Chapter XIX: Appendix: IV

CONFIRMATION OF THE PRECEDING.

It appears by the log-books of the ships and vessels under the command
of Admiral Lord Gambier, in Basque Roads, on the 11th and 12th of
April, 1809, and also by his Lordship’s official letter to the
Admiralty, and by the Minutes of Evidence on his Lordship’s
court-martial, that, in consequence of an attack made on the evening
of the 11th upon the French fleet, then lying at anchor in the Roads
of Aix, by explosion vessels and fireships, under the command of Lord
Cochrane, the greater part of the French ships cut or slipped their
cables and ran on shore.

It further appears that Lord Cochrane in the _Impérieuse_ frigate
remained in an advanced position during the night, and that at
daylight the following morning he made the signal by telegraph to Lord
Gambier (who remained with the fleet at its anchorage in Basque Roads,
at the distance of about six miles from the enemy) that seven of the
enemy’s ships were on shore and might be destroyed.

It further appears that, in consequence of the above-mentioned signal,
or of subsequent signals of a similar or nearly similar purport, Lord
Gambier caused the fleet to unmoor and weigh, either immediately after
the first signal, according to his Lordship’s aforesaid official
letter, or after an interval of some time, according to the evidence
of some of the witnesses on his Lordship’s court-martial: but that he
again caused the fleet to come to an anchor at a distance of more than
three miles from the enemy.

It also appears that Lord Cochrane, in the _Impérieuse_, _without
assistance and without orders_, proceeded to the attack; and that it
was not till after his Lordship had made the signal that the enemy was
superior, which is coupled with the signal of distress, that Lord
Gambier sent in _a part_ of the fleet to his assistance; and it
further appears by his Lordship’s aforesaid official letter, and by a
due comparison of the minutes of evidence on the aforesaid
court-martial, that the _Calcutta_ had surrendered to the _Impérieuse_
before any of the vessels ordered to her assistance had joined.

And it further appears that the ships and vessels which were ordered
to join the _Impérieuse_, in consequence of the last-mentioned signal,
or, according to a further official letter of Lord Gambier, in
consequence of the _Impérieuse_ being observed to advance, did arrive
shortly after the surrender of the _Calcutta_, and joined in the
attack on such others of the enemy’s ships as had not had time to
effect their escape; and it further appears that, in consequence of
such attack by a part of the fleet only, the _Aquilon_ and _Ville de
Varsovie_ were captured and destroyed, and the _Tonnerre_ set on fire
by the enemy.

And, lastly, it appears that the only ships participating in the
attack were the following:—

The _Impérieuse_,
The _Valiant_,
The _Revenge_,
The _Indefatigable_,
The _Unicorn_,
The _Aigle_,
The _Emerald_,
The _Pallas_,
The _Beagle_,
The _Etna_ bomb, and
The _Insolent_, }
_Conflict_, }
_Encounter_, } Gun-Brigs.
_Fervent_, }
_Growler_, }
and that the _Caledonia_, Admiral Lord Gambier,
the _Cæsar_, Rear-Admiral Stopford,
and the _Donegal_,
_Resolution_,
_Theseus_,
_Gibraltar_,
_Illustrious_, and
_Bellona_

remained at anchor with the commander-in-chief, and were _in no
respect_ aiding or assisting in the attack upon the enemy’s ships, or
accessary to their capture or destruction.

_L’Aigle._

[Sidenote: April 12.]

Captain’s log erroneous, and date of the
_Calcutta’s_ striking altered.

_Emerald._

[Sidenote: Captain’s log.]

At 12·30 saw the _Impérieuse_ and _Etna_ bomb open
fire upon the enemy. At 1·30 answered signal 236.
(_Note._—By the _Caledonia’s_ signal, log 336): one
hundred having been added to the numbers that day.

_Growler._

[Sidenote: Ship’s log]

10·30 answered signal 314. Commander went on board
the Admiral. (_Note._—No notice is taken of the
fleet weighing.)

_Conflict._

[Sidenote: Ship’s log.]

Weighed at 11 A.M.

P.M. at 1 made sail for the anchorage of Isle d’Aix.
At 3 came to, and commenced action with the enemy’s
ships on shore. At 4·30 answered signal as per
margin[105] made by _Imp_ \. At 5 observed four of
the enemy’s ships on fire! left off action.
(_Note._—Two of which were not burnt till next day.)

_Indefatigable._

[Sidenote: Captain’s log.]

At 11·40 weighed for signal in company with the
squadron.

[Sidenote: No ship’s or master’s log from March 15 1809!]]

At 12·15 shortened sail to let go the anchor. At 2
P.M. answered signals No. 166 and 366, with compass
signal south. Weighed and made sail in for Isle
d’Aix Roads, to assist H.M.S. _Impérieuse_. _Then
engaged with the enemy’s line-of-battle ships._ At
3·30 shortened sail and came to in seven fathoms
with a spring on the cable, and commenced firing on
the enemy.

_Insolent._

[Sidenote: April 12, Ship’s log.]

At 11·30 weighed for order of the Admiral. At 2 P.M.
anchored in six fathoms. At 3 weighed and _observed
Calcutta had struck_.

_Pallas._

At 12·15 anchored H.M.S. _Caledonia_.

_Revenge._

No Master’s or ship’s log.

No Captain’s log.

Lieut. Garland, who had sent in previous logs has
furnished no account of the proceedings in April
1809 until the 24th, and the date of the
commencement of the said log is obviously altered,
as will clearly appear both as to the month and the
day.

Lieut. Millon, also of the _Revenge_, ends his log
on the 31st of March 1809; although on the
title-page he states it to contain the transactions
of that ship between the 18th of July 1808, and the
19th of July 1809! And the Captain’s certificate
annexed, is dated the 17th of July 1809!

The logs of the other Lieutenants do not appear.

_Etna._

At 11 A.M. the Captain went on board the Admiral’s
ship. Weighed and made sail by signal, as did the
fleet to the southward. At 12, fleet anchored about
three miles from the Isle d’Aix. At 1 the Captain
came on board, steered in for the enemy’s fleet.

_Beagle._

At 11 A.M. starboard and larboard division weighed
with with fleet—standing off and on. Fleet anchored;
the _Impérieuse_ and _Etna_ bore up for the enemy.
At 2·15 _Impérieuse_ made signal to Admiral and
anchored with springs and opened her fire. At 2·30
Admiral made sign to frigates _Pallas_, _L’Aigle_,
_Emerald_, _Unicorn_, _Indefatigable_, _Growler_,
_Encounter_, _Insolent_ and _Conflict_ to anchor in
Charente River.

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Footnote 105:

No signal marked on the margin.

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_Extract from the Log-book of H.M.S. Gun-brig Insolent._

April 12th, 1809, P.M.

At 3, weighed and observed _Calcutta_ had struck.

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_Extract from the Signal-book of H.M.S. Caledonia._

April 12th, 1809, P.M.

2·50, _Impérieuse_—General, 208. [Being the signal to close, in
consequence of which, the _Insolent_ weighed as appears by her
log-book at 3 o’clock.]

AFFIDAVIT MADE BY ME, DISCLOSING DE BERENGER AS THE VISITOR TO MY
HOUSE ON THE 21ST OF FEBRUARY 1814.

Having obtained leave of absence to come to Town, in consequence of
scandalous paragraphs in the public papers, and in consequence of
having learnt that hand-bills had been affixed in the streets, in
which (I have since seen) it is asserted that a person came to my
house, No. 13 Green Street, on the 21st day of February, in open day,
and in the dress in which he had committed a fraud, I feel it due to
myself to make the following deposition, that the public may know the
truth relative to the only person seen by me in military uniform at my
house on that day.

COCHRANE.

Dated 13 Green Street, March 11th, 1814.

I, SIR THOMAS COCHRANE, commonly called Lord Cochrane, having been
appointed by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to active
service (at the request, I believe, of Sir Alexander Cochrane) when I
had no expectation of being called on, I obtained leave of absence to
settle my private affairs previous to quitting this country, and
chiefly with a view to lodge a specification to a patent, relative to
a discovery for increasing the intensity of light. That in pursuance
with my daily practice of superintending work that was executing for
me, and knowing that my uncle Mr. Cochrane Johnstone went to the City
every morning in a coach, I do swear on the morning of the 21st of
February (which day was impressed on my mind by circumstances which
afterwards occurred) I breakfasted with him, at his residence in
Cumberland Street, about half-past eight o’clock, and I was put down
by him (and Mr. Butt was in the coach) on Snow-hill about ten o’clock;
that I had been about three quarters of an hour at Mr. King’s
manufactory, at No. 1 Cock Lane, when I received a few lines on a
small bit of paper, requesting me to come immediately to my house; the
name affixed, from being written close to the bottom, I could not
read; the servant told me it was from an army officer, and concluding
that he might be an officer from Spain, and that some accident had
befallen to my brother, I hastened back, and found Captain Berenger,
who, in great seeming uneasiness, made many apologies for the freedom
he had used, which nothing but the distressed state of his mind,
arising from difficulties, could have induced him to do; all his
prospects, he said, had failed, and his last hope had vanished of
obtaining an appointment in America, he was unpleasantly circumstanced
on account of a sum which he could not pay, and if he could that
others would fall upon him for full 8000_l._ He had no hope of
benefiting his creditors in his present situation, or of assisting
himself; that if I would take him with me, he would immediately go on
board and exercise the Sharpshooters (which plan Sir Alexander
Cochrane I knew had approved of[106]); that he had left his lodgings
and prepared himself in the best way his means allowed. He had brought
the sword with him which had been his father’s, and to that and to Sir
Alexander he would trust for obtaining an honorable appointment. I
felt, very uneasy at the distress he was in, and knowing him to be a
man of great talent and science, I told him I would do everything in
my power to relieve him, but as to his going immediately to the
_Tonnant_ with any comfort to himself, it was quite impossible; my
cabin was without furniture, I had not even a servant on board. He
said he would willingly mess anywhere; I told him that the ward-room
was already crowded, and besides, I could not, with propriety, take
him, he being a foreigner, without leave from the Admiralty. He seemed
greatly hurt at this, and recalled to my recollection certificates
which he had formerly shown me from persons in official situations:
Lord Yarmouth, General Jenkinson, and Mr. Reeves, I think, were
amongst the number. I recommended him to use his endeavour to get them
or any other friends to exert their influence, for I had none, adding
that when the _Tonnant_ went to Portsmouth, I should be happy receive
him, and I knew from Sir Alexander Cochrane that he would be pleased
if he accomplished that object. Captain Berenger said that not
anticipating any objection on my part, from the conversation he had
formerly had with me, he had come away with intention to go on board
and make himself useful in his military capacity. He could not go to
Lord Yarmouth or to any other of his friends in this dress (alluding
to that which he had on), or return to his lodgings, where it would
excite suspicion (as he was at that time in the rules of the King’s
Bench), but that if I refused to let him join the ship now, he would
do so at Portsmouth. Under present circumstances however he must use a
great liberty, and request the favour of me to lend him a hat to wear
instead of his military cap. I gave him one which was in a back room
with some things that had not been packed up, and having tried it on,
his uniform appeared under his great coat, I therefore offered him a
black coat that was lying on a chair, and which I did not intend to
take with me; he put up his uniform in a towel, and shortly afterwards
went away, in great apparent uneasiness of mind, and having asked my
leave he took the coach I came in, and which I had forgotten to
discharge, in the haste I was in. I do further depose, that the above
conversation is the substance of all that passed with Captain
Berenger, which, from the circumstances attending it, was strongly
impressed upon my mind; that no other person in uniform was seen by me
at my house on Monday, the 21st of February, though possibly other
officers may have called (as many have done since my appointment); of
this, however, I cannot speak of my own knowledge, having been almost
constantly from home, arranging my private affairs. I have understood
that many persons have called under the above circumstances, and have
written notes in the parlour, and others have waited there, in
expectation of seeing me, and then gone away; but I most positively
swear that I never saw any person at my house resembling the
description and in the dress stated in the printed advertisement of
the members of the Stock Exchange. I further aver, that I had no
concern, directly or indirectly, in the late imposition, and that the
above is all that I know relative to any person who came to my house
in uniform on the 21st day of February, before alluded to. Captain
Berenger wore a grey great coat, a green uniform, and a military cap.
From the manner in which my character has been attempted to be
defamed, it is indispensably necessary to state that my connection in
any way with the funds arose from an impression that in the present
favourable aspect of affairs, it was only necessary to hold stock in
order to become a gainer, without prejudice to anybody; that I did so
openly, considering it in no degree improper, far less dishonourable;
that I had no secret information of any kind, and that had my
expectation of the success of affairs been disappointed, I should have
been the only sufferer. Further, I do most solemnly swear, that the
whole of the omnium on account which I possessed on the 21st day of
February 1814 amounted to 139,000_l._, which I bought by Mr. Fearn (I
think) on the 12th ultimo, at a premium of 28¼; that I did not hold on
that day any other sum on account, in any other stock, directly or
indirectly, and that I had given orders when it was bought to dispose
of it on a rise of 1 per cent, and it actually was sold on an average
at 29½ premium, though on the day of the fraud it might have been
disposed of at 33½. I further swear, that the above is the only stock
which I sold, of any kind, on the 21st day of February, except
2000_l._ in money which I had occasion for, the profit of which was
about 10_l._ Further, I do solemnly depose, that I had no connection
or dealing with any one, save the above mentioned, and that I did not
at any time, directly or indirectly, by myself or by any other, take
or procure any office or apartment for any broker or other person for
the transaction of stock affairs.

COCHRANE.

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Footnote 106:

Sir Alexander, previous to his departure, had applied to the Admiralty
for the employment of De Berenger.

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