CHAPTER L

_ST. JEAN D’ ACRE_

[Sidenote: 1853. May.]

Warlike rumours. Did not like the idea of being far from the Admiralty, where I had friends. My wife was again established in our pretty cottage at Droxford. The Crosbie family, although separated by marriages, were kind to their invalid sister. A gem of same name, daughter of Lord Brandon, Mrs. Yorke--now a widow--had a son in the Navy.

For neighbours we had Tom Garnier, the kind Dean of Winchester. His son, who was afterwards Dean of Lincoln, married my youngest sister Caroline.

[Sidenote: May 21.]

Captain Sir Baldwin Walker, Comptroller, had built the finest two-decker. The constructor of a new type of ship had generally been allowed to nominate the captain. To Sir Baldwin I was indebted for my appointment to the _St. Jean d’ Acre_, then fitting at Devonport. She was 3400 tons, mounting 101 guns on two decks: crew, with officers and men, 900.

[Sidenote: Devonport, May 23.]

_Acre_ was commissioned by Commander Peter Cracroft; most of the officers joined in the first week. As this will be the fourth ship my kind readers have helped me to fit out, they should be spared the intricacies of a dockyard. That everything passed pleasantly I have only to mention that my kind friend Commodore Michael Seymour was superintendent, with whose charming family I chiefly lived. Admiral Sir John Ommaney, K.C.B., a rough diamond, was Commander-in-Chief. Miss Ommaney, equally kind, managed the household. Took charge of _Bellona_ hulk.

[Sidenote: May 30.]

Marine artillerymen and seamen, gunners joined from _Impregnable_, marines from headquarters, making in all 200.

[Sidenote: June 4.]

My old friend, Colonel Yea, and officers of the Royal Fusiliers, who were at Malta when I was in the _Childers_, kindly made me an honorary member of their mess.

[Sidenote: June 15.]

Admiral came on board to muster and inspect ship’s company. Manned yards. Got steam up and successfully tried engines. Got the first of Rodgers’s iron-stocked bower anchors at the cat-head, 93 cwts.; neat and serviceable-looking. First experience of coaling. Received 509 tons. Took us five days. Turned over from hulk to ship. Bent sails.

[Sidenote: July 30.]

Slipped moorings, ran out under screw, two miles beyond the Eddystone. 3 P.M.--Returned to the Sound.

[Sidenote: Sept. 15.]

3 P.M.--Sir James Graham and some Lords of the Admiralty came on board unofficially. Steamed out. Saluting flag of Commander-in-Chief, stood out beyond the Eddystone, and returned to the Sound.

[Sidenote: Sept. 19.]

Commodore Michael Seymour came on board and paid advance.

[Sidenote: Sept. 20.]

8 A.M.--Weighed, made sail; raised and stowed screw.

[Sidenote: Sept. 22.]

9 A.M.--Off entrance of Cork Harbour, observing court-martial flag. Stood off until afternoon. On running in and shortening sail, saluted flag of Rear-Admiral Sir William F. Carroll, K.C.B., and made signal, “Where to anchor?” Reply, “Where convenient.”

There were nineteen ships, in two lines, composing the Channel Squadron, under Rear-Admiral Sir Armand Lowry Corry. It was slack water, and the ships, although moored, were in various positions. The _Gondola_, cutter yacht, Lord Lichfield, could scarcely get through. There was no room for us to haul to the wind. The screw was up. Nothing left but to sheet home top and topgallant sails, and run the gauntlet between the lines. As stated, they were across the tide. Several flying and standing jib-booms had narrow escapes. At the end of the lines we anchored.

The _Jenny d’ Acre_, as the seamen called her, got kudos: her performance talked of at the clubs in London. On one occasion Lord Adolphus Fitz-Clarence remarked on the great advantage of an auxiliary screw. To which Sir James Graham replied, “Hang the fellow! He had no screw down!”

Friend Brierly was on board, and made a very clever sketch of _Gondola_ and the _Acre_.

[Sidenote: Sept. 30.]

Fleet weighed, outermost ships first. Steamed and sailed out of harbour. On getting outside we found _Agamemnon_, 91, screw steamship, Captain Sir Thomas Maitland, Commander Robert Hall; _Hogue_, 60, Captain William Ramsay; _Blenheim_, 60, Captain Hon. Frederick T. Pelham; _Imperieuse_, 50, screw steam frigate, Captain Rundle B. Watson (Viscount Gilford, a lieutenant); _Tribune_, 30, screw steam frigate, Captain Hon. S. T. Carnegie; _Vulture_, 6, steam frigate, Captain Fred. H. H. Glasse; _Desperate_, 8, screw steam ship, Captain William W. Chambers; and _Sidon_, 22, paddle wheel, Captain George Goldsmith. Parted company.

Remainder formed in two divisions--WEATHER: consisting of _Prince Regent_ (flag), 90, Captain Frederick Hutton; _St. Jean d’ Acre_, 101; _Amphion_, 34, screw steam frigate, Captain Astley C. Key; _Highflyer_, 21, screw steam frigate, Captain John Moore. LEE DIVISION: _Duke of Wellington_, 130, screw steamship, Commodore Henry B. Martin; _London_, 90, Captain Charles Eden; _Arrogant_, 47, screw steamship, Captain Hastings R. Yelverton; _Valorous_, 16, Captain Claude Buckle.

[Sidenote: Oct. 3.]

8 A.M.--Made all plain sail to try rate of sailing (per signal) on a wind. Trial chiefly between the _Duke of Wellington_ and _St. Jean d’ Acre_, in which the latter had the advantage, a trifle only; the rest nowhere. _Acre_ requiring trifle more false keel! 5 P.M.--Formed order of sailing.

[Sidenote: Oct. 5.]

Tried rate of sailing off the wind, in which _St. Jean d’ Acre_ was best.

[Sidenote: Oct. 8.]

9 A.M.--Got steam up. Admiral on board. Hoisted his flag. Tried speed with _Duke of Wellington_--about equal. Engineers complaining of the coals. 2 P.M.--Admiral returned to his ship, taking flag with him.

[Sidenote: Oct. 10.]

9.30 A.M.--Laid out targets. Fleet exercised at general quarters, firing at a mark.

[Sidenote: Oct. 12.]

10 A.M.--Got steam up to try rate with _Duke of Wellington_ under steam and canvas together; just as we got our steam well up, _Duke_ broke down.

[Sidenote: Oct. 15.]

Came to at Spithead with the fleet. Moored. Found _Blenheim_, 60; _Leopard_, 12; brig _Rolla_, 6; and _Sidon_, 22; also a Russian corvette.

[Sidenote: Oct. 17.]

At Admiralty: met Sir Edmund Lyons, who had been promised a command. He was trying to find out what ship they would give him. He was just then the only flag officer I would care to serve in the capacity of flag captain, and offered ship and self for that purpose. On ascertaining that I really meant what I said, he appeared to be equally satisfied and went direct to the First Lord, but without success.

[Sidenote: Oct. 18.]

Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane visited and inspected without notice.

[Sidenote: Oct. 25.]

4 P.M.--Weighed. Steamed into Portsmouth Harbour and secured alongside _Camperdown_.

[Sidenote: Nov. 12.]

Not sorry to receive enclosed:--

ADMIRALTY, _Nov. 10, 1853_.

MY DEAR KEPPEL--When _St. Jean d’ Acre_ is ready for sea you will be ordered on a cruise to the southward in order that you may get your ship’s company into proper training, and I quite agree with you of the necessity for doing so.--Always yours sincerely,

HYDE PARKER.

[Sidenote: Nov. 14.]

Turned over to hulk.

[Sidenote: Nov. 15.]

In steam basin, additional false keel having been placed from 3 inches forward to 9 abaft, exactly what I wanted.

[Sidenote: Nov. 19.]

Noon.--Ship out of basin to hulk. Steam up at 9 A.M. for amusement of dockyard officials. Ship coaling. Cleaning hulk, and shifting over.

[Sidenote: Nov. 26.]

Dressed ship masthead flags. Ships in harbour manning yards and saluting on Her Majesty’s embarking from Royal Clarence Victualling Yard. Ships at Spithead doing same on _Fairy_ passing through _en route_ to Osborne.

[Sidenote: Dec. 3.]

11.20 A.M.--Cast off from hulk and steamed out of harbour. Saluted flag of Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Cochrane. Proceeded to Stokes Bay. Tried speed under steam at measured mile. Mean of six trials just under 12 knots per hour. 3.30 P.M.--Came to at Spithead.

[Sidenote: Dec. 5.]

Got on board powder and shell. Received supernumeraries for fleet at Lisbon.

[Sidenote: Dec. 6.]

3 P.M.--Weighed and made sail, standing towards St. Helens.

[Sidenote: Plymouth, Dec. 7.]

8.40.--Came to in the Sound. Found _Hogue_ and _Magicienne_.

[Sidenote: Dec. 12.]

Commodore-Superintendent Michael Seymour came on board and paid advance to newly raised men. Crew complete. 7 P.M.--Weighed; made sail and stood out of the Sound to join fleet in Tagus.

[Sidenote: Off Tagus, Dec. 18.]

Took pilot on board and ran into the Tagus by northern passage. Pilot informing me there was no quarantine, ran past Belem without picking up health boat. 3 P.M.--Shortened, and while furling sails, signal from flag to take up a different berth from that for which we were prepared.

Being carried up by the tide, and but little steerage way, had difficulty in clearing _Imperieuse_, and in swinging carried away _Desperate’s_ jibboom. Placed in quarantine. Signal from flag to “Moor.” When completed, signal to “Weigh immediately and proceed to Belem.” Before under weigh, another signal, “Despatch is necessary.” Wind failing and flood making, came to in centre of stream.

[Sidenote: Lisbon, Dec. 19.]

Daylight.--Weighed and dropped down to Belem. Fleet in river, consisting of _Prince Regent_, flag; _Duke of Wellington_, Commodore H. Martin; _Imperieuse_, _Arrogant_, _Tribune_, _Valorous_, _Desperate_, _Odin_, _Amphion_ and _Cruizer_.

[Sidenote: Dec. 20.]

Having got pratique, 2 P.M., weighed and made sail. Worked up. Fired two royal salutes, in company with the fleet, on the young King of Portugal visiting and leaving. 4.30--Came to, as per signal, in 26 fathoms, Packet Stairs, N.E. by E. Measles in the ship; sent cases to hospital.

[Sidenote: Dec. 24.]

Light and contrary winds with falling tides. Signal made for particular ships to weigh. 10.40 A.M.--Weighed to allow _Duke of Wellington_ to pass clear. At 11, having water-tank alongside, came to in 22 fathoms. Fleet under way, working down. Breeze freshening, found ship dragging anchor. Stood as close as we could, with safety, in-shore to get out of the way.

_Desperate_ missing stays, and having got stem way fell thwart our hawse, carrying away mainmast and portion of her bulwarks, we losing jib and flying jibboom, and bowsprit cap starting. After this and other mishaps, fleet came to an anchor. Chief more at home in Cowes Roads.

[Sidenote: Off Lisbon, Dec. 28.]

11.30.--Weighed. Noon.--Made sail, running down the Tagus for a month’s cruising for the purpose of exercising newly raised men. Cruising ground between Cape Roca and Madeira. Wind blowing fresh from the N.E., made for the islands.

[Sidenote: Dec. 31.]

1 P.M.--Came to in 40 fathoms, Funchal Roads. Saluted the Portuguese flag.