The Life of Admiral Viscount ExmouthSmith, Elder and Company, 1841 - 399 pages |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
action Admiral Admiralty afforded afterwards Algiers anchor appointed Arethusa armed army arrived attack batteries battle boat Brest brig British broadside brother Bucentaure Burgoyne Captain Pellew Captain Pownoll Carleton Channel fleet character chase Cleopatra command commander-in-chief Commodore conduct convoy corvette crew cruise deck Droits de l'Homme duty Earl St enemy enemy's England escape exertions Falmouth feeling fell Ferrol fire fleet force Fort Edward French frigate frigate gale guns harbour hawser honourable immediately Impetueux Indefatigable Israel Pellew killed Lake Lake Champlain land letter Lieutenant line-of-battle line-of-battle ships Lord Bridport Lord Exmouth marines masts ment Mole morning mutiny naval navy never night Nymphe occasion officers ordered Plymouth port quarter-deck Rear-Admiral received remained returned Revolutionaire rigging sail sailors seamen sent ship's shore shot signal Sir Edward Pellew soon Spithead squadron station success tain taken tion took Toulon troops vessels Winchelsea wind wounded wreck
Popular passages
Page 387 - As England does not war for the destruction of cities, I am unwilling to visit your personal cruelties upon the inoffensive inhabitants of the country, and I therefore offer you the same terms of peace, which I conveyed to you yesterday in my Sovereign's name: without the acceptance of these terms, you can have no peace with England. If you receive this offer as you ought, you will fire three guns...
Page 322 - I was but slightly touched in thigh, face, and fingers — my glass cut in my hand, and the skirts of my coat torn off by a large shot ; but as I bled a good deal, it looked as if I was badly hurt, and it was gratifying to see and hear how it was received even in the cockpit, which was then pretty full. My thigh is not quite skinned over, but I am perfectly well, and hope to reach Portsmouth by the 10th of October. Ferdinand has sent me a diamond star. Wise behaved most nobly, and took up a line-of-battle...
Page 322 - I never, however, saw any set of men more obstinate at their guns, and it was superior fire only that could keep them back. To be sure, nothing could stand before the Queen Charlotte's broadside. Everything fell before it ; and the Swedish consul assures me we killed above five hundred at the very first fire, from the crowded way in which troops were drawn up, four deep above the gun-boats, which were also full of men.
Page 53 - Admiralty Office, May 25, 1782. ' Sir, — I am so well pleased with the account I have received of your gallant and seaman-like conduct in the sloop you command, in your spirited attack on three privateers inside the Isle of Bass, and your success in driving them all on shore, that I am induced to bestow on you the rank of a post-captain* in the service to which your universal good character and conduct do credit.
Page 345 - They guided him to peace : they added dignity to his character : and blessed his declining years with a serenity, at once the best evidence of their truth, and the happiest illustration of their power. ' He cherished a very strong attachment to the church ; and for more than thirty years had been a member of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, which he joined when the claims of the Society were so little appreciated, that only principle could have prompted the step. It might therefore...
Page 319 - To deliver also, to my flag, all money received by him for the redemption of slaves since the commencement of this year, at noon also to-morrow.
Page 320 - ... and the royal rocket corps, for the noble support he has received from them throughout the whole of this arduous service, and he is pleased to direct, that on Sunday next a public thanksgiving be offered up to Almighty God for the signal interposition of his Divine Providence, during the conflict which took place on the 27th, between his Majesty's fleet and the ferocious enemies of mankind. " It is requested that this memorandum may be read to the ships
Page 110 - ... enabled him to find and apply the means by which all might be safely landed. His officers, in the meantime, though not knowing that he was on board, were exerting themselves to bring as-s-istance from the
Page 341 - ... and fought less for his country than for the world, his gratitude to the Giver of victory was expressed in a manner the most edifying and delightful. 'But when external responsibilities had ceased to divert his attention from himself, his religious principles acquired new strength, and exercised a more powerful influence. They guided him to peace : they added dignity to his character : and blessed his declining years with a serenity, at once the best evidence of their truth, and the happiest...
Page 110 - ... to his bed for a week, in consequence of being dragged under the mainmast. But disregarding this at the time, he reached the deck, declared himself, and assumed the command. He assured the people that every one would be saved if they quietly obeyed his orders; that he would himself be the last to quit the wreck, but that he would run any one through who disobeyed him. His well-known name, with the calmness and energy he displayed, gave confidence to the despairing multitude. He was received with...