iC ^#j8

ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET
SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B
Jath^ of thi; Slogal ^aAS-

ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET
5lR PROVO W. P. WALLIS,

G.C.B., Etc.

a riDemoir

J. G. BRIGHTON, M.D.,
AUTHOR OF "a MEMOIR OF ADMIRAL SIR P. B. V. BROKE, BART.," ETC.

WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS, CHARTS, ETC.

LONDON :
HUTCHINSON & CO.,
2S, PATERNCSTER SQUARE,
1892.
[All -rights reserved.'\

Printed by Hazell, Watson & Viney, Limited, London and Aylesbury.

TO
HEB MOST GEACIOtrS MAJESTY
THE QUEEN
THIS MEMOIR OF
ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET
SIR PKOVO WALLIS, G.C.B.,
IS DEDICATED
BY HER MAJESTY'S
SPECIAL GRACIOUS PBEMISSION.

PREFACE.

A BOUT the year 1854, being detained at
-^-^ Salisbury waiting for the train, I strolled
into a book shop and purchased a volume published
in the United States relating the events of the war
between those States and Great Britain in 1812, 1813,
1814, and 1815. I read it carefully, with amaze
ment at my own ignorance. I had scarcely heard of
any such war ! And why ? Because in those years
we had a war, and a tremendous one it was, with
almost all the European powers, at our own doors.
" Here, Boney, come and take this naughty little
boy ! " was the common style used to cow unruly lads ;
and " Sarah, look to my sword, pistol, and spurs ;
we are called out," to the wife ; and to the servant,
" William, feed my charger, saddle and bring him
round." So ordered the cavalry yeoman, almost
daily, down to 1815.
No wonder little or nothing was heard of the war
raging in America and Canada, 3000 miles distant.
Consequently I had, so to speak, to put myself to
school again. I read all the books I could find on
the subject, visited America, made the acquaintance

Viii PREFACE.
of various actors in the now far past; and, as far
as possible, put myself in possession of all authentic
records concerning the struggle which had taken
place. Among the many who cheerfully responded to
my inquiries, were — 1st, the ever- to-be-lamented
Admiral Sir George Broke-Middleton, sole surviving
son of the captain of the Shannon. I have spoken
elsewhere (in the Memoir of his father) of all his
kind and valuable assistance. 2ndly, the revered
subject of this Memoir, Admiral of the Fleet Sir
Provo W. P. Wallis — now in his 101st year, and un
deniably the sole survivor of that, the last conflict,
I trust, with our brethren across the Atlantic.
I little thought, when we exchanged our first letters
in 1863, that it was the beginning of a lifelong
correspondence and most affectionate friendship.
But here is his first letter : —
" FuNTiNGTON, Ohichester, Jam,. 1st, 1864.
"Rev. Sir,—
" If you will call at the United Service Club, Pall Mall,
on Thursday, the 7th inst. (from twelve to two o'clock), you will
find me (d.v.) there, in readiness to receive you. Pray excuse a
short reply, being anxious to save to-day's post ; but believe me,
rev. Sir, " Yours very faithfully, Provo Wallis."
Of course I duly kept this appointment, and found
myself in the presence of the Admiral.
He was then seventy-three years of age, but did
not look sixty.

PREFACE. IX
I stated my object in few words, and in reply
received the pleasant answer : " Any information
in my power, sir, I shall feel most happy to
supply." I had prepared a short paper to this effect, which
we patiently debated. In about an hour, reluctant
to intrude further, I rose to retire.
"May I ask if you are staying at the Victoria .^ "
he inquired.
"I have been, but shall leave to-night by the
Irish mail, after dinner." And so we parted ; but
at four o'clock, just as the cold, raw, snowy, windy
afternoon was closing, I was surprised by a most
unexpected return visit from the Admiral, who had
walked some four miles to see me. We had a long
and interesting conversation, ended by him, as he
rose to go, with the words, " I hope you will write
to me whenever you feel disposed." My readers will
see, in the following pages, that I did not fail to
do so.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
BIRTH, PARENTAGE, AND EARLY DAYS.
Fictitious services — Joins Cleopatra and commences active service
— Is present at engagement between Cleopatra and F»M« de
Milan, and taken prisoner — His account of the action — Is
transferred to Cambrian, then nominated acting lieutenant
of the Triumph, and served under " Nelson's Hardy " — Joins
the Bellona — ^Is appointed lieutenant, joins the Curieux, and
is wrecked in her — Serves in the Gloire, and assists in de
struction of French frigates Loire and Seine, and batteries
of Ans-la-Barque — Is transferred to the Observateur, thence
to the Driver, and subsequently appointed to the Emulous .

CHAPTER II.
THE SHANNON AND SOME OP HER EXPLOITS.
WaDis joins her at Bermuda — Description of Bermudese Islands
— Officers of the Shannon — Capture of American schooner
Susan and Emeline — Declaration of war between the United
States and Great Britain — Capture of U.S. brig Nautilus —
Destruction of American merchantmen — Incident attending
the burning of one of these vessels — Chase of the U.S. frigate
Constitution — Capture of the Guerriere by the Constitution

Xll CONTENTS.
CHAPTER III.
NOVA SCOTIA— FURTHER EXPLOITS OF THE SHANNON. PAGB
Description of Nova Scotia— Chase of the U.S. frigate Essex—
Capture and destruction of the Minerva merchant ship —
Saving of crew of the wrecked Barbadoes — Capture of
American privateer TAonz— Struck by lightning— Capture of
V Invincible— Gha-Taciev of Captain Broke, commander of the
Shannon— -Ri^ preparations for action  35

CHAPTER IV.
THE BLOCKADE OF BOSTON, AND CAPTURE OF THE
U.S. FRIGATE CHES.iPEAKE.
Captain Broke's challenge — An account of the battle — Extract
from American report of court-martial — Anecdotes of the
action — Effect of the victory — Remarks of Mr. Rush, United
States Minister .... . . 47

CHAPTER V.
THE VOYAGE TO HALIFAX AND RECEPTION THERE.
Death of Captain Lawrence, of the Chesapeake — Attempted rising
of American prisoners— Wallis's account of the voyage —
Critical state of Captain Broke — ^Judge Haliburton's account
of arrival at Halifax — Washington Irving's tribute to the
British on the burial of Captain Lawrence ... 93

CONTENTS. Xlll
CHAPTER VI.
AT HALIFAX.
PAGB
The official report of the action of the Shannon and Chesapeake —
Incidents connected therewith — Wallis's explanations of in
accuracies in the report — His promotion — He is presented
with a sword by Captain Broke — Certificate of Captain Broke
of Wallis's services — Letters from Lady Broke to her husband
— Return to England .... .117

CHAPTER VII.
Fates of the Shannon and Chesafeakb. . . 145
CHAPTER VIII.
WALLIS'S FURTHER SERVICES AND APPOINTMENTS.
Is advanced to post rank, and appointed to the Niemen —
Commands first experimental squadron — Is entertained at
Boston — Letter from Captain Broke — Death of Captain
Broke — Commands -Warspite, and witnesses attack on Tangier
and destruction of Mogador by the French — Is also present
during Civil War on coast of Syria — Is appointed aide-de-
camp to the Queen, afterwards to flag rank — Sails in
Cumberland, and is Commander-in-Chief on South-east coast
of America — Is promoted to vice-admiral, and returns to
England — Later honours  157

CHAPTER IX.
Family Circle  169

XIV CONTENTS.

CHAPTER X.
PAGE
Correspondence . . . . . . 175

CHAPTER XI.
AT FUNTINGTON.
Description of Sir Provo's residence, Funtington House —
Letters from Admiral G. H. Preble, U.S. Navy — Congratu
lations on anniversaries of capture of Chesapeake and Sir
Provo's birthday — He attains the 100th year of his age —
Messages from the Queen and other members of the Royal
Family  223
CHAPTER XII.
Recollections op Worcestershire  255
CHAPTER XIII.
A Review . ...  275
CHAPTER XIV.
Last Days at Funtington. The Admiral's Death . . 281
ADDENDUM.
The Interment  291

Postscript  3qj^

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Portrait op Sir Provo W. Wallis .... Frontispieot
¦Captain Broke, CoMMAjfDER op H.M.S. " Shannon " . . .l'i
Captain Lawrence, Commander op the U.S. Frigate " Chesa
peake " . .  5(
The American Frigate " Chesapeake " Crippled and Thrown
into Utter Disorder by the two first Broadsides fired
PROM H.M.S. " Shannon "  6(
H.M.S. " Shannon " Carrying by Boarding the American
Frigate " Chesapeake " after a Cannonade of Five
Minutes.  7(
Treacherous Attack on Captain Broke, by three of the
"Chesapeake's" men, on her Forecastle .... 74
¦Chart, marked by Sir Provo Wallis, showing Site of Battle
between the " Shannon " and " Chesapeake," June 1st,
1813  81
Lieutenant Provo Wallis at the Time op his Victorious
Entry into Halifax Harbour  9'
H.M.S. " Shannon " Leading her Prize, the American Frigate
" Chesapeake," into Halifax Harbour, on the 6th June,
181.3  10'
Ohart, marked by Sir Provo Wallis, showing Track of the
" Shannon " and " Chesapeake " from Boston to Halifax,
1ST TO 6th June, 1813  11
Figure Head of H.M.S. "Shannon," and Star from "Chesa
peake's" Quarter (now in Arcade at Broke Hall) . 14
Sir Provo Wallis at the Age of Sixty ... .16
Tac-simile of the Last Letter written by Sir Provo to Dr.
Brighton  22
'The Seat op Admiral of the Fleet Sir Provo William
Parry Wallis, G.C.B  25

I.
BIRTH, PARENTAGE, AND EARLY DAYS

CHAPTER I.
BIRTH, PARENTAGE, AND EARLY DAYS.
" Oh yes, smile for smile, heart for heart, kindness for kindness, welcome
for welcome — give me old Nova Scotia yet — there ain't nothin' like it
here." — Sam Slick.
TN the year 1791 Halifax, in the Colony of
-*- Nova Scotia, presented rather a primitive
appearance, notwithstanding it was, and for years
had been, the great and popular military and naval
rendezvous of British North America. The town
itself mainly consisted of wooden houses. There
were, however, public buildings of greater pretension,
more solidly constructed — the Government House,
the Fort, and the residences of the officials in His
Majesty's Navy Yard.
Among the latter was that of Provo Featherstone
Wallis, Esq., Chief Clerk to the Commissioner of the
Yard. Here, on April 12th, in the above-mentioned year,
was born his only son, Provo William Parry, who

4 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
afterwards became Sir Provo W. P. Wallis, G.C.B.,
Senior Admiral of the British Fleet.
Our hero's mother was a daughter of William
Lawlor, Major in the 1st Battalion of the Halifax
(Nova Scotia) Regiment, and it has been suggested
that his father was intimately connected with Captain
Samuel Wallis, who commanded the Dolphin on her
celebrated voyage round the Globe, 1766 to 1768,
and discovered several important islands which were
added to England's domains, and after whom Wallis
Island, the Wallis Islets, the Wallis Mark Rock, and
the Wallis Shoal were named, and also with Gilbert
Wallis, who died Avhile in command of the Port Mahon
in 1740, but there appear to be no authentic records
to prove that this belief is well founded. Whether it
be so or not, it is clear that our hero's father was an
admirer of the naval profession, and that he chose it
for his son almost as soon as he was born.
It may be interesting to some to note, bearing in
mind that two of Sir Provo's Christian names are
William and Parry, that his birth took place in the
year immediately following that in which the re
nowned Arctic explorer, Captain William Edward
Parry, was born ; and that in 1813, at the time of the
famous action between the Shannon and Chesapealce,
in which Wallis took such an active part, they were
both occupied on the North American Station — Wallis
in the Shannon and Parry in La Hogue-^Varrj at
this time visiting Wallis's birthplace.

BIRTH, PARENTAGE, AND EARLY DAYS. 5
In one of the letters written to nie by the Admiral
after he was well advanced in years, he says that
he was at an early age sent to England for his
education ; but this appears to be the only available
record of his childhood beyond the two or three facts
we will now mention.
At the time of his birth a custom prevailed which
enabled influential relatives or friends to get a boy's
name entered on a ship's books as one of her crew,
notwithstanding he did not actually join her, and
was, indeed, too young to do so. It was, in fact,
a time when, as Mr. Laird Clowes has quaintly said,
" There were bishops in bibs, and colonels in short
frocks." Competitive examinations - were almost, if
not quite, unknown, and influence rather than merit
was paramount. It thus happened that, through the
influence of his father or the friends of the latter,
young Wallis, on May 1st, 1795, and when but four
years of age, was entered on the books of the Oiseau
frigate, which was employed on the Halifax Station,
as one of her able-bodied seamen. Able-bodied as he
probably was for his years, it is hardly necessary to
say he did not then actually go to sea, at least, to
perform those duties which properly belonged to the
position in which he had been placed.
From May 1796 until September 1798 he served
nominally in the Prevoyante as a first-class volunteer,
and from May 1799 until September 1800 did imagi
nary service in the Asia with Captain Robert Murray,

6 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
who had previously commanded the Oiseau, when
Wallis was fictitiously with her. He subsequently
joined the Cleopatra, a smart 12-pounder 32-gun
frigate, Captain Israel Pellew (afterwards Admiral
Sir Israel Pellew), and did nominal service in her as
a midshipman, and later, viz., in October 1804, he,
as a midshipman, actually joined that ship, which was
then under the command of Captain Sir Robert Laurie,
and actively commenced his career at a time when our
country was in open hostility with France. Even
then he was but little more than thirteen years old —
young enough, one would say, to begin active service;
yet the great Nelson, who was then living and who
had still to win Trafalgar, began earlier, by going to
sea at the age of twelve.
From this time all Wallis's services were real, and
being a fine, manly lad he, doubtless, entered upon
them eagerly and with pleasure.
It is curious that O'Byrne, in his "Naval Dictionary,""
should treat all Wallis's early services seriously. Sir
Provo himself says : " All that O'Byrne states in
reference to my services previously to 1804 is only
moonshine. My real career commenced from the
time I joined the Cleopatra, in October 1804."
The Cleopatra soon sailed for the North American
Station, and Wallis had not been with her many
months before he saw what active service meant, for
on February 17th, 1805, he was present at his first
engagement, and a desperate one it proved.

BIRTH, PARENTAGE, AND EARLY DAYS. 7
It will be my object, whenever possible, to use
the words of those present at the events to be related.
The following account of the engagement just referred
to was written by Admiral Wallis himself, years
after the action : —
"We sailed for the North American Station, and
on the 16th of February, 1805, at daylight (lat, 20° N.,
long. 67° W.), came in sight of a ship standing to
the eastward. All sail was made in chase ; but it
was not until ten in the morning of the 17th that
she was overtaken. The stranger was the French
18-pounder 40-gun frigate Ville de Milan. At
11.30 a.m. the latter, having shortened sail and
hauled to the wind, hoisted her colours ; and the
Cleopatra, having also shortened sail, fired her bow
guns and commenced a running fight.
"At 2.30 p.m., the Cleopatra being within a hun
dred yards of her antagonist, the Ville de Milan
luffed across the bows of the British ship, and opened
her broadside. The Cleopatra, passing under her
adversary's stern, returned the fire, and, ranging up
within musket-shot on the starboard side of the
enemy, a determined fight took place, both ships
running parallel to each other, sometimes nearly
before the wind and at others close-hauled.
" At 5 p.m., having shot away the main-topsail-
yard of the Ville de Milan, the Cleopatra forged
ahead, and her running rigging being so much
cut that she could neither shorten sail nor back

8 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
her main-topsail, her captain determined to en
deavour to cross the bows of the enemy. Just as
the Cleopatra was putting her helm down for this
purpose, a shot disabled her wheel. The French
frigate, observing the ungovernable state of her
antagonist, bore up, and ran her on board, the bow
sprit and figure-head passing over the quarter-deck
abaft the main rigging. From the commanding
position of her adversary, owing to the strong wind
and heavy sea running, the Cleopatra was in danger
of being sunk by her heavy opponent. The French
crew, in their attempts to board, were at first repulsed
with loss ; but about 5.15 p.m. the overpowering num
bers of the assailants overcame all opposition, and the
British colours were hauled down. Shortly afterwards
the Cleopatra's fore and main masts went over the
side, and the bowsprit soon followed.
" In this desperate action the Cleopatra had only
200 men at quarters, and of this number 1 6 seamen,
3 marines, and 1 boy were killed ; there being a total
of 22 mortally wounded or killed, and 36 wounded.
Captain Renaud, of the Ville de Milan, was killed by
the last shot fired from the Cleopatra ; and her loss,
although not stated, was also heavy.
"The Ville de Milan was a ship of 1100 tons,
mounted 46 heavy guns — long 18- and 8-pounders —
and had on board 350 men ; whereas the Cleopatra
carried 690 tons only, and was armed with long
12-pounders and 24-pounder carronades.

BIRTH, PARENTAGE, AND EARLY DAYS. 9
" Having removed the prisoners and put on board
49 officers and men, the prize and Ville de Milan
(whose main and mizen masts having fallen during
the night, was consequently also jury-rigged) con
tinued their course homeward ; but on the 23rd of
February Nemesis was in waiting, and they descried
the 50-gun ship Leander (Captain the Hon. John
Talbot), which ship immediately chased.
" The weather coming on thick the Leander lost
sight of the frigates, but at 2.30 p.m. again ob
tained a view of them. The Ville de Milan and
Cleopatra closed for mutual support, and having
fired a gun to leeward, each hoisted a French ensign
upon the mainstay. At 4 o'clock the Leander arrived
within gunshot and the frigates separated, the
Cleopatra running before the wind, and the Ville de
Milan hauling up with the wind on the larboard
quarter. At 4.30 the Leander fired a shot at the
Cleopatra, upon which the French colours were
hauled down and the ship hove to. Those of the
original crew of the Cleopatra who remained on board
then rushed upon deck and took possession of the ship,
and Captain Talbot, directing the Cleopatra to follow,
immediately pursued the Ville de Milan. Before
6 p.m., the Leander having got alongside the Ville de
Milan, that ship surrendered without firing a shot.
The French ship was added to the British Navy under
the name of the Milan, and classed as an 18-pounder
58-gun frigate.'

10 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
It will thus be seen that our young midshipman,
then less than fourteen years of age, was for a week
or so a prisoner under the tricolour for the first and,
as it happened, the last time. It was not, however,
destined that this should be the only desperate action
in which he was to share.
Wallis escaped injury during the engagement, and
was, with the other prisoners, treated most kindly by
the victors.
After the action Captain Talbot placed Sir R.
Laurie again in command of the Cleopatra, and gave
his own first lieutenant charge of the Ville de Milan,
and all arrived safely in a British port.
This action was indeed a " seasoning "' for our
young midshipman. More than seventy years after
wards the terrible surroundings were vividly present
to his memory — the roar of the artillery, the oaths of
the combatants, the groans of the wounded, the decks
streaming with blood, and, finally, the rush of the
hostile boarders with fierce execrations — these indeed
were enough to appal the nerves of the bravest ; but
they did not damp the naval ardour glowing in our
young hero's breast, nor diminish his love for his
chosen profession. He returned with alacrity to his
midshipman's duty, until some little time afterwards
he was transferred to the Cambrian, 48, iu the West
Indies. It was in this ship he was serving when the
thrilling news of Trafalgar and the glorious death of
Nelson reached the Cambrian's crew. From this time

BIRTH, PARENTAGE, AND EARLY DAYS. 11
onward, until 1812, we have not much more than a
summary of his professional life ; and after making
a record of some of its salient points, I propose
devoting a few pages to a description of that cradle
of renowned men. Nova Scotia, and that most dan
gerous station for susceptible young military and naval
officers, Halifax — but this can wait.
My readers will be pleased to understand that this
memoir is more of an autobiography than perhaps the
generality of lives of eminent men — I mean, that it
will, as far as possible, be framed on the venerable
admiral's own letters, such notes and comments being
added as that text and the lapse of time seem to
require. The captured frigate Ville de Milan having been
added to the British navy and re-named the Milan,
the command was given to Sir Robert Laurie, and
Wallis continued to serve with him in that vessel
on the coast of North America until his nomination
as acting-lieutenant of the Triumph, 74, which took
place on November 6th, 1806. The commander of
this ship was Sir Thomas Masterman Hardy, that
much-loved friend of Nelson, who was with him in
his dying hours, and who has been more familiarly
called "Nelson's Hardy." In February 1808 Wallis
was placed as master's mate on board the Bellona, 74,
Captain John Erskine Douglas, and on November 30th
following was made a lieutenant and appointed to the
I6-gun brig, Curieux. This vessel was commanded

12 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
first by Captain Andrew Hodge, and subsequently by
the Hon. George Moysey. Under the command of
the latter the Curieux was engaged in the blockade of
Guadaloupe, and succeeded in cutting out a privateer
from St. Anne's Bay, but was soon afterwards wrecked
upon the island of Petit Tene. Wallis, however,
escaped from this peril, as all hands were fortunately
saved. The vessel, he says, was afterwards burnt.
On November 29th, 1809, a few weeks after the
wreck of the Curieux, Wallis was appointed lieu
tenant of the Gloire, a 38-gun frigate, which, like
the Curieux, had been taken from the French. She
was commanded by Captain James Carthew, and
while in her Wallis assisted in the destruction, on
December 18th, 1809, of two French 44-gun frigates,
the Loire and the Seine, and also in the capture of
the French batteries at Anse-la-Barque, which pro
tected them, previously to the surrender of the island
of Guadaloupe. For his services in these actions, and
in respect of the capture of the island, at which Wallis
was also present, he received a medal, which was not,
however, granted until many years later.
In 1810 Wallis was transferred to the Observateur,
Captain Frederick Augustus Wetherall ; thence to
the Driver, first serving in this ship under Captain
John Lawrence, and later under Captain Thomas
Swinnerton Dyer ; and, on the Driver being paid
off, was appointed to the Emulous, Captain William
Howe Mulcaster.

CHAPTER II.
THE " SHANNON"— S03IE OF HER EXPLOITS.
WALLIS'S next ship was one which was destined
to soon become famous. The Shannon, a
fine 38-gun frigate, had been cruising under the
command of Captain Philip Bowes Vere Broke
for several years, without seeing much of the
enemy, when Wallis was appointed one of her
lieutenants. He joined this ship in January 1812,
at Bermuda, respecting the state of which at
that time it may not be out of place to say a few
words. The Bermudese islands are not often visited now ;
their palmy days of the war time, when the fast-
sailing schooners, built of native cedar and pine,
mocked an enemy's pursuit, are for ever gone. In
1812 they were of greater consequence, as the follow
ing list of government officials will show : —

16 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
Bermuda.
Governor, Sir James Cockburn, Bart.
President of Council, Hon. S. Trotter.
Secretary and Provincial Master General, Hon. R. Kennedy.
Treasurer, W. Smith, Esq.
Judge A dmiralty Court, W. Territ, Esq.
Chief Justice, J. C. Esten, Esq.
King's Advocate, J. Christie, Esq.
Attorney-General, F. Forbes, Esq.
Registrar, T. Moore, Esq.
Collector, J. Stewart, Esq.
Surveyor, J. Tucker, Esq.

These islands were discovered by John Bermudas,
a Spaniard, in 1527. They were nearly four hundred
in number, but very few of them habitable. The
principal was St. George's, sixteen miles long and three
in breadth. There were but two places on this island
where a ship could safely come near the shore, and
these were covered with such high rocks that they
required a pilot. St. George's Town was the principal
haven, and was defended by nine forts and seventy
cannon. Here it was that Wallis was introduced to
his gallant shipmates of the Shannon, whom I must
now make known to the reader.
Captain Broke was then thirty-seven years of age.
Judging from his portrait by Lane (who by the
way was deaf and dumb, but a favourite pupil of
Lawrence), taken after Broke had become renowned
in history, he was a fine, manly-looking officer. His
hair was red, and undisguised by powder and the pig
tail then going out of fashion ; his features frank

From a JPicture by Lane."]

CAP,.TAIN BROKE,
COMMANDER OF H.M.S. "SHANNON."

Page 17.

THE '' SHANNON"— SOME OF HER EXPLOITS. 19
and open, his form symmetrical, his manner most
courteous, and in command and on duty most de
cisive. At his table and in society he was most
winning and agreeable. In his domestic relations
he could not be excelled. Little wonder is it that
his officers and crew were ready to second such a
leader to the last. He died an admiral in 1841,
aged sixty -five years..
The Shannons first lieutenant, Watt, was more
than six feet in height, was strongly built, and was
as brave as he was big. After fighting with the
greatest courage in the famous action we shall shortly
describe, he was numbered among the slain, through
a grape-shot inadvertently fired by his own friends
on to the decks of the enemy's ship, which he had
boarded. The third lieutenant, Charles Leslie Falkiner, was
also (as one of his brother-officers described him)
"as fine a fellow as ever lived, and a capital mess
mate." At the time of the Shannons action with the
Chesapealce he was only twenty-four years of age.
After his ship was paid off he went afloat no more,
but, succeeding to the family baronetcy, died Sir
Charles Falkiner, 1858, aged sixty-nine years.
Wallis was second lieutenant, and, as his portrait
at the age of twenty-two indicates, was a strikingly
handsome young man. He was also tall and well-
proportioned, brave, amiable, and good-tempered.
Little, no doubt, did he anticipate the lofty rank and
2

20 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
great age Providence had in store for him in years
to come.
The other officers of the Shannon were these : —
Master, I. Burns ; surgeon, A. Jack ; purser, G.
Aldham ; gunner, R. Meehan ; boatswain, Stevens ;
midshipmen, Smith, Etough, King, Clavering, Leake,
Samwell, Fenn (captain's aide-de-camp), and Stevenson
(absent as prize master). Marine officers : first,
Lieutenant Johns ; second, Lieutenant Law. The
crew numbered 306.
The Shannon sailed on the day following that on
which Wallis joined her, and after a cruise, during
which nothing eventful happened, anchored again at
Bermuda on March 23rd. A little later she was
joined by the 38-gun frigate Guerriere, Captain
James Richard Dacres, and, as soon as weather per
mitted, both ships sailed in pursuit of two French
frigates, without, however, coming up with them. On
Sunday, April 26th, the ships fell in with the
American schooner Susan and Emeline, from Bor
deaux for Philadelphia, laden with cognac. She was a
beautiful vessel, and sailed fast. The schooner was
reported from the masthead soon after 3 p.m. Her
captain looked upon the two ships as homeward-
bound West Indiamen. It so happened that the
courses of the schooner and the Shannon were such
as would bring them exactly to a meeting, and
neither vessel altered her course. It was dark ere
the vessels neared each other, but when the schooner

THE " SHANNON"— SOME OF HER EXPLOITS. 21
ascertained the mistake she had made in the char
acter of the ships she made away under all sail.
The Shannon's sailing powers were, however, too
good for her, and coming up with the schooner about
midnight, she fired two or three point-blank shots,
which made the schooner shorten sail and heave to.
Such instances of the Shannons exploits in
capturing smaller vessels might be many times
multiplied, but this will serve as an illustration
for a good many of her experiences in this direction.
On May 10th the Shannon spoke an American
vessel, and heard of the taking of Badajos by the
British forces and of the raising of the siege of
Cadiz, and on June 16th returned to Bermuda.
Here rumours were abroad that the United States had
declared war against Great Britain, and an account
was received of the chase of the Belvidera by the
U.S. ships President ani Congress, under Commodore
Rogers. The Shannon thereupon sailed for Halifax,
where Captain Broke received an official intimation
of the declaration of war.
All the effective ships which were then in harbour
were placed under his command by Rear-Admiral
Sawyer, and at once proceeded to sea, to cruise along
the American coast. The squadron then consisted
of the Africa, 64 (flag), Rear-Admiral Sir Herbert
Sawyer^ the Belvidera, 36, Captain Richard Byron ;
the Molus, 32, Captain Lord James Townshend
(Wallis's brother-in-law) ; and the Shannon. A few

22 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
days later the squadron was joined by the Guerriere,
then on her way to Halifax to refit.
Capture of U.S. Beig " Nautiliis " by the
" Shannon."
The squadron had not been out many days when
the U.S. brig-of-war Nautilus was sighted, and was.
run down by the Shannon after a chase of some
hours, the Shannon outsailing the rest of the
squadron, as she frequently did when in chase.
I am content to adopt the contemporary American
account of this event: —
The U.S. brig Nautilus, 12 guns, Captain Crane,
sixteen hours from New York, on a cruise, was captured
the 16^A of July by the British frigate Shannon,
after a chase of six hours, during which the Nautilus
was obliged to start her water, and throw over all
her lee ¦ guns. She was ordered to Halifax with
Lieutenant Crane on board ; the remainder of the
officers and crew (106 in number) were sent on
board the Africa.
Letter from a warrant officer of the Nautilus to
his father: — " On board his Britannic Majesty's ship
'Africa,' at sea,
" Lat. 37°, Long. 69°. July 23r<^, 1812.
"Honoured Sie, —
" I have to inform you that we sailed the
15 July on a cruise. On the 16th, at sunrise, dis-

THE ''SHANNON"— SOME OF HER EXPLOITS. 23
covered five sail to windward, which proved to be
British ships — Africa, Shannon, Guerriere, Belvi
dera, and Molus, and which gave us chase, we then
standing E. We immediately wore ship to the W.,
and made all sail, it then blowing fresh, and used
•every exertion to get clear by throwing overboard
our anchors, part of our guns, and starting water
in the hold — all of which proved fruitless. At
half-past 12, after a chase of six hours, the Shannon
came within half-gunshot ; when we had no alter
native but to strike our colours to a force so
superior to ours. The officers and crew behaved
like men, and would not have submitted but to a
greatly superior force.
" Great praise is due to Capt. Crane for his officer
and seamanlike conduct ; and the lieutenants and other
officers merit the attention of a grateful country.
" Since we have been prisoners we have been
treated with the utmost politeness and hwnanity
by the officers of this ship. We have every in
dulgence we can expect, and can hardly realize we
are prisoners. We expect in a few days to be
sent to Halifax to remain until we are exchanged,
which I hope will be soon, and in the meantime
our country will not forget us."
Report of American Couet-Martial.
The Secretary of the Navy to Lieutenant Crane,
late of the Nautilus : —

24 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
" Navy Department, 7 Oct., 1812.
" Sir,— "The following is the opinion of the court of
inquiry, convened agreeably to your request, for
the loss of the U.S. brig Nautilus :
"The court were unanimously and decidedly in
the opinion that in the capture of the late U.S. brig
Nautilus, Lieut. Crane, her late commander, and
his officers are entirely free from blame or censure ;
and do consider Lieut. Crane did everything to
prevent the said capture that a skilful and ex
perienced officer could possibly do.
" This opinion of the court, Sir, only confirms the
impression confidently entertained with respect to your
conduct on the occasion to which it refers.
" I have the honour to be respectfully. Sir,
" Your obedient Servant,
" Paul Hamilton.
"William M. Crane, Esq.,
" Of the Navy, Boston."
The Nautilus, after being sent to Halifax, was
bought by the British Government, and fitted as an
English sloop-of-war under the name of Emulous, our
own Emulous, in which it will be remembered Wallis
had served, having just then been wrecked.
It would occupy too much space, and would
probably not be found very interesting, were I to

THE " SHANNON"— SOME OF HER EXPLOITS. 25
describe here the numerous captures of small vessels
made by the squadron, and in which Wallis took his
part. It will be sufficient to state that during the first
fortnight of the war the squadron burnt about forty
American vessels of one sort or another, a great
number being merchantmen with valuable cargoes.
While the exigencies of the situation rendered it
necessary that such destruction should take place,
quite apart from any feeling of retaliation for similar
acts on the part of the Americans, the incidents attend
ing the burning of a ship were sometimes distressing,
as the following instance will show : — An American
captain had taken a fine ship to Lisbon, where she had
sold her cargo for the use of the British army under
Wellington, and received several thousands of dollars
in return, which were on board. On her return voyage
she fell a captive to the squadron, and one of the
principal objects of the latter being to obtain informa
tion, the American captain was sent on board the
Shannon, but kept in ignorance of the war, and of the
fact that he was a prisoner, until the desired infor
mation had been obtained from him. He answered
unreservedly the questions put to him, and Captain
Broke, who greatly disliked the deception he had
been obliged to practise, now felt it difficult to make
the prisoner acquainted with the next step which
must be taken. At length he forced himself to say :
"Captain, I must burn your ship." The American,
overcome by surprise, faltered : " Burn her ! " " Indeed

26 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
I must." "Burn her for what .P Will not money
save her? She is all my own — my favourite ship,
and all the property I have in the world. Is it war,
then.P" "Yes," replied Broke. Both parties were
painfully moved, and the scene did not end without a
tear from each ; but the sad duty was inevitable, and
the prize was destroyed.
Chase of the U.S. Frigate " Constitution."
This event has become historical in the American
navy, for its length, closeness, and activity.
On July 12th, 1812, the 44-gun frigate Constitu
tion, Captain Isaac Hull, completely equipped and
well manned, left Chesapeake Bay bound for NeW
York. In the afternoon of the 16th she was dis
covered by the British squadron, which at once gave
chase. The chase continued throughout the afternoon
and evening. At about 10 p.m. the Guerriere, which
had lost sight of her companions, found the Constitu
tion standing towards her making signals, and early
in the morning the vessels were only half a mile
apart. The other vessels of the squadron now hove
in sight, but as they did not appear to understand the
signals Captain Dacres made to them, he concluded
they were American ships, and accordingly tacked,
with the result that at daylight the distance between
the Guerriere and the Constitution had so much
increased, that the Captain had hopelessly lost the

THE ^^ SHANNON"— SOME OF HER EXPLOITS. 27
chance which had presented itself of closing with the
American ship at a time when he would have been
supported by other vessels of the squadron.
At daylight there was a calm, and this continued
throughout the day. The Constitution's boats were
sent out to tow her head to the southward, and some
of her guns got into position. The British ships then
followed suit, and the Constitution having got her
head round and set sails, hoisted her colours and fired
at the Belvidera, which was drawing near. Some
hours later a breeze sprang up, and the Belvidera,
having gained on her opponent, was able to exchange
shots with her, but they were not productive of any
effect on either side. During the afternoon and night
the chase continued, the American frigate gradually
improving her position.
Throughout the following day the Belvidera and
Shannon, in close company, continued the chase ;
but the Constitution increased her lead, and on the
morning of the 19th the chase was abandoned, the
Constitution having, by outsailing the enemy, escaped
a conflict which she could not have maintained with
any hope of success against a force so greatly superior.
During this chase, which lasted sixty hours, the
whole crew remained at their stations.
A gentleman belonging to an American captured
vessel, who was on board the Shannon during the
above period, has informed me that all the officers of
the British squadron applauded the conduct of Captain

28 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
Hull ; and though mortified at losing so fine a ship,
gave him much credit for his skill and prudence in
managing the frigate. She was certainly at times in
imminent danger of capture, and Captain Broke himself
has recorded that the chase was a most fatiguing and
anxious one, and that the Constitution was sailed well.
Admiral Wallis says : — " America did not declare
war against us until June, when we happened to be at
Halifax, also the Africa, 64, flagship of Sir Herbert
Sawyer ; Guerriere, 38, Captain Dacres ; Belvidera,
36, Captain Byron ; and Molus, 32, Captain Lord J.
Townshend. The Admiral placed the squadron under
the command of Broke, and we proceeded to cruise
along the coast of the United States. There we fell
in with the Constitution. On that day -several sail
were in sight, and we in the Shannon hauled up in
chase of one we made out to be a man-of-war, order
ing the other ships to look to the rest. We caught
our bird, which turned out to be the Nautilus, 14
guns, Commander Crane. The wind having, on the
afternoon of this day, fallen to nearly a calm, we did
not rejoin our comrades until the following morning,
when we found that one other of the strangers was an
American frigate (to wit, Constitution). The memor
able chase then began which lasted three days, with
all hands at quarters, ending in her escape ; but the
sad part of the tale was, the Guerriere, having parted
company from us in foggy weather, fell in with her
singly, and you know the sequel."

the " shannon"— some of her exploits. 29
Capture of the " Gueerieee " by the " Constitu
tion."
After the renowned chase just recorded the Con
stitution proceeded to Boston, but on August 2nd
Captain Hull again set sail, and on the 1 8th received
intelligence from an American privateer that she had
seen a British ship to the southward, in which direc
tion Captain Hull at once started. In the meantime'
Commodore Broke had fallen in with the homeward
bound Jamaica fleet of sixty sail, and having escorted
it over the banks of Newfoundland, stood back towards
the American coast. On August 6th, or the day
following, the Guerriere, having lost sight of Com
modore Broke and his squadron in a dense fog, made
for Halifax to obtain a refit — not, it would appear,
before it was absolutely necessary. She had originally
belonged to the French, and some time before the
action which will now be recorded had been made to
look smart with paint and putty ; but with all her
fine exterior she had scarcely a sound spar, plank, or
cord about her. The mainmast had been struck by
lightning, the bowsprit sprung, breechings were rotten,
and timbers decayed. Notwithstanding all this, Cap
tain Dacres seems to have had some confidence in his
ship, for he had called Captain Broke's attention to
her with the remark that she would take an antagonist
in half the time of the Shannon ; to which, however,
Broke had replied, with a melancholy smile, " I am

30 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
truly happy to hear His Majesty has so effective a
ship in his service." On August 19th the Guerriere
fell in singly with the Constitution, and after a severe
action was captured.
The American account byFenimore Cooper seems fair
and reliable, and agrees in the main with the British : —
" The Constitution next stood to the southward,
and on August 19th, at 2 p.m., a sail was made from
the masthead. The Constitution immediately made
sail in chase, and at three the stranger was ascer
tained to be a ship on the starboard tack, under easy
canvas and close hauled. Half an hour later she was
distinctly made out to be a frigate, and no doubt was
entertained of her being an enemy. The American
ship kept running free till she was within a league of
the frigate and to leeward, when she began to shorten
sail. By this time the enemy had laid his main-top
sail aback in waiting for the Constitution to come
down, with everything ready to engage. Perceiving
that the Englishman sought a combat, Captain Hull
made his own preparations with the greater delibera
tion. The Constitution consequently furled her top
gallant-sails, and stowed all her light stay-sails and
flying jib. Soon after she took a second reef in the
topsails, hauled up the courses, sent down royal yards,
cleared for action,, and beat to quarters. At five the
chase hoisted three English ensigns, and immediately
after she opened her fire at long gunshot, wearing
several times, to rake and prevent being raked. The

THE "SHANNON"— SOME OF HER EXPLOITS. 31
Constitution occasionally yawed as she approached, to
avoid being raked, and she fired a few guns as they
bore, but her aim was not to commence the action
seriously until quite close.
"At six o'clock the enemy bore up and ran off,
under his three topsails and jib, with the wind on his
quarter. As this was an indication of a readiness to
receive his antagonist in a fair yard-arm-and-yard-arm
fight, the Constitution immediately set her main-top
gallant sail and fore-sail to get alongside. At a little
after six, the bows of the American frigate began to
double on the quarter of the English ship, when she
opened with her forward guns, drawing slowly ahead
with her greater way, both vessels keeping up a close
and heavy fire as their guns bore. In about ten
minutes, or just as the ships were fairly side by side, the
mizen-mast of the Englishman was shot away, when the
American passed slowly ahead, keeping up a tremen
dous fire, and luffed short round his bows, to prevent
being raked. In executing this manoeuvre, the ship
shot into the wind, got sternway, and fell foul of her
antagonist. While in this situation, the cabin of the
Constitution took fire, from the close explosion of
the forward guns of the enemy, who obtained a small
but momentary advantage from his position. The
good conduct of Mr. Hoflfman,* who commanded in
* Beekman Verplanck Hoffman, the fourth lieutenant of the Con
stitution, a gentleman of New York, who died in 1834, a captain.

32 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
the cabin, soon repaired this accident, and a gun of
the enemy's, that threatened further injury, was
disabled. "As the vessels touched, both parties prepared to
board. The English turned all hands up from below,
and mustered forward with that object, while Mr.
Morris, the first lieutenant, Mr. Alwyn, the master,
and Mr. Bush, the lieutenant of marines, sprang upon
the taflfrail of the Constitution with a similar inten
tion. Both sides now suffered by the closeness of
the musketry ; the English much the most, however.
Mr. Morris was shot through the body, but maintained
his post, the bullet fortunately missing the vitals -
Mr. Alwyn was wounded in the shoulder, and Mr.
Bush fell dead, by a bullet through the head. It
being found impossible for either party to board in
the face of such a fire, and with the heavy sea that
was on, the sails were filled, and just as the Constitu
tion shot ahead, the fore-mast of the enemy fell,
carrying down with it his main-mast, and leaving him.
wallowing in the trough of the sea, a helpless wreck.
" The Constitution now hauled aboard her tacks,
ran off a short distance, secured her masts, and rove
new rigging. At seven, she wore round, and taking
a favourable position for raking, a jack that had been
kept flying on the stump of the mizen-mast of the
enemy was lowered. Mr. George Campbell Read,
the third lieutenant, was sent on board the prize, and
the boat soon returned with the report that the

THE "SHANNON"— SOME OF HER EXPLOITS. 33
captured vessel was the Guerriere, 38, Captain Dacres,
one of the ships that had so lately chased the Con
stitution, off New York.
" The Constitution kept wearing, to remain near
her prize, and at 2 a.m. a strange sail was seen
closing, when she cleared for action ; but at three the
stranger stood off. At daylight the officer in charge
hailed to say that the Guerriere had four feet of water
in her hold, and that there was danger of her sinking.
On receiving this information. Captain Hull sent all
his boats to remove the prisoners. Fortunately, the
weather was moderate, and by noon this duty was
nearly ended. At 3 p.m. the prize crew was recalled,
having set the wreck on fire, and in a quarter of an
hour she blew up. Finding himself filled with
wounded prisoners. Captain Hull now returned to
Boston, where he arrived on the 30th of the same
month." Poor Dacres ! one of the most genial and jocose
officers on the station — he was badly wounded in
the action, paroled as a prisoner of war, and most
honourably acquitted by court-martial of all blame in
the loss of his ship.
But I must now return to the Shannon, which,
with her young second lieutenant, Wallis, is for a
short time lying in Halifax harbour. Nova Scotia,
respecting which valuable British Colony I will now
say a few words.

III.
NOVA SCOTIA— FURTHER EXPLOITS OF
THE "SHANNON."

CHAPTER III.
NOVA SCOTIA— FURTHER EXPLOITS OF THE
" SHANNON."
~rN the great tide of emigration which so mar-
-•- vellously set in across the North Atlantic from
Europe, during the first half of the present century,
Upper and Lower Canada appear to have been most
in favour.
Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Prince
Edward's Island, and Cape Breton, all had separate
governments in the year of which I am about to
write ; but they were far less known, less sought
than the Canadas — and yet Nova Scotia has produced
men whose names have become renowned in British
history. In 1813 this fine British colony was thus de
scribed :—
"Nova Scotia, the most easterly province, is a
peninsula connected with New Brunswick by a low

38 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
fertile isthmus. It comprises an area (with Cape
Breton Island) of 21,731 square miles, one-fifth part
of which consists of lakes, rivers, and inlets of the
sea ; of the whole extent, about 5,000,000 acres are
fit for tillage. Population of the whole province
100,000. Nova Scotia was discovered by John Cabot
in 1497 ; it was colonised by the French in 1598, and
taken by the English in 1622, and a grant made of it
by James I. to ¦ Sir William Alexander, who intended
to colonise the whole country. James I. instituted
the title of baronet there, with the professed object of
encouraging the settlement therein ; hence the title of
' Nova Scotia ' baronets. In 1632 it was restored to
France, but again ceded to England in 1714 at the
Peace of Utrecht ; after the Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle,
in 1748, a settlement of disbanded troops was formed
there by Lord Halifax, whose name the capital of the
province now bears. The harbour of Halifax is not
surpassed by any in the world. It is the principal
naval station of North America, and the British
Government have an extensive dockyard there. One-
fourth of the population are employed in agriculture.
The capabilities of the soil and climate for agricultural
operations have been much underrated. The climate
is healthy and bracing, but not so cold as the other
provinces of the dominion. The forests are composed
of similar trees to those of Canada and New Brunswick,
the ash, beech, birch, maple, oak, pine, and spruce
abounding. Coal and iron-ore are plentiful in Nova

FURTHER EXPLOITS OF THE "SHANNON." 39
Scotia ; gold also has been discovered. The principal
fisheries are upon the eastern coast. Here cod is
obtained all the year round. Halibut of large size is
plentiful ; and salmon are caught abundantly in the
rivers and shores adjacent thereto. Game of all kinds
is abundant." Colonial Government, 1813.
Kuva Scotia.
Lieutenant-Govei-nor and Vice-Adm'iral, Lieutenant-General Sir J. 0.
Sherbroke, Commander of the Forces.
Bishop, Eight Rev. Chas. Inghs, D.D.
Chief-Justice, S. Salter Blowers, Esq.
Second Judge, J. H. Monk, Esq.
Third Judge, Brenton HaUburtoD, Esq.
Attorney-General, R. J. Uniaoke, Esq.
Solicitor- General, J. Stewart, Esq.
Prothonotary and Clerk of the Crov:n, W. Thomson, Esq.
Secretary of the Provincial Records and Cleric of the Council, S. H. George.
Treasurer, M. Wallace.
Surveyor of Lands, C. Morris.
Naval Officer, J. Beckwith.
Collector of Customs at Halifax, T. JefEery.
Comptroller, J. Slayter.
Departmental Paymaster, G. J. Williams.
Surveyor and Searcher, J. Newton.
Judge of the Vice-Admiralty Court, Alex. Croke, D.G.L.
Registrar of Vice-Admiralty Court, T. H. Parker.
Marshal, J. Putman.
Agent, T. J. Matthias, King's College, 1802.
Governors, Sir J. Wentworth, Bart., Bishop of Nova Scotia, S. 8.
Blowers, Esq., R. J. Uniaoke, Esq., Jas. Stewart, Esq.
Patron, Archbishop of Canterbury.
Visitor, Bishop of Nova Scotia.
President, Rev. Thomas Porter.

40 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
Names all more or less intimately connected with
the events of the war between Great Britain and the
United States. All thoroughly loyal to the British
Government. Many, no doubt, of their descendants,
scanning that list, will pause at some one name and
think, with proper pride — " I bear it still. His
sentiments are mine ! "
Nova Scotia has given birth to Beckwith, of
Waterloo ; Williams, of Kars ; Inglis, of Lucknow ;
Watts and Belcher, of Arctic fame, and other emi
nent men ; but to none more so than the illustrious
subject of this memoir, and the witty " Sam Slick,"
properly Thomas C. Haliburton, afterwards Chief-
Justice of that colony, who in age was five years
younger than Wallis, and of whom I shall have to
speak at greater length hereafter. He was a son
of Judge Brenton Haliburton, and at this time a
youthful subaltern in the British army, a profession
he afterwards relinquished for the law.
Chase or the "Essex."
The Shannon continued on her cruising ground,
and after having made several unimportant captures,
fell in, on September 4th, with the American frigate
Essex, Captain Porter, and the merchant ship
Minerva, which was under her convoy. The
Shannon at once gave chase under all sail, but the
wind making a sudden and unfavourable change

FURTHER EXPLOITS OF THE "SHANNON." 41
headed her back. The Essex, however, seemed in
clined to bring the Shannon to action, and got nearer
to her, with the Minerva in close company ; then
suddenly changed her course, and crowding on all
sail, made off, leaving the Minerva to take care
of herself. The Shannon kept up the chase until
¦dark, when, losing sight of the Essex, she tacked and
captured the Minerva, which vessel Captain Broke
would have at once burnt, in the hope that the
Essex might see the flames and return to have
revenge, had not the night been so squally, that the
Shannon's boats would have been risked in removing
the Minerva's crew. It was not until morning,
therefore, that the Minerva was burnt, and by this
time the Essex had been able to get out of reach.
About a fortnight after, the Shannon returned to
Halifax with some prizes, and there heard the
melancholy news of the loss of the Guerriere.
Having on October 3rd learnt that the Barbadoes
had been wrecked on Sable Island, the Shannon on
that day sailed to her relief, and after considerable
difficulty succeeded in saving the crew of 180 and a
good deal of specie. A few days later an American
schooner was captured, and manned with a part of the
crew taken from the wrecked vessel, and Halifax
again reached. Then, in company with the Tenedos,
38, Captain Hyde Parker, Nymph, and Curlew, the
Shannon once more set sail, and captured, among

42 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
numerous other vessels, the American privateer
Thorn, 18 guns and 140 men, ultimately beating into
Halifax again on February 23rd, 1813. Not for long,
however, could the Shannon afford to lay in harbour,
and in company with the Tenedos she was soon
reconnoitring Boston Harbour. At about this period,
viz., on April 5th, the Shannon had a narrow escape,,
which Captain Broke thus records : —
" On the evening of the 5th, at half-past eight,
we were struck with lightning when laying to,
boarding a small schooner Ave had taken ; the main
top-mast and top-gallant-mast shivered to pieces, and
fifteen feet out of the middle of the former blown to
atoms ; the topsail yard broke in the slings, a cheek
and hasp forced off the head of the mainmast, and the
mast much shook to the quarterdeck, where the
partners were broke. The mainyard sprung in two
places ; the brass skewers in the truck melted as if
they had been in a furnace, also some of the links
of the maintop chain. Fire was in the top for some
seconds after the crash, and nothing but the heavy
rain and the goodness of Providence saved us from
destruction ; and, thanks be to God, not a man was
hurt. I was in the cabin at the moment, when I
thought several of the guns had been fired. When
I ran on deck I still saw fire in the top. Those on
board the schooner close astern of us thought we-
were in a blaze."

FURTHER EXPLOITS OF THE "SHANNON." 43
About a month later the Shannon and Tenedos
espied an armed ship under American colours, and
chased her on shore near Cape Anne. Then having
dispersed the militia, which was assembling to protect
her, the boats of the two British ships were sent in
under the command of Wallis, who brought the vessel
off. She proved to be L' Invincible, a French privateer
of 16 guns, then lately captured by H.M. sloop Mutine
and retaken by an American privateer.
I have followed the doings of the Shannon some
what minutely, as from them will be gathered the
experiences which fell to the lot of Wallis during these
early days of his career. It will be seen that up to
this time he had been almost continually in the midst
of the many dangers attending naval warfare, as well
as braving the elements, which, I think I am right in
saying, were far more destructive to the old sailing
ships than to our modern steamers. I would add
that the station on which Wallis was engaged was a
most trying one. It was no uncommon thing for the
Shannon to be a mass of ice from stem to stern ;
the spray froze on her guns and deck as it fell ; sails
became as brittle as glass ; ropes cracked when
moved, and fingers became frost-bitten in handling
them ; the weather was indeed so inclement that the
Shannon's crew were at times obliged to wear thick
worsted underdresses, mittens, and Welsh wigs.
Wallis was now to take his .part in one of the most

44 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
sanguinary conflicts that are recorded in our naval
history ; but before giving an account of this, it will
be well to a little more fully describe the character
of the gallant commander of the Shannon, and also
some of the measures he took to be in readiness to
carry his ship successfully into action with a foe
of at least equal strength, should good fortune give
him the opportunity.
He was an unusually able disciplinarian and
skilful sailor, and, by his excellent regulations and
mode of treatment, the somewhat motley ship's com
pany which he had taken on board some years
previously had been trained so thoroughly, and had
become so well acquainted with him, that they had
now reached a high degree of efficiency. Broke was
himself a most proficient gunner, and discovered
and made use of an ingenious mode of laying ships'
ordnance, which afterwards received the highest
commendation. He also established a system of
exercises with the great guns and small arms, which
were carried out assiduously and with great regularity
whenever the state of the weather permitted and the
crew were not engaged in active duties, such as those
necessitated by a chase. It may be remarked that
one feature of these exercises was that those men who
would have to fight together in the time of action
were exercised together. Some small reward was
frequently given to a successful competitor, and the
men were made to enjoy these practices, and to take

FURTHER EXPLOITS OF THE "SHANNON." 45
pride in their own proficiency. Add to this that
Broke watched over his crew and young officers,
whom he called his sea-children, with a parental
care, and, as he himself says, regarded the bringing
up of such a family as an essential part of his service,
it is not to be wondered at that he was beloved by
his men, and that perfect unanimity prevailed on
board. He was proud, too, of his wooden wife, as
he sometimes called his ship, and, with his crew,
ardently longed to try her with one of the American
frigates, and to redeem his country's reputation,
which it was now the boast of the Americans had
been lost with the Guerriere and other vessels which
had fallen captive to their ships, albeit the latter
were in all these cases of superior size and power.
Such was the condition of things on board the
Shannon immediately prior to the happening of those
¦events which I will now record.

IV.
THE BLOCKADE OF BOSTON,
AND CAPTURE OF THE ''CHESAPEAKE."

captain lawhbncb,
COMMANDER OF THB U. S. FfLIGATE " CHESAPEAKE."

Pat/e 60.

CHAPTER IV.
THE BLOCKADE OF BOSTON, AND CAPTURE OF THE
"CHESAPEAKE."
"^TAVAL matters were now hastening to a crisis. All
the eastern American ports were strictly watched,
that of Boston by the Shannon and Tenedos ; and an
arduous time indeed they had of it, throughout the
months of April and May 1813. Foggy, very foggy
weather, even for these latitudes, prevailed ; and
under veil of one of those friendly allies, the Presi
dent and Congress stole past their guard, out to
sea, and so escaped, much to the annoyance of
Captain Broke, who during his long and diligent
watch had been hourly hoping that these formidable-
American frigates would turn out to fight. The
Chesapealce alone, fit for action, remained in har
bour ; and Broke, who only desired to meet the enemy
singly, fairly, and with a decisive result, at once
challenged her commander, the brave Lawrence, in
the following courteous letter : —

52 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
" H.B.M. ' Shannon,' off Boston,
"June, 1813.
" Sir,— " As the Chesapeake appears now ready for sea, I
request that you will do me the favour to meet the
Shannon with her, ship to ship, to try the fortune of
our respective flags. To an officer of your character,
it requires some apology for proceeding to further
particulars. Be assured, sir, that it is not from any
doubt I can entertain of your wishing to close with
my proposal, but merely to provide an answer to any
objection which might be made, and very reasonably,
upon the chance of our receiving unfair support.
After the diligent attention which we had paid to
Commodore Rogers, the pains I took to detach all
force but the Shannon and Tenedos to such a distance
that they could not possibly join in any action fought
in sight of the Capes, and the various verbal messages
which had been sent into Boston to that effect, we
were much disappointed to find the Commodore had
eluded us by sailing on the first change, after the pre
vailing easterly winds had obliged us to keep an offing
from the coast. He, perhaps, wished for some stronger
assurance of a fair meeting. I am, therefore, induced
to address you more particularly, and to assure you
that what I write I pledge my honour to perform to
the utmost of my power. The Shannon mounts 24
guns upon her broadside, and 1 light boat gun ; 18-
pounders upon her maindeck, and 32-pound carronades

THE CAPTURE OF THE "CHESAPEAKE." 53
on her quarterdeck and forecastle ; and is manned with
a complement of 300 men and boys (a large proportion
of the latter ), besides 30 seamen, boys, and passengers,
who were taken out of recaptured vessels lately. I
am thus minute, because a report has prevailed in
some of the Boston papers that we had 150 men addi
tional, lent us from La Hague, which really never was
the case. La Hogue is now gone to Halifax for pro
visions, and I will send all other ships beyond the
power of interfering with us, and meet you wherever
it is most agreeable to you, within the limits of the
undermentioned rendezvous, viz., from six to ten
leagues east of Cape Cod lighthouse ; from eight to
ten leagues east of Cape Anns light ; on Cashe's Ledge,
in latitude 43° north ; at any bearing and distance you
please to fix, off the south breakers of Nantucket, or
the shoal of St. George's Bank. If you will favour me
with any plan of signals or telegraph, I will warn you
(if sailing under this promise) should any of my
friends be too nigh, or anywhere in sight, until I can
detach them out of my way ; or I would sail with you,
under a flag of truce, to any place you think safest
from our cruisers, hauling it down when fair to begin
hostilities. " You must, sir, be aware that my proposals are
highly advantageous to you, as you cannot proceed to
sea singly in the Chesapealce without imminent risk of
being crushed by the superior force of the numerous
British squadrons which are now abroad, where all
4

54 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
your efforts, in case of a rencontre, would, however
gallant, be perfectly hopeless. I entreat you, sir, not
to imagine that I am urged by mere personal vanity to
the wish of meeting the Chesapealce, or that I depend
only upon your personal ambition for your acceding
to this invitation. We have both nobler motives.
" You will feel it as a compliment if I say that the
result of our meeting may be the most grateful ser
vice I can render to my country; and I doubt not
that you, equally confident of success, will feel con
vinced that it is only by repeated triumphs, in even
combats, that your little navy can now hope to console
your country for the loss of that trade it can no longer
protect. Favour me with a speedy reply. We are
short of provisions and water, and cannot stay long
here. " I have the honour to be. Sir,
" Your obedient, humble servant,
" P. B. V. Broke,
" Captain of H.B.M. Shannon.
"N.B. — For the general service of watching your
coast, it is requisite for me to keep another ship in
company to support me with her guns and boats when
employed near the land, and particularly to aid each
other if either ship, in chase, should get on shore.
You must be aware that I cannot, consistently with
my duty, waive so great an advantage for this general
service, by detaching my consort without an assurance

THE CAPTURE OF THE "CHESAPEAKE." 55
on your part of meeting me directly, and that you will
neither seek nor admit aid from any other of your
armed vessels if I despatch mine expressly for the sake
of meeting }'0U. Should any special order restrain
you from thus answering a formal challenge, you may
yet oblige me by keeping my proposal a secret, and
appointing any place you like to meet us (within 300
miles of Boston) in a given number of days after you
sail ; as, unless you agree to an interview, I may be
busied on other service, and, perhaps, be at a distance
from Boston when you go to sea.
" Choose your terms, but let us meet.
" To the Commander of the
" U.S. frigate Chesapealce."
In order that Captain Lawrence might be assured
that the Captain of the Shannon only desired a fair
contest, the latter had detached his consort, the
Tenedos, with orders not to rejoin him until the end
of June, and remained cruising singly off the Capes.
Anxious to secure a competent judgment on my
own account of the action which speedily followed the
above challenge, I submitted it to the opinion of the
late Admiral Lord Dunsany, who replied thus : —
" All that I read of Sir P. Broke pleased me much,
and the battle, read aloud one evening, stirred us all
up to fighting pitch. It is certainly by far the fullest
and most accurate record of that interesting event I
have ever seen."

56 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
This account now follows : —
War is always to be deprecated — always, if possible,
to be avoided-— and it will be no object in the present
volume to excite a thirst for glory in the young. But,
at the same time, it will be desired to commend (by
signal examples) the honour which always follows the
¦discharge of duty in our appointed stations in life ; of
loyalty to our country and its rulers, and of submis
sion to that Divine Power at Whose supreme disposal
are the issues of all earthly events.
Philip Bowes Vere Broke was one in whom, it may
be truly said, these principles grew with his growth,
strengthened with his strength, and increased with his
advancing years — even to their close.
Though, like his contemporaries, a gallant sailor,
he was also a man of very superior intellectual attain
ments ; a classical scholar of refined perceptions, a
thorough officer, not only respected but sincerely be
loved by those he commanded ; whilst in private life,
as husband, father, and friend, he was long mourned
by those who in these respects were privileged to know
him. Such was the captain who trained our hero ; nor
was his scholar unworthy of him, as we shall see.
The morning of that most eventful day, Tuesday,
June 1st, 1813, broke over the shores and islands of
the Bay of Boston in unclouded summer loveliness.
A faint breeze rippled the waters, and the rising sun
cast long rays of light and broken brilliancy over the

THE CAPTURE OF THE "CHESAPEAKE." 57
wide and gently heaving bosom of the Bay. The
Shannon, under easy sail, slowly floated down the
eastern coast, in order to take an early look into the
harbour and upon the vessels of the enemy. Viewed
from seaward, a more peaceful scene could scarcely be
conceived. The lighthouse, friendly alike to friend
and foe, the distant shore, the light hazy clouds over
the port and town of Boston, and the lofty masts and
widespread spars of the man-of-war lying ready for
sea — these, as usual, were the prominent objects on
which the eager and anxious gaze of Broke had often
before rested. But to-day, or at furthest to-morrow,
he had strong hopes the issue would be decided. His
challenge, that model of the utterance of a bravery
which had well calculated and was now resolute to
stand the hazard of the die, had gone forth.
Meanwhile all Went on as usual on board the well-
ordered, well-trained, unassuming, and well-disciplined
Shannon. At eight bells a.m. the gallant young
Wallis took the watch ; and from that hour onward
to the close, the events of this momentous day are
all within the accurate reach and record of the
historian's pen, employed only on facts furnished
by eye-witnesses of the engagement. The previous
day had been rainy, and there were consequently
many small matters of watchful routine and ever-
ready preparedness requiring attention. At 10 a.m.,
these duties being discharged, the beat to quarters
rattled along the decks, and sent its short, sharp,

58 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P WALLIS, G.C.B.
and alert summons down the hatchways of the
Shannon. Quickly, silently, and resolutely the men
repaired to their appointed stations, and the .great
gun exercise, without firing, was assiduously practised
as the British frigate, with light airs of wind, made
quiet reaches to and fro across the bay, full in the
enemy's sight.
It was at this time that the vigilant captain, in the
prime of his manhood and the calm of his settled
purpose to conquer or die for his country's honour,
ascended to the Shannon's maintop. Until half-past
eleven he remained there, watching eagerly the taper
ing masts and widespread yards of the beleagured
ship, which, beyond a loose foretopsail, gave no sign
of her departure. Slowly, and deeply disappointed,
Broke descended to the deck and ordered the retreat
from quarters, observing to his young officer: "Wallis,
I don't mean this for general quarters, but because
she (with a gesture towards the harbour) will surely
be out to-day or to-morrow." The watch was relieved,
and the young lieutenant said cheerily to his succes
sor, as he went below, " Be sure you call me if she
stir." The men went to dinner. Broke lingered still
on deck, for the tide was flowing and the day already
beginning to wane.
It was the gallant Falkiner's watch, and he is now
not here to give us the precise details ; but in that
quiet hour of rest, froin the meridian eight bells, the
word passed on lightning wings along the decks —

IHE CAPTURE OF THE "CHESAPEAKE." 59
" She is coming out," and soon every Shannon's eye
was on her movements. At length the watch and
ward of weary, toilsome weeks was ended. Sail after
sail spread forth, flag after flag unfurled, and with
all the speed the light air and an ebbing tide
could yield her, and attended by a large number of
lesser craft to witness and applaud her expected
triumph, the haughty Chesapealce bore down upon
her waiting adversary. Her commander, Lawrence,
glowing with recent triumph, anticipated an easy
victory. Colossal in figure, and with muscular power
superior to most men, he was on this day fatally con-
-.spicuous by the white vest and other habiliments he
had assumed. Having stimulated his men to the
utmost by prize cheques and an exciting harangue,
closing with the sanguinary and remorseless words —
" Peacock her, my lads ! Peacock her ! " * he then
ascended to his qtiarterdeck, with the full determina
tion of forthwith wreaking the like speedy destruction
on the Shannon. His words, however, had fallen on
irresponsive and misgiving hearts. There was mur
muring forward and depressing caution aft. The men
were discontented, and American officers, not of the
Chesapealce (but who accompanied Lawrence, and
his two youthful sons to the wharf, from which he
was to pull on board his ship), had whispered : " Be
• On the previous 24th of Februaty, Lawrence, in the Hornet, had
sunk the British brig-of-war Peacock, of eighteen guns, ia little more
than fifteen minutes.

60 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
cautious ; take heed. We know every British ship
on, the station but this Shannon."
Far different was it on board " this Shannon,"
rusty with long cruising, her ensign faded and worn
(she wore but one), and short of provisions and water.
The moment, the long-desired moment of reckon
ing, was at hand ; and but one feeling prevailed on
board, — to exact it to the utmost.
Broke (amid the busy hum of interest on the
quarterdeck) descended silently and thoughtfully to
his cabin, and there made his own final personal
arrangements. What passed in that solemn hour no
living creature now on earth can tell ; but we know
enough of the warrior to feel assured that he then
committed himself, and the wife and children then
probably sleeping the sleep of the peaceful in distant
England, to the great God he had so long confessed
and honoured.
The battle-ground, some fifteen or twenty miles
from Boston, being very nearly reached, the men
were at once called aft, and their commander pro
ceeded to address them. He stood on the break of
the quarterdeck, the men of the upper-deck quarters
standing in front of him and along the gangways ;
the men of the maindeck assembled below, and
within partial earshot. In substance, Broke ad
dressed them thus: —
" Shannons ! You know that, from various causes,
the Americans have lately triumphed, on several

THE CAPTURE OF THE "CHESAPEAKE." 61
occasions, over the British flag in our frigates.
This will not daunt you since you know the truth,
that disparity of force was the chief reason. But
they have gone further : they have said, and they
have published it in their papers, that the English
have forgotten the way to fight. You will let them
know to-day there are Englishmen in the Shannon
who still know how to fight. Don't try to dismast
her. Fire into her quarters ; maindeck into main-
deck ; quarterdeck into quarterdeck. Kill the men
and the ship is yours. Don't hit them about the
head, for they have steel caps on, but give it them
through the body. Don't cheer. Go quietly to your
quarters. I feel sure you will all do your duty ; and
remember, you have now the blood of hundreds of
your countrymen to aveiige ! "
At this stirring and touching allusion to the fate of
the Guerriere, the Macedonian, and the Java,* many
of the hardy seamen wept. A dead and heavy silence
(the voiceless calm of do or die) rested over the
Shannons decks ; but it was twice broken before a
shot was fired. Jacob West, late of the Guerriere,
said : " I hope, sir, you will give us revenge for the
Guerriere to-day." To which Broke replied, " You
shall have it, my man ; go to 3-our quarters." Another

* I have already recorded the loss of the Guerriere. The Mace
donian was captured by the American frigate United States, and the
Java by the Constitution. It may be added that the Java, like the
Guerriere, had been taken from the French.

62 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
seaman, eyeing the rusty blue ensign which fluttered
at the Shannons mizen peak, asked : " Mayn't we have
three ensigns, sir, like she has.P" "No," said Broke,
¦" we've always been an unassuming ship."
All now went silently and resolutely to their stations.
At this moment, all being ready for action, Boston
light bearing west, distant about six leagues, the
Shannon finally hauled up, with her head to the
southward and eastward, and lay-to under topsails
and jib, the latter flowing and the spanker hanging
by the throatbrail only, ready for wearing or running
free, and the helm amidships.
The Chesapealce Avas now coming rapidly down, at
an angle of impunity, having sent her royal yards on
deck and reduced her sail to very much the same
dimensions as her adversary. The Shannons royal
yards were kept across, as her captain considered that
those lofty sails might be serviceable in the event of
the light air dying away, or being altogether lulled by
the approaching cannonade.
When nearly within gunshot the Shannon filled
under jib, topsails, and spanker, and, having little
more than steerage way, awaited her opponent's closer
approach. All were now at their posts. On the
quarterdeck Broke, assisted by his first lieutenant,
Watt, and attended by his aide-de-camp, Mr. Fenn
(a light-hearted midshipman and general favourite on
board, more familiarly known as Tommy Fenn), and
the marine officers. The purser (a volunteer), the

THE CAPTURE OF THE "CHESAPEAKE." 63
clerk, and a trusty sergeant (Molyneux) were stationed
in the waist and gangways. The maindeck was most
ably officered by Wallis and Falkiner, the former being
in command of the after batteries, which it is perhaps
needless to say were fought with bravery and skill.
Before a shot was fired, and as the men were going to
quarters, Meehan, the gunner, was on his way to the
magazine, when Wallis arrested him for a moment,
and handed to him his watch, saying, "You will be
safe. Should anything happen to me give this to my
father with my love." By this chronometer the gunner
timed the action.
It was at first doubtful whether the Chesapealce
would make a raking evolution astern of the Shannon,
or come fairly alongside ; but when she arrived within
pistol-shot all suspense was ended, for she rounded-to
•on the starboard quarter of her opponent — precisely
the Hornet's mode of attack when, with her, Lawrence
captured the Peacock.
Captain Broke walked forward, and through his own
•skylight gave orders to the maindeck captains of guns
to " fire on the enemy as soon as the guns bore on his
second bow-port." (A man named Rowlands, who was
captain of the maintop on board the Guerriere when
captured by the Constitution, was so delighted by this
order that he very audibly and admiringly ejaculated :
" Ah ! that's the man for me ; she's ours ! ") Broke
now walked forward to the starboard gangway to
observe the effect of his directions. The ships were

64 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
closing fast. The sails of the Chesapeake came
gliding between the slanting rays of the evening
sun and the Shannon, darkening the maindeck ports
of the latter, whilst the increasing ripple of the water
against her bows as she approached could be distinctly
heard at all the guns of the after-battery on the
Shannons silent maindeck. In another moment, the
desired position being attained, the Shannon com
menced the action by firing her after or fourteenth
maindeck gun ; the steady old captain of the gun,
Billy Mindham (Captain Broke's faithful coxswain),
having first reported to Wallis, the officer of his
quarters, that his gun bore, and received permission
to fire ; a second afterwards, her after-carronade on
the quarterdeck ; then her thirteenth maindeck gun ;
and, as the Chesapealce ranged alongside, she received,
in close and steady succession, the whole of the broad
side. The effect of this (as witnessed from the
Shannons tops) was truly withering. A hurricane of
shot, splinters, torn hammocks, cut rigging, and wreck
of every kind was hurled like a cloud across the deck.
Of 150 men quartered thereon more than 100 were
instantly laid low. Nor was this all. In this moment
of deadly strife, Lawrence, who was fatally conspicuous,
standing on a carronade-slide, received a ball through
his abdomen from the hand of Lieut. Law, of the
marines. He fell, severely wounded, and, after four
days of suffering, doomed to die. But to relate this
at present is premature. The conflict continued. In

THE AMERICAN FRIGATE "CHESAPEAKE"

CRIPPLED AND THUOWN INTO UTTER DISORDER. BY THE TWO FIRST BROADSIDES FIRED FROM
' H.M.S. "shannon."

Fage 66,

THE CAPTURE OF THE "CHESAPEAKE." 67
passing the Shannon, and after receiving her first
broadside, the Chesapeake made a stern board ; her
tiller ropes and jib-sheet had been shot away, her
wheel broken ; and thus rfhe gradually luffed into the
wind, exposed, whilst making this crippled and help
less movement, to the Shannon's second and most
deliberate broadside. From the first the Chesapeake
had apparently attached much importance to her
small-arm force, with which indeed, from her tops
and deck, she commenced the action. It was now
the Shannon's turn and time to make use of these.
Broke saw that she was crippled, and, by his order,
the marines in the gangways and the seamen in the
boats and clustering about the booms, under the direc
tion of Aldham, Dunn, and Molyneux, poured in a
precise and deliberate fire. Broke perceived the
flinching of the enemy, and, throwing down his
trumpet, hurried forward with the siinple words,
" Follow me who can ! " The Chesapeake had con
tinued drifting astern till her larboard quarter struck
the Shannon about the fifth or sixth gun on the main-
deck. Here the veteran boatswain, Mr. Stevens, who
had fought in Rodney's action, received, in lashing
the ships together, the wounds of which he afterwards
died in hospital at Halifax.
The ships were in contact at but a small point, and
but for a short time. Fifty or sixty gallant hearts,
however, had fortunately heard their brave captain's
v7ords, and followed him closely. Lieutenants Watt

68 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
and Falkiner, Collier, Stack, Van Loo, Fish (first and
second gunners), and others, stationed chiefly on the
quarterdeck, with a large body of marines, pressed on
in the way so nobly led by their captain. On gain
ing the Chesapeake's deck, a desperate and disorderly
resistance was made. Her so-called chaplain, a
Mr. Livermore, of Boston (an amateur and volunteer,
no more), presented and snapped a pistol at Captain
Broke. A backward stroke of the good and weighty
Toledo blade which the hero carried (mounted, how
ever, in the regulation ivory and gold wire) left
his reverence to his better meditations against the
mizenmast ; and a vigorous charge along the gangways
followed. This was the most confused moment of the
conflict. A severe encounter had been raging in the
tops. The midshipmen — Smith in the fore and
Cosnahan in the main — had vastly distinguished
themselves. Smith boarded the enemy off the fore-
yard of the" Shannon, and, after hdrd fighting, chased
his last remaining adversary down the foretopmast
backstay on to the deck. Cosnahan, in the maintop,
finding the foot of the topsail intervene between the
enemy and himself, laid out on the manyardarm, and,
receiving loaded muskets handed down to him
through the "lubber's hole," shot three men from
thence. These were midshipmen indeed !
To add to the confusion, the Chesapeake's head
gradually falling off, her sails again filled ; she broke
away from the lashings, and forged across the bow of

H.M.S. "SHANNON'

CARRYING BY B.'>ARD1NG THE AMEB-iCAN FRIGATE CHESAPEAKE, ' ATTEE a CANNONADE
OF FIVE MINUTES.

Page 70.

THE CAPTURE OF TIIE "CHESAPEAKE." 71
the Shannon. At this moment, it would appear, the
English party had divided — the upper deck was
entirely theirs; Watt was aft, hauling down the
enemy's flag. Broke was on the forecastle, inter
posing between his men and some three or four
Americans, who must otherwise have instantly been
cut to pieces. The first lieutenant, in his haste —
unwisely, alas ! we can now see— hurrying the sailors
so emplo}'^ed, caused them to bend on a white ensign
under the American ensign.* The moment this was
seen from the Shannon her fire recommenced, and a
grape-shot from his own ship carried away the top of
his head, the same discharge killing and wounding
others around him. The consternation diffused by
this accident on the Chesapeake's quarterdeck
reanimated the conquered Americans on the fore
castle. Broke had already spared their lives — that
was nothing. With pike, sabre, and musket they
formed behind their gallant preserver ; and when,
roused by a fervent adjuration from a sentinel, he
' Edward Eexworthy was one of the Shannon's quartermasters ;
he was standing before Lieut. Watt when the grape-shot from the
Shannon's seventh gun, maindeck, passed over Rexworthy's head and
pierced Watt's chest — Rexworthy was a very short man, Lieut. Watt
was six feet, or rather more. Whenever the Shannon beat to quarters
in expectation of a battle, Lieut. Watt always had a white ensign laid
upon the capstan ; and this, he said, was " to hoist over the colours
of the enemy." He boarded with this in his hand ; and there is no
doubt about its having been hoisted up some distance under, instead
of over, the American ensign on board the Chesapealce. It was this
mistake, as every one said at the time, which caused the seventh gun
to be fired at that party.

72 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
unsuspectingly turned about, he found not one, nor
two, but three men — but, no ! let me rather say,
treacherous, indomitable enemies — prepared and
anxious to take his life. These were great odds ; but
Broke parried the pike of his first assailant and
wounded him in the face. Before he could recover
his guard, the second foe struck him with a cutlass
on the side of the head ; and, instantly on this, the
third having clubbed his musket drove home his
comrade's weapon, until a large surface of the skull
was cloven entirely away — the brain was left bare.
Broke sank, of necessity, stunned and bleeding, on
¦the deck ; his sword fell from his relaxing grasp, and
his first assailant, who had already fallen, strove to
muster sufficient strength to consummate the attack.
At this moment a marine bayoneted the immediate
opponent of his captain, whilst the enraged Shannons
almost literally cut his companions to pieces. It was
truly a sanguinary scene. Broke was scarcely to be
recognised, even by his own comrades. He was
plastered with lime and blood.* Mr. Smith and
Mindham, however, tenderly raised him ; and, whilst
the latter bound an old handkerchief round his
captain's streaming head, he applied a strong mental
cordial by directing his look aft, with the cheering
words : " Look there, sir ; there goes the old ensign
up over the Yankee colours ! "
* The Americans had an open cask of lime to throw in the eyes of
the boarders. This was shattered by one of the Shannon's shot.

TREACHEROUS ATTACK ON CAPTAIN BEOKB,

THE CAPTURE OF THE "CHESAPEAKE." 11
Slowly they then led him to the quarterdeck,
and seated him, half fainting, on a carronade-
slide. Whilst these events were passing on the Chesa
peake's forecastle and quarterdeck, an animated
conflict had been going forward (for not more than
two minutes, however) on her maindeck. This also
¦ended in the dispersion of her crew. They were
driven below, a grating placed over the main hatch
way, and a marine (William Young) posted sentry
over it. It chanced that .this man, seeing a comrade
pass, stretched out his hand by way of congratulation
on their victory and joint escape. Whilst doing this
he was most treacherously shot from below. The
surrounding Shannons, terribly enraged, instantly
poured down among the Americans a warm discharge
of musketry. This proceeding excited the anger of
the brave Lieutenant Falkiner, who was sitting on
the booms, fatigued by his exertions in boarding.
He rushed forward, and, presenting his pistol, pro
tested he would blow out the brains of the first man
who attempted to fire another shot. He then sang
out to the Americans below that, if they did not
instantly send up the man who shot the marine,
he would call them up and put them to death one by
one. This vigorous proceeding put an end to all
further resistance.
The firing alluded to aroused Broke, and, on being
informed of the cause, he faintly directed the
5

76 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
Americans to be driven into the hold, and then
lapsed, from his great loss of blood, into total
insensibility. The battle was now over and the victory won,
according to the most careful and largest computa
tion of time, in thirteen minutes. In this brief space
252 men were either killed or wounded in the two
ships, the loss of the Americans being about 70
killed and 100 wounded, and that of the English
26 killed and 56 wounded. Fresh reinforcements of
Shannons were now sent on board the Chesapeake,
the boats conveying back to the English ship her
gallant Captain Broke, and the first lieutenant of
the enemy (Augustus Ludlow), both severely, and
the latter, as it turned out, mortally wounded.
Captain Broke was laid in his own cot, in his
own cabin, his "good old sword" ("Pray," said
he, " take care of my good old sword ") being
laid beside him. Lieutenant Ludlow (who, in the
hurry, of the moment, was left for a little while lying
unnoticed in the steerage) sent a touching message —
" Will you tell the commanding officer of the Shannon
that Mr. Ludlow, first of the Chesapealce, is lying
here badly wounded ? " He was immediately placed
in the berth of poor Watt. And Captain Lawrence,
who, on receiving his wound had been conveyed, in
consequence of the shattered state of his cabin, to the
Chesapeake's wardroom, remained there — in four

THE CAPTURE OF THE " CHESAPEAKE." 77
days to breathe his last. The Americans, in full
confidence of victory, had provided several hundred
pairs of handcuffs for the English. " With their
own " (as Admiral Wallis quaintly remarks) " they
were now ornamented."
At this moment the ships were lying not, perhaps,
more than pistol-shot asunder, with their heads
towards the eastward. The action was over. The
companion vessels of the Chesapeake slowly and
sadly steered back to Boston. The sun went down
over the blood-stained waters of the bay ; and in the
twilight interval between his setting and the moon's
uprising, which that night lighted the British the
first stage of their triumphant voyage to Halifax,
the slain were committed to the deep — in the sublime
language of the Church of England Liturgy, "to
be turned into corruption, looking for the resurrec
tion of the body, when the sea shall give up her
dead " — tenderly, yet quickly ; sadly, and with few
words. This done, the rigging was knotted, the
masts fished, and the decks partially washed. The
Shannons then divided. Half of her choicest
officers — Falkiner, Smith, Raymond, Leake, and
Johns — going on board the prize ; the rest, with
their now unconscious captain, remaining on board
the Shannon. So, full in sight of hundreds of
Americans thronging the highlands of Gloucester
and Cape Anne, the two ships, having shaped their
course for Halifax, slowly receded from the land.

78 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
and from the sight of the afflicted inhabitants of
Boston.

Before proceeding to relate a few anecdotes of
the action, I propose to give a short extract from
the American report of the court-martial on the
loss of their frigate, which concludes thus : —
"This court respectfully begs leave to superadd,
that, unbiassed by any illiberal feeling towards the
¦enemy, they feel it their duty to state, that the
conduct of the enemy, after boarding and carrying
the Chesapeake, was a most unwarrantable abuse of
power after success.
" The court is aware that in carrying a ship
by boarding, the full extent of the command of an
officer cannot be readily exercised, and that improper
violence may unavoidably ensue. When this happens
in the moment of contention, a magnanimous
conquered foe will not complain. But the fact has
been clearly established before this court, that the
¦enemy met with little opposition on the upper
deck, and none on the gun-deck. Yet, after they
had carried the ship, they fired from the gun-deck
down the hatchway upon the berth-deck, and killed
and wounded several of the Chesapeake's crew, who
had retreated there, were unarmed and incapable of
making any opposition ; that some balls were fired
even into the cockpit ; and what excites the utmost

THE CAPTURE OF THE "CHESAPEAKE." 79
abhorrence, this outrage was committed in the
presence of a British officer standing at the
hatchway. " W. Bainbridge, President."
The incident referred to here was undoubtedly a
painful one, but it is only necessary to call the
reader's attention to the actual and unquestionable
facts, as stated on p. 75 of this present volume, to
show how grossly it has been misrepresented in the
American account just given.
Anecdotes of the Action.
Between three and four o'clock in the afternoon
of this 1st of June, the officers of the Shannon
bivouacked for their last dinner on the quarterdeck.
The cabins were cleared away for action, the ship
was standing out to sea, a screen of canvas had
been run up and the commissioned officers invited
to join their captain at his improvised table. There
had been some slight misunderstanding and conse
quent coolness between two of his lieutenants which
had pained Broke much, and he embraced the op
portunity of reconciling them. Those were the
good old days of taking wine with each other, in token
of mutual friendship. When the cloth was cleared
away, and before the wine was removed, Broke rose
and thus addressed his guests : " Well, gentlemen, no

80 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
doubt we shall shortly be in action. It will be a satis- .
faction to me if we all take wine with each other,
and shake hands all round, before we go to quarters."
As this custom of " taking wine " has quite gone
out of use, except among the few survivors of the
first quarter of the present century, I may mention
that it was considered a mark of especial regard
and friendship ; and many are the quarrels, both
in the army and navy, which have been at once
prevented by this simple formula, e.g. —
Admiral W. : " Captain Jones, a glass of wine ? "
Captain J. : "I shall feel honoured, Admiral."
Admiral W. : " Will you join us. Captain Davis ? "
Captain D. : " With the greatest pleasure, sir."
And then the parties simultaneously raised their
glasses, bowed, and smiling graciously to each
other, drained them, and J. and D. became friends
again. So was it on board the Shannon about four
hours only before the death of one of the officers
thus reconciled.
This action on the part of Captain Broke is
almost parallel with that of Nelson at the battle of
Trafalgar, related in Southey's Life, and his descrip
tion of which it will be convenient to repeat. Admiral
Collingwood had gone on board the Victory with
some of the captains to receive instructions, when
Nelson inquired of him where his captain was.
Collingwood, in reply, said : " We are not upon good
terms with each other." " Terms ! " said Nelson,

THE CAPTURE OF THE "CHESAPEAKE." 81
"good terms with each other ! " and immediately sent
a boat for Captain Rotherham. As soon as he arrived
Nelson led him to Collingwood, saying, "Look! yonder
are the enemy ! " and bade them shake hands like
Englishmen. As an instance of presence of mind it is related
that, after Captain Broke had been laid low from the
effect of the wounds inflicted upon him, one of his
antagonists, who had fallen by his side, made a final
effort to kill Broke outright, and managed to get
uppermost in a faint struggle. He had in his hand
a bayonet, and his arm was outstretched ready to
strike, when one of the Shannon's marines, John
Hill, drew near. He did not, however, recognise
friend from foe ; and, thinking that the enemy must
be the man who was undermost, was about to thrust
his bayonet into his own commander, when the latter
said, "Pooh, you fool ! don't you know your captain ? "
The next second Hill had made his thrust, but it was
through the American.
The brave but unfortunate Lawrence, while being
carried to the wardroom of the Chesapeake, mortally
wounded, said, "Don't give up the ship," and it
would appear that he repeated these words when
delirious from his wounds. He was gentle and docile
during the few days that were left to him, and fully
anticipated his fate, which he met with the quiet

82 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
resignation of a brave man. He had behaved most
humanely to captive foes, and his worth and gal
lantry have never found a detractor in any British
writer. The dying words here quoted are inscribed
on his monument in Trinity Churchyard, Broadway,
New York.
Lieutenant Ludlow, of the Chesapeake, who was
lying severely wounded on the Shannon, and doomed
in a few days to die, won the esteem of the British by
rebuking one of his brother-officers who wished to
throw an erroneous gloss over the capture. " Let
me hear," said he, " no more of it while we are
aboard this ship. We were fairly beaten." The
stone which has been raised to the memory of
Lawrence is also inscribed to the memory of this
his favourite lieutenant.
James Bulger, one of the seamen of the Shannon,
boarded without arms, or rather unarmed. His ex
cuse was, " I knew I should find plenty lying about
her decks." He afterwards picked up a boarding
pike, with which he seems, from his own account,
to have set to work in great earnest.
When, as previously related, Midshipman Smith
of the Shannon boarded the Chesapeake off the fore-
yard of the Shannon, the last of the Americans
who fled down the topmast backstay to the deck was

THE CAPTURE OF THE "CHESAPEAKE." 83
one of the midshipmen of the Chesapeake. He
was followed so closely by Smith that the latter
alighted upon him and tumbled him over on the
deck, at which he was so alarmed that he begged
to have his life spared. Captain Broke, who was
then being led, very seriously wounded, close by the
spot, took the middy with him by the collar, and
so saved his life.
The result of the action had been prophesied in
the Naval Chronicle, some months previously, in the
following lines : —
" And as the war they did provoke.
We'll pay them with our cannon :
The first to do it will be Broke,
In the gallant ship the Shannon."
Many British subjects were found on board the
Chesapeake, who had helped to resist the boarders
from the Shannon ; indeed, the men who attacked
and wounded Captain Broke were British subjects.
Some were traitors, and these, no doubt, fought
desperately even against their own countrymen,
knowing that, if captured, they could not expect a
better fate than death. Wallis says : " My recollec
tion of the traitors found on board the Chesapeake is
simply this — that there were five, one of whom was
subsequently executed, and the other four sentenced
to be flogged round the fleet ; but I do not remember
names. There were also many of her crew who had

84 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
belonged to our navy, receiving their discharge when
the war commenced, upon claiming American citizen
ship. Amongst the wounded were some of these, who
surprised Dr. Rowlands,* when dressing their wounds,
by asking him if he did not remember them as former
shipmates." The Shannon was, it is believed, steered into action
by James Coull, who had been present at the battle
of Trafalgar, and who was now a petty officer and
volunteer. He received in the wrist a ball which
traversed his arm, but stuck to his post, and after
wards formed one of the boarding party, receiving
a wound in the head while scrambling on board.
His arm was subsequently amputated, but for many
years he continued to .go to sea, and ultimately
died on October 1st, 1880, in the ninety -fifth year
of his age. He was buried at Montrose, and, as
an instance of the pride which is still fe"lt in the
famous achievement of the Shannon, it may be
mentioned that his remains were interred with full
military honours by detachments from both branches
of the service, the coffin being borne by the coast
guard and a farewell volley fired. As an additional
mark of respect, the shipping in the harbour ex
hibited colours at half-mast. There are many who
will remember the portrait of his weather-beaten
* Surgeon at the Naval Hospital at Halifax.

^jlfLjljlOjl

THE SITE OF THE BATTLE WAS MARKED ON THIS CHART BY
SIR PROVO WALLIS.

Fage 86.

THE CAPTURE OF THE "CHESAPEAKE." 87
countenance which was exhibited last year at the
Royal Naval Exhibition.
A great deal of controversy has taken place over
a period of many years, between English and
American writers, as to the relative strengths of the
Shannon and the Chesapeake. By clever manipula
tion of figures as to displacement, weight, nature
and destructive power of projectiles — by giving
prominence to those points which seem to be in
their favour and rendering obscure those which would
tell against them, and in other ways, Americans
have tried, not unnaturally perhaps, to minimise
the brilliancy of the success which the Shannon
obtained. The discussion seems unlikely to end,
for quite recently there appeared in an American
magazine an article attempting to disparage the
Shannon's victory, and soon after, in another number
of the same magazine, a criticism from one of her
supporters. After the lapse of so many years it is,
¦of course, impossible to suppose that those who renew
these discussions are actuated by any feeling of
hostility or resentment, which must have died long
since. We still glory in the Shannons achievement,
and no one perhaps knows better than Sir Provo
Wallis how American naval men can themselves
talk with admiration of the good old English ship
-and her officers.
The Americans of Boston itself sumptuously enter-

88 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
tained Sir Provo, as an officer of the Shannon, Avhen
in later years he was commanding the Niemen on
the North American coast, and subsequently, on his
visiting Boston again in 1846, and when, it is believed
for the first time, " Yankee doodle " and " God save
the Queen " were played one immediately after the
other. Sir Provo in the same friendly spirit had
long before said : " Lawrence displayed great skill
and tactics when closing with us to prevent our fire,
which, however, we did not attempt, for Broke had
given orders not to fire whilst the gallant fellow kept
his head towards us," and there can be no doubt that
the gallantry of this noble man, which had earned for
him the name of " the American Nelson," has ever
been admired by our own countrymen.
I shall not attempt here to maintain any posi
tion that may appear to have been weakened by
attack in the discussions to which I have referred,,
but leave those who are sufficiently interested
to investigate the .circumstances for themselves,
merely remarking that, as there are many works
dealing with the subject in both countries, a good
deal of time will be occupied in the task. It
will, however, not be out of place for me to say
that, so far as my investigations have carried me,
and they have been fairly exhaustive, no doubt
is left on my mind that even though Broke, by his
capable management, had undoubtedly got his men
into a very high state of efficiency, the vessels.

THE CAPTURE OF THE "CHESAPEAKE." 89
were not quite equally matched, and that such
advantage as there was rested with the Chesapeake,
possessing as she did a much greater number of
men, and being of at least equal power and better
fitted for the action : indeed, had it not been so, it
is difficult to understand why the Americans should
have been so confident of her success. That they
were even jubilant over the prospect of victory for
their vessel is clearly shown by what appears in
this volume, and by the following extract from re
marks made by Mr. Rush, the LTnited States Minister
himself. He says : —
" The Chesapeake, it is true, was captured. The
English captain won his prize gallantly ; let no
American gainsay this. We heard how the achieve
ment was hailed in England, the more as it had
been preceded' by a series of encounters terminating
differently. But with whatever satisfaction received
there, I cannot think it equalled the opposite feeling
in the Ignited States. I remember (what American
does not.P) the first rumour. of it. I remember the
startling sensation. I remember at first the uni
versal incredulity. I remember how the post-offices
were thronged for successive days with anxious thou
sands ; how collections of citizens rode out for
miles on the highway, accosting the mail to catch
something by anticipation. At last, when the
certainty was known, I remember the public gloom."
The action, it is perhaps needless to say, was in

90 AD2IIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
both countries made the subject of many poems and
rhymes, most of which were more remarkable for the
bitter feeling they expressed than for their elevated
tone. There is not sufficient space here to set any of
them out at length, but I will extract a few verses from
a poem by a naval officer, Lieutenant M. Montague,
R.N., after I have inserted a rather smart impromptu,
which was written as soon as it was known that the
Bostonians had made preparations to entertain the
victors and vanquished at dinner : —
Impromptu.
" The bold Chesapealce
Came out on a freak,
And swore she'd soon silence our cannon ;
While the Yankees in port
Stood to laugh at the sport,
And see her tow in the brave Shannon.
Quite sure of the game.
As from harbour they came,
A dinner and wine they bespoke :
But for meat they got balls
From our staunch wooden walls,
And the dinner engagement was — Broke."
HXTEACT FROM LIEUTENANT MONTAGUE'S PoEM.
" The hero heard the joyful sounds
As, bleeding fast with ghastly wounds,
All faint and pale he fell ;
And as his sailors bare him down,
' Cheer up ! ' said he, ' the day's your own,
My wounds will soon be well.'
Exhausted nature would no more-
Let balmy rest the chief restore.
And soothe his anguish'd pain :

THE CAPTURE OF THE "CHESAPEAKE." 91
Meanwhile brave Wallis may supply
His Captain's place and Falkiner vie
In skill, nor vie in vain.
Go then, Columbia ! boast no more,
But weep your short liv'd triumphs o'er ;
Your Chesapeake is lost !
This day our British tars have shown,
With skill and valour all their own.
How poor, how false your boast."
This justly celebrated action, which has been truth
fully described as one rarely equalled and never sur
passed, undoubtedly had a far-reaching effect, and
might indeed be said to have virtually put an end
to that unhappy war, which fortunately has not yet
been, and which every one must hope never will be,
renewed. The news of the victory was received in England
at the same time as that of Wellington's success at
Vittoria, and there was of course great rejoicing over
the double event, one of the toasts being " An English
Broke and an Irish river."
It would, perhaps, be wearying to prolong this
account of the most important conflict in which
Wallis was ever engaged, so much having already
been written upon it by various historians ; and
having now placed before the reader those particulars
of it which I have thought would be most interesting,
I will turn my attention a little more closely to our
hero himself, who, while having so many of his com
panions cut down by his side, had come out of the
conflict without injury. 6

THE VOYAGE TO HALIFAX AND RECEP
TION THERE.

CHAPTER V.
THE VOYAGE TO HALIFAX AND RECEPTION THERE
IT was after the battle was over that the trial of
Wallis commenced. His brave captain having
been struck down and the first lieutenant killed, Wallis
was left in control of two ships, crowded with dead
and wounded, upon an enemy's coast, with formidable
hostile cruisers probably not far distant, and with
prisoners who would be but too glad of the oppor
tunity of avenging the deaths of their comrades ; added
to which were the dangers of navigating what has
been described as the most dangerous part of the
American coast.
Wallis was young to undertake the serious re
sponsibility which thus devolved upon hun — of
keeping in safety the Shannon and her prize during
a voyage of some days until the harbour at Halifax

96 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
should be reached. He was then but twenty-two years
of age, and the risks involved in his task were such as
might well have caused an older and more experienced
man no little anxiety. He fully felt the burden which
rested upon him, and proved himself worthy of his
position. He says that during the whole voyage,
which lasted nearly six days, he scarcely slept, and
never once changed or removed his clothes, so deeply
concerned was he regarding the safety of the vessels,
until they arrived at their destination. His efforts
were ably supported by Lieutenant Falkiner, to whose
charge he had entrusted the Chesapeake immediately
after the conclusion of the action, and on the 6th of
June, 1813, both ships were safely brought to anchor
in Halifax harbour.
It has often occurred to me, that of all the striking
scenes of which the great ocean has been the voiceless
witness, this short voyage of five days and nights
must have been one of the most impressive to the
contemplative mind. The Shannon and Chesapieake
were within signalling distance of each other. From
on board the victorious but silent Shannon, the dead
Watt, Aldham, Dunn, and their comrades, had been
consigned to the great deep. All hands were earnestly
employed in repairing damages and exchanging
prisoners, but not a voice above the ordinary tone
was heard, for the gallant Broke lay in his own cabin,
on the verge of insensibility from loss of blood, and
the order " Silence fore and aft " had been issued

i':»'

LIEUTENANT rROVO WALLIS
\T THE TIME OF HIS VK'TOKluL'S ENTRY INTM HALIFAX IIAKB.JUB.

Page 97.

VOYAGE TO HALIFAX AND RECEPTION THERE. 99
at the suggestion of Dr. Jack. On the Chesapeake
her former captain, but yesterday a tower of strength
and in the prime of manhood, was dying of wounds
inflicted by those who now exerted themselves to the
utmost to save him from their effect. In silent pro
cession, with such solemnity on board, the good ships
travelled on their errand of mercy to the wounded,
and with the glorious news of victory for the millions
who would rejoice to receive it.
During the voyage the brave Lawrence died of his
wounds, and Wallis was once alarmed by the approach
of ships, which fortunately proved to be friends,
though at first believed to be enemies. It has been
related, too, that the prisoners on board the Chesa
peake planned a rising to recapture that ship. It
is said that one evening the gunner was observed
supplying the officers' cabins with arms and ammuni
tion. "Why," exclaimed  , "you do not suppose
we could think of rising after you have treated us so
kindly ? " " You may rise as soon as you please ; you
see we are ready for you," was the blunt reply.
Commander Raymond, who, on the Shannon, was
one of the combatants in the action, and was on
board the Chesapeake during her voyage to Halifax,
Confirms the story of this intended rising in a letter
written to me some years since ; but Admiral Wallis
states, in one of his communications, that if such
an attempt was made it was never reported to him
by Lieutenant Falkiner.

100 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
The voyage was not otherwise eventful, but the
following account of it will be interesting because
coming from Admiral Wallis himself He says : —
" After finding that my captain was hors de combat
and the first lieutenant killed, my first care was to
get the prisoners secured, which was an easy matter,
as the Chesapeake had upon deck some hundreds of
handcuffs in readiness for us. So we ornamented
them with their own manacles.
" Having at 10 p.m. knotted the rigging, fished
the masts, and cleaned up our decks, we made sail
and ran off shore until daylight of the 2nd, and then
hove to, to complete our necessary repairs, after
which we shaped a course for Halifax. On our way
thither we fell in with the Sceptre, seventy-four, and
Loire frigate. The weather at the time was thick,
and until we exchanged numbers I was not a little
alarmed, thinking they might be the President and
Congress, who were cruising, it was said, in our
track. Having ascertained who they were, I tele
graphed, — ' We have many wounded ; do not detain
us, as I am anxious to get them into hospital.'
" Nothing else occurred worth notice until we
reached Sambro' lighthouse, off the harbour of Hali
fax, on the 4th June, when Captain Lawrence of the
Chesapeake died of his wounds. Unfortunately, a
dense fog kept us out until Sunday, the 6th, but on
the morning of that day the fog lifted a little and we
got a glimpse of the harbour's mouth, and in the

VOYAGE TO HALIFAX AND RECEPTION THERE. 101
afternoon reached our anchorage. As we passed
the wharves, the whole population seemed to have
turned out to welcome us with hearty cheers ; and
ships in port received us with yards manned, bands
playing, etc. With regard to the occurrences on
shore, Judge Haliburton's account will be better than
anything I could tell you. Immediately we had
anchored the wounded were sent to the hospital,
and Captain Broke to the Commissioner's house in
the dockyard, where he remained until the Shannon
was ordered for England. Shortly after our arrival
the first lieutenant of the Chesapeake (Ludlow) died
of his wounds. Both Lawrence and he were buried
at Halifax with military honours ; but, shortly after
wards, the American Government sent a cartel to
Halifax asking for their remains. The request met
with a ready compliance, and they were taken to the
United States, where they were reinterred with great
pomp." Sir Provo adds — " On the day following our
action, Captain Lawrence expressed a wish to see our
surgeon, who was immediately sent to him, and his
report was that he found Lawrence mortally wounded.
All that passed between them was — 'Doctor, what
is your opinion of my wounds ? ' Mr. Jack (our
surgeon) replied, 'Sir, I grieve to tell you that I
cannot entertain a hope of your recovery.' Lawrence
was perfectly composed, but made no reply, and died
on June 4th, the day we sighted Sambro' lighthouse.

102 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
Ludlow did not die for a vreek or more subsequently
at the Naval Hospital. Ludlow's death was unex
pected, for he had been making rapid progress
towards recovery, but a sudden change in his head-
wound carried him off. He was a very noble-minded
man, and I have a vivid recollection of a conversation
I had with him one day whilst sitting by his bedside
(which was my daily custom after his wounds had
been dressed), at the close of which he remarked,
' Well, I must say it was a gloriously fair stand-up
fight. I fully expected a different result : the day,
however, contrary to expectation, was nobly won by
yourselves, and now behold how different is our lot ;
nevertheless, I hope to live, and should like to try it
again.' "
The condition of Captain Broke upon the arrival
of the ships at Halifax was most critical. Part of
his skull had been hewn away, and the brain remained
open to view. His friend, Commissioner Wodehouse,
came on board, and having seen him returned to the
deck, and leaning on the Shannon's capstan avowed,
with a generous burst of sorrow, his belief that Broke
could never recover. Said Wallis, " Leave it to me ;
have his room ready in an hour, and I'll answer for
his being there." Wodehouse, inspired by this confi
dence, departed on his errand. "Now, Sir," said
Wallis to his almost exhausted commander, " I want
you freed from all this noise and disturbance. I have

VOYAGE TO HALIFAX AND RECEPTION THERE. 103
had everything prepared, iiad I want to take you
on shore." "Do with me as you please," was the
gentle answer of the brave man ; and immediately
the lashings of the cot were severed, and the Shannons
chosen for the honoured task tenderly bore their
commander on deck, and then as gently lowered him
over the side into the boat his young lieutenant had
carefully prepared for his reception.
Among the many touching incidents which at
tended the gallant Shannons victorious return to
Halifax, was predominantly the reception of Wallis by
his family and the friends who had known him from
boyhood, and who were now proud of him indeed.
In the crowd of strangers and friends which, on
that Sunday evening of the Shannon's entry, hurried
down to the King's Wharf to meet the victors on their
arrival, was Wallis's townsman and friend, Thomas C.
Haliburton, who was not then more than seventeen
years of age. Many years afterwards, when he had
passed his seventieth year, and but one year before
his death, we were on a visit together in Suffolk, as
the guests of the late Admiral Sir George Broke-
Middleton, the then sole surviving son of the captain
of the Shannon, and visited Broke Hall, Nacton, where
the figure-head of the Shannon, a colossal female
bust, ornamented with a necklace of gilded roundlets,
had found a resting-place. I well remember the deep
emotion with which this eminent man regarded the

104 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
relic. "Fifty years ago I pulled beneath it in my
boat, a boy of seventeen, and now  ." The sen
tence remained unfinished by him, but was not the
less understood by the bystanders. Many and most
interesting were his reminiscences of the Anglo-
American war, and at the request of our host he
recorded the impressions made on him by the arrival
of the Shannon in a letter, which is that referred to
by Sir Provo in his account of the journey to
Halifax just given. Judge Haliburton's letter is as
follows : — " Gordon House, Islevs'orth, June Ist, 1864.
"My DEAR Sir George, —
" I have received your note requesting me to
state my reminiscences of the arrival at Halifax
(Nova Scotia) of H.M.S. the Shannon, with her prize
the Chesapeake. I have much pleasure in complying
with your wishes ; but, more than fifty years having
elapsed since that event, I can now only recall to
my mind some few of the leading incidents that at
that time impressed themselves on my youthful
imagination. " The action was fought on the 1st June, 1813,
and on the Sunday following the ships reached the
harbour of Halifax. I was attending divine service
in St. Paul's Church at that time, when a person was
seen to enter hurriedly, whisper something to a friend
in the garrison pew, and as hastily withdraw. The

VOYAGE TO HALIFAX AND RECEPTION THERE. 105
effect was electrical, for, whatever the news was, it
flew from pew to pew, and one by one the congrega
tion left the church. My own impression was that
there was a fire in the immediate vicinity of St.
Paul's ; and the movement soon became so general
that I, too, left the building to inquire into the cause
of the commotion. I was informed by a person in
the crowd that ' an English man-of-war was coming
up the harbour with an American frigate as her
prize.' By that time the ships were in full view, near
George's Island, and slowly moving through the
water. Every housetop and every wharf was crowded
with groups of excited people, and, as the ships
successively passed, they were greeted with vociferous
cheers. Halifax was never in such a state of excite
ment before or since. It had witnessed in former
days the departure of General Wolfe for an attack
on Louisburg, with a fleet of 140 sail, and also his
triumphant return. In later years the people had
assisted in fitting out the expedition, under Sir
George Prevost, for the capture of Martinique and
Guadaloupe ; but nothing had ever excited the Hali-
gonians like the arrival of these frigates. It was no
new thing to see a British man-of-war enter the port
with a prize of equal or greater size than herself;
they regarded success as a matter of course. When,
therefore, the news came, some time previously, of
the capture of the Guerriere by the Constitution,
men were unwilling to believe it, considering such

106 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
an event as simply impossible. I can well remember
the gloom that hung over the community when the
official account was received. In common with all
others, old and young, although I participated in the
general sorrow that event occasioned, I was not sur
prised ; for, though unable myself to judge of the
cause of the defeat, I had heard an experienced old
friend of mine (the Hon. S. B. Robie) foretell the
occurrence of disasters when our frigates should en
counter those of the United States. He said the
latter had the scantling of seventy-fours, and were
equal to sixty-gun ships ; that they were built with
remarkable strength, mounted heavier and more guns
than our ships of the same nominal rate, and were
commanded by very experienced officers. He added
that the American Governn'ent, by suddenly placing
an embargo on all the shipping in their ports, had the
seamen of the whole mercantile marine of their coun
try at their disposal, and were thus enabled to man
their little navy with crews of picked men ; while the
system they had adopted of seducing, by means of
extravagant bounties, the most skilled gunners to
desert from our ships, supplied their men-of-war with
a class of able-bodied and disciplined seamen who
would fight like demons, as the gallows awaited them
if taken prisoners.
" In addition to all these disadvantages, our naval
officers, he said, held their enemies too cheap, and
would some day be awakened to a knowledge of their

H.M.S. "SHANNON"
LEADING HEB PRIZE, THE AilERICAN FRIGATE "CHESAPEAKE," INTO
HALIFAX HARBOUR, ON THE 6TH JNE, 1813.

Fage 107.

VOYAGE TO HALIFAX AND RECEPTION THERE. 109
fatal mistake. The people of Halifax were under the
same delusion as the navy, and equally ill-informed
and rashly confident. The encounter of the Guerriere
with the Constitution fully justified these forebodings
of my friend. The relative strength of those ships
was first made known after the a,ction, the former
mounting (if my memory serves me) only forty-nine
guns, with a complement of 263 men, while the latter
carried sixty guns, and had a crew of 450 men. The
action was fought with great gallantry on our part,
but with a Mant of discretion that, notwithstanding
this great disparity, was said to have occasioned the
loss of the ship. Other actions soon followed with
the same inequality, and with a similar fatal result.
It was, therefore, no wonder that the people of
Halifax were so elated by what they considered a
turn in the tide of luck, for it is now known that
the action of the Shannon and the Chesapeake was
the commencement of a series of signal victories.
It proved the absolute necessity of filling up the
crews of our fleet to their full complement, of in
troducing a stricter discipline, and maintaining a
greater state of efficiency.
"It soon became known in Halifax that the
ships now approaching were the Shannon and the
Chesapeake, and that the former was in charge of
Lieutenant Provo Wallis, a native of Halifax, who
was in temporary command in consequence of the
severe and dangerous wounds of her gallant captain.

110 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
This circumstance naturally added to the enthusiasm
of the citizens, for they felt that through him they
had some share in the honour of the achievement.
No one could have supposed that these ships had
been so recently engaged in mortal combat, for, as
they slowly passed up to the dockyard, they appeared
as if they had just returned from a cruise, their
rigging being all standing and wholly uninjured.
They were tolerably well ' matched in size, the
Chesapeake being only seventy tons larger than her
antagonist, and her broadside only fifty pounds
heavier. The greatest disparity was in their respec
tive crews, the American force outnumbering the
British by 110 men — a superiority which would pro
bably have proved fatal in a contest finally decided
by boarding, had not her losses in killed and wounded
reduced them to a nearer equality. Nor was the
American commander (Lawrence) inferior to his
opponent in courage and weight of character. He
had, a short time previously, while in command of
the U.S. sloop-of-war Hornet, captured, after a short
and gallant contest, the sloop-of-war Peacock, one
of the first ships of her class in the British navy.
The prestige of his name was such that the inhabit
ants of Boston regarded the capture of the Britisher,
who had so presumptuously challenged the Chesa
peake, as a matter of positive certainty. Lawrence
was especially popular with the American seamen,
who, when they heard he had received the command

VOYAGE TO HALIFAX AND RECEPTION THERE. Ill
of the Chesapeake, flocked to his standard in great
numbers from all the adjacent ports, and enabled
him not only to fill up the full complement of the
ship's crew with picked men, but to add to their
number many additional volunteers selected from the
best seamen in the eastern states. No ship ever left
an American port so fully and ably manned as this
frigate. So entirely did the people of Boston antici
pate an easy and a speedy victory, that they prepared
a banquet for the captors on their return from the
conflict, to which they magnanimously resolved to
invite Captain Broke and his officers. The wharf
from which the last boat was despatched to the ship
was crowded with an excited and exulting throng,
who cheered their departing countrymen. The feel
ing of confident triumph was, with one exception,
unanimous. A negro in the crowd, who had spent
the greater part of his life about the dockyard of
Halifax, observing in the boat a coloured friend, gave
vent to his humour or patriotism by saying, ' Good
bye, Sam ; you is going to Halifax before you comes
back to Bosting ; give my lub to requiring friends,
and tell 'em I is berry well.' For this harmless but
inappropriate sally he was instantly thrown into the
dock, amid the execrations and derision of the en
raged citizens, and narrowly escaped with his life.
"Of the action it would be presumption in me
to speak. You are in possession of official docu
ments and authentic details, while all I know about
7

112 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
it is what I heard after the arrival of the belligerents
in the harbour. In fifteen minutes after the first
broadside was fired both ships were under weigh
for Halifax, the Shannon leading the way and her
prize following. The Bay of Boston at the time
was filled with schooners, sloops, and sail-boats, to
witness the combat ; and the adjoining headlands,
between the scene of action and Cape Cod, were
crowded with people striving to catch a glimpse of
the capture of the British frigate. When it was
observed that she was in advance, and the Chesapeake
following, it was unanimously agreed that she was
endeavouring to escape, and that the latter was in
full chase. The event was hailed with every noisy
demonstration of joy, and was communicated to the
city, where the only fear entertained was that she
would not overtake her flying foe in time for the
victorious officers to partake of the splendid banquet
which had been provided for them. It was the last
view the Bostonians were ever destined to have of
their frigate, which had fulfilled the prophecy of the
negro, and gone to visit Halifax.
" As soon as possible after the vessels had anchored
near the dockyard there, a young friend and myself
procured a boat and pushed off, to endeavour to
obtain permission to visit them. We were refused
admission to the Shannon, in consequence of Captain
Broke requiring quiet and repose on account of his
severe wounds, but were more fortunate in obtaining

VOYAGE TO HALIFAX AND RECEPTION THERE. 113
access to the Chesapeake. Externally she looked,
as I have already said, as if just returned from a
short cruise ; but internally the scene was one never
to be forgotten by a landsman. The deck had not
been cleaned (for reasons of necessity that were
obvious enough), and the coils and folds of ropes
were steeped in gore as if in a slaughter-house.
She was a fir-built ship, and her splinters had
wounded nearly as many men as the Shannon's shot.
Pieces of skin, with pendant hair, were adhering to
the sides of the ship ; and in one place I noticed
portions of fingers protruding, as if thrust through
the outer wall of the frigate ; while several of the
sailors, to whom liquor had evidently been handed
through the portholes by visitors in boats, were lying
asleep on the bloody floor as if they had fallen in
action and had expired where they lay. Altogether
it was a scene of devastation as difficult to forget
as to describe. It is one of the most painful
reminiscences of my youth, for I was but seventeen
years of age, and it made upon me a mournful
impression that, even now, after a lapse of half
a century, remains as vivid as-ever.
" The guns of the Chesapeake had all names given
to them, which were painted in large white letters,
such as 'Free Trade,' 'Sailors' Rights,' 'Bloody
Murder,' ' Sudden Death,' ' Nancy Dawson,' etc. In
looking back on these arrangements, one cannot
help regarding with a feeling of contempt this

114 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.CB.
incessant and vulgar appeal to popular prejudice,
now so common among the Americans. The two first
mottoes, ' Free Trade ' and ' Sailors' Rights,' are
those which the Yankees have the least pretence of
any civilised community on earth to claim to respect
or protect. In trade they are close protectionists,
and ever have been ; and as for ' Sailors' Rights,'
it is well known that there is more tyranny, op
pression, and cruelty practised towards seamen in
their navy and mercantile marine than in that of
all other nations of the world combined. I observed
on the quarterdeck the figure of a large man
wrapped up in the American flag. I was told it
was the corpse of the gallant Captain Lawrence,
who fell in the discharge of his duty, and whose
last words are reported to have been, ' Don't give
up the ship.' He was buried at Halifax with all the
respect due to his bravery and his misfortune.
"With the subsequent history of the Chesapeake,
you are better acquainted than myself. She remained
a long time in the harbour of Halifax, and finally pro
ceeded to England, where she was broken up.
" The annals of the British navy furnish numerous
instances of gallant frigate actions, but that of the
Shannon and Chesapeake is equalled by few, and sur
passed by none, while its consequences and effects on
the subsequent events of the war render it, in my
opinion, the most important one on record.
*' The name of Broke will ever be regarded with

VOYAGE TO HALIFAX AND RECEPTION THERE. 115
pride and pleasure by that service of which he was so
distinguished a member ; and it must be a great grati
fication to his family and friends to know that that
feeling is fully participated in by a grateful country.
" I am, my dear Sir George,
" Yours always,
" Thomas C. Haliburton."

The following tribute paid to the British, by that
charming and well-known American writer, Washing
ton Irving, in his biography of Captain Lawrence,
which was written shortly after Lawrence's death, is
well worth repetition here, and will perhaps make a
fitting close to this chapter. He says : —
" With feelings that swell our hearts, do we notice
the honours paid to the brave Lawrence, at Halifax.
When the ships arrived in port, a generous concern
was expressed for his fate. The recollection of his
humanity towards the crew of the Peacock was still
fresh in every mind. His obsequies were celebrated
with appropriate ceremonials, and an affecting
solemnity. His pall was supported by the oldest
captains in the British service that were in Halifax ;
and the naval officers crowded to yield the last sad
honours to a man who was late their foe, but now their
foe no longer. There is a sympathy between gallant
souls that knows no distinction of clime or nation.
They honour in each other what they feel proud of in

116 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
themselves. The group that gathered round the grave
of Lawrence presented a scene worthy of the heroic
days of chivalry. It was a complete triumph of the
nobler feelings over the savage passions of war. We
know not where most to bestow our admiration, — on
the living, who showed such generous sensibility to
departed virtue, or on the dead, in being worthy of such
obsequies from such spirits. It is by deeds like these
that we really feel ourselves subdued. The conflict of
arms is ferocious, and triumph does but engender more
deadly hostility ; but the contest of magnanimity calls
forth the better feelings, and the conquest is over the
affections. We hope that in such a contest we may
never be outdone ; but that the present unhappy war
may be continually softened and adorned by similar
acts of courtesy and kindness on either part, thus
sowing among present hostilities the quickening seeds
of future friendship."

THE TRACK WAS MARKED ON THIS CHART EY SIR PROVO WALLIS.

VI.
AT HALIFAX— THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF
THE ACTION OF THE "SHANNON"
AND " CHESAPEAKE " — PROMOTION,
AND RETURN TO ENGLAND.

CHAPTER VI.
AT HALIFAX— THE OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE ACTION
OF THE "SHANNON" AND " CHESAPEAKE"— PRO-
MOTION, AND RETURN TO ENGLAND.
ON the morning following the arrival of the
Shannon at Halifax, the senior officer in port.
Captain the Hon. Bladen Capel, considering it desir
able that the report of the Shannon's engagement with
the Chesapeake should be forwarded to England as
soon as possible, requested Wallis, as being now the
senior officer in charge, to furnish an official account
of the action. Wallis hesitated, however, to undertake
this gratifying duty, because he was anxious Broke
should tell his own story. He says : " I could not
persuade myself to do this whilst there was a chance
of my dear captain's strength enabling him to write
with his own hand." He therefore informed Captain
Capel that he would be obliged to him if he would
wait a few days, and see whether Captain Broke

120 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P- WALLIS, G.C.B.
might not be able to dictate a letter. Capel replied,
" Very well, sir." Two days later Wallis was in
formed by Capel that he should send the Nova Scotia
brig, commanded by Lieutenant Bartholomew Kent,
to England on the 12th, and grant Lieutenant
Falkiner permission to take charge of the letter
which he expected Captain Broke would be enabled
to dictate. No further communication took place
between Capel and Wallis, and on the date last
mentioned the Nova Scotia sailed without Wallis
having seen the official letter which was taken in
her, and which bore Captain Broke's name as the
writer of it.
The official letter appears to have contained several
inaccuracies, and having regard to his chief's state
of health and the circumstances in which the letter
had been sent, Wallis for a long time was firmly con
vinced that it was a concoction of Capel and others.
He felt that he had been slighted by Capel, and in
after years took a great deal of trouble to ascertain
what was the true state of things in relation to the
letter, and corresponded with Capel himself on the
subject, when, as will be seen from the subjoined
letter, the latter admitted that Broke was not in a
fit state, for several days after his arrival at Halifax,
to give an account of the. action. Wallis also
obtained from Dr. Rowlands, the surgeon who attended
Broke, the certificate of which a copy is appended,
and which confirmed Wallis's impressions.

at halifax. 121
Letter from Captain Capel to Admiral
Wallis.
" June 19t7i, 1834.
" Dear Sir, —
" I really do not quite understand what it
is that you require of me to state (as far
as my recollection may serve me) relative to
the action between the Shannon and Chesa
peake. In your letter of the 13th inst. you
say : ' All I can ask of you is a statement
that Sir P. Broke was not in a state (for
several days) to give me an account of the
action.' I can, of course, have no hesitation
in stating that such was the fact ; but surely
you cannot expect that, after a lapse of twenty
years, I can recollect what conversations may
have passed between you and myself on that
occasion. I, therefore, cannot answer any of
the queries contained in your letter, which,
indeed, becomes unnecessary, as I have stated
all you require me to do, viz., that Sir P.
Broke was not in a state (for several days)
after his arrival at Halifax to give me an
account of the action.
" I am, very truly yours,
" Bladen Capel."

122 ADiMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
Certificate by Dr. Rowlands.
"These are to certify that I, the under
signed, David Rowlands, M.D., F.R.S., late
Surgeon of H.M. Naval Hospital at Halifax,
in Nova Scotia, was there when H.M.S.
Shannon arrived with her prize the American
frigate Chesapeake, on Sunday, June 6th, 1813 ;
the former was commanded by the present
Captain Wallis, owing to the dreadful wound
which Captain Broke had received in the
action with the enemy a few days previous.
On June 7th I was requested by Mr. Alexander
Jack, the surgeon of the Shannon, to visit
Captain Broke, confined to bed at the Com
missioner's house in the dockyard, and found
him in a very weak state, with an extensive
sabre wound on the side of the head, the brain
exposed to view for three inches or more ; he
was unable to converse save in monosyllables,
and I am sure totally unable to dictate or
write an account of the action for some time
afterwards, owing to his severe wounds, loss
of blood, and the shock his whole frame
must have experienced by the blow on the
head. " I continued to attend him twice a day
for weeks afterwards, in conjunction with Mr.
Jack, to whom every credit is justly due for his

AT HALIFAX. 123
skilful treatment and care in bringing his brave
captain on shore alive.
" I grant this certificate to Captain Wallis,
being called upon to do so by the death of
Mr. Jack, the surgeon.
" Given under my hand this 8th day of
December, 1841. "D. E0WI.ANDS, M.D."
It may be here remarked that although the official
report is dated on the day of the Shannon's arrival
at Halifax, it would appear from the conversation
between Captain Capel and Wallis, which took place
some days after, that it was not actually written on
that day.
Admiral King, who possessed a directly personal
knowledge of these occurrences, states that Broke
was greatly annoyed by the injustice which had been
done to Wallis, and by the inaccuracies which the
official letter contained.
In the end Wallis had, at least, the satisfaction of
ascertaining that the letter was not a concoction
as he had at first supposed, but had, in fact, been
sanctioned by Broke, although it seems clear that
he was not in a fit state to correct a long letter with
regard to its details. The letter was, in all pro
bability, to a great extent prepared from reports
made by some of his officers ; and, indeed, Broke
Jiimself appears to have stated that some of the errors

124 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
could be traced to officers who, for his amusement
while he was lying ill, had told him stories which
were embodied in the letter, although it was doubt
less not intended they should find a place there
by those who told them. It would also appear that
other errors arose from imperfect commitment to
paper of the facts as then related. Admiral Wallis
has since, in one of his letters to me, stated that it
is not his wish that any strictures should be noted
against the errors in the official letter, as they are
now fully accounted for ; but whether he ever forgot
the manner in which he was treated, in not being
consulted as to the contents of the letter, or selected
to carry it to England, is a question which cannot be
answered. It may be well to shortly state what the in
accuracies in the official letter were, as explained
by Admiral Wallis, as it will then be seen that while
they were sufficient to throw doubt on the authen
ticity of the letter, they were not of the first
importance, and the letter was, in fact, abundantlj
correct on graver matters.
The official report of Captain Broke says : " After
exchanging two or three broadsides, the enemy's ship
fell on board of us, her mizen-channels locking in
with our fore-rigging. I went forward to ascertain
her position, and, observing that the enemy were
flinching from their guns, I gave orders to prepare
for boarding.. Our gallant band appointed for that

AT HALIFAX. 125
purpose immediately rushed in under their respective
officers." The description by Admiral Wallis is as follows : — -
^' The cannonading continued for only eleven minutes,
when the Chesapeake, who had got before our beam,
was taken aback, and, making a stern board, dropped
into us just abaft our fore-channels. Broke, who
saw the confusion on board of her, ran forward,
calling out, ' Follow me who can,' and jumped on
board, supported by all who were within hearing. A
minute had hardly elapsed before the ships had
separated, and a general cry was then raised, ' Cease
firing,' and by the time I had got upon the quarter
deck from the aftermost part of our maindeck, the
ships had got so far asunder that it was impossible
to throw any more men on board of her. I must
here observe that no orders were given to prepare to
board, but the happy moment was seized as already
described." The official letter goes on to say: — "Having
received a severe sabre wound at the onset, while
charging a party of the enemy who had rallied on
their forecastle, I was only capable of giving com
mand till assured our conquest was complete ; and
then, directing Second-Lieutenant Wallis to take
charge of the Shannon and secure the prisoners, I
left the Third Lieutenant, Mr. Falkiner (who had
headed the maindeck boarders), in charge of the
prize " ; further, that " Lieutenants John and Law,
8

126 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
of the marines, boarded at the head of their re
spective divisions " ; and that " Mr. Smith, wha
commanded in our foretop, stormed the enemy's
foretop from the foreyard-arm, and destroyed all the
Americans remaining in it " ; and finall}^ that " both
ships came out of action in the most beautiful order,
their rigging appearing as perfect as if they had
only been exchanging a salute."
Sir Provo says : "It was mere invention Smith's
having stormed her foretop, but he did board her from
our foreyard, and slid down one of her backstays.
Neither did the officers of marines board, for when I
took command I found them there. It was equally
erroneous to say that the ships came out of action
as perfect as if they had only been exchanging a
salute, the fact being that our lower rigging was
all cut through, and the masts consequently un
supported, so that had any sea been on they would
have gone over the side. Finally, the story of Broke
having given me the orders to take the charge of
the Shannon and Falkiner the Chesapeake was
fabulous." The following is the recommendation of Wallis
and Falkiner for promotion which is contained in
the official report of the action : —
" I beg to recommend these officers most strongly
to the Commander-in-chiefs patronage for the
gallantry they displayed during the action, and the
skill and judgment with which they carried on

AT HALIFAX. 127
the anxious duties which afterwards devolved upon
them." Notwithstanding this recommendation Falkiner
was never promoted to the rank of captain, but took
it by retirement. Wallis considered that the Ad
miralty treated Falkiner badly in this respect, and
states that he was as gallant a fellow as ever lived,
and conducted the Chesapeake into the harbour
of Halifax highly to his satisfaction. Wallis was
more fortunate, and his promotion to the rank of
commander came quickly, although not before he
had taken another cruise in the Shannon as a
lieutenant. He says : —
" When the Shannon was refitted and ready for
sea, the port admiral (afterwards Sir E. Griffiths
Colpoys) sent for me, and after expressing his regret
that he could not any longer permit me to continue
in command of the Shannon, in accordance with
the rules of the service, informed me that he had
given Commander Senhouse, of the Martin, an
acting order as captain for a short cruise, as Broke
was too unwell to resume his duty. He was pleased
to add that, although there was not a doubt of my
promotion, still he did not officially know of it :
he therefore hoped (and told me it was Broke's
particular wish) that I should not have any objec
tion to do the duty of first lieutenant, as I was
perfectly aware of Broke's mode of government, and
that Senhouse ha'd promised to consult me. I did

128 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
remain. We sailed, and for a short time resumed
our old cruising ground off Boston. We detained
two Spanish ships, which did not, however, prove to
be prizes. Upon our return to Halifax my pro
motion, with a gratifying letter from the Admiralty,
relative to my conduct in the action with the
Chesapeake, was given to me, and Lieutenant Clark
replaced me in the Shannon."
Besides the letter of thanks from the Admiralty
Wallis received what he, perhaps, equally prized,
viz., a sword and pair of epaulettes from his captain,
accompanied by the following note : —
" Dear Wallis, —
" I send you a captain's sword, and hope
you will soon have the opportunity of drawing
it with success in the same cause which gave
you the rank. "lam, etc."
What the noble Broke thought of Wallis, whom in
after years he delighted to call " his dear shipmate,"
may be seen from the following testimonial, which
was given to Wallis after he had received his pro
motion : —
"This is to certify that Captain P. W. P.
Wallis served a year and a half as lieutenant of
Her Majesty's ship Shannon (then under my

AT HALIFAX. 129
command), and proved himself a most diligent,
zealous, and confidential officer, and more
particularly so in the action with the American
frigate Chesapieake in June 1813, when, by his
bravery and skilful management, he effected
important service, having the command of both
the Shannon and her prize on my being dis
abled by wounds. " P. B. V. Broive,
" Late Captain of H.M.S. ' Shannon.'
"Signed at Broke Hall, January l^th, 1815."
During the time Captain Broke was recovering
from his wounds sufficiently to enable him to leave
Halifax, he received assiduous attention from Wallis's
sister, then the wife of Lord James Townshend, who,
it will have been seen, commanded the Molus, one of
the companion ships of the Shannon during some of
her cruises after she was joined by Wallis. Captain
Broke has described Lady Townshend as "an un
affected, though pretty girl, and of sweet disposition."
At the time he received his wounds, Broke wore in his
bosom what in writing to his wife he describes as her
" little blue satin cover, with the cherished lock of
hair." This cover was stained with the captain's
blood, but the hair was preserved dry. Wallis had
removed the locket from his captain s neck after the
battle, and given it to his sister, Lady Townshend, to

130 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
be re-covered, and she, in making the new cover, imi
tated the original exactly, much to Captain Broke's
satisfaction. The original was retained by Wallis
for some time, and ultimately given by him to his
captain's son. Admiral Sir George Broke-Middleton,
to whom I have already referred.
While lying ill at Halifax, Captain Broke received
the following letters from his excellent wife, Louisa,
daughter of Sir William Middleton, Bart., of Shrub-
land Park, Suffolk : —
Lady Broije's Letters to her Husband on the
Capture of the " Chesapeake," 1813.* " Sunday.
"... Yesterday, Lady Nelson, hearing that I
was here, kindly came over to see me, and made
many inquiries after you. She is not looking so
well as when I saw her at Dawlish. She is going
from Exmouth to Teignmouth ibr a month, so I fear
I shall not see her again. I wished her to stay and
drive with me ; but she could not, on account of
Captain Nisbett, who still lives with her, and to
whom she devotes her whole time.
" I must hasten to finish this, my love, as I find
* It was the wish and intention of Sir G. Broke-Middleton that
these letters should have found their proper place in the memoir of
his father ; but they were not recovered until some years after its
publication. They may suitably be inserted here. Many of the names
mentioned therein will be familiar to the reader of history.

AT HALIFAX. 131
there is a convoy collecting at Torbay for America ;
the Talbot is one of the ships now there, and I shall
send this with some papers on board. The Martin,
I see, is also at Falmouth for the same destination.
How provoking that after all your care Rodgers with
Congress should make their escape, also that
Chesapeake should get safe in ! Their usual good
fortune attends them. / trust it will be your turn
next. After copying your order to Child for Mr. B.,
I forwarded it to him, as you desired, I feel much
obliged, but hope not to have occasion to draw upon
him beyond my quarter during your absence ; nothing
but to pay my expenses to come out to you could
induce me to do so, and that I Avould most readily
do to-morrow were it not for the hope of seeing you
home. I see the Cumberland and a large fleet have
arrived from the Leeward Islands ; but I fear I shall
not get letters by her. I told your good mother all
you told me respecting poor deserted Nacton ; but
you will have seen by my letters, long before you get
this, that Sir R. and Lady Harland are now in it,
while they are adding to Orwell. Indeed, I feel with
you that I should not be inclined immediately on
your return to begin afresh at Nacton : it will require
too much thought and attention. Our dear children
are all charmingly, and enjoy very much the hay-
fields, which are just now in high beauty and
fragrance ; and I am sure my beloved Philip will be
glad to hear that I frequently ride out on a very quiet

132 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
donkey, which is let out here, and which also carries
Mrs. Sutton. All my little party accompany me;
and with the aid of the servant, at hand to assist me
when I take fright, I do yery well. The country
about here is extremely beautiful, with nice, shady
lanes, which are delightful, — the banks and hedges
on each side lined with roses and honeysuckle, which
the dear little ones delight in bringing in abundance
for Mama. Indeed, had I but my dear Philip here,
I could be very happy ; but, with him, what place
would be otherwise ? Mrs. Sutton took Phil and
me to church with her, and took a little airing after.
The weather is now beautiful. I hope you have
enjoyed some fine of late. I yesterday heard from
Sophy Dashwood : she is with her father and sisters
at Weymouth, and wants much to persuade me to
come and take a lodging near them. Our dear
children unite in kindest love and kisses to their dear
Papa : and Willy says, ' Tell him to come home.^
Dear fellow, he neither wants to be told or reminded
of what is so near his heart. May God speedily
place him in a situation to do so, without reproach f
May He bless and preserve you in all happiness, for
the sake of —
" Your ever affectionate and anxious " Loo.
*' P.S. — Pray continue to write as much and as
frequently as you can, my beloved husband. I enclose

AT HALIFAX. 133
you a little watchcase I have had made for you. All
the cottagers are lace-makers, but have not tempted
me into any great extravagance hitherto."
"BUDLEIGH Salteeton, Juli/ llth, 1813.
" This has been a day of great trial to me, my
beloved husband. I went to church with Phil and
Loo in the morning, and Admiral and Mrs. Sutton
accompanied me. The newspapers we took in the
carriage were filled with joy and exultation at your
success ; and such praise bestowed in the House
by Mr. Croker and others on your gallant and noble
conduct as was almost too much for your Loo. It
was indeed most gratifying to me to hear you so
highly spoken and thought of by the whole country.
You will say it is enough to make me proud, — that I
ever was, and had reason to be, of you ; but, my
beloved Philip, is it true that you challenged the
' Chesapeake ' ? for the papers of to-day mention that
as being the case, and, not having heard so from
yourself, I know not whether to give credit to it or
not. Your official letter is not yet printed, but I
hope to see that to-morrow. I sent a few lines to
you yesterday by good Mrs. Samwell, to Plymouth,
as she was obliged to return home ; and I was anxious.
you should know I had received your letters, my
love, to 12th June. And I am preparing this to send
by Captain Swaine, who is still in Torbay, collecting
convoy for Halifax ; but long ere they reach that

134 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
port I trust you will be in England. How anxious
I am of later accounts of you, to know that you are
continuing to do well, your dear head healed, and
your strength repaired, and you ordered home I
What joy will that news give me ! Yet how long
will the time then appear till you arrive ! but I will
and must endeavour to be calm and patient, trusting
in a merciful Providence for His further support and
protection, ever grateful for His goodness in saving
so valuable a life, when in the midst of so many and
great dangers. I was happy in being able to-day
to offer up in the house of God my humble and un
feigned thanks to Him for this greatest of goodness
towards me. May I ever keep it in mind, and render
me more worthy of His love and yours ! Admiral
Sutton heard to-day from Captain Hotham to
1st June ; he was then well at Bermuda, with Sir J.
Warren and his squadron, who were to sail from
thence shortly for the American coast, carrying out
with them three thousand troops, the Diadem and
Diomede having joined them ; but learnt no news.
I sent many letters by Captain Hanchett to my
Philip, but know not if he touched at Halifax in his
way. I hope you will get letters enough from me to
amuse you during your stay at Halifax. How I wish
inyself there to nurse and attend upon you ; but it
will be too late to venture out now. God bless you !
I must go to rest : it is getting late.
" Motiday Evening. — The fisherman has just called

AT HALIFAX. 135
to say he goes this evening to Torbay, so I must
make haste and finish this for my beloved Philip.
Must just tell him to-day's paper says that Lord
Melville thought so highly of the action, or rather of
yourself and the officers of the Shannon, that as a
mark of it the two surviving lieutenants are to be
promoted to commanders, and the two middies who
boarded are to be the lieutenants of the Shannon, to
replace the above. I cannot help hoping, and have
little doubt, that Samwell is one. I shall rejoice if
it proves so. My Philip will, I know, be happy to
hear such are Lord Melville's intentions. I wish poor
King had been with you. I fully expected to have
heard from your dear mother to-day, but was disap
pointed ; I got no letters. Our dear children are all
well. Dear baby put into the sea this morning for
the_^rs^ time, and not the least alarmed. I trust it
will strengthen him. How I long to show him to his
father ! and trust he will smile on him as he doeg
on me. Dear Phil is only hoping you may be home
before his holidays are over, which will be about the
28th of this month. I think, if not summoned to
Plymouth before by you, to take him back to Ottery
on the 31st. I intend going from thence on the 4th
August, if Mrs. Samwell can get me a house in
George's Street by that time ; hers, I fear, will not
be ready, as the Admiral has not yet left it. He is
going to Buxton till Admiral Domett comes to suc
ceed. Dear Loo has not recovered her good plight

136 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
since the measles, but I hope soon will. Dear Willy
is getting on charmingly, though you must expect
still to see him but a little creature, possessed, thank
God! with charming spirits. You will not, I hope,
pass Plymouth without our seeing you ; if you cannot
stay there you must come and take us on board. Of
poor Mrs. Aldham I have not heard, but hope to do
so to-morrow through Mrs. Samwell. At this instant
the poor little boys of this village are illuminating a
little bridge opposite this house in honour of the
glorious event. And I am illuminating too ; but my
mind would be much easier if I could hear again, and
my beloved Philip was well. I must seal this up.
Heaven bless and protect you, and conduct you safe
into the arms of your ever affectionate — "Loo.
" The dear children send kindest love and kisses."
"BuDLEiGH Salteeton, July I8th, 1813.
" I have for the last week, my beloved Philip,
received so many congratulations on your safety and
success that I have been writing three or four letters
every day, but literally have not had leisure to write
to you since I sent my letters last Monday on board
the Talbot, in Torbay, where I believe she still
remains waiting for convoy ; and I have now so little
idea that my letters will reach you before you have
left Halifax for England, that I am not so earnest

AT HALIFAX. 137
about it as I otherwise should be. Another week has
passed, no further accounts from you. I cannot
express to you how very anxious I am for my next
accounts of you, to be assured of your continued well
doing, to know that your wounds are healed, and that
you have got your orders from Sir John Warren to
return home ; but I feel also convinced that you will
be equally anxious with myself to forward these
•delightful tidings to me as soon as it is in your power
to do so. The horrible distance that we are separated
from each other is now less bearable than ever ; but
I do trust it will not be long before my mind is ren
dered more at ease on your account ; for, till I hear
again of your safety and well-doing, I cannot be
happy. The newspapers have, till the last two days,
been filled Avith encomiums on your most gallant
.achievement and heroism, which has confessedly
never been surpassed in the annals of naval history,
if ever equalled. You will believe how interesting
and delightful they have been to me ; and, now that
they cease to dwell longer upon it, how very insipid
and uninteresting they appear to me ! On Tuesday
last I received from Mr. Croker a very handsome
letter of congratulation, and enclosing at the same
time a copy of your excellent letter, which does so
much credit to your head and heart, my Philip, that
those who have read it cannot help admiring the
relation. He adds that the Lords Commissioners, to
-show the high sense they entertained of your gallant

138 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
and successful conduct, have ordered a medal for 5rou,
which / shall be proud to see you wear. The City of
London has also voted you thanks, with the freedom
of the City, and intend presenting you with a sword
of one hundred guineas' value. All these honours are
most gratifying ; but, after all, my Philip's own feel
ings must be his best and surest reward. I am sure
you will be happy to hear that Lieutenants Wallis and
Falkiner are to be promoted to commanders ; the two
midshipmen who boarded (but whose names I cannot
learn) are to be promoted to lieutenants on board the
Shannon. This must be doubly gratifying to them,
but I want much to know who they are. Poor Mrs.
Aldham was greatly distressed, but I am happy to
hear she is now rather better. Thinking it might
afford her some consolation under her affliction to be
informed what you had said in your letter respecting
Mr. Aldham, I copied that part of it and sent her.
The mention you there made of her was truly kind,
and very like yourself. I have little doubt of your
pleading in vain, for by your conduct, mj^ love, you
have secured to yourself such interest and universal
love and admiration that you might ask for what you
pilease without a fear of being denied. But this is
my fourth letter to-day and it is getting late, so God
bless and love you, as I do !
" 19^A. — By this day's post I have another letter
from my friend Mr. Croker, in answer to my inquiries
respecting the probable return of the Shannon ; and

AT HALIFAX. 139
he sa3'S, ' I am sorry I cannot give you any precise
information as to the return of the Shannon. We
have every reason to believe that she is on her way
home ; but it is not in consequence of orders from
England, but on account of her having been so very
long abroad.' This is very comforting ; but I still
want to know more, to be assured you are actually
coming. But nothing has arrived since the Nova
Scotia, to allow my getting letters. I have also got
a most kind letter of congratulation from my dear
brother, who is now staying with my Uncle and Aunt
Acton at Tendring. He says it is whispered in
London that you will either have a red riband or a
baronetcy. It is also said that the West India
merchants mean to make you some handsome present.
He wishes with me that it may be a little cash to
furnish Nacton with, as, when he dined the other day
with the ' Har lands,' he said the poor house looked
miserable, and in want of a few thousands to be
expended upon it. He says you are not likely to
receive more than £1200 for the capture of the
frigate. I do ' not care for money so long as I get
my beloved husband home safe and well, — that is my
most earnest wish ; and that, 07ice there, we may be
permitted to enjoy many years of undisturbed happi
ness in the possession of each other's love (which no
one can take from us) and society. He visited my
favourite rose, and found it flourishing in the highest
beauty ; and those near the windows are now as high

140 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
as the parent tree. I long to see them, and to get a
smile through the window while dressing from my
beloved Philip. I hope I may allow myself to think
of those joys with greater certainty than for so many
years I have ever dared to do. Admiral Martin most
kindly wrote me two or three days ago that the Nova
Scotia was about to sail from Plymouth with des
patches to Halifax, and that he would forward them
for me. As I do not see by the papers that the ship
has sailed, I shall still take my chance, and send this
to him. I have not had a second letter from dear
Mrs. Broke. I received a few hurried lines from her
on Wednesday, when she had merely heard the tele
graphic account that was forwarded to the Admiralty
from Plymouth, and inserted the following day in the
papers, which also added that you had brought your
prize home safe into that port. She therefore only
wrote to express her joy, and supposed that we had
left this place and were all enjoying your loved
society there. Mrs. Jenny and Ann were staying
with her at Needham, which I am glad of. She, with
my father and mother and brother, and indeed all
our friends, far and near, have written and begged
me to offer you their sincere congratulations. You
cannot imagine how much kindness I have experienced
from Admiral and Mrs. Sutton. I shall ever re
member it with gratitude. I go to them upon all
occasions for relief and advice, which they kindly
afford me. Our dear children are all charmingly.

AT HALIFAX. 141
1 shall take dear Philip back to Ottery this first week
in August ; he is naturally very anxious, dear boy,
that the Shannon should return before that time,
that he may accompany us to Plymouth, which I have
promised in that case. Louisa, Willy, and George
are, I flatter myself, benefited by change of air.
Dear baby is now dipped in the sea every other day,
which, I trust, will strengthen him ; he does not at
all dislike it. I shall take the liberty of enclosing
this to the Commissioner, with my grateful thanks
for his very kind attentions to you. Admirals Saw
yer, Martin, Mrs. Justine, and numbers of others,
have offered their gratulations. God bless you,
my beloved husband ! Our dear children unite in
kindest love and kisses with your ever faithful and
affectionate — " Loo."

Captain Broke was sufficiently recovered by October
to re-embark, and the Shannon having been ordered
home, Broke invited Wallis to be his guest for the
passage. On the llth of that month they left
Halifax for England. Even this voyage was not
unattended with danger, for it was fully expected
that Commodore Rodgers, in the President, would
attempt to waylay them. Admiral King, in his
Recollections, observes that Captain Broke, on re
suming command of the Shannon to bring her home,
9

142 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
told his men the President might waylay him, and
what he would do, and what they must do, if the
Shannon fell in with her. He adds that, "As the
Shannon had a convoy of eight dull-sailing merchant
craft under her orders, and as everything done and
intended to be done at Halifax Avas known in America
through the Halifax newspapers, Rodgers had full and
exact information, and therefore he must have known
the day and very hour when to sail out of port to
throw himself in the route of the Shannon. It is
possible, however, that his government did not wish
to run the risk ; they were ' pretty considerably '
damped by the capture of the Chesapeake."
Even during this voyage Captain Broke continued
some of the old exercises to which his creAV were
accustomed, and assiduously prepared himself for a
probable encounter with a French or American foe.
None such, however, crossed his track, and after a
stormy passage the Shannon, with her convoy,
anchored at Spithead on November 3rd.
Broke and Wallis started in company for London
the same afternoon, journeying as far as Liphook
that evening, the next day to Guildford, and the
third into London, Broke not being in a fit state to
do more than a few miles a day. Wallis says he
was very glad when Broke AA^as quietly lodged at
Limmer's Hotel, Conduit Street.
Taking up Wallis's own story, he says : " A day or
two after, he (Broke) presented me to Lord Melville,

AT HALIFAX. 143
then first Lord of the Admiralty, and, when he had
recovered the fatigue of the journey, we retraced our
steps to Portsmouth by the same easy stages, and
having seen him safely back and comfortably lodged,
where Lady Broke joined him, my care of him ended.
Having bade each other a fervent farewell, I parted
from a man that I loved most sincerely, and from
whom I had, during nearly two years, received, I can
truly say, affectionate regard. I also believe it to
have been owing to his high bearing and sterling
AA'orth, added to the kindness of his government, that
our creAv Avere doubly incited to achieve under him a
victory he had set his heart upon,"

VII.
FATES OF THE "SHANNON" AND
" CHESAPEAKE."

CHAPTER VII.
FATES OF THE "SHANNON" AND "CHESAPEAKE."
"DEFORE me as I write is an inkstand bearing
-^-^ the following inscription : " This Inkstand is
made from wood of the Chesapeake, captured by the
Shannon June 1st, 1813. The capstan is made out
of a beam of the Shannon." This capstan, which
forms the reservoir for the ink, is a dense and
perfectly sound piece of wood, though nearly ninety
years have passed since the oaks of which the
Shannon was constructed nodded and fell beneath
the woodman's axe. She was built in 1806 at
Chatham, on the Medway, by Thomas Brindley,
whose firm of Thomas & Joseph Brindley also built
many of the vessels which fought in the battle of
Algiers ; and it may be mentioned here that one
of the Admiral's correspondents, after he had passed

148 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
his hundredth year, Avas a great-grandson of this same-
Thomas Brindley.
Two ships, each bearing the name of the Shannon,
had previously been lost : one a 32-gun frigate, con
structed in 1796, and wrecked in 1800; another of
36 guns, launched in 1803, and in the same year run
aground under the batteries of Cape La Hogue.
The third, the Shannon of the present history,
— name dear to every Briton — was a plain, massive,
and effective ship, strictly of her class. She saw
but little active service after her famous action, and,
sound as she was, might well have lasted a century
at least ; but after she had been put to sundry " base
uses," and had her name changed to that of the-
St. Lawrence, she was broken up some thirty years
sincBj and many of her timbers were kindly presented
by the Admiralty to Sir George Broke-Middleton,
the then sole surviving son of her famous captain.
They could until recently have been, and may perhaps-
still be, seen in the grounds of Broke Hall, Nacton, in
the shape of an elegant pair of lofty gates.
For a number of years the Shannon was an object
of considerable attraction, and as late as 1833 Admiral
Sir John Beresford wrote from Sheerness to Sir Philip
Broke : "I show the dear old Shannon as a ' lion '
here." The accompanying illustration shows the figure
head of the Shannon in its present resting-place at
Broke Hall, where it is carefully preserved with other

FIGURE HEAD OF H.M.S. 'SHAXNON '
AND STAR FROM " CHESAPEAKE's ' QUARTER (NOW IN ARCADE AT BROKE HALL).
From a PJiotograpli bg Mr. Cobb, of Ipswich.

Page 149.

FATES OF "SHANNON" AND "CHESAPEAKE." 151
relics of the fight. The star at the top is one of
two carried by the Chesapeake. On one was the
letter " U," on the other the letter " S," to repre
sent LTnited States. The star Avith the " U " upon
it was destro5'ed by shot.
She is gone ! but hoAv far more truly than of Dido
may it be said of her by all gallant hearts : —
" In freta dum fluvii current, dum montibus umbrae
Lustrabunt convexa, polus dum sidera pascet ;
Semper honos, nomenque tuum, laudesque manebunt."
The end of the Chesapeake was widely different.
Pride of the American navy as she was, she proved of
little service to our own, for naval architecture was
taking a new turn. She was brought to England in
1815 by Captain F. Newcombe, in 1816 was in
ordinary, and in 1820 Avas sold to Mr. Holmes, at
Portsmouth, and broken up. Sold by our economical
Government for £500, having been pm-chased seven
years before for over £21,000 !
The Chesapeake was built in 1797, at Norfolk,
Virginia, and cost over £60,000. All her guns had
names, engraven op small squares of copper -plate.
The following list of twenty-five of them, on one side,
has been preserved : —
1. Brother Jonathan.
2. True Blue.
3. Yankee Protection.

152 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
4. Putman.
5. Raging Eagle.
6. Viper.
7. General Warren.
8. Mad Anthony.
9. America.
10. Washington.
11. Liberty for Ever.
12. Dreadnought.
13. Defiance.
14. Liberty or Death.
(All these were 1 8-pounders.)
Forecastle.
15. United Tars.

16. Jumping Billy.)
17. Rattler. \ (32-pounders.)

Quarterdeck.
18. Bull Dog.
19. Spitfire.
20. Nancy DaAvson.
21. Revenge.
22. Bunker's Hill.
23. Pocahontas.
24. Towser.
25. Wilful Murder.
(All 32-pounders.)

FATES OF "SHANNON" AND "CHESAPEAKE." 153
Many years since, while I was making investiga
tions in connection Avith the memoir of Sir Philip
Broke, it was reported to me that the Chesapeake had
been converted into a flour-mill, and was still in exis
tence as such at Wi6kham, in Hampshire. I ventured
to address some inquiries on the subject to the Vicar
of Fareham, who courteously returned the following
valuable reply : —
" Fareham Vicarage, Hants, April 9th, 1864.
" DjiAR Sm, —
" I had never heard any of the interesting
information about the Chesapeake, which you
have conveyed to me, till your letter, received
this morning, set me inquiring.
" Wickham is four miles north of Fareham, a
district parish, the same place which gave birth
to William of Wykeham. The Chesapeake was
brought to Portsmouth (nine miles from hence)
and was never used in the British navy. She
was sold by Government to Mr. Holmes for
.£500, who found he had made a capital invest
ment on this occasion, and cleared J61000 profit.
He broke up the vessel, took several tons of
copper from her, and disposed of the timbers,
which were quite new and sound, of beautiful
pitch pine, for building purposes. Much of the
wood was employed in building houses in Ports
mouth ; but a large portion was sold in 1820 to

154 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
Mr. John Prior, a miller, of Wickham, for nearly
^200. Mr. Prior pulled down his own mill at
Wickham and constructed a new one with this
timber, which he found admirably adapted for the
purpose. The deck timbers were thirty-two feet
long and eighteen inches square, and were placed,
unaltered, horizontally in the mill. The pur
loins of the deck were about twelve feet long,
and served without alteration for joists. The mill
is still in existence and in active operation (the
property of Mr. Goderick), stands just as Mr.
Prior erected it in 1820, and is likely to last yet
hundreds of years.
" Mr. Prior is now living in Fareham, and I
have just taken the foregoing information from
his lips. " I remain, dear Sir,
" Very faithfully yours,
" W. S. DUMERGUE."
The receipt of this letter gave me an irresistible
longing to see for myself the strange metamorphosis
of a sanguinary man-of-AA'ar into a peaceful, life-
sustaining flour-mill. It should have been a summer's
day when I determined to make my pilgrimage, and
was marked July in the calendar ; but a more un
ceasing downpour of rain I never remember. Arriving
at Fareham, a change of vehicle conveyed me more
slowly through an undulating, picturesque, and well-

FATES OF "SHANNON" AND "CHESAPEAKE." 155
wooded district. By-and-bye a valley opened, through
which a stream might be conjectured to flow ; and
after a few turns more the " fly," with a grating check,
drew up before a comely house of three stories with a
range of dormer AvindoAvs in the roof
Nothing shiplike or of the sea was discernible from
without. A young Englishman of some eight-and-
tAventy years of age was coming forth to join his
cricket club on a neighbouring down (for the weather
at last was beginning to brighten up a little), and this
proved to be the master and owner of Chesapeake
Mill. In a few Avords I told the errand which
had led me so far from home, and was at once
cordially and hospitably welcomed. Mr. Goderick
was to some extent aware of the historical associations
connected with his property, and on the sideboard in
his dining-room was standing a large cigar- box, con
structed from the polished pine of the old ship, and
bearing the inscription " Chesajjeake " in small brass
nails. After a brief interval I Avas shown the interior of
the mill. The beams, joists, and floors were all con
structed from the timber of the American frigate, and
some of them were in many places pockmarked with
shot. The mill, armed with many modern appliances,
Avas merrily going ; and on every floor the blithe and
mealy men were urging their toil. Thought I, on
one of these planks, beyond reasonable doubt, brave
Lawrence fell, in the writhing anguish of his mortal

156 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
Avound ; on another, if not the same, Watt's head was
carried away by grapeshot ; and on others, Broke lay,
ensanguined, and his assailants dead ! Thus pondering
I stood, and still the busy men went on, corn passed
beneath the stones, and flour — agent of mortal life —
poured forth, while merry millers passed around their
kindly smile and blithesome jest.
Perhaps, thought I, at last, it is better this should
be the end of the proud Chesapealce. The dream of
glory (and never was one more lofty) lives, and long
shall live, upon the page of history ; but one day of
this tranquil toil in God's holy name and love would,
I think, be infinitely more valued by Philip Broke
now than would the capture of a thousand Chesapeakes,
for he is hard on the confines of that glorious land
where, in the sublime language of the sacred prophet,
" Shall go no galley with oars, neither shall gallant
ship pass thereby " ; and where nations shall make
war no more.

VIII.
WALLIS'S FURTHER SERVICES AND
APPOINTMENTS.

CHAPTER VIII.
'n^iLLIS'S FURTHER SERVICES AND APPOINTMENTS.
FROM 1813 Commander Wallis, as he now Was,
continued his upward progress in his noble pro
fession, until (as I am sure he would be himself the
first to say) he had, by God's kind providence, attained
the summit of rank and the extreme limit of mortal
years — one hundred and  . Happily I have not
yet to fill up the blank. The records of his further
services, now so distant, must of necessity be scanty,
more especially as he never kept journals, nor, indeed,
saved much of his correspondence ; but such details
as I am now able to give will, I trust, prove accurate.
Very soon after his return to England in the
Shannon, viz., on January 19th, 1814, he was ap
pointed to the 12-gun sloop Snipe, and served in her
at Sheerness until December 28th following. He was
advanced to post rank on August 12th, 1819, but until
his appointment to the Niemen, 28, on June 4th, 1824,
10

160 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
had no active employment. With this ship he re
mained until November 1826, and in her commanded
the first experimental squadron, consisting of the
Champion, Orestes, Pylades, Calliope, and Algerine.
He was employed on his old station at Halifax, and
it was during this period, as I have explained, that
Wallis was most sumptuously entertained at Boston as
an officer of the old Shannon, some reference to which
circumstance will be found in the following letter from
tis old captain, then Sir Philip B. V. Broke : —
" Broke Hall, December Mth, 1826.
"Dear Wallis, —
" I am very full of county business,
and with a head that aches with any writing or
application ; but I must thank you for your kind
letter and obliging and gratifying communica
tions. As you account for your return it is all
very satisfactory, and I trust will answer all
expectations. 'Tis good to oblige some people,
and I hope you will find it so Avhen you apply
for another employ. You may then take a turn
where freights are moving, and so lay in a little
of that mineral ballast that is so useful when we
are laid up in ordinary.
" If any circumstance brings you this way, we
shall be very happy to see you here, and chat
over past adventures. It is pleasing to find our
cousin Jonathan has so much hearty English

FURTHER SERVICES AND APPOINTMENTS. 161
good humour in him, thus to shake hands and be
friendly when the battle is over. I daresay they
looked at little Niemen with much interest, as a
representative of their o\A playfellow th.Q Shannon.
" I was glad to hear your good admiral was so
Avell, and was such a friend of yours, for I have
a great esteem for him, and value his good opinion
highly. My brother has just left me to go with
the army to Portugal, and Philip * is there — at
Lisbon, in the Genoa — very happy, and amusing
himself in spite of the rebels. My second boy,
George, is in the Glasgow, up the archipelago,
equally amused with hunting Greek pirates and
looking at antiquities. You say nothing of your
wife and children, but I hope they are all well,
and, with yourself, will enjoy many happy returns
of this genial season. I remain a useless invalid
and unfit for sea service, though I get out more
than I did, by immense clothing on my cold side ;
and Lady Broke has also rather more liberty, but
is still carried up and down stairs, which is a
great inconvenience and confinement. She unites
in regards to you and in compliments to Mrs.
Wallis with, " My dear shipmate,
"Yours most truly,
" P. B. V. Broke."
* Admiral Sir Philip Broke's son.

162 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
Captain Wallis now had a good many years' rest
from active employment, as it was not until April 14th,
1838, that he again took a command. He was then
appointed to the Madagascar, 46, in which ship he
remained until September 1839. During this service
he was employed with other British ships at Vera
Cruz, when that town was surprised and bombarded
by a French squadron, under Admiral Baudin, in
December 1838. Wallis did excellent service here
in protecting the interests of the British merchants,
who gave him special thanks.
Some four years again elapsed without Wallis
taking a command, and during this interval the
¦distressing news of the death of his old captain, of
the Shannon, was communicated to him by the
following letter : — "Broke Hall, January 8th, 1841.
" My dear Wallis, —
" Before this reaches you the newspapers
will have announced that it has pleased Provi
dence to deprive me of the kindest and best of
fathers. He was in town previously, for two
months, for the purpose of obtaining surgical
advice, and, till three days before his death, no
danger was apprehended. This blow, therefore,
comes very suddenly on my poor mother and
sister and all his relations. It is a consolation
to me to have been with him in his last moments,

FURTHER SERVICES AND APPOINTMENTS. 163
and to know that few men leave this world better
prepared than he was tb submit with resignation
and submission to the Divine Avill. The funer?,!
will take place here to-morrow, and will be
strictly private, in order that my poor mother
and sister may not be unnecessarily shocked by
the sad ceremony being prolonged.
" You will, I know, condole with me ; and
believe me, " Dear Wallis, " Yours ever truly,
" P. Broke."
There was not, perhaps, any one outside the deceased
Admiral's own circle who felt his loss more keenly
than did Wallis. To him he had been more than
a comrade in arms — more than a friend — he had been
a man whom Wallis revered and loved.
On October 13th, 1843, Wallis took the command
of the Warspite, 50, a ship of which he was very
fond. In her he was employed in the Mediterranean
during the French-Morocco war, and Avitnessed the
attack on Tangier and destruction of Mogador by
the French squadron, which happened respectively on
August 6th and 1 5th, 1844. On the latter occasion
he was the senior British officer present, and in
addition to being complimented by numerous officials,
received the thanks of the British and French
Governments for the judicious arrangements made

164 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
by him, in his quasi-diplomatic character, with the
Prince de Joinville, under whose command the French
squadron was, and who added his personal thanks to
those of his Government. It was largely due to the
tact Wallis displayed on this occasion that an out
break of war with France was avoided.
Wallis was also the senior British officer present
during the civil war on the coast of Syria throughout
the whole of the year 1845, he being then still in
command of the Warspite ; and here again he was
specially thanked by Capitan Pasha, and our Minister
and Consul-General at Constantinople.
In 1847 Wallis was offered a good-service pension,
which he declined, and was then appointed a naval
aide-de-camp to the Queen. This honourable post
he held until 1851, when he was promoted to flag
rank. It was not, however, until April 1st, 1857,
that he hoisted his flag, which he did on board the
Cumberland, 70, and then proceeded to the south-east
coast of America as Commander-in-chief on that coast.
In the following year he was recalled, in conse
quence of his having been promoted to the rank of
Vice-Admiral in the previous September, and arrived
at Spithead on August 4th, 1858, not afterwards to
go afloat in the service of his country. Little more,
indeed, could be expected of him, for he Avas nearly
seventy years of age, and had, with some intervals of
rest, been actively employed for fifty-four years. It
was, in fact, owing to the length and nature of his

tiH- :¦ •'

SIR PROVO WALLIS
AT THE AGE OF SIXTY.

Page 166.

FURTHER SERVICES AND APPOINTMENTS. 167
services, that when the great retirement in the navy
took place it Avas decided, at the suggestion of Mr.
Childers, then the First Lord of the Admiralty, and
by a special Order in Council, that his name should be
retained on the active list of flag officers for the rest
of his life as a special mark of distinction. On that
list it still stands, and for many years past it has been,
and is noAv, at the head of the list. It is compulsory on
admirals of the fleet to retire at the age of seventy, and
the honour Avhich Admiral Wallis enjoys in being on the
active list, notwithstanding his advanced age, is unique.
To complete our hero's list of honours, it must be
mentioned that he was created a K.C.B. on May 18th,
1860 ; made Admiral in March 1863 ; created G.C.B.
in 1873, and made Admiral of the Fleet in December
1877. He was Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom
from 1869 to 1870, and from that time to 1876
Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom, the last-men
tioned honour being one of Avhich he was very proud,
and which he relinquished with regret on his appoint
ment to Admiral of the Fleet.
Such then, briefly told, is the public career of that
very young midshipman with whom I started, and
whose progress I have traced until his attainment
of the highest possible rank that his profession could
give. I will endeavour later, by the help of his
correspondence, to show that his private life has been
one which merits our admiration as much as his brave
exploits on the ocean.

IX.
FAMILY CIRCLE,

CHAPTER IX.

FAMILY CIRCLE.

"TT has been already shown that Sir Provo had no
-L brother, but he had three sisters, the eldest of
whom (Elizabeth) I have already referred to as attend
ing upon Captain Broke during his illness at Halifax,
consequent upon the wounds he had received in the
Shannon's duel with the Chesapeake. This sister, as
I have explained, was then the Avife of Captain Lord
James Townshend, R.N., K.C.H., to whom she was
married in May 1813. Having been left a widoAV,
Lady Townhsend in 1844 again married, her second
husband being Captain William Honeyman Hender
son, R.N., C.B., who commanded the Gorgon at the
bombardment of Sidon and St. Jean d'Acre. She died
in July 1872, after haA'ing lived to a good old age.
Sir Provo's second sister, Maria, died unmarried.

172 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W: P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
His third and youngest sister, Mary, was married ta
the Rev. Dennis George Norris, Vicar of Kessingland,
Suffolk, and died in 1844, leaving children, some of
whom are, I think, now living.
Sir Provo was married on October 19th, 1817, to
Juliana, second daughter of the Venerable Roger
Massey, Archdeacon of Barnstaple and Prebendary of
Exeter, and two daughters were born of this marriage
but no son. He was left a widower, and on July 21st,
1849, married his second wife, the present Lady
Wallis, who was a daughter of the late distinguished
General Sir Robert Thomas Wilson, M.P., Governor
of Gibraltar. Of this marriage there has been no
issue. Sir Provo's eldest daughter was, like his eldest
sister, named Elizabeth, and was married in October
1858 to the Rev. Doctor Perryn, of Traffbrd Hall,
near Chester, who died suddenly, at Oxford, on January
19th, 1878, at the age of fifty-three. Sir Provo,
although he was then eighty-seven years of age, went
to that city immediately on hearing of his daughter's
bereavement to offer such consolation as he could
afford, but he says that the shock to him was great.
Mrs. Perryn was spared for many years, and died as
recently as January 2nd, 1890, at the age of seventy-
two. Sir Provo's second daughter is still living, and
has never been married.
Lady Wallis has herself exceeded life's allotted
span by many years, having been born in 1807. As

FA3IILY CIRCLE. 173
will be seen from Sir Provo's letters, which follow,
she has for a long time past been an invalid ; but her
sufferings have been so lightened by the anxious care
bestowed upon her by her husband, that happiness has
reigned where sorrow might have been suspected to
have found a resting-place. Need I add, that in his
Avife's love and reciprocal solicitude, Sir Provo has
found a great reward for his goodness.

X.
CORRESPONDENCE.

CHAPTER X.
CORRESPONDENCE.
r 1 1HE following extracts from letters receiA^ed by
-*- me from Sir Pro\'o, and the first of Avhich was
Avritten nearly thirty years ago, will, it is hoped, be
interesting, not only because they will show Sir
Provo's personality more clearly to the reader, but also
because they proA^e that notwithstanding his great age
his faculties have been marvellously well retained.
What is perhaps more wonderful is the fact that every
one of these letters, even that written after the
Admiral had passed the hundredth year of his age, Avas
entirely written by himself, in a firm and legible
hand. Indeed, these letters are unique as specimens
of ca'ligraphy, Avhen the age of the writer is considered.
A fac-simile reproduction of his last letter to me Avill
be found further on ; but it should be mentioned here
11

178 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
that, as a specimen of the Admiral's writing, it does
not favourably compare Avith the letters written by him
in 1889, when he was close on ninety -eight years of age.
The first letter received by me from Sir Provo
was that set out in the preface to this volume, which
opened a friendship that has endured without inter
ruption until the present time, and increased in
fervour year by year.
In making these extracts, an endeavour will be made
not to repeat what has already been set out in earlier
parts of the present volume.
"Funtington, January 2Qth, 1864. — No doubt you
have kindly attributed my silence to indisposition
<such is the fact) ; and 1 am sorry to tell you that the
da)'^ after my agreeable interview with you in London,
I was seized with influenza, which caused my imme
diate return home, since which I have been a great
sufferer, caused by heavy cold and an attack of gout
in both legs. It is only to-day that I have felt equal
to the least exertion, and avail myself of the power to
thank you for your most friendly letter of the 19th
inst., and to add that I Avill, as, soon as possible, send
you the memoranda you have asked for."
"Funtington, February 19th, 1864. — I write a
line from my bed to thank you for your kind sym
pathy, and also for having sent me your photograph,
which I shall value, though, like all others of the sort,
it gives too severe an expression. However, having

CORRESPONDENCE. 1 7 9
had the pleasure of seeing you, I retain a much more
agreeable impression of your countenance. Imme
diately after my last letter I Avas under the necessity
of again taking to my bed, and am still keeping it,
OAving to gout in both feet and right ankle. Influenza
has also left me very feeble, and I very much regret
to find that you have not yet quite got rid of that
uncomfortable malady."
" Funtington, March l^th, 1864. — Should the en
closed memoranda * be of any use to you, glean from
it what you please. I am indeed sorry that I have not
any map or diagram to send you, but, had I not been
prevented by illness, it was my intention to have con
sulted the Shannon's Log Book at Somerset House for
site of engagement. As no evolutions were performed
during the action, the positions of the ships were
exactly what the late Admiral King's pictures delineate.
You have, I think, a copy of Broke's certificate to me,
and the following is a copy of his note when he sent
me a sword. {This note is given on p. 128). All I
can say of the late Sir Charles Falkiner is, that he
was an excellent messmate and as gallant a fellow
as ever lived. I appointed him prize-master of the
Chesapeake, and he conducted her into the harbour
of Halifax highly to my satisfaction. We never after
ser\"ed together."
* With reference to the Shannon and Chesapeake action.

180 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
"Funtington, March 21s^, 1864. — I omitted tO'
mention that a schooner accompanied the Chesapeake
from the port of Boston, with merchants and others
on board to see the fight, and hove to out of gunshot
to windward of us. I will look over 0' Byrne's
biography, and correct the errors, and shall be happy
to give you any other information in my power, but
fifty years and upwards is a long Avhile (without
notes) to tax memory ; however, the little I have told
you I can vouch for."
"Funtington, September 12th, 1864. — I am more
annoyed than I can express by the delay that has
occurred in obtaining the information you asked me
for, and now, after having waited so long, I find that
the person who was to do the needful at Somerset
House is away for his holidays ; however, if our
original Log contains no greater amount of informa
tion than the extract you sent me, I fear the bearing
and distance of lighthouse at the specified time were
not inserted, and if not, I think it quite sufficient
to state that it took place (viz., hoisting the ensign
and firing the gun) when within about three miles
of the lighthouse. Many thanks for the photograph
of the mill * which you sent, and for two others
which have recently arrived. I have been a great
wanderer of late, which is an additional reason for
not having communicated with you sooner."
* The mill constructed out of the remains of the Chesapealce.

CORR ESPONDENCE. 1 8 1
" Funtington, September 22n(^, 1864. — I have at
length heard from Staff-Commander Thomas, of the
Admiralty, who has sent me the enclosed memo.
from Shannon's Log, Avhich is all he can glean;
and I much regret not having any of my own to add,
as I Avas not in the habit of recording occurrences.
The extract Avhich you have from Shartnon s Log
is verbatim, and is (as I before mentioned) a meagre
affair, though easily accounted for, as we had not
a master at that period, so it was kept by one of
our midshipmen (Mr. Etough), who had at the
time an acting order as master ; but ships' Logs in
those days rarely contained any matter beyond a
careless record of events, and ditto weather, and
for myself I confess to not having had anything to do
Avith it, as I had so many other anxious duties that
pressed upon me. But I well remember that Chesa
peake was at anchor in Nantasket Roads Avhen we first
saAv her on June 1st, and that Boston Light is upon an
outer island, the name of which I do not remember. I
have had seA^eral very kind letters from Sir George,* and
have sent him (as requested) a photograph in uniform."
" Funtington, November I5th, 1864. — Many thanks
for photograph of my old shipmate Sweeney .f There
* Admiral Sir George Broke-Middleton.
t Sweeney at this time had become a master barber on the banks of
the LifEey, and often did me the honour of trimming my beard while
he was " yarning " about the Sliannon's fight. I lost sight of him about
1868, and do not remember to have heard of his death. — J. G-. B.

182 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
can be but few of the ' old Shannons ' left. Of the
officers none but myself, as Major Law of the Marines
(our then second lieutenant in that corps) died last
month, and on the 20th inst. I had the melancholy
satisfaction of attending his remains to the grave.
There is, however, one other officer who was in our
action still living, retired Commander George Ray
mond,* but he did not belong to the Shannon, we
having recaptured hirii. Belle Poule was his ship."
" Funtington, November 2lst, 1864. — As to Cap
tain Raymond's address, I will get it for you should
it still be your wish, though I think his memory is
not very accurate, as I found out some little time ago
from a letter he addressed to me."
" Funtington, June 1st, 1865. — I shall not attempt
to express all I feel for your kind congratulations,
just received, on the anniversary of Shannon's action,
but be assured your \varmth of heart, apparent in
every line, has deeply penetrated mine. I saAv Broke
Middleton in London this spring."
" Scarsdale Villa, Great Malvern, June 16th,
1865. — We are not leaving Mah^ern just yet, and I
can assure you it will give me great pleasure to see

* Commander Raymond lived until about two years after the date
of this letter, and died at the age of 71. — J. G. B.

CORRESPONDENCE. 183
you here. When you have fixed the day pray let me
know, or perhaps I might be as unfortunate as when
you kindly ran down to Sydenham.'
"Funtington, March 26th, 1866. — I haA'e received
from Sir Broke-Middleton a copy of your Avork,*
Avhich has relieved my mind, for I feared you might
be ill, owing to delay in publication. I shall read the
memoir Avith melancholy pleasure, and also Avith deep
gratitude to you for the high opinion you have so
kindly formed of me. Should anything bring you to
England it would give me great pleasure to see you
here." " Funtington, June 2nd, 1866. — I am much pleased
to hear of an intended second edition.+ Another is
required to correct a few inaccuracies as to Com
mander Raymond's statement that Lieutenant LudloAV
died on board Chesapeake. 1 simply reply, not true.
The poor fellow was brought on board the Shannon
immediately after the action, and was placed in poor
Watt's cabin, where I daily visited him until we sent
him to Halifax Hospital, and he died there about a
week (certainly some days) after our arrival. The fact
is, he Avas not on board his own ship for an hour after
the action. Secondly, I can only say that the story
* The author's Memoir of Admiral Sir P. B. V. Broke.
t This refers to the same Memoir.

184 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
of ' an attempt to recapture Chesapeake whilst the
Shannons were reefing topsails,' was never reported to
me by Lieutenant Falkiner, Avho was in charge of
her. I am very glad you have consulted Commander
Raymond, though his memory certainly seems very
defective. I will gladly answer any questions you may
think proper to put to me ; pray do not hesitate. I
return to Malvern at the end of ensuing week, and
to the same quarters where you kindly visited me.
Your letter luckily got here just as I arrived home
(for a few days only). I left Lady Wallis under
Gully's care. Are you to be in Worcestershire this
summer ? I think you told me it was your intention.
If so, I will readily wait upon you, when I hear of
your whereabouts."
"Funtington, May 24th, 1867. — Years do indeed
' glide by,' but by the goodness of Providence you
and I are still spared. You have of late had a
trying time to go through, and I grieve to think that
although ' the plague ' is stayed, Ireland is not con
tent ; so we must hope for better government. My
wife, thank God ! keeps fairly Avell, and if by keep
ing strictly to Gully's rules health can be secured,
she deserves success. At this moment I cannot say
whether we shall be at Malvern this year, and it is
lucky Ave are not there now, as it is complete wintry
weather, and is less bearable from being unnatural.
Are you likely to be in London this year ? And if

CORRESPOND ENCE. 185
SO, would you come and see us ? I have only a warm
reception to offer, but, believe me, it would afford us
the greatest pleasure.
"Funtington, October \2th, 1867. — I am happy to
tell you that Providence has kindly supported me
amidst my many trials, and that my bruised sister *
is doing as Avell as Ave can expect at her age (seventy-
three) ; the other, I hope, is in heaven. Pray accept
¦once more my grateful thanks for your kind sym
pathy. As to Politics and Fenianism, it appears that
we are not to be long without trouble. Universal
¦discord seems to be the order of the day, and the state
¦of our Church is the cause of much sorrow to many."
"Funtington, January 21st, 1868. — I am glad to
hear that the books from Mr. Randolph have reached
you safely. By them you will find that Sir R. W. f
A\'as not an ordinary character ; in fact, he lived in
most illiberal days, when the vengeance of king and
ministry always crushed those, if possible, who differed
in opinion from them, and even suborned others to
lie. However, Sir R.'s memory will live, and pos
terity will do him justice, whilst many another is
doomed to oblivion. How glad I should be to show
you many documents that I have, wherein croAvned

* Mrs. Henderson, his eldest sister.
t The late General Sir Robert Wilson— Lady Wallis's father.

186 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.CB.
heads, and other leading men in Europe, have expressed
their opinion of the gallantry and greatness of mind
of my lamented father-in-laAv. Had there been at
the R. headquarters in those days ' our own corres
pondent,' things would have been better understood
by our countrymen."
" Funtington, April 25th, 1868. — It would indeed
give me much pleasure to spend another day with you
at Ombersley this summer, but there is not a chance
of our being at Malvern so early in the year, as I have
to go into Norfolk and Cheshire upon business. Mr.
Featherstonhaugh's assassination is indeed a sad affair,
and was no doubt a great shock to you. I trust that
the Royal visit to Ireland may do some good, though
I fear there is not much hope for your distracted
country." " Scarsdale, Great Malvern, December 21st, 1868.
— We came to Malvern on the 12th of last month
(and are in our old quarters), and may remain perhaps
until March. What events have taken place since you
and I met here — surely our national decadency has
fairly set in ! (More rapidly than I expected.) The
wolves in sheep's clothing within our fold are chuck
ling, but may God upset their plans. We are at
present a divided people, and Ritualism is making
rapid progress, and our bishops without power to
meet it."

CORRESPONDENCE. 187
"Funtington, April 15th, 1869. — I have been from
home, and, since my return, very busy with workmen
in the house. We returned from Malvern last month,
after a sojourn of nearly four months, and I trust my
Avife is benefited by ' the treatment.' I sympathise
with you respecting poor Ireland, and my first cousin.
Doctor Lee, Rector of Ahoghill, has exerted himself
strenuously in the good cause, but with little success."
" Funtington, August llth, 1869. — I hope ere this
you are finding things better in Ireland than you an
ticipated, but where ' Romans ' abound their motto,
' Aut Ccesar aut nullus,' Avill ever preA'ail. P.S. —
Should it not have met your eye, you will be pleased
to hear that 1 have been made ' Rear-Admiral of the
United Kingdom.' "
" Funtington, December l^th, 1869. — Your letter
of the 9th only reached me yesterday (Sunday), and
to-day I am preparing for a trip to town upon business.
I merely mention this to ensure your pardoning my
hasty scrawl. It has given me much concern to hear
that you have had a serious attack of sciatica, only
mitigated by your telling me that you are approaching
convalescence. May the waters ofDroitwich counter
act the poisonous medicine which you have been dosed
with. Thanks, my good friend (heartfelt), for all your
good wishes, and may you and yours enjoy all earthly
happiness, and, when it shall please God to take us.

188 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
may we be received where pain and sorrow are un
known. The last sand in my glass of life is drawing
to an end. May you see many more years ; and should
they prove what I desire, you will indeed be happy.
Your situation in Ireland must indeed be grievous, but
what can be done for your unhappy country ? Our
statesmen are upon the horns of a dilemma, and I
fear we have not seen the last of the drama. Melan
choly indeed is the prospect before us, with a divided
Church ; and if Parliament does not soon act and
crush Puseyism, evil will shortly come upon us. We
live in perilous days, but God, I trust, will guard the
just ; so prays yours, I may say, affectionately, — Peovo
Wallis." " Funtington, July 14th, 1870. — As you have
always expressed such friendly feelings towards me, I
am sure you will pardon my vanity in communicating
my appointment as 'Vice-Admiral of the United
Kingdom,' a much coveted honour in our profession."
" Funtington, June 6th, 1871. — I was from home
when your most kind letter of the 29th ult. reached
here, or I should not have delayed thus long in thanking
you warmly for your ever thoughtful remembrance of
' the memorable day.' "
" Funtington, March 8th, 1872. — Your letter of
February 28th arrived in due course at Funtington,

CORRESPONDENCE. 189
but I had previously fled into Norfolk, having been
called there by the serious illness of my only sister,
who is in a declining state. I only returned home
yesterday. The melancholy death of Lord Mayo must
ha\'e shocked you. Fortunately I had not the pleasure
of his acquaintance."
" Funtington, May 2Sth, 1872. — I must no longer
delay replying to your A-alued letter which I receiA'ed
some days since, or the anniversary of the day in
question Avill have come and gone. I can hardly
belie\'e that it is fifty-nine years since that event,
and that I am the only officer left. It gave me great
pleasure to hear that your natiA'e air had restored you
to health. Long may you enjoy this blessing upon
earth, and when you are removed may eternal happi
ness be your lot. I am not, I fear, sufficiently thankful
for the great mercies I haA'e receiA'"ed, but He Avho is
all goodness knows that I am grateful. We do not
intend visiting Malvern this season, as my dear wife
thinks she will not require further punishment this
year." " Funtington, May 26th, 1873.— From my heart I
thank you for your kind congratulations, but especially
for your prayers. Sixty years have passed like a
dream since the Almighty Avas pleased to spare me,
and I believe that I am the only survivor who Avas
in that action — certainl}' the only officer. I beg you

190 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P WALLIS, G.C.B.
to excuse this scrawl, as I have, in consequence
of my advancement to G.C.B., a score of letters to
answer.'' " Scarsdale, Great Malvern, September 22nd',
1873. — An abominable cold has kept me mostly in
bed ever since I saw you. However, thank God,
1 am better, and scribble a few lines to tell you that,
naving business to attend to both at home and in
London, it is my intention to leave this for about
a fortnight on Friday next, stopping at Oxford
en route a day or two. As to Cleopatra' s action,
my dear doctor, I was then a mere child, fourteen
years old ; but looking back, I think it was a most
chivalrous fight. I think I am the only surviving
soul." "Scarsdale, Great Malvern, October 20th, 1873.
— I duly received your letter of the 16th, enclosing
your photograph, which I think an excellent likeness,
and be assured it will often give me pleasure when
I look upon it, and think of the friend it represents.
I have forwarded to-day a trifling cadeau, which
pray accept, and place it upon your library table
or elsewhere, in remembrance of one who feels highly
honoured by the friendship you have bestowed upon
him. After my return home, I will look for my late
Captain's (Sir Robert Laurie) letter respecting
Cleopatra's action."

CORRESPONDENCE. 191
"Funtington, December 15th, 1873. — I feel more
than I can express, but heartily thank you for your
kind congratulations upon my recent A'isit to Windsor.
May I beg the favour of your not buying a ' Peerage '
for nest year, as I ordered an extra one, hoping you
would do me the favour of accepting it."
" Funtington, March 10th, 1874.— My dear wife's
health renders her completely unable to enjoy society.
I merely mention this to account for my inhospitable
conduct, and to add how much I wish it were other-
Avise. I am much gratified by the Conservatives
haA'ing returned to office, and I hope they will have
a long lease of power. Worcester certainly disgraced
herself, and no doubt it annoyed you. I think the
Tichborne trial a great reflection upon our courts of
law." "Funtington, October 13th, 1874. — ^Time reminds
me not to delay any longer sending you a feAv lines ;
in fact, I have gone on day by day hoping to be able
to tell you that the gout had taken its leave of me,
but I am sorry to say it still clings, and, I fear, seems
inclined to do so : at present I am free from acute
pain, but cannot make a good walk — only a shuffle.
I do hope, my dear friend, that you are keeping well,
and I pray to God that you may, for without health
we are poor creatures. My dear wife continues in an
unsatisfactory state, though Dr. Quin, I think, has

192 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
done her some good. We often speak of you, and
I may say she feels very grateful for all your kind
and sympathetic feeling for us. As I write with a
crampy hand, I will only add our sincere wish that
you may continue to enjoy health and happiness."
"Funtington, March llth, 1875. — No doubt you
have keenly felt the loss of your friends. I know full
well how sad are such feelings, but I think I am right
in saying you will bear, with Christian fortitude, the
decrees of Providence. I think I am gaining ground,
and hope to get to Malvern by-and-bye. If so, it will
give me the greatest pleasure to find you in rude
health. The weather still continues much against
invalids, and my dear wife does not, as. sailors say,
make much, if any, headway."
"Funtington, May 1th, 1875. — I have been intend
ing day by day to scribble you a line, but, as we used
to say at school, ' Procrastination is the thief of
time.' The sympathy you so kindly offered respect
ing Dr. Randolph's death was happily not required,
as it was not my brother-in-law ; but j'our observa
tions respecting. survivorship are indeed true, for, like
yourself, I have to mourn the loss of nearly all my
dearest friends ; but a person of my very advanced
years must expect such losses. Apropos, Mr. Ran
dolph has just lost a cousin of his, sixty-three years
rector of Mint Haddam, in Hertfordshire, son of a,

CORRESPONDENCE. \ 93
late Bishop of London. Previously to your communi
cation of the death of your friend, Mr. Atkyns, I had
seen it in the papers, which recalled to my memory
the pleasant day we passed at Ombersley. Well do I
remember the agreeable dinner you gave me, and the
splendid salmon you had provided. With regard to
your kind inquiries respecting our health, I wish it
were in my poAver, my very dear friend, to tell you
that Ave were free from ailments ; but, indeed, we con
tinue a brace of poor creatures, but not without hope,
if we can get to MalA-ern, of being better. Unluckily
we cannot get our old quarters, which is a bore ;
nevertheless, when we feel equal to the journey, we
shall, no doubt, find a comfortable residence and be
revived by its charming air."
" Great Malvern, August 25th, 1875. — I trust one
¦day whilst here to again shake you by the hand, but
shall not be able to do so on Saturday next. I
promise myself the pleasure by-and-bye, when I feel
more equal to moving about, to drive over from
Worcester to Kington and have a few hours' gossip
with you — I wish I could add, walk about Avith you.
However, when we meet you will see that I can now
only shuffle ; but I am very grateful to Providence
for granting me power to bring my dear wife here,
who was in great want of a change of air, as well as
to see the medical man, in whom she has great faith.
But more of this when we meet." 12

194 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
"Great Malvern, August 28th, 1875.— God will
ing, to whom I pray for health and strength, I will
with much pleasure accept your arrangement. Should
it suit your convenience, let the day be Saturday,
September 4th, when perhaps you may be able to
accompany me to the Cathedral, as I should much
like to have a look at the venerable building uoav
that it has been recently beautified."
" Great Malvern, October 8th, 1875.— On Tuesday
morning we shall slip our moorings and steer home
wards. When again (D.V.) we are settled at home,
we hope to feel all the better for the change. At all
events, it has given me the heartfelt pleasure of
having visited Kington. I shall often dwell Avith
pleasure upon my pleasant visit, and will ncA'er forget
your hearty welcome. Apropos, the words of an old
song intrude on my memory, viz. :
' And shall I then never revisit the spot,
And steal through the village to gaze on the cot,
AVhich chngs to remembrance with fondest delay
Through the dreams of the night and cares of the day ? '
But a truce to being sentimental, except to say that I
intend, if possible, to attend to the impressive words
I heard from your lips, ' Fret not thyself ; and pray
adhere to the same yourself. You, indeed, have a
severe six months before you, and if I am spared
shall often think I see you trudging in mud and

CORRESPONDENCE. 195
slush. Give my kind regards to the good squire.* I
thank you, my dear friend, for having made me
acquainted Avith one so Avorthy. I send you an old
Court Calendar, as a Short paragraph caught my eye
referring to Lord Beauchamp, which the squire has
not seen ; therefore, Avhen next you \-isit him, put the
paper in your pocket and say I could not find the one
AA'hich gaA-e a more detailed account."
"Funtington, October 28th, 1875.— Thanks, my
dear friend, for your kind offer should you go to
Halifax in the spring ; but I belie A'e, owing to the
time which has elapsed since any steps were taken in
the matter, that ' Le jeu ne vaut pas la chandelle.'
You will have read, no doubt, of the death of Dr.
Hook, Dean of Chichester — a man who will be greatly
missed in this neighbourhood, as he was much liked.
I hope his successor will not be a Ritualist. I occa
sionally look with pleasure at a young heifer, now
nearly a yearling, Avhich I intend for you when you
get into your new rectory. My black-edged paper is
OAving to the death of a sister-in-law, widow of a late
Rector of Barrow, near Chester (John Clark)."
"Funtington, April 19th, 1876. — The time for
your intended trip, I conclude, is fast approaching ;
so not to trouble you when you are engaged with
* William Laslett, Esq., M.P. for Worcester.

196 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
¦other matters, I send you a few lines to wish you
God-speed, and also to say I shall not fail to pray
for your protection by Him during your absence, and
also for a safe return to your home and friends, which
I hope to be able to witness, and then once more press
the hand of a dear friend ere we part for ever. Ever,
¦did I say ? I trust not, for God may, of His infinite
mercy, permit us hereafter to meet where pain and
sorrow are no more. What a season we have had
¦ever since our last visit to Malvern, and we have both
felt it severely, especially my beloved wife. I have
made up my mind not to trouble you about my
property in Nova Scotia, feeling certain that too
much time has elapsed without my looking after it."
"Funtington, June 6th, 1876. — Many thanks for
your affectionate letter of June 1st, to which I reply
¦on the anniversary of the day upon which we anchored
in Halifax Harbour. I enclose a letter of Broke-
Middleton's, who asks me about his father's hat.
What became of it I do not know, my thoughts at
that time being occupied with pressing matter."
" Great Malvern, November 3rd, 1876. — So, as
the saying is in Cheshire, you have been ' flitting '
— may it be in every way a comfort to you. Poor
Polly ! * I fear she has been like the present of
* The heifer given to me by Sir Provo. — J. G. B.

CORR ESPONDENCE. 197
a white elephant to you, but let us hope in
the end she may reward your care with some rich
food. We are going on in the same jog-trot way,
but do not intend to leave until the end of the
month." "Funtington, January 9th, 1877. — Some time
having elapsed since I heard from you, I begin to
think that, like so many others at the present time,
you are unwell. Pray let me have a line, as I am
anxious to know how you are this horrid weather.
What dreadful accounts the papers tell us have been
received from all parts of the world. We have
only occasionally seen the sun since our return from
Malvern, and my dear wife has never been out of the
house. She is, I am sorry to add, still tormented,
in spite of Doctors Quin and Fernie. As you Avere
kind enough to express a wish that Mr. Randolph
should go on with the life of the late Sir Robert
Wilson, I am sorry to say that he has informed
me that his health is such that he cannot proceed
with it, and has given the trustees of the British
Museum many valuable manuscripts. I very
much regret that this is so, as I should much
have liked the world to have seen how very
shamefully he had been treated by the Govern
ment of his day."
"Funtington, April 10th, 1877. — The secluded

198 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
life I lead prevents my having more to tell you than
that we both continue great invalids. My dear
wife has not been out of our own grounds since our
return from Malvern, and I suffer a good deal Avith
rheumatic gout. The political world is still looking
very gloomy, and God only knows how things Avill
settle down, as there seems much trouble brewing
both at home and elsewhere."
"Funtington, June 1st, 1877.— Your kind letter
of the 17th was duly received, by which you antici
pated that the Almighty would mercifully extend my
life. Well, my dear friend, the 1st of June has once
more returned, and although it finds me the worse
for wear, I am better than I could have expected
from my advanced age, for which I humbly offer up
to the Giver of all good my grateful thanks. And
now, my dear doctor, whilst thanking you very
sincerely for all your good wishes, I cannot refrain
from adding that I feel quite undeserving of the
encomiums your friendship bestows upon me. I
am glad to hear of the continued good health of
your kind friend the squire, and from the tenor of
your letter I conclude your own to be satisfactory.
With respect to the miserable war now raging, I
hope Providence A^dll soon put a stop to it ; but the
state of affairs are such that mortal man cannot
see through the mist. As I am Avriting with an
unsatisfactory pen — like a skewer— I Avill call a halt.

CORRESPONDENCE. 199
with our best and kindest Avishes for all good ; ever
affectionately yours, Provo Wallis."

"Funtington, September 12th, 1877.— My dear
Avife, I regret to tell you, -still remains a great invalid,
and your humble servant, though not suffering acute
pain, has a good deal of gout flying about him.
Thanks for telling me ' Polly's ' doings in the butter
Avay. HoAv many Aveeks did it take her to give you
80 lbs. .P I shall be glad to know, as I wish to
compare the pasturage of your county with ours.
However, you must wait until she has had her second
calf, as she Avill not be in full profit until then."
" Great Malvern, November 2nd, 1877. — I was
very glad to hear that the good squire was himself
again, but sorry to find that you were thinking of
getting into your new damp rectory. If I knew the
bishop, I would ask him to prohibit your doing so —
indeed, my dear fellow, it will be a very wrong
move, to run the risk of your life. My dear wife is
slowly recovering from the effects of a long day's
journey. I am, thank God, much as you found me
last year, and by-and-bye we can arrange a meeting
at Worcester. It is a bold stroke my coming here,
but what won't a man do who loves his wife. We
only got here larte on Tuesday evening, and as I am
now writing by oavI's light, I must call a halt."

200 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
"Funtington, February 28th, 1878. — The late
severe blow, by the loss of my son-in-law* (only in his
fifty-fourth year), has been a great grief, and I hope
you have been spared any similar pain. I am sorry
to tell you my dear wife continues to be tormented,
though her medical man at Malvern pronounced her
free from the enemy. It is very sad for her, but we
are all bound to submit to the Avill of Providence.
As for myself, I am truly thankful, at my great age,
to be so mercifully treated. My kind remembrances
to the squire. What does he think of the ' Times ' ? "
" Funtington, April 23rd, 1878. — It is now some
time since we exchanged ideas, nevertheless you
have not been out of my thoughts, and more
particularly so as I have had many severe bereaA'e-
ments, added to intense sorrow by the continued
sufferings of my dear wife ; but I will not dwell upon
sorrows or evils, but pray to the great God for mercy
and forgiveness."
" Funtington, June 1st, 1878. — Time does indeed,
as you observe, fly ; but, by God's mercy, I can once
more send you my heartfelt thanks for your kind
letter concerning this, to me, eventfulday."
" Great Malvern, July 4th, 1878. — Being once
more able to hold a pen, and you having kindly
* Dr. Perryn.

CORRESPONDENCE. 201
appointed me commander-in-chief, I take advantage
of my office by directing you, at present, to remain
quietly at your anchorage of Kington ; and when it
may please God to permit me to get to Worcester
comfortably, I hope the good squire will be able to
drive you there, and take a lunch dinner with me."
"Funtington, December llth, 1878. — As it is now
some time since I heard from you, I am desirous of
knowing how your health holds out. Well, I sincerely
hope, or else you will not be able to enjoy the ap
proaching festiA'al. 1878 has depri\'ed me of many
friends, and good Doctor Quin's loss is a great sorrow
for us, particularly to my afflicted wife, who, thank
God, is certainly better since our last trip to Malvern."
" Funtington, June 2nd, 1879. — We are much
grieved, my dear friend, to hear of your being pros
trated by bronchitis, but sincerely hope that before
long you will be again all right. Broke's case was
thought to be fatal, I heard, but copious bleeding from
the wound (like his poor father's) has so far saved
him. The other side of the picture is pleasing, viz.,
the good squire's convalescence. How kind of you,
my good friend, to think of others when so afflicted,
by remembering bygone days. Alas ! I believe that I
am the only pne alive of the dear old Shannons to
receive your blessing, but I am sure all those Avho
have departed have your prayers for forgiveness of

202 AD2IISAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.CB.
sins, and for a glorious resurrection. As you have
mentioned seeing my name at the First Lord's Dinner
on the Queen's birthday, I will tell you that I was
repaid for going by the very cordial reception I met
with, and also by the kindly greeting of a few old
friends. I afterwards attended Lady Salisbury's At
Home, and on Monday the Levee. I therefore now
think I have finished (at eighty-eight) my public duty,
and if permitted to remain here a little longer, may
my chief thoughts be employed in asking pardon and
forgiveness for all my transgressions of that great God
whose mercy endures for ever."
" Funtington, June 10th, 1879. — When I was in
London I did not venture upon many gay doings — the
First Lord's Dinner, Lady Salisbury's Soiree, and the
Prince's Levee were all. I was told H.M.S. Pinafore
was having a great run, but from what you have told
me I do not regret my want of curiosity."
" Great Malvern, August 1879. — I regret, exceed
ingly, the state of the good squire's health. Entre
nous, I have not written to him saying I was here,
because I have not felt equal to journeying to Wor
cester, being sadly troubled with crippled feet, there
fore have not been in a mood to ask him to let me
know when he was likely to be there, and as he is
unwell, it turns out all right. Your account of H.M.S.
Pinafore makes me long to see it, and as you are fond

CORRESPONDENCE. 203
of the music, 1 wish you joy at having some of her
crew at Brome. What a sad summer Ave have had !
But all must rejoice that we can get our bread and
other stuffs from abroad. Malvern is now overflowing
with visitors, and by comparison with other places, it
seems that Ave have been highly favoured during the
tremendous downpours. Are you not pleased to find
that poor Carey has not been sacrificed to cruel party
spirit .P The Government are to blame for having
sanctioned the Prince's going to the Cape under their
wing, which has been the cause of all that followed."
" Great Malvern, September 23rd, 1879. — I haA'e
been anticipating until now the pleasure of another
gossip with you, but ' L'homme propose, Dieu dispose,'
and circumstances have recalled us home sooner than
Ave expected. Since I last wrote to you I have had a
trip into Cheshire, as I was anxious to see my daughter,
Mrs. Perryn, of Trafford, who has been a great
invalid for the last few years — not able to get down
stairs since last February. But I must be thankful to
the Almighty for granting her most earthly comforts,
though it has pleased Him to withdraw the greatest of
all blessings."'
" Funtington, December 23rd, 1879. — I much fear
that Ireland is again in a feverish state, but, in short,
the whole world seems in a flame, and God only knows
the sequel. What a magnificent person our good friend

204 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
the squire is ! All honour to him, and when you visit
Worcestershire I hope you will find him in improved
health. When you happen to see Broke remember
me kindly to him. I think you will not regret having
discarded the razor."
" Funtington, March 4th, 1880. — It is a long
while, my dear friend, since we have exchanged a line,
but I have been intending to do so for some days, to
ask how you have passed through our late terrible
Avinter. As to myself, I have been much annoyed by
rheumatic gout in my right arm, and very tender feet,
so much so that I kept my bed the best part of most
days ; but at my great age, I must expect to suffer
more or less. Happily we are now on the eve of
spring, so I hope by God's providence to get better ;
if not. His will be done. My dear wife is much better,
so we are thinking of getting to Malvern some time
in May, provided our old quarters are vacant at that
time." " Funtington, May 15th, 1880.— The Aveather has
not been very genial. When will it be so again?
Last year we had but little sunshine, and much rain —
now we should be glad if the east wind would cease,
and some warm rain descend. The ' times,' as well as
theAveather, are out of joint, and a gloomy prospect's
before us. Ireland in a state of combustion, and a
Roman sent to govern India, a man who has already

CORRESPONDENCE. 205
¦sacrificed the interest of his country by the ' Treaty
of Washington,' but who could not prevail upon our
chief justice to add his name to such an unjust
Act. However, Gladstone made him a marquis, and
when he has accomplished more mischief, a duke's
coronet Avill be placed upon his head. Oh ! that we
had a Bismarck as our chief, to guide us through
the Straits of Scylla and Charybdis. I am glad
Oxford has sent Harcourt to seek his fortune."
" Funtington, October 21st, 1880. — I will now
thank you for your kind inquiries, and tell you
we reached home safely on August 31st, after a
pleasant stay at Malvern for three months, and are
now once more moored at this secluded place, and
glad enough to be in snug winter quarters, protected
from the northerly blasts by the southdowns, and
south-westerly gales by a stately row of chesnut
trees ; but I regret to add, we are compelled to live
in a state of seclusion, in consequence of my dear
wife's extremely delicate health ; but, my dear friend,
it does not fall to the lot of humanity to have all
things good, but as in duty bound submit with
patience to the decrees of Providence. Whilst at
Malvern I was much tormented with the gout in my
hands, which to this day I am not free from. You
¦will see by the enclosed cutting,* which was sent
* An account of the death of James Coull, who steered the Shannon
into action.

206 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
me by a friend, that up to the date mentioned I was
not the only Shannon remaining, and perhaps not
now, although I think I must be. To-day is the
anniversary of poor Nelson's death, seventy-five years
since, and well do I remember hearing of the sad
event, when in the Cambrian frigate in the West
Indies. I was then a middy of fourteen. I will not
touch upon the events of the present day — you have
them daily before you, and horrid ones they are.
The case of unhappy Ireland is deplorable, and I feel
for your anxiety, praying at the same time that the
Almighty will avert the apparently coming hurri
cane."
" Funtington, November 30th, 1880. — Pray make
whatever use you think proper of any communication
you have received from me of Shannon's affair. It
is, I believe, quite true that I am now the last one
of her crew living, and should the Almighty spare me
until April 12th next, I shall be ninety years old."
" Great Malvern, August 1st, 1881. — My dear
Brighton, I wish you would drop the ' Sir Provo '
when you write to me. You will observe that I have
set you the example. What you say respecting
carrying a ball * about you I can also verify, for a
friend of mine, the late Admiral Ryder Burton, did
* A ball received in action, which, becoming encuisted, gives little
further trouble.

CORRESPONDENCE. 207
for a number of years. As to politics, they are truly
disgusting, and as to the ' Irish Land Bill ' I will only
say nous verrons. We shall be here, I think, for
about another month, as my dear wife is so much
better for the kind attention of Dr. Fernie, of whom
I cannot speak too highly."
" Great Malvern, August 15th, 1881. — Have you
happened to look into Percy Fitzgerald's ' Life of
George IV. '.P If so, you may have noticed, where
he relates occurrences at Queen Caroline's funeral,
' Sir Robert Wilson Avas dismissed the army for using
unbecoming language to the soldiers.' But he
omitted to add a note that Sir R. was reinstated, Avhich
caused me to write and point out to him the propriety
of his doing so in his second edition. I enclose his
reply. Sir Robert Wilson's words were : ' Soldiers of
Waterloo, don't fire upon the people ; you can afford
a few stones thrown at you.' However, this was
sufficient for the king to punish any one he could
who espoused the queen's cause, and he used his
prerogative by ordering Sir R.'s name to be erased
from the army. Brougham, Hume, and others, were
not within his power, but the king never forgave
them. We have (as we generally do) enjoyed the
quietness of this place, and its perfect air, beautiful
scenery, etc., much, which with a landlord and his
wife who do their utmost to make us comfortable,
are things in this world not generally met with."

208 AD2IIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
"Funtington, April 25th, 1882. — I write a few
lines (and fear it can only be a few) from my bed, to
Avhich I have now been confined for upwards of a
month by one of the severest attacks of gout yet
inflicted, but Avas indeed gratified with (as I always
am) your kind letter, upon which I wish I had the
power to make my remarks ; but God's will must be
done, and as I have received so many blessings from
Him I must bear with patience ' His decree.' "
" Great Malvern, June \9th, 1882.— As to Ire
land, it is high time to proclaim martial law in that
unhappy country ; which, owing to having been mis
governed, has drifted into anarchy. As you are about
to visit these parts, and having mentioned your inten
tion of coming to MalverSi^ to see me, may I beg of
you not to throw away a diy out of the few you may
have to spare in Worcestershire ; for happy as I should
be to see you (whic ^ 1 o,m sure you cannot doubt), I
really think ' le je'>' ne vaut pas la chandelle ' which
only permits ' ho v.. do you do ? ' and ' good-bye ! '
I am, thank God, f deling a good deal better for the
delicious air of Mal^/ern."
" Funtington, December llth, 1882. — I enclose my
last letter from Admiral Preble.* I had destroyed
his previous ones, and sent the pamphlet to my
* U.S. Navy.

CORRESPONDENCE. 209
daughter in Cheshire. There was nothing to dis
approve of in it. He seems a liberal-minded man.
We had a bountiful harvest but no apples ; the hurri
cane at blooming time, and the saline air, destroyed
the prospect of a fine crop : trees and hedges looked
like having passed through a fire, and I fear many of
them will not recover from a blast not previously
known by the present generation. I am happy to say,
so far, we have escaped the dreadful snowstorms
reported to have fallen in various parts, and have
only as yet had a little ; but we, I conclude, Avill
have neighbours' fare and an old-fashioned Christmas,
which is noAV near at hand, so I will take this oppor
tunity of sending our best wishes that you may enjoy
a very happy one, which may God grant to all His
poor people. Should you see Broke, or write to him,
remember us to him. And now, my dear Brighton,
as Jack Frost is nibbling at my fingers' end, I must
say God bless you, and that I am, as ever, your
siocere friend, Provo Wallis."
"Great Malvern, June llth, 1883. — On Tuesday
last I posted a card to inform you of our safe arrival
at our much-prized summer quarters, without any con
tretemps. The country just now is perfectly lovely,
and I was glad to hear from you such a flourishing
account of Norfolk, a county in which I have passed
many a happy day. A thousand thanks, my dear
Brighton, for your letter of May 30th, intended for
13

210 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
June 1st. Seventy years have now indeed passed for
ever aAvay, and I pray to the Almighty that it may not
prove better that I should have been numbered with
the slain on June 1st, 1813. Apropos, on the very
anniA'ersary I received a letter from the American
Admiral Preble, congratulating me on having survived
seventy years since that memorable day ; and, as you
have always shown so much interest in the affair, I
enclose it."
"Funtington, Christmas Day, 1883. — Many,
many happy returns of the day. May you be in the
enjoyment of perfect health, which is the greatest
of earthly blessings. I am as well — indeed better
than I could expect at my very great age. I recently
sent you a Sussex paper, and marked an account of
how nearly our magnificent cathedral spire was
destroyed. It would have been a grievous misfortune
had it been the case, as it was only restored about
twenty years since, at a cost of between £40,000 and
£50,000." " Funtington, February 8th, 1884. — Thanks for
sending me the Worcester paper. Poor Mr. Laslett ! *
Let us hope he is happy. With respect to Lawrence's
flag — a captain does not carry a distinguishing one.
I conclude they mean an ensign of hers,f but how
* Our mutual friend, Mr. Laslett, died some days previously.
t The Chesapeake.

CORRESPONDENCE. 211
it got to Howick is unknown to me ; neither do I
know whether he Avas buried in one. HoAvever, I know
that after the poor fellow's death he was wrapped in
one of the three she fleAv ; so, in all probability, when
they placed him in his coffin it acted as his shroud,
which was made by his own people. This is likely,
for I recollect some verses Avhich at that time were
going the rounds, viz. :
' Brave Lawrence, famed for other deeds,
Now in his country's colours bleeds.' "
"Funtington, November 20th, 1884. — As Avith you,
all my news is gleaned from the daily papers, there
fore I will not trouble you with a repetition.
Owing to my dear wife's confirmed ill-health, and my
age, we live quite a retired life. Nevertheless, my
masters at the Admiralty keep me on the active list,
which they tell me is a mark of honour, but took
from me the one I considered the greatest, viz. : Vice-
Admiral of the United Kingdom, because they did
not allow it to be held by an Admiral of the Fleet.
We have lately had a return visit from the Prince
and Princess of Battenberg, who have taken a resi
dence called Sennicotts, near Chichester. The Prince
seems to be a jolly and manly-looking fellow, and
his fair-one a nice, and I may say a pretty person ;
certainly an agreeable one. I hope Broke-Middleton
and his Avife are well, and that the former is not
feeling any ill-effects from his serious accident."

212 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
"Funtington, New Year's Day, 1885. — Many,
many happy returns of New Year's day to you. I
cannot expect any, but God may be so kind as still
to add to my large number (94). It gave me great
pleasure to hear of your being in such good health.
Long may it continue, to enable you to do your much
required work of 'turning the hearts of the disobe
dient,' so much wanted ; yours is an enviable task,
Avhich I feel you will do well. We are living in very
anxious days, and God only knows how things are to
end. It seems to me that England is to be punished
for her many backslidings ; but I will not preach to
you, but bear in mind the text I once had the pleasure
to hear from your lips, ' Fret not thyself.' "

" Funtington, March 13th, 1886. — I feel sure you
have attributed my long silence to the very severe
weather we have had, and which seems reluctant to
depart ; but I cannot remain any longer without
scribbling a few lines to let you know that it has
pleased God to spare me, and should He do so until
the 12th of next month, I shall then have completed
my ninety-fifth year. That will be a long lease, and
all I can say is that I feel sorry for not having made
better use of the time. On the other hand, I am
comforted by believing I am in the hands of a merciful
Father. Excuse a short yarn, for I write from my
bed, which I have occupied since the first week in

CORRESPONDENCE. 213
.Tanuary, not being able to get about owing to rheu
matic gout."
" Funtington, May 1st, 1886. — I can scarcely
belieA'e that ninety-five years have passed over my
head since my appearance in this world of sorrow,
but the hope of a better is our solace. What a
splendid week the holidays had, which, as the papers
remark, Avas worth waiting for. So I hope Norfolk
was not an exception to the glorious sunshine. I, like
the snails, crept out of my shell ; and I hope your
good nurse, Miss Frazer, and yourself have also enjoyed
the bounty of heaAen. Alas ! there is, I fear, much
tribulation in store for poor old England. The fate
of nations seems too near, and symptoms are in vieAV."
" Funtington, May 29th, 1886. — It indeed is
seventy-three years ago since I was cruising in the
good ship Shannon, then a young and thoughtless
lieutenant, but now a worn-out sheer hulk, the fate of
all who are permitted to arrive at my time of life,
and of the majority long before. It is with much
regret, my dear Brighton, that we have made up our
minds to forgo the very great pleasure of visiting
Malvern this season (and, as far as I am concerned,
no doubt for ever), but prudence whispers don't.
Well, it must be so, and I am very grateful for
having been allowed to do so for thirty-two years,
minus two when I was at Rio. Our late landlord

214 ADMIRAL SJ;R PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.CB.
and his wife will miss us, as the enclosed note will
tell you. I will conclude by thanking you for telling
me that you should drink my health on June 1st.
May you see many more anniversaries^ I cannot
expect to be spared. to see any. However, —
' As through this gloomy vale of life we run,
Great Cause of all effects, — Thy will be done.' "
"Funtington, July 3rd, 1886. — Just a line, my
dear friend Brighton, to tell you that it seems likely,
by the goodness of Providence, that I shall once more
have the pleasure of seeing Malvern, the late fine
weather having done wonders for me, and, should I
have no relapse, we think of leaving home on Tuesday
the 13th prox."
Malvern, July 13th, 1886. — A post-card from
Sir Provo that he had arrived.
"Funtington, April 27th, 1887. — I am now upon
the threshold of eternity — an awful position, which
can only be borne in happiness by those who put their
trust in the entire mercy of God. I shall no more
visit sweet Malvern, or London, both of which I thought
(not long since) it possible I might accomplish. It is
with regret that I have refused the First Lord's invita
tion to dinner, to celebrate Her Majesty's birthday
(being also her jubilee), as I am now the senior officer
in her navy, and have been so for upwards of two

CORRESPONDENCE. 215
years. I have a good deal of rheumatic gout at
present, but have been for a year Avithout a red-hot
fit. My wife, I am happy to say, has gone through
the Avinter fairly well, but the extraordinary Aveather
has been very trying to all. The only Avay I found to
be at all comfortable, Avas by keeping quietly in Blanket
Bay, under Cape Rug, until dinner time. And now,
clear and valued friend, I cannot do better than finish
with part of the soul-stirring words of ' Auld Lang
Syne,' so — ' Here's my hand, my trusty friend.' "
"Funtington, August 21th, 1887. — I am getting
rapidly into the ' sere and yellow leaf However, I
will not trouble you Avith my ails and aches, but
assure you that I endeavour to bear all my Heavenly
Father's decrees Avith humble submission, gratefully
thanking Him for the numberless blessings which I
have received throughout my days."
" Funtington, March 5th, 1888. — 1 make an effort
to let you know that I am still in the land of the
living, as you may have some doubts upon the subject
The truth is, my dear friend, I have throughout the
very severe winter Ave have experienced been obliged
to keep my bed (from which I noAV write), tormented
with rheumatic gout and other ills, smarting under
the weight of extreme old age ; but when the weather

216 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
settles to snail and butterfly days, I may be permitted
to once more write you more freely."

"Funtington, June 1st, 1888.— My sincere and.
best thanks for your affectionate letter in anticipation
of to-day, but hearing of your attack by the painful
malady, gout, caused me much sorrow. You have my
deep sympathy. As for myself, I am a very poor,
worn-out old creature, and of course cannot expect ta
be anything else whilst it may please God to let me
remain on earth. ' But hush, my soul, nor dare repine,
The time my God appoints is best ;
AiVhilst here to do His will be mine,
And His to fix my time of rest.'
We haA'e been severely afflicted. My wife's maid has;
been nearly dead, and our upper housemaid died sud
denly. Our departed maid lived with us forty-two
years." " Funtington, September 1th, 1888. — I had hoped
when the summer came that I might have been able
to leave my bed, but have been obliged to keep shel
tered in ' Blanket Bay,' and have nearly read my eyes-
out by spelling the Times and Globe. I will send you
a letter (in answer to mine) from Sir Thomas Symonds,
a fine chip of the old sailor, and Avhose letters I daresay
you have read in the papers."

CORRESPONDENCE. 217
"Funtington, September 14th, 1888. — I write you
just a line, for writing has become a task, to tell you
that I was agreeably surprised last Saturday by a call
from Lady Broke-Middleton."

" Funtington, February 21th, 1889. — It seems, my
dear B., that you have not received a memo, card
which I posted you last week (20th), but as I
have been reading of so many defaults of postmen
lately, no doubt it has been tampered with. Many
thanks, my valued friend, for your constant wish to
know how I am going on. I am, as this scrawl will
tell you, up to date in the land of the living, and I
wish I could say free firom the infirmities of old age.
I read in the paper the death of Dunsany,* and, from
what you tell me of his character, he is no doubt
happy."

" Funtington, April llth, 1889. — I received with
gratitude your valued birthday thoughts of me, and
hope you will forgive my tardy reply ; but I have
really had so many letters to answer, that they who
are my real friends, and you stand foremost, will
make allowance. I still keep my bed ; how much
longer, God only knows."
* Admiral Lord Dunsany.

218 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
"Funtington, May 18th, 1889.— As I am now,
like a snail— owing to fine Aveather — out of my shell,
I take the opportunity of thanking you for your kind
letter. As to the 1st of June to which you allude,
it will not bring any pleasure to me. I long have
ceased from worldly doings to feel any comfort. I
know that all here is but vanity and vexation of
spirit : — ' Our days are like the grass,
Or as the morning flower ; '
If one sharp blast sweep o'er the field
It withers in an hour.
But Thy compassions, Lord,
To endless years endure,
And children's children ever find
Thy words of promise sure.' "

" Funtington, July 18th, 1889. — I remain much
the same. St. Swithin's rain has done much good, if
the good saint will but be moderate."
" Funtington, October 4th, 1889. — I have not been
quite the thing for the last week, which will account
for my tardy reply to your last. Alas ! my beloved
friend, I am becoming weaker and weaker. My
wonder is that I am still alive ; but I will say no
more on this subject, as you are in possession of my
thoughts. Of course you have my full permission
to do as you intend respecting the Biography."

CORRESPONDENCE. 219
" Funtington, January 16th, 1890. — The death
of my daughter, Mrs. Perryn, of Trafford Hall, near
Chester, which occurred on the second of this month,
has been a severe blow to me. It was quite sudden,
or nearly so. She fell down in her bedroom, and
expired in twenty-four hours. This sad event has
heaped such severe sorrow upon me that I scarcely
know what I am about. I can write no more, but
only subscribe myself, as ever, most affectionately
and sincerely yours, P. W. P. Wallis."

J:

¦^¦»»-

FACSIMILE OF THE LAST LETTEE WEITTEN BY SIE PEOVO -TO DE. BEIGHTON.

Paje 221.

XI.
AT FUNTINGTON.

CHAPTER X.
AT FUNTINGTON.
nVTEAR the dividing line of Hampshire and
-'-^ Sussex, and in the south-Avestern corner of
the last-mentioned county, lies the little village
of Funtington, one of the many old-fashioned and
picturesque villages that may be found along the
border-land of these two counties. It has not yet
been wakened from its quietude by the whistle of
the raihvay-engine, nor is its tranquillity much dis
turbed by vehicular traffic, for there is no main road
running through it. Hidden by surrounding woods
and its own stately elms, it escapes observation ; and
being not too easily accessible, is not much sought
by excursionists, though an occasional tourist will
pass that way — more especially, perhaps, to catch a
glimpse of Funtington House, where Sir Provo has
spent a long and happy life of retirement. From
Chichester, more than elsewhere, come the visitors
14

226 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
to Funtington, not only because it is the nearest
place of importance, but more especially because
in that old Roman city, with its tAvelfth- century
cathedral and Tudor market-cross, there reside
many of England's naval heroes and veterans of the
sea, ending their days in peace within easy reach >of
the ocean on which they have spent the greater part
of their lives, and couA'cnient to the great naval
station of Portsmouth, which they know so well.
The distance from Chichester to Funtington is not
great — only some six miles — and in summer time,
when the firs, oaks, and beeches of the " Old Broyle "
are in full leaf, the drive is altogether pleasant ; but if
a short walk be preferred, Funtington can be reached
by pretty lanes or across the fields, in a leisurely Avalk
of something less than an hour, from the old-world
village of Bosham, to which a train from Chichester
will carry you in a few minutes. But you might Avell
stay a little at Bosham, if only to look at its fine
Saxon church, which not only contains the remains
of Canute's daughter, and the secretary of Thomas
k Becket, but also makes a conspicuous feature in
the Bayeux tapestry, for it was from the harbour of
Bosham, or " Bosenham," that Harold sailed on his
voyage to Normandy, the site of his residence being
still pointed out.
Funtington is rich in trees, and Funtington House
owes some of its seclusion to them, but more to the
high wall which partly surrounds it, and Avhich for

AT FUNTINGTON. 221
some distance marks the boundary of the road.
Entering by a simple carriage gateway, the pillars of
which are surmounted by tAvo stone cannon balls, you
are at once struck by the Avell-kept state of the
grounds. The laAvn is trimly cut and refreshingly
green ; the beds are in good order ; the laurels bor
dering the laAvn closely set and Avell groAvn, making a
solid background, and successfully hiding the coarser
part of the garden.
The house is unpretentious though roomy, is
old-fashioned in appearance, and is, in fact, old ;
but you will be told at Funtington that Avater has
neA'er yet been knoAvn to leak through the roof, old
as it is. Much else that is about you is old — the
trees, the ivy, the evergreens, and the moss and
lichen-covered Avail ; and Avithin the house is the
brave old Admiral himself, Avho, since he came here,
after his last voyage in the Cumberland, in 1858,
has added thirty-three years to his life.
Inside, the house is warm and snug. The hall,
which you will reach in less than twenty paces from
the entrance to the grounds, is neither large nor loft)-,
but there is room for many interesting trophies, curios
and works of art. It is spanned midway by an
arch, above which is an array of swords, spears, and
weapons of other kinds, some of which have been
brought by the Admiral at different times from foreign
parts, while others have been acquired at home. The
sword presented to him by his old captain of the

228 AD2IIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
Shannon has the place of honour, whilst that of a
King of Naples hangs close by. Interspersed with
these are some rare pipe-stems and silver head-gear,
and right in front of you, at the end of the hall, is
a fine Avhite marble bust of Napoleon I., supported
by a stone pedestal, the base of which is covered with
bees, in brass, and other Imperial emblems.
The walls of the hall are covered with paintings
and engravings, nearly all of which are in one way
or another connected with our naval history. Two
sea-pieces by Musin occupy a considerable space, and
around them are a number of smaller pictures,
seA'eral depicting the scenes which arose out of the
famous action of the Shannon and the Chesapeake,
Avhilst another shoAvs the Cleopatra struggling with
her far more poAverful antagonist the Ville de
3Iilan. But beneath these pictures of storm and
war you may see a handsome table, inlaid in coloured
marbles, with the peaceful design of pigeons feeding
from a boAvl, and all around you are specimens of art
in Oriental china and other Avare, there being in one
corner an old cabinet quite full of it.
Turning round, you are met Avith quite a number
of engraved portraits of Avell-knoAvn men, among them
being George IV. Avhen Prince of Wales, and his
brother, the Duke of York. These two engravings
were presented to Sir Provo's grandfather, William
LaAvlor, by the father of Queen Victoria, H.R.H.
Edward, Duke of Kent, when Commander-in-chief

AT FUNTINGTON. 229
of His Majesty's forces in Nova Scotia, a portrait
of the Duke himself, which Sir Provo keeps by him
in his bedroom, having been presented at the same
time. Other interesting portraits are those of Lord Nelson,
Captain Broke, and Lady Wallis's father, the late
General Sir Robert Wilson. It will have been seen
hoAv, quite undeservedly as Sir Provo says, Sir
Robert got into disgrace Avith George IV., and was
dismissed the army, to be, however, afterwards rein
stated. To commemorate this event, a picture was
painted representing the present Lady Wallis in the
act of restoring to her father's hat the plumes of
which it had been deprived. Sir Provo took a
great interest in helping to clear Sir Robert's name
from the stigma cast upon it, and it was owing to
him that some of the incidents recorded in the life of
Sir Robert, which Avas edited by Sir Provo's brother-
in-law, the Rev. Herbert Randolph, are preserved.
In the study to the left of the hall you will find,
among many volumes of naval history, a case of
books on Egypt given to Sir Robert Wilson by
General Count Lavalette, whose life Sir Robert once
saved ; a snuff-box made from a fragment of the bold
Chesapeake adorns the mantel-shelf, and about you
are other little memorials of the famous fight. Here,
amidst the records of gallant deeds, in some of
which he has himself taken part, Sir Provo has
passed many a pleasant hour inditing letters on

230 ADiMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
those closing scenes of the Long War with America
which he could so well describe from his own intimate
knowledge, and as to which his recollections have
been frequently requested from both sides of the
Atlantic. Indeed, when the American naval autho
rities were preparing a history of the war many years
since, that portion which relates to the action of the
Shannon and Chesapeake was submitted by them to
Sir Provo for amendment.
Crossing the hall, you take a peep into the
drawing-room to look at the miniature of Sir Ralph
Abercrombie, and then pass into the adjoining
dining-room, through the French windows of which
can be seen the old English garden, a magnificent
evergreen oak rising from the laAvn directly in front,
and reaching as high as the house itself. Every
thing is quiet and tranquil, and as you look out into
the distance your thoughts are inclined to wander
back to the hall pictures and the events of the long-
gone June 1st, 1813, and somewhat reluctantly return
to the objects immediately near.
The first that attracts your attention is a portrait
hanging between the two windows, which is so
strikingly like that you have seen of Sir Provo
at the age of twenty-two, and which hangs in
Lady Wallis's own room, that you venture to
suggest it is a copy, but are informed that it is a
portrait of Sir Provo's father when a young man.
On comparing the two pictures you will find a

AT FUNTINGTON. 231
difference in the pose of the head, otherwise the
likeness is remarkable.
On the larger Avails are some big cattle pieces,
and two village scenes ; in a niche over the side
board a cast of the face of Charles XII. of Sweden,
taken after his death, and on the sideboard itself
a piece of plate presented to Sir Provo by the
Council of Foreign Bondholders, of which he was
one of the original founders. Taking a glance up
the stairs you find, looking benignly down upon
you, a large portrait of Admiral Lord Howe, whose
famous victory over the French fleet in 1795 — the
year Avhen Sir Provo was first entered on a ship's
books — was also gained on the 1st of June, a date
Avhich was to be made more glorious by the victory
of the Shannon.
As you pass out into the delightful garden, you
cannot help thinking how well the grounds har
monise with the house. The elms with their
ivy-covered trunks, the stately chesnuts, the beds
stocked with old English flowers, the tall haw
thorns and evergreens, the creeper-covered porch,
and sturdy fruit trees clinging to the old wall, all
give token of age. Not far off are the roofs of a
few cottages and farm buildings, and the pasture
land on Avhich Sir Provo's cattle are grazing, for
he has taken an interest in small farming, and
Funtington House claims some acres of ground.
You may also see the two ponds, now united, but

232- ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
Still not large, on which Sir Provo, in quite his
old age, took gentle exercise and pleasure in pulling
his boat with his wife as a companion, to finish
with a sailor's lunch after his exertions; and, also
the little spring or fountain from which the village
takes its name of Fountain Town or Funtington,
though it has never yet become a town.
In this secluded spot, where all his surroundings
speak of age. Sir Provo has passed in peaceful
quietude the long eventide of his life, growing older
and older, but retaining until quite recently plenty
of freshness and vigour. Year by year he migrated
to the far-distant town of Malvern, which to him was
a second home, until the year 1886, when in the
ninety-sixth year of his age, his last visit was made.
Small surprise then that his brother Admiral of the
Fleet, Sir Thomas Symonds, should call him not
only a " dear old naval giant," but " a wonder of
the world."
There have not been many visitors to Funtington
House for some years, but one among the few visits
paid was that of Prince and Princess Louis of Batten
berg, who greatly pleased Sir Provo with a call from
their adjacent house of Sennicotts.
Sir Provo has not lacked occupation for his leisure
hours. He was able to read easily until within the
last year or so, and made good use of his poAver in
going again over his naval histories and the life and
private journal of his father-in-law, and in closely

AT FUNTINGTON. 233
folloAving the news contained in the Times and the
Globe, which even now he insists on having read
to him by his butler, Avho finds that the veteran
Admiral is not slow to criticise and to express strong
opinions on subjects which are interesting to him,
and especially when naval matters are in question.
His memory keeps marvellously clear, and he fre
quently recalls incidents of his early days, and can
detail Avith great accuracy the circumstances con
nected Avith the exploits in which he had a share.
Many there are who will prize letters written by
the Admiral after he had passed his ninetieth year,
for he has always been ready to ansAver in a kindly
way the various questions that have been put to
him by Americans as well as Englishmen regarding
the famous action, and to set right those who have
now and then stumbled into error in their descrip
tions. Naval men of both countries have from time
to time, and particularly on the anniversaries of the
action and Sir Provo's birthday, sent him their
congratulations by telegram and post, and frequent
communications have been addressed to him on matters
which the writers have thought would be interesting.
In later days, when the number of these communica
tions increased, and the Admiral was less able to
write, he could only be grateful for the kindly interest
taken in him, and could not acknowledge his thanks
as he would have wished.
Among those Avho corresponded with Sir Provo

234 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
was Admiral Preble, two of Avhose kindly letters,
coming as they do from an officer of the United States
Navy, and being on subjects interesting to Sir Provo,
are appended : — " Cottage Farm, Brookline, Mass.,
" November Uh, 1882.
"My DEAR Sir, —
It gave me pleasure, about a week since, to
send you a photograph of myself and of the old
man about town, the last survivor of the Chesa
peake. I will now endeavour to thank you for your
letter of October llth, and the photograph Avhich
came Avith it, and Avhich I value highly. The ' Souls
of Soldiery ' which you mention, and which was com
posed of retired commissioned officers of the State
Militia, no longer exists, and has been merged in a
similar and much older military organisation called
the ' Ancient and Honourable Artillery,' of which the
Prince of Wales is an honorary member, and which
has passed its 250th anniversary. It is the oldest
military organisation of our new country. The
General Lyman you mention was subsequently the
Mayor of Boston, and has long since passed on. His
son. General Theodore Lyman, is noAv a candidate for
Congress. " I notice one misapprehension in your letter. My
great-uncle did not command the Chesapeake at the
time of the affair of the Leopard. She Avas then com-

AT FUNTINGTON. 235
manded by Commodore Barron.* My uncle, Edward
Preble, of Tripolitan fame, Avas then sick and on
Avhat proved his death-bed. When he heard of the
affair, he raised himself up iu bed and exclaimed :
' Would to God I had been there ! Would to God I
had been there ! '
" The United States, by emigration from German)-,
Ireland, and elsewhere, is fast losing its Anglo-Saxon
type ; but in New England, Avhich is the parent of
Western emigration, Ave of the old stock are Anglo-
Saxons. I can trace my children's pedigree back in
all its branches (seven generations) to the emigrants
from old England, some of whom came over in the
Mayflower. Yet in the neighbouring city of Boston,
one-fifth at least of its inhabitants are of Irish descent
— the Biddies of our domestic service and the common
labourers being largely of Celtic origin, though an
infusion of Swedes and Germans has stepped in of
late. " I Avish you could see the Boston of to-day, with
its half a million of inhabitants, and which its
* It may be mentioned that the Chesapealce, some years before her
action with the Shannon, had been brought to by the Leopard, and
several English deserters taken from her. Her commander, Barron,
was tried by court-martial and suspended. About ten years after
wards it was proposed that he should have another command ; but
Commodore Stephen Decatur, then serving as a Commissioner of the
Navy, strongly objected. This led to a fiery correspondence between
the two Commodores, resulting in aduel, fought March 22nd, 1820,
when Decatur was killed and Barron seriously wounded. — J. G. B.

236 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P- WALLIS, G.C.B.
denizens call ' the Hub of the Universe.' Since you
saw it, its little peninsula of 750 acres has become
some 3000 or 4000 of made land, and its narrowest
part has become — by the transportation of the gravelly
hills of the country into the city — its widest. It has
also enveloped in its government the neighbouring
towns of Charlestown, Roxbury, and Brighton. On
the new-made land are the handsomest public build
ings and private residences, the Avidest streets, and the
finest parks and statues.
"But I am afraid I am tiring you with this long
letter and my crooked handwriting, for which I have
not the excuse of gouty fingers, and I echo your wish
and pray I may never experience them. My grand
father, however, Avho Avas brigadier-general of pro
vincial troops, and served in the campaign of General
Wolfe, died at the close of our revolutionary Avar of
gout^ — and old age ; and according to rule I ought to
inherit it from him.
" Your photographs I readily recognised through
the earlier portrait which is printed in the memoir
of Sir P. Broke. I Avould ask you why he did not
continue in active service. Was it from physical dis
ability by reason of his wounds ?
"It is astonishing how obstinate some people are:
an old gentleman endeavoured, the other day, to
convince me that the action between the Chesapieake
and Shannon was fought inside Boston lights ! He
was then a boy of six or seven, and saAv the action

AT FUNTINGTON. 237
from Milton Hill, and puts his boyish recollections
of Avhat he saw- against the direct evidence of the
men Avho Avere engaged in the conflict. He evidently
saAV the Chesapeake fire her challenging gun as she
came doAA'u at four o'clock, as he states that as the
time Avhen the action commenced, and says ' there
were no broadsides fij-ed ! ' Also that ' it was blowing
fresh,' because ' he saw the ships reef topsails.' He
is not only very obstinate, but very deaf, and I
found it useless to try to convince him contrary to
his recollections.
" It does not seem possible that England and the
United States could ever drift into another war.
May that day be long delayed or never happen.
" I have the honour to be,
" Very truly yours,
" Geo. Henrv Preble.
" Sir Provo Wm. Parry Wallis, G.C.B., etc., etc."
" Cottage Parm Station,
"Brookline, Mass.,
"May I8th, 1883.
" Dear Admiral Wallis, —
"I write this morning a few lines, hoping
they will reach you on June 1st to congratulate you
on your good health on the seventieth anniversary
of your memorable victory over the Chesapeake.
"The old sailor Trefethern still lives, I believe,
though I have not seen or heard from him for several

238 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.CB.
months. There died here recently an old woman,
Avho was the keeper of Boston Lighthouse at the time
of the action. I haA'e mislaid the newspaper notice
of her death, or 1 Avould send it you. I sent a few
days since, by mail, to your address, a copy of our
Navy Register for this year, thinking perhaps among
those on the retired list you might find some familiar
names. I also send you to-day a copy of my review
of the life of our Rear-Admiral Dahlgren, thinking
it may interest you.
" We have had a cold spring, but the trees are
now in leaf and blossom, and the grass on my lawn
fresh and green. I must not forget to thank you
for your note of April 28th, and the enclosed birth
day card. I am happy to say this leaves me and
my family, consisting of a son and daughter, all in
good health. I A'isited New York last Aveek Avith
my daughter to see some friends off to Europe, whose
departure made me to wish I Avas going also. I have
an old friend in your service, now on the retired list,
whom you may know — Vice-Admiral Edward W.
Vansittart. We hunted pirates together in China
in 1854. I also knew on that station and at that
time, Sir Fleetwood Pellew and Sir James Stirling
(both now dead), and the latter 's son, who is uoav,
I see, a Vice-Admiral on the active list, as is also
Vice-Admiral Chas. Fellowes, C.B. Sir George
Sartprius I met in Lisbon in 1863, and saluted
both as an English and a Portuguese Admiral.

AT FUNTINGTON. 239
Admiral Sir Henry Keppel I think I met in China,
in 1844, in command of the Dido, and Admiral
Sir Charles Elliot when in command of a frigate
in China in 1854.
" Of the junior officers of the Royal Navy I have
quite an extensive acquaintance.
" Wishing you many happy returns of the 1 st of
June, " I am, " Sincerely and very truly yours,
"Geo. Henry Preble.
"Sir Provo W. P. Wallis, G.C.B., Admiral of the Fleet, etc., etc.''
As I shall have to devote some space to the con
gratulations received by the Admiral on entering the
hundred and first year of his age, I will not intro
duce further copies of letters previously Avritten to
him on the anniversaries of the days to which I have
just alluded ; but I should like to mention that on the
last night of their manceuvTes in Bantry Bay, in 1888,
on the anniversary of the capture of the Chesapeake,
the captain and officers of the modern Shannon did not
forget the brave and sole surviving representative of
the Shannon of our history, but sent him a telegram
of hearty goodwill. Doubtless they are proud of the
name of their ship, and ready to emulate the heroic
deeds of those who belonged to the old Shannon,
should occasion require. What a comparison might
be made between our old friend and the. modern

240 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
armoured cruiser of the same name, with her 400
or 500 men, heaA-y guns, and big engine-power!
On the completion of his hundredth year, on
Sunday, April 12th, 1891, the newspapers — those
current and valuable records of the passing day —
American, British, and Nova Scotian, abounded with
biographical notices of the " Father of the British
Fleet," as he was universally (and with justice)
designated. A song descriptive of the Shannon's
victory was dedicated to him, and his portrait, in
full uniform, with the insignia of the Bath, the medal
Avith the three clasps — Shannon and Chesapeake,
Ans-la-Barque, and Guadaloupe — which no other
living man is entitled to wear, and his orders upon
his breast, was painted for him and presented by the
Admiral to the Royal Sailors' Home at Portsea, and
is likely to become historical, Lady Wallis having
approved of it as an excellent likeness. Congratula
tions came from all quarters of the globe in great
profusion, for it may be truly said that his reputation
was almost world-Avide, and his name revered
wherever knoAvn.
From the many letters and telegrams received by
the Admiral on this memorable anniversary of his
birthday, I have made the following selection, whilst
regretting that want of space compels me to omit
many that it would have much pleased me to insert.
It will be observed that among the letters is one from
Mr. Childers, of whom Sir Provo a few years ago

AT FUNTINGTON. 241
said : "I am grateful to him for the dearest of all
distinctions. It is, at any rate, a pleasant thing to
know that although eighty-three years have rolled by
since I donned my middy's uniform, my name will
remain Avhere it is as long as God is pleased to spare
me."

TELEGRAMS.
From Her Majesty the Queen.
[Handed in at the Office of H.M.'s Admiralty 9.53 a.m.]
" To Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Provo Wallis, G.C.B.
" The folloAving telegram has been received from
General Sir Henry Ponsonby, Grasse, France : —
" 'I congratulate you on your hundredth birthday.'
" ' V.R.L' "
From His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales.
[Handed in at the Sandringham Office 7.33 m.j
" To Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Provo Wallis,
G.C.B., Funtington, Chichester.
"The Prince of Wales congratulates the senior
Admiral of the Fleet on his having attained the
one hundredth anniversary of his birthday, and wishes
him health and happiness." 15

242 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
From His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge.
[Handed in at West Strand Office at 3.24 m.]
"To Admiral of the Fleet, Sir P. Wallis,
Funtington, Chichester.
" As Commander-in-Chief of the Army I congratu
late you on your hundredth anniversary of your
birthday. " Cambridge."

" To Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Provo Wallis,
Funtington, Chichester.
" Best congratulations to the centenarian Admiral
of the Fleet, from the Admiral and officers of the
German Squadron, now in Plymouth Sound.
" Admiral Scheoeder."
[Handed in at the Halifax (Nova Scotia) Office.]
" To Admiral Sir Provo Wallis, Chichester, Sussex.
" The Mayor and Corporation of Halifax, on behalf
of the citizens, offer to Admiral Sir Provo Wallis
their cordial congratulations on his reaching his one
hundredth birthday, and assure him that his distin
guished services are remembered with pride in his
native city. "David McPherson, Mayor."

AT FUNTINGTON. 243
" To Admiral Sir P. Wallis, Funtington House,
Chichester.
" Beg to render my very sincere congratulations on
your attaining your hundredth birthday, and shall
hope you may be spared to see several more.
" Captain W. Sarbly."'
" To Sir Provo Wallis, Funtington, Sussex, England.
"Captain and officers H.M.S. Victoria send you
their best wishes on your hundredth birthday."
[Handed in at the Simmonstown Office, at 9 a.m.]
" To Sir Provo Wallis, Chichester.
" Hearty congratulations — Admiral, Captain and
officers, Raleigh."
[Handed in at the Devonport Office, at 6.5 p.m.]
" To Admiral Sir Provo Wallis, Funtington House,
near Chichester.
" Captain and officers H.M.S. Shannon heartily
congratulate Admiral Sir Provo Wallis on attaining
his centenary, and wish him many happy returns of
the day."
" To Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Provo W. P. Wallis,
Funtington, Chichester.
"The Committee of the Royal Navy Club, now
sitting, offer hearty congratulations on your having

244 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P WALLIS, G.C.B.
attained the one hundredth anniversary of your birth
day, and seventy-fifth of your membership of Club.
" Kelly."
" To Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Provo Wallis, G.C.B.
" Hearty congratulations on attaining your one
hundredth birthday, from Dr. Henry Smith, son of
your old Shannon shipmate, Captain W. Smith.
" To Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Provo Wallis,
Funtington, near Bosham.
" Warmest congratulations and kindest regards to
Lady Wallis and yourself " Dr. Martin (Portsmouth)."
" To Admiral Sir Provo Wallis, Funtington,
, Chichester.
" Accept sincere congratulations on entering into
your hundred and first year.
" GuEDALLA, Geesham Club, Loudou."
LETTEES.
From His Eoyal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.
"Admiralty House, Mount Wise, Devonport,
-'April IQth, 1891.
"My dear Sir Provo Wallis, —
" For months past I have been bearing in
mind the approach of the historic event of your

AT FUNTINGTON. 245
entering upon your one hundred and first year of ago.
The hunt Ave Avere all on, upon the day itself, owing
to the arrival of a German Squadron, caused me to
overlook it until after the telegraph offices Avere closed,
it being Sunday.
" I should be very sorry to think that you should
consider me unmindful on so memorable an occasion,
and now beg you to accept my warmest congratula
tions, although they arrive too late. I trust at the
same time that Ave may still long be able to count
you as our senior Admiral of the Fleet.
" The ship which bears the celebrated name of the
one in which you served as second lieutenant during
her celebrated action, is now in port here, and recalls
to all present the part you took on that occasion.
" Believe me, yours very truly,
" Alfred."
From Prince Louis of Battenberg.
" H.M.S. Scout, Platei, Greece, Ajml 8th, 1891.
"My dear Admiral, —
"Will you alloAv me, as a naval officer and
a former neighbour of yours in Sussex, to join my
most heartfelt congratulations to those of thousands
of others on the occasion of your completing your
hundredth year. Were I not serving on a foreign
station, I should most certainly have gone to Funting
ton to wish you joy in person, and I look- forward on

246 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
my return to England to renewing our acquaintance.
My wife, whom you will, I dare say, remember,
joins most heartily in my congratulations, I only
left her a few days ago at Malta. She particularly
charged me to remember her to you very kindly.
" Begging you to present my respects to Lady
Wallis, " I remain, yours most sincerely and obediently,
"Louis Battenberg,
" Commander E.N., Commanding H.M.'s Ship Scout."

"April 21st, 1891.
" My dear Sir Provo Wallis, —
" I hope that you will allow me to offer you
my sincere congratulations on your hundredth birth
day. I knew that you were born in 1791, but I was
not aware of the actual day till I read a notice of the
celebration of your centenary in the newspapers. It
has been a great satisfaction to me to have been the
instrument of retaining on the flag list the name of
the first Admiral in history who has reached the age
of one hundred, and I hope that you may see a good
many more birthdays.
"I am not quite sure about your address, but I
hope that this will reach you.
" Believe me to be, yours very sincerely,
" Hugh Childers."

AT FUNTINGTON. 247
"Halifax, April 16th, 1891.
" My dear Sir, —
" Among the numerous felicitations which
you have received on the occasion of your one
hundredth birthday, Avill you alloAv a fellow townsman
to express his congratulations on the auspicious event.
I trust that you and your good lady will continue
to enjoy all the blessings Avhich a kind Providence
has bestowed upon you and yours after so eventful
a career as has fallen to your lot.
" All the papers in Canada are repeating the events
of your distinguished career, and I forward to you by
mail a copy of the Herald of this city, referring to the
same subject.
" The Mayor of Halifax has forAvarded to you the
expression of regard and esteem on the part of your
fellow townsmen, and I may add that bunting was
freely displayed in the city on Monday last.
" With the greatest respect, I remain, believe me,
" Yours very sincerely,
" S. L. Shannon.*
"To Admiral Sir Provo W. P. Wallis, G.C.B., Funtington, near
Chichester, Svissex, England."
* If this be the Hon. S. L. Shannon he was one of the very few
living at the date of the Admiral's centenary, who saw him bring the
Shannon, with her prize, into Halifax Harbour. — J. G. B.

248 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.

" Southampton Dock Company, April 9th, 1891.
" To Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Provo William Parry
Wallis, G.C.B.
"We, the undersigned, who for many years were
associated with you in the conduct of the affairs of
the Southampton Dock Company, are desirous of
availing ourselves of this opportunity, marking as
does the centenary epoch of an honoured life, to
present our congratulations on the event, and of
recording the homage of our esteem and regard for
one whose distinguished career throughout a stainless
life so eminently deserves.
" Stewart Macnaghten, Chairman.
Ed. Morris, Deputy Chairman.
Fred. H, Kerr, Director.
Thomas H. M. Martin,
g. colvile,
Ralph Dutton,
Hy. Campill,
M. Portal,
Jas. Gilbert Johnston,
Percy Mortimer,
Frank H. Evans,
C. Hemery, Philip Hedges, Secretary."

AT FUNTINGTON. 249

"Council of Foreign Bondholders,
"17, MooRGATE Street, London,
"AprillSth, 1891.
"Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Provo Wallis, G.C.B.,
Funtington House, near Chichester.
"Dear Sir, —
" I am desired by the Council of the Cor
poration of Foreign Bondholders to convey to you
their congratulations on the occasion of the "centenary
of your birth.
" They cannot alloAV this happy event to pass
without expressing to you their admiration of the
great services you have rendered your country during
your long and distinguished career, and also their
sincere appreciation of the high honour done to this
Institution by your connection with it, which they
are proud to think dates from its foundation, and
which they venture to hope may yet be continued
for many years to come.
" I remain, Dear Sir, yours truly,
" C. O'Lbary, Secretary."
I may add that among the tributes called forth
by this interesting event was the following sonnet
from the pen of Mr. Theodore Watts, Avhich appeared
in the Athenceum : —

250 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
TO NOVA SCOTIA
ON THE hundredth BIRTHDAY OF SIR PROVO WALLIS, G.C.B.,
SENIOR ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET.
England, whose far off children love to ride
Her subject billows, thanks thee for thy son :
The queen whose olden strength is but begun,
Whose right of might is still, though waxing wide,
By motherhood of nations justified, —
Whose robes of empire Freedom's hands have spun
On every loom of Ocean 'neath the sun, —
Hails thee with love this morn, and tears of pride.
" Daughter," saith she, " though many a year hath sped
Since that great Sunday when thy sailor led
The Chesapeake to thee — the proudest prize
Fate ever won from chance by England's cannon —
That Sunday lends to this what never dies,
The hero-hallowed light that lights the Shannon"
Sunday, April 12th, 1891. Theodore Watts.
That Her Majesty the Queen, then at Grasse,
France, should have thought of Sir Provo on this
occasion, touched him deeply. The letter from
H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh was a personal
remembrance, for Sir Provo had met the Duke at
an official dinner, Avhen the late Mr. W. H. Smith
was the First Lord of the Admiralty, and by request
remained behind to converse with him after most
of the guests had gone.
The telegram from the mayor and corporation
of Halifax gave Sir Provo much pleasure, and he
was not a little delighted to be presented Avith a

AT FUNTINGTOX. 251
Malacca cane, bearing the following inscription :
"To Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Provo W. P.
Wallis, G.C.B., on his 100th birthday, from the
granddaughter of his old friend and comrade. Sir
Philip B. V. Broke."
The venerable Admiral could in but very feAV
instances give special thanks for these kind attentions,
but he says he Avas very gratified by receiving thein.
His Avriting is perhaps now getting almost a thing
of the past, and probably the letter of which a fac
simile is given in this volume is the last he has
Avritten, but I trust it Avill not, as he suggests, be tbe
last he eA'er Avill Avrite. He is again sheltered in
" Blanket Bay " under " Cape Rug," which he will,
if spared, continue to make his winter quarters ; but
Avhen " butterfly daj's " come again, I hope he will be
able with them to glory in the sunshine that makes
Funtington House one of the brightest spots for many
miles round. Its owner, notwithstanding he is now
obliged to keep to his bedroom, is the same genial
man I have ever known him to be, and of whose
kindly nature I have had ample proof He is still
able to recount the incidents of his life in an enter
taining manner to those who are priA^leged to be
with him ; for, notAvithstanding his great age, his
memory remains Avonderfully accurate and clear.

xn.
RECOLLECTIONS OF WORCESTERSHIRE

CHAPTER XII.
RECOLLECTIONS OF WORCESTERSHIRE.
T MUST now carry myself back to a time when
-*- I had not for long been personally acquainted
with the Admiral, and giA^e my recollections of a
few of the many happy days spent with him
at and about his favourite resort — Malvern ; where,
for between thirty and forty years, he passed his
autumnal holidays.
" Is it possible ? " said the Admiral, one sunny
morning in June 1865, as we were strolling in front
of Scarsdale Villa, his pleasant summer residence
at Malvern, " Is it possible that you are a Worcester
shire man ? "
" Yes, indeed, born and bred within some twelve
miles of the spot where we now stand."
" Well, I have summered here for so many years,
I may call myself half a Worcestershire man."

258 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
" My first recollection," said I, " carries me back to
1839, when Malvern was not half the size it now is.
We drove over, a party of four, and alighted at the
then Belle Vue Hotel. ' What can we have for dinner ?'
I asked. ' Anything, sir.' ' Good : give us the best
you can.' And bad was the best. Badly cooked
mutton-cutlets, defying mastication, vegetables half
done, and stale pastry. Little dinner ate we that day.
No doubt the railway now supplies you amply ? "
" Yes, we have no room for complaints. We have,
too, a good library, and the best medical attendance."
" Do you know much of the earlier history of
Malvern ? "
" No, only since our sojourn here."
I then proceeded to give the Admiral some par
ticulars, which I venture to repeat in the hope that,
being more or less " ancient history," they will prove
interesting to my readers, and more especially to
those who are familiar with this lovely spot.
It was during the craze for hydropathy, more than
sixty years ago, that the then little village sprang
into something like notice. Pure air and the purest
water, quietude, varied scenery and extensive views,
constituted its attractions ; but it was reserved for
poor Dr. Gully, so fatally connected with the
" Bravo -Ricardo " case, to bring them more promi
nently into patronage.
About the time of " Queen Anne " the village of
Great Mahern contained only fifty houses, and in the

RECOLLECTIONS OF WORCESTERSHIRE. 259
influx of visitors during the eummer months was
quite inadequate for their accommodation — so much
so that the surplus visitors were lodged in tents. The
physicians who Avere instrumental in bringing this
valuable Spa to the knoAvledge of the public were
principally Doctors Wilson, Wall, and Johnstone, of
Worcester ; but I am afraid their combined efforts
did not equal those of the parish clerk in the un
happy days of King Charles I., who thus chanted its
praises : — • " On the Malvern Wells.
" As I did walk alone,
Late in an evening,
I heard the voice of one
Most sweetly singing ;
Which did delight me much,
Because was such,
And ended with a touch ; '
' O praise the Lord ! '
" The God of sea and land
That rules above us,
Stays His avenging hand,
'Cause He doth love us,
And doth His blessings send,
Although we do offend ;
Then let us all amend,
And ' praise the Lord.'
" Great Malvern on a rook,
Thou standest surely ;
Do not thyself forget,
Living securely.
* " Touch," a chorus or refrain. 16

260 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
Thou hast of blessing store,
No country town hath more ;
Do not forget, therefore.
To ' praise the Lord.'
" Thou hast a famous church,
And rarely builded ;
No country town hath such,
Most men have yielded.
For pillars stout and strong,
And windows large and long.
Remember in thy song
To ' praise the Lord.'
" There is God's service read,
With rev'rence duly ;
There is His Word preached,
Learned and truly.
And every Sabbath day.
Singing of psalms, they say
It is surely the only way
To 'praise the Lord.'
" The sun in glory great,
When first it riseth,
Doth bless thy happy seat
And thee adviseth,
That then 'tis time to pray,
That God may bless thy way,
And keep thee all the day
To 'praise the Lord.'
" That thy prospect is good.
None can deny thee :
Thou hast great store of wood
Growing hard by thee,
Which is a blessing great,
To roast and boil thy meat.
And thee in cold to heat.
O ' praise the Lord ! '

RECOLLECTIONS OF WORCESTERSHIRE. 261
" Preserve it, I advise,
AA'hilst thou hast it ;
Spare not in any wise,
But do not waste it,
Lest thou repent too late —
Remember Hanley's fate —
In time shut up thy gate
And ' praise the Lord.'
" A chase for royal deer
Round doth beset thee ;
Too many I doe fear
For aught they get thee.
Yet though they eat away
Thy corn, and grass, and hay,
Doe not forget, I say,
To 'praise tho Lord.'
" That noble chase doth give
Thy beasts their feeding.
Where they in summer live,
With little needing.
Thy swine and sheep they go.
So doth thy horse also.
Till winter brings in snow :
Then ' praise the Lord.'
" Turn up thine eyes on high :
There fairly standing"
See Malvern's highest hill
All hills commanding.
They all confess at will
Their sovereign, Malvern Hill.
Let it be mighty still ;
O ' praise the Lord.'
" When western winds doe rock
Both town and country.
Thy hill doth break the shock;
They cannot hurt thee.

262 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
When waters great abound,
And many a country's drown'd.
Thou standest safe and sound.
O ' praise the Lord.'
" Out of that famous hill
There daily springeth
A water, passing still,
Which always bringeth
Great comfort to all them
That are diseased men.
And makes them well again
To 'praise the Lord.'
" Hast thou a wound to heal
The which doth grieve thee?
Come, then, unto this well.
It will relieve thee :
Noli me tangeres
And other maladies
Have here their remedies,
' Praised be the Lord.'
" To drink thy waters, store
Lie in thy bushes ;
Many with ulcers sore.
Many with bruises,
Who succour find from ill
By money given still :
Thanks to the Christian will
0 ' praise the Lord.'
" A thousand bottles there
Were filled weekly,
And many costrils rare
For stomachs sickly ;
Some of them into Kenfc,
Some were to London sent,
Others to Berwick went ;
O ' praise the Lord.' "

RECOLLECTIONS OF WORCESTERSHIRE. 263
Another famous eulogist of the Malvern Spa was
the first Lord Lytton, Avho published a pamphlet in
its praise.
I was speaking just uoav of Dr. Gully and his
connection with the " Bravo-Ricardo " affair. I may
add that he was a favourite doctor of the Admiral's,'
and that the latter took a great interest in this cele
brated case. I remember discussing it with him, and
that he was amused by an anecdote I related apropos
to the case. The incident happened on one of Her
Majesty's troop-ships, of Avhich I Avas at the time the
assistant-surgeon, my cabin messmate being the third
officer. We had a daily allowance of a pint of rum,
which we but rarely touched, our custom being to
give it away. One cold night, hoAvever, my messmate,
feeling disposed to take a little, Avent to the bottle,
and was surprised to find it nearly empty. As I had
not touched it, we could but conclude that our
grog had been stolen, and failing to get any satis
factory explanation from our servaiit, I, the next day,
dropped into our fresh bottle half a drachm of tartar
emetic, carefully recorked it, and cautioned my mess
mate not to touch it. In the afternoon a midshipman
ran to me, crying out, "Doctor, the armourer is
nearly dead ! " I at once proceeded to him, and
found him vomiting violently. Not connecting
him with the rum, I put him to bed and sent
him medicine. Hardly had I performed this duty
when I was called to my servant, who was also

26.4 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
attacked in the same Avay, and was moaning "I
am dying." My thoughts then flew to the rum,
and I said, "Baxter, have you taken my rum.P
If you have, you are a dead man." He was hor
rified, and confessed that he had shared it with
the armourer, his reason for taking it being that,
as we didn't drink it ourselves he thought he
might as well do so. I need hardly say that they
both survived their novel and exceptionally un
pleasant punishment.
The Admiral was a hale and hearty man, stood
well above the medium height, and, at the time of
which I am writing, possessed an excellent physique,
which indeed he retained in his very old age. His
manner was most genial, he was full of quiet humour,
and of his warmth of heart I had no doubt. He was
a most agreeable companion, and my time with him
went but too quickly. Our conversation turned
mostly on political events of the day, in which he
took a very keen interest, and on naval matters, of
which I had some little knowledge. The events of
the wars in which he had been engaged were but
lightly touched upon, for I had quite recently gone
exhaustively into this subject with him, and obtained
his recollections, which are embodied in this volume,
and which were very useful to me in my " Memoir
of Sir Philip Broke." I shall ever remember with
gratitude the kindly interest taken by the Admiral
in my work, and the cheerful and ready manner in

RECOLLECTIONS OF WORCESTERSHIRE. 265
which he rendered me assistance, Avith no incon
siderable trouble to himself.
Parting at last, the Admiral inquired of me, " Now
what is your holiday, and Avhat are your plans P "
"My holiday is for a month, and I have taken
a furnished house for that time, in my native village.
I wish you would come and stay Avith me a feAv days —
charming scenery, nice society."
" Would that I could do so, but I cannot leave my
wife. Next summer, however, or at some future time,
I will certainly see Ombersley, please God."
" You will be at Malvern another month, and, when
I am again settled in Ireland, you shall have a full
account of my doings ; and so, Farewell."

"Ireland, July llth, 1865.
" Pursuant to my promise, my dearest friend, I give
you an account of myself since we parted at Malvern
a month ago.
" On the evening of that day I took train from
Worcester to Birmingham, to meet Broke-Middleton,
as agreed. I found him at the ' Stork,' a very nice,
quiet, clean, family hotel, Avhere we remained a day
and night, viewing the manufactures and arranging
with the printer for the publication of his father's life.
This done I went on to Droitwich, where are the
renowned saline baths — and powerful picklers indeed

266 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
they are — and then on to Doverdale, a sweetly seques
tered village, in whose small churchyard my family
for the last three generations are interred. The old
moated house in which they dwelt is now, alas ! re
moved. Yet still the spot to me is hallowed by those
early recollections which old men say will linger
Avith us to the end of life. And so for the remainder
of my holiday I wandered among these scenes of my
boyhood, until it closed ; and I returned with a
host of tender recollections to Ireland and duty."
Let me endeavour to recall the 26th of June, 1866 —
one of the happiest days of my life. Sir Provo was in
his quarters at Malvern, and we had arranged to pass
the day at my native village, Ombersley. I was staying
at Worcester, at the " Star," and as " the early bird
picks up the worm," at 5 a.m. I strolled down with
my old acquaintance (James, the Fish Providore) to
see hoAv his men were getting on in the capture of
salmon, at the junction of the Teme and Severn, about
a mile below Worcester. A bargain between us was
made that I should have my choice of the first haul.
The net came up plunging and kicking, and from its
contents I chose a beautiful salmon of 7 lbs. weight.
We returned to Worcester, and during our walk I
acquired much information of the salmon fishery.
About ten o'clock the Admiral joined me at the
"Star." Our carriage was waiting, and we bowled
cheerily along for Ombersley, the salmon being taken

RECOLLECTIONS OF WORCESTERSHIRE. 267
Avith us. On through the Barbourne Gate to the lovely
hamlet of HaAvford, where the Salwarpe falls into the
Severn, and thence for tAvo miles more, when the spire
of Ombersley Church came into view.
Having decided to dine at the rational hour of one
o'clock, I committed the salmon to the culinary care
of our hostess of the " Crown Hotel and Sandys
Arms." MeauAvhile we strolled through the village,
calling upon the excellent Vicar, Mr. Atkyns, still
remembered and ever regretted. We iuA'ited him and
his wife to dinner, but they proposed an amendment
that Ave should take a long walk after Ave had dined,
and join them at tea. Alas, for the lapse of time !
the excellent Vicar and his talented wife uoav sleep
the sleep that knoAvs no Avaking until the morning.
I think the salmon we had that day must have been
an exceptionally good one, for I find from one of the
Admiral's letters that he recalled it to his mind, Avith
satisfaction, nine years afterwards.
In the afternoon the young ladies of the Vicar's
family joined us, and under their guidance we went
to survey the beauties of Ombersley Court, the seat of
General Lord Sandys. No doubt it is much altered
now, but then the entrance-hall contained a beautiful
marble bust of the Duke of Wellington, to whom Lord
Sandys had been an aide-de-camp. There were also
many family portraits, among them a half-length of
the traveller who bore the family name, and on the
staircase was a charming picture by Dobson — Prince

268 AD2IIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
Rupert persuading a country gentleman (probably one
of the Sandys family) to enlist in the Royalist cause.
We returned to tea at the Vicarage, and after
spending some time very pleasantly in the society of
this most charming family, took our leave and drove
back to Worcester, thankful for a day of unalloyed
happiness. Our happy days, how few they are with
most of us !
Years and years afterwards we recalled the pleasures
of that day, and I think it would be the one to which
we should both point if asked to fix the happiest of all
our happy meetings.
At this distance of time I have no distinct recollec
tion of Avhat happened at some of my meetings with
the Admiral, but a note here and there helps me to
refresh my memory. I find that on September 1st,
1875, I wrote to Sir ProA'o as follows : —
"My dear Admiral, —
" As it is UOAV arranged that we meet at
Worcester next Saturday, I Avrite to prepare you
for your quarters at Kington. It is an old
Rectory of the time of William and Mary, whose
arms you Avill see in the church. The Rectory
at that time, and indeed down to this, Avas a
plain, simple farm-house, with some thirty acres
of fine land attached. It is half timbered, in the
old black and Avhite style of that age, as indeed

RECOLLECTIONS OF WORCESTERSHIRE. 269
is the Church also. We have the old kitchen
converted into a dining-room ; and a small room
off it, Avhich serves for study and breakfast-room.
Upstairs are three rambling old bed- rooms, of
which I shall assign the southerly to you. Your
immediate prospect Avill be the church; and a
little to the right your beloved Malvern Hills.
I shall, as usual, Avith the care of my Avorthy
housekeeper (whom you know) take every care
of the commissariat."
Accordingly, on Saturday the 4th, my old friend
Mr. Laslett, M.P. for Worcester, and myself drove to
Worcester and met the Admiral as agreed. We visited
the Cathedral, Edgar's Tower, the Guildhall and its
various pictures and relics, and the old Assize Courts,
now superannuated, and then returned to Abberton
Hall, the residence of Laslett, to dinner. I remember
on our journey thither being rallied for my silence,
when I replied, " It is oAving to my seeing tAvo such
worthy men and listening to their conversation."
Indeed, I was very interested in their remarks, for
they were both old men, and spoke of events which
had happened in their early days, and of which I had
but little or no knowledge. The Admiral took a
great liking to Laslett, and the feeling Avas recipro
cated. They were agreed in their religious views,
both having a strong antipathy to anything like
ritualism, and Sir Provo, who was one of the old-

270 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P- WALLIS, G.C.B.
fashioned Tories of the " Pitt " school, took a great
interest in politics. On this subject he and Laslett
had a wide field and, if my memory serves me, they
covered a good part of it.
On reaching Abberton Hall we dined, and then
drove to Kington, where I was really truly pleased
to see that my grotesque old Rectory had put on
a most festive appearance. It Avas a lovely night,
but we got to bed by ten o'clock and, as my journal
records, slept well.
On Sunday the 5th I had the great pleasure of
partaking of Holy Communion with my loved friend ;
and at the Evening Service I well remember preaching
from the short text, '' Fret not thyself" On that
evening the gopd old Squire of Abberton dined with
us, and so we ended a quiet, happy, and I hope,
profitable day.
On Monday we strolled over to Abberton through
the lovely autumnal scenery, lunched there' with
Laslett, and afterwards drove to Worcester, where
the Squire and I took leave of one whom we were
never to see again at Kington, though after a Aveek
or so we had the pleasure of dining with the Admiral
again at Worcester, at the " Star " Hotel.
Kington was a very poor parish, and no doubt the
good Admiral thought that a souvenir of his short
visit would be acceptable ; he therefore kindly pre
sented the church with a silver sacramental paten,
which I sincerely trust they still retain and make a

RECOLLECTIONS OF WORCESTERSHIRE. 271
godly use of. Long and long after, indeed until I left
the parish in 1879, was he highly spoken of and most
kindly remembered for his amenity and genial manner
in that sequestered A^illage.
But 1 must noAV hasten on to a short recital of my
last interA'ieAv. It was on July 21st, 1876. • We had
a great deal of farming talk, and I think he was vexed
that I did not farm my OAvn glebe, and in order to
encourage me he had proposed that he should com
mence stocking it Avith a very choice Alderney heifer.
This led to a meeting at Reading, Avhere I met my
dear friend, then in his eighty-sixth year, with a
servant in charge of the new member of my family.
We passed a most happy hour together — alas ! the
last ; and then, chartering a horse-box, I traA^elled
with the heifer and a servant to Pershore, Avhence
we made, I remember, a sensational entrance into
the quiet village of Kington — the Rector heading the
procession, the clerk bringing up the rear, and
villagers, especially the women, following, with an
eye to the butter, the milk, and the cream.
During the whole time I have known Sir Provo
I have always found him, like his old captain of the
Shannon, a most unassuming man, though of quick
decision and sound judgment. He did not encourage
any one to attempt to make him the object of worship
as a hero, considering, as he did, that he had merely
done that which was to be expected of him — his

272 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
duty. Nor did he have any desire to enter into the
arena of public affairs, but was content, after the turmoil
of his early life, to end his days in peaceful seclusion.
I can well imagine that had he kept a diary, and
been in Captain Broke's place when the Chesapeake
Avas captured, he would not have made a more lengthy
entry than did that gallant officer, who merely
records in his journal against the date of June 1st,
1813, the two words: "Took Chesapeake." Un
fortunately, Sir Provo never did keep a diary of his
important services, and it is only owing to his very
retentive memory that many of the details of them
have been preserved. There can, however, be little
doubt that if such a record had been kept it would
not only have been interesting to read, but very
useful to the historian.
If there was one subject more than another on
Avhich Sir Provo spoke strongly, it was that of the
treatment of his father-in-law by his fellow country
men. Many times have I listened to his convincing
arguments in support of the conclusion he had come
to, that Sir Robert had been most illiberally dealt
Avith, and most unjustifiably excluded from the
honours that should have been bestowed upon him
by his OAvn country for his long and important
services, especially when the highest orders were
showered upon him abroad. Sir Provo was deeply
earnest in all he said on this subject, and at his
particular wish I read the " Life of Sir Robert

RECOLLECTIONS OF WORCESTERSHIRE. 273
Wilson," edited by Mr. Randolph, of Avhich Sir
Provo kindly presented me Avith a copy, as he desired
that I might see for myself, from the proofs afforded,
A\'hat a gross miscarriage of justice there had been.
Sir Provo Avas not only mentally active, but
phj'^sically strong and energetic. Although twenty-
five years my senior in age, he did not, I think,
consider himself an old man beside me. Indeed, I
remember on one occasion, AA'hen he must haA'e been
considerably over eighty, that I ventured to offer him
some assistance in climbing over an obstacle in our
Avalk, but he declined it Avith the remark : " My dear
felloAv, I don't need it. I could go to the masthead
noAv." With the exception those times when his
enemies, gout and rheumatism, have laid hold of him,
and of a someAA'hat serious illness about twelve months
since, from Avhich he made a startling recovery, he
has alAA'ays been in the enjoyment of perfect health ;
and his spirits, whenever I have seen him, have
certainly been excellent. I have never known him to
smoke, but he Avas not a total abstainer, although for
some years past his only stimulant has been a little
weak whiskey and water, which has, doubtless, been
recommended by his physician.
It is said that Sir Provo has frequently been seen
within the last year or two at Southampton in con
nection with the Dock Company there, with which he
is associated, and that before laying up for the
present winter he Avalked in and out of his house

274 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
and about his grounds, without hat or great coat, with
complete indifference ; but the mere fact of his having
travelled to Malvern Avhen in his ninety-sixth year,
is quite sufficient to show what an extraordinary
amount of vitality he has possessed even in his latest
years. Indeed, he is, I believe, remaining in his
bedroom now more from fear of catching cold than
from any actual infirmity.

XIII.
A REVIEW.

17

CHAPTER XIII.
A REVIEW.
IT seems hardly credible that a man who was born
nearly nine years before the commencement
of the present century ; whose name was entered on a
ship's books in the year in which Lord Howe won his
famous victory over the French fleet ; who was serving
as a midshipman in one of King George the Third's
ships before Napoleon Buonaparte ascended the throne
of France ; and Avhose first engagement happened before
the glorious battle of Trafalgar, should have lived to
become a Vice-President of the Royal Naval Exhibition
in 1891 ; but this can be said of Sir Provo Wallis,
whose honourable and distinguished career I have
attempted to record, and who is still living amongst
us. He is the sole survivor of that short but terrible
engagement of the Shannon's, which will remain in

278 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
the annals of our naval history as one of the finest
single-ship actions ever fought, and is the last link
which connects us with the glorious days of Nelson
and Collingwood, and those naval wars of the early
years of the present century, when the wooden walls
of old England did so much to maintain the honour of
its flag.
Never again, perhaps, will any man witness so many
changes as have taken place during the life of Sir
Provo. Vast strides have been made in naval archi
tecture and in the construction of implements of war
— mighty steam-power has almost supplanted sails —
electricity has been brought under control, and made
the agent for beneficent and destructive purposes in
connection with our ships — wooden Avails have become
things of the past, and massive ironclads have taken
their place — engines of war have been invented in
profusion, and huge guns, which Sir Provo could never
in his wildest dreams have thought of when in the old
Shannon, are now the common property of our battle
ships, one of such guns throwing a single shot
weighing more than three times as much as the whole
of the shot fired from a broadside of the Shannon.
Well may Sir Provo, who has never served in a steam
¦or iron ship, exclaim that in his day Englishmen were
sailors and not stokers, and that skilled seamanship
will not be the chief factor in the next sea-fight. But
with all the sacred memory with which he holds dear
those gallant vessels of the olden times, which have

A REVIEW. 219
added so many laurels to our country's flag, he has.
watched with interest, and with no lack of appreciation
in many respects, the great and wonderful changes
that have taken place in our navy, of which he is
now so conspicuous an ornament.
Sir Provo's name will long live in our naval history,
not only because he is the last connecting link with a
glorious past, and the only Admiral of the Fleet who
has reached the ripe age of one hundred and still
been retained on the active list of navy officers, but
also on account of his honourable and blameless
life and gallant deeds, of which not only he but his
country might well be proud.
It is still our pride that the spirit Avhich pervaded
the Royal Navy in the early days of Wallis's career
still exists among the sailors of our fleet, and that,
should occasion require, they are ready to vindicate
their country's honour, and to emulate the gallantry
of the heroes of the old school in which Wallis Avas
reared, and whose glorious achievements have yet to
be equalled, and will never be surpassed.

XIV.
LAST DAYS AT FUNTINGTON.

CHAPTER XIV.
LAST DAYS AT FUNTINGTON.
A BOUT twelve months since, Sir Provo, who had
-*--^ then been confined to his bed for some little
time, called in Dr. Lockhart Stephens, who found
the Admiral suffering from a distressing malady for
which medical knowledge could provide but little
relief. Sir Provo thought that he had made a
mistake in taking to his bed, but the weather at
the time was very cold and distinctly affecting his
health. Dr. Stephens suggested that blankets should
be substituted for linen sheets, and that a fire should
be kept burning night and day ; but Sir Provo said,
" I have never had a fire in my bedroom, and do not
like the idea now." However, a fire was burning the
next morning. The Admiral bore his sufferings
bravely, never grumbled at his lot, never found fault

284 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
that his suffering was not removed, but kindly and
patiently said to his physician : " You have done all
that you can ; I am very grateful to you. It is
God's will that I should be thus tried, and I must
bear it." Frequently during this very trying time
for medical men, when the influenza epidemic was
at its height, Avould he say to his physician : " Don't
you wait to talk to me, there are others who want
you more than I do,"
When the dangers of this illness had passed, the
Admiral was as bright and cheery as ever, and
watched with interest the approach of the eventful
day that would mark his centenary ; and the many
pleasing remembrances which then awaited him
seemed to increase the relish for the bright side of
life which was one of his characteristics. On the
morning after the last anniversary of his birthday,
he said, in reply to his physician's question, " How
are you this morning, Sir Provo ? " " Getting on
for one hundred and one, my boy."
In the hard weather, when the country around was
snowbound for several days, memory carried him
back to the great frost of 1814, and he said : " I well
remember being in London at that time, waiting for
orders to join my ship at Portsmouth. I had been to
a levee on Queen Caroline's birthday ; the snow was so
deep and the roads were so bad that the only road
clear was that from London to Portsmouth, which,
as it was war time, was kept open by the troops,

LAST DAYS AT FUNTINGTON. 285
in order that there might be no delay in getting
the despatches as quickly as possible from Ports
mouth to London,"
A brother officer and friend of the Admiral was
not long since lying very ill in a neighbouring house,
and every morning the Admiral would send his
coachman to inquire how he was ; and one of his
first questions when his physician went to see him
was, " How is poor  ? "
During the summer months he took the greatest
interest in all that Avas going on in the outside world ;
and would ask the price of hay and corn, and how
the wheat-crop looked. He would also tell stories of
the days Avhen the agricultural labourers were going
about in gangs to burn any machines they could lay
hands on, and how, at his uncle's house at Westbourne,
he had dispersed a mob by threatening to cut down
with his SAvord any man who attempted to enter the
garden gate.
His interest in passing events was maintained to
the last, and not long since, when told that the
Government had brought in a scheme of Free Educa
tion for the people, remarked, " They had much
better have put back that quarter per cent, on
consols," The death of the Duke of Clarence made a pro
found impression on the Admiral, and he evinced
a great interest in the various symptoms in the
Prince's case.

286 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.CB.
The last naval event of note which the Admiral
touched upon was the stranding of H.M.S. Victoria,
and he expressed grave doubts whether the huge
warship would be of any further use, from the great
risk of straining her back. " But," he added, " I do
not know anything about these iron ships,"
From morning until evening, even on the coldest
day, the window of the small bedroom occupied by
Sir Provo was kept widely opened. In this room the
firing of the guns at Portsmouth could be distinctly
heard on favourable days, and at times Sir Prova
thought he could hear the reports. His bedstead
was placed opposite to the fireplace, OA*er which
hung a water-colour drawing of his old ship the
Cumberland, the rigging of which, in the picture,
was quite clear to the Admiral until as recently as
December last.
By the bedside hung an old-fashioned barometer,
formerly belonging to the Admiral's father, which
was an object of daily interest, and on the walls were
a number of engravings, including portraits of Sir
John Ommaney, Admiral Frederick Warren and others.
The furniture consisted of a chest of drawers, made in
Bermuda in 1830, of bird's-eye maple and cedar, in
the days when this island was famed for its cedar -built
ships. Long before the island could be seen by an
approaching vessel, it was known by the scent of
its trees. In one corner of the room was a writing-
table, upon which were the cases containing the

LAST DAYS AT FUNTINGTON. 287
insignia of the Admiral's order and his medals, and
Tjeneath it the cocked hat and uniform. His sword
stood in another part of the room, with the Malacca
cane presented to him by the granddaughter of his
-old captain of the Shannon.
For some Aveeks prior to the Admiral's death, which
has just happened, there had been gradual signs of
an increasing weakness. He had ceased to enjoy his
regular breakfast of cocoa, milk and rusks, and
would take no food for many hours at a time. The
immediate cause of death Avas exhaustion from
mortification of the left foot — a condition which,
mercifully, was almost painless. Even on the
night before his death, after the necessary sur
gical dressings had been applied to the foot, he
said, in answer to his physician's inquiry whether
he had any pain, " No, no pain ; quite comfortable,
thank you. Good-night and God bless you." The
end came at 10.30 in the morning of Saturday,
February 13th, and, almost suddenly, this veteran
officer of the British Fleet passed peacefully to his
rest. I little thought when I commenced writing this
volume at the beginning of last year that the con
cluding chapter would contain such sad tidings.
Indeed, it is only eighteen days since I wrote my last
letter to the Admiral, and I had practically com
pleted the volume and put it into the printer's
Ihands, when, in the evening of Saturday, I received a

288 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
telegram conveying the news of his decease, and by
post the following morning a most kind and thought
ful letter from his worthy physician and friend.
Dr. Stephens.
When I look back upon those two days every
thing seems a blank. The usual necessary duties
of life Avere all discharged, but I could not
realise that I had indeed lost my oldest and
dearest friend — that I should hear from him
no more — and that in this world we could never
meet again. Still I had every consolation man
could possibly desire ; the sweet memory of a
long friendship, unbroken and unclouded through
thirty years ; and that it was only a Father's.
summons which had called him away to a happier
and eternal home. Full of years — full of honours —
a nation's veneration and troops of friends followed
him to his rest.
It is not often, if ever, that we are called upon in
this life to moralise on the teachings of a century,.
but I trust the record of his life may be welcome to
the hearts of all our gallant sailors, and may suggest
to them how long may be the period of happy and
honoured retirement which it may please God to
allot to them, after the active duties of life have
been well discharged.
" And now, my beloved friend, we have not attended
you to your grave, but we have consecrated this day
of your interment specially to your memory. One

LAST DAYS AT FUNTINGTON. 289
of the Psalms for the day was the ninetieth, and
the hymn was — 'Jesus, refuge of my soul.'
We thanked God for all His servants departed this
life in His faith and fear. And now, for a wreath,
I lay this poor volume on your tomb —
Vale amice carissime, Vale.'

ADDENDUM.
THE INTERMENT.

ADDENDUM.

THE INTERMENT.

T~\URING his lifetime the Admiral had left most
-*^ minute instructions with his butler as to his
funeral. He expressly wished to be rolled in his
blanket and buried like a sailor ; that the funeral
should be quite private and the outside gate shut, so
that he might be carried round the lawn and out
of the orchard gate, which was only a few yards
from and exactly opposite to the church gates.
The Lords of the Admiralty, having expressed a
wish to be allowed to pay the last honours to so
distinguished a sailor, requested Lady Wallis's
permission to send a funeral guard, which was
granted. This request was followed by a letter
from their lordships, of which the following is a
copy : —

294 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
" To Lady Wallis.
"Admiralty, Fehruary lf>th, 1892.
" Madam, —
" My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
having received the intelligence of the death of
your venerable, gallant, and distinguished hus
band. Admiral of the Fleet Sir Provo William
Parry Wallis, G.C.B., I am directed by their
lordships to convey to you the expression of
their deep sympathy Avith you in your bereave
ment, feeling that in his loss the navy is
deprived of an officer of great distinction,
whose services in the fleet began in the last
century and extended over a period of sixty- three
years ; whose name is so intimately associated
with H.M.S. Shannon, in which ship he fought ;
and who was the last representative of the
gallant traditions of the navy during the wars
which marked the early part of the century.
" I am, Madam,
" Your obedient Servant,
" Evan Macgregor."
In the afternoon of Thursday, the 18th of
February, 1892, in the picturesque churchyard of
the little village where he had spent so many years
of his long life, the remains of the late Admiral were
laid to rest amidst every token of respect, and with
a full display of the honours Avhich the British Navy

THE INTERMENT. 295
bestows upon those who have gained a place of dis
tinction in the service. The different branches of
the serA'ice Avere specially represented at the funeral,
and in addition to the relatives 'and friends there
Avas a large gathering of the general public, many of
AA'hom, undeterred by the wintry weather, had tramped
many miles in order to A\'itness the performance
of the last sacred rites over the remains of the
gallant and distinguished veteran. Long before the
hour fixed for the ceremony people began to assemble
in the vicinity of the church, and the approaches to
the grave3'ard were thronged with spectators when the
mournful cortege Avended its way through the private
grounds of the house, to the church. Fifty men
each from the Royal Marine Artillery (Eastney) and
the Royal Marine Light Infantry (F orton) lined the
entrance to the burial-ground and the pathway leading
to the church. Captain H. C. Kane being in charge
of the arrangements. A firing party of fifty seamen
from H.M.S. Excellent Avas also in attendance, under
Commander Percy Scott. The coffin was borne on
the shoulders of six blue-jackets, Avhile the following
officers acted as pall -bearers : Captain Kane, of the
Victory ; Captain Jones, of the Malabar ; Captain O.
Churchill, of the Crocodile ; Captain the Hon. C. P.
Vereker, of the Research ; Commander McKinstry,
of the St. Vincent ; and Commander P. Scott, of the
Excellent. As the procession moved slowly along
the snow-covered ground, the band of the Royal

296 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
Marine Artillery played the mournful strains of the
"Dead March" in Saul. Very impressive was the
sight as the cortege, headed by the firing party carrying
reversed arms, passed through the line of artillerymen,
clad in their great coats in order to protect them
from the wintry blast. The chief mourners who
followed the coffin were Captain Belford Wilson (late
of the 19th P.W.O. Hussars), nephew ; Master Belford
Wallis Wilson, and Master Provo Wallis Wilson.
Following the relatives came Admiral of the Fleet
Sir Geoffrey Phipps-Hornby, G.C.B. (a near neighbour
and friend) ; Sir Robert Raper, of Chichester, and
Mr. F. P. Morrell, of Oxford (solicitors to the family) ;
Dr. Lockhart Stephens (the late Admiral's medical
attendant) ; Major-General Oldfield, R.A., of West-
bourne ; Rev. G. M. Norris, South Cove Rectory,
Norfolk ; Vice - Admiral Moresby, The Grange,
Chichester; Colonel FoAvler Butler (Royal Sussex
Regiment), Chichester; Captain H. C. Best, R.N., late
Flag-Lieutenant to Admiral Sir Provo Wallis ; the
Admiral's servants, including Mr. James Heath, who
was in H.M.S. Cumberland with the Admiral, and
afterwards for sixteen years his butler ; Mr. Frederick
Luck, for the last five years his faithful and devoted
attendant. Then came Captain Fullerton, R.N., of Her
Majesty's yacht Victoria and Albert, A. D.C, repre
senting Her Majesty the Queen ; Lieutenant-Colonel
F. H. Poore, R.M.A., representing H.R.H. the Duke

THE INTERMENT. 297
Df Edinburgh ; Colonel E. Sartorius, V.C, A.A.G.,
•of the Headquarter Staff, Portsmouth, representing
H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught ; Flag-Lieutenant
Godfrey Mundy, R.N., representing Admiral the Earl
of Clanwilliam, Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth.
Among the other representatives of different
branches of the Services in attendance were : —
Rear-Admiral 0. 6. Fane, of H.M. Dockyard, Portsmouth,
Captain the Hon. C. P. Vereker (H.M.S. Research), Captain
0. Churchill (H.M.S. Crocodile), Capt. Alex. McKechnie, Com
mander Kingstry (H.M.S. Victory), Captain J. G. Jones (H.M.S.
Malabar), Commander E. Dodd Sampson (H.M.S. Nelson), Major
S. W. Dowding (Royal Marine Light Infantry, Portsmouth),
Surgeon W. M. Lory (H.M.S. Victory), The Rev. F. E. Pitman,
R.N. (H.M.S. Nelson), Assistant-Paymaster H. M. Ommaney
(H.M.S. Malabar), Captain H. 0. Kane (H.M.S. Victory),
Staff-Surgeon McAdam (H.M.S. Crocodile), Lieutenant W.
Hewitt (Royal Yacht), Lieutenant A. E. C. Levison (H.M.S.
Excellent), Lieutenant E. Lees (H.M.S. Vernon), Sub-Lieutenant
Pierce (Royal Naval College), Sub-Lieutenant Richardson (Royal
Naval College), Staff-Paymaster C. Edwards (H.M.S. Vernon),
Lieutenant F. S. Wheeler (H.M.S. Research), Lieutenant E. 0. H.
Helby (H.M.S. Research), Lieutenant-Colonel Pengelley, R.M.A.,
•Colonel J. M. Moody, Commandant R.M.L.I., Lieutenant H.
T. R. Lloyd, R.M.L.L, Mr. F. R. Boyle, R.M.L.I., Engineer
Parrott (H.M.S. Nelson), Fleet Engineer W. S. Power (H.M.S.
Malabar), Boatswain T. Burrow, Gunner Purkis, and Carpenter
¦Childs. The service in the church and at the graveside was
performed by the Vicar of the parish, the Rev. G. F.
Pearson, and at its conclusion three volleys were

298 ADMIRAL SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.
discharged by the firing party. The deceased
Admiral's resting-place was an ordinary earth grave
lined with strips of ivy, and the coffin, which, in
obedience to his wishes, was made by the village
carpenter (Mr. Matthews), was of plain unpolished
oak. It was covered with a Union Jack, surmounted
by the sword and cocked hat of the deceased, and
the breast- plate bore the following inscription : — ¦
ADMIRAL OF THE FLEET
SIR PROVO W. P. WALLIS, G.C.B.,
BORN 12th APRIL, 1791,
DIED 13th FEBRUARY, 1892.
Although the crush to obtain a last glimpse of
the coffin was very great, the large crowd present
(numbering from eight hundred to a thousand
persons) behaved throughout in the most respectful
manner, and the posse of county police present, under
the command of Deputy Chief Constable Clarke, had
no difficulty in maintaining the most perfect order.
Several old sailors, who had known the Admiral when
in active service, were present in the churchyard,
including Mr. W. Arthur, of Westbourne, who served
forty years in the navy, and Avas Sir Provo's last
coxswain. After the bugle had sounded its final call and fare
well, and the last note had died on the frosty air,
the mourners filed out of the little churchyard,
having paid their last token of respect to England's
oldest Admiral. The imposing ceremony, combining

TIIE INTERMENT. 299
as it did the utmost simplicity with the highest
naval honour, must have left a deep impression on
all present. There could have been few who did not
feel that a great man was gone from among us, and
those who knew him felt thdt they had lost a friend
indeed.

POSTSCEIPT.
T~N reviewing all that has been written, I feel
-*- deeply the obligation of gratitude I have in
curred to my friend Mr. Alfred Spencer, for his
most valuable co-operation in my pleasant labours.
He has taken -the greatest interest in the Biography,
and from him I have derived much and material
assistance, AA'hich I now gratefully acknowledge.
I am also much indebted to Sir Provo's physician
and friend, Dr. Lockhart Stephens, for the assistance
he has kindly given me, especially in connection with
the concluding chapter of this work. J. G. B.

YALE

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