Chapter III: Part 3

Your letter of the 17ᵗʰ Novʳ past, giveing me accᵗ of the unhapy disaster of your ship being run ashore by a Dutch pilot and of your happy getting off againe, I recᵈ 3 or 4 ds. after its date; but, hopeing you might have gote away before an answer could arrive you, I forbore answering it to you to Helvoet Sluce. I have just now recᵈ yours of the 7ᵗʰ instant, Tuesday, and, to our great joy, the accᵗ of God Almighty’s wonderfull preservation of you in the late most dreadfull storm,[a] wᶜʰ no man liveing can remember the like. I perseave you have had an accᵗ of the most sad and lamentable efects of it heere in England, not only in the losse of our shipp[ing], but about 1500 men in the Queen’s shipps. I shall not eneumerate yᵉ perticulars of the losse, only that Capt. Emes,[b] wᵗʰ his wife and son and all yᵉ men in yᵉ Restauration, lost on yᵉ Goodwin, and poore Tom Blake drowned at Bristoll in yᵉ Canterbury store ship cast away. The Dorcetshire we have accᵗ of her being on yᵉ back of Yarmᵒ Sands, cruseing, I supose for want of anchors and cables, and hope yᵉ Association is cruseing in the sea on the like occasion. My deare son Nicᵒ hapend to be sick on bord her, as Sʳ S. Fairebone[c] wrote me from the Downes. I sent Tom Apleby imediatly to Deale to bring him up; but the ship sailed yᵉ morning before he gote downe. I hope he will come well home to us. Pray God the Russell may be got of yᵉ sands and into Helvoet Sluce.

Wee haue 7 or 8 vessells wᵗʰ anchors and cables in Harwᶜʰ or Oasely bay, ready to put to sea when we heare where Sʳ Stafford is. Sʳ Cloud. Shovell I hope now safe at the Nore; his mainemast cut downe after he had drove 3 leagˢ from yᵉ Longsᵈ, very neare the Galloper. Yᵉ Sᵗ Geo. and R. Oake, now at Blackstakes, rode out yᵉ storme wᵗʰout damage; and the Cambridge I beleive the same. The 4 ships that broke from their ground takle was the Association, Russell, Revenge, and Dorcetshire. The Revenge was in Solebay some tyme since, and furnish wᵗʰ anchors and cables from yᵉ Nottingham and another man of warr yᵗ went out Yarmᵒ roads to looke for our shipps. Capt. Kerr[d] in yᵉ Revenge gave accᵗ that he saw yᵉ Association, Monday last was sevenight; so that we are in hope she is very well. I shall not inlarge, only to give you our kind saluts. Pray God send you wᵗʰ yᵉ King of Spaine well out that place and over to us. My harty and humble service to Sʳ Geo: Rooke.

I am your most afecᵗ father,

R. H.

* * * * *

[a] On the 26th November.

[b] Fleetwood Emms.

[c] Sir Stafford Fairborne, Vice-Admiral of the Red.

[d] William Kerr. Dismissed the service, in 1708, for joining in a contraband trade with the enemy.

CAPTAIN EDWARD WHITAKER[a] TO SIR RICHARD HADDOCK.

Dated on board her Majᵗⁱᵉˢ ship Dorsetshire,
in Gibralter Bay, July yᵉ 29ᵗʰ [1704].

Sʳ,

I heare give you an accoᵗ of our good success, especially what has related to my own particular part. July 21ˢᵗ we anchor’d here in yᵉ Bay, and about 4 in the afternoon landed about 2000 marrines, Dutch and all. I commanded yᵉ landing with three captaines more; all which was don wᵗʰ little opposition. About 40 horse came downe from yᵉ towne, wᶜʰ was all; and they run away soe soon as our guns began to play upon them. We landed about 2 miles from the towne, in yᵉ Bay, and march’d directly to the foot of the hill, were they posted themselves within muskett shott of the gates; so cutt of all manner of communication from yᵉ land. We hove into yᵉ towne this evening about 17 shells. The Prince of Hess[b] landed with us and immediatly sent a summons to the Governer, wᶜʰ did not returne any answer tell the next morning, and then the Governer said he would defend the towne to the very last. Then Admirall Byng, who commanded the cannonading, began to draw up all his ships in a line before the towne; but, it proving little wind, could not gett in with them all, so that we did little this day. There was three small ships in the old mold, one of which annoy’d our camp by fireing amongst them, having about 10 guns lying close in the mold and just under a great bastion at yᵉ north corner of the towne. I proposed to Sʳ George[c] the burning her in the night. He liked itt; accordingly ordered what boats I would have to my assistance; and about 12 at night I did it effectually, wᵗʰ the loss of but one man and 5 or 6 wounded.

July 23rd. At 4 this morning, Admˡ Byng began with his ships to cannonade, a Dutch Rear Admˡ with 5 or 6 ships of theirs along with him; which made a noble noise, being within half shot of the towne. My ship not being upon service, I desired Sʳ George to make me his aducon to carry his comands from tyme to tyme to admirall Byng, which he did accordingly; and after about 2 hours continuall fireing sent me with orders to forbare. Upon this I went to every ship in the line wᵗʰ this orders, and coming on board Capt. Jumper,[d] in yᵉ Lenox, found him extraordinary well posted within muskett shott of the new mold head, and had beat them all out of yᵉ battery and of the mold, so that I beleived we might attack it with our boats. I went immediatly and acquainted Admˡ Byng wᵗʰ it, who ordered all the boats to be man’d and arm’d. From him I went to Sʳ George and gave him my oppinion that the mold might be attack’d. He immediatly made the signall for all the boates in yᵉ fleet, and gave me the command of yᵉ attack, wᵗʰ 3 or 4 captaines along wᵗʰ me. I made all the hast I could with orders to Admirall Byng to send me accordingly; but some of the boats got ashore before I could reach them, wᵗʰ little or no opposition. Severall of our men gott into yᵉ Castle; upon which it blew up. We had kill’d between 40 and 50 men. Most of all the boates that landed first were sunk; about 100 or two wounded; upon which, all yᵗ remain’d came running downe and leap’d into the water, being so mightyly surprized. I landed within a minute after the accident, and rallied our men. We went over a breach in the wall but one at a time, and took possesstion of the hill. I immediatly sent Capt. Roffy[e] and Capt. Acton,[f] wᵗʰ between 40 and 50 men, and took possesstion of a bastion of 8 guns within less then half muskett shott of the towne wall: and there we pitch’d our collours. Soon after, Admˡ Byng came ashore to me and sent in a drumer wᵗʰ a sommons, who returnd in about 2 hours wᵗʰ a letter in answer that they would surrender the next day; wᶜʰ they accordingly did. I beleive I had wᵗʰ me, at the first onsett, between 2 and 300 men; but we grew in a very little time to neare 1000. This was the manner we took Gibralter, which I hope we shall maintaine.

I hope, Sʳ, youle excuse this trouble I give, butt, beleiving that every boddy here rights att this tyme uppon this occation, I could not forbeare giveing my very good friend Sʳ Ricᵈ this perticuler accᵗᵗ of yᵉ whole matter; which I dont doubt butt Capt. Haddock will give yᵉ much yᵉ same accoᵗᵗ. Pray please to favour my spouse with a line or two, feareing mine should miscarry. My most humble servis to my good lady and all yʳ good family. I beg youle make use of this as farre as you shall think fitt, itt being a trew accoᵗᵗ of yᵉ whole matter.

I am

Yʳ most harty humble Serᵗ and kinsman to serve, whilst

EDWᵈ WHITAKER.

P.S. This is rite all in a hurry, so yᵗ I hope youle excuse me.

* * * * *

[a] Afterwards knighted and Rear-Admiral. This letter has been printed by Charnock in his _Biographia Navalis_; but it is worth re-printing.

[b] George, Prince of Hesse-Darmstadt.

[c] Rooke.

[d] Afterwards Sir William Jumper, Commissioner of the Navy.

[e] Kerril or Kerrit Roffey.

[f] Edward Acton, killed in action in 1706.

NICHOLAS HADDOCK[a] TO HIS FATHER SIR RICHARD HADDOCK.

Sᵗ George in Barcelona Road, this 1ˢᵗ of May, 1706, O.S.

HONᵈ Sʳ,

This comes to you by the Faulcon pink, which is sent home express wᵗʰ the good news of our releiving Barcelona in the greatest extremity. The French had made preparations for a generall assault that very day we came; and it must have been infallibly taken, had we not had the luckiest passage imaginable (being but five days from Lisbon to Cape Martin, where we joynd Sʳ Jno. Leake).

Saturday last in the morning, when were about 5 leagues to the wᵗward of Barcelona, my Lord Peterborow came of to the fleet wᵗʰ twelve hundᵈ soldiers embarqued in felucas and boats, and in the afternoon got in and landed them, wᵗʰ all the soldiers out of the transports and most of the marines of the fleet. We have now about nine thousand soldiers in the towne. The French army consisted at first of twenty thousand; four of wᶜʰ, horse under the command of the Duke of Anjou.[b] Their loss during this seige is computed to be five [thousand] including a thousand sick and wounded they have left behind, when they raised the seige, wᶜʰ was at twelve aclock last night. They have left 50 peices of brass cannon mounted and 15 mortars, and are now bound to Roussilion. They will find great difficultys on their march. The Miquelets,[c] being very numerous and all in arms, will destroy a great many of ’em before they get out of Catalonia, it being a close country. The French squadron before this place consisted of 26 saile, line of battle ships. They sailed the night before we came, having intelligence of us by their scouts. They were all the supply the army had for provisions, for the Catalans have not given them the least; nor could a man of ’em stirr from his tent a musquet shot out of the Camp but they killed him. We are now sending four ships with 6 hundred soldiers for Girone, to reinforce that garrison, lest the French should make any attempt on it, it lying in their way.

I hear there is an express come to Barcelona from my Lord Gallaway, giving an account of his being got to Toledo and on his march for Madrid. The lucky turn Providence has given to our affairs in these parts I suppose will be joyfull news in England; and this being the first certain accᵗ you’l have, this long letter wont seem tedious.

I can expect no letters from you till Sʳ Clowdsly joyne us, and then do hope shall hear of your welfare and some good news in return of all this, which, with my duty to yʳ self and mother and love to all friends, is from,

Honᵈ Sir,

Yʳ dutifull Son,

Nˢ HADDOCK.

P.S.--We have had an eclipse of the sun to-day; lasted above two hours, and for a quarter ’twas total and as dark as night. Wᵗ it may portend, I leave to the learned. Our fleet consists of 50 saile in the line; 13 of wᶜʰ, Dutch.

* * * * *

[a] Afterwards Admiral.

[b] Philip V. of Spain.

[c] Irregulars of the militia of Catalonia.

THE SAME TO THE SAME.

Alicant, this 31ˢᵗ of July, 1706.

HONᵈ Sʳ,

I have both yʳ letters by Captⁿ Delevall,[a] as also the butter and cheeses, for wᶜʰ I returne you thanks. I’m glad to hear both my sisters are so well recovered by the Bath. Pray God continue their healths. Sunday last we took this place, attacking it by land and sea; and almost all the people of it are run up to the castle, wᵗʰ the garrison, for protection. We assisted our army with 500 seamen. I have been ashore with 50 of our ship’s company during the seige; am very heartily fateigued, but very well in health. After we have got the castle, I hear the fleet will go for the Islands of Minorca and Majorca, and, after that, I hope home. If the Sᵗ George should not do, intend asking Sʳ Jnᵒ Leake leave for my self.

I’m glad to hear the ship at Sheernes will be launcht so soon as March. I hope I’m pretty secure of her. I desire your excuse for this bad scrawle and blotted paper, but I write wᵗʰ a pen made wᵗʰ an old razor that I find in the house I’m quartered in. I have no more to say but my duty to yʳ self and mother and love to all freinds in London and Mile end, and remaine,

Honᵈ Sʳ,

Yʳ dutifull Son,

N. HADDOCK.

P.S.--This lettʳ goes by the Rye.

To Sʳ Richᵈ Haddock, at the Navy Office in Crutched Fryars,
London, these.

* * * * *

[a] George Delaval, of the Tilbury.

SIR RICHARD HADDOCK TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE ADMIRALTY.

25ᵗʰ July, 1709.

GENTLEMEN,

In the yeare 1672 I comanded as Captⁿ of the Royall James, under the Rᵗ Honᵇˡᵉ the Earle of Sandwᶜʰ, in the Sowle Bay fight. The said shipp, after a vigorous defence, was burnt by the Dutch; in wᶜʰ action I was wounded, the cure of wᶜʰ cost me, in surgeons, apothicary, nurses, &c., betwext fower score and a hundred pounds. I have bine so remise and negligent as not to demaund satisfaction for my reimbursemᵗ. Do pray the favor of the bord I may have a bill made out, what you shall think convenient, haveing bine out of my mony now 36 ys. I likewise, in the yeare 1690 (being then one of the Comʳˢ for Victualling), was taken into custody at Portsmᵒ, and brought up a prisoner from thence by order of the then House of Comons, and remained as such a considerable tyme in yᵉ hands of Mr. Topham, then sergant at armes to sᵈ house, under pretence of our poisoning the fleet then at sea (under comᵈ of Admˡˡ Herbert, now Earle of Torrington), with gutts in our beere and gaules in our beefe;[a] and with great dificulty obtained to be bailed. I must not call it injustice in that august assembly, what they did to me; but it cost me about a hundred pounds to Mr. Topham for his fees, and to lawyers soliciting the House of Comons, wᵗʰ expences of entertainment whilst in custody; for satisfaction of wᶜʰ I presume the bord will not think fitt to allow me, except directed soe to doe by order of the Lord High Admˡˡ, for wᶜʰ shall make my aplication to him; but for my cure, I doubt not the favor and justice of the bord in ordering a bill to be made out.

I remain, Gentⁿ, yoʳ very humble servᵗ,

Rᵈ. HADDOCK.

* * * * *

[a] Macaulay’s “casks of meat which dogs would not touch, and barrels of beer which smelt worse than bilge water.”--_Hist. of England_, ch. xiv.

SIR RICHARD HADDOCK TO HIS GRANDSON.[a]

Clapham, 28ᵗʰ May, 1712, Wedensday.

DEARE GRANDSON,

I came yesterday to this place, and, according to my promise, do answer yours of 18ᵗʰ instant from Christ Colledge in Oxford.

It happens to be this day 40 years that I was burnt out of the Royall James in the Sole Bay fight against the Dutch. Am well pleased to find the efforts you intend to make yourselfe famous in Westminster Hall. It is like the saying of your Unckle Nichˢ, who doubted not but to be as great as Sʳ Cloudesly Shovell was; and he pushes very faire for it. Your father and family went to Wakehurst Satuarday last; tooke Betty and Fanny Clark[b] downe wᵗʰ them; gote well thither. Yoʳ Unckle Richard, the weeke past, hath bine very ill wᵗʰ a feavor and ague, wᶜʰ kept me from hence longer then I designed; is under the advice of Doctor Ratclif,[c] who gave me leave to come downe hither, promiseing his care of him; and was downe staires when came away.

With my harty prayers for yoʳ health and wellfare, I am

Yoʳ most afecᵗ grandfather,

Rᵈ. H.

* * * * *

[a] This must be a son of Sir Richard’s daughter, who married a Mr. Lydell.

[b] Children of another of Sir Richard’s daughters, who married John Clarke, of Blake Hall, in Bobbingworth, co. Essex.

[c] No doubt Dr. John Radcliffe.

CAPTAIN NICHOLAS HADDOCK TO HIS WIFE.

Grafton at sea, about 10 leagues from Cape Passaro,
Aug. the 4ᵗʰ, 1718.

MY Dʳ FANNY,

The Superbe being orderd from the fleet wᵗʰ the Admirall’s letters, I send this to tell you I am well.

Five days ago we had a battle wᵗʰ the Spanish fleet off of Cape Passaro,[a] on the Island of Sicily, in wᶜʰ severall of their ships were taken and some destroyd. The Grafton had her share in that action, and the Admirall has been pleased to make me great compliments on my behaviour that day. I shall soon be orderd to be refitted at Port Mahon, the ship requiring it. I had fifty men killd and wounded. Among the former was Lᵗ Bramble, who was appointed by the intrest of Sir Cha. Wager. I’m sorry for him, he being a good officer. My Cousin Haddock[b] chased towards the shoar after part of the Spanish fleet, when they separated, wᵗʰ 4 or 5 other ships whose signalls were made for that purpose, and they are not yet come into the fleet. However, I doubt not but he is well, the ships that they were sent after being of the smaller sort.

My dʳ, pray send to Mrs. Harris to tell her her spouse is well.[c] He dined aboard me the day after the action; he was one of the ships engaged.

Just before we saild from Naples I received yʳ letter, and am glad to hear yʳself and the little boy are well. I give my love to all freinds, and remaine, my dʳ Fanny,

Yʳ most affecᵗ husband,

Nˢ. HADDOCK.

* * * * *

[a] On the 31st July, when Sir George Byng almost destroyed the Spanish fleet.

[b] Probably William Haddock. See above, p. 43, note d.

[c] Captain Barrow Harris, of the Breda.

THE SAME TO THE SAME.

Grafton, at Regio, Janʳʸ the 19ᵗʰ, O.S., 1718/9.

MY DEAR SPOUSE,

I send this to tell you I am well. I believe, before this come to you, you will have heard of my having forced ashoar on Sicily a Spanish man of war of 70 guns, wᶜʰ is overset and sunk. I recᵈ some shot from her, but without much damage. My dʳ, we are here at an anchor, in company wᵗʰ the Kent, Royˡ Oake, and Rochester, to block up Camock,[a] who is at Messina and will not venture out, his squadron being much inferiour to us. By the news we receive from England, I conjecture Spain will soon be oblidgd to accept the terms proposed to ’em; after wᶜʰ I suppose the bigger ships will be orderd home, where I shall always be glad to be, whenever it consists wᵗʰ my honour; for, indeed, my dear Fanny, I heartily love you.

Pray give my love to all freinds, and I remaine, my dʳ,

Yʳ most affect. husband,

Nˢ. HADDOCK.

P.S. This goes for Naples wᵗʰ an express that Capt. Mathews[b] sends to the Admˡ, and from thence it will be forwarded to you.

Nˢ. H.

* * * * *

[a] George Cammock, the Spanish Rear-Admiral, who had taken refuge in Messina. He slipped out in a frigate, which however he had to abandon, and escaped by boat to land. He was an Irishman who had served with distinction in the English navy under Queen Anne, but had been dismissed on account of his Jacobite tendencies. He then entered the Spanish service; and it is said that, if the Spanish Admiral had followed his advice, the battle off Cape Passaro might have had a different result.

[b] Thomas Mathews, afterwards Admiral, who commanded the blockading force.

INDEX.

Acton, Edward, Captain:
at the capture of Gibraltar, 48

Aumont, Antoine d’, Marshal:
attempt on Ostend, 5, 6

Babb, Anna: 44

Balasore:
attacked by the English, 37-39

Barcelona:
relief of, 49

Blake, Robert, Admiral:
his last victory, 3

Blake, Thomas: 45

Bramble, Lieutenant: 53

Brandon, William:
letter, 35

Bristol, George Digby, Earl of: 13

Burstow, William, Captain: 15

Byng, Sir George, Admiral:
at the capture of Gibraltar, 46-48

Cammock, George, Spanish admiral: 54

Carter, Richard, Admiral:
killed at La Hogue, 42

Charles II. of England:
visits the fleet, 23, 24, 29

Chicheley, Isabella:
letter, 42

Clarke, Elizabeth: 53

Clarke, Fanny: 53

Courtney, Francis, Captain: 21

Coventry, Sir William: 7

Cromwell, Oliver, Lord Protector: 2

Davenant, ----: 39

Deane, Anthony, Navy Commissioner: 21

Delaval, George, Captain: 50

Emms, Fleetwood, Captain: 45

Estrees, Jean d’, Comte, Admiral: 23, 24

Fairborne, Sir Stafford, Admiral: 45

Finch, William, Captain: 20

Foules, Thomas, Captain: 20

Frowd, Philip, Postmaster: 36

Galway, Henry de Massue de Ruvigny, Earl of: 50

Gibraltar:
its capture, 46-48

Goodlad, ----: 10, 11, 12, 14

Grove, Henry: 39

Haddock, Andrew: 2

Haddock, Elizabeth:
letters to, 10, 12, 14, 19, 21

Haddock, Fanny or Frances:
letters to, 53, 54

Haddock, Joseph, Captain: 11, 19, 21;
letter from India, 37;
at attack on Balasore, 37-39

Haddock, Lydia: 3

Haddock, Nicholas, Captain:
at Vigo, 43, 45;
letters, 49, 50, 53, 54;
at Barcelona, 49;
at Cape Passaro, 53;
at Messina, 54

Haddock, Richard: 4, 13, 21;
his gallantry, 19

Haddock, Sir Richard, Admiral:
letters, 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 12, 14, 19, 21, 36, 43, 44, 51, 52;
with squadron off Dunkirk, 3-7;
declaration on the Dutch striking their flag, 9;
serves against the Dutch, 10-31;
account of the battle of Southwold Bay, 16-19;
wounded, 18;
journal, 22-31;
observations on naval engagements, 31-35;
reported desertion, 35, 36;
claim for compensation, 51, 52

Haddock, Richard, Captain: 43, 44, 53;
letter on the battle of La Hogue, 41-42

Haddock, William, Captain: letters to, 1, 3, 5, 6

Haddock, William: 3, 5, 43;
at battle of Cape Passaro, 54

Hambliton [Hamilton?] Colonel: 22

Harbin, Samuel: 39

Harbord, Sir Charles, 18

Harman, Sir John, Admiral: 21, 30

Harris, Barrow, Captain: 54

Hayward, John, Captain: 21

Heath, Captain:
attacks Balasore, 37-39

Heath, Thomas:
gallantry at La Hogue, 41

Hesse-Darmstadt, George, Prince of:
at the capture of Gibraltar, 46

Hinton, John: 39

Hodges, Captain: 44

Hogg, Christopher: 39

Hogue, La:
battle of, 41-42

Johnson, Francis: 40

Jordan, Sir Joseph, Admiral:
his conduct at Southwold Bay, 17, 18

Jumper, William, Captain:
at the capture of Gibraltar, 47

Kelsey, Thomas, Major-General: 1

Kerr, William, Captain: 45

Lane, Samuel: 15

Lydell, ----: 52

Mathews, Thomas, Captain: 55

Mayo, Thomas, Lieutenant: 18

Ossory, Thomas Butler, Earl of: 24

Ostend:
attempt on, 5, 6

Passaro, Cape: battle of, 53

Pennyman, Captain: 35

Peterborough, Charles Mordaunt, Earl of:
relieves Barcelona, 49

Philip V. of Spain: 49

Poole, Sir William, Captain: 14, 15, 16

Roffey, Kerril, Captain: 48

Rooke, Sir George, Admiral: 44, 45;
at the capture of Gibraltar, 47

Roxby, Henry: 40

Rupert, Prince: 23, 24, 28, 30, 31;
his actions with the Dutch, 19, 20, 26-28

Sadlington, Richard, Captain: 28

Sandwich, Edward Montague, Earl of, Admiral:
commanding off Dunkirk, 5;
at Southwold Bay, 16-19

Sawkell, Edmond: 35

Scarlet, Charles: 39

Sharpe, Captain: 39

Shovel, Sir Cloudesley, Admiral:
at La Hogue, 41, 45

Smart, John: 40

Sotherne, ----: 44

Southwold, or Sole, Bay:
battle of, 16-19

Stanier, Sir Richard, Admiral: 9

Stanley, ----, Factor at Balasore: 39

Starland, ----: 39

Storm of 1703: 45

Strickland, Sir Roger, Admiral: 22

Tempest, John, Captain: 20

Thanksgiving-day: 44

Topham, ----, Serjeant-at-Arms: 52

Trepassey, in Newfoundland:
action off, 43

Trevanion, Richard, Captain: 20, 21

Wasey, ----, Captain: 19

Werden, Robert, Captain: 20, 21

Whitaker, Edward, Captain:
account of the capture of Gibraltar, 46-48

White, Richard, Captain: 28

Willshaw, Thomas, Navy Commissioner: 44

York, James, Duke of:
account of battle of Southwold Bay addressed to, 16-19;
visits the fleet, 23, 24, 29

Young, Henry, Captain: 28