Life and Correspondence of John, Earl of St. Vincent (Volume 1) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1838 edition. Excerpt: ...intercepting Guillemont's squadron, and the Marengo; as the three divisions under Stirling, Harvey, and Strachan, will nearly spread over such parts of the Bay of Biscay (with an attention to Vigo and Ferrol) as the enemy is most likely to steer for, if bound to Rochefort, TOrient, or Brest. There were certainly three or four and twenty ships in Brest, a few of them very old, which I am apt to believe have been undergoing some sort of repair in the Arsenal: and I consider the two lately brought down, and far advanced in their rigging, as a proof of it. They have at all periods sent ships to sea that our officers would not serve in; I therefore keep as sharp a look-out, as if I were certain of their intention to push out. The wind is now so far to the southward, they cannot budge. The Impetueux continues at anchor off the Black Rocks, and the Diamond and l'Aigle off the Parquette, and I have been close in with Ushant every day. I most heartily congratulate your lordship on your excellent father's advancement in the peerage, and I hope soon to hear that you are called up by writ; for sure I am, the business of the Admiralty will not admit of your attendance in the House of Commons. Ever, my dear Lord, &c. St. Vincent. To Viscount Howick. Near Ushant, April 8, 1806. My dear Lord, Lieut. Faden, of the Royal Marines, now serving in the Hibernia, had much injustice done him, when I was at the head of the Board of Admiralty, owing to a gross misrepresentation from the Island of Alderney, which I was never informed of until he was placed near me in Essex, with a recruiting party of the Chatham division. The poor man lost four years' and a-half rank by this circumstance; and being a very meritorious officer, and well acquainted with the bayonet...