CHAPTER XXIV
_DIDO_ CORVETTE
[Sidenote: 1841. Aug.]
Heard from an old friend that a Captain, junior to myself, had declined an offer of the _Dido_. I had homes in plenty, but these could not last; my wife handsome and charming--we were welcomed everywhere; but my means were small.
I went to the General, explained matters, which he had long foreseen. While he lived, my wife, without encumbrances, would never be without a home; but he could not live for ever.
I wrote to Lord Minto: “Understanding a junior had declined an appointment to the _Dido_, I should be too glad to take her or anything else.”
[Sidenote: Aug. 31.]
By the end of the month I was appointed to the _Dido_, 18, 734 tons--a beautiful corvette, one of Symonds’ best.
[Sidenote: Sept. 3.]
Hurried to Sheerness, where I found my kind friend, Vice-Admiral Sir Henry Digby, K.C.B., and Lady Andover, in command.
[Sidenote: Sept. 4.]
Hoisted the pennant--_Dido_ in commission. Sheerness was hardly the place for lodging or accommodation, but the Lieutenant at the dockyard gates kindly took wife and self in. We were always welcome at the Admiral’s table.
The Captain-Superintendent, Sir John Hill, was a fine old seaman, but ignorant of dockyard work. He had found favour with the Duke of Wellington in assisting the landing of troops in Portugal.
My father, who commanded the Norfolk Militia, was here when the mutiny broke out in 1797, and was in charge of the ringleader who had assumed the name of Admiral Richard Parker. He was executed on June 30 with the principal ringleaders. Many had escaped, but orders issued for their apprehension wherever caught. I was told that more seamen were hanged than had been in the mutiny.
Our Admiral’s house, although it loomed large, had but small accommodation; the dining-room was the largest, and the table always full. The guests kept a one-horse fly continually moving half an hour before dinner.
But to return to my _Dido_. She was in an uncovered dock, masts out, no copper on; rudder in a shed repairing, and 9 feet water in the hold.
I soon found that one of the warrant officers was devoid of intelligence. Having selected a smart man, applied for an exchange, but was informed that he was under a cloud: strongly suspected of having set fire to the dockyard, that he might get credit for his exertions in extinguishing it. Preferring a rogue to a fool, I succeeded in getting him appointed. The first thing he did was to bore a hole in _Dido’s_ bottom and run the water off.
Subsequently, in China, the Commander-in-Chief, Sir Thomas Cochrane, promoted him to the flag ship. No carpenter in the fleet could trace a better white line on a ship’s side.
Eleven ships fitting at Chatham made it difficult to volunteer a crew; but with a zealous and good set of officers we managed to get on.
We had the grand old _Vengeur_ for our hulk, but were turned over later (to make room for a larger ship) to the _Shannon_, of _Chesapeake_ fame.
[Sidenote: Sept. 18.]
Our marines joined: we fast assumed a respectable appearance, and my old shipmate and friend, Bulman, later purser of _Childers_, assumed importance.
[Sidenote: Oct. 8.]
We were mustered by Captain Sir Thomas Trowbridge, a Lord of the Admiralty.
[Sidenote: Oct. 26.]
Sent Mr. Boyle, mate, to Lynn to raise men.
[Sidenote: Oct. 27.]
Went on a visit to the Romneys at the Mote, Maidstone.
[Sidenote: Nov. 10.]
Heard of birth of the Prince of Wales. I little knew then, what a kind good friend I was subsequently to find in H.R.H. Arthur Noad joined; we had been shipmates ever since I left the Naval College. There was a fine old pilot at Sheerness named Taylor, with whom wife and I lodged. Taylor told me he had piloted 1400 men-of-war, of which 215 were ships of the line.
Admiral shifted his flag from white at the fore to blue at the main, which was saluted.
[Sidenote: Nov. 25.]
We were doing our best to have ship ready by December 1. Men had joined. We were getting on rapidly in the basin. Anchors and chain cables were close at hand.
Symonds’ formation of the hull of the _Dido_ was perfect, and with so great a beam that she required no ballast.
Sir John Hill, expecting the Board of Admiralty down, ordered me to cross topgallant yards, which were stopped up and down the lower rigging. I suggested that with an empty, whitewashed hold, chain cables, anchors, and water-tanks on shore alongside, it would be unseamanlike to cross topgallant yards; at which Superintendent got angry, and asked how I dared to disobey his orders. I replied hastily that I did not care a straw about his orders while the flag was flying. He went straight to the Admiral’s office. I was sent for. Inquiry took place. Decision: That the Captain Superintendent was wrong, and that I was disrespectful. We became great friends before parting.
[Sidenote: Nov. 23.]
Abbott, First Lieutenant, promoted. Glad as I was at the promotion of my friend Abbott, it was a sad loss to _Dido_. Applied for Tottenham. Had no time left to select a proper man, which gave me more work than I anticipated.
[Sidenote: Nov. 25.]
Board of Admiralty arrived: Sir George Seymour, Mr. Corry, Captain Brandreth, and Mr. Giffard, Secretary. Good fellows. Met them at the Admiral’s table. They inspected dockyard, and admired _Dido_ much. Luncheon with Sir John Hill.
Fitting rapidly, good seamen having joined.
[Sidenote: Dec. 1.]
Hauled out of basin; took in moorings.
[Sidenote: Dec. 7.]
Saluted my kind Chief on leaving the harbour.
[Sidenote: Dec. 8.]
Ran through the Downs following day. Wind headed and freshened into a gale; took shelter with some 300 merchant vessels under Dungeness. Light bore west-south-west. No means of communication with the shore.
[Sidenote: Dec. 14.]
Weather more moderate; wind veered to north-west. The whole fleet of merchant vessels got under way. Having secured a snug in-shore berth, we could not manage to be the first to get away. Weighed, and started under topsails, jib, and spanker, although the crowd caused much difficulty in keeping clear.
In addition to large trading-ships, there were fast clipper fruit vessels, the skippers amusing themselves by taking the wind out of other vessels’ sails. When outside, we were a mass of canvas about three miles long by one in breadth. I imagined the beautiful appearance of my _Dido_ was the cause of so many vessels keeping near. On the weather bow was a decrepit collier, a fruit-clipper having taken the wind out of her headsails. She was taken aback and got stern-way. We had no room to bear up, but squared the main yard to caution those astern. When I rushed forward, our bompkin was hanging by its rigging, and all the collier’s crew, with the exception of the man at the helm, who had only one leg, clambering on to our forecastle.
The brig had paid off; we, or, rather, she, had cut her own stern off, leaving a full view of her captain’s cabin. On the foremost bulkhead was suspended a pewter pot, a clay pipe, and a shore-going hat. The table was still standing with pewter No. 2 on it.
A freshening breeze enabled the ships to open out. We sent a cutter with the necessary hands to repair damages. The difficulty was to catch the vessel. The one-legged helmsman had no control; up in the wind for a minute, she would pay off and run before it.
When our carpenter’s crew got to work, they found the woodwork of her stern so rotten that she could not hold the nails which were driven in. We had to secure the tarpaulin over the remains of the stern. Her cargo of coal was exposed. It was sunset before we got her into Folkestone. Luckily, with wind off shore, the sea went down.
[Sidenote: Dec. 18]
Ran into Spithead in a thick fog. Saluted as soon as it was clear enough to see the flag.
[Sidenote: Dec. 23.]
Admiral Sir Edward Codrington, G.C.B., having kindly sent his tender off, took leave of wife. Sailed.
[Sidenote: Dec. 25.]
Arrived in Plymouth Sound. At Elliot the tailors found a big youngster, Edward Rice, with a big dog, ready to join. Find, living here, my old friend of the 98th, Eyre, and his charming wife, who took me in.
[Sidenote: 1842. Jan. 2.]
_Volage_ and _Serpent_ sailed for China.
[Sidenote: Jan. 12.]
Further inquiry about the brig that ran us down off Dungeness. However, it was satisfactorily made out that it was her own fault, and suspicious that they only wanted to get the insurance.
[Sidenote: Jan. 20.]
Accompanied Eyre to the Calmadys, and stopped two days.
[Sidenote: Jan. 23.]
Among shore friends was Frank Sheridan, brother of Mrs. Norton, a universal favourite. He was certainly the handsomest, as well as the most accomplished, member of that remarkable family of brothers and sisters--with more real wit, even, than his brother Charles. He had been appointed Treasurer of the Mauritius, and, as I had to call at the Cape, I requested the pleasure of his company that far. My cabin was roomy, and I could easily swing two cots.
My other friend, Granville Loch, lately promoted to rank of Captain--full of zeal, but being too junior for a command--was glad to accompany me to China. There were a few troublesome people who rather objected to Frank’s leaving the country, and who came down to Plymouth to look after him.
While at Plymouth, Frank was the guest of Henry Eden, Flag-Captain to Admiral Sir Graham Moore, G.C.B., a younger brother of late General Sir John Moore. By way of assisting them, I arranged with Gran. Loch that he and Frank should put themselves one fine night into the Falmouth Mail, which, on its way from London, pulled up to drop the Plymouth bags. At daylight, by a strange coincidence, they found the pretty _Dido_ hove to off the mouth of Falmouth Harbour.
[Sidenote: Jan. 27.]
A fine young man, John Connell, found to have smallpox badly. Pleasant, very, in our crowded state.
[Sidenote: Jan. 31.]
5 P.M.--Poor Connell died. Got up from dinner, read funeral service, and committed the body to the deep.
[Sidenote: Feb. 5.]
Half the ship in quarantine. Moved the assistant-surgeon from youngsters’ mess to my own, Gran. Loch not thinking much of the arrangement. Frank Sheridan, enjoying his distress at contagion, _would_ shake hands with both.
[Sidenote: Feb. 10.]
Poor little Jos. Rowley fell from masthead, striking spare main topsail yard as he fell overboard. Was motionless until picked up. Wonderful recovery an hour afterwards.
[Sidenote: Feb. 13.]
Arrived at St. Jago. Filled up with water. Was here in 1824, and again in 1827, when with others I caught fever. No improvement in the place since first visit.
[Sidenote: Feb. 18.]
Preparations making to receive Neptune. Griffins talking of resistance.
[Sidenote: Feb. 20.]
Sunday. An unfortunate shark was rash enough to swallow a piece of pork with a hook and chain attached. After affording much sport he died.
[Sidenote: Feb. 22.]
Crossing the “Line,” Neptune shaved 160 victims. Sent letters by the _Dale Park_. Odd that _Dale Park_ should be close to Watergate.
[Sidenote: Feb. 26.]
Cases of smallpox recovering.
[Sidenote: Mar. 18.]
Our run to-day 235 miles.
[Sidenote: Mar. 21.]
Broke up quarantine establishment, three weeks having elapsed since the recovery of the last case of smallpox.
10 P.M.--Anchored in Simon’s Bay.
[Sidenote: Mar. 22.]
_Apollo_, _Belleisle_, and _Sapphire_ here with 98th Regiment--Colonel Colin Campbell--and other troops for China.
[Sidenote: Mar. 23.]
Drove tandem to Cape Town with Gran. Loch. The Farmers Peck alive and well.
[Sidenote: Mar. 24.]
No end of kindness and attention from old friends. Breakfasted with the Lorentzs; called on the General and Judge Burton, with whom I stayed on landing from the _Tweed_ in 1828.
[Sidenote: Mar. 26.]
Finding a vessel sailing for Mauritius, took leave of dear old Frank Sheridan; put him on board and sailed.
Rifle practice at albatrosses, which must be cruising full 1600 miles from land. Cold, pleasant weather.
[Sidenote: Mar. 27.]
A pleasant gale, scudding under close-reefed main topsail.
[Sidenote: April 1.]
As many fools to-day as there were yesterday.
[Sidenote: April 5.]
My _Dido_ fast, but very wet, shipping seas fore and aft. Hatches battened down.
4 P.M.--Arrived within limits of East Indian station, having passed 66th degree of longitude.
[Sidenote: April 6.]
Shot a large gull, which measured 7 feet from tip to tip of wings; it was not an albatross.
[Sidenote: April 11.]
Our run to-day 262 miles.
[Sidenote: April 18.]
Last evening my old friend Bulman fell through a small hatchway and broke a rib; had him put into a cot in my cabin (he never left it alive).
[Sidenote: April 24.]
Daylight made Christmas Island, having run 5500 miles without seeing land. Towards evening several boobies settled about the rigging. One vomited a large flying-fish, which Jim Hunt cooked and devoured.
[Sidenote: April 26.]
Java Head at last. More than three long months from Plymouth; and to think that ours should be considered a quick passage!
[Sidenote: April 27.]
In the straits of Sunda.
[Sidenote: April 29.]
Last night, while running to the northward with a light three-knot breeze, a most curious and unaccountable noise was heard, apparently from outside; it lasted two hours. Carpenter examined, but it baffled every attempt at discovery.
[Sidenote: April 30.]
My worthy old friend Bulman departed this life. In him I have lost a real friend. I never knew a more honourable man in the strictest sense of the word.
[Sidenote: May 1.]
Read funeral service and committed poor Bulman’s remains to the deep, marines firing three volleys.
[Sidenote: May 7.]
Warlike symptoms on approaching Singapore. Roads full of ships. Transports with soldiers in plenty. Anchored in the afternoon. It was with pain I broke to Gran. Loch the death of his mother, which I had read in the newspaper.
[Sidenote: May 8.]
Dined with Bonham. Nice quiet dinner in cool situation on the hill.
[Sidenote: May 10.]
_Serpent_ arrived, having sailed from England three weeks before us. Prepared a tiffin for my old friend of _Magicienne_ days, Bonham.
[Sidenote: May 11.]
Refitted. Sky sail and masts up. Got under way. Met _Thalia_ coming, she having sailed five weeks before us.
[Sidenote: May 12.]
Sailing up the Chinese Sea. Poor Chinese! They require a little conceit taken out of them, and, as it must be, I have no objection to lend a hand.
The snakes in these seas are black, and porpoises white or flesh-colour; everything different from other parts of the world.
[Sidenote: May 14.]
Boarded a barque from Hong Kong. Expedition to proceed north on arrival of troops, now not far from us.
[Sidenote: May 30.]
Arrived at Hong Kong. Visited senior officer, Sir Thomas Herbert.
[Illustration: _Hong Kong._]
[Sidenote: May 31.]
Visited the Plenipotentiary, Sir Henry Pottinger, General Sir Hugh Gough, and the Resident. _Thalia_ and _Harlequin_ arrived.
[Sidenote: June 1.]
Rose early and walked over a great part of the island with Major Cain, Head Magistrate; sharp work for first walk--about fifteen miles.
[Sidenote: June 2.]
_Belleisle_, with General Lord Saltoun and 98th Regiment arrived; was glad to meet my friends with whom I had been so much at the Cape. Dined with Brigadier Burville on board _Moira_.
Among those whose acquaintance I made and served with afterwards on the staff of the Plenipotentiary was Harry Parkes. Included in the staff was a clever German missionary, by name Gütslarfe. He was obliging to every one. Sailors are prone to give nicknames, and our friend rejoiced in that of “Happy Bowels.”
[Sidenote: June 3.]
Took Rice and Armytage with me in Company’s steamer _Hooghly_ to Macao. Found there nephew Henry Coke, with Mr. Kerr, merchant, at whose house I dined and slept. Rode after dinner across the barrier.
[Sidenote: June 4.]
Returned to Hong Kong. My old friend and shipmate, Grey Skipwith, was now on board the _Cornwallis_, and from him I received a note, advising me to lose no time in joining the flag.
I had to take charge of convoy transports, with the _Serpent_ for whipper-in. There was a nice breeze through the Formosa Channel.
[Sidenote: June 7.]
To keep company with my fleet I had to lower topsails on to the cap.
[Sidenote: June 9.]
Copy of a proclamation issued by Mandarin Linn:
“Reward for the taking alive a commanding officer and the chief commander of a great ship of war is $5000--also for the murder of a Barbarian officer; one-third of the above for arresting him.”
[Sidenote: June 12.]
Expecting to make the flag of the Commander-in-Chief, I came up with a convoy at anchor, under Frederick Grey in _Endymion_, who caused me to anchor and join company; so spoilt my little game of joining flag in time for Chusan.
[Sidenote: June 14.]
Arrived with both convoys off Chusan. _Endymion_ having no orders to proceed, anchored outside. Had the painful satisfaction of hearing heavy cannonading in which I could take no part.
[Illustration: Dido _at Chusan_.]
6 P.M.--Saluted flag, but found I was just in time to be too late to share in the capture of Woosung.
In future movements the General paid me the compliment of preferring my six-oared gig to one of the transport boats.
[Sidenote: Woosung, June, 17.]
Landed a party to assist in destruction of forts and Government buildings. Dined with Admiral Sir William Parker.
[Sidenote: June 18.]
Waterloo Day. General Sir Hugh Gough landed in my gig, when I witnessed the horrors of war. Mutilated carcases of men and horses by hundreds.
Houses burning, villages deserted, etc. Struck by the prevalent feeling so strong for destruction.
Sir Hugh Gough, attended by a small staff and orderlies of his favourite regiment, the 18th Royal Irish--I mounted on his pony--directed an orderly to ascertain whether a Chinaman separated from others was dead or alive. The corporal turned the body over with his bayonet in it, answering, “Did, your Honour,” which he certainly was _then_.
[Sidenote: June 19.]
Flag hoisted on board _Medusa_. Ordered by Admiral to accompany him in the gig, and to land forces to attack forts at Shanghai, which were easily carried. Brass guns embarked, iron ones spiked, trunnions knocked off. Town taken possession of. All this on the Sabbath!
[Sidenote: June 20.]
Further expedition up the river with steamers. No opposition for sixty miles. Country thickly populated, and natives astonished rather.
[Sidenote: June 23.]
Troops at Woosung were re-embarked. Preparing for further advance up the Yang-tse-Kiang.
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