Chapter I: Preface

This book, as far as its subject is concerned, is something of an experiment, something of a new departure. It is an attempt to interest people by recalling some of the associations of the brave days of old that cluster round and attach to certain historic man-of-war names. As far as that goes, indeed, having for its subject, as it has, the doings in battle of famous hearts of oak of the fighting times--

Those oaken giants of the ancient race
That ruled all seas,

the book ought not to require an elaborate introduction, any special pleading on its behalf, among those whose pride it is to count themselves the

Sons and sires of seamen
Whose realm is all the sea.

Further, it may possibly be, that in a degree, this book may serve as a reminder, even to some of those who to-day man His Majesty's Fleet, of what an inheritance is theirs, and how tremendous an obligation. The heroism of the Old Navy lives evermore in the man-of-war names of the modern navy, and should lead our sailors more even than they do, to 'glory,' in Kinglake's stirring language, in their ships' 'ancient names, connecting each with its great traditions, and founding upon the cherished syllables that consciousness of power which is a condition of ascendancy in war.'

The names of the men-of-war, the stories of which are told here, stand in the forefront among the famous names of the Sea Service for their associations with great and dashing exploits. They are possibly not the most widely known of all, not so familiar to everybody as are certain other names similarly associated with other famous feats of arms of the fighting days,--but that, after all, is perhaps all the more reason that their stories should be told now. 'We are few, but of the right sort,' said Nelson on one of the memorable occasions of his life, and it is hoped that the half-dozen stories within these covers may with justice say the same for themselves. The story of Lord Charles Beresford's little _Condor_, if not an Old Navy event, has much in keeping with the old order, and is included on its merits as being as gallant a piece of fighting-work in its way as has been done in the British Navy in our time.

My aim throughout has been to interest my readers. That a man-of-war's life-record is not necessarily a dull subject, a mere collection of dry facts, nor its incidents all matters of common knowledge, the following pages, it is hoped, will show. In the main, as far as possible, the accounts and impressions of eye-witnesses of the various events related, as written down while the events were in progress or were still fresh in recollection, old logs and letters, diaries and journals, and the newspapers of the time, have been relied on. Strangely appealing and mutely eloquent at times are some of our old ship logs, with their pages faded and yellow and blurred, often with the stain on them of what was once, more than a century ago, a fleck of fresh sea spray that rested there just as it was whisked in through an open port; now and then indeed with on them a dull rusty brown smear or spot, grimly suggestive of something else. And, too, a terse, blunt note, scrawled painfully down after a day under fire by the hard fist of some rough Old Navy skipper, gone long since to his last reckoning, says more--a good deal more--often, than pages could do of smoother prose, by people who were not on the spot.

Practically all the literature of the subject in book form has been laid under contribution. Among modern writers I am particularly indebted to Captain Mahan and Professor J.K. Laughton, R.N., of King's College, London, and to Mr. David Hannay, to whose brilliant monograph on Rodney I am in a special degree under obligation.

For myself, I am well aware of the pitfalls that beset the path of the landsman who presumes to write of nautical matters. So, indeed, it has ever been since Agur the son of Jakeh, in the days of King Solomon, placed it on record that "the way of a ship in the midst of the sea" was "too wonderful." For any shortcomings of mine in this regard I ask the kindly indulgence of my naval readers.

Throughout the stories, I trust, the amplest justice has been done, and the fullest credit given, to those who were our gallant foes on the several occasions.

In conclusion, I am greatly indebted to Lord Selborne, First Lord of the Admiralty, for allowing me to use information which has proved invaluable for my purposes; to Mr. A.B. Tucker of the _Graphic_ for assistance with my proofs and maps, and suggestions as to certain footnotes; and to Commander C.N. Robinson, R.N., for placing at my disposal his fine collection of old naval prints and drawings.

E.F.

CONTENTS

PAGE

1. The _Monmouths_ in War 1 How Arthur Gardiner fought the _Foudroyant_.

2. Rodney's Ship on Rodney's Day 43 The _Formidable_ that broke the line.

3. Won at the Cannon's Mouth 172 His Majesty's Ship _Undaunted_.

4. 'Billy Blue': A Ballad of the Fleet 199 One of the _Royal Sovereign's_ days.

5. The 'Fighting' _Temeraire_. 213 Where, how, and when she made her name.

6. 'Well Done, _Condor_!' 287 Alexandria, 1882.

ILLUSTRATIONS

The Enemy in Sight--'Full Speed Ahead!' _Frontispiece_

PAGE

'Ready, Aye Ready!' Our Cruiser _Monmouth_ of to-day 1

In Action at Midnight 25

The _Monmouth_ fighting the _Foudroyant_ at close quarters 28

'Success to the _Formidable_!' Nov. 17, 1898 43

'Ut Veniant Omnes!' The Big 50-Ton Guns of the
_Formidable_ 46

Rodney's _Formidable_ on the day before her Launch 52

Rodney's Sword 53

Admiral Lord Rodney, K.B. (after Gainsborough's
portrait) 57

The Pitons of St. Lucia 61

The Count De Grasse 63

Clock-face from the _Ville de Paris_ 71

Bell of the _Ville de Paris_ 72

Chart showing Rodney's pursuit of De Grasse 83

Monument of the three Captains--Blair, Bayne, and
Lord Robert Manners--in Westminster Abbey 111

Fighting the Guns on the Main Deck 114

The Critical Moment of Rodney's Battle--how the
French Line was broken 122

The _Formidable_ breaking the Line. April 12, 1782 126

One of the 'Fighting Lanterns' of the _Ville de Paris_ 147

De Grasse's Flag comes down. Rodney watching the
Surrender of the _Ville de Paris_ 148

'Count De Grasse resigning his Sword to Admiral
Rodney' 150

The 'Rodney Temple,' Spanish Town, Jamaica 162

Admiral De Grasse as a Prisoner of War 163

Captain Robert Faulknor 172

Captain Faulknor storming Fort Louis 187

The Death of Captain Faulknor 197

'Billy Blue'--Admiral the Hon. Sir William Cornwallis,
G.C.B. 199

'Cornwallis's Retreat' 208

The 'Fighting' _Temeraire_ tugged to her last Berth to
be broken up 213

Where Turner met the _Temeraire_ 215

Camp of the Grand Army at Boulogne, 1804 227

Captain Lucas--the French hero of Trafalgar 253

The Battle of Trafalgar. Oct. 21, 1805--2.15 P.M. 260

Admiral Villeneuve's Sword 265

Admiral Villeneuve's Signature 279

The _Temeraire_ entering Portsmouth Harbour on her
return from Trafalgar. Dec. 20, 1805 281

Relics of the 'Fighting' _Temeraire_ 284

Alexandria--July 11, 1882. The _Condor_ attacking
Fort Marabout 287

Bombardment of Alexandria. July 11, 1882--9 A.M. 295

Vice-Admiral Lord Charles Beresford, K.C.B. 298

From a drawing by W. Fred Mitchell, by kind permission of Messrs. J. Griffin & Co., Portsmouth.]