Note 119 — HIND, 28

Two very well-known singers. There are probably many still with us who have heard Braham—he did not retire finally till 1852—if only in ‘The Bay of Biscay.’ Incledon, who died in 1826, served, when a very young man, as an ordinary seaman on board the Formidable, Rodney’s flagship in the West Indies. According to the tradition still living 50 or 60 years ago, his talent was found out, and he used to be sent for, first to the ward room and afterwards to the admiral’s cabin, to sing after dinner; and when the ship paid off, he came on shore provided with letters of introduction which made the rest of his way easy. The details of his service in the navy, as given in the D.N.B., are certainly erroneous. The Formidable did not go to the West Indies till 1782; and Cleland did not then command her.