【英文文学】A Sailor of King George.docx

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1、【英文文学】A Sailor of King GeorgePREFACE.In a memorial presented in 1835 to the Lords of the Admiralty, the author of the journals which form this volume details his various services. He joined the Navy in October, 1793, his first ship being H.M.S. Blonde. He was present at the siege of Martinique in 17

2、94, and returned to England the same year in H.M.S. Hannibal with despatches and the colours of Martinique. For a few months the ship was attached to the Channel Fleet, and then suddenly, in 1795, was ordered to the West Indies again. Here he remained until 1802, during which period he was twice att

3、acked by yellow fever.The author was engaged in upwards of eighteen boat actions, in one of which, at Tiberoon Bay, St. Domingo, he was wounded in the head, and entirely lost the hearing of his left ear.As first lieutenant of H.M.S. Volage, while attempting to cut out an enemys vessel laden with tob

4、acco from under the guns of the Moro Castle, St. Jago de Cuba, after a running fight of two hours with three Spanish privateers, he was obliged to surrender, and was carried prisoner to St. Jago, where he remained for six weeks until exchanged. pg IVIn 1802 he returned to England in the Volage, whic

5、h was then paid off.In 1803 he was appointed lieutenant of H.M.S. Minotaur on the Channel Service, but in 1804, in consequence of a very severe attack of rheumatic fever, which completely prostrated him and for several months necessitated the use of crutches, he resigned his post.On his recovery, in

6、 the summer of 1805, he was appointed to H.M.S. Tonnant, and was senior lieutenant of her lower deck quarters in the Battle of Trafalgar, concerning which he gives several new and interesting details. During the battle he was slightly wounded in the left hand.His next ship was H.M.S. Diamond (to whi

7、ch he was appointed March 8th, 1806), ordered for service on the West Coast of Africa. In 1807 he became commander of the Favourite sloop of war in consequence of the death of her captain, and three months afterwards took the last convoy of slave ships to the West Indies.In 1808, while in Jamaica, h

8、e was attacked by fever, which affected his eyesight, nearly producing blindness; and, on the advice of the doctor at Port Royal Hospital, Admiral Dacres gave him permission to exchange into the Goelan sloop of war, which was shortly afterwards ordered to England with convoy.In 1810 he was appointed

9、 to command the Apelles on the Downs station, and in this capacity he was actively employed until May, 1812, when, during pg Vthe middle watch, and in a dense fog, the Apelles, with the Skylark, her leader, unfortunately grounded on the French coast, near Etaples, on “the infant ebb of a spring tide

10、.” All efforts to float the sloop were vain, and, after being for three hours under the incessant fire of a French battery, which riddled her hull and cut away her masts, and having meanwhile sent away all the crew which the boats were capable of containing, the author and eighteen others were compe

11、lled to surrender.The following is the sentence of the Court Martial held at Portsmouth on the conduct of Captain Hoffman for the loss of H.M. sloop Apelles, Sir George Martin, Bart., President:“That there is no blame whatever attached to the conduct of Captain Hoffman; that he is fully and honourab

12、ly acquitted.“That great praise is due to him for remaining with his ship.“That the Court regrets he was under the painful necessity of becoming a prisoner, and that his services were lost to his country for the period of two years.”After reading the sentence Sir G. Martin spoke as follows:“Captain

13、Hoffman,In the name of the Court and myself I present you the sword, which by your conduct you so well merit.”The author spent about two years in France, and during his captivity there did excellent service to his country by opening and superintending a pg VIschool for the midshipmen who were also p

14、risoners of war at Verdun.It appears that he wrote these records of his life while residing at Dover in 1838. He evidently intended to have them published, but for some reason or another they have never hitherto been printed.The Editors, in presenting them to the public more than sixty years after t

15、hey were originally written, think that they will prove of general interest, not because they lay claim to literary excellence, but because they present a simple, unexaggerated picture of the everyday life in the navy a century ago, and give us an insight into the characters of the men who helped to

16、 build up the sea power of Great Britain, and to bring her to her present position of political and commercial greatness.November, 1901. CHAPTER I. EARLY EXPERIENCES.My mother consents to my going to seaJourney to PortsmouthJoin H.M.S. BlondeTake General Prescott and suite on boardWe sailSupply West

17、 Indiamen with provisions and in return impress six seamenWindbound at FalmouthAgain sailAttacked by four French frigates, but escape and again make FalmouthFinally sail for West IndiesAmusements in crossing the Equator.One morning sitting with my mother in the drawing room and entreating her to com

18、ply with my wish to enter the Navy, she was so intent on listening to my importunities and her patchwork that she did not observe that the cat was running away with her favourite goldfinch; the cat, with the poor bird in its mouth, was near the door, waiting to escape. Seeing what had happened, I im

19、mediately ran to the poor little birds assistance, but, alas! too late, as the cruel animal had torn off one of its wings.Whilst my mother was feelingly lamenting her favourites untimely death, and deliberating whether the cat should be given away, the door opened, pg 2the culprit escaped, and Capta

20、in Elphinstone entered. On his observing my mothers paleness, he requested to know if anything of a serious nature had occurred in the family. “No,” replied she, “except the loss of a favourite bird, which I certainly regret, as it was killed by the cat in a most distressing manner, and,” added she,

21、 “my spirits are not at this moment very good in consequence of my sons wishing to enter the Navy.” “The first,” said he, “I lament, as it has deprived you of a pet; the latter may in the end be a matter of rejoicing. Who knows but that your son, if he enters that noble service, may turn out a secon

22、d Hawke.” My ears thrilled at his remark.“Do you really think, Captain Elphinstone,” said my mother, with a half-sorrowful countenance, “that it would be to his advantage?” “Most assuredly,” replied he, “as I think it very likely war will shortly be declared against that unhappy and distracted Franc

23、e, and he will have a very fair chance of making prize money, and in time will gain his promotion.”“Quit the room a short time, my love,” said my mother to me. In about a quarter of an hour, which I thought an hour, I was sent for. Captain Elphinstone had taken his leave. I found my mother still ver

24、y pale. “I am afraid, dear boy,” she began, “that Captain Elphinstone has almost persuaded me against my will. He has spoken of the prospects of the Naval Service in so favourable a manner that I am nearly tempted to let you pg 3enter it, and should war unhappily be declared against our unfortunate

25、neighbours, the French, and my friend Captain Markham be appointed to a ship, I believe I must make up my mind to be quite persuaded and let you have your wish.” “Thank you, my dear mother,” replied I, overjoyed at what I knew nothing about. A short time after this conversation, war was declared aga

26、inst France, or rather France provoked it, and Captain Markham was appointed to the Blonde frigate. My mother instantly wrote to him; his answer was favourable, and he requested her to let me join him as soon as possible. All now was bustle and preparation. My brothers were sent for home, and begged

27、 to be allowed to go with me. Poor fellows! they little knew what they asked. In a few days I was fully equipped. I mounted my uniform, and I thought my brothers and the young friends who came to take leave of me appeared to envy me my finery, particularly my dirk, which they examined so often that

28、I began to think they would wear it out. At length the evening arrived for me to quit my dear, happy home. My mother was sensibly affected, my sister looked serious, but my brothers, who were younger than myselflittle rogues!only looked disappointed that they could not go with me. I am sorry to say

29、that my spirits were so buoyant that sorrow did not enter my head.Captain Elphinstone was kind enough to accompany me to the coach, and on the 12th day of October, 1793,oh! happy day, at least I thought sopg 4we repaired to the sign of that nondescript bird, the “Swan with Two Necks” in Lad Lane, Ch

30、eapside. After taking an affectionate farewell of those who came with me, I stepped into the vehicle of transport with a light foot, a light heart, and, I fear, a light head, as I fancied by the people staring at me that I was the lion of the occasion. When we stopped for supper a gentlemanly person

31、, who sat opposite, asked me what ship I belonged to. I informed him, and he told me he was Captain W., of the 31st Regiment, going to join his division at Portsea, destined for Gibraltar. “It is probable you will not join the frigate for a few days after your arrival,” said he, “and if you do not,

32、we have a mess at Portsmouth where I shall be happy to see you.” I thanked him warmly for his considerate and kind invitation. I had only one opportunity of dining with him, as he embarked three days after his arrival. About six oclock in the evening I reached the “Blue Postesses” where the midshipm

33、en put their chestesses and eat their breakfastesses. Next morning, and whilst I was prosing over my breakfast, in walked a midshipman, about twenty years of age, with a face which appeared to have been rolled down Deal beach a dozen times. “Waiter,” said he, “have you in the house a young officer l

34、ately arrived from Lunnen?” “Ho, ho!” thinks I, “my boy, you are from my country the West, and probably from where it rains upon Dock1 nine months in the pg 5twelve.” “Yes, sir,” said the waiter, “the young officer is eating his breakfastesses;” saying this he brought him to my box. “Good morning, s

35、ir,” said he, “I have come on shore to take you on board. Have you all your things ready?” “Yes,” said I, “I shall be ready in twenty minutes. Can you spare me that time? But,” continued I, “have you breakfasted?you look rather cold,”I was afraid to say hungry“I think a cup of tea will warm you.” I

36、then gave him one. “If you will allow me,” said he, “Ill put a poker in it.” I wondered what he meant. It was soon explained. He called the waiter and told him to bring a glass of rum, which he put into the tea, and, as he thought I should feel the cold going off, he said I had better do the same. A

37、s I considered him my superior officer I complied, although the fiery taste of the spirit almost burnt my mouth, which he perceiving smiled, and told me I should soon be used to it. “You will oblige me,” said I, “if you will give me a little insight into the characters of the officers of the ship.”

38、“Why,” said he, “the captain is a tight one, and sometimes in a hurricane I never heard any officer pray so well or so heartily as he does: his prayers, if not heard elsewhere, are certainly heard by all on board, and are generally effective. However,” added he, “you will soon be able to judge for y

39、ourself. The first lieutenant is one of the old womans school, an easy and good kind of person, but not fit to be first of an active frigate. The second lieutenant is a pg 6regular-built sailor, and knows his duty well, but he is fond of mast-heading the youngsters when they think they do not deserv

40、e it. The third lieutenant would be a sailor if he knew how to set about it; he generally begins at the wrong end, and is always making stern way, but,” said he, “he almost prays as good a stick as the skipper. As for the other officers, we have not so much to do with them as with those I have descr

41、ibed. However,” added he, “there is one moreI mean the purser: he is a complete nip-cheese, and as for his steward, he ought to have swung at the fore-yard arm long ago.” “There is one more question I have to ask,” said I, “which is, what sort of young gentlemen are the midshipmen?” “Why,” replied h

42、e, “two of what you term young gentlemen are old enough to be your father, but take them in a lump they are not so bad; four of them are about your age, and full of fun and frolic. Now,” said he, “its time to be off.” He beckoned to a seaman near the door, who, I found, was the coxswain of the cutte

43、r. “Take this officers chest to the boat.” Here the waiter interposed, and said it was customary for the waterman of the “Blue Postesses” to take packages down to the water side. To this I consented, and away we trotted to sally port where the boat was lying. On our arrival at the stairs, I found an

44、other midshipman about my own age, who had been left in charge of the boats crew during the others absence. He eyed me obliquely; then turning to the elder, “I thought,” said he, pg 7“you would never come. I have been so bothered during the time you were away by three of the mens confounded trulls,

45、who wanted me to give them a passage off, that every five minutes appeared an hour, and I have only this moment got rid of them.” “Never mind, my boy,” said the other, “lets shove off.”Passing round a point, going out of the harbour, I observed a gibbet with part of a human skeleton hanging on it. “

46、You are looking at the remains of Jack the painter,” said the elder midshipman to me. “Do you know his history?” I answered in the negative. “Why,” said he, “that burning rascal set fire to the rope-house in the dockyard about the time you were born, and there the gentlemans bones are rattling to th

47、e breeze as a warning to others.” The wind was blowing strong, and we were more than an hour before we reached the frigate, which was lying at Spithead. My eyes during that time were fixed on twelve sail of the line ready for sea. As I had never seen a line of battleship, I was much struck with thei

48、r noble and imposing appearance, and I imagined everybody who served on board them must feel pride in belonging to them. After a severe pull we got alongside as the boatswain and his mates were piping to dinner. I followed the elder midshipman up the side, the other came up after me. On reaching the

49、 quarter-deck we made our bows, when I was introduced to the second lieutenant, who had the watch on deck. He asked me some indifferent pg 8questions, and sent for one of the masters mates to give orders respecting my hammock. The first lieutenant, an elderly, weather-beaten, gentlemanly looking person, now came on deck. I had a letter for him from my sisters husband-elect, which I gave him. After reading it he asked me how I had left