July 26, 2025 • 25 mins
Immerse yourself in the thrilling tales of Lord Cochrane, a renowned sea captain from the Napoleonic era, whose life was rich with high-seas adventures that later inspired numerous naval fiction series. This second volume of his biography, penned by his secretary and son, completes the unfinished Autobiography of a Seaman. Discover how Cochrane valiantly assists the Greeks against the Ottoman Empire, marks his presence in the House of Lords, regains his knighthood, and makes a striking comeback to the Royal Navy.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter twenty six of the life of Thomas Lord Cochrane,
tenth Earl of dun Donald, completing the Autobiography of a Seaman,
Volume two by Henry Richard Fox's Bourne. This LibriVox recording
is in the public domain recording by Timothy ferguson eighteen
thirty nine, eighteen forty eight. The restoration of his naval
rank to the Earl of dun Donald in eighteen thirty
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two was slowly followed by other acts reversing the injustice
of previous years, by which a large portion of his
life had been embittered. Your Lordship in the Admiralty, he
wrote to Lord Minto, then the head of Naval Affairs,
on the thirtieth of March eighteen thirty nine, may be
surprised that I have never solicited any appointment since my
reinstatement in the Naval service by his late Majesty, whose
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memory I shall ever cherish. For this magnanimous act of justice.
The cause, my Lord, has not been from any reluctance
on my part, but from a feeling which I have
no doubt will appear satisfactory to your Lordship if you
do me the favor to read this enclosed copy of
a letter which I have written this day to the
Marquess of Lansdowne, as President of the Council. Reader's note
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letter ends. The letter to Lord Lansdowne referred in great
part to Lord dun Donald's rotary engine and to his
secret war plan, which he expressed his willingness to put
into execution if ever it was required. Your Lordship in
the Privy Council, however, it was added, will not fail
to observe that if it shall ever be the intention
of the Government, under any circumstances again to employ me
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in the Naval service, it would be quite inconsistent with
the character of that service, as well as my own reputation,
for me to assume command. Unless the Order of the
Bath gained on the twelfth of April eighteen o nine,
now thirty years ago, shall be restored to me. I
hope it will appear to your lordship, said Lord mc
donald in a letter to Lord Melbourne, dated the eleventh
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of July eighteen thirty nine, that my services as a
naval officer have been useful and honorable to my country,
and referring to those services and to the peculiar opportunities
I have since hard of acquiring further professional knowledge. I
may say without vanity that Her Majesty has no officer
in her navy more experienced than myself. And yet from
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the extraordinary circumstances of my case, I am the only
flag officer in Her Majesty's service, who, if called upon
to take a command, could not do so consistently with
his own honor and the respect due to those who
might be appointed to serve unto him. For whereas the
officer who could not conveniently call to mind that I, who,
when una Captain, was a Knight of the Bath, was
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deprived of that honor, and that now, though a flag officer,
I have not been deemed worthy of having it restored.
I am sensible, wrote Lord dun Donald in another letter
to the Premier, written eight days later, that the act
of justice which I experienced from the late King under
the Ministry of Earl Gray, of which your Lordship was
a distinguished member, in restoring me to my naval rank,
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was a great favor inasmuch as it evinced a considerable
feeling towards me, and I was then fully satisfied with it,
under the impression that it would be viewed by the public,
and especially by the Navy, as a testimony of the
belief of the government at that time that I was
innocent of the offense that had been laid to my charge,
and also that I should stand as good a chance
as most of my brother officers, and perhaps from my experience,
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a better of being called to active service. I did
not then foresee that the restoration by naval rank alone
would be viewed as a half measure. Still less did
I anticipate that, in the event of my being offered
an appointment, I should be incapacitated from accepting it by
reason of the feelings of other officers that I still
labored under some imputation which would render it derogatory to
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them to serve under me. But it is now impossible
for me to conceal from myself the fact that, while
the Navy generally is kindly disposed towards me and would
rejoice to see me fully reinstated on all that I
once enjoyed, I am considered by many to remain as
completely precluded from active service as if my name had
never more appeared in the Navy list. I trust, my Lord,
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that it cannot be thought reasonable to reduce me to
the inglorious condition of a retired or yellow admiral at home,
and at the same time to denarm me the privilege
of acquiring either emolument or distinction in foreign service. Lord
Dundonnald's hope was that on the occasion of Her Majesty's
marriage there would be a bestowal of honors which would
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afford a convenient opportunity for the restoration of his dignity
as a Knight of the Bath. But in this he
was disappointed. A minor favor was conferred upon him, however,
and in a very gratifying way, eighteen months later. You
are probably aware, wrote Lord Minto, to whom on the
third of January eighteen forty one, that the death of
Sir Henry Baintham has vacated one of the pensions for
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good and matorious service. Before I left down a few
days ago, I made my arrangements to enable me to
confer this pension upon you, if you should think it
worthy of your acceptance, either as evidence of the high
esteem in which I have ever held your services, or
as convenient in a pecuniary point of view. Although you
are one of the few who have not applied for this.
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I do not fear that any one the us numerous
claimants can show so good a title to it. That
compliment was accepted by Lord dun Donald in a spirit
answering to that in which it was offered, Yet his
reasonable anxiety for a restitution of the Order of the
Bath was not abated, and thereupon he was engaged in
a correspondence with the Earl of Haddington, then First Lord
of the Admiralty, during the early part of eighteen forty two,
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which was closed by the intimation bitterly disappointing to Lord
dun Donald that the Cabinet Council declined recommending to the
Queen to comply with his earnest request. Equally disappointing was
the result of another application with the same object, which
were made to Sir Robert Peel in the autumn of
eighteen forty four. Her Majesty's servants wrote, Sir Robert Peel,
on the seventh of November, have had under consideration the
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letter which I received from your Lordship bearing date the
tenth of September, on reference to the proceedings which were
adopted in the year eighteen thirty two, it appears that
previously to the restoration of your lordship to your rank
in the Navy, a free pardon under the Great Seal
was granted to your Lordship, and using to that circumstance,
and to the fact that thirty years have now elapsed
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since the charges to which the free pardon had reference
with the subject of investigation before the proper judicial tribunal
of the country, her Majesty's servants cannot, consistent with their duty,
advise the Queen to reopen an inquiry into those charges,
but not let her ends. Lord Dundonald failed to see,
in the partial reversal twelve years before of the unjust
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treatment to which he had been subjected eighteen years before
that a reason for refusing to inquire whether there was
any injustice yet to be atoned for. He had, not, however,
very much longer to wait for the object which he sought.
One of the grounds for desiring a public recognition of
the efficacy of his secret war plans was a reasonable
belief that if it was seen that through half a
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lifetime he had steadfastly avoided using for his private advantage
what might have been to him a vast source of
wealth in order that the secret might be reserved solely
for the benefit of his country. It would be acknowledged
to be in dable that for insignificant ends he could
have resorted to the grossome clumsy fraud attributed to him
at the stock exchange trial. And in this expectation he
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was right. Nearly all the reparation that was now possible
quickly followed upon the investigation into the war plans that
was referred to in the last chapter. While the investigation
was pending, he was pained by a letter from Sir
Thomas Hastings, not unkind in itself, but showing that his
real motives for courting that investigation were not understood. I
made a communication today, wrote Sir Thomas, on the twenty
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seventh of November eighteen forty six, that the Commission had
entered on its duties and received instructions to inform you
that it would be desirable before the Commission proceeded further
to ascertain your Lordship's use as to the nature of
the renumeration you would expect from the Government in the
event of your plans being reported on favorably. Reader's note
letter ends. Lord Dundonnell's reply was characteristic, you intimate a
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wish on the part of the government. He wrote on
the first of December, to ascertain my views in regard
to the renumeration I expect in the event of my
plans being favorably reported on. I replied that I had
devoted these plans thirty five years ago to the service
of my country, that I have reserved them through the
most adverse and trying circumstances, satisfied that at some future
time I should prove my character to be above pecuniary
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considerations or mercenary motives. I have looked forward to the
restitution of those honors of which I was most unjustly bereaved,
and to freedom from mental anguish endured throughout an isolation
from society of one thirty century. I cannot contrast with
such sufferings, nor with my plans any sum the government
could bestow. Nevertheless, I have implicitly relied that collateral deprivations
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and losses would be taken into consideration by some future
just an impartial administration. I do most earnestly hope that
the period has now arrived. Readers, no letter ends. That
letter was communicated by Sir Thomas Hastings to Lord Auckland.
I return the letter he wrote to Sir Thomas on
the sixteenth of December, which Lord Dundnell wrote to you
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upon the renumeration he would expect in the event of
a favorable report upon his plans, namely, first his restoration
to the honors of which he was deprived, and secondly
a consideration of collateral deprivations and losses. I am sorry
to acquaint you that the first condition is one to
which I am not authorized to promise an acquiescence. It
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is not necessary that I should discuss the difficulties which
occurred to the restoration in question. I can only express
my own deep regret that they should exist, and that
the hopes which have been entertained by Lord Dunnald should
be disappointed. For myself, I personally regard him. I look
upon his naval career as most remarkable and most honorable,
and I must lament whatever may seem to detract from
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the advantage and grace of his return to the navy.
Is no letter ends, Sir Thomas Hastings, wrote Lord Dundnald
to Lord Auckland on the following day, has sent me
your sympathizing note on the decision of the Cabinet Council
in regard to the first item designated as the renumeration
I would expl effect in the event of a favorable
report on my plans. Now, after the expression of my
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deep sense of gratitude to your Lordship for having brought
the question before the Cabinet, I do most sincerely rejoice
that the first condition is one to which you are
not authorized to promise an acquiescence. I could not deem
acquiescence a renuneration, nor could I value it otherwise than
as evidence of conviction produced by facts and the tenor
of a whole life of my incapacity of descending to
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base acts for gain at any period of my existence,
especially at the moment when I can prove that I
had objects of the highest national importance and most brilliant
personal prospects in view. In confirmation of disinterestedness, I further
hold my retention of the secret war plans for a
period of thirty five years, notwithstanding frequent opportunities to use
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them to my incalculable private advantage. The merit of these plans,
though I am well aware of their value, is yet
officially unpronounced by the Commission appointed to report. Therefore, the
preceding acts being doubtful, I repeat that I do most
sincerely rejoice that the Cabinet Council have manifested that the
decision depends neither on favor nor on the value of
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the plans themselves. For seeing that whatever may be the
ultimate determination, it must be founded on facts and justified
by the exposition of my conduct and character. I am
preparing a document which, whatever may be my fate, pending
the brief remainder of my existence, will justify my memory
when grievous wrongs shall cease to prey on a mind which,
save from the consciousness of rectitude, would in a brief time,
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have bowed my head with humiliation to the ground. It
is no letter end. The document there referred to was
a pamphlet entitled Observations on Naval Affairs and on some
Collateral Subjects. In it were concisely enumerated Lord Dundonald's services
as a British naval officer and the hardships brought upon
him by the unmerited stock exchange trial. The pamphlet was
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published in February eighteen forty seven and immediately excited considerable attention.
I hope the difficulties which have prevented the realization of
your wishes may be removed shortly, wrote Sir Thomas Hastings
on the second of March. But services so distinguished and
a career so splendid and full of professional instruction as
your lordships, can never be blotted out or rendered dim
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in the annals of the naval history of our country. Readers,
Note letter ends. I have had the kindest note possible
from the Marquess of Lansdowne, said Lord Dundonald, in a
letter written on the twenty seventh of April. Lord Auckland
was at our house on Saturday, and he spoke in
the kindest and most feeling manner. I hear from all
quarters that the pamphlet has made and is making a
great impression, and I have every hope that all will
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end well. Reader note letterands all did end well the
public announcement on the highest authority of the value of
his secret war plans, and the consequent exhibition of his
disinterested patriotism in so long preserving them for his country's use,
followed by the bold appeal made by him to the
public through his pamphlet brought success at last to his
long continued efforts to obtain a restoration of his dignity
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a night of the Bath. His best friends in the Cabinet,
especially Lords Lansdowne and Auckland, had influence, though not all
the influence they desired upon other cabinet and Privy councilors
who were opposed to the tardy act of justice, but
they did not wait for the assent of all. On
the sixth of May, Lord Lansdowne represented the case to
Her Majesty the Queen, and received her promise that with
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or without the approval of her Privy Councilors, she would
confer the next vacant order of the Bath upon Lord
dun Donald. Fortunately, a vacancy occurred immediately through the death
of Admiral Sir Davage Gould. Lord Auckland has called, wrote
Lord dun Donald on the ninth of May, and inform
me officially that the Queen has placed at his disposal
the vacant order of the Bath, and that, in conformity
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with the intention with which it was so placed, he
was too deliberate to me. I have information from the palace,
he wrote a few days later, that Her Majesty has
had the conversation as to the justice of some further
atonement for the injuries that had been inflicted on me,
and that she said it was a subject of regret,
and such was not in her power. But should the
subject be entertained by her advisers, her concurrence would not
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be wanting. Forge letter ends that further act of justice
was never rendered, but Lord Dundonald rejoiced that the more
important measure, that which, by restoring the dignity wrongfully taken
from him, would do more than anything else to set
him right in the eyes of the world, was at
last adopted. It gives me sincere pleasure, wrote Lord John
Russell on the twelfth of May, in answer to a
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letter thanking him for the conduct of his administration, that
the last act of the government has been so gratifying
to you. Your services to your country are recorded among
those of the most brilliant of a war, signalized by
heroic achievements. I will lay before Her Majesty the expression
of your gratitude, and I can assure you that the
Queen has sanctioned, with the greatest satisfaction the advice of
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her ministers letter on the twenty fifth of May, the
order being dated the twenty second, Lord Dundonald was gazerted
as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.
And this act of grace was rendered more graceful by
the personal interest shown by Prince Albert, who, as Grand
Master of the Order, dispensed with the customary formalities and delays,
and on the following morning, caused a warrant to be
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sent to him in order that he might wear the
cross at the birthday drawing room, which he attended by
Her Majesty's command on the twenty seventh of May. Thus
another step was made in the way of retribution for
the injuries inflicted on him in eighteen fourteen and in
the ensuing years to day. He wrote, on the twelfth
of July there was a grand muster at the Palace
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of all the Knight's Grand crosses and many inferior crosses,
and I was installed. Lord Ellenborough was one of my sponsors,
and the Duke of Wellington shook hands with me and
expressed his satisfaction at my restoration to the Order. I
am glad to tell you that the ceremony of knighting
of which I was afraid was not resorted to. So
my nightshap dates back to the twenty seventh of April
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eighteen o nine. Reader's note letter ends in another effort
to obtain full justice for himself self. However, he was unsuccessful.
The great expenses that sprung out of his long continued
scientific and mechanical pursuits had absorbed all his scanty sources
of income, and he was forcibly urged that, in accordance
with the precedent furnished by a similar grant to Sir
Robert Wilson in eighteen thirty two, he was entitled to
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the areas of pay due to him for the seventeen
years during which he had been kept out of his
position in the British Navy. But his request was refused,
and the heavy pecuniary loss, as well as other and
much heavier deprivations consequent on a persecution that has ever
since admitted to have been wholly undeserved, has never been compensated.
Footnote part of a letter which Lord Dundonnell received on
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this subject four years afterwards from mister Joseph Hume, though
quoted in his autobiography, is too important to be here omitted.
I considered, wrote the great Champion of public Economy, on
the tenth of May eighteen fifty two, that you were
incapable of taking the means that were resorted to by
mister Cochrane Johnson, and for which you suffered, And I
was pleased to learn that you had been restored to
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your rank. I considered that act a proof that the
government which had restored you to the rank and honors
of your profession, and had afterwards appointed you to the
command in the West Indies, must have come to the
same conclusion until the perusal of your draft petition. I
concluded that you had all your arrears paid to you
as attardi, though inadequate, return to your lordship, whose early
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exploits did honor to yourself, and gave loster to the
naval service of the country to which you belonged. His Majesty,
King William the Fourth was satisfied with the innocence of
Sir Robert Wilson, and he was restored to the service,
was I understand paid all the arrears of pay and
allowances during his suspension, and afterwards appointed to the Command
of Gibraltar. I was pleased at the result, and it
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would give me equal pleasure to learn that your application
to Her Majesty should be attended with an act of
justice to you equally merited. Lord Palmerston subsequently, in answer
to an application from Lord dun Donald forgetting Sir Robert
Wilson's case, said there was no precedent for such an act.
Lord dun Donald answered that there was no president for
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such injustice as had been done to him. Footnote ends.
Shortly after that event, Lord Dunnald soot to be elected
one of the Scotch representative peers in the House of Lords.
Now that his load of unmerited disgrace was shaken off,
he desired to resume his old functions as a legislator,
and this with no abatement of his zeal for the
welfare of the people, but with none of the violence
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which his own heavy sufferings at the time of their
first and heaviest pressure had partially caused him to show
during his former parliamentary career. Being now a peer, he
could not return to his seat in the House of Commons,
and being a Scotch peer, he could only sit in
the House of Lords as one of the delegates from
the aristocracy of his native land among these. He therefore
asked for at place at the election in September eighteen
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forty seven. He did not, however, begin to seek it
early enough. Other candidates had, according to custom, obtained promises
of a majority of votes from electors before he thought
of canvassing, and he was thus left in a minority.
Many peers, however, who on this occasion were unable to
support it, off to pledge their votes to him for
the next election. A minor favor was at this time
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shown to Lord don Donald, which afforded him real gratification.
In eighteen thirty five, he had been allowed by King
William the Fourth to use the insignia of a Grand
Commander of the Order of the Savior of Greece, conferred
upon him by King Ortho. In August eighteen forty seven,
he applied to the Cabinet for permission to use the
title of Marquis of Marinam and the Grand Cross of Brazil,
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both of which had been conferred upon him by the
Emperor Pedro I in eighteen twenty three. I have to
acquaint you a lordship, wrote Lord Palmerston, then Foreign Secretary,
on the eleventh of October, that under the peculiar circumstances
of the case which have prevented the application being made earlier.
The Queen has signified her pleasure that you should be
permitted to accept the Grand Cross of the Order of
the Cruiserrio. With regard, however, to the title of Marquis
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of Marinam. It is my duty to state to your
Lordship that, after a full consideration, Her Majesty's Government regret
that they cannot advise the Queen to grant you the
desired permission. While Her Majesty's Government duly appreciated the services
rendered by your Lordship to the Crown of Brazil, they
consider it to be, on general principles so undesirable that
distinguished officers of the British Navy should have foreign titles
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that they feel themselves compelled to decline. Complying with your
request letter ends, I beg to assure your Lordship, wrote
Lord dun Donald in reply on the eighteenth of October,
that I feel more gratitude in being informed of the
sentiment of Her Majesty's Government in regard to my faithful
and zealous services in Brazil than I ever experienced from
the title conferred on me as the honorary portion of
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my reward for such services. As far as it relates
to assuming the title in my native country, I entreat
your Lordship to believe I never entertained the intention. Letter ends.
A memorable occurrence soon followed. Now that his honors, as
well as his naval rank were restored to him, he
had no reason of holding back from active service in
his profession, and the Earl of Auckland, anxious to make
uses far as use could be made in peace time
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of his great and varied experience, and also to give
further proof of the desire at last to render him
all possible honor, was prompt in offering him freshad employment
on the sea. I shall shortly have to name a
commander in chief for the North American and West Indian Station,
wrote Lord Auckland on the twenty seventh of December eighteen
forty seven. Will you accept the appointment? I shall feel
it to be an honor and a pleasure to have
you named to it, and I am satisfied that you denomination
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will be agreeable to her Majesty, as it will be
to the country and particularly to the Navy, Letter ends.
Lord dun Donald did accept the appointment, rejoicing in it
as a further step in reparation for the injuries by
which he had been hindered a whole generation before from
rising to the highest rank in the naval service of
his country. He might then have achieved victories over the French,
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which would have surpassed his brilliant exploits at Basque roads.
He could now only direct the quiet operations of a
small fleet in a time of peace. This, however, being
the best that it was now possible for him to do,
he gladly undertook permit me. He wrote to Lord Auckland,
to assure your lordship that this gracious act has further
tended to obliterate the deep and painful impressions made by
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thirty years of mental suffering, such as no language can describe.
But for my lord, the agony produced by false accusations
on an honorable mind is infinitely greater than merited infliction
of death itself. I will leave your lordship then to
estimate the amount of obligation I fail to convey, and
beg you to allow me to express a hope that
your generous recommendation to Her Majesty will be justified by
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my zealous endeavors to fulfill the duties I owe to
my sovereign and country. Letter ends. I have waited for
Her Majesty's assent to your appointment, said the Earl of
Auckland in a letter written on the third of January
eighteen forty eight, before answering your letter on the twenty eighth. Ultimo,
This assent has been most cordially given, and you may
now consider yourself comme under in chief of the North
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American and West Indian Station. And I may repeat that
my share in this proceeding has given me very great pleasure,
and that I am confirmed in my feelings of gratification
by the terms in which you speak of occupying your
former place in the Navy. I am glad for you,
and I am glad for myself that I have done
this just and honorable act. Letter ends. Very hearty was
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the satisfaction expressed by all classes. As soon as Lord
dundonnald'sppointment was made public. I beg wrote mister Delane, the
editor of the Times, earliest of all in tendering his compliments,
to offer my very hearty congratulations upon your appointment. All
that remained to efface the stain of such unmerited persecution.
The communication you have just made to me, wrote the
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Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, is most gratifying, and the
First Lord of the Admiralty has done himself immortal honor
in appointing that naval officer commander in one hemisphere, who
had previously illustrated his name by his most brilliant exploits
in the other. Everything I think has now been done
to under the foul aspersions with which you have been assailed,
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and I am sure now everything will be done that
can most serve to establish the ability of the officer
and the delicacy of the gentleman. I congratulate you most
sincerely upon your appointment, and I hope you will meet
with difficulties when you arrive at your destination. Don't be
surprised at this my wish. It proceeds from knowing the
ample resources of my friend to overcome them, and his
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constant desire to sacrifice everything to duty and honor. I
derive the greatest pleasure and satisfaction from your appointment to
the command of a British fleet, wrote Sir George Sinclair,
an appointment not less creditable to the ministry than honorable
to yourself. I cannot help contemplating with affectionate sorrow the
portrait of our dearest friend, Sir Francis Burdett, now suspended
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over the chimney piece, and thinking how happy he would
have been had he witnessed this most welcome and delightful consummation.
Permit me the honor, wrote Admiral John White, to bear
testimony to the high gratification I feel, as seeing by
the papers the announcement of your Lordship's having taken the
command of the West India and Halifax stations, the whole
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British Empire has expressed great joy at this justice having
been done to the bravery of your Lordship as an officer,
and your goodness and honor as a man brit His
note letters end that last sentence told no more than
the truth. End of Chapter twenty six. Recording by Timothy ferguson,
Gold Coast, Australia,
Chapter twenty six of the life of Thomas Lord Cochrane,
tenth Earl of dun Donald, completing the Autobiography of a Seaman,
Volume two by Henry Richard Fox's Bourne. This LibriVox recording
is in the public domain recording by Timothy ferguson eighteen
thirty nine, eighteen forty eight. The restoration of his naval
rank to the Earl of dun Donald in eighteen thirty
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two was slowly followed by other acts reversing the injustice
of previous years, by which a large portion of his
life had been embittered. Your Lordship in the Admiralty, he
wrote to Lord Minto, then the head of Naval Affairs,
on the thirtieth of March eighteen thirty nine, may be
surprised that I have never solicited any appointment since my
reinstatement in the Naval service by his late Majesty, whose
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memory I shall ever cherish. For this magnanimous act of justice.
The cause, my Lord, has not been from any reluctance
on my part, but from a feeling which I have
no doubt will appear satisfactory to your Lordship if you
do me the favor to read this enclosed copy of
a letter which I have written this day to the
Marquess of Lansdowne, as President of the Council. Reader's note
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letter ends. The letter to Lord Lansdowne referred in great
part to Lord dun Donald's rotary engine and to his
secret war plan, which he expressed his willingness to put
into execution if ever it was required. Your Lordship in
the Privy Council, however, it was added, will not fail
to observe that if it shall ever be the intention
of the Government, under any circumstances again to employ me
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in the Naval service, it would be quite inconsistent with
the character of that service, as well as my own reputation,
for me to assume command. Unless the Order of the
Bath gained on the twelfth of April eighteen o nine,
now thirty years ago, shall be restored to me. I
hope it will appear to your lordship, said Lord mc
donald in a letter to Lord Melbourne, dated the eleventh
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of July eighteen thirty nine, that my services as a
naval officer have been useful and honorable to my country,
and referring to those services and to the peculiar opportunities
I have since hard of acquiring further professional knowledge. I
may say without vanity that Her Majesty has no officer
in her navy more experienced than myself. And yet from
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the extraordinary circumstances of my case, I am the only
flag officer in Her Majesty's service, who, if called upon
to take a command, could not do so consistently with
his own honor and the respect due to those who
might be appointed to serve unto him. For whereas the
officer who could not conveniently call to mind that I, who,
when una Captain, was a Knight of the Bath, was
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deprived of that honor, and that now, though a flag officer,
I have not been deemed worthy of having it restored.
I am sensible, wrote Lord dun Donald in another letter
to the Premier, written eight days later, that the act
of justice which I experienced from the late King under
the Ministry of Earl Gray, of which your Lordship was
a distinguished member, in restoring me to my naval rank,
(02:51):
was a great favor inasmuch as it evinced a considerable
feeling towards me, and I was then fully satisfied with it,
under the impression that it would be viewed by the public,
and especially by the Navy, as a testimony of the
belief of the government at that time that I was
innocent of the offense that had been laid to my charge,
and also that I should stand as good a chance
as most of my brother officers, and perhaps from my experience,
(03:13):
a better of being called to active service. I did
not then foresee that the restoration by naval rank alone
would be viewed as a half measure. Still less did
I anticipate that, in the event of my being offered
an appointment, I should be incapacitated from accepting it by
reason of the feelings of other officers that I still
labored under some imputation which would render it derogatory to
(03:35):
them to serve under me. But it is now impossible
for me to conceal from myself the fact that, while
the Navy generally is kindly disposed towards me and would
rejoice to see me fully reinstated on all that I
once enjoyed, I am considered by many to remain as
completely precluded from active service as if my name had
never more appeared in the Navy list. I trust, my Lord,
(03:57):
that it cannot be thought reasonable to reduce me to
the inglorious condition of a retired or yellow admiral at home,
and at the same time to denarm me the privilege
of acquiring either emolument or distinction in foreign service. Lord
Dundonnald's hope was that on the occasion of Her Majesty's
marriage there would be a bestowal of honors which would
(04:17):
afford a convenient opportunity for the restoration of his dignity
as a Knight of the Bath. But in this he
was disappointed. A minor favor was conferred upon him, however,
and in a very gratifying way, eighteen months later. You
are probably aware, wrote Lord Minto, to whom on the
third of January eighteen forty one, that the death of
Sir Henry Baintham has vacated one of the pensions for
(04:38):
good and matorious service. Before I left down a few
days ago, I made my arrangements to enable me to
confer this pension upon you, if you should think it
worthy of your acceptance, either as evidence of the high
esteem in which I have ever held your services, or
as convenient in a pecuniary point of view. Although you
are one of the few who have not applied for this.
(04:58):
I do not fear that any one the us numerous
claimants can show so good a title to it. That
compliment was accepted by Lord dun Donald in a spirit
answering to that in which it was offered, Yet his
reasonable anxiety for a restitution of the Order of the
Bath was not abated, and thereupon he was engaged in
a correspondence with the Earl of Haddington, then First Lord
of the Admiralty, during the early part of eighteen forty two,
(05:20):
which was closed by the intimation bitterly disappointing to Lord
dun Donald that the Cabinet Council declined recommending to the
Queen to comply with his earnest request. Equally disappointing was
the result of another application with the same object, which
were made to Sir Robert Peel in the autumn of
eighteen forty four. Her Majesty's servants wrote, Sir Robert Peel,
on the seventh of November, have had under consideration the
(05:42):
letter which I received from your Lordship bearing date the
tenth of September, on reference to the proceedings which were
adopted in the year eighteen thirty two, it appears that
previously to the restoration of your lordship to your rank
in the Navy, a free pardon under the Great Seal
was granted to your Lordship, and using to that circumstance,
and to the fact that thirty years have now elapsed
(06:04):
since the charges to which the free pardon had reference
with the subject of investigation before the proper judicial tribunal
of the country, her Majesty's servants cannot, consistent with their duty,
advise the Queen to reopen an inquiry into those charges,
but not let her ends. Lord Dundonald failed to see,
in the partial reversal twelve years before of the unjust
(06:24):
treatment to which he had been subjected eighteen years before
that a reason for refusing to inquire whether there was
any injustice yet to be atoned for. He had, not, however,
very much longer to wait for the object which he sought.
One of the grounds for desiring a public recognition of
the efficacy of his secret war plans was a reasonable
belief that if it was seen that through half a
(06:46):
lifetime he had steadfastly avoided using for his private advantage
what might have been to him a vast source of
wealth in order that the secret might be reserved solely
for the benefit of his country. It would be acknowledged
to be in dable that for insignificant ends he could
have resorted to the grossome clumsy fraud attributed to him
at the stock exchange trial. And in this expectation he
(07:09):
was right. Nearly all the reparation that was now possible
quickly followed upon the investigation into the war plans that
was referred to in the last chapter. While the investigation
was pending, he was pained by a letter from Sir
Thomas Hastings, not unkind in itself, but showing that his
real motives for courting that investigation were not understood. I
made a communication today, wrote Sir Thomas, on the twenty
(07:31):
seventh of November eighteen forty six, that the Commission had
entered on its duties and received instructions to inform you
that it would be desirable before the Commission proceeded further
to ascertain your Lordship's use as to the nature of
the renumeration you would expect from the Government in the
event of your plans being reported on favorably. Reader's note
letter ends. Lord Dundonnell's reply was characteristic, you intimate a
(07:52):
wish on the part of the government. He wrote on
the first of December, to ascertain my views in regard
to the renumeration I expect in the event of my
plans being favorably reported on. I replied that I had
devoted these plans thirty five years ago to the service
of my country, that I have reserved them through the
most adverse and trying circumstances, satisfied that at some future
time I should prove my character to be above pecuniary
(08:15):
considerations or mercenary motives. I have looked forward to the
restitution of those honors of which I was most unjustly bereaved,
and to freedom from mental anguish endured throughout an isolation
from society of one thirty century. I cannot contrast with
such sufferings, nor with my plans any sum the government
could bestow. Nevertheless, I have implicitly relied that collateral deprivations
(08:39):
and losses would be taken into consideration by some future
just an impartial administration. I do most earnestly hope that
the period has now arrived. Readers, no letter ends. That
letter was communicated by Sir Thomas Hastings to Lord Auckland.
I return the letter he wrote to Sir Thomas on
the sixteenth of December, which Lord Dundnell wrote to you
(09:00):
upon the renumeration he would expect in the event of
a favorable report upon his plans, namely, first his restoration
to the honors of which he was deprived, and secondly
a consideration of collateral deprivations and losses. I am sorry
to acquaint you that the first condition is one to
which I am not authorized to promise an acquiescence. It
(09:20):
is not necessary that I should discuss the difficulties which
occurred to the restoration in question. I can only express
my own deep regret that they should exist, and that
the hopes which have been entertained by Lord Dunnald should
be disappointed. For myself, I personally regard him. I look
upon his naval career as most remarkable and most honorable,
and I must lament whatever may seem to detract from
(09:42):
the advantage and grace of his return to the navy.
Is no letter ends, Sir Thomas Hastings, wrote Lord Dundnald
to Lord Auckland on the following day, has sent me
your sympathizing note on the decision of the Cabinet Council
in regard to the first item designated as the renumeration
I would expl effect in the event of a favorable
report on my plans. Now, after the expression of my
(10:05):
deep sense of gratitude to your Lordship for having brought
the question before the Cabinet, I do most sincerely rejoice
that the first condition is one to which you are
not authorized to promise an acquiescence. I could not deem
acquiescence a renuneration, nor could I value it otherwise than
as evidence of conviction produced by facts and the tenor
of a whole life of my incapacity of descending to
(10:27):
base acts for gain at any period of my existence,
especially at the moment when I can prove that I
had objects of the highest national importance and most brilliant
personal prospects in view. In confirmation of disinterestedness, I further
hold my retention of the secret war plans for a
period of thirty five years, notwithstanding frequent opportunities to use
(10:48):
them to my incalculable private advantage. The merit of these plans,
though I am well aware of their value, is yet
officially unpronounced by the Commission appointed to report. Therefore, the
preceding acts being doubtful, I repeat that I do most
sincerely rejoice that the Cabinet Council have manifested that the
decision depends neither on favor nor on the value of
(11:09):
the plans themselves. For seeing that whatever may be the
ultimate determination, it must be founded on facts and justified
by the exposition of my conduct and character. I am
preparing a document which, whatever may be my fate, pending
the brief remainder of my existence, will justify my memory
when grievous wrongs shall cease to prey on a mind which,
save from the consciousness of rectitude, would in a brief time,
(11:32):
have bowed my head with humiliation to the ground. It
is no letter end. The document there referred to was
a pamphlet entitled Observations on Naval Affairs and on some
Collateral Subjects. In it were concisely enumerated Lord Dundonald's services
as a British naval officer and the hardships brought upon
him by the unmerited stock exchange trial. The pamphlet was
(11:53):
published in February eighteen forty seven and immediately excited considerable attention.
I hope the difficulties which have prevented the realization of
your wishes may be removed shortly, wrote Sir Thomas Hastings
on the second of March. But services so distinguished and
a career so splendid and full of professional instruction as
your lordships, can never be blotted out or rendered dim
(12:13):
in the annals of the naval history of our country. Readers,
Note letter ends. I have had the kindest note possible
from the Marquess of Lansdowne, said Lord Dundonald, in a
letter written on the twenty seventh of April. Lord Auckland
was at our house on Saturday, and he spoke in
the kindest and most feeling manner. I hear from all
quarters that the pamphlet has made and is making a
great impression, and I have every hope that all will
(12:36):
end well. Reader note letterands all did end well the
public announcement on the highest authority of the value of
his secret war plans, and the consequent exhibition of his
disinterested patriotism in so long preserving them for his country's use,
followed by the bold appeal made by him to the
public through his pamphlet brought success at last to his
long continued efforts to obtain a restoration of his dignity
(12:59):
a night of the Bath. His best friends in the Cabinet,
especially Lords Lansdowne and Auckland, had influence, though not all
the influence they desired upon other cabinet and Privy councilors
who were opposed to the tardy act of justice, but
they did not wait for the assent of all. On
the sixth of May, Lord Lansdowne represented the case to
Her Majesty the Queen, and received her promise that with
(13:22):
or without the approval of her Privy Councilors, she would
confer the next vacant order of the Bath upon Lord
dun Donald. Fortunately, a vacancy occurred immediately through the death
of Admiral Sir Davage Gould. Lord Auckland has called, wrote
Lord dun Donald on the ninth of May, and inform
me officially that the Queen has placed at his disposal
the vacant order of the Bath, and that, in conformity
(13:43):
with the intention with which it was so placed, he
was too deliberate to me. I have information from the palace,
he wrote a few days later, that Her Majesty has
had the conversation as to the justice of some further
atonement for the injuries that had been inflicted on me,
and that she said it was a subject of regret,
and such was not in her power. But should the
subject be entertained by her advisers, her concurrence would not
(14:06):
be wanting. Forge letter ends that further act of justice
was never rendered, but Lord Dundonald rejoiced that the more
important measure, that which, by restoring the dignity wrongfully taken
from him, would do more than anything else to set
him right in the eyes of the world, was at
last adopted. It gives me sincere pleasure, wrote Lord John
Russell on the twelfth of May, in answer to a
(14:27):
letter thanking him for the conduct of his administration, that
the last act of the government has been so gratifying
to you. Your services to your country are recorded among
those of the most brilliant of a war, signalized by
heroic achievements. I will lay before Her Majesty the expression
of your gratitude, and I can assure you that the
Queen has sanctioned, with the greatest satisfaction the advice of
(14:48):
her ministers letter on the twenty fifth of May, the
order being dated the twenty second, Lord Dundonald was gazerted
as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.
And this act of grace was rendered more graceful by
the personal interest shown by Prince Albert, who, as Grand
Master of the Order, dispensed with the customary formalities and delays,
and on the following morning, caused a warrant to be
(15:10):
sent to him in order that he might wear the
cross at the birthday drawing room, which he attended by
Her Majesty's command on the twenty seventh of May. Thus
another step was made in the way of retribution for
the injuries inflicted on him in eighteen fourteen and in
the ensuing years to day. He wrote, on the twelfth
of July there was a grand muster at the Palace
(15:31):
of all the Knight's Grand crosses and many inferior crosses,
and I was installed. Lord Ellenborough was one of my sponsors,
and the Duke of Wellington shook hands with me and
expressed his satisfaction at my restoration to the Order. I
am glad to tell you that the ceremony of knighting
of which I was afraid was not resorted to. So
my nightshap dates back to the twenty seventh of April
(15:54):
eighteen o nine. Reader's note letter ends in another effort
to obtain full justice for himself self. However, he was unsuccessful.
The great expenses that sprung out of his long continued
scientific and mechanical pursuits had absorbed all his scanty sources
of income, and he was forcibly urged that, in accordance
with the precedent furnished by a similar grant to Sir
Robert Wilson in eighteen thirty two, he was entitled to
(16:16):
the areas of pay due to him for the seventeen
years during which he had been kept out of his
position in the British Navy. But his request was refused,
and the heavy pecuniary loss, as well as other and
much heavier deprivations consequent on a persecution that has ever
since admitted to have been wholly undeserved, has never been compensated.
Footnote part of a letter which Lord Dundonnell received on
(16:38):
this subject four years afterwards from mister Joseph Hume, though
quoted in his autobiography, is too important to be here omitted.
I considered, wrote the great Champion of public Economy, on
the tenth of May eighteen fifty two, that you were
incapable of taking the means that were resorted to by
mister Cochrane Johnson, and for which you suffered, And I
was pleased to learn that you had been restored to
(17:00):
your rank. I considered that act a proof that the
government which had restored you to the rank and honors
of your profession, and had afterwards appointed you to the
command in the West Indies, must have come to the
same conclusion until the perusal of your draft petition. I
concluded that you had all your arrears paid to you
as attardi, though inadequate, return to your lordship, whose early
(17:21):
exploits did honor to yourself, and gave loster to the
naval service of the country to which you belonged. His Majesty,
King William the Fourth was satisfied with the innocence of
Sir Robert Wilson, and he was restored to the service,
was I understand paid all the arrears of pay and
allowances during his suspension, and afterwards appointed to the Command
of Gibraltar. I was pleased at the result, and it
(17:42):
would give me equal pleasure to learn that your application
to Her Majesty should be attended with an act of
justice to you equally merited. Lord Palmerston subsequently, in answer
to an application from Lord dun Donald forgetting Sir Robert
Wilson's case, said there was no precedent for such an act.
Lord dun Donald answered that there was no president for
(18:03):
such injustice as had been done to him. Footnote ends.
Shortly after that event, Lord Dunnald soot to be elected
one of the Scotch representative peers in the House of Lords.
Now that his load of unmerited disgrace was shaken off,
he desired to resume his old functions as a legislator,
and this with no abatement of his zeal for the
welfare of the people, but with none of the violence
(18:23):
which his own heavy sufferings at the time of their
first and heaviest pressure had partially caused him to show
during his former parliamentary career. Being now a peer, he
could not return to his seat in the House of Commons,
and being a Scotch peer, he could only sit in
the House of Lords as one of the delegates from
the aristocracy of his native land among these. He therefore
asked for at place at the election in September eighteen
(18:44):
forty seven. He did not, however, begin to seek it
early enough. Other candidates had, according to custom, obtained promises
of a majority of votes from electors before he thought
of canvassing, and he was thus left in a minority.
Many peers, however, who on this occasion were unable to
support it, off to pledge their votes to him for
the next election. A minor favor was at this time
(19:05):
shown to Lord don Donald, which afforded him real gratification.
In eighteen thirty five, he had been allowed by King
William the Fourth to use the insignia of a Grand
Commander of the Order of the Savior of Greece, conferred
upon him by King Ortho. In August eighteen forty seven,
he applied to the Cabinet for permission to use the
title of Marquis of Marinam and the Grand Cross of Brazil,
(19:25):
both of which had been conferred upon him by the
Emperor Pedro I in eighteen twenty three. I have to
acquaint you a lordship, wrote Lord Palmerston, then Foreign Secretary,
on the eleventh of October, that under the peculiar circumstances
of the case which have prevented the application being made earlier.
The Queen has signified her pleasure that you should be
permitted to accept the Grand Cross of the Order of
the Cruiserrio. With regard, however, to the title of Marquis
(19:48):
of Marinam. It is my duty to state to your
Lordship that, after a full consideration, Her Majesty's Government regret
that they cannot advise the Queen to grant you the
desired permission. While Her Majesty's Government duly appreciated the services
rendered by your Lordship to the Crown of Brazil, they
consider it to be, on general principles so undesirable that
distinguished officers of the British Navy should have foreign titles
(20:09):
that they feel themselves compelled to decline. Complying with your
request letter ends, I beg to assure your Lordship, wrote
Lord dun Donald in reply on the eighteenth of October,
that I feel more gratitude in being informed of the
sentiment of Her Majesty's Government in regard to my faithful
and zealous services in Brazil than I ever experienced from
the title conferred on me as the honorary portion of
(20:30):
my reward for such services. As far as it relates
to assuming the title in my native country, I entreat
your Lordship to believe I never entertained the intention. Letter ends.
A memorable occurrence soon followed. Now that his honors, as
well as his naval rank were restored to him, he
had no reason of holding back from active service in
his profession, and the Earl of Auckland, anxious to make
uses far as use could be made in peace time
(20:52):
of his great and varied experience, and also to give
further proof of the desire at last to render him
all possible honor, was prompt in offering him freshad employment
on the sea. I shall shortly have to name a
commander in chief for the North American and West Indian Station,
wrote Lord Auckland on the twenty seventh of December eighteen
forty seven. Will you accept the appointment? I shall feel
it to be an honor and a pleasure to have
you named to it, and I am satisfied that you denomination
(21:15):
will be agreeable to her Majesty, as it will be
to the country and particularly to the Navy, Letter ends.
Lord dun Donald did accept the appointment, rejoicing in it
as a further step in reparation for the injuries by
which he had been hindered a whole generation before from
rising to the highest rank in the naval service of
his country. He might then have achieved victories over the French,
(21:35):
which would have surpassed his brilliant exploits at Basque roads.
He could now only direct the quiet operations of a
small fleet in a time of peace. This, however, being
the best that it was now possible for him to do,
he gladly undertook permit me. He wrote to Lord Auckland,
to assure your lordship that this gracious act has further
tended to obliterate the deep and painful impressions made by
(21:55):
thirty years of mental suffering, such as no language can describe.
But for my lord, the agony produced by false accusations
on an honorable mind is infinitely greater than merited infliction
of death itself. I will leave your lordship then to
estimate the amount of obligation I fail to convey, and
beg you to allow me to express a hope that
your generous recommendation to Her Majesty will be justified by
(22:16):
my zealous endeavors to fulfill the duties I owe to
my sovereign and country. Letter ends. I have waited for
Her Majesty's assent to your appointment, said the Earl of
Auckland in a letter written on the third of January
eighteen forty eight, before answering your letter on the twenty eighth. Ultimo,
This assent has been most cordially given, and you may
now consider yourself comme under in chief of the North
(22:37):
American and West Indian Station. And I may repeat that
my share in this proceeding has given me very great pleasure,
and that I am confirmed in my feelings of gratification
by the terms in which you speak of occupying your
former place in the Navy. I am glad for you,
and I am glad for myself that I have done
this just and honorable act. Letter ends. Very hearty was
(22:59):
the satisfaction expressed by all classes. As soon as Lord
dundonnald'sppointment was made public. I beg wrote mister Delane, the
editor of the Times, earliest of all in tendering his compliments,
to offer my very hearty congratulations upon your appointment. All
that remained to efface the stain of such unmerited persecution.
The communication you have just made to me, wrote the
(23:21):
Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, is most gratifying, and the
First Lord of the Admiralty has done himself immortal honor
in appointing that naval officer commander in one hemisphere, who
had previously illustrated his name by his most brilliant exploits
in the other. Everything I think has now been done
to under the foul aspersions with which you have been assailed,
(23:41):
and I am sure now everything will be done that
can most serve to establish the ability of the officer
and the delicacy of the gentleman. I congratulate you most
sincerely upon your appointment, and I hope you will meet
with difficulties when you arrive at your destination. Don't be
surprised at this my wish. It proceeds from knowing the
ample resources of my friend to overcome them, and his
(24:03):
constant desire to sacrifice everything to duty and honor. I
derive the greatest pleasure and satisfaction from your appointment to
the command of a British fleet, wrote Sir George Sinclair,
an appointment not less creditable to the ministry than honorable
to yourself. I cannot help contemplating with affectionate sorrow the
portrait of our dearest friend, Sir Francis Burdett, now suspended
(24:24):
over the chimney piece, and thinking how happy he would
have been had he witnessed this most welcome and delightful consummation.
Permit me the honor, wrote Admiral John White, to bear
testimony to the high gratification I feel, as seeing by
the papers the announcement of your Lordship's having taken the
command of the West India and Halifax stations, the whole
(24:44):
British Empire has expressed great joy at this justice having
been done to the bravery of your Lordship as an officer,
and your goodness and honor as a man brit His
note letters end that last sentence told no more than
the truth. End of Chapter twenty six. Recording by Timothy ferguson,
Gold Coast, Australia,
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