Chapter XVIII: Two Admirals

We have shown, so far as is possible, the influence that the lives of her two sailor brothers had upon the writings of Jane Austen. It now only remains to show how both of them, in their different ways, fulfilled her hopes for them. This can be best done by a brief summary of the chief events in their careers. At the time of her death they were men on either side of forty. Francis lived to be ninety-one, and Charles to be seventy-three, so both had many more years of activity and service before them.

In 1826 Charles was again on the West Indies station. Here he stayed for more than two years, and was chiefly employed in suppressing the slave-trade. He was always very happy in the management of crews. It was partly owing to his more than usual care in this respect while stationed here on board the _Aurora_, and partly to his general activity as second in command, that he gained his appointment as Flag-Captain to Admiral Colpoys in the _Winchester_ on the same station in 1828. He was invalided home in 1830, as the result of a severe accident. This prevented him from being again employed until 1838, when he was appointed to the _Bellerophon_, still only a Captain after nearly thirty years’ service in that rank.

The Officers of the watch on board H. M. S. Bellerophon are directed to pay strict attention to the orders which will be inserted in this book for their governance during the Night.

Charles Jno. Austen, Captain]

Some years before this, Mehemet Ali, Pasha of Egypt, had conquered Syria from his Suzerain, the Sultan, and now wished to declare himself independent, thereby coming into collision with the traditional policy of England and France in the Levant. In 1840 Admiral Stopford’s fleet was sent to the coast of Syria to interfere with communications between the Pasha’s army and Egypt. Charles Austen in the _Bellerophon_ (called by the seamen the “Billy Ruffian”) took part in the bombardment of the Beyrout forts, and afterwards was stationed in one of the neighbouring bays, guarding the entrance of the pass by which Commodore Sir Charles Napier had advanced up the Lebanon to attack Ibrahim Pasha and the Egyptians. In Napier’s words: “It was rather a new occurrence for a British Commodore to be on the top of Mount Lebanon commanding a Turkish army, and preparing to fight a battle which should decide the fate of Syria.” He won the battle and returned to the _Powerful_, with some reluctance, making way for Colonel Smith, who was appointed by the Sultan to command his forces in Syria.

The Admiral and Colonel Smith shortly afterwards decided on capturing Acre, the chief stronghold now remaining in the Egyptian occupation.

In a letter to Lord Palmerston, Colonel Smith describes the action: “On October 26 it was finally determined between Sir Robert Stopford and myself that the siege of Acre should be undertaken. Owing to the light winds the ships did not get into action till 2 P.M. on November 3, when an animated fire commenced, and was maintained without intermission until darkness closed the operations of the day. About three hours later the Governor, with a portion of the garrison, quitted the town, which was taken possession of by the allied troops at daylight the following morning. The moral influence on the cause in which we are engaged that will result from its surrender is incalculable. During the bombardment the principal magazine and the whole arsenal blew up.”

There is an extract from Charles Austen’s journal, which also gives a slight account of the bombardment:

“9 A.M.--Received a note from the Admiral (Stopford) telling me the _Powerful_ (Commodore Napier) was to lead into action, followed by _Princess Charlotte_ (flag), _Bellerophon_ and _Thunderer_, who were all to lay against the Western Wall.

“_Later._--Working up to the attack with light airs.

“11.30.--Piped to dinner.

“1 P.M.--Bore up to our station, passing outside the shoal to the south, and then to the westward again inside.

“2.30.--Anchored astern of the _Princess Charlotte_, and abreast of the Western Castle, and immediately commenced firing, which the enemy returned, but they fired high, and only two shots hulled us, hitting no one.

“_At sunset._--Admiral signalled ‘Cease firing,’ up boats, and then piped to supper, and sat down with the two boys to a cold fowl, which we enjoyed much.

“_At_ 9 P.M.--A dish of tea, then gave my night orders and turned in.”

The “two boys” were his two sons, Charles and Henry, who were serving under him.

There is a further account of a difficulty with Commodore Napier, who had a firm belief in his own judgment, which made obedience to orders something of a trial to him. Napier, who was “as usual a law unto himself,” disobeyed the Admiral’s signals, and, when reprimanded, demanded a court-martial, which was refused. The journal then relates that Captain Austen, with two other captains, went on board the _Powerful_ to endeavour to persuade the Commodore to climb down, “but the old Commodore was stubborn, and we returned to our ships.” However, a second visit to the Commodore in the afternoon appears to have been more successful, and “I left hoping the affair would be settled,” which it was. The result of this bombardment was altogether satisfactory, though some of the ships suffered considerably from the Egyptian firing. Charles was awarded a Companionship of the Bath for his share in this campaign.

In 1846 he became Rear-Admiral, and in 1850 was appointed Commander-in-Chief on the East India Station.

He left England in the P. & O. steamer _Ripon_ for Alexandria, and crossed the desert to Suez, as was usual in the overland route. The description of the mode of travelling by vans, and the selection of places therein by lot, has often been made.

Lord Dalhousie, as Governor-General at Calcutta, had taken steps to protect British traders from the exactions of the Burmese officials at Rangoon by sending a Commission of Inquiry, with power to demand reparation. The Commissioner (Commodore Lambert) decided to treat only with the King of Ava, who consented, in January 1852, to remove the Governor from Rangoon. This action did not, however, prove effectual in settling the grievances, and Commodore Lambert declared the Burmese coast in a state of blockade; his vessel was fired upon, and he retaliated by destroying a stockade on the river-bank, and some Burmese war-boats. Shortly afterwards he received orders to forward to the King a despatch of Lord Dalhousie’s, demanding apology and an indemnity. The same vessel again went up the river with the despatch, and was attacked by the Burmese. The Governor-General thereupon ordered a combined military and naval expedition, which was on the coast by the end of March. This was to be the last of Charles Austen’s many enterprises. He shifted his flag from the _Hastings_ to the steam sloop _Rattler_ at Trincomalee in Ceylon, and proceeded to the mouth of the Rangoon river. On April 3, accompanied by two ships and the necessary troops, he was on his way to Martaban, which they attacked and captured on the 5th. The place was held by 5000 men; but after a bombardment of an hour and a half it was taken by storm with small loss.

On the 10th began a general combined movement on Rangoon, which fell on the 14th, the _Rattler_ taking a leading part in attacking the outlying stockades. The large stockade round the town and the pagoda was carried at the point of the bayonet. The navy suffered but little loss from the enemy; but cholera set in, and the Admiral fell ill. He was persuaded by the doctors to leave the river, as all active proceedings of the expedition had ceased for the time. He went to Calcutta, where, through the kind hospitality of the Governor-General, he gradually recovered his health. Rangoon, with its wonderful solid pagoda, and all its Buddhist traditions, was now in British hands; but the Burmese Government were bent on recapturing it, for certain royal offerings to the shrine were among the conditions of the King’s tenure of his throne. The war was therefore continued, and it was decided to penetrate further up the river, and with a yet stronger force. Admiral Austen thereupon returned to duty. On arrival at Rangoon in the _Hastings_ he transferred his flag to the steam sloop _Pluto_, and went up the river on a reconnaissance, in advance of the combined forces. The main body proceeded direct to Henzada, by the principal channel of the Irrawadi, while the contingent following the _Pluto_ was delayed by the resistance of the Burmese leader at Donabyu. It became necessary for the main body to make for this point also, while Admiral Austen was by this time much further north, at Prome. He was anxiously awaiting their arrival, while his health grew worse during the two or three weeks spent in this unhealthy region. On October 6, his last notes at Prome are as follows: “Received a report that two steamers had been seen at anchor some miles below, wrote this and a letter to my wife, and read the lessons of the day.” On the following morning he died. The Burmese leader was also killed during the assault, which took place at Donabyu not long afterwards, and his army then retreated. The British battalions were eventually quartered on the hill above Prome, overlooking the wide river, not far from Lord Dalhousie’s new frontier of Lower Burmah. Now thick jungle covers alike the camp and the site of the fort of Donabyu (White Peacock Town), for Upper Burmah is British too, and there is no king to make offerings at the Rangoon shrine.

The death of Charles was a heavy blow to Francis. The only other survivor of all his brothers and sisters, Edward Knight, of Godmersham and Chawton, died at about the same time; but Francis had still thirteen years of life before him. To realise what his life had been we must return to the close of the long war, when he came on shore from the _Elephant_, and was not called upon to go to sea again for thirty years. It is easy to imagine the changes that had taken place in the Navy in the interval between his times of active service.

During these years on shore several honours fell to his share. He had been awarded his C.B. in 1815, on the institution of that distinction. In 1825 he was appointed Colonel of Marines, and in 1830 Rear-Admiral. About the same time he purchased Portsdown Lodge, where he lived for the rest of his life. This property is now included within the lines of forts for the defence of Portsmouth, and was bought for that purpose by the Government some years before his death. At the last investiture by King William IV. in 1837 he received the honour of K.C.B.; and the next year, on the occasion of Queen Victoria’s Coronation, he was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral. In 1845 he took command of the North American and West Indies Station. This command in the _Vindictive_ forms a notable contrast to his earlier experiences in the West Indies. How often he must have called to mind as he visited Barbadoes, Jamaica, or Antigua, the excitements of the _Canopus_ cruises of forty years ago! How different too the surroundings had become with the regular English mail service, and the paddle-wheel sloops of war in place of brigs such as the _Curieux_--and, greatest change of all, no such urgent services to be performed as that of warning England against the approach of an enemy’s fleet!

Nevertheless, there was plenty to be done. The Naval Commander-in-Chief has no easy berth, even in time of peace. His letters tell us of some of the toils which fell to his share.

“Our passage from Bermuda was somewhat tedious; we left it on February 6, called off Antigua on the 15th, and, without anchoring the ship, I landed for an hour to inspect the naval yard,” rather an exertion in the tropics, for a man of seventy-three. A voyage to La Guayra follows. It appears that Venezuela was giving as much trouble in 1848 as in 1900.

“A political question is going on between the Government of Caraccas and our Chargé d’affaires, and a British force is wanted to give weight to our arguments. I am afraid it will detain us a good while, as I also hear that there is a demand for a ship-of-war to protect property from apprehended outrage in consequence of a revolutionary insurrection.”

We find that the _Vindictive_ was at Jamaica within a fortnight or so. It would appear that the Government of the Caraccas (legitimate or revolutionary) was quickly convinced by the weight of the arguments of a 50-gun ship.

The following general memorandum may be interesting with reference to the expedition against Greytown, Nicaragua.

“The Vice-Admiral Commander-in-Chief has much gratification in signifying to the squadron the high sense he entertains of the gallantry and good conduct of Captain Loch, of her Majesty’s ship _Alarm_, and of every officer and man of her Majesty’s ships _Alarm_ and _Vixen_, and of the officers and soldiers of her Majesty’s 28th Regiment, employed under his orders on the expedition up the river St. Juan, and especially for the cool and steady intrepidity evinced while under a galling fire from a nearly invisible enemy on the morning of February 12, and the irresistible bravery with which the works of Serapagui were stormed and carried. The result has been an additional proof that valour, when well directed and regulated by discipline, will never fail in effecting its object.”

There are also notes about the Mexican and United States War then in progress, and instructions to treat Mexican privateers severely if they interfered with neutral craft. Strong measures were also to be enforced against slave-traders, who still sailed under Brazilian and Portuguese flags, but were now reprobated by international treaties generally.

In May 1848 the _Vindictive_ was met by Vice-Admiral the Earl of Dundonald in the _Wellesley_. Lord Dundonald was to take over the command from Sir Francis. We have no record of any meeting between these two officers since the days when Lord Cochrane in the _Speedy_ and Captain Austen in the _Peterel_ were in the Mediterranean together, almost half a century earlier. Sir Francis’ letters mention with pleasure the desire on the part of his successor to continue matters on the same lines.

His return to England was coincident with promotion to the rank of Admiral. In 1854, at the outbreak of the Crimean War, the Portsmouth command was declined as too onerous for an octogenarian.

In 1860 Sir Francis received the G.C.B., and in 1862 the successive honours of Rear-Admiral and Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom, followed in 1863 by promotion to the senior position in the British Navy as Admiral of the Fleet.

“THE ADMIRALTY, _April 27, 1863_.

“SIR,--I am happy to acquaint you that I have had the pleasure
of bringing your name before the Queen for promotion to Admiral
of the Fleet, and that her Majesty has been graciously pleased
to approve of the appointment ‘as a well-deserved reward for
your brilliant services.’

“I am, Sir, your most obedient servant,
“SOMERSET.”

From the year 1858 Sir Francis had become gradually less able to move about. He retained all his faculties and his ability to write, almost as clearly as ever, until just before his death in August 1865.

The strong sense of justice, manifest in his rigid adherence to discipline as a young man, was tempered later in life by his love for children and grandchildren, constant through so many years.

Of both Jane Austen’s brothers it may be said that they were worthy members of that profession which is, “if possible, more distinguished for its domestic virtues than for its national importance.”

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The “Sea Wolf,” by Jack London, Heinemann.

INDEX

_Acasta_, 167, 170, 174, 177

Acre, siege of, 58, 59;
bombardment of, 276

_Agamemnon_, 165, 167, 174

_Ajax_, 162

_Alarm_, 284

_l’Alexandre_, 167, 172, 173, 178

_Alfred_, 201

Algeciras, 53, 91

_Amazon_, 135, 141

_Amethyst_, 167

Amiens, peace of, 112

_Amphion_, 135, 141

Anholt, Island of, 228, 229

Anstruther, Brigadier-General, 199-203

_Arethusa_, 167

_Atlas_, 174

_Aurora_, 81;
under Charles Austen, 36, 274

Austen, Cassandra, bringing up, 10-12;
letters from Jane, 42, 43, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 95-104, 107, 109,
180-203, 204-208, 210, 250

Austen, Charles, bringing up, 11;
education, 15;
midshipman, 21;
in _Dædalus_, 23;
in _Unicorn_, 23;
in _Endymion_, 23;
as lieutenant in _Scorpion_, 45;
in _Tamar_, 48, 52;
in _Endymion_, 48, 53, 91, 109;
prizes, 91;
return home in 1800, 95;
reappointment to _Endymion_, 122;
appointment to _Indian_ as Commander, 122;
on North American station, 205-210;
marriage, 207;
capture of _La Jeune Estelle_, 207;
promotion to post rank, 207;
in _Swiftsure_, 207;
letter to Jane, 209;
in _Cleopatra_, 210;
home-coming in 1811, 210;
in _Namur_, 211;
his children at Chawton, 236;
visit to Godmersham, 250-253;
in _Phœnix_, 266;
letter to Jane about her books, 270;
last letter from Jane, 271;
on West Indies station, 274;
in _Aurora_, 274;
in _Winchester_, 275;
in _Bellerophon_, 275;
awarded C.B., 278;
Rear-Admiral, 278;
Commander-in-Chief on East India station, 278;
in Second Burmese War, 278;
in _Hastings_, 278;
in _Pluto_, 281;
death in 1852, 281

Austen, Edward, afterwards Knight, 43;
death of wife, 204;
at Chawton, 234;
at Godmersham, 244-249;
death in 1852, 281

Austen, Francis William, bringing up, 11;
education, 15;
letter from his father, 17-20;
midshipman in _Perseverance_, _Crown_ and _Minerva_, 16, 23;
lieutenant, 28;
in _Seahorse_, 45, 57;
in _London_, 29, 45, 57;
in _Glory_, 29;
in _Lark_, 41;
appointed to _Triton_, 44;
to _Peterel_ as Commander, 48-51;
letter to Nelson, 63;
capture of _La Ligurienne_, 83-86;
promotion to post rank, 86, 107, 111;
return home in 1801, 108;
appointed to _Neptune_ as Flag-captain to Admiral Gambier, 111;
at Ramsgate, 112-114;
engagement, 113;
appointed to _Leopard_, 115;
letters from Jane, 125, 127, 129, 233, 243;
appointed to _Canopus_, 124;
chase to West Indies, 130-146;
letters to Mary Gibson, 148-161, 174-176;
after Trafalgar, 162;
meeting with Villeneuve, 159;
wish for a frigate, 160, 164, 185;
in action of St. Domingo, 164-179;
marriage, 181;
appointed to _St. Albans_, 186;
at Simon’s Bay, 186-190;
at St. Helena, 191-193;
return home in 1807, 194;
at Penang, 212-218;
at Canton, 219-223;
dealings with Viceroy of Canton, 210-223;
appointed to _Caledonia_, 225;
to _Elephant_, 226;
at Chawton Great house, 262;
awarded C.B., 282;
Colonel of Marines, 282;
Rear-Admiral, 282;
at Portsdown Lodge, 282;
K.C.B., 282;
Vice-Admiral, 282;
on North American and West Indian station, 282;
appointed to _Vindictive_, 282;
meeting with Dundonald, 284;
Admiral, 285;
G.C.B., 285;
Rear-Admiral of the United Kingdom, 285;
Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom, 285;
Admiral of the Fleet, 285;
death in 1865, 286

Austen, the Reverend George, 8;
letter to Francis, 16-20;
death, 125-129

Austen, Henry, 9;
death of Mrs. Henry Austen, 235, 261;
visit from Jane, 245;
pride in Jane’s books, 248, 260

Austen, the Reverend James, 97, 126

Austen, Jane, bringing up, 10-12;
letters to Cassandra, _see_ Cassandra Austen;
letters to Francis, 125, 127, 129, 233, 243;
on Sir John Moore, 203;
failing health, 270;
letter to Charles, 271;
death in 1817, 271;
verses written in last illness, 272

Austen, Mrs., 9, 10, 126, 128

Austen, Colonel Thomas, 238

Austerlitz, battle of, 116

Ava, King of, 278

_Bacchante_, captured by _Endymion_, 122

Balgonie, Lord, 124

Ballast, shingle, 119;
iron, 120

Barham, Lord, 140, 141

Battle of the Nile, 58, 130

Bayeux tapestry, 115

Baynton, Captain H. W., 132

_Belleisle_, 132, 135, 158

_Bellerophon_, 45, 158, 275-278

Bentinck, Lord William, at Palermo, 267

Bernadotte, Crown Prince of Sweden, 231, 233

Berthier, General, 200

Bertie, Admiral, 183

Bettesworth, Captain, 139, 140

Bickerton, Sir Richard, 132

Blackwood, Captain, 149

Blight, Captain, 202

Blockades, “Naval Chronicle” on, 116;
Dr. Fitchett on, 117;
Nelson on, 118

Bonaparte, Napoleon, departure for East, 58;
in Egypt, 59;
attacks Acre, 59;
return from East, 78;
as First Consul in Italian campaign, 87-90 (_see_ under Napoleon)

Bonaparte, Jerome, 173-174

Bonaparte, Joseph, 196, 267

Boulogne, notes on, 120-122

Boulogne flotilla, 115

Bowen, Dr., 125, 128

Boyle, Captain Courtenay, 103, 104

_le Brave_, 169

Bridges, Edward, 247

Bridport, Lord, 57, 59, 60

Brindisi blockaded, 269

Bruix, Admiral, 59-66

Burmese War, Second, 23, 278-281

Burney, Fanny, 184, 262

Burrard, Sir Harry, 197

Cadiz, blockades of, 29, 147

Calder, Admiral Sir Robert, 140, 142, 144, 145, 153

_Caledonia_, Francis Austen on, 225

_Canopus_, Francis Austen appointed to, 124;
captured from French Navy, 130;
part taken in pursuit of Villeneuve, 130-140;
blockading Cadiz, 147;
in action of St. Domingo, 165, 167, 174

Canton, 219, 223;
Francis Austen’s dealings with Viceroy, 219-223

Capitan Pacha, 103, 104

Caroline of Brunswick, Princess, 41

_Centaur_, 73, 80, 138

Cheminant, M., 139

Cintra, Convention of, 198

_Cleopatra_, Charles Austen in, 210

Cochrane, Admiral, 169

Collingwood, Admiral, 143, 159

Convoying, incidents in, 149-152, 194, 221-228

_Conqueror_, 132, 135

Cornwallis, Admiral, 23, 140, 142

_Courageuse_, 80, 86, 87

_Crown_, 16, 23

_Culloden_, 45, 87

_le Curieux_, 138, 139, 140, 142

_Dædalus_, 23

Dalhousie, Lord, 278

Dalrymple, General Sir Hew, 197

_Defence_, 45

_Defiance_, 199, 201

Desertions, 36, 169

Despatch boats, insecurity of, 90

Donabyu, 281

_Donegal_, 132, 135, 143, 165, 167, 168, 174

D’Ott, Baron, 86, 89

Duckworth, Commodore, 61;
afterwards Sir John, 165 (at St. Domingo)

Dundonald, Lord, meeting with Francis Austen at Bermuda, 284

Durham, Captain, 91, 109

_Elephant_, Francis Austen appointed to, 226;
in the Baltic, 228

_Emerald_, 78, 80

“Emma,” wedding in, 182

_Endymion_, 23, 48, 53;
captures, 91;
Charles Austen reappointed to, 122, 149

_Epervier_, 174, 177

_Euryalus_, 143, 149, 159, 160, 162

Ferdinand, King of the Two Sicilies, 267-269

Fox, nephew of Charles James Fox on Jane Austen’s works, 270

_le Franklin_, 130

Frigate, Francis Austen’s wish for, 160, 164, 185

_la Furie_, captured by _Endymion_, 91

Gambier, Admiral, 48, 49, 51;
Francis Austen Flag-captain to, 111, 225

Ganteaume, Admiral, 116, 131

_Garland_, 266, 268

Germes, 98-103

Gibbs, Dr., 126, 128

Gibson, Mary, 143;
letters to, 148-161, 174-176;
marriage, 181

_Glory_, 29

_Goliath_, 45, 64

“Grand Army of England,” 115

_Guillaume Tell_, 86, 90

_Halcyon_, 143

Hallowell, Captain Benjamin, 132

Hancock, Dr., 261

Hardy, Captain Thomas, 132

Hargood, Captain William, 132

Hastings, Warren, 260, 261

_Hastings_, 279

_Hermes_, 227

Hoppo, the, 220

Hotham, Captain, 201

_Hyena_, 61, 62

_l’Impériale_, 172

_Indian_, Charles Austen in command of, 122, 205-210

Inglis, Captain, 105

Italy, Unity of, 266-270

Joubert, General, 81, 82

Junot, General, 197

_Jupiter_, 41

Keats, Captain R. G., 132

Keith, Admiral Lord, in command in the Mediterranean, 65-79;
conference with Baron d’Ott, 89

Kellerman, General, 200

Kerr, Lady Robert, her opinion of “Pride and Prejudice,” 248, 250

_Kingfisher_, 169, 174

Knatchbull, Mr., 211, 247

Knight, Edward (_see_ Edward Austen)

Krakatoa Island, 225

Ladrones, 219

Lambert, Commodore, 278, 279

_Lark_, 41

_La Legère_, 21

Leigh Perrot, Mrs., 236

Leigh, Thomas, 236

Leipzig, battle of, 232, 266

_Leopard_, 32;
Francis Austen appointed to, 115;
at Boulogne, 115, 122

Leven, Lord and Lady, 133

_Leviathan_, 72, 132, 135, 143, 162

_la Ligurienne_ captured by _Peterel_, 83-86

Lloyd, Martha, 50, 114

_London_, 29, 30, 45, 49, 57

Louis, Admiral, 115, 130, 132, 136, 151

Lyford, Dr., 271

_Magicienne_, 174

Mahan, Captain, on Continental system, 207

_Majestic_, 45

Malays, 212-218

Malcolm, Captain Pulteney, 132, 199

“Mansfield Park,” Mary Crawford on the distance in the wood, 3;
brothers and sisters, 6, 8, 16;
William Price as midshipman, 24-27;
promotion of William Price, 46, 47, 54;
William’s cross and Edmund’s chain, 92;
William’s return, 109;
wedding of Maria Bertram, 181;
Jane Austen at work on, 237;
Fanny’s home-coming, 238

Marengo, campaign of, 87, 89, 266

_Marlborough_, 29, 30, 31

_Mars_, 158, 163

Massena, General, at Genoa, 81, 87, 89

Mehemet Ali, Pasha of Egypt, 275

Melas, General, 89

_Mercury_, 219

_Mermaid_, 85, 86

Mexican and United States War, 284

_Minerva_, 16

_La Minerve_, 82

_Minotaur_, 45, 89

Missiessy, Admiral, 131, 136, 137;
at the Scheldt, 227

“Le Moniteur,” 145, 146

Moore, Sir John, 198;
Jane Austen on, 203

Moreau, General, in Italy, 65, 80

Murat, Joachim, King of Naples, 266, 270

Murat, Caroline, 266, 268, 269

Murray, Admiral George, 132

_Naiad_, 142

_Namur_, Charles Austen in, 250

Napier, Commodore Charles, 275-278

Naples, 266-270

Napoleon, his “Grand Army of England,” 115;
display of Bayeux Tapestry, 115;
in Spain, 196-198;
“Naval Chronicle” on, 122;
decline of, 231;
his son King of Rome, 267, 269;
dealings with Joachim Murat, 266, 269;
escape from Elba, 269

Naval Academy, 15-16

“Naval Chronicle” on blockades, 116;
on Napoleon, 122;
on Nelson’s return from the West Indies, 144;
censure on Sir Robert Calder, 145

Navy, volunteers in, 15-21;
early promotions, 28;
punishments, 28-31;
work of press-gang, 32-35;
difficulty of securing crews, 34;
prizes, 37, 71-75;
mutinies, 29;
improvements in comfort, 111;
comments on in Jane Austen’s novels:
Mrs. Clay, 3;
Edward Ferrars, 5;
Anne Elliot, 38, 265;
Sir Walter Elliot, 38-40;
Louisa Musgrove, 265;
Lady Bertram, 25;
Henry Crawford, 25;
Jane Austen, 286

Nelson, at battle of the Nile, 58;
at Palermo, 59, 60;
in pursuit of Villeneuve, 130-146;
return from the West Indies, 144;
death of, 155, 156

_Neptune_, 111

Nicaragua, 283, 284

“Northanger Abbey,” brothers and sisters, 6;
Catherine Morland’s childhood, 12

_Northumberland_, 169, 170, 173

Novi, battle of, 81

_La Nymphe_, 60

_Orion_, 45, 162

Oudinot, Marshal, 232

Paget, Captain, 122

Palmer, Fanny, 207;
Mrs. Charles Austen, 252

Parliament, thanks of, 179

Pellew, Captain Israel, 132

Penang, 212-218

Peninsular War, beginning of, 196

Perrée, Admiral, 78-80

_Perseverance_, 16-23

“Persuasion,” Mrs. Clay on Navy, 3;
brothers and sisters, 6;
Dick Musgrove as midshipman, 24;
Admiral Croft on sharp practice, 35;
speedy advancement of Captain Wentworth, 37;
Anne Elliot’s comments on the navy, 38;
Sir Walter Elliot on the navy, 38-40;
Captain Wentworth’s description of life on board a sloop of war, 74-77;
argument between Captain Harville and Anne Elliot, 178;
question of ladies on board ship, 255-259;
Harville family at Lyme Regis, 262;
Jane Austen’s comment on the Navy, 286

_Peterel_, Francis Austen appointed to, 48, 51;
despatch for Lord Nelson at Palermo, 61-64;
captured under Captain Charles Long, 67;
prizes, 71-73;
capture of despatches for Suwarrow, 83;
capture of _La Ligurienne_, 83-86;
blockade of Alexandria, 90, 98-103;
rescue of Turkish line-of-battle ship from French and Arabs, 99-103

_Phœbe_, 227

_Phœnix_, Charles Austen in command of, 266;
blockading Brindisi, 269;
lost off Smyrna, 270

_Pluto_, Charles Austen’s death in, 280

Popham, Captain, 112

_Powerful_, 72, 165, 167, 168, 170, 275, 278

Pressgang, 32-35

“Pride and Prejudice,” brothers and sisters, 5;
Lady Robert Kerr’s opinion of, 248-260;
Warren Hastings’s opinion of, 260;
Jane Austen’s opinion of, 237

_Prima_, galley, 88

_Prince of Wales_, 142, 153

_Princess Caroline_, 232

_Princess Charlotte_, 276, 277

Prizes, 37, 71-73, 91, 209

Proclamation to encourage enlisting, 34

Prome, 280-281

Punishments, 28-31

Ramsgate, Francis Austen at, 112-114

Rangoon, 216, 278-281

_Rattler_, 279

Robinson, Captain Mark, 132

Rodd, Captain John Tremayne, 47

Rowing guard, 88

Royal Naval Academy, 15, 16

Royal Proclamation to encourage enlisting, 34

_Royal Sovereign_, 132, 135, 158, 163

Rugen, Island of, 230, 231

_St. Albans_, Francis Austen appointed to, 186;
difficulty in getting supplies, 186;
at Simon’s Bay, 186-190;
at St. Helena, 191-193;
expected home, 193;
at Penang, 212-218;
at Canton, 219-223

St. Domingo, battle of, 130, 164-179

St. Helena, Francis Austen’s notes on, 191-193, 194

St. Vincent, battle off Cape, 57

St. Vincent, Earl, putting down mutinies, 30-31;
moved to Gibraltar, 51;
sees French fleet enter Mediterranean, 60;
health gives way, 65

_Santa Margarita_, 21, 22

_Scipio_ captured by _Endymion_, 91

_Scorpion_, 45, 49

Scott, Walter, Jane Austen on, 208

Sea Fencibles, 112-113

_Seahorse_, 29, 45, 57

“Sense and Sensibility,” Edward Ferrars on navy, 5;
sale of, 237, 250

Sherer, Mr., 247

Simon’s Bay, Francis Austen’s notes on, 186-190, 194

Smith, Sir Sydney, at Acre, 59;
off Alexandria, 90, 95

Southampton, home of the Austens, 182

Spencer, Lord, 49, 51

_Spencer_, 132, 135, 142, 143, 165, 167, 170, 171, 174

Steventon, description of family at, 8;
of parsonage at, 9;
bringing up of family at, 10-12

Stopford, Captain the Honourable Robert, 132;
Admiral, 275, 276

Stuart, Captain John, 132

_Success_, 80

_Superb_, 132, 135, 165, 167, 168, 169, 170;
letter of officer on board, 171-173, 174

Suwarrow, Marshal, in Italy, 80-83

Swedish Pomerania, 230-232

_Swiftsure_, 45, 132, 135;
Charles Austen in, 207, 210

_Swordfish_, capture of, 228

_Tamar_, 48-52

_la Tamise_, 21-22

_Téméraire_, 158, 163

_Theseus_, 45, 76

_Tigre_, 79, 90, 98, 103, 132, 135, 143, 147

_Tonnant_, 163

Toulon, escape of Villeneuve’s fleet from, 131, 133

Trafalgar, battle of, 131, 141, 155-159;
scene after, 162-163

Trafalgar, Cape, 45

_Transfer_, 90, 98, 103

Trebbia, battle of, 80, 81

_la Tribune_, fight with _Unicorn_, 21, 22

_Triton_, crew impressed, 34;
Francis Austen appointed to, 44

Troubridge, Captain, 56, 61, 79, 87

Turkey declares war against France, 59

_Unicorn_, fight with _la Tribune_, 21, 22

United States, illicit carrying trade, 205;
war with, 227

_Vanguard_, 45

_Victory_, 132-142, 148, 158

Vienna, 116;
Congress of, 268

_Ville de Paris_, 142

Villeneuve, 115;
pursuit of, 130-146;
letter on action with Calder, 145;
prisoner, 159

Vimiera, battle of, 197-303

_la Virginie_, 82

_Vixen_, 284

Volunteers, 15, 21

Warren, Sir John, 207

Waterloo, Battle of, 269

Wellesley, Sir Arthur, 197, 199 (_see_ Wellington)

Wellington, Duke of, 232

Whitworth, Lord, 238

Williams, Sir Thomas, 21, 23;
marriage, 42, 48, 53, 211

Winchester, 235, 271-273

_Winchester_, 275

Young, Admiral, 227

_Zealous_, 45, 149, 228

JANE AUSTEN: HER HOMES AND HER FRIENDS. By CONSTANCE HILL.
With numerous Illustrations by ELLEN G. HILL, together with
Photogravure Portraits. Price 5s. net.

_Some Press Opinions_:

_The Athenæum_--“Miss Hill writes well and brightly, with a close knowledge of her subject-matter, and she succeeds in escaping the touch of over-sentimentality which is often irritating in works of this kind.... This book provides real and abiding entertainment for Jane Austen lovers.”

_The Times_--“Related with an engaging naïveté.”

_The Daily Chronicle_--“A book of rare and irresistible charm.”

_The Westminster Gazette_--“Miss Hill’s investigations are fruitful, and her delightful book is pervaded by a sense of actuality that is not its least charming quality.”

_The Globe_--“The volume, which is freely as well as excellently illustrated, has more than a literary interest and value, for it supplies pleasing and instructive sketches of upper middle-class life in England more than a century ago.”

_The Spectator_--“This book is a valuable contribution to Austen lore.”

_The World_--“A thoroughly delightful book.”

_The Literary World_--“Enthusiastic Austenians as we confess ourselves, we hasten to acknowledge our debt to Miss Constance Hill for the addition she makes to Austeniana. The pilgrimage she has made to the homes and haunts of Jane Austen and her friends yields a volume with which we should now be loth to part.”

_The Guardian_--“Books are always pleasant to read which are simply written as the readiest means of expressing a deep and thorough sympathy with their subject. This is undoubtedly the case with the present volume.”

_The Pilot_--“The book which Miss Hill has written and her sister has illustrated should be an indispensable shelf-mate to the novels of the incomparable Jane.”

_The Daily Telegraph_--“Miss Constance Hill, the authoress of this charming book, has laid all devout admirers of Jane Austen and her inimitable novels under a debt of gratitude.”

JOHN LANE, THE BODLEY HEAD, VIGO ST., LONDON, W.

JUNIPER HALL:

A rendezvous of certain illustrious persons during the French Revolution, including Alexander D’Arblay and Fanny Burney. By C. HILL. Illustrated by E. G. HILL. Portraits, &c. Crown 8vo. Price 5s. net.

_Some Press Opinions_:

_The Times_--“This book makes another on the long and seductive list of books that take up history just where history proper leaves off.... We have given but a faint idea of the freshness, the innocent gaiety of its pages; we can give none at all of the beauty and interest of the pictures that adorn it.”

_The Daily Telegraph_--“One of the most charming volumes published within recent years.... Miss Hill has drawn a really idyllic and graphic picture ... capitally illustrated by authentic portraits.”

_The Daily Chronicle_--“Miss Hill’s artistic and interesting compilation.”

_The Daily News_--“Miss Constance Hill has given a vivid picture of a vanished time.”

_The Pall Mall Gazette_--“There is not, indeed, a dull page in all this pleasant volume.... The book is indeed one which it is a pleasure to read because of the amiable light in which it exhibits human nature.... We congratulate Miss Hill upon her narrative of an episode in English history upon which it is possible to look back with feelings of unalloyed satisfaction.”

_The Westminster Gazette_--“The story ... is skilfully unified and charmingly told.”

_The Outlook_--“Miss Constance Hill, having executed a capital study of the homes and friends of Jane Austen, has inevitably been tempted to treat Fanny Burney after a similar fashion. She has achieved a readable and--thanks to her sister--admirably illustrated volume, which ranks in every respect with its predecessor.”

_The Academy_--“Her book is agreeably picturesque and stimulating.”

_Truth_--“This charming book.”

_Le Soleil_--“Le livre de miss Constance Hill est une des lectures les plus attachantes qu’on puisse imaginer.”

JOHN LANE, THE BODLEY HEAD, VIGO ST., LONDON, W.

Transcriber’s Notes

Obvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Variations in hyphenation and accents have been standardised but all other spelling and punctuation remains unchanged.

Italics are represented thus _italic_.

Retained as printed in the original publication: page 168, “attained ten knots per hour”; and page 262 “he naturally wishes” </p>