Chapter II: Introduction: 1

CHAPTER I.

Settlement of the Brenton family in America,—and descent.—Birth
of the subject of the memoir.—Breaking out of the war and
removal to England.—Education and introduction to Naval
Service, in the Dido.—Passes for Lieutenant, and accepts an
invitation to serve in the Swedish Fleet.—Adventures on way to
join, and conclusion of service.—Appointed as Lieutenant to the
Assurance.—Transferred to the Speedy, and sent in command of
the Trepassey to Newfoundland.—Return to England and appointed
to the Sybil.—Voyage homewards in the Cleopatra, and in a
Spanish man of war from Cadiz. 34

CHAPTER II.

Service in the Sybil.—Story of the Corfields.—Severe winter at
sea.—Story of John Iceberg.—Invalided and comes ashore.—Applies
for employment, and appointed to the Alliance.—Feelings on
the subject.—Goes out to the Mediterranean.—Made known to
Sir John Jervis, and appointed to the Gibraltar.—Storm and
extreme danger of the ship.—Made First Lieutenant of the
Aigle.—The Aigle being lost, he remains First Lieutenant to the
Barfleur.—Interview with Lord St. Vincent and the subsequent
decision. 55

CHAPTER III.

Service in the Speedy.—Action with gun boats off
Gibraltar.—Sent to Penon de Velez.—Action on the coast, and
with gun boats.—His brother’s death from wounds received in
action in the Peterel.—Letter to his father.—Made Post, and
appointed to the temporary command of the Genereux at Port
Mahon.—Sails to Genoa. 75

CHAPTER IV.

Disappointment of promotion.—Applies to Lord St. Vincent, and
through him appointed Captain to the Cæsar, under Sir James
Saumarez.—Battle at Algesiras.—Exertions of Captain Brenton in
refitting the Cæsar, and subsequent victory.—Tempting offer of
going to England with dispatches declined.—Definitive treaty of
peace signed.—Squadron at Gibraltar. 102

CHAPTER V.

Returns to England.—Recollections on the Cæsar and the
Chaplain.—Married to Miss Stewart.—Reflections on this event,
made after her death.—Hostilities recommenced in 1801, and
appointment to the command of the Minerve.—Dangerous accident
and injury during the fitting out the frigate.—Sails for the
coast of France.—The ship strikes off Cherbourg, and after a
gallant defence is surrendered, July 3. 123

CHAPTER VI.

Commencement of captivity.—Journey from Cherbourg.—Kindness of
M. Dubois.—Arrival at Epinal. 151

CHAPTER VII.

Removal from Epinal to Phalsburg, and thence to
Verdun.—Sufferings of the people on the march, and efforts
made for their relief and improvement.—The Rev. Robert Wolfe
offers his services and assistance.—Mrs. Brenton’s arrival at
Verdun.—Residence at Charni.—Illness, and permission granted to
reside at Tours.—Conduct of the French Government towards the
English prisoners of war. 172

CHAPTER VIII.

The Rev. Mr. Wolfe one of the detenus—hears of the state of
the prisoners at Givet, and resolves on going to reside among
them.—Extract from his work entitled the “British Prisoners in
France.”. 218

CHAPTER IX.

Journey to Tours, incidents on the road and residence
there.—Circumstances attending his exchange, and return to
England. 255

CHAPTER X.

Arrival in England, and application to the Admiralty.—Kindness
of the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Grenville.—Court
martial, acquittal and appointment to the Spartan.—Sails to
the Mediterranean.—Escape from capture.—Boat action with its
unfortunate result, and court of enquiry ordered by Lord
Collingwood. 289

CHAPTER XI.

Cruize off Toulon.—Refits at Malta.—Storm off Sardinia.—Joins
Lord Collingwood’s fleet.—Disaster.—Falls in with the French
Fleet at sea.—Exertions to convey intelligence and to watch
the enemy.—Returns to Toulon.—Service on the coast of Italy in
company with Lord Cochrane.—Reflections. 319

CHAPTER XII.

Removal from the Toulon station to the Mediterranean.—Cruize
off Candia, and in the Adriatic.—Action at Pesaro; and
official letters.—Co-operation with the Austrians in the
Adriatic.—Letters from Lord Collingwood expressive of his
entire satisfaction. 343

CHAPTER XIII.

Return to Malta to refit.—Sudden offer of joining the
expedition against the Ionian Islands as suddenly
accepted.—Capture of Zante, Cephalonia, and Cerigo.—Approbation
of Lord Collingwood.—Cruize on the coast of Italy.—Action off
Naples, victory, and severe wound; carried to Palermo and
Malta.—Letters on the subject, and extract from his personal
memoranda.—Sails for England. 375

CHAPTER XIV.

Joined by his family.—Slow recovery from his wound.—Fresh
trials from the failure of his agents, and actions threatened
by neutrals detained.—Friendly interference of Mr.
Abbott.—Applies to the Admiralty for employment, and appointed
to the Stirling Castle, 1812.—Compelled by the state of his
wound to resign the command.—Made Baronet.—Appointed Naval
Commissioner at Minorca.—Residence there.—Failure of Lady
Brenton’s health.—The establishment at Minorca broken up on the
conclusion of the war.—Return to England, and appointment to
the Dorset Yacht.—Made Naval Commissioner at the Cape. 404

CHAPTER XV.

Residence at the Cape.—Remarks on the advantages of Simon’s Bay
as a Naval station.—Plans for the improvement of the liberated
Negroes.—Rapid failure of Lady Brenton’s health and her
death.—Reflections on it extracted from his private journal. 430

CHAPTER XVI.

Reflections on the death of Lady Brenton.—Extracts from the
private memoranda.—Sufferings from his wound, and remarks on
the subject. 471

CHAPTER XVII.

Narrative of a journey to the Mouth of the Knyzna, and remarks
on the advantages of the Cape as a Colony. 491