CHAPTER III.

WAR WITH FRANCE AND SPAIN; AND THE SCOTCH REBELLION.

Receipt of intelligence from Anson-His arrival-His first request refused-Mr. Corbett's advice to him-Declines his promotion to the flag-Change of Administration-Appointed to the Admiralty -Character of the Duke of Bedford, Lord Sandwich, and Mr. Anson-Preparations for commencing hostilities-French fleet in the Channel-Sir John Norris sent to oppose it-A storm and its effects-Action of Lion and Elizabeth-The young Pretender embarks for Scotland-Intelligence of the Rebels from Mr. T. Anson -Anson left alone in the Admiralty-Bedford and Sandwich both ill-Singular complaint of the latter-Dangerous interference of the Crown with the jurisdiction of the Admiralty, by commanding a court martial-Result of that court martial-A writ of capias issued against the members-Their resolutions against Judge Willes He demands and obtains an apology-His characterActivity of cruisers-Capture of Louisburg-The case of Admiral Vernon-is ordered to strike his flag-is summoned to attend the Admiralty is struck off the list-Proceedings on this transactionSatirical letter of Mr. Legge-Several brilliant actions between single ships.

1744 to 1746.

THE anxiety felt by the family of Anson, during the long time in which no tidings of him had reached England, was relieved by the arrival of Captain Saunders and some of the other officers whose ships had been destroyed, and who had taken their passage in a Swedish vessel from Canton. Mr. Thomas Anson,

H

his brother, acknowledges the receipt of his letters, with the view of their meeting him on his passage home. "They give us," he says, "infinite delight, though they abound with very just complaints of disasters and disappointments. The public had given you immense wealth, and seems concerned to find the recompense falls so short of the dangers, toils, and merits of the service.* But if you can content yourself with the nobler reward of reputation and fame, rest assured, my dear commodore, of as large a share as you can wish or imagine to yourself. The captains of your squadron have been sought for, and pointed out in public places as a spectacle; most graciously received at the Admiralty, and promised what ships they would ask for; Lord Winchelsea, who is at the head of it (your friend Corbett secretary), declaring that they would confirm whatever Anson did. This I mention that, in case you have a mind to make any new officers, or advance any that are made, the least pretence may probably suffice."

Whether Mr. Thomas Anson mistook Captain Saunders, or this officer, as naval officers sometimes do, considered as promises what were only meant as expressions of approbation, it is certain that Commodore Anson, on his arrival, did not find matters at the Admiralty wearing so smiling an aspect as his brother had described. In reply to his letter of the

* Anson had not captured the Spanish galleon when his letters were written from Canton.

14th June, from St. Helens, announcing his arrival, and transmitting an account of the transactions at Canton, including that of the capture of the Acapulco ship, the secretary coolly acknowledges the receipt, adding that he had communicated it to their lordships, "and I take" (the secretary takes!) "the opportunity of wishing you joy on your arrival in England." And this was all,-chilling enough it must be admitted,-in reply to a man who, for four years nearly, had suffered more hardships than had fallen to the lot of almost any human being; but Anson was not a man of much punctilio, and wrote, in a quiet manner, another letter "to their Lordships," stating the circumstances under which he had made his first lieutenant, Brett, acting captain of the Centurion, in his absence to wait upon, and arrange important matters with, the viceroy of Canton, and requested his commission might be confirmed. He was told he had no power to make such an appointment, and of course that it could not be confirmed.

Just at this time (the 19th June) a promotion of three rear-admirals was made, of whom Anson was one; and he was informed by letter, which enclosed his commission, that the king had been pleased to raise him to the rank of rear-admiral of the blue. As no further notice had been taken in favour of his lieutenant and friend, Brett, he at once returned the commission of rear-admiral of the blue, expressing his concern to find himself under the necessity of

declining that mark of regard, which his Majesty had been pleased to bestow upon him, and which he found he could not accept with honour.

This high feeling will perhaps be considered to have led him rather too hastily to adopt, and to act upon, such a resolution; but it brings to one's recollection a somewhat similar proceeding on the part of Sir George Rooke, when Prince George of Denmark, the Lord High Admiral, refused to promote his captain, Wishart; with this difference, however, in the two cases, that Rooke only threatened to retire from the service, unless he carried his point (which he did), whereas Anson sent back his commission at once, which the board did not condescend to restore to him, though, at the very same moment, they promoted Brett to be a captain, without taking the least notice of it to Anson. Nay, on the very day that Brett's commission was dated, Anson received the following letter from Mr. Corbett, the secretary of the Admiralty, full of good sense and of friendly counsel, no doubt; but it came too late.

"DEAR SIR,

"Though the giving advice is the most hazardous office of friendship, it is (in proper season) the sincerest proof of it. It is from that motive I address this letter to youthe first occasion you have ever given me for it in a course of more than twenty years' happiness of your acquaintance.

"The conduct you have shown in a late perilous expedition-the happy completion of it with so much judgment

and resolution-has distinguished your character in an uncommon manner, and make you regarded as one of the ablest to serve and support your country.

"Is it possible for one of such excellent endowments to justify so tenaciously an act, irregular, unnecessary, unprecedented, as to make the confirmation of it a condition of your continuance in the service, and of your acceptance of the late mark of his Majesty's regard for you?

"The reason you urge for insisting on the commission you gave, constituting a captain' under you in the Centurion, is, that it has ever been your opinion, a person entrusted with command may and ought to exceed his orders, and dispense with the common rule of proceedings, when extraordinary occasions require it.'

"Your opinion is very just. When a commander finds his orders or instructions insufficient, and he can do his country better service by violating or exceeding them, it indicates a great mind to judge and make a successful use of such occasions.

"But the application of this rule does not avail here. You are named to go with a squadron upon a distant expedition, without any captain under you in your own ship. You accept the command on those terms, and serve all the time accordingly. But after the whole expedition is at an end, and not one ship left with you but your own, nor any other service to be performed, but to return home, you appoint a captain under you.

"Do any of those extraordinary occasions appear here, wherein common rules of proceedings should be dispensed with? Does a journey of a few hours to an audience of the vice-king at Canton come up to it? The precaution you took, before setting out, to secure the king's ship, and the treasure, in case any accident happened to your person, was a