e the elements to strife. 
 
 Who would not brave the battle fire — the wreck — 
 
 To move the monarch of her peopled deck ? 
 
 At this period Great Britain was involved in 
 tlio unnatural war witli her Colonies in America, 
 and, by the misguided councils of France, at length 
 also with that haughty nation. Although there 
 was great diversity of opinion respecting the 
 means of obtaining, and the terms of securing 
 peace with America, yet but one sentiment pre- 
 vailed as to France, whose treacherous inter- 
 ference the public regarded with due indignation. 
 The menaces of our ancient and inveterate enemy, 
 however unlikely to be realized, occasioned 
 vigorous exertions ; — the militia was embodied, 
 camps were formed, and the country resounded 
 with the clamour of arms. 
 
 The high reputation of Admiral Keppel in- 
 dicated liim as most fit to assume the command of 
 the Grand Fleet, His appointment was frequently 
 mentioned in terms of high approbation by mem- 
 bers of both parties in parliament, and when the 
 hostile designs of France were indisputable, he 
 was entrusted with ample discretionary powers for 
 the defence of the kingdoms. 
 
 With twenty sail of the line, of which number 
 the Monarch was one, Admiral Keppel sailed from
 
 O THE LIFE OF 
 
 St. Helen's on the 13th of June^ 1778^ and on the 
 17th of that months two frigates^ the Licorne and 
 Belle Poiilo, were discovered reconnoitrhig- his 
 fleet. Althouoh war was not declared^ yet the 
 Admiral^ in virtue of his full powers, gave orders 
 to chase, and conduct them under his stern. The 
 former remained with the squadron during the 
 night, but in the morning, after attempting to sail 
 away, and treacherously firing a broadside into the 
 America, she struck her colours, and was captured. 
 The commander of the Belle Poule refused to 
 attend and speak to the British Admiral ; and, 
 after an obstinate eng-aofement, havinof disabled 
 the Arethusa, made his escape. 
 
 But as this was our young midshipman's first 
 cruize, I may be excused for quoting his own ac- 
 count of it, as a pleasing specimen of his acute- 
 ness of observation, within so short a time as nine 
 months from his first going on board. 
 
 And I may here also take occasion to observe, 
 that, in this Memoir, it is my design rigidly to 
 adhere to our officer's own descriptions, only pre- 
 mising, from collateral sources, such introductory 
 information as may render the narrative more 
 connected and distinct ; being fully sensible, that, 
 independent of the justice which is due to his 
 memory, his own words will best convey the per- 
 spicuity and energy of his sentiments to the reader.
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 9 
 
 '' The Admiral," he observes, ^' made the sional 
 for a general chase, and we soon found that we 
 drew ahead of the fleet, which g-ave us hioh hopes 
 of being" the first up. In the afternoon the 
 strangers parted, and steered different ways, but 
 the largest ship, which proved to be the Belle 
 Poule, and a fine schooner, continued their course. 
 The Milford then fired several shot at the other 
 frigate, to make her bear down, and soon after the 
 Hector proceeded with her towards the Admiral. 
 About sunset we saw the Arethusa and Alert 
 cutter within hail of the Belle Poule ; the former 
 sent a shot across her fore foot^ which was imme- 
 diately returned with a broadside, and both ships 
 proceeded desperately to close action, as did also 
 the Aleit and the schooner. We thereupon 
 altered our course to aid them, and shewed a 
 light at our jib-boom end as a signal, but before 
 we could come up the battle w^as over. At mid- 
 nioht we sent boats on board the Arethusa, which 
 was much crippled, and had nearly fifty men 
 killed and wounded : at the same time we found 
 the Alert, after a severe struoole, had mastered 
 the schooner, and now desired our assistance. 
 Having given all the help in our power, we took 
 the frigate's pilot on board, and stood after the 
 Belle Poule ; it being thick foggy weather, all the 
 boats ahead towing, and the ship close to the
 
 10 • THE LIFE OF 
 
 land. At daybreak it cleared off a little^ and we 
 saw our French friend in-shore of us, greatly cut 
 up, and marks of blood descending- from each 
 scupper hole. We were now joined by the 
 Valiant, and the boats gave way, with loud cheers, 
 till about seven, when the pilot thinking it 
 hazardous to stand in any nearer, and the enemy 
 beinof assisted by several small craft, we re- 
 luctantly hauled our wind." 
 
 Keppel, apprised by papers found on board 
 the Licorne, and other intelligence, that anchorage 
 was ordered in Brest harbour for thirty-two men 
 of war, and three times the number of frigates 
 and smaller vessels, retired into Portsmouth. 
 There was reason, however, to believe that the 
 papers were fabricated on purpose to deceive ; 
 nor did the Admiral escape censure for disgrac- 
 ing the grand fleet by a retreat without calling 
 a council of war. Some inveighed against the 
 ministry for extreme negligence, — others re- 
 proached the Admiral, and the public prints 
 even threatened him with the fate of Byng. 
 
 At this alarming crisis the exertions of the 
 Admiralty were equal to the magnitude of the 
 impending danger. Lord Sandwich himself has- 
 tened to Portsmouth, reinforced the Grand Fleet 
 with four ships of the line, and, on the Uth of 
 July, Admiral Keppel put to sea, and was speedily
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 11 
 
 joined by six others. The greater part of this 
 force was in good condition and well appointed^ 
 and thoug-h deficient in the ordinary proportion of 
 frigates^ the Admiral did not hesitate to sail in 
 pnrsuit of the enemy, who had already left Brest. 
 
 The hostile fleets gained sight of each other on 
 the 23rd of July^ off Ushant^ and Count d'Orvil- 
 liers manifested an inclination to engage ; but on 
 nearing our line, and perceiving it had been 
 reinforced, he altered his course, although he had 
 still a superiority of two men of war, and several 
 frigates. The weather was very squally, and as 
 the line could not be preserved without risk of the 
 French getting out of sight to the westward, the 
 signal flew for general chase. Four days were 
 consumed in manoeuvring, — the one seeking, the 
 other declining battle, which, as the Count was 
 to windward, was always at his option. 
 
 At length, on the 27th, after several evolutions, 
 the wind suddenly shifting brought the rival 
 armaments so near that a conflict became in- 
 evitable. The enemy, however, still determined 
 to avoid a close engagement, and bracing aliout 
 unexpectedly, crossed our fleet on the opposite 
 tack ; by which the Monarch and Shrewsbury, the 
 headmost ships of Vice- Admiral Harland's divi- 
 sion, received the fire of their whole line. The 
 reserved cannonade of the British made dreadful
 
 12 THE LIFE OF 
 
 execution ; but. the French having", in their usual 
 manner, directed their battery against the rio-ging-, 
 the divisions which were most exposed were ter- 
 ribly torn and disabled. The engagement lasted 
 nearly three hours ; at the end of which time^ the 
 fleets having passed each other, the firing ceased. 
 
 During the darkness of nighty the French_, 
 placing three frigates with lights to deceive the 
 English, made sail for their own coasts^, and were 
 by the next morning almost out of sight. Keppel, 
 finding pursuit to be vain^ returned to Plymouth 
 to refit;, while d'Orvilliers^ unmolested^ regained 
 the harbour of Brest, and abandoned his trade to 
 the depredations of British cruizers. 
 
 The bitter dissensions which followed, be- 
 tween two of the Admirals, are not the object of 
 the present pages ; but, it may be remarked, that 
 however indecisive this battle proved^ yoimg Philip 
 was in the very heat of the fighting which had 
 taken place ; — for, besides the havoc made in her 
 crewj the Monarch had her spars and rigging se- 
 riously injured^ and her hammock-nettings set on 
 fire by the enemy's wads. Such early service is 
 fortunate to the boy who encounters it; for a series 
 of hardships and shifts are absolutely necessary to 
 accustom naval men to rely on their own resources : 
 
 " Ne'er from the lap of luxury and case 
 Shall spring the hardy warrior of the seas —
 
 CAPTAIN I'lIlLIP BEAVER. 13 
 
 A toilsome youtli the mariner must form, 
 Nursed ou the wave, and cradled in the storm." 
 
 To the kindness of General Caillaud^ yonng 
 Beaver owed not only his introduction into the 
 navy but the most friendly reception on returning- 
 from his several cruizes. On one of these occa- 
 sions he met the venerable Admiral Forbes, whose 
 inteo'rity was inllexibly manifested in conscien- 
 tiously refusing- to sign the sentence upon Admiral 
 Byng. As the late engagement was the general 
 subject of attention, and the merits of the question 
 were discussed with all the violence and acrimony 
 of party, even the youth ilil midshipman was 
 closely examined by the aged veteran respecting- 
 it. Amongst other matters, he was asked his 
 personal opinion of the two recriminating flag- 
 officers, when, with that decided condemnation of 
 any backwardness in the performance of duty 
 which marked his maturer life, he warmly an- 
 swered, " theij both deserve to be -shot ! " 
 
 After an animated conversation. Admiral Forbes 
 declared that he had never heard a consistent ac- 
 count of the combat before, and remarked that 
 Beaver was an extraordinary and most promising- 
 boy. 
 
 On the 17th of December, 1778, Commodore 
 Rowley hoisted his broad pendant on board the 
 Sutl'olk, and took all the ollicers of the Mojuuch
 
 14 THE LIFE OF 
 
 with him. On the 25th, they weighed anchor, in 
 company with a numerous fleet, and soon after the 
 Russel man of war ran foul of the London India- 
 man with such violence, that the latter lost her 
 foremast, fired several guns of distress, and then 
 foundered I From Torbay, the Suffolk proceeded 
 across the Bay of Biscay, where the convoy sepa- 
 rated for their respective destinations, and Rowley 
 took charge of seven sail of the line to reinforce 
 Admiral Byron at St. Lucia. 
 
 The disaster just mentioned deeply affected 
 the feelings of young Beaver, who witnessed it ; 
 and it is recorded in a melancholy letter from 
 an officer, dated Spithead, January 1st, 1779, that 
 the Russel sailed from that port on Saturday, the 
 26th of December, with one of the finest fleets 
 ever seen ; '' but alas ! " adds the writer, '' we 
 met with our usual ill-luck. On Monday last, off 
 Berry-head, it blowing a fresh breeze from the 
 S.W., and under close-reefed topsails, being near 
 the London East Indiaman, and finding we could 
 not weather her, she on one tack and we on the 
 other, we bore away ; during which she clapped 
 her helm a-weather, and we ran right on board, 
 which stove in her bow ; in half an hour she sunk, 
 and the greater part of her crew perished , out of 
 160 only 50 were saved ! It was a dismal sight 
 to behold the men standing on the gunwale as she
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 15 
 
 went down ! What rendered the scene still more 
 melancholy, a man of war's boat, with several 
 hands, who very humanely, at the risk of their 
 own lives, had picked np ten or eleven of the 
 London's crew, and were endeavouring to save 
 more, got directly over the place where she went 
 down, the suction of which was so great that it 
 drew the boat under, and they all perished." 
 
 The West Indies had already become a very 
 important theatre of war, and Dominica was 
 wrested from us before any instructions were 
 received by Admiral Barrington. As a counter- 
 blow, the colony of St. Lucia was invaded ; but 
 we had scarcely obtained a footing, when a French 
 fleet, of more than double our numbers, unexpect- 
 edly hove in sight to rescue it. To all appear- 
 ance our armament was completely entrapped ; 
 but the celerity with which the surrendered 
 posts were occupied by General Grant, and the 
 resolute defence of the squadron against two furious 
 assaults of the powerful foe, baffled the attempt. 
 After repeated evolutions by land and sea, in all of 
 which he was foiled, D'Estaing sullenly relinquished 
 a contest from which he had augured both profit 
 and honour : and the whole island capitulated, 
 whilst he was yet in sight. Things were in this 
 state on the junction of the ship in which our 
 youngster served ; and it seemed to be his peculiar
 
 16 THE LIFE OF 
 
 fortune to have an early and fall initiation into 
 positive service, for the French having- also been 
 reinforced^ affairs assumed an active aspect. 
 
 During the spring of 1779^ D'Estaing made 
 frequent manifestations, by appearing in force off 
 Gros-islet bay ; but pertinaciously avoided an ac- 
 tion. He was apparently watching, with all the 
 caution of a Fabius, for a favourable moment of 
 stril<ing a decisive blow^ and submitted to insult 
 fi'om an equal force rather than depart from the 
 prudent policy which he had adopted. His mo- 
 tions, however, kept our officers and seamen con- 
 stantly on the alert, as a battle was daily expected, 
 • — and young Beaver's journals testify the number 
 of nights he was obliged to sleep at his quarters. 
 
 The month of June was employed in collecting 
 tlie trade of the various settlements to the o-eneral 
 rendezvous at St. Kitt's. While waitino- there, 
 our youth was despatched by Rowley, who had now 
 hoisted his flag, to the assistance of the Supply, 
 storeship, which was on fire; but all endeavours 
 to extinguish the flames being ineffectual, they cut 
 her cables and towed her out clear of the shipping, 
 when she blew up with a most awful crash. 
 
 As this was an extremely valuable fleet, the me- 
 ritorious but unfortunate Byron*, found it necessary 
 
 *■■ This Admiral's ill fortune was so provovbial as to occasion 
 the remarii that he had " nt'ccr once nial u-iOi a fair wind.'"
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 17 
 
 to escort them to a certain distance,, with the whole 
 of his strength. This was precisely the occasion for 
 which the French Commander had watched ; be- 
 cause^ had tlie Admiral sent an inferior force with 
 the convoy, he would easily have effected its 
 capture or destruction ; and, on the other hand, 
 it being- thus guarded^ there was nothing- to in- 
 terfere with his desig-ns agfainst such of our 
 Caribbean settlements as appeared to be most 
 defenceless. Accordingly the island of St. Vin- 
 cent was invested^ and being in a miserable state 
 of distraction, the governor yielded without re- 
 sistance. 
 
 D'Estaing, again reinforced by a division under 
 I^a Motte Piquet, commanded thirty-four ships of 
 war, twenty-six of which were of the line^ and a 
 number of transports sufficient for the conveyance 
 of 9000 soldiers. He proceeded to the attack of 
 Granada, which was defended only by 150 regu- 
 lars, and about 4000 militia, who, being princi- 
 pally Frenchmen, soon diminished the garrison, 
 by desertions, to less than three hundred. Lord 
 Macartney, the governor, considering this force 
 sufficient for the defence of some strong posts, 
 until succours could arrive, refused to capitulate. 
 D'Estaing, unwilling to sacrifice the time requisite 
 for regular approaches^ stormed the lines ; the 
 garrison defended themselves with skill and
 
 IS THE LIFE OF 
 
 bravery: once tliey rei)ulsed the assailants, but 
 being' obliged to yield to numbers, retired into the 
 fort, and had the mortification to see their own 
 cannon turned aoainst them. Lord Macartney 
 now proposed terms of capitulation^ which the 
 ungenerous victor rejected ; and proffered others, 
 so dishonourable, that the high-spirited governor 
 preferred a surrender at discretion, to the baseness 
 of subscribing them, and the French plundered 
 without scruple or restraint. 
 
 A principal reason for pressing with such rapi- 
 dity the reduction of Granada, was the intelligence 
 of Admiral Byron's return, which had been retarded 
 by winds and currents. He had formed, with 
 General Grant, a project for the recovery of St. 
 Vincent's ; but receiving, while at sea, information 
 that the French squadron before Granada was 
 reduced to nineteen sail, and that Lord Macartney 
 could maintain his position a fortnight, he changed 
 his first destination, and attempted to succour that 
 island. Having twenty-one ships of the line, he 
 arranged his signals for bringing on a general 
 action, and did not discover the fallacy of his in- 
 tellioence until several of his vessels were ensras'ed. 
 D'Estaing, notwithstanding his superiority of force, 
 and the great advantage which he derived from 
 the excellent condition of his fleet, avoided a close 
 and general conflict ; and, foiled in all attempts to
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVEH. 19 
 
 cut off the transports and intercept the disabled 
 vessels, retired in the night to Granada. 
 
 The British Admiral, conscious of his inferiority 
 in strength, despatched his transports and crippled 
 ships to St. Christo})her's, and calmly awaited 
 the morning's attack, which, judging- by his own 
 character, he deemed inevitable. The returning 
 dawn discovered to him the retreat of the enemy, 
 and seeing the white flag mounted on the forts of 
 Granada, he returned into port. 
 
 Mr. Beaver's account of the action is as follows : 
 — " July the ()th, at day-break, we observed 
 several French ships getting under weigh in St. 
 George's bay, and others confusedly beating on 
 and off" outside. Soon after, the signal for close 
 battle was thrown out, several of our dashers being 
 already at it, and the Vice-admiral blazing away 
 on both sides. We, having resigned the charge of 
 the transports, now bore down for the van ship, 
 and in i)assing, opened a warm, and seemingly 
 eflective fire on a large two-decker ; but as the 
 smoke cleared off, Admiral Rowley perceived, 
 that if he went to the leader, we should be ex- 
 posed to the broadsides of the whole French 
 weather division, and remain unsupported. On 
 this we wore again, but still continued hotly en- 
 gaged, until we had passed the rear of the enemy's 
 line. In this short encounter we opened a vigorous 
 
 2c
 
 20 THE LIFE OF 
 
 cannonade, and received a corresponding" return^ 
 having' nine fine fellows killed, and twenty-seven 
 wounded. \Miile we were dropping- into our sta- 
 tion. Admiral Barrington bravely ran in between 
 the poor old Lion and a huge French ship, which 
 was going- to demolish her, as she lay like a log' 
 on the water ; and he ga\ e her so terrible a dress- 
 ing, that she soon sheered off in dismay. At noon 
 the adversary was in tolerable order to leeward, 
 and consisted of twenty-six sail of the line, and 
 seven frigates, most of the former being fine large 
 seventy-fours, whose appearance made our vessels 
 l(jok rather small. The Moimiouth now attempted 
 to arrest the enemy's leaders, so as to bring 
 on a general action, but both that dashing ship 
 and the Prince of Wales were terribly mauled in 
 the endeavour. Several of our vessels, which 
 might have distinguished themselves and helped 
 the othei's, looked as fresh as if just out of a dock- 
 yard ; to say nothing of the Yarmouth." 
 
 This encounter was more remarkable for gal- 
 lantry than success ; and it has been observed, 
 that it had been discovered early in the day that 
 they were too late to relieve Granada. Byron, 
 no doubt, would never have adopted the dangerous 
 experiment of attacking the van of a superior fleet, 
 with a force so inadequate to ensure a general 
 action, but for the security of his transports : to
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 2l 
 
 effect this object, and yet engage so powerful a 
 foe, required all the skill and intrepidity which were 
 displayed. Our ships were so cut up and damaged 
 in spars and rigg-ing-, that, unable to restore the 
 injury quickly_, they made the best of their \Yiiy to 
 Basseterre roads ; and D'Estaing, learning their 
 weakness, paraded before them with similar bra- 
 vado to that with which he had been treated at 
 Martinique. 
 
 During- the interval that was occupied in re- 
 fitting- and procuring- naval stores, young Beaver 
 was diligently improving himself in navigation and 
 nautical astronomy, as there fortunately was a 
 master's mate on board, who had a considerable 
 ])roficiency in both of these sciences. The Suffolk 
 was not considered unhealthy, yet she lost several 
 of her best men ; and our youth was dangerously 
 attacked by fever, brought on by too much ex- 
 posure during his rambles on shore. He had 
 scarcely recovered from this illness, when he had 
 a narrow escape from drowning, by the upsetting 
 of a jolly-boat in a heavy surf; but nothing seems 
 to have affected his spirits, which, according to 
 the testimony of an old messmate, were, at this 
 period of his life, uncommonly buoyant. Yet 
 with his animation there was mingled an occasional 
 sedateness, and caustic spirit of observation, quite 
 remarkable at such an immature aoe — insomuch
 
 22 THE LIFE OF 
 
 that Admiral Rowley was heard to declare^ — *^If 
 that boy gets safely through the snares that snap 
 us up between fifteen and tive-and-twenty_, he will 
 turn out to be an admirable officer." 
 
 News of a Spanish war^ which was always a 
 spring of gladness to sailors, now arrived ; and a 
 cruize to windward of Barbadoes was undertaken 
 by Admiral Hyde Parker. This part of our 
 midshipman's journal is written in a querulous tone, 
 for it seems the Admiral did not allow chasing so 
 often as was requested ; and they finally returned 
 to port with eight or ten prizes only, which would 
 not have been deemed indifferent, but that they 
 had all been dreaming of galleons. 
 
 On the morning of the 18th of December, a sig- 
 nal was thrown out on Gros Islet, for seeing twenty 
 French merchant ships under convoy of four men 
 of war. The fleet, although they were refitting, 
 and consequently unprepared, instantly cut or 
 slipped^ and dashed out so promptly, that by noon 
 they were amongst them, between the Diamond 
 rock and the shore, where some ran on the beach, 
 and the rest made the best of their way for Port 
 Royal bay. " At this moment," says Beaver, 
 *' the batteries blazed away upon us, on which we 
 rattled our lower deckers in return, and then hoisted 
 out the boats to take possession of a fine armed 
 ship near us, and destroy those that were aground.
 
 CAPTAIN IMIILJP BEAVER. 23 
 
 Tlio Conqueror, in g"allantly pursnino- tlic enemy, 
 ran near the entrance of the harboin*^ and was 
 warmly attacked by the batteries and three line- 
 of-battle ships, which had sHpped to rescne their 
 convoy : we were much <»rieved to see her so 
 unequally engaged, without the power of render- 
 ing her any assistance. At six the firing ceased 
 on all sides, and our boats returned from securing 
 some of the ships and burning others, with only 
 one man wounded : we sent on board the Con- 
 (jueror, and learnt, that amongst the killed was her 
 Conmiander, Captain Grilliths, a man universally 
 beloved." 
 
 Rear-admiral Rowley was now despatched to 
 intercept a part of La Motte Piquet's squadron. 
 On the morning of the 22d of December, three 
 strangers were descried in the N.W., but it was 
 not till the evening that they were overtaken. 
 Our youth's journal says : — " At half-past five we 
 fired at a large frigate near us, and soon afterwards 
 she hoisted her colours, and returned the shot. 
 We left her to be settled by the Magnificent, and 
 stood towards the next, under every sail that would 
 draw ; but did not get near enough to fire till 
 midnight, when, having come up abreast, we 
 gave her a few random shot, which she impudently 
 answered with a broadside, and then struck. She 
 proved to be the Fortunee of 40 heavy guns,
 
 24 THE LIFE OF 
 
 and 250 men : she informed us that the Magnifi- 
 cent's prize was the Blanche, a frigate of the same 
 force. The vessel still a-head was the Alice of 28 
 ouns ; and the followino- morning she was also 
 captured." 
 
 On his arrival in port after this success, Admiral 
 Rowley shifted his flag to the Conqueror, taking 
 our young hero with him. It was not without sen- 
 sations of regret that Beaver quitted the Suffolk, for 
 there were many associations to endear her to him. 
 In this ship he had enjoyed the society of some 
 worthy messmates, and had made considerable 
 advance in professional knowledge, from the kind- 
 ness of the officers. Once, and once only, was he 
 under the ban of the first Lieutenant, and that 
 was merely for joining in a boyish frohc, to hustle 
 the master-at-arms in the cock-pit ; for which, 
 with his juvenile companions, he was sentenced to 
 additional watching. 
 
 Nothing- material occurred until the 24th of 
 March, 1780, when Count de Guichen insultingly 
 menaced Gros Islet bay ; but the excellent disposi- 
 tion of our line, though inferior by ten ships, 
 daunted him. "■ At day-break on the following 
 morning,'' says our youth, '^'^an English convoy 
 was signalized coming before the wind ; but the 
 strength of the lee current had prevented the 
 enemy's gaining much to windward during the
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 25 
 
 night, except two sail of the line. The Admiral 
 now called a council of war, to determine on wliat 
 measures to take, and every officer and man in the 
 fleet was very anxious till the decision was known. 
 Instantly all was life and bustle^ and by ten we 
 had all slipped to preserve the convoy^ excepting 
 the unlucky old Yarmouth, which had been damaged 
 by the Vigilant running foul of her. Immediately 
 on the appearance of our van, the French weather- 
 most ships, which were just on the point of snap- 
 l)ing up our countrymen, tacked away to join the 
 body of their fleet ; whereupon the merchantmen 
 stretched to the southward, while we, with flags of 
 defiance, remained in a regular line of battle off 
 the bold cliffs of the Islet, and in mid distance 
 between our convoy and the mortified Crapaud. 
 Having seen them all safely moored, we took up 
 the cables again that we had slipped." 
 
 De Guichen stood close in, ostentatiously pa- 
 rading before the anchorage until the 28th of 
 March, and had but just got into Port Royal bay, 
 when Sir George Rodney, who had been apprized, 
 by the Alert, of Parker's situation, arrived with five 
 sail of the line, to assume the command. This junc- 
 tion rendered the British fleet nearly equal to the 
 French fleet — but the skill and spirit of the valiant 
 Admiral gave a decided superiority. The Count 
 de Guichen had appeared off St. Lucia, but was
 
 26 THE LIFE OF 
 
 deterred from making an attack, by the judicious 
 disposition of the naval and mihtary force ; and 
 in return, Rodney braved him^ during two succes- 
 sive days, off Fort Royal^ Martinique, though 
 unable to draw him from his place of refuge. 
 
 Sir George Rodney having returned to St. Lucia, 
 de Guichen ventured out of port with twenty-three 
 sail of the line. The British Admiral instantly 
 pursued with twenty ships, and in two days brought 
 him to action, and compelled him to seek shelter 
 in Guadaloupe. 
 
 The eventis of the 17th of April must be related 
 from Mr. Beaver's journal. ^ — " Early this morning, 
 the Commander-in-chief signalized his intention to 
 bear down abreast, and attack the enemy's rear ; 
 but the French, perceiving our design, put about 
 in very beautiful style to evade it, and stood to 
 the northward. At forty minutes past ten we 
 wore in succession, to come upon the starboard 
 tack, and seeing that we could command a fight 
 put us on the high ropes, and made every thing 
 fly again. Soon after one, the van of our fleet 
 commenced action with that of the enemy, and at 
 the same time we bore down to en^-aore the third 
 ship of their line, with the Intrepid in our wake ; 
 we then hove the main-topsail to the mast, within 
 a cable's length of our oj)ponent, and peppered 
 away at her furiously, while their shot were whist-
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVEU. 27 
 
 ling- and vvliizziiig- in every direction. Monsieur 
 did not relish this^ and at three the rear gave way, 
 but we speedily stood after them, slappin^- ofl" our 
 starboard guns to spring their luff. As we edged 
 down to close, they gave way a second time under 
 a press of canvas, and left us to stopper and splice 
 in the best manner the time would admit of. Our 
 masts, yards, and rigging were much torn ; our hull 
 had been riddled by some heavy shot, besides the 
 hits between wind and water ; we had thirteen men 
 killed, and thirty-seven wounded. As to myself, I 
 have still my proper complement of legs and arms, 
 but I have twice to-day narrowly escaped a dive into 
 Davy's locker. The brave Admiral had been all 
 along vigorously dealing death on the French 
 flag-ship, and her seconds, whom he must have 
 taken, if all had done their duty, for some of our 
 ships took it easy enough — there was the Yar- 
 mouth cutting the same figure which marked her 
 off Granada." 
 
 The damages being rapidly repaired, several 
 ineffectual attempts were made to renew the action, 
 but the flying enemy dexterously evaded it, and, 
 after three days' successive chase, he was driven 
 into Guadaloupe. The various evolutions were so 
 admirably conducted on both sides, as to afford an 
 envialile field for young officers to gain a know- 
 ledge of naval tactics ; but the result was ex-
 
 28 THE LIFE OF 
 
 tremcly unsatisfactory to the g-allant Rodney. The 
 commander of the Yarmouth^ which ship so much 
 attracted the notice of our youngster^ was brought 
 to a court-martial ; and another captain,, inquiring* 
 of the Admiral why he had been mentioned in 
 terms of reprehension^ received a most impressive 
 answer : '^^ Could I have imagined," said the chiefs 
 *' that your conduct and your inattention to signals 
 had proceeded from anything but error in judg- 
 ment^ I had certainly superseded you ; but God 
 forbid I should do so for error in judgment only. 
 I merely resolved^ Sir, not to put it in your power 
 to mistake again, upon so important an occasion 
 as the leading a British fleet to regular battle." 
 
 Incessantly alive to duty, Rodney remained at 
 St. Lucia, only to land the sick and wounded, and 
 complete the water; and on the fourth morning 
 after quitting the anchorage, he once more gained 
 sight of De Guichen. The French for several days 
 held the weather-gage, and having clean-bottomed 
 ships, frequently ran down in line of battle, as if they 
 were going to fight ; but when within random shot, 
 tauntingly braced to the wind. This conduct both 
 irritated our odicers and harassed the men, as it 
 required them to be constantly at their quarters. 
 At length, on the 15th of May, by a masterly ma- 
 noeuvre on our side, the enemy were nearly brought 
 to a general action against their will. But
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEWER. 29 
 
 while the belligerents were rapidly closing each 
 other, the wind chopped at once from S.E. to E., 
 by which critical accident the van and centre of 
 the French line were enabled to escape. Admiral 
 Rowley was now leading the British fleets and Mr. 
 Beaver remarks, " At this change of wind, the 
 enemy being on our weather bow, we ran between 
 the Albion and Magnificent, and told the former to 
 lead through their line, under the stern of the 
 eighth ship from the rear. Two stout men of war 
 now opened their fire upon us, which made us 
 bear up, to return their salute more effectually, as 
 they approached; and at this moment, an arm- 
 chest which was struck, splintered so as to wound 
 several persons grievously. What business had 
 it there? The Albion and three others of our 
 division behaved nobly, especially the former, for 
 she sustained the battering of four heavy anta- 
 gonists before we could assist her. Our compli- 
 ments were this day mostly doubly shotted, which 
 made the red-sided ship we engaged flinch after 
 the third broadside; but her companion saved 
 her." 
 
 This event made the enemy less flippant in his 
 demonstrations. On the 19th, however, Uodney, 
 by a skilful stratagem, again placed him inider the 
 necessity of a partial engagement, to prevent the 
 sacrifice of his rear. Thus urged, the French ran
 
 30 THE LIFE OF 
 
 along the British hne under a heavy cannonade^ 
 and being' closely attacked, suffered very severely. 
 " At noon/' says Beaver, " the enemy's fleet be- 
 gan to tack and stand towards us, when we en- 
 gaged them at close quarters as they came up ; and 
 warm work it was on all sides^ the heat and smoke 
 being almost suffocating. The Albion and our- 
 selves had to stand a heavy brunt^ round and grape 
 flew like hail^ and amongst others, our brave cap- 
 tain was mortally wounded. Having soon after 
 passed the enemy's rear, we ceased firing, and 
 found we were so cut up, that we could scarcely 
 get the ship round ; whereupon we began to knot 
 and splice the rigging, and w^oold the masts. In 
 the evening, the Medway hailed us with Sir G. 
 Rodney's compliments^ to crowd more sail, but 
 Admiral Rowley replied, that we had been so 
 roughly handled, it was impossible." In conse- 
 quence of her damages, the Conqueror was obliged 
 to bear away from the fleet and run into port, where 
 the necessary refitment detained her from active 
 service. 
 
 Beaver therefore followed the flao- into the Ter- 
 iible, and the Princess Royal ; but in September, 
 as Admiral Rowley was to convoy the homeward 
 bound trade in the Grafton, it was considered most 
 eligible to leave him on so active a station. He was 
 consequently recommended to the notice of Sir Peter
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 31 
 
 Parker, who held the Jamaica command. Owing to 
 this arrang-ement, he was comparatively safe in Port 
 Royal harbour during- a furious hurricane which ra- 
 vaged the West Indies in the beginning- of Octo- 
 ber, and involved both land and sea in melancholy 
 calamity. Our licet met with ruinous disaster, for 
 besides nine line-of- battle ships and four frigates 
 dismasted, two sail of the line, five frigates, and 
 six sloops of war were totally lost, with an awful 
 sacrifice of human lives. At Jamaica it com- 
 menced in excessively hard squalls, with thunder, 
 lightning, and torrents of heavy rain ; its greatest 
 violence being on the west side, where it was ac- 
 companied by a smart earthquake. At Savanna 
 la Mer, a desolating wave overwhelmed the dis- 
 trict, and in its resurge, not only carried the town 
 and every living thing w itli it, but with horrible 
 celeiity turned its smiling fields into dreary wastes ; 
 and the devastation of that neighbourhood alone 
 was estimated at nearly a million sterling. 
 
 It now became necessary to repair the Princess 
 Royal ; and the heaving down of so large a ship 
 required all the exertions of the officers and crew. 
 In the mean time, the Admiral hoisted his flag in 
 any of the various vessels which happened to come 
 in. Beaver, with a humour which we may suppose 
 had then some point, remarks, on the 31st of Octo- 
 ber, — " This day Lady Parker shifted her flag 
 from the Lowestofi'e to the Ruby."
 
 32 THE LIFE OF 
 
 A relaxation of several inonths succeeded the 
 late toilsome operations ; and though the necessary 
 duties of a ship afforded but insufficient time for 
 study, yet the journals of our youth manifest pro- 
 gressive improvement and observation. This is the 
 more meritorious^ when it is considered how little 
 stimulus existed in the examples around him. A 
 man of war affords no academic retirement, nor do 
 other honours or rewards than internal satisfaction 
 await the naval tyro ; — he^ therefore^ whose mind is 
 cultivated, must be actuated purely by a love of 
 knowledge. Liable to every call of duty or dul- 
 ness, and remote from the light of day, — 
 
 " In canvass'd birth, profoundly deep in thought, 
 His busy mind with sines and tangents fraught, 
 The Mid rechnes ! — in calculation lost ! 
 His efforts still by some intruder cross' d." 
 
 Early in the spring of 1781_, the Princess Royal 
 sailed_, in order to conduct a large fleet of merchant 
 ships safe through the windward passage. When 
 off Cape Nicola^ the Suffolk_, Philip's favourite 
 ship, brought in a fine American brig, the Good 
 Intent, the charge of which was given to him, as 
 an efficient officer. Proud of this first command, 
 he parted from the fleet on the 2d of April in high 
 spirits, but the same evening found that, by the 
 drunkenness of one of the men, the vessel was on
 
 CAPTAI^^ PHILIP BEAVER. 33 
 
 fire ill the fore-peak; and all hands were half the 
 night in extinguishing it. Scarcely had the cha- 
 grin of this accident subsided^ before he had the 
 mortification to perceive that he was chased by one 
 of those privateers which hang on the heels of a 
 convoy, to catch up stragglers. Having but one 
 midshipman and seven hands with him^ and more- 
 over burthencd with several French prisoners^ he 
 tried every possible means of escape, but all proving 
 fruitless, he was obliged to haul down his colours 
 to the Molle^ of twelve guns^ and allow himself to 
 be carried into Port au Prince. As that relent- 
 less system of not exchanging prisoners, which be- 
 came the harshest feature of the late war, had not 
 then commenced, he was liberated on the 21st of 
 June, for a subaltern of the Port au Prince reg-i- 
 ment, under mutual permission to return to their 
 respective services. 
 
 We next find Mr. Beaver serving in the South- 
 ampton of thirty-two guns, on a cruize with the 
 Pomona oft' Cape Tiberoon. On the 3d of July, 
 they fell in with a French convoy, escorted by a line- 
 of-battle ship. The latter made an ineffectual at- 
 tempt, by towing, to close with our frigates ; but 
 could not prevent them from burning a ship of 
 force and a dogger, besides capturing a valuable 
 brig, at a little more than a mile inshore of him. 
 
 In the night of the 23d, the two frigates uncx- 
 
 D
 
 34 THE LIFE OF 
 
 pectedly found themselves near strangers, some of 
 whom, by the lights appearing through their ports, 
 were evidently two-deckers. On observing this, 
 they hauled their wind till day-break, when they 
 discovered fifteen sail, of which three were of the 
 line, and there were others in sight from the mast- 
 head. Without balancing consequences, it was 
 instantly resolved to endeavour to cut off a brig 
 ^^hich had dropped astern : but a fast-sailing cop- 
 pered line-of-battle ship stood after them under a 
 heavy press of canvass ; and by her appearance they 
 soon recognised the ship which they had insulted 
 twenty days before, off Cape Tiberoon. The pur- 
 suit lasted upwards of six hours, and had not the 
 enemy yawed, to try the distance of his guns, he 
 must have been successful : on firing, he hoisted 
 French colours, with a broad pendant; but per- 
 ceiving that he had dropped astern by his impru- 
 dence, he rehnquished the chase.. 
 
 The Southampton lost sight of her enemy soon 
 after mid-day, and at four her boats were assisting 
 some shipwrecked sailors, at the great Inague 
 island ; so that her services were scarcely inter- 
 rupted by her retreat. But our youth remarks that 
 the ship's company were discontented ; they thought 
 that, when the pursuer had separated from his 
 companions, the two frigates should have attacked 
 him, — " and," adds he, ^' I would have answered 
 for the result."
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 35 
 
 Four days after\vard.s_, having parted with the 
 Pomona, they perceived a large ship under jury 
 top-masts, making towards Nicolo Mole. Not- 
 withstanding her superiority, Captain Affleck de- 
 termined'on an attack ; and, although the weather 
 was very squally, ran close under the fort, where 
 they forced her to action. Mr. Beaver says^ " We 
 began at about a cable-length's distance, striving 
 to get nearer; but this the enemy endeavoured to 
 prevent by yawing. We soon after got upon his 
 starboard quarter^ within half pistol-shot distance, 
 and, by constantly trimming sails, continued there, 
 pouring in round and grape as hotly as possible 
 for upwards of an hour, eveiy thing working pro- 
 perly, and the men in high spirits ; but I am igno- 
 rant why we did not drop alongside her. In the heat 
 of the engagement, our fore-yard fell by the run^ 
 the slings being shot away. By this unlucky ac- 
 cident, we became exposed to a raking fire, with 
 scarcely any guns to bear : we therefore filled our 
 main-topsail and shot a-head to get out of the 
 scrape, when our fool of a foe, instead of trying to 
 lay us on board, clapped up his helm, sent a few 
 straggling shot at us, and bolted into port. Our 
 ship was so much riddled, that we had no com- 
 mand over her; and, on mustering the crew, we 
 found that Mr. Barton, the master, with five men, 
 >vere killed, and twenty-three severely wounded." 
 
 D 2
 
 36 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Having- fislied tlie spars, and repaired damages 
 as well as circumstances would permit, they stood 
 for Jamaica ; but on the 1st of August encountered 
 a furious hurricane. " At noon," says the Jour- 
 nal, ''hard gales, with a prodigious sea: employed 
 making every thing snug, but the wounded men 
 were very much tormented by the quick lurches 
 and deep pitching, and also from the crowded 
 state of the 'tw^een decks. At five, taken a-back 
 in a heavy squall from the eastward, and soon after 
 carried away the mizen-mast. Clewed up, and 
 handed the fore-topsail, but the main one split and 
 blew from the yard ; and, ere long, the foresail, 
 the only canvas we were carrying, was rent into 
 ribbands. Lay-to a hull, but finding the ship 
 labour very much in the trough of the sea, we got 
 the main sheet aft to steady her; this measure was 
 unfortunately followed by the loss of the main- 
 mast, which snap[)ed off Hush with the quarter- 
 deck, and, before we recovered, a tremendous gust 
 of wind canied away the foremast and bowsprit. 
 An attempt to describe the roaring of the wind and 
 sea at this moment would fail of giving ' Ye gen- 
 tlemen of England' any idea of its deafening vio- 
 lence; but, in spite of all, the wreck was cleared, 
 and the encumbered best bower anchor cut away. 
 While one party of hands was pum})ing, another 
 payed the stream cable overboard to ease the ship,
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP 15EAVEU. 37 
 
 by preventing her falling- round oil"; and a third 
 got a fore-staysail on the stump of the mizcn-niast, 
 Avhich, however^ was quickly torn to shreds. In 
 this precious mess^ about one in the morning, we 
 discerned land on the lee bow — to our surprise, 
 we found that we were in fifteen fathoms, and, 
 ^^hat was still worse, drivino- riiilit on shoi-e. With 
 some ditliculty, we let go the small bower, and 
 veered to half a cable, which brought us up ; but, 
 from the heavy gales, and confused sea, we were 
 in momentaiy expectation of parting, or bringing 
 home the anchor. At daylight the weather had 
 moderated a good deal, and we found we were 
 close to the beach, near Salt Pond Bluff. Made 
 signals of distress to the ships in Port Royal, and 
 commenced rigging jury masts. Threw overboard 
 the boats which had been rendered useless in the 
 late action, and committed to the deep two men 
 who died durino- this horrible niofht." 
 
 Thus terminated, in less than five weeks, our 
 hero's first cruize in the Southampton ; and the 
 damages she had received in that short space of 
 time, from winds, waves, and enemies, occasioned 
 her remaining in harbour for nearly seven months. 
 In this dull period, nothing occurred out of the 
 usual dock-yard routine, except our youth being 
 one of a large party sent from the squadron to 
 Kingston, on that town taking fire. The timely 
 
 463557
 
 38 THE LIFE OF 
 
 assistance thus afforded saved that beautiful place 
 from utter destruction ; for the mixture of the nef^ro 
 huts and warehouses^ among-st stately buildings, 
 was like a train for spreadinf^ the combustion. 
 Nothing could exceed the agility with which the 
 sailors tore down those houses which were in 
 llames, and removed the people and property from 
 the scene of danger. Young Beaver, with his 
 messmates, besides their general exertions, were 
 instrumental in saving an aged negro, who must 
 otherwise have miserably perished. The inhabi- 
 tants of all colours witnessed their exploits with 
 the highest admiration ; and a large present of 
 i-efreshments accompanied the hearty tars back to 
 their boats. 
 
 Having been completely refitted^ the Southamp- 
 ton sailed on the 18th of February, 1782, and 
 after taking two prizes, fell in with a French fleet 
 of eighteen sail. Escaping from them by dint of 
 sailing, she ran over to Port Royal, to communi- 
 cate the intelligence ; after which they continued 
 their cruize. But, on the 3d of April, the frigate^ 
 again disabled by a hurricane which almost threw 
 her on her beam ends, was obliged to bear up 
 without topmasts, the fore and main masts badly 
 sprung, and making upwards of four feet water an 
 hour. 
 
 While lying at their old berth alongside the
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP REAVER. 39 
 
 Conception hulk, Mr. Beaver had the high o ratifi- 
 cation of seeing- the victorious fleet of Rodney cu- 
 ter the port, with the prizes taken on the l'2tli of 
 April, in the battle with Count de Grasse ; and, 
 while he regretted that he had not been in the en- 
 gagement, he was warm in his congratulations to 
 the many friends and messmates who participated 
 in that glorious day- Shortly afterwards, having 
 now become a well-known olHcer, he was removed 
 from the frigate into the London of ninety guns. 
 In this ship, while cruizing off Cape Tiberoon, 
 during a dreadful storm of thunder and lightning, 
 they had a narrow escape, for at two in the morn- 
 ing of the '28th of June, the electric fluid struck the 
 foremast, and shivered it from the truck to the gun- 
 ner's store-room, with a terrible explosion close to 
 the fore magazine. 
 
 Desirous of more active duties than were affl)rded 
 in a three-decker, Mr. Beaver obtained his removal 
 into the Tobago, a sloop of war, commanded by 
 Captain G. Martin. On the 23d of October, he 
 was selected to navigate the Minerva, a prize, into 
 port. While lying there, he was attacked by so 
 danjrerous a fever, that the case beino- considered 
 hopeless, his death was actually inserted in a Ja- 
 maica Gazette, and this article having been copied 
 into a London paper, was seen by his eldest sister, 
 who had the fortitude to conceal her anxiety till con-
 
 40 THE LIFE OF 
 
 firmation of the sad event should arrive. Letters, 
 however, from hhnself, announcing his perfect re- 
 covery, soon afterwards reUeved her affectionate 
 sohcitude. 
 
 On the 2d of June, 1783^ Mr. Beaver was pre- 
 sented by his friend Admiral Rowley with an act- 
 ing- order to the Nemesis, though he did not pass 
 his examination till the 15th of the following Oc- 
 tober. The day after that ordeal, his patron com- 
 plimented him with an appointment to act as first 
 lieutenant of the same ship, which duty he per- 
 formed till she was paid off. 
 
 The return of peace almost closed the door of 
 promotion, and this aspiring young man might 
 have been overlooked, had not his merits already 
 made him an object of attention, not only with 
 those under whom he had served, but also with 
 those who had sailed in the same fleets. Thus, at 
 a period when he was rather anxious about the 
 success of his applications, while walking with his 
 sister in Kensington Gardens, they accidentally 
 met the Hon. Captain De Courcy, who, after pro- 
 fessing great satisfaction in seeing him, said, 
 " Lord Howe has been asking me a great many 
 questions about you ; — you will certainly be made." 
 
 This agreeable prediction was soon realized; 
 for, on the 2oth of May, 1784, our hero obtained 
 the desired commission, — a commission which was
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 41 
 
 jickiiowledoed to be well merited. But, as many 
 oflicerS;, with ostensibly better interest, failed at 
 that time in obtaining their rank, Lieutenant 
 Beaver became an object of envy, because^ for- 
 soothj bearing a high character from every officer 
 with whom he had served, he was justly rewarded. 
 This is what many of the most insignificant in the 
 service call " luck" — as if a youth of strong natural 
 parts, with obedient, diligent habits, was not likely 
 to make his way, in a service which, however 
 clogged by drones of interest, must always have a 
 demand for efficient oflicers. It is really marvel- 
 lous to observe how many embark, who merely 
 exist in apathy and uselessness, though surrounded, 
 by every inducement to exertion ; and, instead 
 of pursuing the zealous, straightforward course of 
 duty, which insures both honour and happiness, 
 use all the subtleties and refinements which they 
 can resort to, for evasion. Yet it may happen to 
 eighty officers out of an hunched not to witness 
 more service during a whole professional life, than 
 Mr. Beaver had already encountered in his novi- 
 ciate : — 
 
 " How easy 'tis, when destiny proves kind, 
 "Witli full spread sails to nm before the wind! 
 But those that 'gainst stitt' gales careerin-j; go, 
 Must be at once resolved, and skilful too." 
 
 Our Lieutenant leturned to Europe, with the
 
 42 . THE LIFE OF 
 
 skill of a ofood seaman, and soon after mounted the 
 first step of the ladder of promotion — but that was 
 all : endowed, however, with peculiar energy of 
 mind, and simplicity of character, he felt truly in- 
 different to riches. After the first happiness of 
 seeing' her son come home with good health, and 
 a creditable reputation, from the double dangers of 
 war and climate, Mrs. Beaver began to consider 
 that a London lodging afforded a dangerous scene 
 of life to an inexperienced youth of eighteen. He 
 also soon sighed for a change ; the absence of a 
 decided pursuit began to be felt by himself, and he 
 was wont to exclaim, that ^' he was never so happy 
 as when sure of meeting an enemy every day." In 
 this anxiety, unaware of higher studies, he fell into 
 an error arising from the general foible of imita- 
 tion, and, instead of being satisfied with gaining a 
 colloquial knowledge, thought he would endeavour 
 to acquire an idiomatic proficiency in the French 
 language. Mrs. Beaver, now obliged to assist her 
 son more than when in the West Indies, where his 
 prize-money had almost supported him, considered 
 a cheap country as very desirable, and they deter- 
 mined on going to Boulogne, — the Lieutenant 
 being probably influenced by some of his naval 
 associates, who had also made that selection. 
 
 Of this period of his life — that which he would, 
 perhaps, have looked back upon with the least
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 43 
 
 satisfaction — but little appears. In the ardour of 
 youth, without occupati(jn, or any restraint except 
 the gentle check of an indulg-ent mother, it is not 
 surprising if he fell into that dissipation which he 
 saw around him. But a sound mind saved him 
 from the enervating insignificance into which so 
 many young men, in similar circumstances, are 
 irretrievably betrayed. 
 
 In the year 1787, our hero made a visit to the 
 Rev. James Beaver, at Stoke, near Coventry ; and 
 having, as he contended, no actual duties to per- 
 form, he rose late, lounged away the mornings in 
 indolence, and appeared to be losing that energy 
 for which he had hitherto been remarkable. His 
 observant brother soon perceived the danger, and 
 took care, after suitable comments, to throw such 
 books in his way as were likely to arrest his at- 
 tention, and awaken a sense of his deficiencies. 
 The ingenuous mind of Philip was alive to the fra- 
 ternal admonition, and with the sensibility which 
 marks superior understanding, declared that for 
 the first time he felt the shame of conscious iir- 
 norance. His application now became vigorous 
 and constant, and the fact is worthy of record, as 
 illustrative of the axiom, that '' he who has lost one 
 part of life in idleness, need not throw away the 
 remainder in despair." 
 
 As the Lieutenant was strongly impressed with
 
 44 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the duties of active life^ he read to strengthen his 
 judgment, rather than amuse his fancy; studying 
 more to acquire useful knowledge, than to cultivate 
 taste. History, ethics, natural philosophy, and 
 jurisprudence engaged his attention, and the co- 
 pious extracts in his note-books display the assi- 
 duity, depth, and variety of his reading; but, with 
 the exception of Milton and Shakspeare, he did not 
 profess much regard for poets or writers of fiction. 
 This example may be useful to those self-sufficient 
 and precocious youths, who imagine they have 
 attained the summit of perfection; for Beaver, 
 amongst the many who sip rather than drink of the 
 stream, might have been esteemed clever and well- 
 informed before this period. Of his early classical 
 rudiments probably little remained; but good com- 
 mon sense, and the sound principles which had 
 been instilled, recalled him from puerile trifling to 
 studious habits, and his acquirements thencefor- 
 ward were commensurate with his industry. 
 
 The necessity of application cannot be too often 
 repeated to aspirants in the British navy ; — it is a 
 proud profession, and there is sufficient leisure for 
 attaining considerable knowledge. Instead of re- 
 maining satisfied with the indifference they may 
 too often witness around them, they should remem- 
 ber that, had not the greatest heroes excelled their 
 contemporaries in mental acquirements, they would
 
 CATTAIN PHILIP BKAVER. 45 
 
 never have g"ained supremacy ; and tliat Alexan- 
 der, in the plenitude of success, tlKjught himself 
 more indebted to Aristotle for a good education, 
 than to Philip for a powerful kingdom. That tlie 
 multitude prefer idleness to industry, is rather to be 
 lamented than wondered at, and the fact has given 
 an edge to satire from the earliest times: — Persius 
 stio-matizes the ii>norance of oilicers with this keen 
 stroke, — 
 
 But here some captain of tlie land or fleet, 
 Stout of his hands, but of a soldier's wit, 
 Cries, I have sense, to serve my turn, in store ; 
 And he's a rascal who pretends to more." 
 
 But busier scenes were now approaching : a fleet 
 was suddenly ordered to be equipped, and about the 
 middle of December, 1789, Mr. Beaver was ap- 
 pointed First Lieutenant of the Fortunee, a smart 
 sloop of sixteen guns, commanded by Captain 
 Westcott, who was afterwards killed in the g-lo- 
 rious battle of the Nile. The seizure of British 
 vessels by the Spaniards at Nootka Sound was the 
 avowed cause of this threatening attitude, which 
 proving effectual, the officers and men were mostly 
 paid off again by the month of November, 1790. 
 The Russian armament, as it was called, in the 
 following year, induced him to solicit employment ; 
 and by the express desire of Lord Hood, he was 
 immediately appointed to the Saturn, seventy-four.
 
 46 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Tliere, from April till September^ he carried on 
 the duties of the ship with a precision which g-ained 
 the friendship of Captain Linzee^ and confirmed the 
 character which he had already acquired^ of a zea- 
 lous and active officer. 
 
 Our Lieutenant seemed now to be on the high 
 road to preferment, for the attention of the nation 
 being- roused to the ambition of the crafty Cathe- 
 rine, appearances predicted strong exertions on 
 our part. A statesman, high in office, expressed 
 an intention of forwarding his views, but candidly 
 stated to Mrs. Beaver, that "^ though fully satisfied 
 of her son's professional merits, he could do 
 nothing unless a war was actually declared ; but, 
 in that event, his promotion was assured." The 
 smiling promises of the year, however, bore no 
 fruit ; the nation's energies were embarrassed by 
 the cabals of a faction, and the hopes of a deserving 
 officer were blighted by England being prevented 
 from asserting her proper dignity. 
 
 The conclusion of the sanguinary war between 
 the Russians and the Turks, with the chance of a 
 durable peace, threw Lieutenant Beaver, who was 
 strongly tinctured with a spirit of adventure, into 
 a channel of exertion which gave full develope- 
 ment to all his energies. But although this new 
 scene required no ordinary intrepidity, patience, 
 and presence of mind, it proved unfavourable to
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 47 
 
 advancement in his profession^ as it occasioned his 
 absence at the commencement of hostilities with 
 France, and left him far behind in the race of 
 promotion. The events of this important period 
 of his life, — a period fraug-ht with suffering-s almost 
 insurmountable, are very unaffectedly described 
 in his '* African Memoranda ;'' an interesting- book, 
 written in a plain and unpolished, but manly style, 
 every page of which bears internal evidence of 
 the strictest veracity. The dilliculties which op- 
 posed his success, shewed the courage that could 
 meet, and the zeal which strove to conquer them ; 
 and while we lament those obstacles, we are in 
 some measure consoled by the reflection, that they 
 have, at least, placed his fortitude and intrepidity 
 in a light which a more prosperous adventure 
 might not have revealed. 
 
 As the scene which here opens to us is of the 
 highest interest, and shews the variety and capa- 
 bilities of a vigorous mind, I shall endeavour to 
 render a faithful picture of the occurrences. For 
 this purpose I have not only followed the printed 
 accounts, but have also carefully examined the 
 Lieutenant's manuscripts, and various collateral 
 records, whence I have made such extracts as 
 will considerably illustrate the "Memoranda.'' 
 
 " I had a great wish," says Mr. Beaver, " to 
 be acquainted with both our Northern and Southern
 
 48 THE LIFE OF 
 
 wlialo fislieiics, and therefore intended to go out 
 as passenger in some ship employed in those 
 trades^ in order to make myself master of the 
 subject. The season was gone by for the former ; 
 I was therefore confined to the latter ; and went, 
 in consequence, to a house at Paid's Wharf, which 
 owned a great number of ships in the Southern 
 whale fishery. Enquiring for the gentleman of 
 the house, to whom I was totally unknown, ' Sir/ 
 said I, '^ I understand that you have several ves- 
 sels employed in the Southern fishery ?' ^ Yes, 
 Sir/ he replied. ' A young friend of mine,' 
 I continued, ' wishes very much to see your mode 
 of killing the fish, cutting them up, and melting 
 them down, as well as the manner of killing seals 
 and sea lions, on the Falkland islands ; where, if 
 your vessel should be absent about two seasons, 
 he will have no objection to remain one winter ; 
 and I am come from him to propose his going out 
 as a passenger in one of them : he will pay you 
 anything you choose to demand for his possessing 
 half the cabin ; and taking with him his books, 
 he will have nothing to do with the ship, where 
 he will never be in the way, but, being a bit of a 
 seaman himself, he may sometimes be of use.' — 
 ^ Sir,' he replied, we never take any such persons ; 
 I cannot, therefore, comply with your request ; he 
 must be a very odd young man^ Sir.' — •'^ Yes, Sir,' 
 said I J * he is an odd fish/ "
 
 (APTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 49 
 
 Tliis intention being- frustrated, he mentions the 
 various voyages of discovery ^vhic]l he had phnnied, 
 and the obstacles to each ; but^ whilst he was yet 
 undetermined on which to resolve, he became 
 acquainted with Mi'. H. Dalrymple. This gentle- 
 man, who had recently been disappointed of the 
 office of Governor of Sierra Leone, gave so cap- 
 tivating a description ofBnlama, an island near to 
 that settlement, that our hero, in his ardour, ex- 
 claimed, — "^ Let us colonize it ourselves!" — Mr. 
 Dalrymple answered, "With all my heart;" and 
 thus arose the subsequent association. '^ I deter- 
 mine," says Beaver in a note-book, ''^to give up 
 my whole time and attention for one year to the 
 success of the undertaking ;- and, however I may 
 be laughed at, or discredited in this money-making 
 world, no prospect of amassing lucre has any in- 
 fluence in my giving up the comforts I enjoy in 
 my own country, to join myself with an unknown 
 party, to cut down forests and plant sugar-canes in 
 Africa. Wealth, to be sure, has its advantages, 
 and if it should accrue, may render me more inde- 
 pendent in moral action ; but I can never hoard : 
 why didBacon forget his own adage, — *^that money, 
 like manure, is of no use, unless it be spread' ? '' 
 
 The views of the Society, in this undertaking, 
 were directed to cultivation ; it beinsr imao-ined 
 that the produce of the West Indies might be 
 
 E
 
 50 THE LIFE OF 
 
 readily raised at Bulama, by free natives, and thus 
 formino" a contrast to the vicious habits of the 
 slave-deahng- Europeans, contribute tovt^ards the 
 civilization of those regions. Though commerce 
 was considered only in a subordinate point of 
 view, when compared with their grand object, it 
 was conceived that a new and extensive channel 
 would be opened to trade, which would at the 
 same time be the means of introducing letters, 
 liberty, and, above all, a knowledge of the Chris- 
 tian religion amongst the sable sons of that vast 
 continent. By this scheme, happiness was promised 
 to thousands, — misei7 to none: the only fear was, 
 that as the paucity of their wants, and the natural 
 fertility of their soil, render Negroes averse to 
 labour, they could not be relied upon ; and it was 
 apprehended that white colonists would be very 
 unequal to the toil of field-work in that enervating 
 climate. '' I have nothing to do," says Beaver, 
 ''^ with the question, whether a state of uncultivated 
 nature, or of civilization, be most conducive to 
 happiness. The man who prefers being a brute, 
 to a rational creature, may put down the book." 
 
 Having been acquainted by Mr. Pitt, that Go- 
 vernment had no objection to the enterprize, the 
 number of subscribers increased rapidly ; though 
 the infant Colony was not viewed with friendly 
 eyes, either by the speculators of Sierra Leone, or
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP liEWKR. 51 
 
 tlie West India merchants. As might have been 
 expected, the whole of the adventurers were not 
 actuated by the same praiseworthy motives which 
 influenced our Cincinnatus, and many great errors 
 took place in the outset. "A plausible rascal," 
 says the note-book, " of the name of Bant, who 
 called himself a Quaker, but was really of no 
 religion, and had been successively of all, pos- 
 sessed an exquisite facility of imposing u})on 
 almost eveiybody. This fellow, havijig gained the 
 ear of Mr. Dalrymple, was recommended as a man 
 so valuable and useful, that, being too poor to sub- 
 scribe, five hundred acres of land were offered to 
 induce him to embark with us. This was not only 
 agreed to, but he was shortly after elected into a 
 Committee, and would probably have crept into 
 the Council, had I not proposed that no member 
 sitting there should hold any place of profit, — the 
 latter of which, from his endeavours to procure the 
 storekeeper's office, I knew he would prefer to the 
 former. Now this vaunted addition to our party 
 was so well known to many mercantile houses in 
 the City, that his very name operated like a pes- 
 tilence on some of our proceedings ; for it was 
 naturally enough supposed, that no honest people 
 could possibly be connected with so notorious a 
 character." Besides this man, many prolligate 
 and worthless wretches enrolled themselves as 
 
 E 2
 
 i>2 THE LIFE OF 
 
 subscribers ; and one, who died at Bulama^ was 
 found to have committed arson^ robbervj, forgery, 
 incest, and murder ! 
 
 It was not attempted to obtain a Charter, as its 
 progress through Parhament would have required 
 much time, and the season for making a passage 
 out, previous to the rains setting in, was fast ex- 
 piring. In the mean time, unaware of the illegality 
 of the proceeding, the subscribers had drawn up 
 and signed a form of government, by which they 
 swore to abide, until a formal one should be pro- 
 vided by the legislature of the country. In 
 consequence of this, an embargo was unexpectedly 
 laid on their ships at Gravesend ; a measure which 
 subjected them to a serious demurrage, and occa- 
 sioned considerable alarm. On explanation with 
 the Secretary of State, the luckless constitution 
 was cancelled ; but by thus losing a legal restraint 
 over an incongruous rabble of various professions 
 and trades, from the pohshed gentleman to the 
 finished villain, the success of the nndertakinsf 
 "was rendered very problematical. The hiring of 
 two large ships, and the purchase of a cutter, 
 with provisions, stores, arms, implements, and 
 other heavy expenses, however, had been incurred 
 and matters had gone too far to recede ; — the 
 vessels, therefore, proceeded to Portsmouth. On 
 the passage thither, as if an inauspicious destiny
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP HEAVER. 53 
 
 governed the adventure, they luid the inoilificatujii 
 to find that the small-pox had been introduced on 
 board by a woman, who^ to avoid the anguish of 
 separation from lier hus])and, had concealed the 
 circumstance of her child beino- infected with that 
 contagious distemper. 
 
 While waiting at the Motherbank for permission 
 to sail, one person had deserted^ four had been 
 discharged on request, and four others were turned 
 on shore for turbulent conduct. On the 1 1th of 
 April, 1792, they finally left England with two 
 hundred and seventy- five colonists, of whom few 
 were so fortunate as to return ; for, even of those 
 Avho afterwards abandoned the island, a larg-e 
 majority died on their way home_, or had contracted 
 incurable diseases. 
 
 The established Council consisted of thirteen 
 gentlemen. Mr. Dalrymi)lc being elected Gover- 
 nor, and Mr. Young the Lieutenant-governor, 
 eighty-three men_, thirty-three women, and thirty- 
 three children, were embarked on board the 
 Calypso, of two hundred and ninety-eight tons, 
 commanded by Lieutenant Hancorne ; — sixty-five 
 men, twenty-four women, and thirty-one children, 
 were on board the Hankey, of two hundred and 
 sixty-one tons, under the authority of Lieutenant 
 Beaver ; and five men and a boy were in the 
 Beggar's Benison, a Gravesend boat of thirty-
 
 54 THE LIFE OF 
 
 four tons^ in cliarge of Lieutenant Do])bin. Thus, 
 with a fiiir breeze, they stood out of the Channel, 
 a heterogeneous assemblage ; several of them 
 animated with the highest emotions of hope ; 
 others^ willing to barter life for profit, plunging 
 into what they considered a desperate undertaking; 
 and many, too prone to idleness to have any de- 
 fined object in view, — 
 
 " Hard sons of penury, abroad they roam, 
 To seek that competence they want at home." 
 
 After getting to sea^ the wind freshened, and 
 the motion becoming very disagreeable to those 
 unaccustomed to it, most of the landsmen_, and all 
 the women^ were sea-sick. As some of the latter 
 had infants at the breast^ and were without nou- 
 rishment from inability to move_, Mr. Beaver hu- 
 manely undertook to cook for them. " I had already 
 been employed/ 'says he, "^ since onr sailing, in func- 
 tions equally \ow, and therefore was in some degree 
 prepared for it ; but at times I was compensated 
 for the meanness of these employments^ by the 
 exercise of authority pertaining to more dignified 
 posts^ for I verily believe that there is not an office 
 or gradation of rank in the naval service, from the 
 admiral and commander-in-chief down to the Jack 
 of the bread- room, which I had not already exercised 
 in this ship. The fact is_, that to govern and main-
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 55 
 
 t'd'in order and regularity amongst a licentious rab- 
 ble, without any legal povver^ was an exceedingly 
 difficult task, and only to be accomplished by ex- 
 ample. I soon perceived that I must either give 
 up the point, which threatened ruin to the under- 
 taking, or accomplish it by the constant exercise of 
 unremitting exertions : the latter was most con- 
 genial to my mind, and therefore there was no 
 employment, however humble in the general opi- 
 nion of the world, which I hesitated to undertake; 
 but having once done this, I ordered whom I pleased 
 afterwards to perform the same duty." 
 
 Owing to an unaccountable inattention on board 
 the Calypso, the vessels parted company soon after 
 clearing the Channel, on which the Hankey, being 
 the worst sailer, stood for Santa Cruz, with all the 
 speed of which she was capable. On the 3d of 
 May they found that an easterly current had set 
 them four degrees to the eastward, by which they 
 made Fuertaventura instead of Teneriffe. 
 
 The wind continuing westerly, they determined 
 to anchor at the Grand Canaria, and there endea- 
 vour to procure fresh provisions; for though aware 
 of the treatment to be apprehended from the jea- 
 lousy of the Spaniards, the necessity of making an 
 effort to keep clear of the scurvy induced Mr. 
 Beaver to undertake the trial. With some dilliculty 
 he got through the surf in a small jolly hodt, and
 
 56 THE LIFE OF 
 
 on o'aining- the shore, was soon surrounded by a 
 crowd : yet he was unable to prevail on any one to 
 carry his request to the Governor; and he was 
 moreover warned by a priest against entering- the 
 town without leave. Urg-ency at last obliged him 
 to neo'lect this advice ; but he had no sooner entered 
 the g-ate of Palmas, than he was roughly seized by 
 a corporal's guard, and with his two men confined 
 in a tower on the beach. The disturbance occa- 
 sioned by this arrest brought out the Governor, who, 
 after some preliminaries, allowed pilots to go off to 
 biing the ship to an anchor; and promised a supply 
 of fresh provisions for the next day. On the fol- 
 lowing morning, the wind having become favour- 
 able, there was no longer any necessity for re- 
 maining at Canaria; Mr. Beaver, therefore, carried 
 back the pilots, but was obliged to exert the most 
 pertinacious firmness, during a warm altercation, 
 before he could obtain the desired refreshments. 
 This was partly owing to the imperfect notions 
 which they had of quarantine laws, and partly 
 to the little communication they have with Eu- 
 ropean ships. 
 
 The wind keeping fair, the Hankey anchored 
 at Teneriffe on the 7th, where they learned that the 
 Calypso had been there four days before them, but 
 being refused pratique, on account of the small- 
 pox, till the Governor's pleasure should be known^
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP RKAVEU. 57 
 
 luid sailed al)ni[)tly, without leaviiio- any intimation 
 of a second rendezvous. On the 8th, the Begg^ar's 
 Benison arrived, and three days afterwards a Li- 
 verpool brig-, the master of which, thinking* that 
 Buhinia must be the Bullam shore, near Sierra 
 Leone, cng-aged to be their pilot ; nor was the error 
 discovered till they arrived at Port Praya in St. 
 Jago, where the brig, having run upon a rock, was 
 disabled from pnjcceding. 
 
 '' This place," says the Lieutenant, " is readily 
 known by a wretched fort, on a small cliff, with 
 some date -trees in a valley to the west of it. I 
 say it may be thus known, but I should only know 
 it to avoid it, unless I was distressed for water. 
 The natives are black and deceitful ; the climate is 
 hot and unwholesome ; and the whole island is 
 parched and barren — beggarly and miserable. 
 Yet to those who delight in plantains, melons, 
 oranges, and guavas — and can play with parrots 
 and monkies, Port Praya may offer more charms 
 than it can to me." 
 
 After waiting in vain during several days for the 
 Calypso, they purchased as much live stock as they 
 could possibly stow, having hoisted out the long 
 boat, and rigged her for sailing, to gain room. 
 They entered the Bijuga channel on the 3d of 
 June, with two boats constantly a-head sounding; 
 and thus, on the 5th, they anchored \\ithin
 
 f^Q 
 
 OS THE LIFE OF 
 
 sig-ht of Biilama. Judging- it expedient to have a 
 better knowledo-e of the strait before venturing- far- 
 ther^ Mr. Beaver^ with the master of the Hankey, 
 went in the long" boat to explore it ; and^ perceiving 
 two vessels at anchor near a square-bastioned fort_, 
 at Bissao^ they rowed thither to procure a pilot. 
 There they heard of a ship, answering to the de- 
 scription of the Calypso^ having passed a few days 
 before; and the appearance of a second strange 
 sail in those unfrequented parts, excited a strong 
 suspicion in the minds of the Bissaons of their being 
 pirates. The Portuguese Governor, actuated by 
 this idea^ kept the whole party in close confinement 
 for the nighty determined to make the master pro- 
 duce his papers before he would grant a pilot. 
 Beaver argued very warmly against condescending 
 to this step, but to no avail, his costume of a sailor's 
 jacket and trowsers not appearing consistent with 
 his high tone ; he was therefore detained as a hos- 
 tage, until the required examination had, taken 
 place on the following day. 
 
 In the mean time the Calypso had joined com- 
 pany, after a melancholy event, which struck terror 
 into the hearts of the colonists ; and what rendered 
 matters worse was, that the calamity resulted en- 
 tirely from the contempt of method and discipline 
 which characterized tliat ship. Being in want of 
 fresh provisions, the Calypso sailed from Teneriffe
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 59 
 
 to GorcG;, a place well-known to be incapable of 
 supplying- any; but having procured a pilots tliey 
 mil through tlie Bijuga channel, and anchored at 
 Bulama on the 25th of May. The colonists were 
 allowed to go on shore without any kind of pre- 
 caution, strolling about night and day^ wherever 
 they chose ; some seeking crabs and muscles, others 
 taking oysters from the mangrove branches; while 
 many were inland botanizing, or hunting after 
 lizards ; and others chasing, " some butterflies, and 
 some elephants." On the 30th, a war canoe, contain- 
 ing twenty or thirty armed men, reconnoitred the 
 ship, but refused every advance towards friendly in- 
 tercourse. Even this act did not suffice to instil any 
 prudential measure, and consequently next morn- 
 ing- it was discovered that the natives in the nicht 
 had carried off all the tents which had been pitched 
 on shore. Although, as yet, the colonists had no 
 right to land, they immediately commenced erect- 
 ing what they ridiculously termed a block- house, 
 a mere hut, inclosed with inch plank; and in tiiis 
 place they deposited fire-arms, ammunition, and 
 utensils, without planting a single sentinel. 
 
 On Sunday the 3d of June, instead of being called 
 to prayers, and having that opportunity taken for 
 pointing out the diOicnltics of their situation, and 
 the necessity of order and industry, they were, as 
 usual, permitted to follow their individual fancies.
 
 60 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Thus many were wandering' over the island with 
 the most incautious confidence^ while a few were 
 sleeping- in the block-house^ and some of the wo- 
 men and children sitting- in its shade. In this 
 criminally unguarded state^ with all their guns 
 lying still dismounted in the hold of the ship^ they 
 were suddenly alarmed by the Bijugas firing a vol- 
 ley of musketry into the hut^ which rousing the 
 sleepers_, they rushed out, and were all shot. The 
 savages then entered, and seized sixty stand of 
 arms_, loaded and primed; and with these very 
 means sallied forth and accomplished their object. 
 Loaded with booty they retreated to the bushes, 
 having killed five men and one woman, desperately 
 wounded four men, and carried off four women and 
 three children ; whilst not one of their own party 
 received the slightest hurt. 
 
 " Among all who suffered on this occasion," 
 says Beaver, " the fate of Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner 
 was certainly the most cruel, and the most la- 
 mented. He had been wounded by a musket- 
 ball, and was endeavouring to reach the beach, 
 when he was intercepted by one of the party of the 
 islanders, who had been stationed for that pur- 
 pose. To go back was certain death ; to advance 
 towards the ship, it was necessary to pass this 
 man. Unarmed, and weakened by loss of bloody 
 Mr. Gardiner advanced, bowing as he approached ;
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BKAVEK. 61 
 
 but the savage, regardless of his humiliation, made 
 a stroke at liiin witii his \\ell-tem[)ercd cutlass, 
 which Mr, Gardiner attem})ting to parry with his 
 hand, it was severed from the arm at the wrist. 
 He passed on into the water, and was one of those 
 standing up to his chin in it, when the boats of the 
 Calypso arrived to carry them on board. He died 
 a few days afterwards. His wife, having witnessed 
 the fate of her husband, was a prisoner in the 
 hands of the savages; these, having rifled the 
 block-liouse, and stripped the dead, began their 
 retreat, with their prisoners and booty, across the 
 island. Mrs. Gardiner was unfortunately lame, 
 and unable to keep pace with their rapid march ; 
 they therefore shot her." 
 
 The irrational boldness of the colonists was now 
 converted into the most groundless fear ; no at- 
 tempt was made to recover either the dying or the 
 dead ; but getting under sail, they were standing 
 towards Bissao, where the Hankey and the cutter 
 were seen at anchor. The communication between 
 the two ships produced tiic worst consequences, 
 for not only did the discontent and irregularity of the 
 Calypso spread to her consort, but also a fever which 
 had been contracted by her crew. Bitter reproaches 
 against each other were heard in that unfortunate 
 ship; and, finding the comfortable order in which 
 the Hankey was kept, and that she had been care-
 
 62 THE LIFE OF 
 
 fully supplied with fresh provisions, they loudly 
 accused their members of the Council of neglect. 
 " They were tired with the length of the voyage, 
 irritated with sickness, the loss of their associates, 
 and the disappointment of their hopes ; and became 
 extremely dissatisfied with their situation." In- 
 deed, apprehension and despondency had already 
 become pretty general. 
 
 The first object after the junction of the ships 
 was the redemption of the captive women and 
 children ; which was kindly undertaken by Senor 
 De Sylva Cordoza, a merchant of Bissao, who sent 
 a boat with some of his grumetas, or native ser- 
 vants, to King Bellchore, a savage remarkable for 
 his exploits and his treachery, who resided at 
 Canabac, with the articles requisite for their ran- 
 som. On the 19tli, they returned with the pri- 
 soners, except a woman and child, who were 
 detained in the clutches of King Jalorem, on ano- 
 ther part of the island of Canabac. These females 
 had been toleral^ly treated by the natives, for which 
 they were indebted to the prejudice that makes 
 them regard European women with disgust : 
 '' their devil," says Beaver, " is white." 
 
 After having procured a plentiful supply of 
 water, provisions, and refreshments, the vessels 
 proceeded to Bulama. On the 26th, Lieutenant 
 Beaver proceeded, in the Beggar's Benison, to
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 63 
 
 Canabac, to eflect the purchase of the new settle- 
 ment; being- accompanied by Mr. Moore, master 
 of an American slave brig, who, from his influence 
 with the natives, was to manage the negotiation. 
 The town appeared to be about a mile in circuit, 
 and to contain six or seven luindrcd inhabitants, 
 all of whom crowded around our officer, with 
 vociferations of astonishment, — " as if a white 
 man was an animal they had heard of, but never 
 seen." The cutter was anchored before the houses ; 
 but not beino- above half the lenoth of one of the 
 negro war-canoes, the crew were obliged to keep 
 her swivels constantly loaded and primed, with a 
 vigilant watch to guard against surprise. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 27th, Jalorem's two 
 sons being sent on board as hostages, the treaty 
 was arranged, with the full participation of a nu- 
 merous circle of chiefs. King Bellchore, who 
 ruled the shores opposite to the island, having 
 already experienced the sweetsoftreating with the 
 English, made a long oration on the subject, which 
 met with unanimous applause. The articles tliat 
 were oiTered consisted of muskets, powder, brandy, 
 tobacco, knives, cloth, hats, beads, cutlasses, and 
 iron bars, to the value of about 80/. sterling, and 
 -50/. were given to Moore for his agency. A deed 
 of cession had been prepared, to which the two 
 kings affixed their marks ; a British union jack was
 
 64 THE LIFE OV 
 
 then given them^ without which no canoe was ever 
 to come to Bulama, and the wliole affair was con- 
 chided witli mutual satisfaction. 
 
 During this mission^ our Lieutenant's first care 
 had been to inquire after the wretched woman and 
 child^ who were still unredeemed in the hands of 
 the Bijugas, as the natives of all these islands are 
 called. The affecting scene which followed is 
 best given in his own words. 
 
 " We entered a house, composed of three 
 concentric circles^ with six doors through one of 
 its diameters; in the inner circle lay the poor 
 woman ; but it was so dark, that we could not see, 
 and she knew not of our arrival. 
 
 " The natives^ however^ lighted many little par- 
 cels of long straws, which they held upright in 
 their hands^ and when burnt down nearly to their 
 fingers^ others stood by^ with fresh ones to replace 
 them, so that we had abundance of light. 
 
 ^' On a wicker frame, supported by half a dozen 
 posts, about a foot from the ground^ and covered 
 with long grass^ lay Mrs. Harley and her infemt 
 child. When the liii^ht enabled her to discover 
 that there was a white man in tlie room, she stared 
 upon me with such a look of hope_, of doubt_, of 
 fear^ and of madness, as I shall never forget, but 
 which I cannot describe. 
 
 *' ' Mrs. Harley/ said I, ' I am come to put an
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 05 
 
 end to your sufferings, and to carry you back to 
 your husband, wlioin I left well tlic day before 
 yesterday.' 
 
 '*^' Who are you. Sir? IIow came you here? 
 Do I dream? Are you a prisoner?' — ' No, I am 
 come here to redeem you and your child, to take 
 you back to your family ; and to purchase of tiie 
 King- the island of Biilama.' — ' Will they let you 
 go back? They won't let you go back ; they will 
 keep you here.' — ' No danger of that,' I replied; 
 ' we are now on friendly terms, and I trust shall 
 hereafter live in peace and friendship.' 
 
 " A little more conversation passed ; when I 
 said, that I had not yet seen the King; that I 
 must go to him, and enter on the business about 
 which I had come ; and that I would then return 
 to hei", and settle at what time I should take her 
 on board. She instantly seized my hand, and 
 said, ' W^ill you go away and leave me, then?' — 
 ' No,' said I, ' you shall see me again in an hour.' 
 — ' I never shall see you again ; you will go away 
 and leave me; I won't part from you.' — *^ He 
 calm, Mrs. Harley, and compose yourself; de[)end 
 upon my word, that the moment I have fmished 
 my business with the King, I will return to you.' — 
 ^ No, never, never; if you go away, 1 never 
 shall see you again ; you will desert me ; I see 
 
 F
 
 6Q THE LIFE OF 
 
 that you mean to forsake me^ and I shall be left to 
 die amongst these murderous savages.' 
 
 ^* ' By the God that made me (I hope the ex- 
 pression may be forgiven) I ^vill not quit the island 
 ^vithout you.' — ' But suppose they will not give 
 me up V — ^ Then T will stay here^ and die with 
 you.' She believed me^ and was appeased; and 
 I proceeded to the King." 
 
 When the treaty was transacted^ Mr. Beaver has- 
 tened back to the unfortunate woman, who was in 
 the last stage of pregnancy ; but as neither she nor 
 her daughter had ever had their clothes off, nor been 
 removed from the hurdle since their arrival^ they 
 were in an inconceivable state of filth and disease ; 
 while vermin had absolutely eaten holes into their 
 flesh. From their debility^, and the loathing of 
 the natives, their removal became a matter of no 
 small difficulty ; nor^ indeed, did it prove of any 
 further avail, than to cheer their last distressino- 
 moments^ for both mother and child died on board 
 the cutter^ a few hours afterwards,, and their bodies 
 were committed to the deep. 
 
 Returning- to the ships on the 2d of July^ Mr. 
 Beaver was deeply mortified to find^ that not only 
 his advice of surveying the channel and coasts^ 
 during his absence, had been neglected, but that 
 not one step had been taken towards preparing
 
 CAPTAIN I'lIlLIP BEAVER. 67 
 
 habitations; for, in their improvident arrang-c- 
 ments, the council had declined takino- them out 
 in frame. " Accustomed as I had been/' he re- 
 marks, ^' to the weakness^ folly, and absurdity of 
 the measures hitherto pursued by the directors of 
 this enterprise^ yet I was astonished, I must con- 
 fess, at no intention being shown, or even thought 
 of^ to avail ourselves of the right which we had 
 now acquired ; and which had been so imprudently, 
 and so eagerly seized, when we had it not. Not a 
 word was uttered^ nor the least idea discovered 
 of landing and commencing our labours ; and the 
 council and colonists separated^ as if the written 
 document itself was to create them a town. I, 
 however, took a party of twelve men from the 
 Hankey, landed, and worked till sunset." 
 
 This active measure excited a warm contention 
 on board, as the boat rowed off. Those who 
 really had embarked zealously in the undertaking, 
 called upon the timid and the lukewarm to follow 
 the example; but the majority of the council — 
 the very founders of the Association, being partly 
 dissatisfied, and partly terrified, treated the matter 
 with a chilling coldness. 
 
 On returning to the Hankey, Mr. Beaver pro- 
 posed that the rest of the colonists should be sent 
 on shore to work, under regular inspection; but, 
 after various excuses for evading active measures, 
 
 I- -'
 
 68 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the Council mot to discuss " where the ships 
 should be moored during' the rains?" This appear- 
 ing but a prelude to the abandonment of the enter- 
 prise_, our officer submitted^ — ^' It is the opinion 
 of the Council, that the present situation is the 
 most proper place to moor the ships in ;" in favour 
 of which judgment there were four; and ag-ainst 
 it, nine. It was then resolved, '' Seeing- that the 
 rainy season has already commenced, and it ap- 
 pearing-, from the information of Captain Moore, 
 as well as from every information we can collect, 
 that we cannot land, because of the rains and foos, 
 at least for four months ; and that, with every 
 precaution, there will probably be a considerable 
 mortality among- the settlers during- that time ; 
 and, cf)nsidering- withal, that a great proportion of 
 the adventurers in each ship is solicitous to re- 
 turn to Europe, it is the opinion of the council 
 that the two ships and the sloop should be removed 
 to Sierra Leone to water, and then the expediency 
 of proceeding to England, or of returning hither 
 after the rains, shall be taken into consideration." 
 Subsequent to the junction of the Calypso, Mr. 
 Beaver, on finding so many discontented people in 
 her, had already moved in the council, that those 
 who chose should return to England in her; but, 
 against such a pusillanimous determination, he 
 entered an immediate protest. Indeed, in his
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP nEA\TR. 69 
 
 ludionation at seeing a project about to be relin- 
 quished, without an effort at success, he declared 
 he would remain on the island with his servant, 
 even if every body else should leave it. This re- 
 solution becoming known, numbers of the settlers 
 volunteered to share his fortunes; and it was 
 finally agreed that the liankey and Beggar's 
 Benison should remain at Bulama. Our conside- 
 rate colonist now endeavoured to persuade the 
 married volunteers to return home, or at least send 
 away their wives ; but they, animated by the pro- 
 spect of an active leader, persisted in remaining 
 with their families. Thus, from the mutual dis- 
 content between the feeble directors and the dis- 
 gusted colonists, the enterprise was virtually de- 
 serted; and, if the resolute intrepidity of Mr. 
 Beaver had not intervened, would have been 
 abandoned altosfcther. 
 
 '^ Vi'hat, in the name of common sense," he 
 indignantly exclaims, " did we come here for? 
 Did we not know that the rains would commence 
 when they did, before we left England? That the 
 labourers and servants should instantly acquiesce 
 in the measure of abandoning the island does not 
 surprise me ; for most of them had no other motive 
 in coming hither than to avoid didiculties in their 
 own country, but they found them also here. To 
 avoid, and not to encounter diilicuUies, is their
 
 70 THE LIFE OF 
 
 object; and^ therefore, the same motives which 
 induced them to undertake, will also induce them 
 to abandon the enterprise. But what shall we say 
 for the council? for those who conducted the 
 undertaking, in thus giving- it up^ without even 
 making an attempt for its success! Of all the 
 individuals of which the colony was composed, I 
 believe that I was the only one who had deter- 
 mined to return to Europe, after the first rains ; 
 or, at least, who had publicly avowed such an 
 intention, before leaving England. But I cannot 
 sneak back in this shameful manner." 
 
 The island of Bulama is situate at the east end 
 of the Bijuga archipelago, and was estimated to be 
 about seven leagues in length, by from two to five 
 in breadth ; Hespereleusis, as the settlement on it 
 was named, lying in latitude 11° 34' north, and 
 longitude 15° 30' west. It rises gradually from 
 the shore towards the centre, where the height is 
 nearly a hundred feet ; and it is generally covered 
 with wood, though there are some natural savan- 
 nahs, and a few clear spaces, affording ample 
 pasturage to irmumerable elephants, deer, buffa- 
 loes, and other wild animals. The soil is rich 
 and fertile, producing a vegetation so luxuriant, 
 that in their garden various vegetables, sufficient 
 for half a dozen such colonies as their own, were 
 speedily produced. From this abundance, and
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER 71 
 
 its geographical position, it was inferred that Bu- 
 lania was well calculated for the growth of cotton, 
 indigo, tobacco, cotfec, and sug'ar of the finest 
 qualities. In his short and harassed residence, 
 though surrounded by treachery and danger, and 
 amidst severe mental and bodily trials, Mr. Jieaver 
 contrived to clear fifty acres of wood land, and to 
 enclose sixteen of them. This exertion, together 
 with the toil of keeping his account-books and 
 journals, building a block-house, and all the 
 necessary duties of governing his motley group, 
 are the most satisfactory criterion of the activity 
 which he displayed. Indeed he appears to have 
 been obliged to practise a little of everything, 
 being alternately carpenter, engineer, sexton^ rec- 
 tor, magistrate, and physician. • 
 The Calypso sailed on the 19th of July, and had 
 no sooner taken her departure, than the committee 
 met, and unanimously voted Mr. Beaver their 
 President, and Lieutenant Hancorne his Deputy. 
 Regulations for the health, safety, discipline, and 
 religions worship of the Establishment, which now 
 consisted of fifty-three men, thirteen women^ and 
 twenty-five children, were proposed and adopted ; 
 and a spirit of industry immediately manifested 
 itself, which formed a striking contrast to their 
 late inactivity. The cutter was despatched to 
 Bissao to negotiate a regular supply of fresh pro-
 
 72 THE LIFE OF 
 
 visions : one party was building a roof over the 
 ship aoainst the rains, and another was cutting 
 down timber ; while those who were not artisans 
 endeavoured to explore the country. The ^^fell 
 Serjeant/' however, soon commenced his havoc^ 
 for in two days after the Calypso had left them, 
 one of the women, and the newly-elected vice- 
 president expired. 
 
 On the 23rd of July, a schooner arrived, com- 
 manded by Mr. Bootle, an intelligent mulatto, 
 from whom Mr. Beaver found that the Biafaras, 
 an inoffensive nation on the main land, had a 
 better claim to Bulama than the Bijugas, who had 
 sold it to him. It was, therefore, immediately re- 
 solved, as an act of strict justice and prudence, 
 to satisfy any demand which they might make; 
 and being also desirous of purchasing a portion 
 of the opposite coast, our President requested 
 Bootle's assistance, offering him a recompense of 
 one hundred bars, a species of barter equal to 
 about fifteen pounds sterling. The mulatto hand- 
 somely declined the proffered reward, though 
 ready to be of all the service in his power ; and 
 through the whole business he displayed such 
 frank integrity, that it excites the deepest sympathy 
 to find he was shortly afterwards cut off by the 
 Manjacks, and murdered, together with his crew. 
 
 The instant the Beggar's Benison returned from
 
 CAPTAIN' PHILIP BEAVER. 73 
 
 Bissao^ Mr. Beaver sailed for the Rio Grande, 
 with the requisite assortment of goods for effecting- 
 the desired purchases. In about fi\e hours he 
 reached Ghinala, a district of the Biafara couritry, 
 situated thirty miles up a most beautiful river 
 with sufficient depth of water for the largest ships. 
 Matchore and Niobana, the two kings, whose 
 towns were about a quarter of a mile asunder, 
 received him in a most friendly manner, and then 
 went on board the cutter to arranoe the bar^-ain ; 
 but repeated drams so overpowered their majesties, 
 that the palaver was adjourned to the next day. 
 On the 2d of August, Matchore embarked to select 
 the goods which were to constitute the price of the 
 land ; Niobana, being ill, sent '^ his head woman 
 with his cane to represent himself." This tedious 
 choosing continued eight hoJirs, without coming' to 
 a conclusion, and mioht have lasted as lono" on 
 the following day, had they not luckily been cap- 
 sized in going on board, which occasioned them to 
 make up their minds a little sooner, amidst the 
 dazzling temptations, as they were very cold, from 
 what little clothes they wore being wet. The 
 price of Bulama, a much greater extent on the 
 opposite shore, and all the adjacent isles, amounted 
 to twenty-six pounds. 
 
 " Saturday, 4th. Early this morning I went 
 up to Niobaiia's town, to get him to sign the con-
 
 ?4 THE LIFE OF 
 
 veyance of the land which I had yesterday pur- 
 chased, and which Matchore had signed on board 
 the cutter. He did so ; and immediately after- 
 wards taking- hold of both my hands, and lifting 
 them up near to his lips (I supposed with an inten- 
 tion of kissing) he spat into them, saying, ' that 
 now Bulama and the other lands which I had been 
 treating for were mine ; that his town, even where 
 I stood, Ijelonged to me ; and that now we were 
 brothers.' To be called the brother of Niobana I 
 had no objection, but would willingly have dis- 
 pensed with the ceremony by which I was made 
 so." 
 
 Returning to Bulama on the following day, the 
 President found that young Hancorne had in the 
 interim died, and that the sick list had increased 
 to twenty-two ; in consequence of which he sent 
 the cutter to Sierra Leone for the assistant surtreon, 
 who had been allowed to go thither in the Calypso, 
 to attend the patients. Four of the colonists took 
 this opportunity of requesting leave to go home ; 
 which, from Mr. Beaver's resolution to detain no 
 one, was instantly granted. Notwithstanding the 
 incessant rains, he proceeded to Bissao in the 
 cutter, whence she was despatched to her destina- 
 tion, while he remained to arrange, with Mr. de 
 Sylva, for a regular supply of refreshments. Dur- 
 ing this time he fell extremely ill ; yet, notwith-
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 75 
 
 staiidiiio- his weakness, he returned to the settle- 
 ment the moment he had concluded his business. 
 Two of the colonists had expired in his absence, to 
 one of whom, Mr. Marston, the surveyor, he pays 
 a high tribute of praise, as a truly good and 
 valuable man, of noble mind and great acquire- 
 ments ; but who had been reduced in circumstances 
 by the American Revolution. 
 
 The exposure and fatigue which Mr. Beaver 
 underwent could not but retard his recovery. His 
 disorder, though he appeared to be convalescent, 
 shortly afterwards grew rapidly worse, and about 
 the middle of August he was so reduced, that his 
 life was despaired of: his feelings, and those of 
 the settlers, are thus described in the Journal. — 
 " I am aware that I shall be accused of consum- 
 mate vanity for what I am now about to write : 
 be it so — for I allow that even to the last moment 
 of my recollection, when I absolutely thought that 
 I was no longer for this world ; when I was actually 
 deprived of my speech, but not of my senses, I 
 felt great consolation in what 1 heard every one 
 say of me ; for as no one conceived that I was 
 sensible, or could possibly live an hour longer, 
 they probably spoke only their real sentiments. 
 
 " The people had crowded about the cabin-door 
 all day, inquiring after my health, and shewed 
 great anxiety for my recovery. As the front of
 
 76 THE LIFE OF 
 
 my cabin, from one side of the sliip to the other, 
 was one continued window, I could hear everything- 
 that was said, but could not be seen, on account 
 of a canvas screen round that part where my cot 
 hung. Reader ! if this should ever be seen by other 
 eyes than my own, call me vain if you please, for 
 I do assure you that I was exceedingly so, when I 
 heard every individual speaking only my praise ; 
 the breath of slander itself could not accuse me of 1 
 any one thing which I wished not the world to 
 know : every one said, that I had killed myself 
 by my exertions for their good; that labouring 
 and exposing myself, so much as I had done, no 
 constitution could stand ; that now they must go 
 home ; for, as they had lost me, there was no one 
 left who could take care of them. 
 
 *' Between seven and eight in the evening I 
 could no longer articulate ; but was seized with 
 a rattling in my throat, which I conceived to be 
 a symptom of my no very distant dissolution. I 
 was still sensible ; and, indeed, for an hour after 
 the rattling had first seized me. It was now that 
 I heard every one say that it was all over, and 
 that Captain Cox, sitting by the sky-light almost 
 immediately over me, said that to-morrow he 
 should have orders to get ready to sail for England. 
 This, now that I am better, Mi-. Miniden and Mr. 
 Aberdeen, the only two members of the committee,
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 77 
 
 have confirmed ; as they had made \\[) their minds 
 to i»ive such orders llie moment I was dead : lor 
 iieitlier of them would take charge of the colony ; 
 and indeed if they would, nobody would ha\e staid 
 when 1 was gone, 
 
 '^ I can with truth aver^ that if in these mo- 
 ments I had tlic least wish to live^ it was to pre- 
 serve this colony. Deatli, if thou never comcst in 
 greater terrois^ I shall never be afraid to meet 
 thee ; for the happiest moments of my existence 
 were those when I expected to cease to be. May 
 my future life be such, as to enable me always to 
 meet thee thus !" 
 
 The life of our oHicer was^ hov/ever^ providen- 
 tially spared for greater exertions ; and in a few 
 days he was again at work, tracing out the lines 
 for an intended block-house, on the summit of the 
 hill. Finding that the maxim, of individual welfare 
 being necessarily dependant on the general, was 
 not understood, Mr. Beaver determined on em- 
 ploying all the labourers in erecting a range of 
 buildings within a square inclosurc^ which should 
 answer the double purpose of defence and dwell- 
 ing ; thereby checking the interested disposition 
 which some of them evinced^ for erecting edifices 
 according to their own ideas of comfort and situa- 
 tion. The houses were afterwards to be drawn 
 for by lot^ with the only exception, that the most
 
 78 THE I4FE OF 
 
 industrious should have theirs covered the first. 
 Several of tlie subscribers were dissatisfied that he 
 would not give them a little spot for a garden ; but 
 as he conceived that their whole labour would be 
 devoted to it^ he thought the interests of the com- 
 munity rather required a public one. 
 
 These disagreeable contentions occasioned him 
 great uneasiness, as some of the members became 
 extremely unruly ; and he felt it necessary, for 
 the safety of the whole, to act with firmness and 
 vigour. He was determined, with so weak a 
 party, to work entirely on the public account, 
 although he felt, could circumstances have per- 
 mitted, that each labourer would have rendered 
 infinitely more on his own allotted ground, than 
 when cultivating in common. One of the settlers, 
 irritated at being obliged to dig at the block-house, 
 said, ^' that he would live in a hut by himself, for 
 he was not afraid." — '' Yes," said Beaver, " you 
 are afraid ; — I order you instantly inside, and I 
 dare you to disobey." 
 
 On the 26th of August, Bellchore, with a large 
 party, came to visit the settlement. Although such 
 a compliment was not at all desirable at that early 
 period, Mr. Beaver politically welcomed him with 
 a salute, and most indulgently entertained him, 
 which kindness was returned with a present of live 
 stock, and in the course of two days he took his
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 79 
 
 leave. On this occasion the uUl king- put on a 
 ceremonial dress over his goat skin, and changed 
 a red woollen cap for a three-cornered hat, deco- 
 rated with buttons. When the hour of sleep ar- 
 rived, his sable majesty, who had been unsparing 
 in his attentions to the spirits, would not go to bed 
 until a bottle and glass were placed by his })ill(j\v; 
 *^ for," said he, ^' suppose I must wake in the 
 night, that time I can drink rum too." 
 
 Towards the end of August, the number of men 
 who were capable of working being reduced to 
 twenty-four, the watches were contracted from four 
 to three, and several were excused that they might 
 commence other labour at day-light. 
 
 Mr. Hood, who went on shore with these early 
 parties, had, on the morning of the 1st of Septem- 
 ber, gone into the woods to visit a guinea hen's 
 nest, but being missing towards evening, appre- 
 hensions were entertained for his safety, especially 
 as he had a dysentery, and a bad ulcerated leg. At 
 night all was silent ^'except frogs and mosquitos," 
 a gun was fired, and a light kept burning, though 
 they never expected to see him again. At length 
 on the following morning he made his appearance, 
 having wandered all the preceding day until night, 
 when, alarmed by the growling of a wild beast, he 
 climbed a tree, although his right of occupation 
 was disputed by a family of monkies. He arrived
 
 80 THE LIFE OF 
 
 very miuli fatig'iicd at the block-house^ having- 
 eateii nothing-, except a small yellow plum which 
 grew spontaneously ; but^ what is the most extra- 
 ordinary, entirely cured of his dysentery, apparently 
 by this fruit, and his leg- a great deal better. 
 
 Mortality, fever, and heavy rains retarded the 
 progress of the works on shore so much, that Mr. 
 Beaver determined on makinof the few who were 
 able, continue their labour on the Sunday after- 
 noons, though not without meeting some objection. 
 As the very existence of the colony depended upon 
 having a place of security, before the departure of 
 the Hankey, his arguments were very short ; and 
 an order, that he who did not work should not eat 
 on a Sunday, quickly overcame all their scruples. 
 
 By the end of September, the establishment was 
 reduced to fifty-eight, of whom thirty were ill ! 
 The President was therefore brought to " the me- 
 lancholy necessity" of reducing the intended block- 
 house from a hundred and eighty by a hundred 
 and fifteen, to a hundred and fifteen feet square. 
 A boat, which had been brought out in frame, was 
 launched, and called the Perseverance ; and the 
 rains being nearly over, the covering which had 
 been constructed to shelter the ship, was taken off, 
 and sent on shore. Notice was now given that 
 the Hankey would sail for England about the mid- 
 dle of November ; and as the people were much
 
 CAPTAIN PIIILII' liEAVKli. 8l 
 
 depressed in spirits, Mr. Beaver demanded tlie 
 names of those who hitended to abaiiddii the 
 colony, that he might not build more houses than 
 were requisite. 
 
 A determined spirit hke his was now vitally ne- 
 cessary, as an example to those who wavered, re- 
 specting this last chance of returning to their native 
 shores. Several, who did not openly give their 
 opinion, were not the less earnest in trying to shake 
 his resolution, in order that all might retreat with 
 credit; and the doors of the new store-house were 
 found chalked with— '^ It is death to stai/:' " Yet," 
 he remarks, in a letter, '^ the mortality must cer- 
 tainly be attributed to the laborious fatigue attend- 
 ing a first attempt to settle a colony ; and the ne- 
 cessity we were reduced to, of working in the rains, 
 in order to have a fort to defend, and a house to 
 cover us. At the beginning of the dry season, 
 when we expected the ship was to leave us, had we 
 been strong' enouoh to have worked but little, and 
 that during the intervals of the rains, I really think 
 but few would liave died. But with little strength 
 we found it necessary to work from morn to night, 
 except when th.e rains poured like torrents, and by 
 these we were often caught, when going in the 
 boat, either on board or on shore." 
 
 There is little doubt but that several of the hap- 
 less settlers also accelerated their own fates by an 
 
 G
 
 82 THE LIFE OF 
 
 injiiclicious use of minerals and drugs ; for a large 
 quantity of Tartar emetic^ James's powders, and 
 other powerful medicines, were found in the chest 
 of Mr. Banfield. It was also proved that this igno- 
 rant man had been in the habit of administering 
 strong doses to his companions, even while they 
 were in sound health ! 
 
 "He physic's use doth quite mistake, 
 Tliat physic takes, for physic's sake." 
 
 The Beggar's Benison returned from Sierra 
 Leone on the 6th. of October, but the assistant-sur- 
 geon had declined to rejoin them. She, however, 
 brought back Captain Paiba, one of the four who 
 left them on the 7th of August, with his wife, child, 
 and servant ; and what was of infinitely more im- 
 portance, two Papel grumetas, or hired native 
 labourers from Bissao — it being now evident that, 
 without such assistance, they could neither com- 
 plete their works, nor afterwards retain them. 
 
 "^ October 18th. — Mr. Banfield, who has been 
 some time in a state of lunacy, attempted to de- 
 stroy the ship's steward, by laying his skull open 
 with a three-cornered scraper ; and we have very 
 strong grounds to believe that the ship's cook, who 
 was drowned on the 2d instant, was rolled over- 
 board, in his sleep, by this same Mr. Banfield, at 
 that time insane." Beaver was obliged to confine
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVEU. 83 
 
 this unfortunate trcntleman in irons, which, with 
 the trouble occasioned about the same time, by 
 Mr. Rowe, the surgeon, harassed him greatly in 
 the execution of his duties. The latter had long- 
 been dissatisfied, but his turbulent temper now 
 sought every opportunity of sowing dissension in 
 the minds of others, besides entirely neglecting his 
 medical services under pretence of illness, by which 
 culpable remissness several persons died without 
 his having even seen them. He appears to have 
 been harsh and profligate, and his murmurs might 
 have occasioned mischief, had they not provoked 
 general contempt. He was so pertinacious in endea- 
 vouring to excite cabals, that nothing would silence 
 him, except Beaver's threatening " to put him in 
 irons, and chain him like a bear to a tree." 
 
 To the varied duties of our indefatigable leader, 
 were now added the gloomy ones, not only of read- 
 ing the funeral service over the dead, but of diofSfino- 
 graves for their reception, owing to the disgust 
 which the grumetas expressed at the sight of a 
 white corpse. At length the time for the Hankey's 
 departure drawing near, the colonists landed on 
 the 8th of November with their baggage; but 
 through their incorrigible indolence, and in spite 
 of all admonition, there was still little or no shelter 
 for them. A four pounder was placed at each of 
 the gates, and an evening gun fired to announce 
 
 G2
 
 84 The live of 
 
 vio-ilmicc and watebiiio' ; but the i)e()ple were [greatly 
 dispirited, and on the lOtli, the diary notes, — 
 " Though ill with a fever, turned out three times 
 in the night, from alarms given, through the fear 
 and madness of Robinson. Made him at last go 
 to sleep under my cot." 
 
 These ac^itations irritated the disorder of Mr. 
 Beaver, insomuch that he was unable to rise for a 
 fortnight. '' 23d. From the lOth instant I have 
 been too ill to keep a journal, and am now scarcely 
 able to scribble a few lines to the trustees, before 
 the Hankey sails, her charter having expired the 
 day after I was confined to my bed." It assuredly 
 required the nerves of a hero to preserve the settle- 
 ment, assailed as it was by treachery, disease, and 
 death ; and to endeavour in such confusion and 
 distress to establish order and prosperity, was 
 ■W'orthy of the vigorous mind, which could under- 
 take to colonise and govern, without any assistance 
 or authority from the government of his country. 
 
 After the sailing of the Hankey, the general de- 
 pression increased, and strenuous exertions became 
 necessary to decide the fate of the colonists, for the 
 original number of two hundred and seventy-five 
 persons was now reduced to twenty-eight! Of 
 these few, the only seaman, and therefore the only 
 fit person to command the cutter, was ascertained to 
 be a notorious pirate. "^ However," says Beaver,
 
 CAPTAIN PlIILIi' IJLAVKK. 85 
 
 who made the best of every thins;-, *^ tlie knowing- a 
 man to be a viUahi, is getting over every dillicuUy." 
 
 The whole of the estabhshment now fell ill ; but 
 on the 5th of December, four men had fortunately 
 so far recovered as to be logging the block-house 
 with the grumetas, when they were surprised and 
 annoyed to sec Bellchore coming round the point 
 with a strong party of well-appointed men. Bea- 
 ver immediately beat to arms, saluted him^ and 
 loaded the great guns with grape shot ; by which 
 time the aged savage had landed, and marched up 
 in battle array to within forty yards of the east 
 gate, where he halted. Having placed two senti- 
 nels at each gate^ with orders to kill the first man 
 who should attempt to pass by force, the President 
 went forth to meet Bellchore, who knew and em- 
 braced him very cordially. The Bijugas begged 
 hard to be admitted, for the sight of the cannons 
 terrified them from open attempts, and at length 
 permission was given to Bellchore alone to 
 enter the block-house ; but as his Majesty had been 
 overheard to intimate his intention of attacking 
 them, he was received with the most rigid caution, 
 tempered with politeness. 
 
 The four colonists and seven grumetas, in whom 
 the defence consisted, were warned that their safety 
 depended upon firmness and union ; and as a proof 
 of his own resolution, Mr. Beaver took the heads out
 
 86 THE LIFE OF 
 
 of two barrels of gunpowder^ which were, amongst 
 many others, close to the cot in which he made 
 the old king sleep, and placed lighted matches by 
 them ; there being no alternative between preserv- 
 ing the place, or blowing the whole to atoms. 
 Tlie small garrison was divided into two watches, 
 one commanded by the Lieutenant, and the other 
 by Johnson, a grumeta, for not one of the colo- 
 nists was well enough to undertake the charge. 
 Only one of the cutter's crew then remained, and 
 he was on board, with orders to fire into the hut 
 amongst Bellchore's people, if he should hear the 
 report of two muskets. 
 
 These hints were sufhcient for the Bijuga chief, 
 whose hostility or friendship were balanced by cir- 
 cumstances, and the night passed away quietly. But 
 two of the colonists were much worse in the moin- 
 ing, from the cold dews, and the fatigue of watch- 
 ing ; and two of the grumetas, still less able than 
 the whites to bear such hardships, were taken ill. 
 
 Mr. Beaver, seeing his force thus diminish, inti- 
 mated to Bellchore, that '' there was much work 
 to do; that the people would not attend to it while 
 his men were on the island ; that he would be happy 
 if he would stay, but that he must send his Bijugas 
 away." The wary savage, after a pause, finding 
 his design was frustrated, replied, ^' My son has 
 reason ; I see you have much to do — we will de-
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 87 
 
 part." Some handsome presents being- given him, 
 he ([iiitted the settlement about an hour before 
 sunset, under a sahite from the bh)ck-house. 
 
 The feverish anxiety and extraordinary exer- 
 tion of this memora})le night, so aflected the Lieu- 
 tenant's own health also^ that on the 13th^ liaving- 
 recovered from a dehrious (it^ he sent for Messrs. 
 Fielder and Hood, the only subscribers who were 
 able to move, before whom he made his will^ and 
 jj^ave them advice how to act after his death. 
 The following- morning-, " died, and were buried, 
 both Mr. and Mrs. Freeman : this couple I married 
 on the 4th of last month. They were both taken 
 ill about ten minutes after the ceremony was per- 
 formed, and have been so ever since. They both 
 died this morning- within ten minutes of each other, 
 and were both buried in the same grave." 
 
 The g-rumetas now became dissatisfied, and, 
 with the exception of two, went away on the loth. 
 ** Harwin, one of the only three men who are well, 
 told me this evenins;- that he wished to leave the 
 colony, and go to Bissao, which I readily acceded 
 to, having- never asked a man to remain, who 
 showed the least inclination to leave the island. 
 Such dastardly wretches were never seen. Died 
 and was buried this evening, Mr. Fielder. This 
 is the man, who two days ago made my will, 
 and whom I thought likely to be my successor.
 
 88 THE LIFE OF 
 
 He was youno- and brave — fit to draw a lion's 
 tootli." 
 
 Tlic two remaining" gruinctas were sent on the 
 l()tli to Bissao_, when Ilarwin and his son left the 
 colony, leaving Watson, the Lieutenant's servant, 
 the only colonist well, on shore, and Peter Hayles 
 in the cutter. " Watson and myself slept in the 
 east gateway, every other being barricadoed ; and 
 I collected the colonists, being seven sick men, 
 into the adjoining berth, that we might be in a 
 body in case of an attack." 
 
 Two days after, a cool N. E. wind sprung up, in 
 which the thermometer never rose higher than 77°, 
 whence the patients revived surprisingly. " Its 
 bracing coolness," says Mr, Beaver, 'Mias almost 
 recovered me, who have been from daylight till 
 dark exposed to it, while our indolent sick have 
 been pent up all day in their stinking eating-house, 
 which has scarcely been cleaned since they came 
 on shore, rather than exert themselves so much as 
 to go into this renovating air. In the evenings 
 when we leave off work, Peter goes on board the 
 cutter, and my man and myself remain to defend 
 the block-house! 'Tis well we are not attacked. 
 Since the departure of the Hankey, I have had no 
 one to speak to, no conversation. I do not think 
 it safe to show lights, and therefore cannot read in 
 the evenings; indeed, my head at present could 
 
 II
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVEK. 89 
 
 ii(»l bear it; ho tliat^ after \vc leave oil" work, I sit 
 aljoiit two hours alone in the dark, in sullen deli- 
 beration on what we are to do on the morrow^ and 
 tiien go to bed." 
 
 These listless moments were the cause of many 
 j)ainfnl reflections; for it was then that imagination 
 forcibly excited unavailing vexation^ at the want 
 of conduct which disgraced all the preliminary pro- 
 ceedings. At those times, also^, the pensive recol- 
 lection of relations and friends would anxiously 
 intrude, and often for the moment disturb even his 
 stoical firmness. 
 
 " Thoughts succeed thoughts like restless troubled \YaYes 
 Basiling out one another." 
 
 llie deaths of Mr. Aberdeen, the last member 
 of the council, and Mr. Sparks, the last subscriber 
 but one, on the 21st of December, occasioned the 
 following remark : — '' Since the first of this month, 
 of nineteen men, four women, and five children, 
 we have buried nine men, three women, and one 
 child, which is, except one, half the whole colony. 
 It is melancholy, uo doubt, but many have abso- 
 lutely died through fear." 
 
 A reinforcement of twenty grumetas", "^ a cargo 
 more valuable than gold," roused the survivors 
 from despondency, though Mr. Beaver received 
 intimations from his friend de Sylva, that tlic 
 Canabacs would attack him.
 
 90 • THE LIFE OF 
 
 Every precaution was according-ly taken, when, 
 on the 29th, some canoes filled with armed men, 
 led by Jalorem's two sons, arrived on a pretended 
 fiiendly visit, bearing and receiving presents as 
 tokens of perfect amity. But it was afterwards 
 discovered that they meditated a treacherous 
 attack, and were diverted from it only by the 
 accidental firing of a gun, which was regarded by 
 those savages as a bad omen. It was plotted, 
 that the two brothers were to stab the President, 
 and, on a signal from them to their companions 
 outside, the east gate was to have been stormed, 
 and the whole of the English put to death. 
 
 The negroes having reported a large ship at the 
 back of the island, with '' too much white people 
 on board," Mr. Beaver went off to pilot her to the 
 anchorage. She proved to be the Scorpion sloop of 
 war, under orders to render every possible assist- 
 ance to the colony; but, owing to the badness of the 
 charts, she was on the point of returning to Cape 
 Roxo, when the President got on board. Guided 
 by him, she was soon anchored in safety before 
 the block-house, and the garrison of Hespereleusis 
 had the proud satisfaction of having their salute re- 
 turned by a British man of war ! This unexpected 
 arrival was a source of great happiness, and a 
 plea for the first holiday since their disembarkation. 
 
 " January 12th, 1793. — This evening, the Scor-
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 91 
 
 ploii sailed. From Captain Ferris, 1 received every 
 civility ; and, from his saying he had orders to ren- 
 der us any assistance in his power, I requested per- 
 mission of him to ask, among his crew, for six volun- 
 teers to strengthen the colony, as I had heard there 
 were men in his ship who would accept tlie ofler ; 
 but he told me, that was a point in which he C(mld 
 not assist me, as he had no authority to discharge 
 any of his men. However, one of his midshipmen 
 of the name of Scott, who was very anxious to re- 
 main, he at length discharged, and 1 gave him the 
 command of the cutter." But, although he could 
 not obtain the number of seamen he wished, the 
 visit of the Scorpion proved a most providential 
 occurrence, as it saved the colony from imminent 
 danger. For it was afterwards found, that Bell- 
 chore, with one hundred and fifty warriors, had 
 landed, and was actually within fifty yards of the 
 gateway, when two muskets wpre fired from the 
 Scorpion's boat, the officer of which w^as doubtful 
 where he was. These being answered by the cut- 
 ter and block-house sentinel, the old savage de- 
 camped, in the full assurance that he had been dis- 
 covered, and that the colonists had been rein- 
 forced from the ship with " too much white people 
 on board." 
 
 As the edifice was conceived to be perfectly 
 secure from sudden attacks by the 10th of Fe-
 
 y-2 THE LIFE OF 
 
 brnary, tboy tlicnceforward ceased to work on the 
 Sabbath, " which," says Beaver, " I thought it 
 iiujiistiiiable to do, before our people could go to 
 prayers in safety." 
 
 After the celebration of divine worship on the 
 following Sunday, a disgraceful scene took })lace. 
 " Some of the colonists and Johnson, the gru- 
 meta, were very riotous, particularly the latter; 
 so much so, that it became necessary to beat to 
 arms. James Watson I was obliged to strike 
 with the butt end of my fusil, and was then going 
 to seize Johnson and put him in irons, when he 
 presented a cocked pistol in each hand, and said 
 that he would rather be killed at once than put in 
 irons, as he knew that I should flog him severely. 
 At this moment, Peter Hayles, who was close by 
 me, asked if he should fire at him, saying that if 
 I would give the orders, he would shoot him dead 
 on the spot. TIfs sanguinary fellow I called a 
 scoundrel, and, ordering his musket to be taken 
 from him, gave my own to Mr. Hood, and then 
 went up to Johnson and seized him by the collar: 
 he immediately burst into tears, and dropped both 
 his pistols, saying, that he could not fire upon an 
 unarmed man." 
 
 Hespereleusis was visited on the 28th by 
 Matchore, King of Ghinala, with his wife and 
 three attendants. The colonists had already found
 
 CAFTAlN PHILIP fiEAVElt. 05 
 
 the Biafaras lo bo a peaceable race, and souk* of 
 Iheir bniitors, wlio came over '^ to make trade," 
 had been very useful^ from the g-ame wliicli they 
 daily shot and brouoht in. In nine days^ one 
 of these killed twenty- five guinea hens, four 
 deer, and a mountain goat, besides wounding 
 three elephants: "" in short/' exclaims the presi- 
 dent, "■ to live here, a man has nothing- to do but 
 to plant yams, and be a good marksman." 
 
 With Match ore came a Manding-o priest, orgris- 
 gris merchant, as the venders of magical charms 
 arc called. '' To this priest I had made some 
 handsome presents, and he this day, in return, 
 gave me twelve gris-gris, and assured me that 
 they would inevitably secure me from all danger; 
 at the same time he gave me directions how to 
 dispose of them. Some were to be carried about 
 my person; one secretly placed over each gate- 
 way; another kept under my pillow; and another 
 under the roof of the house which I was buildino-, 
 &c. I received them with as much gratitude as 
 if 1 had implicit belief in their virtue, and promised 
 to follow his directions in their disposal. I was 
 the more astonished at this present, because in the 
 mornino-, when he boasted of the strensfth or virtue 
 of his gris-gris, I had ridiculed them, and desired 
 him to put all that he thought proper to protect 
 from death by a musket-ball, on the neck of one of
 
 94 THE LIFE OF 
 
 my fowls, and that if I did not immediately shoot 
 it dead, I would give him ten bars." 
 
 ^* March 15th. — Discharged this day, at their 
 own request, to go home in the Nancy, Thomas 
 Box and Thomas Griffiths, two worthless and in- 
 dolent vagabonds, who have never done any work, 
 who have never been of the least use to us ; also 
 Mrs. Riches, the only surviving woman, widow of 
 one of the labourers, and Mary Box, the only sur- 
 viving girl," This separation left the men of the 
 colony but five in number, of whom two were 
 blacks, and two boys ; there were also three men 
 in the cutter, neither of whom, however, had 
 come from England with the settlers. 
 
 In this weak state they received another visit 
 from the ferocious Bellchore, on which all the grur 
 metas were collected within the block-house, and 
 only two attendants at a time admitted with the 
 king. It was thought politic to make no mention of 
 the late treacherous plot, "though I had intended," 
 says Mr. Beaver, "to reproach him with his perfidy, 
 and to have assured him, that nothing that he had 
 done was unknown to me ; then to have flogged 
 him, and turned him unarmed from the island." 
 But several displays of power were made to con- 
 firm them in their high idea of " all white man 
 witch," such as firing shot so as to make them 
 rise several times out of the water — bidding- the
 
 CAPTAIN rillLlP BEAVER. 
 
 95 
 
 inaoiictic needle always to point one way — bringing 
 (he sun down on a man's head by means of the 
 (juadrant — and, above all, sitting on a cannon 
 while it was fned ! 
 
 " So lookers on feel most delight 
 
 "Who least perceive the juggler's flight ; 
 
 And still the less they understand, 
 
 The more they admire the slight of hand." 
 
 Notwithstanding the smallness of their numbers, 
 the advanced state of the block-house gave Mr. 
 Beaver such security from attacks, that on the 
 night following Bellchore's departure, he writes 
 thus : — '' Undressed myself this night for the first 
 time, except when I was ill, for eight months and 
 nine days ; for, though I trust that I have no im- 
 proper fears, 1 have hitherto always thought it 
 prudent to have arms within my reach, and to be 
 ready to act in a moment, without losing the time 
 necessary for dressing." The progress of the 
 houses, also, now allowed of a portion of time 
 being devoted to the enclosing of fields and gar- 
 dens ; but, strange to relate, a wonderful sort of 
 stupidity seized all the colonists, except Mr. Scott, 
 the midshipman, and a boy, — some so completely 
 losing their memory as to become nearly idiots. 
 
 May the l-2th, while " playing the conjuror" to 
 a party of friendly Biafaras, Mr. Beaver shewed 
 them various prints. Of these they did not seem
 
 96 f HK LIFE OF 
 
 to comprehend the meaniiio', until they saw an 
 elephant and a monkey portrayed in a view of 
 Sierra Leone^ after which they immediately under- 
 stood all that was exhibited. To the merit of 
 Lavater they paid the strongest tribute, in sud- 
 denly screaming- and (juitting the room the moment 
 his portrait of " the angry wicked man " was 
 placed before them. 
 
 Shortly after the departure of these people on 
 the following morning-, thirteen elephants were 
 discovered about two miles off, swimming from 
 the opposite shore. Mr. Scott, in the boat, fired 
 to prevent their landing, by which all but the first 
 were driven into a muddy bay_, where the footing 
 was insufficient to enable them to gain the beach, 
 while the constant firing of the midshipman pre- 
 vented their return to the river. In this situation, 
 luiable either to advance or retreat, the tide left 
 them; when the whole garrison, amounting to 
 fifteen men, were ordered to the attack, and con- 
 tinued it for three hours, at the distance of from 
 four to twelve yards. The fire was chiefly at a mo- 
 ther and her young one, the latter of which, having 
 had its proboscis and tail cut off, uttered heart- 
 rending cries. The mother received one hundred 
 and fifty shot about her head, and several deep 
 bayonet wounds in her liank, before she expired, 
 and was so sensible of the source of the injury,
 
 CAPTAIN PIIIMP BF.AVF.R. 97 
 
 that she cast about lier proboscis, tossed up the 
 mud, and moaned himentably every time a musket 
 was presented at her. In short, Beaver deter- 
 mhied never more to a])[)roach any of those noble 
 anhnals, unless provided witli iron slug-s. 
 
 On the 1 Uh^ when going down to their victims, 
 several hippopotami were seen in the water ; but 
 all pursuit of them was rendered useless, by their 
 dexterity in diving-. '' The dead elephant g-rounded 
 in about three feet water, on its side, and while 
 Peter Hayles was cutting- out its tusks with a broad 
 axe, I sat on its upper side with a long- pike to 
 prick the sharks which surrounded it, on the nose, 
 and keep them from him, during- which time there 
 were never less than seven or eight trying to nib- 
 ble at it." 
 
 The rains setting in shortly afterwards, occa- 
 sioned considerable inconvenience, from the roofs 
 being ill thatched ; for, from the weakness of the 
 people, such imperfections were not easily re- 
 medied. By a Portuguese deserter from Bissao, 
 the president was informed that he might easily 
 recruit his numbers from that garrison, provided 
 he would receive those who iled to him : *^but," 
 he exclaims, " much as I want men, and vahiable 
 as their acquisition would be, I had rather lose 
 those which 1 now have, than receive others who, 
 by coming, must commit a crime." Holding- such 
 
 II
 
 98 THE tIFE OF 
 
 sentiments^ lie sent the deserter back to tlie for- 
 tress, having' first made the best terms he could 
 for him with the g-overnor. 
 
 Another visit from BcUchore, on the 16th of 
 July, occasions the following- remark:— "" He was 
 exceedingly importunate to make me promise to 
 come and see him at Canabac ; he was labouring 
 that point the whole of yesterday ; ' his women do 
 nothing but cry to see me ; I must come and see 
 them, or they will die.' The cunning old rascal ! 
 he forgets that ' all white man witch.' He plainly 
 sees that he can do nothing by force, and now he 
 wants to get my person into his power.'' 
 
 The 19th of .July was the anniversary of the 
 Calypso's departure, and every body was now ill, 
 except Messrs. Beaver and Scott. " At nine 
 o'clock last night," says the former, "^ I had written 
 my journal, and was sitting down to a broiled fowl 
 for my supper, when the mate of the cutter knocked 
 at the block-house gate, and was let in. My door 
 was opened, and two Europeans, two Englishmen, 
 appeared before me. It is impossible to express 
 my astonishment, my joy, my feelings, at the sight. 
 Their florid complexions, their appearance of health 
 and vigour, were such a contrast to the yellow 
 skins, and shrivelled carcasses, which I had for a 
 long time been accustomed only to see, that I 
 gazed upon them the whole evening. I thought
 
 CAPTAIN rTIILT? REAVKR. 
 
 99 
 
 tlicm the handsomest mortals 1 had ever beheld." 
 They belong-ed to the Felicity schooner, from Lon- 
 don, in the service of the Sierra Leone Company, 
 with orders to touch at Bulama. She brought 
 provisions for the colony, and despatches from the 
 trustees, exhorting Mr. Beaver not to (]uit the 
 colony, and promising to send out more settlers 
 in about two months. These letters also gave him 
 notice of the war with France, but represented it 
 as not likely to last beyond the current year. 
 
 This intelligence was a som-ce of great inquie- 
 tude; by the conditions of his leave of absence, 
 he was bound to join his profession within six 
 months after being so required by the Gazette: 
 which time had already elapsed. Then came 
 the embarrassment whether to go, or to stay ; 
 on the one hand, he had everything to expect— 
 promotion, wealth, and honour; on the other, 
 neither pay nor support, nothing but the satisfacr 
 tion of having faithfully fuHilled his engagement. 
 Actuated by this generous feeling, he addressed a 
 letter to the Secretary of the Admiralty, regretting 
 his inability to comply with the order for all naval 
 officers to return to England, "" having," he adds, 
 " the direction of a small colony, whose very existence 
 depends upon my presence. If I disobey their 
 Lordships' orders in the Gazette, I know that I am 
 liable to lose my commission ; and if 1 obey them, 
 
 11 -2
 
 100 THE LIFE OF 
 
 I never deserved one. I hope their Lordships will 
 observe the peculiar liardship of my situation, and 
 give me credit, when I aver, that the King has not 
 an officer more attached to him_, his country, and 
 constitution, than myself; that it is with the 
 greatest regret I find myself obliged to be absent 
 from the fleet in the time of war ; and that I shall 
 embrace the first opportunity of joining my pro- 
 fession." 
 
 In addressing the trustees, Mr. Beaver, in his 
 confidence that all the misfortunes at Bulama ori- 
 ginated in want of attention and industry, exclaims, 
 ^' The good people of England need not be afraid 
 of coming out. They will find a fort ready to 
 protect them. They need not be much afraid of 
 the climate : I think it a tolerably healthy one. 
 They need not run the risk of clearing a spot of 
 ground to build on : I have already as much cleared 
 as a large town would cover. They need not 
 work, as we were obliged to do, for a covering or 
 defence, either when it rains, or in the heat of the 
 sun ; for I will shelter them. They need not be 
 frightened ; for I will insure their safety. In 
 short, they need not be exposed to any of the in- 
 conveniences which we have experienced, and 
 therefore I think it fair to suppose, that few of 
 them will die. We want a reinforcement of men ; 
 tliey should be carpenters, blacksmiths, and brick-
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP DEAVrn. 101 
 
 layers, accustomed to labour; not such as ue 
 brousrht out, habituated to drunkenness^ idleness, 
 and all the vices of the capital. Be careful that 
 the assistant surveyor knows his business well, and 
 that he be capable of acting as i)rincipal, in case 
 of the death of the surveyor. In this country it is 
 well to have duplicates of useful men." 
 
 The luckless colonists now began more heavily 
 to feel the effects of the rainy season, and the 
 grumetas took every advantage of their helpless- 
 ness. These men were principally from the Papcl, 
 or Manjack nations: the former, ignorant and 
 bigoted ; the latter, deceitful, lying, and disho- 
 nest. Much coercion was requisite to make them 
 feel that they were hired servants, not masters ; 
 and, from the baneful influence which their gris- 
 grishad in dispiriting the labourers, severe punish- 
 ment was permitted to be inflicted on two who 
 pretended to magic ; one of whom sturdily per- 
 sisted that he had frequently changed himself into 
 an alligator ! A Manjack, who attempted to stab 
 the President, was turned off the island for his 
 excessive folly, in trying to hurt him, " whom 
 twenty of them could not wound," but a rope and 
 block were attached to a large tree to hang the 
 first that should thenceforward draw his knife. 
 To one he was obliged to administer twelve dozen 
 lashes, for endeavouring to force a gate during
 
 102 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Bellchore's last visit ; and to another still more, 
 for breaking' into the storehouses. Such necessary 
 severities kept their evil propensities in check; 
 but now, when all the English were afflicted with 
 fevers, Beaver himself dangerously ill, and poor 
 Scott, the midshipman, on his death-bed ; these 
 worthless fellows pilfered with impunity. Besides 
 taking" away the cow, and most of the fowls, 
 the store-rooms were robbed to a serious extent, 
 and all the Lieutenant's shirts and silk handker- 
 chiefs stolen. Many of these goods were reco- 
 vered at Bissao, and politely returned by the Go- 
 vernor with a kind message, " begging me not to 
 punish any of my grumetas, but send them away, 
 if they behaved ill ; and to have regard for my life, 
 which would be in much danger from their thirst 
 of revenge. A Manjack, he says, never forgives 
 an injury while the man lives who inflicted it. I 
 have never injured one of them, I have only given 
 them what they deserved." 
 
 The president illustrates the surly disposition of 
 a Manjack by a forcible anecdote. The mast of a 
 sloop, which anchored at Bulama, was shivered 
 by lightning during a violent tornado ; by which 
 accident one man was killed and another wounded. 
 "I saw the man on shore," he observes, "^ who 
 had been burnt by the lightning, and who, 
 till my approach, was bemoaning his fate. His
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP REAVER. 103 
 
 left side, from a little above the hip, all the way 
 down the outside of his thigh and Icg-^ was shock- 
 ingly burnt^ and perfectly raw. I ran for a bottle 
 of sweet oil and a feather^ with which I instantly 
 returned, and anointed, with the gentlest hand 
 and greatest care, the burnt parts ; all which time 
 he appeared perfectly indifferent to my attention. 
 When I had finished I of^^^ve him the bottle and 
 the feather, and, by means of our interpreter, I 
 told him to do the same three times a day ; that 
 it would ease the pain, and soon heal the wound. 
 He took them with the greatest coolness, without 
 altering a muscle of his countenance, without shew- 
 ing the least symptom of being pleased, or of 
 gratitude, and without uttering a word in reply. 
 He did not even look at me when 1 went away !" 
 With returning health Mr. Beaver renewed his 
 exertions, thousfh under the most discourao'ing- 
 circumstances ima^-inable, beinof neoflected in Ensr- 
 land, and therefore destitute of resources. The 
 ideotic lapse of memory had returned to all except 
 himself, and he fortunately escaped, though he 
 had had more mental and bodily fatigue than the 
 whole of the others put together. The employ- 
 ment now was grubbing up stumps, paling, and 
 sinkins: a well in the centre of the block-house 
 court-yard; a measure of the highest importance 
 to its preservation in case of attack. While work-
 
 104 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ing' at the latter, sometliing- yellow and shining 
 was dug up and immediately brought to me. 
 *' Suppose we should find gold, Sir?' said Wil- 
 liams. ' I had rather find water/ said I. He 
 thought I was a fool." 
 
 TIjc toil^ however^ was too great for their dimi- 
 nished numbers ; and^ towards the end of October^ 
 while weak and desponding^ they were so terrified 
 at the prospect of a hostile visit from the Bijugas^ 
 as to become extremely importunate to abandon 
 the establishment. Hayles and Bennet had already 
 deserted, on hearing from a friendly Papel of an 
 intended attack ; others were detected planning 
 an escape ; and Mr. Hood declared he could not 
 sleep from the fear of having his throat cut. In- 
 deed he confessed that^ in dressing, his shirt got 
 entangled over his head so that he could not see_, 
 and he remained motionless for nearly a quarter of 
 an hour, from the dread of a Bijuga having seized 
 him, though he endeavoured to reason himself out 
 of the absurdity. 
 
 In hopes of the promised reinforcement from 
 home, Mr. Beaver made every possible delay, and 
 fruitlessly endeavoured to convince his companions 
 that their fears were groundless. Little did he 
 imagine that his despatches had been fraudulently 
 withholden ; and that the trustees were conse- 
 quently in ignorance of the state of affairs at 
 Bulama !
 
 CAPTAIN I'lIILIP BEAVEK. 105 
 
 Meantime the alarms increased, and tlio rob- 
 beries of the griimetas became more daring ; till 
 at length, on the 14th of November, the colony now 
 consisting- of Mr. Hood_, the two blacks^ and Wil- 
 liams, a man who had deserted from Moore's 
 .vessel, flatly announced their determination of 
 immediately quitting- the island. Aware that his 
 remaining alone could answer no good purpose, 
 the president reluctantly yielded to necessity, and 
 made preparations for his departure, — a measure 
 he could not contemplate without the most poig- 
 nant regret_, after so much anxious exertion, in 
 which he had actually proved that the main object 
 of the undertaking, the raising of colonial produce, 
 was practicable. The clearing of ground, there- 
 fore, was now discontinued ; and, by some judi- 
 cious arrangements, having sold or embarked 
 everything that was moveable, he quitted for ever 
 this scene of calamity, and sailed for Sierra Leone 
 in the Beggar's Benison, on the 29th of Novem- 
 ber, 1793. Nor was even this trip without danger, 
 for the cutter had now scarcely any gear ; her 
 anchor was a makeshift, her cable was rotten, and 
 she was quite unprovided with stores of any de- 
 scription. 
 
 The party were most hosi)itably received at 
 Sierra Leone, but were unable to procure suflicient 
 supplies to render the cutter seaworthy ; nor, not-
 
 106 THE LIFE OF 
 
 withstanding the reputed forests, could they get a 
 stick of a proper size to replace their sprung 
 main-boom. Indeed^ the general capability of this 
 colony struck our experienced leader in a much 
 less sanguine point of view than it had done its 
 projectors ; '^ when/' says he^ ^' they make a hogs- 
 head of suofar there, I will enorasre to do the same 
 at Charinsf Cross." These circumstances induced 
 him to abandon his intention of navigating the 
 cutter to England,, especially as he was able to 
 sell her and her cargo for upwards of a thousand 
 pounds sterling. 
 
 The two blacks and Williams having expressed 
 a wish to remain at Free-town, Beaver embarked 
 on board the Harpy with Mr. Hood, and arrived at 
 Plymouth on the 1 7th of May, 1 794. From Exeter, 
 with his accustomed promptness, he wrote the fol- 
 lowing characteristic note to M. le Mesurier.— *^ I 
 this day arrived in Plymouth Sound, on board the 
 Harpy, from Sierra Leone, and am thus far on my 
 way to London, where I hope to have the pleasure 
 of seeing you and the other trustees on Tuesday 
 morning. I have already applied to the Admi- 
 ralty for employment, therefore know not whether 
 my stay in town will be an hour or a month ; — 
 would it not be advisable to call a general meeting 
 of the association immediately?" 
 
 Lieutenant Beaver, having been requested by
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 107 
 
 the Biiliima Association to state his opinion of the 
 cause of the kite failure, and of the probabiUty of 
 future success^ sent in a statement, dated the 2 1th 
 of June^ 1794, giving- his ideas concisely and 
 clearly, concluding with the frank avowal that suc- 
 cess might be commanded ; '' but when I say it 
 might be commanded, I presuppose a greater firm- 
 ness in those who go out, and more zeal and 
 activity in those who remain at home, than has 
 hitherto been evinced by either." This letter was 
 read on the following day to the convened mem- 
 bers, at the Mansion-house, on which occasion they 
 voted their unanimous thanks to him for the ability, 
 zeal, activity, and perseverance with which he had 
 conducted the affairs of the settlement; and assured 
 him they should ever hold his services in grateful 
 remembrance. They also resolved that a gold 
 medal be presented to him, expressive of the sense 
 entertained by the subscribers of his veiy merito- 
 rious services. 
 
 The vote of thanks and jiromise of a gold medal, 
 for the resolution went no further than a promise, 
 were the only rewards Mr. Beaver reaped for two 
 years of unparalleled exertion and suffering : he, 
 moreover, not only lost employment and probable 
 preferment, but also his half-pay during that pe- 
 riod, and the six months preceding. 
 
 Neither domestic aillictioii, occasioned ])y the 
 death of his eldest sister, that judicious sister who
 
 108 THE LIFE OF 
 
 had so prudently concealed from an affectionate pa- 
 rent the report of his death*; nor a constitution evi- 
 dently injured by fatigue and climate_, could check 
 his eager desire for active employment; accord- 
 ingly we find him First Lieutenant of the Stately, 
 of sixty-four guns, within two months after his 
 landing from Africa. In. the interim, he had vo- 
 lunteered a cruize with Sir Sidney Smith; but the 
 Diamond not being destined for any particular 
 service, that distinguished officer recommended a 
 more permanent employment, remarking, " that 
 he could not but admire the zeal and courage 
 evinced in the offer." 
 
 While the Stately was detained in port, Mr. Bea- 
 ver was present, on the 25th of September, 1794, 
 at the marriage of his only surviving sister, Ca- 
 therine, to John Gillies, LL.D., his Majesty's 
 historiographer for Scotland ; an author well known 
 by his learned History of Greece, his elegant 
 Translation of Aristotle, and other writings of in- 
 trinsic and acknowledged merit. In this gentle- 
 man our Lieutenant found a friend, who duly 
 estimated his merits, and a companion whose well- 
 stored and comprehensive mind was a constant 
 source of improvement. The letter written by 
 Beaver, on this occasion, proves that neither ab- 
 sence, nor an almost savage life, had in the least 
 
 * Mrs. Charles Smith, who died on the 18th of June, 1793,
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP DEAVER. 109 
 
 diiiiinislied llic gentle iiflectious of his nature. 
 *' My dear Kate/' says he^ ** I am ashamed of 
 not havhig- answered your last letter but one, the 
 contents of which gave me so much real pleasure. 
 I would write also to Dr. Gillies on the occasion, 
 but your last having" determined me to come to 
 town, if Wednesday next will be time enough, I 
 now think it useless. Yes, Kate, I will come to 
 give you away ; and then, though I should always 
 remain poor, I shall have it in my power to say, 
 that I have given away the greatest treasure of 
 any man in Europe." 
 
 Mr. Beaver now began to keep a more detailed 
 account of occurrences than heretofore; an act the 
 more commendable, as the journals of commissioned 
 officers being no longer called for, except as official 
 papers, they are mostly copied from logboards, 
 without any benefit of the writer's professional ex- 
 perience. He explains his design thus: — " As it 
 is generally thought our destination is either against 
 Batavia or the Cape of Good Hope, though no 
 one, the commodore and general excepted, knows 
 which, the follow insr remarks are written with a 
 view to future similar voyages. More attention 
 will therefore be paid to hydrographic notices, 
 and the registering of winds, currents, magnetic 
 variations, and general health, than to chronicle 
 the hoistinsf or hauliuG: down of a staysail, the 
 
 or? • 
 
 opening of a cask of pork, the drawing or knotting
 
 110 THE LIFE OF 
 
 of yarnSj or other equally pithy records, of which 
 a man-of-war's log' is generally the depository _, 
 and from the animation of which it probably de- 
 rived its name." 
 
 On the 1st of March, 1795^ the Stately, having- 
 embarked a party of soldiers, left Portsmouth with 
 a small squadron under Commodore Blankett. 
 Throughout the passage. Lieutenant Beaver paid 
 strict attention to the stowage and economy of the 
 water. He proved that the average quantity yielded 
 by Irvine's machine for distilling from salt water, 
 was nearly five gallons per hour. As the tube 
 was applied only during the hours of cooking, in 
 order to save fuel, this produce was a mere trifle 
 to divide amongst the crew ; and the flour and oat- 
 meal necessary for lutings, brought the expense to 
 a penny per gallon. The water, however, was 
 tasteless, and quite pure; and it was thought if the 
 contrivance were fitted to cover the surface of both 
 coppers, the produce would be sextupled. He also 
 made a rigorous trial of White's extractor of foul 
 air, a machine at first intended for mines, but sub- 
 sequently applied to ships of war. During this 
 voyage it was found efficacious on the second day 
 of its being used, in removing a fetid odour, which 
 exhaled from the bread-room scuttle, in the gun- 
 room, notwithstanding wind-sails had been con- 
 stantly kept down. 
 
 Two days after the ships made the coast of
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. Ill 
 
 Africa, they fell in with Sir G. K. Elphinstone's 
 squadron, and the whole anchored in Simon's Bay 
 on the 13th of June. The subjugation of Holland 
 by the republicans of France was now made known, 
 and a correspondence opened with the Governor 
 of the Cape of Good Hope, for the surrender of his 
 charge to British protection . Tliis being- positively 
 refused, five Dutch Indiamen at anchor were taken 
 possession of, and the troops under General Craig 
 disembarked, with a body of nearly five hundred 
 seamen and marines to act in conjunction. 
 
 On the third of August, a little bush fightiug 
 took place with the Hottentots on the hills ; but it 
 was not till the 7th that any movement of conse- 
 quence occurred; and then, by a judicious can- 
 nonade, the Stately, America, Echo, and Rattle- 
 snake, drove the enemy from their entrenched 
 camp of Muyzenberg, while the army, flanked by 
 gunboats and launches, marched round to occupy 
 it. After several attempts to retake this position, 
 the Dutch, about the begiuning of September, 
 appeared resolutely bent on attacking with their 
 whole force; their advance and artillery were al- 
 ready in motion, when suddenly afleet of large ships 
 was perceived enteriug the bay, on which they re- 
 treated. The strangers proved to be English East 
 India Company's ships, with timely reinforcements 
 on board, which afforded the means of immediately
 
 112' THE LIFE OF 
 
 undertaking offensive operations. Four ships 
 were ordered round to make a diversion in Table 
 Bay, while our army moved upon the strong post 
 of Wynburg- ; and in this advance Lieutenant 
 Beaver was singularly active, with a party of the 
 Stately's seamen, in transporting ammunition and 
 stores. On the 13th, the enemy made a show of 
 resistance, but being threatened on both flanks, 
 they retired on our approach. The Governor^ 
 alarmed by the broadsides of the ships off Cape 
 Town, and seeing that resistance was fruitless, pro- 
 posed a cessation of arms. The consequent arti- 
 cles of capitulation were soon signed, and on the 
 dawn of the 16th, the Dutch hoisted their colours, 
 fired a solitary shot towards Commodore Blankett, 
 and lowered them again ; our soldiers then entered^ 
 and thus gained one of the fairest colonies belong- 
 ing to the enemy. 
 
 Shortly after this successful event, the Stately 
 and Victorious were despatched to India, where 
 they joined the forces destined to act against 
 Columbo, the only possession then under the 
 Dutch in Ceylon. The service being completed 
 by the reduction of that place, the Stately was 
 ordered off the Isle of France on a cruize. 
 
 Mr. Beaver, for some months past, had not 
 found himself (juite so comfortable as he could 
 have desired; for zeal in a junior officer is not
 
 CAPTAIN I'lllLll' UEAVF.K. 113 
 
 always a passport to ui)[)lausc : he determined, 
 lliereforc, to quit tlie ship on the first favourahUi 
 opportunity. Still no actual rupture broke forth 
 between him and his commander, liilly Doughis ; 
 though it appears that something- about this time 
 gave him umbrage, as he notes, — '^ The captain 
 wishes to make his son first lieutenant ! — strange 
 that he should iu)t know me better." 
 
 Having made the island of Rodriguez, our 
 officer was sent on shore for intelligence, and found 
 a wretched Luconian sailor, who had been cast 
 away in a schooner, which had captured the Triton 
 East Indiaman. From this man they procured 
 such information, that, on the 2oth of May, 1796, 
 they intercepted one of the frigates which had 
 been sent by the National Assembly in search of 
 the unfortunate Perouse, but now under Dutch 
 colours, and lichly laden with the spices of Mo- 
 lucca. Four days afterwards, the Carolina, consort 
 of the former, and also from Surabaya, fell into 
 their hands ; but a third ship, of which they had 
 been apprized, they never met with ; and she was 
 supposed to have been wrecked on the Pater- 
 nosters, and totally lost. 
 
 While cruizing in this vicinity, on the 23rd of 
 June, the ship was suddenly caught in a hard 
 squall. '' From the time," says the journal, " that 
 a few black clouds began to rise on the lee bow, 
 
 I
 
 114 THE LIFE OP 
 
 till we were taken a-back^ was only eight minutes. 
 It had been the opinion of the captain, and the 
 officer of the watch, that the gust would pass to 
 leeward a-head without nearing us ; and the mo- 
 ment it seemed to be dying away the main clue 
 garnets were manned, but we were all a-back 
 before a tack was started. Fortunately for us, 
 the i)rincipal fury was two or three cables' 
 length distant, where the sea, with the most con- 
 fused motion imaginable, breaking in all directions,, 
 seemed to ascend to the heavens, and displayed, 
 without the least exaggeration, one of the most 
 tremendous, sublime, and awful scenes ever be- 
 held. If I could compare the motion and agitation 
 of the waters to anything which I have seen in 
 nature, I should say that it resembled the collec- 
 tion of a thousand water-spouts into the space of 
 a mile square. And I firmly believe that if any 
 single-decked ship, or probably if a line-of-battle 
 ship had found herself in its vortex, without her 
 hatches well battened, she would have been dis- 
 masted, swamped, and sunk." 
 
 By the beginning of July the scurvy had made 
 its appearance, on which the ships repaired to 
 Madagascar for wood, water, and refreshments. 
 The sick, as is usual with this complaint, recovered 
 with surprisiiig rapidity, and, by the 21st, were 
 all ready for sea again.
 
 CAPTAIN I'lIlLll' BKAVER, 11.3 
 
 Tlic log"-l)()(jk coiilaiiis flic followiiio- remarks on 
 the natives of St. Aug-ustine's. '' A man came on 
 board, called Frlncc William. He lives a little 
 way up the river of this bay, and is the head man ; 
 his authority being- derived from the King of Baba. 
 It is necessary, before procuring any cattle^, to 
 have an interview with his highness, and to pay 
 him the customarv duty. We s^ave him two 
 muskets, a barrel of powder, one hundred flints, 
 and one hundred l)nllets ; besides which he was 
 saluted with seven guns on his leaving the ship : in 
 return, he sends a bulh)ck or two, and then the 
 natives are at liberty to barter their fruits and 
 cattle for European commodities. Two or three 
 days after our arrival, a fellow, named Tom Bush, 
 who is called purser to the King of Baba, came on 
 board and demanded similar presents for his mas- 
 ter : with him came half a dozen princes and 
 dukes, whose several demands were to be satisfied 
 only by a present of a musket to each. The next 
 business of Tom Bush, in conjunction with Prince 
 William, was to fix the size of the standard mea- 
 sure for trade, and three metisures of gunpowder, 
 whatever be the size agreed upon, are always 
 allotted to the purchase of a bullock : sheep, poul- 
 try, fruit, and all other procurable luxuries, arc 
 subservient to the same scale. These })rcliminarics 
 being arranged, there was no further dilliculty ; 
 
 I 2
 
 110 TIIR LIFE OF 
 
 but as we received either ii bullock;, a cow^ or a 
 calf, from every person Vvho had been compli- 
 mented with a present^ we were enabled to supply 
 the ship's company till the day of our sailing-, when 
 we bought four head of cattle with powder. 
 
 "At the Tent Rock, a man called Tom Planter 
 seems to have the most consequence ; he was to 
 us the most useful fellow in the bay. He is sin- 
 gularly ugly, and has only one eye, with which, 
 however, he can see farther, in a worldly point of 
 view, than any of his countrymen can with two. Most 
 of the natives speak English, and many of them 
 French ; and in their language they have incor- 
 porated many Portuguese words. They are remark- 
 ably attached to the English, and singularly averse 
 to the Portuguese ; their well-grounded aversion 
 having arisen from the nefarious practice of car- 
 rying off such of the simple and credulous people 
 as, trusting to Lusitanian faith, have put themselves 
 into their power, by venturing on board their ships. 
 Though generally armed with a musket, or spear, 
 or both, they seem indolent and inoffensive, if we 
 except their addiction to theft. The men are 
 stout, well limbed, and manly in their features ; 
 but the women appear rather undersized, though 
 well proportioned and tolerably handsome. Of 
 mod6sty, however, these people can have no idea, 
 when we consider the singularly brutal and abo-
 
 CAPTAIN rilH.ll' DEAVKU. 117 
 
 niiii;i})le prostitiilion of their wives ; and of leiuler- 
 iiess as little^ when we reflect tliat every child^ 
 tlie oflspriiig- of this promiscuous intercourse, not 
 born perfectly black, is put to death the moment 
 after its birth." 
 
 Having- recruited the health of their crews, the 
 Stately, Rattlesnake, and Echo, sailed for the Cape 
 of Good Hope; and on the 10th of August per- 
 ceived the squadron of Sir G. K. Elphinstone, 
 beating' off Agulhas, in a hard gale of wind, with 
 a high sea. Two hours after having joined, the 
 Stately being- on the starboard tack, under close 
 reefed topsails and foresail, was so suddenly and 
 furiously assailed by a violent squall, as to be 
 thrown nearly on her beam ends, with rapid stern 
 way, and all her sails flying in ribands. In this 
 dilemma, the admirable conduct of Mr. Beaver, 
 who, from the indisposition of the captain, was 
 carrying on the deck duty, excited the applause of 
 all the squadron. While many of the spectators 
 considered her as lost, she was righted, wore, and 
 rounded to on the other tack, with seaman-like pre- 
 cision ; and was soon after near her station, under 
 a new foresail and balanced mizen. This smart 
 evolution attracted the particular attention of the 
 Admiral, who had already noticed (hu- oflicer's 
 exertions at Muyzenburg ; and thus, honourably 
 to both, connnencedan acquaintance which ripened
 
 118 THE LIFE OF 
 
 into esteem and friendship, and was terminated 
 only by death. 
 
 " Congenial passions souls together bind, 
 And ev'ry calling mingles with its kind ; 
 Soldier unites with soldier, swain with swain, 
 The mariner with him that roves the main." 
 
 It appeared that the Batavian government had 
 fitted out an armament to recover the Cape ; and it 
 had already been seen from the shore : heavy gales 
 had however retarded the pursuit, and the anxious 
 Admiral, unable to discover their probable route, 
 now returned to the anchorag-e off Simon's Town. 
 Here, being apprized that the enemy had entered 
 Saldanha Bay, he weighed again, though the gale 
 was still raging with such force, that the Crescent 
 ran on shore, and the Tremendous, after parting 
 from two cables, was driven under the north bat- 
 tery, where she fortunately brought up. By dint 
 of unceasing exertion, the British fleet was enabled 
 to anchor, with springs on their cables, within gun- 
 shot of the inferior one of the enemy, on the 16th, 
 just as General Craig and his soldiers were seen 
 descending from the heights to occupy the shore. 
 In this position Sir George despatched a flag of 
 truce to the Dutch Admiral, demanding his imme- 
 diate surrender, in order to avoid an unnecessary 
 effusion of blood. Tiie latter, seeing no chance of 
 success by resistance, called a council of war, and.
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 110 
 
 after a little deliberation, delivered up his ships on 
 the followiiio- day. Tiie [)rizes consisted of three 
 sail of the line, four friif-ates, a sloop of war, and a 
 stojeship, all well fitted, stored, and completely 
 coppered ; and the only opposition which had 
 been made, was an ineffectual fire from the Bel- 
 lona on our troops, as they were advancing. 
 
 Though this gratifying- event was accomplished 
 without other exertion than judicious demonstra- 
 tions of force, the spirit of Mr. l^eaver had been 
 displayed in constructing a very useful plan of the 
 position which was occupied by the two squadrons, 
 with the exact distances of the several ships from 
 each other. Sir G. K. Elphinstone, gratified by 
 such repeated proofs of merit, now treated him 
 with marked attention, and removed him into his 
 flag-ship, the Monarch, the same in which our 
 officer commenced his maritime career. It was 
 consequently highly pleasing to him to command 
 on that quarter-deck which he had so often walked 
 as the youngster of the watch. 
 
 All fears for the safety of the Cape having now- 
 subsided. Sir George quitted the station, and re- 
 turning homewards, was driven by severe weather 
 into Crookhaven, on the coast of Ireland, on the 
 23d of December, with a single vessel, the Daphne, 
 in company. They had scarcely anchored, before 
 several gentlemen came on board with intelligence,
 
 120 THE LIFE or 
 
 that a numerous French ileet luul been seen the 
 day befoie off Bantry Bay ; and that sixteen of 
 the weathermost ships had already brought up 
 between Sheep's Head and Bear Island. Strong 
 easterly winds rendered every effort to get to sea 
 unavailing, and the Daphne was nearly lost in the 
 attempt; they were^, therefore, obliged to remain 
 some days at anchor^ near the invading enemy. 
 On the 27th the gale increased, and blew furiously 
 from the E. S. E.; many guns were fired by the 
 French, and in the morning it was perceived that 
 they had driven into the offing, where several of 
 the ships appeared to be in distress. A large 
 frioate was wrecked in Barley Cove, about three 
 miles from the Monarch, and seven men, rescued 
 by Mr. Beaver, were the only survivors. She left 
 France for the invasion of Ireland, with three 
 hundred seamen, and two hundred and sixty sol- 
 diers, on board ; on her striking the rocks, the 
 former hoisted out the boats, and, with true 
 "^ French fraternity," barbarously beat out the 
 brains of all the latter who attempted to enter 
 them. Neither would they admit any of their offi- 
 cers, through whose folly they exclaimed the ship 
 was lost; while thus deliberately guiHy of such 
 atrocious murder, these wretches were compelled 
 to surrender their own lives, a dreadful instance of 
 the savage depravity engendered by a total want 
 of order, discipline, and religious obligation.
 
 CAJ'TMN IMIKIP BEAVKR. \2\ 
 
 UetunuDg" to England, in tlio silnutitMi ol" lir.st 
 Lieutenant of Lord Keith's ilag' sliip, Mr. lieavcr's 
 promotion was deemed certain ; especially from 
 the nature of the services in which he had been 
 engaged. His eager hopes, however, were frus- 
 trated, in consequence, it was hinted, of his lord- 
 ship's having some coolness with the Admiralty. 
 This disappointment was the greater, as he used 
 to say, that " he would not give a pin to be made 
 an admiral after fifty." 
 
 On the 15th of April, 1797, the first symptoms 
 of that disgraceful event were disclosed, which 
 every officer of high feelijigs and strict notions of 
 naval discipline must ever deplore, a mutiny — a 
 mutiny in the British navy 1 1! Any periodical 
 publication will tell the proceedings of that most 
 reprehensible occurrence. But I decline it, and 
 hasten to record an instance of respect of those 
 misguided men towards their superiors, as a proof 
 that the flagitious principles of insubordination, 
 though widely disseminated, were not deeply 
 rooted. By an order of the delegates, no letters 
 were to g-o out of any shi[) without being first in- 
 spected by them; and on Mr. Beaver's asking, 
 N\ hether they intended to read his, he was answered, 
 ^^ No, Sir, by no means ; we well know that oflicers 
 will not make things worse than they are." '' In- 
 deed," continues Beaver, ^'^ except in one ship only,
 
 122 THE LIFE OF 
 
 all hands til rouoliout this astoundinof transgression 
 have conducted themselves with a degree of de- 
 cency and moderation,, which could scarcely have 
 been expected in so daring an assumption of illegal 
 power. I had always a hearty regard for British 
 tars, but I shall now like the character better than 
 ever. Their delegates have adopted a most des^ 
 perate measure to obtain^ what they call, ' a redress 
 of grievances,' and one which I apprehend will for 
 some time affect our naval discipline; but they 
 profess neither liberty nor equality, nor do they 
 join in the sentimental hue and cry, that men are 
 to be ruled without reins. What a contrast to the 
 recent revolutionary excesses of France!" 
 
 Mr. Beaver remained with the grand fleet, and 
 displayed great professional skill in naval evolu- 
 tions^ of which a proof exists in some proposed 
 alterations for forming the line^ under different 
 exigencies, which he drew up at the request of 
 Captain Elphinstone. 
 
 In June, 1798, a circumstance occurred, while he 
 was serving as first lieutenant of the Formidable, 
 which gave him much uneasiness at the moment, 
 but which is only mentioned here, to preserve that 
 impartiality which is so essential in biography ; and 
 to dispel any surmise, if it be possible that any 
 can exist, of his mind's having ever deviated from 
 the paths of rectitude, lie was accused by the
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 1'23 
 
 Secretary of the General Post oflicc^ " of having 
 written his name on the superscription of his own 
 letter, with a view that it might pass at a reduced 
 rate of postage, as a seaman's letter." An exa- 
 mination was consequently taken before Admiral Sir 
 C. Thompson, and he was instantly acquitted ; and 
 well he mighty for, independently of his own stern re- 
 gard to the strictest principles of truth and honesty, 
 it ai)peared that neither the initials nor the name 
 corresponded with his own, his name being Philip 
 Beaver, and that of the person who actually wrote the 
 letter in question was Robert Bloj/e; the initials 
 at the bottom being R. B., and not P. 13, Such 
 is the caution necessary in a public accusation_, and 
 such the possibility of error, even in a department 
 which is justly praised for its general correctness. 
 
 It may^ however^ be proper to record his own 
 manly sentiments upon this occasion. Being rallied 
 by a relation, upon the warmth with which he every 
 where repelled this unmerited allegation, and that 
 so serious a defence, upon so slight a charge, might 
 be thought, by illiberal persons, to partake of the 
 mock heroic, he properly answered, " No man 
 can be too careful of character ; such an accusation 
 might have been whispered at a future time, but 
 its utter falsehood is now placed on record." 
 
 Lord Keith being appointed to command on the 
 Mediterranean station, applied for Mr, Beaver to
 
 l'-24 THE LITE OF 
 
 resume his did situation on board the Foudroyant^ 
 for he liad now become noted as the best first 
 lieutenant in the service. From some cause or 
 other, not explained^ but resulting- perhaps from 
 the late mutiny^ he found that ship in such a state 
 of insubordination, that three days after joining 
 her^ he writes — " What confusion every where ! 
 one would suppose that we were manned from the 
 Glory ; last night we had all but lost the ship — this 
 will never do." Soon afterwards he exclaims, 
 " Are the officers going to copy the men ? We 
 have here so many for promotion, that few are left 
 for plain duty ; we had just now nearly run over a 
 brig, but where from, or whither bound, the Lord 
 knows — a pretty look out for a smart ship." 
 
 It should be here premised,, that this captious 
 tone mio-ht rise, in some measure, from the view 
 which the writer, as a first lieutenant selected ex- 
 pressly to carry on all the detail duties, took of the 
 state of the ship. Indeed, it must be candidly ad- 
 mitted, that with a zeal sometimes bordering upon 
 heat, his rigidly exact notions did not always 
 (juadrate with those of his messmates. He took 
 umbrage at an apparent levity, not unusual in a 
 Hag ship, where youths of powerful interest are 
 brought together rather to accept than to earn 
 commissions; and having determined to act up to 
 what he considered the punctilio of service, he
 
 CAPTAIN I'll 11.11' i5EAvr:n. 125 
 
 broiio'ht Lord Coclii'anc, despite (jf his influence 
 with the Commandei- in-chief, to a court martial, 
 for faiUng- in personal respect towards him. Tlie 
 frivoHty of excessive nicety about scrul)bin£>- decks^ 
 squarino- yards^ burnishing- arms, polishing- stan- 
 chions, flying kites, and reefing- to a second of 
 time, he despised, and perhaps justly; but he 
 deemed every breach of olUcial decorum too dan- 
 g-erous an inroad upon our truly Spartan system of 
 discipline, to be overlooked. 
 
 On their arrival off Cadiz the flag was removed 
 into the Barlleui-, a change greatly to the satisfac- 
 tion of our ollicer, as he found her in a higher 
 state of regulation than he could hope to have g-ot 
 the Foudroyant into for some time. While watch- 
 ing- the Spanish fleet, the Brest di\ision, under 
 Bruix, were seen steering- in for the land on the 
 4th of May, 1799. The weather was very squally 
 and hazy. *^ There we were," it is Beaver who 
 speaks, '^ with the Spaniards on one side and the 
 French on the other ; but we had a compact and 
 well-disciplined force, with which, though less 
 than a third in number of the enemies' on either 
 hand, the admiral instantly oftered battle." A 
 furious uale scattered both fleets in the nioht, so 
 that at day-break on the 5th, only four sail of 
 the French were to be seen : chase was imme- 
 diately given, but the wind and sea being dead on
 
 126 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the shore^ tlic pursuit was incfibctual. Indeed the 
 preservation of his ships became an object of pe- 
 culiar solicitude to the commander-in-chief, — with 
 an enemy's lee shore on one hand, and the force 
 of the Atlantic ocean on the other : — 
 
 " Some monstrous billow now the vessel heaves. 
 Which seems a moment to surmount the waves ; 
 When the wild prospect, far as sight may roam, 
 Is raging mountains interspersed with foam." 
 
 Lord Keith joined the Queen Charlotte on the 
 13th of June^ and on the 19th the squadron captured 
 three French frigates and two corvettes under the 
 command of Rear-admiral Perr6^ as they were re- 
 turning from a cruize on the coast of Syria. Beaver 
 was now selected to carry these ships into Port 
 Mahon ; on the accomplishment of which he was 
 advanced to command the Dolphin, of forty-four 
 guns. Those only who have toiled through the 
 service^ can estimate the feeling with which this 
 important step of promotion is received ; nor was 
 it the less acceptable to our officer from the hand 
 of his friendly patron. 
 
 Captain Beaver commanded the Dolphin about 
 two months, and then left her to join the Aurora, 
 a frigate armed '' en flute." In this ship he 
 remained from the 13th of September until the 6th 
 of March, 1800^ when, being pressed by the 
 admiral to return to him for a specified service, 
 
 I
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BKAVEU. 127 
 
 he embarked on board the Phoenix for that pur- 
 pose. On the passag-e to Leg-horn, the Mutine 
 met them with the distressing- tidings of tlie de- 
 struction of the noble Queen Cliarlotte by (ire ; in 
 which dreadful cakunity, he with anguish heard 
 that six hundred and seventy-tln'ee of his late 
 shipmates had perished ! Some of his friends 
 considered his absence at this moment to have 
 been a fortunate escape ; but others, well acquainted 
 Tvith the circumstances, thought that, had he been 
 present, the accident would not have occurred, 
 because he never permitted hay to be pressed on 
 board : a practice to which her loss was generally 
 attributed. 
 
 About a week after this melancholy disaster we 
 find our hero complimented by Lord Keith in the 
 following general order: — " Havingjudgedit neces- 
 sary to call upon Philip Beaver, Esq., Commander 
 of his Majesty's prison-ship Aurora, to assist me 
 in the detailed duties of the command, the respec- 
 tive captains and commanders are hereby required 
 to pay the same attention to the orders, directions, 
 and memorandums, issued in my name, as if they 
 proceeded immediately from myself.' This un- 
 precedented appointment of a junior ollicer, as 
 assistant-captain to the Mediterranean fleet, a 
 situation equal to that of a rear-admiral, excited a 
 little jealousy ; but few were equal to the wcari-
 
 12 8 THE LIFE OF 
 
 some mimitia) of its complicated arrang-ement,, 
 and as no objection could be made to the skilful 
 and zealous execution of it^ such prejudices soon 
 died away. 
 
 At this moment Captain Beaver addressed an 
 enero-etic letter to one of his old and favorite 
 messmates, abounding- with such valuable strictures 
 on personal conduct^ that it is to be regretted 
 motives of delicacy forbid the full insertion of it. 
 He apprizes him of its being generally whispered, 
 that he drank and slept during his watch_, and adds 
 most friendly hints of the danger and ruin attendant 
 upon such misconduct. '^ Say not/' he exclaims, 
 '' ' you don't care/ for one of the strongest proofs 
 of the inward monitor being off duty, is a dis- 
 regard to the opinion of your companions. You 
 have been well educated, and pride yourself on 
 your acquirements ; — but remember, if you permit 
 such vices to sap them, your boasted talents only 
 become as gay colours upon a reptile. If you 
 thiidv my comments free, pray, on the score of 
 friendship, forgive them ; if they prove disagree- 
 able, commit them to the flames ; but the motives 
 with which I act, must be accepted as sufficient 
 justification for the intrusion." 
 
 In Ai)ril, Captain Beaver was intrusted with an 
 arduous and honourable service — no less than the 
 bombardment of the magnificent city of Genoa,
 
 CAPTAIN I'llILU' bEAVKll. 129 
 
 uhich was occupied by Masscna willi Iweiity-fuur 
 thousand French tro()i)S, the residue of the famous 
 army with which J^uonapartc liad overrun Italy. 
 A powerful Austiian force, under Mehis, havinir- 
 advanced simultaneously alono- the shores, partly 
 protected by British broadsides, the enemy was 
 now besieg-ed by sea and land. Tlie judicious 
 measures of our ollicer, with the fury of his fire, 
 excited the greatest consternation in the city, and 
 gave our allies, on the hills, tlie most animating- 
 courage, in the contiinial skirmishes which took 
 place. Indeed, the scene has been described as 
 beautifully terrilic ; for the palaces rising gradually 
 from the sea beach, were rendered awfully visible 
 by the explosions of the shells, and the (lames of 
 the vessels burnt in the harbour : — 
 
 " Hnijt' piles of smoke in cuiliiiij volumes rise, 
 Obscure the seas, and cUuken all the skies ; 
 Save where the flash illumes the sev"ring cloud, 
 Gleams round the mast, or quivers through the shroud. 
 Now through the gloom some stately vessel rears. 
 Now half disclosed her painted form appears ; 
 There crash the stayless masts, and strew the deck, 
 And leave the shatter'd hull a helpless wreck." 
 
 A very brilliant exploit, performed by Captain 
 Beaver on the night of the 21st of May, is thus 
 described by his commander-in-chief: — " By pri- 
 vate intelligence from Genoa, I understood the 
 
 K
 
 130 THE LIFE OF 
 
 French had resolved on boarding- our flotilla in 
 any future attempt to bombard the town ; and 
 yesterday, about twelve o'clock, a very large galley, 
 a cutter, three armed settees, and several gun- 
 boats, appeared in array off the Mole-head, and in 
 the course of the afternoon exchanged distant 
 shot with some of the ships as they passed them. 
 At sun-set they took a position under the guns of 
 the moles and the city bastions, which were 
 covered with men manifesting a determined resist- 
 ance. I nevertheless arranged every thing for a 
 fourth bombardment, as formerly, under the direc- 
 tion of Captain Philip Beaver, of the Aurora, 
 who left the Minotaur at nine p.m., attended by the 
 gun and mortar vessels and the armed boats of 
 the ships. About one o'clock, being arrived at a 
 proper distance for commencing his fire, a brisk 
 cannonade was opened upon the town, which was 
 returned from various parts ; and Captain Beaver 
 having discovered, by the flashes of some guns, 
 that they were directed from something nearly 
 level with the water, judiciously concluded that 
 they proceeded from some of the enemy's armed 
 vessels. Calling a detachment of the ships' boats 
 to his assistance, he made directly to the spot, 
 and, in a most gallant and spirited manner, under 
 a smart fire of cannon and musketry from the 
 moles and enemy's armed vessels, attacked,
 
 CAPTAIN rilIMP Br.AVF.n. 131 
 
 boarded, carried^ and broiif^lit oiniieir larfrcst gal- 
 ley. La Prima, of fifty oars and two hundred and 
 lifty-seven men, armed, besides muskets, pistols, 
 cutlasses, &c., with two brass guns of thirty-six 
 pounds, having about thirty brass swivels in her 
 hold, and commanded by Captain Patrizio Gal- 
 leano. The bombardment suflered no material 
 interruption, but was continued till day-light this 
 morning, when the Prima was safely brought off: 
 her extreme length is one hundred and iiftv-nine 
 feet, and her breadth twenty-three feet six inches. 
 On our part four seamen oidy have been wounded ; 
 one belonging to this ship, in the boat with Cap- 
 tain Beaver ; one belonging to the Pallas ; and 
 the other two to the Haerlem. The enemy's loss is 
 not exactly known ; but one man was found dead 
 on board, and fifteen wounded. The satisfaction 
 which I derive from considering the zeal, activity, 
 and gallantry with which this sendee has been 
 performed, is greatly augmented by the flattering 
 testimony borne by Captain Beaver to the good 
 conduct of the officers and seamen who acted with 
 him on this occasion." 
 
 The detachment with which Captain Beaver 
 attacked La Prima, consisted often boats, contain- 
 ing, between them, about one hundred olliccrs 
 and men. \\ hile these were proceeding, with all 
 possible silence, hoping to approach undiscovered
 
 132 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ill the prevailing darkness, a Genoese gun-vessel^ 
 stationed between the two mole-heads, opened 
 her fire upon them. Every moment's delay now 
 adding to the danger, the boats dashed on towards 
 their object. On arriving alongside, a new obstacle 
 presented itself : the gangway or gunwale of the 
 galley projected three feet and upwards from the 
 side of the hull, and was strengthened by a strong 
 barricade, along the summit of which the brass 
 swivels mentioned by Lord Keith were occa- 
 sionally mounted. As an additional obstruction 
 to the British, her oars were fixed in their places 
 ready for use ; with the looms secured to the 
 benches, or thwarts. Thus, with a crew of two 
 hundred and fifty-seven men, exclusive of the 
 galley-slaves on board. La Prima, even had she 
 not been guarded by numerous batteries, would 
 have been a formidable object of attack. All this, 
 however, was of no avail. The first entrance was 
 made amid-ships on the starboard side, in the most 
 courageous manner, by a boat of the Haerlem, 
 under the command of Mr. John Caldwell, mid- 
 shipman, who was promptly seconded by three 
 other pinnaces. In the mean time the crews of 
 the Minatour's cutter, and Vestal's launch, gallantly 
 led by Beaver, and supported by the remaining 
 boats, had clambered up the images on the quarter 
 to carry the poop, where a considerable number of
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVru. 133 
 
 French troops had assembled. After a desperate 
 struggle, liand to hand, our captain and his brave 
 tars succeeded in their attempt ; the greater part 
 of their opponents jumping overboard on one side 
 as they secured a footing on the other. Almost 
 immediately afterwards a burgee, or broad trian- 
 gular pendant, the only flag flying on board La 
 Prima, was hauled down by Lieutenant Gibson, 
 and all finther resistance ceased. The boats were 
 immediately ordered a-head to tow ; and the slaves, 
 with seeming cheerfulness, manned their sweeps, 
 crying out, in broken English, '^ Got bless do 
 King of Gibbelterra!" 
 
 La Prima was quickly cleared from the chains 
 by which she had been moored to the mole, and 
 began moving towards the entrance of the harbour, 
 under a tremendous fire of shot, shell, and mus- 
 ketry ; the latter from a numerous body of troops, 
 which were drawn up on the mole-head, round 
 which she passed within ten yards, sustaining no 
 greater loss than what has been mentioned already. 
 Captain Beaver quitted her soon after, in order to 
 acquaint Lord Keith with his success, and the 
 command devolved on Lieutenant Gibson. Before 
 she had got quite out of gun-shot, an alarm was 
 raised of fire below : Mr. Gibson instantly rushed 
 down, and found a half drunken Genciese, with a 
 light and a crow-bar, in the act of breaking open
 
 134 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the door of the powder magazhie, for the puipose, 
 as he unhesitatingly deckued, of blowing- up the 
 vessel ! Had the wretch succeeded in his diabolical 
 attempt, between four and five hundred persons 
 might have perished. Not being a vessel adapted 
 for the British navy, the prize was sold to the 
 Sardinians, for the comparatively small sum of 
 fifteen thousand dollars. 
 
 Botta, the Italian historian, draws a frightful 
 picture of the calamities which befel Genoa during 
 this siege. Even before the last extremities ar- 
 rived, a pound of rice sold for five shillings, and a 
 pound of flour for eight. Afterwards beans were 
 sold for a penny each, and a biscuit of three ounces 
 weight, when procurable, for ten shillings. A 
 little cheese, and a few vegetables, were the only 
 nourishment given to the sick and wounded in the 
 hospitals. Men and women, in the last agonies of 
 despair, filled the air with their groans and shrieks. 
 Sometimes, while uttering these dreadful cries, 
 they strove with furious hands to tear out their 
 ravening entrails, and fell dead in the streets. 
 Children, left by the death of their parents in utter 
 destitution, with mournful gestures, and tears^ and 
 heart-broken accents, implored the passing stran- 
 ger ; but none either pitied them, or aided them ; 
 the excess of his own anguish extinguishing in 
 each man's breast compassion for the misery of
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 135 
 
 others. But cruel and liorrible beyond all descrip- 
 tion was the spectacle presented by the Austrian 
 prisoners of war, confined in certain old vessels, 
 anchored in the j)ort ; for such was the dire neces- 
 sity at last, that for some days they were left with- 
 out nutriment of any description ! They ate their 
 shoes, they devoured the leather of their pouches, 
 and, scowlino' darkly at each other, their sinister 
 glances betrayed the horrid fear of being- at last 
 reduced to a revolting- resource. In the end their 
 French guards were removed, under the api)re- 
 hension that they mig-ht be made the sacrifice of 
 ravening- hung-er : so great, at last, was their des- 
 peration, that they endeavoured to scuttle their 
 floating prisons, in order to sink them ; preferring 
 to perish thus, rather than any longer endure the 
 tortures of famine. As commonly happens, a 
 mortal pestilence was added to the ravages of 
 dearth ; malignant fevers carried off crowds from 
 the public hospitals, the lowly hovels of the poor, 
 and the superb palaces of the rich. " Such," 
 adds Botta, *^' was the state of the once potent and 
 joyous Genoa; and the bitterest thought of all 
 was, that her present sufferings could conduce 
 nothing to her future good, either as to her liberty 
 or her independence." 
 
 The French army, being thus in absolute starva-
 
 136 THE UlE OF 
 
 tion, and ilicir distress heJolitcncd to horror, by 
 the lamentable clamours of the famishing- inhabi- 
 tants, and the terrors of bombardment, they were 
 obliocd, in the beginning- of June, to accept of a 
 capitulation. Captain Beaver was selected to treat 
 on the part of the English, under another flattering 
 proof of Lord Keith's unlimited confidence. "^ Lest 
 any difficulty/' says his lordship, "should be started 
 in your conferences with the French oiFicers, who 
 may be appointed by Marshal Massena, respecting 
 your want of authority, I hereby empower you to 
 conclude the negotiation in my name, knowing 
 that you are in full possession of my sentiments 
 and intentions, and fully confiding in your fidelity 
 and integrity. And I shall ratify, without delay, 
 all the articles to which, in conjunction with his 
 Excellency Licutenant-General Baron d'Ott, you 
 may accede." 
 
 Little has transpired as to the discussions of this 
 negotiation ; but it appears that the arrogant style 
 of the republicans was well met by the manly deci- 
 sion of Beaver. A French account remarks, that 
 'Mhe English Captain, Bivera, answered, 7ion! non! 
 to every thing ; the Austrian general was more 
 polite." Massena was most urgent to retain some 
 small craft, for " having taken all our ships," 
 said he, " a few boats are beneath your notice."
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVEll. 137 
 
 It seems that Lord Keith afterwards softened Caj)- 
 taui Beaver's " no,"" and that Massena used these 
 very boats to smugg-le away his phmder. 
 
 Our officer's anxious services were now rewarded 
 by bein<»- made the bearer of the dispatches ; and 
 we may reasona1)ly imag-ine that, after the success- 
 ful issue of such a series of iin[)ortaiit events, so 
 implicitly confided to his direction, the prospects 
 he drew of futurity were tinted with the brightest 
 hues ; but_, alas, how short-sighted is man, and 
 how evanescent is the glow of puJ)lic life .' Even 
 his mission to England, which was intended as an 
 honour, unluckily proved of little use to him. 
 Captain Beaver landed at Leghorn, and, altliough 
 he exerted all possible expedition across the con- 
 tinent, the necessary detour to avoid the French 
 armies, in his route to Cuxhavcn, gave time, not 
 only for the fatal battle of Marengo to be fought, 
 but also for the account of it to reach England be- 
 fore him. Arriving at the Admiralty, exhausted with 
 fatigue, he found his dispatches were of no impor- 
 tance, as government could not even aimounce the 
 capture of a place, known to be again in the hands 
 of the enemy. This was not the worst, for he re- 
 turned to Lord Keith, without either his expected 
 post commission, or the gift usual on such occa- 
 sions. Happy the country, and noble the profes-
 
 138 THE LIFE OF 
 
 sion^ possessing" men^ whom such chiUing" coldness 
 does not ahenate from either ! 
 
 " Heav'n gave thee courage, not with impious rage 
 T oppress thy friends, and civil combats wage ; 
 But that thy soul with noble warmth might glow, 
 In fields of fight against the common foe." 
 
 The disappointed officer remained only a few 
 days in town, and by the 5th of July, being- exactly 
 one month from his leaving Genoa, was on board 
 the Endymion, for his passage out. Confidence 
 in his own exertions, and reliance on the Admiral's 
 patronage, fully persuaded him of future success ; 
 and he, therefore, on his arrival at Gibraltar, was 
 immediately united to a young lady, to whom he 
 had previously pledged his love. This happy event 
 he thus announced to his mother, from Minorca : 
 " I arrived here two days ago, and occupy my 
 former situation of assistant Captain of the Squa- 
 dron, In my way up, I was detained a fortnight at 
 Gibraltar, and took one of the most important 
 steps of my life. I was engaged to be married 
 there, before I joined Lord Keith the last time; 
 and you will, perhaps, be displeased at my not 
 having made you acquainted with my intention 
 before I left England. But I had made up my 
 mind on the subject, and knew your anxiety for 
 my happiness would, on your part, produce diffi-
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BHAVER. 130 
 
 cultics, wliicli I could not give way to. I fulfilled 
 my engag-omentj in doing which I sought hap])!- 
 uess, and trust I shall not be disappointed, llcr 
 name was Elliott, the daughter of an oflicer in the 
 navy, and sister of another." 
 
 We next find Captain Beaver before Cadiz^ 
 whence he writes on the 7th of October, — "^ we an- 
 chored off this place with a numerous flcet_, and a 
 very formidable army, under Sir Ralph Abcr- 
 crombie; and the appearance of upwards of one 
 hundred and fifty sail of ships struck the dons with 
 alarm. I have been over head and ears in plan- 
 ning operations, but we have, however, this day 
 given up every idea of landing, after having had 
 the first division of the troops actually in the boats. 
 Independent of the objection which a dreadful ma- 
 lady, called by some the plague, and by others the 
 yellow fever, opposed to our disembarking, the 
 late season of the year, the danger of the coast, 
 and the difiiculty of communication between the 
 soldiers and sailors, were deemed sufficient by the 
 two commanders in chief, to relinquish the attempt. 
 After Ferrol and Vigo, I suppose this will not be 
 relished at home. We are about runnino- back to 
 Tetuan bay, where, I trust, future operations will 
 be planned, more conducive to the honour and be- 
 nefit of our country." 
 
 It may be hoped that there was one more reason
 
 140 THE LIFE OF 
 
 for abandoning- tliis enterprise, and that tlie manly 
 and interesting appeal of de Morla, the Governor, 
 excited a generous sympathy in the breasts of the 
 British. " The affliction/' says he, '' which car- 
 ries off, in this city and its environs, thousands of 
 victims, and which threatens not to suspend its 
 ravao-es till it has cut off all who have hitherto 
 escaped, being calculated to excite compassion, it 
 is with surprise that I see the squadron under the 
 command of your Excellency come to augment the 
 consternation of the inhabitants. I have too exalted 
 an opinion of the humanity of the English people, 
 and of yours in particular, to think that you would 
 wish to render our condition more deplorable. 
 However, if in consequence of the orders you have 
 received, you are inclined to draw down upon 
 yourself the execration of all nations, to cover 
 yourself with disgrace in the eyes of the whole uni- 
 verse, by oppressing the unfortunate, and attack- 
 ing those who are supposed to be incapable of de- 
 fence, I declare to you, that the garrison under my 
 orders, accustomed to behold death with a serene 
 countenance, and to brave dangers much greater 
 than all the perils of war, know how to make re- 
 sistance, which shall not terminate but with their 
 entire destruction. I hope that the answer of your 
 Excellency will inform me, whether I am to speak 
 the language of consolation to the unfortunate in-
 
 CAPTAIN nilLIP HEAVl.R. 1 11 
 
 habitants, or whetliLM- I am to rouse them to iiidiir- 
 nation and revenge." 
 
 Fresh ardour was added to Captain Beaver's 
 zeal, by being- appointed to conunaud the llai^- sliip, 
 with post rank; and tlie patriotic wish expressed 
 in his letter from Cadiz, was now gratified, by an 
 expedition to expel the French from Egypt. 
 
 The armament left Malta on the 2 1st of October, 
 intending to tarry at Rhodes, or Makri, for the gun- 
 boats, horses, and forces, promised on the part of 
 the Porte ; but the tempestuous weather rendered 
 both those places unfit for so large a fleet. For- 
 tunately, in this dilemma, a note from Sir Sidney 
 Smith informed them of Marmoritsa, a superb har- 
 bour between those two, capable of receiving- all 
 the navies of Europe. To this place, till then un- 
 known to modern navigation, they steered; but 
 so narrow was the entrance, that it could scarcely 
 be distinguished till the ships were actually running- 
 in. This was a moment of awful suspense — the 
 scene was mai»*nificent from its mountainous nature, 
 and grandeur of scale; whilst a hundred vessels 
 under sail, amidst heavy squalls, and deafening 
 peals of thunder, imparted an indescribable degree 
 of interest. 
 
 " This port really proved a God-send," says the 
 Captain in a letter of the 22d of February, ISOl ; 
 " and the speedy transition from a heavy-rolling- 
 sea, to water as smooth as a mill-[)ond, gave a
 
 142 THE LIFE OF 
 
 gladness to the harassed troops, \vhich it is difTi- 
 ciilt to conceive. We have since had abundance 
 of leisure to rehearse our intended landings for it 
 was not till the middle of January that the promised 
 Turkish supplies arrived ; and you will imagine our 
 vexation on linding absolutely nothing to hope from 
 their co-operation. Their ships are disorderly ; their 
 gun-boats are in want of repairs and stores ; and 
 worse than all, the horses which we have been so 
 long waiting for, are particularly unfit for use: our 
 poor dragoons groaned dismally^ when they saw 
 such pitiful Rosinantes provided for them. We 
 have, in consequence, lost much valuable time, and 
 I suppose the enemy gets intelligence of our mo- 
 tions, for we are at no great distance from Egypt. 
 In the interim, I have had an opportunity of brush- 
 ing up the old Foudroyant, and I trust it is ac- 
 knowledged she is no longer a privateer. 
 
 "^ On the 10th of this month we were visited by 
 a tremendous gale from the S.E., the violent gusts 
 of which gave us full reason to be thankful that we 
 were in such a place as Marmaris ; for during two 
 days it was almost one continued hail-storm, and 
 fragments, the size of bullets, kept up a spray over 
 the whole harbour. The fleet now amounted to 
 upwards of a hundred and eighty sail, and yet, 
 with the exception of the Victorieuse losing her 
 fore-mast and bowsprit, the Vestal her mizcn-mast,
 
 CAPTAIxN PHILIP BEAVER. 113 
 
 and tlic Cruellc lier bowsprit^ none of tlic-mcii-of 
 war have sustained any damage. Several, indeed^ 
 l)artcd^ and a few drove, while some transports and 
 small craft ran on the Ijeach ; but the event afforded 
 an admirable proof of the unrivalled excellence of 
 the anchorage. The heroic Sir Sidney Smith, who, 
 from his local knowledge of the Levant, is a valu- 
 able addition to our armament, having joined us 
 in the Tigre, we are all now under W'eigh, and in 
 anticipation of immediate success." 
 
 A tempestuous passage of a week brought the 
 fleet within sight of Alexandria; and by noon ofihe 
 2d of March, they were all at anchor in Abookeer 
 Bay, Nelson's late scene of incomparable glory. 
 The weather continued so squally, that, for some 
 days_, nothing could be attempted, and the enemy 
 was thereby afforded sufficient time to fortify the 
 coast. Meanwhile Captain Beaver, in whom full 
 confidence was reposed by both the commanders, 
 was incessantly employed in shifting the soldiers 
 from the men-of-war, into polacres, and other craft, 
 in-shore ; and in arranging the preparations for the 
 intended disembarkation. 
 
 At length, on the 8th of March, the wind having 
 subsided, the decisive movement was made. " At 
 two o'clock in the raorn^" says our gallant officer, 
 '^ the signal was made for the troops to prepare to 
 land, and_, at three^ for them to put off, and go to the
 
 144 
 
 THE LIFE OF 
 
 appointed rendezvous. At daylight but few boats 
 had arrived; they were, however^ mostly coming- 
 up ; 1 did my utmost to second the wishes of 
 Sir Ralpli, but it was not till after eig-ht that 
 they were arranged in tolerable order. A signal 
 was now thrown out for the whole to advance^, 
 while the Tartarus and Fury bombs^, with all the 
 covering- vessels, began throwing shells and shot, 
 to discompose the enemy, and draw their fire from 
 the troops in the boats. This, however, was in 
 vain, for the French, who occupied the whole front 
 shore with field-pieces, flanked by a castle on the 
 right, and a very heavy gun on the left, kept up a 
 furious fire. Our lads moved admirably in a com- 
 pact, awful, and formidable line, direct to the ob- 
 ject; but a worse place for the attempt could 
 scarcely have been chosen — instead of the margin 
 of a flat plain, as expected, the beach was under a 
 steep hill, bristled with artillery. The opposing 
 cavalry, which did not appear to be lunnerous, were 
 in constant motion ; and from the time that the 
 boats were within half a mile of the shore, till the 
 landing was effected, at about five minutes after 
 nine o'clock, the enemy's fire was so animated and 
 galling, that the sea was literally covered with 
 spray, from the shot of their incessant discharges. 
 Many a fine fellow breathed his last while cheering 
 for his country's glory!
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 145 
 
 cc 
 
 Our centre and ri^lit leaped on shore, and 
 formino-, witli great ra[)idity, marched briskly np 
 the sand-hills with apparently but little ojjposilion. 
 The left^ however, was vigorously attacked while 
 getting- out of the boats^ and never did form or 
 show front to the enemy ; but they sustained a 
 close action for a quarter of an hour with cool 
 gallantry, and cut oti" the cavalry to a man. Still 
 they must have given way, had it not been for a 
 column from our centre, which wheeled to their 
 supi)ort. The French, from that moment, began 
 to retire along the border of the lake, and never 
 after kept their ground, except for a few minutes, 
 behind a bush, or a sand hill, till they were com- 
 pletely out of sight. Meantime we rowed from 
 point to point, endeavouring to render succour ; 
 and at eleven o'clock, having sent most of the 
 wounded to the hospital-ships, I returned with the 
 Admiral to the Foudroyant. 
 
 ^' A considerable degree of firmness and spirit," 
 continues the captain, " was displayed on both 
 sides in this contest ; we, however, landed at a 
 very injudicious spot ; and the French general, I 
 think, wanted judgment. His artillery was planted 
 skilfully, and well served ; but, when the boats 
 were within sixty yards of the shore, he should 
 have marched down his whole force, and, from 
 high-water mark, opposed the disembarking. Had 
 
 L
 
 146 THE LIFE OP 
 
 this been clone with the lequisite nerve^ he would^ 
 in my opinion^ have defeated us ; and it certainly 
 was the only chance he had of rendering- our 
 attempt abortive^ for when did Britons care for 
 grape shot ?" 
 
 Without entering- minutely into the well-known 
 details of this expedition,, it may suffice to notice^ 
 that Captain Beaver had so diligently arranged 
 the naval communications^ as to draw from Sir 
 Ralph Abercrombie the remark, that ^' all his 
 wants were anticipated as if by magic." But 
 some departments of supply were not under his 
 control, and the consequences nearly proved fatal. 
 ^'On the 2Ist of March/' he writes, "a little 
 before daylight, the French made an attack on 
 our lines with their whole force. The principal 
 effort was directed against a fleche thrown up in 
 front of our right wing, where they even pene- 
 trated into the rear ; but the steady and deter- 
 mined valour of our excellent soldiers frustrated 
 every attempt, and they were finally driven back 
 with immense loss. The proud Invincibles marched 
 to the charge nine hundred strong, but of this 
 boasted legion not one returned, nearly seven 
 hundred being bayonetted in a ruin, and the rest 
 taken prisoners. This battle was fought under 
 two very extraordinary circumstances : the British 
 were for a long time without ammunition, even so
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 147 
 
 much so as to be reduced to throw stones ; niid 
 the Frencli, incredible as it may seem, were ail 
 drunk ! Now, had the latter been cool and sober, 
 they must have defeated us, for they had the 
 advantage of choosing the point of attack with 
 their whole strength ; and, on the other hand, if 
 the English had been properly supplied, they must 
 have cut the enemy to pieces." 
 
 In the afternoon, General Abercrombie was con- 
 veyed on board the Foudroyant, mortally wounded. 
 The deepest solicitude was manifested, by all 
 ranks, on this distressing event ; and in the even- 
 in"" Beaver received a note from General Moore, 
 earnestly requesting his opinion : — " Independ- 
 ently of my own anxiety," says he, *^ to know how 
 Sir Ralph is, I am led to trouble you, at the 
 desire of Colonel Abercrombie. General Oakes, 
 and myself, have just arrived on board the Diadem ; 
 our wounds, both in the leg, are not very bad, 
 but such as to disable us for some days from our 
 duty, and we thought it gave us a better chance 
 of speedy recovery to come here, than to remain 
 where we were, useless on shore. The business 
 of this day has fairly proved the superiority of our 
 troops over the French ; and their loss is very 
 great. The contest was so severe, that little of 
 the humanity, which mitigates the usual horrors of 
 warfare, was shewn. Besides those wounded, three 
 
 L 2
 
 148 * THE LIFE OF 
 
 of their g-enerals were killed outright. Letters 
 found iu the field, from Menou^ to one of them, 
 prove that their whole force is now concentrated ; 
 and they contain oilier curious matter^ amongst 
 which we see an order to ' beat us^, and bundle us 
 into the sea.' General Hutchinson is preparing 
 for another attack^ and each brigade is employed 
 in fortifying its own front. Guns and ammunition_, 
 of which we were so wofuUy in want this morning, 
 are forwarding ; and if the foes venture again, it 
 is to be hoped they will suflfer at least as much as 
 they did to-day. Have the goodness to remember 
 me kindly to Sir Ralph, to whom some of these 
 particulars may be interesting." 
 
 Two days after this battle^ Beaver was despatched 
 to examine the approaches to Rosetta, by the lakes, 
 and establish a garrison in the karavansera : his 
 orders on the occasion being accompanied by a 
 considerate hint from the admiral — "■ Be cautious." 
 This intimation of danger was corroborated, on 
 the 26th of March, by the following communica- 
 tion from Sir Sidney Smith : — "^ I heard yesterday, 
 from Lord Keith, that you were windbound at the 
 Maison (|uarree, and that you had been recon- 
 noitred ; if so, I conceive it probable you may be 
 attacked and obliged to retire ; I therefore send 
 Hillyar with five flat-bottomed boats, to get as 
 near as possible to your rear, and either supply
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP P.KAVri!. 149 
 
 support, or bring- you off. I also despatch a party 
 of two hundred Turks, with a piece of cannon, to 
 protect the village of Edko, which has been me- 
 naced by the French for having had intercourse 
 with you. The Ottoman fleet is here, and I must 
 procure lemons from somewhere, to aflord the 
 usual refreshment to the numerous visitors I shall 
 have to receive. This is the more essential, as 
 sherbet is the finale of a Turkish visit, and its in- 
 troduction is the polite way of saying one has had 
 enough of their company. Nothing at the camp 
 but stag-nation. The first act of the Holland 
 campaign was well commenced ; and all the world 
 knows, that if Sir Ralph could have acted as he 
 wished, the end might have been as glorious as 
 the beginning. Political causes paralyzed his 
 ettbrts there, as, alas ! physical ones do now. If 
 any thing lay in my power, I would proceed to 
 take the fertile tracts of the Delta, which would 
 make the capital dependant upon us for food. I 
 doubt much whether Menou could prevail on his 
 army to attempt re-conquering such districts from 
 Turks, natives, and English combined ; and they 
 would be the first, as at Malta, to cry out when 
 they were hungry. Taking- Egypt gives us Alex- 
 andria ; but the taking of Alexandria does not 
 yield us Egypt : — this is my opinion, long ago dis- 
 tinctly expressed, and still the same. I ho[)e when
 
 150 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the Turkish fleet has sailed you wifl contrive to walk 
 over this ground with me, and see the advantage 
 we should derive by making a second lake^ as 
 good as this^ for all the purposes of barrier to the 
 enemy, and navigation to us. I should rather say 
 a third lake, for I mean the Mareotis, at the back 
 of Alexandria, now dry, but which I find to be nine 
 feet eight inches below the level of these waters." 
 From a letter of the 7th of April_, the cap- 
 tain's impatience and dissatisfaction may be 
 traced ; though, perhaps, his own indefatigable 
 activity led him to expect the same from others. 
 ^'^We are now off Alexandria, looking out for 
 Gantheaume^ who, it is rumoured, sailed on the 
 19th of last month to relieve this place. You will 
 learn, by the despatches which the Flora carries 
 home, that our troops have done everything that 
 could be effected by bravery ; but * * * * * 
 It is to be lamented, that the intelligence of Sir 
 Sidney Smith is not brought into full play, though 
 he is idolized by the soldiers and sailors ; but, in 
 the jealous race for renown, what should excite 
 only honourable emulation, is often displaced by a 
 degree of callous feeling, very closely allied to 
 envy. Since the battle of the 21st, instead of 
 advancing on the tide of success, while the enemy 
 were dispirited, our army has remained strongly 
 encamped about four miles from Alexandria.
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 151 
 
 The French are outside the Rosetta gate, and a 
 gently-declinino- valley intervenes between the two 
 positions. In this valley the outposts frequently 
 converse, whence we find the French g-enerals are 
 at variance ; and that Abdalla Menou, who, with 
 the profligate ease of a revolutionist, changed his 
 religion as readily as a coat, or a king, displays 
 the same imbecility which may be found not far 
 from him. The vizier is smoking his pipe some- 
 where, I believe, on the confines of Palestine ; 
 and the expected army, from India, is adrifl in the 
 Red Sea ; in short, all our operations drag along 
 with a more than Turkish languor. ***** 
 There is one general with us, who seems to 
 unite talent with intrepidity, but he is one of the 
 youngest, and, unfortunately for his country, 
 wonnded : his name is Moore." 
 
 Weary of the monotony of his station, Beaver 
 obtained permission to exchange ships with Cap- 
 tain J. C. Searle, and three days afterwards, made 
 himself very conspicuous in rescuing the crew of 
 the Iphigenia, a frigate which had accidentally 
 caught fire : all efforts, however, to save her 
 were vain, for she burnt with such awful rapidity, 
 as to blow up with a tremendous explosion, in 
 less than an hour. 
 
 An interesting letter of the lOth of June, to his 
 sister, who has obligingly all()\Ned me to make 
 the following extracts, gives a lively picture of
 
 152 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Egyptian affairs: '^ Lord Keith's kindness to 
 me has been unceasing. My new little vessel 
 is called the Determince, and to a person 
 not conversant with our service^ it would ap- 
 pear strange for a man to wish to give up the 
 command of a ship of eighty guns, for one of 
 only twenty-four. But in the former, playing 
 only second or third fiddle^ I could have little 
 prospect of distinction ; which is not the case in 
 the latter, and before the war concludes, as she 
 sails well, I may perchance fill an old leathern 
 bag. Though my new quarter-deck is diminu- 
 tive^ it is just as broad a highway to honour, 
 as that of a three-decker. * * * * * Things have 
 not gone on here so well as they ought ; indeed, 
 nothing could have been worse, for though the 
 French lines before Rosetta gate are evidently 
 too extensive to defend, and an attack therefore at 
 all times practicable, nothing has been attempted. 
 Even the French officers ridicule our tardiness, and 
 affect to despise our measures. Some inquiry 
 will, I suppose, hereafter take place. * * * * 
 The British aimy has languished, though a finer 
 one never was assembled ; and, in spite of the dis- 
 satisfaction of our great men with Sir Sidney 
 Smith, and the treaty of El Arish, appearances in- 
 dicate, that we shall be glad of similar terms, after 
 all this enormous labour, expense, and bloodshed. 
 * * * * Twice have we been on the eve of
 
 CAPTAIN rHILlP BEAVER. 153 
 
 laying- hands on Ganthcanmc, in liis thief-like pro- 
 gress up the Mediterranean." 
 
 The Deterntiinee being" sent to Constantinople, 
 with intelliofence from the armies, Lord El<>in an- 
 nounced, in a very friendly note, an intended 
 pecuniary gift from the Porte, of 2000 piastres 
 for the captain, and specified sums for the officers 
 and ship's company ; but, knowing Beaver's re- 
 pugnance to acce})ting money from a foreign power, 
 his lordship added, "^ I am well auare of the 
 awkwardness of this, but attempts which I have 
 made, on former occasions, to alter the practice^ 
 have proved unsuccessful, this being the esta- 
 blished etiquette. The matter, therefore, stands 
 thus : the Porte intend a politeness_, and this is the 
 known mode adopted by them," Notwithstand- 
 ing this liberal explanation, the captain refused to 
 countenance what he disapproved of, and he there- 
 fore declined the profTered favour for himself and 
 oflicers, but accepted the portion which was in- 
 tended for his crew. 
 
 That this delicacy of feeling was neither misun- 
 derstood, nor disregarded, e\en by Turks, was 
 soon proved in a second letter from Lord Elgin, 
 who, by unreserved communications on various 
 matters, appears to have placed the highest confi- 
 dence in the discretion of our ofllcer. " As tlie 
 Porte," says the ambassador, '' are particularly
 
 154 THE LIFE OF 
 
 anxious to pay a compliment to you^ both as Lord 
 Keith's former captain, and as the bearer of good 
 news from Grand Cairo, a diamond-box is pre- 
 pared for your acceptance, and a gold one for each 
 of your lieutenants. ' ' Besides this mark of favour. 
 Captain Beaver's services in Egypt were rewarded 
 with the medal of the Crescent ; for, by a curious 
 solecism, the Grand Signior had been induced to 
 institute an order of knighthood, as a mode of re- 
 warding his allies. 
 
 Between August, 1801, and the following May, 
 several cruizes were made in various parts of the 
 Mediterranean sea ; but the only result was, the 
 capture of a few insignificant vessels. The intel- 
 ligent mind of the captain, however, led him to 
 improve our acquaintance with the coasts and 
 ports which he visited ; for he was as scientific as 
 brave : 
 
 " Him science taught by mystic lore to trace 
 The planets wheeling in eternal race ; 
 To mark the ship in floating balance held, 
 By earth attracted, and by seas repell'd ; 
 Or point her devious track, through climes unknown, 
 That leads to every shore, and every zone." 
 
 The then state of the charts may be estimated 
 by such remarks as these : '' We are now working 
 up between the Sporades and Asia, but can put no 
 faith in the ' sea cards,' as none of the islands are
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 165 
 
 accurately i)laced, and many arc entirely omitted.*' 
 — "^ Tlie passage between Samos and the For- 
 miclie is disoracefully laid down." — "" The land 
 we marked last evening- for Cape Gallo^, mnst have 
 been Matapan, but the charts are all so infamous, 
 that it is impossible to ascertain where one is, 
 without running- close in." — ^' We are now off 
 Toro, which is placed at least thirteen miles south 
 of its proper latitude." 
 
 One of his remarks might be advantag-eously 
 adopted in most ships: ^^ What/' he observes, 
 '' has hitherto been called current, will hereafter 
 be termed error, whether it arise from current 
 only, (which is generally and ignorantly blamed 
 for all discrepancies of reckoning,) or from bad 
 steerage, neglect of the officer of the watch, humid 
 time-glasses, ill marking of the log-board, or from 
 all of these combined." 
 
 In a letter from Malta, he thus sums up the ac- 
 count of his proceedings : '^ My last cruize during 
 the war, from which I had every reason to expect 
 something handsome, terminated in nothing. It 
 commenced the very day that the prehminary arti- 
 cles of peace were signed, and an embargo which 
 immediately followed on the enemies' vessels, till 
 the cessation of hostilities, precluded all chance of 
 my taking any thing. On arriving at Minorca, I 
 learned that I had lost eleven hundred pounds,
 
 156 THE LIFE OF 
 
 freight money, by a new oovernment order, which 
 stops all payments on public monies; that sum 
 havin^^ been left unpaid, in consequence of the 
 death of poor Motz_, the Commissary-general. 
 Then, on coming- to Malta, I found that all my 
 plate, with every thing else necessary for house- 
 keeping, had been sent from England in the 
 Utile ; and that vessel has never been heard of 
 since her departure. These accumulated losses 
 have left me ' poor indeed.' " 
 
 The Determinee was now ordered to Ports- 
 mouth, and paid off on the 19th of May, 1802. 
 After passing a few weeks in town, the captain 
 purchased a house at Watford, in Hertfordshire, 
 where he proved that the busy scenes of former 
 years had not disqualified him foi- domestic quiet ; 
 and though " bounded in a nutshell," he found his 
 time fully occupied with his family, his books, his 
 cottage, and his half an acre of garden. His 
 mind, however, still veered towards Bulama, his 
 ^Mittle paradise;'' and, from an ofticial commu- 
 nication with the Under Secretary of State, the 
 command of two or three vessels, for African 
 colonization, appeared to be within his reach, 
 when the renewal of war closed the scheme. 
 
 This event caused him to regret having declined 
 a frigate, which was offered to him, after his return 
 to England; but his reason was judicious — an
 
 CAPTAIN PIIILIl' BEAVER. 157 
 
 absolute inability, in time of peace, to maintain a 
 family at home, and also support the expenses of a 
 table afloat. As a private individual, his habits 
 were far from expensive, and he lived ha})py and 
 contented under very moderate circumstances ; but 
 as a captain in the Royal Navy, which he esteemed 
 as one of the first ranks in society, he felt it due to 
 the service, that his establishment should be on a 
 proportionate scale of expense. I ndeed there was, 
 in the contrast between his public a!id private cha- 
 racter, a marked antithesis — for though totally de- 
 void of all personal, he had a good deal of profes- 
 sional pride ; and to acquit himself well in his du- 
 ties, seen or unseen, was the predominant princi- 
 ple of his conduct. Perhaps this is a national 
 characteristic : — no people love the glory of their 
 country more than the French ; it is a public stock, 
 of which each individual boasts his proportion ; — 
 in England, it is also a public fund, but w^e unhesi- 
 tatingly contribute to it our fortune, our talents, 
 our labour, and our lives. 
 
 Though he failed in obtaining a ship, the Ad- 
 miralty did not overlook Captain Beaver's offer of 
 service, and in July 1803, appointed him to com- 
 mand the Sea Fcncibles on the coast of Essex. 
 This district was considered a very important one ; 
 and he olHcially proved that, if he was allowed to 
 organize a flotilla, the block ships at the mouth of
 
 158 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the Thames would be uiterly useless. " I certainly 
 protest/' he says^ *^ those ten frioates at the Lower 
 Hope are thrown aw^ay; for no invader would^ of 
 course, land annong-st the marshes above them, and 
 moreover, the tide would be too strong for them 
 to keep their broadsides to bear, with springs." 
 One of the answers on this subject announced to 
 him the duties of the various officers of the esta- 
 blishment, and added, — " It is conceived you are 
 to act as volunteers, subject to the command of 
 juniors, but freely offering- advice to those not so 
 well informed as yourselves." Beaver's reply was 
 noble, — ^'^ From what you say of our rank while serv- 
 ing here, we shall hold no very enviable situation : 
 however, on the present occasion, as the tocsin is 
 sounded, I would even serve before the mast, rather 
 than be out of the w^ay, in a time of public danger; 
 but on affairs of less moment, I would refuse a 
 command, sooner than resign my right. I shall 
 therefore, since it is deemed necessary, act under 
 any junior officer, with all the good will, zeal, and 
 energy I am capable of." 
 
 Such deference was paid to his professional 
 knowledge, that he was confidentially consulted by 
 Admiral Markham, General Beckwith, and Sir 
 James Craig, on the threatened invasion ; and his 
 strictures are so clearly decisive, on certain points 
 of national impolicy, and from disdaining to tern-
 
 CAPTAIN rillLlP BEAVER. 
 
 159 
 
 I 
 
 porizc, expressed so strong-ly, that it is not advis- 
 able to publish them. 
 
 One of this observant officer's remarks, on arminfr 
 an nndiscipUned multitude, however, deserves in- 
 sertion, because, to our cost, we found tiie cfiect 
 of flags on the Polish lances. " People unaccus- 
 tomed to have shot flying about them, may feel 
 
 ather awkward when first going into battle, and 
 this awkward sensation is felt in proportion, not to 
 the danger, but to the exposure of person ; a goose 
 will put its head under its wing, or an ostrich hide 
 his in a bush, thinking they cannot be seen ; and 
 many rational bipeds, I am persuaded, breathe 
 more confidently, if there be only a canvass screen 
 between them and their antagonists. The Sea 
 Fencibles, many of whom have never seen an enemy, 
 armed only with pikes, may, I am apprehensive, 
 if there was a necessity for charging, feel rather 
 backward in advancing against musketry, totally 
 unsheltered, and without having fire arms to reta- 
 liate. Now, it seems that something like a shield, 
 made of scupper leather, and carried near the end 
 of the front rank pikes, would resist shot at the 
 distance of sixty yards, after which, if we charged 
 the foes quickly, they could not reload. This 
 shield should be of such a size, as eflectually to 
 cover the vital parts of the body ; and it would not 
 
 only inspire boldness in our unfleshed youths, but
 
 IGO THE LIFE OF 
 
 be likely, I think, from its novelty, to frig-hten the 
 cavalry, and intimidate the infantry of the enemy." 
 
 Meanwhile the men were trained, and such 
 arrangements made, as to draw from l^ord Keith a 
 testimony highly creditable to the Sea Fencibles 
 of the Essex district, which, he declared, ^* now 
 formed a respectable accession to the country's 
 means of defence." Indeed the Captain had very 
 earnestly applied himself to rouse and encourage 
 the spirit of the people in his command ; and had 
 handbills printed and circulated, prompting them 
 to hope that Buonaparte would realize his threat of 
 invasion, in order that he might find it was matter 
 of equal indifference to us, whether we fought 
 afloat or on shore. 
 
 It would be difficult to recall the impressions of 
 anxiety and alarm which prevailed in 1804, respect- 
 ing the flotilla at Boulogne. As Captain Beaver, 
 from his former residence there, was thoroughly ac- 
 quainted with the localities, he submitted a well- 
 concerted plan for the destruction of the French 
 craft, by carcasses, and offered to carry it into effect, 
 in person. Although this proposal was not then 
 deemed eligible, the Admiralty granted leave of ab- 
 sence, to affbrdhim an opportunity of reconnoitring; 
 and he sailed to the station in the Prospero bomb, 
 bearing various instructions from Lord Keith, toge- 
 ther with some valuable hints from Mr. N. Brown,
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEWER. 161 
 
 his Lordship's secretary. He appears to have exa- 
 mined tlie mouth of the harbour in a fisherman's 
 boat, but the report of liis examination is k)dg-ed in 
 the ofllicial archives of the Admiralty. 
 
 A whole nation arming, in defence of their 
 homes, was an insurmountable obstacle to the in- 
 tentions of Buonaparte, so that the pompous bra- 
 vado of invasion oradually subsided. Beaver, 
 therefore, now found time to arrang-e the *^^ African 
 Memoranda," or, as he called it, his " thing of 
 shreds and patches." Nor were his literary efforts 
 confined to the Bulama papers, for the state of po- 
 litics drew forth his opinions, and he was every- 
 where a firm opposer of the fallacious doctrines 
 then so widely diffused. '" No man of principle," 
 he exclaims, '* should ever submit his feelings and 
 conclusions to the theories of an enthusiast; and 
 the present mock-respectful tone assumed by some 
 of our leading men, as to the invincibility of our 
 enemy, his talent, and his perfection, should be most 
 contemptuously spurned ; for whatever he may be. 
 Old Enofland can readilv furnish men to match him. 
 Their declamation may gratify disaflfection and igno- 
 rance; but it will require something more like rea- 
 son to persuade the better classes." 
 
 A letter which he published in the Courier of the 
 16th of February, 1804, under the signature of 
 Nearchus, tended so generally to allay the appre- 
 
 M
 
 162 THE LIFE OF 
 
 liensions of the timid, that much curiosity was 
 excited as to the author. It is a fair specimen 
 of argumentative reasoning: he considers the 
 subject of a descent on our coasts, under three 
 heads, — the enemy's quitting their ports — their 
 crossing" the channel — and their landing-. Under 
 the first, he proves, from substantial data, the 
 utter impracticability of more than a fourth of the 
 required number effecting it in one tide ; under the 
 second, if they come in detached portions, with 
 British ships " which know no winter," we " de- 
 vour them like shrimps ;" and in the event of their 
 even overcoming both those obstacles, and "^ vomit- 
 ing their unhallowed crews upon our blessed shores, 
 they will be received there by the British army — 
 an army with which I have served in each quarter 
 of the globe ; I know its merits, I know its foibles, 
 I know it well; and am as fully convinced as I am 
 that I now write, that this army as far surpasses all 
 others in bravery, as British seamen surpass all 
 others in skill : to it I most willingly consign, with- 
 out the least fear of the consequence, all who may 
 land." 
 
 A period of more active service now approached, 
 for, after frequent and fruitless applications, he was 
 at length appointed to the Acasta, a forty-gun 
 frigate; and having sold his cottage at Watford, 
 and settled his wife and children at Swansea, in 
 Wales, he speedily got himself ready for sea.
 
 CAPTAIN I'HILIP BEAVER. 163 
 
 Previously to sailino- for the West Indies, lie 
 tlius expressed himself to his sister: — ^*^ Your hint 
 about my getting rich hurts me much, for I hate 
 money from the bottom of my soul, with the ex- 
 ception only of its enabling me to do good. Glory 
 and renown I love, but God knows whether it be not 
 too late for me to acquiie them. However,, what- 
 ever be my fate, and which, except as it concerns 
 my family, I neither wish to accelerate nor retard, I 
 trust I shall leave behind me a reputation^ pure and 
 unsullied. Though my services have not been 
 brilliant, I feel conscious that they have been useful 
 to my country. May it, I pray, never stand in need 
 of them; may I be the worst of her children, and 
 then, I say it with confidence, she will always be 
 great. But enough, — I shall never be disgraced 
 by being too anxious to get wealth." 
 
 He could little have anticipated how soon these 
 sentiments would be put to the proof; and that of 
 upwards of three thousand pounds prize-money, 
 whicli his vigilance procured on his new station, 
 he was to be defrauded of every shilling, through 
 Maxwell, the agent at Barbadoes, dying insol- 
 vent, 
 
 Our officer's customaiy foresight was displayed 
 on the voyage out, in the disposition and manage- 
 ment of the convoy under his charge; for he at- 
 tended to the benefit of the commercial interests of
 
 164 THE LIFE OF 
 
 his country as eagerly as he did to that of her martial 
 glory. Arriving at Barbadoes, it was discovered 
 that the stern frame of the Acasta was so loose, that 
 she was oblioed to be sent to Halifax for the neces- 
 sary repairs. " We were eight days/' says he, 
 " on this coast, without ever seeing it, as a thick fog 
 prevented our making the land ; however, when it 
 did clear up, we entered one of the finest harbours 
 I ever saw. I know of none more safe, or more 
 beautiful than this. The town of Halifax is well 
 built, the society is very good, and there cannot 
 be a more hospitable place in the world." 
 
 In an affectionate letter to Mrs. Beaver, of the 
 2d of September, 1807, he rejoices on returning 
 from an excursion just in time to catch the moment 
 of a schooner's sailing to England. " The dinner 
 is over, the card tables made up, and the dancing 
 begun ; I therefore seize the opportunity of retiring, 
 to write to all that I hold dear ; for I assure you, 
 my mind is oftener with you and the dear children, 
 than on the spot which I accidentally occupy. But 
 let me describe my journey. Sir A. Cochrane 
 arrived here a week ago with his squadron, to avoid 
 the hurricane months in the West Indies, and 
 having some estates thirty or forty miles off, he 
 took this opportunity of visiting them, when I be- 
 came one of the party. Pleasure, however, is too 
 capricious a nymph to attend a particular invitation,
 
 CAPTAIX PHILIP BEAVER. 1G.> 
 
 and is too often scared by * the note of prepara- 
 tion ;' at the very setting off, I found my steed was 
 possessed of more discretion than velocity, and we 
 laboured along- the road with philosophical resig- 
 nation. That portion of the province being almost 
 miinhabited, it was necessary to carry our comforts 
 with us; but the freighted cart which bore them, 
 having been sent in advance, we were only tanta- 
 lized by the wish to arrive. The country may be 
 said to be almost in a state of nature, for scarcely 
 ten acres in a million are cultivated; only one house 
 to be seen, generally speaking, in the course of 
 nine or ten miles, and that affording but homely 
 fare and miserable lodging ; we had three small 
 beds for six of us, and my portmanteau, w ith every 
 thing I wanted, was left behind. * * * Give me 
 a letter of half a quire, and make me one of my 
 own family again." 
 
 The gloomy aspect of the political atmosphere, 
 at this moment, seems to have imparted a de- 
 spondent asperity to his tone on public affairs. '' A 
 packet," he writes, " has just arrived from Eng- 
 land, bringing the heavy news of an armistice 
 between France and Russia! So that there is no- 
 thing left for us now, but our own native valour, 
 and, I trust, invincible fortitude. As to the 
 change of ministry you mention, and dissolution of 
 parliament, it seems of little importance at present 
 who is in, or who is out ; for the late special plead-
 
 166 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ing", speech-twisting' debates, savour ratlier of the 
 loaves and fishes than of patriotism ; and^ indeed^ 
 place and emohiment, the apples of the aristocra- 
 tical struggle of whigs and tories^ are more often 
 the motive than the reward of such contentions. 
 Yet in times of public danger, party spirit ought 
 to give way to virtue. But notwithstanding a full 
 knowledge of how many states have been ruined by 
 an indiscriminate love of popularity in their public 
 leaders, there are some of our most valuable cha- 
 racters foolishly sacrificing at the same shrine, 
 regardless of our national importance. As to 
 those mob-courting demagogues^ who clog their 
 country's efforts^, and thereby add to its burthens, 
 merely to exhibit themselves, they deserve trans- 
 portation. 
 
 *'^ Matters are very unsatisfactory on this side of 
 the herring-pond: the embargo may have been 
 considered necessary by many well-meaning mem- 
 bers of the Congress, though it not only straightened 
 their commerce, but was partial ; it was aiding 
 Napoleon in his projects, and practically co-ope- 
 rating against the existence of the last refuge of 
 European freedom. If either dignity or policy 
 guided our councils, we should have been at war 
 with these people, for our conciliatory system is 
 viewed only as want of energy. Instead of strictly 
 enforcing our orders in council, we enact ordinances 
 one day, and the next issue licenses in the teeth of
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 167 
 
 them; tliereby decidedly sacrificing- our national to 
 our commercial interest. 
 
 '* The aflair of the Leopard and Chesa[)eak.e_, 
 arose from the hostile practice of seducing- our sea- 
 men ; yet the brave ollicer who did his duty, is 
 execrated as ' the murderer Whitby — a savag-e 
 who escaped hanging by a sham trial.' Indeed, 
 the vulgarity, mendacity, and malignity of the 
 American democratic press exceeds belief With 
 you, in Europe, where a war of weighty import is 
 waging-, the public mind is too ardently occupied, 
 to pay that attention to trans-Atlantic politics which 
 perhaps they merit. But the heads of departments 
 here should detect and expose the misrepresenta- 
 tions and falsehoods, which flow so profusely: what 
 remains uncontradicted, will generally be credited ; 
 for many read, while few think. If the editor of the 
 Halifax Gazette cannot stem the effect of the poi- 
 son which is disseminated in this province, and is 
 withholden by disaffection, indolence, or fear, the 
 sooner he sells his types and press, and kicks his 
 devil into hell, the better. 
 
 ^' To oppose the insidious subtlety of detraction. 
 Great Britain requires nothing but naked truth ; 
 let that g'o forth without comment, and her mode- 
 ration, her justice, her forbearance, and her mag"- 
 nanimity, will offer such a contrast to the tortuous 
 policy of France, — that America will hereafter
 
 168 THE LIFE OF 
 
 blush at her present unnatural and degenerate con- 
 nexion. The sons of freedom arraying- themselves 
 against their brethren of common ancestry, laws_, 
 and language, in the hour of distress ! America 
 leaguering against liberty, and raising her hand 
 against that parent, to whom she is indebted for 
 the principles and knowledge which should hu- 
 manize and ennoble her ! But the truth is, Jonathan 
 calculates that we are at our last gasp, and longs 
 to be in at the death ; he is eager for strife, be- 
 cause he is as yet unacquainted with the consequent 
 blessings of loans and war taxes ; and he will, in 
 the event of Napoleon's ultimate success, spit his 
 venom to gain our commerce and the Canadas. 
 
 ^' I make these assertions from a comparison of 
 facts, rather than from a discussion of motives ; 
 but my opinions, however hiefficient to carry con- 
 viction, are strictly impartial. I do not impute to 
 the whole population, or even to the major part of 
 it, the low scurrility which marks and stigmatizes 
 the present proceedings. But under what plea do 
 they join the French? It cannot be as fellow revo- 
 lutionists, for the independence of America was 
 brought about by worthy leaders, and a people 
 who had wholesome English habits, English laws, 
 and English morality ; men differing as widely 
 from the ferocious visionaries of France, as ele- 
 phants do from musquitos."
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP REAVER. 
 
 169 
 
 The Acasta having received such repairs as 
 could be afforded, returned to Barbadoes ; shortly 
 after which, Mr. R. T. ElHs, a fine young mid- 
 shipman, died of a fever, and tlie event was broken 
 by Captain Beaver, to the father of the youth, in 
 the following appropriate and feeling letter: ''It 
 is the lot of but few to arrive at that period of 
 life, to which you and I have attained, without 
 having experienced many and severe afflictions ; 
 and one great drawback upon the happiness which 
 is produced by a numerous and virtuous family, is, 
 that we are thereby exposed in more points than 
 the isolated being, to the shafts of misfortune. 
 However, experience teaches us always to expect 
 them ; reason, to be prepared for them ; and 
 reliirion, to be consoled under them, whenever 
 they do arrive. The ways of Providence are to 
 us inscrutable, and to its decrees we are bound to 
 submit with Christian resignation. These reflec- 
 tions have forced themselves upon me, ere I could 
 commence the melancholy duty which I have to 
 perform. Alas ! Sir, to the lively interest and 
 keen sensibility of an anxious father, I have al- 
 ready said enough ; his foreboding mind must 
 have convinced him of his great, his irreparable 
 loss. I shall not add to the weight and pressure 
 of so severe an affliction any vain condolence from 
 myself, which might only increase, without at all
 
 170 . THE LIFE OP 
 
 alleviatino-, the pang-s already felt; religion^ reason^ 
 and time_, are the best comforters on such occa- 
 sions. Until our arrival at Barbadoes^ the 20th 
 of October last^ the Acasta had been uncommonly 
 healthy^ since which we have been obliged to re- 
 main idle at anchor_, in order to be ready to em- 
 bark troops against the Danish islands. In this 
 situation^ a fever made its appearance on board of 
 us, some ten days ago ; about twenty of our num- 
 ber had been attacked, and already three had fal- 
 len victims^ when your son was taken ill on the 
 25th of November. As he did not mend the next 
 day^ I determined to get under weigh on the 27th_, 
 as the best means of restoring him, and the rest of 
 my people^ to their health. But, alas ! notwith- 
 standinof the benefit of sea air. and all the care 
 and attention of the surgeons and nurses, he was 
 cut off in the bloom of youth, and the freshness of 
 hope,, at five o'clock on the evening of the 28th. 
 The only observation I will presume to make on 
 this distressing visitation is, that our dear de- 
 parted friend was universally beloved; I myself 
 loved him almost as one of my own children, and 
 have the consolation to hope, that as his life was 
 good and innocent, so he is at present happy. " 
 
 An active, though unprofitable series of cruizes 
 was successively undertaken ; but in the various 
 ports which were visited by the Acasta, the most
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVEU. 171 
 
 careful attention was manifested by Captain Beaver 
 for the improvement of hydrot»rapliy. Indeed, his 
 exertions in tliis branch of pubhc duty, proved his 
 regard for a science vvhicli ennobles and stimulates 
 the minds of otiicers, renders them equal to the 
 highest stations in the service, and, by making 
 them excellent navigators and seamen, inspires a 
 conlidence unknown to those who must trust to 
 other, and often ill-qualilied heads. 
 
 Advising a young naval friend, who had just 
 attained the command of a sloop of war, the 
 Captain says, " as all who wear blue jackets are 
 not sailors, be careful to discriminate between the 
 true bred seamen, and the profligate vagabonds, 
 who are too often intermixed with them. Re- 
 collect, also, that numbers of your people have 
 been impressed, and are the unwilling victims of 
 our temporal, though urgent interests. Such consi- 
 derations, added to the tantalizing breaches of the 
 ties of home, which the very nature of the service 
 renders necessary, should make every good oilicer 
 desirous of establishing the comfort of his crew. 
 Temper discipline with kindness. Endeavour to 
 grant some respite in port, if the tenour of your in- 
 structions will admit it. The refitting, stowing 
 stores, squaring yards, working boats, and drying- 
 sails, with all the minor rainutia?^ leave but little
 
 172 THE LIFE OF 
 
 leisure. And yet I know many smart gentlemen 
 who torment themselves to find constant labour for 
 their ships' companies ; and who would be asto- 
 nished to discover that it was not considered a 
 proof of knowledge. Jack knows well enough 
 what is necessary^ and therefore does not relish 
 a too frequent mustering of hammocks and bags, 
 polishing of iron work, and other artificial modes 
 of teasing the time." 
 
 Whilst beating before Martinique_, the Acasta 
 chased a letter of marque brig into St. Anne's Bay^ 
 between the fortified points of Borgnesse and Du 
 Jardin^ on the 18th of March^ 1808. In tacking 
 off shorCj the batteries opened their fire^ which was 
 promptly returned from the ship^ while working 
 in^ and as soon as the shot from the two headlands 
 crossed over her^ she was anchored with springs 
 so as to have a broadside to bear upon each. An 
 animated cannonade was now continued for about 
 fifty minutes, when our frigate driving into sixty 
 fathoms water, she was obliged to make sail. Winds 
 and currents prevented a return till the 29th, when 
 being joined by the Ulysses, Hippomenes, and 
 Morne Fortunee, they stood again into the bay, for 
 the purpose of destroying the brig. By a well-direct- 
 ed attack, the enemy were soon driven out of the 
 Borgnesse battery, and Captain Beaver dispatched
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 173 
 
 a formidable party, under the Honourable Lieute- 
 nant Gore*, to spike the guns, and roll them and 
 their carriages over the clitts. The fort on Point 
 du Jardin was then so judiciously assailed by the 
 ships^ as to enable the boats to api)roach, when Mr. 
 Gore gallantly stormed it, struck the colours, and 
 spiked the guns, in the face of a numerous, though 
 irregular force. He then dashed a couple of miles 
 up a narrow creek, to see what could be done with 
 the cor\'ette, but was so exposed to a heavy fire 
 which she opened, that finding it impossible to 
 carry her, he very prudently retreated. Besides 
 her own force, there were at least a thousand sol- 
 diers on shore, to protect her with field-pieces, and 
 two vessels moored on either quarter full of troops, 
 so that it would have been madness to proceed. 
 
 Our officer had scarcely returned into port, be- 
 fore he was hurried off again by the Admiral, to 
 communicate to the government of the Caraccas the 
 events which had taken place at Cadiz, in conse- 
 quence of the machinations of Napoleon. Arriving- 
 at La Guira on the IGth, he sent a flag of truce to 
 demand an interview with the Captain-General of 
 
 * This gallant young officer was brother to the Earl of Arran, 
 and promised fair to become an honour to the British flag. But he 
 was prematurely removed from the transitory scene ; in attemptini» 
 to save the lives of some seamen who had fallen overboard, he 
 perished in that ocean, which shall hereafter be called to give up 
 its dead.
 
 174 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Venezuela, and learnt that a French corvette brig 
 had arrived a few hours before him, with despatches 
 from the Usurper. The Captain now made pre- 
 parations for his journey to the Caraccas ; but fore- 
 seeing- that the enemy would endeavour to escape, 
 during- his absence,, he left with his first lieutenant 
 the following laconic orders. '^ Permit no com- 
 munication whatever, either with ships or the shore, 
 till my return. Beat to quarters every evening, 
 and keep regular watch, as at sea. If the brig sails, 
 follow and bring her back. If the expected French 
 frigate arrives, clear for action ; do not commence 
 an engagement, but when she begins, take her." 
 
 On the following morning, the brig finding her 
 berth rather uncomfortable, and apprehensive of 
 being seized at anchor, determined to try her 
 chance; accordingly, with the breeze of day- 
 break, she weighed and ran out to sea, under all 
 sail. Every motion, however, had been closely 
 watched ; in a few moments the frigate slipped 
 after her, and when out of the range of the Spanish 
 forts, fired at her, till she struck her colours — 
 •taking, at the same time, especial care not to 
 damage her hull. She proved to be the Serpent, 
 a remarkably fine vessel, mounting sixteen carro-, 
 nades, and two long guns, with a complement of 
 one hundred and four men, and had been expressly 
 selected for this service from her well-known sail-
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 175 
 
 ing qualities. On the IStli, the Acasta returned 
 to the anchorage with her prize, and was saluted 
 in form by all the batteries. The ship's company, 
 at the suggestion of their commander, resigned 
 their salvage of ten slaves, who were found in the 
 brig, and had been taken by her out of a Granada 
 sloop which she had burnt. 
 
 The news conveyed by the frigate had been 
 received with enthusiasm by the people ; but the 
 Captain-General, puzzled by the tenonr of con- 
 tradictory despatches from two belligerent powers, 
 could not so readily enter into the new feeling of 
 affairs. Owing to several palpable incivilities. 
 Captain Beaver addressed a severe remonstrance 
 to him, complaining of the superior reception which 
 had been given to the French officer, the day be- 
 fore, though he was the bearer of most mortifying 
 intelligence. The Governor replied in terms as 
 hauo'htv, desirino- him to take what refresh- 
 mcnts he required, and immediately quit the road. 
 This induced our stern envoy to reiterate his 
 charofes, and " as to the maimer which your Ex- 
 cellency conceives would have been most appro- 
 priate to answer my letter, ' with the cannon of 
 the batteries,' I can only say, that it would have 
 been a very extraordinary one, to the harbinger of 
 peace ; to one who has brought you one hundred 
 and thirty of your liberated countrymen, and pass-
 
 176 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ports to protect your vessels from detention. Such 
 an answer, I think^ would not reflect much honour 
 on your Excellency, while to me it would be so 
 far a matter of indifference, as to cause no other 
 sensation than that of reofret." 
 
 Such altercation presented a contrast to the 
 intercourse which might have been expected; but 
 Don Juan de Casas felt himself in a dilemma,, for he 
 had a forecast of the probable consequences of the 
 political convulsions. He was aware that thoug-li 
 prejudice, bigotry^ and oppression, had jointly con- 
 spired to keep those regions in a condition little 
 differing- from barbarism, yet the rash conduct of 
 Spain, in joining- the American war, had already 
 inclined the Creoles towards a struggle for freedom, 
 especially as they were conscious how easy the 
 yoke of the British colonists had been when com- 
 pared with their own. 
 
 But whatever were the difficulties of his situa- 
 tion, the governor certainly failed in the usual 
 Spanish courtesy, thoug-h he professed infinite re- 
 gard for the " sons of the Thames," and Beaver 
 was therefore imperiously urged to resent his con- 
 duct. During the twenty-three hours that he 
 remained at the Caraccas, he was neither asked to 
 eat or drink, nor even to sit down ; but after being left 
 amongst the clerks and domestics, while the Junta 
 deliberated on his despatches, was obliged to find
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP DEAVER. 177 
 
 lodoiiif^aiul Hjod where he could. '' I approve very 
 much," writes the Admiral^ " of all you have done, 
 except that your letter to the Captain-General is 
 rather too strong", though you certainly had a right 
 to complain of his want of attention. I really wish 
 that matters may be soothed, for negotiators should 
 never quarrel. Keeping one's temper is of more 
 consequence than you are aware of. I have taken 
 your beautiful prize into the service, and named 
 her the Pert; she will be valued high, and her 
 stores sell remarkably well." 
 
 From the weak state of the ship, the Captain 
 thought it prudent to keep her on the coast of 
 the Spanish main, during the hurricane months, 
 by which he was instrumental in arresting and 
 destroying the Proclamations and Manifestoes, 
 which the emissaries of the intrusive sovereign 
 sent out in abundance. While wooding at Alca- 
 traz, near Puerto Caballo, on the •22d of August, 
 twelve seamen were brought on board quite blind 
 from incautiously cutting Manchineel trees. At 
 this time the ship was swarming with centipedes, 
 scorpions, mosquitoes, and other noxious pests of 
 tropical regions; while the cockroaches were so 
 numerous, that in endeavouring to extirpate them, 
 they actually destroyed, for several days, about 
 one hundred and fifty dozen a day ! Fortunately, 
 however, from Captain Beaver's constant attentiou 
 
 N
 
 178 THE LIFE OF 
 
 to cleanliness and sobriety^ and the care of his sur- 
 geon, the crew escaped with scarcely any sickness. 
 
 The due consideration of this officer for the lives 
 of those under his command may be judg-ed of 
 from the following anecdote : — Remarking one day, 
 in conversation, upon the dangers to which many, 
 from a mistaken sense of courage, sometimes expose 
 themselves and their crews, where no correspond- 
 ing advantage could be gained, — he said he had 
 sinned occasionally in that way himself, but was 
 cured of the propensity by an incident, which, 
 though trifling in itself, had made a strong impres- 
 sion upon his mind. He had stood close in under 
 one of the batteries of Martinique, when a shot 
 fired from it fell at the feet of a midshipman, whom 
 he had received under the anxious solicitations of 
 a parent, to be as careful of him as circumstances 
 would permit. "^ I asked myself seriously whether 
 I had fulfilled the entreaties of my friend? I had no 
 business to be where I then was, for no object could 
 be accomplished by it ; and had this boy been killed, 
 I should have considered his death to have Iain at 
 my door. The same feeling has influenced me 
 since ; and as, however I may risk my own life, I 
 have no right, unnecessarily, to endanger that of 
 others, 1 take care to avoid it." 
 
 The Acasta having returned to Antigua, several 
 small prizes enabled our officer to render his family
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVKU. 179 
 
 Comfortable, by sending' repeated remittances; al- 
 though those, as we have seen, through the liouse 
 of Maxwell, never reached Mrs. Beaver, and were 
 therefore sources of mutual disappointment. These 
 vexations were too intimately connected with his 
 destinies. The great and successful regard with 
 indifference such as fail in the arduous struggle of 
 life ; those who are born great, do not wish to be 
 overtaken ; whilst those who have obtained eleva- 
 tion, feed their conscious superiority by the belief, 
 that every man's failure is his own fault. The 
 mould of a man's fortune, according to Bacon, is 
 in his own hands; yet years of ceaseless toil are 
 often passed without attaining the desired end ; 
 and the mere mould, without raw material, may 
 be compared to the commission to make bricks 
 where there was no straw. But to those who re- 
 flect, that in this world " the race is not always to 
 the swift, nor the battle to the strong," our hero 
 may appear worthy of admiration, even in confined 
 circumstances ; for he never considered that po- 
 verty a disgrace which proceeded neither from 
 extravagance nor indolence. 
 
 Meanwhile the repairs of the ship were hastened 
 by a friendly note from the Commander-in-chief, 
 who, having witnessed Beaver's ability on the Me- 
 diterranean station, was resolved to call it into full 
 play. ^' Hurry on, all you can, as I intend you to 
 
 N •>
 
 180 THE LIFE OF 
 
 take clmro-c of the disembarkation at Martinique ; 
 push 01)^ for if you are not very alert^ I fear you 
 will be behind the liohter." Thus stimulated,, a 
 battalion of the 60th regiment was embarked^ and 
 the anchor weighed by the 21st of December ; but 
 in a few hours, and with a light breeze, the bow 
 sprit snapped short off, and obliged our anxious 
 officer to put before the wind for Freeman's Bay. 
 The stump of this spar was found to be entirely 
 rotten, to within two or three inches of the surface, 
 and the decay was so regularly distributed through 
 the capillary system, that a portion was sent to the 
 commissioners of the navy as a curiosity. 
 
 "^ Many years have rolled over my head," 
 remarks the Captain, " since I first visited these 
 regions, and J know not whether the manners of the 
 people have altered^ or my own taste has changed, 
 perhaps both may have felt the influence of the 
 interval. I admire the matchless tints of the 
 scenery, and the heavenly splendour of the climate 
 more than formerly ; but I no longer relish the 
 boisterous cheer and lax hospitality, which once 
 did not incommode me. The chatter of the negro 
 is as vociferous, and the piccaninies gambol as 
 wildly as ever ; while Sunday is still the happy 
 day which they call their own. But the planter is 
 certainly less gay ; and he appears already to suffer 
 under the interference of our legislature. I appre-
 
 CAI'TAIN I'HILIP liKAMlR. 181 
 
 hend the result of our measures will ultimately 
 prove of g-reater benefit to our enemies^ than either 
 to our own subjects or the slaves. It seems to me 
 but reasonable^ that those who so warmly discuss 
 this question in the House of Commons should 
 first take the trouble to make a trip across the 
 water, and ascertain the truth ; for the enquiry has 
 hitherto been borne down more by sophistry than 
 by fact. I would rather see the wisdom and 
 philanthropy of England exerted to ameliorate the 
 condition of the blacks, which she can do, than 
 vi'itness her efforts at what she cannot do. I abhor 
 slavery; but feeling- that, constituted as mankind are, 
 it ever has existed, and perhaps ever will, I cannot 
 surrender the evidence of my senses to mere spfj- 
 culative morality. Everything- I now meet with 
 fully confirms me in the opinions which I have 
 already expressed, on this topic, in my nairatiye, 
 or ' African Memoranda.' " 
 
 By Christmas-day the damage was refitted, the 
 soldiers re-embarked, and the Acasta again under 
 weigh ; but to how little purpose, he describes in 
 a letter to Mrs. Beaver, of the 3d of January, 1809, 
 when, after his usual affectionate inquiries, he says, 
 *' I joined the Admiral off the Diamond rock, and 
 found everything- ready for attack, but for what 
 reason I know not, the attempt was yesterday finally 
 given up. About this time last year, after having-
 
 182 THE LIFE OF 
 
 waited six weeks^ for no other purpose, I lost the 
 chance of going- against the Danish islands by one 
 day; and now having made such extraordinary 
 exertions to be in readiness, that,, from the rising to 
 the setting sun, no slave was ever more fagged, 
 the plan is given up ! It is hard — rather, it is 
 unfortunate ! The friendly admiral, by way of 
 consolation, has given me a couple of frigates, 
 with as many sloops, to cruize to windward of 
 Martinique^ where the enemy are endeavouring to 
 throw in reinforcements, and where a squadron of 
 frigates, with troops on board, is hourly expected. 
 If we meet, I trust I shall do nothing wrong ; and 
 if I do all that is right, our dear children will, at 
 all events, be benefited." 
 
 The invasion of Martinique, however, was only 
 suspended; for, spurred by despatches intercepted 
 from the colonial prefect, exposing the weaknesses 
 of his command, the expedition was speedily re- 
 embodied, and arrived off the island, on the 29th 
 of January. The Acasta, bearing a broad pen- 
 dant, conducted the principal division of the army 
 to Bay Robert, where, with an address and skill 
 which excited general applause, and stamped his 
 superiority, Beaver buoyed off the channels be-, 
 tween the shoals, boldly led the way, and by noon 
 anchored his squadron and the transports. Two 
 hours sufTiced to make the requisite dispositions.
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 1«3 
 
 the soldicM'S were Jirniii(^ed in divisions, and the 
 boats advanced towards the shore in [)rescriljed 
 martial order, to tlie surprise of the French spec- 
 tators. Though the weather was very squally, the 
 approaching- force was much too formidable for the 
 garrisons of that part of the coast to resist ; and the 
 troops consequently landed in about fifteen miimtes, 
 without the slightest opposition. 
 
 " We sailed from Barbadoes/' remarks the 
 Captain^ " in two divisions; the Admiral, with all 
 the line-of- battle ships^ and 3000 soldiers went to 
 leeward ; while the squadron under my orders, 
 consisting- of seven frigates and three sloops, with 
 7000 troops in transports, came to windward. 
 As the commander-in-chief of the land forces^ and 
 two other generals, were on board with me, I was 
 enabled to give them sufficient notice of my plans 
 to ensure content. I therefore ran into the cul-de- 
 sac, with the whole of my division, and though the 
 moment was an anxious one, being on my own 
 responsibility, yet I never felt more confident. 
 We anchored about noon, on the 30th, and before 
 sunset debarked two whole brigades ; which being 
 followed the next morning by the reserve, stores, 
 and ammunition, General Beckwith immediately 
 advanced. They had a little fighting on the 1st 
 of February, and some very warm work indeed on 
 the 2d, near a commanding height called Sourrier^
 
 I8i THE LIFE OF 
 
 in some measure overlookiiio- Fort I^ourboii, where- 
 fore its mastery was obstinately contested by bayo- 
 net charges; the French stood uncommonly well, 
 but our soldiers behaving- as gallantly as they 
 always do when well commanded, were superior, 
 and retained the post. 
 
 ^' Feeling the disadvantage of the intricate and 
 dangerous navigation of Bay Robert, and aware of 
 the easy access to that of Trinite, where there 
 w ere but few troops, I took upon myself to send a 
 detachment of seamen and marines to occupy the 
 town and fort, which object was accomplished, by 
 my merely promising the inhabitants respect of 
 property and religion. The French had a sloop 
 of war in Maran bay, and a fine forty-gun frigate 
 under Fort Royal, which they have burnt in pure 
 spite. The surrender of Fort Bourbon, after a 
 bombardment of five days and nights, has placed 
 this valuable colony under the British flag, for the 
 third time ; but whatever credit may be acquired 
 by the conquest, no money can be expected, though, 
 for my own part, I rest perfectly satisfied with the 
 implicit confidence placed in me by both the com- 
 manders-in-chief." 
 
 One of the first acts of General Beckwith was, 
 the appointment of our worthy hero as captain of 
 the port, the duties to be executed by deputy. The 
 reputation acquired in the late successful enter-
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 1«.J 
 
 prise pointed him out for another simihir service. 
 He had but just anchored at Antigua, when a note 
 was brought to him from Sir A. Cochrane, press- 
 ing- his immediately proceeding- to sea. *' Lose not 
 a moment's time, my dear Beaver, as the expedi- 
 tion against the Saints waits only for you. Three 
 sail of the line and two frigates, which intended to 
 relieve Martinique, have sought shelter there, and 
 it will be our duty to catch them. You shall com- 
 mand the landing; and the Intrepid, Gloire, Dol- 
 phin, Narcissus, Circe, and some smaller vessels, 
 will be placed under your orders." 
 
 Not an instant was lost, after rccei\ing this 
 exhilarating notice, in completing his stores, so 
 that within the week he was at the station, and 
 wrote thus: "April ]4th. — Early this morning, 
 we hoisted out the flat boats, double shotted the 
 guns, and bore up for the narrow channel leading 
 to the Saints, which we had previously buoyed off. 
 While standing in, we issued two days' food to 
 the troops, and at eleven came to an anchor, w ith 
 the enemy's shot going over us ; the Gloire, 
 Haughty, and Unique, pouring their broadsides 
 into the woods to clear the bushes. At noon, I 
 left the ship with General Maitland, to arrange the 
 landing, which was effected in half an hour after- 
 wards, in Anse a Bois Joli, abreast of the shi[). 
 The seamen assisted the soldiers most cordiallv.
 
 18(3 THE LIFE OF 
 
 and the latter debarked in a ready^ orderly, and 
 martial manner. A smart skirmishing- now ensued 
 up Mount Roselle, the hill on our rights where the 
 enemy had made a standi but whence, by the reso- 
 lute advance of the rifles of the 60th regiment, he 
 was driven in about an hour. All hands working 
 heartily, before five, we began to thiow shells at 
 the French squadron, from two large howitzers; 
 and as I suspected that they would soon get an- 
 noyed, and be oft", I went on board, and stationed 
 boats to row guard. At ten, we perceived the three 
 line-of-battle ships were weighing, whereupon we 
 instantly made signal to the cruizers outside, and 
 beat to quarters, soon after which we heard heavy 
 guns fired in the direction of the Admiral. 
 
 " Early on the 15th, seeing the French frigates 
 still at anchor, I went on shore to reconnoitre 
 them ; my spirited lads making the gig fly along 
 in their hopes of approaching action. At the 
 same moment, the General requested all the boats 
 of the squadron to convey troops to Anse Vanouvre, 
 as the advance by land was extremely difficult. 
 This was a ticklish request at such a moment — 
 however, my duty was to comply ; but I warned 
 the Gloire and Jason, with the Unique and Swag- 
 gerer, to be in readiness for running out to sea, 
 ^nd my orders were received with exultation. 
 Having landed and gained the summit of the hill,
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 187 
 
 I perceived tlie friofates were close in-shore, and 
 apparently lian<»ing- only by warps, upon which I 
 hurried on board, ordered the Jason out, and tele- 
 graphed to the Intrepid. At ten, the two French 
 ships made all sail, and pushed over for Guada- 
 loupe, and in about twenty minutes the headmost 
 one was engaged with the Intrepid ; but they were 
 soon lost to our earnest gaze, behind the lower 
 Saint. For myself, having charge of the army, a 
 thousand of whom were then actually in the boats, 
 I could only anxiously look on ; and was, more- 
 over^ additionally mortilied that the cruizers to 
 leeward were not in their stations. The enemy's 
 batteries played the greatest part of the day, and 
 our men laboured with most [)raiseworthy ardour. 
 At night, a strong picket was surprised, when 
 eighteen of the enemy were bayonetted, and twelve 
 brought in prisoners. Just afterwards, I received 
 a note from General Maitland, mentioning his 
 having sent a summons to the French commandant, 
 who vauntingly replied, that he has ' des vivres, 
 des munitions, et des soldats,' and will not sur- 
 render. He \yill change his tune, 1 believe, in 
 Jess than a couple of days." 
 
 "April IGth. — The morning was ushered in by 
 the disagreeable announcement, that both the 
 French frigates had escaped into Guadaloupe ; 
 but I think their chance of ever getting back to
 
 188 THE LIFE OF 
 
 France is an extremely slender one. All the 
 boats are employed in transporting stores and 
 ammunition for the army. The enemy's shot 
 rattle over us, but as I do not think it worth 
 moving, I have only ordered the small craft to 
 weigh, and cruize between us and Guadaloupe^ to 
 prevent communication. Nothing can exceed the 
 coolness of the sailors ; they scarcely deign to 
 notice the batteries, except in hearty ejaculations 
 to be at them. The troops, also, are all in high 
 spirits, and very bravely repulsed a sudden attempt 
 of the enemy to dispossess them of the posts 
 which they had gained. 
 
 **^ 17th. — Soldiers and seamen employed as 
 yesterday, and everything advancing prosper- 
 ously ; but, finding I had only six days' provisions 
 left, I have been obliged to put both services on 
 two-thirds allowance. A constant firing was kept 
 up till about two in the afternoon, when the French 
 sent out a flag of truce to propose terms. They 
 were allowed till a quarter to six o'clock, to ac- 
 cept those which we were willing to grant. The 
 time elapsed, and the concerted signal was not 
 made ; but as the Adjutant-General was in the 
 town negotiating, hostilities did not re-commence. 
 This was a great mortification to all those who 
 had laboriously constructed, and were to have had 
 the pleasure of working, a capital battery, of six
 
 CAPTAIN PHI I IP BEAVI R. 180 
 
 mortars, ready to open in the evening-. By tight 
 o'clock, the capitulation was signed, and the gar- 
 rison, consisting of about a thousand persons, be- 
 came prisoners of war. Besides a few sloops and 
 schooners, with a quantity of flour, gunpowder, 
 and brass ordnance, we liave taken a ship worth 
 two thousand pounds. We also picked up all the 
 anchors and cables, which had been left behind by 
 the French squadron, and are now busily em- 
 ployed in destroying the works, the very founda- 
 tions of which we intend to blow up." 
 
 This service was satisfactory to all parties, and 
 was performed with an unanimity unexcelled. 
 General Maitland, in the report to his chief, an- 
 nounces that " Captain Beaver has increased 
 the character which I know his conduct at Bay 
 Robert, in your presence, gained him. His ar- 
 rangement, and presence of mind, render him 
 peculiarly qualified for joint operations." And in 
 the official despatch to the Admiralty on this occa- 
 sion, Sir A. Cochrane says, " the direction of all 
 the naval operations connected with the army was 
 left entirely with Captain 15eaver, of the Acasta, 
 who conducted the service with all the correctness 
 and celerity which I expected of him." 
 
 The evacuation of the new conquest was a mea- 
 sure which did not at all please our caj)tain, for he 
 considered the Saints most eligibly situated for a 
 naval and military station, to check Guadaloupe and
 
 190 " THE LIFE OF 
 
 protect Dominica ; and by keeping open the com- 
 munication with the other isUxnds, become the key 
 of the West Indies. Its strength of position, he 
 asserted, mioht make it the Malta of the Carib- 
 bean Sea; and the anchorage is so good^ that it 
 may be termed the Trincomalee of the West — 
 while in health, from exposure to sea breezes, and 
 the absence of swamps, it is the Montpellier of the 
 Antilles. The want of water, he affirms, is an 
 additional security, because, all the tanks being 
 inside the fortresses, a besieger would very soon 
 be in distress in that climate. 
 
 The next service selected for Captain Beaver, 
 was the command of a squadron off Guadaloupe, 
 where the two frigates, which had escaped from 
 the Saints, were blockaded. On the 9th of May, 
 as there was a fine leading wind, he ran in towards 
 the enemy, to execute a plan which he had con- 
 certed, of boarding them from the Cherub and 
 Julia, while the squadron were threatening other 
 points, and supporting the attack. '' I reinforced 
 these vessels with some choice fellows, eager for 
 anything, and intended them to run alongside ; 
 but they were unfortunately becalmed under the 
 batteries, which opened all their powers of annoy- 
 ance ; and seeing that, from want of wind, nothing 
 could be done against the frigates, though both 
 sloops of war might be cut to pieces, I tacked and 
 recalled them."
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 191 
 
 The day follovviiif^ this attempt, he received a 
 letter from Sir A. Cochrane. — " My dear Beaver, 
 if you like to have a very fine line-of-battle ship, I 
 shall be glad to give you command of the prize 
 which we took on the night of the 15th ult. 
 Should you wish for her, such of your ship's com- 
 pany as will volunteer may accomi)any you. She 
 was called the Hauti)oult, after a general killed in 
 Russia ; but I have named her the AbercrombiC;, in 
 memory of our old friend. She is a large ship, with 
 thirty ports on each deck, and but just launched. 
 She suffered a good deal in her crew. Let me 
 have your answer as soon as possible, for in either 
 case I must send the Acasta home with the June 
 convoy ; and whoever takes her, will be burthened 
 with a number of French prisoners, as we are much 
 overstocked. Will not your force be insufficient 
 to cover the two sloops of war ? At this distance, 
 it is impossible to give an opinion as to your plan ; 
 I therefore entirely depend upon your judgment : 
 perhaps you ought to let the Frenchmen bolt." 
 
 Meanwhile the vexatious blockade was conti- 
 nued, for the Admiral could spare no small vessel 
 to make a fireship of, by which Captain Beaver 
 hoped to force the enemy out. Affairs remained 
 thus till the 31st, when " Lieutenant Fellowes 
 reported to me his being unable to keep the 
 Unique afloat another night. Upon this, 1 immc-
 
 192 . THE LIFE OF 
 
 diately determined to burn her^ though it was not 
 otherwise my intention^ because her commander is 
 one of my most zealous supporters. I therefore 
 ordered him to stand in, under cover of the Cherub 
 and JuUa_, with armed haunches to bring- away his 
 people. My wishes were admirably executed ; at 
 nine o'clock she was in flames, and in three-quar- 
 ters of an hour blew up in capital style. The 
 enemy were greatly alarmed, and Fort Matilda, the 
 frigates, and all the batteries, cannonaded till the 
 explosion took place ; but nothing started." 
 
 As Beaver, with a tenacity not at all uncommon 
 in the service, determined to stick to his old ship, 
 he returned to Barbadoes, whence he thus addresses 
 a naval friend : '' What with expeditions, carrying 
 troops, prisoners, or blacks, and blockading Gua- 
 daloupe, I have not had a minute to answer your 
 inquiries. Indeed, off the last place, we were 
 twenty-three nights within gun-shot of the enemy's 
 frigates, all hands at quarters, not a man went to 
 bed ; yet after all, I was obliged to leave them for 
 some luckier fellow to snap up. I regret you have 
 had such vexation in your applications, and that 
 you found ***** so indifferent; but mere ofTicial 
 elevation cannot confer the wisdom and judgment 
 so often arrogated ; nor is professional zeal always 
 felt, or even understood, by such men. You have 
 expressed yourself well ; a simple statement of
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 193 
 
 relative circumstances is more illustrative lliaii a 
 whole course of abstract reasoning-, deductive (jf 
 positive conclusions, only from assumed positions. 
 Independently of the leading- and striking features 
 of the case, I marvel at the answer of Sir C. Cot- 
 ton, because, if I err not, his own preferment was 
 so rapid, that his name never appeared in the 
 Admiralty list, till it was inserted amongst the 
 post captains. * * * * It is, as Brown would 
 say, a vulgar error to assert, that because our 
 brethren of the army purchase their commissions, 
 they are entitled to greater indulgence than the 
 blue jackets. I wish, for the chivalry of the thing, 
 that money was entirely out of the question ; but 
 the case stands thus : an ensign paying- the regu- 
 lation price for his commission, not only nets, by 
 the pay and allowances, at least twenty per cent, 
 for his money, but also becomes entitled to half- 
 pay from the hour he ships the coat. A midship- 
 man, on the contrary, must fit out and support 
 himself three or four years, as a volunteer at nine 
 pounds per annum ; after which he may remain an 
 indefmite time in the same humble station, on very 
 low pay, and is lialjle to be set adrift, without 
 either rank or half-pay, when his services are no 
 longer recpiired." 
 
 The convoy having assembled, the Acasta sailed 
 for England, literally freighted with Frenchmen. 
 
 o
 
 194 THE LIFE OF 
 
 During a squally, tempestuous passag'e, the ship 
 leaked and laboured so severely, that on being 
 docked at Plymouth, it became matter of surprise 
 that she had crossed the Atlantic in safety. She 
 arrived in the Downs, on the ITth of August, and 
 the Captain had preserved his composure so 
 guardedly through the voyage, that the ladies, his 
 guests, were not aware of the anxiety he suifered 
 from the craziness of the ship, the weakness of 
 the crew, and the turbulence of the captives. He 
 had not only thought it prudent himself to sleep 
 with loaded fire-arms, but recommended Captain 
 Collier and Lieutenant Fellowes, his passengers, 
 to do the same. One night, hearing- some unusual 
 noise in the ship, he apprehended instantly that the 
 prisoners had risen on the watch; he therefore 
 flew to the cabin door, with a pistol in each hand, 
 for the event : but his cool judgment, even at that 
 moment of alarm, prevented his betraying the sus- 
 picion, which an unguarded question to the senti- 
 nel might have revealed. 
 
 The Acasta was found in so defective a state, 
 that she was paid off, to the great disappointment 
 of her commander, who had hoped she could be 
 repaired in time to rejoin Sir A. Cochrane, and the 
 expedition against Guadaloupe. The meeting 
 with his relations was embittered by a severe visi- 
 tation, for arriving in town on the 20th of Septem-
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. '195 
 
 ber, he receiv^ed the melancholy iiitellio-ence of the 
 death of his brother, Major Beaver, in the East 
 Indies. This promising- odicer had purchased his 
 successive steps of preferment, and as his services 
 claimed notice from the War Oflice, that sad 
 evening- was spent in drawing up memorials, for 
 leave to sell his commission*. But the Duke of 
 York, who, acquainted with the Major's merit, had 
 graciously promised to bestow, at a fit opportunity, 
 some mark of approbation, was no longer at the 
 head of the army ; the machinations of a vile con- 
 spiracy, and the measures taken in our most popu- 
 lar assembly, (albeit witnesses were allowed to 
 whom no court of justice would have listened,) 
 having occasioned his Royal Highness's secession 
 from the military councils. 
 
 The following morning, with feelings ill at ease, 
 
 * As a proof of his merit, I insert the following" General Order, 
 dated Colombo, the 2d of September, 1803. 
 
 " The Governor has observed with peculiar satisfaction the rapid 
 series of well-judsred and well-executed operations, by which Cap- 
 tain Herbert Beaver, of the 19th reidment.has hitherto proceeded 
 in recovering the important province of I\Iatura from the Candians, 
 and in brin<jina; back its deluded inhabitants to tlieir duty. The 
 indefatiirable activity, zeal, and al>ility, which that officer has dis- 
 played, since his assumption of the command of that district, has 
 fully justified tlie high opinion which liis Excellency had formed of 
 him from his former services, and which induced him to appoint 
 liini 1() that arduous station, in a time of such extreme difficidty and 
 discouragement." 
 
 O 2
 
 19G THE LIFE OF 
 
 Captain Beaver accompanied his sister to Seaford^ 
 in Sussex^ to communicate to the afflicted widow 
 her irreparable loss. His manly mind shrunk from 
 the scene of woe ; the anguish of an affectionate 
 wife_, and the destitution of a helpless family, spoke 
 too prophetically to his heart ; but he performed 
 the sad office with appropriate delicacy, and^ un- 
 der indescribable emotions, retired ag^ain to mix 
 with the pressing- duties of life. 
 
 He now availed himself of an opportunity to 
 visit Oxford, and pay a debt of the sincerest grati- 
 tude and affection to his early friend General Cail- 
 laud, v/hom he had not seen for many years, and 
 who, though reduced to excessive corporeal debility, 
 still retained his mental energy. This visit, how- 
 ever interesting, was of a melancholy tenour : Mrs. 
 Caillaud had been dead for some time, and the old 
 General's eyes were suffused with tears, while he 
 squeezed the hand of a now distinguished officer, 
 whom he had introduced to a profession where 
 honour is both gained and reflected. The topics 
 of conversation were often painful ; for memory 
 generally strengthens the dark shadows of present 
 afflictions, by contrasting them with the bright 
 rays of past happiness. 
 
 The intercourse with his relations and friends, 
 and the domestic happiness of his cottage at 
 Swansea, did not slacken our officer's applications
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 107 
 
 for employment ; yet, for several months, he received 
 only replies which prove how affairs are sometimes 
 managed in this ^' best of all possible worlds." 
 " Althoiio-h," savshe to his friend. Sir R. ]5icker- 
 ton, ^' although on my return from the West 
 Indies, the Acasta was found rotten and crazy, her 
 captain, 1 assure you, did not participate in her 
 defects ; I was, therefore, in hopes that I should 
 not, like my ship, be laid up in ordinary." 
 
 Determined at length to apply to the fountain- 
 head, he removed to London, and on the 17th of 
 A})ril, 1810, addressed Lord Mulgrave with such 
 effect, that he was instantly offered the choice o f 
 the Phoenix, then ready manned, and to sail for 
 the East Indies in six days, or the Nisus, a frigate 
 just completed, at Plymouth. As the notice was 
 too brief to avail himself of the former, he preferred 
 the latter, and soon after took leave of his friends 
 and family — for ever. 
 
 It is due to the honour of Lord Mulgrave, in 
 recording the prompt decision with which he ac- 
 ceded to the reasonable request of our officer, to 
 insert the letter on ^^hich it was founded. '' I 
 yesterday came to town for the purpose of renew- 
 ing, in person, the application which I made in De- 
 cember last, for the command of one of the frigates 
 lately launched at Plymouth. Totally unknown as 
 1 am to your Lordship, it may not be impertinent
 
 1.98 THE LIFE OF 
 
 nay, I believe, it is but just, to show upon what 
 ground I prefer such a request, as there are pro- 
 bably numerous and meritorious applicants for the 
 same command. Yet I hope I am not going to 
 embarrass your Lordship with solicitations, which 
 inability to comply with, or previous engagements, 
 rendei" impossible to grant. To be brief, I shall 
 shortly state, that during three- and-thirty years' 
 service, I have never been unemployed in the time 
 of war ; that twenty-seven of those years I have 
 borne a commission, and am now in the tenth year 
 of post rank; that during that time I have never 
 been tried by a court martial, never confined, 
 nor have I ever been once asked by any of my 
 superiors, why such or such a thing had not been 
 done. So much for negative merit. 1 decline 
 dwelling upon the earlier parts of my servitude, 
 that I may the less encroach upon your Lordship's 
 leisure. Soon after I was made a commander, I 
 was appointed assistant captain to the Mediterra- 
 nean fleet; in this situation I had charge of the 
 flotilla which six times bombarded Genoa; I ne- 
 gotiated for the same place on the part of the 
 British, and came home overland with the docu- 
 jnents announcing the event. The battle of Ma- 
 rengo had been fought, and on my arrival, though 
 I travelled from the Elbe in less time than the same 
 ground had ever been passed before, all Italy was
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 199 
 
 ag-aiii ill the hands of our enemy ; the despatches of 
 which 1 was the bearer were therefore never pub- 
 lished, Rcturuiuof to the Mediterranean, 1 held the 
 same situation till the expedition to Eg-ypt, when 
 Lord Keith ap[)()iiited me his Captain in the Fou- 
 droyant; and I was with that ollicer and Sir R. 
 Abercrombie when the landing- was effected. A 
 few months after the late war, 1 returned to Eng-- 
 land, and was paid off; early in this_, I was ap- 
 pointed to the Sea Fencibles in Essex, where I 
 remained three years ; and during- the last three 
 have commanded the Acasta. In her I have had 
 the charge of conducting- and landing- seven thou- 
 sand of our troops in the expedition against Marti- 
 ni(]ue; and shortly after, about two thousand five 
 hundred at the Saints. The ship then being found 
 in a state of decay, was ordered home, and paid 
 olF. Had I any idea of not being kept in active 
 service, I should certainly have accepted either the 
 Abercrombie or the Jewel, both of which ships 
 were offered to me by Sir A. Cochrane, previous 
 to my coming- home. From what I have stated, I 
 trust it will appear that my standing- as a Captain 
 is sullicient, that my conduct as an ollicer is unim- 
 peachable, and that the length of my service will 
 justify my solicitation. If, however, I should not 
 succeed, I shall return to my cottage with the sen- 
 timents of the Spartan who lost his election as one
 
 200 THE LIFE OF 
 
 of the Epliori— happy that my profession produces 
 so many men of merit and virtue superior to 
 myself." 
 
 The equipment of 'Miis beautiful ship" pro- 
 ceeded under all that hurry with which it has been 
 an absurd system, in our arsenals^ to despatch 
 newly commissioned vessels. A consequence of 
 this is^ discontent amongst the seamen, who are 
 often drafted from ships arriving off distant sta- 
 tions ; and who, in the dirt and nuisance of fitting, 
 can neither hope for the indulgence of leave, nor 
 make the necessary arrangements for a foreign 
 cruize ; while the ship itself has generally to be 
 adjusted at sea. Affected dispatch, says Bacon, 
 is one of the most dangerous errors in business 
 that can be ; and this affectation of celerity has 
 sent many a ship to sea, in a state highly discredit- 
 able to our maritime skill, and the establishments 
 of the country. 
 
 On the 15th of June, he writes, — ^' The Admi- 
 ral sent for me this morning, and ordered me to 
 be immediately warped into the Sound, though the 
 wind is foul ; and I am to be in readiness to sail 
 to-morrow, or at a moment's notice. I must thus 
 go destitute of everything. I have neither a fowl 
 nor a bottle of wine in my ship ; but you know I 
 never make difliculties, and if my orders come, sail 
 I will, although I have not got my traps out of the
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 201 
 
 shcer-hulk, for my ca])iii was painted l)ut yes- 
 terday. However, up goes the J51uc Peter." 
 
 On the 2'2i], this zealous otiicer sailed for the 
 Cape of Good Hope, and two days afterwards, lie 
 mentions a whimsical discovery which had been 
 made by his first lieutenant. ^' Before sailing-, I 
 wanted a lad as an under servant, and my steward, 
 George, recommended me one. Last night this 
 youth was discovered to be a buxom girl, dressed 
 in boy's clothes, a wench of the rascally steward's, 
 who, you know, lias a very respectable wife. I have 
 ordered her to dress ^ en femme' again, and ne^ er 
 to appear in my presence. I shall send her home 
 by the first opportunity; but I am thus deprived of 
 one servant, and have lost all confidence in the 
 other by this abominable deception." 
 
 A fine passage of eight days carried the Nisus 
 to Madeira, where, having paid a formal visit to 
 the Governor, Captain Beaver remained only a 
 few hours to get a pull at his rigging. *' The 
 island is romantically beautiful," he observes, 
 " but the town and the bay, the parts I am con- 
 demned to, if I stay, are alike detestable." 
 
 On the voyage to the southward, in about 
 19° west longitude, a sharp look out was kept, and 
 soundings occasionally taken, for the sandy isle, 
 which is stated to have been seen by the Vaillant, 
 Silhouette, and Fiddle, about fifty years before.
 
 202 THE LIFE OF 
 
 These exertions were fruitless : " But, indeed," says 
 the Captain, "\ doubt its existence, because it 
 rests solely upon the testimony of the French, and 
 Frenchmen, we know, will sometimes indulge in 
 ^ cui bono' imaginations." 
 
 The Governor-general of India, Lord Minto^ 
 conceiving the great design of clearing the Indian 
 Ocean of all that was hostile to Britain, was alone 
 embarrassed by the reduction of the Isle of France, 
 which was considered as impracticable, either by 
 blockade or force. We shall soon see, that it is 
 characteristic of true genius and courage to act on 
 an accurate distinction between difficulties and 
 absolute impossibilities. And an expedition hav- 
 ing been determined upon, notwithstanding all the 
 apprehended obstacles. Captain Beaver had been 
 sent out expressly to conduct the disembarkation. 
 But in the interim, a series of naval misfortunes 
 had occurred in the Indian seas, which being 
 known in London soon after the departure of the 
 Nisus, caused no small apprehension at the Ad- 
 miralty for her safety. 
 
 '' I arrived at the Cape, on the 23d of August," 
 writes Beaver, '^ and the morning I went to pay 
 my respects to Admiral Bertie, two officers came 
 in with news of our having taken the isle of Bour- 
 bon. This is good — and I have no doubt but its 
 companion will quickly follow its fate. There is no
 
 CAPTAIN I'llILIP BEAVER. 203 
 
 man-of-war here besides ourselves and tlie Olvm- 
 pia cutter; so that I have hoisted the Admiral's 
 flag-, and am to carry him to Mauritius, wliich is 
 closely blockaded by his squadron. Troops will 
 there meet us from India, and ere long another 
 jewel will stud the crown of Eng-land. It is diffi- 
 cult to assign a reason why this measure has not 
 been resorted to before, for the island has, for many 
 years, nourished a vile nest of buccaneers against 
 our Oriental commerce. 
 
 '' Octoljer 14. We made the Isle of France on 
 the 2d instant, and hove to before the town, where 
 our appearance seemed to produce considerable 
 bustle along the shores, and on board two frigates 
 and a corvette in Port Louis. But to our utter 
 astonishment, Ave saw nothing of our own vessels, 
 though we continued cruizing off and on for a 
 couple of days, without any attempt of the enemy 
 to attack us. Lost in conjecture, we ran down to 
 Bourbon to procure intelligence, and being' baffled 
 by light winds off St. Paid's Bay, Commodore Row- 
 ley, with Colonel Keating, the governor of the 
 island, came on board. Judge, if you can, what a 
 damper we experienced, on hearing the bitter tid- 
 ings of the loss of all our ships in an unsuccessful 
 attack upon the anchorage of Port Sud Est. What 
 a feather for France ! A British squadron to em- 
 blazon her naval annals! Thank heaven, our
 
 204 THE LIFE OF 
 
 countrymen did their duty in the hour of mortifica- 
 tion ; for tliough we may encounter distress and 
 disaster, we can never endure disgrace. As a 
 counterpoise, we are ghiddened to find that, by 
 Rowley's admirable skill, the enemy's ascendancy 
 has been already crushed ; the Africaine and Cey- 
 lon have been retaken, and a fine French frigate 
 captured ; all by the lucky Boadicea. Yet this 
 does not console me for the four beautiful ships we 
 have still lost, and I shall be unhappy if retribu- 
 tion is delayed." 
 
 Superior as was Captain Beaver, in ability to 
 conduct a distinguished or arduous enter^prise, 
 without undue rashness, he had imbibed all the 
 thorough sailor's contempt for his enemy. Long 
 accustomed to victory over the French, at sea, we 
 scarcely gave them credit for the courage and con- 
 duct which they really possessed. Many officers 
 seemed to forget that our triumphs were neither 
 quick nor bloodless. It may be a politic idea to 
 indulge, but an imprudent one to put in practice, 
 that an Englishman can beat several Frenchmen 
 at any time. Some feeling of this kind may have 
 influenced his mind, when on this occasion he 
 hinted to his officers the proba})ility of his having 
 to engage double his force. Such a contingency 
 was, in fact, more likely to happen than could have 
 been imagined ; for, on arriving oif Port Louis, he
 
 CAPTAIN PTiir.TP nr. wr.R. 205 
 
 found himselfsino-le-luiiided^ and a hostile s(|ii;idr()ii 
 staring- him in the face. With a galhinl duriii*^-, 
 which must have astonished the enemy, for all the 
 furnaces for red-hot shot instantly be^-an to smoke, 
 he hove his main top-sail to the mast^ hoisted his 
 colours, and fired the gun of defiance — the cus- 
 tomary signals of invitation to those who may have 
 an appetite for fight ; but his spirited invitation 
 was not accepted. On bearing up for Bourbon, he 
 learned that Captain Corbett, in the Africaine, had 
 just made the contemplated experiment: he had 
 engaged two large ships off that island, and found 
 the usual effects of undervaluing- his enemy ; in half 
 an hour his vessel was a wreck_, and captured, and 
 himself mortally wounded — in addition to a serious 
 loss of officers and men. Hercules himself, as 
 Pantagruel sagely remarked, never undertook 
 against two at a time. 
 
 The ^^retribution" so earnestly prayed for was not 
 delayed; for, by incessant exertions, five frigates and 
 a brio- were ready for sea in ten days, and the ba- 
 lance of naval power restored to our hands. On the 
 14th of November, they weighed, and proceeded 
 off Port Louis, to the infinite surprise of the French, 
 who had lulled themselves into the idea of being 
 effectually relieved from our intrusive ])resencc. 
 Commodore Rowley watched the enemy, while 
 the xVdmiral and Major-General John Abercrombic
 
 206 THE LIFE OF 
 
 (who had both embarked in the Nisus) sailed to the 
 isle of Rodriguez, to collect the expedition ; and as 
 those officers desired all arrangements should be 
 controlled by Captain Beaver^ he was removed 
 to the Africaine for that purpose, under the fol- 
 lowino' flatterino" notice from the Commander-in- 
 chief: — '' Whereas it is expedient that an officer 
 of rank and experience should be appointed to 
 superintend and conduct the arrangements relating 
 to the disposition of the forces^ both naval and 
 military, to be employed in the present expedition ; 
 and whereas I have seen fit to select you, as well 
 qualified^ from your judgment_, for this important 
 service — you are hereby required and directed to 
 take upon you the charge, conduct, and superinten- 
 dence of this branch of the service accordingly, and 
 to give due effect to all orders, directions, signals, 
 and instructions, you may from time to time deem 
 necessary to issue, the several captains of the squad- 
 ron, the commanders of the Honourable East India 
 Company's cruizers, and the agents of transports, 
 are directed to consider all such orders and signals 
 as coming from me, and to pay due and prompt 
 obedience to the same." It is no small proof of 
 the hiofh sense entertained of Beaver's merits, that 
 such important duties were always assigned to 
 him, notwithstanding the presence of senior officers. 
 On reaching the rendezvous, the expected divi-
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 207 
 
 sions from Ben<^iil and the Capo were not found 
 to have yet arrived, whence, as the season was far 
 advanced, it was resolved to proceed with those of 
 Madras and Bombay only : when under weigh, 
 however, for this purpose, the Benoal forces joined 
 them, making- the aggregate strength of the army 
 about twelve thousand men. 
 
 What had hitherto been considered as the grand 
 obstacle to an attacic on the Isle of France, was 
 the dirticulty of tinding a ])roi)er place for the de- 
 barkation of a large number of troops, the whole 
 coast being surrounded with breakers, and the 
 supposed impossibility of finding anchorage for a 
 fleet of transports. But what dilficulties are insur- 
 mountable to men of resolution ? A fit beach was 
 discovered ; a good roadstead carefully sounded ; 
 and an opening in the surf was buoyed off, suffi- 
 cient to admit tlie passage of three vessels abreast. 
 
 Light winds rendered it prudent to defer ap- 
 proaching the point t)f attack, till the morning of 
 the 29th of November, when a fine breeze being 
 auspicious for the landing, the fleet, amounting to 
 upwards of sixty sail, bore down towards Mapou 
 Bay. The subsequent events may be given in 
 this active officer's own words, metely premising, 
 that he had again joined the Nisus, with the Ge- 
 neral and his staff; and that the com])licated de- 
 tails had been managed with such peculiar preci-
 
 208 THE LIFE OF 
 
 sion and clearness, as to meet the most unqualified 
 approbation in both the services. 
 
 "^ November 29. A very beautiful day, and 
 the prospect of the ship})ing' pressing- for the scene 
 of action extremely animating-. Soon after eleven, 
 we came to between the Gunner's Quoin and Cape 
 Malheureux, on a bottom of coral, the heads of 
 which were clearly seen throug-h the translucent 
 waves, in ten fathoms. Having anchored, we 
 hoisted out all the boats; but owing- to some of the 
 troops, who were to be on the right flank, having 
 been put on board the Nereide, which was anchored 
 the furthest to the left, it was near two o'clock 
 before we pulled towards the shore. We then, 
 however, gave way, and landed in a quarter of an 
 hour w ithout experiencing any obstacle, the enemy 
 blowing up the magazine at Grand Bay, and re- 
 treating. It was well to be able to disembark and 
 advance without a struggle, for circumstances did 
 not combine as I could have wished. A strong- 
 tide had made to the westward, which prevented 
 the flat and heavy boats from preserving the ne- 
 cessary order; but still, better might have been 
 obtained. ***** It was, on the whole, very 
 short of what I intended. Our troops formed, and 
 started off for the capital at about five o'clock, 
 except one brigade; and by half past eight, I had 
 landed most of the troops, European and Na-
 
 CAPTAIN PTIILIP BEAVER. 200 
 
 five, with all the ammiiiiitlon, footl, and spirits 
 which the General had requested of me. Early 
 associations of ideas are stubborn companions ; 
 Johnson says, to abstract the mind from all local 
 emotion would be impossible if it were endeavoured^ 
 and would be foolish if it were possible; and I con- 
 fess that while we were nearinj^ Cape Malheureux, 
 in doubt whether it would not soon be bathed with 
 British blood, I could not get the imaginary ship- 
 wreck of Virginin out of my head." 
 
 This disembarkation was a beautiful operation, 
 and entirely of Beaver's management. In this he had 
 had, it is true, some experience ; but it was one of 
 those measures which^ to be well done, required no 
 common skill and combination of movement. The 
 enemy, indeed, offered no opposition; but this was 
 not known until the last moment, and could not 
 have affected the masterly details which were 
 desisfned to meet it. An incident at this instant 
 evinced the Captain's presence of mind. While 
 standing- in for the place of landing-, his boat, 
 which contained the sio-nals whence the others 
 were to receive their orders, was swamped by the 
 rapid towing" of the ship, and the contents were 
 totally lost. This seemed a most untoward acci- 
 dent, and with many would have been irretrievable, 
 but it scarcely disconcerted liim. Such was his 
 fertility of resource, that in fifteen minutes new 
 
 p
 
 210 THE LIFE OF 
 
 dispositions were made; the troop ships^ with the 
 men of war ordered to cover them, anchored in their 
 assigned positions, and the flotilla conveying the 
 soldiers moved towards the shore, a magnificent 
 and imposing spectacle. 
 
 '' On the morning of the 30th," continues the 
 Captain, " considerable trouble and some confu- 
 sion arose from disembarking sepoys, pioneers, and 
 artillery at one spot, when I had expressly directed 
 another. About eight o'clock Colonel Smyth's bri- 
 gade, which had covered the landing, moved for- 
 wards, and at the same time I received the Gene- 
 ral's desire to attack any assailable point, and open 
 a communication with him. The army, he said, 
 had marched through the woods without encoun- 
 tering any force but a piquet, which was routed ; 
 and that all hands were in high spirits. Shortly 
 afterwards, the Admiral ran off" Port Louis; I 
 weighed at ten, and in passing, saw with pleasure 
 the union jack floating over Cannoniere fort. At 
 half-past one, I anchored to the eastward of bay 
 Tortue, and observing French colours flying, sent 
 the first lieutenant, with a strong party, to take 
 possession of the batteries ; a service accomplished 
 without any loss, as the enemy retreated with such 
 precipitation, as to throw down the lighted matches 
 without discharging the guns. 
 
 ^' December 1st. — At dawn of day I perceived
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEA\TU. 211 
 
 a column of our troops near tlic works : they had 
 been despatched to cover the right llaiik^ by occu- 
 pying them, but finding us already there, were 
 enabled to rejoin the main body ; and the commu- 
 nication being thus secured^ I immediately sent a 
 day's provisions for twelve thousand men. A can- 
 nonade soon after commenced from the enemy's 
 lines, on a hill a-breast the ship, as our soldiers 
 advanced, which, though pretty brisk for a time, 
 totally ceased at half-past nine. I found the 
 advanced guard had had a sharp brush with the 
 enemy, who were strongly posted, but were forced 
 to retire, leaving two guns, some tumbrils, and a 
 few wounded men behind them. The weather 
 was uncommonly fine, but the troops complained 
 of a grievous want of water. 
 
 " December 2d. — All our boats were employed 
 in landing and transporting provisions for the 
 army ; and the seamen on shore were eminently 
 useful in dragging the cannon over ai)parently 
 insurmountable obstacles. The General came on 
 board and breakfasted with me, after having 
 enjoyed a shave and a clean shirt : he was well 
 satisfied with affairs on the whole, for the enemy 
 had receded with each of our advances, and the 
 only stand they made scarcely merited the name 
 of a skirmish. Between nine and ten o'clock, a 
 flag of truce came out of Port Louis ; and after 
 
 P 2
 
 I 
 
 S12 THE LIFE OE 
 
 much extravao'ant bravado and insolence on the 
 part of Governor de Caen, the Isle of France was 
 surrendered by capitulation^ on the 3d, I wish I 
 had been of greater consequence at this moment ; 
 the terms were rather demanded than supplicated, 
 and are far too advantageous for such an unde- 
 serving and inferior garrison. These are the fel- 
 lows, who not only treated their prisoners with 
 unusual severity, but added the disgusting insult 
 of confining males and females indiscriminately in 
 a common room. A boat of mine having been 
 captured on the 5th ult. besides the whole being 
 exceedingly ill treated^, the coxswain was horse- 
 whipped, and another of the crew was thumbscrewed, 
 of which I officially informed the Admiral. They 
 wished to retain four frigates and two corvettes, 
 with their officers, crews, guns^ and stores, as car- 
 tels ! and they are actually allowed to march with 
 their arms, their eagles, and fixed bayonets. Is 
 not this too much ? What can justify such conces- 
 sions ? ' Oh I' cry out some people, ' these honours 
 are of no real importance ; they are only trifles 
 founded on opinion.' But is it not to the influence 
 of opinion that the French owe more of their con- 
 quests, than to physical strength ? Will any one 
 be found hardy enough to rise in the House of 
 Commons, and move for a vote of thanks on this 
 occasion?"
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 213 
 
 It may be clue to General Abercromljie, to add, 
 that he was induced to grant favourable terms, from 
 what he deemed a regard to the interests of the 
 inhabitants of the island, who had lono- laboured 
 under the most degrading- misery and oppression ; 
 from a desire of sparing the lives of many brave 
 officers and soldiers^ and a consideration of the late 
 period of the season. But this liberty awarded 
 to the French troops was the only point on which 
 he had not closely adhered to the instructions of 
 Lord Minto, the Governor-General of India. 
 
 The Isle of France, which was by far the most 
 important of the enemy's possessions in those 
 parts, having thus surrendered, a Biitish garrison 
 of 5000 men was left for its protection, and the 
 colony again assumed its ancient name of " T/ig 
 Mauritius." 
 
 Scarcely had the ratification of the treaty been 
 signed, ere the long-expected division of two thou- 
 sand men arrived from the Cape of Good Hope, 
 and their chagrin and disappointment at finding 
 the enterprise already accomplished, will be easily 
 imagined, by all who have been on similar service. 
 
 Port Louis now presented an indeseribablv lively 
 bustle, and though rather disorderl), must have 
 formed a picture of the highest interest. " Early 
 on the 6th," observes Captain Beaver, "' I ran 
 down off the Port, where we anchored in eleven
 
 214 THE LIFE OF 
 
 fathoms, and made the signal for a pilot to take us 
 in. Every ship, whether man of war, or trans- 
 port, without order or regularity, seems determined 
 to force inside, and the mouth of the harbour is 
 completely blocked up by shipping of all sorts and 
 sizes ; some of which^ as might be expected_, are 
 on shore. Every kind of mooring is snapped up, 
 whether good or bad, adequate or inadequate, for 
 the seizer. The four French frigates, which were 
 moored for defence across the entrance, are still 
 suffered to remain in the same station : such con- 
 fusion, such gross neglect,, I never before wit- 
 nessed." 
 
 '' December 7th. — We warped into the har- 
 bour, and took up our mooring chains ; there are 
 already near us ten other English men of war^ 
 besides four Company's cruizers, a great many 
 transports, Indiamen, and smaller vessels; and, 
 moreover, six prize frigates, two corvettes, and 
 thirty other captured craft. A gale of wind would 
 destroy every vessel ; why were they not ordered 
 to remain outside, where there would not be a 
 hundredth part of the danger? If one ship should 
 catch fire, it is most probable that the whole fleet 
 would be destroyed, and the town also." 
 
 In a letter detailing some of these events to his 
 sister, Captain Beaver remarks^ that the only army 
 ofiicers of rank who fell. Colonel Campbell and
 
 C/VPTAIN PHILIP REAVER. 215 
 
 Major O'Kccfe, were friends of his lamented 
 brother, and liad both been, the morning- of the 
 event, on board the Nisus, to seek liis acquain- 
 tance. To another correspondent, he hints at the 
 contempt which had been shewn by tlie French for 
 the usual hiws of war, in their functionaries having 
 given up their pubhc stores, and the i)lunder of the 
 Indiamcn, to be secured by individuals as private 
 property, when the loss of the colony became pro- 
 bable. *^' Some of these worthies, already profess- 
 ing* an inviolable attachment to our government, 
 are craving candidates for situations under it ; and 
 our official men are so partial to the pageantry and 
 subserviency of having foreigners in their depart- 
 ments, that there is no doubt of their ofainino- 
 something. But when the moment arrives, they 
 will certainly deceive us ; for such warm profes- 
 sions to strangers must be equally as delusive and 
 insincere as the smile on the face of death." 
 
 Beaver spoke with a frankness equally suited to 
 his natural, and incidental to his professional cha- 
 racter ; and, sensible of his own integrity, he 
 feared the frowns of no man. Indeed, his openly 
 expressed opinions on this occasion are said to 
 have given umbrage in a certain quarter, and to 
 have cooled the praise which would otherwise have 
 stamped the mental and bodily exertion he had 
 endured in so enervating a climate. But however
 
 216 THE LIFE OF 
 
 reluctantly encomium may have been extorted from 
 somCj it appears that the Admiral could not have 
 been one of the dissatisfied ; for he not only warmly 
 expressed his high opinion of our Captain, but left 
 him senior oflicer on the station, as a reward for 
 his fatio-iies. Obliged frequently to have men of 
 high rank, with their staff, on board, Captain 
 Beaver entreated to be permitted to draw for the 
 trifling allowance generally accompanying a broad 
 pendant : this_, although inadequate to his ex- 
 penses, would have diminished the accumulation 
 of debt, in which the very nature of his distinguished 
 services necessarily involved him; but the request 
 was unheeded. 
 
 An order of the 8th was couched in the follow- 
 ing terms : "His Excellency General Abercrombie, 
 having represented to me the great advantage the 
 public service has derived from your very able and 
 judicious arrangements, in the disposition and de- 
 barkation of the troops for the attack of this 
 colony, and solicited your continued superinten- 
 dence of the military measures, as connected with 
 re-embarking the soldiers for India, I am, there- 
 fore, to direct that you continue to superintend this 
 service accordingly." 
 
 Early on the 5th of January, 1811, a vessel was 
 seen standing towards the port, on which occasion 
 jFrench colours were hoisted^ and she was decoyed
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP 15EAVF.U. 217 
 
 sufliciently near for the boats of the Nisus and 
 Illustrious to surprise her, and secure the des- 
 patches. She proved to be the Mouche, and it 
 appeared from the papers thus captured,, that De 
 Caen was recalled, and that three French frigates, 
 Avitli troops and snpj)lies for the colony, were to 
 sail from France, in fifteen days after the packet. 
 On this intelligence, Beaver, now appointed com- 
 modore, stationed his squadron of three frigates 
 and two sloops to a[)prize him of every occurrence, 
 but remained himself in the port, to carry on the 
 requisite duties. These now gave him such constant 
 employment, that the correspondence with his 
 friends slackened very considerably; and though 
 the letters to his family breathe the same manly 
 and affectionate tone, they are evidently written with 
 more hurry than usual. '' I have never omitted," 
 he writes to his wife, " one night since leaving 
 England, to pray most sincerely to the Almighty, 
 to preserve you and the dear children in health 
 and happiness — health, that first of blessings!" 
 To another, in mentioning the death of an ac- 
 quaintance, of whom he had not the highest opi- 
 nion, he observes, '^ Poor fellow ! he was always 
 with a bee in his bonnet, from a conceit that he 
 had the faculty of comparing, combining, and 
 deducino- effects from causes. I wish this had 
 been his most harmless assumption. But perfec-^
 
 218 THE LIFE OF 
 
 tion is not the attribute of mortals, and we should 
 forg-et his failings ; may they be buried in his grave, 
 and mercifully pardoned by a benignant Deity. 
 
 " February the 4th. — Ever since the 30th of 
 last month, the weather here has been unsettled, 
 generally blowing exceedingly hard from e.n.e., 
 the sun scarcely ever seen, and the rain pouring in 
 heavy torrents. Two days ago I observed, for 
 the first time, an uncommon surf at the harbour's 
 mouth ; yesterday it had increased, and this morn- 
 ing the sea seems to break nearly across it. About 
 seven^ we saw two brigs standing in, one evidently 
 commanded by a seaman, the other by a lubber. 
 A little after eight, the one steered skilfully through 
 the swell, and anchored in safety without any 
 assistance ; the other rounded the outer buoy, but 
 with her topsails ever lifting, and her yards slackly 
 braced, it soon became apparent she could not 
 weather the shoal. She blindly stood on, till find- 
 ing her error, she clewed all up, and let go two 
 anchors, at which moment a boat I had sent to her 
 assistance nearly reached her, but the surges 
 were too violent to admit of approach. A few 
 minutes only then elapsed, for the waves taking 
 her, first on the quarter, and then on the broad- 
 side, completely rolled her into the surf. Her 
 anchors and masts were now cut away, and she 
 kept beating and driving over the reefs ; the poor
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 219 
 
 creatures on board were in ag-ony and despair, and 
 what powerfully heig-btened the excited fecliiigs of 
 the spectators, was the circumstance of a lady on 
 board implorino- that relief, which it was now im- 
 practicable to afford. About eleven o'clock_, the 
 vessel had forg-ed to a part where the breakers were 
 less furious, and at noon, by the most strenuous 
 labour, a boat got alongside, and boldly took out 
 the female, and some of the people. On landing, 
 it happened that an army officer, attracted by curio- 
 sity to the spot, pressed forwards to look at the 
 sufferers, when the first object which struck his 
 sight, was the unexpected appearance of his wife_, 
 just rescued from a watery grave ! It was impos- 
 sible to refuse a tear to this meeting. By the 
 inimitable conduct of the officers and seamen who 
 volunteered, the last of the crew were saved by 
 four o'clock, and the vessel shortly after went to 
 pieces — two men only were drowned." 
 
 Commodore Beaver had now planned an expe- 
 dition against the fortress of Tamatave, in the 
 island of Madagascar, which he had proposed to 
 execute in person ; but Governor Farquhar made 
 an official request for the Nisus to remain. He 
 therefore despatched Captain Lynne, of the Eclipse, 
 under the following instructions : "From an urgent 
 solicitation on the part of the government of this 
 island,, not to leave it without a frigate, at a period
 
 220 THE LIFE OF 
 
 when succours from France are likely to arrive, you 
 will take the Staunch gun-brig' under your orders, 
 with the Duchess of York transport and Farquhar 
 schooner, and j)roceed forth with to Tamatave,which_, 
 as a dependancy upon this colony, you will by virtue 
 of this capitulation summon to surrender, and in 
 case of resistance, forcibly take possession of the 
 same. In fulfilling these instructions, you will 
 most strenuously avoid giving offence to the na- 
 tives, and take especial care to distinguish between 
 their property and that of the French establish- 
 ment." The result, though successful in its object, 
 gave infinite concern, by the extent of the subse- 
 quent disaster; for, except the Eclipse, every vessel 
 perished by stress of weather. 
 
 From pecuharly dense clouds on the summits of 
 the mountains, the recession of water in the har- 
 bour, the agitation of sea birds, and other prog- 
 nostics, Beaver had been led to expect one of 
 those awful storms which occasionally desolate the 
 tropical regions. Rather than trust even the 
 massy mooring chains to which he was riding, he 
 put to sea, accompanied by the Astrea, to meet 
 the expected commotion on fairer terms, than if 
 caught at anchor. '^ March 19th. — Strong gales 
 and squally; made every preparation for worse 
 weather : handed the topsails, and sent top-gallant 
 masts on deck ; got the spritsail yard fore and aft,
 
 CAPTAIN PlllT.lP PFWER. 221 
 
 rail in tlic jib-boom, swifted the rigging-, uiid clap- 
 ped the fore-runners to the weather-cat and knight- 
 lieads. Towards evening, the wind blew tremen- 
 dously hard, when we fuiled the foresail, battened 
 down the hatches fore and aft, and made every 
 thing snug. The morning of the 20th presented 
 a terrific appearance, for the gale had increased 
 with such violent gusts following each other in 
 rapid succession ; the atmosphere impenetrably 
 thick, looking as if it could be cut with a knife, and 
 a violent deluofe of rain falling. In the afternoon 
 the tempest moderated, and the wind veered gra- 
 dually, point after point; it had commenced at 
 S.S.E., and it ended at n.n.w., so that the ship's 
 head being east on the starboard tack, at the 
 beginning, was lying west, on the same tack, 
 at the end of twenty-four hours. Had the 
 storm suddenly shifted, or fallen, we must have 
 been dismasted, and I expected it, as it was, 
 althouofh I never witnessed so little sea with such 
 furious blasts of wind. The waves could not rise, 
 for the squalls cut off their tops and forced them 
 along in thick drift, resembling heavy rain. I 
 never felt it blow harder than on this occasion, 
 but the water being thus comparatively smooth, 
 the vessel was steadily pressed down, with less 
 labourino' than could have been looked for ; nor 
 did she ship other water than spoondrift and occa-
 
 22:2 THE LIFE OF 
 
 sioiial g-ood-natured slaps over the weather gang- 
 way. I was under some apprehension for the 
 fate of the Astrea^ yet, relying upon Schomberg's 
 seamanship, hoped for the best ; it was therefore 
 with sincere joy I saw him about noon of the 
 21st, looking quite snug, and apparently but little 
 hurt in the elemental strife." 
 
 The little damage sustained by these two fri- 
 gates was certainly owing to the knowledge which 
 anticipated the violence of the expected commo- 
 tion. To each of those commanders might be 
 applied the well-know n lines of poor Falconer : — 
 
 " His genius, ever for the event prepared, 
 Rose with the storm, and all its dangers shared ; 
 And though full oft, to future perils blind. 
 With skill superior glow'd his daring mind, 
 Tlirough snares of death, the reeling bark to guide. 
 When midnight shades involve the raging tide." 
 
 Two branches of public duty were now solicited 
 by the colonial government, and as they were both 
 of an urgent nature^ the Commodore felt himself 
 bound to compliance. Yet this was one of those 
 bitter points of service, which probe the well-disci- 
 plined officer to the quick ; for he was obliged, in 
 obeying the requisition, to relinquish his long- 
 cherished hope of meeting the expected French 
 frigates, after his anxious look out of three months. 
 The first object was the capture of the Seychelles,
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 223 
 
 a cluster of nearly twenty islands and rocks, all 
 dependencies of Mauritius, and absolutely neces- 
 sary for some of her commercial purposes. The 
 other was, a request to procure treasure in India, 
 for an enormous quantity of pice, or coi)per coin, 
 which had been put into circulation from the cap- 
 tured Indiamen ; and this was the more essential, 
 because an attempt which was made to establish a 
 paper currency had proved abortive. 
 
 A singular incident occurred just as they were 
 quitting the harbour : — '"^ John Herring, a youth 
 of eighteen, was discovered by the master-at-arms 
 crawling into one of the tiers ; he being supposed 
 to have jumped overboard and been drowned, on 
 the 4th of November last. For five months had 
 he secreted himself in the main hold, unseen by 
 any person whatever; during all which time he 
 subsisted upon what he could nightly steal out of 
 the mess kids and bread-bags between decks. His 
 supply was, of course, precarious, and he says he 
 was once five days without eating, though he could 
 generally procure water. When detected diving 
 to his hiding-place, he had two bags in his hand, 
 one full of biscuit, and the other of onions, w hich 
 he had just stolen. He could crawl pretty well, 
 but stood with difliculty ; he was unable to walk, 
 and being very weak and emaciated, would not 
 probably have lived many days longer. The
 
 224 THE LIFE or 
 
 mainliold of the ship, during- the time of his hiding", 
 has never been worked, for \^'e got our water at 
 the fore, and provisions at the after hatchway, 
 whieli accounts for this sculker's retreat never 
 having' been suspected." 
 
 On duly informing the Navy Board of this cu- 
 rious recovery of a person long- since discharged 
 dead on the books, it was decided that he had vir- 
 tually deserted the service, though he remained in 
 the ship concealed ; and that therefore he should 
 be mulcted of his pay and provisions for the time. 
 
 The Nisus sailed from Port Louis on the 4th of 
 April, with a favourable breeze, and soon after 
 passing the Galega Islands. — " For several even- 
 ings we observed an uncommon change in the ap- 
 pearance of the water, as if it had suddenly become 
 shallow, with a chalky tinge. A cast of the deep 
 sea lead was taken every hour, but we never got 
 soundings, nor could we detect any thing in the 
 water, which we repeatedly drew up and examined 
 during our passage across this ocean of milk. 
 The time was usually between seven and eight 
 o'clock, with a clear and serene atmosphere ; and 
 as I cannot give the slightest solution of this very 
 singular phenomenon, I trust somebody else, 
 better qualified, will." 
 
 They gained sight of the Seychelle Islands on 
 the 17th of April, but for several days baffling
 
 CAPTAIX PHILIP BEAVER. 22 J 
 
 currents prevented tlieir ap[)r(jucli, to the great 
 annoyance of the Commodore^ who strained every 
 nerv^e to accelerate the service which he was upon. 
 At lengthy on the 24th, the ship took up a command- 
 ing position, the marines were landed, and formal 
 possession taken of Mahe, under the usual salutes 
 on hoisting the British Hag. Lieutenant Sullivan, 
 who had been severely wounded at the isle of 
 France^ was established as Governor ; and other 
 arrangements being made, Beaver remained but 
 two days to wood and water, and then hastened 
 onwards for Madras. 
 
 On this occasion he took the degree and a half 
 channel, which, though scarcely known, is wide 
 and safe, and saved nearly a thousand miles of 
 route. '"' Having been but litde in India," he 
 remarks, " I had never heard of this channel, till 
 a gentleman at Seychelle gave me a manuscript 
 chart, by which it appeared to be about fifteen 
 leagues wide; I therefore determined io take it, in 
 preference to the eight degree one. On the (ith 
 of May, at day-break, being in the latitude of 
 1° 26' north, our chronometer gave exactly 73° 30', 
 east longitude ; and we soon afterwards saw the 
 palm-trees of Adumatti, one of the iVIaldive isles, 
 from the mast-head. We passed them fifteen or 
 sixteen miles distant, and never saw the land to 
 the southward, thougli the weather was very clear. 
 
 Q
 
 226 THE LIFE OF 
 
 I should tlicrefore pronounce the passage to be 
 spacious, and most eligible for ships that are 
 bound to the Bay of Bengal, in the S.W. Monsoon." 
 On the 14th of May, the Nisus anchored in 
 Madras roads, where the whole shore exhibited 
 evidences of recent devastation, and the beach was 
 literally strewed with the wrecks of every descrip- 
 tion of vessel. In answer to the earnest inquiries 
 of the Commodore, it was stated that a storm of the 
 severest description had commenced on the eastern 
 quarter, on the 2d instant, which reached its acme 
 of violence about midnight, at which time the ge- 
 neral distress, both on shore and afloat, was in- 
 describable. The atmosphere seemed charged 
 with electric fluid, which incessantly darted in 
 vivid flashes, while angry blasts of wind, torrents 
 of rain, and a peculiar rolling sea, known only on 
 that devoted coast, conspired to render it a scene 
 of the ntmost awe and horror. Large trees were 
 torn up by the roots; doors and windows, however 
 barricadoed, were forced open, and the buildings 
 injured to a serious extent. But in the roadstead, 
 theeflect of this visitation exceeded all description; 
 a hundred and twenty ships and vessels either 
 bilged or foundered, and were all lost! It was 
 providential that the expedition against Java had 
 sailed two days before, or the whole armament, 
 comprising the squadron of India, twelve Com-
 
 CATTATN rilN.rP RF.AVF.R. 227 
 
 pany's cruizers^ and sixty transports with twelve 
 thousand soldiers on board,, must have perished. 
 Fewer lives were lost than could have been ex- 
 pected, considering- the extent of the calamity ;, and 
 that numbers of the country ciaft went down at 
 their anchors; but neither the Dover, frigate, nor 
 Chichester^ store-ship, which were stranded^ lost a 
 single man : such are the benefits resulting- from 
 systematic discipline, even 
 
 " When hostile elements tumultuous rise, 
 And lawless floods rebel against the skies." 
 
 Eager to rejoin his station, the Commodore lost 
 no time in embarking three lacks of pagodas, which 
 were given in return for the pice, or copper coin, 
 and he gladly quitted India on the 23d, with the 
 ardent hope of yet being in time to intercept the 
 three French frigates expected from Europe. But 
 he had to endure a tedious and anxious passage ; 
 and about a fortnight after they were at sea, it 
 was discovered that by a nefarious stratagem of die 
 Purser's steward, the ship had only been victualled 
 with ten weeks provisions instead of four months. 
 This obliged him to reduce the ship s company to 
 half allowance ; and even of this pittance a great 
 portion was almost useless, from the depredation 
 of vermin. At length, on the 27th of June, the>y 
 arrived at Port Louis, not only with their food 
 
 0-^
 
 228 THE LIFE OF 
 
 reduced to half a day's ration, but tlie wine and 
 spirits had been finished a week before. 
 ■ The mino'led emotions which seized our zealous 
 oflicer, on Rearing- the port_, maybe imagined^ when 
 he beheld two fine French frigates riding across the 
 harbour, thereby announcing that the event which 
 he had so ardently sighed for -was accomplished by 
 another. His wonted liberality, however^ shone 
 brightly conspicuous through his disappointment. 
 '' I have been wretchedly unfortunate," he re- 
 marks, " in being absent, when the arrival of the 
 French squadron would have given me an oppor- 
 tunity of showing to the world of what materials I am 
 made. Ho^v•ever^ I presume not to repine — what- 
 ever is, is right. I cannot be accused of pecuniary 
 regret, for I share with the captors ; my feelings 
 are stung for my two boys, as they can only have, 
 for their inheritance, whatever name I may form in 
 the service of my country. This mortification is 
 partly compensated to me, by its having given an 
 opportunity to two of my favourite friends, Schom- 
 berg and Hillyar, to distinguish themselves. I 
 exult in their success, and hope their decision and 
 merit will meet the proper reward." And in for- 
 warding the despatches addressed to him by the 
 former, he generously remarks — '^ To the con- 
 duct of that zealous and intelligent officer, Cap- 
 tain Schomberg, on this occasion, I can only give
 
 CAPTAIN Til 1 1,11' i;i:aveu. 220 
 
 the tribute of my iiiHjiialificd praise; and of" the 
 manner in which he was snpported by the estima- 
 ble Captain llillyar, I must express myself in the 
 same terms. But I regret * * * In this battle, 
 the oflicers and crews of the Astrea and Phoebe 
 fought most bravely ; and have rellected credit on 
 their country, by an additional instance of the su- 
 perior gallantry of its navy." 
 
 It appeared that early on the TUi of May, the 
 expected French frigates were discovered by the 
 Phoebe, Galatea, and Racehorse, two compara- 
 tively small ships and a brig-, who alternately 
 chased and were chased by the enemy. Our 
 squadron edged away towards Port Louis, where 
 they gave intelligence to the Astrea, which ship was 
 nearly prevented from joining them, by the very 
 unusual phenomenon of a strong sea breeze setting 
 in ; the animation inspired by the vicinity of the 
 foe, however, overcame all difficulties, and she was 
 warped ont amidst loud cheers. The enemy un- 
 avoidably gained this time to make off, and it was 
 difficult to say towards which quarter; but Captain 
 Schomberg, finding by a boat which had commu- 
 nicated with the shore, that they were in want of 
 water, judiciously concluded that Madagascar would 
 be the place to seek them. The hard-fought action 
 which ensued, and the capture of the Renommee 
 and Nereide, each of forty-four guns and four
 
 i 
 
 230 THE LIFE OF 
 
 hundred and seventy men, besides troops, are 
 ably set forth in that otficer's oflicial letter to 
 Captain Beaver, which being" published in the 
 gazettes of the day, requires no further comment, 
 except to lament that a greater unanimity ^^•as not 
 displayed in so splendid a cause. 
 
 The third ship struck her colours, but afterwards 
 basely escaped ; she was called the Clorinde, and 
 was of the same class with the other two. When 
 she got into Brest, her Commander was dismissed 
 the French service, and ejected from the Legion of 
 Honour ; he was moreover sentenced to three years' 
 imprisonment. On his passage to Elba, on board 
 the Undaunted, Buonaparte expressed to Captain 
 Ussher his high opinion of Schomberg's bravery, 
 in attacking such heavy vessels with his six-and- 
 thirty-gun frigates. " I did my utmost," added 
 he, '' to have St. Cricq shot, but he was tried by 
 French naval officers! Had he done his duty, the 
 English squadron must have fallen into our hands." 
 And such was the inveteracy of his indignation, 
 that, finding on his return to France that M. St. 
 Cricq had been restored to his former rank by 
 Louis XVIH., the Usuri)er ordered him to be again 
 confuied, and he consequently continued in prison 
 during the memorable hundred days. 
 
 To an oflicer, battle is the chief stage on which 
 he must exhibit, in order to attain brilliant cele-
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP 13KAVER. 231 
 
 brity; but this areiui, fur which our hero ardently 
 thirsted, happened to be, on a g-rand scale at 
 letist, denied to him. He regretted his ill fortune, 
 as he termed it, with a fervour which no one could 
 mistake. There was nothing- like bravado in this ; 
 nor is there in general when a similar sentitncnt is 
 expressed by more ordinary persons. Men who 
 have reputation, honours, and sometimes wealth to 
 acquire on the one hand, and but the risk of loss of 
 life on the other, will always run the latter against 
 the former. It is, with many, a professional feeling, 
 almost independent of courage. In the keenness, 
 therefore, of his disappointment in not command- 
 ing on this occasion, he exclaimed aloud, '' Freely 
 would I have given my right arm to have been 
 there !" ^' And,'' says Mr. Prior, the surgeon of 
 the Nisus, " we, who knew the man, had no doubt 
 of the readiness with which he would instantly 
 have made the sacrifice." 
 
 Commodore Beaver had scarcely anchored, be- 
 fore he received a secret communication which de- 
 termined him to repair to Java, and assist in the 
 reduction of Batavia, with such force as he could 
 collect. He therefore ordered a slioht refit with 
 the utmost expedition, working day and night; and 
 from the want of stores, they were obliged to recur 
 to various contrivances, in all of which he displayed 
 the resources of a seaman. "^ The late action
 
 232 THE LIFE OF 
 
 with the enemy's squadron," says he, in a letter to 
 Commissioner Shield, " has left us without a stick, 
 or a fathom of rope ; and to enable us to go to sea, 
 I am (.bliged to make the latter by cutting up cables. 
 This ship will proceed, with two others, on most 
 important service, and yet I shall set otl' without a 
 main-topsail, except one that is more than half 
 worn, not an inch of rope, nor a morsel of junk; 
 and all the running rigging fairly worn out. My 
 companions are in no better state ; one is without 
 a spare topsail yard, and the other with nume- 
 rous shot-holes, and all her masts fished." 
 
 In a valuable communication which I received 
 from Mr. Prior, — who, since his voyages in the 
 ISisus, has become so well known to the public by 
 his acute and comprehensive Biography of Burke, — 
 that gentleman observes, '' On points of service, 
 our Captain would scarcely admit the existence of, 
 what many were disposed to think, impossibilities; 
 but, at the same time, with that clearness which 
 belongs only to men of superior capacity, he would 
 not only order what was to be done, but also point 
 out the most safe and expeditious method of accom- 
 plishing it. Without neglecting details, on which 
 often depends the success of operations in wan 
 and of which he was perfect master, his mind was 
 more turned to great things. It seemed to expand 
 with the quantity of matter required to be taken in.
 
 CAPTAIN PllirjP REAVKU. 233 
 
 WliL'ii fittiiii^- tlio s(iu;idr()ii for Java^ witli only two 
 or tliree days to perform it in, and one of the sliips 
 just out of action ; stationing' some of the remaining- 
 ships at the Mauritius^ and others at the Cape; 
 writing orders and despatclies to several quarters; 
 waited upon every moment^ by officers of all classes, 
 for directions how to proceed in their respective 
 departments ; teased witii applications of various 
 kinds^ on public business, from persons on shore; 
 added to the responsibility which he assumed^ of 
 quitting- his station,, hanging- on his mind ; yet I 
 never saw him more cool^ clear^ and collected, 
 though scarcely able to devote five minutes unin- 
 terruptedly to any one object." 
 
 By unceasing- attention, the Nisus was enabled 
 to leave the harbour on the 2d of July, in company 
 with the President and Phoebe. To effect a o()od 
 passage at this season^ it was necessary to run far 
 to the southward; and from the wounded state of 
 the Phoebe's masts, they could carry but little sail, 
 which impediments prevented their arrival in time 
 to be present at the landing- of the army in Java. 
 
 '^ At seven in the morning' of the 6th of August/' 
 says Beaver, " we made the west coast of New Hol- 
 land, and running along- shore at an oiling of perhaps 
 a dozen miles, we perceived some very formidable 
 breakers, in mid-distance. These we had i)assed 
 about noon, and then closing the land, found it mo-
 
 234 THE LIFE OF 
 
 derately high, but without a vestig-e of tree or shrub 
 of any kind, being all of a quaker-like drab colour^ 
 except wlien broken by dingy chffs. A more bar- 
 ren, nninvitinsf hind I never beheld ; so having set 
 the N. W. cape, we gladly bade adieu to Australasia. 
 Robertson, in a Memoir on the China Sea, criti- 
 cises Nicholson's latitude, as being forty-six miles 
 out; I call it 21° 50' south, which is as much to 
 the northward of the critic's ! And what if some 
 person hereafter shall point out my errors_, as 
 greater even than those of Mr. Robertson ? 
 
 " August the 13th. We are now running through 
 the Straits of Balli, all my charts of which resemble 
 just as much as they do the Sea of Marmora, and 
 no more. The shores are highly picturesque, Avith 
 ©•roves of tall cocoa-nut trees in full verdure; there 
 are hundreds of boats swiftly crossing in all direc- 
 tions, though the current is very rapid, and the 
 whole forms a scene capable of filling the most 
 insensible hypochondriac with life and animation." 
 
 When the ships reached Batavia roads, on the 
 20th of August, they found Admiral Stopford rid- 
 ing there, with the fleet : the city had been taken 
 on the 9th, and the enemy driven into the fortified 
 entrenchments surrounding the post of Cornelius. 
 The marines of the Nisus, and those of her consorts, 
 were immediately landed, and marched to the po- 
 sition which was occupied by our forces, where
 
 CAPTAIN rillLIP BEAVER. 235 
 
 tliclr assistance was bulh timely and welcome, ("or 
 sickness and fatig-ue had already made inroads into 
 the oeneral strcnii^th. 
 
 V. On the 22d the enemy made a sortie from Mees- 
 ter Cornelius, and drove our seamen from the 
 works, on which they were mounting- guns, where, 
 by some mismanagement, they were both unarmed 
 and unprotected. The Dutch, however, did not 
 keep possession five minutes, being beat out again, 
 before they had time to spike a gun. Both sides 
 kept up a heavy cannonade till the 26th, when that 
 formidable fortress was stormed. The attack was 
 made at dawn of day, by a select column, after a 
 masterly detour, in utter darkness, through a thick 
 jungle. So secret and silent had been the march, 
 that the foe was surprised, and completely routed 
 at the point of the bayonet, in little more than a 
 quarter of an hour ; leaving a thousand killed in the 
 works, besides the multitudes who were cut down in 
 the retreat. This entrenched camp was defended 
 by a chain of redoubts, mounting one hundred and 
 seventy-four guns, and defended by nearly twelve 
 thousand men, of whom, besides the slain, three 
 generals, two hundred and fifty oHlcers, and more 
 than five thousand soldiers, were taken prisoners. 
 A curious case of na^'al law now occurred. 
 Captain Heathcote of the Lion, being ordered for 
 trial, on charges preferred against him by Commo-
 
 23C) THE LIFE OF 
 
 dore Brougliton, Beaver was appointed the presi- 
 dent^ and the court was directed to assemble on 
 board the Nisus. But a demur was started by our 
 inflexible officer, as to the legality of his sitting in 
 that capacity^ having been addressed as fourth in 
 command, whereas^ the 22d of George II. only 
 authorizes a commander-in-chief to nominate to 
 the third. This objection being made known to 
 the Admiral, produced the following explanation : 
 ^' Although Captain Heathcote has not been ac- 
 tually superseded from the Lion, he is virtually so^ 
 the moment he appears as a prisoner before the 
 court. I have therefore no objection to alter the 
 address of your order as president, and instead of 
 fourth, insert third in command ; as you certainly 
 rank next to Commodore Broughton during the 
 trial. And I have to thank you for detecting an 
 informality in style^ which I had overlooked." 
 
 The principal part of the enemy's force having 
 been captured or destroyed, in the successful as- 
 sault of Mecster Cornelius, by the British troops, 
 on the 26th^ Admiral Stopford intended returning 
 to the Cape of Good Hope^ but both his Excellency 
 the Governor-general of India^ then residing at 
 Batavia^ and Sir Samuel Auchmuty, commander-in- 
 chief of Ihe forces, entreated him to remain^ it 
 being desirable to bring the contest to a speedy 
 conclusion^ as the firture resources of the foe were
 
 CArTAIN PHILIP RRAVRR. 237 
 
 unknown. Upon these sug-f^cstions^ the Admiral 
 waived his first intention of quitting- the station, and 
 prepared for immediately j)roceeding- to Surabaya. 
 
 A man of Beaver's known jiidg-ment and gaUan- 
 try could not remain long- without marked distinc- 
 tion, even in so large a fleet. Accordingly we 
 find that, on the 31st of August, he was detached 
 with the Nisus, his two consorts, the President 
 and Phoebe, and the Hesper, to attack Cheribon, 
 Taggal, and Samarang, and to cut off the enemy's 
 retreat from Meestcr Cornelius to the eastward ; 
 services which the Admiral, in oiiicially reporting* 
 to have been performed by these ships, pronounces 
 "of the greatest importance to the ultimate result 
 of the campaign." The strength of the squadron 
 was increased by the marines of the Lion ; and a 
 party of well- disciplined sepoys, whose courage 
 and fidelity had already been well tried in India. 
 Arriving off the first point of attack, the Com- 
 modore sent a summons, couched in spirited and 
 ciricient terms, giving the garrison five minutes to 
 consider them, and threatening signal retaliation, 
 should the least injury be done to the public ])r()- 
 perty in the mean time. The subsequent events 
 may be given in his own words : — 
 
 " September 4th.— At daylight I sent Captain 
 Warren with a flag of truce to summons the for- 
 tress, and immediately afterwards got the s(jua-
 
 238 THE LIFE OF 
 
 dron under sail^ and ran into three fathoms and a 
 quarter water. At half-past eight, I had the satis- 
 faction of seeing the French colours hauled down, 
 and the old British union hoisted in their place. 
 I now disembarked one hundred and eighty ma- 
 rines, and just as they reached the shore,, Warren 
 learnt that General Jamelle, the enemy's second 
 in command, had arrived with a few troops from 
 Bno'tenzorg, and was procuring horses to continue 
 his disastrous retreat. Not a moment was lost in 
 securing him, and, together with some other offi- 
 cers of rank, he was instantly conveyed on board 
 the Nisus. I found, on conversing with them, 
 that part of the fugitive army might be hourly 
 expected. I therefore landed one hundred and 
 fifty seamen, in charge of three lieutenants and six 
 midshipmen, to garrison the fort, and thus leave 
 the marines at liberty to act as occasion required. 
 This fort is a square structure with four solid 
 bastions, surrounded by a wet ditch, and strength- 
 ened by a stout abbatis beyond the glacis. It is 
 defended by twenty guns; and to enfilade the prin- 
 cipal approaches, I moored three armed launches 
 in the river. Without sustaining any loss, we 
 have this day made one hundred and thirty-six 
 prisoners, of whom few are Europeans: I merely 
 disarmed the Malays to their kreeses, and ordered 
 them to their homes, there to await in quiet the
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 230 
 
 issue of the contest; assuring- Ihcm^ that if again 
 found as enomieSj they should instantly be hang-ed. 
 Poor devils ! what interest can they have in our 
 struo'olcs for mastery ? 
 
 *^' September 5th. — My men complain bitterly 
 of the filthy state in which they found the interior 
 of the fortress ; it seems a mass of dirt and abo- 
 mination. I have sent orders to release the lui- 
 liappy beings who were found in its horrible 
 dung-eons ; they may have been guilty of capital 
 offences, but a week's confinement in the castle 
 of Cheribon would expiate any crime. Captain 
 Robison reported to me, that at Carang* Sambang-, 
 a place upwards of thirty miles distant^ a large 
 depot has been established for the enemy's stores, 
 and that they were then collecting their scattered 
 forces. As Cheribon was now secured, I deter- 
 mined to summons that place, for which purpose I 
 placed all the marines, and seventy seamen, under 
 the command of Colonel Wood. Away they started 
 with chceiful alacrity, for they were nearly all 
 mounted, blue jackets as well as red, — a mixture 
 of naval cavalry and horse marines ; whilst the 
 repeated falls of some, who at length preferred 
 finding their way on foot, excited the highest mer- 
 riment. These jokes, however coarse, help to 
 cheer the toils of war, and the oppressive heat of 
 the climate to boot, for the thermometer ranges 
 from eiglity-threc to ninety degrees.
 
 240 THE LIFE OF 
 
 '^ September Gth. — A well-appointed troop of 
 Diitcli cavalry halted at Cheriboii ; we were imme- 
 diately in attendance, and they were as quickly 
 disarmed. Various other prisoners were made in 
 the course of the day, so that the occupation of 
 this post seems to have been of material use. 
 The seamen manage the castle very well, consi- 
 dering- the novelty of the duty, for Jack does not 
 make a very stiff sentry. One of the miserable 
 wretches restored to light yesterday, expired with 
 overpowered feelings, and it is feared two others 
 cannot long survive. Having been waited upon 
 by a party of native chiefs, whom I received with 
 all due ceremony, I have concerted measures for 
 sending a particular account of the recent events 
 to the Emperor and Sultan of Java. 
 
 ^' September 7th. — A party of seamen and 
 marines brought in thirty prisoners and nine wag- 
 gons laden with money, which they had taken 
 near Bongas, a place half way between this and 
 Carang Sambang : Colonel Wood and his detach- 
 ment had entered the latter place, and secured all 
 the stores, spices, and coffee, in the public maga- 
 zines. This is capital, considering the nature of 
 his good-humoured forces, and that he is in the 
 midst of the enemy's resources. In the afternoon' 
 the Modesto anchored, with Sir S. Auchmuty on 
 board, who expressed himself highly pleased with
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 241 
 
 our progress. T told liiiii tliat J fomid ])y dis- 
 coursing* with our captive French Geneml, that it 
 was Jansen's intention to concentrate his force at 
 Samarang- ; where he had been joined by Prince 
 Prang Wedoiia^ and a well-appointed legion of 
 two thousand men. Sir Samuel, on this informa- 
 tion, wished me to assist in the operations against 
 Samarang-, so soon as I should be able to quit 
 Cheribon, and capture Taggal. To second liis 
 views, I instantly dispatched the Hesper oft' point 
 Tndermaya, to collect all transports that were 
 making- for the Manara channel ; and I sent other 
 vessels in various directions, to apprize the men- 
 of-war of the General's intention." 
 
 The seamen and marines now returned on 
 board, and the result of their several enterprizes 
 cannot be better expressed than in the official 
 report of the 1 1th. " I have the honour to inform 
 you, that the last party of marines returned from 
 Carang Sambang late last night, and were em- 
 barked on board the Nisus at one this morning-. 
 I have thus re-embarked every seaman and ma- 
 rine of the two hundred and thirty-nine whom 1 
 landed on the 4th instant ; after having- made 
 about seven hundred prisoners, including one 
 general, two lieutenant-colonels, one major, eleven 
 captains, forty-two lieutenants, and above one 
 lunidred and eighty non-commissioned otBcers
 
 242 THE LIFE OP 
 
 and privates,, Europeans ; the rest being- Creoles 
 and Malays ; without having- had a single man 
 either killed or wounded ; and I am happy to say, 
 with very few sick indeed, and those chiedy from 
 g-reat ft\tigue, whom, I trust, a few days will restore 
 to their wonted vig-our. And althouoh it has not 
 been our good fortune to have had it in our 
 power to do any thing brilliant, yet I hope that 
 haviug been able to secure so great a proportion 
 of the enemy's officers and European troops may 
 contribute, in some degree, to the speedy reduc- 
 tion of this important colony." 
 
 The health enjoyed by the crew of the Nisus 
 was alike creditable to both the commander and 
 the surgeon ; for while the latter applied to pre- 
 cautions strictly medical, the former established a 
 very judicious system of internal regulations for the 
 ship, which were rigidly enforced in those places 
 where the safety of the men was likely to be par- 
 ticularly endangered. No boats were then per- 
 mitted to leave the ship after sunset, nor any person, 
 except under particular circumstances, to sleep on 
 shore. During the hours of rest, the men were 
 kept strictly to their hammocks, from an impres- 
 sion that the night dews of the tropics are fre- 
 quently productive of disease ; for seamen, sooner 
 than endure the heat below, will, if left to them- 
 selves, run any risk by sleeping iu the open air.
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP DrWER. 243 
 
 111 the moriiiniJ', the 'tween decks were cleansed, 
 cleared of moveable articles, and thoroughly ven- 
 tilated the whole of the day ; the men, meantime, 
 livino- and taking- their meals on the gun deck, so 
 that in the evening, when their hammocks were 
 I)iped down, all was cool and refreshing prepara- 
 tory to their repose. 
 
 In addition to Captain Beaver's excellent pre- 
 cautions, I trust it will not be deemed irrelevant to 
 mention a practice which I have myself adopted^ as 
 being evidently attended with benefit. Upwards of 
 twenty years ago^ I belonged to a line-of-battlo 
 ship, which^ just before my joining her^ had been 
 nearly disabled by disease and deaths on her pas- 
 sage from Batavia to Madras. On clearing her 
 hold at Bombay, the ground tier of casks was found 
 imbedded in a feculent mass of putrid mud! This 
 palpable source of remittent fever did not excite 
 much remark at the time ; but I determined, should 
 I ever arrive at the command of one of his Ma- 
 jesty's ships^ never, from neglect, to suffer the 
 nuisance of a foul hold to contaminate her. With 
 this resolution, I have always had the shingle ballast 
 washed before stowing it ; and water was regu- 
 larly admitted into the bilgeways, until that which 
 was pumped up became as transparent as the sea 
 alongside. And to these practices, under Provi- 
 dence, I mainly attribute the superior health of
 
 244 THE LIFE OF 
 
 my people, for a period of upwards of ten years 
 ill the Mediterranean sea. 
 
 Previous to sailing" for Cheribon^ the commander 
 was called upon for certain papers by an army 
 oflicer^ who considered himself entitled to the 
 same, in quality of agent to the Governor-General 
 of India. Beaver was irritated_, and returned a 
 reply highly characteristic of his temper : "■ In my 
 public capacity," says he, " I never permit my 
 conduct to be affected by individual feeling ; were 
 I to act from the latter, the former would frequently 
 suffer. Now, Sir, one great cause of my anger 
 towards the landroost was, being unable to gQi 
 vegetables supplied to the ships under my orders, 
 and yet finding them charged in the returns ; for 
 which, but for your intercession, I would have 
 clapped him into the fort. With respect to the 
 liorses, a receipt for which has now, for the first 
 time, been demanded, I know not what authority 
 you or any human being whatever has to demand 
 it. In themselves they are of no value or import- 
 ance, and there are only two in each ship, I 
 believe ; but to these I, and the other officers, 
 have as much right, as to the coats we wear on 
 our backs, and have paid for. I myself, with 
 a few marines, made the thirty troopers, whose 
 horses we took, lay down their arms ; and I fixed 
 on my horse, before the enemy who previously
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP DKAVKU. 245 
 
 possessed it had dismounted. It is mine by right, 
 and no man shall have a recei[)t for it; e\ery 
 thing- captured at Cheribon has been in conse- 
 quence of my measures, and performed by the 
 force under my orders ; accounts therefore are 
 due to me, and me only." 
 
 On the 12th of September, being off Taggal, 
 the Commodore ordered the Phoebe to take pos- 
 session of the fort and magazines, after which he 
 stood on for Samarang. Here he found that the 
 enemy, having witnessed the destruction of their 
 lltjtilla by the boats of our fleet, had retreated 
 towards Surabaya, where the Admiral determined 
 to pursue them. On the 18th, the whole force 
 anchored in the Manara passage, and on the fol- 
 lowing morning, " at half-past three, the troops 
 and marines of the squadron began to assemble 
 round the Nisus, and exactly at daybreak, they 
 all landed at Zidayo, in an orderly and very cre- 
 ditable style, with two field-pieces, and a detach- 
 ment of artillery. When they had marched off, 
 along a fine road for Gressik, I went with a flag 
 of truce to summons Fort Ludwyk, which, it was 
 at first planned, I should attack with the frigates, 
 but that it appeared so formidable as to threaten 
 much effusion of blood. On my approach, I was 
 blindfolded, and conducted I knew not whither ; 
 but from the panting and stumbling of my sup-
 
 246 THE LIFE OF 
 
 porters^ found the way was of didicult access. 
 When withhi the keep, I was restored to sight, 
 and ft)und myself surrounded by a numerous party 
 of Dutch and French oilicers, to whom I opened 
 my mission. My eloquence, however, was not 
 sufliciently persuasive, and finding my representa- 
 tions without effect, I submitted to be again blind- 
 folded, and returned to the Admiral. 
 
 ^'^ September 20th. — Little pleased with the ill 
 success of yesterday, I went at dawn of day to re- 
 connoitre the fortress from the island of Manara. 
 I landed at Zidayo, and breakfasted with the 
 Dipatty, who furnished me with a carriage and 
 four horses, and sent his chief minister as my 
 conductor. We drove rapidly to the Soloo river, 
 about seven miles distant, where there is a ferry 
 sixty yards across ; here we embarked on a plat- 
 form supported by two canoes, and paddled down 
 to Badantin, a village on the left bank, where the 
 river was stoccadoed across. Proceeding thus, 
 we arrived at the entrance in an hour and a quar- 
 ter, but the mouth was so closely stoccadoed, that 
 I was obliged to get into a canoe about eighteen 
 mches wide, to pass between the stakes, and so 
 make for Manara. I landed at the back of the 
 island, near a spot directly opposite the fort, un- 
 perceived by the enemy, and by the aid of a 
 native's hut, had a fair opportunity of observing
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 217 
 
 the enemy's works. Tliis insulated castle was 
 erected by Dacndels^ on piles and rocks, after Sir 
 Edward Pellew's attack at Gressik, and completely 
 defends the northern entrance of the channel. It 
 ap[)eared in excellent order, and I should think 
 mounted nearly a hundred guns, which are planted 
 principally along- the north and east sea-faces ; the 
 west front seemed the weakest and most exposed. 
 As there did not appear anything- like a bomb- 
 proof, and the channel being about one thousand 
 two hundred yards wide, I concluded it could be 
 reduced by shells^ and accordingly marked out a 
 spot for a mortar battery. Having- satisfied my- 
 self on this head, I returned the way I came, and 
 o'ot back to Zidayo a little after three, where the 
 Dipatty had provided an excellent dinner. Our 
 conversation turned upon a terrific monster of an 
 allig-ator, which we had accidentally stumbled 
 upon, basking- in a creek of the island. This sur- 
 prising* animal was at least six-and-thirty feet in 
 length;, with a rotundity of belly larg-er than that 
 of a horse. I learned that these unsightly brutes 
 arc not greatly dreaded by the natives ; but for 
 myself, never having- seen anything- approaching- 
 its size, and being in a diminutive and fragile 
 canoe, I confess I had some respect, and therefore 
 kept my distance." 
 
 Surabciya had already capitulated to the force
 
 248 THE LIFE OF 
 
 uiidcr Captain 1 larris ; and Ludwyk would pro- 
 bably have speedily fallen to Beaver, but that all 
 operations were sus})ended by the defeat of Jan- 
 sens, and the consequent surrender of the whole 
 island. This blow having destroyed the French 
 dominion in the East, the services of the frigate 
 were no longer required ; she therefore passed 
 through the Straits of Sunda, and returned to the 
 Isle of France. Previous, however, to his depar- 
 ture, the Admiral wrote a public despatch highly 
 approviiig all the Commodore's proceedings, and 
 congratulating him upon his success ; while in a 
 private letter he says, " your prompt and effectual 
 measures produced the happiest results in accele- 
 rating the final fall of Java." 
 
 Information having been received that reinforce- 
 ments were on their way from France to Batavia, 
 the Nisus left Port Louis on the 21st of November, 
 to endeavour to intercept them in the Southern In- 
 dian Ocean. Approaching the volcanic island of St. 
 Paul, a boat was sent into the crater, and speedily 
 returned, laden with seals, fish, and birds. The 
 crew found that live huts had been erected on the 
 north side of the entrance, in which were seal-skins, 
 and sea-stores, with the following paper carefully 
 deposited in a bottle. 
 
 "Ship Venus, of London, A Whalar, 3 of June 1811 Uriel 
 Bunker Master stoped here 84 days from london Bound lo fimour, 
 and Here found 8 men on the island Left by their ship Being cast
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP REAVER. 249 
 
 asliore wrcckit the ship fox, from Port Jackson on a skinninpj 
 voyage William Cox master Left here -1 months aGo with 8 of his 
 IkiikIs the ship as Carryiedhim would not Gary any more — he Left 
 a lettar with his men to beg no person or persons will by no means 
 carry of any of his goods or artekels he leves here As he will Come 
 And get them as soon as he Can get A vessel he will Come 
 And take away his skins And Every Arlekel Belonging to his vessel 
 the ship was honed By Camel & Co port Jackson Newsouthwales 
 or new holland." 
 
 All exact copy of this luminous production was 
 transmitted to Lloyd's^ as a means of consolation 
 to the relatives of those who navioated the Fox; 
 and the original was carefully rei)laccd amongst 
 the skins and ^' artekels." 
 
 '^ This island_," says Beaver, " is represented as 
 eight or ten miles in leng-th, but at the very utmost 
 does not exceed four. It is tolerably high, and 
 clear of danger ; but as to fixing its situation astro- 
 nomically, we scarcely had a fair sight of sun, 
 moon, or stars, during' the twenty-two days we 
 stood off and on. From the prevalence of clouds, 
 fog-, and wind, I never anchored, or ventured into 
 less than forty fathoms water ; and owing- to the 
 same causes, we had little pros[)ect of prizes, for 
 we did not perceive a large shi}), under English 
 colours, apparently an Indiaman, till she was pretty 
 close to us ; and it then blew so hard, with so wild 
 a sea, that we could not attcm})t to board her. 
 The boats had ten fathoms close to the crater, but 
 the water on the bar varied at each visit. Fish
 
 250 ' THE LIFE OF 
 
 are abundant^ and so voracious as to bite instantly 
 at the hook, whether baited or not. The whole 
 island is a ruooed volcanic crater^ with scarcely 
 an appearance of vegetation, excepting mosses, 
 and coarse grass in the clefts ; otherwise it would 
 seem to be condemned to everlasting sterility. 
 Seals resort there in numbers, and it is the occa- 
 sional abode of the albatross, penguin, and stormy 
 peterel, that dread of superstitious sailors. We 
 did not examine Amsterdam, not having approached 
 nearer than eight or nine miles_, on account of the 
 squalls and hazy weather. It is more precipitous 
 and high, and appears equally barren, but rather 
 less than St. Paul's, from which it is distant about 
 seventeen leagues to the n.n.e." 
 
 In the beginning of the year 1812, the Nisus 
 extended her cruize to the southward ; and the 
 journal remarks, — '' We were told that from the 
 latitude of 37° 20' s. the Telemaque brig made a 
 true course s. by w. two hundred and twelve 
 miles, when she found herself on a shoal, which 
 the commander made out to be in 38" 11' by ac- 
 count. This not satisfying Mens. Petrie, he re- 
 computed the brig's data, and found she must have 
 been in 38" 50' s. I Precious bunglers ! In either 
 case there is an error of at least one hundred and 
 fifty-six miles in latitude — an error without exam- 
 ple, and for which the name of the navigator ought 
 to be gibbetted in disgrace.
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP REAVER. 251 
 
 " But notwithstanding- this lame conclusion, re- 
 ports are so numerous^ that one can liardly doubt 
 the existence of a reef or bank in this neit»hbour- 
 hood ; though it would be more creditable if peo- 
 ple would take the trouble to ascertain facts, pre- 
 vious to their propag'ating reports, which are likely 
 to alarm navigators unnecessarily. Those who 
 choose to follow our log- courses, will see that I 
 took some pains in examining the southern posi- 
 tion assigned to this danger : we could place re- 
 liance on our chronometers^ tried deep soundings^ 
 and kept men at the mast-head diligently lo(jking 
 out for the slightest indication of shoal water. But 
 on the whole^ I have no hesitation in declaring- 
 that, in the vicinity of latitude 40" 27' south, and 
 longitude 2P 57' east, from Greenwich, the Tele- 
 maque shoal does not exist. 
 
 *' Two small islands called Denia and Marseveu 
 are placed near this position_, but upon whose au- 
 thority I know not ; and therefore endeavoured to 
 ascertain the fact of their existence. The incohe- 
 rent account of the Telemaque navigator would^ 
 if it were believed, indicate an island near their 
 assigned situation. 13ut in the course of our cruiz- 
 ing in every direction_, we paid particular attention 
 over an extensive space, and tried frequently for 
 bottom with a very long range of line. The wea- 
 ther was fine and clear, yet no indication of land
 
 252 THE LIFE OF 
 
 appeared ; I therefore hauled to the northward for 
 the Cape, beino- fully satisfied that where all our 
 charts have placed Deiiia and Marseven_, those 
 islands exist not." 
 
 In a letter from the Cape of Good Hope, under 
 date of the 21st of July, Captain Beaver breaks 
 forth with, — " The Cape may be a capital colony, 
 but its bay is an infernal one ; it is safe against no 
 wind, and its sea is worse than the wind. You 
 have generally a great swell, and even in the fair 
 season, the s.e. winds frequently blow so strong, 
 that you have no communication with the shore for 
 two or three days together. But a north-wester, 
 after the middle of May, shows Table Bay in all 
 its malignancy ; and he who is fool enough to an- 
 chor there of his own accord, may either part or 
 founder as luck shall befall him. 
 
 '' I regret the trouble you have had, but there 
 are numbers who find it difficult to combine disci- 
 pline with kindness, which accounts for old * * * 
 being at variance with all his officers sometimes, 
 and with some at all times. He who has never 
 learned how to obey, cannot be well fitted for 
 command ; and those who are most captious with 
 their superiors, are ever tenaciously rigid in exact- 
 inof submissive obedience from their inferiors. 
 
 ^' We have just received on board a dusky person- 
 age, named Barrak Kumba Bombaxak, commonly
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 
 
 253 
 
 called Bombay Jack, a Johanncse, who has been 
 deputed by the king- of the Comora islands to tlie 
 Cape, to solicit assistance a<:^ainst the maraudino- 
 natives of Madagascar. He is good humoured 
 and intelligent, and is moreover dignified with the 
 title of the Johannese ambassador. I am charged 
 to convey his Excellency, and his suite of two ser- 
 vants_, back to their native shores : after this I am 
 to counsel the governor of Mozambique respecting 
 the ajraressions of the Malag-assi; and then I am 
 to advise the coal-black kings of Madagascar to 
 refrain from their depredations on our pusillani- 
 mous alUes. These missions will relieve the mo- 
 notony of the last several months; for I have only 
 been examining' a water-course, and other equally 
 important duties. I have had to represent several 
 of our deficiencies, such, for instance^ as bringing- 
 beef for the squadron from England, when it can 
 be prepared here at a quarter of the expense. It 
 came to my lot also to conduct a very disagreeable 
 and delicate inquiry into the conduct of an English 
 ofiicer and his men^ on French evidence; and^ in- 
 deed, it was too clear that outrageous and disgrace- 
 ful conduct had occurred. Admiral Stopford, in a 
 public letter, has obligingly said^ that ' the mode 
 of investio-ation I used was the best that could be 
 adopted for ascertaining the facts.' " 
 
 The water-course, so slightly mentioned, was a
 
 254 THE LIFE OF 
 
 work of considerable public utility ;, being- so con- 
 structed as to remedy a great inconvenience which 
 had always ensued in supplying- ships with that 
 requisite article. Captain Beaver's report was so 
 clear, that all his suo^o-cstions were immediately 
 adopted^ even to the number of trees for decorat- 
 ing it. '^^ The service/' says the Admiral, " at 
 all times receives benefit wherever you are em- 
 ployed ; and your work at Simon's Bay bears the 
 stamp of a masterly hand. I perceive you do not 
 like to do things by halves." 
 
 The passage of the Nisus along the east coast 
 of Africa g-ave Captain Beaver an opportunity of 
 exercising- his talents in hydrography ; and he cor- 
 rected the positions of various points and islands, 
 with a skill which afforded further evidence of his 
 proficiency^ both in the theory and practice of 
 the higher branches of nautical science. 
 
 From Mozambique, he writes : — '^' August 19th. 
 In the evening I paid a visit to the Governor, 
 which lasted about an hour; yet he never men- 
 tioned the subject of my coming-, although he had 
 been in possession of the Admiral's letter full three 
 hours, and reads English very well. But what 
 appeared to me still more extraordinary was^ his 
 omitting to enquire after either Portugal or Spain : 
 one would have su{)posed that he had forgotten 
 there was a portion of the globe called Europe ;
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 255 
 
 or that he was totally indifrercnt whether the conn- 
 try of his birth yet retained its independence, or 
 was devastated by a relentless enemy. This man, 
 Don Antonio Manoel do Mello Castro e Mendo^*a, 
 has just completed the third year of his g-overn- 
 ment; and has never once, I was assured, gone out 
 of his house, or exposed himself to the sun, for 
 fear of fever, during the whole time. Notwith- 
 standing this indolence, it is stated that he has 
 contrived to amass a fortune of three hundred 
 thousand i)iastres, with which he is about to depart 
 for Madeira, having been recently appointed go- 
 vernor of that island ; in reward, I presume, for 
 his hard services at Mozambique. But what are 
 wealth and honour, without the impulse of virtuous 
 principle to merit them? 
 
 " I eagerly seized this opportunity of making 
 inquiries concerning Messrs. Cowan and Donavan, 
 who left the Cape about four years ago, with an 
 intention of reaching Mozambique by land. The 
 Governor informed us that there was no doubt of 
 their having been murdered, in their waggon, at a 
 place between Sofala and Iidiambana, about forty 
 leagues from the coast. He also assured me, that 
 he had used every endeavour to procure whatever 
 journals, letters, or other ])apers might have been 
 with their effects; and for that puipose he had sent 
 twenty blacks, with goods to purchase or redeem
 
 256 THE LIFE OF 
 
 them, but without success: some blood-stained 
 linen only was procured. He added, that two 
 mulatto natives of Angola had found their way 
 across from that country to Snea on the Zambeze : 
 being' frequently made prisoners, they were five 
 years in accomplishing- it; but returned safely to 
 Angola, and were the only persons who had ever 
 crossed from the one to the other coast of Africa. 
 
 " 20th. The Governor having been silent yes- 
 terday on the subject of my orders, I paid him a 
 second visit this morning, with a view of extract- 
 ing what I could relative to the Malagass aggres- 
 sions, and the aid he required or expected from us. 
 All I could learn was, and that with great difficulty, 
 for it was solely in replies to my questions, that 
 the Malagassi generally came over every year, to 
 the number of four or five thousand men, in about 
 a hundred canoes ; that they always assembled at 
 Bambatouk, whence they stood, with a leading 
 breeze, over to Mayotto, and landed at which- 
 ever of the islands they hit fiist. Sometimes, he 
 said, they pass them all, in which case they stand 
 on, knowing they cannot miss terra-firma ; and 
 wherever they land, they burn the towns, make 
 slaves of the inhabitants, and kill the cattle. After 
 loading tlicmselves with booty, they return to Ma- 
 dagascar with the first fair wind. On asking, 
 whether they ever ventured in sight of Mozam-
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 257 
 
 biquc, — 'Oh, no!' replied he; Mhey know onr 
 power too well.' Its insuliirity has preserved it 
 from continental enemies ; but I have no doubt, if 
 these ding-y buccaneers would muster courag-e 
 to try, they would soon have the town, for the mi- 
 litary would abandon it^ and retire into the fort. 
 Come 1 dare say they will, for the itch for plunder 
 increases by practice into au inveterate habit, and 
 is inflamed by success, to multiplied eflbrts, and 
 hardier exertions. He said he had asked for two 
 English corvettes, but they had not arrived. — 
 ' Well,' said I, ' can you suggest any mode by 
 which I can execute my orders to assist you? If 
 I g"0 over and see their kings, will not that be of 
 use?' '^Oh no I now is their time, if they come at 
 all this year,' In short, such total apathy to the 
 happiness or interests of those placed under his 
 protection I never beheld. All I could collect 
 was, that my going" to Madagascar would be use- 
 less, unless I could see all their various kings and 
 chiefs in a given period. I therefore took leave 
 of the Governor, resolved to waste no more time 
 with such a drawling* sloth. 
 
 "■ I acquired some important knowledge from 
 two French g-entlemen here, as to the existence 
 or non-existence of various islets, reefs, and banks, 
 aroimd Madagascar. From one. Monsieur Sausse, 
 who had navin-ated in these seas durinor the last 
 
 s
 
 258 • THE LIFE OF 
 
 tliirty yearSj I learned that at Quiloa^ spars of all 
 sizeSj fit for masts and yards of line-of-battie ships, 
 were to be procured in great abundance, and very 
 cheap ; and that they were^ to use his own expres- 
 sions. ^ learers comnme les Rio^a, et bien flexibles.' 
 On requesting- a specimen of this wood^ to carry 
 to the Admiral, he replied, that he had none but 
 his own masts^ to which, however, I was wel- 
 come, provided I made others. Taking him at 
 his word, I changed his fore-top gallant-mast, and 
 at the same time engaged him, if the Commander- 
 in-Chief should think proper to send transports 
 for spars, to pilot them to Quiloa, and purchase 
 the sticks that might be required. 
 
 ^^ 21st. — I intended to sail at daylight, but the 
 wind being' rather scant, and the ebb having 
 made, the pilot thought it dangerous to break the 
 ship loose. A dense cloud of very peculiar form 
 appeared to precede the sea breeze, but, on in- 
 quiry, I found it was rather a fortuitous circum- 
 stance, than a characteristic phenomenon." 
 
 Detained by this circumstance. Captain Beavei', 
 accompanied by a party of his officers, visited the 
 Musreel river, at the bottom of the bay, and the 
 government gardens near it. He then continues 
 his narrative thus : — '' Reflecting the whole day 
 on the importance of the supply which I had heard 
 of, to the Cape station, 1 determined to visit
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 209 
 
 Quiloa, from Johanna^ myself, and prevailed upon 
 Monsieur Sausse to accompany us. If his state- 
 ment be correct, I purpose receiving* on board 
 whatever spars may be ready cut; and to enter 
 into a permanent contract with the king- of the 
 country. But, if the Frenchman has deceived me, 
 my credulity will only add one more to that class 
 of people, already so very respectable in point of 
 numbers, called dupes. 
 
 " Of the harbour of Mozambique, it is useless 
 to add any thing to the admirable })lan of it by 
 Mr. Inverarity ; nothing- can exceed its truth and 
 precision, and by it any stranger may safely carry 
 his ship into the port. 
 
 '' The defence is a square fort, with bastions 
 and outworks on projections of the rock, and, at 
 the time of its construction, must have been formi- 
 dable ; but it is now dilapidated, and has neither 
 bombproofs nor casemates. There were about 
 fifty-seven brass guns mounted, and twenty 
 unanimated embrazures ; the ordnance was old, 
 and of all sizes, from a forty-two to a four pounder, 
 with most of their carriages decayed ; nor have 
 they any iron shot for those above nine-pounders, 
 several stone balls being placed near each gun in 
 lieu. The fort is large and roomy, and has good 
 quarters for its garrison ; this at present may 
 consist of about live hundred men, of all colours 
 
 S2
 
 260 THE LIFE OP 
 
 excej)t white : in short, the Nisus would make 
 nothinof of it. But notvvithstandinof- its fallen con- 
 ditiou, it retains an air of magnificence^ and is a 
 proof that the Portuguese were once a great and 
 enterprising- people : and even in ruins^ it is worthy 
 of the Gamas_, the Almeidas, and the Albuquerques 
 of other times. 
 
 " Elephant's teeth^ gold-dust, gums, and cow- 
 rieSj, sustain a languid commerce ; and the free 
 people of the once mighty Mozambique^ counting 
 white, black_, and yellow^ scarcely exceed a thou- 
 sand souls. I did not ascertain the price of food 
 here, but boys_, about eleven years old^ were to be 
 bouo-ht for ten dollars each ! Villanous traffic ! 
 Every thing else is neglected : all is ruin, and dirt^ 
 and devilment ; for, as Bombay Jack observes, in 
 his characteristic, though simple style, ' Portugee 
 hab too much black wife ; he no work^ no fight, 
 no do nothing,' " 
 
 Bombay Jack^ from an honest shrewdness of 
 remark^ and his strong attachment to every thing 
 British, had become a general favourite in the 
 frigate. But one of his companions, having less 
 confidence in the professions of those around him,, 
 actually became insane^ under the absurd impres- 
 sion that the sailors sought to devour him. 
 
 A fine breeze wafted the Nisus to Johanna, in 
 two days, when the Captain continues thus : —
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP HEWER. 201 
 
 ** Aiio-ust 25tli. — riaviiiu- landed the sable am- 
 bassador and his two attendants^ 1 this morninfr 
 l)aid a visit to King AUawah, and was received 
 with more ceremonious honours than are cus- 
 tomary, o^^ing• to Jack's report of the liberality 
 (jf the Cape government. Most of our illustrious 
 admirals and statesmen,, or rather their namesakes, 
 ostentatiously paraded before me; and, that no 
 mistake micrht occur, as to who was Howe, or 
 Rodney, or Pitt, they wore copper tallies of their 
 dignity on their breasts. After a very formidable 
 broadside of compliments to the English nation. 
 King George, and myself, his Majesty proceeded 
 to inform me, that his arch enemy, the dissolute 
 and potent Queen Vaheeni, of Bambatouk, was 
 dead ; and the Malagassi were w aging intestine 
 war relative to the succession, which would re- 
 lieve Johanna for that year. He trusted, he said, 
 in future, to our interference ; ' but,' added he, 
 ' if they do continue their hostile incursions, I 
 must quit the island ; I cannot live here with my 
 lands desolated, and see my women and children 
 perish with hunger ; and, if I leave it, all my 
 miserable people will follow me.' 
 
 ^' August SGth. — When the King came on 
 board to-day, 1 presented him, from the Governor 
 of the Cape of Good Hope, with one hundred 
 muskets, bayonets, and belts ; ten l)arrels of pow-
 
 262 THE LIFE OF 
 
 der ; ten thousand ball cartridges ; and five hun- 
 dred flints. From the Admiral, I gave him two 
 brass swivels^ with two hundred rounds of car- 
 tridges ; and I added from myself, two brass wall 
 pieces_, a quadrant_, a compass^ and some minor 
 articles. I also presented his uncles, sons^ and 
 chief men^ with muskets^ flints^ and powder^ which, 
 with a salute of nine guns on their quitting the 
 ship^ seemed to give infinite satisfaction. 
 
 ^^ The bay is extremely fine^ and the gradual rise 
 of the verdant hills, from the base to the summit^ 
 being visible from the anchorage^ gives an addi- 
 tionally striking effect. 
 
 *^ With an admirable climate and fertile soil, 
 Johanna ought to return a richer produce, for 
 excepting cocoa-nut oil^ rice, and refresh ments_, 
 nothing is particularly attended to. It is an ex- 
 cellent place to water^ wood,, and refresh at ; there 
 are plenty of oxen^ but no sheep, swine^ horses, 
 or asses. Of the charges I know nothing, for 
 the King would not sufFer us to pay for any of the 
 bullocks, fowls^ yams^ plantains^ or maize, with 
 which we were abundantly supplied ; a step that 
 prevented me and my officers from laying in our 
 private stock, as we had intended, for finding we 
 cannot evade the civility, we will make the burden 
 as light as possible on the poor public. Indeed 
 on discovering the resolution of Allawah^ I had
 
 CAPTAIN T'lIIMP REAVER. 203 
 
 made up my mind to decline the favour altogether; 
 but our jTrateful friend, Bombay Jack, with elo- 
 quent importunity, fell on his knees, earnestly 
 begging- I would permit him to shew his esteem, 
 to tliose who had given him ' ebbry ting-.' 
 
 " The best anchorage is opposite the middle of 
 a cocoa-nut g-rove to the westward of the town ; 
 Avhich last is of irregular form, and walled round, 
 with square prcjjecting towers at short distances 
 from each other. There are loop-holes for mus- 
 ketry, and a few swivels ; but the principal defence 
 seems to be in the stones piled up to throw on the 
 heads of assailants. The walls are about two feet 
 thick and fourteen high, and consist of stone 
 slightly cemented ; they are, however, sufficiently 
 strong to repel the attacks of the Malagassi. The 
 town stands on the border of the sea ; and a small 
 rivulet from which it is supplied with water, runs 
 close by, but outside, its western wall. Tlie whole 
 is commanded by a couple of hills, from which an 
 enemy, merely with musketry, can destroy every 
 person who appears in the street ; these hills the 
 Malagassi occupied, when they besieged the town 
 about fifteen years ago, and thereby prevented the 
 inhabitants from appearing abroad, or procuring 
 water in the daytime. But so soon as want of 
 provisions obliged that improvident and merciless 
 people to raise the siege, the Johannese built a
 
 264 ' THE LIFE OF 
 
 castle of twelve small guns on the nearest hill, 
 which they sunounded with a high wall, having a 
 communication with the town by means of an 
 enclosed steep flight of steps. It is miserably 
 constructed ; its walls are any thing but ])erpen- 
 dicular; its guns are good for nothing; and it 
 would be commanded by cannon from the other 
 hill ; but as no cannon are likely to be brought 
 there, it may be deemed a good personal protec- 
 tion — though they must annually witness the sa- 
 vao-e devastation of their herds and their fields. 
 ' " The town of Johanna may be about a mile in 
 circuit; the whole space within the wall is com- 
 pletely occupied with houses; the streets are only 
 from five to seven feet wide, and present nothing 
 but blind stone walls to the passenger. The po- 
 pulation cannot be above two thousand souls ; and 
 there is only one more town on the island, which 
 is about the same size, though not so populous. 
 Of all the other numerous towns and villages, 
 which studded this island six-and-twenty years 
 ago, when the Malagassi first became acquainted 
 with it, through the romantic Benyowski, not one 
 remains. Those ferocious marauders have stormed 
 and burnt them all. But I must not here enter on 
 the subject of the Johanna wars, though 1 have 
 collected ample materials; nor on the iniquitous 
 conduct of the betrtayers of the gallant Count,
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP RF.WER. 265 
 
 of which I know more, perhaps, lliaii any other 
 person in the world. How could such a man as 
 Rochon be led to sully his pages with such atro- 
 cious falsehoods ! It has not only been my fortune 
 to meet many persons who knew Benyowski, the 
 C'a[)tain, and the supercargo who ran away with his 
 ship; but at jVIozaml)ique I conversed with, and 
 wrote down from the mouth of the very person 
 who bought the Intrepid, the particulars of that 
 treacherous transaction. I hope at a future day, 
 in my half-pay cottage, to restore this mutilated 
 narrative to its proper proportions ; and with the 
 torch of truth to expose the villany of those, who, 
 by the barbarous murder of an adventurous noble- 
 man, have so deeply injured the cause of humanity 
 in these beniohted reoions." 
 
 When the period for sailing approached, Alla- 
 wah and his subjects regarded the departure with 
 despondency ; for by an Arab vessel which arrived, 
 it appeared that the civil wars in Madagascar had 
 terminated — from whence they foreboded an attack 
 at no distant date. As Beaver's instruction were 
 specific, he could only regret the apparent danger; 
 but he took leave of the king, and honest Bombay 
 Jack, with a sympathy which was felt by all the 
 officers and crew of the frigate. 
 
 From Johanna, the Nisus stood over to the Afri- 
 can main, and made Quiloa, after a passage of
 
 266 THE LIFE OF 
 
 four days ; the consequent occurrences will be con- 
 tinued from the journal. '' August 31st. — In little 
 more than an hour after leaving- the ship, I arrived 
 at the town, where the heads of the people awaited 
 us. To my great disappointment, I found the king 
 was at Mongallon, where we yesterday observed 
 Arab flags flying ; and what was yet more mor- 
 tifying, an acute and intelligent minister, Missago, 
 who had long transacted the affliirs of the king, 
 was dead, and his place supplied by a stupid, in- 
 active old man. However, to this person I stated 
 the object of my visit, and received for answer, 
 that there were no spars ready ; but that, as he 
 expected the king back in about a week, I had 
 better defer making an agreement. Now, as I 
 intended to remain only a couple of days, I desired 
 him to send people to cut a dozen large trees 
 next morning, for which I would pay him hand- 
 somely. However, after much waste of words, all 
 that I could procure, was a promise to furnish me 
 with men to show me where the trees grew, and to 
 assist in getting them down. 
 
 *'^ At dawn of day, September 1st, I left the ship 
 in my gig, with the barge and large cutter, having 
 the carpenter and all his crew, with axes and cross- 
 cut saws ; and ofl" we went to attack the timber. 
 Our ardour was damped on landing at Quiloa, for 
 the miserable old minister swore he had been un-
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 267 
 
 able to procure us any g-iiides^ but would endea- 
 vour to have them by the fullowino- morniiifr. As 
 I had resolved to sail the day after, I told him I 
 should proceed alone, and that I would cut what I 
 pleased, without leaving any thing for the king, as 
 was my first intention ; I also asserted, that he was 
 betraying the trust reposed in him by his master, 
 by depriving him of a handsome revenue from his 
 forests; fur which, if he did justice, on his re- 
 turn, he would strike oO'tlie olfender's head.. So 
 saying, I went down to the boat, well aware of the 
 freedom I had used, but also well practised in the 
 mode of acting with such people. And it had 
 some effect; for Mr. Sausse, who remained behind, 
 soon prevailed on Formo Sani, the king's son, and 
 eight others to accompany me; so that we left 
 Quiloa at about eight o'clock. 
 
 '* Our guides took us up the southern channel 
 of the northern branch of the sea, which washes 
 one side of the peninsula opposite Quiloa. A fair 
 wind and flood-tide carried us rapidly by the man- 
 grove-clad shores, to the appointed place, in two 
 hours and a half; but as we loitered for some time 
 to shoot hippopotami, I should take the distance to 
 be uo more than thirteen or fourteen miles. Here 
 I pitched two tents, and leaving six men with the 
 boats, who were armed to defend themselves 
 against lions and leopards, I went with the rest
 
 268 THE LIFE OF 
 
 about three miles inland^ to a thick brown forest of 
 stunted wood. Here^ the natives told me_, we 
 might cut away, and down came three trees ; the 
 larg-est was a couple of feet in diameter, and forty- 
 nine in length ; stiaight as a poplar, but leafless, 
 and without branches till near the head. A small 
 stream of fresh water, into which the tide flows, 
 runs at about forty yards from them, down which 
 I proposed to exploit them to the principal stream ; 
 but the tide being already liigh, it could not be 
 done to-day. As the weather was intolerably hot, 
 and conceiving these sticks sufficient for a sample, 
 for fear of laying up my people, by exposure to the 
 sun, I returned with them to the boats, and left the 
 shore at three o'clock. 
 
 "^ We saw various animals; but the monkies 
 amused our men the most: some, which I thought 
 wild hogs, the natives called bango, and said they 
 were of a different species. I might have mistaken 
 them for tapirs, had I not recollected that these are 
 met with only in South America: others, which 
 appeared very large in the distance, and were at 
 first thought to be elephants, we were told, were 
 neither horses, nor cows, nor deer, and were 
 named poonda. Wc also passed by the remains 
 of a rhinoceros and a lion ; whilst antelope tracks, 
 as well as those of the small spotted leopard, called 
 tiger in this country, crossed each other in all
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 269 
 
 directions, Tlie haunts of the hipi)0|)()tumi were 
 incredibly numerous, and we fired many fruitless 
 shut at groups of these monsters; before the (ir.'it 
 fire, they permitted us to approach tolerably near 
 them, but afterwards became shy, and dived in- 
 stantly. By six we got back to Quiloa, when the 
 minister promised to send a suOicient number of 
 men, to launch and bring' down our sticks. On 
 this better acquaintance, I complied with his earnest 
 and leiterated request, to leave him a pair of tup- 
 mast studding-sail halliards, 
 
 " September 2d. — After breakfast I went to Qui- 
 loa, taking- with me Mr. Sausse, to enter into some 
 agreement with the minister relative to supplying- 
 a cargo of spars, as a trial ; and to leave presents 
 for the absent king. On arriving- at the old 
 rogue's residence, we learned that nobody had 
 gone to launch or tow down the spars ; at which I 
 indignantly upbraided him ; and convinced that no 
 faith was to be placed in any of his promises, I 
 reclaimed the studding-sail halliards, and turned 
 abruptly from him. Before daylight next morning, 
 I embarked one hundred of my own men, and 
 being met by Forma Sani, and some guides, we 
 soon reached our destination. The largest tree, 
 with considerable labour, we launched into the 
 creek, when, to my great mortification, it sank like 
 a stone ! Here, then, our hopes were blasted, our
 
 270 THE LIFE OF 
 
 time lost, and our toil thrown away! All that I 
 had now to do^ was to return as quick as possible 
 to the ship, for the heat had been intolerable, and 
 our exposure constant. Picking- up stragglers 
 occupied us till dark, when I returned to the barge^ 
 many of the people not having tasted any thing 
 since five o'clock in the morning. 
 
 *' We had abundance of Hippopotamus shooting 
 when going up. One monstrous fellow was on 
 shore amongst the mangroves, but we were un- 
 luckily on the opposite side of the river; on pulling 
 directly for him, he gazed steadfastly for a minute, 
 and then made straight through the mud for the 
 water^ in spite of the fire of at least a dozen mus- 
 kets to prevent him. These animals seem capa- 
 ble of carrying a great deal of lead and iron, for 
 besides being evidently struck with a ball in the 
 head, I think it likely he had several in his car- 
 case: however, as he did not reappear above 
 water to snort, for a quarter of an hour, which all 
 the others had done in a much shorter time, I 
 think it probably that he was killed, and sunk. 
 They were generally in groups of from three to 
 seven, though in one place there were about 
 twenty young and old ; the smallest being about 
 the size of an ass, and the largest between that of 
 the buffalo and the elephant. 
 
 *^ Between nine and ten at night we got back to
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 271 
 
 Quiloa, heartily tiied^ and merely stopyjed to land 
 Furmu Sani and his men ; but learnino- that the 
 king had just arrived, I sent all the boats except 
 the gig on board, and went with Mons. Sausse to 
 pay him a visit. Here fresh vexations awaited 
 me. His Majesty a})pearcd peevish and sullen ; 
 he was sitting in a long hall, with seats around, on 
 which were forty or fifty armed men. I c(jn- 
 gratulated him on his safe return to liis capi- 
 tal ; but it was easy to perceive that my words 
 were not well taken. I then entered upon the 
 subject of my anchoring at Quiloa, and he cap- 
 tiously promised to load a ship with spars, remark- 
 ing that those he should cut would float well 
 enouofh, because he knew which to choose. He 
 then rose and retired, desiring Mons. Sausse to 
 follow him, and leaving me in rather an embarras- 
 sing situation ; but when I feel in the right, I care 
 for nothing ; I therefore gave my armed associates 
 stare for stare, and determined to put the best 
 possible face on the matter. 
 
 " In five minutes, the King and the interpreter 
 returned, and 1 was exceedingly mortified, as much 
 as surprised, at learning that, on his passage here, 
 one of my boats had pursued his, fired into her, 
 and killed two of his men ; moreover, that the 
 same boat had attacked another, in which was 
 his brother, Solimani, though fortunately without
 
 272 THE LIFE OF 
 
 killing- any one. I protested that the treatment 
 which he had received was to me incomprehen- 
 sible ; and^ although it had been my intention to 
 sail very early^ I would assuredly remain a day, 
 on purpose to do him justice. I therefore requested 
 he would produce the dead bodies on board the 
 Nisus the next morning-, with the vessel which had 
 been fired into. He promised to come off with 
 the dow, but as to the bodies, when he found they 
 were dead, he threw them overboard, for they 
 were merely slaves for traffic. I insisted that the 
 act of hostility ag-ainst him was unwarrantable and 
 unpardonable, and as to the slain being- slaves, the 
 life of no human beiii"- was to be trifled with, for 
 the ball which slew them mig-ht have killed him ; 
 a truth he seemed perfectly alive to. I then left 
 him, and reached the ship at midnight, after, for 
 this climate, a most severe day's work. 
 
 " The second lieutenant, who had been left in 
 command, informed me, that seeing- three dows 
 coming- round the point, towards the evening-, he 
 had sent an officer to examine them, and that the)^ 
 not bring-ing to, he had continued chasing- and 
 firing- at them. Now one of these dows had 
 Arab colours, and another an Arab pendant 
 flying: we knew the King was expected from 
 the southward every day ; and it scarcely re- 
 quired sagacity superior to that of a brute, to
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP beavi;r. 273 
 
 discover at once, that tliese were lus vessels. 
 That the odicer committed murder, and deserves 
 condig-n punishment, 1 have no hesitation in de- 
 claring ; but when we consider, that at the time 
 of his wanton attack on these semi-barbarians, a 
 hundred of the crew, unarmed, except as requisite 
 for security against wild beasts, were more than 
 twenty miles from the ship ; language is insulli- 
 cient to express my indignation at his conduct. 
 Suppose the King had been killed, what could 
 have prevented their exercising a just retaliation, 
 by cutting off all our party ? Their open hostility 
 I should never fear ; but in the unguarded confi- 
 dence of peace and friendship, we might, through 
 this treacherous and silly act, have been sacrificed. 
 Thousands of lives in more civilized countries, 
 have been frequently lost by less provocation, and 
 with less apparent justice. 
 
 *' September 4th. — About three in the after- 
 noon, Yousoufou, the King, came on board, when 
 I sent the first I'eutenant, and one of the mates, to 
 examine the hull and sail of the dow, which the 
 bullets from the boat had perforated. Their report 
 was, that there were several holes in the sail, and 
 that a shot had certainly gone through the stern ; 
 a considerable quantity of blood was seen on one 
 part of the deck, and on a matted seat in another, 
 which wre pjinted out as the places where the 
 
 T
 
 274 THE LIFE OF 
 
 two men had been killed. At this moment, I was 
 so earnestly solicited by all the natives, to take no 
 further steps in the matter, especially as only two 
 slaves were lost, that, to get rid of their importu- 
 nity, I g-ave a promise, which released myself, as 
 well as others, from the unpleasant dilemma. 
 
 " After the customary civilities, and when the 
 astonishment of the Sultan (for that is the title 
 which he affects, rather than that of King-) at the 
 size of the ship, had somewhat subsided, which 
 was not for a considerable time, I again entered 
 upon the subject of a contract for spars. As he 
 readily assented, I drew up one, consisting of 
 only four articles ; and his secretary, Bona Feebo, 
 immediately translated it into Arabic, with a 
 facility, and so much like a man of business, that 
 I was perfectly astonished. I then made the 
 Sultan a present of five barrels of gunpowder, and 
 twenty muskets ; with about half a dozen more to 
 his relations, or attendants ; and on his leaving 
 the ship a little after five, as happy and as satisfied 
 as I believe any man possibly could be, I saluted 
 him with nine guns. 
 
 " Several of the officers having requested my 
 permission to purchase, and of course liberate, 
 each a boy ; and conceiving that, in allowing it, I 
 should be not only doing an act of incalculable 
 benefit to the lads in question, but also furthering
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 275 
 
 the intentions of the British leg-ishiturc, I sanc- 
 tioned the measure. The prices varied fnim 
 twelve to seventeen dolhirs^ and having- vacancies, 
 I put the purchases on the ship's books, as boys of 
 the third class." 
 
 The ship was now ready for startinjr, but, as con- 
 trary winds detained her till the 10th of Septem- 
 ber, an opportunity was thereby aflbrdcd of learn- 
 ino' further particulars of a place formerly powerful 
 and rich, but hitherto so little known by us, that, 
 with the exception of a brig-, the Nisus was the 
 first British man-of-war which had rode in its 
 waters. '' The harbour," says Captain Beaver, 
 *^ is very difficult to make, on account of the 
 lowness and general sameness of the coast ; but it 
 can be entered without dang-er at \\\^\\ water, as 
 the reefs and banks are easily distinguishable from 
 aloft. It may be said, that the Isle of Quiloa 
 forms two harbours, as there is only a shallow 
 channel between them ; the southern of these is a 
 magnificent port, capable of containing, in perfect 
 safety, an immense fleet. Which of these should 
 be chosen as an anchorage, must depend on the 
 state of the monsoon for esrress, for they are both 
 equally secure for ships of the largest size. The | 
 island of Quiloa is too small and too low, to have 
 any natural run of water, the inhabitants, there- 
 fore, are scantily supplied from wells. Wood is I 
 
 T -
 
 276 THE LIFE OF 
 
 every where to be had in abundance ; but stock 
 and refreshments^ except plantains^ tamarhids, and 
 cocoa-nuts_, are both indifferent and scarce. 
 "~ " When Vasco de Gama first visited these re- 
 gions, the kingdom of Quiloa was the most potent 
 and extensive on the eastern coast of Africa ; Al- 
 meida_, the first Portuguese admiral, who actually 
 anchored in the port, was presented with an extract 
 of its history, containing a regular succession of its 
 monarchs^ from Ali, the founder, to Ibraim, the 
 then reigning sovereign_, a space of four hundred 
 years; and they have continued their records to 
 the present hour. Tlie extent of its territory, 
 though far inferior to former times, is by no means 
 contemptible ; it comprehends the sea coast, and 
 islands, from Delgado to Mombaz, a space of six 
 degrees of latitude. About thirty years ago, the 
 Imaum of Muscat conquered the Quiloan state of 
 Zangibar, where he has ever since maintained a 
 garrison; and as other parts were successively 
 overpowered, Quiloa itself submitted to receive an 
 Arab governor. Still the royal dignity and succes- 
 ; sion remain undisturbed in the ancient Moorish 
 I family, as the Imaum is satisfied with receiving a 
 I fixed annual tribute. Yousoufou, who traces back 
 his ancestry for upwards of seven hundred years, 
 seems to derive but little permanent revenue from 
 his realms; and although indisputably acknow-
 
 CAPTAIX PHILIP unwEii. 277 
 
 ledjred as sov^ereisrn of the whole, tlic duties be- 
 tween him and liis subjects seem more the effect of 
 habit than coercion. Despotism^ whether usurped 
 or hereditary, is alike detestable ; yet it will not 
 be denied, that a ruler without authority is a 
 solemn mockery of human institutions. 
 
 " The island of Quiloa has been the royal resi- 
 dence, with a few^ exceptions during- dissensions, 
 from the foundation of the monarchy. It is about 
 three miles in lengtb, by two in breadth, low, and 
 very fertile ; it is placed longitudinally across the 
 mouth of two deep bays, leaving an opening at 
 either end of it, and thus forms the two secure and 
 noble harbours which I have mentioned. When 
 the Portuguese first visited this island, its ca[)ital 
 was described as large, opulent, and well built ; 
 havinof stone houses of several stories, with ter- 
 rassed roofs, protected by a citadel, adorned with 
 stately towers, and surrounded by a ditch. But 
 the present town, if town it should be called, con- 
 sists merely of a number of huts, scattered from the 
 maroin of the sea, to a mile from its shore ; the 
 glittering white of only two stone houses enlivens 
 and embellishes the cocoa-thatchcd metropolis. 
 One of these, a spacious, but irregular and low 
 building, is occupied by Yousoufou ; the second 
 belongs to the King's brother, Solimani. On the 
 N.W. pohit stands the Fort, of an indiilerent
 
 278 THE LIFE OF 
 
 rectangular fioiire, havins: a round tower, and 
 embattled walls, with loop-holes for the discharge 
 of musketry, or arrows ; three small guns are 
 mounted, and two of them pointed at the King's 
 house. In this miserable work resides the Arab 
 garrison of about a dozen men ; who keep the 
 place in awe. 1 observed the remains of solid , j 
 walls and various buildings in better style ; but 7^ 
 insufficient to recall its former reputed magnifi- , 
 cence. There is only this town on the island ; 
 thouofh habitations are scattered all over the cul- 
 tivated parts ; and its population appears to be 
 between five and six thousand souls. — «-^ 
 
 '^^ The inhabitants are an indolent, pusillanimous, 
 inoffensive people; many of whom, from their com- 
 mercial connexion with Mauritius^ Bourbon^ and 
 Mahe, speak the French language tolerably well. 
 They are accused of being what the French term 
 ^ fin/ which is not to be wondered at_, considering 
 who have been their European tutors, and that 
 the intercourse has been merely a traffic in hu- 
 man flesh. Of the English, the Quiloans scarce 
 know more than the name ; and what they know^ 
 they derived through the French,, who cannot, 
 I believe, be justly reproached for represent- 
 ing the British nation in too favourable a light. 
 They feel;, however, very sensibly, that we have 
 diminished their wealth, by closing the channel
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 279 
 
 throug-h which it flowed ; for they see that the Gallic 
 power is annihilated in these seas, and that the 
 odious trade in slaves is abolished. They have a 
 <jeneral and just impression that we are no triflers ; 
 but the English character cannot yet be very po- 
 pular at Quiloa ; and it is to necessity I may assign 
 JYousoufou's so readily concluding' the contract with 
 me. Their timber, their wax, their ivory, and 
 their tortoise-shell will be a more rational mode of 
 directing their commerce, and replenishing their 
 coil'ers, than the desolation of families; — darkness 
 should always give way to light. 
 
 " Notwithstanding these apparently unfavour- 
 able circumstances, I see no dilFiculty in sincerely 
 attaching this people to the British : Yousoufou, 
 1 know, wishes to drive the Arabs off his territory, 
 but without some powerful protection, is afraid of 
 consequences. He, however, makes silent and 
 cautious preparation, and has several cannon, with 
 small arms and powder, concealed in his house : 
 even the muskets and ammunition which I gave him, 
 he landed in the night. Now, to fix, to rivet the 
 affections of the Quiloans, I would, at the written 
 solicitation of the Sultan, put the Arab governor 
 and his garrison into a boat, and send them to 
 Muscat, with this message to their master — ' That 
 the Sultan of Quiloa, having entered into a treaty 
 of amity with the British nation, had complained 
 
 y
 
 280 THE LIFE OF 
 
 of the great grievances suffered by his subjects, 
 from governors appointed by the Imaum of Muscat; 
 and requested its aid to prevent the same ; — that 
 the British had therefore, at the entreaty of their 
 ally, seized those who had dared to infringe on the 
 independency of Quiloa, and returned them to their 
 native country ; determined in future to guarantee 
 the rights of Sultan Yousoufou. ' After this mes- 
 sage, I am inclined to think we should hear of no 
 more Arabs at Quiloa ; and for thus rendering him 
 independent, all I should require on the Sultan's 
 part, would be, a scrupulous fulfilment of the con- 
 tract I made with him; that is, that he should sup- 
 ply us annually with four hundred large spars, for 
 which he should regularly receive the stipulated 
 price. Do this, I say, and the Quiloans will be 
 attached to the British for ever." 
 
 Whilst the Nisus remained at Quiloa, a party 
 of the officers, consisting of Lieutenant Stopford, 
 Mr. Prior, the Surgeon, and a midshipman, landed 
 for a day's sport ; expecting to find abundance of 
 antelopes and birds. The spot they chose, was 
 discovered, to their cost, to be an island, at high 
 water ; and the channel which, in order to pene- 
 trate inland, they with labour and difficulty crossed 
 at low water, through deep mud and a tangled net 
 of mangroves, became perfectly impassable on 
 their return. The forest was stunted, but extensive^
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVEU. 281 
 
 and greatly encumbered with biushwood ; g;ainc 
 very scarce; the sun intensely hot; and hardly a 
 trace of human beings to be met with, except in the 
 grandeur of former days, intimated by the massive 
 ruins of buildings_, now rendered {HHicult of access 
 by the luxuriant vegetation of a tro[)ical climate. 
 These edifices appeared to deserve close investiga- 
 tion, but the tracks of beasts of prey observed dur- 
 ing the day, and the approach of evening, rendered 
 it necessary to seek the landing place, where the 
 boat had been appointed to meet them. The 
 morning's route was accurately retraced, but the 
 flowino' of the tide had altered the whole face of 
 nature. In vain they struggled to wade through 
 the maze; and in vain, torn both in clothes and 
 skin, they made a circuit of several miles to double 
 this new body of water. Night came on — they 
 now heard signal guns, from the Nisus, to direct 
 their steps; and they fired their pieces in vollies, 
 hoping the sound might reach the boats, which 
 they had no doubt were searching for them ; but 
 the roar of wild beasts was the only answer. 
 Worn out with fatigue, the party took up a posi- 
 tion, in a nook near the shore, with the water in 
 front, and fortified by impenetrable brushwood be- 
 hind; so that enemies, either biped or quadruped, 
 could not approach without being observed. Here 
 they made a large fire, and expected to have re-
 
 282 THE LIFE OF 
 
 mained till the morning, when the shouts of their 
 shipmates agreeably saluted their ears: still neither 
 their answering voices, nor the report of their mus- 
 kets were heard, so embowered were they by thick 
 foliage. The boats persevering, however, in their 
 endeavours, at last arrived within hail of the 
 exhausted sportsmen, Avho, in the stillness of the 
 night, had been tantalized for two wearisome hours 
 by the distant splash of oars. On reaching the 
 ship. Captain Beaver, having endured much appre- 
 hension for their safety, gravely said, ''^Gentlemen, 
 if you cannot take care of yourselves in these Afri- 
 can woods, I shall, in future, keep you on board;" 
 but he softened the censure by adding, that " the 
 service would have suffered by their loss." 
 
 The Captain, alluding to the foregoing incident, 
 continues his journal thus: — '^^The evening before 
 we sailed, owing to a chapter of moving accidents 
 by land and flood, some of the officers were nearly 
 condemned to a night's lodging among the pan- 
 thers and leopards of the jungles. Understanding 
 from the Surgeon that, in their excursion, they had 
 stumbled on some extensive ruins, at Pagoda 
 Point, on the south side of the harbour, I went 
 with him and Mons. Sausse to explore them. The 
 whole site is overgrown with underwood ; but I 
 saw all around imposing vestiges of an ancient po- 
 pulation. I did not remain long enough to make
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 283 
 
 such a careful examination as tliey demand, ])e- 
 cause Yousoufoii had sent me word that he would 
 visit me in the evenino-; and 1 had a tliousand 
 questions to ask him. Close to the water was a 
 very strong- parapet wall_, and about a hundied 
 yards further^ a spacious cemetery. In an angle of 
 the enclosure to this area, were the line, though 
 small remains, of a handsome mosque — silent as 
 the dead who were strewed around; it was about 
 twenty feet long-, a dozen broad, and ten in height, 
 by guess. The roof appeared to have consisted 
 of six domes, in two rows. An adjacent building-, 
 of much larger dimensions, was divided by longi- 
 tudinal compartments, or aisles ; and I was much 
 struck, on entering- the east doorway, to observe 
 on either side, two perfectly Saxon arches — an arch 
 as different from the Moorish horse-shoe, as it is from 
 the Gothic. Further on were the ruins of a spacious 
 edifice, which I thought must have been the habi- 
 tation of a ruler, for it united the capacity of a pa- 
 lace with the streng-th of a castle ; and was more- 
 over judiciously placed, so as to command the en- 
 trance of the harbour. A tree, of nine feet in 
 circumference, rising- within one of its former 
 rooms, and several of considerable size growing- 
 on the remaining" walls, sufliciently bespeak both 
 grandeur and antiquity." 
 
 Quitting Quiloa, they stood to theN.E., and on
 
 284 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the 20th of September^ at midnight, were greatly 
 astonished by finding themselves in ten or twelve 
 fathoms water. The ship was considered to the 
 westward of the great bank of Mahe, but subsequent 
 examination tended to prove that vast platform 
 to be considerably more extensive than hitherto 
 delineated. " This," says Captain Beaver_, ^' as well 
 as the great shoals of Saya de Malha^ and Carga- 
 dos, should be examined at the public charge ; and 
 if the expense were to amount even to fifty thou- 
 sand pounds^ I contend that the benefit accruing 
 from the survey would render it an act of economy. 
 Amongst other advantages^ if it be borne in mind, 
 that the Seychelle islands are free from the scourge 
 of hurricanes, the utility and comfort of the an- 
 choi'ages will appear considerable. There are now 
 many people of local knowledge, trading inhabi- 
 tants of the islands, who could conduct vessels 
 directly to the objects required; but if we do not 
 speedily avail ourselves of such adventitious aid, 
 the work may hereafter cost double the sum which 
 would now be required. Of these people, some 
 may return to Europe, some may die, and others 
 may give up their occupation; after which, these 
 parts will be as little known to the traders here, 
 as to those of the Isle of Sky ; for it was the slave 
 traffic which led them thither, and that is now abo- 
 lished. Without such fortuitous hints, I should
 
 CAPTAIN IMULIP bKAVKll. 285 
 
 derive but little comfort from a chart constructed 
 during runninjc^ voyag-es; for though the positions 
 might be correct, hidden dangers require lime to 
 be well explored. 
 
 ^'^ Of the group of islands which studs this bank," 
 continues our observant ofKcer, '' Mahe is the 
 largest, being about twenty miles in length, and 
 from two to seven in breadth; with a i)o})ulation 
 of 340 whites, 141 free blacks, and 2533 slaves, 
 who live in a rural seclusion, worthy of the pen of 
 St. Pierre. Praslin, so called from the Duke of that 
 name, is the next in size and population to Mahe ; 
 it has plenty of water, and is remarkable for being 
 the only place in the world where that extraordi- 
 nary plant, the sea cocoa-nut, is known to grow. 
 Silhouette holds the third rank ; it is hioh and varied 
 in outline, but as yet is only the haunt of goats, 
 tortoises, and wild fowl. The isles of St. Anne, 
 and Cerf, were always reserved by the French go- 
 vernment for supplying their ships with wood, 
 having steadily rejected every application, which in- 
 dividuals made, to appropriate them. When, there- 
 fore, this Archipelago was taken possession of by 
 the Nisus, I claimed them as his Majesty's appur- 
 tenance, which claim I oflicially made known to the 
 proper authorities. Yet I now find, that both the 
 islands have been converted into private property; 
 and Cerf is inhabited by a naval surgeon, in virtue
 
 286 THE LIFE OF 
 
 of a grant most illegally made. To complete the 
 business, I was refused permission to cut wood, on 
 the very spot, which duty to my country had 
 prompted me to reserve,, for a public supply of that 
 indispensable article. I shall represent this arro- 
 gance in such a light, to the Commander-in-chief, 
 as I trust will teach these eastern civilians, that 
 they are not at liberty to violate any of our national 
 engagements with impunity." 
 
 The sea cocoa nut, thus alluded to, being very 
 little known, I may be excused a slight digression 
 respecting it. This singular production acquired its 
 name on the shores of India^ whither it floated, and 
 was found, before the place of its growth had been 
 discovered ; and it was therefore considered to be a 
 fruit from the depths of the ocean. An idea of its 
 size may be formed, by imagining three or four large 
 melons, with hard black shells, enclosed together 
 in a strong fibrous rind. They are multiform, but 
 usually double ; and one side has been held to be 
 poisonous, if the other be not eaten as an antidote — 
 a prejudice which insures its entire consumption. 
 Everypartof thetreeis useful; the stem affords tim- 
 ber ; the envelope of the nut is twisted into ropes 
 and mats ; the leaves are applied to huts, hats, and 
 numerous other purposes ; whilst the shell of the fruit 
 supplies jars or bowls, dishes or platters, according 
 to the direction in which it is cut, and the taste of the
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 287 
 
 cutter. 1 may also mention, in addition to what has 
 been observed by Captain Beaver, tliat the 8(7/- 
 c/icllcs were discovered by Lazarus Ricault, in 1743, 
 and named after one of the French ministers; but 
 from the abundance of cowries, and the beauty of 
 various other cyprreas found there, our sailors, na- 
 turally enough, tliink them the Sca-shcU islands. 
 They afford pine-apples, plantains, bananas, ta- 
 marinds, cocoa-nuts, and other tropical fruits in 
 profusion : sugar-canes, yams^ cassada, rice, and 
 cotton, are the principal objects of cultivation ; and 
 their various hard woods, black, yellow^ and red, 
 are in high request. Their beef is excellent, the 
 goat's flesh extremely well-flavoured, and a nutri- 
 tious food is found in the terrapin, or land tortoise. 
 The groves are frequented by parrots, of gorgeous 
 plumage, and amongst the flying species, are num- 
 bers of immense bats. Rock-fish of every de- 
 scription, and fine turtle, are extremely plentiful, 
 so that these islands, being also free from storms, 
 are really enviable. But no part which I have 
 visited is so infested with sharks — the blue, the 
 white_, the tiger, the hammer-headed, and indeed 
 most of the varieties of that voracious tribe. In 
 January, 1805, an enormous monster was taken in 
 Mahc Bay, while cruizing round our ship, in com- 
 pany with many of her kind, and surrounded by a 
 numerous progeny. She was caught with a small
 
 288 THE LIFE OF 
 
 liook^ whicli had been baited for rock-fish ; and it 
 was surprising- that her attempts to escape should 
 not have disengaged her. On the first perception 
 of dang-er, and while she was being drawn along- 
 side,, the fry entered the mouth of the dam^ to 
 seek safety. With some difficulty and much dex- 
 terity she was secured and slunsf ; but such was the 
 weight of the prey^ that it required the fore and 
 main yard tackles to hoist her on board. After 
 giving' sundry violent flaps, she was overpowered; 
 and I saw with astonishment, on a large gash being 
 made in the belly^ no less than thirty-eight young 
 sharks tumble out of the orifice alive! They were 
 each nearly two feet in length, and their mouths 
 admitted a man's hand with ease. 
 
 Returning by the Isle of France to the Cape of 
 Good Hope^ our skilful officer appears to have 
 been again diligently employed^ in correcting the 
 hydrography of the several places which he visited. 
 On the 5th of November, in latitude 34" 30' south, 
 and longitude 27° 30' east, the look-out people sud- 
 denly saw a phenomenon, which has no doubt often 
 placed a danger on the charts of those, who take 
 no trouble to search after truth. Captain Beaver 
 says, — " Discoloured water, having all the ap- 
 pearance of a shoal, being reported to me as not 
 far off", I went upon deck to examine it, when the 
 man at the mast head called out that there was
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 289 
 
 more about a mile off on tlie larboard bow. The 
 ship was instantly brouoht to, and boats were 
 sent to each patch ; for I certainly never saw any 
 thing- that so closely resembled shallow water: 
 indeed, nothino- but the examination which we in- 
 stituted would have convinced me that they were 
 not dangers. The first patch was of an oval form, 
 nearly half a mile long, and looked exactly like a 
 bank of sand eight or ten feet under water, with 
 well-defined edges. The second spot was consi- 
 derably larger, and of more irregular outline, but 
 had equally the same appearance of a sand bank, 
 or coral reef. However, when the boats returned, 
 we found they had gained no bottom with one 
 hundred and fifty fathoms of line ; and that the phe- 
 nomenon was occasioned by inconceivable myriads 
 of animals, which, from specimens we procured, 
 I found I had neither seen before, nor met w itli 
 any description of. Their transparent and cylin- 
 drical bodies were of the consistence of blubber, 
 rounded at one end, and, as it were, cut off 
 obliquely at the other; being about three-quarters 
 of an inch in length, and rather more than a quarter 
 in diameter. Two delicate fibres were just percep- 
 tible, dividing the body longitudinally, and four 
 others, nearly equidistant, transversely ; the oblique 
 part was covered with a circular membrane, hav- 
 ing two rows of minute pearly beads around its 
 
 u
 
 290 THE LIFE OF 
 
 circumference, and an integument like a loop, with 
 the bight outwards, at its centre. Two feelers, 
 nearly as long as the insect, projected straight be- 
 fore it ; and the respiration was wonderfully per- 
 formed by a series of valves, working like the me- 
 chanism of many pairs of chain pumps. Oh, rulers 
 of the globe, how insignificant are ye, after all! 
 The bucket which had been dipped amongst them 
 was crowded to excess ; yet in the most lively 
 manner, they frolicked and practised all their evo- 
 lutions, without running foul of each other ; the mo- 
 tion, to be sure, was rather ungraceful, being by 
 sudden jerks, stern foremost." 
 
 On the following day, a fine ship under Ame- 
 rican colours, joined company with the Nisus, and 
 both parties being ignorant of the war, they sailed 
 very peaceably near each other for a week ; but 
 afterwards, on arriving at the Cape, and hearing 
 of hostilities, the disappointment of the crew was 
 proportionate. Captain Beaver immediately hauled 
 out, with a view of intercepting her, though he had 
 only two days' bread on board ; in spite of a sharp 
 look out, he missed the prey ; which, however, 
 running into Table Bay, was there promptly taken 
 possession of. 
 
 Our indefatigable officer's services were now 
 drawing to a close ; a disorder, supposed to have 
 been contracted on the pestilent shores of Batavia,
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 291 
 
 had been nuiking- insidious encroachments on a 
 constitution naturally vigorous, but perhaps some- 
 what debilitated by climate and hard duty: and 
 the late exertions at Quiloa were considered rather 
 imprudent. Zeal and energ-y bore up his spirits, 
 yet his mind was irresistibly engrossed with consi- 
 derations of the futiu-e ; he became [jainfuUy soli- 
 citous to rejoin his family ; and it was with infinite 
 satisfaction that he at length found the ship ordered 
 to St. Helena, towards the end of December, to 
 collect convoy for Eng-land. From letters written 
 about this period, and their not containing- the 
 slightest hint of bodily sufle rings, his connexions 
 were already prepared to greet him, with all the 
 aflfection which so estimable a character inspired ; 
 they indulged the fond hope that he would soon 
 reap the reward of past exertions ; and by return- 
 ing at the close of a successful war, enjoy the 
 honours which he had so meritoriously earned. 
 Vain anticipation ! The prospect of such happi- 
 ness was blighted, by the abrupt announcement 
 of his death ! While the solace of domestic en- 
 dearments and social intercourse seemed to await 
 him, his precarious tenure had already expired; 
 and the pains and pleasures of this world were 
 closed upon him for ever. 
 
 Mr. Prior, to whom I have already been greatly 
 indebted, has furnished me with so feeling and 
 
 U 2
 
 292 THE LIFE OF 
 
 interesting a description of the last moments of 
 his excellent friend, that I should do but little 
 justice to my own feelings^ or to his talents, were 
 I not to give it in his own words. 
 
 '' I have much pleasure/' he writes, ''^in bearing 
 testimony to my late commander's merits, as he 
 was undoubtedly a most able and zealous officer, 
 and an honourable man ; and, after three years 
 close observation in a ship, where the peculiarities 
 of all on board become as well known as in a 
 private family, where, in fact, no characteristic 
 can be long concealed ; I conceive myself not only 
 enabled to judge, but also entitled to state the re- 
 sults of my judgment. 
 
 " Blessed with an excellent constitution and 
 temperate habits, he had been an utter stranger to 
 serious illness, since the African expedition ; few 
 men allowed themselves less indulgence ; in the 
 coldest weather he would not have a fire ; in extreme 
 vicissitudes he seldom resorted even to a great 
 coat ; and, when assailed by indisposition, always 
 professed himself independent of medicine. Habit 
 had confirmed these prejudices. Imbued with 
 uncommon strength of mind, he had been accus- 
 tomed to depend only upon himself, and therefore 
 conceived, perhaps with pardonable weakness, 
 that these extraneous helps were, in a great de- 
 gree, unnecessary to the health of the human
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP DEAVER. 293 
 
 frame. With such opinions, liis premature death 
 is scarcely surprising ; and as it proved impressive 
 in no common degree^ I cannot but enter into the 
 detail of liis dissolution. 
 
 ** I may remark here, that during the three 
 years we were together, and enjoying, I believe, 
 his esteem, without an interruption, he never 
 applied to me professionally but once previous 
 to his last illness — this was a day or two after 
 anchoring in Batavia Roads. The symptoms 
 threatened dysentery, the most destructive disease 
 experienced on that coast ; and I urged him stre- 
 nuously not to join a dinner party of brother cap- 
 tains, on board one of the frigates at anchor. After 
 some deliberation, and learning from me all the 
 bearings of his case, he, at length, said, ' he must, 
 though unwillingly, go; for^ after coming so far to 
 join an expedition, it would have a strange ap- 
 pearance to be taken ill immediately on arrival.' 
 Accordingly he went, though I clearly saw he 
 suffered much more than he acknowledged. I 
 procured a promise, however, which to him was 
 no sacrifice, to take little food, and no wine. No 
 serious inconvenience followed ; and, if I recollect 
 right_, he did not take any medicine. On other 
 occasions I was perfectly aware of his being ill, 
 suffering from severe colds, or otherwise ; yet he 
 was either above complaint, or could not conquer
 
 294 ■ THE LIFE OF 
 
 his repug-nance to be under obligation to the heal- 
 ing- art. Even virtues carried thus far^ at length 
 degenerate into weaknesses. 
 
 ^' On the morning- of our entering Table Bay, 
 towards the end of March, 1813, about an hour 
 before arriving at the anchorage. Captain Beaver 
 summoned me to attend him. ^ It is not often, 
 Mr. Prior,' said he, smiling, ^ that I personally 
 call upon your professional attentions, but I do not 
 feel quite as I could wish ; I have been uneasy for 
 several days ; I have not relished my wine, or my 
 snufF; and when this is the case, I am sure I am 
 not well.' Upon further enquiry, I found to my 
 astonishment, that the functions of the intestinal 
 canal had been obstructed, with one exception, for 
 a space of ten days ! I pointed out in as strong 
 terms as I could use, the necessity of having re- 
 course to immediate measures for relief, and of 
 the danger which in all probability impended over 
 him. He seemed inclined to acquiesce, but after 
 taking two or three turns across the cabin, in deep 
 thought, replied, * Were I at sea, I should cer- 
 tainly do as you desire ; and I therefore regret 
 not mentioning the circumstances, to you yester- 
 day ; but to-day, it cannot be — I must anchor the 
 ship ; I must wait upon the Admiral ; I have 
 several other persons to see upon matters which I 
 do not like to postpone ; in short, it will not be in
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 
 
 295 
 
 my power to-day ; but to-morrow, certainly, should 
 I not feel better, I will consent to whatever you 
 command me to do.' 
 
 '' I tried to change this determination in vain. 
 His resolutions once taken, were commonly unal- 
 terable. Intending- to sleep on shore that night, 
 he promised that the first boat next morning- should 
 apprize me of his situation ; even this he thought 
 a or-reat concession. 
 
 " I was roused early on the following- day, by 
 information that I was required on shore imme- 
 diately. On entering' the Captain's room, I found 
 there the surgeon and assistant-surgeon of the 
 Naval Hospital, who had sat up with him during- 
 the night. His first salutation v/as, ' Oh ! Mr. Prior, 
 had I taken your advice yesterday morning, I 
 might not now be in the painful situation in which 
 I am,' This was said, not at all in a querulous 
 tone, but in a calm and collected manner. He 
 went on to describe that, on landing the preceding 
 forenoon, partly in hopes of being useful as an 
 aperient, and partly to gratify a young midship- 
 man who accompanied him, he had purchased 
 some very fine grapes, of which he ate freely. 
 The day was spent in walking about in the sun, 
 calling upon his friends. While at the table of 
 Admiral Tyler, at dinner, he was taken violently 
 ill, and towards the conclusion of it, was obliged
 
 n 
 
 296 THE LIFE OF 
 
 to retire. The pain increased momentarilVj, until 
 his agony became extreme. At this time all the 
 shore boats being hauled up, conformably to a 
 colonial regulation, no message could be sent off 
 to the ship. Dr. Duke was, therefore, called in, 
 who, perceiving the disease to be enteritis, or 
 inflammation of the bowels, had recourse to the 
 most active means for relief; which were ineffec- 
 tually continued through the night. He suffered 
 the most excruciating torments without a murmur ; 
 that fortitude which he professed, and always dis- 
 played, not once deserting him. And in this hope- 
 less state I found him. 
 
 " Suspecting the fatal termination of the com- 
 plaint, he enquired how long it was probable life 
 might be prolonged, should the symptoms not 
 amend: '^ Do you doubt my fortitude?' said he 
 calmly, seeing me hesitate in the reply ; '^you need 
 not. I await death with resignation : I have long 
 looked it in the face without fear, and why should 
 I tremble now ? I feel I cannot live long in this 
 situation (he was then writhing in the most dread- 
 ful tortures), therefore use no unnecessary reserve — 
 be candid.' The melancholy truth being declared, 
 he exclaimed with peculiar energy, ' Death has no 
 terrors for me, — let the awful moment arrive when 
 it may, I am as ready to die as most men : and 
 trust I have not been a great sinner !'
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BF.AVER. 297 
 
 " When undressed,, prepuratory to being im- 
 mersed in the warm bath, T observed the trace of 
 a recent scar upon one of liis logs^ which was 'in 
 fact scarcely healed. Observing my attention 
 fixed upon it, he instantly said, ' That was done 
 by the wolf, but I thought it too trilling to trouble 
 you with.' Upon recollection, J had heard more 
 than a month before, that a Cape wolf, which being 
 tamed on board, was suffered to run about the 
 decks, had seized him by the trowsers, partly in 
 play, and partly perhaps in obeying the common 
 instinct of his kind. But I did not suspect, as no 
 application was made for surgical aid, that so se- 
 rious an injury had been indicted ; — an instance of 
 his patient endurance of pain, or determination 
 to be above the common infirmities and weak- 
 nesses of our nature. 
 
 *'^ Composed and firm, he lingered three days 
 longer, exciting alternately our wonder and regret ; 
 the medical art of the navy, the army, and the co- 
 lony being vainly exhausted for his relief. He 
 repeatedly thanked the gentlemen in attendance : 
 ' When I am dead,' said he, ^ if it can in the least 
 benefit society, let me be opened : I can have no 
 possible objection.' On the evening of the 5th, 
 while my arm supported his head, he became ex- 
 hausted, and breathed his last, with scarcely a 
 struggle : peace be to his noble spirit !
 
 298 tHE LIFE OF 
 
 ** Admired in life, he was still more worthy of 
 admiration in that trial which is the touchstone of 
 us all. To use the emphatic words of a gallant 
 companion in arms. Captain Schomberg, who assi- 
 duously attended his sick bed, — * He has not only 
 taught us how to die, but also how we should live, 
 in order to be enabled thus to meet death.* 
 
 '^ He was opened, according to his own express 
 permission, the day after his demise. A consi- 
 derable portion of the small intestines was found 
 in a state of mortification. All the rest of the 
 viscera were sound, and healthy; and promised a 
 lonof continuance of life. 
 
 '' His funeral was attended by all the chief civil 
 and militaiy authorities of the Cape ; the pall was 
 borne by Captains Schomberg, Richardson, Eve- 
 leigh, and Bain, of the navy ; and the Colonels of 
 the 21st dragoons, 83d and Q^d regiments, &c. 
 When the corpse was committed to the ground, I 
 saw more than one of his brother officers affected 
 in a manner, that did equal honour to their feelings 
 and their friendship. None of us, 1 believe, were 
 free from such emotions." 
 
 This melancholy event, and the prominent fea- 
 tures of Captain Beaver's character, are also ably 
 detailed, in a letter of the 2d of October, 1828, 
 from Commodore C. M. Schomberg. "Nothing, 
 my dear Smyth, has given me greater pleasure
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 299 
 
 than your resolving to make poor Beaver's merits 
 better known to the public ; indeed his memory 
 well deserves such a tribute of respect. I saw the 
 last of him. 
 
 *' Not long before his death, the Nisus was de- 
 tached to St. Helena, from the Cape of Good 
 Hope, to take charge of a convoy of Indiamen to 
 England ; but news of an American force reaching 
 the station, I was sent in the Astrea to recall him. 
 He was greatly disappointed at this measure ; and 
 ordered me to return to Table Bay, by the outer 
 edge of the trade winds, which^ with the current^ 
 were strono^ aoainst us, while he went on the 
 inner, or African side. My friend was fortunate 
 enough to intercept and capture a fine large Ame- 
 rican ship^ laden with tea, and had very nearly got 
 hold of her consort also. This valuable prize 
 cheered his last hours, under the idea of its being 
 a provision for his family ; for he little suspected 
 that the greater part of the cargo would be claimed 
 and awarded as individual property. 
 ' " He had slightly complained during the cruize 
 of indisposition, and his looks on our arrival, proved 
 the intensity of his disease. He landed about 
 noon, but while dining with the Admiral, was un- 
 der the necessity of quitting the table. The symp- 
 toms quickly increased to an alarming degree, and 
 after a violent struggle with nature for four days,
 
 300 THE LIFE OF 
 
 he expired at Cape Town^ on the 5th of April, 
 1813 ; and in those trying- moments displayed his 
 usual admirable fortitude. Seeing* that we were 
 greatly affected, he remarked that death was an 
 event for which he had been daily prepared ; it was 
 a debt which all must pay, and therefore it should 
 be contemplated with calm resignation. Address- 
 ing- me more particularly, for I never quitted him 
 during this impressive scene, he continued. ' If I 
 am not better in an hour, I cannot live. You will 
 succeed me in the command of the Nisus, and I 
 know my youngsters will be taken care of. I hope 
 they will yet be an honour to the cloth.' He then 
 deliberately proceeded to make serious prepara- 
 tion for the approaching event. About five o'clock, 
 the anticipated return of the pangs of inflamma- 
 tory constipation closed his earthly troubles, and 
 left us in a stupor of grief. 
 
 "^ It is difficult for me to sketch his character — 
 he was manly and determined, with a mind very 
 peculiarly constituted. From the firmness of his 
 decision, something like austerity, and an air of con- 
 scious superiority, showed itself in command; but 
 in society, except where vice or folly drew forth his 
 sarcasm, he was gentle and as playful as a child. 
 His inflexible integrity made parts of his conduct 
 appear captious and irritable; while in argument, 
 his manner seemed rather to dictate than to per-
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 
 
 301 
 
 suade, — yet I know no man who persuaded with 
 more conviction. His view of enterprise was ge- 
 nerally very bold, for he never saw didiculty, and 
 was a stranger to fear : but as a flag oflicer, his soar- 
 injr mind would have been more in its element than 
 as captain of a frigate. With a strong thirst after 
 useful information, he studied closely during every 
 moment of official leisure, and was therefore not 
 only a scientific navigator, but appeared very con- 
 versant in o-eneral literature. He was indiOerent 
 to the garb in which substantial knowledge was 
 clothed : and I have reason to think that this ex- 
 traordinary man read the Encj/clopedia Britannka 
 entirely through during a cruize — a curious in- 
 stance of a habit of perseverance. 
 
 " He was interred with military honours, and 
 the following modest record placed ovei- his 
 grave : — 
 
 HERE 
 OF 
 
 PHILIP BEAVER, 
 
 CAPTAIN OF HIS URITAN.VIC MAJESTY'S SHIP NISUS ; 
 
 WHO, 
 
 AFTER A SHORT BUT PAINFUL ILLNESS, 
 
 (WHICH HE BORE WITH HIS CHARACTERISTIC FIRMNESS,) 
 
 CLOSED AN ENTERPRISINCr AND VIRTUOUS LIKE, 
 
 THE 5th of APRIL, 
 
 ANNO iETATIS XLVIII. 
 
 SALUTIS MDCCCXUI."
 
 302 THE LIFE OF 
 
 To this tribute of friendship, paid by an officer 
 alike brave and beloved, I shall venture to add a 
 few particulars^ and thus terminate the memoirs of 
 this exemplary man. 
 
 Captain Beaver was of a middle stature and 
 spare habit ; but healthy, active, and capable of 
 sustaining- great fatigue, both of body and mind. 
 His eyes were expressive^ and his countenance 
 animated, without being- handsome ; in deport- 
 ment he was genteel without a trace of foppery^ 
 and his temper was ardent, without being- violent ; 
 thouQfh he sometimes allowed resolution to border 
 upon obstinacy. He was so habitually industrious 
 himself, that he could not understand, and found 
 it difficult to excuse, either indifference or idleness 
 in others. Endued by nature with something of 
 Roman decision of mind, and brought up from 
 childhood in the sharpest school of discipline under 
 the crown, he almost inevitably became severe. 
 This blemish has not been an uncommon one 
 amongst our most distinguished men, and even the 
 heroic Nelson was not popular, till this unamiable 
 peculiarity had worn off. It is an error arising 
 from the zeal without knowledge of young officers : 
 a bias which is corrected and cured by reflection^ 
 and the advance of years. Beaver felt and 
 acknowledged this truth ; and, in conversation 
 on the system of terror then prevailing in a ship
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 303 
 
 on tlie station, he rcinarkcd that it was the miscon- 
 ception of youthlul ardour, and that he himself 
 had been actuated by simihir feehng-s in the early 
 part of his career, '* but had long seen reason to 
 alter his practice." In the Acasta, and theNisus, 
 though the regulations were exceedingly strict, 
 there was nothing like tyranny ; yet the pardon- 
 able weakness of forgiving a little more frequently 
 would, perhaps, have brought the commander's 
 character nearer to perfection. But with him the 
 punishment of slight transgressions could not be 
 imputed to heat of temper, cloaked under the 
 necessities of oflicial discipline ; it was what he 
 considered a conscientious discharge of his duty. 
 
 He was ever exceedingly careful of the health 
 of his crew ; and moreover was attentive to their 
 welfare, by saving them from the annoyance of 
 unnecessary labour. He despised many of those 
 trifling but harassing duties, which obtained during 
 the late war, as taking off attention from more 
 important tilings ; and which occasioned much dis- 
 satisfaction, without accomplishing any equivalent 
 good. In naval evolutions, where every thing is 
 performed by bodily strength, men cannot, like 
 machines, be at all moments screwed up to the 
 utmost possible point of performance, as some have 
 expected. Rivalries are felt in fleets, for each 
 ship to arrive at excellence ; but what are called
 
 304 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ^^ smart vessels/' are rarely made without giving 
 the seamen an incurable disgust to the service. 
 Captain Beaver's charge, on one or two occasions, 
 was, *' Remember, men, if you are first on the list, 
 I shall like it, but I do not insist upon it ; you 
 must not, however, be last." No honour was lost 
 by this system ; for the men, feeling a freedom 
 from responsibility, performed their duty with 
 alacrity and emulation, whenever a trial of skill 
 was called for; and certainly were never *' last." 
 
 His personal determination in every situation 
 was not less remarkable than his confidence in his 
 own powers and capacity, in movements of diffi- 
 culty. Without being rash, he might justly be 
 said to be fearless ; it was a vigour of mind, 
 beyond mere courage ; and he moreover impressed 
 every one who came near him, v.ith the same feel- 
 ing. When serving under a senior officer, he was 
 consulted upon most occasions of difficulty ; but 
 when he himself commanded, he rarely, if ever, 
 consulted any one. This sometimes gave offence 
 to his brother officers, who, probably, of scarcely 
 inferior standing in the service, felt in this reserve 
 a want of confidence, either in their ability or their 
 discretion. In many instances, nothing of this 
 kind was meant; it was part oi his character; 
 but at the same time, wherever incapacity was 
 evident, he evinced contempt, even towards senior
 
 1 
 
 CAPTAIN PHFIJP BEAVER. 30.5 
 
 oiticers. Altlioug-h lie Ijud an utter aversion to 
 flattery and flatterers, he appeared to feel himself 
 superior to most of those by whom he was sur- 
 ounded, whether e(juals in rank, or juniors : there 
 was some i)ride, or even ])resumpti()n in this, 
 perhaps ; but on service, he ikj doubt found re- 
 sources within himself, which he did not perceive 
 in others; and there wiis a degree of moral, as 
 well as physical maonanimity about him, which 
 rather sought than shrunk from responsibility. 
 
 With such a degree of energy, if we occasionally 
 discover impetuosity, and anxiety, and apparent 
 self-sufliciency, let us recollect, that these are 
 most useful qualities in an ofliccr, especially when 
 tempered, as they were in Captain Beaver, with 
 judgment. 
 
 " Who can be wise, amazed, temperate and furious, 
 Loyal and neutral, in a moment ? 
 
 He thought intensely, and expressed himself 
 most powerfully and fluently, particularly when 
 excited. In governing a body of men, command 
 should sometimes be aided by persuasion ; for it 
 is ofl;en more desirable, and certainly as useful, to 
 address their reason, as their backs; and never 
 was an oflicer more fitted for this purpose than 
 our hero. His plain and impressive manner fre- 
 quently drew tears from the most rugged sailors ; 
 
 X
 
 30G THE LIFE OF 
 
 and on one occasion, on board the Nisus, where 
 an act of insubordination had been exhibited to- 
 wards a petty officer, when it became necessary 
 to inspire awe, or even terror, several of the men 
 were seen to shrink, involuntarily, from the energy 
 of his reproof, and the dignified vehemence of his 
 denunciations. 
 
 He rarely paced the deck, as is customary with 
 most naval officers at sea ; when he did appear, 
 it was chiefly for the purpose of giving orders. 
 Nearly the whole of his time was spent in his 
 cabin, principally in miscellaneous reading, or 
 in writing. He would scarcely, however, conde- 
 scend to notice the lighter departments of litera- 
 ture ; he declared that he required more solid food- 
 for his mind : " Men who go to sea," said he, 
 '' have enough to do, by studying assiduously, to 
 keep upon a par with their neighbours." The 
 works of poetasters and novelists he continued to 
 hold as extremely trifling, thinking, perhaps, that 
 few could, like the ducks of Pontus, find poison to be 
 wholesome ; but he did not disrelish those flights 
 of fiction, which occur in Moral Essays. Anony- 
 mous writers he despised ; and when Mr. Prior 
 enquired how he had been treated by the profes- 
 sional critics, as to his work on Bulama ; " The 
 opinion of those fellows," said he, " was to me a 
 matter of utter indifference. I had to state facts
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 307 
 
 ill a plain manner^ none of which, supposing- any 
 of them to have known the isk\nd, or the particu- 
 lars of the expedition, coukl be contradicted. Some, 
 indeed, did not admire my opinions regarding' 
 Sierra Leone, but they gave me as much j)raise, 
 no doubt, as I deserved. However, you shall see." 
 
 Beaver's strict regard for religion was exem- 
 plified in the tenor of his life : he was a sincere 
 Christian ; and no doctiine, ancient or modern, 
 ever taught a more rational humanity than that 
 which uniformly distingxjished him, as a husband, 
 father, commander, and friend. He read prayers 
 regularly and solemnly, to his ship's company, 
 and was alike moral in his habits and manners ; 
 whilst his conversation proved, that he did not 
 consider swearing at all requisite to adorn a 
 speech, even though the contrary has the high 
 authority of Longinus. 
 
 He did the honours of his table with a plain, un- 
 affected hospitality; two or three of the oflicers, 
 according to the good, old, and sociable custom of 
 the navy, which it is to be regretted is wearing 
 away, dined with him almost every day. With 
 the systematic pertinacity in all his habits, he took 
 a pint of wine, neither more nor less, after dinner, 
 ^n whatever climate. The hours kept in a man-of- 
 war are so uniform, that scarcely any one receives or 
 deserves much praise for regularity — breakfast at 
 
 x2
 
 303 THE LIFE OF 
 
 eight o'clock^ or a little after ; dinner at two or 
 three ; tea at six ; some wine and water at eight ; 
 and to bed probably about ten ; — but Captain Bea- 
 ver, despising all sensual and degrading practices, 
 would have been a regular and temperate man in 
 any situation. His company was much courted 
 by those to whom he was well known ; and he was 
 a great favourite in female society ; for, disdaining 
 to descend to what is vulgarly called compli- 
 ment, he recurred to the more delicate refinement 
 of treating ladies as rational creatures, and con- 
 versing with them upon a footing of equality — 
 never losing sight of the purity and politeness with 
 which they should always be addressed. 
 
 His family, at his death, consisted of Mrs. Bea- 
 ver and six children ; and as fortune had not fa- 
 voured him in the acquisition of wealth, his widow 
 was, through the kindness of Lord Viscount Mel- 
 ville, appointed Matron of Greenwich Hospital 
 School — a situation which she could have little 
 contemplated, when her husband was so con- 
 spicuous on the high road to the brightest ho- 
 nours. This nomination, however, afforded a 
 refuge from pecuniary distress ; and procured her 
 an unexpected source of consolation, in the eager 
 desire with which the veteran sailors crowded her 
 door_, entreating to see the children, those interest- 
 ing portraits of their late revered commander.
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVEH. 309 
 
 Strenuous efforts had been made in tlils lady's 
 behalf, accompanied with the strongest testimonials 
 from the admirals under whom Captain Beaver had 
 served ; but it is doubtful whether the high person- 
 age to whom they were humbly addressed was ever 
 informed of them. 
 
 Although the certificates of Sir A. Cochrane, 
 Sir A. Bertie, the Honourable Sir R. Stopford, 
 and Sir G. Beck with, are scarcely to be excelled 
 in the manly and elegant style of their commenda- 
 tion, it may nevertheless be pleasing to see, at full 
 length, that of his early and steady friend, Lord 
 Keith. 
 
 <( 
 
 May it please your Royal Highness, 
 
 ^^ I think it my duty to certify, that in the month 
 of August, 1796, the late Captain Philip Beaver, 
 then a lieutenant in his Majesty's ship, the Stately, 
 was appointed by me to the Monarch, bearing my 
 flag, as Commander-in-chief at the Cape of Good 
 Hope, and in the Indian seas, in consequence of 
 my having personally witnessed the prompt, sea- 
 manlike, and skilful exertions, by which it appeared 
 to me that he saved the Stately and her crew, when 
 exposed to a state of imminent danger, during a 
 severe gale of wind : that he continued to serve
 
 310 THE LIFE OF 
 
 under my fla^, as a lieutenant^ from that time till 
 July, 1799, when 1 had the means of obtaining for 
 him the first just reward of his dilig-ent and useful 
 services^ the rank of a commander : that in the 
 month of April, 1800^ when about to enter into 
 co-operation with the Austrian General, Baron de 
 Melas_, for the expulsion of the French army from the 
 city and territory of Genoa, I called Captain Bea- 
 ver from the command of the Aurore prison ship, 
 and appointed him to be acting assistant Captain 
 of the fleet under my command, to aid me in the 
 execution of the multiplied and complicated duties 
 on which my attention was at that time employed : 
 that the trust thus committed to him was executed 
 with all advantage to the service, and satisfaction 
 to me ; and that during the progress of the blockade 
 of Genoa, I accepted his voluntary offer of super- 
 intending the night guard, and the nightly bom- 
 bardment of the town, which he executed with un- 
 remitted zeal, gallantry, and success : that on one 
 of these occasions, with signal heroism., he boarded 
 and brought out a large galley of very formidable 
 force : that when the enemy evinced a disposition 
 to treat for surrender, I entrusted him with my 
 authority to negotiate the preliminaries of a treaty 
 for the surrender of the town ; and that in this ca- 
 pacity he conducted himself with great ability and
 
 CAPTAIN PHILIP BEAVER. 311 
 
 address: and I fmtlier cefiify that, in my long- ex- 
 perience, 1 have not met with an olTicer, wlio, fiom 
 the united q uaHties of clear conception, accurate 
 judgment, prompt decision, and vigorous, un- 
 daunted execution of professional duty, was more 
 likely, had he lived, to have arrived at distinction 
 in the naval service." 
 
 (Signed) ^' KEITH."
 
 APPENDIX.
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. 1. 
 
 On the Battle between the ]\Iilford frigate and the Dieu de 
 Co\2;ny— fought on the 10th of May, 1780. 
 
 Up in the wind, three leagues or more, 
 We spied a lofty sail ; 
 " Let's hoist a Dutch flag, for decoy, 
 And closely hug the gale." 
 
 Nine knots the nimble IMilford ran, 
 " Thus — thus," the master cried; 
 
 Hull up, she raised the chase in view, 
 And soon was side by side. 
 
 " Down the Dutch ensign, up St. George, 
 To quarters now all hands," — 
 With lighted match, beside his gun. 
 Each British warrior stands. 
 
 ** Give lire!" the gallant captain cries ; 
 
 'Tis done — the cannons roar, 
 " Stand clear. Monsieur, digest these pills, 
 
 And then we'll send you more."
 
 315 APPENDIX. 
 
 Yon French jack shivers in the \Yind, 
 
 Its hhes all look pale ; 
 And well they may — they must come down, 
 
 For Britons shall prevail. 
 
 Raked fore and aft, her shatter'd hull, 
 
 Admits the briny flood ; 
 Her decks are covered with the slain, 
 
 Her scuppers stream with blood. 
 
 Our chain-shot whistle in the wind, 
 The grape descend like hail ; 
 " Huzza! my hearts, three cheering shouts! 
 Our foe begins to quail." 
 
 The fight is done, — she strikes — she yields; 
 
 No more our force she braves; — 
 Henceforth she'll bear our cross, and prove 
 
 That Britons rule the waves. 
 
 P. Beaver. 
 
 H. M. Ship Princess Royal, ) 
 September 25th, 1780. •'
 
 APPENDIX. 317 
 
 No. ir. 
 
 A loyal Addreas, delivered al IJulatna, on the 3d of August, 1793, 
 and subscribed to by the remaining Colonists. 
 
 In times of imminent danger, when bad men have dared to 
 associate themselves, for the express [)ur[)Ose of overturning 
 our most excellent constitution ; v>hcn the mob-directed go- 
 vernment of France employs the basest of men to stir up 
 sedition in our country, and war with e\(>ry thing which has 
 hitherto been held sacred by the wisest of men ; — when they 
 publicly avow their intention of carrying their pernicious 
 doctrines into every kingdom of Europe — it behoves Britons 
 to avow their sentiments boldly. In such times it is crimi- 
 nal to remain neuter. That distance, and those circum- 
 stances, which almost prevent communication with our 
 Mother Country, precludes us not, thank God, from ex- 
 pressing our love to our Sovereign, and attachment to our 
 time-proved establishments. 
 
 TVe do therefore declare 
 
 Our firm attachment to our present constitution of govern- 
 ment, by King, Lords, and Commons, as settled at the 
 glorious Revolution of IGSS; in the sup[)ort and defence of 
 which we will, at all times, and in any place, be ready to 
 lay down our lives. 
 
 P. Beaver.
 
 318 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. III. 
 
 Extract of a Letter from Captain Beaver, describing a ludicrous 
 interview icith a Tuscan Poet. 
 
 " Having landed at Leghorn, on my way to England with 
 despatches, in 1800, and, of course, in a pressing hurry to 
 o-et home, I was vexed and amused with one of those im- 
 pertinencies which will occasionally happen to travellers in 
 Italy. Notwithstanding there were but few moments to 
 spare, a gaunt stranger intruded himself, bearing a book 
 and a letter ; the latter ran thus : — ' The most sinser whiches 
 of hapeness to the Cape. Beaver, Inglese. In occasion of 
 his happy arrivale in Livorno. It is tw^o strange that a man 
 should trobble you without haveing never hapness to pressent 
 himself to you; but considering how noble your heart is, 
 and the sublime virtues that adorne you, makes a man of 
 genius find in you his only Mecenas, who, with the usual 
 great bounty, receives all those who aims at such a honor. 
 Encouraged by such reflexions, I don't doubt your clemency 
 over my poems, made in ocasion of the victorias brought 
 over the enemies by a conquering armies, Inglish, Austriache, 
 and Muscovits, which, Sir, I send you, flattering myself you 
 will find elegan merit in my works, and hoping from your 
 great goodness an act of generous gratitude, and full of great 
 respect and sincere, I have the honour to be, your omblest 
 Tuscan poet, Nicola Poggi.' "
 
 APPENDIX. 319 
 
 No. IV. 
 
 A Letter addressed to Colonel Siii Robert Wilson, K.M.T., on 
 cerlain Gcograplcal Errors in /lis Map of E'^ypt. 
 
 fi atford, Herts, 1 0//t February, 1 803. 
 
 My dear Siu, 
 
 Since I had the pleasure of seeing you last, when I took the 
 liberty of pointing out the misnomers of the lakes, in your 
 map of Egypt, at the same time giving my reasons and au- 
 thority, I have seen our consul, Mr. Baldwin, who confirms 
 my assertions. Doubting not that your book will be hereafter 
 referred to as an authority, it becomes highly necessary that 
 places should be called by their proper names in it, and con- 
 sequently, the earlier any mistakes are corrected, the better. 
 
 I, therefore, now venture to write what I then said, for 
 your further consideration, convinced that you will receive 
 in good part, those observations, which are made with a view- 
 only to the ascertaining of truth. 
 
 Of the two lakes between Alexandria and the Nile, you 
 call the one, the lake of Aboukir, i suppose, from the castle 
 near it; whereas, its true name is Sed; the other you have 
 named Etko, probably from the village [Edko) on its banks, 
 but the natives call it Maadie. 
 
 The former derives its name from the Roman embank- 
 ment, in Arabic, Sed, that runs eastward, from the sandhills, 
 where our troops landed on the 8th of March, ISOl, and 
 which separates the two lakes ; nor was there any opening 
 where the pontoon bridge now is. The bed of the lake was 
 dry, and cultivated, although some feet below the level of the 
 sea. The Turks, who sufler every thing to go to ruin, never 
 attempted to repair a small breach made by the sea, in this 
 Sed, or mound, in the year 1782, or 3, and through which
 
 320 APPENDIX. 
 
 the waters flowed, continually widening it, till they converted 
 that \aluable valley into an extensive marsh. 
 
 The lake Maadie, in Arabic, a ferry, or passage, was so 
 called, because its entrance, or mouth, lying directly between 
 Alexandria and Rosetta, everyone going from the one place 
 to the other was obliged to cross it, at the spot where the 
 Karavansera still remains. 
 
 1 could have entered more fully into this subject, if I had 
 not intended to confine myself within the bounds of a letter; 
 but before I close, I must mention one circumstance more, 
 where you appear to have been led into another error. 
 
 In narrating the operations of our army, on the sandy 
 tongue of land l)etween Alexandria and Abookeer, you fre- 
 quently connect it with the lake Maadie ; whereas you ought 
 to have written Sed, because Maadie was far distant from 
 our then operations, and must never be confounded with that 
 lake, Avhatever be its name, by which the army received its 
 provisions, and on whose border it then had a depot. Ex- 
 cept these faults, your map of the space between Alexandria 
 and Rosetta is by far the best extant. 
 
 Mr. Dalrymple's chart, and a memoir, of one sheet, ac- 
 companying it, was yesterday put into my hands. I find 
 he names the lakes as you have, but his chart has one great 
 error, and his memoir many, which I shall take an early 
 opportunity of communicating to that gentleman. 
 I am, my dear Sir, 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 P. Beaver.
 
 APPENDIX. 321 
 
 No. IV. 
 
 A Letter published in " The Courier,'^ IGth of February, 1804, 
 with the Author's subsequent corrections, on the threatened 
 Invasion. 
 
 To the Editor of the Courier. 
 Sill, 
 
 In times like the present, when ^Ye daily expect the 
 approach of an hostile force to our shores, the various opi- 
 nions of men on the practicability of the attempt, or the 
 difficulties which attend it, by being made known, may pro- 
 bably produce some good ; with this view, 1 send you the 
 following thoughts on the chance which our active, subtle, 
 energetic, and great enemy, has in succeeding in iiis last 
 
 ENTERPRISE. 
 
 A seaman by profession, a middle-aged life, spent in the 
 constant naval service of my country, and the experience of 
 the frequent embarkation and debarkation of numerous troops 
 in every quarter of the globe, under various difficulties and 
 circumstances, may, or at least ought to, enable me to form 
 some, not very inaccurate, notions on this subject. 
 
 I shall consider it under three heads : — 
 
 1st. — The Enemy's quitting their Ports. 
 2dly. — Their crossing the Sea. 
 3dly. — Their Landing on our Shores. 
 
 ON THE enemy's QUITTING THEIR PORTS. 
 
 It would not be doing justice to the cautious foresight of 
 Bonaparte to suppose any thing has been neglected by him, 
 Avhich might facilitate the speedy embarkation of his nume- 
 rous troops destined to invade this island. I take it for 
 granted, that his whole force can be embarked \\) four hours ; 
 and if he cannot do that from Brest to the Texel, he is a 
 
 Y
 
 32*2 APPENDIX. 
 
 mere tyro in the embarkation of troops ; but with this I have 
 nothing to do. Whether four hours or four weeks be em- 
 ployed, is nothing to the purpose : J suppose them embarked 
 — to be useful they must quit their ports, and that is the point 
 on which I will give my opinion. 
 
 To blockade a port, particularly in these latitudes, is im- 
 possible, if by blockading is meant the obstruction to the 
 ingress or egress of vessels at all times ; if it were possible, 
 it would be done by the unrivalled skill and unexampled 
 perseverance of our naval commanders ; but we cannot with- 
 stand the elements ; we already do with our ships what no 
 other nation will ever venture to attempt. — To British ships 
 there is no winter. 
 
 I consider, then, that it is not in our power, at all times, 
 to prevent the enemy's saihng either from Brest or the 
 Texel ; those from the former port would be, most probably, 
 destined for Ireland, and those from the latter for Scotland. 
 1 have hitherto only alluded to the sailing of that part of the 
 enemy's force which is composed of large ships, which will 
 sail from large ports, and which, it is conceived, will most 
 likely be destined to act against Scotland and Ireland ; and 
 these are supposed to escape from their ports, when our 
 blockading squadrons have been driven from their stations 
 by tempestuous weather. 
 
 The troops intended to be sent against England will, I 
 conceive, issue from all the small ports between Flushing 
 and Cherbourg. If the attempt is to be simultaneous, they 
 must have a wind which will be fair from each of those 
 ports — suppose S. E. ; this is an off-shore wind, which Avill 
 enable our cruizers to keep close off their harbours' mouths, 
 watch all their motions, and transmit early intelligence. If 
 the wind is such as to render the shore a lee one, and oblige 
 our cruizers to keep at a greater distance, the enemy cannot 
 come oat : so that it is clear, that if our enemy can quit their 
 ports, our cruizers can keep close in with them j and that
 
 APPENDIX. 3*23 
 
 li our cnii/ers cannot keep done to the slton; tlie etiemy can- 
 not come out. 
 
 The case here is very clHrerenl from that of our blockading 
 squadrons being driven from their stations off" Brest and the 
 Texel; when that is the case, the enemy's large ships, 
 full of troops, may sail the first moment of a fair wind ; if 
 from ]3rest, the whole Atlantic is open for them to range in ; 
 they may run west till they arrive at America, or south till 
 they double the Cape : the Texel fleet may round the north- 
 ern extremity of this island, and have the same scope. In 
 these instances our fleets may hunt them all round the world, 
 and miss them at last ; for all is conjecture as to their desti- 
 nation. Not so with the small vessels in the small ports of a 
 narrow channel; these, crowded with soldiers, exposed to 
 the inclemency of the weather, must make for the nearest 
 shore, their safety being in proportion to the shortness of 
 their stay on the water, and not having room for either stores, 
 ])rovisions, or any thing else, necessary for a long cruize, 
 must be seen, must be met, and must be opposed by our 
 cruizers. 
 
 But ivhat time will be required for them to get out of 
 their own ports ? Suppose, for instance, the port of Boulogne, 
 as the nearest, except Calais, to our shores, and the prin- 
 cipcd port of rendezvous for the enemy's flotilla. Those 
 much accustomed to the sailing of numerous vessels out of 
 a small port, with a narrow mouth, will not think that I 
 allow too much tune in supposing that each vessel will re- 
 quire one minide to get out of the port of Boulogne : now if 
 it be true that the enemy have collected five hundred vessels 
 in that port, it will, according to the above estimation, re- 
 quire five hundred minutes, or cicjJit hours and twenty mi- 
 nutes for them to quit their own port. But Boulogne is a 
 dry harbour, and has never water suflicient to float a vessel, 
 however small and contemptible, for ciyht hours and tuenty 
 minutes tuycther ; they cannot consequently all yet out in one
 
 324 APPENDIX. 
 
 tide. How many, then, can ? The harbour of Boulogne, as 
 before observed, is dry at low water, indeed at two-thirds 
 ebb, for the shore is left dry a long way without its mouth ; 
 the entrance is long and narrow, between two piers, like the 
 neck of a bottle; and in this channel there will not be water 
 sufficient to float the flotilla, for more than four hours in 
 each tide, that is the last two hours of the flood, and the first 
 two hours of the ebb; consequently, according to the above 
 calcidation, as to the time required for the sailing of the 
 flotilla, not more than two hundred and forty vessels, or 
 rather less than one-half, can get out of port in one tide. 
 
 I have hitherto taken it for granted, that the wind is fair, 
 and sufTiciently strong to enable the enemy's vessels to stem 
 the tide, during the last two hours^ flood ; but should it not 
 be sufficiently strong, or if it be calm, not more than rather 
 less than one fourth of the enemy's vessels, would be able to 
 get out in one tide. 
 
 As to Bonaparte's talking of rowing all his vessels out of 
 port, and rowing them across the channel, it may be well 
 enough, when addressed to French soldiers, but folly, when 
 addressed to English seamen. We now come to the second 
 point, viz. 
 
 ON THE enemy's CROSSING THE SEA. 
 
 The fleets which it has been supposed might have escaped 
 from the ports of Brest and of the Texel, may arrive at their 
 assumed respective destinations, and may possibly there do 
 much mischief; but, from the vigilance and activity of our 
 numerous cruizers, employed in watching and communica- 
 ting intelligence of the enemy's motions, the j)robabilifi/ of 
 their being fallen in with by some of our squadrons before 
 they reach the places of their destination is greatly in our 
 favour, and if they once meet, there is an end to that jtart of 
 the enemy's undertaking. 
 
 I will now enquire what obstacles there are to the passage
 
 APPENDIX. 325 
 
 of the enemy's vessels from the ports of the channel o|)[)0- 
 site to EngJiind. 
 
 1 consider, in the first place, that each vessel is on its 
 j)assaj;e from the moment it cjuits a French port, notwith- 
 standing the length of time which may be requisite for them 
 to wait for the junction of others not yet out of the harhonr. 
 
 If they come singly, we devour them like shrimps; and 
 they cannot all, even under the most favourable circum- 
 stances, get out in one tide, as I lui\e shown above. Here 
 then arise three questions : — 
 
 1st. — Whether the enemy's vessels will endeavour to push 
 over for our shores, with all sail, singly, as they quit their 
 own ports. 
 
 2{|ly. — Whether they will, as they get out of their j)Orts, 
 come-to off the harbour's mouth, and wait for all those 
 which can get out that tide, and then push over for our 
 shores ? Or, 
 
 3dly. — AVhether those which have got out in one tide will 
 wait olF the harbour's mouth, for the remainder to get out on 
 the foUoicing tide, and then make their attempt ? 
 
 In the first of these cases, as before observed, they would 
 he devoured like shrimps; in the last, the risk, from change 
 of wind and weather, as well as from their number, not 
 being able to remain sheltered under their own guns, is too 
 great to be incurred : these are I)oth impracticable. I 
 assume then, as incontrovertible, that the attempt to invade 
 us from the opposite shores, whenever it may be, will be 
 made by all the vessels that can get out in one tide, and that 
 not more than one half of the enemy can consequently be 
 employed in it. They quit their coast, and one continued 
 battle attends them to our shores. Here intelligence will 
 have long since arrived of the first motions of the enemy's 
 flotilla; our line-of-battle ships and frigates will have all 
 quitted our ports to meet them, and, if there be any wind, 
 will sail over and destroy them, with as much ease as a muii
 
 326 APPENDIX. 
 
 can walk through a corn field. Our numerous sea fencible 
 flotillas will attack tJiem at a great distance from our shores} 
 on which at length will be landed the miserable, astonished, 
 and affrighted remnant of those devoted men, who have 
 escn[)ed the threefold ordeal of our floating force. 
 
 A thousand vessels, I think, may reasonably be reckoned 
 at about the number with which this attempt will be made ; 
 and I am willing to allow, on an average, 100 soldiers to 
 each vessel; for though I know that some will carry many 
 more, many also will carry much fewer: tlius there will be 
 100,000 troops employed in the undertaking. What will 
 become of them ? It has been shown that they cannot sail 
 without our seeing them, and that they cannot quit their 
 shores without our blockading force attacking them, which 
 attack will continue as long as any thing is left to attack : 
 the men-of-Avar of all descriptions will quit our ports, when 
 the enemy are known to be in motion, and join in the con- 
 flict ; and lastly, the numerous flotillas, manned by the sea 
 fencibles, will issue from every port, to the number of near 
 a thousand vessels, (I mean from the western point of Sussex 
 to the eastern point of Essex,) and oppose of themselves, 
 independent of our ships, a formidable obstacle to the 
 progress of the enemy. 
 
 I do not hold the flotilla of the enemy too cheap; 1 know 
 that many of the vessels of which it is composed are large, 
 roomy, and bulky; of little draught of water, and very con- 
 siderable force. If it be calm, their progress can be little; 
 and in a calm only Ihey will never get across, whatever 
 Bonaparte may make them believe on that point : the tides 
 run parallel to the shores, the flood will carry them to the 
 eastward, and the ebb back again to the westward; but 
 neither will approximate i\\evci to our coast ; to reach it, they 
 must have wind: in a calm, it is true, they may destroy 
 some of our attacking vessels, but these must be in their 
 %my towards our coast: they cannot go out of their direct
 
 APPENDIX. 327 
 
 road, for their safety depends on the celerity of their 
 transit; and to hope even (or the shadow of success, they 
 must not (hsperse. ]iut wind is essential to their passajie; 
 and if there be wind, our ships can act, can run down, can 
 run over, can destroy by their artillery, in a very short time, 
 unthought-of numbers of this musquito fleet. Our flotillas, 
 manned by sea fencibles, though small vessels com[)ared 
 with those of the enemy, are unincumbered by trooj)s; they 
 have men only sufficient to work the vessel, and fight the 
 gun; these vessels will make dreadful slaughter : by their 
 construction, by their lightness, by their sailing, and by the 
 ability of (hose who manage them, they will work round the 
 enemy, to use a vulgar sea-phrase, like a cooper round a 
 cask; they will attack when and where they please ; their 
 reiterated attacks will resembU- that of half a dozen dogs, 
 when attacking a wild boar in the woods, who claps his stern 
 against a tree, and waits in that position, which he durst not 
 alter, the repeated insults of his numerous though puny 
 foes. So, these vessels of the enemy must keep their prow 
 towards our shore ; if they deviate, it will be the first symp- 
 tom, and certain cause, of inevitable defeat. 
 
 "Where there is no ground for precise calculation, one 
 must be permitted to guess, so long as we confine ourselves 
 within the probability of what may reasonably be expected 
 to take place, from an impartial consideration of all circum- 
 stances. What is to become of them ? This is the question 
 which I proposed answering. Taking all circumstances into 
 consideration, I hesitate not to say, and I would risk my 
 professional character on the result, that if a thousand vessels 
 quit the enemy's ports, not three hundred of them will hos- 
 tilely reach the British shore; that is, I think that at least 
 seven hundred out of the thousand will, in all human pro- 
 bability, be either sunk, blown up, dismasted, or disabled 
 (for none must be taken till the whole are defeated) by our 
 floating force. Here then, if I am at all within the bounds
 
 328 APPENDIX. 
 
 of probability, is an end to the effective operation of 70,000 
 of the enemy. 
 
 1 have hitherto considered the enemy as making the at- 
 tempt under two points of view only ; that is, ivith or with- 
 out wind : Ijut there is a third, under which, from some late 
 observations in the Monileur, Bonaparte appears to thnik 
 that there would be the greatest probability of success, and 
 
 that is in a focj. 
 
 A foo- is a very good cloak to the approach of a few row- 
 ing boats, which may be sent to perform some coup de main 
 at no great distance, by surprise; or to cover the approach 
 of an unsuspected enemy to some shore, battery, town, or 
 castle; but to say that in an enterprise, in which probably 
 200,000 men may be employed, on an extent of coast of 
 more than 200 miles, from Flushing to Cherbourg, in which 
 every thing ought to be seen, every thing clear, and every 
 thino- well regulated ; for the success of which much will 
 Append on the conjunction, compression, and co-operation 
 of the different floLlUae of which the hostile force may be 
 composed; to say, I again repeat, that a fog is favourable 
 to such an enterprise, is the height of folly: as well might it 
 he averred, that a man can see better how to read in the 
 pitchy darkness of the night than in the noon-tide glare of 
 day. — Fogs are favourable to some enterprises; to this they 
 must be fatal. 1 could very easily point out many parti- 
 cular reasons for this opinion, if any were necessary j but my 
 letter is already too long. 
 
 I come now to the third head, under which I proposed 
 considering the attempt of the enemy — that is — 
 
 THEIR LANDING ON OUR SHORES. 
 
 On this subject I shall not say much ; I have before ob- 
 served, that of a thousand vessels which might be supposed 
 to have sailed on this mad expedition, not more than three 
 hundred will, in all probability, be enabled to vomit their 
 unhallowed crews upon this blessed shore ; there they will
 
 APPENDIX. 329 
 
 be received by the British army — an army with which I 
 have served in each (juarter of the globe; I know its merits, 
 I know its foibles, I know it well; and I am as fully con- 
 vinced, as I am that I now write, that this army as far sur- 
 passes all others in bravery as British seamen sur[)ass all 
 others in skill: to it I most willingly consign, without the 
 least fear of the consequence, all who may land. 
 
 Of the 300 vessels^ with .30,000 men on board, supposed 
 to have escaped our general attack on the enemy's flotillas, 
 few can remain together, for tiieir escaping must be owing 
 to separation. I am confident, therefore, that any force 
 landed by the enemy in this country, at any one point, will 
 never exceed 4,000 men; I rather think it never will exceed 
 even 1,000, This is a force too contem[)tible to remain long 
 with their arms in their hands; and no hostile Frenchman, 
 I am convinced, will ever be seen in England, unless as a 
 prisoner, fifteen miles from the shore. 
 
 There is one point, however, to which I should like to mil 
 the attention of every military man, and that is, the moment 
 when the enemy, ivhaieier their force, endeavour to land: 
 this is a moment when the British, however unequal their 
 
 numbers, must oppose thvm ; it I« o moment, if nnnp In^t nm^or- 
 
 to he regained. 
 
 On that ever-memorable descent of the British army on 
 the sands of Egypt, if the French general had, instead of 
 remaining on the top of his sand hills, descended to the 
 high water mark, and there boldly opposed our troops, when 
 geUing out of their boats, the issue of that glorious day 
 might'and most likely would have been different from what 
 itwas— let us profit by experience. There a mild climate 
 and a temperate atmosphere had not benumbed the extre- 
 mities of the pent-up troops, nor had their confinement ex- 
 ceeded seven hours ; but here, whatever force may be fortu- 
 nate enough to land, will have been confined at least twenty- 
 four, most probably thirty-six hours, in a cold, boisterous,
 
 330 APPENDIX. 
 
 and stormy clime; and when landed, cramped, cold, wet, 
 sea-sick, and half dead, will for some time he fitter for an 
 hospital than to act offensively in the field. 1 therefore hold 
 it to be the indispensable duty of every military body, how- 
 ever tinequal in number, to attack the enemy, when getting 
 out of their boats : they should not pollute the shore ; I 
 would meet them knee deep, and slay them in the water. 
 
 Though I doubt not that most of the necessary precau- 
 tions for driving and laying waste the country in the event 
 of the enemy's landing in great force on our coasts have 
 already been taken ; for, whatever be our opinions, it is ne- 
 cessary to be prepared for the worst, to foresee, and to con- 
 sider even as likely to happen, the most untoward events ; 
 although, I say, I doubt not that most of the necessary pre- 
 cautions are taken, such as driving back horses and cattle, 
 destroying bridges, breaking up roads, burning corn, hay, 
 and straw, &c., &c., yet, there appears to me to be one which 
 lias generally been overlooked, or, at least, I have not yet 
 heard any thing about if, and that is the filling up of wells, 
 and the destroying of pumps, which ought certamly to be 
 done, and proper persons should be appointed for that pur- 
 pv^oo , tKo -rt-oUo r«;j^k<^ lio filled up With auy kind of rubbish in 
 a very short time, and the heads of the pumps might be saived 
 off in still less ; an army cannot exist without water, and the 
 French would not find it, like my great predecessor in name, 
 by digging holes on the beach, 
 
 I have now sketched the three heads under which I pro- 
 posed to consider the attempt of the enemy to invade this 
 country, although what I have said is nothing, when com- 
 pared to Avhat might be said under each of them. Yet it 
 appears, from the foregoing observations, that, in the strict 
 sense of the word, the enemy's ports cannot be blockaded, and 
 that the Brest and Texel fleets must have, at times, oppor- 
 tunities of escaping ; that their destination would most likely 
 be Ireland and Scotland; but that it is highly probable
 
 APPENDIX. 331 
 
 that, before they reached eitlier, they would he infrrcfptcd 
 by some of our s(|U!idrons, which would iitciitahlij f rust rale 
 those parts of the enemy's enterprise. It appears also, that 
 though the Brest and Texel fleets can get out unseen by our 
 own, under certain circumstances, yet that the flotillas, in 
 the various ports of the Channel, cannot get out unnoticed 
 by our cruizers ; this / hold to be impossible; it appears 
 also that, in all human probability, more than half of the 
 latter will be destroyed on their passage, that those who 
 escape icill owe their safdij to dispersion, and that conse- 
 quentli/ the enemy ivill not be able to land in force at any 
 one point. 
 
 The day on which the attempt shall be made will be glo- 
 rious to Endand — will be dreadful to France. Death itself 
 shall walk upon the face of the waters. AVhat has hitherto 
 been done upon the sea, shall appear but the amusement of 
 children, when compared to (he dreadful carnage of that 
 eventful day — the floating carcasses of slaughtered myriads, 
 thrown back on their own shores, shall be the mute harbin- 
 gers of their compatriots' fate. 
 
 With a firm reliance on the continuance of the favour of 
 Divine Providence to this happy country, from the justice 
 of its cause; and depending on the high-minded spirit of 
 Britons, on the skill of our seamen, on the valour of our 
 soldiers, and on the ardent patriotism of all, I as confidently 
 look forward to the happy issue of this important conflict, as 
 I do to the accomplishment of any one thing which appears 
 certain, but which has not yet taken place. 
 
 On the fate of this enterprise appears also to hang that of 
 Bonaparte himself, for if it does not succeed, it will be iiis 
 LAST ; nor can I help considering its discomfiture as the first 
 great step to hurl that tyrant from his tottering throne. 
 
 These, Sir, are the opinions of 
 
 Nearchus.
 
 333 APPENDIX. 
 
 No. V. 
 
 Hislorical Memorandum on the Red Flag. 
 
 To Iho Publislier of Steel's Navy List. 
 Sir, 
 
 Your observations on the " revival of the Red Flag;," in 
 your list for December last, did not seem to me to be founded 
 on fact; but I waited until the one for this month made its 
 appearance, to see if you had corrected your mistake. You 
 do, indeed, in this letter say, " by desire of a correspondent, 
 we again repeat, that the red flag was hoisted at the main, by 
 the admiral of the fleet, prior to the union of the kingdoms 
 of England and Scotland." The historical date is here cor- 
 rect ; but you do not repeat the assertion, for in your List of 
 the preceding month, you informed us that " the red flag had 
 given way to that of the union, in consequence of the union 
 of the two crowns, in the person of James I. in 1603." 
 
 Now the change in the flag borne by the admiral of the 
 fleet did not take place till the reign of the last of the Stuarts, 
 in the eighteenth century. Sir Cloudesley Shovel was the 
 last English admiral who displayed the red flag at the main, 
 as the symbol of the admiral of the fleet's presence : he 
 perished by shipwreck, returning from the Mediterranean to 
 England, in the very year of the Union, that is, in 1707. 
 
 In making these observations. Sir, I have no other motive 
 than that of wishing to point out the real cause for thus 
 changing what was generally the emblem of the senior 
 admiral of his Majesty's royal navy, and, with your permis- 
 sion, will add the following particulars. 
 
 On the union of the kingdoms of England and Scotland, 
 in the reign of Queen Atme, the St. Gieorge's cross, formerly 
 worn by the ships of the former, and the St. Andrew's cross 
 of the latter, were united in the upper dexter quarter, on
 
 APPENDIX. 333 
 
 either of the fields common to each nation — red, white, and 
 blue. 
 
 The admirals of the British navy, at that time, did not 
 exceed nine in number; their respective ranks \\as indicated 
 by a flag of one of these colours at either mast head ; the 
 red always senior, and the blue junior, whilst the admiral of 
 the fleet's former red flag was sui)stituted by the union jack. 
 Thus, the absurd story of its having been stolen by a Dutch 
 boy, from a ship in the Downs, is set at nought. 
 
 The rapid growth and importance of the royal navy, after 
 the union of the two kingdoms, requiring for its guidance 
 more admirals than nine, they became increased to a hun- 
 dred and forty-two. The recent revival then of the red flag 
 only gives to admirals the privilege of wearing a flag of each 
 colour at the main, instead of being restricted to the white 
 and the blue, leaving, as formerly, the fore and mizen masts 
 to the vice and rear admirals. 1 trust, however, that it wiU 
 last as long as does our country, a nautical monument of the 
 brilliant battle of Trafalgar. 
 
 The union still remains the flag of the admiral of the fleet, 
 who, with only three exceptions, has, during the last fifty 
 years, always been the senior admiral in the service. One 
 of these exceptions was Lord Anson, so appointed over 
 the head of Sir A\'illiam Rowley, who, however, reached 
 the same station on his lordship's death in 1762. Ano- 
 ther instance was that of Lord Hawke, when he stepped 
 over Admiral Osborne, who resigned in consequence, but 
 was granted a pension of twelve hundred pounds per annum. 
 The third case was of a more extraordinary nature, for 
 there were, in fact, two admirals of the fleet. This occurred 
 in the last war, when that good and immortal man, who, 
 when a Lord of the Admiralty, refused to sign the death- 
 warrant of the sacrificed i>yng, was the senior flag officer on 
 the list, but who, from bodily infirmity, was incapable of ac- 
 tive duties. His Majesty, on that occasion, authorized Lord
 
 334 APPENDIX. 
 
 Howe, though only the fifth in rank after the venerable 
 Forbes, to wear the union jack, the proud distinction of the 
 admiral of the fleet. 
 
 I am, Sir, &c. 
 
 BUNTIN. 
 
 16thJafiuary, 1806. 
 
 No. VI. 
 
 Captain Beaver to Vice-Admiral the Honourable Sir Alexan- 
 der CocHRASF., K.B.,ddailing the occurrences mentioned in 
 pp. 174 to 177. 
 
 His Majesty's ship, Acasta, 
 
 La Guira,l'Jth of July, 1808. 
 
 Sir, 
 
 Having sailed from Barbadoes on the evening of the 9th 
 instant, I anchored at dark on the 11th, off Pampatar, 
 where, having the next morning procured a })ilot and landed 
 five Spaniards, I proceeded to Cumana, off which place I 
 arrived in the forenoon of the 13th; and, having seen the 
 Governor, delivered to him your despatches, procured ano- 
 ther pilot, and landed eighty-two Spaniards. 1 sailed at five 
 in the evening for La Guira. 
 
 The latter port I made on the morning of the 15th, and 
 while standing in for the shore, with the cartel flag flying, I 
 observed a brig under French colours just coming to an 
 anchor ; she had arrived the preceding night, from Cayenne, 
 with despatches from Bayonne, and had anchored about two 
 miles below the town, to which she was now removing, 1 
 was never nearer than five miles to her, and could not have 
 thrown a shot over her, before she was close under the 
 Spanish batteries ; therefore, charged as I was with a pacific 
 mission, I attempted not to chace, suffering her rather to
 
 APPENDIX. 330 
 
 enter the port unmolested, than do any thing which might 
 at all derange the new aspect of afl'airs. iiui I claimed 
 her of the Spanish government, as you will jierceive by my 
 letter numbered 1. 
 
 Having stood close in to the town, and sent an oflicer in a 
 boat under a flag of truce, with my letters to the Conmian- 
 dant of La (juira, and to the Captain-CJeneral of Vene/.uela, 
 he was met by another boat, who took them from him, and 
 we stood out to sea. 
 
 The next morning (the 16th) a white flag being hoisted 
 on shore, I anchored close under the town, and having left 
 orders w ith my first lieutenant, to be in constant preparation 
 for battle, to be ready to cut or slip, and to act ofi'ensively 
 against whoe\er might be the aggressor; to sufTer no com- 
 munication whatever with either vessels or the shore, until 
 my return, and at all events to chace and seize the French 
 brig, if she attempted to go to sea; 1 started ofT for the 
 Caraccas. 
 
 Just before I set out on the journey, the Captain of the 
 French brig returned, exceedingly displeased (I was tohl), 
 having been publicly insulted in the capital. 
 
 About three o'clock I arrived at the city, and presented 
 your despatches to the Captain-general, who received me 
 very coldly, or rather uncivilly, observing that the hour was 
 very inconvenient to him or to me, and that as 1 had not 
 dined, I had better go and get some dinner, and return to 
 him in a couple of hours. I\ly reception was not, certainlj , 
 what was due to me from my rank and mission ; I was not 
 even asked to sit down, nor could the meanest cfTicer have 
 been treated with more neglect. 
 
 On entering the city, I had observed a great eflerxescence 
 among the people, an undulation (if I may so express my- 
 self) which either precedes or follows a popular commotion ; 
 and, as 1 entered the hotel, I was surrounded by inhabi- 
 tants of almost every class, all of them clamorous for news.
 
 336 APPENDIX. 
 
 The French captain, Avho arrived yesterday morning, 
 brought intelligence of" every thing which had taken place 
 in Spain, in favour of France, announced the accession of 
 Joseph Napoleon to the Spanish throne, and conveyed orders 
 to the Governor from the French Emperor. The town was 
 immediately in arms. Ten thousand of its inhabitants sur- 
 rounded the residence of the Captain-general, demanding 
 the proclamation of Ferdinand the Seventh, as their King, 
 which he promised to do the next day; but this would not 
 satisfy them. They proclaimed him in form, by heralds, 
 throughout the city that same evening, and placed his por- 
 trait, illuminated, in the gallery of the Town-house. 
 
 The French were first publicly insulted in the coffee- 
 house, whence they were obliged to withdraw. The captain 
 left the Caraccas privately, about eight o'clock that night, 
 escorted by a detachment of soldiers, and so saved his life ; 
 for about ten o'clock his person was demanded of the Gover- 
 nor, by the populace, and when they learned that he was 
 gone, three hundred followed him on the road to put him to 
 death. 
 
 Coldly received by the Governor, I was, on the contrary, 
 surrounded by all the respectable people of the city, the 
 military officers included, and hailed as their deliverer. 
 The news which 1 gave them from Cadiz was devoured with 
 avidity, and produced enthusiastic shouts of gratitude to 
 England. 
 
 Returning to the Captain-general about five o'clock, the 
 first thing I demanded was, the delivery to me of the French 
 corvette, or at least the permission to take possession of her 
 in the roads. At the same time, I told him that, if she was 
 not in the hands of the Spaniards on my return, I should 
 take her myself. He rejjlicd that he would send orders to 
 the Commandant of La Guira to fire upon me if I did ; to 
 which I simply re[)lied, that the consequence would fall 
 upon him j and I further told him, that I considered his
 
 APPENDIX. 337 
 
 reception of me as rather that of an enemy, than of a friend 
 he having treated the French captain with greater distinc- 
 tion, though he knew that Spain was at war with France, 
 He repUed that Spain had not commenced hostilities with 
 France ; upon which I asked him what he considered as 
 war, if the captivity of two of his kings, and the taking pos- 
 session of their capital, was not to be so considered!-^ He 
 only said that he knew nothing of it from the Spanish 
 government, and that what your despatches informed him 
 of he could not consider as official. Feeling indignant at 
 the suspicion entertained, though not openly avowed by him, 
 that my despatches were mere fabrications, I expatiated 
 with considerable warmth on the folly and the injustice of 
 such surmises, and in language so strong, that the inter- 
 preter frequently hesitated before he would translate it ; I 
 insisted, however, that this should be literally done. 
 
 The translation of your despatches not being finished that 
 evening, I was promised an answer on the subject of the 
 brig at eight o'clock the. next morning. Anxious to get 
 back to my ship, I had intended to have left the Caraccas at 
 daylight, but this promise, added to the consideration that, 
 in the present perturbed state of the public mind, 1 might 
 render essential service to my country by remaining in the 
 city, induced me to delay ray departure. 
 
 About eight o'clock in the evening I returned to my 
 hotel, which was still as crowded as before. The people 
 having had time to reflect on the contradictory reports (for 
 reports only had transpired to them) brought by the French- 
 man and myself, they were greatly puzzled, and it was my 
 employment, till near midnight, to relate events, explain 
 circumstances, answer questions, dissipate the doubts of some, 
 and confirm the wavering opinions of others, as to the truth 
 of the intelligence which I had communicated to them. 
 The general objection to the absolute belief of all 1 had 
 asserted being summed up in these words : "If your ad- 
 
 z
 
 338 APPENDIX. 
 
 miral from Cadiz could find time to transmit to us this 
 intelligence, how happens it that we hear nothing from our 
 own government, the Provisional Junta? Why did they not 
 write also ?" — To all which 1 could only reply, that the Eng- 
 lish admiral would write despatches in three minutes, which 
 might take the junta three days to decide upon. That the 
 vessel which brought them had a remarkably quick passage, 
 and that I doubted not but Spanish vessels with the proper 
 accounts were already on their way ; and probably were 
 near to La Guira. 
 
 Imagination was so much on the rack, as even to suggest 
 that the French brig was in reality an English one, sent in 
 as a means of introducing myself to the capital ; that I had 
 actually brought no intelligence, and that I was, in fact, a 
 spy ! These various rumours, however, did not prevent my 
 being able to ascertain, that the English party were infi- 
 nitely the most numerous and respectable, and that it was 
 dangerous to be suspected even to be of the French. Before 
 I left, the inhabitants, who had formerly indulged them- 
 selves in the custom of furnishing their rooms with the por- 
 traits of Bonaparte and his generals, burnt all those of the 
 former, and turned to the wall the faces of the latter. 
 
 This evening the Captain-general sent an order to the 
 French troops here (about forty of one hundred that came a 
 year ago from Guadaloupe) to remain in their quarters, 
 since, if they appeared in the streets, he could not be respon- 
 sible for their security. 
 
 At eight o'clock on the following morning, I again visited 
 the Captain-general; a junta extraordinary had been con- 
 vened, and he requested that I would not depart till they 
 broke up, v.hen I should have an answer to my letter, and 
 that to your despatches should be forwarded to me in a day 
 or two. For four long hours, that is, until twelve o"'clock, I 
 waited under a Piazza, amongst the clerks and domestics, for 
 the result of this extraordinary meeting, when his Excellency
 
 APPENDIX. 339 
 
 the Captain-general informed me that they had decided on — 
 nuthimj ! but that I should have their decision that evening. 
 
 Vexed, fatigued, harassed, and disappointed, that is, with 
 the Ca[)tain-general only, I took my leave of him, and (quit- 
 ted Caraccas about two o'clock. 
 
 During the twenty-three hours that I remained in the 
 city, I was neither an idle spectator nor inattentive observer 
 of the general movements, or opinions of its inhabitants ; 
 and, as far as so short a residence could enable me to 
 form any judgment, I may venture to pronounce that they 
 are extremely loyal and passionately attached to the Spa- 
 nish branch of the Bourbon family ; and so long as there 
 is any probability of Ferdinand the Seventh returning to 
 Madrid, they will remain attached to their parent country. 
 But if that event does not soon occur, I think I can with equal 
 certainty affirm, that they will declare themselves inde- 
 pendent, in which, or in both cases indeed, but more par- 
 ticularly in the latter, they look to an alliance with England, 
 as the only means of securing their freedom, and encourag- 
 ing their commerce. 
 
 Conceiving it of importance to forward to you a rela- 
 tion of what has already passed, I dispatch Le Serpent 
 with this communication, meaning to remain here, either 
 at anchor, or under weigh, according to circumstances, 
 until I receive your further orders ; I am the more in- 
 clined to do this, because I think some change will take 
 place in the actual government of this province, ere many 
 days have elapsed ; for the palsied hands of the present 
 chief are ill calculated to hold its reins, in the present 
 crisis. In such a moment, I conceive that an English 
 frigate being on the spot may render essential service, 
 both to England and Venezuela. Had I any authority 
 so to do, I should not despair of being able to conclude a 
 treaty of commerce with this province, that would be 
 highly beneficial to both the contracting parties.
 
 340 APPENDIX. 
 
 I beg of you, Sir, to make allowance for the haste in 
 which I have been obliged to write this letter, unwilling 
 to detain the vessel which carries it, while one more cor- 
 rect might have been penned. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 P. Beaver. 
 
 To the Hon, Sir A, Cochrane, K.B. <^c. Sfc. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 London : Printed by W. Clowes, Stamford Street.
 
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