Life and Correspondence of John, Earl of St Vincent, G.C.B. Vol. I: Admiral of the Fleet &C. &C. & C.

By Captain Edward Pelham Brenton R.N.

Earl St. Vincent was not only an excellent administrator, a fine sailor and undaunted defender of the Royal Navy. He was also eclipsed in the tomes of history by his more famous protégé, Lord Nelson. Sir John Jervis had served for many years with distinction before Nelson’s birth; defending Jamaica from privateers and pirates, distinguishing himself during the Seven Years war and War of American Independence. This two-volume biography by Captain Brenton, a contemporary (albeit junior) of both naval heroes, goes some way to fixing the void in the record of Earl St Vincent.
The biography includes much of the original documentation and letters of the period when the invasion of the British isles was a real possibility as the French and Spanish turned from enemies to allies and joined their naval might together. At that time Sir John Jervis was in command of squadrons in the Channel, as he had been beforehand in the Mediterrean, enforcing a blockade that strangled the commerce of Spain and France. During those times that ships escaped port, Jervis and his subordinates hunted them without mercy, the most striking example being the battle of St. Vincent. Although outnumbered by his Spanish opponents, Sir John led fifteen of his ships on. The following anecdote is told of the initial contact before the battle:
"There are eight sail of the line, Sir John"
"Very well, sir"
"There are twenty sail of the line, Sir John"
"Very well, sir"
"There are twenty five sail of the line, Sir John"
"Very well, sir"
"There are twenty seven sail of the line, Sir John"
"Enough, sir, no more of that; the die is cast, and if there are fifty sail I will go through them"
His entry in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography states that — "His importance lies in his being the organizer of victories; the creator of well-equipped, highly efficient fleets; and in training a school of officers as professional, energetic, and devoted to the service as himself."
An excellent and detailed read.
Author — Captain Edward Pelham Brenton R.N. (1770-1844)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wagram Press
• Release date: May 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781908902313

Captain Edward Pelham Brenton R.N.

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governor.

CHAPTER II.

Retrospect of the three great epochs of the life of Lord St. Vincent — He returns to Spithead from the Mediterranean command — His want of health and repose — Disturbed by Sir John Orde — Lord Bridport resigns the command of the Channel fleet — Lord St. Vincent succeeds him — His arduous duties, and difficulty of his situation — A new mutiny threatened and prevented — Hoists his flag on board the Ville de Paris — The gale of the 17th of May, 1800 — Loss of the Trompeuse and Railleur — Observations on that class of vessel — Clamours against Lord St. Vincent in Parliament, supposed to be for selling such craft out of the service — Northern confederacy — Nelson sent out to the Baltic under Sir Hyde Parker — Change of ministry — Catholic question — Conduct and policy of Mr. Pitt. — Lord Spencer — Lord St. Vincent — New anecdotes of Nelson.

WE have now traced Lord St. Vincent through the three grand epochs of his life: — First, from his earliest youth to manhood, and to the attainment of the rank of rear-admiral, together with a seat in the House of Commons. We take the second period from the time of his assuming the command of the West India, or rather the Leeward Island station, late in 1793, until his victorious return from thence, after having added Martinique and St. Lucia to the British dominions. His repose on shore, during the year 1795, was passed in retirement, and, most probably, preparing for his next command; for he knew full well, although the Mediterranean station was occupied by Lord Hood, that he himself would not long be allowed to indulge in the otium cum dignitate. At this time he was in the sixtieth year of his age, in the enjoyment of good health, and with a robust frame and sound constitution. Of his talents for a chief command he had afforded ample proofs, and those proofs were acknowledged to be valid even by his enemies, whether private, political, or national. It was, therefore, to have been expected, that on the first vacancy occurring of sufficient importance to require his skill and firmness, he would be called into action. This vacancy was occasioned by the retirement of Lord Hood, towards the conclusion of 1795; and this brings us to the third epoch of the history of this great officer. In the command of the Mediterranean fleet we see him with that vast scope for his genius and activity, which would call into play every energy of his body and mind. The more he was surrounded by difficulty, the more was this energy displayed.

The years 1796-7-8 and 9 were the most important and eventful in the history of Great Britain, or, perhaps, of the world. The whole of Europe seemed convulsed, from one end to the other, and one decisive battle against us might have converted our allies of to-day into our enemies to-morrow. France and England were the two great belligerent powers, and on the predominance of the one or the other seemed to depend the stability or the overthrow of all that was valuable in the social world.

Under the protection of Divine Providence, the Rock of Gibraltar was at once the emblem of our security and the means of affording relief and protection to the timid and effeminate natives of the South, who looked to us for support. Without this resting place, as an anchorage for our fleet, and a depot for stores, it is more than doubtful whether we could have resisted, as we did, the torrent of adverse circumstances. Corsica and Elba evacuated in 1796; Minorca not then in our power; Malta under the influence, and, soon after, absolutely in the hands of France, there would have been no rendezvous for a British fleet. In fact, Gibraltar alone was the means of our regaining our hold, and achieving those wonderful victories, by land and sea, on the shores of Egypt, the good effects of which the world is still feeling. Without Gibraltar Sir John Jervis never could have found provisions for his fleet, and for the troops which were serving with him. Even with that invaluable fortress and anchorage his trials were immense; without them they would have been quite insurmountable. The difficulty of obtaining supplies from England, at this time, can only be appreciated by those who are conversant with the peculiar nature of the circumstances in which the fleet was placed. Conceive, too, the fate of a nation depending on the change of wind, or the arrival of a convoy of victuallers! When St. Vincent stood on the fortifications of the Rock, he beheld his transports, loaded with supplies for almost famishing ships, attacked by the Spanish gunboats — vessels of immense power in light or baffling winds. The little brig of war which dispelled these locusts, and saved the convoy, was not, under ordinary circumstances, equal to a contest with one of them.

But St. Vincent knew how to inspire energy as well as to reward it. His eye was upon every part of his command; he would not allow himself to be deceived by others, or blinded to his own dangers. Taking a broad and comprehensive view of the whole, he directed attention to the minutest part; and while he provided for the wants of his ships as a seaman, he did not forget the state of the world as a politician. He foresaw the possible hostility of Russia, and therefore husbanded his naval stores, with the utmost frugality. He saw the possibility of the invasion of Ireland, and was doubly guarded against the machinations of the natives of that country in his fleet. After having defeated an enemy of double his force, he had to encounter the still greater danger of insubordination and treason. These he met like a man and a hero, yet without forgetting the duties of a Christian; and having quenched the rising flame by timely applications, he guarded against any further outbreak, by dividing the duties of his ships and officers, and keeping every one firmly and steadfastly fixed at his post. Hence the bombardment of Cadiz in the summer of 1797, and the expedition to Teneriffe under Nelson; the fruits of which were all that could be desired. They gave the sailors something to do, to expect and to talk about, and diverted their minds from brooding over the mischievous and melancholy events which in England had nearly subverted the