HMS REPULSE

74-gun ship of the line

1807

James now joined the Royal Navy and became Assistant Surgeon in HMS Repulse, in the Mediterranean. After the death of Nelson, Admiral Collingwood was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, a post that he held until his death in 1810. The Royal Navy had complete command of sea and what was left of the French and Spanish fleets was blockaded in the ports of Toulon, Port Mahon and Cadiz. Repulse took part in all three of these blockades.

MALTA

Saturday, October 3rd

Arrived Lord Collingwood in the Ocean, with Queen, Repulse, and Malta_.

Monday, October 5th_

Appointed to the Repulse, 74, as assistant surgeon. His Excellency Lord Forester arrived with Lord C.

MALTA TO TOULON STATION

October 9th

Repulse at Sea. Sailed this morning from Malta in company with Admiral Collingwood and squadron.

1808

OFF MINORCA

April 17th

Lord Collingwood appears to have formed a stratagem to decoy the Spanish Ships out of Port Mahon. During the night we altered our course and stood towards Minorca. At 8 we were off the Harbour, distant about 12 miles. We plainly discerned six Spanish men-of-war with colours hoisted and topgallant yards across; one of the them has a flag at the fore. Lord C. made the signal to the Apollo to chase the Leonidas, which ship had purposely got to windward during the night. Apollo made all sail towards Leonidas, with French colours flying, and fired several guns; Leonidas immediately shewed English colours and kept the wind. Signal was then made to Malta and Amphion to chase under French colours another sail to windward, and astern of the Leonidas. Lord C then hoisted a French Jack at the Main, and the Fleet hoisted French colours. At 10 tacked ship, performing the manoeuvres in French way. At 11 Admiral gave our signal to chase Leonidas; she was distant three miles from us and about 2 miles from Port Mahon Harbour. Fired bow chasers several times. Leonidas returned the fire with her stern chasers; beat to quarters. We cast loose the lower deck guns and fired our starboard broadside at her. At 11 and a half Leonidas tacked; we did the same and gave her our starboard broadside, which she returned. A spirited fire was also kept up from our bow guns. At 2pm the signal was made recalling us, together with Malta and Apollo. Leonidas close in shore. Signal was made to Amphion to part company. The Spaniards did not appear to make any movement. Four balls were flying at signal house; the hulls of one or two of the Spanish ships were seen from our poop. One of them appears to be a frigate. Admiral and fleet steering E. At 4 pm bore to SW. Distant 25 miles from the land. Signal was made to Formidable to make sail and hoist the recall flag.

In 1808 a popular revolt in Spain took place against the mad Bourbon King, Charles IV, his wife and her lover, Godoy. Napoleon took this opportunity to add Spain to the French Empire and placed his brother Joseph, who had been King of Naples, on the throne. Unfortunately Napoleon had underestimated the strength of the Spanish church and the patriotism of its people. A series of revolts took place against the French, one of which resulted in the Spanish forces taking control of the port of Cadiz, where the remnants of the French Fleet had taken refuge after Trafalgar.

GIBRALTAR

June 9th

The greatest bustle imaginable in the garrison and other detachments. The fortifications of this renowned rock have been vastly increased since I was there with the Russians in 1805. Sailed this afternoon with 1500 troops to Cadiz.

June 10th

Intelligence was received by the Telegraph that the Spanish Gunboats commenced an attack upon the French ships in Cadiz on Thursday afternoon. At 5 am got under weigh and proceeded towards Cadiz.

CADIZ

June 11th

At 1pm hove to off Cadiz; saw 12 sail of men-of-war, and several transports at anchor before Cadiz. Six French men-of-war lying at anchor at the farther end of Cadiz Harbour. Eight Spanish men-of-war at anchor out of the gunshot of the French ships, who have very large Ensigns hoisted; the Spaniards have their colours flying; four of our men-of-war are at anchor at the entrance of the Harbour; the remainder with transports, in all 35 sail, are at an anchor about 8 miles from Cadiz.

June 12th

The Spaniards wish us to enter the Harbour, but will not permit our troops to take possession of the Forts; an attack is to be made to-morrow upon the French ships by the Spanish Gunboats. Every Frenchman found in Cadiz is massacred.

June 14th

At 4 am got under weigh and worked down to Cadiz outer roads. At 7½ saw the French ships strike their colours, each ship firing a gun as she lowered her flag. At 10 am the Spanish flag was hoisted on board the French ships, and a feu de joie instantly took place, commencing with the batteries, finishing by the French ships.

July 24th

Bonaparte is now at Bayonne, vowing to take vengeance upon the Spaniards, at the head of an army of 200,000 men. Prince Murat, alias Grand Duke de Berg, has left Madrid, it is said, and supposed to be gone to Bayonne. The Galician army, of 90,000 men, is expected to enter Madrid to-day, the French force there being only 15,000 men, and expresses are hourly expected to arrive here, with an account of their destruction.

The French Admiral Rosilly, who lately commanded the squadron which surrendered here, is reported to very melancholy and weeps much for his present state. He commanded the fleets of France during the reign of Louis XVI. On the commencement of the Revolution, he went into retirement with his wife and family; he was however not suffered to enjoy that tranquillity which seclusion offered him, for he received a short but peremptory note desiring him to proceed immediately to Cadiz and supersede Admiral Villeneuve, who had incurred the displeasure of his despotic Emperor for not sailing from Cadiz. Adm. Villeneuve having intelligence of that, left Cadiz in a great hurry, taking the Spaniards, much against their will, along with him. He was in hopes of regaining Bonaparte's favour, should he escape the English fleet and accomplish the purport of his expedition; alas! The glorious battle of Trafalgar ruined his hopes of pardon; he returned to Cadiz, where he found Admiral Rosilly, by whom he was superseded and went to Paris, where he was privately assassinated by order of Bonaparte. Rosilly, it is believed, will share the same fate!

GIBRALTAR

June 27th

Anchored at Gibraltar. We have now received the pleasing intelligence that this ship is to go to England immediately with a convoy.

June 30th

Sailed the Ocean, and squadron for the Toulon station. The last intelligence from off that place mentions that the Magnificent was chased by two French line-of-battleships, but escaped, and that the Seahorse had had an action with a small Turkish squadron and captured a frigate.

September 1st

Sailed that beautiful frigate the Lavinia, of 40 guns, for England.

September 2nd

The -Venus_, frigate, once the prince of our Russian fleet, is lying here with Sicilian colours flying, having been captured at Palermo, as before mentioned. The Sicilians are at war with the Algerines. A Lady of a most exalted patriotic mind has raised 8 Regiments of volunteers at her private expense. A Gentleman in Sevilla has raised in like manner a corps of Cavalry.

September 20th

Admirals Collingwood and Purvis Breakfasted on board here; they then went and dined with the Governor of Cadiz. In the evening they went to the theatre, which was numerously attended. On their entrance they were loudly and repeatedly 'huzza'd' and 'Viva l'Inglese' resounded from every corner. The two Admirals returned here to sleep and early in the morning went to their ships.

GIBRALTAR TO PORTSMOUTH

October 2nd

Went on board the Eliza, brig, to see Miss Wetherell who is ill.

October 6th Calms and no prospect of soon seeing England. Again saw Miss W who is better; and passed a very pleasant hour in her and her friends' company.

October 13th

This evening we made the signal for the Eliza, brig, to part company; she being bound to Bristol. I am chagrined in not being able to take a farewell of my fair patient. Night soon veiled the vessel from mine eyes.

PORTSMOUTH

October 15th

At 11 am anchored with our convoy between Spithead and St Helens. To my great surprise I beheld the Russian squadron in which I had served lying here as hostages; lower yards down, neither Pennants nor colours flying, but lying in dirty neglected state, forming a forcible contrast between their former proud, and present degraded state.

After the Treaty of Tilsit the Russian squadron had sailed from Corfu in an attempt to return home. On their way to the Baltic, Seniavin had put in to Lisbon to escape the British fleet, which promptly blockaded him in the Tagus. He finally surrendered in 1808 to Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, on the understanding that he and his crews were to return to Russia and that his ships were to be given back when the war ended. Seniavin's fleet arrived at Portsmouth with music and flags flying, the Admiral declaring that he was in no sense a prisoner.

In 1813, two ships, the remnant of his fleet, sailed for Russia, the rest having been sold by the English government as scrap-wood and the money handed over to the Russians. On his return to Russia, Seniavin found himself disgraced and discredited.

16th October

There are a great number of men-of-war lying here, together with Rear-Admiral Tyler and squadron, who brought Vice-Admiral Seniavin and Squadron from Lisbon. The report is very current that this ship will be paid off, Capt Legge having represented her in a very bad state. It will give me great joy if she is paid off, as I shall be enabled to pursue my studies.

23rd October

I went on board my old ship and was most cordially received by the Captains and Officers. Capt. Rogenoff gave me a very honourable certificate, which will insure me a good reception in Russia should my prospects fail in my own country.

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