CHAP. XL.

CHAP. XL.

Fifteen thousand Marines were voted for the service of 1795.

In consequence of the reverses of France at Toulon, and in the battle of the 1st of June, her commerce was neglected, and her Sailors became dispirited. Limiting nearly the whole of her energies to one element, she was thus enabled in every quarter, to pour from her frontiers a host of Soldiers and of Conquerors.

Holland, hitherto our ally, was over-run by her legions, who, wherever they directed their steps, found the success of their arms already ensured by the delusive power of their principles. Although, in reality, a province, still a shew of acknowledged independence was maintained, and the Dutch were admitted as principals in a treaty of alliance which was concluded between the two republics. Thus fraternized, Great Britain had to reckon a new and decided enemy in a recent friend.

Accordingly, orders were issued in February 1795, for the detention of vessels and property belonging to the subjects of Holland, an expedition was framed against the Cape of Good Hope, and an authority to subdue her settlements in the East, were transmitted to our Commanders in that quarter of the world.

In those distant services the Corps of Marines bore a partial, but an active share.

The attempt against the Cape was entrusted to the immediate conduct of Sir George Elphinstone and Major General Craig, who arrived in Simon's Bay early in July. A fruitless summons to surrender it having been forwarded to its Governor, a debarkation of 450 of the 78th Regiment, and 350 Marines, under Major, now Colonel Hill, was effected upon the 14th, in time to save that town from devoted destruction.

Our troops had been expressly restrained from hostility against the Dutch forces, but such was their conduct that it soon provoked retaliation. It being necessary to dislodge them from the strong post of Mysenburgh, which was fortified with heavy guns, and secured from approach both by land and sea, by a steep mountain on the right, and shallow water, constantly agitated by surf, on its left, 800 Seamen were landed under the Captains Spranger and Hardy, which constituted a total strength of 1600 men. As they were without cannon, the whole awaited the fortune of a wind that would allow the ships of war to unite in the attack. This occurred on the 7th of August, when Commodore Blankett got under weigh with the America, Stately, Echo, and Rattlesnake; while General Craig advanced with his little army. So judicious was the Naval disposition, that the Dutch were driven by the fire of those ships, and some launches armed with carronades, from one post to another, which the troops successively occupied.

Retiring to a ridge of rocky heights beyond their camp, which they had abandoned, the enemy were very spiritedly assaulted by Major Moneypenny, at the head of the advanced guard, supported by the whole of the gallant 78th. Although seconded by some heavy guns that over-awed it from across the lagoon towards Cape-town, and possessing a hold almost impregnable from its situation, they were still forced from it, after a contest which closed only with the day. In the course of it, the Dutch left behind them some artillery, which were drilled, and once more rendered serviceable by Lieutenant Coffin and his company of pikemen, from the Rattlesnake.

On the morning of the 8th of August, the enemy having drawn their whole force from Cape-town, aimed it to recover the posts they had lost. Observing, however, the strength of the British positions, they desisted from any attempt, and the day was chiefly spent in skirmishing with the 1st battalion of Seamen, under Captain Hardy, and the Marines under Major Hill, who had passed the lagoon. General Craig says, that both Corps were distinguished throughout by regularity in manœuvre, and the most steady resolution. Major Hill was very ably assisted by the valuable advice of Captain, now Lieut. Colonel Sir John Douglas, during the whole of these fatiguing and combined duties.

A small reinforcement arrived on the 9th from St. Helena, but the pressures of the army daily increased to such a degree, that it became expedient, in order to alleviate them, to risque the storm of one of the enemy's principal out-posts on the 27th of August, which unfortunately failed. So critically were matters circumstanced, that it was determined between the Commanders in Chief to try the fortune of another assault in six days, if Sir Allured Clarke should not appear with the expected reinforcements. The Dutch had resolved, however, to anticipate this issue, which was, in event, to decide the fate of the Colony.

A disastrous affair on the 1st of September, in which the picquet was driven in with loss, and Major Moneypenny most severely wounded, encouraged them to this daring effort on the 3d. With a train of eighteen field-pieces, and all the strength they could muster, they appeared after break of day, but were stayed in their progress by the signal for a fleet having hove in sight.

On the 4th, Major General Craig resigned the command to Sir Allured Clarke, not without expressing his high sense of the animated exertions of all, in the face of a superior enemy, as well as for their cheerful resignation under the greatest hardships and fatigues.

From the powerful aids which had arrived, matters were pushed on most briskly, and the Army moved against the post of Wyneberg on the 14th. Here the Dutch demonstrated a shew of resistance; but Commodore Blanket appearing in Table Bay with three ships, in order to create a diversion, the enemy retreated, and early on the morning of the 16th, proposed terms of surrender. By these, the whole settlement was added to the British dominions.

Sir Allured Clarke united his cordial testimony with that of Sir George Elphinstone, of the very meritorious conduct of the Officers, Seamen, and Marines of the squadron, during a tedious service of labour and even privation of necessary food. Only nine Marines were wounded throughout.

In the East, the Islands of Ceylon and Manar, the Peninsula of Malacca, Cochin, a seaport on the coast of Malabar, and, in fine, most of the valuable settlements of the Dutch in Hindostan, fell successively under the combined efforts of our Naval and Military forces; in all of which, however, intrigue was more conspicuous than active hostility.

It falls not within my scope to enlarge upon the many disastrous events that took place in the West. There Victor Hughes, a man of the most consummate talents, but which were stained by inhumanity, acted both as the agent and the organ of republican France. He perfectly assimilated himself to the temper of his employers; recognizing only the rules of expediency, he was ever the ready advocate for the most sanguinary works, and felt not the controul of principle where it opposed his interests. His incendiary attempts will long be reviewed with horror by those islands which were the theatres of his plots.

This year abounded with Naval achievements.—In the Mediterranean the French suffered a defeat, on the 8th of March, from an inferior force, when on their way to recover Corsica. Admiral Hotham's loss, in killed and wounded, upon this partial occasion, was 315 Seamen and Marines.

Another action was fought on the 12th of July, which terminated in the capture of one ship. Captains Towry and Middleton, the Seamen and Marines of the Dido and Lowestoffe, were eminently noticed for their gallantry in a successful contest with two of the heaviest frigates from France, which terminated in the surrender of one; while the other found refuge in flight.

On the coast of America the Hon. Captain Cochrane, with Captain Beresford, were equally conspicuous in subduing their superior antagonists; in which the former says, that the carronades on the quarter deck of the Thetis, were very ably served by Lieut. (afterward Captain) Paul Crebbin, and the Marines under his command.

The masterly retreat of Vice-Admiral Cornwallis, in the face of an enemy nearly thrice his force, exhibited such a display of cool valour, as not to produce a parallel upon our annals. The energies of his pen bespoke the feelings of his invincible mind; and although the merit was exclusively his own, yet he generously shared it amongst his faithful associates, in these words:—

"Royal Sovereign, June 18, 1795.

"Vice Admiral Cornwallis returns his sincere thanks to the Captains, Officers, Seamen, and Marines of the Fleet under his orders, for their steady and gallant conduct in the presence of the French Fleet yesterday; which firmness, he has no doubt, deterred the enemy from making a more serious attack. It would give the Vice Admiral pleasure to put the whole of their exertions in effect by meeting a more equal force, when the Country would receive advantage, as it now does honour, from the spirit so truly manifested by its brave men."

This gratifying tribute was followed up to each, by the most precious tender which can be offered to a Briton—that of the legislative thanks of his Country.

The Marine Soldier can often be retraced upon those proud records.

It was reserved for Lord Bridport to convince the enemy of the decisive weight of an equal force. On the 23d of June they owed the salvation of all their Fleet to their formidable batteries, and the strong Naval port of L'Orient. Lieut. William Jephcote, of Marines, fell upon that day, which augmented our Fleet with three sail of the line.

The engagement betwixt La Blanche, Captain Faulkner, and the French frigate La Pique, fought early in 1795, off the island of Guadaloupe, affords a lasting test of the superiority of English discipline and courage. While our loss was confined to 29 killed and wounded, that of the republicans exceeded a total of 212. After exhibiting every quality of a judicious and brave Officer, Captain Faulkner was shot through the heart, who left not behind him a brighter example of true heroism.

The Marines of La Blanche behaved nobly, and maintained a constant fire under Lieut. Richardson, who, with Serjeant George Dice, did honour to their Corps.