Note 89 — Chapter VII

One of the most remarkable incidents of the manning of a ship of war is that of Sir Edward Pellew and H.M.S. Nymphe. When war was declared by the French in February, 1793, it was unexpected; and the navy was on a peace establishment of only 16,000 sailors and marines. It was necessary at once to increase this number to 60,000. Pellew, finding it impossible to get seamen for his frigate, at once put eighty Cornish miners on board his ship, and a few months later fought and won the celebrated action with the Cleopatra—most of his crew never having seen a shot fired before. (See Osler’s ‘Life of Viscount Exmouth.’)